---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,this version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects4 ,italics are delimited with the #8' character as italic4 ,footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are referenced4 ,minor errors1 attributable to the printer1 have been corrected4 ,please see the transcriber's note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,the ,,journal ,,of ,,george ,,fox4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,eighth ,,edition ,,of ,,the ,,journal ,,of ,,george ,,fox4 ,,two ,,volumes1 #e_/- ,,net4 ,with ,map1 recently prepared to accompany same1 #f_/f net4 ,the ,map separately1 in case1 #b_/f net4 ------- 8,his life well repays study4 ,it is a rich mine1 and every page of it seems to be solid gold4 ,books now-a-days are spun out1 and you get little after reading much2 but ,the ,journal of ,george ,fox contains ingots of gold--things to be thought on and that will have to be thought on month by month before you get at the bottom of them40--,,charles ,,haddon ,,spurgeon4 ------- ,,london3 ,,friends' ,,tract ,,association4 ,sold by ,,headley ,,brothers1 #ad1 ,bishopsgate ,without1 ,e4,c4 ,,the ,,journal ,,of ,,george ,,fox2 ,,being ,,an ,,historical ,,account ,,of ,,his ,,life1 ,,travels1 ,,sufferings1 ,,and ,,christian ,,experiences4 ,,in ,,two ,,volumes4 ,,vol4 ,i4 ------- ,,the ,,eighth 7,bi-,centenary7 ,,edition1 reprinted from stereotype plates1 with revised and enlarged indexes4 ------- ,,london3 ,friends' ,tract ,association2 ,,sold ,,by ,,headley ,,brothers1 #ad1 ,,bishopsgate ,,street ,,without1 ,e4,c4 #aija4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,headley ,,brothers1 ,,printers1 ,,london2 ,,and ,,at ,,ashford1 ,,kent4 ,,notice ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ------- ,the present issue of ,the ,journal of ,george ,fox has been printed from the stereotype plates of the ,eighth 7,bi-,centenary7 ,edition1 slightly corrected1 and has been furnished with additional particulars of previous editions of ,the ,journal 7see pp4 #eda-edd7 and with greatly enlarged ,indexes4 ,to accompany this issue1 a map has been prepared to show the places mentioned in ,the ,journal1 the spelling of the names being mostly taken from the ,first ,edition4 ,this work has necessitated a considerable amount of research and enquiry in order to identify some of the more obscure localities referred to by ,george ,fox4 ,it is hardly to be expected that the positions of all these1 after this lapse of time1 will accord with the judgment of all readers1 but it is hoped that the map may promote the intelligent perusal of these volumes4 ,the ,journal may be obtained with or without the map 7see advertisement on page ii474 ,,norman ,,penney1 ,hon4 ,sec4 ,friends' ,tract ,association4 ,,london1 #aija4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,introduction ,,to ,,the ,,eighth ,,edition4 ,the following ,eighth ,edition of ,the ,journal of ,george ,fox1 taken from the ,seventh ,edition1 as prepared by the late ,wilson ,armistead1 of ,leeds1 has been carefully read and collated with the original or ,first ,edition of that ,work4 ,and the reader can be confidently assured1 making due allowance for the translation or omission of a few obsolete expressions1 that the ,work is now1 in truth and substance1 the same as when it was first printed4 ,a large number of corrections in the spelling of names1 and of other chiefly clerical errors1 have also been made1 bringing all down1 so far as practicable1 into harmony with the usage of the present date in these respects4 ,,daniel ,,pickard4 ,,leeds1 #ahia4 ,,introduction ,,to ,,the ,,seventh ,,edition4 ------- ,the present re-issue of the ,journal of ,george ,fox has1 in a great measure1 resulted from the concern of a ,friend lately deceased1 who was actively engaged in the last edition1 and who provided a handsome sum towards the further republication of this valuable ,testimony to the ,truth4 ,assisted by the above bequest1 and prompted by the encouragement of many ,friends1 the ,editor of this ,seventh ,edition of the ,journal has endeavoured to increase the usefulness by issuing it in a manner considerably more adapted1 than heretofore1 for general usefulness1 and calculated1 he hopes1 to insure a still more extended circulation4 ,in printing from the last edition 7which was collated with the first and third7 some further slight improvements in the style have been made1 and redundancies omitted1 with an occasional transposition in the construction of a sentence1 or the omission or insertion of a word to impart clearness to the sense of the author1 care being taken in every instance not in the least to misrepresent his meaning4 ,in addition to this1 the work has now1 for the first time1 been divided into chapters2 a general table of contents has been supplied2 and a considerable number of ,notes1 chiefly biographical and historical1 have been added1 which must materially increase its interest4 ,though highly approved as a standard work1 there is reason to believe that the ,journal of ,george ,fox has not obtained that attention which its real worth justly demands1 even from the members of the ,society which the author was so eminently instrumental in forming4 ,let those who have not perused it be induced to make themselves acquainted with its contents2 and may those who are of ability1 be stimulated to expend a portion of their means in promoting the circulation of a work recording the labours of so eminent a servant of the ,lord1 concerning whom the following character was given by one of his contemporaries--not the less truthful and applicable from having been often quoted--that 8,he was indeed a heavenly-minded man1 zealous for the name of the ,lord1 and preferred the honour of ,god before all things4 ,he was valiant for the ,truth1 bold in asserting it1 patient in suffering for it1 unwearied in labouring in it1 steady in his testimony to it1 immovable as a rock40 ,the many and important truths unfolded in this work1 though conveyed in a style not always suited to the taste of the present day1 will1 if patiently and seriously perused1 amply compensate the reader1 of whatever denomination1 for the time and attention he may bestow upon it4 ,sir ,,james ,,mackintosh says1 it 8,is one of the most extraordinary and instructive narratives in the world1 which no reader of competent judgment can peruse without revering the virtue of the writer20 and ,,coleridge in his ,biographia ,literaria observes3 8,there exist folios on the human understanding1 and the nature of man1 which would have a far juster claim to their high rank and celebrity1 if1 in the whole huge volume1 there could be found as much fulness of heart and intellect1 as bursts forth in many a simple page of ,george ,fox40 ,in every point of view1 ,george ,fox was a character of no ordinary rank4 ,though a stranger to the polish of human learning1 he possessed a truly enlightened mind1 connected with sound practical knowledge2 and fearlessly inculcated1 amongst persons of all ranks1 sentiments and views on various points1 equally conducive to the immediate comfort1 and to the amelioration and advancement of the various classes of civil society4 ,these views1 though then rejected by many as visionary1 have since met with very general acceptance1 and in some cases have even obtained the favourable attention of government4 ,but what is of still more importance1 he was well taught in the school of ,christ4 ,he was thoroughly versed in the ,holy ,scriptures1 which1 to use his own expression1 were 8very precious0 to him1 and he always held them in high estimation4 ,he firmly believed in the ,son of ,god--in the atoning efficacy of his sacrifice upon the cross1 and in all his offices and works both for us1 and in us2 and by obedience to the ,light of ,life1 the illuminating1 renovating power of the ,holy ,spirit--to ,christ in his spiritual appearance1 he realized in himself the benefits conferred upon mankind by the sufferings and death of the ,saviour4 ,by a variety of preparatory baptisms1 he was1 on the one hand1 given to see the depths of ,satan1 and on the other1 richly instructed in the mysteries of the everlasting kingdom of ,god4 ,thus trained and exercised he became abundantly furnished1 and qualified to enter upon the arduous service1 to which he believed himself ,divinely called2 and proved himself to be1 as his ,journal largely testifies1 8a workman that needed not to be ashamed1 rightly dividing the ,word of ,truth40 ,contemplating the character of ,george ,fox in this twofold light1 the ,editor may1 in conclusion1 say with his predecessors1 that he 8indulges a hope that the history of the author's life1 written by his own hand1 unfolding the energy and operation of that grace by which he was what he was1 will be found interesting to persons of every class1 especially to the really religious of whatever denomination1 and still more peculiarly so to those who profess to believe in the same doctrines he was engaged so strenuously in preaching4 ,to the promulgation of these doctrines he steadily devoted upwards of forty years of his life--a life which exhibited throughout #8an example of suffering affliction1 and of patience2' evincing him to be1 both in principle and in practice1 a genuine disciple of his crucified ,,lord--a real ,,christian40 ,w4,a4 ,p4,s4--,the ,editor is also desirous of directing the special attention of the reader to the admirable ,preface to this work1 by ,william ,penn4 ,,leeds1 #aheb4 ,,contents ,,of ,,vol4 ,i4 ,,page4 ,,the ,,preface2 ,being a summary account of the divers dispensations of ,god to men1 from the beginning of the world to that of our present age1 by the ministry and testimony of his faithful servant1 ,george ,fox1 as an introduction to the ensuing ,journal4 xix4 ,,chapter ,i4--#afbd-afdg4--;,george ,fox's birth and parentage--his gravity and piety in youth--apprenticed to a shoemaker1 who is also a grazier1 c4--his integrity in dealing--refuses to drink healths--his exercises of mind commence--he lives retired--is tempted to despair--his sorrows continue for some years--has a sense of ,christ's sufferings--confutes a people who held women to be devoid of souls--begins to travel on ,truth's account--meets with ,elizabeth ,hooton--fasts often1 and retires to solitary places with his ,bible--his exercises intermit--sees why none but ,christ could speak to his condition--visits a woman who had fasted twenty-two days--first declares the ,truth at ,dukinfield and ,manchester--preaches at a great meeting at ,broughton--his troubles wear off1 and he weeps for joy--sees things which cannot be uttered--is reported to have a discerning spirit--overcomes his temptations through the power of ,christ4 #a ,,chapter ,,ii4--#afdh-afdi4--;,begins to have great meetings--at ,mansfield he is moved to pray--the ,lord's power so great the house is shaken--cannot pray in his own will--a temptation besets him that there is no ,god1 which is dissipated by an inward voice--he afterwards disputes with and confounds some ,atheists--goes to courts and steeple-houses1 c41 to warn against oppression and oaths--reproves a notorious drunkard1 who is reformed--sees who are the greatest deceivers--shows how people read and understand the ,scriptures--various mysteries are revealed to him--he is sent to turn people to the ,inward ,light1 ,spirit1 and ,grace1 the ,divine ,spirit which he infallibly knew would not deceive--priests and professors rage at these innovations--he cries for justice in courts and against various wrong things--denounces the trade of preaching--is sent to preach freely4 #bc ,,chapter ,,iii4--#afdi-afej4--;,george ,fox is first imprisoned at ,nottingham1 where the sheriff is convinced--he is liberated and quiets a distracted woman--he is cruelly treated at ,mansfield-,woodhouse--is taken before the magistrates at ,derby--acknowledges that he is sanctified--is temptingly asked if he were ,christ1 which he denies1 yet is committed for blasphemy--his mittimus to ,derby prison--writes to the priests of ,derby against preaching for hire1 c4--also against persecution--to ,barton and ,bennet1 justices1 on the same subject--to ,justice ,bennet against covetousness--to ,justice ,barton1 a preacher and a persecutor--to the ,mayor of ,derby against persecution and oppression--to the court of ,derby against oaths and oppression--to the bell-ringers of ,derby against vanities and worldly pleasures--his jailer is convinced--,justice ,bennet first gives ,friends the name of ,quakers in derision--writes to ,friends and others1 to open their understandings1 and to direct them to their true ,teacher within themselves--to the convinced people1 directing them to internal silence and to true obedience--an encouragement to the faithful--to the justices of ,derby against persecution1 thrice repeated--to the priests of ,derby1 on the same subject--to the justices of ,derby1 to prize their time1 and to depart from evil--the like to ,colonel ,barton1 justice1 and warning of the plagues and vengeance hanging over the oppressor4 #db ,,chapter ,,iv4--#afej-afea4--;,a trooper visits ,george ,fox from an inward intimation--declines a commission in the army1 and is put in the dungeon--confutes one who denied ,christ's outward appearance1 from whence a slander is raised against ,friends--testifies against capital punishments for small matters--writes for more speedy justice to prisoners--intercedes for the life of a young woman1 imprisoned for stealing1 who is brought to the gallows1 but reprieved1 and afterwards convinced--again refuses to bear arms1 and is committed close prisoner--writes to ,barton and ,bennet1 justices1 against persecution--addresses the convinced and tender people against hirelings--to the magistrates of ,derby against persecution1 and foretelling his own enlargement and their recompense--is greatly exercised for the wickedness of ,derby--sees the visitation of ,god's love pass away from the town1 and writes a lamentation over it--a great judgment fell upon the town--he is liberated after a year's imprisonment--visits ,lichfield--preaches repentance through ,doncaster--many dread 8the man with leather breeches0--goes to steeple-houses1 as the apostles did to the temples1 to bring people off from them--is denied entertainment1 and ill-treated at some places--refuses to inform against his persecutors--many are convinced in ,yorkshire1 amongst others1 ,richard ,farnsworth1 ,james ,naylor1 ,william ,dewsbury1 ,justice ,hotham1 and ,captain ,pursloe4 #fg ,,chapter ,v4--#afeb4--;,george ,fox visits great men's houses1 warning them to repent--is accused of calling himself ,christ--refutes the charge1 and tells the accuser that ,judas's end would be his1 which shortly came to pass1 hence a slander is raised against ,friends--is stoned at ,doncaster--a scoffing priest made to tremble at the ,lord's power--a slandering priest cut off in his wickedness--a murderous man seeks ,george ,fox1 but misses him--he lays in a wood all night--the influence of one man or woman1 who lives in the same spirit that the prophets and apostles were in1 is to be felt within a circuit of ten miles--,george ,fox ascends ,pendle ,hill1 whence he sees the place of a great gathering of people--on descending1 refreshes himself at a spring of water1 having taken little sustenance for several days--foresees a great people in white raiment about ,wensleydale and ,sedbergh--a wicked man designs to injure him1 but is prevented--many are convinced in ,dent1 and a meeting is settled at ,sedbergh1 where he had seen a people in white raiment--preaches for several hours in the steeple-house yard there--preaches on a rock1 near ,firbank chapel1 to #a1jjj people for three hours--the family of ,judge ,fell convinced1 and a meeting settled at his house1 and continued for forty years--preaches through ,lancaster streets--at a meeting of priests at ,ulverstone he speaks in great power1 so that one of them said1 8the church shook0--disputes with priest ,lampitt--,justice ,sawrey is the first persecutor in the north--forty priests appear against ,george ,fox at ,lancaster ,sessions for speaking blasphemy2 they are confounded1 and he is cleared of the charge--,james ,naylor's account of ,george ,fox's trial at ,lancaster ,sessions--priest ,jackus is reproved from the bench for his blasphemy--these priests are reproved by the populace--,colonel ,west defends and protects ,george ,fox against the machinations of the priests1 and the design of ,judge ,windham1 at the risk of losing his place4 #ajj ,,chapter ,,vi4--#afeb-afec4--;,george ,fox is branded by the priests as a witch--writes to ,justice ,sawrey1 prophesying of the judgments impending over him--warning to priest ,lampitt--exhortation to the people of ,ulverstone--to the followers of ,lampitt1 against a hireling ministry1 c4--a rebuke to ,adam ,sands for his wickedness--to priest ,tatham1 against his hireling ministry and his suing for tithes--foretells the dissolution of the ,long ,parliament--fasts ten days--,james ,milner and ,richard ,myer create a schism1 which is soon healed--the latter is miraculously healed of his lameness1 but afterwards disobeys the ,lord1 and dies not long after--,anthony ,pearson1 an opposer1 is convinced--the priests are shown to be ,antichrist--,george ,fox preaches at ,john ,wilkinson's steeple-house three hours--admonishes a professor for praising him--reproves ,wilkinson for speaking against his conscience--many hundreds are convinced--discerns an unclean spirit in a woman1 and speaks sharply to her--the like of some other women--speaks sharply to an envious ,baptist--preaches in the steeple house at ,carlisle1 where the ,lord's power was such that the people trembled--committed to ,carlisle prison as a blasphemer1 heretic1 and seducer--the priests who come to see him are exceedingly rude--,anthony ,pearson's remonstrance to the ,judges of assize against the unjust imprisonment and detention of ,george ,fox--he is put in the dungeon1 a filthy place1 where a woman is found eaten to death with vermin--here ,james ,parnell visits him--a challenge to professors to declare their objections to ,george ,fox's ministry--it being reported that ,george ,fox was to die for religion1 the ,little ,parliament write to the sheriff respecting him--he himself expostulates with ,justices ,craston and ,studholm on their imprisoning him--,a4 ,pearson and the governor visit the prison1 blame the magistrates1 require sureties of the jailer1 and put the under-jailer in the dungeon for his cruelty to ,george ,fox1 who is soon after liberated--,george ,fox has great meetings1 and thousands are convinced--visits ,gilsland1 a noted country for thieving--has a glorious meeting of many thousands1 near ,langlands1 on the top of a hill--great convincement in the six northern counties4 #ade ,,chapter ,,vii4--#afec-afed4--;,george ,fox disputes most of the day with priest ,wilkinson--,many ,friends lose their business for declining the world's salutations1 but afterwards their tried faithfulness and integrity procure them more than their neighbours--,george ,fox issues an address to ,friends everywhere--two persecuting justices at ,carlisle are cut off and a third disgraced--,george ,fox passes through ,halifax1 a rude town of professors--at ,synderhill-,green1 he has a mighty meeting of some thousands1 and there was a general convincement--about sixty ministers are now raised up in the north1 to travel towards the south1 the east1 and the west1 in ,truth's service--,george ,fox's address to ,friends in the ministry--,rice ,jones and many other false prophets rise up against friends and are blasted--a wicked man binds himself with an oath to kill ,george ,fox1 but is prevented--great convincement in ,lincolnshire--at ,swannington1 ,george ,fox has much controversy with professors--has a great dispute with priest ,stevens and seven other priests at ,drayton--his father being present was convinced1 and said1 8,truly ,i see he that will but stand to the truth it will carry him out0--priest ,stevens propagates lies respecting ,george ,fox1 which the ,lord swept away--is taken before ,colonel ,hacker1 who sends him before the ,protector--speaks prophetically to the ,colonel--has a friendly conference with the ,protector--is dismissed by him very friendly--refuses his entertainment--,captain ,drury scoffs at trembling1 but is made to tremble in a remarkable manner--,george ,fox prays with some officers1 who are greatly shaken by the ,lord's power--priests and professors greatly disturbed because many of the people are convinced1 and moved to declare against the rest4 #ahd ,,chapter ,,viii4--#afed-afee4--;,address to professors of ,christianity against persecution--to such as follow the world's fashions--to the ,pope1 and all kings1 and rulers in ,europe1 against persecution--to the justices appointed for trying ministers of religion1 being a testimony against hireling ministers--,samuel ,fisher and others are convinced at a meeting at ,romney1 where the ,lord's power is marvellously displayed--a large meeting at ,coggeshall of about two thousand people1 which lasted several hours--many reproaches are cast upon the truth1 and lying1 slanderous books published1 which are answered1 and the truth set over the gainsayers--to those who scorn trembling and quaking--great rage is manifested against the truth and ,friends1 and their plainness is contemned--to the churches gathered into outward forms1 opening their state and warning of the woes coming upon them--to the ,protector1 respecting the imprisonment of ,friends for refusing to take oaths and pay tithes1 c4--to ,friends to offer themselves to lie in prison for a brother or sister--an encouragement to ,friends in their several exercises4 #baf ,,chapter ,,ix4--#afee-afef4--;,friends slandered by ,presbyterians and ,independents1 suffer much from them and the ,baptists for refusing to pay tithes--the priests hunt after a fallen benefice like crows after carrion--great miracles wrought through several--an ,independent preacher convinced1 but relapses--address to the convinced in ,ireland--a sick woman at ,baldock restored--,george ,fox parts and reconciles two furious combatants--to the seven parishes at the ,land's ,end1 recommending attention to the ,inward ,light--,george ,fox parts with ,james ,naylor1 and has a presentiment of his fall--,major ,ceely places ,george ,fox and ,edward ,pyot under arrest--they are sent to ,launceston jail--put into ,doomsdale1 and suffer a long and cruel imprisonment--a paper against swearing--,peter ,ceely's mittimus--,george ,fox has great service in jail--many are convinced and opposers are confounded--experiences some remarkable preservations--,edward ,pyot writes an excellent letter to ,judge ,glynne on the liberty of the subject1 and on the injustice and illegality of their imprisonment--,truth spreads in the west by the very means taken to prevent it--exhortation and warning to magistrates--answer to the ,exeter general warrant for taking up and imprisoning ,friends--exhortation to ,friends in the ministry--warning to priests and professors--cruel jailer imprisoned in ,doomsdale1 and further judgments upon him follow--a ,friend offers to lie in prison instead of ,george ,fox--,edward ,pyot to ,major ,general ,desborough1 in answer to his conditional offer of liberty--,george ,fox to the same--he and his ,friends are soon after liberated4 #bej ,,chapter ,x4--#afef-afeg4--;,address to those who are given to pleasures and wantonness--to the bowlers in ,castle-,green at ,launceston--,george ,fox visits ,friends imprisoned at ,exeter1 amongst whom is ,james ,naylor1 who has apostatized1 but afterwards returned into the ,truth--at a meeting in the orchard at ,bristol about ten thousand persons are present--,paul ,gwin1 a rude ,baptist1 creates a disturbance1 but is reproved and silenced--meeting of two or three thousand persons at ,n4 ,crisp's--,justice ,stooks prevents the magistrates from apprehending ,george ,fox--speaks to the ,protector at ,hyde ,park1 who invites him to his house--accordingly goes to ,whitehall1 and speaks to the ,protector about ,friends' sufferings--travels through most parts of the nation after his liberation from ,launceston jail--this year1 #afef1 there were seldom fewer than one thousand ,friends in prison--to ,friends on the schism of ,j4 ,naylor--to ,friends to keep up their meetings--on judging the ministry1 c4--an answer to a high-flown professor--to professors1 priests1 and teachers on immediate revelation and universal grace1 c4 c4--at ,cardiff1 ,george ,fox sends word to some who had run out that 8the day of their visitation was over0--at ,brecknock1 his companion1 ,john-ap-,john1 preaches in the streets--at night1 there is a great uproar1 like that of ,diana's craftsmen--at ,william ,gandy's has a large meeting of two or three thousand persons--,cromwell proclaims a fast for rain1 and is told by ,george ,fox that the drought was a sign of their barrenness--concerning the true fast and the false--preaches three hours at a great meeting in ,radnorshire1 and many are convinced--their horses are twice robbed of their oats--from a high hill sounds the day of the ,lord1 and foretells where ,god would raise up a people to himself1 which came to pass--travels through every county in ,wales1 where there is a brave people1 who sit under ,christ's teaching--has a large meeting on the top of a hill near ,liverpool--at ,manchester is taken into custody1 but soon released4 #cbc ,,chapter ,,xi4--#afeg4--;,exhortation to ,friends to take heed to the ,light of ,christ--an expostulation with persecutors--to ,friends to be valiant for the truth--in parts of ,cumberland the priests are so forsaken that some steeple-houses stand empty--,john ,wilkinson1 the priest1 is so deserted1 that he sets up a meeting in his own house--then a silent meeting1 and at last joins ,friends1 and becomes an able minister--,george ,fox travels into ,scotland with ,colonel ,osburn and ,robert ,widders--the latter was a thundering man against the rottenness of the priests' hypocrisy and deceit--,lady ,hamilton is convinced--the ,scotch priests raise the war-cry1 and draw up their curses1 which ,george ,fox answers--they are in a rage and panic when he comes there1 thinking 8that all was gone0--some ,baptists1 with their logic and syllogisms1 are confuted by ,george ,fox's logic--he is banished from ,scotland by the council1 but disregards their order--,george ,fox and ,william ,osburn are waylaid by thieves1 who are admonished by the former1 and overawed by the ,lord's power--the ,highlanders run at them with pitchforks--at ,johnstons they are banished the town--on hearing that the council of ,edinburgh had issued warrants against him1 ,george ,fox goes thither1 and is not molested4 #chd ,,chapter ,,xii4--#afeg-afei4--;,george ,fox journeys from ,scotland to ,england--dissuades a person from setting up a college at ,durham to make ministers--has a meeting with ,rice ,jones and his people--attends a general ,yearly ,meeting for the whole nation1 held at ,john ,crook's1 which continued three days--address to ,friends in the ministry--disputes with a ,jesuit--writes to ,lady ,claypole--writes to ,cromwell respecting the fast on account of persecution abroad1 whilst there was much of it at home--writes a reproof to ,parliament for their hypocrisy--speaks to the ,protector in ,hampton-,court ,park about ,friends' sufferings--the ,protector invites ,fox to his house--he goes next day1 but the ,protector being sick he does not see him--the ,protector died soon after--writes to encourage ,friends to faithfulness--has a foresight of the ,king's restoration long before the event occurred1 as well as several others--,friends are disseized of their copyhold lands for refusing to swear--cautions ,friends to avoid plots1 c4--against bearing arms--great places in the army are offered to ,friends1 but invariably refused--priest ,townsend fails to substantiate his charge of error and blasphemy against ,george ,fox1 and is signally defeated--,george ,fox's vision of the city of ,london is realized--he gives a final warning to those in authority1 before their overthrow4 #dac ,,chapter ,,xiii4--#afei-affj4--;,address to the ,cornish people1 respecting shipwrecks--the soldiers at ,bristol are punished for disturbing ,friends' meetings--several thousands attend a general meeting at ,edward ,pyot's--,general ,monk also restrains his soldiers--great drunkenness at elections for ,parliament-men--the ,yearly ,meeting is held at ,balby--and a general meeting of discipline for several counties held at ,skipton--a ,friend goes naked 7divested of the upper garments7 through the town1 declaring truth1 and is much abused--general meeting at ,arnside for three counties--,george ,fox is committed to ,lancaster ,castle by ,major ,porter--writes an answer to his mittimus--,margaret ,fell writes to the magistrates thereon--address on true religion--against persecution--to ,friends1 on the change of government--to ,charles ,,ii41 exhorting him to exercise mercy and forgiveness towards his enemies1 and to restrain profaneness--the sheriff of ,lancashire's return to ,george ,fox's writ of ,habeas ,corpus--,m4 ,fell and ,ann ,curtis speak to the ,king on the subject--the ,king orders his removal to ,london by ,habeas ,corpus1 and there sets him at liberty4 #def ,,chapter ,,xiv4--#affj-affb4--;,george ,fox writes an epistle of consolation to ,friends unjustly imprisoned in consequence of the insurrection of the ,fifth-,monarchy ,men--,friends' declaration against war and plots--,john ,perrot and ,charles ,bailie create a schism--some ,friends in ,new ,england are put to death1 a sense whereof is given to ,george ,fox at the time--the ,king's mandamus to the ,governor of ,new ,england and others1 to restrain them from executing ,friends--the ,battledore is published1 showing by examples from thirty languages1 that 8,thou0 and 8,thee0 are proper to one person--on true worship--,george ,fox disputes with some ,jesuits1 and with all other sects--,john ,perrot's heresy condemned--on judicial swearing--,george ,fox and ,richard ,hubberthorn write to the ,king1 showing the number of ,friends imprisoned prior to1 and during the first year of the ,restoration1 and the number who died in prison during the ,commonwealth--,thomas ,sharman1 jailer at ,derby1 convinced1 and writes to ,george ,fox--,george ,fox applies to ,lord ,d',aubigny on behalf of two ,friends imprisoned in the ,inquisition at ,malta1 who procures their liberation--the ground and rise of persecution set forth--great service at ,bristol1 where also he has a vision--visits ,capt4 ,brown and his wife2 the former had fled from persecution1 and was judged in himself1 but afterwards convinced--,george ,fox and several others are arrested by ,lord ,beaumont1 and sent to ,leicester jail--they are suddenly liberated--to ,friends on the death of ,edward ,burrough--escapes from persecutors--,friends established on ,christ1 the ,rock of ,ages4 #dhi ,,the ,,preface2 ,,being ,a ,,summary ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,divers ,,dispensations ,,of ,,god ,,to ,,men1 ,,from ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,the ,,world ,,to ,,that ,,of ,,our ,,present ,,age1 ,,by ,,the ,,ministry ,,and ,,testimony ,,of ,,his ,,faithful ,,servant1 ,,george ,,fox1 ,,as ,,an ,,introduction ,,to ,,the ,,ensuing ,,journal4 ,,by ,,william ,,penn4 ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,divers have been the dispensations of ,god since the creation of the world unto the sons of men2 but the great end of all of them has been the renown of his own excellent name in the creation and restoration of man3 man1 the emblem of himself1 as a god on earth1 and the glory of all his works4 ,the world began with innocency3 all was then good that the good ,god had made3 and as he blessed the works of his hands1 so their natures and harmony magnified ,him their ,creator4 ,then the morning stars sang together for joy1 and all parts of his works said ,amen to his law2 not a jar in the whole frame1 but man in paradise1 the beasts in the field1 the fowl in the air1 the fish in the sea1 the lights in the heavens1 the fruits of the earth2 yea the air1 the earth1 the water1 and fire worshipped1 praised1 and exalted his power1 wisdom1 and goodness6 ,o holy sabbath6 ,o holy day to the ,lord4 ,but this happy state lasted not long3 for man1 the crown and glory of the whole1 being tempted to aspire above his place1 unhappily yielded against command and duty1 as well as interest and felicity2 and so fell below it1 lost the divine image1 the wisdom1 power1 and purity he was made in4 ,by which1 being no longer fit for paradise1 he was expelled that garden of ,god1 his proper dwelling and residence1 and was driven out1 as a poor vagabond1 from the presence of the ,lord1 to wander in the earth1 the habitation of beasts4 ,yet ,god that made him1 had pity on him2 for ,he seeing he was deceived1 and that it was not of malice1 or an original presumption in him1 but through the subtilty of the serpent 7that had first fallen from his own state71 and by the mediation of the woman1 man's own nature and companion 7whom the serpent had first deluded71 in his infinite goodness and wisdom found out a way to repair the breach1 recover the loss1 and restore fallen man again by a nobler and more excellent ,adam1 promised to be born of a woman2 that as by means of a woman the evil one had prevailed upon man1 by a woman also he should come into the world1 who would prevail against him and bruise his head1 and deliver man from his power2 and which1 in a signal manner1 by the dispensation of the ,son of ,god in the flesh1 in the fulness of time1 was personally and fully accomplished by him1 and in him1 as man's ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,but his power was not limited1 in the manifestation of it1 to that time2 for both before and since his blessed manifestation in the flesh he has been the light and life1 the rock and strength of all that ever feared ,god3 present with them in their temptations1 he followed them in their travels and afflictions1 and supported and carried them through and over the difficulties that have attended them in their earthly pilgrimage4 ,by this1 ,abel's heart excelled ,cain's1 ,seth obtained the pre-eminence1 and ,enoch walked with ,god4 ,it was this that strove with the old world1 and which they rebelled against1 and which sanctified and instructed ,noah to salvation4 ,but the outward dispensation that followed the benighted state of man1 after his fall1 especially among the patriarchs1 was generally that of angels2 as the ,scriptures of the ,old ,testament do in many places express1 as to ,abraham1 ,jacob1 c4 ,the next was that of the law by ,moses1 which was also delivered by angels1 as the apostle tells us4 ,this dispensation was much outward1 and suited to a low and servile state2 called therefore that of a schoolmaster1 to point out and prepare that people to look and long for the ,messiah1 who would deliver them from the servitude of a ceremonious and imperfect dispensation1 by knowing the realities of those mysterious representations in themselves4 ,in this time the law was written on stone1 the temple built with hands1 attended with an outward priesthood1 and external rites and ceremonies1 that were shadows of the good things that were to come1 and were only to serve till the ,seed came1 or the more excellent and general manifestation of ,christ1 to whom was the promise1 and to all men only in him1 in whom it was ,yea and ,amen2 even life from death1 immortality and eternal life4 ,this the prophets foresaw1 and comforted the believing ,jews in the certainty of it2 which was the height of the ,mosaical dispensation1 and which ended in ,john's ministry1 the forerunner of the ,messiah1 as ,john's was finished in him1 the fulness of all4 ,and ,god1 that at sundry times and in divers manners1 had spoken to the fathers by his servants the prophets1 spoke then by his ,son ,christ ,jesus1 8who is heir of all things02 being the gospel day1 which is the dispensation of sonship2 bringing in thereby a nearer testament and a better hope2 even the beginning of the glory of the latter days1 and of the restitution of all things2 yea1 the restoration of the kingdom unto ,israel4 ,now1 the ,spirit1 that was more sparingly communicated in former dispensations1 began to be 8poured forth upon all flesh10 according to the prophet ,joel2 and the light that shined in darkness1 or but dimly before1 the most gracious ,god caused to shine out of darkness3 and the day-star began to arise in the hearts of believers1 giving unto them the knowledge of ,god in the face 7or appearance7 of his ,son ,christ ,jesus4 ,now1 the poor in spirit1 the meek1 the true mourners1 the hungry and thirsty after righteousness1 the peace-makers1 the pure in heart1 the merciful1 and the persecuted1 came more especially in remembrance before the ,lord1 and were sought out and blessed by ,israel's true ,shepherd4 ,old ,jerusalem with her children grew out of date1 and the ,new ,jerusalem into request1 the mother of the sons of the gospel day4 ,wherefore no more at ,old ,jerusalem1 nor at the mountain of ,samaria1 will ,god be worshipped1 above other places2 for1 behold1 he is declared and preached a ,spirit1 and he will be known as such1 and worshipped in the ,spirit and in the ,truth4 ,he will come nearer than of old time1 and he will write his law in the heart1 and put his fear and ,spirit in the inward parts1 according to his promise4 ,then signs1 types1 and shadows flew away1 the day having discovered their insufficiency in not reaching to the inside of the cup1 to the cleansing of the conscience2 and all elementary services were expired in and by ,him that is the substance of all4 ,and to this great and blessed end of the dispensation of the ,son of ,god1 did the apostles testify1 whom he had chosen and anointed by his ,spirit1 to turn the ,jews from their prejudice and superstition1 and the ,gentiles from their vanity and idolatry1 to ,christ's ,light and ,spirit that shined in them2 that they might be quickened from the sins and trespasses in which they were dead1 to serve the living ,god in the newness of the ,spirit of life1 and walk as children of the light1 and of the day1 even the day of holiness3 for such 8put on ,christ10 the light of the world1 8and make no more provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof40 ,so that the ,light1 ,spirit1 and ,grace that comes by ,christ1 and appears in man1 was what the apostles ministered from1 and turned people's minds unto1 and in which they gathered and built up the churches of ,christ in their day4 ,for which cause they advised them not to quench the ,spirit1 but wait for the ,spirit1 and speak by the ,spirit1 and pray by the ,spirit1 and walk in the ,spirit too1 as that which approved them the truly begotten children of ,god2 8born1 not of flesh and blood1 or of the will of man1 but of the will of ,god20 by doing his will1 and denying their own2 by drinking of ,christ's cup1 and being baptised with his baptism of self-denial3 the way and path that all the heirs of life have trod to blessedness4 ,but1 alas6 even in the apostles' days1 those bright stars of the first magnitude of the ,gospel light1 some clouds1 foretelling an eclipse of this primitive glory1 began to appear1 and several of them gave early caution of it to the ,christians of their time2 that even then there was1 and yet would be more and more1 a falling away from the power of godliness1 and the purity of that spiritual dispensation1 by such as sought to make a fair show in the flesh1 but with whom the offence of the cross ceased2 yet with this comfortable conclusion1 that they saw beyond it a more glorious time than ever1 to the true church4 ,their sight was true1 and what they foretold to the churches1 gathered by them in the name and power of ,jesus1 came so to pass3 for ,christians degenerated apace into outsides1 as days1 and meats1 and divers other ceremonies4 ,and which was worse1 they fell into strife and contention about them1 separating one from another1 then envying1 and as they had power1 persecuting one another1 to the shame and scandal of their common ,christianity1 and grievous stumbling and offence to the heathen1 among whom the ,lord had so long and so marvellously preserved them4 ,and having got at last the worldly power into their hands1 by kings and emperors embracing the ,christian profession1 they changed what they could1 the kingdom of ,christ1 which is not of this world1 into a worldly kingdom2 or at least styled the worldly kingdom that was in their hands the kingdom of ,christ1 and so they became worldly1 and not true ,christians4 ,then human inventions and novelties1 both in doctrine and worship1 crowded fast into the church2 a door being opened thereunto by the grossness and carnality that appeared then among the generality of ,christians2 who had long since left the guidance of ,god's meek and heavenly ,spirit1 and given themselves up to superstition1 will-worship1 and voluntary humility4 ,and as superstition is blind1 so it is heady and furious2 for all must stoop to its blind and boundless zeal1 or perish by it3 in the name of the ,spirit1 persecuting the very appearance of the ,spirit of ,god in others1 and opposing that in them which they resisted in themselves1 viz41 the ,light1 ,grace1 and ,spirit of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 but always under the notion of innovation1 heresy1 schism1 or some such plausible name4 ,though ,christianity allows of no name or pretence whatever for persecuting any man for matters of mere religion2 religion being in its very nature1 meek1 gentle1 and forbearing2 and consists of faith1 hope1 and charity1 which no persecutor can have1 whilst he remains a persecutor2 in that a man cannot believe well1 or hope well1 or have a charitable or tender regard to another1 whilst he would violate his mind or persecute his body for matters of faith or worship towards his ,god4 ,thus the false church sprang up1 and mounted the chair4 ,but though she lost her nature1 she would keep her good name of the ,lamb's bride1 the true church and mother of the faithful2 constraining all to receive her mark1 either in the forehead1 or right hand1 publicly or privately3 but in deed and in truth she was ,mystery1 ,babylon1 the mother of harlots2 mother of those that1 with all their show and outside of religion1 were adulterated and gone from the ,spirit1 nature1 and life of ,christ1 and grown vain1 worldly1 ambitious1 covetous1 cruel1 c41 which are the fruits of the flesh1 and not of the ,spirit4 ,now it was that the true church fled into the wilderness1 that is1 from superstition and violence1 to a retired1 solitary1 and lonely state2 hidden1 and as it were out of sight of men1 though not out of the world3 which shows that her wonted visibility was not essential to the being of a true church in the judgment of the ,holy ,ghost2 she being as true a church in the wilderness1 though not as visible and lustrous1 as when she was in her former splendour of profession4 ,in this state many attempts she made to return1 but the waters were yet too high1 and her way blocked up1 and many of her excellent children1 in several nations and centuries1 fell by the cruelty of superstition1 because they would not fall from their faithfulness to the truth4 ,the last age did set some steps towards it1 both as to doctrine1 worship1 and practice4 ,but practice quickly failed1 for wickedness flowed in a little time1 as well among the professors of the ,reformation1 as those they reformed from2 so that by the fruits of conversation they were not to be distinguished4 ,and the children of the reformers1 if not the reformers themselves1 betook themselves very early to earthly policy and power to uphold and carry on their reformation1 that had been begun with spiritual weapons2 which ,i have often thought has been one of the greatest reasons the ,reformation made no better progress1 as to the life and soul of religion2 for whilst the reformers were lowly and spiritually minded1 and trusted in ,god1 and looked to him1 and lived in his fear1 and consulted not with flesh and blood1 nor sought deliverance in their own way1 there were daily added to the church such as1 one might reasonably say1 should be saved4 ,for they were not so careful to be safe from persecution1 as to be faithful under it1 being more concerned to spread the truth by their faith and patience in tribulation1 than to get the worldly power out of their hands1 that inflicted their sufferings upon them2 and it will be well if the ,lord suffer them not to fall by the very same way they took to stand4 ,in doctrine1 they were in some things short2 in other things1 to avoid one extreme they ran into another2 and for worship1 there was1 for the generality1 more of man than of ,god4 ,they owned the ,spirit1 ,inspiration1 and ,revelation indeed1 and grounded their separation and reformation upon the sense and understanding they received from it1 in the reading of the ,scriptures of ,truth2 and this was their plea1 the ,scripture was the text1 the ,spirit the interpreter1 and that to every one for himself4 ,but yet there was too much of human invention1 tradition1 and art1 that remained both in praying and preaching1 and of worldly authority and worldly greatness in their ministers1 especially in this kingdom1 ,sweden1 ,denmark1 and some parts of ,germany4 ,god was therefore pleased among us1 to shift from vessel to vessel3 and the next remove humbled the ministry1 so that they were more strict in preaching1 devout in praying1 and zealous for keeping the ,lord's day1 and catechising children and servants1 and repeating at home in their families what they had heard in public4 ,but even as these grew into power1 they were not only for whipping some out1 but others into the temple2 and they appeared rigid in their spirits1 rather than severe in their lives1 and more for a party than for piety2 which brought forth another people1 that were yet more retired and select4 ,they would not communicate at large1 or in common with others2 but formed churches among themselves of such as could give some account of their conversion1 at least of very promising experiences of the work of ,god's grace upon their hearts1 and under mutual agreements and covenants of fellowship they kept together4 ,these people were somewhat of a softer temper1 and seemed to recommend religion by the charms of its love1 mercy1 and goodness1 rather than by the terrors of its judgments and punishments2 by which the former party would have terrified people into religion4 ,they also allowed greater liberty to prophesy than those before them2 for they admitted any member to speak or pray1 as well as their pastor 7whom they always chose1 and not the civil magistrate71 if such found anything pressing upon them to either duty1 even without the distinction of clergy or laity2 persons of any trade1 be it never so low and mechanical4 ,but alas6 even these people suffered great loss3 for tasting of worldly empire1 and the favour of princes1 and the gain that ensued1 they degenerated but too much4 ,for though they had cried down national churches1 and ministry1 and maintenance too1 some of them1 when it was their own turn to be tried1 fell under the weight of worldly honour and advantage1 got into profitable parsonages too much1 and outlived and contradicted their own principles3 and which was yet worse1 turned some of them absolute persecutors of other men for ,god's sake1 that but so lately came themselves out of the furnace2 which drove many a step farther1 and that was into the water--another baptism1 as believing they were not scripturally baptized2 and hoping to find that presence and power of ,god in submitting to that ordinance1 which they desired and wanted4 ,these people made also profession of neglecting1 if not renouncing1 and censuring1 not only the necessity but use of all human learning as to the ministry2 and all other qualifications to it1 besides the helps and gifts of the ,spirit of ,god1 and those natural and common to men2 and for a time they seemed like ,john of old1 a burning and a shining light to other societies4 ,they were very diligent1 plain1 and serious1 strong in ,scripture1 and bold in profession1 bearing much reproach1 and contradiction3 but that which others fell by1 proved their hurt4 ,for worldly power spoiled them too2 who had enough of it to try them1 what they would do if they had more2 and they rested also too much upon their watery dispensation1 instead of passing on more fully to the fire and ,holy ,ghost1 which was his baptism1 who came with a 8fan in his hand that he might thoroughly 7and not in part only7 purge his floor10 and take away the dross and the tin of his people1 and make a man finer than gold4 ,withal1 they grew high1 rough1 and self-righteous1 opposing further attainment2 too much forgetting the day of their infancy and littleness1 which gave them something of a real beauty2 insomuch that many left them1 and all visible churches and societies1 and wandered up and down1 as sheep without a shepherd1 and as doves without their mates2 seeking their beloved1 but could not find ,him 7as their souls desired to know him7 whom their souls loved above their chiefest joy4 ,these people were called ,seekers by some1 and the ,family of ,love by others2 because1 as they came to the knowledge of one another1 they sometimes met together1 not formally to pray or preach1 at appointed times or places1 in their own wills1 as in times past they were accustomed to do2 but waited together in silence1 and as anything rose in any one of their minds that they thought savoured of a divine spring1 so they sometimes spoke4 ,but so it was1 that some of them not keeping in humility1 and in the fear of ,god1 after the abundance of revelation1 were exalted above measure2 and for want of staying their minds in an humble dependence upon ,him that opened their understandings to see great things in his law1 they ran out in their own imaginations1 and mixing them with those divine openings1 brought forth a monstrous birth1 to the scandal of those that feared ,god1 and waited daily in the temple not made with hands1 for the consolation of ,israel2 the ,jew inward1 and circumcision in spirit4 ,this people obtained the name of ,ranters1 from their extravagant discourses and practices4 ,for they interpreted ,christ's fulfilling of the law for us1 to be a discharging of us from any obligation and duty the law required1 instead of the condemnation of the law for sins past1 upon faith and repentance2 and that now it was no sin to do that which before it was a sin to commit1 the slavish fear of the law being taken off by ,christ1 and all things good that man did1 if he did but do them with the mind and persuasion that it was so4 ,insomuch that divers fell into gross and enormous practices2 pretending in excuse thereof that they could1 without evil1 commit the same act which was sin in another to do2 thereby distinguishing between the action and the evil of it1 by the direction of the mind1 and intention in the doing of it4 ,which was to make sin superabound by the aboundings of grace1 and to turn from the grace of ,god into wantonness1 a securer way of sinning than before2 as if ,christ came not to take away sin1 but that we might sin more freely at his cost1 and with less danger to ourselves4 ,i say1 this ensnared divers1 and brought them to an utter and lamentable loss1 as to their eternal state2 and they grew very troublesome to the better sort of people1 and furnished the looser with an occasion to profane4 ,it was about that very same time1 as you may see in the ensuing annals1 that the eternal1 wise1 and good ,god was pleased1 in his infinite love1 to honour and visit this benighted and bewildered nation with his glorious dayspring from on high2 yea1 with a most sure and certain sound of the ,word of ,light and ,life1 through the testimony of a chosen vessel1 to an effectual and blessed purpose1 can many thousands say1 ,glory be to the name of the ,lord for ever6 ,for as it reached the conscience and broke the heart1 and brought many to a sense and search1 so what people had been vainly seeking without1 with much pains and cost1 they by this ministry found within2 where it was they wanted what they sought for1 viz41 the right way to peace with ,god4 ,for they were directed to the ,light of ,jesus ,christ within them1 as the seed and leaven of the kingdom of ,god2 near all1 because in all1 and ,god's talent to all2 a faithful and true witness and just monitor in every bosom2 the gift and grace of ,god to life and salvation1 that appears to all1 though few regard it4 ,this1 the traditional ,christian1 conceited of himself1 and strong in his own will and righteousness1 and overcome with blind zeal and passion1 either despised as a low and common thing1 or opposed as a novelty1 under many hard names or opprobrious terms2 denying1 in his ignorant and angry mind1 any fresh manifestation of ,god's power and ,spirit in man in these days1 though never more needed to make true ,christians3 not unlike those ,jews of old1 that rejected the ,son of ,god at the very same time that they blindly professed to wait for the ,messiah to come2 because1 alas1 he appeared not among them according to their carnal mind and expectation4 ,this brought forth many abusive books1 which filled the greater sort with envy1 and lesser with rage1 and made the way and progress of this blessed testimony strait and narrow indeed to those that received it4 ,however1 ,god owned his own work1 and this testimony did effectually reach1 gather1 comfort1 and establish1 the weary and heavy laden1 the hungry and thirsty1 the poor and needy1 the mournful and sick of many maladies1 that had spent all upon physicians of no value1 and waited for relief from heaven2 help only from above3 seeing1 upon a serious trial of all things1 nothing else would do but ,christ himself1 the light of his countenance1 a touch of his garment1 and help from his hand1 who cured the poor woman's issue1 raised the centurion's servant1 the widow's son1 the ruler's daughter1 and ,peter's mother2 and like her1 they no sooner felt his power and efficacy upon their souls1 than they gave up to obey him in a testimony to his power1 and with resigned wills and faithful hearts1 through all mockings1 contradictions1 beatings1 prisons1 and many other jeopardies that attended them for his blessed name's sake4 ,and truly1 they were very many and very great2 so that in all human probability they must have been swallowed up quick of the proud and boisterous waves that swelled and beat against them2 but that the ,god of all their tender mercies was with them in his glorious authority1 so that the hills often fled and the mountains melted before the power that filled them2 working mightily for them1 as well as in them1 one ever following the other4 ,by which they saw plainly1 to their exceeding great confirmation and comfort1 8that all things were possible with him with whom they had to do40 ,and that the more that which ,god required seemed to cross man's wisdom1 and expose them to man's wrath1 the more ,god appeared to help and carry them through all to his glory2 insomuch that if ever any people could say in truth1 8,thou art our sun and our shield1 our rock and sanctuary1 and by thee we have leaped over a wall1 and by thee we have run through a troop1 and by thee we have put the armies of the aliens to flight10 these people had right to say it4 ,and as ,god had delivered their souls of the wearisome burdens of sin and vanity1 and enriched their poverty of spirit1 and satisfied their great hunger and thirst after eternal righteousness1 and filled them with the good things of his own house1 and made them stewards of his manifold gifts2 so they went forth to all quarters of these nations1 to declare to the inhabitants thereof1 what ,god had done for them2 what they had found1 and where and how they had found it2 viz41 the way to peace with ,god2 inviting them to come and see and taste for themselves1 the truth of what they declared unto them4 ,and as their testimony was to the principle of ,god in man1 the precious pearl and leaven of the kingdom1 as the only blessed means appointed of ,god to quicken1 convince1 and sanctify man2 so they opened to them what it was in itself1 and what it was given to them for2 how they might know it from their own spirit1 and that of the subtle appearance of the evil one2 and what it would do for all those1 whose minds are turned off from the vanity of the world and its lifeless ways and teachers1 and adhere to this blessed light in themselves1 which discovers and condemns sin in all its appearances1 and shows how to overcome it1 if minded and obeyed in its holy manifestations and convictions2 giving power to such to avoid and resist those things that do not please ,god1 and to grow strong in love1 faith1 and good works2 that so man1 whom sin hath made as a wilderness1 overrun with briars and thorns1 might become as the garden of ,god1 cultivated by his ,divine power1 and replenished with the most virtuous and beautiful plants of ,god's own right hand planting1 to his eternal praise4 ,but these experimental preachers of glad tidings of ,god's truth and kingdom1 could not run when they list1 or pray or preach when they pleased1 but as ,christ their ,redeemer prepared and moved them by his own blessed ,spirit1 for which they waited in their services and meetings1 and spoke as that gave them utterance1 and which was as those having authority1 and not like the dreaming1 dry1 and formal ,pharisees4 ,and so it plainly appeared to the serious-minded1 whose spiritual eye the ,lord ,jesus had in any measure opened2 so that to one was given the word of exhortation1 to another the word of reproof1 to another the word of consolation1 and all by the same ,spirit and in the good order thereof1 to the convincing and edifying of many4 ,and truly they waxed strong and bold through faithfulness2 and by the power and ,spirit of the ,lord ,jesus became very fruitful2 thousands1 in a short time1 being turned to the ,truth through their testimony in ministry and sufferings1 insomuch as in most counties1 and many of the considerable towns of ,england1 meetings were settled1 and daily there were added such as should be saved4 ,for they were diligent to plant and to water1 and the ,lord blessed their labours with an exceeding great increase2 notwithstanding all the opposition made to their blessed progress1 by false rumours1 calumnies1 and bitter persecutions2 not only from the powers of the earth1 but from every one that listed to injure and abuse them2 so that they seemed indeed to be as poor sheep appointed to the slaughter1 and as a people killed all the day long4 ,it were fitter for a volume than a preface1 but so much as to repeat the contents of their cruel sufferings from professors as well as from profane1 and from magistrates as well as from the rabble1 that it may well be said of this abused and despised people1 they went forth weeping and sowed in tears1 bearing testimony to the precious seed1 the seed of the kingdom1 which stands not in words1 the finest1 the highest that man's wit can use1 but in power2 the power of ,christ ,jesus1 to whom ,god the ,father hath given all power in heaven and in earth1 that he might rule angels above1 and men below2 who empowered them1 as their work witnesseth1 by the many that were turned through their ministry from darkness to the light1 and out of the broad into the narrow way1 bringing people to a weighty1 serious1 and godly conversation2 the practice of that doctrine which they taught4 ,and as without this secret ,divine power there is no quickening and regenerating of dead souls1 so the want of this generating and begetting power and life1 is the cause of the little fruit that the many ministries that have been1 and are in the world1 bring forth4 ,o that both ministers and people were sensible of this6 ,my soul is often troubled for them1 and sorrow and mourning compass me about for their sakes4 ,o that they were wise6 ,o that they would consider1 and lay to heart the things that truly and substantially make for their lasting peace6 ,two things are to be briefly touched upon2 the doctrine they taught1 and the example they led among the people4 ,i have already touched upon their fundamental principle1 which is as the corner-stone of their fabric2 and to speak eminently and properly1 their characteristic1 or main distinguishing point or principle1 viz41 the ,light of ,christ within1 as ,god's gift for man's salvation4 ,this1 ,i say1 is as the root of the goodly tree of doctrines that grew and branched out from it1 which ,i shall now mention in their natural and experimental order4 ,first1 ,repentance from dead works to serve the living ,god2 which comprehends three operations1 first1 a sight of sin2 secondly1 a sense and godly sorrow for it2 thirdly1 an amendment for the time to come4 ,this was the repentance they preached and pressed1 and a natural result from the principle they turned all people unto4 ,for of light came sight2 and of sight came sense and sorrow2 and of sense and sorrow came amendment of life2 which doctrine of repentance leads to justification2 that is1 forgiveness of the sins that are past1 through ,christ1 the alone propitiation2 and to the sanctification or purgation of the soul from the defiling habits of sin present2 which is justification in the complete sense of that word2 comprehending both justification from the guilt of the sins that are past1 as if they had never been committed1 through the love and mercy of ,god in ,christ ,jesus2 and the creature's being made inwardly just through the cleansing and sanctifying power and ,spirit of ,christ revealed in the soul which is commonly called sanctification4 ,from hence sprang a second doctrine they were led to declare1 as the mark of the prize of the high calling of all true ,christians1 viz41 perfection from sin1 according to the ,scriptures of ,truth1 which testify it to be the end of ,christ's coming1 the nature of his kingdom1 and for which his ,spirit was given4 ,but they never held a perfection in wisdom and glory in this life1 or from natural infirmities or death1 as some have with a weak or ill mind1 imagined and insinuated against them4 ,this they called a redeemed state1 regeneration1 or the new birth2 teaching everywhere1 according to their foundation1 that unless this work were known1 there was no inheriting of the kingdom of ,god4 ,third1 to an acknowledgment of eternal rewards and punishments1 as they have good reason2 for else of all people1 certainly they must be the most miserable2 who for about forty years have been exceedingly great sufferers for their profession1 and in some cases1 treated worse than the worst of men1 yea1 as the refuse and offscouring of all things4 ,this was the purport of their doctrine and ministry2 which1 for the most part1 is what other professors of ,christianity pretend to hold in words and forms1 but not in the power of godliness2 that has been long lost by men's departing from that principle and ,seed of ,life that is in man1 and which man has not regarded1 but lost the sense of2 and in and by which only he can be quickened in his mind to serve the living ,god in newness of life4 ,for as the life of religion was lost1 and the generality lived and worshipped ,god after their own wills1 and not after the will of ,god1 nor the mind of ,christ1 which stood in the works and fruits of the ,holy ,spirit2 so that which they pressed1 was not notion1 but experience1 not formality1 but godliness2 as being sensible in themselves1 through the work of ,god's righteous judgments1 that without holiness no man should ever see the ,lord with comfort4 ,besides these doctrines1 and out of them1 as the larger branches1 there sprang forth several particular doctrines1 that did exemplify and further explain the truth and efficacy of the general doctrine before observed1 in their lives and examples4 ,as1 ,i4 ,communion and loving one another4 ,this is a noted mark in the mouth of all sorts of people concerning them4 8,they will meet1 they will help and stick one to another40 ,whence it is common to hear some say1 8,look how the ,quakers love and take care of one another40 ,others less moderate will say1 8,the ,quakers love none but themselves02 and if loving one another1 and having an intimate communion in religion1 and constant care to meet to worship ,god and help one another1 be any mark of primitive ,christianity1 they had it1 blessed be the ,lord1 in an ample manner4 ,,ii4 ,to love enemies4 ,this they both taught and practised2 for they did not only refuse to be revenged for injuries done them1 and condemned it as of an unchristian spirit1 but they did freely forgive1 yea1 help and relieve those that had been cruel to them1 when it was in their power to have been even with them2 of which many and singular instances might be given2 endeavouring1 through patience1 to overcome all injustice and oppression1 and preaching this doctrine as ,christian for others to follow4 ,,iii4 ,the sufficiency of truth speaking1 according to ,christ's own form of words1 of ,yea1 ,yea1 and ,nay1 ,nay1 among ,christians without swearing1 both from ,christ's express prohibition1 8,swear not at all10 ,matt4 v42 and for that they being under the tie and bond of truth in themselves there was both no necessity for an oath1 and it would be a reproach to their ,christian veracity to assure their truth by such an extraordinary way of speaking2 but offering at the same time1 to be punished to the full1 for false speaking1 as others for perjury1 if ever guilty of it2 and hereby they exclude with all true1 all false and profane swearing2 for which the land did and doth mourn1 and the great ,god was and is not a little offended with it4 ,,iv4 ,not fighting but suffering1 is another testimony peculiar to this people2 they affirm that ,christianity teacheth people 8to beat their swords into ploughshares1 and their spears into pruning-hooks1 and to learn war no more10 so that the wolf may lie down with the lamb1 and the lion with the calf1 and nothing that destroys be entertained in the hearts of people2 exhorting them to employ their zeal against sin1 and turn their anger against ,satan1 and no longer war one against another2 because all wars and fightings come of men's own hearts' lusts1 according to the apostle ,james1 and not of the meek spirit of ,christ ,jesus1 who is captain of another warfare1 and which is carried on with other weapons4 ,thus1 as truth-speaking succeeded swearing1 so faith and truth succeeded fighting1 in the doctrine and practice of this people4 ,nor ought they for this to be obnoxious to civil government1 since if they cannot fight for it1 neither can they fight against it2 which is no mean security to the state2 nor is it reasonable that people should be blamed for not doing more for others than they can do for themselves4 ,and ,christianity set aside1 if the costs and fruits of war were well considered1 peace1 with its inconveniences1 is generally preferable4 ,but though they were not for fighting1 they were for submitting to government2 and that1 not only for fear1 but for conscience' sake1 where government doth not interfere with conscience2 believing it to be an ordinance of ,god1 and where it is justly administered1 a great benefit to mankind2 though it has been their lot1 through blind zeal in some1 and interest in others1 to have felt the strokes of it with greater weight and rigour than any other persuasion in this age2 whilst they1 of all others 7religion set aside7 have given the civil magistrate the least occasion of trouble in the discharge of his office4 ,v4 ,another part of the character of this people is1 they refuse to pay tithes1 or maintenance to a national ministry1 and that for two reasons2 the one is1 that they believe all compelled maintenance1 even to gospel ministers1 to be unlawful1 because expressly contrary to ,christ's command1 who said1 8,freely you have received1 freely give20 at least that the maintenance of gospel ministers should be free1 and not forced4 ,the other reason of their refusal is1 because those ministers are not gospel ones1 in that the ,holy ,ghost is not their foundation1 but human arts and parts2 so that it is not matter of humour or sullenness1 but pure conscience towards ,god1 that they cannot help to support national ministries where they dwell1 which are but too much and too visibly become ways of worldly advantage and preferment4 ,,vi4 ,not to respect persons1 was another of their doctrines and practices1 for which they were often buffeted and abused4 ,they affirmed it to be sinful to give flattering titles1 or to use vain gestures and compliments of respect2 though to virtue and authority they ever made a difference1 but after their plain and homely manner1 yet sincere and substantial way2 well remembering the example of ,mordecai and ,elihu1 but more especially the command of their ,lord and ,master ,jesus ,christ who forbade his followers to call men ,rabbi1 which implies lord and master1 also the fashionable greetings and salutations of those times2 that so self-love and honour1 to which the proud mind of man is incident1 in his fallen estate1 might not be indulged but rebuked4 ,,vii4 ,they also used the plain language of ,thou and ,thee1 to a single person1 whatever was his degree among men4 ,and indeed the wisdom of ,god was much seen1 in bringing forth this people in so plain an appearance2 for it was a close and distinguishing test upon the spirit of those they came among2 showing their insides and what predominated1 notwithstanding their high and great profession of religion4 ,this1 among the rest1 sounded so harsh to many of them1 and they took it so ill1 that they would say1 8,thou me1 thou my dog2 if thou thouest me1 ,i'll thou thy teeth down thy throat10 forgetting the language they use to ,god in their own prayers1 and the common style of the ,scriptures1 and that it is an absolute and essential propriety of speech2 and what good had their religion done them1 who were so sensibly touched with indignation for the use of this plain1 honest1 and true speech8 ,,viii4 ,they recommended silence by their example1 having very few words upon all occasions2 they were at a word in dealing2 nor could their customers with many words tempt them from it2 having more regard to truth than custom1 to example than gain4 ,they sought solitude2 but when in company1 they would neither use1 nor willingly hear1 unnecessary as well as unlawful discourses2 whereby they preserved their minds pure and undisturbed from unprofitable thoughts and diversions2 nor could they humour the custom of 8,good night1 ,good morrow1 ,god speed20 for they knew the night was good1 and the day was good1 without wishing of either2 and that in the other expression1 the holy name of ,god was too lightly and unthinkingly used1 and therefore taken in vain4 ,besides1 they were words and wishes of course1 and are usually as little meant1 as are love and service in the custom of cap and knee2 and superfluity in those1 as well as in other things1 was burdensome to them2 and therefore they did not only decline to use them1 but found themselves often pressed to reprove the practice4 ,,ix4 ,for the same reason they forbore drinking to people1 or pledging of them1 as the manner of the world is2 a practice that is not only unnecessary1 but they thought evil in the tendencies of it2 being a provocation to drinking more than did people good1 as well as that it was in itself vain and heathenish4 ,x4 ,their way of marriage is peculiar to them2 and is a distinguishing practice from all other societies professing ,christianity4 ,they say that marriage is an ordinance of ,god1 and that ,god only can rightly join man and woman in marriage4 ,therefore they use neither priest nor magistrate1 but the man and woman concerned1 take each other as husband and wife1 in the presence of divers credible witnesses1 8promising unto each other1 with ,god's assistance1 to be loving and faithful in that relation1 till death shall separate them40 ,but1 antecedent to all this1 they first present themselves to the ,monthly ,meeting for the affairs of the church1 where they reside1 there declaring their intentions to take one another as man and wife1 if the said meeting have nothing material to object against it4 ,they are constantly asked the necessary questions1,a as in case of parents1 or guardians1 if they have acquainted them with their intention1 and have their consent1 c4 ,in case it appears they proceeded orderly1 the meeting passes their proposal1 and so records it in their meeting book2 and in case the woman is a widow and hath children1 due care is there taken1 that provision also be made by her for the orphans before the said marriage2 advising the parties concerned to appoint a convenient time and place1 and to give fitting notice to their relations1 and such friends and neighbours1 as they desire should be the witnesses of their marriage3 where they take one another by the hand1 and by name promising reciprocally after the manner before expressed4 ,of all which proceedings1 a narrative1 in the way of certificate1 is made1 to which the said parties first set their hands1 thereby making it their act and deed2 and then divers of the relations1 spectators1 and auditors set their names as witnesses of what they said and signed2 which certificate is afterward registered in the record belonging to the meeting where the marriage is solemnized4 ,which regular method has been1 as it deserves1 adjudged in courts of law a good marriage where it has been disputed and contested1 for want of the accustomed formality of priest and ring1 c41 which ceremonies they have refused1 not out of humour1 but conscience reasonably grounded1 inasmuch as no ,scripture example tells us1 that the priest had any other part of old time1 than that of a witness among the rest1 before whom the ,jews used to take one another3 and therefore this people look upon it as an imposition1 to advance the power and profits of the clergy4 ,and for the use of the ring1 it is enough to say1 that it was a heathenish and vain custom1 and never in practice among the people of ,god1 ,jews1 or primitive ,christians4 ,the words of the usual form1 as 8,with my body ,i thee worship10 c41 are hardly defensible3 in short1 they are more careful1 exact1 and regular than any form now used1 and it is free from the inconveniences other methods are attended with2 their care and checks being so many1 and such1 that no clandestine marriages can be performed among them4 ,,xi4 ,it may not be unfit to say something here of their births and burials1 which make up so much of the pomp and solemnity of too many called ,christians4 ,for births1 the parents name their own children1 which is usually some days after they are born1 and afterward sign a certificate1 for that purpose prepared1 of the birth and name of the child1 or children1 which is recorded in a proper book1 in the ,monthly ,meeting1 to which the parents belong2 avoiding the accustomed ceremonies and festivals4 ,,xii4 ,their burials are performed with the same simplicity4 ,if the corpse of the deceased be near any public meeting place1 it is usually carried thither1 for the more convenient reception of those that accompany it to the ground they bury in1 and it so falls out sometimes1 that while the meeting is gathering for the burial1 some or other have a word of exhortation1 for the sake of the people there met together3 after which1 the body is borne away by the young men1 or those that are of their neighbourhood1 or that were most intimate with the deceased party3 the corpse being in a plain coffin1 without any covering or furniture upon it4 ,at the ground1 they pause some time before they put the body into its grave1 that if any there should have anything upon them to exhort the people1 they may not be disappointed1 and that the relations may the more retiredly and solemnly take their last leave of the corpse of their departed kindred1 and the spectators have a sense of mortality1 by the occasion then given them to reflect upon their own latter end4 ,otherwise they have no set rites or ceremonies on those occasions2 neither do the kindred of the deceased wear mourning1 they looking upon it as a worldly ceremony and piece of pomp2 and that what mourning is fit for a ,christian to have1 at the departure of a beloved relation or friend1 should be worn in the mind1 which is only sensible of the loss2 and the love they had to them1 and remembrance of them1 to be outwardly expressed by a respect to their advice1 and care of those they have left behind them1 and their love of that they loved4 ,which conduct of theirs1 though unmodish or unfashionable1 leaves nothing of the substance of things neglected or undone2 and as they aim at no more1 so that simplicity of life is what they observe with great satisfaction1 though it sometimes happens not to be without the mockeries of the vain world they live in4 ,these things gave them a rough and disagreeable appearance with the generality2 who thought them turners of the world upside down1 as indeed in some sense they were3 but in no other than that wherein ,paul was so charged1 viz41 to bring things back into their primitive and right order again4 ,for these1 and such like practices of theirs1 were not the result of humour1 as some have fancied1 but a fruit of inward sense1 which ,god1 through his fear1 had begotten in them4 ,they did not consider how to contradict the world1 or distinguish themselves2 being none of their business1 as it was not their interest2 no1 it was not the result of consultation1 or a framed design to declare or recommend schism or novelty4 ,but ,god having given them a sight of themselves1 they saw the whole world in the same glass of truth2 and sensibly discerned the affections and passions of men1 and the rise and tendency of things2 what gratified 8the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life1 which are not of the ,father1 but of the world40 ,and from thence sprang1 in that night of darkness and apostacy1 which hath been over people1 through their degeneration from the ,light and ,spirit of ,god1 these and many other vain customs2 which are seen1 by the heavenly day of ,christ which dawns in the soul1 to be1 either wrong in their original1 or1 by time and abuse1 hurtful in their practice4 ,and though these things seemed trivial to some1 and rendered this people stingy and conceited in such persons' opinions2 there was and is more in them than they were aware of4 ,it was not very easy to our primitive ,friends to make themselves sights and spectacles1 and the scorn and derision of the world2 which they easily foresaw must be the consequence of so unfashionable a conversation in it4 ,but herein was the wisdom of ,god seen in the foolishness of these things2 first1 that they discovered the satisfaction and concern that people had in and for the fashions of this world1 notwithstanding their pretences to another2 in that any disappointment about them came so very near them1 that the greatest honesty1 virtue1 wisdom1 and ability were unwelcome without them4 ,secondly1 it seasonably and profitably divided conversation2 for making their society uneasy to their relations and acquaintance1 it gave them the opportunity of more retirement and solitude1 wherein they met with better company1 even the ,lord ,god1 their ,redeemer1 and grew strong in his love1 power1 and wisdom1 and were thereby better qualified for his service2 and the success abundantly showed it3 blessed be the name of the ,lord4 ,and though they were not great and learned in the esteem of this world 7for then they had not wanted followers upon their own credit and authority71 yet they were generally of the most sober of the several persuasions they were in1 and of the most repute for religion2 and many of them of good capacity1 substance1 and account among men4 ,and also some among them neither wanted for parts1 learning1 nor estate2 though then1 as of old1 not many wise1 nor noble1 c41 were called1 or at least received the heavenly call2 because of the cross that attended the profession of it in sincerity2 but neither do parts or learning make men the better ,christians1 though the better orators and disputants2 and it is the ignorance of people about the divine gift that causes that vulgar and mischievous mistake4 ,theory and practice1 expression and enjoyment2 words and life2 are two things4 ,o6 it is the penitent1 the reformed1 the lowly1 the watchful1 the self-denying and holy soul that is the ,christian2 and that frame is the fruit and work of the ,spirit1 which is the life of ,jesus2 whose life1 though hid in ,god the ,father1 is shed abroad in the hearts of them that truly believe4 ,o6 that people did but know this to cleanse them1 to circumcise them1 to quicken them1 and to make them new creatures indeed2 re-created1 or re-generated after ,christ ,jesus unto good works2 that they might live to ,god and not to themselves2 and offer up living prayers and living praises to the living ,god1 through his own living ,spirit1 in which he is only to be worshipped in this gospel day4 ,o6 that they that read me could but feel me2 for my heart is affected with this merciful visitation of the ,father of ,lights and ,spirits1 to this poor nation1 and the whole world1 through the same testimony4 ,why should the inhabitants thereof reject it8 ,why should they lose the blessed benefit of it8 ,why should they not turn to the ,lord with all their hearts1 and say1 from the heart1 8,speak1 ,lord1 for now thy poor servants hear8 ,o6 that thy will may be done1 thy great1 thy good and holy will1 in earth as it is in heaven3 do it in us1 do it upon us1 do what thou wilt with us1 for we are thine and desire to glorify thee our ,creator1 both for that1 and because thou art our ,redeemer2 for thou art redeeming us from the earth2 from the vanities and pollutions of it1 to be a peculiar people unto thee40 ,o6 this were a brave day for ,england1 if so she could say in truth4 ,but alas1 the case is otherwise1 for which some of thine inhabitants1 ,o land of my nativity ,i have mourned over thee with bitter wailing and lamentation4 ,their heads have been indeed as waters1 and their eyes as fountains of tears1 because of thy transgression and stiffneckedness2 because thou wilt not hear and fear1 and return to the ,rock1 even thy ,rock1 ,o ,england6 from whence thou wert hewn4 ,but be thou warned1 ,o land of great profession1 to receive him into thy heart2 behold at that door it is1 he hath stood so long knocking1 but thou wilt yet have none of him4 ,o6 be thou awakened1 lest ,jerusalem's judgments do swiftly overtake thee1 because of ,jerusalem's sins that abound in thee4 ,for she abounded in formality1 but made void the weighty things of ,god's law1 as thou daily doest4 ,she withstood the ,son of ,god in the flesh1 and thou resistest the ,son of ,god in the ,spirit4 ,he would have gathered her as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 and she would not2 so would he have gathered thee out of thy lifeless profession1 and have brought thee to inherit substance1 to have known his power and kingdom1 for which he often knocked within by his grace and ,spirit1 and without1 by his servants and witnesses2 but thou wouldst not be gathered4 ,on the contrary1 as ,jerusalem of old persecuted the manifestation of the ,son of ,god in the flesh1 and crucified him1 and whipped and imprisoned his servants2 so hast thou1 ,o land1 crucified to thyself afresh the ,lord of life and glory1 and done despite to his ,spirit of grace2 slighting the fatherly visitation1 and persecuting the blessed dispensers of it by thy laws and magistrates2 though they have early and late pleaded with thee in the power and ,spirit of the ,lord2 in love and meekness1 that thou mightest know the ,lord and serve him1 and become the glory of all lands4 ,but thou hast evilly entreated and requited them4 ,thou hast set at naught all their counsel1 and wouldst have none of their reproof1 as thou shouldst have done4 ,their appearance was too strait1 and their qualifications were too mean for thee to receive them2 like the ,jews of old1 that cried1 8,is not this the carpenter's son1 and are not his brethren among us2 which of the scribes1 of the learned1 7the orthodox7 believe in him80 prophesying their fall in a year or two1 and making and executing severe laws to bring it to pass2 by endeavouring to terrify them out of their holy way1 or destroying them for abiding faithful to it4 ,but thou hast seen how many governments that rose against them1 and determined their downfall1 have been overturned and extinguished1 and that they are still preserved1 and become a great and a considerable people among the middle sort of thy numerous inhabitants4 ,and notwithstanding the many difficulties1 without and within1 which they have laboured under1 since the ,lord ,god ,eternal first gathered them1 they are an increasing people1 the ,lord still adding unto them1 in divers parts1 such as shall be saved1 if they persevere to the end4 ,and to thee were they1 and are they lifted up as a standard1 and as a city set upon a hill1 and to the nations round about thee1 that in their light thou mayest come to see light1 even in ,christ ,jesus1 the ,light of the world2 and therefore thy ,light1 and ,life too1 if thou wouldst but turn from thy many evil ways1 and receive and obey it4 ,for in the 8,light of the ,lamb1 must the nations of them that are saved walk10 as the ,scriptures testify4 ,remember1 ,o nation of great profession6 how the ,lord has waited upon thee since the days of reformation1 and the many mercies and judgments with which he has pleaded with thee2 awake and arise out of thy deep sleep1 and yet hear his ,word in thy heart1 that thou mayest live4 ,let not this thy day of visitation pass over thy head1 nor neglect thou so great salvation as is this which is come to thy house1 ,o ,england6 ,for why shouldst thou die1 ,o land that ,god desires to bless8 ,be assured it is ,he that has been in the midst of this people1 in the midst of thee1 and no delusion1 as thy mistaken teachers have made thee believe4 ,and this thou shalt find by their marks and fruits1 if thou wilt consider them in the spirit of moderation4 ,i4 ,they were changed men themselves before they went about to change others4 ,their hearts were rent as well as their garments2 and they knew the power and work of ,god upon them4 ,and this was seen by the great alteration it made1 and their stricter course of life1 and more godly conversation1 that immediately followed upon it4 ,,ii4 ,they went not forth1 or preached in their own time and will1 but in the will of ,god1 and spoke not their own studied matter1 but as they were opened and moved of his ,spirit1 with which they were well acquainted in their own conversion2 which cannot be expressed to carnal men so as to give them any intelligible account2 for to such it is as ,christ said1 8like the blowing of the wind1 which no man knows whence it cometh1 or whither it goeth20 yet this proof and seal went along with their ministry1 that many were turned from their lifeless professions1 and the evil of their ways1 to the knowledge of ,god1 and a holy life1 as thousands can witness4 ,and as they freely received what they had to say from the ,lord1 so they freely administered it to others4 ,,iii4 ,the bent and stress of their ministry was conversion to ,god1 regeneration1 and holiness2 not schemes of doctrines and verbal creeds1 or new forms of worship2 but a leaving off in religion1 the superfluous1 and reducing the ceremonious and formal part1 and pressing earnestly the substantial1 the necessary and profitable part2 as all upon a serious reflection must and do acknowledge4 ,,iv4 ,they directed people to a principle by which all that they asserted1 preached and exhorted others to1 might be wrought in them1 and known to them1 through experience1 to be true2 which is a high and distinguishing mark of the truth of their ministry2 both that they knew what they said1 and were not afraid of coming to the test4 ,for as they were bold from certainty1 so they required conformity upon no human authority1 but upon conviction1 and the conviction of this principle1 which they asserted was in them that they preached unto1 and unto that they directed them1 that they might examine and prove the reality of those things which they had affirmed of it1 and its manifestation and work in man4 ,and this is more than many ministries in the world pretend to4 ,they declare of religion1 say many things true in words1 of ,god1 ,christ1 and the ,spirit1 of holiness and heaven2 that all men should repent and mend their lives1 or they will go to hell1 c4 ,but which of them all pretend to speak of their own knowledge and experience2 or ever directed men to a divine principle or agent1 placed of ,god in man1 to help him2 and how to know it1 and wait to feel its power to work that good and acceptable will of ,god in them8 ,some of them indeed have spoken of the ,spirit and the operations of it to sanctification1 and the performance of worship to ,god2 but where and how to find it1 and wait in it to perform this duty1 was yet as a mystery reserved for this further degree of reformation4 ,so that this people did not only in words more than equally press repentance1 conversion1 and holiness1 but did it knowingly and experimentally2 and directed those to whom they preached to a sufficient principle1 and told them where it is1 and by what tokens they might know it1 and which way they might experience the power and efficacy of it to their soul's happiness2 which is more than theory and speculation1 upon which most other ministries depend2 for here is certainty1--a bottom upon which man may boldly appear before ,god in the great day of account4 ,v4 ,they reached to the inward state and condition of people1 which is an evidence of the virtue of their principle1 and of their ministering from it1 and not from their own imaginations1 glosses1 or comments upon ,scripture4 ,for nothing reaches the heart1 but what is from the heart1 or pierces the conscience1 but what comes from a living conscience3 insomuch that as it hath often happened1 where people have under secrecy revealed their state or condition to some choice friends for advice or ease1 they have been so particularly directed in the ministry of this people1 that they have challenged their friends with discovering their secrets1 and telling the preachers their cases4 ,yea1 the very thoughts and purposes of the hearts of many have been so plainly detected1 that they have1 like ,nathaniel1 cried1 out of this inward appearance of ,christ1 8,thou art the ,son of ,god1 thou art the ,king of ,israel40 ,and those that have embraced this divine principle have found this mark of its truth and divinity 7that the woman of ,samaria did of ,christ when in the flesh1 to be the ,messiah1 viz471 8it had told them all that ever they had done20 shown them their insides1 the most inward secrets of their hearts2 and laid judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet2 of which thousands can at this day give in their witness4 ,so that nothing has been affirmed by this people of the power and virtue of this heavenly principle1 that such as have turned to it have not found true1 and more2 and that one half had not been told to them of what they have seen of the power1 purity1 wisdom1 mercy1 and goodness of ,god herein4 ,,vi4 ,the accomplishments with which this principle fitted1 even some of the meanest of this people1 for their work and service2 furnishing some of them with an extraordinary understanding in divine things1 and an admirable fluency and taking way of expression1 which gave occasion to some to wonder1 saying of them1 as of their ,master1 8,is not this such a mechanic's son8 how came he by this learning80 ,as from thence others took occasion to suspect and insinuate they were ,jesuits in disguise1 who have had the reputation of learned men for an age past1 though there was not the least ground of truth for any such reflection4 ,,vii4 ,they came forth1 low1 and despised1 and hated1 as the primitive ,christians did1 and not by the help of worldly wisdom or power1 as former reformations in part did3 but in all things1 it may be said1 this people were brought forth in the cross1 in a contradiction to the ways1 worships1 fashions1 and customs of this world2 yea1 against wind and tide1 that so no flesh might glory before ,god4 ,,viii4 ,they could have no design to themselves in this work1 thus to expose themselves to scorn and abuse1 to spend and be spent2 leaving wife and children1 house and land1 and all that can be accounted dear to men1 with their lives in their hands1 being daily in jeopardy1 to declare this primitive message1 revived in their spirits by the good ,spirit and power of ,god1 viz41 8,that ,god is light1 and in him is no darkness at all2 and that he has sent his ,son a light into the world to enlighten all men in order to salvation2 and that they that say they have fellowship with ,god and are his children and people1 and yet walk in darkness1 viz41 in disobedience to the light in their consciences1 and after the vanity of this world1 lie1 and do not the truth4 ,but that all such as love the light1 and bring their deeds to it1 and walk in the light1 as ,god is in the light1 the blood of ,jesus ,christ his ,son should cleanse them from all sin40 ,,ix4 ,their known great constancy and patience in suffering for their testimony1 in all the branches of it1 and that1 sometimes unto death1 by beatings1 bruisings1 long and crowded imprisonments1 and noisome dungeons4 ,four of them in ,new ,england dying by the hands of the executioner1 purely for preaching amongst that people2 besides banishments and excessive plunders and sequestrations of their goods and estates1 almost in all parts1 not easily to be expressed1 and less to be endured1 but by those that have the support of a good and glorious cause3 refusing deliverance by any indirect ways or means1 as often as it was offered to them4 ,x4 ,that they did not only not show any disposition to revenge1 when it was at any time in their power1 but forgave their cruel enemies2 showing mercy to those that had none for them4 ,,xi4 ,their plainness with those in authority2 not unlike the ancient prophets1 not fearing to tell them to their faces of their private and public sins2 and their prophecies to them of their afflictions and downfall1 when in the top of their glory3 also of some national judgments1 as of the plague1 and fire of ,london1 in express terms1 and likewise particular ones to divers persecutors1 which accordingly overtook them1 and which were very remarkable in the places where they dwelt1 and in time they may be made public for the glory of ,god4 ,thus1 reader1 thou seest this people in their rise1 principles1 ministry1 and progress1 both their general and particular testimony1 by which thou mayest be informed how and upon what foot they sprung1 and became so considerable a people4 ,it remains next that ,i show also their care1 conduct1 and discipline1 as a ,christian and reformed ,society1 that they might be found living up to their own principles and profession4 ,and this1 the rather1 because they have hardly suffered more in their character from the unjust charge of error1 than by the false imputation of disorder2 which calumny indeed has not failed to follow all the true steps that were ever made to reformation1 and under which reproach none suffered more than the primitive ,christians themselves1 that were the honour of ,christianity1 and the great lights and examples of their own and succeeding ages4 ,this people increasing daily1 both in town and country1 a holy care fell upon some of the elders among them1 for the benefit and service of the church4 ,and the first business in their view1 after the example of the primitive saints1 was the exercise of charity2 to supply the necessities of the poor1 and answer the like occasions4 ,wherefore collections were early and liberally made for that and divers other services in the church1 and entrusted with faithful men1 fearing ,god1 and of good report1 who were not weary in well-doing2 adding often of their own1 in large proportions1 which they never brought to account1 or desired should be known1 much less restored to them1 that none might want1 nor any service be retarded or disappointed4 ,they were also very careful that every one that belonged to them1 answered their profession in their behaviour among men upon all occasions2 that they lived peaceably1 and were in all things good examples4 ,they found themselves engaged to record their sufferings and services2 and in case of marriage1 which they could not perform in the usual methods of the nation1 but among themselves1 they took care that all things were clear between the parties and all others4 ,and it was rare then1 that any one entertained such inclinations to a person on that account1 till he or she had communicated it secretly to some very weighty and eminent friends among them1 that they might have a sense of the matter2 looking to the counsel and unity of their brethren as of great moment to them4 ,but because the charge of the poor1 the number of orphans1 marriages1 sufferings1 and other matters multiplied1 and that it was good that the churches were in some way and method of proceeding in such affairs among them1 to the end they might the better correspond upon occasion1 where a member of one meeting might have to do with one of another2 it pleased the ,lord1 in his wisdom and goodness1 to open the understanding of the first instrument of this dispensation of life1 about a good and orderly way of proceeding2 and he felt a holy concern to visit the churches in person throughout this nation1 to begin and establish it among them2 and by his epistles the like was done in other nations and provinces abroad2 which he also afterwards visited1 and helped in that service1 as shall be observed when ,i come to speak of him4 ,now the care1 conduct1 and discipline ,i have been speaking of1 and which are now practised among this people1 are as followeth3-- ,this godly elder1 in every county where he travelled1 exhorted them1 that some out of every meeting of worship1 should meet together once in the month1 to confer about the wants and occasions of the church4 ,and as the case required1 so those monthly meetings were fewer or more in number in every respective county2 four or six meetings of worship usually making one monthly meeting of business4 ,and accordingly the brethren met him from place to place1 and began the said meetings1 viz41 for the ,poor2 ,orphans2 ,orderly ,walking2 ,integrity to their ,profession2 ,births1 ,marriages1 ,burials1 ,sufferings1 c4 ,and that these monthly meetings should1 in each county1 make up one quarterly meeting1 where the most zealous and eminent friends of the county should assemble to communicate1 advise1 and help one another1 especially when any business seemed difficult1 or a monthly meeting was tender of determining a matter4 ,also these quarterly meetings should digest the reports of the monthly meetings1 and prepare one for the county1 against the yearly meeting1 in which the quarterly meetings resolve1 which is held yearly in ,london2 where the churches in this nation and other nations#a and provinces meet1 by chosen members of their respective counties1 both mutually to communicate their church affairs1 and to advise1 and be advised in any depending case to edification2 also to provide a requisite stock for the discharge of general expenses for general services in the church1 not needful to be here particularized4 ,footnote #a3 ,at present 7#ahia71 there are eleven ,yearly ,meetings on the ,american continent also1 in association with each other1 and with that of ,london4 ,at these meetings any of the members of the churches may come if they please1 and speak their minds freely1 in the fear of ,god1 to any matter2 but the mind of each meeting therein represented is chiefly understood1 as to particular cases1 in the sense delivered by the persons deputed or chosen for that purpose4 ,during their yearly meeting1 to which their other meetings refer in their order and resolve themselves1 care is taken by a select number1 for that service chosen by the general assembly1 to draw up the minutes#b of the said meeting1 upon the several matters that have been under consideration therein1 to the end that the respective quarterly and monthly meetings may be informed of all proceedings1 together with a general exhortation to holiness1 unity1 and charity4 ,of all which proceedings in yearly1 quarterly1 and monthly meetings1 due record is kept by some one appointed for that service1 or that hath voluntarily undertaken it4 ,these meetings are opened1 and usually concluded1 in their solemn waiting upon ,god1 who is sometimes graciously pleased to answer them with as signal evidences of his love and presence1 as in any of their meetings for worship4 ,footnote #b3 ,this is not now quite correct4 ,a committee still draws up the ,general ,epistle2 but the minutes of the transactions of the meeting are made as matters occur during its several sittings4 ,it is further to be noted1 that in these solemn assemblies for the church's service1 there is no one who presides among them after the manner of the assemblies of other people2 ,christ only being their president1 as he is pleased to appear in life and wisdom in any one or more of them1 to whom1 whatever be their capacity or degree1 the rest adhere with a firm unity1 not of authority but conviction1 which is the divine authority and way of ,christ's power and ,spirit in his people3 making good his blessed promise1 8that he would be in the midst of his1 where and whenever they were met together in his name1 even to the end of the world40 ,so be it4 ,now it may be expected1 ,i should here set down what sort of authority is exercised by this people1 upon such members of their society1 as correspond not in their lives with their profession1 and that are refractory to this good and wholesome order settled among them2 and the rather1 because they have not wanted their reproach and suffering from some tongues1 upon this occasion1 in a plentiful manner4 ,the power they exercise is such as ,christ has given to his own people1 to the end of the world1 in the persons of his disciples1 viz41 8to oversee1 exhort1 reprove10 and after long suffering and waiting upon the disobedient and refractory1 8to disown them1 as any more of their communion1 or that they will any longer stand charged in the sight and judgment of ,god or men1 with their conversation or behaviour as one of them until they repent40 ,the subject matter about which this authority1 in any of the foregoing branches of it1 is exercised1 is first1 in relation to common and general practice2 and secondly1 about those things that more strictly refer to their own character and profession1 and distinguish them from all other professors of ,christianity2 avoiding two extremes upon which many split1 viz41 persecution and libertinism2 that is1 a coercive power to whip people into the temple2 that such as will not conform1 though against faith and conscience1 shall be punished in their persons or estates2 or leaving all loose and at large1 as to practice1 unaccountable to all but ,god and the magistrate4 ,to which hurtful extreme nothing has more contributed than the abuse of church power1 by such as suffer their passions and private interests to prevail with them to carry it to outward force and corporal punishment--a practice they have been taught to dislike1 by their extreme sufferings1 as well as their known principle for an universal liberty of conscience4 ,on the other hand1 they equally dislike an independency in society1 an unaccountableness in practice and conversation to the terms of their own communion1 and to those that are the members of it4 ,they distinguish between imposing any practice that immediately regards faith or worship 7which is never to be done1 nor suffered1 or submitted unto71 and requiring ,christian compliance with those methods that only respect church-business in its more civil part and concern1 and that regard the discreet and orderly maintenance of the character of the society1 as a sober and religious community4 ,in short1 what is for the promotion of holiness and charity1 that men may practice what they profess1 live up to their own principles1 and not be at liberty to give the lie to their own profession1 without rebuke1 is their use and limit of church power4 ,they compel none to them1 but oblige those that are of them to walk suitably1 or they are denied by them2 that is all the mark they set upon them1 and the power they exercise1 or judge a ,christian society can exercise1 upon those that are the members of it4 ,the way of their proceeding against one who has lapsed or transgressed is this4 ,he is visited by some of them1 and the matter of fact laid home to him1 be it any evil practice against known and general virtue1 or any branch of their particular testimony1 which he1 in common1 professeth with them4 ,they labour with him in much love and zeal for the good of his soul1 the honour of ,god1 and reputation of their profession1 to own his fault and condemn it1 in as ample a manner as the evil or scandal was given by him2 which1 for the most part1 is performed by some written testimony under the party's hand2 and if it so happen that the party proves refractory1 and is not willing to clear the truth they profess from the reproach of his or her evil-doing or unfaithfulness1 they1 after repeated entreaties and due waiting for a token of repentance1 give forth a paper to disown such a fact1 and the party offending2 recording the same as a testimony of their care for the honour of the truth they profess4 ,and if such shall clear their profession and themselves1 by sincere acknowledgment of their fault1 and godly sorrow for so doing1 they are received and looked upon again as members of their communion4 ,for as ,god1 so his true people1 upbraid no man after repentance4 ,this is the account ,i had to give of the people of ,god called ,quakers1 as to their rise1 appearance1 principles1 and practices1 in this age of the world1 both with respect to their faith and worship1 discipline and conversation4 ,and ,i judge it very proper in this place1 because it is to preface the ,journal of the first blessed and glorious instrument of this work1 and for a testimony to him in his singular qualifications and services1 in which he abundantly excelled in this day1 and which are worthy to be set forth as an example to all succeeding times2 to the glory of the most high ,god1 and for a just memorial to that worthy and excellent man1 his faithful servant and apostle to this generation of the world4 ,i am now come to the third head or branch of my ,preface1 viz41 the instrumental author4 ,for it is natural for some to say1 ,well1 here is the people and work1 but where and who was the man1 the instrument8 he that in this age was sent to begin this work and people8 ,i shall1 as ,god shall enable me1 declare who and what he was1 not only by report of others1 but from my own long and most inward converse1 and intimate knowledge of him2 for which my soul blesseth ,god1 as it hath often done2 and ,i doubt not1 that by the time ,i have discharged myself of this part of my ,preface1 my serious readers will believe ,i had good cause so to do4 ,the blessed instrument of this work in this day of ,god1 of whom ,i am now about to write1 was ,,george ,,fox1 distinguished from another of that name1 by that other's addition of ,younger to his name in all his writings2 not that he was so in years1 but that he was so in the truth2 but he was also a worthy man1 witness1 and servant of ,god in his time4 ,but this ,george ,fox was born in ,leicestershire1 about the year #afbd4 ,he descended of honest and sufficient parents1 who endeavoured to bring him up1 as they did the rest of their children1 in the way and worship of the nation2 especially his mother1 who was a woman accomplished above most of her degree in the place where she lived4 ,but from a child he appeared of another frame of mind than the rest of his brethren2 being more religious1 inward1 still1 solid1 and observing1 beyond his years1 as the answers he would give1 and the questions he would put upon occasion1 manifested to the astonishment of those that heard him1 especially in divine things4 ,his mother taking notice of his singular temper1 and the gravity1 wisdom1 and piety that very early shined through him1 refusing childish and vain sports and company1 when very young1 she was tender and indulgent over him1 so that from her he met with little difficulty4 ,as to his employment1 he was brought up in country business3 and as he took most delight in sheep1 so he was very skilful in them2 an employment that very well suited his mind in several respects1 both from its innocency and solitude2 and was a just figure of his after ministry and service4 ,i shall not break in upon his own account1 which is by much the best that can be given1 and therefore desire1 what ,i can1 to avoid saying any thing of what is said already1 as to the particular passages of his coming forth2 but1 in general1 when he was somewhat above twenty1 he left his friends1 and visited the most retired and religious people in those parts2 and some there were in this nation1 who waited for the consolation of ,israel night and day2 as ,zacharias1 ,anna1 and good old ,simeon did of old time4 ,to these he was sent1 and these he sought out in the neighbouring counties1 and among them he sojourned till his more ample ministry came upon him4 ,at this time he taught1 and was an example of silence1 endeavouring to bring them from self-performances1 testifying and turning to the ,light of ,christ within them1 and encouraging them to wait in patience to feel the power of it to stir in their hearts1 that their knowledge and worship of ,god might stand in the power of an endless life1 which was to be found in the ,light1 as it was obeyed in the manifestation of it in man4 8,for in the ,word was ,life1 and that ,life is the ,light of men10 ,life in the ,word1 ,light in men--and ,life in men too1 as the ,light is obeyed2 the children of the ,light living in the ,life of the ,word1 by which the ,word begets them again to ,god1 which is the regeneration and new birth1 without which there is no coming unto the kingdom of ,god2 and which1 whoever comes to1 is greater than ,john1 that is1 than ,john's dispensation1 which was not that of the kingdom1 but the consummation of the legal1 and forerunning of the gospel dispensation4 ,accordingly1 several meetings were gathered in those parts2 and thus his time was employed for some years4 ,in #afeb1 he being in his usual retirement to the ,lord upon a very high mountain1 in some of the higher parts of ,yorkshire1 as ,i take it1 his mind exercised towards the ,lord1 he had a vision of the great work of ,god in the earth1 and of the way that he was to go forth to begin it4 ,he saw people as thick as motes in the sun1 that should in time be brought home to the ,lord2 that there might be but one shepherd and one sheepfold in all the earth4 ,there his eye was directed northward1 beholding a great people that should receive him and his message in those parts4 ,upon this mountain he was moved of the ,lord to sound forth his great and notable day1 as if he had been in a great auditory1 and from thence went north1 as the ,lord had shown him2 and in every place where he came1 if not before he came to it1 he had his particular exercise and service shown to him1 so that the ,lord was his leader indeed2 for it was not in vain that he travelled1 ,god in most places sealing his commission with the convincement of some of all sorts1 as well publicans as sober professors of religion4 ,some of the first and most eminent of them which are at rest1 were ,richard ,farnsworth1 ,james ,naylor1 ,william ,dewsbury1 ,francis ,howgill1 ,edward ,burrough1 ,john ,camm1 ,john ,audland1 ,richard ,hubberthorn1 ,t4 ,taylor1 ,john ,aldam1 ,t4 ,holmes1 ,alexander ,parker1 ,william ,simpson1 ,william ,caton1 ,john ,stubbs1 ,robert ,widders1 ,john ,burnyeat1 ,robert ,lodge1 ,thomas ,salthouse1 and many more worthies1 that cannot be well here named1 together with divers yet living of the first and great convincement1 who1 after the knowledge of ,god's purging judgments in themselves1 and some time of waiting in silence upon him1 to feel and receive power from on high to speak in his name 7which none else rightly can1 though they may use the same words71 felt the divine motions1 and were frequently drawn forth1 especially to visit the public assemblies1 to reprove1 inform1 and exhort them2 sometimes in markets1 fairs1 streets1 and by the highway-side1 calling people to repentance1 and to turn to the ,lord with their hearts as well as their mouths2 directing them to the ,light of ,christ within them1 to see1 examine1 and consider their ways by1 and to eschew the evil1 and do the good and acceptable will of ,god4 ,they suffered great hardships for this their love and goodwill1 being often put in the stocks1 stoned1 beaten1 whipped1 and imprisoned1 though honest men and of good report where they lived1 that had left wives and children1 and houses and lands1 to visit them with a living call to repentance4 ,and though the priests generally set themselves to oppose them1 and write against them1 and insinuated most false and scandalous stories to defame them1 stirring up the magistrates to suppress them1 especially in those northern parts2 yet ,god was pleased so to fill them with his living power1 and give them such an open door of utterance in his service1 that there was a mighty convincement over those parts4 ,and through the tender and singular indulgence of ,judge ,bradshaw and ,judge ,fell1 who were wont to go that circuit in the infancy of things1 the priests were never able to gain the point they laboured for1 which was to have proceeded to blood1 and1 if possible1 ,herod-like1 by a cruel exercise of the civil power1 to have cut them off and rooted them out of the country4 ,especially ,judge ,fell1 who was not only a check to their rage in the course of legal proceedings1 but otherwise upon occasion1 and finally countenanced this people2 for his wife receiving the truth with the first1 it had that influence upon his spirit1 being a just and wise man1 and seeing in his own wife and family a full confutation of all the popular clamours against the way of truth1 that he covered them what he could1 and freely opened his doors1 and gave up his house to his wife and her friends1 not valuing the reproach of ignorant or evil-minded people1 which ,i here mention to his and her honour1 and which will be1 ,i believe1 an honour and a blessing to such of their name and family1 as shall be found in that tenderness1 humility1 love1 and zeal for the truth and people of the ,lord4 ,that house was for some years at first1 till the truth had opened its way in the southern parts of this island1 an eminent receptacle of this people4 ,others of good note and substance in those northern counties1 had also opened their houses with their hearts1 to the many publishers1 that in a short time the ,lord had raised to declare his salvation to the people1 and where meetings of the ,lord's messengers were frequently held1 to communicate their services and exercises1 and comfort and edify one another in their blessed ministry4 ,but lest this may be thought a digression1 having touched upon this before1 ,i return to this excellent man2 and for his personal qualities1 both natural1 moral1 and divine1 as they appeared in his converse with his brethren1 and in the church of ,god1 take as follows3-- ,i4 ,he was a man that ,god endued with a clear and wonderful depth1 a discerner of others' spirits1 and very much a master of his own4 ,and though the side of his understanding which lay next to the world1 and especially the expression of it1 might sound uncouth and unfashionable to nice ears1 his matter was nevertheless very profound2 and would not only bear to be often considered1 but the more it was so1 the more weighty and instructing it appeared4 ,and as abruptly and brokenly as sometimes his sentences would fall from him1 about divine things1 it is well known they were often as texts to many fairer declarations4 ,and indeed it showed1 beyond all contradiction1 that ,god sent him2 that no arts or parts had any share in the matter or manner of his ministry2 and that so many great1 excellent1 and necessary truths as he came forth to preach to mankind1 had therefore nothing of man's wit or wisdom to recommend them2 so that as to man he was an original1 being no man's copy4 ,and his ministry and writings show they are from one that was not taught of man1 nor had learned what he said by study4 ,nor were they notional or speculative1 but sensible and practical truths1 tending to conversion and regeneration1 and the setting up of the kingdom of ,god in the hearts of men2 and the way of it was his work4 ,so that ,i have many times been overcome in myself1 and been made to say1 with my ,lord and ,master upon the like occasion2 8,i thank thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of this world1 and revealed them to babes40 ,for many times hath my soul bowed in an humble thankfulness to the ,lord1 that he did not choose any of the wise and learned of this world to be the first messenger1 in our age1 of his blessed truth to men2 but that he took one that was not of high degree1 or elegant speech1 or learned after the way of this world1 that his message and work he sent him to do1 might come with less suspicion or jealousy of human wisdom and interest1 and with more force and clearness upon the consciences of those that sincerely sought the way of truth in the love of it4 ,i say1 beholding with the eye of my mind1 which the ,god of heaven had opened in me1 the marks of ,god's finger and hand visibly1 in this testimony1 from the clearness of the principle1 the power and efficacy of it1 in the exemplary sobriety1 plainness1 zeal1 steadiness1 humility1 gravity1 punctuality1 charity1 and circumspect care in the government of church affairs1 which shined in his and their life and testimony that ,god employed in this work1 it greatly confirmed me that it was of ,god1 and engaged my soul in a deep love1 fear1 reverence1 and thankfulness for his love and mercy therein to mankind2 in which mind ,i remain1 and shall1 ,i hope1 to the end of my days4 ,,ii4 ,in his testimony or ministry1 he much laboured to open truth to the people's understandings1 and to bottom them upon the principle and principal1 ,christ ,jesus1 the ,light of the world1 that by bringing them to something that was of ,god in themselves1 they might the better know and judge of him and themselves4 ,,iii4 ,he had an extraordinary gift in opening the ,scriptures4 ,he would go to the marrow of things1 and show the mind1 harmony1 and fulfilling of them with much plainness1 and to great comfort and edification4 ,,iv4 ,the mystery of the first and second ,adam1 of the fall and restoration1 of the law and gospel1 of shadows and substance1 of the servant's and ,son's state1 and the fulfilling of the ,scriptures in ,christ1 and by ,christ1 the true ,light1 in all that are his through the obedience of faith1 were much of the substance and drift of his testimonies4 ,in all which he was witnessed to be of ,god1 being sensibly felt to speak that which he had received of ,christ1 and which was his own experience1 in that which never errs nor fails4 ,v4 ,but above all he excelled in prayer4 ,the inwardness and weight of his spirit1 the reverence and solemnity of his address and behaviour1 and the fewness and fulness of his words1 have often struck1 even strangers1 with admiration1 as they used to reach others with consolation4 ,the most awful1 living1 reverent frame ,i ever felt or beheld1 ,i must say1 was his in prayer4 ,and truly it was a testimony he knew and lived nearer to the ,lord than other men2 for they that know ,him most1 will see most reason to approach him with reverence and fear4 ,,vi4 ,he was of an innocent life1 no busy-body1 nor self-seeker1 neither touchy nor critical2 what fell from him was very inoffensive if1 not very edifying4 ,so meek1 contented1 modest1 easy1 steady1 tender1 it was a pleasure to be in his company4 ,he exercised no authority but over evil1 and that everywhere and in all2 but with love1 compassion1 and long-suffering4 ,a most merciful man1 as ready to forgive1 as unapt to take or give an offence4 ,thousands can truly say1 he was of an excellent spirit and savour among them1 and because thereof1 the most excellent spirits loved him with an unfeigned and unfading love4 ,,vii4 ,he was an incessant labourer2 for in his younger time1 before his many great and deep sufferings and travels had enfeebled his body for itinerant services1 he laboured much in the word1 and doctrine1 and discipline in ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,ireland1 turning many to ,god1 and confirming those that were convinced of the truth1 and settling good order as to church affairs among them4 ,and towards the conclusion of his travelling services1 between the years #afga and #afgg1 he visited the churches of ,christ in the plantations in ,america1 and in the ,united ,provinces1 and ,germany1 as his following ,journal relates1 to the convincement and consolation of many4 ,after that time he chiefly resided in and about the city of ,london2 and besides the services of his ministry1 which were frequent and serviceable1 he wrote much1 both to them that are within1 and those that are without1 the communion4 ,but the care he took of the affairs of the church in general was very great4 ,,viii4 ,he was often where the records of the affairs of the church are kept1 and the letters from the many meetings of ,god's people over all the world1 where settled1 come upon occasions2 which letters he had read to him1 and communicated them to the meeting that is weekly#c held there for such services2 and he would be sure to stir them up to discharge them1 especially in suffering cases1 showing great sympathy and compassion upon all such occasions1 carefully looking into the respective cases1 and endeavouring speedy relief1 according to the nature of them4 ,so that the churches1 or any of the suffering members thereof1 were sure not to be forgotten or delayed in their desires1 if he were there4 ,footnote #c3 ,called the ,meeting for ,sufferings1 and now held monthly1 except exigencies require more frequent sittings4 ,,ix4 ,as he was unwearied1 so he was undaunted in his services for ,god and his people2 he was no more to be moved to fear than to wrath4 ,his behaviour at ,derby1 ,lichfield1 ,appleby1 before ,oliver ,cromwell1 at ,launceston1 ,scarborough1 ,worcester1 and ,westminster-,hall1 with many other places and exercises1 did abundantly evidence it to his enemies as well as his friends4 ,but as in the primitive times1 some rose up against the blessed apostles of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 even from among those that they had turned to the hope of the gospel1 who became their greatest trouble2 so this man of ,god had his share of suffering from some that were convinced by him1 who through prejudice or mistake ran against him1 as one that sought dominion over conscience2 because he pressed by his presence or epistles1 a ready and zealous compliance with such good and wholesome things as tended to an orderly conversation about the affairs of the church1 and in their walking before men4 ,that which contributed much to this ill work1 was1 in some1 a begrudging of this meek man the love and esteem he had and deserved in the hearts of the people2 and weakness in others1 that were taken with their groundless suggestions of imposition and blind obedience4 ,they would have had every man independent2 that as he had the principle in himself1 he should only stand and fall to that1 and nobody else2 not considering that the principle is one in all2 and though the measure of light or grace might differ1 yet the nature of it was the same2 and being so1 they struck at the spiritual unity1 which a people1 guided by the same principle1 are naturally led into2 so that what is evil to one1 is so to all1 and what is virtuous1 honest1 and of good report to one1 is so to all1 from the sense and savour of the one universal principle which is common to all1 and1 which the disaffected also profess to be1 the root of all true ,christian fellowship1 and that ,spirit into which the people of ,god drink1 and come to be spiritually-minded1 and of one heart and one soul4 ,some weakly mistook good order in the government of church affairs1 for discipline in worship1 and that it was so pressed or recommended by him and other brethren4 ,and they were ready to reflect the same things that ,dissenters had very reasonably objected upon the national churches1 that have coercively pressed conformity to their respective creeds and worships4 ,whereas these things related wholly to conversation1 and the outward 7and as ,i may say7 civil part of the church1 that men should walk up to the principles of their belief1 and not be wanting in care and charity4 ,but though some have stumbled and fallen through mistakes1 and an unreasonable obstinacy1 even to a prejudice2 yet1 blessed be ,god1 the generality have returned to their first love1 and seen the work of the enemy1 that loses no opportunity or advantage by which he may check or hinder the work of ,god1 disquiet the peace of his church1 and chill the love of his people to the truth and one to another2 and there is hope of divers of the few that are yet at a distance4 ,in all these occasions1 though there was no person the discontented struck so sharply at as this good man1 he bore all their weakness and prejudice1 and returned not reflection for reflection2 but forgave them their weak and bitter speeches1 praying for them that they might have a sense of their hurt1 see the subtilty of the enemy to rend and divide1 and return into their first love that thought no ill4 ,and truly1 ,i must say1 that though ,god had visibly clothed him with a divine preference and authority1 and indeed his very presence expressed a religious majesty1 yet he never abused it2 but held his place in the church of ,god with great meekness1 and a most engaging humility and moderation4 ,for upon all occasions1 like his blessed ,master1 he was a servant to all2 holding and exercising his eldership1 in the invisible power that had gathered them1 with reverence to the ,head and care over the body2 and was received only in that spirit and power of ,christ1 as the first and chief elder in this age2 who1 as he was therefore worthy of double honour1 so for the same reason it was given by the faithful of this day2 because his authority was inward and not outward1 and that he got it and kept it by the love of ,god1 and power of an endless life4 ,i write my knowledge and not report1 and my witness is true1 having been with him for weeks and months together on divers occasions1 and those of the nearest and most exercising nature1 and that by night and by day1 by sea and by land1 in this and in foreign countries3 and ,i can say ,i never saw him out of his place1 or not a match for every service or occasion4 ,for in all things he acquitted himself like a man1 yea1 a strong man1 a new and heavenly-minded man2 a divine and a naturalist1 and all of ,god ,almighty's making4 ,i have been surprised at his questions and answers in natural things2 that whilst he was ignorant of useless and sophistical science1 he had in him the foundation of useful and commendable knowledge1 and cherished it everywhere4 ,civil1 beyond all forms of breeding1 in his behaviour2 very temperate1 eating little1 and sleeping less1 though a bulky person4 ,thus he lived and sojourned among us3 and as he lived1 so he died2 feeling the same eternal power1 that had raised and preserved him1 in his last moments4 ,so full of assurance was he1 that he triumphed over death2 and so even in his spirit to the last1 as if death were hardly worth notice or a mention2 recommending to some with him1 the despatch and dispersion of an epistle1 just before written to the churches of ,christ throughout the world1 and his own books2 but above all1 ,friends1 and1 of all ,friends1 those in ,ireland and ,america1 twice over saying1 8,mind poor ,friends in ,ireland and ,america40 ,and to some that came in and inquired how he found himself1 he answered1 8,never heed1 the ,lord's power is over all weakness and death2 the ,seed reigns1 blessed be the ,lord30 which was about four or five hours before his departure out of this world4 ,he was at the great meeting near ,lombard ,street on the first day of the week1 and it was the third following1 about ten at night1 when he left us1 being at the house of ,henry ,goldney at the same court4 ,in a good old age he went1 after having lived to see his children's children1 to many generations1 in the truth4 ,he had the comfort of a short illness1 and the blessing of a clear sense to the last2 and we may truly say1 with a man of ,god of old1 that 8being dead1 he yet speaketh20 and though absent in body1 he is present in spirit2 neither time nor place being able to interrupt the communion of saints1 or dissolve the fellowship of the spirits of the just4 ,his works praise him1 because they are to the praise of ,him that wrought by him2 for which his memorial is1 and shall be blessed4 ,i have done1 as to this part of my ,preface1 when ,i have left this short epitaph to his name3 8,many sons have done virtuously in this day2 but1 dear ,george1 thou excellest them all40 ,and now1 ,friends1 you that profess to walk in the way this blessed man was sent of ,god to turn us into1 suffer1 ,i beseech you1 the word of exhortation1 as well fathers as children1 and elders as young men4 ,the glory of this day1 and foundation of the hope that has not made us ashamed since we were a people1 you know1 is that blessed principle of ,light and ,life of ,christ which we profess1 and direct all people to1 as the great instrument and agent of man's conversion to ,god4 ,it was by this we were first touched1 and effectually enlightened as to our inward state1 which put us upon the consideration of our latter end1 causing us to set the ,lord before our eyes1 and to number our days1 that we might apply our hearts to wisdom4 ,in that day we judged not after the sight of the eye1 or after the hearing of the ear2 but according to the light and sense this blessed principle gave us1 we judged and acted in reference to things and persons1 ourselves and others1 yea1 towards ,god our ,maker4 ,for being quickened by it in our inward man1 we could easily discern the difference of things2 and feel what was right and what was wrong1 and what was fit and what not1 both in reference to religious and civil concerns4 ,that being the ground of the fellowship of all saints1 it was in that our fellowship stood4 ,in this we desired to have a sense one of another1 and acted towards one another1 and all men1 in love1 faithfulness1 and fear4 ,in the feeling of the motions of this principle we drew near to the ,lord1 and waited to be prepared by it1 that we might feel those drawings and movings before we approached the ,lord in prayer1 or opened our mouths in ministry4 ,and in our beginning and ending with this1 stood our comfort1 service1 and edification4 ,and as we ran faster1 or fell short1 we made burdens for ourselves to bear2 our service finding in ourselves a rebuke instead of an acceptance1 and in lieu of 8,well done10 8,who hath required this at your hands80 ,in that day we were an exercised people2 our very countenances and deportment declared it4 ,care for others was then much upon us1 as well as for ourselves1 especially the young convinced4 ,often had we the burden of the word of the ,lord to our neighbours1 relations1 and acquaintance2 and sometimes strangers also4 ,we were in travail for one another's preservation2 not seeking but shunning occasions of any coldness or misunderstanding1 treating one another as those that believed and felt ,god present2 which kept our conversation innocent1 serious1 and weighty1 guarding ourselves against the cares and friendships of the world4 ,we held the truth in the spirit of it1 and not in our own spirits1 or after our own wills and affections4 ,these were bowed and brought into subjection1 insomuch that it was visible to them that knew us4 ,we did not think ourselves at our own disposal1 to go where we list1 or say or do what we list1 or when we list4 ,our liberty stood in the liberty of the ,spirit of ,truth2 and no pleasure1 no profit1 no fear1 no favour1 could draw us from this retired1 strict and watchful frame4 ,we were so far from seeking occasions of company1 that1 we avoided them what we could1 pursuing our own business with moderation1 instead of meddling with other people's unnecessarily4 ,our words were few and savoury1 our looks composed and weighty1 and our whole deportment very observable4 ,true it is1 that this retired and strict sort of life from the liberty of the conversation of the world1 exposed us to the censures of many1 as humourists1 conceited and self-righteous persons1 c42 but it was our preservation from many snares1 to which others were continually exposed from the prevalency of the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life1 that wanted no occasions or temptations to excite them abroad in the converse of the world4 ,i cannot forget the humility and chaste zeal of that day4 ,o how constant at meetings1 how retired in them1 how firm to ,truth's life1 as well as ,truth's principles6 and how entire and united in our communion1 as indeed became those that profess ,one ,head1 even ,christ ,jesus the ,lord6 ,this being the testimony and example the man of ,god before mentioned was sent to declare and leave amongst us1 and we having embraced the same as the merciful visitation of ,god to us1 the word of exhortation at this time is1 that we continue to be found in the way of this testimony with all zeal and integrity1 and so much the more1 by how much the day draweth near4 ,and first1 as to you1 my beloved and much honoured brethren in ,christ1 that are in the exercise of the ministry3 ,oh1 feel ,life in your ministry6 ,let ,life be your commission1 your well-spring and treasury on all such occasions1 else1 you will know1 there can be no begetting to ,god1 since nothing can quicken or make people alive to ,god1 but the ,life of ,god3 and it must be a ministry in and from ,life1 that enlivens any people to ,god4 ,we have seen the fruit of all other ministries1 by the few that are turned from the evil of their ways4 ,it is not our parts or memory1 the repetition of former openings in our own will and time1 that will do ,god's work4 ,a dry1 doctrinal ministry1 however sound in words1 can reach but the ear1 and is but a dream at the best4 ,there is another soundness1 that is soundest of all1 viz41 ,christ the power of ,god4 ,this is the key of ,david1 that opens and none shuts1 and shuts1 and none can open2 as the oil to the lamp1 and the soul to the body1 so is that to the best of words3 which made ,christ to say1 8,my words they are spirit1 and they are life20 that is1 they are from life and therefore they make you alive1 that receive them4 ,if the disciples that had lived with ,jesus were to stay at ,jerusalem till they received it1 so must we wait to receive before we minister1 if we will turn people from darkness to light1 and from ,satan's power to ,god4 ,i fervently bow my knees to the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that you may always be like-minded1 that you may ever wait reverently for the coming and opening of the ,word of ,life1 and attend upon it in your ministry and service1 that you may serve ,god in his ,spirit4 ,and be it little1 or be it much1 it is well2 for much is not too much1 and the least is enough1 if from the motion of ,god's ,spirit2 and without it verily1 ever so little is too much1 because to no profit4 ,for it is the spirit of the ,lord immediately1 or through the ministry of his servants1 that teacheth his people to profit2 and to be sure1 so far as we take him along with us in our services1 so far we are profitable1 and no farther4 ,for if it be the ,lord that must work all things in us1 and for our own salvation1 much more is it the ,lord1 that must work in us1 for the conversion of others4 ,if therefore it was once a cross to us to speak1 though the ,lord required it at our hands1 let it never be so to be silent1 when he does not4 ,it is one of the most dreadful sayings in the book of ,god1 that 8he that adds to the words of the prophecy of this book1 ,god will add the plagues written in this book40 ,to keep back the counsel of ,god is as terrible2 for 8he that takes away from the words of the prophecy of this book1 ,god shall take away his part out of the book of life40 ,and truly1 it has great caution in it to those that use the name of the ,lord1 to be well assured that the ,lord speaks1 that they may not be found of the number of those that add to the words of the testimony of prophecy1 which the ,lord giveth them to bear2 nor yet to mince or diminish the same1 both being so very offensive to ,god4 ,wherefore1 brethren1 let us be careful neither to out-go our ,guide1 nor yet loiter behind him2 since he that makes haste may miss his way1 and he that stays behind1 lose his ,guide3 for even those that have received the word of the ,lord1 had need wait for wisdom1 that they may see how to divide the word aright2 which plainly implieth1 that it is possible for one that hath received the word of the ,lord1 to miss in the division and application of it1 which must come from an impatiency of spirit1 and a self-working1 which makes an unsound and dangerous mixture2 and will hardly beget a right-minded1 living people to ,god4 ,i am earnest in this1 above all other considerations1 as to public brethren1 well knowing how much it concerns the present and future state1 and preservation of the church of ,christ ,jesus1 that has been gathered and built up by a living and powerful minister1 that the ministry be held1 preserved1 and continued in the manifestations1 motions1 and supplies1 of the same life and power1 from time to time4 ,and wherever it is observed that any one does minister more from gifts and parts than life and power1 though they have an enlightened and doctrinal understanding1 let them in time be advised and admonished for their preservation1 because insensibly such will come to depend upon a self-sufficiency2 to forsake ,christ the living ,fountain1 and to hew out unto themselves cisterns that will hold no living waters2 and by degrees draw others from waiting upon the gift of ,god in themselves1 and to feel it in others1 in order to their strength and refreshment1 to wait upon them1 and to turn from ,god to man again1 and so to make shipwreck of the faith once delivered to the saints1 and of a good conscience towards ,god2 which are only kept by that ,divine gift of life1 that begat the one1 and awakened and sanctified the other in the beginning4 ,nor is it enough that we have known the ,divine gift1 and in it have reached to the spirits in prison1 and been the instruments of the convincing of others of the way of ,god1 if we keep not as low and poor in ourselves1 and as depending upon the ,lord as ever2 since no memory1 no repetitions of former openings1 revelations1 or enjoyments1 will bring a soul to ,god1 or afford bread to the hungry1 or water to the thirsty1 unless life go with what we say2 and that must be waited for4 ,o that we may have no other fountain1 treasury or dependence6 that none may presume at any rate to act of themselves for ,god2 because they have long acted from ,god2 that we may not supply want of waiting with our own wisdom1 or think that we may take less care1 and more liberty in speaking1 than formerly2 and that where we do not feel the ,lord by his power to open us and enlarge us1 whatever be the expectation of the people1 or has been our customary supply and character1 we may not exceed or fill up the time with our own4 ,i hope we shall ever remember who it was that said1 8,of yourselves you can do nothing20 our sufficiency is in ,him4 ,and if we are not to speak our own words1 or take thought what we shall say to men in our defence1 when exposed for our testimony1 surely we ought to speak none of our own words1 or take thought what we shall say in our testimony and ministry in the name of the ,lord to the souls of the people2 for then of all times1 and of all other occasions1 should it be fulfilled in us1 8for it is not you that speak1 but the ,spirit of my ,father that speaketh in you40 ,and indeed1 the ministry of the ,spirit must and does keep its analogy and agreement with the birth of the ,spirit2 that as no man can inherit the kingdom of ,god unless he be born of the ,spirit1 so no ministry can beget a soul to ,god but that which is from the ,spirit4 ,for this1 as ,i said before1 the disciples waited before they went forth2 and in this our elder brethren1 and messengers of ,god in our day1 waited1 visited1 and reached to us4 ,and having begun in the ,spirit1 let none ever hope or seek to be made perfect in the flesh4 ,for what is the flesh to the ,spirit1 or the chaff to the wheat8 ,and if we keep in the ,spirit1 we shall keep in the unity of it1 which is the ground of true fellowship4 ,for by drinking into that one ,spirit1 we are made one people to ,god1 and by it we are continued in the unity of the faith1 and the bond of peace4 ,no envying1 no bitterness1 no strife1 can have place with us4 ,we shall watch always for good1 and not for evil1 over one another and rejoice exceedingly and not begrudge one another's increase in the riches of the grace with which ,god replenisheth his faithful servants4 ,and1 brethren1 as to you is committed the dispensation of the oracles of ,god1 which give you frequent opportunities1 and great place with the people among whom you travel1 ,i beseech you that you would not think it sufficient to declare the word of life in their assemblies1 however edifying and comfortable such opportunities may be to you and them4 ,but1 as was the practice of the man of ,god before mentioned1 in great measure1 when among us1 inquire the state of the several churches you visit2 who among them are afflicted or sick1 who are tempted1 and if any are unfaithful or obstinate2 and endeavour to issue those things in the wisdom and power of ,god1 which will be a glorious crown upon your ministry4 ,as that prepares your way in the hearts of the people to receive you as men of ,god1 so it gives you credit with them to do them good by your advice in other respects4 ,the afflicted will be comforted by you2 the tempted1 strengthened2 the sick1 refreshed2 the unfaithful1 convicted and restored2 and such as are obstinate1 softened and fitted for reconciliation3 which is clenching the nail1 and applying and fastening the general testimony by that particular care of the several branches of it1 in reference to them more immediately concerned in it4 ,for though good and wise men1 and elders too1 may reside in such places1 who are of worth and importance in the general1 and in other places2 yet it does not always follow1 that they may have the room they deserve in the hearts of the people they live among2 or some particular occasion may make it unfit for him or them to use that authority4 ,but you that travel as ,god's messengers1 if they receive you in the greater1 shall they refuse you in the less8 ,and if they own the general testimony1 can they withstand the particular application of it in their own cases8 ,thus ye will show yourselves workmen indeed1 and carry your business before you to the praise of ,his name that hath called you from darkness to light1 that you might turn others from ,satan's power unto ,god and his kingdom1 which is within4 ,and ,o that there were more of such faithful labourers in the vineyard of the ,lord6--,never more need since the day of ,god4 ,wherefore ,i cannot but cry and call aloud to you1 that have been long professors of the truth1 and know the truth in the convincing power of it1 and have had a sober conversation among men1 yet content yourselves only to know truth for yourselves1 to go to meetings1 and exercise an ordinary charity in the church1 and an honest behaviour in the world1 and limit yourselves within those bounds2 feeling little or no concern upon your spirits for the glory of the ,lord in the prosperity of his truth in the earth1 more than to be glad that others succeed in such service4 ,arise ye in the name and power of the ,lord ,jesus6 ,behold how white the fields are unto harvest1 in this and other nations1 and how few able and faithful labourers there are to work therein6 ,your country folks1 neighbours1 and kindred1 want to know the ,lord and his truth1 and to walk in it4 ,does nothing lie at your door upon their account8 ,search and see1 and lose no time1 ,i beseech you1 for the ,lord is at hand4 ,i do not judge you1 there is one that judgeth all men1 and his judgment is true4 ,you have mightily increased in your outward substance2 may you equally increase in your inward riches1 and do good with both1 while you have a day to do good4 ,your enemies would once have taken what you had from you1 for his name's sake1 in whom you have believed2 wherefore he has given you much of the world in the face of your enemies4 ,but1 ,o let it be your servant and not your master--your diversion rather than your business6 ,let the ,lord be chiefly in your eye1 and ponder your ways1 and see if ,god has nothing more for you to do2 and if you find yourselves short in your account with him1 then wait for his preparation1 and be ready to receive the word of command1 and be not weary of well-doing1 when you have put your hand to the plough2 and assuredly you shall reap 7if you faint not7 the fruit of your heavenly labour in ,god's everlasting kingdom4 ,and you1 young convinced ones1 be you entreated1 and exhorted to a diligent and chaste waiting upon ,god1 in the way of his blessed manifestation and appearance of himself to you4 ,look not out1 but within4 ,let not another's liberty be your snare4 ,neither act by imitation1 but sense and feeling of ,god's power in yourselves4 ,crush not the tender buddings of it in your souls1 nor overrun in your desires1 and warmness of affections1 the holy and gentle motions of it4 ,remember it is a still voice that speaks to us in this day1 and that it is not to be heard in the noises and hurries of the mind2 but it is distinctly understood in a retired frame4 ,jesus loved and chose solitudes2 often going to mountains1 to gardens1 and sea-sides1 to avoid crowds and hurries1 to show his disciples it was good to be solitary1 and sit loose to the world4 ,two enemies lie near your states1 imagination and liberty2 but the plain1 practical1 living1 holy truth1 that has convinced you1 will preserve you1 if you mind it in yourselves1 and bring all thoughts1 imaginations1 and affections to the test of it1 to see if they are wrought in ,god1 or of the enemy1 or your ownselves4 ,so will a true taste1 discerning1 and judgment1 be preserved to you1 of what you should do and leave undone4 ,and in your diligence and faithfulness in this way you will come to inherit substance3 and ,christ1 the eternal wisdom1 will fill your treasury4 ,and when you are converted1 as well as convinced1 then confirm your brethren1 and be ready to every good word and work1 that the ,lord shall call you to2 that you may be to his praise1 who has chosen you to be partakers1 with the saints in light1 of a kingdom that cannot be shaken1 an inheritance incorruptible1 in eternal habitations4 ,and now1 as for you that are the children of ,god's people1 a great concern is upon my spirit for your good2 and often are my knees bowed to the ,god of your fathers for you1 that you may come to be partakers of the same divine life and power1 that has been the glory of this day2 that a generation you may be to ,god1 a holy nation and a peculiar people1 zealous of good works1 when all our heads are laid in the dust4 ,o you young men and women1 let it not suffice you1 that you are the children of the people of the ,lord6 you must also be born again1 if you will inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,your fathers are but such after the flesh1 and could but beget you in the likeness of the first ,adam2 but you must be begotten into the likeness of the second ,adam by a spiritual generation4 ,and therefore look carefully about you1 ,o ye children of the children of ,god6 consider your standing1 and see what you are in relation to this divine kindred1 family1 and birth4 ,have you obeyed the ,light1 and received and walked in the ,spirit1 that is the incorruptible ,seed of the ,word and kingdom of ,god1 of which you must be born again8 ,god is no respecter of persons4 ,the father cannot save or answer for the child1 or the child for the father1 but 8in the sin thou sinnest1 thou shalt die2 and in the righteousness thou doest1 through ,jesus ,christ1 thou shalt live20 for it is the willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the land4 ,be not deceived1 ,god is not mocked2 such as all nations and people sow1 such they shall reap at the hand of the just ,god4 ,and then your many and great privileges1 above the children of other people1 will add weight in the scale against you1 if you choose not the way of the ,lord4 ,for you have had line upon line1 and precept upon precept1 and not only good doctrine1 but good example2 and which is more1 you have been turned to1 and acquainted with1 a principle in yourselves1 which others have been ignorant of2 and you know1 you may be as good as you please1 without the fear of frowns and blows1 or being turned out of doors and forsaken of father and mother for ,god's sake1 and his holy religion1 as has been the case of some of your fathers1 in the day they first entered into this holy path4 ,if you1 after hearing and seeing the wonders that ,god has wrought in the deliverance and preservation of them1 through a sea of troubles1 and the manifold temporal1 as well as spiritual blessings1 that he has filled them with1 in the sight of their enemies1 should neglect and turn your backs upon so great and so near a salvation1 you would not only be most ungrateful children to ,god and them1 but must expect that ,god will call the children of those that knew him not1 to take the crown out of your hands1 and that your lot will be a dreadful judgment at the hand of the ,lord4 ,but ,o1 that it may never be so with any of you6 ,the ,lord forbid1 saith my soul4 ,wherefore1 ,o ye young men and women1 look to the rock of your fathers6 choose the ,god of your fathers4 ,there is no other ,god but he2 no other ,light but his2 no other grace but his1 nor ,spirit but his1 to convince you1 quicken1 and comfort you3 to lead1 guide1 and preserve you to ,god's everlasting kingdom4 ,so will you be possessors1 as well as professors1 of the truth2 embracing it not only by education1 but judgment and conviction1 from a sense begotten in your souls1 through the operation of the eternal ,spirit and power of ,god in your hearts1 by which you may come to be the seed of ,abraham through faith1 and the circumcision not made with hands1 and so heirs of the promise made to the fathers of an incorruptible crown2 that 7as ,i said before7 a generation you may be to ,god1 holding up the profession of the blessed truth in the life and power of it4 ,for formality in religion is nauseous to ,god and good men2 and the more so1 where any form or appearance has been new and peculiar1 and begun and practised upon a principle1 with an uncommon zeal and strictness4 ,therefore1 ,i say1 for you to fall flat and formal1 and continue the profession1 without that salt and savour1 by which it is come to obtain a good report among men1 is not to answer ,god's love1 nor your parents' care1 nor the mind of truth in yourselves1 nor in those that are without2 who1 though they will not obey the truth1 have sight and sense enough to see if they do1 that make a profession of it4 ,for where the divine virtue of it is not felt in the soul1 and waited for1 and lived in1 imperfections will quickly break out1 and show themselves1 and detect the unfaithfulness of such persons1 and that their insides are not seasoned with the nature of that holy principle which they profess4 ,wherefore1 dear children1 let me entreat you to shut your eyes at the temptations and allurements of this low and perishing world1 and not suffer your affections to be captivated by those lusts and vanities that your fathers1 for truth's sake1 long since turned their backs upon4 ,but as you believe it to be the truth1 receive it into your hearts1 that you may become the children of ,god2 so that it may never be said of you1 as the ,evangelist writes of the ,jews of his time1 that ,christ1 the true ,light1 8came to his own1 but his own received him not2 but to as many as received him1 to them he gave power to become the children of ,god2 which were born1 not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god40 ,a most close and comprehensive passage to this occasion4 ,you exactly and peculiarly answer to those professing ,jews1 in that you bear the name of ,god's people1 by being the children and wearing the form of ,god's people2 so that he1 by his light in you1 may be said to come to his own1 and if you obey it not1 but turn your back upon it1 and walk after the vanities of your minds1 you will be of those that receive him not1 which1 ,i pray ,god1 may never be your case and judgment2 but that you may be thoroughly sensible of the many and great obligations you lie under to the ,lord for his love1 and to your parents for their care2 and with all your heart1 and all your soul1 and all your strength1 turn to the ,lord1 to his gift and ,spirit in you1 and hear his voice1 and obey it1 that you may seal to the testimony of your fathers1 by the truth and evidence of your own experience2 that your children's children may bless you1 and the ,lord for you1 as those that delivered a faithful example1 as well as record of the truth of ,god unto them4 ,so will the grey hairs of your dear parents yet alive1 go down to the grave with joy1 to see you the posterity of truth1 as well as theirs1 and that not only their nature but spirit shall live in you when they are gone4 ,i shall conclude this ,preface with a few words to those that are not of our communion1 into whose hands this may come2 especially those of our own nation4 ,friends1 as you are the sons and daughters of ,adam1 and my brethren after the flesh1 many and earnest have been my desires and prayers to ,god on your behalf1 that you may come to know your ,creator to be your ,redeemer and ,restorer to the image that1 through sin1 you have lost1 by the power and ,spirit of his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 whom he hath given for the light and life of the world4 ,and ,o that you who are called ,christians1 would receive him into your heart6 for there it is you want him1 and at that door he stands knocking1 that you should let him in1 but you do not open to him2 you are full of other guests1 so that a manger is his lot among you now1 as well as of old4 ,yet you are full of profession1 as were the ,jews when he came among them1 who knew him not1 but rejected and evilly entreated him4 ,so that if you come not to the possession and experience of what you profess1 all your formality in religion will stand you in no stead in the day of ,god's judgment4 ,i beseech you ponder with yourselves your eternal condition1 and see what title1 what ground and foundation you have for your ,christianity2 if more than a profession1 and an historical belief of the gospel4 ,have you known the baptism of fire1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 and the fan of ,christ that winnows away the chaff1--the carnal lusts and affections8--that divine leaven of the kingdom1 that1 being received1 leavens the whole lump of man1 sanctifying him throughout1 in body1 soul1 and spirit8 ,if this be not the ground of your confidence1 you are in a miserable state4 ,you will say1 perhaps1 that though you are sinners1 and live in the daily commission of sin1 and are not sanctified1 as ,i have been speaking1 yet you have faith in ,christ1 who has borne the curse for you1 and in him you are complete by faith2 his righteousness being imputed to you4 ,but1 my friends1 let me entreat you not to deceive yourselves in so important a point1 as is that of your immortal souls4 ,if you have true faith in ,christ1 your faith will make you clean1 it will sanctify you3 for the saints' faith was their victory4 ,by this they overcame sin within1 and sinful men without4 ,and if thou art in ,christ1 thou walkest not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit1 whose fruits are manifest4 ,yea1 thou art a new creature1 new made1 new fashioned after ,god's will and mould2 old things are done away1 and1 behold1 all things are become new2 new love1 desires1 will1 affections1 and practices4 ,it is not any longer thou that livest1 thou disobedient1 carnal1 worldly one2 but it is ,christ that liveth in thee2 and to live is ,christ1 and to die is thy eternal gain2 because thou art assured1 that 8thy corruptible shall put on incorruption1 and thy mortal immortality30 and that thou hast a glorious house1 eternal in the heavens1 that will never wax old or pass away4 ,all this follows being in ,christ1 as the sensation of heat follows fire1 and light the sun4 ,therefore have a care how you presume to rely upon such a notion1 as that you are in ,christ1 whilst in your old fallen nature4 ,for what communion hath light with darkness1 or ,christ with ,belial8 ,hear what the beloved disciple tells you2 8,if we say we have fellowship with ,god1 and walk in darkness1 we lie1 and do not the truth40 ,that is1 if we go on in a sinful way1 are captivated by our carnal affections1 and are not converted to ,god1 we walk in darkness1 and cannot possibly have any fellowship with ,god4 ,christ clothes them with his righteousness1 that receive his grace in their hearts1 and deny themselves1 and take up his cross daily1 and follow him4 ,christ's righteousness makes men inwardly holy1 of holy minds1 wills1 and practices4 ,it is nevertheless ,christ's1 because we have it2 for it is ours1 not by nature1 but by faith and adoption4 ,it is the gift of ,god4 ,but still1 though not ours1 as of or from ourselves1 for in that sense it is ,christ's1 for it is of and from him2 yet it is ours1 and must be ours in possession1 efficacy1 and enjoyment1 to do us any good1 or ,christ's righteousness will profit us nothing4 ,it was after this manner1 that he was made to the primitive ,christians1 righteousness1 sanctification1 justification1 and redemption2 and if ever you will have the comfort1 kernel1 and marrow of the ,christian religion1 thus you must come to learn and obtain it4 ,now1 my friends1 by what you have read1 and will read in what follows1 you may perceive that ,god has visited a poor people among you with this saving knowledge and testimony2 whom he has upheld and increased to this day1 notwithstanding the fierce opposition they have met withal4 ,despise not the meanness of this appearance2 it was1 and yet is 7we know7 a day of small things1 and of small account with too many2 and many hard and ill names are given to it2 but it is of ,god2 it came from ,him because it leads to ,him4 ,this we know1 but we cannot make another know it1 as we know it1 unless he will take the same way to know it that we took4 ,the world talks of ,god2 but what do they do8 ,they pray for power1 but reject the principle in which it is4 ,if you would know ,god1 and worship and serve ,god as you should do1 you must come to the means he has ordained and given for that purpose4 ,some seek it in books1 some in learned men1 but what they look for is in themselves1 yet they overlook it4 ,the voice is too still1 the ,seed too small1 and the ,light shineth in darkness4 ,they are abroad1 and so cannot divide the spoil2 but the woman that lost her silver1 found it at home1 after she had lighted her candle and swept her house4 ,do you so too1 and you shall find what ,pilate wanted to know1 viz41 ,truth4 ,the ,light of ,christ within1 who is the ,light of the world 7and so a light to you1 that tells you the truth of your condition71 leads all that take heed unto it1 out of darkness into ,god's marvellous light2 for light grows upon the obedient4 ,it is sown for the righteous1 and their way is a shining light1 that shines forth more and more to the perfect day4 ,wherefore1 ,o friends1 turn in1 turn in1 ,i beseech you6 ,where is the poison1 there is the antidote2 there you want ,christ1 and there you must find him2 and1 blessed be ,god1 there you may find him4 8,seek and you shall find10 ,i testify for ,god2 but then you must seek aright1 with your whole heart1 as men that seek for their lives1 yea1 for their eternal lives2 diligently1 humbly1 patiently1 as those that can taste no pleasure1 comfort1 or satisfaction in anything else1 unless you find him whom your souls want1 and desire to know and love above all4 ,o1 it is a travail1 a spiritual travail6 let the carnal1 profane world think and say as it will4 ,and through this path you must walk to the city of ,god1 that has eternal foundations1 if ever you will come there4 ,and what does this blessed ,light do for you8 #a4 ,it sets all your sins in order before you2 it detects the spirit of this world in all its baits and allurements1 and shows how man came to fall from ,god1 and the fallen estate he is in4 #b4 ,it begets a sense and sorrow1 in such as believe in it1 for this fearful lapse4 ,you will then see ,him distinctly whom you have pierced1 and all the blows and wounds you have given him by your disobedience2 and how you have made him to serve with your sins1 and you will weep and mourn for it1 and your sorrow will be a godly sorrow4 #c4 ,after this it will bring you to the holy watch1 to take care that you do so no more1 that the enemy surprise you not again4 ,then thoughts as well as words and works1 will come to judgment1 which is the way of holiness1 in which the redeemed of the ,lord do walk4 ,here you will come to love ,god above all1 and your neighbours as yourselves4 ,nothing hurts1 nothing harms1 nothing makes afraid on this holy mountain2 now you come to be ,christ's indeed1 for you are his in nature and spirit1 and not your own4 ,and when you are thus ,christ's1 then ,christ is yours1 and not before2 and here communion with the ,father and with the ,son you will know1 and the efficacy of the blood of cleansing1 even the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 that immaculate ,lamb1 which speaketh better things than the blood of ,abel1 and which cleanseth from all sin the consciences of those that1 through the living faith1 come to be sprinkled with it from dead works to serve the living ,god4 ,to conclude2 behold the testimony and doctrine of the people called ,quakers6 ,behold their practice and discipline6 and behold the blessed man and men that were sent of ,god in this excellent work and service6 all which will be more particularly expressed in the ensuing annals of the man of ,god2 which ,i do heartily recommend to my reader's most serious perusal1 and beseech ,almighty ,god1 that his blessing may go along with it1 to the convincing of many1 as yet strangers to this holy dispensation1 and also to the edification of the church of ,god in general2 who1 for his manifold and repeated mercies and blessings to his people1 in this day of his great love1 is worthy ever to have the glory1 honour1 thanksgiving1 and renown2 and be it rendered and ascribed1 with fear and reverence1 through ,him in whom he is well pleased1 his beloved ,son and ,lamb1 our ,light and ,life1 that sits with him upon the throne1 world without end4 ,amen1 ,says one whom ,god has long since mercifully favoured with his fatherly visitation1 and who was not disobedient to the heavenly vision and call2 to whom the way of ,truth is more lovely and precious than ever1 and who knowing the beauty and benefit of it above all worldly treasure1 has chosen it for his chiefest joy2 and therefore recommends it to thy love and choice1 because he is with great sincerity and affection thy soul's friend1 ,,william ,,penn4 ---------------------------------------- --- ,for the testimonies respecting ,george ,fox1 which were here inserted in former editions of this work1 see ,appendix at the conclusion of ,vol4 ,,ii4 ,,journal ,,of ,,george ,,fox4 --------------------- ,,chapter ,i4 #afbd-afdg4--;,george ,fox's birth and parentage--his gravity and piety in youth4 ,apprenticed to a shoemaker1 who is also a grazier1 c4--his integrity in dealing4 ,refuses to drink healths--his exercises of mind commence--he lives retired--is tempted to despair4 ,his sorrows continue for some years--has a sense of ,christ's sufferings4 ,confutes a people who held women to be devoid of souls--begins to travel on ,truth's account--meets with ,elizabeth ,hooton--fasts often1 and retires to solitary places with his ,bible--his exercises intermit4 ,sees why none but ,christ could speak to his condition4 ,visits a woman who had fasted twenty-two days--first declares the ,truth at ,dukinfield and ,manchester4 ,preaches at a great meeting at ,broughton4 ,his troubles wear off1 and he weeps for joy--sees things which cannot be uttered--is reported to have a discerning spirit--overcomes his temptations through the power of ,christ4 ,that all may know the dealings of the ,lord with me1 and the various exercises1 trials1 and troubles through which he led me1 in order to prepare and fit me for the work unto which he had appointed me1 and may thereby be drawn to admire and glorify his infinite wisdom and goodness1 ,i think fit 7before ,i proceed to set forth my public travels in the service of ,truth71 briefly to mention how it was with me in my youth1 and how the work of the ,lord was begun1 and gradually carried on in me1 even from my childhood4 ,i was born in the month called ,july1 #afbd1 at ,,drayton-,,in-,,the-,,clay1 in ,,leicestershire4 ,my father's name was ,christopher ,fox3 he was by profession a weaver1 an honest man2 and there was a seed of ,god in him4 ,the neighbours called him ,righteous ,christer4 ,my mother was an upright woman2 her maiden name was ,mary ,lago1 of the family of the ,lagos1 and of the stock of the martyrs4 ,in my very young years ,i had a gravity and stayedness of mind and spirit1 not usual in children2 insomuch1 that when ,i saw old men behave lightly and wantonly towards each other1 ,i had a dislike thereof raised in my heart1 and said within myself1 8,if ever ,i come to be a man1 surely ,i shall not do so1 nor be so wanton40 ,when ,i came to eleven years of age1 ,i knew pureness and righteousness2 for while a child ,i was taught how to walk to be kept pure4 ,the ,lord taught me to be faithful in all things1 and to act faithfully two ways1 viz41 inwardly to ,god1 and outwardly to man2 and to keep to ,yea and ,nay in all things4 ,for the ,lord showed me1 that though the people of the world have mouths full of deceit1 and changeable words1 yet ,i was to keep to ,yea and ,nay in all things2 and that my words should be few and savoury1 seasoned with grace2 and that ,i might not eat and drink to make myself wanton1 but for health1 using the creatures in their service1 as servants in their places1 to the glory of ,him that created them2 they being in their covenant1 and ,i being brought up into the covenant1 as sanctified by the ,word which was in the beginning1 by which all things are upheld2 wherein is unity with the creation4 ,but people being strangers to the covenant of life with ,god1 they eat and drink to make themselves wanton with the creatures1 wasting them upon their own lusts1 and living in all filthiness1 loving foul ways1 and devouring the creation2 and all this in the world1 in the pollutions thereof1 without ,god3 therefore ,i was to shun all such4 ,afterwards1 as ,i grew up1 my relations thought to make me a priest2 but others persuaded to the contrary3 whereupon ,i was put to a man1 a shoemaker by trade1 but who dealt in wool1 and was a grazier1 and sold cattle2 and a great deal went through my hands4 ,while ,i was with him1 he was blessed2 but after ,i left him he broke1 and came to nothing4 ,i never wronged man or woman in all that time2 for the ,lord's power was with me1 and over me to preserve me4 ,while ,i was in that service1 ,i used in my dealings the word ,verily1 and it was a common saying among people that knew me1 8,if ,george says ,verily1 there is no altering him40 ,when boys and rude people would laugh at me1 ,i let them alone1 and went my way2 but people had generally a love to me for my innocency and honesty4 ,when ,i came towards nineteen years of age1 being upon business at a fair1 one of my cousins1 whose name was ,bradford1 a professor1 and having another professor with him1 came to me and asked me to drink part of a jug of beer with them1 and ,i1 being thirsty1 went in with them2 for ,i loved any that had a sense of good1 or that sought after the ,lord4 ,when we had drunk each a glass1 they began to drink healths1 calling for more1 and agreeing together1 that he that would not drink should pay all4 ,i was grieved that any who made profession of religion1 should do so4 ,they grieved me very much1 having never had such a thing put to me before1 by any sort of people2 wherefore ,i rose up to go1 and putting my hand into my pocket1 laid a groat on the table before them1 and said1 8,if it be so1 ,i will leave you40 ,so ,i went away2 and when ,i had done what business ,i had to do1 ,i returned home1 but did not go to bed that night1 nor could ,i sleep1 but sometimes walked up and down1 and sometimes prayed and cried to the ,lord1 who said unto me1 8,thou seest how young people go together into vanity1 and old people into the earth2 thou must forsake all1 both young and old1 and keep out of all1 and be as a stranger unto all40 ,then at the command of ,god1 on the ninth day of the seventh month1 #afdc1 ,i left my relations1 and broke off all familiarity or fellowship with old or young4 ,i passed to ,,lutterworth1 where ,i stayed some time2 and thence to ,,northampton1 where also ,i made some stay3 then to ,,newport-,,pagnell1 whence1 after ,i had stayed a while1 ,i went to ,,barnet1 in the fourth month1 called ,june1#d in #afdd4 ,as ,i thus travelled through the country1 professors took notice and sought to be acquainted with me2 but ,i was afraid of them1 for ,i was sensible they did not possess what they professed4 ,footnote #d3 ,old ,style4 ,now during the time that ,i was at ,,barnet1 a strong temptation to despair came upon me4 ,then ,i saw how ,christ was tempted1 and mighty troubles ,i was in2 sometimes ,i kept myself retired in my chamber1 and often walked solitary in the chace1 to wait upon the ,lord4 ,i wondered why these things should come to me2 and ,i looked upon myself and said1 8,was ,i ever so before80 ,then ,i thought1 because ,i had forsaken my relations1 ,i had done amiss against them2 so ,i was brought to call to my mind all the time that ,i had spent1 and to consider whether ,i had wronged any4 ,but temptations grew more and more1 and ,i was tempted almost to despair2 and when ,satan could not effect his design upon me that way1 he laid snares for me1 and baits to draw me to commit some sin1 whereby he might take advantage to bring me to despair4 ,i was about twenty years of age when these exercises came upon me2 and ,i continued in that condition some years1 in great trouble1 and fain would have put it from me4 ,i went to many a priest to look for comfort1 but found no comfort from them4 ,from ,,barnet ,i went to ,,london1 where ,i took a lodging1 and was under great misery and trouble there2 for ,i looked upon the great professors of the city1 and ,i saw all was dark and under the chain of darkness4 ,i had an uncle there1 one ,pickering1 a ,baptist 7and they were tender then17 yet ,i could not impart my mind to him1 nor join with them2 for ,i saw all1 young and old1 where they were4 ,some tender people would have had me stay1 but ,i was fearful1 and returned homewards into ,,leicestershire again1 having a regard upon my mind unto my parents and relations1 lest ,i should grieve them2 who1 ,i understood1 were troubled at my absence4 ,when ,i was come down into ,leicestershire1 my relations would have had me marry1 but ,i told them ,i was but a lad1 and ,i must get wisdom4 ,others would have had me into the auxiliary band among the soldiery1 but ,i refused2 and ,i was grieved that they proffered such things to me1 being a tender youth4 ,then ,i went to ,,coventry1 where ,i took a chamber for a while at a professor's house1 till people began to be acquainted with me2 for there were many tender people in that town4 ,after some time ,i went into my own country again1 and was there about a year1 in great sorrows and troubles1 and walked many nights by myself4 ,then the priest of ,,drayton1 the town of my birth1 whose name was ,nathaniel ,stevens1 came often to me1 and ,i went often to him2 and another priest sometimes came with him2 and they would give place to me to hear me1 and ,i would ask them questions1 and reason with them4 ,and this priest ,stevens asked me a question1 viz41 ,why ,christ cried out upon the cross1 8,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me80 and why he said1 8,if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me2 yet not my will1 but thine be done80 ,i told him that at that time the sins of all mankind were upon ,him1 and their iniquities and transgressions with which ,he was wounded1 which ,he was to bear1 and to be an offering for1 as ,he was man1 but ,he died not as ,he was ,god2 and so1 in that ,he died for all men1 and tasted death for every man1 ,he was an offering for the sins of the whole world4 ,this ,i spoke1 being at that time in a measure sensible of ,christ's sufferings1 and what ,he went through4 ,and the priest said1 8,it was a very good1 full answer1 and such a one as he had not heard40 ,at that time he would applaud and speak highly of me to others2 and what ,i said in discourse to him on the week-days1 he would preach on the first-days2 for which ,i did not like him4 ,this priest afterwards became my great persecutor4 ,after this ,i went to another ancient priest at ,,mancetter1 in ,warwickshire1 and reasoned with him about the ground of despair and temptations2 but he was ignorant of my condition2 he bade me take tobacco and sing psalms4 ,tobacco was a thing ,i did not love1 and psalms ,i was not in a state to sing2 ,i could not sing4 ,then he bid me come again1 and he would tell me many things2 but when ,i came he was angry and pettish1 for my former words had displeased him4 ,he told my troubles1 sorrows1 and griefs to his servants2 which grieved me that ,i had opened my mind to such a one4 ,i saw they were all miserable comforters2 and this brought my troubles more upon me4 ,then ,i heard of a priest living about ,,tamworth1 who was accounted an experienced man1 and ,i went seven miles to him2 but ,i found him only like an empty hollow cask4 ,i heard also of one called ,dr4 ,cradock1 of ,,coventry1 and went to him4 ,i asked him the ground of temptations and despair1 and how troubles came to be wrought in man8 ,he asked me1 ,who was ,christ's father and mother8 ,i told him1 ,mary was his mother1 and that he was supposed to be the son of ,joseph1 but he was the ,son of ,god4 ,now1 as we were walking together in his garden1 the alley being narrow1 ,i chanced1 in turning1 to set my foot on the side of a bed1 at which the man was in a rage1 as if his house had been on fire4 ,thus all our discourse was lost1 and ,i went away in sorrow1 worse than ,i was when ,i came4 ,i thought them miserable comforters1 and saw they were all as nothing to me2 for they could not reach my condition4 ,after this ,i went to another1 one ,macham1 a priest in high account4 ,he would needs give me some physic1 and ,i was to have been let blood2 but they could not get one drop of blood from me1 either in arms or head 7though they endeavoured to do so17 my body being as it were1 dried up with sorrows1 grief and troubles1 which were so great upon me that ,i could have wished ,i had never been born1 or that ,i had been born blind1 that ,i might never have seen wickedness or vanity2 and deaf1 that ,i might never have heard vain and wicked words1 or the ,lord's name blasphemed4 ,when the time called ,christmas came1 while others were feasting and sporting themselves1 ,i looked out poor widows from house to house1 and gave them some money4 ,when ,i was invited to marriages 7as ,i sometimes was17 ,i went to none at all1 but the next day1 or soon after1 ,i would go and visit them2 and if they were poor1 ,i gave them some money2 for ,i had wherewith both to keep myself from being chargeable to others1 and to administer something to the necessities of those who were in need4 ,about the beginning of the year #afdf1 as ,i was going to ,,coventry1 and approaching towards the gate1 a consideration arose in me1 how it was said that 8all ,christians are believers1 both ,protestants and ,papists20 and the ,lord opened to me that1 if all were believers1 then they were all born of ,god1 and passed from death to life1 and that none were true believers but such2 and though others said they were believers1 yet they were not4 ,at another time1 as ,i was walking in a field on a first-day morning1 the ,lord opened to me1 8that being bred at ,oxford or ,cambridge was not enough to fit and qualify men to be ministers of ,christ20 and ,i wondered at it1 because it was the common belief of people4 ,but ,i saw it clearly as the ,lord opened it to me1 and was satisfied1 and admired the goodness of the ,lord who had opened this thing unto me that morning4 ,this struck at priest ,stevens' ministry1 namely1 8that to be bred at ,oxford or ,cambridge was not enough to make a man fit to be a minister of ,christ40 ,so that which opened in me1 ,i saw struck at the priest's ministry4 ,but my relations were much troubled that ,i would not go with them to hear the priest2 for ,i would get into the orchards1 or the fields1 with my ,bible by myself4 ,i asked them1 ,did not the apostle say to believers1 that 8they needed no man to teach them1 but as the anointing teacheth them80 ,and though they knew this was ,scripture1 and that it was true1 yet they were grieved because ,i could not be subject in this matter1 to go to hear the priest with them4 ,i saw that to be a true believer was another thing than they looked upon it to be2 and ,i saw that being bred at ,oxford or ,cambridge did not qualify or fit a man to be a minister of ,christ3 what then should ,i follow such for8 ,so neither these1 nor any of the ,dissenting people1 could ,i join with1 but was as a stranger to all1 relying wholly upon the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,at another time it was opened in me1 8,that ,god1 who made the world1 did not dwell in temples made with hands40 ,this at first seemed a strange word1 because both priests and people used to call their temples or churches1 dreadful places1 holy ground1 and the temples of ,god4 ,but the ,lord showed me clearly1 that he did not dwell in these temples which men had commanded and set up1 but in people's hearts3 for both ,stephen and the apostle ,paul bore testimony1 that he did not dwell in temples made with hands1 not even in that which he had once commanded to be built1 since he put an end to it2 but that his people were his temple1 and he dwelt in them4 ,this opened in me as ,i walked in the fields to my relations' house4 ,when ,i came there1 they told me that ,nathaniel ,stevens1 the priest1 had been there1 and told them 8he was afraid of me1 for going after new lights40 ,i smiled in myself1 knowing what the ,lord had opened in me concerning him and his brethren2 but ,i told not my relations1 who though they saw beyond the priests1 yet they went to hear them1 and were grieved because ,i would not go also4 ,but ,i brought them ,scriptures1 and told them1 there was an anointing within man to teach him1 and that the ,lord would teach his people himself4 ,i had also great openings concerning the things written in the ,revelations2 and when ,i spoke of them1 the priests and professors would say that was a sealed book1 and would have kept me out of it3 but ,i told them1 ,christ could open the seals1 and that they were the nearest things to us2 for the ,epistles were written to the saints that lived in former ages1 but the ,revelations were written of things to come4 ,after this1 ,i met with a sort of people that held women have no souls1 7adding in a light manner17 no more than a goose4 ,but ,i reproved them1 and told them that was not right2 for ,mary said1 8,my soul doth magnify the ,lord1 and my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour40 ,removing to another place1 ,i came among a people that relied much on dreams4 ,i told them1 except they could distinguish between dream and dream1 they would confound all together2 for there were three sorts of dreams2 multitude of business sometimes caused dreams2 and there were whisperings of ,satan in man in the night-season2 and there were speakings of ,god to man in dreams4 ,but these people came out of these things1 and at last became ,friends4 ,now though ,i had great openings1 yet great trouble and temptation came many times upon me2 so that when it was day1 ,i wished for night1 and when it was night1 ,i wished for day3 and by reason of the openings ,i had in my troubles1 ,i could say as ,david said1 8,day unto day uttereth speech1 and night unto night showeth knowledge40 ,when ,i had openings1 they answered one another1 and answered the ,scriptures2 for ,i had great openings of the ,scriptures3 and when ,i was in troubles1 one trouble also answered to another4 ,about the beginning of the year #afdg1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go into ,,derbyshire1 where ,i met with some friendly people1 and had many discourses with them4 ,then passing further into the ,,peak-,,country1 ,i met with more friendly people1 and with some in empty1 high notions4 ,travelling on through some parts of ,,leicestershire and into ,,nottinghamshire1 ,i met with a tender people1 and a very tender woman1 whose name was ,elizabeth ,hooton2#e and with these ,i had some meetings and discourses4 ,but my troubles continued1 and ,i was often under great temptations2 ,i fasted much1 and walked abroad in solitary places many days1 and often took my ,bible1 and went and sat in hollow trees and lonesome places till night came on2 and frequently1 in the night1 walked mournfully about by myself3 for ,i was a man of sorrows in the times of the first workings of the ,lord in me4 ,footnote #e3 ,elizabeth ,hooton was born at ,nottingham about the year #afjj2 was the wife of a person who occupied a respectable position in society4 ,in #afdg1 when ,george ,fox first met with her1 she formed one of a company of serious persons1 who occasionally met together4 ,little is known of her1 but 8the meetings and discourses0 she had with ,george ,fox appear to have been the means of convincing her of the spiritual views of ,friends4 ,sewell says in #afej--8;,from a true experience of the ,lord's work in man1 she felt herself moved publicly to preach the way of salvation to others40 ,she was therefore not only the first of her sex1 but the second individual who appeared in the character of a minister amongst the newly-gathered society4 ,the preaching of women was not at this period considered singular1 several being thus engaged among the various religious sects then in ,england4 ,elizabeth ,hooton had not long publicly testified as a minister1 before her sincerity and faithfulness were tested by persecution4 ,besides suffering in other ways1 she endured several imprisonments1 sometimes for months together4 ,as a gospel minister1 she stood high in the estimation of her friends1 and in advanced life performed two religious visits to ,america and the ,west ,indies1 the latter of which occupied her several years4 ,she was one who travelled with ,george ,fox amongst the ,west ,india ,islands1 as related elsewhere in these volumes1 being suddenly taken ill in ,jamaica1 where she died the day following1 aged about #ga years1 a minister #ba years4 ,during all this time ,i was never joined in profession of religion with any1 but gave myself up to the ,lord1 having forsaken all evil company1 and taken leave of father and mother1 and all other relations1 and travelled up and down as a stranger in the earth1 which way the ,lord inclined my heart2 taking a chamber to myself in the town where ,i came1 and tarrying sometimes a month1 more or less1 in a place2 for ,i durst not stay long in any place1 being afraid both of professor and profane1 lest1 being a tender young man1 ,i should be hurt by conversing much with either4 ,for which reason ,i kept myself much as a stranger1 seeking heavenly wisdom and getting knowledge from the ,lord2 and was brought off from outward things1 to rely wholly on the ,lord alone4 ,though my exercises and troubles were very great1 yet were they not so continual but that ,i had some intermissions1 and was sometimes brought into such a heavenly joy1 that ,i thought ,i had been in ,abraham's bosom4 ,as ,i cannot declare the misery ,i was in1 it was so great and heavy upon me2 so neither can ,i set forth the mercies of ,god unto me in all my misery4 ,o1 the everlasting love of ,god to my soul1 when ,i was in great distress6 when my troubles and torments were great1 then was his love exceedingly great4 8,thou1 ,lord1 makest a fruitful field a barren wilderness1 and a barren wilderness a fruitful field2 thou bringest down and settest up2 thou killest and makest alive2 all honour and glory be to thee1 ,o ,lord of glory2 the knowledge of thee in the ,spirit1 is life2 but that knowledge which is fleshly1 works death40 ,while there is this knowledge in the flesh1 deceit and self-will conform to anything1 and will say yes1 yes1 to that it doth not know4 ,the knowledge which the world hath of what the prophets and apostles spoke1 is a fleshly knowledge2 and the apostates from the life1 in which the prophets and apostles were1 have gotten their words1 the ,holy ,scriptures1 in a form1 but not in their life nor ,spirit that gave them forth4 ,so they all lie in confusion1 and are making provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof2 but not to fulfil the law and command of ,christ in his power and ,spirit3 this1 they say1 they cannot do2 but to fulfil the lusts of the flesh1 that they can do with delight4 ,now after ,i had received that opening from the ,lord1 that 8to be bred at ,oxford or ,cambridge was not sufficient to fit a man to be a minister of ,christ10 ,i regarded the priests less1 and looked more after the ,dissenting people4 ,among them ,i saw there was some tenderness2 and many of them came afterwards to be convinced1 for they had some openings4 ,but as ,i had forsaken the priests1 so ,i left the separate preachers also1 and those esteemed the most experienced people2 for ,i saw there was none among them all that could speak to my condition4 ,when all my hopes in them and in all men were gone1 so that ,i had nothing outwardly to help me1 nor could ,i tell what to do2 then1 ,o6 then ,i heard a voice which said1 8,there is one1 even ,christ ,jesus1 that can speak to thy condition20 and when ,i heard it1 my heart did leap for joy4 ,then the ,lord let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to my condition1 namely1 that ,i might give him all the glory2 for all are concluded under sin1 and shut up in unbelief1 as ,i had been1 that ,jesus ,christ might have the pre-eminence1 who enlightens1 and gives grace1 and faith1 and power4 ,thus when ,god doth work1 who shall hinder it8 and this ,i knew experimentally4 ,my desires after the ,lord grew stronger1 and zeal in the pure knowledge of ,god1 and of ,christ alone1 without the help of any man1 book1 or writing4 ,for though ,i read the ,scriptures that spoke of ,christ and of ,god2 yet ,i knew him not1 but by revelation1 as he who hath the key did open1 and as the ,father of ,life drew me to his ,son by his ,spirit4 ,then the ,lord gently led me along1 and let me see his love1 which was endless and eternal1 surpassing all the knowledge that men have in the natural state1 or can obtain from history or books2 and that love let me see myself1 as ,i was without him4 ,i was afraid of all company1 for ,i saw them perfectly where they were1 through the love of ,god1 which let me see myself4 ,i had not fellowship with any people1 priests1 or professors1 or any sort of separated people1 but with ,christ1 who hath the key1 and opened the door of ,light and ,life unto me4 ,i was afraid of all carnal talk and talkers1 for ,i could see nothing but corruptions1 and the life lay under the burthen of corruptions4 ,when ,i myself was in the deep1 shut up under all1 ,i could not believe that ,i should ever overcome2 my troubles1 my sorrows1 and my temptations were so great1 that ,i thought many times ,i should have despaired1 ,i was so tempted4 ,but when ,christ opened to me1 how he was tempted by the same devil1 and overcame him and bruised his head1 and that through him and his power1 light1 grace1 and ,spirit1 ,i should overcome also1 ,i had confidence in him2 so he it was that opened to me1 when ,i was shut up1 and had no hope nor faith4 ,christ1 who had enlightened me1 gave me his light to believe in2 he gave me hope1 which he himself revealed in me1 and he gave me his ,spirit and grace1 which ,i found sufficient in the deeps and in weakness4 ,thus1 in the deepest miseries1 and in the greatest sorrows and temptations1 that many times beset me1 the ,lord in his mercy did keep me4 ,i found that there were two thirsts in me2 the one after the creatures1 to get help and strength there2 and the other after the ,lord1 the ,creator1 and his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,i saw all the world could do me no good2 if ,i had had a king's diet1 palace1 and attendance1 all would have been as nothing2 for nothing gave me comfort1 but the ,lord by his power4 ,i saw professors1 priests1 and people1 were whole and at ease in that condition which was my misery2 and they loved that which ,i would have been rid of4 ,but the ,lord stayed my desires upon himself1 from whom came my help1 and my care was cast upon him alone4 ,therefore1 all wait patiently upon the ,lord1 whatsoever condition you be in2 wait in the grace and truth that comes by ,jesus3 for if ye so do1 there is a promise to you1 and the ,lord ,god will fulfil it in you4 ,blessed are all they that do indeed hunger and thirst after righteousness1 they shall be satisfied with it4 ,i have found it so1 praised be the ,lord who filleth with it1 and satisfieth the desires of the hungry soul4 ,o let the house of the spiritual ,israel say1 8,his mercy endureth for ever60 ,it is the great love of ,god to make a wilderness of that which is pleasant to the outward eye and fleshly mind2 and to make a fruitful field of a barren wilderness4 ,this is the great work of ,god4 ,but while people's minds run in the earthly1 after the creatures and changeable things1 changeable ways and religions1 and changeable1 uncertain teachers1 their minds are in bondage1 they are brittle and changeable1 tossed up and down with windy doctrines and thoughts1 and notions and things2 their minds being out of the unchangeable truth in the inward parts1 the ,light of ,jesus ,christ1 which would keep them to the unchangeable4 ,he is the way to the ,father2 and in all my troubles he preserved me by his ,spirit and power2 praised be his holy name for ever6 ,again ,i heard a voice which said1 8,thou serpent6 thou dost seek to destroy the life1 but canst not2 for the sword which keepeth the tree of life shall destroy thee40 ,so ,christ1 the ,word of ,god1 that bruised the head of the serpent1 the destroyer1 preserved me2 my inward mind being joined to his good ,seed1 that bruised the head of this serpent1 the destroyer4 ,this inward life sprung up in me1 to answer all the opposing professors and priests1 and brought ,scriptures to my memory to refute them with4 ,at another time ,i saw the great love of ,god1 and ,i was filled with admiration at the infinitude of it2 ,i saw what was cast out from ,god1 and what entered into ,god's kingdom2 and how by ,jesus1 the opener of the door1 with his heavenly key1 the entrance was given2 and ,i saw death1 how it had passed upon all men1 and oppressed the seed of ,god1 in man1 and in me2 and how ,i in the seed came forth1 and what the promise was to4 ,yet it was so with me1 that there seemed to be two pleading in me2 questionings arose in my mind about gifts and prophecies2 and ,i was tempted again to despair1 as if ,i had sinned against the ,holy ,ghost4 ,i was in great perplexity and trouble for many days2 yet ,i gave up myself to the ,lord still4 ,one day when ,i had been walking solitarily abroad1 and was come home1 ,i was wrapped up in the love of ,god1 so that ,i could not but admire the greatness of his love4 ,while ,i was in that condition it was opened unto me by the eternal ,light and ,power1 and ,i saw clearly therein1 8that all was done1 and to be done1 in and by ,christ2 and how he conquers and destroys this tempter1 the ,devil1 and all his works1 and is above him2 and that all these troubles were good for me1 and temptations for the trial of my faith1 which ,christ had given me40 ,the ,lord opened me1 that ,i saw through all these troubles and temptations2 my living faith was raised1 that ,i saw all was done by ,christ1 the ,life1 and my belief was in ,him4 ,when at any time my condition was veiled1 my secret belief was stayed firm1 and hope underneath held me1 as an anchor in the bottom of the sea1 and anchored my immortal soul to its ,bishop1 causing it to swim above the sea1 the world1 where all the raging waves1 foul weather1 tempests1 and temptations are4 ,but1 ,o6 then did ,i see my troubles1 trials1 and temptations more clearly than ever ,i had done4 ,as the light appeared1 all appeared that is out of the light2 darkness1 death1 temptations1 the unrighteous1 the ungodly2 all was manifest and seen in the light4 ,after this1 a pure fire appeared in me3 then ,i saw how he sat as a refiner's fire and as fullers' soap2--then the spiritual discerning came into me1 by which ,i did discern my own thoughts1 groans1 and sighs2 and what it was that veiled me1 and what it was that opened me4 ,that which could not abide in the patience1 nor endure the fire1 in the light ,i found it to be the groans of the flesh1 that could not give up to the will of ,god1 which had veiled me2 and that could not be patient in all trials1 troubles1 and perplexities2--could not give up self to die by the cross1 the power of ,god1 that the living and quickened might follow him2 and that that which would cloud and veil from the presence of ,christ--that which the sword of the ,spirit cuts down1 and which must die1 might not be kept alive4 ,i discerned also the groans of the ,spirit1 which opened me1 and made intercession to ,god2 in which ,spirit is the true waiting upon ,god1 for the redemption of the body and of the whole creation4 ,by this ,spirit1 in which the true sighing is1 ,i saw over the false sighings and groanings4 ,by this invisible ,spirit ,i discerned all the false hearing1 the false seeing1 and the false smelling which was above the ,spirit1 quenching and grieving it2 and that all they that were there1 were in confusion and deceit1 where the false asking and praying is1 in deceit1 in that nature and tongue that takes ,god's holy name in vain1 wallows in the ,egyptian sea1 and asketh1 but hath not2 for they hate his light and resist the ,holy ,ghost2 turn grace into wantonness1 and rebel against the ,spirit2 and are erred from the faith they should ask in1 and from the ,spirit they should pray by4 ,he that knoweth these things in the true ,spirit1 can witness them4 ,the divine light of ,christ manifesteth all things2 the spiritual fire trieth all things1 and severeth all things4 ,several things did ,i then see as the ,lord opened them to me2 for he showed me that which can live in his holy refining fire1 and that can live to ,god under his law4 ,he made me sensible how the law and the prophets were until ,john2 and how the least in the everlasting kingdom of ,god is greater than ,john4 ,the pure and perfect law of ,god is over the flesh1 to keep it and its works1 which are not perfect1 under1 by the perfect law2 and the law of ,god that is perfect1 answers the perfect principle of ,god in every one4 ,this law the ,jews1 and the prophets1 and ,john were to perform and do4 ,none know the giver of this law but by the ,spirit of ,god2 neither can any truly read it1 or hear its voice1 but by the ,spirit of ,god2 he that can receive it1 let him4 ,john1 who was the greatest prophet that was born of a woman1 did bear witness to the light1 which ,christ1 the great heavenly prophet1 hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal2 that they might believe in it1 and become the children of light1 and so have the light of life1 and not come into condemnation4 ,for the true belief stands in the light that condemns all evil1 and the ,devil1 who is the prince of darkness1 and would draw out of the light into condemnation4 ,they that walk in this light1 come to the mountain of the house of ,god1 established above all mountains1 and to ,god's teaching1 who will teach them his ways4 ,these things were opened to me in the light4 ,i saw also the mountains burning up1 and the rubbish2 the rough and crooked ways and places1 made smooth and plain1 that the ,lord might come into his tabernacle4 ,these things are to be found in man's heart4 ,but to speak of these things being within1 seemed strange to the rough1 and crooked1 and mountainous ones4 ,yet the ,lord saith1 8,o ,earth1 hear the word of the ,lord60 ,the law of the ,spirit crosseth the fleshly mind1 spirit1 and will1 which lives in disobedience1 and doth not keep within the law of the ,spirit4 ,i saw this law was the pure love of ,god1 which was upon me1 and which ,i must go through though ,i was troubled while ,i was under it2 for ,i could not be dead to the law1 but through the law which did judge and condemn that which is to be condemned4 ,i saw many talked of the law1 who had never known the law to be their schoolmaster2 and many talked of the gospel of ,christ1 who had never known life and immortality brought to light in them by it4 ,you that have been under that schoolmaster1 and the condemnation of it1 know these things2 for though the ,lord in that day opened these things unto me in secret1 they have since been published by his eternal ,spirit1 as on the house top4 ,and as you are brought into the law1 and through the law to be dead to it1 and witness the righteousness of the law fulfilled in you1 you will afterwards come to know what it is to be brought into the faith1 and through faith from under the law2 and abiding in the faith1 which ,christ is the author of1 you will have peace and access to ,god4 ,but if ye look out from the faith1 and from that which would keep you in the victory1 and look after fleshly things or words1 you will be brought into bondage to flesh again1 and to the law1 which takes hold upon the flesh and sin1 and worketh wrath1 and the works of the flesh will appear again4 ,the law of ,god takes hold upon the law of sin and death2 but the law of faith1 or the law of the ,spirit of life1 which is the love of ,god1 and which comes by ,jesus 7who is the end of the law for righteousness' sake17 makes free from the law of sin and death4 ,this law of life fleshly-minded men do not know2 yet they will tempt you1 to draw you from the ,spirit into the flesh1 and so into bondage4 ,therefore ye1 who know the love of ,god1 and the law of his ,spirit1 and the freedom that is in ,jesus ,christ1 stand fast in him1 in that divine faith which he is the author of in you2 and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage4 ,for the ministry of ,christ ,jesus1 and his teaching1 bring into liberty and freedom2 but the ministry that is of man1 and by man1 and which stands in the will of man1 bringeth into bondage1 and under the shadow of death and darkness4 ,therefore none can be ministers of ,christ ,jesus but in the eternal ,spirit1 which was before the ,scriptures were given forth2 for if they have not his ,spirit1 they are none of his4 ,though they may have his light to condemn them that hate it1 yet they can never bring any into unity and fellowship in the ,spirit1 except they be in it2 for the ,seed of ,god is a burdensome stone to the selfish1 fleshly1 earthly will1 which reigns in its own knowledge and understanding that must perish1 and in its wisdom that is devilish4 ,and the ,spirit of ,god is grieved1 and vexed1 and quenched with that which brings into the fleshly bondage2 and that which wars against the ,spirit of ,god1 must be mortified by it2 for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh2 and these are contrary the one to the other4 ,the flesh would have its liberty1 and the ,spirit would have its liberty2 but the ,spirit is to have its liberty and not the flesh4 ,if therefore ye quench the ,spirit1 and join to the flesh1 and be servants of it1 then ye are judged and tormented by the ,spirit2 but if ye join to the ,spirit and serve ,god in it1 ye have liberty and victory over the flesh and its works4 ,therefore keep in the daily cross1 the power of ,god1 by which you may witness all that to be crucified which is contrary to the will of ,god1 and which shall not come into his kingdom4 ,these things are here mentioned and opened for information1 exhortation1 and comfort to others1 as the ,lord opened them unto me in that day4 ,in that day ,i wondered that the children of ,israel should murmur for water and victuals1 for ,i could have fasted long without murmuring or minding victuals4 ,but ,i was judged at other times1 that ,i was not contented to be sometimes without the water and bread of life1 that ,i might learn to know how to want1 and how to abound4 ,i heard of a woman in ,,lancashire1 that had fasted two and twenty days1 and ,i travelled to see her2 but when ,i came to her ,i saw that she was under a temptation4 ,when ,i had spoken to her what ,i had from the ,lord1 ,i left her1 her father being one high in profession4 ,passing on1 ,i went among the professors at ,,dukinfield and ,,manchester1 where ,i stayed a while1 and declared truth among them4 ,there were some convinced1 who received the ,lord's teaching1 by which they were confirmed and stood in the truth4 ,but the professors were in a rage1 all pleading for sin and imperfection1 and could not endure to hear talk of perfection1 and of a holy and sinless life4 ,but the ,lord's power was over all2 though they were chained under darkness and sin1 which they pleaded for1 and quenched the tender thing in them4 ,about this time there was a great meeting of the ,baptists1 at ,,broughton1 in ,leicestershire1 with some that had separated from them2 and people of other notions went thither1 and ,i went also4 ,not many of the ,baptists came1 but many others were there4 ,the ,lord opened my mouth1 and the everlasting truth was declared amongst them1 and the power of the ,lord was over them all4 ,for in that day the ,lord's power began to spring1 and ,i had great openings in the ,scriptures4 ,several were convinced in those parts1 and were turned from darkness to light1 from the power of ,satan unto ,god2 and many were raised up to praise ,god4 ,when ,i reasoned with professors and other people1 some became convinced4 ,i was still under great temptations sometimes1 and my inward sufferings were heavy2 but ,i could find none to open my condition to but the ,lord alone1 unto whom ,i cried night and day4 ,i went back into ,,nottinghamshire1 and there the ,lord showed me that the natures of those things1 which were hurtful without1 were within1 in the hearts and minds of wicked men4 ,the natures of dogs1 swine1 vipers1 of ,sodom and ,egypt1 ,pharaoh1 ,cain1 ,ishmael1 ,esau1 c42 the natures of these ,i saw within1 though people had been looking without4 ,i cried to the ,lord1 saying1 8,why should ,i be thus1 seeing ,i was never addicted to commit those evils80 and the ,lord answered1 8,that it was needful ,i should have a sense of all conditions1 how else should ,i speak to all conditions80 and in this ,i saw the infinite love of ,god4 ,i saw also1 that there was an ocean of darkness and death2 but an infinite ocean of light and love1 which flowed over the ocean of darkness4 ,in that also ,i saw the infinite love of ,god1 and ,i had great openings4 ,and as ,i was walking by the steeple-house1#f in ,,mansfield1 the ,lord said unto me1 8,that which people trample upon1 must be thy food40 ,and as the ,lord spoke he opened it to me1 that people and professors trampled upon the life1 even the life of ,christ2 they fed upon words1 and fed one another with words2 but they trampled upon the life2 trampled underfoot the blood of the ,son of ,god1 which blood was my life1 and lived in their airy notions1 talking of him4 ,it seemed strange to me at first1 that ,i should feed on that which the high professors trampled upon2 but the ,lord opened it clearly to me by his eternal ,spirit and ,power4 ,footnote #f3 ,the term 8steeplehouse0 occurs not unfrequently in this ,journal1 and in the early writings and records of ,friends4 ,though it may sound harsh1 and appear to savour of the scurrility and intolerance of that zealous age1 yet this1 or any other mode of speech adopted by ,friends1 was by no means taken up for the purpose of opprobrium1 but rather significantly to discover the little veneration or distinction they could show for these buildings more than others2 believing that the ,almighty is equally present everywhere1 to bless and to sanctify every place and everything to those that walk uprightly on the earth1 his footstool4 ,one of the chief points of ,george ,fox's ministry was to overturn that insidious reverence for names and things which is too frequently substituted for the worship that is 8in spirit and in truth40 ,few instances more distinctly exhibit this sort of covert idolatry1 than the general notion of sanctity which is attached to the building called a 8church40 ,the word 8church0 is1 in the ,holy ,scriptures1 never applied to an outward temple or building1 but to a company of believers1 whether generally or particularly4 ,the use of this term appears to have crept in among ,christians1 and with it a superstitious consecration of those places1 as possessing some latent quality not affecting other works of art or nature4 ,to this ,stephen the martyr evidently alluded when he said1 8,howbeit the ,most ,high dwelleth not in temples made with hands10 c41 ,acts vii4 #dh4 ,clemens of ,alexandria says1 8,not the place1 but the congregation of the elect1 ,i call a church10 ,stromat4 vii41 #gae ,b4 ,then came people from far and near to see me2 but ,i was fearful of being drawn out by them2 yet ,i was made to speak1 and open things to them4 ,there was one ,brown1 who had great prophecies and sights of me upon his death-bed4 ,he spoke openly of what ,i should be made instrumental by the ,lord to bring forth4 ,and of others he spoke1 that they should come to nothing1 which was fulfilled on some1 who then were something in show4 ,when this man was buried1 a great work of the ,lord fell upon me1 to the admiration of many1 who thought ,i had been dead2 and many came to see me for about fourteen days4 ,i was very much altered in countenance and person1 as if my body had been new moulded or changed4 ,while ,i was in that condition1 ,i had a sense and discerning given me by the ,lord1 through which ,i saw plainly1 that when many people talked of ,god and of ,christ1 c41 the serpent spoke in them2 but this was hard to be borne4 ,yet the work of the ,lord went on in some1 and my sorrows and troubles began to wear off1 and tears of joy dropped from me1 so that ,i could have wept night and day with tears of joy to the ,lord1 in humility and brokenness of heart4 ,i saw into that which was without end1 and things which cannot be uttered1 and of the greatness and infinitude of the love of ,god1 which cannot be expressed by words4 ,for ,i had been brought through the very ocean of darkness and death1 and through and over the power of ,satan1 by the eternal1 glorious power of ,christ2 even through that darkness was ,i brought1 which covered over all the world1 and which chained down all1 and shut up all in death4 ,the same eternal power of ,god1 which brought me through these things1 was that which afterwards shook the nations1 priests1 professors1 and people4 ,then could ,i say ,i had been in spiritual ,babylon1 ,sodom1 ,egypt1 and the grave2 but by the eternal power of ,god ,i was come out of it1 and was brought over it1 and the power of it1 into the power of ,christ4 ,i saw the harvest white1 and the seed of ,god lying thick in the ground1 as ever did wheat that was sown outwardly1 and none to gather it2 for this ,i mourned with tears4 ,a report went abroad of me that ,i was a young man that had a discerning spirit2 whereupon many came to me1 from far and near1 professors1 priests1 and people4 ,the ,lord's power broke forth2 and ,i had great openings and prophecies2 and spoke unto them of the things of ,god1 which they heard with attention and silence1 and went away1 and spread the fame thereof4 ,then came the tempter1 and set upon me again1 charging me1 that ,i had sinned against the ,holy ,ghost2 but ,i could not tell in what4 ,then ,paul's condition came before me1 how1 after he had been taken up into the third heavens1 and seen things not lawful to be uttered1 a messenger of ,satan was sent to buffet him4 ,thus1 by the power of ,christ1 ,i got over that temptation also4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #afdh-afdi4--;,begins to have great meetings--at ,mansfield he is moved to pray--the ,lord's power so great the house is shaken--cannot pray in his own will--a temptation besets him that there is no ,god1 which is dissipated by an inward voice--he afterwards disputes with and confounds some ,atheists--goes to courts and steeple-houses1 c41 to warn against oppression and oaths--reproves a notorious drunkard1 who is reformed--sees who are the greatest deceivers--shows how people read and understand the ,scriptures--various mysteries are revealed to him--he is sent to turn people to the ,inward ,light1 ,spirit1 and ,grace1 the ,divine ,spirit which he infallibly knew would not deceive--priests and professors rage at these innovations--he cries for justice in courts and against various wrong things--denounces the trade of preaching--is sent to preach freely4 ,in the year #afdh1 as ,i was sitting in a friend's house in ,nottinghamshire 7for by this time the power of ,god had opened the hearts of some to receive the word of life and reconciliation17 ,i saw there was a great crack to go throughout the earth1 and a great smoke to go as the crack went2 and that after the crack there should be a great shaking3 this was the earth in people's hearts1 which was to be shaken before the seed of ,god was raised out of the earth4 ,and it was so2 for the ,lord's power began to shake them1 and great meetings we begun to have1 and a mighty power and work of ,god there was amongst people1 to the astonishment of both people and priests4 ,and there was a meeting of priests and professors at a justice's house1 and ,i went among them4 ,here they discoursed how ,paul said1 8,he had not known sin1 but by the law1 which said1 ,thou shalt not lust30 and they held that to be spoken of the outward law4 ,but ,i told them1 ,paul spoke that after he was convinced2 for he had the outward law before1 and was brought up in it1 when he was in the lust of persecution2 but this was the law of ,god in his mind1 which he served1 and which the law in his members warred against2 for that which he thought had been life to him1 proved death4 ,so the more sober of the priests and professors yielded1 and consented that it was not the outward law1 but the inward1 which showed the inward lust which ,paul spoke of after he was convinced3 for the outward law took hold upon the outward action2 but the inward law upon the inward lust4 ,after this ,i went again to ,,mansfield1 where was a great meeting of professors and people2 here ,i was moved to pray2 and the ,lord's power was so great1 that the house seemed to be shaken4 ,when ,i had done1 some of the professors said it was now as in the days of the apostles1 when the house was shaken where they were4 ,after ,i had prayed1 one of the professors would pray1 which brought deadness and a veil over them3 and others of the professors were grieved at him and told him1 it was a temptation upon him4 ,then he came to me1 and desired that ,i would pray again2 but ,i could not pray in man's will4 ,soon after there was another great meeting of professors1 and a captain1 whose name was ,amor ,stoddard1 came in4 ,they were discoursing of the blood of ,christ2 and as they were discoursing of it1 ,i saw1 through the immediate opening of the ,invisible ,spirit1 the blood of ,christ4 ,and ,i cried out among them1 and said1 8,do ye not see the blood of ,christ8 ,see it in your hearts1 to sprinkle your hearts and consciences from dead works1 to serve the living ,god30 for ,i saw it1 the blood of the ,new ,covenant1 how it came into the heart4 ,this startled the professors1 who would have the blood only without them1 and not in them4 ,but ,captain ,stoddard was reached1 and said1 8,let the youth speak2 hear the youth speak20 when he saw they endeavoured to bear me down with many words4 ,there was also a company of priests1 that were looked upon to be tender2 one of their names was ,kellett2 and several people that were tender1 went to hear them4 ,i was moved to go after them1 and bid them mind the ,lord's teaching in their inward parts4 ,that priest ,kellett was against parsonages then2 but afterwards he got a great one1 and turned a persecutor4 ,now1 after ,i had had some service in these parts1 ,i went through ,,derbyshire into my own county1 ,,leicestershire1 again1 and several tender people were convinced4 ,passing thence1 ,i met with a great company of professors in ,,warwickshire1 who were praying1 and expounding the ,scriptures in the fields4 ,they gave the ,bible to me1 and ,i opened it on the fifth of ,matthew1 where ,christ expounded the law2 and ,i opened the inward state to them1 and the outward state2 upon which they fell into a fierce contention1 and so parted2 but the ,lord's power got ground4 ,then ,i heard of a great meeting to be at ,,leicester1 for a dispute1 wherein ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 ,baptists1 and ,common-prayer-men were said to be all concerned4 ,the meeting was in a steeple-house2 and thither ,i was moved by the ,lord ,god to go1 and be amongst them4 ,i heard their discourse and reasonings1 some being in pews1 and the priest in the pulpit2 abundance of people being gathered together4 ,at last one woman asked a question out of ,peter1 ,what that birth was1 viz41 a being born again of incorruptible seed1 by the ,word of ,god1 that liveth and abideth for ever8 ,and the priest said to her1 8,i permit not a woman to speak in the church20 though he had before given liberty for any to speak4 ,whereupon ,i was wrapped up1 as in a rapture1 in the ,lord's power2 and ,i stepped up and asked the priest1 8,dost thou call this 7the steeple-house7 a church8 ,or dost thou call this mixed multitude a church80 ,for the woman asking a question1 he ought to have answered it1 having given liberty for any to speak4 ,but1 instead of answering me1 he asked me what a church was8 ,i told him1 8,the church was the pillar and ground of truth1 made up of living stones1 living members1 a spiritual household1 which ,christ was the head of3 but he was not the head of a mixed multitude1 or of an old house made up of lime1 stones1 and wood40 ,this set them all on fire3 the priest came down out of his pulpit1 and others out of their pews1 and the dispute there was marred4 ,but ,i went to a great inn1 and there disputed the thing with the priests and professors of all sorts2 and they were all on a fire4 ,but ,i maintained the true church1 and the true head thereof1 over the heads of them all1 till they all gave out and fled away4 ,one man seemed loving1 and appeared for a while to join with me2 but he soon turned against me1 and joined with a priest1 in pleading for infants' baptism1 though he himself had been a ,baptist before2 and so left me alone4 ,howbeit1 there were several convinced that day2 and the woman that asked the question was convinced1 and her family2 and the ,lord's power and glory shone over all4 ,after this ,i returned into ,nottinghamshire1 and went into the ,,vale ,,of ,,beavor4 ,as ,i went1 ,i preached repentance to the people2 and there were many convinced in the ,vale of ,beavor1 in many towns2 for ,i stayed some weeks amongst them4 ,one morning1 as ,i was sitting by the fire1 a great cloud came over me1 and a temptation beset me2 but ,i sat still4 ,and it was said1 8,all things come by nature20 and the elements and stars came over me1 so that ,i was in a manner quite clouded with it4 ,but as ,i sat still1 and silent1 the people of the house perceived nothing4 ,and as ,i sat still under it1 and let it alone1 a living hope arose in me1 and a true voice1 which said1 8,there is a living ,god who made all things40 ,and immediately the cloud and temptation vanished away1 and life rose over it all2 my heart was glad1 and ,i praised the living ,god4 ,after some time1 ,i met with some people who had a notion that there was no ,god1 but that all things came by nature4 ,i had a great dispute with them1 and overturned them1 and made some of them confess that there is a living ,god4 ,then ,i saw that it was good that ,i had gone through that exercise4 ,we had great meetings in those parts1 for the power of the ,lord broke through in that part of the country4 ,returning into ,,nottinghamshire1 ,i found there a company of shattered ,baptists1 and others2 and the ,lord's power wrought mightily1 and gathered many of them4 ,afterwards ,i went to ,,mansfield and thereaway1 where the ,lord's power was wonderfully manifested both at ,mansfield and other neighbouring towns4 ,in ,derbyshire the mighty power of ,god wrought in a wonderful manner4 ,at ,,eaton1 a town near ,derby1 there was a meeting of ,friends1 where there was such a mighty power of ,god that they were greatly shaken1 and many mouths were opened in the power of the ,lord ,god4 ,many were moved by the ,lord to go to steeple-houses1 to the priests and to the people1 to declare the everlasting truth unto them4 ,at a certain time1 when ,i was at ,,mansfield1 there was a sitting of the justices about hiring of servants2 and it was upon me from the ,lord to go and speak to the justices1 that they should not oppress the servants in their wages4 ,so ,i walked towards the inn where they sat2 but finding a company of fiddlers there1 ,i did not go in1 but thought to come in the morning1 when ,i might have a more serious opportunity to discourse with them1 not thinking that a seasonable time4 ,but when ,i came again in the morning1 they were gone1 and ,i was struck even blind1 that ,i could not see4 ,i inquired of the innkeeper where the justices were to sit that day2 and he told me1 at a town eight miles off4 ,my sight began to come to me again2 and ,i went and ran thitherward as fast as ,i could4 ,when ,i was come to the house where they were1 and many servants with them1 ,i exhorted the justices not to oppress the servants in their wages1 but to do that which was right and just to them2 and ,i exhorted the servants to do their duties1 and serve honestly1 c4 ,they all received my exhortation kindly2 for ,i was moved of the ,lord therein4 ,moreover1 ,i was moved to go to several courts and steeple-houses at ,mansfield1 and other places1 to warn them to leave off oppression and oaths1 and to turn from deceit to the ,lord1 and do justly4 ,particularly at ,mansfield1 after ,i had been at a court there1 ,i was moved to go and speak to one of the most wicked men in the country1 one who was a common drunkard1 a noted whore-master1 and a rhyme-maker2 and ,i reproved him in the dread of the mighty ,god1 for his evil courses4 ,when ,i had done speaking1 and left him1 he came after me1 and told me1 that he was so smitten when ,i spoke to him1 that he had scarcely any strength left in him4 ,so this man was convinced1 and turned from his wickedness1 and remained an honest1 sober man1 to the astonishment of the people who had known him before4 ,thus the work of the ,lord went forward1 and many were turned from the darkness to the light1 within the compass of these three years1 #afdf1 #afdg1 and #afdh4 ,divers meetings of ,friends1 in several places1 were then gathered to ,god's teaching1 by his light1 ,spirit1 and power2 for the ,lord's power broke forth more and more1 wonderfully4 ,now was ,i come up in ,spirit through the flaming sword1 into the paradise of ,god4 ,all things were new2 and all the creation gave another smell unto me than before1 beyond what words can utter4 ,i knew nothing but pureness1 and innocency1 and righteousness1 being renewed into the image of ,god by ,christ ,jesus1 to the state of ,adam1 which he was in before he fell4 ,the creation was opened to me2 and it was showed me how all things had their names given them1 according to their nature and virtue4 ,i was at a stand in my mind1 whether ,i should practise physic for the good of mankind1 seeing the nature and virtues of things were so opened to me by the ,lord4 ,but ,i was immediately taken up in ,spirit1 to see into another or more steadfast state than ,adam's innocency1 even into a state in ,christ ,jesus1 that should never fall4 ,and the ,lord showed me that such as were faithful to him1 in the power and light of ,christ1 should come up into that state in which ,adam was before he fell2 in which the admirable works of creation1 and the virtues thereof1 may be known1 through the openings of that divine ,word of wisdom and power1 by which they were made4 ,great things did the ,lord lead me into1 and wonderful depths were opened unto me1 beyond what can by words be declared2 but as people come into subjection to the ,spirit of ,god1 and grow up in the image and power of the ,almighty1 they may receive the ,word of ,wisdom1 that opens all things1 and come to know the hidden unity in the ,eternal ,being4 ,thus ,i travelled on in the ,lord's service1 as the ,lord led me4 ,and when ,i came to ,,nottingham1 the mighty power of ,god was there among ,friends4 ,from thence ,i went to ,,clawson in ,leicestershire1 in the ,,vale of ,,beavor1 and the mighty power of ,god was there also1 in several towns and villages where ,friends were gathered4 ,while ,i was there1 the ,lord opened to me three things1 relating to those three great professions in the world1 physic1 divinity 7so called71 and law4 ,he showed me that the physicians were out of the wisdom of ,god1 by which the creatures were made2 and so knew not their virtues1 because they were out of the ,word of ,wisdom2 by which they were made4 ,he showed me that the priests were out of the true faith1 which ,christ is the author of2 the faith which purifies and gives victory1 and brings people to have access to ,god1 by which they please ,god2 which mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience4 ,he showed me also1 that the lawyers were out of the equity1 and out of the true justice1 and out of the law of ,god1 which went over the first transgression1 and over all sin1 and answered the ,spirit of ,god1 that was grieved and transgressed in man4 ,and that these three1 the physicians1 the priests1 and the lawyers1 ruled the world out of the wisdom1 out of the faith1 and out of the equity and law of ,god2 the one pretending the cure of the body1 the other the cure of the soul1 and the third the property of the people4 ,but ,i saw they were all out of wisdom1 out of the faith1 out of the equity and perfect law of ,god4 ,and as the ,lord opened these things unto me1 ,i felt his power went forth over all1 by which all might be reformed1 if they would receive and bow unto it4 ,the priests might be reformed1 and brought into the true faith1 which was the gift of ,god4 ,the lawyers might be reformed1 and brought into the law of ,god1 which answers that of ,god1 which is transgressed1 in every one1 and brings to love one's neighbour as himself4 ,this lets man see1 if he wrongs his neighbour he wrongs himself2 and this teaches him to do unto others as he would they should do unto him4 ,the physicians might be reformed1 and brought into the wisdom of ,god1 by which all things were made and created2 that they might receive a right knowledge of them1 and understand their virtues1 which the ,word of ,wisdom1 by which they were made and are upheld1 hath given them4 ,abundance was opened concerning these things2 how all lay out of the wisdom of ,god1 and out of the righteousness and holiness that man at the first was made in4 ,but as all believe in the light1 and walk in the light1 which ,christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal1 and so become children of the light1 and of the day of ,christ2 in his day all things are seen1 visible and invisible1 by the divine light of ,christ1 the spiritual1 heavenly man1 by whom all things were made and created4 ,then ,i saw concerning the priests1 that although they stood in deceit1 and acted by the dark power1 which both they and their people were kept under2 yet they were not the greatest deceivers spoken of in the ,scriptures2 for these were not come so far as many of them had come4 ,but the ,lord opened to me who the greatest deceivers were1 and how far they might come2 even such as came as far as ,cain1 to hear the voice of ,god2 and such as came out of ,egypt1 and through the ,red ,sea1 and to praise ,god on the banks of the sea-shore2 such as could speak by experience of ,god's miracles and wonders2 such as were come as far as ,korah and ,dathan1 and their company2 such as were come as far as ,balaam1 who could speak the word of the ,lord1 who heard his voice and knew it1 and knew his ,spirit1 and could see the star of ,jacob1 and the goodliness of ,israel's tent2 the second birth1 which no enchantment could prevail against3 these that could speak so much of their experiences of ,god1 and yet turned from the ,spirit and the ,word1 and went into the gainsaying2 these were1 and would be1 the great deceivers1 far beyond the priests4 ,likewise among the ,christians1 such as should preach in ,christ's name1 and should work miracles1 cast out devils1 and go as far as a ,cain1 a ,korah1 and a ,balaam1 in the gospel times1 these were and would be the great deceivers4 ,they that could speak some experiences of ,christ and ,god1 but lived not in the life3 these were they that led the world after them1 who got the form of godliness1 but denied the power2 who inwardly ravened from the ,spirit1 and brought people into the form1 but persecuted them that were in the power1 as ,cain did2 and ran greedily after the error of ,balaam1 through covetousness1 loving the wages of unrighteousness1 as ,balaam did4 ,these followers of ,cain1 ,korah1 and ,balaam have brought the world1 since the apostles' days1 to be like a sea4 ,and such as these1 ,i saw1 might deceive now1 as they had in former ages3 but it is impossible for them to deceive the elect1 who are chosen in ,christ1 who was before the world began1 and before the deceiver was2 though others may be deceived in their openings and prophecies1 not keeping their minds to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who doth open and reveal to his4 ,i saw the state of those1 both priests and people1 who1 in reading the ,scriptures1 cry out much against ,cain1 ,esau1 and ,judas1 and other wicked men of former times1 mentioned in the ,holy ,scriptures2 but do not see the nature of ,cain1 of ,esau1 of ,judas1 and those others1 in themselves4 ,these said1 it was they1 they1 they1 that were the bad people2 putting it off from themselves3 but when some of these came1 with the light and ,spirit of truth1 to see into themselves1 then they came to say1 ,i1 ,i1 ,i1 it is ,i myself that have been the ,ishmael1 and the ,esau1 c4 ,for then they came to see the nature of wild ,ishmael in themselves2 the nature of ,cain1 of ,esau1 of ,korah1 of ,balaam1 and of the son of perdition in themselves1 sitting above all that is called ,god in them4 ,thus ,i saw it was the fallen man that was got up into the ,scriptures1 and was finding fault with those before mentioned2 and1 with the backsliding ,jews1 calling them the sturdy oaks1 and tall cedars1 and fat bulls of ,bashan1 wild heifers1 vipers1 serpents1 c42 and charging them that it was they that closed their eyes1 and stopped their ears1 and hardened their hearts1 and were dull of hearing3 that it was they that hated the light and rebelled against it2 that quenched the ,spirit1 and vexed1 and grieved it2 that walked despitefully against the ,spirit of grace1 and turned the grace of ,god into wantonness2 and that it was they that resisted the ,holy ,ghost1 that got the form of godliness1 and turned against the power3 and they were the inwardly ravening wolves1 that had got the sheep's clothing2 they were the wells without water1 and clouds without rain1 and trees without fruit1 c4 ,but when these1 who were so much taken up with finding fault with others1 and thought themselves clear from these things1 came to look into themselves1 and with the light of ,christ thoroughly to search themselves1 they might see enough of this in themselves2 and then the cry could not be1 it is he1 or they1 as before2 but ,i and we are found in these conditions4 ,i saw also1 how people read the ,scriptures without a right sense of them1 and without duly applying them to their own states4 ,for1 when they read that death reigned from ,adam to ,moses2 that the law and the prophets were until ,john2 and that the least in the kingdom is greater than ,john2 they read these things and applied them to others1 but they did not turn in to find the truth of these things in themselves4 ,as these things came to be opened in me1 ,i saw death reigned over them from ,adam to ,moses2 from the entrance into transgression1 till they came to the ministration of condemnation1 which restrains people from sin that brings death4 ,then1 when the ministration of ,moses is passed through1 the ministry of the prophets comes to be read and understood1 which reaches through the figures1 types1 and shadows unto ,john1 the greatest prophet born of a woman2 whose ministration prepares the way of the ,lord1 by bringing down the exalted mountains1 and making straight paths4 ,and as this ministration is passed through1 an entrance comes to be known into the everlasting kingdom4 ,thus ,i saw plainly that none could read ,moses aright1 without ,moses' spirit1 by which ,moses saw how man was in the image of ,god in ,paradise1 and how he fell1 how death came over him1 and how all men have been under this death4 ,i saw how ,moses received the pure law1 that went over all transgressors2 and how the clean beasts1 which were figures and types1 were offered up1 when the people were come into the righteous law that went over the first transgression4 ,both ,moses and the prophets saw through the types and figures and beyond them1 and saw ,christ1 the great prophet1 that was to come to fulfil them4 ,i saw that none could read ,john's words aright1 and with a true understanding of them1 but in and with the same divine ,spirit by which ,john spoke them2 and by his burning1 shining light1 which is sent from ,god4 ,for by that ,spirit their crooked natures might be made straight1 and their rough natures smooth1 and the exacter and violent doer in them might be cast out2 and they that had been hypocrites might come to bring forth fruits meet for repentance1 and their mountain of sin and earthliness might be laid low1 and their valley exalted in them1 that there might be a way prepared for the ,lord in them3 then the least of the kingdom is greater than ,john4 ,but all must first know the voice crying in the wilderness1 in their hearts1 which through transgression1 were become a wilderness4 ,thus ,i saw it was an easy matter to say death reigned from ,adam to ,moses2 and that the law and the prophets were until ,john2 and that the least in the kingdom is greater than ,john2 but none could know how death reigned from ,adam to ,moses1 c41 but by the same ,holy ,spirit that ,moses1 the prophets1 and ,john were in4 ,they could not know the spiritual meaning of ,moses'1 the prophets'1 and ,john's words1 nor see their path and travels1 much less see through them1 and to the end of them into the kingdom1 unless they had the ,spirit and light of ,jesus2 nor could they know the words of ,christ1 and of his apostles1 without his ,spirit4 ,but as man comes through by the ,spirit and power of ,god1 to ,christ1 who fulfils the types1 figures1 shadows1 promises1 and prophecies that were of him1 and is led by the ,holy ,ghost into the truth and substance of the ,scriptures1 sitting down in him who is the author and end of them2 then are they read1 and understood with profit and great delight4 ,moreover1 when ,i was brought up into his image in righteousness and holiness1 and into the paradise of ,god1 ,he let me see how ,adam was made a living soul3 and also the stature of ,christ1 the mystery that had been hid from ages and generations2 which things are hard to be uttered and cannot be borne by many4 ,for1 of all the sects in ,christendom 7so called7 that ,i discoursed withal1 ,i found none that could bear to be told that any should come to ,adam's perfection1 into the image of ,god1 that righteousness and holiness that ,adam was in before he fell2 to be clear and pure without sin1 as he was4 ,therefore how should they be able to bear being told that any should grow up to the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ1 when they cannot bear to hear that any should come1 whilst upon earth1 into the same power and ,spirit that the prophets and apostles were in8 ,though it is a certain truth1 that none can understand their writings aright1 without the same ,spirit by which they were written4 ,now the ,lord ,god opened to me by his invisible power1 8that every man was enlightened by the divine light of ,christ20 and ,i saw it shine through all2 and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation to the light of life1 and became the children of it2 but they that hated it1 and did not believe in it1 were condemned by it1 though they made a profession of ,christ4 ,this ,i saw in the pure openings of the light1 without the help of any man2 neither did ,i then know where to find it in the ,scriptures1 though afterwards1 searching the ,scriptures1 ,i found it4 ,for ,i saw in that ,light and ,spirit which was before the ,scriptures were given forth1 and which led the holy men of ,god to give them forth1 that all must come to that ,spirit1 if they would know ,god1 or ,christ1 or the ,scriptures aright1 which they that gave them forth were led and taught by4 ,but ,i observed a dulness and drowsy heaviness upon people1 which ,i wondered at3 for sometimes when ,i would set myself to sleep1 my mind went over all to the beginning1 in that which is from everlasting to everlasting4 ,i saw death was to pass over this sleepy heavy state2 and ,i told people they must come to witness death to that sleepy1 heavy nature1 and a cross to it in the power of ,god1 that their minds and hearts might be on things above4 ,on a certain time1 as ,i was walking in the fields1 the ,lord said unto me3 8,thy name is written in the ,lamb's book of life1 which was before the foundation of the world20 and1 as the ,lord spoke it1 ,i believed1 and saw it in the new birth4 ,then1 some time after1 the ,lord commanded me to go abroad into the world1 which was like a briery thorny wilderness2 and when ,i came1 in the ,lord's mighty power1 with the word of life into the world1 the world swelled1 and made a noise like the great raging waves of the sea4 ,priests and professors1 magistrates and people1 were all like a sea1 when ,i came to proclaim the day of the ,lord amongst them1 and to preach repentance to them4 ,i was sent to turn people from darkness to the light1 that they might receive ,christ ,jesus3 for1 to as many as should receive him in his light1 ,i saw that he would give power to become the sons of ,god2 which ,i had obtained by receiving ,christ4 ,i was to direct people to the ,spirit1 that gave forth the ,scriptures1 by which they might be led into all truth1 and so up to ,christ and ,god1 as they had been who gave them forth4 ,i was to turn them to the grace of ,god1 and to the truth in the heart1 which came by ,jesus2 that by this grace they might be taught1 which would bring them salvation1 that their hearts might be established by it1 and their words might be seasoned1 and all might come to know their salvation nigh4 ,i saw that ,christ died for all men1 and was a propitiation for all2 and enlightened all men and women with his divine and saving light2 and that none could be a true believer1 but who believed in it4 ,i saw that the grace of ,god1 which bringeth salvation1 had appeared to all men1 and that the manifestation of the ,spirit of ,god was given to every man1 to profit withal4 ,these things ,i did not see by the help of man1 nor by the letter1 though they are written in the letter1 but ,i saw them in the light of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by his immediate ,spirit and power1 as did the holy men of ,god1 by whom the ,holy ,scriptures were written4 ,yet ,i had no slight esteem of the holy ,scriptures1 but they were very precious to me1 for ,i was in that ,spirit by which they were given forth3 and what the ,lord opened in me1 ,i afterwards found was agreeable to them4 ,i could speak much of these things1 and many volumes might be written1 but all would prove too short to set forth the infinite love1 wisdom1 and power of ,god1 in preparing1 fitting1 and furnishing me for the service he had appointed me to2 letting me see the depths of ,satan on the one hand1 and opening to me1 on the other hand1 the divine mysteries of ,his own everlasting kingdom4 ,now1 when the ,lord ,god and his son ,jesus ,christ sent me forth into the world1 to preach his everlasting gospel and kingdom1 ,i was glad that ,i was commanded to turn people to that inward light1 ,spirit1 and grace1 by which all might know their salvation1 and their way to ,god2 even that ,divine ,spirit which would lead them into all truth1 and which ,i infallibly knew would never deceive any4 ,but with and by this divine power and ,spirit of ,god1 and the light of ,jesus1 ,i was to bring people off from all their own ways1 to ,christ1 the new and living way2 and from their churches1 which men had made and gathered1 to the church in ,god1 the general assembly written in heaven which ,christ is the head of3 and off from the world's1 teachers1 made by men1 to learn of ,christ1 who is the way1 the truth1 and the life1 of whom the ,father said1 8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ye him20 and off from all the world's worships1 to know the ,spirit of ,truth in the inward parts1 and to be led thereby2 that in it they might worship the ,father of spirits1 who seeks such to worship him2 which ,spirit they that worshipped not in1 knew not what they worshipped4 ,and ,i was to bring people off from all the world's religions1 which are vain2 that they might know the pure religion1 might visit the fatherless1 the widows1 and the strangers1 and keep themselves from the spots of the world2 then there would not be so many beggars1 the sight of whom often grieved my heart1 as it denoted so much hard-heartedness amongst them that professed the name of ,christ4 ,i was to bring them off from all the world's fellowships1 and prayings1 and singings1 which stood in forms without power2 that their fellowship might be in the ,holy ,ghost1 and in the ,eternal ,spirit of ,god2 that they might pray in the ,holy ,ghost1 and sing in the ,spirit1 and with the grace that comes by ,jesus2 making melody in their hearts to the ,lord1 who hath sent his beloved ,son to be their ,saviour1 and caused his heavenly sun to shine upon all the world1 and through them all1 and his heavenly rain to fall upon the just and the unjust 7as his outward rain doth fall1 and his outward sun doth shine on all71 which is ,god's unspeakable love to the world4 ,i was to bring people off from ,jewish ceremonies1 and from heathenish fables1 and from men's inventions and windy doctrines1 by which they blew the people about this way and the other way1 from sect to sect2 and from all their beggarly rudiments1 with their schools and colleges for making ministers of ,christ1 who are indeed ministers of their own making1 but not of ,christ's2 and from all their images and crosses1 and sprinkling of infants1 with all their holy days 7so called7 and all their vain traditions1 which they had instituted since the apostles' days1 which the ,lord's power was against3 in the dread and authority of which1 ,i was moved to declare against them all1 and against all that preached and not freely1 as being such as had not received freely from ,christ4 ,moreover1 when the ,lord sent me forth into the world1 he forbade me to put off my hat to any1 high or low2 and ,i was required to ,thee and ,thou all men and women1 without any respect to rich or poor1 great or small4 ,and as ,i travelled up and down1 ,i was not to bid people ,good morrow or ,good evening2 neither might ,i bow or scrape with my leg to any one2 and this made the sects and professions to rage4 ,but the ,lord's power carried me over all to his glory1 and many came to be turned to ,god in a little time2 for the heavenly day of the ,lord sprung from on high1 and broke forth apace1 by the light of which many came to see where they were4 ,but ,o6 the rage that then was in the priests1 magistrates1 professors1 and people of all sorts2 but especially in priests and professors6 for1 though ,thou1 to a single person1 was according to their own learning1 their accidence1 and grammar rules1 and according to the ,bible1 yet they could not bear to hear it3 and as to the hat-honour1 because ,i could not put off my hat to them1 it set them all into a rage4 ,but the ,lord showed me that it was an honour below1 which he would lay in the dust1 and stain2--an honour which proud flesh looked for1 but sought not the honour which came from ,god only2--an honour invented by men in the fall1 and in the alienation from ,god1 who were offended if it were not given them2 and yet they would be looked upon as saints1 church-members and great ,christians3 but ,christ saith1 8,how can ye believe1 who receive honour one of another1 and seek not the honour that cometh from ,god only80 8,and ,i 7saith ,christ7 receive not honour of men30 showing that men have an honour1 which men will receive and give2 but ,christ will have none of it4 ,this is the honour which ,christ will not receive1 and which must be laid in the dust4 ,o6 the rage and scorn1 the heat and fury that arose6 ,o6 the blows1 punchings1 beatings1 and imprisonments that we underwent1 for not putting off our hats to men6 for that soon tried all men's patience and sobriety what it was4 ,some had their hats violently plucked off and thrown away1 so that they quite lost them4 ,the bad language and evil usage we received on this account are hard to be expressed1 besides the danger we were sometimes in1 of losing our lives for this matter1 and that by the great professors of ,christianity1 who thereby evinced that they were not true believers4 ,and though it was but a small thing in the eye of man1 yet a wonderful confusion it brought among all professors and priests2 but1 blessed be the ,lord1 many came to see the vanity of that custom of putting off the hat to men1 and felt the weight of ,truth's testimony against it4 ,about this time ,i was sorely exercised in going to their courts to cry for justice1 and in speaking and writing to judges and justices to do justly2 in warning such as kept public-houses for entertainment1 that they should not let people have more drink than would do them good2 and in testifying against their wakes or feasts1 may-games1 sports1 plays1 and shows1 which trained up people to vanity and looseness1 and led them from the fear of ,god2 and the days they had set forth for holy-days were usually the times wherein they most dishonoured ,god by these things4#g ,in fairs1 also1 and in markets1 ,i was made to declare against their deceitful merchandise1 cheating1 and cozening2 warning all to deal justly1 to speak the truth1 to let their yea be yea1 and their nay be nay2 and to do unto others as they would have others do unto them2 forewarning them of the great and terrible day of the ,lord1 which would come upon them all4 ,i was moved also to cry against all sorts of music1 and against the mountebanks playing tricks on their stages1 for they burthened the pure life1 and stirred up people's minds to vanity4 ,i was much exercised1 too1 with school-masters and school-mistresses1 warning them to teach their children sobriety in the fear of the ,lord1 that they might not be nursed and trained up in lightness1 vanity1 and wantonness4 ,likewise ,i was made to warn masters and mistresses1 fathers and mothers in private families1 to take care that their children and servants might be trained up in the fear of the ,lord2 and that they themselves should be therein examples and patterns of sobriety and virtue to them4 ,for ,i saw that as the ,jews were to teach their children the law of ,god and the old covenant1 and to train them up in it1 and their servants1 yea1 the very strangers were to keep the ,sabbath amongst them1 and be circumcised1 before they might eat of their sacrifices2 so all ,christians1 and all that made a profession of ,christianity1 ought to train up their children and servants in the new covenant of light1 ,christ ,jesus1 who is ,god's salvation to the ends of the earth1 that all may know their salvation3 and they ought to train them up in the law of life1 the law of the ,spirit1 the law of love and of faith2 that they might be made free from the law of sin and death4 ,and all ,christians ought to be circumcised by the ,spirit1 which puts off the body of the sins of the flesh1 that they may come to eat of the heavenly sacrifice1 ,christ ,jesus1 that true spiritual food1 which none can rightly feed upon but they that are circumcised by the ,spirit4 ,likewise1 ,i was exercised about the star-gazers1 who drew people's minds from ,christ1 the bright and the morning star2 and from the ,sun of righteousness1 by whom the sun1 and moon1 and stars1 and all things else were made1 who is the wisdom of ,god1 and from whom the right knowledge of all things is received4 ,footnote #g3 ,by a royal proclamation of ,james ,i41 issued in #afah 7for ,lancashire71 these pastimes were made lawful recreations for the ,first-day of the week1 provided they did not interfere with the times appointed for worship4 ,many of the clergy at first refused to promulgate the proclamation1 though by so doing they acted contrary to their canonical obedience1 and laid themselves open to penalties4 ,in the seventh year of ,charles ,i41 this proclamation1 at the instigation of ,archbishop ,laud1 was revived1 and extended to the whole nation1 and was enjoined to be published and advocated from the pulpit by all ministers1 to their disgrace4 ,by the revival of this offensive proclamation1 these disorderly revels had arrived to such a height of licentious depravity1 that some well-disposed justices1 in the county of ,somerset1 petitioned the judges on the western circuit1 ,sir ,thomas ,richardson1 ,lord ,chief ,justice1 and ,baron ,denham1 to suppress them4 ,for so doing1 they were summoned before the ,king and ,council1 by ,archbishop ,laud1 for illegally interfering with the ecclesiastical jurisdiction1 and the council rescinded the prohibitions1 and cashiered the judges4--7,see ,fuller's ,church ,hist41 ,book x41 p4 #gd3 and ,book xi41 p4 #adg74 ,but the earthly spirit of the priests wounded my life2 and when ,i heard the bell toll to call people together to the steeple-house1 it struck at my life2 for it was just like a market-bell1 to gather people together1 that the priest might set forth his ware to sale4 ,o6 the vast sums of money that are gotten by the trade they make of selling the ,scriptures1 and by their preaching1 from the highest bishop to the lowest priest6 ,what one trade else in the world is comparable to it8 notwithstanding the ,scriptures were given forth freely1 and ,christ commanded his ministers to preach freely1 and the prophets and apostles denounced judgment against all covetous hirelings and diviners for money4 ,but in this free ,spirit of the ,lord ,jesus was ,i sent forth to declare the ,word of life and reconciliation freely1 that all might come to ,christ1 who gives freely1 and who renews up into the image of ,god1 which man and woman were in before they fell1 that they might sit down in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #afdi-afej--;,george ,fox is first imprisoned at ,nottingham1 where the ,sheriff is convinced--he is liberated and quiets a distracted woman--he is cruelly treated at ,mansfield-,woodhouse--is taken before the magistrates at ,derby--acknowledges that he is sanctified--is temptingly asked if he were ,christ1 which he denies1 yet is committed for blasphemy--his mittimus to ,derby prison--writes to the priests at ,derby against preaching for hire1 c4--also against persecution--to ,barton and ,bennet1 justices1 on the same subject--to ,justice ,bennet against covetousness--to ,justice ,barton1 a preacher and a persecutor--to the ,mayor of ,derby against persecution and oppression--to the court of ,derby against oaths and oppression--to the bell-ringers of ,derby against vanities and worldly pleasures--his jailer is convinced--,justice ,bennet first gives ,friends the name of ,quakers in derision--writes to ,friends and others1 to open their understandings1 and to direct them to their true ,teacher within themselves--to the convinced people1 directing them to internal silence and to true obedience--an encouragement to the faithful--to the justices of ,derby against persecution1 thrice repeated--to the priests of ,derby1 on the same subject--to the justices of ,derby1 to prize their time1 and to depart from evil--the like to ,colonel ,barton1 justice1 and warning of the plagues and vengeance hanging over the oppressor4 ,now as ,i went towards ,,nottingham on a ,first-day in the morning1 with ,friends to a meeting there1 when ,i came on the top of a hill in sight of the town1 ,i espied the great steeple-house2 and the ,lord said unto me1 8thou must go cry against yonder great idol1 and against the worshippers therein40 ,i said nothing of this to the ,friends that were with me1 but went on with them to the meeting1 where the mighty power of the ,lord was amongst us2 in which ,i left ,friends sitting in the meeting1 and ,i went away to the steeple-house4 ,when ,i came there1 all the people looked like fallow-ground1 and the priest 7like a great lump of earth7 stood in his pulpit above4 ,he took for his text these words of ,peter1 8,we have also a more sure ,word of prophecy1 whereunto ye do well that ye take heed1 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts40 ,and he told the people that this was the ,scriptures1 by which they were to try all doctrines1 religions1 and opinions4 ,now the ,lord's power was so mighty upon me1 and so strong in me1 that ,i could not hold1 but was made to cry out and say1 8,o no1 it is not the ,scriptures20 and ,i told them what it was1 namely1 the ,holy ,spirit1 by which the holy men of ,god gave forth the ,scriptures1 whereby opinions1 religions1 and judgments were to be tried2 for it led into all truth1 and so gave the knowledge of all truth4 ,the ,jews had the ,scriptures1 and yet resisted the ,holy ,ghost1 and rejected ,christ1 the bright morning-star4 ,they persecuted ,christ and his apostles1 and took upon them to try their doctrines by the ,scriptures1 but erred in judgment1 and did not try them aright1 because they tried without the ,holy ,ghost4 ,as ,i spoke thus amongst them1 the officers came and took me away1 and put me into a nasty1 stinking prison2 the smell whereof got so into my nose and throat1 that it very much annoyed me4 ,but that day the ,lord's power sounded so in their ears1 that they were amazed at the voice2 and could not get it out of their ears for some time after1 they were so reached by the ,lord's power in the steeple-house4 ,at night they took me before the mayor1 aldermen1 and sheriffs of the town2 and when ,i was brought before them1 the mayor was in a peevish1 fretful temper1 but the ,lord's power allayed him4 ,they examined me at large2 and ,i told them how the ,lord had moved me to come4 ,after some discourse between them and me1 they sent me back to prison again2 but some time after the head sheriff1 whose name was ,john ,reckless1 sent for me to his house4 ,when ,i came in1 his wife met me in the hall1 and said1 8,salvation is come to our house40 ,she took me by the hand1 and was much wrought upon by the power of the ,lord ,god2 and her husband1 and children1 and servants were much changed1 for the power of the ,lord wrought upon them4 ,i lodged at the sheriff's1 and great meetings we had in his house4 ,some persons of considerable condition in the world came to them1 and the ,lord's power appeared eminently amongst them4 ,this sheriff sent for the other sheriff1 and for a woman they had had dealings with in the way of trade2 and he told her before the other sheriff1 that they had wronged her in their dealings with her 7for the other sheriff and he were partners71 and that they ought to make her restitution4 ,this he spoke cheerfully2 but the other sheriff denied it2 and the woman said she knew nothing of it4 ,but the friendly sheriff said it was so1 and that the other knew it well enough2 and having discovered the matter1 and acknowledged the wrong done by them1 he made restitution to the woman1 and exhorted the other sheriff to do the like4 ,the ,lord's power was with this friendly sheriff1 and wrought a mighty change in him1 and great openings he had4 ,the next market-day1 as he was walking with me in the chamber1 in his slippers1 he said1 8,i must go into the market1 and preach repentance to the people20 and accordingly he went into the market1 and into several streets1 and preached repentance to the people4 ,several others also in the town were moved to speak to the mayor and magistrates1 and to the people1 exhorting them to repent4 ,hereupon the magistrates grew very angry1 and sent for me from the ,sheriff's house1 and committed me to the common prison4 ,when the assize came on1 there was one moved to come and offer up himself for me1 body for body2 yea1 life also3 but when ,i should have been brought before the judge1 the sheriff's man being somewhat long in fetching me to the sessions-house1 the judge was risen before ,i came4 ,at which ,i understood the judge was somewhat offended1 and said1 8he would have admonished the youth1 if he had been brought before him20 for ,i was then imprisoned by the name of ,a ,,youth4 ,so ,i was returned to prison again1 and put into the common jail4 ,the ,lord's power was great among ,friends2 but the people began to be very rude2 wherefore the governor of the castle sent down soldiers1 and dispersed them2 and after that they were quiet4 ,but both priests and people were astonished at the wonderful power that broke forth2 and several of the priests were made tender1 and some did confess to the power of the ,lord4 ,now1 after ,i was released from ,nottingham jail1 where ,i had been kept prisoner some time1 ,i travelled as before1 in the work of the ,lord4 ,coming to ,,mansfield-,,woodhouse1 there was a distracted woman under a doctor's hand1 with her hair loose all about her ears4 ,he was about to bleed her1 she being first bound1 and many people being about her1 holding her by violence2 but he could get no blood from her4 ,i desired them to unbind her1 and let her alone1 for they could not touch the spirit in her1 by which she was tormented4 ,so they unbound her2 and ,i was moved to speak to her1 and in the name of the ,lord to bid her be quiet and still2 and she was so4 ,the ,lord's power settled her mind1 and she mended2 and afterwards she received the truth1 and continued in it to her death4 ,the ,lord's name was honoured2 to whom the glory of all his works belongs4 ,many great and wonderful things were wrought by the heavenly power in those days2 for the ,lord made bare his omnipotent arm1 and manifested his power to the astonishment of many1 by the healing virtue whereof many have been delivered from great infirmities1 and the devils were made subject through his name2 of which particular instances might be given1 beyond what this unbelieving age is able to receive or bear4 ,but blessed for ever be the name of the ,lord1 and everlastingly honoured1 and over all exalted and magnified be the arm of his glorious power1 by which he hath wrought gloriously2 let the honour and praise of all his works be ascribed to him alone4 ,now while ,i was at ,mansfield-,woodhouse1 ,i was moved to go to the steeple-house there1 and declare the truth to the priest and people2 but the people fell upon me in great rage1 struck me down1 and almost stifled and smothered me2 and ,i was cruelly beaten and bruised by them with their hands1 ,bibles1 and sticks4 ,then they haled me out1 though ,i was hardly able to stand1 and put me into the stocks1 where ,i sat some hours2 and they brought dog-whips and horse-whips1 threatening to whip me4 ,after some time they had me before the magistrate1 at a knight's house1 where were many great persons2 who1 seeing how evilly ,i had been used1 after much threatening1 set me at liberty4 ,but the rude people stoned me out of the town1 for preaching the word of life to them4 ,i was scarcely able to move or stand1 by reason of the ill-usage ,i had received2 yet with considerable effort ,i got about a mile from the town1 and then ,i met with some people who gave me something to comfort me1 because ,i was inwardly bruised2 but the ,lord's power soon healed me again4 ,that day some people were convinced of the ,lord's truth1 and turned to his teaching1 at which ,i rejoiced4 ,then ,i went into ,,leicestershire1 several ,friends accompanying me4 ,there were some ,baptists in that country whom ,i desired to see and speak with1 because they were separated from the public worship4 ,so one ,oates1 who was one of their chief teachers1 and others of the heads of them1 with several others of their company1 came to meet us at ,,barrow2 and there we discoursed with them4 ,one of them said1 8,what was not of faith was sin40 ,whereupon ,i asked them1 ,what faith was8 and how it was wrought in man8 ,but they turned off from that1 and spoke of their baptism in water4 ,then ,i asked them1 ,whether their mountain of sin was brought down and laid low in them8 and their rough and crooked ways made smooth and straight in them8 for they looked upon that ,scripture as meaning outward mountains and ways4 ,but ,i told them they must find them in their own hearts2 which they seemed to wonder at4 ,we asked them who baptized ,john the ,baptist8 and who baptized ,peter1 ,john1 and the rest of the ,apostles8 and put them to prove by ,scripture that these were baptized in water2 but they were silent4 ,then ,i asked them1 8,seeing ,judas1 who betrayed ,christ1 and was called the ,son of ,perdition1 had hanged himself1 what ,son of ,perdition was that which ,paul spoke of1 that sat in the temple of ,god1 exalted above all that is called ,god8 and what temple of ,god that was in which this ,son of ,perdition sat8 and whether he1 that betrays ,christ within in himself1 be not one in nature with that ,judas1 that betrayed ,christ without80 ,but they could not tell what to make of this1 nor what to say to it4 ,so after some discourse we parted2 and some of them were loving to us4 ,on the ,first-day following we came to ,,bagworth1 and went to a steeple-house1 where some ,friends were got in2 and the people locked them in1 and themselves too1 with the priest4 ,but after the priest had done1 they opened the door1 and we went in also1 and had a service for the ,lord amongst them4 ,afterwards we had a meeting in the town1 amongst several people that were in high notions4 ,passing from thence1 ,i heard of a people that were in prison in ,,coventry for religion4 ,and as ,i walked towards the jail1 the word of the ,lord came to me saying1 8,,my ,,love ,,was ,,always ,,to ,,thee1 ,,and ,,thou ,,art ,,in ,,my ,,love40 ,and ,i was ravished with the sense of the love of ,god1 and greatly strengthened in my inward man4 ,but when ,i came into the jail1 where the prisoners were1 a great power of darkness struck at me1 and ,i sat still1 having my spirit gathered into the love of ,god4 ,at last these prisoners began to rant1 and vapour1 and blaspheme1 at which my soul was greatly grieved4 ,they said they were ,god2 but that we could not bear such things4 ,when they were calm1 ,i stood up and asked them whether they did such things by motion1 or from ,scripture2 and they said1 from ,scripture4 ,a ,bible being at hand1 ,i asked them to point out that ,scripture2 and they showed me the place where the sheet was let down to ,peter1 and it was said to him1 what was sanctified he should not call common or unclean4 ,when ,i had showed them that that ,scripture proved nothing for their purpose1 they brought another1 which spoke of ,god's reconciling all things to himself1 things in heaven1 and things in earth4 ,i told them ,i owned that ,scripture also1 but showed them that that was nothing to their purpose either4 ,then seeing they said they were ,god1 ,i asked them1 if they knew whether it would rain to-morrow8 they said they could not tell4 ,i told them1 ,god could tell4 ,again1 ,i asked them1 if they thought they should be always in that condition1 or should change8 and they answered they could not tell4 ,then said ,i unto them1 ,god can tell1 and ,god doth not change4 ,you say you are ,god2 and yet you cannot tell whether you shall change or not4 ,so they were confounded1 and quite brought down for the time4 ,after ,i had reproved them for their blasphemous expressions1 ,i went away2 for ,i perceived they were ,ranters4 ,i had met with none before2 and ,i admired the goodness of the ,lord in appearing so unto me before ,i went amongst them4 ,not long after this1 one of these ,ranters1 whose name was ,joseph ,salmon1 put forth a paper1 or book of recantation2 upon which they were set at liberty4 ,from ,coventry ,i went to ,,atherstone2 and it being their lecture-day1 ,i was moved to go to their chapel to speak to the priests and people4 ,they were generally pretty quiet2 only some few raged1 and would have had my relations to have me bound4 ,i declared largely to them how that ,god was come to teach his people himself1 and to bring them off from all their man-made teachers to hear his ,son4 ,some were convinced there4 ,then ,i went to ,,market-,,bosworth1 and there was a lecture there also4 ,he that preached that day was ,nathaniel ,stevens1 who was priest of the town where ,i was born4 ,he raged much when ,i spoke to him and to the people1 and told them ,i was mad4 ,he had said before1 to one ,colonel ,purfoy1 that there was never such a plant bred in ,england2 and he bid the people not to hear me4 ,so the people1 being stirred up by this deceitful priest1 fell upon us1 and stoned us out of the town2 yet they did not do us much hurt4 ,howbeit1 some people were made loving that day1 and others were confirmed1 seeing the rage of both priests and professors2 and some cried out1 that the priest durst not stand to prove his ministry4 ,as ,i travelled through markets1 fairs1 and divers places1 ,i saw death and darkness in all people1 where the power of the ,lord ,god had not shaken them4 ,as ,i was passing on in ,leicestershire1 ,i came to ,,twy-,,cross1 where there were excise-men4 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go to them1 and warn them to take heed of oppressing the poor2 and people were much affected with it4 ,there was in that town a great man1 that had long lain sick1 and was given up by the physicians2 and some ,friends in the town desired me to go to see him4 ,i went up to him in his chamber1 and spoke the word of life to him1 and was moved to pray by him2 and the ,lord was entreated1 and restored him to health4 ,but when ,i was come down stairs1 into a lower room1 and was speaking to the servants1 and to some people that were there1 a serving-man of his came raving out of another room1 with a naked rapier in his hand1 and set it just to my side4 ,i looked steadfastly on him1 and said1 8,alack for thee1 poor creature6 what wilt thou do with thy carnal weapon2 it is no more to me than a straw40 ,the standers-by were much troubled1 and he went away in a rage1 and full of wrath4 ,but when the news of it came to his master1 he turned him out of his service4 ,thus the ,lord's power preserved me1 and raised up the weak man1 who afterwards was very loving to ,friends2 and when ,i came to that town again1 both he and his wife came to see me4 ,after this ,i was moved to go into ,derbyshire1 where the mighty power of ,god was among ,friends4 ,and ,i went to ,,chesterfield1 where one ,britland was priest4 ,he saw beyond the common sort of priests1 for he had been partly convinced1 and had spoken much on behalf of ,truth1 before he was priest there2 but when the priest of that town died1 he got the parsonage1 and choked himself with it4 ,i was moved to speak to him and the people in the great love of ,god1 that they might come off from all men's teaching unto ,god's teaching2 and he was not able to gainsay4 ,but they had me before the ,mayor1 and threatened to send me1 with some others1 to the ,house of ,correction2 and kept us in custody till it was late in the night4 ,then the officers1 with the watchmen1 put us out of the town1 leaving us to shift as we could4 ,so ,i bent my course toward ,derby1 having a friend or two with me4 ,in our way we met with many professors2 and at ,,kidsey-,,park many were convinced4 ,then coming to ,,derby1 ,i lay at a doctor's house1 whose wife was convinced2 and so were several more in the town4 ,as ,i was walking in my chamber1 the steeple-house bell rung1 and it struck at my life at the very hearing of it2 so ,i asked the woman of the house what the bell rung for8 ,she said there was to be a great lecture there that day1 and many of the officers of the army1 and priests1 and preachers were to be there1 and a colonel1 that was a preacher4 ,then was ,i moved of the ,lord to go up to them2 and when they had done ,i spoke to them what the ,lord commanded me1 and they were pretty quiet4 ,but there came an officer and took me by the hand1 and said ,i must go before the magistrates1 and the other two that were with me4 ,it was about the first hour after noon that we came before them4 ,they asked me1 ,why we came thither2 ,i said1 ,god moved us so to do2 and ,i told them1 8,god dwells not in temples made with hands40 ,i told them also1 ,all their preaching1 baptism1 and sacrifices would never sanctify them2 and bid them look unto ,christ in them1 and not unto men2 for it is ,christ that sanctifies4 ,then they ran into many words2 but ,i told them they were not to dispute of ,god and ,christ1 but to obey him4 ,the power of ,god thundered amongst them1 and they flew like chaff before it4 ,they put me in and out of the room often1 hurrying me backward and forward2 for they were from the first hour till the ninth at night in examining me4 ,sometimes they would tell me1 in a deriding manner1 that ,i was taken up in raptures4 ,at last they asked me1 ,whether ,i was sanctified8 ,i answered1 ,yes2 for ,i was in the paradise of ,god4 ,then they asked me1 ,if ,i had no sin8 ,i answered1 8,christ1 my ,saviour1 has taken away my sin1 and in him there is no sin40 ,they asked1 ,how we knew that ,christ did abide in us8 ,i said1 ,by his ,spirit1 that he has given us4 ,they temptingly asked1 ,if any of us were ,christ8 ,i answered1 ,nay1 we were nothing1 ,christ is all4 ,they said1 ,if a man steal1 is it no sin8 ,i answered1 ,all unrighteousness is sin4 ,so when they had wearied themselves in examining me1 they committed me and one other man to the ,house of ,correction in ,derby for six months1 as blasphemers2 as appears by the following mittimus3-- ,to the ,master of the ,house of ,correction in ,derby1 greeting4 8,we have sent you herewithal the bodies of ,george ,fox1 late of ,mansfield1 in the county of ,nottingham1 and ,john ,fretwell1 late of ,stainsby1 in the county of ,derby1 husbandman1 brought before us this present day1 and charged with the avowed uttering and broaching of divers blasphemous opinions contrary to a late ,act of ,parliament1 which1 upon their examination before us1 they have confessed4 ,these are therefore to require you forthwith1 upon sight thereof1 to receive them1 the said ,george ,fox and ,john ,fretwell1 into your custody1 and them therein safely to keep during the space of six months1 without bail or mainprize1 or until they shall find sufficient security to be of good behaviour1 or be thence delivered by order from ourselves4 ,hereof you are not to fail4 ,given under our hands and seals this #cjth day of ,october1 #afej4 ,,ger4 ,,bennett1 ,,nath4 ,,barton40 ,now did the priests bestir themselves in their pulpits to preach up sin for term of life2 and much of their work was to plead for it2 so that people said1 never was the like heard4 ,after some time1 he that was committed with me1 not standing faithful to his testimony1 got in with the jailer1 and by him made way to the justice to have leave to go to see his mother2 and so got his liberty4 ,it was then reported1 that he said ,i had bewitched and deceived him2 but my spirit was strengthened when he was gone4 ,the priests and professors1 the justices and the jailer1 were all in a great rage against me4 ,the jailer watched my words and actions1 and would often ask me questions to ensnare me2 and sometimes asked me such silly questions as1 ,whether the door was latched or not8 thinking to draw some sudden1 unadvised answer from me1 whence he might take advantage to charge sin upon me2 but ,i was kept watchful and chaste1 so that they could get no advantage of me1 which they wondered at4 ,not long after my commitment1 ,i was moved to write both to the priests and magistrates of ,derby4 ,and first to the priests4 8,o friends1 ,i was sent unto you to tell you1 that if you had received the gospel freely1 you would minister it freely without money or price3 but you make a trade and sale of what the prophets and the apostles have spoken2 and so you corrupt the truth4 ,and you are the men that lead silly women captive1 who are ever learning1 and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth2 you have a form of godliness1 but you deny the power4 ,now as ,jannes and ,jambres withstood ,moses1 so do you resist the truth1 being men of corrupt minds1 reprobate concerning the faith4 ,but you shall proceed no further2 for your folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs was4 ,moreover1 the ,lord sent me to tell you1 that he doth look for fruits4 ,you asked me1 if ,scripture was my rule8 but it is not your rule1 to rule your lives by1 but to talk of in words4 ,you are the men that live in pleasures1 pride1 and wantonness1 in fulness of bread1 and abundance of idleness3 see if this be not the sin of ,sodom4 ,lot received the angels1 but ,sodom was envious4 ,you show forth the vain nature2 you stand in the steps of them that crucified ,,my ,,saviour1 and mocked him2 you are their children2 you show forth their fruit4 ,they had the chief place in the assemblies1 and so have you2 they loved to be called ,rabbi1 and so do you40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i wrote to the magistrates who committed me to this effect3-- 8,,friends1 8,i am forced1 in tender love unto your souls1 to write unto you1 and beseech you to consider what you do1 and what the commands of ,god call for4 ,he requires justice and mercy1 to break every yoke1 and to let the oppressed go free4 ,but who calleth for justice1 or loveth mercy1 or contendeth for the truth8 ,is not judgment turned backward1 and doth not justice stand afar off8 ,is not truth silenced in the streets1 or can equity enter8 ,and do not they that depart from evil make themselves a prey8 ,oh6 consider what ye do in time1 and take heed whom ye imprison2 for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil-doers1 and for the praise of them that do well4 ,now1 ,i entreat you1 in time take heed what you do2 for surely the ,lord will come1 and will make manifest both the builders and the work4 ,if it be of man1 it will fail2 but if it be of ,god1 nothing will overthrow it4 ,therefore ,i desire and pray1 that you would take heed1 and beware what you do1 lest ye be found fighters against ,god40 ,g4 ,f4 ,now1 after ,i had thus far cleared my conscience to them1 ,i waited in holy patience1 leaving the event to ,god1 in whose will ,i stood4 ,after some time ,i was moved to write again to the justices that had committed me1 to lay their evils before them1 that they might repent4 ,one of them1 ,nathaniel ,barton1 was a colonel1 a justice1 and a preacher4 8,,friends1 8,you spoke of the good old way which the prophet spoke of2 but the prophet cried against the abominations which you hold up4 ,had you the power of ,god1 ye would not persecute the good way4 ,he that spoke of the good way was set in the stocks4 ,the people cried1 #8,away with him to the stocks1' for speaking the truth4 ,ah6 foolish people1 who have eyes and see not1 ears and hear not1 without understanding6 #8,fear ye not me1' saith the ,lord1 #8and will ye not tremble at my presence8' ,o your pride and abominations are odious in the eyes of ,god6 ,you that are preachers have the chief place in the assemblies1 and are called of men1 ,master4 ,such were and are against my ,saviour and ,maker3 they shut up the kingdom of heaven from men1 and neither go in themselves1 nor suffer others4 ,therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation1 who have their places1 and walk in their steps4 ,you may say1 if you had been in the days of the prophets1 or ,christ1 you would not have persecuted them2 wherefore be ye witnesses against yourselves1 that ye are the children of them1 seeing ye now persecute the way of truth4 ,o consider1 there is a true judge1 that will give every one of you a reward according to your works4 ,o mind where you are1 you that hold up the abominations which the true prophet cried against6 ,o come down1 and sit in the dust6 ,the ,lord is coming with power1 and he will throw down every one that is lifted up1 that he alone may be exalted40 ,as ,i had thus written unto them jointly1 so1 after some time1 ,i wrote to each of them by himself4 ,to ,justice ,bennet thus3-- 8,,friend1 8,thou that dost profess ,god and ,christ in words1 see how thou followest him4 ,to take off burthens1 to visit them that are in prison1 to show mercy1 clothe thy own flesh1 and deal thy bread to the hungry2 these are ,god's commandments4 ,to relieve the fatherless1 and to visit the widows in their afflictions1 and to keep thyself unspotted of the world2 this is pure religion before ,god4 ,but if thou dost profess ,christ1 and follow covetousness1 and greediness1 and earthly-mindedness1 thou deniest him in life1 and deceivest thyself and others1 and takest him for a cloak4 ,woe be to you1 greedy and rich men2 weep and howl1 for your misery that shall come4 ,take heed of covetousness and extortion2 ,god doth forbid that4 ,woe be to the man that coveteth an evil covetousness1 that he may set his nest on high1 and cover himself with thick clay4 ,o6 do not love that which ,god forbids4 ,his servant thou art1 whom thou dost obey1 whether it be of sin unto death1 or of obedience unto righteousness4 ,think of ,lazarus and ,dives2 the one fared sumptuously every day1 the other was a beggar4 ,see if thou be not ,dives3 be not deceived1 ,god is not mocked with vain words2 evil communication corrupteth good manners2 awake to righteousness1 and sin not40 ,g4 ,f4 ,that to ,justice ,barton was in these words3-- 8,,friend1 8,thou that preachest ,christ1 and the ,scriptures in words1 when any come to follow that which thou hast spoken of1 and to live the life of the ,scriptures1 then they that speak the ,scriptures1 but do not lead their lives according thereunto1 persecute them that do4 ,mind the prophets1 and ,jesus ,christ1 and his apostles1 and all the holy men of ,god2 what they spoke was from the life2 but they that had not the life1 but the words1 persecuted and imprisoned them that lived in the life1 which those had backslidden from40 ,g4 ,f4 ,having written to the justices and to the priests1 it was upon me to write to the ,mayor of ,derby also2 who1 though he did not sign the mittimus1 had a hand with the rest in sending me to prison4 ,to him ,i wrote after this manner3-- 8,,friend1 8,thou art set in place to do justice2 but1 in imprisoning my body1 thou hast done contrary to justice1 according to your own law4 ,o take heed of pleasing men more than ,god1 for that is the way of the ,scribes and ,pharisees2 they sought the praise of men more than ,god4 ,remember who said1 #8,i was a stranger1 and ye took ,me not in2 ,i was in prison1 and ye visited ,me not4' ,o friend1 thy envy is not against me1 but against the power of truth4 ,i had no envy to you1 but love4 ,o take heed of oppression1 #8for the day of the ,lord is coming1 that shall burn as an oven2 and all the proud1 and all that do wickedly1 shall be as stubble2 and the day that cometh1 shall burn them up1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts2 it shall leave them neither root nor branch4' ,o friend1 if the love of ,god were in thee1 thou wouldst love the truth1 hear the truth spoken1 and not imprison unjustly4 ,the love of ,god beareth1 and suffereth1 and envieth no man4 ,if the love of ,god had broken your hearts1 you would show mercy2 but you show forth what ruleth you4 ,every tree doth show forth its fruit2 you do show forth your fruits openly4 ,for drunkenness1 swearing1 pride1 and vanity1 rule among you1 from the teacher to the people4 ,o friend1 mercy1 and true judgment1 and justice1 are cried for in your streets6 ,oppression1 unmercifulness1 cruelty1 hatred1 pride1 pleasures1 wantonness1 and fulness1 are in your streets2 but the poor are not regarded4 ,o6 take heed3 #8,woe be to the crown of pride6 ,woe be to them that drink wine in bowls1 and the poor is ready to perish4' ,o6 remember ,lazarus and ,dives6 ,one fared deliciously every day1 and the other was a beggar4 ,o friend1 mind these things1 for they are near2 and see whether thou be not in ,dives' state40 ,i wrote also to the court at ,derby thus3-- 8,i am moved to write unto you1 to take heed of oppressing the poor in your courts1 or laying burthens upon poor people1 which they cannot bear2 and of imposing false oaths1 or making them to take oaths which they cannot perform4 ,the ,lord saith1 #8,i will come near to judgment1 and will be a swift witness against the sorcerers1 against the false swearers1 and against the idolaters1 and against those that oppress widows and fatherless4' ,therefore take heed of all these things betimes4 ,the ,lord's judgments are all true and righteous2 and he delighteth in mercy4 ,so love mercy1 dear people1 and consider in time40 ,likewise to the ringers of the bells in the steeple-house1 called ,st4 ,peter's1 in ,derby1 ,i sent these few lines3-- 8,,friends1 8,take heed of pleasures1 and prize your time now1 while you have it1 and do not spend it in pleasures or earthliness4 ,the time may come1 that you will say you had time1 when it is past4 ,therefore look at the love of ,god now1 while you have time2 for it bringeth to loathe all vanities and worldly pleasures4 ,o consider6 ,time is precious4 ,fear ,god1 and rejoice in him1 who hath made heaven and earth40 ,while ,i was in prison1 divers professors came to discourse with me2 and ,i had a sense1 before they spoke1 that they came to plead for sin and imperfection4 ,i asked them1 ,whether they were believers and had faith8 and they said1 ,yes4 ,i asked them1 ,in whom8 and they said1 ,in ,christ4 ,i replied1 ,if ye are true believers in ,christ1 you are passed from death to life2 and if passed from death1 then from sin that bringeth death4 ,and if your faith be true1 it will give you victory over sin and the devil1 purify your hearts and consciences 7for the true faith is held in a pure conscience17 and bring you to please ,god1 and give you access to him again4 ,but they could not endure to hear of purity1 and of victory over sin and the devil2 for they said they could not believe that any could be free from sin on this side the grave4 ,i bid them give over babbling about the ,scriptures1 which were holy men's words1 whilst they pleaded for unholiness4 ,at another time a company of professors came1 and they also began to plead for sin4 ,i asked them1 ,whether they had hope8 and they said1 ,yes3 ,god forbid but we should have hope4 ,i asked them1 ,what hope is it that you have8 ,is ,christ in you the hope of your glory8 ,doth it purify you1 as he is pure8 ,but they could not abide to hear of being made pure here4 ,then ,i bid them forbear talking of the ,scriptures1 which were holy men's words4 ,for the holy men1 that wrote the ,scriptures1 pleaded for holiness in heart1 life1 and conversation here2 but since you plead for impurity and sin1 which is of the devil1 what have you to do with the holy men's words8 ,now the keeper of the prison1 being a high professor1 was greatly enraged against me1 and spoke very wickedly of me3 but it pleased the ,lord one day to strike him so1 that he was in great trouble and under great terror of mind4 ,as ,i was walking in my chamber ,i heard a doleful noise2 and standing still1 ,i heard him say to his wife1 8,wife1 ,i have seen the day of judgment1 and ,i saw ,george there1 and ,i was afraid of him1 because ,i had done him so much wrong1 and spoken so much against him to the ministers and professors1 and to the justices1 and in taverns and ale-houses40 ,after this1 towards the evening1 he came up into my chamber1 and said to me1 8,i have been as a lion against you2 but now ,i come like a lamb1 and like the jailer that came to ,paul and ,silas trembling40 ,and he desired that he might lodge with me2 ,i told him that ,i was in his power1 he might do what he would3 but he said nay1 he would have my leave1 and he could desire to be always with me1 but not to have me as a prisoner2 and he said 8he had been plagued1 and his house had been plagued for my sake40 ,so ,i suffered him to lodge with me2 and then he told me all his heart1 and said he believed what ,i had said of the true faith and hope to be true2 and he wondered that the other man that was put into prison with me did not stand to it2 and said1 8,that man was not right1 but ,i was an honest man40 ,he confessed also to me1 that at those times when ,i had asked him to let me go forth to speak the word of the ,lord to the people1 and he had refused to let me1 and ,i had laid the weight thereof upon him1 that he used to be under great trouble1 amazed1 and almost distracted for some time after2 and in such a condition that he had little strength left him4 ,when the morning came1 he rose1 and went to the justices1 and told them1 8that he and his house had been plagued for my sake30 and one of the justices replied 7as he reported to me71 that the plagues were on them too for keeping me4 ,this was ,justice ,bennet of ,derby1 who was the first that called us ,quakers1 because ,i bid them tremble at the word of the ,lord4 ,this was in the year #afej4h ,footnote #h3 ,the designation 8,quakers10 which was at first applied in scorn1 has ever since been used by the world to distinguish ,friends from other professors of religion4 ,the first use of the term in the records of ,parliament1 occurs in the journals of the ,house of ,commons in #afed4 ,after this the justices gave leave that ,i should have liberty to walk a mile4 ,i perceived their end1 and told the jailer if they would show me how far a mile was1 ,i might walk it sometimes2 for ,i believed they thought ,i would go away4 ,and the jailer confessed afterwards1 that they did it with that intent1 to have me escape1 to ease them of their plague2 but ,i told him ,i was not of that spirit4 ,this jailer had a sister1 a sickly young woman4 ,she came up into my chamber to visit me2 and after she had stayed some time1 and ,i had spoken the words of truth to her1 she went down1 and told them that 8we were an innocent people1 and did none any hurt1 but did good to all1 even to them that hated us20 and she desired them to use kindness towards me4 ,as my restraint prevented my travelling about1 to declare and spread truth through the country1 it came upon me to write a paper1 and send it forth to be spread abroad both amongst ,friends and other tender people1 for the opening of their understandings in the way of truth1 and directing them to the true teacher in themselves4 ,it was as follows3-- 8,the ,lord doth show unto man his thoughts1 and discovereth all the secret workings in man4 ,a man may be brought to see his evil thoughts1 running mind1 and vain imaginations1 and may strive to keep them down1 and to keep his mind in2 but he cannot overcome them1 nor keep his mind within1 to the ,lord4 ,in this state and condition submit to the ,spirit of the ,lord1 which discovers them1 and which will bring to wait upon him1 and destroy them4 ,therefore stand in the faith of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who is the author of the true faith1 and mind him2 for he will discover the root of lusts1 evil thoughts1 and vain imaginations1 and how they are begotten1 conceived1 and bred2 then how they are brought forth1 and how every evil member doth work4 ,he will discover every principle from its own nature and root4 8,so mind the faith of ,christ1 and the anointing which is in you1 to be taught by it1 which will discover all workings in you2 and as he teacheth you1 so obey and forsake2 else you will not grow up in the faith1 nor in the life of ,christ1 where the love of ,god is received4 ,now love begetteth love1 its own nature and image3 and when mercy and truth meet1 what joy there is6 ,mercy triumphs in judgment2 and love and mercy bear the judgment of the world1 in patience4 ,that which cannot bear the world's judgment is not the love of ,god2 for love beareth all things1 and is above the world's judgment3 for the world's judgment is but foolishness4 ,and though it be the world's judgment and practice to cast all the world's filthiness that is among themselves upon the saints1 yet their judgment is false4 8,now the chaste virgins follow ,christ1 the ,lamb that takes away the sins of the world2 but they that are of that spirit which is not chaste1 will not follow ,christ the ,lamb in his steps1 but are disobedient to him in his commands4 ,so the fleshly mind doth mind the flesh1 and talketh of the flesh6 its knowledge is fleshly and not spiritual2 and savours of death and not of the ,spirit of life4 ,some men have the nature of swine wallowing in the mire4 ,some the nature of dogs to bite both the sheep and one another4 ,some of lions1 to tear1 devour1 and destroy4 ,some of wolves1 to tear and devour the lambs and sheep of ,christ2 and some men have the nature of the serpent 7that old adversary71 to sting1 envenom1 and poison4 #8,he that hath an ear to hear1 let him hear1' and learn these things within himself4 ,some men have the natures of other beasts and creatures1 minding nothing but earthly and visible things1 and feeding without the fear of ,god4 ,some have the nature of a horse1 to prance and vapour in their strength1 and to be swift in doing evil2 and some have the nature of tall1 sturdy oaks1 to flourish and spread in wisdom and strength2 who are strong in evil1 which must perish and come to the fire4 ,thus the evil is but one in all1 but worketh many ways2 and whatsoever a man's or woman's nature is addicted to1 that is outward1 the evil one will fit him with that1 and will please his nature and appetite to keep his mind in his inventions1 and in the creatures from the ,creator4 8,o6 therefore let not the mind go forth from ,god2 for if it do1 it will be stained1 venomed1 and corrupted4 ,if the mind go forth from the ,lord it is hard to bring it in again2 therefore take heed of the enemy1 and keep in the faith of ,christ4 ,o6 therefore mind that which is eternal and invisible1 and him who is the ,creator and ,mover of all things2 for the things that are made are not made of things that do appear2 for the visible covereth the invisible sight in you4 ,but as the ,lord who is invisible1 opens you by his invisible ,power and ,spirit1 and brings down the carnal mind in you1 so the invisible and immortal things are brought to light in you4 ,o6 therefore you1 that know the light1 walk in the light6 for there are children of darkness1 that will talk of the light and of the truth1 and not walk in it4 ,the children of the light love the light1 and walk in the light2 but the children of darkness walk in darkness1 and hate the light2 and in these the earthly lust1 and the carnal mind choke the seed of faith2 and this bringeth oppression on the seed and death over themselves4 ,o6 therefore1 mind the pure ,spirit of the everlasting ,god1 which will teach you to use the creatures in their right place1 and which judgeth the evil4 #8,to ,thee1 ,o ,god1 be all glory and honour1 who art ,lord of all1 visible and invisible6 ,to ,thee be all praise1 who bringest out of the deep1 to ,thyself2 ,o powerful ,god who art worthy of all glory6' ,for the ,lord1 who created all1 and gives life and strength to all1 is over all1 and merciful to all4 #8,so ,thou who hast made all1 and art overall1 to ,thee be all glory6 ,in ,thee is my strength1 my refreshment1 and life1 my joy and my gladness1 my rejoicing and glorying for evermore6' ,to live and walk in the ,spirit of ,god is joy1 and peace1 and life2 but the mind going forth into the creatures1 or into any visible things from the ,lord1 this bringeth death4 ,now when the mind is got into the flesh and into death1 the accuser gets within1 and the law of sin and death gets into the flesh4 ,then the life suffers under the law of sin and death2 and then there is straitness and failings4 ,for then the good is shut up1 and the self-righteousness is exalted4 ,then man doth work in the outward law1 though he cannot justify himself by the law but is condemned by the light2 for he cannot get out of that state1 but by abiding in the light1 resting in the mercy of ,god and believing in him1 from whom all mercy flows4 ,for there is peace in resting in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,this is the narrow way that leads to him1 the life2 but few will abide in it2 keep therefore in the innocency1 and be obedient to the faith in him2 and take heed of conforming to the world1 and of reasoning with flesh and blood1 for that bringeth disobedience2 and then imaginations and questionings arise to draw from obedience to the truth of ,christ4 ,but the obedience of faith destroyeth imaginations and questionings1 and all the temptations in the flesh1 and buffetings1 and lookings forth1 and fetching up things that are past4 ,by not keeping in the life and light1 and not crossing the corrupt will by the power of ,god1 the evil nature grows up in man1 and then burdens will come1 and man will be stained with that nature4 ,but ,esau's mountains shall be laid waste1 and become a wilderness1 where the dragons lie3 but ,jacob1 the second birth1 shall be fruitful1 and shall arise4 ,for ,esau is hated1 and must not be lord2 but ,jacob1 the second birth1 which is perfect and plain1 shall be lord2 for he is beloved of ,god40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i wrote another paper about the same time1 and sent it forth amongst the convinced people as follows3-- 8,the ,,lord ,,is ,,king over all the earth6 ,therefore1 all people1 praise and glorify your ,king in true obedience1 in uprightness1 and in the beauty of holiness4 ,o6 consider1 in the true obedience1 the ,lord is known1 and an understanding from him is received4 ,mark and consider in silence1 in lowliness of mind1 and thou wilt hear the ,lord speak unto thee in thy mind4 ,his voice is sweet and pleasant2 his sheep hear his voice1 and they will not hearken to another4 ,when they hear his voice1 they rejoice and are obedient2 they also sing for joy4 ,o1 their hearts are filled with everlasting triumph6 ,they sing1 and praise the eternal ,god in ,sion2 their joy man shall never take from them4 ,glory to the ,lord ,god for evermore60 ,but many that had been convinced of the truth1 turned aside1 because of the persecution that arose2 whereupon ,i wrote a few lines for the comfort and encouragement of the faithful1 thus3-- 8,come1 ye blessed of the ,lord1 and rejoice together6 keep in unity and oneness of spirit2 triumph above the world6 be joyful in the ,lord1 reigning above the world1 and above all things that draw from the ,lord2 that in clearness1 righteousness1 pureness1 and joy1 you may be preserved to the ,lord4 ,o hear6 ,o hearken to the call of the ,lord6 ,come out of the world and keep out of it for evermore6 ,come1 sing together1 ye righteous ones1 the song of the ,lord1 the song of the ,lamb2 which none can learn1 but they who are redeemed from the earth1 and from the world40 ,while ,i was in the ,house of ,correction1 my relations came to see me2 and being troubled for my imprisonment1 they went to the justices that cast me into prison1 and desired to have me home with them2 offering to be bound in one hundred pounds1 and others of ,derby with them in fifty pounds each1 that ,i should come no more thither to declare against the priests4 ,so ,i was had up before the justices2 and because ,i would not consent1 that they1 or any should be bound for me 7for ,i was innocent from any ill behaviour1 and had spoken the word of life and truth unto them17 ,justice ,bennet rose up in a rage2 and as ,i was kneeling down to pray to the ,lord to forgive him1 he ran upon me1 and struck me with both his hands1 crying1 8,away with him1 jailer1 take him away1 jailer40 ,whereupon ,i was had again to prison1 and there kept1 until the time of my commitment for six months was expired4 ,but ,i had now the liberty of walking a mile by myself1 which ,i made use of1 as ,i felt freedom4 ,sometimes ,i went into the market1 and streets1 and warned the people to repent of their wickedness2 and so returned to prison again4 ,and there being persons of several sorts of religion in the prison1 ,i sometimes went and visited them in their meetings on first-days4 ,after ,i had been before the justices1 and they had required sureties for my good behaviour 7which ,i could not consent should be given1 to blemish my innocency17 it came upon me to write to the justices again2 which ,i did as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,see what it is in you that doth imprison2 see1 who is head in you2 and see1 if something do not accuse you8 ,consider1 you must be brought to judgment4 ,think of ,lazarus and ,dives2 the one fared sumptuously every day1 the other was a beggar4 ,now you have time1 prize it1 while you have it4 ,would you have me to be bound to my good behaviour8 ,i am bound to my good behaviour2 and cry for good behaviour of all people1 to turn from the vanities and pleasures1 the oppression and deceits1 of this world2 and there will come a time that you shall know it4 ,therefore take heed of pleasures1 and deceits1 and pride2 and look not at man1 but at the ,lord2 for #8,look unto me1 all ye ends of the earth1 and be ye saved1' saith the ,lord40 ,some little time after ,i wrote to them again3-- 8,,friends1 8,would you have me to be bound to my good behaviour from drunkenness1 or swearing1 or fighting1 or adultery1 and the like8 ,the ,lord hath redeemed me from all these things2 and the love of ,god hath brought me to loathe all wantonness1 blessed be ,his name6 ,drunkards1 and fighters1 and swearers1 have their liberty without bonds2 and you lay your law upon me1 whom neither you1 nor any other can justly accuse of these things2 praised be the ,lord6 ,i can look to no man for my liberty1 but to the ,lord alone1 who hath all men's hearts in his hand40 ,and after some time1 not finding my spirit clear of them1 ,i wrote to them again1 as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,had you known who sent me to you1 ye would have received me2 for the ,lord sent me to warn you of the woes that are coming upon you2 and to bid you look at the ,lord1 and not at man4 ,but when ,i told you my experience1 what the ,lord had done for me1 then your hearts were hardened1 and you sent me to prison1 where you have kept me many weeks4 ,if the love of ,god had broken your hearts1 then would ye see what ye have done2 you would not have imprisoned me1 had not my ,father suffered you2 and by his power ,i shall be loosed2 for he openeth and shutteth2 to him be all glory6 ,in what have ,i misbehaved myself1 that any should be bound for me8 ,all men's words will do me no good1 nor their bonds either1 to keep my heart1 if ,i had not a guide within1 to keep me in the upright life to ,god4 ,but ,i believe in the ,lord1 that through his strength and power1 ,i shall be preserved from ungodliness and worldly lusts4 ,the ,scripture saith1 #8receive strangers1' but you imprison such4 ,as you are in authority1 take heed of oppression and oaths1 of injustice1 and gifts or rewards1 for ,god doth loathe all such4 ,but love mercy1 and true judgment1 and justice1 for that the ,lord delights in4 ,i do not write with hatred to you2 but to keep my conscience clear2 take heed how you spend your time40 ,i was moved also to write again to the priests of ,derby3-- 8,,friends1 8,you profess to be the ministers of ,jesus ,christ in words1 but you show by your fruits what your ministry is4 ,every tree shows its fruit3 the ministry of ,jesus ,christ is in mercy and love1 to loose them that are bound1 to bring out of bondage1 and to let them that are in captivity go free4 ,where is your example1 if the ,scriptures be your rule1 to imprison for religion8 ,have you any command for it from ,christ8 ,if that were in you1 which you profess1 you would walk in their steps1 who wrote the ,scriptures4 #8,but he is not a ,jew who is one outwardly1 whose praise is of men2 but he is a ,jew who is one inwardly1 whose praise is of ,god4' ,but if you build upon the prophets and apostles in words1 and pervert their life1 remember the woes which ,jesus ,christ spoke against such4 ,they that spoke the prophets' words1 but denied ,christ1 they professed a ,christ to come2 but had they known him they would not have crucified him4 ,the saints1 whom the love of ,god did change1 were brought thereby to walk in love and mercy2 for he that dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,god4 ,but where envy1 pride1 and hatred rule1 the nature of the world rules1 and not the nature of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i write with no hatred to you2 but that you may weigh yourselves1 and see how you pass your time40 ,thus having cleared my conscience to the priests1 it was not long before a concern came upon me to write again to the ,justices1 which ,i did as follows3-- 8,i am moved to warn you to take heed of giving way to your own wills4 ,love the cross2 and satisfy not your own minds in the flesh2 but prize your time1 while you have it1 and walk up to that you know1 in obedience to ,god2 then you shall not be condemned for that you know not2 but for that you do know1 and do not obey4 ,consider betimes1 weigh yourselves1 and see where you are1 and whom you serve4 ,for if ye blaspheme ,god1 and take his name in vain2 if ye swear and lie2 if ye give way to envy and hatred1 to covetousness and greediness1 to pleasures and wantonness1 or any other vices1 be assured that ye do serve the ,devil4 ,but if ye fear the ,lord1 and serve him1 you will loathe all these things4 ,he that loveth ,god1 will not blaspheme his name2 but where there is opposing ,god1 and serving the ,devil1 that profession is sad and miserable4 ,o prize your time1 and do not love that which ,god forbids2 lying1 wrath1 malice1 envy1 hatred1 greediness1 covetousness1 oppression1 gluttony1 drunkenness1 whoredom1 and all unrighteousness ,god doth forbid4 ,so consider1 and be not deceived2 #8,evil communication corrupts good manners4' ,be not deceived1 ,god will not be mocked with vain words2 the wrath of ,god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness4 ,therefore obey that which convinces you of all evil1 and tells you that you should do no evil2 it will lead you to repentance1 and keep you in the fear of the ,lord4 ,o look at the mercies of ,god1 and prize them1 and do not turn them into wantonness4 ,o eye the ,lord1 and not earthly things60 ,besides this1 ,i wrote the following to ,colonel ,barton1 who was both a justice and a preacher1 as was hinted before3-- 8,,friend1 8,do not cloak and cover thyself2 there is a ,god1 who knoweth thy heart1 and will uncover thee2 he seeth thy way4 #8,woe be to him that covereth1 and not with ,my ,spirit1' saith the ,lord4 ,dost thou do contrary to the law1 and then put it from thee8 ,mercy and true judgment thou neglectest2 look what was spoken against such4 ,my ,saviour said to such1 #8,i was sick and in prison1 and ye visited ,me not2 ,i was hungry1 and ye fed ,me not2 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took ,me not in4' ,and when they said1 #8,when saw we ,thee in prison1 and did not come to ,thee1' c41 he replied1 #8,inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these little ones1 ye did it not to ,me4' ,thou hast imprisoned me for bearing witness to the life and power of truth1 and yet thou professest to be a minister of ,christ2 but if ,christ had sent thee1 thou wouldst bring out of prison1 and out of bondage1 and wouldst receive strangers4 ,thou hast been wanton upon earth1 thou hast lived plenteously1 and nourished thy heart1 as in a day of slaughter2 thou hast killed the ,just4 ,o look where thou art1 and how thou hast spent thy time6 ,o remember thyself1 and now1 whilst thou hast time1 prize it4 ,do not slight the free mercy1 or despise the long-suffering of ,god1 which is great salvation2 but mind that in thee which doth convince1 and would not let thee swear1 nor lie1 nor take ,god's name in vain4 ,thou knowest thou shouldst do none of these things2 thou hast learned that which will condemn thee2 therefore obey the light1 which doth convince thee1 forsake thy sins1 and look at the mercies of ,god2 and prize his love in sparing thee till now4 ,the ,lord saith1 #8,look unto me all ye ends of the earth1 and be ye saved2 cease from man1 whose breath is in his nostrils4' ,prize thy time1 and see whom thou servest2 for his servant thou art whom thou dost obey1 whether of sin unto death1 or of obedience unto righteousness4 ,if thou serve ,god1 and fear him1 thou wilt not blaspheme his name1 or curse1 or swear1 or take his name in vain1 or follow pleasures and wantonness1 whoredom1 and drunkenness1 or wrath1 or malice1 or revenge1 or rashness1 or headiness1 pride or gluttony1 greediness1 oppression1 or covetousness1 or foolish jestings1 or vain songs4 ,god doth forbid these things1 and all unrighteousness4 ,if thou profess ,god1 and act any of these things1 thou takest him for a cloak1 and servest the ,devil4 ,consider with thyself1 and do not love that which ,god hateth4 ,he that loveth ,god1 keepeth his commandments4 ,the ,devil will tell thee1 it is a hard thing to keep ,god's commandments2 but it is an easy thing to keep the ,devil's commandments1 and to live in all unrighteousness and ungodliness1 turning the grace of ,god into wantonness4 ,but let the unrighteous man forsake his ways1 and turn unto me1 saith the ,lord1 and ,i will have mercy4 #8,turn ye1 why will ye die8' saith the ,lord4 8,howl1 ye great ones1 for the plagues are pouring out upon you6 ,howl1 ye oppressors1 for recompense and vengeance is coming upon you6 ,woe unto them that covetously join one house to another2 and bring one field so nigh unto another that the poor can get no more ground1 and that ye may dwell upon the earth alone2 these things are in the ears of the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,woe unto him that covetously getteth evil-gotten goods into his house1 that he may set his nest on high1 to escape from the power of evil40 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #afej-afea4--;,a trooper visits ,george ,fox from an inward intimation--declines a commission in the army1 and is put in the dungeon--confutes one who denied ,christ's outward appearance1 from whence a slander is raised against ,friends--testifies against capital punishments for small matters--writes for more speedy justice to prisoners--intercedes for the life of a young woman1 imprisoned for stealing1 who is brought to the gallows but reprieved1 and afterwards convinced--again refuses to bear arms1 and is committed close prisoner--writes to ,barton and ,bennet1 justices1 against persecution--addresses the convinced and tender people against hirelings--to the magistrates of ,derby against persecution1 and foretelling his own enlargement and their recompense--is greatly exercised for the wickedness of ,derby--sees the visitation of ,god's love pass away from the town1 and writes a lamentation over it--a great judgment fell upon the town--he is liberated after a year's imprisonment--visits ,lichfield--preaches repentance through ,doncaster--many dread 8the man with leather breeches0--goes to steeple-houses1 as the apostles did to the temples1 to bring people off from them--is denied entertainment1 and ill-treated at some places--refuses to inform against his persecutors--many are convinced in ,yorkshire1 amongst others1 ,richard ,farnsworth1 ,james ,naylor1 ,william ,dewsbury1 ,justice ,hotham1 and ,captain ,pursloe4 ,while ,i was yet in the ,house of ,correction1 there came unto me a trooper1 and said1 as he was sitting in the steeple-house1 hearing the priest1 exceeding great trouble came upon him2 and the voice of the ,lord came to him saying1 8,dost thou not know that my servant is in prison8 ,go to him for direction40 ,so ,i spoke to his condition1 and his understanding was opened4 ,i told him1 that which showed him his sins1 and troubled him for them1 would show him his salvation2 for he that shows a man his sin1 is the same that takes it away4 ,while ,i was speaking to him1 the ,lord's power opened him1 so that he began to have a good understanding in the ,lord's truth1 and to be sensible of ,god's mercies2 and began to speak boldly in his quarters amongst the soldiers1 and to others1 concerning truth 7for the ,scriptures were very much opened to him71 insomuch that he said1 8his colonel was as blind as ,nebuchadnezzar1 to cast the servant of the ,lord into prison40 ,upon this his colonel had a spite against him2 and at ,worcester fight1 the year after1 when the two armies were lying near one another1 two came out of the king's army1 and challenged any two of the ,parliament army to fight with them2 his colonel made choice of him and another to answer the challenge4 ,and when in the encounter his companion was slain1 he drove both his enemies within musket-shot out of the town1 without firing a pistol at them4 ,this1 when he returned1 he told me with his own mouth4 ,but1 when the fight was over1 he saw the deceit and hypocrisy of the officers2 and being sensible how wonderfully the ,lord had preserved him1 and seeing also to the end of fighting1 he laid down his arms4 ,now the time of my commitment to the house of correction being nearly ended1 and there being many new soldiers raised1 the commissioners would have made me captain over them2 and the soldiers said they would have none but me4#i ,so the keeper of the house of correction was commanded to bring me before the commissioners and soldiers in the market-place2 and there they offered me that preferment1 as they called it1 asking me1 if ,i would not take up arms for the ,commonwealth against ,charles ,stuart8 ,i told them1 ,i knew from whence all wars arose1 even from the lust1 according to ,james's doctrine2 and that ,i lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars4 ,but they courted me to accept their offer1 and thought ,i did but compliment them4 ,but ,i told them1 ,i was come into the covenant of peace1 which was before wars and strifes were4 ,they said1 they offered it in love and kindness to me1 because of my virtue2 and such like flattering words they used4 ,but ,i told them1 if that was their love and kindness1 ,i trampled it under my feet4 ,then their rage got up1 and they said1 8,take him away1 jailer1 and put him into the dungeon amongst the rogues and felons40 ,so ,i was had away and put into a lousy1 stinking place1 without any bed1 amongst thirty felons1 where ,i was kept almost half a year1 unless it were at times2 for they would sometimes let me walk in the garden1 having a belief that ,i would not go away4 ,now when they had got me into ,derby dungeon1 it was the belief and saying of people that ,i should never come out2 but ,i had faith in ,god1 and believed ,i should be delivered in his time2 for the ,lord had said to me before1 that ,i was not to be removed from that place yet1 being set there for a service which he had for me to do4 ,footnote #i3 ,the ,english nation at this period was much engrossed with the great subjects of religion and politics1 and both were mingled together in strange conjunction4 ,the chief rulers of the ,commonwealth1 more especially ,oliver ,cromwell1 had contrived to interweave their own views on spiritual matters into the minds of the soldiers2 who1 in those days1 commonly united1 with the profession of arms1 the profession also of ,christianity4 ,the unsettled state of the country caused them to be stationed in considerable numbers in most of the principal towns of the north1 and several of them had made acquaintance with ,george ,fox during his imprisonment1 and were so much impressed in his favour1 that it appears they were desirous1 as the time of his release drew near1 to engage him in the capacity of their captain4 ,after it was noised abroad that ,i was in ,derby dungeon1 my relations came to see me again2 and they were much troubled that ,i should be in prison2 for they looked upon it to be a great shame to them for me to be imprisoned for religion2 and some thought ,i was mad1 because ,i advocated purity1 and righteousness1 and perfection4 ,among others that came to see1 and discourse with me1 was a person from ,nottingham1 a soldier1 that had been a ,baptist 7as ,i understood71 and with him came several others4 ,in discourse he said to me1 8,your faith stands in a man that died at ,jerusalem1 and there was never any such thing40 ,i was exceedingly grieved to hear him say so2 and ,i said to him1 8,how6 did not ,christ suffer without the gates of ,jerusalem through the professing ,jews1 and chief priests1 and ,pilate80 ,and he denied that ever ,christ suffered there outwardly4 ,then ,i asked him whether there were not chief priests1 and ,jews1 and ,pilate there outwardly8 and when he could not deny that1 then ,i told him1 as certainly as there was a chief priest1 and ,jews1 and ,pilate there outwardly1 so certainly was ,christ persecuted by them1 and did suffer there outwardly under them4 ,yet from this man's words was a slander raised upon us1 that the ,quakers denied ,christ that suffered and died at ,jerusalem2 which was all utterly false1 and the least thought of it never entered our hearts2 but it was a mere slander cast upon us1 and occasioned by this person's words4 ,the same person also said1 that never any of the prophets1 or apostles1 or holy men of ,god1 suffered any thing outwardly2 but all their sufferings were inward4 ,but ,i instanced to him how many of them suffered1 and by whom they suffered3 and so was the power of the ,lord brought over his wicked imaginations4 ,there came also another company to me1 that pretended they were triers of spirits2 ,i asked them what was the first step to peace1 and what it was by which a man might see his salvation8 and they were presently up in the airy mind1 and said ,i was mad4 ,thus they came to try spirits1 who did not know themselves1 nor their own spirits4 ,in this time of my imprisonment1 ,i was exceedingly exercised about the proceedings of the judges and magistrates in their courts of judicature4 ,i was moved to write to the judges concerning their putting men to death for cattle1 and money1 and small matters2 and to show them how contrary it was to the law of ,god in old time2 for ,i was under great suffering in my spirit because of it1 and under the very sense of death2 but standing in the will of ,god1 a heavenly breathing arose in my soul to the ,lord4 ,then did ,i see the heavens opened1 and ,i rejoiced1 and gave glory to ,god4 ,so ,i wrote to the judges as follows3-- 8,i am moved to write unto you to take heed of putting men to death for stealing cattle or money c42 for thieves in the old time were to make restitution2 and if they had not wherewith1 they were to be sold for their theft4 ,mind the laws of ,god in the ,scriptures1 and the ,spirit that gave them forth2 let them be your rule in executing judgment2 and show mercy1 that you may receive mercy from ,god1 the judge of all4 ,take heed of gifts and rewards1 and of pride2 for ,god doth forbid them2 they blind the eyes of the wise4 ,i do not write to give liberty to sin2 ,god hath forbidden it2 but that you should judge according to his laws1 and show mercy3 for he delighteth in true judgment and in mercy4 ,i beseech you to mind these things1 and prize your time1 now you have it3 fear ,god1 and serve him2 for he is a consuming fire40 ,besides this1 ,i wrote another letter to the judges1 to this effect3-- 8,i am moved to write unto you that ye do true justice to every man2 and see that none be oppressed1 or wronged1 or any oaths imposed2 for the land mourneth because of oaths1 and adulteries1 and sorceries1 and drunkenness1 and profaneness4 ,o consider1 ye that are men set in authority3 be moderate1 and in lowliness consider these things4 ,show mercy to the fatherless1 to the widows1 and to the poor2 and take heed of rewards or gifts1 for they blind the eyes of the wise2 the ,lord doth loathe all such4 ,love mercy and true judgment1 justice1 and righteousness1 for the ,lord delighteth therein4 ,consider these things in time1 and take heed how ye spend your time4 ,now ye have time1 prize it1 and show mercy1 that ye may receive mercy from the ,lord2 for he is coming to try all things1 and will plead with all flesh1 as by fire40 ,moreover ,i laid before the judges what a hurtful thing it was1 that prisoners should lie so long in jail2 showing how they learned wickedness one of another in talking of their bad deeds3 and therefore speedy justice should be done4 ,for ,i was a tender youth1 and dwelt in the fear of ,god1 and being grieved to hear their bad language1 ,i was often made to reprove them for their wicked words1 and evil conduct towards each other4 ,people admired that ,i was so preserved and kept2 for they could never catch a word or action from me1 to make any thing of against me1 all the time ,i was there2 for the ,lord's infinite power upheld and preserved me all that time2 to him be praises and glory for ever6 ,while ,i was here in prison1 there was a young woman in the jail for robbing her master of some money4 ,when she was to be tried for her life1 ,i wrote to the judge and to the jury about her1 showing them how it was contrary to the law of ,god in old time to put people to death for stealing1 and moving them to show mercy4 ,yet she was condemned to die1 and a grave was made for her2 and at the time appointed she was carried forth to execution4 ,then ,i wrote a few words1 warning all people to beware of greediness or covetousness1 for it leads from ,god2 and exhorting all to fear the ,lord1 to avoid all earthly lusts1 and to prize their time while they have it3 this ,i gave to be read at the gallows4 ,and though they had her upon the ladder1 with a cloth bound over her face1 ready to be turned off1 yet they did not put her to death1 but brought her back again to prison3 and in the prison she afterwards came to be convinced of ,god's everlasting truth4 ,there was also in the jail1 while ,i was there1 a prisoner1 a wicked1 ungodly man1 who was a reputed conjuror4 ,he threatened how he would talk with me1 and what he would do to me2 but he never had power to open his mouth to me4 ,and once the jailer and he falling out1 he threatened that he would raise the ,devil1 and break his house down1 so that he made the jailer afraid4 ,then ,i was moved of the ,lord to go in his power1 and rebuke him1 and say unto him1 8,come let us see what thou canst do2 do ,thy worst20 and ,i told him the ,devil was raised high enough in him already1 but the power of ,god chained him down3 so he slunk away from me4 ,now the time of ,worcester fight coming on1 ,justice ,bennet sent the constables to press me for a soldier1 seeing ,i would not voluntarily accept of a command4 ,i told them that ,i was brought off from outward wars4 ,they came down again to give me press-money1 but ,i would take none4 ,then ,i was brought up to ,sergeant ,holes1 kept there awhile1 and then taken down again4 ,after a while the constables fetched me up again1 and brought me before the commissioners1 who said ,i should go for a soldier2 but ,i told them that ,i was dead to it4 ,they said ,i was alive4 ,i told them1 where envy and hatred are1 there is confusion4 ,they offered me money twice1 but ,i would not take it3 then they were angry1 and committed me close prisoner1 without bail or mainprize4 ,whereupon ,i wrote to them again1 directing my letter to ,colonel ,barton 7who was a preacher71 and the rest that were concerned in my commitment4 ,i wrote thus3-- 8,you who are without ,christ1 and yet use the words which he and his saints have spoken2 consider1 neither he nor ,his apostles did ever imprison any2 but my ,saviour is merciful even to the unmerciful and rebellious4 ,he brings out of prison and bondage2 but men1 while the carnal mind rules1 oppress and imprison4 ,my ,saviour saith1 #8,love your enemies1 and do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you2' for the love of ,god doth not persecute any1 but loveth all where it dwelleth4 #8,he that hateth his brother is a murderer4' ,you profess to be ,christians1 and one of you a minister of ,jesus ,christ2 yet you have imprisoned me1 who am a servant of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the apostles never imprisoned any1 but were imprisoned themselves4 ,take heed of speaking of ,christ in words1 and denying him in life and power4 ,o friends1 the imprisoning of my body is to satisfy your wills2 but take heed of giving way to your wills1 for that will hurt you4 ,if the love of ,god had broken your hearts1 ye would not have imprisoned me2 but my love is to you1 as to all my fellow-creatures2 and that you may weigh yourselves1 and see how you stand1 is this written40 ,about this time ,i was moved to give forth the following1 to go amongst the convinced and tender people1 to manifest the deceits of the world1 and how the priests have deceived the people3-- ,to all you that love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ with a pure and naked heart1 and the generation of the righteous4 8,christ was ever hated2 and the righteous for his sake4 ,mind who they were that did ever hate them3 he that was born after the flesh did persecute him that was born after the ,spirit2 and so it is now4 ,mind who were the chiefest against ,christ2 even the great1 learned men1 the heads of the people1 rulers and teachers1 that professed the law and the prophets1 and looked for ,christ4 ,they looked for an outwardly glorious ,christ1 to hold up their outward glory2 but ,christ spoke against the works of the world1 and against the priests1 and scribes1 and ,pharisees1 and their hypocritical profession4 ,he that is a stranger to ,christ1 is a hireling2 but the servants of ,jesus ,christ are free men4 ,the false teachers always laid burdens upon the people2 and the true servants of the ,lord spoke against them4 ,jeremiah spoke against hirelings1 and said1 ,it was a horrible thing2 ,what will ye do in the end8 for the people and priests were given to covetousness4 ,paul spoke against such as made gain upon the people2 and exhorted the saints to turn away from such as were covetous men and proud1 such as loved pleasures more than ,god--such as had a form of godliness1 but denied the power thereof2 #8for of this sort1' said he1 #8are they that creep into houses1 and lead captive silly women1 who are ever learning1 but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth2 men of corrupt minds1 reprobate concerning the faith2 and as ,jannes and ,jambres withstood ,moses1 so1' said he1 #8do these resist the truth2 but they shall proceed no further1 for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men4' ,moses forsook honours and pleasures which he might have enjoyed4 ,the apostle in his time saw this corruption entering1 which now is spread over the world1 of having a form of godliness1 but denying the power4 ,ask any of your teachers whether you may ever overcome your corruptions or sins8 ,none of them believe that2 but1 #8as long as man is here1 he must1' they say1 #8carry about with him the body of sin4' ,thus pride is kept up1 and that honour and mastership1 which ,christ denied1 and all unrighteousness2 yet multitudes of teachers6 heaps of teachers6 the golden cup full of abominations6 ,paul did not preach for wages1 but laboured with his hands1 that he might be an example to all them that follow him4 ,o people1 see who follow ,paul6 ,the prophet ,jeremiah said1 #8,the prophets prophesy falsely1 and the priests bear rule by their means2' but now the priests bear rule by the means they get from the people3 take away their means1 and they will bear rule over you no longer4 ,they are such as1 the apostle said1 #8intruded into those things which they never saw1 being vainly puffed up with a fleshly mind2' and as the ,scriptures declare of some of old1 #8,they go in the way of ,cain1 who was a murderer1 and in the way of ,balaam1 who coveted the wages of unrighteousness4' ,the prophet ,micah also cried against the judges that judged for reward1 and the priests that taught for hire1 and the prophets that prophesied for money2 and yet leaned on the ,lord1 saying1 #8,is not the ,lord amongst us8 ,gifts blind the eyes of the wise4' ,the gift of ,god was never purchased with money4 ,all the holy servants of ,god did ever cry against deceit2 and where the ,lord hath manifested his love1 they do loathe it1 and that nature which holdeth it up40 ,again a concern came upon me to write to the magistrates of ,derby2 which ,i did as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,i desire you to consider in time whom ye do imprison2 for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil-doers1 and for the praise of them that do well4 ,but when the ,lord doth send his messengers unto you1 to warn you of the woes that will come upon you1 except you repent1 then you persecute them1 and put them in prison2 and say1 #8,we have a law1 and by our law we may do it4' ,for you indeed justify yourselves before men2 but ,god knoweth your hearts4 ,he will not be worshipped with your forms and professions1 and shows of religion4 ,therefore consider1 ye that talk of ,god1 how ye are subject to him2 for they are his children that do his will4 ,what doth the ,lord require of you but to do justice1 to love and show mercy1 to walk humbly with him1 and to help the widows and fatherless to their right8 ,but instead thereof ye oppress the poor4 ,do not your judges judge for rewards1 and your priests teach for hire8 ,the time is coming1 that he who seeth all things1 will discover all your secrets3 and know this assuredly1 the ,lord will deliver his servants out of your hands1 and he will recompense all your unjust dealings towards his people4 ,i desire you to consider of these things2 search the ,scriptures1 and see whether any of the people of ,god did ever imprison any for religion4 ,they were themselves imprisoned4 ,i desire you to consider1 that it is written1 #8,when the church is met together1 ye may all prophesy one by one1 that all may learn1 and all may be comforted2' and then1 #8if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by1 let the first hold his peace4' ,thus it was in the true church2 and thus it ought to be now4 ,but it is not so in your assemblies2 he that teaches for hire may speak1 and none may contradict him4 ,again1 consider the liberty that was given to the apostles1 even among the unbelieving ,jews2 when after the reading of the law and the prophets1 the rulers of the synagogue said unto them1 #8,ye men and brethren1 if ye have any word of exhortation for the people1 say on4' ,i desire you to consider in stillness1 and strive not against the ,lord2 for he is stronger than you4 ,though ye hold his people fast for a time1 yet when he cometh1 he will make known who are his2 for his coming is like the refiner's fire and like fuller's soap4 ,then the stone that is set at nought by you builders1 shall be the headstone of the corner4 ,o friends1 lay these things to heart1 and let them not seem light things to you4 ,i write to you in love1 to mind the laws of ,god and your own souls1 and to do as the holy men of ,god did40 ,great was my exercise and travail in spirit1 during my imprisonment here1 because of the wickedness that was in this town2 for though some were convinced1 yet the generality were a hardened people2 and ,i saw the visitation of ,god's love pass away from them4 ,i mourned over them2 and it came upon me to give forth the following lamentation for them3-- 8,o ,derby6 as the waters run away when the flood-gates are up1 so doth the visitation of ,god's love pass away from thee1 ,o ,derby6 ,therefore look where thou art1 and how thou art grounded2 and consider1 before thou art utterly forsaken4 ,the ,lord moved me twice1 before ,i came to cry against the deceits and vanities that are in thee1 and to warn all to look at the ,lord1 and not at man4 ,the woe is against the crown of pride2 the woe is against drunkenness and vain pleasures1 and against them that make a profession of religion in words1 yet are high and lofty in mind1 and live in oppression and envy4 ,o ,derby6 thy profession and preaching stink before the ,lord4 ,ye profess a ,sabbath in words1 and meet together1 dressing yourselves in fine apparel2 you uphold pride4 ,thy women go with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes1 c41 which the true prophet of old cried against4 ,your assemblies are odious1 and an abomination to the ,lord3 pride is set up1 and bowed down to2 covetousness abounds2 and he that doeth wickedly is honoured3 so deceit bears with deceit2 and yet they profess ,christ in words4 ,o the deceit that is within thee6 it doth even break my heart to see how ,god is dishonoured in thee1 ,o ,derby60 ,after ,i had seen the visitation of ,god's love pass away from this place1 ,i knew that my imprisonment here would not continue long2 but ,i saw that when the ,lord should bring me forth1 it would be as the letting of a lion out of a den amongst the wild beasts of the forest4 ,for all professions stood in a beastly spirit and nature1 pleading for sin1 and for the body of sin and imperfection1 as long as they lived4 ,they all raged1 and ran against the life and ,spirit which gave forth the ,scriptures1 which they professed in words4 ,and so it was1 as will appear hereafter4 ,there was a great judgment upon the town1 and the magistrates were uneasy about me2 but they could not agree what to do with me4 ,one while they would have me sent up to the parliament2 another while they would have banished me to ,ireland4 ,at first they called me a deceiver1 and a seducer1 and a blasphemer2 afterwards1 when ,god had brought his plagues upon them1 they said ,i was an honest1 virtuous man4 ,but their good report or bad report1 their well speaking or ill speaking1 was nothing to me2 for the one did not lift me up1 nor the other cast me down3 praised be the ,lord6 ,at length they were made to turn me out of jail1 about the beginning of ,winter1 in the year #afea1 after ,i had been a prisoner in ,derby almost a year1 six months in the ,house of ,correction1 and the rest of the time in the common jail and dungeon4 ,thus being set at liberty again1 ,i went on1 as before1 in the work of the ,lord1 passing through the country1 first1 into my own country of ,,leicestershire1 and had meetings as ,i went2 and the ,lord's ,spirit and power accompanied me4 ,afterwards ,i went near to ,,burton-,,on-,,trent1 where some were convinced2 and so to ,,bushel-,,house1 where ,i had a meeting4 ,i went up into the country1 where there were friendly people2 yet an outrageous wicked professor had an intent to do me a mischief1 but the ,lord prevented him4 ,blessed be the ,lord6 ,as ,i was walking along with several ,friends1 ,i lifted up my head and saw three steeple-house spires1 and they struck at my life4 ,i asked them what place that was8 and they said1 ,,lichfield4 ,immediately the word of the ,lord came to me that ,i must go thither4 ,being come to the house we were going to1 ,i wished the ,friends that were with me1 to walk into the house1 saying nothing to them whither ,i was to go4 ,as soon as they were gone1 ,i stepped away1 and went by my eye over hedge and ditch1 till ,i came within a mile of ,lichfield2 where1 in a great field1 there were shepherds keeping their sheep4 ,then ,i was commanded by the ,lord to pull off my shoes4 ,i stood still1 for it was ,winter2 and the word of the ,lord was like a fire in me4 ,so ,i put off my shoes1 and left them with the shepherds2 and the poor shepherds trembled and were astonished4 ,then ,i walked on about a mile1 and as soon as ,i was within the city1 the word of the ,lord came to me again1 saying1 8,cry1 ,woe unto the bloody city of ,lichfield40 ,so ,i went up and down the streets1 crying with a loud voice1 8,,woe ,,to ,,the ,,bloody ,,city ,,of ,,lichfield60 ,it being market-day1 ,i went into the market-place1 and to and fro in the several parts of it1 and made stands1 crying as before1 8,,woe ,,to ,,the ,,bloody ,,city ,,of ,,lichfield60 ,and no one laid hands on me2 but as ,i went thus crying through the streets1 there seemed to me to be a channel of blood running down the streets1 and the market-place appeared like a pool of blood4 ,when ,i had declared what was upon me1 and felt myself clear1 ,i went out of the town in peace2 and returning to the shepherds1 gave them some money1 and took my shoes of them again4 ,but the fire of the ,lord was so in my feet1 and all over me1 that ,i did not matter to put on my shoes any more1 and was at a stand whether ,i should or not1 till ,i felt freedom from the ,lord so to do2 and then1 after ,i had washed my feet1 ,i put on my shoes again4 ,after this a deep consideration came upon me1 why1 or for what reason1 ,i should be sent to cry against that city1 and call it ,,the ,,bloody ,,city4 ,for though the parliament had the minster one while1 and the king another1 and much blood had been shed in the town1 during the wars between them1 yet that was no more than had befallen many other places4 ,but afterwards ,i came to understand1 that in the ,emperor ,dioclesian's time1 a thousand ,christians were martyred in ,lichfield4 ,so ,i was to go1 without my shoes1 through the channel of their blood1 and into the pool of their blood in the market-place1 that ,i might raise up the memorial of the blood of those martyrs which had been shed above a thousand years before1 and lay cold in their streets4 ,so the sense of this blood was upon me1 and ,i obeyed the word of the ,lord4 ,ancient records testify how many of the ,christian ,britons suffered there4 ,much ,i could write of the sense ,i had of the blood of the martyrs that hath been shed in this nation for the name of ,christ1 both under the ten persecutions and since2 but ,i leave it to the ,lord1 and to ,his book1 out of which all shall be judged2 for ,his book is a most certain record1 and ,his ,spirit a true recorder4 ,then ,i passed up and down through the countries1 having meetings amongst friendly people in many places2 but my relations were offended at me4 ,after some time ,i returned into ,nottinghamshire1 to ,,mansfield1 and went into ,derbyshire1 visiting ,friends4 ,then passing into ,yorkshire1 ,i preached repentance through ,,doncaster1 and several other places2 and after came to ,,balby1 where ,richard ,farnsworth#aj and some others were convinced4 ,so travelling through several places1 preaching repentance1 and the word of life to the people1 ,i came into the parts about ,,wakefield1 where ,james ,naylor lived2 he and ,thomas ,goodyear came to me1 and were both convinced1 and received the truth4 ,william ,dewsbury#aa also and his wife1 with many more1 came to me1 who were convinced1 and received the truth4 ,footnote #aj3 ,richard ,farnsworth became an eminent minister1 and many were turned to ,god by him4 ,he was mighty in discourses with priests and professors1 and laboured much in the gospel4 ,he was twelve months imprisoned at ,banbury in #afee1 and after great sufferings and persecutions1 he finished his testimony in ,london1 in #afff4 ,a short time before his death1 sitting up in bed1 he spoke in as much power and strength of spirit as he had done at any time in his health1 testifying that he was filled with the love of ,god more than he was able to express4 ,he published many small works in defence of truth4 ,footnote #aa3 ,william ,dewsbury1 often mentioned in this ,journal1 became a valiant minister of the gospel1 travelling extensively in its advocacy4 ,whiting says1 8he was an extraordinary man many ways1 and ,i thought as exact a pattern of a perfect man as ever ,i knew40 ,his health became impaired through the sharp persecutions he passed through1 consisting of many long imprisonments1 beatings1 and bruisings4 ,in #afhh1 going up to ,london to visit the brethren1 he was taken ill of a distemper contracted in prison4 ,returning home1 he died shortly after1 leaving a heavenly testimony behind him1 expressed about a week before he died4 ,this1 with other information1 is recorded in ,piety ,promoted1 vol4 i41 pp4 #afc-afh1 and further particulars in ,whiting's ,memoirs1 p4 #be1 and at pp4 #cgf-chg4 ,his works were published in #a vol4 quarto1 in #afhi4 ,from thence ,i passed through the country towards ,captain ,pursloe's house by ,,selby1 and visited ,john ,leek1 who had been to visit me in ,derby prison1 and was convinced4 ,i had a horse1 but was fain to leave him1 not knowing what to do with him2 for ,i was moved to go to many great houses1 to admonish and exhort the people to turn to the ,lord4 ,thus passing on1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go to ,,beverley steeple-house1 which was then a place of high profession2 and being very wet with rain1 ,i went first to an inn1 and as soon as ,i came to the door1 a young woman of the house came to the door1 and said1 8,what1 is it you8 come in10 as if she had known me before2 for the ,lord's power bowed their hearts4 ,so ,i refreshed myself and went to bed2 and in the morning1 my clothes being still wet1 ,i got ready1 and having paid for what ,i had had in the inn1 ,i went up to the steeple-house1 where was a man preaching4 ,when he had done1 ,i was moved to speak to him1 and to the people1 in the mighty power of ,god1 and turned them to their teacher1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,the power of the ,lord was so strong1 that it struck a mighty dread amongst the people4 ,the mayor came and spoke a few words to me2 but none of them had any power to meddle with me4 ,so ,i passed away out of the town1 and in the afternoon went to another steeple-house about two miles off4 ,when the priest had done1 ,i was moved to speak to him1 and to the people very largely1 showing them the way of life and truth1 and the ground of election and reprobation4 ,the priest said1 he was but a child1 and could not dispute with me2 ,i told him ,i did not come to dispute1 but to hold forth the word of life and truth unto them1 that they might all know the one ,seed1 which the promise of ,god was to1 both in the male and in the female4 ,here the people were very loving1 and would have had me come again on a week-day1 and preach among them2 but ,i directed them to their teacher1 ,christ ,jesus1 and so passed away4 ,the next day ,i went to ,,cranswick1 to ,captain ,pursloe's1 who accompanied me to ,justice ,hotham's4 ,this ,justice ,hotham was a tender man1 one that had some experience of ,god's workings in his heart4 ,after some discourse with him of the things of ,god1 he took me into his closet2 where1 sitting together1 he told me he had known that principle these ten years1 and was glad that the ,lord did now publish it abroad to the people4 ,after a while there came a priest to visit him1 with whom also ,i had some discourse concerning ,truth4 ,but his mouth was quickly stopped1 for he was nothing but a notionist1 and not in possession of what he talked of4 ,while ,i was here1 there came a great woman of ,beverley to speak to ,justice ,hotham about some business2 and in discourse she told him1 that the last ,sabbath-day 7as she called it7 there came an angel or spirit into the church at ,beverley1 and spoke the wonderful things of ,god1 to the astonishment of all that were there2 and when it had done1 it passed away1 and they did not know whence it came1 nor whither it went2 but it astonished all1 both priests1 professors1 and magistrates of the town4 ,this relation ,justice ,hotham gave me afterwards1 and then ,i gave him an account how ,i had been that day at ,beverley steeple-house1 and had declared truth to the priest and the people there4 ,there were in the country thereabouts some noted priests and doctors1 with whom ,justice ,hotham was acquainted4 ,he would fain have them speak with me1 and offered to send for them1 under pretence of some business he had with them1 but ,i wished him not to do so4 ,when the ,first-day of the week was come1 ,justice ,hotham walked out with me into the field2 and ,captain ,pursloe coming up after us1 ,justice ,hotham left us and returned home1 but ,captain ,pursloe went with me into the steeple-house4 ,when the priest had done1 ,i spoke both to priest and people2 declared to them the word of life and truth1 and directed them where they might find their teacher1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,some were convinced1 received the truth1 and stand fast in it2 and have a fine meeting to this day4 ,in the afternoon ,i went to another steeple-house about three miles off1 where preached a great high-priest1 called a doctor1 one of them whom ,justice ,hotham would have sent for to speak with me4 ,i went into the steeple-house1 and stayed till the priest had done4 ,the words which he took for his text were these1 8,ho1 every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the waters2 and he that hath no money1 come ye1 buy and eat1 yea come1 buy wine and milk without money and without price40 ,then was ,i moved of the ,lord to say unto him1 8,come down1 thou deceiver2 dost thou bid people come freely1 and take of the water of life freely1 and yet thou takest three hundred pounds a-year of them1 for preaching the ,scriptures to them4 ,mayest thou not blush for shame8 ,did the prophet ,isaiah1 and ,christ do so1 who spoke the words1 and gave them forth freely8 ,did not ,christ say to his ministers1 whom he sent to preach1 #8,freely ye have received1 freely give8'0 ,the priest1 like a man amazed1 hastened away4 ,after he had left his flock1 ,i had as much time as ,i could desire to speak to the people2 and ,i directed them from the darkness to the light1 and to the grace of ,god1 that would teach them1 and bring them salvation2 to the ,spirit of ,god in their inward parts1 which would be a free teacher unto them4 ,having cleared myself amongst the people1 ,i returned to ,justice ,hotham's house that night1 who1 when ,i came in1 took me in his arms1 and said his house was my house1 for he was exceedingly glad at the work of the ,lord1 and that his power was revealed4 ,then he told me why he went not with me to the steeple-house in the morning1 and what reasonings he had in himself about it2 for he thought1 if he had gone with me to the steeple-house1 the officers would have put me to him2 and then he should have been so put to it1 that he should not have known what to do4 ,but he was glad1 he said1 when ,captain ,pursloe came up to go with me2 yet neither of them was dressed1 nor had his band about his neck4 ,it was a strange thing then to see a man come into a steeple-house without a band2 yet ,captain ,pursloe went in with me without his band1 the ,lord's power and truth had so affected him that he minded it not4 ,from hence ,i passed on through the country1 and came at night to an inn where was a company of rude people4 ,i bid the woman of the house1 if she had any meat1 to bring me some2 but because ,i said ,thee and ,thou to her she looked strangely on me4 ,then ,i asked her if she had any milk2 and she said1 ,no4 ,i was sensible she spoke falsely1 and being willing to try her further1 ,i asked her if she had any cream2 she denied that she had any4 ,now there stood a churn in the room1 and a little boy playing about it1 put his hands into it1 and pulled it down1 and threw all the cream on the floor before my eyes4 ,thus was the woman manifested to be a liar4 ,she was amazed1 and blessed herself1 and taking up the child1 whipped it sorely2 but ,i reproved her for her lying and deceit4 ,after the ,lord had thus discovered her deceit and perverseness1 ,i walked out of the house1 and went away till ,i came to a stack of hay1 and lay in the hay-stack that night in rain and snow1 it being but three days before the time called ,christmas4 ,the next day ,i came into ,,york1 where were several people that were very tender4 ,upon the ,first-day of the week following1 ,i was commanded of the ,lord to go to the great minster1 and speak to the priest ,bowles and his hearers in their great cathedral4 ,accordingly ,i went3 and when the priest had done1 ,i told them ,i had something from the ,lord ,god to speak to the priest and people4 8,then say on quickly10 said a professor that was among them1 for it was frost and snow1 and very cold weather4 ,then ,i told them1 ,this was the word of the ,lord ,god unto them1 that they lived in words2 but ,god ,almighty looked for fruits amongst them4 ,as soon as the words were out of my mouth1 they hurried me out1 and threw me down the steps2 but ,i got up again without hurt1 and went to my lodgings4 ,several were convinced there3 for the very groans that arose from the weight and oppression that was upon the ,spirit of ,god in me1 would open people1 and strike them1 and make them confess that the groans which broke forth through me did reach them3 for my life was burthened with their profession without possession1 and words without fruit4 ,after ,i had done my present service in ,york1 and several were convinced there1 received the truth of ,god1 and were turned to his teaching1 ,i passed out of ,york1 and looking towards ,cleveland1 ,i saw there was a people that had tasted of the power of ,god4 ,i saw then there was a seed in that country1 and that ,god had an humble people there4 ,passing onwards that night1 a ,papist overtook me1 and talked to me of his religion1 and of their meetings2 and ,i let him speak all that was in his mind4 ,that night ,i stayed at an ale-house4 ,the next morning ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak the word of the ,lord to this ,papist4 ,so ,i went to his house1 and declared against his religion1 and all their superstitious ways2 and told him that ,god was come to teach his people himself4 ,this put the ,papist into such a rage1 that he could not then endure to stay in his own house4 ,the next day ,i came to ,,burraby1 where a priest and several friendly people met together4 ,many of the people were convinced1 and have continued faithful ever since2 and there is a great meeting of ,friends in that town4 ,the priest also was forced to confess to the truth1 though he came not into it4 ,the day following ,i went into ,,cleveland1 amongst those people that had tasted of the power of ,god4 ,they had formerly had great meetings1 but were then all shattered to pieces1 and the heads of them turned ,ranters4 ,i told them that after they had had such meetings1 they did not wait upon ,god to feel ,his power1 to gather their minds inward1 that they might feel ,his presence and power amongst them in their meetings1 to sit down therein1 and wait upon ,him2 for they had spoken themselves dry2 they had spent their portions1 and not living in that which they spoke of1 they were now become dry4 ,they had some kind of meetings still2 but they took tobacco and drank ale in their meetings1 and were grown light and loose4 ,but my message unto them from the ,lord was1 ,that they should all come together again1 and wait to feel the ,lord's power and ,spirit in themselves1 to gather them to ,christ1 that they might be taught of ,him who says1 8,learn of me40 ,for when they had declared that which the ,lord had opened to them1 then the people were to receive it2 and both the speakers and hearers were to live in that themselves4 ,but when these had no more to declare1 but went to seek forms without life1 that made themselves dry and barren1 and the people also2 and from thence came all their loss3 for the ,lord renews ,his mercies and ,his strength to them that wait upon ,him4 ,the heads of these people came to nothing3 but most of them came to be convinced1 and received ,god's everlasting truth1 and continue a meeting to this day1 sitting under the teaching of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ their ,saviour4 ,upon the ,first-day of the next week1 the word of the ,lord came to me to go to the steeple-house there1 which ,i did4 ,when the priest had done ,i spoke the truth to him and the people1 and directed them to their teacher within1 ,christ ,jesus1 their free teacher1 that had bought them4 ,the priest came to me1 and ,i had a little discourse with him2 but he was soon stopped1 and silent4 ,then being clear of the place1 ,i passed away1 having had several meetings amongst those people4 ,though at this time the snow was very deep1 ,i kept travelling2 and going through the country1 came to a market-town1 where ,i met with many professors1 with whom ,i had much reasoning4 ,i asked them many questions1 which they were not able to answer2 saying1 they had never had such deep questions put to them in all their lives4 ,from them ,i went to ,,staithes1 where also ,i met with many professors1 and some ,ranters4 ,i had large meetings amongst them1 and a great convincement there was4 ,many received the truth2 amongst whom1 one was a man of an hundred years of age2 another was a chief constable2 and a third was a priest1 whose name was ,philip ,scafe4 ,him the ,lord1 by his free ,spirit1 did afterwards make a free minister of his free gospel4 ,the priest of this town was a lofty one1 who much oppressed the people for his tithes4 ,if they went a-fishing many leagues off1 he would make them pay the tithe-money of what they made of their fish1 though they caught them at a great distance1 and carried them as far as ,yarmouth to sell4 ,i was moved to go to the steeple-house there1 to declare the truth1 and expose the priest4 ,when ,i had spoken to him1 and laid his oppression of the people before him1 he fled away4 ,the chief of the parish were very light and vain2 so after ,i had spoken the word of life to them1 ,i turned away from them1 because they did not receive it1 and left them4 ,but the word of the ,lord1 which ,i had declared amongst them1 remained with some of them2 so that at night some of the heads of the parish came to me1 and most of them were convinced and satisfied1 and confessed to the truth4 ,thus the truth began to spread in that country1 and great meetings we had2 at which the priest began to rage1 and the ,ranters to be stirred2 and they sent word that they would have a dispute with me1 both the oppressing priest1 and the leader of the ,ranters4 ,a day was fixed1 and the ,ranter came with his company2 and another priest1 a ,scotchman1 came2 but not the oppressing priest of ,staithes4 ,philip ,scafe1 who had been a priest1 and was convinced1 was with me2 and a great number of people met4 ,when we were settled1 the ,ranter1 whose name was ,t4 ,bushel1 told me he had had a vision of me2 that ,i was sitting in a great chair1 and that he was to come and put off his hat1 and bow down to the ground before me2 and he did so2 and many other flattering words he spoke4 ,i told him it was his own figure1 and said unto him1 8,repent1 thou beast40 ,he said it was jealousy in me to say so4 ,then ,i asked him the ground of jealousy1 and how it came to be bred in man8 and the nature of a beast1 what made it1 and how it was bred in man8 ,for ,i saw him directly in the nature of the beast2 and therefore ,i wished to know of him how that nature came to be bred in him8 ,i told him he should give me an account of the things done in the body1 before we came to discourse of things done out of the body4 ,so ,i stopped his mouth1 and all his fellow ,ranters were silenced2 for he was the head of them4 ,then ,i called for the oppressing priest1 but he came not2 only the ,scotch priest came1 whose mouth was soon stopped with a very few words2 he being out of the life of what he professed4 ,then ,i had a good opportunity with the people4 ,i laid open the ,ranters1 ranking them with the old ,ranters in ,sodom4 ,the priests ,i manifested to be of the same stamp with their fellow-hirelings1 the false prophets of old1 and the priests that then bore rule over the people by their means1 seeking for their gain from their quarter1 divining for money1 and teaching for filthy lucre4 ,i brought all the prophets1 and ,christ1 and the apostles1 over the heads of the priests1 showing how the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles had long since discovered them by their marks and fruits4 ,then ,i directed the people to their inward teacher1 ,christ ,jesus their ,saviour2 and ,i preached up ,christ in the hearts of ,his people1 when all these mountains were laid low4 ,the people were all quiet1 and the gainsayers' mouths were stopped2 for though they broiled inwardly1 yet the power bound them down1 that they could not break out4 ,after the meeting1 this ,scotch priest desired me to walk with him on the top of the cliffs2 whereupon ,i called a brother-in-law of his1 who was in some measure convinced1 and desired him to go with me1 telling him ,i desired to have somebody by to hear what was said1 lest the priest1 when ,i was gone1 should report anything of me which ,i did not say4 ,we went together2 and as we walked1 the priest asked me many things concerning the light1 and concerning the soul2 to all which ,i answered him fully4 ,when he had done questioning1 we parted1 and he went his way2 and meeting with ,philip ,scafe1 he broke his cane against the ground in madness1 and said1 if ever he met with me again1 he would have my life1 or ,i should have his2 adding that he would give his head1 if ,i was not knocked down within a month4 ,by this1 ,friends suspected that his intent was1 in desiring me to walk with him alone1 either to thrust me down from off the cliff1 or to do me some other mischief2 and that when he saw himself frustrated in that1 by my having one with me1 it made him rage4 ,i feared neither his prophecies nor his threats2 for ,i feared ,god ,almighty4 ,but some ,friends1 through their affection for me1 feared much that this priest would do me some mischief1 or set on others to do it4 ,yet after some years this very ,scotch priest1 and his wife also1 came to be convinced of the truth2 and about twelve years after this ,i was at their house4 ,after this1 there came another priest to a meeting where ,i was1 one that was in repute above all the priests in the country4 ,as ,i was speaking in the meeting1 that the gospel was the power of ,god1 and how it brought life and immortality to light in men1 and was turning people from darkness to the light1 this high-flown priest said the gospel was mortal4 ,i told him1 the true minister said1 the gospel was the power of ,god1 and would he make the power of ,god mortal8 ,upon that the other priest1 ,philip ,scafe1 that was convinced1 and had felt the immortal power of ,god in himself1 took him up and reproved him2 so a great dispute arose between them3 the convinced priest holding that the gospel was immortal1 and the other priest that it was mortal4 ,but the ,lord's power was too hard for this opposing priest1 and stopped his mouth2 and many people were convinced1 seeing the darkness that was in the opposing priest1 and the light that was in the convinced priest4 ,then another priest sent to have a dispute with me1 and ,friends went with me to the house where he was2 but when he understood we were come1 he slipped out of the house1 and hid himself under a hedge4 ,the people went to seek him1 and found him1 but could not get him to come to us4 ,then ,i went to a steeple-house hard by1 where the priest and people were in a great rage3 this priest had threatened ,friends what he would do2 but when ,i came he fled2 for the ,lord's power came over him and them4 ,yea1 the ,lord's everlasting power was over the world1 and reached to the hearts of people1 and made both priests and professors tremble4 ,it shook the earthly and airy spirit1 in which they held their profession of religion and worship1 so that it was a dreadful thing unto them1 when it was told them1 8,the man in leather breeches is come40#ab ,at the hearing thereof the priests1 in many places would get out of the way2 they were so struck with the dread of the eternal power of ,god2 and fear surprised the hypocrites4 ,footnote #ab3 ,the leathern garments worn by ,george ,fox were chosen by him for their simplicity and durability2 and though they often subjected their wearer to ridicule and abuse1 he had no motive beyond the above-mentioned for choosing such a garb4 ,many persons have been amused1 if not offended at him for having worn such a dress when he was a young man4 ,in those days leathern garments were not so singular as some suppose4 ,it was a well authenticated fact1 that an eminent merchant of the city of ,london1 about #aej years ago1 travelled on foot from ,newcastle1 in search of a livelihood1 clad in a coat of leather4 ,he opened a warehouse in ,london for the sale of heavy articles of iron1 which were manufactured in the neighbourhood of ,newcastle4 ,in a few years he became prosperous1 accumulated a large fortune1 and ranked with the magnates of the city1 sharing in all the civic honours of the corporation4 ,the firm which he established still continues to conduct a flourishing business1 at a warehouse in ,thames ,street1 which is familiarly known in the trade by 8,the ,leathern ,doublet20 a representation of the founder's original dress being fixed as a sign in front of the building4 ,from this place we passed to ,,whitby and ,,scarborough1 where we had some services for the ,lord2 there are large meetings settled there since4 ,from thence ,i passed over the ,,wolds to ,,malton1 where we had great meetings2 as we had also at the towns thereabouts4 ,at one town a priest sent me a challenge to dispute with me2 but when ,i came1 he would not come forth2 so ,i had a good opportunity with the people1 and the ,lord's power came over them4 ,one1 who had been a wild1 drunken man1 was so reached therewith1 that he came to me as lowly as a lamb2 though he and his companions had before sent for drink1 to make the rude people drunk1 on purpose that they might abuse us4 ,when ,i found the priest would not come forth1 ,i was moved to go to the steeple-house2 the priest was confounded1 and the ,lord's power came over all4 ,on the ,first-day following1 came one of the highest ,independent professors1 a woman1 who had let in such a prejudice against me1 that she said before she came1 she could willingly go to see me hanged3 but when she came1 she was convinced1 and remains a ,friend4 ,then ,i turned to ,,malton again1 and very great meetings there were2 to which more people would have come1 but durst not for fear of their relations2 for it was thought a strange thing then to preach in houses1 and not go to the church1 as they called it2 so that ,i was much desired to go and speak in the steeple-houses4 ,one of the priests wrote to me1 and invited me to preach in the steeple-house1 calling me his brother4 ,another priest1 a noted man1 kept a lecture there4 ,now the ,lord had showed me1 while ,i was in ,derby prison1 that ,i should speak in steeple-houses1 to gather people from thence2 and a concern sometimes would come upon my mind about the pulpits that the priests lolled in4 ,for the steeple-houses and pulpits were offensive to my mind1 because both priests and people called them the house of ,god1 and idolized them2 reckoning that ,god dwelt there in the outward house4 ,whereas they should have looked for ,god and ,christ to dwell in their hearts1 and their bodies to be made the temples of ,god2 for the apostle said1 8,god dwelleth not in temples made with hands30 but by reason of the people's idolizing those places1 it was counted a heinous thing to declare against them4 ,when ,i came into the steeple-house1 there were not above eleven hearers1 and the priest was preaching to them4 ,but after it was known in the town that ,i was in the steeple-house1 it was soon filled with people4 ,when the priest that preached that day had done1 he sent the other priest that had invited me thither1 to bring me up into the pulpit2 but ,i sent word to him1 that ,i needed not to go into the pulpit4 ,then he sent to me again1 desiring me to go up into it2 for1 he said1 it was a better place1 and there ,i might be seen of the people4 ,i sent him word again1 ,i could be seen and heard well enough where ,i was2 and that ,i came not there to hold up such places1 nor their maintenance and trade4 ,upon my saying so1 they began to be angry1 and said1 8these false prophets were to come in the last times40 ,their saying so grieved many of the people2 and some began to murmur at it4 ,whereupon ,i stood up1 and desired all to be quiet2 and stepping upon a high seat1 ,i declared unto them the marks of the false prophets1 and showed that they were already come2 and set the true prophets1 and ,christ1 and ,his apostles over them2 and manifested these to be out of the steps of the true prophets1 and of ,christ and ,his apostles4 ,i directed the people to their inward teacher1 ,christ ,jesus1 who would turn them from darkness to the light4 ,and having opened divers ,scriptures to them1 ,i directed them to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 by which they might come to ,him1 and by which they might also come to know who the false prophets were4 ,so having had a large opportunity among them1 ,i departed in peace4 ,after some time1 ,i came to ,,pickering1 where in the steeple-house the justices held their sessions1 ,justice ,robinson being chairman4 ,i had a meeting in the school-house at the same time2 and abundance of priests and professors came to it1 asking questions1 which were answered to their satisfaction4 ,it being sessions-time1 four chief constables and many other people were convinced that day2 and word was carried to ,justice ,robinson that his priest was overthrown and convinced1 whom he had a love to1 more than to all the priests besides4 ,after the meeting1 we went to an inn4 ,justice ,robinson's priest was very lowly and loving1 and would have paid for my dinner1 but ,i would by no means suffer it4 ,then he offered that ,i should have his steeple-house to preach in1 but ,i refused it1 and told him and the people1 that ,i came to bring them off from such things to ,christ4 ,the next morning ,i went with the four chief constables1 and others1 to visit ,justice ,robinson1 who met me at his chamber door4 ,i told him ,i could not honour him with man's honour4 ,he said he did not look for it4 ,so ,i went into his chamber1 and opened to him the state of the false prophets1 and of the true prophets2 and set the true prophets1 and ,christ1 and the apostles over the other2 and directed his mind to ,christ his teacher4 ,i opened to him the parables1 and how election and reprobation stood2 as that reprobation stood in the first birth1 and election stood in the second birth4 ,i showed also what the promise of ,god was to1 and what the judgment of ,god was against1 ,he confessed to it all2 and was so opened with the truth1 that when another justice that was present1 made some little opposition1 he informed him4 ,at our parting1 he said it was very well that ,i exercised that gift1 which ,god had given me4 ,he took the chief constables aside1 and would have given them some money for me1 saying1 he would not have me at any charge in their country2 but they told him that they could not persuade me to take any2 and so accepting his kindness1 ,i refused his money4 ,from thence ,i passed up into the country1 and the priest that called me brother 7in whose school-house ,i had the meeting at ,pickering17 went along with me4 ,when we came into a town to bait1 the bells rang4 ,i asked what they rang for3 and they said1 for me to preach in the steeple-house4 ,after some time ,i felt drawings that way2 and as ,i walked to the steeple-house1 ,i saw the people were gathered together in the yard4 ,the old priest would have had me to go into the steeple-house2 but ,i said1 it was no matter4 ,it was something strange to the people1 that ,i would not go into that which they called the house of ,god4 ,i stood up in the steeple-house yard1 and declared to the people1 that ,i came not to hold up their idol temples1 nor their priests1 nor their tithes1 nor their augmentations1 nor their priests' wages1 nor their ,jewish and heathenish ceremonies and traditions 7for ,i denied all these17 and told them that that piece of ground was no more holy than another piece of ground4 ,i showed them that the apostles' going into the ,jews' synagogues and temples1 which ,god had commanded1 was to bring people off from that temple1 and those synagogues1 and from the offerings1 and tithes1 and covetous priests of that time2 that such as came to be convinced of the truth1 and converted to it1 and believed in ,jesus ,christ1 whom the apostles preached1 met together afterwards in dwelling-houses2 and that all who preach ,christ1 the ,word of life1 ought to preach freely1 as the apostles did1 and as ,he had commanded4 ,so ,i was sent of the ,lord ,god of heaven and earth to preach freely1 and to bring people off from these outward temples made with hands1 which ,god dwelleth not in2 that they might know their bodies to become the temples of ,god and of ,christ3 and to draw people off from all their superstitious ceremonies1 and ,jewish and heathenish customs1 traditions1 and doctrines of men2 and from all the world's hireling teachers1 that take tithes and great wages1 preaching for hire1 and divining for money1 whom ,god and ,christ never sent1 as themselves confess1 when they say they never heard ,god's voice1 nor ,christ's voice4 ,therefore ,i exhorted the people to come off from all these things1 and directed them to the ,spirit and grace of ,god in themselves1 and to the light of ,jesus in their own hearts1 that they might come to know ,christ1 their free teacher1 to bring them salvation1 and to open the ,scriptures to them4 ,thus the ,lord gave me a good opportunity amongst them to open things largely unto them4 ,all was quiet1 and many were convinced2 blessed be the ,lord6 ,i passed on to another town1 where there was another great meeting1 the old priest before mentioned going along with me2 and there came professors of several sorts to it4 ,i sat on a haystack1 and spoke nothing for some hours2 for ,i was to famish them from words4 ,the professors would ever and anon be speaking to the old priest1 and asking him when ,i would begin1 and when ,i would speak4 ,he bade them wait2 and told them1 that the people waited upon ,christ a long while before he spoke4 ,at last ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak2 and they were struck by the ,lord's power2 the word of life reached to them1 and there was a general convincement amongst them4 ,from hence ,i passed on1 the old priest being still with me1 and several others4 ,as we went along1 some people called to him1 and said1 8,mr4 ,boyes1 we owe you some money for tithes1 pray come and take it40 ,but he threw up his hands1 and said he had enough1 he would have none of it2 they might keep it2 and he praised the ,lord he had enough4 ,at length we came to this old priest's steeple-house in the ,,moors2 and when we were come into it1 he went before me1 and held open the pulpit door2 but ,i told him ,i should not go into it4 ,this steeple-house was very much painted4 ,i told him and the people1 that the painted beast had a painted house4 ,then ,i opened to them the rise of all those houses1 and their superstitious ways2 showing them1 that as the end of the apostles' going into the temple and synagogues1 which ,god had commanded1 was not to hold them up1 but to bring the people to ,christ1 the substance2 so the end of my coming there1 was not to hold up these temples1 priests1 and tithes1 which ,god had never commanded1 but to bring themselves off from all these things1 to ,christ the substance4 ,i showed them the true worship1 which ,christ had set up2 and distinguished ,christ the true way from all the false ways1 opening the parables to them1 and turning them from darkness to the true light1 that by it they might see themselves1 their sins1 and ,christ their ,saviour2 that believing in ,him1 they might be saved from their sins4 ,after this we went to one ,birdet's house1 where ,i had a great meeting1 and this old priest accompanied me still1 leaving his steeple-house2 for he had been looked upon as a famous priest1 above ,common-,prayer-men1 and ,presbyters1 and ,independents too4 ,before he was convinced1 he went sometimes into their steeple-houses and preached2 for he had been a zealous man in his way4 ,and when they complained of him to ,justice ,hotham1 he bid them distrain his horse for travelling on the ,lord's day 7as he called it72 but ,hotham did that only to put them off1 for he knew the priest used no horse1 but travelled on foot4 ,now ,i came towards ,,cranswick1 to ,captain ,pursloe's and ,justice ,hotham's1 who received me kindly1 being glad that the ,lord's power had so appeared2 that truth was spread1 and so many had received it2 and that ,justice ,robinson was so civil4 ,justice ,hotham said1 ,if ,god had not raised up this principle of light and life1 which ,i preached1 the nation had been overrun with ,ranterism1 and all the justices in the nation could not have stopped it with all their laws2 because 7said he7 they would have said as we said1 and done as we commanded1 and yet have kept their own principle still4 ,but this principle of truth1 said he1 overthrows their principle1 and the root and ground thereof2 and therefore1 he was glad the ,lord had raised up this principle of life and truth4 ,from thence ,i travelled up to ,,holderness1 and came to a justice's house1 whose name was ,pearson1 where there was a very tender woman1 that believed in the truth1 and was so affected therewith1 that she said she could have left all and have followed me4 ,thence ,i went to ,,oram1 to one ,george ,hartis's1 where many of that town were convinced4 ,on the ,first-day ,i was moved to go into the steeple-house1 where the priest had got another to help him2 and many professors and contenders were assembled together4 ,but the ,lord's power was over all2 the priests fled away1 and much good service ,i had for the ,lord amongst the people4 ,some of those great professors were convinced1 and became honest1 faithful ,friends1 being men of account in the place4 ,the next day1 ,friends and friendly people having left me1 ,i travelled alone1 declaring the day of the ,lord amongst people in the towns where ,i came1 and warning them to repent4 ,one day1 ,i came towards night into a town called ,,patrington2 and as ,i walked along the town1 ,i warned both priest and people 7for the priest was in the street7 to repent and turn to the ,lord4 ,it grew dark before ,i came to the end of the town2 and a multitude of people gathered about me1 to whom ,i declared the word of life4 ,when ,i had cleared myself1 ,i went to an inn1 and desired them to let me have a lodging2 but they would not4 ,then ,i desired them to let me have a little meat1 or milk1 and ,i would pay them for it2 but they would not4 ,so ,i walked out of the town1 and a company of fellows followed me1 and asked me1 what news8 ,i bid them repent1 and fear the ,lord4 ,after ,i had gone some distance1 ,i came to another house1 and desired the people to let me have a little meat and drink1 and lodging for my money2 but they denied me4 ,then ,i went to another house1 and desired the same2 but they refused me also4 ,by this time it was grown so dark1 that ,i could not see the highway2 but ,i discerned a ditch1 and got a little water and refreshed myself4 ,then ,i got over the ditch1 and being weary with travelling1 sat down among the furze-bushes till it was day4 ,about break of day ,i got up and passed over the fields4 ,a man came after me with a great pike-staff1 and went along with me to a town2 and he raised the town upon me1 with the constable and chief constable1 before the sun was up4 ,i declared ,god's everlasting truth amongst them1 warning them of the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon all sin and wickedness2 and exhorted them to repent4 ,but they seized me1 and had me back to ,patrington1 about three miles1 guarding me with pikes1 staves1 and halberds4 ,now when ,i was come back to ,patrington1 all the town was in an uproar1 and the priest and people were consulting together2 so ,i had another opportunity to declare the word of life amongst them1 and warn them to repent4 ,at last a professor1 a tender man1 called me into his house1 and there ,i took a little milk and bread1 not having eaten for some days before4 ,then they guarded me about nine miles to a justice4 ,when ,i was come near his house1 a man came riding after us1 and asked me whether ,i was the man that was apprehended8 ,i asked him wherefore he asked8 ,he said1 for no hurt2 and ,i told him ,i was2 so he rode away to the justice before us4 ,the men that guarded me said1 ,it was well if the justice was not drunk1 before we got to him2 for he used to be drunk early4 ,when ,i was brought in before him1 because ,i did not put off my hat1 and said ,thou to him1 he asked the man that rode thither before me1 whether ,i was not mazed or fond2 but the man told him1 no1 it was my principle4 ,then ,i warned him to repent1 and come to the light1 which ,christ had enlightened him with1 that by it he might see all his evil words and actions2 and to return to ,christ ,jesus whilst he had time2 and that whilst he had time1 he should prize it4 8,ay1 ay10 said he1 8the light that is spoken of in the third of ,john40 ,i desired him that he would mind it and obey it4 ,as ,i admonished him1 ,i laid my hand upon him1 and he was brought down by the power of the ,lord2 and all the watchmen stood amazed4 ,then he took me into a little parlour with the other man1 and desired to see what ,i had in my pockets1 of letters or intelligence4 ,i plucked out my linen1 and showed him that ,i had no letters4 ,he said1 ,he is not a vagrant by his linen2 and then he set me at liberty4 ,i went back to ,patrington1 with the man that had ridden before me to the justice2 for he lived at ,patrington4 ,when ,i came there1 he would have had me have a meeting at the ,cross2 but ,i said1 it was no matter1 his house would serve4 ,he desired me to go to bed1 or lie down upon a bed2 which he did1 that they might say1 they had seen me in a bed1 or upon a bed2 for a report had been raised that ,i would not lie on any bed1 because at that time ,i lay many times out of doors4 ,now when the ,first-day of the week was come1 ,i went to the steeple-house1 and declared the truth to the priest and people2 and the people did not molest me1 for the power of ,god was come over them4 ,presently after ,i had a great meeting at the man's house where ,i lay1 and many were convinced of the ,lord's everlasting truth1 who stand faithful witnesses of it to this day4 ,they were exceedingly grieved that they did not receive me1 nor give me lodging1 when ,i was there before4 ,from hence ,i travelled through the country1 even to the furthest part thereof1 warning people1 in towns and villages1 to repent1 and directing them to ,christ ,jesus1 their teacher4 ,on the ,first-day of the week ,i came to one ,colonel ,overton's house1 and had a great meeting of the prime of the people of that country2 where many things were opened out of the ,scriptures1 which they had never heard before4 ,many were convinced1 and received the word of life1 and were settled in the truth of ,god4 ,then ,i returned to ,,patrington again1 and visited those ,friends that were convinced there2 by whom ,i understood that a tailor1 and some wild blades in that town1 had occasioned my being carried before the justice4 ,the tailor came to ask my forgiveness1 fearing ,i would complain of him4 ,the constables also were afraid1 lest ,i should trouble them4 ,but ,i forgave them all1 and warned them to turn to the ,lord1 and to amend their lives4 ,now that which made them the more afraid was this3 when ,i was in the steeple-house at ,oram not long before1 there came a professor1 who gave me a push on the breast in the steeple-house1 and bid me get out of the church4 8,alas1 poor man60 said ,i1 8dost thou call the steeple-house the church8 ,the church is the people1 whom ,god hath purchased with ,his blood1 and not the house40 ,it happened that ,justice ,hotham came to hear of this man's abuse1 sent his warrant for him1 and bound him over to the sessions2 so affected was he with the truth1 and so zealous to keep the peace4 ,and indeed this ,justice ,hotham had asked me before1 whether any people had meddled with me1 or abused me2 but ,i was not at liberty to tell him anything of that kind1 but was to forgive all4 ,,chapter ,v4 #afeb4--;,george ,fox visits great men's houses1 warning them to repent--is accused of calling himself ,christ--refutes the charge1 and tells the accuser that ,judas's end would he his1 which shortly came to pass2 hence a slander is raised against ,friends--is stoned at ,doncaster--a scoffing priest made to tremble at the ,lord's power--a slandering priest cut off in his wickedness--a murderous man seeks ,george ,fox1 but misses him--he lays in a wood all night--the influence of one man or woman1 who lives in the same spirit that the prophets and apostles were in1 is to be felt within a circuit of ten miles--,george ,fox ascends ,pendle ,hill1 whence he sees the place of a great gathering of people--on descending1 refreshes himself at a spring of water1 having taken little sustenance for several days--foresees a great people in white raiment about ,wensleydale and ,sedbergh--a wicked man designs to injure him1 but is prevented--many are convinced in ,dent1 and a meeting is settled at ,sedbergh1 where he had seen a people in white raiment--preaches for several hours in the steeple-house yard there--preaches on a rock1 near ,firbank chapel1 to #a1jjj people1 for three hours--the family of ,judge ,fell convinced1 and a meeting settled at his house1 and continued for forty years--preaches through ,lancaster streets--at a meeting of priests at ,ulverstone he speaks in great power1 so that one of them said1 8the church shook0--disputes with priest ,lampitt--,justice ,sawrey is the first persecutor in the north--forty priests appear against ,george ,fox at ,lancaster ,sessions for speaking blasphemy2 they are confounded1 and he is cleared of the charge--,james ,naylor's account of ,george ,fox's trial at ,lancaster ,sessions--priest ,jackus is reproved from the bench for his blasphemy--these priests are reproved by the populace--,col4 ,west defends and protects ,george ,fox against the machinations of the priests1 and the design of ,judge ,windham1 at the risk of losing his place4 ,from ,,patrington ,i went to several great men's houses1 warning them to repent4 ,some received me lovingly1 and some slighted me4 ,thus ,i passed on1 and at night came to another town1 where ,i desired lodging and meat1 and ,i would pay for it2 but they would not lodge me1 except ,i would go to the constable1 which was the custom 7they said7 of all lodgers at inns1 if strangers4 ,i told them ,i should not go2 for that custom was for suspicious persons1 but ,i was an innocent man4 ,after ,i had warned them to repent1 declared unto them the day of their visitation1 and directed them to the light of ,christ and ,spirit of ,god1 that they might come to know salvation1 ,i passed away2 and the people were something tendered1 and troubled afterwards4 ,when it grew dark1 ,i spied a hay-stack1 and went and sat under it all night1 till morning4 ,the next day ,i passed into ,,hull1 admonishing and warning people1 as ,i went1 to turn to ,christ ,jesus that they might receive salvation4 ,that night ,i got a lodging1 but was very sore with travelling on foot so far4 ,afterwards ,i came to ,,balby1 and visited ,friends up and down in those parts2 and then passed into the edge of ,,nottinghamshire1 visiting ,friends there2 and so into ,,lincolnshire1 and visited ,friends there4 ,and on the ,first-day of the week ,i went to a steeple-house on this side of ,trent2 and in the afternoon to one on the other side of the ,trent1 declaring the word of life to the people1 and directing them to their teacher1 ,christ ,jesus1 who died for them that they might hear him1 and receive salvation by him4 ,then ,i went further into the country1 and had several meetings4 ,to one meeting came a great man1 and a priest and many professors2 but the ,lord's power came over them all1 and they went their ways peaceably4 ,there came a man to that meeting1 who had been at one before1 and raised a false accusation against me1 and made a noise up and down the country1 reporting that ,i had said ,i was ,christ2 which was utterly false4 ,and when ,i came to ,,gainsborough1 where a ,friend had been declaring truth in the market1 the town and market-people were all in an uproar4 ,i went into a friendly man's house1 and the people rushed in after me2 so that the house was filled with professors1 disputers1 and rude people4 ,this false accuser came in1 and charged me openly before all the people1 that ,i had said1 ,i was ,christ1 and he had got witnesses to prove it4 ,this set the people into such a rage1 that they had much to do to keep their hands off me4 ,then ,i was moved of the ,lord ,god to stand up on the table1 and1 in the eternal power of ,god1 to tell the people 8,that ,christ was in them1 except they were reprobates2 and that it was ,christ the eternal power of ,god1 that spoke in me at that time unto them2 not that ,i was ,christ40 ,and the people were generally satisfied1 except himself1 a professor1 and his own false-witnesses4 ,i called the accuser ,judas1 and was moved to tell him1 that ,judas's end would be his2 and that that was the word of the ,lord and of ,christ1 through me1 to him4 ,so the ,lord's power came over all1 and quieted the minds of the people1 and they departed in peace4 ,but this ,judas went away1 and shortly after hanged himself1 and a stake was driven into his grave4 ,afterwards the wicked priests raised a scandal upon us1 and reported that a ,quaker had hanged himself in ,lincolnshire1 and had a stake driven through him4 ,this falsehood they printed to the nation1 adding sin to sin2 which the truth and we were clear of3 for he was no more a ,quaker than the priest that printed it1 but was one of their own people4 ,but notwithstanding this wicked slander1 by which the adversary designed to defame us1 and turn people's minds against the truth we held forth1 many in ,lincolnshire received the gospel1 being convinced of the ,lord's everlasting truth1 and sat down therein under the ,lord's heavenly teaching4 ,after this ,i passed1 in the ,lord's power1 into ,,yorkshire1 came to ,,warmsworth1 and went to the steeple-house in the forenoon1#ac but they shut the door against me2 yet after a while they let in ,thomas ,aldam1 and then shut it again2 and the priest fell upon him1 asking him questions4 ,at last they opened the door1 and ,i went in4 ,as soon as ,i was in the priest's sight1 he discontinued preaching1 though ,i said nothing to him1 and asked me1 8,what have you to say60 and presently cried out1 8,come1 come1 ,i will prove them false prophets1 in ,matthew20 but he was so confounded1 he could not find the chapter4 ,then he fell on me1 asking me many questions1 and ,i stood still all this while1 not saying anything amongst them4 ,at last ,i said1 8,seeing here are so many questions asked1 ,i may answer them40 ,but as soon as ,i began to speak1 the people violently rushed upon me1 and thrust me out of the steeple-house again1 and locked the door on me4 ,as soon as they had done their service1 and were come forth1 the people ran upon me1 and knocked me sorely with their staves1 threw clods and stones at me1 and abused me much2 the priest also1 being in a great rage1 laid violent hands on me himself4 ,but ,i warned them and him of the terrible day of the ,lord1 and exhorted them to repent1 and turn to ,christ4 ,being filled with the ,lord's refreshing power1 ,i was not sensible of much hurt ,i had received by their blows4 ,in the afternoon ,i went to another steeple-house1 but the priest had done before ,i got thither2 so ,i preached repentance to the people that were left1 and directed them to their inward teacher1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote #ac3 ,the circumstance of ,friends entering the public places of worship in the times of the ,commonwealth1 is one which has been much misunderstood1 and greatly misrepresented4 ,for these acts of dedication they have been calumniated as disturbers of religious congregations1 and as outraging the peace and order of the churches4 ,this estimate1 doubtless1 has been formed with reference to usages of more modern date2 but to decide upon the conduct of ,friends in this particular1 from a consideration of present circumstances1 would be exceedingly erroneous4 ,in preaching in the national places of worship1 they did but avail themselves of a common liberty1 in a period of extraordinary excitement on religious things4 ,there were numerous other religious meetings held in those times1 but into none of these did ,friends obtrude themselves4 ,some probably will argue1 that the fact of their being so severely punished for persisting in this practice1 may be adduced in support of its irregularity2 but it may be answered1 that the preaching of ,friends almost everywhere1 at that time1 whether in steeple-houses or private houses1 in-doors or out of doors1 equally called down the rigour of ecclesiastical vengeance4 ,it was not1 in fact1 because ,friends preached in these places so much as for what they preached that they suffered4 ,when ,george ,fox was committed to ,derby prison in #afej1 after preaching in the steeple-house at 8a great lecture10 the mittimus states his offence was1 for 8uttering and broaching of divers blasphemous opinions40 ,in #afei1 ,gilbert ,latey went to ,dunstan's steeple-house in the west1 where the noted ,dr4 ,manton preached4 ,at the conclusion of the sermon1 ,gilbert ,latey addressed the assembly relative to some errors in ,manton's sermon1 for which he was seized by a constable and taken before a magistrate2 who1 however1 gave ,g4 ,latey leave to speak for himself4 ,the statement he made satisfied the justice1 and he replied1 that he had heard the people called ,quakers1 were a sort of mad1 whimsical folks2 8but10 said he1 8for this man1 he talks very rationally1 and ,i think1 for my part1 you should not have brought him before me40 ,to which the constable replied1 8,sir1 ,i think so too40 ,this occurred eleven years after ,g4 ,fox first visited a steeple-house1 and1 during that time1 ,friends had suffered very much for speaking in them1 yet now a magistrate declares1 that speaking rationally after the preacher had finished in a steeple-house1 is not an offence for which a man ought to be brought before him4 ,but the ministry of ,friends struck at the very foundation of all hierarchical systems1 and the discovery of this circumstance prompted the priests to call in the aid of the civil power1 to suppress the promulgation of views so opposed to ecclesiastical domination4 ,from hence ,i went to ,,balby1 and so to ,,doncaster1 where ,i had formerly preached repentance on the market-day2 which had made a noise and alarm in the country4 ,on the ,first-day ,i went to the steeple-house1 and after the priest had done1 ,i spoke to him and the people what the ,lord had commanded me2 and they were in a great rage1 hurried me out1 threw me down1 and haled me before the magistrates4 ,a long examination they made of me1 and much work ,i had with them4 ,they threatened my life if ever ,i came there again2 and that they would leave me to the mercy of the people4 ,nevertheless1 ,i declared truth amongst them1 and directed them to the light of ,christ in them2 testifying unto them that 8,god was come to teach his people himself1 whether they would hear or forbear40 ,after a while they put us out 7for some ,friends were with me7 among the rude multitude1 and they stoned us down the street4 ,an innkeeper1 that was a bailiff1 came and took us into his house2 and they broke his head1 that the blood ran down his face1 with the stones that they threw at us4 ,we stayed a while in his house1 and showed the more sober people the priest's fruits4 ,then we went to ,balby1 about a mile off1 and the rude people laid wait for us1 and stoned us down the lane2 but1 blessed be the ,lord1 we did not receive much hurt4 ,the next ,first-day ,i went to ,,tickhill1 whither the ,friends of that side gathered together1 and in the meeting a mighty brokenness by the power of ,god was amongst the people4 ,i went out of the meeting1 being moved of ,god to go to the steeple-house2 and when ,i came there1 ,i found the priest and most of the chief of the parish together in the chancel4 ,so ,i went up to them1 and began to speak2 but they immediately fell upon me2 and the clerk took up his ,bible1 as ,i was speaking1 and struck me on the face with it1 so that it gushed out with blood1 and ,i bled exceedingly in the steeple-house4 ,then the people cried1 8,let us have him out of the church20 and when they had got me out1 they beat me exceedingly1 and threw me down1 and over a hedge2 and afterwards they dragged me through a house into the street1 stoning and beating me as they drew me along1 so that ,i was besmeared all over with blood and dirt4 ,they got my hat from me1 which ,i never obtained again4 ,yet when ,i was got upon my legs again1 ,i declared to them the word of life1 and showed them the fruits of their teacher1 and how they dishonoured ,christianity4 ,after a while ,i got into the meeting again amongst ,friends2 and the priest and people coming by the house1 ,i went forth with ,friends into the yard1 and there ,i spoke to the priest and people4 ,the priest scoffed at us1 and called us ,quakers4 ,but the ,lord's power was so over them1 and the word of life was declared in such authority and dread to them1 that the priest began trembling himself2 and one of the people said1 8,look how the priest trembles and shakes1 he is turned a ,quaker also40 ,when the meeting was over1 ,friends departed2 and ,i went without my hat to ,,balby1 about seven or eight miles4 ,friends were much abused that day by the priest and his people2 insomuch that some moderate justices hearing of it1 two or three of them came1 and sat at the town1 to hear and examine the business4 ,and he that had shed my blood was afraid of having his hand cut off1 for striking me in the church 7as they called it27 but ,i forgave him1 and would not appear against him4 ,in the beginning of this year #afeb great rage got up in priests and people1 and in some of the magistrates of the ,west-,riding of ,yorkshire1 against the truth and ,friends2 insomuch that the priest of ,,warmsworth procured a warrant from the justices against me and ,thomas ,aldam1 to be executed in any part of the ,west-,riding of ,yorkshire4 ,at the same time ,i had a vision of a bear and two great mastiff dogs2 that ,i should pass by them1 and they should do me no hurt2 and it proved so3 for the constable took ,thomas ,aldam and carried him to ,york4 ,i went with ,thomas ,aldam twenty miles towards ,york3 and the constable had the warrant for me also1 and said1 8he saw me1 but he was loath to trouble men that were strangers2 but ,thomas ,aldam was his neighbour40 ,so the ,lord's power restrained him1 that he had not power to meddle with me4 ,we came to ,lieutenant ,roper's1 where we had a great meeting of many considerable men2 and the truth was powerfully declared amongst them1 and the ,scriptures wonderfully opened1 and the parables and sayings of ,christ were expounded1 and the state of the church in the apostles' days was plainly set forth1 and the apostacy since from that state discovered4 ,the truth had great dominion that day1 so that those great men that were present did generally confess to it1 saying1 8they believed that this principle must go over the whole world40 ,there were at this meeting ,james ,naylor1 ,thomas ,goodyear1#ad and ,william ,dewsbury1 who had been convinced the year before2 and ,richard ,farnsworth also4 ,and the constable stayed with ,thomas ,aldam till the meeting was over1 and then went towards ,york prison2 but did not meddle with me4 ,footnote #ad3 ,thomas ,goodyear became a faithful minister1 and suffered much persecution and imprisonment4 ,when in ,oxford jail 7for refusing to swear71 the jailer put irons on his legs1 which being too small hurt him1 and besides other abuse1 would not let him and other ,friends have straw to lie on4 ,the jailer also told the other prisoners if they wanted coats1 they might take those of the ,friends off their backs2 but one of the prisoners answered he would go naked first4 ,thomas ,goodyear was the author of 8,a ,plain ,testimony to the ,ancient ,truth and ,work of ,god40 ,he died at ,selby1 in #afic4 ,from hence ,i went to ,,wakefield2 and on the ,first-day after1 ,i went to a steeple-house1 where ,james ,naylor had been a member of an ,independent church2 but upon his receiving truth1 he was excommunicated4 ,when ,i came in1 and the priest had done1 the people called upon me to come up to the priest1 which ,i did2 but when ,i began to declare the word of life to them1 and to lay open the deceit of the priest1 they rushed upon me suddenly1 thrust me out at the other door1 punching and beating me1 and cried1 8,let us have him to the stocks40 ,but the ,lord's power restrained them1 that they were not suffered to put me in4 ,so ,i passed away to the meeting1 where were a great many professors and friendly people gathered1 and a great convincement there was that day2 for the people were mightily satisfied that they were directed to the ,lord's teaching in themselves4 ,here we got some lodging2 for four of us had lain under a hedge the night before1 there being then few ,friends in that place4 ,the same day ,richard ,farnsworth went to another great steeple-house1 belonging to a high priest1 and declared the word of truth unto the people2 and a great service he had amongst them2 for the ,lord's dread and power was mightily over all4 ,the priest of that church which ,james ,naylor had been a member of1 whose name was ,marshall1 raised many wicked slanders about me1 as1 8that ,i carried bottles with me1 and made people drink of them1 which made them follow me20 and1 8that ,i rode upon a great black horse1 and was seen in one country upon it in one hour1 and at the same hour in another country threescore miles off20 and that ,i would give a fellow money to follow me1 when ,i was on my black horse4 ,with these lies he fed his people1 to make them think evil of the truth which ,i had declared amongst them4 ,but by these lies he preached many of his hearers away from him2 for ,i was then travelling on foot1 and had no horse at that time2 which the people generally knew4 ,the ,lord soon after cut off this envious priest in his wickedness4 ,after this ,i came to ,,high-,,town1 where dwelt a woman who had been convinced a little before4 ,we went to her house1 and had a meeting2 and the people gathered together1 and we declared the truth to them1 and had some service for the ,lord amongst them2 they passed away again peaceably4 ,but there was a widow woman1 named ,green1 who1 being filled with envy1 went to one that was called a gentleman in the town1 7who was reported to have killed two men and one woman17 and informed him against us1 though he was no officer4 ,the next morning we drew up some queries to be sent to the priest4 ,when we had done1 and were just going away1 some of the friendly people of the town came running up to the house where we were1 and told us that this murdering man had sharpened a pike to stab us1 and was coming up with his sword by his side4 ,we were just passing away1 and so missed him4 ,but we were no sooner gone1 than he came to the house where we had been2 and the people generally concluded if we had not been gone1 he would have murdered some of us4 ,that night we lay in a wood1 and were very wet1 for it rained exceedingly4 ,in the morning ,i was moved to return to the town1 when they gave us a full relation of this wicked man4 ,from hence we passed to ,,bradford1 where we met with ,richard ,farnsworth again1 from whom we had parted a little before4 ,when we came in1 they set meat before us2 but as ,i was going to eat1 the word of the ,lord came to me1 saying1 8,eat not the bread of such as have an evil eye40 ,immediately ,i arose from the table1 and ate nothing4 ,the woman of the house was a ,baptist4 ,after ,i had exhorted the family to turn to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and hearken to his teachings in their own hearts1 we departed thence4 ,as we travelled through the country1 preaching repentance to the people1 we came into a town on the market-day4 ,there was a lecture there that day2 and ,i went into the steeple-house1 where were many priests1 professors1 and people4 ,the priest that preached1 took for his text those words of ,jeremiah1 chap4 v41 ver4 #ca3 8,my people love to have it so10 leaving out the foregoing words1 viz41 8,the prophets prophesy falsely1 and the priests bear rule by their means40 ,so ,i showed the people his deceit1 and directed them to ,christ1 the true ,teacher within2 declaring1 8that ,god was come to teach his people himself1 and to bring them off from all the world's teachers and hirelings1 that they might come to receive freely from him40 ,then warning them of the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon all flesh1 ,i passed from thence without much opposition4 ,at night we came to a country place1 where there was no public-house near4 ,the people desired us to stay all night2 which we did1 and had good service for the ,lord1 declaring his truth amongst them4 ,the next day we passed on2 for the ,lord had said unto me1 8,if but one man or woman were raised up by ,his power1 to stand and live in the same ,spirit that the prophets and apostles were in1 who gave forth the ,scriptures1 that man or woman should shake all the country in their profession for ten miles round40 ,for people had the ,scriptures1 but not in that same light1 and power1 and ,spirit1 which they were in that gave forth the ,scriptures2 and so they neither knew ,god1 nor ,christ1 nor the ,scriptures aright2 nor had they unity one with another1 being out of the power and ,spirit of ,god4 ,therefore as we passed along we warned all people1 wherever we met them1 of the day of the ,lord that was coming upon them4 ,as we travelled we came near a very great hill1 called ,,pendle-,,hill1 and ,i was moved of the ,lord to go up to the top of it2 which ,i did with difficulty1 it was so very steep and high4 ,when ,i was come to the top1 ,i saw the sea bordering upon ,lancashire4 ,from the top of this hill the ,lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be gathered4 ,as ,i went down ,i found a spring of water in the side of the hill1 with which ,i refreshed myself1 having eaten or drunk but little for several days before4#ae ,footnote #ae3 ,the spring here alluded to is called ,george ,fox's ,well to this day4 ,at night we came to an inn1 and declared truth to the man of the house1 and wrote a paper to the priests and professors1 declaring 8the day of the ,lord1 and that ,christ was come to teach people himself1 by his power and ,spirit in their hearts1 and to bring people off from all the world's ways and teachers1 to his own free teaching1 who had bought them1 and was the ,saviour of all them that believed in ,him40 ,the man of the house spread the paper abroad1 and was mightily affected with the truth4 ,here the ,lord opened unto me1 and let me see a great people in white raiment by a river side1 coming to the ,lord2 and the place that ,i saw them in was about ,,wensleydale and ,,sedbergh4 ,the next day we travelled on1 and at night got a little fern or brackens to put under us1 and lay upon a common4 ,next morning we reached a town1 where ,richard ,farnsworth parted from me2 and then ,i travelled alone again4 ,i came up ,wensleydale1 and at the market-town in that ,dale1 there was a lecture on the market-day4 ,i went into the steeple-house2 and after the priest had done1 ,i 8proclaimed the day of the ,lord to the priest and people1 warning them to turn from darkness to the light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god1 that they might come to know ,god and ,christ aright1 and to receive his teaching1 who teacheth freely40 ,largely and freely did ,i declare the word of life unto them1 and had not much persecution there4 ,afterwards ,i passed up the ,dales1 warning people to fear ,god1 and preaching the everlasting gospel to them4 ,in my way ,i came to a great house1 where was a schoolmaster2 and they got me into the house4 ,i asked them questions about their religion and worship2 and afterwards ,i declared the truth to them4 ,they had me into a parlour1 and locked me in1 pretending that ,i was a young man that was mad1 and had run away from my relations3 and that they would keep me till they could send to them4 ,but ,i soon convinced them of their mistake1 and they let me forth1 and would have had me to stay2 but ,i was not to stay there4 ,then having exhorted them to repentance1 and directed them to the light of ,christ ,jesus1 that through it they might come unto him and be saved1 ,i passed from them1 and came in the night to a little ale-house on a common1 where there was a company of rude fellows drinking4 ,because ,i would not drink with them1 they struck me with their clubs2 but ,i reproved them1 and brought them to be somewhat cooler2 and then ,i walked out of the house upon the common in the night4 ,after some time one of these drunken fellows came out1 and would have come close up to me1 pretending to whisper to me2 but ,i perceived he had a knife2 and therefore ,i kept off him1 and bid him repent1 and fear ,god4 ,so the ,lord by ,his power preserved me from this wicked man2 and he went into the house again4 ,the next morning ,i went on through other ,dales1 warning and exhorting people everywhere as ,i passed1 to repent and turn to the ,lord3 and several were convinced4 ,at one house that ,i came to1 the man of the house 7whom ,i afterwards found to be a kinsman of ,john ,blakelin's17 would have given me money1 but ,i would not receive it4 ,as ,i travelled through the ,dales1 ,i came to a man's house1 whose name was ,tennant4 ,i was moved to speak to the family1 and declare ,god's everlasting truth to them2 and as ,i was turning away from them1 ,i was moved to turn again1 and speak to the man himself2 and he was convinced1 and his family1 and lived and died in the truth4 ,thence ,i came to ,major ,bousfield's1 who received me1 as did also several others2 and some that were then convinced have stood faithful ever since4 ,i went also through ,,grisdale1 and several others of those ,dales1 in which some were convinced4 ,and ,i went into ,,dent1 where many were convinced also4 ,from ,major ,bousfield's ,i came to ,richard ,robinson's1 and declared the everlasting truth to him4 ,the next day ,i went to a meeting at ,justice ,benson's1 where ,i met a people that were separated from the public worship4 ,this was the place ,i had seen1 where a people came forth in white raiment4 ,a large meeting it was1 and the people were generally convinced1 and continue a large meeting still of ,friends near ,sedbergh2 which was then first gathered through my ministry in the name of ,jesus4 ,in the same week there was a great fair1 at which servants used to be hired2 and ,i declared the day of the ,lord through the fair4 ,after ,i had done so1 ,i went into the steeple-house yard1 and many of the people of the fair came thither to me1 and abundance of priests and professors4 ,there 8,i declared the everlasting truth of the ,lord1 and the word of life for several hours1 showing that the ,lord was come to teach his people himself1 and to bring them off from all the world's ways and teachers1 to ,christ the true teacher1 and the true way to ,god4 ,i laid open their teachers1 showing that they were like them that were of old condemned by the prophets1 and by ,christ1 and by the apostles4 ,i exhorted the people to come off from the temples made with hands2 and wait to receive the ,spirit of the ,lord1 that they might know themselves to be the temples of ,god40 ,not one of the priests had power to open his mouth against what ,i declared3 but at last a captain said1 8,why will you not go into the church8 this is not a fit place to preach in40 ,i told him1 ,i denied their church4 ,then stood up one ,francis ,howgill1 who was a preacher to a congregation3 he had not seen me before1 yet he undertook to answer that captain1 and soon put him to silence4 ,then said ,francis ,howgill of me1 8,this man speaks with authority1 and not as the scribes40 ,after this ,i opened to the people1 that that ground and house was no holier than another place2 and that that house was not the church1 but the people1 whom ,christ is the head of4 ,after a while the priests came up to me1 and ,i warned them to repent4 ,one of them said ,i was mad1 and so they turned away4 ,but many people were convinced there that day1 and were glad to hear the truth declared1 and received it with joy4 ,amongst these was one ,captain ,ward1 who received the truth in the love of it1 and lived and died in it4 ,the next ,first-day ,i came to ,,firbank ,,chapel1 in ,westmoreland1 where ,francis ,howgill1 before named1 and ,john ,audland1#af had been preaching in the morning4 ,the chapel was full of people1 so that many could not get in4 ,francis ,howgill said1 he thought ,i looked into the chapel1 and his spirit was ready to fail1 the ,lord's power did so surprise him2 but ,i did not look in4 ,they made haste1 and had quickly done1 and they and some of the people went to dinner1 but abundance stayed till they came again4 ,now ,john ,blakelin and others came to me1 and desired me not to reprove them publicly2 for they were not parish teachers1 but pretty tender men4 ,i could not tell them whether ,i should or not 7though ,i had not at that time any drawings to declare publicly against them71 but ,i said they must leave me to the ,lord's movings4 ,while the others were gone to dinner1 ,i went to a brook and got a little water2 and then came and sat down on the top of a rock hard by the chapel4 ,in the afternoon the people gathered about me1 with several of their preachers4 ,it was judged there were above a thousand people2 8amongst whom ,i declared ,god's everlasting truth and word of life freely and largely1 for about the space of three hours1 directing all to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 that they might be turned from darkness to the light1 and believe in it1 that they might become the children of it2 and might be turned from the power of ,satan1 which they had been under1 unto ,god2 and by the ,spirit of truth might be led into all truth1 and sensibly understand the words of the prophets1 and of ,christ1 and of the apostles2 and might all come to know ,christ to be their teacher1 to instruct them1 their counsellor to direct them1 their shepherd to feed them1 their bishop to oversee them1 and their prophet to open divine mysteries to them2 and might know their bodies to be prepared1 sanctified1 and made fit temples for ,god and ,christ to dwell in40 ,in the openings of heavenly life1 ,i explained unto them the prophets1 and the figures1 and shadows1 and directed them to ,christ1 the substance4 ,then ,i opened the parables and sayings of ,christ1 and things that had been long hid1 showing the intent and scope of the apostles' writings1 and that their epistles were written to the elect4 ,when ,i had opened that state1 ,i showed also the state of the apostacy since the apostles' days2 that the priests have got the ,scriptures1 but are not in that ,spirit which gave them forth1 and have put them into chapter and verse1 to make a trade of holy men's words2 and that the teachers and priests now are found in the steps of the false prophets1 chief priests1 scribes1 and ,pharisees of old1 and are such1 as the true prophets1 ,christ1 and his apostles cried out against1 and so are judged and condemned by the ,spirit of the true prophets1 and of ,christ1 and of his apostles2 and that none1 who are in that ,spirit1 and guided by it now1 can own them4 ,footnote #af3 ,francis ,howgill and ,john ,audland were both religiously inclined1 and were convinced during the present year4 ,they became eminent ministers1 travelling in the gospel1 and suffering fines and imprisonments for its sake1 turning many to ,god4 ,howgill1 for refusing to swear1 was sent to ,appleby jail1 the following sentence being passed against him3--8,you are put out of the king's protection and the benefit of the law3 your lands are confiscated to the king during your life1 and your goods and chattels for ever2 and you to be a prisoner during your life40 ,he praised ,god for the many sweet enjoyments and refreshments he received on his prison bed1 whereon he lay1 freely forgiving all4 ,his end was in great peace1 in #affh4 ,see ,piety ,promoted1 i4 #fd-fg4 ,john ,audland also laboured much in the gospel1 for which he suffered persecution and imprisonments4 ,in his last sickness he was exceedingly filled with high praises to ,god1 being overcome with a sense of ,his love and joy4 ,when he grew weaker he was helped on his knees1 and upon his bed fervently supplicated the ,lord on behalf of all ,his people that 8they might be preserved in the truth1 out of the evil of the world40 ,see ,piety ,promoted1 i41 #da-dd2 and ,memoirs of ,f4 ,howgill1 by ,james ,backhouse4 ,now there were many old people1 who went into the chapel and looked out at the windows1 thinking it a strange thing to see a man preach on a hill1 and not in their church1 as they called it2 whereupon 8,i was moved to open to the people1 that the steeple-house1 and the ground whereon it stood1 were no more holy than that mountain2 and that those temples1 which they called the dreadful houses of ,god1 were not set up by the command of ,god and of ,christ2 nor their priests called1 as ,aaron's priesthood was2 nor their tithes appointed by ,god1 as those amongst the ,jews were2 but that ,christ was come1 who ended both the temple and its worship1 and the priests and their tithes2 and that all should now hearken unto him2 for he said1 8,learn of me20 and ,god said of him1 8,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 hear ye him40 ,i declared unto them that the ,lord ,god had sent me to preach the everlasting gospel and word of life amongst them1 and to bring them off from all these temples1 tithes1 priests1 and rudiments of the world1 which had been instituted since the apostles' days1 and had been set up by such as had erred from the ,spirit and power the apostles were in40 ,very largely was ,i opened at this meeting1 and the ,lord's convincing power accompanied my ministry1 and reached the hearts of the people1 whereby many were convinced2 and all the teachers of that congregation 7who were many17 were convinced of ,god's everlasting truth4 ,after the meeting was over ,i went to ,john ,audland's1 and from thence to ,,preston-,,patrick chapel1 where a great meeting was appointed2 to which ,i went1 and had a large opportunity amongst the people to preach the everlasting gospel1 opening to them 7as to others on the like occasion71 that the end of my coming into that place was1 not to hold it up1 no more than the apostles' going into the ,jewish synagogues and temple was1 to uphold those2 but to bring them off from all such things1 as the apostles brought the saints of old from off the ,jewish temple and ,aaron's priesthood1 that they might come to witness their bodies to be the temples of ,god1 and ,christ in them to be their teacher4 ,from this place ,i went to ,,kendal1 where a meeting was appointed in the town-hall2 in which ,i declared the word of life amongst the people1 showing them 8how they might come to the saving knowledge of ,christ1 and have a right understanding of the ,holy ,scriptures1 opening to them what it was that would lead them into the way of reconciliation with ,god1 and what would be their condemnation40 ,after the meeting ,i stayed a while in the town2 several were convinced there1 and many appeared loving4 ,one1 whose name was ,cock1 met me in the street1 and would have given me a roll of tobacco1 for people then were much given to smoking3 ,i accepted his love1 but did not receive the tobacco4 ,from thence ,i went to ,,underbarrow1 to one ,miles ,bateman's2 and several people going along with me1 great reasonings ,i had with them1 especially with ,edward ,burrough4#ag ,at night the priest and many professors came to the house1 and much disputing ,i had with them4 ,supper being provided for the priest and the rest of the company1 ,i had not freedom to eat with them1 but told them1 if they would appoint a meeting for the next day at the steeple-house1 and acquaint the people with it1 ,i might meet them4 ,they had a great deal of reasoning about it2 some being for it1 and some against it4 ,in the morning ,i went out1 after ,i had spoken again to them concerning the meeting2 and as ,i walked upon a bank by the house1 there were several poor people1 travellers1 asking relief1 who ,i saw were in necessity2 and they gave them nothing1 but said they were cheats4 ,it grieved me to see such hard-heartedness amongst professors2 so1 when they were gone in to their breakfast1 ,i ran after the poor people about a quarter of a mile1 and gave them some money4 ,meanwhile some of them that were in the house1 coming out again1 and seeing me a quarter of a mile off1 said ,i could not have gone so far in such an instant1 if ,i had not had wings4 ,hereupon the meeting was like to have been put by2 for they were filled with such strange thoughts concerning me1 that many of them were against having a meeting with me4 ,i told them ,i ran after those poor people to give them some money1 being grieved at their hard-heartedness1 who gave them nothing4 ,then came ,miles and ,stephen ,hubbersty1 who being more simple-hearted men1 would have the meeting held4 ,so to the chapel ,i went1 and the priest came4 ,a great meeting there was1 and the way of life and salvation was opened2 and after a while the priest fled away4 ,many of ,crook and ,underbarrow were convinced that day1 received the word of life1 and stood fast in it under the teaching of ,christ ,jesus4 ,after ,i had declared the truth to them for some hours1 and the meeting was ended1 the chief-constable1 and some other professors fell to reasoning with me in the chapel-yard2 whereupon ,i took a ,bible1 and opened to them the ,scriptures1 and dealt tenderly with them1 as one would do with a child4 ,they that were in the light of ,christ1 and ,spirit of ,god1 knew when ,i spoke ,scripture1 though ,i did not mention chapter and verse1 after the priest's form unto them4 ,footnote #ag3 ,edward ,burrough was a religious and promising young man1 had left the ,episcopal church1 for which he had been educated as a minister1 and joined the ,presbyterians1 with whom he was a preacher of great account4 ,after several discussions with ,george ,fox1 he became fully convinced1 and joined ,friends1 to the great displeasure of his parents and relatives4 ,he became a most active and zealous gospel labourer1 being both a great writer and a powerful and awakening preacher4 ,in #affb1 he was taken from a meeting in ,london1 and for 8testifying to the name of the ,lord ,jesus10 was committed to prison1 where he lay with above #ajj of his friends imprisoned on the same account1 being shut up among felons in nasty places1 so that1 for want of room1 many of them sickened and died4 ,amongst these was ,edward ,burrough1 whose sickness increased daily4 ,he was heard often in prayer1 day and night1 not forgetting to intercede for his persecutors4 ,the morning before he died1 he said1 8,now my soul and spirit is entered into its own being with ,god1 and this form of person must return from whence it was taken40 ,his works were collected and printed in #afgb1 and parts of them have recently been re-published4 ,from hence ,i went along with an aged man1 whose heart the ,lord had opened1 and he invited me to his house2 his name was ,james ,dickinson2 he was convinced that day1 received the truth1 and lived and died in it4 ,i came the next day to ,james ,taylor's1 of ,,newton in ,,cartmel1 in ,,lancashire4 ,and on the ,first-day of the week ,i went to the chapel1 where one priest ,camelford used to preach2 and after he had done ,i began to speak the word of life to the people4 ,but this priest was in such a rage1 and was so peevish1 that he had no patience to hear2 but stirred up the rude multitude1 who haled me out1 struck and punched me1 and threw me headlong over a stone wall2 yet1 blessed be the ,lord1 his power preserved me4 ,he that did this violence to me was a wicked man1 one ,john ,knipe1 whom afterwards the ,lord cut off4 ,there was a youth in the chapel1 writing after the priest2 ,i was moved to speak to him1 and he came to be convinced1 and received a part of the ministry of the gospel2 his name was ,john ,braithwaite4 ,then ,i went up to an ale-house1 to which many people resorted between the time of their morning and afternoon preaching4 ,i had much reasoning with the people there1 declaring to them1 that 8,god was come to teach his people ,himself1 and to bring them off from all false teachers1 such as the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles cried against40 ,many received the word of life at that time1 and abode in it4 ,in the afternoon ,i went about two or three miles to another steeple-house or chapel1 called ,,lyndal4 ,when the priest had done1 ,i spoke to him and the people what the ,lord commanded me2 and there were great opposers2 but afterwards they came to be convinced4 ,after this ,i went to one ,captain ,sands1 who with his wife seemed somewhat affected with truth2 and if they could have held the world and truth together they would have received it2 but they were hypocrites1 and he a very chaffy light man4 ,wherefore ,i reproved him for his lightness1 and for his jesting1 telling him it was not seemly in a great professor1 as he was4 ,he told me he had a son1 who upon his death-bed had also reproved him for it1 and warned him of it4 ,but he neither regarded the admonition of his dying son1 nor the reproofs of ,god's ,spirit in himself4 ,from hence ,i went to ,,ulverstone1 and so to ,,swarthmore to ,judge ,fell's2 whither came up one ,lampitt1 a priest1 who was a high notionist4 ,with him ,i had much reasoning2 for he talked of high notions and perfection1 and thereby deceived the people4 ,he would have owned me1 but ,i could not own nor join with him1 he was so full of filth4 ,he said1 he was above ,john2 and made as though he knew all things4 ,but ,i told him1 8,death reigned from ,adam to ,moses1 that he was under death1 and knew not ,moses1 for ,moses saw the paradise of ,god2 but he knew neither ,moses nor the prophets1 nor ,john40 ,for that crooked and rough nature stood in him1 and the mountain of sin and corruption2 and the way was not prepared in him for the ,lord4 ,he confessed he had been under a cross in things2 but now he could sing psalms1 and do anything3 ,i told him1 8now he could see a thief1 and join hand in hand with him1 but he could not preach ,moses1 nor the prophets1 nor ,john1 nor ,christ1 except he were in the same spirit that they were in40 ,margaret ,fell had been absent in the day-time2 and at night her children told her1 that priest ,lampitt and ,i had disagreed2 which somewhat troubled her1 because she was in profession with him2 but he hid his dirty actions from them4 ,at night we had much reasoning1 and ,i declared the truth to her and her family4 ,the next day ,lampitt came again1 and ,i had much discourse with him before ,margaret ,fell1 who then clearly discerned the priest4 ,a convincement of the ,lord's truth came upon her and her family4 ,soon after a day was to be observed for a humiliation1 and ,margaret ,fell asked me to go with her to the steeple-house at ,ulverstone1 for she was not wholly come off from them2 ,i replied1 8,i must do as ,i am ordered by the ,lord40 ,so ,i left her1 and walked into the fields2 and the word of the ,lord came to me1 saying1 8,go to the steeple-house after them40 ,when ,i came1 ,lampitt was singing with his people2 but his spirit was so foul1 and the matter they sung so unsuitable to their states1 that after they had done singing1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak to him and the people4 ,the word of the ,lord to them was1 8,he is not a ,jew that is one outwardly1 but he is a ,jew that is one inwardly1 whose praise is not of man1 but of ,god40 ,then1 as the ,lord opened further1 ,i showed them1 8that ,god was come to teach ,his people by ,his ,spirit1 and to bring them off from all their old ways1 religions1 churches1 and worships2 for all their religions1 worships1 and ways1 were but talking with other men's words2 but they were out of the life and ,spirit which they were in who gave them forth40 ,then cried out one1 called ,justice ,sawrey1 8,take him away20 but ,judge ,fell's wife said to the officers1 8,let him alone1 why may not he speak as well as any other80 ,lampitt also1 the priest1 in deceit said1 8,let him speak40 ,so at length1 when ,i had declared some time1 ,justice ,sawrey caused the constable to put me out2 and then ,i spoke to the people in the grave-yard4 ,the ,first-day after1 ,i was moved to go to ,,aldingham steeple-house2 and when the priest had done1 ,i spoke to him2 but he got away4 ,then ,i declared the word of life to the people1 and warned them to turn to the ,lord4 ,from thence ,i passed to ,,rampside1 where was a chapel1 in which ,thomas ,lawson used to preach1 who was an eminent priest4 ,he very lovingly acquainted his people in the morning of my coming in the afternoon2 by which means very many people were gathered together4 ,when ,i came1 ,i saw there was no place so convenient as the chapel2 so ,i went into it1 and all was quiet4 ,thomas ,lawson went not up into his pulpit1 but left all the time to me4 ,the everlasting day of the eternal ,god was proclaimed that day1 and the everlasting truth was largely declared1 which reached and entered into the hearts of people1 and many received the truth in the love of it4 ,this priest came to be convinced1 left his chapel1 threw off his preaching for hire1 and came to preach the ,lord ,jesus and his kingdom freely4 ,after that some rude people cast scandals upon him1 and thought to have done him a mischief2 but he was preserved over all1 grew in the wisdom of ,god mightily1 and proved very serviceable in his place4 ,i returned to ,swarthmore again1 and on the next ,first-day went to ,,dalton steeple-house2 where1 after the priest had done1 ,i declared the word of life to the people1 that they might be turned from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan to ,god1 and might come off from their superstitious ways1 and from their teachers made by man1 to ,christ1 the true and living way1 to be taught of him4 ,from thence ,i went into the island of ,,walney2 and after the priest had done1 ,i spoke to him1 but he got away4 ,then ,i declared the truth to the people1 but they were rude4 ,i went to speak with the priest at his house1 but he would not be seen4 ,the people said he went to hide himself in the haymow2 and they went to look for him there1 but could not find him4 ,then they said he was gone to hide himself in the standing corn1 but they could not find him there either4 ,so ,i went to ,james ,lancaster's1 who was convinced in the island2 and thence ,i returned to ,,swarthmore1 where the ,lord's power came upon ,margaret ,fell and her daughter ,sarah1 and several others4 ,then ,i went to ,,baycliff1 where ,leonard ,fell was convinced1 and became a minister of the everlasting gospel4 ,several others were convinced there1 and came into obedience to the truth4 ,here the people said1 they could not dispute1 and would fain have put some other to converse with me2 but ,i bid them 8fear the ,lord1 and not in a light way talk of the ,lord's words1 but put the things in practice40 ,i directed them to the divine light of ,christ and his ,spirit in their hearts1 which would discover to them all the evil thoughts1 words and actions1 they had thought1 spoken1 and acted2 by which light they might see their sin1 and also their ,saviour1 ,christ ,jesus1 to save them from their sins4 ,this1 ,i told them1 8was their first step to peace1 even to stand still in the light that showed them their sins and transgressions2 by which they might come to see how they were in the fall of old ,adam1 in darkness and death1 strangers to the covenant of promise1 and without ,god in the world2 and by the same light they might see ,christ1 that died for them1 to be their ,redeemer and ,saviour1 and their way to ,god40 ,after this ,i went to a chapel beyond ,,gleaston1 which was built1 but no priest had ever preached in it4 ,thither the country people came1 and a quiet1 peaceable meeting it was1 in which the word of life was declared1 and many were convinced of the truth about ,gleaston4 ,from thence ,i returned to ,,swarthmore4 ,after ,i had stayed a few days1 and most of the family were convinced1 ,i went again into ,westmorland1 where priest ,lampitt had been amongst the professors on ,kendal side1 and had mightily incensed them against me2 telling them ,i held many strange things2 ,i met with those he had so incensed1 and sat up all night with them at ,james ,dickinson's1 and answered all their objections4 ,they were both thoroughly satisfied with the truth that ,i had declared1 and dissatisfied with him and his lies1 so that he clearly lost the best of his hearers and followers1 who thus came to see his deceit1 and forsook him4 ,i passed on to ,john ,audland's and ,gervase ,benson's1 and had great meetings amongst those people that had been convinced before2 then to ,john ,blakelin's#ah and ,richard ,robinson's1 and had mighty meetings there2 and so up towards ,,grisdale4 ,footnote #ah3 ,john ,blakelin1 mentioned elsewhere in this ,journal1 became a faithful minister of the gospel1 travelling much on truth's account1 for which he also suffered imprisonments1 and great loss of goods4 ,he died without sigh or groan1 in #agje1 aged about #hj4 ,he expressed1 in his old age1 8the comfort he had in the ,lord's peace and presence with him1 that his day's work was nigh done1 and his reward and rest with ,god sure40 ,see ,piety ,promoted1 ii41 #db-df4 ,soon after1 ,judge ,fell being come home1 ,margaret ,fell his wife sent to me1 desiring me to return thither2 and1 feeling freedom from the ,lord so to do1 ,i went back to ,,swarthmore4 ,i found the priests and professors1 and that envious ,justice ,sawrey1 had much incensed ,judge ,fell and ,captain ,sands against the truth by their lies2 but when ,i came to speak with him1 ,i answered all his objections2 and so thoroughly satisfied him by the ,scriptures1 that he was convinced in his judgment4 ,he asked me if ,i was that ,george ,fox1 whom ,justice ,robinson spoke so much in commendation of amongst many of the parliament men4 ,i told him1 ,i had been with ,justice ,robinson1 and with ,justice ,hotham in ,yorkshire1 who were very civil and loving to me1 and that they were convinced in their judgment by the ,spirit of ,god1 that the principle which ,i bore testimony to1 was the truth1 and they saw over and beyond the priests of the nation2 so that they1 and many others1 were now come to be wiser than their teachers4 ,after we had discoursed some time together1 ,judge ,fell himself was satisfied also1 and came to see1 by the openings of the ,spirit of ,god in his heart1 over all the priests and teachers of the world1 and did not go to hear them for some years before he died2 for he knew it was the truth that ,i declared1 and that ,christ was the teacher of his people1 and their ,saviour4 ,he sometimes wished that ,i were a while with ,judge ,bradshaw to discourse with him4 ,there came to ,judge ,fell's1 ,captain ,sands before-mentioned1 endeavouring to incense the judge against me2 for he was an evil-minded man1 and full of envy against me2 and yet he could speak high things1 and use the ,scripture words1 and say1 8,behold1 ,i make all things new40 ,but ,i told him1 then he must have a new ,god1 for his ,god was his belly4 ,besides him1 came also that envious justice1 ,john ,sawrey4 ,i told him 8his heart was rotten1 and he was full of hypocrisy to the brim40 ,several other people also came1 whose states the ,lord gave me a discerning of2 and ,i spoke to their conditions4 ,while ,i was in those parts1 ,richard ,farnsworth and ,james ,naylor came to see me and the family2 and ,judge ,fell1 being satisfied that it was the way of truth1 notwithstanding all their opposition1 suffered the meeting to be kept at his house2 and a great meeting was settled there in the ,lord's power1 which continued near forty years1 until the year #afij1 that a new meeting-house was erected near it4 ,after ,i had stayed a while1 and the meeting there was well settled1 ,i went to ,,underbarrow1 where ,i had a great meeting4 ,from thence to ,,kellet1 and had a great meeting at ,robert ,widders's1 to which several came from ,lancaster1 and some from ,york2 and many were convinced there4 ,on the market-day ,i went to ,,lancaster1 and spoke through the market in the dreadful power of ,god1 declaring the day of the ,lord to the people1 and crying out against all their deceitful merchandise4 ,i preached righteousness and truth unto them1 which they should all follow after1 and walk and live in2 directing them how and where they might find and receive the ,spirit of ,god to guide them thereinto4 ,after ,i had cleared myself in the market1 ,i went to my lodging1 whither several people came1 and many were convinced1 who have stood faithful to the truth4 ,on the ,first-day following1 in the forenoon1 ,i had a great meeting in the street at ,lancaster1 amongst the soldiers and people1 unto whom ,i declared the word of life1 and the everlasting truth4 ,i opened unto them1 8that all the traditions they had lived in1 and all their worships and religions1 and the profession they made of the ,scriptures1 were good for nothing1 while they lived out of the life and power which they were in who gave forth the ,scriptures4 ,i directed them to the light of ,christ1 the heavenly ,man1 and to the ,spirit of ,god in their own hearts1 that they might come to be acquainted with ,god and with ,christ1 receive him for their teacher1 and know his kingdom set up in them40 ,in the afternoon ,i went to the steeple-house at ,lancaster1 and declared the truth both to the priest and people2 laying open before them the deceits they lived in1 and directing them to the power and ,spirit of ,god1 which they wanted4 ,but they haled me out1 and stoned me along the street1 till ,i came to ,john ,lawson's house4 ,another ,first-day ,i went to a steeple-house by the water side1 where one ,whitehead was priest1 to whom1 and to the people1 ,i declared the truth in the dreadful power of ,god4 ,there came to me a doctor1 who was so full of envy1 that he said he could find in his heart to run me through with his rapier1 though he should be hung for it the next day2 yet this man came afterwards to be convinced of the truth1 so far as to be loving to ,friends4 ,some people were convinced thereabouts1 who willingly sat down under the ministry of ,christ their teacher3 and a meeting was settled there in the power of ,god1 which has continued to this day4 ,after this ,i returned into ,westmorland1 and spoke through ,,kendal1 on a market-day4 ,so dreadful was the power of ,god upon me1 that people flew like chaff before me into their houses4 ,i warned them of the mighty day of the ,lord1 and exhorted them to hearken to the voice of ,god in their own hearts1 who was now come to teach his people ,himself4 ,when some opposed1 many others took my part1 insomuch that at last some of the people fell to fighting about me2 but ,i went and spoke to them1 and they parted again4 ,several were convinced4 ,on the ,first-day after1 ,i had a very large meeting in ,,underbarrow1 at ,miles ,bateman's house1 where ,i was moved to declare1 8that all people in the fall were gone from the image of ,god1 righteousness1 and holiness1 and were become as wells without the water of life1 as clouds without the heavenly rain1 as trees without the heavenly fruit1 and were degenerated into the nature of beasts1 and of serpents1 and of tall cedars1 and of oaks1 and of bulls1 and of heifers3 so that they might read the natures of these creatures within1 as the prophet described them to the people of old that were out of truth4 ,i opened to them how some were in the nature of dogs and swine1 biting and rending2 some in the nature of briars1 thistles1 and thorns2 some like the owls and dragons in the night2 some like wild asses and horses1 snuffing up the wind2 and some like mountains and rocks1 and crooked and rough ways4 ,wherefore ,i exhorted them to read these things within1 in their own natures1 as well as without2 and that1 when they read without of the wandering stars1 they should look within1 and see how they wandered from the bright and morning star4 ,and they should consider1 that as the fallow ground in their fields must be ploughed up1 before it would bear seed to them1 so must the fallow ground of their hearts be ploughed up1 before they could bear seed to ,god4 ,now all these names and things ,i showed them1 were spoken of1 and to man and woman1 since they fell from the image of ,god2 but as they come to be renewed again into the image of ,god1 they come out of the natures of these things1 and so out of the names thereof40 ,many more such things were declared to them1 and they were turned to the light of ,christ1 by which they might come to know ,christ1 to receive him1 and to witness him to be their substance and their way1 their salvation and true teacher4 ,many were convinced at that time4 ,after ,i had travelled up and down in those countries1 and had had great meetings1 ,i came to ,,swarthmore again4 ,and when ,i had visited ,friends in those parts1 ,i heard of a great meeting the priests were to have at ,,ulverstone1 on a lecture-day4 ,i went to it1 and into the steeple-house in the dread and power of the ,lord4 ,when the priest had done1 ,i spoke among them the word of the ,lord1 which was as a hammer1 and as a fire amongst them4 ,and though ,lampitt1 the priest of the place1 had been at variance with most of the priests before1 yet against the truth they all joined together4 ,but the mighty power of the ,lord was over all2 and so wonderful was the appearance thereof1 that priest ,bennett said 8the church shook10 insomuch that he was afraid and trembled4 ,and when he had spoken a few confused words1 he hastened out1 for fear it should fall on his head4 ,many priests got together there2 but they had no power as yet to persecute4 ,when ,i had cleared my conscience towards them1 ,i went up to ,,swarthmore again1 whither came four or five of the priests4 ,coming to discourse1 ,i asked them1 8whether any one of them could say he ever had the word of the ,lord to go and speak to such or such a people80 ,none of them durst say he had2 but one of them burst out into a passion1 and said1 8he could speak his experiences as well as ,i40 ,i told him experience was one thing2 but to receive and go with a message1 and to have a word from the ,lord1 as the prophets and apostles had and did1 and as ,i had done to them1 this was another thing4 ,and therefore ,i put it to them again1 8could any of them say he had ever had a command or word from the ,lord immediately at any time80 but none of them could say so4 ,then ,i told them1 the false prophets1 the false apostles1 and antichrists1 could use the words of the true prophets1 the true apostles1 and of ,christ1 and would speak of other men's experiences1 though they themselves never knew or heard the voice of ,god or ,christ2 and such as they might obtain the good words and experiences of others2 this puzzled them much1 and laid them open4 ,at another time1 when ,i was discoursing with several priests at ,judge ,fell's house1 and he was by1 ,i asked them the same question1 8whether any of them ever heard the voice of ,god or ,christ1 to bid him go to such and such a people1 to declare his word or message unto them80 for any one1 ,i told them1 that could but read1 might declare the experiences of the prophets and apostles1 which were recorded in the ,scriptures4 ,hereupon ,thomas ,taylor1#ai an ancient priest1 did ingenuously confess before ,judge ,fell1 8that he had never heard the voice of ,god1 nor of ,christ1 to send him to any people1 but he spoke his experiences1 and the experiences of the saints in former ages1 and that he preached40 ,this very much confirmed ,judge ,fell in the persuasion he had1 8that the priests were wrong20 for he had thought formerly1 as the generality of people then did1 8that they were sent from ,god40 ,footnote #ai3 ,thomas ,taylor1 born in #afaf1 was educated at ,oxford ,university1 and became a preacher among the ,puritans1 at or near ,skipton1 and also at ,richmond4 ,he discontinued preaching for hire1 and joined ,friends1 becoming a valiant minister of ,christ4 ,he also wrote much in support of the truth4 ,he suffered many imprisonments1 but the ,lord was with him1 and upheld him by his mighty power1 in the hardships and opposition he met with for truth's sake4 ,he died in peace at ,stafford1 in #afha4 ,thomas ,taylor was convinced at this time1 and travelled with me into ,westmorland4 ,coining to ,,crossland steeple-house1 we found the people gathered together2 and the ,lord opened ,thomas ,taylor's mouth 7though he was convinced but a day before71 so that he declared amongst them1 8how he had been before he was convinced20 and like the good scribe that was converted to the kingdom1 he brought forth things new and old to the people1 and showed them how 8the priests were out of the way20 which tormented the priest4 ,some little discourse ,i had with them1 but they fled away2 and a precious meeting there was1 wherein the ,lord's power was over all2 and the people were directed to the ,spirit of ,god1 by which they might come to know ,god and ,christ1 and to understand the ,scriptures aright4 ,after this ,i passed on1 visiting ,friends1 and had very large meetings in ,westmorland4 ,now began the priests to rage more and more1 and as much as they could1 to stir up persecution4 ,james ,naylor and ,francis ,howgill were cast into prison in ,appleby jail1 at the instigation of the malicious priests2 some of whom prophesied 8that within a month we should be all scattered again1 and come to nothing40 ,but1 blessed for ever be the worthy name of the ,lord1 the work of the ,lord went on and prospered4 ,for about this time ,john ,audland1 ,francis ,howgill1 ,john ,camm1#bj ,edward ,burrough1 ,richard ,hubberthorn1#ba ,miles ,hubbersty1 and ,miles ,halhead1#bb with several others1 being endued with power from on high1 came forth in the work of the ministry1 and approved themselves faithful labourers therein1 travelling up and down1 and preaching the gospel freely2 by means whereof multitudes were convinced1 and many effectually turned to the ,lord4 ,amongst these1 ,christopher ,taylor#bc was one1 brother to ,thomas ,taylor before-mentioned2 and who had been a preacher to a people as well as his brother2 but after they had received a knowledge of the truth1 they soon came into obedience thereunto1 and left their preaching for hire or rewards4 ,and having received a part of the ministry of the gospel1 they preached ,christ freely2 being often sent by the ,lord to declare his word in steeple-houses and in markets2 and great sufferers they were4 ,footnote #bj3 ,john ,camm1 after joining ,friends1 became an eminent minister1 travelling in the service of truth4 ,he was a man of weak constitution1 but richly furnished with the gifts of the ,holy ,spirit1 clear in judgment1 and a sharp reprover of wickedness4 ,his ministry was deep and weighty4 ,having an estate of his own1 he suffered the spoiling of his goods joyfully4 ,he often called his children together1 and exhorted them to fear the ,lord1 and would wonderfully praise ,god for his goodness1 counting his bodily weakness a happiness1 saying1 8,how great a benefit do ,i enjoy beyond many1 ,i have such a large time of preparation for death1 being daily dying1 that ,i may live for ever with my ,god1 in that kingdom that is unspeakably full of glory4 ,my outward man daily wastes and moulders down1 and draws towards its place and centre2 but my inward man revives and mounts upwards1 towards its place and habitation in the heavens40 ,see ,piety ,promoted1 i41 #c-f4 ,footnote #ba3 ,richard ,hubberthorn1 who is frequently mentioned in this ,journal1 and whose name often occurs in the early part of the history of ,friends1 became an able gospel minister1 and patient sufferer for the truth4 ,he was a native of ,lancashire1 the only son of a yeoman of good repute4 ,in his youth he obtained a post in the ,parliamentary army1 which1 on his embracing the truth1 he quitted1 and testified publicly against it2 becoming a valiant soldier under the banner of the ,prince of peace4 ,after passing through many inward probations1 he became qualified to direct others in their way to the kingdom of heaven1 and was one of the first of our ,society who travelled in the work of the ministry4 ,richard ,hubberthorn was a man of much meekness1 humility1 patience1 and brotherly kindness1 clear in judgment1 and quick of understanding2 and1 although he was of low stature1 and had an infirm constitution and weak voice1 he was a powerful and successful minister1 and great numbers were convinced by him1 and brought over to the faith and practice which he preached4 ,he travelled in the exercise of his gift nine years1 and shared at different times in the sufferings to which the early ,friends were exposed4 ,in #affb1 he was violently haled from a meeting in ,london1 and taken before that implacable persecutor1 ,alderman ,brown1 who1 after abusing him with his own hands1 committed him to ,newgate4 ,here the throng was so great1 and the air so impure1 that he soon fell sick4 ,his disorder increased upon him1 and1 within two months from the time of his commitment1 with an unclouded prospect of a resting place 8where the wicked cease from troubling10 he was released by death4 ,he wrote many treatises1 which were collected and published in #a vol4 quarto1 in #affc4 ,footnote #bb3 ,this is the only mention of ,miles ,halhead in this ,journal4 ,his name occurs frequently in ,sewell's ,history1 from which it appears he travelled largely and suffered much on ,truth's account1 being the first of the ,quakers imprisoned at ,kendal4 ,footnote #bc3 ,christopher ,taylor1 after writing and preaching much on ,truth's account1 removed to ,america about the year #afhc1 and died at ,philadelphia in #afhf4 ,see account of him in ,whiting's ,memoirs1 pp4 #ceb-ee4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends in ,,westmorland1 ,i returned into ,,lancashire1 and went to ,,ulverstone1 where ,w4 ,lampitt was priest2 who1 though he had preached of a people that should own the teachings of ,god1 and had said1 8that men and women should come to declare the gospel20 yet afterwards1 when it came to be fulfilled1 he persecuted both it and them4 ,to this priest's house ,i went1 where abundance of priests and professors were got together after their lecture1 with whom ,i had great disputings concerning ,christ and the ,scriptures2 for they were loath to let their trade go down1 which they made of preaching ,christ's1 and the apostles' and prophets' words4 ,but the ,lord's power went over the heads of them all1 and his word of life was held forth amongst them2 though many of them were exceedingly envious and devilish4 ,yet after this many priests and professors came to me from far and near2 of whom1 they that were innocent and simple-minded were satisfied1 and went away refreshed2 but the fat and full were fed with judgment1 and sent empty away3 for that was the word of the ,lord to be divided to them4 ,now when meetings were set up1 and we met in private houses1 ,lampitt the priest began to rage2 and he said1 8we forsook the temple1 and went to ,jeroboam's calves' houses20 so that many professors began to see how he had declined from that which he had formerly held and preached4 ,hereupon the case of ,jeroboam's calves was opened to the professors1 priests1 and people2 and it was manifested unto them1 8that their houses 7which they called churches7 were more like ,jeroboam's calves' houses1 even the old mass-houses which were set up in the darkness of ,popery2 and which they1 who called themselves ,protestants1 and professed to be more enlightened than the ,papists1 did still hold up2 although ,god had never commanded them3 whereas that temple1 which ,god had commanded at ,jerusalem1 ,christ came to end the service of2 and they that received and believed in him1 their bodies came to be the temples of ,god1 and of ,christ1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 to dwell in them1 and to walk in them4 ,and all such were gathered into the name of ,jesus1 whose name is above every name1 and there is no salvation by any other name under the whole heaven1 but by the name of ,jesus4 ,and they that were thus gathered met together in several dwelling-houses1 which were not called the temple1 nor the church2 but their bodies were the temples of ,god1 and the believers were the church1 which ,christ was the head of4 ,so that ,christ was not called the head of an old house1 which was made by men's hands1 neither did he come to purchase and sanctify1 and redeem with his blood1 an old house1 which they called their church1 but the people of whom he is the head40 ,much work ,i had in those days with priests and people1 concerning their old mass-houses1 which they called their churches2 for the priests had persuaded the people that it was the house of ,god2 whereas the apostle says1 8whose house we are10 c41 ,heb4 iii4 #f4 ,so the people are ,god's house1 in whom he dwells4 ,and the apostle saith1 8,christ purchased his church with his own blood20 and ,christ calls his church his spouse1 his bride1 and the ,lamb's wife2 so that this title1 church and spouse1 was not given to an old house1 but to his people1 the true believers4 ,after this1 on a lecture-day1 ,i was moved to go to the steeple-house at ,,ulverstone1 where were abundance of professors1 priests1 and people4 ,i went up near to priest ,lampitt1 who was blustering on in his preaching2 and after the ,lord had opened my mouth to speak1 ,john ,sawrey the justice came to me and said1 8if ,i would speak according to the ,scriptures1 ,i should speak40 ,i wondered at his speaking so to me1 for ,i did speak according to the ,scriptures1 and ,i told him1 8,i should speak according to the ,scriptures1 and bring the ,scriptures to prove what ,i had to say2 for ,i had something to speak to ,lampitt and to them40 ,then he said1 ,i should not speak1 contradicting himself who had said just before1 8,i should speak1 if ,i would speak according to the ,scriptures40 ,the people were quiet1 and heard me gladly1 until this ,justice ,sawrey 7who was the first stirrer up of cruel persecution in the ,north7 incensed them against me1 and set them on to hale1 beat1 and bruise me4 ,suddenly the people were in a rage1 and fell upon me in the steeple-house before his face2 knocked me down1 kicked me1 and trampled upon me2 and so great was the uproar1 that some tumbled over their seats for fear4 ,at last he came and took me from the people1 led me out of the steeple-house1 and put me into the hands of the constables and other officers1 bidding them whip me and put me out of the town4 ,they led me about a quarter of a mile1 some taking hold of my collar1 and some by my arms and shoulders1 and shook and dragged me along4 ,many friendly people being come to the market1 and some of them to the steeple house to hear me1 divers of these they knocked down also1 and broke their heads1 so that the blood ran down from several of them2 and ,judge ,fell's son running after1 to see what they would do with me1 they threw him into a ditch of water1 some of them crying1 8knock the teeth out of his head40 ,now when they had haled me to the common moss-side1 a multitude of people following1 the constables and other officers gave me some blows over my back with their willow-rods1 and so thrust me among the rude multitude1 who1 having furnished themselves1 some with staves1 some with hedge-stakes1 and others with holm or holly-bushes1 fell upon me1 and beat me on my head1 arms1 and shoulders1 till they had deprived me of sense2 so that ,i fell down upon the wet common4 ,when ,i recovered again1 and saw myself lying in a watery common1 and the people standing about me1 ,i lay still a little while2 and the power of the ,lord sprang through me1 and the ,eternal ,refreshings refreshed me1 so that ,i stood up again in the strengthening power of the ,eternal ,god2 and stretching out my arms amongst them1 ,i said with a loud voice1 8,strike again2 here are my arms1 my head1 and my cheeks40 ,there was in the company a mason1 a professor1 but a rude fellow2 he with his walking rule-staff gave me a blow with all his might1 just over the back of my hand1 as it was stretched out2 with which blow my hand was so bruised1 and my arm so benumbed1 that ,i could not draw it unto me again2 so that some of the people cried out1 8he hath spoiled his hand for ever having the use of it any more40 ,but ,i looked at it in the love of ,god 7for ,i was in the love of ,god to them all1 that had persecuted me71 and after a while the ,lord's power sprang through me again1 and through my hand and arm1 so that in a moment ,i recovered strength in my hand and arm1 in the sight of them all4 ,then they began to fall out among themselves1 and some of them came to me1 and said1 if ,i would give them money1 they would secure me from the rest4 ,but ,i was moved of the ,lord to declare to them the word of life1 and showed them their false ,christianity1 and the fruits of their priest's ministry2 telling them they were more like heathens and ,jews1 than true ,christians4 ,then was ,i moved of the ,lord to come up again through the midst of the people1 and go into ,,ulverstone market4 ,as ,i went1 there met me a soldier1 with his sword by his side2 8,sir10 said he to me1 8,i see you are a man1 and ,i am ashamed and grieved that you should be thus abused20 and he offered to assist me in what he could4 ,but ,i told him the ,lord's power was over all2 so ,i walked through the people in the market1 and none of them had power to touch me then4 ,but some of the market-people abusing some ,friends in the market1 ,i turned me about and saw this soldier among them with his naked rapier1 whereupon ,i ran in amongst them1 and catching hold of his hand that his rapier was in1 ,i bid him put up his sword again1 if he would go along with me2 for ,i was willing to draw him out from the company1 lest some mischief should be done4 ,a few days after seven men fell upon this soldier1 and beat him cruelly1 because he had taken part with ,friends and me2 for it was the manner of the persecutors of that country1 for twenty or forty people to run upon one man4 ,and they fell so upon ,friends in many places1 that they could hardly pass the highways1 stoning1 beating1 and breaking their heads4 ,when ,i came to ,,swarthmore1 ,i found the friends there dressing the heads and hands of ,friends and friendly people1 which had been broken or hurt that day by the professors and hearers of ,lampitt1 the priest4 ,my body and arms were yellow1 black1 and blue1 with the blows and bruises ,i received amongst them that day4 ,now began the priests to prophesy again1 that within half a year we should be all put down and gone4#bd ,footnote #bd3 ,the priests reckoned wrong in this1 for1 as ,sewell justly observed1 it fared with the early ,friends as with trees1 which grow best when most lopped4 8,duris ut ilex tonsa bipennibus1 per damna1 per cdes1 ab ipso1 ducit opes animumque ferre40 8,as by the lopping axe1 the sturdy oak ,improves her shade1 and thrives beneath the stroke3 ,tho' present loss and wounds severe she feel1 ,she draws fresh vigour from the invading steel40 ,about two weeks after this ,i went into ,,walney island1 and ,james ,naylor went with me4 ,we stayed one night at a little town on this side1 called ,,cockan1 and had a meeting there1 where one was convinced4 ,after a while there came a man with a pistol1 whereupon the people ran out of doors4 ,he called for me2 and when ,i came out to him1 he snapped his pistol at me1 but it would not go off4 ,this caused the people to make a great bustle about him2 and some of them took hold of him1 to prevent his doing mischief2 but ,i was moved in the ,lord's power to speak to him2 and he was so struck by the power of the ,lord1 that he trembled for fear1 and went and hid himself4 ,thus the ,lord's power came over them all1 though there was a great rage in the country4 ,next morning ,i went over in a boat to ,james ,lancaster's4 ,as soon as ,i came to land1 there rushed out about forty men with staves1 clubs1 and fishing poles1 who fell upon me1 beating and punching me1 and endeavouring to thrust me backward into the sea4 ,when they had thrust me almost into the sea1 and ,i saw they would have knocked me down in it1 ,i went up into the midst of them2 but they laid at me again1 and knocked me down1 and stunned me4 ,when ,i came to myself1 ,i looked up and saw ,james ,lancaster's wife throwing stones at my face1 and her husband1 ,james ,lancaster1 was lying over me1 to keep the blows and the stones off me4 ,for the people had persuaded ,james ,lancaster's wife that ,i had bewitched her husband2 and had promised her1 that if she would let them know when ,i came hither1 they would be my death4 ,and having got knowledge of my coming1 many of the town rose up in this manner with clubs and staves to kill me2 but the ,lord's power preserved me1 that they could not take away my life4 ,at length ,i got up on my feet1 but they beat me down again into the boat2 which ,james ,lancaster observing1 he presently came into it1 and set me over the water from them2 but while we were on the water within their reach1 they struck at us with long poles and threw stones after us4 ,by the time we were come to the other side1 we saw them beating ,james ,naylor2 for whilst they had been beating me1 he walked up into a field1 and they never minded him till ,i was gone2 then they fell upon him1 and all their cry was1 8,kill him1 kill him40 ,when ,i was come over to the town again1 on the other side of the water1 the townsmen rose up with pitchforks1 flails1 and staves1 to keep me out of the town1 crying1 8,kill him1 knock him on the head1 bring the cart1 and carry him away to the churchyard40 ,so after they had abused me1 they drove me some distance out of the town1 and there left me4 ,then went ,james ,lancaster back to look after ,james ,naylor2 and ,i being now left alone1 went to a ditch of water1 and having washed myself 7for they had besmeared my face1 hands1 and clothes1 with miry dirt71 ,i walked about three miles to ,thomas ,hutton's house1 where lodged ,thomas ,lawson1 the priest that was convinced4 ,when ,i came in1 ,i could hardly speak to them1 ,i was so bruised2 only ,i told them where ,i left ,james ,naylor2 so they took each of them a horse1 and went and brought him thither that night4 ,the next day ,margaret ,fell hearing of it1 sent a horse for me2 but so sore ,i was with bruises1 ,i was not able to bear the shaking of the horse without much pain4 ,when ,i was come to ,,swarthmore1 ,justice ,sawrey1 and one ,justice ,thompson of ,lancaster1 granted a warrant against me2 but ,judge ,fell coming home it was not served upon me2 for he was out of the country all this time1 that ,i was thus cruelly abused4 ,when he came home1 he sent forth warrants into the isle of ,walney1 to apprehend all those riotous persons2 whereupon some of them fled the country4 ,james ,lancaster's wife was afterwards convinced of the truth1 and repented of the evils she had done me2 and so did others of those bitter persecutors also2 but the judgments of ,god fell upon some of them1 and destruction is come upon many of them since4 ,judge ,fell asked me to give him a relation of my persecution2 but ,i told him they could do no otherwise in the spirit wherein they were1 and that they manifested the fruits of their priest's ministry1 and their profession and religion to be wrong4 ,so he told his wife ,i made light of it1 and that ,i spoke of it as a man that had not been concerned2 for1 indeed1 the ,lord's power healed me again4 ,after ,i was recovered1 ,i went to ,,yealand1 where there was a great meeting4 ,in the evening there came a priest to the house1 with a pistol in his hand1 under pretence to light a pipe of tobacco4 ,the maid of the house seeing the pistol told her master2 who1 clapping his hands on the door-posts1 told him he should not come in there4 ,while he stood there1 keeping the door-way1 he looked up1 and spied over the wall a company of men coming1 some armed with staves1 and one with a musket4 ,but the ,lord ,god prevented their bloody design2 so that seeing themselves discovered1 they went their way1 and did no harm4 ,the time for the sessions at ,,lancaster being come1 ,i went thither with ,judge ,fell2 who on the way told me1 he had never had such a matter brought before him before1 and he could not well tell what to do in the business4 ,i told him1 when ,paul was brought before the rulers1 and the ,jews and priests came down to accuse him1 and laid many false things to his charge1 ,paul stood still all that while4 ,and when they had done1 ,festus1 the governor1 and king ,agrippa1 beckoned to him to speak for himself2 which ,paul did1 and cleared himself of all those false accusations2 so he might do with me4 ,being come to ,,lancaster1 ,justice ,sawrey and ,justice ,thompson having granted a warrant to apprehend me1 though ,i was not apprehended by it1 yet hearing of it1 ,i appeared at the sessions2 where there appeared against me about forty priests4 ,these had chosen one ,marshall1 priest of ,lancaster1 to be their orator2 and had provided one young priest1 and two priests' sons1 to bear witness against me1 who had sworn beforehand that ,i had spoken blasphemy4 ,when the justices were sat1 they heard all that the priests and their witnesses could say and charge against me2 their orator ,marshall1 sitting by1 and explaining their sayings for them2 but the witnesses were so confounded1 that they discovered themselves to be false witnesses2 for when the court had examined one of them upon oath1 and then began to examine another1 he was at such loss he could not answer directly1 but said the other could say it4 ,which made the justices say to him1 8have you sworn it1 and given it in already upon your oath1 and now say that he can say it8 ,it seems you did not hear those words spoken yourself1 though you have sworn it40 ,there were then in court several people who had been at that meeting1 wherein the witnesses swore ,i spoke those blasphemous words1 which the priests accused me of2 and these being men of integrity and reputation in the country1 declared and affirmed in court1 that the oath1 which the witnesses had taken against me1 was altogether false2 and that no such words as they had sworn against me1 were spoken by me at that meeting4 ,indeed1 most of the serious men of that part of the country1 that were then at the sessions1 had been at that meeting1 and had heard me both at that and other meetings also4 ,this was taken notice of by ,colonel ,west1 who1 being a justice of the peace1 was then upon the bench2 and having long been weak in body1 blessed the ,lord1 and said1 8the ,lord had healed him that day20 adding1 that he never saw so many sober people and good faces together in all his life4 ,and then1 turning himself to me1 he said in the open sessions1 8,george1 if thou hast anything to say to the people1 thou mayst freely declare it40 ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak2 and as soon as ,i began1 priest ,marshall1 the orator for the rest of the priests1 went away4 ,that which ,i was moved to declare was this3 8that the ,holy ,scriptures were given forth by the ,spirit of ,god1 and all people must first come to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 by which they might know ,god and ,christ1 of whom the prophets and the apostles learnt2 and by the same ,spirit know the ,holy ,scriptures2 for as the ,spirit of ,god was in them that gave forth the ,scriptures1 so the same ,spirit of ,god must be in all them that come to understand the ,scriptures2 by which ,spirit they might have fellowship with the ,son1 and with the ,father1 and with the ,scriptures1 and with one another2 and without this ,spirit they can know neither ,god nor ,christ1 nor the ,scriptures1 nor have right fellowship one with another40 ,i had no sooner spoken these words1 than about half a dozen priests that stood behind me1 burst out into a passion2 and one of them1 named ,jackus1 amongst other things that he spoke against the truth1 said1 that the ,spirit and the letter were inseparable4 ,i replied1 8then every one that hath the letter hath the ,spirit2 and they might buy the ,spirit with the letter of the ,scriptures40 ,this plain discovery of darkness in the priest1 moved ,judge ,fell and ,colonel ,west to reprove them openly1 and tell them1 that according to that position they might carry the ,spirit in their pockets1 as they did the ,scriptures4 ,upon this the priests being confounded and put to silence1 rushed out in a rage against the justices1 because they could not have their bloody ends upon me4 ,the justices1 seeing the witnesses did not agree1 and perceiving that they were brought to answer the priests' envy1 and finding that all their evidences were not sufficient in law to make good their charge against me1 discharged me4 ,and after ,judge ,fell had spoken to ,justice ,sawrey and ,justice ,thompson concerning the warrant they had given forth against me1 and showed them the errors thereof1 he and ,colonel ,west granted a supersedeas to stop the execution of it4 ,thus was ,i cleared in open sessions of all those lying accusations which the malicious priests had laid to my charge2 and multitudes of people praised ,god that day1 for it was a joyful day to many4 ,justice ,benson#be of ,,westmorland1 was convinced2 and ,major ,ripan1 mayor of ,,lancaster1 also4 ,it was a day of everlasting salvation to hundreds of people2 for the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the way to the ,father1 and the free teacher1 was exalted and set up1 and his everlasting gospel was preached and the word of eternal life was declared over the heads of the priests1 and all such money-preachers4 ,for the ,lord opened many mouths that day to speak his word to the priests1 and several friendly people and professors reproved the priests in their inns1 and in the streets2 so that they fell1 like an old rotten house2 and the cry was among the people1 that the ,quakers had got the day1 and the priests were fallen4 ,many people were convinced that day1 amongst whom was ,thomas ,briggs1 who before had been averse to ,friends and truth1 insomuch that discoursing with ,john ,lawson1 a ,friend1 concerning perfection1 ,thomas ,briggs said to him1 8dost thou hold perfection80 at the same time lifting up his hand to give the ,friend a box on the ear4 ,but this ,thomas ,briggs1 being convinced of the truth that day1 declared against his own priest1 ,jackus2 and afterwards became a faithful minister of the gospel1 and stood so to the end of his days4#bf ,footnote #be3 ,gervase ,benson1 once a colonel in the army1 and1 at this date1 a ,justice of the peace1 appears1 from the burial register of ,friends1 to have been resident at ,kendal4 ,he died in #afgi4 ,in ,barclay's ,letters1 c41 of ,early ,friends1 is a letter from him to ,george ,fox and ,james ,naylor4 ,it is dated at ,london1 #aath ,month1 #bith1 #afec4 ,he appears to have gone up to that city under a sense of duty4 8,pray to the ,lord for me10 he writes1 8that ,i may be kept in all faithfulness1 with boldness to bear witness to the truth1 against all deceits as they are made manifest in me1 to the praise of his free grace and love to me1 which ,i find daily flowing into my soul1 to the refreshing thereof40 ,footnote #bf3 ,thomas ,briggs1 from being a persecutor and an opposer1 became an eminent minister amongst ,friends1 and his name occurs frequently in ,sewell's ,history1 and in ,whiting's ,memoirs1 to which the reader is referred for some account of his labours4 ,he was very instrumental in turning men from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,not only did he suffer personally1 by imprisonment and violence1 but was fined five times1 for having meetings in his house1 to the extent of #ej4 ,he travelled much in ,wales1 and other places1 often accompanying ,george ,fox4 ,he went with him to the ,west ,indies in #afga4 ,a short time before his death1 he wrote to ,george ,fox1 in which he signified his perseverance in godliness4 ,he bore 8a large testimony the ,first-day before his decease10 being aged about seventy-five2 a minister thirty-two years4 ,when the sessions were over1 ,james ,naylor1 who was present1 gave a brief account of the proceedings in a letter1 which soon after he wrote to ,friends2 and which is here added for the reader's further satisfaction in this matter3-- 8,dear friends and brethren in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 my dear love unto you all1 desiring you may be kept steadfast in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and in the power of his love1 boldly to witness forth the truth1 as it is revealed in you by the mighty working of the ,father3 to whom alone be everlasting praise and honour for evermore6 ,dear friends1 the ,lord doth much manifest his love and power in these parts4 ,on the ,second-day of last week1 my brother ,george and ,i were at ,lancaster2 there were abundance of ,friends from all parts3 and a high sort1 who sided with the priests1 giving out1 they now hoped to see a stop put to that great work which had gone on so fast1 and with such power that their kingdom is much shaken4 ,we were called before ,judge ,fell1 ,colonel ,west1 ,justice ,sawrey1 c41 to answer what was charged against ,george4 ,there were three witnesses to eight particulars1 but they were much confused in themselves2 which gave much light to the truth2 whereby the justices did plainly see that it was envy2 and they many times told them so4 ,one of the witnesses was a young priest1 who confessed he should not have meddled1 had not another priest sent for him1 and set him to work4 ,the other witnesses were two priests' sons3 it was proved there by many that heard one of them say1 #8if he had power he would make ,george deny his profession1 and that he would take away his life4' ,this was a single witness to one of the greatest untruths that was charged against ,george2 and the justices told him1 that they saw1 because he could not take away his life1 he went about to take away his liberty4 ,there was one priest chosen out of the whole number1 as an orator to plead against us2 who spared no pains to show forth his envy against the truth2 and when he could not prevail1 he went down in a rage2 and there came up a number of them into the room1 among whom was one ,jackus4 ,george was then speaking in the room1 one of the justices having desired him1 if he had anything to say1 he would speak1 at which priest ,jackus was in such a rage1 that he broke forth into many high expressions against the truth spoken by my dear brother ,george2 amongst which this was one that the letter and the ,spirit were inseparable4 ,hereupon the justices stood up1 and bid him prove that1 before he went any further4 ,then seeing himself caught1 he would have denied it2 and when he could not get off so1 the rest of the priests would have helped him to a meaning for his words2 but the justices would admit no other meaning than the plain sense of the words1 and told him he had laid down a position1 and it was fit he should prove it2 pressing the matter close upon him4 ,whereupon the priests1 being put to silence1 went down in a greater rage than before2 and some of them1 after they were gone down1 being asked what they had done1 lied and said1 they could not get into the room2 thereby to hide their shame1 and keep the people in blindness4 ,the justices1 ,judge ,fell and ,colonel ,west1 were much convinced of the truth1 and set up justice and equity2 and have much silenced the rage of the people4 ,many bitter spirits were at ,lancaster to see the event1 but went home and cried the priests had lost the day3 everlasting praises be to him who fought the battle for us1 who is our ,king for ever6 ,there were others called1 whom the witnesses confessed were in the room when the things charged on ,george were said to have been spoken2 but they all1 as one man1 denied that any such words were spoken2 which gave much light to the justices1 and they durst rely on what they witnessed2 for they said they knew many of them to be honest men4 8,there was a warrant granted against us at ,appleby2 but ,justice ,benson told them it was not according to law1 and so it ceased4 ,i hear he is a faithful man in the truth4 ,the priests began to preach against the justices1 and said1 they were not to meddle in these things1 but to end controversy between neighbour and neighbour4 ,they are not pleased with the law1 because it is not in the statute to imprison us1 as the priest that pleaded against us said4 ,the justices bid him put it into the statute1 if he could2 he said1 it should want no will of his4 ,they are much afraid that they shall lose all2 they are much discontented in these parts2 and some of them cry1 all #8is gone4' ,dear ,friends1 dwell in patience1 and wait upon the ,lord1 who will do his own work4 ,look not at man1 in the work2 nor at man who opposeth the work2 but rest in the will of the ,lord1 that so ye may be furnished with patience both to do and to suffer what ye shall be called unto2 that your end in all things may be his praise4 ,take up his cross freely1 which keeps low the fleshly man2 that ,christ may be set up and honoured in all things1 the light advanced in you and the judgment set up1 which must give sentence against all that opposeth the truth2--that the captivity may be led captive1 and the prisoner set free to seek the ,lord2--that righteousness may rule in you1 and peace and joy may dwell in you1 wherein consisteth the kingdom of the ,father2 to whom be all praise for ever6 ,dear friends meet often together1 and take heed of what exalteth itself above its brother2 but keep low1 and serve one another in love for the ,lord's sake4 ,let all ,friends know how it is with us1 that ,god may have the praise of all40 ,j4 ,n4 ,written from ,kellet1 the #cjth of the #hth ,month1 #afeb4 ,at this time ,i was in a fast1 and was not to eat until this work of ,god1 which then lay weighty upon me1 was accomplished4 ,but the ,lord's power was wonderfully exalted1 and gave truth and ,friends dominion therein over all1 to his glory4 ,his gospel was freely preached that day1 over the heads of about forty hireling priests4 ,i stayed two or three days afterwards in ,lancaster1 and had some meetings there2 and the rude and baser sort of people plotted together to draw me out of the house1 and to throw me over ,,lancaster bridge1 but the ,lord prevented them4 ,then they invented another mischief1 which was this3 after a meeting at ,lancaster they brought down a distracted man1 and another with him with bundles of birchen rods bound together like besoms1 with which they would have whipped me3 but ,i was moved to speak to them in the ,lord's mighty power1 which chained down the distracted man1 and the other also1 and made them calm and quiet4 ,then ,i bid him throw his rods into the fire1 and burn them2 and he did so4 ,thus the ,lord's power being over them1 they departed quietly4 ,but the priests1 fretting to see themselves overthrown at the sessions at ,,lancaster1 got some of the envious justices to join with them2 and1 at the following assize at ,,lancaster1 informed ,judge ,windham against me4 ,whereupon the judge made a speech against me in open court2 and commanded ,colonel ,west1 who was clerk of the assize1 to issue forth a warrant for the apprehending of me3 but ,colonel ,west told the judge of my innocency1 and spoke boldly in my defence4 ,yet the judge commanded him again1 either to write a warrant1 or go off from his seat3 then he told the judge plainly that he would not do it2 but that he would offer up all his estate1 and his body also1 for me4 ,thus he stopped the judge2 and the ,lord's power came over all2 so that the priests and justices could not get their envy executed4 ,that same night ,i came into ,,lancaster1 it being the assize time1 and hearing of a warrant to be given out against me1 ,i judged it better to show myself openly1 than for my adversaries to seek me4 ,so ,i went to ,judge ,fell's and ,colonel ,west's chambers4 ,as soon as ,i came in they smiled on me2 and ,colonel ,west said1 8,what6 are you come into the dragon's mouth80 ,i stayed in town till the judge went out of town2 and ,i walked up and down the town1 but no one meddled with me1 or questioned me4 ,thus the ,lord's blessed power1 which is over all1 carried me through and over this exercise1 gave dominion over his enemies1 and enabled me to go on in his glorious work and service for his great name's sake4 ,for though the beast maketh war against the saints1 yet the ,lamb hath got1 and will get1 the victory4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #afeb-afec4--;,george ,fox is branded by the priests as a witch--writes to ,justice ,sawrey1 prophesying of the judgments impending over him--warning to priest ,lampitt--exhortation to the people of ,ulverstone--to the followers of ,lampitt1 against a hireling ministry1 c4--a rebuke to ,adam ,sands for his wickedness--to priest ,tatham1 against his hireling ministry and his suing for tithes--foretells the dissolution of the ,long ,parliament--fasts ten days--,james ,milner and ,richard ,myer create a schism1 which is soon healed--the latter is miraculously healed of his lameness1 but afterwards disobeys the ,lord1 and dies not long after--,anthony ,pearson1 an opposer1 is convinced--the priests are shown to be antichrist--,george ,fox preaches at ,john ,wilkinson's steeple-house three hours--admonishes a professor for praising him--reproves ,wilkinson for speaking against his conscience--many hundreds are convinced--discerns an unclean spirit in a woman1 and speaks sharply to her--the like of some other women--speaks sharply to an envious ,baptist--preaches in the steeple-house at ,carlisle1 where the ,lord's power was such that the people trembled--committed to ,carlisle prison as a blasphemer1 heretic1 and seducer--the priests who come to see him are exceedingly rude--,anthony ,pearson's remonstrance to the ,judges of assize against the unjust imprisonment and detention of ,george ,fox--he is put in the dungeon1 a filthy place1 where a woman is found eaten to death with vermin--here ,james ,parnell visits him--a challenge to professors to declare their objections to ,george ,fox's ministry--it being reported that ,george ,fox was to die for religion1 the ,little ,parliament write to the sheriff respecting him--he himself expostulates with ,justices ,craston and ,studholm on their imprisoning him--,a4 ,pearson and the governor visit the prison1 blame the magistrates1 require sureties of the jailer1 and put the under-jailer in the dungeon for his cruelty to ,george ,fox1 who is soon after liberated--,george ,fox has great meetings1 and thousands are convinced--visits ,gilsland1 a noted country for thieving--has a glorious meeting of many thousands1 near ,langlands1 on the top of a hill--great convincement in the six northern counties4 ,from ,,lancaster ,i returned to ,robert ,widders's1 and from thence ,i went to ,thomas ,leper's to a meeting in the evening2 and a very blessed meeting we had there3 after which ,i walked in the evening to ,robert ,widders's again4 ,no sooner was ,i gone1 than there came a company of disguised men to ,thomas ,leper's1 with swords and pistols2 who1 suddenly entering the house1 put out the candles1 and swung their swords about amongst the people of the house1 who held up the chairs before them to save themselves from being cut and wounded4 ,at length they drove all the people out of the house1 and then searched it for me2 who1 it seems1 was the only person they looked for3 for they had laid wait before on the highway1 by which ,i should have gone had ,i rode to ,robert ,widders's4 ,and not meeting with me on the way1 they thought to find me in the house1 but the ,lord prevented them4 ,soon after ,i was come to ,robert ,widders's1 some ,friends came from the town where ,thomas ,leper lived1 and gave us a relation of this wicked attempt3 and they were afraid lest they should come and search ,robert ,widders's house also for me1 and do me a mischief2 but the ,lord restrained them that they came not4 ,though these men were in disguise1 the ,friends perceived some of them to be ,frenchmen1 and supposed them to be servants belonging to one called ,sir ,robert ,bindlas2 for some of them had said1 that in their nation they used to tie the ,protestants to trees1 and whip and destroy them4 ,his servants used often to abuse ,friends1 both in their meetings1 and going to and from them4 ,they once took ,richard ,hubberthorn and several others out of one1 and carried them a good way off into the fields2 and there bound them1 and left them bound in the ,winter season4 ,at another time1 one of his servants came to ,francis ,fleming's house1 and thrust his naked rapier in at the door and windows2 but there being at the house a kinsman of ,francis ,fleming's1 one who was not a ,friend1 he came with a cudgel in his hand1 and bid the serving-man put up his rapier2 which1 when the other would not1 but vapoured at him with it1 and was rude1 he knocked him down with his cudgel1 and took his rapier from him2 and had it not been for ,friends1 he would have run him through with it4 ,so the ,friends preserved the life of him that would have destroyed theirs4 ,from ,robert ,widders's ,i went to visit ,justice ,west1 ,richard ,hubberthorn accompanying me4 ,not knowing the way1 or the danger of the sands1 we rode where1 as we were afterwards told1 no man ever rode before1 swimming our horses over a very dangerous place4 ,when we were come in1 ,justice ,west asked us if we did not see two men riding over the sands3 8,i shall have their clothes anon10 said he1 8for they cannot escape drowning1 and ,i am the coroner40 ,but when we told him that we were the men1 he was astonished1 and wondered how we escaped drowning4 ,upon this the envious priests and professors raised a slanderous report concerning me1 that neither water could drown me1 nor could they draw blood of me2 and that therefore surely ,i was a witch2 indeed1 sometimes when they beat me with great staves1 they did not much draw my blood1 though they bruised my body oftimes very sorely4 ,but all these slanders were nothing to me with respect to myself1 though ,i was concerned on the truth's behalf1 which ,i saw1 they endeavoured by these means to prejudice people against2 for ,i considered that their forefathers1 the apostate ,jews1 called the master of the house ,beelzebub2 and these apostate ,christians from the life and power of ,god1 could do no less to his seed4 ,but the ,lord's power carried me over their slanderous tongues1 and their bloody murderous spirits2 who had the ground of witchcraft in themselves1 which kept them from coming to ,god1 and to ,christ4 ,having visited ,justice ,west1 ,i went to ,,swarthmore1 visiting ,friends2 and the ,lord's power was over all the persecutors there4 ,i was moved to write several letters to the magistrates1 priests1 and professors1 thereabouts1 who had raised persecution before2 that which ,i sent to ,justice ,sawrey was after this manner3-- 8,,friend1 8,thou wast the first beginner of all the persecution in the ,north2 thou wast the beginner and the maker of the people tumultuous4 ,thou wast the first stirrer of them up against the righteous seed1 and against the truth of ,god2 the first strengthener of the hands of evil-doers against the innocent and harmless2 and thou shalt not prosper4 ,thou wast the first stirrer up of strikers1 stoners1 persecutors1 stockers1 mockers1 and imprisoners in the ,north1 and of revilers1 slanderers1 railers1 and false accusers4 ,this was thy work1 and this thou stirredst up6 so thy fruits declare thy spirit4 ,instead of stirring up the pure mind in people1 thou hast stirred up the wicked1 malicious1 and envious1 and taken hand with the wicked4 ,thou hast made the people's minds envious up and down the country2 this was thy work4 ,but ,god hath shortened thy days1 and limited thee2 hath set thy bounds1 and broken thy jaws2 discovered thy religion to the simple and babes1 and brought thy deeds to light4 ,how is thy habitation fallen1 and become the habitation of devils6 ,how is thy beauty lost1 and thy glory withered6 ,how hast thou showed thy end that thou hast served ,god but with thy lips1 thy heart being far from him1 and thou in hypocrisy6 ,how hath the form of thy teaching declared itself to be the mark of the false prophets1 whose fruit declares itself6 for by their fruits they are known4 ,how are the wise men turned backward6 ,view thy ways1 and take notice with whom thou hast taken part4 ,that of ,god in thy conscience will tell thee2 the ,ancient of days will reprove thee4 ,how hath thy zeal appeared to be the blind zeal of a persecutor1 which ,christ and his apostles forbade ,christians to follow6 ,how hast thou strengthened the hands of evil-doers1 and been a praise to them1 and not to them that do well6 ,how like a madman and blind man1 didst thou turn thy sword backward against the saints1 against whom there is no law6 ,how wilt thou be gnawed and burned one day1 when thou shalt feel the flame and have the plagues of ,god poured upon thee1 and thou begin to gnaw thy tongue for pain1 because of the plagues6 ,thou shalt have thy reward according to thy works4 ,thou canst not escape2 the ,lord's righteous judgment will find thee out1 and the witness of ,god in thy conscience shall answer it4 ,how hast thou caused the heathen to blaspheme1 gone on with the multitude to do evil1 and joined hand and hand with the wicked6 ,how is thy latter end worse than thy beginning1 who art come with the dog to bite1 and art turned as a wolf1 to devour the lambs6 ,how hast thou discovered thyself to be a man more fit to be kept in a place to be nurtured1 than to be set in a place to nurture6 ,how wast thou exalted and puffed up with pride6 and now art thou fallen down with shame1 that thou comest to be covered with that which thou stirredst up and broughtest forth4 ,let not ,john ,sawrey take the words of ,god into his mouth till he be reformed2 let him not take his name into his mouth till he depart from iniquity2 let not him and his teacher make a profession of the saints' words1 except they intend to proclaim themselves hypocrites1 whose lives are so contrary to the lives of the saints2 whose church hath made itself manifest to be a cage of unclean birds4 ,you1 having a form of godliness1 but not the power1 have made them that are in the power your derision1 your by-word1 and talk at your feasts4 ,thy ill savour1 ,john ,sawrey1 the country about have smelled1 and of thy unchristian carriage all that fear ,god have been ashamed2 and to them thou hast been a grief2 in the day of account thou shalt know it1 even in the day of thy condemnation4 ,thou wast mounted up1 and hadst set thy nest on high1 but never gottest higher than the fowls of the air4 ,now thou art run amongst the beast of prey1 and art fallen into the earth2 so that earthliness and covetousness have swallowed thee up4 ,thy conceitedness would not carry thee through1 in whom was found the selfish principle1 which hath blinded thy eye4 ,thy back must be bowed down always2 for thy table is already become thy snare40 ,g4 ,f4 ,this ,justice ,sawrey1 who was the first persecutor in that country1 was afterwards drowned4 ,i wrote also to ,william ,lampitt1 the priest of ,,ulverstone1 thus3-- 8,the word of the ,lord to thee1 ,o ,lampitt6 who art a deceiver1 surfeited and drunk with the earthly spirit1 rambling up and down in the ,scriptures1 and blending thy spirit amongst the saints' conditions2 who hadst a prophecy1 as thy father ,balaam had1 but art erred from it1 as thy father did2 one whose fruit hath withered 7of which ,i am a witness17 and many who have known thy fruit1 have seen the end of it1 that it is withered1 and do see where thou art in the blind world1 a blind leader of the blind2 as a beast wallowing and tumbling in the earth1 and in the lust2 one that is erred from the ,spirit of the ,lord1 of old ordained for condemnation4 ,thou art in the seat of the ,pharisees1 art called of men master1 standest praying in the synagogues1 and hast the chief seat in the assemblies2 a right hypocrite in the steps of the ,pharisees1 and in the way of thy fathers1 the hypocrites1 which our ,lord ,jesus ,christ cried woe against4 ,such with the light thou art seen to be1 and by the light art comprehended2 which is thy condemnation1 who hatest it1 and will be so eternally1 except thou repent4 ,to thee this is the word of ,god2 for in ,christ's way thou art not1 but in the ,pharisees'1 as thou mayest read1 ,matt1 xxiii41 and all that own ,christ's words may see thee there4 ,christ1 who died at ,jerusalem1 cried woe against such as thou art2 and ,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever4 ,the woe remains upon thee1 and from under it thou canst never come1 but through judgment1 condemnation1 and true repentance4 ,to thee this is the word of ,god2 to that of ,god in thy conscience do ,i speak1 which will witness the truth of what ,i write1 and will condemn thee4 ,and when thou art in thy torment 7though now thou swellest in thy vanity1 and livest in wickedness17 remember thou wast warned in thy lifetime4 ,when the eternal condemnation is stretched over thee1 thou shalt witness this to be the word of the ,lord ,god unto thee2 and if ever thy eye shall see repentance1 thou wilt witness me to have been a friend of thy soul40 ,g4 ,f4 ,having thus cleared my conscience to the justice1 and to the priest of ,,ulverstone1 who had raised the first persecution in that country1 it was upon me to send this warning in writing to the people of ,,ulverstone in general4 8,consider1 ,o people6 who are within the parish of ,,ulverstone2 ,i was moved of the ,lord to come into your public places to speak among you1 being sent of ,god to direct your minds to him1 that you might know where you might find your teacher2 that your minds might be staid alone upon ,god1 and you might not gad abroad without you for a teacher2 for the ,lord ,god alone will teach his people2 and he is coming to teach them1 and to gather them from idols' temples1 and from the customary worships1 which all the world is trained up in4 ,god hath given to every one of you a measure of his ,spirit1 according to your capacity2 liars1 drunkards1 whoremongers1 and thieves1 and who follow filthy pleasures1 you all have this measure in you4 ,this is the measure of the ,spirit of ,god1 that shows you sin1 and evil1 and deceit2 which lets you see that lying is sin2 and theft1 drunkenness1 and uncleanness1 all to be the works of darkness4 ,therefore mind your measure 7for nothing that is unclean shall enter into the kingdom of ,god71 and prize your time while you have it1 lest the time come that you say with sorrow1 we had time1 but it is past4 ,o6 why will ye die8 why will ye choose your own ways8 why will ye follow the course of the world8 and why will ye follow envy1 malice1 drunkenness1 and foolish pleasures8 know ye not in your consciences that all these are evil and sin8 and that they who act such things1 shall never enter into the kingdom of ,god8 ,o6 that ye would consider1 and see how you have spent your time1 and mind how ye do spend it1 and observe whom you serve2 for #8the wages of sin is death4' ,do not ye know1 that whatsoever is more than yea and nay1 cometh of evil8 ,o6 ye drunkards1 who live in drunkenness1 do ye think to escape the fire and the judgment of ,god8 ,though ye swell in venom1 and live in lust for a while1 yet ,god will find you out1 and bring you to judgment4 8,therefore love the light1 which ,christ hath enlightened you withal1 who saith1 #8,i am the light of the world1' and who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world4 ,one loves the light1 and brings his works to the light and there is no occasion at all of stumbling2 the other hates the light1 because his deeds are evil1 and the light will reprove him4 ,thou that hatest this light1 thou hast it2 thou knowest that lying1 drunkenness1 swearing1 whoredom1 theft1 all ungodliness1 and all unrighteousness1 are evil4 ,christ ,jesus hath given thee light enough to let thee see these are evil4 ,this light1 if thou lovest it1 will teach thee holiness and righteousness1 without which none shall see ,god2 but if thou hatest this light1 it is thy condemnation4 ,thus are ,christ's words found to be true1 and fulfilled among you2 you that hate this light1 set up hirelings1 and idols' temples1 and such priests as bear rule by their means2 such shepherds as hold up such things2 who are called of men masters1 and have the chiefest place in the assemblies1 whom ,christ cried woe against1 ,matt1 xxiii42 such as go in the way of ,cain in envy1 and after the error of ,balaam for wages1 gifts1 and rewards2 these have been your teachers2 and these you have held up4 ,but they who love the light1 are taught of ,god2 and the ,lord is coming to teach his people himself1 and to gather his own from the hirelings1 and from such as seek for their gain from their quarter1 and from such as bear rule by their means4 ,the ,lord is opening the eyes of people1 that they may see such as bear rule over them4 ,but all1 whose are shut1 are such as the prophet spoke of1 that #8have eyes and see not1' but are foolish1 upholding such things4 ,therefore1 poor people1 as ye love your own souls1 consider the love of ,god to your souls1 while ye have time1 and do not turn the grace of ,god into wantonness4 ,that which shows you ungodliness and worldly lusts1 should and would be your teacher1 if ye would hearken to it2 for the saints of old witnessed the grace of ,god to be their teacher1 which taught them to live soberly and godly in this present world4 ,ye that are not sober1 this grace of ,god hath appeared unto you1 but you turn it into wantonness1 and so set up teachers1 who are not sober1 not holy1 not godly4 ,here you are left without excuse1 when the righteous judgment of ,god shall be revealed upon all who live ungodly4 ,therefore to the light in you ,i speak2 and when the book of conscience shall come to be opened1 then shall you witness what ,i say to be true1 and you all shall be judged out of it4 ,god ,almighty direct your minds 7such of you especially who love honesty and sincerity17 that you may receive mercy in the time of need4 ,your teacher is within you2 look not forth2 it will teach you both lying in bed1 and going abroad1 to shun all occasion of sin and evil40 ,g4 ,f4 ,as the foregoing was directed to all the inhabitants of ,,ulverstone in general1 so it was upon me to write also to those more particularly1 that most constantly followed ,w4 ,lampitt1 the priest4 ,to these ,i wrote thus3-- 8,the word of the ,lord ,god to all the people that follow priest ,lampitt1 who is a blind guide4 ,ye are such as are turned from the light of ,christ within1 which he hath enlightened you withal2 ye are such as follow that which ,christ cried woe against1 that go not in ,christ's way1 but in the ,pharisees' way1 as ye may read1 ,matt4 xxiii41 which our ,lord ,jesus ,christ cried woe against4 ,he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever2 but him ye own not1 while ye follow such as he cried woe against2 though under a colour ye make a profession1 and ,lampitt1 your priest1 makes a trade of ,christ's and the saints' words1 as his fathers1 the ,pharisees1 made a profession of the prophets' and of ,moses's words4 ,woe was unto them who had not the life1 so woe is unto you who have not the life that gave forth the ,scriptures1 as your fruits have made manifest4 ,for when the ,lord hath moved some to come amongst you to preach the truth freely1 you have knocked them down1 beat1 and punched1 and haled them out of your assemblies4 ,such a people serve thee1 ,o ,lampitt1 to make a prey upon1 and these are thy fruits4 ,o6 let shame1 shame1 strike thee and you all in the faces1 who make a profession of ,christ's words1 and yet are stoners1 and strikers1 and mockers1 and scoffers4 ,let all see1 if this be not a cage of unclean birds1 spoken of in the ,scriptures1 by those who had the life of the ,scriptures4 ,such a company of people thou deceivest1 and feedest them with thy fancies2 thou makest a trade of the ,scriptures1 and takest them for thy cloak4 ,but thou art manifest to all the children of light2 for that cloak will not cover thee2 thy skirts are seen1 and thy nakedness appears4 ,the ,lord made one to go naked among you1 a figure of thy nakedness1 and of your nakedness1 and as a sign amongst you1 before your destruction cometh2 that you might see that you were naked1 and not covered with the truth4 ,to the light in all your consciences ,i speak1 which ,christ ,jesus doth enlighten you withal4 ,it will show you the time you have spent1 and all the evil deeds you have done in that time2 who follow such a teacher1 that acts contrary to this light1 and leads you into the ditch4 ,when you are in the ditch together1 both teacher and people1 remember ye were warned in your lifetime4 ,if ever your eyes come to see repentance1 and you obey the light of ,jesus ,christ in you1 you will witness me to have been a friend of your souls1 and that ,i have sought your eternal good1 and written this in dear love to you4 ,then will you own your condemnation2 which you must all own1 before you can come into that blessed life1 of which there is no end4 ,but ye1 who hate the light1 because your deeds are evil1 this light is your condemnation4 ,o6 that ye would love this light1 and hearken to it6 ,it would teach you1 both in your daily occupations1 and as you lie upon your beds1 and would never let you speak a vain word4 ,in loving it1 you love ,christ2 in hating it1 you bring condemnation thereof upon yourselves4 ,to you this is the word of ,god1 from under which you can never pass1 nor ever escape the terror of the ,lord1 in the state you are in1 who hate the light40 ,g4 ,f4 ,amongst the chief hearers and followers of this priest ,lampitt of ,,ulverstone1 was one ,adam ,sands1 who was a very wicked1 false man1 and would have destroyed truth and its followers if he could4 ,to him ,i was moved to write thus3-- 8,,adam ,,sands1 8,to the light in thy conscience ,i appeal1 thou child of the ,devil1 thou enemy of righteousness2 the ,lord will strike thee down1 though now for a while in thy wickedness thou mayest reign4 ,the plagues of ,god are due to thee1 who hardenest thyself in thy wickedness against the pure truth of ,god4 ,with the pure truth of ,god1 which thou hast resisted and persecuted1 thou art to be thrashed down1 which is eternal1 and doth comprehend thee2 and with the light1 which thou despisest1 thou art seen2 and it is thy condemnation4 ,thou as one brutish1 and thy wife as an hypocrite1 and you both as murderers of the just1 in that which is eternal1 are seen and comprehended2 and your hearts searched1 and tried1 and condemned by the light4 ,the light in thy conscience will witness the truth of what ,i write to thee2 and will let thee see that thou art not born of ,god1 but art from the truth1 in the beastly nature4 ,if ever thy eye see repentance1 thou wilt witness me a friend of thy soul1 and a seeker of thy eternal good40 ,g4 ,f4 ,this ,adam ,sands afterwards died miserably4 ,i was moved also to write to priest ,tatham4 8,the word of the ,lord to thee1 priest ,tatham1 who art found out of the doctrine of ,christ2 having the chiefest place in the assembly1 being called of men1 master1 and standing praying in the synagogue in the steps of the ,pharisees1 which our ,lord ,jesus ,christ cried woe against4 ,in his way thou art not1 but in the way of the scribes and ,pharisees1 as thou mayest read1 ,matt4 xxiii4 ,there ,christ's words judge thee1 and the ,scriptures of truth condemn thee4 ,for thou art such a one as sues men at the law for tithes1 and yet professest thyself to be a minister of ,christ2 which ,christ never empowered his to do2 neither did any of his apostles or ministers ever do so4 ,here ,i charge thee in the presence of the living ,god1 to be out of their doctrine2 and that as one of those evil beasts the ,scripture speaks of1 thou mindest earthly things1 which the life of the ,scriptures is against4 ,thou art for destruction in the state wherein thou standest2 and it will be thy portion eternally1 if thou dost not repent4 ,to that of ,god in thy conscience ,i speak1 which will witness the truth of what ,i say4 ,thou goest in ,cain's way1 in envy1 an enemy to ,god1 and from the command of ,god4 ,thou goest in ,balaam's way1 from the ,spirit of ,god1 for gifts and rewards1 the wages of unrighteousness4 ,thou son of ,balaam1 thou art worse than thy father1 for though he loved the wages of unrighteousness1 yet he durst not take them2 but thou not only takest them1 but suest men at the law if they will not give them thee1 which no true minister of ,jesus ,christ ever did2 therefore stop thy mouth for ever1 and never make mention of them1 or profess thyself one of them4 ,with the light thou art seen and comprehended1 who art light and vain1 and speakest a divination of thy own brain1 and deceivest the people4 ,that in thy conscience will witness what ,i say1 and will condemn thee1 who art one of those that bear rule by their means1 which the ,lord sent ,jeremiah to cry against1 ,jer4 v42 and so thou holdest up #8the horrible and filthy thing that is committed in the land4' ,they that do not tremble at the word of the ,lord1 are the foolish people that hold thee up2 they are sottish children1 and have no understanding2 they are wise to do evil1 but not to do good1 who are deceived by thee4 ,thou art one of those that seek their gain from their quarter2 a greedy dumb dog1 that never hath enough1 as thy practice makes manifest1 which the ,lord sent ,isaiah to cry against1 ,isa4 lvi4 #aa1 #ab4 ,and thou art such a one as the ,lord sent ,ezekiel to cry against1 who feedest of the fat1 and clothest with the wool1 and makest a prey of the people4 ,but the ,lord is gathering his sheep from thy mouth1 that to thee they shall be a prey no longer4 ,thou enemy of ,god1 here this prophecy is fulfilled upon thee1 ,ezek4 xxxiv41 and thou art one of them2 ,i charge it upon thee in the presence of the living ,god2 a hireling thou art1 and they that put not into thy mouth1 thou preparest war against them4 ,thou hatest the good1 and lovest the evil1 which the ,lord sent ,micah to cry against1 ,mic4 iii4 ,cover thy lips1 and stop thy mouth for ever1 thou child of darkness2 for with the light thou art comprehended1 and seen to be among them which the holy men of ,god cried woe against2 and by the ,spirit of the ,living ,god thou art judged4 ,in the light1 which is thy condemnation1 thou art comprehended2 thy race is seen1 and thy compass known1 who art out of the commands of ,christ1 and out of the doctrine and life of the apostles4 ,thou art proved and tried3 to thee this is the word of the ,lord1 to thee it shall be as a hammer1 a fire1 and a sword1 and from under it thou shalt never come1 unless thou repent2 who art with the light to be condemned in that state wherein thou standest3 and if ever thy eye see repentance1 this thy condemnation thou must own40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i wrote also to ---- ,burton1 priest of ,,sedbergh1 much to the same purpose1 he being in the same evil ground1 nature1 and practice4 ,many other epistles also and papers1 which are too many and large to be inserted in this place1 ,i wrote about that time1 as the ,lord moved me thereunto1 which ,i sent among the priests1 professors1 and people of all sorts1 for the laying their evil ways open before them1 that they might see and forsake them2 and opening the way of truth unto them1 that they might come to walk therein4 ,after ,i had cleared my conscience at that time to the priests and people near ,,swarthmore1 ,i went again into ,,westmorland4 ,a company of men with pikes and staves laid wait for me at a bridge in the way1 and they met with some ,friends1 but missed me4 ,afterwards they came to the meeting with their pikes and staves3 but ,justice ,benson being there1 and many considerable people besides1 they were prevented from doing the mischief they intended4 ,so they went away in a great rage1 without hurting any one4 ,i went from the meeting to ,,grayrigg1 and had a meeting there at ,alexander ,dixon's house1 to which the priest 7who was a ,baptist1 and a chapel priest17 came to oppose2 but the ,lord confounded him by his power4 ,some of the priest's people tumbled down some milk-pails which stood upon the side of the house1 which was much crowded2 whereupon the priest1 after he and his company were gone away1 raised a slander1 8that the ,devil frightened him1 and took away a side of the house while he was in the meeting40 ,and though this was a known falsehood1 yet it served the priests and professors to feed on for a while2 and so shameless they were1 that they printed and published it4 ,another time this priest came to a meeting1 and fell to jangling4 ,first he said1 8the ,scriptures were the word of ,god40 ,i told him they were the words of ,god1 but were not ,christ1 who is the ,word2 and bid him prove by ,scripture what he said4 ,then he said it was not the ,scripture that was the ,word2 and1 setting his foot upon the ,bible1 he said it was but copies bound up together4 ,many unsavoury words came from him1 but after he was gone we had a blessed meeting1 and the ,lord's power and presence was preciously manifested and felt amongst us4 ,soon after he sent me a challenge to meet me at ,,kendal4 ,i sent him word he need not go so far as ,,kendal1 for ,i would meet him in his own parish4 ,the hour being fixed1 we met1 and abundance of rude people gathered together1 besides the baptized people who were his own ,members2 and they had intended to do mischief1 but ,god prevented them4 ,when we were met1 ,i declared the day of the ,lord to them1 and directed them to ,christ ,jesus4 ,then the priest out with his ,bible1 and said it was the word of ,god4 ,i told him it was the words of ,god1 but not ,god1 the ,word4 ,his answer was1 he would prove the ,scriptures to be the word before all the people4 ,i let him go on1 having a man there that could take down in writing both what he said1 and what ,i said4 ,when he could not prove it 7for ,i kept him to ,scripture proof1 chapter and verse for it17 the people gnashed their teeth for anger1 and said he would have me anon2 but in going about to prove that one error1 he ran into many4 ,and when at length he saw he could not prove it1 then he said he would prove it to be a ,god3 so he toiled himself afresh1 till he perspired again1 but could not prove what he had affirmed4 ,and he and his company were full of wrath2 for ,i kept his assertions on the head of him and them all1 and told them ,i owned what the ,scriptures said of themselves1 namely1 that they were the words of ,god1 but ,christ was the ,word4 ,so the ,lord's power came over all1 and they being confounded went away4 ,the ,lord disappointed their mischievous intentions against me1 and ,friends were established in ,christ2 and many of the priest's followers saw the folly of their teacher4 ,after this1 priest ,bennet1 of ,,cartmel1 sent a challenge to dispute with me4 ,hereupon ,i came to his steeple-house on a ,first-day1 and found him preaching4 ,when he had done1 ,i spoke to him and his people2 but the priest would not stand the trial1 but went his way4 ,after he was gone1 ,i had much discourse with the people2 and when ,i was come out into the steeple-house yard1 and was discoursing further with the professors1 and declaring truth unto them1 one of them set his foot behind me1 and two of them ran against my breast1 and threw me down backwards against a grave-stone1 wickedly and maliciously seeking to hurt me2 but ,i got up again1 and was moved of the ,lord to speak to them4 ,then ,i went up to the priest's house1 and desired him to come forth that ,i might discourse with him1 seeing he had challenged me2 but he would not be seen4 ,so the ,lord's power came over them all1 which was greatly manifested at that time4 ,amongst the priest's hearers was one ,richard ,roper1 one of the bitterest professors the priest had3 he was very fierce and hot in his contention2 but afterwards he came to be convinced of ,god's eternal truth1 became a minister thereof1 and continued faithful to his death4 ,it was now about the beginning of the year #afec1 when ,i returned to ,,swarthmore2 and going to a meeting at ,,gleaston1 a professor challenged a dispute with me4 ,i went to the house where he was1 and called him to come forth2 but the ,lord's power was over him1 so that he durst not meddle4 ,then ,i departed thence1 and visited the meetings of ,friends in ,,lancashire1 and came back to ,,swarthmore4 ,great openings ,i had from the ,lord1 not only of divine and spiritual matters1 but also of outward things1 relating to the civil government4 ,for being one day in ,swarthmore-hall1 when ,judge ,fell and ,justice ,benson were talking of the news1 and of the parliament then sitting1 which was called the ,long ,parliament1 ,i was moved to tell them1 that before that day two weeks the ,parliament should be broken up1 and the speaker plucked out of his chair4 ,and that day two weeks ,justice ,benson coming thither again1 told ,judge ,fell1 that now he saw ,george was a true prophet2 for ,oliver had broken up the parliament4 ,about this time ,i was in a fast for about ten days1 my spirit being greatly exercised on truth's account2 for ,james ,milner and ,richard ,myer went out into imaginations1 and a company followed them4 ,this ,james ,milner and some of his company1 had true openings at first2 but getting into pride and exaltation of spirit1 they ran out from truth4 ,i was sent for to them1 and was moved of the ,lord to go1 and show them their outgoings3 and they were brought to see their folly1 and condemned it1 and came into the way of truth again4 ,after some time ,i went to a meeting at ,,arnside1 where ,richard ,myer was1 who had been long lame of one of his arms4 ,i was moved of the ,lord to say unto him1 amongst all the people1 8,stand up on thy legs0 7for he was sitting down73 and he stood up1 and stretched out his arm that had been lame a long time1 and said1 8,be it known unto you1 all people1 that this day ,i am healed40 ,yet his parents could hardly believe it2 but after the meeting was done1 they had him aside1 took off his doublet1 and then saw it was true4 ,he came soon after to ,swarthmore meeting1 and then declared how that the ,lord had healed him4 ,yet after this the ,lord commanded him to go to ,york with a message from him1 but he disobeyed the ,lord2 and the ,lord struck him again1 so that he died about three-quarters of a year after4 ,now were great threatenings given forth in ,,cumberland1 that if ever ,i came there again1 they would take away my life4 ,when ,i heard it ,i was drawn to go into ,,cumberland1 and went to ,miles ,wennington's1 in the same parish from which those threatenings came2 but they had not power to touch me4 ,about this time ,anthony ,pearson was convinced1 who had been an opposer of ,friends4#bg ,he came over to ,,swarthmore2 and ,i being then at ,colonel ,west's1 they sent for me4 ,colonel ,west said1 8,go1 ,george1 for it may be great service to the man40 ,so ,i went1 and the ,lord's power reached him4 ,footnote #bg3 ,justice ,pearson1 who 8was convinced as he sat on the bench10 became the author of an approved work1 ,the ,great ,case of ,tithes4 ,a striking letter from him1 dated in #afec1 respecting his religious state1 is inserted in ,letters of ,early ,friends1 pages #aj-ab4 ,about this time also the ,lord opened several mouths to declare the truth to priests and people1 so that many were cast into prison4 ,i went again into ,,cumberland1 and ,anthony ,pearson and his wife1 and several ,friends1 went with me to ,,bootle1 where ,anthony ,pearson left me1 and went to ,carlisle sessions2 for he was a ,justice of the peace in three counties4 ,on a ,first-day ,i went into the steeple-house at ,,bootle2 and when the priest had done1 ,i began to speak4 ,but the people were exceeding rude1 and struck and beat me in the yard3 one gave me a very great blow over my wrist1 so that the people thought he had broken my hand to pieces4 ,the constable was very desirous to keep the peace1 and would have set some of them by the heels that struck me1 if ,i would have given way to it4 ,after my service amongst them was over1 ,i went to ,joseph ,nicholson's house1#bh and the constable went a little way with us1 to keep off the rude multitude4 ,in the afternoon ,i went again2 and then the priest had got another priest1 that came from ,,london1 and was highly accounted of1 to help him4 ,before ,i went in to the steeple-house1 ,i sat a little upon the ,cross1 and ,friends with me2 but the ,friends were moved to go into the steeple-house1 and ,i went in after them4 ,the ,london priest was preaching2 who gathered up all the ,scriptures he could think of1 that spoke of false prophets1 and antichrists1 and deceivers1 and threw them upon us2 but when he had done ,i recollected all those ,scriptures1 and brought them back upon himself4 ,then the people fell upon me in a rude manner2 but the constable charged them to keep the peace1 and so made them quiet again4 ,footnote #bh3 ,joseph ,nicholson was one of those who1 with his wife1 suffered in the ,new ,england persecution1 being imprisoned there and laid in irons4 ,he was also immured within the walls of ,dover ,castle in #affa4 ,see ,bowden's ,history of ,friends in ,america1 vol4 i41 pp4 #bjc-bjf1 and #bfh1 c4 ,then the priest began to rage1 and said ,i must not speak there1 ,i told him he had his hour-glass1 by which he had preached1 and he having done1 the time was free for me1 as well as for him1 for he was but a stranger there himself4 ,so ,i opened the ,scriptures to them1 and let them see 8that those ,scriptures1 that spoke of the false prophets1 and antichrists1 and deceivers1 described them and their generation1 and belonged to them who were found walking in their steps1 and bringing forth their fruits2 and not unto us1 who were not guilty of such things40 ,i manifested to them1 that they were out of the steps of the true prophets and apostles2 and showed them clearly1 by the fruits and marks1 that it was they of whom those ,scriptures spoke1 and not we4 ,and ,i declared the truth1 and the word of life to the people1 and directed them to ,christ their ,teacher4 ,all was quiet while ,i was speaking2 but when ,i had done1 and was come out1 the priests were both of them in such a rage1 that they foamed at the mouth for anger against me4 ,the priest of the place made an oration to the people in the steeple-house yard1 and said1 8,this man hath gotten all the honest men and women in ,,lancashire to him2 and now10 said he1 8he comes here to do the same40 ,then said ,i unto him1 8,what wilt thou have left8 and what have the priests left them1 but such as themselves8 ,for if it be the honest that receive the truth1 and are turned to ,christ1 then it must be the dishonest that follow thee1 and such as thou art40 ,some also of the priest's people began to plead for their priest1 and for tithes2 but ,i told them it were better for them to plead for ,christ1 who had ended the tithing-priesthood and tithes1 and had sent forth his ministers to give freely1 as they had received freely4 ,so the ,lord's power came over them all1 put them to silence1 and restrained the rude people1 that they could not do the mischief they intended4 ,when ,i came down again to ,joseph ,nicholson's house1 ,i saw a great hole in my coat1 which was cut with a knife1 but it was not cut through my doubtlet1 for the ,lord had prevented their mischief4 ,and the next day a rude wicked man would have done violence to a ,friend1 but the ,lord's power stopped him4 ,now was ,i moved to send ,james ,lancaster to appoint a meeting at ,john ,wilkinson's steeple-house near ,,cockermouth1 who was a preacher in great repute1 and had three parishes under him2 wherefore ,i stayed at ,,millom-,,in-,,bootle till he came back again4 ,in the meantime some of those called the gentry of the country had formed a plot against me1 and had given a little boy a rapier1 to do me mischief with it4 ,they came with the boy to ,joseph ,nicholson's house to seek me2 but the ,lord had so ordered it1 that ,i was gone into the fields4 ,they met with ,james ,lancaster1 but did not much abuse him2 and not finding me in the house1 after a while they went away again4 ,so ,i walked up and down in the fields that night1 and did not go to bed1 as very often ,i used to do4 ,the next day we came to the steeple-house1 where ,james ,lancaster had appointed the meeting4 ,there were at this meeting twelve soldiers and their wives1 who were come thither from ,,carlisle2 and the country people came in1 as if it had been to a fair4 ,i lay at a house a short distance from the place1 so that many ,friends were there before me4 ,when ,i came1 ,i found ,james ,lancaster speaking under a yew tree2 which was so full of people that ,i feared they would break it down4 ,i looked about for a place to stand upon1 to speak to the people2 for they lay all up and down like people at a leaguer4 ,after ,i was discovered1 a professor came to me1 and asked1 if ,i would go into the church2 seeing no place convenient to speak to the people from1 ,i told him1 8,yes20 whereupon the people rushed in2 so that when ,i came in1 the house and even the pulpit was so full of people1 that ,i had much ado to get in2 and they that could not get in1 stood about the walls4 ,when the people were settled1 ,i stood up on a seat2 and the ,lord opened my mouth 8to declare his everlasting truth1 and his everlasting day2 and to lay open all their teachers1 their rudiments1 traditions1 and inventions1 that they had been in1 in the night of apostacy since the apostles' days4 ,i turned them to ,christ the true teacher1 and to the true spiritual worship2 directing them where to find the ,spirit and truth1 that they might worship ,god therein4 ,i opened ,christ's parables unto them1 and directed them to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 that would open the ,scriptures unto them4 ,and ,i showed them1 how all might come to know their ,saviour1 and sit under his teaching2--might come to be heirs of the kingdom of ,god1 and know both the voice of ,god and of ,christ1 by which they might discover all the false shepherds and teachers they had been under2 and be gathered to the true shepherd1 priest1 bishop1 and prophet1 ,christ ,jesus1 whom ,god commanded all to hear40 ,so when ,i had largely declared the word of life unto them1 for about three hours1 ,i walked from amongst the people1 and they passed away very well satisfied4 ,among the rest a professor followed me1 praising and commending me2 but his words were like a thistle to me4 ,at last ,i turned about1 and bid him 8fear the ,lord30 whereupon priest ,larkham1 of ,,cockermouth 7for several priests were got together on the way who came after the meeting was over17 said to me1 8,sir1 why do you judge so2 you must not judge40 ,but ,i turned to him and said1 8,friend1 dost not thou discern an exhortation from a judgment8 ,i admonished him to fear ,god2 and dost thou say ,i judge him80 ,so this priest and ,i falling into discourse1 ,i manifested him to be amongst the false prophets and covetous hirelings4 ,and several people being moved to speak to him1 he and two others of the priests soon got away4 ,when they were gone1 ,john ,wilkinson1 who was preacher of that parish1 and of two other parishes in ,,cumberland1 began to dispute against his own conscience for several hours1 till the people generally turned against him2 for he thought to have tired me out1 but the ,lord's power tired him out1 and the ,lord's truth came over him and them all4 ,many hundreds were convinced that day1 and received the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and his free teaching1 with gladness2 of whom some have died in the truth1 and many stand faithful witnesses thereof4 ,the soldiers also were convinced1 and their wives1 and continued with me till ,first-day4 ,on ,first-day ,i went to the steeple-house at ,,cockermouth1 where priest ,larkham lived4 ,when he had done1 ,i began to speak1 and the people began to be rude2 but the soldiers told them we had broken no law1 and they became quiet4 ,then ,i turned to the priest1 and laid him open among the false prophets and hirelings2 at which word the priest went his way1 and said1 8,he calls me hireling20 which was true enough1 and all the people knew it4 ,then some of the great men of the town came to me1 and said1 8,sir1 we have no learned men to dispute with you40 ,i told them ,i came not to dispute1 but to show the way of salvation to them1 the way of everlasting life4 ,i declared largely the way of life and truth1 and directed them to ,christ their ,teacher1 who had died for them1 and bought them with his blood4 ,when ,i had done1 ,i went about two miles to another great steeple-house of ,john ,wilkinson's1 called ,,brigham2 where the people1 having been at the other meeting1 were mightily affected1 and would have put my horse into the steeple-house yard2 but ,i said1 8,no1 the priest claims that2 take him to an inn40 ,when ,i came into the steeple-house yard1 ,i saw the people coming in great companies1 as to a fair2 and abundance were already gathered in the lanes1 and about the steeple-house4 ,i was very thirsty1 and walked about a quarter of a mile to a brook1 where ,i got some water1 and refreshed myself4 ,as ,i came up again1 ,i met ,wilkinson1 who as ,i passed by him said1 8,sir1 will you preach to-day8 ,if you will10 said he1 8,i will not oppose you in word or thought40 ,i replied1 8,oppose if thou wilt2 ,i have something to speak to the people40 8,and10 said ,i1 8thou carriedst thyself foolishly the other day1 and spoke against thy conscience and reason2 insomuch that thy hearers cried out against thee40 ,so ,i left him1 and went on2 for he saw it was in vain to oppose1 the people were so affected with the ,lord's truth4 ,when ,i came into the steeple-house yard1 a professor came to me1 and asked if ,i would not go into the church as he called it4 ,and ,i seeing no convenient place to stand to speak to the people from1 went in1 and stood up on a seat after they were settled4 ,the priest came in also1 but did not go up to his pulpit4 ,the ,lord opened my mouth1 and ,i declared his everlasting truth1 and word of life to the people2 8directing them to the spirit of ,god in themselves1 by which they might know ,god and ,christ1 and the ,scriptures1 and come to have heavenly fellowship in the ,spirit4 ,i declared to them1 that every one that cometh into the world1 was enlightened by ,christ the life2 by which light they might see their sins1 and ,christ1 who was come to save them from their sins1 and died for them4 ,and1 if they came to walk in this light1 they might therein see ,christ to be the author of their faith1 and the finisher thereof2 their ,shepherd to feed them1 their ,priest to teach them1 and their great ,prophet to open divine mysteries unto them1 and to be always present with them4 ,i explained also unto them1 in the openings of the ,lord1 the first covenant1 explaining to them the types1 and the substance of those figures2 and so bringing them on to ,christ1 the new covenant4 ,i also manifested unto them1 that there had been a night of apostacy since the apostles' days2 but that now the everlasting gospel was preached again1 which brought life and immortality to light2 and the day of the ,lord was come1 and ,christ was come to teach his people himself by his light1 grace1 power1 and ,spirit40 ,a fine opportunity the ,lord gave me to preach truth among the people that day for about three hours2 and all was quiet4 ,many hundreds were convinced2 and some of them praised ,god and said1 8,now we know the first step to peace40 ,the preacher also said privately to some of his hearers1 that ,i had broken them and overthrown them4 ,after this ,i went to a village1 and many people accompanied me4 ,as ,i was sitting in a house full of people1 declaring the word of life unto them1 ,i cast mine eye upon a woman1 and discerned an unclean spirit in her4 ,and ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak sharply to her1 and told her she was a witch under the influence of an unclean spirit2 whereupon she went out of the room4 ,now1 ,i being a stranger there1 and knowing nothing of the woman outwardly1 the people wondered at it1 and told me afterwards that ,i had discovered a great thing2 for all the country looked upon her to be a witch4 ,the ,lord had given me a spirit of discerning1 by which ,i many times saw the states and conditions of people1 and could try their spirits4 ,for not long before1 as ,i was going to a meeting1 ,i saw some women in a field1 and ,i discerned them to be witches2 and ,i was moved to go out of my way into the field to them1 and declare unto them their conditions4 ,at another time there came such an one into ,swarthmore-hall in the meeting time2 and ,i was moved to speak sharply to her1 and told her she was a witch under the power of an evil spirit2 and the people said afterwards she was generally accounted so4 ,there came also at another time another woman1 and stood at a distance from me1 and ,i cast mine eye upon her1 and said1 8thou hast been a harlot20 for ,i perfectly saw the condition and life of the woman4 ,the woman answered and said1 many could tell her of her outward sins1 but none could tell her of her inward4 ,then ,i told her her heart was not right before the ,lord1 and that from the inward came the outward4 ,this woman came afterwards to be convinced of ,god's truth1 and became a ,friend4 ,from the aforesaid village we came up to ,thomas ,bewley's1 near ,,caldbeck2 and from thence1 having had some service for the ,lord there1 ,i passed to a town1 where ,i had a meeting at the ,cross2 and all was pretty quiet4 ,when ,i had declared the truth unto them1 and directed them to ,christ their teacher1 some received the truth4 ,we had another meeting upon the borders1 in a steeple-house yard1 to which many professors and contenders came2 but the ,lord's power was over all2 and when the word of life had been declared amongst them1 some received the truth there also4 ,from thence we came to ,,carlisle1 and the pastor of the ,baptists1 with most of his hearers1 came to me to the abbey1 where ,i had a meeting1 and declared the word of life amongst them2 and many of the ,baptists1 and of the soldiers1 were convinced4 ,after the meeting1 the pastor of the ,baptists1 a high notionist1 and a flashy man1 came to me1 and asked me1 8what must be damned20 ,i was moved immediately to tell him1 8that which spoke in him was to be damned40 ,this stopped his mouth2 and the witness of ,god was raised up in him4 ,i opened to him the states of election and reprobation1 so that he said he never heard the like in his life4 ,he also came afterwards to be convinced4 ,then ,i went up to the castle among the soldiers1 who beat a drum1 and called the garrison together4 ,i preached the truth amongst them1 8directing them to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to be their teacher1 and to the measure of his ,spirit in themselves1 by which they might be turned from the darkness to the light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,i warned them all1 that they should do no violence to any man1 but should show forth a ,christian life2 telling them1 that he who was to be their teacher1 would be their condemner1 if they were disobedient to him40 ,so ,i left them1 having no opposition from any of them except the sergeants1 who afterwards came to be convinced4 ,on the market-day ,i went up into the market1 to the market-cross4 ,now the magistrates had both threatened and sent their serjeants2 and the magistrates' wives had said that if ,i came there1 they would pluck the hair off my head2 and that the serjeants should take me up4 ,nevertheless1 ,i obeyed the ,lord ,god1 and went upon the ,cross1 and there declared unto them1 that the day of the ,lord was coming upon all their deceitful ways and doings1 and deceitful merchandize2 and that they should put away all cozening and cheating1 and keep to yea and nay1 and speak the truth one to another2 so the truth and the power of ,god was set over them4 ,after ,i had declared the word of life to the people1 the throng became so great that the serjeants could not get to me1 nor the magistrates' wives come at me1 ,i passed away quietly4 ,many people and soldiers came to me1 and some ,baptists1 that were bitter contenders2 amongst whom one of their deacons1 being an envious man1 and finding the ,lord's power was over them1 cried out for very anger4 ,whereupon ,i set my eyes upon him1 and spoke sharply to him in the power of the ,lord2 and he cried1 8,do not pierce me so with thy eyes2 keep thy eyes off me40 ,on the ,first-day following ,i went into the steeple-house2 and after the priest had done1 ,i preached the truth to the people1 and declared the word of life amongst them4 ,the priest got away1 and the magistrates desired me to go out of the steeple-house4 ,but ,i still declared the way of the ,lord unto them1 and told them1 8,i came to speak the word of life and salvation from the ,lord amongst them40 ,the power of the ,lord was dreadful amongst them in the steeple-house1 so that the people trembled and shook1 and they thought the steeple-house shook3 and some of them feared it would fall down on their heads4 ,the magistrates' wives were in a rage1 and strove mightily to be at me3 but the soldiers and friendly people stood thick about me4 ,at length the rude people of the city rose1 and came with staves and stones into the steeple-house1 crying1 8,down with these round-headed rogues20 and they threw stones4 ,whereupon the governor sent a file or two of musketeers into the steeple-house1 to appease the tumult1 and commanded all the other soldiers out4 ,so those soldiers took me by the hand in a friendly manner1 and said they would have me along with them4 ,when we came forth into the street1 the city was in an uproar1 and the governor came down2 and some of those soldiers were put in prison for standing by me1 and for me1 against the town's-people4 ,a lieutenant1 that had been convinced1 came1 and brought me to his house1 where there was a ,baptists' meeting1 and thither came ,friends also1 and we had a very quiet meeting2 they heard the word of life gladly1 and many received it4 ,the next day1 the justices and magistrates of the town being gathered in the townhall1 they granted a warrant against me1 and sent for me to come before them4 ,i was then gone to a ,baptist's house2 but hearing of it1 ,i went up to the hall to them1 where many rude people were2 some of whom had sworn strange1 false things against me4 ,i had much discourse with the magistrates1 wherein ,i laid open the fruits of their priests' preaching1 and showed them how void they were of ,christianity2 and that1 though they were such great professors 7for they were ,independents and ,presbyterians17 they were without the possession of that which they professed4 ,after a large examination they committed me to prison as a blasphemer1 a heretic1 and a seducer2 though they could not justly charge any such thing against me4 ,the jail at ,,carlisle had two jailers1 an upper and an under1 who looked like two great bear-wards4 ,now when ,i was brought in1 the upper jailer had me up into a great chamber1 and told me1 ,i should have what ,i would in that room4 ,but ,i told him1 he should not expect any money from me1 for ,i would neither lie in any of his beds1 nor eat any of his victuals4 ,then he put me into another room2 where after a while1 ,i got something to lie upon4 ,there ,i lay till the assizes came2 and then all the talk was1 that ,i was to be hanged4 ,the high sheriff1 whose name was ,wilfred ,lawson1 stirred them much up to take away my life2 and said1 he would guard me to my execution himself4 ,they were in a great rage1 and set three musketeers for a guard upon me2 one at my chamber door1 another at the stairs' foot1 and a third at the street door2 and they would let none come at me1 except one sometimes1 to bring me some necessary things4 ,at night they would bring up priests to me1 sometimes as late as the tenth hour2 who were exceedingly rude and devilish4 ,there was a company of bitter ,scotch priests1 ,presbyterians1 made up of envy and malice1 who were not fit to speak of the things of ,god1 they were so foul-mouthed2 but the ,lord1 by his power1 gave me dominion over them all1 and ,i let them see both their fruits and their spirits4 ,great ladies also 7as they were called7 came to see the man that they said was to die4 ,now1 while both the judge1 justices1 and sheriff1 were contriving together how they might put me to death1 the ,lord disappointed their design by an unexpected way2 for the judge's clerk 7as ,i was informed17 started a question among them1 which confounded all their counsels2 so that after that they had not power to call me before the judge4 ,anthony ,pearson being then in ,carlisle1 and perceiving that they did not intend to bring me1 as was expected1 upon my trial1 wrote a letter to the judges1 directed as follows3-- ,,to ,,the ,,judges ,,of ,,assize ,,and ,,jail-,,delivery ,,for ,,the ,,northern ,,parts1 ,,sitting ,,at ,,carlisle4 8,you are raised up to do righteousness and justice1 and sent forth to punish him that doth evil1 and to encourage him that doth well1 and to set the oppressed free4 ,i am therefore moved to lay before you the condition of ,george ,fox1 whom the magistrates of this city have cast into prison1 for words that he is accused to have spoken1 which they call blasphemy4 ,he was sent to the jail1 till he should be delivered by due course of law2 and it was expected he should have been proceeded against in the common-law court at this assizes4 ,the informations against him were delivered into court2 and the act allows and appoints that way of trial4 ,how hardly and unchristianly he hath been hitherto dealt with1 ,i shall not now mention2 but you may consider1 that nothing he is accused of is nice and difficult4 ,and1 to my knowledge1 he utterly abhors and detests every particular1 which by the act against blasphemous opinions1 is appointed to be punished2 and differs as much from those people against whom the law was made1 as light from darkness4 ,though he is committed1 judgment is not given against him2 nor have his accusers been face to face1 to affirm before him what they have informed against him2 nor was he heard as to the particulars of their accusations2 nor doth it appear1 that any word they charge against him1 is within the act4 ,but1 indeed1 ,i could not yet so much as see the information1 no1 not in court1 though ,i desired it1 both of the clerk of the assizes and of the magistrates' clerk2 nor hath he had a copy of them4 ,this is very hard2 and that he should be so closely restrained1 that his friends may not speak with him1 ,i know no law nor reason for4 ,i do therefore claim for him a due and lawful hearing1 and that he may have a copy of his charge1 and freedom to answer for himself2 and that rather before you1 than to be left to the rulers of this town1 who are not competent judges of blasphemy1 as by their mittimus appears2 who have committed him upon an act of parliament1 and mention words as spoken by him at his examination1 which are not within the act1 and which he utterly denies4 ,the words mentioned in the mittimus he denies to have spoken2 and hath neither professed nor avowed them40 ,,anthony ,,pearson4 ,notwithstanding this letter1 the judges were resolved not to suffer me to be brought before them2 but reviling and scoffing at me behind my back1 left me to the magistrates of the town2 giving them what encouragement they could to exercise their cruelty upon me4 ,whereupon 7though ,i had been kept up so close in the jailer's house that ,friends were not suffered to visit me1 and ,colonel ,benson and ,justice ,pearson were denied to see me17 the next day1 after the judges were gone out of town1 an order was sent to the jailer to put me down into the dungeon among the moss-troopers1#bi thieves1 and murderers1 which accordingly he did4 ,a filthy nasty place it was1 where men and women were put together in a very uncivil manner1 and not even a house of convenience to it2 and the prisoners so lousy that one woman was almost eaten to death with lice4 ,yet1 as bad as the place was1 the prisoners were all made very loving and subject to me2 and some of them were convinced of the truth1 as the publicans and harlots were of old2 so that they were able to confound any priest1 that might come to the grates to dispute4 ,but the jailer was very cruel1 and the under-jailer very abusive to me and to ,friends that came to see me2 for he would beat ,friends with a great cudgel1 that did but come to the window to look in upon me4 ,i could get up to the grate1 where sometimes ,i took in my meat2 at which the jailer was often offended4 ,one time he came in a great rage1 and beat me with a great cudgel1 though ,i was not at the grate at that time2 and as he beat me1 he cried1 8,come out of the window10 though ,i was then far enough from it4 ,while he struck me1 ,i was made to sing in the ,lord's power2 and that made him rage the more4 ,then he fetched a fiddler1 and brought him in where ,i was1 and set him to play1 thinking to vex me thereby2 but while he played1 ,i was moved in the everlasting power of the ,lord ,god to sing2 and my voice drowned the noise of the fiddle1 and struck and confounded them1 and made them give over fiddling and go their way4 ,footnote #bi3 ,moss-troopers were the remnant of a kind of freebooters1 who infested the borders of ,england and ,scotland in feudal times1 making incursions on each other1 less for the purpose of contention in arms1 than for committing depredations on cattle and property4 ,justice ,benson's wife was moved of the ,lord to come to visit me1 and to eat no meat but what she ate with me at the bars of the dungeon window4 ,she was afterwards herself imprisoned at ,,york1 when she was great with child1 for speaking to a priest2 and was kept in prison1 and not suffered to go out1 when the time of her travail was come2 so she was delivered of her child in the prison4 ,she was an honest1 tender woman1 and continued faithful to the truth until she died4 ,whilst ,i was in the dungeon at ,,carlisle1 ,james ,parnell1 a little lad of about sixteen years of age1 came to see me1 and was convinced4 ,and the ,lord quickly made him a powerful minister of the word of life1 and many were turned to ,christ by him1 though he lived not long3 for1 travelling into ,,essex1 in the work of the ministry1 in the year #afee1 he was committed to ,,colchester castle1 where he endured very great hardships and sufferings2 being put by the cruel jailer into a hole in the castle wall1 called the oven1 so high from the ground1 that he went up to it by a ladder2 which being six feet too short1 he was obliged to climb from the ladder to the hole by a rope that was fastened above4 ,and when ,friends would have given him a cord and a basket1 to draw up his victuals in1 the inhuman jailer would not suffer them1 but forced him to go down and up by that short ladder and rope1 to fetch his victuals1 7which for a long time he did71 or else he might have famished in the hole4 ,at length1 his limbs being much benumbed with lying in that place1 yet being constrained to go down to take up some victuals1 as he came up the ladder again with his victuals in one hand1 and caught at the rope with the other1 he missed the rope1 and fell down from a very great height upon the stones2 by which fall he was exceedingly wounded in his head and arms1 and his body was so much bruised1 that he died in a short time after4#cj ,when he was dead1 the wicked professors1 to cover their own cruelty1 wrote a book of him1 and said1 8he fasted himself to death20 which was an abominable falsehood1 and was manifested so to be by another book1 which was written in answer to that1 and was called 8,the ,lamb's ,defence against ,lies40 ,footnote #cj3 ,james ,parnell1 according to the historian ,sewell1 was trained up in the schools of literature4 ,though young1 he became a valiant soldier of the ,lamb2 8,in age a stripling1 but in service old20 and died a true martyr in a dungeon's gloom4 ,particulars of his barbarous treatment1 and consequent death in jail1 may be found in ,sewell's ,history1 vol4 i41 under date #afee2 and fuller information in his ,life by ,callaway4 ,in ,barclay's ,letters of early ,friends is one from ,james ,parnell written from ,colchester ,castle1 wherein he says1 8,they have laboured to make my bonds grievous1 but my strength the ,philistines know not3 ,i am kept and nourished in the midst of mine enemies2 glory be to ,god the ,highest1 who hath counted me worthy to bear the bonds of the gospel40 ,now when ,i saw that ,i was not likely to be brought to a public hearing and trial 7although ,i had before answered in writing1 the particular matters charged against me1 at the time of my first examination and commitment71 ,i was moved to send the following paper1 as a public challenge to all those that belied the truth and me behind my back1 to come forth and make good their charge3-- 8,if any in ,westmorland1 or ,cumberland1 or elsewhere1 that profess ,christianity1 and pretend to love ,god and ,christ1 are not satisfied concerning the things of ,god1 which ,i1 who am called ,george ,fox1 have spoken and declared1 let them declare and publish their dissatisfaction in writing1 and not back-bite1 nor lie1 nor persecute1 in secret3 this ,i demand of you all in the presence of the living ,god1 as ye will answer it to him4 ,for the exaltation of the truth1 and the confounding of deceit1 is this given forth4 ,to that of ,god in your consciences ,i speak2 declare or write your dissatisfaction to any of them1 whom you call ,quakers1 that truth may be exalted1 and all may come to the light1 with which ,christ has enlightened every one that cometh into the world3 that nothing may be hid in darkness1 in prisons1 holes1 or corners1 but that all things may be brought to the light of ,christ1 and by the light of ,christ may be tried4 ,this am ,i moved of the ,lord to write1 and send forth to be set upon the market-crosses in ,westmorland1 and elsewhere4 ,to the light of ,christ in you ,i speak1 that none of you may speak evil of the things of ,god1 which you know not2 nor act contrary to the light1 that gave forth the ,scriptures2 lest you be found fighters against ,god1 and the hand of the ,lord be turned against you40 ,g4 ,f4 ,while ,i thus lay in the dungeon at ,,carlisle1 the report raised at the time of the assize1 8that ,i should be put to death10 was gone far and near2 insomuch that the parliament then sitting 7which1 ,i think1 was called the ,little ,parliament71 hearing1 that a young man at ,,carlisle was to die for religion1 caused a letter to be sent to the sheriff and magistrates concerning me4 ,about the same time ,i wrote also to the justices at ,,carlisle1 that had cast me into prison1 and that persecuted ,friends at the instigation of the priests for tithes2 expostulating the matter with them thus3-- 8,,friends1 ,,thomas ,,craston ,,and ,,cuthbert ,,studholm4 8,your noise is gone up to ,london before the sober people4 ,what imprisoning1 what gagging1 what havoc and spoiling of the goods of people have you made within these few years6 ,unlike men2 as though you had never read the ,scriptures1 or had not minded them6 ,is this the end of ,carlisle's religion8 is this the end of your ministry2 and is this the end of your church1 and of your profession of ,christianity8 ,you have shamed it by your folly1 your madness1 and blind zeal4 ,was it not always the work of the blind guides1 watchmen1 leaders1 and false prophets1 to prepare war against them that would not put into their mouths8 ,and have not you been the priests' pack-horses1 and executioners8 ,when they spur you up to bear the sword against the just1 do not you run on against the creatures1 that cannot hold up such as the ,scriptures did always testify against8 ,yet will you lift up your unholy hands1 and call upon ,god with your polluted lips1 and pretend a fast1 who are full of strife and debate4 ,did your hearts never burn within you8 ,did you never come to question your conditions8 ,are you wholly given up to do the ,devil's lusts1 to persecute8 ,where is your loving of enemies8 ,where is your entertaining of strangers8 ,where is your overcoming evil with good8 ,where are your teachers that can stop the mouths of gainsayers1 and can convince gainsayers and such as oppose themselves8 ,have you no ministers of the ,spirit1 no soldiers with spiritual weapons displaying ,christ's colours8 ,but all the dragon's1 the murderer's1 the persecutor's arm of flesh2 ,cain's weapons1 chief priests taking counsel2 ,judas and the multitude with swords and staves2 ,sodom's company raging about ,lot's house2 like the priests and princes against ,jeremiah2 like the dragon1 beast1 and great whore1 and the false church1 which ,john saw1 should cast into prison1 and kill1 and persecute8 ,whose weapons are you bearing8 ,doth not the false church make merchandise of cattle1 corn1 wine1 and oil1 even to the very souls of men8 ,and hath not all this been since the true church went into the wilderness8 ,read ,revelations the xiith1 with the xviiith3 do you not read and see what a spirit you are of1 and what a bottomless pit you are in8 ,and have not you dishonoured the place of justice and authority8 ,what6 turned your sword backward like madmen1 who are a praise to the evil-doer1 and would be a terror to the good1 with all force and might to stop the way of justice6 ,doth not the ,lord1 think you1 behold your actions8 ,how many have you wronged8 how many have you imprisoned and persecuted1 and put out of your synagogues8 ,are you they that must fulfil the prophecy of ,christ1 ,matt4 xxiii4 ,john xvi48 8,read the ,scriptures1 and see how unlike you are to the prophets1 ,christ1 and his apostles2 and what a visage you have1 like unto them that persecuted the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles4 ,you are found in their steps1 wrestling with flesh and blood1 and not with principalities1 and powers1 and spiritual wickedness1 and your teachers imprisoning and persecuting for outward things1 you being their executioners2 the like whereof hath not been in all the nations4 ,the havoc that hath been made1 the spoiling of the goods of people1 taking away their oxen and fatted beeves1 their sheep1 corn1 wool1 and household goods1 and giving them to the priests1 that have done no work for them2 more like moss-troopers than ministers of the gospel1 they take them from ,friends2 sueing them in your courts1 and fining them because they will not break the commands of ,christ2 that is1 because they will not swear4 ,thus you act against them that do not lift up a hand against you2 and as much as you turn against them you turn against ,christ4 ,but he is risen that will plead their cause1 and you cannot be hid2 for your works are come to light1 and the end of your ministry is seen1 what it is for--for means4 ,you have dishonoured the truth1 the gospel1 and are they that make it chargeable4 ,you have lost your glory4 ,you have dishonoured yourselves4 ,persecution was ever blind and mad4 ,read the apostle1 what he saith of himself1 when he was in your nature4 ,exaltation and pride1 and your lifting up yourselves1 hath brought you to this2 not being humble1 not doing justice1 not loving mercy4 ,when such as have been beaten and bruised by your rude company1 to whom you are a praise and encouragement1 have come1 and laid things before you1 that you might do justice1 preserve and keep peace1 you1 knowing they could not swear1 have put an oath to them4 ,this hath been your trick and cover1 that ye might not do justice to the just2 but by this means you have gone on still further to encourage the evil-doer4 ,but the ,lord sees your hearts6 ,if ye were not men past feeling1 ye would fear and tremble before the ,god of the whole earth1 who is risen and will stain your glory1 mar your pride1 deface your beauty1 and lay it in the dust4 ,though for a time you may swell in your pride1 glory in your shame1 and make a mock of ,god's messengers1 who for reproving sin in the gate1 are become your prey1 you will feel the heavy hand of ,god1 and his judgments at the last4 8,this is from a lover of the truth1 and of righteousness1 and of your souls2 but a witness against all such as make a trade of the prophets'1 ,christ's1 and the ,apostles' words1 and are found in the steps of them that persecuted the prophets'1 ,christ's1 and the ,apostles' life2 who will persecute them1 that will not hold you up1 and put into your mouths1 and give you means4 ,tithes were before the law1 and tithes were in the law2 but tithes1 since the days of the apostles1 have been only since the false church got up4 ,now ,christ1 who is come to end the law1 and to end war1 redeems men out of the tenths1 and out of the nines also4 ,the redeemed of the ,lord shall reign upon the earth1 and know the election1 which was before the world began4 ,since the days of the apostles1 tithes have been set up by the ,papists1 and by them that went forth from the apostles into the world2 so set up by the false church1 that made merchandise of people1 since the true church went into the wilderness4 ,but now is the judgment of the great whore come1 and the beast and false prophet1 the old dragon1 shall be taken and cast in the fire1 and the ,lamb and his saints shall have the victory4 ,now is ,christ come1 who will make war in righteousness1 and destroy with the sword of his mouth all these inventors and inventions1 that have got up1 and been set up since the days of the apostles1 and since the true church went into the wilderness4 ,and the everlasting gospel1 which is the power of ,god1 shall be preached again to all nations1 and kindreds and tongues1 in this the ,lamb's day1 before whom you shall appear to judgment4 ,you have no way to escape4 ,for ,he hath appeared1 who is #8the ,first and the ,last1 the beginning and the ending1 the ,alpha and the ,omega2 ,he that was dead1 is alive again1 and lives for evermore6'0 ,i mentioned before that ,gervase ,benson and ,anthony ,pearson1 though they had been justices of the peace1 were not permitted to come to me in the prison2 whereupon they jointly wrote a letter to the magistrates1 priests1 and people at ,,carlisle1 concerning my imprisonment2 which was thus3-- 8,him1 who is called ,george ,fox1 who is persecuted by rulers and magistrates1 by justices1 by priests1 and by people1 and who suffers imprisonment of his body at this present1 as a blasphemer1 and a heretic1 and a seducer1 him do we witness1 who in measure are made partakers of the same life1 that lives in him1 to be a minister of the eternal ,word of ,god1 by whom the everlasting gospel is preached2 by the powerful preaching whereof the eternal ,father of the saints hath opened the blind eyes1 hath unstopped the deaf ears1 hath let the oppressed go free1 and hath raised up the dead out of the graves4 ,christ is now preached in and among the saints1 the same that ever he was2 and because his heavenly image is borne up in this his faithful servant1 therefore doth fallen man 7rulers1 priests1 and people7 persecute him4 ,because he lives up out of the fall1 and testifies against the works of the world1 that the deeds thereof are evil1 he suffers by you magistrates2 not as an evil-doer4 ,for thus it was ever1 where the seed of ,god was kept in prison under the cursed nature1 that nature sought to imprison them in whom it was raised4 ,the ,lord will make him to you as a burdensome stone2 for the sword of the spirit of the ,almighty is put into the hands of the saints1 which shall wound all the wicked1 and shall not be put up till it hath cut down all corrupt judges1 justices1 magistrates1 priests1 and professors2 till he hath brought his wonderful thing to pass in the earth2 which is to make new heavens and a new earth1 wherein shall dwell righteousness2 which now he is about to do4 ,therefore fear the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 ye judges1 justices1 commanders1 priests1 and people2 ye that forget ,god1 suddenly will the ,lord come1 and destroy you with utter destruction1 and will sweep your names out of the earth1 and will restore his people judges1 as at the first1 and counsellors1 as at the beginning4 ,and all persecutors shall partake of the plagues of the whore1 who hath made the kings of the earth and the great men drunk with the wine of her fornications1 and hath drunk the blood of the saints2 and therefore shall you be partakers of her plagues4 8,we are not suffered to see our friend in prison1 whom we witness to be a messenger of the living ,god4 ,now all people1 consider whether this be according to law1 or from the wicked1 perverse1 envious will of the envious rulers and magistrates1 who are of the same generation that persecuted ,jesus ,christ2 for1 said he1 #8as they have done to me1 so will they do to you4' ,and as he took the love1 the kindness1 and service that was showed and performed to any of his afflicted ones in their sufferings and distress1 as done unto himself1 so the injuries and wrongs that were done by any to any of his little ones1 he resented1 as done unto himself also4 ,therefore you1 who are so far from visiting him yourselves in his suffering servant1 that ye will not suffer his brethren to visit him1 ye must depart1 ye workers of iniquity1 into the lake that burns with fire4 ,the ,lord is coming to thrash the mountains1 and will beat them to dust2 and all corrupt rulers1 corrupt officers1 and corrupt laws1 the ,lord will take vengeance on1 by which the tender consciences of his people are oppressed4 ,he will give his people his law1 and will judge his people himself1 not according to the sight of the eye1 and hearing of the ear1 but with righteousness1 and with equity4 ,now are your hearts made manifest to be full of envy against the living truth of ,god1 which is made manifest in his people1 who are contemned and dispised of the world1 and scornfully called ,quakers4 ,you are worse than the heathens1 that put ,paul in prison1 for none of his friends or acquaintance were hindered to come to him by them2 therefore they shall be witnesses against you4 ,ye are made manifest to the saints1 to be of the same generation that put ,christ to death1 and that put the apostles in prison on the same pretence that you act under1 in calling truth error1 and the ministers of ,god blasphemers1 as they did4 ,but the day is dreadful and terrible1 that shall come upon you1 ye evil magistrates1 priests and people1 who profess the truth in words outwardly1 and yet persecute the power of truth1 and them that stand in and for the truth4 ,while ye have time prize it1 and remember what is written1 ,isa4 liv4 #ag40 ,,gervase ,,benson4 ,,anthony ,,pearson4 ,not long after this1 the ,lord's power came over the justices1 and they were made to set me at liberty4 ,but some time previous1 the governor1 and ,anthony ,pearson1 came down into the dungeon to see the place where ,i was kept1 and understand what usage ,i had4 ,they found the place so bad1 and the savour so ill1 that they cried shame on the magistrates for suffering the jailer to do such things4 ,they called for the jailers into the dungeon1 and required them to find sureties for their good behaviour2 and the under-jailer who had been such a cruel fellow1 they put into the dungeon with me1 amongst the moss-troopers4 ,after ,i was set at liberty1 ,i went to ,thomas ,bewley's1 where came a ,baptist teacher to oppose me2 but he was convinced4 ,robert ,widders being with me1 was moved to go to ,,caldbeck steeple-house1 and the ,baptist teacher went along with him the same day4 ,the people fell upon them1 and almost killed ,robert ,widders2 and took the ,baptist's sword from him and beat him sorely4 ,this ,baptist had the inheritance of an impropriation of tithes2 and he went home1 and gave it up freely4 ,robert ,widders was sent to ,,carlisle jail1 where having lain a while1 he was set at liberty again4#ca ,william ,dewsbury also went to another steeple-house hard by1 and the people almost killed him1 they beat him so2 but the ,lord's power was over all1 and healed him again4 ,in that day many ,friends went into the steeple-houses1 to declare the truth to the priests and people1 and great sufferings they underwent2 but the ,lord's power sustained them4 ,footnote #ca3 ,robert ,widders is often mentioned in this ,journal1 having travelled with ,george ,fox in ,scotland1 as also in many parts of ,america4 ,they went through great perils by sea and land1 in the wilderness and in woods1 in danger of wild beasts2 yet through all the ,lord supported him1 and kept him faithful to the end4 ,he was valiant for ,god's truth1 establishing many in the faith4 ,he was a great sufferer from persecutors2 once1 at ,caldbeck1 he was thrown down on the ground1 and kicked and beaten so cruelly1 that blood gushed out of his mouth1 and he was supposed to be dead4 ,at ,lamplugh1 his clothes were torn on his back1 and the hair from off his head2 and at ,bishop-,auckland1 he was stoned and sorely bruised4 ,his cattle1 corn1 and household goods were also swept away by wholesale1 yet he was not at all dejected or concerned1 knowing well for what he suffered4 ,he was much resigned during his last sickness1 often saying on his death-bed1 8his heart was filled with the love of ,god20 and he departed this life in great peace in #afhf1 aged sixty-eight years4 ,now ,i went into the country1 and had mighty great meetings4 ,the everlasting gospel and word of life flourished1 and thousands were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and to his teaching4 ,several that had taken tithes1 as impropriators1 denied the receiving of them any longer1 and delivered them up freely to the parishioners4 ,passing into ,,westmorland1 ,i had many great meetings4 ,at ,,strickland-,,head ,i had a large meeting1 where a justice of peace out of ,bishoprick1 whose name was ,henry ,draper1 came1 and many contenders were there4 ,the priests and magistrates were in a great rage against me in ,,westmorland1 and had a warrant to apprehend me1 which they renewed from time to time1 for a long time2 yet the ,lord did not suffer them to serve it upon me4 ,i travelled on amongst ,friends1 visiting the meetings till ,i came to ,,swarthmore1 where ,i heard that the ,baptists and professors in ,scotland had sent to have a dispute with me4 ,i sent them word1 that ,i would meet them in ,,cumberland1 at ,thomas ,bewley's house1 whither accordingly ,i went1 but none of them came4 ,some dangers at this time ,i underwent in my travels2 for at one time1 as we were passing from a meeting1 and going through ,,wigton on a market-day1 the people of the town had set a guard with pitch-forks2 and although some of their own neighbours were with us1 they kept us out of the town1 and would not let us pass through it1 under the pretence of preventing the sickness2 though there was no occasion for any such thing4 ,however1 they fell upon us1 and had like to have spoiled us and our horses2 but the ,lord restrained them1 that they did not much hurt2 and we passed away4 ,another time1 as ,i was passing between two ,friends' houses1 some rude fellows lay in wait in a lane1 and exceedingly stoned and abused us2 but at last1 through the ,lord's assistance1 we got through them1 and had not much hurt4 ,but this showed the fruits of the priest's teaching1 which shamed their profession of ,christianity4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends in that county1 ,i went through the county into ,,durham1 having large meetings by the way4 ,a very large one ,i had at ,anthony ,pearson's1 where many were convinced4 ,from thence ,i passed through ,,northumberland to ,,derwent-,,water1 where there were great meetings2 and the priests threatened that they would come1 but none came4 ,the everlasting word of life was freely preached1 and freely received2 and many hundreds were turned to ,christ1 their teacher4 ,in ,,northumberland many came to dispute1 of whom some pleaded against perfection3 unto whom ,i declared1 8that ,adam and ,eve were perfect before they fell2 and all that ,god made was perfect2 and that the imperfection came by the ,devil1 and the fall2 but ,christ1 that came to destroy the ,devil1 said1 #8,be ye perfect4'0 ,one of the professors alleged that ,job said1 8,shall mortal man be more pure than his ,maker8 ,the heavens are not clean in his sight4 ,god charged his angels with folly40 ,but ,i showed him his mistake1 and let him see1 8that it was not ,job that said so1 but one of those that contended against ,job2 for ,job stood for perfection1 and held his integrity3 and they were called miserable comforters40 ,then these professors said1 the outward body was the body of death and sin4 ,i showed them their mistake in that also2 for 8,adam and ,eve had each of them an outward body1 before the body of death and sin got into them2 and that man and woman will have bodies1 when the body of sin and death is put off again2 when they are renewed up into the image of ,god again by ,christ ,jesus1 which they were in before they fell40 ,so they ceased at that time from opposing further2 and glorious meetings we had in the ,lord's power4 ,then we passed on to ,,hexham1 where we had a great meeting at the top of a hill4 ,the priest threatened he would come1 and oppose us1 but he came not2 so that all was quiet2 and the everlasting day1 and renowned truth of the ever-living ,god was sounded over those dark countries1 and his ,son exalted over all4 ,it was proclaimed amongst the people that 8the day was now come1 wherein all that made a profession of the ,son of ,god1 might receive him2 and that to as many as would receive him1 he would give power to become the sons of ,god1 as he had done to me40 ,and it was further declared1 that 8he that had the ,son of ,god1 had life eternal2 but that he that had not the ,son of ,god 7though he professed all the ,scriptures1 from the first of ,genesis to the last of the ,revelations71 had not life40 ,after all were directed to the light of ,christ1 by which they might see him and receive him1 and know where their true teacher was1 and the everlasting truth had been largely declared amongst them1 we passed away through ,,hexham peaceably1 and came to ,,gilsland1 a country noted for thieving4 ,here a ,friend seeing the priest1 went to speak to him2 whereupon the latter came down to our inn1 and the town's-people gathered about us4 ,the priest said1 he would prove us deceivers out of the ,bible1 but could find no ,scripture for his purpose4 ,then he went into the inn2 and after a while came out again1 and brought some broken sentences of ,scripture1 that mention 8the doctrines and commandments of men1 c41 and1 touch not1 taste not1 c41 for they perish with the using40 ,all which1 poor man6 was his own condition2 whereas we were persecuted1 because we would not taste1 nor touch1 nor handle their doctrines and traditions1 which we knew perished with the using4 ,i asked him what he called the steeple-house8 8,o10 said he1 8the dreadful house of ,god1 the temple of ,god40 ,then ,i showed him1 and the poor dark people1 that their bodies should be the temples of ,god2 and that ,christ never commanded these temples1 but ended that temple at ,jerusalem1 which ,god had commanded4 ,while ,i was speaking1 the priest got away2 and afterwards the people appeared as if they feared we would take their purses1 or steal their horses2 judging us like themselves1 who are naturally given to thieving4 ,the next day we came through the country into ,,cumberland again1 where we had a general meeting of many thousands of people at the top of a hill near ,,langlands4 ,a glorious and heavenly meeting it was2 for the glory of the ,lord did shine over all2 and there were as many as one could well speak over1 the multitude was so great4 ,their eyes were fixed on ,christ their teacher2 and they came to sit under their own vine2 insomuch that ,francis ,howgill1 coming afterwards to visit them1 found they had no need of words2 for they were sitting under their teacher ,christ ,jesus2 in the sense whereof1 he sat down amongst them1 without speaking anything4 ,a great convincement there was in ,,cumberland1 ,,durham1 ,,northumberland1 ,,westmorland1 ,,lancashire1 and ,,yorkshire2 and the plants of ,god grew1 and flourished1 the heavenly rain descending1 and ,god's glory shining upon them1 so that many mouths were opened by the ,lord to his praise2 yea1 to babes and sucklings he ordained strength4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #afec-afed4--;,george ,fox disputes most of the day with priest ,wilkinson--many ,friends lose their business for declining the world's salutations1 but afterwards their tried faithfulness and integrity procure them more than their neighbours--,george ,fox issues an address to ,friends everywhere--two persecuting justices at ,carlisle are cut off1 and a third disgraced--,george ,fox passes through ,halifax1 a rude town of professors--at ,synderhill-,green he has a mighty meeting of some thousands1 and there was a general convincement--about sixty ministers are now raised up in the north1 to travel towards the south1 the east1 and the west1 in ,truth's service--,george ,fox's address to ,friends in the ministry--,rice ,jones and many other false prophets rise up against ,friends and are blasted--a wicked man binds himself with an oath to kill ,george ,fox1 but is prevented--great convincement in ,lincolnshire--at ,swannington ,george ,fox has much controversy with professors--has a great dispute with priest ,stevens1 and seven other priests at ,drayton--his father being present was convinced1 and said1 8,truly ,i see he that will but stand to the truth1 it will carry him out0--,priest ,stevens propagates lies respecting ,george ,fox1 which the ,lord swept away--is taken before ,colonel ,hacker1 who sends him to the ,protector--speaks prophetically to the ,colonel--has a friendly conference with the ,protector--is dismissed by him very friendly--refuses his entertainment--,captain ,drury scoffs at trembling1 but is made to tremble in a remarkable manner--,george ,fox prays with some officers1 who are greatly shaken by the ,lord's power--priests and professors greatly disturbed because many of their people are convinced1 and moved to declare against the rest4 ,after my release from ,,carlisle prison1 ,i was moved to go to priest ,wilkinson's steeple-house again at ,,brigham2 and being got in before him1 when he came in1 ,i was declaring the truth to the people1 though they were but few2 for the most and the best of his hearers were turned to ,christ's free teaching2 and we had a meeting of ,friends hard by1 where ,thomas ,stubbs was declaring the word of life amongst them4 ,as soon as the priest came in1 he opposed me2 and there we stayed most part of the day2 for when ,i began1 he opposed me2 so if any law was broken1 he broke it4 ,when his people would be haling me out1 ,i manifested his fruits to be such1 as ,christ spoke of1 when he said1 8they shall hale you out of their synagogues20 and then he would be ashamed1 and they would let me alone4 ,there he stood till it was almost night1 jangling and opposing me1 and would not go to his dinner2 for he thought to weary me out4 ,but at last1 the ,lord's power and truth came so over him1 that he packed away with his people4 ,when he was gone1 ,i went to the meeting of ,friends1 who were turned to the ,lord1 and by his power established on ,christ1 the rock and foundation of the true prophets and apostles1 but not of the false4 ,about this time the priests and professors fell to prophesying against us afresh4 ,they had said long before1 that we should be destroyed within a month2 and after that1 they prolonged the time to half-a-year2 but that time being long expired1 and we mightily increased in number1 they now gave forth1 that we would eat out one another4 ,for often after meetings1 many tender people having a great way to go1 tarried at ,friends' houses by the way1 and sometimes more than there were beds to lodge in2 so that some have lain on the hay-mows2 hereupon ,cain's fear possessed the professors and world's people4 ,for they were afraid1 that when we had eaten one another out1 we would all come to be maintained by the parishes1 and be chargeable to them4 ,but after a while1 when they saw that the ,lord blessed and increased ,friends1 as he did ,abraham1 both in the field and in the basket1 at their goings forth1 and comings in1 at their risings up and lyings down1 and that all things prospered with them2 then they saw the falseness of all their prophesies against us2 and that it was in vain to curse1 where ,god had blessed4 ,at the first convincement1 when ,friends could not put off their hats to people1 or say ,you to a single person1 but ,thou and ,thee2--when they could not bow1 or use flattering words in salutations1 or adopt the fashions and customs of the world1 many ,friends1 that were tradesmen of several sorts1 lost their customers at first2 for the people were shy of them1 and would not trade with them2 so that for a time some ,friends could hardly get money enough to buy bread4 ,but afterwards1 when people came to have experience of ,friends' honesty and faithfulness1 and found that their yea was yea1 and their nay was nay2 that they kept to a word in their dealings1 and that they would not cozen and cheat them2 but that if they sent a child to their shops for anything1 they were as well used as if they had come themselves2 the lives and conversation of ,friends did preach1 and reached to the witness of ,god in the people4 ,then things altered so1 that all the inquiry was1 8where is there a draper1 or shopkeeper1 or tailor1 or shoemaker1 or any other tradesman1 that is a ,quaker80 ,insomuch that ,friends had more trade than many of their neighbours1 and if there was any trading1 they had a great part of it4 ,then the envious professors altered their note1 and began to cry out1 8if we let these ,quakers alone1 they will take the trade of the nation out of our hands40 ,this has been the ,lord's doing to and for his people6 which my desire is1 that all1 who profess his holy truth1 may be kept truly sensible of1 and that all may be preserved1 in and by his power and ,spirit1 faithful to ,god and man2 first to ,god1 in obeying him in all things2 and then in doing unto all men1 that which is just and righteous1 to all men and women1 in all things1 that they have to do or deal with them in2 that the ,lord ,god may be glorified in their practising truth1 holiness1 godliness1 and righteousness1 amongst people in all their lives and conversation4 ,friends being now grown very numerous in the northern parts of the nation1 and many young-convinced ones coming daily in among us1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to write the following epistle1 and send it forth amongst them1 in order to stir up the pure mind1 and raise a holy care and watchfulness in them over themselves1 and one another1 for the honour of truth3-- 8,to you all1 ,friends everywhere1 scattered abroad4 8,in the measure of the life of ,god1 wait for wisdom from ,god1 even from him1 from whom it comes4 ,and all ye1 who are children of ,god1 wait for living food from the living ,god1 to be nourished up to eternal life1 from the one fountain1 from whence life comes2 that ye may all be guided and walk in order2 servants in your places1 young men and women in your places1 and rulers of families2 that every one1 in your respective places1 may adorn the truth1 in the measure of it4 ,with it let your minds be kept up to the ,lord ,jesus1 from whom it comes1 that ye may be a sweet savour to ,god1 and in wisdom ye may all be ordered and ruled2--that a crown and a glory ye may be one to another in the ,lord4 ,and that no strife1 bitterness1 or self-will1 may appear amongst you2 but with the ,light1 in which is unity1 all these may be condemned4 ,and that every one in particular1 may see to1 and take care of1 the ordering and ruling of his own family2 that in righteousness and wisdom it may be governed1 the fear and dread of the ,lord being set in every one's heart2 that the secrets of the ,lord every one may come to receive2 that stewards of his grace you may come to be1 to dispense it to every one as they have need2 and so in savouring and right discerning you may all be kept2 that nothing1 that is contrary to the pure life of ,god1 may be brought forth in you1 or among you2 but all that is contrary to it1 may be judged by it2 so that in light1 in life1 and love1 ye may all live1 and all that is contrary to the light1 and life1 and love1 may be brought to judgment1 and by that light condemned4 ,and that no fruitless trees be among you2 but all cut down and condemned by the light1 and cast into the fire2 so that every one may bear and bring forth fruit unto ,god1 and grow fruitful in his knowledge1 and in his wisdom2 and that none may appear in words beyond what they are in the life1 that gave forth the words4 ,here none shall be as the untimely figs2 none shall be of those trees whose fruit withers2 such go in ,cain's way1 from the light1 and by it are condemned4 8,let none amongst you boast yourselves above your measure2 for if you do1 out of ,god's kingdom you are excluded2 for in that boasting part gets up the pride1 and the strife1 which is contrary to the light1 that leads to the kingdom of ,god1 and gives an entrance thereinto1 and an understanding to know the things that belong to the kingdom of ,god4 ,there the light and life of man every one receives1 even ,him who was1 before the world was1 by whom it was made1 who is the righteousness of ,god1 and his wisdom2 to whom all glory1 honour1 thanks1 and praise belong1 who is ,god blessed for ever4 ,let no image or likeness be made2 but wait in the light1 which will bring condemnation on that part that would make the images2 for that prisons the just4 ,so to the lust yield not the eye1 nor the flesh2 for the pride of life stands in that which keeps out the love of the ,father2 and upon which his judgments and wrath remain1 where the love of the world is sought after1 and a crown that is mortal4 ,in this ground the evil enters1 which is cursed2 which brings forth briars and thorns1 where death reigns1 and tribulation and anguish are upon every soul1 and the ,egyptian tongue is heard2 all which is by the light condemned4 ,there the earth is1 which must be removed2 by the light it is seen1 and by the power it is removed1 and out of its place it is shaken2 to which the thunders utter their voices1 before the mysteries of ,god be opened1 and ,jesus revealed4 ,therefore all ye whose minds are turned to this light1 wait upon the ,lord ,jesus for the crown that is immortal1 and that fadeth not away40 ,g4 ,f4 8,this is to be sent amongst all ,friends in the truth1 the flock of ,god1 to be read at their meetings40 ,while ,friends abode in the northern parts1 a priest of ,,wrexham1 in ,wales1 whose name was ,morgan ,floyd1 having heard reports concerning us1 sent two of his congregation into the ,north to inquire concerning us1 to try us1 and bring him an account of us4 ,but when these triers came down amongst us1 the power of the ,lord overcame them1 and they were both convinced of the truth4 ,so they stayed some time with us1 and then returned to ,wales2 where afterwards one of them departed from his convincement2 but the other1 whose name was ,john-ap-,john1 abode in the truth1 and received a part in the ministry1 in which he continued faithful4 ,now were the priests greatly disturbed at ,,newcastle1 at ,,kendal1 and in most of the northern counties4 ,there being one ,gilpin1 that had sometimes come amongst us at ,,kendal1 and soon run out from the truth into vain imaginations1 the priests made what evil use they could of him against us2 but the ,lord's power confounded them all4 ,and the ,lord ,god cut off two of the persecuting justices at ,,carlisle2 and the other1 after a time1 was turned out of his place1 and left the town4 ,about this time the oath or engagement to ,,oliver ,,cromwell1 was tendered to the soldiers2 many of whom were disbanded1 because1 in obedience to ,christ1 they could not swear4 ,john ,stubbs was one1 who was convinced when ,i was in ,,carlisle prison1 and became a good soldier in the ,lamb's war1 and a faithful minister of ,christ ,jesus1 travelling much in the service of the ,lord in ,holland1 ,ireland1 ,scotland1 ,italy1 ,egypt1 and ,america4 ,and the ,lord's power preserved him out of the hands of the ,papists1 though many times he was in great danger of the ,inquisition4 ,but some of the soldiers who had been convinced1 but had not come into obedience to the truth1 took ,cromwell's oath2 and going afterwards into ,scotland1 and coming before a garrison there1 the garrison thinking they had been enemies1 fired at them1 and killed many of them2 which was a sad judgment4 ,when the churches were settled in the ,north1 and ,friends were sat down under ,christ's teaching1 and the glory of the ,lord shone over them1 ,i passed from ,,swarthmore to ,,lancaster 7about the beginning of the year #afed17 and so through the counties1 visiting ,friends till ,i came to ,,synderhill-,,green1#cb where a meeting was appointed three weeks before2 leaving the ,north fresh and green1 under ,christ their teacher4 ,but before ,i came to ,,synderhill-,,green1 we passed through ,,halifax1 a rude town of professors1 and came to one1 ,thomas ,taylor's1 who had been a captain1 where we met with some janglers2 but the ,lord's power was over all2 for ,i travelled in the motion of ,god's power4 ,when ,i came to ,,synderhill-,,green1 there was a mighty meeting1 some thousands of people 7as it was supposed74 ,many persons of note were there1 as captains and other officers2 and there was a general convincement2 for the ,lord's power and truth was over all1 and there was no opposition4 ,footnote #cb3 ,near ,handsworth ,woodhouse1 ,yorkshire4 ,about this time did the ,lord move upon the spirits of many1 whom he had raised up1 and sent forth to labour in his vineyard1 to travel southwards1 and spread themselves1 in the service of the gospel1 to the eastern1 southern1 and western parts of the nation2 as ,francis ,howgill and ,edward ,burrough to ,,london2 ,john ,camm and ,john ,audland to ,,bristol2 ,richard ,hubberthorn and ,george ,whitehead#cc towards ,,norwich2 ,thomas ,holmes#cd into ,wales1 and others different ways2 for above sixty ministers had the ,lord raised up1 and now sent abroad out of the ,north country4 ,the sense of their service being very weighty upon me1 ,i was moved to give forth the following paper3-- 8,to ,friends in the ,ministry4 8,all ,friends everywhere1 ,know the ,seed of ,god1 which bruiseth the seed of the serpent1 and is above the seed of the serpent2 which ,seed sins not1 but bruiseth the serpent's head1 that doth sin1 and tempts to sin2 which ,seed ,god's promise and ,god's blessing is to2 and which is one in the male and in the female4 ,where it is head1 and hath bruised the head of the other1 to the beginning you are come2 and the younger is known1 and he that is servant to the younger4 ,and the promise of ,god1 which is to the ,seed1 is fulfilled and fulfilling2 the ,scriptures come to be opened and owned2 the flesh of ,christ known1 who took upon him the seed of ,abraham according to the flesh2 and the everlasting priesthood known1 the everlasting covenant4 ,christ takes upon him the seed of ,abraham1 and is a priest after the order of ,melchizedek2 without father1 without mother1 without beginning of days 7mark7 or end of life2 this is the priest that ever lives2 the covenant of life1 of light and peace4 ,and the everlasting offering here is known once for all1 which offering overthrows that nature which offered2 out of which the priesthood arose1 that could not continue by reason of death4 ,and here is the other offering known1 the everlasting offering which perfects for ever them that are sanctified2 which offering blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances1 triumphs over them1 and ascends above all principalities and powers4 8,now he that hath the ,spirit of ,jesus1 sees this2 and here is the love of ,god received1 that doth not rejoice in iniquity1 but leads to repent of it4 ,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all1 ,friends everywhere scattered abroad1 ,know the power of ,god in one another1 and in that rejoice2 for then you rejoice in the cross of ,christ1 who is not of the world2 which cross is the power of ,god to all them that are saved4 ,you1 that know the power1 and feel the power1 you feel the cross of ,christ1 you feel the gospel1 which is the power of ,god unto salvation to every one that believeth4 ,now1 he that believes in the light1 believes in the everlasting covenant1 in the one offering2 comes to the life of the prophets and ,moses2 comes to see ,christ the hope1 the mystery1 which hope perisheth not1 but lets you see the hope that perisheth1 which is not that mystery2 and the expectation in that perishing hope fades4 ,where this never-failing hope is witnessed1 the ,lord comes to be sanctified in the heart1 and you come to the beginning1 to ,christ the hope1 which perisheth not2 but the other hope1 and the other expectation perisheth4 ,so all of you1 know the perishing of the other1 and the failing of the expectation therein2 and know that which perisheth not2 that you may be ready to give a reason of this hope with meekness and fear1 to every man that asketh you4 ,christ the hope1 the mystery1 that perisheth not2 the end of all perishing things1 the end of all changeable things1 the end of the decaying covenant1 the end of that which waxeth old and doth decay2 the end of the first covenant1 of ,moses1 and of the prophets2 the righteousness of ,god1 ,christ ,jesus the ,son2 his throne ye will know1 heirs with him ye will be2 who makes his children kings and priests to him1 and brings them to know his throne and his power4 8,there is no justification out of the light1 out of ,christ2 justification is in the light in ,christ2 here is the doer of the will of ,god1 here is the entering into the kingdom4 ,he that believes in the light1 becomes a child of light2 and here the wisdom is received that is justified of her children4 ,here believing in the light1 you shall not abide in darkness1 but shall have the light of life2 and come every one to witness the light that shines in your hearts1 which light will give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,with which light you will see him reign1 who is the prince of life and of peace2 which light turns from him1 that is out of the truth1 and abode not in it2 where the true peace is not4 8,friends1 be not hasty2 for he that believes in the light1 makes not haste4 ,here the grace is received1 by which you come to be saved2 the election is known1 which obtains the promise2 the will is seen that wills2 the mind is known that runs and obtains not1 but stops and becomes dull4 ,now1 that with the light being seen1 and judged1 and stopped1 the patience is here known which obtains the crown1 and the immortality is come to light4 ,so all they now that act contrary to the light1 and do not believe in it1 do not come to justification4 ,and1 all ,friends1 if you go from the light1 from wanting to have the promise of ,god fulfilled to the ,seed1 whereby you may know ,christ to reign1 you thereby bring on yourselves changeable garments1 and come to wear the changeable garments1 and the strange flesh1 which leads to adultery1 which the law goes upon1 which shuts out of the kingdom3 and out of this will doth proceed the work or building1 that is for the fire2 whereby you may come to suffer loss4 ,therefore love the light1 which doth condemn that1 and receive the power from the ,lord1 with which you stand over that1 and condemn it3 feeling and seeing that which gives you the victory over the world1 and to see out of time1 to before time4 8,again ,friends1 know ,abraham1 that must obey the voice of ,sarah1 that bears seed2 which casts forth the bondwoman and her son3 do not go forth1 there will the wildness lodge4 ,know that which bears the wild son1 and its mother1 who is not ,sarah2 for the promise is to the ,seed1 not of many1 but one1 which seed is ,christ3 and this ,seed now you come to witness stands above all1 yea1 on the head of the serpent4 ,and so all1 as ,i said before1 who come to feel and witness this1 come to the beginning2 and this to all the seed of ,god1 the church1 that it you all may come to know1 where there is no blemish1 nor spot1 nor wrinkle1 nor any such thing4 ,this is that which is purchased by the blood of ,jesus1 and to the ,father presented out of all that defiles2 which is the pillar and ground of truth4 ,none come to this1 but such as come to the light of ,christ1 who purchased this church4 ,they who go from the light are shut out and condemned1 though they profess all the ,scriptures declared from it4 ,therefore walk in the light1 that you may have fellowship with the ,son1 and with the ,father2 and come all to witness his image1 his power1 and his law1 which is his light2 which hath converted your souls1 and brought them to submit to the higher power1 above that which is out of the truth3 that you may know here the mercy and truth1 and the faith that works by love1 which ,christ is the author of1 who lighteth every one of you2 which faith gives the victory4 ,now that which gives the victory is perfect2 and that which the ministers of ,god received from ,god1 is that which is perfect2 and that which they are to minister is for the perfecting of the saints1 till they all come in the unity of the faith unto a perfect man4 ,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all2 every one in the measure of life wait1 that with it all your minds may be guided up to the ,father of life1 the ,father of ,spirits2 to receive power from him1 and wisdom1 that with it you may be ordered to his glory2 to whom be all glory for ever6 ,all keep in the light and life1 that judgeth down that which is contrary to the light and life4 ,so the ,lord ,god ,almighty be with you all4 ,and keep your meetings everywhere1 being guided by that of ,god2 by that you may see the ,lord ,god among you1 even him who lighteth every man that cometh into the world3 by whom the world was made2 that men1 who are come into the world1 might believe4 ,he that believeth not1 the light condemns him3 he that believeth1 cometh out of condemnation4 ,so this light1 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world1 and which they that hate it stumble at1 is the light of men4 8,all ,friends1 that speak in public1 see that it be in the life of ,god2 for that begets to ,god3 the fruits of that shall never wither4 ,this sows to the ,spirit1 which is in prison1 and of the ,spirit reaps life2 and the other sows to the flesh1 and of the flesh reaps corruption4 ,and this you may see all the world over1 amongst these seeds-men1 what may be reaped in the field1 that is1 the world4 ,therefore in the ,spirit of the ,lord ,god wait1 which cuts down and casts out all this1 the root and branches of it4 ,in that wait to receive power1 and the ,lord ,god ,almighty preserve you in it2 whereby you may come to feel the light1 that comprehends time and the world1 and fathoms it2 which1 believed in1 gives you victory over the world4 ,and here the power of the ,lord is received1 which subdues all the contrary1 and puts off the garments that will stain and pollute4 ,with this light you come to reach the light in every man1 which ,christ enlightens every man that cometh into the world withal3 and here the things of ,christ come to be known1 and the voice of ,christ heard4 ,therefore keep in the light1 the covenant of peace1 and walk in the covenant of life4 8,there is that which maketh merry over the witness of ,god2 and there is that which maketh merry in the ,lord2 which rejoiceth over that which hath made merry over it3 of that take notice1 you who are in the light4 ,such the ,lord doth beautify1 whose trust is in his strength3 and the ,lord doth see such1 and them that are in his light4 ,but such as are from the light1 whose eyes are after their abominations and idols1 their eyes are to be blinded2 and their beautiful idols1 and their abominations to be destroyed1 and by the light condemned1 which they have made from the life1 in their own strength2 which with the light is seen1 and overthrown by the power of ,god4 #8,if you can change my covenant1' saith the ,lord1 #8which keeps the day in its season1 and the night in its season 7mark1 my covenant1 the light72 if you can change this1 then may you change the covenant of ,god with his seed4' 8,so all ,friends1 that are turned to the light1 which cometh from him1 by whom the world was made1 who was1 before it was made1 ,christ ,jesus1 the ,saviour of your souls2 abide in the light1 and you will see your salvation to be walls and bulwarks against that1 which the light discovers to be contrary to it4 ,waiting in the light1 you will receive the power of ,god1 which is the gospel of peace2 that you may be shod with it1 and know that in one another1 which raiseth up the seed of ,god1 sets it over the world and the earth1 and crucifies the affections and lusts3 then the truth comes to reign1 which is the girdle40 ,g4,f4 ,footnote #cc3 ,george ,whitehead1 who was convinced when about seventeen years old1 became a valiant minister for about sixty-eight years1 till the time of his decease1 which took place1 in great peace1 after an illness of some weeks4 ,he waited1 patiently resigned to the will of ,god1 desiring to be dissolved and be with ,christ2 saying1 8he felt the sting of death to be taken away40 ,he was a preacher of the gospel in life and power1 and turned many from darkness to light1 being a chief instrument in gathering a people to the ,lord in and about ,norwich4 ,at one meeting he had in those parts1 it is recorded that 8nearly the whole congregation was convinced by the mighty power of ,god1 through his lively and piercing testimony and prayer40 ,he suffered great hardships1 long and sore imprisonments1 and severe whipping for his testimony to the truth1 much of which is recorded in his published ,journal1 with his travels and other services1 to which the reader is referred4 ,footnote #cd3 ,thomas ,holmes was serviceable in his day and generation1 suffering imprisonment on ,truth's account4 ,in #afef1 he was in jail1 at ,chester1 with seven or eight other ,friends4 ,some of his services in ,wales are related1 in a letter from him 7probably to ,george ,fox17 in ,barclay's ,letters of ,early ,friends1 p4 #bbb4 ,about this time ,rice ,jones of ,,nottingham 7who had been a ,baptist1 and was turned ,ranter17 and his company1 began to prophesy against me1 giving out1 that ,i was then at the highest1 and that after that time ,i should fall down as fast4 ,he sent a bundle of railing papers from ,,nottingham to ,,mansfield1 ,,clawson1 and the towns thereabouts1 judging ,friends for declaring the truth in the markets and in steeple-houses2 which papers ,i answered4 ,but his and his company's prophecies came upon themselves2 for soon after they fell to pieces1 and many of his followers became ,friends1 and continued so4 ,and through the ,lord's blessed power1 truth and ,friends have increased1 and do increase in the increase of ,god3 and ,i1 by the same power1 have been and am preserved1 and kept in the everlasting ,seed1 that never fell1 nor changes4 ,but ,rice ,jones took the oaths that were put to him1 and so disobeyed the command of ,christ4 ,many such false prophets have risen up against me1 but the ,lord hath blasted them1 and will blast all who rise against the blessed ,seed1 and me in that4 ,my confidence is in the ,lord2 for ,i saw their end1 and how the ,lord would confound them1 before he sent me forth4 ,i was now at ,,synderhill-,,green1 where ,i had had a large meeting in the daytime2 and at night we had a great meeting again in ,thomas ,stacey's house2 for people came from far1 and could not soon depart4 ,the high sheriff of the county told ,captain ,bradford1 that he intended to come up with half a dozen of his troopers to the meeting2 but the ,lord prevented him4 ,when ,i had attended some meetings thereabouts1 ,i travelled up and down in ,,yorkshire1 as far as ,,holderness1 and to the land's end that way1 visiting ,friends and the churches of ,christ2 which were finely settled under ,christ's teaching4 ,at length ,i came to ,captain ,bradford's house1 whither many ,ranters came from ,,york to wrangle2 but they were confounded and stopped4 ,thither came also she who was called the ,lady ,montague1 who was then convinced1 and lived and died in the truth4 ,then ,i came again to ,thomas ,taylor's1 within three miles of ,,halifax1 where was a meeting of about two hundred people2 amongst which were many rude people1 and divers butchers1 several of whom had bound themselves with an oath before they came out1 that they would kill me 7as ,i was told72 one of those butchers had been accused of killing a man and a woman4 ,they came in a very rude manner1 and made a great disturbance in the meeting4 ,the meeting being in a field1 ,thomas ,taylor stood up1 and said unto them1 8,if you will be civil1 you may stay1 but if not1 ,i charge you to be gone from off my ground40 ,but they were the worse1 and said they would make it like a common2 and they yelled1 and made a noise1 as if they had been at a bear-baiting4 ,they thrust ,friends up and down2 and ,friends being peaceable1 the ,lord's power came over them4 ,several times they thrust me off from the place ,i stood on1 by the crowding of the people together against me2 but still ,i was moved of the ,lord to stand up again1 as ,i was thrust down4 ,at last ,i was moved of the ,lord to say unto them1 8if they would discourse of the things of ,god1 let them come up to me one by one2 and if they had anything to say or to object1 ,i would answer them all1 one after another20 but they were all silent1 and had nothing to say4 ,and then the ,lord's power came so over them all1 and answered the witness of ,god in them1 that they were bound by the power of ,god2 and a glorious1 powerful meeting we had1 and his power went over all1 and the minds of the people were turned by the ,spirit of ,god in them to ,god1 and to ,christ their teacher4 ,the powerful word of life was largely declared that day2 and in the life and power of ,god we broke up our meeting2 and that rude company went their way to ,,halifax4 ,the people asked them1 why they did not kill me1 according to the oath they had sworn2 and they maliciously answered1 that ,i had so bewitched them1 that they could not do it4 ,thus was the devil chained at that time4 ,friends told me1 that they used to come at other times1 and be very rude2 and sometimes break their stools and seats1 and make frightful work amongst them2 but the ,lord's power had now bound them4 ,shortly after this1 the butcher1 that had been accused of killing a man and a woman before1 and who was one of them that had then bound himself by an oath to kill me1 killed another man1 and was sent to ,,york jail4 ,another of those rude butchers1 who had also sworn to kill me1 having accustomed himself to thrust his tongue out of his mouth1 in derision of ,friends1 when they passed by him1 had it so swollen out of his mouth1 that he could never draw it in again1 but died so4 ,several strange and sudden judgments came upon many of these conspirators against me1 which would be too large here to declare4 ,god's vengeance from heaven came upon the blood-thirsty1 who sought after blood2 for all such spirits ,i laid before the ,lord1 and left them to him to deal with them1 who is stronger than all2 in whose power ,i was preserved1 and carried on to do his work4 ,the ,lord hath raised a fine people in these parts1 whom he hath drawn to ,christ1 and gathered in his name2 who feel ,christ amongst them1 and sit under his teaching4 ,after this ,i came to ,,balby2 from whence several ,friends went with me into ,,lincolnshire2 of whom some went to the steeple-houses1 and some to private meetings4 ,there came to the meeting where ,i was1 the sheriff of ,,lincoln1 and several with him1 who made great contention and jangling for a time4 ,but at length the ,lord's power struck him1 that he was convinced of the truth1 and received the word of life1 as did several others also that had opposed1 and continued among ,friends till they died4 ,great meetings there were1 and a large convincement in those parts4 ,many were turned to the ,lord ,jesus1 and came to sit under his teaching2 leaving their priests1 and their superstitious ways2 and the day of the ,lord flourished over all4 ,amongst them that came to our meetings in that country1 was one called ,sir ,richard ,wrey1 who was convinced2 as was also his brother1 and his brother's wife1 who abode in the truth1 and died therein1 though he afterwards ran out4 ,having visited these countries1 ,i came into ,,derbyshire2 the sheriff of ,,lincoln1 who was lately convinced1 being with me4 ,in one meeting we had some opposition1 but the ,lord's glorious power gave dominion over all4 ,at night there came a company of bailiffs and serving-men1 and called me out4 ,i went out to them1 having some ,friends with me4 ,they were exceedingly rude and violent2 for they had plotted together1 and intended to carry me away with them in the dark of the evening by force3 and then to do me a mischief2 but the ,lord's power went over them1 and chained them1 so that they could not effect their design2 and at last they went away4 ,the next day1 ,thomas ,aldam understanding that the serving-men belonged to one called a knight1 who lived not far off1 went to his house1 and laid before him the bad conduct of his servants4 ,the knight rebuked them1 and did not allow of their evil carriage towards us4 ,after this we came into ,,nottinghamshire to ,,skegby1 where we had a great meeting of divers sorts of people3 and the ,lord's power went over them1 and all was quiet4 ,the people were turned to the ,spirit of ,god1 by which many came to receive his power1 and to sit under the teaching of ,christ1 their ,saviour4 ,a great people the ,lord hath in those parts4 ,i passed towards ,,kidsley ,,park1 where came many ,ranters2 but the ,lord's power checked them4 ,from thence ,i went into the ,,peak ,,country towards ,thomas ,hammersley's1 where came the ,ranters of that country1 and many high professors4 ,the ,ranters opposed me1 and began swearing4 ,when ,i reproved them for it1 they would bring ,scripture for it1 and said1 ,abraham1 and ,jacob1 and ,joseph swore2 and the priests1 ,moses1 the prophets1 and the angels swore4 ,then ,i told them1 8,i confessed all these did so1 as the ,scripture records2 but1 said ,i1 ,christ 7who said1 #8,before ,abraham was1 ,i am'7 saith1 #8,swear not at all4' ,and ,christ ends the prophets1 and the old priesthood1 and the dispensation of ,moses1 and reigns over the house of ,jacob and of ,joseph2 and he says1 #8,swear not at all4' ,and ,god1 when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world1 saith1 #8,let all the angels of ,god worship him1' to wit1 ,christ ,jesus1 who saith1 #8,swear not at all4' ,and as for the plea that men make for swearing to end their strife1 ,christ1 who says1 #8,swear not at all1' destroys the ,devil and his works1 who is the author of strife1 for that is one of his works4 ,and ,god said1 #8,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased2 hear ye him4' ,so the ,son is to be heard1 who forbids swearing4 ,and the apostle ,james1 who heard the ,son of ,god1 followed him1 and preached him1 forbids all oaths1 ,james v4 #ab40 ,so the ,lord's power went over them3 and his ,son and his doctrine was set over them4 ,the word of life was fully and richly preached1 and many were convinced that day4 ,this ,thomas ,hammersley being summoned to serve upon a jury1 was admitted to serve without an oath2 and when he1 as foreman of the jury1 brought in the verdict1 the judge declared1 8that he had been a judge many years1 but never heard a more upright verdict than that ,quaker had then brought in40 ,much might be written of things of this nature1 which time would fail to declare4 ,but the ,lord's blessed power and truth was exalted over all1 who is worthy of all praise and glory for ever6 ,travelling through ,,derbyshire1 ,i visited ,friends till ,i came to ,,swannington1 in ,,leicestershire1 where there was a general meeting1 to which many ,ranters1 ,baptists1 and other professors came2 for great contests there had been with them1 and with the priests in that town4 ,to this meeting several ,friends came from various parts1 as ,john ,audland1 ,francis ,howgill1 and ,edward ,pyot from ,,bristol1 and ,edward ,burrough from ,,london2 and several were convinced in those parts4 ,the ,ranters made a disturbance1 and were very rude1 but at last the ,lord's power came over them1 and they were confounded4 ,the next day ,jacob ,bottomley1 a great ,ranter1 came from ,,leicester2 but the ,lord's power stopped him1 and came over them all4 ,there came a priest too1 but he also was confounded by the mighty power of the ,lord4 ,about this time the priests1 ,baptists1 ,ranters1 and other professors1 were very rude1 and stirred up the rude people against us4 ,we sent to the ,ranters to come forth1 and try their ,god4 ,abundance of them came1 who were very rude1 and sung1 and whistled1 and danced2 but the ,lord's power so confounded them1 that many of them came to be convinced4 ,after this ,i went to ,,twycross1 whither came some ,ranters1 who sung and danced before me4 ,but ,i was moved in the dread of the ,lord to reprove them2 and the ,lord's power came over them1 so that some of them were convinced1 and received the ,spirit of ,god2 and are become a fine people1 living and walking soberly in the truth of ,christ4 ,i went to ,anthony ,brickley's in ,,warwickshire1 where there was a great meeting2 several ,baptists and other people came and jangled2 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,then ,i went to ,,drayton in ,,leicestershire to visit my relations4 ,as soon as ,i was come in1 ,nathaniel ,stephens the priest1 having got another priest1 and given notice to the country1 sent to me to come to them1 as they could not do anything till ,i came4 ,having been three years away from my relations1 ,i knew nothing of their design4 ,but at last ,i went into the steeple-house yard1 where the two priests were2 and they had gathered abundance of people4 ,when ,i came there1 they would have me go into the steeple-house4 ,i asked them what ,i should do there2 and they said1 ,mr4 ,stephens could not bear the cold4 ,i told them he might bear it as well as ,i4 ,at last we went into a great hall1 ,richard ,farnsworth being with me2 and a great dispute we had with these priests1 concerning their practices1 how contrary they were to ,christ and his apostles4 ,the priests would know where tithes were forbidden or ended4 ,i showed them out of the seventh chapter to the ,hebrews1 8that not only tithes but the priesthood that took tithes1 was ended2 and the law was ended and disannulled1 by which the priesthood was made1 and tithes were commanded to be paid40 ,then the priests stirred up the people to some lightness and rudeness4 ,i had known ,stephens from a child1 therefore ,i laid open his condition1 and the manner of his preaching2 and 8how that he1 like the rest of the priests1 did apply the promises to the first birth1 which must die4 ,but ,i showed that the promises were to the ,seed1 not to the many seeds1 but to one ,seed1 ,christ2 who was one in male and female2 for all were to be born again before they could enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,then he said1 ,i must not judge so3 but ,i told him1 8he that was spiritual judged all things40 ,then he confessed that that was a full ,scripture2 8but1 neighbours10 said he1 8this is the business2 ,george ,fox is come to the light of the sun1 and now he thinks to put out my star-light40 ,i told him1 8,i would not quench the least measure of ,god in any1 much less put out his star-light1 if it were true star-light--light from the morning star40 ,but ,i told him1 8if he had anything from ,christ or ,god1 he ought to speak it freely1 and not take tithes from the people for preaching1 seeing ,christ commanded his ministers to give freely1 as they had received freely40 ,so ,i charged him to preach no more for tithes1 or any hire4 ,but he said he would not yield to that4 ,after a while the people began to be vain and rude2 so we broke up2 yet some were made loving to the truth that day4 ,before we parted1 ,i told them that1 if the ,lord would1 ,i intended to be at the town again that day week4 ,in the interim ,i went into the country1 and had meetings1 and came thither again that day week4 ,against that time this priest had got seven priests to help him3 for priest ,stephens had given notice at a lecture on a market-day at ,,atherstone1 that such a day there would be a meeting and a dispute with me4 ,i knew nothing of it2 but had only said1 ,i should be in town that day week again4 ,these eight priests had gathered several hundreds of people1 even most of the country thereabouts1 and they would have had me into the steeple-house2 but ,i would not go in1 but got on a hill and there spoke to them and the people4 ,there were with me ,thomas ,taylor1 who had been a priest1 ,james ,parnell1 and several other ,friends4 ,the priests thought that day to trample down truth2 but the truth came over them4 ,then they grew light1 and the people rude2 and the priests would not stand trial with me2 but would be contending here and there a little1 with one ,friend or other4 ,at last one of the priests brought his son to dispute with me2 but his mouth was soon stopped4 ,when he could not tell how to answer1 he would ask his father3 and his father was confounded also1 when he came to answer for his son4 ,so1 after they had toiled themselves1 they went away in a rage to priest ,stephens' house to drink4 ,as they went away1 ,i said1 8,i never came to a place where so many priests together would not stand the trial with me40 ,whereupon they and some of their wives came about me1 laid hold of me1 and fawningly said1 8what might ,i have been1 if it had not been for the ,quakers60 ,then they began to push ,friends to and fro1 to thrust them from me1 and to pluck me to themselves4 ,after a while several lusty fellows came1 took me up in their arms1 and carried me into the steeple-house porch1 intending to carry me into the steeple-house by force2 but the door being locked1 they fell down on a heap1 having me under them4 ,as soon as ,i could1 ,i got up from under them1 and went to the hill again3 then they took me from that place to the steeple-house wall1 and set me on something like a footstool2 and all the priests being come back1 stood under with the people4 ,the priests cried1 8,come1 to argument1 to argument30 ,i said1 8,i denied all their voices1 for they were the voices of hirelings and strangers40 ,and they cried1 8,prove it1 prove it40 ,then ,i directed them to the tenth of ,john1 where they might see what ,christ said of such2 he declared1 8he was the true shepherd that laid down his life for his sheep1 and his sheep heard his voice1 and followed him2 but the hireling would fly1 when the wolf came1 because he was a hireling40 ,i offered to prove that they were such hirelings4 ,then the priests plucked me off from the stool again2 and they themselves got all upon footstools under the steeple-house wall4 ,then ,i felt the mighty power of ,god arise over all1 and told them1 8if they would but give audience1 and hear me quietly1 ,i would show them by the ,scriptures1 why ,i denied those eight priests or teachers1 that stood before me2 and all the hireling teachers of the world whatsoever2 and ,i would give them ,scriptures for what ,i said40 ,whereupon both priests and people consented4 ,then ,i showed them out of the prophets ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,ezekiel1 ,micah1 ,malachi1 and others1 that they were in the steps of such as ,god sent his true prophets to cry against2 for1 said ,i1 8,you are such as the prophet ,jeremiah cried against1 chap4 v4 when he said1 #8,the prophets prophesy falsely1 and the priests bear rule by their means2' which he called an astonishing and horrible thing4 ,you are such as they that used their tongues and said1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 when the ,lord never spoke to them3 and such as followed their own spirits1 and saw nothing2 but spoke forth a divination of their own brain2 and by their lies and their lightness had caused the people to err1 ,jer4 xiv4 ,you are such as they were1 that sought for their gain from their quarter2 that were as greedy1 dumb dogs1 that could never have enough1 whom the ,lord sent his prophet ,isaiah to cry against1 ,isaiah lvi4 ,you are such1 as they were1 who taught for handfuls of barley1 and pieces of bread2 who sewed pillows under people's arm-holes1 that they might lie soft in their sins1 ,ezek4 xiii4 ,you are such as they that taught for the fleece1 and the wool1 and made a prey of the people1 ,ezek4 xxxiv4 ,but the ,lord is gathering his sheep from your mouths1 and from off your barren mountains2 and is bringing them to ,christ1 the one ,shepherd1 whom he hath set over his flocks2 as by his prophet ,ezekiel he then declared he would do4 ,you are such as they that divined for money1 and preached for hire2 and if a man did not put into their mouths1 they prepared war against him1 as the prophet ,micah complained1 chap4 iii40 ,thus ,i went through the prophets1 too largely to be here repeated4 ,then coming to the ,new ,testament1 ,i showed from thence1 8that they were like the chief priests1 and scribes1 and ,pharisees of old1 such as ,christ cried woe against1 ,matt1 xxiii4 ,and that they were such false apostles1 as the true apostles cried against1 such as taught for filthy lucre2 such antichrists and deceivers1 as they cried against1 that minded earthly things1 and served not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 but their own bellies3 for they that served ,christ gave freely1 and preached freely1 as he commanded them4 ,but they that will not preach without hire1 tithes1 or outward means1 serve their own bellies1 and not ,christ2 and through the good words of the ,scriptures1 and feigned words of their own1 they made merchandise of the people then1 as 7said ,i7 ye do now40 ,so when ,i had largely quoted the ,scriptures1 and showed them1 wherein they were like the ,pharisees1 loving to be called of men masters1 and to go in long robes1 and to stand praying in the synagogues1 and to have the uppermost rooms at feasts1 and the like2 and when ,i had thrown them out in the sight of the people amongst the false prophets1 deceivers1 scribes1 and ,pharisees1 and showed at large1 how such as they were judged and condemned by the true prophets1 by ,christ1 and by the apostles1 8,i directed them to the light of ,christ ,jesus1 who enlightens every man that cometh into the world2 that by it they might see1 whether these things were not true1 as had been spoken40 ,when ,i appealed to that of ,god in their consciences1 the light of ,christ ,jesus in them1 they could not bear to hear of it2 they were all quiet till then2 but then a professor said1 8,george1 what6 wilt thou never have done80 ,i told him1 ,i should have done shortly4 ,so ,i went on a little longer1 and cleared myself of them in the ,lord's power4 ,when ,i had done1 all the priests and people stood silent for a time3 at last one of the priests said1 they would read the ,scriptures that ,i had quoted4 ,i told them1 with all my heart4 ,they began to read the #bcrd of ,jeremiah1 and there they saw the marks of the false prophets1 that he cried against4 ,when they had read a verse or two1 ,i said1 8,take notice1 people30 but the priests said1 8,hold thy tongue1 ,george40 ,i bid them read the whole chapter throughout2 for it was all against them3 then they stopped1 and would read no further2 but asked me a question4 ,i told them1 ,i would answer their question1 the matter being first granted that ,i had charged them with1 viz41 that they were false prophets1 false teachers1 antichrists1 and deceivers1 such as the true prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles cried against4 ,a professor said ,nay to that2 but ,i said1 8,yea2 for you leaving the matter1 and going to another thing1 seem to consent to the proof of the former charge40 ,then ,i answered their question1 which was this2 ,seeing those false prophets were adulterated1 whether ,i did judge ,stephens to be an adulterer8 ,to which ,i answered1 he was adulterated from ,god in his practice1 like those false prophets and the ,jews4 ,they would not stand to vindicate him1 but broke up the meeting4 ,then the priests whispered together2 and priest ,stephens came to me1 and desired that my father and brother and ,i might go aside with him1 that he might speak to me in private2 and the rest of the priests should keep the people from coming to us4 ,i was very loath to go aside with him2 but the people cried1 8,go1 ,george2 do1 ,george1 go aside with him40 ,i was afraid1 if ,i did not go1 they would say1 ,i was disobedient to my parents2 so ,i went1 and the rest of the priests were to keep the people off2 but they could not1 for the people being willing to hear1 drew close to us4 ,i asked the priest what he had to say2 and he said1 8if he was out of the way1 ,i should pray for him3 and if ,i was out of the way he would pray for me3 and he would give me a form of words to pray for him by40 ,i replied1 8,it seems thou dost not know whether thou art in the right way1 or not2 neither dost thou know whether ,i am in the right way1 or not2 but ,i know that ,i am in the everlasting way1 ,christ ,jesus1 which thou art out of4 ,and thou wouldest give me a form of words to pray by1 and yet thou deniest the ,common ,prayer-,book to pray by1 as well as ,i2 and ,i deny thy form of words1 as well as it4 ,if thou wouldst have me pray for thee by a form of words1 is not this to deny the apostle's doctrine and practice of praying by the ,spirit1 as it gave words and utterance80 ,here the people fell a laughing3 but ,i was moved to speak more to him4 ,and when ,i had cleared myself to him and them1 we parted1 after ,i had told them1 that ,i should 7,god willing7 be in the town that day week again4 ,so the priests packed away1 and many people were convinced2 for the ,lord's power came over all4 ,though they thought to have confounded truth that day1 many were convinced of it2 and many that were convinced before1 were by that day's work confirmed in the truth1 and abode in it2 and a great shake it gave to the priests4 ,my father1 though he was a hearer and follower of the priest1 was so well satisfied1 that he struck his cane upon the ground1 and said1 8,truly1 ,i see1 he that will but stand to the truth1 it will carry him out40 ,i passed about in the country till that day week1 and then came again2 for we had appointed a meeting at my relations' house4 ,now priest ,stephens having had notice beforehand thereof1 had got another priest to him2 and they had a company of troopers with them1 and sent for me to come to them4 ,but ,i sent them word our meeting was appointed1 and they might come to it1 if they would4 ,the priests came not2 but the troopers came1 and many rude people4 ,they had laid their plot1 that the troopers should take every one's name1 and then command them to go home2 and such as would not go1 they should take1 and carry them away with them4 ,accordingly they began1 and took several names1 charging them to go home2 but when they came to take my name1 my relations told them1 ,i was at home already3 so they could not take me away that time4 ,nevertheless they took my name3 but the ,lord's power was over them1 and they went away1 both professors and troopers1 crossed and vexed1 because they obtained not their end4 ,but several were convinced that day1 and admired the love and power of ,god4 ,this was that priest ,stephens1 who once said of me1 8never was such a plant bred in ,england30 yet afterwards he reported1 8that ,i was carried up into the clouds1 and found again full of gold and silver20 and many lies1 and false reports he raised respecting me3 but the ,lord swept them all away4 ,the reason why ,i would not go into their steeple-house was1 because ,i was to bear my testimony against it1 and to bring all off from such places1 to the ,spirit of ,god2 that they might know their bodies to be the temples of the ,holy ,ghost2 and to bring them off from all the hireling teachers1 to ,christ their free teacher1 who died for them1 and purchased them with his blood4 ,after this ,i went into the country1 and had several meetings1 and came to ,,swannington1 where the soldiers came again2 but the meeting was quiet1 the ,lord's power was over all1 and the soldiers did not interfere4 ,then ,i went to ,,leicester1 and then to ,,whetstone4 ,there came about seventeen troopers of ,colonel ,hacker's regiment1 with his marshal1 and took me up before the meeting1 though ,friends were beginning to gather together2 for there were several ,friends come from various parts4 ,i told the marshal1 8he might let all the ,friends go1 ,i would answer for them all20 so he took me1 and let them go1 except ,alexander ,parker1 who went with me4#ce ,at night they had me before ,colonel ,hacker1 his major1 and captains1 a great company of them2 and much discourse we had about the priests1 and meetings1 for at this time there was a rumour of a plot against ,oliver ,cromwell4 ,much reasoning ,i had with them about the light of ,christ1 which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world4 ,colonel ,hacker asked1 whether it was not this light of ,christ that made ,judas betray his master1 and afterwards led him to hang himself8 ,i told him1 8,no2 that was the spirit of darkness1 which hated ,christ and his light40 ,then ,colonel ,hacker said1 ,i might go home1 and keep there1 and not go abroad to meetings4 ,i told him1 8,i was an innocent man1 free from plots1 and denied all such work40 ,his son ,needham said1 8,father1 this man hath reigned too long1 it is time to have him cut off40 ,i asked him1 8,for what8 what had ,i done8 or whom had ,i wronged from a child8 for ,i was bred and born in that country1 and who could accuse me of any evil from a child80 ,then ,colonel ,hacker asked me again1 if ,i would go home1 and stay there8 ,i told him1 8if ,i should promise him that1 it would manifest that ,i was guilty of something1 to go home1 and make my home a prison2 and if ,i went to meetings1 they would say1 ,i broke their order40 ,i told them1 8,i should go to meetings1 as the ,lord should order me1 and therefore could not submit to their requirings20 but ,i said1 8we were a peaceable people40 8,well then10 said ,colonel ,hacker1 8,i will send you to my ,lord ,protector1 by ,captain ,drury1 one of his life-guards40 ,footnote #ce3 8,alexander ,parker10 says ,whiting1 8was an eminent servant of ,god1 and minister of ,jesus ,christ2 born near ,bolton1 in ,lancashire1 well-educated1 and had a gentleman-like carriage and deportment1 for ,i knew him well40 ,he travelled extensively in the service of the gospel1 often in company with ,george ,fox1 being frequently mentioned in this ,journal4 ,he suffered fines1 imprisonments1 and persecution1 being once pulled down as he was preaching in ,london1 and fined for it #bj4 ,he died in great peace in #afhi1 having written many books and epistles1 in which1 though being dead1 he yet speaketh4 ,that night ,i was kept a prisoner at the ,marshalsea2 and the next morning by six o'clock1 ,i was delivered to ,captain ,drury4 ,i desired he would let me speak with ,colonel ,hacker before ,i went1 and he had me to his bed-side4 ,colonel ,hacker set upon me presently again1 to go home and keep no more meetings4 ,i told him1 8,i could not submit to that1 but must have my liberty to serve ,god and go to meetings40 8,then10 said he1 8you must go before the ,protector40 8,whereupon ,i kneeled by his bedside1 and besought the ,lord to forgive him1 for he was as ,pilate1 though he would wash his hands2 and when the day of his misery and trial should come upon him1 ,i bid him then remember what ,i had said to him4 ,but he was stirred up1 and set on by priest ,stephens1 and the other priests and professors1 wherein their envy and baseness was manifest2 who1 when they could not overcome me by disputes and arguments1 nor resist the ,spirit of the ,lord that was in me1 then they got soldiers to take me up4 ,afterwards1 when this ,colonel ,hacker was in prison in ,,london1 a day or two before he was executed1 he was put in mind of what he had done against the innocent2 and he remembered it1 and confessed to it to ,margaret ,fell1 saying he knew well whom she meant2 and he had a trouble upon him for it4 ,so his son1 who told his father ,i had reigned too long1 and that it was time to have me cut off1 might observe how his father was cut off afterwards1 he being hanged at ,,tyburn4 ,now was ,i carried up a prisoner by ,captain ,drury from ,,leicester2 and when we came to ,,harborough1 he asked me1 if ,i would go home and stay a fortnight8 8,i should have my liberty10 he said1 8if ,i would not go to1 nor keep meetings40 ,i told him1 8,i could not promise any such thing40 ,several times upon the road did he ask1 and try me after the same manner1 and still ,i gave him the same answers4 ,so he brought me to ,,london1 and lodged me at the ,mermaid over-against the ,mews at ,,charing-,,cross4 ,as we travelled1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to warn people at the inns and places1 where ,i came1 of the day of the ,lord that was coming upon them4 ,william ,dewsbury and ,marmaduke ,storr being in prison at ,,northampton1 he let me go and visit them4 ,after ,captain ,drury had lodged me at the ,mermaid1 he left me there1 and went to give the ,protector an account of me4 ,when he came to me again1 he told me1 the ,protector required that ,i should promise not to take up a carnal sword or weapon against him or the government1 as it then was1 and ,i should write it in what words ,i saw good1 and set my hand to it4 ,i said little in reply to ,captain ,drury4 ,but the next morning ,i was moved of the ,lord to write a paper to the ,protector1 ,oliver ,cromwell2 8,wherein ,i did in the presence of the ,lord ,god declare1 that ,i denied the wearing or drawing of a carnal sword1 or any other outward weapon1 against him or any man3 and that ,i was sent of ,god to stand a witness against all violence1 and against the works of darkness2 and to turn people from darkness to light2 and to bring them from the causes of war and fighting1 to the peaceable gospel1 and from being evil-doers1 which the magistrates' swords should be a terror to40 ,when ,i had written what the ,lord had given me to write1 ,i set my name to it1 and gave it to ,captain ,drury to hand to ,oliver ,cromwell1 which he did4 ,after some time ,captain ,drury brought me before the ,protector himself at ,,whitehall4 ,it was in a morning1 before he was dressed1 and one ,harvey1 who had come a little among ,friends1 but was disobedient1 waited upon him4 ,when ,i came in1 ,i was moved to say1 8,peace be in this house2 and ,i exhorted him to keep in the fear of ,god1 that he might receive wisdom from ,him1 that by it he might be directed1 and order all things under his hand to ,god's glory40 ,i spoke much to him of truth1 and much discourse ,i had with him about religion2 wherein he carried himself very moderately4 ,but1 he said1 we quarrelled with priests1 whom he called ministers4 ,i told him1 8,i did not quarrel with them1 but they quarrelled with me and my friends40 8,but10 said ,i1 8if we own the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles1 we cannot hold up such teachers1 prophets1 and shepherds1 as the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles declared against2 but we must declare against them by the same power and ,spirit40 ,then ,i showed him1 8that the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles declared freely1 and against them that did not declare freely2 such as preached for filthy lucre1 and divined for money1 and preached for hire1 and were covetous and greedy1 that can never have enough2 and that they that have the same ,spirit1 that ,christ1 and the prophets1 and the apostles had1 could not but declare against all such now1 as they did then40 ,as ,i spoke1 he several times said1 it was very good1 and it was truth4 ,i told him1 8that all ,christendom 7so called7 possessed the ,scriptures1 but wanted the power and ,spirit that they had1 who gave forth the ,scriptures1 and that was the reason they were not in fellowship with the ,son1 nor with the ,father1 nor with the ,scriptures1 nor one with another40 ,many more words ,i had with him1 but people coming in1 ,i drew a little back2 and as ,i was turning1 he caught me by the hand1 and with tears in his eyes1 said1 8,come again to my house1 for if thou and ,i were but an hour a day together1 we should be nearer one to the other20 adding that he wished me no more ill than he did his own soul4 ,i told him1 8if he did1 he wronged his own soul20 and ,i bid him 8hearken to ,god's voice1 that he might stand in ,his counsel and obey it2 and if he did so1 that would keep him from hardness of heart2 but if he did not hear ,god's voice1 his heart would be hardened40 ,he said1 it was true4 ,then ,i went out2 and when ,captain ,drury came out after me1 he told me1 8his lord ,protector said1 ,i was at liberty1 and might go whither ,i would40 ,then ,i was brought into a great hall1 where the ,protector's gentlemen were to dine2 and ,i asked them1 what they brought me thither for8 they said1 it was by the ,protector's order1 that ,i might dine with them4 ,i bid them let the ,protector know1 ,i would not eat of his bread1 nor drink of his drink4 ,when he heard this1 he said1 8,now ,i see there is a people risen and come up1 that ,i cannot win either with gifts1 honours1 offices1 or places2 but all other sects and people ,i can40 ,it was told him again1 8that we had forsaken our own1 and were not likely to look for such things from him40 ,being set at liberty ,i went to the inn again1 where ,captain ,drury had at first lodged me4 ,this ,captain ,drury1 though he sometimes carried fairly1 was an enemy to me and to truth1 and opposed it2 and when professors came to me 7while ,i was under his custody17 and he was by1 he would scoff at trembling1 and call us ,quakers1 as the ,independents and ,presbyterians had nick-named us before4 ,but afterwards he once came to me1 and told me1 that1 as he was lying on his bed to rest himself in the day-time1 a sudden trembling seized on him1 that his joints knocked together1 and his body shook so that he could not rise from his bed2 he was so shaken1 that he had not strength enough left to rise4 ,but he felt the power of the ,lord was upon him1 and he fell off his bed1 and cried to the ,lord1 and said1 he never would speak against the ,quakers more1 or such as trembled at the word of ,god4 ,during the time ,i was prisoner at ,,charing-,,cross1 there came abundance to see me1 people of almost all sorts1 priests1 professors1 officers of the army1 c4 ,and one time a company of officers being with me1 desired me to pray with them4 ,i sat still1 with my mind retired to the ,lord4 ,at last ,i felt the power and ,spirit of ,god move in me1 and the ,lord's power did so shake and shatter them1 that they wondered1 though they did not live in it4 ,among those that came to see me1 was one ,colonel ,packer1 with several of his officers2 and while they were with me1 came in one ,cobb1 and a great company of ,ranters with him4 ,the ,ranters began to call for drink and tobacco2 but ,i desired them to forbear it in my room1 telling them1 if they had such a desire for it1 they might go into another room4 ,one of them cried1 8all is ours20 and another said1 8all is well40 ,i replied1 8how is all well1 while thou art so peevish1 and envious1 and crabbed80 for ,i saw he was of a peevish nature4 ,i spoke to their conditions1 and they were sensible of it1 and looked upon one another1 wondering4 ,then ,colonel ,packer began to talk with a light1 chaffy mind1 concerning ,god1 and ,christ1 and the ,scriptures2 it was a great grief to my soul and spirit1 when ,i heard him talk so lightly2 so that ,i told him1 8he was too light to talk of the things of ,god1 for he did not know the solidity of a man40 ,thereupon the officers raged1 and said1 would ,i say so of their colonel4 ,this ,packer was a ,baptist1 and he and the ,ranters bowed and scraped to one another very much2 for it was the manner of the ,ranters to be exceedingly complimental 7as they call it71 so that ,packer bid them give over their compliments2 but ,i told them1 8they were fit to go together1 for they were both of one spirit40 ,this ,colonel ,packer lived at ,,theobalds near ,,waltham1 and was made a justice of peace4 ,he set up a great meeting of the ,baptists at ,,theobalds ,,park2 for he and some other officers had purchased it4 ,they were exceedingly high1 and railed against ,friends and truth1 and threatened to apprehend me with their warrants if ever ,i came there4 ,yet after ,i was set at liberty1 ,i was moved of the ,lord ,god to go down to ,,theobalds1 and appoint a meeting hard by them2 to which many of his people came1 and divers of his hearers were convinced of the way of truth1 and received ,christ1 the free teacher1 and came off from him2 and that made him rage the more4 ,but the ,lord's power came over him1 so that he had not power to meddle with me4 ,then ,i went to ,,waltham close by him1 and had a meeting there2 but the people were very rude1 and gathered about the house and broke the windows4 ,whereupon ,i went out to them1 with the ,bible in my hand1 and desired them to come in2 and told them1 8,i would show them ,scripture both for our principles and practices40 ,and when ,i had done so1 ,i showed them also1 8that their teachers were in the steps of such1 as the prophets1 and ,christ1 and the apostles testified against40 ,then ,i directed them to the ,light of ,christ1 and ,spirit of ,god in their own hearts1 that by it they might come to know their free teacher1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the meeting being ended1 they went away quieted and satisfied1 and a meeting has since been settled in that town4 ,but this was some time after ,i was set at liberty by ,oliver ,cromwell4 ,when ,i came from ,,whitehall to the ,mermaid at ,,charing-,,cross1 ,i stayed not long there2 but went into the city of ,,london1 where we had great and powerful meetings2 so great were the throngs of people1 that ,i could hardly get to and from the meetings for the crowds2 and the truth spread exceedingly4 ,thomas ,aldam and ,robert ,craven1 who had been sheriff of ,,lincoln1 and many ,friends1 came up to ,,london after me2 but ,alexander ,parker abode with me4 ,after a while ,i went to ,,whitehall again1 and was moved 8to declare the day of the ,lord amongst them1 and that the ,lord was come to teach his people himself20 so ,i preached truth both to the officers1 and to them that were called ,oliver's gentlemen1 who were of his guard4 ,but a priest opposed1 while ,i was declaring the word of the ,lord amongst them2 for ,oliver had several priests about him1 of which this was his news-monger2 an envious priest1 and a light1 scornful1 chaffy man4 ,i bid him repent2 and he put it in his newspaper the next week1 that ,i had been at ,,whitehall1 and had bid a godly minister there repent4 ,when ,i went thither again1 ,i met with him2 and abundance of people gathered about me4 ,i manifested the priest to be a liar in several things that he had affirmed2 and so he was silenced4 ,he put in the news1 that ,i wore silver buttons1 which was false1 for they were but alchymy4 ,afterwards he said in the news1 that ,i hung ribands on people's arms1 which made them follow me2 this was another of his lies1 for ,i never wore or used ribands in my life4 ,three ,friends went to examine this priest1 that gave forth this false intelligence1 and to know of him where he had that information4 ,he said1 it was a woman that told him so2 and if they would come again1 he would tell them her name4 ,when they returned1 he said it was a man1 but would not mention his name then2 but if they would come again1 he would tell them his name1 and where he lived4 ,they went the third time1 and then he would not say who told him2 but offered1 if ,i would give it under my hand1 that there was no such thing1 he would put that into the news4 ,thereupon the ,friends carried it to him under my hand2 but when they came1 he broke his promise1 and would not insert it2 but was in a rage1 and threatened them with the constable4 ,this was the deceitful doing of this forger of lies2 which he spread over all the nation in the news1 to render truth odious1 and to put evil into people's minds against ,friends and truth2 of which a more large account may be seen in a book printed soon after this time1 for the clearing of ,friends and truth from the slanders1 lies1 and false reports raised and cast upon them4 ,these priests1 the news-mongers1 were of the ,independent sect1 like those in ,,leicester2 but the ,lord's power came over all their lies1 and swept them away2 and many came to see the naughtiness of these priests4 ,the ,god of ,heaven carried me over all in his power1 and his blessed power went over the nation3 insomuch1 that many ,friends about this time were moved to go up and down1 to sound forth the everlasting gospel in most parts of it1 and also in ,,scotland3 and the glory of the ,lord was felt over all to his everlasting praise4 ,a great convincement there was in ,,london1 and some in the ,protector's house and family2 ,i went to see him again1 but could not get access to him1 the officers were grown so rude4 ,the ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 and ,baptists1 were greatly disturbed2 for many of their people turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and sat down under his teachings3 they received his power1 and felt it in their hearts3 and then they were moved of the ,lord to declare against the rest of them4 ,i appointed a meeting in the fields near ,,acton1 in which the word of life1 the saving truth1 was declared freely4 ,the ,lord's power was eminently manifested1 and his blessed day exalted over all4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #afed-afee4--;,address to professors of ,christianity against persecution--to such as follow the world's fashions--to the ,pope1 and all kings1 and rulers in ,europe1 against persecution--to the justices appointed for trying ministers of religion1 being a testimony against hireling ministers--,samuel ,fisher and others are convinced at a meeting at ,romney1 where the ,lord's power is marvellously displayed--a large meeting at ,coggeshall of about two thousand people1 which lasted several hours--many reproaches are cast upon the truth1 and lying slanderous books published1 which are answered1 and the truth set over the gainsayers--to those who scorn trembling and quaking--great rage is manifested against the truth and ,friends1 and their plainness is contemned--to the churches gathered into outward forms1 opening their state and warning of the woes coming upon them--to the ,protector1 respecting the imprisonment of ,friends for refusing to take oaths and pay tithes1 c4--to ,friends1 to offer themselves to lie in prison for a brother or sister--an encouragement to ,friends in their several exercises4 ,about this time ,i was moved to write a paper1 and send it among the professors2 as follows3-- 8,to all professors of ,christianity4 8,all they that professed ,jesus ,christ in words1 and yet heard him not when he was come1 said1 he was a deceiver and a devil4 ,the chief priests called him so4 ,the ,jews said1 #8,he hath a devil1 and is mad2 why do ye hear him8' ,but others said1 #8,these are not the words of him that hath a devil3 can a devil open the eyes of the blind8' ,the ,jews then doubted1 whether he was the ,christ or not2 and so all1 like the ,jews1 in the knowledge1 in the notion1 that profess ,christ without only1 where ,christ is risen within1 do not own him1 but doubt of him2 though ,christ is the same now and for ever4 ,jesus ,christ said1 #8,i and my ,father are one2' then the ,jews took up stones to stone him4 ,and where ,jesus ,christ is now spiritually come and made manifest1 such as are ,christians in outward profession only1 have the same hard hearts inwardly now1 as the ,jews had then2 and cast stones at him where he is risen4 ,jesus said1 #8,for which of these good works do ye stone me8' ,the ,jews answered1 #8,for thy good works we stone thee not2 but for blasphemy1 in that thou being a man1 makest thyself ,god4' ,jesus answered them1 #8,is it not written in your law1 ,i said1 ,ye are gods8 and the ,scripture cannot be broken4 ,say ye of him1 whom the ,father hath sanctified1 and sent into the world1 ,thou blasphemest1 because ,i said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god8' ,the ,jews said to him1 #8,say we not well1 that thou hast a devil8' ,jesus answered1 #8,i honour my ,father1 and ye dishonour me4' ,and they that were in the synagogue rose up1 and thrust him out of the city2 and took him up to the edge of the hill whereon their city was built1 to cast him down headlong4 ,the pharisees said of him1 #8,he casteth out devils1 by the prince of devils4' ,jesus ,christ was called a glutton and a wine-bibber1 a friend of publicans and sinners2 but wisdom is justified of her children4 ,the officers1 when the high-priests and pharisees asked them1 #8,why have ye not brought him8' said1 #8,never man spake like this man4' ,the ,pharisees said1 #8,are ye also deceived8 ,do any of the rulers or of the ,pharisees believe on him8' but this people1 which know not the law1 are accursed4 ,nicodemus 7he that came unto ,jesus by night71 said unto them1 #8,doth our law judge any man1 before it hear him8' ,when ,stephen confessed ,jesus1 the substance of all figures and types1 and was brought before the chief priests to his trial1 he told them1 #8,the ,most ,high dwelleth not in temples made with hands3' and brought the prophets' words to witness1 and told them they were stiff-necked1 and uncircumcised in heart and ears1 and always resisted the ,holy ,ghost1 as their fathers had done4 ,stephen was full of the ,holy ,ghost1 and said he saw ,jesus1 and they ran upon him and stoned him to death1 as he was calling upon the ,lord4 ,when ,paul confessed ,jesus ,christ and his resurrection1 ,festus said he was mad4 ,when ,paul preached the resurrection1 some mocked2 the ,jews persuaded the people1 and they stoned him1 and drew him out of the city1 thinking he had been dead4 ,they stirred up the ,gentiles to make their minds evil-affected towards the brethren4 ,they stirred up the devout and honourable women1 and the chief of the city1 and raised persecution against ,paul and ,barnabas1 and expelled them out of their coasts2 and there was an assault made both of the ,gentiles and of the ,jews with their rulers1 to use them despitefully and to stone them4 ,in like manner all in the nature of those ,jews now1 whose religion stands in notions1 stir up the rulers1 and ignorant people1 and incense them against ,jesus ,christ1 to stone all with one consent1 in whom he is risen4 ,this is1 that the ,scriptures might be fulfilled1 and the blindness of the people discovered4 8,the same power now is made manifest1 and doth overturn the world1 as did then overturn the world1 to the exalting of the ,lord1 and to the pulling down of the kingdom of ,satan and of this world1 and setting up his own kingdom1 to his everlasting praise4 ,the ,lord is now exalting himself1 and throwing down man's self4 ,the proud one's head is aloft1 fearing he should lose his pride and his crown4 ,the priests incense the ignorant people1 for fear their trade should go down2 and the professors show forth what is in them1 being full of rage2 which proves that ,jesus ,christ1 the substance1 is not there2 but a stony heart to stone the precious1 where it is risen4 ,the carnal mind feeds upon the outward letter2 earth feeds upon earth2 and that vineyard is not dressed1 but is full of briars and nettles2 and ravenous beasts1 swine and dogs1 wolves and lions1 and all venomous creatures lodge in that habitation4 ,that house is foul and is not swept4 ,these are the persecutors of the just1 enemies of the truth1 and of ,christ2 blasphemers of ,god and his truth4 ,these call upon ,god with their lips1 but their hearts are far from him4 ,these feed on lies1 priests and people4 ,these incense the people1 and stir up envy2 for it begets its own1 one like itself4 ,these are as the waves of the sea1 foaming out their own shame4 ,these have double eyes1 whose bodies are full of darkness4 ,these paint themselves with the prophets'1 with ,christ's1 and with the apostles' words most fair4 ,whited walls ye are2 painted sepulchres2 murderers of the just4 ,your eyes1 your minds1 your hearts are double4 ,ye flatterers1 repent and turn from your carnal ends1 who are full of mischief1 pretending ,god and godliness1 taking him for your cloak2 but he will uncover you1 and he hath uncovered you to his children4 ,he will make you bare1 discover your secrets1 and take off your crown2 he will take away your mantle and your veil1 and strip you of your clothing1 that your nakedness may appear1 and how you sit deceiving the nations4 ,your abomination and your falseness is now made manifest to them1 who are of ,god2 who in his power triumph over you1 rejoice over you1 the beast1 the dragon1 the false prophet1 the seducer1 the hypocrite1 the mother of all harlots4 ,now thou must have thy cup double1 give it to her double4 8,sing over her1 ye righteous ones1 sing over them all ye saints2 triumph in glory1 triumph over deceit2 sing the song of the ,lamb1 triumph over the world2 spread the truth abroad4 ,come ye captive ones out of prison1 and rejoice with one accord1 for the joyful days are coming4 ,let us be glad and rejoice for ever6 singleness of heart is come1 pureness of heart is come1 joy and gladness is come4 ,the glorious ,god is exalting himself3 truth hath been talked of1 but now it is possessed4 ,christ hath been talked of2 but now he is come and is possessed4 ,the glory hath been talked of2 but now it is possessed1 and the glory of man is defacing4 ,the ,son of ,god hath been talked of2 but now he is come1 and hath given us understanding4 ,unity hath been talked of2 but now it is come4 ,virgins have been talked of2 but now they are come with oil in their lamps4 ,he will be glorified alone4 8,where pride is thrown down1 earth and the fleshly will is thrown down1 and the pure is raised up2 there alone is the ,lord exalted4 ,let the heavens bow down to him1 and the earth reel to and fro1 and stagger up and down4 ,the ,lord is setting up his throne and his crown1 and throwing down the crown of man1 and he alone will be glorified2 to whom be all honour and glory1 all praises and all thanks6 ,who gives his children wisdom and strength1 knowledge and virtue1 power and riches1 blessings and durable substance2 an eye to discern1 and an ear to hear things singly2 and brings down the pride of man's heart1 and turns the wicked out of the kingdom4 ,the righteous inherit righteousness2 the pure1 pureness2 the holy1 holiness4 ,praises1 praises be to the ,lord1 whose glory now shines1 whose day is broken forth2 which is hid from the world1 hid from all worldly-wise ones1 and from all the prudent of this world2 hid from the fowls of the air1 hid from all vultures' eyes1 all venomous beasts1 all liars1 all dogs1 and all swine4 ,but to them that fear his name1 the secrets of the ,lord are made manifest1 the treasures of wisdom are opened1 and the fulness of knowledge3 for thou1 ,o ,lord1 dost make thyself manifest to thy children40 ,g4 ,f4 ,my spirit was greatly burdened to see the pride1 that existed in the nation1 even among professors2 and in the sense thereof ,i was moved to give forth the following paper1 directed-- 8,to such as follow the ,world's ,fashions4 8,what a world is this6 how doth the devil garnish himself6 and how obedient are people to do his will and mind6 ,they are altogether so carried away with fooleries and vanities1 both men and women1 that they have lost the hidden man of the heart1 and the meek and quiet spirit2 which with the ,lord is of great price4 ,they have lost the adorning of ,sarah2 they are putting on gold and gay apparel2 women plaiting the hair1 men and women powdering it2 making their backs look like bags of meal4 ,they look so strange1 that they can scarce look at one another1 they are so lifted up in pride4 ,pride is flown up into their head1 and hath so lifted them up1 that they snuff up1 like wild asses2 like ,ephraim1 they feed upon wind2 and are like wild heifers1 who feed upon the mountains4 ,pride hath puffed up every one of them3 they are out of the fear of ,god1 men and women1 young and old2 one puffs up another4 ,they must be in the fashion of the world1 else they are not in esteem2 else they shall not be respected1 if they have not gold or silver upon their backs1 or if the hair be not powdered4 ,but if he have store of ribands hanging about his waist1 and at his knees1 and in his hat1 of divers colours1 red1 white1 black1 or yellow1 and his hair be powdered1 then he is a brave man2 then he is accepted1 he is no ,quaker1 because he has ribands on his back1 and front1 and knees1 and his hair powdered4 ,this is the array of the world4 ,but is not this from the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 or the pride of life8 8,likewise the women having their gold1 their patches on their faces1 noses1 cheeks1 foreheads2 having their rings on their fingers1 wearing gold1 having their cuffs double1 under and above1 like unto a butcher with his white sleeves2 having their ribands tied about their hands1 and three or four gold laces about their clothes2 this is no ,quaker1 say they4 ,this attire pleaseth the world3 and if they cannot get these things1 they are discontented4 ,but this is not the attire of ,sarah1 whose adorning was the hidden man of the heart1 the ornament of a quiet and meek spirit4 ,this is the adorning of the heathen1 not of the apostle1 nor of the saints1 whose adorning was1 not wearing of gold1 nor plaiting of hair1 but a meek and quiet spirit2 which was and is of great price with the ,lord4 ,here was the sobriety and good ornament1 which was accepted of the ,lord4 ,this was ,paul's exhortation and preaching2 but we see1 the talkers of ,paul's words live out of ,paul's command1 and out of the example of ,sarah2 and are found in the steps of the great heathen1 who comes to examine the apostles in his gorgeous apparel4 8,now1 are not these1 that have got their ribands hanging about their arms1 hands1 back1 waists1 knees1 hats1 like unto fiddlers' boys8 ,this shows that you are got into the basest and most contemptible life1 who are in the fashion of the fiddler's boys and stage-players1 quite out of the paths and steps of solid men2 and in the very steps and paths of the wild heads1 who give themselves up to every invention and vanity of the world that appears1 and are inventing how to get it upon their backs1 heads1 feet1 and legs1 and say1 if it be out of the fashion it is nothing worth4 ,are not these the spoilers of the creation1 who have the fat and the best of it1 and waste and destroy it8 ,do not these cumber ,god's earth8 ,let that of ,god in all consciences answer1 and those who are in the wisdom1 judge4 ,and further1 if one get a pair of trousers like a coat1 and hang them about with points1 and up almost to the middle1 a pair of double cuffs upon his hands1 and a feather in his cap1 here is a gentleman2 bow before him1 put off your hats1 get a company of fiddlers1 a set of music1 and women to dance4 ,this is a brave fellow4 ,up in the chamber2 up in the chamber without1 and up in the chamber within4 ,are these your fine ,christians8 ,yea1 say they1 they are ,christians4 8,but1 say the serious people1 they are out of ,christ's life1 and out of the apostles' command1 and out of the saints' ornament4 ,and to see such as are before described1 as are in the fashions of the world before-mentioned1 a company of them playing at bowls1 or at tables1 or at shuffle-board2 or each taking his horse1 that has bunches of ribands on his head1 as the rider has on his own 7who1 perhaps1 has a ring in his ear too7 and so go to horse-racing1 to spoil the creatures2 ,o1 these are gentlemen indeed1 these are bred up gentlemen1 these are brave fellows1 and they must take their recreation2 for pleasures are lawful4 ,these in their sports set up their shouts1 like wild asses4 ,they are like the kine or beasts1 when they are put to grass1 lowing when they are full4 ,here is the glorying of those before mentioned2 but it is in the flesh1 not in the ,lord4 ,these are bad ,christians1 and show that they are gluttoned with the creatures1 and then the flesh rejoiceth4 ,here is bad breeding of youth and young women1 who are carried away with the vanities of the mind in their own inventions1 pride1 arrogancy1 lust1 gluttony1 uncleanness4 ,they eat and drink1 and rise up to the play4 ,this is the generation which ,god is not well-pleased with2 for their eyes are full of adultery1 and cannot cease from evil4 ,these be they that live in pleasures upon earth2 these be they who are dead while they live2 who glory not in the ,lord1 but in the flesh4 ,these be they that are out of the life1 that the ,scriptures were given forth from2 who live in the fashions and vanities of the world1 out of truth's adorning1 in the devil's adorning 7who is out of the truth72 and not in the adorning of the ,lord1 which is a meek and quiet spirit1 which is with the ,lord of great price4 ,but this ornament and this adorning is not put on by them that adorn themselves1 and have the ornament of him that is out of the truth4 ,that is not accepted with the ,lord1 which is accepted in their eye40 ,g4 ,f4 ,moreover it came upon me about this time from the ,lord1 to write a short paper and send forth1 as an exhortation and warning to the ,pope1 and all kings and rulers in ,,europe2 as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,ye heads1 and rulers1 kings1 and nobles of all sorts1 be not bitter1 nor hasty in persecuting the lambs of ,christ1 neither turn yourself against the visitation of ,god1 and his tender love and mercies from on high1 who sent to visit you2 lest the ,lord's hand1 arm1 and power1 take hold swiftly upon you2 which is now stretched over the world4 ,it is turned against kings1 and shall turn wise men backward1 and will bring their crowns to the dust1 and lay them low and level with the earth4 ,the ,lord will be king1 who gives crowns to whomsoever obey his will4 ,this is the age wherein the ,lord ,god of heaven and earth is staining the pride of man1 and defacing his glory4 ,you that profess ,christ1 and do not love your enemies1 but on the contrary shut up and imprison those who are his friends2 these are marks that you are out of his life1 and do not love ,christ1 who do not the things he commands4 ,the day of the ,lord's wrath is kindling1 and his fire is going forth to burn up the wicked2 which will leave neither root nor branch4 ,they that have lost their habitation with ,god1 are out of the ,spirit1 that gave forth the ,scriptures1 and from the light that ,jesus ,christ hath enlightened them withal2 and so from the true foundation4 ,therefore be swift to hear1 slow to speak1 and slower to persecute3 for the ,lord is bringing his people to himself1 from all the world's ways1 to ,christ the way2 and from all the world's churches1 to the church which is in ,god1 the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and from all the world's teachers1 to teach his people himself by his ,spirit2 from all the world's images1 into the image of himself2 and from their likeness into his own likeness2 and from all the world's crosses of stone or wood1 into his power1 which is the cross of ,christ4 ,for all these images1 crosses1 and likenesses are among them1 that are apostatized from the image of ,god1 the power of ,god1 the cross of ,christ1 which now fathoms the world1 and is throwing down that which is contrary to it2 which power of ,god never changes4 8,let this go to the kings of ,france1 and of ,spain1 and to the ,pope1 for them to prove all things1 and to hold that which is good4 ,and first to prove1 that they have not quenched the ,spirit3 for the mighty day of the ,lord is come1 and coming upon all wickedness1 and ungodliness1 and unrighteousness of men1 who will plead with all flesh by fire and by sword4 ,and the truth1 the crown of glory1 and the sceptre of righteousness over all shall be exalted2 which shall answer that of ,god in every one upon the earth1 though they be from it4 ,christ is come a light into the world1 and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world2 that all through him might believe4 ,he that feeleth the light that ,christ hath enlightened him withal1 he feeleth ,christ in his mind1 and the cross of ,christ1 which is the power of ,god2 he shall not need to have a cross of wood or stone1 to put him in mind of ,christ1 or of his cross1 which is the power of ,god manifest in the inward parts40 ,g4 ,f4 ,besides this ,i was moved to write a letter to the ,protector1 to warn him of the mighty work the ,lord hath to do in the nations1 and of the shaking of them2 and to beware of his own wit1 craft1 subtilty1 and policy1 or seeking any by-ends to himself4 ,there was about this time an order for the trying of ministers 7so called71 and for approving1 or ejecting them out of their places or benefices2 whereupon ,i wrote a paper to the justices1 and other commissioners1 who were appointed to that work1 as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,you that are justices1 and in commission to try ministers1 who have so long been in the vineyard of ,god1 see whether they be such as are mentioned in the ,scriptures1 whom the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles1 disapproved of4 ,and if they be such as they disapproved1 see how ye can stand approved in the sight of ,god1 to let such go into his vineyard1 and approve of them who will admire your persons1 because of advantage1 and if you do not give them advantage1 they will not admire your persons4 ,such ,jude speaks of4 ,see if they be not such as teach for filthy lucre1 for the love of money1 covetous1 such as love themselves1 who have a form of godliness1 but deny the power2 from such the apostles bid to #8turn away4' ,the apostle said their mouths should be stopped1 who served not the ,lord ,jesus1 but their own bellies1 being evil1 who mind earthly things4 ,paul gave ,timothy a description to try ministers by2 he said1 #8they must not be covetous1 nor given to wine1 nor filthy lucre1 nor novices2 lest being lifted up into pride1 they fall into the condemnation of the devil3' these he was to try and prove without partiality4 ,now take heed of approving such as he disapproved2 for since the apostles' days such as he disapproved have had their liberty2 and they have told us1 the tongues were their original1 and that they were orthodox men2 and that the steeple-house1 with a cross on the top of it1 was the church 7the ,papist's mass-house1 you may look on the top of it1 and see the sign74 ,but the ,scriptures tell us1 #8all the earth was of one language before the building of ,babel2' and when ,pilate crucified ,christ1 he set the tongues1 ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin1 over his head4 ,and ,john tells us1 that the beast had power over the tongues1 kindreds1 and nations2 and that the whore sits upon the tongues1 of whose cup all nations have drunk1 and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her4 ,john also said the tongues are waters4 8,christ gives marks to his disciples1 and to the multitude1 how to try such as these that you are to try4 ,they are called of men1 master2 they love the chiefest seat in the assemblies2 they are sayers but not doers2 and1 said he1 they shall put you out of the synagogues4 ,seven woes he denounced against them1 and so disapproved them4 ,christ said1 false prophets should come2 and ,john saw they were come2 for they went forth from them1 and the world since hath gone after them4 ,but ,babylon must be confounded1 the mother of harlots2 and the ,devil must be taken2 and with him the beast1 and the false prophet must be cast into the lake of fire2 for the ,lamb and his saints over all must reign1 and have the victory4 ,the ,lord ,god sent his prophets of old1 to cry against the shepherds that sought for the fleece1 ,ezek4 xxxiv41 and to cry against such shepherds as seek for their gain from their quarter1 and never have enough1 ,isa4 v4 #f2 and to cry against the prophets that prophesied falsely1 and the priests that bore rule by their means2 which was the filthy and horrible thing1 ,jer4 v4 ,and if you would forbear to give them means1 you would see how long they would bear rule4 8,there was in old time a storehouse for the fatherless1 strangers1 and widows1 to come to and be filled2 and they did not prosper then who did not bring their tithes to the storehouse4 ,but did not ,christ put an end to that priesthood1 tithes1 temple1 and priests8 ,and doth not the apostle say1 that the priesthood is changed1 the law is changed1 and the commandment disannulled8 ,might not they have pleaded the law of ,god that gave them tithes8 ,have ever any of the priests prospered that take tithes since1 by the law of man8 ,was not the first author of them1 since ,christ's time1 the ,pope1 or some of his church8 ,did the apostles cast men into prison for tithes1 as your ministers do now8 ,as instance2 ,ralph ,hollingworth1 priest of ,phillingham1 for petty tithes1 not exceeding six shillings1 has cast into ,lincoln prison a poor thatcher1 named ,thomas ,bromby2 where he has been about eight and thirty weeks1 and still remains a prisoner4 ,and the priest petitioned the judge that the poor man might not labour in the city1 to get a little money towards his maintenance in prison4 ,is this a good savour amongst you1 that are in commission to choose ministers8 ,is this glad tidings1 to cast into prison a man that is not his hearer1 because he could not put into his mouth8 ,can such as are in the fear of ,god1 and in his wisdom1 own such things8 8,the ministers of ,christ are to plant a vineyard1 and then eat of the fruit2 to plough1 sow1 and thrash1 and get the corn2 and then let them reap2 but not cast them into prison for whom they do no work4 ,christ1 when he sent forth his ministers1 bid them give freely1 as they had received freely2 and into what city or town soever they came1 inquire who were worthy and there abide2 and what they set before you1 said he1 that eat4 ,and when these came back again to ,christ1 and he asked them if they wanted anything1 they said ,no4 ,they did not go to a town1 and call the people together1 to know how much they might have by the year1 as these that are in the apostacy do now4 ,the apostle said1 #8have ,i not power to eat and to drink8' ,but he did not say1 to take tithes1 ,easter-reckonings1 ,midsummer-dues1 augmentations1 and great sums of money2 but #8have ,i not power to eat and to drink8' ,yet he did not use that power among the ,corinthians4 ,but they that are apostatized from him1 will take tithes1 great sums of money1 ,easter-reckonings1 and ,midsummer-dues2 and cast them into prison that will not give it them1 whom they do no work for4 ,the ox's mouth must not be muzzled that treads out the corn2 but see if the corn be trodden out in you1 and the wheat be in the garner4 ,this is from a lover of your souls1 and one that desires your eternal good40 ,g4 ,f4 ,after ,i had made some stay in the city of ,,london1 and cleared myself of what service lay upon me at that time there1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go down into ,,bedfordshire to ,john ,crook's house1 at ,,luton1 where there was a great meeting1 and people generally convinced of the ,lord's truth4 ,when ,i was come thither1 ,john ,crook told me that next day several of those that were called the gentlemen of the country1 would come to dine with him and to discourse with me4 ,they came1 and ,i declared to them ,god's eternal truth4 ,several ,friends went to the steeple-houses that day4 ,and there was a meeting in the country1 which ,alexander ,parker went to2 and towards the middle of the day it came upon me to go to it1 though it was several miles off4 ,john ,crook went with me4 ,when we arrived1 there was one ---- ,gritton1 who had been a ,baptist1 but was got higher than they1 and called himself a trier of spirits4 ,he told people their fortunes1 and pretended to discover to them when their goods were stolen or houses broken up1 who the persons were that did it2 by which he had got into the affections of many people thereabouts4 ,this man was in that meeting1 speaking1 and making a hideous noise over the young-convinced ,friends1 when ,i came in2 and he bid ,alexander ,parker give a reason of his hope4 ,alexander ,parker told him1 ,christ was his hope2 but because he did not answer him so soon as he expected1 he boastingly cried1 8his mouth is stopped40 ,then ,gritton directed his speech to me1 for ,i stood still and heard him express many things1 which were not agreeable to ,scripture4 ,i asked him1 whether he could make those things out by ,scripture which he had spoken1 and he said1 ,yes1 yes4 ,then ,i bid the people take out their ,bibles to search the places he should quote for proof of his assertions2 but he could not make good by ,scripture that which he had said4 ,so he was ashamed and fled out of the house1 and his people were generally convinced3 for his spirit was discovered1 and he came no more amongst them4 ,when his people were convinced and settled in ,god's truth1 they gave forth a book against him1 and denied his spirit and his false discoveries4 ,many were turned to ,christ ,jesus that day1 and came to sit under his teaching2 insomuch that the judges were in a great rage1 and many of the magistrates in ,,bedfordshire1 because there were so many turned from the hireling priests to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's free teaching4 ,but ,john ,crook#cf was kept by the power of the ,lord2 yet he was discharged from being a justice4 ,footnote #cf3 ,john ,crook was a ,justice of the ,peace1 and a man of note in the county of ,bedford4 ,he became an eminent preacher of the gospel1 in which he laboured extensively1 and many were the seals of his ministry4 ,he suffered many imprisonments1 which he bore with patience1 as also his bodily infirmities1 often expressing the inward joy and peace he had with the ,lord4 ,he died in #afii1 in the eighty-second year of his age1 having been a minister about forty-four years1 and his writings were published in #agja1 entitled1 ,the ,design of ,christianity testified in the ,books1 ,epistles1 and ,,mss4 of ,john ,crook4 ,after some time ,i returned to ,,london again1 where ,friends were finely established in the truth1 and great comings-in there were4 ,about this time several ,friends went beyond sea to declare the everlasting truth of ,god4 ,when ,i had stayed a while in the city1 ,i went into ,,kent4 ,when we came to ,,rochester1 there was a guard kept to examine passengers1 but we passed by1 and were not stopped4 ,so ,i went to ,,cranbrook1 where there was a great meeting2 several soldiers were at it1 and many were turned to the ,lord that day4 ,after the meeting1 some of the soldiers were somewhat rude1 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,thomas ,howsigoe1 an ,independent preacher1 who lived near ,,cranbrook1 was convinced1 and became a faithful minister for the ,lord ,jesus4 ,some ,friends had travelled into ,,kent before1 as ,john ,stubbs and ,william ,caton1 and the priests and professors had stirred up the magistrates at ,,maidstone to whip them1 for declaring ,god's truth unto them2 as may be seen at large in the ,journal of ,william ,caton's life4 ,captain ,dunk was also convinced in ,,kent4 ,he went with me to ,,rye1 where we had a meeting2 to which the ,mayor and officers1 and several captains came4 ,they took down what ,i said in writing1 which ,i was well pleased with4 ,all was quiet1 and the people affected with the truth4 ,from ,,rye ,i went to ,,romney1 where1 the people having had notice of my coming some time before1 there was a very large meeting4 ,thither came ,samuel ,fisher1 an eminent preacher among the ,baptists1 who had had a parsonage reputed worth about two hundred pounds a year1 which for conscience sake he had given up4 ,there was also the pastor of the ,baptists1 and abundance of their people4 ,the power of the ,lord was so mightily over the meeting1 that many were reached thereby1 and one greatly shaken1 and the life sprung up in many4 ,one of the pastors of the ,baptists1 being amazed at the work of the ,lord's power1 bid one of our friends that was so wrought upon1 have a good conscience2 whereupon ,i was moved of the ,lord to bid him take heed of hypocrisy and deceit2 and he was silent4 ,a great convincement there was that day2 many were turned from darkness to the divine light of ,christ1 and came to see their teachers' errors1 and to sit under the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's teaching1 to know him their way1 and the covenant of light1 which ,god had given to be their salvation2 and they were brought to the one baptism1 and to the one baptizer1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,when the meeting was over1 ,samuel ,fisher's wife said1 8,now we may discern this day between flesh and spirit1 and distinguish spiritual teaching from fleshly40 ,the people were generally well satisfied with what had been declared2 but the two ,baptist teachers and their company1 when they were gone from the meeting1 fell to reasoning amongst the people4 ,samuel ,fisher1 with many others1 reasoned for the word of life1 which had been declared that day2 and the other pastor and his party reasoned against it2 so it divided them asunder1 and cut them in the midst4 ,a friend came and told me1 that the ,baptists were disputing one with another2 and desired me to go up to them2 but ,i said 8let them alone1 the ,lord will divide them2 and they that reason for truth1 will be too hard for the other20 and so it was4 ,samuel ,fisher received the truth in the love of it1 became a faithful minister1 preached ,christ freely1 and laboured much in the service of the ,lord1 being moved to go and declare the word of life at ,dunkirk and in ,holland1 and in divers parts of ,italy1 as ,leghorn1 and ,rome itself2 yet the ,lord preserved him and his companion ,john ,stubbs1 out of their ,inquisitions4#cg ,footnote #cg3 ,sewell states that ,samuel ,fisher and ,john ,stubbs1 when at ,rome1 conversed with some of the cardinals1 and testified against ,popish superstitions4 ,they also spread books among the friars1 some of whom expressed their contents to be true2 but1 said they1 if we should acknowledge this publicly1 we might expect to be burned for it4 ,whiting records the death of ,samuel ,fisher in #affe4 8,other ,friends10 he says1 8were transported2 and many died in ,newgate1 and on shipboard1 in order to transportation1 to the number of #abb1 in ,london1 ,westminster1 and ,southwark2 particularly ,samuel ,fisher1 c41 faithful ministers and labourers in the work of the ,lord1 taken at meetings died in the ,white ,lion prison1 ,southwark1 #affe1 in the time of the pestilence plague1 which began in the time of the persecution of ,friends under the ,conventicle ,act1 as a signal token of the ,lord's displeasure4 ,it broke out first in a house next to that of the first man that was banished1 who lived to return to ,london1 and died at a great age40 ,from ,,romney ,i passed to ,,dover1 and had a meeting1 where several were convinced4 ,near ,,dover a governor and his wife were convinced1 who had been ,baptists2 and the ,baptists thereabouts were much offended1 and grew very envious2 but the ,lord's power came over all4 ,luke ,howard of ,,dover was convinced some time before1 and became a faithful minister of ,christ4#ch ,footnote #ch3 ,for some account of ,luke ,howard1 see ,piety ,promoted1 ,part ix4 ,he was several times imprisoned2 once in ,dover ,castle1 for sixteen months1 for going to meetings4 ,at this time1 he employed six men in his trade1 but was obliged to shut up his shop for six months4 ,he obtained the use of an entry to the prison grate1 where meat was drawn up with a cord1 and he worked a little there4 ,he suffered another long confinement in #afhd4 ,speaking of his imprisonments1 he says1 8,i had perfect peace1 joy1 and content in it all2 the ,lord made it good unto me1 both within and without40 ,returning from ,,dover ,i went to ,,canterbury1 where a few honest-hearted people were turned to the ,lord1 who sat down under ,christ's teaching4 ,thence ,i passed to ,,cranbrook again1 where ,i had a great meeting4 ,a friend went to the steeple-house1 and was cast into prison2 but the ,lord's power was manifested1 and his truth spread4 ,from thence ,i passed into ,,sussex1 and lodged near ,,horsham1 where there was a great meeting1 and many were convinced4 ,also at ,,steyning we had a great meeting in the market house1 and several were convinced2 for the ,lord's power was with us4 ,i had several meetings in the neighbourhood2 and among the rest1 one was appointed at a great man's house1 and he and his son went to fetch several priests that had threatened to come and dispute4 ,but none of them came2 for the ,lord's power was mighty in us2 a glorious meeting we had4 ,the man of the house and his son were vexed1 because none of the priests would come4 ,so the hearts of people were opened by the ,spirit of ,god1 and they were turned from the hirelings to ,christ ,jesus their shepherd1 who had purchased them without money1 and would feed them without money or price4 ,many that came1 expecting to hear a dispute1 were convinced2 amongst whom ,nicholas ,beard was one4#ci ,footnote #ci3 ,nicholas ,beard was an early seeker of the ,lord in his youth1 and would often travel many miles to hear the best reputed teachers of the times4 ,he became a faithful minister of ,christ1 and a large sufferer for his sake4 ,for one year's tithes he had taken from him twelve oxen1 six cows1 and one bull1 which were sold for #aaa #es41 but worth more4 ,for worshipping ,god1 and refusing to swear or bear arms1 he was prosecuted on the statute for #bj a month1 and underwent imprisonment several years1 and loss of goods to more than #a1jjj4 ,yet it pleased the ,lord to support and bless him and a large family1 so that on his deathbed he was heard to say1 8,o ,lord1 my soul blesseth thee1 and all that is within me magnifieth thy holy name60 ,he often desired to depart and be with ,christ1 and died in great peace1 in #agjb1 aged eighty1 a minister about thirty years4 ,thus the ,lord's power came over all1 and his day many came to see4 ,there were abundance of ,ranters in those parts1 and professors that had been so loose in their lives1 that they began to be weary of it and had thought to go into ,scotland to live privately4 ,but the ,lord's net caught them1 and their understandings were opened by his light1 ,spirit1 and power1 through which they came to receive the truth1 and to be settled upon the ,lord2 and so became very sober men1 and good friends in the truth4 ,great blessing and praising of the ,lord there was amongst them1 and great admiration in the country4 ,out of ,,sussex ,i travelled to ,,reading1 where ,i found a few that were convinced of the way of the ,lord4 ,there ,i stayed till ,first-day1 and had a meeting in ,george ,lamboll's orchard2 and a great part of the town came to it4 ,a glorious meeting it proved2 a great convincement there was1 and the people were mightily satisfied4 ,thither came two of ,judge ,fell's daughters to me1 and ,george ,bishop1 of ,,bristol1 with his sword by his side1 for he was a captain4#dj ,after the meeting many ,baptists and ,ranters came privately1 reasoning and discoursing2 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,the ,ranters pleaded1 that ,god made the ,devil2 ,i denied it1 and told them1 8,i was come into the power of ,god1 the seed ,christ1 which was before the ,devil was1 and bruised the head of him2 and he became a ,devil by going out of truth1 and so became a murderer and a destroyer4 ,so ,i showed them that ,god did not make the ,devil2 for ,god is a ,god of truth1 and he made all things good1 and blessed them2 but ,god did not bless the ,devil4 ,and the ,devil is bad1 and was a liar and a murderer from the beginning1 and spoke of himself and not from ,god40 ,and so the truth stopped them1 and bound them1 and came over all the highest notions in the nation1 and confounded them4 ,for by the power of the ,lord ,god ,i was manifest1 and sought to be made manifest to the ,spirit of ,god in all2 that by it 7which they vexed1 and quenched1 and grieved17 they might be turned to ,god2 as many were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ by the ,holy ,spirit1 and were come to sit under his teaching4 ,footnote #dj3 ,this ,captain ,bishop1 who is mentioned as wearing his sword1 soon discontinued it1 being convinced1 and joining ,friends4 ,he was the author of ,an ,account of the ,persecution in ,new ,england1 and he issued a prophetic warning to the ,king and ,parliament1 in #affd1 for banishing ,friends1 which was fulfilled4 ,see ,sewell's ,history2 ,index4 ,after this meeting at ,,reading ,i passed up to ,,london1 where ,i stayed a while1 and had large meetings1 then into ,,essex1 and came to ,,coggeshall1 where was a meeting of about two thousand people1 as it was supposed1 which lasted several hours1 and a glorious meeting it was2 for the word of life was freely declared1 and people were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their teacher and their ,saviour1 the way1 the truth1 and the life4 ,on the sixth day of that week ,i had a meeting near ,,colchester1 to which many professors and the ,independent teachers came4 ,after ,i had done speaking1 and was stepped down from the place on which ,i stood1 one of the ,independent teachers began to make a jangling2 which ,amor ,stoddart perceiving1 said to me1 ,stand up again1 ,george1 for ,i was going away1 and did not at first hear them4 ,but when ,i heard the jangling ,independent1 ,i stood up again2 and after a while the ,lord's power came over him and his company2 and they were confounded1 and the ,lord's truth went over all4 ,a great flock of sheep hath the ,lord ,jesus ,christ in that country1 that feed in his pastures of life4 ,on the ,first-day following we had a very large meeting1 near ,,colchester1 wherein the ,lord's power was eminently manifested1 and the people were very well satisfied2 for they were turned to ,christ's free teaching1 and received it gladly4 ,many of these people had been of the stock of the martyrs4 ,as ,i passed through ,,colchester1 ,i went to visit ,james ,parnel in prison1 but the cruel jailer would hardly let us come in1 or stay with him4 ,very cruel they were to him2 the jailer's wife threatened to have his blood2 and in that jail they destroyed him1 as the reader may see in a book printed soon after his death1 giving an account of his life and death2 and also in an epistle printed with his collected books and writings4 ,from ,,colchester ,i went to ,,ipswich1 where we had a little meeting1 and very rude2 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,after the meeting ,i said1 8if any had a desire to hear further1 they might come to the inn20 and there came in a company of rude butchers1 that had abused ,friends2 but the ,lord's power so chained them that they could not do mischief4 ,then ,i wrote a paper1 and gave it forth to the town1 8warning them of the day of the ,lord1 that they might repent of the evils they lived in2 directing them to ,christ1 their teacher1 and way2 and exhorting them to forsake their hireling teachers40 ,we passed from ,,ipswich to ,,mendlesham1 in ,,suffolk1 where ,robert ,duncan lived4 ,there we had a large quiet meeting1 and the ,lord's power was preciously felt amongst us4 ,then we passed to a meeting at ,captain ,lawrence's in ,,norfolk2 where1 it was supposed1 were above a thousand people2 and all was quiet4 ,many persons of note were present1 and a great convincement there was2 for they were turned to ,christ1 their way and their teacher1 and many of them received him1 and sat down under him1 their vine4 ,here we parted with ,amor ,stoddart and some other ,friends1 who intended to meet us again in ,,huntingdonshire4 ,about two in the morning we took horse for ,,norwich1 where ,christopher ,atkins had run out1 and brought dishonour upon the blessed truth and name of the ,lord4 ,but he had been denied by ,friends2 and afterwards he gave forth a paper of condemnation of his sin and evil4 ,we came to ,,yarmouth1 and there stayed a while2 where there was a ,friend1 ,thomas ,bond1 in prison for the truth of ,christ4 ,there we had some service2 and some were turned to the ,lord in that town4 ,from thence we rode to another town1 about twenty miles off1 where were many tender people2 and ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak to them1 as ,i sat on my horse1 in several places as ,i passed along4 ,we went to another town about five miles from thence1 and set up our horses at an inn1 ,richard ,hubberthorn and ,i having travelled five and forty miles that day4 ,there were some friendly people in the town2 and we had a tender1 broken meeting amongst them1 in the ,lord's power1 to his praise4 ,we bid the hostler have our horses ready by three in the morning2 for we intended to ride to ,,lynn1 about three and thirty miles1 next morning4 ,but when we were in bed at our inn1 about eleven at night1 the constable and officers came1 with a great rabble of people1 into the inn1 and said they were come with a hue and cry from a justice of peace1 that lived near the town about five miles off1 where ,i had spoken to the people in the streets1 as ,i rode along1 to search for two horsemen1 that rode upon gray horses1 and in gray clothes2 a house having been broken up on the ,seventh-day before at night4 ,we told them 8we were honest1 innocent men1 and abhorred such things20 yet they apprehended us1 and set a guard with halberts and pikes upon us that night2 making some of those friendly people1 with others1 to watch us4 ,next morning we were up betimes1 and the constable with his guard carried us before a justice of peace about five miles off4 ,we took two or three of the sufficient men of the town with us1 who had been with us at the great meeting at ,captain ,lawrence's1 and could testify that we lay both the ,seventh-day night1 and the ,first-day night1 at ,captain ,lawrence's2 and it was the ,seventh-day night that they said the house was broken up4 ,the reader is to be informed1 that during the time that ,i was a prisoner at the ,mermaid at ,,charing ,,cross1 this ,captain ,lawrence brought several ,independent justices to see me there1 with whom ,i had much discourse2 which they took offence at4 ,for they pleaded for imperfection1 and to sin as long as they lived2 but did not like to hear of ,christ teaching his people himself1 and making people as clear1 whilst here upon the earth1 as ,adam and ,eve were before they fell4 ,these justices had plotted together this mischief against me in the country1 pretending a house was broken up2 that they might send their hue and cry after me4 ,they were vexed also1 and troubled1 to hear of the great meeting at ,john ,lawrence's aforesaid2 for a colonel was convinced there that day1 who lived and died in the truth4 ,but ,providence so ordered1 that the constable carried us to a justice about five miles onward in our way towards ,,lynn1 who was not an ,independent justice1 as the rest were4 ,when we were brought before him1 he began to be angry1 because we did not put off our hats to him4 ,i told him1 ,i had been before the ,protector1 and he was not offended at my hat2 and why should he be offended at it1 who was but one of his servants8 ,then he read the hue and cry2 and ,i told him1 8that that night1 wherein the house was said to be broken up1 we were at ,captain ,lawrence's house2 and that we had several men present who could testify the truth thereof40 ,thereupon the justice1 having examined us and them said 8he believed we were not the men that had broken the house2 but he was sorry10 he said1 8that he had no more against us40 ,we told him1 8he ought not to be sorry for not having evil against us2 but rather to be glad2 for to rejoice1 when he got evil against people1 as for housebreaking1 or the like1 was not a good mind in him40 ,it was a good while yet1 before he could resolve1 whether to let us go1 or send us to prison2 and the wicked constable stirred him up against us1 telling him1 8we had good horses1 and that if it pleased him1 he would carry us to ,,norwich jail40 ,but we took hold of the justice's confession1 that 8he believed we were not the men that had broken the house20 and after we had admonished him to fear the ,lord in his day1 the ,lord's power came over him1 so that he let us go2 so their snare was broken4 ,a great people were afterwards gathered to the ,lord in that town1 where ,i was moved to speak to them in the street2 and from whence the hue and cry came4 ,being set at liberty1 we travelled to ,,lynn2 where we arrived about three in the afternoon4 ,having set up our horses1 we met with ,joseph ,fuce1#da who was an ensign2 and we wished him to speak to as many of the people of the town as he could that feared ,god2 and to the captains and officers to come together2 which he did4 ,we had a very glorious meeting amongst them1 and turned them to the ,spirit of ,god1 by which they might know ,god and ,christ1 and understand the ,scriptures2 and so learn of ,god and of ,christ1 as the prophets and apostles did4 ,many were convinced there2 and a fine meeting there is1 of them that are come off from the hirelings' teaching1 and sit under the teaching of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,footnote #da3 ,joseph ,fuce was one of those faithful ministers who died in ,white ,lion prison1 ,southwark1 in #affe1 during the time of the plague4 ,,lynn being then a garrison1 we desired ,joseph ,fuce to get us the gate opened by three next morning1 for we had forty miles to ride next day4 ,by that means getting out early1 we came next day by eleven or twelve to ,,sutton1 near the ,isle of ,ely1 where ,amor ,stoddart1 and the ,friends with him1 met us again4 ,a multitude of people was gathered there1 and no less than four priests4 ,the priest of the town made a great jangle2 but the ,lord's power so confounded him1 that he went away3 the other three stayed2 and one of them was convinced4 ,one of the other two1 whilst ,i was speaking1 came to lean upon me2 but ,i bid him sit down1 seeing he was so slothful4 ,a great convincement there was that day2 and many hundreds were turned from the darkness to the light1 from the power of ,satan unto ,god1 and from the spirit of error to the ,spirit of truth1 to be led thereby into all truth4 ,people came to this meeting from ,,huntingdon1 and beyond2 and the mayor's wife of ,,cambridge was there also4 ,a glorious meeting it was1 and many were settled under ,christ's teaching1 and knew him1 their ,shepherd1 to feed them2 for the word of life was freely declared1 and gladly received by them4 ,the meeting ended in the power of the ,lord1 and in peace2 and after it ,i walked out and went into a garden2 where ,i had not been long1 before a ,friend came to me1 and told me several justices were come to break up the meeting4 ,but many of the people were gone away2 so they missed of their design3 and after they had stayed a while1 they went away also1 in a fret4 ,that evening ,i passed to ,,cambridge4 ,when ,i came into the town1 the scholars hearing of me1 were up1 and were exceedingly rude4 ,i kept on my horse's back1 and rode through them in the ,lord's power2 but they unhorsed ,amor ,stoddart before he could get to the inn4 ,when we were in the inn1 they were so rude in the courts1 and in the streets1 that miners1 colliers1 and carters could never be ruder4 ,the people of the house asked us 8what we would have for supper40 8,supper60 said ,i1 8were it not that the ,lord's power is over them1 these rude scholars look as if they would pluck us in pieces1 and make a supper of us40 ,they knew ,i was so against the trade of preaching1 which they were there as apprentices to learn1 that they raged as much as ever ,diana's craftsmen did against ,paul4 ,at this place ,john ,crook met us4 ,when it was within night1 the mayor of the town1 being friendly1 came and fetched me to his house2 and as we walked through the streets1 there was a bustle in the town2 but they did not know me1 it being darkish4 ,they were in a rage1 not only against me1 but against the mayor also2 so that he was almost afraid to walk the streets with me1 for the tumult4 ,we sent for the friendly people1 and had a fine meeting there in the power of ,god3 and ,i stayed there all night4 ,next morning1 having ordered our horses to be ready by six1 we passed peaceably out of town2 and the destroyers were disappointed2 for they thought ,i would have stayed longer1 and intended to do us mischief2 but our passing away early in the morning frustrated their evil purposes against us4 ,then we rode to ,,bishop-,,stortford1 where some were convinced3 and so to ,,hertford1 where also there were some convinced2 and where there is now a large meeting4 ,from thence we returned to ,,london1 where ,friends received us gladly2 the ,lord's power having carried us through many snares and dangers4 ,great service we had for the ,lord2 for many hundreds were brought to sit under the teaching of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their ,saviour1 and to praise the ,lord through him4 ,james ,naylor also was come up to ,london2 and ,richard ,hubberthorn and ,i stayed some time in the city1 visiting ,friends and answering gainsayers2 for we had great disputes with professors of all sorts4 ,many reproaches they cast upon truth2 and lying slanderous books they gave forth against us3 but we answered them all1 cleared ,god's truth1 and set it over them2 and the ,lord's power was over all4 ,amongst other services for the ,lord1 which then lay upon me in the city1 ,i was moved to give forth a paper which is as follows3-- ,to ,those that ,made a ,scorn of ,trembling and ,quaking4 8,the word of the ,lord to all you that scorn trembling1 and quaking2 who scoff at1 scorn1 stone1 and belch forth oaths against1 those who are trembling and quaking2 threatening them1 and beating them4 ,strangers ye are to all the apostles and prophets2 and are of the generation that stoned them1 and mocked them in those ages4 ,ye are the scoffers of whom they spoke1 that are come in the last times4 ,be ye witnesses against yourselves4 ,to the light in all your consciences ,i speak1 that with it you may see yourselves to be out of the life of the holy men of ,god4 8,moses1 who was judge over all ,israel1 trembled1 feared1 and quaked3 when the ,lord said unto him1 #8,i am the ,god of ,abraham1 the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob1 then ,moses trembled1 and durst not behold4' ,this1 which makes to tremble now1 ye teachers and people scoff at1 and scorn them in your streets who witness the power of the ,lord4 ,moses forsook the pleasures of the world1 which he might have enjoyed for a season4 ,he might have been called the son of ,pharaoh's daughter2 he refused it1 and forsook ,pharaoh's house2 yet was no vagabond4 ,david1 a king1 trembled2 he was mocked2 they made songs on him2 they wagged their heads at him4 ,will you profess ,david's words1 and ,moses's words1 who are in the generation of your fathers1 mockers1 scoffers1 wonderers1 and despisers1 who are to perish8 ,o blush6 be ashamed of all your profession1 and be confounded6 ,job trembled1 his flesh trembled1 and they mocked him3 so do you now mock them in whom the same power of ,god is made manifest2 and yet you profess ,job's words4 ,o deceitful hypocrites6 will ye not own ,scripture8 ,o shame6 never profess ,scripture words1 and deny the power1 which1 according to ,scripture1 makes the keepers of the house to tremble1 and the strong man to bow himself4 ,these things both priests1 magistrates1 and people scoff at2 but with the power ye are judged1 and by the power and life condemned4 8,the prophet ,jeremiah trembled1 he shook1 his bones quaked1 he reeled to and fro1 like a drunken man1 when he saw the deceits of the priests and prophets1 who were turned from the way of ,god2 they were not ashamed1 neither could they blush4 ,such were gone from the light2 and such were they that ruled over the people4 ,but he was brought to cry1 ,o foolish people6 that had eyes1 and could not see2 that had ears1 and could not hear2 that did not fear the ,lord1 and tremble at his presence1 who placed the sands for bounds to the sea1 by a perpetual decree1 that the waves thereof cannot pass6 ,and he said1 #8,a horrible thing is committed in the land2 the prophets prophesy falsely1 and the priests bear rule by their means4 ,shall not ,i visit for these things1 saith the ,lord8 ,shall not my soul be avenged upon such a nation as this8' ,they were such as did not tremble at the word of the ,lord2 therefore he called them a foolish people4 ,hear all ye the word of the ,lord1 ye foolish people1 who scorn trembling and quaking4 ,give over professing the prophet ,jeremiah's words1 and making a trade of them2 for with his words you are judged to be among the scoffers1 scorners1 and stockers4 ,for he was stocked by your generation2 and you now stock them that tremble at the word of the ,lord1 at the power of the mighty ,god1 which raises up the seed of ,god1 and throws down the earth which hath kept it down4 ,so1 you who are in the fall where death reigneth1 who are enemies of the truth1 despising the power of ,god1 as those of your generation ever did1 woe and misery is your portion1 except you speedily repent4 8,isaiah saith1 #8,hear the word of the ,lord1 ye that tremble at his word4' ,again1 #8,to this man will ,i look1 even to him that is poor1 and of a contrite spirit1 and trembleth at my word4' ,isa4 lxv4 #b4 #8,your brethren that hated you1 that cast you out for my name's sake1 said1 ,let the ,lord be glorified2 but he shall appear to your joy1 and they shall be ashamed4' ,isa4 lxvi4 #e4 ,now all ye scoffers and scorners1 that despise trembling1 you regard not the word of the ,lord2 they are not regarded by you1 that tremble at the word2 who are regarded by the ,lord3 therefore you are contrary to ,isaiah's words4 ,profess him and his words no more1 for shame1 nor make a trade of his words1 ye that seek for your gain from your quarter1 ye greedy1 dumb dogs1 that never have enough2 ye are they that despise trembling2 ye are such as ,isaiah cried against1 who himself witnessed trembling4 ,here therefore be ye witnesses against yourselves1 that with the light in your consciences ye may see ye are out of the prophet ,isaiah's spirit1 and are haters of them that tremble1 whom the ,lord regards2 such you regard not1 but hate and persecute1 mock and rail against them4 ,it is manifest that you walk in the steps of your forefathers1 that persecuted the prophets4 8,habakkuk1 the prophet of the ,lord1 trembled4 ,and ,joel1 the prophet of the ,lord1 said1 #8,blow the trumpet in ,zion1 and let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble3 the people shall tremble1 and all faces shall gather blackness1 and the people shall be much pained4' ,and now this trembling is witnessed by the power of the ,lord4 ,this power of the ,lord is come2 the trumpet is sounding2 the earth is shaking1 the inhabitants of the earth are trembling2 the dead are arising1 and the living are praising ,god2 the world is raging1 and the scoffers are scorning2 and they that witness trembling and quaking wrought in them by the power of the ,lord1 can scarcely pass up and down the streets1 but with stones and blows1 fists and sticks1 or dogs set at them2 or they are pursued with mockings and reproaches4 ,thus you vent forth your malice against them that witness the power of the ,lord1 as the prophets did2 who are come to the broken heart and contrite spirit1 who tremble at the word of the ,lord1 and whom the ,lord regards3 these you stone and stock1 and set your dogs at2 these you scoff and scorn1 these you revile and reproach2 but these reproaches are our riches2 praised be the ,lord who hath given us power over them4 ,if you see one1 as ,habakkuk1 whose #8lips quivered1' whose #8belly shook1' who said1 #8rottenness was entered into his bones1' and who #8trembled in himself2' if you see such a one in this condition now1 ye say1 he is bewitched4 ,here again you show yourselves strangers to that power1 to that life1 that was in the prophet3 therefore1 for shame1 never make a profession of his words1 nor a trade of his words2 nor of ,joel's1 who witnessed trembling1 which ye scorn and scoff at4 ,ye proud scoffers and scorners1 misery1 misery is your end1 except you speedily repent4 8,daniel1 a servant of the most high ,god1 trembled2 his strength and his breath were gone2 he was imprisoned1 he was hated1 he was persecuted4 ,they laid baits and snares for him1 in whom the ,holy ,spirit of ,god was4 ,now for shame1 you that make a profession of ,daniel's words1 give over your profession2 priests and people1 who scorn and scoff at trembling1 with the light you are seen to be out of ,daniel's life1 and by the same power you are judged1 at which you scorn and scoff4 ,here again be ye witnesses against yourselves1 that ye are scorners and scoffers against the truth2 and with the ,scripture ye are judged to be contrary to the life of the holy men of ,god4 8,paul1 a minister of ,god1 made1 by the will of ,god1 a messenger of the ,lord ,jesus1 a vessel of the ,lord1 to carry his name abroad into several nations1 trembled3 and when the dark1 blind world1 having got some of his words and epistles1 you teachers make a trade of them1 and obtain great sums of money by it1 and so destroy souls for dishonest gain3 making a trade of his words1 and of the rest of the apostles' and prophets'1 and of ,christ's words1 but denying the ,spirit and life that they were guided by2 and that power which shook the flesh and the earth1 which the apostle witnessed1 who said1 when he came among the ,corinthians1 that #8he was with them in weakness1 and in fear1 and in much trembling1' that their faith might not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god2 in that power which made him to tremble4 ,this power it is that the world1 and all the scoffing teachers1 scoff at and scorn in your towns1 in your villages1 in your assemblies1 in your ale-houses4 ,for shame1 lay aside all your profession of the apostle's words and conditions6 ,some of them that scoff at this power1 call it the power of the devil4 ,some persecute1 stone and stock1 imprison and whip them1 in whom that power is made manifest1 and load them with reproaches1 as not worthy to walk on the earth2 hated and persecuted1 as the off-scouring of all things4 ,here you may see you are in the steps of your forefathers1 who persecuted the apostles1 and acted so against them1 stocked them1 mocked them1 imprisoned them1 stoned them1 whipped them1 haled them out of the synagogues1 reproached them1 and shamefully entreated them4 ,do not you here fulfil the ,scripture1 and ,christ's saying1 who said1 #8,if they kill you1 they will think they do ,god service8' ,yet you make a profession of ,christ's words1 of the prophets' and apostles' words1 and call yourselves churches1 and ministers of the gospel4 ,i charge you1 in the presence of the living ,god1 to be silent who act such things6 ,mind the light in your consciences1 ye scoffers and scorners1 which ,christ hath enlightened you withal3 that with it ye may see yourselves1 what ye act1 and what ye have acted2 for they who act such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god3 all such things are by the light condemned4 8,you who have come to witness trembling and quaking1 the powers of the earth to be shaken1 the lustful nature to be destroyed1 the scorning and scoffing nature judged by the light2 wait in it to receive power from him who shakes the earth4 ,that power we own1 and our faith stands in it1 which all the world scoffs at2 the lofty ones1 the proud1 the presumptuous1 who live in presumption1 and yet make a profession of the ,scriptures1 as your fathers the ,pharisees did1 who were painted sepulchres and serpents2 and as the scribes did1 who had the chiefest place in the assemblies1 stood praying in the synagogues1 and were called of men masters1 which ,christ cried woe against4 ,these are not come so far as the trembling of devils1 who believed and trembled4 ,let that judge you4 ,the light and life of the ,scripture is seen and made manifest1 and with it all you scoffers and scorners1 all you persecutors and railers are seen4 8,take warning1 all ye powers of the earth1 how ye persecute them whom the world nickname and call ,quakers1 who dwell in the eternal power of ,god2 lest the hand of the ,lord be turned against you1 and ye be all cut off4 ,to you this is the word of ,god4 ,fear and tremble1 and take warning6 for this is the man whom the ,lord doth regard1 who trembles at his word2 whom you1 who are of the world1 scoff and scorn1 stock1 persecute1 and imprison4 ,here ye may see ye are contrary to ,god and to the prophets2 and are such as hate what the ,lord regards2 which we1 whom the world scorns and call ,quakers1 own4 ,we exalt and honour that power1 that makes the devils tremble1 shakes the earth1 and throws down the loftiness and the haughtiness of man2 which makes the beasts of the field to tremble1 and the earth to reel to and fro2 which cleaves the earth asunder1 and overturneth the world4 ,this power we own1 and honour1 and preach2 but all scoffers and persecutors1 railers and scorners1 stockers and whippers1 we deny by that power which throweth down all that nature2 seeing that all who act such things1 without repentance1 shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god1 but are for destruction4 8,rejoice1 all ye righteous ones1 who are persecuted for righteousness' sake2 for great is your reward in heaven4 ,rejoice ye that suffer for well doing2 for ye shall not lose your reward4 ,wait in the light1 that you may grow up in the life that gave forth the ,scriptures2 that with it you may see the saints' conditions1 and all that which they testified against2 and there with it ye will see the state of those that reproached and scoffed at them2 that mocked and persecuted them2 that whipped and stocked them1 and haled them out of the synagogues before magistrates4 ,to you1 who are in the same light and life1 the same things do they now2 that they may fill up the measure of their fathers4 ,with the light now they are seen1 where the light1 and life1 and power of ,god is made manifest2 for as they did unto them1 so they will do unto you4 ,here is our joy2 the ,scripture is fulfilled1 and fulfilling2 and with the light1 which was before the world was1 which is now made manifest in the children of light1 they see the world1 and comprehend it1 and the actions of it2 for he that loves the world1 and turns from the light1 is an enemy to ,god2 he turneth into wickedness2 for the whole world lieth in wickedness4 ,he who turns from the light1 turns into the works of evil1 which the light of ,christ testifies against2 and by this light1 where it is made manifest1 all the works of the world are seen and made manifest40 ,g4,f4 ,this is to go abroad among the scattered ones1 and among the world4 ,great was the rage and enmity of professors1 as well as profane1 against the truth and people of ,god at this time2 and great the contempt and disdain they showed of ,friends' plainness4 ,wherefore ,i was moved to write the following1 and sent it forth3-- ,an ,epistle to ,churches gathered into outward forms1 upon the earth4 8,all ye churches gathered into outward forms upon the earth1 the ,son of ,god is come to reign2 he will tread and trample1 will shake and make you quiver1 you that are found out of his light1 without his life and power4 ,his day hath appeared2 mortar and clay will you be found4 ,breaking1 shaking1 and quaking are coming among you6 your high building is to be laid desolate2 your professed liberty shall be your bondage2 the mouth of the ,lord of ,hosts hath spoken it4 ,tremble1 ye hypocrites1 ye notionists6 the fenced cities shall be laid desolate1 the fruitful fields shall become a wilderness2 your false joy shall become your heaviness2 the time of weeping and desolation draweth nigh6 ,come1 ye witty ones1 see how ye can stand before the ,almighty1 who is now come to plead with you2 you will fall like leaves1 and wither like weeds6 ,come1 you that have boasted of my name1 saith the ,lord1 and have gloried in the flesh1 ye shall fade like a flower2 who have slain my witness yet boast of my words1 which have been as a song unto you4 ,come1 ye novelists1 who love novelties1 changeable suits of apparel1 who are in the fashions1 outward and inward1 putting on one thing this day1 and another the other day4 #8,i will strip thee1' saith the ,lord1 #8,i will make thee bare1 ,i will make thee naked1 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord4' 8#8,what6 hast thou professed the prophets' words8 hast thou professed the apostles' words1 and my ,son's words2 hast thou covered thyself with their expressions8 thinkest thou not that ,i see thee out of my life8 thinkest thou1 thou witty one1 to hide thyself where none can see thee8 thinkest thou1 if thou fliest to the uttermost parts of the earth1 that ,i am not there8 ,is not the earth mine1 and the fulness of it1 saith the ,lord8' ,come1 all ye that have trusted in your own conceited notions1 and knowledge1 and wisdom1 who were never yet out of the earth1 and the lusts of it2 never yet got the load of thick clay off you2 never were out of the drunken spirit1 whose imperfection appears1 which must be come upon as a potter's vessel2 broken cisterns2 ye that have been made wise in your own conceit1 wise in your own eyes1 in which pride hath lifted you up1 and not the humility2 you must be abased4 ,you have run on1 every one after his own invention2 every man hath done the thing that was right in his own eyes1 that which pleased himself4 ,this hath been the course of people upon earth4 ,ye have run on without a king1 without ,christ1 the light of the world1 which hath enlightened every one that is come into the world4 ,but now is truth risen1 now are your fruits withering4 8,and you that are fortified1 and have fortified your strong houses1 called your churches1 make ye your cords strong1 the ,lord will break you asunder1 ye that are gathering in1 and ye that are gathered4 ,for the ,lord is risen to scatter you2 his witness is risen in the hearts of his people1 they will not be fed with dead words1 nor with that which dies of itself2 nor will they be satisfied with the husks which the swine feed upon4 ,all ye priests in the nation1 and teachers1 that now stand against the light1 your envy shows that ye are in ,cain's way2 your greediness shows that ye are in ,balaam's way2 your standing against the light which hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world1 doth manifest that you are in ,korah's way1 that spoke the great high words of vanity2 ye whose consciences are seared as with a hot iron1 whose judgment doth not linger1 whose damnation doth not slumber1 who serve not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 but your own bellies2 who are the evil beasts spoken of1 which have destroyed many families1 taken away their cattle1 their horses1 their goods1 even their household goods2 destroyed many poor men1 even whole families1 taking their whole estates from them whom you do no work for4 ,o6 the grievous actions that are done by you1 the ministers of unrighteousness2 whose fruits declare to the whole nation that you are the devil's messengers6 your actions declare it2 your taking tithes1 augmentations1 treble damages1 ,midsummer-dues 7as ye call them71 of them ye do no work for1 nor minister to4 8,all ye powers of the earth1 beware of holding such up as are unrighteous4 ,let not the words of the unrighteous overcome you1 lest ,god1 the righteous judge of heaven and earth1 take hold upon you2 whose judgment is according to that of ,god in you1 which will let you see when you transgress4 ,come you proud and lofty ones1 who have not considered the handy-works of the ,lord1 but have destroyed them2 nor have regarded the way of the ,lord1 but have had plenty of the creatures1 and have therewith fattened yourselves1 and forgotten the ,lord and his way3 ,o let shame cover your faces here upon earth6 ,come ye that are given to pleasures1 and spend your time in sports1 and idleness1 and fulness2 your fruits declare the sins of ,sodom2 yet you will talk of my name1 and of my saints' words4 #8,but ,i behold you afar off1' saith the ,lord2 you are proud and lofty2 you are evil patterns1 bad examples1 full1 rich1 and idle2 who say others are idle1 that cannot maintain your lusts4 ,o6 the unrighteous balances that are among people6 ,o6 the iniquity in measuring6 ,o6 the oppression in ruling and governing6 ,because of these things my hand shall come upon you1 saith the ,lord4 ,for the oppression is entered into the ears of the ,lord1 who gives rest to the wearied1 to the burthened1 to the oppressed2 who feeds the hungry1 and clothes the naked2 who brings the mighty from their seats1 beats the lofty to the ground1 and makes the haughty bend4 8,come1 saith the ,lord1 ye mockers1 scorners1 and rebellious ones1 light and wild people1 vain and heady2 you have had your day of joy1 you have scoffed1 you have mocked and derided my messengers and my ambassadors1 who have preached in your streets1 and cried in your synagogues and temples2 a day of trembling and lamentation shall come upon you1 when you are not aware4 ,i will take away your pride and your height2 ,i will shake you as a leaf1 and bring you to be as men distracted4 ,i will distract you1 and make you that you shall not trust one another in the earth1 who have joined hand in hand against my servants in the truth4 ,i will smite you with terrors1 and bring fear upon you2 the cup of my indignation and fury shall you drink4 ,where will you appear when repentance is hid from your eyes1 when profane ,esau1 your father1 is set before you1 and ,ishmael and ,cain1 wild and envious1 whose fruits declare the stock8 8,come1 ye proud priests1 who have eaten up the fat of the nation1 who by violence have taken other men's goods1 whose envy hath slain many1 whose wickedness and darkness hath abounded1 and whose unrighteousness daily appears2 your fruits every day declare it1 in summoning up by writs and subpnas from most parts of the nation for wages and tithes1 such as you do no work for4 ,o abominable unrighteousness6 how is the state of man lost1 that they do not take these things to heart to feel them6 what havoc is made in most parts of the nation with such6 ,and all ye priests and teachers1 who are railing and brawling in the pulpit1 setting people at variance one against another1 haters and hateful1 provoking people to hate one another1 here is the seed of enmity seen1 which you have sown and are sowing1 whose seed must he bruised by the seed of the woman1 which above your heads is set40 ,g4 ,f4 ,this year came out the oath of abjuration1 by which many ,friends suffered2 and several went to speak to the ,protector about it2 but he began to harden4 ,and sufferings increasing upon ,friends1 by reason that envious magistrates made use of that oath as a snare to catch ,friends in1 who1 they knew1 could not swear at all2 ,i was moved to write to the ,protector1 as follows3-- 8,the magistrate is not to bear the sword in vain1 who ought to be a terror to evil-doers2 but as the magistrate that doth bear the sword in vain1 is not a terror to evil-doers1 so he is not a praise to them that do well4 ,now hath ,god raised up a people by his power1 whom people1 priests1 and magistrates1 who are out of the fear of ,god1 scornfully call ,quakers1 who cry against drunkenness 7for drunkards destroy ,god's creatures71 and against oaths 7for because of oaths the land mourns71 and these drunkards and swearers1 to whom the magistrate's sword should be a terror1 are1 we see1 at liberty2 but for crying against such1 many are cast into prison2 as also for testifying against their pride and filthiness1 their deceitful merchandise in markets1 their cozening and their cheating1 their excess and naughtiness1 their playing at bowls and shuffle boards1 at cards and at dice1 and their other vain and wanton pleasures4 ,they who live in pleasures are dead while they live2 and they who live in wantonness kill the just4 ,this we know by the ,spirit of ,god1 which gave forth the ,scriptures1 which the ,father has given to us1 and hath placed his righteous law in our hearts2 which law is a terror to evil-doers1 and answers that which is of ,god in every man's conscience4 ,they who act contrary to the measure of ,god's ,spirit in every man's conscience1 cast the law of ,god behind their backs1 and walk despitefully against the ,spirit of grace4 ,the magistrate's sword1 we see1 is borne in vain1 whilst the evil-doers are at liberty to do evil2 and they that cry against such1 are for so doing punished by the magistrate1 who hath turned his sword backward against the ,lord4 ,now the wicked one fenceth himself1 and persecutes the innocent as vagabonds and wanderers1 for crying against sin1 and against unrighteousness and ungodliness openly1 in the markets and in the highways2 or as railers1 because they tell them what judgment will come upon them that follow such practices4 ,here they that depart from iniquity are become a prey1 and few lay it to heart4 ,but ,god will thrash the mountains1 beat the hills1 cleave the rocks1 and cast into his press1 which is trodden without the city1 and will bathe his sword in the blood of the wicked and unrighteous4 ,you that have drunk the cup of abominations1 a hard cup have you had to drink2 you are the enemies of ,god1 and of you he will be avenged4 8,now ye1 in whom something of ,god is remaining1 consider2 ,if the sword was not borne in vain1 but turned against the evil-doers1 then the righteous would not suffer1 and be cast into holes1 dungeons1 corners1 prisons1 and houses of correction1 as peace-breakers1 for testifying against sin openly1 as they are commanded of the ,lord1 and against the covetousness of the priests1 and their false worships2 who exact money of poor people1 whom they do no work for4 ,o6 where will you appear in the day of the ,lord8 or how will you stand in the day of his righteous judgment8 ,how many jails and houses of correction are now made places to put the lambs of ,christ in1 for following him1 and obeying his commands1 which are too numerous to mention4 ,the royal law of ,christ1 #8to do as ye would be done by1' is trodden down under foot2 so that men can profess him in words1 but crucify him wheresoever he appears1 and cast him into prison1 as the talkers of him always did in the generations and ages past4 ,the labourers1 whom ,god1 the master of the harvest1 hath sent into his vineyard1 do the chief of the priests1 and the rulers now take counsel together against1 to cast them into prison3 and here are the fruits of priests1 and people1 and rulers1 without the fear of ,god4 ,the day is come and coming1 that every man's work doth appear and shall appear2 glory be to the ,lord ,god for ever4 ,so see1 and consider the days you have spent1 and do spend2 for this is your day of visitation4 ,many have suffered great fines1 because they could not swear1 but obey ,christ's doctrine1 who saith1 #8,swear not at all3' and are made a prey upon for abiding in the command of ,christ4 ,many are cast into prison because they cannot take the oath of abjuration1 though they denied all that is abjured in it2 and by that means many of the messengers and ministers of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ are cast into prison because they will not swear1 nor go out of ,christ's command4 8,therefore1 ,o man1 consider2 to the measure of the life of ,god in thee ,i speak4 ,many also lie in jails1 because they cannot pay the priest's tithes2 many have their goods spoiled1 and treble damages taken of them2 and many are whipped and beaten in the house of correction1 without breach of any law4 ,these things are done in thy name1 in order to protect them in these actions4 ,if men fearing ,god bore the sword1 if covetousness were hated1 and men of courage for ,god were set up1 then they would be a terror to evil-doers1 and a praise to them that do well2 and not cause them to suffer4 ,here equity would be heard in our land1 and righteousness would stand up and take place2 which giveth not place to the unrighteous1 but judgeth it4 ,to the measure of ,god's ,spirit in thee ,i speak1 that thou mayest consider1 and come to rule for ,god2 that thou mayest answer that which is of ,god in every man's conscience2 for this is that1 which bringeth to honour all men in the ,lord4 ,therefore consider for whom thou dost rule1 that thou mayest come to receive power from ,god to rule for him2 and all that is contrary to ,god may by his light be condemned4 8,from a lover of thy soul1 who desires thy eternal good40 ,g4 ,f4 ,but sufferings and imprisonments continuing and increasing1 and the ,protector 7under whose name they were inflicted17 hardening himself against the complaints that were made to him1 ,i was moved to issue the following amongst ,friends1 to bring the weight of their sufferings more heavy upon the heads of the persecutors3-- 8,who is moved by the power of the ,lord to offer himself to the justice for his brother or sister1 that lies in prison1 and to go lie there in their stead1 that his brother or sister may come out of prison1 and so offer his life for his brother or sister8 ,where any lie in prison for tithes1 witnessing the priesthood changed1 that took tithes1 and the unchangeable priesthood come2 if any brother in the light1 who witnesseth a change of the old priesthood that took tithes1 and a disannulling of the commandment for tithes1 be moved of the ,lord to go to the priest or impropriator1 to offer himself to lie in prison for his brother1 and to lay down his life1 that he may come forth1 he may cheerfully do it1 and heap up coals of fire upon the head of the adversary of ,god4 ,likewise where any suffer for the truth by them who are in the untruth1 if any ,friends be moved of the ,lord to go to the magistrate1 judge1 general1 or protector1 and offer up themselves to lay down their lives for the brethren2 as ,christ hath laid down his life for you1 so lay down your lives one for another4 ,here you may go over the heads of the persecutors1 and reach the witness of ,god in all4 ,and this shall rest a judgment upon them all for ever1 and be witnessed to by that which is of ,god in their consciences4 ,given forth from the ,spirit of the ,lord through ,g4 ,f40 ,besides this1 ,i wrote also a short epistle to ,friends1 as an encouragement to them in their several exercises2 which was as follows3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 8,in the power of the everlasting ,god1 which comprehends the power of darkness1 and all temptation1 and that which comes out of it1 in this power of ,god dwell4 ,it will bring and keep you to the ,word in the beginning2 it will keep you up to the life1 to feed thereupon1 in which you are over the power of darkness1 and in which you will find and feel dominion and life4 ,and that will let you see1 before the tempter was1 and over him2 and into that the tempter cannot come2 for the power and truth he is out of4 ,therefore in that life dwell1 in which you will know dominion2 and let your faith be in the power1 and over the weakness and temptations1 and look not at them3 but in the light and power of ,god look at the ,lord's strength1 which will be made perfect in your weakest state4 ,in all temptations look at the grace of ,god to bring your salvation1 which is your teacher to teach you3 for when you look or hearken to the temptations1 you go from your teacher1 the grace of ,god2 and so are darkened in going from that teacher1 the grace of ,god1 which is sufficient in all temptations1 to lead out of them1 and to keep over them40 ,g4 ,f4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #afee-afef4--;,friends slandered by ,presbyterians and ,independents1 suffer much from them and the ,baptists for refusing to pay tithes--the priests hunt after a fallen benefice like crows after carrion--great miracles wrought through several--an ,independent preacher convinced1 but relapses--address to the convinced in ,ireland--a sick woman at ,baldock restored--,george ,fox parts and reconciles two furious combatants--to the seven parishes at the ,land's ,end1 recommending attention to the ,inward ,light--,george ,fox parts with ,james ,naylor1 and has a presentiment of his fall--,major ,ceely places ,george ,fox and ,edward ,pyot under arrest--they are sent to ,launceston jail--put into ,doomsdale1 and suffer a long and cruel imprisonment--a paper against swearing--,peter ,ceely's mittimus--,george ,fox has great service in jail--many are convinced1 and opposers are confounded--experiences some remarkable preservations--,edward ,pyot writes an excellent letter to ,judge ,glynne on the liberty of the subject1 and on the injustice and illegality of their imprisonment--,truth spreads in the west by the very means taken to prevent it--exhortation and warning to magistrates--answer to the ,exeter general warrant for taking up and imprisoning ,friends--exhortation to ,friends in the ministry--warning to priests and professors--cruel jailer imprisoned in ,doomsdale1 and further judgments upon him follow--a ,friend offers to lie in prison instead of ,george ,fox--,edward ,pyot to ,major-,general ,desborough1 in answer to his conditional offer of liberty--,george ,fox to the same--he and his ,friends are soon after liberated4 ,after clearing myself of those services for the ,lord1 which lay upon me in ,,london1 ,i passed into ,,bedfordshire and ,,northamptonshire4 ,at ,,wellingborough1 ,i had a great meeting1 in which the ,lord's everlasting power and truth was over all2 and many in that country were turned to the ,lord4 ,great rage was amongst the professors1 for the wicked priests1 ,presbyterians1 and ,independents1 falsely reported 8that we carried bottles about with us1 which we gave people to drink of2 which made them follow us30 but the ,power1 and ,spirit1 and ,truth of ,god kept ,friends over the rage of the people4 ,great spoiling also there was of ,friends' goods for tithes1 by the ,independent and ,presbyterian priests1 and some ,baptist priests1 that had got into the steeple-houses4 ,from ,,wellingborough ,i went into ,,leicestershire1 where ,colonel ,hacker had threatened that if ,i came there he would imprison me again1 though the ,protector had set me at liberty3 but when ,i was come to ,,whetstone1 7the meeting from which he took me before17 all was quiet there4 ,colonel ,hacker's wife1 and his marshal came to the meeting1 and were convinced3 for the glorious powerful day of the ,lord was exalted over all1 and many were convinced that day4 ,there were at that meeting two justices of the peace1 that came out of ,wales1 whose names were ,peter ,price and ,walter ,jenkin2 who came both to be ministers of ,christ4 ,i went from thence to ,,sileby1 to ,william ,smith's1 where was a great meeting1 to which several ,baptists came2 one of them1 a ,baptist teacher1 was convinced1 and came to sit under the ,lord's teaching by his ,spirit and power4 ,this ,baptist said1 he had baptized thirty in a day4 ,from thence ,i went to ,,drayton1 my native town1 where so many priests and professors had formerly gathered together against me2 but now not a priest or professor appeared4 ,i asked some of my relations where all the priests and professors were8 ,they said1 the priest of ,,nun-,,eaton was dead1 and eight or nine of them were seeking to get his benefice4 8,they will let you alone now10 said they1 8for they are like a company of crows1 when a sheep is dead1 they all gather together to pull out the puddings2 so do the priests for a fallen benefice40 ,these were some of their own hearers that said so of them2 but they had spent their venom against me1 and the ,lord delivered me by his power out of their snares4 ,then ,i went to ,,baddesley1 where was a great meeting4 ,many came far to it2 and were convinced and turned to the ,lord2 who came under ,christ's teaching1 and were settled upon him1 their foundation and their rock4 ,from thence ,i passed into ,,nottinghamshire1 and had large meetings there2 and into ,,derbyshire1 where the ,lord's power came over all2 and many were turned from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god1 and came to receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,great miracles were wrought in many places by the power of the ,lord through several4 ,in ,,derbyshire ,james ,naylor met me1 and told me1 seven or eight priests had challenged him to a dispute4 ,i had a travail in my spirit for him1 and the ,lord answered me1 and ,i was moved to bid him go on1 and ,god ,almighty would be with him1 and give him the victory in ,his power4 ,and the ,lord did so2 insomuch that the people saw the priests were foiled1 and they cried1 8a ,nailer1 a ,nailer hath confuted them all40 ,after the dispute1 he came to me again1 praising the ,lord4 ,thus was the ,lord's day proclaimed and set over all their heads1 and people began to see the apostacy and slavery they had been under to their hireling teachers for means2 and they came to know their teacher1 the ,lord ,jesus1 who had purchased them1 and made their peace between ,god and them4 ,while we were here1 ,friends came out of ,,yorkshire to see us1 and were glad of the prosperity of truth4 ,after this ,i passed into ,,warwickshire1 through ,friends1 visiting their meetings2 and so into ,,worcestershire4 ,i had a meeting at ,,birmingham1 as ,i went1 where several were convinced and turned to the ,lord4 ,at length ,i came to one ,cole's house in ,,worcestershire1 near ,,chattan4 ,this ,cole had given an ,independent preacher a meeting-place1 and the ,independent came to be convinced1 and after he was convinced he laid aside his preaching2 whereupon the old man---- ,cole gave him a hundred pounds a-year4 ,i had a meeting there1 and a very great one it was1 insomuch that the meeting-place would not hold the people3 and many were turned to the ,lord that day4 ,afterwards1 when the time of trials came1 this ,independent did not stand to that which had convinced him1 but turned back1 whereupon the old man took away his hundred pounds a-year from him again4 ,but ,cole himself died in ,god's truth4 ,i heard that at ,,evesham the magistrates had cast several ,friends into prison2 and that1 hearing of my coming1 they made a pair of high stocks4 ,i sent for ,edward ,pittaway1 a ,friend that lived near ,,evesham1 and asked him the truth of the thing2 and he said it was so4 ,i went that night with him to ,,evesham1 and in the evening we had a large1 precious meeting1 wherein ,friends and people were refreshed with the word of life1 and with the power of the ,lord4 ,next morning ,i rode to one of the prisons1 and visited ,friends there1 and encouraged them4 ,then ,i rode to the other prison1 where there were several prisoners2 and amongst them was ,humphrey ,smith1#db who had been a priest1 but was now become a free minister of ,christ4 ,when ,i had visited the ,friends at both prisons1 and was turned away from the prison to go out of town1 ,i espied the magistrates coming to seize me4 ,but the ,lord frustrated their intent1 the innocent escaped their snare1 and ,god's blessed power came over them all4 ,but exceedingly rude and envious were the priests and professors about this time in those parts4 ,footnote #db3 ,humphrey ,smith became an able gospel minister1 turning many to righteousness4 ,he had a vision of the destruction of ,london by fire1 six years before it happened1 which vision he made known as a warning to the people to repent4 7,see ,piety ,promoted1 vol4 i4 p4 #ci and his published works74 ,he had also a clear foresight of his own sufferings and death thereby4 ,he died a prisoner for the testimony of ,jesus in ,winchester jail1 in #affc1 where he fell ill after a year's imprisonment4 ,whilst he was very ill in prison1 he said1 8,my heart is filled with the power of ,god20 and then added1 8,it is good for a man at such a time as this1 to have the ,lord to be his friend40 ,near his departure1 he prayed earnestly1 saying1 8,hear me1 ,o ,lord1 uphold and preserve me4 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth3 ,thou art strong and mighty1 ,o ,lord20 and prayed 8that the ,lord would deliver ,his people from their cruel oppressors02 and for those who had been convinced by him1 8that the ,lord would be their teacher40 ,i went from ,,evesham to ,,worcester1 and had a precious meeting there1 and quiet4 ,but after it1 as we came down the street towards our inn1 some of the professors fell to discourse with ,friends1 and were like to have made a tumult in the city4 ,as we went into the inn1 they all cluttered into the yard2 but ,i went among them1 and got them quieted4 ,next day ,i walked into the town1 and had much discourse with some of the professors1 concerning ,christ and the way of truth4 ,one of them denied that ,christ was of ,abraham1 according to the flesh1 and that he was declared to be the ,son of ,god1 according to the ,spirit2 but ,i proved from ,rom4 i4 that he was of the seed of ,abraham1 being made of the seed of ,david according to the flesh2 and that according to the ,spirit he was declared to be the ,son of ,god4 ,afterwards ,i wrote a paper concerning it4 ,from ,,worcester we went to ,,tewkesbury1 where in the evening we had a great meeting2 to which came the priest of the town with a great rabble of rude people4 ,he boasted1 that he would see whether he or ,i should have the victory4 8,i turned the people to the divine light1 which ,christ1 the heavenly and spiritual man1 enlighteneth them withal2 that with that light they might see their sins1 and that they were in death and darkness1 and without ,god in the world2 and that with the same light they might also see ,christ from whom it comes1 their ,saviour and ,redeemer1 who shed his blood and died for them1 and who is the way to ,god1 the truth1 and the life40 ,here the priest began to rage against the ,light1 and denied it2 for neither priest nor professor could endure to hear the ,light spoken of4 ,so the priest having railed at the ,light went away1 and left his rude company amongst us2 but the ,lord's power came over them1 though mischief was in their hearts4 ,leaving ,,tewkesbury1 we came to ,,warwick1 where in the evening we had a meeting at a widow's house1 with many sober people4 ,a precious meeting we had in the ,lord's power1 and several were convinced and turned to the ,lord4 ,after it1 as ,i was walking out1 a ,baptist in the company began to jangle2 and the bailiff of the town with his officers came in1 and said1 8,what do these people here at this time of night80 ,so he secured ,john ,crook1 ,amor ,stoddart1 ,gerrard ,roberts1#dc and myself1 but we had leave to go to our inn1 and to be forth-coming in the morning4 ,next morning many rude people came to the inn1 and into our chambers1 desperate fellows2 but the ,lord's power gave us dominion over them4 ,gerrard ,roberts and ,john ,crook went up to the bailiff to speak with him1 and to know what he had to say to us4 ,he said we might go our ways1 for he had little to say to us4 ,as we rode out of town1 it lay upon me to ride to his house to let him know1 8that the ,protector having given forth an instrument of government1 in which liberty of conscience was granted1 it was very strange that1 contrary to that instrument of government1 he would trouble peaceable people that feared ,god40 ,the ,friends went with me1 but the rude people gathered about us with stones2 and one of them took hold of my horse's bridle and broke it2 but the horse drawing back threw him under him4 ,though the bailiff saw this1 yet he did not stop1 nor so much as rebuke the rude multitude1 so that it was much we were not slain or hurt in the streets2 for the people threw stones1 and struck at us1 as we rode along the town4 ,footnote #dc3 ,gerrard ,roberts1 a merchant of ,london1 was one of the most active members of the ,society in making the needful arrangements for the visits of its ministers to foreign parts4 ,when we were quite out of the town1 ,i told ,friends1 8it was upon me from the ,lord1 that ,i must go back into it again2 and if anyone of them felt anything upon him from the ,lord1 he might follow me1 and the rest that did not1 might go on to ,,dun-,,cow40 ,so ,i passed up through the market in the dreadful power of ,god1 declaring the word of life to them1 and ,john ,crook followed me4 ,some struck at me2 but the ,lord's power was over them1 and gave me dominion over all4 ,i showed them their unworthiness of the name of ,christians1 and the unworthiness of their teachers who had not brought them into more sobriety2 and what a shame they were to ,christianity6 ,having cleared myself1 ,i turned back out of the town again1 and passed to ,,coventry2 where we found the people closed up with darkness4 ,i went to a professor's house that ,i had formerly been at1 and he was drunk1 which grieved my soul so1 that ,i did not go into any house in the town2 but rode into some of the streets1 and into the market-place4 ,i felt the power of the ,lord ,god was over the town4 ,then ,i went on to ,,dun-,,cow1 and had a meeting there in the evening1 and some were turned to the ,lord by his ,spirit1 as also at ,,warwick and ,,tewkesbury4 ,we lay at ,,dun-,,cow that night1 and there we met with ,john ,camm1 a faithful minister of the everlasting gospel4 ,in the morning there gathered a rude company of priests and people1 who behaved more like beasts than men2 for some of them came riding on horseback into the room where we were2 but the ,lord gave us dominion over them4 ,from thence we passed into ,,leicestershire1 where we had a great meeting at the place where ,i had been taken formerly2 and after that we came to ,,baddesley in ,,warwickshire4 ,here ,william ,edmundson1#dd a ,friend who lived in ,ireland1 having some drawings upon his spirit to come over into ,england to see me1 met with me2 by whom ,i wrote to the few ,friends then convinced in the north of ,ireland1 as follows3-- 8,,friends1 8,in that which convinced you1 wait2 that you may have that removed you are convinced of4 ,and all my dear ,friends1 dwell in the life1 and love1 and power1 and wisdom of ,god1 in unity one with another1 and with ,god2 and the peace and wisdom of ,god fill all your hearts1 that nothing may rule in you but the life1 which stands in the ,lord ,god40 ,g4 ,f4 ,footnote #dd3 ,william ,edmundson was the first person who publicly espoused the principles of ,friends in ,ireland4 ,he was some time a soldier in ,cromwell's army1 but the strivings of the ,holy ,spirit drew him out of the corruptions of the world1 to a nearer acquaintance with ,god4 ,he left the army1 and joined the people called ,quakers1 though they were much spoken against4 ,his life and property were given up to the service of the gospel1 and many were his trials and sufferings on its account1 which he bore with exemplary patience4 ,during the civil wars1 he had on one occasion twenty of his cows driven away from him4 ,his house was also beset by some hundreds of banditti1 and the shots they fired into the house were heard at two miles' distance4 ,after it was plundered and burned1 himself and two sons were led away prisoners1 bareheaded1 and barefooted1 and nearly naked1 except they gave ,william ,edmundson an old blanket of his own to wrap about him4 ,after a toilsome night1 journeying through bushes1 rough stones1 mire1 and water knee-deep1 they were taken to a wood1 and after a mock show of justice1 condemned to death2 the young men to be hanged1 and their father1 in compliment to his courage1 to be shot4 ,though death was no terror to this pious man1 he expostulated with his persecutors2 reminding them of his services in behalf of their countryfolk4 ,several of them confessed they knew him to be an honest man2 yet justice and mercy were disregarded1 and they prepared to execute their purpose4 ,the youths were hoodwinked1 in order to hang them2 and two firelocks made ready to shoot their father1 whom they were about to hoodwink also2 but he told them they need not1 for he could look them in the face1 and was not afraid to die4 ,at this juncture arrived a lieutenant1 a brother of one whose life ,william ,edmundson had saved1 when the ,english soldiers were about to hang him4 ,thus the ,lord interposed and would not suffer them to take their lives4 ,the officer released the prisoners from death1 but did not restore them to liberty1 taking them to ,athlone1 not from a grateful sense of remembered services1 but from a hope of preferment thereby4 ,on entering the town1 the high sheriff1 soldiers1 and rabble1 gave them abusive language2 and their lives were endangered1 had not a lieutenant of the ,irish army who recognised ,william ,edmundson1 declared aloud his knowledge of him1 and of his worth1 and thus quieted the tumult4 ,they were then brought to the ,irish colonel1 before whom he appeared1 wrapped in his blanket4 ,though the colonel was personally acquainted with him1 he did not1 in these circumstances1 know him2 but when he said1 ,i am old ,william ,edmundson1 the colonel rose1 and with tears in his eyes1 expressed his sorrow to see him in that condition4 ,after reprimanding the lieutenant1 he committed them to the care of one of his captains1 sent them food and money1 and they met with better treatment4 ,great sufferings was it the lot of this faithful man to endure2 who was unwearied in his ,master's service for upwards of fifty years of his life1 counting nothing too near or dear to part with1 or too great to suffer1 if he could but win ,christ and the souls of his fellow-men4 ,yet in these and many other great exercises and straits1 the ,lord's arm and generous providence1 says he1 have preserved and supported me4 ,he spared not himself1 even to old age1 in performing travels and services as a gospel minister1 beyond the ordinary course of nature1 often saying the ,lord was his song and his strength1 and had carried him through many and various exercises and perils4 ,as a fixed star in the firmament of ,god's power did he continue to hold his integrity to the last1 being enabled to say1 8,o death6 where is thy sting8 ,o grave6 where is thy victory80 ,when these few lines were read amongst the ,friends in ,ireland at their meeting1 the power of the ,lord came upon all in the room4 ,from ,baddesley we passed to ,,swanington and ,,higham1 and so into ,northamptonshire and ,bedfordshire1 having great meetings2 and many were turned to the ,lord by his power and ,spirit4 ,when we came to ,,baldock in ,hertfordshire1 ,i asked1 if there was nothing in that town1 no profession2 and it was answered me1 there were some ,baptists and a ,baptist woman sick4 ,john ,rush of ,bedfordshire went with me to visit her4 ,when we came in1 there were many tender people about her4 ,they told me she was not a woman for this world1 but if ,i had anything to comfort her concerning the world to come1 ,i might speak to her4 ,i was moved of the ,lord ,god to speak to her2 and the ,lord raised her up again to the astonishment of the town and country4 ,this ,baptist woman and her husband1 whose name was ,baldock1 came to be convinced1 and many hundreds of people have met at their house since4 ,great meetings and convincements were in those parts afterwards2 many received the word of life1 and sat down under the teaching of ,christ1 their ,saviour4 ,when we had visited this sick woman1 we returned to our inn1 where were two desperate fellows fighting so furiously1 that none durst come nigh to part them4 ,but ,i was moved1 in the ,lord's power1 to go to them2 and when ,i had loosed their hands1 ,i held one of them by one hand1 and the other by the other1 showed them the evil of their doings1 and reconciled them one to the other1 and they were so loving and thankful to me1 that people admired at it4#de ,footnote #de3 ,the circumstance above related is reminding of a somewhat similar one recorded of ,edward ,burrough4 8,at ,london10 says ,sewell the historian1 8there is a custom in summer-time1 when the evening approaches1 and tradesmen leave off working1 that many lusty fellows meet in the fields1 to try their skill and strength in wrestling1 where generally a multitude of people stand gazing in a ring4 8,now it so fell out1 that ,edward ,burrough passed by the place where they were wrestling1 and standing still among the spectators1 saw how a strong and dexterous fellow had already thrown three others1 and was waiting for a fourth champion1 if any durst venture to enter the lists4 ,at length1 none being bold enough to try1 ,edward ,burrough stepped into the ring1 which was commonly made up of all sorts of people2 and having looked upon the wrestler with a serious countenance1 the man was not a little surprised1 instead of an airy antagonist1 to meet with a grave and awful young man2 and all stood amazed as it were at this sight1 eagerly expecting what would be the issue of this combat4 ,but it was quite another fight ,edward ,burrough aimed at4 ,for having already fought against spiritual wickedness1 that had once prevailed over him1 and having overcome in measure1 by the grace of ,god1 he now endeavoured also to fight against it in others1 and to turn them from the evil of their ways4 ,with this intention1 he began very seriously to speak to the bystanders1 and that with such a heart-piercing power1 that he was heard by the mixed multitude1 with no less attention than admiration2 for his speech tended to turn them from darkness to the light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,to effect this1 he laboured with convincing words1 showing how ,god had not left himself without a witness1 but had given to man a measure of his grace1 and enlightened every one with the light of ,christ4 8,thus zealously he preached2 and though many might look upon this as a novelty1 yet it was of such effect1 that some were convinced of the truth2 for ,burrough was a breaker of stony hearts1 and therefore by a certain author not unjustly called #8a son of thunder2' though he omitted not in due season to speak a word of consolation to those that were of a broken heart1 and of a contrite spirit40 ,from thence ,i passed to ,,market-,,street1 where ,god had a people1 and through ,,alban',s to ,,london1 where ,friends were glad of the prosperity of truth1 and the manifestation of the ,lord's glorious power which had delivered us1 and carried us through many dangers and difficulties4 ,i also rejoiced to find truth prosper in the city1 and all things well amongst friends there4 ,only there was one ,john ,toldervey1 who had been convinced of truth1 and run out from it1 and the envious priests took occasion from thence to write a wicked book against ,friends1 which they stuffed with many lies1 to render truth and ,friends odious4 ,they entitled their book1 8,the ,foot out of the ,snare40 ,but this poor man came to see his folly and returned1 condemned his backsliding1 answered the priest's book1 and exposed all their lies and wickedness4 ,thus the ,lord's power came over them1 and his everlasting ,seed reigned1 and reigns to this day4 ,now after ,i had tarried some time in ,london1 and had visited ,friends in their meetings1 ,i went out of town1 leaving ,james ,naylor in the city4 ,as ,i passed from him ,i cast my eyes upon him1 and a fear struck me concerning him2 but ,i went away1 and rode down to ,,ryegate in ,surrey1 where ,i had a little meeting4 ,there the ,friends told me of one ,thomas ,moore1 a justice of peace1 that lived not far from ,ryegate1 a friendly1 moderate man2 ,i went to visit him at his house1 and he came to be a serviceable man in truth4 ,we passed on to ,thomas ,patching's1 of ,binscombe in ,godalming1 where we had a meeting1 to which several ,friends came from ,london1 and ,john ,bolton and his wife came on foot in frost and snow4 ,after this we went towards ,,horsham-,,park2 and having visited ,friends1 passed on to ,,arundel and ,,chichester1 where we had meetings4 ,at ,chichester many professors came in1 and made some jangling1 but the ,lord's power was over them4 ,the woman of the house where the meeting was1 though convinced of truth1 yet not keeping her mind close to that which convinced her1 fell in love with a man of the world1 who was there that time4 ,when ,i knew it1 ,i took her aside1 and was moved to speak to her1 and to pray for her2 but a light thing got up in her mind1 and she slighted it4 ,afterwards she married the man1 and soon after went distracted2 for he was greatly in debt1 and she greatly disappointed4 ,then was ,i sent for to her1 and the ,lord was entreated1 raised her up again1 and settled her mind by his power4 ,afterwards her husband died2 and she acknowledged the just judgments of ,god were come upon her1 for slighting the exhortation and counsel ,i had given her4 ,after we left ,chichester1 we travelled to ,,portsmouth4 ,there the soldiers had us to the governor's house4 ,after some examination1 the ,lord's power came over them1 and we were set at liberty1 and had a meeting in the town4 ,after which we came to ,,ringwood1 where in the evening we had a meeting1 at which several were convinced1 and turned to the ,spirit of the ,lord1 and to the teaching of ,christ ,jesus1 their ,saviour4 ,from ,ringwood we came to ,,poole2 and having set up our horses at an inn1 we sent into the town to inquire for such as feared the ,lord1 and such as were worthy2 and had a meeting with several sober people4 ,william ,baily1 a ,baptist teacher1 was convinced there at that time4#df ,the people received the truth in the inward parts1 and were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their rock and foundation1 their teacher and ,saviour2 and there is become a great gathering in the name of ,jesus of a very tender people1 who continue under ,christ's teaching4 ,footnote #df3 ,william ,bailey 7or ,bayley71 whose writings were published in one volume1 #dto1 in #afgf1 and of whom there is a brief account in ,piety ,promoted1 vol4 i41 p4 #hc1 is stated to have been 8mighty in the ,scriptures10 and not only a believer and preacher of the word of faith1 but a sufferer for the same4 ,on one occasion1 he was thrown down and dragged upon the ground by the hair of his head1 his persecutors endeavouring to rend and break asunder his jaws1 so that the ground whereon he lay was besmeared with his blood4 ,as if this butchering had not been enough to make him a sacrifice1 a heavy man stamped on his breast with his feet1 endeavouring to beat the breath out of his body4 ,when this persecutor had done his pleasure1 he told the jailer to take him away and put him in some nasty hole1 for his entertainment and cure4 ,william ,bailey1 being master of a ship1 often crossed the mighty waters for the maintenance of his family1 and many beyond the seas were comforted by his ministry4 ,he was taken ill at sea on his return from visiting ,friends in ,barbadoes1 and died on board the ,samuel of ,london1 in latitude #df #cf ,n4 ,he died in great peace1 as if he had fallen asleep1 exhorting those around him to fear ,god4 ,we went also to ,,southampton and had a meeting2 several were convinced there also4 ,edward ,pyot of ,bristol travelled with me all this western journey4 ,from thence we went to ,,dorchester1 and alighted at an inn1 a ,baptist's house2 we sent into the town to the ,baptists1 to let us have their meeting-house to meet in1 and to invite the sober people to the meeting2 but they denied it us4 ,we sent to them again1 to know why they would deny us their meeting-house2 so the thing was noised in the town4 ,then we sent them word1 if they would not let us come to their house1 they1 or any people that feared ,god1 might come to our inn1 if they pleased4 ,they were in a great rage2 and their teacher and many of them came up1 and slapped their ,bibles on the table4 ,i asked them1 why they were so angry2 were they angry with the ,bible8 ,but they fell into a discourse about their water-baptism4 ,i asked them1 whether they could say1 they were sent of ,god to baptise people1 as ,john was2 and whether they had the same ,spirit and power that the apostles had8 ,they said1 they had not4 ,then ,i asked them1 how many powers there are2 whether there are any more than the power of ,god1 and the power of the devil8 ,they said1 there was not any other power than those two4 ,then said ,i1 8if you have not the power of ,god that the apostles had1 then you act by the power of the devil40 ,many sober people were present1 who said1 8they have thrown themselves on their backs40 ,many substantial people were convinced that night2 a precious service we had there for the ,lord1 and his power came over all4 ,next morning1 as we were passing away1 the ,baptists1 being in a rage1 began to shake the dust off their feet after us4 8,what10 said ,i1 8in the power of darkness6 ,we1 who are in the power of ,god1 shake off the dust of our feet against you40 ,leaving ,dorchester1 we came to ,,weymouth2 where also we enquired after the sober people2 and about fourscore of them gathered together at a priest's house4 ,most of them received the word of life1 and were turned to their teacher ,christ ,jesus1 who had enlightened them with his divine light1 by which they might see their sins1 and him who saveth from sin4 ,a blessed meeting we had with them of several hours1 and they received the truth in the love of it1 with gladness of heart4 ,the state of their teachers and the apostacy was opened to them2 and the state of the apostles1 and of the church in their days2 and the state of the law1 and of the prophets before ,christ1 and how ,christ came to fulfil them2 how he was their teacher in the apostles' days1 and how he was come now to teach his people himself by his power and ,spirit4 ,all was quiet1 the meeting broke up peaceably1 and the people were very loving2 and a meeting is continued in that town to this day4 ,many are added to them2 and some that had been ,ranters came to own the truth1 and to live very soberly4 ,there was a captain of horse in the town1 who sent to me1 and would fain have had me to stay longer2 but ,i was not to stay4 ,he and his man rode out of town with me about seven miles1 ,edward ,pyot also being with me4 ,this captain was the fattest1 merriest man1 the most cheerful1 and the most given to laughter1 that ever ,i met with2 insomuch that ,i was several times moved to speak in the dreadful power of the ,lord to him2 and yet it was become so customary to him1 that he would presently laugh at anything he saw4 ,but ,i still admonished him to come to sobriety1 sincerity1 and the fear of the ,lord4 ,we staid at an inn that night2 and in the morning ,i was moved to speak to him again1 when he parted from us4 ,next time ,i saw him1 he told me1 that when ,i spoke to him at parting1 the power of the ,lord so struck him1 that before he got home he was serious enough1 and had discontinued his laughing4 ,he afterwards was convinced1 and became a serious and good man1 and died in the truth4 ,parting from him we went to ,,honiton2 and at our inn inquired what people there were in the town that feared ,god1 and sent for them4 ,there came to us some of the ,particular ,baptists1 with whom we had much reasoning4 ,i told them1 8they held their doctrine of particular election in ,esau's1 ,cain's1 and ,ishmael's nature2 not in ,jacob1 the second birth2 but they must be born again1 before they could enter the kingdom of ,god4 ,and that as the promise of ,god was to the ,seed1 not as many1 but as one1 which is ,christ2 so the election stands in ,christ2 and they must be such as walk in his light1 grace1 ,spirit1 and truth40 ,from thence we passed to ,,topsham1 and stayed over the ,first-day2 but the innkeeper and his people were rude4 ,next morning we gave forth some queries to the priests and professors2 whereupon some rude professors came into our inn2 and had we not gone when we did1 they would have stopped us4 ,i wore a girdle1 which through forgetfulness ,i left behind me at the inn1 and afterwards sent to the innkeeper for1 but he would not let me have it again4 ,afterwards1 when he was tormented in his mind about it1 he took it and burnt it1 lest he should be bewitched by it1 as he said2 yet when he had burnt it1 he was more tormented than before4 ,some1 notwithstanding the rudeness of the place1 were convinced2 and a meeting was afterwards settled in that town1 which has continued ever since4 ,after this we passed to ,,totness1 a dark town4 ,we lodged at an inn1 and at night ,edward ,pyot was sick1 but the ,lord's power healed him1 so that next day we got to ,,kingsbridge1 and at our inn inquired for the sober people of the town4 ,they directed us to ,nicholas ,tripe and his wife1 and we went to their house4 ,they sent for the priest1 with whom we had some discourse2 but he being confounded1 quickly left us4 ,nicholas ,tripe and his wife were convinced2 and there is since a good meeting of ,friends in that country4 ,in the evening we returned to our inn2 and there being many people drinking in the house1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go amongst them1 and to direct them to the light1 which ,christ1 the heavenly ,man1 had enlightened them withal2 by which they might see all their evil ways1 words1 and deeds1 and by the same light they might also see ,jesus ,christ their ,saviour4 ,the innkeeper stood uneasy1 seeing it hindered his guests from drinking2 and as soon as the last words were out of my mouth1 he snatched up the candle1 and said1 8,come1 here is a light for you to go into your chamber40 ,next morning1 when he was cool1 ,i represented to him 8what an uncivil thing it was for him to do so20 then warning him of the day of the ,lord1 we got ready and passed away4 ,we came next day to ,,plymouth1 and after having refreshed ourselves at our inn1 we went to ,robert ,cary's house1 where we had a very precious meeting4 ,at this meeting was one ,elizabeth ,trelawny1 daughter to a baronet2 she being somewhat dull of hearing came close to me1 and placed her ear very near me while ,i spoke2 and she was convinced4 ,after the meeting some jangling ,baptists came in1 but the ,lord's power came over them1 and ,elizabeth ,trelawney gave testimony thereto4 ,a fine meeting was settled there in the ,lord's power1 which has continued ever since2 where many faithful ,friends have been convinced4 ,from thence we passed into ,,cornwall1 and came to an inn in the parish of ,,menheniot4 ,at night we had a meeting at ,edward ,hancock's house1 to which came one ,thomas ,mounce1 and a priest1 with many people4 ,we made the priest confess he was a minister made and maintained by the state2 and he was confounded and went his way2 but many of the people stayed4 ,i directed them to the 8light of ,christ1 by which they might see their sins1 and their ,saviour ,christ ,jesus1 the way to ,god1 and their ,mediator to make peace between ,god and them2 their ,shepherd to feed them1 and their ,prophet to teach them4 ,i directed them also to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 by which they might know the ,scriptures1 and be led into all truth2 by which they might know ,god1 and in it have unity one with another40 ,many were convinced at that time1 and came under ,christ's teaching1 and there are fine gatherings in the name of ,jesus in those parts at this day4 ,we travelled thence through ,,penryn to ,,helston2 but could not obtain knowledge of any sober people1 through the badness of the innkeepers4 ,at length we came to a village where some ,baptists and sober people lived1 with whom we had some discourse2 and some of them were brought to confess1 that they stumbled at the light of ,christ4 ,they would have had us to stay with them1 but we passed thence to ,,market-,,jew 7,marazion72 and having taken up our lodging at an inn1 we went out over-night to inquire for such as feared the ,lord4 ,next morning the mayor and aldermen gathered together1 with the high-sheriff of the county2 and they sent first the constables to bid us come before them4 ,we asked them for their warrant1 and they saying they had none1 we told them we should not go along with them without4 ,upon the return of the constables without us1 they sent their serjeants1 and we asked them for their warrant4 ,they said1 they had none2 but they told us1 the mayor and aldermen stayed for us4 ,we told them1 the mayor and his company did not well to trouble us in our inn1 and we should not go with them without a warrant4 ,so they went away and came again2 and when we asked them for their warrant1 one of them pulled his mace from under his cloak2 we asked them whether this was their custom to molest and trouble strangers in their inns and lodgings8 ,after some time ,edward ,pyot went to the mayor and aldermen1 and had much discourse with them2 but the ,lord's power gave him dominion over them all4 ,when he had returned1 several of the officers came to us1 and we laid before them the incivility and unworthiness of their conduct towards us1 who were the servants of the ,lord ,god1 thus to stop and trouble us in our lodgings2 and what an unchristian act it was4 ,before we left the town ,i wrote a paper1 to be sent to the seven parishes at the ,land's ,end4 ,a copy of which follows3-- 8,the mighty day of the ,lord is come1 and coming1 wherein all hearts shall be made manifest1 and the secrets of everyone's heart shall be revealed by the light of ,jesus1 who lighteth every man that cometh into the world1 that all men through him might believe1 and that the world might have life through him1 who saith1 #8,learn of me1' and of whom ,god saith1 #8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ye him4' ,christ is come to teach his people himself2 and everyone that will not hear this ,prophet1 which ,god hath raised up1 and which ,moses spoke of1 when he said1 #8,like unto me will ,god raise you up a ,prophet1 him shall you hear2' every one 7,i say7 that will not hear this ,prophet1 is to be cut off4 ,they that despised ,moses's law1 died under the hand of two or three witnesses2 but how much greater punishment will come upon them that neglect this great salvation1 ,christ ,jesus1 who saith1 #8,learn of me3 ,i am the way1 the truth1 and the life2' who lighteth every man that cometh into the world3 and by ,his light lets him see his evil ways and his evil deeds4 ,but if you hate this light1 and go on in evil1 this light will be your condemnation4 ,therefore1 now ye have time1 prize it2 for this is the day of your visitation1 and salvation offered to you4 ,every one of you hath a light from ,christ1 which lets you see you should not lie1 nor do wrong to any1 nor swear1 nor curse1 nor take ,god's name in vain1 nor steal4 ,it is the light that shows you these evil deeds2 which if you love1 and come unto it and follow it1 will lead you to ,christ1 who is the way to the ,father1 from whom it comes2 where no unrighteousness enters1 nor ungodliness4 ,if you hate this light1 it will be your condemnation2 but if you love it and come to it1 you will come to ,christ2 and it will bring you off from all the world's teachers and ways1 to learn of ,christ1 and will preserve you from the evils of the world1 and all the deceivers in it40 ,g4 ,f4 ,this paper a ,friend who was then with me had2 and when we were gone three or four miles from ,market-,jew towards the west1 he meeting with a man upon the road1 gave him a copy of the paper4 ,this man proved to be a servant to one ,peter ,ceely1 major in the army1 and a justice of peace in that county2 and he riding before us to a place called ,st4 ,ives1 showed the paper to his master1 ,major ,ceely4 ,when we came to ,,ives1 ,edward ,pyot's horse having cast a shoe1 we stayed to have it set2 and while he was getting his horse shod1 ,i walked down to the sea-side4 ,when ,i returned ,i found the town in an uproar2 and they were hailing ,edward ,pyot and the other ,friend before ,major ,ceely4 ,i followed them into the justice's house1 though they did not lay hands upon me4 ,when we came in1 the house was full of rude people2 whereupon ,i asked whether there were not an officer among them to keep the people civil8 ,major ,ceely said1 he was a magistrate4 ,i told him1 8he should show forth gravity and sobriety then1 and use his authority to keep the people civil2 for ,i never saw any people ruder3 the ,indians were more like ,christians than they40 ,after a while they brought forth the paper aforesaid1 and asked whether ,i would own it8 ,i said1 yes4 ,then he tendered the oath of abjuration to us2 whereupon ,i put my hand in my pocket and drew forth the answer to it1 which had been given to the ,protector4 ,after ,i had given him that1 he examined us severally1 one by one4 ,he had with him a silly1 young priest1 who asked us many frivolous questions2 and amongst the rest he desired to cut my hair1 which then was pretty long2 but ,i was not to cut it though many times many were offended at it4 ,i told them1 8,i had no pride in it1 and it was not of my own putting on40 ,at length the justice put us under a guard of soldiers1 who were hard and wild1 like the justice himself2 nevertheless 8we warned the people of the day of the ,lord1 and declared the truth to them40 ,the next day he sent us1 guarded by a party of horse with swords and pistols1 to ,,redruth4 ,on ,first-day the soldiers would have taken us away2 but we told them it was their ,sabbath1 and it was not usual to travel on that day4 ,several of the town's-people gathered about us1 and whilst ,i held the soldiers in discourse1 ,edward ,pyot spoke to the people2 and afterwards he held the soldiers in discourse whilst ,i spoke to the people2 and in the mean time the other ,friend got out the back way1 and went to the steeple-house to speak to the priest and people4 ,the people were exceedingly desperate1 in a mighty rage against him1 and abused him4 ,the soldiers also missing him1 were in a great rage1 ready to kill us2 but ,i declared the day of the ,lord1 and the word of eternal life to the people that gathered about us4 ,in the afternoon the soldiers were resolved to have us away1 so we took horse4 ,when we were got to the town's-end1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go back again1 to speak to the old man of the house2 the soldiers drew out their pistols1 and swore ,i should not go back4 ,i heeded them not1 but rode back1 and they rode after me4 ,i cleared myself to the old man and the people1 and then returned with them1 and reproved them for being so rude and violent4 ,at night we were brought to a town called ,smethick then1 but since ,,falmouth4 ,it being the evening of the ,first-day1 there came to our inn the chief constable of the place1 and many sober people1 some of whom began to inquire concerning us4 ,we told them we were prisoners for truth's sake2 and much discourse we had with them concerning the things of ,god4 ,they were very sober and loving to us4 ,some were convinced and stood faithful ever after4 ,after the constable and these people were gone1 other people came in1 who were also very civil1 and went away very loving4 ,when all were gone we went to our chamber to go to bed1 and about eleven o'clock ,edward ,pyot said1 8,i will shut the door1 it may be some may come to do us some mischief40 ,afterwards we understood that ,captain ,keat1 who commanded the party1 had purposed to do us some mischief that night2 but the door being bolted he missed his design4 ,next morning ,captain ,keat brought a kinsman of his1 a rude1 wicked man1 and put him into the room1 he himself standing without4 ,the evil-minded man walking huffing up and down the room1 ,i bid him fear the ,lord2 whereupon he ran upon me1 struck me with both his hands2 and placing his leg behind me1 would have fain thrown me down1 but he could not for ,i stood stiff and still1 and let him strike4 ,as ,i looked towards the door1 ,i saw ,captain ,keat look on and see his kinsman thus beat and abuse me4 ,whereupon ,i said1 8,keat1 dost thou allow this80 and he said1 he did2 8,is this manly or civil10 said ,i1 8to have us under a guard and put a man to abuse and beat us8 is this manly1 civil1 or christian80 ,i desired one of our friends to send for the constables1 and they came4 ,then ,i desired the captain to let the constables see his warrant or order1 by which he was to carry us2 which he did2 and his warrant was to conduct us safe to ,captain ,fox1 governor of ,pendennis ,castle2 and if the governor should not be at home1 he was to convey us to ,launceston jail4 ,i told him1 he had broken his order concerning us2 for we1 who were his prisoners1 were to be safely conducted1 but he had brought a man to beat and abuse us2 so he having broken his order1 ,i wished the constable to keep the warrant4 ,accordingly he did1 and told the soldiers they might go1 for he would take charge of the prisoners2 and if it cost twenty shillings in charges to carry us up1 they should not have the warrant again4 ,i showed the soldiers the baseness of their carriage towards us2 and they walked up and down the house1 being pitifully blank and down4 ,the constables went to the castle1 and told the officers what they had done4 ,the officers showed great dislike of ,captain ,keat's base carriage towards us2 and told the constables that ,major-,general ,desborough was coming to ,bodmin1 and that we should meet him2 and it was likely he would free us4 ,meanwhile our old guard of soldiers came by way of entreaty to us1 and promised that they would be civil to us1 if we would go with them4 ,thus the morning was spent till it was about eleven o'clock2 and then upon the soldiers' entreaty1 and promise to be more civil1 the constables gave them the order again1 and we went with them4 ,great was the civility and courtesy of the constables and people of that town towards us1 who kindly entertained us2 and the ,lord rewarded them with his truth2 for many of them have since been convinced thereof1 and are gathered into the name of ,jesus1 and sit under ,christ1 their teacher and ,saviour4 ,captain ,keat1 who commanded our guard1 understanding that ,captain ,fox1 who was the governor of ,pendennis ,castle1 was gone to meet ,major-,general ,desborough1 did not take us thither2 but went with us directly to ,bodmin4 ,we met ,major-,general ,desborough on the way2 the captain of his troop that rode before him1 knew me1 and said1 8,o1 ,mr4 ,fox1 what do you here80 ,i replied1 8,i am a prisoner40 8,alack10 said he1 8for what80 ,i told him1 8,i was taken up as ,i was travelling40 8,then10 said he1 8,i will speak to my lord1 and he will set you at liberty40 ,so he came from the head of his troop1 rode up to the coach1 and spoke to the major-general4 ,we also told him how we were taken4 ,he began to speak against the light of ,christ1 for which ,i reproved him2 then he told the soldiers they might carry us to ,launceston2 for he could not stay to talk with us1 lest his horses should take cold4 ,so to ,,bodmin we were conveyed that night2 and when we were come to our inn1 ,captain ,keat1 who was in before us1 put me into a room1 and went his way4 ,when ,i was come in1 there stood a man with a naked rapier in his hand4 ,whereupon ,i turned out again1 called for ,captain ,keat1 and said unto him1 8,what now1 ,keat1 what trick hast thou played now1 to put me into a room where there is a man with his naked rapier8 what is thy end in this80 8,o10 said he1 8pray hold your tongue2 for if you speak to this man1 we cannot all rule him1 he is so devilish40 8,then10 said ,i1 8dost thou put me into a room where there is such a man with a naked rapier1 that thou sayest you cannot rule him8 what an unworthy1 base trick is this6 and to put me singly into this room from the rest of my friends1 that were my fellow prisoners with me60 ,thus his plot was discovered1 and the mischief they intended was prevented4 ,afterwards we got another room1 where we were together all night2 and in the evening we declared the truth to the people2 but they were hardened and dark people4 ,the soldiers also1 notwithstanding their fair promises1 were very rude and wicked to us again1 and sat up drinking and roaring all night4 ,next day we were brought to ,,launceston1 where ,captain ,keat delivered us to the jailer4 ,now was there no friend1 nor friendly people near us2 and the people of the town were dark and hardened4 ,the jailer required us to pay seven shillings a-week for our horse-meat1 and seven for our diet a piece4 ,but after some time several sober people came to see us1 and some of the town were convinced2 and many friendly people out of several parts of the country1 came to visit us1 and were convinced4 ,then arose a great rage among the professors and priests against us2 and they said1 this people ,thou and ,thee all men without respect1 and they will not put off their hats1 nor bow the knee to any man3 this made them fret4 ,but1 said they1 we shall see1 when the assize comes1 whether they will dare to ,thou and ,thee the judge1 and keep on their hats before him4 ,they expected we should be hanged at the assize4 ,but all this was little to us2 for we saw how ,god would stain the world's honour and glory1 and were commanded not to seek that honour1 nor give it2 but we knew the honour that comes from ,god only1 and sought that4 ,it was nine weeks from the time of our commitment to the assizes1 to which abundance of people came from far and near to hear the trial of the ,quakers4 ,captain ,bradden lay with his troop of horse there1 whose soldiers and the sheriff's men guarded us up to the court through the multitude of people that filled the streets2 and much ado they had to get us through them4 ,besides1 the doors and windows were filled with people looking out upon us4 ,when we were brought into the court1 we stood some time with our hats on1 and all was quiet2 and ,i was moved to say1 8,peace be amongst you60 ,judge ,glynne1 a ,welchman1 then chief justice of ,england1 said to the jailer1 8what be these you have brought here into the court80 8,prisoners1 my ,lord10 said he4 8,why do you not put off your hats80 said the judge to us3 we said nothing4 8,put off your hats10 said the judge again4 ,still we said nothing4 ,then said the judge1 8,the court commands you to put off your hats40 ,then ,i spoke1 and said1 8,where did ever any magistrate1 king1 or judge1 from ,moses to ,daniel1 command any to put off their hats1 when they came before them in their courts1 either amongst the ,jews1 the people of ,god1 or amongst the heathens8 and if the law of ,england doth command any such thing1 show me that law either written or printed40 ,then the judge grew very angry1 and said1 8,i do not carry my law-books on my back40 8,but10 said ,i1 8tell me where it is printed in any statute-book1 that ,i may read it40 ,then said the judge1 8,take him away1 prevaricator6 ,i'll jerk him40 ,so they took us away1 and put us among the thieves4 ,presently after he calls to the jailer1 8,bring them up again40 8,come10 said he1 8where had they hats from ,moses to ,daniel2 come1 answer me3 ,i have you fast now10 said he4 ,i replied1 8,thou mayest read in the third of ,daniel1 that the three children were cast into the fiery furnace by ,nebuchadnezzar's command1 with their coats1 their hose1 and their hats on40 ,this plain instance stopped him3 so that not having any thing else to say to the point1 he cried again1 8,take them away1 jailer40 ,accordingly we were taken away1 and thrust in among the thieves1 where we were kept a great while2 and then1 without being called again1 the sheriff's men and the troopers made way for us 7but we were almost spent7 to get through the crowd of people1 and guarded us to the prison again1 a multitude of people following us1 with whom we had much discourse and reasoning at the jail4 ,we had some good books to set forth our principles1 and to inform people of the truth3 which the judge and justices hearing of1 they sent ,captain ,bradden for them1 who came into the jail to us1 and violently took our books from us1 some out of ,edward ,pyot's hands1 and carried them away2 so we never got them again4 ,in the afternoon we were had up again into the court by the jailer and sheriff's men1 and troopers1 who had a mighty toil to get us through the crowd of people4 ,when we were in the court1 waiting to be called1 ,i seeing both the jurymen1 and such a multitude of others swearing1 it grieved my life1 that such as professed ,christianity should so openly disobey and break the command of ,christ and the apostle4 ,and ,i was moved of the ,lord to give forth a paper against swearing1 which ,i had about me1 to the grand and petty juries2 which was as follows3-- 8,concerning ,swearing4 8,take heed of giving people oaths to swear3 for ,christ our ,lord and ,master saith1 #8,swear not at all2 but let your communications be yea yea1 and nay nay2 for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil4' ,if any man was to suffer death1 it must be by the hand of two or three witnesses2 and the hands of the witnesses were to be first put upon him1 to put him to death4 ,and the apostle ,james saith1 #8,my brethren1 above all things swear not1 neither by heaven1 nor by earth1 nor by any other oath1 lest ye fall into condemnation4' ,hence you may see1 those that swear fall into condemnation1 and are out of ,christ's and the apostle's doctrine4 ,therefore1 every one of you having a light from ,christ1 who saith1 #8,i am the light of the world1' and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world2 who also saith1 #8,learn of me1' whose doctrine is1 not to swear2 and the apostle's doctrine is1 not to swear2 #8let your yea be yea1 and your nay be nay1 in all your communications2 for whatsoever is more1 cometh of evil4' ,then1 they that go into more than yea and nay1 go into evil1 and are out of the doctrine of ,christ4 8,now1 if you say1 #8that the oath was the end of controversy and strife1' they who are in strife1 are out of ,christ's doctrine2 for he is the covenant of peace3 and they who are in it1 are in the covenant of peace4 ,and the apostle brings that but as an example3 as1 men swearing by the greater2 and the oath was the end of controversy and strife among men2 and said1 verily1 men swear by the greater3 but ,god could not find a greater1 but swears by himself1 concerning ,christ2 who1 when he was come1 taught not to swear at all4 ,so such as are in him1 and follow him1 cannot but abide in his doctrine4 8,if you say1 #8they swore under the law1 and under the prophets1' ,christ is the end of the law1 and of the prophets1 to every one that believeth for righteousness' sake4 ,now mark2 if you believe1 #8,i am the light of the world1 which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world1' saith ,christ1 by whom it was made2 and every man of you that is come into the world is enlightened with a light that comes from ,christ1 by whom the world was made1 that all of you through him might believe2 that is the end for which he doth enlighten you4 ,now if you do believe in the light1 as ,christ commands1 and saith1 #8believe in the light1 that you may be children of light1' you believe in ,christ1 and come to learn of him who is the way to the ,father4 ,this is the light which shows the evil actions you have all acted1 the ungodly deeds you have committed1 and all the ungodly speeches you have spoken2 and all your oaths1 cursed speaking1 and ungodly actions4 ,now if you attend to this light1 it will let you see all that you have done contrary to it2 and loving it1 it will turn you from your evil deeds1 evil actions1 evil ways1 evil words1 to ,christ1 who is not of the world2 who is the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world2--who testifies against the world1 that the deeds thereof are evil4 ,so doth the light in every man1 that he hath received from him1 testify against his works and deeds that are evil1 that they are contrary to the light2 and each shall give an account at the day of judgment for every idle word that is spoken4 ,this light shall bring every tongue to confess1 yea1 and every knee to bow at the name of ,jesus2 in which light1 if you believe1 you shall not come into condemnation1 but come to ,christ1 who is not of the world2--to him by whom it was made2 but if you believe not in the light1 this1 the light1 is your condemnation1 saith ,christ40 ,g4 ,f4 ,this paper passing among them from the jury to the justices1 they presented it to the judge2 so that when we were called before the judge1 he bade the clerk give me that paper2 and then asked me1 8whether that seditious paper was mine20 ,i told him1 8,if they would read it up in open court1 that ,i might hear it1 if it was mine ,i would own it1 and stand by it40 ,he would have had me to take it1 and look upon it in my own hand2 but 8,i again desired that it might be read1 that all the country might hear it1 and judge whether there was any sedition in it or not2 for if there were ,i was willing to suffer for it40 ,at last the clerk of the assize read it with an audible voice1 that all the people might hear it3 and when he had done1 ,i told them1 8it was my paper2 ,i would own it2 and so might they too1 except they would deny the ,scripture3 for was not this ,scripture language1 and the words and commands of ,christ1 and the apostle1 which all true ,christians ought to obey80 ,then they let fall that subject2 and the judge fell upon us about our hats again1 bidding the jailer take them off1 which he did1 and gave them to us2 and we put them on again4 ,then we asked the judge and the justices1 what we had lain in prison for these nine weeks1 seeing they now objected nothing to us but about our hats2 and as for putting off our hats1 ,i told them1 that was the honour which ,god would lay in the dust1 though they made so much to do about it2 the honour which is of men1 and which men seek one of another1 and is the mark of unbelievers4 ,for 8how can ye believe10 saith ,christ1 8who receive honour one of another1 and seek not the honour that cometh from ,god only80 and ,christ saith1 8,i receive not honour from men20 and all true ,christians should be of his mind4 ,then the judge began to make a great speech1 how he represented the lord ,protector's person2 who had made him lord chief justice of ,england1 and sent him to come that circuit1 c4 ,we desired him then1 that he would do us justice for our false imprisonment1 which we had suffered nine weeks wrongfully4 ,but instead of that1 they brought in an indictment1 that they had framed against us2 so strange a thing1 and so full of lies1 that ,i thought it had been against some of the thieves2 that we came 8by force and arms1 and in a hostile manner into the court20 who were brought1 as aforesaid4 ,i told them1 8it was false30 and still we cried for justice for our false imprisonment1 being taken up in our journey without cause by ,major ,ceely4 ,then ,peter ,ceely spoke to the judge1 and said1 8,may it please you1 my lord1 this man 7pointing to me71 went aside with me1 and told me how serviceable ,i might be for his design2 that he could raise forty thousand men at an hour's warning1 and involve the nation in blood1 and so bring in ,king ,charles4 ,i would have aided him out of the country1 but he would not go4 ,if it please you1 my lord1 ,i have a witness to swear it40 ,so he called upon his witness2 but the judge not being forward to examine the witness1 ,i desired that he would be pleased to let my mittimus be read in the face of the court and country1 in which my crime was signified1 for which ,i was sent to prison4 ,the judge said1 8it should not be read20 ,i said1 8it ought to be1 seeing it concerned my liberty and my life40 ,the judge said again1 8,it shall not be read20 but ,i said1 8it ought to be read2 for if ,i have done anything worthy of death1 or of bonds1 let all the country know it40 ,then seeing they would not read it1 ,i spoke to one of my fellow-prisoners1 8,thou hast a copy of it1 read it up10 said ,i4 8,it shall not be read10 said the judge2 8,jailer10 said he1 8take him away1 ,i will see whether he or ,i shall be master40 ,so ,i was taken away2 and a while after called for again4 ,i still cried to have my mittimus read2 for that signified the cause of my commitment3 wherefore ,i again spoke to the friend1 my fellow prisoner1 to read it4 ,he did read it1 and the judge1 justices1 and whole court were silent2 for the people were eager to hear it4 ,it was as follows3-- ,peter ,ceely1 one of the ,justices of the ,peace of this ,county1 to the ,keeper of ,his ,highness's jail at ,launceston1 or his lawful ,deputy in that behalf1 ,greeting3-- 8,i send you herewithal by the bearers hereof1 the bodies of ,edward ,pyot of ,bristol1 and ,george ,fox of ,drayton-in-the-,clay1 in ,leicestershire1 and ,william ,salt of ,london1 which they pretend to be the places of their habitations1 who go under the notion of ,quakers and acknowledge themselves to be such2 who have spread several papers tending to the disturbance of the public peace1 and cannot render any lawful cause of coming into these parts1 being persons altogether unknown1 and having no pass for their travelling up and down the country1 and refusing to give sureties of their good behaviour1 according to the law in that behalf provided2 and refuse to take the oath of abjuration1 c4 ,these are therefore1 in the name of his ,highness the lord ,protector1 to will and command you1 that when the bodies of said ,edward ,pyot1 ,george ,fox1 and ,william ,salt1 shall be unto you brought1 you them receive1 and in his highness's prison aforesaid you safely keep them1 until by due course of law they shall be delivered4 ,hereof fail you not1 as you will answer the contrary at your perils4 ,given under my hand and seal1 at ,st4 ,ives1 the eighteenth day of ,january1 #affe40 ,p4 ,,ceely4 ,when it was read ,i spoke thus to the judge and justices3 8,thou that sayest thou art chief justice of ,england1 and you justices know1 that if ,i had put in sureties1 ,i might have gone whither ,i pleased2 and have carried on the design 7if ,i had had one71 which ,major ,ceely hath charged me with3 and if ,i had spoken those words to him1 which he hath here declared1 judge ye1 whether bail or mainprize could have been taken in that case40 ,then1 turning my speech to ,major ,ceely1 ,i said1 8,when or where did ,i take thee aside8 ,was not thy house full of rude people1 and thou as rude as any of them at our examination3 so that ,i asked for a constable or some other officer1 to keep the people civil8 ,but if thou art my accuser1 why sittest thou on the bench8 ,this is not a place for thee to sit in2 for accusers do not use to sit with the judge3 thou oughtest to come down1 and stand by me1 and look me in the face4 ,besides1 ,i would ask the judge and justices whether or not ,major ,ceely is not guilty of this treason1 which he charges against me1 in concealing it so long as he hath done8 ,does he understand his place either as a soldier or a justice of the peace8 ,for he tells you here1 that ,i went aside with him1 and told him what a design ,i had in hand1 and how serviceable he might be for my design3 that ,i could raise forty thousand men in an hour's time1 and bring in ,king ,charles1 and involve the nation in blood4 ,he saith1 moreover1 he would have aided me out of the country1 but ,i would not go2 and therefore he committed me to prison for want of sureties for the good behaviour1 as the mittimus declares4 ,now do not you see plainly that ,major ,ceely is guilty of this plot and treason that he talks of1 and hath made himself a party to it1 by desiring me to go out of the country1 and demanding bail of me1 and not charging me with this pretended treason till now1 nor discovering it8 ,but ,i deny and abhor his words1 and am innocent of his devilish design40 ,so that business was let fall3 for the judge saw clearly enough1 that instead of ensnaring me1 he had ensnared himself4 ,major ,ceely then got up again and said1 8,if it please you1 my lord1 to hear me3 this man struck me1 and gave me such a blow1 as ,i never had in my life40 ,at this ,i smiled in my heart1 and said1 8,major ,ceely1 thou art a justice of peace1 and a major of a troop of horse1 and tells the judge here in the face of the court and country1 that ,i 7who am a prisoner7 struck thee1 and gave thee such a blow1 as thou never hadst the like in thy life8 ,what6 art thou not ashamed8 ,prithee1 ,major ,ceely80 said ,i1 8where did ,i strike thee8 and who is thy witness for that8 who was by80 ,he said it was in the ,castle-,green1 and that ,captain ,bradden was standing by1 when ,i struck him4 8,i desired the judge to let him produce his witness for that1 and ,i called again upon ,major ,ceely to come down from off the bench1 telling him1 it was not fit that the accuser should sit as judge over the accused40 ,when ,i called again for his witnesses1 he said ,captain ,bradden was his witness4 ,then1 ,i said1 8,speak1 ,captain ,bradden1 didst thou see me give him such a blow1 and strike him1 as he saith80 ,captain ,bradden made no answer2 but bowed his head towards me4 ,i desired him to speak up1 if he knew any such thing3 but he only bowed his head again4 8,nay10 said ,i1 8speak up1 and let the court and country hear1 and let not bowing of the head serve the turn4 ,if ,i have done so1 let the law be inflicted on me2 ,i fear not sufferings1 nor death itself1 for ,i am an innocent man concerning all this charge40 ,but ,captain ,bradden never testified to it3 and the judge finding those snares would not hold1 cried1 8,take him away1 jailer30 and then1 when we were taken away1 he fined us twenty marks a-piece for not putting off our hats2 and to be kept in prison till we paid it3 so he sent us back to the jail4 ,at night ,captain ,bradden came to see us1 and seven or eight justices with him1 who were very civil to us1 and told us1 they believed neither the judge nor any in the court gave credit to the charges which ,major ,ceely had brought forward against me in the face of the country4 ,and ,captain ,bradden said1 ,major ,ceely had an intent to take away my life if he could have got another witness4 8,but10 said ,i1 8,captain ,bradden1 why didst not thou witness for me1 or against me1 seeing ,major ,ceely produced thee for a witness1 that thou saw me strike him2 and when ,i desired thee to speak either for me or against me1 according to what thou saw or knew1 thou wouldst not speak40 8,why10 said he1 8when ,major ,ceely and ,i came by you1 as you were walking in the ,castle-,green1 he put off his hat to you1 and said1 #8,how do you do1 ,mr4 ,fox8 ,your servant1 ,sir4' ,then you said to him1 #8,major ,ceely1 take heed of hypocrisy1 and of a rotten heart3 for when came ,i to be thy master1 and thou my servant8 ,do servants cast their masters into prison8' ,this was the great blow he meant you gave him40 ,then ,i called to mind that they walked by us1 and that he spoke so to me1 and ,i to him2 which hypocrisy and rotten-heartedness he manifested openly1 when he complained of this to the judge in open court1 and in the face of the country2 and would have made them all believe1 that ,i struck him outwardly with my hand4 ,now we were kept in prison1 and many came from far and near1 to see us2 of whom some were people of account in the world2 for the report of our trial was spread abroad1 and our boldness and innocency in our answers to the judge and court were talked of in town and country4 ,among others came ,humphrey ,lower to visit us1 a grave1 sober1 old man1 who had been a justice of peace2 he was very sorry we should lie in prison2 telling us how serviceable we might be if we were at liberty4 ,we reasoned with him concerning swearing2 and having acquainted him how they tendered the oath of abjuration to us1 as a snare1 because they knew we could not swear1 we showed him that no people could be serviceable to ,god1 if they disobeyed the command of ,christ2 and that they that imprisoned us for the hat-honour1 which was of men1 and which men sought for1 prisoned the good1 and vexed and grieved the spirit of ,god in themselves1 which should have turned their minds to ,god4 ,so we turned him to the ,spirit of ,god in his heart1 and to the light of ,christ ,jesus2 and he was thoroughly convinced1 and continued so to his death1 and became very serviceable1 to us4#dg ,footnote #dg3 ,humphrey ,lower1 who resided near ,bodmin1 in ,cornwall1 was an influential magistrate1 his name appearing as such in the history of the county1 under ,charles ,i4 ,he could1 however1 say with ,paul1 8,what things were gain unto me1 those ,i counted loss for ,christ40 ,in #afeh1 for not attending the national worship1 and refusing to enter into bond to appear at the assizes1 on a presentment made against him by the constable of the parish1 ,h4 ,lower was1 on his non-appearance1 committed1 notwithstanding his age and high character1 to ,launceston jail1 where he continued till the assizes2 and then was put forth without examination or trial1 or any satisfaction for such rough treatment4 ,in #affj1 he was sent for by a warrant1 to appear before two justices at ,wadebridge1 when one of them1 ,roscarrock1 tendered him the oath of supremacy2 and for his refusing to take it1 a mittimus was made out and subscribed by him and two other magistrates1 who acted very unwillingly4 ,thereupon he was again sent to ,launceston jail1 where he remained about two weeks1 and then was freed by ,sir ,j4 ,coryton and ,e4 ,hearle4 ,it is stated that ,h4 ,lower1 when himself in the commission of the peace1 had more obliged the said ,roscarrock than any other man1 by doing him many singular offices of justice and courtesy4 ,the return was a very ungrateful one4 ,g4 ,fox mentions large and satisfactory meetings held at his house in #affc and #affh1 and says that he continued serviceable till his death1 the date of which event is not recorded4 ,there came also to see us one ,colonel ,rouse1 a justice of peace1 with a great company with him4 ,he was as full of words and talk as ever ,i heard any man in my life1 so that there was no speaking to him4 ,at length ,i asked him1 8whether he had ever been at school1 and knew what belonged to questions and answers20 7this ,i said to stop him47 8,at school60 said he1 8,yes40 8,at school60 said the soldiers2 8doth he say so to our colonel1 that is a scholar80 ,then said ,i1 8,if he be so1 let him be still1 and receive answers to what he hath said40 ,then ,i was moved to speak the word of life to him in ,god's dreadful power2 which came so over him that he could not open his mouth3 his face swelled and was red like a turkey2 his lips moved1 and he mumbled something2 but the people thought he would have fallen down4 ,i stepped to him1 and he said he was never so in his life before3 for the ,lord's power stopped the evil power in him2 so that he was almost choked4 ,the man was ever after very loving to ,friends1 and not so full of airy words to us2 though he was full of pride2 but the ,lord's power came over him1 and the rest that were with him4 ,another time there came an officer of the army1 a very malicious1 bitter professor1 whom ,i had known in ,london4 ,he was full of his airy talk also1 and spoke slightingly of the light of ,christ1 and against the truth1 and against the ,spirit of ,god being in men1 as it was in the apostles' days2 till the power of ,god that bound the evil in him1 had almost choked him as it did ,colonel ,rouse3 for he was so full of evil that he could not speak1 but blubbered and stuttered4 ,but from the time that the ,lord's power struck him1 and came over him1 he was ever after more loving to us4 ,the assize being over1 and we settled in prison upon such a commitment1 that we were not likely to be soon released1 we discontinued giving the jailer seven shillings a-week each for our horses1 and seven for ourselves2 and sent our horses out into the country4 ,upon which he grew very wicked and devilish2 and put us down into ,doomsdale1 a nasty1 stinking place1 where they put murderers1 after they were condemned4 ,the place was so noisome1 that it was observed few that went in ever came out again in health4 ,there was no house of office in it2 and the excrements of the prisoners that from time to time had been left there1 had not been carried out 7as we were told7 for many years4 ,so that it was all like mire1 and in some places to the top of the shoes in water and urine2 and he would not let us cleanse it1 nor suffer us to have beds or straw to lie on4 ,at night some friendly people of the town brought us a candle and a little straw1 and we burnt some of it to take away the stink4 ,the thieves lay over our heads1 and the head jailer in a room by them1 over us also4 ,it seems the smoke went up into the jailer's room2 which put him into such a rage1 that he took the pots of excrements of the thieves1 and poured them through a hole upon our heads in ,doomsdale2 whereby we were so bespattered1 that we could not touch ourselves or one another4 ,and the stink increased upon us1 so that what with that1 and what with smoke1 we had nearly been choked and smothered4 ,we had the stink under our feet before1 but now we had it on our heads and backs also2 and he having quenched our straw with the filth he poured down1 had made a great smother in the place4 ,moreover he railed at us most hideously1 calling us hatchet-faced dogs1 and such strange names as we had never heard4 ,in this manner were we fain to stand all night1 for we could not sit down1 the place was so full of filthy excrements4#dh ,a great while he kept us in this manner1 before he would let us cleanse it1 or suffer us to have any victuals brought in but what we had through the grate4 ,once a girl brought us a little meat1 and he arrested her for breaking his house1 and sued her in the town-court for breaking the prison4 ,much trouble he put her to1 whereby others were so discouraged1 that we had much to do to get water or victuals4 ,near this time we sent for a young woman1 ,ann ,downer1 from ,london1 that could write1 and take things well in short-hand1 to buy and dress our meat for us1 which she was very willing to do1 it being also upon her spirit to come to us in the love of ,god2 and she was very serviceable to us4 ,footnote #dh3 ,we who live in the #aith century1 when the impartial administration of justice extends to all ranks of society1 and when the accommodations of our prisons are so vigilantly looked into1 can scarcely credit that respectable ,englishmen should be subjected to such gross abuse in pestilential dungeons4 ,but the early annals of ,friends abound with similar cases1 many of them still more aggravated4 ,take the following example3-- ,during the close imprisonment of ,friends at ,aberdeen1 ,patrick ,livingstone often preached to the people through the prison windows1 exhorting the people to fear ,god4 ,this practice was highly displeasing to the magistrates4 ,they1 therefore1 sought to prevent it1 by causing some of them to be separated from the rest of their companions1 and violently thrust into a close-vaulted cell1 on the top of the jail1 called the 8iron-house10 where the worst of felons and murderers were usually confined4 ,they had neither light nor air1 except through a long hole in a thick wall1 which had a double grating of iron on the outside and another within4 ,here they were kept night and day1 in the heat of the summer of #afgh1 when the filthiness of the place1 and the corruption of the air so closely pent-up1 produced a multitude of worms1 called white maggots and other vermin1 which swarmed about even upon their beds and victuals1 and manifestly tended to the extreme danger of their health and lives4 ,this head-jailer1 we were informed1 had been a thief1 and was branded in the hand and in the shoulder3 his wife1 too1 had been branded in the hand4 ,the under-jailer had been branded in the hand and shoulder2 and his wife in the hand also4 ,colonel ,bennet1 who was a ,baptist teacher1 having purchased the jail and lands belonging to the castle1 had placed this head-jailer therein4 ,the prisoners1 and some wild people1 talked of spirits that haunted ,doomsdale1 and how many had died in it2 thinking perhaps to terrify us therewith4 ,but ,i told them1 that if all the spirits and devils in hell were there1 ,i was over them in the power of ,god1 and feared no such thing2 for ,christ1 our priest1 would sanctify the walls and the house to us1 he who bruised the head of the devil4 ,the priest was to cleanse the plague out of the walls of the house under the law1 which ,christ1 our priest1 ended2 who sanctifies both inwardly and outwardly the walls of the house1 the walls of the heart1 and all things to his people4 ,by this time the general quarter-sessions drew nigh2 and the jailer still carrying himself basely and wickedly towards us1 we drew up our suffering case1 and sent it to the sessions at ,bodmin4 ,on reading of which the justices gave order1 8that ,doomsdale door should be opened and that we should have liberty to cleanse it1 and to buy our meat in the town40 ,we also sent a copy of our sufferings to the ,protector1 setting forth how we were taken and committed by ,major ,ceely2 and abused by ,captain ,keat as aforesaid1 and the rest in order4 ,the ,protector sent down an order to ,captain ,fox1 governor of ,pendennis ,castle1 to examine the matter about the soldiers abusing us1 and striking me4 ,there were at that time many of the gentry of the country at the castle2 and ,captain ,keat's kinsman1 that struck me1 was sent for before them1 and much threatened4 ,they told him1 8that if ,i should change my principle1 ,i might take the extremity of the law against him1 and might recover sound damages of him40 ,captain ,keat also was checked1 for suffering the prisoners under his charge to be abused4 ,this was of great service in the country2 for afterwards ,friends might have spoken in any market or steeple-house thereabouts1 and none would meddle with them4 ,i understood that ,hugh ,peters1 one of the ,protector's chaplains1 told him they could not do ,george ,fox a greater service for the spreading of his principles in ,cornwall1 than to imprison him there4 ,and indeed my imprisonment there was of the ,lord1 and for his service in those parts2 for after the assizes were over1 and it was known we were likely to continue prisoners1 several ,friends from most parts of the nation came into the country to visit us4 ,those parts of the ,west were very dark countries at that time2 but the ,lord's light and truth broke forth1 shone over all1 and many were turned from darkness to light1 and from ,satan's power unto ,god4 ,many were moved to go to the steeple-houses2 and several were sent to prison to us2 and a great convincement began in the country4 ,for now we had liberty to come out and to walk in the ,castle-,green2 and many came to us on first-days1 to whom we declared the word of life4 ,great service we had among them1 and many were turned to ,god1 up and down the country2 but great rage got up in the priests and professors against the truth and us4 ,one of the envious professors had collected many ,scripture sentences1 to prove that we ought to put off our hats to the people2 and he invited the town of ,launceston to come into the castle-yard to hear him read them3 amongst other instances that he there brought1 one was1 that ,saul bowed to the witch of ,endor4 ,when he had done1 we got a little liberty to speak2 and we showed both him and the people1 8that ,saul was gone from ,god1 and had disobeyed ,god1 like them1 when he went to the witch of ,endor3 that neither the prophets1 nor ,christ1 nor the apostles ever taught people to bow to a witch40 ,the man went away with his rude people2 but some stayed with us1 and we showed them that this was not gospel instruction1 to teach people to bow to a witch4 ,for now people began to be affected with the truth1 and the devil's rage increased2 so that we were often in great danger4 ,one time there came a soldier to us2 and whilst one of our friends was admonishing and exhorting him to sobriety1 c41 ,i saw him begin to draw his sword4 ,whereupon ,i stepped to him1 and told him what a shame it was to offer to draw his sword upon a naked man1 and a prisoner2 and how unfit and unworthy he was to carry such a weapon2 and that if he should have offered such a thing to some men1 they would have taken his sword from him1 and have broken it to pieces4 ,so he was ashamed1 and went his way2 and the ,lord's power preserved us4 ,another time1 about eleven at night1 the jailer being half drunk1 came and told me he had got a man now to dispute with me 7this was when we had leave to go a little into the town47 ,as soon as he spoke these words1 ,i felt there was mischief intended to my body4 ,all that night and the next day1 ,i lay down on a grass-plat to slumber1 and ,i felt something still about my body2 and ,i started up and struck at it in the power of the ,lord1 and yet still it was about my body4 ,then ,i arose and walked into the ,castle-,green1 and the under-keeper came to me1 and told me there was a maid would speak with me in the prison4 ,i felt a snare in his words too1 therefore ,i went not into the prison1 but to the grate1 and looking in1 ,i saw a man that was lately brought to prison for being a conjurer1 and he had a knife in his hand4 ,i spoke to him1 and he threatened to cut my chaps2 but being within the jail1 he could not come at me4 ,this was the jailer's great disputant4 ,i went soon after into the jailer's house1 and found him at breakfast2 and he had then got his conjurer out with him4 ,i told the jailer his plot was discovered4 ,then he got up from the table1 and cast his napkin away in a rage2 and ,i left them and went away to my chamber2 for at this time we were out of ,doomsdale4 ,at the time the jailer had said the dispute should be1 ,i went down and walked in the court 7the place appointed7 till about eleven1 but nobody came4 ,then ,i went up to my chamber again1 and after a while ,i heard one call for me4 ,i stepped to the stairs' head1 and there ,i saw the jailer's wife upon the stairs1 and the conjuror at the bottom of the stairs1 holding his hand behind his back and in a great rage4 ,i asked him1 8,man1 what hast thou in thy hand behind thy back8 ,pluck thy hand before thee10 said ,i2 8let us see thy hand1 and what thou hast in it40 ,then in a rage he plucked forth his hand with a naked knife in it4 ,i showed the jailer's wife the wicked design of her husband and herself against me2 for this was the man they they had brought to dispute of the things of ,god4 ,but the ,lord discovered their plot1 and prevented their evil design2 they both raged1 and the conjuror threatened4 ,then ,i was moved to speak sharply to him in the dreadful power of the ,lord1 which bound him down1 so that he never after durst appear before me to speak to me4 ,i saw it was the ,lord alone that preserved me out of their bloody hands2 for the devil had a great enmity to me1 and stirred up his instruments to seek my hurt4 ,but the ,lord prevented them2 and my heart was filled with thanksgivings and praises unto him4 ,now while ,i was exercised with people of divers sorts1 that came some out of good will to visit us1 some out of an envious1 carping mind to wrangle and dispute1 and some out of curiosity to see us1 ,edward ,pyot1 who before his convincement had been a captain in the army1 and had a good understanding in the laws and rights of the people1 being sensible of the injustice and envy of ,judge ,glynne to us at our trial1 and willing to lay the weight thereof upon him1 and make him sensible thereof also1 wrote an epistle to him on behalf of us all1 thus3-- 8,to ,john ,glynne1 ,chief ,justice of ,england4 8,,friend1 8,we are free men of ,england1 free born2 our rights and liberties are according to law1 and ought to be defended by it3 and therefore with thee1 by whose hand we have so long suffered1 and still suffer1 let us reason a little plainly concerning thy proceedings against us1 whether they have been according to law1 and agreeable to thy duty and office1 as chief minister of the law1 or justice of ,england4 ,and in meekness and lowliness abide1 that the witness of ,god in thy conscience may be heard to speak and judge in this matter1 for thou and we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 that everyone may receive according to what he hath done1 whether it be good or bad4 ,therefore1 friend1 in moderation and soberness1 weigh what is herein laid before thee4 8,in the afternoon1 before we were brought before thee at the assize at ,launceston1 thou didst cause many scores of our books to be violently taken from us by armed men without due process of law2 which being perused to see if anything in them could be found to be laid to our charge1 who were innocent men1 and then upon our legal issue1 thou hast detained from us to this very day4 ,now our books are our goods1 and our goods are our property2 and our liberty is to have and enjoy our property2 and of our liberty and property the law is the defence1 which saith1 #8,no free man shall be disseized of his freehold1 liberties1 or free customs1 c41 nor any way otherwise destroyed3 and we shall not pass upon him1 but by lawful judgment of his peers1 or by the law of the land4' ,magna ,charta1 cap4 #bi4 ,now friend1 consider1 is not the taking away of a man's goods violently1 by force of arms1 as aforesaid1 contrary to the law of the land8 ,is not the keeping of them so taken away1 a disseizing him of his property1 and a destroying of it and his liberty1 yea1 his very being1 so far as the invading of the guard the law sets about him1 is in order thereunto8 ,calls not the law this1 a destroying of a man8 ,is there any more than one common guard or defence to property1 liberty1 and life1 viz4 the law8 ,and can this guard be broken on the former 7viz4 property and liberty71 and the latter 7viz4 life17 be sure8 ,doth not he that makes an invasion upon a man's property and liberty 7which he doth1 who1 contrary to law1 which is the guard1 acts against either17 make an invasion upon a man's life2 since that which is the guard of the one1 is also of the other8 ,if a penny1 or a penny's-worth1 be taken from a man contrary to law1 may not by the same rule all that a man hath be taken away8 ,if the bond of the law be broken upon a man's property1 may it not on the same ground be broken upon his person8 ,and by the same reason1 as it is broken on one man1 may it not be broken upon all1 since the liberty1 and property1 and beings of all men under a government are relative1 a communion of wealth1 as the members in the body1 but one guard and defence to all1 the law8 ,one man cannot be injured therein1 but it redounds to all4 ,are not such things in order to the subversion and dissolution of government8 ,where there is no law1 what is become of government8 ,and of what value is the law made1 when the ministers thereof break it at pleasure upon men's properties1 liberties1 and persons8 ,canst thou clear thyself of these things1 as to us8 ,to that of ,god in thy conscience1 which is just1 do ,i speak4 ,hast thou acted like a minister1 the chief minister1 of the law1 who hast taken our goods1 and yet detainest them1 without so much as going by lawful warrant1 grounded upon due information1 which in this our case thou couldst not have2 for none had perused them1 whereby to give thee information8 ,shouldst thou exercise violence and force of arms on prisoners' goods1 in their prison-chamber1 instead of proceeding orderly and legally1 which thy place calls upon thee1 above any man1 to tender1 defend1 and maintain against wrong1 and to preserve entire the guard of every man's being1 liberty1 life1 and livelihood8 ,shouldst thou1 whose duty it is to punish the wrong-doer1 do wrong thyself8 who ought to see that the law is kept and observed1 break the law1 and turn aside the due administration thereof8 ,surely from thee1 considering thou art chief justice of ,england1 other things were expected1 both by us and by the people of this nation4 8,and when we were brought before thee1 and stood upon our legal issue1 and no accuser or accusation came in against us1 as to what we had been wrongfully imprisoned1 and in prison detained for nine weeks1 shouldst not thou have caused us to be acquitted by proclamation8 ,saith not the law so8 ,oughtest thou not to have examined the cause of our commitment8 ,and there not appearing a lawful cause1 oughtest thou not to have discharged us8 ,is it not the substance of thy office and duty1 to do justice according to the law and custom of ,england8 ,is not this the end of the administration of the law8 of the general assizes8 of the jail delivery8 of the judges going the circuits8 ,hast not thou by doing otherwise1 acted contrary to all these1 and to ,magna ,charta8 which1 cap4 #bi1 saith1 #8,we shall sell to no man1 we shall deny or defer to no man1 either justice or right4' ,hast thou not both deferred and denied to us1 who had been so long oppressed1 this justice and right8 ,and when of thee justice we demanded1 saidst thou not1 #8,if we would be uncovered1 thou wouldst hear us1 and do us justice8'--#8,we shall sell to no man1 we shall deny or defer to no man1 either justice or right1' saith ,magna ,charta1 as aforesaid4 ,again1 #8,we have commanded all our justices1 that they shall henceforth do even law1 and execution of right to all our subjects1 rich and poor1 without having regard to any man's person2 and without letting to do right for any letters or commandments1 which may come to them from us1 or from any other1 or by any other cause1 c41 upon pain to be at our will1 body1 lands1 and goods1 to do therewith as shall please us1 in case they do contrary1' saith ,stat4 #bj4 ,edw4 ,,iii4 cap4 #a4 ,again1 #8,ye shall swear that ye shall do even law and execution of right to all1 rich and poor1 without having regard to any person2 and that ye deny to no man common right by the king's letters1 or other man's1 nor for any other cause4 ,and in case any letter come to you contrary to the law1 that ye do nothing by such letter1 but certify the king thereof1 and go forth to do the law notwithstanding those letters4 ,and in case ye be from henceforth found in default in any of the points aforesaid1 ye shall be at the king's will of body1 lands1 and goods1 thereof to be done1 as shall please him1' saith the oath1 appointed by the statute to be taken by all the judges1 ,stat4 #ah4 ,edw4 ,,iii4 ,but none of these nor any other law hath such an expression or condition in it as this1 viz41 #8provided he will put off his hat to you1 or be uncovered3' nor doth the law of ,god so say1 or that your persons be respected2 but the contrary4 ,from whence then comes this new law1 #8,if ye will be uncovered ,i will hear you1 and do you justice8' ,this hearing complaint of wrong1 this doing of justice1 upon condition1 wherein lies the equity and reasonableness of that8 ,when were these fundamental laws repealed1 which were the issue of much blood and war2 to uphold which cost the miseries and blood of the late wars1 that we shall now be heard1 as to right1 and have justice done us but upon condition1 and that too such a trifling one as putting off the hat8 ,doth thy saying so1 who art commanded1 as aforesaid1 repeal them1 and make them of none effect1 and all the miseries undergone1 and the blood shed for them of old1 and of late years8 ,whether it be so or not indeed1 and to the nation1 thou hast made it so to us1 to whom thou hast denied the justice of our liberty 7when we were before thee1 and no accuser1 nor accusation came in against us17 and the hearing of the wrong done to us1 who are innocent1 and the doing us right4 ,and bonds hast thou cast1 and continued upon us until this day1 under an unreasonable and cruel jailer1 for not performing that thy condition1 for conscience-sake4 ,but thinkest thou that this thine own conditional justice maketh void the law8 or can it do so8 or absolve thee before ,god or man8 or acquit the penalty mentioned in the laws aforesaid8 unto which hast thou not consented and sworn8 viz41 #8,and in case ye be from henceforth found in default1 in any of the points aforesaid1 ye shall be at the king's will1 of body1 lands1 and goods1 thereof to be done as shall please him4' ,and is not thy saying1 #8,if ye will be uncovered 7or put off your hats71 ,i will hear you1 and do you justice2' and because we could not put them off for conscience-sake1 thy denying us justice1 and refusing to hear us1 as to wrong1 who had so unjustly suffered1 a default in thee against the very essence of those laws1 yea1 and overthrow thereof1 for which thing's sake 7being of the highest importance to the well-being of men71 so just1 so equal1 so necessary1 those laws were made1 and all the provisions therein8 ,to make a default in any one point of which provisions1 exposeth to the said penalty4 ,dost not thou by this time see where thou art8 ,art thou sure thou shalt never be made to understand and feel the justice thereof8 ,is thy seat so high1 and thy fence so great1 and art thou so certain of thy time and station1 above all that have gone before thee1 whom justice hath cut down1 and given them their due1 that thou shalt never be called to an account1 nor with its long and sure stroke be reached8 ,deceive not thyself1 ,god is come nearer to judgment than the workers of iniquity in this age imagine2 who persecute and evil-entreat those that witness the just and ,holy ,one1 for their witnessing of him who is come to reign for ever and ever4 ,saith he not1 he will be a swift witness against the false swearers8 ,god is not mocked4 8,surely1 friend1 that must needs be a very great offence which deprives a man of justice1 of being heard as to wrong1 of the benefit of the law1 and of those laws afore-rehearsed2 to defend the justice and equity of which a man hath adventured his blood and all that is dear to him4 ,but to stand covered 7or with the hat on71 in conscience to the command of the ,lord1 is made by thee such an offence 7which is none in law71 and rendered upon us 7who are innocent1 serving the living ,god71 effectual to deny us justice1 though the laws of ,god1 and of man1 and the oath1 equity and reason1 say the contrary1 and on it pronounce such a penalty4 #8,if ye will be uncovered 7uncovered1 saidst thou71 ,i will hear you1 and do you justice2' but justice we had not1 nor were we heard1 because ,jesus ,christ1 who is the higher power1 the lawgiver of his people1 in our consciences commanded us not to respect persons1 whom we choose to obey rather than man4 ,and for our obedience unto him hast thou cast us into prison1 and continued us there till this very day1 having showed us neither law for it1 nor ,scripture1 nor instances of either1 nor example of heathens nor others4 8,friend1 come down to that of ,god1 that is just in thee1 and consider1 was ever such a thing as this heard of in this nation8 what is become of seriousness1 of true judgment1 and of righteousness8 ,an unrighteous man1 standing before thee with his hat off1 shall be heard2 but an innocent man1 appearing with his hat on in conscience to the ,lord1 shall neither be heard nor have justice4 ,is not this regarding of persons contrary to the laws aforesaid1 and the oath and the law of ,god8 ,understand and judge3 ,did we not own authority and government oftentimes before the court8 ,didst not thou say in the court1 thou wast glad to hear so much from us of our owning magistracy8 ,pleaded we not to the indictment1 though it was such a new-found one as ,england never heard of before8 ,came we not when thou sent for us8 ,went we not when thou bade us go8 ,and are we not still prisoners at thy command and at thy will8 ,if the hat had been such an offence to thee1 couldst not thou have caused it to be taken off1 when thou heard us so often declare1 we could not do it in conscience to the commands of the ,lord1 and that for that cause we forbore it1 not in contempt of thee or of authority1 nor in disrespect to thine1 or any man's person 7for we said1 we honoured all men in the ,lord1 and owned authority1 which was a terror to evildoers1 and a praise to them that do well2 and our souls were subject to the higher powers for conscience-sake73 as thou caused them to be taken off1 and to be kept so1 when thou called the jury to find us transgressors without a law8 8,what ado hast thou made to take away the righteousness of the righteous from him1 and to cause us to suffer further1 whom thou knew to have been so long wrongfully in prison contrary to law8 ,is not liberty of conscience a natural right8 ,had there been a law in this case1 and we bound up in our consciences that we could not have obeyed it1 was not liberty of conscience there to take place8 ,for where the law saith not against1 there needs no plea of liberty of conscience2 but the law have we not offended1 yet in thy will hast thou caused1 and dost thou yet cause us to suffer for our consciences1 where the law requires no such thing2 and yet for liberty of conscience hath all the blood been spilt1 and the miseries of the late wars undergone1 and 7as the ,protector saith17 this government undertakes to preserve it2 and a natural right1 he saith1 it is2 and he that would have it1 he saith1 ought to give it4 ,and if it be a natural right1 as is undeniable1 then to attempt to force it1 or to punish a man for not doing contrary to it1 is to act against nature2 which1 as it is unreasonable1 so it is the same as to offer violence to a man's life4 ,and what an offence that is in the law thou knowest2 and how1 by the common law of ,england1 all acts1 agreements1 and laws1 that are against nature1 are mere nullities2 and all the judges cannot make one case to be law that is against nature4 ,but put the case1 had our standing with our hats on been an offence in law1 and we wilfully1 and in contempt1 and not out of conscience had stood so 7which we deny as aforesaid71 yet that is not a ground wherefore we should be denied justice1 or be heard as to the wrong done to us4 #8,if ye will not offend in one case1 ,i will do you justice in another2' this is not the language of the law1 or of justice1 which distributes to everyone right2 justice to whom justice is due1 punishment to whom punishment is due4 ,a man who does wrong may also have wrong done to him2 shall he not have right wherein he is wronged1 unless he right him whom he hath wronged8 ,the law saith not so2 but the wrong-doer is to suffer1 and the sufferer of wrong to be righted4 ,is not to do otherwise a denying1 letting1 or stopping of even law and execution of justice1 and a bringing under the penalties aforesaid8 ,mind and consider4 8,and shouldst thou have accused1 when no witness appeared against us1 as in the particulars of striking ,peter ,ceely1 and dispersing books 7as thou saidst7 against magistracy and ministry1 with which thou didst falsely accuse one of us8 ,saith not the law1 #8the judge ought not to be the accuser8' much less a false accuser8 ,and wast not thou such a one1 in affirming1 that he dispersed books against magistracy and ministry1 when as the books were violently taken out of our chamber 7as hath been said17 undispersed by him1 or any of us8 ,nor didst thou make it appear in one particular1 wherein those books thou didst so violently cause to be taken away1 were against magistracy or ministry8 or gave one instance1 or reply1 when he denied what thou charged therein1 and spoke to thee to bring forth those books and make thy charge appear4 ,is not the sword of the magistrate of ,god to pass upon such evil-doing8 ,and according to the administration of the law1 ought not accusations to be by way of indictment1 wherein the offence is to be charged1 and the law expressed against which it is8 ,can there be an issue without an indictment8 ,or can an indictment be found before proof be made of the offence charged therein8 ,and hast thou not herein acted contrary to the law and the administration thereof1 and thy duty as a judge8 ,what just cause of offence gave ,george ,fox to thee1 when1 upon thy producing a paper concerning swearing1 sent by him 7as thou said7 to the grand jury1 and requiring him to say1 whether it was his handwriting8 he answered1 #8read it up before the country1 and when he heard it read1 if it were his1 he would own it8' ,is it not equal1 and according to law1 that what a man is charged with before the country1 should be read in the hearing of him and of the country8 ,when a paper is delivered out of a man's hand1 alterations may be made in it to his prejudice1 which1 on a sudden looking over it1 may not presently be discerned1 but by hearing it read up1 may be better understood1 whether any such alterations have been made therein8 ,couldst thou in justice have expected or required him to do otherwise8 ,considering also1 that he was not insensible how much he had suffered already1 being innocent1 and what endeavours were used to cause him further to suffer8 ,was not what he said1 as aforesaid1 a plain and single answer1 and sufficient in the law8 ,though 7as hath been demonstrated7 thou didst act contrary to law1 and to thy office1 in being his accuser therein1 and producing the paper against him4 ,and his liberty it was1 whether he would have made thee any answer at all1 to what thou didst exhibit1 or demand1 out of the due course of law2 for to the law answer is to be made1 not to thy will4 ,wherefore then wast thou so filled with rage and fury at his reply8 ,calmly1 and in the fear of the ,lord1 consider1 wherefore didst thou revile him1 particularly with the reproachful names of juggler and prevaricator8 ,wherein did he juggle8 wherein did he prevaricate8 ,wherefore didst thou use such threatening language1 and such menacings to him and us1 saying1 thou wouldst ferk us1 with such like8 ,doth not the law forbid reviling1 and rage1 and fury1 threatening1 and menacing of prisoners8 ,soberly mind1 is this to act like a judge or a man8 ,is not this transgression8 ,is not the sword of the magistrate of ,god to pass on this as evil-doing1 which the righteous law condemns1 and the higher power is against1 which judgeth for ,god8 8,take heed what ye do1 for ye judge not for man1 but for the ,lord1 who is with you in the judgment4 #8,wherefore now1 let the fear of the ,lord be upon you2 take heed1 and do it3 for there is no iniquity with the ,lord our ,god1 nor respect of persons1 nor taking of gifts1' said ,jehoshaphat to the judges of ,judah4 ,pride and fury1 passion and rage1 reviling and threatening1 are not the ,lord's2 these1 and the principle out of which they spring1 are for judgment1 and must come under the sword of the magistrate of ,god2 and it is of an ill savour1 especially such an expression1 as to threaten to ferk us4 ,is not such a saying more becoming a schoolmaster with his rod and ferula in his hand1 than thee1 who art the chief justice of the nation1 who sittest in the highest seat of judgment1 who ought to give a good example1 and so to judge that others may hear and fear8 ,weigh it soberly and consider1 doth not threatening language demonstrate an inequality1 and partiality in him1 who sits as judge8 ,is it not a deterring of a prisoner from standing to1 and pleading the innocency of his cause8 ,provides not the law against it8 ,saith it not1 that irons and all other bonds shall be taken from the prisoner1 that he may plead without fear1 and with such freedom of spirit1 as if he were not a prisoner8 ,but when he1 who is to judge according to the law1 shall beforehand threaten and menace the prisoner contrary to the law1 how can the mind of the prisoner be free to plead his innocency before him8 or expect equal judgment from him who1 before he hears him1 threatens what he will do unto him8 ,is not this the case between thee and us8 ,is not this the measure we have received at thy hands8 ,hast thou herein dealt according to law8 or to thy duty8 or as thou wouldst be done unto8 ,let that of ,god in thy conscience judge4 8,and didst thou not say1 there was a law for putting off the hat1 and that thou wouldst show a law8 and didst not thou often so express thyself8 ,but didst thou produce any law1 or show where that law might be found8 or any judicial precedent1 or in what king's reign1 when we so often desired it of thee1 having never heard of1 nor known any such law1 by which thou didst judge us8 ,was not what we demanded of thee reasonable and just8 ,was that a savoury answer1 and according to law1 which thou gave us1 viz41 #8,i am not to carry the law-books at my back1 up and down the country2 ,i am not to instruct you8' ,was ever such an expression heard before these days to come out of a judge's mouth8 ,is he not to be of counsel in the law for the prisoner1 and to instruct him therein8 ,is it not for this cause that the prisoner1 in many cases1 is not allowed counsel by the law8 ,in all courts of justice in this nation1 has it not been known so to have been8 ,and to the prisoner has not this been often declared when he demanded counsel1 alleging his ignorance in the law1 by reason of which his cause might miscarry1 though it were righteous1 viz41 #8the court is of counsel for you'8 ,ought not he that judgeth in the law1 to be expert in the law8 ,couldst thou not tell by what act of parliament it was made1 or by what judicial precedent1 or in what king's reign1 or when it was adjudged so by the common law 7which are all the grounds the law of ,england has71 had there been such a law1 though the words of the law thou couldst not remember8 ,surely1 to inform the prisoner when he desired it1 especially as to a law which was never heard of1 by which he proceeds to judge him1 that he may know what law it is by which he is to be judged1 becomes him who judgeth for ,god2 for so the law was read to the ,jews by which they were to be judged1 yea1 every ,sabbath-day2 this was the commandment of the ,lord4 ,but instead thereof to say1 #8,i am not to carry the law-books at my back up and down the country2 ,i am not to instruct you3' to say1 #8there is a law1' and to say1 #8thou wilt show it1' and yet not to show it1 nor to tell where it is to be found2 consider whether it be consistent with truth or justice8 8,have not thy whole proceedings against us made it evidently appear1 that thy desire was to cause us to suffer1 not to deliver us1 who1 being innocent1 suffered2 to have us aspersed and reproached before the country1 not to have our innocency cleared and vindicated8 ,doth not thy taking away our books as aforesaid1 and perusing them in such haste before our trial1 and accusing us with something1 which thou said was contained in them1 make it to appear1 that matter was sought out of them1 wherewithal to charge us1 when the ,et ,cetera warrant would not stand in law1 by which we stood committed1 and were then upon our delivery1 according to due course of law8 ,doth it not further appear1 by thy refusing to take from our hands a copy of the strange ,et ,cetera warrant1 by which we were committed1 and of the paper for which we were apprehended1 to read it or cause it to be read1 that so our long sufferings by reason of both might be looked into1 and weighed in the law1 whether just or righteous1 and the country might as well see our innocency and sufferings without a cause1 and the manner of dealing with us as to hear such reports as went of us1 as great offenders1 when we called upon thee often so to do1 and which thou ought to have done1 and said1 thou would do1 but did it not2 or so much as take notice before the country that we had been falsely imprisoned1 and had wrongfully suffered8 ,but what might asperse and charge us1 thou brought in thyself1 contrary to law1 and called to have us charged therewith4 ,is not this further manifest1 in that thou didst cause us on a sudden to be withdrawn1 and the petty jury to be called in with their verdict1 whereupon ,peter ,ceely's falsely accusing ,george ,fox with telling him privately of a design1 and persuading him to join therein1 it was by ,g4 ,fox made so clear to be a manifest falsehood1 and so plainly to be perceived1 that the cause of our sufferings was not any evil we had done1 or law that we had transgressed1 but malice and wickedness8 8,and is it not abundantly clear from thy not permitting us to answer1 and clear ourselves of the many foul slanders charged upon us in the new-found indictment1 of which no proof was made2 but when we were answering thereunto1 and clearing ourselves thereof1 thou didst stop us1 saying1 #8thou minded not those things1 but only the putting off the hat' when as1 before the country1 the new-found indictment1 charged us with those things1 and the petty jury brought in their verdict1 #8guilty of the trespasses and contempts mentioned therein2' of which 7except as to the hat7 not one witness or evidence was produced2 and as to the hat1 not any law1 or judicial precedent1 upon the transgression of which all legal indictments are only to be grounded8 ,now the law seeks not for causes whereby to make the innocent suffer1 but helps him to right who suffers wrong1 relieves the oppressed1 and searches out the matter1 whether that1 of which a man stands accused1 be so or not1 seeking judgment1 and hastening righteousness2 and it saith1 #8the innocent and the righteous slay thou not4' ,but whether thou hast done so to us1 or the contrary1 let the witness of ,god in thee search and judge1 as these thy fruits do also make manifest4 8,and1 friend1 consider how abominably wicked1 and how highly to be abhorred1 denied1 and witnessed against1 and how contrary to the laws such a proceeding is1 to charge a man with many offences in an indictment1 which they who draw the indictment1 they who prosecute1 and they who find the bill1 know to be false1 and to be inserted purposely to reproach and wound his good name1 whom with some small matter which they can prove1 they charge and indict2 as is the common practice at this day4 ,prove but one particular charge in the indictment1 and it must stand 7say they7 for a true bill1 though there be ever so many falsehoods therein1 purposely to wrong him1 who is maliciously prosecuted3 this is known to the judges1 and almost every man who has to do with1 and attends1 their courts4 ,how contrary is this to the end and righteousness of the law1 which clears the innocent1 and condemns the guilty1 and condemns not the righteous with the wicked6 ,much it is cried out against2 but what reformation is there thereof8 ,how else shall clerks of assize1 and other clerks of courts1 fill up their bags 7out of which perhaps their master must have a secret consideration71 and be heightened in pride and impudence2 that even in open court they take upon them to check and revile men2 men without reproof1 when a few lines might serve instead of a hundred8 ,how else shall the spirit that is in men1 that lusteth unto envy1 malice1 strife1 and contention1 be cherished and nourished to feed the lawyers1 and dependents on courts1 with the bread of men's children1 and the ruin of their families1 to maintain their long suits and malicious contentions6 ,for a judge to say1 #8,i mind not these things2 ,i will not hear you clear yourselves of what you are falsely accused3 one thing ,i mind in your charge1 the rest are but matter of form1 set there to render you such wicked men before the country1 as the thing that is to be proved against you is not sufficient to make out4' 8,o6 abominable wickedness1 and perverting of the righteous end of the law1 which is so careful and tender of every man's peace and innocency4 ,how is the law in the administration thereof adulterated by lawyers1 as the ,scriptures are mangled by priests6 ,and that which was made to preserve the righteous1 and to punish the wicked1 perverted to the punishing of the righteous1 and the preserving of the wicked6 ,an eye for an eye2 a tooth for a tooth2 life for life2 burning for burning2 wound for wound2 a stripe for a stripe2 he that accuseth a man falsely to suffer the same as he should have suffered1 who was falsely accused1 if he had been guilty2 this saith the righteous law of ,god1 which is agreeable to that of ,god1 in every man's conscience4 ,are not such forms of iniquity to be denied1 which are so contrary to the law of ,god1 and man8 which serve for gendering strife1 and kindling contention8 and of this nature was not that1 with which thou didst cause us to be indicted8 and this form didst thou not uphold1 in not permitting us to answer to the many foul slanders therein2 saying1 #8,those things thou mindest not4' ,will not the wrath of ,god be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men1 who hold the truth in unrighteousness2 who are so far from the power of godliness1 that they have not the form1 but the form of iniquity1 which is set and held up1 instead of1 and as a law1 to overthrow and destroy the righteousness of the righteous1 and so to shut him up1 as by the law he can never get out8 ,is not the cry1 thinkest thou1 gone up8 #8,it is time for thee to set to thine hand1 ,o ,lord1 for thine enemies have made void thy law6' ,draws not the hour nigh8 ,fills not up the measure of iniquity apace8 ,surely the day is coming1 and hasteneth4 ,ye have been warned from the presence1 and by the mouth of the ,lord2 and clear will he be when he cometh to judgment1 and upright when he giveth sentence4 ,that of ,god in every one of your consciences shall so to him bear witness and confess1 and your mouths shall be stopped1 and before your ,judge shall ye be silent1 when he shall divide you your portion1 and render unto you according to your deeds4 ,therefore1 whilst thou hast time1 prize it1 and repent3 for verily #8,our ,god shall come1 and shall not keep silence2 a fire shall devour before him1 and it shall be very tempestuous round about him4 ,he shall call to the heavens from above1 and to the earth that he may judge his people2 and the heavens shall declare his righteousness3 for ,god is judge himself4 ,consider this1 ye that forget ,god1 lest he tear you in pieces1 and there be none to deliver4' 8,and1 friend1 shouldst thou have given judgment against us 7wherein thou didst fine us twenty marks a-piece1 and imprisonment till payment71 without causing us1 being prisoners1 to be brought before thee1 to hear the judgment1 and to move what we had to say in arrest of judgment8 ,is not this contrary to the law1 as is manifest to those who understand the proceedings thereof8 ,is not the prisoner to be called before judgment be given8 and is not the indictment to be read8 and the verdict thereupon8 ,and is not liberty to be given him to move in arrest of judgment8 ,and if it be a just exception in the law1 ought not there to be an arrest of judgment8 ,for the indictment may not be drawn up according to law1 and may be wrong placed1 and the offence charged therein may not be a crime in law2 or the jury may have been corrupted1 or menaced1 or set on by some of the justices2 with other particulars1 which are known to be legal and just exceptions4 ,and the judgment ought to be in the prisoner's hearing1 not behind his back1 as if the judge were so conscious of the error thereof1 that he dare not give it to the face of the prisoner4 ,but these privileges of the law1 this justice1 we 7who had so long and so greatly suffered contrary to law71 received not1 nor could have at thy hands2 no1 not so much as a copy or sight of that long and new-found indictment 7which in ,england was never heard of before1 nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in law1 nor ever was there any law1 or judicial precedent1 that made it so72 though two friends of ours in our names and our behalf1 that night1 next day1 and day following1 often desired it of the clerk of the assize1 his assistants1 and servants2 but they could not have it1 nor so much liberty as to see it4 ,and it is likely not unknown or unperceived by thee1 that1 had we been called1 as we ought to have been1 or known when it was to be given1 three or four words might have been a sufficient1 legal arrest1 of the judgment given on that new-found indictment1 and the verdict thereupon4 8,therefore1 as our liberties1 who are innocent1 have not 7in thy account7 been worth the minding1 and esteemed fit for nothing but to be trampled under foot1 and destroyed1 so1 if we find fault with what thou hast done1 thou hast taken care that no door be left open to us in the law1 but a writ of error2 the consideration whereof1 and the judgment to be given thereon1 is to be had only where thyself art chief2 of whom such complaint is to be made1 and the error assigned for the reverse of thy judgment4 ,and what the fruit of that may be well expected to be1 by what we have already mentioned1 as having received at thy hands1 thou hast given us to understand4 ,and here thou mayest think thou hast made thyself secure1 and sufficiently barred up our way of relief1 against whom 7though thou knew we had done nothing contrary to the law1 or worthy of bonds1 much less of the bonds and sufferings we had sustained73 thou hast proceeded as has been rehearsed3 notwithstanding that thou art 7as are all the judges of the nation7 entrusted1 not with a legislative power1 but to administer justice1 and to do even law and execution of right to all1 high and low1 rich and poor1 without having regard to any man's person2 and art sworn so to do1 as has been said3 and wherein thou dost contrary art liable to punishment1 as ceasing from being a judge1 and becoming a wrong-doer1 and an oppressor2 which what it is to be1 many of thy predecessors have understood1 some by death1 others by fine and imprisonment4 ,and of this thou mayest not be ignorant1 that to deny a prisoner any of the privileges the law allows him1 is to deny him justice1 to try him in an arbitrary way1 to rob him of that liberty which the law gives him1 which is his inheritance as a free man2 to do which is in effect to subvert the fundamental laws and government of ,england1 and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical government against law2 which is treason by the common law2 and treasons by the common law are not taken away by the statutes of #be ,edw4 ,,iii4 #a ,henry ,,iv4 #a1 #b1 m4 ,see ,o4 ,st4 ,johns1 now chief justice of the common pleas1 his argument against ,strafford1 fol4 #fe1 in the case4 8,these things we have laid before thee in all plainness1 that 7with the light of ,jesus ,christ1 who lighteth every one that cometh into the world1 a measure of which thou hast1 which showeth the evil1 and reproveth thee for sin1 for which thou must be accountable17 thou mayest consider and see what thou hast done against the innocent2 that shame may overtake thee1 and thou mayest turn unto the ,lord1 who now calleth thee to repentance by his servants1 whom1 for witnessing his living truth in them1 thou hast cast into1 and yet continues under1 cruel bonds and sufferings40 ,,edw4 ,,pyot4 ,from the ,jail in ,launceston1 the #adth day of the #eth ,month1 #afef4 ,by this letter the reader may observe how contrary to law we were made to suffer2 but the ,lord1 who saw the integrity of our hearts to him1 and knew the innocency of our cause1 was with us in our sufferings1 bore up our spirits1 and made them easy to us2 and gave us opportunities of publishing his name and truth amongst the people2 so that several of the town came to be convinced1 and many were made loving to us4 ,friends from many parts came to visit us2 amongst whom were two out of ,wales1 who had been justices of peace4 ,also ,judge ,haggert's wife1 of ,bristol1 who was convinced1 with several of her children2 and her husband was very kind and serviceable to ,friends1 and had a love to ,god's people1 which he retained to his death4 ,now in ,cornwall1 ,devonshire1 ,dorsetshire1 and ,somersetshire1 truth began to spread mightily1 and many were turned to ,christ ,jesus and his free teaching2 for many ,friends that came to visit us1 were drawn forth to declare the truth in those counties2 which made the priests and professors rage1 and they stirred up the magistrates to ensnare ,friends4 ,they placed watches in the streets and highways1 on pretence of taking up all suspicious persons2 under which colour they stopped and took up the ,friends that travelled in and through those counties1 coming to visit us in prison2 which they did1 that they might not pass up and down in the ,lord's service4 ,but that by which they thought to stop the truth1 was the means of spreading it so much the more2 for then ,friends were frequently moved to speak to one constable1 and to the other officer1 and to the justices they were brought before2 and this caused the truth to spread the more amongst them in all their parishes4 ,and when ,friends got among the watches1 it would be a fortnight or three weeks before they could get out of them again2 for no sooner had one constable taken them and carried them before the justices1 and they had discharged them1 than another would take them up1 and carry them before other justices2 which put the country to much needless trouble and charges4 ,as ,thomas ,rawlinson was coming out of the north to visit us1 a constable in ,devonshire took him up1 and at night took twenty shillings out of his pocket2 and after being thus robbed1 he was cast into ,exeter jail4 ,they cast ,henry ,pollexfen also into prison in ,devonshire for being a ,jesuit1 who had been a justice of peace for nearly forty years before4 ,many ,friends were cruelly beaten by them2 nay1 some clothiers that were going to the mill with their cloth1 and others about their occupations1 were taken up and whipped1 though men of about eighty or a hundred pounds a year1 and not above four or five miles from their families4 ,the mayor of ,launceston1 too1 was a very wicked man1 for he took up all he could get1 and cast them into prison2 and he would search substantial grave women1 their petticoats and their head-clothes4 ,a young man having come to see us1 who came not through the town1 ,i drew up all the gross1 inhuman1 and unchristian actions of the mayor 7for his carriage was more like a heathen than a ,christian17 to him ,i gave it1 and bid him seal it up1 and go out again the back way2 and then come into the town through the gates4 ,he did so2 and the watch took him up1 and carried him before the mayor1 who presently searched his pockets and found the letter1 wherein he saw all his actions characterized4 ,this shamed him so1 that from that time he meddled little with the servants of the ,lord4 ,now from the sense ,i had of the snare that was laid1 and mischief intended1 in setting up those watches at the time to stop and take up ,friends1 it came upon me to give forth the following1 as-- 8,an ,exhortation and ,warning to the ,magistrates4 8,all ye powers of the earth1 ,christ is come to reign1 and is among you1 and ye know him not2 who doth enlighten every one of you1 that ye all through him might believe in him1 who is the light1 who treads the wine-press alone without the city1 and whose feet are upon it4 ,therefore see all1 and examine with the light1 what ye are ripe for2 for the press is ready for you4 8,before honour is humility4 ,you that would have honour before ye have humility 7mark1 before ye have humility71 are ye not as the heathen are8 ,ye would have honour before ye have humility2 did not all the persecutors that ever were upon the earth want this humility8 ,they wanted the honour1 and yet would have the honour before they had the humility1 and had learned that4 ,so ye that are out of the humility1 are out of the honour2 and ye are not to have the honour1 who have not the humility2 for before honour is humility2 mark1 before it4 8,now ye pretend liberty of conscience2 yet one shall not carry a letter to a friend1 nor men visit their friends1 nor prisoners1 nor carry a book about them1 either for their own use1 or for their friends4 ,men shall not see their friends2 but watches are set up to catch and stop them2 and these must be well-armed men too1 against an innocent people1 that have not so much as a stick in their hands1 who are in scorn called ,quakers4 ,yet by such as set up these watches is pretended liberty of conscience2 who take up them1 whose consciences are exercised towards ,god and men1 who worship ,god in their way1 which is the truth2 which they that are out of the light call heresy4 ,now these set up the watches against them1 whom they in scorn call ,quakers1 because they confess and witness the true light1 that lighteth every one that cometh into the world1 amongst people1 as they pass through the country1 or among their friends4 ,this is the dangerous doctrine which watchmen are set up against1 to subdue error1 as they call it1 which is the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world--,him1 by whom the world was made2 who was glorified with the ,father before the world began4 ,for those whom they in scorn call ,quakers1 have they set their watches1 able men1 well-armed2 to take up such as bear this testimony either in words1 books1 or letters4 ,so that is the light you hate1 which enlightens every man that cometh into the world2 and these that witness to this light you put in prison2 and after you have imprisoned them1 you set your watches to take up all that go to visit them1 and imprison them also2 so that by setting up your watches1 ye would stop all relief from coming to prisoners4 8,therefore this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you1 and a charge to you all1 in the presence of the living ,god of heaven and earth2 every man of you being enlightened with a light that cometh from ,christ1 the ,saviour of people's souls2 to this light1 all take heed1 that with it you may see ,christ1 from whom the light cometh1 to be your ,saviour1 by whom the world was made1 who saith1 #8,learn of me4' ,but if ye hate this light1 ye hate ,christ1 who doth enlighten you all1 that through him 7who is the light7 you might believe4 ,but not believing in1 nor bringing your deeds to the light1 which will make them manifest and reprove them1 this is your condemnation1 even the light4 ,remember1 you are warned in your life-time1 for this light is your way to salvation1 if you walk in it2 and your condemnation1 if you reject and hate it4 ,you can never come to ,christ1 the ,second ,priest1 unless you come to the light1 which the ,second ,priest hath enlightened you withal4 ,so ye that come not to the light1 ye go to the priests that take tithes1 as did the first priesthood3 and hale out of your synagogues and temples 7as some call them71 as that priesthood did that took tithes2 which they that were of the second priesthood did not4 ,was there ever such a generation6 or did ever such a generation of men appear1 as in this age1 who are so full of madness1 envy1 and persecution1 that they stand up in watches1 with weapons against the truth1 to persecute it1 as the towns and countries do declare2 which rings as ,sodom1 and like ,gomorrah6 ,and this hath its liberty1 and truth is stood against2 and to reprove sin is accounted a breach of the peace1 as they say who are out of the truth1 and set up their watches against it40 ,g4 ,f4 ,besides this general warning1 there coming to my hand a copy of a warrant issued from the ,exeter sessions1 in express terms1 8for apprehending all ,quakers10 wherein truth and ,friends were reproached and vilified1 ,i was moved to write an answer thereunto1 and send it abroad1 for clearing truth and ,friends from the slanders therein cast upon them1 and to manifest the wickedness of that persecuting spirit from whence it proceeded2 which was after this manner3-- 8,whereas a warrant was granted last sessions1 held at ,exeter1 on the eighteenth day of the fifth month1 #afef1 which warrant is #8for apprehending and taking up all such as are ,quakers1 or call themselves ,quakers1 or go under the notion of ,quakers2 and is directed to the chief constables1 to be sent by them to the petty constables1 requiring them to set watches1 able men with bills1 to take up all such ,quakers as aforesaid4' ,and whereas in your said warrant1 you speak of the ,quakers spreading seditious books and papers2 ,i answer1 ,they whom ye in scorn call ,quakers1 have no seditious books or papers3 but their books are against sedition1 and seditious men1 and seditious books1 and seditious teachers1 and seditious ways4 ,thus ye have numbered them1 who are honest1 godly1 and holy men1 that fear ,god1 amongst beggars1 rogues1 and vagabonds2 thus putting no difference between the precious and the vile4 ,you are not fit to judge1 who have set up your bills1 and armed your men1 to stand up together in battle against innocent people1 the lambs of ,christ1 who have not lifted up a hand against you4 ,but if ye were sensible of the state of your own country1 your cities1 your towns1 your villages1 how the cry of them is like ,gomorrah1 and the ring like ,sodom1 and the sound like the old world1 where all flesh had corrupted its way1 which ,god overthrew with the flood2--if you did consider this with yourselves1 you would find something to turn the sword against1 and not against the lambs of ,christ2--you would not make a mock of the innocent1 that stand a witness against all sin and unrighteousness in your towns and steeple-houses4 8,noah1 the eighth person1 a preacher of righteousness1 was grieved with the filthy conversation of the wicked2 so are we now4 ,so likewise just ,lot was grieved with their unmerciful deeds1 and the filthy conversation of ,sodom4 ,and were not these hated of the world1 and of them that lived in filthiness8 ,and whereas you speak of those1 whom you in scorn call ,quakers1 that they are a grief to those whom you call pious and religious people1 and their religion4 ,to such as are in the religion that is vain1 whose tongues are not bridled1 ,i believe the ,quakers are a grief2 but they are not a grief to such as are in the pure religion1 which keepeth unspotted from the world2 which sets not up bills1 nor watches1 to maintain it by the world2 for they are not of the world who are in the pure religion1 which keeps them unspotted of the world2 mark1 the #8pure religion1 which keeps unspotted of the world4' ,but to such as are in the religion that is not pure1 who have a form of godliness1 and not the power--to such as you call pious1 the truth itself was always a grief2 and so it is in this age4 ,and now your fruits appear1 the end of your religion and profession1 and what you possess2 but you are in the error1 and have been but in the profession1 out of the possession of the ,spirit1 who are not in the ,spirit of truth4 ,for where did that ever set stints and bounds1 and number the just and innocent with the wicked8 ,but the wicked set stints1 and bounds1 and limits to the just1 and number them among the wicked2 yea1 they spoke all manner of evil of them1 as ye are doing now of us4 ,nay1 according as it was foretold in the ,scripture1 such as tremble at the word of ,god1 you cast out and hate1 you that have your temple-worship4 8,you say1 the ,quakers come to disturb you in your churches 7as you call them17 was it not the practice of the apostles to go into the synagogues and temples1 to witness against the priesthood that took tithes1 and was it not the practice of the ,jews to hale them out1 persecute and stone them1 that witnessed ,christ the second priest1 and went to bring people off from the first priesthood8 ,was it not the practice of the prophets1 to go and cry against the high places8 ,and was it not the practice of the ,jews1 when they were backslidden1 and of the heathen1 to imprison and persecute the prophets1 and send after them into other countries8 ,and is this not the practice of you now1 who are holding up your high places1 which the ,papists erected1 which ye now call your churches2 where ye beat and persecute8 ,what kind of religious people are you1 that are filled with so much madness8 ,did not ,paul confess he was mad1 while he was in your practice1 haling1 beating1 imprisoning1 putting out of the synagogues1 having his authority from the chief priests8 ,and are not the chief priests the cause of this8 ,was there ever such a cry made in any age past1 as there is now in the pulpits1 railing against an innocent people1 whom in scorn ye call ,quakers1 who lift not up a hand against you2 but who are indeed the pious1 that are of the pure religion1 who fear ,god1 worship him in ,spirit and in truth1 and cannot join with you in your religion8 ,and do not the ministers of ,god say1 that the ,scriptures are a declaration1 which you call the word8 ,do you not rob ,christ of his title1 and of his honour1 and give it to the letter1 and show yourselves out of the doctrine of the ministers of ,god1 who call the ,scriptures by the name of writings and treatises1 and declarations2 and who said1 ,christ's name is called the ,word of ,god8 ,are not you here in the error you speak of1 which is your common talk among you8 ,there was talk among some of you of your gospel-shining2 doth your gospel which you profess persecute8 ,did ever any of them1 that did possess it1 cast into prison and not suffer others to go to visit them8 ,are you like ,christians in this1 or like heathens1 who set bounds and watches over the land1 that they should not pass to visit them that are in prison8 ,was ever the like heard in any age8 ,search and see1 if you have not outstripped them all in your watches1 in your persecution1 and imprisonments4 ,o6 never talk1 that we are a grief to them that are in the pure religion4 8,and whereas in your warrant we are represented as disaffected to government2 ,i say1 the law1 which is a terror to the evil-doer1 we own1 the higher power to which the soul must be subject2 but we deny the evil-doer1 the malicious man reigning1 and the envious man seeking for his prey1 whose envy is against the innocent2 who raiseth up the country against honest men1 and so becomes a trouble to the country1 in raising them up to take the innocent2 but that we leave to the ,lord to judge4 ,your false accusations of heresy and blasphemy we deny4 ,you should have laid them down in particulars1 that people might have seen them1 and not have slandered us behind our backs4 ,the law saith1 the crime should be mentioned in the warrant4 ,then for your saying1 #8we deny the godly ministers to be a true ministry of ,christ1' that is false2 for we say1 that the godly ministers are the ministers of ,christ4 ,but which of your ministers dare say1 that they are truly godly8 ,and your charging us with seducing many weak people1 is false also2 we seduce none2 but you1 that deny the light1 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world1 are seduced from the anointing which should teach you2 and if ye would be taught by it1 ye would not need that any man should teach you4 ,but such as are taught by the anointing1 which abideth in them1 and deny man's teaching1 these ye call seducers1 quite contrary to ,john's doctrine1 #a ,john ii4 #bf1 #bg4 ,you speak quite contrary to him2 that which is truth1 ye call seducing2 and that which he calls seducing1 you call truth2 read the latter part of the chapter4 8,beware1 ,i warn you all from the ,lord ,god of glory1 set not any bound against him2 stint him not2 limit not the ,holy ,one of ,israel2 for the ,lord is rising in power and great glory1 who will rule the nations with a rod of iron1 which to him are but as the drop of a bucket4 ,he that measures the waters in the hollow of his hand1 will dash the nations together as a potter's vessel4 ,and know1 you that are found in this his day blaspheming his work1 that ,god hath brought forth1 calling it blasphemy1 fighting against it1 setting up your carnal weapons1 making your bonds strong2 ,god will break asunder that which your carnal policy hath invented1 and which by your carnal weapons ye would uphold2 and make you to know there is a ,god in heaven1 who carries his lambs in his arms1 which are come among wolves1 and are ready to be torn in pieces in every place1 yea1 in your steeple-houses2 where people have appeared without reason1 and natural affection4 8,therefore all ye petty constables1 sheriffs1 and justices1 take warning2 take heed what ye do against the lambs of ,christ2 for ,christ is come1 and coming1 who will give to every one of you a reward according to your works1 you who have the letter1 which speaks of ,christ2 but now ye are persecuting that which the ,scripture speaks of2 as your fruits make manifest4 ,therefore every one1 sheriffs1 justices1 constables1 c41 consider what ye do possess1 and what a profession ye are now in1 that all these carnal weapons are now set up against the innocent1 yea1 against the truth2 which shows that ye have not the spiritual weapons1 and that ye want the counsel of ,gamaliel1 yea1 ye want the counsel of such a man among you1 who said1 #8,let the apostles alone2 if it be of ,god it will stand2 if it be not1 it will come to nought4' ,but ye may see yourselves on the contrary1 in the spirit of them that came with ,judas1 with swords and staves from the chief priests against ,christ2 still it is against ,christ1 where he is made manifest4 ,paul 7while ,saul7 went against him1 though he professed a ,christ that was to come2 and the ,jews professed a ,christ that was to come2 yet ,paul persecuted him1 where he was manifested in his saints4 ,so ye profess a ,christ that is come1 but persecute him where he is manifest4 ,you that have the letter1 the high places1 the synagogues1 you persecute him1 where he is made manifest in his saints1 as the ,jews did4 ,they who were in the letter1 out of the life1 persecuted them that were in the life of that which they profess in the letter2 so now do you persecute them that are in the life1 and are yourselves strangers to it1 as your fruits make appear4 ,you have numbered the people of ,god amongst transgressors2 but have you imprisoned any of the rogues and transgressors you speak of8 ,you have imprisoned the innocent1 and let the others go free40 ,g4 ,f4 ,when ,i had sent abroad the foregoing1 so great a sense came upon me of the veil of darkness that was over the priests and professors of ,christianity1 that ,i was moved to give forth the following1 as an awakening warning to them3-- 8,blindness hath happened to the professed ,christians of the letter now-a-days1 as blindness happened to the ,jews1 who professed the letter1 but owned not the life which the letter speaks of2 as the ,christians now1 to whom this blindness hath happened1 who profess the ,scripture1 but own not the life1 which the ,scripture speaks of4 ,for against the life the ,jews stood1 who professed the letter of the ,scripture1 but they were blind2 they gathered counsel against the life2 they were in an uproar when the babe was born in ,bethlehem1 ,herod and all the chief priests4 ,and ,herod sought to destroy all the young children in ,bethlehem1 yet missed the babe2 ,herod1 that fox1 though he put ,john to death4 ,you may here see how the literal professors stood up1 not for the truth1 but quite against it4 ,furthermore1 the chief priests consulted together how they might take ,jesus by subtilty1 and put him to death2 mark1 by their subtilty4 ,the professors of a ,christ that was to come1 preached of a ,messiah1 of a ,christ1 of a ,saviour2 but denied the life1 when he was made manifest4 ,the chief priests1 when they were assembled with the elders1 and had taken counsel1 gave large money unto the soldiers1 to declare that #8his disciples came by night1 and stole him away4' ,likewise in the day1 when the children of ,israel were in ,egypt1 and they with their children began to spread and multiply1 #8,come1' said the ,egyptians1 #8let us deal wisely with them to afflict them1 and tax them2' which held1 until the ,lord overthrew their oppressors1 and brought out his seed by his mighty power from under the oppressor1 and exalted his ,son above all1 though the heathen raged1 and the people imagined vain things4 ,he made his power known1 that all might see that there was no ,god upon the earth but himself4 ,this power now hath brought forth the work of the ,lord6 ,many who are turned to ,christ1 the light1 have received the power of ,god1 and are thereby become the sons of ,god4 8,now this birth1 that is born of ,god1 are all the powers of the world joined together to crucify2 to put to death those ,jews in the ,spirit1 as they put ,christ to death in the flesh formerly4 ,this is the birth that all the wicked world is enraged against2 against this they set their watches1--this birth1 brought forth by the ,mighty ,god of ,jacob1 who rides upon the high places of the earth4 ,this is the birth that the professed ,christians without the life in our days rage against1 and lay out all their wisdom about4 ,are not the chief priests and wise men of the earth consulting together how they may destroy this birth8 ,is not this the birth1 that is banished out of your hearts1 you that profess the ,scripture1 and are talkers of it1 but do not own the light and life which the ,scripture speaks of1 as the ,jews would not2 and so you will not have ,christ to reign over you1 as they would not8 ,do you not hale out of your synagogues1 and before magistrates8 ,do you not herein fulfil ,christ's words1 who said to his disciples1 ,they should be haled out of the synagogues1 and before rulers8 ,do you not persecute them from city to city8 ,do you not almost fill your prisons with them8 ,and now set your watches1 that none may visit them1 whom ye have put into prison8 ,is not this an unchristian spirit8 ,how can you for shame say you are upholders of truth8 ,or how can you for shame say that truth hath been professed among you8 ,yet we grant that you have talked of it4 ,and how can you for shame say the gospel shines among you1 when you will not own the life of it2 when you call it error1 and the evil seed8 ,yea1 the very truth1 the very life of truth ye have blasphemed against now1 as the ,jews did against ,christ1 calling him a devil2 you now call it error1 and the evil seed1 and stand up against it1 and turn the sword against it4 ,as in the days of the ,jews1 it was the ,jews outward in the flesh1 not the ,jews in the ,spirit1 who turned the sword against ,christ2 so in these days it is those ,christians who profess the ,scripture1 but are out of the ,life of it4 ,and is it not a shame to all the ministers of the ,gospel 7as they are called17 that they can find no better way to maintain that which they call the truth and their ,gospel1 than by carnal weapons1 stocks and prisons1 whips1 watches1 and wards1 and powers of the earth8 ,were these the apostles' weapons8 ,carnal watches and wards1 stocks and prisons1 and haling out of the synagogues1 when they came to speak8 ,judge yourselves1 what an antichristian spirit you have4 ,never talk of defending truth with that which is against truth4 ,for are you not setting up the rabble of the world against it8 ,do they not join with you with swords and staves against it8 ,is this the life of ,christians8 ,is not this the life of error1 and of the evil seedsman8 8,surely1 ye would find work enough1 if ye were in the fear of the ,lord1 to turn your swords against profaneness1 the oaths and wickedness that are in your streets and highways4 ,how do they ring like ,sodom1 and give a sound like ,gomorrah6 ,but these are become a prey in this your age1 that reprove in your gates sin1 wickedness1 and profaneness2 they are become your by-word4 ,against them your councils are gathered1 them you cast into prison1 and hale out of your synagogues2 and cast them likewise into prison that write and speak against it1 and set your guards to stop and hinder any from visiting them whom you cast into prison1 and give them the names of vagabonds and wanderers4 ,was ever the like heard1 in the days of the heathen1 against the apostles who witnessed the gospel8 ,did they set guards and watches in every town1 in every city1 to take the disciples1 the brethren1 the believers1 that heard that the apostles were cast into prison1 and came to see what they wanted8 ,show ye not as much rage and fury now in your age1 as was in those in that age8 ,and how can you talk of the gospel1 and of defending the gospel1 when you are setting guards and watches against it1 and are defending that which stands against it2 and the lambs of ,christ are almost torn to pieces amongst you1 who are like wolves8 for the ,lord hath now sent his lambs amongst wolves4 ,have not you professed the words of ,christ1 of the prophets and apostles1 as the ,jews had long professed the ,scriptures1 the words of ,moses and of the prophets1 that prophesied of ,christ that was to come1 and stood against him when he was come8 as you do in this day of his reign1 in this day of his glorious gospel1 who are persecuting the messengers of it1 imprisoning them1 persecuting them in your streets and highways2 and are setting up your watches against them1 who bring you the glad tidings of peace to your souls1 whose feet are beautiful on the top of the mountains2 mark1 on the top of the mountains1 that against which the mountains rage and swell4 ,but ,god will make them melt2 the sun is risen1 which will make them melt4 ,god will cleave the rocks and mountains asunder1 and make the hills to bow perpetually2 for his ,son he will exalt1 and his glory he will give to ,,him and not to another4 8,therefore be awakened1 ye rulers of the earth1 and take counsel of the ,lord2 take not counsel together against him4 ,make not your bonds strong2 set not yourselves in battle against him1 for ye will be found but as briars and thorns before him1 which the fire shall consume4 ,therefore be awakened1 all ye talkers of the ,scripture1 that gather yourselves together by your multitudes and meetings1 and have had your teachers2 but not having the ,spirit that gave forth the ,scriptures1 the ,lord ,god of glory1 the ,father of spirits1 will scatter you4 ,all your bonds will not hold you together1 who are out of the ,spirit1 which is the bond of peace4 ,the thrashing instrument is gone forth1 which will beat the hills to pieces4 ,sion is risen to thrash4 ,out of the holy mountain is the trumpet sounded4 ,stand not up against the ,lord2 for all nations are with the ,lord as the drop of a bucket4 ,he that measures the waters in the hollow of his hand1 and weighs the earth in scales1 the ,lord of hosts is his name1 who is now risen and rising to plead the cause of the innocent2 who is exalting his ,son1 and bringing his sheep to him4 ,now are they seen and known that feed upon wind1 that are lifted up1 given up to believe lies2 who report1 and say1 #8,report1 and we will report it4' ,now are they seen who have a form of godliness1 but deny the power2 so ,christ is denied1 the power itself is denied2 for ,christ is the power of ,god4 ,and the power being denied by you1 that have a form of godliness1 that have the words of the ,scriptures1 the gospel is denied2 for the gospel is the power of ,god4 ,thus it is among you1 that have the knowledge and wisdom that is sensual1 earthly1 and devilish4 ,doth it not appear so8 ,let your jails and watches witness your fruits in every town4 ,your wisdom is earthly1 sensual1 and devilish2 you have a knowledge and wisdom1 but not that which is from above2 for that is pure and gentle1 so is not your knowledge2 but to know ,christ is life eternal4 ,now your fruits have manifested that you are not of this2 and so out of the power of ,god1 which is the cross of ,christ2 for you are found in the world1 out of the power of ,god1 out of the cross of ,christ1 persecuting4 ,so that which doth persecute1 and send forth writings and decrees to stop all1 and take up all1 and set watches1 and prepare bonds to stint the ,lord2 to imprison and persecute1 and suffer none to go to visit them2 this shows you are not ,christians1 but stand against a ,christian's life1 which brings to love enemies4 8,where is your heaping up coals of fire2 your love to your enemies2 who are thus persecuting your friends8 #8,he came to his own1 and his own received him not2' here is a turning of the sword against the just4 ,do you show here a ,christian's life1 or yourselves ,christians1 who are filling your jails with ,christians in ,spirit1 you that are in the letter 7in shadows71 as the ,jews in the letter put the ,jews in the ,spirit into prison8 ,is not this the fruit in our days of the ,christians in the letter1 to put the ,christians in the ,spirit into prison8 ,doth not this show that your decrees1 which you have sent forth1 proceed from death1 who thus act against the life1 and them that are in it2 which the ,scriptures were given forth from8 ,is it not here as it was with ,saul1 when he went to persecute1 to hale to prison1 and bind all that he could find calling upon that name1 who were ,christians in the life1 the ,spirit1 such as you are now persecuting1 because they are in the life1 though you profess their words8 ,are not your decrees gone forth from the same spirit of envy1 against the same ,spirit of ,christ they were in8 ,is it not manifest to all that fear ,god1 and to the sober-minded and honest-hearted people that see your practices1 your decrees1 your letters1 to stop1 to molest1 to hinder1 to imprison them that are moved of the ,lord to do his will1 or to go to visit prisoners whom you have imprisoned8 ,doth this show you to have a spirit like ,paul1 yea or nay8 or are you not quite contrary1 like unto them that persecuted ,paul8 ,the day hath declared it4 8,to that of ,god in you all ,i speak1 which shall witness it at the last day1--the day of judgment4 ,persecution was blind in all ages2 and madness and folly led it3 yet persecution got always a form or pretence of godliness1--a talk of religion1 as in the days of ,moses1 of ,jeremiah1 of ,christ1 and of the apostles4 #8,come1' saith the council1 #8let us crush them while they are young1 they have almost overspread the nation in every corner4' ,this is as much as to say1 #8,let us put this birth to death1 as ,pharaoh and ,herod did the children4' ,but the ,lord caused his truth the more to spread4 ,for you may read1 what numbers came out of ,egypt6 and what multitudes followed ,christ6 ,therefore1 with consideration read these lines1 and not with fury4 ,let not foolishness appear2 but consider in humility the paths you go in1 what spirit you are of1 and what the end of your conversation is2 for in love to your souls ,i write1 that in the day of your visitation you may consider it4 8,from him who loveth righteousness1 and the establishing of it1 and truth1 peace1 and faith1 which is by ,christ ,jesus 7,mercy and peace be multiplied among such67 but a witness against all hypocrites1 and all who have a profession1 but live out of the possession1 in an hypocritical religion1 in the lusts and fashions of the world1 having a form of godliness1 but standing against the power with might and main1 sword and staff4 ,which things declare your conversation and practices to be out of ,christ's life1 against the gospel practice1 and contrary to the manner and order of the saints40 ,g4 ,f4 ,we continued in prison till the next assize2 before which time divers ,friends1 both men and women1 were sent to prison1 that had been taken up by the watches4 ,when the assize came on1 several of these were called before the judge1 and indicted2 and though the jailer brought them into court1 yet they indicted them1 that they came in 8by force of arms and in an hostile manner20 and the judge fined them1 because they would not put off their hats4 ,but we were not called before the judges any more4 ,great work we had1 and service for the ,lord1 both between the assizes and after1 amongst professors and people of all sorts2 for many came to see us and to reason with us4 ,elizabeth ,trelawny of ,plymouth 7who was the daughter of a baronet7 being convinced 7as was formerly mentioned17 the priests and professors1 and some great persons of her kindred were exasperated1 and wrote letters to her4 ,she being a wise and tender woman1 and fearing to give them any advantage1 sent their letters to me2 and ,i answered them1 and returned them to her again1 for her to answer4 ,which she did3 till growing in the power1 and ,spirit1 and wisdom of ,god1 she came herself to be able to answer the wisest priest and professor of them all2 and had a dominion over them in the truth1 through the power of the ,lord1 by which she was kept faithful to her death4 ,while ,i was in prison here1 the ,baptists and ,fifth-monarchy-men prophesied1 8,that this year ,christ should come1 and reign upon earth a thousand years40 ,and they looked upon this reign to be outward2 when he was come inwardly in the hearts of his people1 to reign and rule there1 and these professors would not thus receive him4 ,so they failed in their prophecy and expectation1 and had not the possession of him4 ,but ,christ is come1 and doth dwell in the hearts of his people1 and reign there4 ,thousands1 at the door of whose hearts he hath been knocking1 have opened to him2 and he is come in1 and doth sup with them and they with him2 the heavenly supper with the heavenly and spiritual man4 ,so many of these ,baptist and ,monarchy-people became the greatest enemies to the possessors of ,christ2 but he reigns in the hearts of his saints over all their envy4 ,at the assize divers justices came to us and were pretty civil1 and reasoned of the things of ,god soberly1 expressing a pity towards us4 ,captain ,fox1 governor of ,pendennis ,castle1 came and looked me in the face1 and said not a word2 but went to his company1 and told them1 8he never saw a simpler man in his life40 ,i called after him1 and said1 8,stay1 we will see who is the simpler man40 ,but he went his way2 a light chaffy man4 ,thomas ,lower#di also came to visit us1 and offered us money1 which we refused2 accepting his love nevertheless4 ,he asked us many questions concerning our denying the ,scriptures to be the word of ,god2 and concerning the sacraments and such like2 to all which he received satisfaction4 ,i spoke particularly to him and he afterwards said1 8my words were as a flash of lightning1 they ran so through him40 ,he said1 8he never met with such men in his life2 for they knew the thoughts of his heart1 and were as the wise master-builders of the assemblies1 that fastened their words like nails40 ,he came to be convinced of the truth1 and remains a ,friend to this day4 ,when he came home to his aunt ,hambley's1 where he then lived1 and made report to her concerning us1 she1 with her sister ,grace ,billing1 hearing the report of truth1 came to visit us in prison1 and was convinced also4 ,great sufferings and spoiling of goods both he and his aunt have undergone for the truth's sake4 ,footnote #di3 ,thomas ,lower was son-in-law to ,judge ,fell1 having married his daughter ,mary4 ,about this time ,i was moved to give forth the following exhortation to ,friends in the ministry3-- 8,,friends1 8,in the power of life and wisdom1 and dread of the ,lord ,god of life1 and heaven1 and earth1 dwell1 that in the wisdom of ,god over all ye may be preserved1 and be a terror to all the adversaries of ,god1 and a dread1 answering that of ,god in them all1 spreading the truth abroad1 awakening the witness1 confounding deceit1 gathering out of transgression into the life1 the covenant of light and peace with ,god4 ,let all nations hear the sound by word or writing4 ,spare no place1 spare no tongue nor pen2 but be obedient to the ,lord ,god2 go through the work2 be valiant for the truth upon earth2 and tread and trample upon all that is contrary4 ,ye have the power1 do not abuse it2 and strength and presence of the ,lord1 eye it1 and the wisdom2 that with it you may all be ordered to the glory of the ,lord ,god4 ,keep in the dominion2 keep in the power over all deceit2 tread over them in that which lets you see to the world's end1 and the uttermost parts of the earth4 ,reign and rule with ,christ1 whose sceptre and throne are now set up1 whose dominion is over all to the ends of the earth2 whose dominion is an everlasting dominion2 whose throne is an everlasting throne2 whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom2 and whose power is above all powers4 ,therefore this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all3 keep in the wisdom of ,god1 that spreads over all the earth2 the wisdom of the creation1 that is pure1 from above1 not destructive4 ,for now shall salvation go out of ,zion1 to judge the mount of ,esau3 and now shall the law go forth from ,jerusalem1 to answer the principle of ,god in all2 to hew down all inventors and inventions4 ,for all the princes of the earth are but as air to the power of the ,lord ,god1 which you are in1 and have tasted of3 therefore live in it2 this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all1 do not abuse it2 keep down and low2 and take heed of false joys1 that will change4 8,bring all into the worship of ,god4 ,plough up the fallow ground4 ,thrash and get out the corn2 that the seed1 the wheat1 may be gathered into the barn2 that to the beginning all people may come--to ,christ1 who was1 before the world was made4 ,for the chaff is come upon the wheat by transgression2 he that treads it out1 is out of transgression1 and fathoms transgression2 puts a difference between the precious and the vile2 and can pick out the wheat from the tares1 and gather into the garner3 so brings to the lively hope1 the immortal soul into ,god1 out of which it came4 ,none worship ,god but who come to the principle of ,god1 which they have transgressed4 ,none are ploughed up but he who comes to the principle of ,god in him1 that he hath transgressed4 ,then he doth service to ,god2 then is the planting and the watering2 and the increase from ,god cometh4 ,so the ministers of the ,spirit must minister to the ,spirit that is in prison1 which hath been in captivity in every one2 that with the ,spirit of ,christ1 people may be led out of captivity up to ,god1 the ,father of ,spirits1 do service to him1 and have unity with him1 with the ,scriptures1 and one with another4 ,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all1 and a charge to you all in the presence of the living ,god2 be patterns1 be examples in all countries1 places1 islands1 nations1 wherever you come2 that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people1 and to them2 then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world1 answering that of ,god in every one2 whereby in them ye may be a blessing1 and make the witness of ,god1 in them to bless you3 then to the ,lord ,god you will be a sweet savour1 and a blessing4 8,spare no deceit4 ,lay the sword upon it2 go over it2 keep yourselves clear of the blood of all men1 either by word1 or writing2 and keep yourselves clean1 that you may stand1 in your throne1 and everyone have his lot1 and stand in the lot in the ,ancient of ,days4 ,the blessing of the ,lord be with you1 and keep you over all the idolatrous worships and worshippers4 ,let them know the living ,god2 for teachings1 churches1 worships1 set up by man's earthly understanding1 knowledge1 and will1 must be thrown down by the power of the ,lord ,god4 ,all this must be overthrown by that which gave forth ,scripture2 and who are in that1 reign over it all3 that is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all4 ,in that is ,god worshipped1 that brings to declare his will2 and brings to the church in ,god1 the ground and pillar of truth3 for now has the mighty day of the ,lord appeared1 and the arrows of the ,almighty are gone forth1 which shall stick in the hearts of the wicked4 ,now will ,i arise1 saith the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 to trample and thunder down deceit1 which hath long reigned1 and stained the earth3 now will ,i have my glory out of every one4 ,the ,lord ,god ,almighty over all in his strength and power keep you1 to his glory1 that you may come to answer that of ,god in every one4 8,proclaim the mighty day of the ,lord of fire and sword1 who will be worshipped in spirit and in truth2 and keep in the life and power of the ,lord ,god1 that the inhabitants of the earth may tremble before you2 that the ,lord's power and majesty may be admired among the hypocrites and heathens1 and ye in the wisdom1 dread1 life1 terror1 and dominion preserved to his glory3 that nothing may rule or reign1 but power and life itself2 and in the wisdom of ,god ye may be preserved in it4 ,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all4 ,the call is now out of transgression2 the ,spirit bids1 #8come4' ,the call is now from all false worships and gods1 and from all inventions and dead works1 to serve the living ,god4 ,the call is to repentance1 to amendment of life1 whereby righteousness may be brought forth2 which shall go throughout the earth4 ,therefore ye that are chosen and faithful1 who are with the ,lamb1 go through your work faithfully1 and in the strength and power of the ,lord3 and be obedient to the power2 for that will save you out of the hands of unreasonable men1 and preserve you over the world to himself4 ,hereby you may live in the kingdom1 that stands in power1 which hath no end2 where glory and life is40 ,g4 ,f4 ,after the assizes1 the sheriff1 with some soldiers1 came to guard a woman to execution1 that was sentenced to die2 and we had much discourse with them4 ,one of them wickedly said1 that 8,christ was as passionate a man as any that lived upon the earth20 for which we rebuked him4 ,another time we asked the jailer what doings there were at the sessions2 and he said1 8,small matters3 only about thirty for bastardy40 ,we thought it very strange1 that they who professed themselves ,christians should make small matters of such things4 ,but this jailer was very bad himself2 ,i often admonished him to sobriety2 but he abused people that came to visit us4 ,edward ,pyot had a cheese sent him from ,,bristol by his wife2 and the jailer took it from him1 and carried it to the mayor1 to search it for treasonable letters1 as he said2 and though they found no treason in the cheese1 they kept it from us4 ,this jailer might have been rich if he had carried himself civilly2 but he sought his own ruin2 which soon after came upon him2 for the next year he was turned out of his place1 and for some wickedness cast into the jail himself2 and there begged of our ,friends4 ,and for some unruliness in his conduct1 he was1 by the succeeding jailer1 put into ,doomsdale1 locked in irons1 and beaten2 and bid to 8remember how he had abused those good men1 whom he had wickedly1 without any cause1 cast into that nasty dungeon20 and told1 8that now he deservedly should suffer for his wickedness2 and the same measure he had meted to others1 should be meted out to himself40 ,he became very poor1 and died in prison2 and his wife and family came to misery4 ,while ,i was in prison in ,,launceston1 a friend went to ,oliver ,cromwell1 and offered himself1 body for body1 to lie in ,doomsdale in my stead2 if he would take him1 and let me have liberty4 ,which thing so struck him1 that he said to his great men and council1 8,which of you would do so much for me if ,i were in the same condition80 ,and though he did not accept of the ,friend's offer1 but said1 8he could not do it1 for that it was contrary to law20 yet the truth thereby came mightily over him4 ,a good while after this he sent down ,major-,general ,desborough1 pretending to set us at liberty4 ,when he came1 he offered us our liberty1 if we would say1 8we would go home1 and preach no more20 but we could not promise him4 ,then he urged1 that we should promise 8to go home1 if the ,lord permitted20 whereupon ,edward ,pyot wrote him the following letter3-- 8,to ,major-,general ,desborough4 8,,friend1 8,though much might be said as to the liberty of ,englishmen to travel in any part of the nation of ,england1 it being as the ,englishman's house by the law1 and he to be protected in any part of it2 and if he transgress the law1 the penalty upon the transgressor is to be inflicted4 ,and as to the liberty of conscience1 which is a natural right1 and a fundamental2 the exercise of it1 by those who profess faith in ,god by ,jesus ,christ1 is to be protected2 as by the instrument of government appears1 though they differ in doctrine1 worship1 and discipline2 provided the liberty extend not to ,popery1 to prelacy1 nor to licentiousness4 ,where these rights1 which are the price of much blood and treasure in the late wars1 are denied us1 our liberty is infringed4 ,yet in the power of ,god over all1 by which all are to be ruled1 are we1 and in it dwell1 and by it alone are guided to do the will of ,god2 whose will is free2 and we1 in the freedom of his will1 walk by the power1 either as it commands or permits1 without any condition or enforcement thereunto by men2 but as the power moves either by command or permission4 ,and although we cannot covenant or condition to go forth of these parts1 or to do this or that thing1 if the ,lord permit 7for that were to do the will of man by ,god's permission17 yet it is probable we may pass forth from these parts in the liberty of the will of ,god1 as we may be severally moved1 guided by the pure power1 and not of necessity4 ,we1 who were first committed1 were passing homewards when we were apprehended2 and1 as far as ,i know1 we might pass1 if the prison doors were commanded to be opened1 and we freed of our bonds4 ,should we stay1 if the ,lord commands us to go2 or should we go1 if the ,lord commands us to stay2 or having no command to stay1 but being permitted to pass from hence1 the pure power moving thereto1 and yet we stay2 or go1 when as before commanded to stay2 we should then be wanderers indeed2 for such are wanderers1 who wander out from the will and power of ,god1 abroad1 at large1 in their own wills and earthly minds4 ,and so1 in the fear of the ,lord ,god1 well weigh and consider1 with the just weight and just balance1 that justice thou mayest do to the just and innocent in prison40 ,,edward ,,pyot4 ,some time having elapsed after the foregoing was delivered him1 and he not giving any order for our discharge1 ,i also wrote to him1 as follows3-- 8,to ,major-,general ,desborough4 8,,friend1 8,we who are in the power of ,god1 the ruler and upholder of all things1 who know and dwell in his power1 to it we must be obedient2 which brings us to stand out all men's wills1 unlimited4 ,to say1 #8we will1 if the ,lord permit1' in a case of buying and selling to get gain1 if the intent be so to do1 may be done2 but we standing in the power of ,god to do his will1 and to stand out of man's will1 if man propose1 #8we shall have our liberty if we will say we will go to our outward home1 if the ,lord permit1 or if it will be the will of ,god2' and because we cannot say these words in this case1 shall not have our liberty1 when we know that the will of ,god is1 we shall #8go to speak at some other place2' here we cannot say these words truly4 ,for to say1 #8we will go to our outward habitation1 if it be according to the will of ,god1' when we know the will of ,god is otherwise1 we cannot speak so truly and clearly4 ,neither can any man say so to him1 that requires it of him2 who stands in the power1 and knows the power of ,god to lead him1 according to ,god's will1 when it leads him to another place than his outward home4 ,but the ,son of ,god1 who came to do1 and did1 the will of ,god1 had no place whereon to lay his head2 and the apostles1 and many of the followers of ,christ1 had no certain dwelling-place4 ,now1 if these should have been restrained1 because they could not say1 they would go to their outward homes1 if it were the will of ,god1 when they knew it was the will of ,god they should not2 and they could not do the will of ,god in doing so2 and therefore could not speak those words to satisfy man's mind and will1 would not such restraint have been evil8 ,abraham could not do the will of ,god1 but in going from his native country2 and those who are of faith are of ,abraham1 of whom ,christ came according to the flesh4 ,now1 if you allege1 #8this is to let all loose1 and at liberty to idleness1' ,i say1 no2 such as are in the power of ,god1 who do the will of ,god1 come to receive his wisdom1 by which all his creatures were created2 and by which they are used to his glory4 ,this ,i shall say2 whoever are moved by the ,lord ,god of glory and power1 to go to their outward habitations1 such of us may go to our outward homes1 and there be diligent in serving the ,lord1 that they may be a blessing from the ,lord ,god in their generation2 diligently serving him in life and doctrine1 in manners1 in conversation1 in all things4 ,and those of us who are moved of the ,lord to go to any other place1 we standing in his will1 and being moved by his power1 which comprehends all things1 and is not to be limited1 we shall do his will1 as we are commanded to do4 8,so the ,lord ,god open your understandings1 that you may see this great power of the ,lord1 which he is now manifesting among his children in this his day2 that ye may not withstand it in our ,friends1 that are come into the power of ,god1 and to ,god1 and know him by whom the world was made2 by whom all things were created that were created2 and there was not anything made1 but what was made for him1 and to him1 and by him2 who is the power of ,god1 and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world4 ,friends being come to this light1 which cometh from ,christ1 and having received power from him1 by whom all things were created1 who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him1 who is the wisdom of ,god1 we have received wisdom and power from him2 by which the ,lord doth give us to know how to use and order the creatures to the glory of him who is the creator of all things4 ,friends here are taught of the ,lord to be diligent1 serving him2 and who come into the life1 the ,scriptures were given forth from1 are given up to serve the ,lord2 and of this ,i have in all your consciences a witness4 ,so1 if thou open the prison door1 we shall not stay there4 ,if thou send a liberate1 and set us free1 we shall not stay in prison2 for ,israel is to go out free1 whose freedom is purchased by the power of ,god1 and the blood of ,jesus4 ,but who goeth out of the power of ,god1 loseth his freedom4 8,,george ,,fox1 8,the #acth of the #fth ,and the rest who are sufferers for ,month1 #afef40 the truth in ,launceston jail40 ,after this ,major ,desborough came to the ,castle-,green1 and played at bowls with the justices and others4 ,several ,friends were moved to go1 and admonish them not to spend their time so vainly2 desiring them to consider1 that 8though they professed themselves to be ,christians1 yet they gave themselves up to their pleasures1 and kept the servants of ,god meanwhile in prison20 and telling them1 8the ,lord would plead with them1 and visit them for such things40 ,but notwithstanding what was written or said to him1 he went away1 and left us in prison4 ,we understood afterwards1 that he left the business to ,colonel ,bennet1 who had the command of the jail4 ,for sometime after ,bennet would have set us at liberty1 if we would have paid his jailer's fees4 ,but we told him1 8we could give the jailer no fees1 for we were innocent sufferers2 and how could they expect fees of us1 who had suffered so long wrongfully80 ,after a while ,colonel ,bennet coming to town1 sent for us to an inn1 and insisted again upon fees1 which we refused4 ,at last the power of the ,lord came so over him1 that he freely set us at liberty on the #acth day of the seventh month1 #afef4 ,we had been prisoners nine weeks at the first assize1 called the ,lent-assize1 which was in the spring of the year4 ,,chapter ,x4 #afef-afeg4--;,address to those who are given to pleasures and wantonness--to the bowlers in the ,castle-,green at ,launceston--,george ,fox visits ,friends imprisoned at ,exeter1 amongst whom is ,james ,naylor1 who has apostatized1 but afterwards returned into the ,truth--at a meeting in the orchard at ,bristol about #aj1jjj persons are present--,paul ,gwin1 a rude ,baptist1 creates a disturbance1 but is reproved and silenced--meeting of two or three thousand persons at ,n4 ,crisp's--,justice ,stooks prevents the magistrates from apprehending ,george ,fox--speaks to the protector at ,hyde-park1 who invites him to his house--accordingly goes to ,whitehall1 and speaks to the ,protector about ,friends' sufferings--travels through most parts of the nation after his liberation from ,launceston jail--this year1 #afef1 there were seldom fewer than one thousand ,friends in prison--to ,friends1 on the schism of ,j4 ,naylor--to ,friends1 to keep up their meetings--on judging the ministry1 c4--an answer to a high-flown professor--to professors1 priests1 and teachers1 on immediate revelation and universal grace1 c41 c4--at ,cardiff1 ,george ,fox sends word to some who had run out that 8the day of their visitation was over0--at ,brecknock1 his companion1 ,john-ap-,john1 preaches in the streets--at night there is a great uproar1 like that of ,diana's craftsmen--at ,william ,gandy's has a large meeting of two or three thousand persons--,cromwell proclaims a fast for rain1 and is told by ,george ,fox that the drought was a sign of their barrenness--concerning the true fast and the false--preaches three hours at a great meeting in ,radnorshire1 and many are convinced--their horses are twice robbed of their oats--from a high hill sounds the day of the ,lord1 and foretells where ,god would raise up a people to himself1 which came to pass--travels through every county in ,wales1 where there is a brave people1 who sit under ,christ's teaching--has a large meeting on the top of a hill near ,liverpool--at ,manchester is taken into custody1 but soon released4 ,observing1 while ,i was a prisoner at ,,launceston1 how much the people 7especially they who are called the gentry7 were addicted to pleasures and vain recreations1 ,i was moved1 before ,i left the place1 to give forth several papers as a warning to them1 and all that so misspend their time4 ,one of which was thus directed3-- 8,,this ,,is ,,to ,,go ,,abroad ,,among ,,them ,,who ,,are ,,given ,,to ,,pleasures ,,and ,,wantonness4 8,the sins of ,sodom and ,gomorrah were pride1 fulness of bread1 and abundance of idleness4 ,their filthy conversation vexed the righteous soul of just ,lot day by day1 and they would not take warning2 on whom ,god therefore sent fire1 and turned them into ashes4 ,and in spiritual ,sodom and ,egypt was our ,lord ,jesus ,christ crucified2 and it is written1 #8,the people sat down to eat and to drink1 and rose up to play2 with whom ,god was not well pleased2 and there fell three and twenty thousand in one day4' ,these the apostle commanded the saints they should not follow2 for these things happened to them for examples1 and are written for our admonition4 ,god spared not the old world2 but reserving ,noah1 a preacher of righteousness1 brought the flood upon the world of the ungodly1 making them an example to all that after should live ungodly4 ,mark1 ye ungodly ones1 who are as natural brute beasts1 who speak great swelling words of vanity1 alluring through the lusts of the flesh1 through much wantonness1 as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time1 sporting yourselves with your own deceivings2 ye shall receive the reward of unrighteousness4 ,ye are as dogs and swine turned to the vomit1 and wallowing in the mire1 speaking evil of things that ye know not2 and unless ye repent1 ye shall utterly perish in your own corruptions4 ,ye have lived in pleasure on the earth1 and been wanton2 ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter3 ye have condemned and killed the just1 and he doth not resist you4 ,go to1 weep and howl1 for the misery that is coming upon you4 ,she that liveth in pleasures1 is dead while she liveth4 ,god condemned the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 making them an example to all those that after should live ungodly1 in the wicked1 filthy conversation3 mark1 here is your example4 ,hear this1 ye that are given to pleasures1 and read your examples40 ,g4 ,f4 ,another paper1 upon my taking notice of the bowlers that came to sport themselves in the ,castle-,green1 was as follows3-- 8,the word of the ,lord to all you vain and idle-minded people1 who are lovers of sports1 pleasures1 foolish exercises1 and recreations1 as you call them2 consider of your ways1 what it is you are doing4 ,was this the end of your creation8 ,did ,god make all things for you1 and you to serve your lusts and pleasures8 ,did not the ,lord make all things for you1 and you for himself1 to fear and worship him in spirit and in truth1 in righteousness and true holiness8 ,but where is your service of ,god1 so long as your hearts run after lusts and pleasures8 ,ye cannot serve ,god1 and the foolish pleasures of the world1 as bowling1 drinking1 hunting1 hawking1 and the like3 if these have your hearts1 ,god will not have your lips3 consider1 for it is true4 ,therefore from the ,lord must you all witness woe and misery1 tribulation and wrath1 who continue in the love and practice of your vain sports1 lusts1 and pleasures4 ,now is the day1 when all everywhere are exhorted to repentance4 ,o foolish people1 wicked and slow of heart to believe the threatenings of the great ,jehovah against the wicked6 ,what will ye do in the day of the ,lord's fierce wrath1 that makes haste to come upon the world of ungodly men6 ,what good have your foolish sports and delights done you now they are past8 ,or what good will they do you1 when the ,lord calls for your souls8 8,therefore all now awake from sleep1 and see where you are3 and let the light of ,jesus ,christ1 that shines in every one of your consciences1 search you thoroughly2 and it will let you clearly see1 for all your profession of ,god1 ,christ1 and the ,scriptures1 you are ignorant of them1 and enemies to them all1 and your own souls also3 and being found living in pleasures1 you are dead while you live4 ,therefore doth the ,lord by many messengers forewarn you1 and call you to repentance and deep humiliation1 that you may forsake the evil of your doings1 own this day of your visitation1 and while you have time1 prize it2 lest the things which belong to your peace be hid from your eyes1 for your disobedience and rebellion against the ,holy ,one4 ,and then had it been good that you never had been born4 ,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand3 again ,i say1 repent60 ,given forth in ,,launceston ,jail1 in ,cornwall4 ,to the ,bowlers in the ,green4 ,being released from our imprisonment we got horses and rode towards ,humphrey ,lower's1 and met him on the road4 ,he told us1 8,he was much troubled in his mind concerning us1 and could not rest at home1 but was going to ,colonel ,bennet to seek our liberty40 ,when we told him1 8we were set at liberty1 and were going to his house10 he was exceedingly glad4 ,to his house we went1 and had a fine precious meeting2 many were convinced1 and turned by the ,spirit of the ,lord to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's teaching4 ,from his house we went to ,loveday ,hambley's1 where we also had a fine large meeting4 ,the ,lord's power was over all2 many were convinced there also1 and turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their teacher4 ,after we had tarried there two or three days1 we came to ,thomas ,mouncey's1 where we had a general meeting for the whole county2 which1 being very large1 was held in his orchard4 ,friends from ,plymouth were there1 and from many places4 ,the ,lord's power was over all2 and a great convincement there was in many parts of the county4 ,their watches were down1 and all was plain and open2 for the ,lord had let me see1 before ,i was set at liberty1 that he would make all the country plain before us4 ,thomas and ,ann ,curtis1 with an alderman of ,reading1 who was convinced1 had come to ,launceston to see us while ,i was a prisoner3 and when ,ann1 and the other man returned1 ,thomas ,curtis stayed behind in ,,cornwall1 and had good service for the ,lord at that time4#ej ,footnote #ej3 ,thomas ,curtis became a faithful minister1 and sufferer for ,christ's sake4 ,in #afff1 he is mentioned in a letter from ,alexander ,parker to ,margaret ,fell as being a prisoner with thirty-two or thirty-three others4 ,his wife1 ,ann ,curtis1 was a daughter of a sheriff of ,bristol4 ,see a letter of ,t4 ,curtis to ,george ,fox1 in ,letters of ,early ,friends1 p4 #bdj4 ,from ,thomas ,mouncey's we passed to ,,launceston again1 and visited that little remnant of ,friends that had been raised up there while we were in prison2 and the ,lord's plants grew finely1 and were established on ,christ1 their rock and foundation4 ,as we were going out of town again1 the constable of ,launceston came running to us with the cheese that had been taken from ,edward ,pyot2 which they had kept from us all this while1 and were tormented with it4 ,but being now set at liberty1 we would not receive it4 ,from ,launceston we came to ,,okington ,oakhampton1 and lodged at an inn1 which the mayor of the town kept4 ,he had stopped and taken up several ,friends1 but was very civil to us2 and was convinced in his judgment4 ,from thence we came to ,,exeter1 where many ,friends were in prison2 and amongst the rest ,james ,naylor4 ,for a little before we were set at liberty1 ,james had run out into imaginations1 and a company with him3 which raised up a great darkness in the nation4#ea ,he came to ,bristol1 and made a disturbance there3 and from thence he was coming to ,launceston to see me2 but was stopped by the way1 and imprisoned at ,exeter2 as were also several others2 one of whom1 an honest tender man1 died in prison there1 whose blood lieth on the heads of his persecutors4 ,footnote #ea3 ,james ,naylor was a monument of human frailty4 ,his gift in the ministry was eminent2 his experience in divine things truly great4 ,he fell through unwatchfulness1 but was restored through deep sufferings and unfeigned repentance4 ,his own writings are the most clear and lively description of the various dispensations he underwent2 some of them deserve to be transmitted to the latest posterity4 ,his address to his brethren bespeaks the real repentance of his heart2 in that he says1 8,my heart is broken this day for the offence ,i have occasioned to ,god's truth and people1--,i beseech you1 forgive wherein ,i evilly requited your love in that day4 ,god knows my sorrow for it60 c4 ,a few hours before his death1 he spoke in the presence of several witnesses the following remarkable words3-- 8,there is a spirit which ,i feel1 that delights to do no evil1 nor to revenge any wrong2 but delights to endure all things1 in hope to enjoy its own in the end4 ,its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention1 and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty1 or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself4 ,it sees to the end of all temptations2 as it bears no evil in itself1 so it conceives none in thought to any other4 ,if it be betrayed1 it bears it2 for its ground and spring is the mercy and forgiveness of ,god4 ,its crown is meekness2 its life is everlasting love unfeigned4 ,it takes its kingdom with entreaty1 and not with contention1 and keeps it by lowliness of mind4 ,in ,god alone it can rejoice1 though none else regard it1 or can own its life4 ,it is conceived in sorrow1 and brought forth without any to pity it2 nor doth it murmur at grief and oppression4 ,it never rejoiceth1 but through sufferings2 for with the world's joy it is murdered4 ,i found it alone2 being forsaken4 ,i have fellowship therein with those who lived in dens and desolate places in the earth2 who through death obtained this resurrection1 and eternal1 holy life60 ,such was the end of ,james ,naylor2 who1 in his forty-fourth year1 8chastened1 but not killed--cast down1 but not destroyed0--through much tribulation1 entered1 we may humbly hope1 8into the kingdom of ,god40--7,for full particulars1 see his ,life by ,joseph ,gurney ,bevan47 ,the night we came to ,,exeter1 ,i spoke with ,james ,naylor2 for ,i saw he was out and wrong3 and so was his company4 ,next day1 being ,first-day1 we went to visit the prisoners1 and had a meeting with them in the prison2 but ,james ,naylor and some of them could not stay the meeting4 ,there came a corporal of horse into the meeting1 and was convinced1 and remained a very good ,friend4 ,the next day ,i spoke to ,james ,naylor again2 and he slighted what ,i said1 and was dark1 and much out2 yet he would have come and kissed me4 ,but ,i said1 8since he had turned against the power of ,god1 ,i could not receive his show of kindness20 the ,lord moved me to slight him1 and to set the power of ,god over him4 ,so after ,i had been warring with the world1 there was now a wicked spirit risen up amongst ,friends to war against4 ,i admonished him and his company4 ,when he was come to ,london1 his resisting the power of ,god in me1 and the truth that was declared to him by me1 became one of his greatest burdens4 ,but he came to see his out-going1 and to condemn it2 and after some time he returned to truth again2 as in the printed account of his repentance1 condemnation1 and recovery1 may be more fully seen4 ,we passed from ,exeter through ,,collumpton and ,,taunton1 visiting ,friends2 and had meetings amongst them4 ,from thence we came to ,,puddimore1 to ,william ,beaton's2 where on the ,first-day we had a very large meeting4 ,a great convincement there was all through that country2 many meetings we had1 and the ,lord's power was over all2 many were turned1 by the power and ,spirit of ,god1 to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who died for them1 and came to sit under his free teaching4 ,from thence we went to ,john ,dander's1 where we had another precious meeting4 ,the ,lord's power was over all1 and many were convinced of ,god's eternal truth4 ,contention was raised by professors and ,baptists in some places1 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,from thence we came to ,edward ,pyot's house near ,,bristol4 ,it was the ,seventh-day at night that we came thither2 and it was quickly noised over the town that ,i was come4 ,i had never been there before4 ,on ,first-day morning ,i went to the meeting in ,broadmead at ,,bristol2 which was large and quiet4 ,notice was given of a meeting to be in the afternoon in the orchard4 ,there was at ,bristol a rude ,baptist1 named ,paul ,gwin1 who had before made great disturbance in our meetings1 being encouraged and set on by the mayor1 who1 it was reported1 would sometimes give him his dinner to encourage him4 ,such multitudes of rude people he gathered after him1 that it was thought there had been sometimes ten thousand people at our meeting in the orchard4 ,as ,i was going into the orchard the people told me1 that ,paul ,gwin1 the rude jangling ,baptist1 was going to the meeting4 8,i bid them never heed1 it was nothing to me who went to it40 ,when ,i was come into the orchard1 ,i stood upon the stone that ,friends used to stand on when they spoke2 and ,i was moved of the ,lord to put off my hat1 and to stand a pretty while1 and let the people look at me2 for some thousands of people were there4 ,while ,i thus stood silent1 this rude ,baptist began to find fault with my hair2 but ,i said nothing to him4 ,then he ran on into words2 and at last1 8,ye wise men of ,bristol10 said he1 8,i strange at you1 that you will stand here1 and hear a man speak and affirm that which he cannot make good40 ,then the ,lord opened my mouth 7for as yet ,i had not spoken a word71 and ,i asked the people1 8whether they ever heard me speak2 or ever saw me before30 and ,i bid them 8take notice what kind of man this was amongst them that should so impudently say1 that ,i spoke and affirmed that which ,i could not make good2 and yet neither he nor they had ever heard me or seen me before4 ,therefore that was a lying1 envious1 malicious spirit1 that spoke in him2 and it was of the ,devil1 and not of ,god4 ,i charged him in the dread and power of the ,lord to be silent3 and the mighty power of ,god came over him1 and all his company4 ,then a glorious1 peaceable meeting we had1 and the word of life was divided amongst them2 and they were turned from the darkness to the light1--to ,jesus their ,saviour4 ,the ,scriptures were largely opened to them2 and the traditions1 rudiments1 ways1 and doctrines of men were laid open before the people2 and they were turned to the light of ,christ1 that with it they might see them1 and see him to lead them out of them4 ,i opened also to them the types1 figures1 and shadows of ,christ in the time of the law2 and showed them that ,christ was come1 and had ended the types1 shadows1 tithes1 and oaths1 and put down swearing2 and had set up yea and nay instead of it1 and a free ministry2 for he was now come to teach people himself1 and his heavenly day was springing from on high40 ,for many hours did ,i declare the word of life amongst them in the eternal power of ,god1 that by him they might come up into the beginning1 and be reconciled to him4 ,and having turned them to the ,spirit of ,god in themselves1 that would lead into all truth1 ,i was moved to pray in the mighty power of ,god2 and the ,lord's power came over all4 ,when ,i had done1 this fellow began to babble again2 and ,john ,audland was moved to bid him repent1 and fear ,god4 ,so his own people and followers being ashamed of him1 he passed away1 and never came again to disturb the meeting4 ,the meeting broke up quietly1 and the ,lord's power and glory shone over all3 a blessed day it was1 and the ,lord had the praise4 ,after a while this ,paul ,gwin went beyond the seas2 many years after ,i met with him again at ,barbadoes3 of which in its place4 ,from ,bristol we returned to ,edward ,pyot's1 where we had a great meeting4 ,the ,lord's power was over all1 truth was declared and spread abroad1 and many were turned to ,christ ,jesus1 their life1 their prophet to teach them1 their shepherd to feed them1 and their bishop to oversee them1 ,after the meeting1 ,i had reasoning with some professors2 and the ,lord's truth and power came over them4 ,from ,edward ,pyot's we passed to ,,slaughterford1 where we had a very large meeting 7,edward ,pyot and another ,friend being still with me72 great turning of people there was to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their teacher2 and people were glad that they were brought to know their way1 their free teacher1 and their ,saviour1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,the ,first-day following we went to ,nathaniel ,crisp's house1 who had been a justice of peace in ,,wiltshire1 where it was supposed there were between two and three thousand people at a meeting2 and all was quiet4 ,the mighty power of ,god was manifest1 and people were turned to the grace and truth in their hearts1 that came by ,jesus ,christ1 which taught them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lust1 and to live soberly and godly in this present world2 so that every man and woman might know the grace of ,god1 which had appeared to all men1 and which was saving1 and sufficient to bring their salvation4 ,this teacher1 the grace of ,god1 would teach them how to live1 what to do1 and what to deny2 it would season their words1 and establish their hearts4 ,this was a free teacher to every one of them2 that they might come to be heirs of this grace1 and of ,christ1 by whom it came2 who hath ended the prophets1 and the priests that took tithes1 and the ,jewish temple4 ,and as for the hireling priests that take tithes now1 and their temples 7which priests were made at schools and colleges of man's setting up1 and not by ,christ71 they1 with all their inventions1 were to be denied4 ,for the apostles denied the true priesthood and temple1 which ,god had commanded1 after ,christ had put an end thereto4 ,the ,scriptures1 and the truths therein contained1 were largely opened1 and the people turned to the ,spirit of ,god in their hearts2 that by it they might be led into all truth1 and understand the ,scriptures1 and know ,god and ,christ1 and come to have unity with them1 and one with another in the same ,spirit4 ,they went away generally satisfied1 and were glad that they were turned to ,christ ,jesus1 their teacher and ,saviour4 ,next day we went to ,,marlborough1 where we had a little meeting4 ,the sessions being held that day1 they were about to grant a warrant to send for me2 but one ,justice ,stooks being at the sessions1 stopped them1 telling them there was a meeting at his house yesterday1 at which there were several thousands4 ,so the warrant was stopped1 and the meeting was quiet2 and several received ,christ ,jesus their teacher1 came into the new covenant1 and abode in it4 ,from hence we went to ,,newbury1 where we had a large1 blessed meeting1 and several were convinced4 ,then we passed to ,,reading1 where we had a large1 precious meeting in the ,lord's power1 amongst the plants of ,god4 ,many of the people came in1 and were reached1 and added to the meeting4 ,all was quiet1 and the ,lord's power was over all4 ,we went next to ,,kingston-,,on-,,thames1 where a few came in to us that were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 but it is since become a larger meeting4 ,leaving ,kingston1 we rode to ,,london4 ,when we came near ,hyde ,park1 we saw a great concourse of people1 and looking towards them1 espied the ,protector coming in his coach4 ,whereupon ,i rode to his coach-side2 and some of his life-guards would have put me away1 but he forbade them4 ,so ,i rode by with him1 8declaring what the ,lord gave me to say to him of his condition1 and of the sufferings of ,friends in the nation2 showing him1 how contrary this persecution was to ,christ and his apostles1 and to ,christianity40 ,when we arrived at ,james's ,park-gate1 ,i left him2 and at parting he desired me to come to his house4 ,next day1 one of his wife's maids1 whose name was ,mary ,saunders1 came to me at my lodging1 and told me her master came to her1 and said he would tell her some good news4 ,when she asked him what it was1 he told her1 ,george ,fox was come to town4 ,she replied that was good news indeed 7for she had received truth17 but she said1 she could hardly believe him1 till he told her how ,i met him1 and rode from ,hyde ,park to ,james's ,park with him4 ,after a little time ,edward ,pyot and ,i went to ,,whitehall3 and when we came before him1 ,dr4 ,owen1 vice-chancellor of ,oxford1 was with him4 ,we were moved to speak to ,oliver ,cromwell concerning the sufferings of ,friends1 and laid them before him2 and directed him to the light of ,christ1 who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world4 ,he said it was a natural light2 but we 8showed him the contrary1 and manifested that it was divine and spiritual1 proceeding from ,christ1 the spiritual and heavenly man2 and that which was called the life in ,christ the ,word1 was called the light in us40 ,the power of the ,lord ,god arose in me1 and ,i was moved in it 8to bid him lay down his crown at the feet of ,jesus40 ,several times ,i spoke to him to the same effect4 ,now ,i was standing by the table1 and he came and sat upon the table's side by me1 and said he would be as high as ,i was2 and so continued speaking against the light of ,christ ,jesus2 and went away in a light manner4 ,but the ,lord's power came over him1 so that when he came to his wife and other company1 he said1 8,i never parted so from them before20 for he was judged in himself4 ,after he had left us1 as we were going out1 many great persons came about us2 and one of them began to speak against the light1 and against the truth2 and ,i was made to slight him1 for speaking so lightly of the things of ,god4 ,whereupon1 one of them told me he was the ,major-,general of ,northamptonshire4 8,what60 said ,i1 8our old persecutor1 that has persecuted and sent so many of our friends to prison1 and is a shame to ,christianity and religion6 ,i am glad ,i have met with thee10 said ,i4 ,so ,i was moved to speak sharply to him of his unchristian carriage1 and he slunk away3 for he had been a cruel persecutor in ,northamptonshire4 ,now1 after ,i had visited the meetings of ,friends in and about ,,london1 ,i went into ,,buckinghamshire1 and ,edward ,pyot with me2 and in several places in that county many received the truth4 ,great meetings we had1 and the ,lord's power was eminently manifested4 ,i passed through ,northamptonshire and ,nottinghamshire1 into ,,lincolnshire4 ,after having had several meetings in ,lincolnshire1 ,i had at last a meeting where two knights1 one called ,sir ,richard ,wrey1 and the other ,sir ,john ,wrey1 with their wives1 were at the meeting4 ,one of their wives was convinced1 received the truth1 and died in it4 ,when the meeting was over we passed away2 and it being evening1 and dark1 a company of wild serving-men encompassed me about1 with intent 7as ,i apprehended7 to do me some mischief4 ,but ,i spoke aloud to them1 and asked1 8,what are ye8 highwaymen80 ,whereupon some ,friends and friendly people that were behind1 came up to us1 and knew some of them4 ,so ,i reproved them for their uncivil and rude carriage1 and exhorted them to fear ,god2 and the ,lord's power came over them1 and stopped their mischievous design3 blessed be his name for ever6 ,then ,i turned into ,,huntingdonshire3 and the mayor of ,,huntingdon came to visit me1 and was very loving1 and his wife received the truth4 ,thence ,i passed into ,,cambridgeshire1 and the ,fen-country1 where ,i had many meetings1 and the ,lord's truth spread4 ,robert ,craven 7who had been sheriff of ,lincoln7 and ,amor ,stoddart1 and ,alexander ,parker were with me4 ,we went to ,,crowland1 a very rude place2 for the townspeople were collected at the inn we went to1 and were half drunk1 both priest and people4 ,i reproved them for their drunkenness1 and warned them of the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon all the wicked2 exhorting them to leave their drunkenness1 and turn to the ,lord in time4 ,whilst ,i was thus speaking to them1 and showing the priest the fruits of his ministry1 he and the clerk broke out into a rage1 and got up the tongs and fire-shovel to us2 so that had not the ,lord's power preserved us1 we might have been murdered amongst them4 ,yet1 for all their rudeness and violence1 some received the truth then1 and have stood in it ever since4 ,thence we passed to ,,boston1 where most of the chief of the town came to our inn1 and the people seemed much satisfied4 ,but there was a raging man in the yard1 and ,robert ,craven was moved to speak to him1 and told him he shamed ,christianity1 which with some few other words so stopped the man1 that he went away quiet4 ,some were convinced there also4 ,thus we had large meetings up and down1 for ,i travelled into ,yorkshire1 and returned out of ,holderness1 over ,humber1 visiting ,friends2 and then returning into ,leicestershire1 ,staffordshire1 ,worcestershire1 and ,,warwickshire1 among ,friends1 ,i had a meeting at ,,edge-,,hill4 ,there came to it ,ranters1 ,baptists1 and several sorts of rude people2 for ,i had sent word about three weeks before to have a meeting there1 so that hundreds of people were gathered thither1 and many ,friends came far to it4 ,the ,lord's everlasting truth and word of life reached over all2 the rude and unruly spirits were chained down2 and many that day were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by his power and ,spirit1 and came to sit under his blessed1 free teaching1 and to be fed with his eternal1 heavenly food4 ,all was peaceable2 the people passed quietly away1 and some of them said it was a mighty1 powerful meeting2 for the presence of the ,lord was felt1 and his power and ,spirit amongst them4 ,from hence ,i passed to ,,warwick and to ,,bagley1 having precious meetings2 and then in ,,gloucestershire1 and so to ,,oxford1 where the scholars were very rude2 but the ,lord's power came over them4 ,great meetings we had up and down as we travelled4 ,then ,i went to ,colonel ,grimes's1 where there was a very large meeting2 and thence to ,nathaniel ,crisp's1 where came another justice to the meeting1 who was also convinced4 ,at ,,cirencester we had a meeting which is since much increased2 and so we came to ,,evesham again1 where ,i met ,john ,camm4 ,thus having travelled over most part of the nation1 ,i returned to ,,london again1 having cleared myself of that which lay upon me from the ,lord4 ,for after ,i was released out of ,launceston jail1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to travel over the nation1 the truth being now spread1 and finely planted in most places1 that ,i might answer and remove out of the minds of people some objections1 which the envious priests and professors had raised and spread abroad concerning us4 ,for what ,christ said of false prophets and antichrists coming in the last days1 they applied to us2 and said1 ,we were they4 ,therefore was ,i moved to open this through the nation1 and to show 8,that they who said we were the false prophets1 antichrists1 and deceivers1 that should come in the last days1 were indeed themselves they4 ,for when ,christ told his disciples in the viith and xxivth of ,matthew1 that false prophets and antichrists should come in the last times1 and 7if it were possible7 should deceive the very elect2 he said1 #8,by their fruits ye shall know them2' for they should be inwardly ravening wolves1 having the sheep's clothing4 #8,and1' said he1 #8do men gather grapes of thorns1 or figs of thistles8' as much as to say1 their nature and spirit should be like a thorn1 or like a thistle4 ,and he bid his disciples not go after them4 ,but before the disciples were deceased1 the antichrists1 false prophets1 and deceivers were come4 ,for ,john in his first epistle said1 #8,little children1 it is the last time2 and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come1 even now there are many antichrists1 whereby we know that it is the last time4' ,so here1 as ,christ said to his disciples they should come1 the disciples saw they were come2 as may be seen at large in ,peter1 ,jude1 ,john1 and other places of ,scripture2 #8whereby1' says ,john1 #8we know it is the last time4' ,and this last time began above sixteen hundred years since4 ,john said1 #8they went out from us2' the false prophets1 antichrists1 seducers1 and deceivers1 went out from the church2 #8but you1' said he1 to the church1 #8have an anointing1 which abideth in you2 and you need not that any man teach you1 but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things2 and as it hath taught you1 ye shall abide in him4' ,christ said to his disciples1 #8,go not after them1 for they are inwardly ravening wolves2' and ,john exhorts the saints to the anointing within them2 and the rest of the apostles exhort the churches to the grace1 the light1 the truth1 the ,spirit1 the word of faith1 and to ,christ in their hearts1 the hope of glory4 ,christ told the saints that the ,spirit of truth1 the ,holy ,ghost1 should be their leader into all truth2 and ,jude exhorts the church to #8pray in the ,holy ,ghost1' and #8to be built up in their most holy faith1' which ,christ was the author of4 ,christ1 by his servant ,john1 #8exhorted the seven churches to hear what the ,spirit said to the churches1' and this was an inward1 spiritual hearing4 ,christ says1 the inwardly ravening wolves should have the sheep's clothing4 ,paul speaks of some in his time1 that had #8a form of godliness1 but denied the power4' ,john said1 #8they went out from us4' ,jude said1 they go in ,cain's way1 and in ,balaam's1 and ,corah's way4 ,by all which it may be clearly seen1 that the false prophets and antichrists1 which ,christ foretold should come1 the apostles saw were come2 and in their day it was the last time2 and these went forth from them into the world1 and the world went after them4 ,these were the foremen1 the leaders of the world1 that brought them into a form of godliness1 but inwardly ravened from the power and ,spirit4 ,these have the sheep's clothing1 the words of ,christ1 of the prophets1 and of the apostles2 but are inwardly ravened from the power and ,spirit that they were in1 who gave forth the ,scriptures4 ,these have made up the beast and the whore6 ,these have got the dragon's power1 the murdering1 destroying1 persecuting power6 and these are they that the world wonders after6 ,these have drunk the blood of the martyrs1 prophets1 and saints1 and persecuted the true church into the wilderness6 ,these have set up the false compelling worships1 and have drunk the blood of the saints1 that will not drink of their cup6 ,these have made the cage for the unclean birds1 that have their several unclean notes in their cage2 which cage is made up by the power of darkness1 and uncleanness2 and the birds of the cage deny the ,holy ,ghost1 and the power of ,god1 which the apostles were in1 is to be now manifested in the saints6 8,thus since ,christ said1 the false prophets and antichrists should come1 and the apostle said1 they were come1 the beast's and the dragon's worship hath been set up2 and the whore is got up with her false prophets1 and her cage hath been made1 and all the nations have drunk of her cup of fornication2 the blood of the martyrs and saints they have drunk1 and the true church hath fled into the wilderness2 and all this since the apostles' days4 ,yet the blind deceivers1 the antichrists1 and false prophets of our age1 would make us and people believe1 that the false prophets1 antichrists1 and deceivers are come but now1 though ,john and other of the apostles tell us they were come above sixteen hundred years ago4 ,and ye may see what work and confusion they have made in the world2 how much blood these ,cains have drunk that went in ,cain's way2 which blood cries to ,god for vengeance upon ,christendom6 ,and how these ,balaams that have erred from the power and ,spirit which the apostles were in1 have coveted after other men's estates1 the many jails1 courts1 and spoilings of goods will bear witness4 ,and how the ,corahs have gainsayed the life1 power1 and ,spirit1 which the apostles and true church were in1 and the free teaching of ,christ and his apostles1 and the work of their ministry1 which was #8to present every man perfect in ,christ ,jesus1' hath been evident4 8,therefore in the name and power of the ,lord ,jesus was ,i sent to preach again the everlasting gospel1 which had been preached before unto ,abraham1 and in the apostles' days2 which was to go over all nations1 and be preached to every creature4 ,for as the apostacy hath gone over all nations since the apostles' days1 so that the nations are become as waters1 unstable1 being gone from ,christ the foundation2 so must the gospel1 the power of ,god1 go over all nations again4 ,we find the false prophets1 anti-christs1 deceivers1 whore1 false church1 beast1 and his worship in the dragon's power1 have got up in the times between the apostles and us4 ,for ,christ said1 #8they should come2' and the apostles saw #8they were come1' and coming in their days2 and that they went forth from them1 and the world went after them4 ,and now hath the ,lord raised us up beyond them1 and set us over them in the everlasting gospel1 the power of ,god2 that as all have been darkened by the beast1 whore1 false prophets1 and antichrists1 so the everlasting gospel may be preached again by us to all nations1 and to every creature1 which will bring life and immortality to light in them1 that they may see over the devil and his false prophets1 antichrists1 seducers1 and deceivers1 and over the whore and beast1 and to that which was before they were4 ,this message of the glorious everlasting gospel was ,i sent forth to declare and publish1 and thousands by it are turned to ,god1 having received it2 and are come into subjection to it1 and into the holy order of it4 ,and since ,i have declared this message in this part of the world1 and in ,america1 and have written books on the same1 to spread it universally abroad2 the blind prophets1 preachers1 and deceivers1 have given over telling us the false prophets should #8come in the last times2' for a great light is sprung up1 and shines over their heads2 so that every child in truth sees the folly of their sayings4 8,then they raised other objections against us1 and invented shifts to save themselves from truth's stroke4 ,for when we blamed them for taking tithes1 which came from the tribe of ,levi1 and were set up here by the ,romish church1 they would plead1 #8that ,christ told the scribes and ,pharisees they ought to pay tithes of mint1 anise1 and cummin1 though they had neglected the weightier matters2' and that ,christ said1 #8the scribes and pharisees sat in ,moses's seat1 therefore all that they bid you do1 that do and observe4' ,and when we told them they were envious1 persecuting priests1 they would reply1 that #8some preached ,christ of envy1 and some of contention1 and some of good-will4' ,now these ,scriptures1 and such like they would bring to darken the minds of their hearers1 and to persuade them and us1 #8that we ought to do as they say1 though they themselves were like the ,pharisees2 and that we should rejoice when envious men and men of strife preached ,christ2 and that we should give them the tithes1 as the ,jews did to the tribe of ,levi4' ,these were fair glosses2 here was a great heap of husks1 but no kernel4 ,now this was their blindness2 for the ,levitical priesthood ,christ hath ended1 and disannulled the commandment that gave them tithes1 and the law1 by which those priests were made4 ,christ did not come after that order1 neither did he send forth his ministers after that order2 for those of that order were to take tithes for their maintenance2 but his ministers he sent forth freely4 ,and as for hearing that the ,pharisees1 and the ,jews paid tithes of mint1 anise1 and cummin1 that was before ,christ was sacrificed and offered up2 the ,jews were then to do the law1 and perform their offerings and sacrifices1 which the ,jewish priests taught them4 ,but after ,christ was offered up1 he bid them then1 #8go into all nations and preach the gospel2 and lo1' said he1 #8,i will be with you to the end of the world2' and in another place he saith1 #8,i will be in you4' ,so he did not bid them go to hear the ,pharisees then1 and pay tithe of mint1 anise1 and cummin then2 but #8,go preach the gospel1 and believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 and be saved1 and receive the gospel1' which would bring people off from the ,jews1 the tithes1 the ,levitical law1 and the offerings thereof1 to ,christ1 the one ,offering1 made once for them all4 ,o what work had the apostle with both the ,galatians and the ,romans1 to bring them off the law to the faith in ,christ6 8,and as for the apostle's saying1 #8,some preached ,christ of envy and strife1' c41 that was at the first spreading of ,christ's name abroad1 when they were in danger not only to be cast out of the synagogues1 but to be stoned to death1 that confessed the name of ,jesus1 as may be seen by the uproars that were among the ,jews and ,diana's worshippers at the preaching of ,christ4 ,so the apostle might well rejoice1 if the envious1 and men of strife and contention did preach ,christ at that time1 though they thought thereby to add affliction to his bonds2 but afterward1 when ,christ's name was spread abroad1 and many had got a form of godliness1 but denied the power thereof1 envious1 proud1 contentious men1 men of strife1 covetous teachers for filthy lucre1 the apostles commanded the saints to turn from1 and not have any fellowship with them4 ,and the deacons and ministers were first to be proved1 to see if they were in the power of godliness1 and the ,holy ,ghost made them overseers and preachers4 ,so it may be seen how the priests have abused these ,scriptures for their own ends1 and have wrested them to their own destruction1 to justify envious1 contentious men1 and men of strife4 ,whereas the apostle says1 #8the man of ,god must be patient1 and apt to teach2' and they were to follow ,christ as they had him for their example4 ,the apostle indeed was very tender to people1 while he saw them walk in simplicity2 as in the case of them that were scrupulous about meats and days2 but when the apostle saw that some drew them into the observation of days1 and to settle in such things1 he then reproves them sharply1 and asks them1 #8who had bewitched them8' ,so in the case of marrying he was tender1 lest their minds should be drawn from the ,lord's joining2 but when they came to forbid marriage1 and to set up rules for meats and drinks1 he called it #8a doctrine of devils1' and an #8erring from the true faith4' ,so also he was tender concerning circumcision1 and in tenderness suffered some to be circumcised2 but when he saw they went to make a sect thereby1 and set up circumcision as a standing practice1 he told them plainly1 #8if they were circumcised1 ,christ would profit them nothing4' ,in like manner he was tender concerning baptizing with water2 but when he saw they began to make sects about it1 some crying up ,paul1 others ,apollos1 he judged them1 and called them carnal1 and thanks ,god he had baptised no more1 but such and such2 declaring plainly1 that #8he was sent to preach the gospel1 and not to baptize2' and brought them to the one baptism by the one ,spirit1 into the one body1 which ,christ1 the spiritual man1 is the head of2 and exhorted the church #8all to drink into that one ,spirit4' ,for he set up in the church one faith1 which ,christ was the author of2 and one baptism1 which was that of the ,spirit1 into the one body2 and one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the spiritual baptizer1 whom ,john said should come after him4 ,and further the apostle declared1 that they who worshipped and served ,god in the ,spirit1 were of the circumcision of the ,spirit1 which was not made with hands2 by which #8the body of the sins of the flesh was put off2' which circumcision ,christ is the minister of4 8,another great objection they had1 #8,that the ,quakers denied the sacrament 7as they called it7 of bread and wine1 which1' they said1 #8they were to take1 and do in remembrance of ,christ to the end of the world4' ,much work we had with the priests and professors about this1 and the several modes of receiving it in ,christendom1 so called2 for some take it kneeling1 and some sitting2 but none of them all1 that ever ,i could find1 take it as the disciples took it4 ,for they took it in a chamber1 after supper2 but these generally take it before dinner3 and some say1 after the priest hath blessed it1 it is #8,christ's body4' ,but as to the matter1 ,christ said1 #8,do this in remembrance of me4' ,he did not tell them how often they should do it1 or how long2 neither did he enjoin them to do it always1 as long as they lived1 or that all believers in him should do it to the world's end4 8,the apostle ,paul1 who was not converted till after ,christ's death1 tells the ,corinthians1 that he had received of the ,lord that which he delivered unto them concerning this matter3 and he relates ,christ's words concerning the cup thus2 #8,this do ye1 as oft as ye drink it1 in remembrance of me2' and himself adds1 #8,for as often as ye eat this bread1 and drink this cup1 ye do show the ,lord's death till he come4' ,so according to what the apostle here delivers1 neither ,christ nor he enjoined people to do this always2 but leave it to their liberty as oft as ye drink it1 c44 ,now the ,jews used to take a cup1 and to break bread1 and divide it among them in their feasts2 as may be seen in the ,jewish ,antiquities3 so that the breaking of bread1 and drinking of wine1 were ,jewish rites1 which were not to last always4 ,they also baptised with water2 which made it not seem a strange thing to them when ,john the ,baptist came with his decreasing ministration of water-baptism4 ,but as to the bread and wine1 after the disciples had taken it1 some of them questioned whether ,jesus was the ,christ2 for some of them said1 after he was crucified1 #8,we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed ,israel1' c4 ,and though the ,corinthians had the bread and wine1 and were baptized in water1 the apostle told them they were #8reprobates1 if ,christ was not in them2' and bid them #8examine themselves4' ,and as the apostle said1 #8,as oft as ye do eat this bread1 and drink this cup1 ye do show forth the ,lord's death till he come3' so ,christ had said before1 that he #8was the bread of life1 which came down from heaven2' and that #8he would come and dwell in them2' which the apostles did witness fulfilled2 and exhorted others to seek for that which comes down from above2 but the outward bread and wine1 and water1 are not from above1 but from below4 8,now ye that eat and drink this outward bread and wine in remembrance of ,christ's death1 and have your fellowships in that1 will ye come no nearer to ,christ's death1 than to take bread and wine in remembrance of it8 ,after ye have eaten in remembrance of his death1 ye must come into his death1 and die with him1 as the apostles did1 if ye will live with him4 ,this is a nearer and further advanced state1 to be with him in the fellowship of his death1 than only to take bread and wine in remembrance of his death4 ,you must have fellowship with ,christ in his sufferings3 if ye will reign with him1 ye must suffer with him2 if ye will live with him1 ye must die with him2 and if ye die with him1 ye must be buried with him3 and being buried with him in the true baptism1 ye also rise with him4 ,then having suffered with him1 died with him1 and been buried with him1 if ye are risen with ,christ1 #8seek those things which are above1 where ,christ sitteth on the right hand of ,god4' ,eat the bread which comes down from above1 which is not outward bread2 and drink the cup of salvation which he gives in his kingdom1 which is not outward wine4 ,and then there will not be a looking at the things that are seen 7as outward bread and wine1 and water are37 for1 as says the apostle1 #8,the things that are seen are temporal1 but the things that are not seen are eternal4' 8,so here are many states and conditions to be gone through1 before people come to see and partake of that1 which #8cometh down from above4' ,for first1 there was a taking of the outward bread and wine in remembrance of ,christ's death3 this was temporary1 and not of necessity1 but at their liberty2 as oft as ye do it1 c4 ,secondly1 there must be a coming into his death1 a suffering with ,christ2 and this is of necessity to salvation1 and not temporary1 but continual3 there must be a dying daily4 ,thirdly1 a being buried with ,christ4 ,fourthly1 a rising with ,christ4 ,fifthly1 after they are risen with ,christ1 then a seeking those things which are above2 a seeking the bread that comes down from heaven1 a feeding on and having fellowship in that4 ,for outward bread1 wine1 and water1 are from below1 visible and temporal3 but saith the apostle1 #8,we look not at things that are seen2 for the things that are seen are temporal1 but the things that are not seen are eternal4' ,so the fellowship that stands in the use of bread1 wine1 water1 circumcision1 outward temple1 and things seen1 will have an end3 but the fellowship which stands in the gospel1 the power of ,god1 which was before the ,devil was1 and which brings life and immortality to light1 by which people may see over the ,devil1 that has darkened them2 this fellowship is eternal1 and will stand4 ,and all that are in it seek that which is heavenly and eternal1 which comes down from above1 and are settled in the eternal mystery of the fellowship of the gospel1 which is hid from all eyes1 that look only at visible things4 ,the apostle told the ,corinthians1 who were in disorder about water1 bread and wine1 that he desired to know nothing amongst them but ,jesus ,christ1 and him crucified40 ,thus were the objections1 which the priests and professors had raised against ,friends1 answered and cleared2 and the stumbling-blocks1 which they had laid in the way of the weak1 removed4 ,and as things were thus opened1 people came to see over them and through them1 and to have their minds settled upon the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their free teacher3 which was the service for which ,i was moved to travel over the nation after my imprisonment in ,,launceston jail4 ,in this year the ,lord's truth was finely planted over the nation1 and many thousands were turned to the ,lord2 insomuch that there were seldom fewer than one thousand in prison in this nation for truth's testimony2 some for tithes1 some for going to the steeple-houses1 some for contempts 7as they called them71 some for not swearing1 and others for not putting off their hats1 c4 ,now after ,i had visited most parts of the nation1 and was come to ,,london again1 finding that evil spirit at work1 which had drawn ,j4 ,n4 and his followers out from truth1 to run ,friends into heats about him1 ,i wrote a short epistle to ,friends1 as follows3-- 8,to all the elect seed of ,god called ,quakers1 where the death is brought into the death1 and the elder is servant to the younger1 and the elect is known1 which cannot be deceived1 but obtains victory4 ,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all3 ,go not forth to the aggravating part1 to strive with it out of the power of ,god2 lest ye hurt yourselves1 and run into the same nature1 out of the life4 ,for patience must get the victory2 and to answer that of ,god in every one1 it must bring every one to it1 to bring them from the contrary4 ,let your moderation1 and temperance1 and patience be known unto all men in the ,seed of ,god4 ,for that which reacheth to the aggravating part without life1 sets up the aggravating part1 and breeds confusion2 and hath a life in outward strife1 but reacheth not to the witness of ,god in every one1 through which they might come into peace and covenant with ,god1 and fellowship one with another4 ,therefore that which reacheth this witness of ,god in yourselves1 and in others1 is the life and light2 which will out-last all1 is over all1 and will overcome all4 ,and therefore in the ,seed of life live1 which bruiseth the ,seed of death40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i also wrote another short epistle to ,friends1 to encourage them to keep up their meetings in the ,lord's power2 of which epistle a copy here follows3-- 8,,dear ,,friends1 8,keep your meetings in the power of the ,lord1 which is over all that is in the fall and must have an end4 ,therefore be wise in the wisdom of ,god1 which is from above1 by which all things were made and created2 that that may be justified among you1 and you all kept in the solid life1 which was before death was2 and in the light1 which was before the darkness was with all its works4 ,in which light and life ye all may feel1 and have the heavenly unity and peace1 possessing the gospel fellowship1 that is everlasting3 which was before that1 which doth not last for ever2 and will remain when that is gone4 ,for the gospel being the power of ,god1 is pure and everlasting4 ,know it to be your portion3 in which is stability1 and life1 and immortality1 shining over that which darkens the mortal4 ,so be faithful every one to ,god1 in your measures of his power and life1 that ye may answer ,god's love and mercy to you1 as obedient children of the ,most ,high2 dwelling in love1 unity1 and peace1 and in innocency of heart towards one another2 that ,god may be glorified in you1 and you kept faithful witnesses for him1 and valiant for the truth on earth4 ,god ,almighty preserve you all to his glory1 that ye may feel his blessing among you1 and be possessors thereof40 ,g4 ,f4 ,about this time many mouths were opened in our meetings1 to declare the goodness of the ,lord1 and some that were young and tender in the truth would sometimes utter a few words in thanksgiving and praises to ,god4 ,that no disorder might arise from this in our meetings1 ,i was moved to write an epistle to ,friends1 by way of advice in that matter4 ,and thus it was3-- 8,all my dear friends in the noble ,seed of ,god1 who have known his power1 life1 and presence among you1 let it be your joy to hear or see the springs of life break forth in any2 through which ye may have all unity in the same1 feeling life and power4 ,and above all things1 take heed of judging any one openly in your meetings1 except they be openly profane or rebellious1 such as be out of the truth2 that by the power1 life1 and wisdom ye may stand over them1 and by it answer the witness of ,god in the world1 that such1 whom ye bear your testimony against1 are none of you3 that therein the truth may stand clear and single4 ,but such as are tender1 if they should be moved to bubble forth a few words1 and speak in the ,seed and ,lamb's power1 suffer and bear that2 that is1 the tender4 ,and if they should go beyond their measure1 bear it in the meeting for peace and order's sake1 and that the spirits of the world be not moved against you4 ,but when the meeting is done1 if any be moved to speak to them1 between you and them1 one or two of you1 that feel it in the life1 do it in the love and wisdom that is pure and gentle from above3 for love is that which edifies1 bears all things1 suffers long1 and fulfils the law4 ,in this ye have order and edification1 ye have wisdom to preserve you all wise and in patience2 which takes away the occasion of stumbling the weak1 and the occasion of the spirits of the world to get up3 but in the royal ,seed1 the heavy stone1 ye keep down all that is wrong2 and by it answer that of ,god in all4 ,for ye will hear1 see1 and feel the power of ,god preaching1 as your faith is all in it 7when ye do not hear words17 to bind1 to chain1 to limit1 to frustrate2 that nothing shall rise1 nor come forth but what is in the power3 with that ye will hold back1 and with that ye will let up1 and open every spring1 plant1 and spark2 in which will be your joy and refreshment in the power of ,god4 8,now that ye know the power of ,god1 and are come to it1 which is the cross of ,christ1 that crucifies you to the state that ,adam and ,eve were in1 in the fall1 and so to the world1 by this power of ,god ye come to see the state they were in before they fell2 which power of ,god is the cross1 in which stands the everlasting glory2 which brings up into the righteousness1 holiness1 and image of ,god1 and crucifies to the unrighteousness1 unholiness1 and image of ,satan1 that ,adam and ,eve1 and their sons and daughters1 are in1 in the fall4 ,through this power of ,god1 ye come to see the state they were in before they fell2 yea1 ,i say1 and to a higher state1 to the ,seed ,christ1 the second ,adam1 by whom all things were made4 ,for man hath been driven from ,god3 all ,adam and ,eve's sons and daughters1 being in the state of the fall in the earth1 are driven from ,god4 ,but it is said1 the ,church is in ,god1 the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 so they who come to the church1 which is in ,god the ,father of ,christ1 must come to ,god again3 and so out of the state that ,adam and his children are in1 in the fall1 out of the image of ,god1 of righteousness and holiness1 and they must come into the righteousness1 true holiness1 and image of ,god2 and so out of the earth whither man hath been driven1 when they come to the church which is in ,god4 ,the way to this1 is ,christ1 the ,light1 the ,life1 the ,truth1 the ,saviour1 the ,redeemer1 the ,sanctifier1 and the ,justifier2 in and through whose power1 light and life1 conversion1 regeneration1 and translation are known from death to life1 from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan to ,god again4 ,these are members of the true church1 who know the work of regeneration in the operation and feeling of it2 and being come to be members of the church in ,god1 they are indeed members one of another in the power of ,god1 which was before the power of darkness was4 ,so they that come to the church that is in ,god and ,christ1 must come out of the state that ,adam was in1 in the fall1 driven from ,god1 to know the state that he was in before he fell4 ,but they that live in the state that ,adam was in1 in the fall1 and cannot believe a possibility of coming into the state he was in before he fell1 come not to the church which is in ,god2 but are far from that1 and are not passed from death to life2 but are enemies to the cross of ,christ1 which is the power of ,god4 ,for they mind earthly things1 and serve not ,christ1 nor love the power1 which should bring them up to the state that ,adam was in before he fell1 and crucify them to the state that man is in in the fall2 that through this power they might see to the beginning1 the power that man was in before the heavenly image1 and holiness1 and righteousness was lost2 by which power they might come to know the ,seed1 ,christ1 which brings out of the old things1 and makes all things new2 in which life eternal is felt4 ,for all the poorness1 emptiness1 and barrenness is in the state that man is in1 in the fall1 out of ,god's power2 by which power he is made rich1 and hath strength again2 which power is the cross1 in which the mystery of the fellowship stands3 and in which is the true glorying1 which crucifies to all other gloryings4 8,and1 ,friends1 though ye may have been convinced1 and tasted of the power1 and felt the light2 yet afterwards ye may feel a winter storm1 tempest and hail1 frost and cold1 and temptation in the wilderness4 ,be patient and still in the power1 and in the light1 that doth convince you1 to keep your minds to ,god2 in that be quiet1 that ye may come to the summer1 that your flight be not in the winter4 ,for if ye sit still in the patience1 which overcomes in the power of ,god1 there will be no flying4 ,the husbandman after he hath sowed his seed1 is patient4 ,and by the power1 being kept in the patience1 ye will come by the light to see through1 and feel over winter storms and tempests1 and all the coldness1 barrenness1 and emptiness3 and the same light and power will go over the tempter's head2 which power and light was before he was4 ,so standing still in the light1 ye will see your salvation1 ye will see the ,lord's strength1 feel the small rain1 and the fresh springs1 your minds being kept low in the power and light2 for that which is out of the power lifts up4 ,but in the power and light ye will feel ,god1 revealing his secrets1 inspiring your minds1 and his gifts coming in unto you3 through which your hearts will be filled with ,god's love1 and praises to him that lives for evermore3 for in his light and power his blessing is received4 ,so in that1 the eternal power of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ preserve and keep you6 ,live every one in the power of ,god1 that ye may all come to be heirs of that1 and know it to be your portion2 even the ,kingdom1 that hath no end1 and the endless life1 which the ,seed is heir of4 ,feel that set over all1 which hath the promise and blessing of ,god for ever40 ,g4 ,f4 ,about this time ,i received some lines from a high professor1 concerning the way of ,christ1 to which ,i returned the following answer3-- 8,,friend1 8,it is not circumstances we contend about1 but the way of ,christ and his light1 which are but one2 though the world hath imagined many ways1 and all out of the light2 which by the light are condemned4 ,he who preached this light1 said1 #8,he that knoweth ,god1 heareth us2 he that is not of ,god heareth us not3 hereby know we the ,spirit of ,truth1 and the spirit of error4' ,it is the same now1 with them that know the truth2 though the whole world lies in wickedness4 ,all dispensations and differences1 that are not one in the light we deny2 and by the light1 that was before separation1 do we see them to be self-separations in the sensual1 having not the ,spirit4 ,their fruits and end are weighed in the even balance1 and found to be in the dark1 the lo-here1 and lo-there thou tellest of4 ,the presence of ,christ is not with them1 though the blind see it not2 who see not with the pure eye which is single2 but with the many eyes which lead into the many ways4 ,nor are any the people of ,god1 but they who are baptised into this principle of light2 by which all the faithful servants of the ,lord were ever guided in all ages1 since the apostacy1 and before4 ,for the apostacy are and is from the light2 and all that oppose the light was apostates4 ,they who contest against the truth1 are enemies to it1 and are not actuated by the ,spirit2 but have another way than the light4 ,all such are in the world1 its words1 fashions1 and customs1 though of several forms1 as to their worship2 yet all under the god of this world1 opposing the light and appearance of ,christ1 which should lead out from under his power1 of what form soever they are3 yet are they all joined against the light4 ,all these are of the world2 and fighting against them who are not of the world1 but are gathered and gathering out of it2 and so it ever was against the people of ,god1 under what name soever4 8,they only are saints by calling1 who are called into the light2 and sons of ,sion1 who vary not from the light1 to which the ,spirit is promised1 which is not tied to any forms out of the light2 wherein all inherit who are co-heirs with ,christ2 which many talk of1 who inherit the earthly instead of the heavenly4 ,and whereas thou speakest of ,christ and his apostles clothing themselves with the sayings and words of the prophets2 and of their being your example in so doing2 ,i say1 wolves will take the sheep's clothing2 but the light and life finds them out1 and judges 7not by their stolen words1 but7 by their works4 ,nor did ,christ cover himself with any words1 but what were fulfilled in him2 neither do any of ,christ's boast in other men's lines made ready without them3 to which rule if ye be obedient1 fewer words and more life will be seen among you4 ,then ye will not count it straitness to silence the flesh1 and hear what he saith1 who speaks peace1 #8that his people turn no more to folly4' ,if ye once know that what is stolen must be restored fourfold1 the mouth of the false prophet will be stopped1 which builds up in deceit1 but not in righteousness4 8,and whereas thou sayest1 #8,the ,spirit of truth affords nothing but endless varieties2' ,i say1 the ,spirit of truth thou knowest not3 for the ,spirit of truth said1 #8there is but one thing needful2' and to speak the same thing again1 is safe for the hearers4 ,but that spirit1 which affords nothing but endless varieties1 is not the ,spirit of truth2 but is gone out into curious notions3 and the number of his names and colours is read nowhere1 but in the unity of the ,spirit of truth4 ,all others call truth deceit1 and deceit truth1 as the blind1 that opposed the light1 ever did2 who are ever learning endless varieties1 but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth1 nor to an end of their labours3 but when they are out of one form1 get into another2 so long as they can find a green tree without4 ,thus ye are kept at work all your life1 and to the grave in sorrow1 as the dumb priests1 thou tellest of1 have been before you3 only ye have got a finer image1 but less life4 ,and thou1 whose teaching hath no end1 art in the horse-mill thou speakest of4 ,i have read the epistles of ,timothy1 and to the ,hebrews2 and there ,i find the duty of all believers is1 to see the law of the new covenant written in the heart1 whereby all may know ,god1 from the least to the greatest4 ,i know the ,holy ,scriptures are profitable for the man of ,god2 but what is that to the man of sin1 to the first-born1 who is out of the light1 and being unstable and unlearned1 wrests them to his own destruction2 but to the life cannot come8 8,and for your two ordinances thou speakest of1 ,i say1 upon the same account ye deny the priests of the world therein1 we deny you2 being both of you not only out of the life1 but out of the form too4 ,that command1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 ye never had1 nor its power2 which was1 #8to baptize into the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4' ,what ,paul received of the ,lord1 that body1 and that bread1 ye know as little1 but what ye have found in the chapter2 nor the coming of ,christ either1 who cannot believe his light4 ,and whereas thou speakest of preaching ,christ of envy1 and pleadest for it2 ,i say1 such preachers we have enough of in these days4 ,what else art thou doing1 who sayest1 ,paul was sent to baptize2 though ,paul says he was not3 and so thou wouldst prove him a liar1 if any would believe thee before him4 ,thou sayest also1 #8for ought thou knowest1 he might baptize thousands4' ,thou mightest as easily have said millions1 and as soon have proved it4 ,thou mayest say the same of circumcision also1 and on the same ground4 8,as for the signs that followed those that believed1 which thou sayest are ceased2 ,i say1 they who cannot receive the light cannot see the signs1 nor could believe them if they should see them to carp at2 no more than formerly they could do1 who opposed the light in former ages4 ,they cannot properly be said to cease to such1 who never had them2 but have only heard or read1 that others long ago had them4 ,but that the power1 and signs1 and presence of ,god is not the same that ever it was1 in the measure1 wherein he is received in the light1 that ,i deny2 and declare it to be false1 and from a spirit that knows not ,god1 nor his power4 8,and as for the gospel foundation thou speakest of1 ,i say1 it is to be laid again in all the world4 ,ye never were on it1 since the man of sin set up his forms without power4 ,till ye can own the light of ,christ1 which the saints preached1 and their life and practice2 for shame cease to talk of their foundation1 or glorious work1 or quakings and tremblings1 which are the saints' experiences1 which the world knows not1 nor can own3 though ye cannot read that ever any came aright to declare how they knew ,god1 or received his word1 without them4 ,in thy exhortation thou biddest me #8love ,christ1 wheresoever ,i see him3' but hadst thou told me where one might come to see him1 or how one might know him1 thou hadst showed more of a ,christian in that1 than in all thou hast spoken4 ,but it seems1 ye are not all of one mind3 some of you say1 #8he is gone1 and will be no more seen1 till doomsday2' but if ever ye come to see ,christ to your comfort1 while ye oppose his light1 then ,god hath not spoken by me4 ,this thou shalt remember1 when thy time thou hast spent40 ,g4 ,f4 ,great opposition did the priests and professors make about this time against the light of ,christ ,jesus1 denying it to be universally given2 and against the pouring forth of the ,spirit1 and sons and daughters prophesying thereby4 ,much they laboured to darken the minds of people1 that they might keep them still in a dependence on their teaching4 ,wherefore ,i was moved of the ,lord to give forth the following lines1 for the opening of the minds and understandings of people1 and to manifest the blindness and darkness of their teachers3-- 8,to all you professors1 priests1 and teachers1 who are in darkness1 and know not the ,spirit in prison1 nor the light that shines in darkness1 and which the darkness doth not comprehend2 but are the infidels1 whom the god of the world hath blinded1 and to whom the gospel is hid4 ,for though ye have the four books1 yet the gospel is hid to you2 who are now wondering at the work of ,god1 and do not believe that ,christ hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world4 ,i offer you some ,scriptures to read1 which will prove your spirits1 and try them1 how contrary they are to the apostles' spirit1 the ,spirit of ,christ and of the saints4 ,christ went and #8preached to the spirits in prison1' #a ,pet4 iii4 #ai4 ,he that readeth1 let him understand1 whether this was a measure of the ,spirit1 yea or nay1 or the ,spirit without measure1 which he ministered to8 #8,for he whom ,god hath sent1 speaketh the words of ,god2 for ,god giveth not the ,spirit by measure unto him1' ,john iii4 #cd4 ,here ,christ had not the ,spirit given to him by measure4 ,the apostle said1 #8,we will not boast of things without 7or beyond7 our measure4' #b ,cor4 x4 #ac4 ,so here was measure1 and not by measure4 ,christ1 who received not the ,spirit by measure1 told his disciples he would #8send them the ,comforter1 the ,spirit of ,truth1 that should guide them into all truth3 for he should not speak of himself1 but whatsoever he shall hear1 that shall he speak1 and he will show you things to come4 ,he shall glorify me3 for he shall receive of mine1 and show it unto you1' ,john xvi4 #ac1 #ad4 ,mind1 read1 and learn2 the ,comforter shall receive of mine1 saith ,christ1 and shall show it unto you3 who hath the measure1 receives of his who hath not by measure4 ,the ,comforter1 when he comes1 is to #8reprove the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment1' ver4 #h4 ,now all mind the great work of ,god3 the ,spirit of ,truth1 which leads the saints into all truth1 which receives of ,christ's1 and shows it unto the disciples1 who are in the measure1 he shall reprove the world of sin1 because they do not believe1 c4 ,the ,comforter1 whom ,christ will send1 takes of his1 and shows it to the disciples2 the same reproves the world4 ,mind now1 whether this be a measure1 yea or nay1 which comes from him1 who received not the ,spirit by measure4 ,he that leads the believer into all truth1 reproves the unbeliever in the world1 of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment2 so he that is led into all truth1 sees that which is reproved1 by the ,spirit of ,truth that leads him4 ,now ,christ saith1 #8,he shall take of mine1 and show it unto you4' ,is this a measure1 yea or nay1 from him to whom ,god gave the ,spirit not by measure8 8,again1 the ,lord said1 both by his prophet1 ,joel ii4 #bh1 and his apostle1 ,acts ii4 #ag1 #ah1 #8,it shall come to pass in the last days1 ,i will pour out of my ,spirit upon all flesh1 your sons and your daughters shall prophesy1 your young men shall see visions1 and your old men shall dream dreams3 and on my servants1 and handmaidens1 ,i will pour out in those days of my ,spirit1 and they shall prophesy4' ,look1 ye deceivers3 here the ,lord saith1 he will pour out of his ,spirit2 mark the word1 ,,of the ,lord's ,spirit upon all flesh4 ,what6 young men1 old men1 sons and daughters1 and maidens1 all these to have the ,spirit of ,god poured forth upon them8 ,here1 say they1 these deny the means then3 nay1 that is the means4 ,and the great and notable day of the ,lord is coming1 wherein it shall come to pass1 that whosoever shall call on the name of the ,lord shall be saved4 ,the ,god of the spirits of all flesh is known2 #8,and1' saith the apostle1 who would not boast of things beyond his measure1 #8that which may be known of ,god is manifest in them2 for ,god hath showed it unto them1' ,rom4 i4 #ai4 ,by this which was of ,god manifest in them1 they knew covetousness1 maliciousness1 murder1 deceit1 and ungodliness2 and knew that the judgments of ,god were upon such things2 and that they were worthy of death not only that did the same1 but who had pleasure in them that did them4 ,therefore said the apostle1 #8the wrath of ,god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness1 and unrighteousness of men1' c4 ,now this of ,god manifest in them1 which ,god showed unto them1 by which they know unrighteousness1 and ,god's judgments thereupon1 and that they which commit such things are worthy of death2 whether this be a measure1 yea or nay1 which is of ,god1 and which he hath showed to them8 ,what was that in them that #8did by nature the things contained in the law1 which showed the work of the law written in their heart1' ,rom4 ii4 #ad1 #ae8 ,mark1 #8written6' ,shall not this judge them that have the outward law1 but are out of the life of it8 ,the apostle saith1 #8the manifestation of the ,spirit is given to every man to profit withal1' #a ,cor4 xii4 #g4 ,there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit2 but #8the manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal4' ,mark1 #8to one is given by the ,spirit1 the word of wisdom2 to another the word of knowledge by the same ,spirit2 to another faith by the same ,spirit2 to another the gifts of healing by the same ,spirit2 to another the working of miracles2 to another prophecy2 to another discerning of spirits2 to another divers kinds of tongues2 to another the interpretation of tongues3 but all these worketh that one and the self-same ,spirit1 dividing to every man severally as he will4' ,mark that1 to every man severally as he will4 8,again1 the apostle saith1 #8the grace of ,god that bringeth salvation1 hath appeared unto all men1 teaching us1 that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts1 we should live soberly1 righteously1 and godly in this present world1' ,tit4 ii4 #aa1 #ab4 ,now ye1 that turn this grace which bringeth salvation1 into lasciviousness1 deny it1 and say1 that which teacheth the saints1 who by grace are saved1 hath not appeared to all men4 ,jude saith1 #8,behold1 the ,lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints1 to execute judgment upon all1 and to convince all that are ungodly among them1 of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed1 and of all their hard speeches1 which ungodly sinners have spoken against him1' ver4 #ae4 ,here mark again2 him that cometh with ten thousands of his saints1 to convince all of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches2 here it is1 ,,all of their ungodly deeds1 and ,,all of their hard speeches2 none left out1 but ,,all to be convinced and judged1 the world reproved by him who comes with ten thousands of his saints1 and will reign1 and be king and judge4 ,and have not ye all something in you1 that doth reprove you for your hard speeches1 and your ungodly deeds1 the ungodliest of you all1 who live in your hard speeches against him1 and his light and spiritual appearance in his people8 8,again1 the apostle1 writing to the ,gentiles1 saith1 #8,but unto every one of us is given grace1 according to the measure of the gift of ,christ1' ,eph4 iv4 #g4 ,now mark1 here is the measure of the gift of ,christ1 #8who lighteth every man that cometh into the world1' ,john i4 #i1 #8that all men through him might believe4 ,he that believeth on him is not condemned1 but he that believeth not is condemned1 c4 ,and this is the condemnation1 that light is come into the world1' c41 ,john iii4 #ah1 #ai4 ,now every man that cometh into the world being enlightened1 one loves it1 and brings his deeds to the light1 that with the light he may see whether they be wrought in ,god2 the other hates the light1 #8because his deeds are evil2' and he will not bring his deeds to the light1 because he knows the light will reprove him4 ,so he that hates the light1 wherewith ,christ hath enlightened him1 knows the light will reprove him for his evil deeds2 and1 therefore1 he will not come to the light4 8,again1 the ,lord by his prophet said concerning ,christ1 #8,i will give him for a light to the ,gentiles1 that he may be my salvation to the ends of the earth1' ,isa4 xliv4 #f4 ,and what is that1 which the children that walk #8according to the course of this world1 according to the prince of the power of the air1 the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience1' ,eph4 ii4 #b1 are disobedient to8 ,mark1 and read for yourselves1 who being disobedient1 walk according to the course of the world1 according to the power of the prince of the air2 mark1 ,i say1 what it is that all such are disobedient to8 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear4 ,the apostle saith to the ,colossians1 #8the wrath of ,god cometh upon the children of disobedience1' ,col4 iii4 #f4 ,come1 ye professors1 let us see1 is not this something of ,god that is disobeyed8 ,is it not that which is of ,god manifest in them1 which ,god hath shown them1 which lets them see ,god's judgments are upon such1 when they act unrighteously8 ,is not this the measure of ,god 7mark71 the ,spirit that is in prison8 and the ,spirit of ,god that is grieved8 8,and ye professors1 come1 let us read the parable of the talents1 and reckon with you1 and see who it is that hath hid the ,lord's money in the earth8 ,come1 ye that have gained1 enter ye into your master's joy4 ,go1 thou that hast hid the ,lord's money in the earth1 into utter darkness2 #8take it from him1 and give it to him that hath2' every man shall have his reward4 ,for the ,lord hath given #8to every man according to his several ability1' ,matt4 xxv4 #ae2 mark that1 #8to every man according to his several ability8' read this1 if you can4 ,now is the ,lord coming to call every man severally to account1 to whom he hath given severally according to his ability4 ,now the wicked and slothful servant1 who hid the ,lord's money in the earth1 will be found out2 and the ,lord's money will be taken from him1 although he hath hidden it4 ,to him the ,lord's commands have been grievous2 but to us they are not1 who love ,god and keep his commandments4 #8,and1' saith the apostle to the ,romans1 #8,i say1 through the grace given unto me1 to every man that is among you1 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think1 but to think soberly1 according as ,god hath dealt to every man the measure of faith1' ,rom4 xii4 #c4 ,read and mark1 here is a measure of faith4 8#8,and1' said another apostle1 #8as everyone hath received the gift1 even so minister the same one to another1 as good stewards of the manifold grace of ,god1' #a ,pet4 iv4 #aj1 #8,for the grace of ,god hath appeared unto all men4' ,the good stewards can give their account with joy2 but ye bad stewards1 that turn the grace of ,god into lasciviousness1 now ye will be reckoned withal2 now ye shall have your reward4 #8,but1' say the world1 #8must every one minister as he hath received the gift8' #8,yea1' say ,i1 #8but let him speak as the oracles of ,god2 and let him do it as of the ability which ,god giveth1' ver4 #aa4 ,john in the ,revelation saith1 #8,they were judged every man according to his works1' ,rev4 xx4 #ac4 ,christ saith1 #8every idle word that men shall speak1 they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment1' ,matt4 xii4 #cf4 ,so #8ye1 that name the name of ,christ depart from iniquity1' #b ,tim4 ii4 #ai4 #8,the ,son of man shall come in the glory of his ,father1 with his angels2 and then he shall reward every one according to his works1' ,matt4 xvi4 #bg4 ,he who is gone into a far country1 and hath given the talents to every one of you1 according to your several ability1 #8will render to every man according to his deeds1' ,rom4 ii4 #f4 #8,and further ,i say unto you1 if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,and if ,christ be in you1 the body is dead because of sin1 but the ,spirit is life1 because of righteousness1' ,rom4 viii4 #i1 #aj4 ,so let the light which cometh from ,christ examine2 for the ,lord is appearing4 ,ye that have received according to your ability1 smite not your fellow-servant2 and think not that the ,lord delayeth the time of his coming4 ,be not as they that said1 #8,let us eat and drink1 for to-morrow we shall die4' 8,the apostle tells the ,ephesians1 that unto him #8this grace was given--to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery1 which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god1 who created all things by ,jesus ,christ1' ,eph4 iii4 #i4 ,read and understand every one with the light which comes from ,christ1 the mystery1 which will be your condemnation1 if ye believe not in it4 ,this is to all1 who stumble at the work of the ,spirit of ,god1 the manifestation of it1 #8which is given to every man1 to profit withal4' ,come1 ye professors1 who stumble at it2 let us read the parables4 #8,a sower went forth to sow2 and some seed fell on the highway ground1 and some on stony ground1 and some on thorny ground2 the ,seed is the ,word1 the ,son of ,man is the seedsman4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear1' ,matt4 xiii4 ,now look1 all ye professors1 what ground ye are8 and what ye have brought forth8 and whether the wicked seedsman hath not got his seed into your ground8 #8,he that hath an ear1 let him hear4' ,and come1 read another parable1 of the householder1 hiring labourers to go into the vineyard1 and agreeing with every man for a penny1 ,matt4 xx4 ,every man is to have his penny1 the last that went in1 as well as the first2 and the last shall be first1 and the first shall be last2 for many are called but few are chosen4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear4' ,there is a promise spoken to ,cain1 that if he did well he should be accepted1 ,gen4 iv4 #g4 ,and ,esau had a birthright1 but despised it4 ,yet it is #8not of him that willeth1' ,rom4 ix4 #af2 #8but by grace ye are saved1' ,eph4 ii4 #h4 ,and stand still1 and see your salvation1 ,exod4 xiv4 #ac4 ,and ye that are children of light1 put on the armour of light1 that ye may come into the #8unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the son of ,god1 unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ2 that henceforth ye be no more children tossed to and fro1' ,eph4 iv4 #ac4 8,and the ,lord said1 he would make a new covenant1 by #8writing his law in people's hearts1 and putting his ,spirit in their inward parts2' whereby they should all come to know the ,lord--,him by whom the world was made4 ,now every one of you1 mind the law written in your hearts1 and this ,spirit put in your inward parts1 that it need not be said to you1 #8know the ,lord2' but that ye may witness the promise of ,god fulfilled in you4 #8,but1' say the world1 and professors1 #8if every one must come to witness the law of ,god written in their hearts1 and the ,spirit put in the inward parts1 what must we do with all our teachers8' ,as we come to witness that1 we need not any man to teach us to know the ,lord1 having his law written in our hearts1 and his ,spirit put in our inward parts4 ,this is the covenant of life1 the everlasting covenant1 which decays not1 nor changes2 and here is the way to the ,father1 without which no man cometh unto the ,father4 8,and here is the everlasting priesthood1 the end of the old priesthood1 whose lips were to preserve knowledge2 but now1 saith ,christ1 #8,learn of me2' who is the high-priest of the new priesthood4 #8,and1' saith the apostle1 #8that ye may grow up in the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 in whom are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge4' ,so we are brought off from the old priesthood that changed1 to ,christ1 to the new priesthood1 that changeth not2 and off from the first covenant1 that doth decay1 to the everlasting covenant that doth not decay1 ,christ ,jesus1 the covenant of ,light1 from whom every one of you have a light1 that ye might believe in the covenant of ,light4 ,if ye believe not1 ye are condemned2 for light is come into the world1 and men love darkness rather than light1 because their deeds are evil4 #8,i am come a light into the world1' saith ,christ1 #8that whosoever believeth in me1 should not abide in darkness1 but have the light of life1' ,john xii41 #df4 ,and1 #8believe in the light1 that ye may be children of the light4' ,but ye who do not believe in the light1 but hate it1 because it manifests your deeds to be evil1 ye are they that are condemned by the light4 8,therefore1 while ye have time1 prize it2 seek the ,lord while he may be found1 and call upon him while he is near2 lest he say1 #8time is past2' for the rich glutton's time was past4 ,therefore1 while time is not quite past1 consider1 search yourselves1 and see if ye be not they that hate the light2 and so are builders that stumble at the corner-stone2 for they that hated the light1 and did not believe in the light1 did so in ages past4 #8,i am the light of the world1' saith ,christ1 #8who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world2' and he also saith1 #8learn of me2' and of him ,god saith1 #8this is my beloved ,son1 hear ye him4' ,here is your teacher4 ,but ye that hate the light1 do not learn of ,christ1 and will not have him to be your king1 to reign over you2--,him1 to whom all power in heaven and earth is given1 who bears his government upon his shoulders1 who is now come to reign2 who lighteth every man that cometh into the world1 and will give to every man a reward1 according to his works1 whether they be good or evil4 ,so every man1 with the light that comes from ,christ1 will see his deeds1 both he that hates it1 and he that loves it4 ,and he that will not bring his deeds to the light1 because it will reprove him1 that is his condemnation2 and he shall have a reward according to his deeds4 ,for the ,lord is come to reckon with you4 ,he looks for fruits2 now the axe is laid to your root1 and every tree of you that bears not good fruit1 must be hewn down1 and cast into the fire40 ,g4 ,f4 ,having stayed some time in ,,london1 and visited the meetings of ,friends in and about the city1 and cleared myself of what services the ,lord had at that time laid upon me there1 ,i travelled into ,,kent1 ,,sussex1 and ,,surrey1 visiting ,friends1 amongst whom ,i had great meetings2 and many times met with opposition from ,baptists and other jangling professors2 but the ,lord's power went over them4 ,we staid one night at ,,farnham1 where we had a little meeting1 and the people were exceedingly rude2 but at last the ,lord's power came over them4 ,after it we went to our inn1 and gave notice that any that feared ,god might come to us3 and there came abundance of rude people1 the magistrates of the town also1 and some professors4 ,i declared the truth unto them2 and those of the people that behaved rudely1 the magistrates put out of the room4 ,when they were gone there came another rude company of professors and some of the chief of the town4 ,they called for faggots and drink1 though we forbade them2 and were as rude a people as ever ,i met with4 ,the ,lord's power chained them that they had not power to do us any mischief2 but when they went away1 they left all their faggots and beer which they had called for into the room1 for us to pay for in the morning4 ,we showed the innkeeper what an unworthy thing it was1 but he told us1 8we must pay it10 and we did4 ,before we left the town ,i wrote a paper to the magistrates and heads of the town1 and to the priest1 showing them and him how he had taught his people1 and laying before them their rude and uncivil conduct to strangers that sought their good4 ,leaving that place we came to ,,basingstoke1 a very rude town2 where they had formerly very much abused ,friends4 ,there ,i had a meeting in the evening1 which was quiet for the ,lord's power chained the unruly4 ,at the close of it ,i was moved to put off my hat1 and pray to the ,lord to open their understandings2 upon which they raised a report1 that1 8,i put off my hat to them1 and bid them good-night10 which was never in my heart4 ,after the meeting1 when we came to our inn1 ,i sent for the innkeeper 7as ,i used to do17 and he came into the room to us1 and showed himself a very rude man4 ,i admonished him to be sober and fear the ,lord2 but he called for faggots and a pint of wine1 and drank it off himself2 then called for another1 and called up half a dozen men into our chamber4 ,thereupon ,i bid him go out of the chamber1 and told him he should not drink there1 for we sent for him up to speak to him concerning his eternal good4 ,he was exceedingly mad1 rude1 and drunk4 ,when he continued his rudeness1 and would not be gone1 ,i told him the chamber was mine for the time ,i lodged in it1 and called for the key4 ,then he went away in great rage4 ,in the morning he would not be seen2 but ,i told his wife of his unchristian and rude behaviour towards us4 ,after this we came to ,,bridport1 having meetings in the way4 ,we went to an inn1 and sent into the town for such as feared ,god2 and there came a shopkeeper1 a professor1 and put off his hat to us1 and seeing we did not the same to him again1 but said ,thou and ,thee to him1 he told us1 8he was not of our religion20 and after some discourse with him he went away4 ,then he went and stirred up the priest and magistrates against us1 and after a while sent to the inn to desire us to come to his house1 for there were some that would speak with us1 he said4 ,thomas ,curtis was with me1 and he went to the man's house2 where1 when he came1 the man had laid a snare for him1 for he had got the priest and magistrate thither1 and they boasted much that they had caught ,george ,fox1 taking him for me4 ,when they perceived their mistake1 they were in great rage2 yet the ,lord's power came over them1 so that they let him go again4 ,meanwhile ,i had an opportunity of speaking to some sober people that came to the inn4 ,when ,thomas was come back1 and we were passing out of the town1 some of them came to us1 and said1 8the officers were coming to fetch me20 but the ,lord's power came over them all1 so that they had not power to touch me4 ,there were some convinced in the town1 who were turned to the ,lord1 and have stood faithful in their testimony to the truth ever since1 and a fine meeting there is there4 ,passing hence we visited ,,portsmouth and ,,poole1 where we had glorious meetings2 and many were turned to the ,lord4 ,at ,,ringwood we had a large general meeting1 where the ,lord's power was over all4 ,at ,,weymouth we had a meeting2 and thence came through ,,dorchester to ,,lyme1 where the inn we went to was taken up with mountebanks1 so that there was hardly any room for us or our horses4 ,in the evening we drew up some queries concerning the ground of all diseases1 and the natures and virtues of medicinal things1 and sent them to the mountebanks2 letting them know1 8if they would not answer them1 we would stick them on the cross next day40 ,this brought them down1 and made them cool1 for they could not answer them2 but in the morning they reasoned a little with us4 ,we left the queries with some friendly people1 that were convinced in the town1 to stick upon the market-cross4 ,the ,lord's power reached some of the sober people in that place1 who were turned by the ,light and ,spirit of ,christ to his free teaching4 ,we then travelled to ,,exeter2 and at the sign of the ,seven ,stars1 an inn at the bridge foot1 had a general meeting of ,friends out of ,cornwall and ,devonshire2 to which came ,humphrey ,lower1 ,thomas ,lower1 and ,john ,ellis#eb from the ,land's ,end1 ,henry ,pollexfen1 and ,friends from ,plymouth1 ,elizabeth ,trelawny1 and divers other ,friends4 ,a blessed heavenly meeting we had1 and the ,lord's everlasting power came over all1 in which ,i saw and said1 8that the ,lord's power had surrounded this nation round about1 as with a wall and bulwark1 and his seed reached from sea to sea40 ,friends were established in the everlasting ,seed of life1 ,christ ,jesus1 their life1 rock1 teacher and shepherd4 ,footnote #eb3 ,john ,ellis1 who is only twice mentioned in this journal1 was an able gospel minister1 preaching in the authority of divine life1 to the reaching of ,god's witness in many hearts4 ,his doctrine was sound1 flowing from the living fountain and divine spring of life and heavenly wisdom4 ,his preaching was full of reproof and caution1 but in that meekness which made it edifying4 ,whilst tender of the good in all1 he was terrible against the workers of iniquity4 ,he was a man of great kindness1 a visitor of the widows and fatherless in their distress1 feeding the hungry and clothing the naked1 according to his ability4 ,he laboured greatly in the gospel in several counties1 often saying1 8,his ,father's business must not be neglected1 or done negligently40 ,as he was travelling in the service of ,truth1 he was taken ill1 and died in great peace in #agjg saying1 8,i am ready1 for ,i have a sure foundation40 ,next morning ,major ,blackmore sent soldiers to apprehend me2 but ,i was gone before they came4 ,as ,i was riding up the street1 ,i saw the officers going down2 so the ,lord crossed them in their design1 and ,friends passed away peaceably and quietly4 ,the soldiers examined some ,friends after ,i was gone1 8what they did there20 but when they told them they were in their inn1 and had business in the city1 they went away without meddling any further with them4 ,from ,,exeter ,i took meetings as ,i went1 till ,i came to ,,bristol1 and was at the meeting there4 ,after which ,i did not stay in the town1 but passed into ,wales1 and had a meeting at the ,slone4 ,thence going to ,,cardiff1 a justice of the peace sent to me1 desiring ,i would come with half a dozen of my friends to his house4 ,so ,i took a friend or two1 and went up to him1 and he and his wife received us very civilly4 ,the next day we had a meeting at ,cardiff in the town-hall1 and that justice sent about seventeen of his family to the meeting4 ,there came some disturbers1 but the ,lord's power was over them1 and many were turned to the ,lord4 ,to some that had run out with ,james ,naylor1 and did not come to meetings1 ,i sent word1 that 8the day of their visitation was over10 and they never prospered after4 ,we travelled from ,cardiff to ,,swansea1 where we had a blessed meeting2 and a meeting was settled there in the name of ,jesus4 ,in our way thither we passed over in a boat1 with the high-sheriff of the county1 and next day ,i went to speak with him1 but he would not admit me4 ,we went to another meeting in the country1 where the ,lord's presence was much with us4 ,thence to a great man's house1 who received us very lovingly2 but next morning he would not be seen2 one that in the mean time had come to him1 had so estranged him1 that we could not get to speak with him again4 ,we still passed on through the countries1 having meetings and gathering people1 in the name of ,christ1 to ,him their heavenly teacher1 till we came to ,,brecknock2 where we set up our horses at an inn4 ,there went with me ,thomas ,holmes and ,john-ap-,john1 who was moved of the ,lord to speak in the streets4 ,i walked out a little into the fields1 and when ,i came in again1 the town was in an uproar4 ,when ,i came into the chamber in the inn1 it was full of people1 and they were speaking in ,welsh2 ,i desired them to speak in ,english1 which they did1 and much discourse we had4 ,after a while they went away2 but towards night the magistrates gathered together in the streets1 with a multitude of people1 and they bid them shout1 and gathered up the town2 so that for about two hours together1 there was such a noise1 that the like we had not heard2 and the magistrates set them on to shout again1 when they had given over4 ,we thought it looked like the uproar1 which we read was amongst ,diana's craftsmen4 ,this tumult continued till night2 and if the ,lord's power had not limited them1 they seemed likely to have pulled down the house1 and us to pieces4 ,at night1 the woman of the house would have had us go to supper in another room1 but we discerning her plot1 refused4 ,then she would have had half a dozen men come into the room to us1 under pretence of discoursing with us4 ,we told her1 no persons should come into our room that night1 neither would we go to them4 ,then she said1 we should sup in another room2 but we told her we would have no supper1 if not in our own room4 ,at length1 when she saw she could not get us out1 she brought up our supper in a great rage4 ,so she and they were crossed in their design1 for they had an intent to do us mischief2 but the ,lord ,god prevented them4 ,next morning ,i wrote a paper to the town concerning their unchristian conduct1 showing the fruits of their priests and magistrates2 and as ,i passed out of the town ,i spoke to the people1 and told them1 they were a shame to ,christianity and religion4 ,from this place we went to a great meeting in a steeple-house yard1 where was a priest1 and ,walter ,jenkin1 who had been a justice1 and another justice4 ,a blessed glorious meeting we had4 ,there being many professors1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to open the ,scriptures to them1 and to answer their objections 7for ,i knew them very well27 and to turn them to ,christ1 who had enlightened them2 with which light they might see the sins and trespasses they had been dead in1 and their ,saviour1 who came to redeem them out of them1 who was to be their way to ,god1 the truth and the life to them1 and their priest made higher than the heavens1 so that they might come to sit under his teaching4 ,a peaceable meeting we had2 many were convinced and settled in the truth that day4 ,after it1 ,i went with ,walter ,jenkin to the other justice's house2 and he said to me1 8,you have this day given great satisfaction to the people1 and answered all the objections that were in their minds40 ,for the people had the ,scriptures1 but were not turned to the ,spirit1 which should let them see that1 which gave them forth1 the ,spirit of ,god1 which is the key to open them4 ,from hence we passed to ,richard ,hamborow's1 at ,,pontemoil1 where was a great meeting2 to which came another justice of peace1 and several great people1 whose understandings were opened by the ,lord's ,spirit and power1 and they were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 from whence it came4 ,a great convincement there was2 a large meeting was gathered in those parts1 and settled in the name of ,jesus4 ,after this we returned to ,england1 and came to ,,shrewsbury1 where we had a great meeting1 and visited ,friends all over the countries in their meetings1 till we came to ,william ,gandy's1 in ,,cheshire1 where we had a meeting of between two and three thousand people1 as it was thought2 and the everlasting word of life was held forth1 and received that day4 ,a blessed meeting it was1 for ,friends were settled by the power of ,god upon ,christ ,jesus1 the rock and foundation4 ,at this time there was a great drought2 and after this general meeting was ended1 there fell so great a rain1 that ,friends said1 they thought we could not travel1 the waters would be so risen4 ,but ,i believed the rain had not extended so far1 as they had come that day to the meeting4 ,next day in the afternoon1 when we turned back into some parts of ,wales again1 the roads were dusty1 and no rain had fallen there4 ,when ,oliver ,cromwell sent forth a proclamation for a fast throughout the nation1 for rain1 when there was a very great drought1 it was observed1 that as far as truth had spread in the north1 there were pleasant showers and rain enough1 when in the south1 in many places1 they were almost spoiled for want of rain4 ,at that time ,i was moved to write an answer to the ,protector's proclamation1 wherein ,i told him1 8if he had come to own ,god's truth1 he should have had rain2 and that drought was a sign unto them of their barrenness1 and want of the water of life40 ,about the same time was written the following paper1 to distinguish between true and false fasts3-- 8,concerning the true ,fast and the false4 8,to all you that are keeping fasts1 who #8smite with the fist of wickedness1 and fast for strife and debate2' against you hath a voice cried aloud1 like a trumpet1 that you may come to know the true fast1 which is accepted2 and the fast1 which is in the strife and the debate1 and smiting with the fists of wickedness2 which fast is not required of the ,lord4 #8,behold1 in the day of your fast1 you find pleasure1 and exact all your labours4 ,behold 7mark1 take notice71 ye fast for strife and debate1 and to smite with the fist of wickedness2 ye shall not fast1 as ye do this day1 to make your voice heard on high4 ,is it such a fast1 that ,i have chosen1 saith the ,lord1 a day for a man to afflict his soul8 ,is it to bow down his head like a bulrush1 and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him8 ,wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the ,lord8' 8,consider all you that fast1 see1 if it be not #8hanging down the head for a day1 like a bulrush2' and fasting for #8strife and debate1' and to #8smite with the fists of wickedness1 to make your voice be heard on high8' ,but this fast is not accepted of the ,lord3 but that which leads you from strife1 from debate1 from wickedness2 which is not to #8bow down the head1 as a bulrush for a day1' and yet live in exacting and pleasure2 this is not accepted of the ,lord3 but that which separates from all these before-mentioned4 ,that which separates from #8wickedness1 debate1 strife1 pleasures1 smiting with the fist of wickedness1' brings to know the true fast1 which #8breaks the bonds of iniquity1 and deals bread to the hungry2 brings the poor that are cast out to his own house1 and when he sees any naked1 he covers them1 and hides not himself from his own flesh4' ,here is the true fast1 which separates from them1 where the bonds of iniquity are standing1 and the heavy burthens of the oppressed remaining1 and the yoke not broken2 who deal not bread to the hungry1 and bring not the poor to their own house2 who see the naked1 but let him go unclothed1 and hide themselves from their own flesh4 ,yet such will make their voice to be heard on high1 as ,christ speaks of the ,pharisees1 who #8sounded a trumpet before them1 and disfigured their faces1' to appear to men to fast2 but the bonds of iniquity were standing1 strife and debate were standing1 striking with the fists of wickedness standing2 these made their voice heard on high1 who had their reward4 8,but that which brings to the true fast1 which appears not to men to fast1 but unto the ,father #8who seeth in secret2 the ,father that seeth in secret1 shall reward this openly4' ,this fast separates from the ,pharisees' fast1 and them that bow the head for a day1 like a bulrush4 ,this is it which brings #8to deal bread to the hungry1 and clothe thine own flesh when thou seest them naked2 to bring the poor to thine house1 and to loose the bonds of wickedness2' mark1 this is the fast2 and #8to undo every heavy burthen 7mark again71 and to let the oppressed go free2' this is the fast3 and #8to break every yoke4' ,when thou observest this fast1 #8then shall thy light break forth as the morning1 and thine health shall spring forth speedily1 and thy righteousness shall go before thee2 the glory of the ,lord shall be thy rere-ward4 ,then shalt thou call1 and the ,lord shall answer2 thou shalt cry1 and he shall say1 ,here ,i am3 if thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke1 the putting forth of the finger1 and speaking vanity2 and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry1 and satisfy the afflicted soul1 then shall thy light arise in obscurity1 and thy darkness be as the noon-day4' ,the light brings to know this fast2 and walking in it this fast is kept2 and he that believeth in the light1 abides not in darkness4 ,and again2 #8the ,lord shall guide thee continually1 and satisfy thy soul in drought1 and make fat thy bones2 and thou shalt be like a watered garden1 and like a spring of water1 whose waters fail not1' ,isa4 lviii4 #aa4 ,these are they that are guided by the light which comes from ,christ1 where the springs are4 8,and again2 #8they that shall be of thee 7that keep this fast17 shall build the old waste places1 and thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations2 and thou shalt be called ,the repairer of the breach1 ,the restorer of the paths to dwell in1' ,isa4 lviii4 #ab4 ,now that which gives to see the foundations of many generations1 is the light which separates from all1 which is out of the light3 and they that go out of the light1 though they may pretend a fast1 and bow down the head for a time1 yet they are far from this fast1 that doth raise up the foundations of many generations1 and is the repairer of the breach1 and restorer of the paths to dwell in4 ,that which doth give to see these foundations of many generations1 and these breaches that are to be repaired and restored1 and paths to dwell in1 is the light which brings to know the true fast2 and where this fast is known1 which is from wickedness1 debate1 strife1 pleasures1 from exacting1 from the voice that is heard on high1 from the speaking of vanity1 from the bonds of iniquity1 which breaks every yoke1 and lets the oppressed go free2 here the health grows2 here the morning is known1 and righteousness goes forth2 the glory of the ,lord is the rere-ward1 and the light riseth2 the soul is drawn out to the hungry1 and satisfies the afflicted soul2 and the springs of living water are known and felt4 ,the waters fail not here2 the ,lord guides continually1 and the foundations of many generations come to be seen and raised up3 ,the repairer of breaches is here witnessed1 ,the restorer of paths to dwell in4 8,but all such as are out of the light which the prophets were in1 with which they saw ,christ1 and such as are in fasts1 where was strife1 wickedness1 debate1 and bowing down the head like a bulrush for a day1 lifting their voice on high1 and the bonds of wickedness yet standing1 and the burthens unloosed1 and the oppressed not let go free1 and the yoke not broken1 the nakedness not clothed1 the bread not dealt to the hungry1 and these foundations of many generations not raised up2 until these things before-mentioned1 be broken down1--on such the light breaks not forth as the morning1 and the ,lord hears them not4 ,such have their reward2 their iniquities have separated them from their ,god1 their sins have hid his face from them1 that he will not hear3 their hands are defiled with blood1 and their fingers with iniquity1 whose lips have spoken lies1 and tongues muttered perverseness4 #8,none calleth for justice1 nor do any plead for truth2 they trust in vanity1 and speak lies2 they conceive mischief1 and bring forth iniquity4 ,they hatch cockatrice-eggs1 and weave the spider's web3 he that eateth of their eggs1 dies2 and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper3 their webs shall not become garments1 neither shall they cover themselves with their works4' ,observe2 #8their works are works of iniquity1 and the act of violence is in their hands3 their feet run to do evil1 and they make haste to shed innocent blood4 ,their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity2 wasting and destruction are in their paths2 the way of peace they know not1 and there is no judgment in their doings4 ,they have made them a crooked path2 whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace3' mark2 such go from the light1 therefore is judgment far off2 neither doth justice overtake4 ,here is obscurity1 walking in darkness2 groping like blind men1 as though they had no eyes1 and stumbling at noon-day in desolate places1 like blind men4 ,here is the roaring like bears1 and mourning sorely like doves2 here judgment is looked for1 but there is none1 and salvation is put far off3 for the light is denied1 which gives to see it4 ,but here are the multiplying of transgression1 and their sins testifying against them2 the transgression that was within them1 and their iniquities1 which they knew in transgressing and lying against the ,lord1 speaking the things they should not1 when they knew by that of ,god in them1 that they should not speak it4 ,so departing from the way of ,god1 speaking oppression1 revolting1 conceiving and uttering forth from the heart words of falsehood2 here judgment is turned away backward1 and justice stands afar off2 truth is fallen in the streets1 and equity cannot enter4 ,yea1 truth faileth2 and he that departeth from evil makes himself a prey4 ,the ,lord saw it1 and it displeased him4 ,these are such as are in the fast1 which ,god doth not accept2 not in the true fast1 whose #8light breaks forth as the morning3' but these are such as are in the false fast1 who grope1 like blind men4 8,that which gives to know the true fast1 and the false fast1 is the ,light1 which gives the eye to see each fast1 where the true judgment is1 and the iniquity standeth not1 nor the transgressor1 nor the speaker of lies2 but that is judged and condemned with the ,light1 which makes it manifest4 ,and when they who are in this fast call upon the ,lord1 the ,lord will answer them1 ,here am ,i4 ,here truth is pleaded for1 and falsehood flies away4 8,but they who are out of this fast1 in the perverseness1 whose tongues utter perverse things1 who are stumbling and groping like blind men1 out of the light1 in the iniquity which separates from ,god1 who hides his face from them that he will not hear2--these going from the light1 go from the ,lord and his face4 ,so this is it which must be fasted from2 for it separates from ,god2 and here comes the reward openly1 which condemns all that is contrary to the light2 injustice1 iniquity1 transgression1 vanity1 and that which bringeth forth mischief1 which hatcheth the cockatrice-eggs1 and weaves the spider's web3 he that eateth of these eggs dies4 ,mark1 #8that which is crushed breaks out into a viper2' mark again1 #8their webs shall not become garments1 neither shall they cover themselves with their works of vanity2 acts of violence are in their hands4' ,this is all out of the light1 in the wickedness4 #8,their feet run to do evil1 and they make haste to shed innocent blood2 their thoughts are thoughts of vanity2 wasting and destruction are in their path4' ,this is all far from the light4 ,again1 #8the way of peace they know not1 there is no judgment in their goings2 they have made them crooked paths1 whosoever go therein1 shall not know peace4' ,mark2 who go in their way1 that know not the way of peace1 shall they know peace8 #8,whose path is crooked1 where there is no judgment in their goings2' take notice1 #8no judgment in their goings2' this is all from the light1 which manifesteth that which is to be judged2 where the covenant of peace is known1 where all that which is contrary to it is kept out4 ,all who live in those things contrary to the light1 in the false fast1 stumbling and groping like blind men1 may mark their path1 and behold their reward4 ,they that are in the true fast1 are separated from all these2 from their words and actions1 their fruits1 and their fast3 but of those whose fast breaks the bonds of iniquity1 whom the ,lord hears1 and to whom righteousness springs forth1 and goes before them1 the glory of the ,lord is the rere-ward40 ,g4 ,f4 ,we passed into ,wales through ,,montgomeryshire1 and so into ,,radnorshire1 where there was a meeting like a leaguer1 for multitudes4 ,i walked a little aside1 whilst the people were gathering2 and there came to me ,john-ap-,john1 a ,welshman1 whom ,i desired to go to the people2 and if he had anything upon him from the ,lord to them1 he might speak to them in ,welsh1 and thereby gather them more together4 ,then came ,morgan ,watkins#ec to me1 who was then become loving to ,friends1 and said1 8the people lie like a leaguer1 and the gentry of the country are come in40 ,i bid him go up also1 and leave me1 for ,i had a great travail upon me for the salvation of the people4 ,when they were well gathered1 ,i went into the meeting1 and stood upon a chair about three hours4 ,i stood a while before ,i began to speak2 after some time ,i felt the power of the ,lord go over the whole assembly2 and his everlasting life and truth shone over all4 ,the ,scriptures were opened to them1 and their objections answered4 ,they were directed to the light of ,christ1 the heavenly man2 that by it they might all see their sins1 and ,christ ,jesus to be their ,saviour1 their ,redeemer1 their ,mediator1 and come to feed on him1 the bread of life from heaven4 ,many were turned to the ,lord ,jesus1 and his free teaching that day2 and all were bowed down under the power of ,god2 so that though the multitude was so great1 that many sat on horseback to hear1 there was no opposition4 ,a priest who sat with his wife on horseback1 heard attentively1 and made no objection4 ,the people parted peaceably and quietly1 with great satisfaction2 many of them saying they never heard such a sermon before1 or the ,scriptures so opened4 ,for the new covenant was opened1 and the old1 and the nature and terms of each2 and the parables were explained4 ,the state of the church in the apostles' days was set forth1 and the apostacy laid open2 and the free teaching of ,christ and the apostles was set over the hireling teachers2 and the ,lord had the praise of all1 for many were turned to him that day4 ,footnote #ec3 ,morgan ,watkins1 who is only mentioned in this place1 became a sufferer for the truth4 ,about eight years from the above date1 we find him in the ,gatehouse prison1 near ,westminster abbey1 with nineteen others on the same account1 being committed by warrant from the ,duke of ,albemarle1 8for being at a meeting in ,st4 ,john's40 ,this was during the time the plague visited ,london4 ,in ,barclay's ,letters of ,early ,friends1 are two from ,morgan ,watkins1 one of them dated from the ,gatehouse prison1 in which he says1 8,blessed be ,his name who hath kept me1 and nineteen more in this close place1 all in health1 above these five weeks2 notwithstanding three have been buried out of this prison of the sickness4--,good is the hand of the ,lord to his own1 whose death is gain40 ,in a letter written about three months after the above1 he mentions the release of himself and ,friends1 and adds1 8,i have been weak since ,i came out into the air1 but through the great love of my ,god1 ,i am wonderfully preserved1 to the praise of his name4 ,but the two imprisonments in ,newgate1 and the one at the ,gatehouse1 have much weakened my body1 in which ,i have had several battles with death2 but the power of my ,god arising1 gave me dominion over the distemper and weakness of the flesh4 ,the day was dreadful to all flesh1 and few were able to abide it1 and stand in the judgment2 but the ,lord was very merciful to the remnant of his people1 and his blessed seed is arising in many40 ,i went back thence to ,,leominster1 where was a great meeting in a field2 many hundreds of people being gathered together4 ,there were about six congregational preachers and priests among them2 and ,thomas ,taylor1 who had been a priest1 but was now become a minister of ,christ1 was with me4 ,i stood up1 and declared about three hours2 and none of the priests were able to open their mouths in opposition2 the ,lord's power and truth so reached them1 and bound them down4 ,at length one priest went off about a bow-shot from me1 drew several of the people after him1 and began to preach to them4 ,so ,i kept our meeting1 and he kept his4 ,after a while ,thomas ,taylor was moved to go and speak to him2 and he gave over2 and he1 and the people he had drawn off1 came to us again2 and the ,lord's power went over them all4 ,at last a ,baptist1 that was convinced1 said1 8,where's priest ,tombs8 how chance he doth not come out80 ,this ,tombs was priest of ,leominster4 ,hereupon some went and told the priest2 who came with the bailiffs and other officers of the town4 ,when he was come1 they set him upon a stool over against me4 ,now ,i was speaking of the heavenly1 divine light of ,christ1 with which he 8enlightens every one that cometh into the world1 to give them the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,christ ,jesus their ,saviour40 ,when priest ,tombs heard this1 he cried out1 8,that is a natural light1 and a made light40 ,then ,i desired the people to take out their ,bibles2 and ,i asked the priest whether he affirmed that that was a created1 natural1 made light1 which ,john1 a man that was sent from ,god1 did bear witness to1 and spoke of1 when he said1 8,in him 7to wit1 in the ,word7 was life1 and that life was the light of men10 ,john i4 #d4 8,dost thou affirm and mean10 said ,i1 8that this light here spoken of1 was a created1 natural1 made light80 ,and he said1 8,yes40 ,then ,i showed by the ,scriptures1 that the natural1 created1 made light1 is the outward light in the outward firmament1 proceeding from the sun1 moon1 and stars4 8,and dost thou affirm10 said ,i1 8that ,god sent ,john to bear witness to the light of the sun1 moon1 and stars80 ,then said he1 8,did ,i say so80 ,i replied1 8,didst thou not say it was a natural1 created1 made light1 that ,john bore witness unto8 ,if thou dost not like thy words1 take them again and mend them40 ,then he said1 8,that light which ,i spoke of1 was a natural1 created light40 ,i told him1 8he had not at all mended his cause2 for that light which ,i spoke of1 was the very same that ,john was sent of ,god to bear witness to1 which was the life in the ,word1 by which all the natural lights1 as sun1 moon1 and stars1 were made4 #8,in him 7to wit1 the ,word7 was life1 and that life was the light of men4'0 ,so ,i directed the people to turn to the place in their ,bibles1 and recited to them the words of ,john1 how that #8,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 ,the same was in the beginning with ,god2 all things were made by him1 and without him was not anything made1 that was made4 7,so all natural1 created lights were made by ,christ the ,word47 ,in him was life1 and the life was the light of men2 and that was the true light1 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world4' ,and ,christ saith of himself1 ,john viii4 #ab1 8,i am the light of the world20 and bids them 8believe in the light10 ,john xii4 #cf4 ,and ,god said of him by the prophet ,isaiah1 chap4 xlix4 #f1 8,i will also give thee for a light to the ,gentiles1 that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth40 ,so ,christ in his light is saving4 ,and the apostle said1 8,the light which shined in their hearts1 was to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ20 and that was their 8treasure in their earthen vessels10 #b ,cor4 iv4 #f1 #g4 ,when ,i had thus opened the matter to the people1 the priest cried to the magistrates1 8,take this man away1 or else ,i shall not speak any more40 8,but10 said ,i1 8,priest ,tombs1 deceive not thyself1 thou art not in thy pulpit now1 nor in thy old mass-house2 but we are in the fields40 ,so he was shuffling to be gone2 and ,thomas ,taylor stood up1 and undertook to make out our principle by ,christ's parable concerning the sower1 ,matt4 xiii4 ,then said the priest1 8,let that man speak1 and not the other40 ,so he got into a little jangling for a while2 till the ,lord's power stopped and confounded him4 ,afterwards a ,friend stood up and told him1 how he had sued him for tithe eggs1 and other ,friends for other tithes2 for he was an ,anabaptist preacher1 and yet had a parsonage at ,leominster1 and had several journeymen under him4 ,he said 8he had a wife1 and he had a concubine2 and his wife was the baptized people1 and his concubine was the world40 ,but the ,lord's power came over him and them all1 and the everlasting truth was declared that day2 and many were turned by it to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ their teacher and way to ,god4 ,of great service that meeting was in those parts4 ,next day ,thomas ,taylor went to this priest1 and reasoned with him2 and overcame him by the power of the ,word4 ,from this place ,i travelled on in ,wales1 having several meetings1 till ,i came to ,,tenby2 where1 as ,i rode up the street1 a justice of peace came out of his house1 desired me to alight1 and stay at his house2 and ,i did so4 ,on ,first-day the mayor and his wife1 and several of the chief of the town1 came in about ten o'clock1 and stayed all the time of the meeting4 ,a glorious one it was4 ,john-ap-,john being then with me1 left it1 and went to the steeple-house2 and the governor cast him into prison4 ,on the ,second-day morning the governor sent one of his officers to the justice's house to fetch me2 which grieved the mayor and the justice2 for they were both with me in the justice's house when the officer came4 ,so the mayor and the justice went up to the governor before me2 and a while after ,i went up with the officer4 ,when ,i came in1 ,i said1 8,peace be unto this house40 ,and before the governor could examine me1 ,i asked him why he cast my friend into prison4 ,he said1 8,for standing with his hat on in the church40 ,i said1 8,had not the priest two caps on his head1 a black one and a white one8 ,cut off the brims of the hat1 and then my friend would have but one1 and the brims of the hat were but to defend him from weather40 8,these are frivolous things10 said the governor4 8,why then10 said ,i1 8dost thou cast my friend into prison for such frivolous things80 ,then he asked me1 whether ,i owned election and reprobation2 8,yes10 said ,i1 8and thou art in the reprobation40 ,at that he was in a rage1 and said he would send me to prison till ,i proved it2 but ,i told him ,i would prove that quickly1 if he would confess truth4 ,then ,i asked him1 whether wrath1 fury1 rage1 and persecution1 were not marks of reprobation2 for he that was born of the flesh1 persecuted him that was born of the ,spirit2 but ,christ and his disciples never persecuted nor imprisoned any4 ,then he fairly confessed that he had too much wrath1 haste and passion in him4 ,i told him ,esau was up in him1 the first birth1 not ,jacob1 the second birth4 ,the ,lord's power so reached and came over him1 that he confessed to truth2 and the other justice came1 and shook me kindly by the hand4 ,as ,i was passing away1 ,i was moved to speak to the governor again1 and he invited me to dine with him1 and set my friend at liberty4 ,i went back to the other justice's house2 and after some time the mayor and his wife1 and the justice and his wife1 and divers other ,friends of the town1 went about half a mile out of town with us1 to the water-side1 when we went away2 and there1 when we parted from them1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to kneel down with them2 and pray to the ,lord to preserve them4 ,so after ,i had recommended them to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their ,saviour and free teacher1 we passed away in the ,lord's power1 and the ,lord had the glory4 ,a meeting continues in that town to this day4 ,we travelled to ,pembrokeshire1 and in ,,pembroke had some service for the ,lord4 ,thence we passed to ,,haverford-,,west1 where we had a great meeting1 and all was quiet4 ,the ,lord's power came over all1 and many were settled in the new covenant1 ,christ ,jesus1 and built upon him1 their rock and foundation2 and they stand a precious meeting to this day4 ,next day1 being their fair-day1 we passed through it1 and sounded the day of the ,lord1 and his everlasting truth amongst them4 ,after this we came into another county1 and at noon came into a great market-town1 and went into several inns1 before we could get any meat for our horses4 ,at last we came to one where we got some4 ,then ,john-ap-,john being with me1 went and spoke through the town1 declaring the truth to the people2 and when he came to me again1 he said he thought all the town were as people asleep4 ,after a while he was moved to go and declare truth in the streets again2 then the town was all in an uproar1 and cast him into prison4 ,presently after1 several of the chief of the town came1 with others1 to the inn where ,i was1 and said1 8,they have cast your man into prison40 8,for what80 said ,i1 8,he preached in our streets10 said they4 ,then ,i asked them1 8,what did he say8 had he reproved some of the drunkards and swearers1 and warned them to repent1 and leave off their evil doings1 and turn to the ,lord80 ,i asked them1 who cast him into prison8 ,they said1 the high-sheriff and justices1 and the mayor4 ,i asked their names1 and whether they understood themselves8 and whether that was their conduct to travellers that passed through their town1 and strangers that admonished and exhorted them to fear the ,lord1 and reproved sin in their gates8 ,these went back1 and told the officers what ,i said2 and after a while they brought down ,john-ap-,john1 guarded with halberts1 in order to put him out of the town4 ,being at the inn door1 ,i bid the officers take their hands off him4 ,they said1 #8the mayor and justices had commanded them to put him out of town4' ,i told them ,i would talk with their mayor and justices1 concerning their uncivil and unchristian carriage towards him4 ,so ,i spoke to ,john to go look after the horses1 and get them ready1 and charged the officers not to touch him4 ,and after ,i had declared the truth to them1 and showed them the fruits of their priests1 and their incivility and unchristian-like carriage1 they left us4 ,they were a kind of ,independents2 but a very wicked town1 and false4 ,we bid the innkeeper give our horses a peck of oats2 and no sooner had we turned our backs1 than the oats were stolen from our horses4 ,after we had refreshed ourselves a little1 and were ready1 we took horse1 and rode up to the inn1 where the mayor1 sheriff1 and justices were4 ,i called to speak with them1 and asked them why they had imprisoned ,john-ap-,john1 and kept him in prison two or three hours8 ,but they would not answer me a word2 they only looked out at the windows upon me4 ,so ,i showed them how unchristian their carriage was to strangers and travellers1 and manifested the fruits of their teachers2 and ,i declared the truth unto them1 and warned them of the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon all evildoers2 and the ,lord's power came over them1 that they looked ashamed2 but not a word could ,i get from them in answer4 ,so when ,i had warned them to repent1 and turn to the ,lord1 we passed away2 and at night came to a little inn1 very poor1 but very cheap2 for our own provision and our two horses1 cost but eightpence2 but the horses would not eat their oats4 ,we declared the truth to the people of the place1 and sounded the day of the ,lord through the countries4 ,thence1 we came to a great town1 and went to an inn4 ,edward ,edwards went into the market1 and declared the truth amongst the people2 and they followed him to the inn1 and filled the yard1 and were exceedingly rude2 yet good service we had for the ,lord amongst them2 for the life of ,christianity and the power of it tormented their chaffy spirits1 and came over them1 so that some were reached and convinced2 and the ,lord's power came over all4 ,the magistrates were bound2 they had no power to meddle with us4 ,after this we came to another great town on a market-day2 and ,john-ap-,john declared the everlasting truth through the streets1 and proclaimed the day of the ,lord amongst them4 ,in the evening many people gathered about the inn2 and some of them1 being drunk1 would fain have had us into the street again2 but seeing their design1 ,i told them1 if there were any that feared ,god1 and desired to hear the truth1 they might come into our inn2 or else we might have a meeting with them next morning4 ,some service for the ,lord we had amongst them1 both over night and in the morning2 and though the people were hard to receive the truth1 yet the seed was sown2 and thereabouts the ,lord hath a people gathered to himself4 ,in that inn also ,i turned but my back to the man that was giving oats to my horse2 and looking round again1 ,i observed he was filling his pockets with the provender4 ,a wicked1 thievish people1 to rob the poor dumb creature of his food4 ,i would rather they had robbed me4 ,leaving this town and travelling on1 a great man overtook us on the way1 and he purposed 7as he told us afterwards7 to take us up at the next town for highwaymen4 ,but before we came to the town1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to speak to him4 ,what ,i spoke reached to the witness of ,god in the man1 who was so affected therewith1 that he had us to his house1 and entertained us very civilly4 ,he and his wife desired us to give them some ,scriptures1 both for proof of our principles and against the priests4 ,we were glad of the service1 and furnished them with ,scriptures enough2 and he wrote them down1 and was convinced of the truth1 both by the ,spirit of ,god in his own heart1 and by the ,scriptures1 which were a confirmation to him4 ,afterwards he set us on our journey1 and as we travelled we came to a hill1 which the people of the country say1 is two or three miles high2 from the side of this hill ,i could see a great way4 ,and ,i was moved to set my face several ways1 and to sound the day of the ,lord there2 and ,i told ,john-ap-,john 7a faithful ,welsh minister7 in what places ,god would raise up a people to himself1 to sit under his own teaching4 ,those places he took note of1 and a great people have since been raised up there4 ,the like ,i have been moved to do in many other rude places2 and yet ,i have been moved to declare the ,lord had a seed in those parts1 and afterwards there have been a brave people raised up in the covenant of ,god1 and gathered in the name of ,jesus2 where they have salvation and free teaching4 ,from this hill we came to ,,dolgelly1 and went to an inn4 ,john-ap-,john declared through the streets1 and the town's people rose and gathered about him4 ,there being two ,independent priests in the town1 they came out and discoursed with him together4 ,i went up to them1 and finding them speaking in ,welsh1 ,i asked them1 8what was the subject they spoke upon1 and why they were not more moderate1 and spoke not one by one8 ,for the things of ,god10 ,i told them1 8were weighty1 and they should speak of them with fear and reverence40 ,then ,i desired them to speak in ,english1 that ,i might discourse with them1 and they did so4 ,they affirmed1 8that the light which ,john came to bear witness of1 was a created1 natural1 made light40 ,but ,i took the ,bible1 and showed them 7as ,i had done to others before17 8that the natural lights1 which were made and created1 were the sun1 moon1 and stars2 but this light1 which ,john bare witness to1 and which he called #8the true light1 that lighteth every man that cometh into the world1' is the life in ,christ the ,word1 by which all things were made and created4 ,the same that is called the life in ,christ1 is called the light in man2 and this is a heavenly divine light1 which lets men see their evil words and deeds1 shows them all their sins1 and1 if they would attend unto it1 would bring them to ,christ1 from whom it comes1 that they might know him to save them from their sin1 and to blot it out4 ,this light1 ,i told them1 shone in the darkness of their hearts1 and the darkness in them could not comprehend it2 but in those hearts where ,god had commanded it to shine out of darkness1 it gave unto such the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,christ ,jesus their ,saviour4 ,then ,i opened the ,scriptures largely to them1 and turned them to the ,spirit of ,god in their hearts1 which would reveal the mysteries in the ,scriptures to them1 and would lead them into all truth as they became subject thereunto4 ,i directed them to that which would give everyone of them the knowledge of ,christ1 who died for them1 that he might be their way to ,god1 and make peace between ,god and them40 ,the people were attentive1 and ,i spoke to ,john-ap-,john to stand up and speak it in ,welsh to them1 which he did2 and they generally received it1 and with hands lifted up blessed and praised ,god4 ,the priests' mouths were stopped1 so that they were quiet all the while1 for ,i had brought them to be sober at the first1 by telling them that1 8when they speak of the things of ,god and of ,christ1 they should speak with fear and reverence40 ,thus the meeting broke up in peace in the street1 and many of the people accompanied us to our inn1 and rejoiced in the truth that had been declared unto them2 that they were turned to the light and ,spirit in themselves1 by which they might see their sin1 and know salvation from it4 ,when we went out of the town1 the people were so affected1 that they lifted up their hands1 and blessed the ,lord for our coming4 ,a precious seed the ,lord hath thereaway1 and many people in those parts are since gathered to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to sit down under his free teaching2 and they have suffered much for him4 ,from hence we passed to ,,caernarvon1 a city like a castle4 ,when we had put up our horses at an inn1 and refreshed ourselves1 ,john-ap-,john went forth1 and spoke through the streets2 which were so strait and short1 that one might stand in the midst of the town and see both the gates4 ,i followed him1 and a multitude of people were soon gathered2 amongst whom a very dark priest began to babble2 but his mouth was soon stopped4 ,when ,john had cleared himself1 ,i declared the word of life amongst the people2 directing them to 8the light of ,christ in their hearts1 that by it they might see all their own ways1 religions1 and teachers1 and might come off from them all1 to ,christ1 the true and living way1 and the free teacher40 ,some of them were rude1 but the greater part were civil1 and told us they had heard how we had been persecuted and abused in many places1 but they would not do so to us there4 ,i commended their moderation and sobriety1 and warned them of 8the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon all sin and wickedness20 testifying unto them1 8that ,christ was now come to teach his people himself1 by his ,spirit and by his power40 ,from hence we went to ,,beaumaris2 a town wherein ,john-ap-,john had formerly been preacher4 ,after we had put up our horses at an inn1 ,john went forth and spoke through the street3 and there being a garrison in the town1 they took him and put him into prison4 ,the innkeeper's wife came and told me that the governor and magistrates were sending for me to commit me to prison also4 ,i told her1 they had done more than they could answer already2 and had acted contrary to ,christianity in imprisoning him for reproving sin in their streets and for declaring the truth4 ,soon after came other friendly people1 and told me1 if ,i went out into the street they would imprison me also2 and therefore they desired me to keep at the inn4 ,upon this ,i was moved to go and walk up and down the streets2 and told the people1 8what an uncivil and unchristian thing they had done1 in casting my friend into prison40 ,and1 they being high professors1 ,i asked them1 8if this was the entertainment they had for strangers2 if they would willingly be so served themselves2 and whether they1 who looked upon the ,scriptures to be their rule1 had any example therein from ,christ or his apostles1 for what they had done80 ,so after a while they set ,john-ap-,john at liberty4 ,next day1 being market-day1 we were to cross a great water3 and not far from the place where we were to take boat1 many of the market-people drew to us2 amongst whom we had good service for the ,lord1 8declaring the word of life and everlasting truth unto them1 and proclaiming the day of the ,lord amongst them1 which was coming upon all wickedness2 and directing them to the light of ,christ1 which he1 the heavenly man1 had enlightened them with2 by which they might see all their sins1 and false ways1 religions1 worships1 and teachers3 and by the same light might see ,christ ,jesus1 who was come to save them1 and lead them to ,god40 ,after the ,lord's truth had been declared to them in the power of ,god1 and ,christ the free teacher set over all the hireling teachers1 ,i bid ,john-ap-,john get his horse into the boat1 which was then ready4 ,but there being a company of wild gentlemen1 as they called them1 got into it1 whom we found very rude1 and far from gentleness1 they1 with others1 kept his horse out of the boat4 ,i rode to the boat's side and spoke to them1 showing them 8what unmanly and unchristian conduct it was2 and told them they showed an unworthy spirit1 below ,christianity or humanity40 ,as ,i spoke1 ,i leaped my horse into the boat amongst them1 thinking ,john's horse would have followed1 when he had seen mine go in before him2 but the water being deep1 ,john could not get his horse into the boat4 ,wherefore ,i leaped out again on horseback into the water1 and stayed with ,john on that side till the boat returned4 ,there we tarried from eleven in the forenoon1 to two in the afternoon1 before the boat came to fetch us2 and then we had forty-two miles to ride that evening3 and when we had paid for our passage1 we had but one groat left between us in money4 ,we rode about sixteen miles1 and then got a little hay for our horses4 ,setting forward again1 we came in the night to a little ale-house1 where we intended to stay and bait2 but finding we could have neither oats nor hay there1 we travelled on all night2 and about five in the morning got to a place within six miles of ,,wrexham2 where that day we met with many ,friends1 and had a glorious meeting2 and the ,lord's everlasting power and truth was over all3 and a meeting is continued there to this day4 ,very weary we were with travelling so hard up and down in ,wales2 and in many places we found it difficult to get meat either for our horses or ourselves4 ,next day we passed thence into ,,flintshire1 sounding the day of the ,lord through the towns2 and came into ,,wrexham at night4 ,here many of ,floyd's people came to us2 but very rude1 wild1 and airy they were1 and little sense of truth they had3 yet some were convinced in that town4 ,next morning one called a lady sent for me1 who kept a preacher in her house4 ,i went1 but found both her and her preacher very light and airy2 too light to receive the weighty things of ,god4 ,in her lightness she came and asked me1 if she should cut my hair3 but ,i was moved to reprove her1 and bid her cut down the corruptions in herself with the sword of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,so after ,i had admonished her to be more grave and sober1 we passed away3 and afterwards in her frothy mind1 she made her boast that 8she came behind me and cut off the curl of my hair20 but she spoke falsely4 ,from ,wrexham we came to ,,chester2 and being the fair time1 we stayed a while1 and visited ,friends4 ,for ,i had travelled through every county in ,wales1 preaching the everlasting gospel of ,christ2 and a brave people there is now1 who have received it1 and sit under ,christ's teaching4 ,but before ,i left ,wales1 ,i wrote to the magistrates of ,,beaumaris concerning the imprisoning of ,john-ap-,john2 letting them see their conditions1 and the fruits of their ,christianity1 and of their teachers4 ,afterwards ,i met with some of them near ,,london2 but oh how ashamed they were of their action6 ,from ,,chester we came to ,,liverpool1 where was at that time a fair also4 ,as ,i rode through the fair1 there stood a ,friend upon the cross1 declaring the truth to the people3 who seeing me ride by1 and knowing ,i had appointed a meeting next day upon a hill not far off1 gave notice to the people 8that ,george ,fox1 the servant of the ,lord1 would have a meeting next day upon such hill2 and if any feared the ,lord1 they might come and hear him declare the word of life to them40 ,we went that night to ,richard ,cubban's1 who himself was convinced1 though not his wife2 but at that time she became convinced also4 ,next day we went to the meeting on the top of the hill1 which was very large4 ,some rude people with a priest's wife came1 and made a noise for a while1 but the ,lord's power came over them1 the meeting became quiet1 and the truth of ,god was declared amongst them4 ,many were that day settled upon the rock and foundation1 ,christ ,jesus1 and under his teaching2 who made peace between ,god and them4 ,we had a small meeting with a few ,friends and people at ,,malpas4 ,thence we came to another place1 where we had another meeting4 ,there came a bailiff with a sword1 and was rude2 but the ,lord's power came over him1 and ,friends were established in the truth4 ,thence we came to ,,manchester2 and the sessions being there that day1 many rude people were come out of the country4 ,in the meeting they threw at me coals1 clods1 stones1 and water2 yet the ,lord's power bore me up over them1 that they could not strike me down4 ,at last1 when they saw they could not prevail by throwing water1 stones1 and dirt at me1 they went and informed the justices in the sessions2 who thereupon sent officers to fetch me before them4 ,the officers came in while ,i was declaring the word of life to the people1 and plucked me down1 and haled me up into their court4 ,when ,i came there1 all the court was in disorder and noise4 ,wherefore ,i asked where were the magistrates that they did not keep the people civil8 ,some of the justices said they were magistrates4 ,i asked them1 why then did they not appease the people1 and keep them sober8 for one cried1 8,i'll swear10 and another cried1 8,i'll swear40 ,i declared to the justices how we were abused in our meeting by the rude people who threw stones1 and clods1 dirt1 and water2 and how ,i was haled out of the meeting1 and brought thither1 contrary to the instrument of government1 which said1 8none shall be molested in their meetings that professed ,god1 and owned the ,lord ,jesus ,christ20 which ,i did4 ,so the truth came over them1 that when one of the rude fellows cried 8he would swear10 one of the justices checked him1 saying 8what will you swear8 hold your tongue40 ,at last they bid the constable take me to my lodging2 and there be secured till morning1 till they sent for me again4 ,so the constable had me to my lodging2 and as we went the people were exceedingly rude2 but ,i let them see 8the fruits of their teachers1 and how they shamed ,christianity1 and dishonoured the name of ,jesus1 which they professed40 ,at night we went to a justice's house in the town1 who was pretty moderate2 and ,i had much discourse with him4 ,next morning we sent to the constable to know if he had anything more to say to us4 ,and he sent us word 8he had nothing to say to us1 but that we might go whither we would40 ,the ,lord hath since raised up a people to stand for his name and truth in that town over those chaffy professors4 ,we passed from ,manchester1 having many precious meetings in several places1 till we came to ,,preston2 between which and ,lancaster ,i had a general meeting3 from which ,i went to ,,lancaster4 ,there at our inn ,i met with ,colonel ,west1 who was very glad to see me3 who meeting with ,judge ,fell1 told him ,i was mightily grown in the truth2 when indeed he was come nearer to the truth1 and so could better discern it4 ,we came from ,lancaster to ,robert ,widders's4 ,on the ,first-day after ,i had a general meeting near ,,sand-,,side1 of ,friends of ,,westmorland and ,,lancashire1 when the ,lord's everlasting power was over all2 in which the word of eternal life was declared1 and ,friends were settled upon the foundation1 ,christ ,jesus1 under his free teaching2 and many were convinced1 and turned to the ,lord4 ,next day ,i came over the ,sands to ,,swarthmore1 where ,friends were glad to see me4 ,i stayed there two ,first-days1 visiting ,friends in their meetings thereaways4 ,they rejoiced with me in the goodness of the ,lord1 who by his eternal power had carried me through1 and over many difficulties and dangers in his service3 to him be the praise for ever6 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #afeg4--;,exhortation to ,friends to take heed to the ,light of ,christ--an expostulation with persecutors--to ,friends to be valiant for the truth--in parts of ,cumberland the priests are so forsaken that some steeple-houses stand empty--,john ,wilkinson1 the priest1 is so deserted1 that he sets up a meeting in his own house--then a silent meeting1 and at last joins ,friends1 and becomes an able minister--,george ,fox travels into ,scotland with ,col4 ,osborn and ,robert ,widders--the latter was a thundering man against the rottenness of the priests' hypocrisy and deceit--,lady ,hamilton is convinced--the ,scotch priests raise the war-cry1 and draw up their curses1 which ,george ,fox answers--they are in a rage and panic when he comes there1 thinking 8that all was gone0--some ,baptists1 with their logic and syllogisms1 are confuted by ,george ,fox's logic--he is banished ,scotland by the council1 but disregards their order--,george ,fox and ,william ,osburn are waylaid by thieves1 who are admonished by the former1 and overawed by the ,lord's power--the ,highlanders run at them with pitchforks--at ,johnstons they are banished the town--on hearing that the council of ,edinburgh had issued warrants against him1 ,george ,fox goes thither1 and is not molested4 ,having got a little respite from travel1 ,i was moved to write an epistle to ,friends1 as follows3-- 8,all ,friends of the ,lord everywhere1 whose minds are turned in towards the ,lord1 take heed to the light within you1 which is the light of ,christ2 which1 as ye love it1 will call your minds inward1 that are abroad in the creatures3 so your minds may be renewed by it1 and turned to ,god in this which is pure1 to worship the living ,god1 the ,lord of ,hosts over all the creatures4 ,that which calls your minds out of the lusts of the world1 will call them out of the affections and desires1 and turn you to set your affections above4 ,that which calls the mind out of the world1 will give judgment upon the world's affections and lusts1 and is the same that calls out your minds from the world's teachers1 and the creatures1 to have your minds renewed4 ,there is your obedience known and found2 there the image of ,god is renewed in you2 and ye come to grow up in it4 ,that which calls your minds out of the earth1 turns them towards ,god1 where the pure ,babe is born of the virgin2 and the ,babe's food is known1 the children's bread1 which comes from the living ,god1 and nourishes up to eternal life4 ,these babes and children receive their wisdom from above1 from the pure living ,god1 and not from the earthly one3 for that is trodden under foot with such4 ,all who hate this light1 whose minds are abroad in the creatures1 in the earth1 and in the image of the devil1 get the words of the saints1 that received their wisdom from above1 into the old nature1 and their corrupted minds4 ,such are murderers of the just1 enemies to the cross of ,christ1 in whom the prince of the air lodgeth3 sons of perdition1 betrayers of the just4 8,therefore take heed to that light1 which is oppressed with that nature2 which light1 as it arises1 shall condemn all that cursed nature1 shall turn it out1 and shut it out of the house2 and so ye will come to see the candle lighted1 and the house sweeping and swept4 ,then the pure pearl ariseth2 then the eternal ,god is exalted4 ,the same light that calls in your minds out of the world1 turns them to ,god1 the ,father of lights4 ,here in the pure mind is the pure ,god waited upon for wisdom from above2 the pure ,god is seen night and day2 and the eternal peace1 of which there is no end1 enjoyed4 ,people may have openings1 and yet their minds go into the lusts of the flesh2 but there the affections are not mortified4 ,therefore hearken to that1 and take heed to that1 which calls your minds out of the affections and lusts of the world1 to have them renewed4 ,the same will turn your minds to ,god2 the same light will set your affections above1 and bring you to wait for the pure wisdom of ,god from on high1 that it may be justified in you4 8,wait all in that1 which calls in your minds1 and turns them to ,god2 here is the true cross4 ,that mind shall feed upon nothing that is earthly2 but be kept in the pure light of ,god up to ,god1 to feed upon the living food1 which comes from the living ,god4 ,the ,lord ,god ,almighty be with you all1 dear babes1 and keep you all in his strength and power to his glory1 over all the world--you whose minds are called out of it1 and turned to ,god1 to worship the ,creator1 and serve him1 and not the creature4 ,the light of ,god1 which calls the mind out of the creatures1 and turns it to ,god1 brings into a being of endless joy and peace4 ,here is always a seeing ,god present1 which is not known to the world1 whose hearts are in the creatures1 whose knowledge is in the flesh1 whose minds are not renewed4 8,therefore all ,friends1 the ,seed of ,god mind and dwell in1 to reign over the unjust3 and the power of the ,lord dwell in1 to keep you clear in your understandings1 that the ,seed of ,god may reign in you all2--the ,seed of ,god1 which is but one in all1 which is ,christ in the male and in the female1 which the promise is to4 ,wait upon the ,lord for the just to reign over the unjust1 and for the ,seed of ,god to reign over the seed of the serpent1 and be the head2 and that all that is mortal may die2 for out of that will rise presumption4 ,so fare ye well1 and ,god ,almighty bless1 and guide1 and keep you in his wisdom40 ,g4 ,f4 ,about this time ,friends1 that were moved of the ,lord to go to the steeple-houses and markets1 to reprove sin1 and warn people of the day of the ,lord1 suffered much hardship from rude people1 and also from the magistrates2 being commonly pulled down1 buffeted1 beaten1 and frequently sent to prison4 ,wherefore ,i was moved to give forth the following expostulation1 to be spread amongst people1 to show them1 how contrary they acted therein to the apostles' doctrine and practice1 and to bring them to more moderation4 ,thus it was3-- 8,is it not better for you1 that have cast into prison the servants and children of the ,lord ,god1 for speaking as they are moved1 in steeple-houses or markets8 ,is it not better1 ,i say1 for you to try all things1 and hold fast that which is good8 ,is it not of more honour and credit1 to prove all things1 and try all things1 than to pluck down in the steeple-houses1 and pull off the hair of their heads1 and cast them into prison8 ,is this an honour to your truth and gospel you profess8 ,doth it not show that ye are out of the truth1 and are not ready to instruct the gainsayers8 ,hath not the ,lord said1 #8,he will pour out of his ,spirit upon all flesh1 and his sons and his daughters shall prophesy2 old men shall dream dreams1 and young men see visions2 and on his handmaids he will pour forth of his ,spirit8' ,was not this prophecy in past ages stood against by the wise learned men in their own wisdom1 and by the synagogue teachers8 ,were not those haled out of the synagogues and temple1 who witnessed the ,spirit poured forth upon them8 ,doth not this show1 that ye have not the pourings forth of this ,spirit upon you1 who fill the jails with so many sons and daughters1 and hold up such teachers as are bred up in learning at ,oxford and ,cambridge1 and are made by the will of man8 ,doth not this show1 that ye1 who are bred up there1 who are made teachers by the will of man1 and who persecute for prophesying1 are strangers to the ,spirit that is #8poured forth upon sons and daughters1' by which ,spirit they come to #8minister to the spirits that are in prison8' ,the ,lord hath a controversy with you1 who are found prisoning and persecuting such as the ,lord hath poured forth of his ,spirit upon4 ,do not your fruits show1 in all the nation where ye come2 in towns1 cities1 villages1 and countries1 that ye are the seedsmen made by the will of man1 who sow to the flesh1 of which nothing but corruption is reaped8 ,ye are looked upon1 and your fruits1 and that which may be gathered1 is seen by all that are in the light1 as they pass through your countries1 towns1 cities1 and villages1 that ye are all the seedsmen that have sown to the flesh4 ,mark1 and of this take notice1 ye who are of that birth that is born of the flesh1 sow to your own1 persecuting him that is born of the ,spirit4 ,such as sow to the ,spirit1 and of the ,spirit reap life eternal1 ye cast into prison4 ,do ye not hale out of the synagogues1 persecute and beat in them1 and knock down8 ,are not these the works of the flesh8 ,have not many been almost murdered and smothered in your synagogues8 ,have not some been haled out of them1 for but looking at the priest1 and after cast into prison8 ,doth not all this make manifest what spirit ye are of1 and your fruits to be of the flesh8 ,what pleasures and sports in every town are to be seen among your flocks1 that sow to the flesh and are born of it6 8,whereas the ministers of the ,spirit cried against such1 as #8sported in the day-time2' such as #8ate and drank1 and rose up to play2' such as lived wantonly upon earth in pleasures2 such as lived in fulness of bread and idleness2 such as defile the flesh3 such did ,god overthrow and destroy1 and set them forth as examples to all them that after should live ungodly4 ,but are not the fruits of this reaped in every town8 ,cannot we hence see1 that here is sowing to the flesh8 ,again1 what scorning and scoffing1 what mocking1 derision1 and strife6 ,what oaths and drunkenness1 uncleanness and cursed speaking6 ,what lust and pride are seen in the streets6 ,these fruits we see are reaped to the flesh4 ,so here we see the seedsman1 him that sows to this flesh1 of which nothing but corruption is reaped2 as the countries1 towns1 cities1 and villages make manifest4 ,but the ministers of the ,spirit1 who sow to the ,spirit1 come to reap eternal life4 ,these discern the other seedsman1 who sows to the flesh1 and of the flesh reaps corruption4 ,for the day hath manifested each seedsman1 and what is reaped from each is seen2 glory be to the ,lord ,god for ever6 ,the ministers of the ,spirit1 who are born of the ,spirit1 sons and daughters1 who have the ,spirit poured forth upon them1 and witness the promise of ,god fulfilled in them1 by the ,spirit of ,god preach and minister to the ,spirit in prison in every one1 in the sight of ,god1 the ,father of ,spirits4 ,god's hand is turned against you all1 that have destroyed ,god's creatures upon your lust4 ,god's hand is turned against you that have wronged by unjust dealing1 defrauded1 and oppressed the poor1 and respected the persons of the proud 7such as are in gay apparel72 and lend not your ear to the cry of the poor4 ,the ,lord's hand is turned against you1 and his righteous judgment and justice upon you will be accomplished and repaid3 who shall have a reward1 every one according to his works4 8,o6 the abomination1 the hypocritical profession that is upon the earth1 where ,god and ,christ1 faith1 hope1 the ,holy ,spirit1 and truth are professed2 but the fear of ,god1 and the faith that purifies and gives victory over the world1 are not lived in6 ,doth it not appear1 that the wisdom that rules in all those1 whom the seedsman that sows to the flesh1 sows for1 and who are born of the flesh1 is from below1 earthly1 sensual1 and devilish2 that their understanding is brutish1 and their knowledge natural1 as the brute beasts8 ,for men and women in that state1 have not patience to speak one to the other of the ,scriptures1 without much corruption and flesh appearing1 yet they have a feigned humility1 a will-worship1 and righteousness of self2 but they own not the light1 which #8lighteth every man that cometh into the world1' ,christ ,jesus1 the righteousness of ,god2 which being owned1 self1 and the righteousness of self1 come to be denied4 ,here is the humility that is contrary to the light1 that is from below and feigned3 here is the wisdom that is earthly1 sensual1 and devilish2 for people can scarce speak one to another1 without destroying one another1 prisoning and persecuting one another1 when they speak of the ,scriptures4 ,now1 this is the devilish wisdom1 murdering and destroying3 this is not the wisdom that is from above1 which is pure and peaceable2 gentle and easy to be entreated1 full of mercy and good fruits4 ,here all may read each seedsman1 which hath each wisdom4 ,he that sows to the flesh1 and is born of that1 hath the wisdom that is earthly1 sensual1 and devilish2 he that sows to the ,spirit1 a minister of the ,spirit1 hath the wisdom from above1 which is pure1 peaceable1 gentle1 and easy to be entreated2--the wisdom by which all things were made and created4 ,now is each wisdom discovered1 and each seedsman2 the day1 which is the light1 hath discovered them40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i was also moved to give forth the following epistle to ,friends1 to stir them up to be bold and valiant for the truth1 and to encourage them in their sufferings for it3-- 8,all ,friends and brethren everywhere1 now is the day of your trial1 now is the time for you to be valiant1 and to see that the testimony of the ,lord doth not fall4 ,now is the day for the exercise of your gifts1 of your patience1 and of your faith4 ,now is the time to be armed with patience1 with the light1 with righteousness1 and with the helmet of salvation4 ,now is the trial of the slothful servant1 who hides his talent1 and will judge ,christ hard4 ,now1 happy are they that can say1 #8the earth is the ,lord's and the fulness thereof1 and he gives the increase2' and therefore1 who takes it from you8 ,is it not the ,lord still that suffers it8 ,for the ,lord can try you as he did ,job1 whom he made rich1 whom he made poor1 and whom he made rich again2 who still kept his integrity in all conditions4 ,learn ,paul's lesson1 #8in all states to be content2' and have his faith1 that #8nothing is able to separate us from the love of ,god1 which we have in ,christ ,jesus4' ,therefore be rich in life1 and in grace1 which will endure1 ye who are heirs of life1 and born of the womb of eternity1 that noble birth1 that cannot stoop to that which is born in sin1 and conceived in iniquity2 who are better bred and born2 whose religion is from ,god1 above all the religions that are from below2 and who walk by faith1 by that which ,god hath given you1 and not by that which men make1 who walk by sight1 from the ,mass-,book to the ,directory4 ,such are subject to stumble and fall1 who walk by sight and not by faith4 8,therefore mind him that destroys the original of sin1 the devil and his works1 and cuts off the entail of ,satan1 viz41 sin2 who would have by entail an inheritance of sin in men and women from generation to generation1 and pleads for it by all his lawyers and counsellors4 ,for though the law1 which made nothing perfect1 did not cut it off2 yet ,christ being come destroys the devil and his works1 and cuts off the entail of sin4 ,this angers all the devil's lawyers and counsellors1 that ,satan shall not hold sin by entail in thy garden1 in thy field1 in thy temple1 thy tabernacle4 ,so keep your tabernacles1 that there ye may see the glory of the ,lord appear at the doors thereof4 ,and be faithful2 for ye see1 what the worthies and valiants of the ,lord attained unto by faith4 ,enoch by faith was translated4 ,noah by faith was preserved over the waters in his ark4 ,abraham by faith forsook his father's house and religion1 and all the religions of the world4 ,isaac and ,jacob by faith followed his steps4 ,see also how ,samuel1 with other of the ,lord's prophets1 and ,david1 by faith were preserved to ,god1 over ,god's enemies6 ,daniel and the three children by faith escaped the lions and the fire1 and preserved their worship clean1 and by it were kept over the worships of the world4 ,the apostles by faith travelled up and down the world1 were preserved from all the religions of the world1 and held forth the pure religion to the dark world1 which they had received from ,god2 and likewise their fellowship was received from above1 which is in the gospel that is everlasting4 ,in this1 neither powers1 principalities1 nor thrones1 dominions nor angels1 things present1 nor things to come1 nor heights1 nor depths1 nor death1 mockings1 nor spoiling of goods1 nor prisons1 nor fetters1 were able to separate them from the love of ,god1 which they had in ,christ ,jesus4 8,and ,friends1 #8quench not the ,spirit1 nor despise prophesying1' where it moves2 neither hinder the babes and sucklings from crying ,hosanna2 for out of their mouths will ,god ordain strength4 ,there were some in ,christ's day that were against such1 whom he reproved2 and there were some in ,moses's day1 who would have stopped the prophets in the camp1 whom ,moses reproved1 and said1 by way of encouragement to them1 #8,would ,god1 that all the ,lord's people were prophets6' ,so ,i say now to you4 ,therefore ye1 that stop it in yourselves1 do not quench it in others1 neither in babe nor suckling2 for the ,lord hears the cries of the needy1 and the sighs and groans of the poor4 ,judge not that1 nor the sighs and groans of the ,spirit1 which cannot be uttered1 lest ye judge prayer2 for prayer as well lies in sighs and groans to the ,lord as otherwise4 ,let not the sons and daughters1 nor the hand-maidens be stopped in their prophesyings1 nor the young men in their visions1 nor the old men in their dreams2 but let the ,lord be glorified in and through all1 who is over all1 ,god blessed for ever6 ,so every one may improve his talents1 every one exercise his gifts1 and every one speak as the ,spirit gives him utterance4 ,thus every one may minister as he hath received the grace1 as a good steward to him that hath given it him2 so that all plants may bud and bring forth fruit to the glory of ,god2 #8for the manifestation of the ,spirit is given to every one to profit withal4' 8,see1 that every one hath profited in heavenly things3 male and female1 look into your own vineyards1 and see what fruit ye bear to ,god2 look into your own houses1 see how they are decked and trimmed1 and see what odours1 myrrh1 and frankincense ye have therein1 and what a smell and savour ye have to ascend to ,god1 that he may be glorified4 ,bring all your deeds to the light1 which ye are taught to believe in by ,christ1 your ,head1 the heavenly ,man2 and see how they are wrought in ,god4 ,every male and female1 let ,christ dwell in your hearts by faith1 and let your mouths be opened to the glory of ,god the ,father1 that he may rule and reign in you4 ,we must not have ,christ ,jesus1 the ,lord of life1 put any more in a stable1 amongst the horses and asses2 but he must now have the best chamber1 the heart1 and the rude1 debauched spirit must be turned out4 ,therefore let ,him reign1 whose right it is1 who was conceived by the ,holy ,ghost1 by which ye call him ,lord1 in which ye pray1 and have comfort and fellowship with the ,father and with the ,son4 ,therefore know the triumph in it1 and in ,god and his power 7which the devil is out of71 and in the seed1 which is first and last1 the beginning and ending1 the top and cornerstone2 in which is my love to you1 and in which ,i rest-- ,your friend1 ,g4 ,f40 8,postscript--,and1 ,friends1 be careful how ye set your feet among the tender plants1 that are springing up out of ,god's earth2 lest ye tread upon them1 hurt1 bruise1 or crush them in ,god's vineyard40 ,after ,i had tarried two ,first-days at ,swarthmore1 and had visited ,friends in their meetings thereabouts1 ,i passed into ,,westmorland1 in the same work1 till ,i came to ,john ,audland's1 where there was a general meeting4 ,the night before ,i had a vision of a desperate creature1 that was coming to destroy me1 but ,i got victory over it4 ,and next day in meeting-time came one ,otway1 with some rude fellows4 ,he rode round about the meeting with his sword or rapier1 and would fain have got in through the ,friends to me2 but the meeting being great1 the ,friends stood close1 so that he could not easily come at me4 ,when he had rode about several times raging1 and found he could not get in1 being limited by the ,lord's power1 he went away4 ,it was a glorious meeting1 ended peaceably1 and the ,lord's everlasting power came over all4 ,this wild man went home1 became distracted1 and not long after died4 ,i sent a paper to ,john ,blaykling to read to him1 while he lay ill1 showing him his wickedness2 and he acknowledged something of it4 ,from hence1 ,i went through ,,kendal1 where a warrant had long lain to apprehend me2 and the constables seeing me1 ran to fetch their warrant1 as ,i was riding through the town2 but before they could come with it1 ,i was gone past1 and so escaped their hands4 ,i travelled northwards1 visiting ,friends' meetings1 till ,i came to ,,strickland-,,head1 where ,i had a great meeting4 ,most of the gentry of that country being gathered to a horse-race1 not far from the meeting1 ,i was moved to go and declare the truth unto them2 and a chief-constable1 that was there1 also admonished them4 ,our meeting was quiet1 and the ,lord was with us2 and by his word and power1 ,friends were settled in the eternal truth4 ,from hence we passed into ,,cumberland1 where we had many precious living meetings4 ,after we had travelled to ,,gilsland1 and had a meeting there1 we came to ,,carlisle1 where they used to put ,friends out of the town2 but there came a great flood while we were there1 that they could not put us out2 so we had a meeting there on ,first-day4 ,after which we passed to ,,abbey-,,holm1 and had a little meeting there4 ,this is a place1 where ,i told ,friends long before1 a great people would come forth to the ,lord2 which hath since come to pass1 and a large meeting is gathered to the ,lord in those parts4 ,i passed hence to a general meeting at ,,langlands in ,cumberland1 which was very large2 for most of the people had so forsaken the priests1 that the steeple-houses in some places stood empty4 ,and ,john ,wilkinson1#ed a preacher1 ,i have often named before1 who had three steeple-houses1 had so few hearers left1 that1 giving over preaching in them1 he first set up a meeting in his house1 and preached there to them that were left4 ,afterwards he set up a silent meeting 7like ,friends17 to which came a few2 for most of his hearers were come to ,friends4 ,thus he held on till he had not past half a dozen left2 the rest still forsaking him1 and coming to ,friends4 ,at last1 when he had so very few left1 he would come to ,pardshaw ,crag 7where ,friends had a meeting of several hundreds of people1 who were all come to sit under the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's teaching17 and he would walk about the meeting on ,first-days1 like a man that went about the commons to look for sheep4 ,during this time ,i came to ,,pardshaw ,,crag meeting1 and he with three or four of his followers1 that were yet left to him1 came to the meeting that day1 and were all thoroughly convinced4 ,after the meeting1 ,wilkinson asked me two or three questions1 which ,i answered him to his satisfaction2 and from that time he came amongst ,friends1 became an able minister1 preached the gospel freely1 and turned many to ,christ's free teaching4 ,and after he had continued many years in the free ministry of ,jesus1 he died in #afge4 ,footnote #ed3 ,this was not the same ,john ,wilkinson who joined with ,storey in creating a schism in the ,society4 ,i had for some time felt drawings on my spirit to go into ,,scotland2 and had sent to ,colonel ,william ,osburn of ,scotland1 desiring him to come and meet me2 and he1 with some others1 came out of ,scotland to this meeting4 ,after the meeting was over 7which1 he said1 was the most glorious one he ever saw in his life17 ,i passed with him and his company into ,scotland2 having ,robert ,widders with me1 a thundering man against hypocrisy1 deceit1 and the rottenness of the priests4 ,the first night we came into ,scotland we lodged at an inn4 ,the innkeeper told us1 an ,earl lived about a quarter of a mile off1 who had a desire to see me2 and had left word at his house1 that if ever ,i came into ,scotland1 he should send him word4 ,he told us there were three drawbridges to his house1 and that it would be nine o'clock before the third bridge was drawn4 ,finding we had time in the evening1 we walked to his house4 ,he received us very lovingly2 and said1 he would have gone with us on our journey1 but he was previously engaged to go to a funeral4 ,after we had spent some time with him1 we parted very friendly1 and returned to our inn4 ,next morning we travelled on1 and passing through ,,dumfries came to ,,douglas1 where we met with some ,friends2 and thence passed to the ,,heads1 where we had a blessed meeting in the name of ,jesus1 and felt him in the midst4 ,leaving ,heads1 we went to ,,badcow1 and had a meeting there2 to which abundance of people came1 and many were convinced2 amongst whom was one1 called a lady4 ,from thence we passed towards the ,,highlands to ,william ,osburn's house1 where we gathered up the sufferings of ,friends1 and the principles of the ,scotch priests1 which may be seen in a book called ,the ,scotch ,priests' ,principles4 ,afterwards we returned to ,heads1 ,badcow1 and ,,garshore1 where the said ,lady ,margaret ,hambleton was convinced2 who afterwards went to warn ,oliver ,cromwell and ,charles ,fleetwood of the day of the ,lord that was coming upon them4 ,on ,first-day we had a great meeting1 and several professors came to it4 ,now1 the priests had frightened the people with the doctrine of election and reprobation1 telling them 8that ,god had ordained the greatest part of men and women for hell2 and that1 let them pray1 or preach1 or sing1 or do what they could1 it was all to no purpose1 if they were ordained for hell2--that ,god had a certain number elected for heaven1 let them do what they would1 as ,david an adulterer1 and ,paul a persecutor1 yet elected vessels for heaven4 ,so the fault was not at all in the creature1 less or more1 but ,god had ordained it so40 ,i was led to open to the people the falseness and folly of their priests' doctrines1 and showed how they had abused those ,scriptures they brought and quoted to them1 as in ,jude1 and other places4 ,for whereas they said1 there was no fault at all in the creature1 ,i showed them that they whom ,jude speaks of1 to wit1 ,cain1 ,korah1 and ,balaam1 who1 he says1 were ordained of old to condemnation1 the fault was in them4 ,for did not ,god warn ,cain and ,balaam1 and put the question to ,cain1 8,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted80 ,and did not the ,lord bring ,korah out of ,egypt and his company8 yet did not he gainsay both ,god and his law1 and his prophet ,moses8 ,here people might see that there was a fault in ,cain1 ,korah1 and ,balaam1 and so there is in all that go in their ways4 ,for if they who are called ,christians1 resist the gospel1 as ,korah did the law2 if they err from the ,spirit of ,god1 as ,balaam did1 and do evil1 as ,cain did1 is not here a fault8 ,which fault is in themselves1 and is the cause of their reprobation1 and not ,god4 ,doth not ,christ say1 8,go1 preach the gospel to all nations80 ,which is the gospel of salvation4 ,he would not have sent them into all nations1 to preach the doctrine of salvation1 if the greatest part of men had been ordained for hell4 ,was not ,christ a propitiation for the sins of the whole world1 for those that become reprobates1 as well as for the saints8 ,he died for all men1 the ungodly1 as well as the godly1 as the apostle bears witness1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ae2 ,rom4 v4 #f4 ,and he 8enlightens every man that cometh into the world10 that through him they might all believe4 ,and ,christ bids them believe in the light2 but all they that hate the light1 which ,christ bids all believe in1 are reprobated4 ,again1 8the manifestation of the ,spirit of ,god is given to every man1 to profit withal20 but they that vex1 quench and grieve it1 are in the reprobation2 and the fault is in them1 as it is also in them that hate his light4 ,the apostle says1 8,the grace of ,god1 which brings salvation1 hath appeared unto all men1 teaching us that1 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts1 we should live soberly1 righteously1 and godly1 in this present world10 ,tit4 ii4 #aa1 #ab4 ,now when men and women live ungodly1 and in the lusts of the world1 turn this grace of ,god into wantonness1 and walk despitefully against it1 and so deny ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that bought them2 the fault is in all such as thus turn the grace of ,god into wantonness1 and walk despitefully against that which would bring their salvation1 and save them out of the reprobation4 ,but the priests1 it seems1 can see no fault in such as deny ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that hath bought them--such as deny his light1 which they should believe in1 and his grace1 which should teach them to live godly1 and which should bring them their salvation4 ,now all that believe in the light of ,christ1 as he commands1 are in the election1 and sit under the teaching of the grace of ,god which brings their salvation4 ,but such as turn this grace into wantonness1 are in the reprobation2 and such as hate the light are in the condemnation4 ,therefore ,i exhorted all the people to believe in the light1 as ,christ commands1 and own the grace of ,god1 their free teacher2 and it would assuredly bring them their salvation2 for it is sufficient4 ,many other ,scriptures were opened1 concerning reprobation1 and the eyes of the people were opened2 and a spring of life rose up among them4 ,these things soon came to the priests' ears2 for the people that sat under their dark teachings1 began to see light and to come into the covenant of light4 ,the noise was spread over ,scotland1 amongst the priests1 that ,i was come thither2 and a great cry was among them that all would be spoiled2 for they said ,i had spoiled all the honest men and women in ,england already1 so according to their account the worst was left to them4 ,upon this they gathered great assemblies of priests together1 and drew up a number of curses to be read in their several steeple-houses1 that all the people might say 8,amen0 to them4 ,some few of these ,i will here set down1 the rest may be read in the book before mentioned1 of ,the ,scotch ,priests' ,principles4 ,the first was1 8,cursed is he that saith1 every man hath a light within him sufficient to lead him to salvation2 and let all the people say1 ,amen40 ,the second1 8,cursed is he that saith1 faith is without sin2 and let all the people say1 ,amen40 ,the third1 8,cursed is he that denieth the ,sabbath day2 and let all the people say1 ,amen40#ee ,footnote #ee3 ,it is justly observed by a writer1 not of the ,society of ,friends1 that these 8place the ,presbyterian ,christianity of that day in a most unfavourable light1 and show how deeply it was imbued with a sour persecuting spirit of ,popery40 ,in this last they make the people curse themselves2 for on the ,sabbath day 7which is the seventh-day of the week1 which the ,jews kept by the command of ,god to them71 they kept markets and fairs1 and so brought the curse upon their own heads4 ,as to the first1 concerning the light1 ,christ saith1 8,believe in the light1 that ye may become children of the light20 and 8he that believeth shall be saved2 he that believeth shall have everlasting life2 he that believeth passes from death to life1 and is grafted into ,christ40 ,and 8ye do well10 said the apostle1 8that ye take heed unto the light that shines in the dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts40 ,so the light is sufficient to lead unto the day-star4 ,and as concerning faith1 it is the gift of ,god2 and every gift of ,god is pure4 ,the faith1 which ,christ is the author of1 is precious1 divine1 and without sin4 ,this is the faith which gives victory over sin1 and access to ,god2 in which faith1 they please ,god4 ,but they are reprobates themselves concerning this faith1 and are in their dead faith1 who charge sin upon this faith1 under pain of a curse2 which faith gives victory over their curse1 and returns it into their own bowels4 ,a company of ,scots near ,,badcow1 challenged a dispute with some of our ,scotch ,friends1 for with me they would not dispute2 so some of the ,scotch ,friends met them at the market-place4 ,the dispute was to be concerning the ,sabbath-day1 and some other of their principles before-mentioned2 and ,i having got their principles and assertions1 showed the ,friends where they might easily be overthrown1 and a ,scotch ,friend1 a smith1 overthrew them clearly4 ,there were two ,independent churches in ,scotland1 in one of which many were convinced2 but the pastor of the other was in a great rage against truth and ,friends4 ,they had their elders1 who sometimes would exercise their gifts amongst the church-members1 and were sometimes pretty tender2 but their pastor speaking so much against the light and us1 the friends of ,christ1 he darkened his hearers1 so that they grew blind1 and dry1 and lost their tenderness4 ,he continued preaching against ,friends1 and against the light of ,christ ,jesus1 calling it natural2 at last one day in his preaching1 he cursed the light1 and fell down1 as if dead1 in his pulpit4 ,the people carried him out1 and laid him upon a grave-stone1 and poured strong waters into him1 which brought him to life again2 and they carried him home1 but he was mopish4 ,after a while he stripped off his clothes1 put on a ,scotch plaid1 and went into the country amongst the dairy-women4 ,when he had stayed there about two weeks1 he came home1 and went into the pulpit again4 ,whereupon the people expected some great manifestation or revelation from him2 but1 instead thereof1 he began to tell them what entertainment he had met with2 how one woman gave him skimmed-milk1 another gave him buttermilk1 and another gave him good milk2 so the people were fain to take him out of the pulpit again1 and carry him home4 ,he that gave me this account was ,andrew ,robinson1 one of his chief hearers1 who came afterwards to be convinced1 and received the truth4 ,he said he never heard that he recovered his senses again4 ,by this people may see what came upon him that cursed the light2 which ,light is the ,life in ,christ1 the ,word2 and it may be a warning to all others1 that speak evil against the ,light of ,christ4 ,now were the priests in such a rage1 that they posted to ,edinburgh to ,oliver ,cromwell's council there1 with petitions against me4 ,the noise was1 8that all was gone20 for several ,friends were come out of ,england and spread over ,scotland1 sounding the day of the ,lord1 preaching the everlasting gospel of salvation1 and turning people to ,christ ,jesus1 who died for them1 that they might receive his free teaching4 ,after ,i had gathered the principles of the ,scotch priests1 and the sufferings of ,friends1 and had seen the ,friends in that part of ,scotland settled1 by the ,lord's power1 upon ,christ their foundation1 ,i went to ,edinburgh1 and in the way came to ,,linlithgow2 where1 lodging at an inn1 the innkeeper's wife1 who was blind1 received the word of life1 and came under the teaching of ,christ ,jesus1 her ,saviour4 ,at night there came in abundance of soldiers and some officers1 with whom we had much discourse2 some were rude4 ,one of the officers said1 8he would obey the ,turk's or ,pilate's command if they should command him to guard ,christ to crucify him40 ,so far was he from all tenderness1 or sense of the ,spirit of ,christ1 that he would rather crucify the just1 than suffer for or with the just2 whereas many officers and magistrates have lost their places1 before they would turn against the ,lord and his ,just ,one4 ,when ,i had stayed a while at ,,edinburgh1 ,i went to ,,leith1 where many officers of the army came in with their wives1 and many were convinced4 ,among these ,edward ,billing's wife was one2 she brought a great deal of coral in her hand1 and threw it on the table before me1 to see whether ,i would speak against it or not4 ,i took no notice of it1 but declared the truth to her1 and she was reached4 ,there came in many ,baptists1 who were very rude1 but the ,lord's power came over them1 so that they went away confounded4 ,then there came in another sort1 and one of them said1 8he would dispute with me2 and for argument's sake1 would deny there was a ,god40 ,i told him1 8he might be one of those fools that said in his heart1 ,there is no ,god1 but he should know him in the day of his judgment40 ,so he went his way2 and a precious time we had afterwards with several people of account2 and the ,lord's power came over all4 ,william ,osburn was with me4 ,colonel ,lidcott's wife and ,william ,welch's wife1 and several of the officers themselves1 were convinced4 ,edward ,billing and his wife at that time lived apart2 and she being reached by truth1 and become loving to ,friends1 we sent for her husband1 who came2 and the ,lord's power reached unto them both1 they joined in it1 and agreed to live together in love and unity1 as man and wife4 ,after this we returned to ,,edinburgh1 where many thousands were gathered together1 with abundance of priests among them1 about burning a witch1 and ,i was moved to declare the day of the ,lord amongst them4 ,when ,i had done1 ,i went to our meeting1 whither many rude people and ,baptists came4 ,the ,baptists began to vaunt with their logic and syllogisms2 but ,i was moved in the ,lord's power to thrash their chaffy1 light minds2 and showed the people that1 after that fallacious way of discoursing1 they might make white seem black1 and black white2 as1 that because a cock had two legs1 and each of them had two legs1 therefore they were all cocks4 ,thus they might turn anything into lightness and vanity2 but it was not the way of ,christ or his apostles1 to teach1 speak1 or reason1 after that manner4 ,hereupon those ,baptists went their way1 and after they were gone1 we had a blessed meeting in the ,lord's power1 which was over all4 ,i mentioned before1 that many of the ,scotch priests1 being greatly disturbed at the spreading of truth1 and the loss of their hearers thereby1 were gone to ,edinburgh1 to petition the council against me4 ,now1 when ,i came from the meeting to the inn where ,i lodged1 an officer belonging to the council brought me the following order3-- 8,thursday1 the #hth of ,october1 #afeg1 at his ,highness's ,council in ,scotland4 ,,ordered1 ,that ,george ,fox do appear before the ,council on ,tuesday1 the #acth of ,october next1 in the forenoon4 ,e4 ,,downing1 ,clerk of the ,council40 ,when he had delivered me the order1 he asked me1 8whether ,i would appear or not80 ,i did not tell him whether ,i would or not2 but asked him 8if he had not forged the order30 he said1 8no1 it was a real order from the council1 and he was sent1 as their messenger1 with it40 ,when the time came ,i appeared1 and was conducted into a large room1 where many great persons came and looked at me4 ,after a while the door-keeper had me into the council-chamber2 and as ,i was going in1 he took off my hat4 ,i asked him 8why he did so1 and who was there1 that ,i might not go in with my hat on80 for ,i told him 8,i had been before the ,protector with it on40 ,but he hung it up1 and had me in before them4 ,when ,i had stood a while1 and they had said nothing to me1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to say1 8,peace be amongst you2 wait in the fear of ,god1 that ye may receive his wisdom from above1 by which all things were made and created2 that by it ye may all be ordered1 and may order all things unto your hands to ,god's glory40 ,they asked me1 8what was the occasion of my coming into that nation80 ,i told them1 8,i came to visit the seed of ,god1 which had long lain in bondage under corruption2 and the intent of my coming was1 that all in the nation1 that professed the ,scriptures1 the words of ,christ1 and of the prophets1 and apostles1 might come to the light1 ,spirit1 and power1 which they were in1 who gave them forth2 that so in and by the ,spirit they might understand the ,scriptures1 know ,christ and ,god aright1 and have fellowship with them1 and one with another40 ,they asked me 8whether ,i had any outward business there80 ,i said1 8nay40 ,then they asked me how long ,i intended to stay in the country8 ,i told them 8,i should say little to that2 my time was not to be long1 yet in my freedom in the ,lord1 ,i stood in the will of him that sent me40 ,then they bid me withdraw1 and the door-keeper took me by the hand1 and led me forth4 ,in a little time they sent for me again1 and told me1 8,i must depart the nation of ,scotland by that day seventh night40 ,i asked them1 8why1 what had ,i done8 ,what was my transgression1 that they passed such a sentence upon me to depart out of the nation80 ,they told me1 8they would not dispute with me40 ,then ,i desired them 8to hear what ,i had to say to them20 but they said1 8they would not hear me40 ,i told them1 ,pharaoh heard ,moses and ,aaron1 and yet he was a heathen and no ,christian1 and ,herod heard ,john the ,baptist2 and they should not be worse than these4 ,but they cried1 8withdraw1 withdraw40 ,whereupon the door-keeper took me again by the hand1 and led me out4 ,then ,i returned to my inn1 and continued still in ,edinburgh1 visiting ,friends there and thereabouts1 and strengthening them in the ,lord4 ,after a little time1 ,i wrote a letter to the council1 to lay before them their unchristian dealing in banishing me1 an innocent man1 that sought their salvation and eternal good2 a copy of which letter here follows3-- 8,to the ,council of ,edinburgh4 8,ye that sit in council1 and bring before your judgment-seat the innocent1 the just1 without showing the least cause what evil ,i have done1 or convicting me of any breach of law2 and afterward banish me out of your nation and country1 without telling me why1 or what evil ,i had done2 though ,i told you1 when ye asked me how long ,i would stay in the nation1 that my time was not long 7,i spoke it innocently71 and yet ye banish me4 ,will not all1 think ye1 that fear ,god1 judge this to be wickedness8 ,consider1 did not they sit in council about ,stephen1 when they stoned him to death8 ,did not they sit in council about ,peter and ,john1 when they haled them out of the temple1 and put them out of their council for a little season1 and took counsel together1 and then brought them in again and threatened them1 and charged them to speak no more in that name8 ,was not this to stop the truth from spreading in that time8 ,and had not the priests a hand in these things with the magistrates8 and in examining ,stephen1 when he was stoned to death8 ,was not the council gathered together against ,jesus ,christ to put him to death8 and had not the chief priests a hand in it8 ,when they go to persecute the just1 and crucify the just1 do they not then neglect judgment1 and mercy1 and justice1 and the weighty matters of the law1 which is just8 ,was not the apostle ,paul tossed up and down by the priests and the rulers8 ,was not ,john the ,baptist cast into prison8 ,are not ye doing the same work1 showing what spirit ye are of8 ,now do not ye show the end of your profession1 the end of your prayers1 the end of your religion1 and the end of your teaching1 who are now come to banish the truth1 and him that is come to declare it unto you8 ,doth not this show that ye are but in the words1 out of the life1 of the prophets1 ,christ1 and his apostles8 for they did not use such practice as to banish any4 ,how do ye receive strangers1 which is a command of ,god among the prophets1 ,christ1 and the apostles8 ,some by that means have entertained angels at unawares2 but ye banish one that comes to visit the ,seed of ,god1 and is not chargeable to any of you4 ,will not all that fear ,god1 look upon this to be spite and wickedness against the truth8 ,how are ye like to love enemies1 that banish your friend8 ,how are ye like to do good to them that hate you1 when ye do evil to them that love you8 ,how are ye like to heap coals of fire on their heads that hate you1 and to overcome evil with good1 when ye banish thus8 ,do ye not manifest to all that are in the truth1 that ye have not the ,christian spirit8 ,how did ye do justice to me1 when ye could not convict me of any evil1 yet banish me8 ,this shows that truth is banished out of your hearts1 and ye have taken part against the truth with evil-doers2 with the wicked1 envious priests1 and stoners1 strikers1 and mockers in the streets2 with these1 ye that banish1 have taken part4 ,whereas ye should have been a terror to these1 and a praise to them that do well1 and succourers of them that are in the truth2 then might ye have been a blessing to the nation2 ye would not have banished him that was moved of the ,lord to visit the ,seed of ,god1 and thereby have brought your names upon record1 and made them to stink in ages to come1 among them that fear ,god4 ,were not the magistrates stirred up in former ages to persecute or banish1 by the corrupt priests8 and did not the corrupt priests stir up the rude multitude against the just in other ages8 ,therefore are your streets like ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,did not the ,jews and the priests make the ,gentiles' minds envious against the apostles8 ,who were they that would not have the prophet ,amos to prophesy at the king's chapel2 but bid him fly his way8 ,and when ,jeremiah was put in the prison1 in the dungeon1 and in the stocks1 had not the priests a hand with the princes in doing it8 ,now see all that were in this work of banishing1 prisoning1 persecuting1 whether they were not all out of the life of ,christ1 the prophets1 and apostles8 ,to the witness of ,god in you all ,i speak4 ,consider whether they were not always the blind magistrates1 who turned their sword backward1 that knew not their friends from their foes1 and so hit their friends8 ,such magistrates were deceived by flattery40 ,g4 ,f4 ,when this was delivered1 and read amongst them1 some of them1 ,i heard1 were troubled at what they had done1 being made sensible that they would not be so served themselves4 ,but it was not long before they that banished me1 were banished themselves1 or glad to get away2 who would not do good in the day when they had power1 nor suffer others that would4 ,after ,i had spent some time among ,friends at ,edinburgh1 and thereabouts1 ,i passed to ,,heads again1 where ,friends had been in great sufferings2 for the ,presbyterian priests had excommunicated them1 and given charge that none should buy or sell1 or eat or drink with them4 ,so they could neither sell their commodities1 nor buy what they wanted2 which made it go very hard with some of them2 for if they had bought bread or other victuals of any of their neighbours1 the priests threatened them so with curses1 that they would run and fetch it from them again4 ,but ,colonel ,ashfield being a justice of peace in that country1 put a stop to the priests' proceedings4 ,this ,colonel ,ashfield was afterwards convinced himself1 had a meeting settled at his house1 declared the truth1 and lived and died in it4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends at ,heads and thereaways1 and had encouraged them in the ,lord1 ,i went to ,,glasgow1 where a meeting was appointed2 but not one of the town came to it4 ,as ,i went into the city1 the guard at the gates took me before the governor1 who was a moderate man4 ,much discourse ,i had with him2 but he was too light to receive the truth1 yet he set me at liberty2 so ,i passed to the meeting4 ,but seeing none of the town's-people came1 we declared truth through the town1 and so passed away2 and having visited ,friends in their meetings thereabouts1 returned towards ,,badcow4 ,several ,friends declared truth in their steeple-houses1 and the ,lord's power was with them4 ,once as ,i was going with ,william ,osburn to his house1 there lay a company of rude fellows by the way-side1 hid under the hedges and in bushes4 ,seeing them1 ,i asked him1 8what they were80 8,o10 said he1 8they are thieves40 ,robert ,widders1 being moved to go and speak to a priest1 was left behind1 intending to come after4 ,so ,i said to ,william ,osburn1 8,i will stay here in this valley1 and do thou go look after ,robert ,widders20 but he was unwilling to go1 being afraid to leave me there alone1 because of those fellows1 till ,i told him1 8,i feared them not40 ,then ,i called to them1 asking them1 8what they lay lurking there for10 and ,i bid them come to me2 but they were loath to come4 ,i charged them to come up to me1 or else it might be worse with them2 then they came trembling1 for the dread of the ,lord had struck them4 ,i admonished them to be honest1 and directed them to the light of ,christ in their hearts1 that by it they might see what an evil it was to follow after theft and robbery2 and the power of the ,lord came over them4 ,i stayed there till ,william ,osburn and ,robert ,widders came up1 and then we passed on together4 ,but it is likely that1 if we two had gone away before1 they would have robbed ,robert ,widders when he had come after alone1 there being three or four of them4 ,we went to ,william ,osburn's house1 where we had a good opportunity to declare the truth to several people that came in4 ,then we went among the ,highlanders1 who were so devilish they had like to have spoiled us and our horses2 for they ran at us with pitch-forks2 but through the ,lord's goodness we escaped them1 being preserved by his power4 ,thence we passed to ,,stirling1 where the soldiers took us up1 and had us to the main-guard4 ,after a few words with the officers1 the ,lord's power coming over them1 we were set at liberty3 but no meeting could we get amongst them in the town1 they were so closed up in darkness4 ,next morning there came a man with a horse that was to run a race1 and most of the town's-people and officers went to see it4 ,as they came back from the race1 ,i had a brave opportunity to declare the day of the ,lord1 and his word of life amongst them4 ,some confessed to it1 and some opposed2 but the ,lord's truth and power came over them all4 ,leaving ,stirling1 we came to ,,burntisland1 where ,i had two meetings at one ,captain ,pool's house2 one in the morning1 the other in the afternoon4 ,whilst they went to dine1 ,i walked to the seaside1 not having freedom to eat with them4 ,both he and his wife were convinced1 and became good ,friends afterwards1 and several officers of the army came in and received the truth4 ,we passed thence through several other places1 till we came to ,,johnstons1 where were several ,baptists that were very bitter1 and came in a rage to dispute with us3 vain janglers and disputers indeed they were4 ,when they could not prevail by disputing1 they went and informed the governor against us2 and next morning raised a whole company of foot1 and banished me1 and ,alexander ,parker1 also ,james ,lancaster1 and ,robert ,widders out of the town4 ,as they guarded us through the town1 ,james ,lancaster was moved to sing with a melodious sound in the power of ,god2 and ,i was moved to proclaim the day of the ,lord1 and preach the everlasting gospel to the people4 ,for they generally came forth1 so that the streets were filled with them3 and the soldiers were so ashamed that they said1 8they would rather have gone to ,jamaica1 than have guarded us so40 ,but we were put into a boat with our horses1 carried over the water1 and there left4 ,the ,baptists1 who were the cause of our being put out of this town1 were themselves1 not long after1 turned out of the army2 and he that was then governor was discarded also when the king came in4 ,being thus thrust out of ,johnstons1 we went to another market-town1 where ,edward ,billing#ef and many soldiers quartered4 ,we went to an inn1 and desired to have a meeting in the town1 that we might preach the everlasting gospel amongst them4 ,the officers and soldiers said1 we should have it in the town-hall2 but the ,scotch magistrates in spite appointed a meeting there that day for the business of the town4 ,when the officers of the soldiery understood this1 and perceived that it was done in malice1 they would have had us to go into the town-hall nevertheless4 ,but we told them1 8by no means1 for then the magistrates might inform the governor against them1 and say1 they took the town-hall from them by force1 when they were to do their town business therein40 ,we told them1 8we would go to the market-place20 they said1 8it was market-day20 we replied1 8it was so much the better2 for we would have all people to hear truth1 and know our principles40 ,alexander ,parker went and stood upon the market-cross with a ,bible in his hand1 and declared the truth amongst the soldiers and market-people2 but the ,scots1 being a dark1 carnal people1 gave little heed1 and hardly took notice of what was said4 ,after a while ,i was moved of the ,lord to stand up at the cross1 and declare with a loud voice the everlasting truth1 and the day of the ,lord that was coming upon all sin and wickedness4 ,whereupon the people came running out of the town-hall1 and they gathered so together1 that at last we had a large meeting2 for they sat in the court only for a pretence1 to hinder us from having the hall to meet in4 ,when the people were come away1 the magistrates followed them4 ,some walked by1 but some stayed and heard2 and the ,lord's power came over all1 and kept all quiet4 8,the people were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who died for them1 and had enlightened them1 that with his light they might see their evil deeds1 be saved from their sins by him1 and come to know him to be their teacher4 ,but if they would not receive ,christ and own him1 it was told them1 that this light1 which came from him1 would be their condemnation40 ,footnote #ef3 ,edward ,billing was a faithful sufferer for the truth4 ,henry ,fell1 in a letter to ,margaret ,fell1 in #affj1 mentions ,friends being beat very sore1 and exceedingly abused in the streets4 8,they pulled me out of meeting10 he says1 8beat me much1 knocked me down in the street1 and tore all my coat4 ,edward ,billing and his wife were much abused1 he especially40 ,edward ,billing was one of the three ,friends1 who1 in #afei1 appeared before the bar of the ,house of ,commons1 to present an address describing the sufferings of ,friends1 and signed by #afd of the ,society1 wherein they make an offer of their own bodies1 person for person1 to lie in prison instead of such of their brethren as were then under confinement1 and might be in danger of their lives through extreme durance4 7,see ,letters of ,early ,friends1 pp4 #fb-fh47 ,although little or no apparent effect appeared to be produced at the time in the ,house from the above-mentioned appeal1 it appears1 from the journals of the ,commons in the month following1 a committee was appointed1 8to consider of the imprisonment of such persons who continue committed for conscience sake1 and how1 and in what manner they are1 and continue committed1 together with the whole cause thereof1 and how they may be discharged2 and to report the same to the ,parliament40 ,several of them were made loving to us1 especially the ,english people1 and some came afterwards to be convinced4 ,but there was a soldier that was very envious against us2 he hated both us and the truth1 spoke evil of it1 and very despitefully against the light of ,christ ,jesus1 to which we bore testimony4 ,mighty zealous he was for the priests and their hearers4 ,as this man was hearing the priest1 holding his hat before his face1 while the priest prayed1 one of the priest's hearers stabbed him to death2 so he who had rejected the teachings of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and cried down the servants of the ,lord1 was murdered amongst them whom he had so cried up1 and by one of them4 ,we travelled from this town to ,,leith1 warning and exhorting people1 as we went1 to turn to the ,lord4 ,at ,leith the innkeeper told me1 that the council had granted warrants to apprehend me1 8because ,i was not gone out of the nation1 after the seven days were expired1 that they had ordered me to depart in40 ,several friendly people also came and told me the same2 to whom ,i said1 8,what do ye tell me of their warrants against me8 if there were a cart-load of them ,i do not heed them1 for the ,lord's power is over them all40 ,i went from ,leith to ,,edinburgh again1 where they said the warrants of the council were out against me4 ,i went to the inn where ,i had lodged before1 and no man offered to meddle with me4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends in the city1 ,i desired those that travelled with me1 to get ready their horses in the morning1 and we rode out of town together2 there were with me at that time1 ,thomas ,rawlinson1 ,alexander ,parker1 and ,robert ,widders4 ,when we were out of town they asked me1 8whither ,i would go80 ,i told them it was upon me from the ,lord to go back again to ,johnstons 7the town out of which we had been lately thrust17 to set the power of ,god and his truth over them also4 ,alexander ,parker said1 8he would go along with me20 and ,i wished the other two to stay at a town1 about three miles from ,edinburgh1 till we returned4 ,then ,alexander and ,i got over the water1 about three miles across1 and rode through the country2 but in the afternoon1 his horse being weak1 and not able to hold up with mine1 ,i put on and got into ,johnstons just as they were drawing up the bridges2 the officers and soldiers never questioning me4 ,i rode up the street to ,captain ,davenport's house1 from which we had been banished4 ,there were many officers with him2 and when ,i came amongst them1 they lifted up their hands1 wondering that ,i should come again2 but ,i told them1 8the ,lord ,god had sent me amongst them again20 so they went their way4 ,the ,baptists sent me a letter1 by way of challenge1 8to discourse with me next day40 ,i sent them word1 8,i would meet them at such a house1 about half a mile out of the town1 at such an hour40 ,for ,i considered1 if ,i should stay in town to discourse with them1 they might under pretence of discoursing with me1 have raised men to put me out of the town again as they had done before4 ,at the time appointed ,i went to the place1 ,captain ,davenport and his son accompanying me1 where ,i stayed some hours1 but not one of them came4 ,while ,i stayed there waiting for them1 ,i saw ,alexander ,parker coming2 who not being able to reach the town1 had lain out the night before2 and ,i was exceedingly glad that we were met again4 ,this ,captain ,davenport was then loving to ,friends2 but afterwards coming more into obedience to truth1 he was turned out of his place for not putting off his hat1 and for saying ,thou and ,thee to them4 ,when we had waited beyond reasonable ground to expect any of them coming1 we departed2 and ,alexander ,parker being moved to go again to the town1 where we had the meeting at the market-cross1 ,i passed alone to ,lieutenant ,foster's quarters1 where ,i found several officers that were convinced4 ,from thence ,i went up to the town1 where ,i had left the other two ,friends1 and we went back to ,,edinburgh together4 ,when we were come to the city1 ,i bid ,robert ,widders follow me2 and in the dread and power of the ,lord we came up to the first two sentries2 and the ,lord's power came so over them1 that we passed by them without any examination4 ,then we rode up the street to the marketplace1 by the main-guard out at the gate by the third sentry1 and so clear out at the suburbs1 and there came to an inn and set up our horses1 it being the seventh-day of the week4 ,now ,i saw and felt that we had rode1 as it were1 against the cannon's mouth1 or the sword's point2 but the ,lord's power and immediate hand carried us over the heads of them all4 ,next day ,i went to the meeting in the city1 ,friends having notice that ,i would attend it4 ,there came many officers and soldiers to it1 and a glorious meeting it was2 the everlasting power of ,god was set over the nation1 and his ,son reigned in his glorious power4 ,all was quiet1 and no man offered to meddle with me4 ,when the meeting was ended1 and ,i had visited ,friends1 ,i came out of the city to my inn again2 and next day1 being the second day of the week1 we set forward towards the borders of ,england4 ,as we travelled along the country ,i spied a steeple-house1 and it struck at my life4 ,i asked 8what steeple-house it was10 and was answered that it was ,,dunbar4 ,when ,i came thither1 and had put up at an inn1 ,i walked to the steeple-house1 having a friend or two with me4 ,when we came into the yard1 one of the chief men of the town was walking there4 ,i spoke to one of the friends that were with me1 to go to him and tell him1 8that about nine next morning there would be a meeting there of the people of ,god called ,quakers2 of which we desired he would give notice to the people of the town40 ,he sent me word1 that they were to have a lecture there at nine2 but that we might have our meeting there at eight1 if we would4 ,we concluded so1 and desired him to give notice of it4 ,accordingly in the morning both poor and rich came2 and there being a captain of horse quartered in the town1 he and his troopers came also1 so that we had a large meeting2 and a glorious one it was1 the ,lord's power being over all4 ,after some time the priest came1 and went into the steeple-house2 but we being in the yard1 most of the people stayed with us4 ,friends were so full1 and their voices so high in the power of ,god1 that the priest could do little in the steeple-house1 but came quickly out again1 stood a while1 and then went his way4 ,i opened to the people1 8where they might find ,christ ,jesus1 turned them to the light1 which he had enlightened them withal1 that in the light they might see ,christ1 that died for them1 turn to him1 and know him to be their ,saviour and free teacher4 ,i let them see1 that all the teachers they had hitherto followed1 were hirelings1 who made the gospel chargeable2 showed them the wrong ways they had walked in1 in the night of apostacy1 directed them to ,christ1 the new and living way to ,god2 manifested unto them1 how they had lost the religion and worship which ,christ set up in spirit and truth1 and had hitherto been in the religions and worships of men's making and setting up4 ,after ,i had turned the people to the ,spirit of ,god1 which led the holy men of ,god to give forth the ,scriptures2 and showed them1 that they must also come to receive1 and be led by1 the same ,spirit in themselves 7a measure of which was given unto every one of them71 if ever they came to know ,god and ,christ1 and the ,scriptures aright2 perceiving the other ,friends that were with me to be full of the power and word of the ,lord1 ,i stepped down1 giving way for them to declare what they had from the ,lord unto the people40 ,towards the latter end of the meeting some professors began to jangle2 whereupon ,i stood up again1 and answered their questions1 so that they seemed to be satisfied1 and our meeting ended in the ,lord's power1 quiet and peaceable4 ,this was the last meeting ,i had in ,scotland2 the truth and the power of ,god was set over that nation1 and many1 by the power and ,spirit of ,god1 were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their ,saviour and teacher1 whose blood was shed for them2 and there is since a great increase1 and great there will be in ,scotland4 ,for when first ,i set my horse's feet upon ,scottish ground1 ,i felt the seed of ,god to sparkle about me1 like innumerable sparks of fire4 ,not but that there is abundance of thick1 cloddy earth of hypocrisy and falseness above1 and a briery1 brambly nature1 which is to be burnt up with ,god's ,word1 and ploughed up with his spiritual plough1 before ,god's ,seed brings forth heavenly and spiritual fruit to his glory4 ,but the husbandman is to wait in patience4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 #afeg-afei4--;,george ,fox journeys from ,scotland to ,england--dissuades a person from setting up a college at ,durham to make ministers--has a meeting with ,rice ,jones and his people--attends a general ,yearly ,meeting for the whole nation1 held at ,john ,crook's1 which continued three days--address to ,friends in the ministry--disputes with a ,jesuit--writes to ,lady ,claypole--writes to ,cromwell respecting the fast on account of persecution abroad1 whilst there was much of it at home--writes a reproof to ,parliament for their hypocrisy--speaks to the ,protector in ,hampton-,court ,park about ,friends' sufferings--the ,protector invites ,fox to his house--he goes next day1 but the ,protector being sick he does not see him--the ,protector died soon after--writes to encourage ,friends to faithfulness--has a foresight of the ,king's restoration long before the event occurred1 as well as several others--,friends are disseized of their copyhold lands for refusing to swear--cautions ,friends to avoid plots1 c4--against bearing arms--great places in the army are offered to ,friends1 but invariably refused--priest ,townsend fails to substantiate his charge of error and blasphemy against ,george ,fox1 and is signally defeated--,george ,fox's vision of the city of ,london is realized--he gives a final warning to those in authority before their overthrow4 ,from ,dunbar we came to ,,berwick1 where we were questioned a little by the officers3 but the governor was loving towards us2 and in the evening we had a little meeting1 in which the power of the ,lord was manifested over all4 ,leaving ,berwick1 we came to ,,morpeth1 and so through the country1 visiting ,friends1 to ,,newcastle1 where ,i had been once before4 ,the ,newcastle priests had written many books against us2 and one ,ledger1 an alderman of the town1 was very envious against truth and ,friends4 ,he and the priests had said1 8the ,quakers would not come into any great towns1 but lived in the ,fells1 like butterflies40 ,so ,i took ,anthony ,pearson with me1 and went to this ,ledger1 and several others of the aldermen1 8desiring to have a meeting amongst them1 seeing they had written so many books against us1 for we were now come1 ,i told them1 into their great town40 ,but they would not allow we should have a meeting1 neither would they be spoken to withal1 save only this ,ledger and one other4 ,i queried1 8had they not called ,friends butterflies1 and said1 we would not come into any great towns8 and now we were come into their town1 they would not hear us1 though they had printed books against us2 #8,who are the butterflies now8'0 said ,i4 ,then ,ledger began to plead for the ,sabbath-day2 but ,i told him they kept markets and fairs on that which was the ,sabbath-day1 for that was the seventh day of the week2 whereas that day1 which the professed ,christians now met on1 and call their ,sabbath1 is the first day of the week4 ,as we could not have a public meeting among them1 we got a little one among ,friends and friendly people1 at ,gateshead2 where a meeting is continued to this day1 in the name of ,jesus4 ,as ,i was passing by the market-place1 the power of the ,lord rose in me1 8to warn them of the day of the ,lord1 that was coming upon them40 ,and not long after1 all those priests of ,newcastle and their profession1 were turned out1 when the king came in4 ,from ,newcastle we travelled through the countries1 having meetings and visiting ,friends as we went1 in ,northumberland and ,durham4 ,a very good one we had at ,lieutenant ,dove's1 where many were turned to the ,lord and his teaching4 ,after the meeting ,i went to visit a justice of peace1 a very sober1 loving man1 who confessed to the truth4 ,thence we came to ,,durham1 where was a man come from ,london1 to set up a college there1 to make ministers of ,christ1 as they said4 ,i went1 with some others1 to reason with him1 and to let him see1 8that to teach men ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin1 and the seven arts1 which were all but the teachings of the natural man1 was not the way to make them ministers of ,christ4 ,for the languages began at ,babel2 and to the ,greeks1 that spoke ,greek1 as their mother-tongue1 the preaching of the cross of ,christ was foolishness2 and to the ,jews1 that spoke ,hebrew as their mother-tongue1 ,christ was a stumbling-block4 ,the ,romans1 who had the ,latin1 persecuted the ,christians2 and ,pilate1 one of the ,roman governors1 set ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin over ,christ1 when he crucified him4 ,so he might see the many languages began at ,babel1 and they set them above ,christ1 the ,word1 when they crucified him4 ,john the divine1 who preached the ,word1 that was in the beginning1 said1 #8that the beast and the whore have power over tongues and languages1 and they are as waters4' ,thus ,i told him he might see1 the whore and beast have power over the tongues and the many languages which are in mystery ,babylon2 for they began at ,babel2 and the persecutors of ,christ ,jesus set them over him1 when he was crucified by them2 but he is risen above them all1 who was before them all4 #8,now1' said ,i1 to this man1 #8dost thou think to make ministers of ,christ by these natural1 confused languages1 which sprung from ,babel1 are admired in ,babylon1 and set above ,christ1 the ,life1 by a persecutor8' ,o no60 ,the man confessed to many of these things4 ,then we showed him further1 8that ,christ made his ministers himself1 gave gifts unto them1 and bid them #8pray to the ,lord of the harvest1 to send forth labourers4' ,and ,peter and ,john1 though unlearned and ignorant 7as to school-learning7 preached ,christ ,jesus1 the ,word1 which was in the beginning1 before ,babel was4 ,paul also was made an apostle1 not of man1 nor by man1 neither received he the gospel from man1 but from ,jesus ,christ1 who is the same now1 and so is his gospel1 as it was at that day40 ,when we had thus discoursed with the man1 he became very loving and tender2 and1 after he had considered further of it1 declined to set up his college4 ,from ,durham we went to ,anthony ,pearson's3 thence into ,,cleveland1 passed through ,yorkshire to the further end of ,,holderness1 and had mighty meetings1 the ,lord's power accompanying us4 ,after we left ,anthony ,pearson's1 we went by ,,hull and ,,pontefract1 to ,george ,watkinson's house1 and visited most of the meetings in those parts1 till we came to ,,scale-,,house1 and so to ,,swarthmore2 the everlasting power and arm of ,god carrying us through and preserving us4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends thereaways1 ,i passed into ,yorkshire again1 and ,cheshire1 and so through other counties into ,derbyshire and ,nottinghamshire3 glorious meetings we had1 the ,lord's presence being with us4 ,at ,,nottingham ,i sent to ,rice ,jones1 desiring him to make his people acquainted1 that ,i had something to say to them from the ,lord4 ,he came and told me1 8many of them lived in the country1 and he could not tell how to send to them40 ,i told him1 8he might acquaint those about the town of it1 and send to as many in the country as he could40 ,next day we met at the castle1 there being about fourscore people1 to whom ,i declared the truth for about two hours2 and the ,lord's power was over them all1 so that they were not able to open their mouths in opposition4 ,when ,i had done1 one of them asked me a question1 which ,i was loath to answer1 for ,i saw it might lead to dispute1 and ,i was unwilling to go into jangling1 for some of the people were tender2 yet ,i could not well tell how to escape it4 ,wherefore ,i answered the question1 and was moved forthwith to speak to ,rice ,jones1 and lay before him1 8that he had been the man that had scattered such as had been tender1 and some that had been convinced1 and had been led out of many vanities of the world1 which he had formerly judged2 but now he judged the power of ,god in them1 and they1 being simple1 turned to him2 and so he and they were turned to be vainer than the world3 for many of his followers were become the greatest foot-ball players and wrestlers in the country4 ,i told him1 it was the serpent in him1 that had scattered1 and done hurt to such as were tender towards the ,lord4 ,nevertheless1 if he waited in the fear of ,god1 for the ,seed of the woman1 ,christ ,jesus1 to bruise the serpent's head in him1 that had scattered and done the hurt1 he might come to gather them again by this heavenly ,seed2 though it would be a hard work for him to gather them again out of those vanities he had led them into40 ,at this ,rice ,jones said1 8,thou liest1 it is not the ,seed of the woman that bruises the serpent's head40 8,no60 said ,i1 8what is it then80 8,i say it is the law10 said he4 8,but10 said ,i1 8the ,scripture1 speaking of the ,seed of the woman1 saith1 #8,it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise his heel4' ,now1 hath the law an heel10 said ,i1 8to be bruised80 ,then ,rice ,jones and all his company were at a stand1 and ,i was moved in the power of the ,lord to speak to him1 and say1 8,this ,seed1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,seed of the woman1 which should bruise the serpent's head1 shall bruise thy head1 and break you all to pieces40 ,thus did ,i leave on the heads of them the ,seed1 ,christ2 and not long after he and his company scattered to pieces1 several of whom came to be ,friends1 and stand to this day4 ,many of them had been convinced about eight years before1 but had been led aside by this ,rice ,jones2 for they denied the inward cross1 the power of ,god1 and so went into vanity4 ,it was about eight years since ,i had been formerly amongst them2 in which time ,i was to pass over them1 and by them1 seeing they had slighted the ,lord's truth and power1 and the visitation of his love unto them4 ,but now ,i was moved to go to them again1 and it was of great service1 for many of them were brought to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and were settled upon him1 sitting down under his teaching and feeding1 where they were kept fresh and green2 and the others that would not be gathered to him1 soon after withered4 ,this was that ,rice ,jones who some years before had said1 8,i was then at the highest1 and should fall40 ,but1 poor man6 he little thought how near his own fall was4 ,we left ,nottingham1 and went into ,,warwickshire1 and thence passing through some parts of ,,northamptonshire and ,,leicestershire1 visiting ,friends1 and having meetings with them as we travelled1 came into ,,bedfordshire1 where we had large gatherings in the name of ,jesus4 ,after some time we came to ,john ,crook's house1 where a general ,,yearly ,,meeting for the whole nation was appointed to be held4#eg ,this meeting lasted three days1 and many ,friends from most parts of the nation came to it2 so that the inns and towns around were filled1 for many thousands of people were at it4 ,and although there was some disturbance by rude people that had run out from truth2 yet the ,lord's power came over all1 and a glorious meeting it was4 ,the everlasting gospel was preached1 and many received it1 which brought life and immortality to light in them1 and shined over all4 ,footnote #eg3 ,the first ,yearly ,meeting of the ,society appears to have been held in #afeh1 at ,scalehouse1 about three miles from ,skipton4 ,at that meeting the subject of the visit of ,friends 8beyond the sea10 claimed much attention1 and it was agreed to recommend a general collection in aid of these gospel missions4 ,an epistle was issued to that effect1 and the appeal was liberally responded to1 and considering the value of money at that period1 a large amount was raised4 ,the epistle1 with particulars of the collection and its disbursement1 may be seen in ,bowden's ,history of ,friends in ,america1 vol4 i41 p4 #eh-fj4 ,yearly ,meetings were held in different parts of ,england to the number of twenty-six1 at which were reported the number of prisoners2 the various sufferings on account of the ,truth2 those who died for it2 and the number of ministers deceased4 ,the affairs of truth were also considered1 and the members of the church had blessed opportunities of heavenly correspondence and fellowship1 one with another4 ,for full particulars of the setting up of ,general and ,yearly ,meetings1 and of the institution and objects of the ,discipline in the ,society1 see ,letters1 c41 of ,early ,friends1 part ii41 pp4 #bge-cec4 ,i was moved by the power and ,spirit of the ,lord1 to open unto them 8the promise of ,god1 that it was made to the ,seed1 not to seeds1 as many1 but to ,one1 which ,seed was ,christ2 and that all people1 both male and female1 should feel this ,seed in them1 which was heir of the promise2 that so they might all witness ,christ in them1 the hope of glory1 the mystery1 which had been hid from ages and generations1 which was revealed to the apostles1 and is revealed again now1 after this long night of apostacy4 ,so that all might come up into this ,seed1 ,christ ,jesus1 and walk in it1 and sit down together in the heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus1 who was the foundation of the prophets and apostles1 and the rock of ages2 and is our foundation now4 ,all sitting down in him1 sit down in the substance1 the first and the last1 that changes not1 the ,seed that bruises the serpent's head1 and was before he was2 who ends all types1 figures1 and shadows1 and is the substance of them all2 in whom there is no shadow40 ,now these things were upon me to open unto all1 that they might mind and see what it is they sit down in4 8,for1 ,first1 ,they that sit down in ,adam in the fall1 sit down in misery1 in death1 in darkness1 and corruption4 8,secondly1 ,they that sit down in types1 figures1 and shadows1 and under the first priesthood1 law1 and covenant1 sit down in that which must have an end1 and which made nothing perfect4 8,thirdly1 ,they that sit down in the apostacy1 that hath got up since the apostles' days1 sit down in spiritual ,sodom and ,egypt1 and are drinking of the whore's cup1 under the beast's and dragon's power4 8,fourthly1 ,they that sit down in the state in which ,adam was before he fell1 sit down in that which may be fallen from2 for he fell from that state1 though it was perfect4 8,fifthly1 ,they that sit down in the prophets1 sit down in that which must be fulfilled2 and they that sit down in the fellowship of water1 bread1 and wine1 these being temporal things1 sit down in that which is short of ,christ1 and of his baptism4 8,sixthly1 ,to sit down in a profession of all the ,scriptures1 from ,genesis to ,revelations1 and not to be in the power and ,spirit which they were in1 that gave them forth2 that was to be turned away from1 by them that came into the power and ,spirit which they were in that gave forth the ,scriptures4 8,seventhly1 ,they that sit down in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus1 sit down in him that never fell nor ever changed4 ,here is the safe sitting for all his elect1 his church1 his spiritual members1 of which he is the living head1 his living stones1 the household of faith2 of which house he is the corner-stone1 that stands and abides all weathers4 #8,for1' as the apostle said1 #8he hath quickened us1 who were dead in sins and trespasses1 c41 and made us to sit together in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus2 that in ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace1 in his kindness towards us through ,jesus ,christ4' ,now1 the ages are come1 that his kindness and exceeding riches towards us through ,jesus ,christ1 are truly manifested in us1 as in the apostles' days1 even in us1 who have been dead in sins and trespasses as they were1 but now are quickened1 and made to sit together in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus1 the ,first and the ,last1 by whom all things were created2 who is ascended above all1 and is over all1 and whose glorious presence is now known4 ,all that sit down here in ,christ ,jesus1 see where all other people sit1 and in what4 8,the promise of ,god being to the ,seed1 which is one1 ,christ ,jesus1 every man and woman must come to witness this ,seed1 ,christ in them1 that they may be heirs of the promise2 and inheriting that1 they will inherit substance4 ,these things were largely declared of2 the state of the church1 the state of the false church since the apostles' days1 opened2 and how the true church fled into the wilderness2 and the state of the false prophets1 which ,christ said should come1 and ,john saw were come1 and how all the world wondered after them2 how they had filled the world with false doctrines1 ways1 worships1 and religions2 and how the everlasting gospel was now preached again to all nations1 kindreds1 tongues1 and people2 for all they had drunk the whore's cup1 and she was over them1 and sat upon them4 ,in this night of apostacy1 the pure religion and worship in ,spirit1 which was in the apostles' days1 the way of life and living faith1 and the power and ,holy ,ghost were lost2 but now they came to be set up again by ,christ ,jesus1 his messengers and ministers of the gospel1 as in the apostles' days4 ,for as ,christ sent his disciples to go and preach the gospel in all the world1 and after that the false prophets and antichrists went over the world1 and preached their false doctrines and traditions1 and heathenish and ,jewish rudiments3 so now again1 the everlasting gospel must be preached to all nations1 and to every creature1 that they may come into the pure religion1 to worship ,god in ,spirit and in truth1 that they may know ,christ ,jesus1 their way to ,god1 and him to be the author of their faith1 and receive the gospel from heaven1 and not from men2 in which gospel1 received from heaven1 is the heavenly fellowship1 which is a mystery to all the fellowships in the world40 ,now after these things had been largely opened1 with many other things concerning ,christ ,jesus and his kingdom1 and the people were turned to the divine light of ,christ1 and his ,spirit1 by which they might come both to know ,god and ,christ1 and the ,scriptures1 and to have fellowship with them1 and one with another in the same ,spirit1 ,i was moved to declare and open many other things to those ,friends who had received a part of the ministry1 concerning the exercise of their spiritual gifts in the church2 which1 being taken in writing by one that was present1 was after this manner3-- 8,,friends1 8,take heed of destroying that which ye have begotten2 for that which destroys1 goes out1 and is the cast-away4 ,and though that be true1 yea1 and may be the pure truth which such a one speaks1 yet if he doth not remain in that1 and live in that in his own particular1 but goes out1 the same which he is gone out from1 cometh over him4 ,so that which calms and cools the spirits1 goes over the world1 and brings to the ,father1 to inherit the life eternal3 and reaches to the spirits in prison in all4 ,therefore in the living1 immoveable word of the ,lord ,god dwell1 and in the renown thereof2 and remain on the foundation that is pure1 and that is sure3 for whosoever goes out from the pure1 and ministers not in and from that1 comes to an end1 and doth not remain2 though he may have had a time1 and may have been serviceable for a time1 while he lived in the thing4 8,take heed of many words2 what reacheth to the life1 settles in the life4 ,that which cometh from the life1 and is received from ,god1 reaches to the life1 and settles others in the life3 for the work is not now as it was at first2 the work now is1 to settle and stay in the life4 ,for as ,friends have been led to minister in the power1 and the power hath gone through1 so that there hath grown an understanding among both people of the world and ,friends2 so ,friends must be kept in the life which is pure1 that with that they may answer the pure life of ,god in others4 ,if ,friends do not live in the pure life which they speak of1 to answer the life in those they speak to1 the other part steps in2 and so there comes up an outward acquaintance1 and such let that come over them4 ,but as every one is kept living in the life of ,god1 over all that which is contrary1 they are in their places2 then they do not lay hands on any suddenly1 which is the danger now2 for if any one do1 he may lose his discerning1 and may lay hands on the wrong part1 and so let the deceit come too near him2 and the deceit will steal over1 so that it will be a hard thing for him to overcome it4 ,there is no one who strikes his fellow-servants1 but first he is gone from the pure in his own particular2 for when he goeth from the light he is enlightened withal1 then he strikes2 and then he hath his reward2 the light which he is gone from1 ,christ1 comes and gives him his reward4 ,this is the state of the evil servants2 the boisterous1 the hasty1 and rash1 beget nothing to ,god2 but the life1 which doth reach the life1 is that which begets to ,god4 ,when all are settled in the life1 they are in that which remains for ever3 and what is received there1 is received from the ,lord2 and what one receiveth from the ,lord1 he keepeth2 and so he sitteth still1 and cool1 and quiet in his own spirit1 and gives it forth as he is moved2 but to the harlots1 judgment4 8,friends1 this is the word of the ,lord to you all1 be watchful and careful in all meetings ye come into2 for where ,friends are sitting together in silence1 they are many times gathered into their own measures4 ,when a man is come newly out of the world1 from ministering to the world's people1 he cometh out of the mire2 and then he had need take heed that he be not rash4 ,for now1 when he comes into a silent meeting1 that is another state2 then he must come1 and feel his own spirit1 how it is1 when he comes to them that sit silent4 ,if he be rash1 they will judge him1 that having been in the world1 and amongst the world1 the heat is not yet off him4 ,for he may come in the heat of his spirit out of the world2 whereas the others are still and cool2 and his condition in that not being agreeable to theirs1 he may rather do them hurt1 by begetting them out of the cool state into the heating state1 if he be not in that which commands his own spirit1 and gives him to know it4 8,there is a great danger too in travelling abroad in the world4 ,the same power that moves any to go forth1 is that which must keep them4 ,for it is the greatest danger to go abroad1 except a man be moved of the ,lord1 and go in the power of the ,lord2 for then1 he keeping in the power1 is kept by it in his journey1 and in his work2 and it will enable him to answer the transgressed1 and keep above the transgressor4 ,every one feeling the danger to his own particular in travelling abroad1 there the pure fear of the ,lord will be placed1 and kept in4 ,though they that travel may have openings when they are abroad1 to minister to others1 yet1 for their own particular growth1 they must dwell in the life which doth open2 and that will keep down that which would boast4 ,for the minister comes into the death to that which is in the death and in prison1 and so returns up again into the life1 and into the power1 and into the wisdom1 to preserve him clean4 8,this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all2 feel that ye stand in the presence of the ,lord3 for every man's word shall be his burden2 but the ,word of the ,lord is pure1 and answers the pure in everyone4 ,the ,word of the ,lord is that which was in the beginning1 and brings to the beginning4 ,it is a hammer1 to beat down the transgressor 7not the transgressed71 and as a fire to burn up that which is contrary to it4 ,friends1 come into that which is over all the spirits of the world1 fathoms all the spirits of the world1 and stands in the patience2 with that1 ye may see where others stand1 and reach that which is of ,god in everyone4 ,here is no strife1 no contention1 out of transgression2 for he that goeth into strife1 and into contention1 is from the pure ,spirit4 ,for where any goeth into contention1 if anything hath been begotten by him before1 then that contentious nature doth get a-head1 spoileth that which was begotten1 and quencheth his own prophesying4 ,so if that which would arise into strife1 be not subjected by the power in the particular1 that is dangerous4 8,if any have a moving to any place1 and have spoken what they were moved of the ,lord1 let them return unto their habitation again1 and live in the pure life of ,god1 and in the fear of the ,lord2 so will ye be kept in the life--in the solid and seasoned spirit1 and preach as well in life1 as with words 7for none must be light or wild74 ,for the ,seed of ,god is weighty1 brings to be solid1 and leads into the wisdom of ,god1 by which the wisdom of the creation is known4 ,but if that part be up1 which runs into imaginations1 and that part be standing1 in which the imaginations come up1 and the pure spirit be not thoroughly come up to rule and reign1 then that will run out1 that will glory1 boast1 and vapour2 and so will such a one spoil that which opened to him3 this is for condemnation4 ,let every one mind that1 which feels through and commands his spirit1 whereby every one may know what spirit he is of2 for he should first try his own spirit1 and then he may try others2 he should first know his own spirit1 and then he may know others4 ,therefore that which doth command all these spirits1 where the heats and burnings come in and get up1 in that wait1 which chains them down and cools3 that is the elect1 the heir of the promise of ,god4 ,for no hasty1 rash1 brittle spirits 7though they have prophecies7 have held out1 and gone through1 they not being subjected in the prophecy4 ,the earthly will not abide1 for it is brittle2 and in that state the ministry was another's1 not the ,son's2 for the ,son hath life in himself1 and the ,son hath the power1 which man being obedient to1 he may be serviceable2 but if he go from the pure power1 he falls1 and abuses it4 ,therefore let your faith stand in the pure power of the ,lord ,god1 and do not abuse it2 but let that search through1 and work through2 and let every one stand in the power of the ,lord1 which reacheth the seed of ,god2 which is the heir of the promise of life without end4 ,let none be hasty to speak2 for ye have time enough1 and with an eye ye may reach the witness3 neither let any be backward when ye are moved2 for that brings destruction4 8,now1 truth hath an honour in the hearts of those who are not ,friends2 so that all ,friends being kept in the truth1 they are kept in the honour1 they are honourable1 for that will honour them2 but if any lose the power1 they lose the life1 they lose their crown1 they lose their honour1 they lose the cross1 which should crucify them1 and they crucify the just2 and by losing the power1 the ,lamb comes to be slain4 ,and as it is here1 so will it be in other nations2 for all ,friends1 here and there1 are as one family2 the seed1 the plants1 they are as a family4 ,now all being kept in that which subjects all1 and keeps all under1 to wit1 the ,seed itself1 the life itself1 that is the heir of the promise2 that is the bond of peace2 for there is the unity in the ,spirit with ,god1 and with one another4 ,for he that is kept in the life1 hears ,god1 and sees man's condition2 and with that he answers the life in others1 that hear ,god also2 thus one ,friend that is come into that1 comprehends the world4 ,but that which ,friends speak1 they must live in2 so may they expect1 that others may come into that which they speak1 to live in the same4 ,for the power of the ,lord ,god hath been abused by some1 and the worth of truth hath not been minded2 there hath been a trampling on1 and marring with the feet1 and that abuseth the power4 ,but now every ,friend is to keep in the power1 and to take heed to it2 for that must be kept down1 which would trample and mar with the feet1 and the pure life and power of ,god is to be lived in over that1 that none with the feet may foul or mar1 but every one may be kept in the pure power and life of the ,lord4 ,then the water of life cometh in2 then he that ministereth1 drinketh himself1 and giveth others to drink4 8,when any shall be moved to go and speak in a steeple-house or market1 turn in to that which moves1 and be obedient to it1 that that which would not go1 may be kept down2 for that which would not go1 will be apt to get up4 ,and take heed on the other hand1 that the lavishing part do not get up1 for it is a bad savour2 therefore that must be kept down1 and be kept subject4 ,wait in the light of the ,lord1 that ye may be all kept in the wisdom of ,god4 ,for when the ,seed is up in every particular1 there is no danger2 but when there is an opening and prophecy1 and the power stirs before the seed comes up1 then there is something that will be apt to run out rashly2 there is the danger1 and there must be the patience in the fear4 ,for it is a weighty thing to be in the work of the ministry of the ,lord ,god1 and to go forth in that4 ,it is not as a customary preaching2 but it is to bring people to the end of all outward preaching4 ,for when ye have declared the truth to the people1 and they have received it1 and are come into that which ye speak of1 the uttering of many words1 and long declarations out of the life1 may beget them into a form4 ,and if any should run on rashly into words again1 without the savour of life1 then they that are come into the thing that he spoke of1 will judge him2 whereby he may hurt again that which he had raised up before4 ,so ,friends1 ye must all come into the thing that is spoken in the openings of the heavenly life among you1 and walk in the love of ,god1 that ye may answer the thing spoken to4 8,and take heed all of running into inordinate affections2 for when people come to own you1 there is danger of the wrong part getting up4 ,there was a strife among the disciples of ,christ1 who should be the greatest2 ,christ told them1 #8,the heathen exercise lordship1 and have dominion over one another2 but it shall not be so among you4' ,for ,christ the ,seed was to come up in every one of them2 so then1 where is the greatest8 for that part in the disciples which looked to be the greatest1 was the same that was in the ,gentiles4 ,but as any one comes here1 to live in the word that sanctified him1 having the heart sanctified1 the tongue and lips sanctified1 living in the word of wisdom that makes clean the heart1 and reconciles to ,god1 all things being upheld by the ,word and power2--as there is an abiding in the ,word of ,god1 that upholds times and seasons1 and gives all things increase1 and a dwelling in the ,word of wisdom2 if there be but two or three agreed in this on earth1 it shall be done for them in heaven4 ,so in this must all things be ordered by the ,word of wisdom and power1 that upholds all things1 the times and the seasons1 that are in the ,father's hand1 to the glory of ,god1 whereby his blessing may be felt among you2 and this brings to the beginning4 ,so this is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all1 ,keep down1 keep low1 that nothing may rule or reign in you1 but life itself4 8,now1 the power being lived in1 the cross is lived in2 and wherever ,friends come in this1 they draw the power and the life over2 they leave a witness behind them1 answering the witness of ,god in others4 ,and where this is lived in1 there is no want of wisdom1 of power1 of knowledge2 but he that ministereth in this1 seeth with the eye which the ,lord openeth in him1 what is for the fire1 and what for the sword1 what must be fed with judgment1 and what be nourished4 ,this brings all down1 and to be low1 every one keeping to the power2 for let a man get up ever so high1 yet he must come down again to the power1 where he left2 what he went from1 he must come down again to that4 ,before all these wicked spirits be got down1 which are rambling abroad1 ,friends must have patience1 must wait in patience1 in the cool life2 and he who is in this1 doing the work of the ,lord1 hath the tasting and the feeling of the ,lamb's power and authority4 ,therefore all ,friends1 keep cool and quiet in the power of the ,lord ,god2 and all that is contrary will be subjected2 the ,lamb hath the victory1 in the ,seed1 through the patience4 8,if any have been moved to speak1 and have quenched that which moved them1 let none such go forth afterwards into words1 until they feel the power arise and move them thereto again2 for after the first motion is quenched1 the other part will be apt to get up2 and if any go forth in that1 he goeth forth in his own1 and the betrayer will come into that4 ,and all ,friends1 be careful not to meddle with the powers of the earth2 but keep out of all such things2 and as ye keep in the ,lamb's authority1 ye will answer that of ,god in them1 and bring them to do justice1 which is the end of the law4 ,keep out of all jangling2 for all that are in the transgression1 are out from the law of love1 but all that are in the law of love1 come to the ,lamb's power1 in the ,lamb's authority1 who is the end of the law outward4 ,for the law being added because of transgression1 ,christ1 who was glorified with the ,father1 before the world began1 is the end of the law1 bringing them that live in the law of life1 to live over all transgression2 which every one must feel in himself40 ,more was then spoken to many of these particulars1 which was not taken at large as delivered4 ,after this meeting was over1 and most of the ,friends were gone away1 as ,i was walking in ,john ,crook's garden1 there came a party of horse1 with a constable to seize me4 ,i heard them ask 8who was in the house10 and somebody answered1 8,i was there40 ,they said1 8,i was the man they looked for20 and went forthwith into the house1 where they had many words with ,john ,crook1 and some few ,friends that were with him4 ,but the ,lord's power so confounded them1 that they never came into the garden to look for me1 but went their way in a rage4 ,when ,i came into the house1 ,friends were very glad to see them so confounded1 and that ,i had escaped them4 ,next day ,i passed thence1 and after ,i had visited ,friends in several places as ,i went1 came to ,,london1 the ,lord's power accompanying me1 and bearing me up in his service4 ,i had not been long in ,london1 before ,i heard that a ,jesuit1 who came over with an ambassador from ,spain1 had challenged all the ,quakers to dispute with them at the ,earl of ,newport's house3#eh whereupon ,friends let him know that some would meet him4 ,then he sent us word 8he would meet with twelve of the wisest and most learned men we had30 a while after he sent us word 8he would meet with but six20 and after that1 he sent us word again1 8he would have but three to come40 ,we hastened what we could1 lest1 after all his great boast1 he should put it quite off at last4 ,when we were come to the house1 ,i bid ,nicholas ,bond and ,edward ,burrough go up1 and enter into discourse with him2 and ,i would walk a while in the yard1 and then come up after them4 ,i advised them to state this question to him1 ,whether or not the church of ,rome1 as it now stood1 was not degenerated from the true church1 which was in the primitive times1 from the life and doctrine1 and from the power and ,spirit that they were in8 ,they stated the question accordingly2 and the ,jesuit affirmed1 8that the church of ,rome now was in the virginity and purity of the primitive church40 ,by this time ,i was come to them4 ,then we asked him1 8whether they had the ,holy ,ghost poured out upon them1 as the apostles had80 ,he said1 8,no40 8,then10 said ,i1 8if ye have not the same ,holy ,ghost poured forth upon you1 and the same power and ,spirit that the apostles had1 then ye are degenerated from the power and ,spirit which the primitive church was in40 ,there needed little more to be said to that4 ,footnote #eh3 ,the ,earl of ,newport1 it would appear1 was very favourably inclined towards ,friends4 ,in a letter from ,e4 ,burrough to ,f4 ,howgill1 #dth of #gth ,month #ith ,month #afeh1 he observes1 8,this night1 at ,woodcock's1 at the meeting1 was the ,earl of ,newport2 he is truly loving to us40 ,in the same letter1 ,e4 ,burrough says1 8,truth spreads and grows4 ,the ,earl of ,pembroke has been with us2 there is a principle of ,god stirring in him40 ,then ,i asked him1 8what ,scripture they had for setting up cloisters for nuns1 abbeys and monasteries for men1 for all their several orders2 and for their praying by beads1 and to images2 for making crosses1 for forbidding meats and marriages1 and for putting people to death for religion8 ,if10 said ,i1 8ye are in the practice of the primitive church1 in its purity and virginity1 then let us see by ,scriptures1 wherever they practised any such things40 7,for it was agreed on both hands1 that we should make good by ,scriptures what we said47 ,then he told us of a written word1 and an unwritten word4 ,i asked him 8what he called his unwritten word30 he said1 8,the written word is the ,scriptures1 and the unwritten word is that which the apostles spoke by word of mouth2 which10 said he1 8are all those traditions that we practise40 ,i bid him prove that by ,scripture4 ,then he brought the ,scripture1 where the apostle says 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #e71 8,when ,i was with you1 ,i told you these things40 8,that is10 said he1 8,i told you of nunneries1 and monasteries1 and of putting to death for religion1 and of praying by beads1 and to images1 and all the rest of the practices of the church of ,rome1 which10 he said1 8was the unwritten word of the apostles1 which they told then1 and have since been continued down by tradition unto these times40 ,then 8,i desired him to read that ,scripture again1 that he might see how he had perverted the apostle's words2 for that which he there tells the ,thessalonians #8he had told them before1' is not an unwritten word1 but is there written down1 namely1 that the man of sin1 the son of perdition1 shall be revealed1 before that great and terrible day of ,christ1 which he was writing of1 should come3 so this was not telling them any of those things that the church of ,rome practises4 ,in like manner the apostle1 in the third chapter of that epistle1 tells the church of some disorderly persons1 he heard were amongst them1 busy-bodies1 who did not work at all2 concerning whom he had commanded them by his unwritten word1 when he was among them1 that if any would not work1 neither should he eat2 which now he commands them again in his written word in this epistle1 #b ,thess4 iii4 ,so this ,scripture afforded no proof for their invented traditions2 and he had no other ,scripture-proof to offer40 ,therefore ,i told him1 8this was another degeneration of their church into such inventions and traditions as the apostles and primitive saints never practised40 ,after this he came to his sacrament of the altar1 beginning at the paschal-lamb1 and the shew-bread2 and so came to the words of ,christ1 8,this is my body10 and to what the apostle wrote of it to the ,corinthians2 concluding1 8that after the priest had consecrated the bread and wine1 it was immortal and divine1 and he that received it1 received the whole ,christ40 ,i followed him through the ,scriptures he brought1 till ,i came to ,christ's words and the apostle's2 and ,i showed him 8that the same apostle told the ,corinthians1 after they had taken bread and wine in remembrance of ,christ's death1 that they were reprobates1 if ,christ was not in them3 but if the bread they ate was ,christ1 he must of necessity be in them1 after they had eaten it4 ,besides1 if this bread and this wine1 which the ,corinthians ate and drank1 was ,christ's body1 then how hath ,christ a body in heaven80 ,i observed to him also1 8that both the disciples at the supper1 and the ,corinthians afterwards1 were to eat the bread1 and drink the wine in #8remembrance of ,christ1' and to show forth his death1 till he come2 which plainly proves1 the bread and wine which they took was not his body4 ,for if it had been his real body that they ate1 then he had been come1 and was then there present2 and it had been improper to have done such a thing in remembrance of him1 if he had been then present with them2 as he must have been1 if that bread and wine1 which they ate and drank1 had been his real body40 ,then as to those words of ,christ1 8,this is my body10 ,i told him ,christ calls himself a vine1 and a door1 and is called in ,scripture a rock2 8,is ,christ therefore an outward rock1 door1 or vine80 8,o0 said the ,jesuit1 8those words are to be interpreted30 8,so10 said ,i1 8are those words of ,christ1 #8this is my body4'0 ,now having stopped his mouth as to argument1 ,i made the ,jesuit a proposal thus3 8,that seeing10 he said 8the bread and wine was immortal and divine1 and the very ,christ1 and that whosoever received it1 received the whole ,christ2 let a meeting be appointed between some of them 7whom the ,pope and his cardinals should appoint7 and some of us2 and let a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread be brought1 and divided each into two parts1 and let them consecrate which of those parts they would4 ,and then set the consecrated and the unconsecrated bread and wine in a safe place1 with a sure watch upon it1 and let trial thus be made1 ,whether the consecrated bread and wine would not lose its goodness1 and the bread grow dry and mouldy1 and the wine turn dead and sour1 as well and as soon as that which was unconsecrated4 ,by this means1 said ,i1 the truth of this matter may be made manifest4 ,and if the consecrated bread and wine change not1 but retain their savour and goodness1 this may be a means to draw many to your church3 if they change1 decay1 and lose their goodness1 then ought you to confess1 and forsake your error1 and shed no more blood about it3 for much blood hath been shed about these things1 as in ,queen ,mary's days40 ,to this the ,jesuit made this reply3 8,take10 said he1 8a piece of new cloth1 and cut it into two pieces1 and make two garments of it2 and put one of them upon king ,david's back1 and the other upon a beggar's1 and the one garment shall wear away as well as the other40 8,is this thy answer80 said ,i2 8,yes10 said he4 8,then10 said ,i1 8by this the company may all be satisfied that your consecrated bread and wine is not ,christ4 ,have ye told people so long that the consecrated bread and wine was immortal and divine1 and that it was the very and real body and blood of ,christ1 and dost thou now say it will wear away1 or decay1 as well as the other8 ,i must tell thee1 ,christ remains the same to-day as yesterday1 and never decays6 but is the saints' heavenly food in all generations1 through which they have life40 ,he replied no more to this1 being willing to let it fall2 for the people that were present saw his error1 and that he could not defend it4 ,then ,i asked him 8why their church persecuted and put people to death for religion40 ,he replied1 8it was not the church that did it1 but the magistrates40 ,i asked him 8whether those magistrates were not counted and called believers and ,christians40 ,he said1 8,yes30 8,why then10 said ,i1 8are they not members of your church80 8,yes10 said he4 ,then ,i left it to the people to judge from his own concessions1 whether the church of ,rome doth not persecute1 and put people to death for religion4 ,thus we parted2 and his subtilty was comprehended by simplicity4 ,during the time ,i was at ,london1 many services lay upon me2 for it was a time of much suffering4 ,i was moved to write to ,oliver ,cromwell1 and lay before him the sufferings of ,friends1 both in this nation and in ,ireland4 ,there was also a rumour about this time of making ,cromwell king3 whereupon ,i was moved to go to him1 and warned him against it1 and of divers dangers2 which1 if he did not avoid1 8he would bring a shame and ruin upon himself and his posterity40 ,he seemed to take well what ,i said to him1 and thanked me3 yet afterwards ,i was moved to write to him more fully concerning that matter4 ,about this time the ,lady ,claypole#ei 7so called7 was sick and much troubled in mind1 and could receive no comfort from any that came to her2 which when ,i heard of1 ,i was moved to write to her the following letter3-- 8,,friend1 8,be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own thoughts1 and then thou wilt feel the principle of ,god to turn thy mind to the ,lord1 from whom cometh life2 whereby thou mayest receive his strength and power to allay all storms1 and tempests4 ,that is it which works up into patience1 innocency1 soberness1 into stillness1 staidness1 quietness up to ,god1 with his power4 ,therefore mind2 that is the word of the ,lord ,god unto thee1 that thou mayest feel the authority of ,god1 and thy faith in that1 to work down that which troubles thee2 for that is it which keeps peace1 and brings up the witness in thee1 which hath been transgressed1 to feel after ,god with his power and life1 who is a ,god of order and peace4 ,when thou art in the transgression of the life of ,god in thy own particular1 the mind flies up in the air1 the creature is led into the night1 nature goes out of its course1 an old garment goes on1 and an uppermost clothing2 and thy nature being led out of its course1 it comes to be all on fire1 in the transgression2 and that defaceth the glory of the first body4 ,therefore be still a while from thy own thoughts1 searching1 seeking1 desires1 and imaginations1 and be staid in the principle of ,god in thee1 that it may raise thy mind up to ,god1 and stay it upon ,god1 and thou wilt find strength from him1 and find him to be a ,god at hand1 a present help in the time of trouble1 and of need4 ,and thou being come to the principle of ,god1 which hath been transgressed1 it will keep thee humble2 and the humble1 ,god will teach his way1 which is peace1 and such he doth exalt4 ,now as the principle of ,god in thee hath been transgressed1 come to it1 that it may keep thy mind down low to the ,lord ,god2 and deny thyself2 for from thy own will1 that is1 the earthly1 thou must be kept4 ,then thou wilt feel the power of ,god1 which will bring nature into its course1 and give thee to see the glory of the first body4 ,there the wisdom of ,god will be received1 which is ,christ1 by which all things were made and created1 and thou wilt thereby be preserved and ordered to ,god's glory4 ,there thou wilt come to receive and feel the physician of value1 who clothes people in their right mind1 whereby they may serve ,god1 and do his will4 ,for all distractions1 unruliness1 and confusion are in the transgression2 which transgression must be brought down1 before the principle of ,god1 which hath been transgressed against1 be lifted up3 whereby the mind may be seasoned1 and stilled1 and a right understanding of the ,lord may be received2 whereby his blessings enter1 and are felt1 over all that is contrary1 in the power of the ,lord ,god1 which raises up the principle of ,god within1 gives a feeling after ,god1 and in time gives dominion4 ,therefore1 keep in the fear of the ,lord ,god2 that is the word of the ,lord unto thee4 ,for all these things happen to thee for thy good1 and for the good of those concerned for thee1 to make you know yourselves1 and your own weakness1 and that ye may know the ,lord's strength and power1 and may trust in him4 8,let the time that is past be sufficient to every one1 who in anything hath been lifted up in transgression out of the power of the ,lord2 for he can bring down and abase the mighty1 and lay them in the dust of the earth4 ,therefore1 all keep low in his fear1 that thereby ye may receive the secrets of ,god and his wisdom1 may know the shadow of the ,almighty1 and sit under it1 in all tempests1 and storms1 and heats4 ,for ,god is at hand1 and the ,most ,high rules in the children of men4 ,this then is the word of the ,lord ,god unto you all2 whatever temptations1 distractions1 confusions1 the light doth make manifest and discover1 do not look at these temptations1 confusions1 corruptions2 but look at the light1 which discovers them1 and makes them manifest2 and with the same light you may feel over them1 to receive power to stand against them4 ,the same light which lets you see sin and transgression1 will let you see the covenant of ,god1 which blots out your sin and transgression1 which gives victory and dominion over it1 and brings into covenant with ,god4 ,for looking down at sin1 and corruption1 and distraction1 ye are swallowed up in it3 but looking at the light1 which discovers them1 ye will see over them4 ,that will give victory2 and ye will find grace and strength3 there is the first step to peace4 ,that will bring salvation2 by it ye may see to the beginning1 and the #8glory that was with the ,father before the world began2' and so come to know the ,seed of ,god1 which is the heir of the promise of ,god1 and of the world which hath no end2 which bruises the head of the serpent1 who stops people from coming to ,god4 ,that ye may feel the power of an endless life1 the power of ,god1 which is immortal2 which brings the immortal soul up to the immortal ,god1 in whom it doth rejoice4 ,so in the name and power of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,god ,almighty strengthen thee40 ,g4,f4 ,footnote #ei3 ,lady ,claypole was the favourite daughter of ,oliver ,cromwell1 who deeply felt her loss1 for she died shortly after the period of receiving the letter ,george ,fox addressed to her4 ,nor was it long before ,oliver himself followed her2 both he and his daughter dying in the same year4 ,when the foregoing paper was read to ,lady ,claypole1 she said1 it staid her mind for the present4 ,afterwards many ,friends got copies of it1 both in ,england and ,ireland1 and read it to people that were troubled in mind2 and it was made useful for the settling of the minds of several4 ,about this time came forth a declaration from ,oliver ,cromwell1 the ,protector1 for a collection towards the relief of divers ,protestant ,churches1 driven out of ,poland2 and of twenty ,protestant families1 driven out of the confines of ,bohemia4 ,and there having been a like declaration published some time before1 to invite the nation to a day of solemn fasting and humiliation1 in order to a contribution being made for the suffering ,protestants of the valleys of ,lucerne1 ,angrona1 c41 who were persecuted by the ,duke of ,savoy1 ,i was moved to write to the ,protector and chief magistrates on this occasion1 both to show them the nature of a true fast 7such as ,god requires and accepts17 and to make them sensible of their injustice and self-condemnation1 in blaming the ,papists for persecuting the ,protestants abroad1 while they themselves1 calling themselves ,protestants1 were at the same time persecuting their ,protestant neighbours and friends at home4 ,that which ,i wrote to them was after this manner3-- 8,to the ,heads and ,governors of this ,nation1 who have put forth a declaration for keeping a day of solemn ,fasting and ,humiliation1 for the persecution 7as you say7 of divers people beyond the seas1 professing the ,reformed religion1 which1 ye say1 hath been transmitted unto them from their ancestors4 8,a profession of the ,reformed religion may be transmitted to generations1 and so holden by tradition2 and in that1 wherein the profession and tradition are holden1 is the day of humiliation kept2 which stands in the will of man4 ,this is not the fast that the ,lord requires1 #8to bow down the head like a bulrush for a day1' and the day following be in the same condition that they were the day before4 ,to the light of ,christ ,jesus in your consciences do ,i speak1 which testifieth for ,god every day1 and witnesseth against all sin and persecution2 which measure of ,god1 if ye be guided by it1 doth not limit ,god to a day1 but leads to the fast which the ,lord requires1 which is1 #8,to loose the bonds of wickedness1 to undo the heavy burdens1 to break every yoke1 and to let the oppressed go free4' ,isa4 lviii4 #f1 #g4 ,this is the fast that the ,lord requires2 and this stands not in the transmission of times1 nor in the traditions of men2 but in that which was before times were1 which leads out of time1 and shall be when time shall be no more4 ,these that teach for doctrine the commandments of men1 are they that ever persecuted the life and power when it came4 8,and whereas ye mention a decree or edict that was made against the said persecuted ,protestants1 all such decrees proceed from the ground of the ,pope's religion and supremacy1 and therein stands his tyranny and cruelty1 acted in that will1 which is in that nature which exerciseth lordship over one another 7as ye may read1 ,mark x4 #db2 ,luke xxii4 #be71 as all the heathen do1 and ever did2 and in the heathenish nature is all the tyranny and persecution exercised1 by them that are out of the obedience to the light of ,christ ,jesus1 which is the guide and leader of all who are tender of that of ,god in the conscience4 ,but they who are not led by this1 know not what it is to suffer for conscience' sake4 ,now1 whereas ye take into your consideration the sad persecution1 tyranny1 and cruelty1 exercised upon them1 whom ye call your ,protestant brethren1 and contribute to administer to their wants outwardly2 this is good in its place1 and we approve it2 and see it good to administer to the necessities of others1 and to do good to all3 and we who are sufferers by a law derived from the ,pope1 are willing to join and to contribute with you to their outward necessities4 ,for #8the earth is the ,lord's1 and the fulness thereof2' who is good and gracious to all1 willing that all should be saved1 and come to the knowledge of the truth4 8,but in the meantime1 while ye are doing this1 and taking notice of others' cruelty1 tyranny1 and persecution1 turn your eye upon yourselves1 and see what ye are doing at home4 ,to the light of ,christ ,jesus in all your consciences ,i speak1 which cannot lie1 nor err1 nor bear false witness2 but which bears witness for ,god1 and cries for equity1 justice1 and righteousness to be executed4 ,see what ye are doing1 who profess the ,scriptures1 which were given forth by the saints in light1 who dwelt in the light1 and in the life of them4 ,for them who now witness the same light1 life1 and power1 that gave forth the ,scriptures1 which ye in words profess1 ye persecute2--them ye hale out of your synagogues and markets2--beat1 stock1 and imprison4 ,now let that of ,god in your consciences1 which is just1 righteous1 and equal1 examine and try1 whether ye have any example or precedent to exercise this persecution1 which now many in this nation suffer under1 who are a people harmless and innocent1 walking in obedience towards ,god and man4 8,and though ye account the way of truth they walk in1 heresy1 yet therein do they exercise themselves1 to have always #8a conscience void of offence towards ,god and man1' as ye may read the saints of old did 7,acts xxiv4 #ad1 #ae1 #af72 wronging no man1 neither giving any just cause of offence2 only being obedient to the commands of the ,lord1 to declare1 as they are moved by the ,holy ,ghost2 and standing for the testimony of a good conscience1 speaking the truth in ,christ1 their consciences bearing them witness that they lie not2 for this do they suffer under you1 who in words profess the same thing for which they suffer4 ,now see if any age or generation did ever persecute as ye do2 for ye profess ,christ ,jesus1 who reveals the ,father1 and persecute them that witness the revelation of the ,father by ,christ ,jesus unto them4 ,ye profess ,christ ,jesus1 who is #8the light of the world1 that enlightens every man that cometh into the world2' yet persecute them that bear witness and give testimony to this light4 ,ye profess that the ,word is become flesh1 yet persecute them that witness it so4 ,ye profess that whosoever confesseth not that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh1 is an anti-christ2 yet persecute them that do confess him come in the flesh1 and call them antichrists and deceivers4 ,ye profess that the kingdom of ,christ is come2 yet persecute them that witness it come4 ,ye profess ,christ ,jesus1 the resurrection and the life2 yet persecute them that witness him to be so4 8,if ye say1 #8,how shall we know that these people1 who say they witness these things1 do so1 or not8' ,i answer1 ,turn your minds to the light1 which ,christ ,jesus hath enlightened you withal1 which is one in all2 and if ye walk in the light1 ye shall have the light of life2 then ye will know and see what ye have done1 who have persecuted the ,lord of glory 7in his people7 in whom is life1 and the life is the light of men4 ,to no other touchstone shall we turn you1 than into your own consciences2 there shall ye find the truth of what we have declared unto you1 and of what we bear testimony to1 according to the holy ,scriptures4 ,when the books of consciences are opened1 and all judged out of them1 then shall ye witness us to be of ,god1 and our testimony to be true4 ,though now ye may stop your ears1 and harden your hearts1 while it is called to-day2 but then ye shall know what ye have done1 and against whom ye have transgressed2--then ye will see that no persecutors1 in any age or generation before you1 ever transgressed against that light1 and measure of ,god made manifest1 in such manner as ye have done4 ,for though ,christ and the apostles were persecuted in their times1 the ,jews1 for the most part1 did not know that he was the ,christ1 when he came1 notwithstanding they had the ,scriptures1 which prophesied of him2 neither did they believe that he was risen again1 when the apostles preached his resurrection4 ,but ye say1 #8ye believe he is come2 ye believe his resurrection2' yet ye persecute those that witness him come in the flesh1 those that are buried with him in baptism1 that are conformable to his death1 and know the power of his resurrection2 these ye persecute1 hale before magistrates1 and suffer to be beaten in your synagogues2 these ye cause to be whipped1 and stocked1 shamefully entreated1 and cast into prison2 as many jails in this nation at this day testify to your faces4 ,therefore honestly consider what ye are doing1 while ye are taking notice of others' cruelties1 lest ye overlook your own4 ,there is some difference in many things1 between the ,popish religion and that which ye call the ,protestant1 but in this persecution of yours there is no difference2 for ye will confess that the foundation of your religion is grounded upon the ,scriptures2 yet ye are persecuting them that are in the same life which they were in1 who gave forth the ,scriptures1 yourselves being the meanwhile under a profession of the words they spoke2 and this ye shall one day witness4 ,so ye have a profession and form1 and persecute them that are in the possession1 life1 and power4 8,therefore know assuredly that ye must come to judgment2 for he is made manifest1 to whom all judgment is committed4 ,therefore to the light of ,christ ,jesus in your own consciences1 which searcheth and trieth you1 turn your minds2 stand still1 and wait there to receive the righteous law1 which is according to that of ,god in the conscience1 which is now rising1 and is bearing witness against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men2 and they whom ye persecute are manifest to ,god1 and that of ,god in all consciences shall bear witness for us1 that we are of ,god2 this ye shall one day witness1 whether ye will hear or forbear4 ,our rejoicing is in the testimony of our consciences1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god1 we have had our conversation in the world2 not handling the word of ,god deceitfully1 but in the manifestation of the truth1 commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of ,god2 and if our gospel be hid1 it is hid to them that are lost4 ,for witnessing the holding of the mystery of faith in a pure conscience1 do we suffer1 and are subject for conscience' sake4 8,this is thankworthy1 if a man1 for conscience' sake1 endure griefs and sufferings wrongfully4 ,in this is our joy and rejoicing1 having a good conscience1 that whereas we are evil spoken of1 as evil-doers1 they may be ashamed that falsely accuse our good conversation in ,christ2 which is not only the putting away of the filth of the flesh1 but the answer of a good conscience toward ,god1 by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this we witness made manifest 7eternal praises to the living ,god67 and bear testimony to that which spoke it in the apostle in life and power4 ,therefore do we bear witness and testify against those1 who1 being in a form and profession of it1 persecute the life and power4 ,to the eternal light of ,christ ,jesus1 the searcher and trier of all hearts1 turn your minds1 and see what ye are doing2 lest ye overturn your foundation1 whereon ye pretend to stand1 while ye are professing the ,scriptures1 and persecuting the life1 light1 and power1 which they were in who gave them forth4 ,for the stone1 cut out of the mountains without hands1 is now striking at the feet of the image1 the profession1 which is set up1 and stands in the will of man4 ,now is that made manifest unto which all must answer2 all must appear before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 that everyone may receive the things done in the body1 according to that he hath done1 whether it be good or bad4 ,knowing therefore the terror of the ,lord1 we persuade men2 but we are made manifest unto ,god1 and shall be made manifest in all your consciences1 which ye shall witness40 ,g4 ,f4 ,divers times1 both in the time of the ,long ,parliament1 and of the ,protector 7so called7 and of the ,committee of ,safety1 when they proclaimed fasts1 ,i was moved to write to them1 and tell them1 their fasts were like unto ,jezebel's2 for commonly1 when they proclaimed fasts1 there was some mischief contrived against us4 ,i knew their fasts were for strife and debate1 to smite with the fist of wickedness2 as the ,new ,england professors soon after did1 who1 before they put our ,friends to death1 proclaimed a fast also4 ,now it was a time of great sufferings2 and many ,friends being in prisons1 many other ,friends were moved to go to the parliament1 to offer up themselves to lie in the same dungeon1 where their friends lay1 that they that were in prison might go out1 and not perish in the stinking jails4 ,this we did in love to ,god and our brethren1 that they might not die in prison2 and in love to those that cast them in1 that they might not bring innocent blood upon their own heads2 which we knew would cry to the ,lord1 and bring his wrath1 vengeance1 and plagues upon them4 ,but little favour could we find from those professing parliaments2 instead thereof they would rage1 and sometimes threaten those ,friends that thus attended them1 that they would whip them1 and send them home4 ,then commonly soon after the ,lord would turn them out1 and send them home2 who had not a heart to do good in the day of their power4 ,but they went not off without being forewarned1 for ,i was moved to write to them1 in their several turns1 as ,i did to the ,long ,parliament1 unto whom ,i declared1 before they were broken up1 that 8thick darkness was coming over them all1 even a day of darkness that should be felt40 ,and because the parliament that now sat was made up mostly of high professors1 who1 pretending to be more religious than others1 were indeed greater persecutors of them that were truly religious1 ,i was moved to send them the following lines1 as a reproof of their hypocrisy3-- 8,o ,friends1 do not cloak and cover yourselves2 there is a ,god that knoweth your hearts1 and that will uncover you4 ,he seeth your way4 #8,woe be to him that covereth1 but not with my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord4' ,do ye act contrary to the law1 and then put it from you8 ,mercy and true judgment ye neglect4 ,look1 what was spoken against such3 my ,saviour spoke against such3 #8,i was sick1 and ye visited me not2 ,i was hungry1 and ye fed me not2 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took me not in2 ,i was in prison1 and ye visited me not4' ,but they said1 #8,when saw we thee in prison1 and did not come to thee8' #8,inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these little ones1 ye did it not unto me4' ,friends1 ye imprison them that are in the life and power of truth1 and yet profess to be the ministers of ,christ4 ,but if ,christ had sent you1 ye would bring out of prison1 and bondage1 and receive strangers4 ,ye have lived in pleasure on the earth1 and been wanton2 ye have nourished your hearts1 as in a day of slaughter2 ye have condemned1 and killed the just1 and he doth not resist you40 ,g4 ,f4 ,after this1 as ,i was going out of town1 having two ,friends with me1 when we were little more than a mile out of the city1 there met us two troopers belonging to ,colonel ,hacker's regiment1 who took me1 and the ,friends that were with me1 and brought us back to the ,mews1 and there kept us prisoners4 ,but the ,lord's power was so over them1 that they did not take us before any officer2 but shortly after set us at liberty again4 ,the same day1 taking boat1 ,i went to ,,kingston1 and thence to ,,hampton ,,court1 to speak with the ,protector about the sufferings of ,friends4 ,i met him riding into ,hampton-,court ,park1 and before ,i came to him1 as he rode at the head of his life-guard1 ,i saw and felt a waft 7or apparition7 of death go forth against him2 and when ,i came to him1 he looked like a dead man4 ,after ,i had laid the sufferings of ,friends before him1 and had warned him1 according as ,i was moved to speak to him1 he bid me come to his house4 ,so ,i returned to ,kingston1 and next day went to ,hampton ,court1 to speak further with him4 ,but when ,i came1 he was sick1 and ---- ,harvey1 who was one that waited on him1 told me the doctors were not willing ,i should speak with him4 ,so ,i passed away1 and never saw him more4 ,from ,kingston ,i went to ,isaac ,penington's1 in ,,buckinghamshire1 where ,i had appointed a meeting1 and the ,lord's truth and power were preciously manifested amongst us4 ,after ,i had visited ,friends in those parts1 ,i returned to ,,london1 and soon after went into ,,essex1 where ,i had not been long before ,i heard that the ,protector was dead1 and his son ,richard made ,protector in his room4 ,whereupon ,i came up to ,,london again4 ,before this time the church-faith 7so called7 was given forth1 which was said to have been made at the ,savoy in eleven days' time4 ,i got a copy before it was published1 and wrote an answer to it2 and when their book of church-faith was sold in the streets1 my answer to it was sold also4 ,this angered some of the parliament-men1 so that one of them told me1 8they must have me to ,smithfield40 ,i told him1 8,i was above their fires1 and feared them not40 ,and reasoning with him1 ,i wished him to consider1 8,had all people been without a faith these sixteen hundred years1 that now the priests must make them one8 ,did not the apostle say1 that ,jesus was the author and finisher of their faith8 ,and since ,christ ,jesus was the author of the apostles' faith1 of the church's faith in primitive times1 and of the martyrs' faith1 should not all people look unto him to be the author and finisher of their faith1 and not to the priests80 ,much work we had about the priest-made faith2 for they called us house-creepers1 leading silly women captive1 because we met in houses1 and would not hold up their priests and temples1 which they had made and set up4 ,i told them1 that it was they who led silly women captive1 and crept into houses1 who kept people always learning under them1 who were covetous1 and had a form of godliness1 but denied the power and ,spirit which the apostles were in4 ,such began to creep in the apostles' days2 but now they had got the magistrates on their side1 who upheld those houses for them1 which they had crept into1 their temples1 with their tithes3 whereas the apostles brought people off even from that temple1 and those tithes and offerings1 which ,god had for a time commanded4 ,and the apostles met in several private houses1 being to preach the gospel to all nations2 which they did freely1 as ,christ had commanded them4 ,thus do we1 who bring people off from these priests1 temples1 and tithes which ,god never commanded1 to meet in houses1 or on mountains1 as the saints of old did1 who were gathered in the name of ,jesus1 ,christ being their ,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,shepherd4 ,major ,wiggan1 a very envious man1 was present1 yet he bridled himself before the parliament-men1 and some others that were there in company4 ,he took upon him to make a speech1 and said1 8,christ had taken away the guilt of sin1 but had left the power of sin remaining in us40 ,i told him1 that was strange doctrine1 for ,christ came to destroy the devil and his works1 and the power of sin1 and so to cleanse men from sin4 ,so ,major ,wiggan's mouth was stopped at that time4 ,but next day1 desiring to speak with me again1 ,i took a friend or two with me1 and went to him4 ,then he vented much passion and rage1 beyond the bounds of a ,christian or moral man2 whereupon ,i reproved him2 and having brought the ,lord's power over him1 and let him see what condition he was in1 ,i left him4 ,after some time ,i passed out of ,london1 and had a meeting at ,sergeant ,birkhead's at ,,twickenham1 to which many people came1 and some of considerable quality in the world4 ,a glorious meeting it was1 wherein the ,scriptures were largely and clearly opened1 and ,christ exalted above all1 to the great satisfaction of the hearers4 ,but there was great persecution in many places1 both by imprisoning and breaking up of meetings4 ,at a meeting about seven miles from ,london1 the rude people usually came out of several parishes round about1 to abuse ,friends1 and often beat and bruised them exceedingly4 ,one day they abused about eighty ,friends1 who went to that meeting out of ,london1 tearing their coats and cloaks off their backs1 and throwing them into ditches and ponds2 and when they had besmeared them with dirt1 they said they looked like witches4 ,the next ,first-day1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to go to that meeting1 though ,i was then very weak4 ,when ,i came there1 ,i bid ,friends bring a table1 and set it in the field1 where they used to meet1 to stand upon4 ,according to their wonted course1 the rude people came4 ,having a ,bible in my hand1 ,i showed them their and their priests' and teachers' fruits3 and the people became ashamed1 and were quiet4 ,i opened the ,scriptures to them1 and our principles agreeing therewith2 ,i turned the people from darkness to the light of ,christ and his ,spirit1 by which they might understand the ,scriptures1 see themselves and their sins1 and know ,christ ,jesus to be their ,saviour4 ,so the meeting ended quietly1 and the ,lord's power came over all to his glory4 ,but it was a time of great sufferings2 for besides the imprisonments 7through which many died7 our meetings were greatly disturbed4 ,they have thrown rotten eggs and wild-fire into our meetings1 and have brought in drums beating1 and kettles1 to make noises with1 that the truth might not be heard2 and among these1 the priests were as rude as any3 as may be seen in the book of the fighting priests1 wherein a list is given of some of them that had actually beaten and abused ,friends4 ,many also of our ,friends were brought up to ,,london1 prisoners1 to be tried before the committee2 where ,henry ,vane1#fj being ,chairman1 would not suffer ,friends to come in1 except they would put off their hats3 but at last the ,lord's power came over him1 so that1 through the mediation of others1 they were admitted4 ,many of us having been imprisoned upon contempts 7as they called them7 for not putting off our hats1 it was not a likely thing that ,friends1 who had suffered so long for it from others1 should put off their hats to him4 ,but the ,lord's power came over them all1 and wrought so1 that several ,friends were set at liberty by them4 ,now inasmuch as sufferings grew very sharp1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to write a few lines and send amongst ,friends1 to encourage them to go on faithfully and boldly1 through the exercises of the day2 of which a copy here follows3-- 8,,my dear ,friends1 wherever scattered abroad1 in prison or out of prison2 fear not1 because of the reports of sufferings2 let not the evil spies of the good land make you afraid1 if they tell you the walls are high1 and there are ,anakims in the land2 for at the blowing of the rams' horns did the walls of ,jericho fall2 and they that brought the evil report1 perished in the wilderness4 ,but dwell ye in the faith1 patience1 and hope1 having the ,word of ,life to keep you1 which is beyond the law2 and having the oath of ,god1 his covenant1 ,christ ,jesus1 which divides the waters asunder1 and makes them to run all on heaps2 in that stand3 and ye will see all things work together for good to them that love ,god4 ,in that triumph1 when sufferings come1 whatever they may be4 ,your faith1 your shield1 your helmet1 your armour you have on2 ye are ready to skip over a mountain1 a wall1 or a hill1 and to walk through the deep waters1 though they be as heaps upon heaps4 ,the evil spies of the good land may preach up hardness2 but ,caleb1 which signifies a heart1 and ,joshua1 a ,saviour1 triumph over all40 ,g4,f4 ,footnote #fj3 ,vane was a conspicuous character at this period4 ,he was strongly attached to a republican government1 and opposed ,cromwell in his progress towards assuming the reins of government as protector4 ,he was said to be one of the leaders of the ,independents4 ,bishop ,burnet1 the historian1 says of him3--8,though he set up a form of religion in a way of his own1 yet it consisted rather in a withdrawing from all other forms1 than in any new or particular forms and opinions2 from which he and his party were called ,seekers1 and seemed to wait for some new and clearer manifestations40 ,james ,naylor1 in a letter to ,margaret ,fell1 speaks of ,vane as 8very loving to ,friends1 but drunk with imaginations40 ,after a while ,i went to ,,reading1 where ,i was under great sufferings and exercises1 and in great travail of spirit for about ten weeks4 ,for ,i saw there was great confusion and distraction amongst the people1 and that the powers were plucking each other to pieces4 ,and ,i saw how many were destroying the simplicity1 and betraying the truth4 ,much hypocrisy1 deceit1 and strife1 was got uppermost in the people1 so that they were ready to sheath their swords in one another's bowels4 ,there had been a tenderness in many of them formerly1 when they were low1 but when they were got up1 had killed and taken possession1 they came to be as bad as others2 so that we had much to do with them about our hats1 and saying ,thou and ,thee to them4 ,they turned their profession of patience and moderation into rage and madness2 and many of them were like distracted men for this hat-honour4 ,for they had hardened themselves by persecuting the innocent1 and were at this time crucifying the ,seed1 ,christ1 both in themselves and others2 till at last they fell to biting and devouring one another1 until they were consumed one of another2 who had turned against1 and judged1 that which ,god had wrought in them1 and showed unto them4 ,so shortly after1 ,god overthrew them1 and turned them upside down1 and brought the king over them1 who were often surmising that the ,quakers met together to bring in ,king ,charles1 whereas1 ,friends did not concern themselves with the outward powers1 or government4 ,but at last the ,lord brought him in1 and many of them when they saw he would be brought in1 voted for bringing him in4 ,so with heart and voice praise the name of the ,lord1 to whom it doth belong2 who over all hath the supremacy1 and who will rock the nations1 for he is over them4 ,i had a sight and sense of the king's return a good while before1 and so had some others4 ,i wrote to ,oliver several times1 and let him know that while he was persecuting ,god's people1 they whom he accounted his enemies were preparing to come upon him4 ,when some forward spirits that came amongst us1 would have bought ,somerset-house1 that we might have meetings in it1 ,i forbade them to do so2 for ,i then foresaw the king's coming in again4 ,besides1 there came a woman to me in the ,strand1 who had a prophecy concerning ,king ,charles's coming in1 three years before he came3 and she told me1 she must go to him to declare it4 ,i advised her to wait upon the ,lord1 and keep it to herself2 for if it should be known that she went on such a message1 they would look upon it to be treason2 but she said1 she must go1 and tell him1 that he should be brought into ,england again4 ,i saw her prophecy was true1 and that a great stroke must come upon them in power2 for they that had then got possession were so exceeding high1 and such great persecution was acted by them1 who called themselves saints1 that they would take from ,friends their copyhold lands1 because they could not swear in their courts4 ,sometimes when we laid these sufferings before ,oliver ,cromwell1 he would not believe it4 ,wherefore ,thomas ,aldam#fa and ,anthony ,pearson were moved to go through all the jails in ,england1 and to get copies of ,friends' commitments under the jailer's hands1 that they might lay the weight of their sufferings upon ,oliver ,cromwell4 ,and when he would not give order for the releasing of them1 ,thomas ,aldam was moved to take his cap from off his head1 and to rend it in pieces before him1 and to say unto him1 8,so shall thy government be rent from thee and thy house40 ,footnote #fa3 ,thomas ,aldam died in #affj1 and as this is the last mention of him in this journal1 the following particulars may be added3--,he resided at ,warmsworth1 in ,yorkshire1 and was convinced by ,george ,fox1 in #afea1 having been previously a great follower of the priests and teachers of the times4 ,but his hungering and thirsting soul not being satisfied amongst them1 he left them1 and having received the ,truth1 became valiant for the same1 giving up his strength and substance to serve the ,lord4 ,many beatings1 reproaches1 imprisonments1 much spoiling of goods and other sufferings he endured1 for ,christ's sake4 ,he was one of the first called a ,quaker imprisoned in ,york castle1 in #afeb1 where he was kept two years and six months1 not being suffered once to go home1 nor permitted to see his wife1 children1 or relatives1 when they went to visit him4 ,he was also fined during that imprisonment #dj1 at the assize1 for appearing before the judge with his hat on1 and saying thee and thou to him4 ,during the same imprisonment for tithes1 he was sued at law for treble damages1 his property being taken to the value of #db1 not leaving one cow to give milk for his young children and family4 ,many other sufferings did he undergo1 which made him have a tender sympathy for others who were sufferers for the ,truth1 whose cause he often pleaded4 ,he wrote several small works in defence of ,truth1 and his son1 ,thomas ,aldam1 who was also a faithful minister1 published a testimony concerning him1 in #afij4 ,see ,piety ,promoted1 vol4 i41 pp4 #be-bh2 vol4 iii41 p #eh4 ,another ,friend also1 a woman1 was moved to go to the parliament 7that was envious against ,friends7 with a pitcher in her hand1 which she broke into pieces before them1 and told them1 8so should they be broken to pieces30 which came to pass shortly after4 ,and in my great suffering and travail of spirit for the nation1 being grievously burdened with their hypocrisy1 treachery1 and falsehood1 ,i saw ,god would bring that over them1 which they had been above2 and that all must be brought down to that which convinced them1 before they could get over that bad spirit within and without3 for it is the pure1 invisible ,spirit1 that doth and only can work down all deceit in people4 ,while ,i was under that sore travail at ,reading1 by reason of grief and sorrow of mind1 and the great exercise that was upon my spirit1 my countenance was altered1 and ,i looked poor and thin2 and there came a company of unclean spirits to me1 and told me1 8the plagues of ,god were upon me40 ,i told them1 it was the same spirit spoke that in them1 that said so of ,christ1 when he was stricken and smitten2 they hid their face from him4 ,but when ,i had travailed with the witness of ,god1 which they had quenched1 and had got through with it1 and over all that hypocrisy which the outside professors were run into1 and saw how that would be brought down1 and turned under1 and that life would rise over it1 ,i came to have ease1 and the light1 power1 and ,spirit shone over all4 ,and then having recovered1 and got through my travails and sufferings1 my body and face swelled1 when ,i came abroad into the air2 and then the bad spirits said1 8,i was grown fat10 and they envied at that also4 ,so ,i saw1 that no condition nor state would please that spirit of theirs4 ,but the ,lord preserved me by his power and ,spirit through and over all1 and in his power ,i came to ,,london again4 ,now was there a great pother made about the image or effigy of ,oliver ,cromwell lying in state2 men standing and sounding with trumpets over his image1 after he was dead4 ,at this my spirit was greatly grieved1 and the ,lord1 ,i found1 was highly offended4 ,then did ,i write the following lines1 and sent among them1 to reprove their wickedness1 and warn them to repent3-- 8,o friends1 what are ye doing6 ,what mean ye to sound before an image6 ,will not all sober people think ye are like madmen8 ,o1 how am ,i grieved with your abominations6 ,o1 how am ,i wearied6 ,my soul is wearied with you1 saith the ,lord3 will ,i not be avenged of you1 think ye1 for your abominations8 ,o1 how have ye plucked down and set up6 ,how are your hearts made whole1 and not rent6 ,how are ye turned to fooleries6 ,which things in times past1 ye stood over4 ,how have ye left my dread1 saith the ,lord6 ,fear therefore1 and repent1 lest the snare and the pit take you all4 ,the great day of the ,lord is come upon all your abominations2 the swift hand of the ,lord is turned against them4 ,the sober people in these nations stand amazed at your doings1 and are ashamed1 as if ye would bring in ,popery40 ,g4 ,f4 ,about this time great stirs were in the nation1 the minds of people being unsettled4 ,much plotting and contriving there was by the several factions1 to carry on their several interests4 ,and a great care being upon me1 lest any young or ignorant people1 that might sometimes come amongst us1 should be drawn into that snare1 ,i was moved to give forth the following epistle as a warning unto all such3-- 8,all ,friends1 everywhere1 keep out of plots and bustling1 and the arm of flesh2 for all these are amongst ,adam's sons in the fall1 where they are destroying men's lives like dogs1 beasts1 and swine1 goring1 rending1 and biting one another1 destroying one another1 and wrestling with flesh and blood4 ,whence arise wars and killing but from the lusts8 ,now all this is in ,adam in the fall1 out of ,adam that never fell1 in whom there is peace and life4 ,ye are called to peace1 therefore follow it2 and that peace is in ,christ1 not in ,adam in the fall4 ,all that pretend to fight for ,christ1 are deceived2 for his kingdom is not of this world1 therefore his servants do not fight4 ,fighters are not of ,christ's kingdom1 but are without ,christ's kingdom2 his kingdom stands in peace and righteousness1 but fighters are in the lust2 and all that would destroy men's lives1 are not of ,christ's mind1 who came to save men's lives4 ,christ's kingdom is not of this world2 it is peaceable3 and all that are in strife1 are not of his kingdom4 ,all that pretend to fight for the ,gospel1 are deceived2 for the gospel is the power of ,god1 which was before the devil1 or fall of man was2 and the gospel of peace was before fighting was4 ,therefore they that pretend fighting1 are ignorant of the gospel2 and all that talk of fighting for ,sion1 are in darkness2 for ,sion needs no such helpers4 ,all such as profess themselves to be ministers of ,christ1 or ,christians1 and go about to beat down the whore with outward1 carnal weapons1 the flesh and the whore are got up in themselves1 and they are in a blind zeal2 for the whore got up by the inward ravening from the ,spirit of ,god2 and the beating down thereof1 must be by the inward stroke of the sword of the ,spirit within4 ,all such as pretend ,christ ,jesus1 and confess him1 and yet run into the use of carnal weapons1 wrestling with flesh and blood1 throw away the spiritual weapons4 ,they that would be wrestlers with flesh and blood1 throw away ,christ's doctrine2 the flesh is got up in them1 and they are weary of their sufferings4 ,such as would revenge themselves1 are out of ,christ's doctrine4 ,such as being stricken on one cheek1 would not turn the other1 are out of ,christ's doctrine3 and such as do not love one another1 nor love enemies1 are out of ,christ's doctrine4 8,therefore1 ye that are heirs of the blessings of ,god1 which were before the curse and the fall were1 come to inherit your portions2 and ye that are heirs of the gospel of peace1 which was before the devil was1 live in the gospel of peace1 seeking the peace of all men1 and the good of all men2 and live in ,christ1 who came to save men's lives1 out of ,adam in the fall1 where they destroy men's lives1 and live not in ,christ4 ,the ,jews' sword outwardly1 by which they cut down the heathen1 was a type of the ,spirit of ,god within1 which cuts down the heathenish nature within4 ,so live in the peaceable kingdom of ,christ ,jesus4 ,live in the peace of ,god1 and not in the lusts1 from whence wars arise4 ,live in ,christ the ,prince of ,peace1 the way of ,god1 who is the second ,adam1 that never fell2 but live not in ,adam in the fall1 in the destruction1 where they destroy one another4 ,therefore come out of ,adam in the fall1 into the ,adam that never fell4 ,live in love and peace with all men2 keep out of all the bustlings in the world2 meddle not with the powers of the earth2 but mind the kingdom1 the way of peace4 ,ye that are heirs of grace1 heirs of the kingdom1 heirs of the gospel1 heirs of salvation1 saints of the ,most ,high1 and children of ,god1 whose conversation is in heaven1 that is above the combustions of the earth2 let your conversation preach to all men1 and your innocent lives1 that they who speak evil of you1 beholding your godly conversation1 may glorify your ,father which is in heaven4 8,all ,friends everywhere1 this ,i charge you1 which is the word of the ,lord ,god unto you all1 #8,live in peace1 in ,christ the way of peace1' and therein seek the peace of all men1 and no man's hurt4 ,in ,adam in the fall1 is no peace2 but in ,adam out of the fall1 is peace3 so1 ye being in ,adam which never fell1 it is love that overcomes1 and not hatred with hatred1 nor strife with strife4 ,therefore live all in the peaceable life1 doing good to all men1 and seeking the good and welfare of all men40 ,g4 ,f4 ,not long after this1 ,george ,booth rose in arms in ,cheshire1 and ,lambert went against him4 ,at which time some foolish1 rash spirits1 that came sometimes amongst us1 were ready to take up arms2 but ,i was moved of the ,lord to warn and forbid them1 and they were quiet4 ,in the time of the ,committee of ,safety 7so called71 we were invited by them to take up arms1 and great places and commands were offered some of us2 but we denied them all1 and declared against it both by word and writing2 testifying that our weapons and armour were not carnal1 but spiritual4 ,and lest any that came amongst us1 should be drawn into that snare1 it came upon me from the ,lord1 to write a few lines on that occasion1 and send them forth1 as a caution to all amongst us4 ,of which this is a copy3 8,all ,friends everywhere1 take heed to keep out of the powers of the earth1 that run into wars and fightings1 which make not for peace1 but destroy it2 such will not have the kingdom4 ,and1 ,friends1 take heed of joining with this or the other1 or meddling with any1 or being busy with other men's matters2 but mind the ,lord1 his power1 and his service4 ,let ,friends keep out of other men's matters1 and keep in that which answers the witness in them all1 out of the man's part1 where they must expect wars and dishonour4 ,friends everywhere1 dwell in your own1 in the power of the ,lord ,god1 to keep your minds up to the ,lord ,god1 from falling down to the strength of ,egypt1 or going thither for strength1 after ye are come out of it1 like the children of ,israel after they were come out of outward ,egypt4 ,but dwell in the power of the ,lord ,god1 that ye may keep over all the powers of the earth1 amongst whom the just hand of ,god is come2 for they have turned against the just1 disobeyed the just1 in their own particulars1 and so gone on in one against the just2 therefore the just sets them one against another4 ,now he that goes to help among them1 is astray from the just in himself1 in the unstaid state1 and doth not know1 by the ,all-seeing ,eye 7that beholdeth17 him that recompenseth and rewardeth1 and lives not in the hand1 in the power1 that mangles and overturns1 which vexeth the transgressors1 that come to be blind1 and zealous for they do not know what4 ,therefore keep in peace1 and in the love and power of ,god1 and in unity and love one to another1 lest any go out1 and fall with the uncircumcised3 that is1 they that are from the ,spirit in themselves1 and they that go from it1 go into the pit together4 ,therefore stand 7it is the word of the ,lord ,god to you all7 in the fear and dread of the ,lord ,god1 his power1 life1 light1 seed1 and wisdom1 by which ye may take away the occasion of wars1 and so know a kingdom which hath no end1 and fight for that with spiritual weapons1 which takes away the occasion of the carnal2 and there gather men to war1 as many as ye can1 and set up as many as ye can with these weapons40 ,g4 ,f4 ,after ,i had stayed some time in ,london1 and had visited ,friends' meetings there and thereabouts1 and the ,lord's power was set over all1 ,i travelled into the counties again1 passing through ,,essex and ,,suffolk into ,,norfolk1 visiting ,friends1 till ,i came to ,,norwich1 where we had a meeting about the time called ,christmas4 ,the ,mayor of ,norwich1 having got previous notice of the meeting ,i intended to have there1 granted a warrant to apprehend me4 ,when ,i was come thither1 and heard of the warrant1 ,i sent some friends to the mayor to reason with him about it4 ,his answer was1 the soldiers should not meet2 and did we think to meet8 ,he would have us to go and meet without the city1 for he said1 the town's-people were so rude that he could hardly order them1 and he feared that our meeting would make tumults in the town4 ,but our friends told him we were a peaceable people1 and that he ought to keep the peace2 for we could not but meet to worship ,god1 as our manner was4 ,so he became moderate1 and did not send his officers to the meeting4 ,a large one it was1 and abundance of rude people came1 with an intent to do mischief2 but the ,lord's power came over them1 so that they were chained by it1 though several priests were there1 and professors and ,ranters4 ,among the priests1 one whose name was ,townsend1 stood up and cried1 8,error1 blasphemy1 and an ungodly meeting60 ,i bid him not burden himself with that which he could not make good2 and ,i asked him what was our error and blasphemy2 for ,i told him1 he should make good his words before ,i had done with him1 or be shamed4 ,as for an ungodly meeting1 ,i said1 ,i believed there were many people there that feared ,god1 and therefore it was both unchristian and uncivil in him1 to charge civil1 godly people with an ungodly meeting4 ,he said1 my error and blasphemy was1 in that ,i said1 that people must wait upon ,god by his power and ,spirit1 and feel his presence when they did not speak words4 ,i asked him then1 whether the apostles and holy men of ,god did not hear ,god speak to them in their silence1 before they spoke forth the ,scripture1 and before it was written8 ,he replied1 ,yes1 ,david and the prophets heard ,god1 before they penned the ,scriptures1 and felt his presence in silence before they spoke them forth4 ,then said ,i1 ,all people take notice1 he said this was error and blasphemy in me to say these words2 and now he hath confessed1 it is no more than the holy men of ,god in former times witnessed4 ,so ,i showed them that as the holy men of ,god who gave forth the ,scripture as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 heard and learned of ,god1 before they spoke them forth2 so must they all hearken and hear what the ,spirit saith1 which will lead them into all truth1 that they may know ,god and ,christ1 and may understand the ,scriptures4 ,o1 said the priest1 this is not that ,george ,fox ,i would speak withal2 this is a subtle man1 said he4 ,so the ,lord's power came over all1 and the rude people were made moderate1 and were reached by it2 and some professors that were there1 called to the priests1 saying1 8prove the blasphemy and errors which ye have charged them with2 ye have spoken much against them behind their backs1 but nothing ye can prove now 7said they7 to their faces40 ,but the priest began to get away2 whereupon ,i told him1 we had many things to charge him withal1 therefore let him set a time and place to answer them2 which he did and went his way4 ,a glorious day this was1 for truth came over all1 and people were turned to ,god by his power and ,spirit1 and to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their free teacher1 who was exalted over all4 ,and as we passed away1 people's hearts were generally filled with love towards us2 yea1 the ruder sort of them desired another meeting1 for the evil intentions they had against us were thrown out of their hearts4 ,at night ,i passed out of town to a ,friends' house1 and thence to ,colonel ,dennis's1 where we had a great meeting2 and afterwards travelled on1 visiting ,friends in ,,norfolk1 ,,huntingdonshire1 and ,,cambridgeshire4 ,but ,george ,whitehead and ,richard ,hubberthorn stayed about ,norwich to meet the priest1 who was soon confounded1 the ,lord's power came so over him4 ,after ,i had travelled through many counties in the ,lord's service1 and many were convinced1 notwithstanding the people in some places were very rude1 ,i returned to ,,london1 when ,general ,monk was come up thither1 and the gates and posts of the city were pulling down4 ,long before this ,i had a vision1 wherein ,i saw the city lie in heaps and the gates down2 and it was then represented to me1 just as ,i saw it several years after1 lying in heaps1 when it was burned4 ,divers times1 both by word and writing1 had ,i forewarned the several powers1 both in ,oliver's time and after1 of the day of recompense that was coming upon them2 but they rejecting counsel1 and slighting those visitations of love to them1 ,i was moved now1 before they were quite overturned1 to lay their backsliding1 hypocrisy1 and treacherous dealing before them1 thus3 8,,friends1 now are the prophecies fulfilled and fulfilling upon you1 which have been spoken to you by the people of ,god in your courts1 steeple-houses1 towns1 cities1 markets1 highways1 and at your feasts1 when ye were in your pleasures1 and puffed up1 that ye would neither hear ,god nor man2 when ye were in your height of authority1 though raised up from a mean state1 none might come nigh you without bowing1 or the respect of persons1 for ye were in the world's way1 compliments1 and fashions1 which1 for conscience' sake towards ,god they could not go into1 being redeemed therefrom2 therefore they were hated by you for that cause4 ,but how are ye brought low1 who exalted yourselves above your brethren1 and threw the just and harmless from among you1 until at last ,god hath thrown you out2 and when ye cast the innocent from among you1 then ye fell to biting one another until ye were consumed one of another4 ,and so the day is come upon you1 which before was told you1 though ye would not believe it4 ,and are not your hearts so hardened1 that ye will hardly yet believe1 though ready to go into captivity8 ,was it not told you1 when ye spilt the blood of the innocent in your steeple-houses1 markets1 highways1 and cities1 yea1 and even in your courts also1 because they said the word #8,thou' to you1 and could not put off their hats to you1 that if something did not arise up amongst yourselves1 to avenge the blood of the innocent1 there would come something from beyond the seas1 which lay reserved there1 which being brought by the arm of ,god1 the arm of flesh and strongest mountain cannot withstand8 ,yet ye would not consider1 regard1 or hear2 but cried1 peace1 peace1 and feasted yourselves1 and sat down in the spoil of your enemies1 being treacherous both to ,god and man2 and who will trust you now8 ,have ye not made covenants and oaths8 and broken covenants and oaths between ,god and man1 and made the nations breakers both of covenants and oaths2 so that nothing but hypocrisy1 rottenness1 and falsehood under fair pretence1 was amongst you8 8,when ye pretended to set up the old cause1 it was but yourselves2 for which ye long stuck to sober people1 who saw ye would do no good4 ,but it was a joy for any of you to get up into authority1 that ye might have praise1 honour1 and respect2 and they that were in the self-denial were a derision to you1 from amongst whom that was banished4 ,thus ye became the nation's masters1 and not servants2 whereas the greatest of all should be the servants of all4 ,but there ye lost your authority1 not considering your estates1 from whence ye were1 and to what end ,god had raised you up2 but forgot the ,lord1 and quenched that which was good in yourselves1 and persecuted them that lived in it2 and so are grown so gross and perverse1 that at last ye are fit for neither ,god nor man4 ,have not ye called the ,quakers the fanatic people1 and the giddy heads8 ,but whither now are ye giddying8 into ,cain's city ,nod1 which signifies fugitive1 or wandering8 ,have not ye persecuted and imprisoned to death such as ,god had respect to1 and is now reproving you for their sakes1 by them whom ye have hated8 ,were not many amongst you cut off for your persecution1 and yet the rest of you would not take warning8 ,was there not a book of examples sent out unto you1 of what sudden and strange deaths happened to the persecutors of the innocent2 and yet ye would not take warning1 until the overflowing scourge is now coming upon you4 ,are not ye they that have killed like ,cain1 who have killed about your sacrifice1 and mingled the blood of the innocent with it8 ,hath not ,god now vagabonded you1 that ye should become a curse upon the earth1 who have persecuted ,friends to death8 ,did not the blood of the righteous cry out of the ground for vengeance8 ,and will not the blood of the righteous be required8 ,could ye think that the ,lord would let you sit always with bloody hands and fists of wickedness8 ,ah6 what is become of all your feasts and your fasts1 the prayers and blessings of your priests80 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #afei-affj4--;,address to the ,cornish people1 respecting shipwrecks--the soldiers at ,bristol are punished for disturbing ,friends' meetings--several thousands attend a general meeting at ,edward ,pyot's--,general ,monk also restrains his soldiers--great drunkenness at elections for ,parliament-men--the ,yearly ,meeting is held at ,balby--and a general meeting of discipline for several counties held at ,skipton--a ,friend goes naked 7divested of the upper garments7 through the town1 declaring ,truth1 and is much abused--general meeting at ,arnside for three counties--,george ,fox is committed to ,lancaster ,castle by ,major ,porter--writes an answer to his mittimus--,margaret ,fell writes to the magistrates thereon--address on true religion--against persecution--to ,friends1 on the change of government--to ,charles ,,ii41 exhorting him to exercise mercy and forgiveness towards his enemies1 and to restrain profaneness--the ,sheriff of ,lancashire's return to ,george ,fox's writ of ,habeas ,corpus--,m4 ,fell and ,ann ,curtis speak to the ,king on the subject--the ,king orders his removal to ,london by ,habeas ,corpus1 and there sets him at liberty4 ,being now clear of the ,city of ,london1 and finding my spirit drawn to visit ,friends in the western parts of ,england1 passing first into ,,surrey and ,,sussex1 ,i came to a great town where there was a large meeting1 to which several ,friends from ,reading came1 and a blessed one it was4 ,the priest of the town was in a great rage1 but did not come out of his house2 wherefore1 hearing him make a great noise in his house1 as we were passing from the meeting1 we bid him come out into the street1 and we would discourse with him2 but he would not4 ,so the ,lord's power being over all1 ,friends were refreshed therein4 ,thence ,i went to another market-town1 where in the evening we had a precious meeting1 and the fresh sense of the presence of the ,lord was sweetly felt amongst us4 ,then turning into ,,hampshire and ,,dorsetshire1 ,i went to ,,ringwood and ,,poole1 visiting ,friends in the ,lord's power1 and had great meetings amongst them4 ,at ,,dorchester we had a great meeting in the evening at our inn1 which many soldiers attended1 and were pretty civil4 ,but the constables and officers of the town came1 under pretence to look for a ,jesuit1 whose head 7they said7 was shaved2 and they would have all put off their hats1 or they would take them off1 to look for the ,jesuit's shaven crown4 ,so they took off my hat 7for ,i was the man they aimed at17 and looked very narrowly1 but not finding any bald or shaven place on my head they went away with shame2 and the soldiers1 and other sober people1 were greatly offended with them4 ,but it was of good service for the ,lord1 and all things wrought together for good2 for it affected the people2 and after the officers were gone1 we had a fine meeting1 and people were turned to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 their teacher1 who had bought them1 and would reconcile them to ,god4 ,thence we passed into ,,somersetshire1 where the ,presbyterians and other professors were very wicked1 and often disturbed ,friends' meetings4 ,one time especially 7as we were then informed7 there was a very wicked man1 whom they got to come to the ,quakers' meeting2 this man put a bear's skin on his back1 and undertook with that to play pranks in the meeting4 ,accordingly1 setting himself just opposite to the ,friend that was speaking1 he lolled his tongue out of his mouth1 having his bear's skin on his back1 and so made sport to his wicked followers1 and caused a great disturbance in the meeting4 ,but an eminent judgment overtook him1 and his punishment slumbered not2 for as he went back from the meeting1 there was a bull-baiting in the way which he stayed to see2 and coming within the bull's reach1 he struck his horn under the man's chin into his throat1 and struck his tongue out of his mouth1 so that it hung lolling out1 as he had used it before1 in derision in the meeting4 ,and the bull's horn running up into the man's head1 he swung him about upon his horn in a most remarkable and fearful manner4 ,thus he that came to do mischief amongst ,god's people1 was mischiefed himself2 and well would it be1 if such apparent examples of ,divine vengeance1 would teach others to beware4#fb ,footnote #fb3 ,many were the judgments which overtook the persecutors of the ,early ,friends1 as related in their journals1 and the histories of the ,society4 ,the following occurred in ,scotland1 as related in ,jaffray's diary3--8,james ,skene1 who was generally known by the name of #8,white ,james1' to distinguish him from a very abusive and wicked man of the same name1 called #8,black ,james1' took great delight in inventing malicious slanders against ,friends4 ,on one occasion1 whilst he was repeating some wicked verses1 which he had composed on purpose to defame a worthy and innocent person1 he was in that instant suddenly struck down as one dead1 and was for some time deprived of his senses4 ,when he recovered1 he acknowledged the just judgment of ,god upon him1 confessed the offence he had committed against this innocent people1 and gave proof of repentance by ever after abstaining from such practices40 ,we travelled through ,,somersetshire and ,,devonshire1 till we came to ,,plymouth1 and so into ,,cornwall1 visiting the meetings of ,friends to the ,land's ,end4 ,many precious and blessed meetings we had all along as we went1 wherein they that were convinced were established1 and many others were added to them4 ,at the ,,land',s ,,end1 there was an honest fisherman convinced1 who became a faithful minister of ,christ2 ,i took notice of him to ,friends1 and told them1 8,he was like ,peter40#fc ,footnote #fc3 ,the honest fisherman mentioned here was ,nicholas ,jose1 who was a great sufferer for ,christ's sake1 both in loss of goods and imprisonments in ,launceston ,jail1 ,pendennis ,castle1 and other places2 indeed scarcely a year passed over without his being called on to suffer severely in some way or other for the testimony of a good conscience4 ,he was imprisoned with twenty-four other ,friends1 about the year #afhb1 and continued in confinement till #afhe4 ,for an interesting account of this worthy man1 see ,select ,miscellanies vol4 iv41 #bej-bee4 ,while ,i was in ,cornwall1 there were great shipwrecks about the ,land's ,end4 ,now it was the custom of that country1 that at such a time both rich and poor went out1 to get as much of the wreck as they could1 not caring to save the people's lives2 and in some places1 they call shipwrecks1 ,god's grace4 ,these things troubled me2 it grieved my spirit to hear of such unchristian actions1 considering how far they were below the heathen at ,melita1 who received ,paul1 made him a fire1 and were courteous towards him1 and them that had suffered shipwreck with him4 ,wherefore ,i was moved to write a paper1 and send it to all the parishes1 priests1 and magistrates1 to reprove them for such greedy actions1 and to warn and exhort them that1 if they could assist to save people's lives1 and preserve their ships and goods1 they should use their diligence therein2 and consider1 if it had been their own condition1 they would judge it hard if they should be upon a wreck1 and people should strive to get what they could get from them1 and not regard their lives4 ,a copy of this paper here follows3-- 8,,friends ,,and ,,people1 8,take heed of greediness and covetousness1 for that is idolatry2 and the idolater must not enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,take heed of drunkenness1 oaths1 and cursings1 for such are destroyers of the creation1 and make it to groan4 ,lay aside all fighting1 quarrelling1 brawling1 and evil speakings1 which are the works of the flesh1 and not of the ,spirit2 for they who follow such things are not likely to inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,put away all corrupt words1 which are unsavoury1 and misnaming one another2 for ye must give an account of every idle word4 ,lay aside all profession and religion that is vain2 and come to the possession1 and the pure religion1 which is to visit the fatherless1 the widow1 and the stranger1 and receive them2 for some thereby may entertain angels1 or the servants of the ,lord unawares1 as ,paul was entertained after the shipwreck at ,melita4 ,do not take people's goods from them by force out of their ships1 seamen's or other's1 neither covet ye them2 but rather endeavour to preserve their lives1 and their goods for them2 for that shows a spirit of compassion1 and the spirit of a ,christian4 ,but if ye be greedy and covetous of other men's goods1 not mattering what becomes of the men1 would ye be served so yourselves8 ,if ye should have a ship cast away in other places1 and the people should come to tear the goods and ship in pieces1 not regarding to save the men's lives1 but be ready to fight one with another for your goods1 do not ye believe such goods would become a curse to them8 ,and may ye not as surely believe1 such kind of actions will become a curse unto you8 ,when the spoil of one ship's goods is idly spent1 and consumed upon the lusts1 in ale-houses1 taverns1 and otherwise1 then ye gape for another4 ,is this to #8do as ye would be done by1' which is the law and the prophets8 8,therefore1 priest ,hull1 are these thy fruits8 ,what dost thou take people's labour and goods for8 ,hast thou taught them no better manners and conversation1 who are so brutish and heathenish8 ,now all such things we judge in whomsoever4 ,but if any ,friend1 or others1 preserve men's lives1 and endeavour to save their goods and estates1 and restore what they can of a wreck to the owners2 if they consider such for their labour1 doing in that case unto them what they would have done unto themselves1 that we approve4 ,and if they buy or sell1 and do not make a prey1 that is allowed of still1 in the way of #8doing as ye would be done by1' keeping to the law and to the prophets3 that is1 if ye should be wrecked in another country1 ye would have other people to save your lives and goods1 and have your goods restored to you again1 and you would commend them for so doing4 ,all that do otherwise1 that wait for a wreck1 and get the goods for themselves1 not regarding the lives of the men3 but if any of them escape drowning1 let them go begging up and down the country2 and if any escape with a little1 sometimes rob them of it2--all that do so1 are not for preserving the creation1 but for destroying it2 and those goods which are so gotten1 shall be a curse1 a plague1 and a judgment to them1 and the judgments of ,god will follow them for acting such things2 the witness in your consciences shall answer it4 ,therefore1 all ye who have done such things1 #8do so no more lest a worse thing come unto you4' ,but that which is good1 do2 preserve men's lives and estates1 and labour to restore the loss and breach2 that the ,lord requires4 ,be not like a company of greedy dogs1 and worse than heathens1 as if ye had never heard of ,god1 nor ,christ1 nor the ,scriptures1 nor pure religion4 8,and priest ,hull1 have people spent their money upon thee1 for that which is no bread8 for a thing of nought1 that thou hast such fruits8 ,all such teachers we utterly deny as make a trade of the ,scriptures1 which are given forth from the ,spirit of ,god1 that they may be believed1 read1 and practised1 and that ,christ1 whom they testify of1 may be enjoyed4 ,we own ,christ1 and are come off from all your steeple-houses1 which were the old mass-houses2 for there are their bad fruits harboured4 ,come to the ,church which is in ,god 7#a ,thess4 i471 and to the light which ,christ ,jesus hath enlightened you withal1 which shows you all your ungodly words1 ungodly thoughts1 and ungodly actions4 ,this will be your teacher1 if ye love it2 your condemnation if ye hate it2 for the mighty day of the ,lord is coming upon all wickedness and ungodliness2 therefore lay aside your whoredoms and fornications4 8,and ye magistrates who are to do justice1 think ye not that the hand of the ,lord ,god is against you1 and that his judgments will come upon you1 who do not look after these things and stop them with the law1 which is1 #8to do unto all men1 as they would have done unto them1' whereby ye might be good savour in your country8 ,is not the law to preserve men's lives and estates1 #8doing unto all men1 as they would that men should do unto them8' ,for all men would have their lives and estates preserved2 therefore1 should not ye preserve others1 and not suffer them to be devoured and destroyed8 ,the evil of these things will lie upon you1 both priests and magistrates40 ,g4 ,f4 0,postscript4--,all dear ,friends who fear the ,lord1 keep out of the ravenous world's spirit1 which leads to destroy1 and which is out of the wisdom of ,god4 ,when ships are wrecked1 do not run to destroy and make havoc of ship and goods with the world2 but to save the men1 and the goods for them1 and so deny yourselves1 #8and do unto them1 as ye would that they should do unto you4'0 ,g4 ,f4 ,this paper had good service among the people2 and ,friends have endeavoured much to save the lives of the crews in times of wrecks1 and to preserve the ships and goods for them4 ,and when some that have suffered shipwreck1 have been almost dead and starved1 ,friends have taken them to their houses1 to succour and recover them2 which is an act to be practised by all true ,christians4 ,i had many precious1 blessed1 living meetings in ,cornwall1 several eminent people being convinced in that county1 whom neither priests nor magistrates1 by spoiling goods or imprisonments1 could make to forsake their ,shepherd1 the ,lord ,jesus1 who bought them2 and all ,friends1 who were turned to ,christ1 their ,teacher and ,saviour1 being settled in peace and quietness upon him1 their foundation1 we left them to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's teaching and ordering1 fresh and green4 ,thomas ,lower1 who had accompanied me through all that county1 brought me over ,horse-bridge into ,,devonshire again2 and after several meetings there1 we came into ,,somersetshire1 where we had divers large and peaceable meetings2 and so passed through the county1 visiting ,friends1 till we came to ,,bristol4 ,i entered ,,bristol on the seventh day of the week4 ,the day before1 the soldiers came with their muskets into the meeting1 and were exceedingly rude1 beating and striking ,friends with them1 and drove them out of the orchard in a great rage1 threatening what they would do1 if ,friends came there again4 ,for the mayor and the commander of the soldiers had1 it seems1 combined together to make a disturbance amongst ,friends4 ,when ,friends told me what a rage there was in the town1 how they were threatened by the mayor and soldiers1 and how unruly the soldiers had been the day before1 ,i sent for several ,friends1 as ,george ,bishop1 ,thomas ,gouldney1 ,thomas ,speed1 and ,edward ,pyot1 and desired them to go to the mayor and aldermen1 and request them1 seeing he and they had broken up our meetings1 to let ,friends have the town-hall to meet in2 and for the use of it ,friends would give them twenty pounds a-year1 to be distributed amongst the poor2 and when the mayor and aldermen had business to do in it1 ,friends would not meet in it1 but only on ,first-days4 ,these ,friends were astonished at this1 and said the mayor and aldermen would think that they were mad4 ,i said1 nay2 for this would be a considerable benefit to the poor4 ,and it was upon me from the ,lord to bid them go4 ,at last they consented1 and went1 though in the cross to their own wills4 ,when they had laid the thing before the mayor1 he said1 8for his part he could consent to it1 but he was but one30 and he told ,friends of another great hall they might have1 but that they did not accept1 it being inconvenient4 ,so ,friends came away1 leaving the mayor in a very loving frame towards them2 for they felt the ,lord's power had come over him4 ,when they came back1 ,i spoke to them to go also to the colonel that commanded the soldiers1 and lay before him the rude conduct of his soldiers1 how they came armed amongst innocent people1 who were waiting upon1 and worshipping the ,lord2 but they were backward to go to him4 ,next morning1 being first day1 we went to the meeting in the orchard1 where the soldiers had so lately been so rude4 ,after ,i had declared the truth some time in the meeting1 there came in many rude soldiers and people1 some with drawn swords4 ,the innkeepers had made some of them drunk2 and one had bound himself with an oath1 to cut down and kill the man that spoke4 ,he came pressing in1 through all the crowd of people1 to within two yards of me1 and stopped at those four ,friends before mentioned 7who should have gone to the colonel as ,i would have had them17 and began jangling with them4 ,suddenly ,i saw his sword was put up and gone3 for the ,lord's power came over all1 and chained him with the rest4 ,we had a blessed meeting1 and the ,lord's everlasting power and presence was felt amongst us4 ,on the day following1 the four ,friends went and spoke with the colonel1 and he sent for the soldiers1 and cut and slashed some of them before the ,friends' faces2 which when ,i heard of ,i blamed the ,friends for letting him do so1 and also that they did not go on the seventh day1 as ,i would have had them1 which might have prevented this cutting of the soldiers1 and the trouble they gave at our meeting4 ,but thus the ,lord's power came over all those persecuting1 bloody minds1 and the meeting there was held in peace for a good while after without disturbance4 ,i had then also a general meeting at ,edward ,pyot's1 near ,bristol1 at which it was supposed were several thousands2 for besides ,friends from many parts thereabouts1 some of the ,baptists and ,independents1 with their teachers1 came to it1 and many of the sober people of ,bristol2 insomuch that the people that stayed behind said1 8the city looked naked10 so many were gone out of it to this meeting4 ,it was very quiet1 many glorious truths were opened to the people1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ was set up1 who was the end of all figures and shadows of the law1 and the first covenant4 ,it was declared to the people that all figures and shadows were given to man1 after he fell2 and that all the rudiments and inventions of men1 which have been set up in ,christendom1 many of which were ,jewish and heathenish1 were not set up by the command of ,christ2 and all images and likenesses man has made to himself1 or for himself1 whether of things in heaven or things in earth1 have been since he lost the image and likeness of ,god1 which ,god made him in4 ,but now ,christ is come to redeem1 translate1 convert1 and regenerate man out of all these things that he hath set up in the fall1 out of the true types1 figures1 and shadows also1 and out of death and darkness1 into the light1 life1 and image of ,god again1 which man and woman were in before they fell4 ,therefore all now should come1 and all might come to receive1 ,christ ,jesus1 the substance1 by his light1 ,spirit1 grace1 and faith2 and should live and walk in him1 the ,redeemer and ,saviour4 ,and as we had much work with priests and professors1 who pleaded for imperfection1 ,i was opened to declare and manifest unto them1 that ,adam and ,eve were perfect before they fell2 and ,god saw that all that he had made1 was good1 and he blessed it4 ,but imperfection came in by the fall1 through man and woman's hearkening to the devil1 who was out of truth4 ,and though the law made nothing perfect1 yet it made way for the bringing in of the better hope1 which hope is ,christ1 who destroys the devil and his works1 that made man and woman imperfect4 ,christ saith to his disciples1 8,be ye perfect1 even as your heavenly ,father is perfect30 and he1 who himself was perfect1 comes to make man and woman perfect again1 and brings them again to the state which ,god made them in4 ,so he is the maker up of the breach1 and the peace between ,god and man4 ,that this might the better be understood by the lowest capacities1 ,i used a comparison of two old people1 that had their house broken down by an enemy1 so that they1 with all their children1 were liable to all storms and tempests4 ,and there came some to them that pretended to be workmen1 and offered to build up their house again1 if they would give them so much a-year3 but when they had got their money1 they left their house as they found it4 ,after this manner came a second1 third1 fourth1 fifth1 and sixth1 each with his several pretence1 to build up the old house1 and each got the people's money2 and then cried1 8they could not rear up the house1 nor could the breach be made up2 for there is no perfection here1 cry they2 the house can never be perfectly built up again in this life20 though they had taken the people's money for the doing of it4 ,for all the sect-masters in ,christendom 7so called7 have pretended to build up ,adam and ,eve's fallen house1 and when they have got people's money1 they tell them the work cannot be perfectly done here2 and so their house lies as it did4 ,but ,i told the people1 ,christ was come to do it freely1 who1 by one offering1 hath perfected for ever all them that are sanctified1 and renews them into the image of ,god1 which man and woman were in before they fell1 and makes man and woman's house as perfect again as ,god made them at the first3 and this1 ,christ1 the heavenly man1 doth freely4 ,therefore all are to look unto him1 and all that have received him1 are to walk in him1 the life1 the substance1 the first and the last1 the rock of ages1 and foundation of many generations4 ,largely were these1 and many other things1 opened and declared unto the people1 the word of life was preached1 which doth live and abide2 and all were exhorted to hear and obey that which liveth and abideth1 that by it all might be born again of the immortal ,seed1 and feed on the milk of the ,word4 ,a glorious meeting there was1 wherein the ,lord's everlasting ,seed1 ,christ ,jesus1 was set over all1 and ,friends parted in the power and ,spirit of the ,lord1 in peace and in his truth1 that is over all4 ,about this time the soldiers under ,general ,monk's command were rude and troublesome at ,friends' meetings in many places1 whereof complaint being made to him1 he gave forth the following order1 which somewhat restrained them3-- 8,st4 ,james's1 the #ith of ,march1 #afei4 8,i do require all officers and soldiers to forbear to disturb the peaceable meetings of the ,quakers1 they doing nothing prejudicial to the ,parliament or ,commonwealth of ,england4 8,,george ,,monk40 ,after the meeting at ,edward ,pyot's ,i passed to ,,olveston1 to ,,nailsworth1 and to ,nathaniel ,crisp's2 where there was a large meeting1 and several soldiers at it1 but quiet4 ,from thence we passed to ,,gloucester1 visiting meetings4 ,in ,gloucester we had a peaceable meeting1 though the town was very rude1 and divided2 for one part of the soldiers were for the king1 and another for the parliament4 ,as ,i passed out of the town1 over the bridge1 ,edward ,pyot being with me1 the soldiers there said1 8they were for the king20 but after we were past them1 and they understood it was ,i1 they were in a great rage that ,i had escaped them1 and said1 8had they known it had been ,i1 they would have shot me with hail-shot1 rather than ,i should have escaped them40 ,but the ,lord prevented their devilish design1 and brought me safe to ,colonel ,grimes's house1 where we had a large general meeting1 and the ,lord's truth and power was set over all2 ,friends were established upon the ,rock1 and settled under the ,lord ,jesus ,christ's teaching4 ,we passed thence to ,,tewkesbury1 and so to ,,worcester1 visiting ,friends in their meetings as we went4 ,and in all my time ,i never saw the like drunkenness as in the towns1 for they had been choosing parliament-men4 ,at ,worcester the ,lord's truth was set over all1 people were finely settled therein1 and ,friends praised the ,lord2 nay1 ,i saw the very earth rejoiced4 ,yet great fears and troubles were in many people1 and a looking for the king's coming in1 and all things being altered4 ,they would ask me what ,i thought of times and things4 ,i told them the ,lord's power was over all1 and his light shone over all2 that fear would take hold only on the hypocrites1 such as had not been faithful to ,god1 and on our persecutors4 ,for in my travail and sufferings at ,reading1 when people were at a stand1 and could not tell what might come in1 and who might rule1 ,i told them the ,lord's power was over all 7for ,i had travelled through in it71 and his day shined1 whosoever should come in2 and whether the king came in or not1 all would be well to them that loved the ,lord1 and were faithful to him4 ,therefore ,i bid all ,friends fear none but the ,lord1 and keep in his power that was over all4 ,from ,worcester ,i visited ,friends in their meetings1 till ,i came to ,,baddesley1 and thence ,i went to ,,drayton1 in ,leicestershire1 to visit my relations4 ,while there1 one ,burton1 a justice1 hearing ,i had a good horse1 sent a warrant to search for me and my horse2 but ,i was gone before they came2 and so he missed of his wicked end4 ,i passed on to ,,twy-,,cross1 ,,swannington1 and ,,derby1 where ,i visited ,friends1 and found my old jailer amongst them1 who had formerly kept me in the house of correction there1 now convinced of the truth1 which ,i then suffered under him for4 ,passing into ,derbyshire and ,nottinghamshire1 ,i came to ,,synderhill-,,green1 visiting ,friends through all those parts in their meetings1 and so on to ,,balby in ,yorkshire1 where our ,yearly ,meeting at that time was held in a great orchard of ,john ,killam's1 where it was supposed some thousands of people and ,friends were gathered together4 ,in the morning ,i heard that a troop of horse was sent from ,york1 to break up our meeting1 and that the militia1 newly raised1 was to join them4 ,i went into the meeting1 and stood up on a great stool1 and after ,i had spoken some time1 two trumpeters came up1 sounding their trumpets near me1 and the captain of the troop cried1 8,divide to the right and left1 and make way20 then they rode up to me4 ,i was declaring the everlasting truth1 and word of life1 in the mighty power of the ,lord4 ,the captain bid me 8come down1 for he was come to disperse our meeting40 ,after some time ,i told him they all knew we were a peaceable people1 and used to have such great meetings2 but if he apprehended that we met in a hostile way1 ,i desired him to make search among us1 and if he found either sword or pistol about any there1 let such suffer4 ,he told me1 8he must see us dispersed1 for he came all night on purpose to disperse us40 ,i asked him1 8what honour it would be to him1 to ride with swords and pistols amongst so many unarmed men and women as there were80 ,if he would be still and quiet1 our meeting probably might not continue above two or three hours2 and when it was done1 as we came peaceably together1 so we should part2 for he might perceive the meeting was so large1 that all the country thereabouts could not entertain them1 but that they intended to depart towards their homes at night4 ,he said 8he could not stay to see the meeting ended1 but must disperse them before he went40 ,i desired him then1 if he himself could not stay1 that he would let a dozen of his soldiers stay1 and see the order and peaceableness of our meeting4 ,he said1 8he would permit us an hour's time20 and left half a dozen soldiers with us4 ,then he went away with his troop1 and ,friends of the house gave the soldiers that stayed1 and their horses1 some meat4 ,when the captain was gone1 the soldiers that were left told us1 8we might stay till night if we would40 ,but we stayed but about three hours after1 and had a glorious1 powerful meeting2 for the presence of the living ,god was manifest amongst us2 the ,seed1 ,christ1 was set over all1 and ,friends were built upon him1 the foundation1 and settled under his glorious1 heavenly teaching4 ,after the meeting1 ,friends passed away in peace1 greatly refreshed with the presence of the ,lord1 and filled with joy and gladness1 that the ,lord's power had given them such dominion4 ,many of the militia soldiers stayed also1 and were much vexed that the captain and troopers had not broken up our meeting1 and cursed them4 ,it was reported that they intended to do us some mischief that day2 but the troopers1 instead of assisting them1 were rather assistant to us1 in not joining with them1 as they expected1 but preventing them from doing the mischief they designed4 ,yet this captain was a desperate man1 for it was he that had said to me in ,scotland1 that 8he would obey his superior's commands2 and if it were to crucify ,christ he would do it2 or execute the great ,turk's commands against the ,christians1 if he were under him40 ,so that it was an eminent power of the ,lord1 which chained both him and his troopers1 and those envious militia-soldiers also1 who went away1 not having power to hurt any of us1 nor to break up our meeting4 ,next day we had a heavenly meeting at ,,warmsworth1 of ,friends in the ministry and several others2 and then ,friends parted4 ,as they passed through the country1 several were taken up4 ,for the day that our first meeting was held on1 ,lambert was routed1 and it made great confusion in the country2 but ,friends were not kept long in prison at that time4 ,as ,i went to this meeting at ,balby1 there came several to me at ,skegby in ,nottinghamshire1 that were then going to be soldiers under ,lambert1 and would have bought my horse of me2 and because ,i would not sell him1 they were in a great rage against me1 using many threatening words2 but ,i told them1 8,god would confound and scatter them20 and within two or three days after1 they were scattered indeed4 ,from ,warmsworth1 ,i passed in the ,lord's power to ,,barton-,,abbey1 ,monk ,bretton where ,i had a great meeting2 and thence to ,thomas ,taylor's1 and so to ,,skipton1 where there was a general meeting of men ,friends out of many counties1 concerning the affairs of the church4#fd ,a ,friend went naked divested of the upper garments through the town1 declaring truth1 and he was much beaten4 ,some others also came to me all bloody4 ,as ,i walked in the street1 a desperate fellow had an intent to do me a mischief2 but he was prevented1 and our meeting was quiet4 ,to this meeting came many ,friends out of most parts of the nation2 for it was about business relating to the church1 both in this nation and beyond the seas4 ,footnote #fd3 ,general ,meetings and ,yearly ,meetings appear to have been somewhat similar in their character4 ,they were held in various parts4 ,the first of which we have any account took place at ,swannington1 in ,leicestershire1 in #afed4 ,several years before1 when ,i was in the ,north1 ,i was moved to recommend the setting up of this meeting for that service2 for many ,friends suffered in divers parts of the nation1 their goods were taken from them contrary to the law1 and they understood not how to help themselves1 or where to seek redress4 ,but after this meeting was set up1 several ,friends who had been magistrates1 and others that understood something of the law1 came thither1 and were able to inform ,friends1 and to assist them in gathering up the sufferings1 that they might be laid before the justices1 judges1 or ,parliament4 ,this meeting had stood several years1 and divers justices and captains had come to break it up2 but when they understood the business ,friends met about1 and saw their books and accounts of collections for relief of the poor1 how we took care one county to help another1 and to help our friends beyond the seas1 and provide for our poor1 that none of them should be chargeable to their parishes1 c41 the justices and officers confessed we did their work1 and passed away peaceably and lovingly1 commending ,friends' practice4 ,sometimes there would come two hundred of the poor of other people1 and wait there till the meeting was done 7for all the country knew we met about the poor17 and after the meeting1 ,friends would send to the bakers for bread1 and give every one of these poor people a loaf1 how many soever there were of them2 for we were taught to 8do good unto all2 though especially to the household of faith40 ,after this meeting ,i visited ,friends in their meetings1 till ,i came to ,,lancaster2 whence ,i went to ,robert ,widders's1 and so to ,,arnside1 where ,i had a general meeting for all the ,friends in ,westmorland1 ,cumberland1 and ,lancashire4 ,it was quiet and peaceable1 and the living presence of the ,lord was amongst us4 ,i went back with ,robert ,widders2 and ,friends all passed away1 fresh in the life and power of ,christ1 in which they had dominion1 being settled upon him1 the heavenly rock and foundation4 ,after the meeting1 there came several rude fellows1 serving-men1 belonging to one called ,sir ,george ,middleton1 a justice that lived near1 to make some disturbance1 as it was thought4 ,the meeting being ended1 they did nothing there2 but lighting on three women ,friends going from it1 they set upon them with impudent scoffs1 and one of them carried himself very abusively and immodestly towards them4 ,the same man abused other ,friends also1 and was so outrageous that he would have cut them with an axe2 but was restrained by some of his fellows4 ,another time the same man set upon six ,friends that were going to meeting1 at ,yealand1 and beat and abused them very much1 so that he bruised their faces1 and shed much of their blood1 wounding them very sore1 one of them in several parts of his body2 yet they lifted not up a hand against him1 but gave him their backs and their cheeks to beat4 ,from ,robert ,widders's ,i went next day to ,,swarthmore1 ,francis ,howgill and ,thomas ,curtis being with me4 ,i had not been long there before ,henry ,porter1 a justice1 sent a warrant by the chief constable and three petty constables to apprehend me4 ,i had a sense of this beforehand2 and being in the parlour with ,richard ,richardson and ,margaret ,fell1 her servants came1 and told her there were some come to search the house for arms2 and they went up into the chambers under that pretence4 ,it came upon me to go out to them2 and as ,i was going by some of them1 ,i spoke to them2 whereupon they asked me my name4 ,i readily told them my name2 and then they laid hold on me1 saying1 8,i was the man they looked for10 and led me away to ,,ulverstone4 ,they kept me all night at the constable's house1 and set a guard of fifteen or sixteen men to watch me2 some of whom sat in the chimney1 for fear ,i should go up it2 such dark imaginations possessed them4 ,they were very rude and uncivil1 and would neither suffer me to speak to ,friends1 nor suffer them to bring me necessaries2 but with violence thrust them out1 and kept a strong guard upon me4 ,very wicked and rude they were1 and a great noise they made about me4 ,one of the constables1 whose name was ,ashburnham1 said1 8,he did not think a thousand men could have taken me40 ,another of the constables1 whose name was ,mount1 a very wicked man1 said1 8,he would have served ,judge ,fell himself so1 if he had been alive1 and he had had a warrant for him40 ,next morning1 about six1 ,i was putting on my boots and spurs to go with them before some justice2 but they pulled off the latter1 took my knife out of my pocket1 and hastened me away along the town1 with a party of horse and abundance of people1 not suffering me to stay till my own horse came down4 ,when ,i was gone about a quarter of a mile with them1 some ,friends1 with ,margaret ,fell and her children1 came towards me2 and then a great party of horse gathered about me in a mad rage and fury1 crying out1 8,will they rescue him8 ,will they rescue him80 ,whereupon ,i said unto them1 8,here is my hair1 here is my back1 here are my cheeks1 strike on60 ,with these words their heat was a little assuaged4 ,then they brought a little horse1 and two of them took up one of my legs1 and put my foot in the stirrup1 and two or three lifting over my other leg1 set me upon it behind the saddle1 and so led the horse by the halter2 but ,i had nothing to hold by4 ,when they were come some distance out of the town1 they beat the little horse1 and made him kick and gallop2 whereupon ,i slipped off him1 and told them1 8,they should not abuse the creature40 ,they were much enraged at my getting off1 and took me by the legs and feet1 and set me upon the same horse1 behind the saddle again2 and so led it about two miles1 till they came to a great water called the ,,carter-,,ford4 ,by this time my own horse was come to us1 and the water being deep1 and their little horse scarcely able to carry me through1 they let me get upon my own1 through the persuasion of some of their own company1 leading him through the water4 ,one wicked fellow kneeled down1 and lifting up his hands1 blessed ,god1 that ,i was taken4 ,when ,i was come over the ,sands1 ,i told them ,i heard ,i had liberty to choose what justice ,i would go before2 but ,mount and the other constables cried1 8,no1 ,i should not40 ,then they led me to ,,lancaster1 about fourteen miles1 and a great triumph they thought to have had2 but as they led me1 ,i was moved 8to sing praises to the ,lord1 in his triumphing power over all40 ,when ,i was come to ,lancaster1 the spirits of the people being mightily up1 ,i stood and looked earnestly upon them2 and they cried1 8,look at his eyes60 ,after a while ,i spoke to them2 and then they were pretty sober4 ,then came a young man1 and took me to his house2 and after a little time the officers had me to ,major ,porter's1 the justice1 and who had sent forth the warrant against me2 he had several others with him4 ,when ,i came in1 ,i said1 8,peace be amongst you40 ,porter asked me1 8,why ,i came down into the country that troublesome time80 ,i told him1 8,to visit my brethren40 8,then10 said he1 8you have great meetings up and down40 ,i told him though we had1 our meetings were known throughout the nation to be peaceable1 and we were a peaceable people4 ,he said1 8,we saw the devil in people's faces40 ,i told him1 8,if ,i saw a drunkard1 or a swearer1 or a peevish1 heady man1 ,i could not say ,i saw the ,spirit of ,god in him40 ,and ,i asked him1 8,if he could see the ,spirit of ,god80 ,he said1 8,we cried against their ministers40 ,i told him1 while we were as ,saul1 sitting under the priests1 and running up and down with their packets of letters1 we were never called pestilent fellows1 nor makers of sects2 but when we were come to exercise our consciences towards ,god and man1 we were called pestilent fellows1 as ,paul was4 ,he said1 we could express ourselves well enough1 and he would not dispute with me2 but he would restrain me4 ,i desired to know1 8for what1 and by whose order he sent his warrant for me20 and ,i complained to him of the abuse of the constables and other officers1 after they had taken me1 and in their bringing me thither4 ,he would not take notice of that1 but told me1 8,he had an order1 but would not let me see it2 for he would not reveal the king's secrets20 and besides1 8a prisoner10 he said1 8was not to see for what he was committed40 ,i told him1 that was not reason2 for how should he make his defence then8 ,i said1 8,i ought to have a copy of it20 but he said1 8,there was a judge once that fined a man for letting a prisoner have a copy of his mittimus2 and10 said he1 8,i have an old clerk1 though ,i am a young justice40 ,then he called to his clerk1 saying1 8,is it not ready yet8 ,bring it10 meaning the mittimus2 but it not being ready1 he said to me1 8,i was a disturber of the nation40 ,i told him1 ,i had been a blessing to the nation1 in and through the ,lord's power and truth1 and the ,spirit of ,god in all consciences would answer it4 ,then he charged me as 8an enemy to the king2 that ,i endeavoured to raise a new war1 and imbrue the nation in blood again40 ,i told him1 ,i had never learned the postures of war1 but was clear and innocent as a child concerning those things1 and therefore was bold4 ,then came the clerk with the mittimus1 and the jailer was sent for1 and commanded to take and put me into the ,dark-house1 and to let none come to me2 but keep me there a close prisoner1 till ,i should be delivered by the king or parliament4 ,then the justice asked the constables where my horse was2 8for ,i hear10 said he1 8that he has a good horse2 have ye brought it80 ,i told him where my horse was1 but he did not meddle with him4 ,as they took me to the jail1 the constable gave me my knife again1 and then asked me to give it him2 but ,i told him1 nay1 he had not been so civil to me4 ,so they put me into the jail1 and the under-jailer1 one ,hardy1 a very wicked man1 was exceedingly rude and cruel1 and many times would not let me have meat brought in1 but as ,i could get it under the door4 ,many people came to look at me1 some in great rage1 and very uncivil and rude4 ,once there came two young priests1 and very abusive they were2 the worst of people could not be worse4 ,amongst those that came in this manner1 old ,preston's wife1 of ,holker1 was one4 ,she used many abusive words1 telling me1 8,my tongue should be cut out10 and that 8,i should be hanged20 showing me the gallows4 ,but the ,lord ,god cut her off1 and she died in a miserable condition4 ,being now a close prisoner in the common jail at ,lancaster1 ,i desired ,thomas ,cummins and ,thomas ,green to go to the jailer1 and desire of him a copy of my mittimus1 that ,i might know what ,i stood committed for4 ,they went2 and the jailer answered1 8he could not give a copy of it1 for another had been fined for so doing30 but he gave them liberty to read it over4 ,to the best of their remembrance the matters therein charged against me were1 8that ,i was a person generally suspected to be a common disturber of the peace of the nation1 an enemy to the king1 and a chief upholder of the ,quakers' sect2 and that1 together with others of my fanatic opinion1 ,i have of late endeavoured to raise insurrections in these parts of the country1 and to embroil the whole kingdom in blood4 ,wherefore the jailer was commanded to keep me in safe custody1 until ,i should be released by order of the king and parliament40 ,when ,i had thus got the heads of the charge contained in the mittimus1 ,i wrote a plain answer1 in vindication of my innocency in each particular2 as follows3-- 8,i am a prisoner at ,lancaster1 committed by ,justice ,porter4 ,a copy of the mittimus ,i cannot get1 but such expressions ,i am told are in it1 as are very untrue2 as #8that ,i am generally suspected to be a common disturber of the nation's peace1 an enemy to the king1 and that ,i1 with others1 endeavour to raise insurrections to embroil the nation in blood2' all of which is utterly false1 and ,i do1 in every part thereof1 deny it4 for ,i am not a person generally suspected to be a disturber of the nation's peace1 nor have ,i given any cause for such suspicion2 for through the nation ,i have been tried for these things formerly4 ,in the days of ,oliver1 ,i was taken up on pretence of raising arms against him1 which was also false2 for ,i meddled not with raising arms at all4 ,yet ,i was then carried up a prisoner to ,london1 and brought before him2 when ,i cleared myself1 and denied the drawing of a carnal weapon against him1 or any man upon the earth2 for my weapons are spiritual1 which take away the occasion of war1 and lead into peace4 ,upon my declaring this to ,oliver1 ,i was set at liberty by him4 8,after this ,i was taken1 and sent to prison by ,major ,ceely in ,cornwall1 who1 when ,i was brought before the judge1 informed against me1 #8that ,i took him aside1 and told him1 that ,i could raise forty thousand men in an hour's time1 to involve the nation in blood1 and bring in ,king ,charles4' ,this also was utterly false1 and a lie of his own inventing1 as was then proved upon him3 for ,i never spoke any such word to him4 ,i never was found in any plot2 ,i never took any engagement or oath2 nor ever learned war-postures4 ,as those were false charges against me then1 so are these now1 which come from ,major ,porter1 who is lately appointed to be justice1 but wanted power formerly to exercise his cruelty against us2 which is but the wickedness of the old enemy4 ,the peace of the nation ,i am not a disturber of1 nor ever was2 but seek the peace of it1 and of all men1 and stand for all nations' peace1 and all men's peace upon the earth1 and wish all knew my innocency in these things4 8,and whereas ,major ,porter says1 #8,i am an enemy to the king3' this is false2 for my love is to him and to all men1 though they be enemies to ,god1 to themselves1 and to me4 ,and ,i can say1 it is of the ,lord that he is come in1 to bring down many unrighteously set up2 of which ,i had a sight three years before he came in4 ,it is much he should say ,i am an enemy to the king1 for ,i have no reason so to be1 he having done nothing against me4 ,but ,i have been often imprisoned and persecuted these eleven or twelve years by them that have been against both the king and his father1 even the party that ,porter was made a major by1 and bore arms for2 but not by them that were for the king4 ,i was never an enemy to the king1 nor to any man's person upon the earth4 ,i am in the love that fulfils the law1 which thinks no evil1 but loves even enemies1 and would have the king saved1 and come to the knowledge of the truth1 and be brought into the fear of the ,lord1 to receive his wisdom from above1 by which all things were made and created2 that with that wisdom he may order all things to the glory of ,god4 8,whereas he calls me1 #8a chief upholder of the ,quakers' sect4' ,i answer3 the ,quakers are not a sect1 but are in the power of ,god1 which was before sects were2 they witness the election before the world began1 and are come to live in the life1 which the prophets and apostles lived in1 who gave forth the ,scriptures2 therefore are we hated by envious1 wrathful1 wicked1 and persecuting men4 ,but ,god is the upholder of us all by his mighty power1 and preserves us from the wrath of the wicked1 that would swallow us up4 8,and whereas he says1 #8that ,i1 together with others of my fanatic opinion1 as he calls it1 have of late endeavoured to raise insurrections1 and to embroil the whole kingdom in blood3' ,i say this is altogether false2 to these things ,i am as a child1 and know nothing of them4 ,the postures of war ,i never learned3 my weapons are spiritual and not carnal3 for with carnal weapons ,i do not fight3 ,i am a follower of him who said1 #8,my kingdom is not of this world4' ,and though these lies and slanders are raised upon me1 ,i deny the drawing of any carnal weapon against the king or parliament1 or any man upon earth2 for ,i am come to the end of the law1 #8to love enemies1 and wrestle not with flesh and blood2' but am in that which saves men's lives4 ,a witness ,i am against all murderers1 plotters1 and all such as would #8imbrue the nation in blood2' for it is not in my heart to have any man's life destroyed4 ,and as for the word fanatic1 which signifies furious1 foolish1 mad1 c41 he might have considered himself1 before he had used that word1 and have learned the humility which goes before honour4 ,we are not furious1 foolish1 or mad2 but through patience and meekness have borne lies and slanders1 and persecutions many years1 and have undergone great sufferings4 ,the spiritual man that wrestles not with flesh and blood1 and the ,spirit that reproves sin in the gate1 which is the ,spirit of truth1 wisdom1 and sound judgment2 this is not mad1 foolish1 furious1 which fanatic signifies2 but all are of a mad1 furious1 foolish spirit1 that wrestle with flesh and blood1 with carnal weapons1 in their furiousness1 foolishness1 and rage4 ,this is not the ,spirit of ,god1 but of error1 that persecutes in a mad1 blind zeal1 like ,nebuchadnezzar and ,saul4 8,now1 inasmuch as ,i am ordered to be kept prisoner1 till ,i be delivered by order from the king or parliament1 therefore have ,i written these things to be laid before you1 the king and parliament1 that ye may consider of them before ye act anything therein2 that ye may weigh1 in the wisdom of ,god1 the intent and end of men's spirits1 lest ye act the thing that will bring the hand of the ,lord upon you1 and against you1 as many have done before1 who have been in authority1 whom ,god hath overthrown2 in whom we trust1 whom we fear and cry unto day and night2--who hath heard us1 doth1 and will hear us1 and avenge our cause4 ,for much innocent blood has been shed2 and many have been persecuted to death by such as have been in authority before you1 whom ,god hath vomited out1 because they turned against the just4 ,therefore consider your standing1 now that ye have the day1 and receive this as a warning of love to you4 8,from an innocent sufferer in bonds1 and close prisoner in ,lancaster ,castle1 called 8,,george ,,fox40 ,upon my being taken and forcibly carried away from ,margaret ,fell's house1 and charged with things of so high a nature1 she was concerned1 looking upon it to be an injury offered to herself4 ,whereupon she wrote the following lines1 and distributed them3-- 8,to all ,magistrates1 concerning the wrong taking up1 and imprisoning of ,george ,fox at ,lancaster4 8,i do inform the governors of this nation1 that ,henry ,porter1 mayor of ,lancaster1 sent a warrant1 with four constables1 to my house1 for which he had no authority or order4 ,they searched my house1 and apprehended ,george ,fox in it1 who was not guilty of the breach of any law1 or of any offence against any in the nation4 ,after they had taken him1 and brought him before the said ,henry ,porter1 bail was offered1 what he would demand1 for his appearance1 to answer what could be laid to his charge2 but he 7contrary to law1 if he had taken him lawfully7 refused to accept of any bail1 and put him in close prison4 ,after he was in prison1 a copy of his mittimus was demanded1 which ought not to be denied to any prisoner1 so that he may see what is laid to his charge2 but it was denied him3 a copy he could not have1 they were suffered only to read it over4 ,every thing that was there charged against him was utterly false2 he was not guilty of any one charge in it1 as will be proved and manifested to the nation4 ,let the governors consider it4 ,i am concerned in this thing1 inasmuch as he was apprehended in my house2 and if he be guilty1 ,i am too4 ,so ,i desire to have this searched out4 8,,margaret ,,fell40 ,after this ,margaret ,fell determined to go to ,london1 to speak with the king about my being taken1 and to show him the manner of it1 and the unjust dealing and evil usage ,i had received4 ,when ,justice ,porter heard of this1 he vapoured1 that he would go and meet her in the gap4 ,but when he came before the king1 having been a zealous man for the parliament against the king1 several of the courtiers spoke to him concerning his plundering their houses2 so that he quickly had enough of the court1 and soon returned into the country4 ,meanwhile the jailer seemed very fearful1 and said1 he was afraid ,major ,porter would hang him1 because he had not put me in the ,dark-house4 ,but when the jailer waited on him1 after his return from ,london1 he was very blank and down1 and asked1 8how ,i did10 pretending he would find a way to set me at liberty4 ,but having overshot himself in his mittimus1 by ordering me 8to be kept a prisoner till ,i should be delivered by the king or parliament10 he had put it out of his power to release me if he would4 ,he was the more down also upon reading a letter which ,i sent him2 for when he was in the height of his rage and threats against me1 and thought to ingratiate himself into the king's favour by imprisoning me1 ,i was moved to write to him1 and put him in mind1 8how fierce he had been against the king and his party1 though now he would be thought zealous for the king40 ,among other things in my letter1 ,i called to his remembrance1 that when he held ,lancaster ,castle for the parliament against the king1 he was so rough and fierce against those that favoured the king1 that he said1 8he would leave them neither dog nor cat1 if they did not bring him provision to the castle40 ,i asked him also1 8whose great buck's horns those were1 that were in his house2 and where he had both them and the wainscot from that he ceiled his house withal2 had he them not from ,hornby ,castle80 ,about this time ,ann ,curtis1 of ,reading1 came to see me2 and understanding how ,i stood committed1 it was upon her also to go to the king about it4 ,her father1 who had been sheriff of ,bristol1 had been hung near his own door for endeavouring to bring in the king2 on which consideration she had some hopes the king might hear her on my behalf4 ,accordingly1 when she returned to ,london1 she and ,margaret ,fell went to the king together1 who1 when he understood whose daughter she was1 received her kindly4 ,and her request to him being 8to send for me up1 and hear the cause himself10 he promised her he would1 and commanded his secretary to send down an order for bringing me up4 ,but when they came to the secretary for the order1 he1 being no friend to us1 said1 8it was not in his power2 he must act according to law1 and ,i must be brought up by an habeas corpus before the judges40 ,so he wrote to the judge of the ,king's ,bench1 signifying that it was the king's pleasure1 that ,i should be sent up by an habeas corpus4 ,accordingly a writ was sent down1 and delivered to the sheriff2 but because it was directed to the chancellor of ,lancaster1 the sheriff put it off to him2 on the other hand1 the chancellor would not make the warrant upon it1 but said the sheriff must do that4 ,at length both chancellor and sheriff were got together2 but being both enemies to truth1 they sought occasion for delay1 and found1 they said1 an error in the writ1 which was1 that being directed to the chancellor1 it stated1 8,george ,fox in prison under your custody10 whereas the prison ,i was in was not1 they said1 in the chancellor's custody1 but in the sheriff's2 so the word your should have been his4 ,on this they returned the writ to ,london1 only to have that one word altered4 ,when it was altered1 and brought down again1 the sheriff refused to carry me up1 unless ,i would seal a writing to him1 and become bound to pay for the sealing1 and the charge of carrying me up2 which ,i refused1 telling them ,i would not seal anything to them1 nor be bound4 ,so the matter rested a while1 and ,i continued in prison4 ,meanwhile the assize came on2 but as there was a writ for removing me up1 ,i was not brought before the judge4 ,at the assize many people came to see me2 and ,i was moved to speak out of the jail window to them1 and show them 8how uncertain their religion was2 and that every sort1 when uppermost1 had persecuted the rest4 ,when ,popery was uppermost1 people had been persecuted for not following the mass2 and they who then held up the mass cried1 #8,it was the higher power1 and people must be subject to the higher power4' ,afterwards1 they that set up the ,common ,prayer persecuted others for not following that2 saying1 #8,it was the higher power then also1 and we must be subject to that4' ,since that1 the ,presbyterians and ,independents cried each of them1 #8,we must be subject to the higher power1 and submit to the directory of the one1 and the church-faith of the other4' ,thus all1 like the apostate ,jews1 have cried1 #8,help1 men of ,israel1 against the true ,christians4' ,so people might see1 how uncertain they are of their religions4 ,but ,i directed them to ,christ ,jesus1 that they might be built upon him1 the rock and foundation1 that changeth not40 ,much on this wise ,i declared to them1 and they were very quiet and very attentive4 ,afterwards ,i gave forth a paper concerning ,true ,religion1 as follows3 8,true ,religion is the true rule1 and right way of serving ,god2 a pure stream of righteousness1 flowing from the image of ,god2 the life and power of ,god planted in the heart and mind by the law of life1 which bringeth the soul1 mind1 spirit1 and body to be conformable to ,god1 the ,father of spirits1 and to ,christ2 so that they come to have fellowship with the ,father and the ,son1 and with all his holy angels and saints4 ,this religion is from above1 pure and undefiled before ,god1 leads to visit the fatherless1 widows1 and strangers1 and keeps from the spots of the world4 ,this religion is above all the defiled1 spotted religions in the world1 that keep not their professors from defilement1 but leave them impure1 below1 and spotted2 whose fatherless1 and widows1 and strangers beg up and down the streets40 ,g4 ,f4 ,soon after ,i gave forth a paper against persecution as follows3 8,the ,papists1 ,common-,prayer-men1 ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 and ,baptists persecute one another about their own inventions1 their mass1 common-prayer1 directory1 and church-faith1 which they have made1 and framed1 and not for the truth2 for they know not what spirit they are of1 who persecute1 and would have men's lives destroyed about church-worship and religion1 as saith ,christ2 who also said1 #8,he came not to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4' ,now we cannot trust our bodies1 souls1 or spirits into the hands of those that know not what spirit they are of1 but will persecute and destroy men's lives1 and not save them2 they know not what spirit they are of themselves1 therefore they are not fit to be trusted with others4 ,they would destroy by a law1 as the disciples once would have done by prayer1 who would have commanded #8fire to come down from heaven' to destroy them that would not receive ,christ4 ,but ,christ rebuked them1 and told them they did not know what spirit they were of4 ,if they did not know what spirit they were of1 do these who have persecuted about church and religion since the apostles' days1 who would compel men's bodies1 goods1 lives1 souls1 and estates1 into their hands by a law1 or make them suffer8 ,those that destroy men's lives are not the ministers of ,christ1 the ,saviour2 and seeing they know not what spirit they are of1 the lives1 bodies1 and souls of men are not to be trusted in their hands4 ,and ye that persecute shall have no resurrection to life with ,god1 except ye repent4 ,but they that know what spirit they are of themselves1 are in the unrebukable zeal1 and by the spirit of ,god they offer up their spirits1 souls1 and bodies to the ,lord1 which are his1 to keep them40 ,g4 ,f4 ,whilst ,i was kept in ,lancaster jail1 ,i was moved to give forth the following paper1 8for staying the minds of any such as might be hurried or troubled about the change of government03-- 8,,all ,,friends1 let the dread and majesty of ,god fill you6 ,and as concerning the changing of times and governments1 let not that trouble any of you2 for ,god hath a mighty work and hand therein4 ,he will yet change again1 until that come up1 which must reign2 in vain shall powers and armies withstand the ,lord1 for his determined work shall come to pass4 ,but it is just with the ,lord that what is now come up should be so1 and he will be served by it4 ,therefore let none murmur1 nor distrust ,god2 for he will provoke many to zeal against unrighteousness1 and for righteousness1 through things which are suffered now to work for a season2 yea many1 whose zeal was even dead1 shall revive again1 shall see their backslidings1 and bewail them bitterly4 ,for ,god shall thunder from heaven1 and break forth in a mighty noise2 his enemies shall be astonished1 the workers of iniquity confounded1 and all that have not the garment of righteousness shall be amazed at the mighty and strange work of the ,lord1 which shall be certainly brought to pass4 ,but1 my babes1 look ye not out1 but be still in the light of the ,lamb2 and he shall fight for you4 ,the ,almighty ,hand1 which must break and divide your enemies1 and take away peace from them1 preserve and keep you whole1 in unity and peace with itself1 and one with another4 ,amen40 ,g4 ,f4 ,i was moved also to write to the king1 to 8exhort him to exercise mercy and forgiveness towards his enemies1 and to warn him to restrain the profaneness and looseness that had got up in the nation on his return40 ,it was thus3-- 8,to the ,king4 8,,king ,,charles1 8,thou earnest not into this nation by sword1 nor by victory of war1 but by the power of the ,lord4 ,now if thou live not in it1 thou wilt not prosper4 ,if the ,lord hath showed thee mercy and forgiven thee1 and thou dost not show mercy and forgiveness1 the ,lord ,god will not hear thy prayers1 nor them that pray for thee4 ,if thou stop not persecution and persecutors1 and take away all laws that hold up persecution about religion2 if thou persist in them1 and uphold persecution1 that will make thee as blind as those that have gone before thee2 for persecution hath always blinded those that have gone into it4 ,such1 ,god by his power overthrows1 doth his valiant acts upon1 and bringeth salvation to his oppressed ones4 ,if thou bear the sword in vain1 and let drunkenness1 oaths1 plays1 may-games1 with such like abominations and vanities be encouraged or go unpunished1 as setting up may-poles1 with the image of the crown on the top of them1 c41 the nations will quickly turn like ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and be as bad as the old world1 who grieved the ,lord until he overthrew them2 and so he will you1 if these things be not suppressed4 ,hardly was there so much wickedness at liberty before1 as there is at this day1 as though there was no terror nor sword of magistracy2 which doth not grace the government1 nor is a praise to them that do well4 ,our prayers are for them that are in authority1 that under them we may live a godly life1 in which we have peace1 and that we may not be brought into ungodliness by them4 ,hear1 and consider1 and do good in thy time1 whilst thou hast power2 be merciful and forgive2 this is the way to overcome1 and obtain the kingdom of ,christ40 ,g4 ,f4 ,it was long before the sheriff would yield to remove me to ,london1 unless ,i would seal a bond to him1 and bear their charges2 which ,i still refused to do4 ,then they consulted how to convey me1 and first concluded to send up a party of horse with me4 ,i told them1 8,if ,i were such a man as they had represented me to be1 they had need send a troop or two of horse to guard me40 ,when they considered what a charge it would be to them to send up a party of horse with me1 they altered their purpose1 and concluded to send me up guarded only by the jailer and some bailiffs4 ,but1 upon further consideration1 they found that would be a great charge to them also1 and therefore sent for me to the jailer's house1 and told me1 if ,i would put in bail1 that ,i would be in ,london such a day of the term1 ,i should have leave to go up with some of my own friends4 ,i told them ,i would neither put in bail1 nor give one piece of silver to the jailer2 for ,i was an innocent man1 and they had imprisoned me wrongfully1 and laid a false charge upon me4 ,nevertheless1 ,i said1 if they would let me go up with one or two of my friends to bear me company1 ,i might go up1 and be in ,london such a day1 if the ,lord should permit2 and if they desired it1 ,i1 or any of my friends that went with me1 would carry up their charge against myself4 ,at last1 when they saw they could do no otherwise with me1 the sheriff yielded1 consenting that ,i should come up with some of my friends1 without any other engagement than my word1 to appear before the judges at ,london1 such a day of the term if the ,lord should permit4 ,whereupon ,i was let out of prison1 and went to ,,swarthmore1 where ,i stayed two or three days1 and then to ,,lancaster again1 and so to ,,preston1 having meetings amongst friends1 till ,i came into ,,cheshire to ,william ,gandy's1 where there was a large meeting out of doors1 the house not being sufficient to contain it4 ,that day the ,lord's everlasting ,seed was set over all1 and ,friends were turned to it1 who is the ,heir of the ,promise4 ,thence ,i came into ,,staffordshire and ,,warwickshire1 to ,anthony ,bickliff's2 and at ,,nuneaton1 at the house of a priest's widow1 we had a blessed meeting1 wherein the everlasting ,word of ,life was powerfully declared1 and many settled in it4 ,then travelling on1 visiting ,friends' meetings1 in about three weeks of my coming out of prison1 ,i reached ,,london1 ,richard ,hubberthorn and ,robert ,widders being with me4 ,when we came to ,charing-,cross1 multitudes of people were gathered together to see the burning of the bowels of some of the old king's judges1 who had been hung1 drawn1 and quartered4 ,we went next morning to judge ,mallet's chamber1 who was putting on his red gown1 to go sit upon some more of the king's judges4 ,he was very peevish and froward1 and said ,i might come another time4 ,we went again to his chamber1 when ,judge ,foster was with him1 who was called the lord chief justice of ,england4 ,with me was one called ,esquire ,marsh1 who was one of the bedchamber to the king1 ,when we had delivered to the judges the charge that was against me1 and they had read to those words1 8that ,i and my friends were embroiling the nation in blood10 c41 they struck their hands on the table4 ,whereupon ,i told them1 8,i was the man whom that charge was against1 but ,i was as innocent of any such thing as a new-born child1 and had brought it up myself2 and some of my friends came up with me without any guard40 ,as yet they had not minded my hat1 but now seeing it on1 they said1 8,what1 did ,i stand with my hat on60 ,i told them ,i did not so in contempt of them4 ,they then commanded it to be taken off2 and when they called for the marshal of the ,king's ,bench1 they said to him1 8,you must take this man and secure him2 but let him have a chamber1 and not put him amongst the prisoners40 8,my lord10 said the marshal1 8,i have no chamber to put him into2 my house is so full ,i cannot tell where to provide a room for him1 but amongst the prisoners40 8,nay10 said the judge1 8you must not put him amongst the prisoners40 ,but when he still answered1 he had no other place to put me in1 ,judge ,foster said to me1 8,will you appear to-morrow about ten o'clock at the ,king's ,bench bar in ,westminster ,hall80 ,i said1 8,yes1 if the ,lord give me strength40 ,then said ,judge ,foster to the other judge1 8,if he says yes1 and promises it1 you may take his word20 so ,i was dismissed4 ,next day ,i appeared at the ,king's ,bench bar at the hour appointed1 ,robert ,widders1 ,richard ,hubberthorn1 and ,esquire ,marsh going with me4 ,i was brought into the middle of the court2 and as soon as ,i came in1 was moved to look round1 and turning to the people1 said1 8,peace be among you20 and the power of the ,lord sprang over the court4 ,the charge against me was read openly4 ,the people were moderate1 and the judges cool and loving2 and the ,lord's mercy was to them4 ,but when they came to that part which said1 8that ,i and my friends were embroiling the nation in blood1 and raising a new war1 and that ,i was an enemy to the king10 c41 they lifted up their hands4 ,then1 stretching out my arms1 ,i said1 8,i am the man whom that charge is against2 but ,i am as innocent as a child concerning the charge1 and have never learned any war postures4 ,and10 said ,i1 8do ye think that if ,i and my friends had been such men as the charge declares1 that ,i would have brought it up myself against myself8 ,or that ,i should have been suffered to come up with only one or two of my friends with me8 ,had ,i been such a man as this charge sets forth1 ,i had need to have been guarded with a troop or two of horse4 ,but the sheriff and magistrates of ,lancashire thought fit to let me and my friends come up with it ourselves1 nearly two hundred miles1 without any guard at all2 which1 ye may be sure1 they would not have done1 had they looked upon me to be such a man40 ,then the judge asked me1 whether it should be filed1 or what ,i would do with it4 ,i answered1 8,ye are judges1 and able1 ,i hope1 to judge in this matter1 therefore do with it what ye will2 for ,i am the man these charges are against1 and here ye see1 ,i have brought them up myself2 do ye what ye will with them1 ,i leave it to you40 ,then ,judge ,twisden beginning to speak some angry words1 ,i appealed to ,judge ,foster and ,judge ,mallet1 who had heard me over-night4 ,whereupon they said1 8,they did not accuse me1 for they had nothing against me40 ,then stood up ,esquire ,marsh1 who was of the king's bedchamber1 and told the judges1 8,it was the king's pleasure1 that ,i should be set at liberty1 seeing no accuser came up against me40 ,they asked me1 8,whether ,i would put it to the king and council80 ,i said1 8,yes1 with a good will40 ,thereupon they sent the sheriff's return1 which he made to the writ of habeas corpus1 containing the matter charged against me in the mittimus1 to the king1 that he might see for what ,i was committed4 ,the return of the sheriff of ,lancaster was thus3-- 8,by virtue of his ,majesty's writ1 to me directed1 and hereunto annexed1 ,i certify1 that before the receipt of the said writ1 ,george ,fox1 in the said writ mentioned1 was committed to his ,majesty's jail at the castle of ,lancaster1 in my custody1 by a warrant from ,henry ,porter1 ,esq41 one of his ,majesty's justices of peace within the county palatine aforesaid1 bearing date the fifth of ,june now last past2 for that he1 the said ,george ,fox1 was generally suspected to be a common disturber of the peace of this nation1 an enemy to our sovereign lord the king1 and a chief upholder of the ,quakers' sect2 and that he1 together with others of his fanatic opinion1 have of late endeavoured to make insurrections in these parts of the country1 and to embroil the whole kingdom in blood4 ,and this is the cause of his taking and detaining4 ,nevertheless1 the body of the said ,george ,fox ,i have ready before ,thomas ,mallet1 knight1 one of his ,majesty's justices1 assigned to hold pleas before his ,majesty1 at his chamber in ,serjeant's ,inn1 in ,fleet-street1 to do and receive those things which his ,majesty's said justice shall determine concerning him in this behalf1 as by the aforesaid writ is required4 #8,,george ,,chetham1 ,esq41 ,sheriff4'0 ,on perusal of this1 and consideration of the whole matter1 the king1 being satisfied of my innocency1 commanded his secretary to send an order to ,judge ,mallet for my release2 which he did1 thus3-- 8,it is his ,majesty's pleasure1 that you give order for releasing1 and setting at full liberty1 the person of ,george ,fox1 late a prisoner in ,lancaster jail1 and commanded hither by an habeas corpus4 ,and this signification of his ,majesty's pleasure shall be your sufficient warrant4 ,dated at ,whitehall1 the #bdth of ,october1 #affj4 8,,edward ,,nicholas40 ,for ,sir ,thomas ,mallet1 ,knight1 one of the ,justices of the ,king's ,bench4 ,when this order was delivered1 ,judge ,mallet forthwith sent his warrant to the marshal of the ,king's ,bench for my release1 as follows3-- 8,by virtue of a warrant1 which this morning ,i have received from the ,right ,hon4 ,sir ,edward ,nicholas1 ,knight1 one of his ,majesty's principal secretaries1 for the releasing and setting at liberty of ,george ,fox1 late a prisoner in ,lancaster jail1 and from thence brought hither by habeas corpus1 and yesterday committed unto your custody2 ,i do hereby require you accordingly to release and set the said prisoner1 ,george ,fox1 at liberty2 for which this shall be your warrant and discharge4 ,given under my hand1 the #beth day of ,october1 in the year of our ,lord ,god1 #affj4 8,,thomas ,,mallet40 ,to ,sir ,john ,lenthal1 ,knight1 ,marshal of the ,king's ,bench1 or his deputy4 ,thus1 after being a prisoner more than twenty weeks1 ,i was freely set at liberty by the king's command1 the ,lord's power having wonderfully wrought for the clearing of my innocency2 ,porter1 who committed me1 not daring to appear to make good the charge he had falsely suggested against me4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #affj-affb4--;,george ,fox writes an epistle of consolation to ,friends unjustly imprisoned in consequence of the insurrection of the ,fifth-,monarchy ,men--,friends' declaration against war and plots--,john ,perrot and ,charles ,bailey create a schism--some ,friends in ,new ,england are put to death1 a sense whereof is given to ,george ,fox at the time--the ,king's mandamus to the ,governor of ,new ,england and others1 to restrain them from executing ,friends--the ,battledore is published1 showing1 by examples from thirty languages1 that 8,thou0 and 8,thee0 are proper to one person--on true worship--,george ,fox disputes with some ,jesuits1 and with all other sects--,john ,perrot's heresy condemned--on judicial swearing--,george ,fox and ,richard ,hubberthorn write to the ,king1 showing the number of ,friends imprisoned prior to1 and during the first year of1 the ,restoration1 and the number who died in prison during the ,commonwealth--,thomas ,sharman1 jailer at ,derby1 convinced1 and writes to ,george ,fox--,george ,fox applies to ,lord ,d',aubigny on behalf of two ,friends imprisoned in the ,inquisition at ,malta1 who procures their liberation--the ground and rise of persecution set forth--great service at ,bristol1 where also he has a vision--visits ,captain ,brown and his wife2 the former had lied from persecution1 and was judged in himself1 but afterwards convinced--,george ,fox and several others are arrested by ,lord ,beaumont1 and sent to ,leicester jail--they are suddenly liberated--to ,friends on the death of ,edward ,burrough--escapes from persecutors--,friends established on ,christ1 the ,rock of ,ages4 ,when it was known ,i was discharged from ,lancaster ,castle1 a company of envious1 wicked spirits were troubled1 and terror took hold of ,justice ,porter2 for he was afraid ,i would take advantage of the law against him for my wrong imprisonment1 and thereby undo him1 his wife1 and children4 ,indeed ,i was pressed by some in authority to make him and the rest examples2 but ,i said1 8,i should leave them to the ,lord2 if the ,lord forgave them1 ,i should not trouble myself with them40 ,now did ,i see the end of the travail which ,i had had in my sore exercise at ,reading2 for the everlasting power of the ,lord was over all1 and his blessed truth1 life1 and light shone over the nation1 and great and glorious meetings we had1 and very quiet2 and many flocked in unto the truth4 ,richard ,hubberthorn had been with the king1 who said1 8,none should molest us1 so long as we lived peaceably10 and promised this to us upon the word of a king1 telling him we might make use of his promise4#fe ,some ,friends also were admitted into the ,house of ,lords1 and had liberty to declare their reasons1 why they could not pay tithes1 swear1 or go to the steeple-house worship1 or join with others in worship1 and they heard them moderately4 ,and there being about seven hundred ,friends in prison in the nation1 who had been committed under ,oliver's and ,richard's government1 upon contempts 7as they call them71 when the king came in1 he set them all at liberty4 ,there seemed at that time an inclination and intention in the government to grant ,friends' liberty1 because they were sensible that we had suffered as well as they under the former powers4 ,but still1 when anything was going forward in order thereto1 some dirty spirits or other1 that would seem to be for us1 threw something in the way to stop it4 ,footnote #fe3 ,some interesting particulars of what passed during ,richard ,hubberthorn's interview with the king are related in ,sewell's ,history1 for which see the index of that work4 ,it was said1 there was an instrument drawn up for confirming our liberty1 and that it only wanted signing2 when1 suddenly1 that wicked attempt of the ,fifth-monarchy-people broke out1 and put the city and nation in an uproar4 ,this was on a ,first-day night1 and very glorious meetings we had had that day1 wherein the ,lord's truth shone over all1 and his power was exalted above all2 but about midnight1 or soon after1 the drums beat1 and the cry was1 8,arm1 ,arm60 ,i got up out of bed1 and in the morning took boat1 and landing at ,whitehall-stairs1 walked through ,whitehall4 ,they looked strangely at me there1 but ,i passed through them1 and went to ,pall-,mall1 where divers ,friends came to me1 though it had now become dangerous passing the streets2 for by this time1 the city and suburbs were up in arms1 and exceedingly rude the people and soldiers were2 insomuch that ,henry ,fell1#ff going to a ,friend's house1 the soldiers knocked him down1 and he would have been killed1 had not the ,duke of ,york come by4 ,great mischief was done in the city this week2 and when the next ,first-day came1 as ,friends went to their meetings1 many were taken prisoners4 ,footnote #ff3 ,henry ,fell was an eminent minister in the ,society4 ,in #afef and #afeh he visited the ,west ,india isles4 ,during the first visit1 he was absent from home about a year4 ,from #afei to #affb1 he was mostly engaged in gospel labours in ,england1 and from this period we lose all trace of him4 ,he is mentioned in ,whiting's ,catalogue as having died in ,america4 ,his home was in ,lancashire1 and there is reason to believe he was a near relative of ,judge ,fell4 ,he appears to have received an education considerably above most of his day4 ,some of his letters are given in ,bowden's ,history of ,friends in ,america1 and in ,barclay's ,letters of ,early ,friends4 ,i stayed at ,pall-,mall1 intending to be at the meeting there2 but on the ,seventh-day night1 a company of troopers came and knocked at the door4 ,the servant letting them in1 they rushed into the house1 and laid hold of me2 and there being amongst them one that had served under the parliament1 he put his hand to my pocket1 and asked1 8whether ,i had any pistols80 ,i told him he knew ,i did not carry pistols1 why therefore ask such a question of me1 whom he knew to be a peaceable man8 ,others of the soldiers ran into the chambers1 and there found in bed ,esquire ,marsh1 who1 though he was one of the king's bedchamber1 out of his love to me1 came and lodged where ,i did4 ,when they came down again1 they said1 8,why should we take this man away with us8 ,we will let him alone40 8,o10 said the parliament soldier1 8he is one of the heads1 and a chief ringleader40 ,upon this the soldiers were taking me away1 but ,esquire ,marsh hearing of it1 sent for him that commanded the party1 and desired him to let me alone1 for he would see me forthcoming in the morning4 ,in the morning before they could fetch me1 and before the meeting was gathered1 there came a company of foot soldiers to the house and one of them drawing his sword1 held it over my head4 ,i asked him1 8why he drew his sword at an unarmed man80 at which his fellows being ashamed1 bid him put up his sword4 ,these foot soldiers took me away to ,whitehall1 before the troopers came for me4 ,as ,i was going out1 several friends were coming in to the meeting1 whose boldness and cheerfulness ,i commended1 and encouraged them to persevere therein4 ,when ,i was brought to ,whitehall1 the soldiers and people were exceedingly rude1 yet ,i declared truth to them2 but some great persons coming by1 who were very full of envy1 8,what10 said they1 8do ye let him preach8 ,put him into such a place1 where he may not stir40 ,so into that place they put me1 and the soldiers watched over me4 ,i told them1 though they could confine my body and shut that up1 yet they could not stop the ,word of ,life4 ,some came and asked me1 8,what ,i was80 ,i told them1 8,a preacher of righteousness40 ,after ,i had been kept there two or three hours1 ,esquire ,marsh spoke to ,lord ,gerrard1 and he came and bid them set me at liberty4 ,the marshal1 when ,i was discharged1 demanded fees4 ,i told him ,i could not give him any1 neither was it our practice2 and asked him how he could demand fees of me1 who was innocent4 ,then ,i went through the guards1 the ,lord's power being over them2 and after ,i had declared truth to the soldiers1 ,i went up the streets with two ,irish colonels that came from ,whitehall1 to an inn1 where many ,friends were at that time prisoners under a guard4 ,i desired these colonels to speak to the guard to let me go in to visit my friends1 that were prisoners there2 but they would not4 ,then ,i stepped to the sentry1 and desired him to let me go up2 and he did so4 ,while ,i was there1 the soldiers went to ,pall-,mall again to search for me there2 but not finding me1 they turned towards the inn1 and bid all come out that were not prisoners2 so they went out4 ,but ,i asked the soldiers that were within1 8,whether ,i might not stay there a while with my friends80 ,they said1 8,yes40 ,i stayed1 and so escaped their hands again4 ,towards night ,i went to ,pall-,mall1 to see how it was with the ,friends there2 and after ,i had stayed a while1 ,i went up into the city4 ,great rifling of houses there was at this time to search for people4 ,i went to a private friend's house1 and ,richard ,hubberthorn was with me4 ,there we drew up a declaration against plots and fightings1 to be presented to the king and council2 but when finished1 and sent to print1 it was taken in the press4 ,on this insurrection of the ,fifth-monarchy men1 great havoc was made both in city and country1 so that it was dangerous for sober people to stir abroad for several weeks after2 men or women could hardly go up and down the streets to buy provisions for their families without being abused4 ,in the country they dragged men and women out of their houses1 and some sick men out of their beds by the legs4 ,nay1 one man in a fever1 the soldiers dragged out of bed to prison1 and when he was brought there he died4 ,his name was ,thomas ,pachyn4 ,margaret ,fell went to the king1 and told him what sad work there was in the city and nation1 and showed him we were an innocent1 peaceable people1 and that we must keep our meetings as heretofore1 whatever we suffered2 but that it concerned him to see that peace was kept1 that no innocent blood might be shed4 ,the prisons were now everywhere filled with ,friends1 and others1 in the city and country1 and the posts were so laid for the searching of letters1 that none could pass unsearched4 ,we heard of several thousands of our ,friends being cast into prison in several parts of the nation1 and ,margaret ,fell carried an account of them to the king and council4 ,next week we had an account of several thousands more being cast into prison2 and she went and laid them also before the king and council4 ,they wondered how we could have such intelligence1 having given strict charge for the intercepting of all letters3 but the ,lord so ordered it1 that we had an account1 notwithstanding all their stoppings4 ,in the deep sense ,i had of the grievous suffering ,friends underwent1 and of their innocency towards ,god and man1 ,i was moved to send the following epistle to them1 as a word of consolation1 and advised them to send up an account of their sufferings3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 8,in the immortal seed of ,god1 which will plead its own innocency1 who are inheritors of an everlasting kingdom that is incorruptible1 and of a world and riches that fade not away1 peace and mercy be multiplied amongst you in all your sufferings2 whose backs were not unready1 but your hair and cheeks prepared2 who never feared suffering1 knowing it is your portion in the world1 from the foundation of which the ,lamb was slain1 who reigns in his glory1 which he had with his ,father before the world began4 ,he is your rock in all floods and waves1 upon which ye can stand safe1 with a cheerful countenance1 beholding the ,lord ,god of the whole earth on your side4 ,so in the ,seed of ,god1 which was before the unrighteous world1 in which sufferings are1 live and feed2 wherein the ,bread of ,life is felt1 and no cause to complain of hunger or cold4 ,friends1 ,i would have you all1 that are or have been lately in prison1 to send up an account of your sufferings1 and how things are amongst you1 that it may be delivered to the king and his council2 for things are pretty well here after the storm40 ,g4 ,f4 ,london1 the #bhth of the #aath ,month1 #affj4 ,having lost our former declaration in the press1 we hastily drew up another against plots and fighting1 got it printed1 and sent some copies to the king and council2 others were sold in the streets1 and at the ,exchange4 ,which declaration was some years after reprinted1 and is as follows3-- ,a ,declaration from the harmless and innocent people of ,god1 called ,quakers1 against all sedition1 plotters1 and fighters in the world3 for removing the ground of jealousy and suspicion from magistrates and people concerning wars and fightings4 ,presented to the ,king upon the #bast day of the #aath ,month1 #affj4 8,our principle is1 and our practices have always been1 to seek peace and ensue it2 to follow after righteousness and the knowledge of ,god2 seeking the good and welfare1 and doing that which tends to the peace of all4 ,we know that wars and fightings proceed from the lusts of men1 as ,james iv4 #a-c1 out of which the ,lord hath redeemed us1 and so out of the occasion of war4 ,the occasion of war1 and war itself 7wherein envious men1 who are lovers of themselves more than lovers of ,god1 lust1 kill1 and desire to have men's lives or estates7 ariseth from lust4 ,all bloody principles and practices1 as to our own particulars1 we utterly deny2 with all outward wars and strife1 and fightings with outward weapons1 for any end1 or under any pretence whatsoever2 this is our testimony to the whole world4 8,and whereas it is objected3 8,but although you now say #8that you cannot fight1 nor take up arms at all1 yet if the ,spirit move you1 then you will change your principle1 and you will sell your coat1 and buy a sword1 and fight for the kingdom of ,christ4' 8,to this we answer1 ,christ said to ,peter1 #8,put up thy sword in his place2' though he had said before1 he that had no sword might sell his coat and buy one 7to the fulfilling of the law and the ,scripture71 yet after1 when he had bid him put it up1 he said1 #8he that taketh the sword1 shall perish with the sword4' ,and further1 ,christ said to ,pilate1 #8,thinkest thou1 that ,i cannot now pray to my ,father1 and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels8' ,and this might satisfy ,peter1 ,luke xxii4 #cf1 after he had put up his sword1 when he said to him1 #8,he that took it1 should perish with it2' which satisfieth us1 ,matt4 xxvi4 #ea-ec4 ,and in the ,revelation1 it is said1 #8,he that kills with the sword1 shall perish with the sword2 and here is the faith and the patience of the saints4' ,and so ,christ's kingdom is not of this world1 therefore do not his servants fight1 as he told ,pilate1 the magistrate1 who crucified him4 ,and did they not look upon ,christ as a raiser of sedition8 and did not he pray1 #8,forgive them8' ,but thus it is that we are numbered amongst transgressors1 and fighters1 that the ,scriptures might be fulfilled4 8,that the ,spirit of ,christ1 by which we are guided1 is not changeable1 so as once to command us from a thing as evil1 and again to move unto it2 and we certainly know1 and testify to the world1 that the ,spirit of ,christ1 which leads us into all truth1 will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons1 neither for the kingdom of ,christ1 nor for the kingdoms of this world4 8,first1 ,because the kingdom of ,christ ,god will exalt1 according to his promise1 and cause it to grow and flourish in righteousness2 #8not by might1 nor by power 7of outward sword71 but by my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord1' ,zech4 iv4 #f4 ,so those that use any weapon to fight for ,christ1 or for the establishing of his kingdom or government1--their spirit1 principle1 and practice we deny4 8,secondly1 ,we do earnestly desire and wait1 that1 by the ,word of ,god's power1 and its effectual operation in the hearts of men1 the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdoms of the ,lord1 and of his ,christ2 that he may rule and reign in men by his ,spirit and truth2 that thereby all people1 out of every profession1 may be brought into love and unity with ,god1 and one with another2 and that they may all come to witness the prophet's words1 who said1 #8,nation shall not lift up sword against nation1 neither shall they learn war any more1' ,isa4 ii4 #d41 ,mic4 iv4 #c4 8,so we1 whom the ,lord hath called into the obedience of his truth1 have denied wars and fightings1 and cannot more learn them4 ,this is a certain testimony unto all the world1 of the truth of our hearts in this particular1 that as ,god persuadeth every man's heart to believe1 so they may receive it4 ,for we have not1 as some others1 gone about with cunningly-devised fables1 nor have we ever denied in practice what we have professed in principle2 but in sincerity and truth1 and by the word of ,god1 have we laboured to manifest unto all men1 that both we and our ways might be witnessed in the hearts of all4 8,and whereas all manner of evil hath been falsely spoken of us1 we hereby speak the plain truth of our hearts1 to take away the occasion of that offence2 that so being innocent1 we may not suffer for other men's offences1 nor be made a prey of by the wills of men for that of which we were never guilty2 but in the uprightness of our hearts we may1 under the power ordained of ,god for the punishment of evil-doers1 and for the praise of them that do well1 live a peaceable and godly life1 in all godliness and honesty4 ,for although we have always suffered1 and do now more abundantly suffer1 yet we know that it is for righteousness' sake2 #8for our rejoicing is this1 the testimony of our consciences1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god1 we have had our conversation in the world1' #b ,cor4 i4 #ab1 which for us is a witness for the convincing of our enemies4 ,for this we can say to all the world1 we have wronged no man1 we have used no force nor violence against any man3 we have been found in no plots1 nor guilty of sedition4 ,when we have been wronged1 we have not sought to revenge ourselves2 we have not made resistance against authority2 but wherein we could not obey for conscience' sake1 we have suffered the most of any people in the nation4 ,we have been counted as sheep for the slaughter1 persecuted and despised1 beaten1 stoned1 wounded1 stocked1 whipped1 imprisoned1 haled out of synagogues1 cast into dungeons and noisome vaults1 where many have died in bonds1 shut up from our friends1 denied needful sustenance for many days together1 with other the like cruelties4 8,and the cause of all these sufferings is not for any evil1 but for things relating to the worship of our ,god1 and in obedience to his requirings4 ,for which cause we shall freely give up our bodies a sacrifice1 rather than disobey the ,lord3 for we know1 as the ,lord hath kept us innocent1 so he will plead our cause1 when there is none in the earth to plead it4 ,so we1 in obedience unto his truth1 do not love our lives unto death1 that we may do his will1 and wrong no man in our generation1 but seek the good and peace of all men4 ,he who hath commanded us that we shall not swear at all1 ,matt4 v4 #cd1 hath also commanded us that we shall not kill1 ,matt4 v42 so that we can neither kill men1 nor swear for or against them4 ,this is both our principle and practice1 and has been from the beginning2 so that if we suffer1 as suspected to take up arms1 or make war against any1 it is without any ground from us2 for it neither is1 nor ever was in our hearts1 since we owned the truth of ,god2 neither shall we ever do it1 because it is contrary to the ,spirit of ,christ1 his doctrine1 and the practices of his apostles2 even contrary to him1 for whom we suffer all things1 and endure all things4 8,and whereas men come against us with clubs1 staves1 drawn swords1 pistols cocked1 and beat1 cut1 and abuse us1 yet we never resisted them2 but to them our hair1 backs1 and cheeks1 have been ready4 ,it is not an honour to manhood or nobility to run upon harmless people1 who lift not up a hand against them1 with arms and weapons4 8,therefore consider these things1 ye men of understanding2 for plotters1 raisers of insurrections1 tumultuous ones1 and fighters1 running with swords1 clubs1 staves1 and pistols1 one against another2 these1 we say1 are of the world1 and have their foundation from this unrighteous world1 from the foundation of which the ,lamb hath been slain2 which ,lamb hath redeemed us from this unrighteous world1 and we are not of it1 but are heirs of a world of which there is no end1 and of a kingdom where no corruptible thing enters4 ,our weapons are spiritual1 and not carnal1 yet mighty through ,god1 to the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and ,satan1 who is the author of wars1 fighting1 murder1 and plots4 ,our swords are broken into ploughshares1 and spears into pruning-hooks1 as prophesied of in ,micah iv4 ,therefore we cannot learn war any more1 neither rise up against nation or kingdom with outward weapons1 though you have numbered us amongst the transgressors and plotters4 ,the ,lord knows our innocency herein1 and will plead our cause with all people upon earth1 at the day of their judgment1 when all men shall have a reward according to their works4 8,therefore in love we warn you for your soul's good1 not to wrong the innocent1 nor the babes of ,christ1 which he hath in his hand1 which he cares for as the apple of his eye2 neither seek to destroy the heritage of ,god1 nor turn your swords backward upon such as the law was not made for1 i4e41 the righteous3 but for sinners and transgressors1 to keep them down4 ,for those are not peacemakers1 nor lovers of enemies1 neither can they overcome evil with good1 who wrong them that are friends to you and all men1 and wish your good1 and the good of all people on the earth4 ,if you oppress us1 as they did the children of ,israel in ,egypt1 and if you oppress us as they did when ,christ was born1 and as they did the ,christians in the primitive times2 we can say1 #8,the ,lord forgive you2' and leave the ,lord to deal with you1 and not revenge ourselves4 ,if you say1 as the council said to ,peter and ,john1 #8speak no more in that name2' and if you serve us1 as they served the three children spoken of in ,daniel1 ,god is the same that ever he was1 that lives for ever and ever1 who hath the innocent in his arms4 8,o1 ,friends6 offend not the ,lord and his little ones1 neither afflict his people2 but consider and be moderate4 ,do not run on hastily1 but consider mercy1 justice1 and judgment2 that is the way for you to prosper1 and obtain favour of the ,lord4 ,our meetings were stopped and broken up in the days of ,oliver1 under pretence of plotting against him2 in the days of the ,committee of ,safety we were looked upon as plotters to bring in ,king ,charles2 and now our peaceable meetings are termed seditious4 ,o6 that men should lose their reason1 and go contrary to their own conscience2 knowing that we have suffered all things1 and have been accounted plotters from the beginning1 though we have declared against them both by word of mouth and printing1 and are clear from any such thing6 ,we have suffered all along1 because we would not take up carnal weapons to fight1 and are thus made a prey1 because we are the innocent lambs of ,christ1 and cannot avenge ourselves6 ,these things are left on your hearts to consider2 but we are out of all those things1 in the patience of the saints2 and we know1 as ,christ said1 #8,he that takes the sword1 shall perish with the sword2' ,matt4 xxvi4 #eb2 ,rev4 xiii4 #aj4 8,this is given forth from the people called ,quakers1 to satisfy the king and his council1 and all those that have any jealousy concerning us1 that all occasion of suspicion may be taken away1 and our innocency cleared40 8,postscript4--,though we are numbered amongst transgressors1 and have been given up to rude1 merciless men1 by whom our meetings are broken up1 in which we edified one another in our holy faith1 and prayed together to the ,lord that lives for ever1 yet he is our pleader in this day4 ,the ,lord saith1 #8,they that feared his name spoke often together' 7as in ,malachi72 which were as his jewels4 ,for this cause1 and no evil-doing1 are we cast into holes1 dungeons1 houses of correction1 prisons 7neither old nor young being spared1 men nor women71 and made a prey of in the sight of all nations1 under the pretence of being seditious1 c41 so that all rude people run upon us to take possession4 ,for which we say1 #8,the ,lord forgive them that have thus done to us2' who doth1 and will enable us to suffer2 and never shall we lift up hand against any that thus use us2 but desire the ,lord may have mercy upon them1 that they may consider what they have done4 ,for how is it possible for them to requite us for the wrong they have done to us8 ,who to all nations have sounded us abroad as seditious1 who were never found plotters against any1 since we knew the life and power of ,jesus ,christ manifested in us1 who hath redeemed us from the world1 all works of darkness1 and plotters therein1 by which we know the election1 before the world began4 ,so we say1 the ,lord have mercy upon our enemies and forgive them1 for what they have done unto us6 8,o6 do as ye would be done by2 do unto all men as you would have them do unto you2 for this is the law and the prophets4 8,all plots1 insurrections1 and riotous meetings we deny1 knowing them to be of the devil1 the murderer2 which we in ,christ1 who was before they were1 triumph over4 ,and all wars and fightings with carnal weapons we deny1 who have the sword of the ,spirit2 and all that wrong us1 we leave to the ,lord4 ,this is to clear our innocency from the aspersion cast upon us1 that we are seditious or plotters40 ,added in the reprinting4 8,,courteous ,,reader1 8,this was our testimony above twenty years ago2 since then we have not been found acting contrary to it1 nor ever shall2 for the truth1 that is our guide1 is unchangeable4 ,this is now reprinted to the men of this age1 many of whom were then children1 and doth stand as our certain testimony against all plotting and fighting with carnal weapons4 ,and if any by departing from the truth should do so1 this is our testimony in the truth against them1 and will stand over them1 and the truth will be clear of them40 ,this declaration somewhat cleared the dark air that was over the city and country4 ,and soon after the king gave forth a proclamation1 8,that no soldiers should search any house without a constable40 ,but the jails were still full1 many thousands of ,friends being in prison2 which mischief was occasioned by the wicked rising of the ,fifth-monarchy-men4 ,but when those that were taken came to be executed1 they did us the justice to clear us openly from having any hand in or knowledge of their plot4 ,after that1 the king being continually importuned thereunto1 issued a declaration1 8,that ,friends should be set at liberty without paying fees40 ,but great labour1 travail1 and pains were taken1 before this was obtained2 for ,thomas ,moor and ,margaret ,fell went often to the king about it4#fg ,footnote #fg3 ,among the ,swarthmore collection of ,,mss4 has been found a narrative of an interview ,thomas ,moore had with the king1 which has been printed in ,letters of ,early ,friends1 p4 #ib1 to which the reader is referred4 ,it is endorsed by ,george ,fox thus3--8,what the king said to ,t4 ,moor1 #afjj1 #adth of #ajth month40 ,it will be remembered ,thomas ,moor was formerly a justice of the peace1 and was convinced by ,george ,fox1 as related at page #bfj in this volume4 ,much blood was shed this year1 many of the late king's judges being hung1 drawn1 and quartered4 ,amongst them that so suffered1 ,colonel ,hacker was one1 who sent me prisoner from ,leicester to ,london in ,oliver's time1 of which an account is given before4 ,a sad day it was1 and a repaying of blood with blood4 ,for in the time of ,oliver ,cromwell1 when several men were put to death by him1 being hung1 drawn1 and quartered1 for pretended treasons1 ,i felt from the ,lord ,god1 that their blood would be required2 and ,i said as much then to several4 ,and now upon the king's return1 when several that had been against him were put to death1 as the others that were for him had been before by ,oliver1 this was sad work1 destroying people contrary to the nature of ,christians1 who have the nature of lambs and sheep4 ,but there was a secret hand in bringing this day upon that hypocritical generation of professors1 who1 being got into power1 grew proud1 haughty1 and cruel beyond others1 and persecuted the people of ,god without pity4 ,therefore when ,friends were under cruel persecutions and sufferings in the ,commonwealth's time1 ,i was moved of the ,lord to write to ,friends to draw up accounts of their sufferings1 and lay them before the justices at their sessions2 and if they would not do justice1 then to lay them before the judges at the assize2 and if they would not do justice1 then to lay them before the parliament1 the protector and his council1 that they might all see what was done under their government2 and if they would not do justice1 then to lay it before the ,lord1 who would hear the cries of the oppressed1 and of the widows and fatherless whom they had made so4 ,for that which we suffered for1 and for which our goods were spoiled1 was our obedience to the ,lord in his ,power and in his ,spirit1 who was able to help and to succour1 and we had no helper in the earth but him4 ,and he heard the cries of his people1 and brought an overflowing scourge over the heads of all our persecutors1 which brought a dread1 and a fear amongst and on them all3 so that those who had nicknamed us 7who are the children of light7 and in scorn called us ,quakers1 the ,lord made to quake2 and many of them would have been glad to have hid themselves amongst us2 and some of them1 through the distress that came upon them1 did at length come to confess to the truth4 ,o6 the daily reproaches1 revilings1 and beatings we underwent amongst them1 even in the highways1 because we could not put off our hats to them1 and for saying ,thou and ,thee to them6 ,o6 the havoc and spoil the priests made of our goods1 because we could not put into their mouths and give them tithes2 besides casting into prisons1 and laying great fines upon us1 because we could not swear6 ,but for all these things did the ,lord ,god plead with them4 ,yet some were so hardened in their wickedness1 that when they were turned out of their places and offices1 they said1 8,if they had power1 they would do the same again40 ,and when this day of overturning was come upon them1 they said1 8,it was all on account of us40 ,wherefore ,i was moved to write to them1 and ask them1 8,did we ever resist them when they took away our ploughs and plough-gears1 our carts and horses1 our corn and cattle1 our kettles and platters from us1 whipped us1 set us in the stocks1 and cast us into prison1 and all this only for serving and worshipping ,god in spirit and truth1 and because we could not conform to their religions1 manners1 customs1 and fashions8 ,did we ever resist them8 ,did we not give them our backs to beat1 and our cheeks to pull off the hair1 and our faces to spit on8 ,had not their priests1 that prompted them on to such work1 pulled them with themselves into the ditch8 ,why then would they say1 #8,it was all on account of us1' when it was owing to themselves and their priests1 their blind prophets1 that followed their own spirits1 and could foresee nothing of these times and things that were come upon them1 which we had long forewarned them of1 as ,jeremiah and ,christ had forewarned ,jerusalem4 ,they had thought to weary us out1 and undo us1 but they undid themselves4 ,whereas we could praise ,god1 notwithstanding all their plundering of us1 that we had a platter1 a horse1 and plough still40 ,many ways were these professors warned1 by word1 by writing1 and by signs2 but they would believe none1 till it was too late4 ,william ,sympson#fh was moved of the ,lord to go1 several times for three years1 naked and barefoot before them1 as a sign unto them1 in markets1 courts1 towns1 cities1 to priests' and great men's houses1 telling them1 8,so should they be stripped naked1 as he was stripped60 ,and sometimes he was moved to put on sackcloth1 and besmear his face1 and tell them1 8,so would the ,lord ,god besmear all their religion1 as he was besmeared40 ,great sufferings did that poor man undergo1 sore whippings with horse-whips and coach-whips on his bare body1 grievous stonings and imprisonments1 in three years' time1 before the king came in1 that they might have taken warning2 but they would not3 they rewarded his love with cruel usage4 ,only the ,mayor of ,cambridge did nobly to him1 for he put his gown about him1 and took him into his house4 ,footnote #fh3 ,this is probably the ,friend of whom there is some account in ,piety ,promoted1 vol4 ii41 p4 #ga4 ,he was born in ,lancashire1 and receiving the ,truth1 became a faithful minister of it1 for which he was often imprisoned1 and underwent cruel and hard sufferings4 ,in #afgj1 he went to ,barbadoes with ,john ,burnyeat1 to preach the gospel in that island1 but after having some service there1 he was taken ill of a fever1 during which he felt great peace and consolation of spirit1 and signified 8he should die40 ,he was often praising and glorifying ,god after this manner3 8,o6 all that is within me praise and magnify the ,lord ,god1 who is worthy for ever of all glory2 everlasting praises to the ,god of my life1 who only is worthy1 and lives over all1 and is above all1 ,god blessed for ever4 ,amen40 ,he died in much peace and quietness4 ,another ,friend1 ,robert ,huntingdon1 was moved of the ,lord to go into ,carlisle steeple-house1 with a white sheet about him1 amongst the great ,presbyterians and ,independents there1 to show them that the surplice was coming up again3 and he put a halter about his neck1 to show them that a halter was coming upon them2 which was fulfilled upon some of our persecutors not long after4 ,another1 ,richard ,sale1 living near ,chester1 being constable of the place where he lived1 had a ,friend sent to him with a pass1 whom those wicked professors had taken up for a vagabond1 because he travelled in the work of the ministry2 and this constable being convinced by the ,friend that was thus brought to him1 gave him his pass and liberty1 and was afterwards himself cast into prison4 ,after this1 on a lecture-day1 ,richard ,sale was moved to go to the steeple-house1 in the time of their worship1 and carry to those persecuting priests and people1 a lantern and candle1 as a figure of their darkness2 but they cruelly abused him1 and like dark professors as they were1 put him into their prison called ,little-,ease2 and so squeezed his body therein1 that not long after he died4#fi ,footnote #fi3 ,richard ,sale1 the constable who became convinced1 was an undaunted reprover of vice4 ,the place in which he lost his life1 called 8,little ,ease10 is described to have been 8a hole hewed out in a rock2 the breadth across1 seventeen inches2 from the back to the inside of the great door1 at the top1 seven inches2 at the shoulders1 eight inches2 at the breast1 nine inches and a half2 from the top to the bottom1 one yard and a half1 with a device to lessen the height1 as they are minded to torment the persons put in1 by drawboards which shoot over the two sides to a yard height1 or thereabout40 ,into this place was ,richard ,sale put several times1 in #afef-afeg1 for three1 four1 five and eight hours together4 ,being corpulent1 it required the strength of four men to thrust him in4 ,in doing which they crushed him till the blood gushed out of his mouth and nose4 ,he survived the last torture but two months1 and died imputing his death to the cruelty of his persecutors4 ,in this place they tormented many of those who were induced1 with1 ,christian courage1 to reprove the vices1 either of ministers1 magistrates1 or people4 ,richard ,costrop1 for preaching repentance in the streets1 was put in ,little ,ease till next day1 and then1 by the ,mayor1 sent to ,bridewell4 ,thomas ,yarwood1 who1 as the ,mayor and ,aldermen were going to a customary feast1 with music playing before them1 dared to remind them wherein real ,christianity stood1 viz41 in true holiness and the fear of the ,lord1 was sent to ,little ,ease1 and kept there five hours2 by which he1 being but a weak sickly man was much bruised and hurt4 ,william ,sympson1 attempting1 in ,christian love1 to exhort the people1 after their public preacher had ended his sermon1 was first put in the stocks1 and afterwards kept in ,little ,ease nine hours4 ,when1 next morning1 he complained to the ,mayor of his cruel usage1 he was sent again to the same place1 after the ,sheriff1 in the ,mayor's presence1 had struck him in the face1 so that he bled very much4 ,edward ,morgan1 complaining to the ,mayor against a drunken fellow who had grossly abused him1 was sent to ,little ,ease for not putting off his hat when he made that complaint1 and the drunkard went unpunished2 as did also a servant who had robbed his master1 a ,friend1 the master being1 by this same magistrate1 imprisoned eleven weeks1 because he would not swear to the fact of the robbery4 ,many warnings of many sorts were ,friends moved1 in the power of the ,lord1 to give to that generation2 which they not only rejected1 but abused ,friends1 calling us giddy-headed ,quakers2 but ,god brought his judgments upon those persecuting priests and magistrates4 ,for when the king came in1 most of them were turned out of their places and benefices1 and the spoilers were spoiled3 and then we could ask them1 8,who were the giddy heads now80 ,then many confessed we had been true prophets to the nation1 and said1 8,had we cried against some priests only1 they should have liked us then2 but crying against all made them dislike us40 ,but now they saw those priests1 which were then looked upon to be the best1 were as bad as the rest4 ,for indeed1 some of those that were counted the most eminent1 were the bitterest and greatest stirrers up of the magistrates to persecution2 and it was a judgment upon them to be denied the free liberty of their consciences when the king came in1 because when they were uppermost1 they would not have liberty of conscience granted to others4 ,one ,hewes1 of ,plymouth1 a priest of great note in ,oliver's days1 when some liberty was granted1 prayed 8that ,god would put it into the hearts of the chief magistrates of the nation1 to remove this cursed toleration40 ,others prayed against it under the name of ,intolerable ,toleration4 ,but a while after when the king was come in and priest ,hewes turned out of his great benefice for not conforming to the ,common ,prayer1 a ,friend of ,plymouth meeting with him1 asked1 8,whether he would account toleration accursed now80 and 8whether he would not now be glad of a toleration80 ,to which the priest returned no answer save by the shaking of his head4 ,but as stiff as these men were then against toleration1 it is well known many of them petitioned the king for toleration1 and for meeting-places1 and paid for licenses too4 ,but to return to the present time1 the latter end of the year #affj and beginning of #affa4 ,although those ,friends that had been imprisoned on the rising of the ,monarchy-men were set at liberty1 meetings were much disturbed1 and great sufferings ,friends underwent4 ,for besides what was done by officers and soldiers1 many wild fellows and rude people often came in4 ,there came one time1 when ,i was at ,pall ,mall1 an ambassador with a company of ,irishmen and rude fellows2 the meeting was over before they came1 and ,i was gone up into a chamber1 where ,i heard one of them say1 8,he would kill all the ,quakers40 ,i went down to him1 and was moved in the power of the ,lord to speak to him4 ,i told him1 8,the law said1 #8an eye for an eye1 and a tooth for a tooth2' but thou threatenest to kill all the ,quakers1 though they have done thee no hurt4 ,but10 said ,i1 8,here is gospel for thee3 here is my hair1 here is my cheek1 and here is my shoulder10 turning it to him4 ,this came so over him1 that he and his companions stood as men amazed1 and said1 if that was our principle1 and if we were as we said1 they never saw the like in their lives4 ,i told them1 what ,i was in words1 ,i was the same in life4 ,then the ambassador1 who had stood without1 came in3 for he said that ,irish colonel was such a desperate man1 that he durst not come in with him1 for fear he should do us some mischief2 but truth came over him1 and he carried himself lovingly towards us2 as also did the ambassador2 for the ,lord's power was over them all4 ,at ,mile-,end1 ,friends were kept out of their meeting-place by soldiers1 but they stood nobly in the truth1 valiant for the ,lord's name2 and at last the truth gave them dominion4 ,about this time we had an account that ,john ,love1 a ,friend1 that was moved to go and bear testimony against the idolatry of the ,papists1 was dead in prison at ,rome3 it was suspected he was privately put to death in prison4 ,john ,perrot was also a prisoner there1 and being released came over again2 but after his arrival here1 he with ,charles ,baily and others1 turned aside from the unity of ,friends and truth4 ,whereupon ,i was moved to issue a paper1 declaring how the ,lord would blast him and his followers1 if they did not repent and return2 and that they should wither like the grass on the housetop1 which many of them did2 but others returned and repented4 ,also before this time we received account from ,new ,england1 8that the government there had made a law to banish the ,quakers out of their colonies1 upon pain of death1 in case they returned2 and that several ,friends1 having been so banished1 and returning1 were taken1 and actually hung2 and that many more were in prison1 in danger of the like sentence being executed upon them40#gj ,when those were put to death1 ,i was in prison at ,lancaster1 and had a perfect sense of their sufferings1 as though it had been myself1 and as though the halter had been put about my own neck2 though we had not at that time heard of it4 ,footnote #gj3 ,the persecution of the ,quakers in ,new ,england1 by the ,puritans and ,independents1 who had themselves fled from home to enjoy religious liberty1 forms a dreadful story1 the very recital of which is revolting to humanity4 ,some they caused to have their ears cut off2 and1 amongst many other cruelties1 which would fill a volume1 they ordered three ,quaker women to be stripped to the waist1 and flogged through eleven towns1 a distance of eighty miles1 in all the severity of frost and snow4 ,but1 as if this was not enough1 they actually hanged three men and one woman for ,christ's sake1 who all acquitted themselves1 at their awful exit1 with that firmness and submission which a ,christian martyr is enabled to sustain at such an hour of nature's extremity1 giving full proof of their sincerity and trust in the goodness and support of ,him1 who had called them to make a public profession of his name before a wicked and perverse generation4 ,their names were--,william ,robinson1 ,marmaduke ,stevenson1 ,william ,leddra1 and ,mary ,dyer4 ,on the day appointed for the execution of these innocent victims1 they were led to the gallows by military officers1 accompanied by a band of about #bjj armed men1 besides many horsemen--a measure which plainly indicated that some fear of popular indignation was apprehended2 and1 that no appeal might be made to the feelings of the multitude1 a drummer was appointed to march before the condemned persons1 to beat the drum1 especially when any of them attempted to speak4 ,glorious signs of heavenly joy and gladness were visible in the countenances of these holy martyrs1 who walked hand in hand to the place where they were to suffer4 8,this is to me an hour of the greatest joy10 exclaimed ,mary ,dyer2 adding1 that no eye could see1 no ear could hear1 no tongue could utter1 no heart could understand1 the sweet refreshings of the ,spirit of the ,lord which she then felt4 ,being come to the ladder1 and having taken leave of each other with tender affection1 they yielded up their lives into the hands of their enemies1 ,robinson's last words being1 8,i suffer for ,christ1 in whom ,i live1 and for whom ,i die20 and those of ,stevenson1 8,this day shall we be at rest with the ,lord40 ,william ,leddra1 patiently submitting himself whilst the executioner put the halter round his neck1 said1 8,i commit my righteous cause unto thee1 ,o ,god20 and1 as he was turned off1 died with these words1 8,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit60 ,when ,mary ,dyer ascended the ladder1 she was told by some of the standers-by that even now1 if she would obey them1 she might come down and save her life4 ,but this magnanimous sufferer shrank not from her doom1 well knowing in whom1 and for whom she was about to die2 she contentedly laid down her life1 saying1 8,in obedience to the will of the ,lord1 ,i abide faithful unto death40 8,we too1 have had our martyrs4 ,such wert thou1 ,illustrious woman6 though the starry crown ,of martyrdom has sat on many a brow1 ,in the world's eye1 of far more wide renown4 ,yet the same spirit graced thy fameless end1 ,which shone in ,latimer and his compeers2 ,upon whose hallowed memories still attend ,manhood's warm reverence1 childhood's guileless tears4 ,well did they win them2 may they keep them long6 ,their names require not praise obscure as mine1 ,nor does my muse their cherish'd memories wrong1 ,by this imperfect aim to honour thine4 ,heroic martyr of a sect despised6 ,thy name and memory to my heart are dear3 ,thy fearless zeal 7in artless childhood prized7 ,the lapse of years has taught me to revere4 ,thy ,christian worth demands no poet's lay1 ,historian's pen1 nor sculptor's boasted art2 ,what could the proudest tribute these can pay ,to thy immortal spirit1 now impart8 ,yet seems it like a sacred debt to give ,the brief memorial thou mayst well supply2 ,whose life display'd how ,christians ought to live1 ,whose death--how ,christian martyrs calmly die40 ,for further particulars of the ,new ,england persecution1 the reader is referred to ,sewell's ,history2 ,bowden's ,history of ,friends in ,america2 ,kelty's ,early ,days in the ,society of ,friends2 ,hodgson's ,historical ,memoirs1 c4 ,but as soon as we heard of it1 ,edward ,burrough went to the king1 and told him1 8,there was a vein of innocent blood opened in his dominions1 which1 if it were not stopped1 would overrun all40 ,to which the king replied1 8,but ,i will stop that vein40 ,edward ,burrough said1 8,then do it speedily1 for we do not know how many may soon be put to death40 ,the king answered1 8,as speedily as ye will4 ,call10 said he to some present1 8the secretary1 and ,i will do it presently40 ,the secretary being called1 a mandamus was forthwith granted4 ,a day or two after1 ,edward ,burrough going again to the king1 to desire the matter might be expedited1 the king said1 8,he had no occasion at present to send a ship thither1 but if we would send one1 we might do it as soon as we chose40 ,edward ,burrough then asked the king1 8if it would please him to grant his deputation to one called a ,quaker1 to carry the mandamus to ,new ,england80 ,he said1 8,yes1 to whom ye will40 ,whereupon ,e4 ,b4 named ,samuel ,shattock1 who being an inhabitant of ,new ,england1 was banished by their law1 to be hung if he came again2 and to him the deputation was granted4 ,then he sent for ,ralph ,goldsmith1 an honest ,friend1 who was master of a good ship1 and agreed with him for #cjj1 goods or no goods1 to sail in ten days4 ,he forthwith prepared to set sail1 and1 with a prosperous gale1 in about six weeks arrived before the town of ,boston1 in ,new ,england1 upon a ,first-day morning4 ,many passengers went with him1 both of ,new and ,old ,england1 ,friends1 whom the ,lord moved to go to bear testimony against those bloody persecutors1 who had exceeded all the world in that age in their persecutions4 ,the townsmen at ,boston seeing a ship come into the bay with ,english colours1 soon came on board1 and asked for the captain4 ,ralph ,goldsmith told them1 he was the commander4 ,they asked him1 if he had any letters8 ,he said1 8,yes40 ,they asked1 if he would deliver them8 ,he said1 8,no1 not to-day40 ,so they went on shore1 and reported there was a ship full of ,quakers1 and that ,samuel ,shattock was among them1 who1 they knew1 was1 by their law1 to be put to death1 for coming again after banishment2 but they knew not his errand1 nor his authority4 ,so all being kept close that day1 and none of the ship's company suffered to land1 next morning1 ,samuel ,shattock1 the king's deputy1 and ,ralph ,goldsmith1 the commander of the vessel1 went on shore2 and sending back to the ship the men that landed them1 they two went through the town to the governor's 7,john ,endicott's7 door1 and knocked4 ,he sent out a man to know their business4 ,they sent him word1 their business was from the king of ,england1 and they would deliver their message to none but the governor himself4 ,they were then admitted1 and the governor came to them2 and having received the deputation and the mandamus1 he put off his hat1 and looked upon them4 ,then going out1 he bid the ,friends follow him4 ,he went to the deputy-governor1 and after a short consultation1 came out to the ,friends1 and said1 8,we shall obey his ,majesty's commands40 ,after this the master gave liberty to the passengers to land2 and presently the noise of the business flew about the town1 and the ,friends of the town and the passengers of the ship met together1 to offer up their praises and thanksgivings to ,god1 who had so wonderfully delivered them from the teeth of the devourer4 ,while they were thus met1 a poor ,friend came in1 who1 being sentenced by their bloody law to die1 had lain some time in irons1 expecting execution4 ,this added to their joy1 and caused them to lift up their hearts in high praises to ,god1 who is worthy for ever to have the praise1 the glory1 and the honour2 for he only is able to deliver1 to save1 and to support all that sincerely put their trust in him4 ,here follows a copy of the mandamus3-- 8,,charles ,r4 8,trusty and well beloved1 we greet you well4 ,having been informed that several of our subjects amongst you1 called ,quakers1 have been and are imprisoned by you1 whereof some have been executed1 and others1 as hath been represented unto us1 are in danger to undergo the like1 we have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the future2 and do hereby require1 that if there be any of those people called ,quakers amongst you1 now already condemned to suffer death or other corporal punishment1 or that are imprisoned1 and obnoxious to the like condemnation1 you are to forbear to proceed any further therein2 but that you forthwith send the said persons1 whether condemned or imprisoned1 over into this our kingdom of ,england1 together with the respective crimes or offences laid to their charge3 to the end such course may be taken with them here1 as shall be agreeable to our laws and their demerits4 ,and for so doing1 these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge4 ,given at our ,court at ,whitehall1 the #ith day of ,september1 #affa1 in the thirteenth year of our reign40 ,subscribed3 8,to our trusty and well beloved ,john ,endicott1 ,esq41 and to all and every other the governor or governors of our plantations of ,new ,england1 and of all the colonies thereunto belonging1 that now are1 or hereafter shall be3 and to all and every the ministers and officers of our plantations and colonies whatsoever1 within the continent of ,new ,england4 8,by his ,majesty's command4 8,,william ,,morris40 ,some time after this several ,new ,england magistrates came over1 with one of their priests4 ,we had several discourses with them concerning their murdering our ,friends1 the servants of the ,lord2 but they were ashamed to stand to their bloody actions4 ,on one of these occasions ,i asked ,simon ,broadstreet1 one of the ,new ,england magistrates1 8,whether he had not a hand in putting to death those four servants of ,god1 whom they hung for being ,quakers only1 as they had nicknamed them80 ,he confessed he had4 ,i then asked him and the rest of his associates that were present1 8,whether they would acknowledge themselves to be subject to the laws of ,england2 and if they did1 by what laws they had put our ,friends to death80 ,they said1 8,they were subject to the laws of ,england2 and had put our ,friends to death by the same law that the ,jesuits were put to death in ,england40 ,i asked them then1 8,whether they believed those ,friends of ours1 whom they had put to death1 were ,jesuits or jesuitically affected80 ,they said1 nay4 8,then10 said ,i1 8ye have murdered them1 if ye have put them to death by the law that ,jesuits are put to death here in ,england1 and yet confess they were no ,jesuits4 ,by this it plainly appears ye have put them to death in your own wills1 without any law40 ,then ,simon ,broadstreet1 finding himself and his company ensnared by their own words1 asked1 8,did we come to catch them80 ,i told them1 they had caught themselves1 and they might justly be questioned for their lives2 and if the father of ,william ,robinson1 one of them that were put to death1 were in town1 it was probable he would question them1 and bring their lives into jeopardy4 ,here they began to excuse themselves1 saying1 8,there was no persecution now amongst them30 but next morning we had letters from ,new ,england1 giving us account that our ,friends were persecuted there afresh4 ,we went again1 and showed them our letters1 which put them both to silence and to shame2 and in great fear they seemed to be1 lest someone should call them to account1 and prosecute them for their lives1 especially ,simon ,broadstreet2 for he had at first1 before so many witnesses1 confessed he had a hand in putting our ,friends to death1 that he could not get off from it2 though he afterwards through fear shuffled1 and would have unsaid it again4 ,after this1 he and the rest soon returned to ,new ,england again4 ,i went also to ,governor ,winthrop1 and discoursed with him on these matters2 he assured me1 8,he had no hand in putting our ,friends to death1 or in any way persecuting them2 but was one of them that protested against it40 ,these stingy persecutors of ,new ,england were a people that fled thither out of ,old ,england1 from the persecution of the bishops here2 but when they had got power into their own hands1 they so far exceeded the bishops in severity and cruelty1 that whereas the bishops had made them pay twelve pence a ,sunday 7so called7 for not coming to their worship here1 they imposed a fine of five shillings a-day upon such as should not conform to their will-worship there2 and spoiled the goods of ,friends that could not 7for conscience' sake7 pay it4 ,besides1 many they imprisoned1 divers they whipped1 and that most cruelly2 of some they cut off the ears1 and some they hanged2 as the books of ,friends' sufferings in ,new ,england largely show1 particularly that written by ,george ,bishop1 of ,bristol1 entitled1 ,new ,england ,judged4 ,some of the old royalists were earnest with ,friends to prosecute them1 but we told them1 we left them to the ,lord1 to whom vengeance belongeth1 and he would repay it4 ,and the judgments of ,god have since fallen heavy on them2 for the ,indians have been raised up against them1 and have cut off many of them4 ,about this time ,i lost a very good book1 being taken in the printer's hands2 it was a useful teaching work1 containing the signification and explanation of names1 parables1 types1 and figures in the ,scriptures4 ,they who took it were so affected with it1 that they were loth to destroy it2 but thinking to make a great advantage of it1 they would have let us have it again1 if we would have given them a great sum of money for it2 which we were not free to do4 ,before this1 while ,i was a prisoner in ,lancaster castle1 the book called ,the ,battledore was published1 which was written to show1 that in all languages ,thou and ,thee is the proper and usual form of speech to a single person2 and ,you to more than one4 ,this was set forth in examples or instances taken from the ,scriptures1 and books of teaching1 in about thirty languages4 ,j4 ,stubbs and ,benjamin ,furly took great pains in compiling it1 which ,i set them upon2 and some things ,i added to it4 ,when it was finished1 copies were presented to the king and his council1 to the bishops of ,canterbury and ,london1 and to the two universities one each2 and many purchased them4 ,the king said1 it was the proper language of all nations2 and the bishop of ,canterbury1 being asked what he thought of it1 was at a stand1 and could not tell what to say to it4 ,for it did so inform and convince people1 that few afterwards were so rugged toward us1 for saying ,thou and ,thee to a single person1 for which before they were exceedingly fierce against us4 ,thou and ,thee was a sore cut to proud flesh1 and them that sought self-honour1 who1 though they would say it to ,god and ,christ1 could not endure to have it said to themselves4 ,so that we were often beaten and abused1 and sometimes in danger of our lives1 for using those words to some proud men1 who would say1 8,what6 you ill-bred clown1 do you ,thou me80 as though ,christian breeding consisted in saying ,you to one2 which is contrary to all their grammars and teaching books1 by which they instruct their youth4 ,now the bishops and priests being busy and eager to set up their form of worship1 and compel all to come to it1 ,i was moved to give forth the following paper1 to open the nature of the true worship1 which ,christ set up1 and which ,god accepts3-- 8,christ's worship is free in the ,spirit to all men2 and such as worship in ,spirit and in truth1 are they whom ,god seeks to worship him2 for he is the ,god of truth1 and is a ,spirit1 and the ,god of the spirits of all flesh4 ,he hath given to all nations of men and women breath and life1 to live1 and move1 and have their being in him3 and hath put into them an immortal soul4 ,so all are to be temples for him to dwell in2 and they that defile his temple will he destroy4 ,now as the outward ,jews1 while they had their outward temple at ,jerusalem1 were to go up thither to worship 7which temple ,god hath long since thrown down1 and destroyed that ,jerusalem1 the vision of peace2 and cast off the ,jews and their worship2 and instead thereof hath set up his gospel-worship in the ,spirit and in the truth71 so now all are to worship in ,spirit and in truth4 ,this is a free worship2 for where the ,spirit of the ,lord is1 and ruleth1 there is liberty2 the fruits of the ,spirit are seen1 and will manifest themselves2 and the ,spirit is not to be limited1 but lived and walked in1 that its fruits may appear4 ,the tares are such as hang upon the wheat1 and thereby draw it down to the earth2 yet the tares and the wheat must grow together1 till the harvest1 lest they that take upon them to pluck up the tares1 should pluck up the wheat with the tares4 ,the tares are such as worship not ,god in ,spirit and in truth2 but grieve the ,spirit1 vex and quench it in themselves1 and walk not in the truth2 yet will hang about the wheat1 the true worshippers in the ,spirit and in the truth4 8,christ's church was never established by blood1 nor held up by prisons3 neither was the foundation of it laid by carnal-weaponed men1 nor is it preserved by such4 ,but when men departed from the ,spirit and truth1 they took up carnal weapons to maintain their outward forms1 and yet they cannot preserve them with their carnal weapons2 for one plucketh down another's form with his outward weapons4 ,and this work hath been among nominal ,christians1 since they lost the ,spirit1 and spiritual weapons1 and the true worship which ,christ set up1 that is in ,spirit and in truth1 which they that worship in1 are over all the tares4 ,all that would be plucking up the tares are forbidden by ,christ1 who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him2 for the tares and the wheat must grow together till the harvest1 as ,christ hath commanded4 ,the stone that smote the image became a great mountain1 and filled the whole earth2 now1 if the stone fill the whole earth1 all nations must be temples for the stone4 ,all that say they travail for the seed1 and yet bring forth nothing but a birth of strife1 contention1 and confusion1 their fruit shows their travail to be wrong2 for by the fruit1 the end of every one's work is seen1 of what sort it is40 ,g4 ,f4 ,about this time many ,papists and ,jesuits began to fawn upon ,friends1 and talked where they came1 that of all sects the ,quakers were the best and most self-denying people2 and said1 8,it was a great pity they did not return to the holy mother church40 ,thus they made a buzz among the people1 and said1 8,they would willingly discourse with ,friends40 ,but ,friends were loth to meddle with them1 because they were ,jesuits1 looking upon it to be both dangerous and scandalous4 ,but when ,i understood it1 ,i said to ,friends1 8,let us discourse with them1 be they what they will40 ,so a time being appointed at ,gerrard ,roberts's house1 there came two of them like courtiers4 ,when we were met together1 they asked our names1 which we told them2 but we did not ask their names1 for we understood they were called ,papists1 and they knew we were called ,quakers4 ,i asked them the same question that ,i had formerly asked a ,jesuit1 namely1 8,whether the church of ,rome was not degenerated from the primitive church1 from the ,spirit1 power1 and practice1 of the apostles' times80 ,he to whom ,i put this question being subtle1 said1 8,he would not answer it40 ,i asked him1 8,why80 ,but he would show no reason4 ,his companion said1 he would answer me2 and said1 8,they were not degenerated from the primitive church times40 ,i asked the other1 whether he was of the same mind8 ,he said1 8,yes40 ,then ,i told them that for better understanding one another1 and that there might be no mistake1 ,i would repeat my question over again after this manner1 8,whether the church of ,rome now was in the same purity1 practice1 power1 and ,spirit1 that the church in the apostles' time was in80 ,when they saw we would be exact with them1 they flew off1 and denied that1 saying1 8,it was presumption in any to say1 they had the same power and spirit that the apostles had40 8,but ,i told them1 it was presumption in them to meddle with the words of ,christ and his apostles1 and make people believe they succeeded the apostles1 and yet be forced to confess they were not in the same power and ,spirit the apostles were in4 ,this10 said ,i1 8is a spirit of presumption1 and rebuked by the apostles' ,spirit40 ,i showed them how different their fruits and practices were from those of the apostles4 ,then one of them said1 8,ye are a company of dreamers40 8,nay10 said ,i1 8ye are the filthy dreamers1 who dream ye are the apostles successors2 and yet confess ye have not the same power and ,spirit they were in4 ,and are not they defilers of the flesh1 who say1 #8,it is presumption in any to say1 they have the same power and ,spirit the apostles had8' ,now10 said ,i1 8if ye have not the same power and ,spirit the apostles had1 then it is manifest that ye are led by another power and spirit than the apostles and primitive church were led by40 ,then ,i began to tell them how that evil spirit1 which they were led by1 had led them to pray by beads and to images2 to set up nunneries1 friaries1 and monasteries1 and to put people to death for religion2 and this practice of theirs1 ,i showed them1 was below the law1 and far short of the gospel1 in which is liberty4 ,they were soon weary of this discourse1 went away1 and gave a charge1 as we heard1 to the ,papists1 8,that they should not dispute with us1 or read any of our books20 so we were rid of them4 ,but we had reasonings with all the other sects as ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 ,seekers1 ,baptists1 ,episcopalians1 ,socinians1 ,brownists1 ,lutherans1 ,calvinists1 ,arminians1 ,fifth-monarchy-men1 ,familists1 ,muggletonians and ,ranters2 none of which would affirm they had the same power and ,spirit the apostles had1 and were in2 so in that power and ,spirit the ,lord gave us dominion over them all4 ,as for the ,fifth-monarchy men1 ,i was moved to give forth a paper1 to manifest their error to them2 for they looked for ,christ's personal coming in an outward form and manner1 and fixed the time to the year #afff2 at which time some of them prepared themselves when it thundered and rained1 thinking ,christ was then come to set up his kingdom2 and they imagined they were to kill the whore without them4 ,but ,i told them the whore was alive in them1 and was not burned with ,god's fire1 nor judged in them with the same power and ,spirit the apostles were in4 ,and their looking for ,christ's coming outwardly to set up his kingdom1 was like the ,pharisees' 8,lo here0 and 8,lo there40 ,but ,christ was come1 and had set up his kingdom above sixteen hundred years ago 7according to ,nebuchadnezzar's dream and ,daniel's prophecy71 and he had dashed to pieces the four monarchies1 the great image1 with its head of gold1 breast and arms of silver1 belly and thighs of brass1 legs of iron1 and feet part of iron and part of clay2 and they were all blown away with ,god's wind1 as the chaff in the summer thrashing-floor4 ,and when ,christ was on earth1 he said1 8,his kingdom was not of this world30 if it had been1 his servants would have fought1 but it was not2 therefore his servants did not fight4 ,therefore all the ,fifth-monarchy-men1 that are fighters with carnal weapons1 are none of ,christ's servants1 but the beast's and the whore's4 ,christ said1 8,all power in heaven and in earth is given to me30 so then his kingdom was set up above sixteen hundred years ago1 and he reigns4 8,and we see ,jesus ,christ reign10 said the apostle2 and he shall reign till all things be put under his feet2 though all things are not yet put under his feet1 nor subdued4 ,this year several ,friends were moved to go beyond the seas1 to publish ,truth in foreign countries4 ,john ,stubbs1 and ,henry ,fell1 and ,richard ,costrop were moved to go towards ,china and ,prester ,john's country2 but no masters of ships would carry them4 ,with much ado they got a warrant from the king2 but the ,east ,india ,company found ways to avoid it1 and masters of their ships would not carry them4 ,then they went into ,holland1 hoping to get passage there1 but none could they get there either4 ,then ,john ,stubbs and ,henry ,fell took shipping for ,alexandria in ,egypt1 intending to go by the caravans from thence4 ,meanwhile ,daniel ,baker being to go to ,smyrna1 drew ,richard ,costrop1#ga contrary to his own freedom1 to go along with him1 and in the passage ,richard falling sick1 ,daniel ,baker left him so in the ship1 where he died3 but that hard-hearted man afterwards lost his own condition4 ,footnote #ga3 ,this ,richard ,costrop 7or ,scostrop7 was born in #afbh4 ,he was originally a sore persecutor of ,friends1 but becoming convinced of the soundness of their principles1 he at length joined the ,society1 and preached the faith which once he destroyed1 travelling for this object into various parts of ,europe4 he seems to have been chiefly instrumental in establishing the meeting at ,scalehouse4 ,he appears to have been a man of some estate1 but left all1 and spent his days in the service of the gospel4 ,in a document issued by ,friends of ,settle ,monthly ,meeting in #agjd1 it is said of him1 8his memory is sweet this day among the brethren40 ,see ,life1 c41 of ,william and ,alice ,ellis1 by ,james ,backhouse1 pp4 #bgh1 #bgi1 c4 ,john ,stubbs and ,henry ,fell reached ,alexandria2 but they had not been there long before the ,english consul banished them3 yet before they came away1 they dispersed many books and papers1 for opening the principles and way of truth to the ,turks and ,grecians4 ,they gave the book called1 ,the ,pope's ,strength ,broken1 to an old friar1 for him to give or send to the ,pope2 which when the friar had perused1 he placed his hand on his breast1 and confessed1 8,what was written therein was truth2 but0 said he1 8if ,i should confess it openly1 they would burn me40 ,john ,stubbs and ,henry ,fell1 not being suffered to go further1 returned to ,england1 and came to ,london again4 ,john had a vision that the ,english and ,dutch1 who had joined together not to carry them1 would fall out one with the other2 and so it came to pass4 ,having now stayed in ,london some time1 ,i felt drawings to visit ,friends in ,essex4 ,so ,i went down to ,,colchester1 where ,i had very large meetings2 and thence to ,,coggeshall2 not far from which a priest was convinced1 and ,i had a meeting at his house4 ,travelling a little up and down in those parts1 and visiting ,friends in their meetings1 ,i returned pretty quickly to ,,london1 where ,i found great service for the ,lord2 for a large door was opened1 many flocked in to our meetings1 and the ,lord's truth spread mightily this year4 ,yet ,friends had great travail and sore labour1 the rude people having been so heightened by the ,monarchy-men's rising a little before4 ,but the ,lord's power was over all1 and in it ,friends had dominion2 though we had not only those sufferings without1 but sufferings within also1 by ,john ,perrot and his company2 who1 giving heed to a spirit of delusion1 sought to introduce among ,friends that evil and uncomely practice of 8keeping on the hat in time of public prayers40 ,friends had spoken to him and many of his followers about it1 and ,i had written to them concerning it2 but he and some others rather strengthened themselves against us4#gb ,wherefore feeling the judgment of truth rise against it1 ,i gave forth the following as a warning to all that were concerned therein3-- 8,whosoever is tainted with this spirit of ,john ,perrot1 it will perish4 ,mark his and their end1 who are turned into those outward things and janglings about them1 and that which is not savoury2 all which is for perpetual judgment--is to be swept and cleansed out of the camp of ,god's elect4 ,this is to that spirit1 that is gone into jangling about that which is below 7the rotten principle of the old ,ranters7--gone from the invisible power of ,god1 in which is the everlasting fellowship2 and thus many who now clamour and speak against them that are in the power of ,god1 are become like the untimely figs1 and like the corn on the house-top4 ,o6 consider6 the light and power of ,god goes over you all1 and leaves you in the fretting nature1 out of the unity which is in the everlasting light1 life1 and power of ,god4 ,consider this1 before the day be gone from you2 and take heed1 that your memorial be not rooted out from among the righteous40 ,g4 ,f4 ,footnote #gb3 ,john ,perrot was one who at this time caused great distress and trouble to the faithful members of the ,society1 from giving way to self-importance and extravagant notions4 ,for particulars1 the reader is referred to ,sewell's ,history2 and to ,hodgson's ,historical ,memoirs4 ,whilst the ,society kept steadily pursuing its path1 and increasing in numbers1 notwithstanding the persecutions to which its members were everywhere subjected1 it was not to be expected that every individual who was found within its precincts should have been rightly prepared for the station which he might have assumed4 ,it would have been indeed remarkable1 if1 in the multitude of those who went forth in that day of zeal1 in the service of the ministry1 there had not been instances of men who had taken upon them 7perhaps mistakenly7 the office of a gospel minister1 without waiting for the preparation and the call4 ,and it would have been still more surprising if such forward spirits had proved firm in the day of outward trial1 or of inward fascinations and snares of the enemy4 ,among the exercises and troubles ,friends had from without1 one was regarding ,friends' marriages1 which sometimes were called in question4 ,this year there was a cause tried at the assize at ,nottingham concerning one4 ,the case was thus4 ,some years before1 two ,friends were joined together in marriage amongst ,friends1 and lived together as man and wife about two years4 ,then the man died1 leaving his wife with child1 and an estate in lands of copyhold4 ,when the woman was delivered1 the jury presented the child heir to its father's lands1 and accordingly the child was admitted2 afterwards another ,friend married the widow4 ,after that1 a man that was near of kin to her former husband1 brought his action against the ,friend that had last married her1 endeavouring to dispossess them1 and deprive the child of the inheritance1 and to possess himself thereof as next heir to the woman's first husband4 ,to effect this1 he endeavoured to prove the child illegitimate1 alleging1 8the marriage was not according to law40 ,in opening the cause1 the plaintiff's counsel used unseemly words concerning ,friends1 saying1 8,that they went together like brute beasts10 with other ill expressions4 ,after the counsels on both sides had pleaded1 the judge 7viz41 ,judge ,archer7 took the matter in hand1 and opened it to the jury1 telling them1 that 8,there was a marriage in ,paradise when ,adam took ,eve1 and ,eve took ,adam2 and that it was the consent of the parties that made a marriage4 ,as for the ,quakers10 he said1 8he did not know their opinions1 but he did not believe they went together as brute beasts1 as had been said of them1 but as ,christians and therefore he believed the marriage was lawful1 and the child lawful heir40 ,and the better to satisfy the jury1 he brought them a case to this purpose3--8,a man that was weak of body1 and kept his bed1 had a desire in that condition to marry1 and declared before witnesses that he took such a woman to be his wife1 and the woman declared that she took that man to be her husband4 ,this marriage was afterwards called in question2 and 7as the judge said7 all the bishops at that time concluded it to be a lawful marriage40 ,hereupon the jury gave in their verdict for the ,friend's child1 against the man that would have deprived it of its inheritance4 ,about this time the oaths of allegiance and supremacy were tendered to ,friends1 as a snare1 because it was known we could not swear1 and thereupon many were imprisoned1 and divers premunired4 ,upon that occasion ,friends published in print 8,the grounds and reasons why they refused to swear20 besides which ,i was moved to issue these few lines1 to be given to the magistrates3-- 8,the world saith1 #8,kiss the book2' but the book saith1 #8,kiss the ,son1 lest he be angry4' ,and the ,son saith1 #8,swear not at all1' but keep to ,yea and ,nay in all your communications2 for whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil4 ,again1 the world saith1 #8,lay your hand on the book1' but the book saith1 #8,handle the word2' and the word saith1 #8,handle not the traditions1' nor the inventions1 nor the rudiments of the world4 ,and ,god saith1 #8,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him1' who is the life1 the truth1 the light1 and the way to ,god40 ,g4 ,f4 ,now their being very many ,friends in prison in the nation1 ,richard ,hubberthorn and ,i drew up paper concerning them1#gc and got it delivered to the king1 that he might understand how we were dealt with by his officers4 ,it was directed thus3-- 8,for the ,king4 8,,friend1 8,who art the chief ruler of these dominions1 here is a list of some of the sufferings of the people of ,god1 in scorn called ,quakers1 that have suffered under the changeable powers before thee1 by whom there have been imprisoned1 and under whom there have suffered for good conscience' sake1 and for bearing testimony to the truth as it is in ,jesus1 #8three thousand one hundred and seventy-three persons1' and there lie yet in prison in the name of the ,commonwealth #8seventy-three persons1' that we know of4 ,and there died in prison in the time of the ,commonwealth1 and of ,oliver and ,richard1 the protectors1 through cruel and hard imprisonments1 upon nasty straw1 and in dungeons1 #8thirty-two persons4' ,there have been also imprisoned in thy name1 since thy arrival1 by such as thought to ingratiate themselves thereby with thee1 #8three thousand1 sixty and eight persons4' ,besides this1 our meetings are daily broken up by men with clubs and arms1 though we meet peaceably1 according to the practice of ,god's people in the primitive times1 and our ,friends are thrown into waters1 and trod upon1 till the very blood gushes out of them2 the number of which abuses can hardly be uttered4 8,now this we would have of thee1 to set them at liberty that lie in prison in the names of the ,commonwealth1 and of the two ,protectors1 and them that lie in thy own name1 for speaking the truth1 and for good conscience' sake1 who have not lifted up a hand against thee or any man2 and that the meetings of our ,friends1 who meet peaceably together in the fear of ,god1 to worship him1 may not be broken up by rude people1 with their clubs1 swords1 and staves4 ,one of the greatest things that we have suffered for formerly1 was1 because we could not swear to the ,protectors and all the changeable governments2 and now we are imprisoned because we cannot take the oath of allegiance4 ,now1 if our yea be not yea1 and nay1 nay1 to thee1 and to all men upon the earth1 let us suffer as much for breaking that1 as others do for breaking an oath4 ,we have suffered these many years1 both in lives and estates1 under these changeable governments1 because we cannot swear1 but obey ,christ's doctrine1 who commands1 #8we should not swear at all' 7,matt4 v4 ,james v471 and this we seal with our lives and estates1 with our yea and nay1 according to the doctrine of ,christ4 ,hearken to these things1 and so consider them in the wisdom of ,god1 that by it such actions may be stopped2 thou that hast the government and mayest do it4 ,we desire that all that are in prison may be set at liberty1 and that for the time to come they may not be imprisoned for conscience and for truth's sake2 and if thou question the innocency of their sufferings1 let them and their accusers be brought up before thee1 and we shall produce a more particular and full account of their sufferings if required40 ,g4,f4 and ,r4,h4 ,footnote #gc3 ,about this time persecution was very hot1 and from estimates deduced from documents of the period1 it is probable that1 in #affa or #affb1 there were no less than #d1ejj ,friends in prison1 in ,england and ,wales1 at one time1 for meeting to worship ,god1 refusing to swear1 c4 ,and in such prisons too6 ,they who would know what the miseries of prisoners have been in ,england1 let them read ,sewell's ,history1 which exhibits such a scene of savage persecution on the one hand1 and firmness and patience in suffering on the other1 as is not easily paralleled4 ,little known as these things are1 it will hardly be credited now1 that to such a length was hatred carried against the ,quakers1 that few of them1 except those below the cognizance of the magistrates1 were not in prison1 at one time or other1 for their religious faith4 ,the interruption of family ties1 the breaking up of households1 the loss to many of all means of support1 were hard and cruel sufferings for conscience' sake1 but they were grievously aggravated at this period by the damp and filthy condition of the prisons1 holes1 and dungeons in which the sufferers were confined1 as well as by their very crowded condition4 ,and to all these circumstances of trial1 must be added those of personal abuse1 fines1 distraints1 and1 it may strictly be said1 of wholesale robberies they endured4 ,some died of the beatings which they received in the breaking up of their meetings1 and many from the filthy and close state of the prisons1 in some of which they were so closely packed that they had to take it by turns to stand up1 whilst others sat or lay down4 ,they were also often overrun with lice and other vermin4 ,i mentioned before1 that in the year #afej1 ,i was kept prisoner six months in the house of correction at ,derby1 and that the keeper of the prison1 a cruel man1 and one that had dealt very wickedly towards me1 was smitten in himself1 the plagues and terrors of the ,lord falling upon him because thereof 7p4 #eg474 ,this man1 being afterwards convinced of truth1 wrote me the following letter3-- 8,,dear ,,friend1 8,having such a convenient messenger1 ,i could do no less than give thee an account of my present condition1 remembering1 that in the first awakening of me to a sense of life1 and of the inward principle1 ,god was pleased to make use of thee as an instrument4 ,so that sometimes ,i am taken with admiration that it should come by such a means as it did2 that is to say1 that providence should order thee to be my prisoner1 to give me my first real sight of the truth4 ,it makes me many times think of the jailer's conversion by the apostles4 ,o happy ,george ,fox6 that first breathed that breath of life within the walls of my habitation6 ,notwithstanding my outward losses are since that time such1 that ,i am become nothing in the world1 yet ,i hope ,i shall find that all these light afflictions1 which are but for a moment1 will work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory4 ,they have taken all from me1 and now1 instead of keeping a prison1 ,i am rather waiting the time when ,i shall become a prisoner myself4 ,pray for me1 that my faith fail not1 but that ,i may hold out unto death1 that ,i may receive a crown of life4 ,i earnestly desire to hear from thee1 and of thy condition1 which would very much rejoice me4 ,not having else at present but my kind love unto thee1 and all ,christian ,friends with thee1 in haste1 ,i rest1 thine1 in ,christ ,jesus1 ,,thomas ,,sharman40 ,derby1 #bbnd of #dth ,month1 #affb4 ,there were two of our friends in prison in the ,inquisition at ,malta1 both women2 ,katherine ,evans and ,sarah ,chevers4#gd ,i was told that one called the ,lord ,d',aubigny a ,roman ,catholic priest1 could procure their liberty1 so ,i went to him2 and having informed him concerning their imprisonment1 desired him to write to the magistrates there for their release4 ,he readily promised he would2 and1 8if ,i would come again within a month1 he would tell me of their discharge40 ,i went again about that time1 and he said1 8he thought his letters had miscarried1 because he had received no answer40 ,but he promised he would write again1 and he did so2 and they were both set at liberty4 ----- ,footnote #gd3 ,katherine ,evans and ,sarah ,chevers suffered a dreadful confinement for about four years in the ,inquisition at ,malta1 of which a full account has been published4 ,a more condensed one may be seen in ,select ,miscellanies1 v4 p4 #ej-fh4 8----,these ministers of ,christ did leave ,their homes in ,england1 faithfully to bear ,the ,saviour's message into ,eastern lands2 ,and here1 at ,malta1 they were seized upon ,by bigoted intolerance1 and shut ,within this fearful engine of the ,pope4 ,priests and inquisitors assail them there1 ,and urge the claims of ,popery4 ,the rack ,and cruel deaths are threatened2 and again ,sweet liberty is offered1 as the price ,of their apostacy4 ,all1 all in vain6 ,for years these tender women have been thus ,victims of cruelty4 ,at times apart1 ,confined in gloomy1 solitary cells4 ,but all these efforts to convert them failed2 ,the inquisition had not power enough ,to shake their faith and confidence in ,him1 ,whose holy presence anciently was seen ,to save his children from devouring flames2 ,he from this furnace of affliction brought ,these persecuted women1 who came forth ,out of the burning1 with no smell of fire ,upon their garments1 and again they trod ,their native land1 rejoicing40 ,some idea of the sufferings of these poor creatures may be formed from the fact of their often lying down before the crevice of their prison-door1 to inhale what air could be obtained from it4 ,in this state their skin was parched1 the hair fell off their heads1 and1 they frequently fainted2 and1 in moments when the strength and glory of the ,divine presence was not so feelingly experienced as at others1 it cannot occasion surprise that1 through human weakness1 they wished for death2 their distress sometimes being such1 that when it was day they longed for night1 and yet when night came it was only to prompt the constant sigh for returning light4 ,yet the heavenly content which1 on the whole1 was the portion of these sufferers for ,christ's sake1 in this dark and cloudy day1 was remarkable4 ,one of them1 in writing to her relatives in ,england1 says1 8,we are witnesses that the ,lord can provide a table in the wilderness1 both spiritual and temporal4 ,in all our afflictions and miseries1 the ,lord remembered mercy1 and did not leave nor forsake us1 nor suffer his faithfulness to fail2 but caused the sweet drops of his mercy to distil upon us1 and the brightness of his glorious countenance to shine into our hearts40 ,the other of these suffering captives writes that she could not1 by pen and paper1 set forth the extent of the love of ,god to her soul1 in fulfilling his gracious promises to her in the wilderness4 ,they were indeed enabled to 8sing the ,lord's song in a strange land20 and in the midst of heaviness1 8their mouths were often filled with laughter1 and their tongues with joy10 being strong in the faith1 giving praises and glory to ,god4 ,the following1 composed by them in the ,inquisition1 affords a view of the motives and abilities of these devoted women3-- 8,in prisons strong1 and dungeons deep1 ,to ,god alone we cry and weep2 ,our sorrows none can learn nor read1 ,but those that in our path do tread4 ,but he whose beauty shineth bright1 ,who turneth darkness into light1 ,makes cedars bow1 and oaks to bend1 ,to him that's sent to the same end2 ,he is a fountain pure and clear1 ,his crystal streams run far and near ,to cleanse all those that come to him ,for to be healed of their sin3 ,all them that patiently abide1 ,and never swerve nor go aside1 ,the ,lord will free them out of all ,bondage1 captivity1 and thrall40 ,it was not in the ,inquisition only that these women suffered1 but much also in ,england4 ,in #afeg1 ,katherine ,evans was stripped1 and tied to a whipping-post in the market-place at ,salisbury1 and there whipped1 for exhorting the people to repentance4 ,her husband1 a man of property1 also suffered several imprisonments1 and at last died in prison for obeying our ,saviour's command1 8,swear not at all40 ----- ,with this great man ,i had much reasoning about religion1 and he confessed that 8,christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world1 with his spiritual light2 that he tasted death for every man2 that the grace of ,god1 which brings salvation1 hath appeared to all men1 and that it would teach them and bring their salvation1 if they obeyed it40 ,then ,i asked him1 8what would they 7the ,papists7 do with all their relics and images1 if they should own and believe in this light1 and receive the grace to teach and bring their salvation80 ,he said1 8those things were but policies1 to keep people in subjection40 ,he was very free in discourse2 ,i never heard a ,papist confess so much as he did4 ,though several about the court began to grow loving to ,friends1 yet persecution was very hot1 and several ,friends died in prison4 ,whereupon ,i gave forth a little paper concerning the grounds and rise of persecution2 which was thus3-- 8,all the sufferings of the people of ,god in all ages were1 because they could not join in the national religions and worships1 which men had made and set up2 and because they would not forsake ,god's religion and his worship1 which he had set up4 ,you may see through all chronicles and histories1 that the priests joined with the powers of the nation2 the magistrates1 soothsayers1 and fortune-tellers1 all united against the people of ,god1 and imagined vain things against them in their councils4 ,when the ,jews did wickedly1 they turned against ,moses2 and when the ,jewish kings transgressed the law of ,god1 they persecuted the prophets1 as may be seen in the prophets' writings4 ,when ,christ1 the substance1 came1 the ,jews persecuted ,christ1 his apostles1 and disciples4 ,and when the ,jews had not power enough of themselves to persecute answerably to their wills1 they got the heathen ,gentiles to help them against ,christ1 and against his apostles and disciples1 who were in the ,spirit and power of ,christ40 ,g4 ,f4 ,after ,i had made some stay in ,london1 and had cleared myself of those services that at that time lay upon me there1 ,i went into the country1 having with me ,alexander ,parker and ,john ,stubbs4 ,we travelled through the country1 visiting ,friends' meetings1 till we came to ,,bristol4 ,there we understood the officers were likely to come and break up the meeting4 ,yet on ,first-day we went to the meeting at ,broadmead1 and ,alexander ,parker standing up first1 while he was speaking the officers came and took him away4 ,after he was gone1 ,i stood up1 and declared the everlasting truth of the ,lord ,god in his eternal power1 which came over all2 the meeting was quiet the rest of the time1 and broke up peaceably4 ,i tarried till the ,first-day following1 visiting ,friends1 and being visited by them4 ,on ,first-day morning several ,friends came to ,edward ,pyot's house 7where ,i lay the night before17 and used great endeavours to persuade me not to go to the meeting that day1 for the magistrates1 they said1 had threatened to take me1 and had raised the trained bands4 ,i wished them to go to the meeting1 not telling them what ,i intended to do2 but ,i told ,edward ,pyot ,i intended to go1 and he sent his son to show me the way from his house by the fields4 ,as ,i went ,i met divers ,friends who were coming to me to prevent my going1 and did what they could to stop me4 8,what60 said one1 8wilt thou go into the mouth of the beast80 8,wilt thou go into the mouth of the dragon80 said another4 ,i put them by and went on4 ,when ,i came to the meeting1 ,margaret ,thomas was speaking2 and when she had done1 ,i stood up4 ,i saw a concern and fear upon ,friends for me2 but the power of the ,lord1 in which ,i declared1 soon struck the fear out of them2 life sprang1 and a glorious heavenly meeting we had4 ,after ,i had cleared myself of what was upon me from the ,lord to the meeting1 ,i was moved to pray2 and after that to stand up again1 and tell ,friends1 8,now they might see there was a ,god in ,israel that could deliver40 ,a very large meeting this was1 and very hot2 but truth was over all1 the life was exalted1 which carried through all1 and the meeting broke up in peace4 ,the officers and soldiers had been breaking up another meeting1 which had taken up their time1 so that our meeting was ended before they came4 ,but ,i understood afterwards they were in a great rage1 because they had missed me2 for they were heard to say one to another before1 8,i'll warrant we shall have him20 but the ,lord prevented them4 ,i went from the meeting to ,joan ,hily's1 where many ,friends came to see me1 rejoicing and blessing ,god for our deliverance4 ,in the evening ,i had a fine fresh meeting among ,friends at a ,friend's house over the water1 where we were much refreshed in the ,lord4 ,after this ,i stayed most part of that week in ,bristol1 and at ,edward ,pyot's4 ,edward was brought so low and weak with an ague1 that when ,i first came1 he was looked upon as a dying man2 but it pleased the ,lord to raise him up again1 so that before ,i went away1 his ague left him1 and he was finely well4 ,having been two ,first-days together at the meeting at ,broadmead1 and feeling my spirit clear of ,bristol1 ,i went next ,first-day to a meeting in the country not far distant4 ,and after the meeting1 some ,friends from ,bristol told me1 that the soldiers that day had beset the meeting house round at ,bristol1 and then went up1 saying1 8they would be sure to have me now20 but when they came1 and found me not there1 they were in a great rage1 and kept the ,friends in the meeting-house most part of the day1 before they would let them go home2 and queried of them1 which way ,i was gone1 and how they might send after me2 8for the mayor10 they said1 8would fain have spoken with me40 ,i had a vision of a great mastiff dog1 that would have bitten me1 but ,i put one hand above his jaws1 and the other hand below1 and tore his jaws in pieces4 ,so the ,lord by his power tore their power to pieces1 and made way for me to escape them4 ,then ,i passed through the country1 visiting ,friends in ,,wiltshire and ,,berkshire1 till ,i came to ,,london1 having great meetings amongst ,friends as ,i went4 ,the ,lord's power was over all1 and a blessed time it was for the spreading of his glorious truth4 ,it was indeed his immediate hand and power that preserved me out of their hands at ,bristol1 and over the heads of all our persecutors2 and the ,lord alone is worthy of all the glory1 who did uphold and preserve for his name and truth's sake4 ,at ,london ,i did not stay long1 being drawn in spirit to visit ,friends northward1 as far as ,,leicestershire1 ,john ,stubbs being with me4 ,so we travelled1 having meetings amongst ,friends as we went2 at ,,skegby we had a great one4 ,thence passing on1 we came to a place called ,,barnet-,,hills1 where lived ,captain ,brown1 a ,baptist1 whose wife was convinced of truth4 ,this ,captain ,brown1 after the act for breaking up meetings came forth1 being afraid lest his wife should go to meetings1 and be cast into prison1 left his house at ,barrow1 and took one on these hills1 saying1 8his wife should not go to prison40 ,and this being a free place1 many1 both priests and others1 got thither as well as he1 ,but he who would neither stand to truth himself1 nor suffer his wife1 was1 in this place where he thought to be safe1 found out by the ,lord1 whose hand fell heavy upon him for his unfaithfulness2 so that he was sorely plagued1 and grievously judged in himself for flying1 and drawing his wife into that private place4 ,we went to see his wife1 and being come into the house1 ,i asked him1 8how he did80 8,how do ,i80 said he1 8the plagues and vengeance of ,god are upon me1 a runagate1 a ,cain as ,i am4 ,god may look for a witness for me1 and such as me2 for if all were not more faithful than ,i1 ,god would have no witness left in the earth40 ,in this condition he lived on bread and water1 and thought it was too good for him4 ,at length he returned again with his wife to his own house at ,barrow1 where he afterwards came to be convinced of ,god's eternal truth1 and died in it4 ,a little before his death he said1 8though he had not borne a testimony for truth in his life1 he would bear a testimony in his death1 and would be buried in his orchard20 and he was so4 ,he was an example to all the flying ,baptists in the time of persecution1 who could not bear persecution themselves1 yet persecuted us when they had power4 ,from ,barnet-,hills we came to ,,swannington in ,,leicestershire1 where ,william ,smith and some other ,friends came to me2 but they went away towards night1 leaving me at a ,friend's house in ,swannington4 ,at night1 as ,i was sitting in the hall1 speaking to a widow woman and her daughter1 there came one called ,lord ,beaumont with a company of soldiers1 who1 slapping their swords on the door1 rushed into the house with swords and pistols in their hands1 crying1 8,put out the candles1 and make fast the doors40 ,then they seized upon the friends in the house1 and asked1 8if there were no more about the house80 ,the ,friends told them1 there was one man more in the hall4 ,there were some ,friends out of ,derbyshire1 one of whom was named ,thomas ,fauks2 and this ,lord ,beaumont1 after he had asked all their names1 bid his man set down that man's name ,thomas ,fox2 but the ,friend said1 his name was not ,fox1 but ,fauks4 ,in the meantime some of the soldiers came1 and brought me out of the hall to him4 ,he asked me my name2 ,i told him1 my name was ,george ,fox1 and that ,i was well known by that name4 8,ay10 said he1 8you are known all the world over40 ,i said1 8,i was known for no hurt1 but for good40 ,then he put his hand into my pockets to search them1 and pulled out my comb-case1 and afterwards commanded one of his officers to search further for letters1 as he pretended4 ,i told him1 ,i was no letter-carrier1 and asked him1 ,why he came amongst a peaceable people with swords and pistols1 without a constable1 contrary to the king's proclamation1 and to the late act8 ,for he could not say there was a meeting1 ,i being only talking with a poor widow woman and her daughter4 ,by reasoning thus with them1 he came somewhat down2 yet sending for the constables1 he gave them charge of us1 and to bring us before him next morning4 ,accordingly the constables set a watch of the town's-people upon us that night1 and had us next morning to his house1 about a mile from ,swannington4 ,when we came before him1 he told us 8we met contrary to the act40 ,i desired him to show us the act4 8,why10 says he1 8you have it in your pocket40 ,i told him1 he did not find us in a meeting4 ,then he asked us1 8whether we would take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy80 ,i told him1 ,i never took any oath in my life1 nor engagement1 nor covenant4 ,yet still he would force the oath upon us4 ,i desired him to show us the oath1 that we might see whether we were the persons it was to be tendered to1 and whether it was not for the discovery of ,popish recusants4 ,at length he brought a little book2 but we called for the statute-book4 ,he would not show us that1 but caused a mittimus to be made1 which mentioned1 8that we were to have had a meeting40 ,with this he delivered us to the constables to convey us to ,leicester jail4 ,but when they had brought us back to ,swannington1 being harvest time1 it was hard to get anybody to go with us2 for the people were loath to go with their neighbours to prison1 especially in such a busy time4 ,they would have given us our mittimus1 to carry it ourselves to the jail2 for it had been usual for constables to give ,friends their own mittimuses 7for they durst trust ,friends17 and they have gone themselves with them to the jailer4 ,but we told them1 though our ,friends had sometimes done so1 yet we would not take this mittimus1 but some of them should go with us to the jail4 ,at last they hired a poor labouring man to go with us1 who was loath to go1 though hired4 ,so we rode to ,,leicester1 being five in number2 some carried their ,bibles open in their hands1 declaring the truth to the people1 as we rode1 in the fields1 and through the towns1 and telling them1 8we were prisoners of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 going to suffer bonds for his name and truth's sake40 ,one woman ,friend carried her wheel on her lap to spin on in prison2 and the people were mightily affected4 ,at ,leicester we went to an inn4 ,the master of the house seemed troubled that we should go to the prison2 and being himself in commission1 he sent for lawyers in the town to advise with1 and would have taken up the mittimus1 and kept us in his own house1 and not have let us go into the jail4 ,but ,i told ,friends1 it would be a great charge to lie at an inn2 and many ,friends and people would be coming to visit us1 and it might he hard for him to bear our having meetings in his house besides1 we had many ,friends in the prison already1 and we had rather be with them4 ,so we let the man know that we were sensible of his kindness1 and to prison we went3 the poor man that brought us thither1 delivering both the mittimus and us to the jailer4 ,this jailer had been a very wicked1 cruel man4 ,six or seven ,friends being in prison before we came1 he had taken some occasion to quarrel with them1 and thrust them into the dungeon amongst the felons1 where there was hardly room for them to lie down4 ,we stayed all that day in the prison-yard1 and desired the jailer to let us have some straw4 ,he surlily answered1 8you do not look like men that would lie on straw40 ,after a while1 ,william ,smith1 a ,friend1 came to me1 and he being acquainted in the house1 ,i asked him1 8what rooms there were in it1 and what rooms ,friends had usually been put into1 before they were put into the dungeon80 ,i asked him also1 ,whether the jailer or his wife was master8 ,he said1 ,the wife was master2 and though she was lame1 and sat mostly in her chair1 being only able to go on crutches1 yet she would beat her husband when he came within her reach1 if he did not do as she would have him4 ,i considered1 probably1 many ,friends might come to visit us1 and that if we had a room to ourselves1 it would be better for them to speak to me1 and me to them1 as there should be occasion4 ,wherefore ,i desired ,william ,smith to go speak with the woman1 and acquaint her1 if she would let us have a room1 suffer our ,friends to come out of the dungeon1 and leave it to us to give her what we would1 it might be better for her4 ,he went1 and after some reasoning with her1 she consented2 and we were had into a room4 ,then we were told1 that the jailer would not suffer us to have any drink out of the town into the prison1 but that what beer we drank1 we must take of him4 ,i told them ,i would remedy that1 for we would get a pail of water and a little wormwood once a day1 and that might serve us2 so we should have none of his beer1 and the water he could not deny us4 ,before we came1 when the few ,friends that were prisoners there1 met together on ,first-days1 if any of them was moved to pray to the ,lord1 the jailer would come up with his quarter-staff in his hand1 and his mastiff dog at his heels1 and pluck them down by the hair of the head1 and strike them with his staff2 but when he struck ,friends1 the mastiff dog1 instead of falling upon them1 would take the staff out of his hand4 ,when the ,first-day came1 ,i spoke to one of my fellow prisoners1 to carry a stool and set it in the yard1 and give notice to the debtors and felons1 that there would be a meeting in the yard1 and they that would hear the word of the ,lord declared might come thither4 ,so the debtors and prisoners gathered in the yard1 and we went down1 and had a very precious meeting1 the jailer not meddling4 ,thus every ,first-day we had a meeting as long as we stayed in prison2 and several came in out of the town and country4 ,many were convinced1 and some received the ,lord's truth there1 who have stood faithful witnesses for it ever since4 ,when the sessions came1 we were brought before the justices1 with many more ,friends sent to prison whilst we were there1 to the number of about twenty4 ,being brought into the court1 the jailer put us into the place where the thieves were put1 and then some of the justices began to tender the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to us4 ,i told them1 ,i never took any oath in my life1 and they knew we could not swear1 because ,christ and his apostle forbade it2 therefore they put it but as a snare to us4 ,we told them1 if they could prove1 that after ,christ and the apostle had forbid swearing1 they did ever command ,christians to swear1 then we would take these oaths2 otherwise we were resolved to obey ,christ's command and the apostle's exhortation4 ,they said1 8we must take the oath1 that we might manifest our allegiance to the king40 ,i told them1 ,i had been formerly sent up a prisoner by ,colonel ,hacker1 from that town to ,london1 under pretence that ,i held meetings to plot to bring in ,king ,charles4 ,i also desired them to read our mittimus1 which set forth the cause of our commitment to be1 that 8we were to have had a meeting20 and ,i said1 ,lord ,beaumont could not by that act send us to jail1 unless we had been taken at a meeting1 and found to be such persons as the act speaks of2 therefore we desired they would read the mittimus1 and see how wrongfully we were imprisoned4 ,they would not take notice of the mittimus1 but called a jury1 and indicted us for refusing to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy4 ,when the jury was sworn and instructed1 as they were going out1 one that had been an alderman of the city1 spoke to them1 and bid them1 8have a good conscience20 and one of the jury1 being a peevish man1 told the justices1 there was one affronted the jury2 whereupon they called him up1 and tendered him the oath also1 and he took it4 ,while we were standing where the thieves used to stand1 a cut-purse had his hand in several ,friends' pockets4 ,friends declared it to the justices1 and showed them the man4 ,they called him up before them1 and upon examination he could not deny it2 yet they set him at liberty4#ge ,footnote #ge3 ,cases similar to the above are not rare in the early history of the ,society2 even thieves being allowed to escape1 whilst the party robbed1 being unwilling to swear to the known fact1 have been made to suffer4 ,in #affj1 the following occurrence took place at ,reading assizes3--,henry ,hodges1 a poor smith1 lost three cows1 which were found in the possession of the thief who stole them1 he was brought to trial1 and ,hodges appeared to claim his cows4 ,the judge told him they must be proved on oath before he could have them again4 ,he replied that he could not swear for conscience sake4 ,the judge said if any of his neighbours would swear they were his1 they should be returned to him2 upon which one of his neighbours took his oath1 and the judge promised that they should be returned4 ,thus far1 the proceedings appeared just and equal1 but many thought the judge too rigorous1 when1 having observed the sincerity and tenderness of the poor man's conscience1 who could not swear in a case of his own property1 he caused the oath of allegiance to be tendered him in court2 and1 for his refusing to take it1 sent him to jail4--7,besse47 ,it was not long before the jury returned1 and brought us in guilty2 and then1 after some words the justices whispered together1 and bid the jailer take us down to prison again2 but the ,lord's power was over them and his everlasting truth1 which we declared boldly amongst them4 ,there being a great concourse of people1 most of them followed us2 so that the cryer and bailiffs were fain to call the people back again to the court4 ,we declared the truth as we went down the streets all along till we came to the jail1 the streets being full of people4 ,when we were in our chamber again1 after some time the jailer came to us1 and desired all to go forth that were not prisoners4 ,when they were gone1 he said1 8,gentlemen1 it is the court's pleasure that ye all should be set at liberty1 except those that are in for tithes2 and you know1 there are fees due to me2 but ,i shall leave it to you to give to me what you will40 ,thus we were all set at liberty suddenly1 and passed everyone into his service4 ,leonard ,fell stayed with me1 and we two went again to ,,swannington4 ,i had a letter from ,lord ,hastings1 who hearing of my imprisonment1 had written from ,london to the justices of the sessions to set me at liberty4 ,i had not delivered this letter to the justices1 but whether they had any knowledge of his mind from any other hand1 which made them discharge us so suddenly1 ,i know not4 ,but this letter ,i carried to ,lord ,beaumont who had sent us to prison2 and when he had broken it open and read it1 he seemed much troubled2 but at last came a little lower2 yet threatened us1 if we had any more meetings at ,swannington1 he would break them up and send us to prison again4 ,but notwithstanding his threats we went to ,swannington1 and had a meeting with ,friends there1 and he neither came1 nor sent to break it up4 ,from ,swannington we went to ,,twy-,,cross1 where that great man formerly mentioned1 whom the ,lord ,god raised up from his sickness1 in the year #afdi 7and whose serving-man came at me with a drawn sword to do me a mischief17 and his wife came to see me4 ,thence we travelled through ,,warwickshire1 where we had brave meetings2 and into ,,northamptonshire and ,,bedfordshire1 visiting ,friends till we came to ,,london4 ,i stayed not long in ,london1 but went into ,,essex1 and so into ,,norfolk1 having great meetings4 ,at ,,norwich1 when ,i came to ,captain ,lawrence's1#gf there was a great threatening of disturbance2 but the meeting was quiet4 ,passing thence to ,,sutton1 and so into ,,cambridgeshire1 ,i heard of ,edward ,burrough's decease4 ,and being sensible how great a grief and exercise it would be to ,friends to part with him1 ,i wrote the following lines for the staying and settling of their minds2-- 8,,friends1 8,be still and quiet in your own conditions1 and settle in the ,seed of ,god that doth not change1 that in that ye may feel dear ,e4,b4 among you in the ,seed1 in which and by which he begat you to ,god1 with whom he is2 and that in the ,seed ye may all see and feel him1 in which is the unity with him in the life3 and so enjoy him in the life that doth not change1 which is invisible40 ,g4,f4 ,footnote #gf3 ,this ,captain ,lawrence1 who has been mentioned before1 was a man of some note in the days of the ,commonwealth4 ,after he joined ,friends1 he became a faithful sufferer for ,christ4 ,in #affj1 with his brother1 ,joseph ,lawrence1 and ,george ,whitehead1 he was imprisoned in ,norwich castle1 in a small narrow cell called the ,vice1 where they endured much hardship4 ,in speaking of this imprisonment1 ,george ,whitehead says1 8,i remember one morning1 ,joseph ,lawrence1 after his pleasant manner1 said to his brother ,john1 #8,o1 ,captain ,lawrence1 ,i have seen the day thou wouldst not have lain there6'0 ,thence ,i passed to ,,little ,,port and the ,,isle ,,of ,,ely2 where the ex-mayor with his wife1 and the wife of the then mayor of ,cambridge1 came to the meeting4 ,travelling into ,,lincolnshire and ,,huntingdonshire1 ,i came to ,thomas ,parnell's1 where the mayor of ,huntingdon came to see me1 and was very loving4 ,thence ,i came into the ,,fen-,,county1 where we had large and quiet meetings4 ,while ,i was in that country1 there came so great a flood that it was dangerous to go out1 yet we did get out1 and went to ,,lynn1 where we had a blessed meeting4 ,next morning ,i went to visit some prisoners there2 and then back to the inn1 and took horse4 ,as ,i was riding out of the yard1 the officers came to search the inn for me4 ,i knew nothing of it then1 only ,i felt a great burden come upon me as ,i rode out of the town1 till without the gates4 ,when some ,friends that came after1 overtook me1 they told me1 that the officers had been searching for me in the inn1 as soon as ,i was gone out of the yard4 ,so by the good hand of the ,lord1 ,i escaped their cruel hands4 ,after this we passed through the countries1 visiting ,friends in their meetings4 ,the ,lord's power carried us over persecuting spirits1 and through many dangers2 his truth spread and grew1 and ,friends were established therein2 praises and glory to his name for ever4 ,,end ,,of ,,vol4 ,i4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,headley ,,brothers1 ,,printers1 ,,london ,,and ,,ashford1 ,,kent4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's ,note ,the handling of hyphenation of compound words across line breaks is governed by the frequency with which they are hyphenated midline4 #8,steeple-house' is nearly always hyphenated in midline1 and the few outliers that were not have been corrected4 ,the exceptions are where #8steeplehouse' occurs in the editorial apparatus4 ,see footnote #f1 and 7arguably7 in the parenthetical phrase at #be4bh4 ,as one can see from the list below1 the printer was not consistent in the use of the opening quote mark in long1 multi-paragraph passages4 ,there were also a number of occasions where a closing quote mark either was missing or illogically added4 ,on rarer occasions1 a single quote was employed matching a double quote 7and vice versa74 ,these have been added where missing1 emoved where they were deemed spurious1 and corrected where appropriate3 #fa4ae 8,the 7added72 #fc4c saved1' 7added72 #ge4a wise4' 7added72 #adb4e 8,there 7added72 #aej4bj #8_/8,consider 7added72 #aih4cc him1'7added72 #bjh4i order407added72 #baj4ad 8,but 7added72 #bag4h me4' 7added72 #bag4dg 8,the 7added72 #bah4da 8,sing 7added72 #bai4dh 8,where 7added72 #bbj4cf 8,now 7added72 #bba4aa 8,but 7added72 #bbd4ac 8,christ 7added72 #bbd4ce 8,there 7added72 #bcb4bi inn20 7added72 #bha4h 8doth 7added72 #bhh4ba land40_/' 7replaced72 #big4b therein2' 7added7 #bih4b 8,o6 abominable 7added72 #cje4ac 8,noah1 7added72 #cje4dd 8,you say 7added72 #cjg4ba 8,beware17added72 #cjg4ch 8,therefore 7added72 #cji4ai 8,now 7added72 #cgi4bd ,god40 7added72 #ccf4cj church2' 7removed72 #cec4f world1' 7added72 #cfg4bh peace40_/'7replaced72 #cfh4dc many40 7added72 #cgd4aj town4' 7added72 #dje4e 8,i will 7added72 #daa4f would40 7added72 #daf4ad could40 7added72 #dcj4h 8_/#8remembrance 7replaced72 #dhf4ba myself80 7removed72 #ejg4a them40 7added72 #ebb4aa 8_/#8three 7replaced72 #ebb4ag persons40_/' 7replaced72 #ebf4aj it40 7added74 ,the word #8chace' at #d4h1 is likely an obsolete spelling of #8chase'1 which refers to a large wooded estate4 ,a quotation beginning at line #aad4a 78amongst whom ,i declared4447 has no closing mark4 ,the voice seems to shift on line #aad4ae 744to dwell in4074 and the closing mark was added there4 ,a quoted passage ending on p4 #abb most likely should have been opened at #aba4cb 78was their first step to peace44471 and an opening quote was added4 ,a sentence beginning at #bjh4bb 78,whereupon ,i kneeled4447and ending at #bjh4bf1 7444what ,i had said to him407 seems an error4 ,it does not seem to be part of the dialogue and the surrounding quote marks have been removed4 ,a lonely closing quote appears at #dba4ab 7444fellowships in the world407 ,a logical point for this quote to open is on the previous page at #dbj4ai 78,the promise of ,god44474 ,judging by the context1 the paragraph is a continuation of the previous quoted passage4 ,the word #8throughly' 7xxv4#b7 is likely an obsolete spelling of #8thoroughly'4 ,other errors1 deemed most likely to be the printer's1 have been corrected1 and are noted here4 ,the references are to the page and line in the original4 xviii4#ac to ,charles ,,ii44_/1 exhorting him ,replaced4 xx4#bb and instructed ,noah to salvation4 ,added4 xxvii4#c their exceeding great com_/nfirmation ,replaced4 #be4ag steeple-house ,inserted4 #ef4cg ,doth it d_/purify you ,inverted4 #ic4e to preach in the steeple-house4 ,added4 #adb4ba in all things may h_/be his praise4 ,replaced4 #adb4dd plotted together to draw ,inserted4 #adg4cj who had raised persecution before ,inserted4 #aea4bh ,matt1 xxiii412 ,removed4 #afd4bh with the ,lord's truth1_/4 ,replaced4 #agf4ac ye would would fear and tremble ,removed4 #agh4be who are contemned and dispised ,sic4 #agi4dj in great peae_/ce in #afhf ,replaced4 #baj4be could not but declaret against ,deleted_/,added4 #bbb4dc and unrighteousness of men ,inserted4 #beh4a ,,swanington and ,,higham ,added4 #bfa4bh ,one one occasion ,removed4 #bhc4ci and the corrruption ,removed4 #bhg4h against me12 ,removed4 #ceb4af given to every man to profit withal1_/4' ,replaced4 #djg4cd pp4 #fb-fh4 ,added4 #dij4h steeple-house ,inserted4 #dab4ag brings forth heavenly and spiritual fruit ,inserted4 #dhj4cj continued in prison4 ,added4 #ejh4be childhood's guileless tears4 ,added4 #ece4bh yet threatenened us ,removed4