give his Relation in the third Page saith If R. H. could have been quiet and let him alone he had not said or done any thing after the said-Dispare at Croton ended Reply By this J. C. would perswade his Reader that R. H. and the Quakers have lost by medling with him and that they have brought this Stuff to their own Head But sure it is the Quakers have not lost but gained Truth prevailing but the poor Unskilful Skirmisher both Rude and Distracted and that by his own Confession hath lost by medling with the Quakers this is very evident to many sober Impartial People I may say to some that once looked upon J. C. to be what he was not viz. a Minister of Christ but having discovered him like a Serpent in the Grass have turned 〈…〉 whom the Quakers both 〈…〉 and Writing have pro◠〈…〉 and Deceiver and this is 〈…〉 him yet this proud Vain boast◠〈…〉 and hardned in Error drowned in 〈◊〉 â—â—ceit which is as a Consumption to him wasting his Reputation amongst many sober Men and spurred on with Envy and Malice against the Truth and the Friends of it he is crying Conquest and Victory like a Man besides himself as well as the Truth a distracted Man Why not distracted in this as well as in his Prayers Would any but either a Foâ— or a Man distracted after he had left the Stage being sufficiently proved before he went a Lyar and Deceiver be so â—dacious and desperately Wicked as to publish to the World that he had over thrown the Quakers But what if a Man should query Hath John Cheyney with running away overthrown the Quakers A Fool might quickly Answer Yes but sure a Wise Man would be more deliberate he would not believe that such a Victory could be obtained by him that fled but rather the contrary not a Conquest to him that perks up and cries Conquest before he begins nor yet he that runs away and cries Victory when he is gone but rather he who having 〈…〉 Encounter and defeated his 〈◊〉 â—nds his Ground when his Adâ—â— fled Now that the Quakers were not overthrown there are some Hundreds of People can witness who were at that Dispute and know it right well who likewise knew that R. H. however it was with J. C. did not forsake the Stage and leave his Opponent thereupon And if I should not have put Pen to Paper I am satisfied there are some Hundreds of People who were there that day would not believe the Relation J. C. hath published of that Dispute but judge him to be a Lyar You for the Truth 's sake and for the sake of many Simple-hearted People who were not there but may take things upon Trust and judge my Silence a Consenting that J. C's Relation is true therefore as briefly as I may without wrong to the Truth I shall examine his Relation being now come to it J. C. p. 3. saith He divided the matter of his Dispute and Charge against the Quakers into 1st Matters of Doctrine 2dly Matters of Practice I think it pertinent to the matter here to insert the Charge I â—…t J. C. upon to prove viz. That the Quakers Religion is against God's Spirit this was the first Branch of one of the seven Changes recited before To prove this Charge J. C. asserted That the Quakers Religion held forth Blasphemy viz. That the Soul of Man is God and to prove it quoted G. F's Great Mystery p. 90 92. Reply I denyed that the Quakers held Man's Soul to be God and renounced that Doctrine as Blasphemy whereof G. F. and the Quakers Religion are clear Now J. Cheyney in his Relation says Having nothing that they could object but only that Fox doth not expressly say that the Soul is God Reply In this J. C. is a Lyar G. F.'s words I owned and said they did admit of no such consequence as that Man's Soul is God But I told him he wrested and perverted G. F's words and meaning as he did the Scriptures G. F. queried of the Priests Is not the Soul coming from God Infinite I affirmed the Breath of Life which God breathed into Man the Life and Spirit which came forth from God the Life of Man's Soul or by which Man became a living Soul was infinite and G. F's words as intended were sound J. C. affirmed There was n othing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning I replied The Son of God came forth from God yet the Son of God was infinite and without beginning to which J. C. was silent This my Answer was according to Scripture John 8.42 Jesus said I proceeded forth and came from God this was he who said John 17.5 O Father Glorifie thou me with thy own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Verse 24. For thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World John 16.27 28 30. For the Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from the Fathar and am come into the World Again I leave the World and go to the Father by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Again J. C. asserted There was nothing in Man that is infinite I replied The Breath of Life breathed into Man the Spirit of God in Man is Infinite This was according to Scripture Gen. 2.7 And breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and â—hat the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Mat. 10.20 The Spirit of the Father which speaketh in you Mark The Spirit of God was in Men dwelt in them spoke in them so according to the Scriptures God's Spirit which is infinite dwells in Man and speaks in Man even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 So there is something in Man that is Infinite Now Reader is not J. C's assertion There is nothing come forth from God which is infinite and without beginning and that there is nothing in Man which is infinite plainly manifest to be contrary to Scripture Hath not J. C. denied the Son of God who came forth from God to be Infinite and without Beginning Hath he not also denied the Spirit of Trust which proceedeth from the Father to 〈…〉 Infinite and without Beginning 〈…〉 is not J. C. a Lyar against the â—criptures a Lyar against the Son 〈…〉 and a Lyar against the Spirit of Truth And is not this Blasphemy to deny Christ the Son of God who came forth front God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning For J. C. said expresly There was nothing came forth from God which 〈…〉 and without Beginning And is not J. C. a Blasphemer in denying the Son of God who came forth from God and the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father to be Infinite and without Beginning Let the Reader judge I have
Christian Husbands and Wives are to walk c In the same page That they quite Subvert all the Rules of Duty between Ministers and People c. In the same page That they pluck down Prayer Root and Branch In the same page That by the Quakers Doctrine we may all pray none or pray Curses and Blasphemies In page 22. again That the Quakers Religion doth pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines and Rules of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God c. In page 13. That the Quakers say Every Man may make as good if not a better Bible than this we have In page 17. That the Quakers are guilty of affirming The Light in every Man to be a part of God as a drop of Water fetch'd from the Ocean is part of it In page 23. That there are no People do more Oppose and Subvert the Spirit than the Quakers In the same page That if the Quakers should practise their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness All these are gross Lyes and wicked Slanders whereof the Quakers and their Religion are clear And that no Lye may remain upon the Truth the Light and Children thereof I add That the Light of Christ within Man wherewith Christ the true Light lighteth every Man is the Life of the Word the Light of Men John 1.4 The Spirit of God given to instruct them Neh. 9.20 Ezek. 36.27 The Manifestation of which Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15.26 Reproves the World of Sin John 15.8 And maketh manifest all things that are reproved Ephes 5.13 For that is the Spirit of Truth which reproveth and convinceth of Sin and the Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Christ for Christ is the Truth John 14.6 And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God for the Son and the Father are One John 10.30 5.18 to 27. One Lord one God and Father of all Ephes 4.5 6. Christ and God is Light John 1.4 9. 8.12 9.5 1 John 1.5 The Lord our God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 God is a Spirit John 4.24 The Lord is that Spirit which giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 17. The changing of Man from Death to Life is by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins even to give every Man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing Jer. 17.10 The Spirit saith I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your Works Rev. 2.23 The Spirit searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 Hereby it is evident the Spirit of God is one with God and Christ and so God Infinite Omnipresent who is One Lord and his Name One Zach 14.9 who sees all things there is nothing hid or can be hid from God's Spirit all things being known and seen by the Spirit of God Man's Thoughts are shewed and told by it and whatsoever thing is reproved it sheweth and maketh manifest And that which makes manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Well then the Spirit of Truth is the Light of Christ within Man which makes manifest and sheweth whatsoever thing is reproved by it which declareth to Man the Thoughts of his Heart and giveth to every Man according to his Works which reproveth and convinceth Man of Sin and leads into all Truth in which we called Quakers have believed and walk in even in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ and so witness the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all Sin and the Light and Spirit of Christ leading us on together into all Truth in which blessed Light we have Fellowship with God who is Light and one with another 1 John 1.5.7 And so are of that pure Religion which is undefiled before God and unspotted of the World James 1.27 This blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within leads us to do unto all Men that which is right in the sight of God and all of us that walk in in it walk according to the Precepts Doctrines and Commands of God contained in the Scriptures and witness in measure the fulfilling of what is therein written for our Learning that the Man of God may be Perfect c. And the keeping of the great Commandment which is Love So then this blessed Light or Spirit of Christ within born witness to and walked in by us called Quakers which indeed is both our Rule and Way doth lead and guide us not to oppose God's Spirit for then we should oppose our Rule and Way which is the Spirit of God nor to pluck up by the Roots all the Doctrines Precepts and Commands of Knowledge Worship and Obedience touching God contained in the Scriptures of Truth as J. C. hath slandered us but to live and walk therein and up thereunto and manifest both our Love and Honour to the Spirit of God and Esteem for the Scriptures of Truth in living that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and the Spirit of God commands which Holy Life lived by us through the Spirit fulfils and justifies the Scriptures of Truth and exalts and glorifies the Spirit of God over all for God alone is worthy for ever and ever Neither doth the Light and Spirit of Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are led and taught lead them to teach Treason and Rebellion which J. C. most wickedly hath charged the Quakers withal but the Light teacheth and leadeth them to live peaceably and quietly under the Government where they are placed and to seek the good of all Men to Pray for Kings and them which are in Authority that under their Government they might live in all Godliness and Honesty a Quiet and Peaceable Life to Exhort one another to Love and good Works and to teach Fidelity and Obedience to the Governments and Governours appointed by God that both Magistrates and their Governments may be submitted unto and obeyed by all People that there-under live by doing or suffering what cannot for Conscience sake God-ward be done and that whoever may answer the King and his Government in suffering for Conscience God-wards not to seek Revenge nor the Hurt of the King or his Government but to leave Judgment to God alone who disposeth of Kingdoms and Thrones Government and Kings at his pleasure and to Pray to God to perswade the Hearts of Kings to fear him to be Encouragers of Piety and Godliness but to Discourage all Wickedness and to Honour Christ the Lord the true Light over all who purgeth the Conscience from dead Works and fills it with the Mystery of the living Faith that over Conscience Christ may only Rule and Govern whose Right it is that in so doing their Government may be blessed to their Comfort and the Benefit of the People and the Honour and Glory of God who is King of Kings and
Thus But rather strengthen our selves in the Lord that we may according to our Membership be more capable to serve the Lord and his People as we had him and others for Examples it was a Portion of the Lord's Spirit that made him a Worthy in Israel that hath made me at this time thus Testifie of him so that I can say He being Dead yet speaketh God by his goodness grant to raise many such helps in Israel to the dignifying of his Name which this our dear deceased Friend sought Since I have known Truth above twenty Years and observed the Conversation of such as were in Christ before me I have beheld few if any more remote from self-Praise or Exaltation I believe while in this Tabernacle I shall not forget his Advice to me the first opportunity I had with him after I was convinced by him viz. Not to Attribute any thing to Man but give God the Glory and with what Reverence and Gravity these things were expressed his Humility at that time reached the better part in me and I hope will remain as a Nail fastned in a sure Place My Prayer to the Lord is that he may raise many such Ministers in his now Israel to the furtherance of his Name Truth and Holiness and that many may be willing as he was to spend and be spent to go to and fro that Knowledge may be increased What I have already testified of this my Father and Friend for in his Bonds he begat me hath eased my Spirit I loved him dearly in his Life and no less at his Death whose Savour reached to People of all sorts and his Death lamented I was several times with him in his Sickness and was concerned in Mind to go down a little before his Departure so that with many good Friends I was present and saw him put off this outward Tabernacle though to our Sorrow yet in a full perswasion that he died the Death of the Righteous prepared for that future felicity which a numberless Number is following after which neither Hell nor Death Beast or false Prophet shall be able to hinder Amen Amen Although I could further Amplify and Enlarge this my Testimony yet shall desist with Real and Ardent Desires to the Lord that he may order our Conversation aright and that all that names the Name of Jesus may depart from Iniquity and be sanctified to reign with the Righteous World without End Christopher Winn. Penkâ—th near Warrington in Lancashire the 3d of the 3d Month 1697. William Ellis's Testimony concerning dear Friend Roger Haydock I Have much in my Heart concerning our dear Friend Roger Haydock tho' I cannot express to the full what I know of him but however I shall say the less not questioning but that there are Testimonies in the Hearts of many Friends to his Worth and Faithfulness and Service in the Blessed and Holy Truth wherein we have believed and felt the Blessed Effects of our Faith to the great Comfort and Consolation of our Souls It was about twenty one Years the last 3d Month since I was Convinced of the Blessed Truth And though I have since that day had many Instructors in Christ yet I have not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus was I begotten by him through the Gospel and the Operation of the Holy Spirit which did Effectually open a door of Entrance in my Heart as it opened a door of Utterance unto him It was at a Meeting at Bradley near Skipton in Yorkshire where he declared the Day of God which was broken forth in this Age in great Splendor to Enlighten Mankind he spoke many things which reached the States of many in that day alluding from the State of Israel of old who passed through the Sea and saw the wondrous Works which the Lord wrought for their Deliverance yet some forgot him and made themselves Idols of their Jewels and Earings saying These be thy Gods O Israel who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and then sat down to Eat and Drink and rose to Play With many more precious Words wherewith he did sound forth the glorious Gospel I was abundantly satisfied that day with what I had felt and heard So I took heed unto the Word in my Heart unto which I had been directed by him and it grew and Increased and my Faith Increased and I became according to my small Measure obedient thereunto and my Soul was in love with the Truth and the Followers thereof especially with him who had been the Instrument of publishing the same to me his Feet was indeed beautiful unto me and I could say in Truth Blessed be him that Cometh in the Name of the Lord I saw his Zeal and was sensible of the Sincerity of his Heart and Endeavours in his Life-time to promote to his utmost the great Name of God And when through Providence I came to be more Intimately Acquainted with him I was confirmed in my sense of him and his Love to God and Zeal for the Truth and have in many private Opportunities with him been abundantly satisfied in the sweet Society and Fellowship we have injoyed together and I am fully perswaded that his Root was in the Truth and that he was sensible that the Root bore him and he grew therein and laboured much to bring People to be established upon the Sure Rock Christ Jesus the Root of Life upon which the True Church is Built And I know his Labours in that Respect was great and the Lord saw his Faithfulness and poured out upon him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and of a sound Mind to promote Good Discipline and Comely Order in his Church that She might be like the True Church of Old which John spoke of under the Similitude of A Woman who was clothed with the Sun and had the Moon under her Feet Which Glory did far Excel the Glory that attended Solomon in his best State for the sake of which the Queen of the South came far and was overcome with the Sight thereof Thus did he Labour and Travel in his Day spending himself that the Church might be adorned with the Comely Attire and Ornaments of the Holy Spirit and that the Name of the Lord Jesus her Head might spread to the Ends of the Earth Blessed be the great God of Heaven and Earth that raised up him and many more who could hold the Sword and be Expert in the War like the Cant. 3.7 8. Threescore Valiant Men of Israel who kept the Bed of Solomon Or like the Judges 20.15 16. Men of Benjamin who could Sling to an Hairs Breadth and not miss The Lord Raise up more such Faithful Labourers in his Vineyard and give them Wisdom and Zeal to Train up those who shall believe in the Truth in sound Discipline as well as in Word and Doctrine that he may Restore unto the Churc◠〈◊〉 1.26 Judges as at the First and 〈◊〉 as at the Beginning that Men may call them The City of
believe and also that this Breath of Life cannot Transgress or be in Transgression though the Motions of it in the Soul may be quenched and it grieved for so it is when Man hearkens unto and takes Counsel at the Serpent who first drew Man from God's Counsel and thus as it is written God is grieved with the Wicked every day His displeasure or grief is because he would have Man to hearken to his Voice and be saved but Man will not as God complained of old They rejected all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof In this latter sense taking the Soul for that Life or Breath by which Man lived or became a living Soul this as G. F. saith p. 68. is infinite which he must needs intend as his own words do import being taken in their own proper and gennine sense It appears in G. F's Controversie with the Priests about the Soul that he takes up the word Soul and speaks of it under three Considerations 1st The Soul of Man in Transgression in Death 2dly The Soul of Man in the Restoration in Life and 3dly He speaks of the word Soul as being that Breath of Life which came forth from God by which Man Lived or Became a Living Soul which Breath and Life is of God's Being and Infinite as I said before Thus it appears that the Spirit of God the Light of Christ within the Breath of Life and the Quakers Religion and G. F. are all clear from J. C's wicked Charge and J. C. is a Lyar whose Work hath been both by Disputation and Writing to prove that the Quakers assert Man's Soul to be God and so charge God to be guilty of Sin because Man's Soul Sins therefore God Sins This Wicked Blasphemous Assertion and Consequence he would have fastened upon the Quakers which we do utterly deny But J. C. hath failed in his purpose and the Quakers are clear of holding Man's Soul to he God and J. C's false Charge That the Quakers Religion is against God's Spirit remains unproved and like to remain unproved What J. C. hath done is this He hath brought one wicked Charge to prove another by and both alike are utterly false And what J. C. intended Vnjustly to have fastened upon the Quakers is it not in a great measure justly fallen upon his own Head For whereas he says The Quakers do plainly hold Man's Soul to be God therefore when Man 's Soul Sins God Sins is it not clearly evident that J. C. plainly holds the Light within the Light of Christ in Man wherewith Christ lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 something of God in Man Light and Spirit to be Man's Soul to have a hand in Sin to be guilty as being himself and in Hell to be a felf-tormenting Light I shall give some Quotations out of his Book entituled Quakerism Subverted and query a little thereupon and so leave it to the Impartial Reader to judge Pag. 21. of the said Book J. C. saith Every Man hath a Light within him and so we say that Jesus Christ is the true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 P. 28. Hath not every Man a Light within him Mark given him to be his Guide his Monitor P. 27 28. In every Man there is something of God and something of Satan Flesh and Spirit Light and Darkness Upon which I query If something of God in opposition to Satan Spirit and Light in opposition to the Flesh and Darkness is it not the Spirit of God who is a Spirit John 4.24 Is it not Light of God who is Light and in whom is no Darkness at all 1 John 1.5 J. C. says it is something of God Spirit and Light is it not then the Light and Spirit of God according to Scripture 1 Cor. 12.7 Pag. 34 35. he says If the Light within never did err nor can err it is the same to say the Soul of Man never did err nor can err P. 35. When we say The Light smiteth or convinceth excuseth or reproveth it 's but the same to say The Soul doth return upon it self Upon which I query Whether that which Convinceth and Reproveth the Soul for Sin be not the Spirit of Truth which reproves the World of Sin According to John 16.8 10. And if the Spirit of Truth which Convinceth and Reproveth the Soul for Sin then whether he doth not plainly hold the Spirit of Truth to be Man's Soul Pag. 34. he saith The Light hath a Hand in all Thought-sins inward Heart-Sins Tongue-sins and Life-sins Pag. 36. Every Sin I commit the Light within is guilty as being myself Pag. 34. The Light within in Hell is turned to a self tormenting Light Is it not clearly evident from these Quotations out of his Book that J. C. hath asserted the Light within the Light of Christ in Man wherewith according to John 1.7 Christ lighteth every Man that cometh into the World something of God in Man Light and Spirit to be Man's Soul To have a Hand in Sin to be himself guilty of Sin and in Hell to be a self-tormenting Light And is not this Blasphemy And is not J. C. a Blasphemer And if J. C's Religion hold forth and maintain this Doctrine Is not J. C's Religion guilty of Blasphemy And if J. C's Religion be guilty of Blasphemy Is not J. C's Religion against God's Spirit And hath not J. C made a Pit and digged it for the Quakers and their Religion and is not J. C. and his Religion fallen into the Ditch which he made Let the Reader judge The next thing in J. C's Relation that here I shall take notice of is in pag. 6. he saith The Quakers do utterly make void the Scriptures this saith he was prov'd at the Dispute Reply Was ever any pretended Gospel-Minister more void of shame than is this J. C. to publish such Lyes to the World What 's more false than to assert we make the Scriptures void And What 's less true than to say he proved it O wicked Man of slander in the one and shameless impudent Liar in the other I do believe I might have the Testimonies of some hundreds of People who were Auditors at the said Dispute that J. C's Relation is false if I needed thereunto But it may be he thinks the Title of a Minister of Christ will give him Credit where his Lyes are broached with People to believe what he says is true especially against R. H. by him stiled a Sect-Master R. H. expects to fare no better from him than the Disciples of Christ did from his Generation the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites who called them pestilent Fellows Seducers Enemies to the Law and Scriptures all which J. C. is guilty of against the Quakers as the Generation he is of was against the Disciples so it is evident he is in the foot-steps of that Generation J. C. might have remembred the Truth was by his fore-Fathers in whose steps he
Peter alludes 2 Pet. 1.20 21. No Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation Mark for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost The Apostle here speaks of the Prophesies of the Scripture what was spoken in the Motion of the Holy Ghost Now that all that was spoken and is written in the Bible was spoken in the Motion of the Holy Ghost there being something spoken by wicked Men in the Bible which was my assertion J. C. doth not affirm But J. C. will have it That every word in the whole Bible was given by the Inspiration of God to the Holy Pen-Men who were inspired to write them Reply This alters the state of the Controversie betwixt us which was about speaking forth what afterwards was Recorded in Scripture viz. what the Serpent and wicked Men spoke who called Christ Beelzebub a Samaritan and said He had a Devil c. It was not the Historical Relation that we were about but of its being spoken before Recorded we were arguing I said The Serpent the Devil and wicked Men spoke words which are recorded in Scriptures and none of them spoke those words in the Motion of God's Spirit But though it be a little beside the matter I query How J. C. will prove yet I deny not that the holy Pen Men of Scriptures had God's Spirit and were assisted by it in the recording the words of wicked Men that every Pen-Man that writ of the Scriptures writ not a word but what was opened in him by the Inspiration of God which he neither heard of Man nor received from Man but in the Immediate Revelation of God received it and by Inspiration writ it Or whether some of the Pen-Men saw not with their outward Eyes several things which they writ of and heard not with their outward Ears several words which are written in the Scripture which they heard of Men According to Luke 1.1 2 3 4. Acts 1.1 23.16 to 23.1 Cor. 1.10 11. Gal. 2.11 c. Gen. 42.29 45.9 to 28. Judges 16.17 18. 2 Sam. 1.5 to 17. 18.10 c. Esther 4. J. C. in page 21. saith R. H. in the Dispute did openly affirm That God did no where command us to walk according to the Scriptures and the Laws and Doctrines of the Scriptures but all are to walk in the Spirit and after the Spirit and according to the Spirit wickedly opposing the Spirit and his Holy Laws He was quickly silenced c. Reply In this I may truly say John Cheyney hath far exceeded not only the bounds of Truth but Honesty in forging Lyes and publishing a false Accusation and Slander against me to render me odious in the sight of good Men But sure I am notwithstanding J. C's wicked Lyes false Accusation and Slander which I hope will find no more acceptance with good Men than his Hypocritical Praying Dissembling and Lying hath with God as in his Prayer-Book p. 141. that I never so said neither ever so intended For first it is against my Principle the Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth such who stand in the counsel of it and are freely given up to be led by it This Spirit is in the inward parts and that is some-where and God by it in our inward parts commands us to walk Holily Righteously and Godlily in this World to observe his Precepts and keep his Commandments love God above all things and our Neighbours as our selves and to do to all Men as we would they should do to us this is the Law and the Prophets and to own the Precepts Doctrines Laws and Commandments contained in the Scriptures and fully to believe That God who by his Spirit gave them forth through his Prophets commanded that People should keep them and walk in his fear and be Witnesses of the fulfilling of them and walk and live in that Holy Life the Scriptures declare of and this walking is according to the Scriptures Secondly It is contrary to my Practice But lest J. C. or any other if I should speak what I might speak in the Truth concerning it should judge me to boast concerning my Practice I shall say thus much It is such as in measure becomes the Gospel fearing God eschewing Evil and this is according to Scripture And for my Conversation in the World to them who know me and know it also I shall leave it for them to speak further thereof as they find cause whether it be not in measure according to the Conversation of those who in times past walked not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 I did and I do assert as before That the Spirit of God is the Rule of Saving Faith and that the Apostles did not direct People to the Scriptures to be the Rule of Saving Faith or say Walk in the Scriptures they are the Rule For although the Apostle commended the Noble Bereans for searching the Scriptures c. so did he for receiving the Word with diligence but he did not direct the Bereans to the Scriptures to be the Rule of Saving Faith But the Apostle and Apostles directed People to the sure Word of Prophesie which was nigh in the Heart 2 Pet. 1.19 Rom. 10.8 And turned them from Darkness to Light from Satan's Power to the Power of God Acts 26.18 To the Vnction of the Holy One the Anointing within which teacheth all things 1 John 2.27 To the Spirit thereby to mortifie the Deeds of the Body that they might live Rom. 8.13 To walk in the Spirit Gal. 4.16 Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh I say because I thus asserted and also proved the Spirit to be the Rule of Saving Faith and not the Scriptures and the Apostles directed to the Spirit for the Rule and not to the Scriptures to be the Rule and that they did not say Walk in the Scriptures they are the Rule but Walk in the Spirit I say because I did prefer the Spirit to be the Rule of Faith before the Scriptures yet owned the Scriptures in their place Therefore J. C. hath impiously charged me that I said God did no where command us to walk according to the Scriptures yet in Contradiction to himself he grants I affirmed All things are to walk in the Spirit after the Spirit and according to the Spirit all this is very good and if I said it I own it But here is his Contradiction in allowing I said All mast walk in the Spirit and after the Spirit and according to the Spirit which are Scriptural Expressions he grants I affirmed All must walk according to the Laws and Dctrines in the Scriptures for the Spirit which he grants I affirmed all must walk in after and according to viz. the Spirit of Truth commands and leads to keep those Doctrines and observe those Laws and Precepts in Scripture which concern a Holy Life
the said Apostle gave in Charge to Timothy concerning Rishops that they should be Blameless Vigilant Sober no Striker nor greedy of filthy Lucre Not a Brawler not Covetous that he be not lifted up with Pride lest he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil Also the same Apostle to Titus A Bishop must be Blameless as the Steward of God not self willed mark no Striker not given to filthy Lucre one that holds fast the Faithful Word that he may be able by sound Doctrine mark by sound Doctrine to Exhort and Convince gainsayers And whether or no if thou hast been in the footsteps of these Primitive Bishops to whom Paul writ supposing us to be without to wit Gainsayers instead of spending 30 l. to cast us into Prison and of threatning the Jaylor and stirring the Judge against us wouldst thou not rather have laboured by sound Doctrine mark by sound Doctrine and not by casting us into Prison whom thou hast not so much as given the least word of Exhortation unto to have convinced us But I query of thee Whether did any of the Apostles or Ministers of Christ Jesus cast any Man into Prison for denying to pay Tithes or of whom did they ask the Tenths of their increase If thou canst shew me such a President in the Scriptures of the New Testament Or whether they did freely receive and freely give Yea or Nay if Yea then whether Imprisoning People who cannot give their Money for that which is not Bread be not a very unchristian Practice and too much like the way of Cain who was a Persecutor resembling the Error of Balaam who loved Gifts and Rewards And whether such as are in the Practice thereof be not in the footsteps of those Prophets Micah spoke of that bite with their Teeth and he that puts not in their Mouths they prepare War even against him and of such as looked every one for his gain from his quarter Friend Christ said Every Tree is known by his Fruits And if thou be a Minister of Christ the words of Christ will not offend he said Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Such as when he was Hungry gave him no Bread to Eat when he was Thirsty gave him no Water to Drink when he was Naked did give him no Clothing when Sick and in Prison did not visit him such were shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven For said Christ In as much as ye did it not unto them ye did it not unto me Now if such were shut out of the Kingdom who did not these things unto Christ in his Members mark if such as did not visit Christ in his Members in Prison were shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven What then will become of such who Imprison Christ's Members Now Friend consider thy Ways and thy Actions Hast thou done unto us as thou thy self would be done unto Or hast not thou rather broken the Righteous Law of Christ If by thy Works thou be not Justified shalt not thou by thy Works be Condemned since every Man must receive according unto his Deeds be they Good or be they Evil Now If a Bishop should bite with his Teeth and prepare War against an Innocent People because they cannot put into his Mouth and cast them into Prison some of which neither owes him any thing either according to the Law of God or any Law of Man as is known to some of his Agents The like of which I think cannot be parallell'd by all the Impropriators and Priests in England Besides yet done by or at least in the Name and at the Suit of the Bishop and threatens the Jaylor with severe Punishment if he suffer them to have any Liberty at all and likewise stir up the Judge to straiten their Bonds that if possible he might have the Lives of such for whom Christ dyed and bring the Guilt of their Blood upon his Head I say if a Bishop have thus done I Query Whether this be the way for such a Bishop to stand approved in the sight of God and to be manifest to the Conscience of all People and to have a good Report of them which are without or rather the way to fall into Reproach and the Snare of the Devil and bring the Wrath and Judgment of God upon his Head So let the Witness of God in thy Conscience Answer to these things And the Lord God of Heaven and Earth the Righteous Judge of all the Earth whose Judgment is Just Judge betwixt thee and us And unto him we Appeal with whom there is no respect of Persons who Judgeth the Cause of the Poor and the Cause of the Rich and to his faithful Witness in thy Conscience we also Appeal in this matter Whether it be not more Christian like more according to Truth the Example of Christ and his Apostles who gave Commandment unto the Church That they should walk as they had them for Examples in Christ which all true Christians ought to follow to ser us at Liberty than to keep us Prisoners until Death having contrary to the Law ensnared us and bring the Guilt of Innocent Blood upon his Head But now Friend if thou shalt say It is because you will not pay Tithes I Answer One of us being one of the three thou imprisoned and writ against in order to straiten our Bonds hath nothing according to the Law of the Nation Titheable therefore wrongfully imprisoned according to that Law and so detained and as to the other who for Conscience sake refused to pay them if thou canst make good by the Scriptures of the New Testament that Christ or his Apostles sued any Man for Tenths or Tithes and cast them into Prison if they would not pay them give us Chapter and Verse for this and let us see where it is so written that Christ Jesus who has all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him made such a Law and gave it to his Disciples Apostles Ministers Ambassadors and Evangelists and if so let us see where it is written in the New Testament and where his Disciples and Apostles did practice any such Law shew this plain Scripture unto us and we to wit who have any thing Titheable will pay thee Tithe But if thou canst not art not thou a Transgressor of the Command of Christ that said to his Disciples Freely ye have received freely give So to be one that Transgresses and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ as thou may'st see in the se cond Epistle of John and the ninth Verse And did ever Christ or his Disciples force any to hear them and come to their Church and if they would not cast them into Prison And did ever Christ and his Apostles force any that were not of their Church to give them Maintenance or Tithes and if they would not cast them into Prison and threaten the Jaylor to
Quotidian Ague which continu'd nine Weeks in which time he was assessed 20 s. for a Preacher and had Corn taken by Thomas Taylor and Thomas Clare worth 28 s. and the second time assessed the like Sum and had Wheat taken for it A Dispute agreed upon by him in the latter end of the 12th Month 1692. and had with John Hide a Priest in Cheshire the 16th of the first Month 1693. which alarmed the People of that County and was of Service to Truth Afterwards he took his Journey through many of the Southern Counties through Wales by Bristol Weymouth and so to London at the Yearly Meeting After returned to Lancashire and Lancaster Quarterly Meeting and to Penketh and so again into the South visiting several Meetings in several Counties and in the 8th Month following returned to Lancashire where he travelled to and again that Winter in the North in visiting the Meetings and about the Affairs of the Church At the Spring 1694. he was at London at the Yearly Meeting giving a full Visit through that City to the several Meetings there and then returned to Lancashire and to York Yearly Meeting and after visited some Meetings in Yorkshire then to Penketh and visited the Meetings in the South part of Lancashire then to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting and after that returned to his own House but staid but a while for he travelled to and again in Lancashire and Cheshire till the 11th Month and then went to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting so to Kendal at Quarterly Meeting then visited some of the Meetings in those parts and then came back for Penketh The 20th of the first Month 1695. took his Journey to the Yearly Meeting in Wales and then visited the Churches in several places therein so to Bristol visited the Meetings there and staid the Yearly Meeting then visiting the Meetings in several Counties Southward came to London at the Yearly Meeting from whence to Colchester and Harwich took â—hipping the 26th of the 3d Month â—anded in Holland the 29th lying Windâ—ound 36 Hours came to Amsterdam at Yearly Meeting then visited the Churches in Holland Westfrizeland Groningen Embden to Frederickstadt Hambrough and so along those Countries visiting Friends to Amsterdam and Roterdam afterwards took Shipping and landed at Harwich the 28th of the 5th Month 1695. and so by Colchester to London still visiting Meetings along as he travelled and then for the North where he travelled to and again at times until the 25th of the 12th Month 1695. and then took his Journey for Bristol and was at the Marriage of William Penn with Hannah Callowhill and back After his return he visited Meetings to and again in the North till the 29th of the 2d Month 1696. he with his Brother's John and Robert Haydock accompanied the two Wifes of Roger and Robert on their Journey to Talk-hill in Staffordshire John Haydock and two Women being on their Journey to visit the Meetings of Friends in the South of England and there they parted from John and the two Eleanor's and returned back to Penketh Fifty Three Years Old he was the first of the 3d Month 1696. and having been at Hartshaw Monthly Meeting for Worship the 8th Day day of the said Month returned back and the day following being the 7th day of the Week and 9th day of the said Month was taken with Sickness which was supposed to be a Malignant Fever and upon the 2d day next departed whose Body was buried at the Burying-place belonging to Friends at Grayston in Penketh in the South part of Lancashire many Friends and other People being present And thus have I abreviated the Journal of my Fellow-labourer in the Gospel and dear Brother according to the Spirit and Brother also according to the Flesh whose Unity and Fellowship in the Light was precious being of one Mind in things relating to Truth and the Discipline in the Church of Christ as also of the Doctrine and Precept of Christ being joyned in the Truth which is but one and bound up together in the Bond of Life and Love in our Souls to be one and in the one Eternal Spirit and Light of Life together sealed And although he be removed from the House of Clay or Dust which moved to and fro in the Counties Islands Countries and Kingdoms here below wherein he bore a faithful Testimony to the Light the Truth the Life manifest within in which he was supported and carried along in that weighty Work and Service in his Day yet the Fruits of his Labours and Travels shew forth the Praise of God and his Faithfulness Uprightness and Zeal to God and his Truth is sealed in many Hearts by the Spirit of Christ From the time of his Convincement to the time he was first moved by the Spirit of God to visit the Churches of Christ and Children of Light was four Years in which time Sufferings by Imprisonment he passed through being young Our Father's departure the 10th of the 7th Month 1670. and burial the 12th of the same and other hard Exercises which he past through I at that time being in Ireland in the labour of the Gospel had but small past thereof From the first of his going abroad in the Work of the Ministry to the time of his departure from hence was twenty four Years and a half in which time not with standing his Imprisonment Sickness and Weakness of Body and Family he travelled by Sea and by Land by Computation Thirty Two Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Seven Miles and ministred in Two Thousand Six Hundred and Nine Meetings or Churches as his Journal plainly makes appear which he writ down with his own hand from Day to Day Weekly Monthly and Yearly to that very Day he was visited which was the 9th day of the 3d Month 1696. as aforesaid And now having finished the Account I give taken out of the Manuscript of his Sufferings Travels Services and Zeal as aforesaid add this furthur Account This my Friend departed was my younger Brother begot by one Father and brought forth by one Mother and Born in Coppul in the South part of Lancashire brought up whilst a Child at School and had some Learning who whilst a Schollar had an Exercise of Mind by the in-workings of the Light but at that time attained not to the Knowledge of that good Spirit of God in his Heart which was then at work in him so that after it pleased God the Father in the 7th Month 1667. to visit me by his Light in the inwards of my Heart by which he powerfully work'd in me until my Will was brought down and subjected to the Will of God and my Heart so fitted that in it I saw Christ the Light and Word of Eternal Life and believed After this my said Brother coming to my Father's House was by our Mother put on to Discourse with me she being a Professor and inclined to the Presbyterian Way but quickly he was put to Silence and confounded so that being gone from
noted down and kept since the Dispute in which I have been as short as I well could 〈◊〉 and that the Reader may also perceive the Dis-ingenuity of J. C. who would have his Reader to believe That many Quakers spoke besides R. H. and yet on the other side none spoke but J. B. and that until J. B. gave him leave to manage an Argument he was silent which was utterly false Now I shall examine J. C's Account of this Dispute which is as followeth That J. B. giving him leave to manage an Argument for proof That the Spirit by which the Quakers are acted is not the Spirit of God that 〈◊〉 upon J. B. to prove Reply John Cheyney hath clipped the Charge the Charge was and that which lay upon J. B. to prove That the Light and Spirit the Quakers are led by and direct People to is the Spirit of Antichrist This being the Charge iâ— appears by John Cheyney's account That John Barber had not proved his Charge but it lay upon him to prove The wrong J. C. hath done us 〈◊〉 this◠〈◊〉 clipping the Charge But to bring them 〈◊〉 near together The Quakers are led by the same 〈◊〉 by which they are acted and to the same Spirit by which they are led they direct People This then says J. C. as stating J. B's Charge The Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God then not led by the Spirit of God then direct not People to the Spirit of God therefore that the Spirit the Quakers are acted by led by direct People to is the Spirit of Antichrist This then lay upon J. B. to prove viz. his Charge and having stated it upon J. B. at the latter end of the Dispute and since laid it in writing before him that his Charge was false and in a few lines cleared the People called Quakers of it I shall at present acquiesce in J. C's grant that it lay upon J. B. to prove and shall now examine what he hath done in proof thereof J. C. tells his Reader He propounded an Argument That the Quakers deny the faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ and his Holy Ordinances and so we not acted by the Spirit of God Answ If propounding of an Argument were proof that the Argument propounded were true then J. C. hath done something in telling his Reader He propounded an Argument to prove the Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God But if propounding of an Argument be not proof as sure it is not that the Argument propounded is true then J. C. hath done nothing as to proof in telling his Reader He propounded an Argument to prove the Quakers are not acted by the Spirit of God so his Argument ends in nothing But J. C. tells his Reader He proved the Ministers whom the Quakers do utterly condemn and separate from to be Christ's Faithful Ministers by this Argument They teach sound Doctrine lead Godly Lives are duly Called to the Ministry have their Call and Commission from Christ and he Seals and Confirms their Ministry with the Conversion of Souls And if his Reader will but take his word for it he says He made evident all these Particulars and took off all their Cavils and Exceptions And yet further if his word may but find credit with his Reader In the judgment of all equal Hearers and Standers-by the Quakers were clearly overthrown Answ If J. C's telling his Reader â—e proof that those Ministers the Quakers separate from are Christ's Faithful Ministers or if his saying be made evident All those particulars which was his Argument That they teach sound Doctrine lead godly Lives were duly called to the Ministry had their Call and Commission from Christ and that he seals their Ministry with the Conversion of Souls were full proof or any proof at all against the Quakers then in the judgment of J. C. his Reader might acquiesce That the Quakers were overthrown But if J. C's telling his Reader He proved and saying He made all those Particulars evident not shewing in the least wherein be neither full proof nor any proof at all as sure it is not then in the Eye of any Impartial Reader the Quakers cannot be overthrown This Reader is the substance of what J. C. hath done to prove what lay upon J. B. to prove First He propounded an Argument Secondly he saith He proved it Thirdly he saith He made evident all those Particulars But what wise Man will believe him Lastly he saith The Quakers were overthrown if thou canst credit him but whether thou canst or no this is all the proof thou must have for he quickly tells thee He will forbear to make farther mention of this Dispute Well what J. C. confessed lay upon John Barber to prove lies still upon J. B. to prove for all that J. C. hath either said or done and not only upon J. B. but upon J. C. and who by thinking to taâ—e the Thorn out of J. B's Heeâ— hath struck one full as deep in his own His proprounded Argument signifies nothing but to discover his Folly his saying He proved it is a meet Say-so and no more for he proved no more than J. B. proved and that was just nothing at all With Conversion of Souls of which J. C. boasts so much it was not confirmed that Day That J. C. was Victor and the Quakers Overthrown but on the contrary Truth that Day gaining and the Priests â—ing and that none of the meanest or weakest of their Hearers in the account of some of them in whom God's Witness being reached that Day since separated from them and joyned to the Quakers through believing in the Light wherein Fellowship with God is and with the Brethren also Therefore J. C. is a Lyâ— who says The Quakers were overthrown And although upon the fore recited Particulars I was not principally engaged with J. C. but rather my Friend Alexander Lawrence the matter being taken from J. B. and me yet I give Testimony 〈◊〉 my Testimony is true having the Evidence of God's Spirit with me That J. C. thereby to assume a Glory of a Conquest to himself hath Lyed wickedly in saying He proved his Argument and that the Quakers were clearly overthrown Therefore let his Iniquity stop his Mouth and shame come over him and let his Lyes perish that Truth may stand over his Head and take place with all Impartial Readers Since J. C. hath at least charged us to be revolted from the true Ministers and I may also say At the most but charged us for he hath proved no such thing I might write pretty largely to manifest That neither he nor any of his Brethren the Priests from whom we have turned away are faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ neither are truly called to the Ministry nor have Commission from Christ But because it is only the Examination of this Account concerning that Dispute at Croton I here intend and finding no Tract of his further to prove that he and his
This is so evident a Truth that whosoever hath an Eye to see with may run and read And for his saying We wickedly oppose the Spirit and his Holy Laws I say He wickedly Belyes and Slanders us for we own the Spirit in its place and the Scriptures in their place not opposing them And whereas he saith He quickly silenced me It is a Lye like the rest and he that published it is a Lyar whom having rebuked for it I leave it J. C. page 18. saith As to Matters of Practice he did before all the Assembly charge and prove them to be such as Paul describes Rom. 16.17 18. Men that serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own Belly and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple Reply That J. C. did charge the Quakers to be such as Paul describes c. I grant it being the second of the seven Charges in his fore-cited Paper of Charge that was disputed upon that day but that J. C. proved the Quakers to be such I deny and at the Dispute did sufficiently clear the People called Quakers from that wicked Slander and impious Change wherewith J. C. most impudently Charged them But J. C. relates the Argument whereby he proved as he vainly imagines the Charge against us in that we are Apostates and Turn-coats from the true Faith This is his Argument Reply That we are Apostates and Turn-coats from the true Faith is a Charge as false as the other which he intended this to have been an Argument to prove and this hath been J. C's accustomed way in essaying to prove his Charges against the Quakers viz. One false Charge by another Charge no more true than the former The true Faith is the Gift of God this we are not turned from it is delivered unto us as it was delivered unto the Saints it was their Victory and is our Victory even our Faith our Faith stands in God's Power we live by it The Just shall live by Faith Hab. 2.4 This is the true Faith by which the Just lives we are turned from such as have not the One Faith Ephes 4.5 For all Men have not Faith 2 Thess 3.2 And from such who having in some things the Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof according as the Apostle exhorted some in his day 2 Tim. 3.5 And we are justified by the Lord in so doing So that J. C's Argument is a false wicked Charge we are not turned from the true Faith but from such as have it not But J. C. says He did with sober compassionate Zeal and a warm affected Heart make Challenge to R. H. to give any one Reason for their Apostacy Reply Sober Compassionate Zeal c. J. C. might well have omitted to mention who rather appeared sometimes that day like a Stage-Player than a sober Disputant I might say like one acting the Fool 's part in a Play at times he rather behaved himself than like a moderate Man such words as these in an airy spirit he vented forth I 'll be with thee anon Thou hadst better have kept that word in Thou hast now put a Weapon into my Hand I never thought of with these and the like Expressions stirring up some People to Laughter and putting them into an Expectation he would do some great Matter But alas Their foolish vain Hopes with his fond Conceit were both frustrated for when he had room to speak he acted but like a Fool with his wooden Sword made a Vapour but effected nothing save Shame to himself Now as to his Challenging me to give any one Reason for our Apostacy I answer No wise Man can expect that I should give any one Reason for our Apostacy who are not Apostatized but have the Evidence of God's Spirit that we have the Faith delivered unto us that was delivered unto the Saints for that were to give a Reason for what we are not Nay I am perswaded none but a Novice or a Fool would require it But this is not the first Distraction besides his being Distracted in Prayer J. C. hath run into J. C. saith R. H could give no Reason at all nor had any mind to argue it but shifted it off That the Quakers Religion Ministry Worship and Churches were opposite to theirs And if his Reader will take his word for it he saith He hath given R. H. and his Fellows an Argument at Croton which could not be answered or gainsaid by any of them then nor can they ever answer it Reply That the Quakers Religion Ministry Worship and Church are opposite to J. C's Religion Ministry Worship and Church J. C. hath asserted and if he do believe it what needs further Proof But would not J. C. have been shifting from the Charge and broaching new Matter He would sometimes have been begging the Question to have wrested me from the Charge but keeping him to the Point not giving him leave to Catechise me having put him upon the Proof of his Charge I kept him to it not suffering him to start new Arguments to lead from it he failed in Proof and came off with Infamy As to the Argument at Croton it was there gain-said and answered therefore J. C. is a Lyar who said It could not be answered or gain-said the Invalidity of which Argument may be seen in the former part of this Treatise where I have run it through J. C. saith He repeated the same Argument at Arley Dispute but that I declined the Arguing of it and was utterly unable to maintain my own Religion and to take off the Charge That the Quakers are Belly-gods and Flesh-servers Reply I declined not the Argument for the Validity of it but because it led from the Charge J. C. had undertaken to prove viz. That the Quakers were Belly-gods c. And it being gain said and answered already I shall pass it by only note to the Reader that J. C. said at Croton You own'd the Doctrine which was according to the Ten Commandments Lord's Prayer and Creed To which I replied The Doctrine of the Commandments which is To love God with all the Heart with all the Soul Might and Strength is owned by us and the Doctrine of the Lord's Prayer which is That the Will of God may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven we also own But that you who preach this for Doctrine live up to it we deny and therefore are turned from you And as to the Creed we believe in God and in Christ To this J. C. replied not I suppose that in all his Notes he had nothing writ in Defence of his Cause in this point and perhaps being accustomed to lean upon his Crutch he would not venture to go without it But however it was whether he would not or could not I shall leave it with the Impartial Reader to judge Yet sure I am his Silence was so far a Consent to my Assertion that all unbiassed Hearers could do no less
Steward to his Brother Lane ss FOr as much as Roger Haydock Heskin Fell of Copply and Thomas Catterall Gent. within the Parish of Standish within the County aforesaid and Diocess of Chester have disobeyed and contemned the Process of the Ecclesiastical Court by not appearing at Days and Times appointed to answer in a Case depending in the said Court These are therefore in his Majesty's Name straitly to Charge and Command you and every of you forthwith upon receipt hereof to Apprehend and Take the Bodies of them the said Roger Haydock Heskin Fell and Thomas Catterall and bring them forthwith before us or the one of us or any other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within this County to find sufficient Sureties for their and every of their due Obedience to the Process Proceedings Decrees or Sentences of the Ecclesiastical Court And if they or any of them should resuse so to do That then you forthwith Convey him or them so refusing to the common Goal at Lancaster there to remain until him or them shall willingly do the same See you fail not herein at you Peril Given under our Hands and Seals at Eccleston the 21st day of March Anno Dom. 1674. Christopher Bannestre Henry Houghton In like manner was the Proceedings against Heskin Fell of Coppal Linnen-Weaver He was Apprehended the 7th of the 3d Month committed to the Goal remained Prisoner until the 12th of the 11th Month released as before The pretended Cause was about 1 s. 8 d. for Hen Hay House c. for about three Years This Thomas Catterall was no Friend It is supposed he paid what they demanded The said R. H. and H. F. belong to Blackrod-Meeting Coppul the 28th day of the 1st Month 1675. The Warrant was directed To all Mayors Bayliffs Constables Sub-constables but more especially To the Constables of Coppul Roger Haydock and Heskin Fell 's Letter to the Judge concerning their Sufferings Friend LEt not the plainness of our Stile in this our Address unto thee turn away thy Ear from hearing our just Complaint but be pleased at least to view and according to the perswasion of thy own Heart to do to us the Justice which the Law will afford us We hope as sitting in the place of Judicature thou hast not only Power but likewise a Mind to Right the Wronged and Relieve the Oppressed if Innocent which makes us having some experience of thy Clemency the more freely to lay the Nakedness of our Case before thee hoping thou wilt candidly interpret our words having an eye to the merit of our Cause We have been Prisoners at this Castle about twenty Months for refusing to take an Oath called Juramentum de maâ—itiâ— non Committando in the Consistory Court at York which Oath we are informed though tendered by an Ecclesiastical Judge is neither Matrimonial nor Testamentary but contrary to a Statute made in the 13th Year of the Reign of the King that now is which Statute doth prohibit Bishops Chancellors and all other Ecclesiastical Ministers and Officers to Administer the Oath Ex Officio or any other c. Be pleas'd therefore to consider that the dammage we have sustained in being hindred in the prosecution of our Appeal to York from the unjust proceedings in the Consistory Court of Chester hath not been small being as we are informed Illegally forestalled and prevented by the said Oath but we leave it to thy Judicious Censure as also our Imprisonment for twenty Months or upward instead of having Right done us for our nine Months Imprisonment before the admittance of our said Appeal which hath been no small Charge and Loss unto us and upon consideration thereof we hope thou wilt see we have just ground to lay our suffering Condition before thee and to make our Grievancs known unto thee not that we seek Revenge but that our future Liberty is desired having confidence in thee that if proceeding against us be as Illegal as we are informed and have here hinted by thee our Liberty will be granted Be pleased also to view over the inclosed being a Copy of our Answer tendered to the Chancellor at York whereby thou may'st further inspect into the cause of our Sufferings and how that thus far we have suffered Innocently So having simply and in short laid our Condition before thee we leave it with thee subscribing our Names hereunto Prisoners at Lancaster-Castle Roger Haydock Heskin Fell. A Copy of my Answer tendered to the Chancellor in the Consistory Court at York the 23 d of the 2 d Month called April WHereas I am required to take the Oath called Juramentum de malitio non Committando the Substance of which I understand is to Swear that in my Appealing to York I have done nothing out of Malice c. I Answer It is several Years since I could Swear at all Swearing being expresly contrary to Christ's Command who said Swear not at all But my Yea hath been Yea and Nay Nay according to Christ's Doctrine Let your Yea be Yea and Nay Nay But I can very freely speak the Truth and if I say Nay to or deny the Truth or Yea affirming that for Truth which is a Lye I desire the same Penalty may be laid upon me which is due to them that forswear themselves I therefore affirm I have done nothing out of Malice to Ralph Briddock in Appealing to you nor is there any Malice in my Heart against him The cause why I Appealed was That I who had suffered nine Months Imprisonment in Lancaster Goal for disobeying as saith the words of my Mittimus the Process of the Ecclesiastical Court of Chester might come to Trial that the Truth might appear I knowing my self to be clear for I never saw not had knowledge of any Process And that I might be quit of the Injury done me by Ralph Briddock who sued and imprisoned me because another Man would not pay Tithes can the like be parallell'd I having no Corn of my own nor any liable within his Precincts And also of the Injustice done me by the Illegal proceedings of the Bishop's Court at Chester who decreed me guilty of Contumacy wherein I had not offended as was clear by the Records of that Court whereupon my Appeal was admitted This was the very cause of my Appealing and therefore I do defire Justice at your hands which if you do refuse to do me I Appeal to the Righteous Judge the Lord of Heaven and Earth to plead my Innocent Cause And so I rest a Friend to Truth and a Well wisher to the Souls of all People Roger Haydock Justice Bradshaw and Penington 's Warrant of Commitment Lanc. ss WHereas we whose names are subscribed two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the said County the one of us being of the Quorum having received a Certificate under the Seal of the Consistory Court of York bearing date the 23d of April 1675 declaring unto us that whereas by vertue of a certain Information
Counties to and again in the South visiting the Friends and returned into Lancashire In the 5th Month following he went for Notinghamshire after which he travelled visiting many Meetings in England till the 3d of the 3d Month 1680. at which time he took Shipping for Ireland and landed at Dublin visiting the Churches there and in the South part and Mid-land of that Nation and returned to Dublin the 13th of the 5th Month following at which place he was taken extreamly Sick and lay four days then recovered and travelled into the North and visited several Meetings there but at Lisnegarvy was taken Sick yet passed to Belfast and Knockfergus where his Sickness encreasing grew to a violent Fever so that he was nigh unto Death in the view of most that saw him yet the Lord restored him blessed be his Name After which he assayed to Travel to Lisnegarvy and Lurgan where being weak he rested till stronger and so came to Dublin where Friends gladly received him Staying some Weeks there having good Service he left the City took Shipping in the 7th Month following and landed at Leverpool in the North of England where he visited Meetings to and again till the middle of the first Month 1681. at which time he travelled the Country visiting the Friends to Bristol and so to London where he took Shipping at Gravesend and past to the Brill in Holland The 5th of the 4th Month following he visited the Churches in Holland Westfriezland Groningland Frederickstadt Hambrough Saxony Germany Palatinate An Order was sent from the High Court at Altry by which he was brought before the Chief Magistrate there who kept him Prisoner eleven days being twice brought to the Ant-house and there examined and at last released and so returned visiting the Churches came to the Bril the 17th of the 7th Month following by Packquet Boat came to Harwith and so along visiting Friends Meetings to London and through part of the South and so into the North where he travelled visiting the Meetings of Friends And according to the good Order of Truth practised in the Church he took to Wife Elianor Lowe the 6th of the 3d Month 1682. and after stayed in Lancashire and Cheshire till the latter end of that Month and then travelled for London afterwards through the South part to Exeter visiting the Churches to Bristol and so into the North where he settled his Wife at Warrington in the South of Lancashire in the 7th Month following The 20th of the 6th Month 1683. he was for being at a Religious Meeting committed to Lancaster Goal and kept Prisoner till the 26th of the 3d Month 1684. then set at Liberty The 24th of the 5th Month 1684. he was by the Lord's Assistance Serviceable to Friends in Staffordshire and returned to Warrington very Sick which proved a Fever which continued twenty Days and the weakness that followed forced him to keep home till the 28th of the 7th Month following Then he pass'd Northward and visited Friends Meetings to and again and returned back And the 10th of the 10th Month following was at the Burying of his Mother The 29th of the said 10th Month he was by the Constables of Warrington John Taylor and William Carter apprehended and brought to Lancaster Goal and at the Assizes brought twice before Judge Atkins and continued Prisoner until the 19th of the first Month 1686. at which time he and several other Friends were by the King's Pardon released So that from the 29th of the 10th Month 1684. to the 19th of the first Month 1686. he was a Prisoner In the 2d Month following he spoke to the Earl of Darby about Friends Sufferings in the Isle of Man who was moderate towards the said Friends and then took his Journey to visit the Meetings along the several Counties through Wales to Bristol and so along to Cornwal and so to London to the Yearly Meeting afterwards by Colchester to Harwich where he took Shipping on Board the Hope and landed at the Brill the 11th of the 4th Month 1686. and came to the Yearly Meeting at Amsterdam where by Friends he was gladly received and afterwards travelled those Countries to Hambrough to and again in Germany Groningland Friezland and Holland visiting the Churches And at the Brill took Shipping and landed the 26th of the 5th Month following at Harwich past to Colchester so to London and after visiting the Meetings past along the Counties for the North and came to Lancashire in the beginning of the Winter where he pass'd the Winter over and at the Spring following visited the Meetings further North and pass'd into Scotland by Douglass Glasco and to Edenburgh to a Yearly Meeting there then to Rosse Aberdeen Kinmuck and returned by Edenburgh and after having visited the Churches in Scotland returned to England and by New-Castle through Bishoprick Cleaveland East part of Yorkshire then to York at the Yearly Meeting there Thus having visited the Churches along pass'd for Lancashire to his Wife and Family which he removed from Warrington to Brick-hall in Penketh in the 5th Month 1687. and there settled them In the 6th Month following he was visited with Sickness which continued some time but after he recovered he visited Friends Northward and returned into Staffordshire and Cheshire where he was taken Sick again and in the 10th Month returned to his House not well and kept his Bed several days The 11th Month after recovered and past to Lancaster Quarterly Meeting from thence returned unwell again which continued sometime so that he travelled not much because thereof save only to Meetings in the South part of Lancashire and Cheshire till the 2â—th of the 3d Month 1688. at which time he travelled for London to the Yearly Meeting and returned to Lancashire the latter end of the 4th Month following and travelled to and again visiting the Meetings and about the Churches Affairs in the North the Winter and Spring following and till the beginning of the 6th Month 1689. A violent Fever then took him which brought him very weak yet blessed be God he recovered And in the 7th Month following the Tithe-takers broke open his Gates being lock'd and took his Corn against whose doings he appeared in Testimony and got Cold grew weak again and so continued all Winter till Summer following in which upon the 29th of the 4th Month 1690. he got to Franley Meeting it being the first after his Fever took him which was the 7th of the 6th Month 1689. so that his Weakness made him unfit for Travel near eleven Months afterwards he travelled at times to visit Meetings and about the Churches Affairs Northwards that Summer and Winter following and latter end of the 3d Month 1691. he travelled for London to the Yearly Meeting and so through several Counties visiting Friends Meetings in his return for Lancashire and to and again that Summer and till latter end of the 12th Month he travelled visiting the Friends in the North at which time he got a Surfeit and