that of Angels as the Scriptures of the Old Testament do in many places express as to Abraham Jacob c. The next was that of the Law by Moses which was also delivered by Angels as the Apostle tells us This Dispensation was much outward and suited to a low and servil State called therefore that of a School-Master to point out and prepare that People to look and long for the Messiah who would deliver them from the servitude of a Ceremonious and imperfect Dispensation by knowing the Realities of those Misterious Representations in themselves In this time the Law was written on Stone the Temple built with Hands attended with an outward Priest-hood and External Rites and Ceremonies that were Shadows of the Good Things that were to come and were only to serve till the Seed came or the more excellent and general manifestation of Christ to whom was the Promise and to all Men only in him in whom it was Yea and Amen even Life from Death Immortality and Eternal Life This the Prophets foresaw and comforted the believing Jews in the certainty of it which was the Top of the Mosaical Dispensation and which ended in John's Ministry the Forerunner of the Messiah as John's was finished in him the Fullness of all And God that at sundry Times and in divers manners had spoken to the Fathers by his Servants the Prophets Spoak then by his Son Chrâ—st Jesus Who is Heir of all things being the Gospel-Day which is the Dispensation of Sonship Bringing in thereby a nearer Testament and a better hope even the beginning of the Glory of the latter days and of the Restitution of all things yea the Restoration of the Kingdom unto Israel Now the Spirit that was more sparingly communicated in former Dispensations began to be Poured forth upon all Flesh according to the Prophet Joel and the Light that shined in Darkness or but dimly before the most gracious God caused to Shine out of Darkness and the Day-star began to arise in the Hearts of Believers giving unto them the knowledge of God in the Face or Appearance of his Son Christ Jesus Now the Poor in Spirit the Meek the true Mourners the Hungry and Thirsty after Righteousness the Peace-makers the Pure in Heart the Merciful and the Persecuted came more especially in Remembrance before the Lord and were sought out and blessed by Israel's true Shepherd Old Jerusalem with her Children grew out of Date and the New Jerusalem into Request the Mother of the Sons of the Gospel-Day Wherefore no more at Old Jerusalem nor at the Mountain of Samaria will God be worshipped above other places for behold he is declared and preached a Spirit and he will be known as such and worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth He will come nearer then of old time and he will write his Law in the Heart and put his Fear and Spirit in the inward parts according to his promise Then Signs Types and Shadows flew away the Day having discovered their Insufficiency in not reaching to the inside of the Cup to the cleansing of the Conscience and all Elementary services were expired in and and by him that is the substance of all And to this Great and Blessed End of the Dispensation of the Son of God did the Apostles Testifie whom he had chosen and anointed by his Spirit to turn the Jews from their Prejudice and Superstition and the Gentiles from their Vanity and Idolatry to Christ's Light and Spirit that shined in them that they might be quickned from the Sins and Trespasses in which they were Dead to serve the Living God in the Newness of the Spirit of Life and walk as Children of the Light and of the Day even the Day of Holiness For such put on Christ the Light of the World and make no more Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof So that the Light Spirit and Grace that comes by Christ and appears in Man was what the Apostles ministred from and turned Peoples Minds unto and in which they gathered and built up the Churches of Christ in their Day For which cause they advised them not to quench the Spirit but wait for the Spirit and Speak by the Spirit and Pray by the Spirit and Walk in the Spirit too as that which approved them the truly begotten Children of God born not of Flesh and Blood or of the will of Man but of the will of God by doing his will and denying their own by drinking of Christ's Cup and being Baptized with his Baptism of Self-denial The Way and Path that all the Heirs of Life have trod to Blessedness But alas even in the Apostles Days those bright Stars of the first Magnitude of the Gospel Light some Clouds foretelling an Eclipse of this Primitive Glory began to appear and several of them gave early Caution of it to the Christians of their Time that even then there was and yet would be more and more a falling away from the Power of Godliness and the Purity of that Spiritual Dispensation by such as sought to make a fair shew in the Flesh but with whom the offence of the Cross ceased Yet with this comfortable Conclusion that they saw beyond it a more glorious Time than ever to the true Church Their sight was true and what they foretold to the Churches gathered by them in the Name and Power of Jesus came so to pass For Christians degenerated a-pace into outsides as Days and Meats and divers other Cerimonies And which was worse they fell into Strife and Contention about them separating one from another then Envying and as they had Power Persecuting one another to the shame and scandal of their common Christianity and grievous stumbling and offence of the Heathen among whom the Lord had so long and so marvellously preserved them And having got at last the Worldly Power into their Hands by Kings and Emperors embracing the Christian Profession they changed what they could the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World into a Worldly Kingdom or at least stiled the Worldly Kingdom that was in their Hands the Kingdom of Christ and so they became Worldly and not true Christians Then Humane Inventions and Novelties both in Doctrine and Worship crowded fast into the Church a Door being opened thereunto by the Grossness and Carnality that appeared then among the generality of Christians who had long since left the Guidance of God's meek and heavenly Spirit and given themselves up to Superstition Will-worship and Voluntary Humility And as Superstition is Blind so it is Heady and Furious for all must stoop to its blind and boundless Zeal or Perish by it In the Name of the Spirit persecuting the very appearance of the Spirit of God in others and opposing that in them which they resisted in themselves viz. the Light Grace and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ but always under the Notion of Innovation Heresie Schism or some such plausible Name Though Christianity
the Stature of the Fulness of Christ when they cannot bear to hear that any shall come whilst upon Earth into the same Power and Spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in Though it be a certain Truth that none can understand their Writings aright without the same Spirit by which they were written Now the Lord God hath opened to me by his invisible Power how that Every Man was enlightned by the Divine Light of Christ and I saw it shine through all And that they that believed in it came out of Condemnation and came to the Light of Life and became the Children of it But they that hated it and did not believe in it were Condemned by it though they made a Profession of Christ This I saw in the pure Openings of the Light without the help of any Man neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures though afterwards searching the Scriptures I found it For I saw in that Light and Spirit which was before Scripture was given forth and which led the Holy Men of God to give them forth That all must come to that Spirit if they would know God or Christ or the Scriptures aright which They that gave them forth were led and taught by But I observed a Dulness and Drowzy Heaviness upon People which I wondred at For sometimes when I would set my self to sleep my Mind went over all to the Beginning in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting And I saw Death was to pass over this sleepy heavy State And I told People they must come to witness Death to that sleepy heavy Nature and a Cross to it in the Power of God that their Minds and Hearts might be on things above And on a certain Time as I was walking in the Fields the Lord said unto me Thy Name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life which was before the Foundation of the World And as the Lord spake it I believed and saw it in the New Birth Then sometime after the Lord commanded me to go abroad into the World which was like a briary thorny Wilderness And when I came in the Lord 's mighty Power with the Word of Life into the World the World swelled and made a Noise like the great raging Waves of the Sea Priests and Professors Magistrates and People were all like a Sea when I came to proclaim the Day of the Lord amongst them and to preach Repentance to them Now I was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light that they might receive Christ Jesus For to as many as should receive him in his Light I saw that he would give Power to become the Sons of God Which I had obtained by receiving Christ And I was to direct People to the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures by which they might be led into all Truth and so up to Christ and God as they had been who gave them forth And I was to turn them to the Grace of God and to the Truth in the Heart which came by Jesus that by this Grace they might be taught which would bring them Salvation that their Hearts might be established by it and their Words might be seasoned and all might come to know their Salvation nigh For I saw that Christ had died for all Men and was a Propitiation for all and had enlightned all Men and Women with his divine and saving Light And that none could be a true Believer but who believed in it I saw that the Grace of God which brings Salvation had appeared to all Men and that the Manifestation of the Spirit of God was given to every Man to profit withal These Things I did not see by the help of Man nor by the Letter tho' they are written in the Letter but I saw them in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ and by his immediate Spirit and Power as did the Holy Men of God by whom the Holy Scriptures were written Yet I had no slight esteem of the Holy Scriptures but they were very precious to me For I was in that Spirit by which they were given forth and what the Lord opened in me I afterwards found was agreeable to them I could speak much of these things and many Volumes might be written but all would prove too short to set forth the Infinite Love Wisdom and Power of God in prepairing fitting and furnishing me for the Service he had appointed me to letting me see the Depths of Satan on the one Hand and opening to me on the other Hand the divine Mysteries of his own Everlasting Kingdom Now when the Lord God and his Son Jesus Christ did send me forth into the World to preach his Everlasting Gospel and Kingdom I was glad that I was Commanded To turn People to that Inward Light Spirit and Grace by which all might know their Salvation and their Way to God even that divine Spirit which would lead them into all Truth and which I infallibly knew would never deceive any But with and by this divine Power and Spirit of God and the Light of Jesus I was to bring People off from all their own ways to Christ the new and living Way and from their Churches which Men had made and gathered to the Church in God the general Assembly written in Heaven which Christ is the Head of And off from the World's Teachers made by Men to learn of Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life of whom the Father said This is my beloved Son hear ye him and off from all the Worlds Worships to know the Spirit of Truth in the inward Parts and to be led thereby that in it they might Worship the Father of Spirits who seeks such to Worship him Which Spirit they that Worshipped not in knew not what they Worshipped And I was to bring People off from all the World's Religions which are vain that they might know the pure Religion and might visit the Fatherless the Widows and the Strangers and keep themselves from the Spots of the World And then there would not be so many Beggars the sight of whom often grieved my Heart to see so much Hard-heartedness amongst them that professed the Name of Christ And I was to bring them off from all the World's Fellowships and Prayings and Singings which stood in Forms without Power that their Fellowships might be in the Holy Ghost and in the Eternal Spirit of God that they might Pray in the Holy Ghost and Sing in the Spirit and with the Grace that comes by Jesus making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord who hath sent his beloved Son to be their Saviour and caused his heavenly Sun to shine upon all the World and through them all and his heavenly Rain to fall upon the Just and the Unjust as his outward Rain doth fall and his outward Sun doth shine on all which is God's unspeakable Love to the World And I was to bring People off from Jewish Ceremonies and from
were a People that fled out of Old England thither from the Persecution of the Bishops here But when they had got Power into their hands they so far exceeded the Bishops in Severity and Cruelty that whereas the Bishops had made them pay Twelve Pence a Sunday so called for not coming to their Worship here they imposed a Fine of Five Shillings a Day upon such as should not conform to their Will-Worship there and spoiled the Goods of Friends that could not pay it Besides many they Imprisoned divers they Whipt and that most Cruelly of some they Cut off Ears and some they Hanged as the Books of Friends Sufferings in New-England largely shew particularly A Book written by Geo. Bishop of Bristol Entituled New-England judged In Two Parts Some of the old Royalists were earnest with Friends to have prosecuted them but we told them we left them to the Lord to whom Vengeance belonged and he would Repay it And the Judgments of God have since fallen heavy on them For the Indians have been raised up against them and have Cut off many of them About this time I lost a very good Book being taken in the Printer's Hands It was a useful teaching Book containing the Signification and Explanation of Names Parables Types and Figures in the Scriptures They who took it were so affected with it that they were loth to have destroyed it but thinking to have made a great Advantage of it they would have let us have had it again if we would have given them a great Sum of Money for it which we were not free to do And some time before this while I was Prisoner in Lancaster-Castle the Book called the Battledoor came forth which was written to shew that in all Languages Thou and Thee is the proper and usual Form of Speech to a Single Person and You to more than one This was set forth in Examples or Instances taken out of the Scriptures and out of Books of Teaching in about Thirty Languages John Stubbs and Benjamin Furly took great Pains in the Compiling of it which I put them upon and some things I added to it When it was finished some of them were presented to the King and his Council to the Bishops of Canterbury and London and to the Two Vniversities one a piece and many bought of them The King said It was the proper Language of all Nations And the Bishop of Canterbury being asked what he thought of it was so at a stand that he could not tell what to say to it For it did so Inform and Convince Pâ—ople that few afterward were so Rugged towards us for saying Thou and Thee to a single Person which before they were exceeding fierce against us for For this Thou and Thee was a sore Cut to proud Flesh and them that sought Self-honour who though they would say it to God and Christ would not endure to have it said to themselves So that we were often Beaten and Abused and sometimes in danger of our Lives for using those Words to some proud Men who would say What you ill-bred Clown do you Thou me as though there lay Breeding in saying You to one which was contrary to all their Grammars and Teaching-Books by which they had taught and instructed their Youth Now the Bishops and Priests being busie and eager to settle and 〈◊〉 up their Form of Worship and Compel all to come to it I was mâ—â—â—d to give forth the following Paper to open unto People the Nature of the True Worship which Christ set up and which God accepts Thus CHrist's Worship is free in the Spirit to all Men and such as Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth are they that God seeks to Worship him for he is the God of Truth and is a Spirit and the God of the Spirits of all Flesh And he hath given to all the Nations of Men and Women Breath and Life to live and move and have their Being in him and hath put into them an Immortal Soul So all the Nations of Men and Women are to be Temples for him to dwell in and they that defile his Temple them will he destroy Now as the outward Jews while they had their outward Temple at outward Jerusalem were to go up thither to Worship which Temple God hath long since thrown down and destroyed that Jerusalem the Vision of Peace and cast off the Jews and their Worship and in the room thereof hath set up his Gospel-Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth so now all are to Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth And this is a free Worship for where the Spirit of the Lord is and ruleth there is Liberty and the Fruits of the Spirit are seen and will manifest themselves and the Spirit is not to be limited but to be lived and walked in that the Fruits of it may appear The Tares are such as hang upon the Wheat to weigh it down and thereby to draw it down to the Earth yet the Tares and the Wheat must grow together till the Harvest lest they that take upon them to pluck up the Tares should pluck up the Wheat with the Tares The Tares are such as Worship not God in the Spirit and in the Truth but do grieve the Spirit and vex it and quench it in themselves and walk not in the Truth yet will scraul and hang about the Wheat the true Worshippers in the Spirit and in the Truth Christ's Church was never established by Blood nor held up by Prisons neither was the Foundation of it laid by Carnal Weaponed Men nor is it preserved by such But when Men went from the Spirit and Truth then they took up Carnal Weapons to maintain their outward Forms and yet cannot preserve them with their Carnal Weapons For one plucketh down another's Form with his outward Weapons And this Work and Doing hath been among the Christians in Name since they lost the Spirit and Spiritual Weapons and the true Worship which Christ set up that is in the Spirit and in the Truth which Spirit and Truth they that Worship in are over all the Tares All that would be plucking up the Tares are forbidden by Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him for the Tares and the Wheat must grow together till the Harvest as Christ hath commanded The Stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Now if the Stone do fill the whole Earth all Nations must be Temples for the Stone And all that say they do travel for the Seed and yet bring forth nothing but a Birth of Strife and Contention and Confusion their Fruit shews their Travel to be wrong for by the Fruit the End of every one's Work is seen of what sort it is G. F. About this time many Papists and Jesuits began to fawn upon Friends and talk'd up and down where they came that of all the Sects the Quakers were the best and most self-denying
and set over all and they were all brought down and bowed under which was of great Service to Truth and great Satisfaction and Comfort to Friends Glory to the Lord for ever After this Meeting were over and Friends were gone to their several Habitations we staid some Days upon the Island and had several Meetings in several parts thereof and had good Service for the Lord. Oister-bay And when we were clear of the Island we returned to Oister-Bay waiting for a Wind to carry us to Road-Island which was computed to be about two hundred Miles As soon as the Wind served we set Sail ROAD-ISLAND and arrived in Road-Island on the thirtieth Day of the Third Month where we were gladly received by Friends We went to Nicholas Easton's House who at that time was Governour of the Island and there we lay being very weary with travelling by Land and Sea On the First-Day of the Week following we had a large Meeting to which the Deputy-Governour and several Justices came and were mightily affected with the Truth The Week following the Yearly Meeting for all the Friends of New-England Yearly Meeting and the other Colonies adjacent was held in this Island to which besides very many Friends who lived in those parts came John Stubbs from Barbados and James Lancaster and John Cartwright from another way This Meeting lasted Six Days of which the first four Days were general publick Meetings for Worship to which abundance of the World's People came For they having no Priests in the Island and so no Restriction to any particular Way of Worship and both the Governour and Deputy-Governour with several Justices of the Peace daily frequenting the Meetings this did so encourage the People that they flocked in from all parts of the Island Very good Service we had amongst them and Truth had a good Reception with them And indeed to give them their due I have rarely observed a People in the State wherein they stood to hear with more Attention Diligence and Affection than generally they did during the four Days together which also was taken notice of by other Friends After these publick Meetings were over the Mens-Meeting began which was large 1672. Road-Island Yearly-Meeting precious and weighty and the day following was the Womens-Meeting which also was large and very solemn and these two Meetings being for the Ordering the Affairs of the Church many weighty things were opened and communicated to them by Way of Advice Information and Instruction in the Services relating thereunto that all might be kept clean sweet and savoury amongst them In these two Meetings several Mens and Womens Meetings for other parts were agreed and settled to take Care of the Poor and other Affairs of the Church and to see that all who profess Truth walk according to the glorious Gospel of God Now when this great and General Meeting in Road-Island was ended it was somewhat hard for Friends to part For the glorious Power of the Lord which was over all and his blessed Truth and Life flowing amongst them had so knit and united them together that they spent two Days in taking leave one of another and of the Friends of the Island and then being mightily filled with the Presence and Power of the Lord they went away with joyful Hearts to their several Habitations in the several Colonies where they lived When this General Meeting was fully over and Friends had taken their Leaves one of another to depart home we who travelled amongst them dispersed our selves into our several Services according as the Lord ordered us John Burneyate with John Cartwright and George Pattison went into the Eastern parts of New-England in Company with the Friends that came from thence to visit the particular Meetings there whom John Stubbs and James Lancaster intended to follow a while after in the same Service of Truth but they were not yet Clear of this Island Robert Widders and I staid some time longer also upon this Island finding Service still here for the Lord through the great Openness of the People and the daily Coming in of Fresh People in Sloops from other Colonies for some time after the General Meeting was over So that we had many large and serviceable Meetings among them for several Days after During the time that we abode here there was a Marriage celebrated amongst Friends in this Island and we were at it It was at a Friend's House who had formerly been Governour of the Island and three Justices of the Peace and many others of the World's People were there and both they and Friends said They never saw such a Solemn Assembly on such an Occasion and so weighty a Marriage and so comely an Order Thus Truth was set over all and this might serve for an Example to others for there were some present from many other places After this I had a great Travel in Spirit concerning the Ranters for there were many of them in those parts and they had been rude at a Meeting which I was not at Wherefore I appointed a Meeting amongst them and I believed the Lord would give me Power over them and he did so to his Praise and Glory blessed be his Name for ever There were at this Meeting many Friends and divers of the World's People some of whom were Justices of the Peace and other Officers and they were generally well affected with the Truth But one of the Justices who had been a Justice twenty Years was Convinced 1672. Providence and spake highly of the Truth and more highly of me than is fit for me to mention or take notice of Then we had a Meeting at a place called Providence which was very large as consisting of many Sorts and Sects of People and I had a great Travel upon my Spirit concerning the Meeting that it might be preserved quiet and that Truth might be brought over the People and might gain an Entrance and have a Place in them For they were generally above the Priests in high Notions and some of them came on purpose to dispute But the Lord whom we waited upon was with us and his Power went over them all and his blessed Seed was exalted and set above all and the Disputers were silent and the Meeting was quiet and ended well praised be the Lord And the People went away mightily satisfied much desiring another Meeting This place called Providence was about Thirty Miles from Road-Island and we went to it by Water The Governour of Road-Island and many others went with me thither and we had the Meeting in a great Barn which was throng'd with People so that I was exceeding hot and in a great Sweat but all was well the glorious Power of the Lord shined over all Glory to the great God for ever Narraganset After this we went to another place called Narraganset about Twenty Miles from Road-Island and the Governour went with us There we had a Meeting at a Justice's House
Reprove those who would have fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them who would not receive him and did not he tell them They did not know what spirit they were of And therefore all who have persecuted Men or taken away their Lives because they would not receive their Religion have they known what spirit they were or are of Therefore is it nor good for all to know by the Spirit of Christ what spirit they are of For the Apostle says Rom. 8.9 If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And does not the Apostle say 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual c. And we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness c. Thus we can see here that the Fight of the first Christians and their Weapons in the days of the Apostles were spiritual in matters of Faith Religion and Worship in the Church of Christ Now would not the King and the Magistrates of Dantzick think that it was contrary to their Consciences if they should be forced by the Turk to his Religion Would it not in like manner seem hard to the Magistrates of Dantzick and contrary to their Consciences if they should be forced to the Religion of the King of Poland or the King of Poland if he should be compelled to the Religion of the Magistrates of Dantzick And if they would not be subject thereunto that then they should be banished from their Wives and Families and out of their Native Country or otherwise be fed with Bread and Water under a strict Confinement Therefore we beseech the King with all Christian Humility and the Magistrates of Dantzick that they would order their proceedings in this matter according to the Royal Law of God which is To do unto others as they would have others do unto them and to love their Neighbour as themselves For we have this Charity that we hope and believe that the King of Poland and his People with the Magistrates of Dantzick own the Writings of the New Testament as well as of the Old And therefore we beseech the King and the Magistrates of Dantzick to take heed that their Work of Imprisoning an Innocent People for nothing but their meeting together in Tenderness of Conscience to serve and worship God their Creator may not be contrary and opposite to the Royal Law of God and to the Glorious and Everlasting Gospel of Truth So we desire the King in Christian Love earnestly and weightily to Consider these things and to give Order to set the Innocent Prisoners our Friends called Quakers at Liberty from their strict Confinement in Dantzick that they may have freedom to serve and worship the living God in Spirit and in Truth and go home to their outward Habitations and follow their Trades and Calling to maintain their Wives Children and Families And we believe that the King in doing such a Noble Glorious yea Christian Work will not go unrewarded from the Great God who made him whom we serve and worship who has the hearts of Kings and their lives and length of days in his hands From him who desires that the King and all his Ministers may be preserved in the Fear of God and receive his Word of Wisdom by which all things were made and created that by it he may come to order all things to the Glory of God which God has put under his hand That the King both He and They may enjoy the Comforts and Blessings of the Lord in this Life and in that which is to come Life Eternal Amen London in England the 10th of the 3d Month commonly called May 1684. G. F. Post-script The King may please to Consider that His and all Mens Consciences is the Prerogative of God After this I went to Enfield where Enfield and in the Country thereabouts several Friends had Country-houses not very far from one another amongst whom I tarried some time visiting and being visited by Friends and having Meetings with them Several things I writ in this time relating to the Service of Truth One whereof was concerning Judging For some who were departed from the Truth were so afraid of Truth 's Judgment that they made it much of their business to Cry out against Judging Wherefore I writ a Paper proving by the Scriptures of Truth that the Church of Christ hath power and ability to Judge those that profest to be of it not only with respect to outward things relating to this World but with respect to Religious Matters also A Copy of which follows Concerning Judging THE Natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things mark all things yet he himself is judged of no Man 1685. Enfield 1 Cor. 2.14 15. So here the Natural Man cannot judge of those things he receives not for they are foolishness to him but he is comprehended by the Spiritual Man and his foolishness and is Judged though he cannot judge the Spiritual Man Do not ye judge them that are within saith the Apostle this Power the Church had and hath therefore put away from amongst your selves that wicked person And did not this Wicked person think you profess and plead for Liberty for his Wickedness and his Freedom as he was a Christian who was lookt upon as a Member of the Church And the Apostle saith For I verily as absent in body yet present in spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath done this wicked deed 1 Cor. 5.3 12. Here the Apostle did Judge though afar off and set up Judgment in the Church against false Liberty under what pretence soever it was And the Apostle saith Dare any of you having a matter against a Brother go to Law before the Vnjust and not before the Saints Here the Saints the Church are to Judge of things amongst themselves and not for the Unjust to Judge of their Matters Do ye not know the Saints shall judge the World So the Saints are to judge the Unjust and not the Vnjust to judge their Matters And farther the Apostle saith If the World shall be judged by you to wit the Saints are you unworthy to judge the smaller matters amongst you So here it is clear that the Saints have a Judgment given them of Christ by his Power and Spirit Light and Wisdom to judge the World and not to carry their Matters before the Vnjust but to judge of them amongst themselves and if they carry them before the Unjust they shew their unworthiness of the Saints Judgment And further the Apostle saith Know ye not that we shall Judge the Angels and Angels are Spirits how much more the things which pertain to this life If ye then have Judgment of things pertaining to this life set them up to judge who have least
this Gospel-day of Christ but Christ will consume them with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy them with the Brightness of his Coming But God's People whom he hath chosen unto Salvation in Christ from the beginning through the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth stand stedfast in Christ Jesus and are thankful to God by and through his Son their Rock and Salvation who is their Happiness and eternal Inheritance The Apostle saith Ye were as Sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls So when People are returned to Christ their Shepherd they do know his Voice and follow him and are returned to the Bishop of their Souls and then they do believe in him 1686. Kingston and receive Wisdom and Vnderstanding from him who is from above heavenly and spiritual Then they do Act like spiritual and holy Men and Women and come to be Members of the Church of Christ and then a spiritual Care cometh upon the Elders in Christ that all the Members do walk in Christ and in his Light Grace Spirit and Truth that they may adorn their Confession and Profession of Christ and see that all do walk in the Order of the holy Spirit and the everlasting Gospel of Peace Life and Salvation And this Order keeps out of Confusion for the Gospel of Peace the Power of God was before Confusion was And all the Heirs of the Gospel are Heirs of its Order and are in this Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light in them by which all Men and Women may see their Work and Services in it to look after the Poor Widows and Fatherless and to see that nothing be lacking and that all do honour the Lord in their Lives and Conversations When the whole House of Israel were in their Graves and Sepulchres and were called The scattered dry Bones yet they could speak and say Their Bones were dry their Hope was lost or they were without Hope and they were cut off so that they were Alive outwardly and could speak outwardly So that which is called Christendom may very well be called The scattered dry Bones and they be said to be in their Graves and Sepulchres dead from the heavenly Breath of Life and from the Spirit and Word of Life that gathereth to God Though they can speak and are Alive outwardly yet they remain in the Congregations or Churches of the Dead that want the vertue of Life For the Jews whom God poured his Spirit upon and gave them his Law when they rebelled against the Spirit of God and turned from God and his Law then they came to be dry scattered Bones and were turned into their Graves and Sepulchres And so Christendom that is turned from the Grace and Truth and Light of Christ and the Spirit that God poureth upon all flesh they are become the scattered dry Bones and are in their Graves and Sepulchres and are the Congregations or Churches of the Dead though they can speak and are Alive outwardly Christ saith I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly And he gave his flâ—sh for the life of the World And he saith I am the Resurrection and the Life and I am the Way the Truth and the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by me And Christ is the quickening Spirit All being dead in Adam they are to be quickened and made alive by Christ the second Adam And when they are quickned and made alive by him then they do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ their Saviour who died for their Sins and is risen for their Justification and so was dead and is alive again and liveth for evermore And all whom he hath quickened and made alive even all the living do Meet in the Name of Jesus who is alive and he their living Prophet Shepherd and Bishop is in the midst of them and is their living Rock and Foundation and a living Mediator between them and the living God And so the Living do praise the living God through Jesus Christ through whom they have Peace with God And so all the Living have Rest in Christ their Life and he is their Sanctification and their Righteousness and their Treasure of Wisdom Knowledge and Vnderstanding which is spiritual and heavenly And he is the spiritual Tree and Root which all the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ that do pass from the death in Adam to the Life in Christ and overcome the World and are born of God are grafted into even Christ the heavenly Tree which beareth all the spiritual Branches or Grafts So these do Meet in his Name and are gathered in him and do sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus their Life who hath quickened and made them alive And so all the Living do worship the living God in his holy Spirit and Truth in which they Live and Walk And into this Worship the foul unclean Spirit the Devil cannot get for the holy Spirit and Truth is over him and he is out of it This is the standing Worship which Christ set up in his New Covenant And they that are quickened and made alive by Christ are the living Stones and living Members and spiritual Houshold and Church or Congregation of Christ who is the living Head and Husband And they that are quickened and made alive by Christ are a living Church and have a living Head and are come from the Congregations or Churches of the Dead in Adam where Death and Destruction talks of God and of his Prophets and Apostles in their Wisdom that is below and earthly and devilish and in the knowledge that is bruitish and in the understanding that comes to naught For what they know is natural by their natural Tongues and Arts and Sciences in which they corrupt themselves This is the state of the Dead in Adam But the Quickened and they that are made alive by Christ do discern between the Living and the Dead Kingston upon Thames the 12th Month 1686 7. G. F. While I was at Kingston I writ also another Paper shewing That the Lord in all Ages called the Righteous out from amongst the Wicked before he destroyed them Which Paper here follows NOah and his Family were called into the Ark before the Old World was destroyed with the Flood of Water And all the Faithful Generation that lived before were taken away and died in the Faith before that Flood of Destruction came upon the wicked Old World The Lord did call Lot out of Sodom before he did destroy and consume it and the Wicked there Christ said It cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem and he said O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings but ye would not Luke 13.33 34. And Christ said unto
harmless and separate from Sinners and is a Priest made higher than the Heavens This is the Priest that gives power to all that receive him to become the Sons and Daughters of God And Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of all the Sons and Daughters of God which is free but Jerusalem that is below is in bondage with her Children And they that are the Children of Jerusalem that is above do not look down at Jerusalem that is below but they look at Jerusalem that is above which is their Mother Christ said Neither at Outward Jerusalem nor in the Mountain of Samaria should God be worshipped but God should be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth for he is a Spirit and such he seeks to worship him John 4. This is the Worship that Christ set up above Sixteen hundred years ago And therefore the Idolatrous Jews must never think to Offer their outward Offerings and Sacrifices nor set up their outward Worship at Jerusalem in the holy Land of Canaan more For Christ by the Offering up of himself once for all for the Sins of the whole World hath ended all the Jews Offerings and changed the Priesthood and the Law by which it was made and hath blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances which commanded both Priests and Offerings and triumphed over them And so he is the Offering and Sacrifice of all the Children of the New Testament and New Covenant and heavenly new Jerusalem that is above and he is their Prophet that openeth to them and Shepherd that feeds them and Bishop that oversees them and Priest that died for their Sins and is risen for their Justification and sanctifies them and presents them to God So he is the one Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus Kingston the 9th of the 10th Month 1687. G. F. Guilford After this I went from Kingston to Guilford to visit Friends there and stay'd three days with them and had a large and very good Meeting there on the First-day of the Week After which I came back to Kingston again Kingston and tarried there about Two Weeks longer visiting the Friends and having Meetings amongst them both at their Publick Meeting-house and in their Families Many things I writ while I was now at Kingston amongst which the following Paper was one GOD so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish mark not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 And again he saith He that believeth on the Son of God hath mark hath everlasting Life ver 36. So these Believers have Everlasting Life while they are upon the Earth And he that believeth on Christ is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already and the wrath of God abideth on him And He that heareth Christ 's word and believeth on God that sent him hath mark hath everlasting life and shall not come into Condemnation but is passed from death the death in the first Adam to life the life in Christ the second Adam John 5.24 And that Meat which Christ doth give endureth unto Everlasting Life as in John 6.27 And the Water that Christ doth give shall be in him that drinks it a Well of water springing up into everlasting life John 4.14 Christ said to the Jews Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me And ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 5.39 40. Here ye may see the Eternal Life is to be found in Christ and not in the Scriptures which testifie of him the Life Christ's Sheep that hear his Voice and know and follow him he gives unto them Eternal Life and they shall not perish neither shall any pluck them out of his hand They shall not pluck Christ's Sheep to whom he hath given Eternal life out of his Eternal hand Christ said to Martha I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead mark though he were dead yet shall he live mark live though he were dead and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this Martha said Yea Lord John 25.26 This is the true and substantial Belief which they that do believe shall not perish but have Everlasting life John saith This is the Record That God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son 1 John 5.11 The Life was manifested and we saith he have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that Eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us 1 John 1.2 So these were the Believers that had Eternal Life in the Son of God and shewed it unto others He that hath the Son hath life saith John and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life 1 John 5.12 Christ saith Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Matth. 19.29 And the Wicked that do not receive Christ shall go into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into everlasting life And the true Servants of God have their fruits unto holiness and their End is everlasting life For the Wages of Sin is death but the Gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And such have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Therefore I desire that God's People may endure all things that they may obtain this Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with Eternal Glory a Glory which is Eternal For Christ being made perfect became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him And this Eternal Salvation is above an External Salvation for they come to receive an Eternal Inheritance and live in the possession of the everlasting Gospel of Joy Comfort Peace and Salvation having eternal and everlasting life in Christ Jesus which shall never die Kingston the 6th of the 11th Month 1687. G. F. Another Paper I writ there Concerning the Stone spoken of by Daniel Chap. 2. which became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth shewing that thereby was set forth the Kingdom and Power of Christ WHen Christ the Stone that became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth had broke to pieces the Head of Gold and the Breast of Silver and the Belly of Brass and the Legs of Iron and the Feet part Iron part Clay which were the four Monarchies to wit the Babylonian and Mede the Persian the Grecian and the Roman and had ended the outward Jews Typical Kingdom Daniel saith In the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed Dan. 2.44 Christ saith All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Matth. 28.18 And he saith My Kingdom is not of this
it to try you for he upholds all things in Heaven and Earth by the Word of his Power All things were made by Christ and by him all things do consist mark consist whether they be Visibles or Invisibles c. So he hath power over all for all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him and to you that have received him he hath given Power to become the Sons and Daughters of God so living Members of Christ the living Head and grafted into him in whom ye have Eternal Life And Christ the Seed reigns and his Power is over all who bruises the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works and was before he was And so all of you live and walk in Christ Jesus so that nothing may be between you and God but Christ in whom ye have Salvation Life Rest and Peace with God As for the passages of Truth in this Land and abroad I do hear that in Holland and Germany and there-aways Friends are in Love Vnity and Peace And in Jamaica Barbados Mevis Antego Maryland and New-England I hear nothing but Friends are in Vnity and Peace The Lord preserve them all out of the World in which there is Trouble in Christ Jesus in whom there is Peace Life Love and Vnity Amen So my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to all Friends every where in your Land as though I named them London the 10th of the 11th Month 1690. G. F. THus Reader hast thou had some Account of the Life and Travels Labours Sufferings and Manifold Trials and Exercises of this holy Man of God from his Youth to almost the time of his Death Of which himself kept a Journal out of which the foregoing Sheets were transcribed It remains that an Account be added of the Time Place and Manner of his Death and Burial Which were thus The next day after he had written the foregoing Epistle to Friends in Ireland be went to the Meeting at Gracious-street which was large it being on the First-day of the Week And the Lord enabled him to preach the Truth fully and effectually opening many deep and weighty things with great Power and Clearness After which having Prayed and the Meeting being ended he went to Henry Gouldney 's a Friend's House in Whitehart-Court near the Meeting house and some Friends going with him thither he told them He thought he felt the Cold strike to his heart as he came out of the Meeting yet added I am glad I was here Now I am clear I am fully clear As soon as those Friends that were with him were withdrawn he lay down upon a Bed as he sometimes used to do through Weariness after a Meeting but soon rose again and in a little time lay down again complaining still of Cold. And his Strength sensibly decaying he was fain soon after to go into Bed where he lay in much Contentment and Peace and very sensible to the Last And as in the whole Course of his Life his Spirit in the universal Love of God was set and bent for the exalting of Truth and Righteousness and the making known the Way thereof to the Nations and Peoples afar off so now in the time of his outward Weakness his Mind was intent upon and as it were wholly taken up with that And some particular Friends he sent for to whom he exprest his Mind and Desire for the Spreading Friends Books and Truth thereby in the World and through the Nations thereof Divers Friends came to visit him in his Ilness unto some of whom he said All is well The Seed of God reigns over all and over Death it self And though said he I am weak in Body yet the Power of God is over all and the Seed reigns over all disorderly Spirits Thus lying in an heavenly frame of Mind his Spirit wholly exercised towards the Lord he grew weaker and weaker in his natural Strength and on the Third day of that Week between the hours of Nine and Ten in the Evening he quietly departed this Life in Peace and sweetly fell asleep in the Lord whose blessed Truth he had livingly and powerfully preached in the Meeting but two days before Thus ended he his Days in his faithful Testimony in perfect Love and Vnity with his Brethren and in Peace and Good-will to all Men on the 13th day of the 11th Month 1690. being then in the 67th year of his Age. Vpon the 16th day of the same Month being the sixth of the Week and the Day appointed for his Funeral a very great Concourse of Friends and other People of divers sorts Assembled together at the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court near Gracious-street about the middle time of the day in order to attend his Body to the Grave The Meeting was held about two hours with great and heavenly Solemnity manifestly attended with the Lord's blessed Presence and glorious Power in which divers living Testimonies were given from a lively Remembrance and Sense of the blessed Ministry of this Dear and Ancient Servant of the Lord his early Entring into the Lord's Work at the breaking forth of this Gospel-day his innocent Life long and great Travels and unwearied Labours of Love in the Everlasting Gospel for the turning and gathering many Thousands from Darkness to the Light of Christ Jesus the Foundation of true Faith his manifold Sufferings Afflictions and Oppositions which he met withal for his faithful Testimony both from his open Adversaries and from false Brethren and his Preservations Deliverances and Dominion in out of and over them all by the Power of God To whom the Glory and Honour always was by him and is and always ought to be by all Ascribed After the Meeting was ended his Body was born by Friends and accompanied by very great Numbers of Friends and other People to Friends Burying-Ground near Bunhill-Fields where after a solemn Waiting upon the Lord and several living Testimonies borne recommending the Company to the Guidance and Protection of that Divine Spirit and Power by which this holy Man of God had been raised up furnished supported and preserved to the end of his Day his Body was decently committed to the Earth but his Memorial shall Remain and be Everlastingly Blessed among the Righteous An Epistle of Dear George Fox's which was writ with his own Hand and left Sealed up with this Superscription viz. Not to be opened before the Time which after his Decease being opened was thought meet to be printed being as followeth Viz. For the Yearly and Second-Days-Meeting in London and to all the Children of God in all Places in the World By and from G. F. This for all the Children of God every where that are led by his Spirit and do walk in his Light in which they have Life and Unity and Fellowship with the Father and the Son and one with another KEep all your Meetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus that be gathered in his Name by his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit
worship God in Spirit and in Truth which Christ set up above Sixteen hundred years since So all Men and Women must come to the Spirit and Truth in their hearts by which they must know the God of Truth who is a Spirit and then in the Spirit and Truth they will Worship him and know what and who they Worship And also the Lord is come to bring his People off all the World's Temples that with the Spirit they may know â—â—at their Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost And the Lord is come to bring his People off all the World's Crosses and Pictures and Images and Likenesses to know that the Power of God is the Cross of Christ which Crucifies them to the World and brings them up into the Likeness and Image of God as Man and Woman was in before they fell and so to Christ that never fell And this Work of Christ must all know in their hearts by the Light of Christ Jesus who is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World It is called the Light in Man and Woman and the Life in Christ the Word and Christ saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And the Light lets you see all your Evil Actions that you have done and committed and your ungodly Ways you have walked in and your ungodly Words and Thoughts and now if you do hate this Light and love the Darkness and the Prince of it more than this Light which is the Life in Christ the Prince of Life and will not come to it because your Deeds be Evil and it will reprove you Christ tells you This Light is your Condemnation And then what is all your Profession good for when you remain under the Condemnation of the true Light in which you should believe and so become Children of Light and out of Condemnation And therefore every one must believe in the Light if they do receive Christ Jesus and as many as receives him he gives them Power to become the Sons of God So he that hath the Son of God hath Life and they that have not the Son of God have not Life and then if you have not Life what good doth all your Profession of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelations do you any more than the Jews Scribes and Pharisees that would not receive Christ the Life upon whom God brought his overflowing Scourge And therefore do you take heed of that for your Strength will be no better than theirs if you have not God and Christ's supporting Power when God's Scourge comes upon you and you are filled with Horrours and Fears But my desires are that you may all Repent even from the Highest to the Lowest and not grieve nor quench nor vex nor rebel against God's good Spirit in you nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace nor turn from it unto Wantonness which would teach you and bring your Salvation Which if you do how can you escape the over-flowing Scourge of the Almighty and the Wrath of the Lamb But my desires are that you may all obey God's good Spirit of Truth which will lead you out of all Evil into all Truth and reprove you for your Righteousness and for your own Judgment and Sin c. and it will bring you to cleave to that which is good and forsake that which is evil and to turn to the Lord who will receive you in his Mercy and Kindness By which Means you may escape the over-flowing Scourge in the Day of Vengeance which dreadful Day is coming upon all Evil-doers And this as a Warning to you both for your Temporal and Eternal Good and for you to Read it in your Assemblies and your Priests to Read it in their Churches so that all People may hear and fear as you will Answer it at the Terrible and Dreadful Day of Judgment Amsterdam the 19th of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. For the Embassadors that are Met to Treat for Peace at the City of Nimmeguen in the States Dominions To pag. 448 CHrist Jesus saith Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5.9 so all Christian men are to forsake Evil and do Good and seek Peace and follow it if they will love Life and see good Days 1 Pet. 3.11 for God hath called all true Christians unto Peace 1 Cor. 7. and therefore all Christians ought to follow this Peace which God calls them to and they should let the Peace of God rule in all their Hearts which is above the Peace of this World that is so soon broken For the Apostle Commands the Christians to let the Peace of God rule in their Hearts to which all Christians should be subject Now the Practice of this should be among Christians that profess Christianity and this Peace is above that which Christ takes from the Earth Rev. 6. which is the Peace of the Wicked And the Apostle saith to the Christians Be at Peace among your selves 1 Thess 5. Now all Christians should obey this Command and be at Peace among themselves and not in Wars and Strife And further the Apostle exhorts the Christians to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace so this Vnity and this Bond of Peace should be kept and not be broken by all that bears that Noble Name Christian and they should keep the Unity of the Spirit of Christ in the Bond of the Prince of Princes and King of Kings and Lord of Lords Peace which is the Duty of all true Christians to keep In which they may honour Christ in bringing forth the Fruits of Peace which is Love and Charity For the Apostle tells you The fruits of the good Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness c. Gal. 5. And the Apostle exhorts the Christians and saith If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceable with all Men and this should be the Endeavour of all Christians For it is no honour to Christ that Christians should war and destroy one another that do profess the Name of Christ who saith He came to save Mens lives and not to destroy them For Christians have Enemies enough abroad without them and therefore they should Love one another as Christ commands who saith By this ye shall be known to be my Disciples if ye Love one another For Christians are commanded to love Enemies therefore much more one another And Christ saith As the Father hath loved me so I have loved you Continue ye in my Love John 15.8 and By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another John 13.35 But if Christians do war and destroy one another this will make both Jews Turks Tartars and Heathens to say That you are not Disciples of Christ. And therefore as you love God and Christ and Christianity and its Peace All make Peace as far as you have power among Christians that
I might be kept in it and then I desired no greater Portion And then he went on to Dalton Aldingham Dendrum and Ramsyde-Chappels and Steeple-houses and places several up and down and the People followed him mightily and abundance were Convinced and saw that which he spoke was Truth But the Priests were all in a Rage And about two Weeks after James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth followed him and enquired him out till they came to Swarthmore and there stayed a while with me at our House and did me much Good for I was under great Heaviness and Judgment But the Power of the Lord entred upon me within about two Weeks that he came and about three Weeks-end my Husband came home And many were in a mighty Rage And a deal of the Captains and Great Ones of the Country went to meet my then Husband as he was coming home and informed him That a Great Disaster was befallen amongst his Family and that they were Witches and that they had taken us out of our Religion and that he might either set them away or all the Country would be undone But no Weapons formed against the Lord shall prosper as you may see hereafter So my Husband came home greatly offended And any may think what a Condition I was like to be in that either I might displease my Husband or offend God for he was very much troubled with us all in the House and Family they had so prepossest him against us But James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth were both then at our House and I desired them to come and speak to him and so they did very moderately and wisely But he was at first displeased with them but they told him They came in Love and good Will to his House And after that he had heard them speak a while he was better satisfied and they offered as if they would go away but I desired them to stay and not to go away yet for George Fox will come this Evening And I would have had my Husband to have heard them all and satisfied himself farther about them because they had so prepossest him against them of such dangerous fearful things in his coming first home And then was he pretty moderate and quiet and his Dinner being ready he went to it and I went in and sate me down by him And whilst I was sitting the Power of the Lord seized upon me and he was stricken with Amazement and knew not what to think but was quiet and still And the Children were all quiet and still and grown Sober and could not play on their Musick that they were learning and all these things made him quiet and still And then at Night George Fox came And after Supper my Husband was sitting in the Parlour and I asked him If George Fox might come in and he said Yes So George came in without any Complement and walked into the Room and began to speak presently and the Family and James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth came all in and he spoke very excellently as ever I heard him and opened Christ and the Apostles Practices which they were in in their Day And he opened the Night of Apostacy since the Apostles Days and laid open the Priests and their Practices in the Apostacy that if all in England had been there I thought they could not have denied the Truth of those things And so my Husband came to see clearly the Truth of what he spoke and was very quiet that Night and said no more and went to Bed And next Morning came Lampit Priest of Ulversion and got my Husband into the Garden and spake much to him there But my Husband had seen so much the Night before that the Priest got little Entrance upon him And when the Priest Lampit was come into the House George spoke sharply to him and asked him When God spake to him and called him to go and preach to the People But after a while the Priest went away This was on a Sixth-day of the Week about the Fifth Month 1652. And at our House divers Friends were speaking one to another how there was several Convinced here aways and we could not tell where to get a Meeting My Husband also being present he over-heard and said of his own Accord You may Meet here if you will And that was the First Meeting we had that he offered of his own Accord And then Notice was given that Day and the next to Friends and there was a good large Meeting the First-day which was the First Meeting that was at Swarthmore and so continued there a Meeting from 1652 till 1690. And my Husband went that Day to the Steeple-house and none with him but his Clerk and his Groom that rid with him and the Priest and People were all fearfully troubled But praised be the Lord they never got their Wills upon us to this day And then after a few Weeks George went to Ulverston-Steeple-house again and the said Justice Sawrey with others set the Rude Rabble upon him and they beat him so that he fell down as in a Swoon and was sore bruised and black'ned in his Body and on his Head and Arms. Then my Husband was not at home but when he came home he was displeased that they should do so and spoke to Justice Sawrey and said It was against Law to make Riots And after that he was sore beat and stoned at Walney till he fell down And also at Dalton was he sore beat and abused so that he had very hard Usage in divers places in these parts And then when a Meeting was settled here he went again into Westmorland and settled Meetings there and there was a great Convincement and abundance of brave Ministers came out there-aways as John Camm John Audland Francis Howgil Edward Burrough Miles Halhead and John Blaykling with divers others He also went over Sands to Lancaster and Yelland and Kellet where Robert Widders Richard Hubberthorn and John Lawson with many others were Convinced And about that time he was in those parts many Priests and Professors rose up and falsly accused him for Blasphemy and did endeavour to take away his Life and got People to swear at a Sessions at Lancaster that he had spoken Blasphemy But my then Husband and Colonel West having had some Sight and Knowledge of the Truth withstood the two Persecuting Justices John Sawrey and Thompson and brought him off and cleared him for indeed he was Innocent And after the Sessions there was a great Meeting in the Town of Lancaster and many of the Towns People came in and many were Convinced And thus he was up and down about Lancaster Yelland Westmorland and some parts of Yorkshire and our parts above one Year in which time there was above Twenty and four Ministers brought forth that were ready to go with their Testimony of the Eternal Truth unto the World And soon after Francis Howgil and John Camm went to speak to Oliver Cromwel And in
Six Months without Bail or Mainprize or until they shall find sufficient Security to he of the good Behaviour or be thence delivered by Order from our Selves Hereof you are not to fail Given under our Hands and Seals this 30th Day of October 1650. Ger. Bennet Nath. Barton Now did the Priests bestir themselves in their Pulpits to preach up Sin for term of Life and much of their Work was to plead for it So that People said Never was the like heard Then after some time he that was Committed with me not standing faithful in his Testimony got in with the Jailer and by him made way to the Justice to have leave to go see his Mother and so got his Liberty And then they reported that he should say I had bewitched and deceived him But my Spirit was strengthned when he was gone Now the Priests and Professors the Justices and the Jailer were all in a great Rage against me The Jailer watched my Words and Actions and would often ask me Questions to ensnare me and sometimes he would ask me such silly Questions as Whether the Door was latched or not Thinking to draw some suddain unadvised Answer from me from whence he might take Advantage to charge Sin upon me But I was kept watchful and chast so that they could get no advantage of me and they admired at it Not long after my Commitment I was moved to write both to the Priests and Magistrates of Darby And first I directed these following Lines to the Priests O Friends I was sent unto you to tell you That if you had received the Gospel freely 1650. Darby-Prison you would Minister it freely without Money or Price But you make a Trade and Sale of what the Prophets and the Apostles have spoken and so you corrupt the Truth And you are the Men that lead silly Women Captive who are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth you have a Form of Godliness but you deny the Power Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do you resist the Truth being Men of corrupt Minds reprobate concerning the Faith But you shall proceed no further for your Folly shall be made manifest to all Men as theirs was More-over the Lord sent me to tell you that he doth look for Fruits You asked me if the Scripture was my Rule but it is not your Rule to rule your Lives by but to talk of in Words You are the Men that live in Pleasures Pride and Wantonness in Fulness of Bread and abundance of Idleness See if this be not the Sin of Sodom Lot received the Angels but Sodom was envious You shew forth the vain Nature You stand in the Steps of them that crucified MY SAVIOVR and mocked him You are their Children you shew forth their Fruit. They had the Chief Place in the Assemblies and so have you They loved to be called Rabbi and so do you G. F. That which I writ to the Magistrates who committed me to Prison was to this effect Friends I Am forced in tender Love unto your Souls to write unto you and to beseech you to Consider what you do and what the Commands of God call for He doth require Justice and Mercy to break every Yoke and to let the Oppressed go free But who calleth for Justice or loveth Mercy or contendeth for the Truth Is not Judgment turned backward and doth not Justice stand afar off Is not Truth silenced in the Streets or can Equity enter And do not they that depart from Evil make themselves a Prey Oh! Consider what ye do in Time and take heed whom ye do Imprison For the Magistrate is set for the Punishment of Evil-doers and for the Praise of them that do well Now I intreat you in Time take heed what you do For surely the Lord will come and will make manifest both the Builders and the Work And if it be of Man it will fail but if it be of God nothing will overthrow it Therefore I desire and pray that you would take heed and beware what you do lest ye be found Fighters against God G. F. Now after I had thus far cleared my Conscience to them I waited in the holy Patience leaving the Event to God in whose Will I stood And after some Time I was moved to write again to the Justices that had Committed me to Prison to lay their Evils before them that they might Repent One of them that signed the Mittimus to wit Nathaniel Barton was both a Colonel a Justice and a Preacher So I writ to them as followeth Friends YOU did speak of the Good old Way which the Prophet spake of but the Prophet cryed against the Abominations which you hold up Had you the Power of God ye would not persecute the Good Way He that spake of the Good Way was set in the Stocks The People Cryed Away with him to the Stocks for speaking the Truth Ah! foolish People which have Eyes and see not Ears and hear not without Understanding Fear ye not me saith the Lord and will ye not tremble at my Presence O your Pride and Abominations are odious in the Eyes of God! You that are Preachers have the chiefest Place in the Assemblies and are called of Men Master and such were and are against my Saviour and Maker And they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven from Men neither go in themselves nor suffer others Therefore ye shall receive the greater Damnation who have their Places and walk in their Steps You may say If you had been in the Days of the Prophets or Christ ye would not have persecuted them Wherefore be ye Witnesses against your selves that ye are the Children of them seeing ye now persecute the way of Truth O consider There is a true Judge that will give every one of you a Reward according to your Works O mind where you are you that hold up the Abominations which the true Prophet cried against O come down and sit in the Dust The Lord is coming with Power and lie will throw down every one that is Exalted that he alone may be Exalted And as I had thus written unto them jointly so after some respite of Time I writ to each of them by himself To Justice Bennet thus Friend THou that dost profess God and Christ in Words see how thou dost follow him To take off Burdens and to visit them that be in Prison and shew Mercy and cloath thy own Flesh and deal thy Bread to the Hungry these are God's Commandments To relieve the Fatherless and to visit the Widows in their Afflictions and to keep thy self unspotted of the World this is pure Religion before God But if thou dost profess Christ and followest Covetousness and Greediness and Earthly-mindedness thou deniest him in Life and deceivest thy self and others and takest him for a Cloke Wo be to you Greedy Men and Rich Men weep and houl for your Misery that shall come Take heed of
of Blood running down the Streets and the Market-Place appeared like a Pool of Blood Now when I had declared what was upon me and felt my self Clear I went out of the Town in Peace and returning to the Shepherds gave them some Money and took my Shoos of them again But the Fire of the Lord was so in my Feet and all over me 1651. Lichfield that I did not matter to put on my Shoos any more and was at a stand whether I should or no till I felt freedom from the Lord so to do and then after I had washed my Feet I put on my Shoes again After this a deep Consideration came upon me Why or for what reason I should be sent to Cry against that City and call it THE BLOODY CITY For though the Parliament had the Minster one while and the King another while and much Blood had been shed in the Town during the Wars between them yet that was no more than had befallen many other Places But afterwards I came to understand that in the Emperor Diocletian's Time a Thousand Christians were Martyred in Lichfield So I was to go without my Shoos through the Channel of their Blood and into the Pool of their Blood in the Market-Place that I might Raise up the Memorial of the Blood of those Martyrs which had been shed above a Thousand Years before and lay Cold in their Streets So the Sense of this Blood was upon me and I obeyed the Word of the Lord. Ancient Records testify how many of the Christian Britains suffered there And much I could write of the Sense I had of the Blood of the Martyrs that hath been shed in this Nation for the Name of Christ both under the Ten Persecutions and since but I leave it to the Lord and to his Book out of which all shall be Judged For his Book is a most certain true Record and his Spirit a true Recorder Then passed I up and down through the Countries having Meetings amongst friendly People in many Places But my Relations were offended at me Nottinghamshire Mansfield Darbyshire Yorkshire Doncaster Balby Wakefield So after some Time I came into Nottinghamshire again and to Mansfield and went into Darbyshire visiting Friends Then passing into Yorkshire I preached Repentance through Doncaster and several other Places and after came to Balby where Richard Farnsworth and several others were convinced So traveling through the Countries to several Places preaching Repentance and the Word of Life to the People I came into the Parts about Wakefield where James Naylor lived and he and Thomas Goodyear came to me and were both Convinced and received the Truth William Dewsbury also and his Wife with many more came to me who were Convinced and received the Truth From thence I passed through the Country towards Captain Pursloe's house by Selby Selby and visited one John Leek who had been to visit me in Darby-Prison and was Convinced I had an Horse but was fain to leave him not knowing what to do with him for I was moved to go to many great Houses to admonish and exhort the People to turn to the Lord Thus passing on Beverly I was moved of the Lord to go to Beverly-Steeple-house which was then a Place of high Profession And being very Wet with Rain I went first to an Inn and as soon as I came to the Door a Young-woman of the House came to the Door and said What! is it you Come in said she as if she had known me before for the Lord's Power bowed their Hearts So I refreshed my self and went to Bed And in the Morning my Cloaths being still wet I got ready and having paid for what I had had in the Inn I went up to the Steeple-house where was a Man preaching And when he had done I was moved to speak to him and to the People in the mighty Power of God and turned them to their Teacher Christ Jesus 1651. Yorkshire And the Power of the Lord was so strong that it struck a mighty Dread amongst the People And the Major came down to me and spake a few Words to me but none of them had any Power to meddle with me So I passed away out of the Town And in the Afternoon went to another Steeple-house about Two Miles off And when the Priest had done I was moved to speak to him and to the People very largely shewing them the Way of Life and Truth and the Ground of Election and Reprobation The Priest said he was but a Child and could not dispute with me I told him I did not come to dispute but to hold forth the Word of Life and Truth unto them that they might all know the One Seed which the Promise of God was to both in the Male and in the Female Here the People were very loving and would have had me come again on a Week-day and preach among them But I directed them to their Teacher Christ Jesus and so passed away and the next Day went to Crantsick Crantsick to Captain Pursloe's who accompanied me to Justice Hotham's This Justice Hotham was a pretty tender Man one that had had some Experiences of God's Workings in his Heart After I had had some Discourse with him of the things of God he took me into his Closet where sitting together he told me he had known that Principle these Ten Years and was glad that the Lord did now publish it abroad to the People After a while there came a Priest to visit him with whom also I had some Discourse concerning Truth But his Mouth was quickly stopt for he was nothing but a Notionist and not in Possession of what he talked of While I was here there came a Great Woman of Beverly to speak with Justice Hotham about some Business and in Discourse she told him That the last Sabbath-day as she called it there was an Angel or Spirit came into the Church at Beverly and spake the wonderful things of God to the astonishment of all that were there And when it had done it passed away and they did not know whence it came nor whither it went But it astonished all both Priest Professors and Magistrates of the Town This Relation Justice Hotham gave me afterwards and then I gave him an Account how I had been that Day at Beverly-Steeple-house and had declared Truth to the Priest and People there There was in the County thereabouts some Noted Priests and Doctors that Justice Hotham had acquaintance with and he would fain have them speak with me and offered to send for them under pretence of some Business he had with them but I wish'd him not to do so Now when the First Day of the Week was come Justice Hotham walked out with me into the Fields and then Captain Pursloe coming up after us Justice Hotham left us and returned home but Captain Pursloe went with me into the Steeple-house And when the Priest had done I spake to
and not living in that which they spake of they were now become DRY They had some kind of Meetings still but they took Tobacco and drank Ale in their Meetings and were grown light and loose But my Message unto them from the Lord was 1651. Cleaveland That they should all come together again and Wait to feel the Lord's Power and Spirit in themselves to gather them to Christ that they might be taught of him who says Learn of me For when they had declared that which the Lord had opened to them then the People were to receive it and both the Speakers and Hearers were to live in that themselves But when these had no more to declare but went to seek Forms without Life that made themselves dry and barren and the People also and from thence came all their Loss for the Lord renews his Mercies and his Strength to them that Wait upon him The Heads of these People came to nothing but most of the People came to be Convinced and received God's everlasting Truth and continue a Meeting to this day sitting under the Teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour Upon the First day of the next Week the Word of the Lord came to me to go to the Steeple-house there which I did And when the Priest had done I spake the Truth to him and the People and directed them to their Teacher within Christ Jesus their free Teacher that had bought them The Priest came to me and I had a little Discourse with him but he was soon stopt and silent Then being Clear of the Place I passed away having had several Meetings amongst those People Though at this time the Snow was very deep yet I kept traveling And going through the Country came to a Market-Town where I met with many Professors with whom I had much Reasoning and I asked them many Questions which they were not able to Answer but said They had never had such deep Questions put to them in all their Lives Stath From them I went to another Place called Stath where also I met with many Professors and some Ranters I had great Meetings amongst them and a great Convincement there was and many received the Truth amongst whom One was an Ancient Man of an hundred Years of Age Another was a Chief Constable and a third was a Priest whose Name was Philip Scafe Him the Lord by his free Spirit did afterwards make a free Minister of his free Gospel The Priest of this Town was a lofty Priest and did much Oppress the People for his Tithes for if they went a Fishing many Leagues off he would make them pay the Tithe-Money of what they made of their Fish though they catched them at a great distance and carried them as far as Yarmouth to sell Now I was moved to go to the Steeple-house there to declare the Truth and lay open the Priest And when I had spoken to the Priest and laid his Oppressing of the People upon him he fled away The Chief of the Parish were very light and vain So after I had spoken the Word of Life to them I turned away from them because they did not receive it and left them But the Word of the Lord which I had declared amongst them stuck with some of them so that at Night some of the Heads of the Parish came to me and most of them were Convinced and satisfied and confest to the Truth Thus the Truth began to spread up and down that Country and great Meetings we had at which the Priest began to rage 1651. Stath and the Ranters began to be stirred and they sent me word that they would have a Dispute with me both the Oppressing Priest and the Leader of the Ranters A day was set and the Ranter came with his Company and another Priest a Scotch Man came but not the Oppressing Priest of Stath Philip Scafe who had been a Priest and was Convinced was with me and a great Number of People were met When we were setled the Ranter whose Name was T. Bushel told me He had had a Vision of me that I was sitting in a great Chair and that he was to come and put off his Hat and bow down to the Ground before me and he did so and many other flattering Words he spake I told him It was his own Figure and said unto him Repent thou Beast He said it was Jealousy in me to say so Then I asked him the Ground of Jealousy and how it came to be bred in Man And the Nature of a Beast what made it And how that was bred in Man For I saw him directly in that Nature of the Beast and therefore I would have known of him how that Nature came to be bred in him I told him He should give me an Account of things done in the Body before we came to discourse of things done out of the Body So I stopt up his Mouth that he could say no more and all his Fellow Ranters were silenced for he was the Head of them Then I called for the Oppressing Priest but he came not Only the Scotch Priest came but his Mouth was soon stopt with a very few Words he being out of the Life of what he did profess Then had I a good Opportunity with the People and I laid open the Ranters ranking them with the old Ranters in Sodom And the Priests I manifested to be of the same stamp with their Fellow Hirelings the false Prophets of old and the Priests that then bore rule over the People by their Means seeking for their Gain from their Quarter Divining for Money and Teaching for filthy Lucre and so I brought all the Prophets and Christ and the Apostles over the Heads of the Priests shewing how the Prophets Christ and the Apostles had long since discovered them by their Marks and Fruits Then I directed People to their Inward Teacher Christ Jesus their Saviour and I preached up Christ in the Hearts of his People when all these Mountains were laid low The People were all quiet and the Gainsayers Mouths were stopped for though they broiled inwardly yet the Power bound them down that they could not break out After the Meeting was over this Scottish Priest desired me to walk with him a top of the Cliffs Whereupon I called a Brother-in-Law of his who was in some measure Convinced and desired him to go with me telling him I was willing to have some Body by to hear what we said lest the Priest when I was gone should report any thing of me which I did not say So we went together and as we walked the Priest asked me many things concerning the Light and concerning the Soul To all which I answered him fully When he had done questioning we parted and he went his way and as he wâ—nt meeting with the other Priest Philip Scafe that was Convinced he brake his Cain against the Ground in Madness and said If ever he met with me
Considerable Men and the Truth was powerfully declared amongst them and the Scriptures wonderfully opened and the Parables and Sayings of Christ were expounded and the State of the Church in the Apostles Days was plainly set forth and the Apostacy since from that State discovered And the Truth had great Dominion that Day so that those Great Men that were present did generally Confess to it saying They believed that this Principle must go over the whole World There were at this Meeting James Naylor Thomas Goodyear and William Dewsbury who had been Convinced the Year before and Richard Farnsworth also And the Constable stay'd with Thomas Aldam till the Meeting was over And then went towards York-prison but did not meddle with me Wakefield From hence I went to Wakefield and on the First Day after I went to a Steeple-house where James Naylor had been a Member of an Independent-Church but upon his receiving Truth he was Excommunicated When I came in and the Priest had done the People called upon me to come up to the Priest which I did But when I began to declare the Word of Life to them and to lay open the Deceit of the Priest they rushed upon me on a suddain and thrust me out at the other Door and fell a punching and beating me and Cried Let us have him to the Stocks But the Lord's Power was over them and restrained them that they were not suffered to put me in So I passed away to the Meeting where were a great many Professors and friendly People gathered and a great Convincement there was that Day For the People were mightily satisfied that they were directed to the Lord 's Teaching in themselves Here we got some Lodging for Four of us had lain abroad under an Hedge the Night before there being then few Friends in that Place The same Day Richard Farnsworth went to another great Steeple-house belonging to a great High-priest and declared the Word of Truth unto the People and a great Service he had amongst them For the Lord 's Dread and Power was mightily over all The Priest of that Church which James Naylor had been a Member of whose Name mas Marshal raised many Wicked Slanders upon me as That I carried Bottles about with me and made People drink of my Bottles and that made them follow me And That I rid upon a great Black Horse and was seen in one Country upon my Black Horse in one Hour and in the same Hour in another Country Threescore Miles off and That I should give a Fellow Money to follow me when I was on my Black Horse With these Hellish Lies he fed his People to make them think Evil of the Truth which I had declared amongst them But by these Lies of his he preached many of his Hearers away from him For I was then on Foot and travelled on foot and had no Horse at that Time and that the People generally knew But the Lord soon after met with this Envious Priest 1652. High-town and Cut him off in his Wickedness After this I came to a Town called High-Town where dwelt a Woman who had been Convinced a little before and we went to her House and had a Meeting and the Towns-people gathered together and we declared the Truth to them and had some Service for the Lord amongst them and they passed away again peaceably But there was a Widow-woman in the Town whose Name was Green who being filled with Envy went to one that was called a Gentleman in the Town who was reported to have killed Two Men and One Woman and Informed him against us though he was no Officer The next Morning we drew up some Queries to be sent to the Priest And when we had done and were just going away some of the Friendly People of the Town came running up to the House where we were and told us That this Murdering Man had sharpened a Pike to stab us and was coming up with his Sword by his Side We were just passing away and so missed him But we were no sooner gone but he came to the House where we had been and the People generally Concluded If we had not been gone he would have murdered some of us That Night we lay in a Wood and were very Wet for it Rained exceedingly In the Morning I was moved to come back to that Town again and then they gave us a full Relation of this wicked Man From hence we passed to Bradford and came to an House Bradford where we met with Richard Farnsworth again from whom we had parted a little before When we came in they set Meat before us but as I was going to Eat the Word of the Lord came to me saying Eat not the Bread of such as have an Evil Eye Immediately I arose from the Table and ate nothing The Woman of the House was a Baptist So after I had exhorted the Family To turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and hearken to his Teachings in their own Hearts We departed thence And as we travelled through the Country preaching Repentance to the People we came into a Market-town on the Market-day and there was a Lecture there that Day And I went into the Steeple-house where were many Priests and Professors and People The Priest that preached took for his Text those Words of Jeremiah Chap. 5. ver 31. My People love to have it so Leaving out the foregoing Words viz. The Prophets prophesy falsly and the Priests bear Rule by their Means So I shewed the People his Deceit and directed them to Christ the true Teacher within declaring unto them that God was come to Teach his People himself and to bring them off from all the World's Teachers and Hirelings that they might come to receive freely from him Then warning them of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon all Flesh I passed from thence without much Opposition At Night we came to a Country-house and there was no Ale-house near They desired us to stay there all Night which we did and had good Service for the Lord declaring his Truth amongst them 1652. Yorkshire The next Day we passed on For the Lord had said unto me If but one Man or Woman were Raised up by his Power to stand and live in the same Spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in who gave forth the Scriptures ☞ that Man or Woman should shake all the Country in their Profession for Ten Miles round For People had the Scriptures but were not in that same Light and Power and Spirit which they were in that gave forth the Scriptures and so they neither knew God nor Christ nor the Scriptures aright nor had they Vnity one with another being out of the Power and Spirit of God Therefore as we passed along we Warned all People where-ever we met them of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon them Pendle-hill As we travelled on we came near a very great and high
Hill called Pendle-hill and I was moved of the Lord to go up to the Top of it which I did with much ado it was so very Steep and High When I was come to the Top of this Hill I saw the Sea bordering upon Lancashire And from the Top of this Hill the Lord let me see in what Places he had a Great People to be gathered As I went down I found a Spring of Water in the Side of the Hill with which I refreshed my self having eaten or drunk but little in several Days before At Night we came to an Inn and declared Truth to the Man of the House and writ a Paper to the Priests and Professors declaring the Day of the Lord and that Christ was come to teach People himself by his Power and Spirit in their Hearts and to bring People off from all the World's Ways and Teachers to his own free Teaching who had bought them and was the Saviour of all them that believed in him The Man of the House spread the Paper abroad and was himself mightily affected with the Truth Here the Lord opened unto me and let me see a Great People in white Raiment by a River-side coming to the Lord And the Place that I saw them in was about Wentzerdale and Sedbergh The next Day we travelled on and at Night got a little Fern or Brakins to lay under us and lay upon a Common Next Morning we reached to a Town and there Richard Farnsworth parted from me and then I travelled alone again Wentzerdale So I came up Wentzerdale and at the Market-Town in that Dale there was a Lecture on the Market-day and I went into the Steeple-house And after the Priest had done I Proclaimed the Day of the Lord to the Priest and People Warning them to turn from the Darkness to the Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they might come to know God and Christ aright and to receive his Teaching who teacheth freely And largely and freely did I declare the Word of Life unto them and had not much Persecution there Afterwards I passed up the Dales Warning People to fear God and preaching the Everlasting Gospel to them And in my way I came to a Great House where there was a School-master and they got me into the House And I asked them Questions about their Religion and Worship and afterward I declared the Truth to them They had me into a Parlour and lockt me in pretending that I was a Young Man that was Mad and had got away from my Relations and that they would keep me till they could send to my Relations 1652. Wentzerdale But I soon Convinced them of their Mistake in that and they let me forth and would have had me to stay there But I was not to stay there Then having exhorted them to Repentance and directed them to the Light of Christ Jesus that through it they might come unto him and be saved I passed from them and came in the Night to a little Ale-house on a Common where there was a Company of Rude Fellows drinking And because I would not drink with them they got up their Clubs and were striking at me but I reproved them and brought them to be somewhat Cooler and then I walked out of the House upon the Common in the Night After some time one of these drunken Fellows came out and would have come close up to me pretending to whisper to me but I perceived he had a Knife wherefore I kept off from him and bid him Repent and fear God So the Lord by his Power preserved me from this Wicked Man and he went into the House again The next Morning I went on through other Dales Yorkshire Dales Warning and Exhorting People every where as I passed to Repent and turn to the Lord and several were Convinced At one House that I came to the Man of the House whom I afterwards found to be a Kinsman of John Blakelin's would have given me Money but I would not Receive it As thus I traveled on through the Dales I came to another Man's House whose Name was Tennant And I was moved to speak to the Family and declare God's Everlasting Truth to them And as I was turning away from them I was moved to turn again and speak to the Man himself And he was Convinced and his Family and lived and died in the Truth Thence I came to Major Bousfield's who received me as did also several others and some that were then Convinced have stood faithful ever since Grysedale I went also thro' Grysedale and several other of those Dales in which some were Convinced And I went into Dent where many were Convinced also Dent. But from Major Bousfield's I came to Richard Robinson's and declared the Everlasting Truth to him The next day I went to a Meeting at Justice Benson's where met a a People that were separated from the publick Worship This was the place that I had seen where a People came forth in white Raiment A large Meeting it was and the People were generally Convinced and continue a large Meeting still of Friends near Sedburgh Near Sedburgh Which was then first gathered through my Ministry in the Name of Jesus In the same Week there was a great Fair at which Servants used to be hired And I went and declared the day of the Lord through the Fair. And after I had done so I went into the Steeple-house-Yard and many of the People of the Fair came thither to me and abundance of Priests and Professors There I declared the Everlasting Truth of the Lord and the Word of Life for several Hours shewing that the Lord was come to Teach his People himself and to bring them off from all the World's Ways and Teachers to Christ the true Teacher and the true Way to God I laid open their Teachers shewing that they were like them that were of Old condemned by the Prophets and by Christ and by the Apostles And I exhorted the People to come off from the Temples made with Hands 1652. Near Sedburgh and Wait to receive the Spirit of the Lord that they might know themselves to be the Temples of God Not one of the Priests had power to open his Mouth against what I declared But at last a Captain said Why will you not go into the Church for this is not a fit place to preach in said he But I told him I denied their Church Then stood up one Francis Howgill who was a Preacher to a Congregation He had not seen me before yet he undertook to Answer that Captain and soon put him to Silence Then said this Francis Howgill of me This Man speaks with Authority and not as the Scribes After this I opened to the People That that Ground and House was no holier than another Place and that that House is not the Church but the People whom Christ is the Head of Then after a while the
they do come to be renewed again into the Image of God they come out of the Natures of these things and so out of the Names thereof Many more such things were declared to them and they were turned to the Light of Christ by which they might come to know Christ and to receive him and might witness him to be their Substance and their Way their Salvation and true Teacher And many were Convinced at that Time Now after I had travelled up and down in those Countries and had had great Meetings Swarthmore Ulverston I came to Swarthmore again And when I had visited Friends a while in those Parts I heard of a great Meeting the Priests were to have at Vlverstone on a Lecture-Day Whereupon I went down to it and went into the Steeple-house in the Dread and Power of the Lord And when the Priest had done I spake among them the Word of the Lord which was as an Hammer and as a Fire amongst them And though Lampit the Priest of the Place had been at variance with most of the Priests before yet against the Truth he and they all joined together But the mighty Power of the Lord was over all and so wonderful was the Appearance thereof that Priest Bennet said The Church shook Insomuch that he was afraid and trembled and after he had spoken a few Confused Words he hastened out for fear the Steeple-house would fall on his Head There were many Priests got together there yet they had no Power as yet to Persecute When I had cleared my Conscience amongst them I went up to Swarthmore again whither came up four or five of the Priests 1652. Swarthmore And coming to discourse I asked them Whether any one of them could say he ever had the Word of the Lord to go and speak to such or such a People None of them durst say He had But one of them burst out into a Passion and said He could speak his Experiences as well as I. I told him Experience was one thing but to receive and go with a Message and to have a Word from the Lord as the Prophets and Apostles had and did and as I had done to them this was another thing And therefore I put it to them again Could any of them say he had ever had a Command or Word from the Lord immediately at any time but none of them could say so Then I told them The false Prophets and false Apostles and Antichrists could use the Words of the true Prophets and true Apostles and of Christ and would speak of other Mens Experiences though they themselves never knew nor heard the Voice of God and Christ and such as They might get the good Words and Experiences of others This puzzled them much and laid them open For at another time when I was discoursing with several Priests at Judge Fell's House and he was by I asked them the same Question Whether any of them ever heard the Voice of God or Christ to bid him go to such or such a People to declare his Word or Message unto them for any one I told them any that could but read might declare the Experiences of the Prophets and Apostles which were recorded in the Scriptures Hereupon one of them whose Name was Thomas Taylor an ancient Priest did ingenuously Confess before Judge Fell That he had never heard the Voice of God nor of Christ to send him to any People but he spake his Experiences and the Experiences of the Saints in former Ages and That he preached This very much Confirmed Judge Fell in the Perswasion he had That the Priests were wrong for he had thought formerly as the generality of People then did That they were sent from God This Thomas Taylor was Convinced at this time Westmorland Cross-land and traveled with me into Westmorland And coming to Crossland-Steeple-house we found the People gathered together there And the Lord opened Thomas Taylor 's Mouth amongst the People though he was Convinced but the day before so that he declared amongst them How he had been before he was Convinced and like the good Scribe that was Converted to the Kingdom he brought forth things new and old to the People and shewed them how the Priests were out of the Way Which did torment the Priests Some little discourse I had with them but they sled away and a precious Meeting there was wherein the Lord's Power was over all and the People were directed to the Spirit of God by which they might come to know God and Christ and to understand the Scriptures aright After this I passed on visiting Friends and had very large Meetings in Westmorland Now began the Priests to Rage more and more and as much as they could to stir up Persecution Whereupon James Naylor and Francis Howgill were cast into Prison in Appleby-Jail at the instigation of the malicious Priests some of whom prophesied That within a Month we should be all scattered again and come to nothing But blessed for ever be the Worthy Name of the Lord the Work of the Lord went on and prospered 1652. Westmorland For about this time John Audland and Francis Howgill and John Camm and Edward Burrough and Richard Hubberthorn and Miles Hubbersty and Miles Halhead with several others being endued with Power from on high came forth into the Work of the Ministry and approved themselves faithful Labourers therein traveling up and down and preaching the Gospel freely by means whereof Multitudes were Convinced and many effectually turned to the Lord. Amongst these Christopher Taylor was one who was Brother to Thomas Taylor before-mentioned and had been a Preacher to a People as well as his Brother But after they had received the knowledge of the Truth they soon came into Obedience thereunto and left their Preaching for Hire or Rewards And having received a part of the Ministry of the Gospel they preached Christ freely being often sent by the Lord to declare his Word in Steeple-houses and in Markets and great Sufferers they were Lancashire Ulverstone After I had visited Friends in Westmorland I returned into Lancashire and went to Vlverstone where Lampitt was Priest who though he had preached of a People that did own the Teachings of God and had said That Men and Women should come to declare the Gospel yet afterwards when it came to be fulfilled he persecuted both it and them To this Priest's House I went where abundance of Priests and Professors â—ere got together after their Lecture with whom I had great Disputings concerning Christ and the Scriptures for they were loth to let their Trade go down which they made of preaching Christ's and the Apostles and Prophets Words But the Lord's Power went over the Heads of them all and his Word of Life was held forth amongst them though many of them were exceeding Envious and Devillish Yet after this many Priests and Professors came to me from far and near of whom they that were
thither before me And when I came there I found James Lancaster speaking under a Yew-Tree which was so full of People that I feared they would break it down I looked about for a place to stand upon to speak unto the People for they lay all up and down like People at a Leaguer But after a while that I was discovered a Professor came to me and asked If I would not go into the Church I seeing there was no place abroad convenient to speak to the People from told him Yes Whereupon the People rushed in so that when I came in the House and Pulpit was so full of People that I had much ado to get in and they that could not get in stood abroad about the VValls 1653. A Meeting near Cockermouth When the People were settled I stood up upon a Seat And the Lord opened my Mouth to declare his Everlasting Truth and his Everlasting Day and to lay open all their Teachers and their Rudiments Traditions and Inventions that they had been in in the Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days And I turned them to Christ the true Teacher and to the true Spiritual VVorship directing them where to find the Spirit and Truth that they might Worship God therein I opened Christ's Parables unto them and directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves that would open the Scriptures unto them And I shewed them how all might come to know their Saviour and sit under his Teaching and come to be Heirs of the Kingdom of God and know both God's and Christ's Voice by which they might discover all the false Shepherds and Teachers they had been under and be gathered to the true Shepherd Priest Bishop and Prophet Christ Jesus whom God commanded all to hear So when I had largely declared the VVord of Life unto them for about the space of three Hours I walked forth from amongst the People and the People passed away very well satisfied Among the rest a Professor followed me praising and commending me and his Words were like a Thistle to me At last I turned about and bid him Fear the Lord Whereupon one Priest Larkham of Cockermouth for several Priests were got together on the Way who came after the Meeting was done said to me Sir why do you judge so you must not judge said he But I turned to him and said Friend dost not thou discern an Exhortation from a Judgment for I admonished him to fear God and dost thou say I judge him So this Priest and I falling into Discourse I manifested him to be amongst the false Prophets and covetous Hirelings And several People being moved to speak unto them he and two other of the Priests soon got away When they were gone John VVilkinson who was Preacher of that Parish and of two other Parishes in Cumberland began to dispute against his own Conscience for several hours till the People generally turned against him for he thought to have Tired me out but the Lord's Power tired him out and the Lord's Truth came over him and them all And Many hundreds were Convinced that day and received the Lord Jesus Christ and his free Teaching with Gladness of whom some have died in the Truth and many stand there faithful Witnesses thereof The Souldiers also were Convinced and their VVives and continued with me till the First-day Cockermouth On the First-day I went to the Steeple-house at Cockermouth where Priest Larkham lived And when the Priest had done I began to speak and the People began to be Rude but the Souldiers told them We had broken no Law and then they were quiet Then I turned me to the Priest and laid him open among the false Prophets and Hirelings At which word the Priest went his way and said He calls me Hireling which was true enough and all the People knew it Then some of the Great Men of the Town came to me and said Sir We have no learned Men to dispute with you I told them I came not to dispute but to declare the way of Salvation to them and the way of Everlasting Life And so I declared largely the way of Life and Truth to them 1652. Brigham and directed them to Christ their Teacher that had died for them and bought them with his Blood When I had done I passed away about Two Miles to another great Steeple-house of said John Wilkinson's called Brigham where the People having been at the other Meeting were mightily affected and would have put my Horse into the Steeple-house-Yard but I said No the Priest claims that have him to an Inn. When I came into the Steeple-house-Yard I saw the People coming in great Companies as to a Fair and abundance were already gathered in the Lanes and about the Steeple-house I was very Thirsty and walked about a quarter of a Mile to a Brook where I got some Water and refreshed my Self And as I came up again I met the said Wilkinson who as I passed by him said Sir will you preach to day If you will said he I will not Oppose you in Word or Thought I replied Oppose if thou wilt I have something to speak to the People And said I thou carried'st thy self foolishly the other day and spakest against thy Conscience and Reason insomuch that thy Hearers cried out against thee So I left him and went on for he saw it was in vain to Oppose the People were so affected with the Lord's Truth When I came into the Steeple-house-Yard a Professor came to me and asked If I would not go into the Church as he called it And I seeing no convenient Place abroad to stand to speak unto the People from went in and stood up in a Seat after the People were settled The Priest came in also but did not go up to his Pulpit So the Lord opened my Mouth and I declared his Everlasting Truth and Word of Life to the People directing them to the Spirit of God in themselves by which they might know God and Christ and the Scriptures and come to have heavenly Fellowship in the Spirit And I declared to them that Every one that cometh into the World was enlightened by Christ the Life by which Light they might see their Sins and Christ who was come to save them from their Sins and died for them And if they came to walk in this Light they might therein see Christ to be the Author of their Faith and the Finisher thereof their Shepherd to feed them their Priest to teach them and their great Prophet to open divine Mysteries unto them and to be always present with them I opened also unto them in the Openings of the Lord the first Covenant shewing them the Figures and the Substance of those Figures and so bringing them on to Christ the New Covenant I also manifested unto them that there had been a Night of Apostacy since the Apostles days but that now the Everlasting Gospel was preached again which brought
forth into the Street the City was in an Vproar and the Governour came down and some of those Souldiers were put in Prison for standing by me and for me against the Towne People There was a Lieutenant that had been Convinced and he came and had me to his House where there was a Baptists-Meeting and thither came Friends also and we had a very quiet Meeting and they heard the VVord of Life gladly and many received it The next day the Justices and Magistrates of the Town being gathered together in the Town-hall they granted a VVarrant against me and sent for me to come before them I was then gone to a Baptist's House but hearing of it I went up to the Hall to them where many rude People were some of whom had sworn strange false Things against me I had a great deal of Discourse with the Magistrates wherein I laid open the Fruits of their Priest's Preaching and shewed them how Void they were of Christianity and that though they were such great Professors for they were Independents and Presbyterians they were without the Possession of that which they professed G. F. committed to Carlisle Prison So after a large Examination they Committed me to Prison as a Blasphemer an Heretick and a Seducer though they could not justly charge any such thing against me The Jail at Carlisle had Two Jailers an Vpper and an Vnder which looked like Two great Bear-wards Now when I was brought in the Vpper-Jailer had me up into a great Chamber and told me I should have what I would in that Room But I told him he should not expect any Money from me for I would neither lie in any of his Beds nor eat any of his Victuals Then he put me into another Room where after a while I got something to lie upon There I lay till the Assizes came Carlisle Assize and then all the Talk and Cry was that I was to be Hanged And the High-Sheriff whose Name was VVilfrey Lawson stirred them much up to take away my Life and said He would guard me to my Execution himself They were in a black dark Rage and set three Musketeers for Guard upon me one at my Chamber-door another at the Stairs-foot and a third at the Street-door and none they would let come at me except one sometimes to bring me some necessary things At Night they would bring up Priests to me sometimes as late as the Tenth Hour in the Night and they would be exceeding Rude and Divellish There were a Company of bitter Scotch Priests Presbyterians made up of Envy and Malice who were not fit to speak of the things of God they were so foul-mouthed But the Lord by his Power gave me dominion over them all and I let them see both their Fruits and their Spirits Great Ladies also as they were called came to see the Man that they said was to die Now while both the Judge Justices and Sheriff were contriving together how they might put me to death the Lord disappointed their Design by an unexpected way For the Judge's Clark as I was Informed started a Question among them which Confounded all their Counsels So that after that they had not Power to call me before the Judge Anthony Pearson being then in Carlisle and perceiving that they did not intend to bring me as was expected upon my Trial he writ a Letter to the Judges directed as followeth To the Judges of Assize and Jail-Delivery for the Northern Parts sitting at Carlisle 1653. Carlisle Assize YOV are raised up to do Righteousness and Justice and sent forth to punish him that doth Evil and to encourage him that doth well and to set the oppressed free I am therefore moved to lay before you the Condition of him who is called George Fox whom the Magistrates of this City have cast into Prison for Words that he is accused to have spoken which they call Blasphemy He was sent to the Jail till he should be delivered by due Course of Law and it was expected he should have been proceeded against in the Common Law-Course at this Assizes The Informations against him were delivered into Court and the Act allows and appoints that way of Trial. How hardly and unchristianly he hath been hitherto dealt with I shall not now mention but you may consider that nothing he is accused of is nice and difficult And to my Knowledge he utterly abhors and detests every Particular which by the Act against Blasphemous Opinions is appointed to be punished and differs as much from those People against whom the Law was made as Light from Darkness Though he be Committed Judgment is not given against him nor have his Accusers been face to face to affirm before him what they have Informed against him Nor was he heard as to the Particulars of their Accusations nor doth it appear that any Word they charge against him is within the Act. But indeed I could not yet so much as see the Information no not in Court though I desired it both of the Clark of the Assizes and of the Magistrates Clark nor hath he had a Copy of them This is very hard And that he should be so close restrained that his Friends may not speak with him I know no Law nor Reason for I do therefore claim for him a due and lawful Hearing and that he may have a Copy of his Charge and freedom to Answer for himself and that rather before you than to be left to the Rulers of this Town who are not competent Judges of Blasphemy as by their Mittimus appears who have Committed him upon an Act of Parliament and mention Words as spoken by him at his Examination which are not within the Act and which he utterly denies The Words mentioned in the Mittimus he denies to have spoken and hath neither professed nor avowed them Anthony Pearson But notwithstanding this Letter the Judges were resolved not to suffer me to be brought before them but reviling and Scoffing at me behind my back left me to the Magistrates of the Town giving them what Encouragement they could to Exercise their Cruelty upon me Whereupon though I had been kept up so close in the Jailer's House that Friends were not suffered to come at me and Colonel Benson and Justice Pearson were denied to see me yet the next Day after the Judges were gone out of Town an Order was sent to the Jailer to put me down into the Dungeon amongst the Moss-Troopers Carlisle Dungeon Thieves and Murtherers 1653. Carlisle Dungeon which accordingly he did A Filthy Nasty Place it was where Men and Women were put together in a very uncivil manner and never a House of Office to it And the Prisoners so lousy that one Woman was almost eaten to death with Lice Yet as bad as the Place was the Prisoners were all made very loving and subject to me and some of them were Convinced of the Truth as the Publicans and Harlots were of
alone There did he stand till it was almost Night jangling and opposing me and would not go to his Dinner for he thought to have wearied me out But at last the Lord's Power and Truth came so over him that he packt away with his People Then when he was gone I went to the Meeting of Friends who were turned to the Lord and established by his Power upon Christ the Rock and Foundation of the true Prophets and Apostles but not of the False About this time the Priests and Professors fell to prophesying against us afresh They had said long before That we should be destroyed within a Month and after that they prolonged that time to Half a Year But that time being long expired and we mightily increased in number they now gave forth That we would eat out one another For many times after Meetings many tender People 1653. NORTH Country having a great way to go tarried at Friend's Houses by the way and sometimes more than there were Beds to lodge in so that some have lain on the Hay-mows Hereupon Cain's Fear possessed the Professors and World's People For they were afraid that when we had eaten one another out we would all come to be maintained by the Parishes and so we should be Chargeable to them But after a while when they saw that the Lord blessed and increased Friends as he did Abraham both in the Field and in the Basket at their Goings forth and Comings in at their Risings up and Lyings down and that all things prospered with them then they saw the falseness of all their Prophecies against us and that it was In vain to Curse where God had blessed At the first Convincement when Friends could not put off their Hats to People nor say You to a single Person but Thou and Thee nor could not Bow nor use flattering Words in Salutations nor go into the Fashions and Customs of the World many Friends that were Tradesmen of several sorts lost their Customers at the first for the People were shy of them and would not Trade with them so that for a time some Friends that were Tradesmen could hardly get Money enough to buy Bread But afterwards when People came to have Experience of Friends Honesty and Faithfulness and found that their Yea was Yea and their Nay was Nay that they kept to a Word in their Dealings and that they would not Cozen and Cheat them but that if they sent any Child to their Shops for any thing they were as well used as if they had come themselves the Lives and Conversations of Friends did preach and reached to the Witness of God in People And then things altered so that all the Inquiry was Where was a Draper or Shop-keeper or Taylor or Shoomaker or any other Tradesman that was a Quaker Then that was all the Cry Insomuch that Friends had more Trade than many of their Neighbours and if there was any Trading they had a great part of it And then the Envious Professors altered their Note and began to Cry out If we let these Quakers alone they will take the Trade of the Nation out of our Hands This hath been the Lord's doings to and for his People which my desire is that All who profess his Holy Truth may be kept truly sensible of and that all may be preserved in and by his Power and Spirit faithful to God and Man First to God in Obeying him in all things and then in Doing unto All Men that which is just and righteous true and holy and honest to all Men and Women in all things that they have to do or deal with them in that the Lord God may be glorified in their practising Truth Holiness Godliness and Righteousness amongst People in all their Lives and Conversations Now Friends being grown very Numerous in the Northern parts of this Nation and divers Young-Convinced ones coming daily in among us I was moved of the Lord to write the following Epistle and send it forth amongst them for the stirring up the pure Mind and raising an Holy Care and Watchfulness in them over themselves and one another for the honour of Truth To you all Friends every where scattered abroad IN the measure of the Life of God wait for Wisdom from God even from him from whence it comes And all ye who be Babes of God Wait for the Living Food from the Living God to be nourished up to Eternal Life from the one Fountain from whence Life comes that orderly and in Order ye may all be guided and walk Servants in your Places Young-Men and Young-Women in your Places and Rulers of Families that every one in your respective Places may adorn the Truth every one in the Measure of it With it let your Minds be kept up to the Lord Jesus from whence it doth come that a sweet Savour ye may be to God and in Wisdom ye may all be ordered and ruled that a Crown and a Glory ye may be one to another in the Lord. And that no Strife nor Bitterness nor Self-Will may appear amongst you but with the Light in which the Vnity is all that may be Condemned And that every one in particular may see to and take care of the ordering and ruling of their own Family that in Righteousness and Wisdom it may be governed the fear and dread of the Lord in every ones Heart set that the Secrets of the Lord every one may come to receive that Stewards of his Grace you may come to be to dispense it to every one as they have need and so in savouring and right-discerning you may all be kept That nothing that is contrary to the pure Life of God may be brought forth in you or among you but all that is contrary to it may by it be judged So that in Light in Life and Love ye may all live and all that is contrary to the Light and Life and Love may be brought to Judgment and by that Light condemned And that no fruitless Trees be among you but all cut down and condemned by the Light and cast into the Fire so that every one may bear and bring forth Fruit to God and grow fruitful in his Knowledge and in his Wisdom And so that none may appear in Words beyond what they be in the Life that gave forth the Words Here none shall be as the untimely Figs and none shall be of those Trees whose Fruit withers Such go in Cain's way from the Light and by it are condemned And that none amongst you boast your selves above your Measure for if you do out of God's Kingdom you are excluded for in that boasting part gets up the Pride and the Strife which is contrary to the Light which Light leads to the Kingdom of God and gives every one of you an Entrance thereinto and an Understanding to know the things that belong to the Kingdom of God And there the Light and Life of Man every one receives him who was before
could not make good by Scripture that which he had said So he was shamed and fled out of the House and his People were generally Convinced for his Spirit was discovered and he came no more amongst them And when his People were Convinced and settled in God's Truth they gave forth a Book against him and denied his Spirit and his false Discoveries Many were turned to Christ Jesus that day and came to sit under his Teaching insomuch that the Judges were in a great Rage and many of the Magistrates in Bedford-shire because there were so many turned from the Hireling-Priests to the Lord Jesus Christ's free Teaching But John Crook was kept by the Power of the Lord Yet he was turned out from being a Justice After some time I turned up through the Country to London again where Friends were finely established in the Truth and great Comings in there were And about this time several Friends went beyond the Seas to declare the everlasting Truth of God Now when I had stay'd a while in the City Kent Rochester I went into Kent And when I came to Rochester there was a Guard kept to examin Passengers Cranbrook but we passed by and were not stopped So I went to Cranbrook where there was a great Meeting and several Souldiers were at it and many were turned to the Lord that day After the Meeting some of the Souldiers were somewhat Rude but the Lord's Power came over them One Thomas Howsigoe an Independent-Preacher who lived not far from Cranbrook was Convinced and became a faithful Minister for the Lord Jesus Some Friends had traveled into Kent before as John Stubbs and William Caton and the Priests and Professors had stirred up the Magistrates at Maidstone to Whip them for declaring God's Truth unto them as may be seen at large in the Journal of William Caton's Life There was also one Captain Dunk Convinced in Kent Sussex Ry. and he went with me to Ry where we had a Meeting to which the Mayor and Officers and several Captains came and they took what I said in Writing which I was well pleased with All was quiet and the People affected with the Truth Rumney From Ry I went to Rumney where the People having had notice of my Coming some time before there was a very large Meeting Thither came Samuel Fisher who was an Eminent Preacher among the Baptists and had had a Parsonage reputed worth about Two hundred Pounds a Year which for Conscience-sake he had given up And there was also the Pastor of the Baptists and abundance of their People And the Power of the Lord was so mightily over the Meeting that many were reached by the Power of God and one greatly shaken and the Life sprang up in divers One of the Pastors of the Baptists being amazed at the Work of the Lord's Power bid one of our Friends that was so wrought upon Have a good Conscience Whereupon I was moved of the Lord to bid him Take heed of Hypocrisy and Deceit and he was silent A great Convincement there was that day and many were turned from the Darkness to the divine Light of Christ and came to see their Teachers Errors and to sit under the Lord Jesus Christ's Teaching and to know him their Way and the Covenant of Light which God had given to be their Salvation And they were brought to the One Baptism and to the One Baptizer Christ Jesus When the Meeting was done Samuel Fisher's Wife said Now we may discern this day betwixt Flesh and Spirit and distinguish Spiritual Teaching from Fleshly The People were generally well satisfied with what had been declared but the Two Baptist-Teachers and their Company when they were gone from the Meeting fell to Reasoning amongst the People Samuel Fisher with divers others reasoned for the Word of Life which had been declared that day and the other Pastor and his Party reasoned against it So it divided them asunder and cut them in the midst A Friend came and told me that the Baptists were disputing one with another 1655. Rumney and desired me to go up to them but I said Let them alone the Lord will divide them and they that Reason for Truth will be too hard for the other And so it was This Samuel Fisher received the Truth in the Love of it and became a faithful Minister of it and preached Christ freely and laboured much in the Work and Service of the Lord being moved of the Lord to go and declare the word of Life at Dunkirk and in Holland and in divers parts of Italy as Leghorn and Rome it self And yet the Lord preserved him and his Companion John Stubbs out of their Inquisitions From Rumney I passed to Dover and had a Meeting there Dover where several were Convinced And near unto Dover there was a Governour and his Wife Convinced who had been Baptists and the Baptists thereabouts were much offended and grew very envious but the Lord's Power came over all Luke Howard of Dover was Convinced sometime before and became a faithful Minister of Christ Returning from Dover I went to Canterbury Canterbury where there were a few honest-hearted People turned to the Lord who sate down under Christ's Teaching Thence I passed to Cranbrook again Cranbrook where I had a great Meeting A Friend that was with me went to the Steeple-house and was cast into Prison But the Lord's Power was manifested and his Truth spread From thence I passed into Sussex and lodged near Horsham Sussex Horsham where there was a great Meeting and many were Convinced Also at Stenning we had a great Meeting in the Market-House Stenning and several were Convinced there and thereaways for the Lord's Power was with us Several Meetings I had thereabouts and among the rest there was a Meeting appointed at a Great Man's House and he and his Son went to fetch several Priests that had threatned to come and dispute But when the time came none of them came for the Lord's Power was mighty in us A glorious Meeting we had and the Man of the House and his Son were vext because none of the Priests would come So the Hearts of People were opened by the Spirit of God and they were turned from the Hirelings to Christ Jesus their Shepherd who had purchased them without Money and would feed them without Money or Price Many that came expecting to hear a Dispute were Convinced that day amongst which Nicholas Beard was one Thus the Lord's Power came over all and his Day many came to see There were abundance of Ranters in those parts and Professors that had been so Loose in their Lives that they began to be Weary of it and had thought to have gone into Scotland to have lived privately But the Lord's Net catched them and their Understandings were opened by his Light Spirit and Power through which they came to receive the Truth and to be settled upon the Lord and so
not go back I heeded them not but Rid back and they Rid after me So I cleared my self to the Old Man and the People and then returned back again with them and Reproved them for being so Rude and Violent At Night we were brought to a Town called Smethick then Smithick Falmouth but since Falmouth and it being the Evening of the First-day there came in to our Inn the Chief-Constable of the Place and many sober People and some of them began to inquire concerning us We told them We were Prisoners for Truth 's sake and a great deal of Discourse we had with them concerning the Things of God They were very sober and very loving to us and some of them were Convinced and stood faithful ever after After the Constable and People aforesaid were gone other People came in who also were very Civil and went away very loving When all were gone we went to our Chamber to go to Bed and about the Eleventh Hour Edward Pyot said I will shut the Door it may be some may come to do us a Mischief Afterwards we understood that Capt. Keat who commanded the Party had a purpose to have done us some Mischief that Night but the Door being bolted they missed their Design at that time Next Morning Capt. Keat brings in a Brother or Kinsman of his a rude wicked Man and put him into the Room he himself standing without This evil-minded Man walking huffing up and down the Room I bid him Fear the Lord. Whereupon he ran upon me and struck me with both his Hands and clapping his Leg behind me would fain have thrown me down if he could but he could not for I stood stiff and still and let him strike And as I looked towards the Door I saw Capt. Keat look on and see his Brother or Kinsman thus beâ—t and abuse me Whereupon I said to him Keat Dost thou allow this and he said He did Is this Manly or Civil said I to have us under a Guard and put a Man to abuse and beat us Is this manly civil or Christian So I desired one of our Friends to send for the Constables 1655. Falmouth and they came Then I desired the Captain to let the Constables see his Warrant or Order by which he was to carry us which he did and his Warrant was To conduct us safe to Captain Fox Governour of Pendennis Castle and if the Governour should not be at home then he was to Convey us to Lanceston Gaol I told him He had broken his Order concerning us for we who were his Prisoners were to be safely Conducted but he had brought a Man to beat and abuse us so he having broken his Order I wisht the Constable to keep the Warrant Accordingly he did and told the Souldiers They might go their ways for he would take charge of the Prisoners and if it cost twenty Shillings in Charges to Carry us up they should not have the Warrant again I shewed the Souldiers the baseness of their Carriage towards us and they walkt up and down the House in their Dumps being pitifully blankt and down The Constables went to the Castle and told the Officers what they had done The Officers shewed great dislike of Captain Keat's base Carriage towards us and told the Constables that Major General Desborow was coming to Bodmin and that we should meet him and that it was likely he would free us Mean while our old Guard of Soldiers came by way of Intreaty to us and promised That they would be Civil to us if we would go with them Thus the Morning spent till it was about the Eleventh Hour and then upon the Souldiers Intreaty and Promise to be more Civil the Constables gave them the Order again and we went with them Great was the Civility and Curtesy of the Constables and People of that Town towards us who did kindly entertain us and the Lord did reward them with his Truth that many of them have since been Convinced thereof and are gathered into the Name of Jesus and sit under Christ their Teacher and Saviour Captain Keat who commanded our Guard understanding that Captain Fox who was the Governour of Pendennis-Castle was not at home but was gone to meet Major General Desborow did not have us thither but went with us directly to Bodmin a Town in the way to Lanceston And as we went we met Major General Desborow on the way The Captain of his Troop that rode before him knew me and said Oh Mr. Fox what do you here I replied ' I am a Prisoner Alack said he for what I told him ' I was taken up as I was traveling Then said he I will speak to my Lord and he will set you at Liberty So he came from the Head of his Troop and rode up to the Coach and spake to the Major General We also gave him an Account how we were taken He began to speak against the Light of Christ for which I Reproved him Then he told the Souldiers They might carry us to Lanceston for he could not stay to talk with us lâ—st his Horses should take Cold. Bodmin So to Bodmin we were had that Night And when we were come to our Inn Captain Keat who was gone in thither before us put me into a Room and went his way When I was come in there stood a Man with a naked Rapier in his Hand Whereupon I turned out again and called for Captain Keat and said unto him What now Keat what Trick hast thou played now to put me into a Room where there is a Man with his naked Rapier 1655. Bodmin What is thy End in this Oh said he pray hold your Tongue for if you speak to this Man we cannot all rule him he is so devilish Then said I Dost thou put me into a Room where there is such a Man with a naked Rapier that thou say'st You cannot all rule him What an unworthy bad Trick is this and to put me single into this Room from the rest of my Friends that were Fellow-Prisoners with me Thus his Plot was discovered and the Mischief they intended was prevented And afterward we got another Room where we were together all Night And in the Evening we declared the Truth to the People but they were an hardened dark People And the Souldiers notwithstanding their fair Promises were very rude and wicked to us again and sate up drinking and roaring all Night Next day we were brought to Lanceston Lanceston Prison and there Captain Keat delivered us to the Gaoler Now was theâ—e no Friend nor friendly People near us and the People of the Town was a dark hardened People The Gaoler required us to pay seven Shillings a Week for ouâ— Horse-meat and seven Shillings a Week for our Diet a piece But after some time several sober People came to see us and some of the Town came to be Convinced and many friendly People out of several parts of the Country
Visit Prisoners whom you have Imprisoned Doth this shew you to have a Spirit like Paul yea or nay or are you not quite contrary like to them that persecuted Paul The Day hath declared it To that of God in you all I speak which shall witness it at the Last Day in the Day of Judgment Persecution was blind in all Ages and Madness and Folly led it Yet Persecution got always a Form or Presence of Godliness or to talk of Religion as in the Days of Moses in the Days of Jeremy in the Days of Christ and of the Apostles Come saith the Council Let us crush them while they are Young they have almost over-spread the Nation in every Corner This is as much as to say Let us put this Birth to Death as Pharaoh and Herod did the Children But the Lord caused his Truth the more to spread For you may read what Numbers came out of Egypt and what Multitudes followed Christ Therefore with Consideration read these Lines and not with Fury and let not Foolishness appear But consider in Humility your Ways you act in and your Paths you go in and what Spirit you are of and what the End of your Conversation is now see For in Love to your Souls I write that in the Day of your Visitation you may consider it From him who loveth Righteousness and the establishing of it and Truth and Peace and Faith which is by Christ Jesus Mercy and Peace be multiplied among such But a Witness against all Hypocrites and all who have a Profession but live out of the Possession who are in an Hypocritical Religion in the Lusts and Fashions of the World having a Form of Godliness but standing against the Power with might and main Sword and Staff Which things declare your Conversation and Practices to be out of Christ 's Life against the Gospel-practice and contrary to the Manner and Order of the Saints G. F We were continued in Prison till the next Assize 1656. Lanceston Assize before which time divers Friends both Men and Women were sent to Prison that had been taken up by the Watches When the Assize was come several of these were called before the Judge and Indicted and tho' the Jailer brought them into Court yet they Indicted them that they came in by Force of Arms and in an hostile manner And the Judge fined them because they would not put off their Hats But we were not called before the Judges any more but they let us alone Great Work we had and Service for the Lord both between the Assizes and after amongst the Professors and People of all sorts for many came to see us and to reason with us And Elizabeth Trelawny of Plimouth who was the Daughter of one called a Baronet being Convinced as was formerly mentioned the Priests and Professors and some great Persons of her Kindred were in a great Rage concerning her and writ Letters to her And she being a Wise and Tender Woman and fearing to give them any Advantage sent their Letters to me and I answered them and returned them to her again for her to send the Answers to them Which she did till growing in the Power and Spirit and Wisdom of God she came her self to be able to Answer the wisest Priest and Professor of them all and had a Dominion over them all in the Truth through the Power of the Lord by which she was kept faithful to her Death Now while I was in Prison here Lanceston Gaol the Baptists and Fifth-Monarchy-Men prophesied That this Year Christ should come and Reign upon Earth a Thousand Years And they looked upon this Reign to be Outward When as he was come inwardly in the Hearts of his People to Reign and Rule there and these Professors would not Receive him there So they failed in their Prophecy and Expectation and had not the Possession of him But Christ is come and doth dwell in the Hearts of his People and Reigns there And Thousands at the Door of whose Hearts he hath been knocking have opened to him and he is come in and doth Sup with them and they with him the heavenly Supper with the heavenly and spiritual Man So many of these Baptists and Monarchy-People turned the greatest Enemies to the Possessors of Christ But he Reigns in the Hearts of his Saints over all their Envy At the Assize divers Justices came to us and were pretty Civil and Reasoned of the things of God pretty soberly expressing a Pity to us There came also Capt. Fox who was Governour of Pendennis-Castle and lookt me in the Face and said never a word but went his ways to his Company and told them He never saw a simpler Man in his Life I called after him and said Stay Man we will see who is the simpler Man But he went his way A light Chaffy Man There came also at the Assize one Thomas Lower to Visit us and he offered to give us Money which we refused accepting nevertheless of his Love He asked us many Questions concerning our denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and concerning the Sacraments and such like To all which he received Satisfaction And I spake unto him and he afterwards said 1656. Lanceston Gaol My Words were as a flash of Lightning they ran so through him And he said He never met with such wise Men in his Life for they knew the Thoughts of his Heart and were as the wise Master-Builders of the Assemblies that fastned their Words like Nails He came to be Convinced of the Truth and remains a Friend to this Day When he came home to his Aunt Hambley's where he then lived and made Report to her concerning us She with her Sister Grace Billing hearing the sound of Truth came afterwards to Visit us in Prison and was Convinced also And great Sufferings and Spoilings of Goods both he and his Aunt have undergone for the Truth 's sake About this time I was moved to give forth the following Paper to Friends in the Ministry Friends IN the Power of life and wisdom and dread of the Lord God of life and Heaven and Earth dwell that in the wisdom of God over all ye may be preserved and be a Terror to all the Adversaries of God and a Dread answering that of God in them all spreading the Truth abroad awakening the VVitness confounding the Deceit gathering up out of Transgression into the Life the Covenant of Light and Peace with God Let all Nations hear the sound by Word or Writing Spare no Place spare no Tongue nor Pen but be obedient to the Lord God go through the VVork and be valiant for the Truth upon Earth tread and trample all that is Contrary under Ye have the Power do not Abuse it and Strength and Presence of the Lord eye it and the VVisdom that with it you may all be ordered to the Glory of the Lord God Keep in the Dominion keep in the Power over all Deceit
at our Meeting in the Orchard As I was going along into the Orchard the People told me That Paul Gwin the rude jangling Baptist was going to the Meeting But I bid them Never heed It was nothing to me who went to it When I was come into the Orchard I stood upon the Stone that Friends used to stand on when they spake and I was moved of the Lord to put off my Hat and to stand a pretty while and let the People look at me for some Thousands of People were there While I thus stood silent this Rude Baptist began to find Fault with my Hair but I said nothing to him Then he run on into Words and at last Ye wise men of of Bristol said he I strange at you that you will stand here and hear a Man speak and affirm that which he cannot make good Then the Lord opened my Mouth for as yet I had not spoken a Word And I asked the People Whether they ever heard me speak before or ever saw me before And I bid them ' Take notice what kind of Man this was amongst them that should so Impudently say That I spake and Affirmed that which I could not make good and yet neither he nor they ever heard me or saw me before Therefore that was a lying envious malicious Spirit that spake in him and it was of the Devil and not of God Therefore I charged him in the Dread and Power of the Lord to be silent And the Mighty Power of God came over him and all his Company And then a glorious peaceable Meeting we had and the Word of Life was divided amongst them and they were turned from the Darkness to the Light and to Jesus their Saviour And the Scriptures were largely opened to them and the Traditions and Rudiments and ways 1656. Bristol and Doctrines of Men were laid open before the People which they had been in and they were turned to the Light of Christ that with it they might see them and see him to lead them out of them I opened also to them the Types and Figures and Shadows of Christ in the time of the Law and shewed them That Christ was come and had ended the Types and Shadows and Tithes and Oaths and put down Swearing and had set up Yea and Nay instead of it and a free Ministry for he was now come to Teach People himself and his heavenly Day was springing from on high So for many hours did I declare the Word of Life amongst them in the Eternal Power of God that by him they might come up into the Beginning and be Reconciled to him And having turned them to the Spirit of God in themselves that would lead into all Truth I was moved to pray in the mighty Power of God and the Lord's Power came over all But when I had done this Fellow began to babble again and John Audland was moved to bid him Repent and fear God So his own People and Followers being ashamed of him he passed away and never came again to disturb the Meeting And the Meeting brake up quietly and the Lord's Power and Glory shined over all a blessed Day it was and the Lord had the Praise After a while this Paul Gwin went beyond the Seas and many Years after I met with him again at Barbado's of which in its Place From Bristol we returned to Edward Pyot's where we had a great Meeting and the Lord's Power was over all and Truth was declared and spread abroad and many were turned to Christ Jesus their Life their Prophet to teach them their Shepherd to feed them and their Bishop to oversee them After the Meeting was done I had some Reasoning with some Professors and the Lord's Truth and Power came over them Slattenford From Edward Pyot's we passed to Slattenford where we had a very large Meeting Edward Pyot and another Friend being still with me and a great turning of People there was to the Lord Jesus Christ their Teacher and People were glad that they were brought to know their Way and their free Teacher and their Saviour Christ Jesus Wiltshire On the First-day following we went to Nathaniel Crips his House who had been a Justice of Peace in Wiltshire where it was supposed there were between Two and Three Thousand People at a Meeting and all was quiet And the mighty Power of God was manifest and People were turned to the Grace and Truth in their Hearts that came by Jesus Christ which would Teach them to deny all Vngodliness and wordly Lusts and to live soberly and godly in this present world So that every Man and Woman might know the Grace of God which had appeared to all Men and which was saving and sufficient to bring their Salvation This was to be their Teacher the Grace of God which would teach them how to live what to do and what to deny and would season their Words and establish their Hearts And this was a free Teacher to every one of them so that they might come to be Heirs of this Grace and of Christ by whom it came who hath ended the Prophets and the Priests that took Tithes and the Jewish Temple And as for these Hireling-Priests that take Tithes now 1656. Wiltshire and their Temples which Priests were made aâ— Schools and Colledges of Man's setting up and not by Christ they with all their Inventions were to be denied For the Apostles denied the true Priesthood and Temple which God had commanded after Christ had put an End thereto So the Scriptures and the Truths therein contained were largely opened and the People turned to the Spirit of God in their Hearts that by it they might be led into all Truth and understand the Scriptures and know God and Christ and come to have Unity with them and one with another in the same Spirit And the People went away generally satisfied and were glad that they were turned to Christ Jesus their Teacher and Saviour The next day we went from thence to Marlborough Marleborough where we had a little Meeting And the Sessions being in that Town that day they were granting forth a Warrant to send for me But one Justice Stooks being at the Sessions stopt them telling them There was a Meeting at his House yesterday at which were several Thousands So the Warrant was stopt and our Meeting was quiet and several received Christ Jesus their Teacher and came into the New Covenant and abode in it From hence we went to Newberry where we had a large Newberry blessed Meeting and several were Convinced there Thence we passed on to Reading where we had a large Reading precious Meeting in the Lord's Power amongst the Plants of God and many of the World came in and were reached and added to the Meeting and all was quiet and the Lord's Power was over all Kingston upon Thames We went from Reading to Kingston upon Thames where a few came in to
the Afternoon when we turned back into some parts of Wales again the ways were dusty and no Rain had fallen thereabouts And when Oliver Cromwel set forth a Proclamation for a Fast throughout the Nation for Rain when there was a very great Drought it was observed that as far as Truth had spread in the North there were pleasant Showers and Rain enough when in the South in many places they were almost spoiled for want of Rain At that time I was moved to write an Answer to the Protector 's Proclamation wherein I told him If he had come to own God's Truth he should have had Rain And that Drought was a Sign unto them of their Barrenness and Want of the Water of Life And about the same time was writ the following Paper to Distinguish betwixt the true and false Fasts 1656. London Concerning the True Fast and the False TO all you that be keeping Fasts who smite with the fist of wickedness and fâ—st for Strife and Debate against you hath the Voice cried aloud like a Trumpet that you may come to know the true fast which is accepted and the fast which is in the Strife and the Debate and smiting with the fists of wickedness Which fast is not required of the Lord. Behold in the day of your fast you find Pleasure and exact all your Labour Behold mark take notice ye fast for Strife and Debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness Ye shall not fast as ye do this day to make your Voice known on High Is it such a fast that I have chosen saith the Lord a day for a Man to afflict his Soul Is it to bow down his Head like a Bulrush and to spread Sack-cloth under him Wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord Consider all you that do fast see if it be not hanging down the Head for a day like a Bulrush and are in Strife and Debate and to smite with the fists of wickedness to make your Voice to be known on high But this fast is not with the Lord accepted but that which leads you from Strife from Debate from Wickedness which is not the bowing down of the Head as a Bulrush for a day and yet live in Exacting and Pleasure this is not accepted with the Lord but that which separates from all these before-mentioned Which separates from Wickedness Debate Strife Pleasures smiting with the fist of wickedness that which separates from that brings to know the true fast which breaks the bonds of Iniquity and deals the bread to the hungry brings the poor that are cast out to his own House and when he sees any Naked he covers them and hides not himself from his own Flesh Here is the true fast which separates from them where the bonds of Iniquity are standing and the heavy burthens of the Oppressed remaining and the Yoke not broken who deals not the Bread to the Hungry and brings not the Poor to their own House and sees the Naked but lets him go uncloathed and hides himself from his own Flesh Yet such will make their Voice to be heard on high as Christ speaks of the Pharisees which sounded a Trumpet before them and disfigured their Faces to appear to Men to fast but the bonds of Iniquity were standing Strife and Debate was standing striking with the fists of wickedness standing that made their Voice heard on high who had their Reward But that which brings to the true fast which appears not to Men to fast but unto the Father which sees in secret and the Father that seeth in secret shall reward thee openly This fast separates from the Pharisees-fast and them that bow the Head for a day like a Bulrush And this is it which brings to deal the Bread to the hungry and cloath thine own flesh when thou seest them naked and bring the Poor to thine House and to loose the bonds of Wickedness mark this is the fast and to undo every heavy burthen mark again and to let the oppressed go free this is the fast and to break every Yoke And thou that observest this fast Then shall thy light break forth 1657. London as the Morning and thine Health shall spring forth speedily and thy Righteousness shall go before thee the glory of the Lord shall be thy Re-reward Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say here I am If thou take away from the midst of thee the Yoke the putting forth of the Finger and speaking Vanity and if thou draw out thy Soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted Soul then shall thy light arise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the Noon-day The Light brings to know this fast and walking in it this fast is kept and he that believeth in the Light in darkness abides not And again The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in drought and make fat thy Bones and thou shalt be like a watered Garden and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not Isa 58.11 These are them that are guided with the Light which comes from Christ where the Springs are And again They that shall be of thee that keeps this fast shall build the old waste Places and thou shalt raise up the foundations of many Generations and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach the Restorer of paths to dwell in Isa 58.12 Now that which gives to see the foundation of many Generations is the Light which separates from all which is out of the Light and they that go out of the Light though they may pretend a fast and bowing down the Head for a time yet they are far from this fast that doth raise up the Foundation of many Generations and is the Repairer of the breach and Restorer of the paths to dwell in That which doth give to see this foundation of many Generations and these Breaches that are to be repaired and restored and Paths to dwell in is the Light which brings to know the true fast and where this fast is known which is from Wickedness from Debate from Strife from Pleasures from Exacting from the Voice that is heard on high from the speaking of Vanity from the bonds of Iniquity which breaks every Yoke and lets the Oppressed go free here the Health grows Where the Morning is known Righteousness goes forth the Glory of the Lord is the Re-reward and the Light riseth and the Soul is drawn out to the Hungry and satisfies the afflicted Soul and the Springs of living Water are known and felt The Waters fail not here the Lord guides continually and the Foundation of many Generations comes to be seen and raised up And the Repairer of Breaches is here witnessed and the Restorer of Paths to dwell in But all such as be from the Light which the Prophets were in with which they saw Christ and such to be in Fasts where was Strife where was
forth and spake through the Streets which were so strait and short that one might stand in the Midst of the Town and see both the Gates I followed John ap John and a multitude of People were soon gathered about him amongst whom a very dark Priest began to babble but his Mouth was soon stopped So when John had cleared himself I declared the word of Life amongst the People directing them to the Light of Christ in their Hearts that by it they might see all their own Ways Religions and Teachers and might come off from them all to Christ the true and living Way and the Free Teacher Some of the People were rude but the greater part were civil and told us They had heard how we had been persecuted and abused in many places but they would not do so to us there I commended their Moderation and Sobriety and warned them of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon all Sin and Wickedness testifying unto them that Christ was now come to Teach his People himself by his Spirit and by his Power Beaumorris From hence we went to Beaumorris a Town wherein John ap John had formerly been Preacher to a Congregation After we had put up our Horses at an Inn John went forth and spake through the Street and there being a Garrison in the Town they took him and put him into Prison The Inn-keeper's Wife came and told me That the Governour and Magistrates were sending for me to send me to Prison also I told her They had done more than they could answer already and had acted contrary to Christianity in Imprisoning him for Reproving Sin in their Streets and Gates and for declaring the Truth Soon after came other friendly People and told me If I went out into the Street they would Imprison me also and therefore they desired me to keep within the Inn. Upon this I was moved to go and walk up and down in the Streets and told the People What an uncivil and un-Christian thing they had done in casting my Friend into Prison And they being high Professors I asked them If this was the Entertainment they had for Strangers And if they would willingly be so served themselves And whether they who looked upon the Scriptures to be their Rule had any Example in the Scriptures from Christ or his Apostles for what they had done So after a while they set John ap John at Liberty again Next Day being Market-day we were to cross over a great Water and not far from the place where we were to take Boat many of the Market-People drew to us amongst whom we had good Service for the Lord declaring the word of Life and Everlasting Truth unto them and proclaiming the Day of the Lord amongst them which was coming upon all wickedness and directing them to the Light of Christ which he the heavenly Man had enlightned them withal by which they might see all their sins and all their false Ways Religions Worships and Teachers and by the same Light might see Christ Jesus who was come to save them and lead them to God So after the Lord's Truth had been declared to them in the Power of God and Christ the free Teacher set over all the Hireling-Teachers I bid John ap John get his Horse into the Boat which was then ready But there being a Company of wild Gentlemen as they called them got into it whom we found very rude and far from gentleness they with others kept his Horse out of the Boat So I rode to the Boat's-side and spake to them shewing them What an unmanly and unchristian Carriage it was and told them they shewed an unworthy Spirit below Christianity or Humanity As I spake unto them I leapt my Horse into the Boat amongst them thinking John's Horse would have followed when he had seen mine go in before him but the Water being pretty deep John could not get his Horse into the Boat Wherefore I leapt out again on Horseback into the Water and staid with John on that side till the Boat returned There we tarried from the Eleventh Hour of the Fore-noon to the Second in the Afternoon before the Boat came to fetch us and then had we forty and two Miles to ride that Evening and by that time we had paid for our Passage we had but one groat left between us both in Money We rode about sixteen Miles and then got a little Hay for our Horses and setting forward again we came in the Night to a little Ale-house where we thought to have staid and baited But finding we could have neither Oats nor Hay there we travelled on all Night And about the fifth Hour in the Morning got to a place within six Miles of Rexam Near Rexam where that Day we met with many Friends and had a glorious Meeting and the Lord 's Everlasting Power and Truth was over all and a Meeting is continued there to this day Very weary we were with travelling so hard up and down in Wales and in many places we found it difficult to get meat either for our Horses or Our selves The next Day we passed from thence into Flintshire Flintshire Rexam sounding the Day of the Lord through the Towns and came into Rexam at Night Here many of Floyd's People came to us but very rude wild and airy they were and little Sense of Truth they had Yet some were Convinced in that Town Next Morning one called a Lady sent for me who kept a Preacher in her House I went to her House but found both her and her Preacher very light and airy too light to receive the weighty Things of God In her Lightness she came and asked me If she should cut my Hair But I was moved to reprove her and bid her Cut down the Corruptions in her self with the Sword of the Spirit of God So after I had admonished her to be more grave and sober we passed away and afterwards in her frothy mind she made her Boast That she came behind me and cut off the Curl of my Hair but she spake falsly From Rexam we came through the Country to West-chester West-Chester and it being the Fair-time we stay'd there a while and visited Friends For I had travelled through every County in Wales preaching the Everlasting Gospel of Christ and a brave People there is now which hath received it and sitteth under Christ's Teaching But before I left Wales I writ a Paper to the Magistrates of Beaumorris concerning their Imprisoning of John ap John letting them see their Conditions and the Fruits of their Christianity and of their Teachers And afterwards I met with some of them near London but oh how ashamed they were of their Action From West-chester we came through the Country to Leverpool Liverpool where was at that time a Fair also And as I rode through the Fair there stood a Friend upon the Cross declaring the Truth to the People Who seeing me ride
by and knowing I had appointed a Meeting to be the next Day upon an Hill not far off gave Notice to the People That George Fox the Servant of the Lord would have a Meeting next day upon such an Hill and if any feared the Lord they might come there and hear him declare the Word of Life to them We went that Night to Richard Cubban's who himself was Convinced but not his Wife 1657. Liverpool but at that time his Wife was Convinced also Next Day we went to the Meeting on the Top of the Hill which was very large and some Rude People with a Priest's Wife came and made a Noise for a while but the Lord's Power came over them and the Meeting became quiet and the Truth of God was declared amongst them And many were that Day settled upon the Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus and under his Teaching who made Peace betwixt God and them Malpoth We had a small Meeting with a few Friends and People at Malpoth And from thence we came to another place where we had another Meeting and there came a Bailiff with a Sword and was rude but the Lord's Power came over him and Friends were established in the Truth Manchester From thence we came to Manchester and the Sessions being there that Day many rude People were come to the Town out of the Country In the Meeting they threw at me Coals and Clods and Stones and Water Yet the Lord's Power bore me up over them that they could not strike me down At last when they saw they could not prevail by throwing Water Stones and Dirt at me they went and Informed the Justices in the Sessions who thereupon sent Officers to fetch me before them The Officers came in while I was declaring the Word of Life to the People and they plucked me down and haled me up into their Court. When I came there all the Court was in a Disorder and a Noise Wherefore I asked Where were the Magistrates that they did not keep the People civil Some of the Justices said They were Magistrates I asked them Why then they did not appease the People and keep them sober For one cried I 'le swear and another cried I 'le swear So I declared to the Justices How we were abused in our Meeting by the rude People who threw Stones and Clods and Dirt and Water and how I was haled out of the Meeting and brought thither contrary to the Instrument of Government which said None should be molested in their Meetings that professed God and owned the Lord Jesus Christ which I did So the Truth came over them that when one of the rude Fellows cried He would swear one of the Justices checked him saying What will you swear hold your Tongue At last they bid the Constable Have me to my Lodging and there I should be secured till to morrow Morning that they sent for me again So the Constable had me to my Lodging And as we went the People were exceeding rude but I let them see the Fruits of their Teachers and how they shamed Christianity and dishonoured the Name of Jesus which they professed At Night we went to a Justice's House in the Town who was pretty moderate and I had a great deal of Discourse with him Next Morning we sent to the Constable to know If he had any thing more to say to us And he sent us Word He had nothing to say to us but that we might go whither we would The Lord hath since raised up a People to stand for his Name and Truth in that Town over those chaffy Professors We passed from Manchester through the Country 1657. Preston having many precious Meetings in several Places till we came to Preston between which and Lancaster I had a general Meeting From which I went to Lancaster There at our Inn I met with Colonel West Lancaster who was very glad to see me and he meeting with Judge Fell told him That I was mightily grown in the Truth when as indeed he was come nearer to the Truth and so could better discern it We came from Lancaster to Robert Widders and on the First-Day after I had a general Meeting near the Sands-side Sands-side of Friends of Westmorland and Lancashire where the Lord 's Everlasting Power was over all in which the Word of Eternal Life was declared and Friends were settled upon the Foundation Christ Jesus under his free Teaching And many were Convinced and turned to the Lord. Next day I came over the Sands to Swarthmore Swarthmore where Friends were glad to see me and I stay'd there two first Days visiting Friends in their Meetings there-aways who rejoiced with me in the Goodness of the Lord who by his Eternal Power had carried me through and over many Difficulties and Dangers in his Service to him be the Praise for ever Having gotten a little Respit from Travel I was moved to write an Epistle to Friends as followeth ALL Friends of the Lord every where whose Minds are turned in towards the Lord take heed and hearken to the Light within you which is the Light of Christ which as ye love it will call your Minds inward that are abroad in the Creatures so your Minds may be renewed by it and turned to God in this which is pure to worship the living God the Lord of Hosts over all the Creatures That which calls your Minds out of the Lusts of the World it will call them out of the Affections and Desires and turn you to set your Affections above The same that calls the mind out of the World will give judgment upon the World's Affections and Lusts that which calls out your Minds from the World's Teachers and the Creatures and so to have your minds renewed There is your Obedience known and found and there the Image of God is renewed in you and ye come to grow up in it That which calls your minds out of the Earth turns them towards God where the pure Babe is born of the Virgin and the Babe's food is known the Children's Bread which comes from the living God and nourishes up to Eternal Life Which Babes and Children receive their Wisdom from above from the pure living God and not from the Earthly Ones for that is trodden under Foot with such And all who hate this Light whose minds are abroad in the Creatures in the Earth and in the Image of the Devil get the Words of the Saints that received their Wisdom from above into the old Nature and their corrupted minds Such are they that are Murderers of the just Enemies to the Cross of Christ in whom the Prince of the Air lodgeth Sons of perdition Betrayers of the just Therefore take heed to that Light which is opprest with that Nature which Light as it arises shall condemn all that cursed Nature and shall turn it out and shut it out of the House 1657. Swarthmore And so ye will come
so know a Kingdom which hath no end and fight for that with Spiritual Weapons which takes away the occasion of the Carnal and there gather Men to War as many as ye can and set up as many as ye can with these Weapons G. F. Now after I had staid some time in London and had visited Friends Meetings there and there-abouts and the Lord's Power was set over all I travelled into the Countries again Essex Suffolk Norfolk Norwich passing through Essex and Suffolk into Norfolk visiting Friends till I came to Norwich where we had a Meeting about the time called Christmas The Mayor of Norwich having got notice before-hand of the Meeting I intended to have there granted out a Warrant to apprehend me Wherefore when I was come thither and heard of the Warrant I sent some Friends to the Mayor to Reason with him about it His Answer was The Souldiers should not Meet and did We think to Meet He would have had us gone out and Met without the City For he said the Towns-People were so rude that he could hardly order them and he feared that our Meeting would make Tumults in the Town But our Friends told him we were a peaceable People and that he ought to keep the Peace for we could not but Meet to Worship God as our manner was So he became pretty moderate and did not send his Officers to the Meeting A large Meeting it was and abundance of rude People came with an intent to have done Mischief But the Lord's Power came over them so that they were Chained by it though several Priests were there and Professors and Ranters Among the Priests one whose Name was Townsend stood up and Cryed Error Blasphemy and an Vngodly Meeting I bad him not burden himself with that which he could not make good and I asked him what was our Error and Blasphemy For I told him he should make good his Words before I had done with him or be shamed As for an Vngodly Meeting I said I did believe there were many People there that feared God and therefore it was both Unchristian and Uncivil in him to charge Civil Godly People with an Vngodly Meeting He said My Error and Blasphemy was in that I said that People must wait upon God by his Power and Spirit and feel his Presence when they did not speak Words I asked him then Whether the Apostles and Holy Men of God did not hear God speak to them in their Silence before they spake forth the Scripture and before it was written He replied Yes David and the Prophets did hear God before they did Pen the Scriptures and felt his Presence in Silence before they spake them forth Then said I All People take notice he said this was Error and Blasphemy in me to say these Words and now he hath confessed it is no more than the Holy Men of God in former times witnessed So I shewed the People that as the Holy Men of God who gave forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost did hear and learn of God before they spake them forth So must They all hearken and hear what the Spirit saith which will lead them into all Truth that they may know God and Christ 1659. Norwich and may understand the Scriptures O said the Priest this is not that George Fox I would speak withal this is a subtile Man said he So the Lord's Power came over all and the rude People were made moderate and were reached by it and some Professors that were there called to the Priests saying Prove the Blasphemy and Errors which ye have charged them with Ye have spoken much against them behind their Backs but nothing ye can prove now said they to their Faces But the Priest began to get away Whereupon I told him we had many things to charge him withal therefore let him set a time and place to answer them which he did and went his ways A glorious Day this was For Truth came over all and People were turned to God by his Power and Spirit and to the Lord Jesus Christ their free Teacher who was Exalted over all And as we passed away generally Peoples Hearts were filled with Love towards us yea the Ruder sort of them desired another Meeting For the evil Intentions that they had against us were thrown out of their Hearts At Night I passed out of Town to a Friend's House Col. Dennis and from thence to Col. Dennis's where we had a great Meeting And afterwards travelled on through the Countries visiting Friends up and down in Norfolk Norfollk Hunts. Cambridgeshire Huntingtonshire and Cambridgeshire But George Whitehead and Richard Huberthorn staid about Norwich to meet the Priest who was soon Confounded and down the Lord's Power came so over him After I had travelled through many Countries in the Lord's Service and many were Convinced notwithstanding that in some places the People were very Rude I returned to London again when General Monk was come up thither London and the Gates and Posts of the City were pulling down Long before this I had a Vision wherein I saw the City lie in heaps and the Gates down and it was then reprepresented to me just as I saw it several Years after lying in heaps when it was burned Divers times had I both by Word and Writing forewarned the several Powers both in Oliver's time and after of the Day of Recompence that was coming upon them But they rejecting Counsel and slighting those Visitations of Love to them I was moved now before they were quite overturned to lay their Back-sliding Hypocrisie and Treacherous Dealing before them thus Friends Now are the Prophecies fulfilled and fulfilling upon you which have been spoken to you by the People of God in your Courts in your Steeple-houses in your Towns Cities Markets Highways and at your Feasts when ye were in your Pleasures and puffed up that ye would neither hear God nor Man when ye were in your Highness and Height of Authority though raised up from a mean State none might come nigh you without bowing or the Respect of Persons for ye were in the World's Way Complements and Fashions which for Conscience sake towards God they could not go into being redeemed there from Therefore they were by you hated for that Cause But how are ye to be brought Low who Exalted your selves above your Brethren and threw the Just and Harmless less from among you until at last God hath thrown you out 1658. London And when ye cast the Innocent from among you then ye fell a biting one another until ye were Consumed one of another And so the Day is come upon you which before to you was told though before ye would not believe it And are not yet your Hearts so hardned that ye will hardly yet believe though ready to go into Captivity Was it not told you when ye spilt the Blood of the Innocent in your Steeple houses in
in the time of the Commonwealth and of Oliver and Richard the Protectors through cruel and hard Imprisonments upon Nasty Straw and in Dungeons Thirty Two Persons There have been also Imprisoned in thy Name since thy Arrival by such as thought to ingratiate themselves thereby to thee Three Thousand Sixty and Eight Persons Besides this our Meetings are daily broken up by Men with Clubs and Arms though we Meet peaceably according to the Practice of God's People in the Primitive times and our Friends are thrown into Waters and trod upon till the very Blood gusheth out of them the number of which Abuses can hardly be uttered Now this we would have of Thee to set them at Liberty that lie in Prison in the Names of the Common-wealth and of the two Protectors and them that lie in Thy own Name for speaking the Truth and for good Conscience sake who have not lifted up an Hand against thee nor any Man and that the Meetings of our Friends who meet peaceably together in the Fear of God to Worship him may not be broken up by rude People with their Clubs and Swords and Staves One of the greatest things that we have suffered for formerly was because we could not Swear to the Protectors and all the changeable Governments and now we are Imprisoned because we cannot take the Oath of Allegiance Now if Yea be not Yea and Nay Nay to thee and to all Men upon the Earth let us suffer as much for breaking of that as others do for breaking an Oath We have suffered these many years both in Lives and Estates under these Changeable Governments because we cannot Swear but obey Christ's Doctrine who commands We should not swear at all Matth. 5. Jam. 5. and this we Seal with our Lives and Estates with our Yea and Nay according to the Doctrine of Christ Hearken to these things and so consider them in the Wisdom of God that by it such Actions may be stopped Thou that hast the Government and may'st do it We desire that all that are in Prison may be set at Liberty and that for the time to come they may not be Imprisoned for Conscience and for the Truth 's sake And if thou question the Innocency of their Sufferings let them and their Accusers be brought up before thee and we shall produce a more particular and full Account of their Sufferings if required G. F. R. H. I mentioned before how that in the Year 1650. I was kept Prisoner Six Months in the House of Correction at Darby and that the Keeper of the Prison being a Cruel Man and one that had dealt very wickedly by me was smitten in himself the Plagues and Terrors of the Lord falling upon him because thereof this Man being afterwards Convinced of Truth wrote me the following Letter Dear Friend HAving such a Convenient Messenger I could do no less than give thee an Account of my present Condition remembring that to the first Awakening of me to a Sense of Life and of the Inward Principle God was pleased to make use of thee as an Instrument So that sometimes I am taken with Admiration that it should come by such a means as it did that is to say That Providence should order thee to be my Prisoner to give me my first real sight of the Truth It makes me many times to think of the Jailer's Conversion by the Apostles O happy George Fox 1662. London that first breathed that Breath of Life within the Walls of my Habitation Notwithstanding my outward Losses are since that time such that I am become nothing in the World yet I hope I shall find that all these light Afflictions which are but for a moment will work for me a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory They have taken all from me and now instead of keeping a Prison I am rather waiting when I shall become a Prisoner my self Pray for me that my Faith fail not but that I may hold out to the Death that I may receive a Crown of Life I earnestly desire to hear from thee and of thy Condition which would very much rejoice me Not having else at present but my kind Love unto thee and all Christian Friends with thee in haste I rest Derby the 22th of the 4th Month 1662. Thine in Christ Jesus Thomas Sharman There were Two of our Friends in Prison in the Inquisition at Malta they were both Women The name of the one was Katharine Evans and of the other Sarah Chevers I was told that One called the Lord D' Aubeny could procure their Liberty wherefore I went to him And having Informed him concerning their Imprisonment desired him to write to the Magistrates there for their Release He readily promised me he would and said If I would come again within a Month he would tell me of their Discharge I went agaâ—n about that time and he said he thought his Letters had Miscarried because he had received no Answer But he promised he would write again and he did so and thereupon they were both set at Liberty With this Great Man I had a great deal of Reasoning about Religion and he did confess that Christ hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World with his Spiritual Light and that he had tasted Death for every Man and that the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men and that it would teach them and bring their Salvation if they did obey it Then I asked him What would They the Papists do with all their Relicks and Images if they did own and believe in this Light and receive the Grace to teach them and bring their Salvation And he said Those things were but Policies to keep People in Subjection Very free he was in Discourse and I never heard a Papist Confess so much as he did Now though several about the Court began to grow Loving to Friends yet the Persecution was very hot and several Friends died in Prison Whereupon I gave forth a little Paper concerning the Grounds and Rise of Persecution which was thus ALL the Sufferings of the People of God in all Ages were because they could not Join to the National Religions and Worships which Men had made and set up and because they would not forsake God's Religion and his Worship which he had set up And ye may see through all Chronicles and Histories how that the Priests joined with the Powers of the Nations The Magistrates and Soothsayers and Fortune-tellers all these joined against the People of God and did imagin vain things against them in their Counsels And when the Jews did badly they turned against Moses and when the Jewish Kings transgressed the Law of God then they persecuted the Prophets as may be seen in the Prophets Writings And when Christ the Substance came then the Jews persecuted Christ and his Apostles and Disciples And when the Jews had not Power enough of themselves to persecute answerable to their Wills then
they got the Heathen-Gentiles to help them against Christ and against his Apostles and Disciples who were in the Spirit and Power of Christ G. F. Now after I had made some stay in London and had cleared my self of those Services that at that time lay upon me there I went into the Country having with me Alexander Parker and John Stubbs who was lately come back from Alexandria in Egypt as was mentioned before We travelled down through the Countries visiting Friends Meetings till we came to Bristol Bristol When we were come thither we understood that the Officers were likely to come and break up the Meeting Broadmead Meeting Yet on the First-Day we went to the Meeting at Broadmead And Alexander Parker standing up first to Declare while he was speaking the Officers came up and took him away After he was gone I stood up in the Eternal Power of God and declared the Everlasting Truth of the Lord God and the Heavenly Power came over all and the Meeting was quiet the rest of the time and brake up peaceably I tarried till the First-Day following visiting Friends and being visited by Friends On the First-Day in the Morning several Friends came to me to Edward Pyot's House where I lay the Night before and used great Endeavours to perswade me not to go to the Meeting that day for the Magistrates they said had threatned to take me and had raised the Trained Bands I wisht them to go their way to the Meeting not telling them what I intended to do but I told Ed. Pyot I intended to go to the Meeting and he sent his Son with me to shew me the Way from his House by the Fields As I went I met divers Friends who were coming to me to prevent my going and did what they could to stop me What said one Wilt thou go into the Mouth of the Beast Wilt thou go into the Mouth of the Dragon said another But I put them by and went on When I came into the Meeting Margaret Thomas was speaking and when she had done I stood up Now I saw a Concern and Fear upon Friends for me but the Power of the Lord in which I declared soon struck the Fear out of them and Life sprang and an Heavenly Glorious Meeting we had After I had Cleared my self of what was upon me from the Lord to the Meeting I was moved to Pray and after I had prayed and was stept down I was moved to stand up again and tell Friends Now they might see there was a God in Israel that could deliver A very large full Meeting this was and very hot but Truth was over all and the Life was up which carried through all and the Meeting broke up in Peace For the Officers and Souldiers had been breaking up another Meeting which had taken up their time so that our Meeting was ended 1662. Broadmead-Meeting before they came But I understood afterwards they were in a great Rage that they had missed me for they were heard to say one to another before I 'll warrant we shall have him but the Lord prevented them I went from the Meeting to Joan Hily's where many Friends came to see me rejoycing and blessing God for our Deliverance In the Evening I had a fine fresh Meeting among Friends at a Friend's House over the Water where Friends were much refreshed in the Lord. After this I stay'd most part of that Week in Bristol Bristol and at Edward Pyott's Edward was brought so low and weak with an Ague that when I came first thither he was lookt upon as a Dying Man but it pleased the Lord to raise him up again so that before I went away his Ague left him and he was finely well Now having been two First-Days together at the Meeting at Broadmead and feeling my Spirit clear of Bristol I went next First-Day to a Meeting in the Country not far from Bristol And after the Meeting was over some Friends that came from Bristol told me that the Souldiers that day had beset the Meeting-House round at Bristol and then went up saying They would be sure to have me now But when they came up and found me not there they were in a great Rage and kept the Friends in the Meeting-house most part of the day before they would let them go home and queried of them Which way I was gone and how they might send after me For the Major they said would fain have spoken with me But I had a Vision of a great Mastiff Dog that would have bitten me but I put one hand above his Jaws and the other hand below and tore his Jaws to pieces So the Lord by his Power tore their Power to pieces and made way for me to escape them Then passed I through the Countries visiting Friends in Wiltshire and Barkshire Wiltshire Barkshire London till I came to London and had great Meetings amongst Friends as I went and the Lord's Power was over all and a blessed time it was for the spreading of his glorious Truth It was indeed the Immediate Hand and Power of the Lord that did preserve me out of their hands at Bristol and over the Heads of all our Persecutors and the Lord alone is worthy of all the Glory who did uphold and preserve for his Name and Truth 's sake At London I staid not long this time but was drawn in my Spirit to visit Friends Northward Leicestershire Nottinghamshire Skegby Barnet-hills as far as Leicestershire John Stubbs being with me So we travelled down through the Countries having Meetings amongst Friends as we went and at Skegby we had a great Meeting Thence passing on we came to a place called Barnet-Hills where lived then one Captain Brown a Baptist whose Wife was Convinced of Truth This Captain Brown after the Act for breaking up Meetings came forth being afraid lest his Wife should go to Meetings and be cast into Prison left his House at Barrow and took a place on these Hills saying His Wife should not go to Prison And this being a free Place many both Priests and others got thither as well as he But he who would neither stand to Truth himself nor suffer his Wife was in this place where he thought to be safe found out by the Lord whose hand fell heavy upon him for his Vnfaithfulness so that he was sorely plagued and grievously judged in himself for flying and drawing his Wife into that private place We went to see his Wife and being come into the House I asked him 1662. Barnet-Hills How he did How do I said he The Plagues and Vengeance of God are upon me a Runnagate a Cain as I am God may look for a Witness for me and such as me for if all were no faithfuller than I God would have no Witness left in the Earth In this Condition he lived there on Bread and Water and thought it was too good for him At length he got home
into Sussex Sussex Newick and came to Newick where were some Friends whom we visited and from thence passed on through the Country visiting Friends and having great Meetings and all quiet and free from Disturbance except by some Jangling Baptists till we came into Hampshire Hampshire Where after we had had a good Meeting at Southampton Southampton Ringwood-Parish Pulner Mo. Meeting we went to a place called Pulner in the Parish of Ringwood where there was to be a Monthly Meeting next day to which many Friends came from Southampton Pool and other places and the Weather being very hot some of them came pretty early in the Morning I took a Friend and walked out with him into the Orchard inquiring of him how the Affairs of Truth stood amongst them For many of them had been Convinced by me before I was Prisoner in Cornwal While we were discoursing another Young-Man came to us and told us the Trained Bands were raising and he heard they would come and break up the Meeting It was not yet Meeting-time by about three hours and there being other Friends walking in the Orchard also the Friend that I was discoursing with before desired me to walk into a Corn-Field adjoining to the Orchard and so we did After a while the Young-Man that spake of the Trained Bands left us and went away and when he was gone a pretty way he stood and waved his Hat Whereupon I spake to the other Young-Man that was with me to go see what he ailed and he went but came not to me again for the Souldiers it seems were come and were in the Orchard And as I kept walking I could see the Souldiers and some of them as I heard afterwards did see me but had no mind to meddle So the Souldiers coming so long before the Meeting-time they did not Tarry but took what Friends they found at the House and some that they met in the Lane coming and 〈◊〉 th m away After they were gone and it grew towards the E eventh Hour Friends began to come in apace and a large and glorious Meeting we had for the Everlasting Seed of God was set over all and the People were settled in the New-Covenant of Life upon the Foundation Christ Jesus Toward the latter part of the Meeting there came a Man in gay Apparel and looked into the Meeting while I was declaring and went away again presently This Man came with an evil Intent for he went forthwith to Ringwood and told the Magistrates They had taken two or three Men at Pulner and had left George Fâ—x there preaching to two or three hundred People Upon this 〈◊〉 Magistrates sent the Officers and Souldiers again but the Meeting being near ended when that Man lookt in and he having about a Mile and an half to go with his Information to Ringwood to fetâ—h the Souldiers and they as much to come back after they had received their Orders before they could come our Meeting was over ending about the third hour peaceably and orderly After the Meeting I spake to the Friends of the House where this Meeting was the Woman of the House lying then dead in the House and then some Friends had me to another Friend's House at a little distance from the Meeting-place where after we had refresh'd our selves I took Horse 1663. Wiltshire at Frye's having about Twenty Miles to ride that Afternoon to one Frye's House in Wiltshire where a Meeting was appointed to be next day After we were gone the Officers and Souldiers came in a great Heat and when they found they were come too late and had missed their Prey they were much Enraged and the Officers were offended with the Souldiers that they had not seized my Horse in the Stable the first time they came But the Lord by his good Providence did deliver me and prevented them of their Mischievous Design For the Officers were envious Men and had an evil Mind against Friends but the Lord brought his Judgments upon them so that it was taken notice of by their Neighbours Example For whereas before they were Wealthy Men after this their Estates wasted away and John Line who was the Constable and who was not only very forward in putting on the Souldiers to take Friends but also carried those that were taken to Prison and took a False Oath against them at the Assize upon which they were Fined and continued Prisoners he was a sad Spectacle to behold For his Flesh rotting away while he lived he died in a very miserable Condition wishing he had never medled with the Quakers and confessing that he never prospered since he had an hand in persecuting them and that he thought the Hand of the Lord was against him for it At Frye's in Wiltshire we had a very blessed Meeting and quiet though the Officers had a purpose to have broken it up and were coming on their way in order thereunto But before they were got to the Meeting Word was brought after them that there was an House newly broken up by Thieves and they were required to go back again with speed to search after and pursue the Thieves by which means our Meeting scaped Disturbance and we were delivered out of their Hands We passed through Wiltshire into Dorsetshire having large and good Meetings Dorsetshire and the Lord 's Everlasting Power was with us and carried us over all in which we sounded forth his saving Truth and Word of Life which many gladly received Thus travelling through the Countries Devonshire Topsham we visited Friends till we came to Topsham in Devonshire travelling some Weeks Eight or Ninescore Miles a Week and had Meetings every day At Topsham we met with Margaret Fell and two of her Daughters Sarah and Mary and with Leonard Fell and Thomas Salthouse Totness Kingsbridge To H. Pollexfen ' s. Plymouth Cornwall From thence we passed to Totness where we visited some Friends and then on to Kingsbridge and so to old Henry Pollexfen's who had been an Ancient Justice of Peace There we had a large Meeting And from thence this old Justice passed with us to Plymouth and so into Cornwall to one Justice Porters and from thence to Thomas Mount's where we had another large Meeting After which we went to Humphrey Lower's where also we had a large Meeting and from thence to Loveday Hamblye's where we had a General Meeting for the whole Country and all was quiet A little before this there had been in those parts Joseph Hellen and G. Bewly and they had been at Loo to visit one Blanch Pope a Ranting Woman under pretence to Convince and Convert her but before they came from her she had so darkned them with her Principles that they seemed to be like her Disciples especially Joseph Hellen. 1663. Cornwal For she had asked them Who made the Devil Did not God This Idle Question so puzzled them that they could not Answer her They afterwards asked
perswaded to come up to unlock one of the upper-most Doors for fear of the Smoke so that I was almost smothered Besides it Rained in upon my Bed and many times when I went to stop out the Rain in the Cold Winter-Season my Shirt would be as wet as Muck with the Rain that came in upon me while I was labouring to stop it out And the place being high and open to the Wind sometimes as fast as I stopt it the Wind being high and fierce would blow it out again In this manner did I lie all that long cold Winter till the next Assize In which time I was so starved with Cold and Rain that my Body was greatly swelled and my Limbs much benummed The Assize began on the 16th day of the Month called March Lancaster Assize 1664 5. And the same Judges Twisden and Turner coming that Circuit again Judge Twisden sate this time on the Crown-Bench and before him I was brought Now I had Informed my self again of the Errors that were in this Indictment also For though at the Assize before Judge Turner had said to the Officers in Court Pray see that all the Oath be in the Indictment and that the word Subject be in and that the Day of the Month and Year of the King be put in right For it is a shame that so many Errors should be seen and found in the face of the Country yet there were many Errors and those great ones in this Indictment as well as in the former And surely the Hand of the Lord was in it to confound their mischievous Work against me and to blind them therein Insomuch that although after the Indictment was drawn at the former Assize the Judge Examined it himself and tried it with the Clerks yet the Word Subject was left out of this Indictment also and the Day of the Month was put in wrong and several Material Words of the Oath were left out Yet they went on confidently against me thinking all was safe and well And when I was set to the Bar and the Jury called over to be sworn the Clerk asked me First Whether I had any Objection to make against any of the Jury I told him ' I knew none of them Then having sworn the Jury they swore three of the Officers of the Court to prove That the Oath was tendred to me at the last Assizes according to the Indictment Come come said the Judge It was not done in a Corner Then he asked me What I had said to it or Whether I had taken the Oath at the last Assize I told him what I had said viz. That the Book they gave me to Swear on saith Swear not at all And I repeated more of what I had formerly said to them as it now came to my remembrance Whereupon the Judge said I will not dispute with you but in point of Law Then said I I have something to speak to the Jury concerning the Indictment He told me I must not speak to the Jury but if I had any thing to say I must speak to him Then I asked him Whether the Oath was to be tendred to the King's Subjects only or to the Subjects of Forreign Princes He replied To the Subjects of this Realm for I will speak nothing to you said he but in point of Law Then said I Look the Indictment and thou may'st see that the Word Subject is left out of this Indictment also And therefore seeing the Oath is not to be tendred to any but the Subjects of this Realm and ye have not put me in as a Subject the Court is to take no notice of this Indictment I had no sooner spoke thus but the Judge cried Take him away Jailer take him away So I was presently hurried away And the Jailer and People looked when I should be called for again but I was never brought forth to the Court any more though I had many other great Errors to assign in the Indictment But after I was gone the Judge asked the Jury If they were agreed And they said Yes and found for the King against me as I was told But I was never called to hear Sentence given nor was any Sentence given against me that I could hear of For I heard that when they had looked more narrowly into the Indictment they saw and were sensible themselves that the Indictment was not good and the Judge having sworn the Officers of the Court that the Oath was tendred me at the Assize before such a day according as was set in the Indictment and that proving to be the wrong day I should have proved the Officers of the Court forsworn Men again if the Judge would have suffered me to go on to plead to the Indictment which was thought to be the Reason why he hurried me away so soon The Judge had passed Sentence of Premunire upon Margaret Fell before I was brought before him and it seems when I was hurried away so they recorded me as a Premunired Person though I was never brought to hear the Sentence nor knew of it Which was very Illegal For they ought to have not only had me present to hear the Sentence given but also to have asked me first What I could say why Sentence should not be given against me But they knew I had so much to say that they could not give Sentence if they heard it While I was a Prisoner in Lancaster-Castle there was a great Noise and Talk of the Turk 's overspreading Christendom Lancaster Prison and great Fears entred many But one day as I was walking in my Prison-Chamber I saw the Lord's Power turn against him and that he was turning back again And I declared to some what the Lord had let me see when there were such Fears of his over-running Christendom and within a Month after the News-Books came down wherein it was mentioned that They had given him a Defeat Another time as I was walking in my Chamber with my Eye to the Lord I saw the Angel of the Lord with a glittering drawn Sword stretched Southward as though the Court had been all on a Fire Not long after the Wars brake out with Holland and the Sickness brake forth and afterwards the Fire of London So the Lord's Sword was drawn indeed Now by reason of my long and close Imprisonment in so bad a place I was grown very weak of Body but the Lord's Power was over all and supported me through all and enabled me to do Service for him and for his Truth and People as the place would admit For while I was in Lancaster-Prison I Answered several Books as the Mass and the Common-Prayer and the Directory and the Church-Faith which are the Four Chief Religions that are got up since the Apostles days And there being several Friends in Prison at Lancaster and other Prisons for not paying Tithes I was moved to give forth the following Lines to the World concerning Tithes IN the time of the Law
him Upon this occasion I writ a Letter to the Justices and to the Judge of the Assize which was then at hand And I imployed some Friends to carry it to the Justices first The Justice to whom the Clerk belonged rebuked his Clerk and the others also for disturbing and abusing us upon the High-Way So that those Men were glad to come and make Intreaty to Friends not to appear against them at the Assize which upon their Submission and Acknowledgment of their Fault Friends granted And this thing was of good Service in the Country for it stopt many rude People that before had been forward to abuse Friends 1667. Herefordshire We passed into Herefordshire where we had several blessed Meetings and we had a General Mens-Meeting also where all the Monthly Meetings were settled There was about this time a Proclamation against Meetings and as we came through Herefordshire we were told of a great Meeting there was of the Presbyterians who had engaged themselves to stand and give up all rather than forsake their Meetings But when they heard of this Proclamation the People came but the Priest was gone and then they were at a loss Then they met in Lemster privately and provided Bread and Cheese and Drink in readiness that if the Officers should come they would put up their Bibles and fall to Eating The Bayliff found them out and came in among them and said Their Bread and Cheese should not cover them but he would have their Speakers They cried What then would become of their Wives and Children But he took their Speakers and kept them a while This the Bayliff told our Friend Peter Young and said They were the veriest Hypocrites that ever made a Profession of Religion The like Contrivance they had in other places For there was one Pocock at London that married Abigail Darcy who was called a Lady and she being Convinc'd of Truth I went to his House to see her This Pocock had been one of the Triers of the Priests and being an high Presbyterian and envious against us he used to call our Friends House-Creepers Now I going to visit his Wife and he being present she said to me I have something to speak to thee against my Husband ' Nay said I thou must not speak against thy Husband Yes said she but I must in this Case The last First-Day said she He and his Priests and People the Presbyterians met and they had Candles and Tobacco-Pipes and Bread and Cheese and Cold Meat on the Table and they agreed before-hand that if the Officers should come in upon them then they would leave their Preaching and Praying and would fall to their Cold Meat Oh said I to him is not this a Shame to you who Persecuted and Imprisoned us and spoiled our Goods because we would not follow you and be of your Religion and called us House-Creepers and now ye do not stand to your own Religion your selves Did ye ever find our Meetings stufft with Bread and Cheese and Tobacco-pipes Or did ye ever read in the Scriptures of any such Practice among the Saints Why said the Old Man We must be as wise as Serpents Then said I This is the Serpent's Wisdom indeed But who said I would ever have thought that you Presbyterians and Independents who persecuted and imprisoned others and spoiled their Goods and whipped such as would not follow your Religion should now flinch your selves and not dare to stand to and own your own Religion but cover it with Tobacco-pipes Flagons of Drink Cold Meat and Bread and Cheese But this and such like deceitful Practices I understood afterwards were too Common amongst them in times of Persecution Now after we had travelled through Herefordshire and Meetings were well settled there Monmouthshire we passed into Monmouthshire where I had several blessed Meetings and at Walter Jenkins who had been a Justice of the Peace we had a large Meeting where were some Convinced This Meeting was quiet But at another Meeting that we had before this there came the Bayliff of the Hundred 1667. Monmouthshire almost drunk pretending he was to take up the Speakers There was a mighty Power of God in the Meeting so that although he raged the Power of the Lord limited him that he could not break up the Meeting When the Meeting was over I staid a while and he staid also but after some time I spake to him and so passed quietly away At Night some rude People came and shot off a Musket against the House but did not hurt any body Thus the Lord's Power came over all and chained down the unruly Spirits so that we escaped them and came to Ross that Night and had a Meeting there at James Merricks Ross After this we came into Gloucestershire Glouâ—estershire and had a General Mens-Meeting at Nathaniel Crips's House where all the Monthly Meetings were settled in the Lord 's Everlasting Power and the Heirs of Salvation were exhorted to take their Possessions of the Gospel the Power of God which was and is the Authority of their Meetings Many blessed Meetings we had up and down in that Country before we came to Bristol whither also we went Briâ—tol And after we had had several powerful Meetings there the Mens and Womens-Meetings were settl'd there also Now as I was lying in Bed at Bristol the Word of the Lord came to me that I must go back to London Next Morning Alexander Parker and several others came to me and I asked them What they felt They in like manner asked me What was upon me I told them I felt I must return to London and they said the same was upon them So we gave up to return to London for which Way the Lord moved and led us thither we went in his Power Wherefore leaving Bristol we passed into Wiltshire Wiltshire and established the Mens-Monthly-Meetings in the Lord's Power there and then passed through the Countries visiting Friends till we came to London London After we had visited Friends in the City and had staid there a while I was moved to exhort them to bring all their Marriages to the Mens and Womens-Meetings that they might lay them before the Faithful there that so Care might be taken to prevent those Disorders that had been committed by some For many had gone together in Marriage contrary to their Relations minds and some young raw People that came among us had mixed with the World and Widows had married and had not made provision for their Children by their former Husbands before their Second Marriage And although I had given forth a Paper concerning Marriages about the Year 1653 when Truth was but little spread over the Nation Advising Friends who might be concerned in that Case That they might lay it before the Faithful in time before any thing were Concluded and afterward publish it in the end of a Meeting or in a Market as they were moved thereto
And when all things were found clear they being free from all others and their Relations satisfied then they might appoint a Meeting on purpose for the taking of each other in the Presence of at least Twelve Faithful Witnesses Yet these Directions not being observed and Truth being now more spread over the Nation it was therefore Ordered by the same Power and Spirit of God That Marriages should be laid before the Mens Monthly and Quarterly Meetings or as the Meetings were then established that Friends might see that the Relations of those that proceeded to Marriage were satisfied and that the Parties were clear from all others 1667. London and that Widows had made Provision for their First Husband's Children before they Married again and what else was needful to be inquired into that so all things might be kept clean and pure and done in Righteousness to the Glory of God And afterwards it was Ordered in the same Wisdom of God That if either of the Parties that intended to Marry came out of another Nation County or Monthly-Meeting they should bring a Certificate from the Monthly Meeting to which they belong'd for satisfaction of the Monthly-Meeting before which they came to lay their Intentions of Marriage Now after these things with many other Services for God were set in Order and settled in the Churches in the City I passed out of London in the Leadings of the Lord's Power into the Country again and going into Hartfordshire Hertfordshire after I had visited Friends there and the Mens-Monthly-Meetings were settled there I passed on as far as Baldock Baldock where I had a great Meeting of many sorts of People Then returning towards London by Waltham Waltham I advised the setting up of a School there for Teaching Boys and also a Womens-School to be set up at Shacklewel for instructing Girls and Young Maidens Shacklewell in whatsoever things were Civil and Vseful in the Creation Thus after I had had several precious Meetings in the Country I came to London again London where I staid a while in the Work and Service of the Lord Buckinghamshire Weston and then went down into Buckinghamshire where I had many precious Meetings And at John Brown's of Weston near Aylsbury some of the Men-Friends of each Meeting being gathered together the Mens-Monthly-Meetings for that County were established amongst them also in the Order of the Gospel the Power of God and the Power of the Lord confirmed it in all that felt it and they came thereby to see and feel that the Power of God was the Authority of their Meetings Then after the Monthly-Meetings were settled there in the Order of the Gospel Oxfordshire North-Newton near Banbury and upon the Foundation Christ Jesus I passed on into Oxfordshire and went to Nathaniel Ball 's at North-Newton near Banbury who was a Friend in the Ministry And there being a General Meeting where some of all the Meetings were present the Monthly-Meetings for that County were then settled in the Power of God and Friends were very glad of them for they came into their Services in the Church and to take Care for God's Glory After this Meeting we passed through the Country Gloucestershire visiting Friends till we came into Gloucestershire and visiting Friends through that County also we travelled on Monmouthshire till we came into Monmouthshire to one Richard Hambery's where meeting with some of all the Meetings of that County the Monthly Meetings were settled there also in the Lord's Power that all in it might take Care of God's Glory and Admonish and Exhort such as did not walk as became the Gospel And indeed these Meetings did make a great Reformation amongst People insomuch as the very Justices took notice of the Vsefulness and Service thereof When we went from Rich. Humbery's he and his Wife accompanied us a Day 's Journy through the Country visiting Friends till we came to a Widow-Woman's where we lay that Night and from thence passed over the Hills next day Over the Hills visiting Friends and declaring the Truth to People till we came to another Widow Woman's House where we had a Meeting The Woman of the House could not speak English yet she praised the Lord for sending us over those Hills to come and visit them We travelled on through the Country till we came to Swanzey Swanzey where on the First Day we had a large and precious Meeting the Lord's Presence being eminently amongst us Beyond Swanzey On a Week-Day afterwards we had a General Meeting beyond Swanzey of Men-Friends that came from Swanzey Tenby Haverford-West and other Places and there the Monthly-Meetings were settled in the Gospel-Order and received by Friends in the Power of the Lord and the Lord's Truth was over all From hence we endeavoured to have got over the Water into Cornwall and in order thereunto went back to Swanzey Swanzey Mumbles and so to Mumbles thinking to have got Passage there but the Master deceived us For though he had promised to carry us yet when we came he would not Thereupon we turned from thence and went to another place where there was a Passage-Boat into which we got our Horses but there being some Rude Men in the Boat though called Gentlemen that threatned to Pistol the Master if he took us in he being afraid of them turned our Horses out again which put us out of hopes of getting over that way Wherefore turning back again into the Country we stay'd up all Night and about the Second Hour in the Morning took Horse and travelled through the Country Near Cardiff till we came near Cardiff where we staid one Night And the next Day came to a place called Newport and it being Market-day there Newport several Friends came to us with whom we sate together a while and after we had had a fine refreshing Season together we parted from them and went on our way When we were gone beyond this Market-Town we overtook a Man who lingred on the Way as if he stay'd for some body but when we came up to him he rid along with us and asked us many Questions At length meeting with Two others who seemed to be Pages to some great Persons he took Acquaintance with them and I heard him tell them he would stop us and take us up We rid on being in our way and when he came to us and would have stopped us I told him None ought to stop us on the King 's High-way for it was as free for us as for them and I was moved to exhort him to Fear the Lord. Then galloped he away before us and I perceived his Intent was to stop us at Shipton in Wales which was a Garrison-Town through which we were to pass in our way When we were come to Shipton John-ap-John being with me Shipton we walked down the Hill into the Town leading our Horses And it being
Liberty the Friends that were with me asked me Grac. Meet Whether I would go I told them To Gracious-Street-Meeting again if it were not over When we came there the People were generally gone only some few stood at the Gate We went into Gerrard Roberts his House and from thence I sent out to know how the other Meetings in the City were And I understood that at some of the meeting-Meeting-places Friends were kept out and at others they were taken but set at Liberty again a few days after A glorious time it was for the Lord's Power came over all and his Everlasting Truth got Renown For as fast as some that were speaking were taken down others were moved of the Lord to stand up and speak to the admiration of the People and the more because many Baptists and other Sectaries left their Publick Meetings and came to see how the Quakers would stand As for the Informer aforesaid he was so frighted 1670. London that there durst hardly any Informer appear publickly again in London for some time after But the Mayor whose Name was Samuel Starling though he carried himself smoothly towards us proved afterwards a very great Persecutor of our Friends many of whom he cast into Prison as may be seen in the Books of the Trials of W. Penn W. Mead and others at the Old Baily this Year After some time the Heat of Persecution in the City began to abate and Meetings were quieter there and I being then clear of the City went to visit Friends in the Country having several Meetings as I went in Middlesex Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Middlesez Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Reading which were quiet though in some places there was much Threatning At Reading most of the Friends were in Prison and I went thither to Visit them And when I had been a while with them the Friends that were Prisoners gathered together and several other Persons came in so that I had a fine Opportunity amongst them and declared the Word of Life encouraging them in the Truth and they were Refreshed in feeling the Presence and Power of the Lord amongst them When the Meeting was ended the Jailer understanding that I was there the Friends were troubled and concerned how to get me out safe again for they feared lest he should stop me But after I had staid a while and Eaten with them I went down the Stairs and the Jailer being at the Door I put my hand in my Pocket which he had such an Eye to hoping to get something of me that he asked me no Question So I gave him something and bad him Be kind and civil to my Friends in Prison whom I came to Visit And he let me pass out without Interruption But soon after Isaac Pennington coming to Visit them he stopt him and caused him to be made a Prisoner Next Morning I rid about Fourteen Miles to a Meeting Hampshire Baghurst at a place called Baghurst in Hampshire Thomas Brigges being with me When we came into the Parish some sober People came to us and told us That the Priest of the Town was an Envious Man and did Threaten us We went on to the Meeting which was large and after some time Thomas Brigges stood up and spake Now it seems the Priest had got a Warrant and sent the Constables and other Officers with it And they came to the House and stay'd a while and then went away again but did not come into the Meeting So we in the Meeting did not know of their being there But after Thomas Brigges had done speaking I was moved of the Lord to stand up and declared the Word of Life to the People and a precious Meeting we had When I had done speaking and the Meeting was ended and risen I heard a great Clutter in the Yard and when we came forth the Man of the House told us That the Officers had been in the House before but did not come into the Meeting but went away without doing any thing And that now the Priest in a great Rage had sent them again and his own Servant with them But the Meeting being ended before they came they could do nothing now And thus the good Providence of the Lord preserved us from the Wicked Design of the Envious Priest and out of his Snare but the Priest was in a great Rage 1670. Barkshire Surrey Guilford From thence We went to a Friend's House on the Edge of Barkshire where several Friends came to visit us And afterwards we passed into Surrey visiting Friends and had many precious Meetings till we came to Stephen Smiths near Guilford where great Persecution had been and very much Goods had been taken away from Friends thereabouts for their Meetings and under great Threatnings they were at that time yet we had several blessed Meetings there and thereabouts and the Lord's Power was over all in and by which we were preserved Sussex We went out of Surrey into Sussex by Richard Baxe's where we had a large precious Meeting and quiet though the Constables had given out Threatnings before Afterwards I had many more Meetings up and down in that County and though there were some Threatnings yet Meetings were peaceable and Friends were refreshed and established upon the Foundation of God that stands sure When I had throughly visited Sussex Kent I went into Kent and had many glorious and precious Meetings in several parts of that County I went up into East-Kent to a Meeting near Deal Deal which was very large and returning from thence to Canterbury Canterbury Isle of Sheppy visited Friends there and then passed into the Isle of Sheppy where I staid Two or Three Days and thither came Alexander Parker George Whitehead and John Rouse to me The next day after they came finding my Service for the Lord finished there we passed away towards Rochester And on the way as I was walking down an Hill a great Weight and Oppression fell upon my Spirit I got on my Horse again but the Weight remained so heavy on me that I was hardly able to Ride At length we came to Rochester Rochester but I was much spent being so extreamly loaden and burdened with the World's Spirits that my Life was oppressed under them I got with difficulty to Graves-End Gravesend and lay at an Inn there but could hardly either Eat or Sleep The next day John Rouse and Alexander Parker went for London and John Stubbs being come to me he and I went over the Ferry into Essex Essex We came to a place called Horne-Church Horne-Church Stratford where was a Meeting on the First-Day And after the Meeting I rode with great Vneasiness to Stratford Three Miles from London to a Friend's House there whose Name was Williams and who had formerly been a Captain Here I lay exceeding Weak and at last lost both my Hearing and my Sight so that I could neither hear nor see Several
another Friend's House near the Head of Hatton's-Island Hatton's-Island where we had good Service amongst Friends and others as we had also the Day following at Geo. Wilson's a Friend that lived about three Miles further where we had a very precious Meeting there being a great Tenderness amongst the People After this Meeting we sailed thence about Ten Miles to James Frizby's who was a Justice of the Peace and there on the Sixteenth of the Eighth Month we had a very large Meeting at which besides Friends were some Hundreds of People as it was supposed and amongst them were several Justices of the Peace and Captains and the Sheriff with other Persons of Note in the World's Account A blessed heavenly Meeting this was and a powerful thundering Testimony for Truth was born therein and a great Sense there was upon the People and a great Brokenness and Tenderness was amongst them We stay'd after Meeting till about the Eleventh Hour in the Night that the Tide turned and was with us and then taking Boat again we passed that Night and the next Day about Fifty Miles to another Friend's House The two next days we made short Journies visiting Friends and on the Twentieth we had a great Meeting at a place called Severn Severn where there was a Meeting-Place but not large enough to hold the People by many for the People of those parts came generally to it Divers of the Chief Magistrates were at it and many other considerable People and it gave them generally great Satisfaction Two days after we had a Meeting with some that walked disorderly and we had good Service in it Then spending a day or two in visiting Friends thereabouts Western-Shore we passed to the Western-Shore and on the Twenty fifth Day had a large and precious Meeting at William Coale's where the Speaker of their Assembly with his Wife and a Justice of Peace and several other People of Quality were present Next Day we had a Meeting six or seven Miles further at Abraham Birkhead's where many of the Magistrates and upper sort of People were and the Speaker of the Parliament or Assembly for that Country was Convinced A blessed Meeting it was praised be the Lord. We travelled on next Day and on the Day following which was the Twenty eighth of the Eighth Month had a large and very precious Meeting at Peter Sharp's Clifts on the Clifts between Thirty and Forty Miles distant from the former Many of the Magistrates and upper Rank of People were at this Meeting and a heavenly Meeting it was One of the Governour 's Council's Wives was Convinced and her Husband very loving to Friends and one that came from Virginia being a Justice of the Peace there was Convinced and hath a Meeting since at his House There was some Papists at this Meeting and one of them threatned before he came that he would Dispute with me but when he came he was reached and could not oppose Blessed be the Lord the Truth hath reached into the Hearts of People beyond Words and it is of a good Savour amongst them After the Meeting we went about Eighteen Miles to James Preston's a Friend that liveth on Pottuxon-River and thither came to us an Indian King Pottuxon River with his Brother to whom I spake and I found they understood the thing I spake of Now having finished our Service in Mary-land and intending forthwith to set forward for Virginia Pottuxon we had a Meeting at Pottuxon on the Fourth Day of the Ninth Month to take our Leaves of Friends The Meeting was in the Meeting-Place and many of the World's People of all sorts were at it and a powerful Meeting it was Upon the Fifth Day of the Ninth Month we set Sail for Virginia VIRGINIA and in three days came to a Place called Nancemum Nancemum it being as they there computed about Two hundred Miles from Mary-land In this Voyage we met with nothing but what had been usual with us namely foul Weather Storms and Rain and to lie in the Woods by a Fire in the Night At this Nancemum lived a Friend called the Widow Wright Next Day we had a great Meeting at Nancemum of Friends and People There came to this Meeting one Col. Dewes with several other Officers and Magistrates and were much taken with the Truth declared After this Meeting was over we hast'ned towards Carolina yet had several Meetings by the Way wherein we had good Service for the Lord One about four Miles from Nancemum-Water which was a very precious Meeting and there was a Mens and a Womens-Meeting settled for taking Care of the Affairs of the Church Another very good Meeting also we had at William Yarrow's at a place called Pagan-Creek where the Meeting was so large Pagan Creek that we were fain to be abroad the House not being big enough to contain the People A great Openness there was in the People and the Sound of Truth did spread abroad and had a good Savor in the Hearts of People the Lord have the Glory for ever After this our way to Carolina grew worse being much of it plashy and wet and pretty full of great Bogs and Swamps so that we were commonly wet to the Knees most of us and lay abroad a-Nights in the Woods by a Fire saving that one of the Nights we got to a poor House at a place called Sommertown Sommerton and lay by the Fire in the House The Woman of the House had a Sense of God upon her and the Report of our Travel had reached thither and drawn some People that lived beyond Sommertown to that House in Expectation to have seen and heard us so acceptable was the Sound of Truth in that Wilderness-Country but they missed us The next Day which was the Twenty first of the Ninth Month having travelled hard through the Woods and over many Bogs and Swamps we reached at Night to Bonner's Creek 1672. CAROLINA and there we lay that Night by the Fire-side the Woman lending us a Mat to lie on This was the first House we came to in Carolina And here we left our Horses which were over-wearied with Travel From hence we went down the Creek in a Canooe to Macocomocock-River Bonner's Crâ—â—k and came to a Man's House Macocomocock River whose Name was Hugh Smith where the People of the World came in to see us for there were no Friends in that part of the Country and many of them did receive us gladly Amongst others that came to us there was one Nathaniel Batts who we heard had been Governour of Ronoack He went by the Name of Captain Batts and had been a Rude Desperate Man He asked me about a Woman in Cumberland who he said he was told had been healed by our Prayers and Laying on of Hands after she had been long sick and given over by the Physicians and he desired to know the certainty of it
another Meeting we had on the Ninth wherein the Glory of the Lord shined over all blessed and magnified be his Holy Name for ever From hence we intended to go to Anamessy and on the Twelfth Day of the Twelfth Month we set forward in our Boat And travelling by Night as well as by Day in the Night we run our Boat on Ground in a Creek near Manaco-River Manaco River There we were fain to stay till Morning that the Tide came and lifted her off again And in the mean time sitting in an open Boat and the Weather being bitter-cold some had like to have lost the Vse of their Hands they were so frozen and benummed with Cold. But in the Morning when the Tide had set our Boat a-float again we got to Land and made us a good Fire at which we warmed our selves well and then went to our Boat again and passed on about ten miles further to a Friend's House where next day we had a very precious Meeting at which some of the Chief of the Place were I went after the Meeting to a Friend's House about four miles off Anamessy River at the Head of Anamessy-River where on the Day following the Judge of the Country and a Justice with him came to me and were very loving and much satisfied with Friend's Order The next Day we had a large Meeting at the Justice's House but it was in his Barn for his House could not hold the Company There were several of the Great Folks of that Country and among the rest there was an Opposer but all was preserved quiet and well and a precious Meeting it was and the People were much taken and affected with the Truth blessed be the Lord. We went next Day to see one Capt. Colburn who was also a Justice of the Peace and there we had some Service Then returning again we had a very glorious Meeting at the same Justice's where we met before and there were many People of Account in the World Magistrates Officers and others at it It was a large Meeting and the Power of the Lord was much felt so that the People were generally well satisfied and taken with the Truth and there being several both Merchants and Masters of Ships from New-England the Truth was spread abroad blessed be the Lord A Day or two after departing from this place we travelled about sixteen miles through the Woods and Bogs heading Anamessy-River and Amoroca-River Amoroca River Manaoke part of which last we went over in a Canooe and came to Manaoke to a Friendly Woman's House where on the Twenty fourth of the Twelfth Month we had a large Meeting in a Barn and the Lord's living Presence was with us and among the People blessed be his Holy Name for ever-more Friends had never had a Meeting in those Parts before 1673. Mary-land Wicocomaco-River After this Meeting we passed over the River Wicocomaco and through many bad and watry Swamps and Marish Way and came to James Jones a Friend who was a Justice of the Peace where we had a large and very glorious Meeting praised be the Lord God Then passing over the Water in a Boat we took Horse and travelled about Twenty four Miles through Woods and troublesom Swamps and came to another Justice's House where we had a very large Meeting much People of the World being at it and many of Considerable Account amongst them and the living Presence of the Lord was amongst us praised for ever be his holy Name This was on the Third Day of the First Month 1672 3. And on the Fifth Day of the same we had another living and heavenly Meeting at which divers of the Justices with their Wives and many others of the World's People were amongst whom we had very good Service for the Lord blessed be his Holy Name At this Meeting was a Woman that lived at Anamessy who had been many Years in Trouble of Mind and sometimes would sit moping near two Months together and hardly speak or mind any thing When I heard of her I was moved of the Lord to go to her and tell her ' That Salvation was come to her House And after I had spoken the Word of Life to her and intreated the Lord for her she mended and went up and down with us to Meetings and is since well blessed be the Lord Being now clear of these parts we left Anamessy on the Seventh Day of the First Month and passing by Water about Fifty Miles came to a Friendly Woman's House at Hunger-River Hunger River We had very rough Weather in our Passage to this Place and were in great Danger for the Boat had like to have been turned over and I lost both my Hat and Cap yet we recovered them again with much ado and through the good Providence of God got safe thither praised be his Name At this place we had a Meeting where we had never any before and amongst the People that were at it there were two Papists a Man and a Woman the Man was very tender and the Woman confessed to the Truth This Meeting was not so large as it would have been if many who intended to have been at it could have got to it but the Weather was so foul and the Water by reason of high Winds so rough that it was not safe to pass upon it I had no Friend now with me but Robert Widders the rest having dispersed themselves into several parts of the Country in the Service of Truth So soon as the Wind would permit we passed from hence about Forty Miles by Water rowing most part of the way and came to the Head of little Choptanck-River to Dr. Winsmore's Choptanck River who was a Justice of Peace and lately convinced Here we met with some Friends with whom we staid a while and then went on by Land and Water and had a large Meeting abroad for the House we were at could not receive the People There were divers of the Magistrates and their Wives at this Meeting and a good Meeting it was blessed be the Lord who is making his Name known in that Wilderness-Country We went back from thence to a Friend's House whose Name is William Stephen's where we met with those other Friends that had been travelling in other parts and were much refreshed in the Lord together when we imparted to each other the good Success we had had in the Lord's Work 1673. Mary-land and the Prosperity and spreading of Truth in the places where we travelled John Cartwright and another Friend had been at Virginia where were great Desires in People after the Truth and being now returned they staid but a little with us here and then set forward for Barbados But before we left this place we had a very glorious Meeting here at which were very many of the World's People and some of the Chief of them For there was the Judge of that Country and three Justices of the Peace
Gospel-Order and it belongs to them Then take your Possessions and Practise in it and be not Talkers only but Live and Walk in the Gospel the Power of God which is the Authority of your Meetings Swarthmore the 28th of the Third Month 1676. G. F. Read at the Yearly Meeting in London the 17th of the Third Month 1676. During this time also I Collected together as many as I could of the Epistles I had written in former Years to Friends I made a Collection too of the several Papers that I had written to O. Cromwel and his Son Richard in the time of their Protectorships and to the Parliaments and Magistrates that were in their times And after I had gathered them together I Collected also the Papers I had written to King Charles the Second since his Return and to his Council and Parliaments and the Justices or other Magistrates under him I made also another Collection of Certificates which I had received from divers Governours of Places Judges Justices Parliament-Men and others for the Clearing of me from many Slanders which the Envious Priests and Professors both here and beyond the Seas had cast upon me And this I did for the Truth's-sake as knowing that their Design in Slandering me was to defame the Truth published by me and hinder thereby if they could the Spreading thereof amongst the People Besides these I made Two Books of Collections the one was A List or Catalogue of the Names of those Friends who went first forth out of the North of England when Truth first brake forth there to proclaim the Day of the Lord through this Nation The other was of the Names of those Friends that went first forth to Preach the Gospel in other Nations Countries and Places and in what Years and to what Parts they went I made also another Collection in Two Books one of Epistles and Letters from Friends and others on several Occasions to me The other of Letters of mine to Friends and others I writ also a Book of the Types and Figures of Christ with their Significations and many other things which will be of Service to Truth and Friends in times to come I took notice also of those who had run out from Truth and drawn others out after them and turned against Truth and Friends at several times since the First Breaking forth of Truth in this latter Age and what became of them noting particularly the Repentance and Return of such of them as came back to Truth again But some ran quite out and never returned again but were Cut off in their Gainsaying and Rebellion for the Word and Power of God hath blasted and is blasting them and the Holy Seed hath ground and is grinding them to pieces And this I have observed that they who have been Convinced and have not lived and walked in the Truth have been the Worst Enemies to the Truth and done most Hurt amongst Friends in the Truth and to others And in these I have seen fulfilled what the Lord did long since shew me That such should be greater Deceivers than all the Priests and Professors For such as came as far as Cain and Balaam and Corah and Dathan and could preach Christ and say They had preached in his Name and such as came to be Apostles and had tasted of the Power of Christ and then turned from it such could yet speak their Old Experiences and have the good Words like Corah and Balaam but not keeping in the Life and Truth such Deceived the Hearts of the Simple both then and now and such come to be of the Devil who abode not in the Truth as Cain and and all the Jews that abode not in the Truth were For though Cain did Sacrifice to God and did talk with God and the Jews could talk of Abraham Moses and the Prophets yet Christ told them They were of their Father the Devil In like manner though they who are called Christians can talk of Christ and use his and his Apostles and Disciples Words yet not abiding in the Truth and Power and Spirit that the Apostles were in they are of the Devil out of Truth and do his Work And so are all these that have been Convinced of God's Eternal Truth since it sprang up in this Nation that have not abode in the Light and in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus but have turned against the Power and have opposed the Work thereof though they may retain their former Experiences and be able to speak many good Words yet not living in the Life and Power that gave them those Experiences they live in the Power of Darkness which is of the Devil and by the Light and Truth both he and they are Condemned and must own their Condemnations if ever they come to Truth again For to Resist the Heavenly Power and to oppose the Workings and Divine Manifestations thereof through any is not a light Matter And as I had been moved of the Lord to travel in his Power round about this Nation and in other Parts to preach the Everlasting Gospel and to declare the Word of Life which was in the Beginning through many Imprisonments Hardships Sufferings and Trials so I was afterwards moved to Travel in the same Heavenly Power about the Nation again and to write to such Places where I came not to recommend unto Friends the setting up of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in all Counties for the looking after the Poor and taking Care for Orderly Proceedings in Marriages and other matters relating to the Church of Christ Though some Meetings for this end were settled in the North of England in the Year 1653. And after this also Truth still spreading further over the Nation and Friends encreasing in number I was moved by the same Eternal Power to recommend the setting up the Womens-Meetings also that all both Male and Female that had received the Gospel the Word of Eternal Life might come into the Order of the Gospel brought forth by the Power of God and might act for God in the Power and therein do Business and Service for him in his Church All the Faithful must labour in God's Vineyard they being his Hired Servants and he having given them the Earnest of his Spirit For a Master that hires a Servant and gives him the Earnest of his Hire expects he should do his Work after he knows his Will in the outward Creation So all God's Prople that be of the new Creation and have received the Earnest of his Spirit ought to labour with by and in his Spirit Power and Grace and Faith in the Light in God's Vineyard that they may have their Wages every one Male and Female when they have done God's Work and Business in his Day which is Eternal Life But none can labour in his Vineyard and do his Work and Will but as they walk in the Heavenly Divine Light Grace and Spirit of Christ which is hath been and is my Travel and
and made them appear at the Sessions where he asked them many ensnaring Questions for he knew not how to Convict them because he had no Proof against them When he saw his Questions did not Catch them 1677. â—urrowby he told them He had heard that George Fox was at a large Meeting with them and they all sate Silent and none spake in the Meeting This false Story he cunningly feigned thinking thereby to have drawn out some of the Friends to have contradicted him and have said That I had spoken in the Meeting that so he mâ—ght have Convicted them upon their own Confession and have Fined them But Friends standing in the Wisdom of God did not Answer him according to his Desire and so escaped his Snare But two other Friends that came out of Ireland and were at this Meeting having a Meeting that Evening about three Miles off this Evil-minded Justice got Information thereof and Fined Friends and plundered them very sorely for it I went from Burrowby to Isaac Lindley's calling upon Friends on the Way as I went And having Robert Lodge and some other Friends with me York from thence next Day we passed to York and the Day following being the First Day of the Week I was at Friends Meeting in York which was large and peaceable The Second day also I staid in York and had two Meetings with Friends at John Taylor 's from whence I writ unto my Wife to let her know how it was with me as followeth Dear Heart TO whom is my Love and to thy Daughters and to all Friends that enquire after me My Desires are that ye all may be preserved in the Lord 's Everlasting Seed in whom ye all will have Life and Peace and Dominion and Settlement in the Everlasting Home or Dwelling in the House built upon the Foundation of God In the Power of the Lord I am brought to York having had many Meetings in the Way The Way was many times deep and bad with Snow that our Horses sometimes were down and we were not able to ride and sometimes we had great Storms and Rain but by the Power of the Lord I went through all At Scarhouse there was a very large Meeting and another at Burrowby to which Friends came out of Cleaveland and Bishoprick and many other Meetings we have had At York Yesterday we had a very large Meeting exceeding thronged Friends being at it from many parts and all quiet and Friends well satisfied Oh! the Glory of the Lord shined over all And this Day we had a large Mens and Womens-Meeting many Friends both Men and Women being come out of the Country and all was quiet And this Evening we are to have the Mens and Womens-Meeting of the Friends of the City John Whitehead is here with Robert Lodge and others Friends are mighty glad above Measure So I am in my Holy Element and holy Work in the Lord Glory to his Name for ever To Morrow I intend to go out of the City towards Todcaster though I cannot Ride as in days past yet praised be the Lord that I can Travel so well as I do So with my Love in the Fountain of Life in which as ye all abide ye will have Refreshment of Life that by it ye may grow and gather Eternal Strength to serve the Lord and be satisfied So to the God of all Power who is All-sufficient to preserve you I commit you all to his Ordering York the 16th of the Second Month 1677. G. F. Leaving York I travelled on through Yorkshire 1677. Yorkshire Todcaster Nottingly Doncaster Balby Ballowfield visiting Friends at Todcaster Nottingly Doncaster and so on to Balby having Meetings as I went At Balby I stayed the First-day-Meeting and went next day to Thomas Stacy's at Ballowfield where in the Evening I had a Meeting to compose some difference that had happened between some that professed Truth and they were Reconciled From thence next day I came to Stainsby in Derbyshire Darbyshire Stainsby in which County I had formerly lived some time about the first breaking forth of Truth Here I had a good Meeting with Friends and afterward passed to Skegby in Nottinghamshire and from thence to Nottingham Nottinghamshire Skegby Nottingham to John Reckless his house who being one of the Sheriffs of Nottingham when I first declared Truth in that Town and was Imprisoned for it took me out of Prison into his own house and kept me there till the Mayor and the rest of the Magistrates of the Town took me away from him and sent me to the Prison again At which time this John Reckless was Convinced and abode in the Truth ever after Now I had a Meeting with Friends at his house that Evening after I came thither and another the next day in Friends publick Meeting-house which was peaceable and well I went from thence the day following to John Fox's at Wymes-would in Leicestershire where I had a Meeting that Evening Leicestershire Wymes would Sileby and went next day to William Smith's at Sileby where it being the First-day of the Week we had a very large Meeting for besides Friends that came from several places the Town 's People hearing that I was there came many of them to the Meeting Leicester and heard the Truth declared gladly Next day I went to Leicester where finding many Friends come out of the Country to be at the Horse-fair there next day I had a very good Meeting with them that Night and had another Meeting next Evening after the Fair was over at William Wells his house at Knighton Knighton Swanington about a Mile from Leicester from whence next day I passed to Swanington where I had formerly been taken Prisoner and had a Meeting there from thence went to Samuel Fretwell's at Hartshorn in Derbyshire where I had a Meeting also Derbyshire Hartshorn Warwickshire Badgely And then went through the Country to Henry Sidon's at Badgely in Warwickshire and stayed the Meeting there which it being the First-day of the Week was very large and peaceable notwithstanding that a Justice who lived not far off had threatned that he would come and break it up After Meeting having stay'd a while with Friends I went in the Evening to Richard Baal's of Whittington where several Friends came to visit me Whittington Hartshill Next day I went to Nathaniel Newton's at Hartshill where several Friends met me with whom I had good Service After this I passed on visiting Friends in divers places till I came to Dingley Dingley where a Meeting was appointed before which was very large and Truth was largely opened to the People The Meeting was peaceable and quiet and the People generally Sober saving that while I was declaring and shewing how that Christendom so called was gone from the pure Religion that is undefiled c. One Man rushed out in a furious manner and said I deny that 1677. Warwickshire Adingworth
Friends in all the United Provinces of Holland and in Embden the Palatinat Hamborough Frederick-stadt Dantzick and other places in and about Germany which Friends were very glad of and it hath been of great service to Truth Next day an Exercise came upon me concerning that deceitful Spirit which wrought in some amongst Friends to make Divisions in the Church and the Care of the Churches being upon me I was moved to Write a few Lines to warn Friends of it as followeth ALL Friends keep over that Spirit of Separation and Division in the peaceable Truth and in the Seed of Life which will wear it all out and out-last it For the Lamb will have the Victory over all the Spirits of Strife as it hath had since the beginning and they will Wither as others have done but all that do keep in the Seed which is always green shall never Wither as Friends have been to this day kept And if any have gone out and backslidden and thrown off the Cross and are grown loose and full and are gone into Strife and Contention with their Earthly Spirits and therein plead for a liberty this Spirit taketh with loose earthly Spirits and cries Imposition to such as do admonish them to come to the Life Light and Spirit and Power of God that they may be alive and may live again with the Living And then upon this Admonishment their Spirits do arise into Contention and Strife and a Separation turning against the Living in their loose earthly Spirits which would have the Name of Truth but is not in the Nature of it but is for Eternal Judgment of the living Seed And this is it which doth deceive but it is judged by that which doth undeceive and save Amsterdam in Holland the 5th of the 6th Month 1677. G. F. This being the First-day of the Week we had a very large Meeting again there coming to it a great Concourse of People of several Opinions as Baptists Seekers Socinians Brownists and some of the Collegians Robert Barclay George Keith William Pen and I did all severally declare the Everlasting Truth among them opening the Estate of Man in the Fall and shewing by what way Man and Woman may come into the Restoration by Christ Jesus And indeed the Mystery of Iniquity and the Mystery of Godliness were very plainly laid open and the Meeting ended quietly and well The day following George Keith Robert Barclay and William Penn leaving me and some other Friends at Amsterdam set forward on their Journey towards Germany where they Travelled many hundred Miles and had good Service for the Lord Benjamin Furly going with them and Interpreting That day and the next I stayed at Amsterdam visiting the Friends and assisting them in some businesses concerning their Meetings And there came Three Baptists to discourse with me unto whom I opened things to their satisfaction and they parted from me in kindness I writ a Letter also to the Princess Elizabeth which Isabel Yeomans delivered to her when George Keith's Wife and she went to visit her Princess Elizabeth I Have heard of thy Tenderness towards the Lord and his holy Truth by some Friends that have visited thee and also by some of thy Letters which I have seen which indeed is a great thing for a Person of thy quality to have such a tender mind after the Lord and his precious Truth seeing so many are swallowed up with Voluptuousness and the Pleasures of this World and yet all make an outward Profession of God and Christ one way or other but without any deep Inward sense and feeling of him For it is not many mighty nor wise of the World that can become fools for Christ's sake or can become low in the humility of Christ Jesus from their mighty state through which they might Receive a mightier Estate and a mightier Kingdom through the Inward holy Spirit and the Divine Light and Power of God and a mightier Wisdom which is from above pure and peaceable which Wisdom is above that which is below that is earthly sensual and devillish by which men destroy one another yea about their Religions Ways and Worships and Churches but this they have not from God nor Christ But the Wisdom which is from above by which all things was made and created which the holy fear of God in the heart is the beginning of that keeps the heart clean And by and with this Wisdom are all God's Children to be ordered and with it come to order all things to God's glory So this is the Wisdom that is Justified of her Children And in this fear of God and Wisdom my desire is that thou may be preserved to God's glory For the Lord is come to teach his People himself and to set up his Ensign that the Nations may flow unto it And there hath been an Apostacy since the Apostles days from the Divine Light of Christ which should have given them the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and likewise from the holy Spirit which would have Lead them into all Truth and therefore have People set up so many Leaders without them to give them Knowledge and also from the holy and precious Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of which Faith purifies the heart and gives victory over that which separates from God through which Faith they have access to God and in which Faith they please God the Mystery of which Faith is held in a pure Conscience And also from the Gospel which was preached in the Apostle's days which Gospel is the Power of God which brings Life and Immortality to Light in Man and Woman by which People should have seen over the Devil that has darkned them and before he was which Gospel will preserve all them that receive it in Life and in Immortality For the Eyes of People have been after Men and not after the Lord who doth write his Law in the hearts and puts it into the minds of all the Children of the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace through which they all come to know the Lord from the Least to the Greatest So that the Knowledge of the Lord may cover the Earth as the Waters doth the Sea And this Work of the Lord is a beginning again as it was in the Apostles days that People shall come to receive an Vnction in them again from the holy One by which they shall know all things and shall not need any man to teach them but as the Anointing doth teach them and also to know what the Righteousness of faith speaks the Word nigh in the heart and mouth to obey it and to do it which was the Word of Faith the Apostles preached Which is now received and preached again which is the duty of all true Christians to receive And so now People are coming out of the Apostacy to the Light of Christ and his Spirit and to receive Faith from him and not
Commissary's house and then taking Boat again we passed to Groningen Groningen the chief City of the Province of Groningland One of the Magistrates of that City came with us from Leuwarden with whom I had some discourse on the way and he was very loving We walked near Two Miles through the City and then took Boat for Delfziel and passing in the Evening Delfziel Appingdalen through a Town called Appingdalem where had been a great Horse-Fair that day there came many Officers rushing into the Boat and being somewhat in drink they were very Rude I spake to them exhorting them to fear the Lord and beware of Solomon 's vanities They were a sort of boisterous Fellows yet they were somewhat more Civil afterwards We landed at Delfziel about the Tenth hour at night having travelled much about Fifty English Miles that day We went to an Inn to Lodge and as we passed through the Guards they Examined John Claus whether I was not a Militia Souldier and when he had told them that I was not they let us pass peaceably on This City Delfziel stands on the River Eems over which we passed next day to the City Embden a Place Embden where Friends had been cruelly persecuted and from which they had been often banished I went to an Inn where I stay'd and dined with some men that understood English with whom I had a fine time and they were loving Mean while John Claus went with his Wife to her Fathers who lived in Embden whither after I had dined I went also understanding the old Man was desirous to see me In the Afternoon John Claus and I walked through the City to the place where the Wagon which he had hired was to meet us and while we tarried for it the Friends that were in the City came to the house where we were and there we had a little Meeting When the Meeting was over and the Wagon came not we sent to know the Reason and the Master of the Wagon sent us word that he durst not let his Wagon go for the Bishop of Munster's Souldiers were up in the Country and he was afraid they would take away his Horses So being disappointed of our passage we returned to John Claus his Father-in-law's house where I left him and went my self to my Inn at night We took Shipping next day and passed about Fifteen Miles upon the River Eems to a Market-Town in East-Friezland River Eems East-Friezland Leer Strikehuysen called Leer where lived a Friend that had been banished from Embden and when we had visited him we hired a Wagon in that Town and passed to a Garrison-Town called Strikehuysen where the Guards Examined us 1677. Deteren and then we went on to Deteren where hiring another Wagon we passed through the Country to another Garrison'd Town where we were very strictly Examined Apre From thence we passed unto Apre in the King of Denmark's Country where we lodged that night In our Travel this day we met the Earl of Oldenburgh going to the Treaty of Peace at Lembachie Next day hiring another Wagon we passed through the Country to the City Oldenburgh Oldenburgh lately a great and famous Place but then burnt down and but few houses left standing in it At this place we hired another Wagon and went through the Country to Delmenhurst Delmenhurst where after we had been Examined by the Guards we went to a Burger-Master's to lodge whose house was an Inn. And there being many People I declared the Way of Truth to him and them Warning them all of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon all Evil-doers Germany Bremen From hence we passed next day by Wagon to Bremen which is a stately City in Germany and from thence after a double Examination Overdelend Fisher-holder we went by Wagon to a Water called Overdelend and there took Boat to Fisher-holder Where finding pretty many People together I declared the Way of God to them and exhorted them to fear the Lord. There we took Wagon again and travelled in the Bishop of Munster's Country Munsterland Closterseven to a place called Closterseven and having no Inclination to stay there we got fresh Horses there intending to travel all night Accordingly we went out a little way but it quickly grew so dark and rained so hard that we thought it best to turn back again thither for our Wagon being open we had no defence against the Rain and our Cloaths were already wet with the Rain that had fallen for several days before So we went back to an Inn and got a little fresh Straw upon which we lay till about break of day and then set out in our Wagon again and travelled through the Country to the City of Buxtehude Buxtehude The People in the Bishop of Munster's Country were very dark and as we passed amongst them I preached Truth to them warning them of the Great and Notable Day of the Lord and exhorting them to soberness and to mind the good Spirit of God in themselves It was on the First-day of the Week that we went through this City Buxtehude and without the Walls was a great Fair of Sheep and Geese that day We stayed but a little to refresh our selves Hamborough and went on as fast as we could to Hamborough partly by Wagon and partly by Water We got to Hamborough time enough to get a Meeting there that Evening and a good and glorious Meeting it was There were at it amongst others a Baptist-Teacher and his Wife and a Great Man of Sweden and his Wife and all was quiet blessed be the Lord whose Power was Exalted over all Yet a dark hard place this is and the People are much shut up from Truth At Hamborough there was a Woman 1677. Hamborough that had spoken against me in John Perrot's time though she had never seen me till now and she had been troubled for it ever since and now was glad of an Opportunity to acknowledge her Fault which she very readily did and I did as readily and freely forgive her We stayed that night at Hamborough encouraging and strengthening the Friends there in the Testimony to the Truth and betimes next Morning we set forward towards Frederick stadt which is Two long days Journey from Hamborough We went the First-day to a Town called Elmshoorn where we baited Elmshoorn and then rode on through a Garrison-Town of the King of Denmark's and passing by the Monument of the Earl of Ransenny Rantzow Itzeho we came to the City of Itzeho where we lodged that night and I had some Service in the Evening among the People in the Inn whom I exhorted to soberness and to live in the Fear of the Lord. Next Morning setting out again we travelled to a Town called Hoghenhorn Hoghen-horn where we dined at an Inn with one of the Council of Frederick-stadt to whom and to the rest of the People
to set forth the Way whereby Man and Woman might come into that happy Estate again The Priest an ancient grave Man stood up just as I had done speaking and putting off his Hat said I pray God to prosper and confirm that Doctrine for it is Truth and I have nothing against it He would willingly have stay'd longer until the Meeting had been ended but being a Parish-Priest and to preach that Evening he could not stay longer the time for his own Worship being come Wherefore when he had made Confession to the Truth he hastned away that he might come to the Meeting again and did come it seems to the meeting-Meeting-place but the Meeting was ended first After Meeting we went to Hessel Jacobs where I had a Meeting with Friends and the Doctor of Physick came thither to discourse with William Penn who had a good opportunity to open Truth to him By this Doctor the Priest sent his Love to me wishing him to tell me that he had left Preaching that Evening half an hour sooner than he used to do that he might have come to our Meeting again 1677. Harlingen to have heard more of that good Doctrine I heard afterwards that his Hearers questioned him for what he had said in our Meeting and that he standing by his words they had Complained of him for it to the other Priests of the City who called him to Account about it but the Result I could not learn Early next Morning William Penn taking John Claus with him passed from Harlingen for Leuwarden where he had appointed a Meeting intending after that to Travel into some other parts of Germany to visit a tender People there I with those Friends that were with me Amsterdam took Ship the same day for Amsterdam where we arrived a little after Midnight but the Gates being shut we lay on Board till Morning then went to Gertrude Dirick Nieson's where many Friends came to see us being glad of our safe Return Next day feeling a Concern upon my mind with relation to those seducing Spirits that made Division among Friends and being sensible that they endeavoured to insinuate themselves into the affectionate part I was moved to write a few Lines to Friends concerning them as followeth ALL these that do set up themselves in the Affections of the People set up themselves and the Affections of the People and not Christ But Friends your peaceable Habitation in the Truth which is Everlasting and changes not will out-last all the Habitations of those that be out of the Truth although they be never so full of words And so they that be so keen for J. S. and J. W. let them take them and the Separation And you that have given your Testimony against that Spirit stand in your Testimony till they Answer by Condemnation And do not strive nor make Bargains with that which is out of the Truth nor save that alive to be a Sacrifice for God which should be slain lest you lose your Kingdom Amsterdam the 14th day of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. On the First-day of the Week following I was at Friends Meeting at Amsterdam to which many People came and were very civil and attentive hearing Truth declared several hours and John Roeloffs Interpreted for me Before this time several of the Friends that came over with me were returned to England again as Robert Barclay George Keith's Wife and others and now my Daughter Yeomans went back also so that I was now left alone at Amsterdam And while I was here it came upon me to visit my suffering Friends at Dantzick with a few Lines to encourage and strengthen them in their Sufferings as followeth Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in the Lord's Truth that is over all 1677. Amsterdam and by which all God's People are made free Men and Women being thereby set free from him that is out of the Truth that walking in the Truth they may Answer the Witness of God in all People which Truth all must come to if they be made free Therefore be faithful unto what the Lord manifests and makes known unto you I am glad that the Lord hath Witnesses in that City to stand for his Glory and Name and to stand up for Christ Jesus the great Prophet whom God hath raised up who is to be heard in all things so that ye need none of the Prophets which men have raised up Therefore stand faithful to Christ Jesus your Shepherd that he may feed you and hear his voice and follow him who has laid down his Life for you but follow none of the Shepherds and Hirelings that are made by men though they be angry because ye will not follow them to their dry and barren Mountains who have been and are the Thieves Persecutors and Robbers that Clime up another way than by Christ So set up Christ to be your Counsellor and Leader and then ye will have no need of any of the Counsellors and Leaders of the World for Christ is sufficient whom God has given you And also set up Christ Jesus to be your Bishop and Overseer who is sufficient to Oversee you that ye go not astray from God by which ye may see over all the Hireling-Overseers made by men which do keep the People that they do not go astray from the Rudiments and Formalities Fashions and Customs of the World which hath been and is their Work And I am glad that ye are come to own Christ Jesus your High-Priest who is holy and harmless and separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens as the Church and the Apostle did own him in their days Hebr. 7. who is the High-Priest over the houshold of Faith which Faith Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of and this do all the Children of the New Covenant witness who walk in the new and living Way And therefore my desire is that ye all may be stedfast whether in Bonds or out in the Faith of Christ Jesus which is the Gift of God by which Faith all the Valiants overcame the Devil and all their Enemies in which Faith they had Victory and Access to God and in that was their Unity which Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience hidden from the World And I do believe that your Imprisonments and Sufferings in that Place will be for Good in the end as it hath been in other Places ye standing faithful to the Lord who is All-sufficient For your Sufferings and Trials will Try their Teachers and Religions Churches and Worships and make manifest what Birth they are of even that which persecutes him that is born of the Spirit for ye know that there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven but by the Name of Jesus and therefore it is time to leave them when there is no Salvation by or in any of them Now Friends I desire that you would take a List of the Names of all those Persons
Crown of every one of you that nothing may be between you and the Lord God And be not deceived with vain Words or fained Words or rough for Satan is transforming himself as an Angel of Light to deceive but God's Foundation standeth sure and God knoweth who are his and will preserve his upon the Rock and Foundation of Life in his peaceable Truth and Habitation that in the same they may grow And so keep out of Strife and Contention with it after that ye have born your Testimony in the Lord's Power and Truth against it and then keep in the Truth for it hath a life in scribling strife and jangling because it would enlarge its Hell and bring others into its Misery with the airy Power and would get Power over the Good and disjoin People from it and so to make Rapes upon the Simplicity by its Subtilty But I do believe the Lord will defend his People though he may try them and exercise them with this Spirit for a time as he hath done by it in days past in other Vessels it hath made use of as it doth of these now who have a more seeming fair Outside but foul and rough and rugged enough within against the Seed Christ as ever were the Pharisees to destroy it And they under a pretence of Preaching Christ are the men that are the Destroyers and Crucifiers of him and Killers of the Just not only in themselves but endeavouring with all their might to destroy it in others where it is born Pharaoh and Herod to slay the young Jews in the Spirit as the Old did I do feel it Worrying of them and it is got up to be King which knew not suffering Joseph But God will plague him and the Seed will have more rest and be better entertained in Egypt than under Herod into whom Old Pharaoh's Spirit is entred He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear and an Eye to see let him see how this Spirit hath Transformed in all Ages against the Just and Righteous but mark what hath been its end But the Seed reigneth Glory to the Lord God over all for ever and his Truth spreadeth and Friends here are in Unity and Peace and of good Report answering the good or that of God in People And so my desires are that all God's People may do the same in all places where-ever they be so that the Lord may be glorified in their bringing forth much Fruit that is heavenly and spiritual Amen Amsterdam the 25 of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. After I had given forth the fore-going Epistle whereby my Spirit was in some measure eased of the Weight that lay upon it I went in the Afternoon to the Monthly Meeting of Friends at Amsterdam where the Lord was present with us and refreshed our Spirits together in himself I thought to have gone next day to Harlem but there being a Fast appointed to be kept that day I was stopped in my Spirit and moved to stay at Friends Meeting that day at Amsterdam We had a very large Meeting a great Concourse of People coming to it and amongst them many great Persons The Lord's Power was over the Meeting and in the Openings thereof I was moved to declare to the People That no man by all his wit and study nor by reading History in his own Will could declare or know the Generation of Christ who was not begotten by the Will of Man but by the Will of God After I had largely opened this unto them I shewed them the Difference between the true Fast and the false manifesting unto them that the profest Christians Jews and Turks were out of the true Fast and fasted for strife and debate being under the Band and Fists of Iniquity and Oppression wherewith they were smiting one another but the pure hands were not lifted up to God And though they did all appear to men to Fast and did hang down their Heads for a day like a Bulrush yet that was not the Fast which God did accept but in that state all their Bones were dry and when they called upon the Lord he did not Answer them neither did their Health grow for they kept their own Fast and not the Lord 's And there I exhorted them to come and keep the Lord's Fast which was to fast from Sin and Iniquity from Strife and Debate from Violence and Oppression and to abstain from every Appearance of Evil. These things were opened to the astonishment of the Fasters and the Meeting ended peaceably and well I went to Harlem the day following Harlem having before appointed a Meeting to be there that day Peter Hendricks and Gertrude Dirick Nieson went with me and a blessed Meeting we had There were at the Meeting Professors of several sorts and a Priest of the Lutherans who sate very Attentive for several hours while I declared the Truth amongst them Gertrude Interpreting When the Meeting was done the Priest said That he had heard nothing but what was according to the Word of God and desired That the Blessing of the Lord might rest upon us and our Assemblies Others also confessed to the Truth saying They had never heard things so plainly opened to their understandings before We stayed that night at Harlem at a Friend's house whose name was Dirick Klassen and returning next day to Amsterdam went to Gertrude's house where we had not been long come in before there came a Priest of great note who had formerly belonged to the Emperor of Germany and with him another German Priest desiring to have some Conference with me So I took the Opportunity to declare the Way of Truth unto them opening unto them how they might come to know God and Christ and his Law and Gospel and shewing them that they could never know it by study nor by Philosophy but by Divine Revelation through the Spirit of God opening unto them in the stilness of their Minds The men were tender and went away well satisfied On the First-day of the Week following I was at Friends Meeting at Amsterdam where amongst the several sorts of Professors that were present there was a Doctor of Poland who for his Religion was banished from the place he lived in and he being affected with the Testimony of Truth that was born in the Meeting came after the Meeting to have some Discourse with me and after we had been some time together and I had opened things further to him he went away very Tender and Loving Now while I was at Amsterdam I spent most of my time except it were when I was at Friends Meetings or when People came to speak with me in Writing Books Papers or Epistles on Truth 's behalf For I writ several Epistles from Amsterdam to Friends in England and elsewhere on several Occasions as the Lord moved me by his Spirit thereunto I writ also from thence A Warning to the Inhabitants of the City Oldenburgh which was lately burnt down Also A Warning to
the Inhabitants of the City of Hamborough I writ also an Epistle to the Ambassadors that were treating a Peace at Nimmeguen To the Magistrates and Priests of Embden I writ a Book shewing them their Vnchristian Practices in persecuting Friends And several other Books I writ there in Answer to Priests and others of Hamborough Dantzick and other places to Clear the Truth and Friends from their false Charges and Slanders After some time George Keith and William Penn came back from Germany to Amsterdam and had a Dispute with one Galenus Abrahams one of the most noted Baptists in Holland at which many Professors were present But not having time to finish the Dispute then they met again two days after and the Baptist was much Confounded and Truth gained ground Between these Two Disputes we had a very great Meeting at Friends Meeting-Place at which many hundreds of the World's People were and some of high Rank in the World's Account for there was an Earl and a Lord and divers other Eminent Persons who all behaved themselves very Civilly But when the Meeting was ended some Priests began to make some Opposition which when William Penn understood he stood up again and answered them to the great satisfaction of the People who were much affected with the several Testimonies that they had heard declared And after the Meeting several of them came to Gertrude's where we were with whom George Keith had much Discourse in Latin Having now finished our Service at Amsterdam we took Leave of the Friends there and passed by Wagon to Leyden Leyden which is about 25 Miles where we stayed a day or two seeking out and visiting some tender People that we heard of there We met there with a German who was partly Convinced and he Informed us of an Eminent Man that was inquiring after Truth Some sought him out and visited him and found him a Serious Man and I spake to him and he owned the Truth William Penn and Benjamin Furly went to visit another Great Man that lived a little out of Leyden who they said had been General to the King of Denmark's Forces and he and his wife were very loving to them and heard the Truth with Joy From Leyden we went to the Hague Hague where the Prince of Orange then kept his Court and we visited one of the Judges of Holland with whom we had pretty much Discourse He was a Wise Tender man and put many Objections and Queries to us which when we had answered he was satisfied and parted with us in much Love Then leaving the Hague we went to Delft and from thence that night to Rotterdam Delft Rotterdam where we stay'd several days and had several Meetings there While I was here I gave forth a Book for the Jews with whom when I was at Amsterdam I had a desire to have had some Discourse but they would not Here also I reviewed several other Books and Papers which I had given forth before and were now Transcribed And now finding our Spirits Clear of the Service which the Lord had given us to do in Holland we took Leave of Friends of Rotterdam and passed by Boat to the Briel in order to take Passage that day in the Packet-Boat for England several Friends of Rotterdam accompanying us and some of Amsterdam who were come to see us again before we left Holland But the Packet-Boat not coming in till night we were fain to lodge that night at the Briel and next day being the One and twentieth of the Eighth Month and the First-day of the Week we went on Board and set Sail about the Tenth hour viz. William Penn George Keith and I and Gertrude Dirick Nieson with her Children We were in all about sixty Passengers and had a long and hazardous Passage for the Winds were contrary to us and the Weather stormy the Boat also very leaky insomuch that we were fain to have two Plumps continually going both day and night so that it was thought there was twice as much Water plumped out as the Vessel would have held But the Lord who is able to make the stormy Winds to cease and the Raging Waves of the Sea to be calm yea to raise them and stop them at his pleasure he alone did preserve us praised be his Name for ever Though our Passage was hard yet we had a fine time and good Service for Truth on Board among the Passengers some of whom were a sort of great Folks and they were very kind and loving 1677. Harwich We arrived at Harwich on the 23th of the 8th Month at night having been Two Nights and almost Three Days at Sea Next Morning William Penn and George Keith took Horse for Colchester but I stay'd and had a Meeting at Harwich and there being no Colchester-Coach there and the Post-masters Wife being Unreasonable in her Demands for a Coach and deceiving us of it also after we had hired it we went to a Friend's House about a mile and an half off in the Country and hired his Wagon which we bedded well with Straw and rode in it to Colchester Colchester I stay'd in Colchester till the First-day of the Week having a desire to be at Friends Meeting there that day and a very large and weighty Meeting it was for Friends hearing of my Return from Holland flocked in thither from several parts of the Country and many of the Towns People coming in also it was thought there were about a Thousand People at the Meeting and all was peaceable Then having stay'd a day or two longer at Colchester having Service amongst the Friends there I travelled through Essex Essex Halsted Braintree Felsted Saling â—helmsford London visiting Friends at Halsted Braintree Felsted and Saling and having Meetings with them At Chelmsford I had a Meeting in the Evening and there being many Friends Prisoners they got liberty and came to the Meeting and we were well refreshed together in the Lord. Next day being the 9th of the 9th Month I got to London where Friends received me with great Joy and on the First-day following went to Gracious-street Meeting where the Lord visited us with his refreshing Presence and the Glory of the Lord surrounded the Meeting praised be the Lord After I had been a little while in London I writ the following Letter to my Wife whom though I had written to her several times out of Holland I had not written to since I came into England Dear Heart TO whom is my Love and to the Children and to all the rest of Friends in the Lord's Truth Power and Seed that is over all Glory to the Lord and blessed be his Name for ever beyond all words who hath carried me through and over many Trials and Dangers in his Eternal Power I have been Twice at Gracious-street-Meeting and though the opposite Spirits were there yet all was quiet and the Dew of Heaven fell upon the People and the Glory of the Lord
at Finchcomb where were several of the Opposit Spirit who it was thought Intended to have made some disturbance amongst Friends but the Lord's Power was over and kept them down and good Service for the Lord we had at that Meeting We returned from Finchcomb to Nailsworth again Nailsworth and had another very precious Meeting there to which Friends came from the several Meetings thereabouts which made it very large also We went from Nailsworth on the First day of the First Month 1677 8 and travelled through the Country visiting Friends and having many Meetings amongst them at Cirencester Crown-Allins Cirencester Crown-Allins Cheltonham Stoke-Orchard Tewksbury c. Worcester Parshow Evesham Warwickshire Ragley Cheltonham Stoke-Orchard Tewksbury c. so went to Worcester where I had formerly suffered Imprisonment above a Year for the Truth 's sake and Friends rejoiced greatly to see me there again Here I stay'd several days and had many very precious Meetings in the City and much Service amongst Friends After which travelling through the Country I had Meetings at Parshow and Evesham and then struck to Ragley in Warwickshire to visit her that was called the Lady Conway who I understood was very desirous to see me and whom I found tender and loving and willing to have detained me longer than I had freedom to stay About Two miles from hence I had Two Meetings at a Friend's house whose name was John Stangley Stratford Lamcoat Armscott Oxfordshire Sibbard North-Newton Banbury Adderbury c. Buckinghamshire Long-Crendon Ilmer Mendle Weston Cholsberry Chesham c. Hartfordshire Charlewood Watford Hempsted Market-street Bedfordshire Luton Albans South-Mims Barnet Hendon London whither William Dewsbury came to me and stay'd with me about half a day Afterwards I visited Friends in their Meetings thereabouts at Stratford Lamcoat and Armscott from whence it was that I was sent Prisoner to Worcester in the Year 1673 and thence passed into Oxfordshire visiting Friends and having Meetings at Sibbard North-Newton Banbury Adderbury c. Then visiting Friends through Buckinghamshire at Long-Crendon Ilmer Mendle Weston Cholsberry Chesham c. having several Meetings amongst them I came to Isaac Pennington's where I stay'd a few days And then turning into Hartfordshire visited Friends at Charlewood Watford Hempstead and Market-street at which places I had Meetings with Friends From Market-street I went in the Morning to Luton in Bedfordshire to see John Crook with whom I spent good part of the day and went towards Evening to Albans where I lay that night at an Inn. And visiting Friends at South-Mims and at Barnet and Hendon where I had Meetings I came to London on the Eighth day of the Third Month. And it being the Fourth-day of the Week I went to Gracious-street-Meeting which was peaceable and well and many Friends not knowing I was come to Town were very Joyful to see me there and the Lord was present with us refreshing us with his living Vertue blessed be his holy Name The Parliament was sitting when I came to Town and Friends having laid their Sufferings before them were Waiting on them for Relief against the Laws made against Popish Recusants which they knew we were not though some malicious Magistrates took Advantages against us 1678. London to prosecute us in several parts of the Nation upon those Statutes So Friends being Attending on that Service when I came I Joined with them therein and some probability there was that something might have been obtained towards Friends Ease and Relief in that Case many of the Parliament-men being tender and loving towards us as believing we were much mis-represented by our Adversaries But when I went down one Morning with George Whitehead to the Parliament-house to Attend upon them on Friends hehalf on a sudden they were Prorogued though but for a short time Yearly Meeting About two weeks after I came to London the Yearly Meeting began to which Friends came up out of most parts of the Nation and a glorious heavenly Meeting we had Oh the Glory Majesty Love Life Wisdom and Vnity that was amongst us the Power reigned over all and many Testimonies were born therein against that ungodly Spirit which sought to make Rents and Divisions amongst the Lord's People but not one Mouth was opened amongst us in its defence or on its behalf Good and Comfortable Accounts also we had for the most part from Friends in other Countries of which I find a brief Account in a Letter which soon after I writ to my Wife the Copy whereof here follows Dear Heart TO whom is my Love in the Everlasting Seed of Life that reigns over all Great Meetings here have been and the Lord's Power hath been stirring through all the like hath not been And the Lord hath in his Power knit Friends wonderfully together and the glorious Presence of the Lord did appear among Friends And now the Meetings are over blessed be the Lord in quietness and peace From Holland I hear that things are well there Some Friends are gone that way to be at their Yearly Meeting at Amsterdam At Embden Friends that were banished are gotten into the City again At Dantzick Friends are in Prison and the Magistrates threatned them with harder Imprisonment but the next day the Lutherans rose and plucked down or defaced the Popish Monastery so they have work enough among themselves The King of Poland did receive my Letter and read it himself and Friends have since printed it in High-Dutch By Letters from the Half-yearly-Meeting in Ireland I hear that they be all in Love there And at Barbados Friends are in quietness and their Meetings settled in peace At Antego also and Nevis Truth prospers and Friends have their Meetings orderly and well Likewise in New-England and other places things concerning Truth and Friends are well and in those places the Mens and Womens-Meetings are settled blessed be the Lord. So keep in God's Power and Seed that is over all in whom ye all have Life and Salvation for the Lord reigns over all in his Glory and in his Kingdom Glory to his Name for ever Amen So in haste with my Love to you all and to all Friends London the 26th of the 3d Month 1678. G. F. The Letter to the King of Poland before mentioned is as followeth To Johannes III. KING of Poland c. O King WE desire thy Prosperity both in this Life and that which is to come And we desire that we may have our Christian Liberty to Serve and Worship God under thy Dominion For our Principle leads us not to do any thing prejudicial to the King or his People For we are a People that do exercise a good Conscience towards God through his holy Spirit and in it do serve and worship and honour him and towards Men in the things that be equal and just doing to them as we would have them do unto us and looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith which Faith
in it you may know that ye are all Members of one another and all have an Office in the Church of Christ and all these living Members know one another in the Spirit and not in the Flesh So here is no Man ruling over the Woman as Adam did over Eve in the Fall but Christ the Spiritual Man among and over his Spiritual Members which are edified in the heavenly Love that is shed in their heart from God where all strife ceases Hartford the 11th of the 5th Month 1678. G. F. I went from Hartford to a Meeting at Rabley-Heath about six miles from thence 1678. Rabley-Heath Stevenage Bâ—ldock Hi chin Ashwel Bedfordshire Huntington Ives and after the Meeting to Edward Crouch's of Stevenage from whence next day I went to Baldock where I had a Meeting that Evening and after that had Meetings at Hitchin and Ashwell Then passing through some part of Bedfordshire where I had a Meeting or two I went on to Huntington in which County I stayed several days having many Meetings and much Service amongst Friends labouring to Convince Gain-sayers and to Confirm and Strengthen Friends in the Way and Work of the Lord. At Ives in Huntingtonshire George Whitehead came to me and travelled with me in the Work of the Lord for five or six days in that County and in some part of Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Great Bowden Sâ—dâ—ington Wigston Knighton Leicester Sileby Swannington c. Leicester and leaving me in Great Bowden in Leicestershire he went on towards Westmorland whither he was travelling I stay'd longer in Leicestershire visiting Friends at Saddington Wigston Knighton Leicester Sileby Swannington and divers other places where I had very precious Meetings and very good Service amongst Friends and other People for there was great Openness and many weighty and excellent Truths did the Lord give me to open amongst them At Leicester I went to the Jail to visit the Friends that were in Prison there for the Testimony of Jesus with whom I spent some time encouraging them in the Lord to persevere stedfastly and faithfully in their Testimony and not to be Weary of Suffering for his sake And when I had taken my leave of the Friends I spake with the Jailer desiring him to be kind to them and let them have what Liberty he could to visit their Families sometimes After I had been in Leicestershire I had a Meeting or two in Warwickshire and then went into Staffordshire Warwickshire Staffordshire where I had several sweet and opening Meetings both for gathering into Truth and establishing therein And while I was in Staffordshire I was moved to give forth the following Paper DEar Friends of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings every where My desire is that ye may all strive to be of one Mind in the Lord's Power and Truth which is peaceable into which Strife and Enmity cannot come and also in the Wisdom of God which is pure peaceable and easie to be intreated which is above that that is below that is Earthly Devilish and Sensual and that with and in this heavenly Wisdom that is peaceable and easie to be entreated you may be all ordered and do what ye do to God's Glory And Dear friends if there should happen at any time any thing that tends to strife dispute or contention in your Monthly or Quarterly Meetings let it be Referr'd to half a dozen or such alike number to debate and end out of your Meeting as it was at first so that all your Monthly and Quarterly Meetings may be kept peaceable And then they may Inform the Meeting what they have done so that the Weak and Youth amongst you may not be hurt through hearing of Strife or Contention in your Meetings 1678. Staffordshire where no Strife or Contention ought to be but all to go on and determine things in one Mind in the Power of God the Gospel-Order in which Gospel of Peace ye will preserve the Peace of all your Meetings And if any Man or Woman have any thing against any one let them speak to one another and end it betwixt themselves and if they cannot so end it let them take two or three to end it And in case they determin it not let it be laid before the Church and then let half a dozen or such a number out of your Monthly or Quarterly Meeting hear it and finally end it without Respect of Persons And let all Prejudice be laid aside and buried and also all Shortness one towards another and let Love which is not puffed up and envies not and seeks not her own but bears all things rule sway and have the Dominion in all your Meetings for that doth edifie the Body which Christ is the Head of and this will sway all sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbals Now this Love will suffer long and is kind and will keep down that which will vaunt it self or be puffed up or behave it self unseemly or is easily provoked It hath a sway over all such Fruits which are not of the Spirit the Fruit of which is Love c. And that with this holy Spirit ye may all be baptized into one Body and so be made all to drink into one Spirit in which Spirit ye will have Unity in which is the Bond of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords his Peace And they that dwell in Love they dwell in God for God is Love Therefore let every one keep his Dwelling-place and his Habitation So with my Love to you in Christ Jesus the everlasting Seed which is over all Staffordshire the 20th of the 6th Month 1678. G. F. Darbyshire Moniash Yorkshire Hill Out of Staffordshire I went to visit John Gratton at Moniash in Darbyshire with whom I tarried one night and went next day to William Shaws of the Hill in Yorkshire where I appointed a Meeting to be on the First-day of the Week following Many Friends out of Darbyshire and from several Meetings in Yorkshire came to this Meeting and a precious comfortable opening Meeting it was wherein was opened the blessed Estate that Man was in before he fell the Means by which he fell the miserable Condition into which he fell and the right Way of coming out of it into a happy State again by Christ the promised Seed After this I spent about two Weeks in Yorkshire travelling from place to place amongst Friends in the Lord's Service and many heavenly Meetings I had in that County Then visiting Robert Widders at Kellet in Lancashire Lancashire Kellet Westmorland Arnside Swarthmore I passed to Arnside in Westmorland where I had a precious living Meeting in the Lord's blessed Power to the great Satisfaction and Comfort of Friends who came from divers parts to it The next day I went to Swarthmore and it being the Meeting-day there I had a sweet opportunity with Friends our hearts being opened in the Love of God 1678. Swarthmore and his blessed Life flowing amongst us
I had not been long at Swarthmore e're a Concern came upon me to visit the Churches of Christ in London and elsewhere by an Epistle which was as followeth Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in the heavenly Seed in whom all Nations are blessed Oh keep all in this Seed in which ye are blessed and in which Abraham and all the Faithful were blessed without the Deeds of the Law for the Promise was and is to and with the Seed and not with the Law of the First Covenant In this Seed all Nations and ye are blessed which bruiseth the Head of the Seed that brought the Curse and separated between Man and God This is the Seed which reconciles you to God and this is the Seed in which ye are blessed both in Temporals and Spirituals through which ye have an Inheritance among the Sanctified that cannot be defiled neither can any defiled thing enter into its Possession for all defilements are out of this Seed This is that which leavens up into a New Lump and bruiseth the Head of the Wicked Seed that leavens into the Old Lump upon whom the Sun of Righteousness goes down and sets but never goes down and sets to them that walk in the Seed in which all Nations are blessed by which Seed they are brought up to God which puts down that Seed which separated betwixt them and God so that there comes to be nothing betwixt them and God Now all my Dear Friends my desires are that ye may all be Valiant in this heavenly Seed for God and his Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad answering that of God in all that with it the Minds of People may be turned towards the Lord that he may come to be known and served and worshipped and that ye may all be the Salt of the Earth to make the unseasoned savoury And in the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings who are gathered into it in whose Name ye have Salvation he being in the midst of you whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven And so ye have a Prophet and Bishop Shepherd Priest and Counsellor above all the Counsellors and Priests Bishops Prophets and Shepherds under the whole Heaven to exercise his Offices among you in your Meetings that are gathered in his Name For Christ's Meeting and Gathering is above all the Meetings and Gatherings under the whole Heaven And his Body his Church and he the Head of it is above all the Bodies and Churches and Heads under the whole Heaven And the Faith that Christ is the Author of and the Worship that he hath set up and his Fellowship in the Gospel is above all Historical Faiths and the Faith 's that Man hath made together with their Worships and Fellowships under the whole Heaven And now Dear Friends keep your Men and Womens-Meetings in the Power of God the Gospel the Authority of them which brings Life and Immortality to Light in you and this Gospel the Power of God will preserve you in Life and in Immortality which hath brought it to Light in you that ye may see over him that hath darkned and kept from the knowledge of the things of God for it is he and his Instruments which hath darkned you from Life and Immortality that would throw down your Men and Womens-Meetings which were set up in the Power of God the Gospel and would darken you again from this Life and Immortality which the Gospel hath brought to Light and will preserve you in as your Faith stands in this Power of God the Gospel in which every one sees your Work and Service for God And every Heir in the Power of God the Gospel hath right to this Authority which is not of Man nor by Man which Gospel the Power of God is everlasting an everlasting Order an everlasting Fellowship and in the Gospel is everlasting Joy Comfort and Peace which will out-last all those Joys Comforts and Peaces that will have an end and that Spirit also that opposes its Order and the glorious Fellowship Peace and Comfort in it And My Dear Friends my desire is that ye may keep in the Unity of the Spirit that baptizes you all into one Body which Christ is the heavenly and spiritual Head of so that ye may see and bear witness to your heavenly and spiritual Head and so all drink into the One Spirit Which all People upon the Earth are not like to do while they grieve quench and rebel against it nor to be baptized into one Body and to keep the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace yea the King of Kings and Lord of Lords his Peace which it is the duty of all true Christians to keep who are inwardly united to Christ So with my Love to you all in the everlasting Seed Swarthmore the 26th of the 7th Month 1678. G. F. There were about this time several Friends in Prison for bearing Testimony to the Truth To whom I was moved to write a few Lines to comfort strengthen and encourage them in their Sufferings having a true sense of their Sufferings upon my spirit and a sympathizing with them therein And that which I writ was after this manner My Dear Friends WHO are Sufferers for the Lord Jesus sake and for the Testimony of his Truth the Lord God Almighty with his Power uphold you and support you in all your Trials and Sufferings and give you Patience and Content in his Will that yâ— may stand valiant for Christ and his Truth upon the Earth over the persecuting and destroying Spirit which makes to suffer in Christ who bruises his Head in whom ye have both Election and Salvation And for God's Elect sake the Lord hath done much from the Foundation of the World as may be seen throughout the Scriptures of Truth and they that touch them touch the Apple of God's Eye they are so tender to him And therefore it is good for all God's suffering Children to trust in the Lord and to wait upon him for they shall be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed from Christ their Rock and Salvation who is the Foundation of all the Elect of God of the Prophets and the Apostles and of God's People now and to the End Glory to the Lord and the Lamb over all Remember my dear Love to all Friends and do not think the time long for all Time is in the Father's hand his Power And therefore keep the Word of Patience and exercise that Gift and the Lord strengthen you in your Sufferings in his holy Spirit of Faith Amen Swarthmore the 5th of the 12th Month 1678. G. F. I abode in the North at this time above a year having Service for the Lord amongst Friends there and being much taken up in writing Books and Papers some in Defence of Truth in Answer to Books published by Adversaries and some for the opening the Principles and Doctrines of Truth to the World that they might come to have a
in Saul's nature let them be of what Name or Profession soever they be that are Persecutors and unconverted into Paul's Life of Christianity He said the Life that he did live after he was Converted was by the Faith in the Son of God And that He lived yet not He but Christ lived in him who came to save mens Lives and not to destroy them Which Life should be the Life of all Christians now which Paul in his converted state lived in And the Apostle saith The Law is good if a man use it lawfully knowing this that the Law is not made for a righteous man but for the Lawless and for the Ungodly and Sinners and for Unholy and Prophane and for Murtherers of Fathers and Mothers and for Manslayers for Whoremongers and for them that defile themselves with Mankind for Menstealers Liars and Perjured Persons 1 Tim. 1. So the Law in its place is good against such Again the Apostle says The Law was added because of Transgression Gal. 3.19 Now here all Magistrates may see what the Law in its place is good against and what it was made for and against and what Evils the Apostle says it takes hold upon He does not say the Law should be laid upon Men that differed from them in their Religion and Judgment nor upon the Righteous men And so you may see in what condition the Law is good and what it was made against not against Righteous men against whom they have nothing in their Lives and Conversations only because they differ from them in Matters of Religion and let Manslayers Whoremongers Perjured Persons Vngodly Prophane Persons Liars c. go unpunished Such do not use nor execute the Law lawfully as the Apostle says The Law is good if a man use it lawfully Therefore it ought to be used lawfully which Law the Apostle says is for the punishment of the Evil-Doers and a praise for them that do well as may be seen Rom. 13. And so as the Apostle said We do not break the Law nor make it void but we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 Kingston upon Thames the 4th of the first Month 1680 1. This is from him who desires the Eternal Good and Salvation of you all in Christ Jesus Amen G. F. After I had finished these Services there I returned to London where I stay'd about a Month London labouring amongst Friends in the Work of the Lord both in publick Meetings for Worship and in the Meetings relating to the outward Affairs of the Church Waltham-Abbey Flamsteadend Edmunton Enfield Winchmore-hill Then feeling my Spirit drawn to visit Friends about Enfield-side I went down to Waltham-Abbey where I had a very precious Meeting and another at Flamstead-Heath not far from thence And having spent some time amongst Friends there and thereabouts and had divers good Meetings at Edmunton Enfield Winchmore Hill 1681. London Yearly Meeting and other places there aways I came back to London a little before the Yearly Meeting which was in the Third Month 1681 it was a very precious Meeting in which the Glorious Presence and Power of the Lord was eminently felt and enjoyed Some time after the Yearly Meeting was over it came upon me to write the following Epistle which I directed To the Quarterly Mens and Womens Meetings that are gathered in the Name and Power of Jesus CHrist the second Adam who is both Head and Husband of his Church and Redeemer and Purchaser and Saviour and Sanctifier and Reconciler of his Sons and Daughters his Church to God I say his Presence to wit Christ's feel among you to exercise his Prophetical Office in opening of you with his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and to exercise his Office as he is a Bishop to Oversee you with his Light Grace Power and Spirit that ye do not go astray from God And as Christ is a Shepherd feel see and hear him exercising that Office who has laid down his Life for his Sheep and is feeding them in his living Pastures of Life and makes them to drink of his living Eternal Springs And let him rule and govern in your Hearts as he is King that his heavenly and spiritual Government all may live under as true Subjects of his righteous peaceable Kingdom which stands in Righteousness and Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost over Satan and his Power and the unclean unholy Ghost and all unrighteousness So all ye Subjects to Christ's Kingdom of Peace if ye want Wisdom or Knowledge or Life or Salvation Christ is the Treasure feel him the Treasure among you And every one among you as ye have received Christ walk in him in whom ye have all Peace who bruises the Head of the Serpent that is the Author of all Strife Distraction and Confusion yea you have Peace with God and one with another though the Trouble be from the World and the World's Spirit And therefore My dear Friends Brethren and Sisters Love one another with the Love that is of God shed in your hearts that ye may bear the Maâ—ks of Christ's Disciples and it may appear that Christ is in you and ye in him so that God Almighty may be glorified among you And whatever ye do let it be done in the Name of Jesus to the praise of God the Father keeping in Vnity in the Holy Spirit of God which was before the unholy Spirit was Which holy Spirit is your Bond of Peace yea the holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords his peace And in this holy pure Spirit is your eternal Vnity and Fellowship in which Spirit of Truth ye do serve and worship the God of Truth who is God over all blessed for ever Amen So the Lord guide you all with his Word of Patience Word of Life Power and Wisdom in all your Actions Lives Conversations and Meetings to God's glory 1681. London My Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ by whom all things were made and who is over all the First and the Last London the 9th of the 4th Month 1681. G. F. About this time I had occasion to go to several of the Judges Chambers upon a Suit about Tithes For both I and my Wife and several other Friends were sued in Cartmel-Wapentake-Court in Lancashire for small Tithes and we had demurred to the Jurisdiction of that Court. Whereupon the Plaintiff prosecuted us into the Exchequer-Court at Westminster where they run us up to a Writ of Rebellion for not Answering the Bill upon Oath and got an Order of Court to the Sergeant to take me and my Wife into Custody This was a little before the Yearly Meeting at which time it was thought they would have taken me up and according to outward appearance it was likely indeed that he would and very easie for him to have done it I lodging at the same places where I used to lodge and being very publick in Meetings But the Lord's Power was over them and restrained them so
with us for Interpreters When this was concluded on William Bingley and Samuel Waldenfield took shipping for Friezland and Jacob Claus their Interpreter Alexander Parker and George Watts remained with me and we tarried a few days longer at Amsterdam where I had further Service And before I left Amsterdam I went to visit one Galenus Abrahams a Teacher of Chief Note among the Mennonites or Baptists I had been with him when I was in Holland about seven Years before and William Penn and George Keith had disputes with him then He was then very high and very shy so that he would not let me touch him nor look upon him by his good will but bid me Keep my Eyes off him for he said they pierced him But now he was very loving and tender and Confessed in some measure to Truth his Wife also and Daughter were tender and kind and we parted from them very lovingly Soon after this feeling our Spirits drawn towards Friezland Alexander Parker George Watts and I having John Claus of Amsterdam with us for our Interpreter took shipping at Amsterdam for Friezland and having sailed some Nine or Ten Leagues we left the Ship Friezland and travelled through Friezland sometimes by Boat sometimes by Wagon visiting Friends and tender People in the Towns and Villages where we came and having commonly one sometimes two Meetings in a day After we had been at Leuwarden Leuwarder Franeker Harlingen in West-Friezland we passed by Franeker to Harlingen in West-Friezland which was the furthest Place we went to that way And having been out six days from Amsterdam and had very good Service in that time in visiting Friends and publishing Truth amongst the People we took Ship at Harlingen for Amsterdam on the 26th of the fourth Month and arrived there that night Amsterdam The First-day following we were at the Meeting at Amsterdam which was very large and precious Many of the World's People were there and some of their Teachers some great Persons also and they seemed very attentive and a good opportunity we all had one after another to declare the Word of the Lord unto them and open the Way of Truth amongst them John Claus interpreting for us I tarried the next day at Amsterdam but George Watts went to a Burial at Harlem where many hundreds of People were amongst whom he had a good opportunity and came back at night to us 1684. Waterland-Osan-overton Lansmeer Amsterdam The day following we went by Boat to Osan-overton in Waterland and from thence in another small Boat about a League over a small River where we passed over and by above an hundred Bridges and so went to Lansmeer to a Friend's house whose name was Timon Peters and there we had a very good Meeting After which we returned to Amsterdam at Night and were at the Meeting there next day There were many at this Meeting besides Friends and among the rest the great Baptist-Teacher Galenus who was very attentive to the Testimony of the Truth and when the Meeting was done came and got me by the hand very lovingly Sardam Alkmaer We went next day by Boat to Alkmaer about eight Leagues from Amsterdam passing through Sardam the great Town of Ship-Carpenters and several other Towns in the way At Alkmaer which is a pretty City we stay'd and had a Meeting there next day at one William Williams his house There were besides Friends many very sober People at this Meeting who were very attentive to the Testimonies of Truth that were born both by Alexander Parker George Watts and my self John Claus being our Interpreter This was on the Sixth-day of the Week and on the seventh we returned to Amsterdam Amsterdam partly by Wagon partly by Draw-boat being willing to be at the Meeting at Amsterdam on the First-day because it was like to be the last Meeting we should have there Accordingly we were at it and a very large and open Meeting it was Many great Persons were at it some Earls we were told with their Attendants out of Germany very grave and sober and the everlasting Gospel was preached unto them After this Meeting we took our leave of the Friends of Amsterdam Harlem and the next morning departed thence to Harlem where we had a Meeting at a Friend's house whose name is Abraham Frondenberg There were great Numbers of People at this Meeting and of great Service it was And after the Meeting a Watch-maker of Amsterdam who with his Wife was come from Amsterdam to the Meeting desired to speak with me concerning Religion I had pretty much discourse with him and both he and his Wife were very Low and Tender and received with gladness what I spake to them and seemed well satisfied when they went away Roterdam Briel We went next day to Rotterdam where we tarried two Meetings and on the sixteenth day of the fifth Month went to the Briel to take Ship for England It was about the fourth hour in the Afternoon that we went on Board the Pacquet Boat of which one William Sherman was Master and set Sail from the Briel But when we had gone over the Maes about a League we cast Anchor at the place called The Pitt The Pitt because it is near unto the Sands and there we tarried till about the fourth hour next morning when having a pretty fair Wind and the Tide with us we weighed Anchor and by the fourth hour next day were got within five Leagues of Harwich over against Alborough-Castle but the Wind falling short and the Tide growing weak 1684. Harwich it was the first hour in the Afternoon before we came so near to Harwich that Boats could come to receive the Passengers and Goods There were on Board about forty Passengers in all of which some were English some Scots some Dutch some French some Spanish some Flemish and some Jews I spent a day with Friends at Harwich while Alexander Parker and George Watts went by water to visit Friends at Ipswich and returned at night Next morning early we all took Coach for Colchester and were at the Meeting there Colchester which was large and peaceable And after the Meeting and that we had refreshed our selves we travelled on to Witham Witham about Ten Miles on the Road towards London and lodged there that night Next day we went on towards London and William Mead meeting us on the way at Harestreet I went with him to his House Harestreet the other Friends going on for London Here being Weak with Travel and continual Exercise I spent some time to rest my self and recover my Health visiting in the mean time the Friends in that part of the Country as I was able to get abroad And when I was a little recovered I went from thence to Enfield Enfield visiting Friends there and thereabouts and so to Dolston to see the Widow Stot Dolston And from thence to London London there being
some Friends come over from New-Jersey in America about business which I was desired to be present at It was the latter end of the Summer when I came to London and I stay'd there the Winter following saving that once or twice my Wife being in Town with me this Winter I went down with her to her Son Rouse's at Kingston And though my body was very weak yet was I in continual Service either in publick Meetings when I was able to bear them or in particular Businesses amongst Friends and visiting those that were Sufferers for Truth either by Imprisonment or Loss of Goods Many things also in this time I Writ some for the Press and some for particular Service as Letters to the King of Denmark and Duke of Holsteyn on behalf of Friends that were Sufferers in their Dominions whereof the following is a Copy For the Duke of HOLSTEYN THIS Whom I do Intreat in the Love of God to read over which is sent in Love to him I Understand that formerly by some Evil-minded persons it was reported to thee when one Elizabeth Hendricks came to Fredrickstadt to visit the People called Quakers there in thy Country That it was a Scandal to the Christian Religion that a Woman should be suffer'd to preach in a publick Assembly religiously gathered together 1684. London c. Upon which thou didst grant forth an Order to the Rulers of Fredrickstadt aforesaid To make the said People leave that place forthwith or to send them away But the said Rulers being Arminians and they or their Fathers being come to live there as a persecuted People in Holland not much above threescore years ago made Answer to the Duke They were not willing to persecute others for Conscience sake who had looked upon Persecution on that Account in their own Case as Antichristian c. But after that the said People of God in scorn called Quakers did write unto thee O Duke from Fredrickstadt and since that time they have had their Liberty and their Meetings peaceable to serve and worship God almost these twenty years at Fredrickstadt aforesaid and thereabout freely without any molestation which Liberty they have acknowledged as a Great Favour and Kindness from thee And now O Duke Thou professing Christianity from the great and mighty Name of Christ Jesus who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the holy Scriptures of Truth of the Old and New Testament Do not you use many Womens words in your Service and Worship out of the Old and New Testament And because the Apostle saith Let your Women keep Silence in the Churches and that he did not permit a Woman to speak but to be under obedience and if she will learn any thing to ask her husband at home For it is a shame for a Woman to speak in the Church And 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Women are to learn in silence and not suffered to Teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence 1 Cor. 14.34 Now here the Duke may see what sort of Women they be that were to be in silence and in subjection which the Law Commands to be silent and not to usurp Authority over the Man nor to speak in the Church These were Vnruly Women And in the same Chapter he Commands Women not to plate or broider their hair nor to wear Gold Pearls or costly Array These things were forbidden by the Apostle and such Women that wear such things are to Learn in silence and to be subject and not to usurp Authority over the Men for it is a shame for such to speak in the Church But do not such Women as these that were Gold and Silver and Pearls and Gaudy Apparel or Costly Array and plates and broiders their hair speak in your Church when your Priest sets them to sing Psalms Don't they speak when they sing Psalms Consider this O Duke And yet you say Your Women must keep silence in the Church and must not speak in the Church but when they sing Psalms in your Churches are they then silent And though the Apostle forbids such Women before-mentioned to speak in the Church yet in another place the Apostle encourages the good or holy Women to be Teachers of good things as in Tit. 2.3 4. And John 2 John 1. writes to the Elect Lady and her Children And John rejoiced greatly that he found her Children walk in the Truth Surely this Elect Lady had Taught and Instructed those Children that walked in the Truth and John who was an Apostle of Christ commended her And the Apostle said I intreat thee true Yoke-fellow help those Women which laboured with me in the Gospel and with other my Fellow-labourers whose names are written in the Book of Life Here the Apostle owns these holy Women and encourages them Women that laboured in the Gospel which laboured with him in the Gospel and did not forbid them Philip 4.2 3. And the Apostle Paul commended Phoebe unto the Church of the Romans and calls her a Servant unto the Church of Cenchrea and sends his Epistle by her to the Romans from Corinth and desires the Church at Rome to receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints And that they were to Assist her in whatsoever business she had need of for she had been a succourer of many and of him also And said Greet Priscilla and Aquila my Helpers in Christ Jesus who have for my life laid down their necks unto whom not only I give thanks but also all the Churches of the Gentiles Now here the Duke may see these were good holy Women the Apostle did not forbid such speaking Rom. 16.1 2 3 4. but commended them And Priscilla and Aquilae Instructed and Expounded unto Apollo the way of God more perfectly Acts 18.26 So here Priscilla was an Instructor as well as Aquila which holy Women the Apostle doth not forbid Neither did the Apostle forbid Philip's four Daughters which were Virgins to prophesie as in Acts. And Women might pray and prophesie in the Church 1 Cor. 11.5 And the Apostles said to the Jews and shewed them the fulfilling of Joel's Prophecy That in the last days God would pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh and their Sons and Daughters should prophesie c. and Servants and Handmaids they should prophesie with the Spirit of God And so the Apostle encourages Daughters and Hand-maids to prophesie as well as Sons and if they do prophesie they must speak to the Church or People Joel 2.28 Acts 2.17 18. And Miriam the Prophetess did not she sing unto the Lord and all the Women with her when the Lord had delivered the Children of Israel from Pharaoh did not she praise the Lord and prophesie in the Congregation of the Children of Israel and was not this in the Church Exod. 15.21 Moses and Aaron did not forbid her prophesying or speaking but Moses said Would God all the Lord's People were Prophets And the Lord's People are Women as
76. and 78. All the Figures and Shadows were and are in Time but Christ the Substance is the Beginning and the Ending And all Trials Troubles Persecutions and Temptations came up in Time but the Lord's Power which is Everlasting is over all such things in which is safety The black World of Darkness lieth in wickedness and by their Wisdom knoweth not God that made the World and all things therein for the God of the World and Prince of the Air ruleth in the hearts of all them that disobey the living God that made them And so the God of this wicked World hath blinded all the Eyes of the Infidels or Heathen so that this Wicked World by their Wisdom doth not know the living God In the Old Testament the Lord said With all thy Offerings thou shalt offer Salt Levit. 2.13 And Christ saith in his New Covenant Every one shall be salted with Fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt Salt is good but if the Salt have lost its saltness wherewith will you season it Have Salt in your selves and have peace one with another Mark 9.48 49 50. We have received the Earnest of the Spirit which is the Earnest of the Inheritance that fadeth not away For God poureth out of his Spirit upon all flesh So it is God's Spirit which is above our natural Spirit by which alone we do not know God for it is with the Spirit of God that we do know the things of God And the Spirit of God doth witness to our Souls and Spirits that this Spirit of God is the Earnest of an Eternal Inheritance God opens his Peoples Ears to Discipline and commands that they turn from Iniquity If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure but if they obey him not they shall perish by the sword and they shall die without knowledge Job 36.10 11 12. So the Disobedient that do not turn from their Iniquity have not this prosperity and pleasure but die without the knowledge of God And such their Ears are shut to this Discipline which God opens to his People G. F. When I had been about Two Months in London I was sent for to my Son Rouse's at Kingston to visit a Daughter of his Kingston which at that time lay very sick but recovered Whilst I stay'd there I had several Meetings with Friends Hammersmith and returning by Hammersmith stay'd the First-day-Meeting there which was large and peaceable And having visited Friends thereabouts I came back â—o London again being very intent upon the business of getting Redress for suffering Friends In this and other Services for Friends and Truth I continued at London till the latter end of the Eleventh Month save that I went in this time to visit an Ancient Friend at Bednal-Green Bednal-Green with whom I tarried three or four days While I was there I was much exercised in the sense of the Enemy's Working to draw from the holy way of Truth into a false Liberty and so into the World's ways and worships again And the Example of the backsliding Jews coming before me I was moved to write the following Paper as a Warning to all such HEre you may see when the Jews Rebelled against the good Spirit of God which he gave them to Instruct them they forsook God and his Law Way and Worship and then they went a whoring after Balaam's Ways and became like the wild Ass-Colt snuffing up the wind as in Jer. 2.24 And in Jer. 3. see how Judah played the Harlot under every green Tree and upon every high Mountain And therefore the Lord divorced Judah as he had divorced Israel when she forsook his Ways and followed the Heathens Ways And though the Lord had fed them to the full yet they forsook him and committed Adultery and Assembled themselves together in Harlot's-houses Jer. 5.7 And with their Whoredom they defiled the Land and committed Adultery with Stocks and Stones Jer. 3.9 So here you may see when they forsook the living Eternal God they followed the Religions and Worships of other Nations whose Gods were made of Stocks and Stones which the Jews worshipped and committed Adultery withal When they forsook the living God and his way and worship they forsook the worship at Jerusalem at the Temple and followed the Heathens Worships in the Mountains and Fields and so it was called Adultery and Whoredom to join with other Religions and forsake God as in Jer. 13.27 And now if the Children of New Jerusalem that is above should forsake the Worship that Christ in his New Testament set up which is in Spirit and in Truth and follow the Worships of Nations which men have set up will not they that do so commit Adultery with them in forsaking God's Worship and Christ the new and living Way And in Jer. 44. ye may see how the Children of Judah provoked the Lord against them by worshipping the works of their own hands and following the Gods of the Land of Egypt In this they committed Adultery forsaking the living God their Husband and his Worship and there ye may see God's Judgments pronounced against them to their destruction And what will become of those that forsake the Worship in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up and worship the works of their own hands in spiritual Egypt and follow spiritual Egypt's Will-worship which they invented may not this be called Whoredom in them that forsake Christ the new and living Way and his pure Religion and his Worship that he hath set up And they that do forsake the Lord's way 1685. Bednal-Green and his worship that he set up and follow the Worlds ways and worships that they set up do not they whose Way they follow become at last their Enemies as in Lament 1. See how the Jews forsook the Lord's way and worship and doted on other Lovers the Assyrians c. and with all their Idols they were defiled and how they did not leave the Whoredoms brought from Egypt and how they were polluted with the Babylonians Bed as ye may read in Ezek 23. When they forsook the Lord his Way and Worship and followed the Way and Worship of the Heathen then it was said They went a Whoring after other Lovers and committed Adultery with them And ye may see in Ezek. 16. how the state of the Jews was likened unto that of their Sister Sodom and how that they had played the Harlot with the Assyrians and committed Fornication with the Egyptians and had increased their Whoredoms in following their abominable Idols And therefore the Lord carried away the Two Tribes that forsook him into Babylon as ye may see in Ezek. 17.20 And they that forsake Christ the new and living Way and the Worship of God in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up in his New-Testament they go into Captivity in spiritual Babylon And in Hosea 2. ye may see how he discovers the Whoredoms and
esteem in the Church 1 Cor. 6. So here it is clear the Church of Christ has a Judgment in the Power and Spirit of God not only to Judge in things that pertain to this life but are also to Judge of things betwixt Brethren without Brother going to Law with Brother before Unbelievers which was a fault and to be Judged if they did so But also the Saints have a Judgment to judge Angels that kept not their Habitations and the World And as in Jude He judged the Angels that kept not their habitations their first state And did not he Judge in Divine Matters here and judged the state of Cain and Balaam and Core and such like Christians that were gotten into their steps and were gone as far as they was though they professed themselves Christians And here again he judged in Divine Matters and of their States and Beings who stood in the Divine Principle and who were fallen from it And the Apostle saith Try the spirits and believe not every spirit 1 John 4. And here again was a Judgment in Divine Matters And he judged such as went out from them which whilst they were with them they had sight of things and openings but when they went from them they went from the Anointing and therefore he exhorts the Saints to keep to the Anointing And such as went from them that had the Anointing came to be the Seducers and false Prophets that went into the World And John had a Judgment to try Sacrifices and distinguished Cains from Abels and by the Spirit of God knew which God accepted and which he did not accept as in 1 John 3.12 And the Apostle Paul judged and tried such Messengers and Apostles and Transformers of themselves like to the Apostles of Christ and would have the Church to try such and have the same Judgment as he had 2 Cor. 11. And the Apostle Peter Judged Ananias and Sapphira and judged the Thoughts of Simon Magus who would have been a worker of Miracles for money and was not all this Judgment in Divine Matters And the Apostle Paul Judged the Preachers of Circumcision both in the Romans and in the Galatians For it was the Faith and Liberty of those Preachers to preach up Circumcision though it was a wrong Faith And here did not the Apostle again Judge in Divine Matters And James Judged in Matters of Faith and manifested the living Faith from the dead one And also he Judged in Matters of Religion the vain Religion from the pure Religion and distinguished them And Paul Judged of the false Brethren that would spy out the liberty of the true to whom he would give no place by subjection no not for an hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with the Saints as in Gal. 2. And did not the Apostle here Judge in Divine Matters And he Judged concerning the Matters of the Gospel when some came to pervert them with another Gospel and said The Gospel which I received is not of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.12 So here was a Judgment to distinguish the Gospel of Christ from all other Gospels which was Accursed which is after Man and received of Man and taught of Man and not by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1. And he had a Judgment to know Who made the Gospel Chargeable and who kept it without Charge And he set up a Judgment in the Church that the Believers should not be unequally yoked and to see when Men had a Communion in the Light and when they had it in the Darkness and when with Christ and when with Baal and with the Believer and Vnbeliever and with the Temple of God and with Idols as in 2 Cor. 6. And did he not set up a clear Judgment here in Divine Matters in the Church And the Apostle Judged such Libertines through their knowledge that could sit at Meat in the Idol-Temple which caused the weak Brother to perish through his knowledge and liberty for whom Christ died Now these it 's like did profess it was their Faith and their Liberty but did not keep in the Unity of the true Faith but went about to destroy it 1 Cor. 8. And Peter he gives Judgment upon the Angels that sinned and were cast down into Hell and the state of the Old World and of Sodom and the state of the false Prophets then amongst them that could speak great swelling words of vanity and whilst they promised themselves liberty they themselves were the Servants of Corruptions And had not Peter here a Judgment in Divine Matters These were such whose work was to bring into bondage and these was like the Dog and Sow that was washed which shews that they had been washed but was turned into the Mire again And the Apostle Paul had a Judgment upon such with their fair words and mens wisdom that deceived the hearts of the simple and upon such as served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies and were Enemies to the Cross of Christ And therefore he had a Judgment and Discerning who lived in the Cross of Christ and who did not and exhorted all to live in the Cross of Christ the righteous Power of God that slew all Deceit and the Deeds of the Old Man agreeable to Christ's words He that will be my Disciple must take up my Cross and follow me And was not here a Judgment again in Divine Matters and of such as walk in the Divine Power and such as did not And Christ sets up a Judgment in his seven Churches and commends them that did keep in his Judgment and had tried them which said They were Apostles which might pretend they were sent of God and Christ and were not But the Church of Christ had found them Liars And Christ Commended this Judgment of the Church of Ephesus because they had Not born with them that was evil but had tried those false Apostles And Christ commends this Church for that they had hated the deeds of the Nicholaitans which he also hated And had not these Nicholaitans sprung from Nicholas one of the Deacons and was not these become a Sect of Christians though they might talk and preach of Christ but Christ hated them And likewise Christ saith to the Church of Smyrna I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews but are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan So the Church is to have a Judgment upon these blasphemers and are to distinguish from the Jews in the Spirit and such as are not but of the Synagogue of Satan And to the Church in Pergamos Christ had a few things against them because thou hast there them that hold the Doctrines of Balaam c. And also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans which I hate Now these that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans were got into the Church and might have lookt upon
you may have the Blessing For you read that Christians were called the Houshold of Faith the houshold of God a holy Nation a peculiar People and they are commanded to be Zealous for good Works not for bad and Christians are also commanded not to bite and devour one another lest they be consumed one of another And is it not a sad thing for Christians to be biting and consuming one another in the sight of the Turks Tartars Jews and Heathens when they should Love one another and do unto all Men as they would have them do unto them And such Work and Devouring as this will open the Mouths of Jews and Turks Tartars and Heathens to Blaspheme the Name of Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and cause them to speak evil of Christianity for them to see how the Unity of the Spirit is broken among such as profess Christ and Christ's Peace And therefore all Christians are to mind God and Christ's Teaching who teacheth Christians to Love one another yea Enemies and perswade all Kings and Princes to give Liberty to all tender Consciences in Matters of Religion and Worship they living peaceable under every Government so that for the time to come there may be no more Imprisonment and Persecution among the Christians for Matters of tender Consciences about Matters of Faith Worship and Religion that the Jews Turks Tartars and Heathens may not see how Christians are Persecuting one another for Religion And seeing from Christ and the Apostles Christians have no such Command but on the contrary to Love one another and knowing that Christ said to such as would have been plucking up Tares Let the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the Harvest which is the End of the World lest they plucked up the Wheat and at the End of the World Christ would send forth his Angels and they should sever the Wheat from the Tares So Christ tells you that it is the Angels work at the End of the World and not Mens work before the Harvest at the End of the World Hath not all this Persecution Banishing and Imprisoning and putting to Death concerning Religion been the pretence of plucking up Tares and hath not all this been before the Harvest and before the End of the World And therefore have not all these been the Actors against the Express Command of Christ the King of Heaven which all Kings and Rulers especially they that call themselves Christians should obey their Lord and Saviour's Command which he expresly Commands Let the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the Harvest and the Harvest is the End of the World and then Christ will send his Angels and they shall sever the Wheat from the Tares c. And also Christ told some of his Disciples that would have had Fire to come down from Heaven to destroy such as would not receive him in their Zeal That they did not know what Spirit they were of and rebuked them and said He came not to destroy Mens Lives but to save them And therefore all such that have destroyed Mens Lives concerning Religion and Worship of God have they known what Spirit they have been of Have they not done that they should not do and done that which Christ forbad who saith Lest ye should pluck up the Wheat with the Tares and saith It is the Angels work at the End of the World And hath not God shewed unto Man what is Good and his Duty To Love Mercy and to do Justly and to walk Humbly with his God which Man is to mind And the Apostle exhorts the Christians to Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord Hebr. 12.14 And why should Christians War and Strive one with another seeing they all do own in words one King and Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus whose Command is That they should Love one another which is a Mark that they shall be known by to be Christ's Disciples as I said before And Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords saith As I have Loved you so love one another John 15.12 and John 13. And the Apostle saith Christians ought to be patient towards all Men 1 Thess 5.14 From him who is a Lover of Truth and Righteousness and Peace and desires your Temporal and Eternal Good and desires that in the Wisdom of God that is pure and gentle and peaceable from above with that you may be Ordered and Order all things that God hath Committed to you to his Glory and stop those things among Christians so far as you have power which dishonour God Christ and Christianity Amsterdam the 21th of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. THE FIRST TABLE CONTAINING The Names of the Countries Cities Towns and Places mentioned in the Author's Journal of his Travels and Labours on Truth 's Account in England c. and beyond the Seas Note The Pages with a Star refer to the like Pages with a Star to begin p. 189* 190* 200* 201* c. these Pages being double A. ABbyholm 268* Aberdeen Scotl. 407 Acton 141 Adderbury 388. 457 Addingworth 430 Albans 171. 430. 457. 479 Alborough Castle 522 Aldenham 78 Alexandria in Egypt 248. 253 Alkmaer Holl. 438. 522 America 408 Amersham 455 Amoroca River Amer. 380 Ampthill 430 Amsterdam 433-438 446-451 452. 520-522 594. 617-619 627-632 Anamessy River Amer. 380 Anderigo Friezl 444 Antego 356 357. 458 Apledon 318 319 Appingdalen F. 439 Applebye 91 Apre Denmark 440 Arnside 103. 215 216. 269. 470 Armscot 388 389. 457 Arundel 171 Ashford 259 Ashwell 469 Atherston 30. 132 Aylesbury 388 B. BAdcow Scotl. 269* 271* 276* Badgesley 167. 170. 225* 213. 310. 325. 429 Baghurst 341 Bagworth 29 Balby 54. 67. 69. 129. 213 214. 326. 429 Baldock 170 171. 316. 469 Ballowfield 429 Banbury 316 Bandon Irel. 328 Bandon-Bridge Irel. ibid. Barbados 351-361 379. 382. 599 Barking 570 Barnet 3. 430. 457. 479. 584 Barnet-hills 254 255 Barnstaple 318 Barrow 28. 254 Barton 423 Barton-Abbey 215 Basingstoke 244* Battersea 480 Beavor Vale 16. 18-26 Becliff 79 Bedall 423 Bedfordshire 149. 166. 170. 282* 259. 310 311. 430. 457. 469. 479 Bednalgreen 536-538 550 Bentham 297 Berkshire 254. 335. 342. 456 Berry-street 568 569 Berwick 281* Beverley 54 Beumaris Wales 258* 259* Biddlesden 479 Birmingham 167. 325 Bishopsdale 423 Bishop-starford 156 Black-Rock Chesh 327 Bletchington 480 Block-Island Amer. 369 Bodmin 178 179 Bohemia-River Amer. 365. 372 Bonners-Creek Amer. 376 377 Boston Lincolnsh 225* Boston New Eng. 242. 379 Boulton 280 Bowden mag 469 Bowtell 104 105 Bradforth 71 Braintrie 457 Brecknock 246* 247* Bremen Germ. 440 443 Bremer-Haven Germ. 443 Bridge-Town Barb. 356 Bridport 244 Briell Holl. 433. 453. 520. 522 Brigflats 423 Bristol 221* 222* 245* 210. 212. 253 254. 266. 310. 315. 332. 334. 456 Bristol-Harbour 383-386 Buckinghamshire 3. 224* 196. 310. 316. 341. 387. 430. 455. 457. 479 488 489 Bugbrook 479 Bullocks-Hill 430 Burlington 307 Burnt-Island 276* Burroby 57.
Try and Prove without Partiality Now take heed of your Approving such as he disapproved for since the Apostles days such as he disapproved have had their Liberty and they have told us The Tongues were their Original and that they were Orthodox Men and that the Steeple-house with a Cross on the top of it was the Church the Papists Mass-house you may look on the Top of it and see the Sign But the Scriptures tell us All the Earth was of one Language before the Building of Babel And when Pilate crucified Christ he set the Tongues Hebrew Greek and Latin on the top of him And John tells us That the Beast had power over the Tongues Kindreds and Nations and that the Whore sits upon the Tongues of whose Cup all Nations have drunk and the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with her and John said The Tongues are Waters Christ gives marks to his Disciples and to the Multitude how to Try such as these that you are to Try They are called of Men Master they love the Chiefest Seat in the Assemblies they be Sayers but not Doers And said he They shall put you out of the Synagogues and seven Woes he denounced against them and so disapproved them Christ said False Prophets should come and John saw They were come for they went forth from them and since the World hath gone after them But Babylon must be confounded the Mother of Harlots and the Devil must be taken and with him the Beast and the false Prophet must be cast into the Lake of Fire for the Lamb and his Saints over all must reign and have the Victory The Lord God sent his Prophets of Old to cry against the Shepherds that sought for the Fleece Ezek. 34. and to cry against such Shepherds as seek for their Gain from their Quarter and never have enough Isa 5.6 and to cry against the Prophets that prophesied falsely and the Priests that bore rule by their Means which was the filthy and horrible thing Jer. 5. And if you would forbear to give them Means you would see how long they would bear Rule There was in the Old Time a Store-house for the Fatherless Strangers and Widows to come to and be filled and they did not prosper then who did not bring their Tithes to the Store-house But did not Christ put an end to that Priesthood Tithes Temple and Priests And doth not the Apostle say that the Priesthood is changed the Law is changed and the Commandment disannulled Might not they have pleaded the Law of God that gave them Tithes Have ever any of the Priests prospered that take Tithes since by the Law of Man Was not the first Author of them since Christ's time the Pope or some of his Church Did the Apostles cast Men into Prison for Tithes as your Ministers do now As Instance Ralph Hollingworth Priest of Phillingham for petty Tithes not exceeding six Shillings hath cast into Lincoln-Prison a poor Thatcher named Thomas Bromby where he hath been about Eight and Thirty Weeks and still remains a Prisoner And the Priest petitioned the Judge That the poor Man might not labour in the City to get a little Money towards his maintenance in Prison Is this a good Savour amongst you that are in Commission to chuse Ministers Is this glad Tidings to cast in Prison a Man that is not his Hearer because he could not put into his Mouth Can such as be in the fear of God and in his Wisdom own such things The Ministers of Christ are to plant a Vine-yard and then Eat of the Fruit to Plow Sow and Thresh and get the Corn and then let them Reap but not cast them into Prison for whom they do no Work Christ when he sent forth his Ministers bid them Give freely as they had Received freely and into what City or Town soever they came Inquire who were Worthy and there abide and what they set before you said He that Eat And when these came back again to Christ and he asked them If they wanted any thing They said No They did not go to a Town and call the People together to know How much they might have by the Year as these that are in the Apostacy do now The Apostle said Have I not power to Eat and to Drink But he did not say To take Tithes Easter-Reckonings Midsummer-Dues Augmentations and great Sums of Money But have I not power to Eat and to Drink 1655. London And yet he did not use that Power among the Corinthians But they that are Apostatized from him will take Tithes great Sums of Money Easter-Reckonings and Midsummer-Dues and cast them into Prison that will not give it them whom they do no work for The Oxe's Mouth must not be muzz'led that treads out the Corn But see if the Corn be trodden out in you and the VVheat be in the Garner This is from a Lover of your Souls and one that desires your Eternal Good G. F. Now after I had made some stay in the City of London and had given forth the several foregoing Papers and cleared my self of what Service lay upon me at that time there I was mov'd of the Lord to go down into Bedford-shire to John Crook's House Bedford-shire Luton where there was a great Meeting and People generally Convinced of the Lord's Truth When I was come thither John Crook told me that the next day several of those that were called the Gentlemen of the Country would come to dine with him and to discourse with me They came and I declared to them God's Eternal Truth Several Friends went to the Steeple-houses that day And there was a Meeting in the Country which Alexander Parker went to and towards the middle of the day it came upon me to go to it though it was several Miles from me John Crook went with me and when we came there there was one Gritton that had been a Baptist but he was gotten higher than they and called himself a Trier of Spirits He used to tell People their Fortunes and pretended to discover to People when their Goods were stollen or Houses broken up who the Persons were that did it by which he had gotten into the Affections of many People thereabout This Man was got into that Meeting and was speaking and making an hideous Noise over the Young-convinced Friends when I came in and he bid Alexander Parker give a reason of his Hope Alex. Parker told him Christ was his Hope but because he did not Answer him so soon as he expected he boastingly cried His Mouth is stopt Then this Gritton directed his Speech to me for I stood still and heard him and he spake many things which were not agreeable to Scripture I asked him Whether he could make those things out by Scripture which he had spoken and he said Yes yes Then I bid the People Take out their Bibles to search the Places he should quote for proof of his Assertions But he
and his Wife and several others of the Chief of the Town came in about the tenth Hour and stay'd all the Time of the Meeting and a glorious Meeting it was John ap John being then with me left the Meeting and went to the Steeple-house and the Governour cast him into Prison On the Second-day Morning the Governour sent one of his Officers to the Justice's House to fetch me which grieved the Mayor and the Justice for they were both with me in the Justice's House 1657. Tenby when the Officer came So the Mayor and the Justice went up to the Governour before me and a while after I went up with the Officer When I came in I said Peace be unto this House And before the Governour could Examin me I asked him Why he did cast my Friend into Prison He said For standing with his Hat on in the Church I said Had not the Priest two Caps on his Head a black one and a white one and cut of the brims of the Hat and then my Friend would have but one and the brims of the Hat were but to defend him from Weather These are frivolous things said the Governour ' Why then said I dost thou cast my Friend into Prison for such frivolous things Then he asked me Whether I owned Election and Reprobation Yes said I and thou art in the Reprobation At that he was in a Rage and said He would send me to Prison till I proved it But I told him I would prove that quickly if he would confess Truth Then I asked him Whether Wrath Fury and Rage and Persecution were not Marks of Reprobation for he that was born of the Flesh persecuted him that was born of the Spirit but Christ and his Disciples never persecuted nor imprisoned any Then he fairly Confest That he had too much Wrath Haste and Passion in him And I told him Esau was up in him the first-Birth not Jacob the second-Birth The Lord's Power so reached the Man and came over him that he confess'd to Truth and the other Justice came and shook me kindly by the Hand As I was passing away I was moved to speak to the Governour again and he Invited me to Dinner with him and set my Friend at Liberty I went back to the other Justice's House And after some time the Mayor and his Wife and the Justice and his Wife and divers other Friends of the Town went about half a Mile out of Town with us to the Water-side when we went away and there when we parted from them I was moved of the Lord to kneel down with them and pray to the Lord to preserve them So after I had recommended them to the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour and free Teacher we passed away in the Lord's Power and the Lord had the Glory And there is a Meeting continues in that Town to this Day Pembrockshire Pembrock Haverford west So we travelled through the Country to Pembrockshire and in Pembrock Town we had some Service for the Lord. From thence we passed to Haverford-west where we had a great Meeting and all was quiet and the Lord's Power came over all and many were settled in the New Covenant Christ Jesus and built upon him their Rock and Foundation and they stand a precious Meeting to this Day The next day being their Fair-day we passed through their Fair and sounded the Day of the Lord and his Everlasting Truth amongst them After this we came into another County and at Noon came into a great Market-Town and went into several Inns before we could get any Meat for our Horses At last we came to an Inn where we did get some Meat for our Horses and then John ap John being with me went and spake through the Town declaring the Truth to the People and when he came to me again he said he thought All the Town was as people asleep After a while he was moved to go and declare Truth in the Streets again and then the Town was all in an Vproar 1657. WALES and cast him into Prison Presently after several of the Chief of the Town came down with others to the Inn where I was and said They have cast your Man into Prison For what said I He preached in our Streets said they Then I asked them What did he say Had he reproved some of the Drunkards and Swearers and warned them to Repent and leave off their evil Doings and turn to the Lord I asked them Who cast him into Prison And they said The High-Sheriff and the Justices and the Mayor I asked the Names of them and whether they did understand themselves And whether that was their Carriage to Travellers that passed through their Town and to Strangers that did admonish them and exhort them to fear the Lord and reproved Sin in their Gates So these went back and told the Officers what I said And after a while they brought down John ap John guarded with Halberts to the Inn-door in order to put him out of the Town I being at the Inn-door bid the Officers take their Hands off of him They said The Mayor and Justices had commanded them to put him out of Town I told them I would talk with their Mayor and Justices anon concerning their uncivil and unchristian Carriage towards him So I spake to John to go look after the Horses and get them ready and charged the Officers not to touch him And after I had declared the Truth to them and shewed them the Fruits of their Priests and their Incivility and unchristian-like Carriage they went away and left us They were a kind of Independents but a very wicked Town and false We bid the Inn-keeper give our Horses a Peck of Oats and no sooner had we turned our Backs but the Oats were stolen from our Horses After we had refresht our selves a little and were ready we took Horse and rode up to the Inn where the Mayor and Sheriff and Justices were And I called to speak with them and asked them the Reason Wherefore they had Imprisoned John ap John and kept him in Prison two or three hours But they would not answer me a Word only looked out at the Windows upon me So I shewed them how unchristian their Carriage was to Strangers and Travellers and manifested the Fruits of their Teachers and I declared the Truth unto them and warned them of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon all the Evil-Doers and the Lord's Power came over them that they looked ashamed but not a Word could I get from them in Answer So when I had warned them to Repent and Turn to the Lord we passed away And at Night came to a little Inn very poor but very cheap for our own Provision and our two Horses cost but Eight Pence But the Horses would not eat their Oats We declared the Truth to the People of the Place and sounded the Day of the Lord through the Countries Travelling from thence we
came to a great Town and went to an Inn. And Edward Edwards went into the Market and declared the Truth amongst the People and the People followed him down to the Inn and filled the Inn-yard and were exceeding rude Yet a good Service he and we had for the Lord amongst them For the Life of Christianity and the Power of it tormented their chaffy Spirits and came over them so that some were reached and Convinced and the Lord's Power came over all and the Magistrates were bound they had no Power to meddle with us After this we passed away and came to another great Town on a Market day and John ap John declared the Everlasting Truth through the Streets and proclaimed the Day of the Lord amongst them In the Evening many People gathered about the Inn and some of them being drunk they would fain have had us forth into the Street again but we seeing their Design I told them If there were any that feared God and desired to hear Truth they might come into our Inn or else we might have a Meeting with them next Morning So some Service for the Lord we had amongst them both over Night and in the Morning And though the People was hard to receive the Truth yet the Seed was sown and thereabouts the Lord hath a People gathered to himself In that Inn also I turned but my Back to the Man that was giving Oats to my Horse and I looked back again and he was filling his Pockets with the Provender that was given to my Horse A wicked theevish People to rob the poor dumb Creature of his Food I had rather they had robbed me Leaving this Town and travelling on there was a Great Man overtook us on the Way and he purposed as he told us afterward to have taken us up at the next Town for High-way-men But before we came to the Town I was moved of the Lord to speak to him And what I spake reached to the Witness of God in the Man and he was so affected therewith that he had us to his House and entertained us very civilly And he and his Wife desired us to give them some Scriptures both for proof of our Principles and against the Priests We were glad of the Service and furnished him with Scriptures enough And he writ them down and was Convinced of the Truth both by the Spirit of God in his own Heart and by the Scriptures which were a Confirmation to him Afterwards he set us on in our Journey And as we travelled we came to an Hill which the People of the Country say is two or three Miles high from the Side of this Hill I could see a great Way And I was moved to set my Face several ways and to sound the Day of the Lord there And I told John ap John a faithful Welch Minister in what Places God would raise up a People to himself to sit under his own Teaching Those Places he took notice of and since there hath a great People arisen in those Places The like I have been moved to do in many other Places and Countries which have been rude Places and yet I have been moved to declare the Lord had a Seed in those Places and afterwards there hath been a brave People raised up in the Covenant of God and gathered in the Name of Jesus where they have Salvation and free Teaching Dalgelthly From this Hill we came down to a Place called Dalgelthly and we went to an Inn and John ap John declared through the Streets and the Town 's People rose and gathered about him And there being two Independent-Priests in the Town they both came out and discoursed with him both together I went up to them and finding them speaking in Welch I asked them What was the Subject they spake upon and why they were not more moderate and spake one by one For the things of God I told them were weighty and they should speak of them with Fear and Reverence Then I desired them to speak in English that I might discourse with them and they did so Now they affirmed That the Light which John came to bear witness of was a created natural made Light But I took the Bible and shewed them as I had done to others before That the Natural Lights which were made and created were the Sun Moon and Stars but this Light which John bare witness to and which he called the True Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World is the Life in Christ the Word by which all things were made and created The same that is called the Life in Christ is called the Light in Man and this is an heavenly divine Light which lets Men see their evil Words and Deeds and shews them all their Sins and if they would attend unto it would bring them to Christ from whom it comes that they might know him to save them from their Sin and to blot it out This Light I told them shined in the Darkness in their Hearts and the Darkness in them could not comprehend it but in those Hearts where God had commanded it to shine out of Darkness it gave unto such the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus their Saviour Then I opened the Scriptures largely to them and turned them to the Spirit of God in their Hearts which would reveal the Mysteries in the Scriptures to them and would lead them into all the Truth thereof as they became subject thereunto I directed them to that which would give every one of them the Knowledge of Christ who died for them that he might be their Way to God and might make Peace betwixt God and them The People were attentive and I spake to John ap John to stand up and speak it in Welch to them which he did and they generally received it and with Hands lifted up blessed and praised God The Priest's Mouths were stopt so that they were quiet all the while for I had brought them to be sober at the first by telling them That when they speak of the things of God and of Christ they should speak with Fear and Reverence Thus the Meeting brake up in peace in the Street and many of the People accompanied us to our Inn and rejoiced in the Truth that had been declared unto them that they were turned to the Light and Spirit in themselves by which they might see their Sin and know Salvation from it And when we went out of the Town the People were so affected that they lifted up their Hands and blest the Lord for our Coming A pretious Seed the Lord hath there-aways and a great People in those Parts is since gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ to sit down under his free Teaching and have suffered much for him From this place we passed to a City like a Castle Where when we had set up our Horses at an Inn and refreshed our selves John ap John went