to the Strengthening and Comforting the Weak and Feeble of the Flock whom he had Laboured and Travelled for and also to the stopping the Mouths of all Gainsayers whose Opposition at that day was very great Much could I speak and that within the compass of my own knowledge to the particulars of many Sufferings by way of Imprisonment and other Dangers and Jeopardies that he was often in in his Masters Work and Service which I shall here omit and that because I would rather straiten my self than be tedious to the Reader when that is said I have this further to add which I cannot be clear to omit or pass by Viz. That he was always a very plain hearted Man in plainness speaking the Truth to the Face and never could endure either in himself or others Whispering or Backbiting but would sharply reprove it whereever he found it and furthermore all Outward Shews Formalities Jestures or Deportments whatsoever that was by the Creature brought forth in the Likeness or Imitation of the true Power without the Powers bringing forth thereof his Righteous Soul always abhorred And for the Confirmation thereof one thing amongst many I well remember that whereas there was a Day of shaking the Outward Body by the stirrings of the true Power some in imitation thereof as I have observed in his Presence in their own Strength have imitated the like which he would in the Integrity of his Soul Judge saying Away with Deceit and such like words exhorting and advising all to be plain hearted and that they should be what they appear'd to be by the Grace of God and not otherwise And so remaining from time to time as a Man not subject to change his way holding forth his Testimony in Faithfulness to God not only against prophane and sinful Actions but also against all Formalities set up by Man though under pretence of the Motion of the true Power advising the Creature to be inward to God and there to wait to know the true Power it self to bring forth a Form through every man whereby they might have the certain Sense and Knowledge how to do and perform the thing well pleasing to their heavenly Father that thereby they might in the end be accepted of him he was not a Man of Shadows but for the Substantial Part of Religion and to his last I very well remember his Discourse run much after this manner That they were the only Blessed People and for evermore happy who had received the Knowledge of the right Spirit if so be they continued to wait and walk therein to the end of their Days because it is they that remain in well doing unto the end that shall be Crowned Unto which End it is my Faith and Belief in God he hath attained and is now entred into the Joys of that Heavenly Kingdom out of the reach of all envious and clamorous Tongues where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be at rest there the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the Oppressor the Small and great are there and the Servant is free from his Master And he having been serviceable in the Hand of the Lord and Instrumental to Convert many Souls to God doth and must shine as a Star in the Firmament of God So having eased my Mind by writing these few Lines before exprest concerning this my dear Friend of whom I do assure the Reader I had as certain a knowledge as the very import of the words will bear and forasmuch as the Harvest yet remains great and the true Labourers therein are but few what further shall I say but with this to conclude Viz. Let us cry mightily to the great Lord of the Harvest to pour forth a double portion of his Spirit upon some worthy Instrument as he did upon Elisha to Succeed him in that Work and Service J. M. The Testimony of Robert Arch. FRiends unto all you do I write who have in any measure secretly or openly vilifyed and reproached that Servant of the Lord J. S. or have had any hand in the hindring of him in his bearing a faithful Testimony to the Truth of which he was an Able Minister in publishing the Gospel of Christ and have endeavoured to the utmost of your Power to stop and hinder him in his Declaration and Travel amongst the People of God by evil Surmisings and false Reports and Accusations have raised a Prejudice in the Hearts of People against him without any just Cause on his part given that I know of Consider O Friends What is the Cause that ye have so done Have ye known him to be a Man of an ill Life or a bad Conversation Or hath he committed any Evil or Sinned or Transgressed against God his Truth or People that ye have so hated him Or hath he been one that hath Preached any False Doctrine or held any Principles contrary to Truth Or did he bring in any Innovations amongst the People of God or build again any of those things that he hath by his Ministry destroyed in others If he hath done none of those things nor committed any Personal Trespass against you as some of you have confessed what then was the cause of your Envy and hating of him Was it because he would not bow down nor Worship any other God than the God of Israel Or was it because he would not submit to some Outward Orders Prescriptions or Rules prescribed by Fall'n Man If this be the Cause then do not you Condemn your selves in Judging of him For what People in this latter Age have laboured and Travelled more than some of you have done to bring People out of the Practice and Observation of Outward Things which they called The Ordinances of Christ some of which the Saints in Times past did Practice and perform for a Time as the Scripture maketh mention and also from the many Forms Decrees and Orders that the Professors have been jangling about and Persecuting one another counting it all but Dung and Dross in comparison of the Grace of God or Light of Christ which was held forth to be sufficient to lead unto Salvation and in the Light we were directed to wait upon God to know his Mind and Will to act and do in Outward Things as God should direct us by his Good Spirit And have you not look't upon all those Outward Orders Prescriptions and Ordinances as the Outward Court of the Temple that was given unto the Gentiles to tread under Foot and yet now after all these large Declarations and Testimonies against those Outward Things for you to incourage the Setting up such Things and not only so but to Judge and Condemn others for not Conforming unto your Outward Orders Censuring Friends out of Vnity that do not practice them which is the greatest Penalty that you can inflict for want of Outward Power as if the Saints Unity stood in the Practice and Performance of those Outward Orders Oh! Friends consider of these
believe for these following Reasons First Because he was alwayes owned and esteemed as a servant of Christ and a true Minister of the Gospel by such as did profess the Truth as far as ever we did understand until such time as he did object against or dislike with the setting up of such outward Orders and Ceremonies as aforesaid 2dly Because that since that time he did mislike such things as aforesaid we have found that there hath been endeavours by some to undervalue him and his Testimony and occasions sought against him to render him as unworthy and contemplible as possible they could 3ly Because some of us concerned in the following Testimonies have often asked of those who have been Opposers at least Dislikers of him what they had against him of evil either in his Life Conversation or Doctrine to lay to his charge and it hath been said unto such that if they could make any thing of evil appear in him either in Life Conversation or Doctrine that then we would disown him But instead of proving any thing of evil against him it hath been oftentimes answered after this manner That as to his Life and Conversation it was honest or they had nothing against him for that and as to his Doctrine it was good Words but that they did not come from a Right Spirit Or to that effect And therefore since his Opposers did not prove any thing of this nature against him while he was Living we shall think our selves or any others not much obliged to believe any thing of evil Report that others may say of or concerning him now he is Removed from amongst Men and if any shall endeavour to defame him in his Christian Reputation now he is gone doubtless it will rather seem to us or any sober and moderate People to savour of a Spirit of Malice and Prejudice than of the Spirit of Christianity or common Civility but if any of his Opposers should think that out of fear we do as it were bespeak their Silence we do say to such let them do as they please for we fear them not We further say we have observed That not one Man we know of who hath a Publick Testimony and doth not Conform unto Orders and Ceremonies as aforesaid that is now owned or accounted of as formerly by those who have appeared against him or are Hot and Zealous for the Orders c. And although such Nonconformists are as blameless in their Lives and Conversations and as Sound in their Doctrine and Testimonies as formerly yet we find that they are either publickly Disowned or else privately Calumniated and Disliked withal And on the other hand we have likewise observed That if others who are Conformable and Preach up the Orders c. are guilty of such things as in Truth cannot be justifiable yet such Persons are either Owned or at leastwise not publickly reproved that we know of And therefore we do say unto such as do thus turn Justice and true Judgment backwards and endeavour to smother over the Errours either in Doctrine or Life and Conversation of the Guilty and to Condemn the Innocent because of their Nonconformity beware least you provoke the Lord to Wrath and he doth break forth amongst you in his sore Displeasure And if any Friendly Reader should suppose that the Publication of this Preface and following Testimonies may give occasion for a further Contention because some things therein may seem to reflect somewhat hard in General on such as were Opposers or Dislikers of him and so for that reason the Reader who loves to be quiet and desires that all Contentions amongst Friends were at an end doth dislike the Publication hereof To which it may be answered That after the Decease of J. S. it rested on the Spirits of several Friends in several Places and Countries where he had Ministred and been Serviceable to write something concerning him and what Service he had done for the Lord amongst them in his Day and Time and among the rest it came upon some of us in Wiltshire to publish a Testimony after this manner by way of Lamentation for the Loss of so able a Preacher of Gods Truth as he was in his Day and Time and also to give some account of what he was amongst us and what he did stand for and against that so those who had heard of him and not known him by face might be truly informed of his Doctrine Life and Conversation among us who were well acquainted with him for many years and so have had the more Experience thereof But forasmuch as several Friends who were Conscientiously concerned to Write did live some of them far distant one from the other it hath been the more trouble to collect their several Testimonies and so that hath caused some obstruction in the Publication hereof for some were written long since and still did rest on the Spirits of many to Write which at first was not expected by us and now at length is made Publick not to Reflect on others for what is past if possibly it could be avoided but to clear our Consciences in the Sight of God and for the true Information of the Upright in Heart who do love the Truth more than a bare Notion of it and cannot at all times either Saile with the Wind nor Swim with the Tide but keep in mind that good Advice Viz. To try all things with the Truth and hold fast that which is Good But for a further Answer to the Objection aforesaid We judge it is in vain for any to expect that the most moderate Testimony that can be given on behalf of him should escape without the severe Censures or Calumniations of some of his Opposers because we have often found by Experience that some of his Opposers have at some times been so filled with Prejudice against him that they could hardly with Patience endure to hear him well spoken of and account the Party so speaking in his Commendation to be either a Leavened or Bad Spirit and therefore we cannot in our present apprehension expect but that his Opposers will endeavour to invalidate our Testimony which if they do in publick it may bring a Concern upon some of us to be more particular and plain if occasion be given for it as to naming of some particular Persons than now we are free to do on this Occasion although as we said before for any to think that a Testimony for him can be given and not in some sort to reflect on some of his Opposers Actions or Doctrines it is in vain for any so to suppose But this we may assure the tender Reader that we have been as sparing as with clearness of Conscience we could and if any are offended at us for this plain and honest Testimony for the Truth and concerning our Deceased Friend Let all such know that we do account it more true Wisdom and better for us to endeavour to please the Almighty and unchangeable
as I have approved my self a Man of Peace so my Desires are that the Peace of God in the Love and Unity of the Truth may abound amongst you And now Friends I shall leave it to the Righteous God to Judge whether what is now proposed be not according to the Spirit of Truth which by its appearance in every Member of the Church of Christ at this day is become the only Lawgiver in every such Member in Matters that relate to the World to come for by it we are instructed in our Heavenly Duties to God Viz. How to Sacrifice to Worship and Serve him acceptably by Obedience to all his Requirings and through the same are the Lords People led into such Methods or Outward Practices wherein they are helpful and Serviceable each to other in their Generation for the Lord alone ought to be ey'd in and beyond Outward Forms though his Presence hath been and still is with his People in those Forms he leads into and so to him let us look who was before all Time and Days of this Fading World and is the Alpha and Omega the Beginner and Finisher of the Work of our Redemption which was and which is and which is to come the Almighty who alone ought to be minded beyond all visible Things and unto him in all our Exercises whether Inward or Outward my Soul desires we may all be kept even in that Spiritual Appearance of our Lord and Saviour which is that acceptable Day which shines in the Inward Man through which God hath made me amongst many other of his Servants partaker of that Heavenly Religion which is unspotted many of you know our Beginning was in his Holy Spirit and Power through which Death is and shall be more fully abolished and Life and Immortality brought to Light in and through which Power alone the Saints have and shall be throughly Sanctified and Perfected for ever and through it are the Heirs of that Eternal Inheritance and Heavenly Kingdom which outlasts all Outward Things and never fadeth away where all the Longings Earnings and Desires of the Righteous shall be fully Answered and Satisfied for evermore with the full Injoyment of that Life and Immortality over which the Second Death hath no Dominion and then may it be truly said of such That they are entred in and do take their Possessions Now into this Life in which the Heavenly Brotherhood and Fellowship of Saints stand the Lord gather you all more and more that whatever hath appeared in any contrary thereto may by his Word of Life be broken down subdued and rise no more that into the Bond of Peace and Union in the Truth ye may be again United and become Co-workers together as Gods Heavenly Family in the Love even in that Love which thinks no Evil for the Desire of my Soul is that ye may be cemented and Established together upon that Everlasting Rock and Foundation which the Gates of Hell and Death can never prevail against I shall now conclude with those wholesome words of the Apostle of our Lord and Saviour Put on therefore as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-Suffering Forbearing one another if any Man have a Quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you even so do ye and above all these Things put on Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness and let the Peace of God Rule in your Hearts to the which you are called Col. 3. 12. So in the Desire to the Lord God that these things may truly be weighed and have place with you I rest Your Servant in the Work and Labour of the Gospel John Story POST-SCRIPT LET this Epistle be read in an Assembly to be appointed for both Meetings Viz. that called Quarterly and that called Separate in or near Kendal for my earnest Desire is that it should be so Read because as I said before I have a Concern upon my Spirit thus to write unto you both the things therein Contained I Recommend to Gods Witness in all your Consciences not desiring to Impose on any I knowing this that where it is awakened there will be an Answer to the Spirit of Peace and Truth in which 't was wrote and though some have given forth their false Censures and false Prophesies concerning me and others laid various Temptations before me which I look upon to be the Work of the Common Enemy that so I might have Stumbled and Fallen though those in whom it hath so wrought may not have an Eye open to see it yet my Joy and Rejoycing in the Lord is that they have not yet removed me from the hope of the Gospel Blessed be the Name of God for ever more for to his Praise and Glory and in his Fear which hitherto hath Preserved me I speak it my Cryes the Lord hath heard and he hath given me a certain Knowledge of his Way otherwise I might have been in great Danger to have sunk into the Pit of Confusion and never risen more but his Love is unchangeable his Mercy never fails them that put their Trust in him this by long Experience can I now Speak therefore I exhort and intreat you all to turn your Minds to his Inward Appearance through which his Love which is stronger than Death will be shed abroad in your Hearts and his Power be felt which will remove that which hath been the Cause of your Breach that you may come again to walk together in that Heavenly Charity through which no former Miscarriage will be remembred and so come to Serve him with one Heart in that way of Life which he hath made known unto us in these latter Days and thus you may finish your Course with Joy and leave this World in Peace and Injoyment of Immortality and take your Possessions in that Kingdom in which the Fulness of Joy that ever shall be is Inherited and where through the Earnest and Assurance of the Heavenly Kingdom the last End of the Righteous is Crowned with Honour and in that Day the many Temptations that have and do attend Gods People in this Fading Life shall cease and never be again J. S. Calne the last of the 7th Month 1677. And at present for a Conclusion we Thus End NOw as to all such that have or yet may think to defame us by saying in a proud scoffing manner These are Storians or of Story ' s Spirit we know nothing that he either held or practised on a Religious Account but what was agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and the Testimony of Gods Spirit as received amongst us in the Beginning so he is gone to his Grave no Sect-Master but a Follower of Christ and we never desire to follow him nor any Man but in the Steps and Way of that Stable Truth that shall outlast all New Inventions and Envious Nick-Names And although for a time the multitude of Israel did give their Ear-rings or Jewels of Prey to Giddion to make a Golden Ephod and said he should Rule over them the Evil Snare and Shame it afterwards brought upon them and him might be a Warning to others Giddions Beginning was Glorious and wonderfull but when the Hearts of that People began to turn from the Lord they tempted Giddion they were suffered to be a Snare to one another FINIS ERRATA Page 8. Line last but 2 for of trouble read of the trouble p. 11. l. 22. f. as Friends r. all Friends p. 12. l. 16. f. and as some r. as some l. 39. f. Opposers at r. Opposers of or at p. 13. l. 29. f. amongst you r. against you p. 19. l. 15. f. are we r. we are p. 26. l. 33. f even r. evil p. 28. l. 1. f. Keep 's r. Keyes and the Folio to be made 28. p. 32. l. 3. f. one r. own l. 33. f. now r. nor l. 43. f. thy years r. the year
THE MEMORY Of that Servant of God Iohn Story Revived Shewing What manner of Man he was from his Youth to his Grave by the Testimonies of several Friends to whom he was well known and by whom for his Work sake in the Truth he was greatly Beloved To which is adjoyned something written by him c. in his latter years wherein his Judgement is shewn concerning some particular things and his great desires for Love Vnity Concord and Peace in the Church of Christ A Tree is not so well known by Reports as by its Fruits Having a good Conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil-doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good Conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3. 16. The Righteous shall be in everlasting Remembrance yea his Righteousness endureth for ever The wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away The desire of the wicked shall perish Psal 112. I am a Man of Peace but when I speak they are for War Ps 120. 7. London Printed by John Gain Living in the Upper Moor-Fields near the Flying-Horse M. DC LXXXIII To the Reader ALthough nothing can now be added to or diminished from the Eternal Happiness of our Deceased Friend John Story yet since his Departure out of this World it came into the Hearts of some to Write something concerning him and knowing that a thing of this nature hath not only been expected but long since earnestly desired by many honest Friends in Divers parts of this Nation It is now for their sakes and others to whom it may be serviceable made Publick Thou hast here a Relation of the Life and Death of that Faithful Servant of the Lord in the following Testimonys of several Friends to whom he was very well known and being now at Rest from all his Labours is blessed with them which dye in the Lord thus it s witnessed of him about whom many did concern themselves some for the better and others for the worse like to those who in the dayes of our Lord Christ when some said of him he is a good Man others said nay but he deceiveth the People and hath a Devil And this many did through ignorance condemn the just one And when we consider what gainsaying reproaches and contradictions our dear Friend J. S. met with in his Pilgrimage and the Patience God indued him withall and what Charitable constructions he would make of Injuries offered to him c. it may truly be said He was a Man of Peace and he had this saying often with him viz. That the long-suffering of the Saints would have an end Exhorting Friends to patience in well-doing We forbear as yet to write what many could say more particularly concerning him Recommending what here follows to thy serious and impartial perusal desiring that prejudice may not blind the eye of thy understanding and hinder thee from reaping that benefit intended A Brief Relation concerning the Life and Death of John Story by John Wilkinson JOHN STORY descended of Christian Parents in Westmorland and they lived honestly having Land Goods and Trade in good repute amongst their Neighbours and he was well Educated in his Youth and through his diligence grew able in pronunciation of the English Tongue He was never seen inclinable to any evil Vice but against all such things from his Youth neither could he endure any crooked ways or crossness in a Family but shewed his dislike thereof and the Gift of God in him did so prevail that in his Childhood he had a wonderful sense of the Wo and Wrath that would come upon the Wicked and an opening of Joy and Peace to the Righteous In his Youth I know none in these Parts to exceed him in Godliness for the Fear of God had the chief Room in his Heart and he had a great regard to keep his Commands and a wonderful Knowledge God gave unto him considering his Day and Age still seeking more and more the Knowledge of God and the way of his Kingdom his Life answered his inward Knowledge and at the age of ten Years he could not joyn with any in wanton Sports Games and Plays which made many to wonder notwithstanding that the inward Knowledge which God gave unto him did so prevail with him that not only the vanity of such things was discovered to him but he was also begotten of God into an abhorrence thereof judging it a mispent and lost time and when he was grown to twelve years of Age his great enquiry was where to find a Place and People that sought the Lord for the Word of God in his Heart did powerfully quicken his Soul to Life And Breathing and Praying in private and publick and when he found a People seeking the Lord it was great Joy to his Soul and he was ready prepared to joyn with such as had Openings by the invisible Spirit of God namely such as Gervis Benson Francis Howgil Edward Burrough John Audland Richard Hubberthorn c. and many more in Westmorland prepared of God for the Service of Truth in and unto whom God in the Fulness of Time revealed his Son and by his Spirit anointed them Ministers of the Everlasting Gospel to Preach the Glad-tydings of Salvation with many more in sundry Parts of this Nation an unutterable Blessing to a People and Kingdom among whom John Story also was Anointed to Preach the Gospel But before his Call forth into other Countries he was brought up in the Knowledge of Husbandry and was skilful in that Work and also laborious and careful and joyned himself with Families that feared God and sought him with all their Hearts he had in his young Years such a Gift of Prayer which the Seekers after God had a great Love unto and his chief Delight was in such Company he Hungred and Thirsted after Righteousness a State blessed of God who filled him with many Vertues and made him even in his Youth an Instrument of much Good by his holy Conversation and good Example and God gave him the Knowledge of many weighty and glorious Things of his Kingdom and he had a holy Zeal to press all unto Righteousness and Preached in Publick Assemblies in Westmoreland and Places adjoyning about the Age of fourteen Years and depended on the Gift of God for his Openings and Doctrine being of a loving Carriage to all People beyond many that now profess more Knowledge and boast of high Things in these latter Days he saw with the Openings of God in that Day That all Made Forms Men placed Religion in were not only empty and dry without Vertue and Life but also a Snare and of evil Effect and could not joyn to any such but to exercise and practise according to inward Knowledge given of God saying That leads justly in a holy manner of Life but Embarking into made Forms and placing Religion in them expecting Blessings from them made it just with God to shut up Heaven to
hide his Glory and keep hid the Things of his Kingdom But depending upon God fits People and prepares for his Service and gives the true Knowledge of what he requires to Practice His Saying hath been That even to him in that Estate was the Son of God Revealed the Great and Wonderful Power of the Almighty the Everlasting Day of Life the Highest Power the Commander and Giver of his Word he that appeared in the Clouds of Heaven opening glorious Things hath Revealed himself in Power and great Glory Though he was a Man in his Life that would not willingly miss the greatest Attainments in Truth yet he was not ashamed of being silent when in the Presence of an Assembly for the Day was wherein he saw the King the Lord of Hosts whose Majesty made him astonished at whose Presence and Sight he was struck silent for the space of a whole Year because he then saw that the Openings of God was Preached by him judging his inward Estate and Knowledge far short of the wonderful Knowledge and excellent Glory when he appeared in Fulness and so he waited in silence many a Meeting and thought himself unfit to Preach his Excellency and Greatness suffering Famine and sitting under the Sword which the Word by which all Things were made is compared unto in a sense of the true Cross and right Humility that goes before true Honour waiting for the Movings of the Almighty and his Spirit to demonstrate the Way of Life and said He was not Condemned of God in falling short of answering the Knowledge given unto him but far short in declaring the greatness of his Power and Fullness It is not you that speak using the words of Christ but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you This was the manner of his Life till God gave him the Word and called him forth for he said If I had sate in Silence all my Life I durst not go before God spake by his Spirit in me And truly Gods Power and Presence was with him and his Word and Motion plentifully given unto him and Wisdom from above to divide the Word aright and God made his way to prosper that the People prepared of God with his invisible Spirit answered the Word as Face answereth Face in a Glass and many that had mist their way to God by seeking him without he turned to the Light and Appearance of Christ within and he was confirmed in the Word through the Power and Effect thereof and Sealed to God in his Service who gave him great Ability to fulfil his Ministry He had but a very weak Body and travelled on foot North and South in this Nation about the space of three years I being his Companion do well know it and great Colds after much heat in Meetings empaired his Health besides his Concern with many Opposers in the breaking forth of Truth causing many long and tedious Disputes in which his Moderation in Gods Wisdom greatly appeared labouring in Truth to convince the Gainsayers he had great Skill and Ability given of God Viz. in Disputes that his Bow still abode in Strength and the Contenders for their Imaginations and against the Truth fell before him he was so strengthened with the Arm of the Almighty God of Jacob who honoured his Truth with him in the Sight of many Assemblies the Contenders often confessing to his Moderation and Meekness notwithstanding if he got hold of Deceit and false Affirmations from wilful Opposers he held such very hard to the Point not letting them go to another thing unless they confest their Errour but any Objection or Doubt through Ignorance was meekly in Truth resolved and he had no delight to dispute with Opposers or high Contenders unless they themselves were the Cause neither to spread in Writing or Print any Disputes though often desired And at that time many longed to hear the Word of God and cryed Come and have a Meeting with us and sometimes went to help but even as Paul to Macedonia by Vision and Revelation to Preach the Gospel to them and visiting over and over them to whom God sent him to Preach the Gospel He was faithful in Doing or in Suffering as required of the Almighty witness his Sufferings in Salisbury Goal under Sentence of Premunire almost a whole year but delivered at the Kings Coronation for before Prescriptions Outward Orders and Forms among some Friends were so Imposed and carried a stress of Religion John Story was not judged a Flyer in Persecution but esteemed honourable among the Brethren and it is plain that because he could not receive some Prescriptions of Men's with all its Formalities therefore was he Proceeded against by some as one of a wrong Spirit and out of the Vnity though he opposed not others therein if they were so perswaded of God but they would not be satisfied with that but opposed him in Publick Meetings as one that hated to be Reformed Alas Alas his Religion was not formed with Orders and Precepts of Men he could not so far dishonour his God nor judge any Friends so weak in Understanding to make a Breach of Unity with them under pretence of Motion Government and Dignity John said He was often ashamed of such a Degeneration and said if it did continue the evil Effects would scarcely cease He rendred not evil for evil by opposing his Opposers in Meetings for Publick Worship but exhorted to Righteousness and Peace and if that could not be born it be speaketh saith he a Famine of the Word Oh he was sound in Judgment and not afraid that his Doctrine should come to publick view his Candle was lighted not to put under a Bushel let them that have opposed him and endeavoured to darken the light and shining thereof through him look to it Repent and turn to God before it be too late least God suffers the same measure to be meted again for his Ways are Equal and Just and Righteous altogether and as he endeavoured his Doctrine should be tryed commending it to every mans Conscience in the Sight of God so also his proceeding and good Works saying How should Men glorifie our Heavenly Father if our Proceedings and good Works be hid from them and if People wait not in the Spirit but oppose it with Forms of Mans making such cannot relish the Word of Life nor suffer Truth 's Testimony in Quiet but causeth jangling with Forms in the break of the Day against Truth and see not the Glory that excelleth nor the Testimonies that exalts the Light which God commanded to shine forth in the Face of Jesus whom the Righteous loveth and is their Life in which my dear Companion J. S. had great Delight He was a loving and plain Man and greatly abhorred Feignedness warning People that they should not worship the Works of their own hands nor feign Humility and cautioned to beware of a Spirit of Pride and seeking Honour and Greatness which he saw in his day was too much
for our Deceased Friend J. S. that he was one whom the Lord had endued with many Spiritual Gifts and pretious Christian Vertues which were as so many Ornaments unto him and if any should ask what those Gifts and Vertues were and how and which way they did appear and might be demonstrated to be in him To this we may answer First His Moderation and Temperance did much appear in the many Debates and Discourses had with him about Religious Matters wherein he did usually carry himself very moderate when reasoning about the Things of God and as to his Temperance it did much appear in his Life and Conversation Secondly He was endued with the Gift and Vertue of Patlence which did much appear in him by his patient bearing of those severe and bitter Reflections and Oppositions that of late years he met withal as also with many false and untrue Reports of him Thirdly Also he did very patiently bear that great and long Weakness and Infirmity of Body that he was very much attended withal and afflicted with very sore and grievous Pains as well as weakness in Body which he underwent with much Patience and Content Fourthly He had an excellent Gift of Christian Fortitude and Constancy in his Testimony so that notwithstanding he met with very much Opposition and sometimes with flattering Perswasions yet he persevered in the Way Work and Testimony that God had called him unto and in this respect it may in some measure be said of him as Jacob said of Joseph Gen. 49. 23 24. The Archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him but his Bow abode in Strength and the Arms of his Hands were made strong by the Hands of the Almighty God of Jacob from thence is the Shepherd the Stone of Israel Fifthly He was endued with a large portion of Christian Charity which the Apostle reckons as one of the most excellent Gifts And if any should ask how that did appear or was manifest in him We say it did not only appear in him in that he was not of a Rash and Rigid Spirit towards others that might differ from him in Things Indifferent but was also very Charitable towards such in whom he found any true tenderness towards God and was not apt to Judge so harshly and Censoriously of such as some have been too apt to do but was willing to inform the understanding when under mistake and also to perswade them that opposed themselves to imbrace the Truth If we consider the Fruit of true Charity spoken of by the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. we may indeed say that Charity did largely manifest it self in him because it brought forth or did manifest the same Fruits and Effects in and through him as is there spoken of by the Apostle And as these and other Christian Vertues did appear and were manifested in him while he was amongst us so we are credibly informed by some Friends of Westmoreland that were with him in the time of his last Sickness that he gave very good Counsel and Advice to Friends that were with him and that he being very weak in Body but not in much pain as was supposed by those who were about him he very gently breath'd his last and laid down his Head in much Peace and Quietness of Mind and Spirit Given forth at Sutton on the 1st Day of the 11th Month 1682. and Subscribed by us on the behalf of our selves and many more Friends of Wiltshire that are concerned and consented unto the Publishing hereof John Jennings John Fry Thomas Crabb Sen. John Sealy William Colman John Rogers Benjamin Lawrance The Testimony of John Metrevers A Short Testimony Concerning John Story that worthy Servant of the Living God though dead yet the Seal of his Ministry and Service for God in his Day and Age lives in the Remembrance and hath an Impression on the Hearts of many in these Parts and forasmuch as the Unchangeable Truth remains the same as ever we cannot forget those worthy Messengers who in the Days of our young and tender Years came amongst us in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of Almighty God not only to proclaim a Day of Vengence from God upon that Part or Nature in Man that hath transgressed his Law but also with a Message of Peace and Glad-tidings unto our Souls And now as for my Dear Friend John Story in particular concerning whom I have a few words which at this time rest upon my Spirit to treat about I have this to say and that not by here-say or to boast in another Mans Words but according to that true and Experimental Knowledge which I have had of him for these seven or eight and twenty years past it being about the Year 1654 or 1655 as near as I can remember that this worthy Servant of the Almighty God came amongst us into Wiltshire at which time for my own part I was about fourteen years of Age notwithstanding which what shall I say it is even with me at this time to signifie That had I the Tongue of an Orator or the Pen of a Ready Writer I could not demonstrate the Sense that now lives and remains upon my Spirit of the Mighty Power of God that appeared in and through that Man both in Life and Doctrine whereby I was at that time though but young in years often sweetly Refreshed and Comforted in his Company by that Eternal Power that dwelt with and ran through him Oh! What shall I say my Heart at this time is even melted in the Consideration thereof his Message then was to direct all to turn inward from the Lo here and the Lo there to the Grace Light or Spirit within which according to Measure was given to all assuring all unto whom he gave the Word of Exhortation that it being obeyed and followed in all its Requirings was that only means and that in which the sufficiency for Salvation of the Soul consisted this Doctrine was received by many by the Mighty Power of God which accompanyed and manifested it self through that Man many brought to the Faith and so as the Lord made way he travelled from Place to Place appointing Meetings up and down among Friends directing all as above mentioned and unfolding the Scriptures by way of Parables and opening to the Edification of the Hearer many hard Sayings both to the Convincing of those that receiv'd it and Admiration of many that receiv'd it not insomuch that my Ears have heard it acknowledged and confessed unto that the Doctrine so Preach't through the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit as then it was would never fail while the Water keeps its Course his Work was also very much among the Priests and Professors of that Age who then like Gog and Magog joyned together against the Lord and his Anointed but the Lords Power and Presence being with him and always giving of him both Mouth and Wisdom he was thereby furnished to speak a word in due season both
didst Preach the Glad-tyding of Salvation unto many that were far from the Almighty bearing a Faithful Testimony unto Christ Jesus the true Light that inwardly enlightens every Man and to the Word nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth to the Anointing within and unto the universality of that Grace which brings Salvation of its Appearing to all Mankind and to the Manifestation of the Spirit of Truth that is is given unto all to profit with labouring to undeceive all and to bring from the Outside Forms Beggerly Elements Traditions Rudiments and Inventions of Men wherein many had been kept in Bondage to Christ Jesus the Living Way the Truth and Life the true Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul in his Light to wait for Counsel and Directions in all things to be Led Guided and Governed by him alone who was and is the Lawgiver and unto whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed whose Kingdom is not of this World who alone hath power over the Conscience and over the Inward Man this is his Glory which he never did nor never will give unto another and in this thou wast a Faithful Messenger and Minister turning many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and so taught many the way through Judgment unto Life that their Hearts did burn within them whil'st in their Hearts they did learn Righteousness which made many to confess to the Glory of God That thou wast sent of God to shew the way unto the Rest that God had prepared for the Vpright Hearted And truly such a Power went with thee that not I alone but many of the Land came to hear the joyful Sound and were turned to the true Light and the God of Heaven was with thee and a true Ambassadour of Christ Jesus wast thou beseeching Men to be reconciled unto the Lord assuring of us That God had sent his Son to Redeem our Souls by changing of our Natures and to bless us by turning every one of us from our Evil Doings And having a Convincing Ministry committed to thee of God thou became an Instrument in his hand to the opening of our Understandings and to the building us up in the Living Faith which made us bless the Lord for thy coming in his Name and for the Change that in due time was wrought in us and God gave us a Witness in our own Bosomes That thou wast an Apostle of the True and Heavenly Profession and that thou by the assistance of the Power of God accompanying thee directed our Feet into the Way of Peace For which my Soul Praise thou the Lord and all that is within me shall bless his Name with many more who can set to their Seals that thou wast an Instrument in the hand of God of their Conversion and a Man through whom the Way of Life was demonstrated amongst us and many became Witnesses That the Earth was rent asunder and the Stout-hearted bowed and the Strong did fall before thee Thou valluedst neither Riches nor Glory neither did any of those Things overtake thee but as an Armed Man and a Champion indeed thy Warefare was against Spiritual Wickedness and thy Travel was That the Ax of God might be laid to the Root of the Corrupt Three that no untimely Fruit might grow amongst us and thou sought not the Treasures of the Earth nor to be great amongst thy Brethren but to do the Will of thy Master was thy delight thou wast a true Traveller in thy Day and thy Journying was much on foot several years the Rain abstructed thee not in the Morning neither could the Scorching Sun at Noon-day hinder thy Progress for thy Feet were shod with the Preparation of the Gospel and a true Traveller wast thou in the Work of the Lord for thy Bow did abide in its full Strength and the Opposers were made to fall and the Wicked fled before thee thou didst not turn thy Back but often encounteredst Gainsayers on many Occasions and never wast worsted as ever I could hear in any of thy Assaults for thou was not only experienced in the Work thou undertook'st but very well read in that excellent Book the Holy Scriptures and an aptness was in thee to perceive the Weakness of thy Opposers and having gotten hold of thy Adversaries no Flattery could prevail nor Inchantment pervert thee until thou made him confess unto the Truth for the God of the whole Earth was with thee and the Slain of the Lord were many and such Divine Counsel did attend thy Habitation that no Profession was able in Truth to withstand thy Testimony and thou wast plentifully endued with the Spirit of the Lord whereby thou appearedst as his Battle Ax and the Stroak thereof made the Rocks give way and the Mountains cleft in funder insomuch as the Wisdom of the Wise-men failed them and the Counsel of the Prudent was not found amongst them for their Learning could not hide them nor the Logician's Subtilty could not preserve them but over all their Baits thou trampled'st and many times caught them in their own Snare and all this Conquest was not gotten by Outward Bow or Spear but by the Spirit of the Living God and to speak the truth of thee It was thy Meat and thy Drink to do the Will of thy Master thy Care was great in visiting the Mountains where many the Sheep of Gods Pasture were scattered and what wrestling with the Power of Darkness thou hadst to recover the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel the North can tell the deep Exercises of that Day and the continual Burthen that was then with thee to visit the Dark Corners that were full of Cruelty and what haste thou made then then to visit the Steeple-house forgetting thy ordinary Food until thy Master Christ Jesus his Work was accomplished But O the hardship that sometimes thou met with Were not the Cudgels sometimes laid on about thy Head by Ungodly Men And did not they in great fury dash thee in the face with their Clouted Shoes until the Blood hath gushed out of thy Mouth in a large measure Doubtless such like Treatment thou hast imbraced that the Oppressed might be recovered and the Prisoner brought out of the horrible Pit in which there was no Water and thy Legs did not fail thee in this Travel because the Lord was with thee neither did thy Strength depart from thee because the Bread from Heaven was thy Delight and often Honey out of the Rock did the Lord bestow on thee Springs can tell the Joy they often administred and the Comfort that they often bestowed on thee in that Day when the Bowels of the Earth feemed to be shut up and all other Outward Comforts departed from thee and this from one Week to another was thy Travel so that the North sounds out thy Praise and the West do tell of thee many in the South besides my self cannot but rejoyce in the Lord and be glad that God prepared
our Hearts and made thee as a sharp Instrument in his hand to dash all our Formal Professions to pieces that the Broken-hearted might be bound up and that we might be created anew unto his Glory and when we come truly to know the Lord and to help to fill up the Measures of the Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ that was behind for us to fill up and were Prisoners for Conscience fake what Care was upon thee in that Day that we might be Visited And Oh! the pretious Opportunities and often Visitations that then thou gave us Fear did not surprise thee nor the Prison daunt thee from administring to us the Comforts of the Holy Ghost for we were the Prisoners of the Lord and the wrath of men was turned upon us but thou comforted'st our hearts with this testimony agreable to our one Faith that the Wrath of Man would turn to the Praise of God and the rest God would restrain Thy many Visitations are not forgotten although thy Silver Cord be loosed and thy Golden Boule be broken neither art thou out of our Remembrance although thou art Departed from us and though many have a great loss yet my loss is far greater because of my often Journying with thee being in such my Travels a pertaker with thee of the Brests of Consolation and of the Milk of the Word of Life Thou wast not willing to eat thy Morsel alone but that others might pertake of the same Table and come to the Injoyment of the Feast of Fat things and though somtimes I have met with hard speeches and been Rendered as a dark Spirit and gone under many Reproaches and my wayes endeavoured to be hedged up as in Ireland and some other parts and called to an account about thy deportment because of matters laid to thy Charge yet proving them false the Reporters have confessed and to the Glory of the Lord that thou wast not the man But thou art ascended above the strife of Tongues and we may come to thee but thou shalt never return to us yet Days shall speak of the loss of such a Prophet because pretious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and now in thy latter day when thou hast spent thy strength in the Service of the Lord notwithstanding great weakness of Body was upon thee yet thou planted a Vineyard and then eat of the Fruit thou feedest the Flock and eat of the Milk thereof at which some were angry and either knew not or willingly forgot thy former Travels for the Gospel-sake when thou spared not thy Flesh and sometimes thy Blood to shew them that were distressed the way to the Kingdom yet how evilly have some spoken of thee as if thou wert negligent in the Lord's service when to the utmost thou did what thou wast able and when thy Leggs would not perform the service of thy mind thou then Rode up and down according to thine ability that then was given thee and we often looked for thy change many years before thy Departure but what hard hap had the Prophet to be a Fool and the Spiritual man to be mad to Prophesie in the Name of the Lord that thou John Story should that year dye when neither did the Lord send him now his Prophesie came to pass but the God of Heaven made manifest his kindness to thee kept thee alive beyond many of our expectations and made the foolish Prophet to confess as I have been Informed to this purpose that it was an Imagination of his own brain not the Word of the Lord. And thus his Words became his Burthen in his Life time and seeing he is also gone to the Earth we must leave him to the Lord and this I mentioned the rather because I was an Eye and Ear Witness of the Declaration of that false Prophesie But Oh! the weakness of Body that then appeared in thee thou didst not much controvert with him but said time would soon manifest it thy years being almost at an end and so committed the cause to God the Judge of all for thou wast noâ—striver neither did Contention dwell with thee in that matter but in much Patience thou heardst his words and as thy Beginning was so was thy End in the Lamb's War with the Lamb's Nature thou wentest from the South to the West taking thy leave of thy Friends and then returned into the North where in the weakness of Body thou visitedst the People of the Lord and having compleated thy Masters Business thou encounteredst with Death and overcame it and quietly yielded up thy self into the Arms of the Almighty left the World and art gone unto God where out of the reach of all thy Adversaries thou art in that Mansion that Jesus Christ hath prepared for his People where no Destroyer shall ever come T. C. An ELEGY of John Story by John Raunce IN Peace with God he now is gone to Rest Out of this World in which he was Opprest Having ill Vsage met from his Brethren Nothing would do with some like wilful Men So set themselves that they would not believe That he spoke Truth this did him sorely grive Oppressing Sorrows did his Body pine Rending his Soul with Grief from time to time Yet in all this the Lord he always found Yea Help from God did still to him abound Yea and Amen his Grace to him was Free Yea to the End his Grace hath Saved thee Yea now he doth possess Jerusalem Yea now Christ is his only Requiem More in Remembrance of John Story THy Lot was like Good Prophets gone before With Lamb like Nature thou as they did bear The frowns of Friends and Enemies much more Whil'st Envy did of thee sore things declare Oh happy thou who didst with Meekness then Preach Christ the Way the Truth and Life in all With Holiness thy Doctrine Sounds to Men That they might know and live in Gods great Call Thy Work is done and thou art now at Rest And all thy Labour in this World doth cease The Wise in Heart will say that thou art Blest And pray to God such Prophets may increase With blameless Life thou didst Truth 's Cause maintain And out of that which might defile didst live As Blessed Man didst Holiness retain And unto God all Honour thou didst give The Lord who doth the Saved People Bless He was thy Peace thy Comfort and thy All Much was the Gift Christ gave thee to possess Which thou didst use as he for it did Call Much could I say if I to Write were free Of many things which did attend thy Life But Silence shall Apologize for me As one that loves and lives above all Strife John Raunce The 20th Day of the last Month in the Year 1682. Something added by another Friend of that Antient in Israel J. S. Deceased IN Christ that is the Alpha all in all O mega th' Last from Death to Life doth call How Holy Harmless Sweet then is that
Man Nought but thy Lord give Satisfaction can Some things both Old and New they are but vain Truth ' gainst Tradition well thou didst maintain Of Innovation thou Prophetick saw Rules made by Men last turned into Law Yet Truth resist's hence Church Divisions grow Hence Persecutions flow Hence Gospel Teachings put a stop unto J. C. Charles Harris his Testimony AS for John Story he bore the Countenance of a Man of God and was a Preacher of Righteousness in his Day both in Doctrine and Conversation and as such was esteemed by thousands for many years yet he went not to his Grave under that Sentence Viz. Wo to you when all Men speak well of you For he met with such Exercise as Holy Paul did from some that could once have pull'd out their Eyes to Serve him afterwards became his Enemies saying his Speech was Centemptible seeking a Proof of Christ speaking in him and he had some share with that Beloved Disciple that saith in his Epistle to Gaius on this wise Viz. I wrote unto the Church but Diotrephes who loveth to have the Preheminence among them Receiveth us not prating against us with malitious Words and not content therewith neither doth he himself Receive the Brethren and forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the Church or declared out of Unity or thrust out of the Congregation I have known him for many years and never found but that he was a Man of Peace it hath been frequently reported he was a Tyth-Payer Let the Reader observe he never stood in such a Capacity all his Days never Keeping House or Occupying any Land being a Single Man and as to his Judgment concerning Tythes it may be seen in what follows under his own hand So whether it be better to Judge of a Man by his own Words and Deeds or by ones own Imaginations called Sense let the Charitable Reader Judge He has also been termed Of a Dividing Spirit Let his Epistle speak for himself some say his Ministry was dead which I say if they had lived in that time that the Disciple John was led to the Church and said not much more but Little Children love one another it may be they would have said he was Dead and Formal It is to be observed J. S. was much spent before his Departure having been a Preacher from his Youth so had not strength of Voice to utter himself as formerly but still what he said was of this tendency Viz. That if Friends did believe in and wait upon God in the Manifestation of our Lord Christ he would in due time answer all the Immortal Longings of their Souls and preserve them to his Glory and Kingdom And indeed to them that loved him he was in their Eye the same Man to his death that he had been all along still growing in the same Truth And as for the Divisions that sprang up both North and South it is well known that it was not he that caused them I well remember how it was Westward till some Persons went that way and stirred up the People into Parties one Day they will feel the Burthen of it In what follows there are two Queries proposed to Friends at Drawell with their Answers If all would but keep to it accordingly there would be no Strife and as for that way that is taken by some to defame every man by endeavouring to take away his Good Name both as a Man and Christian that is not Conformable to some new sort of Church-Government and Discipline so called Though for a time they may seem to Reign as Kings upon Earth they shall dye like Men and it shall be known in the end that the Peace of the Church and Love to Brethren is of more value than all Sounding Brass or Tincling Cymbals So blessed are all such true Preachers that look upwards for their Reward in that World that is to come Amen C. H. As to what follows if thou canst believe that Men mean as they speak Read on if not stay till thou hast Charity Two Questions proposed by J. W. and J. S. to Friends of the Meeting at Drawell and their Answers Viz. Question I. WHether or no we and all Gods People ought not to be left in all Matters of Faith and Discipline so far as Discipline may become Matter of Faith to the Manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in our own Hearts and to speak and act therein as we are thereby Instructed and Perswaded and not otherwise Question II. 2dly Since there are Diversities of Talents and Gifts given by the Spirit of God and received by Men Whether the Judgment of Truth it self given forth through a Part of the Members of Christ's Body can become a Bond upon any other Part of the said Body further than their Vnderstandings are illuminated thereby Answer To the first Question we say Yea and Nay to the second Question with that true and simple Sense that the Words import and Friends have been used to understand them but not to strengthen Prejudiced Spirits who have made that their Plea for their Separation and against Truths Authority in our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings nor yet to Justifie any that are Ignorant through their own Sloth and Unfaithfulness or to excuse them that would not be accounted Weak but Strong Wise and as Pillars The Judgment of J. W. and J. S. concerning the Five Heads on which the 44 Articles exhibited against them were grounded which was publickly read in the Meeting at Drawell as followeth ON the whole Matter in the Fear and Presence of the Almighty God we declare That we do approve of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the necessary Service of the Truth so we farther say that as those or any other Meetings of Friends in Truth shall be continued to answer those Services we believe that as it now is it also will become our Duty to be at Unity with our Brethren in the Services thereof and that though one of us Viz. J. W. did condescend to Subscribe to a Paper for the Erecting a Womans-Meeting in the Country to answer the ends the Paper proposed which he testifies he then did in singleness of Heart for Unity-Sake yet according to that inward sense we now have there appears to us no absolute necessity to continue Womens-Meetings in the Country distinct and separate from the Men and therefore do Conscientiously forbear to assent or Incourage any to lay the Intents of Marriages before them yet that Inward Sense and Heavenly Understanding we have received from God hath and yet doth confirm us in this Judgment that 't is not agreeable with the Line of Truth to oppose others in the Exercise and appointed Service of the said Meetings as heretofore and now are settled and agreed upon who being Conscientious therein are otherwise Minded than we are and if any of our Words or Actions have had any tendency to oppose c. which we are not Conscious of but if we were
would readily confess and we say the Truth in us would readily have condemned it even as it now doth and if it shall please the Lord to manifest unto us a Service in those Meetings in the Country as well as City the same Integrity towards God which hath dwelt in us these many years past we believe will become a Bond on us to joyn Hand and Heart with others our Brethren and Sisters therein but till then our desires are that this may not become an Occasion of straitness in Spirit each toward the other but that embracing the wholesome Counsel of the Apostle in another Case If in any thing ye are otherwise Minded wait till God reveal it we may walk together in that pure undefiled Love of our God which thinketh no Evil. 2dly That though many of our Brethren see a Service in Recording Condemnations and leaving them upon Record to Posterity yet from that inward Sence and Heavenly Understanding we have we see no necessity to leave them upon Record to Posterity or retain them when the Sin is blotted out and remitted by the Lord neither to be extended farther than the Offence is known nor yet to continue longer than the memory of the Offence abideth but if any see meet from an inward sense of the Truth in themselves to leave such a Testimony relating to themselves to Posterity we have therewith Unity That this our sense may be no occasion of straitness of Spirit each toward the other is the earnest desire of our Souls who desire the Prosperity of Truth and Peace amongst all the Churches of God 3dly As to Tythes we can in truth say 't was never so much as in our thoughts to speak any words whatsoever with the least intent to strengthen any in the Payment thereof nor yet to weaken the Faith of any having a testimony in our hearts that Tythes as at this Day paid are Antichristian 4thly That as Groanings Sighings Soundings and Singings may proceed from Deceitful Spirits so also we declare Groanings Sighings Soundings and Singing may be the Fruit of the Spirit of the Lord among Gods People and that as the first is discouraged the second ought to be incouraged and the earnest Desire of our soul is that as to these things nothing but the Spirit of Truth and Sound Judgment may appear either to reprove or Incourage and though we are accused as if we were Opposers of such Groanings c. which the Truth approved yet God is our Witness we know it not 5thly That though we have been represented as Persons incouraging Flying in time of Persecution We say we are not Conscious to our selves of so doing for we believe those who stand not to their Testimony but flyes therefrom in the Day of Persecution may truly be counted either weak in Faith or departed from the Faith And thus having given our Inward Sence according to the Uprightness and Integrity of our Hearts concerning these five General Heads from whence all the 44 Articles do arise We shall with this conclude That the God of Heaven is our Witness our Desires are to approve our selves Men of Peace in the Abhorrency of all Fleshly Liberty and Looseness to follow after Truth and Righteousness that the Reign of the Power of the Eternal God may be over all so will the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ As to the two Questions answered by the Friends and Brethren met on this Occasion we in the Fear of the Lord say We in the proposing thereof had not the least thought to obtain your Yea and Nay with intent thereby to strengthen such who may be accounted our Party in any thing that is contrary to Truth nor to incourage Looseness or Bad Spirits but Conscientiously to remove the Scruples of some and further we say we are better satisfied with your Explication therein than with your bear Yea and Nay for we as well as you are sensible Apostates and Bad Spirits seekinga Fleshly Liberty have made use of Arguments deducible from such Principles of Truth to oppose the Power of God it self and the Practice af Gods People in the Power John Wilkinson John Story John Story 's Epistle to Friends in the North in which is signified his Desires for true Unity and Reconciliation Friends IN the Love of God and our Lord Jesus Christ which is Holy and Unchangeable for ever do I Salute you The Occasion of my Writing at this time is to let you know that my Soul hath been deeply exercised from day to day in the inward Considerations that have been with me for some time how the Holy Name of God is Blasphemed and the Profession of his Truth dishonoured among Unbelievers by the Reports that are spread abroad amongst them of the Divisions that are amongst us who have in scorn been called Quakers and also for the hurt and havock that I perceive is at this day made amongst the Heritage of God through this secret and subtil working of the Antient Enemy of Mankind who at this day as in days past hunts to and fro seeking whom he may destroy Now forasmuch as there hath been great Discourses amongst Friends touching a Separate Spirit and Meeting in the North meaning thereby a Spirit and Meeting that is Separate from the Truth and that I have been a strength to such a Spirit and Meeting I have this to say that the Searcher of all hearts knows I own no such Spirit or Meeting that is Separate from the Truth neither have I ever been a Setter up or Actor in any such Meeting for though I am accused that the Subscription of my Name to a Paper amongst others entitules me to be a Setter up of a Separate Meeting yet I am not in my Conscience convinced there is any one Word therein which justly entitles me to be a Setter up of the Meeting called a Separate Meeting For the Paper of Proposals I Signed was intended to Re-unite that Meeting and I am perswaded all Understanding Men that Signed did it for that End and if any thing therein had seemed to them too strait why did not they to whom it was sent desire a loving Discourse about it that they might have understood our meaning before they had either replyed or sent it abroad in which we should have been ready to have given our sence more fully which several have already done and though I have been by some abusively called a Captain the Lord is my Witness my desire neither hath been nor is to be a Captain over any to the Praise of the Lord I speak it I have learned the Truth of our Lord Jesus better than so for I know him that is the Captain of our Salvation ought to be the alone Leader of his People and the earnest breathing of my Soul is that as for many years past I have approved my self to the Friends of Truth the Lords Servant so I may to the end of my days and
that for Christ's sake and therefore can I with boldness appeal to Gods Witness in all Consciences whether an Insinuation into the Brests of any that I am a Strenth to such a Spirit and Meeting as aforesaid be not the Work of the Old Enemy And since 't is so that I have been credibly informed that you who formerly Assembled together in one Meeting to manage the Outward Concerns of Truth relating to the Poor c. have for some time past Assembled for the aforesaid Service in two distinct Meetings and that this is accounted an Occasion of Stubling to some I have a Concern on my Spirit thus to write unto you First I am satisfied in my Conscience from sufficent Knowledge or Evidence that the Day was wherein you met together in a Sweet Union and Fellowship to manage the Outward Concerns of Truth relating to the Poor c. Secondly That such your Union and Fellowship had acceptance with the Lord and was owned by his Presence amongst you Thirdly That during such your Fellowship every one concerned in that Service acted from a ready and willing Mind according to that Perswasion and Manifestation which was given of God without being Imposed upon by any Man or Men or endeavouring to Impose each on other contrary to what the Lord Evidenced by his Spirit in your Consciences Fourthly That though it was so that particular Persons in persuance of the Counsel of divers Antient and Honourable Brethren some of whom are fallen asleep were chosen for that Service of the Poor c. out of the particular Meetings held for the Worship of God yet I never understood that any designed to exclude any Member or Members of the Church of Christ who had or might have a Concern upon their Spirits from Sitting or Acting amongst them whil'st any such Member or Members though not chozen behaved themselves Men of Peace good Order and in Unity with the Faithful Friends chozen for the Management of the Affairs of the Truth relating to the Poor c. in such Meeting and as in Charity I dare not reflect on these Antient Brethren in whose Advice for the holding such Meetings there seems to be room for Cavelling Spirits to call them Narrow-Spirited in advising to those certain Persons for that Service which seems a kind of Limitation yet I am also satisfied that those Antient Brethren who first advised to choose Faithful Brethren for the aforesaid Service would have endeavoured an exclusion of all such if any such had then been who should from time to time have appeared as disorderly Troublers of Israel and Imposers on Tender Consciences Fifthly That though it hath been reported that those of you who are by some called a Separate Meeting have been so Narrow Spirited as that you will not joyn with the Brethren in the aforesaid Service c. unless they will assent that others not formerly chozen may be excluded from acting with you or if they have ought to offer to the Meeting then to be admitted to offer the same and so depart which Report as it is said is grounded on a Paper Subscribed by several of you and my self and is by some accounted the Foundation of the aforesaid Meeting called the Seprate Meeting yet I always understood that it was not intended by any of the Subscribers to exclude any from Sitting amongst you or Joyning with you in the Common Service of Truth usually transacted amongst you in the Spirit of Love and Unity who in the same Spirit of Love and Unity would accompany you and had a Concern to add a helping hand and this sense I do now solemnly declare to be my sense and that at the time I Signed the Paper aforesaid it was my sence neither am I yet convicted that if the Subscribers of the said Paper interpret for themselves which of right they have the liberty to do there is any thing therein contained which doth oppose the same sense Now Friends I have this further to say that I have more than ordinary ground either to know or at least believe that this my sense in the aforesaid five Particulars is the real true State of the Case but do certainly know that it contains in some measure the State of Truth as it ought to have been amongst you and therefore my Counsel and Exhortation to you is laying aside all vain Janglings and Repititions of former Things that have tended to Strife and Debate contrary to the Truth ye be Reconciled each unto the other in the Lord saying in your Hearts before the Lord and in his Fear Let the Time past be sufficient and for time to come let us study Peace and Assemble together in the Antient Christian Love Vnion and Fellowship which was amongst us before the Occasion or Offences were either given or taken and that you Unite and Meet together to manage the Outward Concerns of Truth relating to the Poor c. With this Godly Unanimous Intention of Heart that if for the future any shall come in amongst you and appear as disorderly Troublers of Israel contentious Persons in Matters not approved by you and the Assemblies of Gods People amongst you or Imposers upon tender Consciences contrary to what hath been Received Believed and Owned by you and the Assemblies of Gods People amongst you when you and they were preserved in a sweet Union and Fellowship in the Truth you then declare that such Persons are not worthy to sit among you to act in the Affairs of Truth and that upon a serious and godly acknowledgment unto this Sound and Certain Truth That all Gods People ought to be left in all Matters of Faith and Discipline so far as the Discipline becomes Matter of Faith to the Manifestation of Gods Spirit Truth in their own Hearts and to speak and act therein as they shall be thereby Instructed and Perswaded and not otherwise because since there are diversities of Talents and Gifts given by the Spirit of God and received by Men the Judgment of Truth it self given forth through a part of the Members of Christs Body cannot become a Bond upon any other part of the said Body further than their Vnderstandings come to be Illuminated thereby This Sound and Certain Truth unto which I exhort your serious and godly Acknowledgment I and many if not all of you do know was at the Meeting at Drawell fully assented to to be Truth and that by an Answer to two Questions wherein it was fully Stated and rightly Answered and therefore since I am truly sensible that the Cause of your Differences hath sprung from that which hath led from this Sound and certain Truth I may reasonably expect that my Counsel to Re-unite may have place with you Thus it is with me to write unto you and that the more freely too because there are some do apprehend that I am more capable to Re-unite you than some others are who now may see my Endeavours are not wanting and that