MASTER 
 NEGATIVE 
 
 NO. 91 -80005 
 
MICROFILMED 1991 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK 
 
 as part of the 
 Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project 
 
 Funded by the 
 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES 
 
 Reproductions may not be made without permission from 
 
 Colimibia University Library 
 
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 
 
 The copyright law of the United States - Title 17, United 
 States Code ~ concerns the making of photocopies or other 
 reproductions of copyrighted material... 
 
 Columbia University Library reserves the right to refuse to 
 accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order 
 would involve violation of the copyright law. 
 
AUTHOR: 
 
 TUKE, HENRY 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 WORKS 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 YORK 
 
 DA TE : 
 
 1815 
 
 t « 
 
Restrictions on Use: 
 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT 
 
 Master Negative # 
 
 .IL-if^lli 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET 
 
 Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record 
 
 ipsrjps'?^^ 
 
 
 )%\^. 
 
 D 
 
 *' .>Ai».i*. -■ 
 
 5 
 
 , _;_ CorUerUSi 
 iv,l'ZB»09Tapn 
 
 10' 
 
 4v, ir» %. 
 
 ca.\ Ti ©Vices or tncmVen 
 
 SecJfext Card 
 
 rf*kw**'*; '**^ •- 
 
 »iiiM« • ■ iiii ■ I — — • 
 
 FILM SIZE: "^ ^m i 
 IMAGE PLACEMENT: 
 DATE FILMED: Ml 17 
 
 TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA 
 
 REDUCTION RATIO 
 
 ■.W 
 
 IB nB 
 
 INITIALS 
 
 orr 
 
 FILMED BY: RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS. INC WOODBRIDGE. CT 
 
VOLUM 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
FILMED AS 
 BOUND 
 
c 
 
 Association for informallon and image IManagement 
 
 1100 Wayne Avenue. Suite 1100 
 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 
 
 301/587-8202 
 
 Centimeter 
 
 MM 
 
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
 
 mmimmmmiimmmmiImmImmImmImmImmImmImmImmImm 
 
 w 
 
 8 9 10 
 
 miImmImmImmImmIii 
 
 n 12 13 14 15 mm 
 
 ImmImmImmImmImmImmImmImmImmI 
 
 m 
 
 Inches 
 
 1 1 1 1 1 
 
 1 
 
 I'M'" 
 
 .0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 I I I I I 
 
 M \t2A III 2.5 
 
 ■ 50 
 
 ■ 56 
 Ih 
 
 ■ 80 
 
 ■ 90 
 
 IX 
 
 3.2 
 
 3.6 
 
 I 
 
 4.0 
 
 1.4 
 
 2.2 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.6 
 
 TTT 
 
 1 
 
 MfiNUFPCTURED TO fillM STRNDRRDS 
 BY RPPLIED IMRGE, INC. 
 
# 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 |Ei| }iriJ|]iB[fOT][TijD[ru^ 
 
 ruu 
 
 [^ 
 
 run 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 THE LIBRARIES 
 
 COLUMBIA LINIV'ERSITY 
 
 m 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 fa 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 f^ 
 
 General Library 
 
 i 
 
 f^ 
 
 i 
 
 E 
 
 m 
 
 El rinj 
 
 run 
 
 T]T][ f Lfij|7in][ ] m! | rLriJ [ r^H]|[3] 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 A.-V>V.> 
 
 i-'vl-.V^ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 938.96 
 
 T8l 
 
 1-2 
 
 •'^ ■^'.;i 
 
 
 fs 
 
 ^^•ifc 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ..--.^ ' 
 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
 010652850 
 
 A 
 
I 
 
 # — 
 
 af^5Q 
 
 T8I.. 
 
 Columbia fS^olUfie 
 in the ffiit» df Hew ^ovh 
 
 ^xhVKXVi. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES 
 
 or 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 #lf the 
 
 SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 By HENRY TUKE. 
 
 ■mi" 
 
 VOLUME L 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE LIFE «F GEORGE FOX. 
 
 potki 
 
 PRINTED BY C. PEACOCK, FOR W. ALEXANDER. 
 
 -SOLD BY M. M. AND E. If EBB, CAjnTER-STREtT, BRISTOL; 
 
 AND BY W. PHILLIPS, CEORG£-YAKI>, LOMBARD-STREET; 
 
 SARTON, BARVSY, AND CO. OR ^CKCHLRCll STREET; 
 
 ▲NO Hr.PASTOM, JLN. HOLBOHN-IiILL; L0NB9N. 
 
 U\3. 
 

 IP 
 
 |5 
 
 ^-4 
 
 i 
 
 
 <r> 
 
 o 
 
 PREFACE TO VOLUME I. 
 
 llIE Publication of the Prospectus of tHia 
 Work, in 1810, appears to have excited an expectation of its 
 earlier appearance, than was in the Author*^ contemplation. 
 At that time, it was not his design to proceed immediately, 
 but to collect the sentiments of his friends on the subject; 
 and to receive such materials as might be in the possession of 
 individuals, either not printed, or but little known. 
 
 . Besides the apprehension of the want there is of such 
 a Biographical Publication, he was also induced to undertake 
 it, from the knowledge that a Friend, who is supposed to 
 possess a larger Collection of Books, written hy Members of 
 gur Society, than any other individual, intended leavinf^ them 
 to the Quarteriy Meetiim of York ; by which means, mafe- 
 rials for such a Work would be easily within the Author's 
 reach. But though this Friend has since kindly presented 
 the books during his life, he has not yet had opportunity to 
 arrange and forward rtiem. Till this is done, it is appre- 
 hended, but little progress can be made with the work. It: 
 is, however, intended to make use of sucK materials as can 
 be obtained; and to proceed as quickly as the Author's other 
 engagements will permit; which indeed afford him but little 
 leisure for tliis kind of employment. This explanation i* 
 
 a e 
 
 186323 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 thought necessar)', to account for the lapse of time which- 
 has occurred, and which, perhaps, may yet occur, in the fur- 
 ther prosecution of the work. 
 
 la the Prospectus it wa» mentiotied, that the 
 volumes were intended to be published in octavo; but, on 
 further consideration, the duodecimo size has been preferred, 
 because more matter may be given at less expense ; and be- 
 cause a volume may be brought out more frequently. Care, 
 however, is intended to be taken that the book be clearly 
 and neatly printed; and to accommodate those who wish 
 for a superior work, part of the impression is struck off on a. 
 fine paper at a moderate advance in the price. 
 
 This Volume, it will be observed, is appropriated 
 to the Life of George Fox, vrho was the principal instrument 
 m the formation of our religious society. At a time when 
 great zeal, but much unsettlement, prevailed iu the religious 
 world, this eAtiaordinary man was peculiarly raised up, to 
 gather a people into the patient waiting for Christ, and to an 
 attention to his secret illuminations of the soul, by that Light 
 which eulightenelh every man that cometh into the world. 
 
 * 
 
 Considering him in this point of view, and apprehending that 
 his real character is but little known, on account of the va- 
 luable Journal of his Life and Labours, published soon after 
 Lis decease, being very voluminous, it has appeared desirable 
 that a small volume should be occupied with an account of 
 him, selected from his own memoirs; with such additional 
 matter, as might be in manuscript only, and suitable for 
 puLlicatioD. 
 
 yKEPACE.. t 
 
 Fn executing this work, the selection of the most 
 interesting and valuable matter has been attended with some 
 ditliculty, on account of the various tastes of different 
 readers. To some it may appear that there is too mnch 
 minuteness, to others that too much valuable matter is 
 omitted ; and there mav be those who will think that both 
 these errors are committed. The Author certainly does not 
 intend to be so particular, in recording the Life of any 
 other individual; but considering that this memoir, will 
 contain an account of the origin of our Society, a particular 
 .^ mention of those places, which were early visited, and iu 
 vrhich Meetings were first settled, has been deemed interest- 
 ing to Friends in general, and especially to those who reside 
 at or near such places. This consideration has occasioned ■ 
 a pretty close attention to the route of his travels, and the 
 notice of most of the places he has mentioned; at least iu' 
 the early part of his life. 
 
 To those who may think that much valuable mat- 
 ter has been omitted, it may be replied, that to take in all 
 of that description, aiul even to relate at length what has 
 been selected, would have increased this volume to an un- 
 suitable size. Many, it is presumed, will read this Epitome, 
 xvho would not peruse a folio volume ; and it is hoped that 
 some, after reading this, may be induced to peruse the ori- 
 ginal; in which they may be assured they will find mur?!^ 
 BOt inserted here^ that is interesting and instructive. 
 
 a 3 
 
V 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The Reader will observe, in page 30 of this vo- 
 lume, a reference to some Author, who gives an account o§ 
 the practice of those who were not considered regular 
 JMiuisters, preaching in the places of public worship. This 
 has since been found in Gough*s History of the Quakers, 
 Vol. 1, page 86 to 89; to which it may be sufl&cient to refer 
 the Reader. 
 
 From the accounts which Geoi^e Fox gives of the 
 large numbers convinced in many places, we may be led to 
 suppose that the settled Meetings of Friends must, at that 
 time, have been very large in those places. But this 
 docs not appear to have been always the case ; if we may 
 judge from the size of those Meeting-houses, which appear 
 to have been built at- or about that time. For instance, at 
 Synderhill Green, it is said, that some thousands attended 
 the Meeting, and that there was a general convinceraent; 
 This place is on the confines of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, 
 near Handsworth Woodhouse, where a Meeting-house was 
 early built, which it is supposed could not accommodate 
 more than two hundred persons. From this and similar 
 circumstances, it appears that all those who are said to be 
 convinced, did not join in strict membership with the Society; 
 
 liut that they simply assented to the truth of the doctrines 
 preached to them.. 
 
 In the Publication of this Volume, the Author has 
 )|e^;,ia:an especial maoDer^ desirous of ftttracting the a(»- 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Vlt 
 
 tention of the Youth of that Society, which George Fox had 
 been instrumental in forming, to the labours, the sufferings, 
 and the^ character of this devoted servant of Christ. To 
 these in particular^ the call of the Almighty to the Jews is 
 affectionately recommended : ^ Look unto Abraham your 
 father— r called him [when] alone, and blessed him, and 
 increased liim." 
 
 N. B. It is apprehended that some Friends mav possess 
 Bianoscripts, relating to George Fox, which mi^ht have fur- 
 nished additional matter for this volume. If this is the case, 
 the Author will be obliged by the commnnication of them, as> 
 he may perhaps find an opportunity to introduce some addi^ 
 lion afterwards, on the subject of this Memoir. 
 
CONTENTS^. 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 W24 to 1649— G. F:s Birth, Parentage, and HeUgious 
 Disposition — His serious Thoughts, xecret Exercises and 
 Views of' various Points of Christian Doctrine arid Prac- 
 tice—His early Travels and Jirst Appearances as a Mi- 
 nkter—with the Subjects of his Mission . . . p. 13- 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 1649 to 1651 — Many convinced by his Ministry Preaches 
 
 in Places uf Public Worship— hnprismied at 2^'ottingham, 
 but soon released— Long Imprisonment at Derby— Many 
 remarkable drcumslauces occur there ... p. 2a 
 
 CHAP. HI. 
 
 1G51 to \Qb1— Extraordinary Concern at Litchfield— Tra- 
 rels through Nottinghamshire into Yorkshire, S^c where 
 there are great Canvinccments p. 39 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 1657— Visits several Places in Westmoreland and Tjoncashire— 
 His first Visits at Judge Feli's, Suarthmore Hall—h 
 cruelly treated at the hie of Walney— Predicts the Dis- 
 solution if the Long Parliament p. 50 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 1053 — Fasts ten Days— Visits Cumberland — Anthony Pear- 
 son and many others are convinced — Is arrested at Car- 
 lisle, and committed to Prison-— Ajter his Liberation, goes 
 into Westmoreland, Durham, and 2sorthumbtriand . p. 63 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 
 1€54 — 'Returns into Yorkshire — Large Meeting at Synder- 
 hill Green — Goes into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire 
 m^Visits his Relations in Leictstcr shire, and travels to 
 London— Visits Bedfordshire — Returns to Ijondon and 
 goes toKentySuiseuj and Berks^ Again visits Londgn^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 IX 
 
 mnd several Eastern and Midland CountieS'-^Writes an 
 Epistle to Friends in Ireland . . .... p. 73 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 1655 to i6 5 6— Travels through the Counties of Northampton, 
 Bedford, and Herts, to London — Leaves L$ndon for 
 Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Dorset, Devon, and CornwalU^ 
 Is imprisoned at Launceston about six months, where he 
 is very cruelly treated , p. 89 
 
 CHAP. VIH. 
 
 1656 — Being released, he visits other Places in Cornzcall-—- 
 Passes through Launceston into Devon — At Exeter finds 
 James Nuylor in Prison, in a detrkened State of' Alihd—^ 
 Admonishes him and his Companions — Comts to Bristol, 
 and has two large Meetings-— 'Travels to London, and 
 visits Oliver Cromwell — Travels into the North as far a& 
 Yorkshire, and returns to London . ... p. 104 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 1656-7 At London writes various Epistles, and visits the 
 
 Meetings of his Friends — Travels into Kent, Sujuiex, 
 Surrey, Hants, SfC. to Bristol — Visits Part of Wales-^ 
 Leaves it for awhile^ but soon returns — Goes into Che* 
 shire and Lancashire — At Swart hmore stays about two 
 Weeks-— Travels through Westmoreland and Cumberland, 
 towards Sa)tland • . p. 112- 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 1657-8 — Viiits Scotland — Returns through Northumberland, 
 Durham, Yorkshire, S)C. towards London — A General 
 Yearly Meeting held in Bedfordshire — In London di<>- 
 putes with a Jesuit — Advises Oliver Cromwell against- 
 accepting the Title of King — Writes to his Daughter 
 Claypole p. 127 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 1658-60 Leaves London— Meet^ Cromwell in the Park at 
 
 Hampton- Coi^rt — Goes into Bucks — Returns to London^*. 
 
<:OJ«JTEI>ITS. 
 
 u 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Goes into Esiex-^Hears of CromwelVs Death-^KeturTa 
 to London—Goes to Reading—Suffers much in Bodi/ and 
 Mind— Comes again to London— Travels as far as Corn-^ 
 wail— Remonstrates on the Practice (f plundering wrecked 
 
 .... p. 147 
 
 Vesselt 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 1660— From Cornwall proceeds by Devon and Somerset to 
 Bristol— Has large Meetings there— Conies to Worces^ 
 ter— Great Excesses on the King*s return— Visits his 
 Relations in Leicestershire— Comes by Derbyshire into 
 Yorkshire— Yearly Meeting at Balby— General Meeting 
 0t Skipton—Is committed to Lancaster Jail— Is removed 
 to London and liberated p. 157 
 
 CHAP. XHI. 
 
 1660-2 — Short Cessation of Persecution— Renewed on Account 
 of the Fifth Monarchy Men— George Fox, in, London^ 
 
 is taken vpandliberated— Exerts himself Jor his suffering 
 Friends here, and in New England and Malta — Goes to- 
 Bristol— Returns to London^— Travels Northward'-^ 
 Is imprisoned in Leicestershire, and liber at ed^-^Returns 
 to London— Visits the Eastern Counties, and comes again 
 to London- p. uq.. 
 
 CHAP. xrv. 
 
 t£62-S— Visits Friends in the City— Travels into Kent, SiiS- 
 sex, 4'c. to Cornwall — Returns through Devon, Bristol,. 
 4r. to Wales— Thence into the Northern Counties as far 
 as Northumberland and Cumberland— Comes to Swarlh- 
 more — Is commilied to Lancaster Jail— Undergoes a long 
 and cruel Imprisonment there and at Scarborough . p. 185 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 1666 to 1669— Remarks on George Fox's Imprisonment and 
 
 Oaths— After his Release, hears of the Fire in London 
 
 Travels in divers Parts of Yorkshire, and through the 
 Counties of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, ^c. to Lon^ 
 don — Visits the Ruins there— Goes to Bristol f_Qnd returns. 
 
 €o London— Establ^hes Meetings .fer Discipline in Lon- 
 don and most Parts of' the Nation ^^ Also promotes 
 Schools — Visits Esquire Marsh in London-— Disputes 
 uith a Papist — Goes into Surrey and Sussex — Turns into 
 Warwickshire — Passes through Nottinghamshire, York- 
 shire, S)C. to Liverpool — Sails for Ireland, and vi&its 
 Friends there . p. 202 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 1669^0 1671 — Returns from Ireland-^-Travels through Lan- 
 cashire, Cheshire, dfc. to Nailsworth, in Gloucestershire^-— 
 Singular Circutnstanfe occurs there-^Goes to Bristol'— 
 Is married to Margaret Fell — Pusses through Wilts, 
 Berks, Oxon, and Bucks, to London — Endeavours to ob- 
 tain his Wifc^s release frotn Premunire — 'Sufferings in 
 xonsequence if the ConventicU Act — Travels into various 
 Counties — Sujfers much in Body and Mind, on account 
 of Profaneness and Persecutum — His Prayer on that 
 account .,.•...,.... ^ p. 216 
 
 CHAP. xvn. 
 
 1671 to 1673— Obtains a more complete liberation for his 
 Wife— Sails for America — Lands in Barbadoes — Con- 
 tinues there three Months — Goes to Jamaica — After 
 spending seven Weeks there, sails /or Maryland — Thence 
 travels through New Jersey, £fc. to Long Island, Rhode 
 Island, and New England — Returns by East Jersey, ^c. 
 to Maryland — Goes to Virginia and Carolina — Returns > 
 ngain to Maryland — Sails for England — Lands in King*s 
 Road, near Bristol — Writes to his Wife . , p. 226 
 
 CHAP. xvni. 
 
 1673 to 1677 — Continues ■•about Bristol, where his Wife and others 
 meet him-^Trarels into Gloucestershire and IVilts — Describes 
 the Service of tVomen's Meetings — Comes to London — Travels 
 with his Wife towards Sumrthmore — Is arrested on the Way — 
 Js imprisoned at Worcester — Removed by Habeas Corpus to 
 London — Afterwards to Worcestr, and again to London — Is 
 honourably liberated, and goes with his Wife to Swartkmore — 
 4Sontinues there nearly tico Years ...«,. p. J49 
 
XM 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 1677, ierS^Leaves Swart hmore—Travels into Yorkshire, md 
 thence to London— Accompanies WiUiam Venn to his House 
 at Worminghurst-^Retnms to London, and sails with several 
 Friends to Holland— At Amsterdam writes to the Princess 
 Elizabeth of the Rhine- Her A fi.wer- Visits many Places in 
 Holland and Germany- Returns to England — Lands ai 
 Harwich, and goes to l^ndon- Thence into Jiucks and Bris^ 
 4ol-UlM>urs much and succes.rfully with these who oppose the 
 Discipline— Returns to London p ^gg 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 4678 ^0 1684— &M Services in London-Goes by Herts, IVar^ 
 wickshire, ^c. to Swarthmore— Continues there above a Year 
 ^n rites an I.pistle to the Yearly Meeting in London- 
 Leaves Swarthmore, and goes by Yorkshire, ifc. to London- 
 Attends the Yearly Meeting there- At Kingston writes to the 
 Great Turk, and to the King of Algiers- Visits Friends in 
 Suney and Sussex- Returns to London— In a Suit for Tithes 
 the Judges are surprised at his liberal Conduct to his Wife 
 and her Children- Makes Excursions to the Country, return^ 
 ing to London -Again visits Holland, and returns to 
 
 England ..... 
 
 p. 279 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 1685 to t690-JVrites an Epistle to Friends on Account of Com^ 
 motions in the Nation- Account of his Gift of Land and 
 Meeting-House at Swarthmoie- Resides principally about 
 London-An Epistle to the Yearly Meeting; at York-In- 
 ^^^ing Infirmities- His Death and Burial . . . p. m 
 
 CHAP. XXH. 
 
 Account of his Property— His Character p. gjg 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 Containing an Account of George Fox's PubliaUiom . .. 32^ 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 GEORGE FOX. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 16*24 to 1649 — G. F*s Birth, Parentage, and Religioil^ 
 Disposition — His serious Thoughts, secret Exercise^ 
 and Views of various Points of Christian Doctrine 
 and Practic€--^His earli/ Travels and Jirst Appear^ 
 ances as a Mmister-^with the Subjects of his Mission, 
 
 OEORGE FOX was born in the year 
 1624, at Drayton in the Clay, in Leicestershire. 
 This place I suppose to be the same as is called 
 Fenny Drayton in our modern maps. He was 
 the son of Christopher and Mary Fox, both of 
 whom appear to have been virtuous characters ; 
 and his father was so much esteemed by his 
 neighbours as to be called " Righteous Christer." 
 They would, no doubt, instruct their children in 
 the principles of religion ; but it does not appear 
 that they gave their son much learning ; yet such 
 was the gravity of his spirit, and the purity of 
 his manners whilst a child, that some of his re- 
 lations were desirous of his being educated for 
 
14 
 
 ilFE OF CEORCE FOX, 
 
 the ministry. To this some of his friends ob- 
 jecting, he was put apprentice to a shoemaker, 
 uho was also a grazier and a dealer in wool ; 
 but it seems George was principally employed 
 in country business, and particularly in the care 
 of sheep, an employment suitable to his retired 
 disposition, and, as Wm.Penn observes, " a just 
 figure of his after ministry and service." In 
 this station he discharged his duties with great 
 fidelity, and was remarkable for his veracity and 
 sobriety ; but his tender spirit was often op- 
 pressed with the inconsistent conduct of many 
 religious professors, and great was the trouble 
 of his innocent mind on this account. He was 
 at this time frequently engaged in fervent prayer, 
 and received, as he informs us, this divine inti- 
 mation : « lliou seest how young people go 
 together into vanity, and old people into the 
 earth: thou must forsake all, young and old; 
 ieep out of all, and be as a stranger to all." 
 
 About the 20th year of his age, tlie exercise 
 of his mind increased upon him so much, that 
 he travelled to various parts of the country, 
 with the hope of finding, among religious pro- 
 fessors, some relief to his afflicted state; but for 
 a time his conflicts of spirit continued, and he 
 was tempted almost to despair. It does not 
 liowever appear that this temptation was of hm 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1^ 
 
 duration, though he was, in other respects, much 
 tried and tempted for two or three years. In 
 the course of his travels he came by Lutterworth, 
 Northampton, New port- Pagnel, and Barnet, to 
 London, where he was much affected with the 
 •General state of different religious societies, with 
 none of whom he could freely unite. Here he 
 heard that his relations were uneasy with his 
 absence from home, which induced him to re- 
 turn to them. They seem to have been much 
 strangers to the nature of his religious exercise ; 
 some of them proposing marriage, and others a 
 military life, to remove that deep thoughtfulness 
 which attended him on account of his sours 
 welfare, and those things which relate to the 
 kingdom of God. During this time of sore 
 conflict, he applied to several Ministers in dif- 
 ferent places for advice and assistance, but none 
 of them afforded any relief to his tribulatcd 
 spirit. 
 
 Whilst his mind was thus exercised, he re* 
 chived many precious openings of divine truths, 
 and of the nature of Christ's kingdom; one 
 proof of which he gave in his reply to the Priest 
 of Drayton, who asked him, why Christ cried 
 out on the cross, " My God, my God, why 
 hast thou forsaken me ?" and why he said, *' If 
 it be possible, let this cup pass from me; Vet 
 
 Bo 
 
2^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 not my will but thine be done." To this George 
 replied: "At that time the sins of all mankind 
 were upon Christ, and their iniquities and trans- 
 gressions with which he was wounded, which 
 he was to bear and to be an offering for, as he 
 was man, but died not as he was God ; so in 
 that he died for all men, tasting death for every 
 man, he was an offering for the sins of the 
 whole world." This answer greatly pleased the 
 Priest, who, at that time, highly applauded 
 George Fox, and would frequently make use of 
 iws observations in composing his own sermons. 
 This man, however^ afterwards became one of 
 his persecutors. 
 
 Other subjects, connected with the spirituality 
 of the gospel dispensation, were, about thi^ 
 time, presented to his understanding; partici*-^ 
 Jarly that human learning was not only insuffici- 
 ent, but unnecessary, for making a Minister of 
 Christ ; and that there was no extraordinary 
 holiness in those places of religious worship, 
 called churches, which were superstitiously re- 
 garded as " dreadful places, holy ground, and 
 the temples of God." The great importance 
 which was then, and has since been attached to 
 human learning, he justly considered to be a 
 means of preventing the free ministry of the 
 gospel of Christ. The maintenance of the 
 
 llFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 17 
 
 Priests, which was forced from the people, whe- 
 ther hearers or not, appeared, to his understand- 
 ing, not only inconsistent with the nature of 
 gospel ministry, and the direction of its Author, 
 who said to his disciples, " freely ye have re- 
 ceived, freely give;" but he also considered it 
 injurious to the cause of religion, by exciting in 
 its ministers those feelings of ambition and 
 avarice, by which their ministerial labours are 
 often rendered fruitless, if not contemptible. 
 But though he had great openings on these and 
 other subjects, yet he was still liable to many 
 temptations and much trouble of mind, so that 
 when ;t was day he wished for night, and when 
 it was night he wished for day; but this proved 
 a profitable dispensation, deepening him in reli- 
 gious experience, and enabling him to adopt 
 the words of David : " Day unto day uttereth 
 speech, and night unto night showeth know- 
 ledge." He found the various views in which 
 different subjects were presented to his mind, 
 to be consistent not only with each other, but 
 also with the Holy Scriptures, with which he 
 appears to have been early and intimately ac- 
 quainted, and for which he had a very hi^h 
 esteem. 
 
 Whilst in this exercised state of mind, he fra- 
 ^elled into Warwickshire. At Coventry, ia the 
 
 B 3 
 
Id 
 
 Life of george fox. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 19 
 
 year 1644, he took lodgings for a short time, 
 and became acquainted with many serious ten- 
 der-spirited people there. From this place he 
 returned into Leicestershire; after which he 
 again went into Warwickshire in the year l64^, 
 passing by Mansetter, Tamworth, and Coven- 
 ' try; at which places he opened his situation to 
 some Priests, high in religious profession; from 
 whom, however, he received such advice and 
 treatment as indicated that they were deficient 
 in true religious experience. In the year 1646', 
 he appears to have again taken up his residence 
 at Coventry. The following year he went into 
 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. In these 
 counties he had many discourses with some 
 well-disposed people, and in the latter he met 
 with a woman named Elizabeth Hooton. This 
 is the first person whom George Fox mentions 
 by name, that we have reason to believe united 
 with him, and, except himself, was the first 
 public preacher of tlie doctrines professed by 
 them. Whilst in these parts, his troubles and 
 exercises continued: he fasted much; and, with 
 no companion but his Bible, walked abroad in 
 solitary places till night came on. Even during 
 the night he frequently thus spent his time 
 in solitude, and retirement from the worid; 
 and, like the forerunner of our blessed Lord, 
 with others who have been distinguished for 
 
 m 
 
 eminent religious services, he was, in this state 
 of seclusion, prepared for the services to which 
 he appears to have been particulariy called. 
 
 The troubles of this exercised man were 
 not only attended with many religious prospects, 
 but were also intermixed with much divine con- 
 solation. His own expressions, on this occasion, 
 «re these : " As I cannot declare the misery I 
 was in, so neither can I set forth the mercies of 
 God unto me, in all my misery. Oh ! the everiast- 
 ing love of God to my soul, when I was in great 
 distress : when my troubles and torments were 
 great, then was his love exceeding great. 
 Thou,' Lord! makest a fruitful field a barren 
 wilderness, and a barren wilderness a fruitful 
 j&eld. Thou bringest down and settest up ; 
 thou killest and makest alive. All honour and 
 glory be to tliee, O Lord of Glory !" 
 
 r 
 
 The nature ©f the exercises into which he was 
 introduced, and the openings which accompanied 
 them, tended to draw him from the Priests of 
 the established Church, and to look more after 
 the Dissenters; yet he did not find amongst 
 these, that which his soul sought after, or thoie 
 who could speak to the tried condition of his 
 mind ; but when all hopes from others were 
 gone, he heard a voice, which said to hini, 
 
 1 
 
itw 
 
 eo 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 21 
 
 i 
 
 " Tliere is one, even Christ Jesus, that carf 
 speak to thy condition." This produced great 
 relief to his exercised mind, and caused his heart 
 10 leap for joy. His desires after the Lord grew 
 stronger, and bis zeal in the pure knowledge of 
 God and of Christ alone, without the help of any 
 man or book, increased ; for though be read the 
 scriptures, which speak of Christ, yet he knew 
 him not savingly, but by revelation, and as the 
 Father drew him to his Son, by his Spirit.-- 
 ITius it pleased the Lord gently to lead him 
 alon^, and to let him see that love which was 
 eternal, surpassing all knowledge which men 
 have in their natural state, or can obtain from 
 books. This love frequently occupied his mind, 
 and filled him with admiration, in contemplating 
 its extent and infinity. Here he saw that all 
 was done, and to be done, in and by Christ, 
 Mho conquers and destroys the Devil and all 
 his works. His heart was thus strengthened to 
 trust in God ; and hope, that anchor of th^ soul, 
 stayed his often tossed mind, until he perceived 
 that all his troubles and temptations were good 
 for him ; tending to establish his faith on Christ, 
 the rock of ages, and qualifying him to minister 
 feelingly to others, who might be similarly tried. 
 
 After passing through these dispensations, he 
 became more easy in his mind; ihouah pot 
 
 altogether exempt from frequent inward suifer- 
 in-s''; and he was soon after engaged to preach 
 the gospel, or, as he calls it, " declare the truth 
 to others." His first appearances as a mmister, 
 unless we consider tte discourses which he 
 mentions in Derbyshire and Nottingamshire, as 
 such, took place at Duckenfield and Manches- 
 ter, in the year l647, when he was about twenty- 
 three years of age. Some persons were convinced 
 by his ministry, and united with him in religious 
 fellowship ; which was also the case after a large 
 meeting at Broughtoa, in Leicestershire, and 
 some others in Nottinghamshire. His ministry 
 xvas so powerful, and his conduct so remarkable 
 in various respects, that people came from far 
 and near to see him ; and a person of the name 
 of Brown, when on* his death-bed, foresaw and 
 foretold the work which George Fox would be 
 instrumental to accomplish. These circum- 
 stances, however, excited a fear in the mmd of 
 the latter, lest he should be drawn into self- 
 exaltation ; and this fear preserved him, at this 
 time, and many others, from being carried away 
 by the high opinion which some persons enter- 
 tained of his gifts and services. ^Fhe aflfectionate 
 part in us, is apt to indulge itself too freely in 
 expressions to those from whom religious be- 
 nefits have been received ; and it requires great 
 care in those who are made instruments of good 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Q3 
 
 22 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 to Others, to keep in liumility, and watchfulness, 
 and remember the query-." What hast thou that 
 thou hast not received ?" In this respect there 
 is good reason to believe that the subject of thifi 
 memoir was, from his youth, a bright example. 
 
 Having now separated himself from all reli- 
 gious societies, he travelled in Nottinghamshire 
 and the neighbouring counties, taking oppor- 
 tunities of various kinds, by which large multi- 
 tudes of people were drawn together, to turn 
 men from darkness to the light of Christ ; fre- 
 quently reproving them for their vices, and 
 occasionally disputing Nvith those that opposed 
 liis doctrines. Such was the success of his; 
 labours, in the year 1(548, and the two yearft 
 preceding, that divers xMeetings of his Friends 
 were established; and we are told that his 
 fellow professors were gathered to the teaching 
 of Christ, by that light, spirit, and power, which 
 broke forth daily more and more wonderfully. 
 
 It has already been intimated, that the first 
 motive which induced him to separate from 
 other religious societies, was a conviction of the 
 insufficiency of all human teaching, not under 
 the influence of the holy Spirit, and of the suf- 
 ^iciency of that inward anointing which the 
 -Apostle says, teaches us all things; so that there 
 
 13 no absol ute necessity for those who are willing 
 to attend to its instructions, that any man should 
 teach them. Now also, in his going forth in reli- 
 gious service, he found it his duty to lay aside se- 
 veral complimentary practices, which he saw to 
 be inconsistent with the simplicity of the gospel 
 of Christ. Such were the bowing of the body, 
 and putting off die hat, from respect to 
 persons or places ; also the use of the plural 
 number to a single person, with other com- 
 plimentary expressions. His declining these 
 practices subjected him to much obloquy 
 and abuse, which manifested that the source 
 from which they sprang, was pride ; otherwise 
 their being withheld would not have produced 
 those dispositions of resentment, which were 
 generally manifested. There is reason to sup- 
 pose, that about this time he saw into the incon- 
 sistency of war with the peaceableness of 
 Christ's kingdom, having declined several appli- 
 cations to accept places in tlie army. 
 
 The subjects of Water Baptism, and the 
 Sacrament (as it is called) of the Lord's Supper, 
 also claimed his serious consideration ; the result 
 of which was, that they were no longer neces- 
 sary appendages to the Church of Christ, though 
 they might have been used for a season, in con- 
 descension to the weakness of the early be- 
 
24 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 05 
 
 lievers, many of whom being of the Jewish 
 nation, were nmch attached to those things 
 which were connected with their legal ceremo- 
 nies. The mind of this enlightened man however 
 saw them to be like those carnal ordinances, 
 which were imposed only for a season, and he 
 not only laid aside the nse of them, but endea- 
 voured to draw the minds of his hearers to that 
 inward and invisible grace, of which the latter 
 IS declared by its very advocates, to be only a 
 sign; and, Mhilst incapable of communicating 
 the substance of true religion, these ceremonies 
 are often a means of inducing those who use 
 them, to rest in the shadow. The disuse of 
 them therefore appeared to him most consistent 
 with the spirituality of the gospel dispensation. 
 
 Whilst in this preparatory state of mind for 
 the religious services to which he was called, he 
 also saw how superficially many professors read 
 the Holy Scriptures, without applying them 
 properly to their own states, and to that glorious 
 dispensation of the gospel of Christ, which they 
 prefigure, foretell, and describe. The necessity 
 of inward holiness, and that state of perfection, 
 which the scriptures point out, was also forcibly 
 impressed on his mind; and as a peculiar part of 
 his mission, he was particularly favoured to see 
 how every man was enlightened by the divine 
 
 light of Christ. This was indeed like the lead- 
 ing feature of his ministry; and, with the Apostle 
 John, he could bear this testimony : " If we walk 
 in the light as God is in tlie light, we have fel- 
 lowship one with another, and the blood of 
 Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.'* 
 
 The following expressions are extracted from 
 the account which he gives of tlie mission which 
 he received. " I was sent to turn people from 
 darkness to the light, that they might receive 
 Christ Jesus. I was to direct people to the Spirit 
 that gave forth the scriptures, by which they might 
 be led into all truth, and up to Christ and God, 
 as those' had been who gave them forth. I was 
 to turn tliem to the grace of God, and to tlie 
 truth in the heart, which came by Jesus. I sa\T 
 Christ died for all men, was a propitiation for all, 
 and enlightened all men and women with his di- 
 vine and saving light. I saw that the grace of 
 God, which brings salvation, had appeared to a)I 
 men, and that the manifestation of the Spirit was 
 <riven to every man to profit withal. These things 
 I did not see by the help of man, nor by the let* 
 ter, though 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 
 w ere written : yet I had no slight esteem for the 
 
 c 
 
m 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ^7 
 
 
 Holy Scriptures ; they were very precious to me, 
 for I was in that Spirit in which they were given 
 forth ; and what the Lord opened in me, I after- 
 wards found was agreeable to them. I could 
 speak much of these things; but all would prove- 
 too short to set forth the infinite love, wisdom, 
 and power of God, in preparing me for the ser- 
 vice he had appointed me to ; letting me see the 
 depth of Satan on the one hand, and opening to 
 me, on the other hand, the divine mysteries of his 
 own everlasting kinsjdom." 
 
 Again: " AVTien the Lord God, and his Son 
 Jesus Christ, sent me into the world to preach 
 the everlasting gospel, I was glad that I was com- 
 manded to turn people to that inward light, Spirit, 
 and grace, by which all might know their salva- 
 tion and their way to God, I was to bring people 
 off from their old ways to Christ, the new and liv- 
 ing way ; from their churches which men had 
 gathered, to the church in God; and off from the 
 world's teachers made by men to Christ, who is 
 the way, the truth, and the life ; and off from all 
 the world's worships, to know the Spirit of 
 truth, that in it they might worship the Father of 
 spirits, who seeks such to worship him. I was 
 to bring them off from all the world's fellowships, 
 prayings and singings which stood in form witliout 
 power, that their fellowship might be in the Holy 
 Ohost ; that they might pray in the Holy Ghost, 
 
 sm" in the Spirit and with U.e grace that comes 
 bv!(esus, making melody in their hearts to the 
 Lord. I was to bring people oflF from Jewish 
 ceremonies, from heathenish fables, from men's 
 inventions and windy doctrines, and from all their 
 bea^arly rudiments, with their schools and colleges 
 for making ministers of Christ; and from all their 
 i„,aaes and crosses, and sprinkling of inlanls, w.Ui 
 their holy days, (so called) with all their vain ti-a- 
 ditions, which had got up since the apostles days, 
 and which the Lord's power was agamst ; m the 
 dread and authority of which I was moved to de- 
 clare against them all, and against all that preached 
 and not freely, as such who had not received freely 
 from Christ." 
 
 From the views which he entertained respecting 
 divine worship and gospel ministry, it became a 
 Tiecessary consequence that the religious meetmgs 
 of the new society, would be frequently held either 
 wholly or partly in silence. A stale of inward re- 
 tiremeut and waiting upon God, appeared to hun 
 essential both for the performance of true worship, 
 and for the exercise of gospel ministry ; and worship 
 being a communication between the spiritual part 
 of mm and that Divine Being, who, we are told, is 
 a Spirit, the vocal use of words was not considered 
 necessary, for the performance of this important 
 dutv, according to the doctrine of our blessed Re- 
 deemer: God is a Spirit; and they that worship 
 him, must worship him in Spirit and in Tiuth, 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 og 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 1^49 io 16 5 1 -^ Man 1/ convinced by his J^Iinistrt/^ 
 Preaches in Places of Public fForship-^ Imprisoned at 
 Nottingham, but soon rckased-^Long Imprisonment at 
 Berbt/^Many remarkable Circumstances occur there, 
 
 Jb ROM the foregoing description of George 
 Fox's mission, it may reasonably be expected that 
 much hostility would be excited against him, par- 
 ticularly by those with whose worldly interests his 
 doctrine interfered. Indeed not only the Priests, 
 but Magistrates and others manifested great op- 
 position to those practices and doctrines which he 
 inculcated. Great were the sufferings which he 
 and his friends underwent; but although this was 
 the case, yet many were made sensible of the rec- 
 titude of their testimony, and considerable addi- 
 tions were made to the number of those who, being, 
 convinced of the truths preached, were willing to 
 make public profession of them, notwithstanding 
 the reproach and sufferings which they induced. 
 
 Besides the doctrines which he publickly taught, 
 he was much engaged in private admonition to 
 people in different stations of life, to promote the 
 discharge of their respective duties. Judges of the 
 law, justices of the peace and other magistrates; 
 J^arents of children^ masters of servants, and school- 
 
 masters, were all the subjects of his concern and 
 labour of love; nor did those in the inferior de- 
 partments of life escape his notice, for the promo- 
 tion of their best interests. He also publickly 
 testified against wakes, feasts, maygames, sports, 
 plays, music and the public exhibitions of mounte- 
 banks; considering these diversions as being cal- 
 culated to destroy that religion and virtue v^hlch 
 are essential to the true happiness of man, both 
 here and hereafter. In fairs and markets he wa* 
 also led to warn the people against fraud and de- 
 ceit; exhorting them to deal justly, to speak the 
 truth, and to do to others as they would have 
 others do to them. Thus, in his labours, he united 
 a coucecn both for religious and moral priticiple, 
 which he seems to have carried with bun UirougU 
 life. 
 
 The nature of his religious exercise sometime* 
 led him to attend the places of public worship, 
 against a superstitious reverence for which, and 
 the conduct of those who ministered in them, his 
 zeal was very strong; and once, at Mottingham, 
 led him to interrupt a Priest whilst preaching, con- 
 ceiving him to be perverting a text of scripture. 
 But though his mind was^ frequently drawn to em- 
 brace tliese opportmiities of publishing his dqc-- 
 trines, his general practice was to wait till the 
 public service was over, and then endeavour to 19- 
 
 c a . . 
 
so 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 II 
 
 it 
 
 lieve his mind. In those times this appears to 
 have been not an uncommon practice, and I have 
 aeen it mentioned as such in some history. The 
 consequence of his zeal at Nottingham, was, that 
 he was seized and put into a filthy prison. This, 
 however, proved the means of spreading his prin- 
 ciples, and one of the sheriffs of Nottingham,. 
 John Reckles, with his wife, were convinced by 
 the discourse which they had with George Fox; 
 and several Priests also confessed to the power of 
 the Lord which accompanied his ministry. At 
 Nottingham he was committed to prison, where it 
 appears he continued for a few months ; and 
 having liberty, at times, to go into the town, he 
 employed it in promulgating those doctrines which 
 Jie apprehended himself called to preach. 
 
 After his liberation, he came to Mansfield- 
 Woodhouse, where, in consequence of exhorting 
 the priest and people in their place of worship, he 
 was seized and put into the stocks for several 
 hours; but being afterwards taken before some 
 magistrates, he was, after much threatening, set at 
 liberty, llie rude people stoned him out of the 
 town, by which he was much injured, but eooa 
 recovered the effects of his blows and wounds. 
 Notwithstanding this treatment, the cause wliich 
 he had espoused gained ground, and that day se- 
 ▼eral " were convinced of the Lord's truth, and 
 turned to jiis teaching." 
 
 UFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 31 
 
 From Mansfield he came through Leicestershire 
 to Coventry, in order to visit some persons who, 
 he had heard, were imprisoned there on account of 
 teligion. He did not find them such as^he ex- 
 pected; but as he was walking to the jail, his soul 
 was inwardly saluted with the following words : 
 « My love was always to thee, and thou art in my 
 love." On this he remarks, « I was ravished with 
 the sense of the love of God, and greatly strength- 
 ened in my inward man.' 
 
 Travelling by Atherstone, Market -Bosworth, 
 Twycross, Chesterfield, and Kidsey-Park, and meet- 
 ing with much rude treatment, he came to Derby 
 about the year 1650. Here he was engaged to 
 preach to the people after the usual service was 
 finished; many of the army and clergy being pre- 
 sent. Whilst preaching, he did not meet with much 
 interruption; but was afterwards taken, with two 
 of his friends, before the magistrates, and under- 
 went an examination of about eight hours. Among 
 other questions they asked him if any of them 
 were Christ? To which George Fox answered, 
 " Nay, we are nothing, Christ is all." It is pro- 
 per to be the more particular in mentioning this 
 question, with the answer, because it has frequently 
 been alleged against George Fox, and some of our 
 antient friends, that they assumed the character 
 of Christ, of which tl^s is a complete confutation. 
 The charge was often repeated afterwards, and as 
 often denied. 
 
s^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 After having wearied themselves with this tedious 
 examination, the Magistrates committed George 
 Fox and one of those who were with him, to the 
 Houseof Correction for six months, as blasphemers ; 
 with what reason it is difficult to conceive; but, 
 at this tnne, party spirit was extremely violent, 
 both in religion and politics. The kingly Go- 
 vernment had been lately abolished, by the execu- 
 tion of Charles the First, and the Commonwealth, 
 instead of affording an increase of religious tolera- 
 tion, at least equalled their predecessors in violence 
 and persecution. Though they might be sincere in 
 the professions which they had made, yet their pas- 
 sions had become so inflamed with a spirit of ani- 
 mosity, probably heightened by their success over 
 the opposite party, that they lost all appearance 
 of consistency, and liberty of conscience was re- 
 strained as much at least, as it had been in those 
 times of which they complained. In forming ait 
 estimate of character at this period, all parties 
 should make considerable allowances for the tem^ 
 per of the times ; and although George Fox and 
 his friends were so far from persecution, that they 
 •would very rarely take advantage of the law, by 
 prosecutmg their enemies for their cruel and illegal 
 conduct, yet perhaps it would be too much to say 
 that their zeal never exceeded its proper bounds. 
 
 He continued in the House of Correction 
 at Derby, for six months, after ^hich tinre 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 S3 
 
 !,e was nearly six months longer in the County 
 Jail During this time, several incidents occurred 
 which are worthy of notice. The keeper, of the 
 prison was, at first, greatly enraged agamst h,m, and 
 spoke wickedly of him; but he soon became much 
 troubled for his conduct, and George overheard 
 him saying to his wife, " I have seen the day of 
 judgment, and I saw George there, and I was 
 afraid of him, because I have done him so much 
 wrong, and have spoken so much agamst him 
 to the Ministers and Professors, and to the 
 Justices, and in taverns and alehouses." After 
 this, he came into George s chamber, and said to 
 him « I bave been as a lion against you ; but now 
 1 come like a lamb, and like the gaoler that can.e 
 to Paul and Silas trembling." He also acknow- 
 ledged that he and his house had been plagued for 
 George's sake; of which he next day informed the 
 Justices, one of whom .aid that the plagues were 
 upon them too. A sister also of the gaoler went to 
 vi4t George. To her he communicated some re- 
 ligious advice, which had a good effect on her 
 „,-nd, and she said respecting him and his riend*, 
 that " they were an innocent people, who did 
 ,,one any hurt, but did good to all, even to those 
 that hated them." 
 
 These circumstances produced some lenity in 
 the minds of the Justices, who gave leave for h.m 
 to walk to the distance of a pulej the intent of 
 
34 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 85 
 
 a 
 
 which appears to have been, that he might have 
 opportunity to escape, whicli they supposed he 
 would readily embrace ; but in this they were mis- 
 taken, his upright principle not permitting him to 
 accept his liberty in this way. 
 
 Whilst he was confined in the House of Correct 
 tion,his relations came to visit him, and offered, with 
 others of Derby, to be bound that he should come 
 there no more to declare against the priests ; but to 
 this he could not consent, not only because the con- 
 dition was such as he could not agree to, but because 
 he was innocent of any improper conduct which 
 required a bond for his future behaviour. Thisr 
 greatly enraged Justice Bennett, whose violent 
 conduct induced George to pray for forgiveness 
 for him. Whilst he was on his knees, Bennett 
 ran violently upon him, and struck him with both 
 his hands, crying, ''Away with him, gaoler, take 
 him away, gaoler." He was now brought back to 
 the prison, where he continued the remainder of 
 the six months ; but having the liberty of walking 
 a mile, he sometimes went into the market and 
 streets, warning the people to repent of their 
 wickedness ; and there being persons of different 
 religious professions in the prison, he occasionally 
 visited tliem in their meetings. 
 
 When the time fixed for his imprisonment was. 
 nearly expired, strong attempts were made, to in- 
 
 duce him to accept a Captaincy in the army ; and 
 the soldiers even said ri.ey would have none but 
 him. -The Commissioners also offered him that 
 preferment, and even pressed it upon him, but 
 their endeavours v> ere in vuin. He told them that be 
 knew whence all wars arose, even from the lusts, 
 according to the doctrine of the Apostle James : 
 and Uiat he lived in the virtue of that life and 
 power,' which took away the occasion of war. 
 \Vheii they found tliat their importunities were m 
 vain, tlw^y became angry, and ordered the gaoler 
 to take him away, and put him amongst rogues 
 and felons. The prison in which he was conhned 
 vvas a most noisome place, infested with falthy 
 vermin. • There were thirty felons in it, and not a 
 *in.rle bed to sleep on. Here he was confined near y 
 half a year more, with liberty occasionally to walk 
 in the garden. 
 
 During his confinement, there was in the jail, 
 a woman who was committed for robbing her 
 master. For her George Fox interfered so far, as 
 to write to the Judge and Jury, stating how con- 
 trary it was to the law of God, in old time, to put 
 people to death for stealing ; and pressing Uiem to 
 ^how mercy to the poor woman. She was, how- 
 ever, condemned to die, and actually taken to the 
 place of execution. George Fox, not bemg able 
 .to be present, wrote a paper, which he desired UJ 
 
36 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 be read to the people, warning them against 
 covetousness, and those vices, which lead to so 
 disgraceful a termination of life. The woman, 
 though on the ladder, with her face covered, was 
 reprieved, and brought back to prison ; and such, 
 it seems, was the effect of George Fox's labours 
 for her good, that she was convinced of the truth 
 of the doctrines which he taught. 
 
 The subject of punishment by death, for crimen 
 affectmg property only, seems to have closely 
 engaged his attention whilst a prisoner here ; and 
 he not only wrote to the Judges on this subject, 
 but also on the long confinement of prisoners be- 
 fore they were brought to trial. His capacious 
 mind seems to have embraced almost every subject 
 connected with the happiness of man ; and the 
 justness and liberality of his views were extraordi- 
 nary. Justice and mercy he often pressed closely 
 on those persons in high stations, who had the ad- 
 ministration of them ; and when they deviated 
 from their duty, he frequently reproved them, and 
 advised 'them to a different conduct. Whilst in 
 prison at Derby, he addressed many short but 
 pertinent exhortations and warnings to the priests 
 and magistrates who had been the means of his 
 imprisonment. The wickedness that prevailed in 
 the town of Derby deeply affected his mind, and 
 lie warned the inhabitants of the consequences 
 of their conduct. Being now deprived of th© 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE VOX. 
 
 S7 
 
 oppoituuity of travellmg, he published two or 
 three papers, to be spread among his friends 
 and others, to instruct and confirm them in tlie 
 principles which he was concerned to promulgalo* 
 Thus did this diligent labourer in the gospel of 
 Christ lose no opportunity of promoting the cause 
 of truth and righteousness on earth. 
 
 It was while he was a prisoner at Derby, or 
 perhaps at his first examination, that the name of 
 Quakers was given to him and his friends.— 
 He was exhorting Gervas Bennett, already men- 
 tioned, and some other persons who were in com- 
 pany, to tremble at the word of the Lord ; on 
 ^vhich Bennett contemptuously called the fiieuds 
 of George Fox, Quakers, by which name they have 
 since that time been distinguished. 
 
 The Magistrates not being able to accomplish 
 any of their objects by imprisonment, and giowm?r 
 uneasy with their conduct towards their prisoner, 
 devised various means for liberaUng him ; but not 
 a-reeiug among themselves, they at length turned 
 lilm out of jail in as irregular and arbitrary a 
 manner as ihey had detained him. This was m 
 tlie early part of the winter of 1 65 1 . 
 
 About eleven years after liis release, he received 
 the following letter from the Keeper of the House . 
 of Correction, which, though not in the order of 
 time, may most properly be introduced here. It 
 nvamfests the beneficial effects of that patient suf. 
 
5S 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 M 
 
 faring and faithful labour, in the cause of truth 
 and righteousness, which remarkably' characterised 
 the life of this innocent man. 
 
 ** Dear Friend, 
 
 ** Having such a convenient messenger, I could 
 do no less than gire thee an account of my present con- 
 dition; remembcrmg that to the first awakening of me 
 to a sense of life, and of the inward principle^ God wa^ 
 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 
 ^imes think of the Jailer's coversion by the Apostles. 
 
 happy George Fox ! 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 btcome nothing in the world; yet 
 
 1 hope I shall find, that all these light afflictions, which 
 are but for a moment, will work for me a far more and 
 «xceeding weight of glory. They have taken all from 
 me; and now, instead of keeping a prison, 1 am rather 
 waiting when I shall become a prisoner myself. Pray 
 for me that my faith fail not; but that I may hold out 
 fo 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 to thee, and 
 all Christian Friends with thee, in haste, I rest 
 
 Thine in Christ Jesus, 
 
 THOMAS SHARMAX,^ 
 ** Derby, ^U of the m mnth, 1 66 .'." 
 
 CHAP, in* 
 
 ,651 and l652.-E^traordinar!, concern at UchficU. 
 
 TrLu aro.ik NoUi,,,ka.M,e into Yo,hUn, .,«. 
 
 V)hcrt then are great crnvmcments. 
 
 After George Fax wa, liberated from hU 
 eoSnement at Derby, betmelled agam in h.s re- 
 [Jls en<.a.-ement.. At Litchfield he was con- 
 SZ o go\vi.ho„t his shoes through the street, 
 of tl ci-, and to cry, " Wo to the bloody 
 eity of Litchfield." So strong Nvas an impression 
 of some extraordinary circumstance upon his mmd 
 
 Aat as he passed along, ^'>- "PP'^^^'^ ° ' ^e 
 channelof blood running down the streets and rt« 
 „.arket place was like a pool of blood. After 
 
 Te ca^e^f his concern, not knowing of any cr- 
 
 eumstance which should warrant so smgula^ a 
 
 K.it ViP afterwards understood, that 
 
 S:^i::fi^.P^:^-;« 
 rs::::^"-— '4;? 
 
 rField of dead bodies. Such was the sens.b.h.y 
 that attended the mind of this exercised man hat 
 that attenae frequently affected h.m 
 
 c rcumstances of this kina iren j .■... « 
 i„ diffesent places, in the course of his journies. 
 
 . The relation of this singular concern at LitchBeld, tas 
 • Ihe reiaiion o pumshmeht 
 
 been censured, because it seems to imply som p 
 
40 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Continuing his travels, he came through Notting- 
 hamshire and Dcrbv. shire into Yorkshire, and 
 preached repentance tlirough the streets of Don- 
 caster and several other places. At Balbv, near 
 Doncaster, he continued awhile, and Richard 
 Farnsworth, with several others^ was convinced 
 there. Afterwards he visited Wakefield, Sclby, 
 and Beverley. At Selb), he seems to have i)arted 
 uiih his horse, and travelled on foot. At Bever- 
 ley, he went to the public place of worship, and 
 after the Minister had finished his sermon, Georo-e 
 was concerned to speak to liim and the people, in 
 order to turn them to the true teacher, Clirist 
 Jesus. Here lie inct with no material molesta- 
 tions, but passed quietly out of the town and went 
 
 on the inhabitants, for a crime wliich had been perpetrated 
 many centuries before, bj Heathens on Christians. Bui I do 
 noi consider Uic word, Wo, as alwajs conveying a denun- 
 ciation of judgment. On cxamniuig llaiiev's Dictionary, I 
 find, be ej|)laiiis Wo, by "grief, trouble, sorroiv." l>r, 
 Johnson gives tliesarae signification, with otlier meanings of 
 the word J and lie also notices it, as an exclamation of sor- 
 ruiv. In tliis sense, and as relating to the past, rather th-in 
 the future, George Fox no doubt used the expression. This 
 cippears clear from the contest, for he himself explains what 
 be apprehended was the cause of bis Ubing tlie words in 
 question, and nbich he imputes to the circumstance already 
 mentioned. Tliere is nothing in his oivn account, which 
 conveys any apprehension in him, that some judgments 
 would fall upon the place, for this massacre; but it sunply 
 conveys th(^ sympathetic feelings of his lender mind. 
 
 LIFE OF CEOBGE FOX. 
 
 *l 
 
 to another place of worship, where l.e met with , 
 kind reception, and the people des.red htm to 
 come again, and preach among them. IJext da, 
 : It'to Captain Pursloe's, at Cransw.ck who™ 
 he had also visited at his house near Selby. He 
 terns very much to have '--•* f ^^j/^^; 
 and accompanied him to several V^^^ 
 neighbourhood. He also mtroduced h m to Jus 
 TceHothatr,, who was a man of rehgtous expe- 
 rience, and proved very friendly to George, ot* 
 various occasions. Whilst they were at th.s house, 
 , woman of quality can. to the Justtce oa 
 business ; !.nd i.t the course of conversation, told 
 him, that "the last Sabbath day, there was a., 
 angel or spirit came into the church at Beverley, 
 «,d spake the wonderful things of God, to the asto- 
 mshn.ent of all that were there ; and when it had 
 done, it passed away, and they d>d not know 
 whence it came nor whither it went ; but it 
 astonished all, priests, professors, and magistrates 
 This the Justice related to George, who tnformed 
 him that he had been that day at Beverley, and 
 had preached to the people there. 
 
 In the course of his travels, he came to York, 
 ..vhere he found several persons seriously disposed^ 
 and ready to receive his doctrine. Whilst in this 
 city, he went to the Cathedral, on a first day ; and 
 vhen the priest had finished his sermon, George 
 told tbcm that he had something to communtcafB. 
 
4^ 
 
 LITE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 The weather being cold, he was desired to speak 
 (Juickly ; on which he said, that " this was the 
 word of ihe Lord to them, that they lived in ^^•ords, 
 but God Almighty looked for fruits amongst them." 
 He was not suffered to proceed, but was immedi- 
 ately taken out of the place, and thrown down the 
 steps, yet was not materially injured. After 
 finishing his service here, he travelled into Cleve- 
 land. In his way thither, he came to Borrow by, 
 ■where many people were convinced, and a large 
 meeting was established. In Cleveland, he found 
 a people who had tas:ed of the divine power, but 
 not waiting in patience and humility, though there 
 had been large meetings of them, they were nmch 
 scattered, and the heads of them turned Ranters.^ 
 JVmongst these people he was concerned to labour 
 for their restoration. Most of them were con- 
 \-inced of the truth of his doctrines, and a Meeliu" 
 was established. 
 
 It was now the depth of winter, in the year 
 iGjI, and the snow was very deep ; but such was 
 bis zeal, that he continued travelling. At Stathes, 
 near Whitby, he had some large meetings; and 
 
 * The Ranters in the beginning, had the name of Seekers, 
 and were at first a .serious, humble-minded people ; but be- 
 eoniing exalted in their imaginations, they ran iuto many 
 eKtravagancies of opinion and practice, wliich caused them 
 to have the name of Ranters. 
 
 LtrE OF GEOllGE TOX. 
 
 4S 
 
 many received the truUi ; amongst whom was a 
 man of 100 years of age, the chief constable, and 
 rt priest of the name of Philip Scaife. Uere he 
 uas concerned to reprove the priest of the parish, 
 for exacting titiie money for iish caught at a dis- 
 tance, and carried to anoHier port. He had also 
 a public dispute with a Scotch priest, and some 
 Ranters, which afforded him an opportunity of 
 preaching to the people, and promulgating his 
 doctrine. The Scotch priest was greatly enraged, 
 mid manifested a design against the life of George 
 Fox. A few years after>vards, both this priest and 
 his wife were convinced, and George visited them 
 at their own house, the next time he came into 
 these parts, which was in the year ]()63. Great 
 Avas the commotion which was excited among the 
 priests in particular; and when they heard of 
 George Fox coming among them, they would fre- 
 quently go. out of the way, though they might 
 before have boasted of wliat they would do when 
 he came. To use his own expressions, "They 
 xvere struck with the dread of the eternal power 
 of God, and fear surprised tlie hypocrites." 
 
 He next visited Whitby and Scarborough, where 
 large meetmgs were soon after settled. After- 
 wards he came to Mallon, taking part of tlie 
 Wolds on his way. Here, and in the neighbour- 
 hood, he continued some time, and many joined 
 Urn itt religious feliowdup, ^ome of uhom had 
 
4^4 
 
 XIFE OP GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LITE OF GEOUGE FOX, 
 
 45 
 
 entertained considerable prejudice against him^ 
 for the report of him had spread greatly in the 
 country. One woman, who was a high professor 
 among the Iiniependents, was so inveterate, before 
 he came there, that she said she would willingly 
 go to see him hanged; but after he came she was 
 convinced, and continued a Friend. At Malton 
 he went into the usual place of worship, where 
 the Priest was preaching to no more than eleven 
 hearers ; but after it was known that George Fox 
 •was gone there, the place was soon tilled. After 
 Ihe Priest had finished, Greorge was invited into 
 the pulpit, which he thought proper to decline^ 
 and desiring all to be quiet, he stepped upon a 
 high seat, and there delivered what he had to say^ 
 without any interruption ; after which he departed 
 in peace. 
 
 Leaving Malton, he came to Pickering at the 
 time of the Sessions, Justice Robinson beino- 
 chairman. Whilst the business of the Sessions was 
 transacting, George had a meeting in die school- 
 house, to which many priests and others came. 
 Four chief constables and one priest were con- 
 vinced. This, it is most probable, was the priest 
 of Pickering. He was a great favourite with the 
 jiistice, who was soon informed of the circum- 
 stance. The next morning George went with the 
 four chief constables and sqme others, to visit 
 Justice Robinson, who received him very kindU> 
 
 
 and acknowledged the rectitude of that religious 
 instiniction which George commmiicated. At 
 'parting, the justice spake encouni-ingly t» him, 
 sa) ingr " It was very Nvell that he should exercise 
 the gift which God^had given him." He also de^ 
 sired the constables to give George some irioiiey, 
 which he oft'crtd to them for that purpose, wish- 
 ing him not to be at any expense in their country ; 
 but they told him that they could not prevail on 
 George to accept any money from them, which 
 they had already offered. Yet though he declined 
 accepting the money; he gratefully acknowledged 
 the justice's kindness. 
 
 Great was the openness with which he was re- 
 ceived in these parts. At one place the l>clls were 
 rin-ing when he came to it, of which he, inquirmg 
 the'cause, was told, that it was for him to preach. 
 After some dehberatiou, he concluded to go to the 
 steeple-house, and was invited in ; but seeing the 
 people gathered m the yard, he preferred preachmg 
 to them there. All was quiet," and a great con- 
 vincement took place. At another town m the 
 neighbourhood, he sat some hours in silence 
 betbre he begun to preach ; and such was the 
 power which afterwards attended his ministry, 
 that the people were generally reached, and 
 brought to acknowledge the truth of his doctrine. 
 An ancient priest, who was among those who had 
 been convinced by George Fox's ministry, accom- 
 
46 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 47 
 
 A 
 
 panied him awhile, and as they were passing along 
 the road, some people called out, " Mr. Boyes, 
 we owe you some money for tithes, pray come and 
 take it ;*' but he threw up his hands and said, he 
 had enough, they might keep it, and be praised 
 the Lord that he had enough. 
 
 After travelling some time, be came again to 
 Captain Pursloe's, and Justice Hotham's, where 
 he met with a kind reception ; and they expressed 
 .their satisfaction with the success of his gospel 
 labours. The Justice said to him, that if God 
 had not raised up that principle of light and life, 
 which he preached, the nation would have been' 
 overrun with Kanterism; with more to the same 
 purpose. 
 
 He now went into Holderness, having meeting* 
 at several places till he came to Patrington. Here 
 he preached to the priest and people in the street ; 
 and when it grew dark, he went to an inn, where 
 he Nvas refused both meat and lodging ; which was 
 also the case at two other houses. Upon this he 
 took a little water at a ditch, and sat down among 
 the furze bushes till it was day. When he de- 
 parted from this place the next morning, he was 
 followed by a man with a pikestaff, to a neigh- 
 bouring town, and this man raised the constables 
 and inhabitants, to whom, however, George de« 
 clared the truth, and exhorted them to repentance ; 
 
 but they seized him, and took him back to Pa* 
 trington. Here one of the inhabitants gave him 
 some milk and bread, which would no doubt be 
 very grateful, he having eaten nothing for some 
 davs before. After this, he was token to a Justice 
 of the Peace, who having examined him, soon set 
 him at liberty, and he returned to Patrington, 
 where he had further religious service, without any 
 molestation. Many were convinced of the truth, 
 and continued faithful witnesses of it. After going 
 to the extremity of Holderness, and having meet- 
 ings at several places, with his usual success, he 
 Teturned again to Patrington, when some who had 
 been the means of his being brought before the 
 Justice, came and asked forgiveness, which George 
 freely gave, at the same time warning them to 
 amend their lives. Justice Hotham had already 
 interfered in his favour, and asked him whether 
 any had abused him ; but says George, " I was not 
 to tell him any thmg of that kind, but was to for- 
 «rive all." Tliis performance of the duty of for- 
 giveness, OB all occasions, forms an excellent trait 
 in the character of George Fox, and shewed that 
 he had learned in the school of him, who, when 
 suffering on the jcross, prayed for his persecutors, 
 Fatl^er forgive them, they know not what they do." 
 
 jt( 
 
 After travelling some time in Holderness, and 
 meeting with variety of reception, he came to Hull, 
 M'here he obtained a comfortable lodging, which 
 
48 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 of late had seldom been afforded him. He found 
 himsell' much fatigued with travelling on foot, and 
 with the exercises of body and mind, through, 
 which he passed. At Hull, he seems to have tarried 
 but a short time ; ) et whilst there he admonished the 
 people to turn to Christ Jesus, that they mi^ht 
 receive salvation. He left Hull, and proceeded 
 towards Balbv, near Doncaster, and thence through 
 part of Nottinghamshire into Lincolnshire. At 
 Gainsborough he found one of his friends had been 
 preaching in the market, which had occasioned con- 
 siderable disturbance. A man came to this place, 
 who had before accused George Fox of saying that 
 he was Christ; and repeating the same false accu- 
 sation here, the people were with difficulty re- 
 strained from laying violent hands on George; 
 but he, standing up, denied the charge, telling the 
 people " that Christ w as in them, except they were 
 reprobates; and that it was Christ who spoke in 
 him, and not that he was Christ." AVith this ex- 
 planation the people w ere satisfied ; and the man 
 who raised this false accusation, some time after 
 put an end to his own life. Notwithstanding much 
 opposition, many persons were effectually reached 
 bv George Fox's ministry, in these parts, and 
 ** were gathered to the Lord's heavenly teaching.* . 
 
 He returned again into Yorkshire, and at 
 Warms worth was very rudely treated in the public 
 worship house ; after which the people beat him 
 
 CIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 4D 
 
 with staves, and threw earth and stones at him ; 
 the priest himself laymg violent hands upon him. 
 He returned their cruel treatment, with an exhor- 
 tation to them to repent, and turn to Christ. At 
 Doncaster and Tickhill, he met with similar treat- 
 ment, for which be returned similar exhortations. 
 At the latter place, the clerk struck his face with 
 the bible, which caused it to bleed much ; and the 
 priest reviled him, and those who were with him, 
 calling them Quakers ; but afterwards, while 
 George was preaching, the priest was so much 
 affected, that he began to tremble; which pro- 
 duceil this remark from a person present: " Look 
 how the Priest trembles and shakes, he is turned a 
 Quaker also." Some Justices hearing of the 
 violent conduct of the people, met to examine 
 into the business, and the clerk was afraid of 
 having his hand cut off, for striking in the church ; 
 but George Fox, as usual, forgave him, and would 
 not appear against him," 
 
 About this time, (1655) a great opposition was 
 raised in the West of Yorkshire, against George 
 JFox and his friends ; and a warrant was issued 
 against him and Thomas Aldam, of Warmsworth ; 
 but it was executed only on the latter, who w as 
 sent to York Castle : and George travelled to- 
 wards Wakefield, near which place lived James 
 I^ ay lor, who had been at a meeting with George, 
 before he came there, and was c^Bvinced, Tra- 
 
50 
 
 LIFE OF geouge fox. 
 
 veiling on, and preaching at various places where 
 he came, he passed by High Town, Bradford, &c* 
 to Wensleydale. At the market town, (Askrigg, I 
 suppose) there was a public lecture on the market 
 day, which he attended ; and after the priest had 
 finished, George had an opportunity of relieving 
 his mind to the people, without any or much in- 
 terruption. He travelled in the Dales for a con- 
 siderable time, and came to the neighbourhood of 
 Sedbergh, where, at Justice Benson's, he attended 
 a meeting of a people who were separated from 
 the public worship, and of whom he had had a 
 vision some time before, as of a great people in 
 white raiment. The meeting was very large, and 
 the people generally convinced through his mi- 
 nistry. He had several other meetings in this 
 neighbourhood, where also many were convinced, 
 and joined him in religious fellowship. Among 
 diem was a Captain Ward, of whom he says, that 
 he received the truth in the love of it, and lived 
 and died in it. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 lC52^Fisits several placesinJresfmorehml and Lanmhire. 
 His first lisifs at Judge Fell's, Swartkmore Hall. Is 
 cnteUy treated at the Isle of Walne^. Predict the Da- 
 9oiation (if the Long Parliammt^ 
 
 From Yorkshire, George Fox went to Fir- 
 bank Chapel, in Westmoreland: near which, on a 
 first day afternoon, he had a large meeting. Above 
 1000 people were supposed to be present, to 
 whom he preached about three hours, opening to 
 tliem the types and shadows of the law, and the 
 predictioMs of the prophets, and directing them to 
 Christ the substance; many of whose parables and 
 sayings, with the writings of the Apostles, he also 
 explained. The Lord's power accompanying his 
 miuistrv, it reached the hearts of the people, many 
 of whom were convinced, including all the teach- 
 ers of that congregation, who it seems were Inde- 
 pendents. Among them were Francis HowgiU, 
 and John Audland. Witli the latter George Fox ' 
 went home ; and the next day he held another 
 large meeting at Preston - Patrick Chapel, from 
 which place he went to Kendal. Here a meetnig 
 was appointed in the Town Hall, in which hi^ 
 ministry was attended with the usual success.. At 
 Underbarrow, and at Crook, many, to use his owft 
 words, " were convinced, received tlie word of 
 
 E % 
 
V 
 
 59, 
 
 LIFE OF GE0B6E FOX. 
 
 life, and stood fast in it, under the teaching of 
 Christ Jesus." Among these, it appears, wa» 
 Edward Burrough, with whom George had much 
 Teasoning, previously to the meeting. 
 
 Leaving Westmoreland, he came to Newtow in 
 Cartmel, which is in Lancashire. Here be met with 
 some rude treatment, in attempting to preach after 
 the priest had finished; but John Brathwaite,ayoung 
 man who was taking down the priest's sermon, was 
 efFectuallj reached, and became a minister of the 
 gospel. Many, in this part of the country, received 
 the truth, and abode in it. Soon after this, he 
 came to Ulverstone, and went to Swarthmore, 
 about a mile distant, to Judge Fell's. This place 
 is memorable for many circumstances which will 
 be detailed in his future history. Here he met 
 with a priest of the name of Lampit, high, it 
 seems, in notion, but dark in understanding. With 
 him George had much controversy at Swarth- 
 more. At one part of the dispute, Margaret Fell 
 (the Judge's wife) was present, and her eyes were 
 opei>ed, to see beyond the priest and his doctrine, 
 so that she and her family were in some degree con- 
 vinced. The Judge, at this time, w^as from home, 
 m\ die Welch circuit. A day being appointed for 
 a public humiliation, George Fox found his mind 
 engaged to attend the place of public worship at 
 Ulverstone. AVhen he entered the house, Lampit, 
 the priest, ^as sineing with the people, which 
 
 LIFE PF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 i^ 
 
 George considered so unsuitable to their states, 
 that he spake to the priest and people what he 
 felt on his mind. A Justice present called to 
 have him taken away, but Margaret Fell inter- 
 fered in his favour, and he was permitted to speak 
 awhile longer; but being afterwards taken out^ he 
 finished his communication in the grave yard. 
 
 He continued a considerable time in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Swarthmore, frequently returning to 
 that place as his head quarters. At Ramside he 
 met with lliomas Lawson, a priest of considerable 
 eminence. He kindly offered Geo. Fox his chapeU 
 and having informed the people in the morning that 
 George was coming there in the afternoon, the priest 
 did not attempt to preach himself. It appears to 
 have been u memorable meeting. Many received 
 the truth in the love of it, among whom Thomas 
 Lawson was one ; who thereupon ceased to preach 
 for hire, and afterwards preached the Lord Jesus 
 and his kingdom freely. After this, George went 
 to Dalton, and to the island of Walney, where, 
 among others, James Lancaster was convinced ; as 
 was Leonard Fell at Becliff. He next went to 
 Gleaston, where he had a'quiet peaceable meeting 
 in a new chapel, that had not before been used. 
 Here again many were convinced by his ministry. 
 
 Returning again to Swarthmore, several of the 
 family were fully convinced of the truth of hA 
 
 E 3 
 
54 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOK. 
 
 55 
 
 doctrines. Leaving them for a short time, he 
 "went again into Westmoreland, and to the borders 
 of Yorkshire, where he had large meetings among 
 those who had already received his ministry; but 
 being informed of the return of Judge Fell to his 
 own house, he felt inclined to go again to Swarth- 
 more. llie Priests and others had endeavoured to 
 incense the Judge against him; but when George 
 came, he explained matters so much to the Judge's 
 satisfaction, and so fully answered all his objec- 
 tions, that he became fully satisfied of the recti- 
 tude of George Fox*s ministry ;, and, after some 
 time, he dfeclined going to hear the Priests, though 
 he did not fully join in religious fellowship with 
 Friends. His house, however, was always open 
 for their reception, and he frequently used his in- 
 fluence to check ^he persecuting spirit^ which was 
 manifested by some Magistrates and Priests in 
 those parts. To his wife and four daughters, who, 
 being fully convinced, had joined in society with 
 George Fox and his friends, the Judge allowed 
 full liberty to act consistently with the principles 
 ^hich they had imbibed; and he treated them with 
 great kindness. He even permitted a meeting to 
 be established at his house, which continued to be 
 held there nearly forty years, v 
 
 After the establishment of the meetina; at Swarth- 
 more; George came again to Uuu«rbuirow^ and 
 
 went thence to Kellett, where he had a large* 
 meeting at Robert Widders's, to which several 
 came from Lancaster, and some from York; and 
 many were again convinced. Coming to Lancas- 
 ter on the market-day, he embraced that oppor- 
 tunity of preaching to the people. " I preached 
 (he says) righteousness and truth unto them, which 
 all should follow after, walk and live in ; directing 
 them how and where they might find the Spirit of 
 God to guide them thereinto.'' At Lancaster he 
 had several religious opportunities, and many re- 
 ceived his testimony, and continued faithful to the 
 truth, though he met with some rude treatment 
 in this town. At a place m this neighbourhood, 
 a Doctor was so irritated against him, as to say 
 that he " could find m his heart to run him through 
 with his rapier, though he was to be hanged for it 
 the next day." This man, however, was so far 
 convinced, that he became kind to Friends. In 
 this and many other instances, in the life of George 
 Fox, we see the fulfilment of the gospel pro- 
 phecy: '* The wolf also shall dwell with the 
 lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the 
 kid; and the calf and the young lion, and the fat- 
 linf' together \ and a little child shall lead them.'^ 
 
 Returning into Westmoreland, he came again 
 to Kendal and UnderbarroW, and afterwards to 
 Swarthmore. Here and at Uiverstone he wa» 
 
5G 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 much engaged in preaching, and in disputationar 
 with the Priests. One of them, Thomas Taylor, 
 an ancient man, was convinced ; and the day after 
 his convincement, at Crosland, where he went with 
 George Fox, he was engaged to preach publickly 
 amongst the people, and, hke the good Scribe, 
 brought out of the treasury, things new and old. 
 His brother, Christopher Taylor, likewise a 
 preacher, was also convinced, and became a Mi- 
 nister among Friends. Many were now sent forth 
 on the same religious service, among whom George 
 Fox mentions John Audland, Francis Howgill^ 
 John Camm, Edward Burrough, Richard Hub- 
 berthorn, Miles Hubbersty, and Miles Halhead;^ 
 in consequence of whose labours, meetings were 
 established in various parts of the nation. 
 
 Whilst some of the Priests were brought into 
 a right sense of the nature of gospel ministryv 
 others appeared much disturbed in their minds, 
 and endeavoured to excite tlie magistrates to per- 
 secution ; but though some of George FoxV 
 friends were sent to prison, he still retained his- 
 liberty, and continued his gospel labours in these 
 parts with great success. Some of the Priest* 
 pretended to prophecy, that within a month the 
 Quakers would be all scattered and come to» 
 nothing ; but the sequel proved that their predic- 
 tions were dictated by their animosity, and not by 
 the Spirit of Trulhr 
 
 IIFE OF GtORGE FOX. 
 
 57 
 
 At Ulverslone he met with much cruel treat- 
 ment at the instigation of Justice Sawrey, who 
 seems to have been the first promoter of persecu- 
 tion in the North. George was preaching to the 
 people, who heard him quietly and gladly, till the 
 Justice incensed them against him; when the rwder 
 part of them seized him, and by the Justice's or- 
 der he was dragged out of the town. There, after 
 being severely beaten till he was senseless, he fell 
 on the wet common, and continued in that situa- 
 tion for some time . When he recovered, he lay 
 gtill awhile, and was favoured to feel divine re- 
 freshment to his soul. Rising up, he said to the 
 people about him, " Strike again, here are my 
 arms, my head, and my cheeks." One man, a 
 mason, was rude enough to strike hun a severe 
 blow with his rule on the hand. The people af- 
 terwards quarrelled among themselves, and George, 
 notwithstanding all their cruel treatment, was 
 strengthened to preach unto them, endeavour- 
 ing to convince them of the impropriety of their 
 conduct, and its inconsistency with true Chris- 
 tianity. He returned soon to Ulverstone, and 
 went into the market, when a soldier with his 
 rapier, offered to protect him, but George de- 
 clined it, and seeing the soldier endeavouring to 
 defend some other friends with his drawn rapier, 
 he prevailed on him to withdraw, lest some mis- 
 chief should occur. Going to Swarthmore, 
 
58 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 59 
 
 George found the family tlieie occupied in dres- 
 sing the wounds of several friends who had been 
 hurt that day by the enraged populace. He was 
 himself much bruised by the abuse which he had 
 met with, but does not seem to have been other- 
 wise injured* 
 
 In reading the memoirs of this excellent man, the 
 mind is unavoidably struck with the courage, pa- 
 tience, and meekness with which he bore the cruel 
 treatment tliat he often received. Soon after the 
 foregoing circumstance, he went to the Isle of 
 Walney a second time, where the barbarous peo- 
 ple treated him and his companions in a shocking 
 manner. At one town the people came upon hinj. 
 with pitcliforks, flails, and staves, crying, " Kill 
 him, knock him on the head, bring tlie cart, and carry 
 him away to the church-yard." He was so muck 
 abused, that after walking to the house of a friend, 
 lie could scarcely speak. James Naylor, who was 
 with him, also suffered much on this occasion. 
 Margaret Fell, hearing of the cruel treatment they 
 had met with, sent a horse for George to ride on 
 to her house ; but it was with great difficulty and 
 pain that he could bear the motion of the horse. 
 After his return to Swarthmore, Judge Fell sent 
 warrants to apprehend some of those riotous per- 
 sons, and desired George to give him a relation of 
 Uicir abusive conduct \ but this he declined, and 
 
 the Judge told his wife, that lie spake of it as a 
 man that had not been concerned. " Indeed (says 
 Oeorge) the Lord's power healed me." 
 
 When he returned from the Isle of Walney, he 
 found that two Justices had issued a warrant 
 against him, the execution of which was prevented 
 by Judge Fell. George hearing of the warrant, 
 came to the Sessions at Lancaster, where forty 
 Priests appeared against him. They had provided 
 one young Priest and two Priests' sons, to bear 
 witness that they had heard him speak blasphemy; 
 but when they came before the Court, they could 
 not support their charge, which produced a repri- 
 mand from the Bench. Several respectable per- 
 sons were in Court, who had been present when 
 the pretended blasphemous words were said to 
 have been spoken, and they declared there that 
 the oath which the witnesses had taken, was alto- 
 gether false. The Justices were fully convinced 
 of George Fox's innocency, and one of them, 
 Colonel West, said to him in ojien Court, "George, 
 if thou hast any tiling to say, thou mayest freely 
 declare it." This gave him an opportunity which 
 he found it right to embrace ; and though some 
 opposition was made by a few of the Priests, 
 yet he was enabled so to confute them, that they 
 Jeft the Court in -a rage. George Fox was fully 
 <:leared of the charges brought against him, the 
 
60 
 
 LIFE OF GEOROE FOX. 
 
 malice of Uie Priests was exposed, and a great 
 convincement took place. Among the number 
 convinced was Justice Benson, of Westmoreland, 
 and Major Ripan, the Mayor of Lancaster. 
 
 After staying two or three days at Lancaster, 
 where he met with some rude treatment, he left 
 the place ; and returned to it at the time of the 
 Assizes, when the Priests, assisted by some evil- 
 disposed Justices, endeavoured to influence Judge 
 Windham against him. They were so far suc- 
 cessful, that the Judge made a speech in open 
 Court, and ordered Colonel West, who was 
 Clerk of the Assize, to issue a warrant for his ap- 
 prehension. This the Colonel refused, and the 
 Judge commanding him either to write the war- 
 rant, or leave his seat, he again refused, and told 
 the Judge that he would offer up all his estate, 
 and body also, in support of George Fox. This 
 put the Judge to a stand, and defeated the object 
 of those who had so improperly influenced him, 
 George, soon after he came to Lancaster, went to 
 the chambers of Judge Fell and Colonel West, 
 who smiled at him, and one of them said, "What! 
 are you come into the dragon's mouth ?" He staid 
 in the town till the Judge left it, walking the 
 streets publicly, but no one laid hands on him. 
 ^ llius (says he) the Lord's blessed power which 
 J8 over all, carried me through and over this exei^ 
 
 ILIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 6j 
 
 cis^, gave dominion over his enemies, and enabled 
 me to go on in his glorious work and service, foK 
 liifl great name's sake. 
 
 Leaving Lancaster, he came to Robert Widr- 
 der's, and had a large meeting at Thomas Leper's, 
 after which he narrowly escaped a plot which had 
 been laid for his life. Calling at Justice (or Colonel) 
 West's, in the way, he came again to Swarth- 
 inore, visiting his friends, and writing letters t^ 
 Magistrates, Priests, and others thereaway, re- 
 proving them, and exhorting them to repentance . 
 and amendment of life. Having cleared his minil 
 by these epistles, he returned into Westmoreland, 
 where he was again waylaid, with a design, it appears, 
 to take his life, but he was preserved from the snare. 
 He had several disputes with the Priests, two of 
 whom attempted to prove that the Scriptures were 
 the Word of God. George admitted that they 
 were the Words of God, but not, as one of theni 
 asserted, " God the Word," which was Christ. The 
 Priests were unable to prove their assertion, and 
 many of the people saw the errors of their 
 teachers. 
 
 About the beginning of the year 1655, he re- 
 turned again to Svvaithmore, and visited several 
 meetings in Lancashire. One day, when Judge 
 Fell and Justice Benson were conversing on the 
 
61 
 
 LIFE OF 6E0RGE TOX; 
 
 
 state of public affairs, and particularly respecting 
 the long parliament, Nvhich xxas then sittnig, 
 George Fox; Nvho was present, told them, that 
 before that day two weeks, the parliament would 
 be broken up, and the speaker plucked from the 
 chair. This was literally verilied, and Justice 
 Benson told Judge Fell that he now perceived 
 George was a prophet, Cromwell having broken 
 up the parliament within the time mentioned. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 l6 53 -—Fasts ten Days^Visits Cwnhcrhnd-^ Antlmtf 
 Pearson and many others are convinced — Is arrested at 
 Carlisle, and committed to Prison-^ After his Liberation^ 
 goes into Westmoreland, Durham, and Northumberland. 
 
 It appears that George Fox was sometimes iu 
 the practice of fasting, when his mind was parti- 
 cularly exercised. About this time he was engaged 
 to fast for ten days, on account of two of his 
 friends getting up into pride and self-exaltation, 
 and running out into imaginations; but through his 
 labour witli them, they were brought to see their 
 error, and to condemn it. 
 
 Hearing that some persons in Cumberland 
 threatened, that if he came there, they would take 
 away his life, he felt his mind drawn to go thither, 
 and went directly into those parts from which the 
 threatenings came, regardless of the danger to 
 which he was exposed; but vvhen he came there, 
 they had no power to touch him. He returned 
 again into Lancashire, and being on a visit at 
 Colonel West's, he was informed that Anthony 
 Pearson, a Justice of the Peace for three counties, 
 was at Swarthmore. The Colonel advised George 
 to go there, saying, " it may be of great service 
 to the man ;'* accordingly he went, and Anthony 
 Pearson was eflfectually reached by his ministry. 
 
64 
 
 XIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Soon after, he and his wife accompanied Georgfe 
 to Bootle, in Cumberland ; where Anthony left 
 him, and went to the Sessions at Carlisle. At 
 Bootle, George went into the place of public wor- 
 ship, and when the priest had done, began to speak ; 
 but the people were very rude, and beat him violent- 
 ly ; this however did not deter him from going to the 
 same place in the afternoon. A priest from London, 
 of great repute, was preaching when George went 
 in; and applying what is said in the scriptures, re- 
 specting false prophets, antichrists, aud deceivers, 
 to him and his friends. When the priest had 
 finished, George, repeating the same scriptures, 
 showed their applicability to the priest, and to 
 such as him. The priest interrupting him, and 
 forbidding him to speak, George replied to him, 
 that, he having his hour glass, by which he had 
 preached and finished his sermon, the time was 
 now as free for one as for the other, both oF 
 them being strangers. After this, George had a 
 full opportunity to communicate what he had to 
 say to the people. When he had finished, the 
 priests manifested much anger, and some other3 
 Avere mischievously disposed, but none were per. 
 mitted to injure him. 
 
 Whilst at Bootle, he sent to have a meeting 
 appointed near Cockermouth, which was largely 
 attended. It proved an extraordinary opportunity ; 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 65 
 
 many hundreds were convinced, who received the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and his free teaching, with 
 gladness. Among them were twelve soldiers and 
 their wives. On the First Day following, George 
 was at Cockermouth, where, when he attempted 
 to speak after the priest, the people began to be 
 rude ; but the soldiers informing them that no 
 Jaw was broken, they became quiet, and George 
 Fox declared to them the way of life and truth, 
 directing them to Christ their teacher, who died 
 for them, and bouglit them with his blood. In 
 the afternoon, he went to Brigham, where great 
 companies followed him. Being invited into the 
 worship house, and seeing no other convenient 
 place, he accepted it. " A fine opportunity," savs 
 he, " the Lord gave me to preach the truth that day, 
 for about three hours ; and all was quiet ; many 
 hundreds were convinced, and some of them 
 praised God, and said, '* Now we know the first 
 step to peace.'* 
 
 Several circumstances occurred about this time^ 
 which evinced that he had a peculiar gift of dis^ 
 ceming the spirits of those he met with ; one of 
 which it may be sufficient to relate. Seeing a 
 woman at a distance, he ca«t his eyes upon her, 
 and said, "Thou hast been a harlot." She re- 
 plied, that " many could tell her of her outward 
 «iHS; but none of her inward /' to which h^ 
 
m 
 
 ttVE or GEOR€E POX. 
 
 
 answered, that her heart was not right before the 
 Lord, and from the inward came the outward. 
 This woman was afterwards convinced, aad be- 
 came a Friend. 
 
 Leaving the neighbourhood of Cockermoutb, 
 he went to Coldbeck, and' thence to Carlisle, bav- 
 in" meetings at several places, at which divers 
 were convinced. At Carlisle, he had a meeting 
 in the Cathedral, and another among tlie soldiers 
 t»t the CasUe, where he met with but little opposition, 
 and some of the soldiers were convinced. He also 
 preached on the market day at the cross, and on- 
 TirstDay, went to the public worship house; 
 vhere, as usual, when the priest had ended his 
 sermon, he preached to the people; which occa- 
 sioned considerable tumult, and U.e next day the 
 Magistrates granted a warrant to apprehend him. 
 Being brought before them, he laid open the fruits 
 Of their priests' ministry, and their own high pro- 
 fession; for they were Presbyterians and Indepen- 
 dents, as were the persecutors in general in those 
 days, the Episcopalians having then no power.— 
 After a long examination, he was committed to 
 prison, as a blasphemer, heretic, and seducer.- 
 Here he lay till the Assizes, when it appears to 
 have been intended to takeaway his life, the High 
 Sheriff saying that he would guard hinx to the 
 place of execution hiinself.} but whilst be, wtb 
 
 LIFE ©F GEORGE FOX. 
 
 67 
 
 the Judge and Justices, were contriving how to 
 accomplish their evil design, the Judge's Clerk 
 started a question, which confounded their Coun- 
 sels. Finding they could not succeed in this ob- 
 ject, they concluded not to bring him to trial, not- 
 withstanding a strong remonstrance from Anthony 
 Pearson. Being now left to the mercy, or rather 
 to the cruelty, of the Magistrates, they removed 
 him into the prison which was occupied by felons. 
 It was a very filthy place, men and women being 
 put promiscuously into it. One woman was 
 almost eaten to death with vermin. The prisoners, 
 however, were very loving, and even subject to their 
 new companion, and " some of them," he says, " were 
 convinced of the truth, as the publicans and har- 
 lots were of old." The gaoler and under-gaoler, 
 however, treated him with great cruelty, and even 
 beat him very severely; nor would they suffer 
 his friends to visit him, without extending their 
 abuse to them ; and they were often denied access 
 
 to him. 
 
 When he found that he was not likely 
 to be brought to public trial, he published a 
 paper, inviting those who had any thing to lay to 
 his charge, to give their accusations in writing, 
 that they might be fairly answered. This paper 
 he directed to be put upon all the market crosses 
 in Westmoreland and Cumberland. He also 
 wrote to the Magistrates who committed him ; and 
 Anthony PearsoD; >vho had before very forcibly 
 
Cd 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOK. 
 
 tiFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 69 
 
 remonstrated with the Justices, on their conduct; 
 MTOte, jointly with Gervas Benson, to the 
 Magistrates, Priests, and people of that place, re- 
 proving them for tiieir illegal and crnel conduct 
 to their friend. Soon after this, the Magistrates con- 
 cluded to set him at liberty, but before his liberation, 
 the Governor (of the Castle, I suppose) introduced 
 Anthony Pearson to the prison, and they examined 
 this miserable place of continement, which was 
 found so filthy, that the Magistrates were exceedr 
 in<^ly censured. The gaolers were obliged to find 
 sureties for their good behaviour, and the under- 
 gaoler was committed to the same prison. It was 
 durint' George Fox's continement here, that James 
 Parnell, a youth about \6 years of age, visited 
 him; and being convinced, joined him in religious 
 
 fellowship. 
 
 After his liberation from Carlisle, he returned 
 to Thomas Be wl ay's, at Coldbeck, where a 
 Baptist teacher came to dispute with him. The 
 Baptist, however, was convinced, and having an 
 iinpropriation of tidies, he gave it up freely; and 
 several otliers followed his example. About this 
 time, Friends were exceed mgly abused in these 
 parts, and underwent great sufferings various ways, 
 their lives being often in danger; " but (says 
 George Fox) the Lord's power sustained them ; 
 the everlasting gospel and word of life flourished, 
 and thousands were turned to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and to his teaching." 
 
 Leaving Cumberland, he came to Strickland- 
 Jiead, in Westmoreland, w here he had a large meet- 
 ing. The Priests and Magistrates in these parta 
 were violently disposed, and obtained a warrant to 
 apprehend him ; but they were not permitted to 
 execute it. Visiting the meetings of his Friends 
 on the way, he came again to Swarthmore. Some 
 Baptists in Scotland had sent to offer to dispute 
 with him, and he appointed to meet them at 
 Thomas Bewlay's, in Cumberland ; but when he 
 came there, none of them met him. He received 
 much personal abuse, in this journey, but sustained 
 lio material injury. He next visited part of the 
 County of Dui4iam, and passed into Northumber- 
 land. A^ Derwent-Water, he had several great 
 meetings: "The everlasting word of life w^s 
 freely preached, and freely received; hundreds 
 bein<y turned to Christ their teacher," 
 
 Coming to Hexham, he had a large meeting on 
 the top of a hill, in the neighbourhood, at which 
 he met with no interruption. After this meeting, 
 he passed through the town, and came into Gils- 
 land, a country then noted for thieves, some 
 Friends being with him. Here a priest came to 
 them at an inn, and said he would prove them 
 deceivers, out of the Bible, but he failed of his 
 design. In the course of their conversation, 
 George asked him what he called tlie Steepler 
 
t' i 
 
 tk 
 
 70 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 IiIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 71 
 
 bouse. « Oh, (said he) the dreadful house of 
 God, the temple of God." This shows the very 
 superstitious reverence which was then entertamed 
 for these places, and accounts for that zeal with 
 *hich George Fox opposed it, and endeavoured 
 to convince the people of their erroneous opu«oi« 
 respecting them. 
 
 He now came again into Cumberland, and had a 
 .neeting on the top of a hill, near Langlands, at which 
 several thousands of people were supposed to be 
 present. It was a heavenly meeting. The mind, of 
 the people were so effectually turned to Chns^ 
 their teacher, that when Francis Howgill vis.ted 
 them afterwards, he found that they had no need 
 of words, and he sat amongst them, without havmg 
 any thin, to communicate. Many predictions 
 ^■ere about this time given forth by their enemies, 
 of the speedy downfal of this new society, and Us 
 members met will, great reproach and suffering, 
 on account of their peculiar conduct. Many, for 
 a time, refused to deal with them in the way of 
 trade ; but tl.eir uprightness and integrity soon 
 raised them so much in the good opimon of the 
 people, that they had in general more business 
 Ihan their neighbours, which frequently excited 
 much envy towards them. There were now great 
 numbers convinced in the Northern counties; and 
 many mouths were opened to bear Ustuuooy to 
 
 the truth, and to publish it in various parts of the 
 nation. This brought an exercise upon George 
 Fox; and he wrote an epistle to his Friends, 
 " stirring up the pure inind, and raising a holy 
 care and watchfulness over themselves and one 
 another." 
 
 Whilst he was in the North, Morgan Floyd, a 
 priest of Wrexham, in North Wales, sent two of 
 his congregation to inquire concerning Friends, 
 and to try them, as he called it ; but these triers 
 being both convinced, did not hastily return to 
 their master, continuing awhile with Friends here- 
 away. One of them, John ap John, continued a 
 steady Friend, and became a minister, in which 
 capacity he afterwards accompanied George Fox 
 in Wales. 
 
 t 
 
 It does not appear when George first promulgated 
 his testimony against oaths, but it is a doctrine that 
 had now made some progress ; for when, during 
 Oliver CromwelFs Protectorate, an oath of allegi- 
 ance or obedience to him, was tendered to the army, 
 many of them refused to take it, in compliance 
 with the command of Christ : " Swear not at all." 
 It seems that these soldiers had been already con- 
 vinced by George Fox's ministry, or that of 
 his Friends, but had not yet left the army. This 
 however was the means of entirely separating 
 
7% 
 
 I,IFE OF GEOKGE FOX. 
 
 I 
 
 them from it, and bringing them into nearer fel- 
 lowship with Friends. Some proved unfaithful, 
 and remainmg in the army, several of them were 
 shot by their fellow-soldiers, who mistook them 
 for enemies. 
 
 From this and other circumstances, it appears, 
 that several of our early Friends were convinced 
 while in the army ; and that they did not imme- 
 diately relinquish this mode of life; but as the 
 peaceable prniciples, promulgated by George Fox 
 and his Friends, prevailed, the inconsistency of 
 war with the Gospel dispensation, became increas- 
 ingly manifest ; and this new society considered 
 itself called upon to bear testimony to the coming 
 of that day, foretold by the prophets, in which 
 <' Nation shall not lift up a sword against natiog^ 
 neither shall they learn war any more." 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 lQ54>.-^lletums into Yorkshire, Large meting at Syn- 
 derhill Green, Goes into Nottinghamshire and Derby- 
 shire. Visits his relations in Leicestershire, and travels 
 to London. Visits Bedfordshire. Returns to London, 
 goes to Kent, Sussex, and Berks. Again visits London 
 and several Eastern and Midland Counties — and writes 
 an Epistle to Friends in Ireland, 
 
 The Churches in the North being established; 
 and Friends gathered under the teaching of Christ, 
 George Fox was engaged to travel into the Southern 
 parts of Yorkshire, and passing through Halifax, a 
 rude town, he came to Thomas Taylor's, who had 
 been a Captain in the army, and proceeded to 
 Synderhill Green, where a meeting was appointed 
 for him, about three weeks before he came there. 
 The meeting proved very large, and it was supposed 
 some thousands were present, many of whom were 
 persons of note, or officers in the army. "There 
 was a general conviucement; for the Lord's power 
 and truth were set over all, and there was no op- 
 position.'' This was in the beginning of the year 
 1654. 
 
 There were now about sixty ministers raised up 
 in the Northern counties, as fellow labourers with 
 Geor<re Fox, and travelling in different parts of 
 the nation. For these he felt much solici- 
 
74 
 
 LIFE or GEOKGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 7^ 
 
 
 tude, that they might be kept humble and 
 watchful ; and he wrote an epistle to them, con- 
 taining much instruction and advice, which, ia 
 their state of infancy and in^perience, might h^ 
 very profitable to them. 
 
 After he left the country about SynderhilL 
 Green, he travelled in various parts of Yorkshire, 
 as far as the extremity of iJolderness, visiting 
 -Friends who had been gathered by his ministry, 
 when there before; and he found them in a situa- 
 tion which proved comfortable to him. He after- 
 wards came to Captain Bradford's, whose place 
 of residence he does not describe, but it may be 
 supposed to be not far from York, as many Rant- 
 ers came from that city to dispute with him, who, 
 lie says, were confounded. A Lady Montague 
 also came to Captain Bradford's, and was con- 
 vinced, and lived and died in the truth. 
 
 In the course of his travels, he came again to 
 Thomas Taylor's, near Halifax. Some rude per- 
 sons, who, it was said, had bound themselves by 
 an oath, to kill him, came to a meeting there, at 
 which about two hundred persons w ere present ; but, 
 notwithstanding the wicked design of these men, and 
 their great rudeness during the meeting, they were 
 all, at length, brought into quietness; and the meet- 
 ing proved very satisfactory. ** The Lord/' says 
 
 George, speaking of this lime, " hath raised a fme 
 people in these parts, whom he hath drawn to 
 Christ, and gathered in his name.'* 
 
 From the neighbourhood of Halifax, he went to 
 Balby, whence several Friends accompanied him 
 into Lincolnshire. To one meeting the Sheriff 
 of Lincoln came, and several persons with him, 
 who for a time caused some disturbance ; but the 
 power of truth came so over them, that several 
 of the opposers were convinced, among whom was 
 the Sheriff. At another meeting Sir Richard 
 Wray, with his brother and brother's wife, were 
 also convinced, as were many others in these paits. 
 From Lincolnshire, he went into Derbyshire, 
 accompanied by the Sheriff of Lincoln. They 
 had also a large meeting at Skegby, in Not- 
 tinghamshire, where it appears a considerable 
 eonvincement took place. Afterwards he went 
 into the Peak of Derbyshire, where he met with 
 many Ranters, and had much disputing with them ; 
 but « the Lord's power," he says, " went over them ; 
 the word of life was fully and richly preached, and 
 many were convinced." This meeting was at the 
 bouse of Thomas Hammersley, who, being sum- 
 moned on a Jury, was admitted to serve without 
 an oath. He was made Foreman, and when he 
 brought in the verdict, the Judge said, " 1 have 
 been a Judge many years, but never heard a 
 
 G ^ 
 
 « 1 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 more upright verdict than that Quaker has 
 brought in/' Other circumstances of this kind 
 occurred, which it is not thought necessary to 
 notice. 
 
 Travelling through Derbyshire, he visited 
 Friends, till he came to Swanington, in Leicester- 
 shire, where was a general meeting, which several 
 Friends in the ministry attended, as John Audland^ 
 Francis Howgill, Edward Pyott, and Edward 
 Burrough. Several persons were convinced in 
 these parts ; but some Ranters made a disturb- 
 ance ; yet they were brought into quietness, the 
 Lord's power coming over them. Here, and at 
 Twycross, many were convinced, amongst whoQi 
 were several of the Ranters. 
 
 After an absence of three years, George Fox 
 returned to the place of his nativity, to visit his 
 relations. Here his old acquaintance, Nathaniel 
 Stephens, the priest, soon sent for him. George 
 w as not aware of the cause, but afterwards found 
 that he had given notice to the country of a meet- 
 ing, and obtained another priest to join him in a 
 public dispute. At the conclusion of it, George 
 informed the people, that he intended to be there 
 again that day week. In the interval, he wtnt into 
 the neighbouring parts, and had several meetings. 
 '^The priest, it seems, took the information for a 
 challenge to another dispute, which was not in- 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 77 
 
 tended, and he collected seven other priests to 
 assist him, giving public notice of the meeting, by 
 which many hundreds were collected. The priests 
 would not keep to any point ; and the dispute seems 
 not to have been productive of much benefit. 
 At a meeting in the sanje place, a week after this, 
 it does not appear that much impression was made 
 on the people of his native town, though a few 
 were convinced at this last meeting. 
 
 After he left Drayton, he came to Leicester and 
 Whetston. At the latter place, he was arrested by 
 some soldiers of Colonel Hacker's regiment. In 
 the evening, he was brought before the Colonel 
 and his officers, and underwent many interroga- 
 tories. George, being required to stay at home^ 
 and not go abroad to meetings, could not agree to 
 the Colonel's order, in consequence of which the 
 Colonel concluded to send him to the Protector, 
 in London, against whose life it appears some plots 
 were supposed at this time to be laid. George 
 asserted his innocence, and, nothing connected 
 with any plot being laid to his charge, remon- 
 atrated strongly against the Colonel's conduQ>> but 
 in vain, llie last remonstrance was whilst the 
 Colonel was in bed, when George, not succeedinc. 
 kneeled by the bed side, and " besought th^ I^rd 
 to forgive him," telling him also "when the day of 
 his misery aad trial should come upon him, to rc- 
 
 G 3 
 
f9 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 79^ 
 
 member what he had said to him." The Colonel 
 was afterwards imprisoned in London, and exe- 
 cuted as a regicide ; and being reminded of his 
 former conduct to George Fox, he acknowledged 
 that he had trouble upon him for it. 
 
 Captain Drury was charged with the care of 
 George, and took him to London. On the way, he 
 frequently preached to the people, at the inns and 
 places where he went; and he visited Wm. Dews- 
 bury and Marmaduke Storr, who were in prison 
 at Northampton. When he and his guard came 
 to London, George was taken to an inn, the Mer- 
 maid, near Charing-Cross ; and Captain Drury 
 w ent to inform the Protector of their arrival, and 
 to give an account of his prisoner. The Protector 
 appears to have been very moderate, and only re- 
 quired that George Fox should engage not to take- 
 up a sword or weapon against him, or the Govera- 
 ment, as it was then constituted. George felt no 
 difficulty in complying with this requisition, and the 
 next morning wrote to the Protector, in which he 
 avowed his principle against the use of any out- 
 ward weapons, to the injury of him or any oth«r 
 »ian. This satisfied the Protector, who afterward* 
 sent for him to Whitehall, and they had much, 
 friendly conversation together, George admonish- 
 ing the Protector with his usual freedom. After 
 "Aey parted, he was invited by the ProtectorV 
 <irdiii> to dine with his gentlenxen, but he refuse(> 
 
 the invitation ; which, with other circumstances^ 
 induced the Protector to say, " Now I see there is 
 a people risen, that I cannot win either with gifts, 
 honours, offices, or places ; but all other sects and 
 people I can.'' To this it was replied, "that 
 Friends had forsaken their own, and were not 
 likely to look for such things from him.'*^ 
 
 W' hilst George Fox was prisoner at Charing- 
 Cross, many persons of various descriptions, came 
 to see him, amongst whom he had some service ; 
 and being now liberated, he went into the city of 
 London, where he held many meetings, whicb 
 were very largely attended ; and the truth spread 
 exceedinoly. He also went again to Whitehall^ 
 and preached to the officers, and to those wha 
 were called Oliver's gentlemen, who, it seems^ 
 were his body guard. George says that he " was^ 
 moved to declare the day of the Lord amongst 
 them, and that the Lord was con^ to teach hit 
 people himself." Some of the Protector's house- 
 hold, and of his own family, were convinced. 
 Whilst George was in London and its neigh- 
 bourhood, he wrote several addresses to people in 
 diflferent situations, one of which waa to the Pro- 
 tector, " to warn him of the mighty work the Lord 
 hath to do in the nations ; and to beware of hi» 
 own wit, craft, subtlety, and policy, and not to* 
 seek any by-ends to himself'*' 
 
 
80 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 tlFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 81 
 
 Leaving London, he went to John Crook's, in 
 Bedfordshire, where he had a large meeting, at 
 which the people were generally convinced. John 
 Crook was a Justice of Peace, and whilst George Fox 
 was at his house, several country gentlemen came 
 to dine with the Justice; and George being one of 
 the company, embraced the opportunity of declaring 
 the truth to them. He held several meetings in 
 Bedfordshire, where some other Friends were also 
 engaged in Gospel labour. A great convince- 
 meut took place, at which the Magistrates and 
 others were much alarmed, " because so many 
 were turned from the hireling priests to the LoriJ 
 Jesus Christ's free teaching." 
 
 From Bedfordshire, he returned to London, 
 where he found his Friends established in the 
 truth, and a considerable accession to their num- 
 bers. He passed soon into Kent, and came by 
 Rochester to Cranbrook, where he had a large 
 meeting. Several soldiers were present, some of 
 whom behaved rudely after the meeting ; but 
 many were turned to the Lord that day, among 
 whom was Thomas Howsigoe, an Independent 
 preacher. Capt. Dunk was also convinced in Kent, 
 and went witli George Fox to Rye, where they had 
 a meeting, to which the Mayor, and several others 
 ©f note, came. The meeting was quiet, and the 
 -people's minds well affected with what they heard* 
 
 From Rye, he went to Rumney, where he met 
 with Samuel Fisher, who had already been con- 
 vinced, John Stubbs and William Caton having 
 before visited these parts. Previous notice having 
 been given, the meeting at Rumney was very large; 
 and a great convincement took place. At and 
 near Dover, many also were convinced, amongst 
 whom were a Governor and his wife, who had 
 been Baptists, of whom it appears there were 
 great numbers in these parts. At Dover, he found 
 Luke Howard already convinced. At Canterbury, 
 he met with a few honest-hearted people, who 
 were turned to the Lord. From this place, he 
 came again to Cranbrook, where he had another 
 great meeting. 
 
 From Kent, he came into Sussex, and had meet- 
 in<ys at and near Horsham and Steyning, and many 
 in these parts were convinced. " The hearts of 
 the people were opened, and they were turned to 
 Christ Jesus their shepherd, who had purchased 
 them without money, and would feed them with* 
 out price." 
 
 Leaving Sussex, he came to Reading, in Berks, 
 and on First Day had a meeting in an orchard, t^ 
 which a great part of the inhabitants of the town 
 came, and were well satisfied, many of them being 
 convinced. Here two of Judge FelFs daughter*- 
 (probably from London) came to see him ;, also 
 
 t 
 
8^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX* 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 85 
 
 % 
 
 George Bishop, of Bristol, who was a Captain in 
 the army, and at tliis time wore his sword, but 
 afterwards he became an honourable member of 
 llie new society. 
 
 George Fox now came again to I^ndon, where 
 he had some large meetings. Leaving the city, he 
 travelled into Essex, and at Coggeshall had a 
 meeting, at which it was supposed about two thou- 
 sand people were present. " Tlie word of life 
 was freely declared, and the people were turned 
 to tlie Lord Jesus Christ, their teacher and sa- 
 viour." After this, he had some meetings near 
 Colchester, and when in that place, visited James- 
 Parnel, who was in prison there. Of the people 
 in these parts George speaks in this manner, " A 
 great flock of sheep hath the Lord in that country^ 
 M'ho feed in his pastures of life." 
 
 He next came to Ipswich, where he had a small 
 meeting and rude treatment. At Mendlesham he 
 had a large meeting, which he says " was quiet, 
 and the Lord's power was preciously felt." Pass- 
 ing into Norfolk, he came to Captain Lawrence's, 
 where he had a large and quiet meeting ; about 
 one thousand persons being supposed to be pre- 
 sent, of whom many were convinced. He after^ 
 wards came to Norwich and Yarmouth, havmg 
 some service in these places. From Yarmouth he 
 iKeut to several other places m the county, fre* 
 
 ^uently preaching to the people on horseback. 
 At one place he and his companion ordered 
 their horses to be ready at three in the 
 morning, intending for Lynn, about thirty-three 
 miles distant ; but in the night they were inquired 
 after, and arrested by some constables with a hue 
 and cry, on account of a house which, it was said, 
 had been broken into. Tlie next morning they 
 took George and his companion, Richard Hub- 
 berthorn, before a Justice, who manifested an un- 
 kind disposition towards them ; but ^hey being 
 able to prove an alibi, he was obliged to set them 
 at liberty. It appears that the whole was a pre- 
 tence of some envious persons, who wished to 
 bring: GeOrj^e into confinement and sufferins:. A 
 great meeting was afterwards gathered in that 
 town, from which the hue and cry came. 
 
 Being set at liberty, they came to Lynn in the 
 afternoon of that day, and in the evening obtained 
 a meeting with the inhabitants and some soldiers 
 M'ho were in -garrison there. " Many (to use his 
 own words) were convinced, and a fine meeting 
 there is of them that are come off from the hire- 
 lings' teaching, and sit under the teaching of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ." Leavnig Lynn early next 
 morning, they came to Sutton, near the Isle of 
 Ely, where they met with some other Friends, and 
 had a large meeting, to which many people came, 
 some from a considerable distance j also four 
 
aa 
 
 S4 
 
 LIFE OP GEORGE FOX. 
 
 til 
 
 Priests, one of whom was convinced, and some 
 hundreds of the people, the Word of Life beu.g 
 freely declared and gladly received. That even- 
 ing they passed to Cambridge, and met with great 
 rudeness from the scholars, both in the streets and 
 at the inn. Such was the violence exercised by 
 these candidates for the ministry, and other pro- 
 fessions, that when George and his companions 
 were inquired at the inn what they would have for 
 supper, he replied, « Supper! were it not that the 
 Lord's power is over them, these rude scholars 
 look as if they would pluck us in pieces, and make 
 a supper of us." The Mayor of the town was, how- 
 ever, very differently disposed from the Students, 
 and fetched George Fox to his own house. Here 
 they had a good meeting with some well-disposed 
 people, that day or evening ; and early next morn- 
 ing left the place, to the disappointment of some 
 who had entertained evil designs respecting them, 
 and supposed they would continue longer there. 
 
 From Cambridge they came to Bishop-Stortford 
 and Hertford, at both which places some con- 
 vincement took place. Returning to London, 
 'they were gladly received by their friends. Here 
 George, accompanied by Richard Hubberthorn, 
 continued some time visiting Friends, and replying 
 to gainsayers, sometimes by public disputation, 
 and at otliers, by writing. Whilst in London, he 
 also wrote an affectionate Epistle to his Frieudsi 
 
 LIFE OV OEOBGE tOX> 
 
 a* 
 
 to encoufage them under the sufferings and exer- 
 cises which then fell to their lot ; persecution be- 
 ing very prevalent in many parts of the nation. 
 
 Feeling his mind at liberty to leave London, he 
 travelled into Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. 
 At Wellingborough he had a large meeting, and 
 many in those parts were turned to the Lord. 
 Such was the influence of the ministry of George 
 Fox and his friends, that the Presbyterians and 
 Independents hereaway, falsely reported that they 
 carried bottles with them, out of which they gave 
 the people drink, and thus induced them to be- 
 come their followers. These high professors bet- 
 came also .great persecutors of Friends on account 
 of their not paying tithes; tliough tithes were 
 among tlie evils of which they had complained in 
 tlie former Government. 
 
 From Wellingborough George Fox went again 
 into Leicestershire. Colonel Hacker had threa** 
 fened, that if he came there he would im- 
 prison him again, though the Protector had given 
 him his liberty ; but when he came to Whetstoa, 
 where he had been before taken prisoner, he 
 met with no interruption. On the contrary, 
 the Coloners wife and his Marshal, came to 
 a meeting there, and were both convinced, as 
 V^eie also two Justices of the Peace from Wales^ 
 Peter Price and Walter Jcukjiqs, vi\w afterw^rfc 
 
 u 
 
86 
 
 LlPE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1^ 
 
 became Miuisters of Christ. At Wm. Smldi's, at 
 Sileby, George had another meetuig, which wa« 
 largely atteixled, many Baptists coming to it, and 
 one of tlieir teachers being convinced. 
 
 He now came again to Drayton, his native 
 town. The Priests, who had before been very 
 violent against him, were quiet; many of them 
 being engaged in endeavouring to obtain a bene- 
 fice at Nuneaton, which was then vacant by the 
 death of th€ incumbent. He had next a meeting 
 at Badgley ; great numbers came to it, some from 
 a considerable distance, and many were convinced. 
 Tliis was also the case in Nottinghamshire and 
 Derbyshire, in whidi counties he had large meet- 
 ings, and where, he observes, " many were turned 
 from darkness to light, and from the power of 
 Satan to God.** 
 
 He next came into Warwickshire, and had a 
 meeting at Birmingham, where many persons 
 uere convinced. Afterwards he came to Evesham, 
 in Worcestershire, where the Magistrates had cast 
 several Friends into prison ; and hearing of George 
 Fox's coming, had made a pair of high stocks. 
 He went, however, to Evesham widi his usual cou- 
 rage, and in theevening had a large, precious meeting 
 ^vitbFrienas and others, who were refreshed together 
 with the Word of Life. In the morning he went 
 on horseback to the prisons, and visited his friends 
 ' tliere. After which, as he was leaving the town, 
 
 LIPE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 87 
 
 he observed the Magistrates coming to arrest him, 
 but they were too late. The spirit of persecution 
 Mas now very violent in these parts. 
 
 Coming to Worcester, he had a satisfactory 
 meeting there. At Tewkesbury, the Priest, with a 
 rude rabble, attended the meeting, and caused some 
 disturbance. Travelling to Warwick, he had a good 
 meeting at the house of a widow, at which many 
 were convinced ; but the Bailiff manifested a per- 
 secuting spirit, which induced George Fox to go 
 to his house, and remonstrate with him. The peo- 
 ple were rude, but George and his companions, 
 (for several Friends were now with him,) did not 
 suffer any material injury. After leaving War- 
 wick, he was engaged to return to it, and declare 
 the Word of life to them; and being struck at, he 
 showed them their unworthiness of the n?me of 
 Christians. Some, however, both here and at 
 Tewkesbury, were turned to the Lord. 
 
 Being now^ clear of Warw ick, he went to Co- 
 ventry, where he found the people in a dark state. 
 Going to a person's house, where he had been 
 when there before, he found him drunk, lliis so 
 affected George's mind, that he did not go into 
 any house in the town, but rode through some of 
 the streets and the market-place, and, says he, " I 
 felt the power of tlie Lord over the town.'* JTe 
 
 u 2 
 
Ii 
 
 SB 
 
 LJFB #F O&oneE ^QX, 
 
 next came to Dun-Gow, * where he had a meetiug, 
 and many were turned to the Lord hy his Spirit. 
 Here he met with John Camm, whom he styles 
 " a faithful Miiiistes of the everlasting Gospel.** 
 At this place they were treated with much rude- 
 ness in the evening, isome of the people riding on 
 horseback into the room in which the Friends sat, 
 but they were not much injured, y The Lord,' 
 he say^, " gave us dominion over them*'^ 
 
 Passing through Leicestershire, he came to 
 Badgley in Warwickshire, where Wm. Edmundsoa 
 met him, by whom lie wrote an Epistle to Friends 
 ill the North of Ireland, which nOt being long, it 
 may be proper to insert, as a specimen of his 
 short, pithy, mode of expression. When read 
 among those to whom it was addressed, we are 
 told that it had very reaching effect upon them. 
 
 *' Frienps, 
 
 " In that which convinced you wait, that 
 you may have that removed you are convinced of. 
 And all my dear Friends dwell in the life, love, 
 power, and wisdom of God, in unity one with ano- 
 ther, and with God ; and the peace and wisdom of 
 God fill all your hearts, that nothing may mle in 
 vou, but the life which stands in the Lord God. 
 
 G. F.^' 
 
 • ThU is snpposed to Tie the sign of the Duo-Cow. 
 
 CHAP. VIL 
 
 1655 to 1656.— TVoie/A- through the Counties of North* 
 ^ amptottf Bedfurdj and Ilerts^ to London, Leaves Lon- 
 don for Surrey , Sussex, Hants, Dorset j Devon, and 
 Cornwall. Is imprisoned at Launceston about six 
 months, where he is very cruelly treated. 
 
 A FTER writing ihe Epistle to Ireland, George 
 Fox travelled by Swanington and Iligham, intp 
 JN^orthaniptonshire, liedfordshire, and Hertford- 
 shire. At Baldock he met with some Baptists, 
 and visited a sick woman of that profession, who 
 with her husband was convinced, and meetings 
 were held in their house. At the inn, two men 
 were fighting very furiously, and no one durst at- 
 tempt to part them ; but George, with his wonted 
 intrepidity^ stepped beiv>een them, and holding 
 one of them by one hand, and the other by his 
 other hand, he admonished and reconciled them^ 
 and they behaved so well to him, that the people 
 were iu admiration. 
 
 « 
 
 He and his companions now passed by Market- 
 Street and Albans, to London, w here their Friends 
 were comforted by their accounts of the prosperity 
 of truth, and their deliverance from many dangers. 
 At London he stayed some time, visiting the meet- 
 isigs of his Friends. When he left the city, James 
 
90 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX# 
 
 
 Naylor was there, concerning whom, at parting, 
 George felt some fear, which he afterwards fount! 
 not to be groundless. He now travelled, having 
 Edward Pyott for a companion, into Surrey and 
 Sussex. Not far from Ryegate, he visited Tlioma* 
 'iMoore, a Justice of the Peace, who was con- 
 vinced, and became a serviceable man in the 
 society. Passing through Godalmin, Horsham, 
 and Arundel, he came to Chichester. Here some 
 people attended the meeting, Mho were disposed 
 to dispute and make a disturbance. The woman 
 of the house where the meeting was held, was 
 convinced ; but having an offer of marriage from 
 one not a Friend, George Fox endeavoured to 
 dissuade her from it, but in vain. After het 
 marriage, she found her husband greatly in debt, 
 and became deranged in mind ; from which 
 iowever she recovered, and her husband dying, 
 the became sensible of her fault in slighting the 
 advice which George Fox had given her. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE TOX. 
 
 91 
 
 Ulster among Friends. At Dorchester, George 
 had a meeting and dispute with some Baptists ; 
 vhich terminated in the convincement of many 
 who were present. Coming to Weymouth, they 
 had a meeting with about eighty sober people, 
 most of whom were convinced, receiving the truth 
 in the love of it, with gladness of heart. When 
 George and his companion left Weymouth, a Cap- 
 tain of horse accompanied them about seven 
 miles. George says, " This Captain was tlie 
 fattest, merriest, cheerfullest man, and most given 
 to laughter," that he ever met with. This pro- 
 duced several reproofs from him, the last of which 
 appears to have reached the Captain's heart ; and 
 he told George, the next time they met, that when 
 he spoke to* him at parting, the power of the Lord 
 so struck him, that before he got home, he was 
 serious enough ; and had left off his laughing. 
 He was afterwards convinced, and became a se- 
 rious good man, and died in the truth. 
 
 t 
 
 I 9 
 
 Leaving Chichester, they went to Portsmouth, 
 where, after an examination by the Governor, he 
 was set at liberty, and came to Ringwood. Here, 
 and at Pool and- Southampton, several were con- 
 vinced and turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their 
 teacher and Saviour. Among this number, at 
 Pool, was William Bailey, a preacher among the 
 Baptists, who afterwards became an eminent rtri- 
 
 Parting with the Captain, George Fox and his 
 companion came to Honiton, in Devonshire, and 
 after having some dispute with a number of pai*- 
 ticular Baptists, they proceeded to Topsham, 
 where they met with much rudeness among the 
 people ; yet some were convinced, and a Meeting 
 was afterward settled in this town. From Top- 
 sham, they proceeded to Totness, which he calk 
 
92 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 " a dark town." Whilst here, his companion was 
 much indisposed ; but soon recovering, they pro- 
 ceeded to Kingsbridge, where several people were 
 convinced. Coming to Plymouth, they had a 
 very precious meeting at Robert Gary's. Eliza- 
 beth Trelawney, the daughter of a Baronet, at- 
 tendedand was convinced, with several others, and 
 a Meeting was settled there in the Lord's power. 
 
 Leaving Devonshire, they passed into Cornwall, 
 and came to an inn in the parish of Menhenniott, 
 near which a meeting was held that night, at the 
 house of Robert Hancock. This meeting appears 
 to have been the means of extending the principles 
 of Friends, and gathering many into the acknow- 
 ledgment of them. Passing through Penryn and 
 Helston, tliey came to Market Jew, where the 
 Magistrates sent constables for them. The con- 
 stables having no warrant, they refused to attend 
 them, but after some other messages, Edward Pyott 
 went, and had some discourse with the Magis- 
 trates, who gave them no further molestation. At 
 this place George wrote a paper, containing some 
 Christian instruction and advice, which was to be 
 spread in the seven parishes at the Land's End* 
 One of these papers was given, as they were tra.- 
 velling betwixt Market Jew and Ives, to a servant 
 of Peter Ceely, a Justice of Peace and a Major 
 in the army. The servant gave the paper to his 
 
 IIFE OF eEORGE FOX. 
 
 93 
 
 master, and when George and his companions 
 came to Ives, they were taken before the Major. 
 George having walked to the sea shore, was not 
 present when his companions were taken ; but 
 when lie knew where they were, he followed them 
 of his own accord. After some conversation, and 
 tendering the oath of abjuration, Ceely committed 
 them to a party of soldiers, to take them either to 
 Pendennis Castle, or to Launceston Gaol. On 
 the way, at Redruth, they had some religious ser- 
 vice, also at Smethick, the same as is now called 
 Falmouth. Here Captain Keat, who commanded 
 the guard, conducted himself so rudely and impro- 
 perly, by permitting a relation of his to insult and 
 even strike George Fox, that he sent for the 
 constables, and asked the Captain for his warrant 
 On his showing it, George observed that he had 
 broken his order, and desired one of the constables 
 to keep the warrant, which he did, and refused to 
 return it, till they had shown it to the Officers at 
 the Castle, who expressed great disapprobation 
 of Captain Keat's conduct. The Captain and his 
 guard were now so humbled, that they promised to 
 be more civil, if the prisoners would go w ith them> 
 and they might have their order again, with which 
 the constables at length complied. 
 
 Captain Fox, Governor of Pendennis Castle, not 
 being there, the prisoners were taken by Bodmin 
 to Launceston ;^ but on the road, Keat and his 
 
94 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 party of soldiers manifested much malice toward* 
 them, at least to George Fox, whose life the Cap- 
 tain seemed desirous of being taken ; but his evil 
 designs were frustrated. When they came to 
 Lauuceston, the Captain delivered his prisoners to 
 the gaoler. They had no Friends here to assist 
 them, and the gaoler was very exorbitant in his 
 demands for their support, and that of their horses ; 
 but after some time, they were visited by a few of 
 tlie iuhabitautss of the town and the neighbouring 
 country, several of whom were convinced ; which, 
 caused great anger among the priests and many 
 other high professors. Thus we see how persecution 
 often defeats its own object, and by an over-ruling. 
 
 Providence, is made the means of spreading those 
 principles, which it is intended to suppress : In« 
 
 deed, one of the Protector's Chaplains, when he 
 heard of Georoe Fox's confinement at Launces- 
 ton, told Oliver, that tiiey could not do George 
 Fox a greater service, for tlie spreading of his 
 principles in Cornwall, than to imprison him there. 
 
 Now commenced a long imprisonment, marked 
 with much injustice and cruelty, but borne witli 
 that firmness and patience, which are the peculiar 
 characteristics of George Fox. Besides Edward 
 Pyott of Bristol, William Salt was at this time in 
 ^ompany with George ; and all three were com- 
 mitted to prison. About nine weeks after their 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX* 
 
 95 
 
 commitment, tlie Assizes commenced, and Jud<^e 
 ■Glyn, who was Chief Justice, came the circuit. 
 When the prisoners were brought mto court, 
 George saluted it with " Peace be amongst you." 
 The Friends keeping their hats on, consistently with 
 dieir principles, the J udge ordered them to take them 
 off, with which they not complying, the Judge, after 
 some debate, remanded them to prison, between 
 Avhich place and the court, they were repeatedly 
 taken backward and forward. Gorge Fox having 
 tjueried where any Magistrate, either Jew or Hea- 
 then, from Moses to Daniel, required the hat to 
 be put off before him, the Judge not being ready 
 with a reply at the tinie, afterwards sent far 
 <jeorge aiKl his companions from prison, and 
 asked them, " Where had tliey hats from Moses 
 to Daniel ? Come answer me, I liave you fast now." 
 To this George replied, " Thou mayest read in 
 the third of Daniei, that the three children were 
 <;ast into the fiery ftirnace with their coats, their 
 hose, and their hats on." The Judge finding he 
 could not prevail with argument, had recoiuse to 
 dienstral cry, " Take them away, Gaoler.'* 
 
 Whilst George was in court, he was much af- 
 fected with observing the frequent use of oaths, 
 which induced him to give a paper against swear- 
 ing, that he had with him, to the Jurv. This 
 bemg shown to the Judge, he asked George whe- 
 ther that seditious paper was his, who desired it 
 
96 
 
 LITE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 to be read, that he might know whether it was hi» 
 or not, and that those who heard it might judge 
 w4iether it contained any thing seditious, llie 
 Judge showed much reluctance to the paper being 
 read ; but the matter was so pressed upon him, 
 that he at length permitted it ; and George Fox 
 publickly owned it to be his, and showed its con- 
 sistency with the doctrine of Christ and the Apostle 
 James. 
 
 Major Ceely, who was in court, manifested 
 much malice on this occasion, bringing false ac- 
 cusations against George Fox, which he could not 
 substantiate, and of the falsehood of which the 
 Judge and Court seemed sensible. One of the 
 accusations was, that George Fox told him (Ceely) 
 that he could raise forty thousand men at an hour's 
 warning, and requesting Ceely's assistance. This 
 George disproved, by obtaining, with much dif- 
 ficulty, his mittimus to be read, and by his com- 
 ments upon it. The other charge of Major Ceely 
 was, that George Fox had struck him in the pre- 
 sence of Captain Bradden. The Captain was in 
 court, and George Fox called upon him to give 
 evidence if he saw any such thiug, but he would 
 not come forward to support the charge. At 
 night he came to see George and his companions, 
 and told him that neither the Judge, nor any of 
 the Court, gave credit to Major Ceely 's charges* 
 It seems George Fox had reproved the Major fw 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE TOX. 
 
 97 
 
 his hypocrisy,' which he chose to represent in a 
 different manner, as if he had struck him with 
 ijis hands. 
 
 It is lamentable to observe how weakly justice 
 was administered at this time. George Fox and 
 his companions were brought to no regular trial, 
 but being remanded to prison, they were detained 
 there till the following Assizes. Many persons of 
 repute came to visit them in prison, of whom 
 Humphrey Lower, who had been a Justice of the 
 Peace, was convinced; and the prejudices of some 
 
 others, who had been of an opposing spirit, were 
 
 much removed. 
 * ■ 
 
 Being now likely to continue long in confine- 
 ment, the prisoners thought proper to send their 
 horses into the country, and also to withdraw the 
 allowance of 7 s. per week each for themselves. 
 This greatly irritated the jailer, who appears to 
 have been a very wicked man. He put the pri- 
 soners into a filthy place, called Doomsdale, where 
 they were most inhumanly treated by the two 
 jailers, both of vihom had been burnt in the hand 
 and shoulder for their crimes.* Whilst in this dismal 
 
 * George Fox*s description of this place, is more suitable 
 for a note than for the body of the work. He says it was " m 
 nasty stinkinj; pi ice, where they used to put murderers af* 
 ter they were coudeianed. The place was so noisome, thiv^ 
 
98 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 place, flie prisoners were told that it was haunted by 
 evil spirits, which, however, excited no uneasiness 
 in their minds; on the contrary, George Fox told 
 those who had endeavoui^d to alarm tliem with 
 this report, that " if all the spirits and devils in 
 hell were there, he was over them in the power of 
 God, and feared no such thing." Tliis is similar 
 to an answer of Martin Luther to some of hi^ 
 friends, who discouraged him from going to a 
 place where it was thought his enemies would 
 make him prisoner: " If I knew," says he, " there 
 were as many devils at Worms, as there are tiles 
 on the houses, I would go." Indeed, there 
 appears to have been a considerable similarity of 
 character between these two Reformers. 
 
 The time of the Quarter Sessions approaching, 
 George Fox and his companions laid their case 
 before the Justices at Bodmin, who gave such 
 
 it was observed, few who went in did ever come out again 
 in health. There was no house of office in it, and the ex- 
 crements of the prisoners had not been carried out, as we 
 were told, for many years, so that it was all like mire, and 
 io some places to the top of the shoes in water and urine ; 
 and the jailer would not let us cleanse it, or have any straw 
 to lie on.** In addition, the jailer poured the excrements 
 of the felons, who lay over this place, upon George Fox 
 and his companions, hecause they burnt some straw to cor- 
 rect the offensive smell, by the smoke of which the jaikr 
 was anooyed. 
 
 ■99 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 09 
 
 orders, as considerably improved their situation. 
 The prisoners also represented tlieir case to the 
 Protector, in consequence of w hich, Captain Keat 
 and his kinsman, who struck George at Falmouth, 
 were censured, and the Captain's relation was told, 
 that George might take the advantage of the law, 
 and recover damages of him ; but this, as usual, 
 was declined. A considerable check was, by this 
 means, put to the persecuting spirit which had beea 
 manifested ; and Friends were not molested for 
 preaching in markets, or places of worship. 
 Great darkness as to religion, prevailed in these 
 parts at this time ; but through the sufferings and 
 labours of George Fox and his Friends, " the 
 Lord's light and truth broke forth, and many were 
 turned from darkness to light, and from Satan's 
 power to God." 
 
 During his confmement hei*e, various circum- 
 stances occurred, which afforded occasion for the 
 exercise of that courage and presence of mind, 
 which were remarkably conspicuous in the cha- 
 racter of George Fox. At one time, whilst one 
 of his fellow-prisoners was admonishing a sol- 
 dier, George observed the soldier beginning to 
 draw his sword ; upon which he stepped up to 
 him, and represented what a shame it was for a 
 soldier to attempt to draw his sword, upon a naked 
 man and a prisoner, telling him how unfit he ^vas 
 
 1 2 
 
100 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 301 > 
 
 I 
 
 to wear such a weapon, and that some men would 
 have taken his sword from him, and broken it in 
 pieces. The soldier, meeting with this seasonable 
 reproof, was so ashamed, that he immediately 
 M'itiidrcw, without doing any injury, -At another 
 time, the jailer endeavoured to introduce George 
 to a man who was committed to the prison for 
 being a conjuror. The jailer's view, it seems, 
 ivas for the conjuror to do an injury to George 
 Fox ; but he, aware of the jailer's evil disposi- 
 tion, detected the man twice with a naked knife in 
 liis hand, no doubt with a bad desijjn. George' 
 re])roved the conjuror so severely, that he was 
 afterwards afraid to come near him. 
 
 Whilst the prisoners were confined at Launces- 
 ton, Edward Pyott, who seems to have been well 
 acquainted with the law, represented their case at 
 length to the Chief Ju5tice Glyn, in which he 
 manifested not only the injustice, but the illegality 
 of their coniinement, and particularly of the 
 Judge's conduct, when they were brought before 
 lam at the Assizes. Tliis does not however appear 
 to have procured them any relief; but the Lord, 
 who knew the integrity of their hearts, and tlie 
 innocency of their cause, was with them, and sup- 
 ported them in their sufferings, which were thus 
 made easy to them, and opportunities were af- 
 forded to publish his name and truth among the 
 
 people. Several of the townspeople were con- 
 vinced, many became loving to them, and Friends 
 and others from distant parts came to visit them. 
 Among these was the wife of Judge Hagget, of 
 Bristol, who was convinced with several of her 
 children. Her husband also became very kmd 
 and serviceable to Friends, which disposition he 
 continued till his death. 
 
 The Mayor of Launceston being much disposed 
 to take up and imprison Friends, and frequently to 
 examine their pockets, &c. for any thing he might 
 find to criminate them, George made use of this cir- 
 cumstance to convey to the Mayor an account of 
 his inhuman and unchristian conduct. He drew up 
 the account in writmg, and gave k to a young man, 
 whom he directed to go a back way out of the 
 town, and return through the gates, where it seems 
 the Mayor had placed watchmen, to examine 
 those who were suspected to be Quakers. Tlie 
 young man was carried before the Mayor, who 
 searched his pockets, and found the letter ; which, 
 when he had read it, miule him so ashamed of hi» 
 conduct, that he seldom afterwards meddled with. 
 Friends. 
 
 Although George Fox and his companions 
 were contumed in prison till a second Assizes, yet 
 they were not called before the Judges any more ; 
 
 1 3 
 
 '11 
 
lOG 
 
 LIFE OF GEOIfGE FOX. 
 
 m% 
 
 -iitf 
 
 tliey had, however, considerable service in pro- 
 moting the cause for which ihey suffered, during 
 the Assizes. Among others, Thomas Lower, who 
 afterwards married a dauarhter of Judge Fell, 
 visited them, offering them money, which they re- 
 fused. George Fox was concerned to speak par- 
 ticularly to him, and he afterwards said, that 
 George's words were as a flash of lightning, they 
 ran so through him ; with more to the same purpose. 
 He was not only himself convinced, but returning 
 home among his relations, and informing them 
 what he had met with, his aunt and her sister went 
 to visit the prisoners, and were also convinced by 
 them. 
 
 Whilst George Fox was in prison at Lnunces- 
 ton, a Friend went to Oliver Cromwell, and offered 
 himself, body for body, in his stead. The Pro- 
 tector was struck with this disinterested act of 
 friendship, and said to those about him, " VMiich 
 of you would do so much for me, if 1 were in the 
 same condition?" He did not, however, think 
 that he could legally accept the Friend's offer ; 
 but some time after, he sent Major General Des- 
 borow to Cornwall, with an intention or pretence 
 to set them at liV'rty: bat the Major requiring 
 such c )iii{itiou3 a^ they could not comply with, 
 they did not at this time obtahi their liberty; but 
 General Desboro a left the busiacss in the hands of 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 103 
 
 Colonel Bennett, who at length released them, 
 on the 13th of 7th month, 1636, having been 
 prisoners above six months. One of the jailers 
 who had treated them with much cruelty, was not 
 only turned out of his place the next year, but also 
 committed to the same filthy jail, where he was 
 locked in irons, beaten, and bid to remember his 
 former wicked conduct to the Quakers ; of whom 
 he had now to beg relief. He died in prison; and 
 his family came to great distress. 
 
CHAP. VIII. 
 
 IQ5S — Being released, he visits other Places in Cornwall-'^ 
 Passes through Launceston into Devon^^At Exeter Jinds 
 James Naylor in Prison, in a darkened State ofMind'-^ 
 Admonishes him and his Companions — Comes to Bristol, 
 and lias two large Meetings^^Travels to London, and 
 •visits Oliver Cromwell — Travels into the North as fan 
 as Yorkshire, and returns to London* 
 
 After George Fox and his friends were 
 liberated from this imprisonment, they took horses 
 and went to the house of Humphrey Lower, and 
 afterwards to Loveday Hambley's. At both these 
 places they had large meetings, at which many 
 were convinced and " turned to the Lord Jesus- 
 Christ, their teacher." After this a general meet- 
 ing for the whole county was held at Thomas 
 Mounce's, which, being too large for any of the 
 buildings, was held in the orchard. Friends from 
 other counties attended the meeting. Here, and 
 in several other parts of Cornwall, there were 
 many added to the society ; and all opposition and 
 persecution seemed for awhile to be removed. 
 
 In passing out of Cornwall into Devon, George 
 Pox and his companions went through Launces- 
 ton, where they visited a few of their friends who 
 had been raised up there during their confinement. 
 Here the constable followed them with a cheese 
 which he had takea from £dward Pyott; and kept 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 105 
 
 all that time without using it ; but the cheese not 
 being wanted by the Friends, they declined ac- 
 cepting it. At Okington, or Oakhampton, they 
 lodged at an inn, kept by the Mayor of the town, 
 who had formerly taken up several Friends, but 
 was now very civil to them. These circumstance* 
 show the different dispositions tv hich now seemed 
 to prevail, even among their persecutors ; and how, 
 by their faithful and patient suffering, the opposing 
 spirit was not only restrained, but in many instances 
 mollified and changed. 
 
 A fresh source of trial now awaited George Fox, 
 from the improper conduct of one of his own Friends. 
 It was abqut this time that James Naylor was led 
 into many extravagancies of imagination and self- 
 exaltation. George Fox met with him at Exeter, 
 and soon saw the darkened state of his mind, and 
 of those who accompanied him ; he therefore re- 
 proved and admonished them; but at that time his 
 admonitions were slighted ; yet afterwards, wheu 
 James Naylor saw into the error of his conduct, 
 his resisting the advice of George Fox became "the 
 cause of great uneasiness to him. .Indeed he af- 
 terwards clearly saw how exceedingly he had 
 missed his way, and his feeling acknowledgments 
 of it, place his disposition and character in an 
 amiable point of view. 
 
 It does not appear that any mcteting was held at 
 Eiieter, except in the prison, where James Naylor 
 
106 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX* 
 
 lor 
 
 ivas confined, at which a corporal was convinced, 
 who, to us€ George Fox's own words, " remained 
 a very good Fnend." He had several other meet- 
 ings hereaway, as at Collumpton, Taunton, Pud- 
 dimore, and at John Dander's. There was a 
 great convincement in these parts, and " many," 
 he observes, " were turned by the power and 
 Spirit of God to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died 
 for them ; and they came to sit under his free 
 teaching." 
 
 George Fox now came to the house of his fel- 
 low-labourer and fellow-prisoner, Edward Pyoti, 
 near Bristol. . The report of his coming there 
 soon spread through the city, where, the next day^ 
 being the first of the week, he had two large 
 meetings. At the latter, which was held in au 
 orchard, Paul Gwin, a Baptist, attempted to stir 
 up the people to rudeness, and addressed them ia 
 this manner : " Ye wise men of Bristol, I strange 
 at you that you will stand here, and hear a man 
 speak and affirm that which he cannot make good.'* 
 George Fox had not yet spoken at all, but was. 
 standing silent with his hat off on a stone, on 
 which Friends used to stand when they spoke. 
 This gave George an opportunity of exposing the 
 man's character; after which he preached to the 
 people for several hours ; and at the conclusion of 
 the meeting, " was moved to pray in the mighty 
 power of God, aud the Lord's power came over 
 
 all ; a blessed day it was, and the Lord had the 
 praise." 
 
 Leaving Bristol, he, with Edward Pyott and 
 another IViend, travelled towards London, having 
 a large meeting at Slattenford, (Slaughterford, I 
 suppose,) and another at the house of Nathaniel 
 Crips, who had been a Justice of the Peace in 
 Wiltshire ; at which it was supposed between two 
 and three thousand people were present. From 
 this meeting he says " the people went away ge- 
 nerally satisfied, and were glad that they were 
 turned to Christ Jesus, their teacher and saviour." 
 They had also meetings at Marlborough, New- 
 bury, Reading, and Kingston-upon-Thames, all of 
 which, it appears, were quiet and uninterrupted ; 
 and several persons were convinced. When at Marl* 
 borough, it was the time of the Sessions, and some 
 of the Justices were preparing to issue a warrant 
 to apprehend George Fox ; but a Justice Stooks 
 prevented it, telling them that he had held a 
 meeting at his house the day before, at which se- 
 veral thousands were present. This would, no 
 doubt, be accompanied with the representation 
 of some favourable circumstances which satisfied 
 tlie other Justices. 
 
 As George Fox came to London, he met Oliver 
 Cromwell riding in his coach in Hyde-Park, ttd 
 
 i 
 
 \.\ 
 
loe 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 being desirous of speaking to bim, rode to the 
 side of tbe coacb, which some of the life guards 
 endeavouring to prevent, the Protector desired 
 them to permit him. He then rode by tbe side 
 of the coacb, and spoke to the Protector respect- 
 ing bis spiritual state; George also represented 
 the sufferings of Friends in divers parts of the 
 nation ; showing the inconsistency of persecution 
 wiA the spirit of Christianity. When they parted, 
 the Protector desired him to come to his house; 
 and when be returned to Whitehall, informed 
 one of bis wife's attendants, who bad been con- 
 vinced, that George Fox was come to London, 
 and she tbe next day visited bim at bis lodgings. 
 
 During their continuance in London, George 
 J^ox and Edward Pyott went to W hitehall, to lay 
 before the Protector the sufferings of their friends. 
 Tliey found Francis Owen, the Vice-Chancellor of 
 Oxford, with him. After representing their friends' 
 sufferings to the Protector, they " directed him to 
 tbe Light of Christ, which had enlightened every 
 man that cometh into the world." This produced 
 Bome controversy, in which the Protector con- 
 ducted himself w ith an unbecoming levity, though, 
 it ai>pears, under the feeling of some strong con- 
 victions. After he had left the room, George Fox 
 and his companions withdrew ; and as they were 
 going away, they met w ith several persons belong- 
 
 .ypE ar george fox. 
 
 lOb 
 
 ing to the court, with one of whom they entered 
 into some controversy; butG eorge finding that he was 
 an officer in Northamptonshire, who bad severely 
 persecuted Friends, reproved him sharply for it, 
 .upon which the officer was glad to slip away^ 
 ashamed, it seems, of bis miciuistian conduct. 
 
 After visiting Meetings in and about London, 
 George Fox went into Buckinghamshire, Edward 
 Pyott still continuing vvith him. They bad great 
 meetings, and many received the truth in tb^t 
 county. After this, George passed through North- 
 amptonshire and Nottinghamshire, into Lincoln- 
 shire, where he had several meetings, at one of. 
 which the W^rays, who are mentioued before, were 
 present. After this meeting, when it was dark, 
 " a company of wild serving men" encompassed 
 George, with a design, it seems, to have done 
 him mischief; but he, with his usual courage, 
 spoke to them, and said, " What are ye ? High- 
 waymen ?" This seemed to put them to a stand, 
 and soon after, some Friends and others coming; 
 up, George reproved the men for their rude be- 
 haviour, and gave them some serious advice. 
 *' The Lord's power, he says, came over them, and 
 stopped their mischievous design. Blessed be bis 
 name for ever." 
 
 From Lincolnshire, George Fox came inW 
 .HontiDgdoiislbire^ M Huutingdan, the Mayer 
 
no 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 was very civil, and his wife received tbe truth. 
 Coming into Cambridgeshire, he was joined by 
 Alexander Parker, Amos Stoddart, and Robert 
 Craven ; the last had been Sheriff of Lincoln. 
 They had many meetings in the county of Cam- 
 bridge, by which the principles of truth were 
 spread among the people. At Crowland, in Lin- 
 colnshire, they met with a rude reception from the 
 priest and people, many of whom they found at 
 an inn, almost in a state of intoxication. George 
 reproved them for their immoral conduct, with 
 which the priest and clerk were so much enraged, 
 that they took up the tire shovel and poker, and 
 attempted to beat the Friends with them; but 
 were not permitted to do them any material injury. 
 In this place however some received the truth, 
 which was also the case at Boston, where they met 
 with a different reception, the people appearing 
 to be much satisfied with their ministry. They 
 had many large meetings in those parts, after 
 which George Fox came into Yoi^tshire, and re- 
 turned again into Lincolnshire, going afterwards 
 into Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, 
 and Warwickshire. At Edgehill, he had sent no* 
 lice of a meeting about three weeks before he 
 came there. It was, as may be supposed, very 
 numerously attended, and consisted of many both, 
 of his friends and enemies. Of this meeting he 
 says, " The Lord's everlasting truth and word of 
 life reached over all ; rude and unruly spirits ^yere 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Ill 
 
 chained down ; and many that day were turned 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ, came to sit under his 
 blessed free teaching, and to be fed with his eternal 
 heavenly food." 
 
 From Edgehill he came to W^arwlck and Rag- 
 ley; after which he went into Gloucestershire, 
 and returned by various places, as Oxford, Cirtn- 
 tester, and Evesham, to London. At Oxford, h« 
 met with much rudeness from the students ; but it 
 does not appear that he sustained any injury. 
 
 He had now travelled over the greatest part of 
 England, in the exercise of his gift, as a gospel 
 minister ; arid great was the success which attended 
 his labours. He also took great pains to remove 
 objections which had been raised against him and 
 his friends, and against the doctrhies which they 
 preached. In reviewing his late exercises and tra- 
 vels, he expresses himself thus ; " In this year, 1 God, 
 the Lord's truth was finely planted over the nation, 
 and many thousands were turned to the Lord, so 
 that there were seldom fewer than one thousand in 
 prison in this nation, for truth's testimony. 
 
 K ^ 
 
*-.» ^ OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 US 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 1656'^J. — j4t London wriics rcriotis Epistles, tifH iJsSf- 
 the Meetings of his Friends. -^TrareU into Kent, Sussex^ 
 Surrey, Hants, ^c. to BristuL^^Visits part of JVuies* 
 — Learw it for awhile, but soon returns, ^-^QoeM into 
 Cheshire and lAtncashirC'^M SvtaHhnort stays about 
 - tvo vieeks.^^Tr axels through Westmoreland and Cum* 
 berland, towards Scotlofid* 
 
 ?T HILST G^orge^ Fox >^'as'in London, he' 
 employed aiuch of his lime in writing Epistle?, 
 relating to the state of the Society which he had 
 been ia§truiQeutal in gathering, with some also to 
 it3 opponents. In these epistles, he manifested 
 the extensiveness of his mind, by embracing the 
 various circumstances connected with the preser- 
 vation of the society in unity and peace, and in the 
 discharge of its religious duties. He also effectually 
 repelled the attacks of those who were opposing 
 its principles, which he laboured much to explain 
 and defend. 
 
 Having discharged various services in and about 
 London, he travelled mto Kent, Sussex, Surrey, 
 and Hants, " visiting Friends." From the use of 
 this expression about thia time, it seems the direc- 
 tion of his services was in soine degree altered, 
 which was indeed a necessary cousecjuence of the 
 
 success of his former labours. He had not now, 
 as formerly, to travel wholly among strangers to 
 him, and, in a great measure, to his doctrine ; but 
 he began thus early to reap the fruit of his faithful 
 labours and patient sufferings. It was now near 
 the close of the year 1656, a very short time since 
 the commencement of his public ministry ; and 
 we have already seen that a society of many thou- 
 sands had been formed. He had, no doubt, many 
 fellow labourers, who greatly promoted the same 
 good work. Great indeed was the success which 
 attended their labours, and thus it has frequently 
 pleased Divine Providence to produce <Treat 
 changes in the religious world, to the revival of 
 gospel truth, and the spreading of gospel licrht. 
 In contemplating these circumstances, though 
 human means are used, we do not find that human 
 power or exertions can, at their pleasure, effect it. 
 We may therefore say ; " This is the Lord's 
 doing, it is marvellous in our eyes." 
 
 In travelling through the counties above-meiv 
 tioned, George Fox and his companions met with 
 some rude treatment at different places, particu- 
 larly at Farnham and Basingstoke. Coming to 
 Bridport, in Dorsetshire, a design was formed to 
 apprehend him ; but it did not succeed. Several 
 were convinced iu this place, and a Meeting 
 settled. At Portsmouth, Pool, and Rinjjwood, He 
 
 K o 
 
 f 
 
 •I' 
 
fU 
 
 tlFE OF CEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEOHGi; tOX. 
 
 Uo 
 
 had large and favoured meetings, " and many werd 
 turned to tlie Lord." After having a meeting at 
 Weymouth, they came through Dorchester to 
 Lyme, where the inn was so much occupied with 
 a company of mountebanks, that it was with diffi- 
 culty they could obtain accommodation. At this 
 place, some of the people were effectually reached, 
 and turned, "by the light and spirit of Christ, tohijr 
 free teaching.*' 
 
 After travelling in those parts, they came to 
 Exeter, and at an inn called the Seven Stars, a 
 general meeting was held of Friends out of Corn- 
 wall and Devon. Of this meeting George Fox 
 writes thus : '^ A blessed heavenly meeting we had, 
 and the Lord's everlasting power came over all, 
 in which I saw and said, that the Lord's power 
 bad surrounded this nation as with a wall and bul- 
 wark, and his seed reached from sea to sea.'' 
 
 The day after this meeting, some soldiers wer*' 
 sent to apprehend George Fox; but before they 
 had opportunity, he had left Exeter, from which 
 place he came to Bristol, and thence went into 
 "Wales, and had a meeting at the Slone. Coming 
 to Cardiff, he and his companions received much 
 kindness from a Justice of the Peace, and next- 
 day they had a meeting at the Town-Hall, to 
 which seventeen of the Justice's famiJ-y came. 
 Though some who attended this meeiing eiidea-- 
 
 voured at first to cause disturbance, vet he ob- 
 serves, respecting it, that " many were turned to 
 the Lord." 
 
 From Cardiff they came to Swansea, where a 
 meeting was now established. In various other 
 parts of South Wales they had meetings, till they 
 came to Brecknock. Here they met with much 
 rude treatment, and were in considerable danger ; 
 but were preserved from suffering any material 
 injury. Tliomas Holmes and John ap John were 
 now George Fox's companions ; the latter, it 
 seems, had gone into the streets at Brecknock, to 
 preach to the people, which caused a great dis- 
 turbance and much rudeness. George Fox wrote 
 a paper to the inhabitants, and also personolly re- 
 proved them, as he left the town, for their un- 
 christian conduct. Going into the country, they 
 had a meeting in a public burying ground, which, 
 was very largely attended : *' Many were con- 
 vinced and settled in the truth that day." After 
 the meeting, a Justice of the Peace said to Geor<ye 
 Fox, " You have this day given great satisfaction 
 to the people, and answered all the objections that 
 were in their minds." At Pont-y-moyle they had 
 another large meeting, which was attended by 
 many persons of consequence in the neighbour- 
 hood. Here again many were convinced, and "a 
 large meeting gathered and settled in the name of 
 Jesus," 
 
 I 
 
116 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE F0..» 
 
 Leaving Wales for a time, they came to Sbrews- 
 hury, where they had a large meeting, and another 
 at William Gandy's, in Cheshire. At the last 
 meeting between two and three thousand people 
 "Were supposed to be present. " A blessed meet- 
 ing it was; for Friends were settled by the power 
 of God, upon Jesus Christ, the rock and foun- 
 dation." 
 
 About this time there was a jrreat drou^^ht in 
 the nation, on which account the Protector issued 
 a proclamation for a general fast. George Fox 
 was concerned on this occasion to publish a paper 
 on the subject of fasts; he also addressed one to 
 the Protector, in which he told him, " If he had 
 come to own God's truth, he should have had 
 rain; and that drought was to them a sign of their 
 barrenness, and want of the water of lite.'* 
 
 George Fox and his companions now came 
 again into Wales, and passed through Montgomery- 
 shire into Radnorshire. In one place in this county 
 they had a remarkably large meeting. George did 
 not go into it at first, but desired John ap John 
 to go, and if he had any thing to communicate to 
 the people, to speak in Welch, by which more 
 people might be collected. When the meeting 
 was gathered, a person of the name of Morgan 
 W atkins came to George, and said to him : ''JTjie 
 
 i! 
 
 LIFE OF GEOnCE FOX*. 
 
 117 
 
 pleople lie like a leaguer,* and the gentry of the 
 country is come in." After a little time Georjre 
 went into ihc^ meeting, which was in the open air, 
 and standing upon a chair, for awhile in silence, 
 he afterwards preached for about two hours to the 
 people. " The scriptures were opened to them; 
 they were directed to the light of Christ, that by 
 it they might sec their sins, and Christ Jesus to be 
 their Sa\iour, their Redeemer, their Mediator ; 
 and come to feed on him, the Bread of Life, from 
 heaven. Many were turned to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and to his free teaching, that day; and all 
 were bowed down under the power of God; 
 though the nmltitude was so great, that many sat 
 on horseback to hear, there was no opposition." 
 
 After this meeting, George Fox came to Leo- 
 minster, in Herefordshire, having Thomas Taylor 
 with him. Here again he had a large meeting in 
 a field, at which several congregational preachers 
 attended. George's mind was much enlarged in 
 preaching the gosped to the people. The Priest 
 of Leominster made some opposition to his doc- 
 trine, which produced a controversy, in which the 
 Priest not succeeding, endeavoured to prevail ou 
 the Magistrates to arrest George, but in vain. 
 This meeting was of great service in those parts. 
 " The Lord's power came over all, the everlasting 
 
 I 
 
 « 
 
 Bailey explains this word— A sit'ge laid to a town. 
 
118 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 119 
 
 truth was declared that day, and many were turned 
 by it to the Lord Jesus Christ, their teacher and 
 Yiay to God." 
 
 Travelling through South Wales, he came to 
 Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, and as he entered the 
 town, a Justice of the Peace invited him to his 
 house. George accepted the invitation. On the 
 first day of the week he had a meeting, which was 
 attended by the Mayor and his wife, and others of 
 the principal inhabitants. Whilst George Fox 
 uas engaged in this meeting, his companion, John 
 ap John, went to the public place of worship, 
 where Le was taken, and by the Governor com- 
 mitted t' prison. This endangered George's 
 safety, for he was the next morning sent for by 
 the Governor; the Mayor and Justice went be- 
 fore him, hoping, it seems, to moderate the Go- 
 vernor's mind. When George entered the Gover- 
 nor's habitation, he said, " Peace be to this 
 house," and afterwards asked the Governor why 
 he cast his friend into prison. To which he re- 
 plied, ** For standing with his hat on in the 
 church." On this George said, " Had not the 
 Priest two caps on his head, a black one and a 
 white one ? Cut off the brims of the hat, and then 
 my friend will have but one, the brims were but 
 to defend him from weather." " These are fri- 
 volous things," said the Governor. " Why, then," 
 replied George," " dost thou cast my friend 
 
 iiito prison for such frivolous things.'* After 
 this they had some conversation on election and 
 reprobation. The Governor then became mo- 
 derate, and they parted friendly ; John ap John 
 being soon after released. Returning to the Jus- 
 tice's hospitable mansion, he and the Mayor, with 
 their wives and several others, accompanied George 
 and his companions to the waterside, where they 
 parted, George being first engaged to " kneel 
 down with them, and to pray to the Lord God to 
 preserve them." 
 
 From Tenby they came to Pembroke and Ha- 
 verfordwest, at both which places they had reli- 
 gious service ; and a Meeting was settled at the 
 latter. Whilst tiiey w^ere at Haverfordwest, there 
 •was a fair, by which many people were collected. 
 George and his companion " passed through the 
 fair, «nd sounded tiie day of the Lord, and his 
 everlasting truth amongst them." They now pro- 
 ceeded towards North Wales, and, at various 
 places, met with much rude treatment ; their 
 borses also being repeatedly robbed of their 
 corn. On this subject, George exclaims, " A 
 wicked, thievish people, to rob the poor dumb 
 creature of his food! I had rather they had robbed 
 me." He and his companions laboured in gospel 
 love amongst these rude people, and had some service 
 amongst them. In the course of their travels, 
 they came to a very high hill, (Cader Idris, 1 sup- 
 
 I 
 
IQO 
 
 •AIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 pose,) from uhich there is an extensive prospect, 
 iHere George took a view of tlie surrounding coun- 
 try, and " told Jojiu ap John, a faithful Welch 
 minister, iii what places God would raise up a 
 people to himself, to sit wider his own teaching." 
 This his companion noticed, and afterwards foiui4 
 the eveiit to verify the prediction. Desce»dii>g 
 from this hill, they came to DoIgelJe, where John 
 ,ap John preached in Welch to the people, in the 
 streets. This brought on a dispute, in V\ eldb, 
 with two Independent Priests ; on which George 
 Fox requested them to speak in English, and he 
 then took a part in it. The priests asserted that 
 the light which John tlie Baptist came to bear 
 witness to, was a created natural light. This gave 
 George an opportunity to e^Lplain the subject at 
 large ; after which, his companion interpreted it 
 to the people, many of whom did not understand 
 the English language. The priests were silenced, 
 and the people in general well satistied ; which 
 they afterwards expressed when the Friends left 
 the town. Here George says : " A precious seed 
 the Lord hath thereaway, and a great people in 
 those parts is since gathered to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to sit under his free teaching; and they 
 have suffered much for him." 
 
 Leaving Dolgelle, they came to Caernarvon 
 mnd Beaumaris, where they were exercised in gos^ 
 pel labour amongst the people ; and at the lattlc 
 
 iLIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1^1 
 
 place, John ap John was imprisoned a few hours. 
 In crossing a water near Beaumaris, they met with 
 interruption from some persons who called them- 
 selves gentlemen, and who endeavoured to prevent 
 John ap John's getting into the boat with his horse. 
 This induced George to ride to the side of tli€ 
 boat ; and after reprov ing the young men, he 
 leaped his horse into it, expecting his companion's 
 w ould have followed ; but this not being the case, 
 on account of the depth of the water, George 
 leaped his horse out again, and staid with John ap 
 John till the boat returned. Here they were de- 
 tained till afternoon, and had forty-two uiiles to ride 
 that evening. After they had crossed the water and 
 paid their passage, they found that they had but 
 one groat in money left between them. This in- 
 duced them to travel all night, and eai)y iu the 
 morning they came to a place within a ft a miles 
 of Wrexham ; where, that day, they met with ;; -^ny 
 Friends, and "had a glorious meeting, the Lu: '*s 
 everlasting power and truth being over ail." Here 
 they were refreshed in body and mind, for iliey 
 had undergone great fatigue in travelling through 
 Wales ; finding it difficult, in many places, to pro- 
 cure refreshment for themselves or their horses. 
 After travelling in Flintshire, they came to Wrex- 
 ham, where they met with many of what George 
 calls " Floyds People," a relio;ious society, I sup- 
 pose, lliey were very rude and light iu their 
 
 I 
 
1C2 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 123 
 
 behaviour ; but they met with suitable reproof. 
 Some persons were however convinced in this 
 town. In reviewing his religious services in the 
 IVincipahly of Wales, George Fox observes, that 
 he ** had travelled through every county in VV ales, 
 preaching the everlasting gospel of Christ ; and a 
 brave people there is now, who have leceived it, 
 and sit under Christ's teaching."* 
 
 Leaving Wales, they came to Chester, called at 
 that time West Chester, ilere they staid awhile, 
 and visited Friends, several of whom, it is likely, 
 \('ould be tliere from distant parts ; it being the 
 time of the fair, which is more a commercial than 
 an agricultural one. From this place they came 
 to Liverpool, where there was also a fair, in which 
 they found a Friend preaching at the Cross. He 
 seeing George Fox, and knowing that he had ap- 
 pointed a meeting on a hill near the town, gave 
 public notice of it. The meeting was accordingly 
 held next day, and, as may be supposed, was very 
 numerously attended. Some rudeness for awhile 
 took place ; but afterwards the people became 
 quiet. " The truth of God was preached among 
 them ; many were that day settled upon the rock 
 and foundation, Christ Jesus, and under his teach- 
 ing who made peace betwixt God and them." 
 
 * It may uot be iropropcr to observe, that many of those 
 "wlio were convinced in Wales, afterwards emigrated to 
 Pennsylvania ; as did Friends in many otlier parts of Bri- 
 tain. This circumstance has greatly tended to lessen tfje 
 number of Friends in this country. 
 
 After leaving Liverpool, they travelled towards 
 Manchester, having a meeting on the way, at a 
 town where the Bailiff attended with his sword, 
 and was very rude; but no injury ensued. When 
 they came to ^lanchester, it was the time of the 
 Sessions, which caused many rude people to be 
 collected. This, however, did not discourage 
 Georsre from holding a religious meeting, in which 
 he was much abused by the people throwing 
 atones, dirt, and water at him ; and when they 
 could not prevail by this means, they applied to 
 the Justices, who sent officers to bring him before 
 them. When George came to the Court, he 
 found it in . such confusion and disorder, that he 
 remonstrated with the Magistrates, both on this 
 accoutit, and on the treatment which he had met 
 with. The Justices behaved with great moderai 
 tion, putting him under the care of the constable 
 till next morning, when he was liberated. The 
 disturbance at this place appears to have been 
 occasioned by people, who made high profession 
 of religion ; for he observes, " The Lord has since 
 raised up a people to stand for his name and truth 
 in that town, over those chaffy professors." 
 
 From Manchester he travelled by Preston 
 and Lancaster, to Swarthmore, having meet- 
 ings at various places. At Lancaster he met 
 Mith his frieud Colonel West, who was pleased 
 
 T ^ 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
124 
 
 XtFE OF GEORGE POX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 n5 
 
 to see him, and told Judge Fell, that George 
 ** was mightily grown in the truth." On this he 
 remarks, that the Colonel " was come nearer the 
 truth^ and so could better discern it." Before 
 they came to Swartlimore, they had a general 
 meeting of Friends in Westmoreland and Lanca- 
 shire, which it seems was also attended by other 
 people ; for he not only observes that " Friends, 
 were settled upon the foundation Christ Jesus ;•' 
 but adds, that *^ many were convinced and turned 
 to the Lord." The day after this meeting, he 
 came to Swarthmore, where he met with a cordial 
 reception. " They rejoiced with me," he says, " in 
 the goodness of the Lord, who, by his eternal 
 power, had carried me through and over many dif- 
 ficulties and dangers in his service : to him be the 
 praise for ever." 
 
 It might seem necessary for this indefatigable 
 kbourer now to rest awhile, after his hard tra- 
 velling: but he did not continue at Swarthmore 
 quite two weeks, and, during this time, he visited 
 some Meetings ia the neighbourhood, and wrote 
 several epistles for public use : two of them to his 
 Friends, and one to their persecutors. From 
 Swarthmore he passed into Westmoreland, and 
 came to John Audland's; where a general meeting 
 was held, in which a person attempted, with a 
 drawn sword, to press through the crowd, with aa 
 intention to injure George Fox j but the people 
 
 stood so close, that he could not accomplisli his 
 wicked design. " The meeting ended peaceably and 
 the Lord's everlasting power came over all." From 
 this place he passed through Kendall, where a 
 constable had a warrant to apprehend him, and, 
 on seeing George on horseback, went to fetch 
 it ; but was prevented executing it by his not 
 stopping in the town. He now travelled north- 
 ward, and, at Stricklandliead, had a large and 
 quiet meeting, though there were races at that 
 time very near the meeting place. George went 
 afterwards to the race-ground, and preached to the 
 people there ; from w iiom it does not appear that 
 he met with any interruption. 
 
 After he had finished his services in Westmore- 
 land, he came into Cinnberland; and having a 
 meeting in Giisland, ct»me to Carlittle. At this 
 place it w as usual to [>ut Friends out of the town, 
 w hen they came there ; but a great flood occurring 
 just at this time, prevented the Magistrates from 
 executing their malevolent purpose; and a meet- 
 ing was held on first day. From this place he 
 came to Abbeyholm, w here he had a small meeting. 
 When at this place before, he had foretold that 
 " there would be a great people come forth to the 
 Lord; which hath since come to pass." From 
 this place he came to Langlands, where was a 
 general meeting, which was very laige, most of 
 
 L 3 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 
 
12G 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 the people having forsaken the Priests ; so that 
 *iany of the public places of worship were nearly 
 empty. At Pardshaw Cragg, John Wilkinson, 
 who has been mentioned before, attended the meet- 
 ing, with three or four of his followers; and were all 
 convinced. He was a Priest, and preached at three 
 places ; but his heajers had chiefly joined Friends. 
 Of him George says, that " he became an able 
 minister, preached the gospel freely, and turned 
 many to Chiist'b free teaching." 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 lS57-S^Visits Scotland^Keturns through Norfhumh^r' 
 land, Durham, Yorkshire, Src. towards London, — A 
 General Yearly Mating held in Bedfordshire — /» 
 London disputes with a Jesuit — Advises Oliver Crom- 
 urll against accepting the Title of King — Writes to his 
 Daughter Claypok, 
 
 OEORGE fox having now visited all parts 
 of England and Wale», and some of them repeat- 
 edly, turned his attention to Scotland; to which he 
 had felt his mind drawn for a considerable time 
 past. Previously to his going, he requested Colonel 
 "NVilliamC )sburn, who lived in Scotland, to meet him ; 
 and he, with a few others, came to the meeting at 
 PardshawCragg. 1 he Colonel accompanied George 
 in his visit to Scotland, as did also Robert Widders, 
 whom he calls ** a thundering man against hy- 
 pocrisy, deceit, and the rottenness of the Priests." 
 lliese qualities were, perhaps, never more evident 
 among the ruling powers in church and state than 
 at that time. They had been making a great out- 
 cry for liberty of every kind; but no sooner did 
 they acquire power, than they exercised the 
 greatest bitterness, and manifested as little regard 
 for liberty,, as any that had preceded them^ Their 
 avarice also was^ very great ; for though tithe* 
 -were om ot the prmcipal subjects of their (^Mtt- 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
128 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 129 
 
 plaints against the Episcopal Church, they no 
 sooner acquired power, than they appropriated 
 them to their own clergy, to the great dissatisfaction 
 and disappointment of many of their supporters, 
 Many also of the Episcopalians had joined the 
 Independents, in order to keep their church liv- 
 ings, lliese observations are made to account 
 for the strong expressions used by George Fox 
 and our early Friends, respecting the Priests and 
 many other religious professors in those times ; 
 who, notwithstanding their superior pretences, 
 were lamentably deficient in those qualities, which 
 our blessed Redeemer, in his sermon on the 
 Mount, and on other occasions, has particularly 
 marked with his approbation. 
 
 George Fox and his companions now entered 
 Scotland, and the lirst night lodged at an inn. 
 In the evening they visited a noblemkn who lived 
 in the neighbourhood, and had expressed to the 
 landlord a desire to see George, when he came 
 that way. He received them very lovingly, and 
 said that he would have accompanied them on 
 their journey, had he not been engaged to attend 
 a funeral. The next day they passed through 
 Dumfries to Douglas, where they found some 
 Friends. They afterwards went to the Heads, 
 supposed to be near Glasgow, where they "had a 
 blessed meeting in the name of Jesus; and felt him 
 
 in the midst." From the Heads they came to 
 Badcow, where they had a large meeting; and 
 thence towards the Highlands, stopping in their 
 way at the house of Wdliam Osburn. Here they 
 collected an account of Friends' sufferings, and 
 the principles of the Scotch Priests ; and afterwards 
 (probably when they came to Edinburgh) published 
 them in a book, entitled, " The Scotch Priests* 
 Principles." It does not appear that they now 
 went far into the Highlands, but soon returned 
 to Heads, Badcow, and Garshore. When in this 
 part before, a Lady Margaret Hamilton was con- 
 vinced, who probably lived at Garshore. She 
 " afterwards went (to London, I suppose) to warn 
 Oliver Cromwell and Charles Fleetwood, of the 
 day of the Lord that was coming upon them.'* 
 
 On first day, George Fox and his companions 
 had a large meeting at or near Garshore, in which 
 he treated largely on the doctrine of Election 
 and Reprobation, opposing those Calvinistical 
 principles of the Priests, who told the people, that 
 " God had ordained the greatest part of men and 
 women for hell; that let them do v\hat they could, 
 it was all to no purpose, if they were ordained to 
 hell, lliat God had a certain number elected for 
 heaven, and let them do what they would, yet they 
 were elected vessels for heaven." These princi- 
 ples George Fox manifested to be inconsistent 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 131 
 
 ISO 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 with the scriptures, which he explained largely. 
 " 'Hie eyes of the people," he observes, " were 
 opened, and a spring of life rose up amongst 
 tlieni." Tiie Priests, however, were much alarm- 
 ed, when they heard of George Fox being come 
 into Scotland ; and proceeded so far as to draw up 
 a number of curses, by which they intended to 
 oppose the principles of Friends ; and when thi« 
 could not answer their purpose, they went to Edin- 
 burgh, Tvith petitions to the council there. 
 George, who seems never to have shrunk from 
 danger, where his duty led hinii came there 
 soon after, lodging at Linlithgow in his way, where 
 the innkeeper's wife, a blind woman, " received the 
 Word of Life, and came under tlie teaching of 
 Christ Jesus her Saviour." 
 
 Being now come to Edinburgh, and William 
 Osburn with him, they continued there some time ; 
 and went down to Leilh, where they had a meeting, 
 which was attended by many of the officers and 
 their wives. Some disturbance was made by the 
 Baptists, and also by others who seemed to be of 
 atheistical notions ; but they were all confounded, 
 and left the meeting. Afterwards, George says, 
 " a fine precious time we iiad with several people 
 of account ; and the Lord's power came over all." 
 Several of the officers and of their wives were con- 
 Tinced ; among whom was the >vife of Edw ard 
 
 Billing; who had lived separate from her husband, 
 on which account George sent for him, and pro- 
 duced a reconciliation between them ; so tliat they 
 ** agreed to live together iu love and unity, as man 
 and wife." 
 
 When George and his companion returned to 
 Edinburgh, they found several thousands of people, 
 among whom were many priests, collected, on 
 account of the burning of a witch. Tliis circum- 
 stance gave him an opportunity of preaching to 
 this large multitude; after which he went to a 
 meeting of his own appointing. To this meeting 
 many rude people, and some disputing Baptists, 
 came, who for awhile caused a disturbance, but 
 being silenced, and leaving the place, a very satis- 
 factory meeting was afterwards held. In return- 
 ing from this meeting, he found that tlie Scotch 
 priests had succeeded in their application to the 
 ^lagistrates of Edinburgh, from whom he received 
 an order, dated the 8th of October, 1 60 7, to ap- 
 pear before them on the 13th of the same month. 
 George obeyed the summons of the Magistrates ; 
 but before he was conducted into the Council 
 Chamber, his hat was taken off, which caused a 
 short remonstrance, in which he informed the 
 doorkeeper, that he had been suffered to stand 
 before the Protector with his hat on. After he 
 had been awhile before the Magistrates, he ad* 
 
 n 
 
132 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 dressed them in these words; "Peace be amongst 
 you. Wait in the fear of God, that ye may re- 
 ceive his wisdom from above, by which all things 
 were made and created ; that by it ye may all be 
 ordered, and may order all things under your 
 hands, to God's glory." After this address, the 
 !M agistrates inquired into the cause of his coming 
 to Scotland; whether he had any outward busi- 
 ness there, and how long he intended to stay ; 
 to which George gave diem proper replies, inforni- 
 'm» them of the nature of his visit to that country, 
 and that though he was not likely to stay long m 
 it, yet in this he stood in the will of him that sent 
 him. Having withdrawn awhile till the Magis- 
 trates consulted together, he was again brought 
 before them, and ordered to leave the country in 
 a week from that time. Ke remonstrated with 
 them on their illegal conduct, but in vain ; and 
 they even refused to hear him in his own defence ; 
 on which he reminded them, that Pharoah, though 
 a Heathen, heard Moses and Aaron; and Herod 
 heard John the Baptist. When he was taken away 
 from the conned chamber, he returned to his inn, 
 where he wrote to the council, and laid before 
 them their unchristian conduct, in banishing an 
 innocent man, who sought their salvation and eter- 
 nal good. The letter seems to have had a good 
 effect on some of the Magistrates; to whom tlie 
 measure they had meted out was soon after le- 
 
 
 »LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 133 
 
 turned ; and they that had banished him, were soon 
 rafter banished themselves, or glad to get out of 
 the way. 
 
 ^Notwithstanding the illegal and unjust order of 
 the council, George Fox continued some time at 
 Edinburgh and its neighbourhood ; after which he 
 went again to Heads, wliere Friends suffered much 
 from the violence of the Prie^s, wlio excommu- 
 nicated them, and ordered the people to have no 
 commercial dealings with them, either in selling 
 or buying ; but their malice was frustrated by the 
 interference of Colonel Ashfield, who was also a 
 Justice of the Peace, and who put a stop to these 
 violent pr6ceedings. The Colonel was himself 
 afterwards convinced, had a Meeting settled in 
 his house, became a Minister in the society, and 
 lived and died in it. 
 
 Having visited and encourageH his Friends at and 
 about Heads, George Fox went to Glasgow; and 
 as he entered the town, the guard took him before 
 the Governor, who soon set him at liberty. A 
 meeting was appointed at this place, to m hich none 
 of the townspeople coming, George and his com- 
 panions preached through the streets ; and leaving 
 the town, came towards Badcow, and to William 
 Osburn's. Whilst in this part, they were way- 
 laid by some thieves, who being obserred by 
 
 M 
 
 « 
 
 -J 
 
 i*' 
 
 
134 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 George Fox, he requested William Osburn t« 
 return and seek for Robert Widders, who had 
 tarried behind to speak to a priest. William Os- 
 burn was loth to leave George by himself; but 
 he, with his usual courage, pressed him to re- 
 turn; to which he at length consented. When 
 he was gone, George desired the men to come to 
 him, with which they reluctantly and tremblingly 
 complied. He then admonished them to be ho- 
 nest, and gave them some religious advice, which 
 it appears they did not resent. Here George staid 
 till his companions came up, and then they went all 
 together to the house of their friend and companion, 
 Wm. Osburn, where they had a good opportunity 
 to preach to the people who came there, lliey 
 now passed into the Highlands, but the inhabitants 
 were so extremely violent, that they ran at the 
 Friends with pitchforks, and attempted to maim, 
 if not to kill, both them and their horses ; but he 
 says, " through the Lord*s goodness we escaped 
 them, being preserved by his-power.** 
 
 Leaving the Highlands, they came to Stirling, 
 where the soldiers arrested them, and took them 
 before the officers, w ho soon set them at liberty. 
 They could not easily obtain a religious meeting 
 with the inhabitants of this place ; but, the next 
 day, there being a horse-race near the town, many 
 of the inhabitants and officers w ent to it ; and, a» 
 
 Ifl 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1S5 
 
 they returned, George took the opportunity of 
 preaching to them. Some confessed to the truth 
 of his doctrine, though others opposed : " but," to 
 use his own w ords, " the Lord's truth and power 
 came over them all." 
 
 From Stirling they went to Burnt-island, in 
 Fifeshire, where ihey had two meetings at Captain 
 Pool's. He and his wife were both convinced, as 
 were also several officers of the army. After pass- 
 ing through some other places, they came to John- 
 ston's, now called Perth, where they found a very 
 bitter spirit excited against them, particular y 
 among and by the Baptists; who, when they could 
 not prevail by fair disputation, applied to the Go- 
 vernor, and obtained a company of foot soldiers, 
 by whom the Friends were forced out of the 
 town. Alexander Parker and James Lancaster, 
 as well as Robert Widders, were now George Fox's 
 companions. As they passed through the town, 
 guarded by the soldiers, " James Lancaster was 
 moved to sing with a melodious sound in the 
 power of God;" and George preached the ever- 
 lasting gospel to the people, who generally came 
 out of their houses ; so that the streets w ere filled 
 with them. The soldiers were much ashamed of 
 their part of the business, and said they had rather 
 have gone to Jamaica, than have guarded them. 
 I^These malevolent Baptists w ere soon after turned ] 
 
 M 2 
 
 H 
 
tJ8 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 137 
 
 ^ut of the army, and the Governor was dismissed 
 on tJie restoration of Charles the Second. 
 
 Being thus forced from Johnston's, and they and 
 their horses conveyed in boats over the water, 
 they went to another market town, where Edward 
 Billing, already mentioned, was quartered, and 
 many soFdiers with him. Coming to an inn, the 
 priends applied for a place in which to hold a 
 meeting, and the Town-hall was proposed by the 
 military part of the inhabitants ; but the Magis- 
 trates not being so favourabfy disposed, appointed a 
 meeting: of iheir own to be held there at the same 
 time. The officers desired them, notwithstanding 
 this, to go to the Town-hall, but this they refused, 
 considering it by no means justifiable. They 
 therefore went to tlie market place, and it being 
 market day, they had an opportunity of preaching 
 to a very large company, who however paid very 
 little attention whilst Alexander Parker was 
 preaching ; but when George Fox began to 
 preach, the people came out of the Town-hall, 
 the Magistrates following them, and a large com- 
 pany was thus collected. " The people were 
 turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for 
 them, and had enlightened them, that with Ihs 
 light they might see their evil deeds, be saved from 
 their sins by him, and might come to know him 
 f be their teacher.'' Several of the people audi 
 
 soldiers, after this meeting, became more kindly 
 disposed, especially the English, of whom there 
 would probably be many among the soldiers y 
 fiome of whom were afterwards convinced. 
 
 George Fox and his companions came fronv 
 tiais place to Leith, where he was informed by the 
 innkeeper and several odier kindly disposed people, 
 tliat the Council at Edinburgh had issued war- 
 rants to apprehend him; but this did not prevent 
 his soing there again* Indeed so littk was he 
 intimidated witii the information, that he said to 
 those who communicated it ; " What do ye tell 
 me of their warrants? If there were a cart load of 
 them, I do not regard them, for the Lord's power 
 is over them all.'' When he came to Edinburgh,, 
 he went to his former inn, but no one attempted 
 to arrest or meddle with him. After visiting hW 
 friends in this city, he and liis eompanions toob 
 horse next raornmg. When out of the town, he 
 informed his companions, that it was upon hiiii^ 
 " from the Lord to- go back to Johnston's, and to 
 set the power of God and his truth over them 
 also."' Alexander Parker offered to accompany 
 him> and it was thought best for his two other 
 companions, Thomas Rawlinson and Robert 
 WidderSj.to stay behind. George's horse tiring 
 that of his companion, he went alone to Johu-r 
 9toii.'s; which he entered without any molestsUio*^ 
 
 ;4.a 
 
 
 : vil 
 
138 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 just as they were drawing up the bridges. George 
 rode directly to Captain Davenport's, from whose 
 lodssings or house he had been banished. Several 
 officers were with the Captain, who admired at 
 George's courage, in coming again amongst them. 
 When the Baptists heard of his return, they sent 
 him a challenge for a dispute the next day, whicii 
 be accepted, appointing a time, and a place about 
 half a mile from the town^ Captain Davenport 
 and his son accompanied George to the place ap- 
 pointed, but no Baptists came, whose design it 
 seems was to get him into their power, and again 
 to force him out of tlie town. Tlie Captain was 
 at this time very loving to Friends, and afterwards 
 lost his place for the conformity of his conduct 
 with their practices and principles. Whilst waiting 
 here, Alexander Parker came in sight, and George 
 and he returned to their companions, Alexander 
 woin<» bv tire town mentioned befoi-e, where they 
 had the meeting in the market, and George by 
 Lieutenant Foster's quarters, uhere he found seve-^ 
 ral officers, who had embraced the principles which 
 he propagated; 
 
 
 George and his Friends now returned again to 
 
 Edinburgh, which they entered without any inters 
 
 ruption. The next day they had a meeting 
 
 there, which was altcuded by many of the armyj 
 
 V'^vhich ihcy met vilh no diitiubancei - George 
 
 %WS. OF eEORCE VOX^ 
 
 1C9 
 
 saySj " A glorious meeting it was ; the everlasting 
 power of God was set over the nation^ and his 
 Son reigned in his glorious power.!' 
 
 His mind being now at liberty to leave Scot^ 
 land, he and his companions travelled towards 
 England, having a large and satisfactory meeting 
 at Dunbar. I'his was the last meeting he had at 
 this time in Scotland ; after which he makes these 
 remarks respecting his travels in tliat country : 
 " The truth and power of God was set over that 
 nation, and many, by the power and Spirit of God, 
 were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their sa- 
 viour and teacher, whose blood was shed for them^ 
 and there' is since a great increase, and gmat there 
 will be in Scotland; thouoh the time be far dis*. 
 taut at pi-esem; for when first Lset my horse's feet 
 upon Scottish ground, I felt the seed of God to 
 sparkle about me, like innumerable sparks of 
 fire. Not but that there is abundance of thick 
 cloddy earth of hypocrisy, and falseness atop, and 
 a briar)', brambly nature, which is to be bnmed up 
 with God's word, and plougheil up with his spi- 
 ritual plough, before God's seed brings forth hea- 
 YenJy and spiritual fruit to his glory ; but the 
 husba«dman is- to wait in- patience."' 
 
 Leaving Sootlamd) they came by Berwick to 
 •5i«r^h; Jiaving a good^s though anallj meeting at 
 
 ^.^i 
 
t¥y 
 
 LIFE OF OEORGE FOX* 
 
 LITE OF GEOKGE FOX. 
 
 l4l 
 
 the former place. They came next to Newcastle, 
 where, it seems, George had been before, though 
 not noticed in his Journal. The Priests at this 
 place, and one at least of the Magistrates, had 
 manifested much enmity against Friends, and said 
 " the Quakers would not come into any great 
 lowns, but lived in the fells like butterflies." 
 George, taking Anthony Pearson with hkn, (whom, 
 it is probable, he found at Newcastle) went tQ 
 some of the Aldermen of the town, and spoke to 
 tiiem respecting the books which they had pub- 
 lished, and tlie reports they had raised ; desiriog 
 also to have a meeting amongst them, Ixit jthis 
 they would not permit ; and therefore a meeting 
 was held on the other side of the river, at Gate^ 
 side, now called Gateshead; where George ob-^ 
 serves " a meeting is continued to this duy in the 
 same of Jesus." Since his time, however, i\\^ 
 meeting has been removed to Newcastle. 
 
 George and his companions, (but who they now 
 were is not certain,) ti a veiling in Northumberland,, 
 and the Bishoprick or Coimty of Durham, had a 
 large and good meeting at Lieutenant Dove's, 
 H'here many were turned to the Lord. Coming to 
 Durham, they met with a person lately arrived? 
 from London, with an intention to establish a col- 
 lege for preparing young men for the ministry. 
 George visite4 iliis maO; and reasoned with liiipft 
 
 on the insufficiency of human learning, for making, 
 a gospel minister. The man assented to much of 
 what George said, was very tender, and ultimately 
 declined to set up his college. 
 
 From Durham they went to Anthony Pearson's, 
 who, it seems, had a house in these parts ; and af- 
 terwards into Cleveland, and Holderness, and by 
 Hull and Pontefract; to Scalehouse and Swarth- 
 niore. After visiting Friends ia these part3, 
 George returned into Yorkshire, and went after- 
 wards into Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Nottingham- 
 shire. In these visits he had many large and good 
 meetings, the Lord's presence and power accom- 
 panying. 
 
 At Nottingham, Geo. Fox met with Rice Jones, 
 who appears to have been the head of a people, 
 that had once been very religious ; but were now 
 much declined. George wishing to see this peo- 
 ple, requested Jones to collect them, with which 
 came to the Castle, where a meeting was held, 
 he reluctantly complied ; and about eighty of them 
 which appeared to have a good eft'ect upon the 
 minds of many of them. Some disputation arose 
 afterward, in which George showed this man and 
 his followers, their deviation from the simplicify 
 and purity, which many of them had once experi- 
 euced. Not long after, he and his company were 
 
142 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 quite scattereei ; but several of tliem joined Friends. 
 This Rice Jones had some years before said of 
 George Fox, that " he was than at the highest, and 
 should fall ;" but in this, as in many other instances, 
 we see the propriety of the apostolic admonition: 
 " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest 
 befall.*' 
 
 From Nottingham George Fox and his companions 
 travelled into the counties of Warwick, Leicester,. 
 Northampton, aiid Bedford, having meetings at 
 various places. Whilst in the last mentioned 
 county, they came to the house of John Crook, 
 lately a Justice of tlie Peace ; and here was held 
 a general yearly meeting for the whole nation, 
 which lasted three days. This meeting was at- 
 tended by Friends from different parts of the na- 
 tion, and many thousands of people were at it; so 
 that the inns and towns in the neighbourhood were 
 filled. " Although there was some disturbance, 
 yet the Lord^s power came over, and a glorious 
 meeting it was. The everlasting gospel was 
 preached, and maoy received it." In this meeting 
 Geor^^e Fox was not onlv led into public labour 
 for the people in general, who, it appears, were 
 mostly Friends ; but he also communicated much 
 pertinent and deep instruction to those, who were 
 engaged in the work of the ministry, which being 
 taken dovm at the time, he gives the substance of 
 it in his Jauinal, and it is peculiarly worthy tlie 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 143 
 
 penisal of those who are engaged in that important 
 service. 
 
 This meeting appears to have been the first 
 held for the society at large. George Fox calls it 
 *^ a general yearly meeting," by wliich it is proba- 
 ble that ati annual general meeting had been 
 agreed upon, though it is not easy to trace the re- 
 gular continuance of it till some years after the 
 time of this meeting, which was held in the year 
 1658, probably in the spring. Soon after the 
 conclusion of this meeting, a party of horse, and 
 a constable, came to John Crook^s to arrest George 
 Fox; but he having at the tipie taken a walk in 
 the garden, and the soldiers seeking him only in 
 the house, they departed without accomplishing 
 their object. 
 
 After this meeting, George Fox came to Lon- 
 don, visiting his friends in the way thitlier. Soon 
 after his arrival in that city, he heard of a Spanish 
 Jesuit, who had challenged all the Quakers to a 
 dispute, at the house of the Earl of Newport; 
 but when he understood that this challenge m as 
 likely to be accepted, he limited the number to 
 twelve, and afterwards reduced it to six, and then 
 to three. George fearing lest the Jesuit should 
 wholly decline the conference, hastened to the 
 place appointed, accompanied by Nicholas Boad 
 
 : j 
 
144 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE EOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 145 
 
 and Edward Bunough, whom George sent first 
 to iTie Jesuit with some directions how to open 
 the conference. When it had commenced, George 
 joined them, and a long debate ensued, principally 
 on the purity, or rather impurity, of the Romish 
 Church, and on the doctrine of 1 ransubstantiation. 
 The Jesuit was so closely argued with, that the 
 people who were present, and who would be prin- 
 cipally of his own party, saw his error, and that 
 he could not defend himself. After some remarks 
 on the persecuting spirit of the Romish Church, 
 they parted with the Jesuit, " and his subtlety 
 Mas confuted by simplicitj." 
 
 At this time. Friends both in \h\s nation and 
 Ireland, were ui.der great sufferings for their reli- 
 gious principles ; and George Fox, during his resi- 
 dence in London, laid their cases before Oliver 
 Ci:omwell. A subscription was at this time re- 
 commended by the government, for the relief of 
 lYte Protestants suffering by the persecution of 
 Papists, in different parts of Europe; and at the 
 same time a general fast being appointed, George 
 published a paper, in which he showed the neces- 
 sary attendants of the true fast; and manifested 
 the injustice and self-condemnation of their con- 
 duct, who were blaming the Papists for persecuting 
 the Protestants abroad ; while they, ci^lling them- 
 selves Protestants, were, at the same time, perse- 
 
 ^ cutmg their Protestant neighbours and friends at 
 fiome. George Fox was indeed much burdened 
 with the insincerity and hypocrisy of the various 
 parties, which, during the Interregnum, rose into 
 power ; each of which, he successively \varned and 
 apprized of their downfall. So great at this time 
 were the sufferings of the society, that many 
 Friends who were at liberty, feeling for their suf- 
 fering brethren, requested of the Parliament that 
 they might be permitted to take tlieir places, par- 
 ticularly of those whose lives were considered ia 
 danger. " This," he says, " we did in love to 
 God and our brethren, that they might not die ia 
 prison ; and in love to those that cast them in, that 
 they might not bring innocent blood upon their 
 own heads." But notwithstanding these liberal 
 proposals, those high professors were so far from 
 granting the requests, that they would sometimes 
 be enraged, and threaten the kind applicants with 
 whipping them and sending them home. The 
 Parliament, which was now sitting, was principally 
 composed of those who were the highest in reli- 
 gious profession ; but, it seems, the most violent 
 in persecution. To them George addressed a few 
 lines, which he concludes with these unequivocal 
 expressions from the Apostle James : " Ye have 
 lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton ; 
 ye have nourished your hearts as in a day tf 
 
 '^i\ 
 
 f 
 
 It 
 
146 
 
 LIFE OF SEOHGE FOT. 
 
 slaughter ; ye have condemned and killed the just, 
 and he doth not resist you." 
 
 Whilst he was in London, there was a proposal 
 for giving Cromwell the title of King, which in- 
 duced George to go to him and advise him against 
 it; and it seems his advice was well received. He 
 also wrote to him on the subject ; and about this 
 time the Protector's daughter, Claypole, being out 
 of health, and low in mind, George wrote a letter 
 of religious advice to her; which, when it wgs 
 read, she said stayed her mind for the present. 
 
 
 i 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 lCJ8-fiO-r/«m London-Mccf>, Crom^cltm He Park 
 at Hampton Court-Goes into Bach-Rctum, to U.i- 
 doH-Coc. klo E,'»x-Hvan of Cm-mW/* Death - 
 Jictur»s to lomhn-Goes to Rtadwg^Sufm tnuch 
 in Body and Mind-Comes ogam to l^ndon-Trctvclf 
 as far as Cornv:all-R<vioMtrtttcs on tht Practice of 
 plunderhig wrecked Ftssels, 
 
 George fox feeling his mind now al li- 
 berty from the various services, in which he had 
 beeu engaged in London, prepared to leave the 
 city ; but as he was going out, two troopers ar- 
 rested him and two Friends who were wilh him, 
 and look them to the Mews, where they were de- 
 tauied a few hours ; and then, without any exa- 
 Biination, liberated. George now took a boat ta 
 Kingston, being desirous of speaking agam to the 
 Protector, who was at Hampton-Court, respect- 
 i„<r the sufferings of his friends. He met Crom- 
 Mell riding in the Park at the head of his life 
 guard, and George says, " I saw a.ul felt a waft 
 of death go forth against him, and when I came to 
 him he looked like a dead man." After laymg 
 the sufferings of friends before him, and warning 
 him respecting his own state, the Protector de- 
 sired George to come to him at his own house. 
 Oobig accordingly the next day to HamptOtt- 
 
 K 2 
 
14S 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Court, he was informed that the Protector "was 
 sick, and the doctors were not willing that he 
 should be spoken with. George now left Kings- 
 ton, and went to his friend, Isaac Pennington's, 
 in Buckinghamshire, where he had appointed a 
 meeting, in which, he says, " the Lord's power 
 aud truth was preciously manifested/' 
 
 After spending some time in visiting Friends in 
 these parts, he returned to London ; and soon af- 
 ter went into Essex, where he heard of CromwelFs 
 death, and that his son Richard was made Protec- 
 tor; upon which George went again to London. 
 A Church Faith, about this time, was given forth; 
 and George, having procured a copy in manuscript, 
 printed an Answer, which was published at the 
 same time with the Faith. This greatly irritated 
 some of the Parliament Men ; and one of them told 
 George that they must have him to Smithiield; 
 which was the place used, in Queen Mary's days, 
 for burning the Protestants. This tlireat did not 
 at all intimidate him ; for he replied to it, that he 
 was over their fires, and feared them not. Thus 
 did this courageous soldier of Christ stand his 
 ground, and nobly contend for the faith delivered 
 to the saints. 
 
 Leaving London again, he went to Captain 
 Birkhead's, at Twickenham, where a meeting was 
 held, which wgs numerously and respectably at- 
 
 LIFE OF GEOnOE FOX- 
 
 149 
 
 fended. " A glorious meeting it was, wherein the 
 scriptures were largely and clearly opened : and 
 Christ exalted above all, to the great satisfactiore 
 ©f the hearers." 
 
 This time of great persecntion seemed to in- 
 crease, as the present powers drew near to a 
 termination. George Fox says, that "besides 
 imprisonments, through which many died, meet- 
 ings were greatly disturbed. They have thrown 
 rotten eggs and wild-fire into our meetings, and' 
 brought in drums beating, and kettles to make 
 noises with, that the truth might not be heard; 
 and among these the priests were as rude as any." 
 This state of things induced George Fox to salute 
 his Friends with a short, but affectionate and iii- 
 «tructive epistle, encouraging them to faithfulness 
 and patience in their sufferings. The epistle is a* 
 follows : 
 
 " My dear friends, every where, in prison, or 
 out of prison ; fear not because of the report of 
 sufferings ; let not the evil spies of tlie good land 
 make you afraid, if they tell you the walls are 
 high, and Anakims are in the land ; for at the 
 blowing of the rams horns did the walls of Jericho 
 fall ; and they that brought the evil report perish- 
 ed in the wilderness. Dwell in faith, patience, 
 and hope, having the word of life to keep you^ 
 vbich is beyond the law ; and, having the oath c£ 
 
 >S 
 
 N 
 
 
150 
 
 -LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 li| 
 
 God, his covenant, Christ Jesus, which divides 
 the waters asunder, and makes them to run all on 
 heaps, in that stand ; and ye will see all things 
 work together for good, to them that love God. In 
 that triumph when sufferings come, whatever they 
 may be. Your faith, your shield, your helmet, your 
 armour, you have on. You are ready to skip over a 
 mountain, a wall, or an hill, and to walk through 
 the deep waters, though they be as heaps upon 
 heaps. The evil spies of the good land may 
 preach up hardness ; but Caleb which signifies an 
 heart, aud Joshua a Saviour, triumph over all. 
 
 « G. F/' 
 
 George Fox now retired to Eeadin^, where he 
 continued about ten weeks, aud underwent much 
 exercise of mind, by which his bodily health was 
 affected. The nation was now in a very agitated 
 state, the restoration of Charles the Second being 
 in contemplation, and soon after effected. Friends 
 were suspected of promoting this object in their 
 meetings, but they did not, as a people, interfere 
 with any matters relating to Government ; and 
 Georore, who was returned to London,, was afraid, 
 lest, in the present state of public affairs, any 
 young or inexperienced persons, who might some- 
 times come amongst Friends, should be drawn to 
 take part on eitiier side. He therefore wrote two 
 epistles on the occasiou, showing that, cousistently 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 151 
 
 with the principles of the doctrine of Christ, which 
 they had embraced, they could not join in any mi- 
 litary combinations, nor in those plots and contri- 
 vances which were connected with them. He also 
 published a paper on account of the superstitious 
 regard which was paid, by the republican party, to 
 Oliver Cromwell, whose effigy, after his burial, 
 lay a considerable time in state, with people sound- 
 ing trumpets over the image. 
 
 ■i 
 
 George Fox continued a considerable time in 
 London, visiting the Meetings of his Friends there, 
 and in the neighbourhood, as well as being en- 
 gaged in other services ; after which he went into 
 Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. He came to Nor- 
 wich about the time called Christmas, but I can- 
 not ascertain whether this was in the close of the 
 year 1658 or 9, but I suppose the former. The 
 Mayor of Norwich, having heatd of a meeting 
 being appointed, had issued a warrant to apprehend 
 George Fox ; who hearing of it, requested some 
 of his friends in that city, to speak to the Mayor, 
 by which he was induced not to put his warrant ia 
 execution. A large meeting was accordingly 
 held ; and though attended by many rude people, 
 and by " several Priests, Professors, and Ranters," 
 it concluded to great satisfaction. During the 
 meeting, one of the priests stood up and cried", 
 *' Error, blasphemy, and an ungodly meeting." 
 This induced George to call upon him for an ex^ 
 
152 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX» 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 153 
 
 plaiiation of his assertion, which having attemptecT, 
 he was replied to in such a manner, as convinced 
 the people, that the priest had charged what he 
 could not prove. The dispute had a good eflfect 
 ©n their minds ; and removed the prejudice which 
 they had entertained against Friends. The result 
 of the meeting George describes thus: "A glo- 
 rious day this was ; for truth came over all, and 
 people were turned to God by his power and 
 Spirit ; and to the Lord Jesus Chtist their free 
 teacher, who wa» exalted over all." 
 
 When this meeting was over, he left Nor- 
 wich that evening; and afterwards came to Col. 
 Dennis's, where he liad a large meeting. After 
 |isiting Friends in Norfolk, he came into Cam- 
 bridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, and several other 
 counties. Many were convinced in different parts, 
 though he met with much rude treatment in his 
 travels ; but he might truly say with the Apostle ^ 
 « None of these things move me." 
 
 Having finished his services, at present, in the 
 IBOuntry, he returned to London, where General 
 Monk was arrived, and the gates of the city were 
 pulling down. George Fox had repeatedly, by 
 word and writing, warned the diiferent ruling par- 
 tees, both in Oliver's time a«d afterwards, " of the. 
 iky of recompence that wai^ coming upon themiT', 
 
 and now, before they were wholly removed from 
 their authority, he thought it right to lay their 
 conduct before them ; which he did in a spirited 
 and energetic address. 
 
 About this time, the soldiers under General 
 Monk's command, being often concerned in dis- 
 turbing Friends' meetings, their conduct was re- 
 presented to the General ; and he issued an order, 
 dated " St. James's, 9th of March, l659, requiring 
 all officers and soldiers to forbear to disturb the 
 peaceable meetings of the Quakers." This order 
 restrained the conduct of the military, and pro- 
 bably had a beneficial effect upon others. 
 
 Being now at liberty to leave London; and 
 finding his mind drawn to visit Friends in the 
 western parts of England, George Fox travelled 
 into Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, and Dorsetshire, 
 " visiting Friends in the Lord's power, and having 
 great meetings amongst them." Ringwood, Pool, 
 and Dorchester, are the only places he particularly 
 mentions in these parts. At Dorchester, the con- 
 stables and officers of the town came to the meet- 
 ing, under the pretence of looking for a Jesuit, 
 whose head they said was shaved. They took off 
 George Fox's hat, to examine his head, when they 
 found that the mark did not apply to him; of 
 which it seems they had been misinformed. Find- 
 
 
lo4 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 bg their mistake, and that the company was di»- 
 g^sted with their conduct, they withdrew with 
 shame. The meeting, which was very large, 
 many soldiers as well as others being present, was 
 then held to much satisfaction ; " and people were 
 turned to the Lord Jesus Christ their teacher, 
 who had bought Uicm, and would reconcile theitt 
 to God.*' 
 
 From Dorsetshire he and his companions, (for 
 such it seems he had,) came into Somersetshire^ 
 where, he says, the Presbyterians and other Pro- 
 fessors were very wicked, and often disturbed 
 Triends' meetings. Tlie following affecting cir- 
 cumstance he relates, as having occurred in that 
 county. One time, a very wicked man put a 
 bear's skin on his back, with which he played his 
 pranks in a meeting ', and, setting himself opposite 
 to a Friend who was speaking, he lolled his tongue 
 out of his mouth, and made sport for his wicked 
 companions ; cau5^ing a great distuibance in the 
 meeting. But as he returned home, there being 
 a bull-baiting in the way, he stayed to see it, and 
 coming neai- the bull, he struck his horn under the 
 man's°chin, iuto his throat, by which his tongue 
 was forced oiU of his mouth, as he had placed it 
 in derision, in the meeting. The bull's horn run- 
 ning up into the man's head, he was swung about 
 in r terrible manner ; and though his death is not. 
 mentioned, it does not seem likely he could lon^ 
 survive such a circumstance. 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FaX^. 
 
 155 
 
 Travelling through Somersetshire arid Devon- 
 shire, they came to Plymouth, from which place 
 they proceeded to Cornwall, as far as the Land's 
 End, having " many precious and blessed meetings, 
 wherein the convinced were established, and many 
 were added to them." Whilst in Cornwall, George 
 Fox, whose heart seems to have been always open 
 to the feelings of humanity, was much distressed 
 with the conduct of the people, in cases of ship- 
 wreck. It seems that scarcely any exertions were 
 used for saving the lives of the distressed seamen; 
 but the people, " rich and poor," united in plun- 
 dering the property of the vessels, and securing it 
 for their own private advantage. This induced 
 George to write and publish a paper, remonstrat- 
 in<r with the people on their wicked conduct, and 
 contrasting it with that of the Heathens in the 
 Island of Melita, where Paul and his companions 
 were shipwrecked. To this letter he added a 
 postscript, which was addressed to his own Friends ; 
 and as it exhibits a specimen of the kind of morals 
 which he inculcated, as well as shows the amiable 
 tenderness of his disposition, it may not be im- 
 proper to transcribe it. 
 
 « All dear Friends, who fear the Lord God, 
 keep out of the ravenous world's spirit, which 
 leads to raven and destroy, and is out of the wis- 
 dom of God. When ships are wrecked, do not 
 run to destroy and make havock of »hip -att^ 
 
136 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 goods With the world ; but run to save the men 
 and the goods for them; and so deny yourselves, 
 and do unto them as ye would Uiey should do 
 unto you." 
 
 This paper was of considerable service; and 
 Friends complying with the above advice, have 
 particularly exerted themselves to assist and re- 
 lieve distressed seamen, in cases of shipwreck ; 
 which George Fox says « is an act to be prac- 
 tised by all Uue Christians," 
 
 CHAP. XIT. 
 
 1660— From Cornwall proceeds hy Devon and Sotnersct 
 to Bristol — Has large Meetings there — Comes to JVor* 
 cester — Great Excesses on the King's return-yVisits 
 his Relations in Leicestershire — Comes by Derbyshire 
 into Yorkshire — Yearly Meeting at Balby — General 
 Meeting at Skipton-^'Is committed to Lancaster Jaxh^^ 
 Is removed to London and liberated, , 
 
 jN Cornwall, George Fox had many satis- 
 factory meetings ; and several persons of eminence 
 were convinced in that county, whom manifold 
 sufferings could not draw from their principles. 
 He now returned into Devonshire and Somerset- 
 shire, visiting Friends till he came to Bristol. 
 This place he entered on a seventh day, and un- 
 derstanding that, the day before, Friends' meeting 
 had been disturbed by the soldiers, who were en- 
 couraged by the Mayor, he requested four Friends 
 of that city to apply to the Mayor and Aldermen, 
 and to request, that as they would not permit 
 Friends to meet in their usual place, they would 
 accommodate them with the Town-Hall, offering 
 twenty pounds a year for the use of it, and en- 
 gaging not to interfere with the public business.. 
 The Friends were startled at this request ; but at 
 length consented to make it, and, to their astonish- 
 ment; found Uie Mayor willing to accept the pro- 
 
 o 
 
158 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Ii ) 
 
 posal ; but being only one among many wlio 
 had the power of accedhig to it, the offer could 
 not immediately be complied with. The Mayor's 
 mind was, however, softened by the conduct of 
 these Friends. When they returned, George re- 
 quested them to go to the Colonel of the regiment, 
 Mhose soldiers had been so abusive, and lay tlieir 
 conduct before him ; but this the Friends declined, 
 "which had nearly been of very serious conse- 
 quence; for at the meeting next day, several rude 
 people and soldiers came, some with drawn swords, 
 and one of them had bound himself by an oath 
 ** to rut down and kill the man that spoke.'* He 
 pressed through the crowd, till he came within 
 about two yards of George Fox, who, it seems, 
 was preaching. The four Friends, who had been 
 requested to speak to the Colonel, were near him ; 
 and the man, entering into dispute with them, 
 suddenly put up his sword; " for the Lord's 
 power came over all, and chained him with the 
 rest ;■ ' after which the meeting was held to much 
 satisfaction. The next day, the four Friends went 
 to speak to the Colonel respecting the conduct of 
 his men, who not only reprimanded the soldiers, 
 but also wounded them with his sword whilst the 
 Friends were present. Tliis George, with his 
 usual huniane and christian spirit, blamed the 
 Friends for suffering in their presence, and also 
 for not going to the Colonel when he first desired 
 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 159 
 
 i| 
 
 I 
 
 it; which might have prevented both the distur- 
 bdnce at the meeting, and the punishment of the 
 men. 
 
 After this a general meeting was held at Ed- 
 ward Pyott's, near Bristol, which was so nume- 
 rously attended, both by Friends and others, that 
 the people who remained, said the city looked 
 naked. The meeting " was very quiet, many glo- 
 rious truths were opened to the people; and the 
 Lord Jesus Christ was set up, who is the end of 
 all figures and shadows of the law, and of the 
 first covenant." 
 
 Leaving Bristol and its neighbourhood, George 
 Fox went by * Oldeston and Nailsworth, to 
 Gloucester. Here they had a peaceable meeting, 
 though the city was at that time in a very agitated 
 state, the inhabitants and soldiers being much di* 
 vided; one part being for the Parliament, and the 
 other for the restoration of King Charles. George, 
 however, passed quietly out of the town, thougb 
 some of the King*s party said, after he was gone, 
 that they would have shot him, had they known 
 who he was. From Gloucester he came to 
 Colonel Grimes's, where was held a large general 
 
 * Oldeston I do not find in any Nomina Villarurn. I 
 suppose it to be Olveston, 
 
 O 2 
 
Hi 
 
 I 
 
 160 
 
 I.IFS 0>' 6£0RG£ lOX. 
 
 meeting, of which he says, *' the Lord's tinith and 
 power was set over all." He proceeded to 
 Tewkesbury and ^Vorcester ; and, in his travels, 
 liad to lament the rioting and drunkenness which 
 then prevailed; it being the time of a general 
 election, which is mostly accompanied with ex- 
 cesses and animosities, disgraceful to the christian 
 character. Ai this time the state of parties ren- 
 dered it worse than usual ; and the joy that many 
 experienced, at the prospect of the King^s return, 
 induced them to indulge in all those excesses, 
 which too many people think the only mode of 
 demonstrating their pleasure. Besides, this party 
 was always considered the most lax in its morals, 
 and being now more at liberty, they maiiifested 
 their evil propensities more freely. But notwith- 
 standing these national tumults, George Fox and 
 his friends enjoyed themselves in their quiet and 
 peaceable meetings at Worcester, where he says j 
 '* The Lord's truth was set over all ; people were 
 finely settled therein, and Friends praised the 
 Lord. Nay, I saw the very earth rejoiced." 
 
 Lieaving Worcester, he visited the meetings o£ 
 his Friends, till he came to the place of his nati- 
 vity, where he spent a little time among his rela- 
 tions ; to whom he appears to have been affec- 
 tionately attached. From Drayton he came by 
 T\vyxrossandSwanington, to Derby, at which place 
 he found his old jailer convinced and joined ta 
 
 y 
 
 ttVE OP GEORGB FOX. 
 
 16\ 
 
 Friends. Passing through Derbyshire and Not- 
 tinghamshire, he came to Synderhill Green and 
 Balby, in Yorkshire, At this place, he says, " our 
 yearly meeting was held, in a great orchard of 
 John Kellam's." Whether this meeting was for 
 the society in general, or only for Friends in that 
 county or neighbourhood, it is difficult to deter- 
 mine ; but I suppose the latter. The report how- 
 ever of the meeting had spread to York, from 
 which place a troop of horse was sent to disperse 
 It. Whilst George \va^ preaching, two trumpe^ 
 ers, sounding their trumpets, rode through the- 
 midst of the company to him ; and the Captain 
 who was with them commanded George to come 
 down ; for he had orders to disperse the meetino-. 
 ITiey then entered into some conversation, by 
 which the Captain was so softened, that he was 
 induced to leave a few of his men to attend to 
 their proceedings, who permitted the meeting to 
 continue to its regular close; which was about 
 three hours after. »* Friends passed av^ay in 
 peace, greatly refreshed with the presence of the 
 Lord, and tilled with joy and gladness." Tins 
 was a singular deliverance from the maFice of 
 their enemies ; and some militia men, m ho pro^- 
 bably sent to York for the troop of horse, were 
 »uch enraged at the Captain and his company, 
 for not proceeding to greater extremities. ITie 
 Captain also was a desperate man. George Fa» 
 
 .0^3 
 
 ■i . 
 
yet 
 
 "LIT^ OF GEORGE ^OX* 
 
 had met with him in Scotland, where he told 
 George, "He would obey his superior's com- 
 mands, if it was to crucify Christ, or execute the 
 great Turk's commands against the Christians." 
 But the "eminent power of the Lord chained 
 both him and his troopers, and those envious mi- 
 litia soldiers also, who went away, not having 
 power to hurt any, nor to break up the meeting." 
 A meeting was held next day at Warmsworth, for 
 Friends in the ministry ; after which, those wha 
 lived at a distance departed homewards ; but seve- 
 ral were arrested and confined for a short time* 
 On the day that the meeting at Balby was held,. 
 General Lambert, who was opposed to the King'* 
 return, was defeated, which produced a great 
 bustle in the nation ; and George Fox had some- 
 difficulty in retaining his horse, which Lambert's 
 party wished to purchase from him ; but he re- 
 fused to part with it, telluig them," Gx>d would 
 confound and scatter them," which was verified ilk 
 a few days. 
 
 Having finished his service at Balby and Warms- 
 •worth, he travelled by * Baiton Abbey, and Tho- 
 mas Taylor's, to Skiptou. Here was held "a 
 general meeting of Men Friends out of manjjL 
 tounties, concerning tlie affairs oi the church, botb^ 
 
 ^ X 4sup£0se Burton, or Mook Brcttoov 
 
 r 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1^5 
 
 in this nation and beyond the seas." Although, 
 we read of general and yearly meetings before this, 
 and at other places, it does not appear that they 
 were, like this, meetings for discipline, so that the 
 original yearly meetmg, of which tliat now held 
 is a contiimation, was about this time established 
 at Skipton, in Yorkshire. This meeting George 
 Fox had recouunended several years before, and 
 it seems this was not the first that was held. Its 
 objects were to collect the accounts of Friends' 
 sufferings, to assist them in procuring redress ; and 
 to provide for the relief of the poor in the society, 
 that they might not become burdensome to tlieir 
 parishes. At the first establishment of this meet- 
 ing, several Justices and officers came with aiv 
 intention to break it up ; but when they under- 
 stood the nature of the business, and saw the 
 books in which the transactions of the meeting 
 were entered, they were much pleased; ai>d com- 
 mended Friends' practice. The poor also of the 
 neighbourhood, sometimes to the number of two 
 hundred, partook of the liberality of Friends, 
 who gave to each of them a loaf of bread f " for we 
 were taught," says this liberal minded minister of 
 the gospel of Christ, "to do good unto all, thougb 
 •specially to the household of faith." 
 
 When this mec ing was finished, he went to 
 taucaster^ vi&itiug, Fiiend* iu his^ way.. Fjcoa» 
 
ier4 
 
 ITTE OF GEORGE FOX* 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 165 
 
 iii- 
 
 r 
 
 
 ; 
 
 ;i 
 
 Iii 
 
 Lancaster he went to Robert Widders's house, and 
 to Amside. Here was held a general meeting for 
 the three counties of Lancashire, Westmoreland, 
 and Cumberland, which was quiet and peaceable. 
 Returning home with his friend Robert Widders, 
 he went next day to Swarthnrore ; but had not 
 been long there, before he was served with a war- 
 rant from Henry Porter, a Justice under King 
 Charles. When George was apprehended, he 
 was taken first to Ulverstone, where he was de- 
 tained that night; and the next day was conveyed 
 to Lancaster. He was treated with great rude- 
 ness and abuse, and tlie apprehension of him was 
 considered a great acquisition. One of the con- 
 stables said he did not think a thousand men 
 could have taken him; and another man kneeled 
 down and blessed God for his being apprehended*. 
 When he came to Lancaster, he was taken before 
 Justice Porter, who it seems was a Major in the 
 army, and a young inexperienced man. After some 
 conversation, George Fox was committed to the 
 common jail at Lancaster, where he was treated 
 ivith great cruelty by the under-jailer, and bj 
 many others' who eanie to see bin*. 
 
 Being now a close prisoner, he desired two ol 
 \a& friends to apply to the jailer, for a copy of hi» 
 mittiraias ; which they were refused, but were per- 
 illed to peruse U^ smd; conMuunicalin^the \m9^- 
 
 of it to George Fox, he wrote a reply to it, ex- 
 posing the falsity of such of the accusations 
 brought against him, as contained any thing con- 
 trary to the peace of the nation. His friend Mar- 
 garet Fell, who was now become a widow, also 
 wrote an address to the Magistrates on the occa- 
 sion; feeling particularly interested, as George 
 was apprehended at her house. She also went to 
 London, to speak to the King on the subject, 
 •where Justice Porter met her. He had been for- 
 merly a zealous man for the Parliament, but, like 
 many others at that time, he changed his party as 
 interest led him. Several of the courtiers, how- 
 ever, recognized him ; and reminded him of his 
 former conduct, in plundering their houses, and 
 other acts of violence. He therefore hastened 
 home, and manifested a dispotition to release his^ 
 prisoner : but having, in the mittimus, unwisely, 
 but probably with a design to ingratiate himself 
 with the royal party, committed George a prisoner 
 till he should be delivered by the King or Parlia- 
 ment; it was not in his power to release him, 
 George was therefore continued a prisoner at 
 Lancaster for a considerable time longer. During 
 his confinement, Ann Curtis, of Reading, in Berk- 
 shire, came to visit him. Her father being having 
 been a warm Royalist, was executed near his own 
 door,for^attenipting the King's restoration. On thifik 
 account^ she considered herself likely to have some 
 
16a 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 167 
 
 influence with Charles, and therefore, on her re- 
 turn, she united with Margaret Fell, in applying 
 to him, on account of George Fox's imprisonment. 
 When the King knew whose daughter Ann Curtis 
 was, he received her kindly ; and promised to send 
 for George Fox to London, and hear the cause 
 himself ; and an Habeas Corpus was soon after 
 obtained for the purpose of bringing him ; but 
 some legal difficulties being thrown in the way by 
 those who had to execute the writ, and wished to 
 detain him in prison, it was delayed for some 
 time. During this interval, George was not un- 
 employed, but wrote several papers or epistles, 
 one of which was addressed to the King ; and as it 
 shows the honest simplicity of his manner of ad- 
 dressing those in authority, as well as his religious 
 zeal against all violence and vice, I shall give a 
 copy of it. 
 
 To the KING. 
 " King Charles, 
 " Thou camest not into this nation bv sword, 
 nor by victory of war ; but by the power of the 
 Lord. Now if thou dost not live in it, thou wilt 
 not prosper. If the Lord hath shown thee mercy, 
 and forgiven thee, and thou dost not show mercy 
 and forgive, God will not h^ar thy prayers, nor 
 them that pray for thee. If thou dost not stop 
 persecution and persecutors, and take away all 
 laws that hold up persecution ^ but if thou persist 
 
 in them and uphold persecution, that will make 
 thee as blind as those that have gone before thee : 
 for persecution hath always blinded those who 
 have gone into it. Such God by his power over- 
 throws, doth his valiant acts upon, and bringeth 
 salvation to his oppressed ones. If thou bear the 
 sword in vain, and let drunkenness, oaths, plays, 
 maygames, with such like abominations and vani- 
 ties be encouraged, or go unpunished ; as the set- 
 ting of maypoles, with the image of the crown 
 atop of them, &c. ; the nations will quickly turn 
 like Sodom and Gomorrah, and be as bad as the 
 old world, who grieved the Lord till he overthrew 
 them ; and so he will you, if those things be not 
 suppressed. Hardly was there so much wicked- 
 ness at liberty before, as there is at this day, as 
 tliough there was no terror nor sword of ma<yis- 
 tracy ; which doth not grace a government, nor is 
 a praise to them that do well. Our prayers are 
 for them that are in authority, that under them we 
 may live a godly life, in which we have peace; and 
 that we may not be brought into ungodliness by 
 them. Hear and consider, and do good in thy 
 time, whilst thou hast power: be merciful and 
 forgive ; that is the way to obtain the kingdom of 
 Christ. ctQ^ p>j 
 
 Thus did this suffering christian plead the cause 
 of God and man; and whilst he recommended the 
 
 SI 
 
 » 
 
168 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEOKGt: FOX. 
 
 ItX) 
 
 promotion of religion and virtue, he endeavoured 
 to induce the King to a lenient conduct towards 
 those, who had not only been his own and his fa- 
 ther's enemies ; but from whom George Fox and 
 his Friends had suffered much persecution. 
 
 The principal difficulty which at last ob- 
 structed his removal to London, was the fear of 
 the expense, which the Sheriff wished to impose 
 upon his prisoner; with whom he first proposed 
 to send a party of horse, and afterwards the jailer 
 and some baihffs. But finding that he could not 
 bring George Fox to his terms, the Sheriff at 
 length agreed to let him go without any guard, 
 taking his own time and way, and to have a Friend 
 or two of his own with him ; he giving expectation 
 that he would be in London on a certain day of 
 the term, and appear before the Judges. Being 
 now liberated, he went first to Swarthmore to re- 
 cruit himself; and after resting there two or three 
 days, he took his journey to London; Richard 
 Hubberthom and Robert Widders being his com* 
 panions. They travelled through Lancashire, 
 Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, &c. and in 
 about three weeks reached London. The morn- 
 ing after their arrival, they went to the chambers 
 of Judge Mallelt, who was then preparing himself 
 for trying some of the King's Judges ; several of 
 whom had already suffered, llie Judge proposed 
 
 I: 
 
 / 
 
 dieir coming another time, with which they com- 
 plied, and found Chief Justice Foster with him. 
 Esquire Marsh, one of the King's Bed Chamber, 
 accompanied George, who, -on his admission, de- 
 livered the charge against himself ; and when 
 tlie Judges read that part, which charged him and 
 his Friends wkh imbroiling the nation in blood, 
 they were so astonished, that they struck their 
 hands on the table. George Fox then informed 
 them that he was the man against whom the 
 charge was made. After some time, they sent 
 for the Marshal of the King's Bench, and desired 
 him to secure the prisoner ; but not to put him 
 among the other prisoners. The Marshal, how- 
 aver, having no room at liberty, the prison being* 
 then unusually full, the Judges concluded to leave 
 him to provide for himself; he engaging to ap-** 
 pear, about ten o'clock the next morning, at th« 
 King's Benth, in Westminster-Hall, with only thi« 
 reserve, " If the Lord give me strength." It 
 6eenis George Fox was not a stranger to Judge 
 Foster, for he said to the other Judge, "If he 
 (George) says yes, and promises it, you may take 
 his word." 
 
 The next day, at the hour appointed, ac- 
 companied by his two friends and Esquire Marsh, 
 he presented himself at the Court of King's 
 Bench; and being firought into the midst of it^ hef 
 
S'H 
 
 T73 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX^ 
 
 addressed the Court in this manner : " Peace be 
 among you." The charge was then read; and 
 when they came to that part, which charged him 
 and his friends with imbroiling the nation in blood, 
 lie stretched out his arms and said, " I am the 
 man whom that charge is against ;*' and proceed- 
 ing, he showed the utter improbability of its 
 truth, from his being permitted to come from Lon- 
 caster without any guard, or even giving bail for 
 his appearance. The Judges and the people be- 
 haved with moderation and kindness, seeing the 
 case in its proper light; but there seemed some 
 difficulty in bringing the matter to a regular conclu- 
 sion. Esquire Marsh told the Court, that it was 
 the King's pleasure that George Fox should be 
 ^set at liberty, as no accuser appeared against him. 
 He was then asked whether he would put it to the 
 King and Council, to which he answered, " Yes, 
 uith a good will." The consequence of this was, 
 that he was soon liberated, without a personal ap- 
 pearance before the King, after having been a 
 prisoner about twenty weeks. He was advised, 
 by some persons in authority, to take the advan- 
 tage of tlie law against Justice Porter and others, 
 who committed him; and the Justice indeed was 
 much afraid of it; but George, with his wonted 
 liberality, declined the proposal, leaving tliem ^e 
 the XiOrd, and not troubling himself with them. 
 
 €HAP. xni. 
 
 1 660-2 — Short Cessation of Persecutiori'—'ReTfeu'ed vn 
 account of the Conduct of' the Fifth Monarchic Mcn-^» 
 George FoXy in London , is taken up and liberated'"^ 
 Exerts himself for his suffering Friends here, and in 
 New England and Malta — Goes to Bristol — Returns 
 io London — Travels Northward — Is imprisoned in Ln^ 
 cestershire, and liber at ed'^Returns to London - Visits 
 the Eastern Counties^ and comes again to London. 
 
 George fox and his Friends had now a 
 short relaxation from suffering. The King com- 
 menced his reign, with an intention of granting 
 full liberty of conscience, consistently with a de- 
 claration- which he made at Breda, previously to hi» 
 return. About seven hundred Friends, who were 
 imprisoned for their religious principles, were no^ 
 set at liberty; and the face of things was very dif- 
 ferent, with respect to religious toleration ; but a 
 circumstance occurred at this juncture, which 
 materially changed the scene. About this time, 
 the wicked insurrection of the Fifth Monarchy- 
 men broke out, by which a great commotion was 
 excited in the whole nation.* All dissenters, it 
 
 * The Fifth Monarchy Men were a set who aro^e 
 in -the time of Cromwell, expecting Christ's sudden ap- 
 pearance upon earth, to establish a new kingdom ; and act- 
 ing in consequence of this illusion, aimed at the subveraoa 
 of all humau government. 
 
 P,2 
 
i7Q 
 
 kPFE OF €£OBG£ FOX. 
 
 seems, were involved in suspicioB, and their me^- 
 ings attempted to be suppressed. The insurrection 
 <xf these deluded men took place whilst Geo. Fox 
 ivas in London ; and he, fearing probabiy that hiir 
 Friends would be suspected, having had large 
 meetings the day before, went the next morning 
 to Whitehall ; and a number of his Friends came 
 to him at a house in Pall-Mall, though it was then 
 very dangerous to walk in the streets, the city 
 being generally in arms. He continued in Pall 
 Mall, till the First Day following, intending 
 to be at meeting there that day; but the night be- 
 fore a party of soldiers come to arrest him, and 
 would have executed their purpose, had they not 
 been prevented by Esquire Marsh, who, out of hi» 
 regard for George Fox, slept in tlie house to pro* 
 tect him. It was, however, agreed that he should 
 be ready in the morning, when the soldiers were to 
 return for him; but before they came, another 
 party had taken him away to Whitehall, llie- 
 soldiers and people were very rude in their beha^ 
 viour to him ; yet this did not prevent George 
 from endeavouring to turn them from the evil o^ 
 their ways, and preaching the truth to them. Some 
 persons in authority coming by at this time, ordered 
 him to be put into a place of close confinement^ 
 but he did not continue long there, his kind friend 
 Marsh having spoken to Lord Gerrard on his be-«- 
 half j who ordered George Fox to be set at liberty. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX* 
 
 173 
 
 He now exerted himself as much as possible to 
 assist his Friends in their distress, and with some 
 others drew up a paper, disclaiming all concern in 
 plots and fighting ; but such was the violence of 
 the times, that it was seized and suppressed whilst 
 it was printing. George, however, with his usual 
 intrepidity, never flinched from danger when likely 
 to be useful ; but went about the city, in thi» 
 perilous time, visiting his Friends and eiMiou- 
 raging them under their sufferings. He also wrote 
 a consolatory epistle to those whom he could not 
 personally visit ; and the former declaration against 
 plots and fighting being lost, whilst in the press, 
 another was drawn up and printed, copies of which 
 were sent' to the King and Council, and others 
 sold in the streets of London and elsewhere. It \va» 
 presented to the King on the 21st of 1 1th month, 
 1 660, and seems to have been of considerable ser- 
 vice. Whil&t George Fox was thus engaged, 
 Margaret Fell and Thomas Moor, v/ith some 
 other Friends, applied to the King personally, 
 who, after much importunity, issued a declaration 
 tbat Friends should he set at liberty, without pay- 
 ing fees. Many thousands were in prison, in con- 
 sequence of the rising of thc'Fifth Monarchy-men, 
 which threw suspicion on all who were not mani- 
 festly of the Royal party. Partly from fear, and 
 partly from revenge, much blood was shed thii 
 year, on various accounts. "-This^" soys GeOi^ 
 
 »3 
 
ir* 
 
 XIPE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 T75 
 
 \pM 
 
 ^ 
 
 Fox, " was sad work, destroying people contrary 
 to the nature of Christians, who have the nature 
 of sheep and lambs. But there was a secret hand 
 in bringing this day upon that hypocritical genera- 
 tion of professors, who being got into power, grew 
 proud, haughty and cruel beyond others, and per- 
 Becuted the people of God without pity." Here 
 he enlarges much on their faithless conduct, and 
 relates many warnings which they received from 
 different Friends, without the desired effect. He 
 also gives the following instance of their intolerant 
 spirit : At a time when some liberty was granted by 
 (he government, a priest of Plymouth, in great re- 
 pute under the Commonwealth, prayed " that God 
 would put it into the hearts of the chief magis* 
 trates of the nation, to remove this cursed tolera- 
 tion." Nor was this a solitary instance, for several 
 ©ther priests prayed against it by the name of " the 
 intolerable toleration." O temporal O mores 1 
 O preces!* ''Say not the former times were 
 better than theseJ* 
 
 In the year 156 1, accounts were received in thi». 
 Ration, of the cmel persecution of Friends in New 
 England, several of wlioiq were put to death for 
 their religion. At the time of their execution,, 
 ijeorge Fox was prisoner in Lancaster Castli^, 
 
 -*What times L What naan«ers! What prayert^t 
 
 where he had a sense of their sufferings, and felt 
 as if the halter was put about his own neck. Oi> 
 receiving the account which confirmed these feel- 
 iugs, application was made to the King, by 
 Friends here, on behalf of their suffering brethren, 
 in America ; and a mandamus was readily granted, 
 to put a stop to the cruelties exercised by the per- 
 secutors of New England. George Fox says they 
 *' were a people who fled out of Old Englandt, 
 from the persecution of the Bishops ; but whea 
 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 coidd not pay it." The inconsistent 
 and violent conduct of diese great pretenders to- 
 religion, seems to have often kindled George Fox's- 
 honest indignation. Some of the New England 
 magistrates coming over to England, he and other 
 Friends took several opportunities of conversing 
 with them ; by which the magistrates were so^ 
 alarmed^ lest they should be prosecuted for mur- 
 der, that they soon returned to New England. 
 Some of the old Royalists were very desirous that 
 Friends would prosecute them ; but George Fox. 
 vays; with his usual Chustian spirit;^ ** we told theil^ 
 
>76 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FO^, 
 
 \^^ 
 
 that we left them to the Lord, to whom vengeance 
 belonged, and he would repay it/' 
 
 The Episcopal Church being now restored, the 
 Bishops and Clergy were earnest in the re-establish- 
 ment of their form of worship ; and not content with 
 the liberty of worshippingGod themselves,according 
 to their own judgment, they endeavoured to obtain 
 laws, in which they were too succes^ul, to com- 
 pel others to conform to the same. This induced 
 George Fox to publish a paper on the nature and 
 freedom of Christ's worship, and on the impro- 
 priety of using compulsory means to promote or 
 establish it. He was also, about this time, en- 
 gaged in verbal controversies with people of 
 almost all religious professions. The Papists and 
 Jesuits were then disposed to speak favourably 
 of Friends, and endeavoured to ingratiate them- 
 selves into their favour; but George seems to- 
 Lave been soon sensible of their insincerity ; and 
 in a discourse with them, laid open their error;* 
 and superstitions, so that they no longer manifested 
 the same favourable disposition. His intuitioa 
 into the characters of those with whom he con- 
 versed, and his uncommon integrity and firmness- 
 of mind, made him alike uninfluenced either by 
 fear or favour ; and gave him also such an honesty 
 though not a haughty, independence of mind, a* 
 lew xaea have poss^ssed^ 
 
 VFE OP GEORGE TOX* 
 
 17T 
 
 T 
 
 He now resided a considerable time in London 
 attending to various matters relating to the society^ 
 which he had been the means of establishing.*- « 
 He took one journey into Essex, and had som^ 
 very large meetings at Colchester. Near Cogges- 
 hall, a priest was convinced ; and George had a 
 meeting at his house. But about this time, the 
 people's minds were so much inflamed with the 
 conduct of the Fifth Monarchy-men, that religious 
 meetings of dissenters, and particularly of Friends^ 
 were much disturbed. That people bad fixed the 
 year 1666 for Christ's personal appearance on 
 earth ; and expected that the Saints would, by the 
 means of war, obtain the government. WHh 
 these sentiments George Fox was so far from 
 uniting, that he had, by a paper which he pub-^ 
 lished, endeavoured to lay open their errors ; but^ 
 when popular prejudice, especially if accompanied 
 with the fear of personal injury, is once excited, it 
 is not soon allayed ; and many persons, at this 
 time, suffered very innocently, on account of the 
 conduct of these misguided religionists. 
 
 About this time, a circumstance occurred, on a 
 Subject which had caused considerable exercise ta 
 Friends. The legality of their marriages, thougH 
 they had been conducted with great deliberation 
 and solemnity, was sometimes disputed; and mucb 
 iNdCeitainty seems to have existed on the subject "^ 
 
"I 
 
 173 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 I^IFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 i7jr 
 
 -ii; 
 
 but George Fox relates a trial at the Assizes at 
 Nottingham, this year, before Judge Archer, by 
 which their legality was fully established; nor has 
 it been, I believe, since that time, brought into 
 dispute. This trial must have afforded great relief 
 to the rising Society; and would,^DO doubt; excite 
 grateful feelings in their minds. 
 
 The testimony which George TPox and his 
 friends, considered it their duty tu bear against 
 swearing of all kinds, subjected them to the mali- 
 cious administration of the oaths of Allegiance 
 and Supremacy, by those who were unfavourably 
 disposed towards them. Although their fidelity 
 to the Government was not disputed, they being 
 willing in the most solemn manner they consist- 
 ently could, to declare their assent to the subjects 
 of these oaths ; yet their enemies often made use 
 of this means, to subject them to great suffering. 
 On this occasion, George Fox gave forth a short 
 piece on oaths, in which he concisely states the 
 argument in this manner : The world saith, " Kiss 
 the book ;" but the book saith, " Kiss the Son, 
 lest he be angry;" and the Son saith, " Swear 
 not at all ; but keep to yea and nay in all your 
 communication ; for what is more than this com* 
 eth of evil." Notwithstanding this clear and simple 
 argument, not only the practice of swearing con- 
 tiaued; but those who conscientiously declined it^ 
 
 were subjected to great suffering, on this as well 
 as other accounts. So numerous and grievous were 
 tliese sufferings, that George Fox and Richard 
 Hubbertliorn, presented an account of them to the 
 King; in which they state, that three thousand one 
 hundred and seventy-three persons of their So- 
 ciety, had been imprisoned during the Common- 
 wealth, for their religious principles; thirty-two 
 of whom had died, and seventy-three still remained 
 in prison. They also stated that, since the King's 
 restoration, three thousand and sixty-eight of their 
 Friends, had been imprisoned, besides many other 
 sufferings to which they were subjected. These 
 things were strongly, but modestly, laid before tlie 
 King ; yet we have reason to believe with very 
 little effect. 
 
 George Fox seems to have possessed great Fen- 
 sibility of mind^ for the sufferings of others; and 
 we may naturally suppose, those of hb own So- 
 ciety would particularly engage his attention. In 
 the year l66% being informed of the imprison- 
 ment of Catharine Evans and Sarah Chevers^ ia 
 the Inquisition on the Island of Malta, he applied 
 to a Roman Catholic Nobleman, (Lord D'Aubigny) 
 who promised to use his influence to obtain their 
 release; and which he at length effected. With 
 him, George had some very free and satisfactory 
 religious conversation ; and never heard a Papist 
 confess so much as he did. 
 
180 
 
 t«IF£ OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 lilFE OF GEORGE FOIT. 
 
 ntr 
 
 ' >.ilCi 
 
 Having coDtinaed nearly two years in and about 
 London, he again went into die country, taking 
 Alexander Parker and John Stubbs with him. 
 Visiting the meetings of Friends in their way, they 
 came to Bristol, where persecution was very hot; 
 but this was no discouragement to his intrepid 
 spirit. He <:ontinued here about two weeks^ 
 •nd, on the latter first day, which he spent in that 
 city, his friends, knowing of the resolution which 
 the Magistrates had formed to take him, and that 
 they had even raised the Trained Bands, used 
 much persuasion to discourage him from attend- 
 ing the meeting. He desired them to go 
 to it, without informing them of his owa 
 intention. However, he soon followed, and 
 when he came to the meeting, a woman Friend 
 ^Margaret I'homas) was preachmg. Soon after 
 che'^had concluded, George stood up, which at 
 first excited great fear and concern in the minds 
 of his timid friends ; but the power with which he 
 «pake soon removed their fear; and to use his 
 own words, " an heavenly glorious meeting we 
 had.'* After preaching, he was engaged in sup^ 
 plication; and during diese religious public en- 
 gagements no interruption was given, llie soldiers 
 ■who were to have broken up this meeting, had 
 teen engaged elsewhere; and when they came 
 iiere, the meeting was separated. At the conclur 
 sion of the meeting, George, with tliat pious re- 
 
 ference to a Divine Providence which he con- 
 stantly manifested, told his friends, " that now 
 they might see there was a God in Israel that 
 could deliver." « It was indeed," he says, " the 
 immediate power of the Lord that preserved me 
 out of their hands at Bristol, and over the heads 
 of all our persecutors ; and the Lord alone is wor- 
 thy of all the glory, who did uphold aud presery* 
 for his name and truth's sake." 
 
 Leaving Bristol, he came through Wiltshire ani 
 Berkshire to London, having large meetings in his 
 way, respecting which he says : <' The Lord's 
 power was over all, and a blessed time it was for 
 the spreading of his glorious truth." He did not 
 continue long in London, but travelled northward, 
 till he came into Leicestershire:; having John 
 Stubbs with him. At Swanington, he was ar- 
 rested by Lord Beaumont and a company of 
 soldiers, whilst in a Friend's house; and nothing 
 sufficient appearing, on which to ground a com- 
 mitment, the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy 
 were tendered; for the refusal of which, and be- 
 cause they ^' were to have had a meeting," he 
 committed several persons to Leicester jail. It 
 was, however, very difficult to find any one to 
 convey tliem there, it being harvest time, and the 
 people disliking the employment, of taking their 
 itim>ccut and respectable neighb«ais to priswi. 
 
18S 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 One man was with some difficulty hired, who con- 
 veyed them to Leicester, where they were first 
 taken to an inn, the occupier of which, being a 
 Magistrate, kindly interested himself to prevent 
 their going to jail ; but several Friends being there 
 already, George Fox and his company preferred 
 their society, to remaining in confinement else- 
 where. The Jailer was a man of an unkind dis- 
 position, and had treated the Friends there with 
 great cruelty ; particularly in their meetings which 
 ihey held in the prison ; on which occasions, if 
 any of them were engaged in public prayer, he 
 would come among them with his staff, aud beat 
 and abuse them ; but a mastiff dog which accom- 
 panied him, and which possessed more humanity 
 than his master, would frequently seize his' staff 
 autl take it from him, when he was using it in this 
 imchristian manner. Notwithstanding this violent 
 disposition in the Jailer, George Fox held meet- 
 ings every first day in the prison yard ; to which 
 the prisoners of all descriptions were invited, and 
 several others attended. " Some," he observes, 
 « received the Lord's truth there, who stood faith- 
 ful witnesses for it ever since." 
 
 When the time of the Quarter Sessions came 
 on, George Fox, and about twenty other Friends, 
 were brought into court, where the oaths were 
 a<yain tendered to ensnare them. After some time 
 
 UFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 T8S 
 
 they were put upon their trial, and the Jury found 
 them guilty, on a mittimus which did not char<ye 
 them with the breach of any laws, but that " they 
 were to have a meeting." The administration of 
 law and equity, was indeed still mixed with vio- 
 Jence and oppression ; party spirit, in these trou- 
 blesome times, greatly prevailing in those courts, 
 which ought to have administered justice to the 
 people, aud to have softened the temper of the 
 times. Though the prisoners were found guilty, 
 and remanded to jail ; yet the Court, sensible, it 
 «eems, of the impropriety of the mittimus, or from 
 some other cause, sent the Jailer with a message 
 which he delivered in these civil terms: " Gentle- 
 men, it is. the Court's pleasure that ye should be 
 set at liberty, except those that are in for tithes : 
 and you know there are fees due to me ; but I 
 «hall leave it to you to give me what you will." 
 
 George Fox and his friends being now liberated, 
 he returned to Swanington, from which place he was 
 committed; and went to Lord Beaumont, with a 
 letter he had received from Lord Hastings, writ- 
 ten in London, addressed to the Justices of the 
 Session. This letter George did not think proper 
 to deliver to them, though intended to procure hi» 
 liberty. Beaumont, however, still threatened, 
 that if he and his friends had any more meetings 
 at Swanington, he would break them up, and send 
 
384 
 
 X1I'£ OE eEORGE FOX'. 
 
 the Friends again to prison ; which, however, le 
 did not put in execution, though George, notwith- 
 standing his threats, had a meeting at that time 
 with his friends at this place. 
 
 He now passed through the counties of Waiv 
 wick, Northampton, and Bedford, to Iwondon^ 
 where he staid but a short time ; and went into 
 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire; re» 
 tuming by Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire to. 
 London. Of this journey he observes, ^^ The 
 Lord's power carried us over the persecuting spi- 
 fits, and through many dangers ; aud his truth 
 spread and greW; and Friends were established 
 therein j praises and glory to his name for ever !" 
 
 tiJ 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 3^^2-3— F/«V* Friends in the City-^Trateh into Kent, 
 Sussex, Sre. to Cornuall-^Retunis throvgh Dcxon^ 
 Bristol, 4-c. to JVates-^TAence info the Northern 
 Counties as far as Northumberland (tnd Cumberland^-- 
 Comes to Swart hmore— Is committed to Lancaster Jail 
 '^Undergoes a long and cruel Imprisonment there and 
 at Scarborough, 
 
 George fox now continued in London 
 a short time, visiting the meetings of his friends, 
 '^ which were very large, and the Lord's power 
 was over all/' He and Thomas Biij^gs, leavincr 
 the city, travelled into Kent, and had meetings at 
 Ashford, Craubrook, aud Tentcrden. At the last 
 place they were arrested by an ofiicer with a party 
 of soldiers, and ex^^mined by him, the Major of 
 the place, and a Lieutenant; all of whom were 
 Justices of the Peace. After a lona examinatioij. 
 m which George Fox had an opportunity of ex- 
 plaming various matters, and of giving them .some 
 religious advice, they, being sensible of his and his 
 friend's innocence, at length, liberated them in a 
 handsome manner, which he as handsomely ac- 
 knowledged, telling them their clviiLiy was: 
 Aoblee 
 
 ; HI 
 
nS 
 
 ttlPE OP GliOtlGE tOX* 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 1^7 
 
 From Tenterden, George and bis companion 
 went to Newick, iu Sussex, and had several Jarge 
 meetings in that county and Hampshire. After 
 jiaving a good meeting at Southampton, they went 
 to Pulmer, or Pulner, in the parish of Ringwood ; 
 Avhere a monthly meeting was to be held tlie next 
 day. The report of this meeting and of Grcorge 
 Fox attending, seems to have spread and caused 
 iBome alarm ; so that the Trained Bands, a sort of 
 local militia, I suppose, were raised to break it 
 tip. Coming to the place, a considerable time 
 "before the meeting, they did not wait till it com- 
 menced; but taking some Friends with them, whom 
 they found in the house or met on the way, they 
 departed. The meeting, which was very large, 
 was held without any disturbance, and with much 
 satisfaction. Tlie Magistrates being informed, 
 that notwithstanding their attempts to prevent it, 
 the meeting was held, sent the soldiers a second 
 time, but too late; for it was then over, and 
 Friends gone; by which - the persecuting Magi- 
 strates and Officers were much disappointed and ' 
 enraged. After this meeting, George Fox and 
 Iiis companion, rode about twenty miles *' to one 
 Frje's in Wiltshire," where they had a quiet and 
 ■good meeting the ncNt day. . Here again it was -^ 
 intended to break up the meeting; but those who , 
 "were to have done so were called off by a house 
 lieing;. broken into in the neighbourhood. Thus 
 
 diese adversaries were disappointed of their ma- 
 licious designs. Indeed, Providence seemed la 
 interfere various ways between Friends and their 
 persecutors ; and particularly by bringing them to 
 a sense of the impropriety of their severe conduct, 
 when under bodily affliction. Of this, George 
 Fox here relates an instance in a constable, who, 
 being in a very afflicted state of bodv and mind, 
 wished " he had never meddled with the Quakers; 
 confessing that he never prospered since he had 
 a hand in persecuting them, and tliat he thought 
 the hand of the Lord was against hioi for it." 
 
 In 1663, passing through Wiltshire, George Fox 
 and Thomas Briggs came into Dorsetshire, Devon- 
 shire, and Cornwall ; having many large and good 
 meetings. At Topsham, they met with Margaret 
 Fell and two of her daughters, also Leonard Fell, 
 and Thomas Salthouse, all from Lancashire ; and 
 having been heretofore intimately acquainted^ the 
 meeting musk have been mutually pleasant. 
 
 After finishing their gospel -labours in Cornwall, 
 they came through part of Devonshire into Somer- 
 •etshire, in which county two general meetings 
 were held, which were very large, peaceable, and 
 satisfactory ; as were other meetings in those 
 parts.. They now came to Bristol, whence, after 
 having some religious service, ihey went to Slat— 
 teuford, in Wiltshire, where they had a very large.: 
 
 \i 
 
 f = : 
 
I8S 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 meeting in a barn: " The truth, as it is in Jesus> 
 was published ; and n»any were gathered by it into 
 the name of the Lord." 
 
 lm~ 
 
 George Fox now travelled throaghr various 
 counties in England, and part of Wales, till he 
 eame to York, " having many meetings in the way ; 
 and the Lord's everlasting power was over all." 
 Leaving York he went to Boroughbridge, where 
 he had a very satisfactory meeting. Passing 
 through the county of Durham, he came into 
 Westmoreland, and afterwards to Swarthmore ; 
 where he continued but a short time. He had 
 meetings at several places in these parts, where he 
 had laboured much and with great success, a few 
 years before ; after which he went by Strickland- 
 head, where he had a large meeting on a common, 
 into Northumberland. At Dcrwent-Water, ia 
 this county, he wa* accosted by an ancient woii?an> 
 with a message of love from her husband, whomi 
 George, it seems, had formerly designated by the 
 name of " the tall white old man." He was now 
 one hundred and twenty two years of age, and' 
 would have come to the meeting, had not his 
 Iiorses been engaged. He lived several years aftef 
 ^is time. 
 
 Having visited Friends in Northumberland, he 
 came ta**^oIdThomaa Bewlay^ in Cumberland,''' 
 
 tlFE OF GEORGE FOX*. 
 
 T8J> 
 
 where he had " a large and precious meeting ;'* 
 though persecution was very prevalent in these* 
 parts, and the deputy governor of Carlisle, (Mus- 
 grave,) appears to have been a great promoter of 
 it. George Fox however met with no disturb- 
 ance, but had large and quiet meetings at several 
 places, particularly at Wigton and Pardshaw- 
 Crag. From these parts he went by Keswick 
 into Westmoreland, and, on his entering that, 
 county, was informed that Justice Fleming had 
 offered five pounds for his apprehension. He was 
 now at his friend Francis Benson's house, who 
 lived near this Justice ; but though met by a man- 
 to whom the offer had been made, and who knew 
 George Fox, he passed through this part of the 
 country without any interruption, and came agaia 
 to Swarthmore ; where Colonel Kirby had sent to 
 search for him. The next day George went to« 
 his house, where he found the Flemings on a visit 
 to the Colonel, who was then about leaving home 
 to attend the Parliament in London. George 
 had much conversation with them, after which 
 they parted in a friendly manner, the Colonel tell- 
 ing him that he had nothing against him ; and 
 others of the company said that he was a deserving^ 
 man. 
 
 i 
 
 He now returned to his kind friends, at 
 Swarthmore, where he heard of a private meet- 
 
190 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ing at a Justice's house, at uhich a warrant was 
 granted to apprehend him; the operation of which 
 he not only had time to escape, but his mind was 
 also at liberty from any religious service in those 
 parts. However, he apprehended that his with- 
 drawing himself, might cause the suffering to fall 
 heavier upon his Friends. There appears to have 
 been a plot, at this time, formed in the North of 
 England against the King; and George, it seems^ 
 feared that his departure, might give occasion for 
 suspicion of some concern in this plot. He there- 
 fore waited the execution of the warrant ; and an 
 officer came with a sword and pistols to appre- 
 hend him, with whom, after some conversation, he 
 went to Houlker Hall, the seat of Justice Preston, 
 at whose house the warrant was issued ; his friend 
 Margaret Fell accompanying him. Here a num- 
 ber of Justices and others were collected, before 
 whom he underwent a long examination ; the 
 result of which was, the tendering to him the 
 oath of allegiance. This, was the common snare 
 for George Fox and his Friends, when their ene- 
 mies could not fix the breach of any law upon 
 them. Like the sacrament to the Reformers from 
 Popery, the oalh became a kind of test of the re- 
 Kgious principles of our early Friends ; and was 
 made a snare in which their adversaries endeavour- 
 ed to entrap them ; and by this means to bring 
 them under confinement^ and perhaps other pu- 
 
 191 
 
 ttishment. On George Fox's refusal to take the 
 oath, it was at first intended to send him to Lan- 
 caster jail; but he was afterwards dismissed, on 
 his engaging to appear at the succeeding Sessions 
 diere, which he accordingly did. The Justices on 
 the Bench, were Fleming, Spencer, West, and 
 Kawlinson. After some parley about his hat, he 
 was examined respecting the plot already men- 
 tioned. Of this plot George was not only inno- 
 cent, but having heard of it by a Friend, who re- 
 ceived his information from the High SherifJ' of 
 Yorkshire, he wrote a paper of advice on the sub- 
 ject, to his Friends, to keep clear of all such 
 things; a copy of which he also sent to several 
 Magistrates, and even to the King. The Justices 
 finding nothing on which to criminate him, ten- 
 dered him the oaths of allegiance and supremacy ; 
 and after much discourse on the subject of swear- 
 ing, they committed him to prison. Tliis was in 
 the year \663, and he continued a prisoner here 
 till 1665, several of his Friends being also in pri- 
 son, for various matters connected with their reli- 
 gious principles. During this long confinement, 
 he underwent several examinations at the Assizes, 
 and, simply for his refusing to take an oath, con- 
 sistently with the express command of Christ, he 
 was continued in prison the time mentioned. In 
 his examinations he dearly stated, that those 
 things mentioned in the oath, as plotting against 
 the King, or owning the Pope's supremacy, or 
 
i9% 
 
 1.IFE OF GEORGE POX. 
 
 CIFE OF GE0B6E FOX. 
 
 195 
 
 tiiat of any other foreign power, he utterly de- 
 nied; but be could not consistently make this 
 declaration in the form of an oath. At the second 
 Assizes an indictment was preferred against him 
 for this only offence, on which the Jury brought 
 him in guilty ; but being brought up next day to 
 receive sentence, he pointed out so many errors 
 and false statements in the indictment, that the 
 Judge was obliged, though reluctantly, to liberate 
 bim. The Judge's disappointment was, however, 
 «o great, that he again tendered the oaths, which 
 produced a long conversation, in which George 
 Fox stated his religious scruples in this manner : 
 *' Ye have given nye a book here to kiss ; but the 
 book says, Kiss the Son, and the Son sa^s in this 
 book. Swear not at all. I say as the book says, 
 yet ye imprison me. How comes it that the book 
 k at liberty amongst jou which bids me not swear, 
 and yet ye imprison me for doing as the book 
 bids me." This simple explanation, with the de- 
 claration already mentioned, would have induced 
 a just judge, to have availed himself of the legal 
 opportiwMty wiikh was put into his hands, to libe* 
 rate so conscientious a prisoner : but such was 
 the prejudice excited in the niiuds of many per- 
 sons, that neitlier gospel, law, nor equity, were re^ 
 gardcd in their proceedings. George Fox was 
 again put to trial on the Judge*s commitment, and 
 ^hen the indictment was read in court, the Judge 
 
 said to the clerk, ''Take heed it be not false 
 again :" so conscious was he of the falsity of the . 
 former, with respect to dates, &c. After George 
 had heard the indictment read, he requested time 
 to consider of it. On this some further dis* 
 course on the subject of swearing ensued, in which 
 he expressly declared, that if he could take any 
 oath, he should take that then offered ; but that he 
 had never takeu an oath in his life. He also 
 stated to the Judge, that both the early Christians 
 and the Reformers from Popery, refused to swear, 
 
 in obedience to Christ's command; with other ob- 
 servations, by which the Judge's mind appears to 
 have been so much moderated, that he said hfi 
 wished the laws were otherwise. 
 
 Tlie Judge complying with George Fox's re- 
 quest for time to consider of his indictment, left 
 him a prisoner till the next Assizes. He had al- 
 ready suffered much during this confinement at 
 Lancaster, by the uncomfortable state of his 
 prison ; and though some melioration seems t9 
 have now been intended to take place, he was con- 
 fined during the interval of the Assizes, which 
 included the winter of l664, in a tower, in which 
 he was greatly incommoded, and sometimes almost 
 smothered by the smoke, which came from 
 the prisoners confined under him. In addition 
 io this; the roof of his apartment was in such a 
 
■"»^ 
 
 194 
 
 LIFE OF eEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEOR6E FOX. 
 
 195 
 
 state, as to expose his bed to the wind and rain ; 
 and his cloaths and body were often extremely 
 wet, with endeavouring to stop the apertures by 
 which the rain entered his miserable habitation. 
 Jill this time, he seems to have been deprived of 
 the benefit of the society of his Friends; for so 
 inveterate was the malice of one of the Justices, 
 that he charged the jailer " to keep his prisoner 
 close, and to suffer no flesh alive to come at him." 
 By this confinement George Fox*s health was 
 much injured; his body was swelled, and his 
 limbs benumbed : but his mind seems to have re- 
 tained its confident in divine sufficiency ; which 
 he commemorates m these words : " The Lord's 
 power was over all, supported me through all ; 
 and enabled me to do service for him, and for his 
 truth and people." ^ 
 
 Another Assizes came on, and George Fox was 
 a»ain brought into court. He had already exa- 
 mined his indictment, and had found several errors 
 and omissions in it. " Surely," says he, " the 
 hand of the Lord was in it, to confound their mis- 
 chievous work against me, and to blind them 
 therein ; insomuch that although the indictment 
 was drawn at the former Assize, the Judge exa- 
 mined it himself, and tried it with the clerks; yet 
 the word subject was left out of this indictment 
 also ; tlie day of the month was put in wrong, and 
 
 1 
 
 several material words of the oath were left out; 
 yet they went on confidently, thinking all was safe 
 and well." When George Fox was put on his 
 trial, he began again to show the errors of the in- 
 dictment ; but although the Judg? perceived he 
 was right, yet, instead of liberating him, he ordered 
 the jailer to take him away to prison ; and not- 
 withstanding the absence of the prisoner, the trial 
 proceeded, the jury brought in their verdict, guilty, 
 and it appears that the Court recorded him as a 
 premunired person ; though he was never brought 
 to receive his sentence, nor was regularly informed 
 of it. Suck was the legality, or rather illegality of 
 the Judges of those days. But we may perhaps 
 find some excuse for their conduct, in the unsettled 
 state of the times ; the violence of many of the 
 King's enemies ; and the apprehension of plots 
 against his life or government. Yet, however we 
 may be disposed to excuse, nothing can justify the 
 illegal and unjust conduct of Judges, towaids this 
 innocent sufferer. 
 
 George Fox was now left for imprisonment, 
 without any prospect of its termination ; but the 
 Justices who had been instrumental in his com- 
 mitment, and had promoted the severe treatment 
 he had received whilst in jail, began to be ashamed 
 of their conduct : which he had^frequently exposed 
 at the Assizes, and other times. They therefore 
 
 R % 
 
m 
 
 IIFE OP GEORGE FOX. 
 
 riFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 19T 
 
 S 
 
 I 
 
 i^ 
 
 ©btained liberty from the King and Council, tore- 
 move him from Lancaster about six weeks after the 
 Assizes; but when hewas taken out of his uncomfort- 
 able prison, he was so weak, that he was scarcely 
 able either to walk or stand. Notwithstanding his 
 great infirmity, he was forced on horseback, and 
 treated with as much cruelty on his removal, as he 
 had been during his confinement. The first stage 
 at which they stopped was Bentham, where he 
 was so much fatigued, that the soldiers who guard- 
 ed him, permitted him to rest himself on a bed. 
 That night they came to Giggles wick, and in two 
 days more to York, not knowing all this time 
 whither he was going; nor was he permitted, be- 
 fore he left Lancaster, to see the order for his 
 removal : all was executed vi et armis. At York 
 he continued two days, and received some civil 
 treatment, particularly from Lord Frecheville, who 
 commanded a troop of horse, and kindly visited 
 him in his prison ; the soldiers also were gene- 
 rally tender towards him. Here orders were 
 given to take him to Scarborough Castle. Stop- 
 ping at Malton, his Friends were permitted to 
 visit him, and his guard conducted themselves with 
 great civility and kindness. They reached Scar- 
 borough that night ; and the next day he was coiir 
 veyed to the Castle. 
 
 It was not till his removal from Lancaster to 
 :^carborough, that George Fox understood he was 
 
 mider the sentence of a premimire ; a punishment by 
 which a person is put out of the King's protec- 
 tion, his property, real and personal, is forfeited to 
 the King, and be is to remain a prisoner during 
 the King's pleasure. This severe sentence had 
 been passed upon him without calling him into 
 Court to receive it; and consequently without giv- 
 ing him an opportunity to plead against it, either 
 personally, or by counsel. It was upon this sentence 
 tliat his violent removal from Lancaster to Scar- 
 borough, without showing any legal authority, wa» 
 supported ; and, which might probably be consi- 
 dered sonje excuse, for the subsequent cruel treat-- 
 Bient he received whilst a prisoner tliere. 
 
 During the first part of his confinement at Scar^ 
 borough, he was placed in a room with a centry to 
 guard him ; and being, from his hard treatment, 
 very weak, and subject to fainting, he was per- 
 mitted to walk out into the yard and take 
 the air, but this reasonable indulgence did not 
 last long ; for he was soon after confined iii^ 
 a room which did not secure him from the 
 rain ; where he was also incommoded witlr 
 smoke. When he had been at some expence and 
 pains to make this place more comfortable, hi* 
 eruel keepers removed him into a worse, in which- 
 was no chimney ; and being open towards the sea^ 
 Ifce raia frequently fell upon his bed> and m» 
 
 »3^ 
 
1^8 
 
 llFE OF GEORGE FOX-, 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX- 
 
 190 
 
 sibout the room ; and when he was thus circum- 
 stanced with wet and cold, he could have no fire 
 to warm him. The consequence of such treat- 
 ment was, as may be supposed, very injurious to 
 his already weakened frame ; so that his sufferings 
 l)ecame very great ; and, in this distressing situa- 
 tion, he was not permitted, to have the assistance 
 which his friends would have willingly afforded ; 
 they being very rarely permitted to visit him, 
 whilst others were frequently introduced to gaze 
 at, and insult hinu The soldiers who were srar- 
 risoned in the Castle, were also very unkind ; and. 
 would sometimes contrive to deprive him of the 
 amall and poor provisions which he had, A three- 
 penny loaf generally served him about three weeks; 
 and his drink was principally water, with worm- 
 wood steeped in it. This severe treatment he did? 
 not fail to represent to the keepers of the Castle,, 
 and contrasted their conduct with that of the Hea- 
 thens, among whom, the Apostle Paul was a pri- 
 soner at Rome, to whom it appears his friends had 
 free access. Indeed the treatment which the Apostle 
 received from the Heathens, was, in every respect^ 
 more consistent with Christianity, than its perse- 
 /cuting professors afforded to those who differed 
 from them.. 
 
 Although George Fox's friends, many of wbon» 
 
 «ame a considerable distance to visit him, were- 
 
 ^med that privilege ; yet other people seem, ta 
 
 4 
 
 have had free access, and he had freq^iient disputes 
 on religious subjects with his visitors of different 
 religious opinions ; as Papists, Presbyterians, and 
 Episcopalians. In these disputes, he manifested 
 that notwithstanding his great bodily weakness, 
 his mental powers retained their wonted vigour ; 
 which he still exercised in support of those gospel 
 truths, in which he most surely believed. But it 
 was not by argument alone that he promoted his 
 refigious sentiments. His peaceable principle 
 manifested itself in a peculiar manner, in the in-r 
 stance of one of his fellow-prisoners challenging 
 him to fight. George perceiving him in a state 
 of intoxication, got out of his way; but the next 
 day, when the man was sober, he came to him and. 
 remonstrated with him, on his unmanly conduct, 
 in challenging: a man to fight,, whose principle he 
 knew would not permit him to strike another; but 
 seeing he had challenged him, he was now come 
 to answer him with his hands in his pockets; and 
 reaching his head towards him, said, " Here is 
 my hair, here are my cheeks, here is my back." 
 The man was so overcome with this address, that 
 he ran away,, whilst the soldiers laughed at him.. 
 One of the officers was so well affected with the. 
 sight, that he said to George Fox, "You are a. 
 Mappy man, that can bear such thiu s.'' 
 
 After he had been confined sometime in Scaiv^ 
 trough. Castle,, the Governor; it appears, caii»' 
 
«00 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 201 
 
 Hiider disgrace; which produced a little fellow- 
 feeling for his innocent prisoner, whom he after- 
 wards treated with more lenity ; and having occa- 
 sion to go to London, George desired him to 
 speak to his old friend, Esquire Marsh, and some 
 others; and inform them of the particulars of his 
 confinement. When the Governor returned, he 
 told him that Marsh said, "He would go a hun- 
 dred miles barefoot to obtain George Fox's li- 
 berty." Several other persons in London also 
 spake favourably of him, which increased the Go- 
 vernor's disposition of kindness towards him. 
 
 Tlie King being now the only person who could 
 liberate him from his confinement, he was applied 
 to, by letter, in which George gave the King an 
 account of his imprisonment, and the hard usage 
 which he had received. After this, John White- 
 head, being in London> applied to Esquire Marsh, 
 who kindly undertook the business ; and a state- 
 ment of George Fox's suffering case being put 
 into his hands, he delivered it to the Master of 
 Requests, Sir John Birkenhead, who obtained an 
 order from the King for George Fox's release. 
 This his friend John Whitehead brought to Scar- 
 borough, aud delivered it to the Governor, Jordan 
 Crosslands, who readily put it in execution, and, 
 withoiU requiring any bail, gave his prisoner ^ 
 yassport, dated the first day of September, iGQGi 
 
 The Governor, who during the first part of his 
 prisoner's confinement, had treated him harshly, 
 was so softened in his disposition, that when the 
 Magistrates of the town sent for soldiers to break 
 up Friends' meetings, he gave his men a secret or- 
 der not to meddle with them ; nor would he receive 
 a present, which George Fox offered him, for the 
 civility and kindness which he had latterly mani- 
 fested. The soldiers and their officers were also 
 greatly changed, and became very respectful in 
 their conduct. Their character of him was, " He 
 is as stiff as a tree, and as pure as a bell ; for we 
 could never bow him.'* 
 
 i 
 
CHAP. XV. 
 
 i 
 f 
 
 ii 
 
 lC66 to \669-^R€marks on George Foxs Imprisonment 
 and Oaths— After his Release, hears of the Fire in Lon» 
 don^T ravels in diiers Parts of Yorkshire ^ and through 
 the Counties (^ Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, «5'C. to 
 LondoH'^Visits the Ruins there-^Gocs to Bristol, and 
 returns to London^-' Establishes Meetings for Discipline 
 in London and most Parts of the Nation — Also pro- 
 motes Schools — Visits Esquire Marsh in London'^ 
 Disputes with a Papist — Goes into Surrey and Sussex 
 ^'Turns into IVarwickshirc— Passes through Notting- 
 hamshire, Yorkshire, SfC. to Liverpool'-~Saiis for Ire- 
 land, and visits Friends there, 
 
 ifVE are now come to the conclusion of a 
 long and cruel imprisonment. It continued about 
 three years, above one of which was at Scarbo- 
 rough, and the rest of the time at Lancaster. The 
 fortitude and meekness with which it was endured^ 
 was consistent with the character of a Christian, 
 suffering for a compliance with his Master's posi- 
 tive command; a command which, however it 
 may be attempted, no sophistry has been able ta 
 invalidate. And it is a sorrowful reflection, that, 
 in a christian country, a compliance with so une- 
 quivocal an injunction of our common Lord, as 
 that of " Swear not at all," supported as it is by 
 one of his Apostles, should have ever subjected 
 those who acted in obedience to it, to such suffer- 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 203 
 
 iiigs, as would have disgraced the character of 
 Heathens. But though sufferings on this occa- 
 sion, have now ceased, it is still desirable that so 
 direct a violation of tliis divine hijunction, should 
 be removed from the legal code of all nations, 
 professing the Christian name; in some of which, 
 at least, it may be said as formerly, " Because of 
 swearing (both legal and profane) the laud 
 moumeth." 
 
 The day after George Fox's release from Scar- 
 borough Castle, the great fire broke out in Lon- 
 don. Some Friends had not only foreseen it, but 
 forewarned the people of it, or some similar cala- 
 mity. Ofle Friend, in particular, George men- 
 tions, who was concerned to go through the streets 
 of London, a short time before the fire, scattering 
 his money up and down, having the knees of his 
 breeches untied, his stockings down, and his 
 doublet unbuttoned ; at the same time telling the 
 people, *' So should they run up and down, scat- 
 tering their money and goods, half undressed like 
 mad people, as he was a sign to them ;" all which 
 was very soon fulfilled. * 
 
 George Fox being now at liberty, staid a few 
 days at Scarborough and its neighbourhood, hav- 
 
 • * See Seweirs History of the Quakers, for further par- 
 ticulars relating to this circumstance. Anno ICGG. 
 
 
2104 
 
 Ll/E OF GEOKOE FOK. 
 
 (LIVZ OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 205 
 
 li 
 
 ing meetings among his Friends and others. From 
 Scarborough he went to Whitby, and then turned 
 To Burlington and into Holderness. At Marma- 
 duke Storr's, who probably lived at or near 
 Owstwick, he attended a maniage of two of 
 his Friends ; on which occasion there was a very 
 large meeting, in which he explained various mat- 
 ters on the subject of matrimony, and on the duties 
 of the married state. This is the first marriage 
 which he mentions attending among his own 
 Friends. 
 
 Whilst in Holderness, George visited a Priest, 
 who, when he was in that country, in the year 
 1651, had threatened, If ever he met with George 
 Fox again, he would have his life, unless prevented 
 by George killing him. This man was now very 
 loving and kind, and his wife had become a Friend. 
 Various circumstances of this kind he met with in 
 his travels ; many persons who had been violent 
 against him, having become much softened in their 
 minds, and others even joined in society with him. 
 Such are frequently tlie effects of faithful labour 
 and patient suffering in the cause of truth and 
 righteousness ; verifying the truth of the observa- 
 tion : " When a man's ways please the Lord, he 
 maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." 
 
 Leaving Holderness, he came by Malton, Hull, 
 and Howden, to York. Here he had a lar^e 
 
 I 
 
 meeting, and visited Justice Robinson, now an 
 ancient man, who, at Pickering, had formerly shown 
 much kindness to him ; and on various occasions 
 had manifested a favourable disposition to Friends^ 
 which his successors for several generations have 
 continued to evince. From York, George Fox 
 passed through the South- West part of the County, 
 till he came to Synderhill-Green, on the borders 
 of Derbyshire, where he had formerly had some 
 large meetings, at which many had been convinced 
 of the rectitude of the doctrine which he preached. 
 Here he again had a large and satisfactory meet* 
 ing ; but narrowly escaped being arrested, a war- 
 rant being issued at the instigation of the Priest 
 of the place. '^Tlie constables, however, were too 
 late for the meeting, and thus missed of their ob- 
 ject. He now passed into Derbyshire and Not- 
 tinghamshire, having meetings at Skegby and 
 Mansfield; after which he came to Nottingham, 
 where he had a large and quiet meeting. Of the 
 Society here he makes this observation : " Friends 
 were brought to sit under their teacher, the grace 
 of God, which brought them salvation; and were 
 established upon the rock and foundation, Christ 
 Jesus." Here he visited John Reckless, who was 
 now a Friend, but had been Sheriff of the County, 
 and whose prisoner he had been in the year 1649* 
 
 Hence George Fox passed towards London, 
 through Leicestershire, Warwickshiie, Northam|H 
 
 3 
 
206 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX^ 
 
 m 
 
 tonshii e, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Ox- 
 fordshire. In Leicestershire, as usual, he visited his 
 relations. Ue had many large and precious meet- 
 ings in those counties ; but travelling he found very 
 difficult and painful, from tiie great stiffness in his 
 limbs, and other infirmities, occasioned by his long 
 and severe imprisonments. He could not even 
 bear to be near the fire, nor to eat warm meat, 
 which he imputes to having been kept so long 
 from them. When he came to London, he visited 
 the ruins occasioned by the fire ; on which he ob- 
 serves, " I saw the city lying, according as the 
 word of the Lord came to me concerning it, several 
 years before." 
 
 Notwithstanding his great bodily weakness, he 
 left London and travelled as far as Bristol, hav- 
 ing large meetings at various places, both going 
 and returning. About this time, and in the course 
 of this journey, he had the satisfaction of seeing 
 many, who had been drawn aside by John Perrot 
 and others, convinced of tlieir error, and condemn- 
 ing their conduct* 
 
 * John Perrot thought himself more enlightened than 
 George Fox, and objected to Friends uncovering their 
 heads, wliilst a Minister was engaged in prayer; in which 
 notion many joined him. Afterwards he let his beard grow, 
 in wBich some also unrted him; but, at length, going to Ame- 
 rica, he wore a sword, and, getting a place iu the Govem- 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 207 
 
 George Fox now seeing his Friends generally esta- 
 blished in sound Christian doctrine and practice ; be- 
 came concerned for their preservation therein ; aiul 
 that the reputation of the new society, might be pre- 
 served from those reflections to which it might be- 
 come subject, from those whose conduct should be 
 disorderly, or in other respects inconsistent WiiK 
 their religious profession. For this purpose, and 
 also that the poor might be properly provided for, 
 he recommended the establishment of Meetings 
 for discipline. Quarterly Meetings of this kind 
 had, it seems, been already held in some places ;t 
 but these took in too large a district, and were not 
 held sufficiently frequent for the purposes designed. 
 He therefore proposed the holding of ni^etings 
 monthly, of which five were now established in the 
 city of London. These meetings were soon ex- 
 tended generally over the nation, still retaining the 
 quarterly meetings, in which several monthly 
 meetings united, and exercised a religious care 
 over each other. These quarterly meetings after- 
 wards united and formed a yearly meeting, which 
 is held in London, and may be consideied like 
 the legislative body; besides attending to other 
 
 ment, he became a severe cnacte.r of oaths; and wholly 
 abandoned principles for which he had once endured per- 
 secution. 
 
 t In the North of England, some meetings fo^ discipline 
 ffere settled as early as the year 16o2v 
 
 r 
 
2QS 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE l?OX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 2og 
 
 f"- 
 
 matters connected with the general interests of 
 the society. As the female sex can, in many cases^ 
 best attend to their own concerns, women's meet- 
 ings were also recommended by this wise, vigilant^ 
 and liberal promoter of the welfare of the society, 
 which he had been instrumental in establishing; 
 and the adoption of them has been found extremely 
 beneficial to their own sex, and very relieving to 
 their brethren. It is remarkable that the system* 
 of discipline recommended by George Fox in the 
 year ItiGd, and about that time generally esta- 
 blished in the society, both in this and other na- 
 tions, has undergone very little, if any, a]t«ratiou« 
 since that time ; having been found equal to all 
 the circumstances which have occurred, in the 
 course of about one hundred and fifty years. Such 
 was the wisdom, I believe more than human wis- 
 dom, with which it was planned, that though many 
 attempts have been made to subvert it, by weak, or 
 worse than weak members, it may be now consi- 
 dered as having surnwunted all opposition, and 
 being likely to continue as long as tlie Society exists, 
 for uhose benefit it wjats formed. 
 
 After the establishment of the ^\e monthly 
 
 meetings in London, George Fox travelled inta 
 
 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and many other counties, 
 
 till he came into Wales and Lancashire. In this 
 
 journey, his principal coacei;n appears to have 
 
 been, the establishment of meetings for discipline, 
 hi which he met with some opposition, in a few 
 places. He also wrote to hi» Friends in some of 
 the more northern counties, and Scotland, recom- 
 mending the practice he was concerned to pro- 
 mote ; and his advice, it appears^ was generally 
 complied with. In this journey he travelled in 
 great bodily weakness and pain, being scarcely 
 able to mount or dismount his horse ; but " my 
 spirit," he says, " being eaincstly engaged in the 
 w ork the Lord had concerned nie in, and sent me 
 forth about, I travelled on therein, notwithstanding 
 the weakness of my body, having confidence in the 
 Lord, that he would carry me through, as he dic^ 
 by his power." , 
 
 In the course of this journey, though a perse- 
 cuting spirit was frequently manifested, by Ma- 
 gistrates and others, yet he met with no material 
 interruption in his travels. At Shrewsbury, the 
 Mayor hearing of his being there, collected the 
 officers to consult what to do against him, saying, 
 " the great Quaker of England is come to town ;." 
 but when they were met together, they w«re so 
 divided among themselveSj as not to be able to 
 effect their purpose. Several other deliverances 
 he experienced in this journey. Returning by 
 Bristol, where meetings for discipline were also 
 tstablished, he came again to London. His prin? 
 
 S3 
 
^10 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 cipal concern here, at this time, appears to hate 
 been, to make proper regulations respecting the 
 society's proceedings in marriage. These regula- 
 tions were, " that marriages should be laid before 
 tlie men*s monthly or quarterly meetings ; that 
 Friends might see, that the relations of those that 
 proceeded in marriage, were satisfied ; and that 
 the parties were clear from all others ; and that 
 •widows had made provision for their first husband's 
 children, before they married again; that so all 
 things might be kept clean and pure, and done ia 
 jighteousuess to the glory of God." 
 
 Having now procured the establishment of a 
 salutary discipline, in many parts of the Society, 
 his next concern appears to have been the promo- 
 tion of a suitable education for the youth. Leav- 
 insf London for a short time, he went into Hert- 
 fordshire, where, after visiting his friends, and 
 establishing several monthly meeting^^^ he, on his 
 return towards London, recommended the esta- 
 blishment of a school at Waltham, for the educa- 
 tion of boys; and another at Shackiewell, for 
 instructing girls and young.- women, " in whatsoever- 
 tilings were civil and useful in the creation." 
 These are his own words, which bespeak nn en- 
 largement of mind and views, beyond the inferior, 
 and most common branches of education. This-: 
 nvas in the year 1667. 
 
 WFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 211. 
 
 After a short residence in London, he travelled 
 in l6(i8 toward Soutli Wales, returning by the 
 counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset,, 
 Hants, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, to London. 
 His principal concern, in this journey, appears to 
 have been the establishment of monthly meetings 
 for discipline, in those parts which he had not 
 already visited for that purpose. About this time 
 he wrote to his Friends in Ireland, Holland, Bar- 
 badoes, and several parts of America, recommend- 
 ing the same practice, which was, no doubt, gene- 
 rally adopted; " Since these meetings were 
 settled," he observes, " many mouths have been- 
 opened in .thanksgiving and praise, and many have 
 blessed the Lord that he sent me forth in this ser- 
 vice ; yea with tears have many praised him." 
 
 Whilst George Fox was in London> he paid a« 
 visit to his kind friend. Marsh, by whom he 
 was received with much respect, and invited tO' 
 iline with him ; which however he declined. Here 
 he had a controversy with a Roman Catholic, 
 after which he took a private opportunity with 
 Justice Marsh, to interest Him in favour of his 
 Friends, who suffered much froin- the oaths of 
 allegiance and supremacy being often tendered to- 
 them. The Justice manifested his usual kindness,. 
 Ibolh towards George and the society ; and seem» 
 
 to. have ejterted himself as much as was ia hia^ 
 
 
2l.« 
 
 LIFE OF GEOTIGE FOX- 
 
 power, to alleviate their sufferings. About tins 
 time 1 find an observation in these words ; " W« 
 had great service in London ; the Lord's truth 
 came over all. — Many who had gone out came 
 in again, confessing and condenuiing their outgo- 
 
 IDgS. 
 
 Having finished his present service in the city, 
 he visited Friends again in Surrey and Sussex ; 
 after which he travelled northward by Warwick, 
 Birmingham, and Nottingham, into Yorksliire. 
 At York he attended the quarterly meeting, in which 
 seven monthly meetings were already established, 
 and seven more were now added. The society, it 
 appears, had greatly increased in this county, par- 
 ticularly in the northern and eastern parts of it ; but 
 since that time, it has been most numerous in the 
 south-west parts. The Assizes being at the time 
 of the quarterly meeting, at York, George Fox 
 met with and visited his old friend Justice Hotham, 
 ©f whose early tenderness and kindness to him, he 
 apyears to have been very feelingly sensible. 
 
 Leaving York, he traveled towards Whitby and 
 Scarborough. At the latter place he was kindly 
 invited by the governor, to visit him and his wife ; 
 which he accordingly accepted, and was very 
 courteously received. Passing over the Wolds, 
 and tlirough Holderness, he turned itUo the western 
 parts of the county; till he came to John Moo^h 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 2lS 
 
 at Eldreth, near Settle. Here he had a large and 
 satisfactory meeting. Colonel Kirby, an old per- 
 secutor, who had threatened George Fax, and hadT 
 offered forty pounds to any man wfco would take 
 him, was now confined near this place with th* 
 gout, incapable of fulfrttiug bis threatt* 
 
 An exercbe now came upon him to visit 
 Friends in Ireland, where it appears the So- 
 ciety had been for several years established. Leav- 
 ing Yorkshire, he passed through Staffordshire 
 and Cheshire to Liverpool, where he, with Ro- 
 bert Lodge, James Lancaster^ Thomas Brigg^^ 
 and John Stubbs, took shipping for Ireland. Fe- 
 ing at sea on the first day, George held a religious 
 meeting with the passengers and sailors, and 
 preached to them ; which occasioned this remairk 
 from the master of the vessel : " Come, here are 
 things that youjpever heard in your lives." On 
 their landing in Ireland, and coming near to Dub- 
 lin, George says, " The earth and air smelt, 
 methought, with the corruption of the nation; so 
 that it yielded another smell to me than England 
 did, which I imputed to the Popish Massacres, 
 that had been committed, and the blood that had 
 been spilt in it, from which a foulness ascended." 
 Such were the fine feelings of this tender-hearted 
 Christian, on various occasions, where places had 
 Ibeen ma,rked with persecution and bloodshed. 
 
 i * 
 
 :;l^ 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 215 
 
 214 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Oil their arrival in Dublin, George Fox and 
 his companions went to an inn, not being able at 
 first to find any of their own Friends ; but these 
 soon found diem, and received them with great 
 joy. They made but a short stay in that city, go- 
 hig to a meeting for one of the provinces ; after 
 atrending which, they proceeded towards Cork. 
 At one place where they had a meeting, the Pa- 
 pists manifested much dissatisfaction; on which 
 George sent them a challenge, '' to try their God 
 and their Christ, which they made of bread and 
 wine.** This not being accepted, he told them 
 that they were worse than the Priests of Baal, 
 who were willing to try their wooden God; but 
 they were not willing to try theirs of bread and wine. 
 He also told them, that Baal's priests did not eat 
 their God, as they did, and then make another. 
 These were simple and cogent ^truths; but it is 
 to be feared made little or no impression on their 
 benighted minds. 
 
 The Mayor of Cork appears to have been of a 
 persecuting spirit. He issued four warrants against 
 George Fox, and sent descriptions of him to 
 places at a great distance, in order to have him 
 imprisoned. Notwithstanding this, Geoige rode 
 into that city, and passed the Mayor's door, who saw 
 and knew him, without being apprehended. 
 Some other Magistrates also manifested the same 
 
 disposition as the Mayor of Cork ; " yet," says he, 
 *' the Lord disappointed all their counsels, defeated 
 all their designs agaiust me ; and by his good hand 
 of Providence, preserved me out of all their snares, 
 and gave us many sweet and blessed opportunities 
 to visit Friends, and spread truth through that na- 
 tion. Friends were greatly refreshed and com- 
 forted, in feeling the love of God. Oh the bro- 
 kenness that was amongst them in the flowmgs of 
 life ! so that in the power and spirit of the Lord, 
 many together broke out into fiingmg with audible 
 voices, making melody in their hearts." 
 
 After travelling over great part of Ireland, and 
 being engaged in various controversies, as well as 
 visiting the meetings of Friends, he returned to 
 Dublin ; where he attended their meeting o nthe 
 first day of the week, which, he observes, was very 
 large and precious. Here he took shippmg for 
 Liverpool, after parting widi his Friends with 
 much tender affection. His visit to that nation 
 appears to have produced a very favourable 
 opinion of Friends there, whom he describes as 
 « a good, weighty and true people, sensible of the 
 power of God, tender of his trutli, aud having good 
 order in their meetings." 
 
 f 
 
 
^IFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 217 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 1669 fo iGri.'-Refurnsfrom Ireland. -^Travels through 
 Lancashire, Cheshire, 8fC. to Nailsworth, m Gloucesttr- 
 shire. Singular circumstance occurs therc^Goes to 
 Bristol. Is married to Margaret Fell.— Passes through 
 Wilts Berks, Oxon, and Bucks, to London, Endea* 
 vours to obtain his uifes release from premunire. Suf- 
 ferings in consequence of the Conventicle Act. — Travels 
 into various Counties. -^Suffers much in body and mind, 
 on account ofprofaneness and persecution. -^His prayer 
 'On that account. 
 
 All the Friends who accompanied George 
 Fox to Ireland, except John Stubbs, returned with 
 him, having probably been his coaipanions whilst 
 in that country. After a stormy passage, they 
 landed at Liverpool, and proceeded through Lan- 
 cashire, Cheshire, &c. into Gloucestershire. At 
 ^^ ails worth in this county, he heard of a report 
 that he was turned Presbyterian ; and that a pulpit 
 wss prepared for him in a yard m that place, where 
 it was supposed a thousand people would attend 
 the next day to hear him. This report arose from 
 a person of the name of John Fox having ap- 
 pointed a meeting .there, whose name was, it 
 appears by design, changed to George Fox. A 
 very large meeting was collected : but the people 
 finding that they were imposed upon, many hun- 
 
 <!reds left the meeting, and came to one then col- 
 kcted by the real George Fox, very near the other. 
 The people v^^re sober and attentive, and some of 
 them said, they lited George Fox the Quaker^s 
 preaching, better than George Fox the Presby- 
 terian's. " Thus," he observes, " by my providen-- 
 tial coming into these parts, at that time, this false 
 report was discovered, and shame came over the 
 contrivers of it.** 
 
 From Nailsworth he went to Bristol, where 
 he met with his friend Margaret Fell, who was 
 there on a visit to one of her daughters. George 
 had for some time past, entertained a prospect of 
 marriage with Margaret ; and had already commu- 
 nicated his 'views to her, with which she appears 
 to have united. « But now," to give the narra- 
 tive in his own words, " after I was come back 
 from Ireland, and come to Bristol, and found 
 Margaret Fell there, it opened in me from the 
 Lord, that the thing should now be accomplished ; 
 and, after we had discoursed the thing together, I 
 told her, if she also was satisfied with the accom- 
 plishing of it now, she should send for her chil- 
 dren, which she did. And when the rest of her 
 daughters were come, I asked both them and her 
 sons°in law, if they had any thing against it, or for 
 it, de^ring them to speak ; and they all seve- 
 rally expressed their satisfaction therein. Then I 
 
 
 "t 
 
 I 
 
^18 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE VOX, 
 
 
 asked Margaret, if she had fulfilled and performed 
 her husband's will to her children. She replied, 
 the children knew that. Whereupon I asked 
 thera, if their mother married, they should not 
 lose by it ; and 1 asked Margaret, whether she 
 had done any thing in lieu of it, which might 
 answer it to tlie children. The children said, she 
 had answered it to them, and desired me to speak 
 no more of that. I told them, " I was plain, and 
 would have all things done plainly ; for I sought 
 not any outward advantage to myself." So after 
 1 had acquainted the children with it, our intention 
 of marriage was laid before Friends, privately and 
 publicly, to the full satisfaction of Friends ; many 
 of whom gave testimony thereunto, that it was of 
 God. Afterwards, a Meeting being appointed on 
 purpose, fur the accomplishing thereof, in the 
 public Meeting-house at Broadmead, in Brbtol, we 
 took each other in marriage, tiie Lord joining us to- 
 gether in the honourable marriage, in the everlastr 
 \n» covenant and immortal seed of life : in the sense 
 -nhereof, living and weighty testimonies were borne 
 thereunto, by Friends, in the movings of the hea- 
 venly power, which united us together. Tlien was 
 a certificate, relating both to the proceedings and 
 marriage, openly read and signed by the relations, 
 and by most of the antient Friends in that city, 
 besides many other Friends from divers parts of 
 tlie nation.'' 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 €19 
 
 They continued about a week in Bristol after 
 their marriage, and then went together to Old- 
 stone, where they parted, " betaking ourselves,'' 
 he says, *' each to our several service ; Margaret 
 returning homewards, and I passing on into the 
 counties, in the work of the Lord.*' Travelling 
 through Wilts, Berks, Oxon, and Bucks, he came 
 to Lo°ndon ; having " had many large and precious 
 meetings." Whilst in London, he wrote an epistle 
 to the Several quarterly meetings, recominendiug 
 them to put out poor children to useful occupa- 
 tions and trades among Friends ; and to establish 
 funds for that purpose; " by which," he says, - ye 
 may come to help the children of poor Friends ; 
 that they may rear up tiieir families, and preserve 
 them in the fear of God." 
 
 After a short stay in London, he travelled, in 
 1670, into Essex, Hertfordshire, and other coun- 
 ties, to Leicestershire, where he had requested his 
 wife to meet him ; but instead of meeting her he 
 received an account that she was committed t^ 
 prison at Lancaster, upon an old premunire, from 
 which she had been liberated about a year before. 
 On hearing this, George returned to London, 
 taking several meetings in his way. When he 
 reached London, he advised Mary Lower and 
 Sarah Fell, two of his wife's daughters, to apply 
 immediately to the King, and inform him how their 
 
 
 '4 
 
^IS 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 m 
 
 asked Margaret, if she had fulfilled and performed 
 her husband's will to her children. She replied, 
 the children knew that. Whereupon I asked 
 them, if their mother married, they should not 
 lose by it ; and 1 asked Margaret, whether she 
 had doue any thing in lieu of it, which might 
 answer it to tlie children. The children said, she 
 had answered it to them, and desired me to speak 
 no more of that. I told them, " I was plain, and 
 would have all things done plainly ; for I sought 
 not any outward advantage to myself/* So after 
 1 had acquainted tlie children with it, our intention 
 of marriage was laid before Friends^ privately and 
 publicly, to the lull satisfaction of Friends ; many 
 of whom gave testimony thereunto, that, it was of 
 God. Afterwards, a Meeting being appointed on 
 purpose, for the accomplishing thereof, in the 
 public Meeting-house at Broadmead, in Brbtol, we 
 took each other in marriage, the Lord joining us to- 
 gether in the honourable marriage, in the everlastr 
 ing covenant and immortal seed of life : in the sense 
 whereof, living and weighty testimonies were borne 
 thereunto, by Friends, in the movings of the hea- 
 venly power, which united us together. Tlien was 
 a certificate, relating both to the proceedings and 
 marriage, openly read and signed by the relations, 
 and by most of the antient Friends in that city, 
 besides many other Friends from divers parts of 
 tlie nation." 
 
 LIFE OF GEOEGE FOX. 
 
 219 
 
 They continued about a week in Bristol after 
 tlieir marriage, and then went together to Old- 
 stone, where they parted, " betaking ourselves," 
 he says, " each to our several service ; Margaret 
 returning homewards, and I passing on into the 
 counties, in the work of the Lord.'* Travelling 
 through Wilts, Berks, Oxon, and Bucks, he came 
 to Lo°ndon ; having " had many large and precious 
 meetings." Whilst in London, he wrote an epistle 
 to the Several quarterly meetings, recommending 
 them to put out poor children to useful occupa- 
 tions and trades among Friends ; and to establish 
 funds for that purpose ; '' by which,*' he says, " ye 
 may come to help the children of poor Friends ; 
 that they may rear up tiieir families, and preserve 
 them in the fear of God.** 
 
 After a short stay in London, he travelled, in 
 1670, into Essex, Hertfordshire, and other coun- 
 ties, to Leicestershire, where he had requested his 
 wife to meet him ; but instead of meeting her he 
 received an account that she was committed t^ 
 prison at Lancaster, upon an old premunire, from 
 M'hich she bad been liberated about a year before. 
 On hearing this, George returned to London, 
 taking several meetings in his way. When he 
 reached London, he advised Mary Lower and 
 Sarah Fell, two of his wife*s daughters, to apply 
 immediately to the King, and inform him how their 
 
 T Z 
 
 )■ 
 ■I 
 
 V 
 
 .- 'i ■ - 
 
2£0 
 
 LIFE OF eEORGE FOX^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEOUGfi FOX* 
 
 ^di 
 
 mother was circumstanced ; also to obtain a fql! 
 discharge both of her person and estate from the 
 effects of the premiiuire. Tlie business was at- 
 tended with considerable difficulty; but by close 
 application was at length effected. Sarah Fell 
 went into Lancashire with a letter, written by or- 
 der of the King, for her mother's liberation ; bj 
 her George wrote to his wife, whom he thus af- 
 fectionately addresses : " My dear heart in the 
 
 f> 
 
 truth and life that changeth uotJ 
 
 In the year 1670 an additional exercise fell upoa 
 George Fox and his Friends, by the passing of the 
 Conventicle Act ; a law which was occasioned by 
 some tumultuous meetings that had occurred in 
 the country. It forbade more thaii four persons 
 to meet together, except, I suppose, in the congre- 
 gations of the Church of England. On this fresh 
 trial, George first addressed a letter to Magis- 
 trates, to show them the unreasonableness of this 
 law, and to soften their minds in the execution of 
 it; after which he addressed an epistle to his 
 Friends, to encourage them to faithfulness, and to 
 bear with Christian patience and content, the suf- 
 fering that was coming upon them. To this he 
 also encouraged them by his example; for the 
 next First Day he went to the Meeting at Grace- 
 church street ; where he expected the attack 
 would begia. Thus^ like a good General, placing 
 
 fiimself in the front of the battle, animating \us 
 followers by his example and his precepts ; being 
 resolved to face all the dangers of his situation. 
 When he canoe near the meeting-house, he found 
 all the avenues to it guarded with soldiers. He 
 however got into the court, where a Friend wa» 
 preaching. After he had finished, George ad- 
 dressed the people, beginning with these words, 
 '* Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?** After 
 he had spoken a short time, he was seized by a 
 constable, accompanied with an informer and sol- 
 diers, to whom he shortly said, " Blessed are the 
 peacemakers." He was now put among the sol-' 
 diers, the officer saying, "You are the man I 
 looked for." Some other Friends were also takeri 
 with him, and as they were going to the Mayor's- 
 house, the informer said to them> " It would never 
 be a good world, till all people canae to the good 
 old religion that was two hundred years ago.'* 
 Upon this George charged him with being a Pa- 
 pist, which soon spread among the people ; so- 
 that after they came to the court of the Major'* 
 house, who was not then at home, the poor mai> 
 was so intimidated, that he was desirous of making 
 his escape ; but when he came into the street, the 
 people cried out, " A Papist informer, a Papist 
 informer." Tlie man was so roughly treated, that 
 ' George and his Friends, those against whom he 
 bad informed, desired the constable and soldiei* 
 
22a 
 
 XIFE OF GEORGE FO*; 
 
 XIFE OP GEORGE VOX, 
 
 S€3 
 
 to rescue him out of the people's hands, whicR 
 they did, and brought him back to the Mayor's : 
 but when he at last went away, the soldiers had 
 again to interfere ; and such was the disgust ex- 
 eited against the man, that the soldiers took him 
 to a barber's shop, where he disguised himself by 
 changing his wig, and thus he was enabled to 
 make his escape.. 
 
 After waiting some time, the Mayor came, and 
 first examined some Presbyterian and Baptist 
 teachers, whom he treated rather sharply, and con- 
 victed them. To George Fox and his Friends he, 
 however, behaved, with much mildness, recom- 
 mending them, as Christ's promise applied to two 
 or three who were met in his name, and the King's 
 indulgence extended to four, to meet m. such small 
 numbers as would not infringe the law. This was 
 very plausibley but George soon showed. the fallacy 
 of his reasoning, replying that "Christ's promise was . 
 not to discourage many from, meeting in his name,, 
 but to encourage the few^" wishing him. " to con- 
 sider whether this Act would not have taken hold 
 of Christ, with his twelve apostles and seventy, 
 disciples :" with more to the same purpose. After 
 some discourse on the hardship of the Conventicle-, 
 Act, the Mayor took down the names of the-. 
 Friends, and dismissed them. Being set at liberty,, 
 &eor^e immediately returned to his post at Giace-. 
 
 church street, from which he had been taken. 
 Finding tlie people generally dispersed, he went 
 into a Friend's house, and sent to inquire how his 
 Friends had fared at the other meetmg-houses in 
 the city. He found that there had been a general 
 attempt to put the new law in execution. Some 
 Friends were taken, and liberated in a few days ; 
 but such was the zeal which animated the minds 
 of Friends,, that as soon as some who were preach- 
 ing were taken down, others stood up to speak ;. 
 to the ;admiratio» of the people. This admiration 
 was increased, by the different conduct of many 
 other dissenters ; so that, on the whole, this trying; 
 time proved a means of spreading the great and 
 good cause, which George Fox and his Friends la- 
 boured to promote.- 
 
 The heat of persecution abating in the city, he 
 felt his mind easy to leave it, and to visit his 
 friends in the country. He attended several nieet- 
 iu'^s in Middlesex, Bucks, a*id Oxon, which were 
 not disturbed by Magistrates or others. At Read- 
 kig, in Berks, he found Friends generally in prison,, 
 whom he visited there, and had a religious meet- 
 incr with them, which was attended by several 
 other persons^ This opportunity was encouraging 
 and rtfieshing, to the prisoners,, whom he recom- 
 ■lended, with a small present, ta> the kuidiiess oi 
 tiifij^lei:.. 
 
 ' 'I 
 
 i 
 
224 
 
 tiFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 t25 
 
 I 
 
 Travelling awhile longer in Surrey, Sussex, 
 Kent, and Essex, his mind was brought under 
 great exercise, on account of the profaneuess and 
 persecution which prevailed in the nation. This 
 appears to have produced a long and heavy indis* 
 position of body; so that, for a time, both his sight 
 and hearing in a great measure failed him. Dur- 
 \n^ his illness, he was removed from one Friend V 
 house to another, in the neighbourhood of London. 
 This was in the winter of 1670 and 1671, in which 
 time, after some improvement in his health, he 
 wrote two short epistles to his Friends ; and one 
 to the rulers of the nation, whom he faithfully 
 warned, as he had before done, of the evil of per- 
 secution, and the sore jutlgments which would be 
 its consequence. Being also greatly oppressed 
 with the licentiousness which was then openly 
 manifested in the nation, he was engaged to put 
 up a prayer to God, in the following words^. 
 which he committed to writing on the 1 7th day of 
 the 2d month, 1671. 
 
 ** O Lord Grod Almighty ! Prosper tnith, and 
 preserve jtt»tice and equity in the land ! Bring, 
 down all injustice, iniquity, oppression, falsehood,. 
 cruelty, and unm€rcifulness in the land ; that 
 mercy and righteousness nvay flourish. 
 
 " O Lord Godf Set op and establish verity^ 
 md preserve it ia the kud I Bring down in tb« 
 
 land all debauchery, vice, whoredoms, fornication, 
 and this raping spirit, which causeth people to 
 have no esteem of thee, O God 1 nor of their own 
 gouls or bodies ; nor of Christianity, modesty, or 
 humanity. 
 
 « O Lord! Put it in the Magistrates' hearts to 
 bring down all this ungodliness, violence, cruelty, 
 prophaneness, cursing and swearing ; and to put 
 down all these lewd houses and playhouses, which 
 corrupt youth and people ; and lead them from 
 thy kingdom, where no unclean thing can enter, 
 neither shall come. Such works lead people to 
 hell. Lord ! In mercy bring down all these things 
 in the nation, to stop thy wrath, O God ! froui 
 
 coining oil' the laud. 
 
 « G. F." 
 
 
LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 227 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 1671 to 1673. — Obtains a more complete liberation fer 
 his mfc.^-Sails for America. — Lands in Barbadoes.'— 
 Continues there three months. »" Goes toJamaiea. — After 
 spending seven ttxcks there, sails for Maryland.-^Thence 
 travels through New Jersey, Src. to Long Island, Rhe<k 
 Island, and New England.-^Returns by East Jersey^ 
 SfC, to Maryland. — Goes to Virginia and Carolina.'^ 
 Returns again to Maryland. — Sails for England.-^ 
 Lands in Kings Roady near Bristol. -^Writes to hii 
 Wife. 
 
 Notwithstanding the liberation of 
 
 Margaret Fox, as before related, by order of the 
 King ; yet her persecutors found means, by the 
 fiew Conventicle Act, either to retain her in con* 
 finement, or soon to recommit her to prison ; but, 
 when the violence of the persecution was a little 
 abated, her husband employed a woman Friend,. 
 Martha Fisher, and another of her sex, to apply 
 again to the King for her release ; who granted 
 a discharge under the broad seal, by which both 
 her person and estate were now effectually cleared 
 from the premunire, under which she had suffered 
 for ten years. On her release, George requested 
 her attendance in London, as he proposed soon ta 
 sail for America, and was desirous of her com- 
 pany, previously to his undertaking so long and try- 
 
 ,1 
 
 I 
 
 ing a journey. This request she readily complied 
 with, and they spent several weeks together, at the 
 house of John Rpuse, of Kingston, who had mar- 
 ried one of Margaret Fox's daughters. The 
 yearly meeting in London, was now at hand, 
 which was " a very large and precious meeting.** 
 After it was over, and George had finished some 
 other services in this nation, he embarked at 
 Gravesend, on the 12th of 6th mouth, 1671, in a 
 yatch called the Industry, for Barbadoes. Twelve 
 of his Friends, two of whom were women, were 
 his companions in the voyage ; and most or all of 
 them were under a like religious engagement with 
 himself. Their names were, Thomas Briggs, 
 William Edmundson, John Rouse, John Stubbs, 
 Solomon Eccles, James Lancaster, John Cart- 
 wright, Robert Widders, George Pattison, John 
 Hull, Elizabeth Hooton, and Elizabeth Miers.— 
 His wife accompanied him to the Downs, and 
 they parted at D eal ; where some of the passen- 
 gers went on shore. When tliey had been about 
 three weeks at sea^ they were pursued by a Saliee 
 man of war, a kind of piratical vessel of the Al- 
 geriue States. Without any avowed hostility to a 
 particular nation, these pirates took and plundered 
 all vessels they could meet with. 
 
 AVhen it grew dark, they altered their course to 
 miss tlie enemy ; but the piratical vessel changed her 
 
 m 
 
228 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 llFTE ©F CEORGE FOX. 
 
 229 
 
 « 
 
 course also, and gained upon them. At night the 
 master and others went into George's cabin, and 
 asked him what they should do ; adding « if the 
 mariners had taken Paul's counsel, they had not 
 come to the damage they did." In the conversa- 
 tion that passed, George Fox told them he was no 
 mariner, and that "It was a trial of faith, there- 
 fore tlie Lord was to be waited on for counsel.** 
 *< So retiring," he says, " in spirit, the Lord show- 
 ed me, * ITiat his life and power was placed be- 
 tween'us and the ship that pursued us.' I told 
 this to the master and the rest, and that the best 
 way was to tack about and steer our right course, 
 putting out the candles." However, before mid- 
 night, the watch called and said, "They are just 
 up^'on us ;" yet George's faith was strong that 
 they should be delivered ; and he kept quietly in 
 his cabin. The master and some of the seamen 
 came again and asked him if they might not steer 
 such a point ; to which he consented. By this 
 time the moon was quite gone down, a fresh gab 
 arose, and they sailed on briskly, and saw the pi- 
 rate no more. 
 
 The next day, being the first of the week, when 
 they usually had a religious meeting in the ship, 
 George exhorted the people " to mind the mer- 
 <Hes of God, who had delivered them ; for ihey 
 mi«ht have been all in the Turks' hands by that 
 
 time, had not the Lord's band saved tliem." After 
 A voyage of above seven w^eks, tliey lauded at Bar- 
 jbadoes, where a Sal lee merchant told the people 
 that "one of the Sallee men of war saw a mon- 
 strous yatch at sea, had her in chace, and was just 
 upon her ; but there was a spirit in her that he 
 could not take." 
 
 During the voyage, though George was not 
 affected with sea sickness, his health declined very 
 much ; for the consequences of his long and great 
 sufferings when in prison, seemed now to be par- 
 ticularlv felt in this warm climate : and he ex- 
 perienced great pains, with other very unfavourable 
 symptoms. After this trying voyage, when he 
 landed at Barbadoes, he was taken to th« 
 house of a Friend, Richard Forstall ; where, and 
 at Thomas Rouse's, he continued several weeks. 
 During this time, his mind in general was pretty 
 cheerful, though he became much exercised on 
 account of the unrighteousness of the people, 
 which lay as a great weight upon him. After 
 above a month's confinement, his spirit became 
 easier, and his bodily health recovered in some 
 ilegree ; but not being able to travel. Friends held 
 their mens and womens meetings for the exercise 
 of Christian discipline, at his lodgings. Here he 
 found many disorders had crept in ; and he gave 
 Aiiich excellent advice, particularly on the subject 
 t)f marriage ; discouraging this connexion with 
 
250 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. ' 
 
 n£ar kindred, the entering into that state too early 
 iu life ; and also without waiting a proper time 
 after the decease of a former wife or husband. 
 He also advised them to be tender of one another's 
 characters, discouraging all defamation and slan- 
 der. Tlie keeping of registers of their marriages, 
 births, and burials ; the providing of suitable 
 burying grounds, the making of their, wills, and 
 the proper disposal of legacies left for the service 
 of the society, were all subjects of his care and 
 advice ; also the registering the condemnations of 
 those whose conduct had been disorderly ; and 
 who, through true repentance, were willing to 
 make public acknowledgment of their outgoings. 
 The negroes likewise, as might be expected, formed 
 a particular part of his care. His first concern 
 for them was, that they sliould partake of religious 
 instruction, and be trained up in the fear of God ; 
 in the next place, that they should be treated 
 mildly and gently, and no cruelty exercised tOi- 
 wards them ; and lastly, that after several years of 
 servitude, they should be liberated from a state of 
 slavery. Had these wise Christian instructions 
 been generally practised in our West India islands, 
 much happiness would have been substituted for 
 much misery ; and many both private and public 
 evils have been prevented. 
 
 When he became able to go a little abroad, he 
 tisited the Governor of the Island, by whom \m 
 
 LIFE OF GEOflGE TOX, 
 
 ^Sl 
 
 was kindly received and treated. After this, he 
 went to Bridge Town, where he and other Friends 
 had a large meeting. The civil reception which 
 he met with from the Governor being generally 
 known, many of the higher ranks of the people 
 attended the meeting, in which three other Friends 
 having spoken i« public testinrony, George was 
 rather straitened for time ; yet he was enabled, after- 
 wards, to relieve his mind to the general and great 
 satisfaction of those present. Many other large 
 and comfortable meetings he had in this Island, in 
 which he was the means of removing some mis- 
 representations, that had been industriously circu- 
 lated against him and his Friends- At one of 
 these meetings, a Colonel Lyne said, " Now I can 
 gainsay such as I have heard speak evil of you, 
 w ho say you do not own Christ, nor that he died ; 
 whereas I perceive that you exalt Christ in all his 
 offices, beyond what I have ever heard before." 
 It appears tliat the enenjies of the society, not 
 being able to raise persecution by the civil or mi- 
 litary governors, endeavoured to defame Friends 
 and their principles ; but this zealous and active 
 defender of the truth, met his enemies in all their 
 attempts to injure it; and here, not only in his 
 sound gospel preaching, showed the falsehood of 
 their reports ; but, in conjunction with some other 
 Friends, he published a paper, fully declaring the 
 faith of the society in God and in Christ ; atso 
 
 ^' 
 
^n 
 
 XITE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 their belief in the divine inspiration of ih^ Holy 
 Scriptures. Another slander was raised^ that 
 Friends taught the negroes to rebel f which is also 
 noticed and contradicted in this paper. This 
 seems to have arisen from tlieir having had several 
 religious meetings with them, in which the negroes 
 were exhorted to the practice of justice; lobriety^ 
 temperance, chastity, and piety ; and to be subject 
 to their masters and governors ; all of which was 
 directly contrary to the suggestions of the adver* 
 saries of the society. 
 
 After continuing full threamonths in this Island, 
 ** having visited Fnends thoroughly, settled meet- 
 ings, and dispatched the service for which the Lord 
 brought" him there, and being clear of Barbadoes, 
 he informed the Governor and others of his inten- 
 tion to leave them, and go to Jamaica ; for whicb 
 island he sailed, on the Bth of 11th month, 1671^ 
 in company with several otlier Friends. After a. 
 short and pleasant voyage, they landed in Jamaica, 
 where they found several of their companions from 
 England, engaged in gospel labour, with whom 
 they united. Though the minds of many of the 
 people were much corrupted, yet no opposition, 
 either by the Magistrates or the people, appears 
 to have been offered. Many were convinced of 
 the rectitude of those doctrines which were preach- 
 ed to them ; amongst whom were several persons 
 
 LitE OF 6E011GE FOX. 
 
 ^s 
 
 of ertiirtenCe in the island. George Fox visited 
 the Governor twice, by whom and several of the 
 Magistrates, he was kindly receivedr 
 
 After continuing about seven weeks^m Jamaici^ 
 he and his companions sailed for Maryland; but 
 in their voyage there, they had very stormy wea- 
 ther, and were in great danger of being ship-^ 
 wrecked ; particularly in passing through the Gulf 
 of Florida. George's reflections and remarks orf 
 this occasion, "ar^ disthiguished by tliat piety which 
 formed a prominent feature in his character : 
 ** Tlie great God," he observes, " who is Lord of 
 sea and land ; and who rideth upon tlie wings of 
 the wind, did, by his power^ preserve us through? 
 many and great dangers, when, by extreme stress- 
 of weather, our vessel was divers times like to be 
 overset, and much of her tackling broken* In-^ 
 deed, we were sensible that the Lord was a God 
 at hand, and tlkat his ear was open to the suppli- 
 cations of his people: for when the winds were 
 so strong and boisterous, and the storms and tem- 
 pests so great, tliit the sailors^ knew not what to 
 do, but let the sliip go which way she would, then 
 did we pray unto the Lord, who did graciously 
 hear and accept us; and did calm tlie winds and 
 seas, gave us seasonable weather, and made us to 
 rejoice in his salvation* Blessed and praised h^ 
 the holy name of the Lord, whose power hath d5p«; 
 
 n 3 
 
i 
 
 Q34 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 minion over all, and whom the winds and seav 
 obey/' 
 
 How similar are these reflections, to those of 
 the excellent Addison, on a like occasion. When 
 describing his perilous situation, he says, 
 
 "^' Think, O my soul! devoutly think. 
 
 How with affrighted eyes, 
 Thou savv'st the wide extended deep. 
 
 In all its horrors rise. 
 
 Confusion dwelt in evVy face, 
 
 And fear in ev'ry heart; 
 When waves on waves, and gulphs on gulpH|||. 
 
 O'ercame the pilot's art. 
 
 Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord ! 
 
 Thy mercy set me free, 
 Whilst in the confidence of prayV, 
 
 My soul took hold on thee. 
 
 For though in dreadful whirls we hung,. 
 
 High on the broken wave, 
 J knew thou wast not slow to hear, 
 
 Nor'impotent to save. 
 
 The storm was laid, the winds retir^d^. 
 
 Obedient to thy will ; 
 •The sea that roared at thy commaod, 
 
 At thy command was still. 
 
 In midst of dangers, fears, and death,.. 
 
 Thy goodness I'll adore, 
 And praise thee for thy mercies pasL, 
 Aiul humblj hope for more.'? 
 
 trrE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 235^ 
 
 The sense of the succeeding Stanza, though not 
 expressed, in words, by George Fox, was strongly 
 acted up to in his life, and at his death : 
 
 » ' 
 
 1^ 
 
 tt 
 
 My life, if thou preserv^st my life. 
 Thy sacrifice shall be ; 
 And death, if death must be my doom, 
 Shall join my soul to thee.'' 
 
 On their arrival in Maryland, they went with 
 John Burnyeat, a Friend from England, who had 
 been visiting these parts, and had called a general 
 meeting of FViends in this province, that he might 
 take leave of them previously to his departure for 
 his own country. This proved ver)^seasonable for 
 George and his companions; it b«ing a very large 
 meeting, and attended by many of the most respec- 
 table inhabitants of the country^ who appeared to be 
 well satisfied with this religious opportunity. After 
 the public meetings were over> the meetings for 
 discipline began ; and the whole continued four 
 days, terminating to the great satasfaction of those 
 who attended. This was also the case with a 
 meeting at Cliffs, where many who had been back*- 
 jliders, were restored'; and several meetings were 
 established for taking car« of the affairs of the 
 church. Whilst in this province, he and his com- 
 panions had a large meeting on the easterii shore^- 
 ft^ which he desired tti« lodiaa Emperof aa4 bir* 
 
 T I , 
 
036 
 
 lirE OT GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE POX. 
 
 237 
 
 » 
 
 Kings might be invited. The Emperor came, 
 but the King8 being at a greater distance, and 
 having some difficulty in obtaining leave of their 
 council, did not arrive till after the meeting was 
 over. George, however, had two religious oppor- 
 tunities with them that evening, and they heard 
 the word of the Lord' willingly, confessing to its 
 truth, and manifesting a desire to attend more re- 
 ligious meetings. Thus did this laborious Minis- 
 ter of the Gospel, publish its saving doctrines to 
 Jew and Gentile; to professing Christians, and 
 unenlightened Heathens ; earnestly desiring that 
 all might come to the knowledge of the truth and 
 be saved. 
 
 Having finished his services, for the present, 
 in Marj-land, he and his companions set off 
 for New England on horseback ; being desirous of 
 attending a half year's meeting on Long Island. 
 In their journey through a wilderness country, 
 they encountered many difficulties ; sometimes tra- 
 velling a whole day without seeing any human being- 
 or habitation. They frequently slept in the woods 
 \iy a fire, and were sometimes accommodated in 
 the Indian wigwams. One night they lodged at 
 the house of an Indian King, who, George says, 
 ^as a very pretty man. He and his wife entertained 
 them very lovingly, and gave them the best accomh 
 VAodatioR they had j but having caught little thai (}ay 
 
 in hunting, they could not spare much provisions. 
 It seems these Indians could not speak English ; 
 but, at another pkce, an Indian King came to 
 them who understood the English language; and 
 George spoke much to him and his people, who 
 manifested great love tmd kiudncis on the oc- 
 casion* 
 
 The route which they had taken led them owr 
 feveral rivers, as Miles River,* Wye, Chester, 
 Saxifrax, Bohemia, and Delaware. Near the last 
 river they stopped at a Dutch town, called New- 
 castle, fornoerly New Amsterdam, from which 
 place they proceeded by West and East Jersey ; 
 and at length arrived safely on Long Island, about" 
 two days before the half year's meeting began, 
 which they were particularly desirous of attend- 
 ing. They stopped at Gravesend and Flushing, 
 in their way to Oyster Bay, where the meeting 
 was held. It continued four days, and was at- 
 tended by several persons who had opposed them- 
 selves to the establishment of meetings for disci- 
 pline. After the other services of the meeting 
 were over, George had an opportunity with those 
 discontented people, who were much brought 
 down; and, to use his own words, " the glorious 
 irutli of God was exalted aud set over alL'^ 
 
 ♦ Perhaps Wicomico* 
 
sas 
 
 tlFE OF GEOUGE FOX. 
 
 From Long IsUxnA the Friends sailed to Rho^ 
 Island, where they arrived on the 30tli of the third 
 month, 1672. Aboat a week after theij' arrival, 
 came on the yearly meeting for New England, 
 and other colonies adjacent. This meeting con- 
 tinued six days ; chiefly occupied in public meetk- 
 ings, which were largely attended by the peo- 
 ple of all ranks; for there being no Priests on 
 the island, and no restrictions as to religious wor- 
 ship, the people flocked in from all parts, and 
 heard what was delivered to them with much at- 
 tention, diligence, and affection, during four days. 
 The p«blic meetings being over, the mens meet- 
 ing was next held, and after that the womens. 
 In these meetings much advice was. communicated 
 lespectiiig the service of them, and " that all 
 might be kept clean, sweet, and savoury." When 
 this large meeting was finished. Friends had been so 
 nearly united together in the bonds of gospel lov€ 
 and fellowship, that it was hard to part, and they 
 spent two days in taking leave of each other, and 
 of those who lived in the island; after which, 
 " being mightily filled with the presence and 
 power of the Lord, they went away with joyful 
 hearts to their several habitations**' 
 
 Finding great openness among the people, 
 George felt his mind engaged to continue longer 
 on the island ; Robert Widdters, w ho appears to- 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE F0X» 
 
 csg 
 
 m 
 
 have been his intimate friend and fellow-labourer, 
 remaining with him. Whilst here, a marriage was 
 solemnized, which George and his companion at- 
 tended. The manner in which it was conducted 
 gave great satisfaction to those present, who ob- 
 served tliat they " never saw such a solemn as- 
 sembly, on such an occasion ; so weighty a mar- 
 riage, and so comely an order." In tliis island he 
 also met with some Ranters, who opposed the 
 establishment of meetings for discipline; with 
 these he appointed a meeting, which, it 
 seems, terminated to satisfaction. From Rhode 
 Island, he made an excursion to Providence, 
 about thirty miles, where the Governor and many 
 others accompanied him. Tlie meeting was very 
 large, and the people went away much satisfied, 
 desiring to have another meeting. 
 
 Having now finished his service in Rhode 
 Island, he went to Narraganset ; where he had a 
 very large meeting, which was of good service. 
 Most of the people had never heard Friends preach 
 before; and they were much affected with what was 
 communicated to them. At one place in this 
 neighbourhood, George heard that some of the 
 Magistrates, who did not then understand him and 
 his principles, said, " If they had money enough 
 they w ould hire him t» be their Minister ;" but 
 «vheo he heard tliis, he said to his friends, ** It '33 
 
 I 
 
^40 
 
 tlFE OF CEOROE FOX. 
 
 time for me to be gone; for if their eye is so much 
 to me, or any of us, Uiey will not come to their 
 own teacher.** 
 
 From Narraganset, George and his companion 
 returned to Rhode Island ; and soon after sailed 
 far Shelter Island, about twenty-seven leagues dis- 
 tance; having, besides Robert Widders, James 
 Lancaster, George Pattison, and John Jay, in 
 company. They had a tedious passage of three 
 days. Here they had a meeting on the first day 
 of the week with the European inhabitants ; and 
 a few days afterwards, with the Indians. This 
 meeting was attended by the King and his Council, 
 and about a hundred Indians more. They sat 
 down quietly like Friends, and were very attentive 
 whilst George spoke to them by an interpreter. 
 They afterwards manifested much love ; and con- 
 fessed to the truth of what was delivered to them. 
 Before he left the island, he had another meeting 
 with the inhabitants, which was very large and sa- 
 tisfactory, the people manifesting much regard 
 both to him and to the truth which he preached. 
 In concluding the account of his services in this 
 island,, he makes this pious ejaculation: '* Blessed 
 be die Lord ! his name spreads and will be great 
 among the nations^ and <lreadful among the 
 Heathen." 
 
 I.IFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 941 
 
 Having spent about ten days in Shelter Island*^ 
 they sailed for Long Island, where, after a very 
 trying passage, they landed on the 7th of the 6th 
 month, 1672, in Oyster Bay. Here they had a 
 large meeting; after which they went to Flushing, 
 where a meeting was also held ; which was at- 
 tended by many hundreds of people from different 
 parts of the island. Of this George observes, 
 " A glorious and heavenly meeting it was ; (praised 
 b^ the Lord God !) and the people were nuich 
 satisfied." 
 
 From Flushing they passed to Gravesend, whenr 
 they had " three precious meetings ;" after whic)& 
 they sailed for a new country, since called Jersey. 
 They lauded in Middletown harbour; and the 
 ivext day travelled into the country, about thirty 
 miles, through woods and bogs. One of the latter^ 
 in particular was very dangerous, and had obtained 
 the name of Purgatory. After a trying journey, 
 they came to Shrewsbury, where they had a very 
 satisfactory meeting on the first day of the week. 
 Durius: the same week was held the men's and 
 women's meetings for transacting the discipline oT 
 the church. These meetings George Fox was 
 very earnest to establish in this <?ountry, as well 
 as in Europe ; being, it seems, more and more, 
 convinced of tlieir utility and importance. 
 
24S 
 
 LITE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 'whilst they were at Shrewsbury, John Jay, a 
 Friend of Barbadoes, who had accompanied them 
 from Rhoile Island, was thrown from a horse, by 
 which his neck was dislocated. When taken up, 
 he was laid on a tree, and considered as dead. 
 Geor^^e Fox hasted to the place as quickly as pos- 
 fiible, and, when he came (here, united in the 
 general sentiment. As he stood over him, " pity- 
 ing him and his family," he took hold of his head, 
 and finding it move any way, he began to be ap». 
 prehensive of the cause of his situation ; on which 
 he endeavoured to put the head and neck into their 
 right place. The means he used for this purpose 
 he thus describes : "Throwing away my stick and 
 my gloves, I took his head in both my hands, and 
 setting my knees against the tree, 1 raised his head, 
 and perceived there was nothing out or broken 
 that way. Then I put one hand under his chin, 
 and the other behind his head, and raised his head 
 two or three times with all my strength, and 
 hrought it in. I soon perceived his neck began 
 to grow stiff again, and then he began to rattle in 
 his throat, and quickly after to breathe. The 
 people were amazed ; but I bid them have a good 
 heart, and be of good faith, and carry him into 
 the house. Tliey did so, and set him by the lire ; 
 but I bid them get him something warm to drink, 
 and put him to bed." In consequence of this 
 treatment, the Friend soon recovered; and the 
 
 XlFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 343 
 
 I*' 
 
 next day travelled with them about sixteen miles, 
 to Middletown; and many hundred miles after- 
 wards. 
 
 At Middletown they had a large and satisfac- 
 tory meeting, most of the inhabitants of the place 
 attending it. After this meeting, they went to the 
 harbour about live mile», intending to proceed 
 from that place into Maryland, through the woods j 
 fur which purpose they obtained Indian guides as 
 they passed along. After five or wx days hard 
 and difficult travelling, they came to Newcastle, 
 where as well as at Middletown, they had been on 
 their way to Long Island. Here the Governor resid- 
 ed, and kindly gave George Fox an invitation to his 
 house, which he readily accepted ; his companions 
 being also well provided for. The next day, 
 being the first of the week, a meeting was held in 
 the Governor's house, which the inhabitants of the 
 place generally attended. Many of the people 
 confessed to the truth of what was delivered, and 
 some, it appears, were so far convinced, as ta 
 make public profession of it. 
 
 Leaving Newcastle, they travelled through 
 woods and bogs about three days more, till they 
 came to the house of Robert Harwood, on Miles 
 River. Though very weary, and their cloaths' 
 much soiled with travelling through th« hogs^ thcjf 
 
 X % 
 
d44 
 
 IIFE OF-GEORGE FOX. 
 
 next day attended a meeting, which was to be heW 
 in Ae neighbourhood ; and on the First Day fol- 
 lowing, they had a meeting at another place, with 
 ifhich the people were much satisfied. The wife 
 of a Judge who attended the meeting, said she had 
 rather hear these friends once, than the Priest* $ 
 thousand times^ 
 
 After attending some other meebngs, they we«t 
 to a general meeting for Friends in Maryland. 
 Thi* meeting held five days, the first three being 
 employed in meetings for public worship, to which 
 people of other societies came, both Protestants 
 and Papists : Maryland being at first principally 
 settled by Papists. The meetings were verj' large 
 for that new settled country, a thousand people 
 ^metimes attending. It seems to have been held 
 ■ear one of the large rivers, and the number of 
 boats passing backward and forward gave it the 
 appearance of tlie river Thames at London. 
 "This was,'^ (to use George's awn words,) " a very 
 heavenly meeting, wherein the presence of the^ 
 Lord was gloriously manifested, Friends were 
 sweetly refreshed, the people generally satisfied, 
 and many convinced ; for the blessed power of the 
 Lord was over all : evedasting praises to his holy 
 same !" 
 
 TTie men's and women's meetings occupied two 
 days J and after these were finished, George and. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 !^5- 
 
 Bis companions took leave of Friends in this part 
 of Maryland, whom, he says, they left well esta- 
 blished in the truth. At what place this meeting 
 was held does not appear. After it was over, they 
 went by water to the western sh^re, and thence to 
 Virginia, having several meetings in their way, 
 which were numerously attended, and^ in which it 
 appears their gospel labours, were blessed to the 
 edification and convincement of many. The last 
 meeting in Maryland was at Pattuxen, from which 
 place they sailed for Virginia, on the 5th of Qtl^ 
 month, 1672, and after a passage of three days, 
 arrived at Nansemoud, about two hundred miles 
 from Majyland. Here tliey had a large and satis- 
 factory meeting, as well as at some other places of 
 Virginia ; but did not make much stay in this pro- 
 vince, hastening to North Carolina ; yet they met 
 •with great openness among the people, and a far 
 vourable reception of the gospel truths which they 
 were concerned to preach.- 
 
 In their journey from Virginia to Carolina, they 
 found travelling very difficult. Tliey went by 
 pagan Creek to Summerton, and thence to Bon- 
 ner's Creek in North Carolina ; passing through- 
 many bogs aiid swamps, and sleeping, except one 
 ■ight at Summerton, in the woods. At Bonner's 
 Creek they came to a house, the fi^rst thef saw iw 
 Carolina, and here lodged by the fire. Finding^ 
 
uo 
 
 tlPE or GEORGE tOt. 
 
 themselves much wearied with travelling on horse- 
 back, they took a canoe, and passed down the 
 creek to Hugh Smithy on Macocomocock river, 
 and afterwards down the river Maratick to Connie- 
 oak bay, from whkh place they went to the Go- 
 vernor's ; who with his wife received them kindly. 
 Here one person (a doctor) would dispute with 
 the Friends, which afforded a favourable oppor- 
 tunity for explaining their principles to the people ; 
 particularly respecting, the light and Spirit of God. 
 This the doctor denied to be universal, and parti- 
 cularly that it was not extended to the Indians. 
 All Indian being near, George called him in, and 
 asked him, " Whether or no when he did lie, or 
 do wrong to any man, there was not something in 
 him that did reprove him for it." To this the 
 Indian replying in the affirmative, the doctor was 
 shamed before the Governor and the people ; and 
 being unable to support his argument, he went so- 
 far as to deny the Scriptures, thus exposing him- 
 self still further to the censure of the company. 
 After lodging at the Governor'* house, and being 
 very courteously entertained, the Friends took 
 boat and went about thirty miles on the river, to 
 die house of Joseph Scot, one of the representa-^ 
 tives of the country. Here, and at a place 
 about four miles distant, they had meetings, m. 
 which theii miuistry appears to have been welli 
 3«ceiyed., 
 
 IIPE 09 OEORGE FOX, 
 
 247 
 
 At several places, during his travels in America, 
 George was engaged to hold meetings, or take 
 opportunities of religious conversation among the 
 Indians ; his truly catholic spirit embracing " all 
 nations, and kindreds,, and peoples, and tongues." 
 Whilst in tliis part of Carolina, he visited this 
 people, and spoke to them by an interpreter, 
 showing them, among other things, "that God 
 made the world in six days, and made but one 
 woman for one man ; but that God did drown the 
 old world for their wickedness." He also spoke 
 to thenv " concerning Christ, showing them that 
 he died for all men; for their sins as well as for 
 others, and that he had enlightened them, as well 
 as others, with his good Spirit." The Indians, 
 among whom were their young king and several 
 of their chief men, received kindly what was com- 
 municated to them- 
 
 After spending about eighteen days in the 
 northern part of Carolina, in which their gospel 
 labours- had been blessed to many of the people, 
 they returned towards Virginia, taking their horses- 
 again at Bonner's Creek; and, after two dayi^ 
 hard and dirty travelling among the bogs, they 
 again came to Summerton; where they met with* 
 a kind reception from a woman, who entertained* 
 ^lem when there before. Here they had, the* 
 jiext day, a very good meeting with the iijliabV 
 
* 
 
 r43 
 
 LIFE or GEORGE FOX. 
 
 tants; after which they left the place, and tra- 
 velled about two da>^, till they came among 
 Friends in* Virginia. In this journey George Fox 
 says, " we observed great variety of climates, 
 having passed, in a few days, from »very cold to a 
 w arm and spring-like country ; but the power of 
 the Lord is the same in all, is over all, and doth 
 reach the good in all; praised be the name of the 
 Lord for everl" Thus did this good man fulfill 
 the apostolic injunction,^ " In every tiling give 
 thanks J' 
 
 G«orge Fox and his companions spent about 
 three weeks in Virginia ; having many meetings, ia 
 general to good satisfaction. They had also some 
 •lose labour among their own Friends, finding som« 
 disorderly and wrong dispositions had crept in, 
 which they endeavoured to suppress and correct 
 with a good degree of success. When this service 
 was finished, they returned into :Maryland by wa- 
 ter, having a tedious passage of about fourteen 
 •lays up the Chesapeak, in an open boat; during 
 which time, landing at night, they fpequently lodged 
 in the woods, tlie wolves- sometimes roaring about 
 them. Tlie weather also- was extremely cold, by 
 which they suffered considerably. They anived 
 at James Preston's, on Pattuxen River, about one 
 in the Moming, having sailed about two hundred 
 bhUsv TW n«xt day, being the first of the weel^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 249 
 
 notwithstanding their great weariness, they at- 
 tended a meeting in the neighbourhood; and duf- 
 the week bad several other meetings. They also 
 "visited an Indian King, with several of his peo- 
 ple, having some religious conversation with theniy 
 and they manifested miich kindness aod love» 
 
 After travelling several days, and holding meet- 
 higs at different places, they returned to the house 
 of their Friend, James Preston, which they found 
 burnt to the ground, through tlie carelessness of a 
 female servant; in consequence of which, the 
 Friends lodged three nights on the ground by the 
 fire, in the eleventh month. The weather at this 
 time was extremely severe, more so than usual in 
 these parts ; but one day the wind turning to the 
 southward, the heat was so great as to be scarcely 
 tolerable ; yet the day following the wind return- 
 ing to the north, they found it difficult to bear the 
 cold. In our own country, sudden and great 
 changes are not uncommon ; but the extremes of 
 this climate, appear to have been much greater 
 and more sudden than we experience, or it w ould 
 scarcely have bee a noticed. 
 
 After spending about four months in Mary- 
 land, and having many meetings, some of which 
 were for the discipline of the church, and one 
 among the Indians, George and his companions, 
 found their minds at liberty to return to England^ 
 
 ! 
 
 H 
 
Q50 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE TO%, 
 
 but continued till the general meet'ing for the pro- 
 vince, then approaching. This naecting was very 
 numerously attended, both by Friends and others. 
 It was a time of divine favour, and prepared their 
 minds for the separation, which i\\e next day took 
 place ; George and his companions sailing on the 
 Slst of the Sd month, 167^^, after taking an aflfcc- 
 tionate leave of those among whom they had been 
 engaged in gospel labour, " parting in great ten- 
 derness, in the sense of the heavenly life and vir- 
 tuous power of the Lord, which was lovingly felt 
 amongst them.^ 
 
 On the 28th of the 4th nvouth, they arrived \n 
 King Road, in the Severn, having had a stormy but 
 short passage, after they were clear of the Capes 
 of Virginia, lliey landed at Shearhampton, and 
 rode to Bristol, where they were joyfully received 
 by their Friends ; and that evening he wrote to his 
 wife to inform her of his arrival. This letter was 
 principally a pious effusion of grateful acknow- 
 ledvrments, for the mercies and preservations he 
 had experienced in his late travels, in a wilderness 
 country. It began thus : " Dear heart. This day 
 we came into Bristol, near night, from the sea ; 
 glory to the Lord God over all for ever, who was 
 our convoy, and steered our course ; who is the 
 God of the whole earth, of seas and winds, and 
 made the clouds his chariot; beyond all words, 
 blessed be his name for ever! He is over all ift 
 his great power and wisdom, amen I" 
 
 CHAP. xvm. 
 
 i6T3 to 1677 ' — Continues about Bristol^ where his JVifi 
 •and others mett him. — '1 ravels into Gloucester and 
 Wdts. — Describes the service of women's tneetings.-^ 
 Comes to London. — Travels with his wife towards 
 Swart hmore. — /* arrested on the way, ^ Is imprisoned 
 at Worcester.'- Removed by Habeas Corpus to London. 
 -^Afterwards to Worcester, and again to London. — 19 
 honourably liberated, and goes with his wife to Swart A- 
 more. —Continues there nearly two years, 
 
 IjEORGE fox intending to continue some 
 time about Bristol, his wife came to him there, with 
 two of her daughters, and her son in law Thomas 
 Lower. Several other Friends, among whom 
 were William Penn and his wife, also came to 
 \isit him. About this time, a great fair was held 
 at Bristol, whicb bringing a large concourse of 
 people together, and continuing several days, 
 Friends, it appears, embraced the opportunity, 
 which was thus afforded, of publishing their doc- 
 trines, and preaching the gospel of Christ to the 
 people. George hud much service in the meetings, 
 which were now held ; in which he observes, 
 " many deep and precious things were opened by 
 the eternal Spirit, which searcheth and reveuleth 
 the deep things of God." 
 
 ii' 
 
i 
 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 Having finished his present service in Bristol, 
 he travelled into Gloucestershire and Wilts. At 
 Slaughtenford, in the latter county, he was con- 
 cerned to recommend the establishment of a wo- 
 men's meeting ; but he met with some opposition, 
 which, however, he was enabled to overcome. 
 The object of these meetings he thus perspicu- 
 ously describes : " That faithful women, called to 
 the belief of the truth, made partakers of the 
 same precious faith, and heirs of the same ever- 
 lastin«» gospel of life and salvation as the men are, 
 might, in like manner, come into the possession 
 and practice of the gospel order ; and therein be 
 ifteet helps to the men, in the affairs of the church, 
 as they are outwardly in civil and temporal things. 
 1%at so all the family of God, women as well as 
 men, might know, possess, perforin, and discharge 
 their offices and services in the house of God; 
 whereby the poor might be better taken care of ; 
 the younger sort instructed, informed, and taught 
 in the way of God ; the loose and disorderly re- 
 proved and admonished in the fear of the Lord ; 
 the clearness of persons proposing marriage more 
 closely and strictly inqiiired into, in the wisdom 
 of God; and all the members of the spiritual 
 body, the church, might watch over and be help* 
 ful to each other in love.** 
 
<tIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 «55 
 
 From Wiltshire he proceeded through Hamp- 
 shire, Oxfordshire, and Bucks, to London ; where 
 he found the Baptists and Socinians had been 
 writing against the society, which brought much 
 exercise on his mind ; but their books were an- 
 swered, and their scandalous reflections confuted. 
 It appears, that he continued a considerable time 
 in and about London; making excursions into 
 Essex, Middlesex, and Surrey, Whilst in the city, 
 he was concerned to obtain relief for some of his 
 Friends, who were suffering for opening their 
 shops upon fasts and holidays, as they are called. 
 He considered such observances, in these times^ 
 at best but human appointments, if they did 
 not obscure the light of the gospel j and, 
 being often connected with circumstances m 
 which Friends could not unite, they therefore 
 early declined complying with these practices; for 
 which, at this time, as at many others, they under- 
 went much suffering. After he had performed 
 this service, he accompanied his wife and one of 
 her daughters to Hendon, in Middlesex; and they 
 afterwards paid a visit to William Penn, at Rick- 
 mansworth. George and his wife were now goino- 
 for the first time, after having been married four 
 years, to their own home at Swarthraore ; but this 
 reasonable attempt was prevented by the malice 
 of his enemies. On their way, he visited his 
 Friends, and had the satisfaction to find a consi- 
 
254 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 255 
 
 derable increase of their numbers in several parts j 
 but in passing throuj^h Worcestershire, he ^vas 
 arrested, after a meeting at Armscot, and, xMth 
 Thomas Lower, committed to Worcester jail, by 
 a stranse warrant from Henry Parker, a Justice. 
 Of this imprisonment he appears to have had a 
 previous sense given him, and had mentioned it to 
 his wife, who, with her daughter, was accompanied 
 home by some kind Friends. She seems to have 
 felt the disappointment very keenly, as may rea- 
 sonably be supposed, and is also inferred from the 
 following letter from her husband. 
 
 « Dear Heart ! 
 
 « Thou seemedst to be a little grieved 
 M^hen I was speaking of prisons, and when I was 
 taken. Be content with the will of the Lord 
 God : for when I was at John Rouse's, at Kings- 
 ion, 1 had a sight of my being taken prisoner ; and 
 v^hln 1 was at Bray Doily's, in Oxfordshire, as I 
 Mt at supper, 1 saw 1 was taken ; and I saw 1 had 
 a suffering to undergo. But the Lord's power is 
 over all. Blessed be his holy name for ever !" 
 
 He and his companion in prison, Thomas 
 Lower, laid their case before several Magistrates; 
 but received no redress. Thomas might have ob- 
 tained his liberty through the interest of his bro- 
 ther, Dr. Lower, one of the King's Physicians; 
 yet he did not incline to make any use of those 
 
 letters which he received for that purpose, his at- 
 tachment to his friend and father-in-law, inducing 
 him to prefer confinement with him, to liberty 
 without him. 
 
 When the Quarter Sessions came on, they 
 were, on the hist day of the sitting, brought into 
 court ; and their accusers not being able, and in- 
 deed scarcely attempting, to substantiate their 
 charge agai>ist them, recourse was had to the 
 usual snare of putting the oaths of allegiance and 
 supremacy to George Fox, against whom their 
 enmity principally lay. The oath not being put 
 to Thomas Lower, he obtained his liberty, which 
 he employed in attendance on his father, and in 
 endeavouring to procure his liberation also. For 
 this purpose an habeas corpus was obtained ; and 
 George Fox was removed to London, under the 
 care of his son-in-law. Lower, v\hom the Under 
 Sheriff had made his deputy. Tliis and many 
 similar circumstances, show the strong sense 
 which was entertained of the innocence of our 
 ancient Friends ; and is a presumptive proof, at 
 least, that malice, more than any apprehension of 
 real guilt, influenced the conduct of their persecu- 
 tors : but persecution is composed of incon- 
 sistencies. 
 
 George Fox and Thomas Lower left Worces- 
 ter on the Cyth of 1 1th mondi; lG7^f, and reached 
 
 Y 
 
 r» 
 
256 
 
 LIFE or* GEORGE POX. 
 
 London on the 2d of 12th month. On the two 
 following days, George appeared in the Court of 
 King's Bench ; and from the disposition whicli 
 appeared in the Judges, and the ability with which 
 his cause was pleaded by Jones, the King's attor- 
 iiey, and others, hopes were entertained that he 
 might be liberated. But his adversaries afterwards 
 moving the Court that he might be returned to 
 Worcester, they prevailed with the Judges to com- 
 ply with their motion. This appears to have beea 
 principally effected by the influence of Justice 
 Parker, who committed him, and who reporter! 
 that there were several substantial men with him 
 when he was taken, and that they had a design or 
 plot in hand ; for the better effecting of which, 
 Thomas Lower continued in prison after his libe- 
 ration, long enough to carry on their design. But 
 this report was disproved, and indeed could 
 scarcely be believed, as George Fox, after refusing 
 to give bail, was permitted to travel down to Wor- 
 cester at his own leisure, only engaging to be 
 there at the Assizes, which commenced the 2d of 
 Sd month, 1674. This he punctually fulfilled; 
 and, at the Assizes, it appears an attempt was 
 made by his adversaries, not to have him brought 
 up, by omitting his name in the calendar ; but by 
 application to the Judge's son, he was brought 
 into Court, where Judge Turner, who had treated 
 him severely at Lancaster, presided. He ap* 
 
 LIFE OF GEOKGE FOX. 
 
 257 
 
 peared, however, now more moderate, and had it 
 not been for the violence of Justice Parker, it was 
 thought George would have been liberated. The 
 Judge however referred the case back to the 
 Quarter Sessions ; and, in the mean time, through 
 the kindness of other Justices, the prisoner was 
 permitted to have the liberty of the town, and to 
 lodge at a friend's house, till the Sessions came on. 
 This interval was employed in promoting the 
 cause of truth in various ways, and particularly by 
 disputations with priests of different religious socie- 
 ties. When the time of the Sessions arrived, he 
 appeared before the Justices; but Justice Street, 
 the Chairman, who was also a Welch Judge, being 
 unfavourably disposed, and influencing the Jury, 
 they found the bill against him, which he traversed, 
 and through the moderation of some Justices, 
 liberty was given him till the next Quarter Ses- 
 sions. Alter obtaining a copy of his indictment, 
 he travelled towards l^ndon, visiting his Friends on 
 his way thither. Whilst in the city, some of his 
 kind, but oflkrious, friends, endeavoured again to 
 bring the case into the King's Bench ; but did not 
 succeed, the bu'iiness being too far proceeded in at 
 Worcester. George continued in London till 
 after the yearly meeting there, which he attended, 
 and describes it in these emphatic words : " Ex- 
 ceeding glorious the meetings were, beyond ex- 
 pression. Blessed be the Lord!" 
 
 y 3 
 
^59 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FO:X:. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 250 
 
 The yearly meeting being finished, he soon afteii^ 
 returned to Worcester, to be present at the Quar- 
 ter Sessions ; where Justice Street again pre- 
 sided, and tendered the oaths to the prisoner ; but 
 George proceeded to show the errors of the in- 
 dictment, ou ^^hich he was then to be tried, and 
 clearly pointed out many errors and omissions, 
 which were acknowledged by the Judge ; yet the 
 jury were induced by him to return their verdict 
 guilty, and he, in an indirect way, passed sentence 
 of premunire upon George Fox. Many of the 
 Justices were, however, very moderate and kind ; 
 and John Ashley, a lawyer, voluntarily defended 
 his cause ; but Justice Street, sitting as Judge, 
 over-ruled them all. A sou of the Earl of Salis- 
 bury was also very kind, and being much grieved 
 at the injustice of the Court, took a copy of the 
 errors of tlie iudictment 
 
 Being now fixed in prison by » premunire, his 
 wife came to him ; and, at the succeeding Assizesy 
 she and Thomas Lower delivered a state of hi» 
 case to Judge Wild; containing the various cir- 
 cumstances from his commitment to the sentence 
 of premunire; on which the Judge observed, that 
 they might try the validity or mvalidity of the eiv 
 tors if they would. This hint it appears, waa 
 afterwards acted upon* 
 
 In the mean time, M'hilst ability was afforded, 
 George employed himself in various acts of use- 
 fulness, to the good cause in which he was engaged ; 
 and among others, addressed a brief statement of 
 the principles of the society to the King ; not with 
 a view to his own release, but for general benefit. 
 Applications were made by others to the King on 
 his behalf, who was so favourably disposed, as to 
 be willing to grant him a pardon ; but a pardon 
 implying guilt in the person pardoned, George's 
 high and just feelings of honour, would not permit 
 bim to accept his liberation, in any manner dis- 
 honourable to the cause in which he was engaged.. 
 
 Dnring his confinement at this time, he had a 
 very severe fit of illness, in which he was supported 
 hy that Christian fortitude, which peculiarly mark- 
 ed his conduct in all his sufferings. After being 
 restored to better health, and obtaining liberty to 
 walk info the city, his wife went to Loudon, to use 
 means for his release ; but as the King could grant 
 -nothing but by way Of pardon, George chose to 
 have the validity of his indictment tried before the 
 Judges; and employed Thomas Corbet of Loi^ 
 don, for his counsellor. An Habeas Corpus was 
 accordingly sent to Worcester, by which he was. 
 removed to London ; and a few days afterwards 
 was brought into the Court of King's Bench^ 
 Hihere, among others was Judge Hale» At the 
 
 ■■I 
 
£60 
 
 LIFE OF geouge fox. 
 
 first sitting, Corbet started an objection wbich 
 greitly puzzled the Judges, saying, "they could 
 not imprison any man on a premunire." This point 
 appears to have been left undecided; and, the 
 next day, tlie Court proceeded to try the errors of 
 the indictment, >*hich, being opened, were so many 
 and so gross, that the Judges were unanimously of 
 opinion, it was quashed and void, and that the 
 prisoner ought to have his liberty. After this 
 honourable acquittal, some persons present pro- 
 posed the oaths being again tendered, telling the 
 Jud«Tes that he was a dangerous man to be at 
 liberty; but Judge Hale totd them that he had 
 indeed heard some such reports ; but he had also 
 heard many good reports. He therefore, wiih 
 the other J udges, refused this cruel request, and 
 ordered the prisoner to be liberated by proclama- 
 tion. Counsellor Corbet acquired great credit by 
 Lis defence of George Fox ; and George was libe- 
 rated in a manner congenial to his feelings, after 
 suffering fourteen months imprisonment for no. 
 crime whatever. " The Lord's everlasting power 
 went over all, to his glory and praise." 
 
 Bein2 now at liberty, he continued in and near 
 London, till the time of the yearly meeting in 
 1673; after which he and his wife again travelled 
 tow ards Swarthmore, having one of her daughters 
 with tliem. Being now too weak to ride on horse- 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOXj 
 
 26 \ 
 
 back, they travelled in a coach, visiting Friends as 
 they passed along. At Lancaster, where George 
 had not been since he was there as a prisoner, they 
 attended the quarterly meeting; and he visited 
 Friends, both in their men's and women's meetings, 
 which were very full, large, and peaceable. On 
 the 6th of 4th month, they reached Swarthmore, 
 where he found it necessary to rest, in order to re- 
 cruit his weakened constitution, which had suffered 
 much by his late, as well as by former iraprison- 
 xnents. 
 
 Whilst at Swarthmore, he w^as visited by his 
 Friends, from various parts of this nation and Scot- 
 land. His .old persecutor, Colonel Kirby, also 
 visited him, and even welcomed him into the 
 country, behaving, in appearance, very lovingly ; 
 yet before he left Swarthmore, the Colonel mani- 
 fested something of his former spirit; but did not 
 proceed to any extremities. 
 
 George continued nearly two years with his 
 wife, at her habitation ; and employed his time in 
 writing many papers and treatises for the promo- 
 tion of the cause of truth, and in collecting some 
 others heretofore written; besides enjoying the 
 company of his Friends, to whom he appears to 
 have been of easy access, and ever ready to impart 
 such advice as their circumstances required. Oue 
 
2G2 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 263 
 
 of the papers which he wrote during this interval, 
 gives an historical account of the progress and suf- 
 ferings of the Society, which he had been instru- 
 mental in forming. This account it may not be 
 improper to insert. It is entitled, 
 
 " A narrative of the spreading of truth, and of 
 the opposition from the powers which then were, 
 writteu by George Fox, in the yeai' 1676." 
 
 " The truth sprang up first to us, so as to be a 
 people to the Lord, in Leicestershire in l644, in 
 Warwickshire in 1 645, in Nottinghamghire in 
 1646, in Derbyshire in 1647, and in the adjacent 
 counties in 1648, 1649, and 1650 ; in Torksbire 
 in 1651, in Lancashire and Westmoreland in 1652* 
 in Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland in 
 1653, in London and most of the other parts of 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1654." 
 
 " In 1655 many went beyond sea, where truth 
 also sprang up, and in 1656 it broke forth in Ame- 
 rica and many other places." 
 
 " In the authority of this divine truth. Friends 
 stood all the cruellies and sufferings that were in- 
 flicted upon them, by the long parliament; to the 
 spoiling of goods, imprisonment, and death, and 
 over all reproaches, lyes, and slanders ; as well as 
 those in Oliver Cromwell'* time, and all the acts 
 
 made by him and his parliament ; his son Richard 
 after him, and the connnittee of safety ; and after 
 withstood and out-lasted all the acts and procla- 
 mations since 1660, that the kmg came in." 
 
 <' Friends never feared their acts, prisons, gaols, 
 houses of conection, banishment, nor spoiling of 
 goods, nay, nor the loss of life itself: nor was 
 there ever any persecution that came, but we saw, 
 in the event, it would be productive of good ; nor 
 were there ever any prisons that I was in, or suf- 
 fering's, but it was for the bringing multitudes out 
 of prison ; though they who imprisoned the truth, 
 and quenched the Spirit in themselves, would im- 
 prison and quench it without them ; so that there 
 was a time when such numbers were in prison, that 
 it became as a bye-word, * tiiith is scarce any where 
 to be found but in gaols." 
 
 « And after the King came in, divers Friends suf- 
 fered much, because they would not drink his 
 health, and say, " God bless the king ;" so that 
 many Friends were in danger of their lives from 
 rude persons, who were ready to run them through 
 with their swords for refusing it, until the king 
 gave forth a proclamation against drinking healths; 
 for we were and are against drinking any healths, 
 and all excess, both before his coming in and 
 after ; and we desire the king's good, and that the 
 
 I 
 
 H^ 
 
f64 
 
 |,1FE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 blessing of God might come upon him and all hia 
 subjects, and all people upon the face of the 
 earth ; but we did desire people not to drink die 
 kin<y's health, but let him have his health, and all 
 people else; and to drink for their own health and 
 necessity only : for diat way of drinking healths, 
 and to excess, was not for the king's health, nor 
 their own, nor any others ; which excess often 
 brought forth quarrelling and destroying one 
 another : for they destroyed the creation and one 
 another ; and this was not for the king's wealth, 
 nor health, nor honour, but might grieve him to 
 have the creatures and his subjects destroyed ; and 
 so the Lord's power gave us dominion over that 
 also, and all our other sufferings." 
 
 '< But, oh ! the number of suflferers in the com- 
 monwealth's and Oliver Cromwell's days, and since ; 
 especially those who were haled before the courts 
 for not paying tithes, refusing to swear on their 
 juries, not putting off their hats, and for going to 
 meeting's on the First Days; under pretence of 
 breaking the sabbath ; and to meetings on other 
 days of the week ; who were abused both in meet- 
 ings and on the highways." 
 
 ^ Oh ! how great were the sufferings we then suv 
 tained upon these accounts; for sometimes they 
 would drive Friends by droves into the prison- 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 265 
 
 ijouses like penfolds, confine them on the First 
 Days, and take their horses from them, and keep 
 them for pretended breach of their sabbath ; though 
 tliey would ride in their coaches, and upon their 
 fat horses to the steeple-houses themselves, and yet 
 punish others. And many Friends were turned 
 out of their copyholds and customary tenements, 
 because, in obedience to the command of Christ 
 and his apostle, they could not swear ; and as they 
 went to meetings, they have been stoned through, 
 the streets, and otherwise cruelly abused. Many 
 were fined with great fines, and lay long in prisou 
 for not putting off their hats ; which fines Friends 
 could never pay, though they kept them in prison 
 till they had satisfied their own wills ; and at last 
 turned them out, after keeping them a year or 
 more in prison." 
 
 **Many books T gave forth against tithes, showing 
 how the priesthood was changed that took them ; 
 and that Christ sent forth his twelve, and after- 
 wards his seventy disciples, saying unto them, 
 " Freely ye have received, freely give." So all 
 who do not obey the doctrine and command of 
 Christ therein, we cannot receive them.'* 
 
 " I was also moved to give forth several books 
 against swearing, and diat our yea and nay might 
 be taken instead of an oath, which if we broke, 
 
 z 
 
ii66 
 
 LIFE OF GEOECE FOX. 
 
 let US suflfer the same punishment as they \vh(^ 
 broke their oaths. And in Jamaica the governor 
 -and the assembly granted the thing ; it is also 
 granted in some other places ; and several of the 
 Parliament men in England have acknowledged 
 the reasonableness diereof. The Magistrates, 
 after some time, when they saw our faithfulness in 
 jea and nay, they who were moderate, both before 
 and since the King came in, would put Friends 
 into offices without an oath ; but the cruel and 
 envious would fine Friends to get money of them, 
 though they could not pay them any." 
 
 **Thus the Lord's power hath carried us through 
 all, and over all, to his everlasting glory and 
 praise ; for God's power hath been our hedge, 
 our wall and our keeper, (the preserver of his 
 plants and vineyard,) who have not had the magis- 
 trate's sword and staff to help us, nor ever trusted 
 in the arm of flesh ; but have gone without these, 
 or Judas's bag, to preach the word of life, which 
 >vas in the beginning before they were ; which 
 word reconciles to God. And thousands have re- 
 ceived this word of reconciliation, and are born 
 again of the immortal seed, by the Word of God ; 
 and are feeding upon the milk of the Word, which 
 lives and abides for ever." 
 
 " Many have suffered death for their testimony, 
 la England and beyond the seas, both before and 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 267 
 
 since the King came in ; which may be seen in an 
 account given to the King and both Houses of 
 Parliament ; being a brief, plain, and true relation, 
 of the late and sad sufferings of the people of 
 God, in sconi called Quakers, for worshipping, and 
 exercising a good cousciuice towardi God and 
 
 man. 
 
 « By reason whereof eighty-nine have suffered till 
 death; thirty-two of which died before the King 
 came into England, and fifty-seven since, by hard 
 imprisonment and cruel usage. Forty-three have 
 died in the city of London and Southwark, since 
 the Act made against meetings, &c. about iGGI, 
 of which a^niore particular account was given, 
 with the names of the sufferers, to the King and 
 parliament about 1663." 
 
 " And though divers laws were designed aganist 
 us, yet never could any of them justly touch us, 
 bein<^ wrested and misapplied in their execution 
 by our adversaries, which some have been made 
 to confess. All those laws that were made, and 
 the oath which they imprisoned us for, because, in 
 obedience to the command of Christ Jesus, we 
 could not swear st all, were not originally intended 
 against us; and yet we suffered by the several 
 powers, and their laws, both spoiling of goods and 
 imprisonment, even to death. And the Governor 
 of Dover Castle, when the King asked him if hft 
 
 -7 ^ 
 
2.G8 
 
 LIFE OF GEOKGE FOX. 
 
 had dispersed all the sectaries' meetingSi said, that 
 he had ; but the Quakers, the devil himself could 
 not ; for if he did imprison them, and break up 
 their meetings, they would meet again ; and if he 
 should beat them or knock them down, or kill 
 some of them, all was one, they would meet, and 
 not resist again. Thus the Lord's power did sup- 
 port and keep them over their persecutors, and 
 made them to justify our patience and lamb-like 
 nature. This was about 1671." 
 
 " Since the King came in, three Acts have been 
 made against us, besides the Proclamations, by 
 which many have suffered imprisonment and ba- 
 nishment, and many to death. And yet for all 
 these acts and proclamations, persecutions, suffer- 
 ings, banishments, faithful Friends are as fresh as. 
 ever in the Lord's power, and valiant for his name 
 and truth." 
 
 " Some weak ones there were, when the King 
 came in, who did take the oath ; but after they 
 had so done, they were sore troubled for disobey- 
 ing the command of Christ and the apostle ; and 
 went to the Magistrates, condemned themselves, 
 and offered to go to prison." 
 
 *' Thus the Lord, in his everlasting power, hath 
 Ibeen the support and stay of his people ; and still 
 his seed reigns, his truth is over all, and exceed* 
 ingly spreads unto this year 1676*" 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 IO77, 1678. — Leaves Swarthmore. — Travels into York- 
 shire f and thence to London. — Accompanies William 
 Venn to his home at Wurminghurst. -^Returns to Lon- 
 don, and sails icith several Friends to Holland. — M 
 Amsterdam urites to the Princess Elizabeth of the Rhine. 
 Her answer. — Visits many places in Holland and Ger- 
 manif.— Returns to England.-^Lands at Harwich, atid 
 goes to London. — Thence into Bucks and Bristol. — La- 
 hours much and successfullj; with those who oppose the 
 Discipline. — Returns to London. 
 
 Having finished the services described at 
 the latter efid of the preceding chapter, and being iu 
 some degree recruited in his health, George Fox 
 left Swarthmore, the 2Gth of 1st month, 1677, and 
 travelled with some difficulty, through Westmore- 
 land, the Dales of Yorkshire, and other places iu 
 that county, till he came to York ; where he con- 
 tinued a few days, being at the meeting on First 
 Day, which was a very large and favoured oppor- 
 tunity. Many Friends met him there from other 
 parts of the couaty, with whom, as well as with 
 those in the city, he held meetings on the follow- 
 ing day, at the house of John Taylor. 
 
 After finishing Kis services in York, and writing; 
 an affectionate letter to his wifcj he travelled 
 
 z 3 
 
1270 
 
 IrrE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 fiotithward by Tadcaster, Knottingley, Doncaster^ 
 &c. into Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lei- 
 cestershire. At Leicester he found many Friends 
 \vho were come out of the country to attend a 
 liorse fair, with whom he had a very good meet- 
 ing the evening before the fair ; and another the 
 next evening at Knighton, about a mile distant. 
 Thus did this indefatigable gospel labourer em- 
 brace almost every opportunity, at which a num- 
 ber of people were collected, for promoting the 
 good cause in which he was engaged* 
 
 From Leicester he travelled through the inter- 
 mediate counties, till he came to Loudon. Pre- 
 viously to his entering the city, he spent a few days 
 at the Widow Haly's at Hendon, and at William 
 Mead's at Highgate. By the latter he was taken 
 to I^ndon, and being fourth day, they attended the 
 week-day meeting at Gracechurch street, where 
 his Friends were much pleased to see him ; and 
 they were greatly refreshed together, under a sense 
 •f the divine presence and power which accom- 
 panied their meeting. 
 
 It was Mith consideral)1e difficulty that George 
 bore his journey to London, his sufferings, in pri- 
 son and otherwise, having left his body so weak, 
 that he could not travel far on a day ; and in the 
 sights he could take but little rest; on account o$ 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 271 
 
 the great pains to which he was subject ; but he 
 gratefully observes, that the Lord's power was over 
 all, and carried him through all, to his praise. 
 
 Finding, in his journey to London, that some 
 unfaithfulness had crept into the society, with re- 
 spect to its testimony against tithes, occasioned 
 principally by those who had opposed the esta- 
 bhshment of Christian discipline, George was 
 concerned to write an Epistle to his Friends, to 
 stir up those who were unfaithful, and to encou- 
 rage and strengthen others in supporting tlieir 
 Christian -testimony in this respect. 
 
 Soon after his reaching London, the yearly 
 meeting commenced, " wherein," to use his own 
 words, " the Lord's powerful presence was very 
 largely felt, and the affairs of tmth were sweetly 
 carried on, in the unity of the Spirit, to the satis- 
 faction and comfort of the upright-hearted.— 
 Blessed be the Lord for ever."^ 
 
 Soon after the yearly meeting, George Fox ac- 
 companied his friend William Penn to his house 
 at Worminghurst, in Sussex, where he spent about 
 three weeks, employing part of hi» time (here in 
 replying to an adversary's book, in conjunction 
 with John Burnyeat. Returning to London, he>. 
 after a short stay there, set off for Harwich^ to 
 
272 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 embark for Holland, having felt his mind drawn 
 to visit Friends there and in Germany, and ta 
 preach the gospel to the people. Some other 
 Friends were also at that time under a similar con- 
 cern; and William Penn, Robert Barclay, George 
 Keith and his wife, John Furly and his brother, 
 William Tailcoat, George Watts, and Isabel 
 Yeomans, one of Margaret Fox's daughters, all 
 took passage in the same vessel. They sailed from 
 Harwich on the 25th of oth month, 1677, and 
 were landed at the Briel on the morning of the 
 esth, where they met with a joyful reception from 
 their Friends ; and soon afterwards took boat for 
 Rotterdam. 
 
 George Fox and the other Friends attended the 
 meetings at Rotterdam on first day, which were 
 held at the house of Benjamin FurJy ; and, after 
 spending two or three days here, he and William 
 Penn parted from the rest, and passing by Overkirk, 
 Pelft, Leyden, and Harlem, came to Amsterdam. 
 At Harlem they appointed a meeting, which was 
 numerously attended, and proved satisfactory both 
 to Friends and others who were present. Whilst at 
 Amsterdam they were at the qiuirterly meeting 
 there, which was attended by Friends from Rotter*- 
 dam and Harlem. Here also the other Friends, 
 vhom they left at Rotterdam, met them. It ap^ 
 pears that Friends had not yet procured meeting* 
 houses ] for the meeting was held at the house of 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 273 
 
 Gertrude Dirick Nieson. It was a large and ser- 
 viceable meeting, in which the benefit of meetings 
 for discipline was explained ; and, at a subsequent 
 meeting, monthly and quarterly meetings were 
 established ; also a yearly meeting for Friends in 
 Holland and Germany, to be held at Amsterdam, 
 which was very satisfactory to Friends in those 
 parts. In this city they had several other meet- 
 ings, both public and private ; and particularly a 
 very large one, on a first day, which was attended 
 by a great variety of religious professors. In this 
 meeting, Robert Barclay, George Keith, and 
 William Penn, as well as George Fox, were en- 
 gaged in public testimony, and " the meeting 
 ended quietly and well." 
 
 George's companions left him at Amsterdam, 
 where he continued a few days, during which time 
 he wrote an Epistle to the Princess Elizabeth of 
 the Rhine, maternal aunt to George the First, 
 who governed a small territory, and was a very 
 religious and virtuous character ; as may appear 
 from the following short answer to George's 
 letter. 
 
 *' Dear Friend! 
 
 " I cannot but have a tender love to those 
 that love the Lord Jesus Christ; to whom it is 
 given not only to believe in him^ but also to sixSet 
 
274 
 
 riFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 for him : therefore your letter and yowr Friends' 
 visit, have been both very welcome to me. I 
 shall follow their and your counsel, as far as God 
 will afford me light and unction ; remaining stilly 
 
 Your loving Friend, 
 
 ELIZABETH.'* 
 
 Scrffortj the 30th of August y 1677- 
 
 Being clear of Amsterdam, he travelled towards 
 Friesland, accompanied by John Claus, who was 
 his interpreter. In their way they had meetings 
 at Alcniaer among Friends, and people of other 
 professions, which were held peaceably and to sa- 
 tisfaction. From this place they passed to Hoorn 
 and Enchkhuysen, where they took ship for Fries- 
 land, and landed at VVorcum, whence they pro- 
 ceeded to Harlingen, tarrying there several days, 
 visiting Friends, and attending meetings on a 
 first day; ^^hich were held without any interrup- 
 tion. Some religious people afterwards came 
 to converse with George Fox, who seemed well 
 satisfied; and they parted in love towards each 
 other. From Harlingen they went to Lewarden, 
 and lodged at tlie house of a Friend, named 
 Sy brand Dowes. Here they tarried only one 
 Dight, and proceeded by Dockum, Grouingen, and 
 Delfziel, to Embden. At this place. Friends 
 kad sufiered much persecution, aud were often 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 275 
 
 banished from it. It does not appear that George 
 Fox had any meeting here, except a small one 
 widi Friends, whilst waiting for a waggon, of 
 which they were disappointed ; the owner being 
 afraid of having his horses taken from him. They 
 therefore took boat to Leer, where they visited a 
 Friend who was banished from Embden. Passing 
 through Strickhausen, Deteren, and Oldenburgh, 
 tliey came to Delmenhurst. Here, after being 
 examined by the guards, they went to the house of 
 a Burgomaster to lodge, who, it seems, kept an 
 inn. There, finding many people collected, 
 George embraced the opportunity of preaching 
 to them, and warning them of the day of the 
 Lord that would come upon all evil doers. The 
 next day they went over the river Weser to Bre- 
 men, and thence to Fisherholder ; where George 
 had some religious service among the people; and 
 tlien proceeded towards Buxtehude, and thence 
 to Hamburgh. 
 
 On the evening of the day on which they ar- 
 rived at Hamburgh, they held a meeting, which, it 
 appears, was attended by a variety of people, and 
 proved a good opportunity of relief to George's 
 mind. " Yet," he observes, " a hard dark place this 
 is, and the people are much shut up from truth." 
 ^fter encouraging and strengthening the minds of 
 their Friends there, they proceeded, early next 
 
276 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 morning, towards Frederickstadt. In their 
 vay they passed through Ehiishoorn, Rantzow, 
 Itzeho, and Hogheuhorn, having some religious 
 service at the two last places. After two days 
 travelling, much of it in the rain and in an open 
 ^vaggon, they came to Frederickstadt. Here they 
 had a meeting with Friends the same evening; 
 with which their spirits were much refreshed, 
 finding a considerable number of their own society 
 here ; whose company and kindness appears to have 
 been peculiarly grateful, after travelling so long 
 among strangers, who were such both in a natural and 
 religious sense. Here they continued several days, 
 having a public meeting with the inhabitants, and 
 a private one among their Friends only : the prin- 
 cipal object of the last, was to establish monthly 
 meetings for discipline in that city ; which was rea- 
 dily complied with. Besides these meetings, 
 George Fox had some religious discourse with 
 t>vo Jews, relating to the coming of the Messiah; 
 but he found them very dark and ignorant of the 
 meaning of their own Prophets. 
 
 The city of Frederickstadt belonged to th« 
 Duke of Holstein, who had manifested a disposi- 
 tion to banish Friends from it; but the Magi- 
 strates chose rather to resign their offices than 
 comply with the persecuting disposition of the 
 DHke; they themselves having come to that city, 
 
 ^LFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 277 
 
 to enjoy liberty of conscience. Tliis was certainly 
 much to their credit, and manifested, (which is too 
 seldom the case,) a proper sense of the right and 
 value of tliat liberty, which they had sought and 
 obtained. 
 
 Being clear of Frederickstadt, George and Vvs 
 companions returned to Hamburgh, where, being 
 joined by John Hill, a Friend from England, they 
 Jiad a v^ry satisfactory meeting ; after which, and 
 some religious discourse with different persons, 
 they departed from this city, and travelled through 
 the DuLe of Lunenburg's dominions, with much 
 difficulty and danger from the flooded state of ihe^ 
 country, till they came to Bormer Haven. Thejr 
 arrived at this place about eleven at night ; and 
 procuring some clean straw, they rested till four 
 in the morning, and then proceeded to Bremen. 
 
 At Bremen they staid a very short time, and 
 travelled by Keby, Oldenburgh, and Leer, to 
 Einbden. At Oldenburgh they were affected, as 
 they had been when there before, with observing 
 that the greatest part of the city had been con- 
 sumed by fire; but their sorrow was mcreased by 
 the irreligious conduct of the people. Iliey were 
 there on the first day of the week, and observed 
 that the soldiers were drinking and gaming, and 
 that the few shops which remamed; were opea^ 
 
 A a 
 
27S 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 and the people trading with each other. George 
 laboured among the people in the love of the gos- 
 pel, and they behaved quietly and civilly towards 
 hnn ; but his spirit was much burdened with their 
 wickedness, and the little sensibility manifested 
 under their late affliction. So much was his mind 
 affected with their conduct, that, after his return 
 to Amsterdam, he was concerned to write them 
 an Epistle, to warn them of the consequence of 
 their impiety and wickedness. 
 
 In the course of this journey, George Fox em- 
 l>faced opportunities which occurred for religious 
 service, in many of the places through which he 
 passed, which he himself describes in this man- 
 ner: " Many times in mornings, and at noons and 
 ni'vhts; at the inns and on the ways, as 1 travelled, 
 I spake to the people, preaching the truth to 
 them, warning them of the day of the Lord, and 
 exhorting them to turn to the light and Spirit of 
 God in themselves, that thereby they mi^ht be led 
 out of evil." 
 
 From Oldenburgh, he and his companions pro- 
 ceeded by I^eer to Embden, where they staid but 
 one night; having a good meeting there in the 
 evening. Here they took shipping for Delfzicl, 
 where they found a Friend, a goldsmith of Emb- 
 den, who had been repeatedly banished from that 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 e79 
 
 city, on account of his religious principles ; besides 
 undergoing various other sufferings, ^^hich the 
 persecuting Magistrates had inflicted upon him. 
 This Friend they comforted and encouraged, 
 exhorting him also to faithfulness, in the support 
 of the testimony committed to him. Departing 
 from this place to Groningen, tliey met with ano- 
 ther Friend, Cornelius Andries, who was also ba- 
 nished from Embden. At his house they lodged, 
 and had a good meeting ; after which they passed 
 by Strobus and Dockum to Lewarden, where 
 George found his daughter Yeomans, who was 
 come from Amsterdam to meet him. Here they • 
 had a precious meeting, and some other religious 
 service. .The next day, John Hill having left 
 them, they went by several lakes to Gardick; 
 where they attended a meeting of Friends on lirst 
 day, to which many people of other religious so- 
 cieties also came. After this meeting, and another 
 religious opportunity among the people, they re- 
 turned to Lewarden ; whence they proceeded by 
 Franeker to Harlingen; where they met with se- 
 veral Dutch Friends, who were intending to hold 
 their monthly meeting there the next day. Here 
 also came William Penn from Amsterdam. 'The 
 meeting was large and satisfactory ; and appears to 
 have been the first of the kind, as the holding of 
 Buch a meeting, both by men and women Friends/ 
 
 was then ai^rced to. 
 
 A a a 
 
280 
 
 irPE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 The service of the meeting for discipline being 
 finished, a public meeting was held in the after- 
 noon of the same day. This meeting was attended 
 by persons of various religious denominations ; 
 and when George had finished preaching, an 
 ancient grave man, who was a Priest, stood up 
 and said : " I pray God to prosper and confirm 
 that doctrine, for it is truth, and I have nothing 
 against it/' In the evening George had another 
 meeting, with Friends ; and the next day he and 
 bis companions took boat foir Amsterdam, where 
 they arrived so late that the gates were shut, and 
 they were obliged to continue all night in the boat. 
 Similar circumstances frequently occurred in this 
 journey, and subjected the traveller* to consi- 
 derable inconvenience and haixiship. 
 
 Having next day obtained entrance into Am- 
 sterdam, he continued there many days ; during 
 which time he was under great exercise, on ac- 
 count of some divisions which had taken place 
 among Friends in England ; and he wrote two 
 Epistles to them on the subject. He also wrote 
 one to Friends at Dantzick, who were then suffer- 
 ing under great persecution ; besides several other 
 Papers and Epistles on account of the Society, 
 and some of a more public nature. He also 
 attended several meetiiigs whilst at Amsterdam, 
 and one day went to Landsmeer, in Waterland, 
 
 ilFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 28 IJ 
 
 where he had a very good meeting. This town i» 
 remarkable for havmg above one hundred bridges- 
 in it, generally, we may suppose rather small. 
 He also made an excursion with divers Friends to 
 Harlem, where they had a very satisfactory meeting. 
 A Priest particularly expressed his desire, that the 
 blessing of God might rest on them and their as- 
 semblies; and others said, they had never heard 
 things so plainly opened to their understandings 
 before. Whilst George Fox was at Amsterdam, 
 George Keith and William Penn came there, 
 after their visit to Germany; and entered into a 
 public disputation with Galenus Abrahams, a very 
 noted Baptist in lloliaml. lliis dispute not being 
 finished in- one day, was adjourned to another a 
 few days distant, when it terminated to the satis- 
 faction of Friends. In the intermediate time, a 
 public meeting was held at Friends' meeting place; 
 to which many hundreds of people of all ranks^ 
 came, who behaved very agreeably ; but some op- 
 position was afterwards made, which gave an op- 
 portunity for explanation, by which the objections 
 which had been brought forward were removed ; 
 and die people were not only well satisfied, but 
 went away much affected with the religious com- 
 munications, which they had that day heard. 
 
 George Fox having now finished his services at 
 Amsterdam, took leave of his Friends there 5 
 
 A a 2 
 
28C 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOXT. 
 
 BIFE OF GEORGE F0T8. 
 
 280 
 
 
 and, accompanied by William Penn and George 
 Keith, went to Leyden, where they staid a day or 
 two, seeking out and visiting some serious tender 
 people in that city. From Leyden they passed 
 to the Hague, where they visited a Judge, who 
 appears to have been a religiously disposed, as 
 well as a wise, man. With him they had much 
 conversation, in which he advanced many objec- 
 tions to their principles, and put several questions 
 to them, which were satisfactorily replied to ; and 
 they parted in much mutual love. Leaving the 
 Hague, they went by Delft to Rotterdam, where 
 they spent some days, during which time George 
 IFox published an address to the Jews, and revised 
 some other books and papers which he had writ- 
 ten. After this and some other religious service^ 
 he, with the other Frieinlsy and their kind hostess 
 at Amsterdam, Gertrude Dirick jNieson, and her 
 children, went to the Briel ; and sailed on the 2Jst 
 of 8th month, 1 677, for England. Ihey arrived 
 at Harwich in the night of the C3d, having had a 
 tedious and dangerous passage, in a leaky vessel. 
 There were about sixty passen<^ers> among whom 
 the Fnends had some good religioiw service. 
 Fix)m Harwich George Fox proceeded by Gol-^ 
 Chester, Halsted, Braintree, Felsted, Saling, ami 
 Chelmsford; to London, where he was joyfully re- 
 ceived by his Frieiids ; and on the First Day fol- 
 lowing thny had a rt- freshing meeting together, fof 
 "wliicU he feelingly praised ihe Loid. 
 
 Finding" various occasions for his services in 
 London, he continued there four or five weeks, 
 interesting himself on account of his suffering 
 Friends, particularly those in New England ; of 
 w hom he had received very distressing, accounts. 
 He also wrote an. excellent letter to the King of 
 Poland, occasioned, it seems, by the sufferings of 
 Friends at Dantzick. Besides his own arguments 
 against persecution, it contains many expressions 
 of Kings and others on the same subject. This 
 letter was received and read by the King, and it i3 
 difficult to suppose, that it could fail of producing 
 a good effect on his mind. 
 
 After finishing his present services in London, 
 he travelled into Buckinghamshire, having meet- 
 ings at xYmersham, Hungerhill, Jordans, Hedgcly^ 
 Wycomb, and Turvil-heath. In this county he 
 met with much opposition from the Separates, 
 particularly at a men's meeting, which was held at 
 ITiomas Ell wood's, who lived at Hungerhill. Here 
 tliey endeavoured to hinder Friends from proceed- 
 in** with the business of tlie mtetin^. This^however, 
 George Fox prevented, by proposing a meeting 
 being held, for the purpose of hearing and answer- 
 ing their oljecions. A meeting was accordingly 
 appointed to be held, in the following week, at 
 Thomas EUwood^s. It was larg.ely attended, and 
 the opposers had opportuuity. given to state thei*^ 
 
284 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 objections, in which they manifested a particular 
 enmity to George Fox ; but he not only repelled 
 their accusations, but answered their objections in 
 sucli a manner, that the opposers greatly lost 
 ground ; and many who were weak and waverings 
 w ere restored to more full unity with their Friends, 
 and satisfied with the religious care exercised 
 among them. Faithful Friends were also united 
 and refreshed together ; and the cause of truth 
 was much promoted by this, and a sinuiar meeting 
 held at VVycomb during the same week. 
 
 After completing his services in Bucks, George 
 travelled into Oxon, Berks, and Wilts, visiting 
 his Friends, and having meetings amongst them. 
 At Reading he again met with some opposition, 
 in the settling of a women's meeting ; but the 
 opposers were obliged to give way to " the weight 
 ©f truth," w ith w hich they had to contend ; and 
 the meeting appears to have been established. 
 
 From Wiltshire, George went to Bristol, where 
 he arrived the 24th of lllh month ; just before 
 the fair. 1 his was a time of great concourse, and 
 many Friends attended it on business; while others 
 came there in the service of truth. " Many sweet 
 and precious meetings" they had together ; and great 
 love and unity prevailed among those who stood 
 fcilhful, against tliat spirit of opposition; whicb 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ^SS 
 
 had manifested itself in many places, and partici*- 
 laily at Bristol. George Fox was personally the 
 butt of the opponents, who manifested much in- 
 veteracy against him ; but he bore this, as he had 
 done other suftering^, with heavenly patience; 
 bein<' more desirous to surmount opposition by a 
 righteous and exemplary life, than verbaHy to 
 plead his own cause, though firm in maintaining 
 what he considered to be the cause of truth. By 
 this conduct, the love of faithful Friends towards 
 him was increased ; and some who had been mis- 
 led by his adversaries, seeing their envy and rude 
 behaviour, returned to the unity of their Friends ; 
 and were thankful for the deliverance from the 
 snare, i» which they were in danger of being 
 caught. 
 
 After he had finished his services in Bristol, he 
 travelled through the counties of Gloucester, Wor- 
 cester, Warwick, Oxford, Buckingham, Hertford, 
 and Bedford, to London ; where he arrived the 
 8t^ of Sd month, 1678. In this journey he had 
 meetings with Friends at many places. At Wor- 
 cester, where a few years before he had suffered a 
 cruel imprisonment, he staid several days, and had 
 much religious service among his Friends. At 
 Ragley, in Warwickshire, he visited Lady Conway^ 
 who, he understood, was desirous to see him ; and 
 she received him witli great kindness and tender- 
 
£80* 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ness * In this neighbourhood he was visited by 
 William Dewsbury, who was then a prisoner at 
 Warwick ; but it seems had liberty, at times, to 
 visit his friends. They spent half a day together, 
 no doubt to their mutual satisfaction. On the day 
 of George's arrival in London, he went to the 
 week-day meeting at Gracechurch street, where 
 he says, " many Friends not knowing I was come 
 to town, were very joyful to see me there ; and 
 tlie Lord was present with us, refreshing us with 
 his living virtue ; blessed be his holy name !" 
 
 ♦ A particular account of this extraordinary wonoan, may 
 be found lu the Life of Dr. Henry More; mixed, however, 
 with some representations of the (Quakers. F-urther notice 
 will probably be taken of her in the course of this work. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 X67S to l684 — His services in London, -^ Goes bi/ Herts, 
 Warwickshire, d^c, to Sivarthmore. "Continues there 
 above a i/ear.—'JFrites an Epistle to the Yearly Meeting 
 in London —Jjcaves bwarthmore, and goes by York- 
 shire, SsC, to London," Attends the Yearly Meeting 
 
 there, At Kingston writes to the Great Turk, and 
 
 to the King of Algiers.^yisUs Friends in Surrey and 
 Sussex.-^Rdurns to London.— In a Suit for Tithes, the 
 Judges are surprized at his liberal conduct to his Wfe 
 mnd her children, — Makes excursions to the country, re- 
 turning to London. — Again visits Holland, and returns 
 to England, 
 
 '^VHEN George Fox arrived in London, the 
 Parliament was sitting ; and he united with other 
 Friends, in applying for relief for those, who were 
 suffering under laws made against Popish recu- 
 sants. In about two weeks, the yearly meeting 
 came on. This meeting appears to have been 
 very comfortable and refreshing to Friends, who 
 wer€ nearly united to each other in gospel love 
 and fellowship ; and no spirit of opposition mani- 
 fested itself amongst them. They had also com- 
 fortable accounts from Friends in different parts 
 of Europe and America ; of all which he gives a 
 particular account in a letter to his wife, written 
 soon after this yearly meeting. 
 
^83 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 But though the yearly meeting was thus satis- 
 factory, George suffered much in his spirit, on 
 account of a prevailing disposition, in many, to de- 
 part from the simplicity ami j>urity of their pro- 
 fession, and particularly to oppose the excellent 
 discipline estal)lished in the society ; for whose 
 sake he published a paper "for undeceiving the 
 deceived, and opening the understandings of the 
 weak in this matter." It contains many sound 
 observations and arguments, and had probably a 
 good effect ; though many of those who were 
 settled in their opposition, did not profit by it. 
 
 During his residence in London at this time, the 
 Parliament sat again ; and he was again engaged 
 in endeavouring to procure redress for his suffering 
 Friends, to \\hich many of the Members were 
 much inclined ; but other engagements prevented 
 any thing being done at that time. 
 
 Having finished his services in the city, for the 
 present, he went to Hertford, where he spent se- 
 veral days, and had much religious service of 
 various kinds. From Hertford he went by Rab- 
 ley Heath, Stevenage, Baldock, Hitchin, and 
 Ashwell, into Bedfordshire, having meetings at all 
 those places. In Bedfordshire he had many meet- 
 ings, and nnich service in the cause of his Master; 
 and then passed into Huntingdonshire. At Ive5, 
 
 LIFE OP GEORGE FOX. 
 
 m 
 
 ill tliis county, he was met by his friend George 
 \\ hitehead; and they travelled together into North- 
 amptonshire and Leicestershire. They parted at 
 Great Bowden ; and George Fox continued 
 in this county, havhig meetings at Saddington, 
 AMi^ston, Knighton, Leicester, Sileby, and Swan- 
 ington. In these places he found a great dispo- 
 sition to receive his ministry, and was led to open 
 " many weighty and excellent truths" to the people. 
 While he was at Leicester, he visited his Friends 
 who were in prison for their religious testimonies ; 
 encouraging them to faithfulness and patience 
 under their sufferings. He also endeavoured to 
 interest the jailer in their favour, advising him to 
 treat them with kindness and all reasonable Ut- 
 dulgence. 
 
 From Warwickshire he went into Staffordshire ; 
 where he had many open meetings, tending to 
 gather those to whom he ministered, into a feeling 
 of <yospel truth, and to establish others therein. 
 After spending some time in this county, he went 
 into Derbyshire, where he visited his friend John 
 Gratton, at his own house at Monyash ; from 
 which place he went into Yorkshire ; and, after 
 spending about two weeks in that county, he tra- 
 velled into Lancashire and W'estmoreland, having 
 a precious meeting at Arnside,in the latter county. 
 From this place he went to Swarthmoie ; where^ 
 
 B b 
 
290 
 
 tlFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 at their meeting the next day, he *' had a svvec* 
 opportuirity with Friends, their hearts being open* 
 ed m the love of God, and his blcsiied life lloNvinj 
 
 amongst them.** 
 
 In the cour«e of his late journey, he had writ- 
 ten and published several papers and epistles ; and 
 «ow, settlmg down at Swarthmore for a consider- 
 able time, he employed himself much in writing 
 epistles to his Friends, on various occasions ; in 
 M'hich he manifested his fatherly care for them ; 
 stirring them up to love and good works, and to 
 an upright zeal for the promotion of truth and 
 lighteousness upon the earth. Ihe following ex- 
 tracts from an epistle to the yearly meeting in 
 I679y v\ill show the excellent spirit which con- 
 tinued to j)ievail, in this devoted servant of Jesus 
 Christ : " ITie ^vorld «exptcts more from Friends 
 than from other people, because you profess more. 
 Therefore you should be more just than others in 
 your words and dealings ; more righteous, holy, 
 and pure in your lives and conversations ; so 
 that your lives and coij versa tions may preach.— 
 And, dear Friends, strive to excel one another iii 
 \irtue, that ye may grow in love, that excellent 
 wav, which unites all to Christ and God. Stand 
 up for God's glory, and mind that which concerns 
 the Lord's honour, that, in no wise, his power may 
 be abused, nor his name evil spokeji of by any evil 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 m 
 
 talkers or walkers ; but that, in all thinjrs, God 
 may be honoured, and ye may glorify him ni your 
 bodies, souls and spirits, the little time ye have ta 
 live." This instructive epistle he concludes with 
 these words : " My life and love is to you all, and 
 amoncr you all. The Lord God Almighty, by his 
 mighty power, by which he has preserved his 
 people unto this day, preserve and keep you all n* 
 his power, and peaceable holy truth, in unity and 
 fellowship one with another, and wUh the Sott 
 and Father. Amett.*' 
 
 HavirisC continued above a year at Swarthmore, 
 hea^ainl-oundhis mind drawn to travel south- 
 ward; and leaving his family and friends here m 
 die 1st month, 1679-80, he passed through some 
 parts of Westmoreland and Lancashire, into York- 
 shire ; and came to the city of York at the time 
 of the Assizes, during Nvhich the quarterly meet- 
 ing was also held. Here he interested himself 
 and others in the caiuse of their suffering Friends, 
 now in prison here, whose case was laid before 
 the Judges. He also personally visited his Friends 
 in prison, and encouraged them in their trying si- 
 tuation. The quarterly meeting too afforded him 
 an opportunity of strengthening his Friends, in the 
 support of the good cause which they had espoused, 
 and of opening to them such gospel truths, as 
 might tend to build them up ou their most holy 
 
 B.ba 
 
292 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 iaith, and to preserve them in their right places in 
 the church of Christ. After spending several days 
 in York, he went through parts of the counties of 
 Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Warwick, 
 and several others, to London ; w here he was, as 
 usual, cordially received by his Friends. The 
 yearly meeting being in the following week, he 
 attended it with many Friends from different parts 
 of the nation. Of this meeting he says, " A blessed 
 opportunity the Lord gave us together, wherein 
 the ancient love was sweetly felt, and the heavenly 
 life flowed abundantly over all." 
 
 ^^ hilst he was in London, he exerted himself, 
 as at other times, for the relief of his suffering 
 brethren, both in this and other nations. He also 
 wrote letters to his Friends in different parts of 
 the world ; and soon after he left London, whilst 
 at Kingston, he wrote to " the Great Turk, and to 
 the King of Algiers," warning them and the people 
 under them, to turn from their wickedness and to 
 fear the Lord. With the Algerines he particularly 
 remonstrated on the cruelty, which they exercised 
 towards their captives, among whom were some 
 Friends.* 
 
 * It may not be improper here to fi:ive the following ac- 
 count of the Friends, who were prisoners at Algiers, as 
 icl.ited by Sewell. «*Novv concerning those Quakers at 
 Algiers, of rvhom mention hath been wade that they were 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 £93 
 
 He next visited his Friends in Surrey and Sus- 
 sex, and returned again to London. After continu- 
 iv^ there about ten days, he visited several meetings 
 in that neighbourhood, as far as Hertford. At this 
 place he met with John Story, one of those whd 
 had been a principal opposer of the discipline, 
 and in odier respects deviated from the practices 
 of the society. Though several of his party were 
 there, yet they did not give any disturbance to the 
 meetings held by George 1^'ox ; who had good ser- 
 vice, in explaining the benefit of men's and wo- 
 men's meetings, one of which he attended here. He 
 
 slaves ther^, it was a pretty long time before opportunity 
 was found to redeem them ; but in the meanwhile, they so 
 faithfully served their masters, that tliey were sulVered to go 
 louse through tlui towii, witliout being ch;\ined or fettered; 
 and liberty was also allowed them to meet at set times, for 
 religious worshij) ; nnd their patrons themselves would some- 
 times come and see what they did there ; and finding u(> 
 images or prints, as Papist slaves in the exercise of tlieir 
 woriihip made use of; but hearing; from their slaves that 
 they reverently adored and worshipped the living God, 
 Creator of heaven and earth, they commended them for it ; 
 and said it was very good, ami that they might freely do so. 
 And since one of them was raised to speak by way of edifi- 
 cation to his Friend>, some other English slaves frequenting 
 that meeting, came to be united with them. In the meaur 
 while, the name Quakers came to be known at Algiers, as 
 a people that might be trusted beyond others." See SoweU> 
 History of the Quakers, page 96, 8vo. edilion^ 1735. 
 
 r, h Cr 
 
294 
 
 ^ITE OF GEORGE TOX 
 
 had also a conference with the disaffected, amongst 
 %vhom he laboured, endeavouring to show them the 
 errors into which they were fallen. In the course 
 of this journey, he mentions having visited two 
 Friends' schools, one at Edmonton, kept by Chris- 
 topher Taylor, and the other a girls* school at 
 Shacklewell. Of these schools it appears he had 
 been a great promoter, and he now seems to have 
 ielt an interest in their right support. 
 
 Returning to London, he continued there during 
 the winter, labouring various ways for the benefit 
 of the society, and the promotion of the cause of 
 truth. Here, and in the neighbourhood he re- 
 mained till the yearly meeting of 1 68 1 , of which 
 he says ; " It was a very precious meeting. 
 
 m 
 
 which the glorious presence and power of the 
 Lord was eminently felt aud enjoyed.'* 
 
 About this time George, and his wife who \\ns 
 now with him m London, were under a prosecu- 
 tion for tithes on the Swarthmore estate. The 
 legality of the dgjoaand, as well as their conscien- 
 tious principles, were involved in the question ; and 
 many endeavours were used to prevent the success 
 of the claimant, particularly by personal applica- 
 tions to the Judges ; but a sequestration was granted 
 by the Court of Exchequer, accompanied, how- 
 ever, by a limitation which prevented the plain- 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 S95' 
 
 tiff from taking more than was proved ; by which 
 he was much disappointed. In the course of this 
 business, the Judges were much surprized to find, 
 that George Fox had legally bound himself from 
 meddling with his wife's estate; an instance of 
 disinterestedness, to which they found it difficult 
 to give credit, till the deeds were shown to them. 
 
 He abode in London about a month after the 
 yearly meeting, and then visited Friends m Sussex, 
 among whom he had many large and precious 
 meetings. He did not continue long in this 
 county, but soon returned to London. After 
 tarrying awhile there, he visited his Friends in 
 some parts of Bucks, Berks, and Oxon, again re- 
 turning to London ; which city and its neighbour- 
 hood, from this time, became his principal residence, 
 during the remaining part of his life. He how- 
 ever sometimes visited his Friends in the neigh- 
 bouring counties; and in the year 1684 he paid a 
 second visit to Friends and others in Holland. 
 
 In this journey, he was accompanied from Lon- 
 don by Alexander Parker, George Watts, and 
 Nathaniel Biassey, who were also under a reli- 
 gious engagement to visit Friends in those parts. 
 They left that city on the 3 1 st of 3d month ; and the 
 same day they reached Colchester in a coach, where 
 they attended the meeting on the day following ; 
 being tlie first of the week. The report of George 
 
^6 
 
 CTFE OF GEOUGE F05t. 
 
 Fox being there had spread much, both in Col- 
 chester and its neighbourhood, which occasioned 
 a very large meeting ; so that apprehensions were 
 entertained lest the Magistrates should be alarmed 
 and endeavour to break it up ; but no attempt of 
 this kind w as made ; and a very satisfactory meet- 
 ing it proved. " Truly," he obsei-ves, " the Lord's 
 power and presence were beyond words, for I was 
 but weak, and my face by reason of a cold was 
 sore; but God manifested his strength in us and 
 with us, and all was well. The Lord have the 
 fflory for evermore for his supporting power." 
 
 Having spent two days more in Colcliester, re- 
 ceiving and visiting his Friends, he and his com- 
 panions left that town ; and on their arrival at 
 Harwich, met with William Bingley and Samuel 
 Waldenheld. From this place they sailed for 
 Holland, and landed at the Briel, after a fine pas- 
 sage of about sixteen hours. From the Briel they 
 proceeded to Rotterdam, where they attended the. 
 meeting on First Day ; and^ whilst here, had some 
 religious conferences with persons of note in the 
 place. The next day they went to Amsterdam, 
 where they attended the meetings of their Friends. 
 The yearly meeting established here for the society^ 
 in Holland and Germany, was at this time held. 
 This afforded a good opportunity of seeing their 
 Friends in these countries ; and a refreshing time 
 they had together, io the love of God. Heic tha 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 2Q7 
 
 strangers from England separated, according to 
 their several concerns ; George Fox, with Alexan- 
 der Parker and George Watts, remaining a few 
 days at Amsterdam. Among other religious en- 
 gagements, they visited Galenus Abrahams, whom 
 George had seen when in that country before. 
 He was an eminent preacher among the Meno- 
 nists or Baptists, and had formerly manifested a 
 dislike to George Fox, with a degree of fear, bid*- 
 ding him to keep his eyes from him, because they 
 pierced him ; but this disposition seems to have 
 been removed, and he was now very loving, and in 
 some degree confessed to the truth of what was 
 said to him. His wife and daughter were also 
 kind, and .they parted in much love. ' 
 
 From Amsterdam, George and his companions, 
 to whom John Glaus was added as an interpreter, 
 departed for Friesland, in which country they tra- 
 velled about a week, visiting Friends and others; 
 and mostly holding one or two meetings daily. 
 They went as far as Harlingen, in West Friesland; 
 from which place they returned by sea to Amster- 
 dam; where, on the following first day, they at- 
 tended the meeting, " which was very large and 
 precious." Many persons of all ranks were thertf, 
 and were very attentive to the gospel truths deli- 
 vered amongst them. After spending about two 
 w eeks here, and making excursions into the country, 
 particularly to Osauoverton, Landsmeer, Sardam, 
 
«99 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE P03J. 
 
 and Alkmaer, they took an affectionate leave of 
 their Friends in Amsterdam, and went to Harlem; 
 where they had a very satisfactory meeting at the 
 house of Abraham Frondenberg, a Friend of that 
 place. The next day they departed for Rotter- 
 dam, where they had two meetings ; and on the 
 15th of 5th month went to the Briel, where they 
 took shipping for England. After a tedious 
 voyage, they arrived safe at Harwich; from which 
 place they went by Colchester, Witham, and 
 Harestreet, towards London ; but George being 
 much enfeebled by travelling and other exercises, 
 staid at his son-in-law, William Mead's, at Gooses, 
 near Harestreet, and rested there several weeks;, 
 so that it was not till the latter end of summer, 
 that he reached London. 
 
 After this journey, he ceased from much travel- 
 ling, his principal residence continuing in London; 
 and its neighbourhood. But though his body was- 
 thus circumscribed, his enlarged mind was still 
 active; and he employed his time in writing many 
 Papers and Epistles to Friends and others in dis- 
 tant parts ; in attending to the sufferings of his per- 
 secuted brelhreii, and in visiting the sick ; besides 
 being engaged in his public gospel labours in reli- 
 gious mteungs. 
 
 CHAP. XXL 
 
 1 68 5 to \6^0^Vrites an Epistle to F/iends on Account 
 of Comtnotions in the Nation — Account of his Gift of 
 Land and Mccting-House at Swarthmore — Resides 
 principally al)&ut London — An Epistle to the Yearly 
 Meeting at York — Increasing Infirmities — His Death 
 dind Burial, 
 
 During the latter part of the reign of 
 Charles the Second, the nation was much agitated 
 with popular disaffection ; on which account George 
 Fox became exercised for his Frieuds,lestthey should 
 be drawn into the spirit of contending parties, and 
 neglect an attention to their own religious -du ties- 
 On this account he was concerned to write them 
 an Epistle, " To caution all to keep out of the 
 spirit of the world; in which trouble is, and to 
 dwell in the peaceable truth.'' From this Epistle 
 it may not he improper to give the following ex- 
 tract : 
 
 " Dear Friends and Brethren, whatever bust- 
 lings and trouble, tumults or outrages, quarrels or 
 strife, arise in the world, koep out of diem all. 
 Concern not yourselves with them ; but keep in 
 the Lord's power and peaceable truth, that is ov<jr 
 all such things; in which power ye seek the peac# 
 and good of all men. Live in the love which 
 
300 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 God hath shed abroad in your hearts, through 
 Christ Jesus; in which love nothing is able to 
 separate you from God and Chri§t; neither out- 
 ward sufferings, persecutions, nor any tiling that is 
 below and without ; nor to hinder or break your 
 heavenly fellowship in the light, gospel, and Spirit 
 of Christ ; nor your holy communion in the Holy 
 Ghost, that proceeds from the Father and the 
 Son, which leads into all truth." 
 
 4 
 
 This Epistle is dated at London, the 11 th of 
 4th month, 1685; and in the year l688, about the 
 time of the Revolution, he wrote another of a 
 similar tendency. Thus did this faithful overseer 
 watch over and encourage the flock, being on all 
 occasions ready, both by word and deed, to minis- 
 ter to their wants; to extricate them from their 
 difficulties ; to guard them against all snares; and 
 to warn them of the approach of that enemy, 
 which goes about, either as a roaring lion, seeking 
 whom he may devour, or as a cunning serpent 
 endeavouring to deceive and to betray. In such 
 services as these did he employ the remainder of 
 his days, adding to them acts of liberality both of 
 a private and public nature.. Of this trait of his 
 conduct it may be proper to relate some circum- 
 stances, respecting a meeting-house at Swarlh- 
 more; which was provided at his expense, and 
 w ith the ground on which it stood, and some other 
 
 UFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 301 
 
 adjoining, was given by him to the Society. It 
 will doubtless be most acceptable and interesting 
 to die reader, to be presented with some copious 
 extracts from the papers which he wrote on this 
 occasion ; as they tend to exhibit his character in 
 various points of view, in a very striking manner. 
 
 " George Fox's declared intention and motion 
 for his giving up Petty *s house and land for ever, 
 for the service of the Lord and the people called 
 Quakers," 
 
 " The eternal God, who hath in an^ by his 
 eternal powerful arm, preserved me through all 
 my troubles, trials, temptations, and afflictions; 
 persecutions, reproaches, and imprisonments ; and 
 carried me over them all, hath sanctified all these 
 things to me, so that I can say, all things work 
 together for good to them that love God^ and are 
 beloved of him." 
 
 " And the Lord God of the whole heaven and 
 earth, and all things therein, both natural and 
 spiritual, he hath been, by his eternal arm and 
 power, my preserver, and upholder, and keeper, 
 and hath taken care and provided for me, botii for 
 temporals and spirituals, so that I never did want ; 
 and have been content and thankful with what the 
 Lord did provide for me.** 
 
 ^^ And now the Lord hath done so much good 
 to me, and to his na.me, truth, and people, to whom 
 
 c c 
 
 *■* 
 
sot 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF «EOR€E FOX. 
 
 503 
 
 I have offered up jny spirit, soul, and body, which 
 are the Lord's, made and created for his glory. 
 And also I do ofi'er and give up freely to the 
 Loid for ever, and for the service of his sons, 
 daughters, and servants, called Quakers, the house 
 and houses, barn, kiln, stable, and all the land, 
 xvith the garden and orchard, being about three 
 acres of land, more or less ; with the commonings, 
 peats, turlings, moss, and whatsoever other privi- 
 leges that belong to it, called Swarthmoor, in the 
 parish of Ulverstone." 
 
 " And also my ebony bedstead, with the painted 
 curtains, and the great elbow chair that Robert 
 Widders sent me; and my great sea case or cel- 
 lai idge, with th^ bottles in it. These I do give to 
 stand in the house as heirlooms, when the house 
 is made use of for a meeting place; so that a 
 Triend may have a bed to lie on, and a chair to sit 
 iu, and a bottle to hold a little water to drink." 
 
 ** It being free land, and free from all tithe, both 
 great and small ; and all this I do freely give up 
 to the Lord, and for the Lord's service and his 
 people's, to make it a meeting place of." 
 
 " It is all the land and house I have in Eng- 
 land, and it is given up to the Lord ; for it is for 
 his service, and for his cliildren's." 
 
 GEORGE FOX. 
 
 " I do and have given up Potty's, which I 
 bought of the children Susannah Fell and Rachel 
 Fell for seventy-two pounds; for God's people lo 
 meet in, when they do not meet at Swarlh- 
 nioor Hall ; and let the rest of the ground and 
 malt house maintain the meeting house, which may 
 be made fit, either the barn or the house, as the 
 Lord shall let Friends see vvliich is best ; and to 
 slate it, and pave the way to it, that so Friends 
 mav <'o dry to their meeting. And let or set part 
 of the house and land to maintain itself for ever 
 for the Lord's service. And you may let any poor 
 honest Friend live in part of the house. And so 
 let it be for the Lord's service to the end of the 
 world ; and for his people to meet in, to keep them 
 from the winter-cold, and the wet, and the sum- 
 mer-heat.*' 
 
 The foregoing extracts are from papers dated 
 at Kingston-upon-Tliames, the 13th of 12th month, 
 and the 22d of 1st month, IfiBf)-?, which appear 
 to have been sent to Thomas Lower, who lived at 
 Marsh Grange, in Lancashire, accompanied with 
 a letter which also enters into many minutiaj, re- 
 specting the proposed meeting house ; and, I ap- 
 prehend, the insertion of the principal past of it, 
 will also be acceptable. 
 
 c c S 
 
.5041 
 
 ilFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 " Gooses, the aSthqfQd Monih, 1^87. 
 ^' DsAR Thomas, 
 
 " Willi my love to thee and thy wife, with 
 thy mother, and brother, and sister, at Swarthmoor, 
 and thy children, and the rest of Friends in the 
 holy seed of life, that reigns over all. Deai> 
 Thomas, I have sent thee a copy of my mind con- 
 cerning Petty's, which thou mayst privately show 
 to thy mother, and the list of the names ; which you 
 that live in the country, you may know which of 
 these are the fittest to put into the deed of trust. 
 Chuse out first four of the most faithful and sub- 
 stantial Friends in this list, or other that you may 
 approve of, to join you four brothers, unto whom 
 the first deed of trust is to be made ; and then you. 
 eight are to make it over by a deed of uses, to ten 
 or twelve Friends more, which you may consider, 
 who are fit to put into that second deed. So the 
 four names that is to be joined with you, thou must 
 send up, as shortly as thou can, that so the deed 
 may be confirmed as soon as may be." 
 
 " This will be a confirmation of what has all 
 along been in thy mother's mind ; that the meeting 
 w ill be continued at Swarthmoor. And as concern- 
 ing the ten or twelve Friends more, unto which you 
 are to make a deed of uses, the names of them 
 may be considered on afterwards, when this is 
 done. And as concerning the meeting place 
 
 tfFE OP GEORGE ro:!<r. 
 
 505 
 
 Itself, whether the barn or the house, I shall leave 
 it to you. But if the barn will do better ; if you could 
 make it wider, may be it may be better, because 
 there will be the house to go into, and the grouud 
 may be so raised, that you may go up a step or 
 two into the meeting-house; and it will be more 
 wholesome. And the yards are low, which may 
 be raised and laid dry ; and you have stones enough, 
 and poor men to get them. And I would have 
 all the thatch pulled off all the houses, and laid in 
 a heap to rot for manure to be laid upon the 
 •lose; and let all the houses be slated, and the 
 walls about it to be made »ul)8tautial to stand, and 
 kid in lime and sand." 
 
 " And I would have a porch made to the meet" 
 ing place, of the Common side, into the yard ; and 
 with rubbish and earth a* before, you may raise 
 the yard and* the floors. And I would have the 
 meeting place large, for truth may increase. The 
 barn made as wide again, which you may do with 
 pillars, or otherwise, which I leave to thee and the 
 workmen; and I would have thee take Robert 
 Barrow's advice in it. If you think fit to have the 
 kiln continued, you may fit it up, if it be worth 
 the charge of doing. But these things I nuist 
 leave to you." ' 
 
 " I would have it gone about, and prepare 
 iLiogs^ beforehand as soon as you can; when you^ 
 
 c Q 3 
 
1 
 
 30G 
 
 LIFE OF GEOEGE FOX. 
 
 have viewed it, and see what you will want ; either 
 lime, sand, wood, or stone. And I would have 
 Robert Barrow to do it, if he can. And I would 
 have, next winter, an orchard planted when you 
 see fit ; you may get some trees to set in it where 
 thou sees fit ; and I would have some trees set 
 about the close, and if thou will set some of thy 
 fir trees there thou may. And when all is done 
 and fitted compleatly for the Lord's service and 
 his people's, let it stand till there be occasion for 
 it ; and I desire thee to be very careful in this 
 tiling, and let it be done as soon as may be ; for it 
 is not for myself, but for the service of the Lord 
 and his people, and let it be done substantially." 
 
 '* And as for the affairs of truth, in the general, 
 things are pretty well, and meetings are quiet 
 Ijoth in England and beyond the seas. And the 
 Lord keep his people in his fear and in humility, 
 in this time of liberty, that they do not forget 
 him ; for there is danger in a time of liberty, as in 
 a time of sufferhig, for that to get up which will 
 not stand faithful ; but my desire is, that all may 
 walk worthy of the Lord's mercies* So no more, 
 witli my love to youJ* " G. F." 
 
 In addition to the foregoing, it may be accep- 
 table to have the following extract from a lettelr 
 to Thomas Lower, when he sent him a copy of 
 th^ feoffment deed» In this ktter^ after giving 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 SO-? 
 
 directions about the deed and other writings re- 
 latin"" to this business, that they should be tran- 
 scribed and entered in proper books, he gives the 
 following additional directions about proceeding 
 in the work. 
 
 " And you may mind to buy all the things at 
 the best hand, beforehand, to be ready. And I 
 am in the same mind still, not to put any Friend 
 to a farthing charge. But if Friends of the meet- 
 ing or thereaway will come with their carts, and 
 help to fetch stone, lime, wood, sand, or slate, I 
 shall take it kindly; or to get stone off the com- 
 mon, if need be; and you may speak to Joseph 
 Sharp, for he is a willing man, to help in any 
 tiling" 
 
 " And the twenty pounds of J. R.'s, which yott 
 are to receive, I have and do order it for that ser- 
 vice : and the fifteen pounds thou hast in thy hands 
 of Jane and Robert Widders, 1 order for that ser- 
 vice and for the building, ; and the five pounds 
 Susannah brought up I took of her, and what 
 more ye do want, when it is wanted let me know. 
 And so dear Thomas, with my love to thee and 
 all the rest of Friends, in the holy and peaceable 
 truth, that is stronger than all they that be out of 
 it. And God Almighty keep you in it^ and in the 
 
 ©Fder of it. Amen*" 
 
 « G. F' 
 
305 
 
 3LTFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 309 
 
 Among the various means of developing liuman 
 characteiS; private letters form an important and 
 interesting part. This is particularly the case 
 with respect to those men, who may be considered 
 as public characters, in whatever line that publi- 
 city may have been obtained. Those who live in 
 succeeding generations, have seldom an oppor- 
 tunity of contemplating such persons, but in that 
 public capacity in which they have principally 
 acted. It seemed therefore desirable to bring the 
 more private parts of George Fox's character 
 into view, by these extracts ; for though the business 
 to which they relate, may be considered rather of a 
 public nature, yet it has afforded an opportunity 
 of estimating his private virtues ; and that in a man- 
 ner, which cannot fail of niaking a favourable im- 
 pression on the mind of every reader. The liberality 
 ©f the gift, and the expressions of grateful piety with 
 which it is accompanied, afford a pleasing idea of 
 the donor ; and when, to these considerations, are 
 added the humility and deference with which he 
 refers many matters to his children and friends, I 
 cannot but contemplate this part with admiration 
 and pleasure. He had now been, nearly forty 
 years, an eminent member of a society, which he 
 had been allowed to be the prmcipai means of 
 •stablishing ; yet we see nothing id. his conduct 
 like lording over God V heritage; Though he 
 atood^ in the authority of truth over and against 
 
 every thing that would lay this heritage waste ; yet, 
 from various circumstances, as well as from these 
 documents, he appears to have been preserved in 
 much humility and love ; and jby these means, to 
 have greatly endeared himself to his brethren in 
 religious profession and gospel labour ; as will in 
 the sequel more fully appear. It is worthy of 
 observation, that he takes no notice of this busi-> 
 ness in his own memoirs, though they are brought 
 down to a later period of time. 
 
 During his residence about London, he spent 
 much of his time at the houses of his sons in law, 
 William Mead and John Rouse. The former 
 lived at Gooses, a few miles from Romford in 
 Essex ; the latter at or near Kingston upon 
 Thames. He also frequently visited other Friends 
 at their houses in the country, finding that the air 
 of London and his exercises there, did not suit his 
 enfeebled constitution. In the year 1CJ88 he was 
 scarcely able to sit during the whole time of a 
 meeting ; and generally obliged to lie down when 
 it was finished ; but he still continued diligent in 
 labouring, both " in and out of meetings in the 
 work of the Lord, as He gave opportunity and 
 ability." In the year 1689 he attended the yearly 
 meeting in London, as he had done for several 
 years past, with satisfaction : and this yeat ad- 
 dressed an epistle to the yearly meeting at York, 
 
\ 
 \ 
 
 fclFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 311 
 
 SIO 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FO^. 
 
 which, he says, " because of the largeness of that 
 county, and for the conveniency of Friends in the 
 northern parts, had for some years been held 
 there/' This epistle appears to have been occa- 
 sioned by some dissensions which had taken place 
 among Friends in that county. Because of its 
 brevity, instruction, and sweetness, and its showing 
 how love, now near the close of a laborious and 
 suffering life, seemed to predominate in his 
 mind, it may be acceptable to give the whole of it 
 a place here. 
 
 '* Dear Friends and Brethren in Christ JesUs, 
 
 " Whom the Lord by his eternal arm and 
 power, hath preserved to this day, all walk in the 
 power and spirit of God, that is over all in love 
 and unity ; for love overcomes, builds up, and 
 unites all the members of Christ to him the head. 
 Love keeps out all stiife, and is of God. Love 
 or charity never fails ; but keeps the mind above 
 all outward things, ai^ strife about outward things. 
 It overcomes evil, and casts out all false fears. It 
 is of God, and unites the hearts of all his people 
 together, in the heavenly joy, concord, and unity. 
 The God of love preserve you all, and establish 
 you in Christ Jesus, your life and salvation ; in 
 whom ye have all peace with God. So walk la 
 bini, that ye may be ordered in his peaceable, bea* 
 
 venly wisdom, to the glory of God, and the com- 
 iort one of another. Amen." 
 
 '' G. F.'' 
 
 *f London, the 27th of the 5d month, l6S9*" 
 
 Tlie winter of 1689 he spent at Gooses, an<! 
 was sometimes able to attend the meeting to 
 which William Mead belonged, which was about 
 half a mile distant from his house ; but as he was 
 not always able to do this, he frequently held 
 meetings in the house, with the family, and with 
 those who came to visit him ; still feeling the be- 
 nefit of frequent waiting upon God, and the duty 
 of worshipping him in as public a maimer as his 
 bodily health would permit. He continued at 
 Gooses till the 2d montli, 1690, when he returned 
 to London, and after paying a short visit to his 
 Friends at Kingston, came again to the city, 
 where he continued till the yearly meeting in the 
 fourth month, of which he gives this account.— 
 ** The wonted goodness of the Lord was witness- 
 ed, his blessed presence enjoyed, and his heavenly 
 power livingly felt, opening the hearts of his 
 people unto him, and his divine treasures of life 
 and wisdom unto them ; whereby many useful and 
 necessary things, relating to the safety of Friends, 
 and to the honour and prosperity of truth, were 
 M'cightily treated of, and unanimously concluded." 
 
S12 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 After this yearly meeting, he continued in Lon- 
 don nearly a month, and then went into the couu- 
 tr)', as far as Hertford and Ware, visiting hiji 
 Friends ar Tottenham, Ford Green, Eutield, 
 Cheshunt, Waltham Abbey, and Winchmore Hill. 
 At Hertford he had a meeting with the ancient 
 Friends of that place, to whom he imparted suit- 
 able advice ; and returned by Ware, and other 
 places already mentioned, to London, in ihe latter 
 part of the seventh month ; where, except one 
 excursion into the neighbouring country, he con- 
 tinued till his decease, being almost daily with 
 Friends at their meetings, and writing epistles on 
 different occasions. The last of these is addressed 
 to Friends in Ireland, uho were, at that time, un- 
 der great sufferings, from the intestine commotions 
 m that nation. This affectionate and encouraging 
 epistle is dated the 10th of llth month, I69O. 
 The following day being the first of the week, he 
 attended the meeting at Gracechurch street; where 
 he was publicly exercised in his ministerial gift, 
 both in testimony and supplication, with great 
 power and clearness. 
 
 When this meeting w^as concluded, he retired to 
 the house of Henry Gouldney, in Whitehart 
 Court, when he informed some Friends who ac- 
 companied him, that he felt the cold strike to his 
 heart as he came out of meeting ; but added; ^'1 
 
 y 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOK. 
 
 31S 
 
 am glad I was here ; now I am clear, I am fully 
 clear." After this he lay down, but feeling the 
 sense of cold continue, was put into bed ; where, 
 increasing in weakness, he continued with much 
 peace and resignation, till his death, which took 
 place after two days confinement. In the interval 
 his mind was much engaged on subjects, which had, 
 during a long exercising life, occupied his prin- 
 cipal attention. That active spirit which had 
 been indefatigably engaged in the universal love of 
 God, to make known his truth and righteous- 
 ness among tlie nations of the earth, was still alive 
 to the promotion of this glorious cause. This wa« 
 evinced by the directions which he gave at this 
 awful crisis, respecting the distiibution of books, 
 calculated to promote the great ends for which he 
 had personally laboured. Tlie triumphant state of 
 his mind over all his bodily weakness, wa.s mani- 
 fested by the following expressions to some 
 Friends who visited him : " All is well ; tlie Seed* 
 
 ♦ Tlie Word, or the Power of Go3, is called an incor' 
 niptible seed, 1 Pet. i. 23 ; and by the term " Seed,*' 
 George Fox, and otlier religious writers, frtquently, and 
 very emphatically allude to this div.ne influence. Cruden, 
 under the head "Seed," thus explains the term: "The 
 Word is called an incorruptible seed, because, continuing 
 still the same, and being immutable in itself, it changes and 
 renews the hearts of tliose who by faith receive it."— 
 *' Hence it is said, 1 John iii. 9, Whosoever is born of God 
 ilutli not couunit sia; for his Seed remaineth in him.^' 
 
 »d 
 
5U 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 of God reigns over all, and over death itself; and 
 though 1 ain weak in body, yet the power of God 
 is over all ; and the Seed reigns over all disorderly 
 spirits." About four or five hours before his 
 death, some of his Friends inquired how he found 
 himself, to whom he replied with tliat fortitude 
 and indifference to bodily suiferings, which remark- 
 iibly distinguished his character ; " Never heed, 
 the Lord's power is over all weakness and death ; 
 the Seed reigns, blessed be the Lord." Such was 
 the composure which attended hnn at this solemn 
 season, that he closed his own eyes aiid mouth at 
 the time wlieo life was expiring. 
 
 In this state of mind, his spirit quitted its earthly 
 tabernacle, on thnd day, the loth of the 11th 
 month, lG[)Of between the hours of nine and ten 
 at night ; he being then in ihe G7th year ot his age. 
 At his close, he was surrounded by many of his 
 son owtul Friends; who, it appears from various 
 accounts, and particularly from letters written on 
 the occasion, were deeply affected with tlie loss of 
 one whom they so highly esteemed and revered. 
 
 \ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 3W 
 
 others.* Here, as well as at the meeting house,. 
 BKiiiy public testimonies were given forth to the 
 efficacy of that (hvine power, which had qualified 
 tilt ir departed Friend, for the important services to 
 which he had been called; and to the faithful 
 labours, patient sufferhigs, and exem})lary conduct^ 
 with which he had adorned the gospel of God our 
 Saviotir* 
 
 ♦William Penn, io a letter which he wrote on this occa* 
 sion, calculates lh« aumber of Friends and others at two thou- 
 sand ; but Robert Barrow states the number much higher* 
 lie also mentions the Friecds who were publicly engaged at 
 the meeting house and burial ground, in the order in which 
 they spake,, viz. At the meeting house, James Park, Robert 
 Barrow, Ambrose Rigge, Jasper Batt, William Penn, Fran- 
 cis Carafield, Stephen Crisp, John Taylor of York, Francis 
 Stamper, and George Whiteliead ; Thomas Green was after- 
 wards engaged iu prayer. Notwithstanding the number of 
 preachers, it appears the meeting lasted only about two 
 hours. Those who preached at the grave side, were William 
 Penn, Jasper Batt, George Whitehead, John Vaughton, and 
 William Biugley. 
 
 it 
 
 The interment took place three days after his de- 
 cease, on which occasion a very large and solemn 
 meeting was held at Gracechurch street ; after 
 which the corpse was conveyed to IBunhill Field«, 
 accompanied by several thousands of Friends and 
 
 Dd2 
 
CHAP. XXII. 
 
 4ccouni <ifhi« Ptopuiyj'^HU ChatacUr, 
 
 JHlAVING now terminated the account of tlie 
 life and death of this devoted labourer in the 
 Lord's vineyard, it remains to say something re- 
 specting his character, both in a private and puUic 
 capacity. But before I enter upon this part of 
 my work, it may be proper to give some idea of 
 the property which he possessed. From an ac- 
 count which he left behind him, it appears that he 
 held shares of two vessels, belonging to Scarbo- 
 rough ; and had also a small share in some busi- 
 ness. Several sums of money belonging to him 
 are likewise mentioned, as being in the hands of 
 different Friends ; and from the best estimate 
 which I am capable of forming, the value of the 
 whole was about eight hundred pounds, exclusive 
 of above one thousand acres of land in Pennsyl- 
 vania, which he says William Penn gave him ; but 
 it is doubtful whether he ever came into possession 
 of this land, so as to derive any benefit from it^ 
 As it does not appear that he at all enriched him- 
 self by marrying a woman of fortune, it is likely 
 the property which he possessed, was principally 
 j^ati'imoniul. This may account for the ability 
 
 IIFE OF GEOUGE 1"0X. 
 
 m 
 
 which he always manifested to support himself in 
 his travels, so as not to receive any assistance from 
 others, further than that hospitable entertaiimient, 
 which the great head of tlie church has provided 
 for his ministers. 
 
 In the different relations of a son, a husband, 
 and that of a father to his wife's children, he a{). 
 pears to have discharged the duties of these sta- 
 tions with affectionate regard, though the nature 
 of his religious services, prevented him from en- 
 joying so much of their society, as would have 
 been nmtually agreeable. To the children of his 
 wife, as well as to her, he was much attached. 
 From some letters still preserved, it is evident that 
 the daughters of Judge Fell, as well as their 
 mother, had formed a very high opinion of George 
 Fox, in the early part of his public services ; and 
 lie having been the means of bringing them to the 
 knowledge of the truth, they became united to him 
 as a father and a friend. When he was married to 
 their mother, the disinterestedness of his conduct, 
 could not fail to add greatly to their esteem and 
 affection ; aud it appears, by a testimony respect- 
 ing him, given by his wife's daughters and theii; 
 husbands, that they indeed found him " as a ten- 
 der father, who never failed to give them wholo 
 «ome counsel and advice." From this testimony 
 it also appears that the esteem aud affection whicU- 
 
 D d 3 
 
91^ 
 
 tIPE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 I 
 
 they had" entertained for him in early life, was 
 rather increased than diminished by a longer and 
 more close acquaintance ; from which circiim* 
 stance, as well as from others, we may gather, that 
 he was a man of an amiable and liberal disposition, 
 which greatly endeared him to those who were 
 most intimately acquainted with him. 
 
 His natural faculties were clear and strong: 
 and though he had not the polish of human learn- 
 ing, yet he was not deficient in useful knowledge. 
 ** A divine and a naturalist,** says William Penn, 
 " and all of God Almighty's making. He had in 
 him the foundation of useful and conimendable 
 knowledge, and cherished it every where." He 
 was indeed by no means opposed to the acquirer 
 ment of learning, except as a necessary. qualificaT 
 tion for gospel ministry. On the contrary, he 
 greatly promoted the establishment of schools, m 
 his own society ; and may be considered as a friend 
 to learning, and not an enemy to it^ as some havft 
 erroneously supposed* 
 
 His person war tall and corpulfent ; and his 
 countenance graceful. His manners, to use the 
 words of ¥R!liam Penn, were " civil beyond all 
 forms oF breeding :" and though some expressions 
 which he occasionally used to those whom he con* 
 sidered as persecutors^ and enemies of the tr^ith^ . 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 3igi 
 
 might be plainer, or coarser than would now be 
 thought proper ; yet this is confined to the early 
 part of his writings, and may be imputed to the 
 zealous manners of the times, and to the honest 
 indignation which he felt, against ajl vioTations of 
 liberty of conscience ; and particularly against the 
 hypocrisy and deceit of many, who opposed and 
 persecuted him. His general conduct, indeed, was 
 io far from being harsh or severe, that his cotenv- 
 porary biographer, already quoted, says, that " he 
 was of an innocent life, no busy body, no self 
 seeker, neither touchy nor critical ; what fell from 
 him was very inoffensive, if not very edifying. So 
 meek, contented, modest, easy, steady, it was a 
 pleasure, to be in his company. A most merciful 
 man ; as ready to forgive, as unapt to take or give 
 an offence." 
 
 But it was in spii4tual gifts and faculties, that 
 tills apostle of his day, shone with the greatest 
 lustre. " He was a man," ( 1 again quote William 
 Penn,) "that God endowed with a clear and won- 
 derful depth.; a discerner of other men's spirits 
 and very much a master of his owm And though 
 the side of his understanding which lay next to the 
 world, and especially the expression of it, might 
 sound uncouth and unfashionable to nice ears, his 
 matter was nevertheless very profound; and, as; 
 abruptly and brokeuly as sometimes his seuteuc£s- 
 
320 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 321 
 
 s . 
 
 would fall from him, about divine things, it is well 
 known they were often as texts to manjr fairer de- 
 clarations/' 
 
 Though this sententious and rather abrupt 
 mode of expression, might be his frequent manner 
 of delivery; yet this does not apjjear to have been 
 alwavs the case : for in the testimony ^keiLby his 
 children concerning him, they say, that " though of 
 no great literature, he had the tongue of the 
 learned, and cwdd speak a word in due season, to 
 the conditions and capacities of most ; especially 
 to them that were weary and wanted soul's rest ; 
 being deep in the divine mysteries of the 
 kingdom of God." Of this part of his cha- 
 racter, I find a remarkable instance, in a ma- 
 nuscript which has been put into my hands, 
 in which the following relation is given by an 
 ancient woman Friend, to some who visited her. 
 « And now. Friends," said she, " I will tell you how 
 I was first convinced. I was a young lass at that 
 time, and livetl in Dorsetshire, when George Fox 
 came to that county ; and he having appointed a 
 meeting, to which people generally flocked, I went 
 ahiong the rest ; and in my going along the road, 
 this query arose in my mind ; What is it that I 
 feel which condemneth me when I do evil, and 
 justifieth me when I do well? What is it? In 
 Ais state I went to the meeting. It was a lafge 
 
 gathering, and George Fox rose up with these 
 words : W^ho art thou that queriest in thy mind> 
 what is it which I feel, which condemneth me 
 when I do evil, and justifieth me when I do well I 
 I will tell thee what it is, Lo ! he that formeth 
 the mountains and createth the wind, and declareth 
 unto man what is bis thougjit ; that maketh the 
 morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high 
 places of the earth ; the Lord, the God of Hosts 
 is his name. It is he by his Spirit that condemneth 
 thee for evil, and justifieth thee when thou dost 
 well. Keep under its dictates, and it will be thy 
 preserver to the end." To this narration the aur 
 cient Friend added, " It was the truth, the very 
 truth; aod I have never departed from it." 
 
 Tlie principal object of his gospel labours, was> 
 to turn the minds of people from a dependance 
 on the teachings of men, to an attention to the 
 light and Spirit of Christ in their own hearts. " Ih 
 his ministry,** adds William Penn, " he endea- 
 voured to open the truth to the people's under- 
 standing ; and to ground them oiv the principle 
 and principal Christ Jesus, the light of the world. 
 He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scrip- 
 tures ; and would go to the marrow of things, and 
 show the mind, harmony, and fulfilling of them, 
 with much plainness, and to great comfort and. 
 edi^catioa." 
 
S23 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ! 
 
 " But above all," continues this capable judge 
 of men and things, " above all he excelled in 
 prayer. The inwardness and weight of his spirit ; 
 the reverence and solemnity of his address and 
 behaviour ; the fewness and fullness of his words, 
 have often stiuck eveu strainers in^ith admiration ; 
 as they used to reach others with c<«8olation. 
 The most awful^ living, reverend fram^ I ever felt 
 or beheld, I must say, was his in prayer. And 
 truly it was a testimony he knew and lived nearer 
 to the Lord, than other men ; for they that know 
 him most, will see most reason to approach kiiii 
 with reverence and fear J* 
 
 In the establishment of the discipline, it has 
 already been observed, that he met with much op- 
 position from many, who had been his own friends. 
 Some of these had even imbibed an enmity against 
 him; and both publickly and privately, endeavoured 
 to lessen his services, and the favourable opinion 
 \\hich had been entertained of him. But here 
 «gain, William Penn goes on, ** He bore all their 
 M'eakness and prejudice, and returned not reflec- 
 tion for reflection ; but forgave them their weak 
 and bitter speeches. And truly I must say, that 
 though God had visibly clothed him with a di- 
 vine preference and authority, and indeed his very 
 presence expressed a religious majesty ; yet he 
 never abused it, but held his place in the church 
 
 IIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 SC5 
 
 of God, with great meekness, and a most engaging 
 humility and moderation. For upon all occasions, 
 like his blessed master, he was a servant to all, 
 holding and exercising his eldership, in the invisible 
 power which had gathered them, with reverence 
 to the head, and care over the body. 1 write 
 niy knowledge, and not report, and my witness is 
 true ; having been with him for weeks and months 
 to'^ether on divers occasions, and those of the 
 iicarest and most exercising nature; and that by 
 ni'iht and by day, by sea and by land; in this 
 and in foreign countries ; and I can say, I never 
 €aw him out of his place, or not a matcli for every 
 service and occasion." 
 
 In addition to the foregoing delineation of the 
 character of George Fox, chiefly extracted from 
 "William Penn's account of him, it miiy not be im- 
 proper to add the testimony of Thomas ElKvood : 
 and it should be observed, that Penn and ElKvood 
 were botli men who had received a liberal educa- 
 tion, and had a general knowledge of tlie world, 
 and things relating to it ; as well as being men of 
 religious principle and moral integrity ; so that 
 Ahcir testimony has all the weight and respect, that 
 ran be required on such an occasion. '1 lionia? 
 Ell wood's accoimt is in these words : " I knew 
 liim not till the year I66O ; but from that time to 
 the time of his death, I knew him well, conversed 
 v\ilh him oftcu; observed him much, lo^cd him 
 
 I 
 
324, 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 il 
 
 dearly, and honoured him truly ; and, upon good 
 experience, can say, he was indeed an heavenly 
 minded man, zealous for the name of the Lord, 
 and preferred the honour of God before all things/' 
 
 " He was valiant for the truth ; bold in assert- 
 ing it ; patient in suffering for it ; unwearied in 
 labouring in it; steady in his testimony tO/it ; im- 
 moveable as a rock. Deep he was i^ divine 
 knowledge ; clear in opening heavenlyyTnystcries ; 
 plain and powerfid iu preaching ; fervent in 
 prayer- lie was richly endued with heavenly 
 wisdom ; quick in discerning ; sound in judgment; 
 able and ready in giving, discreet in keeping 
 counsel ; a lover of ri«jfhteousness : an encoura^er 
 of virtue, justice, temperance, meekness, puritv, 
 chastity, modesty, Jmmility, charity, and self denial 
 in all ; both by word and example. Graceful he 
 was in countenance ; manly in personage ; f^rave 
 in gesture ; courteous in conversation ; weiglity in 
 communication ; instructive in discourse ; free 
 from affectation in speech or carriage. A severe 
 reprover of hard and obstinate sinners ; a mild 
 and gentle admonisher of such as were tender and 
 sensible of their failings. Not apt to resent per- 
 sonal wrongs; easy to forgive injuries; but zea- 
 lously earnest where the honwu' of God, the pros- 
 perity of truth, or the peace of the church was 
 concerned. Very tender, compassionate and pitiful 
 lie was to all that were under any sort of affliction ; 
 
 LIFE OT GEORGE FOX. 
 
 
 full of brotherly love ; full of fatherly care : for 
 indeed the care of the churches of Qjrist was 
 daily upon him, the prosperity and peace ^^•llereof 
 he studiously sought. Beloved he was of God ; 
 beloved of God's people ; and, (which was not 
 the laast part of his honour,) the common butt of 
 all apostates' envy, whose good, notwithstanding, 
 he earnestly sought, fie lived and died the ser- 
 vant of the Lord." 
 
 I have thought it necessary to he more particu- 
 lar in giving tlie character of George Fox thus at 
 large, and from men the most capable and respect- 
 able ill every sense of die word, because of the 
 many injurious representations, M'hich have been 
 published respecting him. In every thing except 
 learning, (and of this he had probably as much as 
 many of the first preachers of the gospel,) his cImi- 
 racter will not suffer, on a fair comparison with 
 those eminent Reformers, ivho first broke the 
 shackles of popery, and were the means of eman- 
 cipating nations from the yoke of the Romish 
 hierarchy. Both he and they were no doubt sub- 
 ject to like passions as we are ; and might occa- 
 sionally evince the weaknesses of human nature ; 
 but in natural powers, in spiritual gifts, in disinte- 
 rested and extensive gospel labour, and in those 
 virtues uhich adorn tlie gospel of Christ, few, vrry 
 fow, I believe, have exceeded the subject of this 
 memoir. 
 
3*26 
 
 tIFE OF GEORGE FO.X^ 
 
 Many persons have been accustomed to view 
 this extraordinary man, only through the eyes of 
 his adversaries. If any of these should read this 
 account of him, taken from the most authentic 
 sources of information, it is hoped diat they will 
 be convinced of the injustice, with which his cha- 
 racter has been generally drawn, JJjte those 
 Reformers ali^ady alluded to, h^'^ras loaded with 
 severe calumny and bitter reproaches, and, I be- 
 lieve it may be safely said, with no more regard to 
 truth than they were. May those who are disposed 
 to treat the memory of such a man injuriously, 
 feel the force of the following lines, written by 
 one of our best poets, after he had been describing 
 a character similar to that which we have just de- 
 lineated : 
 
 ** Blush, caloixiny ! and write upon his tomb, 
 Ifiionest eulc^y can spare thee room. 
 Thy deep repentance of thy thousand lies, 
 Which, aira*d at biro, hare pierced tb' offended skici; 
 And say. Blot out my sin, confess*d, deplored, 
 Against -thine image, in thy Saint, O LcirdI 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 Trinted by 
 C PEACOCK, 
 York. 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 CiiHiaining an Account of George Fox*$ Publications^ 
 
 THE Writings of Geoi-ge Fox, collected and published 
 ftfter his death, nre contained in three folio volumes. Tiie 
 first is, " A Journal or Historical Account of his Life, Tra- 
 vels, SulTerings, Christian Experiences, and labour of Love 
 in the Work of the Ministry." It is preceded by several 
 Testimonies concerning him, from his Relations and Friends; 
 and by a long, but excellexrt Preface, written by Wm. Penn. 
 From this Journal, which was published in 1694, and con- 
 tains above 700 pages, the foregoing Account of him, is 
 principally extracted. 
 
 The second Volume consists of" many Select and Christian 
 Epistles and Testimonies, written on sundry Occasions." 
 The number is 420 : besides these, there are many Epistles 
 contained in the first and third Volumes. George Whitehead 
 has prefaced this Collection of Epistles, with some pertinent 
 remarks on the Author, and his works. It wa» primed in 
 llie year 1603, and contains 557 pages. 
 
 The third Volume is entitled, ** Gospel Truth demon- 
 stiated, in a Collection of Doctrinal Books," &c. To thi» 
 Volume, are also prefixed Testimonies concerning him from 
 many of his Friends, by whom, it appears, he was not only 
 much loved, whilst living, but that his memory was greatly 
 revered, when he was removed from them. This Volume 
 was printed in the year 1706; above fifteen years after his 
 death. The Pieces are arranged chronologically; many of 
 them are very short, and the title of each will be given at 
 the close of this general Account. This Volume consists cjf 
 
 £ e 2 
 
30.^ 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDfX, 
 
 329 
 
 1090 pages, exclusive of the Testimonies, and a short Pre- 
 face. Besides the Contents of these three Volumes, there 
 are many other Publicatbns, noticed by J. Whiting, in his 
 Cakilogue of Friends' Books. 
 
 George Fox, though not a man of learning, was, no dcuht, 
 a man of reading. In the Scriptures* he was particularly 
 well versed ; and he appears to have read much iu Ecclesias- 
 tical, and some other Histories. As an Author, we are often 
 struck with the excellence of his matter, and the strength of 
 his argument; though we must acknowIedg.e a want of method 
 and of polish, particularly in his early writings. For these 
 purposes, learning is certainly very useful, and renders writ- 
 ten works more agreeable, and in general more beneficial. 
 But the want of learning, if a fault, was the fault of his pa- 
 rents, rather than of himself; and the defect was perhaps 
 more than counterbalanced, by rendering his natural and 
 spiritual gifts more conspicuous; and by more strongly 
 evincing the power of that grace, by which he might say with 
 the Apostle, " I am what I am." 
 
 >o^smmop^ 
 
 • It appears that be did not nse the common trans^atioD, 
 "ftnt either Cranmer's, or some other ancient vernion. One of 
 these was placed, I suppose by him, in the Meeting-house whicft 
 he built at Swarihmore. In a Note at the end of one of his 
 Books, he mentions using " the antieut approved Bible> 
 printed in Queen Elizabeth's reign." 
 
 tISTof GEORGE FOX's WRITINGS, 
 
 Contained in the last-mentioned Vol tone, 
 
 Datt 
 
 i. To all that would know the Way to the Kingdom ; whe- 
 ther they be in Forms, without Formi», or got above all 
 Forms 1653 
 
 3. The Vials of the Wrath of God, poured forth upon the 
 
 Man of Sin, and upon all Professors of tlie World, wIk> 
 
 deny the Light of Christ . ^ . . I054i 
 
 8. A Word from the Lord to all the Worlds &C.. , --r^ 
 
 4. To all who love the Lord Jesus Christ • . ■■ 
 
 5. To the high, and lofty ones .... 1055- 
 
 6. To all the Rulers of the Earth . . . — 
 
 7. A Visitation to the Jews , ... 1050- 
 
 8. A Visitation to all you that liave long had the Scriptures, 
 but are found out of the Life of (hem that gave them 
 forth, Uc, ....... ■ 
 
 9. A Declara^oa of the Diiference of the Ministers of the 
 
 Word, from the Ministers of the World . . . 
 
 10. A Cry for Repentance, unto the Inhabitants of London 
 chiefly . •..-... . 
 
 Jl. The Woman- learning ift Silence ; or the Mystery of 
 Woman's Subjection to Ker Husband ;. also the Daugh- 
 ter prophecyiog w ■ . ■ 
 
 tSL A Declaration concerning Fasting, and the Prayer that 
 God accepts- , . . • ^ . , » 
 
 13. The Promise of God proclaimed, which is Christ ■ 
 
 14. An Epistle to all People on the Earth; showing the Ig- 
 norance of all the WorW^ both Professors and Teachers, 
 of the Birth tliat must be silent, and of the Birth that 
 is (0 speak, &c. ...... 1657 
 
 *5. Concerning Silent Meetings .... ■ 
 ]!th To all Uie Magistrates in London, &c. « r — - 
 
 S 6 3 
 
530 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 17 
 
 ia 
 
 19 
 20, 
 
 2'1. 
 53. 
 
 25. 
 
 28. 
 29. 
 
 .•50. 
 
 32. 
 
 33. 
 34. 
 
 Concerning the World's hypocritical Salutations 16jC 
 The Fashions of the World made manifest ; also a few 
 
 Words to the City of London . . . . 
 
 The second Covenant, &:c. , . . . - 
 A Warning to all the Merchants in London; with Ad- 
 vice to them to lay aside their Superfluity, and with it 
 
 to nourish the Poor jg^g 
 
 Tire Pearl found In England . . * , . , 
 
 The Wrath of the Lamb .... . 
 
 The Lamb's Officer is gone forth with the Lamb'* 
 Message . . . . . . . 1555 
 
 The serious People's Reasoning and Speech with the 
 World's Professors . . , , . - 
 
 The Dilierence bet^veen the Worid*s Relation and the 
 Saint's Relation , . , . , , «_^ 
 To the People of Uxbridgc . . . . ^ 
 A Word in Behalf of the King; that he may see who thty 
 are that honour all Men, love the Brotherhood, fear 
 God, and honour the King . . . , jggQ 
 
 To the Turk, and all that are ander his Authority 
 
 Some Papers given forth, to the Magistrates of the Island 
 of Melita; and to the Emperor of the Houee of Austrio, 
 and to all those Princes under him; to the King of 
 France, and all the Powers that be under him; and to 
 the King^of Spain; and lastly to the Pope . — 
 
 To the Emperor of China, and his subordinate Kings 
 and Princes- . . . ^ ^ ^^ 
 
 To all the Nations under the whole Heavens; and to all 
 those who have ministered the Letter, and yet are igno- 
 rant, and hive kept others in the Ignorance, t>oth of th« 
 Letter and Spirit also 
 
 A few Plain Words by Way of Query and Information 
 to the Teachers and People of the Nation - , - 
 
 To both Houses of Parliament 
 
 Concerning Christ Jesus the Covenant of God. . 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 001 
 
 55. Truth's Triumph in the eternal Power over the dark 
 Inventions of fallen Man . . . . Kjgj 
 
 36. A Declaration to the Jews; in which they may see that 
 
 the Messiah is come, according to their own Prophets^ 
 and Gabriel the Angel ; and according to their Number 
 of Time and Years out of Daniel ix. . . . . — ^. 
 
 37. To all that profess Christianity are these followint' Par- 
 ticulars—Concerning their Name of Christians Loving 
 
 Enemies — The Worship in Spirit — Gospel Fellow- 
 ship — Their many Heads and Baptisms — Their many 
 Churches — Their disagreeing about Scripture's Inter- 
 pretation . ...... , 
 
 33. Clirist's Light the only Amidote to overcome and expel 
 the Poison of. Sataii's greatest Temptations . 1C62 
 
 39. A Measuring Rule concerning Liberty and Persecution 
 
 40. To all Rulers of Families , . . . . — — 
 
 41. Some Queries to s\\l the -Teachers- ahd Professors oi 
 Christianity to answer . , . , . . ^qqq 
 
 42. To all Sorts of People in Christendom . . . 1667 
 
 43. Gospel Liberty and the Royal Laws of Love, set above 
 Artaxerxes and Nebuchadnezar's Law and Commands* . 
 and above the Medes and Persians and Darius' De* 
 cr«es 1663 
 
 44. Concerning, the Aa that prohibits, that not above fours 
 or five may meet . , . ... - 
 
 45. A Hammer to break down all invented Images, Imajje- 
 makers, and Image Worshippers . . . 1671 
 
 40. The Heathens' Divinity set upon the Heads of all called 
 Christians . . . , . . . . .. 
 
 47. To all Professors in the Christian World : Also to the. 
 Turks and Jews throughout the whole World IC73 
 
 48. A Warning to England, &c. . . .^ . 1674* 
 40. For all the Bishops and Priests in Christendom,. to mea- 
 sure themselves by the Scriptures of Tritth^ aod« the 
 ^irit vibeQce they came •- %. •• 
 
332 
 
 HVPEXDIX-. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 333 
 
 50. A Looking Glass for the Jens . . .1674 
 
 51. A Testimony of what we beheve of Christ, both as he 
 was God and as he was IVIaa . , , 167^ 
 
 52. A sraall Treatise concerning Swearhig . , ■ 
 
 53. Primitive Ordination and Succession of Bishops, &c. in 
 the Church of Christ ..... j 
 
 54. Possession above Profession .... — — 
 
 55. To all Magistrates and People in Christendom, to turn 
 
 from the persecuting Mind, and receive the Mind of 
 Christ .■ 1676 
 
 56. The People of God, in Scorn called Quakers, their Love 
 
 to all Mankind asserted .^ . , ^ — . 
 
 57. Concerning Revelation, Prophecy, Measure and Rule; 
 and the Inspiration and Sufficiency of the Spirit 
 
 58. The Beginning of Tithes in the Law, and Ending of 
 Tithes in the Gospel _ 
 
 59. The Spiritual Man Chrisfr Jesus, the blessed Seed, Light 
 of Life, Purger of Conscience^ Healer of Nations, and 
 Restorer of Mankind ..... 1677 
 
 60. Christ's Parable of Dives aiid Lazarus, for all called 
 Christians and others to consider . , . . 
 
 61. A Testimony i'or all the Masters of Ships and Seamen 
 
 to read over , . ..... —— 
 
 62. Concerning Christ, the spiritual and holy Head over his 
 
 holy Church . . . ... 
 
 63. To all the Kings, Princes, and Governours in the whole 
 
 World, amd all that profess themselves Christians, and 
 others . . . .... - 
 
 64. The Spirit of Man the Candle of the Lord, &c. 
 
 66. A Testimonj concerning the Blood of the old Covenant, 
 
 and the Blood of the new Covenant . . , 1678 
 
 66. A Demonstration to the Christians in Name, without 
 
 the Nature of it; how they hinder the Conversion of 
 
 the Jews . .-»►... 1679 
 
 69. Election and Rep robfttion^ clearly discovered « i 
 
 IK 
 
 \ 
 
 #6. A Distinction between the- new Covenant and the 
 old 1679 
 
 69. A Warning to all that profess Christianity to beware of 
 Covetousness . ....►- ■ 
 
 70. The Man Ciirist Jesus the Head of the Church, and true 
 MediutQr, in Opposition to the Papist Head, their 
 Pope, &c. . . .. . . . *- — 
 
 71. Concerning the Living God of Truth, and- the Workl^s 
 
 God, in whom there is no Truth . .. . 1660 
 
 72. A clear Distinction between the old Covenant and the 
 
 new Covenant . . . . . . — 
 
 73. To the Great Turk,, and King at Algiers; with a Post* 
 script of George Pattison's taking the Turks, and setting 
 them on their own Shore .... — ^-. 
 
 74. The Protestant Christian Quaker, a Sufferer by Reliques 
 
 of Popery ....... — - 
 
 75. An Encouragement for all to trust in the Lord . 1682 
 
 76. An Epistle to all Christians, Jews, and Gentiles,, show* 
 ing how that God dwells not in Temples made with 
 Hands . . ... . t . ■■ 
 
 77. Concerning Persecution in all Ages . . ■ 
 
 78. How the Devil was and is the old Informer against the 
 Righteous , , 
 
 79. A Paper to Friends and others against the Pomps of the 
 
 World 1683 
 
 80. A Way to prevent the Indignation and Judgments of 
 God coming on a Kingdom, Nation, or Family — - 
 
 81. To all Rulers and Magistrates to take heed of per- 
 secuting, &c . — - 
 
 82. The Causes why Adam and Eve were driven out of 
 
 Paradise, and the Jews out of Canaan , . — . 
 
 83. Several plain Truths manifested and declared from the 
 Spirit of God; and born Testimony to by Christ, the 
 Apostles, and Scriptures . . . . 1684. 
 
 .'. 
 
t34 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 535 
 
 I 
 
 B4k A Distinction betwixt the War» and Weapons, &c. in 
 
 the Old Testament and the New . . . 1084 
 
 85. Cooceming Cain •..•.. ■■■— 
 
 U$* Uniformity and Conformity proclaimed to the whole 
 
 World ...•••• - 
 
 87. The Authority of the Chorch of Christ . » — 
 
 88. Concerning Exhortation and Admonition . . »~« 
 
 89. Concerning such as cry against Orders . . — 
 ^. Concerning Meeting in Houses, Ships, Streets, Moun- 
 tains, and High Ways . • . . •^— 
 
 W. The State of the Birth Temporal and Spiritual : Also 
 showing that Children are the Heritage of the Lord — — • 
 
 P2. Trying of Spirits in our Age, as in the Apostles' Days 
 by the Spirit of Christ • . . . » ■ 
 
 93. The Saints' iieavenly and spiritual Worship, Unity, and 
 
 Communion . » ► .. * • — — 
 
 94. A Word of Admonition to such as wander from the 
 Anointing and Teaching within. Also concerning the 
 Supper of the Lord, &c. .... — 
 
 95. Concerning such as shall enter into the Kingdom of 
 
 God, and such as shall not . < . . — • 
 
 96. Concerning such as have forbidden Preaching or Teacli- 
 ing, in the Name of Jesus . . . . — — 
 
 97. To the Chief Magistrates, Rulers, &c. . . — — 
 
 98. An Exhortation«to all People, to Pureness, Cleanness, 
 and Holiness, and Faithfulness to the Lord . 1685 
 
 99. A Distinction betwixt the two Suppers of Christ j namely, 
 the last Supper in tlie Night before he was crucified; 
 and the Supper after he was risen and ascended, which 
 be calls People to in Revelations iir. . . ■ 
 
 100. Couceroing Christ, the Resurrection of the Just and 
 
 Unjust . . . » • » . ■ 
 
 101. Concerning the Stone that smote the Image, &c. ^— 
 102 To all Kings, Princes, Rulers, Goveroours, Bishops and 
 
 Clergy that profess Christianity • , • ■ 
 
 103. A Distinction between the true Liberty and the 
 false ^ 1685 
 
 104. How the unchangeable God is, and how all People may 
 know him, and in what he is worshipped and served i. 
 
 105. A true Account of the sensible, thankful, and holy State 
 of God's People 1686 
 
 106. To all Magistrates in Christendom, against Perse- 
 cution . ^ , . ... — - 
 
 107. How God*s People are not to take the Names of the 
 heathen Gods in their Mouths, &c , , 1687 
 
 108. A Testimony for God's Truth . . . — 
 
 109. Concerning the Apostjvte Christians that think to do 
 Miracles by dead Men's Bones, &c. . . 1688 
 
 110. An Answer to the Speech or Declaration of the great 
 Turk, with tlie Speech prefixed . , . , 
 
 111. Concerning early Sacrifices and Offerings . . — — . 
 
 112. Concerning the Antiquity of the People of God, called 
 Quakers , , . . . , , 1689 
 
 113. A spiritual or heavenly Salutation to all the tender- 
 hearted in Christendom .... ■ 
 
 114. The inward and spiritual Warfare, and the false Pre- 
 tence of it ;• . , . » . . _« 
 
 A Variety of Subjects are here treated on. 
 
 115. Several Treatises worthy of every true Cliristian's 
 Consideration • . .... ■ , i^ 
 
 Most of these are against Persecution. 
 
 Note.— Several of the foregoing Titles are contracted 
 from the Orj^ioali* 
 
PMhhed and Sold ftj^ W.ALEXANDER, York, 
 
 Ahrid^ent <^ Hugh Turford's Grounds of a Holt 
 Life ; in which many of the snares and atratagems of the 
 grand adrermry to man's happiness^ are clearly laid open ; 
 a new edition^ 6d. stitched j or Qd. boards^ and bound . .0 10 
 By the dozen, 5s. ditto, 7s. ditto, and ditto ... 9 
 
 J%e Importance of Religion. In this small tract the 
 advantages and necessity of a religious life, are forcibly im- 
 f/ressed; in a manner adapted to the understandings of 
 every capacity ; yet worthy the attention and perusal of all; 
 timo. st. 3d. or by the dozen, 2». 6d. if by the hundred .15 
 In royal Itmo. 6d. or ditto, 5s. , if ditto . . 1 10 
 
 Remarks on <&eTHEATRE and FmEat RrcHMONO, 8d. 4* 1 
 
 Henry Tuke's Principles of Friends, p«t 8ro. sheep let- 
 tered,.or ISmo. boards 2 6 
 
 Henry Tuke's Duties of Religion and Mobatity, po^ 
 8ro. sheep lettered^ or 12mo. boards 2 G 
 
 Aho fAf Duties ondPRiTTCiPLEs, l?mo. on superfine paper, 
 each, in extra boards 3 6 
 
 Henry Tuke's S-blect Pa^s*,ges from the Holy Siriptures, 
 stitched, 6d. or, per dozai ».50 
 
 ■ Faith, Sic. jine, 8(f. w per dozen .,,66 
 
 The Progress of Vaccination ; showing its superiority 
 over tlte Small Pox, ana calculated to remove the preju- 
 dices against the general adoption of that mild preservative, 
 from the ravages of the utriolus contagion, 3d. ; or per 
 dozen, ^s. 9d. ; if per hundred , .♦.,.. 1 1 
 
 The Annual Monitor, or New Memorandum Rook, 
 for 1813, containing Memoirs of Beiyamin Lay and An- 
 thony Benezet ; the Paradise of ^egro Slaves^ a drtam; 
 ^me -inteirsting Questions ; an obituary of Ministers and 
 other Public Characters in the Society t^ friends; verses 
 on the Cohclusiovrnf Time; ruled pages for Memorandiims ; 
 mlisy ^Commercial Stamps and Assessed Taxes, ifcfne 
 post 8^, 0. 1*. 6</. — or with roan Pocket Book .,26 
 
 In the Press, 
 '* A DESCRIPTION of the RETREAT, near YORK; 
 tf persons adlicted with disorders of the miod, among the Soj'iety 
 CI Friends ; giving; a historical i^arrative of the rise and pros;ress 
 of the Institntion, the moral and medical treatment, &.c. — 
 By Samuel Tuke. This work will contain three 4to plates, 
 descriptive of the bnildinss. The price will be in Bvo. aboiit 
 7s. or 8s. ; and in 4to. fine paper and extra boards, about lOs, od 
 or ivs. according to the quantity of letter-press. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES 
 
 OF 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 By HENRY TUKE. 
 
 >f.">< 
 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 S, PARNEL, J. CAMM, W. ROBINSON, ^C. ^c. 
 
 " >i« 0(8 >IblQco— 
 
 l^orft 
 
 PRINTED FOR W. ALBZANDER, AND SOLD BY Ulil • 
 
 SOLD also by 
 M. M . AND B. WEBB, BRISTOL ; 
 DABTON, HARVEY, AND CO. W. PHILLTPI^. 
 
 Ann w. oarton, joh. lonbon. 
 
 1815. 
 
sniiomijSement. 
 
 =t 
 
 !l%e Editor expected to give in this volume, a short 
 biographical Sketch of the Author, hy Idndley Murray ; 
 hut a variety of considerations have operated to induce the 
 printing df it in a distinct pamphlet ; yet in such a form 
 as to bind up with sets of the Author's works, which may 
 then, he had complete in 4t vols. 
 
 The Supplement to the life of George Fox is so printed 
 as to be bound up, either with this or the first volume of the 
 ^ Biographical Notices," at the option of the purchaser. 
 
 bf| 
 
PREFACE TO VOLUME 11. 
 
 THE pioas and benevolent Author of the following 
 work, had nearly completed the volume, before he became 
 80 much indisposed as to be unable to give it his finishing 
 band. But the useful and excellent nature of the work 
 demands its publication. It may be considered as the 
 last legacy of the Author, to the members of that Society, 
 whom he dearly loved, and for whose best interests he felt 
 himself deeply concerned. It is therefore a debt of justice, 
 both to his memory, and to the persons for whom it was 
 composed, to present it to them nearly in the state in 
 which he left it. 
 
 The work in its present condition, except the notice 
 respecting William Ames, the materials for which had not 
 been seasonably procured, received the approbation of the 
 Morning Meeting of Friends iu London, before the Author's 
 decease. But as it was his intention to give an account^ 
 in Its proper place, of this intrepid and steady advocate for 
 
 m 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the caase of truth and righteousness, tlie omission has. 
 been supplied by another person. The notice will be 
 found at p. 189; and it is hoped, that this supply will prove 
 Boore satisfactory to the reader, than if it had been wholly 
 omitted. 
 
 Whether any Friend may, in future, proceed in the 
 aGComplishment of these " Biographical Notices,'' is at 
 
 present uncertain. It is, however, a desirable object, that 
 so entertaining and useful a work, as memorials of the 
 lives and characters of many distinguished members- of our 
 society, should be completed. according to the plan of the 
 Author, for the comfort, example,, and encouragement uf 
 many amongst us, especially of the rising generation^ 
 And it is hoped that some judicious person, qualified foe 
 so interesting a work, may feel his mind engaged to carry 
 forward and complete, the views of our dean departed 
 friend. 
 
 It is presumed that the present volume, from the 
 variety of characters which it contains, and from most of 
 them being but little, if at all, known to many Friends, 
 will excite a peculiar interest and attention in- its readers ; 
 and produce in their minds that satisfaction, which arises 
 from the perception of new and revived evidences, in sup- 
 port of those principles which have long commanded their 
 respect and attachment. 
 
 CONTENTS TO VOLUME 11, 
 
 CHAPTER I, 
 
 Page, 
 IflFE OP James Paakel . ........... 1—20 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 Life of John Cj^m 21—28 
 
 CHAP. in. 
 Life of William Robinson , , 39—38 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 Life of Maemaduke Stevenson . . . '^ . , 39—44 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 Life of Maey Dyer , , , 45.^.50 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 liFE OP Willjam Leddba ; 51—58 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Life op Thomas Aldam, &c 59^66 
 
 S 
 
Tlii CONTENTS. 
 
 Page, 
 CHAP. VUI. 
 
 Life of James Nayler ...,»...«••• 67—92 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 Life of John Lilburne .••••• 93—106 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Life oe George Fox the Younger 107 — 122 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Life of Richard Hubberthorne 122 — 128 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 Life of William Ames • • • • 129—140 
 
 CHAP. XIII, 
 Life of Edward Burrough . 141— .180 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 Life of Humphrey SmitA 181—193 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 Life of John Audlanb • . . 195--204 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 Life of William Caton , 205—220 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 Life of Samuel Fishes , , . 221— >232 
 
 CHAPTER U 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES PJRNEL. 
 
 As the chronological order of my work, is re^ 
 gulated by the decease of llie party, the first 
 «ubject presented to my notice, is James Par- 
 tJEL, a young man who died in prison, when 
 only 19 y«ar« of age; and who may be const* 
 ^ered as the protomartyr of oi*r Society, in sup- 
 port of its religious principles. ^ 
 
 He was bom at Retford, in the year 1 636 or 7, 
 and received a liberal education, probably at the 
 <jranimar School there. Of his parents I do 
 not find any account, except that the father was 
 a tradesman, which is incidentally noticed in one 
 ef the son's publications. 
 
 Whilst James was at school, and for a short 
 time after he left it, he appears to have been of 
 a wild disposition. His account of himself at 
 this period is : " I may well say with Paul, ' Of 
 eiuners I was chief;' for according to my years> 
 
•2' -LIFE OF JAMES PARNEL. 
 
 1 was 934)erfect in siaaud inJquityr^s^Any-i&lLe 
 town where. I lived ; yea and exceeded roany iu 
 ' the same." But his mind appears to have been 
 > very early visited wiUiohe^i^nifestations of the 
 Holy Spirit and Light of Christ ; by yielding to 
 xvhich, he became sensible of the exfee^iiig sin- 
 fulness of >[iin, and of the vanity of ma^y of the 
 customs of the \vx)rld. This-produced a mani- 
 fest change in his conduct and behaviour, in 
 consequeuce of i^ihith^ they who had loved him 
 in his vain convejrsation, abated him so much the 
 more in his conversion. .Many.of his own rela- 
 tions were also much disisatisfied, and he became 
 an -object of ridicule in the streets, so that he was 
 accounted as one not worthy to live ; and some 
 Mere so violent as to say, that he who kill<;d him 
 avould do God service. 
 
 These si^ffe rings he was, however, enabled to 
 bear with great firmness, and dependance on that 
 Divine Power which had visited his young and 
 tender mind. This he gratefully acknowledges in 
 these words: " He thaj called mc^untoliimself, 
 that I might no longer follow the vain courses 
 of the world,, nor set my xielight on things be- 
 low, but that I might serve Him in newness of 
 life, He by his power kept me, and gave me 
 strength to bear his cross, and despise the shame; 
 so that neither foul NN^ords, -nor fair words, could 
 
 tlPE OI» JAMES PARN^EL. 
 
 cause me to deny what Gotl, by his grace, had 
 wrought in my heart." 
 
 In this state of mind he became dissatisfied 
 with the forms of worsliip then most prevalent, 
 and was desirous of finding a people with whom 
 lie could cordially unite. Ibis desire it seems 
 was granted him, for a few miles from the place 
 in which he livedo he met with some serious 
 people, " whom," he says, " the Lord was gatlier- 
 ing from the dark world, to sit down together 
 and wait upon his name." To these he joined 
 himself, and they became objects of reproach in 
 the country where they lived — ** counting it," as 
 Jie observes, " greater riches to suflfer afHiction 
 witli the people of God, than to enjoy the plea- 
 i$ures of sin for a season." 
 
 Tie Was now only fifteen years of age. — After 
 -writing these words, my pen was arrested in its, 
 progress, while I contemplated this extraordinary 
 instance of the operation of di^vine grace in sa 
 early a period of life. But all things are possi- 
 ble to him with whom we have to do; and truly 
 He may still be thus addressed : " Out of tlie 
 mouths of babes and sucklings bast thou or- 
 dained strength.'" 
 
 About this time, which was the year 1'653, he 
 f«iund his mind drawn to visit s©me Friends in 
 
 B 2 
 
 I 
 
4 Xll'E OF JiMES PARNEt. 
 
 the North of England, " with whom,** he sayt, 
 ** I had union in Spirit before I saw their faces." 
 Jt was in this journey that he visited George Fox 
 in Carlisle jail. George's account of him is : " J. 
 Parnel, a little lad, about sixteen years of age, 
 came to see me, and was convinced. The Lor<l 
 : quickly made him a powerful Minister of the 
 Word of Life, and many were turned to Christ 
 by him." By this it appears that the people to 
 -whom he had joined himself near Retford, were 
 not of the people called Quakers, but probably 
 Seekers, many of whom became united to 
 JFriends. 
 
 In the year 1655, he was concerned to visit a 
 serious people about fifteen miles south from 
 Hetford, and when there, his mind was drawn to 
 proceed to Cambridge, where he published two 
 papers, one against corrupt ministers, and the 
 other against corrupt magistrates, for which he 
 •was committed to prison. He was confined 
 here during two sessions, andafterwards sent out 
 of the town with a pass as a rogue and vagabond ; 
 but a justice of the peace Who was sensible of 
 his innocence, followed him and took the pass 
 back to Cambridge. "Not lofig after James re- 
 turned there, and engaged in a dispute with the 
 Baptists of that place, which appears to have 
 been pioductive of little benefit. In departing 
 
 LIFE or JAMES PARNEt^ 
 
 * 
 
 from this public dispute^ he^ received very mde 
 treatment from the scholars of the University, 
 from whom he escaped with much difficulty. 
 
 He continued in Cambridgeshire about half a 
 year, and then went into Essex. In both coun-^ 
 ties he met with much opposition^ but many 
 were convinced by his ministry. Among the 
 rest was Stephen Crisp of Colchester, who was 
 afterwards a very useful member and able minis- 
 ter in the Society. In this town James spent 
 about ten days at this time, preaching in one day 
 first at his own lodgings, next, after the service 
 in one of the public places of worship, and af- 
 terwards in a large meeting appointed for him. 
 After all this he disputed publicly with two priests 
 in the French School. Many thousands of peo- 
 ple were this day partakers of his gospel labours^ 
 " in all which," according to Stephen Crisp, 
 " the wisdom, power, and patience of Christ ap- 
 peared very gloriously ; to the convincing," adds 
 Stephen, " myself and many more, who were 
 witnesses of that day's work." Stephen Crisp's 
 account of his services in Colchester is so de- 
 scriptive and impressive, that I cannot well for- 
 bear continuing his narrative : '^ He spent that 
 week in preaching, praying, exhorting, and ad- ' 
 nionishing, turning the minds of all sorts of pro- 
 fessors to the light of Jesus, which did searcb 
 
 B 3 
 
IIFE OF JAMES PARNEI.* 
 
 ^YFE OF JAM-BS PARNEE'. 
 
 tbeir hearts and show their thoughts, that they 
 might believe therein, and so might become 
 children of the light. Many did believe^ and 
 found it so. Others were hardened and re- 
 belled against the appearance of truth, and be- 
 came enemies, with \\hora he disputed datly 
 in great soundness, and in the evidence and de»- 
 monstration of the Spirit;, by which also many 
 were reached and convinced of the truth, and 
 the mouths of gainsayers stopped. This made 
 many gnash their teeth on him, and some under- 
 took to club out the priest's and professor's ar- 
 guments, by beating this dear lamb with fist* 
 and staves, who took all patiently, particularly 
 oue who struck him with a great staff as he came 
 out of one of the steeple houses and said: 
 V There, take that for Jesus Christ's sake;* to 
 which he returned this answer : * Friend, I do re- 
 ceive it for Jesus ChriiH's sake.' Many othec 
 intolerable affronts were offered him, in all 
 which his spirit was not seen to be raised in heat 
 or anger, but was a pattern of patience and 
 jpeekness.** 
 
 From Colchester he went to Coggeshall, where 
 be bad been before. A fast was appointed by 
 jUie Independents, who were now the ruling party 
 in Church and State. The object of it was to pray 
 ac;aiiuit the spreading of error; by which it ap- 
 
 pears they meant the doctrines of the Quaker?. 
 But they were not content with* praying ; a ser- 
 mon must also be preached, in which that peo- 
 ple were bitterly inveighed against, and much 
 misrepresented. Thi» roused the zeai of James 
 Parnel, who was present; and when the priest 
 had finished, he commenced a reply to the re- 
 flections which had been cast upon his friends, 
 with observing : " This is the order of the true 
 church, that all may speak one by one; and 
 if any thing be revealed to him that stands by^ 
 let the first hold his peace." As he proceeded 
 in his discourse he was interrupted, and some 
 dispute^ensued, after which he left the place; 
 but he Avas followed by a justice of the peace> 
 who arrested him in the name of the Protector, 
 and committed him to Colchester castle. Here 
 he was closely confined, and the jailers forbid- 
 den to permit his friends to visit him. 
 
 In the coOTse of a few weeks he was removed 
 to Chelmsford, to take his trial at the assizes 
 there. He and five criminals were chained to- 
 gether, and in this degrading manner was this 
 innocent youth led through the country above 
 twenty miles. When he arrived at Chelmsford, 
 
 the prisoners were not immediately separated, 
 but continued chained together night and day 
 
 for some time. 
 
 B 4 
 
ITFE 07 JAMES PAtlN^C. 
 
 . When the assizes came on^ he was brought into 
 -court handcuffed; but the people expressing 
 their dissatisfaction with this act of cruelty, he 
 was remanded to prison, and at his second ap- 
 pearance his manacles were taken off. When 
 he was on his trial, the indictment was read, the 
 substance of vi'hich was, that in a riotous manner 
 he entered the parish church of Great Cogges- 
 hall; that he stood up there, and told the minis- 
 ter he blasphemed and spoke falsely; and that 
 iie could not give a good account where he was 
 last settled, or of his life and conversation, ap- 
 pearing to be an idle person. To this he pleaded 
 not guilty. A priest and two justices appeared 
 in evidence against him, who it seems were not 
 verv correct in their evidence, and when James 
 endeavoured to speak to the jury in his own de- 
 fence, the judge would not permit him, and in 
 other respects acted very improperly, suffering 
 his accusers to stand on the bench, whispering 
 to him, and incensing his mind against the pri- 
 soner. 
 
 The judge also endeavoured to influence the 
 jury in a very partial manner. However, when the 
 jury gave in their verdict, they found him guilty of 
 only publishing a paper which he had written in 
 answer to his mittimus, and signed with his name:; 
 but of that part of the indictment, which only was 
 
 liFE OF JAMES FARNElA 
 
 9 
 
 punishable by law, the riotous entrance into the pa- 
 rish church (so called) of Coggeshall, they acquitted 
 liim. He was indeed so far from entering the 
 place riotously, that he went quite alone, having 
 declined accepting the company of a friend who 
 offered to go with him, -and sending some children 
 into the place before him, whom he found as- 
 sembled about the door. In the dispute which 
 arose, on James Parners defending the principles 
 of his Friends, he mentioned " the church in God.*' 
 This expression the priest said was nonsense. 
 James proved it to be scripture language, and 
 charged the priest with blasphemy in calling it 
 nonsense. This part of the indictment was there- 
 fore acknowledged, as well as the paper already 
 mentioned, and he defended himself by saying, 
 that he did not think it indecent to call an unjust 
 judge, unrighteous; a persecutor, a persecutor; or 
 a deceiver, a deceiver. 
 
 The verdict of the jury Mas not satisfactory to 
 the judge, who wished to have better authority for 
 that severity which lie was disposed to exercise ou 
 the present occasion, he therefore endeavoured to 
 draw something more from die foreman, in which 
 he succeeded; but the rest of the jury did not as- 
 sent to it. The judge, however, with that violent 
 -iind arbitrary ftpirit which particularly €haracterize4 
 ^k lioies^ proceeded to give judgjiient agaiustihe 
 
10 
 
 tIPE OP JAMES PARNCL; 
 
 MFE OF JAMES PARNEU 
 
 ai 
 
 prisoner, by amercing him in two fines, amounting 
 together to about forty pounds : one was imposed 
 for his contempt of the magistracy, and the other 
 for that of the ministry ; for the judge said that 
 the Lord Protector had charged him to punish 
 such persons as should contemn either magistracy 
 
 or ministry. 
 
 James Parnel not paying the fines imposect, 
 which he would have considered a confession of 
 guilt, he was taken back to Colchester jail. This 
 \vas in an old castle, supposed to have been built 
 by ihe Romans. The jailer received orders from 
 the judge not to permit any giddy-headed people, 
 (meaning his Friends,) to visit the prisoner. This 
 cliaro^e was executed with as much severity as the 
 judge could desire; for both the jailer and his wife 
 appear to have been of a cruel disposition. 
 The latter set her man to beat her innocent pri- 
 soner, and sometimes even exercised this cruelty 
 herself, swearing that she would have his blood. 
 His victuals were frequently taken from hixn, and 
 he was not permitted to have a bed, which his 
 friends would have sent him, to sleep on ; the con- 
 sequence of which was, that he was obliged to lie 
 on the stones, in a cold damp place^ on the ground 
 floor. . 
 
 After sometime of confinement here, he was puT 
 into a hole in the vm\l of the castle; not so large 
 
 us some bakers ovens^ His ascent to this was by 
 a ladder which was about six feet short of the hole 
 he had to «nter, and a rope was fixed to remedy 
 this inconvenience. By this ladder and rope ho 
 bad to ascend and descend on all occasions, nor 
 would his cruel keepers permit him to have a cord 
 and basket, with which to draw up his victuals, 
 though his friends would have provided them 
 for him.. 
 
 Winter was now approaching, which increased 
 the hardship of his situation. The hole in which 
 lie was confined was damp, and not capable of 
 being warmed by fire ; the consequence was that 
 his limbs became deprived af their natural agility, 
 so that it was with difficulty he could climb into 
 Ids hole with such inconvenient means of access. 
 One day after he had ascended the ladder, and 
 was catching at the rope, he missed bis aim and 
 fell dowir to the ground on the stones. When first 
 found he was supposed to be dead; but this did 
 not prove to be the case. He was, however, much 
 bruised and wounded with his fall. After this he 
 was put into a hole under the other, there being 
 two stories of these vaulted holes in the walls of 
 the castle. This hole was called the oven, and 
 timaller than that in which he was first confined. 
 Here he recovered in some degree fix>ni the effects 
 ef his fall, and being desirous oi taking the air in 
 
 m 
 
1€ 
 
 LIFB OF JAMES PAHNEL. 
 
 ifte castle yard, his cruel keepers would not per- 
 mit bim. He was therefore obliged to confine 
 himself to this small apartment, to which there 
 was no access for light or air, but by die door. 
 In this situation his Iiealth necessarily suffered, so 
 That his life was despaired of, if he continued in 
 liis present confinement. Two of his friends, 
 William Talcot and Edward Grant, therefore of- 
 fered to be bound in the sum of forty pounds, 
 provided he might be permitted to-come to one of 
 their housesf till his recovery : and another friend, 
 Tliomas Shortland, offered to lie in prison for 
 him. His persecutors were, 'however, tinrelent- 
 ing ; and so wicked was the jailer, that once, when 
 the door of his hole Was open, and he liad taken 
 'the opportunity of going out und walking in a 
 narrow yard between two high walls, the jailer 
 locked the door of his hole, and obliged him to 
 .'remain in the open air ^11 night, in the coldest 
 part of 'Winter. 
 
 These su&enngs were too gte^t for nature to 
 
 •support ; and after ten or eleven months coiKfine- 
 
 Tnent at Colchester, his youthful constitution sunk 
 
 \mdcff-them. In his }ast illness^ his mind was 
 
 preserved calm and resigned. To two frienA 
 
 ^'ho wer6 with him at the time of his decease, he 
 
 said: ** Here 1 die innocently." And again: 
 
 ^ This death I mUst die: I have seen great things. 
 
 LITE OF JAMES PARNEi. 
 
 -Do not hold me, but let me go." His last words 
 were, " Now I go." After which he fell asleep> 
 and in about an hour quietly expired. 
 
 Thus terminated the life of this pious and zea- 
 lous young man. Great indeed was his zeal 
 against the hypocritical and persecuting spirit of 
 the high professors of those days. Tliat his ardour 
 might sometimes lead him to use expressions 
 rather violent and irritating, I am induced to be- 
 lieve from the perusal of some of his writings ; ♦ 
 but such seems to have been, at that time, the 
 general mode of opposing what was considered 
 -error ; and his youth will be an apology for some 
 excess of zeal. Nothing which he said or did, 
 could however justify, either legally or equitably, 
 the violent treatment which he received from his 
 enemies and persecutors. His snffieiings, it ap- 
 
 • Tbit T may not he Ihenffit to make this observation 
 liehtly, 1 give the following extract :—" Here fpllows tb« 
 copy of a Note which was written aj^ainst the IdoFs Temple, 
 l^hiclrwas judged a contempt of the Ministry. 'This is the 
 Idol's Temple where the Worship of the BeaU it upheld. 
 Down Ddtb it; Down with it ;' of the Minister lie says : *♦ This 
 is a deceiver, ^hO slaifds np here every first d%y of the week 
 10 deceive the people : be isproiHl and covetous, and speaketb 
 A Divination of bis own braift," &c. It might seem by the 
 Urst quotation, that his design was to instigate the people to 
 demolish the building; but no part of bis conduct evinced siidi 
 a disposition ; nor do t find that bis eii«mie» pat Chit cofiltttfc- 
 •4iofi^ upoo' bir #ordi; 
 
IV 
 
 u 
 
 IIFE OP JAMES PARNEl, 
 
 S.XFB OF JAMES PARNEt. 
 
 15 
 
 pears from various accounts, be bore with great 
 naeekiiess and patience; and these, together witli 
 his gospel labours, were greatly blessed, to the 
 xonvincement and conversion of many who were 
 witnesses of them. 
 
 He was of small stature, and his appearance 
 altogether seems to have been diminutive, which 
 frequently excited the contempt of his opponents, 
 who designated him by the name of, " the Quaking 
 Boy/' But however his enemies might say, that 
 " his bodily presence is weak, and his speech con- 
 temptible," yet it appears from various accounts 
 of him, that he was a powerful and effectual 
 Minister of the Gospel; and at the same time a 
 good example to those among whom he laboured; 
 his conduct being adorned with gravity and hum»^ 
 lity, whilst he was blameless in conversation and 
 unspotted from the world- 
 
 His writings were collected after his death, and 
 published in the year 1675, in a quarto volume. 
 To this collcctioa are prefixed Testimonies con- 
 •cerning him from several Friends who were con- 
 vinced by him ; with an extract from one of which* 
 J shall conclude this account. " He was a true 
 .Minister and Messenger sent of God, who brought 
 tidings of the way of life and salvation to me an^ 
 
 ^ Smnel Catct, of FcnstantoD, or Littfeporh 
 
 many more in these parts of the nation. And this 
 I can say also; as the Lord was pleased to call 
 him into his blessed work, so he furnished him 
 with virtues suitable for the same, according to 
 the work of the day in which he brought him 
 forth, and did mightily appear for him and with 
 him, in giving him courage, and wisdom, and 
 power, whereby he was prepared and fitted for 
 every service and exercise, that the Lord called 
 him unto ; which service he faithfully performed, 
 of a ready mind and with a willing heart." This 
 testimony the Friend concludes with these words : 
 <* Surely, the mighty power and wisdom of the 
 Lord was with bim of a truth !" 
 
 Having given a specimen of the zeal which he 
 manifested against those things and persons which 
 he considered contrary to the truth, I shall 
 scarcely do justice to his character, without giving 
 another specimen of his writing, by quoting an 
 Epistle which he entitled, " A few Words to all 
 my dear Friends in and about the County of 
 Essex." See page 291 of his Works. 
 
 " And all you my clear friends, you scattered 
 and despised ones in and about the county of 
 Essex, whom the Lord by his powerful word is 
 now gathering out of darkness into his marvellous 
 light j out of the kingdom of this world^ ioto the 
 
 '1^' 
 ^^,. 
 
16 
 
 LIFE OF JAMEff PABNEC* 
 
 kingdom of his dear Son ; whom he is separating 
 unto himself, to walk before him in holiness, that 
 you might know him and he might know you in 
 the light of his countenance, whose faces he hath 
 turned towards Sion, to seek after a land of 
 rest unto your weary «ouls, which have been 
 itossed to and fro, from mountain to hill, in this 
 cloudy and dark day, seeking rest but tiudiiig nene; 
 but now is the day of beauty broken forth nigh 
 you, even in you, yea and glad tidings is come 
 unto your wearied souls, by which a pure love is 
 begotten in you to the everlasting truth, which 
 hath been freely declared amongst you by the 
 messengers of the Most High, who have reached 
 the witness for God in your consciences, which 
 doth seal the same upon your hearts; which your 
 teacher is, and unto it yea hearken and are obedi- 
 ent; in which light all stand still and behold the 
 work which the Lord hath begun amongst you, 
 and you shall have no cause of discouragement. 
 Though the sea doth rise-and the raging waves do 
 £well, as if they would swallow all up, yet it is 
 limited by the unlimited, and it-shall but ^oam out 
 its own shame. 
 
 ' '' And as I had n time to preach the truth -among 
 -^ou, to the conviiicement of many, so also now J 
 4iavea^ time to seal the same with patient -suffering 
 
 jo'tke bouds of the^aspel^ tliat you may s^^iktf 
 
 XIVE OT JAMES PARNEL. 
 
 17 
 
 4t is no other but tchat W€ are made able and willing 
 to seal tilth fatient suffering; yea with our blood if 
 tee be called to it, as many of us have done, in thift 
 nation, though it be called a land of liberty; but 
 it is for iniquity, but truth and equity are strangers 
 in it, and therefore are persecuted. But you that 
 are found worthy to receive these strangers, happy 
 are you ; and though the raging Sddomites compass 
 you about, for to cause you to cast out these 
 strangers, that they may work their wills upon 
 them, yet be faithful and fear them not, but cast 
 out your darlings before them, and stand in the 
 faith of the God of truth and equity, and you 
 shall see the Sodomites struck with blindness that 
 they shall 'not be able to prevail against you; but 
 when they are weary with striving, they shall be 
 made to sit down in sorrow, and so shall it be ful- 
 filled which of old was prophesied ; that no taeapon 
 formed against the faithful shall prosper ; but teot 
 mito them that lift up their heel against them. 
 
 " Therefore 1 charge you all in the name of the 
 God of Truth. Be faithful, valiant, and hold for 
 the truth received; and as you have received it, so 
 walk in it that you may profess no more in word 
 but tchat in life you seal, that the life may be 
 preached forth in your lives, and shine forth in 
 your conversations, to the glory of the Father of 
 Xights, and the confounding of the heathen^ who 
 
 'f. 
 

 LIFE OF JAMES PARNEt. 
 
 profess God in words, but in life deny tiim* mut 
 he Tcillin^ that ielf shall suffer for the truth, and 
 not the truth for seffi (for the truth was ever sealed 
 with persecution, since Cain V generation had a 
 being upon the earth,) and so own the cross and de* 
 spise the shame, and give up yourselves to suffer for 
 the truth received, all you that would follow the 
 Lamb to the land of rest, and through many trials 
 you will wax strong and bold, and confident in your 
 God; for God is not known what a God he is^ 
 until the time of triaL 
 
 " And all keep your meetings in the name and fear 
 of the Lord God, waiting for his power in the obc" 
 Hence to 'his light, which in your corpse iencei doth 
 reprove you when you-do amiss, that in it you may 
 TSDait and zcatch over the foes that are of your oka 
 house, . that you may knozo the warfare begun in 
 your hearts against your spiritual enemies ; and so 
 the God of power manifest himself amongst yoiL, 
 by his. mighty power bringing down all that in you 
 which opposes him, and would net that fie should 
 reign over it and exalt his own seed in your hearts, 
 and establish you in righteousness, that his image 
 you. may bear ; and be. bhali be your God, and you 
 shall be his people. 
 
 ^ And sOy in the unchangeable truCb, I rest in 
 unity with all the faithful^ in the glorious liberty 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES FARNBt.« 
 
 la 
 
 of the toni of God; though in outward bond* foi 
 your fakes. 
 
 <' Known to all that can read me in spirit. 
 
 " JAMES PARNEL/' 
 
 A FEW LINES 
 
 Written after visiting the dungeon at Carlisle, in 
 which James Parnel was convinced by George 
 Fox ; and on subsequently reading the account 
 of hi» confinement and death in the prison at 
 Colchester. 
 
 When Heav'o attracts me from my poor estate. 
 
 Where chained to earth mj dull affections wait; 
 
 Where love and zeal, at best, but feebly dravr, 
 
 My tardy steps to duty's holy lavr, 
 
 Thee ! righteous Parnel I I with tears behold, 
 
 In age a stripling, but in service old; 
 
 I stand reprov'd by thee, thou youth divine, 
 
 A backward child with days that double thine ^ 
 
«) 
 
 Iiri OF JAMES BARNEIi. 
 
 ■»f!:. 
 
 7' 
 
 On thy fair mind, the boundless power of truth 
 -Hose strong and ardent, in thy tebder youth; 
 And led thee forward, fearless, without guile. 
 To wake the sinful of this <)arken'd isle : 
 Many there were, in those laborious days^ 
 Who heard thy word, and gave thy Master praise^ 
 But wrathful, £erce, the arm of power arose, 
 And strodi the servant labouring io his catb«» 
 
 CfHAPTER in 
 
 tIFE OF JOHN CJMM. 
 
 Jl HIS Friend Avas one of those who attended 
 that remarkable Meeting held at Firbank Chapel, 
 in Westm,orIand, by George Fox, when great 
 numbers were convinced of our principles, and 
 many of them afterwards became eminent minis- 
 ters and labourers in the gospel of Christ. 
 
 John Camm was born at Camsgill, io the 
 Barony of 'Kendal. His family, it appears, had 
 given name to the place, which had been in tlieir 
 possession^^for several generations * He received- 
 ^ good edncation, and was from his eliildhood re- 
 ligiously inclined. As he advanced in years, he 
 joined himself itt society to such as were most 
 
 • Tlie word ** gill" some times signifies a beck or rivnlet 
 •nd in this instance it seems to have been so applied, in con- 
 Sequence of a small stream raoniog throagh the estate. 
 
 I A 
 
s« 
 
 LIVE OF JOHN CAMM. 
 
 Strict in the observance of religious duties, and 
 most exemplary in their conduct. He and several 
 others liad separated themselves from the natK)iial 
 way of worship, and met together for religious 
 improvement, and the performance of divine wor- 
 ship. They had not, however, found what their 
 souls were satisfied with, but were prepared to 
 receive further manifestations of the -way of life 
 and salvation. George Fox was tire means of 
 opening this to theui ; and the subject of the pre- 
 sent Memoir appears to have received the testi- 
 mony which was borne by that able minister, mih 
 greater readiness than some others, who did not 
 accept it till after close examination xmd much 
 debate* 
 
 Being a man of considerable property and good 
 abilities, -he was rising in the world, which, accord- 
 ing to the account given by his son, " seemed to 
 smile upon him, and the riches and glory of it 
 had exceedingly increased, and were Ihen likely to 
 increase more." Yet all these things became 
 light in bis estimation, when placed in competition 
 with obtaining an inheritance incorruptible, and 
 that fadeth not away; and he readily resigned all 
 for Christ's sake, being willing to follow him 
 through much contempt and many tribulations. 
 
 After undergoing much secret exercise of mind, 
 he became prepared for the put^lic service of the 
 
 LIFE t)F JOtiN CAMkf. 
 
 121 
 
 «ri»isery, in which capacity he travelled in iht 
 Kordiern Counties of England, as far as ^he bor- 
 <leP8 of 'Scotland. After his return from this 
 jouiBey, .be was engaged to visit some of the 
 Southern parts of the nation, in which he was 
 accompanied by Francis Howgill ; and it appears 
 that these two Friends w«rc the first who preached 
 and published the doctrines -of our Society in 
 London; butihe principal object t>f this journey 
 -'was," to declare the message of the Lord to Oliver 
 Cromwell, then called Protector." 
 
 They not ofily paid him a personal • visit, birt 
 John Camm also wrote to him. The Epistle be- 
 >gins thus : " On the last day of the first month 
 •called March,* about two o'clock in the mornin*^. 
 1 was moved of the Lord to write these ensuing 
 Jines, and to lay before thee the cause of our 
 -coming liilher to London. .Friend, we came not 
 to thee to petition any thing Jrom tliee in the out- 
 ward, but in the tender bowels of love to exhort 
 thee to mind thy. own condition, how thou stand- 
 est in relation to ahe. Lord God of heaven. and 
 icarlh, who is^ powerful, and pure,, and holy ; who 
 will not. acquit the wicked, but will wound the 
 Jiairy scalp of him who goes on in iniquity; before 
 
 • The year U not njenlioned, but I sq^ose it U be I65f. 
 ^od, that he U f i home io 1 633. 
 
 h 
 
d4 
 
 IIFE OF JOHN CAMSTv 
 
 n 
 
 i 
 
 whose presence all stand naked and bare; who 
 knows and sees all the secrets o£ thy heart ; thy 
 outgoings and incomings; to whom thou must give 
 account of all things done in the body, whether 
 they be good or evil. Therefore, in love to thy 
 soul, were we moved to come to exhort tliee to stand 
 in the fear of the Lord and in his counsel, and to 
 mind the light in thj conscience, which is pure 
 and of God to guide thee in the great afifairs of 
 the nations/' 
 
 Part of the object of this Epistle appears to 
 have been to caution the Protector against coun- 
 tenancing any oppression or suffering for religion. 
 In tlneir personal visit they had intimated to him how 
 he might be made instrumental in establishing the 
 gospel, which it seems the Protector supposed 
 they meant to be done by law. Iliis mistake is 
 therefore rectified, in a manner which deserves 
 transcribing, for the justness of the sentiment 
 'which it contains : ** Thou appreheudedst us that 
 this should be established by an outward law. 
 That was not our desire, we spoke no such 
 things but we witness the coming of Christ in his 
 kingdom is not by might, nor power, nor pomp, 
 nor glory from without, nor by any law which is in 
 the will of man ; but our desires were that there 
 should be no iaw upon religipn, for it needs no 
 law to defend it," This Epistle concludes tliuK 
 
 LIFE OF JOHxN CAMM. 
 
 2d 
 
 " Take heed ; for he that is in high places is subject 
 to many temptations." 
 
 Soon after John Camm*s return from this jour^ 
 ney, he again travelled Southward, accompanied, 
 at setting out, by four of his neigiibours, viz. John 
 Audland, Francis Uowgill, Edward Burrouoh. 
 and Richard Hubbertliorn. He and Edward 
 Burrough went tlirough the Midland Counties to 
 London, where the others, who had taken a dif- 
 ferent course, met them. Several other labourers 
 in the same cause, were at this time in the Metro- 
 polis, and gr^at success attended their united en- 
 deavours. After some time, John Canim and 
 John Audland found their minds drawn towards 
 Bristol, where " a great door and effectual" was 
 opened unto them, and many hundreds were, 
 through their instrumentality, turned to God and 
 Christ, and to die inward manifestations of the 
 Holy Spirit iu dieir hearts. 
 
 Among the fruits of their ministrv, were Josiah 
 Cole, George Bishop, Ciiarles Marshall, and 
 Barbara Blaugdon. But whilst many of the peo- 
 ple received them gladly, the priests were much 
 disturbed with the success of their ministry, and 
 incited first a mob, and afterwards the magistrates, 
 against them. Tlie former was indeed very tu- 
 multuous, endangering the lives of these two 
 
 c 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
as^ 
 
 4^FE OP JOHN CAMM. 
 
 JLIFE OF JOHN CAMM. 
 
 sr 
 
 friends; and the latter issued a warrant for theii 
 
 ^«ppre.heiisijDn ; but they had left the city, and there- 
 
 . fore i^ had uo effect, it appears most probable that 
 
 -they returned h<?mesoo4i after leaving Bristol, as 
 
 .1 iind them ^t l:i43reford on the 25th of the 7th 
 
 jnonth, iQb^f and Joseph lie^se states their being 
 
 ^^at Bristol in t|iat mouth. 
 
 r do not meet with any account of John Gamm 
 -from this time until the year 1 6o6, except that 
 from the date of a letter to Friends in Bristol, it 
 appears he was at home, at Preston Patrick, in 
 Westmorland, tlic 20th of the 2d month, 1655. 
 In the year 1656, he and J-ohn Audland again 
 visited Bristol ; and after their return from this jour- 
 ney, it is likely that great and increasing infirmities 
 confined John Camm to his home and its neigh- 
 bourhood. He was of a -weak constitution and 
 consumptive habit, and the exercise which iie had 
 undergone, in the large meetings at ^Bristol and 
 other places, miany of which were in the open air, 
 ^lad no doubt increased his weakness. He had, 
 indeed, always travelled with great infirmities, fre- 
 •quently taking his son Thomas in company, to 
 /wait upon him; but bis bodily disorders now 
 frapidly increased, under which his mind was, 
 .hoM'ever, . preserved in much patience and re* 
 ^jgnatipn. 
 
 I)uring the time of his illness he frequently 
 called his family together, giving them much reli- 
 gious advice, and otten praying for them. His 
 miud was «ot only resigned to his situation, but 
 he had also learned the apostolic lesson : " In 
 every thing give thanks," as appears from the fol- 
 lowing expressions which he uttered : " How 
 great a benefit do I enjoy beyond many, having 
 such a large time of preparation for death; being 
 dying daily, that I may live for ev€r with my God, 
 in that kingdom that is unspeakably full of glory. 
 My outward man daily wastes and moulders 
 down, and draws towards its place and centre; 
 but my inward man revives and mounts upward 
 towards its place and habitation in the heavens.*' 
 
 On the day of his decease, he called his wife 
 and family together, and after giving them much 
 advice, he fainted, and to appearance passed 
 quietly away in a sweet sleep. I'his occasioned 
 such a sorrow and weeping, that the noise awok-e 
 him ; and, desiring to be raised in his bed, he ad- 
 dressed his family to this import : " My dear 
 hearts, you have wronged me and disturbed me, 
 for I was at sweet rest. You should not so pas- 
 sionately sorrow for my departure. This house of 
 -eardi and clay must go to its place; but this soul 
 and spirit is to be gathered up to the Lord, to 
 
 r O 
 
 1^ —I 
 
 H 
 
£8 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN CAMM. 
 
 live with him for ever, and where we shall meet 
 with everlasting joy," 
 
 After these expressions, he again took leave of 
 them, and quietly expired in the llth month, l65dy 
 in the 62d year of his age. 
 
 CUAPTEIl 111. 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM ROBINSON. 
 
 I AM now brought, in the course of my work^ 
 to notice several Friends who suffered death for 
 their religious opinions, in New England, by the 
 Episcopalians ; and in order to give the reader aa 
 idea of the circumstances under which they suf- 
 fered, it may be proper to prefix some informa- 
 tion, extracted from Joseph Besse*s Account of 
 Friends' Sufferings. *' In that province," he ob- 
 serves, " were sitting at the hehn of government, 
 a set of men, making high pretensions to religion, 
 and such as had loudly cried against the tyranny 
 and oppression of the bishops in Old England, 
 from whom tliey had fled ; professing themselves, 
 'pious and peaceable Protestants, driven by se- 
 venty to leave their native country, and seek a 
 refuge for their lives and liberties, with freedom 
 for the worship of God, in a wilderness, in the 
 
 c 3 
 
 ff* 
 
30 
 
 LIFE OF "WILLVAM ROBINSON, 
 
 IIFE. OF WILLI A>r ROBINSON. 
 
 31 
 
 cuds of the earth.' Yet when invested with power, 
 we find them exercising a cruel dominion over the 
 faith and consciences of others; in which they ap- 
 pear to us not so inconsistent with themselves as 
 some have thought : because, when, under oppres- 
 sion, they pleaded for liberty of conscience, they 
 understood it not as the natural and common right 
 of ail mankind, but as a peculiar privilege of the 
 orthodox. They had long before any of the 
 Quakers came thither, viz. in the year 1646, made 
 a law or order for uniformity in religion, by im- 
 posing a penalty of five shillings per week, on 
 such as came not to hear the established ministers. 
 Thus they early began to intrench themselves 
 against any further discoveries of truth and religion, 
 by a penal law; and as to the Quakers, they had 
 received an unreasonable prejudice against them, 
 as appears by their rigid treatment of the first of 
 Xhem who came into that country." Vol. 2, p. 177. 
 
 The preceding passage shows the persecuting 
 disposition of these emigrants, who themselves 
 fled from persecution. Finding that the people 
 called Quakers were likely to visit them either in 
 their commercial or religious concerns, they made 
 severe laws against them, punishing those who 
 came among them, with cutting off first one ear, 
 then in case of repetition, the other, and for a 
 third oflfeuce boring the tongue with a hot iron. 
 
 i 
 
 And when they found these punishments insuffi- 
 cient, with several cruel additions, they at length 
 made a law for inflicting the punishment of death 
 on all those^v\4i6 had been banished from them. 
 This punislunent-wa* actually executed on threo^ 
 men and one-woman^ who came in gospel love to 
 visit them, and to warn them- of the evil of their 
 ways; pjirticulai:ly.in indulging, a spirit of perse- 
 cution, contrary to the ))recepts of Chri&t Jesus, 
 our common Lord and Saviour^ 
 
 William Robinson, the first of these sufFerera,' 
 was a merchant in the city of London, of whom I 
 find very little account ; but it appears that he left 
 his own home to pay a religious visit to the new 
 settlers in America, about the- year \659» 
 
 In the course of his journey, he came to Rhod9 ^ 
 Island; and when travelling, there, he found his 
 mind drawn to go to Boston in New England, 
 where, as is already noticed, a law had been made 
 to banish all Quakers, not inhabitants, from the 
 jurisdiction of that place, and making non-com* 
 pliance, or returning after complying, punishable 
 with death. Marmaduke Stevenson had accom^ 
 pauied William Robinson to Boston, and Mary 
 Dyer was already there, also one Nicholas Davis. 
 These four were summoned before the Court of 
 Assistants, from whom they received sentence^oC 
 
 c 4 
 
as 
 
 LIFE OV WILLIAM UOBINSOX. 
 
 l,IFE OF WILLIAM ROBINSON. 
 
 35 
 
 ■n 
 
 i 
 
 bunishment. This however was not thought to be 
 sufficient punishment for William Robinson, who 
 being considered a teacher, and a principal, was 
 also sentenced to be whipped. The sentence 
 was executed upon him, by putting his hands 
 through the holes of a great gun, to which the 
 jailer held him fast, while the executioner in- 
 tiicted upon him twenty stripes with a threefold 
 corded whip. 
 
 Robinson and Stevenson left the town of Bos- 
 ton ; but not finding their minds clear of that 
 religious service which induced them to come 
 there, they remained within its jurisdiction, and 
 visited their Friends in and about Salem. It was 
 not long, however, before they were again taken 
 up and imprisoned ; as was also Mary Dyer, \iho, 
 though she had left the State, found her mind 
 drawn to return there, to testify against their un- 
 righteous laws. After some time of confinement, 
 they were brought into court, where John Endicot, 
 the governor, presided ; and who, without any pre- 
 fatory proceedings, immediately passed sentence 
 of death upon them, in these words : " We have 
 made many laws, and endeavoured by several ways to 
 keep you from us; and neither whippings, nor im- 
 prisoning, nor cutting off ears, nor banishing upon 
 pain of death, would keep you from amongst us. 
 I desire not your deaths. Give ear and hearken 
 
 to your sentence." Here W'illiam Robinson in- 
 terrupted him, and desired liberty to read a paper^ 
 showing the reason why he had not departed from 
 that jurisdiction. This reasonable request, how- 
 ever, was refused, and the sentence was proceeded 
 with in these words : *' You shall be had back to 
 the place from whence you came, and from thence 
 to the place of execution, to be hanged on the 
 gallows till you are dead." 
 
 The sentence was then passed on the other 
 two Friends, who seeing it was in vain to attempt 
 to speak, did not offer to make any defence, though 
 Endicot pretended to give liberty to Stevenson, 
 who, afier sentence was passed, warned them of 
 thejudgments which would come upon them, if they 
 put their wicked sentence in execution, and thus 
 made themselves guilty of shedding innocent blood. 
 
 These transactions took place on the 20th of 
 October, 1659, and the execution of those vir- 
 tuous and pious sufferers, was fixed for the 27th 
 of the same. On th^ afternoon, the prisoners 
 Were taken to the place of execution, guarded by 
 about two hundred armed men. In the proces- 
 sion, drummers were placed immediately before 
 the condemned persons, and when any of them at- 
 tempted to speak, the drums were beaten to pre- 
 vent their being heard. Thus did these high pro- 
 
 C $ 
 
54 
 
 LIFE OP WILLIAM HOBINSON. 
 
 fessors of religion, and pretended lovers of liberty, 
 manifest their want of the most essential qualities 
 bf both, in their conduct on this occasion. 
 
 During the procession, William Robinson said, 
 " This is your hour, and the power of darkness :" 
 but the drums beating immediately, he did not 
 proceed. When they came to the gallows, John 
 Wilson, a priest, of Boston, attended them. It 
 might be supposed that on this occasion, if he 
 could not afford them any religious consolation, 
 he would at least have administered some eihor- 
 tation, tending to prepare them for the awful cir- 
 cumstance about to take place ; but instead of 
 this, he insulted them with this low language : 
 *' Shall such jacks as you come in before authority 
 Avith your hats on r" This occasioned William 
 Jiobinson to say to the people: " Mind you, 
 mind you ; it is for not putting off the hat we are 
 put to death." When he was on the ladder, he 
 ihus addressed the people : " We suffer, not as 
 evil doers, but as those who have testified and 
 manifested the truth. This is the day of your visi- 
 tation, and therefore I desire you to mind the 
 Light of Christ, which is in you, to which I have 
 l)orne testimony, and am now going to seal my 
 testimony with my blood." 
 
 The unfeeling priest here interrupted him, with 
 saying; " Hold thy tongue, be silent j thou arl 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM IIOBINSON. 
 
 3$ 
 
 going to die with a lie in thy mou^h.'* After this, 
 the rope was put about William Robinson's neck, 
 when he said, " Now ye are made manifest ;*^ and 
 being about to be turned off, he thus expressed 
 himself: " I suffer for Christ, in whom I live, and 
 forw^om I die." After this, Marmaduke Steven- 
 son was executed, and Mary Dyer was reprieved,- 
 
 But the malice of these wicked religionists, was 
 not fully satisfied with taking away the* lives of 
 these innocent sufferers ; the dead bodies must also 
 partake of their ill-founded revenge. When they 
 had hung the usual time, they were cut down 
 without any one holding them, and William 
 Robinson's skull was fractured by the faH. Thfe 
 bodies were afterwards stripped naked, and' then 
 rolled into a hole^ in which they were* left un- 
 covered; and when some of tlieir ' friends would 
 have provided coffins, and given them a decent 
 burial, they were not permitted, nor even suffered 
 to inclose the place with pales, for want of which 
 the wild beasts might have devoured the d^ad, 
 had not the pit been quickly filled with water. Tb 
 complete this infamous business, this priest already 
 mentioned gave vent to his unchristian disposition 
 siill further, by composing a Song on these 
 martyrs for the support of a good conscience, and 
 their faithful testimony against this hypocritical 
 Jind blood-thirsty people. 
 
S6 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM ROBINSON. 
 
 Four days before his martyrdom, William Ho- 
 binson wrote a short epistle which he directed 
 " To the Lord's People." — It manifests so fully 
 the heavenly state of his mind, his love to his 
 friends, and his complete resignation to the suf- 
 ferings permitted to befal him, that I cannot close 
 this account better than by giving it to the reader. 
 It is as follows :— 
 
 *' The streams of my Father*s love run d^ily 
 through me, from the Holy Fvuntain of Life, to 
 the seed throughout the whole creation. I am 
 overcome with love, for it is my life and length of 
 iny days ; it is my glory and my daily strength. I am 
 swallowed up with love; in love 1 live, and with 
 it I am overcome; and in it 1 dwell with the Holy 
 Seed, to which the blessing of love is given from 
 God, who is love ; who hath shed it abroad in my 
 heart, which daily fills me with living joy from the 
 life from whence it comes. 
 
 " Ye children of the living God ! feel me when 
 you are waiting in it ; when your hearts and minds 
 are gathered into it ; when, in the strength of it 
 you are travailing ; feel me when it runs from the 
 fountain into your vessel; when it issues gently 
 like new wine into your bosoms ; when the strength 
 and power of it you feel : when you are overcome 
 wiih strength of lo^e, which is God; then feel 
 
 IIFE OP WILLIAM ROBINSOK. 
 
 Sf 
 
 me present in the fountain of love, wherein are 
 many mansions. You children of the Lord! feel 
 me wrapt up with you in the pure love, which 
 destroys the love which is in enmity with God, 
 which warreth against the seed that proceedeth 
 from the Father of Love, the God of Truth. 
 Let nothing separate you from this love, which is 
 my life; neither words nor thoughts, nor any thing 
 else, enter betwixt, which is contrary to it, for it 
 will stain the place of its abode. So dear children^ 
 who are begotten by love into the covenant of life 
 and love, keep daily in it. This is the portion 
 that God hath given to his children to continue in 
 his love, which is the life of the seed, which is 
 raised by the power of the endless love of God in 
 the creature. 
 
 " I am full of the quickening power of the Lord 
 Jesug Christ, and my lamp is filled with pure oil, 
 so that it gives a clear light and pleasant smell ; 
 and I shall enter with my beloved into eternal 
 rest and peace, wherein I am swallowed up; with 
 the life of it I am filled; and in it I shall depart 
 with everlasting joy in my heart, and praises in 
 my mouth, singing hallelujah unto the Lord, who 
 hath redeemed me by his hvuig power from amon<7st 
 kindreds, tongues, and nations. And now the day 
 of my departure draweth near, / have fought a 
 good fight', 1 have ke^t the hoi i/ faith j 1 have near 
 
t 
 
 S6 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM ROBINSON* 
 
 Jinished my course ; my travailing is near at an end^ 
 my testimony is near to be finished^ and an eteiv 
 Bal crown is laid up for me, and all whose feet 
 are shod with righteousness and the preparation 
 of peace, even such whose names are written in 
 the book of life, wherein I live and rejoice with 
 all the faithful seed for evermore. 
 
 " Written by a servant of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ^ WILLIAM ROBINSON;^ 
 
 .•ii 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LIFE OF MJRMADUKE STEVENSON. 
 
 This fellow-sufferer with William Robinson^ 
 lived at Shipton, near M arket-Weighton, in York- 
 shire. The earliest account I find of him, is 
 contained in a paper which he published at Boston 
 after sentence of death had been pronounced upoa 
 him. It begins thus : " In the beginning of the 
 year 1655, I was at plough in the east part of 
 Yorkshire, in Old England, near the place where 
 my outward being was ; and as I walked after the 
 plough, I was filled with the love and presence of 
 the living God, which did ravish my heart when I 
 felt it, for it did increase and abound in me like a 
 living stream : [yea] so did the life and love of 
 God run through me, like precious ointment giving 
 a pleasant smell, which made me to stand still. 
 And as I stood a little stilly with my heart and 
 mind stayed upon the Lord^ the word of the Lord 
 
40 LIFE OF MARMADUKE STEVENSON. 
 
 came to me in a still small voice, which I did hear 
 perfectly, saying to me, in the secret of my heart 
 and conscience : " I have ordained thee a prophet 
 unto the nations ;" and at the hearing of the word of 
 the Lord 1 was put to a stand, seeing that I was but 
 a child, for such a weighty matter. So at the time 
 appointed, Barbadoes was set before me, unto 
 which 1 was required of the Lord to go, and leave 
 luy dear and loving wife and tender children ; for 
 the Lord said unto me, immediately by his Spirit, 
 that he would be as an husband to my wife, and 
 as a father to my children, and they should not 
 ^vant in my absence, for he would provide for 
 them when I was gone." 
 
 Notwithstanding these prospects, he remained 
 imder the exercise about three years, not sailing 
 for Barbadoes till the fourth month, J 658. While 
 he was on this island, he was informed of the law 
 made in New England, for putting Friends to 
 death who returned after banishment. On hear- 
 ing of this law, his mind felt a secret attraction 
 that way ; and after he had finished his services in 
 Barbadoes, he sailed for Rhode Island, where he 
 visited his Friends in the love of the gospel. 
 Here, as he relates it, *' the word of the Lord 
 came to me, saying, Go to Boston with thy brother 
 William Kobinson." With this intimation of duty 
 lie complied j the result of which being already 
 
 LIFE OF MARMADUKE STEVENSON. 4l 
 
 related in the account of William Robinson, it 
 would be superfluous to repeat it. After his com- 
 panion had suffered, Marmaduke Stevenson step- 
 ped up the ladder, and expressed himself thus to 
 the surrounding multitude: " Be it known unto 
 all, this day, that we suffer, not as evil doers, but 
 for conscience sake." And when he was about to 
 be turned off, he said : '^ This day shall I be at 
 rest with the Lord." 
 
 During his confinement, he not only wrote the 
 paper, from which an extract is already made, but 
 also a long Address to the Inhabitants of Shipton, 
 W^eighton, and elsewhere, which is entitled, " A 
 Call from Death to Life, and out of the dark Ways 
 and Worships of the World, where the Seed is 
 held in Bondage under the Merchants of Babylon." 
 He, as well as his fellow-sufferer, wrote a letter 
 directed " To the Lord's People,-" which showing 
 the state of his mind when the prospect of death, 
 by the hand of an executioner was before him, it 
 may be proper to insert a part of it here; viz. 
 
 " Oh ! my dear and well beloved ones, who are 
 sealed with me in the holy covenant of our Father's 
 love, my love and life runs out to you all who are 
 chosen of God and faithful ; for you are dear unto 
 me, the Lord knows it, and are as seals upon my 
 breast. You lambs of my Father's fold, and 
 
w' 
 
 4^ LIFE OF MA.RMADUKE STEVENSON* 
 
 sheep of his pasture, the remembrance of you i» 
 precious to me, my dearly beloved ones, who are 
 of the holy seed, and bea^ the right image, which 
 springs from the true vine and offspring of David^ 
 and stock of Abraham, the father of the faithful, 
 and the redeemed ones, who are^ reconciled to 
 God and one to another, in that which sea and 
 land cannot separate ;. where you may feel me 
 knit and joined to you, in thfr spirit of truth, and 
 linked to you as members of his body ; who is our 
 head and rock of sure defence, for us to fly unto; 
 where we are kept safe in the hour of temptation; 
 and in the day of trial shall we be preserved in the 
 hollow of his hand ; where his banner of love will 
 be over us, to compass us about ; where we shall 
 have recourse to the living springs, which rome 
 from the pure fountain and well-spring of life, 
 which issues forth abundantly to refresh the hun- 
 gry and stiengjthen the feeble minded; where you 
 may feel me, my beloved ones, m the green pas- 
 tures, among the lilies of the pleasant springs, 
 w here our souls are bathed and refreshed together, 
 with the overcomings of God's love, and the virtue 
 of his presence, which is as precious oiniment 
 poured forth, giving a pleasant smell. 
 
 " So my dear Friends! let us always wait at the 
 altar of the Lord, to see the table spread ; that so 
 we may sit down and eat together, and be ra- 
 
 >? 
 
 1.1FE OF MARMADUKE STEVENSON. 43 
 
 freshed with the hidden manna, and living food of 
 life, that comes from Him who is our life, our 
 peace, our strength, and our Preserver night and 
 day. O ! my beloved ones ! let us all go on in his 
 strength, who is our Prince and Saviour, that his 
 image we may bear, who is meek and lowly in 
 heart, and mind the true and sure foundation of 
 many generations, the chief Corner Stone, elect and 
 precious; the Rock of Ages on which the Saints were 
 built ; and if we all abide thereon, we shall never 
 be moved, but stand for ever as trees of righteous- 
 ness, rooted and grounded in Him, who will be 
 with us in all our trials and temptations which 
 we may pieet withall ; and here will the Lord our 
 God be honoured by us all that are faithful unto 
 death : we shall assuredly have a crown of life 
 which will never be taken from us. 
 
 " Oh ! my beloved ones, what shall I say unto you, 
 who drink with me at the living fountain, where 
 we are nourished and brought up as twins, at the 
 breasts of consolation ; where I do embrace you in 
 the bond of peace which never will be broken. 
 O ! feel me and read me in your hearts ; for I am 
 filled with love when I think upon you, and broken 
 into tears ; for the remembrance of you doth re- 
 fresh my sonl, which makes me often to think 
 upon you, and have you in remembrance, you 
 jewels of my Father, void frst fruits of his increase. 
 
44 LIFE OF MARMADUKE STEVENSON. 
 
 If I forget you, then let the Lord forget me. Nay, 
 verily, you cannot be forgotten by me : so long as 
 I abide in the vine^ 1 am a branch of the same 
 nature with you, ivhich springs from the same 
 nature which the Lord hath blessed, where we do 
 grow together in his life and image, as members 
 of his body ; where wc shall live together to all 
 eternity, and sit down in the kingdom of rest and 
 peace, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to sing 
 the songs of deliverance to the Most High that 
 sits on the throne, who alone is worthy of all 
 honour and living praise, to whom it is due now 
 dud for ever. Amen.'* 
 
 CHAPTER v. 
 
 ZIFE OF MARY DYER. 
 
 Concerning Mary Dyer, whose reprieve 
 has been already noticed, I find but little account 
 except what relates to her sufferings at Boston. 
 
 She was a married woman, and lived in Rhode 
 Island, where she bore an excellent character. 
 She was the mother of several children, and her 
 husband was a man of reputation and respecta'^ 
 bihty; but not of the 8am« religious persuasion. 
 After her companions had received the judgment 
 of the court, sentence of death was also passed on 
 her, to which she replied: " The will of the Lord 
 be done." Endicot then ordered the marshal to 
 take her away to the prison, when she said : 
 *' Yea, joyfully I go;" and in her way there, she was 
 engaged in uttering praises to God. She was in- 
 deed full of joy in the Holy Spirit, and told the 
 marshal that he might let her alone, for she would 
 ^ to prbon without him; to which he replied: 
 
 f 
 
46 
 
 LIFE OF MARY DYER. 
 
 *' I believe you, Mrs. Dyer; but I must do what 
 I am commanded/' Whilst in prison, she wrote 
 to the General Court in Boston, remonstratins 
 closely with them on the subject of their bloody 
 laws. 
 
 After her fellow-prisoners, William Robinson 
 and Marmaduke Stevenson, had suffered, she step- 
 ped up the ladder, expecting immediately to un- 
 dergo the same punishment. Her clothes were 
 tied about ber feet, the halter put about her neck, 
 and her face covered with a handkerdiief, with 
 which Priest Wilson supplied the hangman. But 
 after all this preparation was made, a cry was 
 heard : " Stop, for she is reprieved." This ap- 
 pears to bave been no tidings of joy to her, for 
 her mind had entered into so full a resignation to 
 the prospect of deaCh, that she seemed already parti- 
 cipating of the joys of that eternity which appeared 
 then before her. When her fiet were loosed, and 
 she liad liberty given her to come down, ^e con- 
 tinued where she was, and told tliose about her, 
 that she was there willing to suffer as her brethren 
 had done, except they would annull their wicked 
 law. She was at -length forced away and taken 
 back to iier prison. This reprieve was owing to 
 the intercession of her son, to whom it seems the 
 magistrates durst not then deny that favour. 
 
 -LIFE OF MARY DYER. 
 
 47 
 
 The day after her reprieve, she again addressed 
 -the General Court, at Boston. The address diows 
 <the fortitude of her >mind, and the deep sense 
 ^ hich she entertained of the cruel disposition of 
 her persecutors. It begins thus: "Once more 
 tto the^ General Court assembled in Boston speaks 
 Mary Dyer,^ even as before. My life is not ac- 
 -cepted, neither availeth me, in comparison of the 
 lives and liberty of the truth and servants of the 
 'living God, for which in the bowfels of love and 
 meekness I sought ^ou ; yet nevertheless with 
 wicked hands have you put two of them to death, 
 which makes me to feel that the mercies of the 
 wicked is cruelty. I rather choose to die than 
 live as from you, as guiltyof their innocent blood, 
 •Therefore, seeing my request is hindered, I leave 
 you to the righteous Judge and Searcher of all 
 Jiearts." 
 
 • By her reprieve, it was directed that she should 
 continue in prison forty-eight hours ; after which 
 
 ' it appears she was put on a horse and conveyed 
 "fifteen inHes towards Rhode Island, and was then 
 •left with Q^ ntan and horse to be conveyefd forward ; 
 but she sent tkem back, and went home without 
 their assistance. After residki? here and on Lofi<r 
 -Island for several months, 3he again apprehended 
 it her duty to visit the town of Boston. She ac- 
 
 ^'Cordingly returned there on the 21st of the Sd 
 
48 
 
 LIFE OF MARV DYER. 
 
 LIPE OV MARY DYEH. 
 
 4# 
 
 month, 1660, and t€n days afterwards was summoned 
 before the General Court, ^vilere, after a few in- 
 terrogatories, Eudicot passed this sentence upon 
 her : " You must return to the prison, and there 
 remain till to-morrow at nine o'clock; then from 
 thence you must go to tlie gallows, and there 
 be hanged till you are dead." On this Mary 
 Dyer remarked : " This is no more than what 
 thou saidst before;" to which Endicot replied: 
 <* But now it is to be executed, therefore prepare 
 yourself to-morrow at nine o'clock." 
 
 She then addressed the Court in these words: 
 *' I came in obedience to the will of God the last 
 General Court, desiring you to repeal your un- 
 righteous laws of banishment on pain of death, 
 and the same is my work now and earnest request ; 
 although 1 told you that if you refused to repeal 
 them, the Lord would send others of his servants 
 to witness against them." 
 
 After a little more conversation, she was ordered 
 to be taken to prison, and about the time appoint- 
 ed next morning, the marshal came in a hasty, 
 rough manner to take her to the place of execu- 
 tion,^ to which she was led by a band of soldiers, and 
 with drums beating before and behind, to prevent 
 her being heard if she should say any thing to the 
 people. The gallows were about a mile distant 
 
 iwm the prison. When she came there, and had 
 ascended the ladder, she was told, tliat if she 
 would return she might come down and save her 
 life, to which she replied : " Nay, I cannot ; for 
 in obedience to the will of the Lord I came, and 
 in his will I abide faithful to the death." 
 
 She was then charged with being guilty of her 
 own blood; on which she replied: " Nay, I came 
 to keep blood-guiltiness from you, desiring you to 
 repeal the unrighteous and unjust law of banish- 
 ment upon pain of death, made against the inno- 
 cent servants of the Lord; therefore my blood will 
 be required at your hands, who wilfully do it ; but 
 for tliose that do it in the simplicity of their hearts, 
 I desire tlie Lord to forgive Uiem. I came to do 
 the will of my Father, and in obedience to his will, 
 I stand even to death." 
 
 Some more conversation passed betwee» her 
 and her persecutors ; and when one mentioned 
 her saying, she had been in Paradise, she replied : 
 " Yea, I have been in Paradise several davs." It 
 appears that her mind was now in the same 
 ^«<ituation as on goij»g to the place of execution 
 before, when, in replying to some insulting lan- 
 guage, she said : " "^riiis is to me an hour of the 
 greatest joy I ever had in this world. No ear can 
 hear; no tongue can utter; and no heart can un- 
 
 D 
 
 w- 
 
.'ja V 
 
 SO 
 
 ■ZITE OF MARYrDYEB. 
 
 I 
 
 i. 
 
 ^erstand the sweet incomes, and the refreshings of 
 Jthe Spirit of the Lor4 which I now feel." 
 
 Olher expressions now dropped from her, de- 
 scriptive of the happy state ot her mind in the 
 prospect of that eternity into which ghe Mas about 
 enterin<'. In this state she was turtied off, and 
 died a martyr for Ghrist, and for her testimony 
 atrainst persecution and persecutors. H«r conduct 
 on this occasion, with her addresses to the court, 
 evince her to have been a woman of good abilities, 
 great fortitude, and pious resignation, to the will 
 of God. 
 
 The state of mind in which she twice met the 
 prospect of death, manifests the hope she enter- 
 tained of a glorious immortality, into which there 
 is abundant reason to believe she happily entered, 
 experienchig the truth of the Apostle's observa- 
 tion, that " these light afflictions wliich are but for 
 a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and 
 -eternal weight of gloi^." 
 
 rMAPTfeR VI. 
 
 ^IFE OF WILLIAM LEDDRJ. 
 
 JtOR the sake of connecting the accounts of 
 these New England martyrs, I shall digress a 
 little, and but a little, from chronological order, 
 in my notice of William Leddra. He ^vas an i«' 
 habitant of the island of Barbadoes, In the year 
 1658, he came to New England, and, at Newbury, 
 iie and his companion William Brend, were forced 
 out of the town, and conveyed to Salem, where 
 they were examined by the magistrates. After 
 acknowledging themselves to be of the People 
 called Quakers, it was objected to them that they 
 maintained dangerous errors ; and when they asked 
 Mhat these errors were, they were told that they 
 denied Christ who suffered on the cross at Jeru- 
 ■^alem, and that they denied the Scriptures. This 
 charge they boldly contradicted, asserting that 
 they owned Jesus Clirist who suffered death at Je- 
 rusalem, and that they also owned the Scriptures, 
 ^^otwitltstanding this declaration, they were af-. 
 
 I) 2 
 
52 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM LEDDRA, 
 
 1.1FE OF WILLIAM LEDDRA. 
 
 53 
 
 ^•estecl, sent to Boston, and committed to tbe house 
 of correction there, only because ikey were found 
 to be Quakers. 
 
 As they would not work for the benefit of the 
 jailer, he kept ibcni five days without food, though 
 they offered to pay for it. After this privation, 
 he inflicted upon them twenty stripes with a whip. 
 When this severity had been exercised, he told them 
 that if they would pay the marshal for leading 
 them out of the country, they might go*, but they, 
 considering it unreasonable to pay for their owu 
 banishment, refused, yet offered to go away if the 
 prison doors were opened to tl>em for that purpose. 
 With this the jailer did not think proper to com- 
 ply, and the next day exercised his cruel disposi- 
 tion on William Brend, in such a shocking manner 
 as produced much discontent and a great xlamour 
 in the town. 
 
 William Leddra continued for some time in the 
 house of correction at Boston, where he was fre- 
 quently whipped, but at length was discharged. 
 He was also imprisoned at Plymouth, and ulti- 
 mately banished from the colony, on pain of death 
 if he should return to it. Where he went after bis 
 banishment I do not find ; but he did not con- 
 tinue long absent, feeling his mind strongly im- 
 pressed with an apprehensioo of duty again to 
 
 visit these persecuting people, and those who suf- 
 fered from them. Returning to Boston, though 
 almost certain of the consequences which would 
 ensue, he was there arrested, sent to jail, fastened 
 to a log of wood, and kept chained night and day, 
 in an open prison, during a very cold winter. 
 
 In the first month, 1660-1, he was brought be- 
 fore the Court of Assistants, with the chain and 
 log at his heels. Being placed at the bar, he was 
 informed, that having returned after sentence of 
 banishment, he had incurred the penalty of death 
 by the law. Upon this he asked them what evil 
 he had done^. To which the court replied, he had 
 owned those who were put to death, and had said 
 that they were innocent; that he had refused to put 
 off his hat in court, and would say thee and thou. 
 He then asked them if they would put him to 
 death for speaking English and for not putting off 
 his clothes. To this Major Dennison answered, A 
 man may speak treasop in English. On which 
 William Leddra asked: " Is it treason to say thee 
 and thou to a single person f" 
 
 I have given this conversation at length, to show 
 the light charges which these persecutors brought 
 against those, on whom they inflicted the punish- 
 ment of death. The hat had given great offence 
 in some of the former sufferers, and it was evea 
 
 D 3 
 
^'4 
 
 LIFE OF WILLlAiM LEDDRA. 
 
 thrown in the teeth of one of them, at the place 
 of execution. But to what a degree of pride 
 must the minds of these men have attained, who 
 could persecute, as man^ have done, innocent and 
 virtuous men, because they withheld this mark of 
 /aspect, and addressed individuals in the singular 
 number; language which they themselves used to 
 their Maker. Surely it was high time that these 
 corrupt and pride-gratifying practices should be 
 checked ; and though the testimony against them 
 may be classed among the lesser matters of the 
 law of our God, yet I believe when duly consi- 
 dered, it will be found to be a duty which is called 
 for from us as a people. 
 
 To return to the subject of this Memoir. Af- 
 ter a little more conversation between him and his 
 persecutors, he said : " I appeal to the laws of 
 England for my trial; if by them I am found 
 guilty, I refuse not to die." This appeal, how- 
 ever, was rejected, and the Court attempted to 
 persuade him to a recantation and compliance 
 with their will ; but this attempt he rejected with 
 disdain, saying : " What ! to join with such mur- 
 derers as you are ! Then let every man that meets 
 me say : '' Lo ! this is the man that has forsaken 
 the God of his salvation." 
 
 The coiut, finding their prisoner steadfast and 
 immovable, passed sentence of death upon him, 
 
 1.1FC OF WILLIAM Li;D©TlAr 
 
 5$ 
 
 and appointed the 14th of the month for the exe- 
 eution of their sentence. A morning lecture was 
 also appointed on the same day, in which thte 
 priest was not backward to animate the magis- 
 tratesj iu the executioa of their cf uel sentence. 
 
 When this shocking preamble to the exccutioa 
 of an unchristian and wicked law was finished, the 
 governor came t© the prison with a guard of 
 soldiers; the prisoner's irons were knocked off, and 
 he, after taking a solemn leave of his fellow-pri- 
 soners, cheerfully went forth when called. The 
 guard instantly surrounded him, to prevent any of 
 his friends coming near to speak to him; at which 
 one of his friends, Edward Whartoii, said to theme 
 " What I \rill ye show yourselves worse than 
 Bonner's bloody brood ? Will you not let me come 
 near my suffering friend before yon kill him ?" To 
 this one of the company replied : " Oh ! Edward I 
 it will be your turn next ;" and an officer threa- 
 tened to stop his mouthy if he spoke smother 
 mord. 
 
 The procession being come to tKe place" of 
 execution, William Leddra took leave of his . 
 friend, Edward Wharton, and said to him : " All 
 that will be Christ's disciples must take up his 
 cross." Then standing on the place where the 
 guard directed him, be said to the pieople : " For 
 
 D 4 
 
^a 
 
 XIFE OF WILLIAM LEDDBA. 
 
 bearing my testimony to the Lord against the de- 
 ceivers and deceived, am I brought here to suffer." 
 When the executioner was putting the halter 
 about his neck, he meekly said : " I commend my 
 righteous cause unto thee, O God !" and as he was 
 turned off, he cried out: "Lord Jesus! receive 
 iny spirit.** 
 
 Thus did this innocent martyr, patiently suffer 
 tinder the cruel laws of men, who appeared to be 
 insensible to all the compunctions that either 
 justice or mercy €xcit« in the human heart. The 
 state of his mind under his sufferings, was such as 
 became a christian; and his spiritual enjoyments, 
 previous to his death, evince such a participation 
 of the beatific vision while in the body, as is not 
 often experienced, as will appear from the fol- 
 lowbg extract from a letter, written the day before 
 his deadi, and addressed, 
 
 *' To the Society of the little Flock of Christ^ 
 
 " Grace and peace be multiplied, 
 
 V Most dear and inwardly beloved ! 
 
 *' The sweet influences of the moming star, lik^ 
 % flood, distilling into my innocent habitation, have 
 so tilled me with the joy of the Lord in the beauty 
 of holiness, that my spirit is as if it did not inhabit 
 a tabernacle of clay, but is wholly swallowed up 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM LEDDRA. 
 
 57 
 
 in the bosom of eternity, from whence it had its 
 being. 
 
 " Alas ! alas ! what can the wrath aud spirit of 
 man that lusteth to envy, aggravated by the heat 
 and strength of the king of the locusts, which 
 came out of the pit, do unto one that is hid in the 
 secrets of the Almighty, or unto them that are 
 gathered under the healing wings of the Prince of 
 Peace ? Under whose armour of light they shall 
 be able to stand in the day of trial ; bavin"" on the 
 breastplate of righteousness and the sword of the 
 Spirit, which is their weapon of war against spi- 
 ritual wickedness, principalities and powers^ and 
 the rulers of the darkness of this world, both 
 within and without. 
 
 " Oh! my beloved! I have waited like a dove 
 at the windows of the ark; and have stood still iq 
 that watch which the Master, without whom I 
 could do nothing, did at his coming reward with 
 the fulness of his love, wherein my heart did re- 
 joice, that I might, in the love and life of God. 
 ^peak a few words to you, sealed with the spirit 
 of promise, that the taste thereof might be a 
 t^avour of life to your life, and a testimony in 
 vou of my innocent death. And if I had been 
 altogether silent, aud the Lord had not opened 
 n\y mouth unto you, yet he would have opened 
 : our hearts, and there have sealed my innocence 
 
 D 5 
 
53 
 
 tIFE OF WILLIAM LEDDRA. 
 
 with the streams of life, by which we are all bap- 
 tized into that body which is of God, with whom 
 and in whose presence there is life ; in which as 
 you abide, you stand upon the pillar and ground of 
 truth. For the life being the truth and the way, 
 go not one step Mithout it, lest you should com- 
 pass a mountain in the wilderness; for to every 
 thing tiiere is a season. 
 
 " As the flowing of the ocean dpth fill eveiy 
 creek and branch thereof, and then retires a<»ain 
 towards its own being and fulness, and leaves a 
 Savour behind it, so doth tire life and virtue of 
 (jod flow into every one of your hearts, whom he 
 hatb made partakers of his Divine nature; and 
 when it wididraws but a little, it leaves a sweet 
 savour behind it, that many can say they are made 
 clean through the word that he hath spoken to 
 ibeni ; in which innocent condition you may see 
 what you are in the presence of God, and what 
 you are without Him." 
 
 He then proceeds in a strain of instructive ex- 
 hortation to bis friends ; but what is already 
 quoted may be suflicient to manifest the desirable 
 state of mind, which he experienced on thi? 
 solemn occasion. 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 LIFE OF THOMAS JLDAM. 
 
 This rrlend was one of the earliest converts 
 of George Fox in the county of York. His mo- 
 ther, wife, and two sisters, were all convinced 
 about the same time. This was in 1651. His 
 residence was at Warmsworth, near Doncaster, 
 where I suppose him to have been born ; but iu 
 what year I have not been able to ascertaiflr 
 
 Previous to his knowledge of George Fox, he 
 appears to have been a man religiously disposed, 
 and was much attached to some of the ministers 
 of that day, I suppose those called Puritans, who 
 at that time, having overturned Episcopacy, took 
 possession of the places of public w orship and the 
 livings of their predecessors. With these, how- 
 even he became dissatisfied, for he aspired after a 
 ^greater degree of light and purity than he bad yet 
 
 J tl 
 
m 
 
 LIFE OF THOMAS ALJDAM. 
 
 met with. Such was his condition, when Georsife 
 Pox came into the neighbourhood of his residence, 
 through whose ministry he was effectually turned 
 from darkness to light, and from the power of 
 batan unto God. 
 
 Tlie doctrine of a principle of Divine Light, o^ 
 the Spirit of Christ illuminating the soul, and 
 opening to it the way of life and salvation, was 
 readily acknowledged by him ; through which he 
 was drawn from a dependance on his former 
 teachers, separated from the ways of the world, 
 and himself qualified to bear a living testimony to 
 the truth, inviting others to " taste and see how 
 good the Lord is." 
 
 In his ministerial labours, he was not only exercised 
 in the meetings of his Friends, but often attended the 
 public places of worship, where lie was frequently 
 concerned to speak of the things. of God, and at 
 limes to testify against the conduct both of the 
 priests and people. He was thus engaged at 
 "Warmsworrii, Hatfield, Wickersley, Edlington, 
 Tickhill, Bawtry, Thorne, Handsworth, Rossing- 
 ton, and Pontcfract. In almost all these places 
 he met with very rude, severe treatment; but 
 at Thorny, when the priest ordered the constable 
 to take out that rude and uncivil fellow, who came 
 -so uncivilly in and made a disturbance j the con- 
 
 IITE OF THOMAS ALDAM. 
 
 61 
 
 stable being of a different spirit from the priest, 
 replied : " He disturbeth no man, nor doth any 
 man harm." After the priest had finished his 
 sermon, Thomas Aldam preached to the people. 
 Some of the rude sort, after the example of their 
 priest, reviled him ; and, not content with words, 
 proceeded t^ blows, both with their hands and 
 feet, and even spit -upon "him, turning him out of 
 their church, as tliey called it. This may sei^e as 
 rather a favomable specimen of the treatment, 
 which he generally met with on these occasions. 
 
 About the year 165^, in consequence of a con- 
 cern of this kind at Warmsworth, he was com- 
 mitted to York Castle by Darcy Wentworth, John 
 Cople}-, George Byard, and Thomas Westby, 
 justices. It is likely iie was the first Friend who 
 was a prisoner in that place for his religious prin- 
 ciples, and he was continued a prisoner about 
 two years and a half; during which time be was 
 not only prevented from visiting his family, but his 
 wife and relations frequently were not suffered to 
 visit him. 
 
 During this long imprisonment, he was brought 
 to trial before Judge Parker; but Thomas Aldam 
 not paying the judge the usual compliment of 
 taking off the hat, and likewise addressing him ia 
 the singular number; witli some remonstrances ©r 
 
et 
 
 LIFE OF THOMAS ALDAM. 
 
 his conduct, the judge fined him forty pounds^ 
 and committed him to prison with an order for 
 him to be kept close priwner till he paid it; but^ 
 on application to Oliver Cromwell, an order was 
 given for his liberation. He bore his long con- 
 finement with much patience, under a sense of the 
 Lord's goodness to him; and he had^nany oppor- 
 tunities of religious service, and of remonstrating 
 with the judges and justices, on the sufferings 
 V^hich they imposed on an innocent people. 
 
 Besides this imprisonment, he also suffered 
 much in his property for not paying tithes and 
 other ecclesiastical demands. So great was the 
 enmity of the priest of Warmsworth, that after all 
 hisxows had been taJken from himy and he had 
 borrowed one of a relation to supply his family 
 with milk, the cruel priest threatened to take that 
 away also. This priest, however, was reduced to 
 poverty, his own children prodigally spending" his 
 property, and he himself died suddenly. 
 
 Tliough Thomas Aldam was a great sufferer, 
 both in body and property, on account of his re- 
 ligious principles, yet his feelings were not con- 
 fined to himself, but ware extended to his sufferin«r 
 Friends, in various parts of the nation ; for whose 
 relief he travelled much in England, Scotland, and 
 Ireland; visiting them in tlieir prisons, and laying 
 
 LIFE OF THOMAS ALDAM. 
 
 65 
 
 their distressing situations before those in autho- 
 rity. It was on one of these occasions, whea 
 applying to Oliver Cromwell, that he took off his 
 cap before the Protector, aud tore it to pieces, 
 &a}kig: " So shall thy government be torn from 
 thee and thy house." This prediction he just 
 lived to see fulfilled, dying in the year I6OO. 
 
 In his last illness, he experienced much inward 
 support and resignation to the event. At one 
 time he felt his strength so renewed, that he 
 thought he could go to London, if required ; but 
 soon added : '' I am clear of the blood of all 
 men ; I feel nothing to this man," meaning Charles 
 the Second, who was then just restored to his 
 crown. The day before he died, he called hif 
 children together, and after giving them some ad- 
 vice, took his leave of them, and the next day 
 resigned his soul into the hands of his Creator. 
 
 From the character I find given of this Friend, 
 he appears to have been possessed of many excel- 
 lent qualities. He was a man of great courage 
 and firmness of mkid, and being fully dedicated to 
 the service of God and the support of his religious 
 principles, he laboured and suffered much in that 
 day of violence and persecution. Whilst his tes- 
 timony was sharp against evil-cioers, he was very 
 tender towards those in whom he discovered ^ia- 
 
u 
 
 "LITE OP THOMAS ALDA»C 
 
 €ere desires towards God and the knowledge of 
 his truth. H« was a man of universal charity, 
 manifesting a disposition to do good unto all men 
 and thus showing forth the praise of Him who 
 had called him out of darkness into his marvellous 
 light. 
 
 In his own family, to use the words of his sou 
 " He was often very broken hearted, watching 
 over his children in the fear of the Lord. And 
 when I remember the fervency of spirit which did 
 attend him, and how, when he had been to take a 
 journey on Truth's account, he would have called 
 his wife and children, and in great tenderness and 
 humility have bowed his knees before the Lord, 
 and poured out his supplications unto Him, de- 
 siring earnestly that the Lord might go with him, 
 and committing us into his keeping; and what 
 brokenness of heart was amongst us at such times, 
 and how the love of God did abound, then can 
 my soul say, those were precious seasons, and are 
 not to be forgotten by us; but to be recorded to 
 posterity, that we may tell our children, and the\ 
 also may declare.it when we are gone, how good 
 the Lord hath been unto his people, and what 
 great cause tliey have to love Him, and put their 
 trust in Him ; that so his name may be renowned 
 amongst our families, so long as they ghall have a 
 being.'* 
 
 tv 
 
 tlVE OF THOMAS ALDAM.. 
 
 €5 
 
 It has already been noticed, that Thomas Al- 
 idam's mother, wife, and two sisters, were all con- 
 vinced by George Fox. Of the mother I find no 
 further notice. His wife survived him only about 
 three months : she was a religious woman, " of a 
 very meek and quiet spkit, given up in all things 
 to God's disposing.** 
 
 The two sisters, Margaret Kellam and Joan 
 Kellam, continued faithful to the convictions they 
 had received, and were both serviceable women in 
 the Society. Margaret travelled much in Truth's 
 service, and many were convinced by her. She 
 suffered imprisonment in several places, as Exeter, 
 Banbury, and York. " Great," says her nephew, 
 " was the boldness that did attend her, in sound- 
 ing forth the truth, in the streets, steeple-houses, 
 and market-places, and to the heads and rulers of 
 the people ; and the Lord was with her. She 
 finished her course in the faith, signifying to a near 
 relation, before her departure, the great peace she 
 enjoyed with the Lord, and the clearness of con- 
 science slie had before him." She died in the 
 year 1672« 
 
 Joan Kellam died in the year 1681, having 
 been a very useful woman, and of much religious 
 experience, by which she became as a mother iu 
 Israel, and a teuder sympathizer with those who 
 
m 
 
 LIFE OF THOMAS ALDA!^. 
 
 were in a state of suflferiiig, whether in l)ody or 
 in mind. 
 
 These accounts are principally taken from a 
 publication by Thomas Aldam, son of him whos« 
 life has just been noticed The son appears to 
 have been a very useful member of the Society of 
 Friends, but I find little on record relating to him. 
 George Fox, in. a testimony respecting the father, 
 calls the son " a hopeful young man ;" and it is 
 probable before I come in the order of my work 
 to the time of his decease, something may ba 
 found concerning hi m^ deserving of further notice* 
 
 m 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 
 LIFE OF JJMES NJYLUR^. 
 
 JijLE was born in the parish of Ardsley, near 
 Wakefield, in Yorkshire, about the year l6l6r 
 His fatlier was a husbandman of good repute 
 
 • 
 
 and property. He gave his son a good English 
 education, who married aboui the time of his re- 
 moval into the parish of Wakefield. When tlie 
 civil wars broke out, he entered into the Parlia^ 
 raent's army, first under Lord Fairfax, and after* 
 wards as quarter- master, under Major-General 
 Lambert. He continued in the army about eight 
 years, when being disabled by sickness in Scot- 
 land, he returned home about the year 1649* 
 
 In 160 1, George Fox visited that pact of York* 
 shire where James Nayler resided, and he with 
 many odiers attached themselves unto him. He 
 appears to have been one of those who had im-^ 
 bibed, previous to their acquaintance with George 
 
68 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 Fox, the same religious principles, and therefore 
 gladly received his testimony* 
 
 Soon after this, he apprehended himself called 
 to leave bis family and devote himself to the ser- 
 vice of God. Of this he gives a particular ac- 
 count in his trial at Appleby, of which this is the 
 substance : " That when he was at plough, medi- 
 tating on the things of God, he heard a voice bid- 
 ding him go out from his kindred and his father's 
 house, having a promise given with it, that the 
 Lord would be with him/* At this he did exceed- 
 ingly rejoice, that he had heard the voice of God, 
 whom he had believed in from a child, and whom 
 he endeavoured to serve. When he went home, 
 he made preparation for his journey; but being 
 afterwards disobedient, the wrath of God, he says, 
 was upon him, so that he was made a wonder to 
 others, and it was thought he would have died ; 
 but being aftervvard« made willing, and going out 
 with a friend, not then thinking on a journey, he 
 was commanded to go Westward, not knowing 
 what he was to do there ; but when he came, it 
 was given him what to declare. Thus he con- 
 tinued, not knowing one day what he was to do 
 the next; yet the promise of God, that he would 
 be with him^ he found made good to him every 
 day. 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 (» 
 
 It appears that he first travelled into Lanca- 
 shire, where wc find him with George Fox in the 
 Island of Walney, a fellow-sufferer in the cruelty 
 of the barbarous inhabitants of that place. He 
 was also a party in the trial at Lancaster Sessions, 
 related in the life of George Fox. James Nayler 
 afterwards travelled into Westmorland ; and at 
 Kendal and ^e neighbourhood, received some 
 rude treatment from the priests and people; but 
 they were not permitted to injure him or his 
 companions. 
 
 At Orton, where he and several Friends de- 
 signed to hold a religious meeting, five priests and 
 many people assembled to make disturbance, and 
 prevent the meeting being held. The priests in- 
 vited James and his friends to hold the meeting in 
 the town field, and they accepted tlie offer, seeing 
 ;4hat a private house was not sufficient to accom- 
 modate the numbers collected. Here the priests 
 began to dispute on the impropriety of meeting 
 there, and collecting so many people together to 
 break the peace. Much wrangling succeeded, 
 after which James returned to the house of one 
 of his friends, where the meeting was held, though 
 with much disturbance from ihe rnde people, 
 who were collected for the purpose of mischief; 
 no material injury was, however, sustained, and 
 that evening James left the place, and thus for the 
 present escaped the fury of his enemies. 
 
70 
 
 LITE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 1.1PE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 71 
 
 The pnrlests in this country appear to have beea 
 tmcommonly violent and cruel. Not contenV^ith 
 preaching against Nayler, and imputing to l^^;;! 
 blasphemy, with other false accusations, they 
 raised an armed multitude, who came to the house 
 ^here he was, threatening to knock out his brains 
 against the wall, or to pull down the house if he 
 ivould not -come out ; and when they were told 
 that the doors were open, the people, informing 
 Ae priests, rushed violently into the house, seized 
 James Nayler by the throat, dragged him into the 
 field, and afterwards with a pitchfork struck off 
 his hat, commanding hira to answer such questions 
 as the priests should iisk him. They put many 
 questions to him, which he answered so well, that 
 ihvy could not take any advantage ^om them to 
 prosecute him. After much wrangling, one of 
 the priests advised the people not to receive James 
 Nayler into their houses, and then <lej)arted, leav- 
 ing him and his friends to the violence of the rude 
 multitude. But a justice of the peace who was 
 present, seeing the dangerous situation in which 
 the Friends were placed, kindly assisted them in 
 returning to the house from which they came, 
 ^hich they entered without receiviiig much harm. 
 
 On this occasiot), James was puWicly engaged 
 to praise the Lord, for his wonderful deliverance 
 from the power of his enemies^ which some of 
 
 lliem hearing, said : "If we let him go on thus, 
 all people will run after him." He was therefore 
 again haled out of 4he iiouse, t^kenbythe justice 
 -and priest to a nei^bouring alehouse, and there 
 committed to Appleby jaii. He was taken to 
 Eirkby Stephen that night, where many of his 
 friends followed him ; and Francis Howgill, speak- 
 ing to the people, was also taken up, and com- 
 mitted to Appleby prison with James Nayler. 
 
 Whilst these innocertt sufferers were in jail, 
 their enemies were busily employed in obtaining 
 all the accusations^thcy could «gainst them ; and 
 at the sessions held at Appleby, in the month 
 called January, 1052,. James Nayler ^as tried on 
 an indictment for blasphemy. This charge was 
 occasioned by the xloctrine preached,. and partiou- 
 larly insisted on by our early Friends, that of the 
 tight of. Christ universally communicated to the 
 human race. This they termed, with the Apostle 
 of the Gentiks, " €brist 'in yoti the Hope of 
 Glory ; and furthee illustrated with an exhortation 
 of the same Apostle: " Prove yourselves, know 
 ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is 
 iu you, except ye be j-eprobates." 
 
 This ' doctrine Hhfe eneihles of tlief Society endea^ 
 voured to convert into a blasphemous application 
 of Christ to themselves; but notwithstanding th« 
 
n 
 
 LIFE OF JAME9 NAYLER. 
 
 strenuous endeavours of some of the justices, the 
 charge could not be substantiated; and Anthony 
 Pearson, who then sat on the bench, was con- 
 vinced by the examination of James Nayler. 
 Benson was another of the justices, and was fully 
 sensible of the insufficiency of tlie evidence to 
 prove the charge of blasphemy ; but notwith- 
 standing the evident innocence of the prisoner, 
 two other justices were so violent as to commit 
 him upon the petitions of the ministers, though at 
 the hazard of being fined by the judges *at the 
 assizes. It was therefore ordered that James 
 Nayler and Francis Howgill should remain in 
 prison, where they were arbitrarily con6ned about 
 five months, and then discharged. 
 
 After his liberation, James continued some time 
 in the North; and when he had fini^hed his service 
 there, he travelled Southward, and came to London 
 in the year 1(554 or 5. Here began those tempta- 
 tions of self-exaltation and spiritual pride, which 
 for a time separated him from his brethren, and 
 subjected him to severe bodily sufferings, from 
 those who were then in power. 
 
 Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill were 
 at that time in the city, and great success attended 
 their ministry. With them James Nayler united, 
 and his gift being of a very sublime and captivat- 
 
 MFE OF JAMES NATl.ER. 73 
 
 \f\g kind, as well as deep and sound, he became 
 much admired and followed by many of those who 
 heard him, some of whom wexa so injudicious and 
 weak as to draw invidious comparisons between 
 him and his brethren. This proceeded so far, that 
 Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill were 
 sometimes interrupted in their religious ser- 
 vices, by the pretended friends of James Nayler. 
 A woman of the name of Martha Simmons, was 
 the principal in this impropei' conduct ; and when 
 reproved for it^ sl>e made her complaint to James 
 Nayler in so lamentable and moving a manner, 
 (hat he was carried away with her reflections on 
 
 his best friends and fellow-labourei-s in the same 
 gojipel. 
 
 ♦. 
 When his indiscreet followers had so far pre* 
 vailed, as in a great measure to separate him from 
 his former friends, (hey |yrooeeded to greater 
 lengths yf wild and extravagant conduct. Leaving 
 London, he travelled as far as Exeter, where i^t 
 appears he was committed \o prison ; and during 
 his confinement here, Maitha Simmons, with 
 other two women aUke teprehensible as herself, 
 proceeded so far in their extravagance as to bow 
 :uid kneel before him, and to kiss his feet. Nor 
 dff! they stop here, but both he and they became 
 so darkened in their imaginations, lliat after his 
 release from Exeter ^msDn, he pcrR)ittc.! t!.r.^€ 
 
74 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLEll. 
 
 tvoinen and a mail, to act the most extravagant 
 dondgct towards him. 'Vhe man went bareheaded 
 before him, ^ woman led his horse, the three wo- 
 men, already noticed, spread their scarfs and hand- 
 kerchiefs before him, while a number of persons 
 in company sung, " Holy, holy, holy is the Lord 
 God of Hosts, Hosantiah in the highest. Holy, 
 holy, holy is the Lord God of Israel." 
 
 •^Vhen they came to Bristol, James Nayler and 
 several of his company, were examined by the ma- 
 «ristrates on account of their extravagant conduct, 
 and afterwards committed to prison. From Bris- 
 tol they were removed to London, to be examined 
 by the Parliament, or a Committee of the House. 
 Tlie atteiition of Parliament was occupied many 
 days on the subjecit, and much diversity of senti- 
 ment prevailed on' the punishment proper to be 
 inflicted. 
 
 On the 17th of December, l656, after a loitg 
 debate, the House came to the following resolu- 
 tion : " That James Nayler be set on the pillory, 
 with his head in the pillory in the Palace Yard, 
 Westminster, during the space of two hours, on 
 Thursday next, and be whipt by the hangman 
 throucrh the streets, from Westminster to the OM 
 Exchange, London ; and there likewise be set on 
 the pillory, with his head ia the pillory, for the 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 75 
 
 upace of two hours, between the hours of eleven 
 and one on Saturday next; iu each place wearing 
 a paper containiiig an inscription of his crimes ; 
 and that at the Old Exchange his tongue be bored 
 through with a hot iron, and he be there also sti'*^- 
 matized in the forehead with the letter B. And 
 that he be afterwards sent to Bristol, and be con- 
 veyed through the said city on horseback, with his 
 face backward, and there also be publicly ^^hipt the 
 next market-day after he comes thither; and that 
 from thence he be committed to prison in Bridewell, 
 London, and restrained from the society of ail 
 people, and there to labour hard till he shall be 
 released by Parliament; and during that time be 
 debarred the. use of pen, ii»k, and paper, and shall 
 have no relief, but what he earns by his daily 
 labour." 
 
 I do not find that any punishment was inflicted 
 on those to whom the cliarge of blasphemy most 
 properly belonged ; for though Nayler was cer^ 
 tuiuly highly culpable in permitting such conduct 
 towards him; -yet it might be considered, that, iii 
 the eye of the law, those who behaved in so im- 
 proper a manner, were the guilty persons. Lideed 
 many people thought diat the sentence was a very 
 severe one to be executed upon a person, whose 
 crime seemed to proceed more from a clouded 
 understanding, than from anv evil intention. 
 
 
J76 
 
 -LIFE OF JAMES NAYLBR. 
 
 The day after the sentence was pronounced, tlie 
 £rst part of it was put in execution, and borne 
 with so much patience and quietness, as was asto- 
 nishing to the beholders. His body was in a most 
 pitiable state, and in addition to the three hundred 
 and ten stripes which Jie received on his body, his 
 feet were much hurt by the horses tieading on 
 them, so that the prints of their shoe nails were 
 visible. A person who washed his wounds, in a 
 . certificate which was presented to Parliament, 
 thus describes his situation : " There was not the 
 space of a man*s nail free from «tripes and blood, 
 from his shoulder near to his waist; his right arm 
 sorely striped, his hands so much hurt with cords, 
 that they bled and u'ere swelled. The blood and 
 wounds of his back did very litUe appear at first 
 sight, by reason of the abundance of dirt that 
 covered them t'dl it was washed off.** 
 
 Many people, not of the Society of Triends, 
 %vere so affected with the severity of tbis punish- 
 ment, that application was made to Parliament 
 for a postpoiiement of the rest of ibe sentence, 
 which was to take place only two days after the 
 first part was executed. This request was granted, 
 and a week's respite obtained, which was em- 
 ployed in further applications, first to the Pariia- 
 ment, and after wSrds to the Protector, for a total 
 remission of the rest of the sentence. Five mniis- 
 
 ilFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 77 
 
 tcrs, whose names were Caryl, Monton, Nye, 
 Griffith, and Reynolds, were sent to converse 
 with Nayler ; but though he gave such explana- 
 tions as might free him from the charge of blas- 
 phemy, yet his understanding appears to have been 
 still much clouded, and he far from being suffi- 
 ciently sensible of the great impropriety of those 
 extravagant expressions, which were used towards 
 him^ and which he considered as only applied to 
 Chriat; ^ho, according to h'a pfincipleij w&i iiv 
 him. 
 
 Notwithstanding the earnest applications whicl^ 
 were made, it was concluded to inflict the remain- 
 ing part of the sentence, with the intermission of 
 only one week. Accordingly, on the 27th, he was 
 taken to the Exchange, where he was put into the 
 pillory, his tongue bored through, and his forehead 
 branded, with a hot iron. It was very remarkable, 
 that although many thousands of people were sup- 
 posed to be present, great quietness prevailed, and 
 very few were heard to revile him, or seen to 
 throw any thing at him. One general sympathy 
 appears to have been excited by his cruel punish- 
 ment, for admitting the worst on his part, it may 
 certainly be considered as exhibiting a specimen 
 of the harsh and unfeeling temper, which so ge- 
 nerally marked those times. 
 
 E 3 
 
'8 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 UEE OB JAMES I<iA,YL£R. 
 
 7p 
 
 After the execution of his sentence in London^ 
 he was sent to Bristol, and the remainder of his 
 •«entence was executed there. He was then com- 
 mitted to ISiewgate in that City, and thence re- 
 turned to Bridewell in London, where he was 
 kept a prisoner for about two years. During this 
 imprisonment, he was favoured with a deep sense 
 of his transgressions, and also with a true repen- 
 tance for them ; and having obtained the use of 
 pen and ink, he wrote several books and papers, 
 condemning his conduct in very feeling terms ; to 
 which he added several more after his releasp 
 from Bridewell. 
 
 The following pieces extracted from these publi- 
 cations, will no doubt be acceptable to the reader. 
 
 1st, A Testimony to Christ Jesus, delivered to 
 the Parliament who persecuted him as a Blas- 
 phemer, written in the time of his imprisonment 
 in Bridewell. See James Nayler's Works, Intro- 
 duction, page XXXV. 
 
 Cd & 3d, Two short papers of Confessions, &c. 
 taken out of his own hand-writing, page xxv 8c vi.— 
 Ibid 
 
 4th, Beginning " Glory to God Almighty," 
 page li. &c. — Ibid. 
 
 5th, " And in the day when my God lifted ray 
 feet out of the pit was this given forth," page xlix. 
 Uid. 
 
 No. 1. A Testimony to Chkist Jesus, See. 
 
 ** Christ Jesus the fmmanuel, of whose sufferings 
 tlie Scriptures declare. Him alone I confess before 
 men, for whose sake 1 have denied whatever was 
 dear to me in this world, that I might win him, and 
 be found in him- and not in myself; whose life and 
 virtue 1 find daily manifest in my mortal body ; 
 (which is my eternal joy and hope of glory;) whom 
 alone 1 seek to serve m spirit, soul and body, 
 night and day, according to the measure of grace 
 working in me, that in me he may be glorified 
 whether b) life or death ; and for his sake I suffer 
 all things, that He alone may have the glory of my 
 change, whose work alone it is in me. Even to 
 that Eternal Spirit be glory, and to the Lamb^ 
 fot ever. 
 
 ** But to ascribe this namfi, power, and virtue 
 to James Nayler, or to that which had a beginning 
 and must return to dust, or for that to be exalted 
 or worshipped, to me is great idolatry; and with 
 the Spirit of Christ Jesus in me it is condemned ; 
 which Spirit leads to lowliness, meekness, and 
 long-suffering. 
 
 ** So having an opportunity given, with readiiiest, 
 I am wiUing in the fear of God the Fatbev, in 
 
 £ 4 
 
80 
 
 UFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLERi 
 
 81 
 
 honour to Jesus Christ, and to take off all offences 
 iVom every simple heart, this to declare to all tho 
 ^vorld, as the truth of Christ is iu rae, without 
 guile or deceit, daily finding it to be ray work to 
 seek peace in truth, with all men, in that Spirit. 
 
 " James Nayler;* 
 
 No. 2 8c 3. Two Short Papers, 8co. 
 
 " Dear Brethren, 
 
 " My heart is broken this day for the offence 
 that I have occasioned to God*s truth and people, 
 and especially to you, who in dear love followed 
 rae, seeking me in faithfulness to God ; which I 
 rejected, being bound wherein I could not come 
 forth, till God's hand brought me, to whose love 
 I now confess ; and I beseech you forgive wherein 
 I evilly requited your love in that day. God 
 knows ray sorrow for it since I see it, that ever I 
 should offend that of God in any, or reject his 
 counsel ; and now that paper you have seen lies 
 much upon me, and I greatly fear further to offend 
 or do amiss, whereby the innocent truth or people 
 
 of God should suffer, or that I should disobey 
 therein. 
 
 " Unless the Lord himself keep you from 
 me, I beseech you let nothing else hinder your 
 coming to me, that I might have your help in the 
 Lord. In the mercies of Jesus Christ, this I beg 
 of you, as if it was your own case, let me not be^ 
 forgotten of you# 
 
 " And I beseech you speak to Henry Clarke, 
 or whoever else I have most offended ; and by the 
 power of God, and in the Spirit of Christ Jesus, 
 lam willing to confess the offence; that God*s 
 love may aicise in all hearts as before, if it be his 
 will, who only can remove what stands in the way; 
 and nothing thereof do I intend to cover. God js 
 witness herein," 
 
 *' Dear Friend^ 
 
 *' I would not grieve thee, nor any way offend 
 the people of the Lord, who is my witness of the 
 daily sorrow and travail of my soul, for the of* 
 fences which have been already, and that the peace 
 of any should be broken through me who are deac 
 
 E 5 
 
62 
 
 LITE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 83 
 
 »l 
 
 to me ; and nothing have I ih this world near in 
 my heart, but his innocent people, ^vhom he hathi 
 called out of the world: and I cannot trouble vou 
 but I oppress my own lite ; the Lord God of Peace 
 rebuke him, who daily seeks to turn the simplicity 
 out of its way ; who hath long withstood rae, and 
 doth withstand me. Truly my heart dreads for 
 fear of more divisions, gladly would I see thy face, 
 if it be the will of God; my boweh earn in un- 
 feigned love towards thee. God knows I lie not ; 
 and in the spirit of meekness I know thou wilt 
 ■feel me in truth. And whiitever the Lord, in any 
 vf you, shall lay upon me^ I am willing to suffer 
 or do, that all brtiaehes may be removed from 
 tlie just. 
 
 ^' James Nayler." 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 *' Glory to God Almighty who rulelh in the 
 heaveus; and in whose hands are all the kingdoms 
 of the earth ; who raiseth up and casteth down at 
 his will; who haih ways to confound the exalta- 
 tion of man, and to chastize his children; and to 
 make man to know himself to be as grass be- 
 fore him, whose judgments are above the liighest 
 
 of men, and his pity reacheth the deepest misery'; 
 and the arm of his mercy is underneath to lift up 
 the prisoner out of the pit, and to save such. as 
 trust in Him from the great destruction, which 
 vain man, through his folly, brings on- himself ; 
 who hath delivered my soul out of darkness, and 
 made way for my freedom out of the prison- 
 house, and ransomed me from the great captivity \. 
 who divides the seas before him, and removes the 
 mountains out of his way, in the day when he 
 takes upon him to deliver the oppressed out of 
 the hand of him^^at is too mighty for Him, in the 
 earth. Let his namt be exalted for ever; and let 
 all flesh fear before Him whose breath is life 
 to His o\yifi* but a consuming fire to the acjr 
 
 versarv. 
 
 " And fb the Lord Jesus Christ, be everlasting 
 dominion upon earth, and his kingdom above' all 
 the powers of darkness, even that Christ bf whelm 
 the Scriptures declare, which was, and is, and is 
 to come, the light of the- world to all generations; 
 'of whose coming I testify, with the rest of .the 
 children of light, begotten -of ^e immortal Seed, 
 Mhose truth and virtue now shine in the world 
 unto the rishfeousness of eteraal life, and the 
 Saviour of* all that believe tliereirr; who hath been 
 the ' rock of my salvation, and his Spirit hath 
 "iven quietness and patience to my soul io ileep 
 
84 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAVLER. 
 
 LIFE OF )AMSS KAYLBX* 
 
 85 
 
 affliction, even for hi3 name's sake. Praises for 
 ever* ■ ,> ■• 
 
 " But condemned for ever be all those false 
 worships, with which any have idolized my per- 
 son, in the night of my temptation, when the 
 power of darkness was above. All their casting 
 off the clothes in the way, their bowings and sing- 
 ings, and all the rest of those wild actions, which 
 ^id any way tend to dishoiK)ur the Lord, or draw 
 the minds of any from the measure of Christ Jesus 
 in themselves, to look at flesh which is grass, or 
 to ascribe that to tl^e visi1]|[f||Miich belongs to 
 Christ Jesus ; all that Jgpondfmn, by which the 
 pure name of the Lord hath any w»y been blas- 
 phemed through me, in that time of temptation, 
 or the spirits of any people grieved that truly love 
 the Lord Jesus, throughout the whole world, of 
 what sort soever. 
 
 i ... 
 
 " And all those ranting, wild spirits, which 
 then gathered about me, in the time of my dark- 
 ness; and all their wild actions, and wicked words 
 against the honour of God, and his pure Spirit 
 and people : I deny the spirit, the power and the 
 works thereof, and as far as I gave advantage, 
 through want of judgment, for that evil spirit in 
 any to arise, I take shame to myself justly, having 
 formerly had power over that spirit in judgment 
 
 and discemiDg, wherever it was ; which darkness 
 carae over me through want of watchfulness and 
 obedience to the pure eye of God, and diligent 
 minding the reproof of life, which condemns the 
 adulterous spirit. So the adversai7 got advantage, 
 who ceases not to seek to devour, and being taken 
 captive from tlie true light, [I] walked in the night, 
 where none can work, as a wandering bird fit for 
 the prey; and if the Lord of all my mercies had 
 not rescued me, I bad perished ; for I was as one 
 appointed to death and destruction; and there was 
 none that could deliver me. 
 
 wr "* 
 
 " And this I confess^ tFfat God may be justified 
 in his judgment, and magnified in his miercies 
 without end ; who did not forsake his captive in the 
 night, even when his Spirit was daily provoked and 
 grieved ; but hath brought me forth to give glory to 
 his name for ever. And it is in my heart to confess 
 to God, and before men, my folly and offence in 
 that day; yet was there many things formed against 
 me at that day, to take away my life, and cast 
 upon the truth, of which I am not guilty at all ; 
 as that accusation as if I had committed adultery 
 with some of those women who came with us 
 from Exeter prison ; and also those who were with 
 me at Bristol, the night before I suffered there. Of 
 both which accusations I am clear before God, 
 who kept me at that day^ both in thought and 
 
m 
 
 LirF OP JAMES NAYLElt. 
 
 nrE OF JAMES NATLER, 
 
 er 
 
 •deed, as to all women, as a little child. God rs 
 my record. And this I mention in particnTar,tiear- 
 4ng of some who still cease not to reproach there- 
 ■with, God's truth and people ; that the mouth of 
 enmity may be shut from evil-speaking, though 
 this touch not my conscience. 
 
 <' And this 1 give forth, that it may go as far a'^ 
 
 the offence against the spirit of truth hath gone 
 
 abroad, that all burthens may be taken off with 
 
 the truth, and the truth cleared thereby, and the 
 
 true light and all that walk therein ; and the deeds 
 
 of darkness be condemned ; and that all that are 
 
 in darkness may not act in th^ night, butstay upon 
 
 -God who dwells in the light, \\ho, with the 
 
 •workers of iniquity, hath not fellowship ; which 
 
 had I done, when first darkness came upon me, 
 
 and not been led by others, I had not run against 
 
 that rock to be broken, which so long had borne 
 
 . me, and of whom I had so largely drunken, and 
 
 of which I now drink in measure; to whom b»' 
 
 the glor>- of all, and to Him must every tongue 
 
 <:onfess, as Judge and Saviour, God over all, 
 
 blessed for ever. 
 
 " James Naylep. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 Xo. 5. j^tid in that dai/ zchen my God Vtfted my 
 feet out of the pit, was this given forth, 
 
 " It is in my heart to praise thee. Oh my God! 
 Let me never forget Thee, what thou hast been to 
 nie in the night, by thy presence. In the day of 
 trial, when I was beset in darkness, when 1 was 
 cast out as a wandering bird, when I was assaulted 
 with strong temptations, then thy presence in secret 
 did preserve me; and in a low estate I felt thee 
 near me. When the floods sought to sweep me 
 away, thou set a compass for them, how far they 
 should pass over ; wfien my way was through the 
 sea, and when I passed under the mountains, there 
 was thou present with me. When tlie weight of 
 the hills was upon me, thou upheldest me, else 
 had I sunk under the earth. When I was as one 
 altogether helpless ; when tribulation and anguish 
 was upon me day and night, and the earth without 
 foundation ; wheu I w^nt on the way of wrath, 
 and passed by the gates of hell ; when all comforts 
 stood afar off, and he that is mine enemy had 
 dominion ; when I was cast into the pit, and was 
 as one appointed to death ; when I was between 
 the millstones, and as one crushed with the weisht 
 of his adversary, as a Father thou wast with me, 
 and the rock of thy presence. When the mouths 
 of lions roared against me, and fear took hold 
 t)f my soul in the pit, then I called upon thee m 
 
89 
 
 IIFE OF JAMES NAYLEK^ 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYIER. 
 
 m 
 
 the night, and my cries were strong before thee 
 daily, who answeredst me from thy habitation, and 
 deliveredst me from thy dwelling place; saying, 
 I vcill set thee above all thy fears, and lift up thy 
 feet above the head of oppression. 
 
 « I believed and was strengthened, and thy word 
 
 was salvation. Thou didst fight on my part when 
 
 1 wrestled with death ; and when darkness would 
 
 have shut me up, then thy light shone about me, 
 
 and thy banner was over my head. When my 
 
 work was in the furnace, and as I passed through 
 
 the fire, by thee I was not consumed, though the 
 
 flames ascended above my head. When. I beheld 
 
 the dreadful visions, and was amongst the fiery 
 
 spirits, thy faith stayed me ; else through fear I 
 
 had fallen. I saw thee and believed ; so the enemy 
 
 could not prevail- 
 
 g « When I look back into thy works> I am asto-^ 
 Tiished ; and see no end of thy praises. Glory, 
 glory, to thee, saith my soul ; and let my heart be 
 ever filled with thanksgiving. Whilst thy works 
 remain, they shall show forth thy power. Then 
 didst thou lay the foundation of the earth, and 
 ledst me under the waters ; and in the deep didst 
 thou show me wonders, and the forming of the 
 world. By thy hand thou ledst me in safety till 
 thou showedst me the pillars of the earth. Then 
 
 did tlie heavens shower down ; they were covered 
 with darkness and the powers thereof were shaken, 
 and thy glory descended. Thou filledst the lower 
 parts of the earth with gladness, and the springs 
 of the valleys were opened; Thy showers de- 
 scended abundantly ; so the earth was filled with 
 virtue. Thou madest thy plant to spring, and the 
 thirsty soul became as a watered garden. Then- 
 didst thou lift me out of the pit, and set me forth 
 in the sight • of my enemies. Thou proclaimedst 
 liberty to the captives, ^nd calledst my acquaint 
 tance near me. They to whom I had been a 
 wonder looked upon me ; and, in thy love, I ob- 
 tained favour in those who had forsook me. IThen 
 did gladness swallow up sorrow, and I forsook all 
 my troubles; and I said how good is it that man 
 be proved in the night, that he may know his 
 folly ; that every mouth may become silent in thy 
 hand, until thou makest man known to himself^ 
 aud hast slain the boaster, and showed him the 
 vanity that vexeth thy Spirit." * 
 
 Printed A. D. 1659i 
 
 The foregoing papers must convince every 
 unprejudiced person, of the sincerity of James 
 Nayler's repentance, and I think will also excite a 
 
9a 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLBV. 
 
 LIFE OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 91 
 
 I 
 
 a feeling of tender sympathy with hinn under h» 
 deep sufferings, bodily and mental. They cer- 
 .tainly represent him in an amiable point of view, 
 and engage our attention and respect, as well as 
 our sympathy. 
 
 I ... 
 
 After his liberation, he continued some time in 
 Loudon; but it appears w«nt once as far as Bris- 
 tol, where in a public meeting he made confession 
 .of his offence, in so powerful a manner, as drew 
 tears from nearly all present ; and many who were 
 ^ol so before, became reconciled to him. 
 
 In the year \660, he left London with a view 
 of returning to his family in Yorkshire. In the 
 course of his journey, he was seen- by a Friend of 
 Hertford, sitting by the wayside in a very awful 
 frame of mind. The Friend invited him to his 
 house, but he declined the invitation^ signifying his 
 desire to press forward. He proceeded into Hun- 
 tingdonshire, travelling on foot, and was^ observed 
 by a Friend in that county, passing through a 
 town, with such a solemn countenance, as indi- 
 cated his being redeemed from the earth, and as a 
 stranger or pilgrim in it, who was seeking a better 
 country aud inheritance. 
 
 When he was a few miles north of Huntingdon 
 he was taken ill, and it was said robbed and left 
 
 bound. Being found by a countryman, he was 
 taken to a Friend's house at Ho^m, near King's 
 Eipton. At the latter place lived Thomas Parnel, 
 a physician, who came to visit him. After his 
 frieuds had performed some kind ofEces to him, 
 he said: " You have refreshed my body, the Lord 
 refresh your souls." He did not live long after 
 his removal to this Friend's house, but departed 
 tliis life in peace, about the 9th month, 1 660, in 
 the 44th year of his age, and was buried in Thomas 
 Parnel's burying ground, at King's Ripton. 
 
 About two hours before his decease, he ex- 
 pressed himself to the following import: " There 
 is a Spirit M-hich I feel, that delights to do no 
 evil, nor to revenge any wrong ; but delights to 
 endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the 
 end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and conten- 
 tion, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, 
 or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It 
 sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no 
 evil in itself, so it conceives none to any other. If 
 It be betrayed, it bears it ; for its ground or spring 
 IS the mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown 
 IS meekness; its life is everlasting lov-e unfeigned; 
 It takes its kingdom with intreaty and not with 
 contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind. la 
 God alone it can rejoice, though none else regard 
 Jt, or can own its life. It is conceived in sorrow, 
 
 f/M 
 
9^ 
 
 11F£ OF JAMES NAYLER. 
 
 and brought forth without any to pity it, nor doth 
 it murmur at grief and oppression. It never re- 
 joiceth but through sufferings, for with the world's 
 joy it is murdered. I found it alone, being for- 
 saken, I have fellowship therein with them who 
 lived in dens and desolate places in the earth; 
 who through death obtained this resurrection and 
 eternal holy life." 
 
 CBAPTEE IX, 
 
 X/FJS OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 ■A 
 
 A 
 
 ■i 
 
 According to the account published in 
 ihe Biographical Dictionaff of 1798, in 15 octavo 
 volumes, this singular man was born in the county 
 of Durham, in the year 16 18. Tliough he wa^ 
 Tiot, for the greatest part of his life, a member of 
 the Society of Friends ; yet, as he at ^length re- 
 ceived their principles and died in their faith, he 
 seems to claim a place in these Memoirs. And 
 the reader is desired particularly to notice, the 
 difference Ijetween the turbulence of the partizan, 
 which marked the early and the principal part of 
 his life ; and the calmness amd meekness of his 
 'latter days, after he had adopted the principles of 
 -<he despised people, x:alled Quakers. 
 
 His father was possessed of a valuable estate, 
 -«nd resided at Thickney -Purcharden, the family 
 
 fe. 
 
94 
 
 LIFE OP JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 seat, in the county of Durham. John was a younger 
 son, and being placed out as an apprentice to a do- 
 thier or woollen-draper in London, when only twelve 
 years o( age, he must have acquired a very small 
 stock of learning. The master was a Puritan; and 
 the apprentice had been educated in the saoie 
 religious sentiments. His deficiency in learning 
 was supplied by a precocity of parts, and forward- 
 ness of disposition, which rendered his situation as 
 an apprentice, uneasy to him, and he complained 
 to the Chamberlain of the City, of his master's ill 
 usage. 1 hus early did he manifest a disposition, 
 impatient of control, which he carried with him 
 through the greatest part of his life. 
 
 The thnes in \\hlch Lilbnrrie lited, were such 
 as were likely to find employment for his active 
 and enterprising mind. When his appi-enticeship 
 expired, instead of prosecuting his trade, he at- 
 tached himself to the discontented party of that 
 day, and in the year 1636, was sent to Holland by 
 Dr. Bastwick, who was a prisoner by order of the 
 Star Chamber, in the Gatehouse, London. Lil- 
 burne's errand was to obtain ihe printing of some 
 pieces in Holland, unfavourable both to the civil 
 and ecclesiastical government of this country, the 
 principal of which, was Bastwick's « Merry 
 Liturgy." For the distribution of these and other 
 similar publications, he was brought before the 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LlLtJtRNE. 
 
 i)5 
 
 High Commission Court, and sentenced to be 
 whipped at the cart's tail, from Fleet Prison to 
 the Old Palace Yard ; there to stand two hours 
 on the pillory ; to remain in the Fleet Prison till 
 he conformed to the rules of the court ; to pay a 
 fine of 5001. to the king, land to find security for 
 Jiis good behaviour. 
 
 ^He bore his punishment \fith so much fortitude 
 and spirit, that he acquired the name of " Free-t 
 born John" from his enemies ; while his friends 
 esteemed him as, a saint. These circumstances 
 occurred in the year I6i7, and it appears that he 
 continued a prisoner in the Fleet tjll 1640, part 
 of the time loaded with double irons on his arms 
 and legs, and confined in one of the worst wards. 
 Here he was suspected of setting the prison on 
 fire, but probably without cause. The fear of 
 him, however, produced some amelioration of his 
 situation, by which means he found opportunity 
 to publish a piece of his own, entitled " The 
 Christian Man's Trial." > 
 
 The party to ^hith Lilbume was attached, 
 gaining the ascendancy, he was liberated ; yet his 
 restless spirit soon brought him again into difficuh- 
 ties. Early in the year 1641, he was arraigned 
 before the House of Lords, for an assault upon 
 the Governor of the Tower, Colonel Lunsford; 
 
96 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN ULBURNE. 
 
 LIFE OP JOHN LILBURNfe. 
 
 97 
 
 l)ut was soon dismissed; and in 1646, and some 
 succeeding years, he obtained decrees for a pecu- 
 niary remuneration on account of his sufforings, 
 out of the estates of those who were attached to 
 the royal party. 
 
 The civil wars now broke out with great vio- 
 lence, and Lilburne of course attached himself to 
 the Parliament. He entered the army as a cap- 
 tain under the EarJ of Essex, and was taken pri- 
 soner in an engagement at Brentford, but was 
 ex(!hanged for one considerably above his rank, 
 after being tried at Oxford for high treason. 
 When the Earl pressed the Scotch Covenant upon 
 his followers, Lilburne differed with him, and 
 through Cromweirs interest was advanced in the 
 ^rmy. In this station he signalized himself on 
 various occasions, particularly in the battle of 
 Marston Moor, near York ; and was advanced 
 to the station of lieutenant-colonel, ^nder the Earl 
 of Manchester. This appears to have been the 
 tennination of his military career; for, quarrelling 
 with (lie Earl, he consequently lost his station 
 under him, and he was also committed, first to 
 Newgate, and afterwards to the Tower, for his 
 impioper conduct to the Earl, as Speaker of the 
 House of Lords. He continired prisoner till the 
 year l648, when an order was made to discharge 
 him from his imprisonment, and to make liiin 
 rompensalion for His snflferiHg?. 
 
 In the year 1649, he was again brought to trial 
 for high treason, against Oliver Cromwell and the 
 House of Commons; both of whom he had repre- 
 sented, in divers publications, as destroying the 
 liberties of the people of England. '^The expres- 
 sions which he used in these publications, manifest 
 the most undaunted courage in the support of 
 those principles of liberty in which he had en- 
 gaged. One of the publications wa« entitled, 
 "An Impeachment of ^ High -Treason against 
 Oliver Cromwell, and his Son-in-law Henry Ireton, 
 Esquires, late Members of the late forcibly dis- 
 solved House of Commons, presented to public 
 View, by Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne, close 
 Prisoner in the Tower of London, for his real, 
 true, and zealous Afiection to the Liberties of 
 this Nation." The bold title of this piece will 
 convey an idea of the spirit in \\ hich it was writ- 
 ten, and both Cromwell, and the whole Govern- 
 ment as then constituted, are represented in such a 
 degrading point of view, as must have been very 
 gallmg to their feelings; and, considering the point 
 and ability with which Lilburne wrote, very in- 
 jurious to their power. 
 
 In the course of his trial he manifested that 
 undaunted spirit and genuine love of liberty, which 
 had always characterized him. So low was tlie opi- 
 nion which he entertained of the then existin©" 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
 I 
 
 
 f 
 
#8 
 
 -tlFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 goverament, that be declared what he had done 
 was not only no high-treason; but that the govern- 
 ment was such that no high -treason could be 
 committed against it, and that therefore all true 
 EngliAmcn were obliged to oppose the tyranny 
 that was exercised. 
 
 The trial lasted three days, during which Lil- 
 J)ume pleaded his own cause with so much force 
 of argument, that the jury unanimously acquitted 
 liim of the charges brought against him. 
 
 When the verdict was pronounced, the people 
 in Guildhall, where he was tried, shouted for joy, 
 for about half an hour; and the judges, who had 
 used all die means they could to condemn the 
 prisoner, felt much chagrined with the verdict, 
 and with the demonstrations of joy which it pro- 
 duced. It appears from this trial, as well as from 
 various other circumstances, that much dissatis- 
 faction existed with the ruling powers, who kd 
 disappointed the expectations of the people in 
 irarious matters, which they had given reason to 
 suppose would be reformed, in case they came 
 into power; and this disappointment so operated 
 upon Lilbume's irritable mind, as to produce the 
 violent conduct and expressions for which he 
 yms tried. 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 99 
 
 Lilburne was no doubt a man of a turbulent 
 spirit ; so much so, that it was sarcastically said 
 of him, if he only were left in the world, John 
 would be against Lilburne, and Lilburne against 
 John. He, however, possessed an honest inde- 
 peudence of mind, with a consistent love of li- 
 berty. Many as well as himself had risqued their 
 lives, in opposing the monarchy and hierarchy of 
 the preceding rulers ; and they vainly hoped, that 
 after demolishing a government which was disa- 
 greeable to them, and of whicj) they had many 
 just causes of complaint, they should be able to 
 erect one that would be perfect. In this, how* 
 ever, as is commonly the case, they were sorrow- 
 fully disappointed; and according to their own 
 representations, they were much more dissatisfied 
 with the new than with the old state of things. 
 
 It rarely happens that those who are instru- 
 mental in the destruction of existing governments, 
 are qualified to supply their places with better. 
 But in all these commotions, the eye of the 
 Christian is directed to that over-ruling Provi- 
 dence, who makes them ultimately conducive to 
 his glory, and to the benefit of mankind. " His 
 way is in the whirlwind and in the storm, [politi- 
 cal as well as natural,] and tlie clouds are as the 
 dust under his feet.'* 
 
 F 2 
 
160 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 MFE OP JOHIJ LILBURNE. 
 
 1<>1 
 
 I 
 
 In 1651, Lilburne involved himself in fresh 
 contention, in consequence of which the Parlia- 
 ment fined him 7000 1. and banished him from the 
 Dation. Before the act of banishinent could pass, 
 he fled to Amsterdam, but, returning without 
 leave, be was again arrested and imprisoned. 
 Dover Gastle was, in 1655, the place of his con- 
 iinement; and it was during his residence there, 
 that he was visited by Luke Howard, a Friend of 
 that town. , By his religious conversation he was 
 not only convinced of the Principles of the Society 
 to which Howard belonged ; but his mind became 
 settled in a degree of calmness, to which he had 
 before been much a stranger. His. wife had mani- 
 fested much affectionate attachment to him in his 
 sufferings, as he had also done to her, and know- 
 ing, I suppose, of the altejration which had taken 
 place in her husband's mind, she endeavoured to 
 strengthen him with the following .advice, in a 
 letter which she wrote to him. 
 
 '* My Dear, Retain a sober, patient spirit within 
 thee, ^which I am confident thou shalt see will be 
 of more force to recover thee, than all thy keen 
 metal hath been. I hope God is doing a work 
 upon thee and me too, as shall make us study 
 ourselves more than, we have done." 
 
 This advice was t-so grateful to her husband, 
 tliat in replying to her, ^ he repeated it, with these 
 
 observations : " Oh my dear love ! I am deeply 
 entered into my part of it. The mighty power of 
 God enable thee to get in too, and also to go 
 through thine; and effectually to go cheerfully 
 and willingly along, hand in hand with me ; which 
 would render thee much more amiable, lovely, 
 and pleasant in my eyes, although thou wert 
 clothed in rags, than thou couldst be to me in thy 
 drawing back, or standing stiil where thou wast, 
 when I last saw thee, though therein thou wast 
 clothed all over with rich and outwardly glistering 
 earthly diamonds, and in the greatest of earthly 
 prosperity,.'' 
 
 " I am sorry thou art so straightly put to it for 
 money ; but to live on God by faith, in the depth 
 of straights, is the lively condition of a christian. 
 O ! that thy spirit could attain to this, according to 
 thy desire in thy letter, and my own present frame 
 of spirit. I now can contentedly feed upon bread 
 and cheese, and small beer alone, for saving of 
 money. 
 
 " And for my liberty, about which thow so 
 weariest and spendest thyself, as thy letter ac- 
 quaints me thou dost, I can say to thee, that 1 am 
 in my present temper of spirit, really ready with 
 Peter, at the sight of the glorious transfiguration 
 of Christ, to say : ' It is good being here ;' for 
 
 F 3 
 
»■'■ 
 
 102 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 ZIFE OF JOHK tILBtfKNF. 
 
 105 
 
 here, in Dover Castle, through the loving kindness 
 of God, I have met with a more clear, plain, and 
 evident knowledge of God and myself, and his 
 gracious outgoings to my soul, than ever I had in 
 all my life-time, not excepting my glorying and 
 rejoicing condition under the bishops. And now 
 submissively and heartily I can say, the will of my 
 Heavenly Father be done in me, by me, and for 
 me; in whose will I leave thee and thine, with all 
 thy and my friends, and rest thine in the strength 
 of renewedness of true love. 
 
 « JOHN LILBURNE." 
 
 ^< From Dover Castle, the place of the 
 present enjoyed, delightful Dispen- 
 sation of the eternal, everlasting 
 Love of God to ray Soul, the 4th 
 of the 10th Month, 1655." 
 
 Although Lilburne had imbibed the Principles^ 
 of Friends in general, it seem* to have required 
 considerable time to convince hira that fighting 
 was inconsistent with the spirit and precepts of 
 the gospel. This prevented hira, for some time, 
 from signing a declaration never to draw the sword 
 against CromweH's Government, which would 
 probably have earlier obtained hira his liberty. 
 But continuing faithful to the discoveries of the 
 Light of Christ, he became so fully convinced 
 of this gospel doctrine, that he gave forth the fol- 
 lowing paper in print. 
 
 ** I have now tfie faithful and true witness in 
 my own soul, that the Lord himself is become^ 
 within me, the teacher of my soul, and enabler of 
 me to walk in a measure of his pure ways and 
 paths; yea, and so clear a teacher within me, is he 
 already become unto me, as that I with confidence 
 believe my inward teacher shall never now more 
 be removed into a corner ; but is, and shall be, as 
 a continual voice speaking in my ears : ' This is 
 Ae way, walk in it.* By this divine teaching I 
 am now daily taught to die to sin, and led up by 
 it into living power, to be raised up and enabled to 
 live in a pure measure of righteousness : and by 
 which inward and spiritual teachings, I am, I say 
 again, led up into power in Christ, by which I 
 
 r 4 
 
104 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE. 
 
 105 
 
 particularly can, and do hereby witness, that I am 
 already dead or crucified to the very occasions 
 and real grounds of all outward wars, and carnal 
 sword fighting, and fleshly bustlings and contests ; 
 and that, therefore, confidently I now believe, I 
 shall never hereafter be a user of a temporal 
 sword more, nor a joiner with those that do so. 
 
 " j\nd this I do here solemnly declare, not in 
 the least to avoid persecution, or for any political 
 ends of my own, or in the least for the satisfaction 
 of the wills of any of my great adversaries, or for 
 satisfying the carnal wijl of my poor weak afflicted 
 wife; but, by the special movings and compulsions 
 of God, now upon my soul, am I in truth and 
 righteousness compelled thus to declare ; that so I 
 may take away from my adversaries all their fig- 
 leaf covers or pretences, for their continuing of 
 my every way unjust bonds ; and that thereby, if I 
 must yet be an imprisoned suflerer, it may this 
 day forward be, for the truth as it is in Jesus ; 
 which truth I witness to be truly professed and 
 practised by the savouriest of people, called 
 Quakers. 
 
 " And to this my present declaration, which I 
 exceedingly long and earnestly desire to have in 
 print, and for which I know that I can cheerfully 
 
 and assuredly lay down my life, if I be called to 
 witness the truth of it, I subscribe my name, 
 
 " JOHN LILBURNE/' 
 
 " From my innocent and every way 
 causeless captivity, in Dover Cas- 
 tle, the place of my soul's delight- 
 ful and contentful abode, where 
 I have really and substantially 
 found that which my soul many 
 years has sought diligently after, 
 and, with unsatisfied longiogness, 
 thirsted to enjoy,this present Istday 
 of the week, being the 4tb of the 
 3d month, 1655."* 
 
 From Sewell's account it appears that Lilb'urne 
 continued a prisoner till after the death of Crom- 
 well, when he was released. But it is said in the 
 Biographical Work already noticed, that he set- 
 tled at Eltbam, in Kent, passing the remainder of 
 his days in undisturbed and undisturbing tran- 
 
 * I am apprehensive this should be 1656, in which year! 
 lind, in Whiting's Catalogue, a piece published by Lilburne, 
 entitled, «* The Resurrection of John Lilburne, now a Pri- 
 soner in Dover Castle, declared and manifested," 
 
 r 6 
 
 ■^. 
 
 I,' 
 
 i 
 
106 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN LILBURNE, 
 
 quillity; and that he died there in 1657. How- 
 ever, Sewell, whose account I take to be correct, 
 says, that he died in London in 1660, continuing 
 steadfast to the doctrines he had embraced. 
 
 lu this instance we have a striking proof of the 
 influence of true Christianity. Naturally of a 
 turbulent and irritable disposition, fostered by 
 circumstances which led to the continued indul- 
 gence of his inclinaUons, the entire change in 
 Lilburne's habits and views, during the prime of 
 life, affords a remarkable example of that conver- 
 sion, which the Apostle describes, under the figure 
 of becoming a nezo man. Happy would it be if 
 Christian belief were more generally thus in- 
 fluencial I 
 
 *twe a9 9999t 
 
 CHAPTEU X, 
 
 LIFE of GEORGE- FOX the Youmer. 
 
 It does not appear that the subject of this- 
 Memoir, was any relation to the individual whose 
 life constitutes the first volume of this work. Hi& 
 was called the Younger for the sake of distinction, 
 both of them being eminent Member* and Minis- 
 ters of the Religious Society to which they be- 
 longed. He was a native of Charsfield a village 
 about five miles north of Woodbridge, in Suffolk. 
 Of the time of his birth, or the circumstances of 
 his parents, I find no notice. He joined the So- 
 ciety of Friends about the year 1655, and both 
 laboured and suffered much in support of thosi^ 
 gospel truths, which he most surely believjBd. 
 
 V 
 
 
 
108 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 He was present at the General Quarter Sessions 
 held at Edinundsbury the 9th of October, 1655, 
 where George Whitehead and two others were 
 convicted as " Common Disturbers of Magistrates 
 and Ministers ;" though neither of them had spoken 
 a word to any Magistrate or Minister, before they 
 were taken into custody. The justices who com- 
 mitted them were their sole accusers, and incensed 
 the others against them; and an ignorant jury be- 
 ing impannelled, they, by direction of the court, 
 soon found the prisoners guilty; on which they 
 were fined 20 nobles each, and committed to pri- 
 son till payment should be made. George Fox 
 the Youno-er observins; the hard treatment of his 
 friends, and especially the prejudice expressed by 
 Justice Gurdon against them, was troubled at it, 
 and thus addressed the justice as he was coming 
 out of the sessions house. " Repent of thy unjust 
 actions this day, for otherwise thou canst not 
 escape the just judgments of God." 
 
 Upon hearing these words. Justice Gurdon 
 laid hold on him, and had him before the bench, 
 where sureties were demanded till the next ses- 
 sions, and qn his non-compliance he was sent to 
 prison with his friends. Here their usage, as was 
 t4>o frequently the case, was very hard ; for they 
 were lodged in the common ward among felons, 
 
 THE YOUNGER. 
 
 log 
 
 in a low dungeon-like place, under the market* 
 house* w ith a damp earthen floor, where they la\ on 
 rye straw. They appear also to have incurred the 
 anger of the jailer, for not purchasing his strong 
 liquors, and for testifying against the drunkenness^ 
 and swearing, and other disorders of his house* 
 
 In the time of their imprisonment, we are in- 
 formed that George Fox received a gift and part 
 in the ministry of the gospel. He and other 
 fellow-prisoners were released by an order of 
 Cromwell and his Council, dated l6ih October^ 
 1656, which extended also to their friends impri- 
 soned at Colchester and Ipswich. At Bury the 
 order was executed by Sir Francis Russel, a con- 
 scientious and compassionate man, averse to per- 
 secution. He sent his clerk to see the prisoners 
 set at liberty; and instead of an order for them to 
 be sent home, he kindly gave them an order or 
 warrant to produce in their defence, if occasion 
 should require, that they might travel without 
 molestation. 
 
 During his imprisonment, and after his libera- 
 tion, he published many religious addresses to 
 ])eople of various classes, particularly to the Army 
 and Parliament. ITiese contain much interestinsr 
 matter ; and his plain dealing and prophetic warn- 
 
a 10 
 
 XIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ings remarkably manifest the intrepidity of hi« 
 spirit, and the clearness of his views. The fol- 
 lowing paragraph addressed to " the Army and 
 Committee, that had turned out the Parliament," 
 appears to deserve transcribing, for the justness of 
 its sentiments, and the predicting voice of its 
 declarations. 
 
 " Meddle not to establish religion and teachers 
 by an outward law, for verily if ye do, ye will be 
 broken. Let that alone to Christ, whose work it 
 IS. Consider all that went before you of late 
 years, that would be meddling with such things, 
 the Lord broke them to pieces ; and they were 
 warned in their day as ye are now. And let not 
 the victories which ye have obtained, nor being 
 preserved in so many overturnings, wherein ye 
 have been made instrumental ; nor your strength, 
 courage, nor ^visdom puff you up ; for thus saith 
 the Lord God, even as earthen vessels are in the 
 hands of a potter, (who hath power to dash them 
 one against another until they be broken, or to 
 break them in pieces by another thing that appears 
 more weak than they,) even so are you in my hand, 
 «aith the Lord ; and I can confound your wisdom, 
 and take away your courage, and smite you with 
 faintness and dauntedness of spirit in the twinkling 
 of an eye. Therefore, seek not yourselves, for if 
 ye do, your day will be short.'* 
 
 THE YOUNGER. 
 
 Ill 
 
 In the year 1658, as he was preaching in a 
 meeting at Dunstall or Tunstall, in Suffolk, he 
 was violently opposed by one John Tokely, who, 
 in a furious manner, came towards him with a 
 drawn sword ; but when he saw that George faced 
 him without fear, he retired and fetched a loaded 
 gun, which he fired at him, and tlie shot went 
 over his head. Georg^e undaunted, continued his 
 preaching undisturbed at the occurrence, which his 
 opposer observing, from the force of sudden con- 
 viction, exclaimed: "Your faith is strong;" and 
 went away. 
 
 At another time, as the subject of this Memoir 
 was preaching in the market-place at Aldborough, 
 he was seized by a bailiff and put out of the town ; 
 but he soon returned, and had a meeting there, at 
 a widow's house, the same evening; whence he 
 was taken and sent to prison. He was not how- 
 ever long detained; for, in four days after, we 
 find him again preaching to the people in the 
 steeple-house at South wold, after the priest had 
 done; but his christian concern for them was ill 
 requited by the ruder sort, who beat him, threw 
 him violently upon the stones, and haled him 
 through the streets to the bailiff s house, who 
 committed him to prison, and ordered him to be 
 put into the inner ward, to prevent his speakinj^ 
 to the people. 
 
u^ 
 
 LIFE! OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 THE YOUNGEEi 
 
 5 
 
 i 
 
 In the lUh month, 1659, he wrote to the Par- 
 liament and their Army, whom he thus addressed : 
 " Your day into darkness is tunied; the sun is 
 gone down over you ; you have had a large day, 
 and power given unto you, to have done the will 
 of God; but you have abused your power, and 
 slighted your day, and you have refused to do the 
 Lord's work, and have sought to serve yourselves, 
 and not the Lord. Therefore, in justice and 
 righteousness is the day wherein you might have 
 wrought for God, taken from you, and the thick 
 dark night of confusion is come upon you, wherein 
 you are groping and stumbling, and cannot work. 
 The decree is gone out against you, and cannot 
 be recalled." This is the commencement of his 
 address, and he goes on much in the same strain, 
 laying upon them their unfaithfulness to the cause 
 which they at first espoused, and showing them in 
 plain terms the consequence of their unfaithful- 
 ness. A copy in print was delivered to each 
 Member of Parliament before General Monk 
 came to London. 
 
 In the year 1660, while he was travelling in the 
 work of the ministry in the county of Essex, his 
 mind was drawn to appoint a meeting at Har- 
 wich, at which place the magistrates had mani- 
 fested a persecuting disposition towards his friends. 
 
 115 
 
 On the day appointed for the meeting, which was 
 on the first of the week, the magistrates con>pelled 
 a boat, which contained about forty persons cominr 
 to the meeting from the Suffolk side of the river 
 to return with its passengers. Two men, servants 
 of Robert Grassingham, a shipwright to the ad- 
 miralty, whom their master had sent to bring some 
 Friends over the river, were not only prevented 
 from executing their master's direction ; but were 
 put into the stocks and contimied there for several 
 hours.. 
 
 Notwithstanding these acts of illiberality and 
 violence, the meeting was held for a considerable 
 time without interruption, and George Fox 
 preached to the people about two hours ; but b^ 
 fore the meeting was quite finished, a great com- 
 pany of sailors and others came to the house 
 where it was held, and behaved with great rude- 
 ness, using very violent and abusive language. 
 His zeal was j.ustly kindled on this occasion, and 
 feeling what he thought sufficient aulhorityj he 
 proclaimed : " Wo, wo, unto the rulers of this 
 nation, who suffer sueh ungodliness as this, and do 
 not seek to suppress it." This, probably with 
 some addition, was soon reported to the magis- 
 trates, who came aiKl ordered their officers to 
 apprehend him in the king's name, Charles the 2d 
 
114 
 
 IIFE OP GEORGE FOX. 
 
 / 
 
 \ 
 
 being then restored. The mayor, without any 
 mittimus, or poiuting out any law that had been 
 broken, committed him to prison, where his friend, 
 Bobert Grassingham,. voluntarily and out of pure 
 love, accon^panied him aud continued with him. 
 
 Before hi« removal from Harwich, he wrote to 
 King Charles on his restoration. This he entitles, 
 '* A noble Salutation and a faithful Greeting unto 
 thee Charles Stuart, who art now proclaimed. 
 King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.'^ 
 
 The following paragraph from the eonclusion 
 will show the plain dealing which he used towards 
 the king, as well as to those who had hold of the 
 reins of government, before his restoration. 
 
 Hi 
 
 *' And now. Oh Kinglas thou expects the bles- 
 sing and presence of the Lord with thee, in thy 
 government, fear and dread his presence, by stand- 
 ing in awe of his living witness, the Light which 
 he hath placed in thy conscience, to guide and 
 direct thee ia all thy ways, that his wrath may be 
 turned away from thee; that so this Scripture 
 may not be fulfilled upon the people of this 
 nation : God gave them a king in his anger, and 
 took him away in his sore displeasure. But if it 
 •should prove so^ I shall have peace, for I am clear 
 
 THE YOUNGER. 
 
 11^ 
 
 of thy blood ; inasmuch as in plainness I have let 
 tliee see how things have been, and how they may 
 or shall be, and wherein thy danger stands, and 
 how that righteousness only establisheth the throne. 
 And my desire is, if it be the will of God, that 
 thou mightest consider them in the principle of 
 life and wisdom, and thereby come to be saved 
 from that destruction, which, in God's eternal 
 Light, I see Aee in great danger of.** 
 
 The address from which the above extract is 
 made, contains a great variety of matter on various 
 subjects relating to the government. It was dated 
 from Harwich jail, the l6th of the 3d month 
 called May, I66O, and a copy of it in manuscript, 
 was delivered to the king by Richard Hubber- 
 thorne, the 4th of the 4th month following; and a& 
 many of the subjects treated of in this address 
 might be of use to others, as well as to the king^ 
 it was prmted for general service. 
 
 After they had continued some time in prison 
 at Harwich, a mittimus was sent to the jailer, in 
 which Fox was falsely charged with causing a tu- 
 mult in that borough, and disturbing the peace 
 thereof. After this step was taken, the busy ma- 
 gistrates informed the parliament of the imprison* 
 ment not only of Fox, but also of Grassingham ; 
 
116 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX, 
 
 I 
 
 and the House ordered them both to be sent t» 
 London. The latter had> however, left the pri- 
 son, and gone to London on his own business, 
 whence he was returning by order of the admiralty 
 board, when the sheriff of the county, who was 
 conducting George Fox, took Grassingham also 
 back to London, where they were delivered to tiie 
 custody of the serj^ant at arms, who committed 
 them to Lambeth House, with orders for them to 
 be strictly watched, in case any of their friends 
 should visit them» 
 
 For six weeks they were confined to their 
 chamber, without the usual liberty of walking in 
 the yard. When they had been thus confined 
 about three weeks, they drew up a pJrper, to be 
 liiid before the parliament, and sent it to the 
 speaker, who, however, did not communicate it. 
 It was therefore printed and distributed among 
 the members, but without any effect, it being 
 alleged that the address and contents of the paper 
 rendered it inadmissible. A member of the house, 
 after they had been confined about fourteen weeks, 
 moved the consideration of their case, upon which 
 it appears that an order was immediately given for 
 their liberation. 
 
 This order was rendered ineffectual by the cruel 
 ftrafice of- the serjeant at arms, who demanded 
 
 THE YOUNGER, 
 
 llf 
 
 fifty pounds for fees, and ten pounds per week ^or 
 chamber rent. Not complying with this exorbitant 
 demand, their confinement was protracted for a 
 considerable time longer ; and it is probable that 
 their liberation was at length directed by the privy 
 council, to whom their case was referred. From 
 the date of some papers, I find George Fox a 
 prisoner in Westminster Palace Yard Gate-house 
 in the 1st month, l66l.« It also appears that 
 he was liberated before the 4th month of that 
 year. His arrest at Harwich was in the 3d month 
 of the preceding year, so that he was kept prisoner 
 about a year, without being brought to any legal 
 trial. So perverted was the administration of jus- 
 tice in those .times. 
 
 This long confinement was not spent in idleness, 
 but the prisoner employed his pen and, when op- 
 portunity offered, his tongue also, in promoting 
 the cause for which he suffered. Among other 
 publications, one was entitled, " His Faith touch- 
 ing four Particulars demoustrated." 
 
 1st, Concerning Jesus Christ the Saviour of 
 the World. 
 
 * It IS possible that this imprlsoiyraent in Westminster 
 was not a continuance of the former at Lambeth, and that 
 an mterval of hberty took place between the times of bis 
 bting a prisoner at Lambeth and Westminster. 
 
118 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 2d, Concerning Justification. 
 3d, Concerning the Resurrection. 
 
 -4th, Concerning everlasting Glory and eternal 
 Misery. 
 
 On all these topics he explains the views of 
 iiimseU and hts friends at considerable length. 
 On the subject of Justification he expresses him- 
 self thus : " 1 do believe no man can be justified 
 hy the works of the law, nor by any work of his 
 own ; but he or she that is justified in the sight of 
 God, it is freely by his grace, through faith in 
 Christ Jesus, who creates such unto good works, 
 which God hath ordained, that they that are justi- 
 £ed should walk in them." 
 
 The folloMing acknowledgment to Divine power 
 and goodness, written about this time, also appears 
 deserving of a place in this Memoir. 
 
 " Surely it was thee. Oh Lord! that gav'e bounds 
 to the sea, that the floods thereof could not over- 
 whelm thy chosen. Thou canst let forth the 
 winds, and suffer a storm ; and thou canst make a 
 calm when thou pleasest. Have thou the glory 
 
 f HE YOtJNGEft. 
 
 119 
 
 of all, thou King of Saints ! thou Saviour of Israeli 
 Thou canst do whatever thou pleasest, therefore 
 will we trust in thy name; neither will we fear 
 what man can do unto us, because thou wilt not 
 forsake us, but thou wilt plead our cause in the 
 sight of our adversaries, and they shall know that 
 thou art our God, who art able to save to the 
 uttermost. 
 
 " Oh Lord, our righteousness ! we will praise 
 thy name, for thy mercies endure for ever. Our 
 eyes. Oh God ! are unto thee, for we have no other 
 helper. Our faith. Oh Lord! standeth in thee, 
 who canst not forget thy people. Thou hast re- 
 deemed and brought up Jacob, who wrestleth 
 with thee, and prevails as a prince; therefore must 
 the blessing come. Oh Lord ! the birth, the birth 
 crieth unto thee, thine own elect, which has long 
 been oppressed. Thou cunst not deny thyself, 
 therefore have we faith, and hope whidh maketh 
 not ashamed. Oh Lord! how unsearchable are 
 thy ways ! Thou hast even amazed thy people with 
 the depth of thy wisdom ; thou only wilt have the 
 glory of their deliverance, and therefore hast thou 
 suffered these things to come to pass. Oh Lord ! 
 ihou art righteous in all thy judgments; only pre- 
 serve thy people, which thou hast gathered and 
 wilt gather unto thyself, in the day of trial, that so 
 
r 
 
 120 
 
 LIFE OF G80R0E FOX, 
 
 THE YOUNGER. 
 
 1^1 
 
 they may sing of thy power, aod magnify thy name 
 in the land of the living. 
 
 ^'GEOKeE Fox, the Younger." 
 
 In the 4th month, 1 661, it appears that a tem- 
 porary cessation of persecution had taken place, 
 . at which time he wrote to his friends in this man- 
 ner: " O ! that patience might be abode in by all 
 that know his name, and his will submitted unto 
 by them that he hath called. O ! be still, strive 
 not, but drink the cup which my Father sufFereth 
 to be given : 1 know it will be bitter to some ; 
 but whosoever striveth against it, shall come to 
 loss and shame ; for the Lord will yet further try 
 his people, till it be fully and clearly manifest who 
 are approved in his sight. This he will certainly 
 do ; therefore let not the present calm beget a 
 wrong security in any ; for lo ! the day hastens and 
 comes swiftly, that another storm must arise; and 
 in vain will it be to fly to the tall cedars or strong 
 oaks, for shelter, for nothing but the name of tlie 
 Lord can preserve in that day.'* 
 
 This prediction was soon fulfilled; for in the 
 succeeding year above one hundred Friends were 
 confined at one time in Newgate, where several 
 died. And a few years afterwards the Conven- 
 ticle Act was passed, which subjected the Society 
 to perhaps more sufferings than they had pre- 
 viously undergone. But before any of these 
 events took place, this extraordinary man finished 
 his labours and sufferings in and for the Church 
 Militant, dying at the close of this year, l66l, or 
 the beginning of 1662. In his last illness he ex- 
 horted his friends to " keep in that unity for which 
 he had long travailed, and to keep their garments 
 unspotted by the world, because great was the day 
 of trial which was then at hand." When he was in 
 great bodily weakness, he lay as a man daily re- 
 newing his strength in the Lord, whose living 
 presence so animated his departing spirit to the 
 last, that he said, he would even shout and sing 
 for joy of heart. Thus exultingly did he terminate 
 his existence in this World, and diere is good rea- 
 son to believe is added to the church triumphant 
 in heaven. 
 
 A Friend who subscribes himself I. P. and 
 whom I suppose to be Isaac Pennington, speaking 
 of llie ministry of this George Fox, describes it 
 in figurative terms : " As thunder to the rocks. 
 
 G 
 
142 GfiOUGE FOX> THE YOUNGER. 
 
 and mountains ; arid streams of sweet milk, wine, 
 and honey to the blessed hving babes of the 
 blessed living God." 
 
 Soon after his decease, his writings were col- 
 lected and published in a small octavo volume, 
 containing about 288 pages. 
 
 Chapter xi. 
 
 IIFE OF RICHARD JWBBERTHORN. 
 
 -.- f 
 
 \ 
 
 1 His Friend was one of the earliest membejs 
 of the Society in Lancashire. He lived, and I 
 suppose was born at Yellaiid in that county. His 
 parents were respectable, and his father a man of 
 landed property. Richard was their only son. 
 He early manifested a religious disposition of 
 mind, and, as was the case with many serious peo- 
 ple at that time, entered into the Parliament's 
 army, in which he became an officer; and so great 
 was his godly zeal, that he sometimes preached to 
 his fellow-soldiers. After he was convinced of 
 the principles of Friends, he left his military em- 
 ployment, and became a soldier in the Lamb s 
 warfare, enlisting himself under the banner of Christ 
 Jesus, the Prince of Peace. So early as the 
 >^ar 1652, he went forth in gospel service j and 
 
 G 2 
 
^3 
 
 124 ttPE Ot RICHARD HUBBERTHOUN. 
 
 afterwards suffered much for his rehgious prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 In 1G53> the mayor of Chester sent him to 
 jail, and detained him there eight days, upon a 
 bare information of his visitmg John Lawsoiii 
 in prison. 
 
 In the year 1654, he and George Whitehead 
 travelled into Norfolk, and coming to Norwich, 
 he was concerned to speak to a priest in the grave- 
 yard, on which account he was taken before the 
 magistrates. Coming into their presence with his 
 hat on, he was committed to the castle, where he 
 continued a prisoner great part of the succeeding 
 year. His companion, however, had muth service 
 in that city, in which a Meeting of Friends was 
 then establised. It is most probable they were Ac 
 first Friends who visited those parts. 
 
 In sivins an account of the sufferers in Cam- 
 bridgeshire in the year 1656, Joseph Besse fui- 
 nishes a further proof, that " Even christian 
 charity itself, was by some magistrates reputed 
 criminal; and Richard Hubberthorn and Richard 
 Weaver, svtte sent to jail only for visiting Ann 
 Blakley in prison ; and Richard Hubberthorn for 
 not departing the town [probably Cambridge] at 
 the mayor's command, was sent to the house of 
 correction for three months.' 
 
 » »» 
 
 11F£ or RICHARD HUBBERTHORN. 195 
 
 The same year we find that Richard Hub- 
 berlhom was taken out of a meeting in the 
 county of Lancaster, bound hand and foot, and so 
 carried and laid in the open fields, in a cold win- 
 ter's night. 
 
 The next notice I find of Richard Hubber- 
 thorn, is in the year 1660, when he had a long 
 conference with Charles the Second, and some 
 others who were in company with him. In this 
 conversation, Richard explained the Principles of 
 Friends, so much to the king's satisfaction, that he 
 repeatedly promised they should not any way suf- 
 fer for their religious opinions. But though there 
 is no reason' to doubt the king's sincerity at the 
 Aime, yet he was so easily influenced by others, 
 that he seemed to forget what he had solemnly 
 promised, on the word of a king. The very man 
 to whom this promise was made, was a proof 
 of this weakness in the king's disposition, as will 
 he related in the sequel. 
 
 It seems that Richard Hubberthorn continued 
 some time in Loudon; for in the same year that 
 he had this conference with Charles the Second, 
 we find him uniting with George Fox in drawing 
 up a declaration of their abhorrence of plots and 
 warring, in order to present it to the king and 
 council. Whea it was finished and sent to the 
 
 G 3 
 
\Q.6 LIFE OF KICHARD HUBBERTHORN, 
 
 press, it was there seized ; but this arbitrary en- 
 deavour to deprive them of the opportunity of 
 vindicating themselves and their friends, did not 
 deter these bold asserters of just liberty from pro- 
 secuting their commendable design. They quickly 
 drew up another declaration, got it printed, sent 
 some copies to the king and council, and pub- 
 lished the rest in their justification, to the nation 
 at large. 
 
 In 1661, he, with Edward Burrough and George 
 "Whitehead, attended the parliament, to solicit 
 against passing into an act, " A bill for preventing 
 mischief and dangers that may arise, from cer- 
 tain persons called Quakers, and others refusing 
 to take lawful oaths." 
 
 They attended the committee several times, and 
 were also permitted to give their reations at the 
 bar of the house ; but it seems that prejudice, 
 party animosity, and mistaken zeal, overruled the 
 clearest ar(:ruments adduced a<;ainst it. 
 
 In the 4th month, I66C, notwithstanding the 
 promise made to him by the king, he was vio- 
 lently dragged from a meeting in Bull and Mouth 
 Street, and taken before Richard Brown, alder- 
 man, who pulled Hubberthorn's hat with so much 
 violence that he brought his head nearly to the 
 
 LIFE OF RICHARD HUBBERTfiORN. 127 
 
 ground. After this rough treatment, he committed 
 him to Newgate, where the prisoners were so nu- 
 merous, and the accommodation so poor, that he 
 soon grew sick; and within two months his suffer- 
 ings terminated with ivis life ! 
 
 Two daysrt)efore his decease, some of his friends 
 visited him, and inquiring if there was any 
 thing upon his spirit, he said, that there was no 
 need to dispute matters^ for he knew the ground 
 of his salvation, and was satisfied for ever in his 
 peace with the Lord." He also said : ** That faith 
 which hath wrought my salvation I well know, 
 and have grounded satisfaction in it." In the 
 morning previous to his decease, he expressed 
 himself thus to one who attended him : *' Do not 
 seek to hold me, for it is too strait for me, and 
 out of this straitness Tmust go; for I am wound 
 into largeness, and am to be lifted up on high, far 
 above all." In the evening of the day he quietly 
 departed this life, and thus sealed his testimony 
 to those religious principles, which he had con- 
 scientiously embraced, and zealously promulgated. 
 
 He was a man of low stature, infirm constitu- 
 tion, and a weak voice ; but though he did not 
 possess gracefulness of person, he excelled in the 
 more noble faculties of the mind; being of an 
 excellent natural temper, a man of much meekness^ 
 
 G 4 
 
 « 
 
\< ri 
 
 fit 
 
 128 LIFE OF RICHABD HUBBERTHORN. 
 
 humility, and patience. He was of distinguished 
 equanimity, neither easily depressed in adversity, 
 nor elated in prosperity; clear in judgment and of 
 a quick understanding. 
 
 Notwithstanding the weakness of his voice, he 
 was a very able and successful minister of the 
 gospel ; and great numbers, in different parts of 
 the nation, were convinced and brought to the 
 same faith and practice which he preached, as 
 seals to the power and efficacy of his gift. 
 
 f I > 
 
 CHAPTER XII, 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 We have no account of the birth of Winiam 
 •Ames, or of his native country, except that John 
 Whiting mentions him as being of Somersetshire. 
 In his youth he was of a cheerful temper, and 
 fond of the society of those of similar dispositions; 
 but, in the gay and unguarded indulgencies of this 
 inclination, he was often disquieted in his mind ; 
 and, in consequence, became a closer follower of 
 the priests and teachers. He also exercised him- 
 self diligently io reading the Holy Scriptures, 
 ^vhich, though it is a practice very excellent ia 
 Itself, was not sufficient to bring him to true peace 
 of mind with the lx)rd. 
 
 Though he was of a quick understanding, and 
 <^^apable of deducing much argument from the 
 '-^-^riptures ; yet he appears, for a lime, not to have 
 
 C .5 
 
130 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 131 
 
 :l 
 
 ic 
 
 4 
 
 been favoured with the Key of David, which only 
 can unlock and open that rich treasury, and fur- 
 nish from those abundant stores, the food conve- 
 nient for the seeking, hungry soul. 
 
 In this unsatisfied condition of mind, he entered 
 into religious communion with the Baptist society, 
 and became a teacher among them. At this period 
 he was more strict and careful of his conduct, and 
 endeavoured to avoid the committing of sins; yet 
 he found that the root from whence they sprung 
 was alive in him ; and when he met with any thing 
 contrary to his own will and mind, anger «oon 
 prevailed. Few appear to have been more fully 
 and clearly taught tlie doctrine of the blessed 
 Redeemer of men, when be said ; " Without me 
 ye can do nothing." 
 
 Pie could speak of justification, sanctification, 
 and cleansing by the blood of Jesus^ but was sen- 
 sible he had not attained that pure washing ; and 
 even perceived that be was no true member of 
 Christ, because he iiad not -experienced regenera- 
 tion. Thus he learned that -a high profession was 
 of no avail, and that something beyond it was 
 essential, to enable him to attain a happy state 
 and condition. 
 
 Though the subject of this Memoir was thus 
 clearly sensible of one thing still lacking ; and, oa 
 
 ii 
 
 eommitting sin, felt in himself a swift witness, a 
 monitor that struck him with terror ; yet he did 
 not comprehend what it was which in mercy thus 
 disquieted his soul. 
 
 In addition to the ministerial office which he 
 had taken upon himself, he likewise engaged as an 
 officer in the army. In this capacity he was of a 
 strict life himself, and kept his soldiers under a 
 severe discipline; and when any of them were 
 guilty of immorality on the first day of the week, 
 he presently had them put under confinement and 
 restraint. 
 
 At length, in the year 1655, whilst Edward Bur- 
 rough and Fl-ancis Howgill w ere at Cork in Ireland, 
 he heard one or both of them preach, declaring 
 that what convincelh man of sin, is the Light of 
 Christ, which enlighteneth every man that cometh 
 into the world. This doctrine entered so deeply 
 into his heart, that he embraced it, from firm con- 
 viction of its being the Truth; and walking with 
 great circumspection and fear before the Lord, he 
 found, that by diligent atttention to that Divine 
 principle which inwardly reproved and condemned 
 him for evil, he came to be delivered from the 
 power of sin, and to witness sanctification. 
 
 He entered into the Society of the despised 
 Quakers, and continuing in the way of godliness. 
 
13^ 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES, 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES, 
 
 isi 
 
 »# 
 
 he himself became a zealous preacher of that 
 doctrme which had so deeply penetrated his own 
 heart. 
 
 In tlie year 1657, we find him at Amsterdam, 
 in company with a person of the name of 
 Humble Thatcher, who does not appear to have 
 been ever fully in communion with our reli<Tious 
 society. It seems, from the circumstance of their 
 being companions, and from William Ames being 
 a man of extraordinary courage and boldness, that 
 they were taken up, on suspicion of having placed 
 a paper on the door of the English meeting-house, 
 in that city ; but of this charge William declared 
 himself innocent ; and also that he knew not who 
 was the author of the paper. This happened at 
 the time wheu so many false reports were in print, 
 concerning James Nayler, which probably occa- 
 sioned the magistrates to be more apprehensive 
 respecting them; and sending for William Ames 
 and his companion to appear before them, thev 
 were commanded to depart tlie town in twenty- 
 four liours. 
 
 Persuaded of ih^ir own innocency, these cou- 
 rageous and resolute men did not think proper to 
 obey the comuiand. The next day, from a con- 
 scientious scruple, not putting off their hats wheu 
 a^ftlore the magistrates, they were falsely consideie^ 
 
 as not owning the subordination due to rulers; and 
 after being kept in custody for some days, they 
 were at night led through the Regulars gate, and 
 banished out of the town. 
 
 William Ames judging that he had committed 
 no evil, returned the next day into the city, and 
 passed the great market-place called the Dam. 
 On this occasion it is said that some of the 
 magistrates saw him and observed: " Lo! there 
 is the Quaker; if we had a mind now to make 
 martyrs, here would be an opportunity for it." 
 But it seems, as there was no proof of their hav- 
 ing done any evil, the magistrates deemed it safest 
 to wink at {lis return. 
 
 lie staid some time in the city, and the doctrine 
 which he preached found some entrance, even 
 among a few of the collegians. At this time alsa 
 his ministry proved convincing to Jacob William- 
 son Sewel,^ of Utrecht, free citizen and surgeon, 
 resident at Amsterdam, and Judith .Zinspennin«" 
 bis wife, who were the parents of William Sewel, 
 the historian of our society, and a lexicographer. 
 These, with two or three more, were the first of 
 our religious persuasion at Amsterdam. 
 
 In the preface to- WilHara SeweKs History, he 
 iaeutioDs. William Amea a:* having had considerable 
 
TS4 
 
 VtVE OF "WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 influence with several collegians when he was first 
 at Amsterdam, who were so fully convinced of 
 the doctrine he preached, that they approved of 
 it ; and one of them, Adam Boreels, so early as 
 the year 1662, is supposed by William Sewel, to 
 have written a treatise in Latin, with a title signi- 
 fying, " The Light upon the Candlestick," which 
 contained the doctrines preached by William Ames, 
 and was so expressed in the title page. This 
 treatise is translated into English, and forms an 
 Appendix to William Sewell's History of our 
 Sociey. 
 
 About the year 1659, William Ames went into 
 Germany, and visited the court of the Prince 
 Elector, Charles Lodowick, who treated him kindly 
 even at his own table, and seemed not to take 
 any offence at his hat being kept on, though the 
 lords and others present were uncovered. On 
 one occasion, as Ames was walking next the 
 prince, in his garden, with his hat on, the courtiers 
 inquired of the prince, if they should question 
 Ames for doing so ; but this he would not permit 
 them to do. 
 
 At another time the prince fixed to have both 
 his chaplain and William Ames to dine with him, 
 tvith a view, it seems, that William, whom he knew 
 fo be a bold man, might find occasion to reprove 
 
 ETFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 135 
 
 the chaplain. For this purpose, when they were 
 at dinner, the prince sufi'ered his jester to come in, 
 and on playing his tricks the diaplain was silent. 
 William Ames took occasion from this circum- 
 stance to reprove such vain actions ; but chiefly 
 aimed his remarks at the chaplain, whom, for his 
 silence at the lewd remarks of the jester, he cen- 
 sured in very plain terms; which, however, ap- 
 peared to afford satisfaction to the prince. This 
 fact marks the uprightness, boldness, and firm in- 
 tegrity of the character of William Ames. 
 
 At Kriesheim, a town in the Palattinate, not fai* 
 from Worms, he found such entrance amon<r the 
 Baptists, that some families not only received the 
 doctrine he preached, but bore public testimony 
 for it there, till the settlement of Pennsylvania, 
 when they unanimously went to that province, and 
 thus providentially escaped the distresses which 
 w ere occasioned by the war not long after ; ia 
 which the Palatinate was laid waste by the French, 
 and thousands were bereaved of their possessions 
 and reduced to poverty. 
 
 The conviction which attended the ministry of 
 WilHam Ames, in the hearts of some persons in 
 the Palatinate, occasioned a fine to be settled on 
 tiiose who gave him entertainment ; but the Prince 
 JElectQi being informed of it, not only took -off 
 
> ' 
 
 136 
 
 •LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 the fine, but ordered some of the Consistory, wlio 
 bad sent for William, to desist from molesting 
 bim. The Prince's sister also behaved very kindly 
 towards William Ames, and received his exhorta- 
 tions favourably. 
 
 Tlie next year he went again into the Palatinate, 
 with John Higgins, and visited the Prince Elector ; 
 be also sent a letter to the Prince, with a book 
 written by George Fox, of which John Higgins 
 appears to have been the bearer. From the Cap- 
 tain of the Prince's Guard, they understood that 
 he was glad of William Ames's return; and the 
 Prince himself desired John Higgins to thank 
 William Ames for the letter and book ; and added, 
 that he took their visit to him and his family very 
 kindly, and believed that what they spoke, was in 
 love to their souls. 
 
 William Ames also went to Hamburgh, Bo- 
 hemia, and Dautzick, and from the latter into 
 Poland ; but it is not certain in what year. At 
 Hamburgh and Dantzick he met with some who 
 received the doctrine he preached ; but in Poland 
 the people were too rude and haughty for him to 
 make an impression on their minds. 
 
 . In the forepart of the year 1659, he wen* 
 also .to .Rotterdam, where he and one Martjft 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 137 
 
 Martinson, who had been convbced by him, were 
 imprisoned in the Bedlam there, for having a 
 meeting at Martinson's house. The latter lived at 
 Moordecht, a village near Gouda, and was in the 
 practice of holding a meeting sometimes in his 
 own house, with some of his sober-minded neigh* 
 hours, which caused a great commotion in the 
 town ; and after a meeting held there, at which 
 William Ames was present, they experienced 
 much rude treatment. In conseqence of thi«, 
 they had some conversation with a preacher, who 
 charged W'illiam Ames with being a wolf and 
 deceiver. William was desirous of having an op- 
 portunity of clearing himself, and by means of 
 Martin Martinson got a time fixed for the priest 
 to .undertake the proof of his ass^tion ; but instead 
 of doing so, he had recourse to a less troublesome 
 expedient, and procured civjl officers, who took 
 them both into custody. 
 
 t 
 
 After being confined a little more than three 
 weeks in Bedlam, the under governor indirectly 
 expressed a wish that they would escape; saying 
 that he should not hinder them. William Ames, 
 not choosing to be reputed one who broke prison, 
 concluded the conversation with saying : " Well, 
 I intend to go out to-morroW." The next day 
 they were suffered to ^o out, and William went 
 

 «i 
 
 i 
 
 tss 
 
 LITE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 with the deputy before the dikegrave, not cTioosm|; 
 to leave the towB without seeing- liim. Tlie dike- 
 grave behaved moderately ; but not judging it 
 eligible for them to be released^ expressed a desire 
 for them to return to the prison, with which they 
 complied, and were detained some time longer, 
 before they were set at liberty : William then pro- 
 ceeded on his journey in Germany, and thence re- 
 turned to hi» native country; but after some time 
 he went again to Holland, probably with an in- 
 tention of settling there. 
 
 In 1^<1, he was taken from a Friends house ia 
 London, with Samuel Fisher and three others, 
 and suffered a severe imprisonment in Bridewell ; 
 but his health not being equal to endure such 
 severity, he was rdeased, lest he should die there. 
 Such was the rage of persecution at that time, 
 that not only public meetings were interrupted, 
 but private houses were broken into, and friendly 
 visits were Gonstra<Hl into meeting* contrary to 
 law. 
 
 His settled abode at this time was at Amster- 
 dam, to which place, after his release, he returned, 
 Wth his health nuich impaired; and he did not 
 very long survive the effects of the severity he 
 endured in Bridewell. In the course of his sick- 
 
 LTFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 199 
 
 ness, which was lingering, he was informed, that, 
 among the Baptists and Collegians, it was reported, 
 he had changed his sentiments, and was grieved 
 for having judged him wrongfully. This he de- 
 nied ; and said that he still judged their way 
 of worship, especially their disputations and 
 %vill- worship, to be out of the way of the 
 Lord. In this belief he continued, and died in 
 peace. This was in the latter part of the year 
 1662. 
 
 William Sewel thus concludes his account of 
 this bold advocate, of the Light of Christ in the 
 Heart. " He was indeed a zealous man, and 
 though some were ready to tbink lie was too 
 zealous, yet he was discreet ; and I know that he 
 was condescending in indifferent matters, thinking 
 that there were customs, which though not fol- 
 lowed in one country, were yet tolerable in ano- 
 ther. He was also generous ; and lest he might 
 seem burthensome to any, he rather chose to work 
 with his own hands." He did this, at wool-combing, 
 during his last imprisonment in London. ^ 
 
 He published several small works, which are 
 enumerated in John Whiting*s catalogue of Friends* 
 Books. In this list appears to be included " The 
 Light upon the Candlestick," already noticed itf 
 
 JA^^. 
 
 
140 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM AMES. 
 
 this Memoir ; and from his name being in the 
 title-page, John Whiting might suppose he was 
 the author of it. 
 
 CHAPTER xin. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWJRD BURROUGIt. 
 
 ■»«e<aioie « e» 
 
 jN the coursfe of reading which is necessary, 
 previous to writing my Biographical Notices, I 
 perused the, Testimony of Francis Howgill con- 
 cerning the subject of this Memoir, and was 60 
 struck with the excellency of the matter, and the 
 sublimity of the expression, that I thought it de- 
 served reprinting by itself. Hence it became Kl 
 subject of consideration, whether I could do bet- 
 ter than present my readers with this produc- 
 tion. It is something above the style of sober 
 history, yet the dielineation is so strong, and the 
 colouring, though high, there is reason lo believe, 
 so just, that I apprehend no one who is acquainted 
 with the character of Edward Burrough, will 
 think that this picture of him is overcharged. As 
 it also contains much biographical information, I 
 have concluded to give my account in the words 
 
 ? 
 
 il 
 
K'i 
 
 142 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 i 
 
 of this intimate friend and fellow-labourer in the 
 Gospel of Christ. It may be proper to apprize 
 Ae reader, that the first part of this Testimony, 
 as it is- called, contains an aifecting^ lamentation 
 or elegical eulogy over his departed friend. 
 
 " 'III ~ ' • • 
 
 FRANCIS HOWGILUs TESTIMONY 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 Life, Death, Trials, Travels, and Labours, 
 
 0?* 
 
 EDWARD BURROUGtf, 
 
 f 
 
 That Worthi/ Prophet of the Lord. 
 
 " Shall days, or months, or years, wear out 
 thy name as though thou hadst no being? Oh nay ! 
 Shall not thy noble and valiant acts, and mighty 
 works, which thou hast wrought, through the 
 power of Him that gave thee being, live in genera- 
 tions to come ? Oh yes ! The children that are 
 yet unborn shall have thee in their mouths, and 
 thy works shall testify of thee in generations who 
 yet have not a being, and shall count thee blessed. 
 Did thy life go out as the snuff of a candle ? Oh 
 nay! thou hast, penetrated the lieart? of many; 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 149 
 
 and the memorial of the just shall live for ever, 
 and be had in renown among the chil<lren of wis- 
 dom for ever : for thou hast turned many to righ- 
 teousness, and shall shine as a star bi God in the 
 firmament of God's power for ever and ever ; and 
 they that are in thiat, shall see thee there, and en- 
 joy thee there, though thou be gone away hence, 
 and can no niore be seen in mutability ; yet thy life 
 and thy spirit shail ran parallel with immortality. 
 
 " Oh! Edward Burrough ! I catinot but mourn 
 for thee; yet not as one Without hope or faith; 
 knowing and having a perfect testimony of thy 
 well-being, in my heart, by the Spirit of the Lord; 
 yet thy absence is great, and years to come shall 
 know the want of thee. Shall I not lament as 
 iiavid did for a worse man than ihee ; even for 
 Jhner, when in wrath he perished hy the hand of 
 Joab, without any just cause, though he was a 
 valiant man. " David lamented over Abner and 
 said: Died Ahner as a fool dieth 'i Oh nay I he 
 was betrayed of his life. Even so hast thou been 
 bereaved of thy life, by the hand of the oppressors, 
 whose habitations are full of cruelty. Oh my 
 soul I come not thou within their secret ; for thy 
 blodd shall be required at the hands of thfem who 
 thirsted after thy life ; and it shall cry as Abel's 
 who was in the faith ; even so wert thou. It shall 
 >^'eigh as a ponderous millstone upon their necks, 
 
 A 
 
144 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGU. 
 
 and shall crush ihem under, and be as a worm 
 that goaweth aud shall not die. 
 
 " When I think upon thee, I am tnelted into 
 tears of true sorrow, and because of the want that 
 the iuberitance of thie Lord hath of thee, my sub- 
 stance is even as dissolved. Shall I not saj as 
 David said of Saul and Jonathan when they were 
 slain in Mount Gil boa : • The beauty of Israel is 
 slain upon the high places;' even so wast thou 
 stilled in nasty holes and prisons, and many more 
 who were precious in the eyes of the Lord ; and 
 surely precious wast thou to me, Oh dear Edward! 
 ' I am distressed for thee, mif brother; very pleasant 
 hast thou beeii to me, and my love to thee zvas icon- 
 derfufj passing the love of women. Ok thou zchose 
 hozp never turned hack, neither suord empty from 
 ■ the blood of the slain, from the slaughter of the 
 mighty;^ who made nations and multitudes shake 
 with the word of life in thy mouth ; and wast very 
 dreadful to the enemies of the Lord ; for thou 
 didst cut like a razor ; and yet to the seed of God 
 brought forth, thy words dropt like oil, and thy 
 lips as the honey-comb. 
 
 " Thou shalt be recorded among the valiants 
 of Israel, who attained to the first degree, through 
 the power of the. Lord, that wrought mightily in 
 thee in thy day^ and wast worthy of double honour. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD iURROUGH. U^ 
 
 because of thy work's sake. Thou wast expert 
 to handle thy weapon, and by thee the mighty 
 have fallen, and the slain of the Lord have been 
 many; many have been pricked to the heart, 
 through the power of the Word of Life; and coals 
 of fire from thy life, came forth of thy nioulh, 
 that in many a thicket, and among many briars 
 and thorns, it came to be kindled; and did devour 
 much stubble that cumbered the ground and 
 stained the earth. Oh, how certain a sound did 
 thy trumpet give! And how great an alarum didst 
 thou give in thy day, that made the host of the 
 uncircumcised greatly distressed ! 
 
 " What man so valiant, though as Goliath of Gath. 
 ^vould not thy valour have encountered with, 
 while many despised thy youth ! And how have I 
 seen thee with thy sling and thy stone (despised 
 weapons as to war with,) wound the mighty! and 
 that which hath seemed contemptible to the 
 Dragon's party, even as the jaw-bone of an ass, 
 with it thou hast slain the Philistines, heaps upon 
 heaps, as Sampson. Thou hast put thy hand to 
 the hammer of the Lord, and hast often fastened 
 nails in the heads of the Lamb's enemies ; as 
 Deborah* did to Sisera; and many a rough stone 
 hast thou polished and squared, and made it fit 
 
 * Deborah may have been designedly used in a figura- 
 tive sense for Jael, to »vhom the passage aJlnde?. 
 
 H 
 
 4 
 
 
ug 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURHOUGHT. 
 
 i 
 
 for the building of God; and much knotty Wood 
 hast tliou hewed in thy day, which was not ht for 
 the building of God's house ; oh thou prophet of 
 the Lord ! and [diou] shalt for ever be recorded in 
 the Lamb's book of hfe, among the Lord's worthies, 
 \yho have followed the Lamb through great tri- 
 bulations, as many can witaess for thee, from the 
 beginning; and at last hath overcome and [hath 
 been] found worthy to stand with the Lamb upon 
 Mount Sion, the hill of God, as I have often 
 seen thee ; and thy heart well tuned as a harp to 
 praise the Lord, and to sound forth his great sal- 
 vation, which, many a time, hath made glad the 
 hearts of them that did believe, and strengthened 
 their faith and hope. 
 
 " Well, thou art at rest, and bound up in the 
 bundle of life; and 1 know tears were wiped 
 away from thy eyes, because there was no cause of 
 sorrow in thee ; for I know thou witnessed the 
 old things done away; and there was no curse; 
 but blessings were poured upon thy head as rain, 
 and peace as a mighty shower ; and trouble was 
 far from thy dwelling, though in the outward man 
 trouble on every side; and [thou] hast had a 
 oreater share in that for the gospel's sake, though 
 a youth, in thy time, than many besides ; but now 
 thou art freed from that, and hast obtained a name 
 through faith with the saints in light. 
 
 LIFE OP EDWARD BURROUCH. 
 
 Ut 
 
 *' Well, hadst thou more to give up tlian thy life 
 for the name of Jesus in this world? Nav. and to 
 seal thy testimony committed unto thee with thy 
 blood, as thou hast often said in thy day, which 
 shall remain as a crown upon thee for ever and 
 ever. And now thou art freed from the temp- 
 tations of him who had the power of death ; and 
 art freed from thy outward enemies, who hated 
 thee because of the life that dwelt in thee, and 
 remainest at the right hand of God, where there 
 is joy and pleasure for evermore in the everlasting 
 light, which thou hast often testified unto, accord- 
 ing to the word of prophecy in thy heart, which 
 was given unto thee by the Holy Ghost ; and art 
 at rest in the perfection thereof, in the beauty of 
 holiness ; yet thy life and thy spirit I feel as pre-* 
 sent, and have unity with it and in it, beyond all 
 created and visible things which are subject to 
 mutation and change. And thy life shall enter 
 into others, to testify unto the same truth, which 
 is from everlasting to everlasting; for God hath 
 raised, and shall raise up children unto Abraham, 
 of them that have been as dead stones, whose 
 power is Almighty, great in his people, in the 
 midst of their enemies. 
 
 " Tliis same Edward Burrough was born in 
 the barony of Kendal, in the county of Westmore- 
 Jand, of honest parents, who had a good report 
 
 H 2 
 
148 
 
 VltE Ot EDWAfeD BURROUGH, 
 
 wi 
 
 among iheir neighbours, for upright and honest 
 dealmg among men ; who brought up Edward in 
 his youth, in learning and good education as the 
 country doth afford. He was a Very understand- 
 ing boy in his youth ; and his knowledge and un- 
 derstanding did far exceed his years. He had the 
 spirit of a man when he was but a child ; and I 
 may say grey hairs were upon him when he w as 
 but a youth, for he was clothed with wisdom in 
 his infancy ; for I had perfect knowledge of him 
 from a youth. He was inclinable from his youth 
 upwards to religion, and the best way, always 
 minding the best things, and the best and nearest 
 way of worship to the Scriptures of truth ; and 
 always did accompany the best men, who walked 
 in <yodliness and honesty ; insomuch I have often 
 admired his discreet carriage, and his great under- 
 standing of the things of God. He was never 
 known to be addicted to any vice, or malignity, or 
 bad behaviour, neither followed any evil course of 
 life from his childhood ; but feared the Lord and 
 walked uprightly, according to the light and 
 knowledge received in all things. 
 
 "In his natural dispositioti, hfe wis bold arid 
 manly, dexterous and fervent; arid what he tbok 
 in hand, he did it with his might ; loVing, kind, 
 ^nd courtebus, merci'fiil and flexible, and easy to 
 be entreated. His whole delight was always 
 
 tIFE OF EDWAIID BURROUGH. 140 
 
 among good people, and to be conferring and read- 
 ing the Scriptures, and little to mind any sports or 
 pastimes which there is an incidency unto in 
 youth; but his very strength was bended after 
 God ; and [he] was separated, I may say, from his 
 birth, and fitting for the work's sake, whereunto 
 he after was called^ 
 
 " And when it pleased the Lord to raise up 
 unto us the ancient horn of salvation, among us 
 who were reckoned in the North part of England, 
 even as the outcasts of Israel, and as men destitute 
 of the great knowledge which some seemed to en- 
 joy; yet tliere was^ more sincerity and true love 
 amongst us, and desires after the living, powerful, 
 presence of God, than was among many in that 
 day who seemed to make a great flourish ; who 
 ran into heaps and forms, but left the cross behind 
 them, and indeed were strangers to it. God out 
 of his everiasting love did appear to us, according 
 to the desire of our hearts, who longed after Him. 
 When we had turned aside from hireling-shepherds 
 tents, we found him whom our souls loved ; and 
 God out of his great love and great mercy sent 
 one unto us, immediately, by his power, a man of 
 God, one of ten thousand, to instruct us in the 
 way of God more perfectly; who laid down the 
 sure foundation, and declared the acceptable year 
 of the Lord ; who indeed made the mourners to 
 
 I 
 
m 
 
 
 150 l^lFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH* 
 
 rejoice, and the heavy-hearted glad ; >^hich yet was 
 tenible to all hypocrites and all formal profession; 
 which testimony reached unto all our consciences, 
 and entered into the inmost part of our hearts ; 
 which drove us to a narrow search, and to a dili- 
 gent inquisition concerning our state, which we 
 came to see, through the light of Christ Jesus, 
 which was testified of; and found it to be eveft 
 what it was testified of. 
 
 " And the Lord of heaven and earth, we found 
 to be near at hand; and as we waited upon Him in 
 pure silence, our minds out of all things, his diead- 
 ftrl power, and glorious majesty, and heavenly 
 presence, appeared in our assemblies; when there 
 was no language, tongue, nor speech from any 
 creature ; and the kingdom of heaven did gather 
 us, and catch us all as in a net ; and his heavenly 
 power at one time drew many hundreds to land ; 
 that we came to know a place to stand in, and 
 what to wait in; and the Lord appeared daily to 
 us, to our astonishment, amazement, and great 
 admiration ; insoumch that we often said one unto 
 another, with great joy of heart: fflutt! is the 
 kimdom of God come to //e uiih men'i And will 
 he take up his tabernacle among the sons of men as 
 he did of old? And zihat! sluill tve that tcere 
 reckoned as the outcasts of Israel, liate this honour 
 ofglori/ communicated amongst us, zchich were but 
 
 ilTE OV EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 151 
 
 tnen of small parts, and of little abilitiesy in respect 
 of many others^ as umjngst men'^ Howbeit, this it 
 seemed good unto the Lord, to choose the weak 
 things, and the foolish things of this world, as to 
 the aspect of men, that no flesh might glory; that 
 no man, because of his parts, might glory, or be- 
 cause of his strength or wisdom might glory ; but 
 that the ^lory which is His, might be given only 
 to Him ; unto zvhom he the glory of all his works, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. - 
 
 " And from that day forward, our hearts were 
 knit unto the Lord, and one unto another, in true 
 and fervent love; not by any external covenant, of 
 external form ; but we entered into the covenant 
 of life with God; and tliat was as a strong obliga- 
 tion or bond upon all our spirits, which united us 
 one unto another; and we met together in the 
 unity of the spirit, and of the bund of peace; 
 treading down under our feet, all reasoning, ques- 
 tioning, debating, and contending about religion ; 
 or any part or parts, or practice or practices 
 thereof, as to any external thing. And we waited 
 at time and times, as God did grant us opportu- 
 nities; and the more we had and could obtain 
 from our necessary occasions of this present life, 
 the better we were, and the more we were con- 
 firmed and strengthened in our hope and faith; 
 and holy resolutions were kindled in our hearts, as 
 
 H 4 
 
152 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 ^H| 
 
 a fire w hich the life kindled in us, to serve the 
 Ix)rd while we had a being, and to ni«Le mention 
 of his name and power w hilst we did live ; and to 
 hold forth that testimony which was committed to 
 iis^ in the sight of men and nations, by doctrines, 
 by practice, by a holy conversation. And mightily 
 did the word of God grow amongst us, and the 
 desires of many were after the name of the Lord. 
 Oh happy day! Oh blessed day! the memorial of 
 which can never pass out of my mind. And thus 
 the Lord, in short, did form us to be a people for 
 his praise in our generation. 
 
 " Howbeit after all this and much more, which 
 time would fail me to write of, (neither is the 
 purpose of my spirit bent that way at this time,) 
 we did come through very great tribulations, ex- 
 treme distresses, great perplexity ; and passed out 
 oftentimes hungry and hard put to it, both within 
 and without ; yet such was our love to the Lord, 
 and such fervencv in our hearts, that we rather 
 chose to die, and to undergo every difficulty, than 
 to dishonour or deny the name of Christ, in the 
 midst of suffering; because of that taste that we 
 had of his goodness and immortal life, revealed in 
 our hearts. This young man of whom I am speak- 
 ing, had his share, though but a youth of 16 or 17 
 years of ajre. Because of the truth which crossed 
 all the world's ways/his nearest relations, even his 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURRO UGH. 153 
 
 own parents, cast him off as an alien, and turned 
 him out froiji their house, as not to have any part 
 or portion therein, as a son ; nay not so much as 
 a hired servant, which this young man bore very 
 patiently, without murmuring or complaining, 
 having a taste of that, then, which was better than 
 all the world; and through conversing with his 
 people, and amongst them, the Spirit of the Lord 
 came upon him, and the spirit of wisdom and un- 
 derstanding entered into his heart ; and the spirit 
 of knowledge and sound judgment came to be 
 seated in his reins; and the spirit of prophecy 
 came upon him, like as it did upon many more 
 through the Holy Ghost's power and operation ; 
 and he spake of the wonderful things of God 
 among them that believed, and was one of the 
 first among us, which the Lord opened the mouth 
 of, to show forth his praise, and to speak of the 
 tilings of his kingdom to as many as he met with, 
 who waited for the consolation of Israel, for the 
 riches of the Gentiles, and to as many as desired 
 and hoped after eternal life. 
 
 " At last the Lord singled him out, and com- 
 manded him to go forth into countries unknown to 
 him; as he did some more besides ; upon whom he 
 laid a necessity to preach the gospel freely, with- 
 out money, without price, without tithes, augmen- 
 t ilions; gifts, or rewards ; and in iliat he Mas a? 
 
 H o 
 
'^r' ■' 
 
 154 
 
 LIFE OF EDWAP^D BURROrCH* 
 
 m 
 
 faithful a man, Hone exceeding him in his genera- 
 tiou ; for those things were an abUorrency to hi? 
 heart; and where he met with any such hireling- 
 shepherds and deceitful workers, which had gulled 
 the nations, and cheated the people for dishonest 
 g^ain, and kept them in blindness, the indignation 
 of the Lord, was kindled in his heart, and the 
 sword of the Lord was very sharp in his hand ; 
 and whomsoever he met with that walked after 
 this sort, they were siue to feel the weight of his 
 weapon, and the force of his blow, Uy which 
 many have been deeply wounded, and have 
 gnashed their teeth on him, greedy of their gain, 
 l)ecause of their present wound and blow that he 
 did give them ; and though he was but young in 
 vears, yet he was full of fortitude and Uiie valour. 
 The Lord oftentimes, whea he exercised him in 
 such war as this, hath fdled his quiver full of 
 polished sliafts, and made his bow to abide in 
 strength ; and he was as dexterous and as ready 
 haudedi^ajs any that I knew in his day, against the 
 dragon and his power, against llie beast and hi-* 
 followers; and indeed he was even handed, and 
 had a special good aim, and seldom missed 
 the mark. God had filled his mouth with argu- 
 ments, so that he huth oftea made a breach in the 
 fiice of a hosU ' ' 
 
 " And ft was my Tot, which I cannot btit say fell 
 in a <yood s^round, to be his companion and fellow- 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 165 
 
 •labourer, in the work of the gospel, whereunto we 
 were called, for many years together. And oh! 
 w hen I consider, my heart is broken ! how sweetly 
 we walked together for many months and years ! 
 in which we had perfect knowledge of one ano- 
 ther's hearts, and perfect union of spirit; not so 
 much as one cross word, or one hard thou<Tht of 
 discontent ever arose, I believe, in either of our 
 hearts, for ten years togetlier ; but our souls were 
 bound up in unity and peace, having the frame of 
 our hearts bent after one and the self same thing ; 
 to wit, the propagation of that truth, by which 
 liberty was obtained, and salvation received through 
 Jesus Christy the4rue light of the world. - 
 
 
 " Seeing through his light, the whole world to 
 lie in wickedness, a necessity lay upon this person 
 of whom I am speaking, being constrained by the 
 Spirit of the Lord, by which he was made an able 
 minister of the everlasting gospel, to preach re- 
 pentance, conversion, salvation, and remission of 
 sins ; and accordingly he went forth, in the name 
 and power of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of man- 
 kind, and was an able minister of ihe glad tidings 
 of salvation, in many or most parts of this land ; 
 and also be travelled thrQugh again and again, the 
 whole nation of Ireland; and in some p^rt of Scot- 
 land, and some part of Planders ; and his ministry 
 was made effectual; through the Almighty power 
 
■%■: 
 
 156 
 
 IIFK OF EDWARD BURROUGir. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 157 
 
 '■ V 
 
 '^KR 
 
 of God, in turning many from darkness to light, and 
 from the power of Satan to God. There are many 
 thousands who are living in the body, and alive in 
 the truth, who can, in the Spirit of the Lord, bear 
 testimony to the power and verity of his ministry, 
 in many countries where he travelled; for he la- 
 boured much in divers places, even in the heat of 
 the day ; though he began early in the morning. 
 And in the beginning of his travels and labours, it 
 was his share to break up rough places, and un- 
 tilled ground, and to walk amongst many briars and 
 thorns, which scratched, and pricked, and teared; 
 and travelled whh some other not without great 
 opposition ; and he often trod the paths and ways 
 w hich had not been occupied in the truth ; and 
 where darkness had the dominion, and was as a 
 covering, he brake through as an armed man; not 
 minding the opposition, but the victory and the 
 good of all souls ; though to my knowledge his 
 siufterinffs and trials have not been small, nor his 
 exercise little, on the right hand and on the left; 
 in travel often; oftentimes bufFetted: sometimes 
 knocked down by unreasonable men, who had not 
 faith ; loaded with lies, slanders, calumnies, and 
 reproaches; often in weakness; yea in deaths often; 
 in watching, fastings, and temptations often ; 
 in straits and necessities; in perils among rude 
 Dudtittides; in perils in khA temples; in perils in 
 Streets andmarkets, where the Lord did iw>ve him 
 
 often to go in the beginning of his time ; besides 
 the exceeding weight of service, from wreck's end 
 to week's end ; insomuch that he had seldom many 
 hours of repose ; and often suffered by those spirits, 
 who lost their first love, and rose in opposition. 
 
 " He was very diligent and faithful, true hearted 
 and valiant ; and the yoke at last, came to be easy 
 unto him, though no ease at all in the body, as to 
 the outward man ; for he made the work of the 
 Lord his whole business, without takuig so much 
 liberty unto himself, or about any outward occa- 
 sion in this world, as to spend one week to him- 
 self, to my knowledge, these ten years. He had 
 ventured hitiiself often for the body's sake ; and a 
 great care, I know, was in his heart, that those 
 that he had ministered unto, and others that had 
 believed the same truth, might thrive and prosper, 
 and might walk as becometh the gospel of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 " He was of a manly spirit in the things of God ; 
 he hath engaged himself often upon the Lord's 
 account singly, in great disputes, when there were 
 many opposers ; he hath stood in the door, and in 
 the gap, against all his enemies, for the worthy 
 name of God, and taken the whole weight of 
 things upon his own shoulder, that others might 
 be eased; though often to the weakening, md 
 

 f 
 
 158 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH.. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 1^ 
 
 i 
 
 almost destroying of the outward man ; yet doi«^ 
 all in love to the Lord, and (or his people's sake, 
 he did it with cheerfulness ; and it was a grief to 
 him if any opportunity was missed of doing good. 
 He was a man of no great learning in natural 
 tongues, which men so much applaud; yet, indeed 
 his heart was full of matter, aiwl his tongue was 
 as the hand of a ready scribe ; and yet he had the 
 tongue of the learned, having had experiment of 
 the worlw of the Lord; and being acquainted with 
 many conditions, which God had carried him 
 through, he could speak a word in season, unto 
 all who declared their conditions unto him, or 
 otherways in his public ministry. He was very 
 plausible and elegant in his speech, and indeed 
 had the tongue of a learned orator, to declare him- 
 self to the understandings and consciences of all 
 men with whom he conversed, by which many 
 received great profit, and their understandings 
 came to be opened ; for his words ministered grace 
 lo the hearers, and his words were forcible and 
 very pleasant; as apples of gold in pictures of 
 silver. 
 
 " This yomig man of whom I am speaking, was 
 one of the first, with some others, who came to 
 the city of London, where he met with no small 
 opposition, from professors of divers forms, and 
 also profane; who heeded no religion at all; 
 
 and the way of truth seemed contemptible, and 
 widiout form or comeliness to them all, which 
 made the opposition so great, and the labour so 
 hard ; yet notwithstandmg, it pleased the Lord to 
 reach unto the cwisciences of many, and many were 
 pricked to the heart, so that they cried out : ' What 
 shall we t/o to he saved T And God made his 
 ministry very effectual to the conversion of many 
 in the city of London, whereby a great change 
 was wrought in the hearts of many ; and many 
 hundreds [were] brought to know the Lord their 
 teacher ; which are as seals vnto the word of life, 
 through him, unto this day. And many hundreds, 
 I may say thousands, heard the lively word of God 
 declared by him, and were convinced of the way 
 of truth, though still remaining in the disobedience 
 to that of God in their own hearts, «nto which he 
 declared; and many ha v« lost their day, which they 
 had of liearing and receiving the things of God ; 
 for naw he is taken away which might have been a 
 help unto them wliile they had time; and all sucb 
 are not worthy of him* 
 
 " He continued in this city very much at time and 
 times, betwixt eight and nine years tc^ether^ 
 preaching the word of God, and speaking of the 
 things of bis kingdom to all that looked after it; 
 and great watching,, travail, and exercise in the 
 M>'ork of the Lord ; and his earnest desire was, thai 
 
 
160 
 
 tlFB OF EDWAlll> BURBOUGIT. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD DURROVGH. 
 
 161 
 
 I 
 
 k 
 
 A) 
 
 •Ml 
 
 (' 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 > 
 
 ^1 
 
 all might have come to know God's salvation, and the 
 redemption of their souls; and his great dihgence 
 was known unto many, that his only rejoicing was 
 in the prosperity of the work of the Lord, and "the 
 increase of faith amongst them that did believe. 
 
 " And his heart was much drawn towards this 
 city, and oftentimes hath he said to me, when suf- 
 ferings did come for the gospel's sake, which he 
 knew would come : / can freely go to that city and 
 lay down my life for a testimony of that truth zvhich 
 I have declared, through the power and Spirit of 
 God; which in the end indeed came to be \m 
 share; and will foy ever be his crown, who loved 
 not his life unto death, for the testimony of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 " And in the same year 1662, being pressed in 
 his spirit to go visit them who were begotten unto 
 the faith of God's elect, at the city of Bristol, and 
 in divers other counties; at divers meetings and 
 divers particular friends, he took his leave of them, 
 saying to very many, that he did not know he 
 should see their faces any more ; exhorting them 
 all to faithfulness and steadfastness in that wherein 
 they had found rest for their souls ; and said to 
 some : / am going up to the city of London again, 
 to lay down my lite for the gospel, and suffer 
 amongst Friends in that place; as having som? 
 sense of bis suffering before* 
 
 '* And a little after his return to the city, at a 
 public meeting which the people of the Lord have 
 kept these many years, to hear and speak of the 
 things of God to edification, at the Bull and 
 Mouth near Aldersgate, by certain soldiers under the 
 command of Richard Brown, then general of the 
 city of London, he was violently plucked down, 
 and haled away in a barbarous manner and carried 
 to the guard, and so committed to Newgate ; not 
 for evil doing, but for testifying unto the name of 
 the Lord Jesus, and for the worship of God ; as 
 though this were become a great crime worthy of 
 bonds, and at last death. 
 
 " He was had to the sessions in the Old Bailey ; 
 and his accusers were witnesses against him, and 
 them that had abused him violently; their testi* 
 mony was received as good proof against him ; 
 and at last, after two or three sessions, he was 
 fmed by the court one hundred marks, which at 
 last was reduced to twenty marks, and to lie in 
 prison while payment ; where he continued a 
 pretty long season, about eight months, with six 
 or seven score prisoners besides, upon the same 
 account; many being shut up among the felons, in 
 nasty places; and for want of prison room, the 
 natures of many were suffocated and cor- 
 rupted; till at last many grew weak, sickened, 
 and died. 
 
i6e 
 
 LIFE OP EDWARD BURROUGHS 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 163 
 
 " At last this same young man grew weak, and 
 though, a special order from the king was sent to 
 the then sheriffs of London for the release of 
 him, and the rest that were left in prison, yet such 
 was the enmity of some of the rukrs of the city, 
 that they did what in them lay, to obstruct the 
 execution of the order, that he should not be re- 
 leased. And so weakness grew upon him daily, 
 though in much patience he was carried throui^h 
 alL In the time of his weakness he was very fer- 
 vent in prayer, and that often both day and night, 
 imto the Lord as concerning himself, and also his 
 people ; and at several times he spoke several 
 precious words, from the sensible feeling of God's 
 Spirit-in his heart; and said: I hate had the tes- 
 timonif of the LorcTs love unto me from my youiky 
 and my heart hath been given up to do thy will. 
 And he said : / have preached the gospel freely in 
 this city, and have often given up my life for tlie 
 gospel's sake ; and now, Lord, rip open, my lieart, 
 and see if it be not right before. thee. 
 
 " Another time he said, when he had a little ease : 
 There is no iniquity lies, at my door; but the presence 
 of the Lord is with me, and his life I feel justify 
 me. Another day afterwards he said : Thou hast 
 loved me when I was yet unborn, and I have loved 
 thee from my cradle and from my youth unto this 
 day, and have served thee faithfully in my genera^ 
 
 tion* And he spoke to friends that were about 
 him, To live in love and peace, and love one ano- 
 ther. And at another time he said : The Lord 
 taketh the righteous from the evil to come* And 
 he prayed for his enemies and for his persecutors, 
 
 and said : Lord forgive Richard Brown ; if he may 
 he forgiven, 
 
 " And though the distemper and the disease was 
 violently upon him, yet he was preserved sensible. 
 And in the morning before he departed this life, 
 being sensible of his death, he said : Now my soul 
 and spirit is centred into its ozcn being with God ; 
 and this form of person must return from whence it 
 K'os taken. And after a little season he gave up 
 the ghost, arid died a prisoner, and shall be re- 
 corded and is in the Lamb's book of life, as a 
 martyr for the word of God and the testimony of 
 Jesus, for which only he suffered and gave up his 
 life, whose death was precious in the eyes of the 
 Lord. But now he ever liveth with God, and his 
 Morks follow him, and his labours shall testify of 
 him in generations to come ; and thousands be- 
 sides myself can bear witness his life and death was 
 to the praise, honour, and glory of the grace of 
 God, unto whom be the glory of all his works for 
 e^er. Amen. 
 
 " By one who hath chosen rather to suffer with 
 the people of God called Quakers, than to enjoy 
 
 » 
 
 H 
 
 r ! 
 
164 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD SUEfiOUGH. 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD 6URR0UGH. 
 
 165 
 
 the pleasures of sin for a season ; or to be reckoned 
 as a prince amongst the uncircumcised. 
 
 « FRANCIS HOWGILL/' 
 
 Reading, the 22ci oCy 
 the 12tb Months > 
 1662. ^ 
 
 Tlie death of Edward Burrough was lamented 
 by many others, who expressed in various testimo- 
 nials, their value for him while living, and their 
 sorrow on account of bis death ; which seems to 
 have been universally felt by his surviving friends. 
 
 It appears from the account of Francii^ How- 
 gill, and from some of his own expressions when 
 near the close of life, that he was religiously in- 
 clined from early childhood : but though this was 
 the case, we find from his own pen, in one of his 
 early publications, that he was by no means exempt 
 from the evil propensities of human nature. Speak- 
 ing of himself before he was twelve years of age, 
 he says : " I was wanton and light, and lived in 
 pleasure, without the fear of God ; not knowing 
 God, but by hearsay and tradition/' 
 
 About this time he grew more serious, and fol- 
 lowed the Presbyterian and other zealous preachers 
 of that day. When he was about seventeen years 
 of age, his mind became more inwatdly directed, 
 aiid he '* inuch separated from the Vain ways of 
 the world, and from vain worldly people." He 
 was frequently induced to feprove others for their 
 wicked words and actions; but notwithstanding 
 all this, he found many evil inclination^ and pas- 
 sions remain alive, by which his tender mind was 
 at times much exercised ; though he was disposed 
 to indulge himself in a kind of carnal security, 
 from the dangerous opinion, that whom God loves 
 once he loves for ever. 
 
 It was about his seventeenth year, that '* it 
 pleased the Lord to send his true and faithful ser- 
 vant and messenger, George Fox ;" who spoke so 
 closely to his state, and opened the situation of 
 his mind so clearly to him, that, after some time 
 he united himself to the Society which was then 
 newly formed, under the name of Quakers; among 
 whom he became an able and powerful minister^ 
 as is already related. Finding this account of 
 himself, previous to this time, it appeared proper 
 to give the substance of it in addition to that of 
 Tiaucis Howgill. 
 
 In his first visit to London, the following ex- 
 traordinary circumstance is related by SeweJ, 
 
 ii 
 
 H: 
 
\66 LIFE OF E»\TAKD BURROUGH. 
 
 tvhich I give m his own tvords. " At London 
 there is a cnstom in summer lime, when the even- 
 itig approaches, and tradesmen leave oft* working, 
 that many lusty felfows meet in the fields to try 
 their skill and strength in wrestling, where gene- 
 rally a multitude of people stand gazing in a round. 
 1^'ow it so fell out that Edward Burrough passed 
 by the place where they were wrestling, and stand- 
 ing still among the spectators, saw how a strong and 
 dexterous fellow had already thrown three others, 
 and was waiting for a fourth champion, if any durst 
 venture to enter the lists. At length, none being 
 bold enough to try, Edward Burrough stept into 
 the ring, and having looked upon the wrestler 
 with a serious countenance, the man was not a 
 little surprized, instead of an airy antagonist, to 
 meet with a grave and awful young man, and all 
 stood, as it were, amazed at this sight, eagerly ex- 
 pecting what would be the issue of this combat. 
 But it was quite another fight Edward Burrough 
 aimed at; for having already fought against spiri- 
 tual wickedness, that had once prevailed on hini, 
 and having overcome in measure, by the grace ot 
 God, he now endeavoured to fight also against it 
 in others, and to turn them from the evil of their 
 ways. With this intention he began very seriously 
 to speak to the standers by, and that with such a 
 heart-piercing power, that he was heard by thi*« 
 mixed multitude with no less attention than ad 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 1G7 
 
 miration; for his speech tended to turn them from 
 darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to 
 God, To eflfect this he laboured with convincing, 
 words, showing how God had not left himself wiiht 
 out a witness, but had given to man a measure of 
 his grace, and enlightened every one with the liaht 
 of Girist. Thus he preached zealously; a°nd 
 though many miglu look upon this as a novelty, 
 yet it was of such effect that some were convinced 
 of the Truth ; for he was a breaker of stony 
 hearts, and therefore, by a certain author, not un- 
 justly called a Son of Thunder ; though he omitted 
 not, in due season, to speak a word of consolation 
 to those that were of a broken heart and of a con-^ 
 trite spirit." 
 
 £dward Burrough appears to have devoted his 
 life wholly to the service of religion. Though 
 scarcely twenty-eight years of age when he died^ 
 besides employing his time in travelling and 
 preaching, he wrote and published so much, as> 
 ^vhen collected after his death, formed a close 
 printed folio volume of 61)6 pages. Many of his 
 writings are controversial ; and among his oppo- 
 nents, or rather those whom he opposes, are the 
 famous John Bunyan and Richard Baxter. These 
 good men, for so I am disposed to call them, 
 had grossly misrepresented the Quakers; and Bur- 
 rough replies to them, not only with disproving 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 ^ 
 
168 
 
 LIFE OP EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 tlFE OF EDWARD BURROUGU. 
 
 169 
 
 their statements and confuting their arguments, 
 but also with many personal reflections, which 
 charity leads me to apprehend they might not de- 
 serve. But it is lamentable to ^e how violently 
 itiany good men, particularly in those times, were 
 opposed to each other; yet it has afforded me 
 some pleasure to observe, in looking through the 
 writings of Edward Burrough and some others 
 whose lives I have noticed, that their earlt/ writ- 
 in<'s were much more tmctured with violence, and 
 an excess of zeal, than those published in the lat- 
 ter part of their lives. Richard Baxter, already 
 mentioned, in this period of his life, published a 
 Review of his Religious Opinions and Contro^ 
 versies, in which he shows an abatement of that 
 violent zeal which he had entertained in early life, 
 and he seems to allude to his controversies with 
 Friends, when he expresses himself thus : " I am 
 now much more apprehensive of the necessity of 
 well <yrounding men in their rfeligioti, and especially 
 of the witness of the indwelling Spirit; for I more 
 sensibly perceive that the Spirit is the great wit- 
 ness of Christ in the world. And though the folly 
 of fanatics tempted me long to overlook the 
 strength of this testimony of the Spirit, while they 
 placed it in a certain internal assertion or enthu- 
 siastic inspiration; yet I now see that the Holy 
 Ghost, in another manner, is the witness of Christ; 
 and his agent in the world." 
 
 Thus did Baxter approximate to the peculiar 
 doctrine of Friends, though he aj)pears still 
 unwilling to admit their view of it to be right. It 
 is however pleasant to see how the mind of this 
 great Controversialist softened down, in the decline 
 of life and in the increase of religious experience; 
 and how much he was disposed to look more at the 
 essentials of religion, in which christians generally 
 are agreed, than at those lesser points on which 
 they usually differ. 
 
 Edward Burrough was remarkable for his ad- 
 dresses to the ruling powers of his time, of whose 
 proneness to persecution, and the evil consequences 
 resulting from it, he faithfully warned them. 
 Many of his expressions may be considered as pre- 
 dicting the downfall of the government which sup- 
 ported it ; and indeed his views of civil and religious 
 liberty, with that christian subjection which we owe 
 to the government under which we live, are staled 
 by him, in clear and strong language, in several of 
 his publications. 
 
 The following paragraph from a publication, 
 entitled, " The Case of the People called Qua- 
 kers stated and published to the World,'* will 
 show the uprightness and zeal of our early Friends, 
 and the resolution with which they were prepared, 
 to bear the sufferings imposed by their persecu- 
 
 1 
 
 1^ 
 
170 
 
 LIFE OF EDWAED BUHROUGH. 
 
 tors : *^ As for oiir conversations amongst ih^n, 
 in respect of oor dafily walking and converse with 
 them in our d^ealing, in respect of honesty, and 
 faithfulness, and truth, and .justness in -works and 
 words, our neighbours shall gire witness for us. 
 We will not justify onrselves/tis God that justifies 
 US ; and the law of God, gospel of Christ, scrip- 
 tures, examples of holy men, our neighbours, and 
 ^e witness of God in all men*s consciences, shall 
 bear witness to us. And, O Lord God everlast- 
 ing ! do thou judge our cause ; do thou make it 
 manifest, in thy due seasdn, to all the world, that 
 "we are thy people ; that we love thee above all ; 
 that we fear thy name more than till ; that we love 
 righteousness and hate iniquity ; and that we now 
 suffer for thy holy name and truth, and for thy 
 honour and justice, and for thy truth and holiness. 
 Oh Lord ! Thou knowest that we are ready to 
 perish, rather than to lose one grain tliereof. 
 Amen. Amen." 
 
 As ftn author, Edward BurtOugh was Strottg, 
 and at times sublime in his language ; his argu- 
 ments are in general clear and convincing, and 
 to his friends, his feeling heart often poured forth 
 the salutations of brotherly love, judicious counsel, 
 jmd affectionate sympathy. As a specimen of his 
 writin*^, I shall give the following epistle, and with 
 It shall finish this account of him ; only adding 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD BURKOUGH. 171 
 
 that he was one \Vho justified the observation of 
 an apocryphal writer, that " Honourable a«ye is 
 not that which standeth m length of time, nor that 
 is measured by number of years ; but wisdom is 
 the grey hairs unto men, and an unspotted life is 
 old age." 
 
 To the Friends of Truth, in and about London. 
 
 Dearly and well-beloved in Christ our life and 
 glory, the Spirit of the Lord is npon me, and at 
 this time quickeneth my heart into the lively re- 
 membrance of you all ; herewith sending the 
 hearty and fervent salutation of my dear and per- 
 fect love, unto all the faithful amongst you ; for the 
 Father's love AHeth my heart, and hath raised up 
 my spirit into an holy frame and temper of glad- 
 ness and rejoiciiig, of great joy and comfort, in 
 the remembrance and feeling sense of what the 
 Lord hath wrought and made manifest among his 
 people; and the fulness of his love and rejoicing 
 floweth out, hi praising and magnifying the Lord 
 our God for evermore. 
 
 Oh what hath the Lord wrought for us in our 
 day! How hath liis outstretched arm been made 
 
 1 2 
 
 n 
 
mZ tIFE OF E^DWARD BURftdUGH. 
 
 bare again and again, for our salvation and deli 
 verance ! How many have his mercies been, and 
 how numberless have bis loving kindnesses been 
 showed to us ! How hath his power and wisdom 
 been discovered amongst bis people ! by which we 
 are quickened and revived into the Vtfe of righteous- 
 ness and peace, to be servants and heirs of the 
 Everlastinjr Father, the Lord of Heaven and 
 Earth; being called by him out of darkness into 
 his marvellous light! And how glorious is the light 
 that hath appeared upon our tabernacle, and 
 shined in our hearts ; and that hath led us in the 
 way of peace, and taught us in the path of righ- 
 teousness ! Thus and much more hath, the hand 
 of the Lord wrought for us; having raised us up 
 to be a people, that in times past were not a peo- 
 ple ; but now he hath formed us for himself, and 
 created us for his praise; having gathered us as a 
 shepherd doth his flock, from our strayed estate, 
 in which we were strangers and afar off; hihabiting 
 in death and darkness, but now raised up to sit 
 together in heavenly places, and to feed in the fat 
 pastures of His fulness, that filleth all in all. 
 
 Tliis hath been effected by the hand and 
 power of the Most High, who hath also preserved 
 tis unto this day through many trials and tribula- 
 tions; and again and again when our enemies have 
 risen up to destroy us, even then hath the Lord 
 
 JCIFE OF EDWARD BURROUCK. i73 
 
 been our defence, and confounded our persecutors; 
 so that we yet live, blessed be the name of the 
 Lord ! the remembrance of which infinite, tender 
 mercies from the Father, that we have received, 
 have a heavenly influence upon my heart at this 
 time; which causeth me to say : What manner of 
 love is this ! Oh the height and depth and infinite- 
 ness of the same! The beauty thereof hath ravished 
 ray heart; the strength thereof hath overcome me; 
 and the virtue thereof hath overcome me; and the 
 virtue thereof hath filled my soul : and this is 
 the present frame of my spirit, full of love and 
 good -will to the Lord God, and to all his 
 saints, and particularly unto you, unto whom my 
 spirit desifeth, in the Lord, increase of peace, and 
 mercies, and blessings, and all heavenly virtue 
 unto you all; for I am under particular engage- 
 ments unto you, more than unto many. 
 
 1st, Because my labour and service in the work 
 of the gospel hath been more amongst you than 
 amongst others ; even for divers years have I been 
 conversant among you, in the administration of the 
 gift of the gospel ; by dispensing the word of life, 
 to the converting of some, and to the strengthen- 
 ing and confirming of others, in the way of the 
 Lord. And let the just God bear witness, of that 
 faithfulness, and integrity, and sincerity of heart, 
 in which he hath carried me amongst you, while 
 
 iHi 
 
 i! 
 
174 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGB. 
 
 many precious days I have passed away wilh yon, 
 and have not sought yours but you ; nor do I de- 
 sire ought concerniBg you, but your foithfulness 
 to the Lord; and your growth and establishment 
 in the wisdom of Christ Jesus, and that blessings 
 and peace may ever rest with you. And seeing 
 it is thus that some of my precious years, iu the 
 tervice of God, have been spent amongst you; 
 therefore is my heart and spirit engaged to you 
 wards, even vihile I Hve, to advise you and exhort 
 vou, and to pray for you, that you may be found 
 ni the failli, and established in the truth, and con- 
 tirmed iu the possession that newr fodes away. 
 
 Cd, In respect of that place of your outward 
 residence, that great city I mean where Satan's 
 seat is, and where wickedness abounds, and many 
 temptations and provocations which may attempt 
 to draw you from the Lord, I do know the dan- 
 gers are many, which may easily be met withal! in 
 that place; there is both the love, glory, and ex- 
 cellency of Uiis world near unto you, and also the 
 terrors, threats, losses, and persecutions of this 
 evil woild^ even dwelling with you ; all which may 
 work upon some, many fears and doubts, and be- 
 get temptations to the denying of the Lord. And 
 seeing the danger is such to you wards, in that 
 place, even more than to some others, therefore is 
 my soul engaged to admonish, and instruct, and 
 
 LIN5 OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 175 
 
 pray for your preservation unto the end, that ye 
 may walk as the Lord's> and to his 'glory. 
 
 36, And also my desires are for you, that bles- 
 sing and peace may be multiplied unto you, and 
 that you may walk in the wisdom and power of 
 the Lord, in this respect; that truth may be ho- 
 noured, and crowned with dominion, and authority, 
 and good report, in that great city, by your faithful- 
 ness, and patience, and diligence, and all the fruits of 
 righteousness; for as many* temptations do attend 
 you, as I have said before^ so also many eyes are 
 upon you, beholding what you are, and what you 
 do, and what will become of you. And if you 
 walk in faithfulness and righteousness, and be pre- 
 served unto the Lord in boldneifs and valour, for 
 his name*s sake; this will magnify the truth, and 
 crown it with honour, and strengthen and comfort 
 many that are weak ; and be a joy to all the up- 
 right ; and it will confound your enemies, and put 
 them to shame, and limit the unreasonable spirit 
 of the powers of darkness, when our enemies see 
 your just, faithful, righteous, and inoffensive 
 manner of walking in all things. And therefore, 
 for this cause, my heart is engaged to pray for 
 you ; seeing the eyes of many are upon you, t» 
 mark your ways and doings, and what will be 
 the end. 
 
 1 4 
 
I 
 
 176 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 And now dearly beloved, as by the free grace 
 and kindness of God, ye are called unto this call- 
 ing, and are renewed and changed into the life of 
 righteousness; so it is by the same grace and 
 power of the Father, that ye must stand and be 
 preserved unto the end ; for by grace and faith we 
 all stand, even through diligence, faithfulness, and 
 watchfulness in the same grace, being obedient 
 unto its teachings, and fruitful in its motions, and 
 walking by its rule, in meekness and lowliness of 
 heart, In sincerity and godly fear ; not being or 
 doing any thing of ourselves, distinct or divided 
 from" this grace; but being and doing all things 
 through the grace of God dwelling in us: and this 
 is the* highest perfection of saints. Every one's 
 highest state admits of watchfulness, and faithful- 
 ness, and obedience, and to hearken to the Lord 
 and do his will in all things ; and whatsoever is of 
 ourselves and related to the outward world, may 
 be kept in subjection by His power, that He alone 
 may rule, and be exalted in heaven and earth; and 
 in all things what we are and what we do. 
 
 And wait upon the Lord, that ye may be esta- 
 blished and settled in the truth, and that ye may 
 be confirmed therein for ever, as being natural 
 heirs of the possession of grace and truth, to do, 
 and walk, and live, according to his will ; being so 
 hiherited as never to go forth any more, and able 
 
 LIFE OF EDWARD Bt'RROUGH, 
 
 177 
 
 to say, Nothing can separate us from the love of 
 God; not death, nor life, nor any other thing. 
 
 For I would put you in mind, and ye also know 
 it, how that many have been touched in their 
 heart with the sense of the Lord, and his love, yea 
 and many have enjoyed of the good gift of God, and 
 walked with us far a time, but have not remained 
 unto the end ; but have started aside from the 
 Lord, and been overcome with the temptations of 
 this world ; even to the forsaking of the way of 
 truth and righteousness ; and such have dishonoured 
 the Lord, and forfeited their place and inheritance 
 in God, and become hardened in their hearts, and 
 dead to Ggd; and the latter end of such hath been 
 worse than tlieir beginning ; though yet for a tinoe 
 such walked with us, and tasted of the good gifts 
 of God, yet are become reprobates, because their 
 hearts have not been firm, and constant, and sound, 
 and approved to God; but of an evil frame and 
 temper of spirit, ambitious, vain-glorious, self- 
 seeking, and such like ; which sp?Ht could not 
 retain the gift of God, but abused it and peiK 
 Terted it from its proper end. 
 
 And therefore, dearly beloved, it is exceeding 
 precious to have a heart and spirit tried and ap- 
 proved of the Lord ; a good and honest heart ; as 
 upright and contrite spirit ; for that will abide ia 
 
 J 5 
 
 J 
 
 
178 LIFE OF EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 fallhfuliiess unto God, through all tribulationa aud 
 trials. If the heart be right in the sight of God, 
 whatsoever the knowledge be, or whetlier the gifts 
 be little or great, yet the Lord's presence is there, 
 and such are blessed; so that it's not enough, only 
 to lyive a touch and taste of the loving-kindness of 
 God ; but every one must he established therein, 
 in an approved heart and tried spirit; which can 
 endure all things, and not be shaken, nor moved; 
 and it's only that kind of spirit which is meek and 
 lowly, sincere and upright, which is establised in 
 the truth; and which onl],[ can reroain immjxvable* 
 
 And according to the ancient doctrine of 
 Chnst, which ye have believed, every one must 
 look to your own particular standing,, and must 
 feel your own particular joy, peace, and comfort; 
 and must receive tlie assurance of life in your, own 
 bouls; for it is an everlasting^ word. Everyone 
 nuist stand by their own ; by what ihey feel and 
 enjoy of eternal life in their own hearts;, that only 
 is every one'< security and assurance, in the king- 
 dom of peace and glory; and it is tlie height of 
 ^»eifection to'have tlic seal of. the Spirit of God in 
 our consciences, witnessing to us that we are the 
 Lord's. And bJessed are they that have this tes- 
 timony, even that of th^ Spiris of the Fatlier, whicli 
 is the everlasting comforter agninst all sorrow, and 
 the perfect seal against all doubts, and the sure 
 
 ItFE OF EDWARD BURROUGIT. 
 
 179 
 
 gnide against all opposition. This is the office of 
 the Spirit of tlie Lord, and it's work in tie hearts 
 of his children. 
 
 Therefore my advice is to yoii, as from the 
 beginning, look to your own, to your own measure 
 of the gift of grace and truth; that only stands 
 when all wanderings after mcnand things^fall ; and 
 in that is your security as I have said"-.- 
 
 And let your conversations and walkings be* 
 such as becometh the gospel of Chi ist, in all faith- 
 fulness and righteousness ; that you may be an 
 honour to the Lord in your generation ; for this 
 only have we to do in this world, even to show 
 forth his praise and glory^ who hath created us ia. 
 Christ Jestis^. 
 
 All things in relation to truth, are well itr 
 these countries; the dominion of truth is set up 
 over the heads of the wicked; and' it is- a terror Iq 
 its enemies^ and the joy oi all goo<f men ; and 
 Friends are faithful in the pow er of the.Loixl, and 
 look over thi* world^ to the world that hath no 
 end, and thea hope and confidence is in that ; and 
 meetings are generally q^aiet^ and the presence of 
 the Loid is amongst his people. And thus to the 
 ^acc; power;, and wisdoja of the Lord God; are ye^ 
 
180 XIFE OV EDWARD BURROUGH. 
 
 committed, who is the only Preserver of his chil- 
 dren. Grace and peace be zcith you all. 
 
 EDWARD BURROUGH; 
 
 "tJnderbarrow, tlie ISth*^ 
 davot'theSth month, > 
 1661. > 
 
 CHAPTER XIV, 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 I 
 
 Of the time and place of Hamphrey Smith's 
 birth, or of his parentage and education, I find no 
 trace, either in his own writings, or in those of his 
 friends concerning him. His residence, when at 
 home, was at Little Cawerne, in Herefordshire. 
 He was early inclined to religion and virtue; but 
 tliis disposition, so consoling to a pious parent, 
 rather excited the disgust of his father, who we 
 are told often checked him because of his soli- 
 dity. In his youth, and for some time after his 
 marriage, he underwent many close conflicts of 
 spirit, finding much to contend with in himself, 
 both of a natural and spiritual kind, before he 
 could feel his mind liberated from those things 
 which kept him in bondage, and prevented his at- 
 taining the glorious liberty of the children of 
 God. 
 
Tse 
 
 LIFE OF HrMPUREY SMITH. 
 
 One of his cotemporary Friends, speaking of 
 him, says : " He followed the zealous professors, 
 and increased mightily in that knowledge which 
 stands in the comprehension ; yea, exceeded many 
 of his equals ; but at la&t the Lord separated hmi 
 for his own glory, and sent him forth iu his own 
 power and eternal name-" 
 
 He had been for a considerable time a minister 
 among some of the high professors of that day, 
 and, I suppose, about the year 1654, joined himself 
 to the despised people called Quakers, among 
 whom he found relief to his deeply conflicted 
 mind, and soon afterward became a zealous and 
 successful preacher in this society, many being 
 added to their numbers, through, the means of his 
 gospel labouiis- 
 
 In the year 1635, he was committed to prisou 
 at Evesham in Worcestershire, being arrested with 
 some other Friends at a meeting there. The place 
 of their continemeut was very small, without light, 
 or any convenience necessary for cleanliness and 
 decency. In this place they were confined above 
 fourteen weeks, experiencing many acts of cruelty 
 from an unfeeling jailer, who acted under the 
 direction, however, of a still more unfeeling 
 jnagistrate, Edmund Youpg^ the ma}or of thiii 
 towo^ 
 
 XIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 1B3 
 
 Besides this imprisonment, he suffered several 
 others, particularly at Exeter and Winchester. In 
 the latter place he appears to have been twiee im- 
 prisoned ; first in the year 1658, and the second 
 tune in 166I&1665. During his first confinement, 
 he was again put into a very offensive situation; 
 for he dates a paper entitled, " The just Complaint 
 of the Afflicted," &c. from - a filthy prison and 
 place unfit for men, at Winchester, this 24th of 
 the 8th month, 1658." His latter imprisonment 
 which only terminated with his Hfe, seems to have 
 been in the same, or a similar, place. His mitti^ 
 mus is dttted the Uth day of October, 166 1 ; and 
 about that time, in the succeeding year, his health 
 sunk under.his severe sufferings, from which death 
 afforded him a release, that his cruel persecutors 
 could not be prevailed on to grant; though his de- 
 tention appears to have been as contraiy to Jaw^ 
 as it was to justice and, mercy.. 
 
 During his sickness he waspreserved in mucfi« 
 patience and resignation, and " spake several pre- 
 cious words to Friends, signifying to them that he 
 was given up in th« will of the Lord, either in life 
 or death." At a time when the fever was^strong 
 upon him, he said i " My heart is filled with th^ 
 power of God. It is good for a man at such a 
 Ume as this, to have the Lord to be his friend." 
 At another time he expressed himself thus : "Loa)e 
 
 9Vi 
 
 
J84 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 185 
 
 thou sentest me forth to do thy will, and I have been 
 faithful to thee in my «mall measure, which thou 
 hast committed unto me; but if thou wilt yet try 
 me further, tliy will be done.** 
 
 Near the time of his departure, he was engaged 
 in earnest supplication to the Lord, that he would 
 deliver his people from theii- cruel oppressors, and 
 that those who had been convinced by him might 
 experience the Lord to be their teacher; saying 
 also, " O Lord! hear the inward sighs and groans 
 of thine oppressed, and deliver my poor soul from 
 the oppressor. O Lord! hear me. O Lord! 
 uphold and preserve me. I know that my Re- 
 deemer liveth. Thou art strong and mighty, Oh 
 Lord!" In this state of mind did this innocent suf- 
 ferer and faithful minister of the gospel, quit this 
 state of conflict, there b good reason to believe, 
 for that crown of righteousness, which is the re- 
 ward of those, who have fought the good fight, 
 have kept the faith, and have loved the appearing 
 of Jesus Christ. 
 
 During Humphrey Smith's different imprison- 
 ments, he represented his suffering case, and laid 
 it closely upon his persecutors. In the piece 
 already noticed, written durmg his confinement at 
 Winchester, he thus addresses the magistrates of 
 the county of Hants : " Oh, ray heart is ealar^ec. 
 
 and I am filled with the indignation of the Lord, 
 and overcome with the power of his might! Many 
 woes could I from the Lord declare, and much 
 of his judgment make known unto you; yea, many 
 lines might I write, and unfold the mysteries of 
 his power, which from your eyes are hid ; and long 
 hath my soul mourned in secret for you; and be- 
 cause of the fierce terrors of the Lord which you 
 cannot escape, mine eyes have been filled with 
 tears, and my heart with sorrow; and that for you. 
 Oh ye blind, scornful, and rebellious men, that 
 rule this county ! The Lord God will bring shame 
 upon you, and your names shall rot, and be left 
 for an evil savour for the generations to come.*' 
 
 This prophetic warning was soon fulfilled upon 
 these persecuting magistrates, who were of the 
 high professors in the time of Oliver Cromwell. 
 It was written in the year 1658, and in 1660, 
 Charles the Second was admitted to the govern- 
 ment of these realms, the consequences of whick 
 it is needless to relate* 
 
 The above was not the only instance of pro- 
 phetic foresight, with which this Friend appears 
 to have been endued. In the collection of his 
 works, which are contained in a small quarto vo- 
 lume of between 3 and 400 pages, I find a piece, 
 entitled, " The vision of Humphrey Smidi which 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
 166 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 he saw concerning London, in the 5th month in 
 the year I66O, being not long after the king came 
 in." In this vision^ he foretells a great fire in 
 London, which accordingly took place in the year 
 1666. These are his words: " As for the city 
 herself, and her suburbs, and all that belonged to 
 her^ a fire was kindled therein^ but she knew not 
 how, even in her goodly places ; and the kiiiiling 
 of it was in the foundations of her buildings, and 
 there was none could quench it; neither was there 
 any able, and the burning thereof was exceeding 
 great, and it b»rned inward, in a hidden manner, 
 which cannot be expressed ; and the fire consumed 
 foundations which the city stood upon, and the taH 
 buildings fell ; and it consumed all the lofty things 
 therein, and the fire searched out all hidden places, 
 and burned most in secret places ; but the 
 cousumation was exceeding great with wliich it 
 consume d.** 
 
 Durmg his last imprisonment, and only abouC 
 a month before his decease, he wrote a letter to a 
 near relation. The excellency of the matter, and 
 the stale of mind in which it represents him, are 
 Buch as lead me to believe the in«ertioR of it wiU 
 be acceptable to my readers, and form an agreea- 
 ble conclusion to the account of this extraordinary 
 
 man* 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 187 
 
 The letter had the following superscription : 
 
 " This for my nearly related friend Elizabeth 
 Smith, at Little Cawerne : 
 
 " The God of Heaven that made me, and the 
 Lord God of power that called me to obey and 
 follow him, even in that day when I was not ac- 
 quainted with his voice ; and who hath been my 
 guide, defence, succour, and comfort unto this day 
 and moment, and who hath ever upheld me as a 
 father, the child, by the arm of his power, whom 
 the world neither did nor can by its wisdom ever 
 know; who is the only wise, invisible Spirit, that 
 upholdeth all things by the Word of his power; 
 who is dreadful to the Heathen that know him 
 not, and more precious than ever can be expressed 
 with tongue or pen, unto those who have felt and 
 received, and live in, the true sense of the enlarging 
 incomes of the virtue of his power; the life whereof 
 to them i« most desirable. 
 
 My strength, life, and refuge alone is He, whose 
 service I have no cause to decline, and whose pre- 
 cious, powerful call he never gave me cause to 
 repent; for with himself he hath, and doth daily 
 gratify me with a full re^iard for all, and all man- 
 ner of my manifold trials, and daily sufferings and 
 exercises which I meet with in the way; but really 
 
188 
 
 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 XIFE OF HtMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 189 
 
 ( 
 J 
 
 and absolutely I can truly say, that none of these 
 thin^^s move me m the least, from that foundation 
 upon whieh the God of Heaven and Earth hath 
 long since established roe, that I might stand for 
 Him, and the glory of his name, who hath both 
 set and appointed me thereunto, and given me 
 courage as a fortified tower, to stand as a mark 
 for the adversaries of Sion, to vent forth the ut- 
 most of their limited fury. 
 
 And in the Lord my strength is my confidence ; 
 neither have I believed that ever I should distrust 
 Him, though since the day that I have known him, 
 he hath even suffered the sorrows of death, aud 
 the pangs of hell, and the powers of unutterable 
 darkness, at some times, to compass me in on 
 every side, and to lift up themselves in the vaunt- 
 ing arrogancy of the swelling pride thereof, as 
 mountains never to be removed. But behold He 
 who hath his way in the whirlwind, and his path 
 through the midst of the deepest ocean. Him alone 
 it was that my broken heart was, by the power of 
 his constraining love, resolved to follow for ever, 
 even through the greatest difficulties, and the 
 hardest straits, trials, aud hardships, with all man- 
 ner of inward and outward sufferings, that might 
 be permitted to happen unto, or fall upon, any 
 one of the children of men* 
 
 O that -I could now sufficiently declare his 
 goodness, aud so fully and effectually make men- 
 tion of his power, as it deservelh ; or as the Lord 
 hath given into my heart to desire of him to be 
 made use of, in the declaration or manifestation 
 thereof, in this ray day, unto the sons or children 
 of men ! Surely when I am wailing of him, and 
 of his unutterable goodness and power, my words 
 and lines are also short of setting forth the virtue 
 and fulness of the most unexpressibl^, divine ex* 
 cellency thereof, that sometimes I am rather ready 
 to dwell in silence with and in the fulness thereof, 
 which overcomes with unutterable virtue, than to 
 be writing of that which in itself can never be 
 written, though what is written, may be by, and 
 with, and from the overflowings of the same ; and 
 so be as drops or little streams of heavenly water, 
 to refresh the dry and thirsty land, which therein 
 doth its service ; and then the praise thereof is to 
 return unto Him who is the alone fountain of all 
 virtue, and the life which giveth life, even unto the 
 dead that hear his voice ; whereby He comes to be 
 known to be Injinite in wisdom, power, and virtue; 
 whom my soul doth honour, my heart doth praise,' 
 and my spirit adoreth for ever; for none is like to 
 Him, neither doth my soul desire any other but 
 Hmi, whilst in this body, or for evermore in the 
 life which yet doth come. 
 
I 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 190 LIFE OF HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 Let all that know Him bow before him; and 
 let all that hear his voice be humble and meek, 
 and let every one that truly desires after hmi, 
 ^,ait«ith diligence and in patience upon Him; 
 and let all that .re faithful to him, rejoice m h« 
 love, and pri^e him for much more than the liberty 
 of their bodies, or the enjoyment of thousands and 
 thousands of thousands of temporal, visible, earlh y 
 things; all which are his, and He is ours; yea He 
 is certainly mine and I am his, and my soul doth 
 magnify him, and my spirit doth yet breathe fur- 
 Uier to sound forth his praises, not only all the 
 days of ray life, whilst in this earthly tabernacle; 
 bat likewise in the hearts of thousands of them yet 
 nnbom. and among the generations that are yet to 
 come, bv my faithful, upright testimony, and the 
 record thereof, which may remain, when the God 
 and Father of my life hath gathered me, vrith the 
 rest of his servants of old, to live with Him, in the 
 delightsome ocean, of the infinite fulness of his 
 mos't desirable power, and precious presence ; the 
 streams whereof already are as the free issuings 
 forth of life eternal, and as the streams of mercy, 
 and the dews of the morning, refreshing even the 
 outmost borders of my dwelling, and comforting 
 the mournful places of my habitation. 
 
 Who can express his goodness ! What man can 
 utter his bounty! or how can man either in 
 
 "PE OF HtlMPHREY SMITH. I91 
 
 words or with pen, sufficiently signify forth, ,he 
 
 I. .ess and virtue of that which%aL.hW 
 
 ledgelBeholdmydwelJingisinu, andniylife 
 
 ^ bound up with the innocent lambs, «ho live in 
 Ae feelmg virtue Of that, „hich much super- 
 aboundeth the most pleasant and delightsome 
 
 Aat^hear them, hear the truth, h. the which riie 
 We doth stand; and they that hear the truth, het 
 Him from whence the life doth come; which life 
 Itself, m the power and virtue of it, is the centre 
 of the upright, the refuge .f the innocent, and the 
 
 thing itse^ unto which itself is drawing and ga- 
 
 Aering, that It may be known within; even to 
 those who have been astray therefrom, that the 
 one fold, the one succour, the one food, the one 
 shepherd, xy^e one refag., the one spirit, the one 
 heart, and the one mnd, may be known; and so 
 •he oneOod, in the only one -unity, worshipped, 
 served, and praised, from the power, life, and vir- 
 tue of th<>ne Spirit, which comes from the only 
 o,w God of heaven and earth; before whom let the 
 heathen be astonished, m,d the ungodly fear and 
 tremble, and the brambles of the earth prepare for 
 the day of his righteous judgments and fiery indig- 
 wtion; [with] zehich, as the breath of his nostril, 
 ieing mixed tcithjtames of endless burnings, He will 
 plead tilth his own open adversaries ; which shall be 
 "we fully manifest, in the great day of the Lord, 
 
 M 
 
 It, 
 
193 LIFE OF HUMPHKEY SMITH. 
 
 ate all mankind mmt give an accmnt to Him, both 
 of idle and Kicked tcords; and likczose of tkew 
 deeds done in the body. 
 
 « The Lord God hasten that day, and let Him 
 come, even Him v»ho comelh as a thief in the 
 nicht, even the Urd Jesus Christ, v^ho sa.d, < / 
 am the Truth,' the Spirit whereof the world ca,.- 
 not receive, but we have known him, and received 
 him. and know that he is true, and have beheved 
 on him. and have often drunk of the living water 
 that springeth up unto life eternal, .n those that 
 truly believe. And this I say, for ever b essed are 
 they that believe and endure to the end ; for whom 
 God's crown of life is prepared, and for all who 
 give up their lives, and suffer faithfully for ti,e 
 honour of him, who hath so far honoured them, 
 as to account them worthy to bear their testimony 
 a„dtosnfferforhim;i«thewhich, Isay, the 
 
 Loid preserve my friends and brethren every 
 ^vhere, who have tasted of God's loving kindness 
 and remain sensible at present of *« "^""n^." 
 his love. And let all Friends so dwell in the faith 
 which is the gift of God over the world, as to hve 
 thereby, and not to lose the crown of glory 
 
 and immortality, which was desired from ^ 
 breathings of the seed, in the days, of Jacob 
 captivity. 
 
 UFE OP HUMPHREY SMITH. 
 
 193 
 
 !ie 
 
 And the Lord God of my life, preserve and defend 
 the plants of righteousness, even by his own power 
 and his own Spirit, in that day. and at that time' 
 when all other helps may not be available; thaf 
 then the sufficiency of the greatneSs of his own 
 wisdom and strength, may be apparent ; and then 
 most happy shall those be, who are found worthy 
 to suffer and endure all manner of trials, cruelties, 
 and hardships, for Him and his name's sake ; and 
 to live and reign, and enjoy his unutterable peace 
 and rest, which is in himself, treasured up as a 
 full reward; and much more than could have been 
 expected, for the upright in heart, who end their 
 days in truth, and finish their course in righteous- 
 ness, and lay down their lives for his sake, to live 
 with him evermore. 
 
 " And this is that thou and others may hear from 
 me, and know that I remain in the service of God, 
 and in faithful long-sufferings for the gospel of his 
 Son, as at this day, being the 6th of the 7ih month, 
 1662, in the strait prison at Winchester, where' 
 I am known by this name, 
 
 HUMPHREY SMITH", 
 
 tE 
 
r\ 
 
 I! 
 
 
 CtiAVrfR XV. 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AUDLJND. 
 
 John AUDLAND has been already meb- 
 tioiied ill ihe life of John Camm, who was his 
 intimate friend and frequent companion in gospel 
 labour. John Audland was born of respectable 
 parents, in the neighbourhood of his friend's resi- 
 dence, not far from Kendal, about the year 1630. 
 Whilst a child he was disposed to youthful amuse- 
 ments; bdt when about seventeen years of age, he 
 became religiously inclined. He read the Holy 
 Scriptures diligently, associating himself with the 
 most religious people he could find. Havin^ a 
 good understanding and retentive mcinory, he be- 
 came, likeApollos, " mighty in die Scriptures ;" 
 could discourse largely of religion, and became an 
 emnient teacher in a society which was separated 
 from the national way of worship. But though a dis- 
 seater, he frequently attended the public places of 
 
196 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AIJDLAND. 
 
 LIFE OI JOHN AUDLAND. 
 
 I 
 
 
 worship, where he often preached to tlie people, 
 and many Hocked to hear him. 
 
 This he practised before he joined the Society 
 called Quakers, and the circumstance is a confir^ 
 mation of a remark in the preceding volume, that 
 this practice was not unfrequent in thc^e times, 
 and takes off much of the objection which has 
 been made to our Friends preaching in those 
 places, even after the. minister ^''^ finished his ser- 
 vice. And here I shall once for all remark, that 
 I find very few instances of our Friends interrupt- 
 ing the minister, while engaged in preaching, a 
 practice which I think requires something very 
 extraordinary to justify it. Yet I remember a few 
 years ago a circumstance of this kind occurred, in 
 a Popish congregation in Ireland, in which the 
 conduct of the zealous opposer appeared to be 
 generally admired ; nor do I recollect any cen- 
 tre being passed upon it by -the Protestant 
 writers who-noticed it. So- differently do we fed. 
 according to our different opinions or interests. 
 
 But to return from this digression, John Aik^ 
 land continued to minister among a particular class 
 of dissentei-s, until tlie memorable meeting at 
 Firbank Chapel, where he had preached, the 
 day George Fox came there. After this mett 
 in<', George Fox went to John Audland's house 
 
 197 
 
 and by the instrumentality of the public ministry 
 and private endeavours of that eminent and suc- 
 cessful gospel labourer, John Audlaud was so fully 
 convinced of the rectitude of the doctrines pleach- 
 ed, that he, as did many others, laid aside their 
 1/igh profession, and joined in fellowship with a 
 despised but simple-hearted people, among whom 
 they found that rest and peace which their souls had 
 long sougiit after. He was now brought into a state 
 of deep humiliation and self-abasemeiit. « A great 
 hunger and thirst," to use thewordsof 1 ho.Camm, 
 " the Lord having raised in his heart and soul, 
 for a Saviour, one of ' a thousand, that could- give 
 a ransom for his soul, and redeem him from the 
 pit of corruption ; for he saw all his great profes- 
 sion,.all his wisdom and knowledge, could not help 
 him." In this state of mind he continued a con- 
 siderable time; but the Lord heard his humble 
 prayers, and brought his soul out of the depths 
 iuto which it had been plunged, enabling him to 
 rejoice with the joy of salvation, and qualifying 
 him for speaking a word in due season to the af- 
 flicted traveller Zionward. He soon became a 
 public and able minister " the Lord anointing him 
 to preach and publish redemption iii ihe name of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, and deliverance to the cap- 
 tive exile, in which work he was found faithful, 
 being filled with power and might from on hioh, 
 'oud girded with the strength of the Aluiightv/' 
 
 
I 
 
 5? 
 
 I 
 
 39S 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AUDLAND. 
 
 At this time I suppose John Audland to liave 
 been in the twenty-third year of his age. In his 
 twenty-first year he had married Ann Newby, a 
 virtuous and religious young woman of Kendal, 
 who proved a true helpmeet to him in every re- 
 spect. He now gave himself up to the service of 
 the ministry, and great success ftttepded his gospel 
 labours* 
 
 About the year 1 654, he travelled southward with 
 several of his friends, who, dividing themselves, went 
 into different parts, and met afterward in London. 
 John Audland, accompanied by Thomas Airey, 
 liad been at Bristol in Iris way to the Metropolis, 
 and after spending some time in London, he re- 
 turned to Bristol, accompanied by his particular 
 friend, John Camm.. In. his first visit to this city, 
 be had heW several meetings wi^h the Indepen- 
 dents an4 Baptists, in. their own meeting-houses ; 
 but he and his present companion now held many, 
 meetings in more, public places. The success of 
 their labours is already noticed in the life of John. 
 Camm. John Audland being in the vigour of 
 youthy and zealous to promote the good cause 
 which he had espoused, exerted himself very much 
 in the large meetings which were hield in the open 
 air, in Bristol^nd its neighbourhood. By this, 
 together with the bodily sufferings he underwent 
 from the. abuse, of the rabble and th^ perseculion 
 
 4 
 
 Lin: OF JOHN AUDLAND. 
 
 199 
 
 jf the magistrates, it appears likely that a founda- 
 tion was laid for that pulmonary disorder which 
 terminated his life about nine years after. 
 
 Respecting one of these meetings at Bristol, 
 AVilliam Sewel gives this account: " In a meet- 
 ing which he once had in a field without Bris- 
 tol, after John Camm had left off speaking, he 
 stood up with an awful and shining countenance, 
 and lifting up his voice as a trumpet, he said : * I 
 proclaim a spiritual war with the inhabitants of 
 the earth, who are in the fall and separation from 
 God, and I prophesy to tlie faiir winds of heaven.' 
 'J hus he went on with mighty power, exhorting 
 to repentance, and spoke with such a piercing 
 authority, that some of the auditoi|r fell on the 
 ground, and cried out under the sense of their 
 
 transgressions. 
 
 >» 
 
 Charles Marshall, who calls John Audland "his 
 father in Christ Jesus," gives a similar account of 
 this meeting, and adds : " Indeed it was a notable 
 day, worthy to be left on record, that our children 
 may read and tell to their children, and theirs to 
 another generation, that the worthy noble acts of 
 the arm of God's salvation may be remembered." 
 
 After his return from this journey, he was en- 
 gaged in religious visits to other places. In the 
 
 K 4 
 
200 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AUDLANl). 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 year 1656, his beloved friend and fellow-labourer, 
 John Camm, was removed from him by death. 
 Tliis loss was closely felt by John Audland. It 
 %vas, however, in some measure supplied by his 
 friend's son, Thomas Camm, who afterwards be- 
 came Audland's frequent companion in his gospel 
 labours, which he continued as long as his bodily 
 health permitted. 
 
 When his health began materially to decline, 
 does not clearly appear. In the year l663, he 
 became confined by indisposition, during which 
 time he often said : " Ah ! those great meetings in 
 the orchard at Bristol, I may not forget ! I would 
 so gladly have spread my net over all, and have 
 gathered all, jhat I forgot myself; never consider- 
 ing the inability of my body. But it's well ; my 
 reward is with me, and I am content to give up 
 and be with the Lord ; for that my soul values 
 above all things." 
 
 In the course of his illness he had a dream, or 
 vision, respecting two of his friends and fellow- 
 labourers in the work of the ministrv. As it con- 
 tains some instructive matter, I shall give the 
 substance of it as related by his widow. " He saw 
 a very large mine, where there was very much 
 precious ore to be digged out, but with great and 
 liaj'd labour. And the Lord and Master had called 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AUDLAND. 
 
 201 ^ 
 
 him with many more to labour in this mine, in or- * 
 der to work and dig out this good and precious 
 ore; and he who was most diligent in labour, was 
 10 be most liberally rewarded. Now the com- 
 mand was, that they might work in every part of 
 the mine, but must all gather to one place and to 
 one heap ; and the work prospered and became 
 exceedingly great to the glory of the Lord, and 
 their joy and comfort who were found dili<^ent. 
 In process of time he looked behind him upon 
 others that were labouring, and amongst them be- 
 held two, who had been ancient labourers, to be- 
 gin to slack, and would but work where it was 
 most easy, in their own time, and by their own 
 appointment ; not regarding the command of their 
 Lord; and not only so, but when they found a 
 j}iece of ore more rich and goodly than some 
 other, whether it w as of their own digging or not, 
 ihey did gather it to another private heap of their 
 own for themselves, to their own benefit, and uot 
 the Lord's* 
 
 ^' On seeing this, he cried out in the grief and 
 bitterness of his exercise, to see such disobey the 
 Lord's command, < Ah, Lord ! it was thy commaHd 
 tliat we should all work at thy appointment, and 
 gather to one heap; and for a time it was so, and 
 thy heap increased and thy work prospered ; but 
 now there are two that have begun to gather to 
 ♦.heir own heap, and not to thee." The exerci?-^ 
 
 K 5 
 
iOQ 
 
 XjfE. OF. JOHN AVDLAND. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 •f mind he \\uw ngw under awoke him, andhi*-. 
 iwfe finding him. much affected, he informed her^ 
 the cause, and told her he believed the thing would' 
 come to pass, which it . accordingly did in the 
 course of a fe.w years. 
 
 His hectic fever increasing upon him, with, 
 loss of sle^p and other symptoms, which indicated 
 his approaching dissolution, he was often visited 
 by his friends and neighbours, by .whom he was 
 much beloved.. la these visits his mouth was fre- 
 quently opened in religious . conimunications, to 
 the great refreshment of his friends ; and often, 
 whilst in bed, would he raise himself on his knees, 
 and fervently pray for them, and that the Lord 
 would prosper his work, in.tbis apd surjounding 
 
 nations.. 
 
 Ih this state of mind he continued to the end, 
 saying, That there was nothing for which he de- 
 sired to live, except the comfortable enjoyment of 
 his friends, in-jthe. fellowship of the life of truth; 
 and that he. might .be a comfort 1o his beloved . 
 wife. Her situation w^as at ibis time particularly 
 trying, treing delivered of a son about ten days af- 
 ter her husband's decease. But, though closely 
 attached to e^h other, resignation to the Divine 
 will, appears in a remarkable manner to have been 
 a^aiued by them both. To God he often recom" 
 
 i 
 
 LIFE OF JOHN AUDLAND^ 
 
 2oa 
 
 mended his dear wife and child, encoaragiug her? 
 to give him up to the will of the Almighty, 
 "whose," said he, " I am, being mad& acceptable 
 in his beloved Sou.' 
 
 >».- 
 
 Tims did tliis faithful labourer in the Lord V 
 vineyard, terniinate his short but devoted life, on 
 the 24th of tl>e 1st month, 16^3. He was in- 
 terred the day following at Birkrigg Park, where 
 the remains of his friend John Camm had been 
 deposited about six years before. 
 
 John Audland did not publish much from the 
 press. His printed works, except two or three 
 controversial pieces, consist of Epistles to his 
 Friends, for \a liom he possessed nmch love ; and 
 there is reason to believe- he was no less beloved 
 by them. He appears indeed by various accounts 
 • to have been of a very amiable, disposition and ^ 
 comely person. He was also a man of good na- 
 tural abilities, of a noble spirit,. and an humble 
 heart. These accompji^hments being united with 
 much religious knowledge and, experience, ren- 
 dered his coiupauy pleasing . and instructing. In 
 his ministerial communicatious he was large and 
 affecting, having a word hi season to all conditions. 
 While he possessed great respect and esteem for 
 those who were in Christ before him, he enter- 
 tained much tend^iiMess to such as were young in 
 
 Sl 
 
■^. 
 
 204 
 
 tlFE OF JOHN AUDLANDt 
 
 the ministry, being always ready to encourage and 
 give place to them. In short, he was abundantly 
 furnished both with natural and spiritual gifts, 
 which he exercised to the praise aud glory of Him 
 who gave them. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CJTON. 
 
 
 
 
 *^omim^<s^^^ 
 
 JT is not easy exactly to ascertain either the 
 place or the time of William Caton's birth, but 
 I suppose he was born somewhere in Lanca- 
 shire, and about Uie year 1636. His parents ap- 
 pear to have been careful in his education, both 
 with regard to religion and learning; and he being 
 a child seriously disposed and of good abilities, 
 their care respecting him was not in vain. When 
 he was about fourteen years of age, his father took 
 him to Judge Fell's, at Swarthmore Hall, to be 
 educated with his son, by a priest who was related 
 to the Catons. Here William became the com- 
 panion of the judge's son, both in his studies and 
 amusements. To be placed in so respectable and 
 valuable a family, produced feelings of gratitude 
 to Divine Providence for so great a favour ; and 
 
i. 
 
 
 i 
 
 206 
 
 tl FE CHf WI LLhA M C ATO N. 
 
 bis mind being freq^^^ntly brought under religious^ 
 considerations. and impressions, be was often en-^ 
 gaged in secret supplications ta the Divine Being ; 
 and the worldly enjoyments aad pleasures of which 
 he partook^ beca^ie as matters of ioferior im- 
 |)ortanc&. 
 
 * 
 
 After some time-of private ittstructioB, William 
 Caton went with the son of Judge Fell to a school 
 at Hawkshead. While at this school he lyiet with 
 many temptations, apd much, unprofitable com- 
 pany. The lads did not continue long here, but 
 ^i»oon returned to Swarthmore. In both these 
 situations Caton was often humbled under a sense 
 of Divine love and mercy 'to his soul ; though at 
 times under close conviction for sin and disobedi- 
 ence. He was now about fifteen years of age; 
 and it being much the practice in the judge's fa- 
 mily to repeat the sermons which they had heard, 
 and to paraphrase upon them, he endeavoured to 
 accomplish himself this way, but without the satis- 
 faction which his^oul desired. . 
 
 While matters stood thus, George Fox paid his 
 first visit to Judge. FelFs, Tliis was in the year 
 16J2. William ^Caton was at first disgusted with 
 George Fox's non-con>pliance with customs and 
 salutations, ta which he had been used. There 
 was, liowe.ver, a secret something which attracted 
 
 MPE OF WlLUArM CAT^N. 
 
 SI07 
 
 %s mind to this minister of the gospel, and to the 
 testimony which he bore to the Light of Christ in 
 the heart. He therefore, was, with the rest of the 
 family, excejxt the judge, wh«L was not at homci^^ 
 so effectually reached by the rai»istry of George 
 Vflx, as to be convince(^^Qf the truth of the doc- 
 trine \vhiQh he. taught. 
 
 The w'itness f©r GDd in his conscience being 
 thus awakened, he became humbled under a sense 
 of his sins ; but the evil nature was not yet fully 
 subjected, apd h^ imderwent many close conflicts . 
 bjefore \}e experienced his mind settled in peace. 
 JJuring tins time of exercise, his friend Margaret 
 Fell, thf judge's wife, took notice of him, and em- 
 ployed him at home to teach her younger children, 
 which preserved him fiora many unpleasant cir- 
 cumstances that he might have met with at school. 
 She also made him her anumuensis, fnd took him 
 with her into the com pai^y of her friends, by which 
 be was much edified, and \m mind increasingly 
 drawn into love and unity with those, to whom 
 she ba4.tbeu attached herself. 
 
 He was -DOW seventeen years of Age, and having 
 uiidergone those dispensations, which may be com- 
 pared to the fire, the sword, ?md the hammer, he 
 was afterwards introduced into a state <>f spiritual 
 €oj«>yme»t, voder v^hich %e ^ould aiy : ^' Ob tfte 
 
 
 i 
 
 \, 
 
 ■■ 
 
208 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 preciousness and excellency of that day ! Oh ! the 
 glory and the blessedness of that day! How should 
 I demonstrate it ; or by what means should I ex- 
 plain it, that generations to come might under- 
 stand it, and give praise to the Lord Jehovah !" 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 William Caton, who wrote an account of his 
 own life, enlarges much on the benefits and en- 
 joyments of which he partook whilst in this excel- 
 lent family at Swarthmore, which was then and 
 for many years afterwards much distinguished for its 
 hospitality and for its general reception of the mem- 
 bers of the new society. Caton says that Friends 
 from five or six counties would frequently be there 
 at the same time ; and George Fox frequently re- 
 sorting there during the years 1652 and l6o3, 
 Caton had many opportunities of partaking of his 
 instructive society; from which he received much 
 religious benefit ; George Fox treating him with 
 much fatherly attention and kindness ; Margaret Fell, 
 as already noticed, was also very attentive to him, 
 and acted the part of a mother in every respect. 
 
 
 I • 
 
 t 
 
 V; 
 
 These great advantages w ere not lost upon this 
 young man's improveable mind. He grew in that 
 grace and saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to which it was the peculiar care of the 
 ministers of this society to turn the attention of 
 those among whom they ministered. He not only 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 209 
 
 experienced the work of his own soul's salvation 
 to go forward ; but feeling the love of God shed 
 abroad in his heart, and a zeal for the cause of 
 truth and righteousness, he became constrained 
 under these feelings some times to attend the public 
 places of worship, and " to declare," as he him- 
 self expresses it, " against the deceit of the priests 
 and the sins of the people ; and to warn all to re- 
 pent. He now subjected himself to much bodily 
 suffering ; but this was little to him in comparison 
 of the inward enjoyments of which he partook ; 
 so that his experience was like that which the holy 
 apostle mentions : " As our sufferings abound in 
 Christ, so also doth our consolation abound by 
 Christ." 
 
 William Caton continued at Swarthmore till 
 tlie 11th month, 1654, when, though only in the 
 nineteenth year of his age, he became concerned 
 to visit his friends in some of the southern parts 
 of the nation. His separation from the family 
 where he had so long and so comfortably resided, 
 was a close trial to their mutual friendship ; but 
 the consideration of the good cause in which he 
 was about to engage, reconciled their minds to the 
 trying separation ; and they parted from each other 
 in the aense of much love and unity. 
 
 Leaving Swarthmore, he passed through Lanca- 
 shire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire to 13adgley or 
 
 !► 
 »< 
 
210 
 
 LIFE OF WltLIAM CATON. 
 
 !tC' 
 
 Badesley, in the county of Warwick. Here ha 
 met with a considerable number of his brethren, , 
 from whom he received much encouragement. 
 He proceeded thence to Wellingborough in North- 
 amptonshire, where lie found many who had been, 
 convinced of the same docrines which he had em- - 
 braced, and they were much refreshed together* 
 
 I 
 
 While at Wellingbarough he w<is imprisoned a. 
 single nighty and the next day released. He next, 
 travelled to Cambridge, where he had a good op- 
 portunity to visit liis fiiends ; after which he pro- 
 ceeded, to Norwich. It was now the depth of 
 vinter> and he and his companion travelling oa.. 
 foot, they had many difficulties to encounter in 
 their journey. At Norwich they found several 
 north country Friends in prison, whom, he says^^ 
 
 <* we visited, and with whom we wcjr^ sweetly, 
 refreshed." 
 
 After some public service in this city, he pro- 
 c>eeded towards London, where he was cordially 
 received by his friends^ aod in a little* time several 
 other Friends from the north came there. At one time 
 there were ten or twelve ministers in the city, "most 
 of us," to use his own words, " came out of the 
 North, even })Iain, honest, upright men, such as the 
 Lord was pleased to make use of in that day ; and 
 ver^' diligent vve were in his wor^_ night aiid.da^i^ 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 Sll 
 
 labouring faithfully, as much as in us lay, to exalt 
 his name over all, and make his truth and salvor 
 tion known even unto all." 
 
 During his stay in London he met with Joha 
 Stubbs, with whom, after finishing his service iu 
 the city, he travelled into Kent. In this. county 
 they had much religious service ; and Luke Howard^ 
 of Dover, and Samuel Fisher, of Lydd,- were 
 among the fruits of their gospel labours ; these two . 
 useful members of the society being convinced by 
 the means of their ministry. Between Dover and. 
 Lydd they visited Folkstone, Hide, and Romney». 
 in all which places they ipet with considerable suc- 
 cess, thous[h sometimes it was attended with much 
 bodily suffering. From Lydd they went to Ash- 
 ford, Tenterden, Cr?in brook, and Staplehurst. At 
 the two last places they n^t wi^ a. people who . 
 were ready to .receive their testimot^y..; . and, to use 
 Caton's own words, *' several large, and precious 
 ^meetings we had.ampng them; aad the power and 
 presence of the Lord was much with us, in which 
 we rejoiced together, freely, distributing the Word 
 of Life unto them, which at itat time dwelt richly, 
 and plenteouslyv in our hearts." At these places 
 the people pressed them to take some money, which 
 they found some difficulty ip refusing to accept. 
 
 These appear to have been the first Friends who 
 visited, Kent, aiwi estaibli§hed meetmgs in th^t 
 
 ^'1 
 
212 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 county. On their return towards London, they 
 came to Maidstone, where they underwent some 
 cruel persecution. They were here on the i\\»t. 
 day of the week ; and John Stubbs went to the 
 public place of worship, and William Caton to the 
 meeting of the Independents. John was sent that 
 day to the house of correction, and William the., 
 day following. After being plundered of the con- 
 tents of their pockets, they were stripped, and 
 their necks and arms put into the stocks. When 
 released from this situation, they were put inirons. 
 or great logs of wood, and then required to work. 
 'J'his they refused, having broken no law, and they 
 were kept several days with the allowance of only 
 a little water. ~ Some women, and even the male- 
 factors, would have given them some provisions, 
 but they declined accepting their kindness. After 
 a few days, the report of this cruel treatment 
 i$pread into the town, and the magistrates became 
 60 ashamed, that they restored some of the pro- 
 perty taken from them, and conveyed them out of 
 the town in different directions, neither of them 
 knowing where the other was gone, lliey, how- 
 ever, soon met in London, and found their minds 
 engaged to return to the place where they had 
 been so cruelly treated. Iliis was no small trial 
 of their failh and obedience; but being resigned 
 to the service, they went again into Kent, and to 
 Maidstone, where however ihcy met with no ma- 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 21S 
 
 ierial opposition ; but afterwards passed by Can- 
 terbury and Sandwich to Dover. 
 
 While William Caton was at Dover, be found 
 his mind engaged to pass over to Calais. Ibis 
 was in the 4th month, 1655. On bis arrival at 
 tliis town, he found its inhabitants greatly sunk in 
 superstition and idolatry. This was very distressing 
 to his feeling mind; and not being able to speak 
 French, he could not easily relieve himself of the 
 burden which he was under; but after being there a 
 little time, during which he generally resided in a 
 ship, some of the most respectable inhabitants, hear- 
 ing of him, sent to the vessel, and had him conveyed 
 to a house, where many of the principal people 
 were gathered together, and a Scotch nobleman 
 being in company, he acted as interpreter. " I 
 had," says William Caton, " a very gallant oppor- 
 tunity to declare the truth among them ; and pre- 
 cious dominion the Lord was pleased to give me 
 over their vain, light, frothy minds and spirits." 
 
 Soon after this opportunity, he felt himself at 
 liberty to return to Dover, where he found his 
 companion John Stubbs, who inclining to go to 
 Holland, William Caton was diposed to accom- 
 pany him. They went by Gravesend and Col- 
 chester to Yarmouth. Here they waited about 
 three weeks for a passage, and when they were 
 

 {■■■ 
 1\ 
 
 214 
 
 LIFE OF "WILLIAM CAtON. 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATOJJ. 
 
 215 
 
 
 
 
 ^- 
 
 
 ;1 
 
 i 
 
 « 1, 
 
 taken into the vessel in which they expected to be 
 conveyed, the master finding uho «iid wh^t they 
 were, sent them again to land. Alter this disap- 
 pointment they went to Sunderland, from which 
 place William Calon went to visit his friends at 
 Swurthmore, by whose society h« was, as usual, 
 much refreshed. 
 
 After he had spent sonve time at tliis hospitable 
 mansion, he went to Shields, whence he and John 
 Sttibbs sailed in a vessel for flushing ni Zealand ; 
 Nvhere and at Middleburgh they had some religious 
 service, attended also with som« bodily suffering. 
 They did not slay long here, but took shipping for 
 Rotterdam, where tlieir service was much limited 
 by not being able to speak the language of the 
 country, and not having a faithful interpreter. 
 'Jliey were the tVrst Friends who visited this city 
 and country ; but after they had relieved ihd? 
 minds here, they again took shipping for Zealand, 
 and thence for Kngland. After a stormy passage, 
 they landed at Hnrtlepool, whence William Caton 
 Avent through the county of Durham, &c. to his 
 home at Swarthmore. 
 
 He did not continue long out of service, but 
 soon left Swarthmore to visit some parts of Scot- 
 land, his friend John Stubbs again joinmg him. 
 It was in the beginning of the lOth month, now 
 
 the l*2th, that they entered this country by Berwick, 
 where William Caton was put out of the town; but 
 afterwards returired. After some religious service 
 here, they proceeded to Edinburgh, where they 
 separated in much love. -William Caton continued 
 in Edinburgh several weeks, having good service 
 there, accompanied by a Friend of the name of John 
 Slee, who joined him after the departure of his 
 former companion. From Edinburgh he travelled 
 to Stirling, Glasgow, and I>ouglas, in which places 
 he had opportunities of exercising his ministerial 
 gift with some success, and with relief tohis own 
 mind. From Douglas he travelled towards Kng- 
 "land, and again reached Swarthmore before the 
 expiration of the year 1655, according to the Old 
 Style. 
 
 This was certainly a year very closely occupied 
 by William Caton. His first departure from 
 Swarthmore was, as is already noticed, in the 1 1th 
 month, 1654-5; and we now see how much he 
 had travelled and laboured in the work of the gos- 
 pel, before the commencement of the year 1656, 
 and all this before he was twenty years of age. 
 Mv readers' reflections will, I apprehend, super- 
 sede the necessity of any remarks from me on so 
 extraordinary a circumstance. 
 
 About the middle of the 1st month, 1655-6, he 
 left Swarthmore again on a religious visit into 
 
2!6 
 
 IIFE OF WILLIAM CATOX. 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 217 
 
 Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire, in which 
 counties he and his companion, William Simpson, 
 had good service ; though not without some bodily 
 sufferings. At Congerton they were imprisoned a 
 few days, and then released. William Caton, 
 about this time, attended a large general meeting 
 in Leicestershire, where he met with his much- 
 valued friend George Fox, whose company as well 
 as the meetings, tended greatly to his comfort and 
 satisfaction. 
 
 In the 3d month, l65G, he agaiii left Swarth- 
 more for Scotland ; and on his return from that 
 country, he travelled into the south-west parts of 
 England, accompanied by Walter Clements. At 
 Bristol they were more than a little refreshed with 
 Friends, and with seeing how the truth prospered 
 among them." Proceeding into Cornwall, he vi- 
 sited George Fox and some other Friends, who 
 were prisoners in Launceston jail, " where," says 
 Caton, " my refreshment was so much, that my 
 cup was made to overflow.'* 
 
 His companion, it seems, had parted from him 
 at Bristol, to which city he now returned through 
 Devonshire. At Totness he was apprehended, 
 and sent by a pass from one place to another. 
 Being known to be a Quaker, and not a pauper, 
 people were attracted by the circumstance to the 
 
 places M'here he was, which afforded him many 
 opportunities of preaching, and spreading among 
 the people the doctrines which he taught. 
 
 Coming to Bristol, he found Francis Howgil!, 
 John AudJand, and several other of his brethreo. 
 there from distant parts, by whose society he was 
 much comforted. He now travailed towards 
 Kent, where he visited those in particular, among 
 whom he had successfully laboured, wlien in that 
 county before. Here I shall transcribe from his 
 own account, the state of his mind at this time : 
 '* Many precious and large meetings I had in the 
 county; and the Lord was very much whh me, 
 who furnished me plentifully with his word and 
 power, insoraucli that I stood admiring at sundry 
 times from whence I had that fulness. And it 
 was not by me only, but by many more, who 
 looking with the eye of reason on my earthly 
 tabernacle, could not expect any great thing from 
 me, being then but about twenty years of age. Yet 
 plenty of heavenly things the Lord was pleased ta 
 open in me and through me, to the end that I 
 might communicate the same to the multitude; 
 which sometimes being very great, I was ready to 
 say within myself, where shall I have wherewithal 
 to satisfy all these ? When I looked at my owa 
 weakness and insufficiency as of myself, I was 
 ready to faint ; but when I looked only at the 
 

 ei8 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATO^". 
 
 Lord, and put my confidence entirely in Him, I was 
 strong and courageous. For the Lord showed me 
 by his eternal light, on a time when I was be- 
 moaning my own weakness, and groaning under a 
 sen«e <r{ the weight of the burden of the service 
 and work of the Lord, saying or thinking within 
 myself, Oh! such and such are so and so fitted, and 
 furnished, that they need not care what service 
 they are called unto, but as for me, I am so sim- 
 |)le, I am so weak, and I never have any thin<r 
 before hand, neither da scarce ever know when I 
 go into a meeting of several hundreds, What I 
 -shall say, or whether any thing or nothing; yea, 
 when I was full of these and such like reasonings, 
 the Lord showed me, how they that had nmth 
 had nothing over, and they that had little had no 
 Jack, even as it was with the Israelites of old.'* 
 
 Entering meetings in this humble, dependent 
 5tate of mind, he further observes : *' The Lord 
 hath been pleased to give me his word so plentifully, 
 that through Him J was enabled to speak two, 
 three, yea sometimes four hour« in a meetino-^ 
 with little or no intermission ; and often it hath 
 been with me, that as I knew not before the meet^r 
 ing What I should speak in &ie meeting, neither 
 could I well remember after the meeting what I 
 had spoken in it. Now these things I rehearse 
 not for my own praise, but do «ay. Not unto 
 me, not unto me, that have nothing but what I 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 219 
 
 fcavc received, be the praise, but unto the Lord alone 
 who is the giver of every good and perfect gift.*'' 
 
 William Caton continued visiting his friends in 
 England, Scotland, and Holland, till the year 
 1062, when he was married at Amsterdam 
 to Anneken Dirricks. His marriage, however, 
 did not much interrupt his religious service, 
 «for in less than three months after its accom- 
 plishment, he was engaged to go to England 
 on a religious visit; and a few months after his 
 return to Holland, he went again into England, 
 taking his wife with -hira. When they had been 
 sometime together in^ this country, she returned 
 to Holland, and he travelled northward, attendJT 
 ing meetings in. his way from London to Swarth- 
 more ; where, after visiting Friends in the neigh- 
 bouring counties, he returned, and paid his last 
 visit.. George Fox being there, his company 
 added'to the pleasure and profit, which that seat 
 of christian beneficence had always afiforded him. 
 He took his leave of them " in the fulnes of enl 
 deared love, and much brokenness of heart ;" and 
 travelled through the county of Durham to Sun- 
 derland, where not meeting with a vessel ready to 
 sail for.HoIland, and inclining to visit Friends in 
 some other places, he went by Shotten, Stockton, 
 and Whitby, to Scarbrough, where, after visitii^ 
 Friends, he took shipping for Holland. The voyage 
 
 i 
 
<\ 
 
 220 
 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM CATON. 
 
 proved very tempestuous, and the ship leaky. At 
 length they put into Yarmouth Roads, and while 
 detained there, William Caion went on shore to 
 visit his friends. Being there on the first day of 
 the week, he attended a meeting, where he, with 
 several others under similar circumstaiKes, were 
 apprehended and sent to prison, in which they were 
 confined six months, because they would not Uke 
 an oath. They were committed on the 4th of 8th 
 month, 1663, and liberated on the £2d of 2d month, 
 1664. 
 
 Here ends William Caton's own account of him- 
 self ; and I find nothing further of consequence 
 recorded of him till his death in the 10th month 
 of the following year, 1665. He was the author 
 of several publications, among which is an Abridg- 
 ment of the Ecclesiastical History of £usebiu!» 
 Pamphilius. William Sewel, who was personally 
 acquainted with Caton, says of him : " He was a 
 man not only of literature and zealous for religion, 
 but of a courteous and affable temper and con- 
 versation, by which he was in good esteem among 
 those he was acquainted with." He appears in- 
 deed to have been a man of great worth ; and hia 
 removal would, no doubt, be much felt by hi* 
 friends. But there is great reason to believe that 
 he was one of those who could say, with a holy 
 apostle, " To me to live is Christ, and to die ia 
 
 ^ 
 
 am. 
 
 II 
 
 f* 
 
 CHAPTER XVIX. 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHED. 
 
 In the preceding Memoir, the conversion ot 
 Samuel Fisher to the principles of the Quakers, is 
 noticed as the eflfect of the ministry of William 
 Caton and John Stubbs. The time and place of 
 his birth I have not been able to ascertain. He 
 was educated at one of the universities, and entering 
 into holy orders, as they are called, he first became 
 chaplain to some person of quality, ^d afterwards 
 was made priest of Lydd in Kent, a living at that 
 time worth about two hundred pounds per annum.. 
 While in this situation, he was requested by 
 the master of Luke Howard, an apprentice to a 
 shoemaker at Dover, to converse with the young 
 man respecting a scruple which he entertained 
 about the singing of David's Psalms in places pt 
 public worship. Howard explained the reasons ot 
 his uneasiness with that practice in such a manner, 
 that Fisher, rather than Howard, was altered ia 
 opinion on the subject.. 
 
 The arguments used'on this occasion were these^ 
 that God is a Spirit, and must T)e worshipped in 
 spirit and in truth j but that it was contrary ^to 
 
 L 3 
 
 
S2C 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 truth for a proud man to sing, he was not puffed 
 up in mind, that he had no scornful eye, and did 
 not exercise himself in things too high for him. 
 Further, to sing, rivers of tears run down my eyes, 
 because other men keep not thy law, when those 
 -who thus sing, never knew true repentance for 
 their own sins, was such a violation of commou 
 morality, as true religion could not sanction. 
 
 By this conversation, FLsher, who had already 
 entertained some dissatisfaction with various mat- 
 ters connected with his present employment, grew 
 more uneasy with it. Preaching for hire, and the 
 baptism of infants, became a burden to his tender, 
 feeling mind ; and so great was his dedication to 
 that which appeared to be his religious duty, that 
 he voluntarily resigned his lucrative situation, took 
 a farm for the support of his family, and joined 
 himself in society with the Baptists, by whom he 
 Mas highly esteemed; and he became a minister 
 among them. 
 
 When Caton and Stubbs went into those parts, 
 Fisher hospitably entertained them in his house ; 
 and their gospel labours made some impression 
 on his mind, though he did not then acknowledge 
 it. After leaving Lydd, and visiting some places 
 thereabout, they returned thither again, when they 
 found their former labeurs had been blessed, and 
 niany persons were now ready to join them. George 
 Hammond, however, a Baptist preacher, publicly 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 QQl 
 
 preached against them ; which gave Samuel Fisher 
 so much uneasiness, that he stood up in the same 
 meeting, and said to Hammond: " Dear Brother, 
 you are very near and dear to me, but the truth is 
 nearer and dearer. This is the everlasting truth 
 and gospel." This was very trying to Hammond; 
 and, with a mixture of anger and sorrow, he ex- 
 claimed: "Our brother Fisher is also bewitched." 
 Fisher made no reply, but attaching himself still 
 more closely to Caton and Stubbs, he joined the 
 religious society to which ihey belonged. This 
 was in the year 1655. 
 
 In the following year Cromwell convened the 
 parliament, .which met on the 17th of the 7th 
 month, in the Painted Chamber, Whitehall. Fisher 
 had been under a great exercise for several days, 
 from an apprehension of duty to go there at that 
 time, and to deliver what he considered a message 
 from the Lord to the Protector aiwl Parliament. 
 After much secret conflict of spirit, he resigned 
 himself to this duty, and went to the Painted 
 Chamber at the time appointed, llie Protector 
 made a long speech, in the course of which he 
 said, he knew not of one man that suffered im- 
 prisonment unjustly in England. As soon as 
 Cromwell had finished his speech, Fisher attempted 
 to deliver what was upon his mind ; but he had 
 proceeded a very little in his intended speech, be- 
 fore he was interrupted with tfie cry of, " A 
 
^;f 
 
 Q24, 
 
 ETFE OP S A Mr EL FISHER. 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 S25 
 
 < ■.( 
 
 Quaker, a Quaker; keep him down, he shall not 
 speak." He however proceeded as long a^ he 
 poss/bly could, and believed the Protector and 
 Parliament men would have heard him, had not 
 others violently opposed and prevented his speaking. 
 
 Being thus prevented from verbally communi- 
 catin*^ that which was upon his mind, he committeti 
 it to writing and published it. The following 
 quotation will show the very low opinion he en- 
 tertained of the then ruling party in the nation, 
 and the plainness of speech with which he deli- 
 vered his message, or rather the message of the 
 Lord, to them* 
 
 After some introductory words, he expresses' 
 himself thus : ** Ye are a seed of evil doers, saitrh 
 the Lord; an hypocritical generation, a people 
 whose heart is not right, and whose spirit is not 
 steadfast with the Lord. Ye hav« made many 
 shows of seuking my face, but ye have not found 
 It, because ye have not sought it in»sincerity. Ye 
 have talked much of turning unto rae, but ye have 
 never done it yet with all your hearts; but feign- 
 cdly, sailh. the Lord. Ye have seemed much to 
 inquire after me in yoar long prayers, as if ye did 
 delight to know my ways; but my ways, which are 
 ways of purity, peace, and pleasantness, though 
 grievous to the wicked, ye yet know not, so well 
 ns ye might do, did ye stand in my counsel; and 
 so faL forth as ye do know of them, ye have no 
 
 delight to walk in them, so strait and rugged are 
 they to that nature which ye yet remain in. Ye 
 call out to me after light, as if ye were very de- 
 sirous to be enlightened ; but ye are haters of 
 xny light and my life, saith the Lord, even the light 
 in the conscience which I have placed in every 
 one of yx)u. This ye come not closely to, lest 
 ye should be reproved by it, but love darkness 
 xnore than it; because your deeds are evil. 
 
 ** Ye have fbsted often and hung down your 
 heads like a bulrush for a day; but ye have never 
 yet fasted unto me, saith the Lord. You find 
 your own pleasure still ; the bands of wickedness 
 ^are not loosed; you are captivated still in the cords 
 of your own sins; neither have you, in the midst 
 of all your abstinence, abstained yet from the 
 fleshly lusts which war against your souls; but are 
 as proud as ever, as pompous and vain as ever, as 
 luxurious and wanton ; as covetous, and earthly- 
 minded; as self-seeking; as time-serving; as men- 
 pleasing ; as oppressing and unrighteous as before. 
 Ye have often fasted for, but never fully from, 
 your iniquities to this day, saith the Lord. Ye 
 would be counted professors, yea promoters of 
 religion, but are iudeed persecutors of the very life 
 and power, and of that people that do believe in 
 the life and power of that same religion, which iu 
 form and words ye have long professed." 
 
i 
 
 226 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISITEIl. 
 
 After a long remonstrance of this kind^ and lay* 
 ing before Oliver and his Parliament the great 
 inconsistency of their conduct, with the spirit of 
 Christianity ; and predicting their disgrace and 
 downfall, he concludes thus : " What shall one 
 then answer the mafcsengers of the nations f Even^ 
 this, that the Lor^ hath founded Zion, and the 
 poor of his people have betaken themselves unto 
 it. But aU luxurious, wanton, and covetous 
 worldlings, all formal professors and dissembling 
 hypocrites, painted sepulchres and v^hited walls, 
 base backsliders, and filthy liars, hireling priests 
 and fawning prophets, and all proud oppressors 
 and wicked opposers, and persecutors of Christ in 
 his people, can have no share in it ; but are shut 
 out into the lake, and gone> down for, ever witli 
 the uncirciuncised into the pit, which hath shut 
 her mouth upon them there, world without end, 
 to be confounded.*' 
 
 Thus plainly did our early Friends deal wilTi 
 that " hypocritical generation," who under pre- 
 tensions of promoting liberty, both civil and reli- 
 gious, had proved more cruel persecutors than 
 those who had gone before them, and many of 
 th«m became so darkened in their understandings, 
 «!S even to plead for persecution and to pray 
 against the spreading of a spirit of toleration. No. 
 wonder then that the indignation both of God and of 
 ^ood men was kindled against such a people aS this^ 
 
 LTFE OT SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 227 
 
 The 24th of the 7th month vi^s appointed a 
 day for a public fast and humiliation; and Fisher 
 again atten^pted to relieve his exercised mind in a 
 public-nianner. For this purpose he attended the 
 parish worship^house called St. Margaret's, in 
 Westminster. This was the place where the mem- 
 bers of parliament were to attend. After two of 
 their ministers had finished their sermons, Fisher 
 attempted to relieve his mind, but with no better 
 success than before. He therefore had recourse 
 to the same o^pedient, and committed to writing 
 the substance of what he would have verbally 
 communicated. Indeed it is probable he rather 
 enlarged than contracted it ; as the piece consists 
 of eight folio pages, and contains much excellent 
 advice as well as close remonstrance on various sub- 
 jects relating to^heirj)ublic^nd private conduct. 
 
 In the year 1659, he accompanied Edward Bur- 
 rough to Dunkirk, where they visited the Capuchin 
 and other Friars ; also the Jesuits ; and "had some 
 discourse with them on the subject of the Light of 
 Christy and warned them of the day that would 
 come upon their idolatrous ways, worships, and 
 works. They had also religious meetings with the 
 English soldiers and tlieir officers ; Dunkirk bein<y 
 at that tinve in possession of the English. 1 hey 
 were sent for on their landing by Colonel Alsop, 
 deputy-governor to Lockhart, and when Lockhart 
 returned he also sent for them. To these persona 
 
 n 
 
 r 
 

 »■ 
 
 -;! 
 
 228 
 
 LIFE OF SAMrEL FISHER. 
 
 they explained the nature of their concern, and 
 were civilly treated by them. 
 
 Having performed their service at Dunkirk, 
 they returned to England, and in the following 
 year Samuel Fisher and John Stubbs went to 
 Rome, where they entered into conversation with 
 some of the cardinals, and testified against the 
 Popish superstitions. They also distributed books, 
 explanatory of their principles, among the friars, 
 some of whom confessed to the truth of their doc- 
 trine ; but said that if they should acknowledge 
 this publicly, they might expect to be burnt. 
 Fisher and Stubbs, however, met with no inter- 
 ruption or molestation. In the course of their 
 iourney they underwent many difficulties, travelling 
 on foot over the Alps, and in the countries through 
 which they had to pass ; but that Divine hand 
 which led them forth, protected and delivered 
 them ; and brought them safely back to their 
 Dative land. 
 
 After his return to England, Fisher was seldom 
 out of prison for his religious conduct and prin- 
 ciples. In the year l66l, he was arrested at a 
 meeting in Westminster, and committed to the 
 Gatehouse, where he was continued a prisoner for 
 several months, in a small hole, witliout a chim- 
 ney, during a cold season of the year. After his 
 release from this imprisonment, he was appre- 
 hended as he was walking in the streets of London; 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 22!& 
 
 and with nine others was committed to Woodstreet 
 Compter, where the accommodation was so small, 
 that there was not room for all of them to lie 
 down at once. Being taken before the magistrates 
 at Guildhall, the oaths of allegiance and supremacy 
 were tendered to him, which of course refusing to 
 take, he was committed to Newgate, where he 
 continued sixteen weeks. 
 
 He could not have been long at liberty, before 
 he was again made a prisoner ; for I find that on 
 the 21st of the 3d month, 1662, he was aj rested 
 in a private house, by a company of soldiers, who 
 showed no cause for their violent conduct, nor 
 any warrant but their swords. After being hurried 
 from place to place, he was at last brought before 
 llichard Brown, a man famous, or rather infamous, 
 for his violent persecuting spirit. By him Fisher 
 was committed to Bridewell. The next day his 
 mittimus was changed, and the diarge on which 
 he was committed was for unlawfully assembling 
 to worship. After an imprisonment of six weeks 
 he was brought up to the sessions at the Old 
 Bailey, where, instead of a legal trial on the sub- 
 ject of his mittimus, the oath was again adminis- 
 tered to him, contrary to law, in his situation as a 
 prisoner. He desired the law to be read that re- 
 quired him to take the oath, which, though pro- 
 mised, was not done, but only the form of the 
 ealh was itad to hiai. Even ^\Len this was doiie> 
 
 M 
 
 ! i 
 
 i| 
 
1^30 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 time was not afforded for him to give a reply, but 
 the magistrates immediately ordered him to be 
 taken way, a command which the officers executed 
 with that violence which they knew would be ac- 
 ceptable to their superiors. On leaving the court, 
 Samuel Fisher addressed it with these few em- 
 phatic words : " If such doings as these ever pros- 
 per, it must be when there is no God." 
 
 He was now committed to Newgate, where he 
 continued a prisoner about twelve months, many 
 of his friends being in confinement there at the 
 same lime. This dear Friend might indeed say 
 with the apostle, " In every place, bonds and af- 
 flictions abide me." Before the expiration of the 
 year 1 663, a great part of which must have elapsed 
 previous to his liberation from Newgate, he was 
 attain arrested and committed to prison. While 
 attending a meeting at Charlewood in Surry, he 
 was taken and committed to the White Lion Jail 
 in Southwark. Here he continued a prisoner till 
 the tmie of his death, which took place on the last 
 day of the 6th month, 1665. Concerning his de- 
 cease I find no particulars, except that Sewel 
 flays he " died piously." 
 
 Samuel Fisher not only laboured and suffered 
 greatly, but also wrote much. His works are 
 published in a folio volume containing nearly 1000 
 pages, of which his " Rusticus ad Academicos, or 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FlSffER. 
 
 231 
 
 the Rustick's Alarm to the Rabbies," consists of 
 about 750. It is a reply to the aspersions of se- 
 veral men of eminence on the Principles of Friends. 
 They are thus described in the title, "John Owen, 
 D. D. late Dean of Christ's Church Coll. Oxon ; 
 Thomas Danson, M. A. once Fellow of Magd. Coll. 
 Oxon, since one of the Seers for the Town of Sand- 
 wich in Kent; John Tombs, B. D. once of Bewd- 
 ley, since of Lemster; Richard Baxter, Minister of 
 Kederminster, anodier eminent Master in this 
 English Israel." To analyse this work would 
 almost require a volume. It is written in that con- 
 troversial spirit which characterized the times, and 
 though containing many strong arguments, and 
 manifesting much learning, yet the languat^e is 
 frequently coai^er than might have been expected 
 from a man of his abilities and acquirements and is 
 by no means adapted to the taste of this refined age. 
 The work, however, was very useful at the time 
 of its publication ; and V^illiam Penn in particular 
 acknowledges the benefit which he received from 
 reading it. 
 
 Besides the above work, he wrote several 
 pieces on the subject of Swearing, being answers 
 to some Writers in Defence of the Practice iiu 
 Courts of Law. His last publication on this sub- 
 ject was in answer to Dr. Gauden, Bishop of Exe- 
 ter. To this work he gives a Greek title as well as 
 an English one. The latter being a translation of 
 
«se 
 
 LIFE OF SAMUEL FISHER. 
 
 the former: "The Bishop busied beside the 
 Business." It is an able and learned reply to the 
 Bishop's arguments, though rather prolix, contain- 
 ing nearly 100 pages of close printed folio. 
 
 It appears from various accounts, that Samuel 
 pisher was a man of a most amiable disposition 
 and manners. Ellis Hookes, Luke Howard, and 
 Wm. Penn, all speak very highly of his virtues. 
 The latter says, " Though I greatly valued his 
 abilities, employed so accurately in a good cause ; 
 yet above all I camiot but admire and love his 
 great self-denial and humility, who from being a 
 Teacher, became willing to be taught ; and that 
 most evenness and sweetness of temper his most 
 intimate friends have ©ften observed in hini ; so 
 that he was not only a good scribe, but a good 
 liver ; a christian according to the Apostle James, 
 composed of faith and works ; therefore is his 
 name of good savour with the righteous, because 
 he counted nothing dear, in comparison of the ex- 
 cellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which 
 came not by flesh and blood, but by the revela- 
 tion of the Father of Lights.^' ITiis testimony of 
 "W'm. Penn is abundantly confirmed by his intimate 
 friends, Ellis Hookes and Luke Howard, who 
 speak highly of his christian virtues and patient 
 suffering for the testimony of Jesus. 
 
 Me9C>66«« 
 
 SUPPLEMENT 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX^ 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A BRIEF REVIEW 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DOCTRINES and PRACTICES 
 
 INCCLCAtED BY HIM. 
 
 *^99^u* 
 
 END OF THE SECOND VOLUME, 
 
 -.1 
 

 SUPPLEMENT 
 
 TO TBE 
 
 LIFE of GEORGE FOX, ^c. 
 
 Although the Biographical Notice which 
 has been taken of George Fox, contains an occa- 
 sional statement of the principles and practices 
 which he propagated, it seems a proper, in the con- 
 clusion, to dmw them into one point of view, and 
 exhibit them in such a manner, that the reader 
 may be capable of forming a judgment of their 
 rectitude, and of the beneficial effects resulting 
 from them* 
 
 The fundamental principle which he was most 
 concerned to inculcate, was the universality of the 
 Light, Grace, or Spirit of Christ, and its suffi- 
 ciency to teach men all things necessary to salva- 
 tion. Yet, while he bore testimony to this Divine 
 principle, as the anointing, which the Apostle John 
 told the primitive Christians, taught them of all 
 things, he was far from denying the use of other 
 means, which God has condescended to afford for 
 the instruction of mankind ; whether through the 
 
 a 2 
 
IV 
 
 SUPPLEMENT TO THE 
 
 Holy Scriptures, the Preaching of the Gospel, or 
 any other outward instruction, consistent with the 
 Christian dispensatiott. 
 
 The principal use, however, of all these means 
 he considered to be, to bring the minds of those 
 who partook of them, to an acquaintance with the 
 inward teacher, the Light of Christ manifested in 
 the heart; by an attention to which, the benefits of 
 the sufferings of our blessed Redeemer come to 
 l)e experienced, according to the testimony of one 
 Apostle on behalf of himself and his fellow la- 
 bourers in the Gospel ; 1 John i. 5. 6. 7 : " This 
 then is the message which we have heard of him, 
 and declare unto you ; that God b Light, and in 
 Ilim is no darkness at all. If we say that we have 
 fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we 
 lie and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the 
 light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship 
 one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ 
 his Son cleansetli us from all Sin." 
 
 George Fox and our early friends might, and 
 often did, adopt these words of the Apostle, as 
 the peculiar message given to them. For, how- 
 ever they may have been charged to the contrary, 
 they fiilly believed in the benefits to be derived 
 from our Saviour's sufferings and death ; both as 
 a propitiation for the sins of mankind, and as the 
 Mediator between God and man^ 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. / 
 
 In occasionally giving a brief statement of the 
 substance of his sermons, Christ is often mentioned 
 by George Fox, in both these capacities. To the 
 soundness of his Christian principles, his friend 
 George Whitehead bears ample testimony, in his 
 Preface to the volume of Epistles noticed in the 
 Appendix. G. Whitehead's words are : '' This our 
 deceased friend, and servant of Jesus Christ, truly 
 testified of Him in all respects, both as come in 
 the flesh and in the spirit ; both as Christ was and 
 is our only Mediator and Advocate ; and as He 
 was and is, " God over all, blessed for ever." And 
 his knowledge and ministry of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, being after the Spirit, in life and power, did 
 no ways imply any lessening of the dignity or glory 
 of Christ, nor any defect of faith or love to Christ, 
 as he came and suffered in the flesh for mankind ; 
 for he highly esteemed Christ's sufferings, death, 
 resurrection and glory ; and powerfully testified of 
 the virtue, power, blessed and spiritual design, 
 fruit, and effects thereof, as revealed and witnessed 
 by his Holy Spirit." 
 
 It was from this Divine principle, or Holy 
 Spirit, which may be considered as the leading fea- 
 ture of his doctrine, that he considered all true 
 qualification for Gospel ministry was to be derived, 
 and all ministers qualified rightly to comply with 
 the Apostolic injunction: " If any man speak, 
 
 a 3 
 
%i 
 
 SUPPLEMENT TO THE 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 ▼II 
 
 I 
 
 let bim speak as the oracles of God ; if any man; 
 minister, let him do it as of the ability which God 
 giveth." This spirit be considered 50 sufficient 
 for the purpose of Gospel ministry, as to preclude 
 the necessity for human learning, or any other ac- 
 quirements, except the gifts and graces which the 
 Holy Spirit confers. This spirit he also consi- 
 dered sufficient to qualify for the performance of 
 divine worship ; which may be performed either 
 in silent adoration, or by public religious service, 
 if any are rightly called or raovedtoit: 
 
 It must be admitted that these principles, if they 
 were generally acted upon, would, in their result, 
 tend to the subversion of those modes of worship 
 and ministry, which depend oir human ordination 
 and appointment, for which establishments aie 
 often formed, and the expense of them is imposed 
 not onlv on those who unite in them, but also on 
 such as conscientiously dissent^ either from the 
 principles or practices taught in these established 
 churches. It may therefore be reasonably siip- 
 posed, that this part of George Fox*s doctrines, 
 subjected him and his friends to much persecution ; 
 but their long and patient suffering mider it, pro- 
 duced at length the mitigation of divers lavi^ in 
 their favour ; and perhaps it will not be too much 
 to say, that this Society has been, more than any 
 other, a means of procuring the extension of reli- 
 
 gious liberty, and of opening the eyes of many 
 persons, to the benefits resulting from religious 
 tx>leration. The belief that man is accountable to his 
 Maker only for his religious opinions and practices, 
 provided these do not infringe on any moral or 
 civil obligation, early impressed the mind of this 
 enlightened man : and it is a cause of consolation 
 to believe, that it is a principle, which is now mak- 
 ing a rapid progress in the Christian world; 
 
 Asa free exercise of GbspeF ministry on disin- 
 terested principles, by those who were " called of 
 God," was earnestly promoted by George Fox, so 
 all systems, not coinciding with these views, were 
 the subjects of his animadversion. "Freely ye 
 have received, freely give," might be considered as 
 bis motto. From this principle he was led to op- 
 pose the views of many of his contemporaries, 
 who made a trade of preaching, and who, not un- 
 frequently manifested by their conduct, that they 
 regarded the fleece more than the flock. All esta- 
 blished maintenance for ministers was disapproved 
 by him, and he was particularly opposed to that- 
 arising from tithes, which he considered not only 
 objectionable on the- general principle he had 
 adopted, of a free ministi7, but also on account of 
 its reverting to the old legal system, from which 
 tha Gospel of Christ had emancipated its true 
 professors. The principles which have beejL 
 
VUl 
 
 SUPPLEMENT TO THE 
 
 maintained by the friends of George Fox, have, it 
 is presumed, thrown much light on this subject ; 
 and perhaps will eventually be a means, with 
 other co-operating causes, of removing this politi- 
 cal, as well as religious, evil of tithes, from the 
 professors of Christianity, at least in this country.* 
 
 Being well taught in the school of Christ, Geo. 
 Fox appears to have particularly imbibed the 
 spirit of that evangelical song, with which our 
 blessed Redeemer was introduced into the world : 
 « Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, 
 goodwill towards men." As in his successful 
 Gospel labours, he uniformly ascribed the praise 
 to his Divine master, so in his conduct towards 
 others he remarkably exemplified the latter part of 
 this sacred Anthem : " On earth peace, goodwill 
 
 * As the Author's health did not permit him to revise the 
 Jd volume, iuchiding this " Supplement," the Editor conceives 
 it will comport with the general instructions received from 
 his valued relative, to supply the following paragraph. 
 
 The objection of George Fox to many of the religious 
 forms and ceremonies in general use, was a prominent 
 part of his system. His opinion appears to have been, that 
 most of these forms were uusanction-d by Scripture ; and 
 that by drawing men from the work of religion in the heart, 
 they were calculated rather to oppose, than to promote, true 
 piety. The use of Water Baptisu), in particular, he thought 
 tended to divert mankind from that " one baptism" which now 
 saveth • " not the putting away of the filth of ihe flesh, but th« 
 answer of a good coiucieace towards God/' 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 IS 
 
 towards men," formed indeed a striking feature ift 
 the doctrines propagated by this excellent man. 
 He carried tlus sentiment so far, as to disapprove 
 of all " wars and fightings," conceiving them to 
 proceed from the unmortified passions of men ; 
 and to have no political necessity, if these pas- 
 sions were subjected to the influence of the Cross 
 of Christ, and regulated by the doctrines and pre- 
 cepts which he and his Apostles taught to their 
 followers. The excellency of the testimony which 
 George Fox and- his friends have borire against 
 war, is much more generally acknowledged than 
 acted upon. But, on this subject, I believe, light 
 is spreading; and that it will ultimately so far pre- 
 vail, tliat " Natioa shall not lift up sword against 
 Nation,, neither shall they learn war any more,'* is 
 among the many consoling hopes, which the spirit 
 ef prophecy holds out to the believing christian. 
 
 Swearing, not only profane, but legal, was con- 
 sidered by George Fox as so expressly forbidden 
 by our Saviour, that he and his friends, consonant 
 with the words of the Apostle James, entirely de- 
 clined the use of oaths. The sufferings which be 
 underwent on this account are alreatly related. 
 His friends also largely partook of the same cup, 
 »nd all from professors of the christian name, for 
 obedience to a positive command of their common 
 master. But in this respect the laws aie now fa- 
 
 a 5 
 
Jl SUPPLEMENT TO THE 
 
 vourable to the Society of Friends, and they have 
 reason to believe that many of their fellow chris- 
 tians of other Societies lament the frequency at 
 leasts of legal swearing. 
 
 While George Fox's capacious mind embraced 
 the great and important principles already noticed, 
 he was also attentive to some minor evils which 
 existed in the christian world, and which he con- 
 sidered inconsistent with the christian character. 
 Of these the complimentary and flattering titles 
 given to men, the addressing individuals in the 
 plural number, and bowing, or putting off the hat, 
 struck him as inconsistent with the simplicity of 
 the Gospel, and with the doctrines which our 
 Saviour taught, when personally on earth. These 
 practices he therefore laid aside; and the disuse 
 of them by his friends, the plainness of their 
 dress, and their not regulating it by the fashion of 
 the day, continue to be marks of the members of 
 this Society. 
 
 Although the principles of George Fox, both as 
 to civil and religious rights, were very liberal, yet 
 they were far from being such as led to anarchy 
 and confusion ; and therefore in the Society which 
 he had been the principal means of forming, he 
 early saw the necessity of establishing a christian 
 discipline, by which its members were employed 
 
 LIFE OF GEORGE FOX. 
 
 XI 
 
 in watching over and admonishing each other, 
 when occasion required ; and those whose conduct 
 became reproachful, and could not be reclaimed, 
 were disowned, or disunited, and the Society 
 cleared of the discredit which might otherwise at- 
 tach to it. However infallible was the principle 
 of Divine Light and Grace which he preached, he 
 well knew that those who professed a belief in it, 
 were fallible men. He therefore wisely considered, 
 for the purpose already mentioned, as well as 
 for various others, relating to the internal oeconomy 
 of the society, that meetings for discipline were 
 essentially necessary. These he was instrumental 
 in establishing upon a plan that has now existed 
 about 150 years; and experience has shown the 
 wisdom in which they were made. 
 
 Among the peculiarities of George Fox's views, 
 was the. part which he assigned to the female sex, 
 so far as related to themselves, in the discipline 
 which he had established, and in asserting their 
 call, by the great Head of the Church, to a part 
 in the ministry. One obvious effect resulting from 
 these regulations was, to raise the sex in useful- 
 ness and importance, and consequently to elevate 
 their character, both in religious and civil society. 
 This, it has been often observed, is one of the 
 many beneficial effects of Christianity; but no 
 Society of Chiistians has carried this so far as 
 
vn[^»*» 
 
 HI 
 
 SUPPLEMENT TO THE, &C. 
 
 that of Friends ; and there is, perhaps, no society 
 in which the sex is mare virtuous, or more respec- 
 table, or more ^appy. 
 
 Besides the various matters already mentioned, 
 this enlightened Reformer, (for so I hope I may 
 now be permitted to style him,) testified against 
 those public amusements and diversions which 
 are much in use »mong professing Christians; 
 but as there are many other religious people, 
 who, in a great measure, concur with him in these 
 respects, it may not be necessary to rank these among 
 his peculiarities. His sentiments, however, and 
 the practice of the society in reference to these 
 things, may fairly be considered as exalting their 
 moral character ; and when all the principles and 
 practices propagated by this true Follower of 
 Christ, are fully taken into view, I believe it will 
 be found that few, if any, have appn>ached nearer 
 to the standard of those Christian precepts in- 
 culcated by our blessed Redeemer, in his most 
 excellent Sermon on the Mount, and that no 
 principles are better calculated to promote the 
 happiness of man in this world, or more adapted 
 to prepare him for a state of happiness ia that 
 which is to come. 
 
 END of itie SUPPLEMENT. 
 

 ^' 
 
 if 
 
 r*r 
 
 
 5 jp. 
 
 \ 
 
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the 
 expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, 
 as provided by the rules of the Library or by special ar- 
 rangement with the Librarian in charge. 
 
 J 
 
 DATE BORROWED 
 
 86(189) Ml 00 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 DATE BORROWED 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 r.-W »w ttOt.g"*^?* ^f*V»',<« ■•»•-««■" 
 
 'V; 
 
 lo 
 
 i\ 
 
 -.^-r-ni 
 
FILMED AS 
 
 BOUND 
 
^. 
 
 I ^ 
 
m 
 
 n\\nn^\luii\\uii\\uQ\\u^\\u^\^ 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 lU 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
 ii 
 
 1^ 
 
 E 
 
 L 
 
 THE LIBRARIES 
 
 .OLLIMBIA UNIVERSITY 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 fi 
 
 11 
 
 II 
 
 General Library 
 
 E 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 El rini 
 
 1 
 
 
 '^ i 
 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
 938.96 
 T81 
 
 3-U 
 
 1010652868 
 

Cl^^ ^^- 
 
 X 
 
 /^ 
 
 *^ 
 
 \ 
 
 T8\;. 
 
 in the CtltB <»f |lew Hotrb 
 
 %xhx^x)^. 
 
 
t 
 
THE 
 
 % 
 
 WORKS 
 
 o» 
 
 MENRT TUKEi 
 
 TO WHICH IS PKEFIXED 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the AUTHOR, 
 
 By LINDIEY MURBAY. 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 VOL. IIL 
 
 PBIKTEP FOB W. ALEXANDSB. 
 
 1815. 
 
THE 
 
 r„ 
 
 
 PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION, 
 
 AS PROFESSED BT THE 
 
 SOCIETY OF CHRISTIANS, 
 
 VStJALLY CALLES 
 
 QUAKE RS, 
 
 iVntten for the Instruction of their Youth, oimI 
 ior the Information of Stranger^ 
 
 % HENRY TUKE. 
 
 tHE FIFTH EDITION- 
 
 >* i^ ^ ^^i^jH^i^v 
 
 .fl:^ 
 
 ^or6 : 
 
 PRINTED BY C. PEACOCK, 
 
 FOR 
 
 W.ALEXANDER, AND SOLD BY HIM; 
 
 •SVLD ALSO BY D\RTOW. HARVfcY. AND CO. GRACE- 
 
 ^MKBCH*STR£ET, AND W. PHILLIPS, JLOMBARD* 
 
 8TAEET, LONDON. 
 
 1812. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Considehiso the many publications wliicli already 
 eiist, explanatory of the principles of our religious society, 
 it may seem, to some persons, superfluous, to publish any 
 thing further on this subject. I have, notwithstanding, 
 been long apprehensive that a work is still wanting, which 
 shall include the wlvole, or the most material part of our 
 principles ; and, in a concise, yet perspicuous manner, 
 convey a sufficient explanation and defence of them. The 
 ample and excellent Apology of Robert Barclay, is too 
 diffuse for the generality of young readers; and it requires 
 a more close and patient attention than many are willing 
 to bestow. It would, however, in my apprehension, 
 amply repay that attention : and I am so far from being 
 dtsirous to lessen its use, that I wish particularly to recom- 
 mend it to those of our society, who desire (what all 
 should desire) thoroughly to understand their own reli- 
 gious principles. If the language is not modern, it is still 
 correct and clear; if the work is thought too controversial, 
 we should recollect, that the controversy is on subjects, 
 the right understanding of which, is intimately connected 
 with our existence as a religious society, The light and 
 
 A 2 
 
 1B6324 
 
Vf 
 
 INTRODUCTrON, 
 
 miscellaneous reading of the present day, jt is to fee 
 feared, disinclines many amongst us, as well as others, 
 from subjects, which require close ftttentlen tintl seriouji 
 consideration; and I with it may not alio be a means of 
 weakening the attachment of many to those religious 
 truths, in which our highest duty and our deepest interest 
 consist. 
 
 Jn this work, I have been desirous of inculcating the 
 jgeneral principles of religion, and of Christianity, as well 
 as those which are peculiar to our society ; believing, that 
 we can no longer exist, with any degree of consistency, 
 than whilst those principles are maintained, which consU- 
 Jute the basis of the Christian Religion. These I consider 
 to be, faith in God, and a belief of the immortality of the 
 soul; a humbling sense of the depravity of human nature, 
 and of the necessity and benefits of a Redeeraer; that thi» 
 Redeemer is Christ Jesus our Lord ; that what the Evan- 
 gelists and Apostles have written concerning him, is true, 
 both in relation to his humanity ami lus Divinity, as are> 
 likewise their accounts of his many mighty works and 
 |niracles ; his having, through the eternal Spirit, offered 
 himself unto God fur us, as a propitiation for our sins; 
 and sent the Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, to con- 
 vince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment;, 
 and to guide into all truths 
 
 INTRODUCTION. ▼ 
 
 In treating of the Holy Scriptures, I have particulariy 
 endeavoured to obviate the principal objections made 
 against them ; since it is by attempting to invalidate their 
 authenticity and divine authority, that the enemies of the 
 Christian religion attack our faith. I have introduced 
 the subject of the Scriptures, previously to the chapter on 
 the Christian religion; considering, that if the authenticity 
 and veracity, to say nothing of the divine authority, of 
 these writings be established, it is then necessary only to 
 show, what Christianity is, according to the Scriptures: a 
 few arguments are, however, added, in support of the 
 Christian religion. 
 
 With respect to those principles, which are peculiar to 
 ©ur religious society, I hope that, however singular they 
 may appear to some, they will, on close examination, be 
 found consistent with the nature and spirit of the gos- 
 pel dispensation. The conviction of this consistency has 
 been increased on my mind, by the investigation which 
 the writing of this work has occasioned ; and, I trust, we 
 are able to give such reasons for our dissent from other 
 Christians, as may at least excuse it to those from whom 
 we differ. 
 
 Although very little is quoted in this work from any 
 \o6ks, but those of the Holy Scriptures, it may be proper 
 
 A 3 
 
Xf 
 
 INTRODUCTrON. 
 
 miscellaneous reading of the present day, it is to be 
 feared, disinclines many amongst us> as well as otherSj 
 from subjectSi i^hich require cloiA Attention and lOfiouA 
 consideration; and I wish it may not alio be a means of 
 weakening the attachment of many to those religious 
 truths, in which our highest duty and our deepest interest 
 consist. 
 
 Jn this work, I have been desirous of inculcating the 
 general principles of religion, and of Christianity, as well 
 as those which are peculiar to our society ; believing, that- 
 we can no longer exist, with any degree of consistency, 
 llhan whilst those principles are maintained, which constl-^ 
 (ute the basis of the Christian Religion. These I consider 
 to be, faith in God, and a belief of the immortality of the 
 soul; a humbling sense of the depravity of human nature, 
 and of the necessity and benefits of a Redeemer; that this^ 
 fledeemec is Christ Jesus our Lord ; that what the Evan- 
 gelists and Apostles have written concerning him, is true, 
 both in relation to his humanity and Iiis Divinity, as are, 
 likewise their accounts of his many mighty works and 
 iniracles ; his having, llirough the eternal Spirit, offered 
 himself unto God for us, as a propitiation for our sins; 
 and sent the Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, to con- 
 vince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment;. 
 and to guide into all truth* 
 
 INTRODUCTION. ▼ 
 
 In treating of the Holy Scriptures, I have particularly 
 endeavoured to obviate the principal objections made 
 against them ; since it is by attempting to invalidate their 
 authenticity and divine authority, that the enemies of the 
 Christian religion attack our faith. I have introduced 
 the subject of the Scriptures, previously to the chapter on 
 the Christian religion ; considering, that if the authenticity 
 and veracity, to say nothing of the divine authority, of 
 these writings be established, it is then necessary only to 
 show, what Christianity is, according to the Scriptures: a 
 few arguments are, however, added, in support of the 
 Christian religion. 
 
 With respect to those principles, which are peculiar to 
 our religious society, I hope that, however singular they 
 may appear to some, they will, on close examination, be 
 found consistent with the nature and spirit of the gos- 
 pel dispensation. The conviction of this consistency has 
 been increased on ray mind, by the investigation which 
 the writing of this work has occasioned ; and, I trust, we 
 are able to give such reasons for our dissent from other 
 Christians, as may at least excuse it to those from whom 
 we differ. 
 
 Although very little is quoted in this work from any 
 V>oks; but those of the Holy Scriptures, it may be propei 
 
 A 3 
 
Vi 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 tt> sRy, that t am indebted to tbe writings of others, hm 
 many of the arguments which I have advanced. At a 
 time when so much has been written, and well written, 
 on these subjects, it is not to be expected that many fresh, 
 arguments can be brought forward. Some new matter 
 will, nevertheless, be found. The principal object aimed 
 at in this work is, to digest what has been produced by 
 reading and reflection, and to deliver it in such a manner, 
 
 as may briefly, yet clearly, convey the sentiments designed 
 to be incufcated. How far this object has been attained, 
 h not for me to determine. 
 
 I wish not, by any thing which I have written, to pro- 
 mote a spirit of controversy. Ou the contrary, I desire 
 the increase of that mutual charity, which it is alike our 
 fluty and our ihterest to cherish. To speak what we ap- 
 prehend to be truth,, is, however, sometimes necessary ^ 
 and always so, if we speak at all. If we do this, as we 
 ought to do, in love, and what we say is received in the 
 same spirit, we may be the means of stirring up the pure 
 mind in each other; and of promoting our ^' growing up^ 
 ift Iliro, in all things, who is the Head, even Christ,"* 
 
 * Egbesians i?. 15, 
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 CHAP. L 
 ON RELIGION IN GENERAL. 
 
 Universal Importance of Religion. — The belief of a Goc^ 
 
 its first principle,— 'The next that of the immortality of 
 
 the souL— Universality of these principles.-^ Argument$^ 
 
 for thenu-^Faith their best support ► . . . 13b 
 
 CHAP. IL 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 Nature and design of the Scriptures.-— 'Their claim to our 
 regard and to the belief of tlteir being divinely inspired,- 
 —Objections ansuered— first to their genuineness and 
 truth— 4iext to their inspiration.— All related of good 
 men not intended for imitation.— ^Impartiality of the 
 Scriptures. — Great judgment necessary in applying^ 
 ihem.'— Possibility of placing too much dependance On 
 4h€m, — On calling them the Word of God> . r • • . • 18« 
 
• •r 
 
 CONTENTS* 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 iTAe Fall of Man and the Promke of a Redeemer,-^ 
 T>\ff€rent modes of divine communication to Man.^^ 
 Prospects and prophecies of the Gospel Day. — Christ 
 comes among theJews.-^The benefits of his coming designed 
 to be univermL—Objects of His coming recapitulated.-^ 
 Christian redemption a work of love. — Divinity of Christ 
 and of the Hi>ly Spirit. ^-On the Trinity—Justification-^ 
 Resurrection. — Arguments and evidences of Christianity, 
 ^^The true and perfect Christian ► . . 4^ 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OF THE 
 HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 trUc gift of the Spirit an essential if Chri&tianity.^^Dif^ 
 
 fcrent names for the Spirit. — Necessity of its assistance 
 
 -universally afiorded'--and in all ages— 'but most plenti- 
 
 fully in the GotpeL— Unconditional election and repro- 
 
 lut¥m disowned and disapproved ....«..*•« r 64 
 
 CONTENTS* 
 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP AND GOSPEL 
 
 MINISTRY. 
 
 Worship an act (f the soul towards God.'-^ Meetings for 
 worship may be held in silencc-^Public worship an indis- 
 pensable duty—treasonable and beneficial,'— Silent worship 
 adapted to all states*— Its advantages.— ^Scripture argu* 
 ments for it.— Prayer a necessary duty.— The gualifica- 
 tions of Ministers.— 'Human learning not essential to the 
 Ministry.— No individual has a right exclusively to 
 assume the exercise of it,— 'On women^s preaching. — Ofi 
 preaching for hire. — Tithes 102 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 Preliminary observations.— Two kinds of Baptism— 'Water 
 and the spirit. — Remarks on Matt, xxviii. 19. — This and 
 other arguments in favour of Water Baptism answered^ 
 —Sprinkling not Baptism. — Sprinkling of Infants not 
 authorized by Scripture. — Circumstances attending it 
 highly objectionable.— The Lord's Supper.— 'The circuni' 
 stances related on this subject fully admitted.— 'Not con- 
 sidered perpetual any more than washing of feet.'— The 
 true Lord's Supper, — Our dissent on these subjects not 
 jjrom disesteem of Christianity y but the reverse , ► . 108 
 
31 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 ON THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE* 
 OF DAYS AND TIMES. 
 
 Exmpthn/rom cemure claimed from tfteir non-obiervanat, 
 — TA* observance </ them disapproved by the Apostle 
 Paul. ^ More injuriota than beneficial to religion--^ 
 especially Festivals.^Setting apart one day in the week 
 mppraoed. — On Public Fasts, 4c. — Conclusion ffotn 
 Rom. xiv. 5, &c. ^ • ^^^ 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 Quotations from Matt. v. — Oaths unnecessary. — Ar^* 
 ments in favour of them ansnered. — Arguments in favour 
 of War answered.-'The Christian Religion the only 
 remedy fur this evil • • 135 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 ON AMUSEMENTS, ^ 
 
 General remarks on them. — Rules respecting them. — On 
 dancing and music. — Necessity of properly regulating 
 amusements for youth.-^Propriety oj avoiding tempto" 
 tim 150 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 ax 
 
 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 Our principle for regulating dress.-^Scripture passaget in 
 support of it. — An objection answered.^Non'Confarmity 
 to the world to be accompanied with the transformation 
 cf the mind. — Our peculiarities of address supported by 
 reason, by propriety, and by religion.-^On not taking 
 of the hat. — Custom too much admitted in the conduct of 
 Christians . , •..,.,, 154 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Peaceablene.^ of our principles a security to Government.-^ 
 Duties of subjects. — Suffering peaceably submitted to, 
 zihen active compliance cannot be conscientiously ren- 
 dered. — Civil and religious liberty valued, and how best 
 defended , 1^3 
 
 CHAP. XIL 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The necessity of discipline in religious societies.-^Ohjc'ctions 
 to it answered. — Particular objects of our discipline 
 ^numerated.^Different Meetings in which it is transact- 
 ed.-^ Importance of transacting it in a right spirit .. 16r 
 
4. 
 
 gm 
 
 CONTENTS^ 
 
 * CHAP. XIIL 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Addres, to the youth an the remembrance of their Creator. 
 
 ^Reason and Revelation.-^Tf^ Holy Scriptures and 
 
 Christianity,-^On our peculiar principles.^On the no- 
 
 cecity of regeneration.-^Address to persons not of our 
 
 religious persuasion • • 
 
# 
 
 'm^^mmt 
 
 chjpter'l 
 
 ON RELIGION IN GENERAL. 
 
 Universal Importance of Religion. '^ The Belief tf 
 God itsjirst Principle.^Thenext, that ofthelmmor^ 
 tality of the Soul^Universalitif of these Principles, 
 Arguments for them.^Faith their best support. 
 
 Religion is a subject which involves so 
 ttiuch, both of the duty and interest of mankind, 
 that there is no situation in life, which can 
 exempt from the considerations and obligations 
 it imposes on all men ; or render supei-fluous 
 those sources of enjoyment and consolation, 
 which it aflfords to its true and humble pos- 
 lessors. 
 
 The first principle of reli^on is, the belief 
 4>f a Supreme Being, disthiguished by the name 
 of God: a being, who is the original Creator 
 of all things-; who hath all power in his hands^; 
 who is perfect in wisdom and knowledge ; wh© 
 .IS just and equivl in all his waysj and whose 
 
14 
 
 t * 
 
 6lil RELIGION IN GENERAL, 
 
 lender mercies are over all his works. He 
 iuoweth our most secret actions, words, and 
 thouglits ; for there is nothing hid from Him, 
 with whom we have to do. 
 
 The next principle of religion, is the belief 
 of the immortality of the soul, and of a future 
 state of rewards and punishments, in which the 
 great distinction will be made between the 
 righteous and the wicked; those inequalities 
 which appear in this probationary state will be 
 removed; and a recompeuce given to every man 
 according to his works. 
 
 Although these principles of religion are not 
 attended with that kind of evidence, which the 
 objects of our extenial senses generally afford ; 
 yet it is not a little remarkable, that there are 
 scarcely any other subjects, which have obtained 
 so <veneral belief and persuasion amongst man- 
 kind, though often mixed with many gross ideas. 
 They are principles so interwoven with our 
 natures, that it seems to indicate an extraor- 
 dinary debasement, or perversion of mind, not 
 to entertain truths so universally felt and ac- 
 knowledged. Tliey are, however, principles 
 which may be supported by arguments, drawn 
 
 .if » » 
 
 ON RELIGION IN GENERAL. 
 
 U 
 
 from the nature of things ; and, notwithstanding 
 the general consent to them, it may be proper 
 to bring forward a few of these arguments. 
 
 Tlie existence of a Supreme Being, the 
 Creator of heaven and earth, is evident from 
 tlic works of creation. The magnificence of 
 some of these works; the regularity and order 
 with which they move in their appointed sta- 
 tions ; the beauty and use attendant upon others, 
 with the important purposes which are accom- 
 plished by them, particularly to the animal crea- 
 tion; evince so clearly both design and power, 
 as to afford an insuperable argument in favour 
 of a Great First Cause, perfect in wisdom and 
 goodness, as well as unlimited in power. To 
 these considerations may be added, the wonderful 
 arrangement of the animal economy. The dif- 
 ferent parts, adapted to their different purposes 
 with peculiar exactness and advantage, might 
 well induce the pious Psalmist to atklress his 
 Makei* in this emphatic language : " I will 
 praise thee, for I am fearfuUy and wonderfully 
 made; marvellous are thy works, and that my 
 soul knoweth right well."* Thus also a con- 
 sideration of the other works of creation, in- 
 
 ♦ Psalin cxxxix. 14, 
 B 2 
 
•jtf 
 
 ON RELIGION IN GENEHAJL. 
 
 ON RELIGION IN GENERAL* 
 
 17 
 
 tluced the same Psalmist to celebrate liis Maker"^ 
 praise : *' The Heavens declare the glory Of 
 God^ and the firmament showeth his handy 
 work. J)ay unto day uttereth speech, and 
 night unto night showeth knowledge. Tliere rs 
 no speech nor language where their voice is 
 not heard.*" And again: " O lK)rd! ho\y' 
 manifold ore thy M^orks; ia wisdom hast thou 
 
 ina^c them alL"^ 
 
 I. 
 
 Nor are we without arguments for our iin? 
 mortality, and a future state of retribution, the 
 "belief of which is, as it were, the soul of reli- 
 gion: for when we have entertained suitable 
 ideas of a Supreme Being ; when we feel those 
 aspirations unto him, and those desires to unite 
 •Mith him, which frequently arise in our hearts; 
 and particularly when we look at the state of the 
 righteous and the w icked in this world ; we have 
 sufficient reason to conclude, that tliere is a part 
 nn man which is immortal : and that there must 
 be a future state, in which virtue and vice will 
 
 • Psalm xix. 1, 2, 3. 
 
 t Psalm civ. 24. If any person shenid think »t irregular, 
 
 -to bring forward passages from the scriptures, before their 
 
 authority has been proved ; it may be observed, that these 
 
 passages are not advanced as arguments, but m elucidations 
 
 io the same manner as any other writing might be quoted* 
 
 meet with their respective rewards, in a more 
 signal manner than they appear to receive them 
 in this life, thus showing that God is }mt and 
 equal in all his ways, and righteous m all liia. 
 thoughts. 
 
 JBut, notwithstanding these and other argu- 
 ments, which might be adduced in support of 
 those two first principles of religion, the soul 
 seems most fully to rest upon and enjoy them, 
 when they are felt as objects of faitii, rather 
 than of reason. They then become like self- 
 evident truths, for which our own feelings are 
 the best support, and which act in concert with 
 that declaration: *' Without faith it is impossi- 
 ble to please God; for he that cometh to him 
 must believe that He is ; and that He is a rc- 
 warder of them tliat diligently seek him."* And 
 we ought ever to remember, after all our rea- 
 sonings on these subjects, that " Life and im- 
 mortality are brought to light by the gosp€l."t 
 
 ♦ Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 t 2 Tim. i. 10^ 
 
 I «• 
 
 V 3 
 

 ciup. ii. 
 
 ©N THE HOLY SCRIPTCREa 
 
 j^aiure and Design of the Scriptures. ^Thdr claim io 
 our regard and to the belief of their being divineli^ 
 inspired. — Objections answered^frst to their Genu- 
 ineness and Truth — next to their Inspiration,^^Ali 
 
 related of good men not intended for imitation. ^^ 
 Jmpartiality of the Scripture.^. — Great judgment 
 
 tiecessary in applying them.--^ Possibility of' placing 
 
 ioo much dependance on them.'^On calling them the 
 
 Word of God: 
 
 These writings are divided into two parts^ 
 the Old and the New Testaments. They com- 
 mence with an account of the creation of the 
 "world, and contain a history of more than four 
 thousand years. Their object appears to be, to 
 -exhibit the various dispensations of God to 
 mankind ; to manifest many of his general and 
 particular acts of Providence ; to show the good 
 effects of religion and virtue ; and to set forth 
 the lamentable evils which are the consequence 
 •f walkmg in the paths of irreligion and pro- 
 faneoess. for the prevention of these €vila»> 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 19 
 
 the scriptures inculcate those principles of piety 
 and morality, which contribute to the happiness 
 of mankind, both here and hereafter; and there 
 is not any general duty, religious or moral, in 
 which they do not afford instruction and di- 
 rection. 
 
 The scriptures also contain many remarkable 
 predictions concerning nations and individuals, 
 with several prophecies of the coming of the 
 Messiah, and of the dispensation of the gospel. 
 Ancient history, both sacred and profane, gives 
 account of circumstances which show the ful- 
 filling of many of these predictions; and the 
 A^ew Testament particularly relates the com- 
 pletion of those, which are given concerning 
 " Him, of whom Moses in the law and tlie 
 prophets did write."* 
 
 When we consider who were the writers of 
 these volumes; what are the subjects, and what 
 appear to be the objects of them; they claim, at 
 first view, a high degree of regard and esteem. 
 But when, as Christians, we believe in a divine 
 influence and direction, we find abundant cause 
 to conclude; that this influence was extended 
 
 * John i« 45r 
 
20 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 to those who wrote or compiled the scriptures, 
 and therefore believe with the apostle Paul, 
 that they were <* given by inspiration of God;"* 
 and are productive of those important advan- 
 tages which he attaches to them. 
 
 But notwithstanding the strong belief which 
 is generally entertained of the truth of these 
 writings, and of their having been communi- 
 cated under the influence of divine inspiration 9 
 there are persons, who do not acknowledge one 
 or both of these claims to that credibility and 
 reverence, which are attached to the scriptures. 
 It will therefore be necessary to pay some atten- 
 tion to the objections advanced by these persons; 
 in domg which, it may be proper, first to con- 
 sider those which are made against the authen- 
 ticity of the scriptures. 
 
 These objections may be divided mto twa 
 classes. 
 
 1. To the writings, as the genuine produc- 
 tions of the authors to whom they are ascribed. 
 
 ^. To the works themselves, as bebg a true 
 history, 
 
 • Tim. iii. 16. 
 
 01^ THE HOLY SCRlPTrRES. 
 
 SI 
 
 With respect to the objection against their 
 being genuine, in relation to their imputed 
 authors, if it could in some cases be well sup- 
 ported, it would by no means invalidate either 
 the truth or the inspiration of these writings; 
 because the books do not always declare their 
 authors. Tliey have, however, been transmitted 
 through so regular a channel of evidence, by .a 
 people for whom they were especially written, 
 and by whom they were religiously preserved, 
 as to render it as indubitable as any thing of die 
 kind can be, that they were written by those to 
 whom they are ascribed. In some cases the 
 authors may be considered as dubious ; and see- 
 ing that, in these instances, the books are not 
 imputed in scripture to any individual, no 
 objection can reasonably be made on this 
 ground. 
 
 An objection is sometimes made to the sup- 
 posed author, on account of his speaking of 
 himself in the third person ; but this cannot 
 have much weight, when it is considered that it 
 is a mode of writing not peculiar to the scrip- 
 tures, but has been adopted by various historians, 
 whose works have been generally admitted with- 
 out disputation. 
 
no. 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 #N THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 25 
 
 Another more plausible reason for disputing 
 the authors, arises from some places being men- 
 tioned by names, which appear to have beea 
 given to them subsequent to the alleged writer's 
 existence ; or from saying, that a place is culled 
 by a particular name " to this day," with other 
 similar expressions. Now all this is easily 
 obviated by considering, what is generally ad- 
 mitted, that, after the Babylonian captivity, 
 Ezra revised the Jewish scriptures ; and it ap- 
 pears, that, in some instances, he either made 
 use of modem names, or added remarks of his 
 own to elucidate the history. He was a religious 
 character, and one whom the Jews considered 
 as acting under divine direction ; they therefore 
 received his comments, and added them, if he did 
 not do it himself, to the original text. Tliis is 
 a fact which the Jews acknowledge, and whicli 
 accounts for the causes of this objection in 
 such a manner, as must, I apprehend, be satis- 
 factor}' to every impaitial mind. 
 
 Tlie account of the death of Moses, at the 
 end of Deuteronomy, was probably added by 
 Joshua dr Samuel, to complete the history of 
 Closes in those books that w ere w ritten by him ; 
 and is a circumstance, which no reasonable 
 
 i 
 
 man, who is acquainted with literary publica- 
 tions, would make a groinid of objection to the 
 authenticity of any book. i.. 
 
 Nor are the objections to tlie ti'uth of the 
 matters related in the holy scriptures, of more 
 ^veight than those alleged against their authen- 
 ticity. Tliey arise from some apparent incon- 
 sistencies of one part with another, and from a 
 supposed difference in some instances, from 
 other histories. 
 
 In most cases, the inconsistencies objected 
 are only in appearance ; they may be, and in- 
 deed have been, removed by a critical examina- 
 tion of tlie subjects ; and if we admit a few to 
 arise from incorrectness in transcribers or 
 translators, surely no wise man would consider 
 -such a circumstance as a reasonable ground, for 
 rejecting even writings much less autlienticated 
 than these. As to the few variations from 
 other w riters, if they cannot otherwise be recon- 
 ciled, a fair consideration of the probability, 
 which of them had the best means of informa- 
 tion, will, I believe, give a clear preference to 
 the sacred historian. But the scriptures are in 
 general found to be well supported by other 
 
u 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURE*. 
 
 authors; and, what is worthy of observation, 
 the completion of prophecies recorded in various 
 parts of holy writ, is confiimed by profane 
 historians of good credit, who, it must be ad- 
 mitted, could have no inducement to give any 
 unfair testimony in their favour.* 
 
 That some verbal difficulties should occur in 
 a collection of books, which were written from 
 more than one thousand seven hundred, to up- 
 wards of three thousand years ago, and which 
 contain a history of above four thousand years, 
 is what may reasonably be expected; but that 
 writings of such antiquity should come down to 
 us so perfect as they appear to be, is cause of 
 admiration ; and, considering their interesting 
 importance, of gratitude and praise. 
 
 Having, I hope, sufficiently obviated the most 
 plausible objectious, that are made against the 
 truth and credibility of the scriptures, the next 
 circumstance to be considered is their inspira- 
 tion ; by which I understand, that the writers or 
 compilers were influenced by the Holy Spirit 
 
 * For the truth of these assertions, see Grotius od the 
 Truth of the Christum Religion, 3 Sect. 14 and 16. New* 
 ton on the Prophecies, aod Prettyman on the Study of the 
 Bible. 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES* 
 
 fs 
 
 m communicating these writings. A considerable 
 part of them are given as expiess communica- 
 tions from tlie Almighty to his servants and 
 prophets : this, if we admit the trutli of the 
 relation, determines a large proportion of the 
 bible to be an immediate revelation, which is 
 more, as to the degree, than is necessarily im- 
 plied by the term inspiration. 
 
 Tlie reasons for considering these writings, 
 as being given under that divine influence which 
 is called inspiration, are the following: 
 
 1.— Tlie characters of tlie writers, all of 
 whom, that we can ascertain, were men, emi- 
 nently endowed with divine gifts ; and who 
 appear to have drawn up these waitings for the 
 use and edification of the church of God ; in 
 doing which we may reasonably conclude, that 
 his assistance would be sought for and afforded. 
 
 C— The character of Ezra, who, besides 
 being tlie writer of at least one book, collected 
 the various writings of the Old Testament, with 
 the exception of two or three books not then 
 written.* His character, gifts, and motives, all 
 
 ^ These are Nchemiah and Malachi, and perhaps Estlier, 
 witli part of Chronicles. They are generally supposed t* 
 httve been added by §imoD the Just. 
 
 C 
 
^s 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTUHES. 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURE*. 
 
 »t 
 
 lead us to the same conclusion as before ; with 
 this addition, that as the occasion, or the authors 
 of some part of these writings, are not clearly 
 ascertained, Ezra's compilation under divine 
 jnHuence, gives an additional sanction to these 
 "books. 
 
 3. 
 
 [.—The testimony of the apostle Paul, who 
 says, " All scripture is given by inspiration of 
 God, and * is profitable for doctrine," &c. 
 
 ♦ I am aware, that some persons endeavour to set aside 
 the force of 4his passage, by stating that one Greek manu- 
 script omits the x«»^ in English and^ and that some ancient 
 Versions have no word equivalent to it ; by which they 
 vould give a tlifferent meaning t« the passage. In answer 
 to this, it may be observed, 
 
 1. — That for one Greek manuscript which want« the xos 
 or and, there are great numbers which have it ; and that 
 one is neither so ancient, nor of so good credit as most of 
 the others, in the opinion of many critics. Now, to set all 
 other manuscripts aside, and prefer a single and less authen- 
 ticated reading, with two or three translations, which, 
 though they may be ancient, can by no means be consi- 
 dered of equal validity with so many copies is the original 
 tongue, would be an exercise of .criticism^ which nothing 
 but a partial predilection to a preconceived opinion wonid 
 adopt. Would these critics admit such arguments in fa- 
 Tonr of the authenticity of 1 John v. 7? 
 
 2. — The context requires a sense, which implies that the 
 apostle considered that all which he had just called the holy 
 ftcriptures were inspired. Ancient coKtmeatators, evejn 
 
 When we consider the opportunities and abili- 
 ties of the apostle, for judging in such a case 
 (to say nothing of his own inspiration) his testl- 
 
 those who have made use of the versions which have not the 
 and, still consider the passage as implying, that the whole 
 scripture was divinely inspired. So that supposing (what 
 however is not' admitted) that the xa» was not in the ori- 
 ginal, the sense is still the same. For the radre dear elu- 
 cidation of the subject; Tet us read the whole passage, as 
 these objectors would render it. " From a Child thoa 
 hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make 
 thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ 
 JesQS. All scripture (or every writing) given by Inspira- 
 tion of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
 rection, for instruction in righteousness : that the man of 
 God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
 vorks." Now every one that reads this passage impartially, 
 and considers the construction of the sentences correctly, 
 must, I appreliend, adrnft, that the holy scriptures, men- 
 tioned in the beginning of the paragraph, are included in 
 the general observations respecting " all scripture given by 
 inspiration," or tliat " all scripture given by inspiration," 
 only alluded to " the holy scriptures" mentioned just be- 
 fore. In either case the inference is clear, that the-scrip"* 
 tures of the Old Testament, which are all that were then 
 called the holy scriptures, were considered by the apostle 
 as divinely inspired ; and as answering to the character he 
 gives in tlie 16th verse. It may be further observed, that, 
 without the xa», the passage may be translated thus: *' all 
 (or the whole) scripture being divinely inspired, is profit- 
 able," &c. Even the Latin Vulgate, which is one of the 
 "Versions brought forward as favouring the omission of the 
 
ss 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES?. 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 29 
 
 mony appears to be an insurmountable argo- 
 ment in favour of those writings, concerning 
 which he made this declaration. 
 
 «nJ, will bear this rendering: " Omnis scriptnra, diviniUis 
 inspirata, utilis est/' &c. 
 
 3.— Tlie sense is, however, more clear and unequivocal, 
 hy the well supported reading of the word kx% or andf aa 
 giv«n iu our trauRlation. This lense contains the reason 
 ■why the holy scriptures were able to make Timothy wise 
 unto salvation; but supposing the meaning simply to be, 
 that all scripture which is divinely inspired, is profitable, 
 &c. without any connection with the preceding verse, the 
 position would become an unconnected truism ; as no doubt 
 fiould be entertained, that all scripture which was divinely 
 inspired, was thus profitable. Besides, this meaning would 
 leave Timothy, and every other re«ider, in uncertainty, 
 which part of the scripture was, and which was not in* 
 ypired : it offers no rule to distinguish them. But had this 
 been the apostle's meaning, there was a fair occasion, and 
 indeed a call upon him, to oflfer some means of distinction. 
 
 From all these considerations, I am induced to believe, 
 ll.at ihe conslrnctiuu given by our translalors. is support- 
 able, not only by nearly all tUe Greek manuscripts, but by 
 the just rules of criticism; and by every other reasonable 
 consideration of wliich the subject is capable. See this 
 matter farther cUscnsscd by Findlay, on the Inspiration of 
 the Jewish Scriptures, in answer to Dr. Geddes. 
 
 For the sake of some of my readers, it may be proper to 
 take notice of an objection, which has been made from 
 Robert Barclay havinji, in his apology, quoted the passage 
 without the and : " All seripUire given by inspiration of 
 
 4. — Although the latter arguments are appli- 
 cable only to the Old Testament ; yet the lirst 
 relates to both; and it is presumed, that none 
 but Jews, who acknowledge the inspiration of 
 the Old Testament, will deny it to the New. 
 The exception which the apostle Paul makes 
 in an instance or two, to his w riting by com- 
 mandment, is a proof of his writings at least 
 being divinely inspired^ 
 
 After giving these reasons, I shall proceed to^ 
 consider the principal objections to this inspira- 
 tion, which 1 apprehend to be,. 
 
 God is profitable," &c. In answer to this, it may he ol^ 
 8erved^ that Robert Barclay originally wrote and pub* 
 lished his apology in Latin, and I believe generally quoted 
 the texts of scripture from the Latin Vulgate, of which this 
 is a translation. Even supposing him to have preferred 
 this rendering, yet, if we may judge from what he has writ- 
 ten on the srripturefl, there is no reason to believe, he 
 doubted the inspiration of any part of them. He begins 
 his Thesis on the Scriptures thus: " From these revelations 
 of the spirit of GoJ to the saints, have proceeded the 
 Scriptures of truth ;" and this he applies to the historical, as 
 well as the prophetical, doctrinal, and exhortat(u-y parts of 
 the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 It is hoped that the importance of the subject of this 
 note, will excuse its length. To have incorporated it in> 
 the body of the work, would not have been so suitablti for 
 many readers. 
 
 c 5 
 
 II 
 
■3<J 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURE^. 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 n 
 
 1. — ^That some of the matters related, are of 
 too trivial a nature, to be the subjects of divine 
 inspiration. 
 
 2. — That some others appear so inconsistent 
 :ivith the nature of the Divine Being, as to ren- 
 der it altogether improbable, that he ever war* 
 ranted what is there expressed. 
 
 With respect to the first objection, I believe 
 Ave are by no means competent judges. The 
 Old Testament, to which this objection may be 
 principally made, was not primarily written for 
 us of the present day ; but for a people, who 
 liad many pecidiar customs and ceremonies, 
 and to whom many things might be nnportant, 
 that to us may appear of a triHing nature. Nor 
 is it improbable, that much of what these ob- 
 jectors consider as trifling, may to others of 
 their contemporaries, be both important and 
 instructive. Tlie pious and humble mind will 
 often derive instruction from many of the works 
 of Divine Providence, which may Jbe over- 
 looked by the vain and fastidious, as not worthy 
 of their notice. 
 
 Tlie second objection, it is apprehended, is 
 meant principally to apply to those passages 'm 
 
 the Old Testament, where the Almighty is re- 
 presented as authorising the destruction of man 
 by man. This is an objection not only to the 
 inspiration, but to the truth of the scriptures ; 
 and though it appears to be the strong hold of 
 the enemies of the bible, it is by no means im* 
 pregnable. It has, indeed, been often attacked 
 and reduced ; but such is their fondness for it, 
 that they are continually rebuilding and resort- 
 
 nig to It. 
 
 In replying to this objection, it may be pro- 
 per, first, to consider the command of God to 
 Abraham, to offer up his son Isaac, which has 
 been much insisted on, as favouring human 
 sacrifices, and as an argument agamst the scrip- 
 tures. It stands recorded as a trial of Abra- 
 ham's faith; and as, after his iuii resignation, 
 his hand was stayed from the pertormance of 
 the act ; I am at a loss to conceive what infe- 
 rence can be drawn from this circumstance, 
 derogatory to the character of the Divine 
 Being, or of those writings which represent him 
 as putting the righteous patriarch's love and 
 obedience to this great trial. Had the sacrifice 
 
 I 
 
 been actually made, the objection to it might 
 have had more appearance of validity; but as 
 the case is represented; and no doubt rightly 
 
$^ ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES^ 
 
 represented, it appears to afford aii argument 
 against, rather than foi*, human sacrifices. Tlie 
 conduct of Abraham is mentioned, both in the 
 Old and the New Testament, with the most 
 marked approbation ; and it has obtained for 
 the obedient patriarch the distinguished charac- 
 ter of " the friend of God." * 
 
 The command given to the Israelites, to make 
 war on the Canaanites, and to destroy them, is 
 an objection, which, it is difficult to conceive, 
 can be seriously urged by those who consider 
 war to be lawful, even under the Christian dis* 
 penaation. War is generally allowed to be one 
 of those judgments, by which Divine Providence 
 hulh often afflicted a guilty nation; and, in the 
 instances on which the objection is founded, 
 this appears to have been remarkably the case. 
 Tliey were indeed judgments which had been 
 mercifully protracted. Thiw we read, that tlie 
 possession of the promised land by Abraham, 
 ©r his posterity, was deferred for several genera- 
 tions, because " the iniquity of the Amorites 
 was not yet full ;"t although there is reason to 
 believe from this expression, as well as from 
 other circumstances, tliat their sins were then 
 very great. This is farther elucidated by the 
 • James ii. 20, t Gen, xv. 16, 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 3^ 
 
 command given to the Israelites, to abstain front 
 many evil practices, (some of them of the 
 grossest kind) of which the nations whom they 
 w^ere to expel, were guilty. These Moses 
 plainly mentions as the cause of their expulsion ; 
 warning the Israelites at the same time against 
 similar conduct, which would produce similar 
 judgments. " Defile not ye yourselves in any 
 of these things ; for in all these things the na- 
 tions are defiled, which I cast out before you. 
 And the land is defiled ; therefore I do visit the 
 iniquity thereof upon it ; and the land itself 
 vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall there- 
 fore keep my statutes and my judgments, and 
 shall not commit any of these abominations; 
 that the land spue not you out also, when ye 
 defile it, as it spued out the nations that were 
 before you."* 
 
 This subject is also placed in a clear and 
 forcible point of view by the remonstrance of 
 Moses, as related in the ninth chapter of Deu- 
 teronomy; where, after cautioning the people 
 against any presumptuous conceits of their own 
 merits, he expres^sly says to them: " Not for 
 tliy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thy 
 
 • Lev. xviii. 24. 
 
S4 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 «rN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 3i» 
 
 «t 
 
 heart, dost thou go to possess the land ; but for 
 the wickedness of tliese nations, doth tlie Lord 
 tliy God drive tliem out before thee."* 
 
 The case of Agag has also been brought foe- 
 ward to support the objection, \vhich we have 
 now under consideration v but in this instance 
 we have again a cause assigned for the judg^ 
 ment executed: "As thy sword hath made 
 women childless, so shall thy mother be childr 
 less among women."t From this expression 
 there is reason to suppose, that Agag had beea 
 remarkable for his violence and cruelty, which 
 brought this judgment justly upon him. 
 
 It has been alleged, that these pretensions to 
 Divine commands were only a cloak for ambt- 
 tion and cruelty. But this cannot reasonably 
 be supposed to be the case, when it is consi-^ 
 dered that thase judgments were not confined to 
 the heathen nations; but that similar ones were 
 also threatened and executed upon the Israelites 
 themselves. Although they were a people dis- 
 tinguished by many peculiar favours ; yet, when 
 they departed from the law and commandment 
 of their God, and degenerated into idolatry and 
 
 * Dcat. ix. 5. 
 
 t \ Sam. xvi. 33. 
 
 'S\ickedness, they became the subjects of divine, 
 retribution. Thus the prophet Isaiah expostu- 
 lates with them : " Who gave Jacob for a spoil, 
 and Israel to the robbei' ? Did not the Lord, he 
 against whom we have sinned ? For they would 
 not walk in his ways, neither were they obedi- 
 ent to his law; therefore he hath poured upon 
 him the fury of his anger, and the strength of 
 battle/'* Even Moses, their leader in these 
 supposed schemes of ambition, denounced, iu 
 the most ample manner, the judgments, whicli 
 would be the consequence of their disobedience 
 to the law of their God.— See Lev. xxvi. 14, &c, 
 Deut. xxviii. 15, &c. 
 
 When we consider (he peculiar humility and 
 disinterestedness of Moses, in refusing to be 
 called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; in the 
 great reluctance with which he accepted the 
 government of the Israelites ; in preferring their 
 forgiveness and preservation to his own aggran- 
 disement, or that of his family ; and in the singu- 
 lar liberality which he manifested when Eldad 
 and Medad were complained of, for prophesying 
 itt the camp ; when these circumstances are con- 
 sidered, there seems no ground whatever to 
 
 ■• Isaiah xlii, 2*. 
 
'.6 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES^ 
 
 suspect Moses of either ambition or cruelty; 
 \ve perceive, on the contrary, the propriety of 
 the distinguished character given of him, most 
 probably by some pious transcriber of the Pen- 
 tateuch : " Now ihe man Moses was very 
 meek, above all the men which lived ou the 
 face of the earth."* 
 
 In considerius the various circumstances 
 connected widi this su Inject, there appears to 
 be abundant cause to acknowledge that the 
 Lord's w ays are equal, and that those judgments 
 upon the Canaanites were not the exercise of a 
 capricious severity ; but administered under cir- 
 cumstances, which perfectly reconcile them to 
 those principles of justice and mercy, which 
 we consider among the most distinguished attri- 
 butes of the Deity. And though, in many 
 instances, the innocent may seem to suffer 
 equally with the guilty, yet this is no more than 
 is generally the case in other public calamities. 
 Even in those most remarkable ones, the uni- 
 versal deluge, and the destruction of Sodom 
 and Gomorrah, many innocent children must 
 liave suffered with their guilty parents. Ih 
 v^nsidering these cases, we should remember^ 
 
 * lumbers xU. 3, 
 
 dX THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 37 
 
 iTiat whatever public afflictions may be directed 
 for the punishment of nations, it is in a future 
 life that the grand distinction is made between 
 individuals; when " God will render to every 
 *nau according to his deeds." * 
 
 If some of those, who, with myself, consider 
 war altogether inconsistent with the Christiaa 
 dispensation, should ai^gue from the unchange.* 
 ableness of the Divine nature, that the Almighty 
 could not allow of, or enjoin practices, in one 
 age, which are inconsistent in another ; it may 
 and ought to be observed, that, in his dispensa- 
 tions to mankind, great variety is evident ; and 
 many things which were not only allowed, but 
 commanded, in former times, and under different 
 circumstances, would now be improper. 
 
 It also appears, that when our blessed Lord 
 «et forth the peaceablenes of the gospel dispen- 
 sation, he showed that a contrary conduct had 
 been more than permitted in former times; and 
 unless we intend to controvert the propriety of 
 the manner, in which the Author of the Chris- 
 tian religion propagated it, we must allow, that 
 ^here have bc^ times, in which divers things 
 
 » Rom. ii. 6. 
 
.3ft 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES^ 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 s§ 
 
 : i 
 y 
 
 were lawful that are now unlawful ; and tbus wo. 
 may reconcile the consistency of the Jewish wars 
 with the divine will. " Ye have heard that it hath 
 been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a 
 tooth; but I say unto you, resist not evil,^ 
 Again, " Ye have heard that it hath been said, 
 thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine 
 enemy;* but I say unto you, love your enemies," 
 &€.*' Now, when we .consider the expressions 
 just cited, and observe the obvious difference 
 they make between tbe dispensations of the law 
 and of the gospel ; we may find abundant reason 
 to believe, that it was not inconsistent with the 
 Divine nature and will, to command those things 
 -which are related respecting th^ wars of the 
 Jews. 
 
 If any credibility is due to the wrifmgs off 
 Moses, and they have all the claim to credibility 
 which writings of that antiquity well can have ; 
 it is evident that those wars v^iece commanded 
 by the Almighty. And when we consider, that 
 we have no less suppojt for the authority of 
 Moses than our Lord himself; that he and his 
 
 • Tlie words " bate tbine enemy," do not appear in the 
 Old Testament; perhaps they were added by the scribes 
 as a -Iv.ss; howpver, onr Lord, by his recital, acknowledges 
 them as not iaconsisteai with Uiefwmer dispeasation» 
 
 apostles mention him with evidient tokens of 
 their considering him divinely directed; we 
 must, in denying the authority of Moses, also 
 deny that of Christ and his apostles. A conse- 
 quence, from the idea of which every Christian 
 must revolt* 
 
 Let us, therefore, be content with that evi- 
 dence of the divine will which is afforded us ; 
 and rather than impugn the former dispensa- 
 tions of God to mankind, be thankful to him 
 for having introduced one so much more excel- 
 lent, in which " Glory to God in the highest," 
 is peculiarly united with " Peace on earth, and 
 good will to men." 
 
 But whilst I have been endeavouring to re- 
 move these objections, I have regretted that 
 there should be any necessity thus to " justify 
 the ways of God to men," as recorded in holy 
 writ, and to endeavom* to support the cause of 
 that Omnipotent Being, whose prerogative alone 
 it is, " that he giveth no account of any of his 
 matters." He has, notwithstanding, as far as 
 different circumstances will permit, conde- 
 scended to adapt his dispensations towards 
 mankind, to those principles of wisdom, justice^ 
 
 D 3 
 
w 
 
 ON ^IJE IIOIV SCRIPTURES* 
 
 and mercv, wliich are the rules of our conduct 
 towards each other. If, in some instances, we 
 cannot perceive this consistency, tlie infinite 
 dispaiity between the Divine Being and his 
 creature man, might reasonably induce us to 
 expect difficulties of this kind ; and surely the 
 ivisdom, no more than the faith, of those is to 
 be admired, who reject every thing respecting 
 au Infinite Being, that does not comport witli 
 their finite capacities. " Canst thou, by search- 
 ing, find out God ? Canst thou find out the 
 Almighty to perfection ? It is as high as heaven ; 
 what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what 
 canst thou know ? The measure thereof is longer 
 than the earth, and broader than the sea. If he 
 cut off, and shut up, and gather together, then 
 who can hinder himr"* 
 
 But in admitting the holy scriptures, to have 
 been communicated to us under Divine in- 
 fluence or inspiration, it is not necessary to 
 consider all that is related hi them, concerning 
 even those whose general conduct might entitle 
 them to the character of good men, as intended 
 for our imitation. In many instances, indeed, 
 their conduct is very properly and unpartiully 
 
 * Job xi. 7, 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 41 
 
 censured; and this impartiality constitutes one 
 of the many excellencies of tlie bible. But 
 there are also circumstances simply related, 
 without any comment, which it is by no means 
 requisite to consider as related with appro ba^^ 
 tion, or authorising a similar conduct in us. A 
 close and critical examination of some of these 
 cases, would probably remove much of the 
 impression which a slighter consideration may 
 have sometimes produced. At any rate, neither 
 the sacred historian, nor that inspiration under 
 which he is supposed to write, is chargeable 
 with such circumstances. — Here, however, we 
 have again occasion for the exercise of our 
 gratitude, in that it has pleased Divine Provi- 
 dence to give us an existence under a dispensa- 
 tion, which requires singular degrees of purity 
 and uprightness of conduct ; and which exceeds 
 all former ones in the excellence of its morality, 
 as well as in the peculiar peaceableness of its 
 principles, and the spirituality of its worship* 
 
 Great judgment is also necessary in applying 
 the scriptures to the support of religious doc- 
 trines and observances. These have been, I ap- 
 prehend, sometimes adopted from what may be 
 Hither incidentally mentioned; tb^ inculcated; 
 
 P 3 
 
43 
 
 ON I'HE IIOLY SCRIPTURrS* 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 4^ 
 
 f 
 
 111 considering the scriptures, and endeavouring 
 to build systems upon them, it requires great 
 care to distinguish those things which are uni- 
 versal and essential, from such as are only of a 
 temporary or local nature. For want of an at- 
 tention of this kind, many unproHtable disputes, 
 (to say no worse of them) have arisen among 
 the professors of Christianity; and much un- 
 necessary stress has been laid on things which tha 
 Christian religion does not enjoin or require. 
 
 Highly however as those writings are to bo 
 -valued, and highly indeed we do esteem them, 
 tliere is not only a possibility, but a danger of 
 placing too much dependence upon them, by 
 preferring them to that Divine Spirit from, 
 inhich they proceed, to which they direct our 
 attention, and by which only they can be rightly, 
 opened to our understandings, llius the Jews- 
 in the days of our blessed Saviour's personal 
 appearance on earth, paid great attention to the; 
 scriptures; and at the same time did not believe 
 in Him, " of whom Mosesin the law, and the 
 prophets did write." On tliis account our Lord 
 jeproves them in this manner: " Search (or, ye 
 search) the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye 
 ka\e eternal life 5 and they are they which testify 
 
 of me ; and ye will not come unto me, that yc 
 might have life." Now, that from which the 
 scriptures proceeded, and to which they amply 
 bear witness as the means of salvation, is what 
 "we apprehend there is a danger of neglecting ; 
 and thereby of dwelling upon the letter, without 
 a proper regard to the Spirit; a danger against 
 "wh^ch the scriptures themselves contain many 
 salutary cautions. 
 
 There is also a name by which the holy 
 scriptures are frequently distinguished, which 
 appears to be, in divers respects, exceptionable, 
 namely, ** The Word of God." This is an ap- 
 pellation which is otherwise applied in those 
 writings; and it tends to create a confusion of 
 ideas, unnecessarily to denominate several sub- 
 jects by the same name. Christ is called, 
 " Tlie Word of God."* The term f is also 
 applied to that holy principle or spirit, by which 
 he carries on the work of salvation in the hearts 
 of true Christians; and frequently to the preach- 
 ing of the gospel; but by applying it to the 
 sacred writhigs, a misapplication of passages in 
 them is frequently occasioned. That these writ- 
 ings contain the words of God, we readily ad^^ 
 
 • John i. 1, &c. Rev. xix. 13. 
 t Heb, iv. 12i 1 Pet, i. 23-, X John ii. l4 
 
u 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 If. 
 
 mit; but we think it safest, as well as most 
 proper, to designate them by that appellation, 
 by which the apostle Paul has distinguished 
 them; and by way of priority to all other writ- 
 ings, to style them, The Holy Scriptures. 
 Concerning these writings we believe with this 
 apostle, that they were " given by inspiration of 
 God; and are profitable for doctrine, for re- 
 proof, for correction, for instruction in rigK* 
 teousness; that the man of God may be perfect 
 thoroughly furnished unto all good works."* 
 
 •«TilD,iii.l^, 
 
 CIIJP. IIL 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 The Fall of Man and the Promise of a Redeemer.'^ 
 Different modes of divine communication to Man.-^ 
 Prospects and prophecies of the Gospel Dai/. — Christ 
 comes among the Jews.'-^The benrfits of his coming 
 designed to be unit ersal, '^Objects of his coming re- 
 capitulated. -^Christian redemption a work of love.-^ 
 Divinity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit, — On the 
 Trinity — Justification — Resvrrection — Arguments 
 and Evidences of Christianity .^^The true and perfect 
 Christian. 
 
 JrJlAVING vindicated the truth and divine 
 authority of the Scriptures, we next proceed to 
 consider the most important doctrines of the 
 Christian religion. 
 
 Man having, by disobedience to the divine 
 command, lost that state of innocence and purity 
 in whicli he was originally created ; and having 
 thereby subjected himself and his offspring to 
 sin and misery ; it pleased his gracious and mer- 
 ciful Creator, in the riches of his love, early to 
 point out, and to promise a Redeemer. This 
 vas done at the very time when sentence was 
 
4G 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, 
 
 «fN THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 4t 
 
 pronounced on our first parents for their trans- 
 gression; for then their tempter and seduced 
 received this judgment : " I will put enmity be- 
 tween thee and the woman ; and between thy 
 seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and 
 thou shalt bruise his hee^."* 
 
 But notwithstanding the promise was thus^ 
 early made, many ages elapsed before it pleased 
 God completely to fulfil it: during which time, 
 however, he did not leave mankind wholly, to 
 themselves ; but, by the ministration of angels, 
 by that holy Spirit which w as more plentifully to 
 be poured forth in the Christian dispensation, 
 and by other means, he communicated his will 
 to the children of men; striving with and re- 
 proving the ungodly because of their iniquities 
 as well as exhorting and comforting the righteous 
 under those trials, unto \\'hich this probationary 
 state, and in some instances, the love and the 
 fear of their God, rendered them liable. Typi- 
 cal offerings and sacrifices for sin were alsa 
 established, in allusion to that one offering, by 
 which " he hath now perfected for ever them 
 that are sanctified. "-f 
 
 Among other sources of consolation, was the 
 prospect, which was at times given to the patrL- 
 * Gen. iii. 15^ t Heb. x. 14, 
 
 arohs and prophets, of the day of Christ, and of 
 the excellence of his dispensation; concerning 
 iivhich we have many predictions left upoa 
 record, abundantly setting forth those advan- 
 tages which were designed to mankind by him, 
 whom we have represented to us as the Sent of 
 tiie Father. By these prophecies, as well as by 
 the types of the Mosaic law, the nunds of many 
 were gradually prepared for the reception of 
 the promised Messiah ; and many there appear 
 to have been, wlio, with Simeon and Anna, 
 ** waited for the consolation of Israel, and look- 
 .ed for redemption in Jerusalem,"* by the com- 
 ing of him, who was peculiarly prophesied of 
 ^ " a light to lighten the gentiles," as well as 
 for ** the glory of his people Israel." 
 
 Thus, *' when the fulness of the time was 
 come, God sent forth his Son, made of a wo- 
 man, made under the law, to redeem them that 
 were under the law,"t from those ceremonious 
 observances, which were designed to be as a 
 " schoolmaster to bring them to Christ." j: Yet 
 the great object of Christ's coming was by no 
 means confined to the Jewish people ; amongst 
 
 • Luk€ ii. 25, 38. 
 
 t Isaiah xlii. 6. Luke ii. 32. Gal. iv. 4. 
 
 ; Gal. iii. 21. 
 
<% 
 
 43 
 
 ON' THE CHRISTIAN RELIGIOJTi 
 
 whom, and by whom, he suffered that igno-* 
 minious death, by which it hath pleased God 
 (and surely it ought to suffice us, that it has 
 thus pleased liim) " to reconcile all things to 
 himself."* 
 
 Tlie evangelical prophet, above seven hun- 
 dred years before our Saviour's personal ap- 
 pearance on earth, speaking in the name of the 
 Almighty, declares, " It is a light thing, that 
 thou shouldst be my servant, to raise up the 
 tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of 
 Israel : I will also give thee for a light to the 
 Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto 
 the end of the earth."t Consonant with this 
 gracious' prediction, are these declarations of 
 the apostle John, " In him was life; and the 
 life was the light of men.'^ " That was the 
 true light, which lighteth every man that cometh 
 into the w orld.":j: " He is the propitiation for 
 our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the 
 sins of the whole world. "§ Many are the pro- 
 phecies concerning the univei'sal extent of the 
 benefits of Christ's coming, the accomplishment 
 of which is fully borne witness to by the writers 
 of the Is'ew Testament. This is particularly 
 
 ♦ Cei, i. 20, t Isaiah xlix. 6. * John i. 4, 9, 
 
 i 1 Joha ii. ?• 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN BELIGION. 
 
 49 
 
 and frequently done by Paul, who, being in an 
 especial manner the apostle of tlie Gentiles, has 
 abundantly set forth, " that the Gentiles should 
 be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and par- 
 takers of the promise in Christ Jesus by the 
 Gospel.*'* Thus was broken down that parti- 
 tion wall, which formerly existed between Jews 
 nnd Gentiles ; all were united in one common 
 cause; and all had an equal interest in him, 
 witli whom " there is neither Greek nor Jew ; 
 circumcision nor uncircumcision ; barbarian, 
 Scythian, bond nor free ; male nor female ; but 
 Christ is all, and in all; and all are one ia 
 Christ.^'t 
 
 From what has already been expressed, it 
 appears evident, that the love of God, in send- 
 ing his Son into the world, was not limited txj 
 any part of it ; but that the benefits were de- 
 signed to extend as far as the effects -of Adam's 
 transgression. This the apostle shows in the 
 5th chapter of the epistle to the Romans; and 
 itti another epistle, speaking of the resurrection 
 of the dead, be asserts, that, " as in Adam all 
 die, even so ia Qirist shall all be made alive." ;{: 
 It affojds one of the most encouraging consi- 
 
 * Ephcs. iii, 6. t Col. iii. ii. Gal, iii. 28. 
 
 t X Cor. XT. 22. 
 
 £ 
 
50 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 51 
 
 m 
 
 ^ 
 
 derations, that these benefits are thus unlimited; 
 and that, through the propitiatory sacrifice of 
 our blessed Redeemer; and by that Spirit, the 
 more plentiful effusion of \^hich he hath pur- 
 chased for mankind; the advantages resulting 
 from his death may be received, even by those, 
 Avhose situation may deprive them of the oppor- 
 tunity of an external knowledge of die truths of 
 the gospel. 
 
 Unless we admit this, we shall greatly con- 
 tract the benefits of Christ's coming. He 
 " tasted death for every man."* His " light 
 lighteth every man that cometh into the world."t 
 And, although the outward knowledge of these 
 «yospel truths may be withheld from many, yet 
 their operation is not therefore necessarily frus- 
 trated. How many partake of favours of which 
 they cannot trace the cause ! He, who is not 
 willin<y that any should perish, has doubtless 
 provided means by which this state of perdition 
 mav be avoided, even by those to whom his 
 providence, has not afi'orded opportunities to 
 obtain a historical knowledge of the truths of 
 Christianity. Tliose, however, who are in pos- 
 session of this knowledge, cannot be too thank- 
 ful for it; in that they are enabled to draw nigh 
 » Heb. ii. 9. t John i. 9. 
 
 r 
 
 onto God w ith more full assurance of faith ; 
 and, confiding in their blessed Redeemer, are 
 encouraged, under their various conflicts and 
 exercises, to look unto him who is " touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities,"* and " is 
 able to succour those that are tcmpted.^f 
 
 The Christian religion then teaches, that our 
 first parents having sinned, and lost the divine 
 image, the fallen nature became so predominant, 
 that it was by them transferred to their offspring : 
 but in order that man might be restored to fa- 
 vour, and to a state of purity, it pleased the 
 Almighty to promise and send a Redeemer, 
 whose sacrifice of himself he saw meet to ac- 
 cept, as the means of reconciliation and forgive- 
 ness of sins ; hereby putting an end to all those 
 sacrifices, which, from the fall, or very soon 
 after, to the time- when Christ thus offered up 
 himself, had been adopted as the means of ob- 
 taining acceptance with God. And although 
 we cannot trace this practice to a divine com- 
 mand, earlier than the time«pf Moses; yet the 
 universal adoption of it by the religious of all 
 ages, is a strong implication that it was of divine 
 origin, instituted in reference to that " one of- 
 
 * Heb. iv. Ij. t Ueb. ii. 18. 
 
 E 2 
 
I.i 
 
 6' 
 
 52 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 ftring, by which God hath perfected for eveK- 
 them that are sanctified."* 
 
 Thus, the chief objects of the coming of 
 Christ, evidently appear to have been, first, by 
 the sacrifice of himself, to make atonement to 
 God for us, and to become the Mediator be- 
 tween God and man. Secondly, by the sancti- 
 lying operation of the holy Spirit, " to finish 
 transgression, and to make an end of sins, and 
 to bring in everlasting righteousness.''t And 
 thirdly, by putting an end to the legal dispensa- 
 tion, and, as the apostle expresses it, " blotting 
 out the hand writing of ordinances that was 
 against us,"i to lead mankind to a more pure 
 and spiritual worship of the Divine Being. 
 
 It also appears that the Christian redemption 
 is throughout a work of love. « God so loved 
 the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 
 that whosoever believeth in him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life.'*^ In this point 
 of view, we contemplate this interesting and 
 important subject; and not as the effect of im- 
 placable wrath, as some represent it. Christ 
 was and is the gift of God. Thus the holy 
 
 • Heb. X. 14. t Dan. ix. 24. $ Col. ii. 14. 
 
 $ John Ui. 16« 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 53 
 
 scriptures represent the subject to us ; and 
 surely, the greater the gift, the greater the lovC, 
 " God commendeth his love towards us, in that, 
 while w€ were yet sinners, Christ died for us."* 
 lie co-operated with the Father in diis gracious 
 desit'n ; and though he was of the same divine 
 nature, he condescended to take upon him our 
 human nature, and " was made flesh and dwelt 
 among us,t until he had by his life, and by his 
 death, as man, completed the work tliat was 
 given him to do; after which he ascended to 
 that glory, which he had with the Father before 
 the world began. 
 
 Here we are led to consider the Divinity of 
 our blessed Saviour, in which we, as a people, 
 do most surely believe; but as every thing re- 
 lating to the Divine Being, which is not ex- 
 pressly revealed, is far above the reach of human 
 comprehension, we are desirous of avoiding all 
 such particular disquisitions, as lead beyond the 
 clear expression of holy writi We can indeed 
 say on this, as on every other occasion, that we 
 believe all that the scriptures have spoken and 
 inculcated : we believe that the evangelist w as 
 clearly speaking of Jesus Christ, and of his 
 Divinity or Godhead, when he said, " In die 
 * Rom. V. 8. t John i. 14. 
 
[I 
 
 54 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 beginning was the Word, and the Word was 
 ^vith God, and tlie Word was God. The 
 •same was in the beginning with God. All 
 things were made by him, and without him 
 tvas not any thing made that was made. In 
 him was life, and the Hfe was the light of 
 men."* *' And the Word was made flesh and 
 dwelt among us."t Here we have a clear and 
 full testimony both to the Divinity and the hu- 
 manity of Qirist ; and we have ever since we 
 were a people, borne testimony to this scripture 
 doctrine. 
 
 We likewise believe in the divinity of the 
 Holy Spirit, which is frequently united in scrip- 
 ture with the Father and with the Son; and 
 Nvhose office, in the instruction and salvation of 
 mankind, is set forth in divers passages of holy 
 writ. See Matt, xxviii. 19- John xr. 26- 
 Acts xxviii. 25. Heb. ix. U. 
 
 This belief in the Divinity of the Father, the 
 Son, and the Holy Spirit, irKiuced some of the 
 teachers in the Christian church, about three 
 hundred years after the personal appearance of 
 Christ, to form a doctrine, to which they gave 
 the name of Trinity ; but in our writings, we 
 •Johni, lto4. t Ibid. 14. 
 
 '?il 
 
 ©N THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 55 
 
 seldom make use of this term, thinking it best, 
 on such a subject, to keep to scriptural expres- 
 sions, and to avoid those disputes which have 
 since perplexed the Christian world, and led 
 into speculations beyond the power of human 
 abilities to decide. If we consider that we our- 
 selves are composed of a union of " spirit, and 
 soul and body,"* and yet cannot determine how 
 even these are united ; how much less may we 
 expect perfect clearness on a subject, so %r above 
 our finite comprehension, as that of me divine 
 nature. 
 
 After expressing our sentiments on what is 
 called the Trinity, it will be proper to explain 
 our views of the doctrine of justification, con- 
 cerning which so much diversity of sentiment 
 prevails ; some imputing it wholly to faith, and 
 others principally, if not wholly, to works. 
 
 So far as remission of sins, and a capacity to 
 receive salvation, are parts of justification, we 
 attribute it to the sacrifice of Christ; " in whom 
 we have redemption through his blood, the for- 
 giveness of sins, according to the riches of his 
 grace. "t But when we consider justification 
 us a state of divine favour and acceptance, we 
 
 • 1 Thew. V. S3. 
 
 1 Eph. i, 7, 
 
56 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 ascribe it, not simply either to faith or works, 
 but to the sanctifying operation of the spirit of 
 Christ, from which living faith and acceptable 
 works alone proceed; and by which we may 
 come to knaw, that " the Spirit itself beareth- 
 witness with our spirits, that we are the chil- 
 dren of God."* 
 
 In attributing our justification, through the 
 grace of Gfd in Christ Jesus, to the operation 
 of the lloly Spirit, which sanctities the heart, 
 and produces the work of regeneration, we are 
 supported by the testimony of the apostle Paul, 
 who says : " ^ot by works of righteousness 
 which we have done, but of his mercy he saved 
 us, by the washing of regeneration, and renew- 
 ing of the Holy Ghost."f Again, " But ye are 
 washed, bu^ ye are sanctified, but ye are justi- 
 fied, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by die 
 Spirit of our God.".]: 
 
 By this view of the doctrine of justification, 
 we conceive the apparently different sentiments 
 of the apostles Paul and James are reconciled. 
 Keidier of them say, that faith alone, or works 
 alone, are the cause of our being justified; but 
 as one of them asserts the necessity of faith, 
 
 • Rom. viii. 16. t Titua iii. 5.^ ^1 Cor. y'u iX~ 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 57 
 
 gnd the other of works, for effecting this great 
 object, a clear and convincing proof is afforded 
 that both contribute to our justification; and 
 that faith without works, and works without 
 faith, are equally dead. 
 
 The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, 
 is so connected with the Christian religion, that 
 it will be also proper to say something on this 
 subject. In explaining our belief of this doc- 
 trine, we refer to the xvth chapter of the 1st 
 Epistle to the Corinthians. In this chapter isr 
 clearly laid down the resurrection of a body, 
 though not of the same body that dies. " There 
 are celestial bodies, and there are bodies terres- 
 trial ; but the jjlorv of the celestial is one, and 
 the glory of the terrestrial is another.— So also 
 is the resurrection of the dead. — It is sown a 
 natural body, it is raised a spiritual body : there 
 is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 
 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood 
 cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither 
 doth corruption inherit incorruption."* Here 
 we rest our belief in this " mystery," without 
 desiring to pry into it beyond what is revealed 
 to us ; remembering, that " secret things belong 
 
 • 1 Cor. XV. 40, 42, 44, 50, 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
58 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 unto the Lord our God; but those things which 
 are revealed, belong unto us and to our chil- 
 dr 
 
 ren. 
 
 Many are the arguments and evidences which 
 mij^ht be brought forward in favour of the 
 Christian religion ; but none appears to be more 
 forcible, than the purity of that morality which 
 is inculcated by it; and which is most effectually 
 adapted to^e promotion of the happiness of 
 mankind in this world, as well as in that which 
 is to come. A just test of principles, as well 
 as of men, was laid down by our Saviour in 
 these words : '* By their fruits ye shall know 
 them."f It is the conduct to which principles 
 lead, by which we are to judge of their recti- 
 tude ; rather than by the actions of men, who 
 may profess these principles, but whose weak- 
 ness may often cause a violation of them. Now, 
 to apply this test to Christ and his religion, let 
 us first attend to that angelic song, with which 
 his birth was introduced into the world: " Glory 
 to God in the highest, and on earth peace; 
 good will towards men."J Next, let us consider 
 how his precepts and his example corresponded 
 with it. Read that most excellent sermon on 
 
 • Deut. xxix. 29. t Malt. vii. 20. t L"ke ii. 14. 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 59 
 
 the mount ; look at the example he has left us, 
 under all the temptations and trials which, for 
 our sakes, were permitted to assail him. With 
 what firmness did he reprove the vices and 
 hypocrisy of the Jews! With what meekness did 
 lie bear their insults and persecutions ! Truly, 
 indeed, was it foretold of him ; " He is brought 
 as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before 
 lier shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his 
 mouth."* And when this people had executed 
 upon him all that their malice could devise, he, 
 consistently with the precepts which he had in- 
 culcated, in return for all their injuries, put up 
 this most affecting prayer ; " Father ! forgive 
 them; they know not what they do."t 
 
 But this example and these precepts were 
 not confined to our holy head and high priest. 
 In that part of conduct which is the most diffi- 
 cult for human nature, the forgiveness of inju- 
 ries, we find the proto-martyr, Stephen, fol- 
 lowed his Lord's example; and, when expiring 
 under the cruelties of the same people, thus 
 poured out his soul unto God: " Lord! lay not 
 this sin to their charge."J What other religion 
 
 • Isaiah llii. 7.— Tliis whole chapter is a remarkable pre- 
 diction of the coming and sufferings of Christ. 
 t Luke xxiii. 34. t Acts vii. 60. 
 
60 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 ►N THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION'. 
 
 61 
 
 
 is there> that inculcates a conduct like this! that 
 teaches not only to forgive injuries, but even to 
 pray for those that are the cause of them! 
 Precepts which alone give a decided preference 
 to Christianity, above all other religions in the 
 world. 
 
 Let us next look into those epistles, which 
 the apostles addressed to the Christian converts, 
 both among the Jews and Gentiles ; and there 
 we shall again find, in addition to the doctrinal 
 part of Christianity, such a spirit of pure mo- 
 rality and true love, so uniformly inculcated, 
 and the duties of every station in life taught 
 with so much simplicity and energy, as to ren- 
 der the reading of them pleasing and instructive ; 
 and at the same time gaining the assent of our 
 judgment, however remote from them our prac- 
 tice may frequently be. ^Die following extract 
 from the Epistle to the Romans is brought for- 
 ward, not because it contains matter superior 
 to many other parts of the epistles ; but because 
 of the conciseness, the simplicity, and the energy, 
 with which the iniportant precepts are con- 
 veyed: ** Let love be without dissimulation. 
 Abhor that which is evil ; cleave to that which 
 is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another 
 with brotherly love ; in honour preferring one 
 
 another; not slothful in business; fervent in 
 spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; 
 patient in tribulation ; continuing instant in 
 prayer; distributing to the necessities of the 
 saints ; given to hospitality. Bless them which 
 persecute you: bless and curse not. Rejoice 
 with them that do rejoice ; and weep with them 
 that weep. Be of the same mind one towards 
 another. Mind not high things, but conde- 
 scend to men of low estate. Be not wise ia 
 your own conceits. Recompence to no man 
 evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight 
 of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth 
 in you, live peaceably with all men."*—" Be 
 not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with 
 good."+ 
 
 It may not be necessary to enter much into 
 those arguments, which the miracles performed 
 by Christ and his apostles, afford for the truth 
 of the Christian religion. If what is advanced 
 in favour of the truth and credibility of the holy 
 scriptures, be admitted, these arguments nmst 
 unavoidably strike every considerate and impar- 
 tial, mind with irresistible force. It may, how- 
 ever, be proper to observe, that the credibility 
 of these accounts, so far at least as they relate 
 
 ♦ Rom. xii, 9 to 18. 
 
 t lb. xii. 21. 
 
63 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 to our blessed Saviour, receives great additional 
 force, by being confirnned in many parts, by 
 four different testimonies, whose distinct con- 
 curring evidence affords no small confirmation 
 of the. truth of their relations. This confirma- 
 tion is rather increased than lessened, by the 
 slight variations which sometimes appear; for, 
 by these variations, no suspicion can reasonably 
 be fixed of a preconcerted design to impose 
 upon the world. Two of the evangelists, at 
 least, were witnesses of what they wrote; a third 
 tells us, that he was one of those who received 
 information from such, as, from the beginning, 
 were eye witnesses and ministers of the word ; 
 and die fourtli is supposed to have written when 
 in company with the apostle Peter, and to have 
 received his information and instruction from 
 him. To these relations of the evangelists, the 
 following declaration and testimony of Peter 
 afford additional confirmntion : " We have not 
 followed cunningly devised fables, when we 
 made known to you the power and coming of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eve-witnesses 
 of his Majesty ; for he received from God the 
 Father honour and glory, when there came such 
 a voice from the excellent glory : Tliis is my 
 beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."* 
 
 ^ 2 Peter i. 16, 17. 
 
 ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. 
 
 m 
 
 In whatever point of view, therefore, we con- 
 sider the Christian religion, it exhibits to us a 
 plan and design worthy of our great and gra- 
 cious CreatOF ; and so well adapted to the state 
 of the human heart, that nothing appears to be 
 wanting but the acceptance of the terms on 
 which it is offered. Yet the condition on which 
 only we can be true Christians, requiring us to 
 deny ourselves, and take up a daily cross to our 
 evil propensities, this doctrine and that founda- 
 tion on which it is built, are now, as formerly, 
 to some a stumbling block, and to others, fool- 
 ishness. It is indeed to be feared, that many 
 who adopt the Christian religion in theory, are 
 but little acquainted with it in practice. True 
 Christianity is more adapted to the heart, than 
 to the head : it is not so much a system of doc- 
 trines, as it is the power of God unto salvation. 
 Nevertheless, it necessarily includes doctrines; 
 but tlien it requires a union of the spirit with 
 the letter ; of faith and of works ; of the power 
 and of the form of godliness. To unite these 
 in our hearts, and in our actions, is what ap- 
 pears to me to constitute the true and perfect 
 Christian. 
 
"i 
 
 CIUP. IT. 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OF THE HOLX 
 
 SPIRIT. 
 
 Tfie Gift of the Spirit an essential of Christianity, 
 Different names for the Spirit. — Necessity of its 
 assistanee-^vniversally afforded — and in all ages-^ 
 but most plentifully in the Gospel. ~~Uncofiditionat 
 election and reprobation diso-xned and disproved. 
 
 In the preceding chapter, the gift of the 
 Holy Spirit has been considered as an essential 
 part of true Christianity; but as it is a doctrine 
 on which we insist,* more than other professors 
 
 • The word '• insist," is here nsed, because it is not a 
 doctrine peculiar to us, but ooly one on which we lay more 
 stress than most other Christians. The church of England 
 holds the doctrine much as we do, as may be seen in the 
 liturgy, from which are extracted the two following collects, 
 and to which others of a similar tendency might be added. 
 « The fit'th Sunday after Easter."—" O Lord, from whom 
 all good things do come, grant to ns, thy humble servants, 
 that hy thy holy inspiration, we may think those things that 
 be good; and by thy merciful guiding may perform the 
 same, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen." *• The 19th 
 Sunday after Trinity."—** O God, forasmuch as without 
 thee we are unable to please thee ; mercifully grant that 
 thy holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearty 
 through," ficc— See also Knox's Christian Philosophy. 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES, &C. C^ 
 
 of the Christian name, I have apprehended it 
 proper to appropriate a chapter to this subject; 
 and, for that reason, have said less upon it, than 
 I should otherwise have done, when treating o£ 
 the general docuines of Christianity. 
 
 There are different names in the scriptures, 
 by which this Spirit is denominated. It is not 
 only called the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of 
 God, and of Christ; but it is also distmguished 
 ^.ith great propriety by the appellation of " the 
 Grace of God;"* as being a mark of his pecu* 
 liar favour to mankind. Another appropriate 
 denomination is " Light," by which are evinced 
 its effects, in manifesting what is good and what 
 is evil. " Tor whatsoever dolh make manifest 
 is Light."t Odier names might be enumerated 
 by which the same ihmg is distinguished; but 
 
 these may be sufficient to convey u clear idea 
 
 of what 1 have in view. 
 
 The holy scriptures so frequently make men- 
 tion of this divine influence; and enforce it with 
 
 • In some instances, the word grace in scripture simp^ 
 Beans favour ; but in others, it evidently implies an inward 
 eperative principle, and is synonymous with the Holy 
 Spirit,-Sec Crudeu's and Taylor's Concordances nndl-r 
 
 i Bphes. V. IS, 
 F.3 
 
 
 I 
 ^ 
 
dig 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES t>» 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 A 
 
 m 
 
 SO much energy, that there is no doctrine oe- 
 rived from these writings, on which they appear 
 to be more clear and explicit, and to afford le^ 
 room for objection and controversy. 
 
 In considering this subject, it may be proper 
 to advance and support the following positions.. 
 
 1. — The necessity of the assistance of the 
 Holy Spirit, for understanding the things, and 
 for working the works, of God. 
 
 <2.— -That such a portion of this Spirit, as isr 
 accessary for working out the soul's salvation^ 
 is afforded to nrankind universally. 
 
 With regard to the first position, the apostle 
 Paul argues the case so forcibly, and with such 
 logical clearness, that 1 shall quote his words> 
 both as the best arguments and the best author 
 rity, that can be adduced on the occasion. 
 <* What man, (saith he) knoweth the things of a 
 man, save the spirit of man which is in him^ 
 «ven so the things of God knoweth no man, but 
 the Spirit of God."* After which he proceedt 
 thus : " Now we have received, not the spirit 
 of the world, but the Spirit which is of God^ 
 
 • t Cor. ij. iu 
 
 that we might know the things that are freely 
 given to us of God : which things also we speak, 
 not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, 
 but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing 
 spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural 
 man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of 
 God; for they are foolishness mito him; neither 
 can he know them, because they are spiritually 
 discerned."* 
 
 In the epistle to the Romans, the apostle 
 also shows the necessity of the assistance of the 
 Spirit, saying expressly: '"^ If. any man have not 
 the Spirit of Christ, he is none of bis— for as 
 many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are 
 the sons.of God : for ye have not received the 
 spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have re- 
 ceived the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, 
 Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth wit- 
 ness with our spirit, that we are the children of 
 God.— Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth ouir 
 inhrmities; foe we know not what we should 
 pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit itself maketh 
 intercession for us, with groaiimgs which cannot 
 be uttered."t 
 
 From these passages, and from many other* 
 ivhich might be adduced, it appears clearly, 
 • 1 Cor. ii. 12—14. t Rom. vui. 9, U, 15> 16^ 26.- 
 
& 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OP 
 
 that the mfluence of the Holy Spirit is neces- 
 sary for tlie performance of those duties, which 
 mate us truly acceptable unto God. It is by 
 our humble attention to this Spu-it, that we are 
 instructed in these duties, and enabled to per- 
 form them ; and, by abiding under its purifying 
 influences, we are gradually created anew in 
 Christ Jesus unto good works. By this Spirit 
 we are also instructed in the great and solemn 
 duty of prayer; " Praying always with all prayer 
 and supplication in the Spirit, and watching 
 thereunto with all perseverance.'^* It is like- 
 wise by this Spirit, that those who are called to 
 the sacred oftice of gospel ministry, are " made 
 able ministers of the New Testament; not of 
 the letter, but of the Spirit ; for the letter 
 killeth, but the Spirit giveth Iife.''t 
 
 In addition to these clear and forcible de- 
 clarations, it may be proper to remark, that 
 they are grounded on such arguments, as evince 
 iftem not to be confined to the times of the 
 apostles, or primitive Christians; but being 
 adapted to the weakness of man, they may rea- 
 sonably be supposed to last as long as that 
 'weakness remains : and unless it can be proved 
 that, since those times, mankind have received 
 
 * Ephea. vi. 18* % 2 Cor. iii. ^ 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 G9 
 
 such an extraordinary accession of natural 
 powers, as makes religion and virtue more 
 easily attained than formerly, we should thank- 
 fully submit to be instructed and assisted by the 
 same supernatural means, which the holy scrip- 
 tures so strongly recommend, as essential to the 
 performance of those religious duties which we 
 owe to our great Creator, and to our merciful 
 
 Redeemer. 
 
 • 
 
 We come now to the second position, viz. 
 that such a portion of the Holy Spirit, as is 
 necessary for working out the soul's salvation, 
 is afforded to mankind universally. 
 
 It has already been shown, that there are dif- 
 ferent names by which this Spirit is distin- 
 guished. We apprehend it to be a degree of 
 the same, which the apostle alluded to, when, 
 writing to the Romans respecting the state of 
 the Gentile world, he says, " For when the 
 Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature 
 the things contained in the law; these having 
 not the law, are a law unto themselves, which 
 show the work of the law wiitten in their 
 hearts ; their consciences also bearing witness, 
 and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or 
 else excusing one another."* 
 
 • Rom. ii. 14 and 15* 
 
70 
 
 ON THE INFLL'EXCES OF 
 
 I 
 
 We also find diat the Spirit of God strove 
 with the antediluvian world, respecting Mhich 
 the Almighty gave this declaration ; " My Spirit 
 shall not always strive with man."* Concern- 
 ing the Jews in the Mosaic dispensation, Nehe- 
 niiah expresses himself thus in his prayer : 
 ** Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct 
 them."t And by Isaiah it is said, " They re- 
 belled and vexed his Holy Spirit; therefore be 
 was turned to be their enemy ."J 
 
 Thus we see, in every age and state of thie 
 world, there has been a secret principle at work 
 in the minds of men, which formed the basis of 
 all true religion, and by inattention and disobe- 
 dience to which, they fell into those enormities 
 that produced the just judgments of an oifended 
 God. We believe that this divine principle is, 
 as has already been intimated, the same with 
 that which the Evangelist John calls " the true 
 light, which llghteth every man that cometh into 
 the world ;*'§ that it is the gospel which Paul 
 says, " was preached to (or injl ) every creature 
 which is under heaven;"^ and that it is what he 
 elsewhere styles " the . Grace of God, which 
 
 ♦ Gen. vi. 3. t Neb. ix. 20. ♦ Isaiah Ixiii. 10. 
 
 $ John i, 9. II Tbe Greek is " ivit»(m tn kHo-h**' 
 
 f Col. i. 23. 
 
 THE KOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 71 
 
 brinweth salvation, and has appealed unto all 
 
 "* 
 
 men. 
 
 But although this divine principle has always 
 been, in degree, afforded to mankind ; yet it was 
 by the gospel dispensation, that not only life 
 and immortality were brought to light; but that 
 the Holy Spirit was more plentifully poured 
 forth, and became as it were the leading feature 
 of that religion, which our blessed Redeemer 
 has introduced into the world. With this view 
 of the subject, I apprehend, the Evangelist ex- 
 presses himself thus: "The Holy Ghost was 
 not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet 
 glorified."t And in another place ; " The law 
 was given by Moses ; but Grace and Truth 
 came by Jesus Christ."^ Of this Grace the 
 Apostle Paul, in particular, frequently speaks in 
 his epistles ; but most fully in that to Titus, in 
 the passage just referred to : this passage it may 
 be proper here to give at large. " The Grace 
 of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared 
 to all men ; teaching us, that denying ungodli- 
 ness and \\x)rldly lusts, we should live soberly, 
 righteously, and godly, in this present world ; 
 looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious 
 appearing of the great God, and our Saviour 
 
 * Tit. ii. 11. t John vii. 39. $ John i. 17. 
 
n 
 
 OS^ THE INFLUENCES OF 
 
 Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, t!iat h« 
 might redeem us from all iniquity, and purity 
 unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good 
 works."* This is a text to which we often refer, 
 as describing the essence of the Christian reli- 
 giou ; and conveying in the clearest maimer, 
 our belief in the quality, the universality, and 
 the effects of that gift of divine Grace, to which 
 the apostle bears this ample testimony; and 
 which, we here see, co-operates with that great 
 object, for which the Sou of God was mani- 
 fested in the flesh. This object, according to 
 the testimony of another apostle, was, " To 
 destroy the works of the devil ;"t the principal 
 of which, it scarcely need be said, is sin. 
 
 But to return to the preceding passage in 
 Titus. There are three inferences evidently 
 resulting from it. 1. — That this Grace is of 
 that quality, which produceth salvation. ^.— 
 Tliat it is universal : not confined to a part of 
 mankind ; but extended " to all men." 3.-— lliat 
 its instructions are such as invariably lead to the 
 practice of piety and virtue. The first and third 
 of these inferences will, it is presumed, be ge- 
 nerally, if not universally acceded to ; but the 
 second, though equally deducible from th§ 
 
 • Titus ii. 11—14. t 1 John iii. 8; 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT, 
 
 ?s 
 
 apostle's words, some may endeavour to explain 
 away; and to reconcile with those ideas of un- 
 conditional election and reprobation, ^hich 
 they have entertained ; and on which it may be 
 proper, in this place, to make a few remarks. 
 
 This doctrine asserts, that the Almighty has 
 irrevocably decreed a certain number of human 
 beings to everlasting happiness ; and that the 
 rest are as certainly doomed to the commissioa 
 of sin, and to its consequence, eternal misery. 
 That this is no exaggerated description, will 
 appear from the quotations given in the margin,* 
 from tl^ writings of the advocates of this doc- 
 trine; and I should think, that to describe it, 
 was enough to refute it, had we iu)t, in many 
 ■other instances, as well as in this, occasion td 
 
 * •" I say, titat by the ordination and M'ill of God, Adam 
 fell, God would have man to fall. We refer the cause of 
 liardening us to God." Calvin» " God iiatb predestinated 
 <not only note damnation, but also unto the causes of \t, 
 whomsoeTcr he saw meet." Bcza. " It is the opinion of 
 our doctors, that God did inevitably decree the tempta- 
 tion and fall of man." Paraus. " God movcth the rob- 
 ber to kill. He killetli, God forcing him thereunto." Zuin- 
 gUus. *^ Reprobate persons (saith Piscator) are absolutely 
 ordained to this two-fold end ; to undergo everlasting pu- 
 nishment, and necessarily to sin ; and therefore to sin, that 
 thoy may be justly pujuished.''—See Barclays Apology, 
 prop. V, sect, 2. 
 
 G 
 
 V 
 
 I 
 
74 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OF 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 1o 
 
 observe, in how different a point of view dif- 
 ferent men see the same subject. That tlie 
 holy scriptures, those faithful records both of 
 the justice and mercy of God, should be pressed 
 to the support of such a sentiment, is matter of 
 surprise. I am aware that some parts of the 
 scriptures, taken without their context, may be 
 supposed to incline to this sentiment.* This 
 is particularly the case in the Epistle to the 
 Romans, in which die Apostle is setting forth 
 the call of the Gentiles, and the temporary 
 rejection of the Jews ; justifying, with great 
 energy, the power and the wisdom, the good- 
 ness and the severity, of God in this respect: 
 but that he meant thereby to inculcate, that the 
 Almighty, personally and unconditionally, elect- 
 
 • It is worthy of remark, that several passages in our 
 Eofflish traBslation, which seem to favour this doctrine, 
 are capable of a different rendering. For instance, in 
 Acts c. ii. 23, where it is translated, •' Him being delivered 
 by the determinate counsel a«d foreknowledge of God," 
 &c. the Greek word, «xo^oto»} rendered, de/ite)«rf, may, with 
 equal, or more propriety , be translated, gicen forth; then 
 the passage may be read thus: " Him, who was given forth 
 by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye 
 have taken, and with wicked hands have crucified and 
 slain." Another Greek word is used in every passage that 
 is rendered, delivered. Acts iv. 27. and 1 Peter ii. 8. arc 
 also capable of being differently translated. 
 
 ed individuals to a state of future happiness, 
 and decreed others to a state of misery, is what 
 I think no fair construction of the Epistle will 
 warrant. On the contrary, after showing and 
 enforcing the right of the Almighty, to make 
 use of individuals, or of nations, for carrying on 
 his great and unsearchable designs ; the apostle 
 sets forth, even with respect to the Gentiles, 
 the call of whom it was peculiarly his object to 
 justify, that their continuance in divine favour, 
 depended upon the steadfastness of their faith 
 and faithfulness to him, who had " called them 
 out of darkness into his marvellous light;"* and 
 " made them partakers of his promise in Christ 
 Jesus. "f 
 
 The following quotation from that part of 
 the epistle, in which the apostle may be said to 
 sum up his arguments, will tend to set the sub- 
 ject in a clear light : " For I speak to you 
 Gentiles; inasmuch as I am the apostle of the 
 Gentiles, I magnify mine office.— If some of 
 the branches be broken off, and thou, being a 
 wild olive tree, wert graifed in among them; 
 and with them partakest of the root and fatness 
 of the olive tree, boast not against the branches ; 
 but if thou boast [remember] thou bearest not 
 
 * 1 Pet. il. 9- 
 
 t Ephes. iii. 6* 
 
 G 2 
 
75 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES 0*E 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 77 
 
 i 
 
 the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, 
 the branches were broken ofF, that I might ho 
 graffed in. Well, because of unbelief they 
 were broken off, and thou standest by faith ; be 
 »ot high minded, but fear ; for if God spared 
 not the natural branches, take heed lest he also 
 spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodnes* 
 and severity of God; on them which fell, se- 
 verity ; but towards thee, goodness, if thou con^ 
 tinue in his goodness ; otherwise thou also shalt 
 be cut off: and they also, if they abide not still 
 in unbelief, shall be graffed ia; for God is able 
 to graff them in again."* 
 
 Here we see no unconditional election or 
 reprobation; but a doctrine which perfectly 
 comports with the declaration of the Almighty 
 about six hundred years before, when, after 
 sending the prophet Jeremiah fo the potter's 
 house, to instruct him at once in the divine 
 power and mercy, he sent a message by him to- 
 the house of Israel, in this memorable lansruasre : 
 " O House of Israel ! Cannot I do with you as 
 this potter, saith the Lord? Behold, as the clay 
 is in the potter's hanJ, so are ye in my hand, O 
 house of Israel !"t After tlwis setting forth his 
 
 « Rom. xi. 13-23. t Jer. xviU^ 6, 
 
 power, the Almighty proceeds to show in what 
 manner he is pleased to exercise it. " At what 
 instant I shall speak concerning a nation and 
 concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull 
 down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against 
 which I have pronounced, turn from their evil, 
 I will repent of the evil that I thought to do 
 unto them. And at what instant I shall speak 
 concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, 
 to build and to plant it: if it do evil in my 
 sight, that it obey not my voice, then 1 will re- 
 pent of the good, wherewith I said I would 
 benefit them**'* 
 
 Thus we see the principle of the dealings of 
 God, with mankind, in different ages of the 
 world. The Ninevites are a proof of the truth 
 of the first part of the foregoing declaration ; 
 and the Israelites of the lattsr : for, however, 
 the Almighty may, in some instances, see meet 
 to distinguish a people, or individuals, by some 
 peculiar privileges ; yet if they neglect, and 
 trample upon his law; and are unmindful of the 
 favours which they receive; he does not fail to 
 punish them accordingly. "You only have I 
 known of all the families of tlie earth ; ther^ 
 
 • Jer, xvHi. 7, 10. 
 
78 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OP 
 
 thb holy SPmiT. 
 
 79 
 
 I 
 
 fore I will punish you for all your iHiquities/'* 
 "was the declaration concerning this highly fa- 
 voured people ; from which, and various other 
 passages in holy writ, we may safely conclude, 
 that man's destruction is of himself; agreeably 
 to another declaration of the Almighty by one 
 of his prophets : " O Israel ! thou hast destroyed 
 thyself; but in me is thine help."t " The grace 
 of God which bringeth salvation, and hath ap- 
 peared unto all men," affordeth this help. It 
 is saving grace; and it is universal grace. It is 
 a gift consistent with every attribute of the 
 Deity; and witli the declarations concerning 
 Him, recorded in the scriptures of truth. That 
 ihe Almighty may see meet, in his unsearchable 
 ■wisdom, to confer a greater degree of this grace 
 on some than on others; and that he may pecu- 
 liarly call some to particular services in his 
 church, or in the world, are no doubt consist-^ 
 ent with the divine attributes : but with respect 
 to the future happiness of mankind, there is 
 abundant reason to believe, that all receive a. 
 sufficient degree of grace to procure it : and if 
 this grace is not equally distributed to all, yet^ 
 surely, we may conclude that, at last, the judg- 
 ment will be according to this most excellent rule :. 
 "Where much is given much wUl be required ;"J 
 
 * Amos iii. 2. t Hosea xiii, 9. t Luke xii. 48. 
 
 tnd, consequently, where little is given, but lit- 
 tle will, be required^ 
 
 In addition to what has already been said, it 
 may be proper to observe, that, in considering 
 this subject, we should always distinguish be- 
 tween those passages in the scriptures, which 
 simply declare the power of the Almighty, and 
 those which set forth the manner in which he 
 exercises that powen Thus the apostle has 
 said, and no doubt said truly, " He hath mercy 
 on whom he will have mercy; and whom he 
 will he hardeneth."* But then are we not also 
 told that, " the Lord is good to all ; and his 
 tender mercies are over all his works ;"t and 
 has not the very same apostle, after recommend- 
 ing that, " prayers and intercessions should be 
 made for all men,"J expressly declared that, 
 " this is good* and acceptable in the sight of God 
 our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, 
 and to come unto the knowledge of the truth ?"§ 
 Correspondent with this is the language of the 
 apostle Peter: "The Lord is not slack con- 
 cerning his promise, (as some men count slack- 
 ness) but is long suffering to us-ward ; not wil- 
 
 ^^ Rom. ix. 18* 
 
 f Psalm cxlv. 9i 
 $lTim. ii. 3, 4, 
 
 4 1 Tim. ii. Iv 
 
80 
 
 ON THE INFLUENCES OF 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRTT» 
 
 81 
 
 
 
 ling that any should perish^ bat that all should 
 come to repentance."* 
 
 It should also be considered, that hardness' of 
 heart is the punishment, and not the original 
 cause, of sin ; nor does the hardness spoken of 
 by the apostle in the Epistle to the Romans, 
 necessarily imply perpetual hardness ; for of the 
 Jews whom he represents in a state of hard-!* 
 ness, he says, " If they abide not still in un^- 
 belief, they shall be grafted in again."t 
 
 If God did judicially haiden, or suffer to 
 be hardened, those who had been long wilfully 
 disobedient to his laws, he might, with great 
 propriety, " show his wrath, and make his power 
 known in the vessels of wrath, fitted for de- 
 struction"J by their own accumulated trangres- 
 sions. Thus were Pharaoh and the Jews monur- 
 ments of the justice of an offended God, and 
 warnings to succeeding generations, not to de- 
 spise those long suffering mercies, with which 
 he waits the return of those who sin against 
 him. 
 
 Seeing then that the designs of our great and 
 gracious Creator are so replete with " good-will 
 • 2 Peter iii» 9r t Rom. 3U. 23* ♦ lb. ix. 22.- 
 
 to men;" that, as far as is consistent with the 
 free a^^ency, with which he has seen meet to en- 
 dow us, he is ever willing our happiness, and 
 furnishing us with the means of procuring it; 
 " Let us draw nigh with a true heart, in full 
 assurance of faith ;"* and trusting in that merci- 
 ful redemption, by which we have, on repen- 
 tance, the forgiveness of sins ; " Let us come 
 boldly to the throne of grace, that we may ob- 
 tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of 
 need."t Thus will that sanctification of heart, 
 and holiness of life, be experienced, without 
 which, we are told, " No man shall see the 
 Lord -."J and all will redound to the glory of 
 God, who has " shown the exceeding riches of 
 his grace, in his kindness towards us, through 
 Christ Jesus.'* § 
 
 « Heb. X. 22. 
 
 t Ibid. \v, 16. 
 j EpUes. ii. T, 
 
 t Ibid. xii. 14. 
 

 w 
 
 CHAF, F. 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP AND GOSPEt 
 
 MINISTRY. 
 
 Worship an act of the soul towards God.-^Meetings 
 for VMrship mat) be held in silence, "^Public worship 
 an indispensable duty — reasonable and benefidal.^-^ 
 Silent worship adapted to all states. — Its advantages. 
 Scripture arguments f(fC it.'— Prayer a necessary 
 duty, -^ The qualifications of Ministers.'— 'Human 
 learning not essential to the Ministry. -"No indivi- 
 dual has a right exclusively to assume the exercise of 
 it, — On Women* s preaching, '-"On preaching for 
 Mre.'— Tithes^ 
 
 JrlAVING, in the preceding chapters, treated 
 on. those subjects in which we nearly agree with 
 the generality of Christian professors, 1 come 
 now to consider those points, in which we ma- 
 terially differ froni them. Two of these, being 
 nearly connected, are included in one chapter, 
 though it will also be necessary to consider 
 them separately. These are, Divine Worship 
 and Gospel Ministry. 
 
 AVith respect to the first, we consider that 
 worship is an act of the soul towards God ; that 
 
 ' » 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP, &C. 
 
 83 
 
 He is a Spirit; that the soul of man is spiritual ; 
 and therefore that, in the performance of the 
 solemn duty of worship, words are not essen- 
 tially necessary ; because He, who is a Spirit, 
 understands the language of the Spirit. Never- 
 theless, we do not disapprove the use of words 
 in our religious meetings, whether in prayer, 
 praises, or in the exercise of gospel ministry, 
 when they are delivered under the influence of 
 the Holy Spirit, which alone can, as we appre- 
 liend, rightly qualifjy for the performance of 
 tliese important services. Hence, when we 
 come to our places of religious worship, we 
 think it right to sit down in silence, and wait 
 therein upon God, for the assistance of that 
 Spirit which helpeth our infirmities, and with- 
 out which we know not what to pray for as we 
 ought. Here we may be favoured, at times, to 
 feel the Spirit itself making intercession for us; 
 under the influence of which, we believe, a se- 
 cret aspiration will ascend with more accep- 
 tance before the Father of spirit*, than any 
 form of words which may be prepared for us, 
 or that does not arise from a heart thus quali- 
 ified for verbal expression. 
 
 Holding our meetings tinder these impres- 
 juons, it very frequently happens that tliey are 
 
 I" 
 
84 
 
 ON mriNE WORSHIP 
 
 continued tiiroughout in silence ; a state wbicfa, 
 when attended with a right exercise of mind, we 
 consider as best adapted to the performance of 
 the soleuon duty of divine worship: for here, 
 every individual who feels his own condition 
 and i^cessities, can secretly poar out his soul 
 unto God, without distraction or interruption ; 
 and here also we can freely partake of those 
 divine influences upon the mind, which, when 
 mercifully afforded, constitute the higiiest en- 
 joyment of man upon earth. 
 
 t 
 
 But we are sensible that these effects are not 
 always experienced in our religions meeting's. 
 We fear that some who attend them, have not 
 their minds rightly exercised ; we know that di- 
 vine good is not at our command: and we be- 
 lieve that the sensible enjoyment of it is often 
 withheld for a season, and sometimes for a lon<r 
 season, from the truly exercised mind : *' Verily 
 thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of 
 Israel, the Saviour."* But, even in this situa- 
 tion, we think it much safer to wait in a state 
 of passive silence, than, by the activity of the 
 creature, to rush unprepared into those external 
 acts of devotion, which we believe are no fur- 
 
 iMdah xIt. 15. 
 
 AND aOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 8^ 
 
 dier acceptable, than as they come from a heart 
 rightly prepared to offer them. A state of hum- 
 ble, silent waiting and dependance on Divine 
 help, is so adapted to the relation in which man 
 stands to his great Creator, that we believe it 
 peculiarly likely to meet with divine acceptance 
 and regard : " Blessed are those servants, whom 
 the Lord, when lie cometh, shall find watch- 
 ing."* But to those who do not patiently abide 
 in this state of mind, a very different consequence 
 is shown to result : " Behold, all ye that kindle, 
 a fire, that compass yourselves about with 
 .sparks : walk in the light of your fire, and in 
 the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye 
 have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sor- 
 row ."t And we ought by no means to forget 
 the consequence under the law, of offerinc;^ 
 strange fire to the Lord.J 
 
 We consider it an indispensable duty, publicly 
 to meet together for the worship of God; and 
 ■^' not to forsake the assembling of ourselves to- 
 gether, as the manner of some is.^'§ It is both 
 a reasonable and a beneficial duty ; reasonable, 
 because it is a public acknowledgment of our 
 
 L(ikeiii.37. 
 
 t Is. 1. 11. t I^T. X. 1 to 5. 
 § Heb. X. 25. 
 
 I 
 
 f'l 
 
 v'l 
 
86 
 
 AND GOSPEL MINISTllY. 
 
 6? 
 
 ON DIVINE WOnSHlP 
 
 h 
 
 dependance on the Supreme Being ; and bene- 
 ficial, because we may, if rightly exercised in 
 our minds, be favoured to draw nigh unto God, 
 by the Spirit of his Son; and thus experience 
 that communion, which is with the Fadier, and 
 with his Son Christ Jesus; and which the true 
 Christian travellers also have one with another 
 in him. 
 
 In a silent travail of spirit for this desirable 
 experience, the spiritual strength of those who 
 are thus exercised, is increased; they become 
 helpful one to another, in promoting the circu- 
 lation of that life in which their fellowship con- 
 sists, and are, at times, so united in feeling one 
 for and with another, as to attain to an experi- 
 ence similar to that which the apostle describes : 
 " Whether one member suffer, all the members 
 suffer with it ; or one member be honoured, all 
 the members rejoice with it."* 
 
 It may be supposed by some, that although 
 this mode of worship may be adapted to adults 
 in religious experience, it is too refined an at- 
 tainment for those who are in a sta e of infancy 
 in religion; or who are much strangers to it. 
 AV'e, however; consider it as eminently adapted 
 
 • 1 Cor. xii. 26. 
 
 to every human being, who is desirous of being 
 acceptable in the sight of his Creator. Where 
 is the well disposed mind, that has not occasion 
 for an attention to that universal command, 
 " What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch!"* 
 This secret attention and exercise of mind is 
 therefore necessary for all ; and as man is wil- 
 lin<^ to be reduced into it, the weak and erring 
 mind may be brought to the discovery of its 
 own state ; and feeling the necessity of Divine 
 aid to overcome its evil propensities, and to se- 
 cure eternal happiness, may thus feel also the 
 necessity, and the qualification, to pray for 
 forgiveness of past sins, and for ability so to live 
 under the influences of Divine fear and love, as 
 to expeiience preservation from tliose evils 
 which abound in the world, or to which the 
 mind may be naturally prone. 
 
 l^Tany, therefore, we conceive, are the ad- 
 vanta*res which result from silent worship. It 
 enables a number of Christians to meet toge- 
 ther for the performance of this important duty, 
 without depending on any man to assist them 
 therein; a dependence, which deprives numbers. 
 of publicly discharging this duty, even once ia 
 
 • Mark xiii. 37, 
 H 2 
 
u 
 
 ON DIVINE WiORSHf* 
 
 ^e \ve6k. It also preserves from the dan^erod^ 
 fituation of drawing nigh imto God with the 
 mouth; and honouring him with the lips, whilst 
 tht heart is far from Him ; and it is peculiarly 
 adapted to th« performance of that worship iit 
 spirit and in truth ; eonceming which our blessed 
 Redeemer has given this memorable testimony : 
 ^ The hour comedi, and now is, when the true 
 worshippers shall worship the Father, in spirit 
 and in truth ; for the Father seeketh such t<^ 
 worship him. God is a Spirit; and they that 
 worship him^ must worship him in spirit and ift 
 truth."* 
 
 In addition to the foregoing reasons, many 
 passages may be adduced from the scriptures^ 
 pointing out tlie advantage of silent waiting 
 tipon God. In reading those devotional effii*. 
 sions, which have been transmitted to us in the 
 book of Psalms, we find this waiting strongly 
 and frequently inculcated. The evangelical 
 prophet likewise speaks frequently of the benefit 
 of such a state of waiting, in which silence ijs 
 either expressed, or necessarily implied. The 
 latter part of the fortieth chapter, and the be- 
 ginning of the forty-first, are so apposite to tlie 
 
 • JohniT. 23&24. 
 
 AND GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 80 
 
 present subject; and at the same time, so replete 
 with religious mstruction and consolation, that 
 it may be useful to give them at large ; ** Why 
 sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, 
 M> way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment 
 is passed over from my God? Hast thou not 
 known ? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting 
 God, the Lord, tlie Creator of the ends of the 
 earth, fa^iiteth not, neither is weary i* There i* 
 no searching of his understanding. He giveth 
 power to the famt, and to iheni that have no 
 might, he mcreaseth strength. Even the youths 
 slwli faint and be weary, and the young men 
 utterly fail : but tliey that wait upon the Lord 
 shall renew their strengih ; ihey sliall mount up 
 w itli Wings as eagles ; ihey shall run and not be 
 weary; they shall walk and not famt. Keep 
 silence before me, O islands; and let the peo- 
 ple renew their strengih; let them come near, 
 then let ihtm speak ; let us come near together 
 to judgment."* 
 
 But whilst we are laying aside the outward 
 forms, we are far, very far indeed, from de- 
 siring to discourage the practice of true prayer. 
 It is a duty which we owe to our great Creator; 
 and which the feeling of our own manifold 
 • Isaiah xl. a? to 31. and xli. 1. 
 H 3 
 
 ♦ ! 
 
90 
 
 ©N BlVINt WORSHIP 
 
 AND GOSiPEL MtNlSTRY. 
 
 9< 
 
 p 
 
 wants and dangers, will often draw from the 
 rightly concerned mind. It is indeed difficult 
 to conceive, how any thing deserving the name 
 of religion, can be preserved without it. 
 " Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temp- 
 tation,"* is an injunction delivered by our 
 Holy Head and High Priest, who in this, as in 
 many other instances, has shown, that he was, 
 as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews 
 expresses it, " Touched with the feeling of our 
 infirmities ;"t for he immediately adds, " the 
 Spirit indeed is willing; but the flesh is weak.** 
 In this command, our blessed Lord sets forth 
 both the necessity and the preparation for this 
 ^reat duty, which constitutes a very important 
 part of religious worship. We are not to rush 
 hastily or unpreparedly either into private or 
 public prayer; but having our minds engaged 
 in true watchfulness, or waiting, foi* the influ- 
 ence of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, we 
 thereby become qualified to put up our petitions 
 to the Father of Spirits in such a manner, as 
 the impressions which he affords us of our wants 
 shall indicate. And when we are brought into 
 a humbling consideration of the many mercies 
 and favours, of which we are unworthy par- 
 takers, as the objects of creation, of redemption, 
 
 "« Matt. xxfi. 41. % Heb. if. lA 
 
 «Tid of that bountiful provision which is made 
 for us, we shall find abundant cause frequently 
 to offer that praise, by which the Almighty is 
 glorified : and of which he is, with the Son of 
 his love, through the eternal Spirit, for ever 
 worthy. 
 
 After these remarks on religious worship, we 
 proceed to th€ consideration of the subject of 
 Gospel Ministry. 
 
 The right qualification of those who occupy 
 the station of ministers, is of great importance 
 to every religious society. It will, I presume, 
 be universally agreed to be in the first place 
 necessary, that the principles and practice of 
 these should correspond with their profession 
 and station ; and next, that ihey be called and 
 qualified according to the nature and principles 
 of that religion, which they stand forth to 
 espouse. To apply these self-evident rules to 
 the Christian religion, under its various divi- 
 sions, it must be deemed necessary for a gospel 
 minister, that he possess a heartfelt conviction 
 of the truths of Christianity, as well as of the 
 principles of that particular society, of which 
 he is a member; also that his moral conduct be 
 such as the gospel of Christ requires. Whetf 
 
92 
 
 ON DIVINE WOUSIIIT 
 
 J 
 
 there Ts any material deficiency either in prin^ 
 ciple or practice, there is reason to fear that 
 such will do more injury than benefit to the 
 cause of religion; as well as render themselves 
 objects of disgust and contempt, " Unto the 
 wicked, God saith. What hast thou to do to de- 
 clar*imy statutes; or that thou shouldst take my 
 covenant in thy mouth; seeing thou hatest in- 
 struction, and castest my words behind thee ?"* 
 
 As to the further qualification for a gospel 
 minister, although the definition already given 
 may be generally agreed to, yet, m the applica-^^ 
 tion of it, there exists some diversity of senti- 
 ment. As the nature and principles of the 
 Christian religion are the same now as for- 
 merly, we conceive that the same Divine call 
 and intluence, which qualified the early minis- 
 ters and pronuilgatoi s of the gospel, should be, 
 iu a de*^ree at least, experienced by its ministers 
 to the end of the world : especially as we have 
 no other qualification pointed out m the 
 holy scriptures, lliis call was " not of men, 
 neither by luan; but by Jesus Christ, ami (Jod 
 the Father."t We believe that the same is in- 
 wardly and immediately received by the true 
 
 • Psalm 1. 16 6c 17. 
 
 t Gal. i. U 
 
 AND GOSPEL MlNlSTllY. 
 
 vi 
 
 •gospel ministers of the present d&y; and that, 
 in the discharge of the duties of this sacred 
 ©ffice, the renewed influences of divine wisdom 
 and strength should be waited for and experi- 
 enced. Thus ministers are qualified to speak 
 to the state of their hearers; ami to baptize them 
 into the name [or power] of the Father, the 
 Son, and the Holy Spirit; thereby fulfilling that 
 true commission for gospel ministry given by 
 our Saviour, Mat. xxviii. IQ. 
 
 Tlie foregoing qualifications correspond with 
 ihe desciiptioD, which the apostle Peter gives 
 of prophecy, and which we conceive to be de- 
 scriptive of the essentials of a gospel minister. 
 ** Propliecy came not in old time by the will of 
 man: but holy men of God spake as they w^ere 
 moved by the Holy Ghost.*** Thus we see, 
 that both ancient prophecy and gospel ministi-y 
 
 came " not of men, nor by man ;" that they re- 
 quired those who exercised them to be holy 
 men of God; such as could say to others, 
 *• Walk, as ye have us for an example ;'*+ and 
 that in performing the duties of these offices, 
 they should speak " as they were moved by the 
 Holy Ghost;'* or in other words, as the " Spirits 
 
 • 2 Peter i. «1. 
 
 t PbU. iii. 17. 
 
h. 
 
 »4 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 gave them utterance.*'* If ministers are not 
 thus influenced and directed, we may expect the 
 declaration respecting the prophets formerly, 
 \vho ran and were not sent, to be verilied : 
 " They shall not profit the people at all."t 
 Nor should this serious language he forgotten : 
 " Woe unto the foolish prophets, ihat follow 
 their own spirit, and have seen nothmg."J 
 
 What is said respecting an inward call to the 
 ministry, is by no means peculiar to our reli- 
 gious society. However the doctrine of the 
 influence of the Spirit may be slighted by some,. 
 it is in this instance, as well as ni its general 
 influence and operation, clearly maintained by 
 the church of England, as appears by the fol- 
 lowing question put to those who apply to be 
 admitted to the office of deacon: " Do you 
 trust that you are inzcard/i/ moved hy the FIoli^ 
 Ghost, to take upon you this ofliice and ministra- 
 tion," &c. The answer required is, " I trust 
 so." lliis doctrine is also consistent with the 
 general observation on the priesthood, made by 
 the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews: " No 
 man taketh this honour unto himself, but he diat 
 is called of God, as wasAaron."^ The writ- 
 
 ♦ Acts ii. 4. t Jer. xxiii. S2. % Ezek. xiii.> 
 
 $ Hebrews t. 4. 
 
 AND COSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 95 
 
 ings of the apostles abundantly show not only 
 whence they derived their commission, but also 
 the influence under which they exercised it. 
 Thus the Apostle Paul says: ^ Which things 
 also we speak, not in the words which man's 
 wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost 
 teacheth."* 
 
 From all these considerations, we believe, as 
 is. already stated, that it is necessary, in the first 
 call to the ministry, to be ^* inwardly moved by 
 the Holy Ghost ;" and that, iu xhe various per- 
 formances of this sacred oftice, the renewings 
 of this divine influence and ability should be 
 waited for, and experienced, as the most likely 
 means to fulfil the apostolic exhortation: " If 
 any .man speak, let him speak as the oracles of 
 God; if any man minister, let him do it as of 
 the ability which God giveth; that God in all 
 things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; 
 to whom be praise and dominion for ever and 
 ever. Amen."f 
 
 From our views of this impoitant subject, 
 tliere arise a few points, in which we materially 
 diffxir from most other professors of Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 ♦ 1 Cot, ii. 13. # 1 Peter iv. 1^ 
 
96 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 1 .—In not considering humfm leamiug esseii« 
 •tisil to a gospel minister. 
 
 S. — In believing that no individud has a 
 right to assume the exclusive exercise of thi» 
 ministry, in a congregation of Christians; but 
 that all, both male and female, who are rightly 
 moved thereto, may exercise this gift, 
 
 3.— That this ministiy being, if rightly re- 
 ceived, received freely, and without any pecu- 
 niary expense to qualify for it, it therefore 
 ought to he freely communicated ; and no fur- 
 ther support expected by ministers, than what is 
 authorized by Christ, and was practised by his 
 apostles. 
 
 Upon each of these points it seems proper 
 to make a few remarks. 
 
 On the first very little appears necessary ; for 
 ^f we consider the holy scriptures, and particu- 
 larly the New Testament, as any guide to us in 
 this matter, we shall not only find, that human 
 literature is no where recommended for this 
 office; but likewise, that many of the apostles 
 were illiterate men. It is also clear that the 
 
 AND GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 » 
 
 ( I 
 
 «postie Paul, ^KMigh a man of leamuig, dis- 
 claimed the influence of it upon hb ministry, as 
 appears from various parts of his epistles, par- 
 ticularly from the first and second chapters of 
 the epistle to tlie Corinthians, of which the first 
 five verses of the second chapter appear espe* 
 cially worthy of notice : " And I, brethren, 
 when I came to you, came not with excellency 
 of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you th© 
 testimony of God: for I. determined not to 
 4now any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, 
 und him crucified. -- And I was with you ia 
 weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling: 
 and my speech and my pireaching was not with 
 enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demon- 
 stration of the Spirit and of power; that your 
 faith should not stand in the wisdom of men^ 
 but in the power of God."* 
 
 But although we do not consider human learn- 
 ing as essential to a gospel minister ; yet we are 
 so far from disesteeming or slighting its use^ 
 that we wish due attention to be paid to it by 
 the members of our society : for we believe that 
 those \^'}io have it, and are disposed to make a 
 jright use of it, ma}' apply it to the promotion 
 
 ♦ I Cor. ii. % to 5» 
 
9S 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 of religion and virtue, as well as to the benefit 
 of civil society. 
 
 With respect to the second point, we have 
 the practice of the primitive church so decidedly 
 in our favour, that I am at a loss to conceive 
 liow a practice so repugnant to it, can have so 
 generally prevailed as it has done, in almost all 
 .the Christian church^es. 
 
 The practice alluded to is, that of an indi- 
 vidual assuming the exclusive exercise of the 
 ministry ; which is directly contrary to what the 
 apostle recommends, as well as declares to be 
 the practice of the church in early times. This 
 appears clear from the fourteenth chapter of the 
 first epistle to the Corinthians, where, first ad- 
 dressing the believers in general, the apostle 
 thus expresses himself: " Follow after charity, 
 and desire spiritual gifts; but rather that ye 
 may prophesy."* By this prophesying, he does 
 not appear so much to mean the foretelling of 
 future events, as the general purposes of gospel 
 ministry ; for in the third verse he says, " He 
 ths^t prophesieth, speaketh unto men to exhor- 
 tatiop, to edification and comfort."t After this 
 general advice and explanation, he proceeds to 
 
 • 1 Cor, xiv. 1, 
 
 t 1 Cor. xiv. 3, 
 
 AND GOSPEL MINlSl-KY. 
 
 90 
 
 show the superiority of prophesying to speaking 
 with tongues ; and then of those who have re- 
 ceived this divine gift, he says, " Let the pro- 
 phets speak two or three, and let the othefs 
 judge. If any thing be revealed to another that 
 sitteth by, let the first hold his peace; for ye 
 may all prophesy one by one, that all may 
 learn, and all may be comforted."* 
 
 After stating this unequivocal description of 
 the rule and practice of the primitive church, I 
 shall proceed to the consideration of another 
 part of this head, from which it appears that 
 we admit women, as well as men, to a partici- 
 pation and exercise of the gift of gospel minis- 
 try. We are aware of the objection which is 
 made from tlie prohibition laid upon women 
 speaking and teaching in the church, and usurp- 
 ing authority over the man.f But if, on every 
 occasion, where there is an apparent difference 
 between one part of scripture and another, it is 
 admitted that scripture is the best interpreter of 
 scripture, I believe very little difficulty will arise 
 in removing this objection. It should be con- 
 sidered, that the words used by the apostle on 
 this occasion, cannot mean tlie exercise of gos- 
 
 • 1 Cor. xiv. 29 to 31. t 1 Tim. ii. tl, 12, 
 
 1 2 
 
ioo 
 
 ON lilVlNE WOHSIliy 
 
 AI^D GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 101 
 
 pel ministry; because^ in the very epistle ftt 
 which he first mentions this prohibition, he give* 
 particular directions respecting the manner in 
 which women are to exercise that gift, which he 
 denominates " praying or prophesying ;**♦ and 
 which he no doubt considered as different from, 
 speaking, teaching, or usurping authority: for it 
 cannot with any colour of reason be supposed, 
 that the apostle would give directions for the 
 exercise of that, which he thought never should 
 
 be exercised/'t 
 
 ■i 
 In addition to the preceding argument, several 
 
 other passages in the Old and New Testaments 
 may be advanced, which clearly show, that wo- 
 men, as well as men, were engaged in the work 
 of the ministry, or as prophetesses in early 
 times. Passing over Miriam, Deborah, and 
 Huldah, we find Anna, a prophetess in the 
 Jewish church, publicly exercising her gift in 
 the Temple ; and hailing the recent birth of the 
 Ivlessiah. The Samaritan woman, with whon^ 
 oar Saviour held an interesting, conversation at 
 Jacob's well, appears to have been the first of 
 his disciples, who publicly preached the coming 
 
 * 1 Cor. xi. 4. 
 t Sec John Locke's note on Cor. xi. 3. vbere he sup* 
 ports the construction here given. 
 
 r 
 
 ^? 
 
 of Christ ; and remarkable was the success 
 which attended her ministry. Women were the 
 first witnesses of our Lord's resurrection, and 
 were commissioned by him to proclaim this im- 
 portant truth to his disciples. After his ascen- 
 sion, they were, equally with the men, partakers 
 of the effusions of the Holy Spirit; and we find 
 several females mentioned as being prophet- 
 esses or fellow-labourers with the apostles in 
 the Gospel of Christ. Luke, hi speaking of 
 Philip the deacon, says, " the same man had 
 four daughters, which did prophesy."* In the 
 Epistle to the Romans, the apostle says, " I re- 
 commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a 
 servant of the church that is at Cenchrea."ta-« 
 Greet Priscilla b and Aquila, my helpers in 
 Christ Jesus."J " Salute Tryphaena and Try- 
 phosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute th« 
 
 * Acts XX. 9. 
 
 • Tlie Greek word in this passage rendered servant is the 
 same as in other places i» rendered deacon or minister. It 
 is rendered minister here in almost all other translations. . 
 
 b Priscilla is here, and in two other passages, placed 
 l>efore her husband j from which, and other circnmstance?^ 
 we may conclude she was a minister of no smalt emiueneo 
 in the church. 
 
 t Rom, xvi, 1. t 'Rom, xvi. o, 
 
 I 3 
 
10« 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 beloved P€rsis,c which laboured niuch^ in the 
 Lord/'* And in another epistle he says, " Help 
 those women that laboured with us in the gos- 
 p€l."t These are passages which clearly evince 
 the admission of the female sex, in early times> 
 to the work and service of the gospel : but what 
 adds not a little to our argument is, that this 
 -was expressly foretold in such a manner, as 
 would, if we had no precedent, fully warrant 
 the practice : for on this subject we may use the 
 words of the apostle Peter, and say, " This is 
 that which was spoken by the prophet Joel : 
 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saitli 
 God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, 
 and your sons and y (mr daughters shitW prophesy ; 
 and your young men shall see visions, and your 
 old men shall dream dreams : and on my ser- 
 vants, and on ray handmaidens, I will pour out in 
 those days of |ny Spirit, and they shall pro- 
 .phesy-^J 
 
 « The adjective for " beloved,"^ being in Greek in tic 
 feminiDe gender, shows that Persis was a woman. 
 
 < Tlie Greek words here rendered " labour and \su 
 bomred," are the same as the apostle uses when he speaks 
 9f hioBelf labouring in the gospel. 
 
 • R»m. xtL 1«, 13. t Ph». ir. 3, 
 
 * Acts ii. 16 to 18. 
 
 I 
 
 AND GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 105 
 
 We come now to the third point, viz. the 
 maintenance which is allowed to the ministers 
 of the gospel. On this subject the direction* 
 of our blessed Lord are so particular, that, wilb 
 the practice of his apostles, they set the matter 
 in a very clear point of view- ^fhe directions, 
 so far as they relate to this subject, I shall tran- 
 scribe from the tenth chapter of Matthew, 
 when Christ sent forth the twelve apostles on 
 their first mission: " Heal the sick, cleanse the 
 lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils : freely ye 
 have received, freely give. Provide neither 
 «yold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses : — for 
 Ae workman is worthy of his meat. And into 
 whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire 
 who in it is worthy, and tlierein abide till ye go 
 thence.— And whosoever shall not receive you, 
 nor hear your words, \\hen ye depart out of that 
 house or city, shake off the dust Of yoiu: feet"* 
 
 In the foregoing passage, we have directions 
 for the conduct of the ministers of Christ, both 
 when their ministry is received, and when it is 
 rejected. In the former case, all that is pro- 
 vided is temporary accommodation, whilst tra- 
 velling in the work of the ministry ; or so en- 
 
 • Afatt. X. 8 to 14. 
 
104 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 gaged therein, as to prevent their attention to 
 their temporal occupations. In the latter case, 
 they are by no means authorized to extort a 
 forced maintenance ; but, as a testimony against 
 those who reject them, they are directed to 
 shake off the dust that cleaved to their feet^ 
 Well would it have been for the Christian reli- 
 gion, had its ministers, under all denominations^ 
 adhered to their Lord's instructions on this sub- 
 ject; and acted with that noble disinterested- 
 ness which he inculcates, and which we find 
 practised by his immediate followers, so as to 
 enable one of them to say, " I seek not your's, 
 but you."* And here I cannot well avoid ex- 
 pressing great regret for the wound, which, there 
 is reason to believe, Christianity has received, 
 and still receives, from a lucrative establishment 
 for ministers ; a circumstance which holds out 
 a temptation for imqualified, and even immoral 
 men, to seek for, and get into that office, with 
 110 better motive (I believe it will be generally 
 allowed) than that which it was foretold would 
 actuate the corrupted sons of Eli ; " Put me, I 
 pray thee, into one of the priest's offices, that I 
 may eat a piece of bread."+ 
 
 # I ^ 
 
 AND COSPEL MlNlStRt. 
 
 105 
 
 • jCor»xii. 14. 
 
 t 1 Sam. li. $6. 
 
 We are aware of the argnments advanced 
 from some expressions of the apostle Paul, in 
 favour of an established support for ministers ; 
 and which I apprehend are all comprised in the 
 following words of this apostle : " Do ye not 
 know^ that they which minister about holy 
 things, live of the things of the temple ; and 
 they which wait at the altar, are partakers with 
 the altar ? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that 
 they which preach the gospel, should live of 
 the gospel.*'* Now all this only proves a sup- 
 port consistent with what " the Lr>rd hath or- 
 dained,** and which is already given in his own 
 words. This we readily admit, and adopt in 
 our practice ; but surely no one can infer, from 
 the foregoing passages, that ministers are to be 
 provided with a settled maintenance ; and not to 
 labour with their hands, or be engaged in the 
 usual occupations of life for their own support, 
 and that of their families. 
 
 That we are justified in the construction 
 given of our Lord's direction, and the apostle's 
 reference to it, is abundantly clear from the 
 practice which resulted from it ; and which 
 cannot more completely or energetically be de- 
 scribed, than in the words of the same apostle,- 
 
 • iCor. ix. 13, 14. 
 
 l 
 
100 
 
 ON DIVINE WORSHIP 
 
 contained in his most excellent address to the 
 elders of Ephesus, which he concludes in this 
 memorable language : " I have coveted no maa's 
 silver, or gold, or apparel ; yea, you yourselves 
 know that these hands have ministered unto my 
 necessities, and to them that were with me. I 
 have showed you all things, how that so labour- 
 ing, ye ought to support the weak, and to re- 
 member the words of the Lord Jesus, how he 
 said. It is more blessed to give than to re- 
 ceive. * 
 
 These being our sentiments on this important 
 subject, we make no provision for the support 
 of our ministers, further than the discharge of 
 those expenses, which travelling in their reli- 
 gious services necessarily occasions ; and if we 
 make no provision for the support of our own 
 ministers, whose ministry we approve, we think 
 ourselves fully warranted in declining to contri- 
 bute to the support of others, and of a worship 
 connected with them, from both of which we 
 conscientiously dissent. A ministry with a 
 settled maintenance, forced even from those, 
 who so far disapprove of their establishment, 
 as to withdraw from their teaching, is so evi- 
 dently incompatible with the doctrine and 
 
 * Acts XX. 33 to 35. 
 
 ANB GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 f07 
 
 practice of Christ and his apostles, that I think 
 it unnecessary to say more to justify our prin- 
 ciples in this respect. But although it appears 
 to me to be a system so deeply injurious to the 
 interests of true religion, 1 have no doubt that 
 many, not seemg the subject m the same point 
 of view, have seriously entered, under these 
 circumstances, into this vocation ; and are 
 piously concerned to discharge the duties of 
 their station. These should be left to their 
 own master, to whom we must all, at last;, 
 either stand or fall. 
 
 After what has been said respecting the 
 general maintenance of gospel ministers, it ap- 
 pears superfluous to enter into argument against 
 that most objectionable and anti-christian mode 
 of support by tithes. Their divine right is 
 generally exploded and abandoned ; their impo- 
 licy is almost as universally acknowledgrj. 
 How far the testimony which we have bcrrne 
 against them may have contributed to produce 
 these effects, is not for me to determine ; but 
 it is hop^d that so long as this yoke remains, 
 that testimony will continue to be maintained, 
 with the firmness and meekness which should 
 ever \)e united in the support of religious 
 truths. 
 
CHAP. VL 
 ON fiAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 Preliminary Obgercations.-^Two Kinds of Baptism^^ 
 Wattr and the Spirit. — Remarks on Matt, xxviii- 
 ] 9.— 'jT^w and other Argument4 iihjavour rf Water 
 Baptism answered. SprinkUng not Baptism.-^ 
 Sprinkling. q f Infanis not authorised by Script ure.-^» 
 Circumstances attendimg it highly objectionable. ^^The 
 Lord's Supper. '-'The Circumstances attending it 
 folly admitted. I^ot considered perpetual^ any more 
 than uashing of Feet.^^The true Lord's Supper.-^ 
 Our Dissent on these Subjects ^ not Jroni Disesteeut 
 •of' Christianity t but the reverse. 
 
 JUEFORE ^nterbg into a separate consi- 
 deration of these subjects, I shall premise a 
 few words on the nature of religious observances 
 and ceremonies. These appear to me to be ge- 
 nerally local or temporary ; ajid, if we may 
 judge from what we read ta tlie New Testa- 
 ment, we may safely concUide, that the use of 
 them is variable. There is not a practice 
 more strictly enjoined by our blessed Lord, and 
 that both by precept and example, than the 
 washing of each other's feet, as related by the 
 
 . 
 
 ON" fiAPTISM AN» THE SUPPER. 19$ 
 
 evangelist John, chap. xiii. But who, consider- 
 ing the different local circumstances, believes 
 tiiis to be a duty now incumbent upon us ? The 
 apostles who met at Jerusalem, to considei* 
 the attempt of some Jewish Christians, to im- 
 pose the rite of circumcision on those Gentiles 
 who embraced Christianity, came to a solemn, 
 and no doubt, right conclusion on such things, 
 as it was then deemed necessary to observe ;* 
 yet none of these, except one of a moral nature^ 
 is now considered obligatory. Nay, we even 
 find the apostle Paul, a few years after, en- 
 forcing a liberty with respect to meats offered 
 to idols, which this decree certainly does not 
 wairant ; a decree which there is great reason to. 
 believe he had himself united in formino-. 
 
 The Christian church was at that time just 
 emerging from the ceremonies of Judaism, 
 and the superstitions of Heathenism. In 
 this state of things, " it seemed good to the 
 Holy Ghost," gradually to remove those legal 
 observances and ceremonies connected with 
 the Mosaic dispensation; and not to enjoio 
 an immediate disregard to the whole of them 
 at onc^. It was the morning of the gospel 
 
 • Acts XT. 
 
no ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPEH. 
 
 day ; and if the brightness of that morning 
 has been greatly obscured, which I appre* 
 hend all protestants agree with us in believing ; 
 and that the sun has been prevented from shin- 
 ing forth with meridian splendour, by the dark- 
 ness of many unnecessary observances and tradi- 
 tions, which were afterwards introduced into the 
 Christian church; wb must indeed regret the 
 circumstance : but when further light is renewed 
 and afforded, ought we not to avail ourselves of 
 its advantages, and endeavour to stand open to 
 those further discoveries, which are consistent 
 with the nature and spirit of the gospel ; and 
 which naay be supported as such, by the doc- 
 trines contained in the Holy Scriptures^ particu- 
 larly in the New Testament ? 
 
 After making these general remarks, we may 
 proceed to the .consideration of die subject of 
 Baptism. Of this Wie find two kuids mentioned 
 in the New Testament ; namely. Baptism with 
 Water, and Baptism with the Spirit. The for- 
 mer was, in some degree, in use under the Jewish 
 law; and some writers mention that it was occa- 
 sionally both added to circumcision, and substi- 
 tuted for it, in the admission of proselytes. 
 When the forerunner of our Lord appeared to 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. lil 
 
 fulfil his mission, he made particular use of this 
 ceremony ; and from him it was called the Bap- 
 tism of John. From this practice among the 
 Jews, and by John the baptist, ^^'^ater Baptism 
 appears to have been introduced into the Chris- 
 tian church, as the mode of acknowledging its 
 converts ; but we conceive it was no more an 
 essential pai t of Christianity, than other Jewish 
 ceremonies, for a time practised by the early 
 Christians. 
 
 It is clear that John considered his dispensa^ 
 tion and baptism as only temporary; nor does 
 he, as a substitute for his baptism refer his 
 disciples to any other baptism with water, to 
 be instituted by Christ. On the contrary, he 
 plainly shows, that the baptism which was to su- 
 persede his, was to- be of a different and a spiri- 
 tual nature, as appears by these words : " I in- 
 deed baptize you with water unto repentance; 
 but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, 
 whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall 
 baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; 
 whose fan is in his hand ; and he will thoroughly 
 purge his floor, and gather the wheat into his gar- 
 ner ; but he will burn up the chaff with unquench- 
 able fire.''* On another occasion John al«o^ 
 
 • Matt. iii. 11 to 12. 
 K 3- 
 
112 ON BA1»T1SM AND THE SUPPEB. 
 
 says: " He must increase, but I must de- 
 crease."* From these expressions, as well as 
 from others in the New Testament, we are in- 
 ducedto believe that the *' one Baptism,"t which 
 now remains necessary to the church of Christ, 
 is that of the Spirit. This, according to the 
 foregoing instructiveallegory, cleanses the heartl- 
 and as Uie apostle Peter informs us, does not 
 consist in putting away the filth of the flesh ; 
 but in procuring for us « the answer of a good 
 copscience towards God, by the resurrection of 
 Jesus Chnst."J 
 
 The practice of Water Baptism is principalis^ 
 defended by the direction given by our Saviour 
 to his disciples, after his resurrection, when he 
 addressed tliem in this manner: "Go and 
 teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of 
 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."§ &c. 
 But as we differ from most others in the construc- 
 tion of this passage, it will be proper to enter 
 into a particular consideration of it. 
 
 It is to be regretted, that Christians have beeh 
 so habituated to unite Baptism and Water toge- 
 ther in their view, that they seem almost to foc- 
 
 • John iii. SO, 
 t 1 Pet Ui. 21. 
 
 t Epbes. iv. 5. 
 § Matt, xxviii. ] 9. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. Il3 
 
 get, that there is a Baptism without Water by 
 the Spirit. Tliere are many passages in scrip- 
 ture, where the words- Baptize and Baptism ar^ 
 used in a figurative sense, and in which it is evi^ 
 dent no allusion to the use of water- is intended,. 
 This is peculiarly the case where these words 
 are used by our blessed Lord, who appears never 
 to have used them in reference to Water, except 
 where he expressly so defines the application ; 
 
 unless it can be intended by the passage in 
 Matthew now under consideration ; aiMl which 
 we think cannot be proved. There are two in- 
 stances in which, it is apprehended, all will 
 agree that Water could not be^ intended ; the 
 first i» the question put to the sons of Zebedee : 
 " Can ye drmk of the cap, that I drink of; and' 
 be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized 
 with ?"* By these and similar expressions m 
 the succeeding verse, it is evident that Water 
 cannot be understood; and, indeed, it is-gene- 
 Tally agreed, , that both the baptism and the cup 
 allude to a state of deep suffering, and afflic- 
 tion. This is also tlie obvious- meaning of the 
 expression in Luke: "I have a Baptism to be 
 baptized with ; and ho^v am I straitened till it*' 
 lie accomplished."t 
 
 * Mark x. 38* t Luke xii. $0. 
 
 It 3 
 
114 ON IBAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 From these applications of the words Baptize 
 and Baptism, it appears, that they were at that 
 time frequently used in a figurative manner; and 
 we think ourselves warranted in applying the 
 foregoing passage in Matthew, with another in 
 Mark, chap. xvi. v. 16. to an inward and spiri- 
 tual Baptism. This construction is much cor- 
 roborated by rendering the former passage, as 
 the original Greek evidently implies, " Baptiz- 
 ing them itito the name of die Father,*' &c. By 
 this expression we apprehend is to be under- 
 stood, the introducing of the believers into a 
 feeling sense of the power of God in Christ, by 
 the influences of the Holy Sphit; all which the 
 apostles were no doubt frequently made instru- 
 mental in producing in the hearts of their hearers^ 
 This application of the Word '* Name," as sym- 
 bolical of the Divine power,* is not uncommon 
 in holy writ; and we conceive that no reasonable 
 objection can be made to it. Thus the expres- 
 sions of our Lord unite with those of the apostle 
 Paul : " So many as were baptized into Christ 
 Jesus, were baptized into his death :''+ anda<rain» 
 " As many as have been baptized into Christ, 
 have put on Christ.'';}: Tliat these expressions 
 
 ♦ See the Concordances of Cruden and Taylor, under 
 the word, ** Name." 
 
 > Rom, vi. 3. $ Gal. iii. 27. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SVPPER. 115 
 
 have no allusion to Water Baptism appears fo 
 us evident from the context; and particularly 
 from the following expression of the same apos- 
 ^e: " By one Spirit are we all baptized into 
 one body ; — and have been all made to drink 
 into one Spirit."* 
 
 It may be alleged, that the apostles under- 
 stood the command in Matthew as applying to 
 Water Baptism, and practised it accordingly. 
 That they made use of baptism with water, has 
 been already admitted ; but that they did it in 
 consequence of this command, is not easy to 
 prove. But supposing this to have been the 
 case, it appears from various circumstances, that 
 even the apostles were " slow of heart to believe" 
 and understand thi» command, as well as other 
 scriptures relating to the gospel dispensation : 
 for notwithstanding the express charge to " go 
 and teach all nations," connected with the words 
 in dispute, we find how diflftcult a matter it was 
 to bring the apostles to this acknowledgment ; 
 " Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted 
 repentance unto life."t Such, it is evident, waa 
 their attachment to the Jewish nation and law, 
 that they slowly and gradually relinquished many 
 
 ' i Cor. xii. 13. t Acts Xi. 18. 
 
I 
 
 » ' 
 
 116' QN BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 of those ceremonies which were connected with, 
 them ; and with some difficulty excused the Gen- 
 tile converts from an adherence to these obser- 
 vances. The apostle Paul was, however^ mor& 
 quickly introduced into the spirituality of the 
 gospel dispensation ; and we think it is clear^ 
 that he did not understand ourLord's command. 
 Matt, xxviii. 19- as enjoining the practice of 
 Water Baptism ; conceniing which it is univer-^ 
 sally agreed, that he was speaking, when he 
 thanked God that he had baptized so very few 
 as he mentions, out of the great numbers conn 
 verted by him at Corinth, to the Christian faith ; 
 ** For Christ, (says he) sent me not to baptize, but. 
 to preach the gospel."* 
 
 It has been argued, that this expression of. 
 the apostle is general, and only implies that 
 Baptism was not the principal part of his mis- 
 sion. But we have at least an equal right ta 
 consider the. words in their commoi> accepta- 
 tion ; and as sliowing that, however the apostle 
 might occasionally- use Water Baptism, as a 
 mode, of initiating converts into the Christian 
 church, yet he did not consider it as a part of 
 his commission ; and consequently not essential 
 to the Christian religion, nor to the soul's salva- 
 
 ON BAPTl&M AND THE SUPPER, 117 
 
 tion. If he had considered it necessary to 
 these important objects, it is difficult to con- 
 ceive how he could solemnly thank God for 
 the omission of it. , 
 
 Another argument in favour of Water Bap- 
 tism is urged from the following query of 
 Peter, on the conversion of Cornelius and his 
 family : " Can any man forbid Water, that 
 these should not be baptized ?"* &c. Now it 
 appears very probable from this query, that it 
 ^vas a matter of doubt among the Christians of 
 that time, whether Water Baptism was neces- 
 sary to be continued ; and that Peter on this 
 as well as on some other occasions, inclined to 
 the continuance of a ceremony, at least partly 
 Jewish. How closely even the apostles were 
 attached to the Mosaic law, and how slowly 
 their minds opened to the gospel dispensation, 
 has been already remarked. Notwithstanding 
 the various predictions of the prophets, and the 
 direct command of our Saviour himself after 
 his resurrection, it still required an extraordi- 
 nary vision from heaven to convince Peter, 
 that " Of a truth God is no respecter of per- 
 sons ; but, in ever}' nation, he that feareth him, 
 and worketh j^hteousness, is accepted with 
 
 * Act« X. 47. 
 
118 
 
 ON BAPTI&M AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 him.*'* It was about ten years after this- dv- 
 cumstance, that the apostles and elders came 
 together, to consider of the propriety of ex- 
 empting the Gentile converts from the rite of 
 circmncision ; and it was not till after " there 
 had been much disputing," that they concluded 
 not to impose this yoke upon them. Although 
 Peter was present at this conference, and ear- 
 nestly promoted the decision of it; yet it was, 
 I apprehend, after this time, that the apostle 
 Paul had occasion to blame him for his change- 
 able conduct towards the Gentiles, with respect 
 to some Jewish cnstoms.f From all these cir- 
 cumstances, we may account for Peters conr 
 tinning the practice of Water Baptism, as con- 
 nected with that dispensation under which he 
 had been educated. Howevei', we have reason, 
 to believe that his views on this subject en- 
 larged, as his experience in tlie service of the 
 gospel increased ; for we find him several years 
 after, in one of his epistles,, describing the Bap- 
 tism that " doth now save us*'J in. this manner : 
 *' Not the putting away the fdth. of the flesh ; 
 But the answer of a good conscience towards 
 
 ♦ Act* X. 34 and 35. t Gal. ii. 11, 12, 13. 
 
 X'. There appears to be ao inaccuracy in oar translation 
 of the verse preceding this pa8«»age. Tlie " eight souls were 
 gaved," not by, but from or through the water; and manjc. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER, 
 
 119 
 
 God :"* a description by no means applicable 
 to Water Baptism, which as it was then admi- 
 nistered by immersion, did put away the tilth 
 •f the flesh ; and of which we may surely say, 
 as was said of '* meats and drinks, and of divers 
 washings," that it " could not make perfect, as 
 pertaining to the conscience ;"f they being im- 
 posed only until the time of reformation ; by 
 which is generally understood the gospel dispeu- 
 satioa. 
 
 In considering the various arguments on this 
 subject, partof the diversity of sentiment appears 
 to lie in the difficulty there sometimes is, to de- 
 termine betwixt the literal and the fijrurative 
 use of words, which relate to it. Ev^n water 
 as well as fipe is sometimes used figuratively. 
 To be " born of nater and the spirit,"^ has been 
 considered, and we think rightly considered, by 
 • some who believed in the propriety of Water 
 Baptism, as figurative an expression, as being 
 baptized " with the Holy Ghost and with 
 
 translators render it in this sense. Also the Greek word 
 ttvrirvVQVy which is translated ** fignre," might be rendered 
 antitype ; a rendexing which, in this place, gives a different 
 idea of the meaning of the apostle. 
 
 • 1 Peter iii. 21. 
 
 t Heb. ix. 9 and 10. $ John iii. 5. 
 
 a Calvin, Grotius, Piscator, &c. 
 
§80 ax BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 fire;*'* and we ought to remember the explana* 
 tion, which the evangelist himself gives of our 
 Saviour's use of die word Water : " This 
 spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed 
 on him should receive."*!* 
 
 It is frequently said, that Water Baptism is 
 appointed in the Christian church as a substi- 
 tute for Circumcision among the Jews* In an- 
 swer to this, I would first query, from what 
 part of the New Testament can the appoint- 
 ment of one instead of the other be proved ? 
 Can it be supposed, that if our Saviour, or hi» 
 apostles, had considered it in this point of view^ 
 they would have given no intimation of it ? I 
 apprehend that not a single text, which will bear 
 such a construction, can be produced. On the 
 contrary, there are very strong arguments to be 
 brought against this supposition, from the epis- 
 tles of the apostle Paul. He frequently speaks 
 of circumcision as being no longer of religious 
 obligation. If Water Baptism was to have 
 been its substitute, the occasion to mention it 
 wa« almost necessary and unavoidable. Yet he 
 is not only silent on the subject of Water Bap- 
 tism, as the substitute of Circumcision ; but he 
 even shows what is its substitute. " He is not 
 ♦ Matt. iii. 11. f John vii. 39. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. \ti 
 
 a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that 
 circumcision which is outward in tlie flesh ; but 
 he is a Jew which is one inwardly ; and circum- 
 cision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not 
 in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of 
 God."* In the epistle to the Galatians, th« 
 apostle writes much on the subject of circum- 
 cision, but never mentions any other substitute 
 for it, than " Faith which worketh by love/' 
 and a " new creature."+ 
 
 What has been said respecting Water Bap- 
 tism, is intended to apply to it, as it was ori- 
 ginally administered by immersion; and in which 
 manner, I conceive, if it be of religious obliga- 
 tion, it can only be rightly administered. But 
 it is a singular fact, that by far the greater num- 
 l)er of the advocates for Water Baptism, and 
 those who are most apt to reflect on us for 
 laying it aside, never practise it themselves; but 
 iiave substituted for it, the sprinkling of a little 
 water in the face of the person pretended to bet 
 baptized; and this they apply to infants more 
 than to adults. Now this I think may, with 
 confidence, be asserted, that Sprinkling is not 
 Baptism; but if it must have a name of Greek 
 
 * Rom. ii. 28 and 29. t Gal. r. 6. aqd W. 15. 
 
 I. 
 
122 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 derivation, should be called Rantism. Besides, 
 it is a ceremony, which has neither precept nor 
 example in the Holy Scriptures ; the few argu- 
 ments for it being drawn from equivocal sup- 
 positions. For any, therefore, to censure us 
 for the disuse of Water Baptism, who have 
 themselves laid aside the use of it, and substi- 
 tuted something else in its stead, is not a little 
 extraordinary. Which way soever it is admi- 
 nistered, it may be an innocent ceremony to 
 those who consider it as a religious duty. 
 
 But althougii the baptizing or sprinkling of 
 Infants may be innocent in itself, there are 
 some circumstances attending its administra- 
 tion, at least by the Church of England, which 
 may be seriously injurious. To say, after a 
 child has passed this ceremony; " We yield 
 thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that 
 it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant 
 Avith thy Holy Spirit ; to receive him for thy 
 own child by adoption ; and to incorporate him 
 into thy holy church ;" is saying u^at, I think, 
 neither reason nor revelation will support ; and 
 if it is seriously believed, must lead those 
 who have passed through this ceremony, when 
 thev arrive to years of consideration, to a very 
 mistaken apprehension of their own state. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 10,3 
 
 Another part of this ceremony, and which 
 results from administering it to infants, appears 
 to me to be very objectionable, lliat which I 
 allude to is, the engagement which those enter 
 into, who become sureties for baptized children. 
 In performing this ceremony, the priest says : 
 " This infant must also faithfully, for his part, 
 promise by you that are his sureties, (until he 
 come of age to take it upon himself,) that he will 
 renounce the devil and all his works, and con- 
 stantly believe God's Holy Word, and obedi- 
 ently keep his commandments. I demand, 
 therefore. Dost tliou, in the name of tliis child, 
 renounce the devil and all his works, the vam 
 pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous 
 desire* of the same, and the carnal desires of 
 the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be 
 led by them ? Answer, I renounce them all." 
 Now I appeal to those who are well acquainted 
 with this practice, whether they, who thus en- 
 gage, do really perform their engagement. 
 Does it clearly appear (as it certainly ought to 
 do) that they always intend it when they make 
 it? Is their own conduct such as correspond* 
 with the engagement, into which they have en- 
 tered ? And do they, afterwards, follow up this 
 eugagemeut by means adapted to the end? Or^ 
 
 L 2 
 
124 ON BAPTISM AN3) THE SUPPER. 
 
 is not this solemn covenant, which is attended 
 with the most solemn circumstances, often 
 lightly entered into, and as lightly violated? 
 Let those who are promoting a practice, in- 
 volving in it a conduct so repugnant both to 
 religion and morality, seriously consider what 
 they are doing; and then I believe they will see 
 this practice in an awful point of view ; and not 
 be very censorious on us, for lajing aside a 
 jceremony, which we think we have good rea- 
 lign to believe is not an essential part of Chris- 
 tianity ; and of which their own practice abmi- 
 dantly convinces us, tliat the abuse greatfy 
 exceeds the use. 
 
 We are, however, sensible that the abuse of 
 any thing, in itself good and necessary, is not a 
 sufficient reason for its disuse, nor do we rest 
 ©ur arguments upon it. It is now left to the 
 serious consideration of the reader, whether 
 Water Baptism can be considered as an essen- 
 tial of Christianity, or, whether it may not b^ 
 regarded as one of those " divers washings,^ 
 which were only temporarily imposed ; and 
 which were gradually to vanish away and cease: 
 " Christ being come, a high Priest of good 
 things to come,— by his own bloody, entered 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 12j 
 
 once into the holy place, having obtained eternal 
 redemption for us;"» thus, '' blotting out the 
 hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, 
 which was contrary to us, he took it out of the 
 way, nailing it to his cross."t 
 
 After what has been said on the subject of 
 religious ceieraonies in general, and on Baptism 
 in particular, it may not be necessary to add 
 much on what is called the Lord's Supper. 
 We admit that a ceremony, under this nanre, 
 was in use in the primitive church ; and most 
 probably arose from the circumstances which 
 occurred, when our blessed Lord ate the last 
 passover with his disciples : but we do not think 
 that, thence, an obligation arises upon Chris- 
 tians in general, to retain this ceremony. It 
 was, like Baptism, derived from a Jewish cus- 
 tom; and when this dispensation was about to 
 be superseded by that of the gospel, it appears 
 (as has already been observed) that this change 
 was <yradual, and the former dispensation not 
 wholly laid aside at once. Admitting there- 
 fore, as we do, all the circumstances related on 
 this subject ; we cannot conceive, that a recom- 
 mendation by Christ, to his most intimate 
 
 • Heb. ix. U and 12. 
 fc 3 
 
 t Cul. ii. li. 
 
126 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 friends and immediate followers, that in future, 
 when they kept the passover, they should have 
 tlieir dear Lord and Master particularly in re- 
 membrance, does constitute an obligation upoa 
 all those that should hereafter believe on hi* 
 name. To desire them to eat that bread and 
 drink that cup in remembrance of him, with this 
 addition, " as oft as ye drink it,"* is, we be- 
 lieve, a very insufficient foundation for the 
 superstructure which has been raised upon it. 
 
 It has already been remarked, that the wash- 
 ing of one another's feet was strongly recom- 
 mended by our blessed Lord ; and might with 
 at least equal propriety, be now enjoined as a 
 religious obligation on Christians. It may be 
 remembered, that our Lord, having washed the 
 feet of his disciples, afterwards addressed theak 
 in this manner: " Know ye what I have done 
 •unto you ? Ye call me Master and Lord, and— 
 so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, 
 have washed your feet, ye also ought to wasb 
 •ne another's feet: for I have given you aa 
 example, that ye should do as I have done to 
 you."+ Can any thing so clear, or so positive, 
 te produced in favour of the Lord's Supper, or 
 ...^^vea of Water Baptism ? Nevertheless, we do 
 • i Cor. Hi, 25» f Jobn xiii. n to 15* 
 
 !• 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 127 
 
 not hear of this practice, thus plainly enjoined, 
 being recommended at this day, at least by 
 Protestants, as a Christian duty. And why ? 
 Because it is considered, as we consider the 
 others, of a local or temporary nature. If a 
 church, or congregation of Christians, can, ia 
 one case, dispense with the use of a religious 
 ceremony, it certainly has the same right to da 
 so in another. 
 
 The washing of the feet was a mark of 
 
 humility, as the supper was of love ; and- 
 
 where the thing signified is felt and acted 
 
 upon, the emblem might, in our apprehension, 
 be either used or disused, as Christians may 
 
 consider most conducive to the real advantage 
 of the church. We believe, however, that re- 
 taining these ceremonies has, in general, a ten- 
 dency to settle the minds of the professors of 
 Christianity in unnecessary forms ; and to pre- 
 vent their aspiring sufficiently after the practice 
 ©f real and vital Christianity. The importance 
 attached to this ceremony, we conceive, justifies 
 our apprehensions in this respect ; and the abuse 
 nvhich frequently attends its administration, 
 must, we think in this case, as in that of Bap- 
 tism, greatly exceed its use. We doubt not 
 the sincerity and piety, with which this cere- 
 
 • I'l 
 
i28 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 raony is frequently administered and received; 
 yet we believe, that the true Lord's Supper 
 requires no such elementary mediums as bread 
 and wine for its participation ; but that it is the 
 same, and the qualification to receive it the 
 same, as is pointed out by this language to one 
 of the churches : " Behold, I stand at the door, 
 and knock : if any man hear my voice, and open 
 the door, I will come in to him, and will sup 
 V ith him, and he with me."* The experience 
 of this inward communion, this spiritual parti- 
 cipation of the Lord's Supper, is that which 
 ue desire to pronK)te among the professors of 
 Christianity ; believing with the apostle, " that 
 the kingdom of God is not meat and drhik ; but 
 righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy 
 Ghost: for he that in these things servetb 
 Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved o£ 
 
 men. j 
 
 Our dissent from the generality of Chris- 
 tians, on the subjects of Water Baptism and 
 the Supper, and our disuse of these and other 
 ceremonies, have, however, brought upon u» 
 much censure from some of our fellow Chris- 
 tians, who have even denied us a right to that 
 name, conceiving that we could not be sincere 
 • Rev. Ui, 20. t Rom. xiv. 17 k f8. 
 
 ON BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER. 
 
 129 
 
 believers in Christ. But oui; disuse of these cere- 
 monies is so far from proceeding from any infe- 
 rior views of Christianity, that it arises from our 
 very high opinion of it ; oa which ground we 
 cannot reconcile these external rites to the 
 great objects, and particularly to the spirituality 
 of the gospel dispensation. We believe in 
 Christ Jesus, the Saviour of men ; we believe 
 that he *^ washed us from our sins in his own 
 blood ;"* that he is " our passover, who is sacri- 
 ficed for us ;"+ and Uiat he has " abolished in 
 his flesh, the enmity, even the law of command- 
 meats, contained in ordinances; for through 
 him we have access by one Spirit unto the 
 Father."^ 
 
 • Rev. i* 5^ t I Cor. ?, 71 
 
 t Ephes. ii. 15 & 18. 
 
OF DAYS ANB TIMES. 
 
 131 
 
 H 
 
 ON THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVAXCE 
 OF DAYS AND TIMES. 
 
 Exemption from censure claimed for their non-obser- 
 vance. — The observance of them disapproved by tJte 
 Jpostlt Paul. — More injurious than benefcial to 
 Religion — especially Festivals.^ Setting apart vne 
 day in the -week approved. — On Public Fasts, 4^c.— 
 Conclusion from Kom. xiv. 5, SfC» 
 
 Our disuse of the religious observance oi 
 T)ays and Times is generally known, and i\e 
 trust that, both on this and the preceding sub- 
 ject, we may claim that exemption from cen- 
 sure, which the apostle granted to the church 
 at Colosse: " Let no man judge you in meat 
 or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of 
 the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, which 
 are a shadow of things to come j but the body 
 is of Christ."* 
 
 By the law of Moses, many days and times^ 
 were set apart, for the commemoration of vari- 
 ous extraordinary circumstances, and for other 
 
 • Col. ii. 16, . 
 
 considerations connected with that dispensation. 
 Some of these were, for a time, observed by 
 die primitive Christians^ especially by the 
 Jewish converts, whose attachment to their law, 
 as is aheady remarked, not only induced them 
 to retain many of its ceremonies, but also to 
 endeavour to impose diem on the Gentile 
 Christians. This the apostle Paul was particu- 
 larly concerned to break through, and to assert 
 tlie freedom of the gospel dispensation, from 
 the obligation of these legal observances ; and, 
 though he wished the believers not to judge one 
 anoUier, either for observing, or not observing 
 days and times ; yet he could not but consider 
 it an unfavouralile symptom in the Galatians, 
 that they should, after having laid them aside, 
 return to the observance of them : " How turn 
 ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, 
 whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 
 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and 
 years : I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed 
 upon you labour in vain.*'* 
 
 Unless those who are in this practice, can 
 prove some command or injunction for it in the 
 Xevv Testament, of which I know not any, I 
 
 ♦ Gal. iv. 9, 10, & 11^ 
 
!i 
 
 
 I '■( 
 
 132 ON THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE 
 
 conceive but little more need be said on this 
 wibject. If any think the observance tends to 
 promote piety and virtue, we would not judge 
 tliose who are inclined to make this use of it ; 
 but I apprehend it as a fact of too much publick 
 notoriety, not to be acknowledged, that obser- 
 vances of this kind, particularly the festivals, 
 ar€ in general so conducted as to promote dis- 
 sipation and intemperance, much more than 
 piety and virtue; and, therefore, in every point 
 of view, we think we are well warranted in lay- 
 in^y such observances aside. 
 
 We however consider the setting apart of one 
 day in seven for cessation from business, and 
 for religious services, no more than a reasonable 
 duty: and we encourage the obseivance of it 
 among our members. It has been our practice 
 from the commencement of our religious so- 
 ciety; and althougU we do not consider the 
 rirst, or any day of the week, as possessing si 
 superior degree of holiness; yet we believe 
 considerable advantages to religion and virtue 
 arise not only from a proper dedication and 
 employment of it, but even from the imperfect 
 observance, with which it is oa tlie whole re- 
 garded. 
 
 ©N DAYS And times. 
 
 l!)3 
 
 We are also sensible that the duties of humi- 
 liation and thanksgiving are frequently incum- 
 bent upon us ; yet, from the conviction that the 
 qualification to perform these duties should 
 proceed from a higher source than man, we do 
 not consider it right to unite with those who 
 set apart particular times, and adopt set forms, 
 for these purposes. Besides this general rea- 
 son, the occasion is often such as we can, by 
 no means, join with. When war, or the suc- 
 cesses or defeats attendant «pon it, are the 
 occasion of public thanksgiving or humiliation, 
 our sentiments on the inconsistency of war with 
 the spirit of Christianity, prevent our uniting in 
 prayer or praises for victories, which involve 
 the destruction of our fellow-creatures ; and by 
 which, there is too much reason to fear, many 
 souls are sent unprepared into an awful eter- 
 nity. By joining on these occasions, we con- 
 ceive that we should act inconsistently with that 
 peaceable Spirit which our blessed Lord has so 
 strongly inculcated, and which will be more 
 particularly treated of in the following chapter. 
 
 After giving these reasons for our dissent on 
 this subject, I shall conclude with the words of 
 
 M 
 
334 
 
 ON DAYS AND TIMES. . 
 
 1^^ 
 
 il 
 
 
 iii 
 
 :1 
 
 ilie apostle Paul : " One man ^steemeth one 
 4ky above anotiier : another esteemeth every 
 day alike. Let every man be fulJy persuaded 
 in his own mind. . He that regardeth the day, 
 regardeth it to the Lord; and he that regardeth 
 not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.'** 
 *' Let us not therefore judge one another any 
 more : but judge this rather, that no man put a 
 fitumbling block, or au occasion to fall, in hk 
 brother's way."f 
 
 ♦Ilom.xiv. 5,6. i Ibid. 13. 
 
 CIIJP. PIIL 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 4tuota(mf from Matt. v.'^Oaths unnecessary .-^Ar^ 
 gumcnts m favour of them ansKered^^^Argumentf 
 in favour of War answcred.-^Tfie Christian Religion 
 the only remedy for this cviL 
 
 ** IlE have beard, that it haUi been said by 
 them of old time. Thou shalt not forswear 
 thyself; but shalt perform unto the Lord thine 
 oaths: but I say unto you. Swear not at all; 
 neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor 
 by the earth, for it is his footstool — But let 
 your communication be yea, yea ; nay, nay ; for 
 whatsoever is more than these conieth of evil." 
 
 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Aw 
 eye for an eye, and a toodi for a tooth : but I 
 say unto you, that ye resist not evil.— Ye have 
 heard that it hath been said. Thou shalt loVe 
 thy neighbour and hate thine enemy: but I say 
 unto you. Love yoiu* enemies ; bless them that 
 curse you ; do good to them tliat hate you ; 
 aad pray for them which despitefuUy use ^xi*k 
 
136 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 ON OATHS A^D WAH, 
 
 13T 
 
 persecute you ; that ye may be the children of 
 your Father w hich is in heaven ; for he niaketb 
 his sun to rise on the evil and on the good; and 
 seudeth rain on the j.ust and on the unjust."* 
 
 After reciting these strong and unequivocal 
 injunctions of our Divine Master, I have paused 
 to consider, whether I should say a word, more 
 ©n the subject of them; their own force and 
 perspicuity seeming to require no comment. I 
 shall therefore make none upon them; but after 
 saying that on these, and other similar passages 
 in the scriptures, we ground our testimony 
 against oaths and war, shall proceed to consider 
 the objections that are made to the adoption of 
 precepts so clearly conveyed to us, and the 
 practice of which would be attend^' with so 
 many benefits to mankind. 
 
 With respect to oaths, th« apparent necessity 
 .©f them is so small, and their real injury is so 
 great, by profaning the sacred name, that, it is 
 presumed very few religiously minded people 
 will be disposed to plead in their favour : and, 
 indeed, it appears to me difficult to find an 
 objection of any importance, to laying them 
 wholly aside. 
 
 * Malt. T. 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, S9, 43, 44, 45. 
 
 Tlie principsJ argnxnents used by tbose whO; 
 ttre disposed to plead for thesn, must however 
 be considered. One of these is, that the Al- 
 mighty is sometimes said, in scripture, to make 
 use of an oath. To this it may be answered, 
 that the Almighty coaki not swear as man- 
 si\'ears, there being none greater than himself 
 to whom he could appeal; or to whom he wa^-^ 
 afmena^le for the truth of his declaration. Be- 
 sides which, we appi^end, that what He might 
 do, as Sovereign Lord, may not be proper for 
 us to do as dependent creatures, whose highest 
 perfection is obedience to his will ; and this 
 will being expressly revealed to us in this in- 
 stance by his beloved Son, our obvioiui duty ia- 
 to comply with it. 
 
 Another argument in fSvoilr of swearing be- 
 fore magistrates, is advanced from the circum- 
 stance of our Lord's being silent before tlie 
 Eigh priest, until he adjwed him by the liviiw^ 
 God. That the high priest intended formally 
 to admmister a judicial oath to-our Saviotw, is 
 nrhat, I apprehend, the context wiH not support. 
 It rather appears, that Caiaphas, being irritated 
 hy our Lord's sil«ice, made use of this express 
 ^on in -the violence of his temper, and not ir^ d^ 
 
 M 3 
 
r^s 
 
 ^N OATITS AND WAR. 
 
 judicial capacity; and until the latter can b& 
 proved, our Lord's simple reply, " Thou hast 
 said,"* in no degree partakes of the nature of 
 ' an oath. 
 
 A third argument in favour of the use of 
 oaths, is drawn from some expressions of the 
 apostle Paul ; as, " God is my witness ;''t " I 
 charge thee before God,"J &c. These, and 
 other similar expressions, do not, however, 
 appear to constitute an oath;, nor would they 
 be admitted as such in a court of judicature. 
 In the beginning of our society, such expressions 
 -were sometimes offered to magistrates, instead 
 of an oath, but always refused."^ Besides, if 
 these words of the apostle are to be considered 
 as oaths, they would prove too much, by show- 
 ing that he used them in private correspon- 
 dence, or communication ; w hich those who 
 plead for judicial swearing, agree our Lord 
 meant to prohibit by the command, " Sweax 
 not at all" 
 
 « Matt. xxvi. 64. t Rom. i. 9. $ S Tim. it. 1. 
 
 f The first affirmation granted to oar society instead of 
 as oalb, was a declaration *' in the presence of Almighty 
 God.*' But this not affording universal relief, the lejL'isIa^ 
 ture afterwards indulged us with the present form of aties- 
 tfitioDj in which there is do use of the sacred Name. 
 
 o:n oaths axd war. 
 
 1^9 
 
 Some have also argued in favour of judicial 
 swearing, from an allusion to it in the epistle 
 to the Hebrews, chap. vi. 16. But surely the 
 incidental mention of a general practice amonw 
 " men," is not a sufficient argument for the 
 rectitude of that practice ; nor a proof that it 
 was allowed by Christians, who, in comparison 
 with the rest of mankind, w^re then few ia 
 number. 
 
 It may perhaps be still argued, that the ends 
 of justice could not be answered without an 
 oath. To this it may be replied, that if the 
 same penalty were annexed to a false affirma- 
 tion as to a false oath, those whose consciences, 
 are not sufficiently tender to preserve thein from, 
 giving a false affirmation, would find, in the 
 penalty, as much terror from offending against 
 one, as against the other. 
 
 It has been alleged by some, that this prohi- 
 bition of oaths relates only to common conver- 
 sation ; but the context will by no means sup- 
 port this construction, as will appear from the. 
 following considerations. Firsts Profane swear- 
 ing was prohibited under the law, and it is. 
 evident that Christ was forbidding what ther 
 
f49 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 law had allowed. Secondly, Swearing is liere 
 contrasted with forsweanns: or false swearino*. 
 Now this being contrary to the law, whether 
 before a magistrate, or in private conversation^ 
 tlie command not to swear at all must be equally 
 extensive. Our construction of the command 
 of Christ is further confirmed by the exhorta- 
 tion of his disciple and apostle James: "Above 
 all things, my brethren, swear not;, neither by 
 heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other 
 oath : but let your yea be yea ; and your nay, 
 nay ; lest ye fall into condemnation."* 
 
 Having said what appears to be sufficient on 
 Ae subject of oaths ; we come next to consider' 
 Ae arguments used m defence of war. Of diese 
 the prmciple one is, that it is unavoidable and ne- 
 cessary, in reply to this we say, that so long as 
 mankind are disposed to live under the influence 
 ©f their passions, and to sacrifice their dearest 
 interests to their avarice, or their ambition, this 
 plea will not be wanting. But let us consider 
 yn/kai proofs have been given, that war is really 
 unavoidable. Has any nation fairly made the 
 •xperiment, and failed? Where is the country 
 that has regulated its conduct b^ that justice, 
 
 * James ▼, 1?,- 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 141 
 
 that liberality, that love, that humility, and that 
 meekness, which Christianity requires, and yet 
 has found war unavoidable ? Can we contem- 
 plate the characters of tlie individuals, who have 
 been the rulers of nations, and say, that such 
 have been the dispositions which regulated their 
 public and private conduct; and that still they 
 have not been able to preserve their country 
 from war and bloodshed? Till all this can be 
 clearly proved, the argument from necessity is 
 of no weight. 
 
 If, then, it cannot be shown that men, living 
 and acting in a truly Christian spirit, have found 
 war to be necessary and unavoidable, the aro-u- 
 ment assumed must be considered, as destitute 
 of foundation. But, that I may not be thought 
 to reason chimerically, I shall show that a peo^ 
 pie have existed, who, acting upon, these Chris- 
 tian principles, preserved their country from 
 M ar and bloodshed, even while their neighbours 
 were frequently involved in them. Pennsylvania, 
 it is generally known, was originally the pro- 
 perty of one called a Quaker, who filled most 
 of the offices of the government with persons of 
 his own persuasion. Had not the conduct of this 
 people towards their neighbours, both Indiana 
 
i4e 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 and Europeans, been recorded by men totally 
 •uconnected with the society, my relation might 
 appear partial and interested; but history, im- 
 partial history, has transmitted the conduct of 
 this people to posterity in such a manner, as 
 renders it unnecessary for me to say more, tliaii 
 that, so long as they retained their ascendancy 
 in the state, which was about sixty or seventy 
 years, neither internal nor external war was 
 permitted to disturb their peaceful habitations.* 
 We do not say that occasions of difference 
 never occurred: but other means of settlino* 
 their differences, than those generally resorted 
 to, were pursued; and, if not found successful, 
 submission was wisely preferred to the pre- 
 carious and violent decision of the sword. 
 
 • In corroboration of these circnmstance!), the fbllow. 
 inp qnotatioB is giren from the translation of a Latin* 
 Poem, entitled " Descriptio Pennsylvaniae," and written 
 in 1729, by Thomas Makin, after forty years residence iir 
 Pcnatylvania: 
 
 " On just and fairest terms the land is gained, 
 ** No force of arms has any right obtained. 
 " Tis here, without the use of arms, alone,. 
 ** The blest iniiabitant enjoys his own. 
 " Here many, to their wish, in ppace enjoy 
 " Their happy Lots, and nothing doth annoy. 
 " But sad New England's diSTerent conduct shows 
 " What dire effect from injured Indians flows." 
 See Proud's History of Pennsylvania, p. 211— Note.. 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 143 
 
 <31reat pains are taken to make a distinction 
 between offensive, and defensive war; and whilst 
 the former is generally reprobated, the latter 
 meets with many advocates. It must, I sup- 
 pose, be admitted, tliat in almost every war, both 
 parties profess to act on the principle of de- 
 fence : and where is the criterion which accu- 
 rately determines the difference? But supposing 
 an extreme case, and that without any provoca- 
 tion, one man, or one nation, is attacked by 
 another, is there no dependence to he placed 
 on a superintending Providence ? and have reli- 
 gion and virtue no resources^ but in the arm of 
 flesh? Were our minds brought into a true 
 Christian state, the protection of Divine Provi- 
 dence would be humbly and safely relied upon ; 
 so far, at least, as to prevent us from seeking 
 redress, by means destructive of the lives of our 
 fellow-creatures. 
 
 Such is the natural state of mankind, that 
 ^* offences must needs come ;" but it ought to be 
 Tcmembered, " that woe is to him, by whom 
 the offence cometh." Were those dispositions 
 recommended by our blessed Lord, cherished 
 bv that which considers itself the offended 
 party, it would soon appear, that war is not 
 
244 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 SO necessary and unavoidable^ as is by many 
 imagined. 
 
 If sound policy were adopted, it would unite 
 with true Christianity in eradicating this dis- 
 tressing evil. Can any thing in this world 
 compensate for the desolation and misery, which 
 war occasions in the earth ? To the loss of life 
 and property, with almost all worldly comforts, 
 let us add the still more important loss, which 
 religion and virtue sustain from a state of war, 
 and from the military life in general : Will it not 
 then be difficult to conceive how men, who really 
 have what they think the good of their country at 
 heart, and who also consider themselves entitled 
 to the cknomination of Christians, can promote 
 a practice, which is productive of so many, 
 both natural and moral evils. In contemplating 
 this distressing subject, we find it necessary to 
 have recourse to that Christian charity, which 
 it is our duty to extend to those \> ho differ from 
 us in principle and practice.* I wish, how- 
 
 ♦ Onr excellent apologist, R. Barclay, manifests the 
 liberality of his mind on this subject, when, after amiln*. 
 with his usual ability, in favour of our principle against 
 war, he admits that the practice of non-resistance is the 
 most perfect part of the Christian religion, and makes con- 
 siderable allowances for those who differ from us on this 
 occasion.— See Prop. xv. close of Sect. Ij. 
 
 ON OATHS ANB WAR. 
 
 143 
 
 ever, for myself and my fellow professors, that 
 we may faithfully maintain our principles on 
 this subject ; being at the same time carefid to 
 support the doctrine of peace, in the spirit of 
 peace : then we may be made instrumental in 
 promoting the increase of the government of 
 tlie Son of God, whose introduction into this 
 world was announced by an angel, accompanied 
 with " a multitude of the heavenly host ; prais- 
 ing God, and saying. Glory to God in the 
 highest, and on earth Peace, Good-will towards 
 
 men. 
 
 ffi 
 
 There are a few arguments brought forward iu 
 favour of war, from some passages in the New 
 Testament, which it will be proper to consider. 
 Of these, the principal one is, the expression of 
 our Lord to his disciples : *' He that hath no 
 sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."t 
 This passage is generally considered to be of 
 doubtful signification; and some, who do not 
 agree with us in our sentiments on war, consi- 
 der this expression of our Lord as allegorical. J 
 When the disciples replied, " Here are two 
 
 • Luke ii. 13 & 14. t See Luke xxii. 36, 
 
 * See Dr. Edwards oo the Stile, &c. of the Scripture^ 
 
 K 
 
ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 147 
 
 146 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 swords," he gave tliis short answer, '' It is 
 enough."* This seems to imply that they did 
 not understand his meaning ; for if he had in- 
 tended the external sword^ how could two be 
 sufficient for the number of the disciples, and 
 at a time when they were about to be attacked 
 by a multitude, that came out, as against a 
 thief, with swords and staves ? But what seems 
 clearly to show, that our Saviour did not intend 
 to recommend the use of the sword in a literal 
 sense, is the circumstance which occurred very 
 soon after he had used the expression under 
 consideration : for we find, that when Peter, on 
 the very same day, made use of a sword in de- 
 fence of his master, he was reproved by him in 
 this manner: " Put up again thy sword into 
 his place ; for all they that take the sword, shall 
 perish with the sword."t It may also be added, 
 that it was on the same, or the succeeding day, 
 that our Lord said to Pilate, " My kingdom is 
 not of this world. If my kingdom weie of this 
 world, then would my servants fight, that I 
 should not be delivered to the JewsJ'J Now, 
 when these important and concurring circum- 
 stances are considered, can it be supposed, that 
 our Lord intended to recommend to his disciples 
 
 • Luke xxii. 38. t Mat. M?i. 52. t John xvUL 36* 
 
 the use of the sword, either in defence of him 
 ©r themselves, or on any other occasion ? 
 
 Another circumstance brought forward as an 
 argument in favour of war, is the conversion of 
 Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army, 
 and no account giv«n of his having reHnquished 
 a military life.* As we have not any further ac- 
 count of this pious centurion, than that of his 
 conversion, and the circumstances attending it, 
 no argument of any weight can be drawn from 
 this relation. Some ancient writers inform us, 
 that the primitive Christians did not fight ; and 
 we may therefore reasonably suppose, that if 
 the centurion continued firm in his attachment 
 to the Christian religion, he abandoned his 
 Fiilitary life. At any rate, the silence of the 
 sacred historian cannot, with propriety, be 
 brought forward as an argument in support of 
 war ; or as showing it to be consistent with the 
 Christian dispensation. 
 
 It is fmther argued, that the expression of 
 the apostle Paul, who says respecting the ma- 
 
 • Acts X. The remarki on this case apply to that ilf 
 Hie Centurion mentioned Mat. vUi. 5, 
 
 N 2 
 
.1 
 
 148 
 
 ON OATHS AND WAR. 
 
 gistrate, " He beareth not the sword in vain,"* 
 is an implied acknowledgment of the propriety 
 of using the sword in a military manner. This 
 argument, I conceive, arises from a misappli- 
 cation of the passage. The sword here alluded 
 to, we have reason to suppose, was only an 
 emblem of civil power. We are informed, 
 that one of the chief magistrates in Rome (and 
 it is to the Romans the apostle uses this expr6s- 
 jsion) had a sword hung up in his court, as an 
 emblem of his power ;+ and we know that in 
 this country, especially in corporate towns, the- 
 chief magistrates have a sword borne before 
 them on particular occasions, as an emblem of 
 office. But if the sword Was even used in the 
 punishment of oflfenders, it would be no fair, 
 argument in favour of using it for the purposes 
 of war, and those devastations attendant on this, 
 lamentable evil. 
 
 These, and such as these, are the arguments: 
 advanced by many in support of an evil, which, 
 in its consequences, shocks humanity, destroys 
 morality, weakens the influence of religion, and 
 entails on mankind miseries incalculable and 
 
 ♦ Rom. xiii. 4. 
 i- Godwin's Konaaa AntiqaitieSj p. 164. 
 
 ON OATHS AN'D WAR. 
 
 ug 
 
 indescribable. Were the ingenuity of man a* 
 much exercised to put an end to this calamity, 
 as his ambition is to support it, we should soon 
 find the benefits resulting from this disposition. 
 But it is religion, it is the Christian religion, 
 which alone provides an adequate remedy for 
 this malignant disorder; and wliea mankind are 
 willing to receive it, in die purity, tlie love, the 
 meekness, and the humility, which its Divine 
 Autlior inculcated, this, with other similar pre- 
 dictions respecting him, will be fulfilled: " He 
 shall judge among the nations, and work con- 
 viction* among many people: and they shiill 
 beat their swords into plough-shares, and their 
 spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift 
 up sword agahist nation; neither shall they 
 Icaru war any more."t 
 
 ♦ See Lowth's Translation of Isaiah. 
 t Isaiah ii. 4. 
 
 N :7 
 
CHAP. IX. 
 ON AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 (aeneral remarks on them.'^^'Rnles respecting thcm,^* 
 On Dancing and Music. — Necessity of properli^ 
 regulating amusements for youth, '■^ Propriety (^ 
 avoiding temptation. 
 
 The little benefit, and great injury, which 
 attend most of those enjoyments, that go under 
 the name of amusements, have induced us to 
 bring them into less compass, than the generality 
 of Christians do : not that we are averse to such 
 relaxations from bodily or mental exercise, as 
 become rational beings, and tnie Christians : 
 but the repugnancy of a great part of those 
 |)leasures to religion and virtue, and the avidity 
 with which they are pursued, are causes of sor- 
 row to those who have at heart the real interests, 
 temporal and spiritual, of their fellow-creatures* 
 
 There are three rules relating to amusements, 
 by which our conduct should be regulated. 
 
 1 .—To avoid all those which tend needlessly 
 to oppress and injure any p^t of the animal 
 
 ON AMrSEMENTS, 
 
 151 
 
 creation. Of this class are cock-fighting and 
 horse-racing: also hunting, &c. when engaged 
 in for diversion and pleasure. 
 
 2.— To abstain from such as are connected 
 with a spirit of ha2;ardous enterprize ; by which 
 the property and temporal happiness of indi- 
 viduals and families, are often made to depend 
 on the most precarious circumstances ; and the 
 gain of one, frequently entails misery on many^ 
 Of tliis class are all games in which property 
 IS staked. 
 
 S. — To avoid sueli as expose us to unnecessary 
 temptations, with respect to our virtue; or, 
 which dissipate the mind, so as to render a re- 
 turn to civil and religious duties ungrateful. 
 Of this kind, stage entertainments are peculiarly 
 to be avoided, with various other places of 
 public amusement, which have a tendency ta 
 corrupt the heart, or to alienate it from the love 
 and fear of God; 
 
 The amusements of dancing and music, we 
 think, also come within this class. It may be 
 alleged, that these might be practised in such a 
 maimer, as not to accord with the description 
 
15% 
 
 • N AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 ON AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 153 
 
 given. Our Society, however, thinks it right tn 
 abstain fro«v those amusements^ both- because 
 of their frequent connection- with places and 
 circumstances, which are highly objectionable ; 
 and because we conceive they can scarcely be 
 entered into- without an improper employment 
 of that time, which we are required not to 
 waste^ but to pass in fear, and to redeem. 
 
 Were our minds rightly regulated, and our af- 
 fections set on things above, very little, which is 
 called amusement, would be thought necessary 
 for those who are arrived at mature age. With 
 respect to young people, it peculiarly behooves 
 those who have the care of them, to see that 
 such amusements only be adopted, as may not 
 prove injurious to their religion or virtue ; but 
 which may tend to promote their possessing a 
 sound mind in a sound body. Were amuse- 
 ments thus restrained and regulated, great would 
 be the benefit arising from such restrictions ; 
 but when we see how ardently many, not onW 
 of the youth, but even of those who are con- 
 siderably advanced in years, rush into dissipating 
 and corruptmg pleasures, it is not to be won- 
 dered at, that vice and irreligion should preyjiil 
 to au alarmifag degree.^ 
 
 We ought ever to retain a sense of our own 
 weakness, and of our aptitude to fall into 
 temptations, when they are presented to us. 
 Were we properly concerned for our own 
 most important interest, that of our inunortal 
 souls, this sense would lead us to avoid, and 
 Bot to run into, temptation. How much those 
 amusements are either evils themselves, or 
 temptations to evil, it cannot be necessary to 
 point out at large to those who exercise serious 
 reflection. How necessary is it, therefore, to 
 attend to the apostolic exhortatioa: " See then, 
 that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as 
 wise, redeeming the time, because the days are 
 evil."* 
 
 • Ephes. V. 15, 16; 
 
CIIJP. X. 
 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 Our principle for regulating dress. ^-Scripture passages 
 in support 6f it^—An objection answered. — Non- 
 conformity to the uorld to he accmnpanied with the 
 transformation of the mind. — Our peculiarities of ad- 
 dress supported by reason^ by propriety, and by reli^ 
 gion. — On not taking off the hat. -^Custom too much 
 admitted in the conduct of Christians, 
 
 On the first of these subjects, our principle 
 is, to let decency, utility, and simplicity, be oflr 
 chief guides ; and not to conform to the change- 
 able fashions of a vain and fluctuating world ^ 
 thou<^h we may occasionally adopt alterations, 
 which ai-e convenient or useful. This is a 
 principle, the propriety of which, I apprehend> 
 no one will deny ; and it is easy to suppose, 
 that such a rule must make those who adopt it, 
 generally singular in their appearance. It ia 
 not, however, for the sake of singularity, thai 
 we appear different from others ; yet we have 
 reason to believe, that even this singularity is 
 uot without its use. It is, iu some respects^ 
 
 ON DRESS AND ABDRESS, 
 
 loo 
 
 like a hedge about us ; w hich though it does 
 not make the ground it encloses rich and fruit- 
 ful, yet frequently prevents diose mtrusions by 
 which the labour of the husbandman is injiued 
 or destroyed. 
 
 The conduct which we have adopted in this 
 respect, is supported by many passages in holy 
 writ. " Be not conformed to this world ; but 
 be ye transformed by the renewing of your 
 mind,"* was the advice of the apostle to the 
 Christians, who dwelt at the seat of Roman 
 grandeur and luxury ; and at a time, when this 
 grandeur and luxury had perhaj)s attained to 
 their greatest height. As the female sex has 
 generally been accounted most prone to ex- 
 cesses of this kind, the apostles in writing on 
 tJiis subject, have more particularly addressed 
 tlieir advices to them : thus Paul says, " I will- 
 that women adorn themselves with modest ap- 
 parel ; with shamefacedness and sobriety ; not 
 with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly 
 array, but, which becometh women professing 
 godliness, with good works ."f The following 
 is extracted from the apostle Peter's advice to 
 Christian wives : " Whose adorning let it not 
 
 • Rom. xii. 2, t 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10. 
 
156 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, 
 or of wearing of gold, or of putting on of ap- 
 parel ; but let it be the hidden man of the heart 
 in that which is not corruptible; even the orna- 
 ment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the 
 si*>ht of God of great price/'* 
 
 It has been objected to us, that we connect 
 religion too much with dress. This, I conceive, 
 arises from a misapprehension of our principles. 
 We consider simplicity of apparel and a non- 
 conformity to vain fashions, as a moral virtue, 
 in the same manner, though not to the same de- 
 trree, as we do temperance and sobriety. In 
 these it is possible a man may be very exemplaiy, 
 and yet be a stranger to true religion: but, be- 
 cause this man wants that which should be the 
 niovin<y spring of all our good actions, and 
 perhaps, in some other parts of conduct, is evea 
 deficient in morality, no one, surely, would re- 
 commend such a man to lay aside that part of 
 moral conduct, which he is already in tlie prac- 
 tice of. Thus it is with our apparel. W« 
 need not lay aside what is right in one part of 
 our practice, because we are not thought right, 
 or do not think ourselves so, in every thing. 
 
 » J Pet. iii. S, 4. 
 
 ON DR'ESS AN» ADDRESS. 
 
 W 
 
 A man's pretension to religion or virtue, should 
 not be estimated from the plainness of his dress 
 and outward appearance, any more than from 
 his possessing some other moral virtues, int© 
 which true religion would, no doubt, lead him. 
 
 It is iiowever highly important to us, to 
 maintain something more than the form of 
 godliness ; and, whilst we avoid a conformity 
 to this world, to be careful to seek after that 
 divine power, which will enable us to comply 
 with the other part of the exhortation: " Be 
 ye transformed by the renewing of your mind^ 
 that ye may prove what is that good, and ac- 
 ceptable, and perfect will of God."* Thus, 
 having our minds and conduct rightly regulated, 
 we shall fulfil another important apostolic in- 
 junction : " Let not then your ^ood be evil 
 spoken of.''+ 
 
 In our address also, diere are some pecu- 
 liarities, which it will be proper to explain ; as 
 our using the singular number in speaking to a 
 single persoii ; our disuse of the appellations of 
 master, mistress, &c. iu a complimentary man- 
 
 * Kom. xii. 2. 
 
 t Ibid. xiT. id. 
 
158 
 
 ON DRESS AND ABDRESS. 
 
 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS, 
 
 tog 
 
 ner, to tfiose who do not stand in these rela- 
 tions to us; and our calling the months and 
 days of the week by their numerical names, in- 
 stead of those which are derived from tlie liea- 
 then deities, &c. From these, and other erro- 
 neous and corrupt practices, the Spirit of truth, 
 in which we profess to believe, as guiding 
 into all truth, led our predecessors in reli- 
 gious profession; and, we believe, still leads 
 .«s, as we faithfully follow it. Our conduct iu 
 these respects is so well supported by the prac- 
 tices mentioned in hojy writ, as well as by the 
 simplicity and reasonableness of it, that 1 ap- 
 prehend no one will deny its propriety, even if 
 they will not allow it .to be necessajy. 
 
 The origin of applying the plural number to 
 an individual, and of giving complimentary 
 titles to one another, will, I suppose, be ac- 
 knowledged, by those who have traced these 
 things to their source, to have been vanity pr 
 pride. Besides this consideration, our practice 
 of using the singular number to a single person, 
 and of calling one another by the proper name, 
 is both more correct and more perspicuous. 
 This is also the case with respect to our names 
 of days and months. Nevertheless, it is not by 
 
 reason and propriety alone, that our conduct iit 
 these things may be supported ; nor are these 
 tlie grounds of Our peculiar practice. Religion, 
 if an attention to the examples and precepts 
 recorded in the holy Scriptures has a claim ta 
 tlie name of religion, also justifies our conduct. 
 It was, no doubt, in allusion to the compli- 
 mentary, and not to the ppoper, use of the 
 appellations of Rabbi, Father, and Master, that 
 our Lord prohibited the practice among his 
 foUowei-s. Speaking of the disposition of the 
 Scribes and Pharisees, he says, " They love the 
 uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats 
 iu the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, 
 and- to be calkd of men. Rabbi, Rabbi."* 
 Ilien, addressing himself to the multitude and 
 to his d^ciples, be adds: " But be not ye called 
 ef men. Rabbi : for one is your master, even 
 Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no 
 man your father upon earth : for one is your 
 Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called 
 masters : for one is your Master, even Christ."'f 
 The following expressions of Elihu, a pious 
 young man mentioned in the book of Job, are 
 also applicable to our present purpose: " Let 
 me not, I pray you, accept any man's person ; 
 ♦ Mat. xxiU. 6, 7. t lb. 8, 9, iO, 
 
 o 2 
 
160 
 
 ON BRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 neither let me give flattering titles unto man* 
 for I know not to give flattering titles : in so 
 doing, my Makei would soon take me away."* 
 
 With respect to the use of the singular num- 
 ber to a single person, it is the uniform practice 
 in the Holy Scriptures ; and indeed in all othejr- 
 writings, to a period of time long posterior to 
 that in which the last part of the Scriptures 
 -were written. It is not, therefore) to be ex- 
 pected, that any allusion to a contrary practice 
 should be mentioned in them. We think, how- 
 ever, that we may consider our conduct, in this 
 respect, consistent with that " form of souniL 
 words/'t recommended by Paul to Timothy. 
 
 The giving of the names of heathen deities, 
 Jlc. to days and months, is not only inconsistent 
 with "the form of sound words" just mentioned; 
 but also contrary to the spirit of the injunction 
 given to the Israelites, as a preservative from 
 contamhiating themselves with idolatry: In all 
 tilings that I have said unto you, be circum- 
 spect: and make no mention of the name of 
 other gods; neither let it be heard out of thy 
 
 ^i^Jolizxui. 2X^,22, 
 
 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 i6r 
 
 t 2 Tim. i. 13. 
 
 mouth. "*a It may also be remembered, that 
 when the reformation of the Jews was foretold 
 by the prophets, these, amongst other things, 
 were stated as a part : " I will take the namo 
 of Baalim out of her mouth,"t " I will turn to 
 the people a pure language ;"J and " I will cut 
 off" the names of the idols out of the land, and 
 tliey shall no more be remembered. "§ 
 
 There is another peculiarity in our conduct, 
 on which it may be proper to say a few words. 
 Our refusal to take off" the hat, as a mark of 
 respect to man, is generally known. The rea- 
 son for this is, that it is a token of reverence 
 enjoined and used in our solemn approaches ta 
 the Supreme Being, when exercising the reli- 
 gious duties of preaching or prayer. On this 
 account, and not from any disrespect to our 
 
 • Exodns xxiii. 13. 
 
 « See also Dent xii. 2. Joshua xxiii. 7. Ps. xvi. 4. 
 
 t Hosea ii. 17. t Zephaniah iii. 9 
 
 ^ Zechariah xiii. C. The following lines are not inappll* 
 «able to this subject : 
 
 " The Pagan pape how far more wise than ours! 
 They with the gods they worshipped graced their song.: 
 Our song we grace with gods we disbelieve; 
 JtetatB the manners, but reject the creed." 
 
 Hannah M^h^- 
 
 »3 
 
 ♦I 
 
a63 
 
 ON DRESS AND ADDRESS. 
 
 superiors, we thiak it right not to confound 
 this solemn act of reverence to the Almighty, 
 witli the marks of respect to our fellow crea- 
 tures. True civility and due respect may be 
 better shown by conduct, than by compliment : 
 and we are far from desiring to dismiss those 
 Social duties fcom our attention and regard. 
 
 Many are apt to plead general custom, as a 
 Unction to practices, which, were thoy impar- 
 tially examined, would be acknowledged to be 
 erroneous and improper: and it is to be regret- 
 ted, that the professors of Christianity should 
 retain so much that is inconsistent with its 
 purity and simplicity. If these things cannot 
 be styled " the weightier matters of the law,"* 
 and we allow they cannot ; yet, we believe, they 
 may be considered, as the externals of religion, 
 and as things which we " ought not to leave 
 ^undone." 
 
 • Mat. xxiS. ?3* 
 
 CBAP\ Xt. 
 
 ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 l^eaceablcness of our principles a security to Govsfn- 
 fnent,'— Duties of subjects.'^ Suffering peaceably 
 submitted to, when active compliance cannot be coU' 
 scientiously rendered. '-'Civil and religious liberty 
 vduedj and how best defended,. 
 
 JL HE peaceableness of our principles, when 
 applied ev«n to enemies, affords a strong secu- 
 rity to any government under which we live, 
 that we cannot unite in any practices, with a 
 view either to injure or subvert it. The con- 
 sideration of this circumstance, attended with a 
 correspondent conduct, has probably been the 
 means of obtaining indulgences for some of our 
 principles, which ai*e contrary to general laws. 
 Several of these principles are such as generally 
 to exclude us from becoming a constituent part 
 ©f government: what we have therefore to con- 
 sider are the duties of subjects^ 
 
 These duties are clearly defined in the New 
 Testament ; and under circumstances which 
 render this definition peculiarly strong. When 
 they were enjoined^ the primitive ChrisU^s 
 
164 
 
 ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 165 
 
 were frequently under persecution ; the govern- 
 ment at that time was of a kind which is gene- 
 rally considered the worst, and in the hands of 
 the worst of men ; nevertheless, we see no en- 
 couragement given to any thing like sedition or 
 resistance. On the contrary, the believers in 
 Christ were taught to " be subject unto the 
 higher powers,"* " to obey magistrates,"*!* and 
 to " submit, to every ordinance of man for the 
 Lord's sake.— As free and not using liberty for 
 a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of 
 God.";}: These are the principles on which our 
 Society, as a body, have uniformly acted, as 
 may be seen by the advices given on this sub- 
 ject, in a Book of Extracts from advices of the 
 Yearly Meeting printed in Loudon in the year 
 1802. From page ly of this book, the follow- 
 in<T advice is taken : " We trust we are called 
 to show forth to tlie world, iu life and practice, 
 that the blessed reign of the Messiali, the Prince 
 of Peace, is begun ; and we doubt not but it 
 will proceed, till it attain its completion in the 
 earth : when, according to the prophecies of 
 Isaiah and Micah, " nation shall not lift up 
 sword against nation ; neither shall they learn- 
 •war any more." Influenced by these principles,^ 
 y^e cannot consistently join with such as fornix 
 • Rom. xiU, 1, t Titos iii. Ir | 1 Pet. ii, 13, Id 
 
 combinations of a hostiFe nature against any; 
 much less in opposition to those placed in 
 sovereign or subordinate authority ; nor ean we 
 unite with, or encourage, such as revile and 
 asperse them : for it is written, " Thou shalt not 
 speak evil of the ruler of thy people."— -Yearly 
 Meeting's printed epistle, 1775. 
 
 But whilst we think it right to put in prac-p 
 tice the advices given to the primitive Chris- 
 tians on this subject, we are, as they were, undet 
 circumstances, which sometimes prevent us from 
 actively complying with what the laws of the 
 country require. Nevertheless, we submit to 
 the law, by suffering the peaceable execution of 
 it, in cases in which we cannot actively comply. 
 Iliere are duties which we owe to our cour 
 sciences and to God, with which human power 
 cannot dispense, and of which it is not a com^ 
 petent judge. The government of conscience 
 is God's prerogative;, and when it is neither 
 used as a cloak of maliciousness, nor abused to 
 the disturbance of the public peace, it ought to 
 be fully free. Our Society in this country, 
 though under some circumstances which bear 
 rather hard upon it, has abundant cause for 
 gratitude to the government, for the favours we 
 enjoy; and it is to be hoped, that we shall. 
 
 i 
 
166 
 
 ON CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 always conduct oorselves so as to merit the 
 continuance, and even the extension of them ; 
 " being obliged to demean ourselves, not only 
 as a grateful people, but, as a Christian society, 
 to live peaceably and inoffensively under the 
 present government, as we have always done, 
 under the various revolutions of government, 
 ever since we were a people." — Yearly Meet- 
 ing's written epistle, 1692. 
 
 But, notwithstanding our peaceable and sub- 
 missive principles, in relation to those who ate 
 placed in authority over us, we are far from be- 
 ing insensible to the value of civil and religious 
 liberty. When these are violated, we diink it 
 right to represent our grievances to those who 
 oppress us, or who have it in their power to 
 afford relief. If this be done in a Christian 
 spirit, and in a language respectfully strong, it 
 would be found, in general, a much more suc- 
 cessful, and always a more proper, means of 
 obtaining redress, than any seditious and turbu- 
 lent proceedings, or those bloody appeals to the 
 sword, to which mankind are too apt to resort, 
 as the relief of oppression, or the gratification 
 of revenge. 
 
 CHJP, XIL 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 37<c necessity of discipline in religious societies. •^Objec- 
 tions to it answered. — Particular objects of our 
 discipline enumerated. — Different meetings in which 
 it is transacted,'— Importance of transacting it inu 
 right Spirit, 
 
 Whatever may he ^ inducement of 
 any people to form themselves into a separate 
 society, it must be on some principles which 
 they assume, and on the preservation of which 
 their continuance, as a particular society, must, 
 in a great measure, depend. It is also the duty 
 .of every society, formed upon religious princi- 
 ples, to support good morals, without which its 
 pretensions to religion are vain. Tliese two 
 considerations render discipline, in a religious 
 society, necessary to its reputable existence; 
 and when they are not attended to, confusion 
 and disgrace must follow. However excellent 
 any of our religious principles may be, we who 
 profess them are all frail and fallible. We are 
 ;xill by nature prone to evil: and if we liave 
 
168 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 'Cven experienced some degree of redemptiom 
 from the state of fallen nature, we are still 
 liable, without watchfulness, to fall, or to 
 he drawn aside in principle or practice. 
 Hence we find, in all religious societies, 
 those who are a discredit to their profes- 
 sion ; and we are far from considering our- 
 selves free from such disreputable members. 
 But, in order to remedy this evil, as much as 
 possible, we have a discipline established among 
 us, the first object of which is, to labour in 
 gospel love, and by private advice, for the re- 
 formation of those who walk disorderly; and if 
 tliis cannot be effected, and the nature ef the 
 .case require it, to disown such persons as mem- 
 bers of our society. The reasonableness of this 
 discipline appears so evident, that it may seem 
 unnecessary to enter into further arguments in 
 favour of its propriety and utility ; yet, as ob- 
 jections are advanced against our practice in 
 this respect, it may be proper to take some 
 notice of them. 
 
 Tlie objections commonly advanced against 
 the exercise of discipline are, first, that it lays 
 an unnecessary restraint on private judgment; 
 secondly, that it interferes with that attention te 
 
 t)N t>iSClPLlNt. 
 
 169 
 
 ^le dictates of the Spirit, to which we are indivi- 
 finally recommended ; and thirdly, that the dis- 
 owning of members is a species of persecution. 
 
 The necessity of discipline, for tlie constitu- 
 tion and support of any religious society, has 
 already been stated, so as, in a great measure, to 
 obviate the fii^st objection. It may, however, 
 be proper to add, that in every society, civil of 
 religious, submission to the regulations of that 
 society is necessary, in order to prevent the 
 licentiousness and confusion, which would fol- 
 low, if every member acted upon his own ideasy 
 without any external restriction. If this be ap* 
 plicable to iociety in general, it is particularly 
 so, with regard to those religious societies^ 
 which have separated from all others, on ac*- 
 •count of opinions and practices, that appear to 
 them not t^onsistent with the nature of true re* 
 ligion, or unnecessarily attached to it. How 
 shall a society retain its existence with any de* 
 ^ree of propriety, if those who depart from, of 
 disavow its principles, are to remain members 
 of it? And how shall such a society be known 
 to the world, if it« members are permitted to 
 profess and act differently, even on subjects 
 which at first formed the foundation of thek 
 
n 
 
 17d 
 
 ON DlSClPLlNlt- 
 
 union? It has been said, that nothing except 
 immorality and the fundamentals of religion, 
 should be the subjects of discipline. But, if 
 we could be all of one mind on the application 
 of the word immorality, we should find it very 
 difficult to agree on the fundamentals of reli- 
 gion ; and the number of persons is, perhaps, 
 not small, who would resolve these fundamen- 
 tals into a belief of a God, and of the immor- 
 tality of the soul. We may easily consider, 
 what a strange medley, the liberty contended 
 for, would admit into one society. The Jew, 
 the Christian, theMahomedan, and the Heathen, 
 with their various subdivisions, might all be 
 blended together in one body ; in %A'hich we may 
 suppose, if any right zeal for their respective 
 religious sentiments should exist, there would 
 be perpetual jarring and discord. Much more 
 conducive is it to the peace of religious societies, 
 that each should consistently maintain its own 
 principles, and either suffer those who dissent 
 from them, quietly to withdraw ; or, after pro- 
 per labour and waiting for restoration, to disown 
 them as acknowledged members of the society. 
 When this is done, as it ought to be, in a right 
 spirit, it is no violation of true charity, nor of 
 that liberty which all have, no doubt, a right Jo 
 exercise with respect to private opinion. 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 m 
 
 The second objection is often urged in a 
 manner, which may tend to mislead, and capti- 
 vate the unwary; but it proceeds on a supposi- 
 tion, which is by no means admissible, namely, 
 tliat a body of Christians, united in the belief 
 , of certain principles, is more likely to be misled, 
 than some of tlie individuals constituting that 
 body. It has always been the judgment of our 
 Society, that the establishment of meetings for 
 discipline, was under the same divine influence, 
 which originally formed our predecessors a 
 distinct people. The subjects of the care of 
 these meetings have varied very little from their 
 first institution; and, therefore, for any persons 
 now to pretend, that this discipline is an im^ 
 proper restraint on the leadings of the Spirit, 
 so far as respects them, is to say, in effect, that 
 they are not led by the same Spirit in which the 
 Society professes to believe, and by which it 
 desires ever to be led. " The spirits of the 
 prophets are subject to the prophets;"* and 
 the individuals of a religious society must be 
 subject to tliat society collectively; otherwise 
 anarchy and confusion will ensue : and when it is 
 considered, that in our society, a much greater 
 proportion of its members concur in forming 
 
 • 1 Cor. xiv. 32. 
 P a 
 
172 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 *. 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 its rules, than in any other, there seems no roonk 
 kft for objections like this. They might have 
 a more specious appearance; if the power of 
 making rules and regulations were lodged in a 
 few individuals: though even in. this case, they 
 would be destitute of Bolidity^, if the individuals 
 were properly delegated-. 
 
 The comparison betwixt persecution and the- 
 disownment of the members of a religious so- 
 ciety, has been often zealously ujged by some, 
 of the advocates for unrestrained liberty of sen- 
 timent. To draw this comparison the stronger 
 •with respect to our society, it has been urged, 
 that they who ar§ deprived of membership with 
 us, lose not only the common privileges of 
 membership, but, if reduced to poverty, are 
 deprived of that provision for the support and 
 education of the poor, for which the society is- 
 peculiarly distinguished. But this argument, 
 by proving too much, proves nothing: for even 
 these latitudinarians would, I suppose, think it 
 right to disown a member for idolatry or athe- 
 ism ; and yet, on such a one, it would not be 
 proper to inflict what may be termed persecu- 
 tion. But are we, because we make extraor- 
 dinary provision for our poor, to retain all that 
 
 have been members, however they may differ 
 from us in principle or practice ? The absurdity 
 of the argument appears to me too great to 
 need further confutation. What is sometimes 
 advanced with respect to degradation of charac- 
 ter by disownment, it is apprehended, stands or 
 falls with the former. If the society has, by 
 its general good conduct, obtained such a de- 
 gree of reputation, that those who are disowned 
 by it, lose part of the good opinion of the 
 public ; must it sacrifice that reputation, by re- 
 taining in its bosom those who violate its rules, 
 or trample upon its principles : principles, for 
 the support of which, our predecessors in reli- 
 gious profession, were willing to suffer much 
 ignominy ; with the loss of property, of liberty, 
 and even of life itself ? 
 
 Besides a general oversight of the conduct 
 and conversation of our members, there are 
 other objects which obtain attention in our 
 meetings for discipline. One of the most material 
 of these is, the support of the poor : for it has 
 been the practice in our society, from its first 
 establishment, to maintain our own poor, and 
 
 t 
 
 not give them occasion to apply for the common 
 jnodes of relief. ;Notwithstauding this, we tliink 
 
 |:' 
 
174 
 
 OS DISCIPLINE. 
 
 it right to contribute to the support of the poor 
 who are not of our society, in common with our 
 neighbours; and that, not only in cases where 
 the laws oblige us; but also, when ability is af- 
 forded, in those voluntary charities which are 
 established, or occasionally promoted, for the 
 benefit of this part of the community : a class, . 
 to the suitable relief and employment of which, 
 much importance is very properly attached. 
 
 Another material object in our meetings for 
 discipline, is, due attention to proceedings in. 
 relation to marriage; to take care that the 
 parties are clear of other engagements of the 
 same kind; that they are not within disallowed 
 degrees of consanguinity; and that, in case of 
 previous marriage, the rights of former childreu. 
 be properly secured : after which, care is also, 
 exercised that the marriage be concluded in a 
 proper and becoming manner. 
 
 The register of these marriages; of births 
 ' and burials ; the care of our meeting-houses 
 and burial grounds- the admission of members; 
 the granting and receiving of certificates for 
 those who remove from one district to another; 
 Ae suflferJDgs of our members on account of; 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE. 
 
 173^ 
 
 ecclesiastical and military demands,* with divers 
 other matters ; are also subjects of our care ia 
 tliese meetings. 
 
 The meeting* in which these matters are 
 transacted, are called Monthly Meetings, from 
 their being held once in every month. They 
 send representatives, and answer queries rela- 
 tive to the general conduct of their members, 
 t£> other meetings, which are called Quarterly 
 Meetings ; the principal business of w liich is to 
 superintend Monthly Meetings, and to advise 
 and assist them when occasion may require. 
 These Quarterly Meetings also send represen- 
 tatives, and answer queries to a meeting which 
 is called, the Yearly Meeting. This meeting, 
 has a general oversight of the society ; and 
 makes rules for its government and welfare. 
 
 This description of our meetings for dis- 
 cipline is intended to apply only to the men's 
 meetings: the women also have their Monthly, 
 Quarterly, and Yearly meetings, in which they 
 attend to the wants of their own sex, and exer- 
 
 • It may be proper here to remove a prevailing impres- 
 Mon, that the amount of these snflferings is reimbursed to^ 
 the sufferers. We not only have no funds for this purpose; 
 but such a practice does not, nor ever did exist iu ourr 
 j^0€iety.. 
 
^ 
 
 176 
 
 ON DISCIPLINE, 
 
 cise a care over their conduct; but have no 
 power of dismemberment. 
 
 The importance of transacting this discipline 
 in a right spirit, and by those who may be pro- 
 perly qualified, has ever been felt as of no small 
 importance to its right preservation ; and many 
 are the advices which have been issued by the 
 Yearly Meeting on this subject. The following, 
 being short and comprehensive, will, I appre- 
 hend, afford an instructive description of our 
 concern in this respect : " We tenderly exhort, 
 that in all your meetings for the discipline of the 
 church, you wait in humility, to have your 
 spirits brought into subjection to the Spirit of 
 Christ; that thereby you may be duly qualified 
 for the work and service conducive to the build- 
 ing up of his church; in which work, all who 
 are engaged should be men of upright hearts 
 and clean hands ; rightly prepared for the service 
 they undertake." J748. 
 
 CHJP. XIIL 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 « 
 
 Address to the youth on the rcmembrwice of thek 
 
 , Creator,^ Recuon and Revelation.'-'The holy Scrijh 
 
 tares and Christianity. — On our peculiar principles. 
 
 '-^On the necessity of regeneration. •-* Address to, 
 
 persons not of our religious persuasion, 
 
 » 
 
 In the design and execution of this wprk, 
 my mind has been much influenced by a desire 
 for the welfare of the youth in our society,, 
 and for their instruction in the principles of 
 tjue religion^ To them I feel disposed to ad- 
 dress myself in this conclusion. 
 
 < 
 
 t 
 Let me remind you, my dear friends, of that 
 
 wise and pious injunction, " Remember thy 
 Creator in the days of thy youth/** Consider 
 his operations in nature and in grace; in provi- 
 dence and in redemption* Although in tlie con- 
 sideration of all these, some difficulties, not 
 easily comprehended, may present themselves ; 
 yet so much will be opened to the humble and 
 attentive mind, as will excite the love and fear 
 
 • Eccles. xii. 1« 
 
 M 
 
 / 
 
178 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 179 
 
 f 
 
 of Him, " who made the heaven and the earth, 
 the sea, and all that therein is."* In entering 
 hito these considerations, there are two assistants 
 afforded us, by our gracious Creator, Reason 
 and Revelation. The former, as well as the 
 latter, is useful on this occasion. It is a faculty 
 given us by God ; and, if rightly exercised, will 
 tend to promote our knowledge of Him, parti- 
 cularly in the w'orks of creation and nature. 
 When not misled by the vanity of the human 
 heart, reason sees and feels its own imperfec- 
 tion ; and readily embraces and submits to those 
 advantages, which revelation affords. By reve- 
 lation, I mean to comprehend both that which 
 is mediate, and that which is immediate. The 
 former is communicated in the Holy Scriptures,, 
 in which we have veiy ample accounts of the^ 
 being and nature of God; of his manifold works 
 in creation and in providence; of his love to 
 mankind, particularly in the work of redemption 
 by Christ ; and in affording the assistance of the 
 Holy Spirit, to guide and direct into all neces- 
 sary truth. It is by this Spirit, which is called 
 the Spirit of God, and of Christ, as proceedinor 
 from the Father and the Son, that immediate 
 revelation is received. This revelation pro- 
 
 * Psalm cxl?i. 6. 
 
 duces that knowledge of God and of Christ, on 
 which eternal life depends. In this sense, " no 
 man knoweth who the Father is, but the Son; 
 and he to whom the Son will reveal him."* 
 And when it pleases God to reveal his Son in 
 any, and obedience is yielded to the heavenly 
 vision, these then become acquainted with the 
 mysteries of God's kingdom ; and are made 
 sensible, that " flesh and blood hath not re- 
 vealed these things unto them; but their Father 
 which is in Heaven."t 
 
 As the holy Scriptures are the blessed means 
 of introducing us to an acquaintance with the 
 way of life and salvation, and of affording as 
 much instruction in our various duties to God, 
 and one to another ; 1 earnestly press on you, 
 my dear young friends, a frequent and serious 
 perusal of them. You will here find much 
 profitable instruction of various kinds : the 
 history is, beyond any other, important and in- 
 teresting ; tlie mystery " makes wise unto sal- 
 vation."t Here you may see the various deal- 
 ings of God with'his creature man; you may be 
 made acquainted with the dispensation of the 
 law, the predictions of the prophets, the mini- 
 stration of John, and the most glorious dispen- 
 
 • T 
 
 ^e X. 22. 
 
 t Mat. xvi. 17. 
 
 * 2Tin). iii. 13. 
 
ISO 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 i 
 
 sation of the gospel. Beware of such publica- 
 tions as have a tendency to create a disrelish for 
 these sacred w rituigs. Consider what the state 
 of our religious knowledge would have been 
 without them ; and look at those parts of the 
 world, which have not had the benefit of the 
 Scriptures; or in which the reading of them has 
 been greatly restrained. \\\ien this comparisoa 
 is fairly made, I believe we shall find abundant 
 cause to be thankful to the God and Father of 
 ^11 our mercies, for the benefit we enjoy, in 
 having free access to those testimonials of his 
 ways and will respecting the children of men. 
 Let them be fairly compared with the various 
 systems of religion in the world; and then, 
 although ther€ should be some difficulties, 
 which may not, at once, be fully comprehended, 
 (and in what science are there not such difficul- 
 ties ?) then will the transcendent excellence of 
 Christianity be felt and acknowledged; and 
 gratitude fill the heart, for the unmerited love of 
 God, in Christ J«sus our Lord. 
 
 Having fairly appreciated the general prin- 
 ciples of Christianity, those which are peculiar 
 to our religious society, and of which you make 
 profession, will, I believe, rise in your view 
 
 CONCLUSION, 
 
 181 
 
 with esteem and attachment. Their consistency 
 n'ith the Christian religion has been already 
 shown ; and presuming you to be sensible of this 
 consistency, I affectionately entreat you to be 
 faithful in your adherence to them. Attend to that 
 divine light, that saving grace, that good spirit, 
 which is placed in your hearts: Ais, if at- 
 tended to, will preserve from the temptations in- 
 cident to early life ; and be your guide and support 
 through the various trials and probations, which 
 now, or hereafter, may be your allotment. Oh! 
 my dear friends, receive this Heavenly Visitant in 
 the w ay of his coming. Give not up your minds 
 to the pleasures and enjoyments of this world, 
 which will draw away your obedient attention 
 from things which make for true peace, and 
 things by which you may edify one another. 
 Be willing to take up the daily cross; and to 
 bear the yoke of him, who said, " Take my 
 yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek 
 and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to 
 your souls ; for my yoke is easy, and my burden 
 light."* 
 
 .VJ 
 
 
 I 
 
 Let those who have been habituated to sinfttl 
 or dissipating pleasures, and have afterwards 
 
 * Mat.3U. 29| St. 
 
 « 
 
IS^ 
 
 CONCLUSION, 
 
 P 
 
 been brought to taste of the good word of life, 
 and the powers of the world to come ; let these 
 say, whedier more of the real comforts and en- 
 joyments of life, are not to be experienced in 
 the humility and self-denial of a Christian, than 
 in all the gratifications which sin and folly af- 
 ford. When we take into consideration the 
 divine peace, which we are told, '' passeth aJl un- 
 derstanding ;» and a degree of which is at times 
 the experience of the faithful followers of a 
 crucified Lord, with the comfortable prospects 
 of another and eternal state of existence; there 
 will be found sufficient inducements, in every 
 reasonable point of view, to prefer a life of reli- 
 gion and virtue, above that which is devoted to 
 indulgence in the pursuits of folly, dissipation, 
 and sin. 
 
 The same principle of divine light, which led 
 cur predecessors out of the vain and sinful plea- 
 sures of the world, also let them see the corrup- 
 tions which had taken place in religious worship 
 and ministry; the inconsistency of war with the 
 gospel dispensation ; and the impropriety of di- 
 vers other matters, in the external deportment 
 of professing Christians. For their testimony 
 on these accounts, and the conduct consequent 
 upon them, they suffered deeply, in an age when 
 
 • PbiU iv, r. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 im 
 
 religious liberty was claimed by all, but was 
 given by few or none who came into the posses- 
 sion of power. Read the relations of the patient 
 sufferings, for the cause of truth and the testi- 
 mony of Jesus, of those who have gone before 
 you;"* and faithfully bear your testimony even 
 hi those things that you may be ready to call 
 little. Let not the singularity which a conduct 
 consistent with your principles may produce, 
 discourage you from a faithful adherence to 
 them; but submit to bear that cross, which will 
 crucify you to the world, and the world to vou. 
 and redeem you from the various corruptions 
 with which it abounds. The principles and 
 practices of our society are now, in general, so 
 respectfully treated, that the temptation to de- 
 sert them is much lessened. Prize your privi- 
 leges; consider how differently our fore-fathera 
 were circumstanced ; and let this consideration 
 excite in your minds, increasing faithfulness and 
 dedication to all parts of ybnr religious dut>\ 
 Follow the example of our blessed Redeemer; 
 remember the reproaches which he endured- 
 
 * The Author wishes to torn the attention of the yonth 
 t» the sufferings of the primitive Christians, and of the 
 early reformers from popery, as well as to those of oni 
 owq society. 
 
 ^ 
 
 
184 
 
 CONCLVSIOH. 
 
 and be ^lilliDg to take up the cross and despise 
 the shame; then you may become partakers 
 of that crown of righteousness, which is the re- 
 nvard of all who have fought the good %ht> and 
 kept the faith| and who love bi» appearance % 
 
 Before I conckide this address, I wish a little 
 further to open the subject ol Christian re- 
 demption, so far at least as to turn your atten- 
 tion to that work, which the depraved state of 
 Jiuman nature renders univepsally necessaiy, and 
 in which our Lord thus instructed a ruler among 
 the Jews: ** Except a man be bom again, he 
 cannot see the kingdom of God/'* What- 
 ever our religious profession, whatever our ou^ 
 ward appearance and demeanour may be ; al^ 
 will fail to procure us divine favour and accept- 
 tance, if the heart is not renewed after tlie image 
 Qf Him that ereated us. " Marvel not that I 
 said unto thee, ye must be born again."t This^ 
 was the language in which our Saviour repeat* 
 edly inculcated this doctrine to Nicodemus ; 
 and oh ! my dear young friends ! neither marvel 
 at it, nor withdraw from it. Examine the state 
 of your own hearts, and the occasion for it will 
 soon be seen and felt. Dwell therefore, I en- 
 
 *J«hBiii. 3. tJobniiur. 
 
 tONCLUSION. 
 
 U5 
 
 trezt you, under those divine convictions and 
 influences, by which " the washing of regenera- 
 tion and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,"* 
 are experienced. The work is generally slow 
 and gradual; therefore be not discouraged, if 
 you cannot always perceive its progress : but as 
 you abide patiently under a right exercise of 
 mind, you will find that the work will in time 
 proceed, until the new creation in Christ Jesus 
 unto good works is known. But when this is 
 in measure attained,, still watchfulness and 
 prayer should be the companions of every mind. 
 The command to watchfulness is of universal 
 extent : " What I say unto you I say unto all, 
 watch ."t Again, " Watch and pray, that ye 
 enter not into temptatioB/'J When this dispo- 
 sition of mind is rightly abode in, it preserves 
 from formality in religion ; keeps the soul alive 
 to God; and makes living members and bright 
 examples in his church, and among his people. 
 In this state of religious exercise, the experience 
 of the primitive believers is attained ; *' By one 
 spirit are we baptized into one body; — and 
 made to drink into one spirit ;"§ here also right 
 qualifications are received for religious seivice, 
 
 t Titns iii,. 5. t Mark xiii. 37. J Mat xxvi. i«». 
 
 I 1 Cor. xii. Id*. 
 
 ^ 
 
M 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 eoNCLusioy. 
 
 18) 
 
 and a capacity to fill up the measure of suffer- 
 ing or labour, which may be allotted in the 
 church of Christ: a churchy the members of 
 which are thus described by an inspired apostle r 
 *' Ye also as lively sfones are built up a spiritual 
 kouse, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 
 sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."* 
 
 As one of the objects of this publication, is- 
 to convey information to persons who are not 
 ©f our religious persuasion, I request that they 
 "would follow the example of the noble Bereans, 
 and " search the scriptures whether those things- 
 are so."t It is not probable that we shall all 
 "be brought to think alike on these subjects; 
 "but if we can see, that so much may be said by 
 those from whom we differ, as to produce aa 
 increase of Christian charity, something, and 
 something important, is gained. I am not a fa- 
 vourer of that false charity, which would destroy 
 all religions zeal, and make all professions of 
 religion immaterial. ** Let every man be fully 
 persuaded in his owa mmd;"| and having en- 
 deavoured to obtain that persuasion from due 
 consideration, let him support it with zeal, 
 tempered with " the meekness of wisdom.'* 
 
 * 1 Peler ii. 5. t Act» x?u, U* t Bom. xiT« 5^. 
 
 Thus, notwithstanding the variety of opinions 
 into which the Christian world is divided, the 
 light of the gospel will increase in the earth ; 
 and we may together promote the coming of 
 that day, in which the divine promise and pre- 
 diction will be fulfilled; " From the rising of 
 the sun, even unto the going down of the same> 
 my name shall be great among the Gentiles ; 
 and in every place, incense shall be offered 
 unto my name, and a pure offering."* Then 
 will " the kingdoms of this world, become the 
 kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ j au4 
 lie shall reign for ever and ever."t 
 
 "» Mai. i. li. 
 
 t Rev. xi. 1^*. 
 
 HNIS. 
 
 PnntPd by C PEACOCK, 
 CouPftQtOffice, York. 
 
BOOKS 
 
 >;•; 
 
 * 
 
 PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY 
 
 WILLIAM ALEXANDER, York: 
 
 Travels in North America, by R. Sutclif?^ 
 containing 6 illustrative Plaits, and a great lariety 
 ^ m^tstvRg AnccdoteSy SfC, <5rC. 12»wa, 6*. in 
 hoarii^ 7s, 6d, cdfktterti. 
 
 Some Account of the Life and Religious Experi- 
 ence of Mary Alexander, late of Needham 
 Market, 12wo, in boards 3s. calf lettered 4s. 6d. 
 
 Ditto, on superfine paper 4s. in extra boards, 5s. 6d, calf 
 lettered. 
 
 Memoir of Captain Paul Cuffee, a Man of 
 Colour, to which i» mdjmmd the Epistle from the 
 Society of Sierra Leone, in Africa, SfC, 12 wo, sHtci^ 
 ed, Gd.'^Superfine paper, 8rf. 
 
 Alst> the following Religious Tracts, all of which are 
 calculated for general distribution : 
 
 An Address to the Poor ..*...... 4 
 
 Ditto, 3s. 6d. per dozen; per hundred * i . l 1 
 Ditto, blue covers, 3s. per dozen; per hundred .18 & 
 Abridgment of Hugh Turford's Grounds 
 
 OF A Holy Life, 6d. 8d. and .•»*.. 
 J5y the dozen $s. stitched, 7s. boards, 9s. bound. 
 Importance of Religion, ^^^YcAed » . » . 
 
 By the dozen 2s. 6d.; by the hundred * .... 15 
 Henry Tukes Principles of Friends, pot 
 
 Svo, sheep lettered . . % 
 
 Henry Tuke^s Duties of Religion and 
 
 Morality, pot Svo, shp. letd, 
 
 I.I ■ l2mo, boards . . 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 
 2 e 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 6 
 6! 
 
yi 
 
 *: 
 
 The pRiKciPLEs, in Umo. '. i . ". . ^ . . . 3 q 
 
 Also the DvTiEB and Principles, 12wo; on 
 
 superfine Paper, each, in boards ...... 3 .5 
 
 On both these works, in every edition, a good al- 
 lowance is made on one dozeri copies of each. 
 
 ^enry Tukts Select Passages from the 
 
 Holy Scriptures, stitched . . . ;^ 
 
 ^~' ^A"" 9f^^e People called Quakers, 
 
 tn our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, st, .\ $ 
 
 Each of the two last, per dozen ^ .^ 
 
 It is intended to publish, in the course of 181%, 
 m Account op the Retbeat, near York, for feer^ 
 sons afflicted with disorders in the mind. 
 
 liFE, &c. of Sarah Grubb, 2d Edit, 17.94, 
 
 neatlj/ printed, large l2mo, sheep lettered [ 4 ^ 
 I>itto, calf lettered ... ^ >? 
 
 J. Marriott's Life and Poems . ...... ^"^^ 
 
 Lessons for Humble Life .....,..' 4 q 
 
 True Stories, 12;«o. _ ^ ^ 
 
 X)^^^oo/* Children, iSmo, . , ^ ^ ^ 
 
 Friendly Gift to Servants and Ap- 
 
 prentices .... ^ 
 
 _. • O 
 
 Ditto, 7s, 6d. per dozen, doth stitched, 
 
 L. Murray's SELECTiON/ro;;! Bp. Horne's 
 
 CoMMENTARIESO«MfPsALMS,fl««ya«r;t 5 Q 
 
 ' — ~ Power of Religion 4 q 
 
 -^ r^tf^^ 8^^ • • ^^ ^ 
 
 N. B. AllL. M/s other works may also be had of W. A, 
 •fld. the above, in other biodings. 
 
^ 
 
 ^l 
 i 
 
 THE 
 
 DUTIES 
 
 Of • 
 
 RELIGION 
 
 AND 
 
 MORALITY, ' 
 
 AS INCULCATED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES,; 
 
 triTH 
 
 PRELIMINARY and OCCASIONAL 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 By henry TUKE. 
 third edition. 
 
 ^orfe : 
 
 PRI^ifTED BY C. PEACOCK, 
 
 FOR 
 
 W. AlEXANDER, AND SOLD BY HIM; 
 
 ftLD ALSO BY DAlRTON, HARVEY, AND CO. GRACCc 
 
 CH6RGH-STREET, AND W. PHILLIPS, LOMBARJi- 
 
 •TREET, LONDON* 
 
 1812. 
 
# 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Chapter. Page; 
 
 1 On the importance of Religion and Morality . . 9 
 
 8 On Religion as the Basis of Morality 15 
 
 d On the Love of God, our neighbour, and our- 
 selves, as the Principle of religious and moral 
 Duties 19 
 
 4 On the Holy Scriptures, as containing the best 
 
 Precepts for religious and moral Duties ... 23 
 
 5 On the Divine Attributes . • .91 
 
 3 
 
 PART IL 
 
 RELIGIOUS DLTIES. 
 
 1 On Faith and Hope in God . . ........ 35 
 
 2 On the Lave of God . . . • r 40 
 
 3- On the Fear of God 44 
 
 4 On Religious Meditation . r ... 48 
 
 5 On WatcffulnesSf and waiting upon God , , . 5t 
 
 6 On Prayer •...., 56 
 
 7 On Thanksgiving and Praise . 63 
 
 8 On Public Worship ; and the appropriation of 
 
 one Day in the TfecA for this purpose .... 68 
 
 9 On Obedience and Patience ........... 75' 
 
 JO On Repentance towards God, and Faith in our 
 
 Lord J€sus Christ ,..,...#.. 83 
 
 A 2 
 
V ' 
 
 
 
 -*' CONTENTS. 
 
 PJRT III. 
 MORAL DUTIES. 
 cil^J' ^^^^^^^ ^VTIES. 
 
 \3 ^nJUt€grCbmity ,],[['/ 1 *' 
 
 J/* <f^cc/* in promoting 
 M^cy and Compmsikm, 
 €anthur, with liberality of 
 Sentiment and Conduct, 
 . -^nngiving, 
 J^eaceabientss, 
 forgiveness ^ In^'urie^ 
 Jiospitulity, 
 Friendship, 
 
 3 On Humility 
 
 4 On Meekness ./,..,[[ ^^^ 
 
 5 On Temperance . ^^^ 
 
 6 On aastity . ...*.'.'.'.' .'.W ^^^ 
 
 7 On Discretion or Prudence >..///.' ]tl 
 
 8 On Industry or Diligence . . ' • •,,. 
 
 On Frugality . . ^^^ 
 
 10 0« Cheerfulness ^*^ 
 
 Class II. PARTICULAR DUTIES. 
 
 1 Q/* Husbands and Wives 
 
 2 Of Parents and Children 
 
 3 Of Masters and Servants ' ^^^ 
 
 4 Of Magistrates and Subjects 
 
 .5 OfPatriol^m, ortheLave^ofot^r'couniry [ [ no 
 31isc€llanscns and Concluding Observations . . ^u^ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TO promote sincere and solid piety, with sound and 
 pure morality ; and, at the same time, to show, how^ 
 forcibly tliese most interesting objects are inculcated ior 
 the writings which are justly called, tlie Holy Scrips 
 tures; are the views with wliich the present' pnblication 
 is introduced to its readers. The author is sensible 
 that publications of this nature, by much abler pens 
 than his, have already appeared ; but he has not met 
 with any work exactly upon his plan. To collect the 
 principal passage? of Scripture on the leading Duties 
 of Religion and Morality; and to intersperse a few 
 remarks and" observations, tending to illustrate and 
 enforce the precepts which are taughr, and to make 
 them read connectedly, appeared likely to convey in- 
 stiuctionof the greatest importance, and at the same 
 time to manifest the excellence of the Bible, as being, 
 in both Testaments, what the Apostle says of tlie Old, 
 " profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
 instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may 
 be perfect; thoroughly furnished unto all good works."^ 
 
 A 3 
 
*" fRETAce, 
 
 If there should be any Book on the same plan ex- 
 tant, ,t ., presumed, that to these subjects we can 
 scarcely have our attention too often turned; «, «h.t 
 «. every new publication may be supposed to attract 
 some readers, it i. hoped that a benefit wiU accrue from 
 bemg reminded of the important duties which are here 
 recommended; and when we consider that many publi- 
 cafon, which issue from the press, are calculated to lay 
 waste moral and religiou, principles, it certainly be- 
 hooves the frieml, of Relision and Virtue, not to be 
 Wkward in u«„g every means which they conceive t<, 
 W nght, for counteracting the effects of those poisonous 
 pnncples, which a phUosophy, « fekely so called," i, 
 admm.stering to the depraved taste of too many Reader,. 
 
 In preparing this work, the author ha, to acknow- 
 ledge himself indebted to other publications, a,«) parti- 
 cularly to Gastrell's Christian Institutes; a book, which, 
 .hough capable of some improvement, is exceUenti, 
 adapted to show, how each religious and moral duty i, 
 inculcated in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 The author thinks it proper to state, that his original 
 v.ew in writing this book, was principally for the Mem- 
 bers of the religious Society to which he belongs, the 
 people called Quakers: hut in p„,,,„,„^,.^ 
 be was mduced to hope, that the benefit arisn.g from it 
 
 -oold be more extensive than wa, at first designed. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 \n 
 
 In this hope he was strengthened, by apprehending it 
 not necessary to inculcate any precepts or duties, but 
 what are approved by Christians in general, and which 
 are of universal importance. 
 
 It may appear to some readers, that considering their 
 importance, the subjects of this volume are too briefly 
 nnd slightly treated. Brevity has, indeed, been the 
 author's study : but, at the same time, he has endea- 
 voured to avoid a slight and superficial treatment of his 
 subjects. How far he has succeeded, must be left to 
 others to determine. He has reflected, that a small 
 volume, at a moderate price, will be likely to obtain 
 more readers, than a book, the size and price of which 
 are much greater. In addition to this consideration, 
 be apprehends, that subjects treated concisely, if with 
 perspicuity,, make a deeper impression on the mind 
 than when they are treated with diffu&eness. For these 
 reasons the author is inclined to hope, that the small- 
 ness of this volume will rather increase than lessen its 
 utility : and when he considers, how much of it is not 
 his own, but taken from the writings of Divine Inspira^ 
 tion, he trusts that he shall not be liable to the imputa- 
 tion of vanity, for indulging a hope, that it will not fail 
 to convey instruction, important and beneficial to every 
 reader. 
 
■ "" PREFACE. 
 
 Ih the close contemplation, which the writing of ,hi,- 
 workh^ produced, on the various Duties of Re,igi„„ 
 and Moraht,, the author ha, fre<,ue„.l, had to feel his 
 own imperfections. He has, however, been careful not 
 to regulate the standard of those duties b, his ow„ 
 
 pract.ce; but faith«„l, to represent them, as he found 
 them mculcated in Holy Writ. T. give precepts su- 
 penor to example, is a difficult, which, on the present 
 occasion, has not been uofelt : but it maybe remem- 
 W that even an apostle wrote. « not a, though he 
 bad already attained, either were already perfect ;" and 
 « seems that we must, though attended with some de- 
 gree of imperfection, be permitted to « provoke one 
 another to love and to good worLs." provided the sense 
 of our defects be united with tins resolution of the same 
 Apostle: .. This one thing I do; facetting .hose thing, 
 whch are beh,ml. and reaching.f„„h unto those thing,, 
 that are before, I press towards the mark, for the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 
 
 VART I. 
 
 PKELIMINARY OBSEKVATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 On the Importance of ReligioH and Mordity, 
 
 Whether we take our view of the im- 
 portance of Religion and Morality from theo- 
 retical reasoning, or from experimental obser- 
 vation, I believe the result of each will show, 
 that the greatest portion of happiness which the 
 human mind is capable of enjoying, is to be 
 found in the performance of our .religious and 
 moral duties ; the duties which we owe to God, 
 to ourselves, and to one another. For if we be- 
 lieve (and these observations are written on a 
 supposition, that the reader agrees with the 
 author in believing) that there is a Supreme, 
 Being, who by his power and wisdom created, 
 and by his Providence superintends the world, 
 the performance of those duties which we owe 
 to this Divine and Omnipotent Being, maj_ 
 
10 
 
 ON THE IMrOETANCB 
 
 
 rt^ooMy be considered a, the «,r«t mean, 
 •f ftbUming hi, favour. 
 
 The situation, of men i„ .hi, ^orld are ex- 
 ceedmgly various: but whatever may be our 
 •fation, or whatever the degree of prosperity or 
 •dvers.ty, .Wch an all-wise Providence may 
 
 /oumlat.on for human happiness, is to have our 
 
 humbJe hope, that, a, far as human virtue can, 
 go, we may look up to the Divine Being with 
 .degree of holy confidence in his fatherly care 
 and protection; whether we consider that hap- 
 pmess connected with a grateful enjoyment Tf 
 r blessmgs which we receive, or with a pa- 
 rent resignation to the Divine will, under the 
 want of some of the comforts of life, which 
 b.s Providence may have withheld, or takea ■ 
 from us. 
 
 •Again, when we coftsider 'hat the regularion 
 and subjection of our passions and natural pro- 
 pensmes, tend much more to the comfort of 
 life, Aan the unrestrained gratification of them • 
 and that the performance of our various rela' 
 ^e dufes ^ essential to the enjoyment of those 
 
 OV BELIGIOIJ AND MORALITY. U 
 
 comforts which arbe from a state of society ; 
 we shall see great reason to believe, that an all- 
 V ise Providence has rendered the performance 
 of our duties essential to the happiness of a 
 being, who is designed to stand pr«-eminent over 
 jdl the worlts of creation in this lower world. 
 
 Let us now turn from theory to observation 
 and experience ; and let us first trace the history 
 of nations, as transnMtted to «s both by sacred 
 and profane writers, but particularly by the for- 
 mer. Here we may see, that as the fear and 
 service of God, and the piactice of the moTal 
 duties, particularly of justice and mercy, pre- 
 vailed, such nations were distinguished by the 
 Divine favour and blessing ; but where irreli- 
 gion, vice, and oppression, gained the ascen- 
 dancy, whatever might be the exalted and 
 powerful state of such a nation, or in whatever 
 degree of favour with the Almighty, these peo- 
 ple might have formerly stood, they were either 
 totally annihilated, or in some other manner be- 
 came singularly marked with a just retribution. 
 But we need not have recourse to ancient 
 times, to ^scover the lamentable consequences 
 of ineligion and immorality ; our own times af- 
 ford us ample proof, either of the natural eflfect 
 
18 
 
 ON THE IMPORTANCE 
 
 of these evils, or of the judgments which they 
 bring upon natioBS and people ; and, if my ap- 
 prehension is right, the miseries which these 
 evils bring upon mankind, may be considered 
 as often proceeding, both from a natural and a 
 supernatural cause. 
 
 If from nations we turn our attention to in« 
 •dividuals, we shall iind, by accurate observa- 
 tion, that, altfaotigh virtue and vice do not meet 
 ^th their full reward in this Hfe, that they 
 whose minds are brought under the influence 
 »of religion and virtue, expeneBce, even in this 
 -world, a greater share of happiness, than is the 
 lot of those who abandon themsehres to a dis- 
 regard of moral aad religious obligations. 
 
 But while I am setting forth the advantages 
 which result, even in this probationary state 
 of existence, from a life of piety and virtue, 
 I do not forget, either the inward conflicts, 
 or outward suft'erings, which are frequently 
 the^lot of the lighteous. Such has been the 
 severity of these sufferings, as to draw forth 
 this declaration from one who partook largely 
 of the tribulations of the gospel : " If 
 in this life only we have hope in Christ, 
 then are we of all men most miserable." 
 
 OF RELIGION AND MORALITY. 
 
 13 
 
 tbi'i 
 
 Cut although, in one point of view, this was an 
 undoubted truth, yet, even in these extreme 
 cases, the true Christian finds something which 
 outbalances all his sufferings, in those -enjoy- 
 ments of divine peace and comfort, which gene- 
 rally accompany aflfiictions for the cause of re- 
 ligion and virtue. Thus the same experienced 
 
 Apostle, who made the foregoing observation, 
 also says : '' As the sufferings of Christ abound 
 hi us, so our consolation also aboundeth by 
 Christ.*' When, therefore, we take into consi^ 
 deration the various circumstances attending the 
 righteous ; and compare them with the conse- 
 quences resulting from irreligion and immo- 
 ^rality; I believe we shall And, that, even in this 
 ^^ife, generally speaking, the miseries of vice are 
 ^greater than the trials of virtue ; and that the 
 'enjoyments whi^ mttend a virtuous course of 
 •life, far exceed the gratifications resulting from 
 "vain and sinful pleasures. 
 
 In the foregoing observations I have not ex-^ 
 tended my views of ^ beneficial effects which 
 result from religion and virtue, beyond what is 
 experieneed in this short and iThcertain state of 
 existence; 'but when, to the consideration of 
 ^those advantages; we add the reflection^ that it 
 
ti4 ®N THE lM?OftTAN3C«, &C. 
 
 is by the exercise of that faith, and the practice 
 of tho»e works, which the Christian religion re- 
 quires, that a^od foundation is laid against the 
 time to come, and an eternal inheritance secured 
 in that heavenly kingdom, where " there shall 
 be neither sorrow aor pain;" we shall hnd abun- 
 dant cause to unite with the Apostle Peter, ia 
 that excellent and important testimony which 
 he bore, to the beneticiaUffects of religion and 
 virtue ; for both these, 1 apprehend, are includ- 
 ed in this observation: " Godliness is profi- 
 table unto aU things, having the promise of the 
 life that now is, and of that which is to come." 
 
 \\ 
 
 CHAPTER If. 
 
 Oh Religion at tkc basis qf Moraliti/. 
 
 There are many in (he present day, partir 
 cularly of those who call themselves philoso- 
 phers, who strongly recommend the practice of, 
 at least, a considerable part of the moral duties j 
 but do not inculcate any regard for religion, 
 and the duties which* it requires. They vainly 
 rely on human reason and strength ; and endea- 
 vour to build a system of morals, without laying 
 its foundation on those religious motives and 
 considerations, which are by others believed to • 
 be essentially necessary, for strengthening the 
 mind in the practice of true virtue^ That man 
 is prone to evil, needs only individual observa- 
 tion to prove : and when he can vainly persuade 
 himself that there is no God, to overlook, to 
 reward, or to puni€h his actions ; or if he can 
 make himself beKeve, that the evils or miseries, 
 which result from the disregard of moral obli- 
 gations, and from the unrestrained gratification 
 of the passions, terminate with his existence in 
 this world; it will certainly be found, that all 
 other considerations will very seldom be suffi- 
 cient to preserve him in the practice of that 
 morality, which is essential to our comfort and 
 well being, even in this life. 
 
 B e 
 
 .i: 
 
^9 
 
 ON RELIGION AS THE 
 
 BASIS OF MORALITY. 
 
 IT 
 
 H 
 
 
 # 
 
 ' It was a just observation of a French philo^ 
 gopher and revolutionist,* that " a people 
 without morals may acquire liberty, but without 
 morals they cannot preserve it*^ Had he^ and 
 those with whom he acted, gone a step further, 
 and seen, that true religion is as necessary for 
 the preservation of morality, as morality is for 
 the security of liberty, they would not so com- 
 pletely have made shipwreck, not only of faith 
 and a good conscience ;,. but also of almost 
 every obligation and every comfort, which con- 
 tributes to the happiness of man in society. Let 
 lis, therefore, suffer the harms of others to make 
 41S careful, that our vessels may not be lost on 
 the same quicksands. Religion affords the 
 strongest motives for the practice, of virtue. It 
 sets before us the Omnipotence and the Omni- 
 presence of the Divine Being ; it tells us that 
 tie rewards all those who diligently serve him, 
 not only with peace in this world, but also with 
 happiness hereafter ; whilst those who neglect 
 'their duties to him and their fellow creatures, 
 will, unless they repent, be excluded from the 
 Divine presence, and have their portion as- 
 signed them in a state of misery. 
 
 Thus much is inculcated by what is called, 
 the religion of nature. The belief of a Divi9« 
 
 « Britt^t. 
 
 Being, and of a future state of rewards aiKl 
 piiBishoieuts, though very imperfect and con- 
 fused, was entertained by persons and liations, 
 who never had the benefit of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures ; and even by some nations in a state of 
 great barbarisni* The Christian religion, whilst 
 it gives additional force and illustration to these 
 considerations, so as to bring " life and immor- 
 tality to light" in a much more clear and con- 
 spicuous manner than it was before,- gives also 
 a more extensive knowledge of ^mrselviBs, and 
 of tlie necessity of' some strength supeiior to 
 our own, to enable us to perfect holiness in the 
 fear of God. It is hy this religion that we be- 
 come acquainted with the depravity of the htt- 
 man heart; that we are taught tin; necessity of • 
 having it cleansed by the washing of regenera- 
 tion, and the renewings of the* Holy Spirit; 
 thit a measure x)f this Spirit, or, as it is el^ 
 where called, the grace of God, is given to 
 mankind uiviversally, in order, both to teach 
 and to enable them, " to deny ungodliness and 
 the world's lusts, and to live soberly, righteously^ 
 and godly in this present world/' The Chris- 
 ♦ tian has also the encouraging consideration, 
 that " if he sin, he hath an Advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the jrighteous :" that he' 
 
 B 3 
 
 !! 
 
a« 
 
 f)N RELIGION AS THE, &C. 
 
 1 
 
 may rely on the merits and intercession of this 
 gracious Redeemer and Mediator, for the for- 
 giveness of sinsy when, with sincere repentance 
 and amendment of life, he shall make applica- 
 tion to Him, " who gave himself for us, that he 
 might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify 
 unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good 
 "ivorks*" 
 
 Here, then, is the basis of morality. Here 
 is that foundation to which our blessed Saviour 
 alluded, when he said ; " Whosoever hearethr 
 these, sayings of mine, and doeth them, I wilF 
 liken him to, a wise man who. built his house 
 upon a rock ; and the rain descended, and the 
 :floods.came, and the winds blew, and beat upoi** 
 that house, and it fell not; for it was founded^ 
 upon a rock.** 
 
 CHAPTER nr 
 
 On the Lou ofGody our Neighbour, and Ourselves^ t^ 
 the principle of' Religious and Moral Duties. 
 
 iMUCH has been written, at dififerent times, on 
 the theory of human obligations ; but after all, 
 I conceive we cannot resolve this theory oi; 
 principle into a more simple, or a more com^ 
 prehensive rule, than the love of God, the love 
 of our neighbour, . and the love of ourselves. 
 The last is included in those two commandments^ 
 in which our Lord instructed a Jewish lawyer, 
 
 when he inquired which was the great com- 
 mandment in the law. The answer was, " Thou 
 shalt love the Lord thy God with all tliy heart, 
 and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 
 This is the first and great commandment ; and 
 the second is like unto it; thou shalt love thy 
 neighbour as thyself. Gn .these two command-! 
 ments hang all the law and the prophets." The 
 love of ourselves is not here, or elsewhere, par- 
 ticularly inculcated. It is indeed a duty to 
 which we are all so ready to attend, (though 
 sometimes we mistake our own real interest,) 
 that the inculcation of it is superfluous; and 
 therefore, it being an acknowledged principle 
 of action, it is referred to, as that by which we 
 ought to regulate our conduct one towards ano? 
 ther^ Ido not; however; conceive that we are 
 
20 
 
 ON THE LOVE OF GOD, &C. 
 
 • N TJIB LOVB 0F> OOB, &€. 
 
 9A 
 
 t 
 
 required by this precept, to love our neighbour 
 in the same degree, but only in the same man* 
 ner, as we love ourselves ; and so as always to 
 act towards him with justice and tenderness. 
 This is consistent with another most excellent 
 precept inculcated by our blessed Lord : " All 
 things whatsoever ye would that men should do 
 to you, do ye even so to them. For this (he 
 also says) is the law and the prophets." This 
 golden rule, as it has frequently been called, 
 coincides with, and elucidates, the second com- 
 mandment already mentioned. It confirms the 
 observation, that it is the same kind, rather than 
 the same degree of love, that we entertain for 
 ourselves, which we are required to cherish to- 
 wards our neighbour. It also shows that love 
 and justice are duties which are nearly allied ; 
 and that they seem to flow one into another so 
 imperceptibly, that the exact boundary of each 
 cannot easily be ascertained. Love is a debt 
 which we all owe one to another; and justice re- 
 quires that our debts should be punctually paid. 
 
 The two commandments and the rule of con- 
 duct which have been recited, therefore, appear 
 to form a complete theory of religious and 
 moral duties. The love of God; the love of 
 our neighbour, from which perfect justice pro- 
 
 ceeds ; and that which is necessarily implied 
 in. the second precept, the proper love of ouiv- 
 selves; are the principles on which mankind 
 ought always to act. They are principles whick 
 may be applied to almost every transaction of 
 our lives; and when they ar©^ thoroughly under- 
 stood and acted upon, we shall feel the consolib- 
 tion arising from the consequence of a due 
 attention to them, as described by our blessed. 
 Redeemer;. " This do, and thou shalt live." 
 
 The excellence andimportance of love is very 
 instructingly described by the Apostle Paul, ia 
 the first Epistle to the Corinthians. It is by 
 our translators rendered Charity, which appears 
 to have formerly been a term synonymous- with 
 love, as the same Greek word is sometimes 
 rendered by one, and sometimes by the other, 
 when it is evident that the same thing is meant^ 
 Iti this place it seems* ta include love both to 
 God and man; and is called, in- reference to the 
 different gifts- which then existed in the church, 
 " a more excellent way." And when we con- 
 sider that those gifts were more numerous, and 
 more extraordinary at that time, than they ap* 
 pear to be now, the comparative excellence of 
 this charity, or Ibve, must be increased. The 
 description of this virtue is do interesting, and^ 
 
'SA 
 
 Qlft THE LOVE OF GOD, &C. 
 
 important, that it may be proper to give it at- 
 length. '' Though I speak with the tongues of 
 men and of angels, and have not charity/ 1 am 
 become as Bonnding brass, and a tinkling cym- 
 'ft>al; and though I hs^ve the gift of prophecy, 
 und understand all mysteries, and all know- 
 ledge; and though I have all faith, so that I 
 could remove mountains, and have not charity, , 
 I am nothing. And though I besrtow all my 
 goods to feed the poor, awd though I give my 
 body to be burned, and have not charity, it- 
 profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, , 
 and is kind ; charity envieth not ; charity vaunt- 
 eth not itself; is not puffed up ; doHi nol behave 
 itself unseemly; seeketh not her own; is not 
 easily provoked ; thinketh no evil ; rejoiceth not 
 in iniquity; but rejoiceth iu the truth : beareth 
 all things ; believeth all things ; hopeth ^1 things; 
 endureth all things^ Charity never faileth ; but 
 whether there be prophecies they shall fail ; 
 whether there be tongues, they shall cease; 
 whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish 
 away ; for we know in part, and we prophesy in ^ 
 part.— And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, 
 these three: but the greatest of these is charity." 
 
 CHAPTER TV:. 
 
 iCnthe H^if^'ScripHn-es^ as corttaining tht'hest Precepts 
 for Religious and Moml fhUies. 
 
 To show the excellency of the Scriptures, it 
 is not necessarj' to depreciate the moral writings 
 •of those who are called Heathens. Tliat their 
 Morality, as well as their Religion, was very 
 imperfect, and very inferior to that which is 
 recommended in die Bible, it requires no par- 
 tiality to the latter to evince. Yet we may see 
 much in the writings of the Heathens that 
 claims our assent, and even admiration : they 
 strongly support the observation of the Apostle, 
 that " when the Gentiles which had not the law, 
 do by nature the things contained in the law, 
 
 these show the work of the law written in tlieir 
 
 liearts." But with a religion, in many of its 
 .parts grossly sensUal, as well as erroneous in 
 doctrine, their morality must have been very 
 defective; and diough we frequently find cause 
 to admire its comparative excellence, under all 
 its disadvantages, yet we must, on an impartial 
 consideration, be sensible of its great imperfec- 
 tion, and inferiority to the morality ai the gos- 
 pel. The Religion which the Scriptures recom- 
 anend, is very different from that which was 
 taught amongst the Heathens, and absolutely 
 
ii 
 
 
 If 
 
 t4 ox THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, &C. 
 
 prohibits many oF the enormities of the latter, 
 by which the morals^ even of its votaries, mtist 
 have been greatly corrupted. 
 
 If we consider the contents of the Old Testa- 
 ment, we shall there find the portraiture of a 
 Religion, which, though it was united with 
 many ritual observances, inculcated, either di- 
 rectly by its precepts, or indirectly by its ty4>i- 
 cal allusions, purity and integrity of heart and 
 conduct. Even at the time that the legal dis- 
 pensation was communicated, the religious and 
 moral obligations contained in the Ten Com- 
 -mandments, were imposed ; and although, in the 
 -course of the following work, most of tliem will 
 •be separately mentioned, yet it may not be im- 
 .proper in this place to present them collectively 
 before the reader.— They are thus briefly intro- 
 duced : " And God §pake all these words, say- 
 ing, I am the Lord thy God, who have brought 
 thee out of the land of Eg>pt, out of the House 
 of Bondage." Then the Conmiandments are 
 delivered in the following order. 
 
 I. " Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 
 
 f I. *' Thou shah not make unto thee any gra- 
 ven image, or any likeness of any thing that is 
 in Heaven above, or that is in the earth be- 
 neath, or that is in the water under the earth: 
 
 aN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, &C. €5 
 
 tliou shalt not bow down diyself to them, nor 
 serve them : for I, the Lord thy God, am a 
 jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers 
 upon the children, unto the tliird and fourth 
 generation of them that hate me, and shewing 
 mercy unto thousands of them tJiat love me, 
 -aud keep my commandments/' 
 
 in. " Thou shalt not take the name of the 
 Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not 
 hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 
 
 ?> 
 
 IV. " Remember the sabbath day to keep it 
 holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all 
 thy work ; but the seventh day is the sabbath of 
 the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any 
 ^vork ; thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy 
 man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cat- 
 tle, nor tliy stranger that is within thy gates. 
 For in six days the Lord made Heaven and 
 Earth, the sea, and all tliat in them is, and 
 rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord 
 blessed the Seventh Day and hallowed it." 
 
 V. " Honour thy father and thy mother, that 
 thy days may be long upon the laud which the 
 Jjord thy God giveth thee.'' 
 
 yi. «^ Thou shalt not kill, 
 
 
t§ ©N THE HOtY SCRlPTURiaS, &€♦ 
 
 VII. " Thou sbalt not commit adultery/^ 
 
 VIII. " Thou shalt not steal/* 
 
 IX. *' Thou shalt not hear false witness 
 against thy neighbour. 
 
 X. " Tliou shalt not covet thy neighbour'* 
 house; thou shalt aiot covet thy neighbour's 
 wife, uorliis man servant, norliis maid servant, 
 Dor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thjr 
 neighbour's." 
 
 Here W£ liave a brief view of tlie excellent 
 morality which was inculcated in the Old Tes- 
 tament; but which was not wholly confined to 
 tliese particulars, as may be seen in the writings 
 of the ju-o4>hets, and others of the more ancient 
 inspired penmen: bjU when we come tQ the 
 Kew Testament, we find our Saviour improving 
 upon the precepts contained in the Old, and 
 directly incidcating that purity of heart, bumi- 
 lity of mind, boliness of life, benevolence and 
 simplicity of manners, which, springing from 
 the sincere love of God, may be consideied as 
 Uie leading features of the religion of Jesus 
 Christ ; and give to its Divine Author a supe- 
 liority " above every name Uiat is named, not 
 only in this world, but ia tAat which is to come,"* 
 
 • fi 
 
 •W THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, &C. ^ 
 
 The following description of the precepts 
 and doctrines contained in- the Scriptures, by a 
 religious writer about a century ago, may be 
 properly introduced here, as a brief summary 
 of the objects of these most important writings :* 
 ** Here all sorts of men and women, that are 
 under no natural or moral incapacity, may read 
 tlieir duties to God and to one another, in their* 
 several stations and relations, w herein the Divine 
 providence hath placed them. For the Holy 
 Scriptures testify, tliat we ought to love God 
 above all, and our neighbours as ourselves. 
 They shew us what we are to believe concern- 
 ing God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit ; how to 
 order our thoughts, words, and actions ; and so 
 to live hcrcj that we may be liappy hereafter.** 
 
 " They testify that all have sinned and come 
 short of the glory of God — that the wages of 
 sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life 
 dirough Jesus Christ our Lord ; whom God hatii 
 set forth to be a propitiation, through faith ia 
 his blood, to declare his righteousness for the 
 remission of sins that are past, through the for- 
 
 • Richard Claridge; He was one of the People called 
 Quakers ; and this quotation may rectify the mistakes of 
 tome persons, respecting the sentimeDts of this Society di». 
 tiie Scripture»4 
 
 C 2^ 
 
 1 
 
£8 *ON THE HOtY SCHrPTURES, &C. 
 
 bearance of God; that he might be just, and 
 the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. 
 [The Scriptures further testify,] that Christ 
 tasted death for every man; was delivered for 
 our offences, and was raised again for our jus- 
 tification; made higher than the Heavens; is sUt 
 down at the right hand of God ; and ever livetb. 
 to make intercession for U8— 4hat he is the light 
 of the world; and he that followeth him shall 
 iiot walk in darkness^ but shall have the light of 
 life— that the manifestation of the Spirit is givea 
 to every man to profit withal. [They also tes* 
 tify,] that except a man be bom again he can- 
 not see the kingdom of God— • that Christ V 
 disciples should be perfect, eveg as their Father 
 which is in Heaven is perfect — that denying 
 self, taking up the cross, and following him> are 
 the proper characteristics of his disciples— that 
 God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must 
 worship him in spirit and in truth-* that Christ 
 is the substance of all the types and figures un- 
 der the Levitical Priesthood, being the» end of 
 the law for righteousness to every one that be- 
 lieveth. We learn from the Holy Scriptures, 
 that he is not only a sacrifice for sin, but a Sa^ 
 viour from sin, being himself without sin— 
 that none can be saved by his merit who are 
 Bot sanctified by his Spinl — that the form ot 
 
 ON THE HOLY SCHIPTUHES, 8lC. fiQt 
 
 godliness will avail nothing without the power^ 
 and the name of Christian will be ineffectual 
 without the nature — that without the grace of 
 Christ we can do nothing acceptable in the 
 sight of God, and by the help and assistance 
 of Kis grace we may work out our own sah-a^ 
 tion with fear and trembling. These, and mul- 
 titudes^ more of. the like heavenly truths, are 
 discoursed of ia> the Holy Scriptures, wliiclr 
 tend to the glory of God and of his Son Christ' 
 Jesus; to the purifying, guiding, and perfecting 
 of mankind ; and to the fitting and preparing us 
 for the kingdom of God; and therefore they 
 call foFour. most diligent reading, fervent appli- 
 catioH> and^most exact conformity of heart and 
 life to die trudis therein testified." 
 
 In these vicAvs of the Holy Scriptures, the 
 professors of Christiunity are generally united; 
 and therefore, I thought that th» religious and 
 moral precepts which I wished to* inculcate, 
 eould not be drawn from a more universally 
 approved, or from a purer source, thian tile 
 sacred writings. I have for these reasons, and 
 also to show their excellence, taken extracts 
 frotHithem, as affording the best ruletjfor the 
 di'Serent duties here incukated. A> scriptural 
 "U^YTi of these duties will,^ I conccive> plaC^* 
 
 e 3- 
 
^ ON THE HOt.Y SCRIPTURES, 8CCi 
 
 I 
 
 them in a clearer and stronger light, than any 
 that can be taken from all the systems of 
 ethics or metaphysics which exist in the world. 
 However the Bible may be slighted by some 
 persons, yet a fair view of the religious and 
 moral instruction which it contains, compared 
 M'ith that which any other of the religious 
 distinctions of mankind possess, will, it is 
 presumed, decide tlie superiority clearly in 
 favour of those Scriptures, which we are justly 
 told, are " profitable for doctrine, for cor- 
 rection, for instruction in righteousness; that 
 the man of God may be perfect, throughly, 
 fiiruished unto all good works/' 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 On the Divine Attributes^ * 
 
 JoEFOUE we enter into a consideration of 
 the duties which we owe to the Divine Being,, 
 it will be proper to take notice of the Attri- 
 butes on which these duties are founded; and 
 by which they become a reasonable service. 
 The Attributes of God are largely^ set forth ia* 
 the Holy Scriptures, from which v e learn, that 
 « he is the maker, preserver, and governor of 
 all things ; that lie is a Being every way perfect;, 
 the only God, who hath none other like him, 
 and who h greater aiid more excellent than all 
 other beings: that he is a Spirit, eternal and 
 unchangeable, and fills all places by his pre-- 
 sence; that his happiness, knowledge, wisdom,., 
 and power, are infinite; that he is perfectly 
 good and gracious; righteous and just; true 
 and faithful; pure and holy; and that after all. 
 we know of him, he is incomprehensible."* 
 
 In order to show how far this definition is 
 supported' by the Holy Scriptures, it.-will be 
 necessary to give some f^uotations- from these 
 ■writings, descriptive of the various Attributes 
 •f God, as above recited: The following are^ 
 ^ Gastrell's Cliristiaa lBStit(Uc«t 
 
§ii 
 
 ON THE ttlVINE ATTRIBUTES. 
 
 ©N THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. 
 
 33 
 
 ©f this nature: " By him were all things 
 created that are in Heaven, and that are in 
 eartli. He is before all things, and by him all 
 things consist. He preserveth and upholdeth 
 all things by liis power. Fn hTm we live, and 
 move, and have our being. Tlie world is his, 
 and tlie fulness thereof. The Most High ruleth' 
 in the kingdom' of men, and giveth it to- whom- 
 soever he will. He is governor among the 
 nations: the vvlu)le earth i^ full of his glory .*/ 
 
 ** As for God, his way is perfect: He- i» a 
 Tock : his work is perfect, llinie, O Lord ! i» 
 the greatness, and the power, and the glory^ 
 and the victory, and the majesty. Thou art 
 vervjrreat:. thou art clothed M'idi lionour and 
 majesty. The Lord our Go<l is?oue Lord : he 
 is God in the Heaven above,, and in the earths 
 beneath ; . tliere is won©, else; Who is.like unto-- 
 thee, O Lor<li-wh»>'is^like thee; glorious in ho- 
 liness, fearful in- pnuses> doingAvouders ? llie 
 iLord is great above all Gods; far above all 
 principalities^ and powers andlni^^t and domi- 
 iik)H, and every name that is named^ not only in 
 this world, but also in that which. is: to come." 
 
 *' Go«t ia-sfcS^irit ; who^ouly hath> innneftality^ 
 i^'diliug iu the light which aa man can: s^ 
 
 proach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor caiv 
 see: the same yesterday, tt)-day, and for evtr;. 
 with whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
 ©f turning. He filleth all in all. Am I a God 
 at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? 
 Can any hide himself in secret places that I 
 shall not see him ? Do not I fill heaven and 
 earth, saith the Lord ? In his presence is fulness 
 of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for: 
 
 evermore 
 
 t> 
 
 " The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by. 
 him actions are weighed. He is mighty in 
 wisdom ; he is wonderful in counsel, and excel- 
 lient in working ; the only wise God ; Almighty, 
 and can do every thing; for in the Lord Jehovah 
 is everlasting strength." 
 
 " The Lord is good to all, and his tender 
 mercies are over all his works. God is love; 
 tfie God of peace, the Father of mercies, and 
 the God of all comfort. The Lord is righteous, 
 a just God ; he loveth righteousness ; he is excel- 
 lent in power, andin judgment, and in plenty of 
 justice; he will not condemn the innocent, nor 
 will he let the guilty go free. Shall not the 
 judge of all the earth do right ? He is the God 
 of truth'; his^counsels of old aire faithfulness and 
 
I 
 
 S4f ©.N THE DlVrNE ATTRIBrTEJ. 
 
 truth ; for all hit promises are yea and aihefi 
 for ever."" 
 
 " The Lord mic God is holy; yea, he is gld- 
 rious in holiness. Hely, holy, holy, Lord God 
 Almighty; who art, and wast, and art to come. 
 Oh! the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom 
 and knowledge of God! Kow unsearchable are 
 Jiis judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
 For of him, and through him, and to him are all 
 4uDgs ; to whom be glory for ev^t. Amen.'' 
 
 t 
 
 FJTCr II. 
 
 HELIGIOUS DUTIES* 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 On Faith and Hope in God, 
 
 The first Duty w^hiok ^-c ovs^e to tthe Divine 
 Being, is Faith; or a 'belief in the -existence of 
 God, in his power, and in his goodness. It is 
 called Faith, because diese great and important 
 truths do not admit of that kind of demonstra- 
 tion by which many other truths may be proved: 
 and yet all around us, and all wiUiin us, so 
 fully evince the existence, the power, and die 
 goodness, of a Divine Being, that this may be 
 considered a just and reasonable duty. On a 
 subject so much above our comprehension, we 
 must be content, in some degree, to walk by 
 faith, and not by sight. We need not therefore 
 stumble at this first principle of religion, to 
 which our implicit acquiescence is -required. 
 " Without faith it is impossible to please God; 
 for he that cometli unto him, must believe that 
 He is, and that He is a rewarder of all those 
 diat diligendy seek Tiim." When these prin- 
 ciples have their proper influence on the heart, 
 they -are of great service to us in our passage 
 
i^ 
 
 I 
 
 56 ON FAITH AND HOPE IN GOD, 
 
 through life; and tend greatly to reconcile our 
 minds to those various circumstances^ which 
 are, by an allwise Providence, permitted or 
 <lispensed to us. It is by the eye of faith that 
 we see him, who is, to every other eye, invisi- 
 lile ; and by this eye of faith we are enabled to 
 look beyond the things which are seen, and are 
 temporal, to those things which are not seen, 
 and are eternal. It was ynder the influence of 
 this faith, that " Moses chose rather to suffer 
 affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy 
 the pleasures of sin ; seeing him who is invisible,* 
 and having an eye to the recompense of reward." 
 
 From faith in the Divine Being and Provi- 
 dence, proceeds tliat " hope which is as an 
 anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." la 
 the storms and tempests attendant on this pro- 
 bationary state of existence, a humble hope and 
 trust in the mercies and providence of God, 
 are essentially necessary to the preservation of 
 the vessel, from being driven on the rocks or 
 quicksands which surround our coast ; and on 
 which shipwreck is sometimes made of every 
 thing that renders life valuable, or eteniity de- 
 sirable. 
 
 This hope or trust may be divided into two 
 parts; first, as it relates to the providence of 
 Ood, in reference to the things of this life ; and 
 
 ON FAITH AND HOPE I>T GOB. 37 
 
 ^coiKlly, as it relates to his mercy in respect 
 to lliose things wTiich pertain to that life which 
 is to come. With respect to the first, oirtr" 
 blessed Lord strengthens his disciples in theip 
 confidence in the Divine Providence, by many 
 apt allusions and pressing exhortations: " I say 
 unto you, take no thought (or rather, be not 
 anxious") for your life, what ye shall eat or what 
 ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye 
 shall put on.— Behold the fowls of tlie air; for, 
 they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather 
 into barns ; yet your Heavenly Father feedetk 
 them— Consider the lilies how they grow; they 
 toil not, neither do ihey spin; and yet I saji^ 
 •imto you that Solomon, in all his glory, was not. 
 arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God 
 so clothe tlie grass of the field, which to-day is, 
 and to-morrow^ is cast into the oven, how much 
 more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith ? 
 Therefore seek ye first the kingdom of God 
 and his righteousness ; and all these things shall 
 be added unto you.*' We have in the prophet 
 Habakkuk an eminent instance of resignatioa 
 to Divine protection, and of confidence therein. 
 After foreseeing some impending calamities, he 
 expresses himself in this animated and ani- 
 mating language: *' Although the fig-tree shall 
 4)ot biossoni; neither shall |i'tii.t be ijn the viuej 
 
 I 
 
iw 
 
 n 
 
 I ml!' 
 
 ft) 
 
 58 ON PAITH AN» HOPE IN GOBe 
 
 the labour of the olive shall fail, and the field* 
 shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut off 
 from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the 
 stalls ; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy 
 ia the God of my salvatioa.'' 
 
 It sometimes liappens, fliat religiously di*» 
 posed minds fall into a state of depression and 
 discouragement, respecting their inward or their 
 future state. This, so far as it excites vigilance 
 and exertion, may be beneficial ; but when its 
 tendency is to lead to despair of the mercies of 
 God, and to cast away otur confidence in his 
 goodness and loving kindness, it becomes a dis- 
 position to which we ought not to give way, 
 but should carefully guard against its attacks. 
 This situation of mind is strongly described by 
 the Psalmist, in the seventy-seventh Psalm : 
 ^ In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord ; 
 my * hand was stretched out in the night and 
 ceased not : my soul refused to be comforted. 
 I remembered God, and was troubled, and my 
 -spirit was overwhelmed. Will the Lord cast 
 off for ever ? will tie be favourable no more? Is 
 his mercy clean gone for >ever? dofh his promise 
 fail for evermore? haA God forgotten to be 
 gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender 
 mercies?" Here the Psalmist seems to recol- 
 lect his own peculiar weakness, and turns hu 
 * ftiee tlie marginal reading*. 
 
 <JN FAITH AND HOPE IN COST. $« 
 
 Feflections another Way. " I said, this is my 
 Bifirmity; but I will remember the years of the 
 right hand of the Most High. I will Femember 
 the works of the Lord ; surely I will remember 
 thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all 
 thy works, and talk of thy doings. Thy w ay, O 
 God r is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God 
 as our God?" In another Psalm> we find tlje 
 pious David consoling himself in this encourag- 
 ing soliloquy : " Why art thou cast down, O my 
 soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me I 
 Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, 
 "who is the health of my countenance, and my 
 God." Here we see the benefit of attending to 
 that Apostolic exhortation : " Cast nor away 
 tlierefore your confidence, which hath great 
 recompense of reward." 
 
 The following passages point out tlie neces- 
 sity and advantages of a proper trust or confi- 
 dence in God, on all occasions : " Trust in the 
 Lord with all thy heart, and lean not unto thy 
 own understanding. In all thy ways acknow- 
 ledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Coni^ 
 mit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts 
 shall be established. Commit thy way unto 
 him; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to 
 pass. Judgment is before him, therefore trust 
 thou in him." 
 
ON THt LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 4i 
 
 III!'- 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 On the Love of God* 
 
 .IVHEN we consider the Attributes which am 
 ;ascribed to the Divine Being, and the r^ation 
 in which we ^tasd to him, nothing can be more 
 jeasonable^ nothing nK)re becoming that rela- 
 tion, than die trijbute of Love : .it ia a diaposition 
 .of mind w^icK wf P*^t peculiarlj to £uhivalr, 
 as being, in an especial m^nuer^ co^aected both, 
 with our duty and happiness. When this foel- 
 in<' predominates in the mind^ those religious 
 M6tcaints> which are aptly described by "the 
 yoke of Christ/' become easy, and his bmdeii 
 is made Jight. The ways of righteousness come 
 to be " ways of pleasantness, and all its paths 
 are peace. 
 
 Having, in the prefiminary considerations^ 
 treated on the subject of love, both as it relates 
 to God and man, it will not be necessai7 now 
 ]to enlarge much upon it. This duty is, how- 
 ever, in itself, so important, and the Scriptures 
 afford so many exhortations and inducements to 
 it, that it cannot be passed over here ; nor 
 should the cautions against those things which 
 lessen the sens^ of it upon our minds, be overr 
 looJ^edK 
 
 When our Saviour was insidiously asked ; 
 " Which is the great commandment of the law r" 
 the reply was, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
 God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
 and with all thy mind. This is the first and 
 great commandment/' Did we place this duty 
 aofficiently before usj as the most desirable ob- 
 ject of our attainment, and frequently examine 
 ourselves respecting it; considering at the same 
 time the many reasonable motives which we 
 have for fultilling it; we should be likely to 
 witness an increase of tliis love i» our hearts, 
 aixl feelingly to unite with the expressions of 
 Holy Writ: " I love thy commandments above 
 gold, yea above line goldw - Iliy word is very 
 pure, therefore thy ser xam loveth it. Oh ! love 
 the l^rd, all ye saints; for the Lord preserveth 
 the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud 
 doer. Let theua fchat love thy name be joyful 
 in thee; for tho«, Lord ! wilt bless the righteous. 
 X^t such as love thy salvation say continually, 
 the Lord be magniiied. The Lord preserveth 
 all them that love him." 
 
 But of all the inducements to the love of 
 God, tliere is none S9 powerfol as that >vhich 
 tlie Apostle nientionsw " God commeridetfii 
 liis love towards us, in that, while we were^yef^- 
 
 D 3 
 
ti 
 
 4t 
 
 ON THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 ON THE LOVE OV GOBi 
 
 «» 
 
 sinners, Christ died for us.'* In the enjoyment 
 ef this consoling faith, Christians can say, " the 
 love of God is shed abroad * in our hearts, by 
 the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Such 
 was the prevalence and the establishment of 
 this Ibve in the heart of the Apostle, and some 
 of his fellow believers, that he could confidently 
 declare : " I am persuaded that neither death, 
 nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
 powers, nor things present, nor things to come^. 
 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 
 shall be able to separate us from the love of 
 61 od, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
 
 The principal proof of our love, arises from 
 •ur obedience to what we know to be the Di-^ 
 vine will concerning ««, or his commandments 
 to us. ^ If ye love me (says our Saviour) keep 
 my commandments." — Consistent with this 
 language, is that of the Apostle John: "'This 
 is the love of God, that we keep his com« 
 mandments^ and ^ his commandments are not 
 grievous." 
 
 In order to guard us against the loss of that* 
 love, which is so important a part of our duty^ 
 ibe following advices and cautions are giveffT. 
 ^ ^«t jouj: affections on things above; and-not out 
 
 things on the earth ; love not the world, neither 
 the things which are in the world: If any man 
 love the world, the love of the Father is not 
 in him: for all that is in the world, the lust of 
 the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of 
 life, are not of the Father, but of the world. 
 The world passeth away and the lust thereof: 
 whosoever will be a friend of the world, is the 
 enemy of God ; for the friendship of the world 
 is enmity with God." Let not these interesting 
 cautions and observations be forgotten; and 
 tlien the following salutations . of the Apostle 
 may be verified in our experience: " The Lord 
 direct your hearts unto the love of God, and 
 unto the patient waiting for Christ— Grace be- 
 ^ith all them, that love our Lord Jesus Christ 
 insincerity/* 
 
^\<i 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 On the Fear of Ood. 
 
 J. iTE next Duty which we owe to the Divine 
 Being, and which may pr<)bably' be considered 
 by many as previous to that of Love, is the 
 fear of offending Him. This has been, in all 
 ages, the disposition of the righteous, by which 
 they have been, in a great measure, preserved 
 from falling into those irreligious and immoral 
 practices, which draw down Divine displeasure 
 on men. When we consider ihe Omnipotence, 
 the Omniscience, and the Justice of God, we 
 ^all find abundant cause for cherishing this 
 Fear, accompanied with an awful reverence of 
 Spirit tow ards him. So forcibly was this duty 
 impressed on the mind of one of the Patriarchs, 
 that the Divine Being was styled, " The Fear 
 of Isaac." Joseph was- an eminent example of 
 the beneficial effects of this Fear. He says of 
 himself, " 1 fear God;" and he gave a striking 
 proof of it, when, under a peculiar temptation, 
 he resisted it with thi^ memorable language : 
 " How can 1 do this great wickedness, and sin 
 against God?" 
 
 When we attend to all the beneficial conse- 
 quences which are described in Scripture, as 
 the result of this virtue, its importance must 
 ^rcibly impress our minds; and should stimi^ 
 
 <9N THE FfiAR OT GOB. 
 
 43 
 
 Uste us to the attainment of it. ** Tliou shalt 
 fear the Lord thy God,** was a precept early^ 
 given to the Jewish nation, and was added to 
 many of their legal hastitutrons, as an incentive 
 to duty. In the Book of Job, we have a grand 
 "Ascription of the inestimable value of true wis- 
 dom ; which is, after all that is said of it, reduced 
 to this simple, but important point : " The fear 
 of tlie Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from 
 evil is understanding." Solomon concludes his 
 »o less fine description of wisdom in similar 
 words: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning 
 of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is 
 'understanding." In this description of wisdom, 
 he also says : *' The fear of the Lord is to hate 
 evil : pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, 
 and the fro ward mouth, do I hate." Again, " By 
 the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil. , It 
 is a fountain of life, preserving from the snares 
 «f death. By humility and the fear of the Lord, 
 are riches, and honour, and life." 
 
 The Psalmist inculcates the Divine fear, in 
 tJiis inviting language ; " Come, ye children, 
 and I Mill teach you the fear of the Lord. 
 What man is he tliat desifeth life, and loveth 
 many days, that he may see good ? Keep thy 
 .tongue from evil, and thy lips. from speaking 
 guile. Depart from evil and do good; seek 
 
A6 
 
 ON THE FEAE OF GQIX. 
 
 t)N THE TEAR OF GO». 
 
 ^ 
 
 till 
 
 m 
 
 peace and pursue it. Tbe eyes of the LonT 
 are upon the righteous, and his ears are open 
 to their cry. The face of Ae Lord is against 
 Aem that do evil, to cut off the remembrance 
 of them from the earth." We have many other 
 incitements to this duty in the Scriptures; par- 
 ticularly in the Psalms : " God is greatly to he 
 feared in the assembly of the saints^ and to be ' 
 liad in reverence of all them that are about him- 
 Me is to be feared above all gods. Thou, even 
 thou, O God of Jacob! art to be feared; and-, 
 who may stand in thy sight, when once thou att 
 angry? But there is forgiveness with thee, that 
 thou mayest be feared. Stand in awe, and $ia 
 not. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice 
 with trembling. Let all the earth fear the Lord. 
 Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe 
 of him. The Lord reigneth, let the people 
 tremble. He sitteth between the Cherubim, 
 let the earth be moved. Who would not fear 
 thee, O King of Nations! for to thee doth it. 
 appertain.?" 
 
 But in the Holy Scriptures, Cliristians are 
 taught whom they should not fear, as well as 
 whom they should fear. " Ye shall not fear 
 other gods. Learn not the way of the heathen, 
 and be not dismayed at the signs of Heaven^; 
 
 sfor the customs of the people are vain. The 
 fear of man bringeth a snare. Pear ye not the 
 reproach of men, neither "be ye afraid of their 
 revilings. I, even I, am he that comforteth 
 you : Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid 
 of a man that utisdl die, and of the son of a man 
 which shall be made as grass ; and forgettest the 
 Lowi thy maker, that bath stretched forth the 
 Heavens, and laid tfee foundations of the earth?** 
 
 Our blessed Redeemer gave his disciples 
 some j)articular instructions on this subject : 
 ** I say tmto you, my friends, be not afraid of 
 them that kill the body, and after that have no 
 inoFe that they can do. But I will forewarn 
 you whom ye shall fear. Fear him, vvho, after 
 ^e hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell^ 
 yea, I say unto you, fear Him." 
 
 Thus we find in every ^pensafion, tlie fear 
 of God was a necessary attainment. It formed 
 a prominent part in that message delivered by 
 the Angel, who was seen to " fly in the midst of 
 Heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach 
 unto them that dwell on the earth ; saying with a 
 loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, 
 for the hour of his judgments is come ; and 
 worship him that made Heaven and Earth ; an4 
 '3tiJe Sea, and the Fountains of Waters." 
 
OK RELIGiaUS MEDITATION. 
 
 4» 
 
 t ■ 
 
 iii|i 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 On Religious Meditation, 
 
 WjY Religious Meditation, is meant, that k-' 
 ward retireiDeot of mind from the cares and 
 concerns of this world, in which we may con- 
 template the works of God, both in creation 
 and redemptioyf and consider the duties whick 
 'Vve ow€^ to him, and one to another. 
 
 To have (he mind frequently engaged in this 
 manner, is of no small importance to the reli- 
 gious improvement of a Christian. For this 
 purpose, as well as for diat of inward retire- 
 ment and private prayer, some persons set apart 
 particular times of the day; whilst others find it 
 practicable, when they aje engaged in theitt 
 outward employments, inwardly to retire from 
 the world's concerns, secretly to meditate upon 
 the law of the Lord, to wait upon him for the 
 Tenewal of their spiritual strength, and to pour 
 out their supplications unto him* To prescribe 
 the mode of performing these duties, is not my 
 })usines«; and indeed it is a point in which we 
 cannot well prescribe one for another, lliat 
 they are duties, importapt and beneficial, will, 
 no doubt, be generally admitted : and we have 
 reason to believe, tliat they have been practised 
 by the righteous of all gfineratious. We am 
 
 tjpid that Enoch walked with God; and we may 
 reasonably suppose, that this was by secret com- 
 munion with him, and meditatioa upon his 
 Avorks and commands. 
 
 Of rcligioiis meditatiMi, we have an example 
 in the case of Isaac ; and from the incidental 
 mention of his " gomg into the field at eventide 
 to meditate,** a presumptive proof, at least, w 
 afforded, that a similar practice w^s not uncom- 
 mon with t!»e Patriarchs. To Joshua, the suc^ 
 i^essfiil leader of the children of Israel into the 
 promised land, diis command was given: "This 
 1)ook of the law sliall not depart out of thy 
 mouth ; but thou shall meditate therein day and. 
 flight, that thou mayst observe to do according 
 *=to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt 
 make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt 
 •have good success.* We have but little left 
 on record in the Scriptures, of tfce private, reli- 
 gious exercises of those concerning whom thej 
 «re written, previously to the Book of Psalms. 
 Here we find in the first Psalm, religious medi- 
 tation represented as a matenal part of the 
 ^employment of the man who is styled blessed. 
 '** His delight, sa}'8 the Psalmist, is m the laff 
 of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate 
 •day and night." It was, no doubt, to this duty 
 that tfie Psalipist alluded, whei he gtt\'e tht| 
 
m 
 
 50 
 
 ON RELIGIOUS MEDITATIOJT. 
 
 O^ RELIGIOUS MEDITATfON. 
 
 St 
 
 i^' 
 
 exhortation : " Commune with your own heart 
 upon your bed; and be still." The benefits 
 wliich result from religious meditation are thus 
 described: ^' My soul shall be satisfied as with 
 marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise 
 thee with joyful lips, when I remember thee 
 upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night 
 "watches." Again we find tliis employment 
 excellently and profitably illustrated, and its 
 Ijenefits under close confiicts strongly described. 
 ^* 1 have considered the days of old ; the years 
 of ancient times. I call to remembrance my 
 ^ong in the night, and my spirit made diligent 
 search. Will the Lord cast oflf for ever; and 
 will he be favourable no more :" After various 
 considerations of this kind, the Psalmist con- 
 cludes in this manner: " Surely I will remem- 
 ber thy wonders of old. I will meditate also 
 of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Tliy 
 way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is so 
 great a God as our Go^?' 
 
 But tlie Inspired writers did not confine their 
 meditation, to the law of their God, or to his 
 providential dealings with his people. They 
 saw him, and they adored hjm, in the works of 
 creation. From these tliey drew many beauti- 
 ful similes; and inculcated much important and 
 
 it 
 
 tumbling instruction. " The Heavens declare 
 die glory of God, and the firmament Jshowetfi 
 his hatidywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, 
 and night unto night showelh knowledge. 
 There is no speech or language where tlieir 
 voice is not heard." Again, " When I consider 
 thy Heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon 
 . and the stars which thou hast ordained ; [I ex- 
 claim} W hat is man that thou art mindful of 
 him; or the sou of man that thou visitest him!'' 
 
 Our duties also afford very copious subjects 
 for our meditation : Thus the Apostle Paul 
 enumerates many particulars of a very compre- 
 hensive nature, and recommends them to the 
 contemplation of his favourite Philippians : 
 '* Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things 
 are honest, whatsoever things are just, what- 
 soever things are pure, whatsoever things are 
 lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ; if 
 tliere be any virtue, if there be any praise, think 
 on those things;" To this exhortation he adds 
 tliese memorable woi-ds: " Those things which 
 ye have both learned, and received, and heard, 
 and seen in me, do; and tlie God of PeacO 
 abaH be with you." 
 
WATCHFULNESS, &C. 
 
 5S^ 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 WatchfulntM and tcaiting upon Go^, 
 
 J. HESE Duties are intimately connected 
 "with each other. Watchfulness is an exercise 
 ,of the mind^ in which we are concerned to 
 guard against the approach and attack of evil 
 on the one hand ; and on the other^ to be look- 
 ing for, and ready to recdre tlie communicatioib 
 of DiTine good to the soul. The last may be 
 termed wailing upon God. Tliis expression 
 may also be applied to a dependence on the 
 Divine care and bounty, for the supply of our 
 spiritual and temporal wants; and patiently 
 waiting the Lord's time for this supply. 
 
 Wh&n we consider liow we are siurrounded nt. 
 this world by temptations Uy evil; bow mucl^ 
 ©ur own propensities incline us to compJy with 
 it; and that, in addition to these inducements, 
 there is also an unwearied enemy and evil spirit,, 
 who is seeking our destniction ; watchfulness 
 will appear to be an indispensable duty. I'ke 
 world, the flesh, and tlie devil, are ail repre- 
 sented in Holy writ as enemies, against which 
 it is necessary to be upon our guard. '* "^The. 
 world lieth in wickedness, and its friendship is 
 enmity with Ciod. The ilcsh lusteth agamst 
 
 tie Spirit;" and so powerful is that enemy, who 
 has tliese weapons to war with against our hap- 
 piness, that an Apostle formerly gave this im- 
 portant exhortation to the early believers: " Be 
 sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, 
 as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom- 
 he may devour/' When these considerations 
 have taken place in our minds, we shall be con- 
 ■ vinced of the propriety of that uuiversal com- 
 mand, given by our blessed Saviour; " What I 
 say unto you,^ I say unto all ; watch." Again, 
 " W^atch and pray that ye enter not into temp- 
 tation." Thus also the Apostles, " Watch ye, 
 stand fast in the faith ; quit you like men, bo 
 strong. Let us watch, and be sober. Be ye 
 sober and watch unto prayer." 
 
 The truly humble minded Christian, is (tc^ 
 gently brought to feel his own incapacity for 
 every good word and work. He is often made 
 sensible of that impoitant truth, inculcated by 
 his Divine master: " No man can come unto 
 me, except the Father which sent me, draw 
 him." From this sense and feeling, lie finds 
 rfie necessity of patiently waiting upon God, for 
 help and ^rength in the performance of his re-- 
 Kgious duties. The benefit of this state ojf 
 •ynd is freijuently described in Holy Writ, andi 
 
A 
 
 WATCHFULNESS AND 
 
 WAITING UPON G0». 
 
 t» 
 
 % !■ 
 
 its duty strongly enforced : '^ Wait on the Lord^ 
 be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy 
 heart ; wait, I say, on the Lord." Again, " I4 
 waited patiently on the Lord, and he inclined 
 unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me 
 
 up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry 
 clay ; and set my feet upon a rock, and esta- 
 blished my goings; and he hath put a new song, 
 in my moutli, even praise unto our God. Many 
 sliall see it andfear, and shall trust in the Lord. 
 Thus does the royal Psalmist describe the bene- 
 ficial consequences of waiting upon God ; and 
 Solomon represents wisdom, no doubt the " wis- 
 dom which is from above," speaking in this, 
 manner : " Blessed is the man that heareth me^ 
 watching daily at my gates, waiting at the post^ 
 of my doors." 
 
 The prophet Habakkuk appears to have beea 
 sensible of the importance of this duty, both fo¥ 
 his own particular benefit, and for the fulfilment 
 of his prophetical office : " I will stand upon 
 my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will 
 watch to sec what he will say unto me, and 
 what I shall answer when I am reproved." lu 
 this state of mind he received the Divine com- 
 munication and commission, to " write the 
 ^ion^^ and make it plain upon tables^ that hd: 
 
 may inin that readeth it." Thus also we fisd IRe 
 Apostles were commanded by their Heavenly 
 Master, previously to their entfermg on their 
 Apostolical office, " to wait at Jerusalem for 
 the promise of the Father; which, saith he, ye 
 have heard of me," 
 
 I shall conclude this^ subject with the lively 
 description, given by the evangelical prophet, 
 of the benefits arising from this exercise of 
 mind : " Even the youths shall faint and grow 
 weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; 
 but they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew 
 their strength ; they shall mount up with wingy 
 as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary 1. 
 they shall walk, and not faint." 
 
•N FKATn. 
 
 St 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER Vr. 
 
 On Prayer, 
 
 Of all llie Duties which Religion requirer^ 
 there is not one more clearly obligatory, or 
 more interestingly important^ than that of 
 Prayer ; by which it is scarcely necessary to say^ 
 is meant, the making our requests known to 
 God, for those tilings of which we stand in 
 need, whether temporal or spiritual. This is a 
 duty which we may be said to owe to ourselves, 
 as well as to God. .When we consider our 
 manifold wants, our infirmities, and our dangers, 
 with our incapacity to supply or relieve our- 
 selves; and when w© reflect^ that the Divine 
 Being alone is capable of affording us that sup- 
 ply and assistance, which are necessary for our 
 present and future well-being; the importance 
 of this duty to ourselves, or for our own bene- 
 fit, nmst be obvious. Again, when we consider, 
 that God is the giver of every good and perfect 
 gift; that the earth is his, and the fulness 
 thereof; that in him are hid all the treasures of 
 /wisdom and knowledge; these considerations, 
 sliow, that prayer is a duty which we owe to his 
 Omnipotence and Goodnessi but, in addition to 
 these reasonable considerations, the commands 
 which are given us in the Holy Scriptures, im- 
 pose prayer upon us, as being indispensably du^- 
 to the Almighty,. 
 
 We have various precepts and examples, re- 
 tpecting this duty, in the Old Testament, all 
 tending to incite us to ^ lift up our hearts with 
 our hands to God in the Heavens -J* bat m the 
 ^ew Testament the directions are most full 
 and particular. Our blessed Lord hiciiicated 
 Ihid duty very forcibly among iris disciples; and 
 we are told, tliat ^' he spake a parable to them 
 to this end, that men ought alwayi^ to pray, and 
 not to faiat.'' The Apostle Pa«d is very earnest 
 iu his iejunetions on this head : *^ Be carefal (o* 
 atixious) for nothing; bitt in every thing,, by 
 prayer and supplioatioo, with thanksgiving, let 
 your reqtiests be made known unto GodL Con- 
 tinue hi prayer, and watcE in the same with 
 thanksgiving. Pray without ceasing. I will 
 therefore that men pray every where, lifting up 
 holy hands, without wrath and doubting : that 
 supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving 
 of thanks, be made for all men; for Kings and 
 for those that are in authority ; that we may lead 
 a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and 
 honesty ; ^ this is good and acceptable in the 
 sight of God, our Saviour." 
 
 But there are some circumstances necessary 
 to be attended to, in order to make our prayers 
 acceptable, and such as will be likely to pro- 
 cure a favourable answer to tbeio. The first 
 
55 
 
 ©N PR AY EH. 
 
 of these is, sincerity of heart, in the al'iorrence 
 of sin, and in desires after holiness and purity. 
 Of this the Psalmist appears ta have been fully 
 sensible, when he says> " If I regard iniquity iii 
 my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Again, 
 " 1 will wash my hands in innocency , so will I 
 encompass thy altar, O God!" Solomon al^ 
 makes a memorable observation on this subject : 
 " He that turiieth away his ear from hearing 
 the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination 
 to the Lord.'* In" another place he says, 
 "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomina- 
 tion to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright 
 i» his delight." In the answer which the }K)uiig, 
 man who had been blind, made to the cavilling 
 Jews, we have an instructive remark on the 
 qualification for true prayer: " W^e know that 
 God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a 
 worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he 
 heareth." The Apostle John also inculcate* 
 a similar doctrine : " Belov-ed, if our hearts 
 condemn us not, then have we confidence to- 
 wards God; and whatsoever we ask we receive 
 ©t him, because we keep his commandments, and 
 do those tilings that are pleasing in his sight." 
 
 The direction and caution which were given 
 by our Saviour on this subject, should also be 
 2«;meinbered| in order to avoid that osteutaiious 
 
 ON PTtAYER, 
 
 s§ 
 
 disposition w'hich mars, in the sight of God, sfU 
 our otherwise good words and works : " VVheu 
 thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites 
 are ; for they love to pray standing in the syna- 
 gogues, and in the corners of die streets, that 
 they may be seen of men. But thou, when 
 thou prayest, enter into tby closet; and when 
 tiiou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father, 
 \ylio is in secret ; and thy Father who seedi iu 
 secret, sliall reward thee ojjenly." 
 
 Our Lord having tbus cautioned bis disciples 
 against a desire to be seen and praised of men, 
 proceeds to correct another false apprehension 
 which some had entertained, that they should 
 be heard for their much speaking. Of this no- 
 tion he exposes the folly; and, in order to exem- 
 plify the doctrine which he taught, he gives his 
 disciples a most comprehensive, and at the same 
 time concise, specimen of prayer. 
 
 ** Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed 
 be thy name ; thy kingdom come : thy will be 
 done in eartb as it is in Heaven. Give us this 
 day our daily bread ; and forgive us our debts as 
 we forgive our debtors ; and lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for thine 
 is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory^ for 
 ^e\er. Ameu." 
 
m 
 
 ON PRAYElt. 
 
 ON PRAYER. 
 
 «1 
 
 if 
 
 On one part of this excellent prayer our blessed 
 Liord makes a short comment, to show tiie im- 
 portance of a disposition of mind, which, througk 
 Diviiie grace, it -is iu our power, and is certainly 
 <our duty, to attain. ** If ye forgive men thetr 
 trespasses, your heavenly Father wiii also forgive 
 you ; but if ye forgive not men their trespas^es^ 
 neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.*' 
 Of how great importance is this duty of for- 
 giveness! and, may it not be added, how little 
 is it attended to ? 
 
 Our approaches to the throne of Divine gracey 
 ought also to be accompanied with a trust ia 
 the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ ; 
 to which he himself holds out this, and other en- 
 couraging promises : " Verily, verily, I say unta 
 you; whatsoever ye shall ask tlje Father in my 
 name, he will give it you.'' We are also di» 
 rected to " ask in faith, nothing wavering/* 
 
 . There is another important requisite neces* 
 . sary to be attended to, in the performance o£ 
 the solemn duty of prayer. This is, the assist- 
 ance of the Holy Spirit; the necessity of which 
 the Apostle Paul clearly sets forth, when he 
 says, " The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : 
 for we know not what we should pray for, at 
 we ought ; but the Spirit itself maketh interces- 
 jiion for us, with groanings which cannot be u^ 
 
 tered : and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth 
 what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he 
 maketh intercession for the saints according to 
 the will of God." The same Apostle, in ano- 
 tlier place, descri bes true prayer in this manner : 
 " Praying always, with all prayer and supplica- 
 tion in the Spirit ; and watching thereunto with 
 all perseverance." 
 
 But notwithstanding these requisites for tlie 
 performance of true prayer, let not any be dis- 
 couraged from an attention to this important 
 duty from a sense of their own imperfections, 
 or from an apprehension that their minds are not 
 sufficiently under a superior influence to enter 
 upon it. If we are sincerely desirous of being 
 brought into a state of perfect acceptance with 
 our Maker, we may approach him with an 
 humble dependence on the Spirit and mediation 
 of his Son, putting up our prayers unto him, and 
 *' watchmg thereunto with all perseverance.'^ 
 Thus the penitent sinner will meet with that 
 -gracious acceptance, which is mercifully held 
 out to him, and the truth of the language of die 
 Psalmist, will be verified in his experience :— i 
 " As the Heaven is high above the earth, s» 
 great is his mercy towards them that fear Him. 
 As far as the east is from the west/ so far hath , 
 
6e 
 
 ON PRAYER. 
 
 % 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 he removed our transgressions from us. Like 
 as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord 
 pitieth them that fear him : for he knoweth our 
 frame, he remembereth that we are dust." 
 
 Great is the importance of a due attention to 
 the duty on which we are now treating, and to 
 the various circumstances necessary for its ac- 
 ceptable performance. Of this the Psalmist 
 appears to have been deeply sensible, when he 
 preferred this petition to the Divine Bein^: 
 " Let my prayer come up before thee as in- 
 cense, and the lifting up of my hands as an 
 evening sacrifice." For want of a due attention 
 to those circumstances, there is reason to fear, 
 that many at this time may be subject to the 
 same remark, which the Apostle James makes 
 concerning son>e in his day : " Ye fight and 
 war, yet ye liave not, because ye ask not; ye 
 ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss; that 
 ye may consume it upon your lusts." On the 
 other liand, we are told by the same Apostle, 
 that " the fervent prayer of a righteous man 
 availeth much." This, we have good reason to 
 believe, is the Prayer which ascends like incense, 
 before the Throne of God, and of the Lamb. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 On Thanhgixing and Pram* 
 
 Thanksgiving is an expression of om- 
 
 gratitude to the Divine Being, for favours re- 
 ceived. Praise may convey a sense of admira- 
 tion, as well as of gratitude ; aiKl is applicable 
 to the power and wisdom, as well as to the 
 goodness of God. Thus the Psalmist : " Oh 
 that men would praise the Lord for his good- 
 ness, and for his wonderfiU works to the chih- 
 dren of men !" 
 
 m 
 
 The reasonabfeness of these duties, and th6 
 obligations to perform them, are so self-evident 
 to every considerate mind> that believes in a 
 Divine Being and Providence, that, if we had 
 no injunctions to the practice of them, they 
 would unavoidably become an almost involun- 
 tary effusion from every feeling heart. But it 
 is to be regretted that, either from want of con- 
 sideration, or from want of sensibility, tlicre are 
 among those, who are surrounded with blessings 
 on every hand, many who are inattentive to the 
 favours which they enjoy, or ungrateful for them. 
 Ingratitude to the Divine Being for temporal 
 or spiritual blessings, is a sin which is peculiarly 
 marked by his displeasure. Of this we have 9. 
 
 F 2 
 
 
64 ON THAKKS61VIKG AND FBAISB. 
 
 ON THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. G5 
 
 k' 
 
 strong proof in the instance of the Israelites, of 
 whom, after recapitulating the peculiar favours 
 by which they had been distinguished, it is said; 
 '* But Jeshurun waxed lat asd kicked«-then 
 he forsook God who made him, and lightly 
 esteemed the rock of his salvation. They pra- 
 yoked him to jealousy with strange gods, they 
 sacrificed unto devils, and not to God.— -And 
 "when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, be- 
 cause of the provokiag of his sons and ^f Jt^s 
 daughters.'^ 
 
 > 
 
 Here we see the idolatry of the Jews de- 
 jKiqribed, as the consequence of their ingratitude 
 for the blessings which were conferred upou 
 them ; and the Apostle, in describing the de>- 
 praved state of the heathen world, both in its 
 religion and morality, traces it to the same 
 source : " Because that when they knew God, 
 they glori^ed him not as God, neither were 
 thankful : but became vain in their imagina- 
 tions, and dieir foolish heart was darkened; 
 professing to be wise they became fools ; and 
 changed the glory of the incorruptible God 
 into an image made like to corruptible man ; 
 and to birds, and to four-footed beasts, and 
 creeping things. Wherefore God afso gave diem 
 up to uucleaiuies3> through the lusts of theu awn 
 
 lieartS; to dishonour their own bodies between 
 themselves ; who changed the truth of God into 
 a lie ; and worshipped and served the creature 
 more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. 
 Amen." When we consider these lamentable 
 consequences, as the result of unthank fulness 
 and ingratitude, how important is the exhorta- 
 tion of the prophet Jeremiah : " Give glory tor 
 the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, 
 and before your feet stumble upon the dark 
 mountain; and wliile ye look for light, he turn 
 it into the shadow of death, and make it gross 
 darkness.'* 
 
 t f 
 
 Numerous are die examples, as well as the 
 exhortations, which are contained in the Holy 
 Scriptures, and particularly in the book of 
 Psalms, relating to this subject ; from which it 
 mav be sufficient to extract the followinsj : " It 
 is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
 ajid to sing praises unto thy name, O Most 
 High! to show forth thy loving kindness in the 
 morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Let 
 the people praise ihec, O God ! let all the peo- 
 ple praise thee. Bless the Lord, O my soul ! 
 and all that is wilhin me bless his holy name. 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul ! and forget not all 
 his benefits; who forgiveth all thy iniquities ^ 
 
 r 3 
 
f 
 
 I 
 
 
 66 ©N THANKSGIVINO AND PRAISB. 
 
 who heakth all thy diseases; who redeemeth 
 thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee 
 with loving kindness ami tender mercies* Oh t 
 that men would praise the Lord for his good- 
 nebs, and for his wonderful works to the chil- 
 dren of men." 
 
 The inspired writers of the NeNV Testament 
 likewise furnish us with many incitements to 
 this duty. Christianity itself was introduced 
 with, " Glory to God in the highest," as aa 
 acknowledgment previously necessary to the 
 promotion of " peace on earth, and good will 
 towards men." We find the mother of our 
 Lord pouring out her soul, in a grateful song 
 of praise, which begins with this pious lan- 
 guage : *' My soul doth magnify the Lord, and 
 my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour— 
 for he that is mighty hath done to me great 
 things; and holy i» his name." The Apostle 
 Paul very pressiiigly inculcates an attention to 
 these duties. " In every thing," says he, *' give 
 thanks; for tliis is the will of God in Christ 
 Jesus. And be not drunk with wine, whereiB 
 is excess; bat be ye filled with the Spirit: 
 speaking to yourselves in psalms, and in hynras, 
 and in spiritual songs; singing and making me- 
 4ody in yom* heart to the Lord j giving thanks 
 
 ON THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. 6? 
 
 always, for aH things, unto God and the Father, 
 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 6^ 
 him, therefore, let us oflfer the sacrifice of praise 
 to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, 
 giving thanks to his name." 
 
 It k not, however, a formal performance of 
 this duty that will meet with divine approba- 
 tion. It masty like prayer, be the produce of 
 a humbled and sanctified heart. When this is 
 attained to, thankfulness and praise will fre- 
 quently become involwitary effusions, and ascend 
 with acceptance before Him, who is the giver 
 of every good and perfect gift; and, as this state 
 of mind is continued in, qualification will finally 
 be experienced to join with that innumerable 
 multitude, mentioned in the Book of Revela- 
 tions, who " stood before the Throne and be- 
 fore the Lamb, clothed with white robes, say- 
 in<T, Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the 
 Throne, and unto the Lamb :" to which sacred 
 anthem the whole Angelic Host, returned this 
 responsive language : " Amen. Blessing, and 
 glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and ho- 
 pour, and power, and might, be unto our God, 
 for ever and ever. Amen.' 
 
 .' V 
 
 h h 
 
u 
 
 CHAPTER VIIK 
 
 On Public Worship, and the Approptiation of one daff ' 
 in theueek for this purpose. 
 
 The Public Worship of the Almighty is a 
 special duty of all men, who have opportunity 
 and ability for it. This results from the relation 
 in -which we all stand to God, as our Creator, 
 Preserver, and Benefactor. Common benefits 
 demand united thanksgiving and praises. A 
 social acknowledgment of these mercies and 
 blessings, not only becop^es us as dependent 
 Beings, but is attended with various advantages* 
 The rich and prosperous, when thus assembled 
 with the poor and afflicted, and acknowledging 
 their dependence on the.same great Benefactor^ 
 may learn liumihty, and be led to sentiments of 
 charity towards their fellow-creatures. I'he 
 children of poverty, and distress, whilst as- 
 sembled with the opulent, and joining diem in 
 solemn worship, may feel that they are all the 
 offspring of one gracious parent; all equally 
 dependent on his bounty and goodness; and 
 from those feelings; they may learn to support, 
 with resignation and hope, that allotment which 
 the Father of Mercies has assigned to them. 
 In the one class, sentiments of pride and con- 
 tempt for others, are likely to be suppressed ; 
 and in the other; envy, discontent, and miir- 
 
 ON PUBLIC TfORSHlP, &C. 
 
 69 
 
 inunng, are discouraged. Whatever differences 
 may elsewhere exist among men, in the presence 
 of the Divme Being, " the rich and ite poor 
 meet [equally] togedier ; for the Lord is [equally] 
 the maker of them all.'' 
 
 The Holy Scriptures inform us, that this 
 (duty had been practised in all ages, by those 
 ivho had been distinguished for piety and virtue* 
 In early times the sacrifices of animals, or of- 
 ferings of the fruits of the earth, were the most 
 common mode of publicly acknowledging a 
 dependence on the Divine Being, and were 
 most probably of Divine institution ; but wheo 
 it pleased the Almighty to separate from the 
 rest of mankind a people, whom he distinguished 
 by peculiar precepts and favours, it appears 
 that, in addition to those offerings, they met to- 
 gether for the performance of Divine Worship : 
 ** Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my 
 sanctuary ; I am the Lord." This precept points 
 out the institution of a time and place for public 
 worship; and they were both religiously ob- 
 served by the pious among the Jews ; though 
 there is reason to believe tliey were much 
 neglected by many of another description. 
 
 Tlie Psalmist, with that humble piety which 
 peculiarly difftinguishes his character^ is an emi« 
 
 t 
 
■^ { 
 
 02* PUBLIC WORSHIP, &C. 
 
 71 
 
 'fo 
 
 
 ON PUBLIC WORSHIP, &C: 
 
 nent instance of public, as well as private de- 
 votion : " As for me, I will come into thy house 
 in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear 
 will I worship towards thy holy temple." Again, 
 ^* We will go into his tabernacle ; we will wor- 
 ship at his footstool." And in order that he 
 may perform tliis service acceptably, he forms 
 an excellent resolution : " I will wash my hands 
 in innocency; so will I compass thy altar, O 
 Lord ! "^That I may publish with the. voice of 
 thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous 
 works." Nor was it merely as an obligation, 
 that he performed this important duty : " His 
 delight was in the law of the Lord ;" and this 
 made the performance of religious worship a 
 grateful, not an irksome, task. " Lord, I have 
 loved the habitation of thy house, and the place 
 where thv honouf dwelleth. How amiable are 
 thy tabcniacles, O Lord of Hv>sts! I was glad 
 when they said unto me, let us go into the house 
 of God, — for a day in thy courts is better than 
 a thousand [elsewhere.] I had rather be a door- 
 keeper in the house of my God, tlian dwell in 
 the tents of wickedness." 
 
 Although the Christian dispensation exempted 
 its professors from the ceremonious part of the- 
 Jewish law, it did not, by any means, exempt 
 
 them from the duty of public worship. We 
 have the examples of our Saviour and his 
 Apostles, in support of this practice. The 
 Apostle Paul is uideed very strenuous in incul- 
 catmg it: " I beseech you, brediren, by the 
 mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a 
 living sacrifice, holy, acceptable imlo God, 
 which is your reasonable service :" and in the 
 Epistle to the Hebrews, public worship is thus 
 excellently illustrated and enforced: " Having, 
 therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the 
 holiest, by the blood of Jesus ; by a new and 
 livin<' way, which he hath consecrated for us 
 through the vail, that is to say, his tiesh ; and 
 having a Hgh- Priest over the House of God; 
 let us draw near with a true heart, in full as- 
 aiuance of faith ;— not forsaking the assembling 
 of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; 
 but exhorting one another: and so much the 
 more, as ye see the day approaching." 
 
 The Giristian religion has, however, freed 
 its professors from being confined to particular 
 places, for the performance of religious woi- 
 ship. Tims our Saviour taught his disciples : 
 *' Where two or three are met together in my 
 name, there am I in the midst of them :" and 
 in the memorable conversation; which he held 
 
 * 
 
'i 
 
 4 
 
 
 n 
 
 OK PUBIIC WORSHIP, &C. 
 
 M'ith the Samaritan woniaD> he showed thkt 
 public worship was not to be confined to any 
 particular place ; for when she inquired of him^ 
 whether Jerusalem, or the mountain of Samaria, 
 was the true place of worship, he set them, 
 and, by consequence, all other particular places, 
 aside, as being exclusively appropriated to this 
 purpose. " Woman, believe me, the hour 
 comethy when ye shall neither in this mountain,- 
 nor yet at Jerusalem, [exclusively] worships 
 the Father.— But the hour cometh, and now is, 
 when the true worshippers shall worship the 
 Father in spirit and in truth ; for the Father 
 seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, 
 and they that worship him, must worsliip him' 
 in spirit aiKl in truth.'^ Here we see the ful- 
 filling of the evangelical prophecy : " In every 
 place, incense shall be offered unto my name^ 
 and a pure offering.*' 
 
 Though no place is exclusively essential ta 
 the performance of public worship; yet some 
 jplace is necessary for " the assembling of our- 
 selves together;" and some time must bej^ec*- 
 liarly appropriated to this purpose. Under the 
 Jewish law, and most probably prior to that 
 time, the seventh day of the week was set apart 
 for this service : but when that dispensation was 
 abrogated, the primitive Christians thought pro- 
 
 <>t( PtJBLIO WORSHIP, &c. 
 
 7jr 
 
 per to alter the time, from the seventh to the 
 first day of the week. Although the ceremonial 
 part of the Jewish sabbadi, is not obligatory 
 tipon Christians ; yet several of the reasons as- 
 signed for its institiitioni apply to us equally 
 Mrith them. Christians in all ages have, there- 
 fore, agreed in tKe apJ)r6pfiation of a seventh 
 day, or one day in the week, to be particularly 
 set apart for public worship, and for other 
 means of religious improvement; as also for a 
 time of relaxation and rest from bodily labour, 
 to those who are subject to it. This indulgence 
 was extended, under the law, to the animal 
 creation, as well as to those persons who wer^ 
 in a state of servitude and bondage : " That 
 thine ox and thine ass may rest ; and the son of 
 thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be re- 
 fjreshed.'* 
 
 The religious observance of one day in the 
 week, is of so much importance to the preser- 
 vation of piety and virtue ; and the neglect of it 
 is so evidently marked with irrcligion, and, in 
 general^ with immorality, that, however neces- 
 sary it is to avoid the superstitious observance 
 of it, which our Saviour had occasion to cen- 
 sure, in the time of his personal appearance ou 
 earth; yet every reasonable consideration coa- 
 
74 ON PUBLIC woasHiP, 8cc* 
 
 apires to press the practice closely upon U6, &• 
 aflfording an opportunity, which many could not 
 Otherwise easily obtain, of acquiring religious 
 instruction and improvement; and of publickly 
 performing ihat worship, which is due unto 
 « Him that made Heaven and Earth, jthe Seas, 
 and the Eountains of Waters*" 
 
 The pious Chrisfian does not, liowever, con- 
 fine his public devotions to one day in the week. 
 Sensible of the obligation, and feeling the be- 
 nefit, of a more frequent performance of thia 
 religious service, he embraces opportunities, 
 when afforded to him, of attending on publick 
 worship, on some otli^r day, or days, than that 
 which is specially set apart for this purpose : 
 and although this may, in some instances, re- 
 quire him to leave his temporal concerns; and 
 may seem to be attended with some worldly 
 cUsadvantages^ yet the views which he enter- 
 tains of religious obligations, induce him to fol- 
 low the example of the good King David, when, 
 on a certain occasion, he made use of this dis- 
 interested language: " Neither will I offer 
 burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God, of that 
 which doth cost me nothing/' 
 
 if 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 On Obedience and Patience, 
 
 After treating on> the preceding particukr 
 duties> it may be proper to take notice of the 
 general duty of Obedience; and to connect with 
 k that of Patience. By Obe^ence is meant the 
 practical and active part of those duties, which 
 we know to be the Divine will concerning us. 
 
 When the mind is impressed with the belief 
 •f the power and goodness of God, and'broug&t 
 under the influence of that love and fear which 
 we owe to him, obedience to the manifestations 
 ©f hb will, becomes the necessary result of this 
 impression and influence. But as the operation 
 of these principles is generally slow and gradual, 
 and tlie Christian traveller has many tempta- 
 tions and difticulties to encounter, before he has 
 reason to believe that "in him- verily is the love 
 of God perfected ?"'iti»of importance to know, 
 that simple obedience to the Divine will is an 
 indispensable obligation: "To obey is better 
 than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of 
 rams : for rebellion b as the sin of witchcraft, 
 and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." 
 
 Fear and love are, however, motives which 
 are essential to true obedience. We find theia 
 
 G & 
 
 ^ 
 
70 ON OBEDIENCE AND PATIENCE. 
 
 in the Holy Scriptures used to excite the minds 
 4>f the people to the service of God, and to an 
 attention to his commands, *' Thou shalt fear 
 the Lord thy God, and serve hinu Thou shalt 
 love the Lord thy God, anfl keep iiis charge 
 and his statutes, and his judgments, and, his 
 commandments alway. Ye shall observe to do 
 as the Lord your God hath commanded you : 
 ye shall not turn aside to the right hand, or tf> 
 the left, that ye may live, and that it may be 
 >v'ell with you. Thus saith the Lord of Hbsts> 
 the God of Israel :'— obey my voice, and walk 
 ye in ail my Ways that I have commanded you, 
 that it may be well unto you/^ 
 
 [■.. < -_• f* V, .« A- 
 
 i -»■•*! 
 
 In the New Testament, the importance qt 
 obedience to the Divine will and connnands, is 
 very strongly enforced* Our .blessed Redeemer 
 manifested how Jittle he sought the praise of 
 men, and how much he desired the glory of his 
 Father, and the real good of mankind, when 
 he gave this salutary caution to his hearers : 
 ^* Not every one that saith unto me, Lord! 
 Lord ! shall enter the kingdom ; but he tha^ 
 doelh the will of my Father who is in Heaven.'* 
 Again he saith : " Ye are my friends, if ye da 
 whatsoever I command you." And it was the 
 observation of his beloved disciple, " He thai 
 doth the will of God abideth for ever." 
 
 C1J OBEDIENCE AND PATIENCE. 77* 
 
 Besides the particular instructions given by 
 the Apostles of Christ, the general duty of obe- 
 dience, or keeping the divine commands, is thus 
 enforced : " Not the hearers of the law are just 
 before Godj but the doers of the law shall be 
 justified. Be ye doers- of the wordj and not 
 hearers only, deceiving your mvnselves. This 
 is the love of God, that we keep his command- 
 ments; and his commandments are not* grievous. 
 Hereby we do know him, if we keep his com- 
 mandments. He that saith, I know him> and 
 keepeth not his commandments, is a Fiafr; and' 
 the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his 
 word, in^him, verity, is tlie love of God -per- 
 fected." When we consider these various tes- 
 timonies ta the importance of the practical part 
 of religion ; in which is necessarily involved a 
 belief of its doctrines,^ because these are like- 
 wise Divine commands ; we shall see the pro- 
 priety of that conclusion, to which Solomon", 
 after all his researches, was brought: "Fear 
 God, and keep his commandments ; for tlvis is 
 the whole duty of man." 
 
 Intimately connected with Obedience^ is the 
 duty of Patience ; by which is understood the^ 
 bearing with fortitude of mind, and resignatioa 
 to the Divine will, whatever is permitted to» 
 
 ^ 3 
 

 7^ ON OBEMENCE AND PATllENCE. 
 
 befall us in this probationary state of existence- 
 Obedience and patience, or to do and suffer the 
 whole will of God, may be swd to comprehend 
 the whole of those duties which religion and 
 virtue require. Patience therefore holds an- 
 important place among the duties of a Christian. 
 His life is aptly compared to a state of warfare,, 
 in which he has not only much to do, but much 
 to bear. He must, in common with other men, 
 submit to many privations and trials ; and Some- 
 times his religion will subject him to more; for 
 which, however, it affords an ample compensa- 
 tion. But as this compensation^ is not always 
 immediate, we are called upon by our faith,, 
 oar hope, and our love to the Supreme Being, , 
 without whose providential attention we are- 
 told, not a hair of our heads falleth to the- 
 ground, to bear, with holy resignation,, what- 
 ever Ire permits to befall us ; and, in conformity 
 to those excellent examples which are trans- 
 mitted to us in Holy writ, to say, when suffer- 
 ings and trials are our lot: "The Lord gave, andj 
 the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name, 
 of the Lord. Not my will^ but thine be done. 
 The cup which my Father hatli given me, shall 
 1 not drinV it r 
 
 When our Lord! was apprizing his disciple^^ 
 9i the afflictions- which woiUd befall them, he- 
 
 k 
 
 A' 
 
 ON 0BE»^I^1^CE AJIH P^TI^l^cr, T^N 
 
 grave them thi^^ seasonabl|e ex%i?tatiQn : "In. 
 your patience possess, ye your souls i" and it 
 seems tjiat; this exhof tation >v as not in yaii? ; for 
 we afterwards finc^ when their Lord's predictions 
 were verified, tljey had so attendj^d tp, his in- 
 struction as tp be al^le to say : " We glofy iri^ 
 triji^iflationa;, ki^\yin^ that tribukt^on work^eth;^ 
 patience; and. patience, experience; and expe- 
 rience, hope ; and h<>P^ "^i*!f,"^^^ °^^ ashamed,, 
 because the love of God is- shed abroad in our 
 hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto 
 us. l^or wl^ich cause we faint iK)t;. for thouglv 
 our outward map perish, yet the inwajd man is 
 renewed day by day: for oi^r light affliction,- 
 w^hich is but for a moment, worketh for us a^^ 
 hr more exceeding/and eternal weigl^t of glory ;. 
 while we look not at the things that are seerf, 
 but at the things which £vre not, seen ; for the 
 things which are seen, are temporal ; but tho, 
 things which are not seen, are eternal." 
 
 TJie author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 
 gives the foUovving instructive exl^orfations on. 
 this subject: "My. son, despise no,^ tl^ou the 
 chastening of thel/)rd, npr faint when thouart^ 
 teb.uked of . him ; f9r whom the Lord.,loveth he 
 ehastenethj and scourgeth every soi? whom he, 
 li^ceivetli. We have had fathers- ot, our fleshsj 
 
.V«<' 
 
 30^ ON OBKDlENCrE AND PATIENCE. 
 
 vho corrected us, and we gave them reverence^ 
 shall we not much rather bein subjection to the 
 Pather of Spirits, and'live? For they, verily, for* 
 a few days chastened us, fbr their own pleasure ; 
 but he for our profit, that we might be parta- 
 kers of his holiness. Now no chastening, for 
 the present, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; 
 nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable- 
 fruit of righteousness, unto them who are exer- 
 cised thereby.** 
 
 The Apostle James, among other exhorta- 
 tions to the duty of Patience, gives the foRow- 
 ing:'"Take, my brethren, the prophets who- 
 h^ve spoken in the name of the Lord, for att- 
 e^ample of suffering affliction and patience.. 
 Behold! we count them happy who enihire. 
 Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have 
 seen the end of the Lord; that he is very piti-- 
 fell, and of tender mercy/*^ 
 
 As afflktion is more or less the lot of hu- 
 manity, it is of the utmost importance that we' 
 endeavour to have our minds fortified by pa- 
 tience, which may be called the strong-hold of 
 religion and virtue. To this end, i^ may be^ 
 beneficial^ to us to consider, how much we en- 
 joy,, or may enjoy y and of bow littU we ^^ 
 
 ON OBEDIENCE AND PATIENCE. 81 
 
 -' 
 
 worthy. Humijityjgjtjie ground- work of pa- 
 tience. It gives light to the mind, and strength 
 •^ to the heart. " But if thou faint (says Solomon) 
 in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.** 
 JD^e fiuipble, fesiguefl flwnd knojys, that ^ 
 ;^hings shall work tog^tjier for go^; apd i^ 
 j^es of affliction is en^^bl^ to say with tbe^ 
 propji^t; "''Although the fig-3tjree ,§hall not 
 ^blossom, r^i^her shall fruit be in tl^e vines; th^ 
 .labour of the olive shall fail, apd the ^ejd^ 
 jfhall yield po vf^e^ ; the jflPQk^ sb,all l?e cut of 
 j(^-om the jfqWf ,and theife shall be no herd in the 
 .^talls; y^t J will rejoice in the Lp/d; 1 will 
 
X>N .REPENTANCE, 8wC*. 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTETl X. 
 
 'V 
 
 €n Repentanci iffwards God, and FaUh ia out LoJ^ 
 
 Jeaut Chriih 
 
 When wc considfer the number and extent 
 of our duties to God, on. the one hand; and the- 
 depravity and frailty of human nature, on the 
 other ; we must suppose that the neglect or 
 violation of these dudes will, at times, take 
 place, even with those who may make the most 
 early and regular advances in the way of holi- 
 ness : but with respect to the generality of 
 mankind, this neglect and violation are so preva- 
 knt and self-evident, Aat any attempt to de- 
 ffionstrate them would be superfluous. If 
 therefore, it is, as it ought to be, a matter oF 
 concern to us, to live and die in the Divme fa- 
 vour, Repentance, united with amendment o^ 
 ^fe, becomes a most important duty. 
 
 The very first sermons which were preache(F 
 both by our Saviour, and his forerunner, the 
 Baptist, were on the subject of Repentance; 
 and, in a few energetic expressions they en- 
 forced this first principle of the doctrine of 
 Christ : " Repent, for the kingdom of Heavea 
 is at band. Bring fortli fruits meet for repent- 
 3nce." With these precepts was laid, as it 
 
 ^ere,.the foundation of that religion, with whick 
 the world has been blessed through Jesus Christ^ 
 Repentance was, no doubt, always a necessary 
 dfuty, since the transgression of our first parents: 
 but the gospd dispensalion being more parti- 
 cularly applied to the depraved state G(f human 
 nature, this first work of true religion is pri- 
 marily inculcated. We also find, that when the 
 disciples went forth to preach and to teach, 
 tliis appears to have been the first and principal 
 part of their mission ; for we are told 'by one 
 of the Evangelists, that " they went out and 
 preached, that men should repent.** After the 
 ascension of our Lord, and the pouring forth of 
 the Spirit on the Apostles and Disciples, we 
 find the doctrhie of Repentance was preached 
 4n this powerful language: « Repent ye, and 
 be converted; that jour sins may l)e blotted 
 -out, when the times of refreshing shall come 
 from the presence of the Lord ; and he shall 
 send Jesus Christ, who before, was preached 
 >uato you.** 
 
 In that excellent relation of his gospel la- 
 bours^ which the Apostle Paul gave to the 
 elders of Ephesua, ^ve may perceive that re- 
 pentance formed a very prominent part in the 
 doctrines which lie tauglrt : " testifying (says 
 he) both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, 
 
ff-- 
 
 te 
 
 0'l!r'EEf'ENTPAN'6E, &C. 
 
 'HI- 
 
 nipentance' toward God, aiid faith tbwarid oiif^ 
 Lord JesuS Christ." 
 
 The connexion of Repentance with Faith ia 
 Christ, forms a peculiar excellence of the gos- 
 pel dispensation, and to which it is of the 
 utmost importance to attend. How consoling 
 is this consideration! '' If any man sin, we have 
 an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the 
 righteous: and he is the propitiation for our 
 sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of 
 the whole world." Numerous are the testi- 
 monies in holy writ to this gracious design of 
 our merciful Redeemer. The evangelical pro- 
 phet strongly and clearly speaks of it: " He 
 was wounded for our transgrc«ions ; the chastise- 
 ment of our peace was upon him, and with his 
 stripes are we healed. All we, like sheep, have 
 gone astray; we have turned every one to his 
 
 ' I •4-4.- ,,■ ... ., . '•» 
 
 own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the 
 iniquity of us all.*' Thiis passage was openecf to 
 the Ethio jpian Fliinuc*K, and applied to Christy 
 hy Philip the Evangelist. 
 
 Tlie doctrine of Faitli in Christ, as the'mc^^hs 
 of reconciliatidtt'with'^Gbd, is fotebiy inciil-"* 
 cat^d in thfe wFitirtgS of the Apostles. To re-' 
 peat all diat they say on this subject, would be" 
 to transcribe a large portion of their Epistles*^' 
 We are' told by our Saviour himself, when soaie * 
 
 ON REPENTANCE, &C. 
 
 85 
 
 inquired of him, " What shall We do, that we 
 may work the works of God ? This is the 
 work of God, that ye believe on him, whom 
 Cod hath sent." Hie importance of this be- 
 lief, or faith, is thus inculcated by the Apostle 
 Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans: " Now 
 the righteousness of God, without the law, is 
 manifested, being witnessed by the law and the 
 prophets ; even the righteousness of God, which 
 is hy faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon 
 all them that believe, (for there is no difference ; 
 fbr all have sinned and fallen short of the glory 
 of God,) being justified freely by his grace, 
 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ; 
 whom God hath set forth, to be a propitiation, 
 through faith in his blood, to declare bis rigtite- 
 ousness for the remisi^on of sins diat are past, 
 
 y> 
 
 tlirough the forbearance of God. 
 
 The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 
 largely exemplities the doctrine of Christian 
 redemption. The eighth, ninth, and tenth chap- 
 ters are particularly forcible and interesting, in 
 the manner in which this subject is treated; and 
 it will be proper to recite, in this place, some 
 of the pertifient exhortations and observations 
 with which he closes the subject: " Having, 
 therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the 
 Holiest by the bleod of Jesus^ bj a new an<|' 
 
 H 
 
 I ■ 
 
 i^i 
 
V*"l 
 
 96 
 
 ON REPENTANCE, &€♦ 
 
 living way, which he has consecrated for us 
 through the vail, that is to say, his flesh ; and 
 having a High- Priest over the House of God; 
 let us draw near with a true heart, in full as- 
 surance of faivh. He that despised Moses' law,, 
 died without mercy, under two or three wit- 
 nesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose 
 ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trod- 
 den under foot the Son of God, and hath counted 
 the blood of the cavenant wherewith he was 
 sanctified, an. unholy thjuig, and done despite to 
 the spirit of grace ? for we know him who hath 
 said; Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will 
 recompense, saith the Lord: and again, the 
 Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful 
 thing to fall into the hands of the living God/' 
 
 Seeing then, that our duty and interest are 
 both intimately connected with our possessing 
 faith in Christ; let us embrace it with full pur- 
 pose of heart, and " hold fast the profession of 
 it without wavering." Yet let us not forget, that 
 " faith without works is dead, being alone ; and 
 that we ought, therefore, to " add to our faith, 
 virtue ;" and to jiold it in conjunction with " a 
 good conscience :" thus may we entertain a well 
 grounded hope, that, when this probationary 
 state shall terminate, we shall " receive the end 
 of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." 
 
 pjut itl 
 
 MORAL DUTIES. 
 
 CLASS I. GENERAL DUTIES, 
 CLASS II. PARTICULAR ©UTIl^ 
 
 GENERAL DUTIES^ 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 Justice. ' 
 
 Justice is a duty of great importance and 
 extent : it consists in giving to all persons their 
 respective rights; and in exercising that veracity 
 and uprightness in all our actions and words 
 which inspire mutual confidence. This may be 
 considered as a fundamental virtue ; for without 
 it social life loses its connexions and its com- 
 forts; and indeed can scarcely be said to exist. 
 Without Justice all the other virtues, and par- 
 ticularly those of the benevolent kind, are little, 
 if ataH, better than hypocrisy. It is a virtue 
 which even the Heathens strongly inculcated; 
 and in a manner which certainly does tlient 
 credit."* In the Holy Scriptures, this virtue 
 possesses a very important place ; and is recom* 
 • See io particular Tully's Offices-. 
 
 He 
 
 #■ 
 
^8 
 
 JUSTICE. 
 
 JUSTICE. 
 
 86 
 
 I 
 
 mended in a strong and prominent manner, fn 
 the sixth chapter of Micah, Justice stands first 
 in that brief, but comprehensive summary of 
 duties, with which the Prophet's inquiries are 
 answered : " He hath showed thee, O man ! 
 what is good; and what doth the Lord require 
 of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, 
 and to walk humbly with thy God." Our blessed 
 Lord, in a few words, at once lays down the 
 rule for this duty, and recommends the practice 
 of it. " All things whatsoever ye would that 
 men should do unto you, do ye even so to them; 
 ior this is the law and tlie prophets/* 
 
 In treating on this subject, it may be propei^ 
 to divide it into three heads ; viz. Honesty,, 
 Veracity, and Sincerity ."f 
 
 Honesty is intended to apply to our conduct,, 
 in those transactions which relate to property ; 
 which, in civilized life, and particularly in com- 
 mercial nations, is a very important duty. Nor 
 is it only a duty; our interest is also involved 
 in it. " Honesty is the best policy," is a pro- 
 verbial truth which has stood, and will standi 
 the test of ages. 
 
 " Thou shalt not steal," is one of the Ten 
 Commandments, delivered by the Almighty 
 
 t For tha» part of Justice which relates to the duties of 
 Magistiaitja, see tUe chapter on Magistrates aud Subjects. 
 
 Kmself, for directing the conduct of his chosen 
 people. This obligation was frequently incul- 
 cated and extended by the Jewish Legislator. 
 " Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither 
 lie one to another."^ Again, " Tliou shalt not 
 defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him. Ye 
 shall do no unrighteousness in meteyard, in 
 weight, or in measure, neither deal falsely: 
 False balances are an abomination to the Lord; 
 but a just weight is his delight. Have we not 
 all one Father? Hath not one God created us? 
 Why do we deal' treacherously every man against 
 his brodier ?" Thus forcibly does the Old Tes- 
 tament incnlcate Honesty among men: and in 
 the New Testament the same obligation is 
 equally, though perhaps not so frequently, en- 
 joined: " Let him that stole steal no more; but 
 rather let him labour, working with his hands 
 the thing that is good. Let no man defraud his 
 brother in any matter, becaose the" Lord is ih 
 avenger of all such." Above all, let usremembc 
 this important truth, that " neither thieves ng 
 extortioners shaH inh^it the kingdom of God.' 
 
 Honesty in our actions can scarcely exist 
 without veracity in our words. The advantages 
 which arise to society and to individuals, from 
 speaking the t*:iith, and from punctuality in all- 
 
 H :) - 
 
 m 
 
ir 
 
 90 
 
 JUSTICE. 
 
 JrSTICE. 
 
 91 
 
 ^ 
 
 '1 
 
 our promises and engagements, are not easily 
 calculated ; and it is to be lamented that raen^ 
 who would be considered as moral characters, 
 and who, perhaps, would resent the charge of 
 a lie with the challenge of a duel ; that such a» 
 these should pay little attention to this indis- 
 pensable moral obligation. Falsehood is an 
 evil which pervades almost all classes of society^ 
 to a degree that is really affecting. That suclv 
 nn evil should so much prevail in a Christian 
 country, whose religious code is so express anA 
 unequivocal in condemning it, is indeed a sub- 
 ject of astonishment, as well as of sorrow. To 
 enumerate all the passages in Scripture, which 
 apply to this subject, may not be necessary : 
 the few following ones sufficiently indicate the 
 view, in which the vice of lying was held by the 
 Inspirer of the sacred penmen : " Thou shalt 
 not bear false witness. Lying lips are an abo- 
 mination to the Lord ; but they that deal truly 
 arc his delight. The getting of treasures by a 
 lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro of diem 
 tiiat seek death. Lie not one to another, seeing 
 ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Put 
 away lying, and speak every man truUi to his 
 neighbour." These are strong and clear injunc- 
 teom; and when we add to them the solemn de- 
 claration of the final state of tlus class of sinner*;, 
 
 how awful is the consideration ! " All liars shall 
 have their part in the lake which burneth with 
 fire and brimstone ; which is the second death." 
 
 Men sometimes think themselves honest in 
 their actions, and true in their words, who yet 
 ftre deficient in real sincerity and uprightness. 
 Our holy religion, however, requires us to " lay 
 aside all guile and hypocrisies, and all evil 
 speaking." We are told, that the Lord loveth the^ 
 upright. " Thou, most npright, dost weigh the 
 path of the just." It was a consoling reflec- 
 ikon of the primitive believers it\ Christ, when 
 they could say : " Our rejoicing is this, the 
 testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity 
 and godly sincerity ; not with fleshly wisdom, 
 but by the grace of God ; we have had our 
 conversation in the world." How desnable a 
 rirtuc is true sincerity ! But the deceiver and 
 the hypocrite are hateful both to God and man. 
 " The hope of the hypocrite shall perish." His 
 hope, both here and hereafter, faiieth him : and 
 in that awful day, when final judgment will be 
 J)assed upon mankind, not only " the sinners in 
 Zion shall be afraid ; but fearfulness will sur- 
 prise tlie bypocritCr"^ 
 
 4 
 
CHAPTER ir. 
 
 ,ii 
 
 Lcfve or Charity. 
 
 IjOVE to our fellow-creatures is a duty^ 
 ^hich is inculcated, both in the Jewish and the 
 Christian dispensations; "Thou shalt love thy 
 neighbour as thyself," is a precept that is found 
 in both Testaments ; but it is in the New Tes-' 
 tament that this duty is most particularly en- 
 forced ; and is extended beyond all former ex- 
 ample. It is indeed, as has been already shown 
 the basis of all those duties which we owe one 
 another : and where tliis principle prevails ia 
 the heart, other moral. precepts are, in a great 
 mtasure, superseded. " Love worketh no ill 
 to his neighbour ; therefore Love is the fulfil- 
 ling of the law." Again, " Love one anothe^ 
 with a pure heart fervently." Here is an essen-» 
 tial circumstance attached to thb virtue ; a pure 
 heart. The heart of man, in its natural and 
 corrupt state, either rejects this Divine princi-» 
 pie of action, or mixes with it so much of it* 
 own corruption, as to produce a false or mis-« 
 taken charity, which is frequently destructive 
 of those virtues that true Love is intended to 
 promote. But it must by no meaus be rejected, 
 because it is abused. When our love one to ano- 
 ther proceeds fronv^and is united with^ the lovev 
 
 \ 
 
 LOVE OK CHARITY. 
 
 i9d 
 
 which we owe to the Divine Being, it fornfi% 
 without exception, the brightest jewel in the 
 crown of a Christian. The description which 
 the Apostle Paul gives of it, has already beea 
 cited ; and so much said on the Mibject in g«r 
 neral, that it may now be sufficient to treat on 
 its effects ; or tkose particular yirtiiea whidt 
 result from it. 
 
 m 
 
 1. Mercy and Compassion maybe con- 
 udered as the fir«t fruits of love. The former 
 is a duty which applies principally to the coi>- 
 duct of superiors towards inferiors, whilst the 
 latter extends equally to all the relations of 
 life, when in a state of affliction or trial. 
 These duties are forcibly enjoined upon us in 
 Holy Writ : « Thus speaketh the Lord of 
 Hosts : Show mercy and compas8ion every 
 man to his brother ; and oppress not the widow, 
 nor the fatherless, nor the strangers, nor the 
 poor ; and let none of you imagine evil against 
 his brother in your heait. Be ye merciful as 
 your father also is merciful. Be ye all of one 
 mind, having compassion one oi another; love 
 as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Pure 
 religion and undefiled before God and the Fa- 
 ther, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows 
 19 their aiEWtion; and to keep himself uxir 
 
94 
 
 roVE OR CHARtTt. 
 
 spotted from the world. Rejoice with thieflr 
 that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.'* 
 Thus do the Holy Scriptures inculcate these" 
 amiable virtues ; and indeed they are virtues, 
 'which from various considerations, it highly be- 
 comes us to exercise towards each other. Let 
 us ever bear in mind this desirable benedic- 
 tion : " Blessed are the merciful ; for they shaH 
 obtain mercy." 
 
 P ♦ 
 
 w 
 
 £. The virtues on which we have just- been 
 treating, are nearly allied to that Candour ill 
 judging one another, which forms a very pro^ 
 minent part in the Christian religion .^^ It is 
 what is frequently distinguished, ia common 
 conversation, by thename of Charity ; but pro- 
 perly speaking, it is onJy one of the fruits of 
 what is called Charity in the Striptures. It 
 is, however, a fruit of no small importance, 
 which we should all b6 found producing in 
 our conduct: and when it is considered, how 
 quickly we can all feel, when we are treated 
 without candour, or charity, it seems peculiarly 
 proper, that all should give what all are desi- 
 rous- to receive. How forcible and argumenta- 
 tive is the commandment of our blessed Lord, 
 on this subject : " Judge not, that ye be not. 
 ji^dged ; for with what judgment ye judge, ye 
 
 LOVE OB CHAHITV* 
 
 9i 
 
 ahall be judged; and with what measure ye 
 mete, it shall be measured to you again. And 
 why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy bro- 
 ther's eye, but considerest not the beam which 
 is in thy own eye ? Thou hypocrite, fir^t cast' 
 the beam out of thy own eye ; aud then shalt 
 thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of 
 thy brother's eye." 
 
 It is indeed, atFecting to observe, with what 
 keenness and asperity persons often censure 
 the failings of others, with whose faults, if a 
 fair comparison were made, their own would 
 appear as the i>eam to the mote ; and it may 
 be not unfrequently observed, how freely some 
 persons censure failings or vices in others, to 
 which they themselves are peculiary j)rone. 
 
 The Apostle Paul makes some excellent ob- 
 servations in his Epistle to the Romans, on the 
 failing of whicli we are now treating: " Who 
 art thou that judgest another man's servant? 
 To his own master he standeth or falleth. VVhy 
 dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost thou 
 Set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand 
 before the judgment seat of Christ. So then 
 every one of us shall give account of himself 
 to God ; let us jjot therefore judge one ano- 
 ther any more." Thus does the Christian reli- 
 
 m 
 
9S 
 
 LOVB OS CHiRlTT. 
 
 
 gicn recommended liberality of sentiment, whilst 
 it guards agAinst having fellowship with the un- 
 fruitful works of darkness, and even commands 
 to reprove them. It is, indeed, necessary, whilst 
 we cherish those tender dispositions of mmd, to 
 take heed, that we " touch not the unclean 
 thing; nor give encouragement to others, in 
 principles or practices inconsistent with the 
 pure gospel of Christ." In these cases, it is 
 proper to attend to this precept: " Come out 
 -from among them, and be ye separate, saith the 
 Lord ; and touch not the unclean thing, and 
 I will receive you ; I will be a failier unto you, 
 and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the 
 Lord Almighty." But even, when an attention 
 to this precept is necessary, we ought not to 
 forget another command : *' Let all your tlungs 
 "be done with Chanty. 
 
 The following observations on the subject of 
 Candour, by a late writer,* are at once, so just 
 and liberal, that it is apprehended they may be 
 suitably introduced here : " True candour is 
 altogether different from that guarded, inoffen- 
 sive language, and that studied openness of be-t 
 haviour, which we so frequently meet with 
 among men of tlie world.— Smiling, very often, 
 is the aspecf, and smooth are the words, of those 
 
 » Dr. Blair. 
 
 XcOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 m 
 
 M^Ijo inwardly are tlie most ready to think evil 
 -of others. That Candour which is a Christian 
 virtue, consists not in fairness of speech, but in 
 fairness of heart. It may want the blandish- 
 ment of external courtesy, but supplies its 
 place with humane, and generous liberality of 
 sentiment. Its manners are unaffected, and its 
 professions cordial. Exempt, on the one hand, 
 from the dark jealousy of a suspicious mind, it 
 is no less removed, on the other, from that easy 
 credulity which is imposed on by every specious 
 pretence. It is perfectly consistent with exten- 
 sive knowledge of the world, aiwl wilh^ue at- 
 tention to our own safety. In that various 
 intercourse, wiiich we are obliged to cari7 on 
 with persons of every different character, suspi- 
 cion, to a certain degree, is a necessary guard. 
 It is only when it exceeds the bounds of pru- 
 dent caution, that it degenerates into vice. 
 Tliere is a proper mean betw een undislingulsh- 
 iug credulity and universal jealousy, which « 
 sound understanding discerns, and which th^ 
 Man of Candour studios to preserve." 
 
 " He makes allowance for the mixture of evil 
 Avith good, w hich is to be found in every human 
 character. Under the influence of personal re- 
 sentment, he can be just t<» the merit of aii 
 
 1 
 
 
•»J 
 
 1 
 
 D8 
 
 iOVE OR CTiAillTT' 
 
 ir 
 
 enemy. He never lends an open ear to those 
 defamatory' reports, and dark suggestions, which, 
 among the tribes of the censorious, circulate with 
 50 much rapidity, and meet with such ready ac- 
 ceptance. As long as an action ;can .be ascribed 
 to different motives, he holds it as no mark of 
 sagacity to impute it always to the worst. When 
 he must condemn, he condemns with regret ; 
 and without those aggravations which the se- 
 verity of others adds to the crime. He listens 
 calmly to the apology of the offender, and rea- 
 dily admits .every ^xteiwat'uig circumstance 
 which equity can suggest. How much soever 
 he may blame the principles of any sect or 
 party, he never confounds under one general 
 censure, all who belong to that party. He 
 charges thetm not with such consequences of 
 their tenets as they refuse or disavow. He com- 
 miserates human frailty ; and judges of others 
 according to the principles by which he would 
 Ihink it reasonable that they should judge of 
 him. In a word, he views men and actions in 
 the clear sunshine of charity and good-nature ; 
 . and not in that dark and sullen shade which 
 jealousy and p.»rty spirit throw over all dia- 
 racters." 
 
 But it is not only in our s^timents and re- 
 marks on each other, that candour and liberality 
 
 lOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 m 
 
 ©f mind manifest themselves ; they also produce 
 a <renerosity of conduct in the different trans^ 
 actions and relatione which occiu* between man 
 and man. Of this we have a striking example 
 in the conduct of Abram towards his kinsman 
 Lot, at a time when the land was not sufficient 
 for their mutual accommodation, and a strife 
 arose between their herdmen on this account. 
 Then it was that " Abrani said unto Lot, let 
 there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and' 
 thee, nor between my herdmen and thy herd- 
 men ; for we be brethren. Is not the whole 
 land before thee ? Separate thyself, I pray thee, 
 from me: If thou wilt take the left hand, then 
 1 will go to the right; or if thou depart to the 
 right hand, then I will go to the left." How 
 amiable, how liberal, how replete with brotherly 
 kindness, was the conduct of Abram on this 
 occasion ! Were a similar disposition cherislied 
 under similar circumstances, how would it lessen 
 the feuds and (hscords which arise amongst 
 men! and how would peace and harmony exist, 
 where envying and strife, with their long train 
 of malevolent attendants, predominate, to the 
 disgrace of human nature, and of that holy re- 
 ligion, of which many who practise these 
 tilings are mak^g profession ! But whatever 
 reflections may be cast on Christianity from tlKV 
 
 I a 
 
 *. 
 
 I: 
 
 r 
 
 m 
 
iOO 
 
 LOVE OB CHARITY. 
 
 4* 
 
 n'^ 
 
 existence of these evils among its professors, 
 this religion is perfectly clear of them. The 
 precepts of its Divine Author, and of its early 
 promulgators, supported by their examples, bear 
 ^ uniform testimony against that narrow selfish 
 policy, ^^hich so much prevails among those 
 who are called Christians, and which is in direct 
 violation of these ApostoHc injunctions : *' Let 
 all your things be done with charity. By love 
 serve one another; for all the law is fulfilled inu 
 one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy 
 neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour 
 one another, take heed that ye be not consumed; 
 one of another." 
 
 3. Almsgiving or administering to the wants 
 of the poor, is another of the effects of that love 
 which we owe to each other. It is a duty,, 
 which, among Christians, is universally acknow- 
 ledged, as being incumbent on those wliom 
 Providence has blessed with circumstances 
 adapted to it ; yet it appears not to have much 
 cn«^a«^ed the attention of heathen moralists. 
 The Bible, however, contains so many advices 
 and directions on this head, as must tend to 
 exalt the religion which it recommends, in the 
 view of every impartial observer. The Mosaic 
 law gives several excellent precepts on this sub- 
 
 to VE OR CHARITY. 
 
 vol 
 
 ject, of which it may be sufficient to recite the 
 following : " If there be among you a poor 
 man of one of thy brethren, within any of thy 
 gates in thy land, which the Lord thy God 
 giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, 
 nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother. Thou 
 shalt surely give him ; and thy heart shall not 
 be grieved when thou givest unto him, because 
 that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless 
 thee in all thy works, and in all that thou put- 
 test thy hand unto: /or the poor shall never 
 cease out of the land; therefore I command 
 thee, saying, thou shalt open thy hand wide unto 
 thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, iu 
 thy land." How full, how liberal, how pro- 
 motive of the benevolent affections, is this 
 Divine command ! - 
 
 It seems to have afforded Job no small con- 
 solation in his afflictions, that he had, when iu 
 prosperity, carefully attended to the state of the 
 poor. The forcible language iu which he re- 
 pels the insinuations of his mistaken friends, 
 shows the high estimation in which he held this 
 virtue : " If I have withheld the poor from their 
 desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to 
 fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, 
 2Bwl the fatherless hath not eaten thereof ; (for 
 
 1 3 
 
loa 
 
 tOVE eR CHARITY. 
 
 m 
 
 from my youth he was brought up with me as 
 with a father, and I have guided her from my 
 mother's womb ;) if I have seen any perish for 
 want of clothing, or any poor without covering ; 
 if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were 
 not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I 
 have lifted up my hand against the fatherless 
 when I saw my help in the gate ; then let my 
 arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm 
 be broken from the bone ; for destruction from 
 God was a terror to me, and by reason of his 
 hichness I could not endure." In the book of 
 Psalms, we find great importance attached to 
 this duty : " Blessed is he that cpnsidereth the 
 poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trou- 
 ble. Tlie Lord will strengthen him upon the 
 bed of languishing ;. tliou wilt make all his bed 
 in his sickness." Solomon also, among his 
 many wise proverbs, strongly inculcates tliis 
 benevolent virtue ; " He that oppresseth the 
 poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that ho*- 
 noureth Him hath mercy on the poor. He 
 that halh a bountiful eye shall be blessed ; for 
 he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that hath, 
 pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord ; and 
 that which he hath given, \\ilLhe pay him again.** 
 
 The neglect of this duty formed a frequent 
 subject of complaint agianst the Jews; by the 
 
 I 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 103 
 
 prophets who were sent unto them. Isaiah, in 
 expostulating with that people, for the insincere 
 manner in which they observed their religious 
 fasts, shows them what are the essential atten- 
 dants of a true fast ; among which he points 
 oat the discharge of the duty on which we are 
 now treating : ** Is it not to dea! thy bread to the 
 hungry, and that thoa bring the poor that are 
 cast out, into thy house ? when thou seest the 
 naked, that thou cover him, and that tliOu hide 
 not thyself from thy own flesh." And a little 
 after he says: " 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 af- 
 flicted soul ; then shall thy light rise in obscurity,, 
 and thy darkness be as the noon-day." 
 
 Yii 
 
 It seems that the Jews, after the captivity, 
 and their restoration to their owff land, had so 
 fiir attended to the remonstrances and instruc- 
 tion of their prophets, that almsgiving was be- 
 come a popular virtue : yet it 2(ppears that many 
 performed it in such a manner as to indicate 
 that their motive was not pure benevolence: 
 but that they wefie seeking the praise of men, 
 and preferring it to the praise of God. Thus 
 we find that the first notice which our blessed 
 
 <■' 
 
 I 
 

 \ 
 
 }04 
 
 LOVE OR CHAHITT. 
 
 =t 
 
 Lord takes of this duty, was, to caution those 
 who were in the practice of it, against that vain- 
 glorious disposition with which they dispensed 
 their alms: " Take heed that ye do not your 
 alms before men, to be seen of diem/' Here 
 it should be observed, that the prohibition h 
 not absolute against performing charitable ac- 
 tions, so that tliey will be publickly known; for 
 this, in some cases, is not only unavoidable, but 
 may be also proper, in order to let our light* 
 shine before men, and oui« examples become 
 beneficial to others; but the prohibition lies 
 against die motive, " that they may be seen of 
 men ;" for where this disposition prevails, the 
 consequence is serious and lamentable : " Ye 
 h^veno reward of your Father who is in heaven/' 
 
 But whilst our Saviour gave this salutary 
 caution, with respect to the performance of 
 acts of charity, he was not negligent in pro- 
 moting an attention to this duty. He alludes 
 to it on various occasions, besides giving these 
 positive injunctions: " Give alms of such things 
 as ve have. When thou makest a feast, call the 
 poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind." 
 Tluis did our Lord inculcate a regard for tlie 
 poor and the distressed, whilst he checked that 
 ostentatious di.sposition; which seems to have 
 
 { 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 1-0^ 
 
 been, at least, as prevalent at tliat day, as at 
 the present time." 
 
 The apostles seldom omitted inculcating thia 
 virtue, either directly or indirectly, in their 
 epistles to the early Christians : '* To do good 
 and to communicate, foi^et not -,. for with such 
 sacrifices God is well pleased. He who sowetb 
 sparingly, sliall reap also sparingly ; and he who 
 soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully* 
 Every man, as he hath purposed in his heart, 
 so let him give, not gmdgingly, or of necessity j 
 for God loveth a cheerful giver. If a brother 
 er a sister be naked and destitute of daily food ; 
 and one of you say unto him, Depart in peace, 
 be warmed and tilled ; notwithstanding ye give 
 them not those things which are needful to the 
 body; what doth it profit? Whoso hath this 
 world's good, and seeth his brother have need, 
 and shutteth his bowels of compassion from 
 him, how dvvelleth the love of God in him ?" 
 
 We shall conclude this subject with the fol- 
 lowing direction of the Apostle Paul to Timo- 
 thy : " Charge them that are rich in this world, 
 that they be not high-minded, nor trust in un- 
 certain riches, but in the living God, who giveth 
 us richly all tilings to enjoy ; that they do good, 
 
 m 
 
106 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITT. 
 
 HOVE OR CHARITV. 
 
 107 
 
 »r 
 
 that they be rich in good works, ready to distri- 
 bute, willing to communicate, laying up in store 
 for themselves a good foundation against the time 
 to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.' 
 
 4. Peaceableness is another disposition 
 which flows from that principle of Love, which 
 the Christian religion enjoins. ITie enjoy- 
 ment of secret peace is not the only fruit 
 of righteousness; it also produces a peace- 
 able disposition of mind and conduct toward? 
 others : " The fruit of righteousness is sown ia 
 peace of them that make peace," We find that 
 this subject formed a material part of that 
 angelic song, with which the gospel of Christ 
 was introduced into the. world: '* Glory to God 
 in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
 unto men." Consistently with this language, 
 our blessed Redeemer frequently inculcated 
 dispositions of mind, which tend to promote 
 those great and important objects. In his most 
 excellent sermon on the Mount, the peace- 
 makers are particularly marked with his Divine 
 benediction: " Blessed are the peace-makers v 
 for they shall be called the children of God." 
 Indeed every virtue, recommended in the beati- 
 tudes, tends to promote " Peace on earth, and 
 good will to men." If our Lord has said, " I 
 dm not come to send peace on eartli, but a 
 
 «word;" it was not because his holy religion 
 .was incompatible with peace; but because he 
 foresaw^ the violence and persecution which 
 would be excited against it, by men, whose 
 .views and dispositions were opposed to the 
 pure and peaceable spirit of the gospel. 
 
 In the Epistles of the Apostles, a peaceable 
 disposition is strongly inculcated among the 
 primitive Christians : " Be at peace among 
 yourselves. Study to be quiet and do your own 
 business. As much as in you lieth, live peace- 
 ably with all men. Follow peace with all men; 
 and holiness, without which no man shall see 
 the Lord. Be ye ^11 of one mind, endeavouring 
 to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
 peace." Tims does our holy religion inculcate 
 ti peaceable and peace-making spirit; and we 
 should remember, that *' He who soweth dis- 
 cord among brethren," is classed by the wise 
 King Solomon among those whom " the Lord 
 hateth. Let us, therefore, follow after the 
 things which make for peace, and things where- 
 Avilh we may edify one another." 
 
 5. Forgiveness of Injuries is intimately 
 connected with a peaceable disposition, and is 
 indeed its inseparable companion. When we 
 consider how great importance ia attached to 
 
 'i «1 
 

 4 
 
 108 
 
 XOTE OR CHAEITY. 
 
 this duty by our blessed Redeemer, and how 
 much our present and our future happiness de- 
 |)end upon it, it is wonderful, that so little of 
 the practice of it should be found among pro- 
 fessing Christians of ail denominations. We 
 seem, in general, readily to iind son>e salvo, 
 some circumstance or other, which does not 
 make the doctrine of forgiveness applicable to 
 our case. We perhaps say, and even make our- 
 selves believe, that we forgive, when our con- 
 duct indicates to others the very reverse. But 
 it is of die greatest importance that we should 
 not deceive ourselves on this subject, if what 
 our Saviour has said be, as doubtless it is, true 
 and certain: " If ve forgive not men their tres- 
 passes, neither will your Father forgive your 
 tresspasses." VMiat an awful consideration is 
 this ! and how can w^ trifle with, and seek to 
 deceive ourselves, on a subject iu wliich so 
 much is at stake ! 
 
 Tliis duty is scarcely n^entioned by heathen 
 moralists; and we do not find much said re^ 
 specting it in the Old Testament. When that 
 book was written, the dispensation of an eye 
 for an eye, and a tootli for a tooth, the law of 
 retaliation, was in force. It was, however, a 
 virtue which even llien, at times, manifested 
 
 i 
 
 <iOVE OR <;HARmr. 
 
 i09 
 
 itself, and was occasionally inculcated. Tlie 
 example of David in his conduct towards Nabal, 
 *fter the forcible, and even sublime, expostula- 
 -tion of Abigail, together with his own generous 
 disposition towards Saul, his violent persecutor, 
 shows that this virtue had considerable place in 
 his heart, and indeed exhibits the royal prophet 
 in an amiable point of view. His imprecations 
 'upon his enemies, which appear in the Book of 
 Psalms, may beconsidered rather in a prophetic 
 light, than as his praying for their ruin and de- 
 struction. This idea is favoured by an altera- 
 tion in the translation, of which the Hebrew is 
 x^Bpable, the imperative mood and the future 
 iense being often used in Hebrew for each 
 other. But if even this should not be admitted, 
 it ought to be considered that David was by no 
 means forward in revenging himself. His mind 
 appears to have been strongly impressed with 
 this Divine declaration : " To me belongeth 
 vengeance and recomp>ense." He was therefore 
 particularly cautious, on many occasions, of be- 
 coming his own avenger, and left his enemies 
 -to Divine retribution. When we consider the 
 dispensation under which he lived, and the 
 power which he possessed, we may see much 
 to admire in that part of his disposition, which 
 a slight consideration may have led some t© 
 think was excrptionable. 
 
 K 
 
 I: 
 
tio 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 1.0 VE OR CHARITt. 
 
 HI 
 
 Solomon, who was peaceable as well as 
 wise, gives us a few precepts, inculcating the 
 duty of forgiveness. ** The discretion of a niau 
 deferreth his anger ; and it is his glor>' to pas* 
 over a transgression. Say not, I will do so to 
 him as he hath done to me. I will render to 
 the man according to his work." And again, 
 ** Say not thou, I will recompense evil ; bujt 
 wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee." 
 
 But, after all, it must be acknowledged, that 
 this is a virtue which gives Christianity a dis- 
 tinguishing pre-eminence above every other 
 religion. It is not indeed a mere affectation^ 
 forgiveness, which the religion of Christ re- 
 quires: this religion goes to the heart; it requires 
 lis even to " love our enemies; to bless them 
 tliat curse us; to do good to them that hate us; 
 and to pray for them that despitefuUy use and 
 persecute us;" and for all this cogent reason, 
 *< that we «iay be the children of our Father, 
 who is in Heaven; for he makcth his sun to rise 
 ©n the evil and the good ; and sendeth rain on 
 the just and on the unjust." 
 
 When Peter inquirecrbf his Lord, " How 
 4)ften shall my brother sin against me, and I 
 iorgive him? [Shall I do it] until seven times? 
 
 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, till 
 seven timea, but till seventy times seven ;" inti- 
 mating, what all must, on consideration, allow 
 to be reasonable, that our forgiveness of others 
 should be in some proportion to those mercies, 
 which we receive from the fountain of Divine 
 love and mercy; and these, we cannot but ac- 
 knowledge are innumerable. 
 
 In that excellent model of prayer, which our 
 blessed Lord gave to his disciples, we are taught 
 to ask the forgiveness of our trespasses, in the 
 same proportion " as we forgive those who 
 trespass against us." In another place it is 
 shown, that forgiveness is an essential qualifica- 
 tion, for presenting our prayers at the footstool 
 of Divine grace, with acceptance : " When ye 
 stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against 
 any; that your Father also, who is in Heaven, 
 may forgive you your trespasses : but if ye do 
 not forgive, neither will your Father, who is in 
 Heaven, forgive your trespasses." 
 
 The Apostles were careful to recommend 
 the practice of this duty, and those virtues 
 which are intimately connected with it, to the 
 Christian churches : " Be ye kind one to ano- 
 ther, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even 
 as God; for Christ's sak«, hath forgiven piK 
 
 li 
 
 i 
 
 K 
 
 o 
 
lift 
 
 LOVE OR CUAIIITY. 
 
 10 VE OU CHARITY. 
 
 lis 
 
 See that ye render to no man evil for evil, but' 
 ever follow that which is good, both amoug^ 
 yourselves and to all men. Put on, therefore, 
 as the elect of God, holy and beloved, boweU 
 of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meek- 
 ness, long suffering; forbearing one another, 
 and forgiving one another, if any man have a 
 quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, 
 so do ye." 
 
 G. Hospitality is another virtue which 
 arises from brotherly love. It consists in the 
 entertainment of strangers, or those who are 
 not of our own family. The state of the civi- 
 lized world, is, at present, such as to preclude ) 
 the promiscuous and unrestrained exercise of 
 it. It is, however, a duty, from which a bene- 
 volent mind, when in suitable circumstances, 
 cannot discharge itself; and when the per- 
 formance of it is accompanied with temper- 
 ance and sobriety, it may afford both pleasure 
 and profit. This virtue is recommended to us, 
 both by example and precept, in the Holy 
 Scriptures. Abraham and Lot afford two in- 
 stances of the exercise of this duty, with various 
 circumstances attending it, which give us a 
 high opinion of the simplicity and liberality of 
 their characters, as well as of the times in which 
 
 diey lived. From these two examples, the 
 Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews recom* 
 mends the practice of this virtue to the primi- 
 tive Christians : " Be not forgetful to entertain 
 strangers; for thereby some have entertained 
 angels unawares." To be " given to Hospi- 
 tality," is one of those duties which the Apostle 
 Paul recommends to the Romans ; and among 
 the qualifications, which the same Apostle points 
 out as necessary for a Bishop or Overseer in 
 the Christian Churchy it is required tliat he be 
 «* a lover of Hospitality " The Apostle Peter 
 likewise pecommends this virtue in simple, but 
 forcible language. " Use Hospitality one to 
 another without grudging." And our blessed 
 Lord recommends it, particularly towards those 
 whom he is pleased to send forth aa Ministers 
 of his gospel. " He that receiveth you, re- 
 ceiveth me ; and he that receiveth me, receiveth 
 him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet 
 in the name of a prophet, shall receive a pro- 
 phet's reward ; and he that receiveth a righteous 
 man, in the name of a righteous man, shall re- 
 ceive a righteous man's reward. And whoso- 
 ever shall give unto these little ones a cup of 
 cold water only, in the name of a disciple, 
 verily I say unto yon, h« shall not go without 
 his reward." 
 
 K 3 
 
iI4r 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 LOVE OR CHARITY. 
 
 115 
 
 7. Friendship is another production of 
 true love ; but it is an enjoyment rather than a 
 duty. It implies a mutual attachment between 
 individuals^ by which tliey prefer one another 
 to others of their acquaintance. Wa have a 
 iine instance of this mutual regard, transmitted 
 to us in the Holy Scriptures. David and 
 Jonathan afford an example of as close an 
 attachment, and disinterested friendship, as any 
 that we have rccoKlcd in ancient or modei*» 
 history. Passing over the various instances of 
 their friendship which are particularized, 1 shall 
 only recite that part of David's lamentation 
 over Saul and Jonathan after ikeir death, which-: 
 relates to the latter ; and to heighften our ideas 
 of the strength of the attachment, it should be 
 remembered that David and Jonathan were, in 
 effect, rivals for a crown. " I am distressed for 
 thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast 
 thou been unto me : thy love to me was won- 
 derful, passing the love of women." 
 
 There are some pertinent observations made 
 by Solomon on the subject of Friendship: " A 
 friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born 
 for adversity, lliere is a frieiid that sticketh 
 closer than a brotlier*:. Make no . friendship . 
 -wtith an angry nxau; and with a« furious man ? 
 
 tHou shalt not go." Much, indeed, depends oii 
 the choice of our friends ; but it may be suffi- 
 eient to observe, that if religion and virtue be 
 not the basis, or, at least, the companions of 
 friendship, it is deficient in its most beneficial 
 constituents; and, instead of being an advantage, 
 will be an injury to us. " The friendship of 
 the world.is enmity with God." 
 
 In the New Testament, we have but little 
 which applies to this subject ; for, as is already 
 remarked, friendship is not so miich a duty as 
 an enjoyment: but when we consider the dis- 
 positions of mind which are there recommended,, 
 we shall find, that the Christian religion is par- 
 ticularly favourable to those attachments which 
 constitute true friendship. Even our blessed 
 Redeemer, though he was " the Saviour of all 
 men," manifested the partiality of his affection 
 to the Apostle John, who is styled, '* the Dis- 
 ciple whom Jesus loved:" and it may be re- 
 membered, that Lazarus and his sisters^ were 
 distinguished by sucli peculiar marks of our 
 Lord's friendship, as produced this observation, 
 from one of the Evangelists: " Now Jesus- 
 loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus^." 
 
 ♦f 
 
CHAPTER m. 
 
 JIum'dit}/, 
 
 After treating on the various effects of 
 Christian Charity, it may be proper next to- 
 notice the very important virtue, Humility. 
 
 This virtue consists in not thinking of our- 
 selves more highly than we ought to think; and 
 in having such a moderate opinion of our own 
 attainments, with a proper sense of our own 
 imperfections, as becomes beings dependent 
 upon a higher power for every possession, and 
 for every quality that can make us truly great 
 or good. It also requires that tliis opinion 
 should manifest itself by resignation to the Di- 
 vine will, and by condescension to our fellows- 
 creatures. Tliese dispositions every considerate 
 mind must allow to be highly proper and ne- 
 cessary, " Who maketh thee to differ from 
 another ; and what hast thou, that thou didst 
 iK)t receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why 
 dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received 
 it ?** Here we have an incontrovertible argument 
 for the necessity of this virtue ; and when we 
 consider who it was that said, " I am meek and 
 lowly in heart,*' it can surely be no degradation 
 
 HCMItlTY* 
 
 IIT 
 
 to any of our characters, tq endeavour to " walk^ 
 even as He (the Son of God) walked .'' 
 
 The advantages arising from Humility are 
 almost incalculable, whether we consider its 
 consequences in producing comfort to our owiv 
 minds, in promoting the happiness of our va- 
 rious connexions in life, or in procuring for us 
 the favour of that Divine Being, who has 
 repeatedly declared, that the humble are the 
 peculiar objects of his fatherly care and regard. 
 There is, indeed, abundant reason to believe^ 
 that Humility contributes more than, any other 
 virtue, to make us comfortable to ourselves^ 
 " acceptable to God, and approved of men." 
 
 A humble disposition of mind is both a reli- 
 gious and a moral duty ; a virtue which should 
 be exercised both towards God aud man : but 
 tliere are many who can, perhaps very feel- 
 ingly, humble themselves before their Creator,, 
 who yet cannot exercise this virtue towards 
 their fellow-creatures; and whose Humility, for 
 tlvat reason, is very imperfect. Although tiiis 
 virtue is of so great importance, we do not find 
 it recommended in any ancient book of morals 
 except the Bible. Heathen morality entirely 
 dismissed it from the catalogue of virtues ; but 
 
 f 
 
 
115 
 
 HUMILITY. 
 
 1 
 
 it is worthy of observation, that there are more 
 texts placed under this head, in conjunctionr 
 with its opposite, Pride, by those who have se- 
 lected passages from the Bible on the duties of 
 iB€n> than under almost any other duty. 
 
 A French writer* makes the following ob- 
 servations on this virtue : " Humility is commonly 
 said to be the particular and distinctive virtue 
 of a Christian. The Heathens knew nothing 
 of it; the Jews^ rarely practised it. There are 
 many Chiistians who, in that, are like the Hea- 
 thens ; but more who are like the Jews. If 
 Humility makes the distinction of the Christian 
 Religion, we may say, that there is no virtue 
 more rare in Christianity than that by which it 
 is distinguished." To this quotation I shall 
 add another from an English author f: " Sense 
 shines with the greatest beauty when it is set in 
 Humility. A humble, able man, is a jewel 
 worth a kingdom," 
 
 Solomon seems to have been peculiarly sen- 
 sible of the excellence of this virtue, and of the 
 many evils which arise from pride, its opposite 
 vice. " A proud look" - stands first among 
 those seven things which he says, " The Lord 
 
 De Villiers. 
 
 t William Feiui. 
 
 ntJMI£.ITT* 
 
 I If 
 
 liateth, and which are an abomination unto 
 liim. Wlien pride cometh, then cometh de- 
 struction; but with the lowly is wisdom. Only 
 Jby pride xometh contention. Every one that is 
 proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord. 
 Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty 
 spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a 
 humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the 
 spoil with the proud. A man's pride shall 
 bring him low; but honour shall uphold the 
 Jiumble in spirit. A high look, and a proud 
 heart, is sin. He that is of a proud heart stirreth 
 up strife. Proud and haughty scorner is his 
 name, who dealeth in proud wrath." 
 
 Great and numerous, w^ see, are tlie evils 
 which result from Pride. It is, indeed, the 
 grand destroyer of human happiness ; and, per- 
 iiaps, produces more human misery than all 
 other vices put together. Ambition, envy, 
 jealousy, discontent, contemptuousness, and 
 contention, are its genuine offspring. It is 
 soon offended; and, what is rather extraordi- 
 nary, it is often very careless in giving offence 
 to others. When we consider the many publick 
 and private calamities which result from this 
 vice, together with the unreasonableness of such 
 imperfect beuigs as we are, cherishing it in our 
 
 f 
 
1 
 
 (120 
 
 KUMILITT. 
 
 4K>eom9 ; we dhall be sensible of the justice of 
 Uiis proverbial observation, by an apocryphal 
 writer : " Pride was not made for men ; nor 
 furious anger for them that are born of a 
 
 4%'oman. 
 
 y* 
 
 S 
 
 -Many are the gracious promises which are 
 left upon record, for our encouragement to 
 cultivate a truly humble state of mind. '' God 
 will save tlie humble person. He forgetteth 
 not the cry of the humble. Though the Lord 
 be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. 
 He giveth grace to the humble ; but he behold- 
 eth the proud afar off.** And it is a circum- 
 stance which desei'ves our notice, that a humble 
 disposition of Inind was the first which engaged 
 our Lord's attention, in those beatitudes, with 
 which he prefaced his admirable sermon on the 
 Mount ; for it is generally understood, that 
 Humility is, at least, included in the virtue to 
 which he alluded, when he said : " Blessed are 
 the poor in spirit; for tlieirs is the kingdom of 
 Heaven." 
 
 The Apostle Paul gives the following ad- 
 monitions on this subject : " I say to every 
 man that is among you, not to think of himself 
 more highly than he ought to think ; but to think 
 
 HUMILITY. 
 
 tn 
 
 soberly, according as God hath dealt to every 
 man the measure of faith. Mind not high 
 things. Be not wise in your own conceits; but 
 condescend to men of low estate. Let us not 
 be desirous of vain glory ; for if a man tliink 
 himself to be something, \\hen he is nothings 
 he deceiveth himself." To these admonitions 
 we may add this exhortation of the Apostle 
 Peter : " Ye younger, submit yourselves to the 
 elder; yea, ail of you be subject one to another; 
 and be clothed with Htimality; ior God resist- 
 eth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 
 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty 
 hand of God, that he may exalt you in due 
 time ; casting all your care upon him ; for he 
 careth for you." These are strong recom- 
 mendations of the virtue of Humility; but it is 
 peculiarly enhanced in our view, when we con- 
 sider the striking and encouraging language of 
 the Almighty, by the prophet Isaiah : " Tims saith 
 tlie high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, 
 whose name is Holy : I dwell in the high and 
 holy place : with him also that is of a contrite 
 and humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the 
 humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite 
 
 i 
 
 ones. 
 
 ff 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 I 
 
 Meekness. 
 
 This is a vh-tue very similar to Humility, 
 and is sometimes confounded with it. They 
 are, however, quite distinct; and this distinc- 
 tion may, perliaps, be most easily shown, by 
 stating, that the vice opposite to Meekness^ is 
 anger; whilst pride, as was before mentioned, is 
 tlie opposite to Humility. 
 
 Meekness gives its possessor many advan- 
 tages in passing through life ; particularly from 
 that state of self-government wliich it produces, 
 and which is indeed its inseparable companion. 
 When it is genuine, it not only makes a man 
 master of himself, but gives him also a great 
 ascendancy over others. " A soft answer 
 tumeth away wrath." There h, however, a 
 fa' - Meekness, (and the same distinction might 
 ha . e been made on Humility) which, proceed- 
 ing from insensibility, afiTectation, or some mis- 
 taken apprehensions of diis duty, tends to pro- 
 voke rather than to allay anger. But we must 
 not, on this account, slight or neglect the cul- 
 tivation of this important virtue, to which many 
 precious promises are attached iu holy writ. 
 
 MEEKKES9. 
 
 ISS 
 
 Moses was a remarkable example of meek^ 
 ness ; for during the forty years in which he 
 led the Israelites through the wilderness, and 
 under the many provocations which he had to 
 bear, from their impatient, discontented spirit, 
 we do not find that- he more than once lost the 
 command of his temper. So remarkable was 
 he for the exercise of this virtue, under the 
 most trying circumstances, that it is said, " The 
 man Mose» was very meek^ above all the mea 
 who lived on the face of the earth," 
 
 The Psalmist frequently shows the excel- 
 lency of this state of mind, and that it is pecu- 
 liarly favoured by the Divine Being. ** The 
 meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek 
 will he teach his way. God arose to judgment, 
 to save all the meek of the earth. He will 
 beautify the meek with salvation. The meek 
 shall inherit the earth, and shall delight them- 
 selves in the abundance of peace." To the last 
 passage our blessed Lord appears to allude, 
 when he quotes the first part of it, and prefixes 
 his Divine benediction to this state of mind. 
 " Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit 
 the earth." 
 
 In the Book of Proverbs, the importance 
 and excellence of this virtue is cleaily shown. 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
124 
 
 MEEKNESS. 
 
 'i 
 
 and its opposite vice strongly censured. ** He 
 that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, 
 aod he that nileth his spirit^ than he that taketh 
 a city. He that hath no rule over his own 
 spirit, is like a city that is broken down, and 
 without walb. He that is soon angry dealeth 
 foolishly. A wrathful man stirreth up strife; 
 but he that is slow to anger, appeaseth strife. 
 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ; for 
 unger resteth in the bosom of fools.'* Although 
 anger may at times take us unawares, yet great 
 ^are should be exercised that it do not rest in 
 our hearts. To prevent this, seems to have 
 been the Apostle's view, when he says ; " Be ye 
 angry and sin not ; let not the sun go down on 
 your wrath." These M-ords are considered, not 
 as a command to be angry, but to avoid sinful 
 anger. A very respectable Translator * renders 
 it, " i/ ye be angry, sin not." 
 
 ' Meekness is a virtue which is particularly 
 recommended to the female sex, by the Apostle 
 Peter : but when we consider the great import- 
 ance which he attaches to it, we must allow 
 that it would be greatly the interest of both 
 sexes to obtain possession of it. In giving ad- 
 vice respecting the adorning of Christian wives, 
 
 • Abp, Newcomc, 
 
 MEEKNESS. 
 
 125 
 
 l^e first shows what it should not be ; and then,, 
 in setting forth what it should be, he expresses 
 himself thus : " Let it be the hidden man of 
 the heart, in that which is not corruptible; 
 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 
 which is, in the sight of God, of great price." 
 
 lS 
 
 i 
 
ri 
 
 •| 
 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Temperance and Sobriety, 
 
 These virtues relate principally to modera- 
 tion in eating and drinking; and when we con- 
 sider the many evils, which result from the 
 violation of the laws that Temperance prescribes, 
 we must be sensible of the necessity of regu- 
 lating our conduct according to its salutary 
 rules. We are not called upon to deny our- 
 selves of the moderate, and what is, in the event, 
 the most pleasurable, gratification of those ap- 
 petites, which our all-wise Creator has made ne- 
 cessary for our existence. We know, that 
 *' every creature of God is good, and nothing 
 to be refused, if it be received with thanks- 
 <Tivin«»." But to this, and to all other know- 
 ledge, we are required to add Temperance; 
 and so to regulate our conduct as to fultil the 
 apostolic precept: " Whether ye eat or drink; 
 or whatsoever ye do ; do all to the glory of 
 God." 
 
 it 
 
 We find Temperance enumerated by the 
 Apostle Paul among " the fruits of the Spnit." 
 In another place, he shows its importance for 
 attaining a superiority over others : " He that 
 stnveth for mastery is temperate in all things :'' 
 
 TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 127 
 
 and in describing the virtues necessary for a 
 Bishop, or Overseer in the Church, this virtue 
 is so particularly enforced, with some others 
 which have been, or will be, treated on, as to 
 render the introduction of the passage here not 
 improper : " A Bishop must be blameless as 
 the steward of God: not self-willed; not soon 
 angry; not given to wine; no striker; not given 
 to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hospitaHty : a lover 
 of good men ; sober, just, holy, temperate/' 
 
 Wx have a few sorrowful instances men- 
 tioned in holy writ, of men, whose general 
 character was excellent, being overtaken with 
 intemperance : but when we consider the lamen- 
 table consequences resulting from their con- 
 duct, it ought rather to excite our disgust and 
 abhorrence of the crime, than to be an en- 
 couragement to a practice, which degrades a 
 man below a brute. 
 
 When gluttony and drunkenness were added 
 to disobedience to parents, they were, by the 
 law of Moses, punishable with death. If the 
 parents " shall say unto the elders of his city^ 
 this our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will 
 not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunk- 
 ard ; all the men of his city shall stone him 
 
HS TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY* 
 
 with Stones that he die ; so shalt thou put evil 
 away from among yoa; and all Israel shall hear 
 and fear." . 
 
 Solomon, in his book of religious and moral 
 maxims, shows the evils attendant on intem- 
 perance, and gives several exhortations against 
 it: " Be not among wine - bibbers ; among 
 riotous eaters of flesh ; for the drunkard and 
 the glutton shall come to poverty. Wine is a 
 mocker, strong drink is raging ; and whosoever 
 is deceived thereby is not wise. He that i» a 
 companion of riotous men shameth his father.** 
 The following is a striking description of the 
 lamentable consequences which follow excess 
 in drinking. " Who hath wo ? who hath sor- 
 row ? who hath contentions? who hath babbling ? 
 who hath wounds without cause ? who hath red- 
 ness of eyes ? They that tarry long at the wine j 
 they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not 
 thou upon the wine when it is red, when it 
 giveth its colour in the cup; when it moveth 
 itself aright; at last it biteth like a serpent, and 
 stingeth like an adder. Thy eyes shall behold 
 strange women, and thy heart shall utter per- 
 verse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that 
 lieth down in the midst of the sea; or as he that 
 lieth on the top of a mast, They have strickenr 
 
 « TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 129 
 
 me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick ; they 
 have beaten me, and I felt it not." 
 
 The prophet Isaiah repeatedly pronouncefi 
 wo to those who are guilty of intemperance. 
 " Wo to them that, are mighty to drink wine, 
 and men of strength to mingle strong drink. 
 Wo to the crown of pride, (or as Lowth 
 translates it, to the proud crown of) the drunk- 
 ards of Ephraira." 
 
 On this subject our blessed Lord, whose 
 conduct was equally remote from the extremes 
 of the ascetic and the glutton, gives this pres- 
 sing exhortation to his followers : *' Take heed 
 to yourselves, lest at any time, your hearts be 
 over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness.** 
 The Apostle Paul, with his usual attention to 
 moral duties, gives many cautions against the 
 vice of intemperance. " Be not drunk with 
 wine, wherein is excess ; but be ye filled with 
 the Spirit. Let us walk honestly as in the day; 
 not in rioting and drunkenness, not in cham- 
 bering and wantonness." And we should re- 
 member that " drunkenness, revellings and such 
 like," are enumerated among " the works of 
 the flesh,** concerning which the Apostle de- 
 clares " that they who do such things^ shall not 
 inherit the kingdom of God.*' 
 
>> 
 
 I* 
 '^ 
 
 ■H 
 ■r. 
 
 ■X: 
 
 i 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CheutUjf. 
 
 This virtue relates principally to the con* 
 duct of the sexes towards each other. It is not 
 confined to our actions; but extends to our 
 words, and even to llie disposition of our minds* 
 In order to maintain this virtue, great watch- 
 fulness is necessary ; and when temptations to 
 violate it are presented, our only security h 
 immediately to withdraw from them: for this 
 reason the Apostle Paul gives these cautions^ 
 ** Flee youthful lusts ;" " Flee fornication." 
 
 The violation of the laws of Chastity, is at^ 
 tended with the most serious consequences, 
 both to the bodies and souls of mankind; and 
 although custom, vicious custom, has diminished 
 Ihe loss of reputation on the part of the men ; 
 yet, we have no reason to doubt that the crime 
 is equal in both sexes ; and, when we consider 
 the infamy which the female character sustains, 
 by tlie breach of this moral duty, that consi- 
 deration alone ought to be a sufficient reason 
 for checking a vice, which often degrades a 
 Being, the most amiable of all the works of 
 G«d, below the most abject part of the brute 
 creatioai. for what is there^. in all the produc- 
 
 f 
 
 Ww 
 
 CHASTITY, 
 
 131 
 
 tflons of nature, so loathsome and disgusting, as 
 some of those abandoned females, who, parti- 
 cularly in large towns, frequently obtrude Uiem- 
 selves upon our view? But when we trace their 
 situation to its source; and consider the cause 
 of the miseries of many, who may not have ar- 
 rived to the same degree of hardness ; when we 
 tlius examine the origin of these evils, and find 
 it generally to exist in the depravity and seduc- 
 tion of the men ; how ought we to guard against 
 the first attacks of a vice, which is productive 
 of consequences so lamentable. 
 
 Much, however, depends on die conduct of 
 women for preventing the evil now under con- 
 sideration. Were their conduct regulated by 
 that modesty and sobriety recommended in the 
 Holy Scriptures, the propensity to this vice 
 would be greatly checked, and its extension 
 much diminished. Their disposition, their man- 
 ners, theii* dress, and their general deportment, 
 are of great importance, and require a greater 
 decree of caution than is frequently exercised. 
 It is, indeed, deeply to be regretted, that the 
 following admonition, by an Apostle of Jesus 
 Christ, should be so little attended to, as there 
 is reason to fear it is, by many who call them- 
 stlves Christians : " I will also that women 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
in 
 
 CHASTITY. 
 
 CHASTITY, 
 
 13S 
 
 idom themselves in modest apparel, with 
 shamefacedness aud sobiiety; not with broider- 
 cd hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but, 
 -which becomedi wouien professing godliness, 
 vith good works/* 
 
 I wish to say as little as possible on this sub- 
 ject, remembering that the vices alluded to are 
 such as the Apostle says, should " not be once 
 named among" Christians. But by this expres- 
 sion he might mean, that they should not be 
 named, as existing among them ; or that they 
 should not be, as they too often are, subjects of 
 Kght, aiwi even of public conversation, to the 
 vi/olatiug of the apostolic injunction, " Let no 
 corrupt commnuication proceed out of your 
 mouth ; but that which is good, to tlie use of 
 edifying." One or other of these constructions 
 seems necessary, to reconcile the Apostle's ad- 
 vice with his practice ; for he has named some 
 of the violations of Chastity, in all, or most of 
 his Epistles. 
 
 When it is considered how much the Holy 
 Scriptures have pointed out the necessity of 
 purity or chastity ; how strongly they have in- 
 culcated this virtue ; and how forcibly they have 
 represented Uie evils attending a violation of it; 
 it is stran-^e that, among u people professing 
 
 Clrristianlty, Chastity should be so little esteemed 
 iind insisted upon, as it is by many who make 
 this high profession. How little are these ad- 
 monitions attended to : *' Walk not as other 
 gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,— 
 who, being past feeling, have given themselves 
 over unto lasciviousness, to work all unclean- 
 ness with greediness. But ye have not so 
 learned Christ. Dearly beloved, I beseech 
 you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from 
 ileshly lusts which war against the soul." In 
 the first of these passages we find a striking 
 contrast betwixt the purity of the Christian re- 
 ligion, and the impurity of that of the Gentiles. 
 Their very religion was contaminated with 
 lasciviousness; their deities, their worship, their 
 laws, all conspired to promote this vice ; and 
 their degradation to every kind of obscenity is 
 too gross to be particularized. " But we have 
 not so learned Christ." No; Christianity is a 
 pure religion : it not only teaches to abstain 
 from llie commission of these crimes; but it 
 «ven checks them in their first conception. 
 " He that looketh upon a woman to lust after 
 her, hath already committed adultery with her 
 in his heart. Keep [then] thyself pure;" re- 
 membering who it was that said, " Blessed are 
 Ibe pure in heart, for they shall see God,*? 
 
134 
 
 CHASTITY. 
 
 But it is not in the New Testament only, that 
 Purity and Chastity are 'recommended, and 
 their opposite vices condemned. The Old Tes- 
 tament contains many excellent advices on this 
 subject, and some examples aie related, from 
 which we may draw much profitable instruc- 
 tion. When Abraham, with a very condemnable 
 timidity, exposed his wife to the temptation of 
 a neighbouring king, the sense which he mani- 
 fested of the «in of adultery, is worthy the at- 
 tention of many, who ought not to stand in 
 need of such examples. The .warm remon- 
 strance of Abimilech with Abraham, is indeed 
 highly creditable to his character. " What 
 hast thou done unto us? and what have I of- 
 fended thee, that thou hast (or wouldst have) 
 brought on me, and my kingdom, a great sin? 
 Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not 
 to be done. And Abimilech said [further] unto 
 Abraham, what sawest thou, that thou hast done 
 this thing ?" 
 
 The example of Joseph, when he was a con- 
 fidential slave in the house of Potiphar, and 
 was tempted by hia wicked mistress, is gene- 
 rally known ; but the answer of this virtuous 
 youn*' man to her solicitation, will still bear 
 repeating: " Behold, my master wotteth not, 
 what is with me in the house, and he hath com- 
 
 •N 
 
 CHASTITY. 
 
 135 
 
 mitted all that he hath to my hand. Tfiere is 
 none greater in this house than I, neither hath 
 he kept back any thing from me, but thee, be- 
 cause thou art his wife. How then can I da 
 this wickedness, and sin against God?" 
 
 The crime of adultery is indeed censured by 
 all nations, pretending to any degree of civiliza- 
 tion; and by many, even in what is considered 
 a savage state. In the law of Moses it was 
 particularly prohibited. " Thou shalt not com- 
 mit adultery," was one of the Ten Command- 
 ments delivered to the Israelites at Mount 
 Sinai; and it is one of the crimes which were 
 punishable with death. " The man that cora- 
 mitteth adultery with another man's wife, even 
 he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's 
 wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely 
 be put to death." Although this may appear 
 to some a severe punishment ; yet, certainly, the 
 crime is much greater, than many for which 
 death is inflicted in most Christian countries. 
 
 But by the Jewish law, not only adultery, 
 but fornication, or whoredom, were forbidden. 
 '* Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her 
 to be a whore, lest the land fall to whoredom, 
 and become full of wickedness. There shall 
 5e no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a 
 
 M 2 
 
136 
 
 CHASTlfy. 
 
 sodomite (or, as many translators render it^ a 
 "whoremonger) of the sons of Israel." 
 
 In the Book of Proverbs, we have many in* 
 structive cautions against this uin, which show 
 the fatal consequences that result from it. 
 " The commandment is a lamp, and the law is 
 light ; and reproofs of instruction are the way 
 to life; to keep thee from the evil woman; 
 from the flattery of tlie tongue of a strange 
 woman. Lust not after her beauty in thy heai^, 
 neither let her take thee with lier eye-lids ; for 
 by means of a whorish womau^ a mau is brought 
 to a piece of bread ; and the adulteress will hunt 
 for the precious life/' Again, " Remove thy 
 way far from a strange woman, and come not 
 near the door of her house ; lest thou give thy 
 honour unto others, and thy years unto th© 
 cruel — and thou mourn at last when thy body, 
 and thy flesh are consumed ; and say, how have 
 I hated instruction, and my heart despised re- 
 proof. Hearken unto me now, therefore, O 
 ye children! and attend to the words of my 
 mouth. Let not thy heart incline to her ways ; 
 go not astray in her paths : for her house is the 
 way to hell ; going down to the chambers of 
 death." 
 
 To conclude this subject, on which I have 
 found it necessary to bay more than I at fiist 
 
 f 
 
 /'•■ 
 
 CHASTITY. 
 
 137 
 
 designed; let us remember the important de- 
 clarations of the Holy Apo&tle : " This is the 
 will of God, even your sanctification ; that 
 every one of you should know how to possess 
 his vessel in sanctification and honour ; not in 
 the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles 
 who know not God. For God hath not called 
 us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. Now the 
 body is not for fornication, but for the Lord ; 
 and the Lord for the body : know ye not that 
 your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I 
 then take the members of Christ, and make 
 them the members of a- harlot? God forbid. 
 Be not deceived : neither fornicators, nor adul- 
 terers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them- 
 selves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom 
 of God. For this ye know, that no whore- 
 monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous (or 
 father libidinous) man, hath any inhei'itancc in 
 the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no 
 man deceive you with vain words, for, because 
 pf these things, cometh the wrath of God on 
 tlie children of disobedience." Thus certain it 
 is, that *^ whoremongers and adulterers God 
 Tiill judge ; and they shall have their part in the 
 dke which bumeth with fire and brimstontf 
 "which is the second death." 
 
 M 3 
 
CHAPTER vrr. 
 
 Discretiott or Prudente, 
 
 This is a virtue of high importance, in regit- 
 lating the whole of our conduct through life. 
 It is often applied to the management of our 
 temporal concerns, as preventing us from en*^ 
 gaging in unwarrantable undertakings, and as 
 inducing, us to keep our expenses within our 
 incomes. But this is not the whole of the ob- 
 jects it embraces. There is scarcely any con- 
 cern in life, in which we do not need the aid of, 
 discretion. "When better motWes are wanting, 
 it may be profitably applied to the restraint of 
 vice ; and even our other virtues stand in need 
 of its salutary restrictions. " A good man 
 Sihoweth favour and lendeth;" but, at the same 
 time, " he guideth his affairs with discretion." 
 
 What we have on thi» subject in Holy Writ, 
 is principally contained in the Proverbs of 
 Solomon. He represents Prudence as being 
 the intimate companion of Wisdom: " I, Wis- 
 dom, dwell with Prudence. The wise in heart 
 shall be called prudent." Wisdom and Pru* 
 dence are distinct acquirements, and the former 
 13 very imperfect without the latter. "My 
 M0a (sa^'s Solomon, again) keep sound wisdOi0> 
 
 ©ISCBETiaN OH FRrDENCR. 1^ 
 
 and discretion. The discretion of a man de- 
 ferreth his anger. A fooU* wrath is presently 
 known ; but a prudent man covereth shame. A 
 prudent man concealeth [his own] knowledge ; 
 but the mouth of fools proclaimeth foolishness! 
 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge; 
 but a fool layeth open his folly. The simple 
 believe every word ; but the pnident man loofcp 
 eth well to his way. A prudent man foreseeth 
 the evil, and hideth himself j but the simple 
 pass on, and are punished^' 
 
 This virtue w« find recorded' among the 
 qualities, which the Evangelical Prophet fore- 
 told should: distingubh the character of the 
 Messiah : *' My servant shall deat prudently :" 
 and we find the Apostle, in his Epistle toTitus, 
 recommending that the young women, and 
 young men, should be advised to the exercise 
 of discretion.. 
 
 The following remarks on tEis subject, by an 
 eminent writer,* are so excellent, as to induce, 
 me to give them a. place here: " Discretion is 
 like an Hnder^agent of Providence, to guide 
 and direct us in the ordinwy: concerns of life; 
 There are more shining qualities ia. the nuQdi 
 
 ).* 
 
 t 
 
'n. 
 
 140 
 
 DISCltETION OR PRTyDENCff» 
 
 of man, but there is none so useful as discre^ 
 tion. It is this, indeed, which gives a value to 
 all the rest; which sets them at work in their 
 proper tinies and places ; and turns them to the 
 advantage of the person who is possessed of 
 them. Wkhout it, learning is pedantry, and 
 wit impertinence* Virtue itself looks like weak- 
 -aess ; the best parts only qualify a man to be 
 more sprightly in errors, and active to his own 
 prejudice."' Again, "Though a man have all 
 other perfections, and want discretion he will 
 be of no great consequence in the world ; but 
 if he have this single talent in perfection, and 
 but a common share of others, he may do what 
 he pleases in his particular station of life." 
 To this I would add, that when Humility is 
 united with Prudence, they produce, in my 
 apprehension, more than any other virtues, 
 comfort and reputation for us in this world; 
 and are not without their use, in preparing us 
 for a state of happiness, ift that which, ia to 
 come. 
 
 CHAPTER Vtlh 
 
 Indwiitjf or DiHgmei. 
 
 The importance of this virtue, for the repu^ 
 table support of individuals aadof families is 
 universally acknowledged. Indeed employment 
 IS beneficial in every station of life. The want 
 of industry, when circumstances require its 
 exercise, is represented by the Apostle, as 
 making a man worse than air infidel. Yet, per- 
 haps, he did not mean to say, that idleness is 
 worse than infidelity; but that when it prevails 
 among Christians, it places their character, in 
 this particular respect, below that of many who 
 are infidels or heathens. The cause of Religion 
 sufi-ers much, when those who lay claim, and 
 perhaps m extraordinary claim, to it, neglect a 
 proper attention to their temporal concerns. 
 % this means they often fail of pe.formin<. 
 those engagements which they have entered 
 luto, become burdensome to others, and, by 
 distress and perplexity, often lose the little 
 religion which they once possessed. It was I 
 apprehend, to correct this error in religion, that 
 the Apostle thus strongly represents the conse- 
 quences of neglecting a proper care for our- 
 ^.Ives and our families : " If a„y provide not 
 
V 
 
 INDUSTRY OR DILIGENCE, 
 
 145 
 
 m 
 
 142 INDUSTRY OR DILIGENCE. 
 
 for his own, and especially for ikose of his ovttt 
 house, he hath denied the faith, and ii worio 
 than an bfideL" 
 
 Very strenuously does Solomon rccominend 
 industry, or diligence in business; and as se- 
 verely does he reprobate the opposite \»rce. 
 " The hand of the diligent niaketh rich, and 
 beareth rule ; but the slothful shall be under 
 tribute. The substance of a diligent man Is 
 preciou*. Seest thou a man diligent in his 
 business ? He shall stand before kings : he shall 
 not stand before mean mett. Be thou diligent 
 to know the state of thy flocks, and look well 
 to thy herds ; for riches are liot for ever ; and 
 doth the crown endure ta every generation ?" 
 To the sluggard, and respecting him, the fol- 
 lowing passages are appropriate : *' Go to the 
 ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be 
 wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 
 provideth her meat iu summer, and gathereth 
 her food iu the harvest. 1 went by the field of 
 the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man 
 Toid of understanding: and lo! it was all grown 
 over with thorns, and nettles covered the foce 
 of it, and the stone wall diereof was broken 
 down. Thcu I saw and considered it well : I 
 looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet 
 
 ^ little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding 
 of the hands to ^leep : so shalll tfiy povertjr 
 come as one that travelleth^ and thy want as an 
 armed man.** 
 
 By the foregoing passages we see the bene- 
 fits of industry, and the evils consequent upon 
 idleness. But kt us be careful not to suffer 
 the duty here recommended so to absorb our 
 attention, as to make us neglect any of those 
 other duties which religion ^^quires of m. At 
 the same time that we are careful to be " not 
 slothful in business," let ns remember what 
 immediately follows, but " fervent in spirit, 
 serving the Lord," 
 
 i 
 
 ^i 
 
FRUGALITY. 
 
 145 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Fnigality, 
 
 Jc RUGALITY consists in a sparing use of 
 what we possess, and the avoiding of unneces- 
 sary expense. Both frugality and industry, are 
 publick as well as private virtues, lliey enrich 
 nations as well as individuals. True frugality 
 increases our enjoyments, as ^vell as our pos** 
 sessions. It niakes a man of moderate cir- 
 cumstances, and sometimes even a poor man^ 
 more independent than one wiio possesses great 
 affluence; if the latter is not bounded by pru- 
 dence in his expenses. Although this virtue ii 
 not mucli inculcated in direct terms, in the 
 Holy Scriptures, yet it may be considered as 
 necessarily included in that Prudence or Discre- 
 tion of which we have already treated ; and it is 
 so unavoidable a consequence of many of the 
 moral precepts, which are inculcated both ia 
 the Old and New Testament, that it may be 
 considered a Christian virtue. That modera- 
 tion which we are required to exhibit to all 
 men, cannot be fully exercised without it ; and 
 when we abstain from all those indulgences 
 and vices which the Christian religion forbids, 
 we are, at least, in the high road to frugality. 
 
 But whilst we are paying proper attention 
 to this virtue, as well as to industry, we should 
 beware of their extremes, a parsimonious and 
 a covetous disposition. Both these are evils 
 against which we have many scriptural admo- 
 nitions : " There is that scattereth and yet in- 
 creaseth; and there is that withholdeth more 
 than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty. He that 
 soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly.'* 
 " Thou shalt not covet any thing that is thy 
 neighbour's," is the . substance of the tenth 
 commandment. Covetousness is, indeed, pe- 
 culiarly marked with Divine disapprobation : 
 '' The wicked blesseth the covetous, whom the 
 Lord abhorreth." " Incline ray heart to thy 
 testimonies, and not to covetousness," was a 
 prayer of the Psalmist; and Solomon saith, 
 " He that hateth covetousness shall prolong 
 his days." This vice is severely reprehended 
 by the Jewish prophets: " For the iniquity of 
 his covetousness was I wroth. With their 
 mouth they show much love; but their heart 
 goeth after their covetousness. Wo unto him 
 that coveteth an evil covetousnesjs." 
 
 Our blessed Lord frequently reproves this 
 vice in the Pharisees of his time; and gives tliis 
 solemn charge : " Take heed and beware of 
 
 * 
 
146' 
 
 FRUGALItY. 
 
 covetousness ; for a man's life consist^tK not in 
 the abundance of the things which he pos- 
 •eesseth/* 
 
 The /ollowing instructive exhortations of the 
 Apostle are of great importance to us all: 
 ** Godliniess with contentment is great gain ; for 
 we brought nothing into this world, and it is 
 certain we can carry nothing out. Having 
 food. and raiment^ let us be ther^wijlh content. 
 Sut they that will be rich fall into temptation 
 and a snare; and into manyioolish and hurtful 
 Justs, which dcown -men in destruction and. per- 
 dition; for the love of money is the root of all 
 evil : (or radier of all these evils:) which iwhile 
 ^ojQe have^coyeted after, .they have.^rr^d frp.ro 
 the.iailh,. and. pierced themselves ;UiF.ough with 
 juj^ny. sorrows. Therefore, let, yQur conversa- 
 tion be .without coyet9USQe9s ; find be content 
 .with «uch things, as ye have; for he halh.i^^jid^ I 
 -wiU never; leaye. tt^e, norigrs^^ke th^e.'* 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 On Cheerfulness. 
 
 Writers ott Morality have not often giveor 
 Cheerfulness a place among the duties of men« 
 It is, however, sufficiently inculcated in' the 
 Scriptures, to induce us to notice it anioogi 
 these duties; and it is the more needful, because 
 the enemies and even some of the friends of 
 religion, are apt to exclude it froinrthe code ot 
 those virtues whick Christiamty requires. 
 
 Cheerfulness is a medium betwixt levity and 
 gloominess. It is compatible with seriousness : 
 and its purest and most permanent source, is a 
 humble, grateful consideration of th« many fa- 
 vours and blessings which we enjoy from the 
 Divine Hand. A writer* lately quoted, makes 
 these, among other, excellent observations upoa 
 it : " When I consider this cheerful state of 
 mind, I cannot but look upon it as a constant^ 
 habitual gratitude to the great Author of nature. 
 An inward cheerfulness is an implicit praise 
 and thanksgiving to Providence under all its 
 dispensations. It is a kind of acquiescence in 
 the state wherein we are placed ; and a secret 
 approbation of the Divine will in his conduct 
 towards mau.^' 
 
 * AddUoiL 
 _ N a 
 
148 
 
 ON CHEERFULNESS. 
 
 ON CHEERFULNESS. 
 
 149 
 
 By numbering) or considering, our blessings, 
 the mind is prevented from dwelling improperly 
 on the deprivations which we sustain, or think 
 we sustain, in this probationary state of exist- 
 ence. In this disposition, the propriety of the 
 Apostolic exhortation is seen and felt : " Re- 
 joice evermore, and in every thing give thanks." 
 
 It is of no small importance in our passage 
 through life to maintain a cheerful state of mind. 
 To this end an attention to the foregoing ex- 
 hortation of the Apostle, and a consideration of 
 the reasons for it, will be beneficial. Corre- 
 spondent with this exhortation are some obser- 
 vations of the wise Solomon, in which he shows 
 the benefits of a cheerful disposition, which 
 our translators, according to the terms then in 
 use, have rendered, " a merry heart;'* this he 
 observes, " doth good like a medicine ; but a 
 broken spirit drieth the bones." These obser- 
 vations are, no doubt, intended to excite that 
 cheerful vivacity, which is consistent with reli- 
 gion and virtue ; and it appears to have been 
 particularly the object of Solomon, to guard 
 against a fretful disposition, by which many 
 persons needlessly distress themselves ; and at the 
 same time, make those with whom they are con- 
 nected, uncomfortable. When sorrow proceeds 
 
 from sufficient cause, and is duly regulated, this 
 writer, w ith others of the sacred penmen, shows 
 its advantages, and excites sympathy with it. 
 He also exposes the folly of a light, airy dispo- 
 sition of mind. " Even in laughter, the heart 
 is [often] sorrowful; and the end of that mirth 
 is heaviness. I said of laughter, it is mad ; and 
 of mirth, what doth it ?" 
 
 Our blessed Lord was particularly careful to 
 guard his disciples against a gloomy disposition 
 and appearance. Even in the performance of 
 a religious duty, which, above all others, implies 
 serious humiliation, he prohibits an appearance 
 that might improperly expose the employment 
 of the mind, or cause an impression of extra- 
 ordinary sanctity: " When ye fast, be not as 
 the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. But 
 thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and 
 wash thy face ; that thou appear not unfo men 
 to fast, but unto thy Father who is in secret; 
 and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward 
 thee openly." Notwithstanding the vei7 serious 
 importance of our Lord's mission, he affected 
 no austerity, he practised no severity. He 
 sympathized with the true mourners; but, at 
 the same time, he encouraged and animated 
 Ihem with the prospect of better days. He 
 
 .jr3 
 

 156 
 
 ON CHEERrrtNESS. 
 
 endeavoured to relieve his disciples from aff 
 anxiety respecting the things of this world : he 
 taught then* to be content with a little, and to 
 be thankful for that little. His whole system 
 (if I may so csdl it) was calculated to relieve the 
 mind, and to give it a serenity and cheerfulness, 
 above that of any other religion io' the worlds 
 
 It should, however, be considered, that pre» 
 vious to the perfect operation of religion on the 
 mind, and, perhaps, even whea the work i* 
 nearly completed,, there will be many close coi^ 
 flicts and secret exercises, as well as outward 
 trials, which wiH unavoidably, at times, depress^^ 
 ^e heart, and affect the countenance. We 
 should also consider, that the minds and coun- 
 tenances of some persons are so formed by na-^ 
 ture, as to deprive them of that cheerful appear- 
 ance which others possess: these circumstanceat 
 should excite much caution in judging one ano- 
 ther in this respect. It must, however, be ad-- 
 mitted by those who consider the duties and 
 prospects which Christianity pwsents, pai> 
 ticularly our blessed LordV sermon on thr 
 Mounts that gloominess ami inorosenests, as welk 
 ai( ceo8onousnes» and ostentation, fornk no part 
 •£ the religioa o£ Jesus ChrisC 
 
 CLASS It. 
 
 FJRTICULJR DUTIES. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 Of HusBandi and Wiv€9, 
 
 Having treated on the most important of 
 those Greneral Duties, which we owe to our* 
 selves and one to another, it will be proper to 
 proceed to the consideration of those Particular 
 Duties, which our different relations in life re- 
 quire. We shall first take those which arise 
 from. the married &tate. 
 
 MatRRIaoe i» a divine institution of the 
 gieatest antiquity* It is the means which our 
 all-wise Creator has ordained, to continue the 
 existence of the human species; and the mutual 
 attachment which it requires in those who are 
 united by it, produces many duties necessary 
 for the comfortable enjoyment of each other's 
 society. Those who are joined in marriage are 
 said to " become one flesK.'* Their objects 
 and their interests are, (» ought to be, the same. 
 Their duties to each other differ very little^ 
 Kature and religion having uaited in giving, ai 
 
 '1 
 
152 
 
 OV HUSBANDS AND WIVES. 
 
 OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES. 
 
 15S 
 
 degree of superiority to the man, a correspond- 
 ent subjection, or obedience, becomes the duty 
 of the woman. This law is necessary foi the 
 preservation of order ; and it is observable, that 
 through all the relative duties, Christianity set- 
 tles the subordination in such a manner, as 
 would, if it were attended to, remove many of 
 those feuds, which destroy the peace of families, 
 and of Governments. However, in the rela- 
 tion of man and wife, this subordination takes 
 place in a smaller degree, than in any of the 
 other relations. When we consider the near 
 affinity described by Adam on Eve's being 
 brought to him ; " Tliis is now bone of my 
 bone, and flesh of my flesh," it is evident that 
 love, mutual love, is the first duty of the mar- 
 ried state. *' He who made them at the. be- 
 ginning, made them male and female ; and" said, 
 for this cause shall a man leave father and 
 mother and shall cleave to his wife ; and they 
 twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are 
 no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore 
 God hath joined together, let no man pu^ 
 asmider." 
 
 The principal duties which arise from the 
 relation of husband and wife, are. enforced in 
 the foUowing scriptures. I shall first take 
 
 those which relate to the men : " Rejoice with 
 the wife of thy youth, llie Lord hath been 
 witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, 
 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously; yet 
 she is thy companion, and the wife of thy youth. 
 Tlierefore take heed to your spirit, that none 
 deal treacherously against the wife of his 
 youth. Husbands love your wives, and be not 
 bitter against them. So ought men to love their 
 wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his 
 wife, loveth himself. Ye husbands dwell with 
 your wives according to knowledge ; giving ho- 
 nour to the wife, as unto the weaker vessel ; 
 and as being heirs together of the grace of 
 life." 
 
 To the women we have these exhortations : 
 " Waives submit yourselves unto your own hus- 
 bands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is 
 the head of the w ife, even as Christ is the head 
 of the church. Therefore as the church is sub- 
 ject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own 
 husbands in every thing. Ye wives, be in sub- 
 jection to your own husbands ; that if any obey 
 not the word, they also may, without the word, 
 be won by the conversation of the Mives j 
 while they behold your chaste conversation, 
 Gouplecl with fear ; whose adorning, let it not 
 
 i 
 
 f 
 k 
 
154 
 
 OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES. 
 
 be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair^ 
 and of wearing of gold, and? of putting on of 
 apparel; but let it bt the hidden man of the 
 fceart, in that which i* not corruptible; evea 
 the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, whichk 
 is, in the sight of God, of great price ; for after 
 this manner, in the old time, the holy womea 
 also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves ;. 
 being in subjection to tlieir own husbands." 
 
 I shall conclude this subject with part of the 
 description which Solomon gives of a good 
 wife : " Who can find a virtuous woman, for 
 her price ia far above rubies ? The heart of her 
 husband doth safety trust in her. She will do- 
 him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. 
 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in 
 -ker tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh.;^ 
 well to the ways of her houshold, and eateth ' 
 ^Qt the bread of idleness. Her children arise, 
 up and call her blessed; her husband also, and 
 he praiseth her." 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 Parents and Children, 
 
 The power of parents over their children, in 
 ancient times, was nnich greater than it is at 
 present, at least in civilized states. This 
 |>ower extended formerly over Uje liberty, and 
 even the life of the child. By the Mosaic law, 
 iilial .disobedience was punishable by death ; but 
 the power pf inflicting it was taken from tlie 
 pareat, aod vested in the elders of the city; no 
 doubt after a fair and open trial. In this, and 
 in some other instances, where the Jewish law 
 appears to be severe ; . a gr^at improvement is, 
 jievertheless, made upon the. practices of swr- 
 rounding nations ; and, by the way, it may not be 
 improper to inculcate an attention to this cir- 
 cumstance,^ in reading the Mosaic Institutions. 
 
 We have. a striking example of parental ^uty 
 in the Patriaich Abraham ; in ^ account of 
 whom we ^nd, that his attention to this duty, is 
 assigned; as a cause, why the destruction of 
 Sodom was revealed to him. " And the Lord 
 said, filiall I hide from Abraham that thing 
 which I do? For I know him, that he will 
 command his children and his household after 
 him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord; 
 
 wi 
 
 \ 
 
156 
 
 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 
 
 to do justice and judgment." Thus did this 
 Patriarch inculcate by his example, what was 
 taught by Moses, some centuries after his time : 
 " These words which I command thee shall be 
 in thy heart ; and thou shalt teach them dili- 
 gently unto thy children: thou shalt talk of 
 them when thou sittest in thy house, and when 
 thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest 
 down, and when thou risest up." Consistently 
 with this injunction was the advice of Solomon: 
 " Train up a child in the way he should go ; 
 and when he is old he will not depart from it." 
 This may be considered as a correct general 
 observation, to which, however, we meet with 
 some sorrowful exceptions. 
 
 But children do not require instruction only; 
 sometimes correction is necessary: " Foolish- 
 ness is bound up in the heart of a child : but 
 the rod of correction shall drive it out." There- 
 fore, " he that spareth his rod, hateth his son; 
 but he that loveth him, chasteneth him betimes. 
 The rod and reproof give wisdom ; but a child 
 left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame." 
 
 Christianity has completed what the Mosaic 
 law began. It prohibits all unnecessary se- 
 verity in parents, whilst it strongly enforces 
 
 PARENTS AN» CITILDREN. 157 
 
 filial subjection. Thus the Apostle, consider- 
 hig, no doubt, that the heathens, amongst those 
 to whom he was writing, dwelt, were in the 
 practice of treating their children with great 
 tyranny and cruelty, endeavours to check a dis- 
 position to severity in ^parents. « Fathers^ 
 provoke not your children to anger, lest they be 
 discouraged." And again; " Ye fathers, pro- 
 voke not your children to wrath, but bring them 
 lip in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." 
 Althougli tbe moral and religious education of 
 children, both by instruction and restraint, is 
 the duty of all parents, yet we find it is pecu- 
 liarly required of a bishop or overseer In the 
 Church of Christ, that he be " One that ruleth 
 well his own house; liaving his children in sub- 
 jection, with all gravity." 
 
 Whilst instruction, correction, and tender- 
 ness, are the duties of a parent; attention, obe- 
 dience, and affection, are indispensable obliga- 
 tions upon the child. « Honour thy father 
 and thy mother," is a precept equally enforced 
 by Judaism and Christianity. It is, indeed, the 
 law of nature, as well as of grace. " Obey your 
 parents in the Lord ; for this is right." There 
 is nothing short of duty to God can supersede 
 the duty of <:hildren to parents ; and it is with 
 
 \i 
 
US 
 
 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 
 
 
 this restriction oiily^ that the following precept 
 is given : " Obey your parents in all things; for 
 this is right." 
 
 The duty of children to parents, however, 
 does not merely consist in obedience to their 
 commands ; it also requires that affectionate 
 regard, and even partiality, which disposes to 
 conceal, rather than to expose, their faults. 
 The different conduct of the children of Noah, 
 when their father was overtaken with intem- 
 perance, affords an instructive instance of the 
 consequences of filial regard, and filial con- 
 tempt ; and is an exemplification of this striking, 
 figurative observation of Solomon : ** The eye 
 which mocketh at his father, and refiis^th to 
 obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall 
 pick it out, aad the young eagles shall eat it.'* 
 Thus, '' Cursed is he that setteth light by his 
 father or mother^ aad all the people ihall say^ 
 Amen.'* 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Matters and Senantt. ^ 
 
 JL HE relation of Master and Servant was 
 much improved by the Mosaic law ; and still 
 more by the Christian religion. The regula- 
 tions of the former are excellent and liberal : " If 
 thy brother, that dwelleth by thee, be waxen 
 poor, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not com- 
 pel him to serve as a bond-servant, but as a 
 hired-servant, and as a sojourner he shall be 
 with thee. Thou shalt not rule over him with 
 rigour, but shalt feai' thy God." To Christian 
 masters, the Apostle gives these short, but com- 
 prehensive directions : " Masters give unto 
 your scrvnnts that which is just and equal, for- 
 bearing threatening, knowing that your Master 
 also is in Heaven ; neither is there respect of 
 persons with him/* 
 
 Very beautiful and impressive is the language 
 of Job, respecting his conduct towards his sei^ 
 vants : " If I did despise the cause of my man- 
 servant, or of my maid-servant, when they con- 
 tended with me, what then shall I do when 
 God riseth up ; and when he visiteth, what shall 
 I answer him ? Did not he that made me in the 
 
 o 2 
 
 "^l 
 
i6o 
 
 l!i 
 
 MASTERS AND SERVANTS. 
 
 womb, make him ? And did not one fttihion u» 
 in the womb i" 
 
 To those in the station of servants, the fot- 
 lowing directions are given : « Be obedient to 
 them that are your masters according to the 
 flesh; not with eye-service as men pleasers; but 
 in singleness of heart, fearing God; not answer- 
 ing again ; not purloining; but showing all good 
 fidelity; that ye may adorn the doctrine of God 
 pur Saviour, in all things. Servants be subject 
 to your own masters in all things ; not only to 
 the good and gentle ; but also to the froward. 
 Let as many servants as are under the yoke, 
 count their own masters worthy of all honour 
 that the name of God, and his doctrine, be not 
 blasphemed. And they that have believing 
 masters, let them not despise them, because 
 they are brethren ; but rather do them service, 
 because they are faithful, and beloved, par- 
 takers of the benefit." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Magistrates and Subjects.' 
 
 Government and subordination are es- 
 sential to civilized life; and we find accordin<Tly> 
 that the duties of Magistrates and Subjects arc 
 largely set forth in the Scriptures of the Old and 
 N ew Testament. In the former, we have more 
 directions given for the conduct of rulers, and 
 in the latter, for that of subjects. We find no 
 form of government particularly enjoined ; but 
 whatever may be the form, the duties of ma- 
 gistrates and • of subjects are still the same, 
 ^lonarchical Government being most common, 
 Kings are most frequently mentioned ; but the 
 duties connected with this appellation are 
 equally applicable to the Chief Magistrate, oi* 
 Supreme Power, in any nation. 
 
 '* He that ruleth ov^r men must be just, 
 ruling in the fear of God. These qualifications 
 are like the basis, on which all the other duties 
 of Magistrates are laid. Thus we find, when 
 Jetliro recommended to Mpses, to provide him- 
 self assistants in the Government p( the Israel- 
 ites, he pointed out the necessary qualifications : 
 " Thou shalt provide put of all the people, abJ-e 
 
 o 3' 
 
162 
 
 MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS. 
 
 men^ such as fear God, men of truth, hating 
 covetousness ; and place such over them, to be 
 rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers 
 of fifties, aiid rulers of tens." To those who 
 were thus chosen, Moses gave this charge : 
 '* Hear the causes between your brethren, and 
 judge righteously between every man and his 
 brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye 
 shall not respect persons in judgment ; but ye 
 shall hear the small as well as the great ; ye 
 shall not be afraid of the face of man ; for the 
 judgment is God's." Similar to this was the 
 charge of Jehoshaphat to diose whom he ap- 
 pointed Judges in Israel : " Take heed what 
 TC do; for ye judge not for man, [only] but for 
 the Lord, who is with you in the judgment: 
 wherefore now, let the fear of God be upon 
 you; take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity 
 with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, 
 nor taking of gifts." Thus were justice and 
 judgment inculcated among the Jews; and when 
 their rulers and judges became corrupted, the 
 prophets did not neglect to censure them, and 
 to declare the Divine judgments against them : 
 Isaiah pronounces '* Wo unto them that de- 
 cree unrighteous decrees ; and that write grie- 
 vousness which they have prescribed; to turn 
 away the needy from judgment, and to take 
 
 MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS. l63 
 
 away the right from the poor of my people, 
 that widows may be their prey, and that they 
 may rob the fatherless." Thus also does |he 
 prophet Habakkuk complain of the mal-admi- 
 nistration of justice in his day : " The law is 
 slacked, and judgment doth never go forth; for 
 the wicked doth compass about the righteous, 
 therefore wrong judgment proceedeth." Ze- 
 chariah complains that the following salu- 
 tary counsel was rejected : " Execute true 
 judgment, and show mercy and compassion, 
 every man to his brother. And oppress not 
 the widow, nor the fatherless ; the stranger, nor 
 the poor.** 
 
 Solomon has many excellent observations on 
 the qualifications and duties of rulers : " When 
 the righteous are in authority, the people re- 
 joice; but when the wicked bear nile, the people 
 mourn. Mercy and truth preserve the Kin*y • 
 and his throne is upholden by mercy. It is an 
 abomination to Kings to commit wickedness; 
 for the throne is established by righteousness." 
 
 The line of conduct which is drawn for those 
 who are in the station of subjects, is clear and 
 strong ; and were the precepts which are given 
 tis, duly considered!, it would greatly tend ta 
 
 -„ ^ 
 
 J 
 
164 
 
 ^1* 
 
 MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECT*. 
 
 check that licentious disposition, which, under 
 the pretence of liberty and freedom, is often 
 indulged towards those whom Divine Provi- 
 dence has placed in authroity over us. " Thou 
 shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people," 
 was a Jewish institution, of which the Apostle 
 Paul acknowledged the propriety ; and both he 
 and Peter are express in their injunctions upon 
 the early Christians,. that they sliould show sub- 
 jection to those who were placed over them» 
 *' Let every soul be subject unto the higher 
 powers; for there is no power but of Cod. 
 'Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resist- 
 eth the ordinance of God. Wherefme ye must 
 needs be subject, not only for wrath; but also 
 for conscience' sake. For this cau;se pay ye tri- 
 bute also, for they are God's ministers attending 
 u^>on this very thing. Submit yourselves to 
 every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; 
 whether it be to the King as supreme, or unto 
 governors, as unto them that are sent by him 
 for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the 
 praise of them that da well. Ais free, and not 
 usmg your liberty for a cloke-of maliciousness*; 
 but as the servants of God. Honour ail men; 
 love the brotherhood ; fear God ; honour the 
 
 King. 
 
 tt 
 
 The consideration of the times and circum- 
 stances under which those advices were given, 
 
 MAGISTRATES ANP SUBJECTS. 165 
 
 adds greatly to their force. They were given in 
 the worst ages of the Roman government, by 
 men who had lived in the times of Tiberius, 
 Caligula, and Claudius; and who wrote when 
 Nero reigned. If these were the obligations of 
 Christians in such times, it is difficult to con- 
 ceive a time, or circumstance, under which a 
 true Christian could be justified in violating 
 those instructions. We may therefore safely 
 attend to the admonitions of Solomon : " Fear 
 thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not 
 with them that are given to change." 
 
 The duty which we owe to our Governors, 
 may be said, in some respects, to resemble that 
 which is due to our parents* The protection 
 and other advantages, which we derive from 
 them, should induce us to look with partiality, 
 rather than prejudice, at their actions. If we 
 cannot approve of all they do, we ought to con- 
 sider, that our knowfedge of subjects relating to 
 government, is not likely to be equal to theirs : 
 they may likewise be acquainted with circum- 
 stances to which we are strangers. It should 
 also be considered, that they are men, " subject 
 to like passions as we are ; that the difficulties 
 and temptations attending their situations are 
 great; that we ourselves often err in the ma^ 
 
 ' > 
 
 4 
 
166 MAGISTRATES AKD SUBJECTS. 
 
 nagement of our own small private concerns, 
 either through want of judgment, or want of 
 conduct; and that, even when neither of these 
 are wanting, we cannot command success. If 
 these considerations operated properly on our 
 minds, they would contribute to lessen that se- 
 verity, with which many persons reflect on the 
 conduct of those, whom Divine Providence has 
 made rulers over them; and whom we are di- 
 Yinely commanded to honom*, as well as to obey. 
 
 ' There is one duty, arising from the subject 
 now under consideration, which claims particu- 
 lar attention. This is the faithful payment of 
 taxes imposed for the service of the governmeut 
 under which we live. It is to be regretted, 
 that, even among men who think they support 
 an honest character, the violation of this duty, 
 should scarcely be esteemed a crime, ^^e 
 should reflect that it is not the government 
 only that is defrauded, which is, no doubt, 
 wrong; but that our bonest neighbours also suf- 
 fer. The expenses of government must be paid ; 
 and if one man does not contribute what is im- 
 posed upon him, his share must be supplied by 
 others. But when a contraband trade is carried 
 on, an honest man is still further injured; he is 
 paralysed, as it were, in his efforts to provide a 
 
 ,MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS. |67 
 
 8 reputable subsistence for himself and his fa- 
 mily. When these evils are considered, it is 
 surprising that practices in themselves immoral 
 and productive of euch consequences, should be 
 deemed of so light importance as they frequently 
 are. lliey are certamiy in direct opposition to 
 the precepts of our holy religion. When our 
 blessed Lord was thus interrogated, " Is it law- 
 ful to give tribute unto Caesar or not?'' after 
 some previous obsenations, which manifest his 
 opinion on the subject, he answers : " Render 
 unto Caesar tlie things that are Caesar's, and unto 
 God tlie tilings that are God's." Indeed, he not 
 only enjoined this duty upon others, but was 
 himself an example of it, in the circumstance 
 recorded by Matdiew, chap. xvii. 24, &c. We 
 ought, therefore, carefully to attend to the 
 Apostolic injunction; '* Render to all their 
 dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to 
 whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to 
 whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to 
 love one another; for love is the fulfilling of 
 the law." 
 
 There is one obligation, however, which may 
 supersede our duty to Magistrates, and indeed, 
 occasionally, all the other relative duties. This 
 is the duty which we owe to God and to our 
 
 I. 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
16S MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS. 
 
 own conscience, with which tlie laws of men 
 sometimes interfere. But, if we cannot actively 
 comply with that which the law requires, we 
 ought patiently to suffer the penalty or punish- 
 ment which it. imposes. ITius the early Chris- 
 tians, with many others both before and since 
 their time, have nobly and meekly suffered the 
 loss of property, liberty, and even life itself, in 
 support of that faith and those practices which 
 true religion requires. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 On Patnotism, 
 
 This is a duty which we owe to the Country 
 in which w^ live, and from which we generally 
 derive those benefits and comforts which render 
 our lives agreeable and happy. The Love of 
 our Country attaches both to place and people, 
 and induces us to prefer its real interest* to 
 those of any other nation or people, and evea 
 to our own concerns ; subject, however, to those 
 restrictions which justice and prudence impose 
 on all our actions ; and, by no means, excludino^ 
 a regard for the welfare of other countries. 
 
 When we consider the many advantages, 
 which those derive from one another in a state 
 of society, who inhabit the same Country, are 
 bound by the same Laws, and are subject to 
 the same Rulers; and when we reflect how 
 much the happiness of individuals depends on 
 tlie prosperity of the whole ; we ought to con- 
 sider ourselves under a moral obligation, te 
 promote the general good of those with whom 
 we are thus united, so far as Divine Providence 
 has afforded us the means and opportunity of 
 doing it. 
 
 Some of the enemies of the Bible, and even 
 some of its friends, have suggested, that the reli- 
 
i^ 
 
 
 170 
 
 ON PATRIOTISM. 
 
 I 
 
 gion which it inculcates, is unfavourable to 
 Patriotism. Controversy is not my present 
 business; but, I trust, that whilst incukating 
 this virtue, it will be found that the suggestion 
 is without foundation. 
 
 True religion, or, in other words, the religion 
 which is taught in the Bible, is a principle, 
 which is unbounded in its operation. It» most 
 prominent feature is. Universal Love, witliout 
 respect to the boundaries of sea and land : and 
 to promote the happiness of the human race all 
 the world over, is its principal object. Tliis 
 object is so much inculcated in the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, and particularly in the New Testament, 
 as to account, in degree, for the mistake into 
 which some persons have fallen, in supposing 
 that some of the peculiar, social virtues ai*e not 
 sufficiently recommended. What is before writ- 
 ten on these virtues, will, I apprehend, be suf- 
 ficient to show, that the Christian Religion is 
 Peculiarly adapted to all the relations of life ; 
 and that, if it does not foster the ambitious 
 views of some of its professors, it is because 
 the happiness of men is incompatible with those 
 
 views, to which they would, perhaps, apply the 
 
 name of Patriotism. 
 
 Of all the mstances of this virtue which are 
 recorded in history, ancient or modern; sacred 
 
 ON PATpiOTISM, 
 
 171 
 
 or profane, it will, I conceive, be difficult to 
 find one so noble, or so disinterested, as that of 
 Moses. His attachment to the people ovepT 
 whoni he presided, presents his cbajcacter in a 
 mo^t a^o^^ble pobt of vjkew. When the di^* 
 pleasure of the Almighty w?is ma#iifested againit 
 them, aftor their idolsitrous conduct at Moui^t 
 Sw9Ji» tow .f9» cxWy did he intercedle in tlieir fa- 
 vour! " Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their 
 sin: apd if »ot, blot me, I pray thee, oj^t of tjby 
 Bioojc >vbi€b jhoM hjast written." On pother 
 occasion, when the AJpiighly threatened t^e 
 destruction of the Israelites ; and even offeresfd 
 to make of him " a greater nation, and mightier 
 than they;" Ik)w nobly did he sacrifice every 
 view that ambition might have opened, to the 
 Love of his God, and the Love of his People ! 
 After powerfully interceding, from various con- 
 siderations, that ikey might agxiin be forgiven,, 
 he obtained this gracious answer to his prayer; 
 <^ I have pardoned accoicting to thy wor<i.*' 
 
 Numerous are the instances of Patjiotisgi 
 which the Old Testament affords. The Book 
 of I*salms, whilst it holds out a farther, and 
 more spirituiiLl ine^ping, derives many of its ex- 
 cellencies from that amor patiiae,* which in- 
 * Tbe Lflve of our Couutfy. 
 
 \: 
 
172 
 
 ON PATKIOTISM. 
 
 1 
 
 
 influenced the minds of its writers : " If I forget 
 thee, O Jerusalem ! let my right hand forget 
 her cunning : if I do not remember thee> let 
 Biy tongue cleave to the roof of ray mouth; if 
 I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." 
 So far, indeed, was an attachment to the coun- 
 try in which Providence has placed us, incul- 
 cated among the Jews, that they were required, 
 when taken captive to another land, to seek the 
 peace of the city whither they were carried; 
 and to pray to the Lord for it : " For, says the 
 prophet Jeremiah^ in the peace thereof ye shall 
 have peace."' 
 
 Nor is it only in the more circumscribed 
 ^spensation of the Jewish law, that a predilec- 
 tion for our country is evinced. We find, that 
 even in inculcating the great truths of the Chris- 
 tian Religion, this predilection is manifest. He 
 \vho was prophesied of, as " a Light to en- 
 lighten the Gentiles, and for salvation to the 
 . ends of the earth ;" even " He came to his own ; 
 though his own [in general] received him not." 
 His personal appearance and ministry were con- 
 fined to his own country, whose miseries be 
 foresaw and lamented, with all the tenderness 
 of which humanity is capable. He even wept 
 at the prospect which presented itself before 
 hira : ^nd, at another tijme, lamented over the 
 
 .jf. 
 
 ON PATRIOTISM. 
 
 173 
 
 city, in this moving language : " O Jerusalem ! 
 Jerusalem! How often would I have gathered 
 thy children together, as a hen gathereth her 
 chickens under her wings ; but ye would not." 
 Thus did onr blessed Redeemer manifest his 
 solicitude for the welfare of the country in 
 which he lived, when on earth ; and where he 
 fniislied the work which was given him to do. 
 
 We likewise find the apostles of' our Lord> 
 both before and after his- crucifixion, first and 
 principally ^abou^ed to propagate 'the gospel of 
 Christ among their own people, the Jews. Even 
 Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles, when 
 he entered into those places where Jews resided, 
 first directed his gospel labours to them : and 
 such was his patriotism ; such his love to his 
 countrj' and people ; that he could not only say, 
 " My heart's desire and prayer to God for 
 Israel, is, that they might be saved ;" but with 
 a love, as ardent as it was pure, also declared : 
 " I could wish mvself accursed from Christ, 
 for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the 
 flesh; who are Israelites; — whose are the fa- 
 thers ; and of whom, as concerning the flesh, 
 Christ came; who is over all, God blessed for 
 ever. Amen." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 AND 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVjriONS, 
 
 % 
 
 Since drawing up this Compendium of Re- 
 ligious and Moral DuUes, it has appeared pro- 
 per to take notice of a few subjects, which did 
 not seem to come under any of the foregoing 
 heads, and which I shall therefore include ip 
 one Chapter of MiscelUiaeous and Concluding 
 Observations. 
 
 Tlie first subject is, a light and irreverent 
 lise of the sacred name. This is an evil sor* 
 rowfuUy prevalent among the professors of 
 ChrisUauity. It is not only practised in that 
 profane swearing, which stamps ignommy on 
 the conduct of many persons, in the different 
 stations of life, and is a direct violation of the 
 repeated command, ** Swear not at all," in the 
 most limited construction of it ; but, we also 
 find, in common conversation, many, who would 
 be thought respectable for their religion and 
 virtue, carelessly and miMecessarily making use 
 of one or another of the Divine appellations, m 
 clear opposition to that commandment, which 
 savs, '' Thou shalt not take the Name of the 
 
 KISCBLIANBOUS, jBtCt 
 
 «r5- 
 
 ^! 
 
 Lord, thy God, in \aii ; for tlbe Lord will not 
 hold him guiltless that tak«ih his Nam€ in vain.'' 
 
 It may also be proper to impress the mind 
 pf the reader, with the ipiport^nce of associating 
 with suitable companions; and with the evils 
 resulting from improper connexions and ac- 
 quaintance. To reason oa the propriety of the 
 one, or on the impropriety of the other, seem* 
 to be superfluous ; as th« consequences are sa 
 evident, that even those, who are far from be* 
 ing properly careful in these poimts of conduct, 
 will frequently leeommend them to the atten- 
 tion of others. There are, how^eyer, some pas- 
 sages in Holy Writ, so applicable to this sub- 
 ject, and so impressive of its importance, that I 
 trust the recital of them will be beneficial: 
 << Blessed, says the Psalmist, is the »an thai 
 walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly^ 
 nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sit- 
 teth in the seat of the scomful." In another 
 place he says : " I have not sat with vain per- 
 sons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I 
 have hated the congregation of evil doers, and 
 will not sit with the wicked." Solomon delivers 
 some excellent cautions on this subject : " My 
 son, if Muners entice thee, consent thou not. 
 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go* 
 Bot in Uie way of evil men* Avoid it, pas» 
 
176 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS AND 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 177 
 
 not by it, turn from it, and pass away. He that 
 walketh with wise men, shall be wise ; but a 
 companion of foob shall be destroyed. Cease, 
 my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to 
 err from the words of knowledge. He that is 
 a companion of riotous men, shameth his fa- 
 ther ; and he that foUoweth after vain persons, 
 shall have poverty enough." To these exhorta- 
 tions and observations, we may add the follow- 
 ing, from the first Epistle to the Gor4nthians: 
 « I have written unto you, not to keep com^ 
 pauy : if any man that is called a brother, be a 
 fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a 
 railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner : with 
 such a wie, no not to eat. B^e not deemed; 
 evil communications corrupt good manners." 
 
 Intimately connected with the company which 
 we keep, are the books that w© read ; and all 
 the good or evil consequences resulting from 
 the former, are equally applicable to the latter. 
 When we consider the profusion with which 
 books are now circulated ^ apd how they meet 
 us in almost every situation ; it requires grea* 
 care that our selection of them be such, as is 
 not likely to impede, but will rather promote,, 
 ©ur progress in religion and virtue. 
 
 It is of great importance to our religious and 
 moral improvement, that we stand open to the 
 
 advice and reproof of our friends ; and, even it 
 we should think them severe upon us, not to 
 reject nor resent their admonitions. From the 
 very censures of an enemy, much benefit may 
 be derived, by a mind desirous of improvement. 
 ** Open rebuke is better than secret love," is an 
 observation made by one, whose character stands 
 pre-eminent for wisdom and knowledge. Much, 
 indeed, depends on the right reception of ad- 
 vice. " He is in the way of life that keepeth 
 instruction ; but he that refuseth reproof, erreth. 
 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth 
 instruction ; but he that regardeth reproof, shall 
 be honoured. A fool despiseth his father's in- 
 struction ; but he that regardeth reproof, is pru- 
 dent." Wherefore, " Hear counsel, and re- 
 ceive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in 
 thy latter end :" for " he that being often re- 
 proved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be 
 destroyed, and that without remedy." 
 
 To these admonitions may be added the 
 example of the Psalmist, when he expresses him- 
 self thus : " Let the righteous smite me, it shall 
 be a kindness ; and let him reprove me, it shall 
 be an excellent oil which shall not break my 
 head ; for yet my prayer also shall be in their 
 calamity.*' 
 
 H. 
 
178 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ANp 
 
 There are likewise many exhortations in Holy 
 Wiit, respecting the administring of advice^ 
 bvt they may ^ be 8.un*n>*jd up w> one, con- 
 tained in the $r8t Epistle to the Church at 
 Thessalonica : " Nx>w we exiiort you, brethren, 
 »arn them that ?re unruly; conjfort the feeble- 
 minded ; support the weak j h^ patient towards 
 all men." Wfoen tbeSie duties ^e fwthfi^ly and 
 properly dj&cbaf ged, aijd supportjed ky a cor- 
 respondent coiiduct, t)iose who perfoim them 
 are a blessing to ma^ind j and ou^t, as well 
 as those " who labour iu the wo*'d ^,nd doc- 
 trine, to be C5teei»ed very highly iu l9v^> ^^' 
 Ibeir work*s sake." 
 
 Civilfty, or good manners, though one of the 
 minor duties, is of no small importance in our 
 passage through life. \V hen we are in the com- 
 pany of virtuous persons, it is peculiarly pr(xptr 
 to treat tbem with respect ; and this duty, on 
 such occasions, is admitted to be of indispen- 
 sable obligation. But even when our necessary 
 concerns lead us among persons whose charac- 
 ters are exceptionable, they are entitled to cini 
 behaviour ; and our influence with them is pro- 
 moted by showing it. If we should think it 
 necessary to manifest our disapprobation of 
 their principles or conduct, it should be done 
 consistently witli good manners^ as well as m a 
 
 t ■ 
 
 CONtrLTJDtXO OBSiHTATIONS. lyj 
 
 Chfiistian spirit. Indeed, if our minds were 
 imbibed witTi that meekness and framility, which 
 have already been faicnlcated, we should very* 
 rafcFy, if eter, viofate tibe rules of civility. But, 
 a separate consideration of this duty seemed 
 proper, because some pei^ons, who possess 
 many virtuous qualities, are not sufficiently at- 
 tentive to it. Let sudr remember the scriptural 
 exhortations: " Be pitiful, be courteous; not re- 
 toming raffing for raifirtg. Honour (or respect) 
 all men. Condescend to men of low estate." 
 
 Ouf blessed Lord, when inctdcating the duty 
 of humility, shows its influence upon good man^ 
 ners; and the following direction, respecting 
 one part of our conduct in company, deserved 
 attention, particukirly by persons in the early 
 part of life : " When thou art bidden, go an<f 
 flit down in tlie lowest room, (or place ;) tha< 
 when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto 
 thee, friend, go up higher; so shalt thou have 
 worship (or respect) in the presence of diem 
 that sit at meat with thee." 
 
 The means adapted to promote our improve-* 
 ment in piety and virtue, are of great import* 
 ance; and claim a particular consideration in 
 this place. A strict attention to the duties of 
 religion, must be allowed to be essential for ob- 
 
I'' I 
 
 li 
 
 ISO MISCELLANEOUS AND 
 
 taining a blessing on our Endeavours after a 
 state of Divine acceptance, and moral useful- 
 ness. Of these duties, religious meditation, 
 watchfulness, and prayer, claim our principal 
 attention : these should be accompanied with a 
 close and impartial self-examination, how far 
 our hearts and conduct are regulated according 
 to the doctrines and precepts of the gospel, and 
 are under the influence of that Divine grace, or 
 Holy Spirit, the assistance of which is neces* 
 sary for every good word and work. An atten- 
 dance on public worship, and embracing every 
 suitable opportunity of obtaining religious and 
 moral instruction, will also be greatly condu- 
 cive to that improvement, the means of pro- 
 moting which, we are now considering. To 
 these may be added, the society of persons of 
 piety, virtue, and wisdom; and the perusal of 
 books, tending to promote attainments of so 
 great importance. Of these books, I scarcely 
 need say, that the Holy Scriptures claim an 
 unrivalled pre-eminence. 
 
 Industry is also a great friend to virtue ; and 
 learning has been, not without reason, called, 
 the handmaid of religion. But, when the mind 
 is absorbed, either in business or in learning ; 
 and, they, instead of being subordinate, are 
 
 C6N€LUD!NG OBSERVATIONS. 181 
 
 made principal objects; they then lose their 
 beneficial effects, and frequently lead into a 
 state of alienation from the inexhaustible source 
 of every good and perfect gift. Learning and 
 Industry, when properly regulated, are, how- 
 ever, attended with so many beneficial conse- 
 quences, that I cannot but recommend them * 
 among the means, at least, of preventing those 
 evils, which arise from idleness, and want ' 
 of employment. Learning, when rightly pur* - 
 sued and directed, also strengthens and en- 
 larges the mind. It produces an acquaintance 
 with the works of God in the creation ; and is 
 exceedingly useful in obtaining a more accurate 
 knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, by reading 
 them in the original tongues; circumstances, 
 which may be made very beneficial, in promot- 
 ing the cause of religion and virtue^ Yet, let 
 those who are disposed to pursue learning, re- 
 member, that " Knowledge [alpne] puffeth up;'* 
 and that it ought, therefore, to be mixed with 
 that Charity, which not only edifieth, but sano* 
 tifieth; and direct* all our acquirements to these 
 most important objects, tlie glory of God, and . 
 tlie good of our fellow-creatures.. 
 
 luAvriting this work, the words of the Psaliiir 
 istv in an address to the Almighty, have fr^ 
 
 . i 
 
M fit 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 IS& 
 
 miMJKMrAJTEOtJS AK^ 
 
 qnently been brought to my remembrance^ 
 ** Tliy oommandmeRt is exceeding broad*" £**• 
 tensive, indeed, is the field of labour, whkA »* 
 proper attention to ckity openi8 before tift. Re* 
 ilecdon and action are both called intd nste;, 
 and, tvhen united under the influence of Divine 
 grace, will not fail of producing " fruit unta 
 life eternal.'' But, wide and extensive as our- 
 duties are, they are so simple, and so reason- 
 able, that I apprehend the propriety of those 
 •which are inculcated in this volume, will scarcely 
 be controverted by any individual ^at least, not 
 by any who lays claim, to tlie name of a Chris- 
 tian; and, 1 trust, it will be universally admit- 
 ted, that where these duties are properly re- 
 garded, the great essentials of the Christian' 
 character are attained. I'hey are duties becom- 
 ing rational andimniortal spirits. K the practice 
 of them is, at times, difficult and laborious, 
 means are afforded, more than equal to this 
 difBculty and labour. "^ My grace is sufficient 
 for thee," is applicable to every true believer 
 in Christ, in all times of trial and temptation ;, 
 and they who live under the influence of this- 
 grace, * can at times say, " We are more than 
 conquerors through him that loved us." Not- 
 ivithstanding all the exercises to which the: 
 Christian tiaveller is subject, the mortilicutioni 
 
 and selfMdmriai which an attefttioit to Tetigto^ 
 and norrfd ddties inay require, are not so great 
 as are often imposed «pon mete, by k pursuit ^ 
 tlie vaiA and sinfol pleasures of the ^vwW. The 
 present enJoyinents> and the rutfute pro^jwcts. 
 iDf die humble Qnistian, are of sb exalted a tit- 
 ture, that thi^ world ha» nbthing^ to^ut in eom- 
 petitioo with thehi, but what Inay bfecdtisidcred 
 as vanity; and often \v6fse than vanity, texation 
 of spirit. To the obedient atid sufe^ected-midd; 
 the " ways of wisdom ai-e ways 6f |>leasantness, 
 and all hfer paths are peace. The work of 
 righteousness shall bfe peace ; bfad the effect 
 of righteousness, quietness, and assurance fo» 
 
 ever. 
 
 Having now finished these miscellaneous* 
 remarks, I shall conclude with the following, 
 exhortations of ad inspired apostle : they form 
 a kind of recapitulation of the duties which 
 have been inculcated in this volume, and may 
 not improperly close these humble endeavours^, 
 for the promotion of the cause of religion and 
 virtue ; a cause, dignified with immortality, and 
 crowned with eternal life : ** Finally, brethren,. 
 whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things- 
 are honest, whatsoever things are just, what- 
 soever things are pure, whatsoever things ar»^ 
 
 i 
 
 1^ 
 
t^^i 
 
 ^134 MISCEtlANEOVS, &C.'^ > 
 
 lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; MT 
 there be aay virtue, and if ther« b6 any praise, 
 Aink on these things. See that none render 
 evil for evU unto any man ; b»t ever follow thaft 
 which is good, both among yourselves, and to 
 all men. Rejoice evermore r pray without 
 ceasing; in every thing give thanks; for this is 
 ^e will of God in Christ Jesus, concerning 
 you. Quench not- the Spirit; despise not pro^ 
 phesying; prove all things; hold fast that which 
 is good; and the^vety God of peace sanctify yon 
 wholly/ And I pray God your whole spirit, 
 and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless 
 unto^e coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 TINIS; 
 
 Printed bv 
 C. PEACOCK, 
 CoQrant- Office, York..- 
 
 THE 
 
 FAITH 
 
 OF TIID 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS, 
 
 ijf 
 
 OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR 
 
 JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 SET FORTH IN 
 
 Various Extracts from their Writiyigs* 
 
 5^ 
 
 By henry TUKE. 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION ENLARGED, 
 
 gorfe 
 
 JPRI5TEO BY C. PEACOCK, 
 
 FOR 
 
 M'. ALEXANDER, AND SOLD BY Hlltf ; 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY M. M. AND E. WEBB, BRISTOL; AND DARTaN; 
 
 ■ARTgy; AN© 90* AND W. PflUiiPS, IiONVON. 
 
 1812, 
 
 ,* 
 
 
INTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 
 THE object of this compilation ig threefold. 
 
 First, To bear, in this age of scepticism and inridclify, 
 when many are swerving from the Christian faith, a public 
 testiinonjr to the coming of the Son of God in the flesh, 
 and to the benefits derived to mankind thereby. 
 
 Secondlj/f To remove from the Society of which I am 
 a member, the suggestions and imputations of mvsound- 
 ness in this great point of Christian doctrii>e, whleh have 
 at times been cast upon it. 
 
 Thirdfi/j To manifest, by clear and indisputable testi- 
 monies, to such of our own members as have not maturely 
 considered the subject, what our uniform and acknow* 
 k'dged principles are; that they may be the more upon 
 their guard against any persons, who may endeavour to 
 draw them from the stability of faith. 
 
 It appears to me to be a time, wherein true believers 
 in Christ, of all denominations, should unite in the support 
 of our holy religion ; but whilst we are carefully cudea- 
 
 A 2 
 
 
i 
 
 4 
 
 \(rurin3 to m^dntain the Truth as it Is in Jcsu5, and even 
 willing lo contend, nhtn occasion requires, for that faith, 
 tj hich was once delivered to the saints, let us also be espc 
 cially careful to adorn the gospel of Christ with a consis- 
 tent conduct, regulated by that grace and truth which are 
 come by Uim, in whom we all profess ur believe. Wiifv- 
 wut tl.l5 we bear but ft very Imperfect testimony to iliC 
 superior excellence of the gospel dispensation, give Us 
 cneraies an opportunity to defame it, and prove ourselves 
 to be like the foolish builder upon the sandy foundation, 
 to whom our blessed Redeemer compared those who heard 
 Kis sayings, but did them not. 
 
 Nevertheless, the truth cf Christianity does not depend 
 tipon the conduct of its professors; for however inconsi?- 
 tent this may be, yet the excellency of the Christian faitn, 
 and the purity of Its precepts, will ever bear a strong and 
 ttnequlvoool testimony against the conduct of those who 
 \tcnd the Truth in unrighteousness. Let none therefore, 
 fjbm the we-.ikucss or wickedness of mankind, condemn a 
 rtligion, the best calculated of any for t!)e correction of 
 these evils, and for our redemption from them ; and which 
 is indeed peculiarly adapted to the nature of a Being 
 prone to sin, and encompiissed with many infirmities; but 
 who is at the same time called to glory and to virtue, and 
 desic^r.ed for that life and immortality which are brouj^ht 
 to li^ht by the gospcb, 
 
 The misapprehensions which have been entertained 
 respecting our Faith in Christ, appear to me to have 
 arisen, not so much from a difference of belief, as from 
 
 laying more stress on different points of Christian doctrine. 
 We believe with other Christians, as will appear from the 
 following compilation, in the great and leadhig truths of 
 Christianity : but whilst some of its professors are princl- 
 iially inculcating a faith in the benefits to be received 
 from our blessed Saviour*s life and death, and in tliaL 
 which he has done for us without us; we, fully believing 
 all those essential truths, think it of the utmost importance 
 to draw the attention of men to that divinej light or Spirit, 
 By which the work of salvation is to be carried forward in 
 us, and for us, and, in some measure, by us. This being 
 a work which requires our constant attention, we are prin- 
 cipally concerned to inculcate a belief in, and a depen- 
 dance on, this divine Spirit, as that from which " all holy 
 desires, all good counsels, and all just works, do proceed,"^ 
 and by which we are rendered acceptable to God, through 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 The following quotations are but a small part of what 
 mijiht have been adduced on this occasion ; but it is aj^j- 
 prchended, they will be amply sufficient to manifest tht^ 
 uniformity of our principles on the subject, and their 
 agreement with the doctrines of the New Testament. 
 They will also evince our belief in .tlie Holy Scriptures; 
 
 m 
 
xsihkh we consider, with the apo5t'.e, as ' able to make 
 tv-ise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ 
 Jesus/ And whilst I feel anxious for the preservation of 
 this lUith, both with respect to the coming of the Son of 
 God in the flesh, for the redemption of mankind ; and to 
 that glory which he had with the Father before the world 
 began; I am also earnestly solicitous, that all who make 
 this profession, may likewise believe in, and receive him, 
 in his inward and spiritual appearance, bv which he en- 
 lightens our understandings, and purifies our hearts. Thus 
 shall we become partakers of ' the fulness of the blessing 
 ©f the gospel of Christ;' and know ' what is the riches of 
 the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is 
 Christ within, the hope of glory.' 
 
 THE 
 
 4 
 
 FAITH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS, S^c. 
 
 JN producing the testimonies of our Friends 
 on this occasion, an attention will be generally 
 paid to the order of time in which they were 
 written. 
 
 The first extracts which I shall make are 
 from the Journal of George Fox; and as he was 
 made instrumental in gathering us to be a people, 
 and is generally considered as the founder of our 
 Society, his testimony may have the more weight. 
 
 George Fox*s Journal, p. 3, 3d edit.—' The 
 Priest of Drayton, the town of my birth, whose 
 name was Nathaniel Stevens, asked me, why 
 Christ cried out upon the Cross, " My God, 
 ray God, why hast thou forsaken me r" And why 
 he said, " if it be possible let this cup pass from 
 me; yet not my will, but thine, be done." I 
 told him, at that time the sins of all mankind 
 were upon him, and their iniquities and trans- 
 gressions, with which he was wounded ; which he 
 -was to bear, and to be an offering for, as be was 
 
 4 
 
man; but died not, as he was God: so, in that 
 lie died for all men, tasting death for every man, 
 he was an offering for the sins of the whole world. 
 This I spoke, being at that time in a measure sen- 
 sible of Christ's sufferings. The Priest said it 
 lias a very good full answer, ami such a one as he 
 had not heard.* 
 
 In a publication about the year l67o,. entitled, 
 " A Testimony of what we believe of Christ," 
 George Fox expresses himself thus : — ' llie 
 Apostle speaking of the Fathers saith, " Of 
 'whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who 
 is God over all, blessed for ever> Amen."— Thia 
 was the Apostle's doctrine to the Church then, 
 which we do witness, both as to his flesh, and a& 
 he was God.' 
 
 George Fox's Journal, p. 434. In^ a paper 
 addressed to the Governor of Barbadoes> he ex- 
 presses himself thus : * We own and believe in 
 Jesus Christ, his (God's) beloved and only begot- 
 ten Son, in whom he is well pleased^ who wa3 
 conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the 
 Virgin Mary; in ^hom we have redemption 
 through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins ; 
 ■U'ho is the express image of the invisible God^ 
 the first-born of every creature; by whom were 
 all tilings created that aie iu heaven, and that ar* 
 
 in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 
 thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers ; all 
 ihiu'T^s were created by Him. And we do own 
 and believe, that he was made a sacrifice for sin, 
 who knew no sin, neither was guile found in his 
 mouth ; and that he was crucified for us in the 
 ihbhf without the gales of Jerusalem; and that he 
 was buried, and rose again the third day, by the 
 power of his Father, for our justification; and 
 that he ascended up into heaven, and now sittelh 
 at the right hand of God. This Jesus, who was 
 the foundation of the holy prophets and apostles, 
 is our foundation ; and we do believe there is no 
 other foundation to be laid, but that which is laid, 
 even Jesus Christ; who tasted death for every 
 man; shed his blood for all men; is the propitia- 
 tion for our sins, and not for ours only, but also 
 for the sins of the whole world.' 
 
 Isaac Pennington, in a publication entitled, 
 * The Sum and Substance of our Religion,' men- 
 tions the folIoN\ing objection, which had been 
 made, and replies thereto. See vol. 1, p. GQ4, 
 quarto edit, of his works. 
 
 ' It is objected against us who are called 
 Quakers, that we deny Christ, and look not to be 
 saved b) hiin, as he was manifested widiout us ; 
 but look only to be saved by a Christ withm us; 
 
10 
 
 to wliiclj, this is in my heart to answer to such as 
 singly desire satisfaction therein. 
 
 ' We do indeed expect to be saved by tlie 
 revehition and operation of the life of Christ 
 within us; yet not without relation to what he 
 did without us ; for all that he did in that body of 
 flesh was of the Father, and had its place and ser- 
 vice in the will, and according to the counsel, of 
 the Father/ 
 
 In another treatise, entitled, ' Flesh and blood 
 of Christ,' &c. he expresses himself thus : vol. 2, 
 p. 25G. 
 
 ' Now as touching the outward", which ye say 
 we deny, because of our testimony to the inward, 
 1 have frequently given a most solemn testimony 
 thereunto ; and God knoweth it to be the truth of 
 niy heart, and that the testifying to the inward 
 doth not make the outward void, but rather esta- 
 blish it in its place and service. God himself, 
 who knew what virtue was in die inward, yet 
 hath pleased to make use of the outward; and 
 who mav contradict and slight his wisdom and 
 counsel therein ? Glorious was the appearance 
 and manifestation of his Son in the flesh; precious 
 his subjection and holy obedience to his Father; 
 and Ills giving himself up to death for sinners was 
 
 11 
 
 4pf great esteem in his Father's eye; it was a spot- 
 less sacrifice of great value, and eflectual for the 
 remission of sins ; and 1 do acknowledge humbly 
 luito the Lord, the remission of my sins thereb}', 
 end bless the Lord for it; even for giving up his 
 Son to dearii for us all, and giving all that believe 
 in his name and power, to partake of remission of 
 sins through him.' 
 
 William Smith, in ' A New Catechism,' printed 
 in the year lG64, expresses himself as follows^ 
 
 * We believe that all things which are spoken 
 by the holy prophets and apostles concerning 
 Christ, are true, according to the Scriptures. We 
 believe, that all the dispensations of God whicli 
 are manifested by the Scriptures, are altogether 
 true ; and that they were fulfilled according to the 
 determinate will and counsel of God ; so that our 
 faith concerning Christ in us, and the work which 
 he there worketh for us, doth not at all make void 
 any of the dispensations of God, which in times 
 past w;ere revealed to his holy prophets and 
 apostles, and by them testified in the Scriptures ; 
 so that the work, which the Father then gave the 
 Son to do, we believe that he fulfilled, according 
 to the Father's will ; and that all things pertain- 
 ing to life and salvation, were fully and perfectly 
 in him ; and that he humbled bimself to the death 
 
 
 
 Jt 
 
 
I 
 
 12 
 
 of tlie cross, and from death did rise again. And 
 we believe that he is the resurrection and the life, 
 and gives eternal life to all that believe in him/ 
 
 In 1671, George Whitehead and William Pemi, 
 published ' A Serious Apology,' in which is this 
 full and explicit declaration of their faith : 
 
 < We do believe in one holy God Almighty, 
 who is an eternal Spirit, the Creator of all things; 
 and in one Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son, and 
 express image of his substance; who took upon 
 him flesh, and was in the world; and in life, doc- 
 trine, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension, and 
 mediation, perfectly did, and does continue to do, 
 the will of God ; to whose holy life, power, 
 mediation, and blood, we only ascribe our sanc- 
 tification, justification, redemption, and perfect 
 salvation. And we believe in one holy Spirit, 
 tliat proceeds from the Father and the Son, a 
 measure of which is given to all to profit with; 
 and he that has one, has all, for those three are 
 One, who is the Alpha and Omega, the first and 
 the last, God over all, blessed for ever. Amen/ 
 
 A^^ain, William Penn, in his * Primitive Chris- 
 tianity,' chap. viii. sect. 4. expresses himself thus: 
 
 'Justification consists of two parts — justification 
 from Ae guilt of sin, and justification from the 
 
 i3 
 
 power and pollution of sin. Tlie first part of 
 justification we do reverently and humbly acknow- 
 ledge, is only for the sake of the death and suffer- 
 ings of Christ; nothing we can do, though by the 
 operation of the Holy Spirit, l?eing able to can- 
 cel old debts, or to wipe out old scores. It is 
 the power and efficacy of that propitiatory ofFer- 
 ing, upon faith and repentance, that justifies us 
 from the sins that are past; and it is the power 
 of Christ's Spirit in our hearts, that purifies aud 
 makes us acceptable before God.* 
 
 Chap. IX, sect. 1. ' Lest any should say 
 we are equivocal in our expressions, and alJe>. 
 gorize away Christ's appearance in the flesh; 
 meaning only thereby our own flesh, and that as 
 often as we mention him, we mean only a mys- 
 tery, or a mystical sense of him, be it as to his 
 coming, birth, miracles, sufferings, death, resur- 
 rection, ascension, mediation, and judgment • I 
 would add, to preserve the well-disposed from 
 being staggered by such suggestions, and to inform 
 and reclaim such as are under the power of pre- 
 judice, that we do (we bless God) religiously be- 
 lieve and confess, to the glory of God the Father, 
 and the honour of his dear and beloved Son, that 
 Jesus Christ t«ok our nature iipo» him^ and wa» 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 i-. 
 
 *■'■ iv 
 
14 
 
 made like imto us in all things, sin excepted ; that 
 he was born of the Virgin Mary; suflFered under 
 Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor; was cruci- 
 fied, dead, and buried in the sepulchre of Joseph 
 of Ariinathea ; rose again the third day, and 
 ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand 
 of God, in the power and majesty «f his Father, 
 ^vho will one day judge the world by him, even 
 that blessed man Christ Jesus, according to their 
 works.' 
 
 In a publication, entitled ' A Testimony to the 
 Truth of God/ William Penn again explains 
 liiniself on this subject. 
 
 * Because ^e press the necessity of people's 
 receiving the inward and spiritual appearance of 
 the divine Word, in order to a right and beneficial 
 application of whatsoever he (Christ) did for man, 
 ^ith respect to his life, miracles, death, suffer- 
 ings, resurrection, ascension, and mediation, our 
 adversaries would have us deny any Christ with- 
 out us; first, as to his Divinity, because they 
 make us to confine him within us ; secondly, as 
 to his humanity, or manhood, because, as he was 
 the son of Abraham, David, and Mary, according 
 to the flesh, he cannot be in us ; and therefore 
 we are heretics and blasphemers. Whereas we 
 
 k 
 
 15 
 
 believe him, according to Scripture, to be the 
 son of Abraham, David, and Mary, after the flesh; 
 and also, God over all, blessed for ever.* 
 
 In the year 1692, William Penn published 
 ' A Key opening the Way to distinguish between 
 the Quakers Religion and Perversions of it;' in 
 which, in answer to the charge, that ' the Qua- 
 kers deny the Trinity,' he replies thus : ' Nothing 
 less. They believe in the Holy Three, or 1 Vi- 
 nity of Father, Word, and Spirit, according to 
 Scripture, and that these three are truly and pro- 
 perly one ; of one nature as well as will : but 
 they are very tender of quitting Scripture terms 
 and phrases for Schoolmen's, such as distinct and 
 separate persons and subsistences, 8ic. from 
 whence people are apt to entertain gross ideas 
 and notions of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.' 
 
 Robert Barclay y the apologist, published in 
 the year 1673, ' A Catechism and Confession of 
 Faith;' in which he treats fully of those points of 
 Christian doctrine here set forth. I shall extract 
 the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th articles, which are, as 
 well as the rest, expressed nearly in the words of 
 Scripture, that they may be the less liable to 
 objection. 
 
 B 2 
 
 V\\ 
 
 
 ;< ;•,' 
 
 f1 
 
 
p 
 
 r 
 
 iS 
 
 ■« Article 4ili. Concerning the Divinity of 
 Christ, and his being from the beginning.* 
 
 Vin the begirrnhig >vas the Word, and the Word 
 iras with God, and the Word was God; the same 
 was in the beginning with God ; all things were 
 made by him, and without him was not any thing 
 made that was made; whose goings forth have 
 been from of old, from everlasting. For God 
 created all things by Jesus Christ, who being in 
 the form of God, thought it no robbery to be 
 equal with Gcd. And his name is called Woa- 
 derful, Counseller, the Mighty God, the Ever- 
 lasting Father, the Prince of Peace, who is the 
 image of the invisible God, the first born of every 
 creature.' 
 
 * Article 5th. Concerning his appearance in 
 the flesh.' 
 
 ' The Word was made flesh ; for he took not 
 on him the nature of angels, but he took on him 
 the seed of Abraham, being in all things made 
 like unto his brethren ; touched with a feeling of 
 our infirmities, and in all things tempted like as 
 we are, yet without sin. He died for our sins, 
 according to the Scriptures, and he was buried, 
 and he rose again the third diiv, according to the 
 Scriptures.' 
 
 f\' 
 
 17 
 
 * Article Gth. Concerning the end and use of 
 that appearance.' 
 
 * God sent his own Son in the likeness of sin- 
 ful riesh ; and, for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. 
 For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, 
 that he might destroy the w orks of the devil ; be- 
 ing manifested to take away our sins. P'or he 
 gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to 
 God, for a sweet smelling savour, having obtaii>ed 
 eternal redemption for us ; and through the eter- 
 nal Spirit, offered himself without sj>ot unto 
 God, to purge our consciences from dead works, 
 to serve the living God. He was the Lamb slain 
 from the foundation of the world. Of him the 
 fathers did all drink, for they drank of that spiri- 
 tual Rock that followed them, and that Kock 
 was Christ. Christ also suft'ered for us, leaving 
 us an example, that we should follow his steps ; 
 for we are to bear about in the body the d^ing of 
 the Lord Jesus, tliat the life also of Jesus might 
 be made manifest in our body; being always de- 
 livered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life 
 also of Jesus might be made manifest in our flesh ; 
 that we may know him, and the power of his 
 resurrection, being made conformable unto his 
 death.* 
 
 B 3 
 
 M 
 
I 
 
 18 
 
 < Article 7lb. Concerning the inward raani- 
 ffcstatiou of Christ.' 
 
 < God dwelleth with the contrite antl humble 
 5n spirit; for he hath said, lie will dwell in them, 
 and walk in them ; and Christ standeth at the 
 door and knocketh: if any man hear his voice, 
 and open the door, he will come into him, sup 
 Mith him, and he with Him. Therefore ought 
 ^ve to examine our ownselves, knowing how that 
 Christ is in us, except we are reprobates. For 
 this is the riches of the glory of the mystery, which 
 God would make known among the Gentiles, 
 Christ witliin, the hope of glory.' 
 
 In the conclusion of this publication, R. B. 
 shows the errors of various religious denomiua- 
 tions, a«d speaking of the Sociiiians, he manifests 
 clearly his disapprobation of their denial of the 
 Divinity of Christ.— His words are, * Among the 
 Protestants, I know the Soclnians are great pre- 
 tenders to the Scriptures, and in words as much 
 exalt them as any other people ; and yet it is 
 strange to see how, that not only in many things 
 they are not agreeable to them, but in some of 
 their chief pruiciples quite contrary ; as in their 
 flcnying the Divniitv of Christ, which is as ex- 
 presslv mentioned as any thing can be : And the 
 u^ord 'zi-as God, John U as also in denying his 
 
 19 
 
 being from the beginning, against the ver>^ tenor 
 of that of John 1 . and divers others, as at lar« e is 
 shewn in the third chapter of this treatise. 
 
 In his Apology, when treating on the light or 
 Spirit of Christ, Prop. v. and vi. S. lo. he ex- 
 presses himself thus: * We do not hereby intend 
 any way to lessen or derogate from the atonement 
 and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but on the contrary 
 do magnify and exalt it. For as we believe all 
 these things to have been certainly transacted 
 which are recorded in the Holy Scriptures con- 
 cerning the birth, life, miracles, suft'erings, resur- 
 rection, and ascension of Christ ; so we do also 
 believe, that it is the duty of every one to believe 
 it, to whom it pleases God to reveal the san)e, 
 and to bring them to the knowledge of it. As 
 we firmly believe it was necessary, that Christ 
 should come, that bv his death and sufferinsfs he 
 niiiiht offer himself up a sacrifice to God for our shis, 
 ^^l)o his ownself bare our sins in his own body on 
 the tree, so we believe that the remission of 
 sins which any partake of, is only in and by virtue 
 of that most satisfactory sacrifice, and no other- 
 wise ; for it is ly the obedience of one that the 
 free gift is come upon all to justification.' 
 
 After the foregoing quotations from the writ- 
 ings of our ancient Friends, I shall give a fow 
 
20 
 
 extracts from our later Nvrlters, to manifest that 
 U.e principles of the Society have undergone uo 
 change in this important subject. 
 
 In the year 1723, Thomas Beaten published 
 ' An Essay concerning the Restoration of pri- 
 mitive Christianity.' In chap. 2d, he thus ex- 
 presses himself: 
 
 ' God did, upon the fall and disobedience of 
 man, inform him of a Saviour, as is generally 
 understood by these words, viz. " 1 will put 
 enmity between thee (the serpent) and the woman, 
 and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise 
 thy head." Which seed, here called the seed of 
 the woman, (because, as concerning the flesh in 
 the fulness of time, Christ was to be born of a 
 woman) did doubtless then exist, when this pro- 
 mise was made, and had done so, as to his Di- 
 vinity, from eternity.' 
 
 « In due time this seed took flesh in the womb 
 of the virgin Mary, according to the Scripture; 
 -nas born in Bethlehem in the land of Judea ; did 
 many mighty miracles among live Jews, to con- 
 vince them that he was the promised Messiah^ 
 whose coming they were then in fidl expectation 
 ef J lived a most exemplary life ; tauj^ht a most 
 
 «y 
 
 excellent and heavenly doctrine, recorded bv the 
 four evangelists; submitted to the shameful death 
 of the cross, to make atonement and propitiation 
 for the sins of the whole world. He was buried, 
 anvl on the third day rose again from the dead, 
 according to the Scriptures; and Avas conversant 
 with his d' iciples about forty days, concerning the 
 things of jod, and the great work he had for 
 them to do in this world. Then he was taken up 
 into heaven ; and set at the right hand of God the 
 Father, where he ever liveth to make intercession 
 for them that eome unto God by him ; by whom 
 God will judge the world in righteousness, in the 
 day he hath appointed, when all that are in the 
 graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, 
 they that have done good lujto the resurrection of 
 life, aixi they that have done evil, to the resurrec-" 
 tion of condemnation/ 
 
 In the years 1730, 1731, and 1732, Alexander 
 jfrscott published, in three paits, ' Considerations 
 of the present State of tlie Christian Religion/ 
 fix)m which the following extract is made : 
 
 ' Christ, the author of the Christian Religion, 
 is to be considered under a two-fold character ;^ 
 as man, who was born of the virgin Mary, suf- 
 fered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; dead. 
 
 !.:l 
 
 ■* i 
 
 tM 
 
 
£2 
 
 ana buried ; and, as God, in which sense he was in 
 the beginning, before all worlds, and is called m 
 Scripture, Uie Word, the Wisdom, and Power ot 
 God. In the first sense he was, and is, outward; 
 in the last, he fills all things, and is present every 
 >vhere ; more especially, considered in that rela- 
 tion he bears to mankind, as their Saviour and 
 sanctifier, is present in the hearts of men, to 
 quicken and enlighten them for their assistance 
 in the work of repentance, conversion, sanctiiicar 
 tion, regeneration, and complete salvation/ 
 
 ' And as what Christ did and suffered for man- 
 kind, was necessary, by the appointment of God 
 the Father, for their reconciliation to him, not- 
 withstanding their sins and trespasses against him; 
 so his presence with them and hi them, is as ne- 
 cessary for their overcoming sin, and bringmg 
 them into a state of holiness and acceptance with 
 him ; and this last is as truly a part of the Chris- 
 tian religion as the first ; and both taken together, 
 make up the whole entire Christian religion ; and 
 therefore when we speak or write of it, we mean 
 that religion which has relation to Christ in both 
 the senses, or else we do not take in the whole 
 idea of it, but a part only.* 
 
 In the year 1773, Joseph Phipps was engaged 
 iu a controversy with a person, who had attacked 
 
 23 
 
 llie principles of the society; and in a publication 
 entitled, * The Original and Present State of 
 Man,' &c. he draws a comparison betwixt the 
 miracles attending the introduction of the le^al, 
 and those of the Christian dispensation. After 
 speaking of the former, he proceeds thus : 
 
 * Accordingly the gracious dispensation of the 
 gospel was introduced by evidences of divine au- 
 thority equally extraordinary, and equally suited 
 to its placid and salutary nature/ 
 
 ' Besides the numerous predictions of the pro- 
 phets concerning the Messiah, the advent of his 
 forerunner the Baptist, and the miraculous con- 
 ception of our Saviour by the blessed virgin, 
 witness the many wonderful works he performed, 
 the unaccountable darkness, and the rendino- of 
 the veil of the temple throughout, from top to 
 bottom, at his giving up the ghost ; his astonishing 
 resurrection, and that of the bodies of buried 
 saints, which arose and went into the city ; and 
 his visible ascension, attended with the glorious 
 ministration of angels. After all this, at the time 
 of the Jewish feast of Pentecost, the apostles and 
 disciples being assembled together, according to 
 the Lord's command, the Holy Ghost gave a two* 
 fold demonstration of its advent; first, by the 
 
 
 »i . ♦^ 
 
 «, 
 
 I'' 
 
 I. 
 
 
 "1 iJ 
 
■S4 
 
 appearance of cloven tongues, as of fire, uliieli 
 sat upon each of them; second, by filling then- 
 hearts vMth the Holy Ghost, to such a degree 
 that they began to speak xvilh other tongues, or 
 in other languages besides their own, as the Spuit 
 cave them utterance. To divers of them were 
 likewise added, the miraculous powers ot heahng 
 all manner of diseases; the dumb were made to 
 speak, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, the 
 blind to see; demoniacs were dispossessed, and 
 the dead were raised and restored to life/ 
 
 I shall now add a few testimonies from the 
 Society more at large, in order to show that we 
 speak the same thing, both collectively and sepa- 
 rately. Hie first is from a paper, entitled ' The 
 Quakers Vindication,' which was presented to 
 the Members of Parliament in 1693; and which 
 contains Uie principles of the Society at this 
 day. 
 
 * We whose names are underwritten, being m 
 Christian Society with the people called Quakers, 
 do, in good conscience, declare, and certify all per- 
 sons concerned : 
 
 « 1st. That we sincerely believe and confess, 
 that Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of tkc 
 
 25 
 
 Virgin Mary, is the true Messiali, the ver/ 
 Christ, the Son of the living God, to whom all 
 the prophets gave witness. And we do highly 
 value his death, sufferings, works, offices, and 
 merits, for the redemption and salvation of man- 
 kind, together with his laws, doctrines, and mi- 
 nistry. 
 
 * 2. That this very Christ of God was and is 
 tjie Son of God, that takes away the sins of tii.e 
 world ; who was slain and is alive, and lives for 
 evermore, in his divine, eternal glory, domiuion, 
 ;jnd power, with the Father.. 
 
 ^ And we know of no other doctrine or prin- 
 ciples preached, maintained, or ever received 
 among or by us, since we were a people, con- 
 trary to these aforesaid. 
 
 * Signed on behalf of the said people by 
 thirty-one Friends.' 
 
 The following are some advices, which were 
 issued by the Yearly Meeting in London, in 
 17-8 and 1732. There are several otliers from 
 the said meeting, of the same tendency. 
 
 1728. ' Inasmuch as the Holy Scriptures 
 are the external means of conveying and preserv- 
 ing t« iis^ ajLi aqcQUOt of the things mo^t surely to be 
 
 c 
 
 1 
 
 \ *^ 
 
 t-: 
 
26 
 
 believed, concemhig the coming of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ in the flesh, and the fulhlliiig of the 
 prophecies relating thereto; we therefore recom- 
 mend to all IViends, especially elders in the 
 church and masters of families, that tli^y would, 
 both by example and advice, impress on the 
 minds of the younger, a reverent esteem of those 
 sacred writings, and advise them to a frequent 
 reading and meditating therein ; and that you 
 -would, at proper seasons, give the youth to un- 
 :derstand, that the same good experience of the 
 work of sanctification, through the operation of 
 the Spirit of God, which the Holy Scriptures 
 plentifully bear testimony to, is to be witnessed 
 by believers in all generations, as well as by those 
 in the first ages of Christianity. And this we re- 
 commend as the most effectual means of begetting 
 and establishing in their minds a firm belief of the 
 Christian doctrine in general, as well as the neces- 
 sity of the help of the opeiations of the Holy 
 Spirit of God in the hearts of men in particular, 
 contaiiied in that most excellent book the Bible ; 
 and for preserving tliem from being defiled with 
 the many pernicious notions and principles, con- 
 trary to such sound doctrine, which are at this 
 time industriously dispersed in the nation, to the 
 reproach of the Christian profession in general.' 
 
 27 
 
 In 1732. ' Bear friends, we tenderly and 
 earnestly advise and exhort all parents and masters 
 of families, that lliey exert themselves in the v\ is- 
 dom of God, and in the strength of his love, to 
 instruct their children and families iu the doctrines 
 and precrnts of the Christian religion, contained 
 in the Holy Scriptures; and that they excite Uiem 
 to the diligent reading of those sacred writings ; 
 which plainly set forth the miraculous conception, 
 birth, holy life, wonderful work^, blessed exam- 
 ple, meritorious death, and glorious resurrection, 
 ascension, and mediation of our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ ; and to educate their children 
 in the belief of those important truths, as well as 
 in the belief of the inward manifestation and opera- 
 tion of the Spirit of God upon their own minds ; 
 that they may reap the benefit and advantage 
 thereof, for their own peace and everlasting hap- 
 pmess, which is preferable to all other consi- 
 derations. We therefore exhort in the most 
 earnest manner, that all be very careful in this 
 respect, a neglect herein beuig in our judgment 
 very blame-worthy.' 
 
 A publication was lately issued by the direc- 
 tion of the Meeting for Sufferings ; m hich meeting 
 is composed of Friends appointed by all the 
 Quarterly Meetings in the kingdom. The book. 
 
 c 2 
 
£8 
 
 IS entitled, ' A Summary of the History, Doctrine, 
 and Discipline of Friends/ In this work are tht 
 following passages : 
 
 i 
 
 * We agree with other professors of the 
 Christian name, in the belief of One Eternal God, 
 the Creator and Preserver of the Universe ; and 
 in Jesus Christ his Son, the Messiah and Media- 
 tor of the new covenant.' 
 
 ' When we speak of the gracious display of 
 the love of God to mankind, in the miraculous 
 conception, birth, life, miracles, death, resurrec- 
 'tion, and ascensifin of our Saviour, we prefer the 
 j^ise of such terms as we fnid in Scripture; and, 
 contented ^ ith that knowledge which divine wis- 
 dom has seen meet to reveal, we attempt not to 
 explain those mysteries which remain under the 
 veil; nevertheless we acknowledge and assert the 
 Divinity of Christ, who is the wisdom and power 
 of Ggd unto salvMion/ 
 
 To the preceding written testimonies of this 
 people, on their faith in our Lord and Saviour, 
 Jesus Christ, it may be proper to add a few from 
 the dying expressions of persons, who were mem- 
 Ijers of the Society. 
 
 John AVoolman, of New Jersey in America, 
 vhp has rendered his name famous as a friend to 
 
 the African race and an enemy to slaverj', visited 
 England in the year 1772, and died at York of 
 the small pox*. Among many religious obser- 
 vations made by him, during his illness, he ex- 
 pressed himself thus, about two days before his 
 decease : ' My dependence is on the Lord Jesus, 
 who I trust will forgive my sins, which is all I 
 hope for; and if it be his will to raise up this 
 body again I am content, and if to die, I am 
 resigned.* 
 
 Sarah Grubb, wife of Robert Grubb of 
 Clonmell, in Ireland, died in 1790. Having 
 lately returned from a journey on the continent 
 of Europe, she wrote thus to a friend, four days 
 before her decease : ' My soul, though encomr 
 passed with the manifold infirmities of a very 
 afflicted tabernacle, can feelingly worship, and 
 rejoice in nothing more than this, that the Lamb im-* 
 maculate is still redeeming, by his precious blood, 
 out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; 
 and making a glorious addition to the church tri- 
 umphant, whose names will stand eternally re- 
 corded in the book of life. I express not these 
 things from a redundancy of heavenly virtue, but 
 from the soul sustaining evidence, that amidst all 
 
 • See an account of him in Clarkson's History of the 
 Abolition of the Slave Trade. 
 
 \A 
 

 30 
 
 our weakness and conflicts of flesh or spirit, an in- 
 terest is mercifully granted in lliniy \\\\o givelh 
 victory over death, liell, and the grave.' 
 
 Job Thomas, of Wales, died in the year 
 1807. He had been about 10 years affected with 
 a disorder in the spine, brought on by a fall. His 
 pains were often excruciating; but he bore them 
 with remarkable patience. On the day of his 
 death he expressed himself thus : ^ The blessed 
 hour is approaching, and before the close of this 
 day, I shall safely arrive where there is neither 
 toil nor trouble. Sorrow not for me; I have 
 bope in his mercy who has washed me in that 
 fountain which is set open for the house of David 
 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; not throui;h 
 mine own righteousness, but through tlie righ- 
 teousness of the crucified Immanuel, who died 
 for the sins of all mankind. I am going to end- 
 less joys; there I shall have to praise him, who 
 enabled me patiently to endure the inexpressible 
 pain wherewith this poor body has been afflicted/ 
 
 I shall conclude these quotations and refe- 
 rences with tlie following Hymn, which was writ- 
 ten about the year 1740, by Elijah Waring, of 
 Wiiuey, ni Oxfordshire, a minister in our Society. 
 It is entitled. 
 
 31 
 
 iyivine Lote commemoratea. 
 
 Who can fathom the redeemin» 
 
 Act of universal love? 
 Human thought, though ever teeming, 
 
 Yet will insufficient prove. 
 
 Jloly Angels, ever lauding 
 
 Of the great and wond'rons scheme; 
 Seraphs, hymning and applauding, 
 
 Never can exhaust the theme. 
 
 Oh the height and depth surprising! 
 
 Oh the length and breadth, how grca^ * 
 Generations, past and rising, 
 
 Will the bliss parUcipate. 
 
 Sure the Father's love was burning, 
 To poor lost and helpless man. 
 
 Anxious for his safe returning, 
 Laid the mediatorial plan. 
 
 Nor less was, our Saviour's merit, 
 
 Who severe obedience paid ; 
 Died t' obtain the Holy Spirit, 
 
 For his creature's helj) and aid. 
 
 Now above makes intercession. 
 
 That the penitential mind, 
 Who makes unreserv'd confession. 
 
 And reforms, may pardon find. 
 
 Wretched man ! if such caressing 
 Work not on thy brutal heart ; 
 
 If thou spurn'st the heavenly blef 
 Thou in it wilt have no part. 
 
 % 
 
 n 
 
 
 ■'0 
 
Blame thy conduct, charge not heaven i 
 On thy head thy blood will lie. 
 
 Ev'ry help to thee is given, 
 Suiting man's free agency. 
 
 Do not, for a moment's pleasure. 
 Forfeit this, thy dear bought right. 
 
 To the joy and endless treasure, 
 That the gospel brought to hght. 
 
 Use thy reason ; grace assisting 
 
 Ev'ry facnlty within ; 
 Thou shalt know a brave resisting, 
 
 All the deadly pow'rs of sin. 
 
 Taste religion's chaste embraces ; 
 
 Faith with genuine works adorn; 
 "Virtue has eternal graces. 
 
 Fresh and blooming ev'ry mom. 
 
 All her joy's beyond expressing ; 
 
 Peace, that yields a golden crop ; 
 She's in life the greatest blessing, 
 
 And, in death, the grateful drop. 
 
 Wing thy sonl, and qualify her 
 For the converse held above ; 
 
 Dip thy tongue, and join the choir, 
 In melodious strains of love. 
 
 Utterly disclaiming merit. 
 Praise the Father and the Sod, 
 
 Jointly with the Holy Spirit ; 
 An eternal Three in One. 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 HOLY SCRIPTURES; 
 
 CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF 
 
 RELIGIOUS AND MORAL INSTRUCTIOX. 
 
 rnOPER TO BE COMMITTED TO MEMORY 
 
 By YOL'NG persons. 
 
 CompUcd hij HESRV TUKE. 
 
 Train up a child in the way he should go. /Vor. xxii. 6, 
 
 THIRD KDITION. 
 
 YORK: 
 
 PRINTED FOR W. ALEXANDER, AND SOLD BY HIM 
 SOLD ALSO DY DAUTON, HARVEY, AND CO.; 
 VV. PHILLIPS; W. DARTON, JUN. ; AND 
 LONGMAN AND CO. LONDON. 
 
 Printed by C. Peacoci, York, 
 
 1814. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 QEtitejeo at ^tationenai' I^alt 
 
 1 HE propriety of early impressing tlie human mind wiiU 
 religious and moral truths, is so generally admitted, as to 
 render it unnecessary to say much on the subject ; and 
 though an immediate benefit may not always arise from 
 committing these truths to memory, yet it may be com- 
 pared to the sowing of seed, wliich is expected to produce 
 fruit at a future season ; or, to use a scripture metaphor, to 
 casting bread upon the waters, which will be found after 
 Ejany days. 
 
 Tlie compiler of thfs work is aware of some advantngcp, 
 which arise from the catechetical mode of instruction above 
 that which is here used ; but several considerations have 
 induced him to adopt a simple declaration from the hii:h 
 authority of tlie Holy Scriptures. These declaration^ are 
 not likely to be controverted by Christians, and those given 
 in this work are generally, if not wholly, such whose meaning 
 is simple and obvious. Besides, questious should be put by 
 persons in some degree competent to explain the subject, 
 r.ud whose principles and ciinduct are not inconsistent with 
 it. This is not always the case with parents uiid otliers who 
 liave the education of children, and who, notwithstanding 
 Iheir own defects, may be desirous tliat the yuuth under 
 
 A 2 
 
 W 
 ^ 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 their care should be properly instructed. Some parents also 
 are so diffident of tlieir own qualifications, as to shrink from 
 the mode of instruction by question and answer ; and there 
 are some children, to wJiom a more direct mode of instruction 
 is better adapted. From these considerations, the compiler 
 1ms been induced to adopt this mode of conveying instruction; 
 but lie, by no means, wishes to discourage the other by 
 question ?nd answer, which, when properly conveyed, must, 
 lie conceives, in general, leave a more lasting impression on 
 the youthful mind. 
 
 in composing this work, care has been taken to select such 
 .passages as appeared most appropriate to the subject, though 
 in the large choice which the scriptures afford, the selection 
 has sometimes been difficult. In a very few instances it has 
 heen thought proper, for the sake of perspicuity, to deviate a 
 little from the words of the text; but these instances are very 
 few, and, in no case, has the sense been intentionally altered, 
 or the passage appUed cuutrary to its original meaning. 
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 through the uhole, as much as the diHerent subjects would 
 permit. The division into short Chapters, with the 
 sentences numbered, it is supposed, will make it more easy 
 to remember the passages contained in this compilation. 
 
 But though the committing of eoeh sentence to memory, 
 is the design of the compiler, yet there may be some children, 
 to whom this would be so difficult, as to form special cases 
 of exception to the general plan. With regard to such 
 children, a frequent and attentive perusal may best acconn 
 plish the object of the work ; which is, to instil into the 
 youthful mind feelings of piety towards God, and of benevo<' 
 lence towards man ; and to inculcate the practice of those 
 virtues which make us useful and respectable in this life, and 
 fit us for an inheritance hereafter " among all them who are 
 lanctified." 
 
 A 5 
 
 I 
 
 It will probably be noticed, that a gradation is generally 
 observed in treating tlie different subjects: for instance, in 
 Chapter I. after the existence of God, and the creation of all 
 things by Uim, his uuity, spirituaUty, eternity, and other 
 attributes are pointed out ; and a similar order is observed 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Preface. 
 Cbapter 1.) Conceruioff Gad. 
 
 ConcerniDg Christ. 
 
 3.1 
 
 d. 
 6. 
 7. 
 
 18. 
 19. 
 
 20. 
 
 Coocerning the Holy Spirit. 
 CoDcerning the Sciiptnres. 
 Concerning a ftitnrc State with R^ 
 ward* and Puoislimeiitt. 
 
 Rt^ligioos Principles and Di^tiff. 
 
 Moral Principles and Dutief, 
 
 Precepts peculiar to Yonng Perso'iBu 
 Enconragements to UeligioD ai)^ 
 
 Virtne. 
 Tlie Ten Commandmcotf^ 
 The Beatitndes. 
 The Lord's Prayer, 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES, &e. 
 
 <: 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 CONCERNING OOD. 
 
 ^* He tbat created all things is God. Heb. iiii 4. 
 
 2. The Loi-d our God' is one Lord. Deut, vi. 4. 
 
 3. God is a Spirit. John iv. 24. 
 
 4. Before the mountains were brought fortli, or 
 ever thou hadst formed the earth and the'world; 
 even from everlasting to everlasting^ thou art God. 
 
 Psalm xc. 2.. 
 
 5. The work of GckI is perfect, for all his ways 
 are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, 
 just and right is He. Deiit, xxxii. 4. 
 
 6. Tlie Lord is a God of knowledge, and by 
 him actions are weighed. - 1 Sam, il. 3. 
 
 7. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and 
 not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret 
 places, that 1 should not see him ? Do not I fill 
 heaven and earth, saith the Lord ? Jer.xxiii.23,£4« 
 
 8. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. ' 
 
 Rev. xix. 0» 
 A 4 
 
8 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FROM 
 
 9. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in 
 power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. 
 
 Nahum i. 3. 
 
 10. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and 
 hoi}' in all his works. Psalm cxlv. ] 7. 
 
 ] 1 . "^riie Lord is good to all, and his tender 
 mercies are over all his works. Psalm cxlv. 9. 
 
 12. Thy mercy, O Lord! is in the heavens, and 
 •thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds; thy 
 righteousaess is like the great mountains ; thy 
 judgments are a great deep. Psalm xxxvi. 5, G. 
 
 * 
 
 ♦the holy scripture??. <} 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 . 1. The Most High rulelh in the kingdom of 
 men, aud giveth it to whomsoever he will. 
 
 Dan. iv. 17, 
 
 2. He is the Governor among the nations. 
 
 Psalm xxii. 28. 
 
 3. The very hairs of our head are all numbered 
 l^y^^"^'} Matt. X. 30. 
 ^ 4. How excellent is thy loving kindness, O 
 Cod! therefore the children of men put their trust 
 under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm xxxvi. 7. 
 
 o. O Lord! thou pjeservest man and beast.- 
 
 Psalm xxxvi. 6. 
 
 6. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; 
 and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm cxlv. 3. 
 
 7. Canst ihou by searching iind out God? Canst 
 thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Job xi. 7. 
 
 8. O die depth of tlie riches, both of the wis- 
 dom and knowledge of GoA : how unsearchabU 
 are his judgments, and his ways past finding out. 
 
 Horn. xi. 33. 
 
 9. Who is like unto thee, O Lord! who is like 
 thee ; glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doiuor 
 
 '^^"^^"- iviW. XV. } r. 
 
 10. Great and marvQllous are thy xvorks, I^rd, 
 God Almighty! just aud true are thy ways, thou 
 King of Saints ! j^,^. ^^^ 3^ 
 
 1: 
 
I. 
 
 10 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FRO^ 
 
 *rHE HOIT 5CEIPTURE9, 
 
 ii 
 
 CIUPTER in. 
 
 CONCERNING CHRIST. 
 
 1. God, who at sundry times, and in divers 
 manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by 
 the prophets ; hath in these last days spoken unto 
 us by. his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of 
 all things ; by whom also he made the worlds. 
 
 Heb: i. 1, 2. 
 
 C. God so loved the world that he gave his only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 
 should uot perisli, but have everlasting life. 
 
 Johrt iii. \G, 
 
 3. His name is called, the Word of God. 
 
 Hev. xix. \3. 
 
 4. In the beginning was the Word, and the 
 AVord was with God, and xhe word was Goii: the 
 same was in the beginning with God. John i. 1,2. 
 
 5. AH things were made by him, and wiihont 
 hiiu v\as not any thmg made that was made. lu 
 Imn was life, uud the lite was the light of men. 
 
 John i. 3, 4. 
 
 6. The Word was made flesh and dwelt anjong 
 us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the 
 only begotteu of the Father,, full of grace and 
 truth. John i. 14. 
 
 7. As by one man's disobedience many were 
 Siade sinners, so, by the obedience of one, shall 
 msdi^ he made righteous. lio^fn* v. 19* 
 
 8. As in Adam alt ^aCj even so in Girist shall 
 .all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 22. 
 
 9u It behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise 
 from the dead the third day ; and that repentance 
 and remission of sins should be preached in his 
 name among all nations. Luke xxiv. 40, 47- 
 
 10. When he ascended up o» high, he led cap- 
 tivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ephes. iv. 8, 
 
 11. To this end Christ both died, and rose, atid 
 revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead 
 and living. Rom. xiv. 9* 
 
 12. This is life eternal i to know thee, the only 
 ttoiie God^ and J«&U9 Chfist whom thou hast sent. 
 
 John xvix. Iff 
 
 »«..- .i- 
 
 "1 
 
 ■j» '"■.»■ 
 
 a1 
 
v 
 
 IS 
 
 SELECT. PASSAQES FRCUI 
 
 
 CHAPTER IF, 
 
 THE SAM-E SUBJECT. 
 
 t 
 
 1. This is a faithful saying, and wortliy of all 
 acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world 
 to save sinners. 1 Tun. i. 15. 
 
 C. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to 
 liiinself. 2 Cor. y. 19. 
 
 3. For this purpose the Son of God was ma- 
 nifested, that he might destroy the works of the 
 devil. , / 1 Jofin iii. 8. 
 
 4. Jesus Christ gave himself for iis, that Ixj 
 inight redec^m ns from all iniquity, and purify unto 
 himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 
 
 Titus n. 14. 
 
 6. There is one Mediator between God and 
 men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. ii. 5, 
 
 6. If any man sin, we have an advocate with 
 the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; and he is 
 the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours 
 only, but also for tlie sins of the whole world. 
 
 1 John ii. I, C. 
 
 7. He is able to save them to the uttermost that 
 come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to 
 «iake intercession for them. Jhb. vii. Ci>. 
 
 piE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 1« 
 
 8. Such a High Priest became us, who is holy, 
 harmless, undctiled, separate from sinners, and 
 made higher than the heavens. Heb. vii. 26. 
 
 9. Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself 
 for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a 
 sweet smelling savour. Ephes. v. 2. 
 
 10. Unto him that loved us, and washed us 
 from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us 
 Eings and Priests unto God; to Him be glory and 
 dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. i. 5, 6. 
 
 ■if 
 
 J i ♦II 
 
14 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FROi» 
 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT/ 
 
 i. What man knovveth the things of a^ man, 
 save the spirit of a man which is in him ? even so 
 the thmgs of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit 
 ofGodr 1 Cor. ii. W. 
 
 2. We have received* not the spirit of the 
 world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we 
 might know the thmgs that are ffeely given to us 
 
 liV^God. ^ <^«''- "• ^^• 
 
 3. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he 
 is none of his. ^o/w. viii. g. 
 
 4. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to 
 every man to profit withaU 1 Cor. xii. ?• 
 
 5. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, 
 -they are the sons of God. Uo^n, viii. 14. 
 
 6. The Spirit helpeth our infinniiies. 
 
 Rom. viii* 26. 
 
 7. We kaovv not what we should pray for as 
 we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession 
 
 for u J ^^^''- ^"»- -^^• 
 
 8. God hatli sent forth the Spirit of his Sou 
 into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. GaL iv. 6. 
 
 9. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the 
 lusts of the tiesh. Gfl/. v. lO. 
 
 10. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
 long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 
 liesl, temper^ance : against such [things] there i^ 
 ^o law. Ca/. V. C<2, 23. 
 
 THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 CUAVTER VI. 
 
 15 
 
 CONCERNING THE SCR^PTURES. 
 
 1. The holy scriptures are able to make wise 
 unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ 
 
 Jesus. 9, Tim. iii. 15. 
 
 9,. Whatsoever things were written afore-timc 
 were written for our learnins:, that we, through 
 patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might 
 have hope. Rom. xv. 4, 
 
 3. All these things are written for our admo« 
 nititw, upon whom the ends of the world are 
 come. 1 ior. x. 11* 
 
 4. Prophecy came not in old time by the will 
 of man, but holy men of God spake as they were 
 moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter i. 21. 
 
 5. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 
 and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
 correction, for instruction iu righteousness. 
 
 2 Tim. iii. Kj. 
 
 6. In the epistles of Paul are some things hard 
 to be uuflerstood, which they that arc unlearned 
 and unstable wrest, as they do also the other 
 scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter \\\. 1 6. 
 
 7. I'he statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing 
 the h^art; the judgments of the Lord are true and 
 
 righteous altogether. 
 
 Psalm xix. 8, 9* 
 
 8. Teach me, O Lord I the way of thy statutes, 
 and I shall 4eep it unto tlie end. Paa/m cxix. 33* 
 
I? 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FROM 
 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 CONCERNING A FUTURE STATE, WITH REWARDS 
 AND PUNISHMENTS. 
 
 1. The dust shall return to the earth as it was, 
 and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 
 
 Eccks. xii. 7. 
 
 2. God shall bring every work into judgment, 
 with every secret thing, whether it be good, or 
 whether it be evil. Eccies. xii. 14. 
 
 3. God will render to every man according to 
 bis deeds. Horn, ii. G. 
 
 4. To them who, by patient continuance iu 
 well-doing; seek for glory, and honour, and im- 
 mortality, [will be given] eternal life; but unto 
 them that are contentious, and do not obey the 
 truth, but obey unrighteousness ; — indignation, 
 and wrath. Rom, ii. 7, 8. 
 
 5. This corrruptlble must put on incorruption, 
 and this mortal must put on inmiortalily. 
 
 1 Cur, XV. 53, 
 
 6. Life and immortality arc brouuht to li^ht 
 through the gospel. i Tim, i. 10. 
 
 7. We know that if our earthly house of this 
 tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of 
 
 God, a house not made with hands, etenial iu 
 the heavens. n Qqj.^ y^ i^ 
 
 ^THE HOLY SCaiPTURE^. 
 
 .17 
 
 8. Blessed are thev that do his commandments, 
 that they may have right to the tree of life, and 
 may enter in through the gates into the city. 
 
 Rev, xxii. 14. 
 
 9. The city hath no need of the sun, neither of 
 the moon, to shine in it ; for the glory of God 
 doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 
 
 Rev, xxi. 23. 
 
 10. There shall in no wise enter into it, any 
 thing that defileth, that worketh abomination, or 
 maketh a lie ; but they who are written in the 
 Lamb's book of life. Rev, xxi. 27* 
 
 *l 
 
IS 
 
 4ELECT PASSAOES FROU 
 
 THE HOLT SCRIPTURES. 
 
 IS 
 
 ■(. 
 
 ft' 
 
 CHAPTER Fill. 
 
 BELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES AND DUTIES. 
 
 1. All have sinned and come short of the glory 
 of God. Rom, iii. 0,3, 
 
 2. If we say that we have not sinned, we deceive 
 ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John i. 8, 10.. 
 
 3- Repent ye and be converted, that your sins 
 may be blotted out. Jvts iii. 39« 
 
 4. Bring forth fruits meet for repentance; 
 
 Matt. iii. 8. 
 
 5. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and 
 just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
 all unrighteousness. I John i. Q. 
 
 6. Except ye be converted, and become as little 
 children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven. ' Matt, xviii. 3- 
 
 7. Not by works of righteousness which we 
 have done, but according to his mercy he saved 
 us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing 
 of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on us abun- 
 dantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour* 
 
 Titus iii. 5, Q^ 
 
 8« Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are jus- 
 tified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the 
 Spirit of our God. I Cor. vi. Li* 
 
 p. The grace of God that bringeth salvation 
 hath appeared to all men ; teaching us, that deny- 
 ing ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live 
 fioberly, righteously, and godly in this present 
 world. Titus il I] y\2. 
 
 10. By grace ye are saved through faith ; and that 
 not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God. Ephes, iu B. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 1. Without faith it is impossible to please Gocft 
 
 Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 5. He that cometh unto God must believe that He 
 is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently 
 seek him. Heb, xi. 6. 
 
 3. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
 the evidence of things not seen. Heb, xi. 1. 
 
 4. The just shall live by faith.. Rom. i. 17- 
 
 5. This is the work of God, that ye believe on 
 him whom he hath sent. J(^in vi. QQ. 
 
 6. Ye are the children of God by faith in Christ 
 Jesus. Gal, iii. 26. 
 
 7. Faith without works is dead. James u. ^ 
 
 8. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart : and 
 lean not to thy own understandmg. Prov, iii. .5, 
 
 9> Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, 
 and whose hope the Lord is. Jer. xvii. 7» 
 
 10. Trust ye in the Lord for ever ; for in the 
 J^rd Jehovah is everlasting strength. /5ff,lxyL'4> 
 
20 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FROU 
 
 THE HOtY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 2'1-' 
 
 'i 
 
 I 
 
 l! \ 
 
 CH.4PTER X. 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 1. ^rhe fear of the Lord is the beginning of 
 wisdom. Psalm cxi, 10. 
 
 2. Let all the earth fear the Lord ; let all the 
 
 inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 
 
 Psalm xxxiii. 8. 
 
 3. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
 thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
 might. Deut. vi. 5. 
 
 4. This is the love of God, that we keep his 
 commandments. 1 John v. 3. 
 
 5. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into 
 
 temptation. Matt. xxvi. 41. 
 
 0. Be ye sober, and watch unto prayer. 
 
 1 Peter iv. 7. 
 
 * 7. O, that men would praise the Lord for his 
 goodness, and for his wonderful works to the 
 children of men! Psalm cvii. 8. 
 
 * 8. Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour 
 of his judgments is come; and worship Him that 
 made heaven and earth, the sea: and the fountains 
 of water. Eev. xiv. 7. 
 
 9- Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at 
 
 his footstool ; not forsaking the assembling of 
 
 yourselves together, as the manner of some is. • 
 , ..J Psalm xcix. 5. Heb. x. 25. 
 
 10. Blessing, and glory » and wisdom, and thanks- 
 
 ^ving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto 
 
 our God, for ever and ever. Jiei\ vii. IC* 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 MORAL PRINCIPLES AND DLTIES. 
 
 I. All things whatsoever ye would that men 
 should do to you, do ye even so to them. 
 
 Matt. vii. 12. 
 
 ^. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither 
 
 ^^^^' Levit, XIX, IS. 
 
 3. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in weight, or 
 in measure. Levit. xix. 65. 
 
 4. A false balance is abomination to the Lord; 
 but a just weight is his delight. Prov. xi. 1. 
 
 5. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falselv. nei- 
 ther lie one to another. LevU. xix. 11. 
 
 6. Neither thieves nor extortioners shall inherit 
 the kingdom of God. i Cor. vi. 10. 
 
 7. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but 
 they that deal truly are his delight. Prov. xii. 22. 
 
 8. Put away lying, and speak every man truth 
 to his neighbour. Ep/ies. iv. 25. 
 
 9. What shall be given unto thee, or what shall 
 be done imto thee, thou false tongue ? Ps. cxx. 3. 
 
 10. All liars shall have their part in the lake 
 which burneth with fire and brimstone ; which is 
 the second death. J^er. xxi. 8. • 
 
fL% 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES FROM 
 
 I. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 1. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
 
 Levit, xix. 18. 
 
 2. Love one another viitk a pure heart fer- 
 vently. \ Peter \.Q.<1. 
 
 3. Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merci- 
 £y]^ Tuuke vi. 36. 
 
 4. Have compassion one of another; love as 
 bretliren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter iii. 8. 
 
 o. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, 
 without which no man shall see the Lord. 
 
 ]leb, xii. 14.. 
 
 6. Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, 
 forgiving one another; even as God, for Christ's 
 Bake, hath forgiven you. Ejyhes, iv. 32. 
 
 7. If ye forgive not men their trespasses, nei- 
 ther will your Father who is in heaven forgive yoiir 
 trespasses. Matt. vi. 14. 
 
 6. Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the 
 Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Ps. xli. 1 . 
 
 g. To do good and to communicate forget not; 
 for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 
 
 Ileb, xiii. 10. 
 
 10. Use hospitality one to another without 
 grudging. 1 Peter iv. 9- 
 
 TUE HOLV SCRIPTURES. 
 
 s$ 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 L Do aM things without murmurings and dia- 
 putings. P/iUip, li. 14. 
 
 2. Let nothing be done through strife or vain 
 ^lory, but, m lowlmess of mind, let each esteem 
 others li4ilter than himself. Philip, ii 3. 
 
 3. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty 
 spirit before a fall. Prov. x\i. 18. 
 
 4. Every one that is proud m heai t is an abo- 
 mination to the Lord. Prov, xvi. 5, 
 
 5. Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the 
 •elder; yea, all of you be subject one unto another, 
 and be clothed with humility. 1 Peter v. 5, 
 
 6. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to 
 the humble. Ibid* 
 
 7. Thus saith the high and lofty one, that in- 
 )iabiteth. eternity, and whose name is Holy ; I 
 dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that 
 is of a contrite and humble spirit ; to revive the 
 spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the 
 contrite ones. Isaiah Ivii. 15. 
 
 8. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ; for 
 tnger resteth in the bosom of fools. Eccles. vii. 9. 
 
 9. A meek and (][uiet spirit is in the sight of 
 Cod of great price. 1 Peter iii. 4. 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
24. 
 
 SELECT T>ASSAGES FROM * 
 
 THE HOtY SCRIPTlTBES, 
 
 ft5 
 
 .<5 
 
 10. He will beautify the meek with salvation. 
 
 Psalm cxlix. 4. 
 
 11. The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall 
 delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 
 
 Psalm xxxvii. 1 1 . 
 
 12. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy 
 and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble- 
 ness of mind, meekness, long-suflfering ; forbearing 
 one another, and forgiving one another i even as 
 
 Chrbt forgave you, so also do ye. 
 
 Goloss, iii. 12, 13. 
 
 *1 . !«■ 
 
 CHAPTER XIF. 
 
 THE SAME SUBJECT. 
 
 1 . Whether ye eat or drink, or Whatsoever ye 
 do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. x. 31. 
 
 2. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging ; 
 
 and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 
 
 Prov* XX. 1. 
 
 3. Flee youthful lusts. Keep thyself pnre. 
 
 2 Tim, li. 2^. ' 1 Tim, v. 22. 
 
 4. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 
 
 1 Cor, XV. 3S. 
 
 5. Let no corrupt communication proceed out 
 of your mouth, but that which is good to the use 
 of edifying. Ephes. iv. 29. 
 
 6. Be not slothful in business. Rom. xii. 1 1 . 
 
 7. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her 
 ways and be wise; which having no guide, over- 
 seer, or ruler, provideih her meat in the summer, 
 and gathereth her food in harvest. P/m. vi. 6*, 7, 8. 
 
 8. Take heed and beware of covetonsness ; for 
 a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the 
 things which he possesseth. Jjuke xii. 1.5. 
 
 9. Godliness with contentment is great gain; 
 for we brought nothing into this world, aini it is 
 certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Tim. vi. f), T, 
 
 10. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed 
 me with food convenient for me ; lest I be full 
 and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? or lest I 
 he poor and steal; and take the name of my God 
 i»^ vain, . Pro:i, xx\. 8, 9. 
 
 B 
 
i 
 
 OS SELECT PASSAGES FROlt 
 
 CHAPTER Xr. 
 
 ^RELATIVE MORAL DUTIES. 
 
 1. aildten, obey your parents m the Lord; 
 :for this is right. Ephes,M.l, 
 
 2. A wise son makelli a glad father ; but a 
 
 polish son is the heaviness of his mother. 
 
 Prov» X. 1. 
 
 3. The rod and reproof give Avisdo-m ; but a 
 child left to himself bringeth his mother to 
 shame. P''"^' ^^^"- '^• 
 
 4 Ye fathers, provoke not your children to 
 ^vrath; but bring them up in the nu^ire and ad- 
 inouition of the Lord. EphesM, 4, 
 
 5. Servants, be subject to your masters with all 
 fear ; not only to the good and gende, but also to 
 thefroward. 1 Pe^er ii. 18. 
 
 6. Masters, give unto yoitr Servants that which 
 is just and equal, knowing that ye ^Iso have a 
 Master in heaven. ColossAv. h 
 
 7. Wives, submit ^otirserves to your own has 
 ^|>ands, as it is tit in the Lord. Cohss. iii. IS. 
 
 8. Husbands, love your ^vives, and be not bittci 
 against them. Co/oss. iii. 19> 
 
 ^. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of 
 jnan, for the Lord's sake. 1 Peter ii. 1- 
 
 THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 ^7 
 
 10. Fear thou the Lord and the King; and 
 meddle not with them that are given to change. 
 
 Prov. xxiv. 21. 
 
 11. When the righteous are in authority, the 
 people rejoice J but when th© wicked bear rule,, the 
 people mourn. Prov. xxix. 2. 
 
 12. He that ruleth over men must be just, 
 ruling in the fear of God. 2 Sam* xxiii. 3- 
 
 B 2 
 
 
 J 
 
 'M 
 
 m 
 
£S 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES YJiOU 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 PRECEPTS PECULIAR TO TTOUNG PERSONS. 
 
 1. Remember thy Creator iu the days of Ay 
 youth, while the evil days come not, aor the years 
 draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure 
 in them. Eccles.xu.l. 
 
 2. Rejoice, O young roan, in thy youth ; and 
 let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth ; 
 and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight 
 of thy eyes ; but know thou, that for all these things 
 God will bring thee into judgment. Eccles. xi. 9- 
 
 3. It is good for a man, that he bear the yoke 
 in his youth. ^«'«- ">• ^7. 
 
 4. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his 
 way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy 
 ^yord. Psalm cxix. (H 
 
 5. Exhort young men to be sober-minded. 
 
 I'Uus ii. 5. 
 
 G. Teach the young women to be sober, dis-- 
 creet, chaste, keepers at home, good ; that the 
 Wrd of God be not blasphemed. TUus ii. 4, 5. 
 
 7. Come, ye children, hearken unto me, I will 
 teach you the fear of the Lord. Whit man is he 
 that dosireih life, and loveth many days, that he 
 may see good r Keep thy tongue from evil, ai^ 
 
 THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
 
 S9 
 
 thy lips that they speak no guile; depart from evil 
 and do good ; seek peace and pursue it ; for the 
 eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his 
 ears are open to their prayers. 
 
 Psalm xxxiv. 1 1, S^c. 1 Peter iii. 12, 13. 
 
 8. Thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the 
 God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect 
 heart, and with a willing mind ; for the Lord 
 searcheth all hearts, and undcrstandeth all the 
 imaginations of the thoughts : if thou seek him, he 
 will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he 
 will cast thee .off for ever. 1 Chron, xxviii, 9, 
 
 « JB 
 
 «• 
 
 '^ 
 
 Tji< 
 
^ 
 
 Si;LECT PASSAGES FROM 
 
 CHJPTER XFII. 
 
 THJC UOir SC!UPTURj:$, 
 
 ^tKii 
 
 UKrorRAQEMENTS TO RELIGION AND VIRTVE, 
 
 1. Tlie wajs of wisdom are ways of pleasant- 
 ness ; and all her paths are peace. Prot\ iii. 17. 
 
 % Great peace have they that love thy law; and 
 nothing shall offend them. Psalm cxix. \0o. 
 
 3. A day in thy courts is better than a thousand 
 [elsewhere] : I had rather be a door-keeper in the 
 house of my God, than d\vel1 in the tents of 
 wickedness. -P^^w« Ixxxiv. 10, 
 
 4. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more 
 than in the time when their corn and their wine 
 increased. ^^^^'^ iv. 7- 
 
 5. Light is sown for the. righteous, and gladness 
 for the upright in heart. Psaim xcvii. 11. 
 
 6. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the 
 tabernacle of the righteous. Psalm cxviii. 15. 
 
 7. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, 
 neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of 
 the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no 
 iiveat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and 
 there shall be no herd in the stall; yet I will rejoice 
 in the Lord j 1 will joy in the God of my salva- 
 toB. «a6. fei. 17, >9' 
 
 8. Godliness is profitable unto all things^ having 
 the promise of the life that now is, and of that 
 which is to com#, >JV/». iv. 8. 
 
 9. Peace I leave with you ; n\y peace { giye 
 unto you : not as the world giveth give I unto you : 
 kt not your heart be troubled, neither Jet it be 
 afraid. Jehn xiv. 27, 
 
 10. The peace of God, which passeth all under- 
 standing, shall keep jour hearts aud minds through 
 Christ Jesus. Philip, iv, ?. 
 
 tt 
 
 ■i- 
 
 m 
 
 iii 
 
 •i 
 
'$1^ SELECT PASSAGES FROBI 
 
 CHJPTER XVIJI. 
 
 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS- 
 
 '1. Thou shalt have no other God* before me.. 
 
 a. Thou shalt not make unto thee any grave* 
 image, aor any likeness of any thing that is in hea- 
 ven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that 
 is in the water under Hie earth ; thou shalt not 
 bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, 
 the Lord thy "God, am a jealous God, visiting the 
 iniquity of the fathers upon the children, to the 
 third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 
 and showing mercy unto thousands of Uiem that 
 love me, and keep my commandments. 
 
 3. Thou shait not take the name of the Lord, 
 thy God, in vain : for the Lord will not hold him 
 guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. 
 
 4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. 
 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work ; 
 but the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord, thy 
 God ; in it thou shalt not do any work ; thou, nor 
 thy son, nor thy daughter ; thy man servant, nor 
 thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger 
 that is within thy gates : for in six days the Lord 
 made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in 
 tliem is, and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the 
 Lord blessed the «eventh day and hallowed it. 
 
 THE HOLY SCRirTURES. 
 
 53 
 
 5. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy 
 days may be long in the land which the Lord thy 
 God giveth thee. 
 
 6. Thou shalt not kill. 
 
 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery* 
 
 8. Thou shalt not steal. 
 
 9. Thou shalt not bear false witnestr against thy 
 neighbour. 
 
 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; 
 thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his 
 man servant, nor his maid servant, nor bis ox, nor 
 hrs ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 
 
 £xod* XX. 3/0 17. 
 
 , » 'J. ' J 
 
 t , 
 
 if ■■i 
 
54 
 
 SELECT PASSAGES, &a 
 
 CHATTER XIX. 
 
 THE BEATITUDES. 
 
 1. Blessed are the poor ia spirit; for theirs 19 
 fhc kingdom of heaven. 
 
 2. Blessed are they that mourn ; for they shall 
 be comforted, 
 
 3. Blessed are the nie^k ; for they shall inherit 
 the earth. 
 
 4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness ; for they shall be iilled. 
 
 5. Blesaed are the merciful ; for they shall ob-^ 
 tain mercy* 
 
 6. Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall 
 
 see God. 
 
 7. Blessed are the peacemakers ; for they shall 
 be called the children of God. 
 
 8. Blessed are they w4io are persecuted for 
 jighteousness sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of 
 heaveo. Matt. v. S to 10, 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE lord's prayer. 
 
 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 
 name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in 
 earth, as kt is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we 
 forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us 
 fiot into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for 
 thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for 
 ever. Amen.^ Matt. vi. 9 to 13. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 i» 
 
 HENRY TUKB, 
 
 101 
 
 ^tit! 
 
 fUlllTED FOR tr. ALEXANDER, AMD lOLD 8Y KIM | 
 
 JIOLD ALSO BY 
 
 k. ar. AND E. tTEBB, BRISTOL ; 
 
 ftARTON, HARf BT AND CO. W. PHILLIPI, 
 
 AND W. DARTON, JUN. LONDON. 
 
 1815. 
 
 i 
 
4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ^c. 
 
 Printed by 
 C. PiACOCE, Yofk. 
 
 Tv HEN the ties of nature, and virtuous con- 
 nexions, are dissolved by death, the dissolution is 
 often attended with inexpressible anguish. But 
 how much more deeply distressing, and, in many 
 instances, how overwhelming, would these sepa- 
 rations be, if they were considered as final ; if 
 the connexions were believed to be dissolved for 
 ever ? So mournful a persuasion, whatever degree 
 of obscurity may attend the subject, is not the 
 destitute condition of man. The Divine <^ood« 
 nes8 has permitted us to hope, that if we labour 
 to be faithful u&to death, we shall not only 
 
 A e 
 
 \. 
 
;4 A BiOCRAPHlCAL SKETCH 
 
 receive a crown of life, but be united again, ]» 
 z holy, and spiritual union, in purer and stronger 
 bonds of love, to those who were justly dear to 
 VS in this mortal state. It may therefore -be 
 allowable, in the meantime, frequently to 
 indulge the hope of this spiritual re-union, and 
 to'feel our;hearts influenced by it. Our ,de. 
 parted, pious friends, will not then be wholly 
 lost to us, even in this.life. 
 
 "These considerations, with others which fol- 
 low, appear to warrant the author of this 
 Memoir, in producing some account of the 
 exemplary life of his dear and excellent friend, 
 Jlenry Tuke. To him, indeed, it can be of up 
 consequence. He is far removed from the present 
 transient scene ; and is doubtless lodged in a 
 mansion of eternal peace, where no praises or 
 opiiiiona of men can^ in any degree, affect bim. 
 But to his numerous. relatives and friends, to 
 those who knew and loved him, the review of 
 his well-spent life, the recollection of his amiable 
 
 - OF UENHY TUKE. | 
 
 qyalities, and the- testimonies borne to his many 
 virtues; must prove both interesting and con- 
 solatory, And it may. be hoped^ that, in the 
 breast of every serious reader, the narrative 
 will excite afresh the love of goodness, and a 
 renewed desire to be united to that happy numw 
 b^r, who, through faith and patience, rest from 
 their labourij, and inherit the Divine promises^ ^ 
 
 The subject of this Memoir was bom hi the 
 year 1755, in the City of York, of pious and 
 truly respectable parents. His natural disposi- 
 tion was lively and active. When a boy, though 
 of an affectionate temper, iie was quick of re- 
 sentment, and often fearlessly engaged with his 
 school-fellows in bodily contests. But when 
 the gentle and forbearing principle of religion 
 took possession of his heart, those resentful 
 feelingawere controlled, and brought under due 
 government and direction. His warm and ani- 
 mated temperament, served afterwards to excite 
 in him greater indignation against vice and in- 
 
 A 3 
 
6 A BlOOllPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 justice, and greater zeal and firmness in the 
 pursuit of what he conceived to be right. It 
 was about the thirteenth year of his age, that 
 this decided and happy change appeared in hi» 
 manners and conduct. His mind then received 
 the impressions, which restrained its excesses ; 
 and which, doubtless, afforded him niore tru^ 
 satbfaction than all his former indulgences. 
 
 About his seventh year he was deprived of 
 his mother ; but this loss was, a few years after* 
 wards, eminently supplied by a wise and prudent 
 step-mother, who exercised over him a truly 
 affectionate and parental attention. He was in- 
 deed blessed with the guardianship of discreet 
 and religious parents, who were deeply con- 
 cerned for his improvement and welfare, in 
 every point of view. He possessed also the in- 
 estimable benefit of the society, conversation^ 
 and example, of many friends who occasionally 
 ^ame under his observation ; and particularly of 
 those who were often, in the course of their re- 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. J 
 
 ligious traveh, entertained at his father's house. 
 Such a guarded education, and such privileges, 
 could scarcely fail to impress his youthful and 
 susceptible mind, with pious and virtuous senti- 
 ments; and to qualify him for that Divine in- 
 fluence which is both the source and the support 
 of every religious* attainment. Ground thus 
 prepared, and seed thus early sown, promise, 
 sooner or later, a" precious harvest ; and this 
 fltessing sitteilded the religious labomv bestowed 
 tipon him^' ^ 
 
 He possessed an eicerient understanding; 
 and, when put to school, he made a quick and 
 tegular progress in learning, and became a great 
 favourite vnth his master. Besides the usual 
 attainments of an English education, in a board- 
 ing school kept at Sowerby, near Thirsk, by a 
 Friend of the name of Ellerby, he studied die 
 Latin and Greek languages; and though the ad- 
 vances which he made in these tongues, were 
 not critically extensive, they were of considerable 
 
 A 4 
 
 •t 
 
» 
 
 A BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 use to bim. They made him acquainted with 
 the general principles and construction of lanr 
 guages, and prepared him for investigating more 
 readily the rules and formation of his native 
 tongue. They encouraged him to pursue bis 
 biblical studies ; and enabled bim to prosecute 
 them with greater satisfaction to his own mind, 
 than be could have done without this advantage j 
 and they also qualified bim the better to vindi- 
 cate bis religious sentiments, both in private 
 conference, and in some of bb publications. 
 From the purity of his mind, it appears that 
 these advantages were obtained, without in- 
 curring those taints and corruptions, which are 
 too often the consequence of perusing some of 
 tlie ancient classics, in their imperfect state of 
 purification. 
 
 After be'^ad finished at school, and on the 
 death of his teacher at Sowerby,he kindly under- 
 took to superintend the seminary, for the benefit 
 of the w idow ; and he accordingly continued it 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. Q 
 
 for a short time. This office contributed, doubt- 
 less, in no small degree, to fix his own acquire- 
 ments, and still farther to improve himself : for 
 those attentions which we employ in the instruc- 
 tion of others, naturally sharpen our own powers, 
 and stimulate us to be fully competent to per- 
 form the duties which we h^ve undertaken. 
 
 Whilst he was at Sowerby, he contracted a 
 taste for the study of Physic ; and he employed 
 some of his leisure time in that science. But 
 his father being desirous that he should assist 
 bim in his business, be returned to York, about 
 the fifteenth year of his age; and came again 
 under the care of his parents. He did not 
 hesitate to give up his own inclinations ; and 
 applied himself with resolute diligence to his 
 father's occupation. To relinquish an object 
 which he appears to have had so much at heart, 
 and to do it cheerfully, when he perceived that 
 it did not accord with his father's views and 
 wishes^ was a strong proof of filial obedience ; 
 
 A 5 
 
 1 1 
 
 !l 
 
10 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIT 
 
 and of respect for his superior judgment, con*^ 
 ceming the most eligible mode of his sonV 
 future employment in life. 
 
 But though he steadily pursued his^ father ^ 
 business, he found opportunity, by early rising^ 
 and extraordinary exertion, to mdulge, in ar 
 moderate degree, his turn for literature, and to- 
 retain and extend the classical knowledge he 
 had acquired. Some of the persons with whom^ 
 the nature of his business led him frequently to^ 
 associate, were of a stamp far from being likely 
 to promote, cither his moral or intellectual 
 improvement. And it may reasonably be sup-- 
 posed, that his taste for literature, and his- 
 industrious pursuit of useful knowledge, contri- 
 buted, in no small degree, to elevate his mind 
 above mean and debasing objects, and to preserve 
 him from the contagionof vicious example. This 
 desire of improvement also laid the foundation 
 of his future extensive usefulness in society.— It 
 is proper here to observe, that he possessed great 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 II 
 
 ♦ t 
 
 frankness of disposition, and a great desire to 
 oblige ; so that, during the period of his appren- 
 ticeship, he made himself very agreeable to the 
 domestic circle, being remarkably ready to leave 
 his favourite pursuits, when he could render 
 assistance to any who required and wanted 
 his aid. 
 
 His steady and industrious conduct induced 
 his father, at a proper age, to take him into 
 partnership ; and he continued to prosper, and 
 to grow in his attachment to the best things. In 
 the twenty sixth year of his age, he entered into 
 tlie married state ; and it may be truly said, that 
 he was a faithful and affectionate husband^ and 
 a kind and judicious father, greatly solicitous for 
 the best interests of hi^ children. Their dutiful, 
 and respectful behaviour to him, and to their 
 mother, and their conduct in life, must have 
 been most grateful to his mind j and are striking 
 proofs of his wise and tender guardianship over 
 them. 
 
 I'i 
 
 n 
 
It 
 
 A BIOORAPHICAL SKETClf 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 13 
 
 Fer many years before his decease, his wife 
 had been aflaicted. and confined, under great 
 bodily weakness. But no pressure of his other 
 oncems could interrupt or remit his attentions 
 towards the beloved partner of his bosom. To 
 make her fprnfortable, and to administep to her 
 all the alleviations in his power, he considered 
 not merely as incumbent upon him, but as the 
 di8char<ye of an obligatioa which aflforded him 
 peculiar satisfaction. In the performance of 
 the reli^^ious duties which called him from home, 
 his anxiety on leaving her in so feeble a state of 
 health, was greatly mitigated by the cheerful 
 and cordial manner, in which she met these 
 \iews of his services ; and by the encouragement 
 and promotion of them, which she uniformly 
 and actively afforded. Through life, and even 
 to its latest period, he cherished and manifested 
 great esteem and reverence towardSs his father, 
 who loved and valued him in a high degree. A 
 glreatef proof of this cannot be given than his 
 expressions made a few hours before his decease : 
 
 ^' My dear father," said he, « how 1 have loved 
 and revered thee ! And now we are likely to 
 part. But I am perfectly resigned to the will 
 of my Heavenly Father." 
 
 For the greater part of his life, he was en- 
 gaged in the holy vocation of a minister of the 
 Gospel ; and laboured earnestly, in great iove 
 and humility, to promote the happiness, both 
 here and hereafter, of his fellow creatures. Tlie 
 truly humble and dedicated state of his mind 
 under this engagement, might be shown by ex- 
 tracts from many of his letters : indeed it was 
 evinced by a correspondent life and deportment. 
 But it is particularly manifested by the follow- 
 ing extract from a letter, which he wrote in the 
 latter part of his life, and after he had been many 
 years exercised in the office and labours of a 
 Christian minister. It is, in several respects, a 
 characteristic, and very instructive letter. 
 
 " I do not seem to have much to say, though 
 I have taken up my pen to write thee a letter. 
 
 I 
 
* 
 
 14 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 To tell thee that I love thee is, 1 hope, needless: . 
 I can also say Aat I sympathize with thee, in 
 thy various exercbes from within and without. 
 But thus it behoves some to suffer, that they 
 Hiay be the better qualified to speak a word in 
 due season to the weary traveUer : and, patient- 
 ly undergoing the various dispensations allotted 
 in Infinite Wisdom, may experience them ulti- 
 mately to terminate in the increase of joy and 
 peace, in believing that faithful is He who hath 
 promised, " I will never leave thee nor forsake 
 thee ;" and " who also will do it." 
 
 " I have not been sorry for my little turn out 
 with thee ; though it has increasingly convinced 
 me of my own weakness> which I sometimes 
 think I sensibly feel to grow upon me ; and am 
 ready to indulge the apprehension, that the gift 
 \vill be wholly taken from me. Indeed I never 
 considered it necessarily a gift for life ; and if it 
 should be takpn away without my fault, I believe 
 I should not find it difficult to obtain the same 
 
 0» RBNRY TUKB. 15^ 
 
 fesignation, which i» our duty on other occa- 
 sions ; and to acknowledge, *^ The Lord giveth^ 
 and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name 
 of the Lord." But be this as it may, one thing 
 I find, which to be sure is rather unnatural, that 
 ihe longer I live, the more I am reduced to that 
 state, which breathes the language of, " Lord ! l 
 am a child -" sometimes with an addition like 
 that of, ** I cannot speak ;" though at others^ 
 the more resigned language will prevail : '* Take 
 me, and lead me, where thou wouldest have me 
 to go.** And here I wish to center ; and leave 
 all to Him who doth all things right, and who^ 
 my small experience has taught me, is worthy to 
 be served and obeyed in all things. Mayst thou 
 witness the renewal of thy confidence in Him^ 
 who has put thee forth, and gone before thee ; 
 and who, I doubt not, will continue to make 
 way for diee, as thy eye continues to be single 
 unto Him, who has thus separated thee to his 
 work and service.** 
 
 ) • 
 
le 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 Through the course of his religious life, he' 
 was eiuiDently distirtguished for his love to God 
 and love to men, and for the virtues which flow . 
 from this Divine principle. Few men, even of 
 religious characters, have lived more above the 
 low and selfish propensities of our nature. He 
 not only rejoiced in the religious welfare and 
 progress of his friends ; but he took pleasure in 
 their temporal comforts and accommodations, 
 and the various improvements of tlieir external 
 condition. He was indeed aware of the great 
 danger of riches, and often spoke of them as 
 incentives to self dependence, and forgetfulness 
 of the Bountiful Giver ; yet he knew that the 
 good things of this life, are real blessings, when 
 they are pursued and enjoyed with moderation/ 
 and possessed with humility and gratitude. 
 
 The writer of this Memorial thinks it will h& 
 agreeable to the reader, if he inserts a few traits 
 of the character of this excellent person, whicb 
 were sent to him by his son, at the writers par? 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 A - 
 
 l^» 
 
 ticular request. They relate to a part of the 
 character with which he muat have been most 
 intimately acquainted. And the sentiments of 
 such an informant, concerning a father, whom 
 he so thoroughly knew, and so highly esteemed 
 and loved, will doubtless be perused with pecu- 
 liar interest and satisfaction. 
 
 ^ My dear father was remarkable for simpli- 
 city. He affected nothing. There appeared no 
 fear about him, lest he should seem to be differ- 
 ent from what he really was. His was not an 
 assumed, but a child-like, spontaaeous simpli- 
 city. His modesty too was of the same nature : 
 he was not apt to advance inability, as an excuse 
 for declining any useful undertaking. He was 
 always ready to hear, and consider too, the 
 opinions of persons, whom many, his inferiors 
 in understanding, would have slighted. I have 
 known many instances of his inquiring of, and, 
 listening to, persons of the most humble situa- 
 tions in life 5 and paying great attention to their 
 
H- 
 
 19 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 opinions, vthtn lie thought them correct. I ne- 
 ver heard him use any professiony of humihty ; 
 and I never saw any act, in which pride, or 
 9el&ataae98, WM predominant* 
 
 " He was naturally of a sanguine tempetamettfr' 
 Beligion did not destroy the natiiral <Aaracter, 
 but restricted and sanctified it. He wa» alwaya 
 zealous for good, and earnestly opposed to evil. 
 Against those who espoused the latter, he wa»^ 
 apt to use strong, and sometimes severe expres- 
 sions : but when he was called upon to act to- 
 wards such persons, he was ztt example ol 
 moderation. He was apt to speak quickly off 
 sudden occasions, but was ever ready to hear 
 any one's defence ; and it would have been ex- 
 tremely difficult to have made hkn angry, or to 
 have oflfcndcd him, by any personal attack. I 
 have known him receive, but I never knew himr 
 lesent, a personal reflection, however unjust of 
 severe. Here the power of religion on his mind, 
 was strikingly evinccdv 
 
 i 
 
 IL ' 
 
 'i] 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 19 
 
 " Notwithstanding his warm and ardent dispo- 
 sition, he was not apt to form hasty friendships; 
 and he was remarkable for the steadiness of his 
 attachments, and for the zeal with which he 
 Btudied to serve his friends, both in great, and io' 
 small matters. On subjects of little consequencei* 
 he was frequently inclined to favour and discuss 
 bew opinions : but in matter? of importance, 
 and especially in religion and the interests of his^ 
 country, his prmeiples were decided and steadfast* 
 
 ** Though he was firmly attached to the princi- 
 ples of Christianity, as professed by the Society 
 in which he was educated, yet he did not con* 
 demn those who differed from him. On the 
 contrary, he used to say, that he thought a variety 
 of opinions unavoidable, from the nature of our 
 minds ; that this variety operated usefully ; and 
 that the various parts of the Christian system^ 
 were, by this means, more extensively exempli^ 
 fied : " The human mind," said he once to me^ 
 *' seems not capacious enough, to embrace th# ' 
 fulness of the blessings of the GospeU'' 
 
 < • 
 
 ¥ 
 
 l.f 
 
20 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 *' Id the exercise of the ministerial office^it was 
 evident that he preached his Master, not himself. 
 He used the words of Scripture more than many 
 persons : and his use of them proved that no 
 words are better adapted to arouse the. indiffer- 
 ent, encourage the diffident, strengthen the weak, 
 and comfort the afflicted. He frequently illusr 
 trated very clearly the gr^d, fundamental doc- 
 trines of Christianity^ 
 
 I 
 
 " The last time he addressed his own flock^ he ' 
 began in nearly the following words : " We have 
 God for our father, Jesus Christ for our redeemer 
 and mediator, and the Holy Spirit for our guide 
 and comforter."' In proceeding he dwelt on the 
 various offices of 'Christ ; the efficacy of his 
 Spirit to redeem us from the corruptions of the 
 worid ; and of his sacrifice on the cross to ob-: 
 tain for us eternal life. He^ was always very 
 careful to show the necessary connexion of these 
 two parts of christian doctrine ; and to enforce 
 the imiktion of Christ's life, as the only sUre evi- 
 «tSenC;e of being benefitted by his death. 
 
 <^ HEililY TUKl. 
 
 1B1 
 
 "In bis intercourse with men, he was social 
 and cheerful. The woHd knew notliing of his 
 cares or sorrows ; yet he lived in continual 
 watchfulness arid circumspection. The perfec- 
 tion which he had attained in this exercise^ 
 though not discovered by a common observer, 
 formed one -of the most material traits in iiis 
 character ; and made him more at liberty than 
 many pious persons are, for the common avoca- 
 tioiis of life. Goodness did not, on him, sit un- 
 easily, of by constraint ; it was interwoven in his 
 character. The effect was seen ; but the springs 
 and principles by which it was produced, were 
 concealed from view. 
 
 • f 
 
 '4t 
 
 His conduct towards young persons was par- 
 ticularly ingratiating. He loved even the prattle 
 of infancy; joined freely in the innocent amuse- 
 ments of children ; and took particular pleasure 
 in the conversation of youth. He always loved 
 ^to promote their enjoyments ; and no man could 
 
 make more allowance for their weaknesses. To 
 
£2 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 his own children, he had long been equally the 
 father and the friend. His presence never pro- 
 duced uneasy restraint : they felt him as their 
 most delightful companion, their ablest coun- 
 sellor, and their surest friend. His manners to- 
 wards them were uniformly kind ; and it was his 
 Btudy to encourage their rational pleasures an4 
 pursuits^ 
 
 " He loved them too, when of a proper age, to 
 think for themselves; and though he would 
 sometimes argue with them earnestly, yet he 
 never resented their retaining their own opinion ; 
 hut would often speak of it with pleasantry. 
 In the education of children however, he thought 
 the flubjection of the will of the highest impor- 
 tance ; and that they should be made to obey 
 their parents, whether diey understood the rea- 
 sonableness of the thing commanded, or not. 
 He was of opinion, that the habit of implicit 
 obedience to parents, in infancy, prepared the 
 minds of children for a more ready submissioa 
 
 OF HENRY TU]^S» 
 
 25 
 
 and obedience to the will of their Heavenly 
 Father; and that ^e superior knowledge of 
 parents rendered the obedience of c^drea a 
 reasonable service* 
 
 ** Indifference to jelf,was another point which 
 Jie appeared, by his practice, to think of gr«at 
 4:onsequ€nce in education. He would have his 
 children ready to serve ^nj one, and to forego 
 their own indulgences, when they interfered 
 ^ith the good of others ; though he was, at pro- 
 per times, tender of dieir little pleasures. He 
 however instilled Ae principles of which I have 
 spoken, rather by a^ts and example, than by pre- 
 cepts. He was not much in the habit of mora- 
 lizing, or of conveying didactic instruction in 
 his own family. Yet, on occasions which called 
 for it, he was very far from neglecting the duty 
 of admonition and instruction : and the manner 
 in which he conveyed it, was such as gave it a 
 deep impression* 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 i. 
 
 s-r n 
 
 'I i 
 
 ■i 9 
 
 1 
 
1 
 
 ^ ▲ BIOCRAPHICAJ. SKETCH 
 
 « His miftd appeared to be peculiaHy formied 
 for society ; and he enjoyed, in a high degree, 
 the intercourse with persons of piety and learnr 
 ing ; more especially with those who, like him- 
 self, were devoted to the study of the Holy 
 Scriptures. He was accurately acquainted with 
 these sacted writings, and with the best critical 
 expositions and illustrations of them. And 
 though he chiefly delighted in endeavouring to 
 imbibe himself, and to infuse into others, that 
 spirit and those precepts which they unequivo- 
 cally teach ; yet he highly esteemed the labours 
 of those who, by the collation of manuscripts, 
 the inquiry into ancient manners and customs, 
 and the critical study of the original tongues, 
 have corrected some errors in our translation ; 
 thrown light on the obscurity of particular pas- 
 sages; or have given additional force and beauty 
 Ho others/' 
 
 i 
 
 He possessed a great share of decision of cha- 
 tacter. Whatever he thought desirable to be 
 
 t 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 2^ 
 
 done, he appears to have done it without delay, 
 like Paul, he reasoned not with flesh and blood; 
 and like Matthew, no sooner did he hear his 
 Master^s voice, than he arose and followed him 
 with constant fidelity. 
 
 • I 
 
 *^ The manner of my dear father's death was to 
 me peculiarly instructive. Though he did not 
 exhibit any of those strong feelings of mind, and 
 rapturous expressions, which have sometimes ac- 
 companied the death-bed of the righteous, yet 
 his mind was steadfast and full of hope. He had 
 so long conversed with the invisible realities of 
 a future state, that oo their nearer approach, he 
 ^was calm and dispassionate f equally remote 
 from weak timidity and presumptuous confi- 
 d&ace. 
 
 *^ Strongly impressed with the imperfections ot 
 human attainments, and how far Jbis best efforts 
 were from deserving the rew^ard to which he as- 
 pired, he deeJared that his hopes were founded 
 
 ' i 
 
£6 A BICMJBAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 on " Mercy, unmerited mercy." At the same 
 time, relying on those promises which had- been 
 the anchor of his life, his trust was strong, that 
 He who had graciously preserved him from the 
 dominion of sin in the world, woAld finally give 
 him the victory over death, hell, and the grave. 
 His end \yas in unison with his life, and proved 
 the genuineness of his character/* 
 
 The zeal of this enlightened man for the be* 
 neftt of others, appears to have been unwearied. 
 Though he was occupied in the pursuit of busi-^ 
 ness ; in the concerns of the society to which he 
 belonged ; and in other public and private af- 
 fairs- as well as with the common daily occur- 
 rences of life ; yet he found time to compose a 
 number of little works of a moral and religious 
 nature, which he designed chiefly for the use of 
 persons ofiiis own persuasion. They have been 
 well received by the members of the society, and 
 have had an .extensive circulation in H; and they 
 are likely to be continued in estimation; as use- 
 
 OF HENRY TITKE. g^ 
 
 fill and valuable publications. His motives in 
 diese literary labours were not only pure and 
 benevolent, but wholly disinterested. The pro- 
 fits arising from them, which were not inconsi- 
 derable, were all disposed of in charities, and 
 benefactions to others. The^st publication, en* 
 titled, " The Faidi of the People called Quakers^ 
 in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," extracted 
 from the writings of various authors of that reli- 
 gious society, appeared in the year 1801 ; and has 
 had three editions. The second work, on " The 
 Principles of Friends;*' in which their tenets 
 are considered and explained in a familiar and 
 perspicuous manner, was published in the year 
 1605 ; and has passed through six editions. His 
 third publication, entitled, « The duties of Reli- 
 gion and Morality, as inculcated in the Holy 
 Scriptures ;" adapted to the perusal of persons of 
 every religious denomination, appeared in the 
 year 1807, and has had four editions. His 
 fourth work, entitled, " Select Passages from 
 the Holy Scriptures/' designed to impress upon: 
 
 B 2 
 
 ft 
 
 
2S A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 the minds of young persons, the principal truths 
 of Christianity, by an arrangement of texts under 
 various heads ; was published in ihe year 1810, 
 and has passed through three editions. The first 
 volume of his last work, entitled, " Biographical 
 Notices of Members of the Society of Friends/' 
 came out in the year 1813. 
 
 Of these works, " The Duties of Religion 
 and Morality," and the '* Select Passages from 
 the Holy Scriptures," being calculated, not for 
 the Society of F/iends only, but for general use, 
 may be considered as proofs of his expanded re- 
 gard for the interests of others ; and will, it is 
 hoped, be found acceptable and beneficial to 
 many who are not of his own particular commu^ 
 nion* 
 
 He was very desirous, and often expressed it, 
 that the youth of our own society, should be 
 carefully and impressively instructed, in the pe- 
 culiar principles which we profess, and also ill 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 ^b 
 
 the great, general doctrines and precepts of the 
 Christian religion. He thought that our young 
 persons were not sufficiently and regularly 
 grounded, in this species of instruction, and he 
 wished for the adoption of some mode by which 
 it might be done more eflfectually. These prin- 
 ciples and doctrines, the foundations of our faith 
 and practice, would, if judiciously inculcated 
 on our youth, with the Divine Blessing super- 
 added, establish, their judgments, and prove a 
 preservative and support in their intercourse with 
 the worldi It appears that, with these views, he 
 prepared and produced the two volumes just 
 mentioned, namely, "The Principles of Friends/' 
 and ** The Dutie* of Religion and Morality ;** 
 and they are so well adapted to these purposes, 
 that if attentively and faithfully studied, they 
 would scarcely fail of answering, in a good de- 
 gree at least, the author's benevolent intentions. 
 
 Though the subject of this Memoir waJr, as 
 ills sou ha3 observed, firmly and warmly at* 
 
 B 3 
 
50 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE, 
 
 d( 
 
 tached to tbe religious opinions of the soeiet]p 
 to which he belonged, and of which he was so 
 truly respectable a member, yet he entertained 
 great liberality of sentiment towards those who 
 conscientiously differed from him ; and this li- 
 berality continued to expand itself the longer he 
 lived ; and the more his experience, and know- 
 ledge of the integrity and true character of his 
 Christian brethren of other denominations, in- 
 creased. 
 
 Of this liberal spirit he gave a gratifying evi- 
 dence, in a speech which he made at the Yort 
 Auxiliary Bible Society for the year 181^2. A 
 part of this speech has been selected, as an 
 appropriate insertion on this occasion* It is aa 
 follows. 
 
 union of Christians of various denominations in 
 
 the support of this great cause. May we not 
 ^mpare the various sects of Christianity to the 
 different tribes of ancient Israel ? We, like them^ 
 may^have some different \iews, and separate in- 
 terests; but we acknowledge one God, and one 
 I«ord> even our Lord Jesus Christ^ We pro- 
 fess to be governed by the' same laws, which are 
 contained in the Holy Scriptures ; atid though 
 we may not unite in the construction of some 
 of these laws ; yet, when we consider in how 
 large 'a proportion of them the professors of 
 Christianity are agreed, and, consequently, how 
 sAnall is the part in which we differ, there is 
 much cause for us to feel as brethren, and to 
 unite, as ha9 frequently been the case, in de- 
 fence of our common faith/' 
 
 '' I feel disposed to express the gratification 
 which I experience, on seeing so large and re- 
 spectable a meeting of my fellow-citizens, on 
 the present occasion j and particularly with th& 
 
 Another, and an affecting Instance of his li- 
 berality, and love towards his fellow-citizens, 
 was exhibited by him, in a speech which he 
 made at the last meeting that he lived to see^ 
 
 s 4 
 
S2 
 
 A BIOiGRAPlIICAL SKETCH 
 
 of the York Bible Society held a few months 
 before his decease. And as it is replete with 
 true christian charity, and appears to contain 
 something like a presentiment of his end, an ex- 
 tract from it may, with propriety, be introduced 
 into this account of him. It is therefore pre- 
 sented to the reader. 
 
 "There is,indeed,great cause to lament the moral 
 
 depravity which exists in this favoured nation, and 
 
 of which, I fear, my native city largely partakes; 
 
 yet, it affords me great satisfaction to observe 
 
 the disposition, which, on all occasions, is evinced 
 
 by so numerous a class of the inhabitants of 
 
 York, to relieve both the temporal and spiritual 
 
 wants of our fellow-creatures. This is indeed 
 
 c»use of rejoicing to my mind ; and I can truly 
 
 say, it affords me no small pleasure to believe, 
 
 that if it should ever be my happy lot to gain 
 
 an admittance into that city, whose walls are 
 
 salvation, and its gates praise, I shall there, as 
 
 well as here, have many fellow-citizens, and, I 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 33 
 
 tnist, no small portion of those who now hear 
 my voice ; who, though I may differ from them 
 on some points of Christian Doctnne, or rather, 
 perhaps, of Christian Practice, I feel no diffi- 
 culty in believing will finally be added to that 
 innumerable multitude, which the divinely eagle- 
 eyed Apostle saw standing before the throne, 
 clothed in white robes, and having palms in 
 their hands; but who, though possessed of these 
 emblems of righteousness and of victory, were 
 far from claiming any merit to themselves, 
 but ascribed their salvation wholly to the Lord 
 God and to the Lamb.'' 
 
 The life of a man so valuable to the public, 
 and to the particular society of which he was a 
 member, so dear to his family and friends, might 
 naturally have excited a hope, that it would 
 have been long preserved, as a bright and use- 
 ful example in the world. But that Omniscient 
 Being who knows what is best for his creatures, 
 and most conducive to the ends of his Provi- 
 
 B 5 
 
34 
 
 A BlOeBAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 dencci saw it good to remove his servaot from 
 this scene of trial and difficulties, before he had 
 attained the sixtieth year of his age. He had 
 through life, until the last year of it, enjoyed a 
 comfortable, and even vigorous state of health* 
 But about ihb period, he became infirm, and 
 gradually declined till the time of his decease. 
 His disorder was, at times, attended with much 
 pain. But he was borne above all his afflictions, 
 by a patient, resigned, and steadfast mind ; and, 
 at length, finished his course with the peace and 
 hope of a Christian. 
 
 His death was an event deeply affectmg to his 
 numerous relations and friends, by whom- he 
 will be long remembered with esteem and af- 
 fection. He was ako greatly respected by such 
 of his fellow-citizens as had the opportunity of 
 knowing his character; a pleasing proof of 
 which was exhibited at a meeting of the York 
 Bible Society, held, a few months after his de^ 
 cease. At this meeting, a number of the 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 35 
 
 speakers bore strong and interesting testimonies, 
 to the character and virtues of their late, lamented 
 associate ; and these tributes of respect met the 
 cordial sympathy of the audience. A few ex- 
 tracts from the speeches made on this occasion, 
 by teachers of different religious professions, 
 will doubtless be acceptable to the reader, as 
 they correspond so entirely witb the design of 
 this Memoir. 
 
 " I humbly venture,*' said one of the speakers, 
 '' to express my regret for the loss of one, whose 
 sincere and unaffected testimony was heard last 
 year within these walls, in behalf of the great 
 cause which we profess to advocate; but who is 
 now no more. I shall not soon forget the 
 solemn and impressive language, in which he 
 then spoke of his earnest wishes for the propa* 
 gation of revealed truth ; and the terms, (appa- 
 rently prophetic of his own decease,) in which 
 he cordially anticipated a more perfect union 
 with his fellow-labourers in a better state. There 
 
S6 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 •F HENHY TUKE. 
 
 A 
 
 37 
 
 is a time to be silent, as well as a time to speak ; 
 and our deceased friend, who knew both, evi- 
 dently never spoke here for the sake of speaking. 
 He was well aware, that the great subject of 
 revelation, needs not the foreign aid of ornament, 
 or the meretricious trappings of mere human 
 eloquence, to deck it out. What he uttered, 
 was uttered as in the sight of God. Let us 
 imitate his sincerity, and may a portion of his 
 benevolent, judicious, and pious spirit rest on 
 some of his survivors— may his mantle fall on a 
 suitable successor." 
 
 " No part of the business of the day,*' 
 said another of .the speakers, " could be more 
 acceptable than that, which has been as- 
 signed to me, as it will afford me a fit 
 
 opportunity of adding, to what you have just 
 heard, my tribute of unfeigned respect, to the 
 memory of that excellent person, who at the 
 last anniversary, discharged the duty to which I 
 am now called, in a manner which cannot soott 
 be forgotten. The ardent piety— the enlarged 
 
 Ibenevolence— the unaffected humility which 
 appeared in the admirable address by which he 
 introduced the motion I am now about to pro- 
 pose to your notice, must have made a deep and 
 lasting impression upon the minds of all who 
 beard it. Since that day, it has pleased the 
 Almighty and AH- wise Disposer of e\*ents, (o 
 remove him from the present scene, and we 
 humbly hope, to grant him " an admittance 
 into that city, whose walls are salvation, and 
 whose gates are praise.'* In the genuine spirit 
 of that society, of which he was a distinguished 
 member, he was ever zealous in promoting 
 every scheme friendly to human happiness; and 
 that his heart was devoted to the interests of the 
 Bible Society, we have had abundant proof.*^ 
 
 The last speaker on this subject, a clergy- 
 man of the church of England, expressed him- 
 self in the following manner:—" It was my 
 intention to have trespassed a little on your 
 time, by offering a few reflections on the removal 
 
38 
 
 A BIOGBAPUICAL SKETCH 
 
 of a lay-member of our last year's committee, t^ 
 a more exalted society ; but I have been antici"- 
 pated by no less than three gentlemen who have 
 addressed you. This circumstance proves how 
 much the memory of that pious and excellent 
 man, lives in the recollection and affections of u» 
 all. It has been well observed, with what pleai- 
 sure he expatiated on the readiness of his fellows- 
 citizens, to concur in every charitable work, (from? 
 few of which his purse or his presence was with- 
 held.) This place and this occasion unite to 
 excite in my mind, a vivid remembrance of his 
 look and manner, when he anticipated, in mo^ 
 dest hope, his joy in meeting many of religious 
 denominations different from his own, before the 
 throne of heaven. There, I doubt not, he now 
 stands " clothed in white robes, and a palm in his 
 hand.*' But, to use nearly his own words on 
 that occasion ; " though possessed of these em- 
 blems of righteousness and of victory, he is far 
 from claiming any merit to himself, but ascribes 
 his salvation wholly to the Lord God and to tho 
 
 OP HENRY TUKE. 
 
 sg 
 
 l^amb." Impressed with the solemnity of this 
 subject, you will bear with me, when I express 
 my serious wbh, that while associated for the 
 christian purpose of conveying to others the 
 knowledge of salvation, we may be careful to 
 secure it for ourselves. May it be the happy 
 lot of each of us to ascend in death, whither we 
 may confidently believe our late valuable friend 
 is gone before us ; and where the unhappy dis- 
 tinction of dissenter and churchman will be for 
 ever extinguished, by enlargement of understand- 
 ing, refinement of principle, and the perfection 
 of love.** 
 
 w I 
 
 I: 
 
 It may not be improper toadd> on this affect- 
 ing occasion, a little piece of elegiac poetry, 
 which was composed by a person* who highly 
 valued the subject of this Memoir, and sincerely 
 deplored his loss ; and for whom he entertained 
 a particular respect and regard. It is writttn with 
 
 f Cbarlotte RicbardsoDi 
 
40 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHT 
 
 great simplicity ; and not only possesses poetical 
 sneritj but contains the genuine effusions of a 
 heart which felt what it described. It is asp 
 follows. 
 
 LINES, 
 
 On theDeatk'of Mr. H. Tuke, August Wfh, 1814? 
 Respectfully addressed to bis Family. 
 
 A mournful gloom on ev'ry face oppear9. 
 From €v*ry eye distil the humid tears. 
 From whence proceed these signs of general wo I 
 For Henry's loss those heart-felt sorrows flow. 
 Search amidst Ebor*s worthiest sons around^ 
 Who more than he with Christian virtues crownM^ 
 His mind with heavenly love and wisdom fraught, 
 His life adorn'd the doctrines which he taught; 
 Far as his name, his influence, could extend, 
 He proved himself religion's genuine friend ; 
 In him the Christian graces were combin'd, 
 From love to God sprung love to all mankind ; 
 While raemVy lasts, on many a grateful breast 
 Shall bis mild virtues ever be imprestt 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 'Twas his delight to sooth th* afflicted mind, 
 And point to where the soul might comfort find. 
 Hence while his bounty could relief impart, 
 His kindness droppM like balm upon the heart; 
 The pensive widow's sorrowing heart could cheer. 
 And wipe from many an orphan's face the tear. 
 
 41 
 
 Ob my lov'd friend ! when late, with artless lay^ 
 
 I hail'd with joy sincere thy natal day. 
 
 How little thought I, ere the year should end, 
 
 I o'er thy grave in tearful wo should bend ! 
 
 Nor when the cause of truth inspired thy tongue. 
 
 And listening numbers in attention hung. 
 
 While heaven's pure joys seem'd open to thy view. 
 
 Who deem'd that that would prove thy last adieu f 
 
 Who thought the work of death was then begun. 
 
 And thy bright course of glory nearly run ? 
 
 That while we gaz'd in solemn, sweet delight, 
 
 A few short months would snatch thee from oar sight? 
 
 Far other prospects fond affection drew ; 
 
 Lo/d the gay scene, and thought the vision true* 
 
 Even when disease had fatal inroads made. 
 
 And science owu'd, ncT power on earth could aid. 
 
 The flatterer Hope still told of lengthened years ; 
 
 And dash'd from Sorrow's hand the cup of tear». 
 
4d 
 
 A BIOSRAFHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 45 
 
 Delusive hopes ! long cherish'd, but in vain ; 
 No longer might the soul on earth remain. 
 To join the myriads which surround the throne^. 
 And/realize the scene sq lately drawn, . 
 And with the spirits of the just proclaim, 
 ** Salvation to our God, and to the Lamb/' 
 The spirit fled, and to that City soar'd. 
 Whose Maker and whose Builder is the Lord;. 
 Which needeth not the sutt*s enlivening rays^ 
 « Her walls salvation, and her gates are praise.'* 
 The days of mourning find a period here ; 
 For God from ev'ry face shall wipe the tear/ 
 
 O may this thought assuage the deep-felt w(» 
 
 Of those he lov*d and cherish'd here below I 
 
 And while aflfection shall his worth proclaim^ 
 
 And tears of anguish start at Henry's narae^ 
 
 Dear, valued Relatives! O raay-you feelj 
 
 Tluit He who gave the wound can also heal I 
 
 May resignation's sweet aud potent balm, 
 
 Shed o'er your minds a sacred, peaceful calm ! 
 
 While faiib shall lead your thoughts from scenes of w<y 
 
 To where eternal joys and pleasures flow ; 
 
 Where death is not, where pain and sorrow cease^ 
 
 And all is pure; unutterable peace ! 
 
 September 17rA, 18 14# 
 
 The writer of this Memoir could easily ex- 
 tend it, by enlarging on the virtues and charac* 
 ter of his deceased friend. He knew him well 
 for many years, and esteemed and loved him 
 sincerely : and he feels that the privation of his 
 pleasant, instructive society and friendship, is 
 an irreparable loss. But though this intimate 
 knowledge would enable him to express much 
 more, on the present mournful occasion, yet as 
 the friends of the monthly meeting of which he 
 was a member, have given a solemn testimony, 
 respecting their valued friend, which has been 
 confirmed by the Quarterly meeting for the 
 County of York ; and as it contains an ample 
 enumeration of his moral and religious attain-, 
 ments, and of his usefulness in public and pri- 
 vate life ; it is unnecessary to supply the defici- 
 ences of this " Biographical Sketch," any farther 
 than by inserting the testimony. And the writer 
 does not know how he could better close his 
 narrative, than by presenting to the reader so re- 
 spectable and authentic a memorial of the sub- 
 ject of this work. 
 
 
 ^11 
 
44 
 
 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 A TESTIMONY 
 
 OF 
 
 YOJiK MONTHLY MEETINGr 
 CoDcerning Henry Tuek, deceased. 
 
 To commemorate, on suitable occasions, the 
 virtues of our deceased friends, who have been 
 the instruments of strength and refreshment to our 
 minds, is a tribute of affection due to their piouar 
 labours, a grateful acknowledgement to the Giver 
 of all good, and may prove a comfort and en- 
 couragement to those who attentively peruse the 
 memorials of their lives. 
 
 We are led to thes^e reflections, by the late 
 mournful event of the death of our much es- 
 teemed and beloved friend, Henry Tuke ; who^ 
 at a period of life when his religious experience 
 tmd usefulness were eminently conspicuous, was, 
 in the course of Divine Providence, taken froitt 
 
 OP HENRY TUKE. 
 
 45 
 
 ^s, and removed from his labours of love in the 
 church militant. But whilst we feel and lament 
 the loss of so bright an example of piety and 
 virtue, we desire to bow, with humble submis- 
 sion, and dutiful resignation, to the will of our 
 Heavenly Father ; whose dispensations, though of- 
 jten inscrutable by our finite comprehensions, are 
 all assuredly wise, and just, and good. " Shall 
 not the Judge of all the earth do right,'' both 
 ^hen he gives, and when he takes away ? 
 
 By the Divine Blessing on a guarded and reli- 
 gious education, this dear friend was led to 
 " Remember his Creator in the days of his 
 youth." He was early impressed with the love 
 of his Great Benefactor, and disposed to render 
 to Him the returns of gratitude and obedience, 
 for his manifold mercies : and he was, in a good 
 de<yrec, preserved from the dangers and follies 
 incident to that period of life. His natural dis- 
 position was quick and lively ; but the powerful 
 •perations of the grace of God happily tempered 
 
46 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 Lis vivacity of nature, and rendered it conducive 
 to an earnest pursuit of his moral and religious 
 duties. 
 
 In the twenty-fifth year of his age, he first ap- 
 peared as a minister of the Gospel ; and evinc* 
 ing a care to move under the influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, and his life corresponding with this 
 sacred office, his ministry was sound and edifying, 
 and truly acceptable to friends. As he derived 
 his own supplies of strength and consolation 
 from the Fountain of Light and Life, and from a 
 dili^^ent perusal of the Holy Scriptures, so he 
 was solicitous to recommend to others, a reverent 
 attention to these great sources of instruction, 
 and of support under all the varied events of 
 time Although he was diligently engaged in 
 business, and in the cares and provisions con- 
 nected with a family, yet he was greatly solici- 
 tous to secure the one thing needful, the pearl of 
 great price ; and therefore, under all his outward 
 concerns, he continued to increase in true reli- 
 
 -OT HENRY TVKE. 
 
 47 
 
 ;gion, in the lively exercise of his ministry, »nd 
 in solicitude for the salvation of his fellow* 
 creatures. His travels in the love and labours 
 of the Gospel, ^ere not very extensive : but we 
 have reason to believe they were owned by his' 
 Great Master, and were comfortable and encou- 
 raging to many amongst whom he laboured. 
 He visited Ireland twice, Scotland five times, 
 Wales and the Isle of Man once, and also 
 several places in different parts of England : and 
 from these visits he returned, we believe, with 
 the reward of peace. 
 
 In the discipline of IheChuich, he was skilful 
 a«d active, and extensively useful. He felt the 
 great importance of preserving unimpaired this 
 hedge and guard of our religious principles 
 and practice. But influenced by a judicious 
 spirit of .charity and tenderness, he was desirous 
 that his zeal for the maintenance of our salutary 
 institutions, might always be compatible with 
 the design of them, the encouragement of the 
 
48 A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 right-minded, and the discountenancing and re- 
 covery of backsliders. In these services, a care 
 evidently rested on his mind, that he might be 
 humble and watchful, and that his ewn views of 
 the subject should not be urged beyond that 
 deference and regard, which were due to the 
 sentiments of others— He was a very diligent 
 attender of our meetings for worship and disci- 
 pline ; and, for many years, he regularly attend- 
 ed the yearly meeting in London, where, his 
 natural abilities and acquired improvements 
 being sanctified by Divine Grace, he was ren- 
 dered, we have reason to believe, in no small 
 dewe, useful, in supporting the cause of truth 
 and righteousness, and promoting the interests 
 of the society. 
 
 Though he was not exempt from trials and 
 
 conflicts of spirit, he bore them with meekness 
 
 and submission ; and evinced the dignity of his 
 
 Christian profession, by that constancy and 
 
 cheerfulness, which are recommended by our 
 
 Of HENRY TUKB. 
 
 4g 
 
 Lord to his disciples, when he enjoins them> 
 ** not to appear unto men to fast." He was 
 distinguished for a benevolent and affectionate 
 temper of mind, ever ready to relieve the troubles 
 of others, and to promote their comfort and 
 allowable enjoyments. In discharging the 
 various duties of social life, he had peculiar 
 satisfaction. He was a very dutiful and respect- 
 ful son, a tender and sympathizing husband, a 
 kind, discreet, and liberal minded father. As 
 he knew that he served a good Master, he served 
 Him with a willing mind : and being a grateful 
 receiver of the mercies and benefits bestowed 
 upon him, he was careful frequently to number 
 his blessings; and to ascribe them all to the 
 bounty of that Gracious Being, " who openeth 
 his hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living 
 thing." 
 
 The prosperity of true religion and righteous- 
 ness, cheered his spirit. He loved to hear of 
 the welfare of his fellow creatures of every de- 
 
 c 
 
\\\ 
 
 50 A BIOOIAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 opminaUoD, and in every part of the world: ind 
 lie was sensibly concerned whea, on particular 
 occasions, he perceived the prevalence of mjus- 
 tice and iniquity. It may justly be said of him, 
 that his zeal against wrong things, and his 
 earnestness to promote what was right, were 
 striking and exemplary. In particular, the cause 
 of the oppressed Africans, the .success of the 
 Bible Societies, the guarded education of youtfi 
 and the support of peaceand good order amongst 
 men, lay near his heart, and engaged his strenu- 
 ous exertions. And as he possessed an unfeign- 
 ed and active love towards others^ so he was 
 greatly beloved by a numerous and extensive 
 circle of relations and friends. In all these 
 thin<»8, he was a pattern to others*, and we hope 
 that the remembrance of his life and conversation 
 may, through Divine Grace, prove the means of 
 stirring, up many to go and do likewise ; to imi- 
 tate his watchfulness, charity, zeal and cheerful- 
 ness ; his love to God and love to men. Whilst 
 'thus remembered, he will not be entirely lost to 
 
 OF HENRY TUKE. 
 
 51 
 
 US : though dead, he will yet speak the encourag- 
 ing language of, " Follow me, as I have follow- 
 ed .Christ" 
 
 Notwithstanding the various occupations of 
 our deceased friend, which employed so much 
 of his time, his love for the rising generation, 
 and zeal for the propagation of sound principles, 
 and right conduct, induced him to prepare and 
 publish several little volumes, for the instruction 
 of.youth and others, on many important subjects 
 of religion and morality. These pious labours 
 of his, will not soon be forgotten. We trust 
 they will be long vahied and perused by many 
 of our socie^, as books containing much instruc- 
 tion ; and as interesting evidences of his tender 
 regard, and earnest desires for their temporal 
 and eternal w^lfar^. 
 
 In the midst of his benevolent views and pur- 
 suits, this diligent labourer in the Lord's vine^^ 
 yj^rd, about a year before his decease, began to 
 
5« A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 be affected with bodily infirmities. They gradu- 
 ally increased upon him, and at length confined 
 bim to the house, for nearly eleven vfeeks pre- 
 vious to his dissolution. In this long period of 
 decay, he continued to employ himself in doing 
 good ; and even after his confinement, his love 
 for his friends, and solicitude for their welfare, 
 remained lively and active. He gratefully com- 
 memorated the goodness of God^o him, which 
 he humbly said was bestowed in mercy, unment- 
 ed mercy. To those about him, who faithfully 
 and affectionately ministered to his necessities, 
 be often expressed his thankful acknowledg- 
 ments ; and manifested his concern for them, 
 lest they should not be sufficiently attentive to 
 themselves. Till nearly the close of life, he 
 endeavoured, occasionally, to cheer and encou- 
 rage his near relatives^and to prevent their spirits 
 from suffering too muCh depression, under thig 
 afflictive dispensation. Through the whole of 
 his illness, which was at times very painful, he 
 exhibited gteat ^and exemplary composure, par 
 
 aP HBNRY TUKE. 
 
 5S 
 
 tience, and resignation to the Divine will. This 
 favoured state of mind, with many expressions 
 of his continued love to others, and an unfailing 
 trust in God, are consoling evidences that, 
 through the blood of the Lamb immaculate, 
 he has gained an admittance mto that City, 
 whose walls are salvation, and its gates praise. 
 The evening before his decease, he said, with a 
 dignity and fortitude becoming a faithful ser- 
 vant of God : " If I die, I die as I have lived, 
 in the faith and hope of a Christian. I am per- 
 fectly resigned to the will of my Heavenly 
 Pather.'* 
 
 'He died on the eleventh of the eighth month, 
 1814, in the sixtieth year of his age, and the 
 thirty fifth of his ministry ; and was buried on 
 the sixteenth of the same month. A very 
 solemn meeting was held on the occasion ; in 
 which, and at the grave, the Divine power of 
 truth prevailed, and many hearts were deeply 
 affected. 
 
54 A BIOGKAPHXCAL SKETCH, &C. 
 
 Read and approved in our Monthly Meeting, 
 held at York the first day of the second mouthy 
 1815 ; and signed by many Friends. 
 
 Read and approved in York Quarterly Meet- 
 ing, held at Leeds the 31st of the 3rd month, 
 1 8 1 5 ; and, on behalf thereof, signed by 
 
 JOHN HIPSLEY, Jup. Clerk. 
 
 •rti*©©®©"^ 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 JUST PUBLISHED, 
 By WILLIAM ALEXANDER, York. 
 
 VOLUME THE SECOND 
 
 OE 
 
 H» Tuke*s BiOGRAPaiCAL Notices, containing a Supok" 
 ment to the Life of George Fox, ako an Account of 
 J. Parnel, J. Camm, W. Robinson, M. Stevenson, 
 M. Dyer, VV. Leddra, T. Aldara, J. Nayler, J. Lilburne, 
 G. Fox the Younger, R. Hubberthorne, W. Ames, 
 E. Burrough, H. Smith, J. Audland, W. Caton, and 
 S. Fisher. Price in bds. 3s. ; fne paper ..... 4 
 
 Of W. ALEXANDER.may also be had, 
 B. Tukes Biographical Notices, Vol, I. containing the 
 Life oj Geot^eloi, bos, 3s. 6d. i fme.paper .46 
 H. Tuke*s Principles of Friends, 12mo. bds. - 2 6 
 
 Jine paper - 3 6 
 
 H. Tuke*s Duties of Religion and Morality, as 
 inculcated in the Holy Scriptures ; adapted to the perusal 
 qfperson&ofexien/ religious denominatum^.pot 8ro, sheep 
 Uttered, or 12mo, bds. each 2s. Qd. ; fine, paper - 3 6 
 
 Oa both these works, in every edftiooi a good allowance ii, 
 made od one dozen copies of each» 
 
f 
 
 H. Turn Select Passaces/«»» the Holy Scripture, dc 
 ^ntd to mpre^K^ppn the mino. of young persons, the 
 principal Tn.lh, of C'hriahnity, by an arrangement ,f 
 texts under various heais; titched, 6d. ; fine - 8 
 
 a Tuke's T^^unofthc Pe^lecalUd Quaker,,in our lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ, extracted fron, the «,rUin&s of 
 various authors of that Society ; st.Si. i fine - ■ 8 
 
 Each of the too last, per doz. is.; fine 
 
 All .he .bo.e W..k., and th« Bi.gr.phic.l Sketch, mi, be 
 had io 4 vol,, fine p.per, price, in extra board., 17.. 6d. 
 
 1 5 
 
 or calf lettered »" 
 
 u A Description of tue Retreat, near York," for 
 persons afflicted with disorders of ike mind, among the 
 Societj, of Friends ; giving a historical narrative of the 
 rise and progress of the Institution ; a description of the 
 moral and medical treatment practised in it ; and many 
 other interesting particulars; with three 4to. plates, 
 iescriptite of the buimngs. By S. Tt^KE. 4to. fine 
 
 , . 12 
 
 paper and extra tmros - - - - 
 
 L,», Letters, &c. of Sarah Grubb, neatly printei. 
 
 large 12».o. sheep lettered, is. 6d. ; calf lettered - 5 6 
 
 VUto, DUto, DUto. ivo. fine paper, calf - - -J 6 
 
 — «e«10»««^ 
 
 ♦ ♦ 
 
 ■I 
 
 ^m 
 
> I 
 
 • •> 
 
 Ik 
 
f-^ff<i, 
 
■^>«:-.**< 
 
 '. *^- 
 
 "f^:,- 
 
 
 '. ^ 
 
 ^^.-Ubi'ij*- 
 
 ''%' 
 
 ^ i 
 
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
 938.96 
 T8l 
 
 3-li 
 
 010652868 
 
END OF REEL 
 PLEASE REWIND