Blessing of God prove as useful a Truth as indeed it is eminent They look upon it to be such a witness of God and indeed so little less then a Miracle that should you hold your peace it might prove your great Sin especially considering God himself hath given such a Decision of that great Controversie now on foot between those poor deluded People called Quakers and the whole Christian Profession in England namely whether the Scriptures be the Standard to try Spirits by or whether the Spirit be the Standard to try the Scriptures by that such a Contention should be between yourself and the Quaker you for the Scriptures to be the Rule to walk by he for the Light within to be the Rule to walk by And that as he told you the same Spirit or Light within did Command him to pronounce you a Leper from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot for saying he was Deluded and a false Prophet and that the Quakers Light within was not the Truth or Rule to walk by but that he and they were a poor Deceived people that God in just Judgment should meet such Confidence with the same Measure he meted and pronounced against you is a matter worthy to be known and Read of all Men to the everlasting praise of Gods Grace that in this our day hath thus added strength to the weak Hands and feeble Knees of his poor people in the vindication of the Scriptures of Truth that was more to Job and David then their necessary Food but I shall not farther inlarge at this time yet give my hearty thanks for your Letter and earnestly request that as speedily as is possible you will send up a full Narrative under the hands of several that were Eye and Ear witnesses I think meet also to tell you that several Quakers here in London say they have since this Report hath been abroad writ into Lincolnshire and can hear of no such Man or Thing but say it is a very false Story raised on purpose to blemish what they call Gods Truth and that now there is a Quaker in London from your parts to protest against the verity of what is attested but this doth not in the least give us doubt of the Truth of your Testimony neither are we affraid of the Face of any that shall dare to obscure so eminent a Finger of Heaven but shall God assisting speedily make it Publick for his Truths sake and do from our hearts account it our bounden Duty in every Prayer to give thanks to his Name for so eminent a handiwork to the strengthning our hands after a daily increase in love and estimation of the Blessed worth of the Holy Scriptures as a Lamp for our Feet and the more sure word of Prophesie unto which we shall certainly do well that we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place But before I conclude I must make it my earnest Request that you will give us a few Lines of the Reasons why this great Handy work of God hath been so long Concealed from Publication in which Service you may give great satisfaction to many here in London that much wonder it hath not been much more talked of and openly spread in every place to the Honour of God and deterring of poor ignorant persons from running after those deluded people called Quakers thus with my poor Prayers to Almighty God for your assistance in this and all your Services for his Name and People I rest Your truly Affectionate though unworthy Brother John Green March 26 1672 Loving Brother ALthough it hath been very long yet I could not help it by reason some of the Testors live many Miles distant But here I have sent you a True Relation of the Discourse and in short what passed betwixt me and the Quaker the Heads of every particular that I can justly remember and as concerning your desires why so Eminent a thing was not made known sooner it had been published at that present but that a Slavish Feare possessed me thinking that Friends and others that had seen it would have thought that I had gloried in it for when that it was come to light by Brother Stanley as having some account of it from one of my Men and then questioning of me I was very much possessed with fear in the Telling of it as if that if I should tell it I should have it thought I glory'd in it and so hath discouraged me that when I have been telling of it I have told it but in part so that as it was wrought by the hand of God so it is now brought to light by the same hand of God As for your desire for several friends hands to attest the truth of this Relation I returne you this answer First you have Thomas Baldock who was an eye and eare-witness of every particular where we sought God he hath signâ—d it with his hand And then you have Peter Stacy an Independant who had the Relation from the Quakers own Mouth before several other Witnesses and also John Laming whose Sick Child the Quaker said he had a Command from God to Cure who doth attest that the Assertion is true And as for my Brother and my self we went to him the 29th of Februâ—ry last viz. Richard Anderson and examined him again and he confessed what is in the Assertion to be true as for the Man he never went to the Quakers more but came to our Meetings till a Warrant came to break them up and then he went away his Wife and that Childe that was all over spotted is dead since I received your Letter there hath been two Quakers at me to know the Truth of this Relation and I told them it as it is asserted and they went away VERY SAD and told me That they believed me and they showed me A LETTER that they had from London to inquire about it I told them the Mans Name and the place of his abode No more but my Christian Love to you and to the Rest of our Friends though unknown I rest expecting an Answer Your unworthy Brother in the Lord Ralph James Northwillingham April 27. 1672. The Narrative RIchard Anderson of Panton about Ten miles from Lincolne came to our Meeting at Northwillingham to hear the Gospel Preached who when he had been a Hearer for some time was Convinced and said he did believe that Baptisme in Water was an Ordinance of God and that both Men and Women ought to be Baptised in Water as taking Jesus Christ for our Leader and Example so he went away at that time but before he came again he met with the People called Quakers who told him as himself Confessed that he must not look upon those outward Ordinances for they were low but that now he must minde the Light within and be guided by it and not by the Scriptures for they were A DEAD LETTER To which Light he gave such heed that when he
came to our Meeting again he much contended against the Baptisme of Water and said that now they were to be Baptised with the Baptisme of the Spirit and not with Water for the Spirit was to try the Scriptures and not the Scriptures to try the Spirit In Answer to which I said that I believ'd that the Scriptures were to try the Spirit and not the Spirit to try the Scriptures he seemingly made light of it and said That now we must mind the LIGHT WITHIN in answer to which I said I was afraid that the Quakers were deceiv'd and guided by a Spirit of Delusion and that it was my Judgment that all the Sons and Daughters of Men ought to be Guided by the Scriptures very much Discourse was betwixt us at that time I in the Vindication of the Scriptures as being the Oracle of God and the Rule for us to walk by and he for the Light within to be the Rule for the Sons and Daughters of Men to be guided by But as for every particular of our Discourse it is out of my remembrance so he went away at that time And the Light which the Quakers did tell him as he said he must be guided by Commanded him within a short time after so that he came very early one morning to my House and enquired for me so I went to him and he told me that he was Commanded of God to come and reprove me for Speaking against the People of God as he said called Quakers and to Exhort me to turn to the Light within or else he was as he said Commanded of God to Pronounce a Judgment against me I told him that I thought him to be a False Prophet and possessed with a spirit of Delusion then he said he was Commanded of God to Pronounce me A LEPER and he did from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot In Answer to these words I said to him through Gods Goodness I am not discouraged at what thou sayest but do believe that thou art a false Prophet and possessed with a Spirit of Delusion and that I am not to take any notice of what thou sayest but I do desire with all my heart that the Lord would be pleased to let thee see thy Evill and the Error of thy way that thou mayest repent and confess thy Error that the Name of God may honoured his wayes and 〈◊〉 established and confirmed in his wayes and appointments So we parted and he went a little way from me but returned again and said unto me Thou sayest that I am a false Prophet deceived and possessed with a spirit of Delusion but it will be known by me or mine or thee whether I be A TRVE PROPHET OR A FALSE ONE and so he went home but within a short time after he came home the Lord was pleased to smite one of his Children as he said spotted all over Himself and VVife and his other Children with a restless Pain in their Bodies also so that he was forced as he said to come again and CONFESSED he was Deceived and that he was a False Prophet and the same Judgment he had Pronounced against Me was fallen upon one of his Children and that Himself and his VVife and his other Children were taken with a restless Pain in their Bodies and he said That he and his wife did believe that if I would Pray to God for them they might all be restored again to their former healths In Answer to his words I told him I could not at present give him an Answer but if he and his wife would please to meet me at Dunnington where I am to be by Promise the next Lords Day it may please God that his desire might then be answered He being very sad at that time I fell a speaking to him and asking him some Questions about the Light within which the Quakers bad him mind and be guided by and he told me that that Light many times would when he had fat down to eate his Meate and had drawn his Knife to cut it have commanded him to put it up again and so he said he had done for several times and gone without his Meate and that Light also as he said perswaded him to Fast and told him That he should Cure the sick in obedience to which perswasion he did Fast and câ—me to our Town of Northwillingham to the House of one John Laming whose Child was then sick and weak and he told me he went to Cure their Child but that Light and Perswasion did deceive him for he now saw he could not Cure the Sick So according to my promise I went to Dunnington and he and his wife met me there amongst our Friends and did both Confess what is here before-mentioned who also desired our Prayers to God for them and so I with the Congregation there met together did seek unto God for the removing of that Distemper and Affliction which he with his wife there Confessed that they and their Children were under and the Lord was Mercifully pleased to hear our poor Prayers for them and to restore them all to their former health again which he himself Confessed when he came to our Meetings afterwards to the Praise of God alone for ever be it spoken This Relation is True Witness my Hand this 27th of Aprill 1672 Ralph James of Northwillingham in the County of Lincolne Now Followeth the Testimony of the other Witnesses specifyed in the Letter I Peter Stacy being in September the 14th at Rason-Faire and by occasion of a Dispute betwixt some Independants and Baptists with the Quakers at Rouby the Truth of this above said Relation our Friends there present desired to know and then did Ralph James bring Richard Anderson the aforesaid Quaker on whom the Judgment specifyed had been inflicted who owned the Truth of this Relation before them all Witness my Hand this 24 of February 1671 2. Peter Stacy The next Testimony is that of John Laming mentioned in the Letter AS touching what is asserted in this Paper by Ralph James I attest it to be Truth and that Richard Anderson the aforesaid Quaker did come to my House to Bless my Sick Child and said God Bless thee for I was sent to Bless thee and stroaked him on the Head Witness my Hand this 18th of Aprill 1672. John Laming of Northwillingham in the County of Lincolne Next is the Testimony of Tho. Baldocke who was an Eye and Eare-Witness and present where Prayer was put up to God AS touching Richard Anderson a Quaker and his Wifes coming to Donnington and desiring the Churches Prayers for the Recovery of that Great Judgment that as they owned God was pleased to lay upon them I attest to be Truth Witness my Hand this 18th of Aprill 1672. Thomas Baldocke The next is the Testimony of Thomas Iames. FEbruary 29 1671 2. Then did Richard Anderson the Quaker Confess what is here asserted to be Truth and also that when he came home the first time from Northwillingham he and his Family were all affrighted with restless paine and that after they had been at the Meeting at Donnington where Prayers were made to God for them they were all Quieted and that his Wife was never at such a Meeting before Witness my Hand this 18th of Aprill 1672. Thomas James of Northwillinghâ—◠〈…〉 County of Lincoln I John Green borne in the Town of Walesby within two Miles of Northwillingham in the County of Lincolne now dwelling at the Sign of the Last in the New-Rents near Deadmans-place in Southwarke do testifie that for this Twelve years I have known Mr. Ralph James and had this Testimony from his own Mouth now some Moneths since and do certainly believe the Truth of it having knowledge of him to be a Man of Good Reputation in the World and of Blameless Conversation he having been also an Elder of a Congregation for many years Witness my Hand this 10th of May 1672. John Greene. FINIS
A True and Impartial NARRATIVE OF THE Eminent Hand of God that Befell A QUAKER And his FAMILY At the Town of Panton in Lincolnshire WHO Affirmed he was commanded of GOD to Pronounce Mr. Ralph James Preacher of the GOSPEL A LEPER FROM The Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot The same Judgment of LEPROSIE shortly after falling upon one of his Children himself Wife and the rest of his Children being also Afflicted with a painful Distemper Attested under the Hands of several Credible Persons Eye and Ear Witnesses As by the NARRATIVE will more at large appear LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple Barr. 1672. A True and Impartial NARRATIVE OF THE Eminent Hand of God that befel a Quaker and his Family at the Town of Panton in Lincolnshire Courteous Reader IN February last one Mr. Benjamin Morley a Person well known to Thousands in this City and of good Repute dwelling in the Town of Ravensthorpe in the County of Northampton coming then to London to give his Son that is a Shop keeper at the Kings Arms in the Market place in Southwark a visit among other passages of Providence that he had heard or observed of the Works of God since his last being in London he took an occasion to speak of his being lately in Lincolnshire to visit the Churches and having there heard by some persons some Hints of a memorable hand of God that had befallen a Quaker and his Family in that County and being unwilling if Truth such a mighty Providence should pass without the utmost Testimony of its Certainty resolved with himself to ride on purpose to the Town of Northwillingham some ten Miles beyond Lincolne and accordingly did and there received the Substance of this following Discourse from Mr. Ralph James Elder of the Church his own Mouth and was so satisfied in the truth of what is here attested knowing the Sobriety and Worthiness of the Testor who with great Humility ascribing the Glory onely to God gave him an Account from first to last of all material Circumstances relating to this mighty Providence which several Ministers in London and other Intelligible Christians hearing an Accompt of from the aforesaid Mr. Benjamin Morley were very desirous to have it Related more at large from the Eye and Ear witnesses of the Place where these things had happened desiring also that it might be attested under the Hands of several Inhabitants that it might gain Credit in the minds of all that should hear of it answerable to its weighty worth did therefore request one Mr. John Green now dwelling in the New Rents near Deadmans place in Southwark whose Birth was within two Miles of this Town of Northwillingham and also that well knows the Elder of the Church there and had had the same Relation some time since from his own Mouth to write this following Letter Beloved Brother Ralph James I Am by several Worthy Christians in London desired to intreat you to send us an Account in VVriting as full and as clear as it is possible for you to remember of what passed between your self and Richard Anderson of Panton that was the Quaker concerning the Leprosie that befel his Child and that Sore-Pain that befel himself his VVife and the rest of his Children for in truth it is utterly denied by the Quakers in London they say 't is a false forged Lie of the Independant and Baptist People And indeed it is scarce credited by any that so visible a Handiwork of the Great God to the Glory of his great Truth and for the Reputation of the Holy Scriptures as being the Rule for his people to walk and square their Lives by could be concealed from a Publication under several Credible persons Hands as were Eie and Ear witnesses that so the Truth may be vindicated to the Praise of God and their Mouths stopped that do gainsay it and by the good Blessing of Heaven those poor deluded people called Quakers that are not hardned may take seasonable advice from this Land-mark of Providence to repent of their Grand Sin of setting up a Light within for a standing rule that Men and VVomen must walk after rather then give heed to the Holy Scriptures calling that a dead Letter and the Ordinances it calls upon us to be found till Christs personal coming in the practice of Carnal Low and empty Services This is the Substance of what I am desired at this time to write unto you so with my intire Love to your self and Family begging your daily Prayers to God for me and intreating your speedy Answer I rest Your truly affectionate though unworthy Brother John Green London this 12 of Feb. 1671. Here followeth Mr. Ralph James the Elder his Answer to this Letter Brother Green I Have received your Letter wherein I understand you desire that I would send you a Copy of that Discourse and the handy work of God that appeared betwixt me and a Quaker I cannot by this Post answer your desires for I must have a little more time I will shew you the Reasons there was some time ago a dispute betwixt the Independants and the Quakers and I was desired by some of the Independants to be present and I did then amongst other things tell them of this that past betwixt the Quaker and me and in the same Month I was at Rason Fair where I met with him that was the Quaker namely Richard Anderson and so I desired him that he would go with me to one Peter Stacy who was at that Meeting at that time and was in the Town at that day he is an Independant and declare what past betwixt him and me and the Handiwork of God that was upon him his Wife and Children I said to him I had no end nor purpose in what I desired of him to speak but that God might be Honoured so he did relate before Peter Stacy of Brigg an Independant and Thomas Kidd of Donnington a Baptist the whole Circumstance as by the Blessing of God I will endeavour to give you an Account as speedily as I can my Reason that I could not send it at this time is because the Congregation where we sought to God for his Restauration and the persons that he related it to since do live many Miles distant one from another so that I must have a little time to get their Hands to it no more at present bâ—â— my Christian Love to you I rest Your truly Loving though unworthy Brother in the Lord Ralph James Northwillingham Feb. 26. 1671. Here followeth the Second Letter from London by way of Answer to this preceding Letter Beloved Brother Ralph James I Received your Letter Dated February 26 1671. and have Communicated the same to several worthy Ministers and other Christians to their great satisfaction who now are perswaded what was reported in London concerning the Leprosie is not an invented Fable but will in due time and with the good