Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	let_v	lord_n	praise_v	1,625	5	9.2054	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50608	The Memory of that servant of God, John 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 judgment is shewn concerning some particular things, and his great desires for love, unity, concord, and peace in the church of Christ.	Wilkinson, John, d. ca. 1683. Brief relation concerning the life and death of John Story.	1688 (1688)	Wing M1702; ESTC R19789	42,298	47

I have had with this my dear Friend in which I have often admired the goodness of God who afforded us such good Opportunities wherein my heart hath many times been overcome and rejoyced in a sense of the feeling of the dissolving and tendering Power and living Presence of the Lord God who assisted him with his heavenly wisdom and strength and the testimony of Truth often opened through him reaching and extending unto many states and conditions even as the still Sowres that descended upon the tender Grass in its due season for which my Soul hath blessed the Lord on his behalf many a season and which was and is the only ground and cause of my Love to him and all the Lords faithful Servants whom I cannot but truly esteem for the Truths sake and account worthy of double Honour and I have often thought that if we should not truly love and esteem of such in the Truth it might be just with the Lord to let us know the want of them and to Suffer a Famine of the Word and a Cloud of Ignorance and Darkness again to overspread the Earth which I desire the Lord may in his Mercy prevent and that more faithful Instruments and living Witnesses for his blessed Name and Truth in the room and stead of them that are gone to their Rest may yet be raised up and that many may yet be gathered unto God for the Comfort and Encouragement of the Lords People in this Age and the Ages to come Much more I might say concerning this faithful Servant of God according to my knowledge but herein I have satisfaction believing he is now at Rest and out of all his Troubles and Exercises which in this world he had his share of and through Death hath obtained a Crown and Kingdom that is Everlasting where all Tears are wiped away and Sorrow and Sighing comes to an End Oh that we who are left behind may not content our selves that this our dear Friend live well and is entered into everlasting felicity but may follow the Example of this and all the rest of our dear Brethren which are gon before in all faithfulness and circumspect walking serving the Lord in sincerity and holy Conversation keeping to the Word of his Grace and Truth through which we may overcome all Corruptions receive and possess the Recompence of endless Peace Joy and Happiness when time in this fading World comes to an end that God over all may be glorified who alone is worthy to be Feared and Praised for ever and evermore B. C. Reading the 15th of the 10th Month 8681. Leonard Keep 's Testimony SInce I heard there would be something Printed concerning our dear Friend J. S. it was with me this 15 th of the 12 th Month 1682 to give in this short Testimony concerning him He was a Man of Peace and instrumental in the Hand of the Lord for the turning many to Righteousness he desired the good of all People and I believe is now entered into Rest and Peace with the Lord where all Tears will be wiped away and Longsuffering come to an end notwithstanding Blindness hath happned to many in this Age that they could not see him to be so by reason of the Enmity and Prejudice that have entred their minds more through the Instigation I believe of others than from any deportment that appeared by him I have been in his Company often both in Meetings and out of Meetings and am an Eye and Ear-witness of what is here writ I have often heard him put a more favourable Construction upon his Opposers actions than I believe they could put themselves I have heard him openly opposed and charged falsly and when he hath called for Proof of what hath been said there hath nothing been made appear but at the last shift have referred Friends to the 44 Articles of London M. C. may remember this And I have heard him spoke over when he hath had a concern to the Meeting and had begun to speak first as many may remember which I must needs say was not practised amongst us in the beginning nor was it so in the Primitive times for then all might speak one by one that had any thing upon them as a concern to the People but these things hath happened amongst us in these latter times since some have been apt to pin their Faith on other folks Sleeves and then may speak words as they would have them or else their own and it hath been said it is the Word of the Lord when time hath manifested it to be otherwise So many are kindling a fire of their own and warming themselves by the sparks thereof whose Portion will be such as they had formerly that were so doing unless they repent they must lye down in sorrow God Almighty if it be thy will give to all that have been Opposers of him a sight of what they have been and are yet a doing that so they may say as it was once said Let the time past be sufficient and that for time to come they may do so no more And whatever any may think I have nothing but good will to all men L. K. Thomas Curtis's Testimony who at some time was his Companion in his Travels AS it was said by David concerning Jonathan after his Death so can I in Truth say touching my antient Friend and Brother in the Truth John Story Viz. Very pleasant hast thou been unto me and dear John although thy Body be turned to the Dust yet thy Name liveth now thou art dead and the memorial of thy Faithfulness remains amongst thy Brethren thy Portion is with the Righteous who shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance and shall continue as an everlasting Foundation time shall declare the Meekness of thy Nature and that Gentleness that was in thee towards the Flock of God for in the Lamb-like Nature didst thou come amongst us and as a Lamb among Wolves so was thy Carriage Wisdom went before thee and Vnderstanding was thy Guide So that when first I saw thy Face thou wast to me a Messenger of God and though thou met with many under various Forms opposing each other yet how carefully didst thou instruct them and with great diligence helped th●ir Weakness and such was thy Carriage after a sweet manner that I soon saw a Door of Hope opened by the Lord for the Relief of many and although thou wast but a Lad because of thy tender Years yet such Gravity did appear in thee as made both Old and Young to love thee and thy Testimony was not from Man neither wast thou sent by any Born after the Flesh but thy Testimony was from Heaven and it did accomplish the Work that the Lord sent thee for and thy Doctrine dropt as the Dew upon the Tender-hearted and surely the Spirit of the Lord was upon thee and the Meek and Quiet Spirit was in thee which ever was and still is of great price with the Lord and thou

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

sought after When he heard such Doctrine Viz. Have an Eye to the Brethren it seemed strange and new not like Truth as the proceedings about Outward Orders did remembring the Doctrine before was Look unto the Lord and eye him and The Wisemans Eye is in his Head Spiritually meaning in Christ However what was meant by having an Eye to the Brethren they best know who have used it but John Story in his Life had a great Dislike of it doubting to what it would grow he profest not much discerning in making an outward shew with his Eyes but he had a pure discerning with the Light of the Spirit in the Elect Estate in Christ Satan transformed into an Angel of Light nor his Ministers appearing as the Ministers of Righteousness could not deceive him nor feigned Flattery nor Sheeps Cloathing hide the Ravening Wolf from his Sight nor make him conclude with Threatnings that false Accusations and unrighteous Judgment was of the Lamb's Nature truly the worth of such a Minister of Truth cannot be equalled with outward Treasure and such sent of God is a Blessing to a Kingdom or a Nation but being rejected and opposed will surely bring a Curse but no Disturbers could move him but in all his Sufferings God endued him with Patience though many times in great weakness of Body and often in appearance nigh unto Death But the Prophecy of the badness of his Life in 1676 is now proved as false as Solomon Eccles Prophecy is of the Time of his Death for some years after that God gave him Strength and carryed him hundreds of Miles in his Service afterwards he was very weak at which time a Friend a Doctor George Walker came to visit him and I heard him say He was near gone to all outward Appearance unless God had some further Work for him to do And indeed the Almighty into whose Hand he was committed raised him up again and carryed him South and West Strengthening and Comforting the Brethren till his Testimony was finished in those Parts whose loss is great and Cause of sorrowing that they shall see his Face no more for the Lord brought him to Westmoreland his Native Country where he was received with great Gladness for the Lords Power and Presence was with him to the great Refreshment of the truly Righteous and on a First-day at a Meeting in Kendal cleared his Conscience in Testimony to the Antient Truth in which his Doctrine was wonderful weighty and his Experience very great He was but young as to number of years between fourty and fifty but he fulfilled a great time if Wisdom be Gray-hair and undefiled Life old Age he was weak of Body about two weeks not able to go abroad but little complained of Sickness the gentle Dealings of the Lord was wonderful to him and brought many to remember his meek Behaviour and Neighbours said he lived well and was like to dye well he was like an innocent Lamb opened not his mouth to complain the merciful Dealings of God unto him at all times filled him with a great sense of Joy and true content having assurance to rest with him the Fountain of Life and Fulness which through but a measure of his Spirit such Heavenly Joy and true Content cometh And he seeing his Testimony and Time on Earth was finished his great Love he signified to all Friends in Truth while he had Strength to speak desiring God to preserve them in it to the End and lay silent a pritty while moving his hands as I took it while with him in a sense of Rest and Heavenly Praise after that I had not been two hours from him which was on urgent occasion till word came to me he was Departed So much concerning his Innocent Life and part of Trouble he met with for his Testimony to Truth his Meekness and Content and Assurance of Eternal Felicity as duely observed about the manner of his Departure by John Wilkingson POSTSCRIPT I Have this farther to add that John Story is gone to his Rest whose Testimony when God Revealed his Son in him was given in Gods power and would have sitten in Silence without he Revealed the Word of Life and to all unprejudiced hearers that thirsted after Righteousness and that Knowledg and Power that leadeth to Happiness his Doctrine dropt as the Rain that Refresheth the tender Grass to all thristy and longing souls to their great refreshment and consolation and my Counsel to all opposers of the Ministers of Truth is that they cease for time to come and Repent and let no more slanderers have place to beget prejudice in you but let the Truth you profess be your defence against it And with your own measures savour for your selves least you be led in a false belief by men that love and lust to rule under pretence of Gods motion and unbrotherly proceedings under pretence of Church Power be slow in speaking without certain knowledge especially evil of anytill your own experence with Truth prove it to you through your exact tryal least you be lead by Men into a false Faith to speak evil of true Believers and condemn them to be of a wrong spirit whom God Justifieth and if this counsel had been followed and was the Doctrine of Truth in the begining to your own to your own the difference among Friends had been kept in a narrow compass and but a few concerned that caused difference and the things but Temporal which Spiritual Weapons would soon have conquered and overcome and Truth Peace and stablity would have abounded then high places with spiritual wickedness had not been assumed but when temporal things hath Religion placed in them which only springs form the Fountain of Life this dishonours God who is the Author of all true Religion And makes it a shelter for the greatest Hypocrites and even a Cage for all unclean Birds to Chatter against the Righteous that receive the Word of Truth and both live and practice as their Measures of God Requireth and agreeable to the Scriptures of holy Men who are gon to their Rest where neither false Witness nor unrighteous Judgment can take away their Inheritance I. W. Something taken out of a Letter from George Dodgson to a friend bearing date the twenty seventh of the ninth Month 1681. concerning the departure of John Story THat which I have to communicate to thee and Friends and which is to the Sadening and Sorrow of many hearts is the departure of our Dear Brother I. S. who in much peace and quiet departed this Life the last third day having no sense of Paine upon him to the apprehension of Friends but even as though he had Slumbered very Quietly breathed his last He had been out of health about fourteen dayes before but not very likely for Death till about four dayes before he dyed when the Distemper and Weakness seized more fully upon him He was Intrerred very honourably a great many People being there present both of Friends and of

God than to endeavour to please Corrupt and Changeable Men whose Breath is in their Nostrils and who must go from hence and be no more seen The Testimony of J. J. John Fry Thomas Crabb Sen. John Sealy William Colman John Rogers Benjamin Laurence IF the holy Antients in the Days of old did mourn and Iament at the Death of their natural Friends and Relations or because of the want of them whose Company Counsel and good Advice Labour and Fellowship they had formerly enjoyed unto their Edification and Benefit why should it be thought any way unbeseeming Christianity or the People of God now to mourn and take up a great and solemn Lamentation for the Loss or taking away of Dear John Story who was very serviceable and his Company pleasant and his Advice very good unto us Did not Abraham mourn for Sarah his Wife and Joseph and his Brethren for Jacob their Father And it is Recorded in the Scriptures 1 Sam. 25. 1. That Samuel Dyed and all the Israelites were gathered together and Lamented for him And hath it not run like a natural Stream through all Ages for People that have true natural Affections to Lament the Loss of their Friends and more especially for worthy men of their time who had been very helpfull and serviceable unto them Therefore why may not the Friends of John Story Lament for him Seeing there are many yet living who do indeed know that he was a good Instrument in the Lords hand for their Good demonstrating the Way of Life unto them and others can testifie that he was very helpfull unto them in his Ministry and by his good Advice and Counsel towards the confirming them in the Truth in which they had believed And if any should enquire of us Why we do Lament for him who was so much vilified and in his latter Days so much disesteemed by some who formerly were then accounted his Friends and perhaps would then have said if they had been askt that he was also an Instrument of Good unto them in the Lords Hand Answer We do not thus Lament for him because we are sensible of any Evil he hath done unto any of those who have of late so much disesteemed vilisied and rejected him and his Testimony neither because we are sensible of any Sin or Trespass that he hath now of late or indeed ever in his Life that we know of more than what hath commonly or in general happened unto all men forasmuch as all have sinned and fall'n short of the Glory of God committed against God his Truth or People whereby the Lord should be displeased and take him away in his Wrath and Displeasure nay we do indeed believe having good ground for what we say that he was a Man greatly beloved of God who endued him with a large Portion of Divine and Heavenly Wisdom beyond many of his Fellow Servants and do not in the least doubt of his everlasting Well-being but do indeed believe that his Immortal Soul is entred into that Kingdom of Peace and Glory which shall never end because we are inwardly perswaded that he walked in his Day and Time in that Strait and Narrow Way which leadeth thereunto and that he did honestly Serve the Most High God with an upright Heart according to that degree of Grace and Divine Understanding that was given unto him to profit withal So that we do not Lament for him as a People without hope or doubting of his Rest and endless Peace and Joy in Gods Kingdom But the cause of this our Lamentation is because that by his removal or being taken away from amongst Men we are thereby deprived of the Enjoyment of his good Company who hath been unto some of us both like a Loving Father or an Elder Brother in Christ and as a Wise Counselour unto others And we can truly say That his Conversation amongst us was such as did well become a Minister of the Gospel both in Doctrine and in Practice for his Doctrine was Sound and his Conversation Honest Oh! how wise and prudent was his Behaviour and Carriage amongst his Friends and others where he came How Grave and Solid would he be in all weighty Matters or Discourse and yet at some other times modestly pleasant among his Friends and how Devout and Zealous in his Supplications unto the Most High and in his Declaration amongst Gods People So that we have Cause to Lament for him as for the Loss of an able Preacher of Gods Truth and although we might grant that some others might be more Eloquent and taking with the Affectionate Part in some Weak Hearers by their Declaration yet we know of none more sound in Doctrine nor more Innocent and Blameless in their Conversations than J. S. and his Faithful Companion J. W. And if any should Object against what is said of J. S. his Zeal because he did not of late Years Travel so much or keep so many Meetings as some others may to that we say That we do believe that there were but very few who were truly sensible of his great Weakness and Indisposition of Body that he was afflicted withal for many years insomuch that when he did Declare something largely in a Meeting he was most times very sick at night or sometimes very ill two or three Days after but considering his weakness of Body it is admirable unto us how he hath been carryed forth in his Service in Meetings time after time beyond the Expectation of many 2dly We may Lament for him as for the loss of one who had a great gift both to discern and Detect Eronious Doctrines and practices and in defending the Doctrines of Truth that he or his fellow Ministers held forth if at any time the Priests or Professors did oppose the same Oh! how did the Ancient Friends praise him in that respect and account him as one of the worthys of Gods Israel he was a good Pattern and Example in Life and conversation amongst men for how blamless and innocent was it in great Wisdom and prudence amongst the families where he came giving good advice and counsel at seasonable opportunities to Parents and Children and Servants for he had a good understanding in the things of God and well experienced in the way of Life and knew how to speak a word in season unto the weak or such as through an inward exercise were through the enimies Tempatations and Affaults ready to faint in their minds and turn out of the way we do believe he had great skill to inform such that were ready to dispair and that he was endued with an excellent gift of Wisdom and had of the deep things of God and Mistries of Life opened unto him so that although his Doctrine was generally sound and weighty plain and easie to be understood by mean capacities yet some of us do believe that he was more sound and knowing inwardly in the things of God then some by his outward Declaration might esteem

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