Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	speak_v	true_a	word_n	8,834	5	4.4618	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60506	The Quakers spiritual court proclaim'd Being an exact narrative of two several tryals had before that new-high-court of justice, at the Peele in St. John's Street; together with the names of the judges that sate in judgment, and of the parties concern'd in the said tryals: also sundry errors and corruptions, in principle and practice among the Quakers, which were never till now made known to the world. Also a direction to attain to be a Quaker, and profit by it. All which, with many new matters and things of remark among those men, are faithfully declared and testified. By Nathaniel Smith student in physick, who was himself a Quaker, and conversant among them for the space of about XIV. years.	Smith, Nathaniel, d. 1668?; Yearwood, Randolph, d. 1689.	1668 (1668)	Wing S4135; ESTC R219636	40,156	50

was already done After this at another time he and I went to the Cooks Shop in Smithfield to Dinner and being at Dinner he was still pressing me to this party but withall told me that she was covetous but if I would ●ake his advice he would do well enough for that but I must keep his counsel and do as he would tell me I askt him what it was and he said that I must buy four or five Hundred Pound Bags and go to Hackney High-way and fill them with little Pibbles I askt him what that was and he told me they were little Sto●es and bring them home to my Lodging and set them in my Closet then I must invite him to my Chamber and when he came I must open the Closet Door and let him see them and he would pretend to her that they were money but I abhor●ing all such deceit in my heart did not condescend to it After this another time at the same House we being at Dinner he blamed me that I went no of●ner to the party and said that he would teach me and it was this That he that would Wooe a Maid mu●t ●ain lye and flatter but he that would Wooe a Widdow must rehearsing these words several times down with his Britches and at her After this with many other perswasions which he used and perceiving that I would not do as he would have me he began to exclaim against me and call me all he could devise and also inform'd thee against me as thou knowest G. F. Hast thou any more to say against him Answ Yes but I would have him to answer to this first and leave the other for another part this is enough at once for him to answer to and when he hath so done he shall hear the other G. F. I would have thee to say all thou hast to say first Answ No I will not he shall answer to this first G. F. But there is another thing thou didst at his House thou wast uncivil there and offeredst some abuse to his Kinswoman or Sister Answ I know not his Kinswoman or Sister any more than him whom I never saw in my life nor I know not that I did any thing to them that was uncivil that I remember and if I did salute one or both of them it is more than I can remember but it may be I did and that was all To this Hilkiah Bedford made no reply to say whether it were so or no and so it was let alone G. F. Come Hilkiah make answer to what he hath said against thee is it true or not H. B. That is the Devil or it come of him for he is the Father of all such and looking upon me lyes for that which he hath said is false and there is no Truth in it G. F. Speak to the first is that true or not H. B. It was not as he said but it is true that I came there and found them together and said what you want one to joyn your hands together so I took their hands and in a light vain manner put them together and I blame my self for it G. F. That 's well said thou dost well to confess the Truth and to be sorry for it but what dost thou say to the other concerning the Stones H. B. The truth is that I could never see any thing in him but lightness and vanity I thought it was no matter of Conscience in him because he was so bad and so I said to him Canst thou not do so but for the rest it is false G. F. Thou dost well to confess the Truth but what sayst thou to the last H. B. There was some idle Discourse stir'd up by his vain mind which made me speak some vain words but what he saith is false and he lies G. F. Thou dost well to confess thy faults and not to stand in them I commend thee for it But yet for all his well-doing and saying and for this commendation of George's he did but praise a lyar for he spoke not the truth in any thing as it was done at the first Then I said to him that he had not spoken the Truth but did lye H. B. If they were the last word that I should speak they are true but he spoke after that therefore he did lie I answered if there be any Truth in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath that which he hath spoken is false then they blam'd me for bringing that in question upon such light occ●sion and spoke well of him for yielding to the truth whereas it was but to his own lyes that he yields to This being ended as you have heard then he was to accuse me of things that I am not sure whether ever I spoke them to him however I shall place them as they were spoken to me G. F. Hilkiah Hast not thou something to d●●use him of about James Sparkes H. B. Yes he said he had proved James Sparkes Ministry false and he a lyar and he said that George Fox took his part also and called James Sparkes a raw Boy G. F. But there is something concerning Jo. Bo●lton H. B. Yes he boasted and said that he disputed him and rou●ed him and put him in such amaze that he could not finde the way to the Meeting and further said that if the Ministers were in any dispute they must be beholding to him to help them out G. F. What do●t thou say to this what art thou sorry for abusing him Answ George I desire to have leave to speak how it was this which he speaketh of was done at Lancaster upon a time when he came from Bristol I having liv'd there formerly desired to know how friends did there they told me they were well I asked also for George ●ishop and whether he were in Prison or not they said yes I enquired in what Prison he was in they answered in none but in Thomas Gouldney's new House then said I Thomas Gouldney's new House is his Prison then they thundered Plagues and Damnation on me for saying Thomas Gouldney a very good friend should build Houses for Prisons for friends I told them again that I did n●t say that Thomas Gouldney did build it for a Prison but if George Bishop were Prisoner the place that did contain him by vertue of the Law was his Prison but they told me there was no vertue nor li●e in me nor in any thing that I did then I told them they did lye and that I would prove vertue in a Post then they said that the Plagues and veng●ance of God was for me and hang'd over my head and with many speeches of exclamation against me they went to their Chamber and I likewise went to mine and when I was entered into it I wept bitter●y to think how long a time they had professed the truth and p●e●end that they had the Divine teac●ing of the Spirit and ye● should ●e so ●oolish as not to understand reason

ingage thy Servant Nathaniel Smith Student in Physick CHAP. I. Wherein are Discovered my Inducements to follow this Sect of People called QUAKERS HAving from my Youth an earnest Desire after those things that were Just Honest and Good I set my self to find out those means that might Conduce thereunto if by any means I might Satisfie my Doubting Soul Notwithstanding I found no Satisfaction for some Years At last came a People which were called Quakers declaring That the Kingdom of Heaven was in Man and that there was a Light or Vnderstanding in every man which did shew 〈◊〉 Good and Evil and that this was a Divine Light or measure which was given to all men to Rule Guide and Govern themselves by it and sufficient to bring them to the Knowledge of God and the Myste●●es of Godliness These things I pondering in my Heart and cons●dering that swift Witness in my Breast which did condemn me when I did what was Unjust and Justifie me when I did that which was Good these things wrought in me a strong Belief that what they spake was Truth Further they declared that we were the Sons of ADAM made of the same Mold and ●●at it was only the Pride and Ambition of Men that they sought to bear Rule over one another and to bring their Fellow-Servants into Subjection by Oppression and Cruelty if they resus●● to submit affirming that all ought to live Soberly and Righteously without Opposing or Oppressing o●e another For as we were all the Sons of Adam so there ought to be no respect of Persons amongst us but that we should live soberly one among another as Brethren and Children of the same Parent That we ought not to look upon one another as Lord or master but to be of one Heart and Mind Worshiping God in singleness of hear● without Lordship or Dominion one over another That none should bear Rule over anothers Conscience that all should live together in Lo●● without B●ck●iting or speaking Evil one of another that Love and Vnity might ab●●●d amongst us and we become a Choice People to God These and the like Doctrines did so exceedingly work upon me being at that time about 19 Years of Age that I resolved to acquaint my self farther with them and with their Doct●in and in order hereunto I did frequent their Meetings where I heard them declare That man ought to doe unto all ●●en as he would that they should do unto him also that they ought to fear the Lord refraining from Evil and all Vngodly actions and as I said before that men should not Lord it over one another by reason of their great Estates for all Kings Princes and Nobles of the Earth are no more in the eye of the Lord than the Beggar on the Dung●il that God did delight as much in the meanest Person if they walk Righteously before him as he did in the greatest Potentates So that all Worshiping and Preferring of one before another was contrary to Truth All these things I considered in my self and finding nothing in them then but what was consistent with their Teaching I joyned with them and with much fervency of Spirit did endeavour to instruct others in the same that they might walk uprightly and soberly before their Creator that so they might find rest to their Souls when Time shall be no more but for this Time of this Terrestial being they could not expect but to have Trouble and Tribulation but this was but for a time and this time was soon past and then they should have Rest for their Souls for ever This is the whole scope of that which I did intend by it that is to say That man was composed of Soul Body and Spirit and at the Dissolution of this Body that the Soul should stil remain a Spiritual body which should be capable of joy or of Sorrow This Resolution Faith and Belief I was resolved to stand to and that none should move it As also all that man could do in Speaking and Teaching was but to direct them to Christ and that he alone was the only Help and Way to Salvation and by him the Soul should be redeemed from sin and that he was the Rock of Ages and all Generations that put their Trust in him and fall down before the greatness of his Majesty with humble and contrite submission of our sins and true Repentance which was not to be repented of Further de●laring that there was none able to give a Remission for sin but Christ and that all those that did pretend to forgive sins were out of the Truth and that all Laws made or holden upon that account were Erroneous false and out of the Truth and all those that did pretend to remit any Sins or Transgressions were out of the Truth and were of Antichrist and that old Serpent the Devil for they had no power to call any to an account for sin and to remit at their pleasure Of the Quakers Self-contradictions Abuses Backbitings and false Accusing one another as also of their Active Persecution NOw after some time I had spent upon this account being not burthensome to any for I never took money nor moneys-worth of any Person whereas there were some that did take both Silver and Gold with other things but I laboured with my own hands for my bread and money that I spent and was not beholding to any Now after a short time there crept in amongst them some who lookt after their Interest and whereas some of them were poor before now begin to thrive in the World and then they went on with their Ministery with more courage and if they were cast into Prison then they had all their business done for them better than others could have done for their moneys and all things were provided for them as well as if they had been at home by this means their Ministery was no burthen to them for the Rich would help them with Money Horses and Waynes and the Poor with Labour so that there was nothing wanting But this in a short time did beget some Heart-burnings amongst them for those that did do the most most for them those were the only men in their Eyes and were the most esteemed by them Here one may see how Gifts blind the Eyes of the Wise But this turned to Heart-burning in some seeing others to be so much esteemed not that their Righteousness did exceed others but that their Gifts did purchase Favour and Affection the other not able to do the like did speak privately one to another about it and said This thing ought not to be Some as amongst all others were too ready to carry Tales whch is better taken with these Persons than if they had brought them a present according to their Ability the others seeing also that the back-biters and tale-bearers did come in favour did stumble at it but they might as well keep ●ilence for if they did complain they told them that they had lost

they that are so spoken against shall not know it except he be called to the Court this manner of backbiting and marriage is their private Divine discourse for these several years I have not heard scarce at any time any other discourse But to return If they refuse to confess and repent then they summon them in before the Court there to answer which if they do not they go to them the third time if they stand out then they pass Sentence on them That they are not to come amongst them But to me they did not grant this priviledge but cast me forth at the first time without letting me consider Here they broke their own Law but I shall forgive them although they would not me After they have been once cast out and then be found in any fault then they are to be called as at the first to their Confession and Repentance but if they stand it out then they are to be cast out from the Society of all Men as they did me as you shall understand by what is hereafter written I suppose if they had power and that the Law of the Nation would not take hold of them as aforesaid then they would banish them into some Wilderness where no Man Inhabits but however it must stand in the sence of the same for no man must have any Commerce with such a one as is thus excommunicated as he tendereth his own good and the favour of the Church but there is mercy for him for if he will send his submission to them signed with his own hand then they will pardon him and receive him amongst the Saints again but very doubtfully but after the third Transgression there is no more Remission for sin for he is never to be received into the Church again although his Repentance be never so great But here we may understanding that they are not like unto God for he will forgive seventy times seven but there is the end of their Law and their Charity cannot extend it self any further But where George Fox found this Law I know not except he found it in some old Chronicle when he sought to find the beginning of the Pope and the rest of his Saints but this I am certain of that as soon as he had made an end of that piece which he put forth in the Year 1667. concerning the Pope and his Laws and of the beginning of his Ceremonies with other things as is declared at large in his Book that as soon as he had done it he set up this Law and I know it was not before that time but for my part I shall leave it to the judgment of others whether he had it there or not or whether he did only pick the best of them for himself and le●t the other for the Pope or whether it was by the same Spirit of Revelation which revealed to him that the World was Flat and that when it was 12 of the Clock with us here then it was 12 all the World over but as for this Spirit of Revelation and George Fox's Judgment upon it I leave to the Geographicks to Judge and in both be silent I have here but given you a hint of the Court with other things but it may so fall out that you may have it more at large hereafter Of George Fo's coming to Town and my Address to Him with his Answer I Hearing of George Fox comming to this City I was resolved to apply my self to him as I had before determined and upon the 15 Day of October I went to him and informed him of all things that had past as also concerning Hilkiah Bedford but his Answer was that those were but light things as the other did as you heard before but he would give me the Hearing of it but he was desirous that it might be in private because it was not convenient that others should hear I told him that as it had been done in publick so it was most fit that it should be so again but however if he pleas'd it should be at my Chamber or any place where he pleas'd He would have had me let it alone but I told him how he had abus'd me and was resolved that he should Judge betwixt us his answer was he would give us the hearing of it but he would not judge of it but we might agree betwixt our selves but he spoke not truth neither for in the first he would not ●et me speak what I had fu●ther to say except I would plead guilty and as unto the last he spake not the truth in that he himself cast me forth and commanded the Clark to write the excommunitation and the cause of it as you shall hear by and by At last he told me he would hear me that Day Week at the Peel and I must warn them in if they would appear and according to his Order I did as is here at large ●nserted as followeth October 22. 1668. Concerning the second Tryal before George Fox Hilkiah Bedford and John Boulton which being my first Judge and both present to make their Plea against me and what was brought against me which I knew not of THis Day being come which was much desired by me and with much patience waited for I then betwixt hope and despair waited for the Hour appointed I went to the Peel now when I was come into the great Room or rather at that time Court of Judicature where they pretend that righteousness should over-flow and run like streams I then expected that some reproof should have been given to those absurdities and abuses but there was no such thing done but rather commended as you shall hear After I had sat there about a quarter of an hour my Adversaries being come and George Fox in presence he spake to me as followeth G. F. Thou maidst a complaint to me concerning Hilkiah Bedford thou mayst speak What is it Ans George I told thee of it and what it was about and thou knowest it as well as I therefore I desire thee to question him about it and see what he can say for himself G. F. Thou maidst the complaint therefore thou art to speak first and say what thou ha●t to say and then he shall speak for himself They ●ad conc●uded wha● to ●ay be●●●e a w●●l plainly appear by their Proceedings in their Court. Answ George thou kn●west ●i●kiah Bedford made a complaint to thee concerning me that I was going to take a Hea●●en ●o W●●e and would be married by a Priest it is thus This party ●e ●●●ion'd me to her and likewise her to me but some time being spent and I not frequenting the Party so often as he thought I should spoke to me to go there I did so as he req●ired me then he comes after me and finding us together he took our hands in his a●d jo●ned them together pronouncing these words Those that God hath joyned together let no Man put asunder making as if the ma●r●age

nor moderation After that came Jo. Stubs into my Chamber and found me there weeping he askt me what was the rea●on of my weeping then I told him I would turn a Diogenes before I would be so abused by them he told me it was their weakness and that he would inform● George of it the next Morning he went to the Castle and when he came back he told me that he had informed George of all the Discourse and his answer was that James Sparks was a raw Boy in those things and that he must not meddle with those things that did not concern him and this Jo. Stubs told me that George had said as is aforesaid Now as concerning his Ministery being false and he a Lyar it was thus James Sparks having been at home a certain time came again to Lancaster where there being many other friends of my acquaintance I came into the Room where he was and he asked me what I came among them for giving me some of the same Language as he had the time before adding also that I was a Ra●ter and said that he had the Spirit of discerning I told him that he lyed and withall I told him that I would prove him one sooner than he could me but withall he told me that I had no Light nor Ve●tue in me then I left him and went up to the Castle where many came about me and blam●d me much for speaking against a Minister as they call'd him but I told them that one Man was no more to me than another further than they spoke the Truth then then they said to me what Would I offer to say that he that was a Minister did not speak the Truth I answered that he either was Lyar or his Ministery false and that I would prove it and they themselves should Judge then I told them that they themselves heard him say that there was no Life nor Vertue in me and yet in his Ministery he said that it is in every Man and I am sure that I am a Man and yet he saith it is not in me Therefore he is either a Lyar or his Ministry False Judge Y● G. F. We shall take no notice of these private things betwixt James Sparkes and thee Put dost thou think that thou didst well to bring this story Two Hundred Miles to tell it in this City What sayst thou to that Answ I blame my self for that but it is true and I do not repent that I did so by him George said that that word ●aw Boy was out of the Truth and he was certain he never said so but for my part I know not whether he did or no but this I certainly know that Jo. Stub● told me so G. F. But what sayst thou concerning Jo. Boulton Did he lose his way to the Meeting Answ Yes he knew not where he was untill he inquired G. F. But thou saydst that he was lost and in amaze Answ Yes he knew not where he was G. F. John Boulton Didst thou go to the Meeting after or not J. B. Yes I did but it was ●igh half done before I came there G. F. Dost not thou see what an untruth thou hast spoken here before Vs thou saydst that he was lost and yet he came to the Meeting after that Art not thou a Lyar Answ George Thou art now upon Criticks but what if a man should be lost in a Wood or Desert and after that should be taught the way home was he therefore not lost G. F. Why but he went to the Meeting that Day therefore he was not lost Answ But he knew not where he was untill he did ask J. B. I was out of my way because I came in lower than I use to do for I came in at the Hollow-way or Hog-lane under the Windmills Answ Now let all judge betwixt thee and I whether or no thou wast not both lost and in amaze when thou knowest not from that time to this very Day where thou wast for we never came neer the Windmils nor in that Lane for thou wentest strait out of Old-Street along that Lane to Shoreditch Church didst thou take that for a Windmil certainly the Windmil it was in thy head at that time J. B. But thou sayst I went not to the Meeting but that I left thee at the Alley and so I did Answ But I brought thee first into thy way before I left thee I wish thou mayst keep in a right way G. F. But art thou sorry that thou hast done this by him in telling it again Answ I am sorry I ever told it Hilkiah Bedford G. F. That is because thou art caught in it and questioned for it But dost thou condemn the thing in thy self for Evil Answ George I came not here to condemn my self I came here to be Judged of you and to hear your Judgment for I know my self and what I am guilty of better than you can tell me I came here to have a Tryal of those things I was accused of that you might be Judges betwixt us to see who were in the Fault that they might be reproved which were found guilty G. F. But here is Jo. Boulton who is an ancient Citizen and a sufficient Man and well known and hath suffered much and there are none to speak against him Art thou sorry for what thou hast said Answ There is more that I have to say which hath not yet been spoken of let us go through with that and then I shall answer you to your desire G. F. But thou must answer to this first or else thou art not to go any further for we will clear things as we go Answ I remember that the last time I was here he served me after this manner which I condescended to and then he would not let me speak any further but that I must repent of that or else I must not come among them therefore I will not Then answered Doctor Gray and told me that I said that I had drin kt that day Answ That I do every Day and Eat also when I can get it or have a Stomack to it this is another petty Judge But all this while I had forgotten the Woman with her Apish tricks for she seemed to me as if she would have Commanded me Silence with shaking of her Head grinding of her Teeth and mumbling her Lips and making of Ill-favoured Faces at me I never saw the like before except it were a Jack●napes but I commanded her to speak what she had to say but ●he was silent but for some of the rest of the Wome● I ●●ave them to their merry Conceits which they had gotten in a Corner But to return T●en there stood up a Country man and began to speak G. F. Askt me Whether I would ●●and to his Judgment for he was my Country-man Ans Yes I will stand to any ones Judgment for I came here to the same intent G. F. Come Friend speak Coun. Country-man ●t

is thy boasting proud Spi●it in thee G. F. Do●t thou stand to his Judgment Answ Yes I said before that I would stand to your Judgment But Friend what Country-man art thou He answered Stafford-Shire as I did understand T●●n said I thou art none of my Country-man Geo. blamed him for Speaking but 〈◊〉 suppose and so may all others that it was because Geo. would not have himself to be found in an Untruth as here he was otherwise it had been no matter G. F. But dost thou blame thy self and C●ndemn it in the bottom of thy Heart Answ Geo. I told thee before that I did Repent and was sorry in that I told it Hilkiah Bedford and I know not whether I did tell it to any other but I must tell thee That at that time he ca●t out some Words that I thought to have told it to thee And if I had done so I should not have Repented but in Telling it where it was not Expedient or Convenient I am sorry and repent for it G. F. But art thou sorry for it and do●t thou condemn thy self if thou do●t then we will proceed to the other Let me perswade thee for if thou stand in it after this manner thou art not to come amongst men nor to discourse nor have any Familiarity with man and what wilt thou do then thou must be undone because thou wilt not yield to this It were better for thee to submit to Jo. Boulton Answ I have said enough I think if you would have me say any thing else tell me what I must speak I shall say it G. F. We must not spend our Precious time thus for we have other things to do and to wait upon the Lord and if thou will not Submit then thou must go from amongst Vs We had more Words which were to no effect and cannot well be put in Order because they were like a Horse in a Mill still running round but come to the same place Then G. Fox commanded the Clark to Write That whereas Nathaniel Smith hath spoke Evil of J. Boulton behind his back and will not submit to him Therefore he is not to have any Communication with any man or any man with him This he was to Record against me but let all judge whether I did not submit enough to him or whether he or I was in the greatest Fault or whether he had not cause to have repented or submit to me for his Judgment the last Tryal But all that they did aime at was to have me to condemn my self that so they might the better have done it hereafter and that he might Rule and bear Dominion over others Then G. Fox Commanded me to go from amongst them for they had other things to do but that good Saint Hilkiah Bedford was received again and suffered to be as one of them but I departed at his Command Some few dayes after this I came to some of their Houses and they took occasion to speak to me of the last Tryal and said that I must bear with Friends I told them that I had born with them these 10 Years in hopes that in time they would grow in the Truth and Righteousness and then they would cast off all such Ceremonies and Conceits as they had got amongst them as you shall here further in m● Reply to their Answer if they make any if not I shall let it rest There was some others that said I must forget and forgive for that was according to the Truth and not take Notice of such things and that I ought to bear with others I know that all this is true but what is the reason they observe it not themselves They lay B●rthens upon others that they themselves will not bear for this is the first they have to Accuse me of but I have to Accuse them from time to time Yet I have born with and forgiven it but if they be not Sati●fied in it t●e● shall have it the next time when they desire me to Answer them to their Propositions But now G. Fox begins to clear himself of this Court that he is not Guilty For we saith he cast out none but they cast out themselves through their Wickedness for we do not receive them i● therefore we cannot cast them out What then was that Sentence that the Clark of the Closet drew up But you Preach Teach and Speak whereby to bring them in and then if they will not observe your Ceremonies then you do your Endeavour to do it and to my own knowledge by Wards you have past Sentence upon them as you did by me and others you have carried out by Violence and here it appears you do for I my self did not leave you till Jo. Boulton Commanded me not to come Here it doth Appear that there is a different Spirit amongst them and so it cant be said that I cast out my self by reason of Wickedness for I came to complain against the Wickedness of some of you But you had rather Des●roy any Person than your Juglings should come to light as it hath done in this but how G. Fox will clear himself that he doth not cast any forth and yet did it by me and said That it was better for me to submit to Jo. Boulton as I suppose that Shordit●h-Church was a Wind-Mill and that he was not lost nor then out of his way neither in amaze If I would have submitted to this then the Sentence should not have been past against me nor I cast ●ut but it doth appear to me something like them in Old time when they cast them forth and Imprisoned them and put them to Death yet they said it was their own Fault and that they brought all upon their own Heads for in all times those that were the Perse●utors would ever clear themselves of it as far as their Tongue or Pens could reach and many times they would Reach over many Kingdoms to beguile the Ignorant Geo. But this is the Triming of the Vineyard and the plucking up of the Tares out of the W●eat and s● it is lawful But yet George there is something more in it for thou must have a ca●e whe● thou Trim or Prune the Vine for thou mayst as well Destroy it as Cure it in Cutting o●● when it should rather have been Nursed up and the Bryars and T●orns that did choak it have been cut down before that thou hadst meddled with it then mightest thou have had abundance of it to discern between Good and Evil but it may be that it is thy Resolution to pluck up the Tares from amongst the Wheat and set the rest of thy Servants to do the like but thou must receive a greater Call than those did which Christ reproved and said that the Wheat and Tares must grow together lest they should Destroy the Wheat also but I understand that this i● no great Burthen to tread down the Wheat if every blade do not please you although the Wheat

be Good in it self yet it is the out-side that must be Fare Neat and Clean. For some of them that keep the Court constantly and observe what is done and do help you themselves yet for all that when I have laid this close to them they have said they did believe that they did cast some out that were better than some amongst themselves but in that they did car●y it fair to the World they could not meddle with them Now see whether yours be not a making clean of the out side and a plucking up of the Wheat But by ●eason I am cast out from amongst men by you and that I understand that you can well dispence with Hippori●es give me leave to Write to the World and ●eradventure they will furnish you with good Store now they know your minds and that you will advance their Fortunes as you would have done mine If you will be willing to observe them in all things and give way to such as Hilkiah Bedford and Jo. Boulton and to Ex●●l Boulton to be a man more perfect than David was for David might be reproved by a Prophet but Jo. Boulton by no manner of person must be spoke against but I leave him to answer for himself and proceed A few Words of Instruction to all those that are d●sirous to come into the Society of the Quakers and to be Received of them I mean not them only that comes out of Conscience but all Sorts whether it be them or not they shall all be Received although it be only for Preferment and in time be taken for the Faithful therefore I desire you to come near and Understand what I shall Write to you IN the first place thou must become Acquainted with some one of them that goeth constantly to Meetings and speak Lovingly to him not Theeing or Thouing of him at the first but speak well of them in General then it may be that he will Invite thee to go with him Do so and when all is done then Praise him that Spoke although he Spoke nothing else but Nonesence then the other Good Friend that went with thee will say Yes he is a Precious man or a Good Friend or such like Words then thou must be desirous to Hear him again the next Meeting and he will tell thee thou mayst Hear him or another So be sure the next Sunday to call upon him before he go to the Meeting and go along with him and there perchance thou mayst light upon one that was a greater Dance than the first And that was bad enough then be sure to keep close to thy Neighbour and go with him back again to his House and there begin to admire him that Spoke and Praise him as highly as thou canst and then thou shalt see how the other man will admire him also and then thou must be more Desirous than ever to go to the next and Speak and Act as aforesaid and per●aps that some Woman may ●e the Teacher or else some one that hath as little Reason as a Woman but however thou must take it in good part and say That without all Doubt this is the Truth for now there is this Scripture fulfilled which God said should come to pass That he would pour forth his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and his Daughters should Prophecy Then the other will say Blessed be the Goodness of the Lord that he hath been pleased to hide those things from the Wise and to deliver them to the Foolish of this World But if thou dost but observe a while thou shalt find them Cunning enough if not too Cunning for thee except thou hast a care and thou must bless God for opening thine Eyes to see the Truth Now by the next Meeting thou mayst begin to Thee and Thou but be sure thou move not thy Hat if thou shouldest meet the chiefest man in the City for if thou dost all thy Labour is lost thus far What they are to Observe and how to carry themselves before the rest of their Brethren FIrst as I told thee before be sure to watch the Door of thy Lips that there proceed not forth Yes but Yea nor No but Nay nor You but Thou nor Yours but Thine to any single Person these must be truly Learn'd and Practised for in them there is wrapt up a great Min● or a great Mystery of Godliness therefore be sure that thou have this little Knack or else thou dost nothing but if thou hast i● then thou shalt see what Wonders there may be done by it Now when thou hast done this then thou must be very Curteous to them but not with the Hat neither must thou Salute them with a Kiss if they be Women although at the first it was Common amongst them both men and women but in a short time it did some hurt to some of the Women for they got great-Bellies by the bargain and therefore it was left off by both Men and Women Now when thou hast attained to this great Perfection thou must go amongst them at other times and in the Week-dayes but if thou chance to ask me what great Perfections these were that I spoke of I answer Thou knowest as well as I but if thou hast not these thou canst not be look't upon as a Good Practick or a Faithful Freind But to proceed After thou hast been a constant Goer to the Meeting about a Quarter of a Year then some of the Heads will come to Visit thee they being come thou must get the best things the House can afford and if thou hast not such things as thou wouldest desire then send for it presently and give them more kind Entertainment then thou wouldest do to thy Father and Mother or the dearest Friend thou hast then after they have Eat and Drank with thee they will depart and report thee to be a very loving Friend and that there is abundance of Love raised in thee in a short time but thou must be sure to observe the Rules which before I have given thee Then they will Report it to their Minister what a good Friend there is lately come into the Truth and then in a short time thou ●●alt have him come and give thee a Visit especially if thou be a Rich man for of others they have too many already and now thou must shew forth thy parts and make much of him and if thou hast no Wine in thy House be sure to send for some with other things agreeable to it and to thy Estate it may be he will seemingly blame thee for sending for the Wine but at last he will take it in good part and if it be good Wine he will like it very well but thou must be sure to have a care that if thou shouldest meet them in any place not to invite them into any publike House as Tavern Inn or Al●-house for then they will look upon thee as one that is Prophane but behave thy self as