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A UTHOR : 
 
 CREWDSON, ISAAC 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 DEFENCE OF THE 
 BEACON 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 LONDON 
 
 DATE: 
 
 1836 
 
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 DEFENCE OF THE BEACON; 
 
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 A Second Edition of the First Part 
 Corresponrlence between the Contmittee 
 Meetin^r of FrienrLs^ and I.saac Crewd 
 P/r.v.v, and will be Published in a few do 
 
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 iiailMfHilBMWjiilMfaa 
 

 CORRESPONDENCE, &, 
 
 PART II. 
 
 iMi^liraia'tiMtoiifli^ 
 
^■ 
 
 DEFENCE OF THE BEACON; 
 
 OR A 
 
 SUPPLEMENT TO THE REPLY 
 
 TO 
 
 THE STATEMENT 
 
 OP THE 
 
 YEARLY MEETING'S COMMITTEE, 
 
 WITH FURTHER PARTICULARS ON THE 
 
 \m> 
 
 fi\ 
 
 I 
 
 CONTROVERSY IN THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 BY ISAAC CREWDSON, 
 
 LONDON: 
 HAMILTON AND CO-DARTON AND SON. HOLBORN HILL. 
 
 1836. 
 
r 
 
 fv <r 
 
 ^ 
 
 \i\ 
 
 M A N C H E 8 T E R : 
 
 »RI.\TED BY WILLIAM SIMPSON. BROW> STKtkT, MARH. > . ,. r t . 
 
 •'.H-V • 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 The following document and letter are introduced^ not because 
 they are of much importance^ hut because they form a link in the 
 chain of proceedings. They comprehend all that passed officially 
 between the Committee of the Yearly Meeting, on their Fourth 
 visit, and the Author of the Beacon. 
 
 Document of the Committee handed to Isaac Crewdson ; — 
 
 The Committee have been engaged in considering 
 some of the statements made in Isaac Crewdson's letter 
 of the r2th month 12th, 1835, — and as it appears that 
 copies of the said letter have been circulated to some 
 extent in manuscript, and still more widely in print, 
 it is concluded, to enter the following notice of the sub- 
 ject on the minutes of the Committee. 
 
 Isaac Crewdson, represents the minute of the Com- 
 mittee, dated 8th month 21st, as being a ** rejoinder^* to 
 his reply, to their original statement of their objections 
 to the Beacon, — whereas, they never regarded it in this 
 light, and they conceive that there is notliing in its 
 terms which gives it such a character. 
 
 The letter further assumes, that the above minute 
 
 comprehended all the objections which the Committee 
 
 at that time entertained against the Beacon, and that 
 
 they had then abandoned those which were set forth in 
 
 their original statement. The Committee, are however, 
 
 satisfied, that the terms of the minute, by no means 
 
 B 
 
 0^0415 
 
J 
 
 IV. 
 
 warrant any such assumptions ; and they conceive, that 
 had their friend Isaac Crewdson read the document, 
 put into his hands on the 24th of the 8th month, instead 
 of returning it unopened, he could not possibly have 
 come to the above conclusions, — since, while the said 
 document admitted that the Committee had derived a 
 considerable degree of satisfaction from Isaac Crewd- 
 son's explanation of Ms own views, its general import 
 plainly indicated the continuance of their scriptural 
 objections to tlie Beacon. 
 
 In connexion with this part of the subject, it is im- 
 portant to observe, that the document in question was 
 read in the 8th month both in the Quarterly Meeting of 
 Ministers and Elders, and also in the presence of the 
 Quarterly Meeting's Committee so that the general 
 nature of its contents must, at that time, have been ex- 
 tensively known among Friends in this neighbourhood. 
 The Committee feel themselves called upon distinctly 
 to state, that the expressions employed in some per- 
 sonal addresses to Isaac Crewdscn in the Committee, and 
 which he alludes to as implying Christian fellowship or 
 unity, were not intended in any way to bear upon the 
 views of the Committee respecting the Beacon or its 
 publication. On the contrary, they think it right on 
 this occasion, to record on their minutes, that neither 
 the scriptural objections, originally made by them to 
 the Beacon, nor their dissatisfaction with the publication 
 of that work, have been removed. 
 
 V. 
 
 4M Month '20th. 1836. 
 
 (not signed.) 
 
 To the Committee of the Yearly Meeting, appointed to visit 
 the Quarterly Meeting of Lancashire. 
 
 My Dear Friends, 
 
 A paper without signature was put into my hands on 
 the 20th instant, by Barnard Dickenson, a member of 
 vour Committee, which paper, I understood, came from 
 
 you. 
 
 . In this paper, it is stated, that I was wrong in con- 
 cluding, that your minute of the 21st of 8th month in- 
 cluded all the objections that you then entertained 
 against the Beacon. 
 
 It is further stated, in this paper, that a document of 
 your's, dated 24th of 8th month which I returned un- 
 opened, would, if I had read it, have prevented my 
 coming to such a conclusion : this document I declined 
 to receive, on the ground of objections which I fully 
 stated to you in a letter to George Stacey, datexi 8tli 
 month 31st. 
 
 It is then said in the paper you have sent, that, "In 
 connexion with this part of the subject, it is important 
 to observe, that the document in question was read in 
 the Eighth Month, both in the Quarterly Meeting of 
 Ministers and Elders, and also in the presence of the 
 Quarterly Meeting's Committee, so that the general 
 nature of its contents, must, at that time, have been ex- 
 tensively known amongst Friends in this neighbour- 
 hood :" I was not present at either of these meetings, 
 and therefore, could not be supposed to know, neither 
 
 \ 
 
VI. 
 
 Vll. 
 
 did I know, what the document contained,--but to the 
 conclusion of your paper. It is said, that your scriptu- 
 ral objections to the Beacon, are not removed ; I con- 
 clude then, that your main objection to the Beacon, 
 remains, consequently, that you still think, I have dis- 
 paraged the Scripture doctrine of the Holy Spirit in 
 condemning the Hicksite theory of the « Inward light,** 
 because you regard them as "absolutely identical.*' 
 
 When I delivered you my letter in the Eighth Month, 
 in which I gave some answer to your objections, you 
 received it without intimating a wish for any further 
 reply ; or I would willingly have completed what you 
 knew I then had in preparation ;— you moreover did not 
 persist in your objections, but expressed yourselves 
 considerably relieved by my explanations; and you 
 put it totally out of my power to complete my reply, 
 by taking your " Statement" of objections out of my 
 hands. I a^ked for the " Statement** again and again ; 
 I claimed it as my indictment, but you constantly 
 witheld it for more than five months, and only furnished 
 me with it after you had passed sentence on me, that 
 is, ailer you had, by an extra-judicial act, endeavoured 
 to suspend me as a Minister of the Gospel, because of 
 the absence of " condescension to the judgment of my 
 friends which (you say,) is so clearly enforced in the 
 New Testament ;** that is, because I had not suppres- 
 sed the further circulation of the Beacon ; you then 
 sent me a manuscript copy which was taken from a 
 
 proof of the -Statement" that you had printed for circu- 
 lation. 
 
 i), 
 
 You have then never expressed a wish to receive the 
 reply, which I told you, I had in preparation, and in 
 considerable forwardness, but used your authority to 
 suspend me as a Minister, without either allowing me a 
 cc^y of my indictment, or asking if I had anything 
 further to urge in my defence ; and four months after 
 this act, and one week after your arrival in Manchester, 
 on your present visit, you tell me that your scriptural 
 objections, originally made to tlie Beacon, are not re- 
 moved : I do confess this has surprised me. 
 
 When, in my letter of the Twelftli Month, four montlis 
 ago, I had besought you to point out your remaining 
 objections, if any, to the Beacon, to which you gave 
 me no reply, I had not the most remote idea that you 
 still maintained, as you now state, (or as is implied) alt 
 your scriptural objections to the Beacon. 
 
 I should have been glad, had the Supplement to my 
 reply been completed, so that I could have presented 
 it to you at the present time ; it is, however, my inten- 
 tion to get it out as soon as possible, and I trust I shall 
 l>e able to give an answer to all your objections that are 
 tangible, and that are put on scriptural ground. 
 
 And, as I before intimated to you my willingness 
 to print your objections, I still purpose to do so ; — the 
 reader of the Beacon will then have the whole case be- 
 fore him. 
 
 I am, your affectionate friend, 
 
 Isaac Crewdson. 
 
 Ardwick Green, 
 
 4th MoiUh 22nd, 1836. 
 
 B 2 
 
\ 
 
 Tlie following Defence or Supplement to the " Reply,'' which 
 was delivered to the Committee in the Eighth Month, should be 
 read in connexion with the " Replgr as neither the one nor the 
 other of itself is a full answer to the " Statement'^ of objections to 
 the Beacon, by the Committee of the Yearly Meeting. 
 
 
 DEFENCE 
 
 OF THE BEACON. 
 
 To the Committee of the Yearly Meeting, appointed to viait 
 the Quarterly Meeting of Lancashire. 
 
 Ardwick, 9th Month 7th, 1836. 
 
 Mr Deae Friends, 
 
 You will recollect, that in my note to you, dated the 
 1 1th of 8th month last year, I informed you, that I had 
 made considerable progress in preparing a minute and 
 specific answer to your " Statement,'' which I had in- 
 tended to present to you ; but that not having time to 
 complete it, I had concluded to hand you at that time, 
 a letter in " Reply,'* which I trusted, would be suffi- 
 cient to remove from the minds of my friends, all sub- 
 stantial grounds of uneasiness. 
 
 On presenting the " Reply," I gave up the " State- 
 ment" as you required, but I took that opportunity of 
 requesting a copy of it. My request, however, was not 
 granted, though the claim was repeatedly urged. I 
 was thus deprived, for more than five months, of the 
 power of proceeding with my answer to your objections, 
 and it was only at the expiration of that time, that I 
 received from you a manuscript copy, after you had 
 printed the « Statement for circulation. In the mean 
 
 yia» iwimiTi<iji¥jii 
 
 :.p|jvrf^!Sj|||Sgj| j f'fi'tmf-, 
 
I 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 time you had, by an extra-judicial act, endeavoured to 
 suspend me as a Minister of the Gospel, without afford- 
 ing me tlie opportunity of fully answering your ol)jec- 
 tions, and without taking any notice of my urgent and 
 repeated request, that such objections as my explana- 
 tions had not removed from your minds, might be 
 pointed out to me. 
 
 On these facts, I make no comment at present, but 
 they will serve in part to account for the Supplement 
 having been so long delayed. I must, however, take 
 this opportunity of saying, that, although I have been 
 greatly tried with some of the proceedings of the Com- 
 mittee, and cannot but regard them, in their direct ten- 
 dency, as injurious to tlie cause of Truth, and tliat to 
 
 myself personally, they have been oppressive, yet I 
 
 have no feeling of unkindness towards the Conmiittee 
 or any of its members, but, on the contrary, my desire 
 and prayer is, that if you have committed errors, they 
 may be overruled for good, and that as individuals, and 
 collectively, the blessing of the Lord may be upon you. 
 I tliink it the more necessary to say this, as I purpose 
 to comment freely on your *' Statement." 
 
 I shall now make a few observations on the prefa- 
 tory remarks in your " Statement," and then proceed to 
 notice the objections to the " Beacon," seriatim. 
 
 In these remarks, you declare, that you '" heartily 
 acknowledge, respecting the Holy Scriptures of the 
 Old and New Testament, that they were given by in- 
 spiration of God ; that they are able to make \vise unto 
 salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus ; and 
 
 I 
 
 THE BEACON. 3 
 
 that with the preaching of the gospel they are the 
 APPOINTED INSTRUMENT ybr making known to man- 
 kind^ that Divine plan of grace and salvation, through 
 Jesus Christ and Him crucified, to which they bear 
 so clear a testimony." 
 
 This is " a good confession," and I rejoice that the 
 Committee have set out with an acknowledgment so 
 full and unequivocal; I say unequivocal, because I 
 conclude, the Committee do not use the phrase " the 
 preaching of the Gospel," in any other sense, than ac- 
 cording to its plain and general acceptation, — accord- 
 ing to the meaning of our Lord, in his charge to the 
 apostles, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 Gospel to every creature," &c. I rejoice then, 
 
 1 St. — To find that upon this cardinal point, my own 
 views and those of the Committee are so entirely alike. 
 
 2nd, — Because such a confession on the part of the 
 Committee, I trust, will be of service to some in our 
 Society, who may not, hitherto, have regarded the study 
 of the Scriptures, and the preaching and hearing of the 
 Gospel, as of that paramount importance, which is im- 
 plied in the emphatic declaration of the Committee. 
 And, 
 
 3rd. — Because, I regard this declaration of the Com- 
 mittee, as the very antipodes of the unscriptural and 
 mischievous theory of Barclay, with regard to an uni- 
 versal inward preaching of the Gospel; a theory 
 which, I conceive, is in the highest degree delusive, and 
 at variance with the whole scheme of revelation. 
 
 The provision of the Lord Jesus, for the promulga- 
 
 1 1 
 
r 
 
 4 DEFENCE or 
 
 tion of the Gospel, is plainly stated in the following 
 words, addressed to the apostles alter His resurrection 
 from the dead. 
 
 " All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 
 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
 the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things what- 
 soever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am with you 
 alway, even unto the end of the world.** Mat. xxviii. 
 1 9, 20. " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 Gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is 
 baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall 
 be damned." Mark xvi. 15, 16. — The apostle Paul re- 
 ceived his call to tlie apostleship and commission for the 
 work, from the Lord Jesus, after his ascension into 
 heaven, and we find it recorded in the following words. 
 " I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise, and 
 stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for 
 this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness 
 both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those 
 things in the which I will appear unto thee ; delivering 
 thee from the people, and from tlie Gentiles, unto whom 
 now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them 
 from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan 
 unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and 
 inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that 
 is in me." Acts xxvi. 15, — 18. Here we have the com- 
 mission of the apostles for the promulgation of the Gos- 
 pel, and here we have, in the most solemn language 
 the declaration of Him, wlio is the Judge of quick and 
 
 { 
 
 THE BEACON. 5 
 
 dead, of the absolute necessity, under pain of dam- 
 nation of the belief of that very Gospel which was 
 preached and taught by the apostles. The apostles 
 and evangelists " being dead yet speak ;" their preach- 
 ing and teaching, which come down to us by the writ- 
 ten word, is ^Uhe Gospel" Mark, i. 1. Rom. ii. 16. 
 The promise of Christ, I believe, appertains to it as to 
 their living voice, " Lo, I am with you alway, even 
 unto the end of the world." To this Gospel, as to the 
 substantive matter of it, nothing may be added, — 
 nothing taken from it ; and it is this, and this on/y, 
 which, to the present day, every trv£ Gospel Minister 
 mu^t and does preach* It is this " Gospel," Rom., i. 1 6. 
 — these " glad tidings," Acts, xiii. 32., — ^this " word," 
 Mat., xiii. 21., — ^this "word of God," Acts, xiii. 44., — 
 this "word of Christ," Col., iii. 16., — this word of the 
 apostles, John, xvii. 20., — ^this "word of life," Phil., 
 ii. 16., — this "word of the kingdom," Mat., xiii. 19., — 
 this " truth," 2 Thess., ii. 12, 13.,— this " word of truth," 
 Jas., i. 1 8., — this " word of faith," Rom., x. 8., — this 
 " ingrafted word," Jas., i. 21 — 23., — this ^^ promise made 
 unto the Fathers," Acts, xiii. 32., — this " word of recon- 
 ciliation," 2 Cor., V. 19n — ^this word of justification, 
 Acts, xiii. 39«) — ^this word of sanctification, John, 
 xvii. 17, I9.J — this " word of salvation," Acts, xiii. 26. 
 It is this Gospel, preached and written, that is declared 
 to be the " power of God, (L e., as I apprehend, " the 
 instrument" by which He works) unto salvation to every 
 one that believeth." And nothing, I think, can be 
 plainer than that it is by Divine appointment, and there- 
 
O DEFENCE OF 
 
 fore, in no sort to be considered as limiting the Spirit, 
 or in any way derogatory to Him, to acknowledge, that 
 this OUTWARD means, this word of life and salvation, 
 which was revealed immediately to prophets, evangelists 
 and apostles, and which we receive mediately through 
 them, is (as it is well expressed by the Committee) "the 
 appointed instrument ,"* or (as it is equally well expressed 
 by the Society in its last yearly epistle) "the appointed 
 means of making known to us the blessed truths of 
 Christianity." Nevertheless, tlie Scripture also teaches 
 us, that it is only as the Holy Spirit himself applies the 
 means to the understanding and the heart, (see 2 Tim. 
 ii. 7., and other places) that they become effectual to the 
 blessed purpose for which they are designed. So then, 
 does it not come clearly to this, that the inspired word, 
 as we have it in Scripture is the instrument, and the 
 Holy Spirit is Himself the agent, and that it is not 
 by the word without the Spirit, nor by the Spirit gen^ 
 erally without the word, but by the Spirit and the 
 word, that God in His inscrutable wisdom has seen 
 meet to ordain, that they which believe shall be brought 
 to the saving knowledge of the tnith. 
 
 The Committee then, in perfect accordance with 
 what the Yearly Meeting declares ever to have been 
 the faith of the Society of Friends ; consider "the Holy 
 Sciiptures and the preaching of the Gospel, to be to- 
 gether the appointed instrument for making known to 
 man the Divine plan of grace and salvation, through 
 Jesus Christ and Him crucified." K then, the Holy 
 Scriptures, and the preaching of the Gospel are the 
 
 
 THE BEACON. 7 
 
 instrument appointed of God for this purpose, it follows, 
 of course, that there is no other, or at least that we do 
 9wt know of any other. Are we not then brought to 
 the point, either, that this knowledge is not essential to 
 salvation (which it were monstrous to affirm, with re- 
 gard to those witliin whose reach God has placed it, 
 and I speak of none else,) or, that it is the incumbent 
 duty of every Christian society, to endeavour to make 
 provision for the efficient application of this " appoi^ited 
 instruinent,'* to at least every Member of its own body. 
 But, if we should find any body, professing to be 
 Christian, making an acknowledgment similar to that 
 expressed by the Committee : and at times issuing gen- 
 eral advice for the reading of the Scriptures, but en- 
 couraging no efficient plan for the social study of 
 Holy Scripture, nor even for the communication of 
 scriptural instruction, excepting in schools, but rather, 
 regarding efforts to this end with jealousy, and casting 
 discouragement upon them. — If we should find that in 
 this body, one half or three fourths of its congregations, 
 were without a Minister of the Gospel, and in some of 
 them for months, if not for years together, the Gospel 
 sound was never heard : I say, if we should find such 
 a body, and that body strenuously labonring to recon- 
 cile its members to this state of things — in fact, en- 
 endeavouring to persuade them to be satisfied without 
 that, which the body itself acknowledges as " the ap- 
 pointed instrument for making known to man the Divine 
 plan of grace and salvation ;" what should we think ? 
 Should we not at lea^st suspect that all was not right ? 
 
 C 
 
V 
 
 O DEFENCE OF 
 
 But, more especially, I put it to the deliberate and 
 most serious consideration of the Committee, whether, 
 in the responsible situation in which they themselves 
 are placed in the Quarterly Meeting, which is the ob- 
 ject of their particular care, the^ have, in consistency 
 with their own views, and under a concern for the wel- 
 fare of the souls of their fellow men, done all in their 
 power to i)roniote the employment of this "appointed 
 instrument ;" whether they have done their duty in 
 endeavouring to strengthen the hands of those who 
 were preaching the Gospel of Christ ; and under much 
 ol)lo(|uy, and many discouragements, persevering in 
 their efforts, to promote the prayerful study of Holy 
 Scripture : or whether, they have not given the weight 
 of their influence to those who are avowedly adverse 
 to the social studt/ of Ho I j/ Scri/jture, and secretly, 
 
 BIT MOST SEDULOUSLY ENDEAVOURING TO SUPPRESS 
 
 THE PREACHING OF THE GosPEL ; to those who are 
 determinedly opposed to the application of the verif 
 instrument, appointed bif God for effecting the gracioiis 
 purpose of making known toman the Divine plan of 
 ,y:raec and salvation : an opposition not so nmcli exliib- 
 ited by an open hostility to the doctrines preached by 
 evangelical Ministers, as in an insidious attempt to un- 
 dermine them, with the hackneyed objection, with 
 which it is impossible to grapple, that their ministry 
 is not in the life : an objection, frequently urged l)y 
 those who, although they may occupy high stations in 
 the Society, have need to be taught " which be the 
 FIRST PRINCIPLES of the oraclcs of God." 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 1) 
 
 Again, the Committee say, " we olyect as strongly as 
 our friend Isaac Crewdson, to any overstrained views 
 of the precious doctrine of tlie ''inward light," as if 
 this light were to be expected to bring men to a know- 
 ledge of the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ, without 
 the intervention of an outward revelation." 
 
 I conclude the Committee would also maintain, that 
 it would be an overstrained view, (I will not say of the 
 ])recious doctrine of the inward light, but) of the imme- 
 diate teaching of the Holy Spirit, to expect to be brought 
 to a knowledge of the resurrection, and ascension of our 
 Lord and of all or any of the other great doctrines of 
 Christianity, without the intervention of an outward 
 revelation, "the Holy Scriptures being the ajtpointed 
 means of making known to us the blessed truths of 
 Christianity." 
 
 The Committee si>eak of "the inward light" as bring- 
 ing to a knowledge. — May I submit to their considera- 
 tion ; whether light does not spring from knowledge, if 
 indeed, light and knowledge be not identical — See some 
 remarks on ii. Cor. iv. 6., at pp. 39, 40. I believe the 
 misaj)prehension of this passage has done much mischief 
 in our Society. 
 
 Again, the Committee say, " like our early Friends, 
 we believe in no principle whatsoever of spiritual light, 
 life, or holiness, except the influence of the Holy Spirit 
 of God, bestowed on mankind in various measures and 
 degi'ees, through Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 It is not our present business to enter into the (jues- 
 tion, what was, or what was not. the belief of our early 
 
 > 
 
10 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 11 
 
 Friends ; nor is it for me to enquire, how far the views 
 of the Committee are in accordance with theirs, but it 
 was a satisfaction to me, to be informed in full Com- 
 mittee, (at least when twelve of your number were 
 present) on your visit at Manchester, in Twelfth Month 
 last, that your sentiments on this subject, were not in 
 accordance with Barclay's unscriptural theory, the "Ve- 
 hiculem Dei." 
 
 But, if the Committee believe in no principle what- 
 soever of spiritual light, life, or holiness, except the 
 Holy Spirit of God," and " that no doctrine which is 
 not contained in the Holy Scriptures, can he required 
 of amj one to he helieved as an article offaith^ it is to 
 be regretted, that they do not discard the unscriptural 
 and mischievous phraseology, « the inward lights and 
 unequivocally renounce that fundamental doctrine, in 
 the theory of Hicks, which he evidently intended to 
 convey by this phrase ;— a doctrine which, in the " Re- 
 ply," I have proved, refers to a pretended << principle 
 of spiritual light, life, or holiness," entirely different 
 from - the influence of the Holy Spirit of God, bestowed 
 through Jesus Christ." This, by the acknowledgment 
 of the Committee, is a main point of difference between 
 us. If they are convinced, that they were mis-informed 
 respecting Elias Hicks' notions on this subject, let 
 them, instead of asserting, that " his heresy consisted 
 not in holding, or pretending to hold this precious part 
 of D, vme Tnith ; but in denying other parts of the great 
 i^lau of redemption," confess, that his theory on this 
 subject is the doctrine of infidelity : and that they now 
 
 see, tliat the Author of the "Beacon" is not cliargeable 
 with want of respect and caution," because, he dis- 
 tinguished this false doctrine, from the true doctrine ot 
 the Holy Spirit as set forth in Scripture. This, I think, 
 as candid men, and as Cliristians, they are bound 
 to do. 
 
 Again, the Connnittee say, (and tliis I consider as 
 tlie general charge which includes the whole,) " Wf 
 consider that the Author of tlie '* Beacon," in his defence 
 of fundamental doctrines, which we fully acknowledge, 
 and in holding up a warning against the deadly errors 
 of Elias Hicks, has infringed, in various particulars, on 
 some important parts of Divine Trutli, known to liavc 
 \k'QU always tinnly held by the Society of Friends." 
 
 Whilst it is very satisfactory to find the Committee, 
 so fully acknowledge the " Beacon" as a defence of 
 fundauiental doctrines which they liold, and a warn- 
 ing against deadly errors ; (no slight recommendation, 
 surely, of a book which has now been in a fiery ordeal, 
 for more than eighteen months ;) I repel tlie charge 
 of having infringed on Divine Truth, either more or 
 less important. Divine Truth, is independent of all 
 hinnan opinion, and our only standard of it is the 
 Bible, because, the "declarations contained in the Holy 
 Scriptures, rest on the authority of God himself, and no 
 doctrine which is not contained in them, can be re- 
 (juired of any one to be believed as an article of faitli, 
 and from them there can be no appeal to any other 
 authority whatsoever." On the Bible, therefore, by 
 which I have, again and again, professed my m illing- 
 
 c 2 
 
 i 
 
 . '■'.oiAfiSLjSltsj 
 
12 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 THK BEACON. 
 
 13 
 
 ness that the " Beacon" should be tried ; I take my 
 stand. If by this test I am proved guilty, I am ready 
 to confess it, and make the fullest reparation, but, if I 
 by this test am not proved guilty, the Connnittee are 
 bound injustice, to give me a verdict of full acquittal. 
 Although they stand in the place of accusers, judge and 
 jury, I trust they will act as enlightened and responsible 
 Christians. 
 
 Before I enter upon the examination of the various 
 objections against the ^^ Beacon," which the Committee 
 arrange under six heads, I would make one or two 
 general remarks. 
 
 Thr' Committee detach from their context, those 
 pa^^uges in the " Beacon" which they consider as ex- 
 ceptionable, anduliat is of more consequence, from the 
 pernicious sentiments on which they are a comment. This 
 course the Committee pursue through the whole exam- 
 ination, with only one exception, in some instances 
 not a little to my disadvantage, as the extracts fre- 
 quently bear a different aspect, in tlie naked form in 
 which they are put forth and connnented on by the 
 Committee, from what they do as they stand in the 
 *' Beacon." This has grieved me ; nevertheless, I con- 
 sider it a small matter, compared with the apparent 
 sanction given to the sentiments of Hicks, by the 
 almost entire silence in which these are passed over by 
 the Committee, whilst engaged in examining and freely 
 censuring the remarks of an Author, whose avowed ob- 
 ject was to hold up a warning against them. 
 
 The Committee ?:^pear to have sometimes forgotten. 
 
 Head y.J 
 
 that it was a scriptural examination in which they were 
 engaged ; they generally pass over the scriptural evi- 
 dence which supi)ort the remarks in the '' Beacon," and 
 frequently do not, themselves, adduce scripture. They 
 occasionally bring forward objections, not in the shape 
 of direct and tangible charges, but rather as inferences ; 
 they remark, such seems to be the bearing— tendency- 
 apparent design, &c. kc. And these inferences, (which 
 are frequently not just) and also the charges, are some- 
 times supported onlt^ by the apprehension— the fear— 
 the strong objection, ^c. of the Committee. I mention 
 this particulariy, because, although these instances are 
 wholly without the acknowledged line of examination, 
 still they carry something of an air of serious charge, 
 to which they are not entitled. 
 
 HEXD I. 
 
 Obj. 1.— The Committee say, "it is an error, against 
 which, Friends from their first rise to the present day, 
 have ever placed a strong guard, so to treat on the 
 subject of the Holy Scriptures, as, in any degree, to 
 place them in a position, which belongs on/y to the 
 Saviour of whom they testify. There appears to us to 
 be a tendency to this error, in the following passage 
 of the "Beacon," see Second Edition, p. 128." 
 
 For an answer to this remark, I refer to my '^ Reply;" 
 only I would add, that the frequent reference in the 
 -Statement;" to that which Friends have, or have 
 not held, is foreign to our object, which is acknow- 
 ledged to be, a scriptural examination of the Bea 
 con ; " the Holy Scriptures being the only divinely 
 
14 
 
 nr.FF.xcE or 
 
 [H^'ud I. 
 
 authorised record of the doctrines of true religion, and 
 of the „,oral principles which are to regt.late our actions, 
 a".l that no doctrine which is not contained in then., can 
 
 '.-• -imred of any one to be IK^^^^^^^^^ 
 ot luith. ' 
 
 Obj.2 TheCoinnnttee object to ,ny application of 
 
 John, V 10. ; ^^ He that believeth not God, hath nu.le 
 'Hin a bar because he believeth not the record that Go<l 
 .ave f H. Son." They say they apprehend, that the 
 
 u liole written revelation" (leaving, out the words ^^con- 
 TT' ^-- CA.... our Lor,. .., „. ... ,^,..,,,,, ,.,,, 
 
 ./..../ /,/.,") ,s not here referred to by the apostle : but 
 -y state no reason for this apprehension. Ou,.ht thev 
 not to have sa.d precisely, to what they believed th'e 
 apostle did refer:- ^V^-t do we know of Jesus Christ 
 ^•vs the only way to eternal life, except by the Hol, 
 >^.>J/...., . .„, ,,,^, ,,,,,, ^^^^^,^^^. ^^^^^^. ;^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^. ^ 
 
 u. the blessed truth, of ChrManit., r When it is 
 
 the Bible from Genesis to Kevelation ;-that "to Hn, 
 g-e all the Prophets witness, that through his name 
 Hhosoe^^r bebeveth in Him shall receive remission of 
 ^".s. I cannot but consider the passage, 1 John v. 
 10, ixs apply m.,vith great force to "the whole written 
 revelation of the Spirit concerning Jesus Christ our 
 ^ord, as tlie one way to eternal life." Seeing ^hc 
 Holy Scriptures are t„k aj.^ointed instrument for 
 •naking known to mankind the divine plan of grace and 
 salvation through Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,"- 
 Ho- fearful should we be of limiting the application of 
 
 Head /.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 15 
 
 a passage, which, with peculiar force, declares the 
 absolute necessity of our believing the testimony of the 
 Scriptures, — ''the record which G6d hath given of 
 
 His Son." 
 
 Obj. 3 The Committee also object to the sentiment, 
 
 that believing on the Son of God, and believing the record 
 which God hath given of his Son, are equivalent. And 
 to support their objection, adduce 1 John v. 12, "He 
 that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the 
 Son of God hath not life," and John v. 39, 40, " Search 
 the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal 
 life ; and they are they which testify of me ; and ye 
 will not come to me, that ye might have life." These 
 passages, I conceive, have no bearing on the question; 
 they would have been applicable, if it had been, whether 
 in order to eternal life, it is necessary to have the Son, 
 and to come to Christ ; but on these points the Com- 
 mitttee and the Author of the " Beacon" are agreed. 
 The question simply is, whether the expressions, "be- 
 lieving on the Son of God," and " believing the record 
 which God hath given of His Son" are equivalent? 
 The Committee say, " There is a sound and important 
 distinction, between that belief in the truth of the 
 record, without which we make God a liar, and that 
 heartfelt faith in Him of whom the record testifies— 
 that reliance of the soul on Chnst in all his gracious 
 offices, — through which we receive the gift of everlast- 
 ing life." To have stated their objection justly, and to 
 have supported it, the Committee should have shotvn 
 wherein consists any sound and important distinction 
 
\G 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Ileftf/ /. 
 
 between the heartfelt l,elief of the record, and the 
 heartfelt belief in Hini of whom the record testifies: for 
 it h ''with the heart man believeth nnto ri-hteousness," 
 Rom. X. 10. 
 
 The following passages appear to me decisively to 
 prove, that the two expressions, " believing on' the 
 Son," and "believing the record which God hath given 
 of his Son," are equivalent. John iii. 3C., "He that 
 l)elieveth on the Son hath everlasting life : and lie that 
 be/i,reth not the Son shall not see life." Believing not 
 the Son, (i. e. the testimony of the Son,) is here i)lainly 
 put as the oi)posite of believing on the Son. Again, 
 John V. 46, " Had ye believed Moses, ye would have 
 l>elieved me, for he wrote of me." Believing Moses, 
 is here put by our Lord in the place of belieWng the 
 record, and is equivalent to it. Do not these passages 
 plainly shew— that the Jews did not believe Christ, be- 
 cause they did not believe the record; and that had 
 they believed the record, they would have believe(f 
 Christ—they would have believed on airist—they 
 would have come to Him-thoy would Iku e accepted 
 his salvation. Is not, then, believing with the heart 
 the recorcl-the testimony; of God and our Saviour, 
 equivalent to believing o/i the Fathr and the Son ^ 
 Much harm has arisen from misty and undefined 
 notions of >///,; and I would ask mv friends of the 
 Committee, whether, it is not by belief of the word, or 
 testimony of God, made known either by liearin- or 
 reading, and applied to the understanding and" the 
 I'eart by the Holy Spirit, that the soul is brought to 
 
 Head /.] 
 
 THE BEACOX. 
 
 17 
 
 "that reliance on Christ, in all his gracious offices, 
 through which we receive the gift of everlasting life?" 
 And whether this is not true fiiitli, and strictly in ac- 
 cordance with the doctrine of the apostle, — " God hath 
 from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through 
 sanctitication of the Spirit and belief of the truth : 
 whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the ob- 
 taining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ ?" Al- 
 though there may be in vulgar accei)tation a lower sense 
 of tliiJ words, is not the true scriptural sense of the 
 teniis " brliff and ''faith'' confined to this reception 
 of the truth with the Hearth 
 
 01)j. 4 To my expositiim of Horn. viii. 2, the 
 
 Committee object, but, offer no scriptural autliority. 
 They apprehend, that, " the law of the Spirit of life in 
 Christ Jesus, which makes free from the law of sin 
 and death, is neither the volume of Scripture, nor tht* 
 announcement which it contains, but that l)lessed dis- 
 pensation of grace and salvation which the Gosi>el 
 an?wunces, and which the apostle is here contrasting 
 with the dispensation of the law." 
 
 The apostle, 1 Cor. xv. 1,2, says, " I declare unto 
 you the Gospel which I i)reached unto you, which, also 
 ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also 
 ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto 
 you. unless ye have believed in vain." Now wherein 
 lies the difference, between the Gospel, by which 
 believers are saved — which "is the power of God unto 
 salvation, to every one that believeth,'' and " the law of 
 tlie spirit of life," which sets ''free from tlie law of sin 
 
 I 
 
J 
 
 i^ 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head I. 
 
 and death." Indeed, it appears to me, tliat the Com- 
 mittee themselves, take very much the same view of the 
 passage that I have done, since they describe " the la\\ 
 of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus*' as that blessed 
 diyjensation of grdce and salvation which, (say they) 
 the apostle is here contrastmg with the dispensatioyi 
 of the lawT The term Gospel is manifestly used in the 
 passage objected to, in that sense in which, also, as I 
 think, the Committee use the phrase '* the dispensation 
 nfsrrace and salvation" i. e., in the sense in which, by 
 tiie very common figure of metonomy, frequently used 
 in Scripture, the thing containing is put for that con- 
 tained — the message for its great and glorious subject. 
 1 would, however, be far from saying, that this 
 passage may not have a reference to that spiritual life, 
 which the believer receives through Jesus Christ, hv 
 the quickening of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Obj. 5. — The Committee say, they "are sorry to 
 observe a variety of remarks in the '' Beacon,'* which 
 appear designed to give countenance to the common 
 practice, of calling the Bible in a naked and exclusive 
 sense, the word of God." 
 
 That there is one single remark in the Beacon, that 
 is, or that can fairly be constnied to be, designed to 
 countenance the calling the Bible in an exclusive sense, 
 " the word of God," I do not admit ; I believe as fully 
 as the Committee can do, that the phrase is used in 
 Scripture to designate the Lord Jesus Christ. How 
 then should I desire it to be applied exclumvelif to the 
 Scriptures ? This would certainly be to go into the op- 
 
 Tire BEACON. 
 
 11) 
 
 Head L\ 
 
 posite error, to that against which I contend. Never- 
 theless, I hesitate not to say, tliat I conceive we have 
 the highest authority for calling the Scriptures *' the 
 word of God." The phrase is applied by our Lord 
 himself to the ?rri7/e« word. Mark vii. 13, "making 
 the word of God of none effect through your tradition ;" 
 and our Lord adds, " many such like things ye do r' 
 Compare the parallel passage Matt. xv. G, " Thus have 
 ve made the conunandment of God of none effect by 
 your- tradition." From which it is manifest, that the 
 terms " The word of God," and " the commandment of 
 God," are used in Holy Scripture as perfectly syn- 
 onvmous. 
 
 ft- 
 
 Indeed the Committee acknowledge that tlie phrase 
 ■-' the word," (they might have s^id) " the word of God," 
 is often used in Scripture, to designate the will or 
 " tnitli of God." And yet in the same paragraph, they 
 say, *' We believe it to be safest to restrict the 
 application of tliis epithet, (the word of God,) as a 
 title of pre-eminence to the divine Saviour himself." In 
 my " Reply," I put the query to the Committee, " whe- 
 ther, for a religious body to say with the Committee, 
 • We brlieve it safest to restrict the application of the 
 epithet to the Saviour,* would not amount to a refec- 
 tion on our Lord and his Apostles, wlio have repeatedly 
 employed it another sense ?" 
 
 In a personal interview with me, the Committee re- 
 pelled this inference, remarking, that the words " as a 
 title of pre-eminence'* were rendered emphatic in their 
 " Statement," that had I observed this, I could not 
 
 D 
 
20 
 
 DKFENCE OF 
 
 IHead 1. 
 
 have dra\\n the conclusion wliicli is implied in my 
 (juery ; — viz, that the restriction would amount to a 
 reflection on our Lord and his Apostle-. 
 
 1 should be sorry by my inattention, to ])ut a mean- 
 iiiii on the words of the Conunittee, which they did 
 not intend to convey, but I think my construction was 
 [icrtectly natural, because I was bound to suppose, the 
 remark in the " Statement" related to somethinu: con- 
 tained in the '' Beacon ;" and the '' Beacon" contains no 
 Niieh sentiment as that tlie epithet, *' tli<» \vi\r<\ of God/' 
 sliouhl nut be applied to the Saviour as a title of pre- 
 eminence ; nor that it sliouhl he applied to the Scrip- 
 tures as a title of pre-eminence ; but the sentiment 
 which it does contain, is, that it is (piite })roper to 
 ap[)ly the epithet "• tlie word of Gt)d,'' to the written 
 word, as well as to the Son of God, — and as tliis senti- 
 iiHMit i< classed amon«^st those thin<^s to which the C'om- 
 miiiee object, I do think it was quite just in nu', U\ 
 infer that they believed it safest to apply tlie epithet to 
 tlie Saviour o/i/i/, and us a title of pre-e)ninence ; be- 
 cause if I had not drnwn tiiis inference. I nnist have 
 been forced to thr eoiiclusion, that tlie Connnittee's 
 observation was not made in reference to any thinir 
 (•ontained in tlie '* Beacon." The conclusion I nm left 
 tn t]y:\\\\ is, tliat th'v did ii(>t intend to olyect to tlir 
 .ippKcaiion of the teiiu uhich I contend for. 
 
 i am especially induced to advert to this subject. 
 First, from a firm conviction, that Scriptuyp fnifhnritti is 
 ": ' ^ the scruple which many friends have iiud, lo eall- 
 iuii tiio Scriptures the '• word of God," and that, to en- 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 21 
 
 Head /.] 
 
 tertain it, is " to be wise above that which is written," 
 whilst all nmst admit, that it is not a doctrine contained 
 in Scripture, and therefore cannot " be required of an> 
 one to be believed as an article of faith."— Secondly, 
 that whatever danger there may be, of some passages 
 of Scripture being applied to the written word, that 
 belong only to Christ the Eternal Word, (which error 
 ought certainly to be guarded against,) I believe, that 
 in rejecting i\ui> Scriptural phrase to designate the 
 NNTitten word, there is incomparably m(n-e danger : inas- 
 nmch as this scruple has greatly tended to the depre- 
 ciation of the Holy Scriptures, and caused many in our 
 Society really to estimate them lower than as the word 
 or Message of God '.—^ danger, indeed, of the first 
 magnitude, and which, I believe, has operated greatly, 
 in promoting the wide spread of the Ilicksite heresy. 
 
 Obj. T).— The Conunittee say, - There is surely reason 
 for believing, that the following passage, Heb. iv. 12. 
 13. ^The word of God is quick and powerful, &c.,' 
 part of which is quoted in the Beacon as relating to 
 the declaratory word, is descriptive of the Son of (iod 
 himself." But they offer no evidence from Scripture 
 for this belief, except that they refer to Rev. xix. 1 1 — H>. 
 I agree with the Committee, that Rev. xix. 1 1— Hi. 
 relates as a whole, to the Lord Jesus Christ, but I 
 submit, whether the fore part of the 1 5th verse, "Out 
 of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he 
 should smite the nations," does not relate to His word ? 
 The language is remarkably similar to Heb. iv. 12. 
 - The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper 
 
i 
 
 »>•> 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head I. 
 
 than any two edged sword/' c<cc., and both passages 
 ap})v'ar to nie admirably descriptive of that *• instrument," 
 (as it i> denominated by tlie Committee,) the declara- 
 tory word ; which hy the appointhtent of God, is in 
 the hand of the Spirit, the etiicacious niriTK of sub- 
 dnhi . n... obdurate and wicked heart m num. and 
 bringing; imn to the '^obedience of faith ;" and to which 
 •* instrument" such mighty etlVcts are attributed in Scrip- 
 tun • l^eacon." 'id. edition, p. K), and 1 w ouid (|uery 
 ^' unie of tiie passages with which tiiis text is 
 elasst d in the - Beacon," are not so analogous, as to be 
 a stroTiiT evidence in favor of mv intcrj)retati(»n of tliis 
 ' ■" ■ ' '-^ve quuuuit. But I tliink th.' 
 siruagest evidence m favor of it is. that in tlie whole 
 preceding part of the Epistle t > tiu l!ebnnv<. the 
 A]>n<t]f i< nrguing ^^-rv, amazing ^^ -f-.'. \,,^. i^arful 
 u-iii-Lr (!i not belitving the word spoken in these last 
 
 days THE Sox of God, chap. i. 2 - the thin^-< 
 
 wlsich we have he-r,l." ii. 1 — -tlie ^vf^nf salvation 
 
 ^ " first b. .^.iM io be Spur.-.]] by the Lord, v. 3. 
 
 — •tlie voice of Christ.'' iii. 15 — The pvonthe of en- 
 
 terimjr into his rest," iv. 1 — •• the Gosi>el preached unto 
 
 .-.iid >;iai;)',r tuaii any two t dgcd sword, 
 pieri veil to the dividing asunder of soul and 
 
 M>irir, and of the joints and mitrroAv. and is a discerner 
 ightsau'^ ■• ^.'uts of the iitart," iv. 12. and to 
 u.iKii point, at the cuhclusion of the Epistle, in iXa.^ 2oth 
 e 12th chapter, he returns, and winds up his 
 whole argument witii rhi< niost ♦ "iievt ,..1 touchini: 
 
 s 
 
 Head TT.-] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 2.S 
 
 appeal, — ''See that yk refuse not him that 
 
 SPEAKETH," &:C. 
 
 Having gone through all the objections under the 
 first head. I now recal the attention of mv friends of 
 tile Luiiiiuittee, to their charge against me, viz: — ''We 
 consider that the Author of the Beacon, in his defence 
 of fundamental doctrines w hich we fully acknowleda'e. 
 and in holding up a warning against the deadly errors 
 of Elias Hicks, has infringed in various jjartirulars un 
 some important parts of Divine Truth,'' — and to their 
 declaration, that '• they entered into a scriptural exa- 
 mination of the Beacon. — And I appeal to them, as 
 men of candour, and as Christians, not, whether my 
 replies have been satisfactory, for that is not the 
 question, but whether theif, the Committee, have proved 
 
 their charge, that I have infringed upon Divine Truth 
 
 the truth of tiie Bible — in any of the i)aiticulars under 
 the first head. 
 
 HEAD II. 
 
 The Committee bring forward no charge against me 
 under the second Head, but their remarks are expressed 
 so as to imphf two charges. — Now, although I do not 
 apprenend that tendencif, inference, heating, apparent 
 desicrn,'' ice, would, by most persons, be deemed a 
 suliicient ground for conclusions in so grave a case, 
 and I would not l)e thought to recoirnise them as such . 
 yet 1 shall make a few remarks upon these implied 
 charges, in order to show how little they are supported 
 by the extracts quoteH ^v the Committee as exception- 
 able, and also to show, iliat the extracts themselves. 
 
 d2 
 
 i 
 
i 
 
 •24 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head 11, 
 
 are in no wise proved not to be in perfect accordance 
 with tlie doctrines of Scripture. These implied charges 
 First, tliat I huu spoken of the sacred volume, as 
 the onlii channel tlirough which the Holy Spirit operates 
 for the conversion and salvation of men. On this point 
 thn (^^n^mittee al^o --, they -iiuve strong objections 
 :ie ojariiit'- of the remarks on the subject of Corne- 
 lius." p. 30, second edition. Beacon. But, they do not 
 even attempt to show, that these remarks are at variance 
 ,.Uh ^' Truth of Gua, as revealed in Holy ScriiKure,— 
 AiuL second that I had spoken of the " Christian Re- 
 velation'' in such a wav. as to limit the saviiiL'' oT)era- 
 tio!i«;ofr^o TTnlv ( -. In my - lUj .. . . x.pelled 
 :iLse \nwrcucv> — and tiie observations of the 
 I •iimiittee not l>eing supported l)y proof, necessarily 
 fail to the ground. 
 
 I "'<^' it to be div.ur.iy understood, that the follow- 
 ing remarks, are not intended to have the least refer- 
 ence to any question, as to the dealings <.f God with 
 those to whom thf^ tn^^h. ,.f Christianity ' - hceu 
 
 made iv::u\\ii, and I would ta'ke this oppurtumiy of 
 saying, that the object of the remarks in th" " Bracon," 
 from which tlie pa-''*a::'es now nndfr rnri^if^prn^irni uer- 
 '" " '^f uiiLier iA;e iiL ;icaii, na* 
 
 Oeen eiiarely mi-apprt-hended bv the Commiitee; thev 
 Mere written, not for th^ purpose of touchin-j this our^^- 
 ti*r:}. bnt \vtrh tn.> i^^.^ir . ,S ".<nMt«.f^(»^jj.^ -ucii "ciili- 
 ''■■■ .1^ are t\prt's>id in t.ie (quotations from Hicks' 
 
 st-nnons, which quotations have no panicular reference 
 !f Heathen. The dir«>ct allusion to thp H'a*^if-n at 
 
 Head 11.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 2o 
 
 p. 74 of the '' Beacon," was for the very puqjose of 
 contining the attention of the Reader, to that which 
 concerns those who hare the knowledire of the Holv 
 Scripture*?, and to j^revent him flying oft' to the never 
 failing t^utstion, *' Hoic then iciil the Heathen be dealt 
 frith ^ and what i.i to become of them ?^ A question 
 whicli man, with all his intrenuitv can never decide. It 
 i«? nnp of the '* secret t^nngs" which "belong to (Jod,** 
 iLuii uhicli had it been for us to know. He would, un- 
 d<mbt4Hllv. more fullv have revealed. 
 
 I am no more called upon to determine as to the 
 dealings of God with those, to whom the knowledge of 
 life and salvation through /«/^^ in Jesus Christ, has not 
 been extended, than I am to decide on the condition of 
 the inhabitants of another Planet. Their case is in the 
 hands of Him. who is the Judge of all the Earth, and 
 wh- -uredly, will do right. But, as a Christian 
 l)eliever. I am bound steadily to maintain, the onhj 
 j)laii of life and salvation which I find revealed in Scrip- 
 ture, and constantlv to assert, that I find no other ; — 
 that I know no other. This is true charitv, but under 
 wl'atever semblance of justifying the ways of God. 
 i cnaritv (falselv so called) to the Heathen, for us 
 to chalk out another wav of salvation, is tlie verv re- 
 
 k ft 
 
 verse. 1 regard it as one of die most su])tle delusions 
 
 ' "•* "^ *^'*^ most cniel artifices, that the Devil has ever 
 prueiised upon man. For we no sooner open out 
 anotlier way of salvation, l>eside that v. hi-h God hath 
 revealed, but. as an inevitable consequence, the impres- 
 lii :;uaie d«*gree produced. x\\2lX fnitk in Jesii< 
 
 M'jii :> ij 
 
2G 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head II. 
 
 Christ is not ahsolutrli/ essential, and onr worthless 
 specnlation is embraced, for ought we know, at the 
 cost of eternal life, nay more, to the eternal perdition 
 of immortal souls.* The effects, in our Society, have 
 been deplorable. 
 
 I say, it was with the desire of counteracting such 
 sentiments as are expressed in the following «]uotations. 
 that the "Beacon" was written: — sentiments dishonour- 
 able to CJod, as setting up the wisdom of man above 
 His vvisdcmi; subversive of the Gospel ui om* Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and " derogatory to the character and 
 offices of the Holy Ghost as declared in Scripture;" and 
 a real I'unitinijr of the Holy Spirit, as to His declared 
 way of teaching the things which pertain to life and 
 salvation — the ** doctrines of true religion, — the doctrine 
 which we, as Christians, are bound to l)elievc, and the 
 
 moral principles which are to regulate our actions:" 
 
 a most presumptuous restricting of Ilini to one particu- 
 lar mode of teaching, viz: — innnediate revelation, in 
 direct ojjposition to that consummate wisdom, which 
 has ''appointed the Holy Scriptures, with the preaching 
 of the Gospel, as the instrument for making known X^^ 
 us the blessed truths of Ciu-istianity : — the divine plan 
 of salvation through Jesus Christ. 
 
 '* Wi" are not to look to man to know the will of God, and 
 if we are not to look to man, then cortainlv not to that whieli 
 
 * God is not limited to the use of any moans,— ncverthelos la- has appointed! 
 a metliod of convei-tinsr souls to the knowledge of Himself, and, though we 
 presume not to say what changes He may effect in the minds of unenlightened! 
 Heathens, yet we have no reason to expect that He will disi>cnse with the 
 means where he has sent the light of the V,oii\>e\."—Siineon. 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 Head 11.^ 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 2: 
 
 is less than man, the writi/u/s of man. AVe must turn in, to 
 the witness for God in our own hearts. For it is »? great truth, 
 that what is to he known of God is manifested only in man. 
 There is the place that he manifests himself. He donU speak 
 to us carnal, animal, out tea rd creatures. lie does not speak to 
 our outward senses." — '* He is onli/ known and found in the 
 still small voice, like that which sjiid to Elijah, ' What doest 
 thou here, Elijah.'" — pp. 90, 91, Hicks^ Sermons. 
 
 " It is tln-oiigh this Comforter that «// our knowledge of God 
 nniat come ; and all that ever was, among rational beings under 
 heaven, came through this medium, and none other, — But by 
 our believing that we can help ourselves to heaven by the aid 
 of the Scriptures, a mlhi: written book, at the same time 
 that we understand it so diversely, sets us to warring and 
 quarreUing, Has not this been long enough the case for every 
 rational being to he instructed, and to sec that instead of its 
 being a sulVicicJit rule of faith and practice, it is the reverse 
 for while it is depended on as such, it hinders from coming to 
 the truth. The Scriptures never told us that they were a suffi- 
 cient rule ; but they recommend us to that from which they 
 themselves had their origin, — the Spirit of trutli." — p, 37. 
 Hicks* Sermons. 
 
 Sentiments similar to the above I am sorrv to sav, 
 are held, in various degrees, by members of our Society 
 in this country, even by some, who sincerely think, 
 tliat from their very hearts they abhor Hicksism : but 
 who sec not, that in setting up the teaching of " the 
 light within," in the place of the teaching of the Spirit 
 by his own written revelation, they bold the very root 
 of Hicksism. 
 
 Far be it from me to say, that the sacred volume is 
 the on(y channel through which the Holy Spirit operates 
 for the conversion and salvation of men, or to set any 
 
28 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head 11. 
 
 limit to His free and unfettered operations : — Even in 
 the dispensations of providence, I believe. He operates 
 in various ways, to draw tlie mind to that " Grace and 
 Truth" whieli - came l)y Jesus Christ," and which the 
 Holy Spirit has revealed in the Bible. Hut the Com- 
 mittee seem not to have perceived th(' distinction, be- 
 tween lihiiting the Dpt-iations of tiie Spirit, and testi- 
 fyinu: against that beinir predicated of tlie Spirit, whicli 
 He himself hath not tau«,dit. It would, indeed, be pre- 
 sumptuous; in me, to limit the Holy Spirit, but is it not 
 also presumi)tuous, to hold or teach, that whieh we iind 
 not in the written word ? Now in the New Testament, 
 I Iind not any other plan of salvation, bo^ido that one 
 *' Divine plan" by grace through faith m -Jesus Christ 
 and Him crucified."— In that revelation. I find it also 
 clearly stated, that faith comes bv hearini:, and hearing 
 by the word of f ^.d," by which I understand, that 
 
 word that was revealed to Apostles and Prophets 
 
 that (Gospel of wliieh the Lord Jesus spake, when he 
 said—'' Go ye into all the world, and ])reaeh the 
 GosjU'l to ( \(iy creature; he that believeth and is i)ap- 
 tised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be 
 damned ;" and whieh word by the appointment of God. 
 comes down to ns tlirough the Holy Scriptures. Then. 
 with th> C'yy//////7/<r, 1 conclude, "that the Holy Scriptures 
 are able to makewiseunto salvation, throuifh faith which 
 is in Christ Jesus ; and that. ;/•//// fh*- frrpnrhinfr of the 
 Gn,r..f.TUYx ar>' TH.. ^i nnjudtd iniiti'ument {mx wv^Vm^ 
 knounio mankind, that divine plan of grace and salvation 
 through Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, to whicli tliev 
 
 « 
 
 \ 
 
 H 
 
 (' 
 
 i 
 
 Head IL\ 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 29 
 
 bear so clear a testimony." — To maintain this veru 
 truth, were the remarks in the " Beacon" written, from 
 which these passages, deemed exceptionable, are taken. 
 Between these remarks as a whole, and the sentiments 
 of tlie Conunittee, there is the most striking accordance, 
 — yet, for advocating tJiis Truth, in opposing the most 
 '* deadly errors," "' I am called in ([uestion by you this 
 day." 
 
 The Committee will particularly observe, that the 
 remarks stand in the Beacon, in opposition to the 
 opinions of Hicks and his adherents, that God is mani- 
 fested or made known, (not by thepreacliing of inspired 
 Aposik.s, — not by the Holy Scriptures given by inspi- 
 ration of God, — not by instrumental means of any 
 
 kind ; — nay, not bv the livintr voice the outward de- 
 
 claration of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, but, solely 
 auil e.rclu.sivehi. by immediate tereiatiftN. 
 
 It is deei)ly to be regretted, that the Committee 
 should pass over such a sentiment, so fraught with 
 <langer to the souls of men, without one word of dis- 
 approbation They nuist excuse me, if I use their own 
 
 words, and cpiery whether they ought not to '* consider 
 it dfvocratory to the character and offices of the Holv 
 Giiu-i." to s'-em to sanction, eveu hy silence, a doctrine 
 which disparages that mode of instruction, which God 
 iiath appointed, and the Holy (ihost hath taught ? 
 
 I nuist now make a rritical remark or two on the ob- 
 servations of the Conunittee. Had they perceived that 
 the remarks in the Beacon, selected by them as ex- 
 ceptionable, relate solely to vonveisi'jn, and are limited 
 
™f=f^S^?^*«S »^ 
 
 ''MjMMMsiMMkkiih 
 
 ^/M^^£lf^J^^i■^,^^.,■■":^,|| ', 
 
 
 30 
 
 .<) 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 lllrad II. 
 
 the time since the day of Penticost, they would 
 scarcely liave atteini)ted to support their ol)jeetions by 
 instances from the Old Testament : nnich less, would 
 tliey ha\e adduced Prophets, to whom, it is on all 
 hands agreed that tlie ^'lively Oracles" were immediately 
 committed. — These instances appear to me to bear in- 
 dirpct opposition to the theory of universal, inmiediate 
 i«\ elation, or universal saving light, and to be so many 
 proofs of that, which, I think the whole volume of 
 revelation establislies as an incontrovertible fact, that 
 under every dispensation, Patriarchal, Mosaick, and 
 Christian, it has pleased unerring Wisdom, to reveal 
 His Will inmiediately to special instruments, chosen by 
 Himself— to f])n i'n\v, for the benefit of the many, and 
 tluu i)ii suj/u-trnL cndence, — men are now, and (so far 
 a;? we know) always have been, bound to believe their 
 testimony. 
 
 If tlie Committee had brought forward, but one 
 single well authenticated case of conversion, since the 
 day of Pentecost, uholh/ independent of tlie knowledge 
 of (;od mid of his Holy will, communicated either 
 dir^ith/ in indirectlif by the Holy Scriptures, they 
 would, at least in part, have answered the (piery which 
 
 stands in the passage excepted against This cannot 
 
 1)t^ nffivnied, of either Cornelius or Paul, the two cases 
 aduueed by tlie Committee. The story of Hai Eben 
 Yokdan, quoted by Barclay to prove this point, and 
 which is to be fouiul in the early editions of his Apo- 
 h>gy, has been abandoned, and I know not that another 
 has been adduced. The instances of Children, as ad- 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 Head III.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 31 
 
 verted to by the Committee, living in what is called a 
 Christian Country, must, except under very extraordi- 
 nary circumstances, be considered too equivocal to be 
 admitted as proof. But if not one such case can be 
 brought forward, I do, as a Christian brother, submit to 
 the serious consideration of tlie Committee, whether, we 
 are warranted in expressing ourselves in such a way, as 
 to give the least encouragement to the notion, too much 
 prevailing among Friends, that we may expect to be 
 taught the knowledge of life and salvation in any other 
 way, than by the Holy Scriptures, ''the appointed 
 means" 
 
 irEAD III. 
 
 Obj. l—The remarks in the ** Beacon" under this head, 
 which are selected by the Committee as excei)tionable, 
 were written as I have already stated, in reference o?i/// 
 to those who have the Scripture revelation. The pas- 
 sage Iiere objected to, expressly applies to those, who 
 
 despise the method wliicii God has appointed; and it is 
 
 further evident by the word us, in the context being 
 made emphatic, and as I am desirous that we may not 
 perplex ourselves, with the case of those who have not 
 this revelation, I shall pass over the observations of the 
 Committee relating to the Heathen, evidently written 
 under a misa})prehension of the design of the follow- 
 
 ing passage, which they select as objectionable: "Or, 
 
 if we unhappily flatter ourselves, that we have the 
 knowledge of the will of God, independentlj of the 
 written revelation by which it has pleased him to con- 
 vey it, we lay ourselves open to the delusion of the 
 
32 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head III. 
 
 Devil, Mho, in the guise of an angel of light, may then 
 readily prevail upon us to receive as the truth of God, 
 whatever suggestions most comport with our particular 
 bent of mind." On reconsidering the passage under 
 this view, I think the Committee will unite with the 
 Author, that as "the Holy Scriptures are the appointed 
 means of making known to us the blessed truths of 
 Christianity, — tlie otilj/ divinely authorised record of 
 all the doctrines which we are bound as Christians to 
 believe, and of the moral principles which are to regu- 
 late our actions ; and that no doctrine which is not con- 
 tained in them, can be required of any one to be be- 
 lieved as an article of faith," — for us who have the 
 Scrii)tures to flatter ourselves, that we have the know- 
 ledge of the w ill of God, independently of the written 
 revelation, would be to lay ourselves open to the delu- 
 sion of the Devil. May I ask the Committee to re-ex- 
 amine the passage with its context in the "Beacon;" — the 
 error that it was written to refute, and the scriptural 
 evidence adduced to support the remarks. 
 
 In reference to the words "an inward light," as used 
 by the Connuittee, in their observations, I would re- 
 mark, — the word ^^lig-ht,^' is very commonly used in 
 Scripture for knowledge and when it is used in this 
 sense. It must of necessity mean an inward liifht, be- 
 
 ' «' l!_7 ' 
 
 cause all knowledge is in the mind. It is also used for 
 the source of knowledge of divine things; thus our 
 Lord says, "lam come a light into the world;" and 
 for the channel of this knowledge, thus he says of the 
 Apostles, "Ye are the light of the world." — The Holy 
 
 Head III.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 33 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Scrij)tures are also spoken of as a light in the same 
 sense; "The commandment is a lamp, and the law is 
 light" From which it is plain, that although the know- 
 ledge or light nmst ever be inward — that is, in the 
 mind, yet, that, from which the knowledge is comnui- 
 nicated, or the light reflected, may be outward, — and 
 thus as I apprehend the Apostle speaks of the works of 
 Creation, Rom. i. 19, 20. 
 
 Obj. 2 — Elias Hicks asserts, " There is a portion of 
 the Spirit given to every rational creature under hea- 
 ven." After shewing in the "Beacon" that this assertion 
 appears to be founded on an erroneous interpretation 
 1 Cor. xii. 7, it goes on, " and we think the reader will 
 admit that no such doctrine was here intended, as tliat 
 a portion of the Spirit is given to every rational crea- 
 ture ; in contradiction (as it appears to us,) of the ex- 
 press testimony of Christ, John xiv. 17, " whom tlu^ 
 world cannot receive." 
 
 This passage is selected by the Committee, as doubly 
 objectionable, — they say, "Here the Author of the Bea- 
 con declares his judgment, that it is contrary to the 
 doctrine of Christ, to say, that a portion of the Spirit is 
 given to every rational creature ; i. e., we presume, to 
 every human being w ho has the use of his reason. The 
 declaration of our Lord, that the world, i. e., those who 
 are living in the Spirit of the world, cannot receive the 
 Holy Ghost, the Comforter offers, as we think, no real 
 contradiction to the well known sentiment of Friends, 
 that the light, by w hich the law of God is in measure 
 made known to all men, is the light of the Holy Spirit." 
 
 I 
 
34 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head III. 
 
 In the first place, I cannot but express my grief, that 
 the Committee should have sanctioned tacitly, at least. 
 Hicks' perversion of 1 Cor. xii. 7. For to say nothing 
 of the inappropriate and incorrect expression, " a por- 
 tion of the Spirit r I apprehend that all biblical critics, 
 including those of the Committee, will agree, that the 
 expression, a manifestation of the Spirit is given to each 
 [ekasto] to profit withal, applies to the members of the 
 Corinthian Church who had received the Gospel and 
 the gifts of the Spirit,— ^nd has nothing to do, more or 
 less, with those who, in the Scriptural sense of the term, 
 are not believers. And yet, amongst Friends, it is often 
 used, as the Conunittee must be well aware, in the way 
 Hicks has used it, for the purpose of supporting the 
 doctrine of universal savinj- liglit ; a purpose for which 
 it was clearly never intended. I therefore trust, that 
 the Committee will not be willing to have it implied, 
 that they unite with Hicks in his interpretation. And,' 
 second, with regard to my application of the words of 
 the Lord Jesus, " whom the world cannot receive f I 
 think it is warranted by the following declarations, Lnd 
 many more might be given :~" Ye are not in the flesh, 
 but in the Spirit, if so he that the Spirit of God dwell 
 in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, 
 he is none of His." Kom. viii. 9. 
 
 " Tliis spake he of the Spirit, which the^^ that believe 
 on him should receive'' John vii. 3y. 
 
 ''Because ije are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit 
 of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father," Gal. 
 tv. G. - In whom ye also trusted, afer that ye heard 
 
 Head III.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 35 
 
 I 
 
 the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation ; in 
 whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with 
 that Holy Spirit of promise," Eph. i. 13. 
 
 " Received ye the Spirit, by the works of the law, or 
 by the hearing of faith;' Gal. iii. 2. 
 
 " The natural man receiveth 7io/ the things of the Spi- 
 rit of God, neither can he know them," ^^c, 1 Cor. ii. 1 4. 
 
 These passages, I think, incontrovertably teach, not 
 only that the indwelling of the Spirit is the privilege 
 of believers, but that is the privilege of believers only, 
 and not of the world," or as the Committee express it, 
 " those who are living in the Spirit of the world." A 
 doctrine very oj)posite to Hicks', viz., that " There is 
 a portion of the Spirit given to every rational creature 
 under Heaven, to profit withal," but neither these pas- 
 sages, nor John xiv. 17, are to be understood, as I 
 conceive, to be at variance with the Scripture doctrine, 
 " He shall reprove the world of sin," &c. 
 
 I submit, whether the passage, John i. 9, does not 
 evidently appear from the context, to relate exclusively 
 to the " word" that was made " flesh ;" i. e., to .Jesus 
 Christ, *^ in the days of his flesh ;" and whether to apply 
 it to the Holy Spirit, is not a construction unwarranted 
 by the context. As to the universality of its applica- 
 tion, the reader may do well to consider it in connexion 
 with the 7th verse, the verse but one immediately pre- 
 ceding. We there find the Apostle writes in a similar 
 style ; when the passage relates to John the Baptist, 
 and must of necessity be taken in a limited sense. 
 
 The two declarations adduced by the Committee, 
 
 E 2 
 
36 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head IV. 
 
 Head IV.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 37 
 
 •' The tender mercies of God are over all his works," 
 Ps. oxix. 9, and that Christ tasted '' death for every 
 Mian."' Ilch. ii. 9, I think are in no way contravened by 
 the extract objected against. 
 
 With the recollection, tliat the proof lies upon them, 
 the Connnittee will now determine, wlntlior in any of 
 the passages which ihey have selected from the Beacon, 
 as excei)tionable, and classed under the second and 
 third Heads, thei/ hare sustained the char^re, "that 
 the Author has infringed on Divine Truth" — the Truth 
 of the Bible. 
 
 HEAD IV. 
 
 We now come to the Fourth Head, which contains the 
 MAIN objection of the Committee to the *' Beacon." In 
 my ''Reply," to which I refer, I went at some lengtli 
 into the principal b^-anch of tlie subject, under this 
 Head, r. e., '-the inward Light:" but. as the Committee, 
 on their late visit to Manchesui, vApioatd the con- 
 tinuance of what they denominated *• their Scriptural 
 objections to the Beacon" I feel called u})on to state my 
 views a little more fully. In order, tl'-^rcfore, to bring 
 the subject fairly before us, I must luaxt- some quota- 
 tions; and, tii'st, the introductory observations of the 
 Committee: — thev sav, 
 
 Obj. 1. — '-But our main objection t.^ thn "Beacon," 
 has respect to those parts of it, in whica iiie immediate 
 and special intluences of the Holy Spirit, in the Church 
 of Christ, and in connexion with a knowledge of his 
 Gospel, are, as we think, depreciated and restricted. 
 In this point of view, we cannot but greatly object to 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 some expressions in the following passages:" — p. 6o, 
 2nd ed. Beacon. 
 
 The extract from Hicks, on which the passage from 
 the " Beacon" is a comment, is then quoted by the 
 Committee, and is as follows: — 
 
 ** I conceive that the onli/ medium, whereby we can come to a 
 knowledge of God, is by attending to the manifestations of his 
 grace, or life, in our Sj)irit> or Souls." 
 
 The comment upon it in the "Beacon," containing 
 the expressions to which, the Committee say, " we can- 
 not but greatly ol)ject," stands thus: — 
 
 " Thus the revelation in the Holy Scripture, as a medium to 
 the knowledge of God, is set at nought and rejected, in order 
 to make way for this delusive notion of "the inward light." 
 But ilie humble Christian, whilst be reverently acknowledge* 
 that it is by the Holy Spirit his understanding is enlightened, 
 and the sacred truths of the Bible are savingly apphed to his 
 heart, will also acknowledge, that it is by the WTitten revelation 
 of the Spirit of God, he has the true knowledge of God." 
 
 Upon this, the Committee observe, " While we ap- 
 prove the sentiments here expressed, respecting the 
 enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit; we must 
 observe, that the terms, ' This delusive notion of the 
 inward light,' appear to apply, not to the unscriptural 
 part of Elias Hicks' doctrine, but to the words the 
 manifestation of his (God's) grace, or life, in our Spirits 
 or Souls." The Committee continue, " The note given 
 (in the 2nd edition) as an explanation of this passage, 
 is liable to precisely the same objection, as the passage 
 itself." The note is this : — 
 
 *' ^^■e declare the Hicksite theory of the inward hght, to be 
 
38 
 
 DEFENCE OP 
 
 IHead IV. 
 
 Head IV.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 39 
 
 a delusive notion ; but we believe and maintain the Scripture 
 doctrine of the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit, both in 
 opeiung the heart and in enliyhteniny the understanding. See 
 Acts, xxi. 14, and 2 Tim. ii. 7. — We should not have thought 
 this note needful, had not the disbelief of this blessed doctrine 
 been imputed to us, because we denounce the Hicksite theory. 
 The main design of this work, it should be remembered, is to 
 confute error ^ by bringing it to the test of Scripture. 
 
 The Committee then further observe, ^'WHiile the 
 Author of the Beacon here repeats his acknowledgement of 
 the immediate operations of the Spirit, he denounces the 
 (Hicksite) doctrine of 'the inward light,' as the theory of 
 an infidel. Now we regard the (Hicksite) doctrine ofHhe 
 inward light^^ as ahsolutehf identical with the doctrine of 
 the Spirit. The heresy of Elias Hicks, consisted not 
 in holding, or pretending to hold, this precious part of 
 Divine Truth; but in denying other parts of the great 
 plan of redemption. An exclusive view of the doctrine 
 of 'the inward light,' may have been one means of be- 
 traying him into infidelity; but this affords no excuse 
 for our decrvinjjT that doctrine itself, as the false notion 
 of an un])t'liever. This may be only a confusion of 
 words; but we must express our decided opinion, that 
 it is a confusion of vast practical importance, and 
 fraught with inuniuent danger." 
 
 For mv remarks on the sentiments contained in these 
 last observations of the Committee on "the inward 
 light," I refer to my "Reply," and "Rejoinder," which, 
 I certainly thought, would, together, have been deemed 
 a sufficient answer. The Committee will please to 
 take them in connexion with the few additional obser- 
 vations which I now proceed to make. 
 
 It is a matter of nmcli satisfaction to me, that the 
 Connnittee, after quoting my remarks in the "Beacoh" 
 which they have placed under this head, declare, they 
 
 ArPROVE OF the SENTIMENTS THAT ARE THEREIN EX- 
 PRESSED AND REPEATED ON THE ENLIGHTENING IN- 
 FLUENCE OF THE Holy Spirit. I hope the full and 
 exi)licit declaration of the Connnittee upon this point, 
 will be deemed satisfactory and sufficient; — that it will 
 be received in evidence against all who charge me, 
 sometimes directly, and sometimes by implication, with 
 not believing the Scripture doctrine of the enlighten- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit; because I protest against and 
 denounce the unscriptural doctrine of " the inward 
 light." 
 
 But, in expressing their approval of the sentiments 
 of the " Beacon" on this point, the Committee sav, 
 " that the terms ' this delusive notion of the inward 
 light,' ap})ear to apply not to the unscriptural part of 
 Elias Hicks' doctrine, but to the words, ' the manifesta- 
 tion of his (God's) grace, or life in our Spirits or Souls.'" 
 Now% I cannot but express my astonishment, that the 
 Connnittee should in this sentence, have said two things 
 80 opposed to each other. I cannot conceive, why I 
 am charged with denying and asserting the same thing 
 at tlie same time ; with maintaining the true doctrine 
 of the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, and calling 
 the manifestation of God's grace in our Spirits or 
 Souls, a delusive notion. Instead, however, of identi- 
 fying or confounding the precious doctrine of the en- 
 liglitening of the Holy Spirit, with the unscriptural 
 
 i 
 
 ^^&rk^ 
 
40 
 
 DEFENCE OP 
 
 [Head IV. 
 
 Head IV.'] 
 
 THE BEACON'. 
 
 41 
 
 doctrine of *' the inward light," both the note and the 
 text plainly prove, that I was contrasting them.* 
 
 The Committee quote the extract from Hicks, whicli 
 my remarks in the " Beacon'* were intended to refute. 
 But do they in any way reprobate it ? No, not in the 
 least ; not a word in their observations, from which one 
 could, in the slightest degree, gather, that they disap- 
 prove it ; although it is subversive of the Gospel. 
 
 Is it not to be regarded as a phenomenon, that a 
 number of Christian men, should sit down to the exami- 
 nation of a book, written professedly in refutation of 
 Hicksism, which, like a leprosy, exists in the bo^ly of 
 which they are members, and that with the exception 
 of a general disclaimer, they should pass almost unno- 
 ticed, the pernicious doctrines which come out in detail 
 before them : and that these Christian men, or a majo- 
 7f7y of them, should give their main strength, not to 
 guard against these " deadli/ errors," but to extinguish 
 the book, and to suspend its Author as a Minister of the 
 Gospel. The apparent sanction, (I say apparent) that 
 is given by this proceeding to tliose ** deadly errors," 
 does appear to me to involve a responsibility truly 
 
 • Wlien I WTote the letter which was prt-soiited to the Committee in the 
 12th month. I had the impression {^l thought from clear recollection^ that 
 the Committee acknowledared in distinct terms'. In the narrative which they 
 read to the Monthly Meetin?. that I had prorvil to them. " that the Uieksite 
 docti-ine of •• the inward light" is nut the scriptural doctrine of the Holy 
 Spirit. But I am sorry to find in the printed document, they only say. that 
 " I advanced evidence in order to thoir, Sfc. The Committee then, not having 
 made thU acknoivkfigfnent, nor disclaimed the doctrine, stand fully commit- 
 ted to the sentiment, that thet/ '• regard the Uieksite doctrine qf the inicard 
 hght, at absolutely identical trith thedoctritie of the Spirit. " 
 
 awful. Will not the Ilicksites hail those as allies, who 
 employ their arms against the enemies of Hicksism ? * 
 
 I must now remind the Committee, that they have 
 brought forward no Scriptural objection against the 
 passage, nothing that proves that it is an infringement 
 on Divine Truth ; — nothing beside their own sentiments 
 on the Hicksite doctrine of *' the inward light," and 
 their own declaration, that they greatly object to some 
 expressions in the passage. Still, I would fain hope, 
 that I may be enabled to relieve their minds from ap- 
 prehension, that I have so infringed. To this end, I 
 must tlien request the Committee, to append to the 
 extract from Hicks, their own excellent declaration, 
 which I have already often adduced, — and also the 
 truly excellent and incontrovertible declaration of the 
 Society, that '' the declarations contained in the Holy 
 Scriptures, rest on the authority of God himself: that 
 they are able to make us wise unto salvation, through 
 faith which is in Christ Jesus ; being the appointed 
 means of making known to «*, the blessed truths of 
 Christianity," — and then I ask the Committee, whether, 
 *' except it be for this one voice that I cried," '' the 
 Ilickaite doctrine of the inward light is a delusive 
 notion,'' — there is not a perfect accordance between 
 these excellent declarations, and the remarks in the 
 '' Beacon," which have given the Committee uneasiness ? 
 I ask them candidly to say, whether with this exception, 
 every word in these remarks is not fully borne out by 
 these declarations ; and if there be any other difference 
 between them, is it not this, that in the passage from 
 
 I 
 
•12 
 
 KEFEXCE OF 
 
 [ffead IV. 
 
 the " Reacon," tl,e necessity for the enlightening „f the 
 
 toe aart, s son.ewhat more pointedly stated ? 
 * nave pleasure then, in concliulin,, ti . .■ 
 
 fron. the " Beacon " J ,,JT' "' ""^ ^''^'^^ 
 
 •^•uon, asMcIl as the note (with tliP ov 
 
 cept.on mentioned) are fully j„s,ified I,v t he f 
 
 "f ;'.e Yearly Meeting, ../, v the So!; t y t J " "T:; 
 
 ha .t .s hy the written word of God. and hy «,,t „ 
 
 : ' ''■ ' "■'' ^""'^' '» "'e true knowledge of God tZ 
 
 ■t >s by belief of .ho Recoyd thp t. • , '-*''"' 
 
 ».,..//^„ ,1 , necoict—tlie things that a,v 
 
 " '• ""'* "■'^ «>"'e to the knowled..e of Christ 
 agreeably to the testin.ony of the ilolv Spirit 't I' 
 things mc wrilte,,, that -e mir^l.t I. r* 
 
 thechrist. ti.son:-'; t rrT'^^^^^^ 
 
 ".igl.U.ve.ifot.n.oughHis;;::'*'^^''''"^'^'"^''^-^ 
 
 .pe?t'tnd~'?' '•'""""""" ^'''^■' ^ ^'""'-- """t of re- 
 sp^.ot^.d caut,on .n t,,„ treatment of this vital subject 
 
 "'I'y apparent in 1) JOO" Ti • .: , i ^ 
 
 u p. J 00. — The inhdel error. ,.f Hicks 
 
 1 tlunk are not entitled to resoect I...f • 
 f..n • . 'espect, but m cxoos n<' tlio 
 
 fallacious theory of " the inward li-H.t " ,i 
 TT;^.k • T >"»«nu ii^nt, the root of 
 
 Hiclsisn., I trust I have been careful not to dispar " 
 he true doctrine of the Holy Spirit; and 1. ,„ a^Z 
 been anxious to shew their essential diflercn.c. ^ ^ 
 The Committee in their last objection, in.pute to me 
 
 ^K^ i^ou .ay, that ^^the reference made to L office. 
 
 Hmd^lV?^ 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 43 
 
 I 
 
 of the Holy Spirit, seems to form a contradiction to 
 some of the preceding questions respecting tlie Apostle 
 Paul." — These inferences would have aj)peared to me 
 inexplicable, had I not supposed, that the Connnittee 
 constantly had present to their minds, the identity of 
 the Hicksite theory of "the inward light" with the 
 Scripture doctrine of the Holy Spirit Tlieir conclu- 
 sions would, no doul)t, have been very different, had 
 they always considered the two doctrines as they reallj 
 are, as distinct as light and darkness. 
 
 Hicks asserts, that " we must come to a revelation 
 
 in our hearts, to assure us what is right or wrong." 
 
 The " Beacon" puts the question, " Does the Apostle 
 tell the Corinthians, they must come to a revelation in 
 their own hearts ?" The Committee adduce the passage 
 1 Cor. xii. 3, — " No man can say that Jesus is the Lord 
 hut by the Holy Ghost ;" and say, they a])prehend the 
 Apostle did, in effect, declare to the Corinthians, that 
 they must come to a revelation in their own hearts ;" 
 and thus they leave it to be supposed that they accord 
 with Hicks — I cannot, however, believe that the Com- 
 mittee, ^.v a body would accord with Hicks* view of re- 
 velation, or that they would, even witli regard to this 
 passage, exclude the outward testimony of the Spirit 
 in that wonderful chain of evidence, stretching over 
 a period of four thousand years, which the Lord 
 Jesus himself recognised, when He spake to His dis- 
 ciples of that which was "written in the law of Moses, 
 and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning 
 Himself ;"— when " he opened their understanding 
 
 F 
 
44 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head IV, 
 
 that they might understand the Scriptures, and said 
 unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoved 
 Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the tliird 
 day ; and that repentance and remission of sins should 
 be preached in his name among all nations * * ♦ ♦ and 
 ye are witnesses of these things ^-that evidence also 
 i^^ miracles, which Jesus Himself wrought in confirma- 
 tion of His testimony, that He was the Messiah,— those 
 mighty works, which not being believed, involved the 
 cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum, accord- 
 ing to Mis own declaration, in the most f.-arful con- 
 demnation ; and the evidence of that crowning miracle, 
 bywhiclK -Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made 
 of the beed of David, according to the flesh: and de- 
 clared to be the Son of God with power, according to the 
 spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;" 
 which, indeed, was the great seal to the Apostles, of the 
 truth of their mission ; and emboldened Paul, in the 
 face of all opposition to proclaim, - that this Jesus 
 whom I preach unto you is Christ ;" and John to declare 
 '* These things «r^M'r/7^p;Mhat ye miirht believe, that 
 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, ami that believing 
 ye might have life through His name ;"— nor the testi- 
 mony of the Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles, that 
 Apollos - mightily convinced the Jews, and that pub- 
 licly, shewing BY THE ScRiPTi'RES that Jesus waf 
 Christ r 
 
 These passages, and all the accounts recorded of the 
 preaching of the Apostles, appear to me directly to 
 contradict the assertion of Hicks, that " no true Minis- 
 
 Head IV.] 
 
 TUE BEACON. 
 
 45 
 
 
 ter ever attempted any further than to recommend to 
 this light and Spirit of God," — that is to " the inward 
 light" — the opinion which the " Beacon" was combat- 
 ing ; — and I think they give no reason to conclude, 
 that the Corintliians were referred to an immediate re- 
 velation in their own hearts, in that sense in wiiich im- 
 mediate revelation was given to the Apostles : — but 
 they fully bear out the Christian sentiment, that *' the 
 Holy Scriptures are the appointed means of making 
 known to us, the blessed truths of Christianity ; and 
 no Christian will deny, that it is one of the blessed 
 truths of Christianity, " that Jesus is the Lord" 
 
 I had no idea that my purpose would have been 
 mistaken, and that in refuting the Hicksite error, any 
 one would have supposed me to entertain the opinion, 
 that the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit is not 
 essential to enable us to say from the heart that Jesus 
 is the Lord — I should deeply regret that any expres- 
 sion that I may have used, should have led to an appre- 
 hension so erroneous: but I think no such conclusion 
 would have been formed, if the Committee had borne 
 in mind the error under refutation, and fully perceived 
 the difference between the Hicksite theory of the in- 
 ward light, and the Scripture doctrine of the Hoh 
 Spirit, 
 
 The word " revelation" appears to be sometimes used 
 in Scripture in a restricted sense — Is not Eph. i. 1 ^, 
 which is a passage referred to by the Committee, 
 an instance of it? compare Col. i. 9, Phil. iii. 15, 
 2 Tim. ii. 7. 
 
46 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head IV. 
 
 Might I entreat my friends of the Committee afresh 
 to examine the Acts of the Apostles, and some of the 
 Epistles, and note the way chosen by Infinite Wisdom, 
 for making known the truths of the Gospel to the pri- 
 mitive Christians, yea even to Ministers of the first 
 rank, next to the Apostles, to men, who were associated 
 in the work of the Ministry with the Apostles them- 
 selves,-to Apollos ; to Timothy, &c— In the Epistles 
 to Timothy, and to the Thessalonions, it is largely 
 declared, also in that to the Galatians.— In each of 
 these, the Apostle speaks very clearly as to the source 
 of his own instruction,— that it was by immediate reve- 
 lation, and also as to the medium through which the 
 primitive Christians received the knowledge of the 
 truth ; that it ivas through them. 
 
 The Committee put an interpretation on 2 Cor. iv. 6, 
 - God who commanded the light," &c. which appears to 
 have made them accord with Hicks, far more than 
 I think they would wish to do^In combating the ex- 
 tract from the " Beacon," they say, "while the Apostle 
 alludes to the appeariug of Christ in the flesh, he plainly 
 speaks of that divine light in the Soul, which can alone 
 give a saving knowledge of God and of his Son/'—I 
 must confess, that these words of the Apostle do not 
 give me this idea, but rather, that as God, at the 
 Creation, difilised his light, and caused it to shine 
 out of darkness; so has he shined in our dark hearts, 
 and given us (the knowledge, or) the light of the 
 knowledge of his own glory by the coming of the 
 Sun of Righteousnass, the Lord Jesus Christ. On 
 
 Head IV.'] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 47 
 
 this interpretation, it is God who hath shined, and 
 God who, through Jesus Christ, gives the light of the 
 knowledge of his glory. On the interpretation of the 
 Committee, the divine light, or knowledge in the Soul 
 gives the knowledge ; they thus make the thing com- 
 nmnicated the communicator. That God hath mani- 
 fested his glory in the face (or appearing) of Jesus 
 Christ, is one of " the blessed truths of Christianity," 
 which '* the Holy Scriptures are tuk appointed means 
 of making known to us." 
 
 I believe much confusion and harm has arisen to 
 many in our Society, from the unrestricted application, 
 of some passages which relate to the Apostles, not only 
 primarily, but in a sense in which they are fiot applica- 
 ble to us. Such, I think, are John xiv. 2G, and xvi. 1 2 — 
 1 4. — *' When Jesus promises his Spirit to supply to 
 them the deficiency of his own present instructions, — to 
 lead them into all truth, — and to bring all things to 
 their remembrance, whatsoever he had said unto them ; 
 he gives them by the latter of these expressions, the 
 assurance of so full and perfect a recollection of the 
 doings and sayings of their Master, as should enable 
 them to record them for mankind, without the possibi- 
 lity of inaccuracy or mistake ; and by the former, the 
 still further assurance of so full a discovery to their 
 minds, of the entire system of evangelical truth, as 
 should fit them for being the infallible teachers of that 
 truth to the world. Is this, then, a promise to be inter- 
 preted, (in this sense,) as the common privilege of be- 
 lievers ?" The context clearly proves, that these pas- 
 
 F 2 
 
' ?'-ft«!^*-*?Tr%!P5^j 
 
 48 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head IV. 
 
 sages were a special promise to the Apostles of imme- 
 diate Divine revelation, but in the subordinate and re- 
 stricted sense in which they must, necessarily be taken 
 by those who acknowledge " the Holy Scriptures as 
 being the appointed means of making known to us the 
 blessed truths of Christianity," far be it from me to sav» 
 that they are not applicable to every true Christian be- 
 liever, — or that they may not be regarded as most en- 
 couraging promises of the teaching and guidance of the 
 Comforter, the Spirit of truth. They are highly impor- 
 tant also, as an additional declaration to us, of the au- 
 thority and sanction under which the Apostles acted in 
 that vocation, to which they were peculiarly appointed. 
 The limitation to the Apostles of the passage 1 Cor. 
 ii. 9 — 16, " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard," &c., 
 was only intended by me to have reference to that im- 
 mediate revelation by which they received the know- 
 ledge of those things, of which Paul says, '^ God hath 
 revealed them to us by His Spirit." That this was my 
 meaning, I acknowledge is not so apparent in the 
 " Beacon," as if it had been expressed, and I am oblii,'- 
 ed to the Committee for calling my attention to the 
 passage. I do, then, fully believe, that those tilings 
 which God hath prepared for them that love Him, arc 
 among the " blessed truths of Christianity," which the 
 '* Holy Scriptures are the appointed means of making 
 known to us." 
 
 I think the statement of the Committee, " that the 
 iromise of the Spirit, in all its richness and variety, 
 is the inheritance of the Church according to her need. 
 
 Head /F.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 49 
 
 I 
 4' 
 
 in every succeeding age," is objectionable. Notwith- 
 standing the words which are intended as a guard, are 
 rendered emphatic, it appears to me calculated to mis- 
 lead ; and considering the extent of mischief that has 
 arisen in our Society, and some others, particularly at 
 present, among the Irvingites, from exaggerated views 
 of divine influence, I do exceedingly regret, that the 
 thing should have been stated in this way. Where 
 are the gifts of miracles, — of healing, — of tongues, and 
 of plenary inspiration ? The Committee, no doubt, 
 consider, that the evident absence of these varieties (►f 
 the gifts of the Spirit, is a proof that they are not now 
 needed ; but granting this, we arrive at the same point, 
 viz., that in various respects to which we may not now 
 lay claim, the promise related to the Apostles, and others 
 in the primitive Church. I do not perceive, that the 
 passages quoted by the Committee, John xvi. 16. Acts 
 ii. 39. Is. lix. 21. warrant us to look for the renewal 
 of these gifts in the Church at the present day, and if 
 not, are we not bound to adhere to the simple Christian 
 view, that "the Holy Scriptures a >'g the appointed means 
 of making known to us the blessed truths of Christia- 
 nity ?" Not indeed, savingly apart from, but in connexion 
 with, the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Obj. 3. — The Committee say, ** It is predicted in 
 Jeremiah that God would write his law in the hearts of 
 his people, and put it into their inward parts. We con- 
 sider that these expressions are erroneously interpreted 
 in the *' Beacon," as relating only to a heartfelt recep- 
 tioa of the divine law, as it is revealed in Scripture. 
 
50 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 '/ 
 
 lllead II 
 
 The context (say they) appears to afford a clear evidence 
 that the propliecy describes the privilege to be enjoyed by 
 the Lord's believing children under the new covenant, of 
 being so guided by the Holy Spirit, in the way of piety 
 and holiness, as to stand in absolute need of no human 
 teacher." 
 
 With regard to this article in the " Beacon," it is 
 obvious, that one principle design of the Author, was 
 to show, that neither the passage in Jeremiah, nor the 
 reference made to it in Hebrews, teach, that the law is 
 written in the hearts of all men, but that it is written 
 fyiily in the hearts of believers, — or in other words, those 
 who are brought into the covenant. He is glad to find, 
 (as he has already expressed in his '' Kei)ly,") that so 
 far are the Conunittee, from asserting that these pas- 
 sages do apply to all mankind, that they, in unison 
 with the " Beacon," restrict the application to '' the 
 Lords believing children, under the new covenant." 
 This then, he hopes, may be considered as a point 
 settled ; and truly, it is one of no small importance, as 
 it directly contradicts the sentiment of Elias Hicks, 
 which the '' Beacon" exposed, that the law is written in 
 the hearts of all men universally, whether believers or 
 not ; and not seldom in our Meetimjs have we hoard 
 these passages applied in this way. 
 
 The Conunittee say, that they consider the expres- 
 sions in Jer. xxxi. 33, 34, are erroneouslif interpreted 
 in the " Beacon." I think it important to refer tiie 
 Commtttee to the real question at issue. Elias Hicks 
 maintained, that the Bible cannot furnish us with any 
 
 Head IV,'] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 51 
 
 sufficient rule, but that the divine life makes a rule in 
 every mind, that we have the law in us, and that we 
 must teach our children where it must be sought for> 
 and not recommend them to an outward law made by 
 man, that we have learnt the inefficiency of the Bible, as 
 a complete rule of faith and practice. 
 
 The " Beacon" opposes these sentiments, saying the} 
 are at variance with Scripture, and of aDeistical nature; 
 further, that the way in which the law becomes written 
 in the heart, is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and 
 asks, — is it proper to recommend men indiscriminately, 
 whether believers or unbelievers, to obey the law written 
 in their hearts. 
 
 With these opposite views before them, the Com- 
 mittee pass by the unscriptural sentiments of Hicks, 
 and visit the "Beacon" with their censure, for seeming 
 to limit the interpretation "as relating only to a heart- 
 felt reception of the divine law, as it is revealed in 
 Scripture;" adding, that "the context appears to afford a 
 clear evidence, that the prophecy describes the privilege 
 to be enjoyed by the Lord's believing children, under 
 the new covenant, of being so guided by the Holy 
 Spirit, in the way of piety and holiness, as to stand in 
 absolute need of no human teacher.*" 
 
 I admit the possibility of that extreme case which 
 
 * Do the Committee, in the phrase, "human teacher,") include the 
 Scriptures ? 1 am persuaded that many will understand the Scriptures to be 
 included in this expression, and those who agree with Iliclui, will rejoice in 
 the sentiment. 
 
52 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [Head IV 
 
 the Committee have put, although it is written — that 
 "all Scripture is profitable for reproof, for correction, for 
 instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may 
 be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works ;" 
 but what is the point at issue? certainly it is not 
 whether those who have heard and believed the Gospel, 
 may not be so guided in the way of holiness, as not to 
 stand in absolute need of any farther human help, — 
 (and this only is the case put by the Committee;) but 
 it is, whether there is in the heart of every man, a law 
 superior to that which God has given us in the Bible, 
 "the only divinely authorised record of the doctrines 
 of true religion, — of all the doctrines that we are re- 
 quired to believe, and all the great moral principles, 
 that are to regulate our actions;" and I regret to say, 
 that the influence of the Committee must be under- 
 stood, to be given in favour of the sentiments of Hicks 
 and against the "Beacon." 
 
 The Connnittee close their observations under this 
 head, which embraces their main objection to the 
 " Beacon," with saying, " We entirely acquit the Autlior 
 of the 'Beacon' of any intention to speak against the 
 Holy Ghost ; but had he considered that the doctrine 
 of the * inward light,' although greviously perverted by 
 Elias Hicks, is in itself identical with the doc- 
 trine OF the Spirit, — we think he would liave perceived, 
 that the whole tone and manner, in which he treats on the 
 subject, has a tendency to promote the commission of this 
 awful sin^ ^\^lilst I acknowledge the justice which the 
 Committee have here done me, with regard to my inten- 
 
 Head J F.] 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 53 
 
 tion, I utterly repel the gratuitous conclusion, that my 
 treatment of the subject " has a tendency to promote 
 the commission of that awful sin." 
 
 This conclusion is grounded on the assumption, that 
 the doctrine of the " inward light," is in itself identical 
 with the doctrine of the Spirit : but l)efore the Com- 
 mittee had attributed such awful danger to my treatment 
 of this subject, they should have shown the identity 
 of the two doctrines whicli they assert are identical. 
 
 I acknowledge the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in all 
 the fullness in which it is taught in Scripture, but, I admit 
 
 NO SUCH DOCTRINE AS THE " INW\\RD LIGHT," BECAUSE 
 
 I FIND IT NOT IN ScRiPTTRE ; and I never can tell 
 what is meant by these words, without the definition of 
 the person who uses the unscriptural phrase. 
 
 But the " Beacon" was written to expose certain senti- 
 ments of I licks, and to warn others against the danger 
 of holding them ; and it is with his " inward light," that I 
 and the Committee have to do ; and Hicks has fur- 
 nished us with his own definition. 
 
 The Committee say, " his error did not consist in 
 holding this precious part of divine truth." 
 
 I maintain exactly the contrary, and assert that his 
 error did consist in holding this, f not precious part of 
 divine tyufh. but) false notion of an unbeliever, which 
 is at viinance with the whole scope of divine revela- 
 tion, and utterly subversive of the fundamental doctrines 
 of Christianity. 
 
 The Committee say that I advanced evidence, in 
 order to show that the notions of Elias Hicks on the 
 
54 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 [HeafUV. 
 
 subject, had no connexion or analogy whatever with the 
 blessed Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I must put it to the 
 candour of the Committee, whether they have done me 
 justice by the words, " he advanced evidence in order 
 to shou-:' Is it not incumbent on the Committee to 
 say, whether the evidence advanced, has or has not 
 shown the essential difference between the **Hicksite 
 doctrine of the " inward light," and the doctrine of the 
 Holy Spirit ? 
 
 If the two doctrines are identical, and 1 am in error on 
 this point; and if in reprobating the notion of the 
 " inward light," as held by Hicks, I have also repro- 
 bated the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, which I neces- 
 sarily must have done, if they are identical, I have 
 rendered myself unfit for communion with any Christian 
 Church ; because I nmst have reprobated (and that not 
 through inadvertence, but with design,) a fundamental 
 doctrine of Christianity. 
 
 But if I am riglit, and the two doctrines are essentially^ 
 different, if the one he from beneath, and the other from 
 above, tlie danger lies, not in my mode of treating 
 the subject, and pointing out the difference, but in 
 identifying them, and I am entitled on every principle 
 of justice, to be completely cleared on the main objec- 
 tion to the " Beacon." Therefore, for the cause of 
 truth, I nmst, upon this point, demand an open and un- 
 reserved condemnation or acquittal. 
 
 I now present to the Conunittee, a sununary view of 
 the case of the '^ Beacon." The Society of Friends 
 DECLARE, '' That the Holy Scriptures are the only 
 
 THE beacon. 
 
 55 
 
 divinely authorised record of the doctrines of true religion, 
 — ofall the doctrines which, as Christians, we are bound to 
 believe, and of the moral principles which are to regu- 
 late our actions, — that no doctrine which is not con- 
 tained in them, can be required of any one to be 
 believed, as an article of faith ; and that from them, 
 there he no appeal to any other authority what- 
 soever." In accordance with these views, the Com- 
 mittee declare to the Monthly Meeting, that they en- 
 tered upon a Scriptural examination of the " Beacon,'* 
 and laid the result (in a written statement) before the 
 Author. 
 
 In this " Statement," they charge him with having in- 
 fringed in various particulars on some '.mportant parts 
 of Divine Truth. These infringements they state in 
 detail ; — they receive from the Autlior a general " Re- 
 ply," and are informed, that he has made considerable 
 progress in one more specific, which he has not had oppor- 
 tunity to finish. In a short document, they reconnnend 
 him to suppress the further circulation of the "Beacon," 
 whilst they withdraw their " Statement" out of his hands, 
 and for more than five months, decline to furnish him 
 with a copy of it, although urgently and repeatedly 
 pressed to do so, both orally when present, and by let- 
 ter afterwards. Four months af^er the receipt of the 
 general " Reply," i.e. on their visit in the 12th month, 
 they receive a long letter from the Author, (namely, 
 that which for distinction, he has called his " Rejoinder.") 
 of which they appear to take little notice ; but im- 
 mediately afterwards, they acknowledge to the Monthly 
 
 G 
 
Ob DEFENCE OF 
 
 Meeting, "their satisfaction in the evidence afforded 
 tliem, of the general accordance of sentiment in matters 
 of doctrine subsisting between their friend Isaac 
 Crewdson, and tlie Religious Society of which he is a 
 member ;" and they further state to that Meeting, that 
 " thei) do not feel called upon with reference to the 
 r/oc/re«rt/ question, to recommend the Monthly Meeting 
 to take an)/ proceedings in his case." 
 
 The onhj question between the Author of tlie "Bea- 
 con" and the Committee being a doctrinal question, one 
 would naturally have supposed, that this was an ac- 
 (juittal, altliougli not expressed in very direct terms, 
 and Iiave concluded there was an end of the business ; 
 but far otherwise, for in defiance of their own declara- 
 tion, witli regard to the Ministry, that " our Religious 
 Society has openly proclaimed the great princii)le, that 
 nothing can invest with the office of a Minister of the 
 Gospel, but the call of the Hoi if Spirit ;" and in 
 defiance of this call, fidlif recognised h)/ the Church, 
 only two days after, to the utter astonishment of the 
 Author, tlie Committee hand him an unsigned docu- 
 ment, which brands his character through the whole So- 
 cietif, both in tliis land and America ; and, regardless of 
 the rules of the Society with respect to Ministers, is in- 
 tended to have the effect of suspending him as a Minister 
 of the Gospel. It is couched in kind words, and is as 
 follows : — 
 
 " The Committee tliiiik it right to express to their friend 
 Isaac Crcwds^on, the deop regret they feel at the absence of that 
 condescension to the judgment of his friends, which is so clearly 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 57 
 
 enforced in the New Testament, and which is so essential to the 
 preservation of harmony and unity in the Church. On a deli- 
 berate consideration of the circumstances of his case, the Com- 
 mittee feel it to be their painful duty, in much tenderness and 
 love, to recommend liim to refrain, for the present, from speak- 
 ing as a Minister in our Meetings for Worship ; and they would 
 also suggest to him, that he should discontinue his attendance* 
 of Meetings for Ministers and Elders." 
 
 If the Committee will now sum up the evidence, they 
 A\ ill find it stands thus : — 
 
 1 St. The Committee charge the " Beacon " on the 
 ground of doctrine, — it has infringed in various parti- 
 culars on Divine Truth. 
 
 2nd. They declare their satisfaction in the general 
 accordance of sentiment, between the Author of the 
 " Beacon " and the Society of Friends. 
 
 3rd. T\\ey\\Ti\\di\\y acquit the " Beacon," deliberately 
 declai-ing at the end of six months, after a full exami- 
 nation, that theij do not feel called npon to reconnnend 
 the Monthly Meeting, to take any proceedings with 
 reference to the doctrinal question ; and, 
 
 4th. They take upon themselves to do that extra-ju- 
 dically, which they do not feel called upon to recom- 
 mend the Monthly Meeting to do, — and they visit the 
 Author with their severest penalty. 
 
 For what offence ? Because his book has infringed 
 on Divine Truth ? No : but because of the absence 
 of that condescension to the judgment of his friends, 
 ( — the judgment of the Committee,) which is so clearly 
 enforced in the New Testament. Now what is this 
 judgment of the Committee, to which condescension is 
 
58 
 
 DEFENCE OF 
 
 SO clearly enforced in the New Testament, that the 
 absence of it is made the ground of fresh charge, and 
 upon which the Conunittee feel themselves called to 
 proceed to the infliction of such a penalty ; nay, — which 
 induces them to take upon themselves the fearful 
 responsi])ility of suspending a Minister, whose call and 
 qualification is recognised by the Church, in accordance 
 with the " great principle openly proclaimed by the So- 
 ciety." The judgment is this. — 
 
 " The Committee of the Yearly Meeting think it right to ad- 
 vert to the principles upon which their Friend, Isaac Crewdson, 
 has informed them that he acted in compihng the ' Beacon,' 
 namely, that of wholly confining himself to an exposure of the 
 errors of Ehas Hicks, without any aim at upholding the truth, 
 as held hy the Society of Friends, seeing that EHas Hicks con- 
 stantly alleged, that the doctrines which he taught were those 
 of the Society ; and that, to a great extent, he couched them 
 in iermsfamUiar to Friends. The Committee think that Isaatr 
 Crewdson should have considered it his duty^ distinctly to set 
 hefore his readers the doctrines of the Societv, in contrast \nth 
 the errors of EHas Hicks, so as to prcchide the possibility of the 
 one being in any deyrec identified with the other. 
 
 *' The Committee think it riglit further to exf ress to their 
 friend, Isaac Crewdson, that, whilst they have been, in a con- 
 siderahle degree, reheved by the explanations which he has 
 given them of his views on some points of Christian doctrine ; 
 they feel hound, nevertheless, to state their continued dissatis- 
 faction with the manifest tendencv of the ' Beacon ;' and thev 
 think it their dutv, under all the circumstances of the case af- 
 fectionately, but earnestly, to recommend him to suppress its 
 further circulation." 
 
 Signed by cUrection, and on behalf of the Committee, 
 
 George Stacey, 
 Manchester, 8th Month, 2(jth, 1835. 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 o9 
 
 Thisy then, is the judgment referred to by the Com- 
 mittee, (the Author has received no other,) this is 
 the judgment to which there has been that absence of 
 condescension, which is so clearly enforced in the New 
 Testament ; — to suppress the further circulation of a 
 book, written professedly against Hicksism, which the 
 Author believed it his duty to })u])lish, under a painful 
 conviction, that the leprosy is in tlie body, of which he 
 is a member. A book which is acknowledged by no 
 mean judges, to be the best refutation of that pernicious 
 doctrine that has been w ritten. A book, (but I must 
 take shelter under the wing of an Apostle, " I ain be- 
 come a Jool in glorying, ye have compelled me, for I 
 ought to have been commended of you^) A book, 
 which is acknowledged by Christians of almost every 
 denomination, as a sound Scriptural work, and of which, 
 many have expressed their belief, that it will be useful 
 beyond the pale of our Society. A book, of which one 
 of the most distinguished members of your own body 
 WRITES, — " There is mucli in the * Beacon,' which I like 
 and approve ; the selection and arrangement of Scrip- 
 tural evidences on the inspiration of tlie Apostles, on 
 the Divine authority of Scripture ; on the duty and pri- 
 vilege of prayer ; and, above all, on the great doctrines 
 of the atonement of Christ, and of the justification of 
 the penitent sinner by faith in His blood, are excellent, 
 and the weight and amount of proof wholly irresistible. 
 There are, also, many of thy own remarks, which I 
 think useful and striking, and which are in accordance, 
 aa I apprehend, with the sentiments of every sound and 
 
 g2 
 
60 
 
 DEFENCE OP 
 
 enlightened Christian." A book, which the Committee 
 themselves recognise as a " defence of fundamental 
 DOCTRIN-ES, ivhich they fidhi acknowledge, and a warn- 
 ing against deadly errors,"— A book, which I think is 
 snpported, in all its parts, by those great principles re- 
 specting the Holy Scriptures, emphatically laid down 
 in the last Yearly Epistle,* and which I hesitate not to 
 say, lie at the very foundation of Christianity. 
 
 It is for the absence of condescension to this Judg- 
 7nent,~\t is for not suppressing the further circulation of 
 this book, against which, moreover, the charge of the 
 Committee, that it infringes on diiine truth, has not in 
 one iiistnTice been substantiated, that the Committee 
 resort to so severe and unconstitutional a measure, 
 whicli, I think, will ever be regarded as an infringe- 
 ment both on the liberty of conscience, and of civil 
 rights. It was a condescension, which, until the charge 
 was proved, neither the Conmiittee, nor any Meeting 
 in the Society, had a right to enjoin, and for the en- 
 forcement of which, in the New Testament, we shall 
 search in vain. 
 
 Under feelings of Christian solicitude, I do very ear- 
 nestly desire, that you may deeply ponder the fearful 
 responsibility which attaches to you in your present 
 position, and may the Holy Spirit guide you. 
 
 Once more calling to your remembrance the charge 
 against me, you will now determine, whether, under 
 
 * In the Quarterly Meeting of Lancashire, tins Epistle was declared by 
 some of the advocates of the " inward Ught,* to be subversive of the principles 
 of the Society. 
 
 THE BEACON. 
 
 61 
 
 any of the six heads of objection, (for answers to the 
 fifth and sixth, I refer to the " Reply,") you have, in 
 any one instance, proved by the test of Scripture, that 
 I have infringed on divine truth, — the truth of the 
 Bible; and reminding you of tlie words of our adorable 
 Lord, on an occasion of infinitely higher moment, " If 
 I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil ; but, if 
 well, why smitest thou me ?" 
 
 I remain, in Christian love. Your Friend, 
 
 ISAAC CREWDSON. 
 
 Copy of the Document deUiered by the Committee to 
 fsnac Crewdson, in reply to theforeyoimj ;— 
 
 The Committee of the Yearly Meeting have to iir- 
 form their friend Isaac Crewdson, tliat they ha\ e read 
 the papers placed by him in their hands as a supple- 
 ment to his " Reph^ to their strictures on the " Beacon." 
 They do not consider it to be incumbent upon them to 
 enter into any detailed notice of these papers ; but they 
 think it right explicitly to state, in conformity with 
 their minute of the 20th of the 4th month last, that they 
 do not consider their S(Tij)tural objections to the 
 " Beacon" to l)e removed. Wh'Ao tliey accei)t the 
 Authors subsequent remarks as explanations of his 
 meaning in those passages which relate to "the inward 
 light," the Committee cannot but regard as very un- 
 fair, the insinuations which have, on various occasions, 
 
62 
 
 DOCUMENT OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 been advanced against tliem, as if, in their strictures 
 on the " Beacon," they had, in the smallest degree, 
 countenanced any wild or dangerous notions respect- 
 ing this subject : while they plainly sui)port the scrip- 
 ture doctrine of the inward light, that is of the 
 enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit, as it has 
 always been held by the Society of Friends, and dis- 
 tinguish even exclusive and exaggerated views of tliat 
 doctrine (much as they object to them) fnnu mere 
 falsehood ; the Committee have borne a clear testimony 
 against those infidel notions respecting a merelv ra- 
 tional principle, which Elias Hicks is said to have held 
 and promulgated under a profession of the doctrine of 
 the inward light. The Conmiittee are still of opinion 
 that their construction of the passages, in the *' Beacon," 
 on this subject, is the obvious and natural one ; and 
 they continue deeply to regret the highly undesirable 
 practical tendency of these and other parts of the 
 work. They think it right on the present occasion, 
 again, most distinctly to declare, that nothing can have 
 been further from the Committee, in the whole course 
 of their proceedings, than any wish to discourage the 
 free preaching of the great truths of the Gosi)el of 
 Christ, under the direct authority and the immediate 
 puttings forth, of Him, who is the Head over all things to 
 his Church ; and it is their fervent desire that these 
 truths may never cease to be prized and cherished, 
 and to have free course in our Religious Society. At 
 the same time the Committee feel it to be a sacred 
 duty, steadfastly to maintain those truly Scriptural 
 
 REMARKS ON DOCUMENT. 
 
 G3 
 
 views of the spirituality of the christian religion, which 
 appear more peculiarly to distinguish our religious 
 body in the Church of Christ: views, which, in the pre- 
 sent day, are in evident danger of being grievously 
 undermined. 
 
 (Not signed.) 
 
 Liverpool, 9th Month \4th, 183G. 
 
 I shall, at present, make but few comments upon this 
 mode of showing the errors of a Christian brother, who, 
 in his well meant, though it may be, feeble endeavour to 
 serve his fellow professors, is "charged with liaving in- 
 fringed in various particulars upon some important 
 parts of DIVINE TRUTH." If the Committee had been 
 convinced that the ground upon which tliey stood was 
 sound, might they not have ventured to point out my 
 error, and would they not, for the sake of otliers, 
 as well as myself, have explicitly supported what 
 they call their Scriptural objections, by re- 
 ference to Scripture. A short time ago, a highly 
 intelligent Minister remarked to me, that when the 
 Jesuists, persecuted Pascal (and the Jansenists,) they 
 loudly denounced one of his works. He begged to 
 know what were the particular parts objected to, alleging 
 that it was impossible to meet a general cliarge. The 
 only reply he could get was, that it was an infernal book. 
 
 The Committee complain of unfair insinuations being 
 advanced against them on the subject of the " inward 
 
\ 
 
 / 
 
 CA 
 
 REMARKS ON THE DOCUMENT. 
 
 light." I trust I am not open to the charge of insiniift' 
 tlon ; for I think I have openly and explicitly avowed 
 my opinion, that on this subject, the Committee have 
 fallen into a veY\) serious error. 
 
 In alluding to the '' inward light," they constantly 
 speak of it as a doctrine ; but whose doctrine is it ? It 
 is certainly not a doctrine of the Bible. This unsrrip' 
 titral phrase the Connnittee tell us, they use to express 
 the same thing as the doctrine of tiie Holy Spirit. 
 Passing over the impropriety of such a departure from 
 the form of sound words, I would ask in what sense 
 did Hicks use the term ? Who they are that say 
 Hicks held it as a mere rational principle^ I know not. 
 I believe he maintained the complete identity of the 
 doctrine of the " inward light," and tiiat of the Holy 
 Spirit. He says, *' all the varied names given in Scrip- 
 ture, to tliis Divine liglit and life, such as Emanuel, 
 Jesus, sent of God, great prophet, Christ our Lord, 
 grace, unction, anoninted, Scq,^ mean one and the same 
 thing ; and are nothing less nor more than the Spirit 
 and pow cr of God in the soul of man ; or his Creator, 
 Preserver, Condemner, Redeemer, Saviour, Sanctifier, 
 and Justifier." — (Journal, p. WM.) 
 
 I tliink that every candid person must admit, that my 
 remarks were directed against Hicks' view of the 
 *' inward light." The '' Beacon " calls it the false no- 
 tion of an unbeliever, and the Committee, in their State- 
 ment of objections, complain of my application of such 
 terms ; and assert that the error of Hicks, did not consist 
 in holding this rRECious taut of divine truth, 
 
 I 
 
 remarks on the document. 
 
 65 
 
 but in denyingotherpartsof thegreat plan of redemption. 
 I am entirely unable to reconcile this statement, with 
 the assertion of the Conmiittee, that thei/ have home a 
 clear tesfimontf atrainsf those ijijidel notions; but I 
 leave it to others to determine. 
 
 I confess that the declaration of the Connnittee, with 
 regard to exclusive and exaggerated views, taken in 
 connexion with what they have said before on the 
 . Hicksite doctrine of the "inward light," does appear to 
 me like an apolo^nf for the most subtle and pernicious 
 feature of Hicksism. 
 
 " The Committee declare that nothing can have been 
 further from them in the whole course of their proceed- 
 ings, than any w isli to discourage the free preaching of 
 the great truths of the Gospel of Christ, under the di- 
 rect authority, and immediate puttings forth of Him 
 who is head over all things to his Church ;" "at the same 
 time the Connnittee feel it to be a sacred duty, steadfastly 
 to mai^ntain those truly Scrii)tural views of the spiritu- 
 ality of the Christian religion, which appear more 
 peculiarly to distinguish our religious body in the 
 Cliurch of Christ." 
 
 The Connnittee may act with all the sincerity of 
 Saul of Tarsus, who, in zeal for the traditions of his 
 fathersf even persecuted the Church of God and wasted 
 it, but they cannot escape the responsibility w hicli rests 
 upon them, for putting down the preaching of the 
 Gospel, by those against whose Ministry they bring no 
 charge of want of authority from Him who is Head 
 over all things to his Church. 
 
66 
 
 TROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMlJTKi:. 
 
 The Committee may act with all the sincerih/ of 
 Saul of Tarsus, who, in zeal for the traditions of his last 
 fathers, even persecuted the Church of God and wasted 
 it, but tjiey cainiot escape the responsibility which rests 
 upon them, for putting down the preaching of the 
 (iospel, by those against whose Ministry they bring no 
 charge of want of authority from Him wlu) is head 
 over all things to his Church. 
 
 The Connnittee arrived at Manchester on the 7th of 
 9th month, and left on the 17th. During this visit Isaac 
 Crewdson had different interviews with them. They 
 tnhl him they had been informed tliat he Imd spoken 
 us a Minister fifteen times since they were last here, 
 and appeared nuich grieved that he had not complied 
 with their advice. Isaac Crewdson informed tiie Com- 
 mittee that he had keenly felt the painful position in 
 which he had been placed, and that he had fretpiently been 
 restrained by their advice from preaching the Gospel. 
 He requested an explicit statement as to the grounds on 
 which they had endeavoured to suspend him as a Min- 
 ister. To this he received no reply. 
 
 Nearly the whole of one interview was taken up in 
 answfTing the empiiries of the CommitUi; regarding the 
 devotional Meetings which have for some time been held 
 in Manchester, on the First day of the week in the inter- 
 \ n]^ of more public worship. The Committee made some 
 I'lupiiiy also about the Meetings for Scripture reading, 
 whicli are held on other days of the week, and about a 
 library that has recently been establislu^l. This Con- 
 ference appeared a very friendly one. 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 LKTTEH TO Tire COMMITTEE. G7 
 
 -luc'l. are held on o.I.er days of the week, and about a 
 I'Draiy that has recently been established. This Con 
 ference appeared a very friendly one. 
 
 Isaae Crewdson delivered to the Con.niittee his 
 
 defence of the "Beacon" <.p tl,„ « c i 
 
 n , >, ^ "eacon, or tlie Sni)i)Ienient to the 
 
 Keply, of which they took no notice, except that in a 
 subsequent interview, they told hin, they shou'd give hin, 
 son.e observations upon it in writing; he also ,,resented 
 to then, the following letter respecting the Lancashire 
 Committee ; but the Yearly Meeting's Connnittee de- 
 clined furnishing Isaae Crewdson with the Copy he 
 requested, or acknowledging the character of any ;on.- 
 munications they had received fron. ,1,. Qu;rterly 
 Meeting's C(miniittee : 
 
 To the Commillec nfi/ie i'lnr/,, Hr„^i:.. 
 ,}.. n . , ,r •" ^''''^'""J "IV'tiited to visit Ihv 
 the Quarterly Meetimj „f Lancashire. 
 
 " Mv Deab FRrevDs, 
 
 '•I have information from indubitable authority, that 
 when yon were in Manchester, on your last^ visit, 
 eighteen out of the twenty-one Friends who were ap- 
 pointed by the Quarterly Meeting of Lancashire as a 
 Connnittee to visit the Monthly Meeting of Hardshaw 
 t-ast, signed and presented to you a paper in which 
 t ey gave you their ju.ignient, that I ought to be dis- 
 placed from the station of a Minister. 
 
 " A^ t|-y J'ave never gone into the case of the 
 Beacon, (a book that I published for the defence of 
 he truth of the Gospel, and a warning against the 
 "deadly errors "of Hicksism) and which has been 
 
 H 
 
 aaaarfi^ilii^iiiiiia'iit-liiiHI 
 
■^$^^Af!i^m^0^ ii^'^^i 
 
 GS 
 
 LETTER TO AUTHOR OF BEACOX. 
 
 dtH'iiicd ;i crround ol complaint against me, I submit 
 that every Friend, whose signature is attached to that 
 document, is, by this act, even if there were no other 
 TOTALLY DisQLALiriF.i) froui actiug uiidcr the aj)|)oint- 
 uiijia, by having thus pronounced a decision against 
 me witiiout any investigation of my case. 
 
 "Considering myself deeply injured by such a pro- 
 ceeding, I request the Committee of the Yearly Meet- 
 ing will kindly favour me with a copy of the pai)er. 
 
 '' I am with Christian love, \ our friend, 
 
 " I^AAu C KEWD-^o.N. 
 
 '• Ardu'ic/i, Wt/i of tVA month, 183G." 
 
 On ,'th (lay tlie Lh!,, the Lancashire Quarterly 
 Meeting was held at Liverpool, when it wasannomu-ed 
 l)y Geo. Stacey, that the Monthly Meeting of Hardshaw 
 East stood adjonriiPrl t<> the call of the Committee of the 
 V( nly Meeting, aiul tliat it would be held the next 
 day at Manchester; and Isaac Crewdson received the 
 following connnunication ihuu Gonnr,. < ... 
 
 - V > • — - — 
 
 •- 
 
 *' ' /"'.'/, \4tfi Vth Month. 
 '• My Dear Cousiv, 
 
 '• It seems proper to inform thte, tiiat tlie Committee 
 
 ' 'v Yearly Meeting have concluded to reijuest that 
 
 the adjournment of the ISIonthly Meeting of Hardshaw 
 
 East, should I>e held on Mx day morning, at 10 o'clock, 
 
 at M ;. .i,iter; when they ju-opose to report the cir- 
 
 « 
 
 i 
 
 MOXTIILY meeting's PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 (^^i) 
 
 ouuLstances attending their advice to thee, on the sub- 
 ject of thy Ministry. 
 
 " I auL tijy affectionate Cousin, 
 
 " George Stacey." 
 
 Isaac Crewdson did not attend tlie adjourned Monthly 
 fleeting,— he had lu) ai)prehension that the Conuuittee 
 would have done more than report the circumstances 
 attending their advice to liim on the subject of his 
 Ministry, in accordance with the intimation contained 
 in the foregoing letter 
 
 The following account of tlie proceedings of that 
 Meeting, is chieHy extracted from the Manchester Times 
 of 24th September ; — 
 
 Soon after its assembling the following report was read :— 
 " The Committee of the Yearly Meeting, appointed to visit 
 Laneashire. Quarterly Meeting, consider it right to report to the 
 Monthly Meeting of Hardshaw East, that the disunity subsist- 
 ing amongst the Ministers and Elders within its compass has again 
 been Of cupying their close attention, and it grieves them to add. 
 that it still appears to exist without abatement. In reference 
 to the case of their friend Isaac Crewdson, respecting which a 
 report was read to the Monthly Meeting on the 24th of last 
 I2tli month, the (\mnnittee have now to state that on the 2()th 
 of that month they handed him the following minute, viz. :— 
 •The Committee of the Yearly Meeting, appointed to vi>it 
 bancashire Quarterly Meeting, think it right to express to their 
 triend Isa^ic Crewdson, the deep regret they feel at the absence 
 of that condescension to the judgment of his friends which is >o 
 elearly enforced in the New Testament, and wliich is s(, 
 essential to the preservatioji of harmony and unity in the 
 Church ; on a dehberate consideration of the circumstances of 
 his case, the Committee feel it to be their painful dutv, in much 
 
 iaMh:. 
 
. ( > 
 
 MONTHLY MEETTXr. PRorEEDIN' 
 
 tenderness and love, to recommend him to refrain, for the pre- 
 sent, from speakinjf as a Minister in our Meetings for Worship : 
 luul they would also sucirest to him that he should discontinue 
 hi< attendance of Meetintrs for >[inisters and Elders. In ex- 
 tending this adnce, the Committee earnestly desire, that the 
 unity which ha^ been so much interrupt..? ^..^..-een him and his 
 Friends may be fully restored.* 
 
 *• When the Committee were at Mai., uc^ici m lue 4th month 
 ihey foimd that their friend Isaac Crewdson. had ^ far at- 
 tcnr?. f? rn their adnce respecting his Ministry, as to have spoken 
 wi a Meeting for Worship since it was offered to him; 
 .^>.: ... ;heir return to Manchester on the present occasion, thev 
 ^*-'^ -hat he has spoken frequently in Mee' for Worship 
 
 -1 ...V their last Wsit. 
 
 ' we expressed to Isaac Crewdson. the deep regret 
 
 xsuua latv feel at his not ha\-ing thought it right to comj]; 
 nith their ad>-ice, and they consider it to be their duty to inlbrm 
 -■ >[onthly Meeting of the present circumstances of the case. 
 
 L: 
 
 - / 
 
 ni;n:h \4th, In36.** 
 
 Wv„„.. Xeild r^ p..>-v^ ;^e Yearly Meetiiig - cuiuniiiiee to 
 -:..u on vvhat grounds they had given such atince to Isaac 
 CrewiUv ;.. John A. Ransome saidthe repon of tht ' ^ ee did 
 
 !K>T ^' ' the grounds on which they had adW>e«i i>,iac Crewd- 
 son thhold his Miiii-iry: — before ' Momhlv Meeting 
 
 "" * - -- - vj j^ ^ ^^, ^^^ possession of 
 
 .. >^vciii».- rta^^iiis, wi.:c^ :*uU induced the Committee to re- 
 eoaimt ' Mini-ter to be silent, in order that the Month] v 
 Meeting uiuht itself judge whether these reasons were > nt 
 
 varrant so grave a procedure. 
 
 Many of the friends opposed to I- rewdson's news were at 
 
 once prepared to receive . rove of the report — bnt W illiam 
 
 Ntil*!. Ben]acii:i Pearson, Peter Clare, and many i4ker», in- 
 he Committee ~ s charge, saving that tliey, 
 
 as a M Mee- i to civ<? a • nt in 
 
 the case ot l>aac Crewd- nv 
 
 \ 
 
 , 
 
 AGAINST AUTHOR OF BEACON. 
 
 71 
 
 C.-ui.miicc were called upon to state the rhart/e. After eviiic 
 ing great reluctance, the Committee retired, in order to come 
 to an agreement as to the further statement to be made to tht- 
 Meeting, in what 1-aac Crewd>on's oifence consisted. 
 
 It was striking to observe their reluctunce to leave the Meet- 
 ing, George Stacey wa- anxiou-, before they retired, to know 
 be Clerk, whether that was the decision of the 
 .♦ieeimg. 
 
 They withdrew for about three quarters of an hour, in order 
 • ' i-T, ' upon a statement of the oirence. for wliich they ha<i 
 / 'ore awarded the ptnalty. On their return, Joseph John 
 
 Gurney, announced himseli' as the organ of the Committee, 
 and made a verbal report, in substance as follow* : — He said, 
 it raijrht be remembered that at tb. - dal Monthh 
 Meeting, held in 12th Month last, the Yearly Meeting's Com- 
 mittee had then stated, that they did not feel called uj>on to re- 
 t id to the Monthly Meeting to take any proceedings in 
 
 Isaac CrewfUon's ea»e with referenc*; to the doctrinal question ; 
 he ^\<\ vere on* with haac Crewdson on e-^ential \hA:\U 
 
 ^* . t*"t, wainnr the question of doctrine alt<^'ether. 
 
 the Coraisiittee did coi: that the practical tendency of the 
 
 •• Be.^cou ' was such as was cal cubit <d to unsettle the faith of 
 the younir and inex[»erienced in tho^e gentle intimations of the 
 Holy Spirit in the se^-ret "^ -'^ Soul, whirh guide in the path 
 of Christian dedication and .. ..licss. That the general bemrim? ol 
 the book was to disparage the \-iews of Friend- as to silent 
 
 .v:. 
 
 They alsot^ :-^' that althou:.'h I»aac CrewdM>i: 
 
 wcwrs 
 
 nhty fjuitJ the iiifidel uu/t.-mesof Elias Hick<, doctrine- whi<ri 
 e%-erv member of the Committee conr! '. — vet. r 
 
 -tances of the ca^-. U ran I*nac LreudMrns 
 
 LLN L>; IV i,j Kirt stated, at the same time, what were the 
 
 f the Sijcuty. The C 
 
 were »N»iitL, si:' 
 
 ' ' • " ot the 
 
 wtrrr awa.'-e that the ^ 
 with Isaac < 
 
 Cl' 
 
 'Jh. 
 
 'tee iia.'J had 
 J. Gu-ne 
 
 *ee cf. .t there 
 
 on to tiie 
 Mr :r? ly Me^ 
 
 d inter\'iew^ 
 
 -tate. that in 
 
 •Crewd«on had given. 
 H 2 
 
'2 
 
 MONTHLY MEETING PROCEEhl 
 
 their minds had been considerably relieved, but that still they 
 had thought it best to advise their Friend, to suppress the cir- 
 culation of the work on account of its general tendencv, and 
 that he had declined to comply with their request. 
 
 The Committee were requested to give the report in writing, 
 which they declined doing ; and having observed that the clerk 
 had taken notes, they requested that he would either destroy 
 them, or give them up. The Committee were again told the 
 report they had given, contiiined no reason on which others could 
 form a judgment, and it was repeatedly urged upon them that 
 they ought to have no difficulty inclearlv specifving the charge 
 and pointing out the objectionable passages in the - Beacon " to 
 prove that charge just. The Committee remained inflexible,' and 
 pleaded that the Meeting ought to be satisfied with general terms. 
 The advocates of the inward light most pertinaciouslv support- 
 ed the Committee, notwithstanding the reiterated c'omphunts 
 that there was yet no evidence on which the Meeting could form 
 a judgment. *^ 
 
 During the discussions, a Friend having spoken of the Scrip- 
 tures being our only authority, one of the advocates of - the 
 mward light" replied. That Friends had alwa„s upheld a much 
 higher standard than the Scriptures, one that existed before the 
 Scriptures ; this and other similar expressions, from one of their 
 most zealous supporters, having rather too strong a tincture 
 of Hicksism, Joseph John. Gurney put an end to the dis.-ussion 
 by proposing an adjournment from three to five o'clock 
 
 On the opening of the adjournment, Joseph Crosfield the 
 clerk, stated, that he considered that the business before the 
 Meeting was the consideration whether the report of the Com- 
 nuttee should be received and confirmed or not. 
 
 Wm. Boulton requested, in part for the information of tho^e 
 who were absent in the morning, that the charge which 
 Joseph John Gurney had reported against Isaac Crewd.on 
 m the former sitting might be repeated.-^Josiah For.ter' 
 one of the Committee, said, that such of the Friends as 
 were not there in the morning must be subject to the dis. 
 advantage, n.ul the Committee declined repeating the state- 
 
 ^' 
 
 AGAINST AUTHOR OF BEACON. 73 
 
 inent. It was remarkable how different the proceedings of 
 the Committee were in the two Meetings. In the first, their 
 clerk, George Stacey, was almost entirelv their organ, (except 
 us stated above ;) but in the latter, five or six of them embark- 
 ed fully in the discussion. Sometimes they found it most con- 
 venient to be Members of the Yearly Meeting's Committee, and 
 sometimes Members of the Monthly Meeting. At one time, 
 Edward Pease attempted to divest himself of his official charac^ 
 ter altogether, and spoke as if he were a private Member of the 
 - Monthly Meeting of Hardshaw East ; expressing his sympathy 
 with the dear Friends of the Committee who had been labour- 
 ing so arduously among them, and urging on his fellow-members 
 the duty of amrming the judgment of the Committee. Indeed, 
 each Member of the Committee, who spoke in this sitting, gave 
 his oj)inion in favour of their o\ni case, and some of them spoke 
 frequently. 
 
 William Neild and others, again called for a specific charge, 
 repeating that theg had no materials whereon to judge. Josiah 
 Forster was surprised that Friends should call for any charge ; 
 the Committee's statement of object ions against the ** Beacon,'' 
 with the Author's answer, having been printed and circulated 
 for the information of Friends. 
 
 William Boulton expressed surprise that Josiah Forster should 
 say so, when he knew that Isaac Crewdson, had only delivered to 
 the Committee his full answer a few days before. He said, 
 that Josiah Forster knew that when Isaac Crewdson delivered 
 to the Committee the first part of his *♦ Reply" in the 8th 
 month last year, he distinctly told them, that he had begun to 
 prepare a more minute answer to their objections, but that the 
 Committee had not given him time to complete it, (see I. C.'s 
 letter to the Committee, dated 8th month, 18:35, printed in a 
 pamphlet entitled " The whole Correspondence,") and that Isaac 
 Crewdson had not been able to complete and deliver in his de- 
 tailed answer until within a few days. 
 
 By the foregoing remarks of Josiah Forster, he admitted 
 the right of the Members of the Monthly Meeting, both 
 to hear the Committee's objections and Isaac Crewdson's 
 reply ; and yet, the Committee withheld, and persevered i'l 
 
74 
 
 MONTHLY MEETInVs PRoCKKDINHj; 
 
 withlioldiii^', the greater part of Isaac Crewdsoii's answer, and 
 continued, one after another, [)ressing the Meeting,' to a 
 decision. The C'onnnittee were tohl that in this (•a>e 
 they were not private individuals only, or Members of a Com- 
 mittee, but that they now stood in the character of accusers of 
 Isaac Crewdson ; and having jpven a judgment in his case, it 
 ill became them thus almost to insist that fl'.- Meeting should 
 yield to their wishes. 
 
 The discussion continued to be carried on with much deter- 
 mination, by the Committee and the advocates of the inward 
 light on the one side, and by the Evangelical Friends on the 
 otlier, a number of whom were aroused by the gro>^ injustice 
 of the proceedings, 
 
 "N\ illiam Allen, one ui luc Committee, said it was very 
 evident that the judgment of the Meeting was in favour of the 
 report being received, and [)ressetl the clerk to prepare a minute. 
 The clerk s:iid he was at a loss to say what was really the judg- 
 ment of the fleeting ; he had, however, prepared a minute, 
 
 which, if the Meeting would allow him, he would read 
 
 William Boulton said, he was at a loss to conceive what judg- 
 ment the clerk was prepared to express ; and Peter Clare and 
 Benjamin Pearson urged that the Meeting was not furnished 
 with materials on which to form a judgment, — The Connnittee 
 here interfered, and retiucsted the ckrk to read his minute ; 
 which iK'ing (hute, N>'illiam Neild, Benjamin Peaisun, and 
 severid others said, it would be grossly unjust to come to anv 
 conclusion, without Isjuic I'rewdson being heard in hi- defence. 
 But every remon-^tr.mce was answered by the Committer's urg- 
 ing theii Friends to a conclusion.* Joseph JoIim (Jurncv. 
 
 AGAINST ATTHOR OF BEACON. 
 
 75 
 
 * In answer to the coiui>la.ii.- ..i injustice towanls Isaac Ciewdsou in 
 ooiulenining: him without a heai-inir. Joseph John (Jurnev, .Samuel T.ik*-, am! 
 others of the Conunltttv, strenuously urge<l the difficulty of ont.ainin!,' an 
 impartial Committee of the Monthly Meetinj? to viiit him, at n n-astm why 
 tlje meetin}» should he sati^tied with their lahours, and confirm tlu'lr advice, 
 without allowing the accitsed the opiwrtunity of speaking for himself. 
 
 Thus the regiUar course of the discipline was set a.sjde. and the rights of the 
 Accused vi(.lated, on account of the disunited state of the Meetitig, the very 
 reason for more than common care, to protect I. Crewdson from ii\justice. 
 
 t 
 
 especially, urged that the Meeting would suffer loss by going 
 further into the subject, and strenuously pressed the confirma- 
 tion of the report ; and whilst he and other members of the Com- 
 mittee were repeating their own opinions, they often suggested 
 the propriety of those who held contrary opinions speaking less 
 frequently. William Boulton said, he conceived the Meeting 
 was too nearly divided to warrant a decision ; to say nothing of 
 the gross injustice there would be, in giving a verdict against 
 the accused, without his being aUowed the opportunity of speaking 
 for himself But the Committee were deaf to all remonstrance, 
 and continued to urge the adoption of their proposition, and 
 finally coerced the Meeting into an assent. 
 
 The essay of the minute which the clerk read, containing some 
 expressions which J. J. Gurney. used in his alleged charge ; the 
 Committee immediately evinced intense anxiety to have them 
 
 expunged, and the following minute was finally passed : 
 
 *' That this Meeting inquired of the Yearly Meeting's Com- 
 mittee what were the precise grounds upon which the Committee 
 had thought it right to issue the advice to our friend Isaac 
 Crewdson contained in the foregoing report, to which the 
 Committee reported verbally at considerable length the reasons 
 that had induced them to do so. After very long and weighty 
 deliberation, although much diversity of sentiment was ex- 
 pressed, yet this Meeting feels called upon very tenderly to 
 advise our friend Isaac Crewdson to submit to the advice of the 
 Yearly Meeting's Committee conveyed in the foregoing report; 
 hoping that by so doing he may have the reward of true peace 
 of mind. J. J. Gurney, William Forster, and the Clerk of the 
 Meeting are requested to convey this information to Isaac 
 Crewdson." 
 
 Thus, without either a clear charge or a fair trial, the Meeting 
 was pressed to a conclusion. 
 
 First, Isaac Crewdson's full answer to the Committee's ob- 
 jections was withheld from the Meeting. 
 
 Secondly, He had no notice that any such decision would be 
 attempted. 
 
 Thirdly, The Committee, who were his accusers, and had 
 
iO i ii Ju£EDI.\(,> oi Tlir <'OMMITTEK 
 
 previously given a JiuI^hm ,k, took a proniimMit i.art in the dis- 
 cussion, and might be said literally to coeree the Meeting into 
 a deeision. 
 
 Fourthly, The niajoiiTy ot the members of the Afeeting, who 
 liad expressed their sentiments, a-ainst Isaac (Vewdson, was 
 very small, not more than three out of forty-nine. 
 
 Fifthly, The Society has determined, that in acknowledging 
 Ministers, and in other movements respecting them, the men 
 and women sh;ill unite in deliberation, consequently the Monthly 
 Meeting was not com{)etent to enter into the consideration of 
 Mini-try, there being oidy men present. 
 
 After Isaac Crewdsou's case had been disposed of 
 in this adjourned Monthly Meeting;, William Neild 
 alhided to the case of William Honlton. It perhaps 
 cannot well he better introcbiced to the reader, than as 
 it ai)peared in the Manchester Tiiiws of tlie 1st of 
 October. 
 
 '• It ii.uv, .iLM\t\fr, be j)roper to slate, for the information of 
 those who are strangers to the subject, that the first charge 
 made against Wm. Boidton, was in the year 1«;U ; it originated 
 in the Meeting of Alinisters and Elders, and was a charge of in- 
 consistency with his station as an Ehler, for assembling a num- 
 ber of young men weekly at is house, for the social study of the 
 Holy Scriptures. 
 
 This case formed one of the in-tances of alleged delinquen«> . 
 whicli brought down the Yearly Meeting's Committee in the 
 summer of I8;Jj. 
 
 I cannot better continue the narrative, than by transcribing 
 part of an address, which William Boulton made to the Com- 
 mittCvV when they were last in INliinchester. 
 
 *'7o the Committee of the Year hi Meet in;/. 
 
 ** My I)i:au Friends: 
 
 **It is now about fifteen months since you first vi<Uoi] T n,. 
 cashire, under the authority of \ our npi>ointni"?it 
 
 AGAINST WILLIAM UOLLTOX. 
 
 t t 
 
 ' On your first visit, you received a detail of the charges 
 against me by certain individuals. Members of the .fleeting of 
 Ministers and Elders, and you <Ustinctly slated to me, that 
 these charges made wo impression on your minds. 
 
 *' Before you left Manchester on that visit, Joseph .Alarriage 
 and Edward Pease called on me, in the name of the Committi^e, 
 and urged upon my consi<leration, the propriety of suppressing, 
 * for the present,' any connnunications which I might beheve it 
 right (as a Minister,) to make: adding, that they did not give 
 any opinion of my Ministry, having never heard me. When yon 
 visited .^lanchester in the 'Jth month, ]HS5, you gave me a 
 written communication, expressing your desire that I should 
 refrain, for the present, from speaking as a Minister, again sta- 
 ting, that this recommendation was not groumled an any know- 
 ledge of my communications. 
 
 *' In the 12th month, I8;J.j, you gave me a note confirming 
 the above restrictions. In the 4th month, this year, as I was 
 on my way to the Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, 
 I was met by a note from you, desiring me to refrain, * for the 
 present,' from attending the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings 
 of Ministers and EldtTs, because of the disunity whieh existed 
 in these Meetings. I had no time for consideration, but at once 
 complied with your request, I did not attend the Quarterly 
 Meeting in the (»th month, but I was informed by report, that a 
 proposfd was made to aj)point an assistant-clerk in my place, 
 and I have received two letters from Jon;ithan Flounders, 
 which, with my - Replies," I hand for your perusal ; by thesj 
 you will perceive, that it is intended to renew the proposal at 
 the next Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders. In ac- 
 ceding to your wish, I did not suppose my compliance would be 
 made a prelude to an attempt to thrust me out of the ofHee of 
 assistant-clerk, nor can I yet think you will allow yourselves to 
 be the instruments of such an act of oppression. The question 
 is not whether such an ollice possesses any value, but whether 
 a number of persons shall be supported in an attempt to degrade 
 an individual, without stating and proving the grounds on which 
 such proceeding takes place ; which, I conceive, would be to 
 
< 
 
 78 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE 
 
 establish the practice of invading individual rights >nth impu- 
 nity, and justifying the assumption of despotic power, under 
 the profession of the exercise of Christian discipline. I have 
 also been informed, on good authority, that the Connnittee of 
 Lancashire Quarterly Meeting delivered to you a pa|)er in 4th 
 month last, urging you to cause my removal from the station of 
 Elder. I am aware that you have not taken any measures in 
 consequence of this request, but I do trust you will call upon 
 the Lancashire Committee, to state explicitly the grouml, on 
 which they have thus attempted to reflect upon my character, 
 and that you will put me in possession of the particulars. It 
 has been my desire to accede to your judgment on every point, 
 and to the full extent to which I could conscientiously comply ; 
 I now appeal to you, and trust you will perceive the justness 
 of my appeal, to withdraw those restrictions to which you have 
 thought proper to subject me, or to inform me fttlltf, what are 
 the errors, either of principle or practice, for which you think 
 it right to continue the restrictions. I make this appeal from 
 the conviction, that, in the attempts which have been inces- 
 santly made, during the last eighteen months, to cast reflections 
 upon my character, and to treat me as a delinquent, without 
 the charges against me ever being specified, I am deeply in- 
 jured ; but more especially in behalf of those plain principles 
 of the Gospel, and the diligent use of the Holy Scriptures, sub- 
 jects which are dearer to me than anv earthlv consideration I 
 make my appeal." 
 
 The onlii replies which William Boulton obtained to this 
 cMi<lress, were two documents, of which the following are 
 I'opies : — 
 
 •' On deliberately considering a paragraph in the letter of our 
 frieiul William Boulton, received yesterday, wliich is considered 
 as having allusion to certain minutes given to him, the Com- 
 mittee is not prepared to depart from the recommendation con- 
 veyed to him in the minute of the '12m\ of 8th month, 1835, 
 and repeated in its minute of the 'iOth of the 12th month last, 
 and rpfor< to the first of the said minutes, for a reply to his fur- 
 
 AGAINST WILLIAM BOULTON. 
 
 79 
 
 ther inquiry for the reasons on which the said minute was 
 grounded." 
 
 (Not Signed.*) 
 ** Manchester, Oth month, 10, 183G." 
 
 " This Committee think it right to inform their Friend 
 William Boulton, that the subject of his holding the station of 
 an Elder, has engaged their serious and deliberate consideration; 
 and, forming their judgment respecting it, from the various 
 circumstances wluch have come under their observation, in the 
 course of their visits to this Quarterly Meeting, they are de- 
 cidedly of opinion, that his continuing to hold that station, is 
 not likely to conduce to the benefit of the Society in these 
 parts, or to his own advantage ; they therefore feel themselves 
 called upon, in brotherly love, to suggest to their friend 
 William Boulton, the propriety of his withdrawing from his 
 station as an Elder." 
 
 (Not Signed.) 
 " Manchester, 9th month, 12, 1836." 
 
 The minute, to which the Committee refer William 
 Boulton, for reasons why they have subjected him to the re- 
 strictions, is as follows : — 
 
 " The Committee of the Yearly Meeting assure their friend 
 William Boulton, that the advice which they thought it right 
 to extend to him when they were last in Manchester, was not 
 grounded on any disciplinary authority, or on any judgment 
 which they had formed respecting his Ministry itself; but on a 
 view of what they apprehend to be desirable, under the present 
 circumstances of the Society in these parts.'* 
 
 '* On the same ground, they now think it right tenderly to 
 recommend continued caution and patience on his part, in re- 
 ference to this subject; and it would be satisfactory to this 
 
 The Committee were requested to authenticate this Document, but 
 they decluied doing it. 
 
80 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 Committee, should this caution and patience lead to his keep- 
 mg silence in our Meetings for Worship, for the present." 
 ''Manchester, Sth month, 22, 1835." 
 
 In the foregoing minute of the 22nd of August, 1835 to 
 which the Committee refer William Boulton for reasons 'for 
 that which they have done in his case, it would be difficult for 
 any one but themselves to understand these reasons - On a 
 ^.ee." (say they) - of what they apprehend to be desirable under 
 the present circumstances of the Society in these parts r—thh is 
 the only alleged ground of his delinquency. If the Committee 
 had good and sufficient reasons for imposing the restrictions, it 
 was certainly their duty to have given them explicitlv ;-if thev 
 had not good reasons, their proceedings must be considered as 
 cruel and oppressive. The evasive character of the documents 
 IS a strong indication that the only protection of the Committed 
 Hgainst censure, consists in the concealment of the real motives 
 on which they had acted. 
 
 At the conclusion of the adjourned Monthly Meeting, held at 
 Manchester on the 16th instant, after the case of Isaac Crewd- 
 son had been disponed of ; William Neild said, he had been in- 
 formed that the Yearly Meeting's Committee had advised Wil- 
 liam Boulton to resign his office of Elder ;_he ^.'ished to know 
 from the Committee, on what grounds thev had given such 
 HdMve ?-They declined to give any reply, and said that the 
 question was out of order. 
 
 William Boulton then claimed the right of stating his case to 
 the Monthly Meeting ; to this, also, several Members of the 
 Committee objected, but Dr. Ash, one of their number, xvished 
 William Boulton to be heard. After repeated interruptions 
 ^^lmHm Boulton obtained liberty to state the case to the 
 Monthly Meeting. He reminded the Committee of the restric- 
 tions under which they had, from time to time, placed him • 
 that he had often called on them to state what were the errors' 
 either of principle or practice, for which thev had thus treated 
 him ; that they had, in no one instance,, specitied either the one 
 
 \ 
 
 AGAINST WILLIAM BOULTON. 
 
 81 
 
 or the other ; that he had complied with the advice they had 
 given him, whatever was its character ; that when the Com- 
 mittee were in Manchester in the last Spring, they gave him » 
 minute, requesting he would not attend the Meetings of Minis- 
 ters and Elders ; and now, without giving any reason, the> 
 wished him to resign his station as Elder ; and, in reply to his 
 request to have reasons for the Committee's proceedings in his 
 case, they merely confirmed their former restrictions ; he, there- 
 fore, called upon them to state to the Monthly Meeting, the 
 grounds on which they had thus acted towards him, and also to cor- 
 rect his mis-statements if any had been made by him. The only 
 remark they made, was by George Stacey in the early part ot 
 the discussion, saying, that if the Committee should not reply to 
 William Boulton's statement, their silence must not be con- 
 strued into assent. 
 
 Thus we see thirteen men, first hearing in the Summer ot 
 1833, all the charges that coiddbe brought against an individual, 
 the chief of which consisted in his promoting the social study 
 of Holy Scripture ; and without stating one specific error, inti- 
 mating their wish that he should be silent as a Minister ; on 
 their next visit, in August 1835, confirming their restrictions, 
 still without any error being alleged ; and at their succeeding 
 visit in December, again confirming these impositions. 
 
 In April this year, the Committee suggest the propriety of 
 his not attending the Meeting of Ministers and Elders, without 
 (as appears) any fault on liis part ; and on their late visit they 
 request him to resign the station of Elder, again without any 
 error being stated. 
 
 The reader mil have been surprised at the evasive character 
 of the foregoing documents of the Committee, and will have 
 perceived that, in the absence of any clear charges, they, on 
 every visit, either continue or increase their restrictions. The 
 moral injustice will also have been obvious to every unpreju- 
 diced, reflecting mind ; and it is amazing that thirteen men, 
 chosen by the Yearly Meeting, of respectable character, and of 
 high religious profession, could so forget the moral precept, of 
 
 ) 
 
82 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 (ioing as they would that others should do to them, a. thus en- 
 tirely to disregard the plain principles of justice. 
 
 It is difficult to account for such tortuous proceedings on any 
 ground, except that of the opposition of some principles of the 
 Society to the unrestricted study of the Holy Scriptures; and 
 that whilst a high regard is professed for the Sacred Writings, 
 they hold only a very subordinate place, both as a guide and as 
 an authority.* 
 
 A 7 
 
 In conclusion, I would say, it is painful to me to 
 make statements which cast a shade upon any of my 
 friends : but I believe the truth of the Gospel demands 
 it : yei wliilst contending for the faith once delivered 
 to the Saints, I unfeignedly desire and pray that I, 
 and all with whom I am united in Gospel fellowship, 
 may act in a Christian ^jotriVtowards those from whom 
 we ditfer. - If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in 
 the Spirit ;" and may -' love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 
 gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,"— the 
 blessed fruits of the Spirit, increase, and abound among 
 us. Let us often ask for that grace which will enable 
 us to forgive,-.to love, and in truth to/>r«7/, for those 
 who in any way act injuriously towards us : and may the 
 supplicating language of evert/ heart, both their's and 
 oursM, *' That which I see not teach thou me.''— And "the 
 God of peace which brought again from the dead our Lord 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 83 
 
 Jesus,— that great Shepherd of the sheep, througli the 
 l)Iood of the everlasting covenant make" us -perfect 
 iii every good work to do His will, working in" us all 
 '' that which is well pleasing in His sight, tlu-ough 
 Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory for ever and ever— 
 Amen." 
 
 • I have not the means of asserting from my own observation the entire 
 accuracy of this and the foregoing report, of the proceedings in the Monthly 
 Meeting, but after much enquiry. I have been assured that the accounts may 
 be relied on as substantially correct. 
 
 WILLUM SIMPSON, PRINTER, BBOWN-STREET, MA.VCHESI 
 
 rcK. 
 
 f^ntefai-'fiiifil iifiiMfiiiffiWirthfrri 
 
 tiifliiiaiiiiitiiiififr-*^'™'"-- --^--'-^ * — 
 
] 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Quarterly Meetiny of Westmoreland having sent a proposi- 
 tion to the Yearly Meetiny^ in London, to request that Meetiny clear- 
 ly to define what^ in its estimation, are the authority, place, and 
 office, of the Holy Scriptures as the rule of faith and practice. 
 The Yearly Meeting in consequence thereof, gave forth the fol- 
 lowing declarations in the Yearly Epistle, they are now extracted 
 as forming a link in the present controversy, and more particularly 
 as much use is made of them m the foregoing defence: ; — The 
 tcords in Italics are not so marked in the Epistle. 
 
 Extracts from the Yearly Epistle, 1836. 
 
 " Often as our religious Society luis declared its belief in the 
 Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, and upheld the sacred 
 volume as the only Divinely authorised record of the doctrinea 
 of true religion, we believe it right at this time to revive some 
 important declarations of Scripture itself on the subject. It is 
 expressly declared by the Apostle Peter, that ' the prophecy 
 came not in old time by the will of man : but holy men of God 
 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' — 2 Pet. i. 21. 
 The Apostle John declares respecting the Gospel which he 
 wrote, ' These are written, that ye might Iwlieve that Jesus is 
 the Christ, the Son of Go<l ; and that, believing, ye might have 
 life through his name.'— John xx. 31. Very pertinent and 
 comprehensive is the language which the Apostle Paul address- 
 ed to Timothy ; ' From a child thou hast knowTi the Holy 
 Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 
 through faith which is Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given 
 by inspiration of God, and is protitable for doctrine, for 
 reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that 
 the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly funiished unto all 
 good works.' — 2 Tim. iii. 15 — 17. Again the Apostle says, 
 * Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for 
 our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the 
 
 
 ArPENDIX. 
 
 Scriptures might have hope. '—Rom. xv. 4. Finally, our 
 blessed Lord, in reference to those divine writings of which the 
 grand object, in accordance with his own declaration, was to 
 testify of himself, emphatically declares ' the Scripture cannot 
 be broken.' — John x. 3o. 
 
 ** Although most of these passages relate to the Old Testa- 
 ment, our Society has always freely acknowledged that the 
 principles developed in them, are etjually applicable to the writ- 
 ings of the Evangelists and Apostles. In conformity with 
 these principles it has ever been, and still is, the belief of the 
 Society of Friends, that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Testament were given by inspiration of God ; that there- 
 fore the declarations contained in them rest on the authority of 
 God himself ; and there can be no appeal from them to any 
 other authority whatsoever : that they are able to make us wise 
 unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus; being 
 THE Of {tainted means of making known to us the blessed truths 
 of Chn-tianity : that they are the only Divinely authorised re- 
 cord of the doctrines which we are bound as Christians to be- 
 lieve, and o£ the moral principles which are to regulate our 
 actions : that no doctrine which is not contained in them can be 
 required of any one to be believed as an article of faith : that 
 whatsoever any man says or does which is contrary to the Scrip- 
 tures, though under [)rofession of the immediate guidance of 
 the Spirit, must be reckoned and accounted a mere delusion. 
 
 We tru^t, however, that none of our members will content 
 themselves with merely entertaining a sound view on this sub- 
 ject ; but that they will rememlx'r that the Holy Scriptures 
 are given to us that they may be diligently used, and that we 
 may obtain a right understanding of them in the fear of the 
 Lord. Let us never forget that their main purpose is, under 
 the inllii. n.e of the Holy Spirit, to bring us to our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. )l !t by a living operative faitli in Him, we may obtain 
 reconi llation with the Father, and be made partakers of ever- 
 lasting :• ' 
 
The Eeader will observe, that the following Reviews refer 
 to the 1st Edition of the Beacon, and that the pages in the Ut 
 and '2nd Editions do not correspond. They vary from ten to 
 thirteen pages ; for instance, where the reference in the Review 
 of page 11, is to pp. 84, 85, \st Edition, the subject matter will 
 be found in the 2nd Edition, pp. 72, 73, and so throughout. 
 
 Many of the headings to the different subjects are aUo 
 altered in the second Edition. 
 
 FURTHER EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM 
 
 iJniotriral Ciauiu^, 
 
 RELATIVE TO THE ''BEACON.' 
 
 Fro7n the Christiayi Observer for October, 1835. 
 
 " In our number for last May we alluded to the 
 iiuportant discussions in progress among the members 
 of the Society of Friends, which we hoped--and wr 
 still hope, and believe— will terminate, by the Divine 
 blessing, in much eventual good. We expressed ou. 
 mournful conviction that the appeal so often made by 
 Friends to an inward monitor, under the idea of \u 
 ^>eing divinely guided, to the displacing from their due 
 authority the revealed and infallible scriptures of trutli 
 (which is one of the chief particulars under discus^io;. 
 in the present argument), is a most dangerous error , 
 and one which has produced that uncertainty, and ofrei; 
 unsoundness, of doctrine, and those other mournful 
 effects, which the most enlightened and spiritual iy- 
 minded Friends so deeply lament." 
 
 The Review gives many rpiotations from il: 
 writings of Fox, Penn, and Barclay, (as cited in *' i 
 Remonstrance to the Society of Friends," by B. W. 
 Newton,) proving great unsoundness, and then adds,— 
 " Now, is this Quakerism, or is it not ? If it be 
 
 A 
 
 I 
 
2 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 not, most joyfully shall we learn the welcome intel- 
 ligence ; but then it will follow that such men as Fox, 
 Barclay, and Penn (the last especially) were not 
 Quakers — that is, according to the present tenets oi 
 Quakerism. But if Quaker tenets have changed, and 
 if the Society as a body does not hold the obnoxious 
 views above specified, why countenance and recom- 
 mend the writings of those who were their chief 
 abettors? It is not the excellence of many moral 
 precepts, or an agreement in matters of opinion respect- 
 ing the externals of Quakerism, that ouglit to induce 
 any spiritually-minded man in the Society to recom- 
 mend writings thus fundamentally unsound; and this 
 even without a caution respecting their false principles. 
 Our objection to the writings of Fox, Barclay, Penn, 
 and many other Quakers, is, that they are doctrinally 
 heterodox; and that, as a corrupt tree cannot bring 
 forth good fruit, a system built upon an unscriptural 
 basis cannot be scriptural. A too frequent error of 
 Quakerism, and that which leads to every other, is the 
 disparagement of the authority of the revealed will of 
 God, and the subjecting its declarations to the control 
 of the "inward monitor;" so that no check is placed 
 npon the wanderings of the human mind; but any man 
 may receive or reject just what he pleases, and allege 
 that in so doing he is guided infallibly by a secret 
 intlucnce, instead of being in bondage to a written 
 oracle. 
 
 " Have we stated this too strongly ? If any of our 
 readers think so, let them take up the first publication 
 on our list, « The Beacon," and they will there find. 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 3 
 
 from the pen of a member of the Society, a man ot 
 distinguished piety and sound judgment, and whose 
 work ought to be perused, re-perused, and — let us add, 
 if Friends will allow us — prayed over, by every mem- 
 ber of their body, such an exposition of the " errors,'' 
 the "desolating heresies," and the "fatal results" which 
 have followed from this undervaluing of scriptural 
 authority, as will more than justify all that we have said, 
 or are about to say, upon the subject. Let the reader 
 weigh well the following appalling statements from Mr. 
 Crewdson's prefatory address." 
 
 The Review then gives several extracts from the 
 prefatory address, and adds — 
 
 " Nothing can be more clear and scriptural than this 
 statement; and greatly indebted is the Christian world 
 to Mr. Crewdson for the faithfulness with which he has 
 pointed out to his brethren the great cause of the 
 unsteadiness of belief," and the too often serious 
 errors and delusions, which have arisen from not 
 making the word of God the infallible and paramount 
 standard of religious truth." 
 
 " We thank God for raising up such men as the author 
 of the Beacon, and others of like mind ; but we think 
 they assume untenable ground when they reason with 
 their brethren as members o^ the Society of Friends, 
 for we cannot believe that the writings of their founders 
 bear them out. The same incongruity has struck us in 
 some of the Annual Epistles of the Society, which 
 have of late years been increasingly scriptural in 
 their doctrines and exhortations. We rejoice in 
 this auspicious discrepancy, but we cannot in con- 
 
 a2 
 
I 
 
 4 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 science say that no such discrepancy exists ; for 
 exist it does : and in proportion as Friends make the 
 Holy Scriptures the sole standard of authoritative ap- 
 peal, they will find themselves swerving from some of 
 the opinions which have been very generally cherished 
 i^y the members of their Society. The most important 
 point, therefore, is, to induce them diligently and with 
 earnest prayer to search the scriptures, and to agree to 
 abide by this standard. But while they appeal to a 
 •secret monitor, what common test or ground have we, 
 upon which to argue with them ? Nothing, for example, 
 seems clearer to us, than that scripture enjoins, not only 
 the habitual feeling, but also the act of prayer ; and 
 this at set times, in public and in private. The holy 
 men of old prayed in the temple service regularly; 
 and also " three times a day," or more or less often, in 
 their private devotions or with their households. But 
 1 Friend has perhaps a mental persuasion, an inward 
 light, that prayer is not to be thus formal, as he deems 
 it ; and, professing to be secretly guided by the Holy 
 Spirit, he thus contravenes the express dictates of that 
 Spirit in his revealed word. We do not apply our 
 remarks to all the members of the Society — very far 
 from it ; — for many, as we have already said, are too 
 scriptural in their views to be thus led astray. But that 
 the tendency of Quakerism is to this evil, is manifest ; 
 and we therefore consider that Christians of every 
 name — but the members of his own Society in parti- 
 cular — are greatly indebted to Mr. Crewdson for point- 
 ing out the danger of the path in which too many of 
 the Friends have long been walking. Ho has selected, 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 5 
 
 it is true, an extreme instance — namely, the case of 
 Elias Hicks and his followers ; and we have no inten- 
 tion of saying that the awful delusions of those unhappy 
 men have infected the mass of the members of the 
 Society ; on the contrary, we have already noticed the 
 very great increase of sound doctrine in this much 
 respected body ; but then, as Mr. Crewdson has clearly 
 proved, and as Dr. Hancock admits and vindicates, the 
 main principle which led to the excesses of Hicksism is 
 widely prevalent in the Institution ; and it cannot be 
 otherwise, if Quakers reallj' follow the opinions of Penn, 
 Fox, and Barclay ; and where this principle prevails, 
 there is no security that twenty men may not pui'sue 
 twenty different paths, and some of them very bad 
 ones, while each considers himself a consistent Friend. 
 The fact noticed by Mr. Crewdson — that the number of 
 persons drawn aside by Hicks's delusions has been 
 greater, in proportion to the number of Quakers in 
 America, than a similar adoption of a heresy in any 
 otlier sect — is a portentous proof that there is some- 
 thing most unsound in Quakerism, upon that construc- 
 tion which Dr. Hancock affirms is the right one, and 
 which is very extensively admitted by its members. 
 Of the alarming tendencies of this principle, Mr. 
 Crewdson has been endued with light and grace to 
 admonish his brethren in the most faithful manner. 
 Thus he says : — 
 
 " * Between mysticism and the religion of Christ, 
 there is this essential difference : the former is chieffy a 
 religion of feelings, the latter is a religion of faith, for 
 it is founded on the testimony of the Spirit of God 
 
 A3 
 
 
6 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 transmitted to us in Holy Scripture ; and we conceive 
 the intelligent reader, on perusing the exposure of some 
 of the doctrines contained in the preceding extracts, 
 must have perceived their disagreement with the doc- 
 trines of the Bible. 
 
 " * Now, Christianity is the only religion by which 
 we can be saved ; and, therefore, however specious any 
 thing whicli is substituted may be, if we reject the 
 gospel we cut ourselves off from salvation ; because 
 God hath plainly declared to us who have the scriptures, 
 that there is no other way of salvation for us than that 
 which he hath made known to us in the Holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 " * To ministers, and all others in tiie Society, we 
 would raise a warning voice against this deadly heresy, 
 with an earnestness which the safety of the never-dying 
 soul demands ; and we would affectionately entreat 
 every one to examine whether the rule of Christ and 
 his .Apostles be really his rule. 
 
 " » Let us then cast aside prejudice, and reject 
 human authority, and pray for the influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, whereby we shall be induced thankfully 
 to accept the written revelation ; and, in the simplicity 
 of little children, let us seek to be taught of God, by 
 the means which his perfect wisdom has provided.' — 
 Crewdson, pp. 153 — 155. 
 
 ** Mr. Crewdson has adduced a large number of ob- 
 noxious, and often grossly heretical, statements from 
 the writings of Hicks, and his followers, and has re- 
 futed them in the most convincing manner by an appeal 
 to H(^ly Scripture. The references are highly appro - 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, 7 
 
 priate and well-selected; but they cannot influence the 
 Hicksites, who are a sort of Socinians, or, in truth. 
 Deists, under the name of Quakers, believing just so 
 much of Scripture as they would believe if no revela- 
 tion existed — and no more. Their maxim is, that human 
 reason, and not scripture, is the test of truth — only, 
 instead of using the word " reason," they call it '* the 
 inward light;" and since the doctrine of the Trinity, 
 the Atonement, and other essential portions of Chris- 
 tianity, do not happen to approve themselves to their 
 inward light, they infer that they are not true, but are 
 to be rejected." 
 
 From the Christian Observer of November ^ 1835. 
 
 " It is far from our wish to charge upon the Friends 
 any doctrine which they disavow ; and we greatly 
 rejoice at witnessing the spirit of serious inquiry and 
 widely extended piety at present prevalent among 
 them. Still we feel strongly the difficulties, to which 
 we alluded in our last Number, in reconciling many of 
 the statements of their standard writers with sound 
 doctrine. Those of our readers who feel interested in 
 the discussion should read the account, just published, 
 of Mr. Crewdson*s Correspondence with the Committee 
 
8 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 of the Friends* Yearly Meeting. His < Beacon,' Mr. 
 Crewdson says, has been censured by his brethren 
 * with unmeasured severity, as a dangerous and perni- 
 cious book ; it has been publicly denounced before the 
 representatives from every Quarterly and Half-yearly 
 Meeting in England and Scotland, and Annual Meeting 
 of Ireland, to the Yearly Meeting of Ministers and 
 Elders in London ; and the fact that this book has been 
 burnt by members of the Society, was announced by 
 an elder in that Meeting, with evident approbation, as 
 a testimony against it; Friends have not only been 
 advised against reading or selling it, but it has been 
 said that any one aiding in the circulation should be 
 deemed unfit to hold any office in the Society : and all 
 this, and much more, has been done and said without 
 examination of the work by any competent authority, 
 and without any proof that it is unscriptural.' « I feel 
 called on, therefore,' adds Mr. Crewdson, * to take my 
 stand upon the book as it is, with all its defects ; and 
 to ask the Committee, as Christian brethren, either to 
 point out wherein the work is unscriptural, or else to 
 give a verdict of acquittal.' Surely this appeal is just, 
 and ought to be July responded to. One charge urged 
 against Mr. Crewdson by his brethren is, that he has 
 * depreciated and restricted the influences of the Holy 
 Spirit.' This charge is repelled in the pamphlet by a 
 selection of extracts from the < Beacon,' which fully 
 show, that, though Mr. Crewdson does not approve of 
 the sentiments of many Quakers on this subject, he 
 most fully acknowledges and dwells upon the influences 
 of the Divine Spirit in all His oftices, as set forth in 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 9 
 
 the Holy Scriptures. Nothing can be more strong and 
 explicit than his statements. 
 
 " We also recommend our readers to peruse another 
 work, just issued, on the pending discussion, entitled 
 * Holy Scripture the Test of Truth,' by I\Ir. Ball, of 
 Taunton." 
 
 In the same number the Christian Observer 
 remarks — 
 
 " Mr. Gurney's position, if we rightly understand it, 
 is, that in relation to those important points of doctrine 
 which regard the subsistence of the Godhead, and the 
 plan of human salvation — on which he himself has 
 written in a truly scriptural manner, and with much 
 ability — the members of the Society have throughout 
 their history proved themselves " orthodox." In regard 
 to the doctrines of his brethren, he (Mr. Gurney) has 
 several distinct bodies of inquirers to satisfy. First, 
 he'must disprove, if he can, the mournful statements o 
 such excellent members of his own communion as Mr. 
 Ball and Mr. Crewdson, who feel it their bounden ^uty 
 to God and their brethren to utter a solemn warning, 
 and to exhibit a " beacon." Secondly, he must dispose 
 of the quotations adduced by Mr. Newton and others, 
 not members of the Society, in proof that its leading 
 writers have set forth, as the opinions of the Quakers, 
 doctrines which are far from being orthodox or evan- 
 gelical. Thirdly, he must meet the appalling averment 
 of Dr. Hancock, and not a few others of the 'anti- 
 movement portion' of the Society, that the doctrines 
 which their reforming brethren contend for are not 
 genuine Quakerism ; and that even Mr. Gurney him- 
 
 
10 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 self does not always write like a good Quaker. Our 
 wish is to find Mr. Gurney in the right ; but our re- 
 spectful exhortation to all the members of the Society 
 is, to throw aside the whole argument as to what Penn 
 or Barclay may have affirmed, or what Quakerism is or 
 has been ; and to make the inspired scriptures their 
 only guide, under the promised influence of the Holy 
 Spirit to lead them into truth. 
 
 " While we are writing, a work just published, 
 entitled * Truth Vindicated,' has fallen into our hands. 
 The writer asserts, that it is the undoubted doctrine of 
 Quakerism that the scriptures are not a < primary,' but 
 only an * auxiliary,' source of spiritual knowledge ; 
 that the light within, is the primary rule ; and that the 
 early members of the Society so taught, and the genuine 
 members of the Society so believe. This light within 
 he calls * the light of Christ ;' which, he maintains, 
 extends to all mankind, even to those who have never 
 heard of the Bible ; — a position little short of Deism, 
 making natural conscience to be the Spirit of Christ. 
 He admits nothing to be true but what < something 
 within declares to be the truth ;* and hence he rejects, 
 if we rightly understand him, the doctrine of the 
 vicarious sacrifice and atonement of the Redeemer. — 
 The Quakers, he boldly affirms, * place the immediate 
 suggestions of the Spirit* — that is, their own secret 
 feelings and judgments, which they so denominate — 
 above * the scriptures.' He hesitates to admit, that 
 what we < call Holy Scripture,' is really Holy Scrip- 
 ture; and contends tliat there is much * Holy Scripture 
 which is not contained in the book called the Bible j' that 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER* 
 
 11 
 
 is, that every man is his own Bible, and apparently needs 
 no other. There is no good reason, he says, to prove that 
 the temporary and local records, which we call the volume 
 of Revelation, <are to stand as the only appeal and ulti- 
 mate standard to the end of time, for all states and 
 conditions of men.' We are not, he says, < to test a 
 present revelation to ourselves, by some one else, many 
 hundred years ago ;' that is, not to bring our notions 
 to the test of Holy Scripture ; more especially as scrip- 
 ture, he seems to intimate, is inconsistent with itself. 
 * The scriptures,' he says, ' are not the gospel ;' the 
 gospel being something that is known to all mankind, 
 even to those who never heard of the scriptures. Again, 
 ' the Spirit, and not the scriptures, is the first and 
 chief foundation of truth, ground of faith, and rule of 
 conduct;' and this plenary Spirit all men possess, 
 though they never heard of the Bible or Christianity. 
 Thus runs the whole work ; and this the author main- 
 tains is genuine Quakerism: and though the evange- 
 lical members of the Society will recoil from such a 
 statement, as utterly unfounded, yet not a few of their 
 brethren will consider the doctrinqs of this writer as ex- 
 hibiting a much nearer approximation to unsophisticated, 
 old-fashioned Quakerism, than those of Mr. Crewdson 
 Mr. Ball, or our much respected friend, Mr. Gurney 
 himself. If, at least, we have been incorrect in our 
 estimate, Mr. Gurney must own that we have been led 
 astray, not merely by our own deductions from Quaker 
 writings, but by the unrefuted assertions of Quakers 
 themselves. We felt it a duty to hold out a serious 
 warning ; yea, even to sound an alarm ; but we had no 
 
12 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 wish to invent or exaggerate evils. We must say that 
 Mr Crewdson has received very hard measure." 
 
 From the Eclectic Review for March, 1836. 
 
 The article in this Number, headed " The Doc- 
 trines of Friends," is well worthy the attentive perusal 
 of every member of the Society. The following are 
 extracts from it : — 
 
 *' The publication of * The Beacon* by its much 
 esteemed author, Isaac Crewdson, has been but the 
 signal for a more open manifestation of the differences 
 that had long been known to exist in matters of faith, 
 among the members and ministers of the Society of 
 Friends. 
 
 *• It is now thirteen years since an article api)eared 
 in our Journal, on the subject of * Quaker Ortho- 
 doxi/,'* in which we adverted to the religious move- 
 ment in the Society that had already commenced, as an 
 auspicious indication, seeming * to warrant the hope, 
 that the doctrinal differences and schismatical prejudices 
 wliich have too long estranged and divided this esti- 
 mable communitv from the rest of the Christian church 
 
 • Eel. ReT. Second Series. Vol. XVI 1 1, p 42;). 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 13 
 
 are beginning to give way before the all-harmonizing 
 influence of Christian principles.' In that article, 
 (which, we have reason to believe, did not wholly fail 
 of producing the intended effect of rousing the atten- 
 tion of Friends), we endeavoured to do justice to their 
 claims as a body, while we pointed out some circum- 
 stances which had operated to their disvl vantage ; and 
 we ventured to place the alternative before the more 
 thoughtful members of the Society, that Quakerism 
 must either rouse itself to < meet the exigencies of the 
 times, or it must be swept away by the rising tide. 
 Knowledge,* we remarked, < will find lis level ; and 
 every thing which depends for its stability on the 
 exclusion of knowledge, will be undermined and over- 
 thrown. The orthodoxy which is bottomed on human 
 creeds, or which is perpetuated only in the oral tradi- 
 tions and educational peculiarities of a sect, will give 
 way before the first assault.* Quakerism has roused 
 itself; and a portion of the Society have wakened to 
 the conviction, that every doctrine and practice which 
 will not stand the test of scripture, ought at once to be 
 discarded, by whatever authority they may be coun- 
 tenanced. ' Those essential points of doctrine on 
 which the Society is divided, admit,* remarks Mr. Ball, 
 ' of no compromise. They must be brought, like all 
 other points, whether of faith or practice, to the only 
 infallible standard,— the written word of God, To no 
 other authority is ant/ Christian called to bow: 
 
 " This, however, is an axiom which is by no means 
 generally admitted ; and Dr. Hancock, in his observa- 
 tions on < Tlie Beacon,* confines himself chiefly to the 
 
14 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 question, whether Mr. Crewdson's * opinions correspond 
 to the avowed doctrines of the Society.* The « truth 
 of our testimonies/ he says, referring to those funda- 
 mental doctrines which liave been professed by the 
 Society of Friends ever since it was established, * is 
 always to be taken for granted: And he cites the 
 apology of Robert Barclay ; remarking, that Mr. Crewd- 
 son, as a minister in outward fellowship in the same 
 Society with himself, ' can hardly be supposed to have 
 thrown off the authority of a work so justly esteemed 
 as it is amongst us ; for this would imply that his 
 departure from the ground of our testimonies was 
 greater than I am yet willing to believe it to be.* We 
 must transcribe Mr. Ball's admirable remarks upon this 
 attempt to substitute human authority for the scriptures, 
 as the test of truth ; premising, in justice to Dr. Han- 
 cock, that he argues only as most theological confro- 
 vertists of other communions have been in the practice 
 
 of doing. 
 
 The " Review" then quotes many extracts from 
 " Holy Scripture the Test of Truth," by R. Ball, and 
 
 adds — 
 
 *' It was our first intention, when the present con- 
 troversy was brought under our notice, to enter more 
 fully into the doctrinal questions at issue ; and we have 
 to apologise to the friends of both parties for having 
 so long delayed to discharge our duty in reporting upon 
 the various publications transmitted to us. With deep 
 interest we have watched this religious movement in 
 the Society ; and we cannot but unfeignedly rejoice 
 that a testimony for the exclusive authority of the 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 15 
 
 scripture has been raised by the evangelical party, who 
 have taken their stand on the paramount authority of 
 the word of God. But it seemed to be a delicate task 
 for a Reviewer to step in between the two parties as a 
 self-constituted umpire, whose impartiality might have 
 been fairly challenged. Mr. Ball's publication, however, 
 has very much simplified the matter in dispute. He 
 concedes that, with the Quakerism of Fox, and Penn, 
 and Barclay, his own views and those of Mr. Crewdson 
 and his friends are at variance. Dr. Hancock had put 
 it to the conviction of the autlior of the " Beacon," 
 ' as an holiest man^ to determine the question in liis 
 own mind, whether he is united in doctrine with us 
 or not ?* Mr. Ball at once pleads guilty to the charge 
 of holding sentiments not in accordance with tlic re- 
 ceived doctrines of the body ; — but he appeals from 
 Penn, Fox, Barclay, Sewel, and other standards of 
 Quaker orthodoxy, to tlie Inspired Oracles. Tlie right 
 of appcHil to the scriptures, on the part of the members 
 of the Society, becomes, therefore, the first question to 
 be determined. Dr, Hancock seems to take it for 
 granted, that if Mr. Crewdson's * religious opinions as 
 a Quaker' are * unsound,' tlie only course, whicli, as 
 an honest man, he can pursue, is to renounce Quaker- 
 ism, or to submit to be renounced by the body. Mr. 
 Ball thinks, on the contrary, that if being an * unsound 
 Quaker* results from being the better Bible Christian, 
 the right way for the Society to avoid increasing dis- 
 union would be, to repudiate certain unscriptural doc- 
 trines which have too long been blended with the con- 
 ventional or traditional faith of Friends. * A religious 
 
 I 
 

 16 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 revival/ he says, * has undoubtedly commenced •/ and 
 he conceives it to be on that account * the duty of 
 those who, under other circumstances, might feel them- 
 selves compelled to resort to the painful alternative of 
 secession, to be willing to go a little longer mourning 
 on their way, in the hope that brighter days are opening 
 
 upon them.' 
 
 " The crisis is a most interesting one ; for the future 
 character, if not the existence (jf Quakerism as a sect, 
 hangs upon the issue. Should the attempt be made to 
 put down the appeal to scripture by Quaker tradition — 
 to bar the inquiry into the truth of received doctrines 
 by Quaker authority— we do not hesitate to predict 
 that the dccisioii ivill prove fatal to the Societf/, * To 
 the law and to the testimony.' Who is William Penn 
 or Robert Barclay? Who is John Calvin or John 
 Wesley? Who is Thomas Cranmer or John Owen? 
 Elave we been baptized into the name of any of these ? 
 Wliat means the explicit command, ' Call no man your 
 master?' Nothing is clearer in our judgment, than 
 that it absolutely forbids all such deference to human 
 authority in matters of doctrine, as is implied by mak- 
 ing articles of faith, or an agreement with received 
 do<nnas, the terms of communion. 
 
 " Sectarian divisions are the unavoidable result of a 
 different construction of the rule of faith, in the present 
 imperfect state of Christian knowledge ; yet, good has 
 resulted from what must be regarded as in itself an 
 evil. And so long as the paramount authority of the 
 same inspired rule is acknowledged, there not only 
 exists c. common bond and jjround i>l' union, but a 
 
 ECLECTK REVIEW. 
 
 >! 
 
 reasonable prospect of mutual approximation, as the 
 true construction of all that has been disputed or 
 doubted comes to be ascertained. Of such an approx- 
 imation to the unity of the faith on the pai-t of Friends, 
 the publications of Mr. Crewdson and ]\Ir. Ball atlbrd a 
 most instructive and heart-cheering instance. And 
 while Quakerism has itself undergone, and is, under- 
 going, so benefieiafa modification, inconsequence o^ 
 the diffusion of scriptural light, it is due to the Society 
 to acknowledge, that other Christian denomination* 
 have, as Dr. Hancock remarks, drawn nearer to som» 
 of the distinguishing Quaker principles. r . 
 
 " We must conclude, then, that for any part^to set 
 aside an hofiest appeal to the scriptures^ by referring to 
 the authority of another rule as precluding all inquiry: 
 and discussion, is an offence against the Head of th» 
 church; that it is conduct in the worst sense sectarian 
 and schismatical ; that it tends to render approximatio» 
 to Christian unity of sentiment impossible; that it ii» 
 an attempt to impose upon at least a portion of th^ 
 church of Christ, a yoke which the master has not im-, 
 posed, and conditions which the gospel does not sanc^ 
 tion. We regret to find that this is the way in ..which. 
 the evangelical testimony of Isaac Crewdson lias been 
 met. « I hope,' says Dr. Hancock, ' he will never he 
 so far self-deceived as to propose to himself sucli an 
 unattainable object, as that of convincing the seriounf 
 weighty, and reflecting members of the Society; that 
 they do not know their own doctrines, or that scripitKt^ 
 is against them ; and that for nearly two hundred yeaim 
 they have been supporting a weak and brittle testimo^ 
 
 r2 
 
18 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 Mith the loss of life, and of liberty, and of property, in 
 favour of principles which are now found to be delusive 
 and pernicious errors !' Why every sect may adopt 
 tho <ame language. With ecpial propriety may the 
 Cliurch of England man resent the attempt to detect 
 a flaw in the articles or rit.ial of his church ; and the 
 Papist may plead with still greater force, the antiquity 
 •f his creed, and boast of the martyrs of his church. 
 May not the testimony borne by Friends have been 
 scriptural on some points, and weak and brittle on those 
 which Mr. Crcwdson has exposed ? Such is undoubt- 
 edly the fact. Dr. Hancock himself would not defend 
 .n'the Mostimonv' of the early Friends. William 
 Penn grew wiser as he grew older : why should not his 
 followers ? The church at large has grown wiser ; the 
 opponents of the Quaker testimony have learned wis- 
 dom; the doctrine of divine influence is no longer 
 ridiculed and denied by the soi-disant orthodox; and 
 tlie sufferings of the Quakers in defence of the gospel 
 liberty have not been in vain. Will, then, the Society 
 of Friends, taking their stand upon their 'unalterable 
 principles,' refuse to take advantage of the general 
 advance of religious knowledge, and proclaim their own 
 incapacity of improvement or progress. Kut Qnaker.sm 
 l«s undergone most material and beneficial modifica- 
 tions ; and all the talk about its ' unalterable principles' 
 
 m an empty flourish." 
 
 The Reviewer, then gives some extracts from 
 Dr. Hancock's " Defence," and says " We can add 
 Bothing to these instructive remarks, they express our 
 inrn views most accurately and forcibly. Only let Dr. 
 
 ECLECTIC REVIEW. 
 
 19 
 
 1. 
 
 Hancock and his friends follow them out ; and they 
 will no longer resist and oppose tliat revival which the 
 diffusion of scriptural light is producing in their Society. 
 Isaac Crewdson has assuredly been taught as imme- 
 diately by Christ, as Mas Fox or l^enn ; and his aim is 
 not less simply than theirs, *ito direct all to Christ/ 
 He has set up a ''beacon," which, we trust, will prevent 
 pious inquirers from being led astray by the will-o'-the- 
 wisp of "inward light," or any other theory. We liave 
 hitherto extracted no specimen of the publication which 
 has given rise to this controversy; and which consists 
 of a refutation, from scripture, of the errors advanced 
 and maintained by the followers of Elias Hicks, the 
 American Iieresiarch. As an appropriate close to the 
 present article, we shall extract the " Conclusion" of 
 Mr. Crcwdson's admirable work." 
 
 The Reviewer then quotes the whole of the cott- 
 cluding article in the Beacon. 
 
 I 
 t 
 
 f 
 
 b3 
 
ADVKRTISEMENT. 
 
 **TllE wiioLKC()KUKSPONDi.ALi. between the 
 Committee of the Yearly IMeeting of Friends and 
 Isaac Crewdson," also Reviews of tlio Beacon, from 
 the Wcshi/an, Scoffish Congregational, Baptist, and 
 London Congregational Magazines, the Christian 
 Observer and the Eclectic Ucvietc, may be had bound 
 up with the " Beacon," at the original price— 2s. Gd. 
 Hamilton and Co. London, or through any Book- 
 
 seller. 
 
 This volume will afford the reader a clear and 
 concise view of the concioversy no\> ponding in the 
 Society of Friends. " The whole Correspondence" will 
 include the "Defence of the Beacon," also the "Re- 
 marks of the Committee upon the Defence," and the 
 "IVFinute of the Monthly Meeting," suspending 
 Isaac Crewdson as a Minister of the Gospel, for not 
 stoping the circulation of the "Beamn," a work written 
 agains't IIicksism, one of the most subtle and perni- 
 cious heresies that has ever assailed the Christian 
 Church. 
 
CO'rUMBIA UNIVERSITY 
 
 0025984420 
 
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 i' ii\ WILLI \>I iIMP-iOM. DPnWN .•TSEET. 
 
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