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diff --git a/19377-h/19377-h.htm b/19377-h/19377-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97a32a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/19377-h/19377-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3049 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + TD { vertical-align: top; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers, by William Penn</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of +the People Called Quakers, by William Penn + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers + + +Author: William Penn + + + +Release Date: September 25, 2006 [eBook #19377] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND +PROGRESS OF THE PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1834 Harrison and Crosfield edition by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1 style="text-align: center">A BRIEF ACCOUNT<br /> +<span class="smcap">of the</span><br /> +RISE AND PROGRESS<br /> +<span class="smcap">of the people</span><br /> +CALLED QUAKERS,<br /> +<span class="smcap">in which their</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">fundamental principle, doctrines, worship, ministry, +and discipline, are plainly declared</span>.</h1> +<p style="text-align: center">WITH A SUMMARY RELATION OF THE FORMER +DISPENSATIONS OF GOD IN THE WORLD; BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><b>BY WILLIAM PENN</b>.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>AS UNKNOWN, AND YET WELL KNOWN. 2 COR. VI. 9.</p> +</blockquote> +<p style="text-align: center"><b>TWELFTH EDITION</b>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">MANCHESTER:</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Printed by Harrison and Crosfield</i>, +<i>Market Street</i>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">sold by</span></p> +<p style="text-align: center">HARVEY & DARTON, GRACECHURCH STREET, +LONDON.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">1834.</p> +<h2><!-- page iii--><a name="pageiii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +iii</span>AN EPISTLE TO THE READER.</h2> +<p>Reader, this following account of the people called Quakers, &c. was +written in the fear and love of God: first, as a standing testimony to that +ever blessed truth in the inward parts, with which God, in my youthful +time, visited my soul, and for the sense and love of which I was made +willing, in no ordinary way, to relinquish the honours and interests of the +world. Secondly, as a testimony for that despised people, that God +has in his great mercy gathered and united by his own blessed Spirit in the +holy profession of it; whose fellowship I value above all worldly +greatness. Thirdly, in love and honour to the memory of that worthy +servant of God, George Fox, the first instrument thereof, and therefore +styled by me—The great and <!-- page iv--><a name="pageiv"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. iv</span>blessed apostle of our day. As this gave +birth to what is here presented to thy view, in the first edition of it, by +way of preface to George Fox’s excellent Journal; so the +consideration of the present usefulness of the following account of the +people called Quakers, by reason of the unjust reflections of some +adversaries that once walked under the profession of Friends, and the +exhortations that conclude it, prevailed with me to consent that it should +be republished in a smaller volume; knowing also full well, that great +books, especially in these days, grow burthensome, both to the pockets and +minds of too many; and that there are not a few that desire, so it be at an +easy rate, to be informed about this people, that have been so much every +where spoken against: but blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus +Christ, it is upon no worse grounds than it was said of old time of the +primitive Christians, as I hope will appear to every sober and considerate +reader. Our business, after all the ill usage we have met with, being +the realities of religion, an effectual change before our last and great +change: that all may come to an inward, sensible, and experimental +knowledge of God, through the convictions and operations <!-- page v--><a +name="pagev"></a><span class="pagenum">p. v</span>of the light and spirit +of Christ in themselves; the sufficient and blessed means given to all, +that thereby all may come savingly to know the only true God, and Jesus +Christ whom he hath sent to enlighten and redeem the world: which knowledge +is indeed eternal life. And that thou, reader, mayst obtain it, is +the earnest desire of him that is ever thine in so good a work.</p> +<p>WILLIAM PENN.</p> +<h2><!-- page 1--><a name="page1"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +1</span>CHAP. I.</h2> +<p><i>Containing a brief account of divers dispensations of God in the +world</i>, <i>to the time he was pleased to raise this despised people</i>, +<i>called Quakers</i>.</p> +<p>Divers have been the dispensations of God since the creation of the +world, unto the sons of men; but the great end of all of them, has been the +renown of his own excellent name in the creation and restoration of man: +man, the emblem of himself, as a God on earth, and the glory of all his +works. The world began with innocency; all was then good that the +good God had made: and as he blessed the works of his hands, so their +natures and harmony magnified him their Creator. Then the morning +stars sang together for joy, and all parts of his work said Amen to his +law. Not a jar in the whole frame; but man in paradise, the beasts in +the field, the fowl in the air, the fish in the sea, the lights in the +heavens, the fruits of the earth; yea, the air, the earth, the water, and +fire, worshipped, praised, and exalted his power, wisdom, and +goodness. O holy sabbath! O holy day to the Lord!</p> +<p><!-- page 2--><a name="page2"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 2</span>But +this happy state lasted not long; for man, the crown and glory of the +whole, being tempted to aspire above his place, unhappily yielded, against +command and duty, as well as interest and felicity, and so fell below it; +lost the divine image, the wisdom, power, and purity he was made in; by +which, being no longer fit for paradise, he was expelled that garden of +God, his proper dwelling and residence, and was driven out, as a poor +vagabond, from the presence of the Lord, to wander in the earth, the +habitation of beasts.</p> +<p>Yet God that made him had pity on him; for he, seeing man was deceived, +and that it was not of malice, or an original presumption in him, but +through the subtilty of the serpent, who had first fallen from his own +state, and by the mediation of the woman, man’s own nature and +companion, whom the serpent had first deluded, in his infinite goodness and +wisdom provided a way to repair the breach, recover the loss, and restore +fallen man again by a nobler and more excellent Adam, promised to be born +of a woman; that as by means of a woman the evil one had prevailed upon +man, by a woman also he should come into the world, who would prevail +against him, and bruise his head, and deliver man from his power: and +which, in a signal manner, by the dispensation of the Son of God in the +flesh, in the fulness of time was personally and fully accomplished by him, +and in him, as man’s Saviour and Redeemer.</p> +<p>But his power was not limited, in the manifestation of it to that time; +for both before and since his blessed manifestation in the flesh, he has +been the light and life, the rock and strength of all that ever feared God; +was present with them in their temptations, followed them in their travels +and afflictions, and supported <!-- page 3--><a name="page3"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 3</span>and carried them through and over the +difficulties that have attended them in their earthly pilgrimage. By +this, Abel’s heart excelled Cain’s, and Seth obtained the +pre-eminence, and Enoch walked with God. It was this that strove with +the old world, and which they rebelled against, and which sanctified and +instructed Noah to salvation.</p> +<p>But the outward dispensation that followed the benighted state of man, +after his fall, especially among the patriarchs, was generally that of +angels; as the scriptures of the Old Testament do in many places express, +as to Abraham, Jacob, &c. The next was that of the law by Moses, +which was also delivered by angels, as the apostle tells us. This +dispensation was much outward, and suited to a low and servile state; +called therefore, by the apostle Paul, that of a schoolmaster, which was to +point out and prepare that people to look and long for the Messiah, who +would deliver them from the servitude of a ceremonious and imperfect +dispensation, by knowing the realities of those mysterious representations +in themselves. In this time the law was written on stone, the temple +built with hands, attended with an outward priesthood, and external rites +and ceremonies, that were shadows of the good things that were to come, and +were only to serve till the seed came, or the more excellent and general +manifestation of Christ, to whom was the promise, and to all men only in +him, in whom it was yea and amen, even life from death, immortality and +eternal life.</p> +<p>This the prophets foresaw, and comforted the believing Jews in the +certainty of it; which was the top of the Mosaical dispensation, which +ended in John’s ministry, the forerunner of the Messiah, as +John’s was finished in him, the fulness of all. And then God, +<!-- page 4--><a name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 4</span>that at +sundry times, and in divers manners, had spoken to the fathers by his +servants the prophets, spoke to men by his Son Christ Jesus, who is heir of +all things, being the gospel-day, which is the dispensation of sonship: +bringing in thereby a nearer testament, and a better hope; even the +beginning of the glory of the latter days, and of the restitution of all +things; yea, the restoration of the kingdom unto Israel.</p> +<p>Now the spirit, that was more sparingly communicated in former +dispensations, began to be poured forth upon all flesh, according to the +prophet Joel; and the light that shined in darkness, or but dimly before, +the most gracious God caused to shine out of darkness, and the day-star +began to rise in the hearts of believers, giving unto them the knowledge of +God in the face, or appearance, of his Son Christ Jesus.</p> +<p>Now the poor in spirit, the meek, the true mourners, the hungry and +thirsty after righteousness, the peacemakers, the pure in heart, the +merciful and persecuted, came more especially in remembrance before the +Lord, and were sought out and blessed by Israel’s true +Shepherd. Old Jerusalem with her children grew out of date, and the +new Jerusalem into request, the mother of the sons of the gospel-day. +Wherefore, no more at old Jerusalem, nor at the mountain of Samaria, will +God be worshipped above other places; for, behold, he is, by his own Son, +declared and preached a Spirit, and that he will be known as such, and +worshipped in the spirit and in the truth. He will now come nearer +than of old time, and he will write his law in the heart, and put his fear +and spirit in the inward parts, according to his promise. Then signs, +types, and shadows flew away, the day having discovered their insufficiency +in not reaching to the <!-- page 5--><a name="page5"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 5</span>inside of the cup, to the cleansing of the +conscience; and all elementary services expired in and by him, that is the +substance of all.</p> +<p>And to this great and blessed end of the dispensation of the Son of God, +did the apostles testify, whom he had chosen and anointed by his spirit, to +turn the Jews from their prejudice and superstition, and the Gentiles from +their vanity and idolatry, to Christ’s light and spirit that shined +in them; that they might be quickened from the sins and trespasses in which +they were dead, to serve the living God, in the newness of the spirit of +life, and walk as children of the light, and of the day, even the day of +holiness: for such put on Christ, the light of the world, and make no more +provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. So that the +light, spirit, and grace, that come by Christ, and appear in man, were that +divine principle the apostles ministered from, and turned people’s +minds unto, and in which they gathered and built up the church of Christ in +their day. For which cause they advise them not to quench the spirit, +but to wait for the spirit, and speak by the spirit, and pray by the +spirit, and walk in the spirit too, as that which approved them the truly +begotten children of God, born not of flesh and blood, or of the will of +man, but of the will of God; by doing his will, and denying their own; by +drinking of Christ’s cup, and being baptized with his baptism of +self-denial; the way and path that all the heirs of life have ever trod to +blessedness.</p> +<p>But alas! even in the apostles’ days, those bright stars of the +first magnitude of the gospel light, some clouds, foretelling an eclipse of +this primitive glory, began to appear; and several of them gave early +caution of it to the Christians of their time, that even <!-- page 6--><a +name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>then there was, and yet +would be more and more, a falling away from the power of godliness, and the +purity of that spiritual dispensation, by such as sought to make a fair +show in the flesh, but with whom the offence of the cross ceased. Yet +with this comfortable conclusion, that they saw beyond it a more glorious +time than ever to the true church. Their sight was true; and what +they foretold to the churches, gathered by them in the name and power of +Jesus, came to pass: for Christians degenerated apace into outsides, as +days, and meats, and divers other ceremonies. And, which was worse, +they fell into strife and contention about them; separating one from +another, then envying, and, as they had power, persecuting one another, to +the shame and scandal of their common Christianity, and grievous stumbling +and offence of the heathen; among whom the Lord had so long and so +marvellously preserved them. And having got at last the worldly power +into their hands, by kings and emperors embracing the Christian profession, +they changed, what they could, the kingdom of Christ, which is not of this +world, into a worldly kingdom; or, at least, styled the worldly kingdom +that was in their hands, the kingdom of Christ, and so they became worldly +and not true Christians. Then human inventions and novelties, both in +doctrine and worship, crowded fast into the church; a door opened +thereunto, by the grossness and carnality that appeared then among the +generality of Christians, who had long since left the guidance of +God’s meek and heavenly spirit, and given themselves up to +superstition, will-worship, and voluntary humility. And as +superstition is blind, so it is heady and furious, for all must stoop to +its blind and boundless zeal, or perish by it: in the name of the <!-- page +7--><a name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 7</span>spirit, +persecuting the very appearance of the spirit of God in others, and +opposing that in others, which they resisted in themselves, viz. the light, +grace, and spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ; but always under the notion of +innovation, heresy, schism, or some such plausible name; though +Christianity allows of no name, or pretence whatever, for persecuting of +any man for matters of mere religion, being in its very nature meek, +gentle, and forbearing; and consists of faith, hope, and charity, which no +persecutor can have, whilst he remains a persecutor; in that a man cannot +believe well, or hope well, or have a charitable or tender regard to +another, whilst he would violate his mind, or persecute his body, for +matters of faith or worship towards his God.</p> +<p>Thus the false church sprang up, and mounted the chair; but, though she +lost her nature, she would needs keep her good name of the Lamb’s +bride, the true church, and mother of the faithful: constraining all to +receive her mark, either in their forehead, or right-hand; that is, +publicly, or privately. But, in deed and in truth, she was mystery +Babylon, the mother of harlots, mother of those that, with all their show +and outside of religion, were adulterated and gone from the spirit, nature, +and life of Christ, and grown vain, worldly, ambitious, covetous, cruel, +&c. which are the fruits of the flesh, and not of the spirit.</p> +<p>Now it was, that the true church fled into the wilderness, that is, from +superstition and violence, to a retired, solitary, and lonely state: +hidden, and as it were, out of sight of men, though not out of the +world. Which shows, that her wonted visibility was not essential to +the being of a true church in the judgment of the Holy Ghost; she being as +true a church in the wilderness, though not as visible and lustrous, as +when <!-- page 8--><a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 8</span>she +was in her former splendor of profession. In this state many attempts +she made to return, but the waters were yet too high, and her way blocked +up; and many of her excellent children, in several nations and centuries, +fell by the cruelty of superstition, because they would not fall from their +faithfulness to the truth.</p> +<p>The last age did set some steps towards it, both as to doctrine, +worship, and practice. But practice quickly failed: for wickedness +flowed, in a little time, as well among the professors of the reformation, +as those they reformed from; so that by the fruits of conversation they +were not to be distinguished. And the children of the reformers, if +not the reformers themselves, betook themselves, very early, to earthly +policy and power, to uphold and carry on their reformation that had been +begun with spiritual weapons; which I have often thought has been one of +the greatest reasons the reformation made no better progress, as to the +life and soul of religion. For whilst the reformers were lowly and +spiritually minded, and trusted in God, and looked to him, and lived in his +fear, and consulted not with flesh and blood, nor sought deliverance in +their own way, there were daily added to the church such as, one might +reasonably say, should be saved: for they were not so careful to be safe +from persecution, as to be faithful and inoffensive under it: being more +concerned to spread the truth by their faith and patience in tribulation, +than to get the worldly power out of their hands that inflicted those +sufferings upon them: and it will be well if the Lord suffer them not to +fall, by the very same way they took to stand.</p> +<p>In doctrine they were in some things short; in other things, to avoid +one extreme, they ran into <!-- page 9--><a name="page9"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 9</span>another: and for worship, there was, for the +generality, more of man in it than of God. They owned the spirit, +inspiration, and revelation, indeed, and grounded their separation and +reformation upon the sense and understanding they received from it, in the +reading of the scriptures of truth. And this was their plea; the +scripture is the text, the spirit the interpreter, and that to every one +for himself. But yet there was too much of human invention, +tradition, and art, that remained both in praying and preaching; and of +worldly authority, and worldly greatness in their ministers; especially in +this kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and some parts of Germany. God was +therefore pleased in England to shift us from vessel to vessel; and the +next remove humbled the ministry, so that they were more strict in +preaching, devout in praying, and zealous for keeping the Lord’s day, +and catechising of children and servants, and repeating at home in their +families what they had heard in public. But even as these grew into +power, they were not only for whipping some out, but others into the +temple: and they appeared rigid in their spirits, rather than severe in +their lives, and more for a party than for piety: which brought forth +another people, that were yet more retired and select.</p> +<p>They would not communicate at large, or in common with others; but +formed churches among themselves of such as could give some account of +their conversion, at least of very promising experiences of the work of +God’s grace upon their hearts, and under mutual agreements and +covenants of fellowship, they kept together. These people were +somewhat of a softer temper, and seemed to recommend religion by the charms +of its love, mercy, and goodness, rather than by the <!-- page 10--><a +name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>terrors of its +judgments and punishments; by which the former party would have awed people +into religion.</p> +<p>They also allowed greater liberty to prophesy than those before them; +for they admitted any member to speak or pray, as well as their pastor, +whom they always chose, and not the civil magistrate. If such found +anything pressing upon them to either duty, even without the distinction of +clergy or laity, persons of any trade had their liberty, be it never so low +and mechanical. But alas! even these people suffered great loss: for +tasting of worldly empire, and the favour of princes, and the gain that +ensued, they degenerated but too much. For though they had cried down +national churches and ministry, and maintenance too, some of them, when it +was their own turn to be tried, fell under the weight of worldly honour and +advantage, got into profitable parsonages too much, and outlived and +contradicted their own principles; and, which was yet worse, turned, some +of them, absolute persecutors of other men for God’s sake, that but +so lately came themselves out of the furnace; which drove many a step +further, and that was into the water: another baptism, as believing they +were not scripturally baptized: and hoping to find that presence and power +of God, in submitting to this watery ordinance, which they desired and +wanted.</p> +<p>These people also made profession of neglecting, if not renouncing and +censuring not only the necessity, but use, of all human learning, as to the +ministry; and all other qualifications to it, besides the helps and gifts +of the spirit of God, and those natural and common to men. And for a +time they seemed, like John of old, a burning and a shining light to other +societies.</p> +<p>They were very diligent, plain, and serious; strong <!-- page 11--><a +name="page11"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 11</span>in scripture, and bold +in profession; bearing much reproach and contradiction. But that +which others fell by, proved their snare. For worldly power spoiled +them too; who had enough of it to try them what they would do if they had +more: and they rested also too much upon their watery dispensation, instead +of passing on more fully to that of the fire and Holy Ghost, which was his +baptism, who came with a fan in his hand, that he might thoroughly, and not +in part only, purge his floor, and take away the dross and the tin of his +people, and make a man finer than gold. Withal, they grew high, +rough, and self-righteous; opposing further attainment; too much forgetting +the day of their infancy and littleness, which gave them something of a +real beauty; insomuch that many left them, and all visible churches and +societies, and wandered up and down as sheep without a shepherd, and as +doves without their mates; seeking their beloved, but could not find him, +as their souls desired to know him, whom their souls loved above their +chiefest joy.</p> +<p>These people were called Seekers by some, and the Family of Love by +others; because, as they came to the knowledge of one another, they +sometimes met together, not formally to pray or preach at appointed times +or places, in their own wills, as in times past they were accustomed to do, +but waited together in silence; and as anything rose in any one of their +minds, that they thought savoured of a divine spring, they sometimes +spoke. But so it was, that some of them not keeping in humility, and +in the fear of God, after the abundance of revelation, were exalted above +measure; and for want of staying their minds in an humble dependance upon +him that opened their understandings, to see great things in his law, they +ran out in their <!-- page 12--><a name="page12"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 12</span>own imaginations, and mixing them with those +divine openings, brought forth a monstrous birth, to the scandal of those +that feared God, and waited daily in the temple not made with hands, for +the consolation of Israel; the Jew inward, and circumcision in spirit.</p> +<p>This people obtained the name of Ranters, from their extravagant +discourses and practices. For they interpreted Christ’s +fulfilling of the law for us, to be a discharging of us from any obligation +and duty the law required of us, instead of the condemnation of the law for +sins past, upon faith and repentance: and that now it was no sin to do that +which before it was a sin to commit; the slavish fear of the law being +taken off by Christ, and all things good that man did, if he did but do +them with the mind and persuasion that it was so. Insomuch that +divers fell into gross and enormous practices; pretending in excuse +thereof, that they could, without evil, commit the same act which was sin +in another to do: thereby distinguishing between the action and the evil of +it, by the direction of the mind, and intention in the doing of it. +Which was to make sin super-abound by the aboundings of grace, and to turn +from the grace of God into wantonness; a securer way of sinning than +before: as if Christ came not to save us from our sins, but in our sins; +not to take away sin, but that we might sin more freely at his cost, and +with less danger to ourselves. I say, this ensnared divers, and +brought them to an utter and lamentable loss as to their eternal state; and +they grew very troublesome to the better sort of people, and furnished the +looser with an occasion to profane.</p> +<h2><!-- page 13--><a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +13</span>CHAP. II.</h2> +<p><i>Of the rise of this People</i>, <i>their fundamental principle</i>, +<i>and doctrine</i>, <i>and practice</i>, <i>in twelve points resulting +from it</i>: <i>their progress and sufferings</i>: <i>an expostulation with +England thereupon</i>.</p> +<p>At was about that very time, as you may see in George Fox’s +annals, that the eternal, wise, and good God, was pleased, in his infinite +love, to honour and visit this benighted and bewildered nation, with his +glorious day-spring from on high; yea, with a more sure and certain sound +of the word of light and life, through the testimony of a chosen vessel, to +an effectual and blessed purpose, can many thousands say, glory be to the +name of the Lord for ever!</p> +<p>For as it reached the conscience, and broke the heart, and brought many +to a sense and search, so that which people had been vainly seeking +without, with much pains and cost, they, by this ministry, found within, +where it was they wanted what they sought for, viz. the right way to peace +with God. For they were directed to the light of Jesus Christ within +them, as the seed and leaven of the kingdom of God; near all, because in +all, and God’s talent to all: a faithful and true witness, and just +monitor in every bosom. <!-- page 14--><a name="page14"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 14</span>The gift and grace of God to life and +salvation, that appears to all, though few regard it. This the +traditional Christian, conceited of himself, and strong in his own will and +righteousness, overcome with blind zeal and passion, either despised as a +low and common thing, or opposed as a novelty, under many hard names and +opprobrious terms; denying, in his ignorant and angry mind, any fresh +manifestations of God’s power and spirit in man, in these days, +though never more needed to make true Christians. Not unlike those +Jews of old, that rejected the Son of God, at the very same time that they +blindly professed to wait for the Messiah to come; because, alas! he +appeared not among them according to their carnal mind and expectation.</p> +<p>This brought forth many abusive books, which filled the greater sort +with envy, and lesser with rage; and made the way and progress of this +blessed testimony strait and narrow, indeed, to those that received +it. However, God owned his own work, and this testimony did +effectually reach, gather, comfort, and establish the weary and +heavy-laden, the hungry and thirsty, the poor and needy, the mournful and +sick of many maladies, that had spent all upon physicians of no value, and +waited for relief from heaven, help only from above; seeing, upon a serious +trial of all things, nothing else would do but Christ himself; the light of +his countenance, a touch of his garment, and help from his hand, who cured +the poor woman’s issue, raised the centurion’s servant, the +widow’s son, the ruler’s daughter, and Peter’s mother: +and like her they no sooner felt his power and efficacy upon their souls, +but they gave up to obey him in a testimony to his power: and that with +resigned wills and faithful <!-- page 15--><a name="page15"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 15</span>hearts, through all mockings, contradictions, +confiscations, beatings, prisons, and many other jeopardies that attended +them for his blessed name’s sake.</p> +<p>And, truly, they were very many, and very great; so that in all human +probability they must have been swallowed up quick of the proud and +boisterous waves that swelled and beat against them, but that the God of +all their tender mercies was with them in his glorious authority; so that +the hills often fled, and the mountains melted before the power that filled +them; working mightily for them, as well as in them; one ever following the +other. By which they saw plainly, to their exceeding great +confirmation and comfort, that all things were possible with him with whom +they had to do. And that the more that which God required seemed to +cross man’s wisdom, and expose them to man’s wrath, the more +God appeared to help and carry them through all to his glory.</p> +<p>Insomuch, that if ever any people could say in truth, Thou art our sun +and our shield, our rock and sanctuary; and by thee we have leaped over a +wall, and by thee we have run through a troop, and by thee we have put the +armies of the aliens to flight; these people had a right to say it. +And as God had delivered their souls of the wearisome burdens of sin and +vanity, and enriched their poverty of spirit, and satisfied their great +hunger and thirst after eternal righteousness, and filled them with the +good things of his own house, and made them stewards of his manifold gifts; +so they went forth to all quarters of these nations, to declare to the +inhabitants thereof, what God had done for them; what they had found, and +where and how they had found it, viz.—The way to peace with God: +inviting all to come and see, and <!-- page 16--><a name="page16"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 16</span>taste for themselves, the truth of what they +declared unto them.</p> +<p>And as their testimony was to the principle of God in man, the precious +pearl and leaven of the kingdom, as the only blessed means appointed of God +to quicken, convince, and sanctify man; so they opened to them what it was +in itself, and what it was given to them for; how they might know it from +their own spirit, and that of the subtle appearance of the evil one: and +what it would do for all those whose minds should be turned off from the +vanity of the world, and its lifeless ways and teachers, and adhere to his +blessed light in themselves, which discovers and condemns sin in all its +appearances, and shows how to overcome it, if minded and obeyed in its holy +manifestations and convictions: giving power to such, to avoid and resist +those things that do not please God, and to grow strong in love, faith, and +good works. That so man, whom sin hath made as a wilderness, over-run +with briers and thorns, might become as the garden of God, cultivated by +his divine power, and replenished with the most virtuous and beautiful +plants of God’s own right-hand planting, to his eternal praise.</p> +<p>But these experimental preachers of glad tidings of God’s truth +and kingdom could not run when they list, or pray or preach when they +pleased, but as Christ their Redeemer prepared and moved them by his own +blessed Spirit, for which they waited in their services and meetings, and +spoke as that gave them utterance; and which was as those having authority, +and not like the dry, and formal Pharisees. And so it plainly +appeared to the serious-minded, whose spiritual eye the Lord Jesus had in +any measure opened: so that to one was given the word of exhortation, <!-- +page 17--><a name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>to another +the word of reproof, to another the word of consolation, and all by the +same Spirit, and in the good order thereof, to the convincing and edifying +of many.</p> +<p>And, truly, they waxed strong and bold through faithfulness; and by the +power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus became very fruitful; thousands, in a +short time, being turned to the truth in the inward parts, through their +testimony in ministry and sufferings: insomuch as, in most counties, and +many of the considerable towns of England, meetings were settled; and daily +there were added such as should be saved. For they were diligent to +plant and to water, and the Lord blessed their labours with an exceeding +great increase; notwithstanding all the opposition made to their blessed +progress, by false rumours, calumnies, and bitter persecutions; not only +from the powers of the earth, but from every one that listed to injure and +abuse them: so that they seemed, indeed, to be as poor sheep appointed to +the slaughter, and as a people killed all the day long.</p> +<p>It were fitter for a volume than a preface, but so much as to repeat the +contents of their cruel sufferings; from professors as well as from +profane, and from magistrates as well as the rabble: that it may be said of +this abused and despised people, they went forth weeping, and sowed in +tears, bearing testimony to the precious seed, even the seed of the +kingdom, which stands not in words, the finest, the highest that +man’s wit can use; but in power, the power of Christ Jesus, to whom +God the Father hath given all power in heaven and in earth, that he might +rule angels above, and men below. Who empowered them, as their work +witnesseth, by the many that were turned through <!-- page 18--><a +name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>their ministry, from +darkness to light, and out of the broad into the narrow way of life and +peace: bringing people to a weighty, serious, and God-like conversation; +the practice of that doctrine which they taught.</p> +<p>And as without this secret divine power, there is no quickening and +regenerating of dead souls, so the want of this generating and begetting +power and life, is the cause of the little fruit that the many ministries, +that have been and are in the world, bring forth. O that both +ministers and people were sensible of this! My soul is often troubled +for them, and sorrow and mourning compass me about for their sakes. O +that they were wise! O that they would consider, and lay to heart the +things that truly and substantially make for their lasting peace!</p> +<p>Two things are to be considered; the doctrine they taught, and the +example they led among all people. I have already touched upon their +fundamental principle, which is as the corner-stone of their fabric: and, +indeed, to speak eminently and properly, their characteristic, or main +distinguishing point or principle, viz. the light of Christ within, as +God’s gift for man’s salvation. This, I say, is as the +root of the goodly tree of doctrines that grew and branched out from it, +which I shall now mention in their natural and experimental order.</p> +<p>First, repentance from dead works to serve the living God. Which +comprehends three operations. First, a sight of sin. Secondly, +a sense and godly sorrow for sin. Thirdly, an amendment for the time +to come. This was the repentance they preached and pressed, and a +natural result from the principle they turned all people unto. For of +light came sight; and of sight came sense and sorrow; and of sense and +sorrow came amendment of life. Which doctrine of repentance <!-- page +19--><a name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 19</span>leads to +justification; that is, forgiveness of the sins that are past, through +Christ the alone propitiation, and the sanctification or purgation, of the +soul from the defiling nature and habits of sin present, by the Spirit of +Christ in the soul; which is justification in the complete sense of that +word: comprehending both justification from the guilt of the sins that are +past, as if they had never been committed, through the love and mercy of +God in Christ Jesus; and the creature’s being made inwardly just, +through the cleansing and sanctifying power and Spirit of Christ revealed +in the soul; which is commonly called sanctification. But none can +come to know Christ to be their sacrifice, that reject him as their +sanctifier: the end of his coming being to save his people from the nature +and defilement, as well as guilt of sin; and, therefore, those that resist +his light and Spirit, make his coming and offering of none effect to +them.</p> +<p>From hence sprang a second doctrine they were led to declare, as the +mark of the prize of the high calling to all true Christians, viz. +Perfection from sin, according to the scriptures of truth; which testify it +to be the end of Christ’s coming, and the nature of his kingdom, and +for which his Spirit was and is given, viz. to be perfect as our Heavenly +Father is perfect, and holy, because God is holy. And this the +apostles laboured for, that the Christians should be sanctified throughout +in body, soul, and spirit; but they never held a perfection in wisdom and +glory in this life, or from natural infirmities, or death, as some have, +with a weak or ill mind, imagined and insinuated against them.</p> +<p>This they called a redeemed state, regeneration, or the new birth: +teaching everywhere, according to their foundation, that unless this work +was known, there was no inheriting of the kingdom of God.</p> +<p><!-- page 20--><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +20</span>Thirdly, this leads to an acknowledgment of eternal rewards and +punishments, as they have good reason; for else, of all people, certainly +they must be most miserable, who, for above forty years, have been +exceeding great sufferers for their profession; and, in some cases, treated +worse than the worst of men; yea, as the refuse and off-scouring of all +things.</p> +<p>This was the purport of their doctrine and ministry; which for the most +part, is what other professors of Christianity pretend to hold in words and +forms, but not in the power of godliness; which, generally speaking, has +been long lost by men’s departing from that principle and seed of +life that is in man, and which man has not regarded, but lost the sense of; +and in and by which he can only be quickened in his mind to serve the +living God in newness of life. For as the life of religion was lost, +and the generality lived and worshipped God after their own wills, and not +after the will of God, nor the mind of Christ, which stood in the works and +fruits of the Holy Spirit; so that which these pressed, was not notion, but +experience; not formality, but godliness; as being sensible in themselves, +through the work of God’s righteous judgments, that without holiness +no man shall ever see the Lord with comfort.</p> +<p>Besides these general doctrines, as the larger branches, there sprang +forth several particular doctrines, that did exemplify and farther explain +the truth and efficacy of the general doctrine before observed, in their +lives and examples. As,</p> +<p>I. Communion and loving one another. This is a noted mark in +the mouths of all sorts of people concerning them: they will meet, they +will help and stick one to another: whence it is common to hear some <!-- +page 21--><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 21</span>say, +“Look how the Quakers love and take care of one another.” +Others, less moderate, will say, “The Quakers love none but +themselves:” and if loving one another, and having an intimate +communion in religion, and constant care to meet to worship God, and help +one another, be any mark of primitive Christianity, they had it, blessed be +the Lord, in an ample manner.</p> +<p>II. To love enemies. This they both taught and +practised. For they did not only refuse to be revenged for injuries +done them, and condemned it as of an unchristian spirit; but they did +freely forgive, yea, help and relieve those that had been cruel to them, +when it was in their power to have been even with them: of which many and +singular instances might be given: endeavouring, through faith and +patience, to overcome all injustice and oppression, and preaching this +doctrine as Christian, for others to follow.</p> +<p>III. Another was, the sufficiency of truth-speaking, according to +Christ’s own form of sound words, of yea, yea, and nay, nay, among +Christians, without swearing, both from Christ’s express prohibition +to swear at all; (Mat. v.) and for that, they being under the tie and bond +of truth in themselves, there was no necessity for an oath; and it would be +a reproach to their Christian veracity to assure their truth by such an +extraordinary way of speaking; simple and uncompounded answers, as yea and +nay, without asseveration, attestation, or supernatural vouchers, being +most suitable to evangelical righteousness. But offering, at the same +time, to be punished to the full for false-speaking, as others for perjury, +if ever guilty of it: and hereby they exclude with all true, all false and +profane swearing; for which the land did and doth mourn, and the great God +was, and is, not a little offended with it.</p> +<p><!-- page 22--><a name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +22</span>IV. Not fighting, but suffering, is another testimony +peculiar to this people: they affirm that Christianity teacheth people to +beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, +and to learn war no more; that so the wolf may lie down with the lamb, and +the lion with the calf, and nothing that destroys be entertained in the +hearts of people: exhorting them to employ their zeal against sin, and turn +their anger against Satan, and no longer war one against another; because +all wars and fightings come of men’s own hearts’ lusts, +according to the apostle James, and not of the meek Spirit of Christ Jesus, +who is captain of another warfare, and which is carried on with other +weapons. Thus, as truth-speaking succeeded swearing, so faith and +patience succeeded fighting, in the doctrine and practice of this +people. Nor ought they for this to be obnoxious to civil government, +since, if they cannot fight for it, neither can they fight against it; +which is no mean security to any state. Nor is it reasonable, that +people should be blamed for not doing more for others than they can do for +themselves. And, Christianity set aside, if the costs and fruits of +war were well considered, peace, with all its inconveniencies, is generally +preferable. But though they were not for fighting, they were for +submitting to government, and that, not only for fear, but for +conscience-sake, where government doth not interfere with conscience; +believing it to be an ordinance of God, and where it is justly +administered, a great benefit to mankind. Though it has been their +lot, through blind zeal in some, and interest in others, to have felt the +strokes of it with greater weight and rigour than any other persuasion in +this age; whilst they of all others, religion set aside, have given the +civil magistrate <!-- page 23--><a name="page23"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 23</span>the least occasion of trouble in the discharge +of his office.</p> +<p>V. Another part of the character of this people was, and is, they +refuse to pay tithes or maintenance to a national ministry; and that for +two reasons: the one is, they believe all compelled maintenance, even to +gospel-ministers, to be unlawful, because expressly contrary to +Christ’s command, who said, “Freely you have received, freely +give:” at least, that the maintenance of gospel-ministers should be +free, and not forced. The other reason of their refusal is, because +these ministers are not gospel ones, in that the Holy Ghost is not their +foundation, but human arts and parts. So that it is not matter of +humour or sullenness, but pure conscience towards God, that they cannot +help to support national ministries where they dwell, which are but too +much and too visibly become ways of worldly advantage and preferment.</p> +<p>VI. Not to respect persons, was, and is, another of their +doctrines and practices, for which they were often buffeted and +abused. They affirmed it to be sinful to give flattering titles, or +to use vain gestures and compliments of respect. Though to virtue and +authority they ever made a deference; but after their plain and homely +manner, yet sincere and substantial way: well remembering the examples of +Mordecai and Elihu; but more especially the command of their Lord and +Master Jesus Christ, who forbade his followers to call men Rabbi, which +implies Lord or Master; also the fashionable greetings and salutations of +those times; that so self-love and honour, to which the proud mind of man +is incident, in his fallen state, might not be indulged, but rebuked. +And though this rendered their conversation disagreeable, yet they that +will remember <!-- page 24--><a name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +24</span>what Christ said to the Jews, “How can you believe which +receive honour one of another?” will abate of their resentment, if +his doctrine has any credit with them.</p> +<p>VII. They also used the plain language of Thee and Thou, to a +single person, whatever was his degree among men. And, indeed, the +wisdom of God was much seen in bringing forth this people in so plain an +appearance. For it was a close and distinguishing test upon the +spirits of those they came among; showing their insides, and what +predominated, notwithstanding their high and great profession of +religion. This among the rest sounded harsh to many of them, and they +took it ill, forgetting the language they use to God in their own prayers, +and the common style of the scriptures, and that it is an absolute and +essential propriety of speech. And what good, alas! had their +religion done them, who were so sensibly touched with indignation for the +use of this plain, honest, and true speech?</p> +<p>VIII. They recommended silence by their example, having very few +words upon all occasions. They were at a word in dealing: nor could +their customers, with many words, tempt them from it, having more regard to +truth than custom, to example than gain. They sought solitude: but +when in company, they would neither use, nor willingly hear unnecessary or +unlawful discourses: whereby they preserved their minds pure and +undisturbed from unprofitable thoughts, and diversions. Nor could +they humour the custom of Good Night, Good Morrow, God Speed; for they knew +the night was good, and the day was good, without wishing of either; and +that in the other expression, the holy name of God was too lightly and +unthankfully used, and therefore taken in vain. Besides, <!-- page +25--><a name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 25</span>they were words +and wishes of course, and are usually as little meant, as are love and +service in the custom of cap and knee; and superfluity in those, as well as +in other things, was burthensome to them; and therefore, they did not only +decline to use them, but found themselves often pressed to reprove the +practice.</p> +<p>IX. For the same reason they forbore drinking to people, or +pledging of them, as the manner of the world is: a practice that is not +only unnecessary, but they thought evil in the tendencies of it, being a +provocation to drink more than did people good, as well as that it was in +itself vain and heathenish.</p> +<p>X. Their way of marriage is peculiar to them; and shows a +distinguishing care above other societies professing Christianity. +They say, that marriage is an ordinance of God, and that God only can +rightly join man and woman in marriage. Therefore, they use neither +priest nor magistrate; but the man and woman concerned take each other as +husband and wife, in the presence of divers credible witnesses, promising +to each other, with God’s assistance, to be loving and faithful in +that relation, till death shall separate them. But antecedent to +this, they first present themselves to the monthly meeting for the affairs +of the church where they reside; there declaring their intentions to take +one another as husband and wife, if the said meeting have nothing material +to object against it. They are constantly asked the necessary +questions, <a name="citation25"></a><a href="#footnote25" +class="citation">[25]</a> as in case of parents or guardians, if they have +acquainted them with their intention, and have their consent, &c. +The method of the meeting is, to take <!-- page 26--><a +name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>a minute thereof, and +to appoint proper persons to inquire of their conversation and clearness +from all others, and whether they have discharged their duty to their +parents or guardians; and to make report thereof to the next monthly +meeting, where the same parties are desired to give their attendance. <a +name="citation26"></a><a href="#footnote26" class="citation">[26]</a> +In case it appears they have proceeded orderly, the meeting passes their +proposal, and so records it in their meeting book. And in case the +woman be a widow, and hath children, due care is there taken that provision +also be made by her for the orphans, before the meeting pass the proposals +of marriage: advising the parties concerned, to appoint a convenient time +and place, and to give fitting notice to their relations, and such friends +and neighbours, as they desire should be the witnesses of their marriage: +where they take one another by the hand, and by name promise reciprocally, +love and fidelity, after the manner before expressed. Of all which +proceedings, a narrative in way of certificate is made, to which the said +parties first set their hands, thereby confirming it as their act and deed; +and then divers relations, spectators, and auditors, set their names as +witnesses of what they said and signed. And this certificate is +afterward registered in the record belonging to the meeting, where the +marriage is solemnized. Which regular method has been, as it +deserves, adjudged in courts of law a good marriage, where it has been by +cross and ill people disputed and contested, for want of the accustomed +formalities of priest and ring, &c.—ceremonies they have refused, +not out of humour, but conscience reasonably grounded; inasmuch as no +scripture example <!-- page 27--><a name="page27"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 27</span>tells us, that the priest had any other part, +of old time, than that of a witness among the rest, before whom the Jews +used to take one another: and, therefore, this people look upon it as an +imposition, to advance the power and profits of the clergy: and for the use +of the ring, it is enough to say, that it was a heathenish and vain custom, +and never in practice among the people of God, Jews, or primitive +Christians. The words of the usual form, as “with my body I +thee worship,” &c. are hardly defensible. In short, they +are more careful, exact, and regular, than any form now used; and it is +free of the inconveniences, with which other methods are attended; their +care and checks being so many, and such, as that no clandestine marriages +can be performed among them.</p> +<p>XI. It may not be unfit to say something here of their births and +burials, which make up so much of the pomp of too many called +Christians. For births, the parents name their own children; which is +usually some days after they are born, in the presence of the midwife, if +she can be there, and those that were at the birth, who afterwards sign a +certificate for that purpose prepared, of the birth and name of the child +or children; which is recorded in a proper book, in the monthly-meeting to +which the parents belong; avoiding the accustomed ceremonies and +festivals.</p> +<p>XII. Their burials are performed with the same simplicity. +If the body of the deceased be near any public meeting-place, it is usually +carried thither, for the more convenient reception of those that accompany +it to the burying-ground. And it so falls out sometimes, that while +the meeting is gathering for the burial, <a name="citation27"></a><a +href="#footnote27" class="citation">[27]</a> some or other has a word of +exhortation, for <!-- page 28--><a name="page28"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 28</span>the sake of the people there met +together. After which the body is borne away by young men, or else +those that are of their neighbourhood, or those that were most of the +intimacy of the deceased party: the corpse being in a plain coffin, without +any covering or furniture upon it. At the ground they pause some time +before they put the body into its grave, that if any there should have +anything upon them to exhort the people, they may not be disappointed; and +that the relations may the more retiredly and solemnly take the last leave +of the body of their departed kindred, and the spectators have a sense of +mortality, by the occasion then given them, to reflect upon their own +latter end. Otherwise, they have no set rites or ceremonies on those +occasions. Neither do the kindred of the deceased ever wear mourning; +<a name="citation28"></a><a href="#footnote28" class="citation">[28]</a> +they looking upon it as a worldly ceremony and piece of pomp; and that what +mourning is fit for a Christian to have, at the departure of a beloved +relation or friend, should be worn in the mind, which is only sensible of +the loss: and the love they had to them, and remembrance of them, to be +outwardly expressed by a respect to their advice, and care of those they +have left behind them, and their love of that they loved. Which +conduct of theirs, though unmodish or unfashionable, leaves nothing of the +substance of things neglected or undone; and as <!-- page 29--><a +name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 29</span>they aim at no more, so +that simplicity of life is what they observe with great satisfaction; +though it sometimes happens not to be without the mockeries of the vain +world they live in.</p> +<p>These things gave them a rough and disagreeable appearance with the +generality; who thought them turners of the world upside down, as, indeed, +in some sense they were: but in no other than that wherein Paul was so +charged, viz. To bring things back into their primitive and right order +again. For these and such like practices of theirs were not the +result of humour, or for civil distinction, as some have fancied; but a +fruit of inward sense, which God through his holy fear, had begotten in +them. They did not consider how to contradict the world, or +distinguish themselves as a party from others; it being none of their +business, as it was not their interest; no, it was not the result of +consultation, or a framed design, by which to declare or recommend schism +or novelty. But God having given them a sight of themselves, they saw +the whole world in the same glass of truth; and sensibly discerned the +affections and passions of men, and the rise and tendency of things; what +it was that gratified the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the +pride of life, which are not of the Father, but of the world. And +from thence sprang, in the night of darkness and apostacy, which hath been +over people through their degeneration from the light and Spirit of God, +these and many other vain customs, which are seen, by the heavenly day of +Christ that dawns in the soul, to be either wrong in their original, or, by +time and abuse, hurtful in their practice. And though these things +seemed trivial to some, and rendered these people stingy and conceited in +such persons’ opinion; there <!-- page 30--><a +name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>was and is more in +them, than they were, or are, aware of.</p> +<p>It was not very easy to our primitive friends to make themselves sights +and spectacles, and the scorn and derision of the world; which they easily +foresaw must be the consequence of so unfashionable a conversation in it: +but here was the wisdom of God seen in the foolishness of these things; +first, that they discovered the satisfaction and concern that people had in +and for the fashions of this world, notwithstanding their high pretences to +another: in that any disappointment about them came so very near them, as +that the greatest honesty, virtue, wisdom, and ability, were unwelcome +without them. Secondly, it seasonably and profitably divided +conversation; for this making their society uneasy to their relations and +acquaintance, it gave them the opportunity of more retirement and solitude; +wherein they met with better company, even the Lord God their Redeemer; and +grew strong in his love, power, and wisdom; and were thereby better +qualified for his service. And the success abundantly showed it, +blessed be the name of the Lord.</p> +<p>And though they were not great and learned in the esteem of this world, +(for then they had not wanted followers upon their own credit and +authority,) yet they were generally of the most sober of the several +persuasions they were in, and of the most repute for religion; and many of +them of good capacity, substance, and account among men.</p> +<p>And also some among them wanted not for parts, learning, or estate; +though then as of old, not many wise, or noble, &c, were called; or, at +least, received the heavenly call, because of the cross that attended <!-- +page 31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 31</span>the +profession of it in sincerity. But neither do parts or learning make +men the better Christians, though the better orators and disputants; and it +is the ignorance of people about the divine gift, that causes that vulgar +and mischievous mistake. Theory and practice, speculation and +enjoyment, words and life, are two things. O! it is the penitent, the +reformed, the lowly, the watchful, the self-denying, and holy soul, that is +the Christian! And that frame is the fruit and work of the Spirit, +which is the life of Jesus; whose life, though hid in the fulness of it in +God the Father, is shed abroad in the hearts of them that truly believe, +according to their capacity. O that people did but know this to +cleanse them, to circumcise them, to quicken them, and to make them new +creatures indeed! recreated, or regenerated, after Christ Jesus unto good +works; that they might live to God, and not to themselves; and offer up +living prayers and living praises to the living God, through his own living +Spirit, in which he is only to be worshipped in this gospel day.</p> +<p>O that they that read me could but feel me! for my heart is affected +with this merciful visitation of the Father of lights and spirits to this +poor nation, and the whole world through the same testimony. Why +should the inhabitants thereof reject it? Why should they lose the +blessed benefit of it? Why should they not turn to the Lord with all +their hearts, and say from the heart, Speak Lord, for now thy poor servants +hear: O that thy will may be done, thy great, thy good, and holy will, in +earth as it is in heaven! do it in us, do it upon us, do what thou wilt +with us; for we are thine, and desire to glorify thee our Creator, both for +that, and because thou art our Redeemer; for thou art redeeming us from the +earth, from the <!-- page 32--><a name="page32"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 32</span>vanities and pollutions of it, to be a peculiar +people unto thee. O! this were a brave day for England, if so she +could say in truth! but alas, the case is otherwise! for which some of +thine inhabitants, O land of my nativity! have mourned over thee with +bitter wailing and lamentation. Their heads have been, indeed, as +waters, and their eyes as fountains of tears, because of thy transgression +and stiffneckedness; because thou wilt not hear, and fear, and return to +the Rock, even thy Rock, O England! from whence thou art hewn. But be +thou warned, O land of great profession, to receive him into thy +heart. Behold, at that door it is he hath stood so long knocking; but +thou wilt yet have none of him. O! be thou awakened! lest +Jerusalem’s judgments do swiftly overtake thee, because of +Jerusalem’s sins that abound in thee. For she abounded in +formality, but made void the weighty things of God’s law, as thou +daily dost.</p> +<p>She withstood the Son of God in the flesh, and thou resistest the Son of +God in the Spirit. He would have gathered her, as a hen gathereth her +chickens under her wings, and she would not; so would he have gathered thee +out of thy lifeless profession, and have brought thee to inherit substance; +to have known his power and kingdom: for which he often knocked within, by +his grace and Spirit; and without, by his servants and witnesses: but, on +the contrary, as Jerusalem of old persecuted the manifestation of the Son +of God in the flesh, and crucified him, and whipped and imprisoned his +servants; so hast thou, O land! crucified to thyself afresh the Lord of +life and glory, and done despite to his Spirit of grace; slighting the +fatherly visitation, and persecuting the blessed dispensers of it by thy +laws and magistrates: though they <!-- page 33--><a name="page33"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 33</span>have early and late pleaded with thee in the +power and Spirit of the Lord; in love and meekness, that thou mightest know +the Lord, and serve him, and become the glory of all lands.</p> +<p>But thou hast evilly entreated and requited them, thou hast set at +nought all their counsel, and wouldst have none of their reproof, as thou +shouldst have had. Their appearance was too straight, and their +qualifications were too mean for thee to receive them; like the Jews of +old, that cried, Is not this the Carpenter’s Son, and are not his +brethren among us; which of the scribes, of the learned (the orthodox) +believe in him? Prophesying their fall in a year or two, and making +and executing of severe laws to bring it to pass: endeavouring to terrify +them out of their holy way, or destroy them for abiding faithful to +it. But thou hast seen how many governments that rose against them, +and determined their downfall, have been overturned and extinguished, and +that they are still preserved, and become a great and a considerable +people, among the middle sort of thy numerous inhabitants. And +notwithstanding the many difficulties without and within, which they have +laboured under, since the Lord God eternal first gathered them, they are an +increasing people; the Lord still adding unto them, in divers parts, such +as shall be saved, if they persevere to the end. And to thee, O +England! were they, and are they lifted up as a standard, and as a city set +upon a hill, and to the nations round about thee, that in their light thou +mayst come to see light, even in Christ Jesus the light of the world, and, +therefore, thy light and life too, if thou wouldst but turn from thy many +evil ways, and receive and obey it. “For in the light of the +Lamb must the nations <!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 34</span>of them that are saved walk,” as the +scripture testifies.</p> +<p>Remember, O nation of great profession! how the Lord has waited upon +thee since the dawning reformation, and the many mercies and judgments by +which he has pleaded with thee; and awake and arise out of thy deep sleep, +and yet hear his word in thy heart, that thou mayst live.</p> +<p>Let not this thy day of visitation pass over thy head, nor neglect thou +so great salvation as is this which is come to thy house, O England! for +why shouldst thou die? O land that God desires to bless, be assured +it is he that has been in the midst of this people, in the midst of thee, +and not a delusion, as thy mistaken teachers have made thee believe. +And this thou shalt find by their marks and fruits, if thou wilt consider +them in the spirit of moderation.</p> +<h3><!-- page 35--><a name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +35</span>CHAP. III.</h3> +<p><i>Of the Qualifications of their Ministry</i>. <i>Eleven marks +that it is Christian</i>.</p> +<p>I. They were changed men themselves, before they went about to +change others. Their hearts were rent, as well as their garments; and +they knew the power and work of God upon them. And this was seen by +the great alteration it made, and their stricter course of life, and more +godly conversation that immediately followed upon it.</p> +<p>II. They went not forth, or preached, in their own time or will, +but in the will of God; and spoke not their own studied matters, but as +they were opened and moved of his Spirit, with which they were well +acquainted in their own conversion: which cannot be expressed to carnal +men, so as to give them any intelligible account; for to such it is, as +Christ said, like the blowing of the wind, which no man knows whence it +cometh, or whither it goeth. Yet this proof and seal went along with +their ministry, that many were turned from their lifeless professions, and +the evil of their ways, to an inward and experimental knowledge of God, and +a holy life, as thousands can witness. And as they freely received +what they had to say from the Lord, so they freely administered it to +others.</p> +<p><!-- page 36--><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +36</span>III. The bent and stress of their ministry was conversion to +God; regeneration and holiness. Not schemes of doctrines and verbal +creeds, or new forms of worship: but a leaving off in religion the +superfluous, and reducing the ceremonious and formal part, and pressing +earnestly the substantial, the necessary and profitable part to the soul; +as all, upon a serious reflection, must and do acknowledge.</p> +<p>IV. They directed people to a principle in themselves, though not +of themselves, by which all that they asserted, preached, and exhorted +others to, might be wrought in them, and known to them, through experience, +to be true; which is a high and distinguishing mark of the truth of their +ministry, both that they knew what they said, and were not afraid of coming +to the test. For as they were bold from certainty, so they required +conformity upon no human authority, but upon conviction, and the conviction +of this principle, which they asserted was in them that they preached unto: +and unto that they directed them, that they might examine and prove the +reality of those things which they had affirmed of it, as to its +manifestation and work in man. And this is more than the many +ministers in the world pretended to. They declare of religion, say +many things true, in words, of God, Christ, and the Spirit; of holiness and +heaven; that all men should repent and amend their lives, or they will go +to hell, &c. But which of them all pretend to speak of their own +knowledge and experience; or ever directed to a divine principle, or agent, +placed of God in man, to help him; and how to know it, and wait to feel its +power to work that good and acceptable will of God in them?</p> +<p>Some of them, indeed, have spoken of the spirit, and <!-- page 37--><a +name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 37</span>the operations of it to +sanctification, and performance of worship to God; but where and how to +find it, and wait in it, to perform our duty to God, was yet as a mystery +to be declared by this farther degree of reformation. So that this +people did not only in words, more than equally press repentance, +conversion, and holiness, but did it knowingly and experimentally; and +directed those, to whom they preached, to a sufficient principle; and told +them where it was, and by what tokens they might know it, and which way +they might experience the power and efficacy of it to their souls’ +happiness. Which is more than theory and speculation, upon which most +other ministers depend: for here is certainty; a bottom upon which man may +boldly appear before God in the great day of account.</p> +<p>V. They reached to the inward state and condition of people; which +is an evidence of the virtue of their principle, and of their ministering +from it, and not from their own imaginations, glosses, or comments upon +scripture. For nothing reaches the heart, but what is from the heart; +or pierces the conscience, but what comes from a living conscience; +insomuch as it hath often happened, where people have under secrecy +revealed their state or condition to some choice friends, for advice or +ease, they have been so particularly directed in the ministry of this +people, that they have challenged their friends with discovering their +secrets, and telling their preachers their cases, to whom a word hath not +been spoken. Yea, the very thoughts and purposes of the hearts of +many have been so plainly detected, that they have, like Nathaniel, cried +out, of this inward appearance of Christ, “Thou art the Son of God, +thou art the King of Israel.” And those that have embraced this +divine principle, have found this <!-- page 38--><a name="page38"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 38</span>mark of its truth and divinity, that the woman +of Samaria did of Christ when in the flesh, to be the Messiah, viz. It had +told them all that ever they had done; shown them their insides, the most +inward secrets of their hearts, and laid judgment to the line, and +righteousness to the plummet; of which thousands can at this day give in +their witness. So that nothing has been affirmed by this people, of +the power and virtue of this heavenly principle, that such as have turned +to it have not found true, and more; and that one half had not been told to +them of what they have seen of the power, purity, wisdom, and goodness of +God therein.</p> +<p>VI. The accomplishments, with which this principle fitted even +some of the meanest of this people for their work and service, furnishing +some of them with an extraordinary understanding in divine things, and an +admirable, fluency, and taking-way of expression, gave occasion to some to +wonder, saying of them, as of their Master, “Is not this such a +mechanic’s son, how came he by this learning?” As from +thence others took occasion to suspect and insinuate they were Jesuits in +disguise, who had the reputation of learned men for an age past; though +there was not the least ground of truth for any such reflection; in that +their ministers are known, the places of their abode, their kindred and +education.</p> +<p>VII. That they came forth low, and despised, and hated, as the +primitive Christians did; and not by the help of worldly wisdom or power, +as former reformations in part have done: but in all things it may be said, +this people were brought forth in the cross; in a contradiction to the +ways, worships, fashions, and customs of this world; yea, against wind and +tide, that so no flesh might glory before God.</p> +<p><!-- page 39--><a name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +39</span>VIII. They could have no design to themselves in this work, +thus to expose themselves to scorn and abuse; to spend and be spent; +leaving wife and children, house and land, and all that can be accounted +dear to men, with their lives in their hands, being daily in jeopardy, to +declare this primitive message revived in their spirits, by the good Spirit +and power of God, viz.</p> +<p>That God is light, and in him is no darkness at all; and that he has +sent his Son a light into the world, to enlighten all men in order to +salvation; and that they that say they have fellowship with God, and are +his children and people, and yet walk in darkness, viz. in disobedience to +the light in their consciences, and after the vanity of this world, lie and +do not the truth. But that all such as love the light, and bring +their deeds to it, and walk in the light, as God is light, the blood of +Jesus Christ his Son should cleanse them from all sin. Thus John i. +4. 19. Chap. iii. 20, 21. 1 John i. 5, 6, 7.</p> +<p>IX. Their known great constancy and patience in suffering for +their testimony in all the branches of it; and that sometimes unto death, +by beatings, bruisings, long and crowded imprisonments, and noisome +dungeons: four of them in New England dying by the hands of the +executioner, purely for preaching amongst that people: besides banishments, +and excessive plunders and sequestrations of their goods and estates, +almost in all parts, not easily to be expressed, and less to have been +endured, but by those that have the support of a good and glorious cause; +refusing deliverance by any indirect ways or means, as often as it was +offered unto them.</p> +<p>X. That they did not only not show any disposition <!-- page +40--><a name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>to revenge, +when it was at any time in their power, but forgave their cruel enemies; +showing mercy to those that had none for them.</p> +<p>XI. Their plainness with those in authority, like the ancient +prophets, not fearing to tell them to their faces, of their private and +public sins; and their prophesies to them of their afflictions and downfal, +when in the top of their glory: also of some national judgments, as of the +plague, and fire of London, in express terms; and likewise particular ones +to divers persecutors, which accordingly overtook them; and were very +remarkable in the places where they dwelt, which in time may be made public +for the glory of God.</p> +<p>Thus, reader, thou seest this people in their rise, principles, +ministry, and progress, both their general and particular testimony; by +which thou mayst be informed how, and upon what foot, they sprang, and +became so considerable a people. It remains next, that I show also +their care, conduct, and discipline as a Christian and reformed society, +that they might be found living up to their own principles and +profession. And this the rather, because they have hardly suffered +more in their character from the unjust charge of error, than by the false +imputation of disorder: which calumny, indeed, has not failed to follow all +the true steps that were ever made to reformation, and under which reproach +none suffered more than the primitive Christians themselves, that were the +honour of Christianity, and the great lights and examples of their own and +succeeding ages.</p> +<h2><!-- page 41--><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +41</span>CHAP. IV.</h2> +<p><i>Of the discipline and practice of this people</i>, <i>as a religious +society</i>. <i>The church power they own and exercise</i>, <i>and +that which they reject and condemn</i>: <i>with the method of their +proceedings against erring and disorderly persons</i>.</p> +<p>This people increasing daily both in town and country, a holy care fell +upon some of the elders among them, for the benefit and service of the +church. And the first business in their view, after the example of +the primitive saints, was the exercise of charity; to supply the +necessities of the poor, and answer the like occasions. Wherefore +collections were early and liberally made for that and divers other +services in the church, and intrusted with faithful men, fearing God, and +of good report, who were not weary in well doing; adding often of their own +in large proportions, which they never brought to account, or desired +should be known, much less restored to them, that none might want, nor any +service be retarded or disappointed.</p> +<p>They were also very careful, that every one that belonged to them, +answered their profession in their behaviour among men, upon all occasions; +that they lived peaceably, and were in all things good examples. They +found themselves engaged to record their sufferings and services: and in +the case of marriage, which <!-- page 42--><a name="page42"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 42</span>they could not perform in the usual methods of +the nation, but among themselves, they took care that all things were clear +between the parties and all others: and it was then rare, that any one +entertained an inclination to a person on that account, till he or she had +communicated it secretly to some very weighty and eminent friends among +them, that they might have a sense of the matter; looking to the counsel +and unity of their brethren as of great moment to them. But because +the charge of the poor, the number of orphans, marriages, sufferings, and +other matters, multiplied; and that it was good that the churches were in +some way and method of proceeding in such affairs among them, to the end +they might the better correspond upon occasion, where a member of one +meeting might have to do with one of another; it pleased the Lord, in his +wisdom and goodness, to open the understanding of the first instrument of +this dispensation of life, about a good and orderly way of proceeding; who +felt a holy concern to visit the churches in person throughout this nation, +to begin and establish it among them: and by his epistles, the like was +done in other nations and provinces abroad; which he also afterwards +visited, and helped in that service, as shall be observed when I come to +speak of him.</p> +<p>Now the care, conduct, and discipline, I have been speaking of, and +which are now practised among this people, is as followeth.</p> +<p>This godly elder, in every county where he travelled, exhorted them that +some, out of every meeting of worship, should meet together once in the +month, to confer about the wants and occasions of the church. And, as +the case required, so those monthly meetings were fewer or more in number +in every respective <!-- page 43--><a name="page43"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 43</span>county; four or six meetings of worship, +usually making one monthly meeting of business. And accordingly, the +brethren met him from place to place, and began the said meetings, viz. For +the poor, orphans, orderly walking, integrity to their profession, births, +marriages, burials, sufferings, &c. And that these monthly +meetings should, in each county, make up one quarterly meeting, where the +most zealous and eminent friends of the county should assemble to +communicate, advise, and help one another, especially when any business +seemed difficult, or a monthly meeting was tender of determining a +matter.</p> +<p>Also that these several quarterly meetings should digest the reports of +their monthly meetings, and prepare one for each respective county, against +the yearly meeting, in which all quarterly meetings resolve; which is held +in London: where the churches in this nation, and other nations <a +name="citation43a"></a><a href="#footnote43a" class="citation">[43a]</a> +and provinces, meet by chosen members of their respective counties, both +mutually to communicate their church affairs, and to advise, and be advised +in any depending case, to edification. Also to provide a requisite +stock for the discharge of general expenses for general services in the +church, not needful to be here particularized. <a name="citation43b"></a><a +href="#footnote43b" class="citation">[43b]</a></p> +<p><!-- page 44--><a name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 44</span>At +these meetings any of the members of the churches may come, if they please, +and speak their minds freely, in the fear of God, to any matter; but the +mind of each quarterly meeting, therein represented, is chiefly understood, +as to particular cases, in the sense delivered by the persons deputed, or +chosen for that service by the said meeting.</p> +<p>During their yearly meeting, to which their other meetings refer in +their order, and naturally resolve themselves, care is taken by a select +number, for that service chosen by the general assembly, to draw up the +minutes <a name="citation44"></a><a href="#footnote44" +class="citation">[44]</a> of the said meeting, upon the several matters +that have been under consideration therein, to the end that the respective +quarterly and monthly meetings may be informed of all proceedings; together +with a general exhortation to holiness, unity, and charity. Of all +which proceedings in yearly, monthly, and quarterly meetings, due record is +kept by some one appointed for that service, or that hath voluntarily +undertaken it. These meetings are opened and usually concluded in +their solemn waiting upon God, who is sometimes graciously pleased to +answer them with as signal evidences of his love and presence, as in any of +their meetings of worship.</p> +<p>It is further to be noted, that in these solemn assemblies for the +churches’ service, there is no one presides among them after the +manner of the assemblies of other people; Christ only being their +President, as he is pleased to appear in life and wisdom in any one or more +of them, to whom, whatever be their capacity or degree, the rest adhere +with a firm unity, not of <!-- page 45--><a name="page45"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 45</span>authority, but conviction, which is the divine +authority and way of Christ’s power and Spirit in his people: making +good his blessed promise, “that he would be in the midst of his, +where and whenever they were met together in his name, even to the end of +the world.” So be it.</p> +<p>Now it may be expected, I should here set down what sort of authority is +exercised by this people, upon such members of their society as correspond +not in their lives with their profession, and that are refractory to this +good and wholesome order settled among them: and the rather, because they +have not wanted their reproach and sufferings from some tongues and pens, +upon this occasion, in a plentiful manner.</p> +<p>The power they exercise, is such as Christ has given to his own people, +to the end of the world, in the persons of his disciples, viz. To oversee, +exhort, reprove, and, after long suffering and waiting upon the disobedient +and refractory, to disown them, as any longer of their communion, or that +they will stand charged with the behaviour of such transgressors, or their +conversation, until they repent. The subject matter about which this +authority, in any of the foregoing branches of it, is exercised, is, first, +in relation to common and general practice. And, secondly, about +those things that more strictly refer to their own character and +profession, and which distinguish them from all other professors of +Christianity; avoiding two extremes upon which many split, viz. persecution +and libertinism, that is, a coercive power to whip people into the temple; +that such as will not conform, though against faith and conscience, shall +be punished in their persons or estates; or leaving all loose and at large, +as to practice; and so unaccountable to all but God and the magistrate. +<!-- page 46--><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +46</span> To which hurtful extreme, nothing has more contributed than +the abuse of church power, by such as suffer their passion and private +interests to prevail with them, to carry it to outward force and corporal +punishment: a practice they have been taught to dislike, by their extreme +sufferings, as well as their known principle for a universal liberty of +conscience.</p> +<p>On the other hand, they equally dislike an independency in +society:—an unaccountableness, in practice and conversation, to the +rules and terms of their own communion, and to those that are the members +of it. They distinguish between imposing any practice that +immediately regards faith or worship, which is never to be done or +suffered, or submitted unto; and requiring Christian compliance with those +methods that only respect church-business in its more civil part and +concern; and that regard the discreet and orderly maintenance of the +character of the society as a sober and religious community. In +short, what is for the promotion of holiness and charity, that men may +practise what they profess, live up to their own principles, and not be at +liberty to give the lie to their own profession without rebuke, is their +use and limit of church power. They compel none to them, but oblige +those that are of them to walk suitably, or they are denied by them: that +is all the mark they set upon them, and the power they exercise, or judge a +Christian society can exercise, upon those that are members of it.</p> +<p>The way of their proceeding against such as have lapsed or transgressed, +is this. He is visited by some of them, and the matter of fact laid +home to him, be it any evil practice against known and general virtue, or +any branch of their particular testimony, which he, <!-- page 47--><a +name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 47</span>in common, professeth +with them. They labour with him in much love and zeal, for the good +of his soul, the honour of God, and reputation of their profession, to own +his fault and condemn it, in as ample a manner as the evil or scandal was +given by him; which, for the most part, is performed by some written +testimony under the party’s hand: and if it so happen, that the party +prove refractory, and is not willing to clear the truth they profess, from +the reproach of his or her evil doing or unfaithfulness, they, after +repeated entreaties and due waiting for a token of repentance, give forth a +paper to disown such a fact, and the party offending: recording the same as +a testimony of their care for the honour of the truth they profess.</p> +<p>And if he or she shall clear their profession and themselves, by sincere +acknowledgment of their fault, and godly sorrow for so doing, they are +received and looked upon again as members of their communion. For as +God, so his true people, upbraid no man after repentance.</p> +<p>This is the account I had to give of the people of God called Quakers, +as to their rise, appearance, principles, and practices, in this age of the +world, both with respect to their faith and worship, discipline and +conversation. And I judge it very proper in this place, because it is +to preface the journal of the first, blessed, and glorious instrument of +this work, and for a testimony to him in his singular qualifications and +services, in which he abundantly excelled in this day, and which are worthy +to be set forth as an example to all succeeding times, to the glory of the +most high God, and for a just memorial to that worthy and excellent man, +his faithful servant and apostle to this generation of the world.</p> +<h2><!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +48</span>CHAP. V.</h2> +<p><i>Of the first instrument or person by whom God was pleased to gather +this people into the way they profess</i>. <i>His name George +Fox</i>: <i>his many excellent qualifications; showing a divine</i>, <i>and +not a human power to have been their original in him</i>. <i>His +troubles and sufferings both from without and within</i>. <i>His end +and triumph</i>.</p> +<p>I am now come to the third head or branch of my preface, viz. the +instrumental author. For it is natural for some to say, Well, here is +the people and work, but where and who was the man, the instrument? +He that in this age was sent to begin this work and people? I shall, +as God shall enable me, declare who and what he was; not only by report of +others, but from my own long and most inward converse, and intimate +knowledge of him; for which my soul blesseth God, as it hath often done: +and I doubt not, but by that time I have discharged myself of this part of +my preface, my serious readers will believe I had good cause so to do.</p> +<p>The blessed instrument of, and in this day of God, and of whom I am now +about to write, was George Fox, distinguished from another of that name, by +that other’s addition of younger to his name, in all his writings; +not that he was so in years, but that he was <!-- page 49--><a +name="page49"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 49</span>so in the truth: but he +was also a worthy man, witness, and servant of God in his time.</p> +<p>But this George Fox was born in Leicestershire, about the year +1624. He descended of honest and sufficient parents, who endeavoured +to bring him up, as they did the rest of their children, in the way and +worship of the nation: especially his mother, who was a woman accomplished +above most of her degree in the place where she lived. But from a +child he appeared of another frame of mind than the rest of his brethren; +being more religious, inward, still, solid, and observing beyond his years, +as the answers he would give, and the questions he would put, upon +occasion, manifested, to the astonishment of those that heard him, +especially in divine things.</p> +<p>His mother, taking notice of his singular temper, and the gravity, +wisdom, and piety, that very early shined through him, refusing childish +and vain sports, and company, when very young, was tender and indulgent +over him, so that from her he met with little difficulty. As to his +employment, he was brought up in country business, and as he took most +delight in sheep, so he was very skilful in them; an employment that very +well suited his mind in several respects, both for its innocency and +solitude; and was a just emblem of his after ministry and service.</p> +<p>I shall not break in upon his own account, which is by much the best +that can be given, and therefore desire what I can, to avoid saying +anything of what is said already, as to the particular passages of his +coming forth: but, in general, when he was somewhat above twenty, he left +his friends, and visited the most retired and religious people in those +parts; and some there were in this nation, who waited for the consolation +of <!-- page 50--><a name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +50</span>Israel, night and day; as Zacharias, Anna, and good old Simeon did +of old time. To these he was sent, and these he sought out in the +neighbouring counties, and among them he sojourned till his more ample +ministry came upon him. At this time he taught, and was an example +of, silence, endeavouring to bring them from self-performances; testifying +of, and turning them to, the light of Christ within them, and encouraging +them to wait in patience, and to feel the power of it to stir in their +hearts, that their knowledge and worship of God might stand in the power of +an endless life, which was to be found in the light, as it was obeyed in +the manifestation of it in man. For in the word was life, and that +life is the light of men: life in the word, light in men; and life in men +too, as the light is obeyed: the children of the light living by the life +of the word, by which the word begets them again to God, which is the +regeneration and new birth, without which there is no coming into the +kingdom of God: and to which whoever comes, is greater than John; that is, +than John’s dispensation, which was not that of the kingdom, but the +consummation of the legal, and fore-running of the gospel-times, the time +of the kingdom. Accordingly several meetings were gathered in those +parts; and thus his time was employed for some years.</p> +<p>In 1652, he being in his usual retirement, his mind exercised towards +the Lord, upon a very high mountain in some of the higher parts of +Yorkshire, as I take it, he had a vision of the great work of God in the +earth, and of the way that he was to go forth in a public ministry, to +begin it. He saw people as thick as motes in the sun, that should in +time be brought home to the Lord, that there might be but one shepherd and +<!-- page 51--><a name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 51</span>one +sheepfold in all the earth. There his eye was directed northward, +beholding a great people that should receive him and his message in those +parts. Upon this mountain he was moved of the Lord to sound out his +great and notable day, as if he had been in a great auditory; and from +thence went north, as the Lord had shown him. And in every place +where he came, if not before he came to it, he had his particular exercise +and service shown to him, so that the Lord was his leader indeed. For +it was not in vain that he travelled; God in most places sealing his +commission with the convincement of some of all sorts, as well publicans as +sober professors of religion. Some of the first and most eminent of +those that came forth in a public ministry, and who are now at rest, were +Richard Farnsworth, James Nayler, William Dewsberry, Thomas Aldam, Francis +Howgil, Edward Burroughs, John Camm, John Audland, Richard Hubberthorn, T. +Taylor, T. Holmes, Alexander Parker, Wm. Simson, William Caton, John +Stubbs, Robert Withers, Thomas Low, Josiah Coale, John Burnyeat, Robert +Lodge, Thomas Salthouse, and many more worthies, that cannot well be here +named; together with divers yet living of the first and great convincement; +who, after the knowledge of God’s purging judgment in themselves, and +some time of waiting in silence upon him, to feel and receive power from on +high to speak in his name, (which none else rightly can, though they may +use the same words,) felt its divine motions, and were frequently drawn +forth, especially to visit the public assemblies, to reprove, inform, and +exhort them: sometimes in markets, fairs, streets, and by the highway-side: +calling people to repentance, and to turn to the Lord with their hearts as +well as their mouths; <!-- page 52--><a name="page52"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 52</span>directing them to the light of Christ within +them, to see, examine, and consider their ways by, and to eschew the evil, +and do the good and acceptable will of God. And they suffered great +hardships for this their love and good-will; being often stocked, stoned, +beaten, whipped, and imprisoned, though honest men, and of good report +where they lived; that had left wives, children, and houses and lands to +visit them with a living call to repentance. And though the priests +generally set themselves to oppose them, and wrote against them, and +insinuated most false and scandalous stories to defame them, stirring up +the magistrates to suppress them, especially in those northern parts; yet +God was pleased to fill them with his living power, and give them such an +open door of utterance in his service, that there was a mighty convincement +over those parts.</p> +<p>And through the tender and singular indulgence of judge Bradshaw, and +judge Fell, and colonel West, in the infancy of things, the priests were +never able to gain the point they laboured for, which was to have proceeded +to blood; and, if possible, Herod-like, by a cruel exercise of the civil +power, to have cut them off, and rooted them out of the country. But +especially judge Fell, who was not only a check to their rage in the course +of legal proceedings, but otherwise upon occasion; and finally countenanced +this people. For, his wife receiving the truth with the first, it had +that influence upon his spirit, being a just and wise man, and seeing in +his own wife and family a full confutation of all the popular clamours +against the way of truth, that he covered them what he could, and freely +opened his doors, and gave up his house to his wife and her friends; not +valuing the reproach of ignorant <!-- page 53--><a name="page53"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 53</span>or evil-minded people: which I here mention to +his and her honour, and which will be, I believe, an honour and a blessing +to such of their name and family, as shall be found in that tenderness, +humility, love, and zeal for the truth and people of the Lord.</p> +<p>That house was for some years, at first especially, until the truth had +opened its way into the southern parts of this island, an eminent +receptacle of this people. Others, of good note and substance in +those northern countries, had also opened their houses, together with their +hearts, to the many publishers, that, in a short time, the Lord had raised +to declare his salvation to the people; and where meetings of the +Lord’s messengers were frequently held, to communicate their services +and exercises, and comfort and edify one another in their blessed +ministry.</p> +<p>But lest this may be thought a digression, having touched upon this +before, I return to this excellent man; and for his personal qualities, +both natural, moral, and divine, as they appeared in his converse with the +brethren, and in the church of God, take as follows:</p> +<p>I. He was a man that God endued with a clear and wonderful depth: +a discerner of others’ spirits, and very much a master of his +own. And though that side of his understanding which lay next to the +world, and especially the expression of it, might sound uncouth and +unfashionable to nice ears, his matter was nevertheless very profound; and +would not only bear to be often considered, but the more it was so, the +more weighty and instructing it appeared. And as abruptly and +brokenly as sometimes his sentences would seem to fall from him, about +divine things, it is well known they were often as texts to many fairer +declarations.</p> +<p><!-- page 54--><a name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +54</span>And indeed it showed, beyond all contradiction, that God sent him, +in that no arts or parts had any share in the matter or manner of his +ministry; and that so many great, excellent, and necessary truths, as he +came forth to preach to mankind, had therefore nothing of man’s wit +or wisdom to recommend them. So that as to man he was an original, +being no man’s copy; and his ministry and writings show they are from +one that was not taught of man, nor had learned what he said by +study. Nor were they notional or speculative, but sensible and +practical truths, tending to conversion and regeneration, and the setting +up of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men: and the way of it was his +work. So that I have many times been overcome in myself, and been +made to say, with my Lord and Master, upon the like occasion, “I +thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these +things from the wise and prudent of this world, and revealed them to +babes:” for, many times hath my soul bowed in an humble thankfulness +to the Lord, that he did not choose any of the wise and learned of this +world to be the first messenger in our age, of his blessed truth to men; +but that he took one that was not of high degree, or elegant speech, or +learned after the way of this world, that his message and work he sent him +to do might come with less suspicion, or jealousy of human wisdom and +interest, and with more force and clearness upon the consciences of those +that sincerely sought the way of truth in the love of it. I say, +beholding with the eye of my mind, which the God of heaven had opened in +me, the marks of God’s finger and hand visibly in this testimony, +from the clearness of the principle, the power and efficacy of it, in the +exemplary sobriety, plainness, zeal, steadiness, humility, gravity, <!-- +page 55--><a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +55</span>punctuality, charity, and circumspect care in the government of +church-affairs, which shined in his and their life and testimony, that God +employed in this work, it greatly confirmed me that it was of God, and +engaged my soul in a deep love, fear, reverence, and thankfulness for his +love and mercy therein to mankind: in which mind I remain, and shall, I +hope, through the Lord’s strength, to the end of my days.</p> +<p>II. In his testimony or ministry, he much laboured to open truth +to the people’s understandings, and to bottom them upon the principle +and principal, Christ Jesus the light of the world; that by bringing them +to something that was from God in themselves, they might the better know +and judge of him and themselves.</p> +<p>III. He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scriptures. +He would go to the marrow of things, and show the mind, harmony, and +fulfilling of them, with much plainness, and to great comfort and +edification.</p> +<p>IV. The mystery of the first and second Adam, of the fall and +restoration, of the law and gospel, of shadows and substance, of the +servant’s and Son’s state, and the fulfilling of the scriptures +in Christ and by Christ the true light, in all that are his, through the +obedience of faith, were much of the substance and drift of his +testimonies: in all which he was witnessed to be of God: being sensibly +felt to speak that which he had received of Christ, and was his own +experience, in that which never errs nor fails.</p> +<p>V. But, above all, he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and +weight of his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and +behaviour, and the fewness and fulness of his words, have often struck even +strangers with admiration, as they used to reach others with +consolation. The most awful, living, reverent <!-- page 56--><a +name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 56</span>frame I ever felt or +beheld, I must say, was his in prayer. And truly it was a testimony +he knew and lived nearer to the Lord than other men; for they that know Him +most, will see most reason to approach him with reverence and fear.</p> +<p>VI. He was of an innocent life, no busy-body, nor self-seeker: +neither touchy nor critical: what fell from him was very inoffensive, if +not very edifying. So meek, contented, modest, easy, steady, tender, +it was a pleasure to be in his company. He exercised no authority but +over evil, and that everywhere, and in all; but with love, compassion, and +long-suffering. A most merciful man, as ready to forgive, as unapt to +take or give an offence. Thousands can truly say, he was of an +excellent spirit and savour among them, and because thereof, the most +excellent spirits loved him with an unfeigned and unfading love.</p> +<p>VII. He was an incessant labourer: for in his younger time, before +his many, great, and deep sufferings and travels had enfeebled his body for +itinerant services, he laboured much in the word and doctrine, and +discipline, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, turning many to God, and +confirming those that were convinced of the truth, and settling good order, +as to church affairs, among them. And towards the conclusion of his +travelling service, between the years 1671, and 1677, he visited the +churches of Christ in the plantations of America, and in the United +Provinces, and Germany, as his journal relates; to the convincement and +consolation of many. After that time he chiefly resided in and about +the city of London; and, besides his labour in the ministry, which was +frequent and serviceable, he wrote much, both to them that are within, and +those that are without, the communion.</p> +<p><!-- page 57--><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +57</span>But the care he took of the affairs of the church in general was +very great.</p> +<p>VIII. He was often where the records of the business of the church +are kept, and where the letters from the many meetings of God’s +people over all the world use to come: which letters he had read to him, +and communicated them to the meeting, that is weekly <a +name="citation57"></a><a href="#footnote57" class="citation">[57]</a> held +for such services; and he would be sure to stir them up to answer them, +especially in suffering cases, showing great sympathy and compassion upon +all such occasions; carefully looking into the respective cases, and +endeavouring speedy relief, according to the nature of them. So that +the churches, or any of the suffering members thereof, were sure not to be +forgotten, or delayed in their desires, if he was there.</p> +<p>IX. As he was unwearied, so he was undaunted in his services for +God and his people; he was no more to be moved to fear than to wrath. +His behaviour at Derby, Lichfield, Appleby, before Oliver Cromwell, at +Launceston, Scarborough, Worcester, and Westminster Hall, with many other +places and exercises, did abundantly evidence it, to his enemies as well as +his friends.</p> +<p>But as, in the primitive times, some rose up against the blessed +apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, even from among those that they had +turned to the hope of the gospel, and became their greatest trouble; so +this man of God had his share of suffering from some that were convinced by +him; who, through prejudice or mistake, ran against him, as one that sought +dominion over conscience, because he pressed, by his presence <!-- page +58--><a name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 58</span>or epistles, a +ready and zealous compliance with such good and wholesome things, as tended +to an orderly conversation about the affairs of the church, and in their +walking before men. That which contributed much to this ill work, +was, in some, a begrudging of this meek man the love and esteem he had and +deserved in the hearts of the people; and weakness in others, that were +taken with their groundless suggestions of imposition and blind +obedience.</p> +<p>They would have had every man independent, that as he had the principle +in himself, he should only stand and fall to that, and nobody else: not +considering that the principle is one in all; and though the measure of +light or grace might differ, yet the nature of it was the same; and being +so, they struck at the spiritual unity which a people, guided by the same +principle, are naturally led into: so that what is an evil to one, is so to +all; and what is virtuous, honest, and of good repute to one, is so to all, +from the sense and savour of the one universal principle which is common to +all, and which the disaffected also profess to be the root of all true +Christian fellowship, and that spirit into which the people of God drink, +and come to be spiritually-minded, and of one heart and one soul.</p> +<p>Some weakly mistook good order in the government of church affairs, for +discipline in worship, and that it was so pressed or recommended by him and +other brethren. And thereupon they were ready to reflect the same +things that dissenters had very reasonably objected upon the national +churches, that have coercively pressed conformity to their respective +creeds and worships. Whereas these things related wholly to +conversation, and the outward, and, as I may say, civil <!-- page 59--><a +name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 59</span>part of the church; +that men should walk up to the principles of their belief, and not be +wanting in care and charity. But though some have stumbled and fallen +through mistakes, and an unreasonable obstinacy even to a prejudice; yet, +blessed be God, the generality have returned to their first love, and seen +the work of the enemy, that loses no opportunity or advantage by which he +may check or hinder the work of God, and disquiet the peace of his church, +and chill the love of his people to the truth, and one to another; and +there is hope of divers of the few that yet are at a distance.</p> +<p>In all these occasions, though there was no person the discontented +struck so sharply at, as this good man, he bore all their weakness and +prejudice, and returned not reflection for reflection; but forgave them +their weak and bitter speeches, praying for them, that they might have a +sense of their hurt, and see the subtilty of the enemy to rend and divide, +and return into their first love that thought no ill.</p> +<p>And truly, I must say, that though God had visibly clothed him with a +divine preference and authority, yet he never abused it; but held his place +in the church of God with great meekness, and a most engaging humility and +moderation. For upon all occasions, like his blessed Master, he was a +servant to all; holding and exercising his eldership in the invisible power +that had gathered them, with reverence to the Head, and care over the body: +and was received, only in that Spirit and power of Christ, as the first and +chief elder in this age: who, as he was therefore worthy of double honour, +so for the same reason it was given by the faithful of this day; because +his authority was inward and not outward, and that he got <!-- page 60--><a +name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 60</span>it and kept it by the +love of God, and power of an endless life. I write my knowledge, and +not report; and my witness is true; having been with him for weeks and +months together on divers occasions, and those of the nearest, and most +exercising nature; and that by night and by day, by sea and by land; in +this and in foreign countries; and I can say, I never saw him out of his +place, or not a match for every service or occasion. For in all +things he acquitted himself like a man, yea, a strong man, a new and +heavenly-minded man, a divine and a naturalist, and all of God +Almighty’s making. I have been surprised at his questions and +answers in natural things: that whilst he was ignorant of useless and +sophistical science, he had in him the grounds of useful and commendable +knowledge, and cherished it every where. Civil, beyond all forms of +breeding, in his behaviour: very temperate, eating little, and sleeping +less, though a bulky person.</p> +<p>Thus he lived and sojourned among us: and, as he lived, so he died; +feeling the same eternal power, that had raised and preserved him, in his +last moments. So full of assurance was he, that he triumphed over +death; and so even in his spirit to the last, as if death were hardly worth +notice, or a mention: recommending to some of us with him, the despatch and +dispersion of an epistle just before given forth by him to the churches of +Christ throughout the world, and his own books: but, above all, Friends; +and of all Friends, those in Ireland and America, twice over, saying, +“Mind poor Friends in Ireland and America.”</p> +<p>And to some that came in and inquired how he found himself, he answered, +“Never heed, the Lord’s power is over all weakness and death; +the seed reigns, blessed be the Lord:” which was about four or five +hours before <!-- page 61--><a name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +61</span>his departure out of this world. He was at the great meeting +near Lombard-street, on the first day of the week, and it was the third +following about ten at night when he left us; being at the house of Henry +Goldney, in the same court. In a good old age he went, after having +lived to see his children’s children in the truth to many +generations. He had the comfort of a short illness, and the blessing +of a clear sense to the last: and we may truly say, with a man of God of +old, that being dead, he yet speaketh: and though now absent in body, he is +present in spirit; neither time nor place being able to interrupt the +communion of saints, or dissolve the fellowship of the spirits of the +just. His works praise him, because they are to the praise of Him +that wrought by him; for which his memorial is and shall be blessed. +I have done, as to this part of my preface, when I have left this short +epitaph to his name,—Many sons have done virtuously in this day; but, +dear George, thou excellest them all.</p> +<h2><!-- page 62--><a name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +62</span>CHAP. VI.</h2> +<p><i>Containing five several exhortations</i>: <i>first</i>, +<i>general</i>, <i>reminding this people of their primitive integrity and +simplicity</i>. <i>Secondly</i>, <i>in particular</i>, <i>to the +ministry</i>. <i>Thirdly</i>, <i>to the young convinced</i>. +<i>Fourthly</i>, <i>to the children of Friends</i>. <i>Fifthly</i>, +<i>to those that are yet strangers to this people and way</i>, <i>to whom +this book</i>, <i>and that which it was preface to</i>, <i>in its former +edition</i>, <i>may come</i>. <i>All the several exhortations +accommodated to their several states and conditions</i>: <i>that all may +answer the end of God’s glory</i>, <i>and their own +salvation</i>.</p> +<p>And now, Friends, you that profess to walk in the way that this blessed +man was sent of God to turn us into, suffer, I beseech you, the word of +exhortation, as well fathers as children, and elders as young men. +The glory of this day, and foundation of the hope that has not made us +ashamed since we were a people, you know, is that blessed principle of +light and life of Christ which we profess, and direct all people to, as the +great and divine instrument and agent of man’s conversion to +God. It was by this that we were first touched, and effectually +enlightened, as to our inward state; which put us upon the consideration of +our latter end, causing us to set the Lord before our eyes, and to number +our days, that we might apply our hearts to wisdom. In that day we +judged not after <!-- page 63--><a name="page63"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 63</span>the sight of the eye, or after the hearing of +the ear; but according to the light and sense this blessed principle gave +us, so we judged and acted, in reference to things and persons, ourselves +and others; yea, towards God our Maker. For being quickened by it in +our inward man, we could easily discern the difference of things, and feel +what was right and what was wrong, and what was fit, and what not, both in +reference to religion and civil concerns. That being the ground of +the fellowship of all saints, it was in that our fellowship stood. In +this we desired to have a sense of one another, acted towards one another, +and all men; in love, faithfulness, and fear.</p> +<p>In feeling of the stirrings and motions of this principle in our hearts, +we drew near to the Lord, and waited to be prepared by it, that we might +feel drawings and movings before we approached the Lord in prayer, or +opened our mouths in ministry. And in our beginning and ending with +this, stood our comfort, service, and edification. And as we ran +faster, or fell short in our services, we made burdens for ourselves to +bear; finding in ourselves a rebuke instead of an acceptance; and, in lieu +of “Well-done,” “Who has required this at your +hands?” In that day we were an exercised people, our very +countenances and deportment declared it.</p> +<p>Care for others was then much upon us, as well as for ourselves; +especially of the young convinced. Often had we the burden of the +word of the Lord to our neighbours, relations, and acquaintance; and +sometimes strangers also. We were in travail likewise for one +another’s preservation; not seeking, but shunning, occasions of any +coldness or misunderstanding; treating one another as those that believed +and felt God <!-- page 64--><a name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +64</span>present; which kept our conversation innocent, serious, and +weighty; guarding ourselves against the cares and friendships of the +world. We held the truth in the Spirit of it, and not in our own +spirits, or after our own wills and affections.</p> +<p>We were bowed and brought into subjection, insomuch that it was visible +to them that knew us. We did not think ourselves at our own disposal, +to go where we list, or say or do what we list, or when we list. Our +liberty stood in the liberty of the Spirit of truth; and no pleasure, no +profit, no fear, no favour, could draw us from this retired, strict, and +watchful frame. We were so far from seeking occasions of company, +that we avoided them what we could; pursuing our own business with +moderation, instead of meddling with other people’s +unnecessarily.</p> +<p>Our words were few and savoury, our looks composed and weighty, and our +whole deportment very observable. True it is, that this retired and +strict sort of life, from the liberty of the conversation of the world, +exposed us to the censures of many, as humourists, conceited and +self-righteous persons, &c.; but it was our preservation from many +snares, to which others were continually exposed, by the prevalency of the +lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, that wanted +no occasions or temptations to excite them abroad in the converse of the +world.</p> +<p>I cannot forget the humility and chaste zeal of that day. O! how +constant at meetings, how retired in them; how firm to truth’s life, +as well as truth’s principles; and how entire and united in our +communion, as, indeed, became those that profess one head, even Christ +Jesus the Lord.</p> +<p>This being the testimony and example the man of <!-- page 65--><a +name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 65</span>God before mentioned +was sent to declare and leave amongst us, and we having embraced the same, +as the merciful visitation of God to us, the word of exhortation, at this +time, is that we continue to be found in the way of this testimony, with +all zeal and integrity, and so much the more, by how much the day draweth +near. And first, as to you my beloved and much honoured brethren in +Christ, that are in the exercise of the ministry: O! feel life in your +ministry. Let life be your commission, your well-spring and treasury +on all such occasions; else, you well know, there can be no begetting to +God: since nothing can quicken or make people alive to God, but the life of +God; and it must be a ministry in and from life, that enlivens any people +to God. We have seen the fruit of all other ministries, by the few +that are turned from the evil of their ways. It is not our parts, or +memory, the repetition of former openings, in our own will and time, that +will do God’s work. A dry doctrinal ministry, however sound in +words, can reach but the ears, and is but a dream at the best. There +is another soundness that is soundest of all, viz. Christ the power of +God. This is the key of David, that opens, and none shuts; and shuts +and none can open: as the oil to the lamp, and the soul to the body, so is +that to the best of words: which made Christ to say, “My words, they +are Spirit, and they are life;” that is, they are from life, and +therefore they make you alive, that receive them. If the disciples +that had lived with Jesus, were to stay at Jerusalem till they received it; +much more must we wait to receive before we minister, if we will turn +people from darkness to light, and from satan’s power to God.</p> +<p>I fervently bow my knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, +that you may always be like-minded; <!-- page 66--><a +name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 66</span>that you may ever wait +reverently for the coming and opening of the word of life, and attend upon +it in your ministry and service, that you may serve God in his +Spirit. And be it little, or be it much, it is well; for much is not +too much, and the least is enough, if from the motion of God’s +Spirit; and without it, verily, never so little is too much, because to no +profit.</p> +<p>For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediately, or through the ministry of +his servants, that teacheth his people to profit; and to be sure, so far as +we take him along with us in our services, so far we are profitable, and no +further. For if it be the Lord that must work all things in us for +our salvation, much more is it the Lord that must work in us for the +conversion of others. If therefore it was once a cross to us to +speak, though the Lord required it at our hands, let it never be so to be +silent, when he does not.</p> +<p>It is one of the most dreadful sayings in the book of God, “That +he that adds to the words of the prophecy of this book, God will add to him +the plagues written in this book.” To keep back the counsel of +God, is as terrible; “For he that takes away from the words of the +book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of +life.” And truly, it has great caution in it, to those that use +the name of the Lord, to be well assured the Lord speaks; that they may not +be found of the number of those that add to the words of the testimony of +prophecy, which the Lord giveth them to bear; nor yet to mince or diminish +the same, both being so very offensive to God.</p> +<p>Wherefore, Brethren, let us be careful, neither to out-go our guide, nor +yet loiter behind him; since he that makes haste may miss his way, and he +that stays <!-- page 67--><a name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +67</span>behind lose his guide. For even those that have received the +word of the Lord, had need wait for wisdom, that they may see how to divide +the word aright: which plainly implieth, that it is possible for one that +hath received the word of the Lord, to miss in the dividing and application +of it; which must come from an impatiency of spirit, and a self-working, +which makes an unsound and dangerous mixture, and will hardly beget a +right-minded living people to God.</p> +<p>I am earnest in this, above all other considerations, as to brethren in +the ministry, (well knowing how much it concerns the present and future +state and preservation of the church of Christ Jesus, that has been +gathered and built up by a living and powerful ministry,) that the ministry +be held, preserved, and continued in the manifestations, motions, and +supplies of the same life and power, from time to time.</p> +<p>And wherever it is observed, that any do minister more from gifts and +parts, than life and power, though they have an enlightened and doctrinal +understanding, let them in time be advised and admonished for their +preservation, because insensibly such will come to depend upon a +self-sufficiency; to forsake Christ the living Fountain, and hew out unto +themselves cisterns, that will hold no living waters: and, by degrees, such +will come to draw others from waiting upon the gift of God in themselves, +and to feel it in others, in order to their strength and refreshment, to +wait upon them, and to turn from God to man again, and so make shipwreck of +the faith once delivered to the saints, and of a good conscience towards +God: which are only kept by that divine gift of life that begat the one, +and awakened and sanctified the other in the beginning.</p> +<p>Nor is it enough, that we have known the divine <!-- page 68--><a +name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 68</span>gift, and in it have +reached to the spirits in prison, and been the instruments of the +convincing of others of the way of God, if we keep not as low and poor in +ourselves, and as depending upon the Lord, as ever: since no memory, no +repetitions of former openings, revelations, or enjoyments, will bring a +soul to God, or afford bread to the hungry, or water to the thirsty, unless +life go with what we say, and that must be waited for.</p> +<p>O that we may have no other fountain, treasure, or dependence! +That none may presume at any rate to act of themselves for God, because +they have long acted from God; that we may not supply want of waiting, with +our own wisdom, or think that we may take less care and more liberty in +speaking than formerly; and that where we do not feel the Lord by his +power, to open us and enlarge us, whatever be the expectation of the +people, or has been our customary supply and character, we may not exceed +or fill up the time with our own.</p> +<p>I hope we shall ever remember, who it was that said, “Of +yourselves you can do nothing;” our sufficiency is in him. And +if we are not to speak our own words, or take thought what we should say to +men in our defence, when exposed for our testimony; surely, we ought to +speak none of our own words, or take thought what we shall say in our +testimony and ministry, in the name of the Lord, to the souls of the +people: for then, of all times, and of all other occasions, should it be +fulfilled in us, “For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of my +Father that speaketh in you.”</p> +<p>And, indeed, the ministry of the Spirit must and does keep its analogy +and agreement with the birth of the Spirit: that as no man can inherit the +kingdom of God, unless he be born of the Spirit; so no ministry <!-- page +69--><a name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 69</span>can beget a +soul to God, but that which is from the Spirit. For this, as I said +before, the disciples waited before they went forth; and in this our elder +brethren and messengers of God in our day, waited, visited, and reached to +us; and having begun in the Spirit, let none ever hope or seek to be made +perfect in the flesh: for what is the flesh to the Spirit, or the chaff to +the wheat? And if we keep in the Spirit, we shall keep in the unity +of it, which is the ground of true fellowship. For by drinking into +that one Spirit, we are made one people to God, and by it we are continued +in the unity of the faith, and the bond of peace. No envying, no +bitterness, no strife, can have place with us. We shall watch always +for good, and not for evil, one over another; and rejoice exceedingly, and +not begrudge at one another’s increase in the riches of the grace +with which God replenisheth his faithful servants.</p> +<p>And Brethren, as to you is committed the dispensation of the oracles of +God, which give you frequent opportunities, and great place with the people +among whom you travel, I beseech you, that you would not think it +sufficient to declare the word of life in their assemblies, however +edifying and comfortable such opportunities may be to you and them: but, as +was the practice of the man of God before mentioned, in great measure, when +among us, inquire the state of the several churches you visit; who among +them are afflicted or sick, who are tempted, and if any are unfaithful or +obstinate; and endeavour to issue those things in the wisdom and power of +God, which will be a glorious crown upon your ministry. As that +prepares your way in the hearts of the people, to receive you as men of +God, so it gives you credit with them to do them good <!-- page 70--><a +name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 70</span>by your advice in other +respects; the afflicted will be comforted by you, the tempted strengthened, +the sick refreshed, the unfaithful convicted and restored, and such as are +obstinate, softened and fitted for reconciliation; which is clinching the +nail, and applying and fastening the general testimony, by this particular +care of the several branches of it, in reference to them more immediately +concerned in it.</p> +<p>For though good and wise men, and elders too, may reside in such places, +who are of worth and importance in the general, and in other places; yet it +does not always follow, that they may have the room they deserve in the +hearts of the people they live among; or some particular occasion may make +it unfit for him or them to use that authority. But you that travel +as God’s messengers, if they receive you in the greater, shall they +refuse you in the less? And if they own the general testimony, can +they withstand the particular application of it in their own cases? +Thus ye will show yourselves workmen indeed, and carry your business before +you, to the praise of his name that hath called you from darkness to light, +that you might turn others from satan’s power unto God and his +kingdom, which is within. And O that there were more of such faithful +labourers in the vineyard of the Lord!—Never more need since the day +of God.</p> +<p>Wherefore I cannot but cry and call aloud to you, that have been long +professors of the truth, and know the truth in the convincing power of it, +and have had a sober conversation among men; yet content yourselves only to +know truth for yourselves, to go to meetings, and exercise an ordinary +charity in the church, and an honest behaviour in the world, and limit +yourselves within those bounds; feeling little or no concern <!-- page +71--><a name="page71"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 71</span>upon your +spirits, for the glory of the Lord in the prosperity of his truth in the +earth, more than to be glad that others succeed in such service. +Arise ye in the name and power of the Lord Jesus! Behold how white +the fields are unto harvest, in this and other nations, and how few able +and faithful labourers there are to work therein! Your country-folks, +neighbours, and kindred, want to know the Lord and his truth, and to walk +in it. Does nothing lie at your door upon their account! Search +and see, and lose no time, I beseech you, for the Lord is at hand.</p> +<p>I do not judge you; there is one that judgeth all men, and his judgment +is true. You have mightily increased in your outward substance, may +you equally increase in your inward riches, and do good with both, while +you have a day to do good. Your enemies would once have taken what +you had, from you, for his name’s sake in whom you have believed; +wherefore he has given you much of the world, in the face of your +enemies. But O, let it be your servant, and not your master! your +diversion rather than your business! let the Lord be chiefly in your eye, +and ponder your ways, and see if God has nothing more for you to do: and if +you find yourselves short in your account with him, then wait for his +preparation, and be ready to receive the word of command, and be not weary +of well-doing, when you have put your hand to the plough; and, assuredly, +you shall reap, if you faint not, the fruit of your heavenly labour in +God’s everlasting kingdom.</p> +<p>And you, young convinced ones, be you entreated and exhorted to a +diligent and chaste waiting upon God, in the way of his blessed +manifestation and appearance of himself to you. Look not out, but +within: <!-- page 72--><a name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +72</span>let not another’s liberty be your snare: neither act by +imitation, but by sense and feeling of God’s power in yourselves: +crush not the tender buddings of it in your souls, nor over-run, in your +desires and warmness of affections, the holy and gentle motions of +it. Remember it is a still voice that speaks to us in this day, and +that it is not to be heard in the noises and hurries of the mind; but is +distinctly understood in a retired frame. Jesus loved and chose +solitudes, often going to mountains, gardens, and sea sides, to avoid +crowds and hurries: to show his disciples it was good to be solitary, and +sit loose to the world. Two enemies lie near your states, imagination +and liberty; but the plain, practical, living, holy truth, that has +convinced you, will preserve you, if you mind it in yourselves, and bring +all thoughts, inclinations, and affections, to the test of it, to see if +they are wrought in God, or of the enemy, or of your ownselves: so will a +true taste, discerning, and judgment, be preserved to you, of what you +should do and leave undone. And in your diligence and faithfulness in +this way, you will come to inherit substance; and Christ, the eternal +wisdom, will fill your treasury. And when you are converted, as well +as convinced, then confirm your brethren; and be ready to every good word +and work, that the Lord shall call you to: that you may be to his praise, +who has chosen you to be partakers, with the saints in light, of a kingdom +that cannot be shaken, an inheritance incorruptible in eternal +habitations.</p> +<p>And now, as for you that are the children of God’s people, a great +concern is upon my spirit for your good and often are my knees bowed to the +God of your fathers for you, that you may come to be partakers of the same +divine life and power, that have been the <!-- page 73--><a +name="page73"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 73</span>glory of this day: that +a generation you may be to God, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, +zealous of good works, when all our heads are laid in the dust. O! +you young men and women, let it not suffice you, that you are the children +of the people of the Lord; you must also be born again, if you will inherit +the kingdom of God. Your fathers are but such after the flesh, and +could but beget you into the likeness of the first Adam; but you must be +begotten into the likeness of the second Adam, by a spiritual generation, +or you will not, you cannot, be of his children or offspring. And +therefore look carefully about you, O ye children of the children of God; +consider your standing, and see what you are in relation to this divine +kindred, family, and birth. Have you obeyed the light, and received +and walked in the Spirit, which is the incorruptible seed of the word and +kingdom of God, of which you must be born again? God is no respecter +of persons. The father cannot save or answer for the child, or the +child for the father; but in the sin thou sinnest thou shalt die; and in +the righteousness thou doest, through Christ Jesus, thou shalt live: for it +is the willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the land. Be +not deceived, God is mocked. Such as all nations and people sow, such +they shall reap at the hand of the just God. And then your many and +great privileges, above the children of other people, will add weight in +the scale against you, if you choose not the way of the Lord. For you +have had line upon line, and precept upon precept, and not only good +doctrine but good example; and which is more, you have been turned to, and +acquainted with, a principle in yourselves, which others too generally have +been ignorant of: and you know you may be as <!-- page 74--><a +name="page74"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 74</span>good as you please, +without the fear of frowns and blows, or being turned out of doors, and +forsaken of father and mother, for God’s sake and his holy religion; +as has been the case of some of your fathers in the day they first entered +into this holy path. And if you, after hearing and seeing the wonders +that God has wrought in the deliverance and preservation of them, through a +sea of troubles, and the manifold temporal, as well as spiritual, blessings +that he has filled them with, in the sight of their enemies, should neglect +and turn your backs upon so great and near a salvation, you would not only +be most ungrateful children to God and them, but must expect that God will +call the children of those that knew him not, to take the crown out of your +hands, and that your lot will be a dreadful judgment at the hand of the +Lord: but, O that it may never be so with any of you! The Lord +forbid, saith my soul.</p> +<p>Wherefore, O ye young men and women! look to the rock of your fathers: +there is no other God but him, no other light but his, no other grace but +his, nor spirit but his, to convince you, quicken, and comfort you; to +lead, guide, and preserve you to God’s everlasting kingdom. So +will you be possessors as well as professors of the truth, embracing it, +not only by education, but judgment and conviction; from a sense begotten +in your souls, through the operation of the eternal Spirit and power of +God; by which you may come to be the seed of Abraham, through faith, and +the circumcision not made with hands; and so heirs of the promise made to +the fathers, of an incorruptible crown. That, as I said before, a +generation you may be to God, holding up the profession of the blessed +truth in the life and <!-- page 75--><a name="page75"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 75</span>power of it. For formality in religion is +nauseous to God and good men; and the more so, where any form or appearance +has been new and peculiar, and begun and practised, upon a principle, with +an uncommon zeal and strictness. Therefore I say, for you to fall +flat and formal, and continue the profession, without that salt and savour +by which it is come to obtain a good report among men, is not to answer +God’s love, or your parents’ care, or the mind of truth in +yourselves, or in those that are without: who, though they will not obey +the truth, have sight and sense enough to see if they do that make a +profession of it. For where the divine virtue of it is not felt in +the soul, and waited for and lived in, imperfections will quickly break +out, and show themselves, and detect the unfaithfulness of such persons; +and that their insides are not seasoned with the nature of that holy +principle which they profess.</p> +<p>Wherefore, dear children, let me entreat you to shut your eyes at the +temptations and allurements of this low and perishing world, and not suffer +your affections to be captivated by those lusts and vanities that your +fathers, for the truth’s sake, long since turned their backs upon: +but as you believe it to be the truth, receive it into your hearts, that +you may become the children of God: so that it may never be said of you, as +the evangelist writes of the Jews in his time, that Christ, the true light, +“came to his own, but his own received him not; but to as many as +received him, to them he gave power to become the children of God; which +were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of +man, but of God;” a most close and comprehensive passage to this +occasion. You exactly and peculiarly answer to those professing <!-- +page 76--><a name="page76"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 76</span>Jews, in +that you bear the name of God’s people, by being the children, and +wearing of the form of God’s people: and he, by his light in you, may +be very well said to come to his own, and if you obey it not, but turn your +backs upon it, and walk after the vanities of your minds, you will be of +those that received him not; which I pray God may never be your case and +judgment. But that you may be thoroughly sensible of the many and +great obligations you lie under to the Lord for his love, and to your +parents for their care: and with all your heart, and all your soul, and all +your strength, turn to the Lord, to his gift and Spirit in you; and hear +his voice, and obey it, that you may seal to the testimony of your fathers, +by the truth and evidence of your own experience: that your +children’s children may bless you, and the Lord for you, as those +that delivered a faithful example, as well as record of the truth of God +unto them. So will the grey hairs of your dear parents, yet alive, go +down to the grave with joy, to see you the posterity of truth, as well as +theirs: and that not only their nature, but spirit, shall live in you when +they are gone.</p> +<p>* * * * *</p> +<p>I shall conclude this account with a few words to those who are not of +our communion, into whose hands this may come; especially those of our own +nation.</p> +<p>* * * * *</p> +<p>Friends, as you are the sons and daughters of Adam, and my brethren +after the flesh, often and earnest have been my desires and prayers to God +on your behalf, that you may come to know your Creator to be your Redeemer, +and Restorer to the holy image that through sin you have lost, by the power +and Spirit of his Son <!-- page 77--><a name="page77"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 77</span>Jesus Christ, whom he hath given for the light +and life of the world. And O that you, who are called Christians, +would receive him into your hearts! for there it is you want him, and at +that door he stands knocking, that you might let him in; but you do not +open to him; you are full of other guests, so that a manger is his lot +among you now as well as of old. Yet you are full of profession, as +were the Jews when he came among them, who knew him not, but rejected and +evily entreated him. So that if you come not to the possession and +experience of what you profess, all your formality and religion will stand +you in no stead in the day of God’s judgment.</p> +<p>I beseech you ponder with yourselves your eternal condition, and see +what title, what ground and foundation you have for your Christianity: if +more than a profession, and an historical belief of the gospel. Have +you known the baptism of fire, and the Holy Ghost, and the fan of Christ +that winnows away the chaff in your minds, the carnal lusts, and +affections; that divine leaven of the kingdom, that, being received, +leavens the whole lump of man, sanctifying him throughout in body, soul, +and spirit? If this be not the ground of your confidence, you are in +a miserable state.</p> +<p>You will say, perhaps, that though you are sinners, and live in daily +commission of sin, and are not sanctified, as I have been speaking, yet you +have faith in Christ, who has borne the curse for you, and in him you are +complete by faith, his righteousness being imputed to you.</p> +<p>But, my friends, let me entreat you not to deceive yourselves, in so +important a point, as is that of your immortal souls. If you have +true faith in Christ, your <!-- page 78--><a name="page78"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 78</span>faith will make you clean; it will sanctify +you: for the saints’ faith was their victory of old: by this they +overcame sin within, and sinful man without. And if thou art in +Christ, thou walkest not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, whose +fruits are manifest. Yea, thou art a new creature: new made, new +fashioned, after God’s will and mould. Old things are done +away, and, behold, all things are become new: new love, desires, will, +affections, and practices. It is not any longer thou that livest; +(thou disobedient, carnal, worldly one;) but it is Christ that liveth in +thee; and to live is Christ, and to die is thy eternal gain: because thou +art assured, that thy corruptible shall put on incorruption, and thy +mortal, immortality, and that thou hast a glorious house, eternal in the +heavens, that will never wax old or pass away. All this follows being +in Christ, as heat follows fire, and light the sun.</p> +<p>Therefore have a care how you presume to rely upon such a notion, as +that you are in Christ, whilst in your old fallen nature. For what +communion hath light with darkness, or Christ with Belial? Hear what +the beloved disciple tells you: “If we say we have fellowship with +God, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” That +is, if we go on in a sinful way, are captivated by our carnal affections, +and are not converted to God, we walk in darkness, and cannot possibly in +that state have any fellowship with God. Christ clothes them with his +righteousness, that receive his grace in their hearts, and deny themselves, +and take up his cross daily, and follow him. Christ’s +righteousness makes men inwardly holy; of holy minds, wills, and +practices. It is not the less Christ’s, because we have it; for +it is ours, not by nature, but by faith and adoption: it is the gift of +God. But, <!-- page 79--><a name="page79"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 79</span>still, though not ours, as of or from +ourselves, (for in that sense it is Christ’s, for it is of and from +him,) yet it is ours, and must be ours, in possession, efficacy, and +enjoyment, to do us any good; or Christ’s righteousness will profit +us nothing. It was after this manner that he was made to the +primitive Christians, righteousness, sanctification, justification, and +redemption; and if ever you will have the comfort, kernel, and marrow of +the Christian religion, thus you must come to learn and obtain it.</p> +<p>Now, my friends, by what you have read, you may perceive that God has +visited a poor people among you, with this saving knowledge and testimony, +whom he has upheld and increased to this day, notwithstanding the fierce +opposition they have met withal. Despise not the meanness of this +appearance: it was, and yet is, we know, a day of small things and of small +account with too many; and many hard and ill names are given to it; but it +is of God, it came from him, because it leads to him. This we know, +but we cannot make another to know it, unless he will take the same way to +know it that we took. The world talks of God, but what do they +do? They pray for power, but reject the principle in which it +is. If you would know God, and worship and serve God as you should +do, you must come to the means he has ordained and given for that +purpose. Some seek it in books, some in learned men; but what they +look for is in themselves, (though not of themselves,) but they overlook +it. The voice is too still, the seed too small, and the light shineth +in darkness; they are abroad, and so cannot divide the spoil: but the woman +that lost her silver, found it at home, after she had lighted her candle, +and swept her house. Do you so too, and you shall find <!-- page +80--><a name="page80"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 80</span>what Pilate +wanted to know, viz. Truth. Truth in the inward parts, so valuable in +the sight of God.</p> +<p>The light of Christ within, who is the light of the world, and so a +light to you, that tells you the truth of your condition, leads all, that +take heed unto it, out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. +For light grows upon the obedient; it is sown for the righteous, and their +way is a shining light, that shines forth more and more to the perfect +day.</p> +<p>Wherefore, O friends, turn in, turn in, I beseech you: where is the +poison, there is the antidote. There you want Christ, and there you +must find him; and blessed be God, there you may find him. Seek and +you shall find, I testify for God. But then you must seek aright, +with your whole heart, as men that seek for their lives, yea for their +eternal lives: diligently, humbly, patiently, as those that can taste no +pleasure, comfort, or satisfaction in any thing else, unless you find him +whom your souls want to know and love above all. O it is a travail, a +spiritual travail! let the carnal, profane world, think and say as it +will. And through this path you must walk to the city of God, that +has eternal foundations, if ever you will come there.</p> +<p>Well! and what doth this blessed light do for you? Why, first, it +sets all your sins in order before you: it detects the spirit of this world +in all its baits and allurements, and shows how man came to fall from God, +and the fallen state he is in. Secondly, it begets a sense and +sorrow, in such as believe in it, for this fearful lapse. You will +then see him distinctly whom you have pierced, and all the blows and wounds +you have given him by your disobedience, and how you have made him to serve +with your sins; and you <!-- page 81--><a name="page81"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 81</span>will weep and mourn for it, and your sorrow +will be a godly sorrow. Thirdly, after this it will bring you to the +holy watch, to take care that you do so no more, and that the enemy +surprise you not again. Then thoughts, as well as words and works, +will come to judgment, which is the way of holiness, in which the redeemed +of the Lord do walk. Here you will come to love God above all, and +your neighbours as yourselves. Nothing hurts, nothing harms, nothing +makes afraid on this holy mountain. Now you come to be Christ’s +indeed; for you are his in nature and spirit, and not your own. And +when you are thus Christ’s, then Christ is yours, and not +before. And here you will know communion with the Father and with the +Son, and the efficacy of the blood of cleansing, even the blood of Jesus +Christ, that immaculate Lamb, which speaks better things than the blood of +Abel; and which cleanseth from all sin, the consciences of those that, +through the living faith, come to be sprinkled with it, from dead works to +serve the living God.</p> +<p>* * * * *</p> +<p>To conclude; behold the testimony and doctrine of the people called +Quakers; behold their practice and discipline; and behold the blessed man +and men, at least many of them, that were sent of God in this excellent +work and service; all which is more particularly expressed in the annals of +that man of God, which I do heartily recommend to my reader’s most +serious perusal; and beseech Almighty God, that his blessing may go along +with both, to the convincement of many, as yet strangers to this holy +dispensation, and also to the edification of God’s church in general: +who for his manifold and repeated mercies and blessings to his people, in +this day of his great love, is worthy ever to <!-- page 82--><a +name="page82"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 82</span>have the glory, honour, +thanksgiving, and renown; and be it rendered and ascribed, with fear and +reverence, through him in whom he is well pleased, his beloved Son and +Lamb, our light and life, that sits with him upon the throne, world without +end. Amen.</p> +<p>Says one that God has long since mercifully favoured with his fatherly +visitation, and who was not disobedient to the heavenly vision and call; to +whom the way of truth is more lovely and precious than ever, and that +knowing the beauty and benefit of it above all worldly treasures, has +chosen it for his chiefest joy, and therefore recommends it to thy love and +choice, because he is with great sincerity and affection,</p> +<p>Thy soul’s friend,<br /> +WILLIAM PENN.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">FINIS.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">PRINTED BY HARRISON AND CROSFIELD, +MANCHESTER.</p> +<h2><!-- page 83--><a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +83</span>BOOKS, &c.</h2> +<p><i>On sale</i>, <i>at reduced prices</i>; <i>the property of the +Society</i>: <i>to be had of</i> William Manley, 86, <i>Houndsditch</i>, +<i>London</i>; <i>and at the</i> Manchester and Stockport Tract Depository, +(<i>for particulars of which see its annexed List</i>.)</p> +<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> +<tr> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +<td> +<p><i>£.</i> <i>s.</i> <i>d.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Robert Barclay’s Apology for the True Christian Divinity, +<i>octavo</i></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 4 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Universal Love</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Discipline </p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Theses</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>E. Bates on the Doctrines of Friends</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 4 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Elizabeth Bathurst’s Truth Vindicated</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>W. Shewen’s True Christian’s Faith briefly stated</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Counsel to the Christian Traveller</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>E. Pugh’s Salutation or Call, from the Many Things to the One +Thing Needful. 12mo. bound</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>H. Turford’s Grounds of a Holy Life. 19th edit.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>William Penn’s Fruits of a Father’s Love</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Key to distinguish the Religion professed by Friends from +perversion & misrepresentation</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>B. Holme’s Serious Call, in Christian Love to all People. +17th edition</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>C. Marshall’s Way of Life revealed</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>M. Brook on Silent Waiting</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 3</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>J. Crook’s Truth’s Principles on Doctrine, &c.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>G. Whitehead’s Epistle on True Christian Love</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 1</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>J. Griffith’s Remarks on Important Subjects</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>M. Leadbeater’s Biographical Notices of Friends who were resident +in Ireland</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>G. Fox’s Journal of Travels, Sufferings, and Labours of Love, in +the Work of the Ministry. 2 vols. 8vo. boards</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 12 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>William Edmundson’s Journal of his Life, Travels, &c.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>I. Pennington’s Memoirs, and Review of his Writings, by J. G. +Bevan, 12mo. boards</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 2 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><!-- page 84--><a name="page84"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 84</span>T. +Ellwood’s Life</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>T. Chalkley’s Journal and Works</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>J. Woolman’s Journal and Works</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 4 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> Serious Considerations</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>J. Churchman’s Journal, 12mo. cloth</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>S. Crisp, Memoirs of, by S. Tuke</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>J. Gratton’s Journal</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>James Gough’s Memoirs, Religious Experience, &c.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>D. Hall’s Life and Epistles</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>R. Jordan’s Life</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>G. Latey’s Life</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Jane Pearson, Memoirs of</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>C. Story’s Life</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>John Alderson, Memoirs of</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Abiah Darby’s Catechism</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 4</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>T. Carrington’s Exhortation</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 2</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Selection of G. Fox’s Epistles, by S. Tuke </p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 3 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Yearly Epistles to 1817, calf</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 7 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Selection of Advices</p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 6</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p><span class="smcap">Sewel’s History of Friends</span>, (<i>new +edition</i>.)</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Rules and Advices of the Yearly Meeting, <i>just published</i>.</p> +</td> +<td> +<p></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p>Penn’s Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers, in which +their Fundamental Principle, Doctrines, Worship, Ministry, and Discipline, +are plainly declared. <i>Stiff cover</i></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 0 8</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p> <i>Cloth</i></p> +</td> +<td> +<p>0 1 0</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p></p> +<p>There is an Association of Friends in London, for the printing and +distribution of <span class="smcap">Tracts</span> on Moral and Religious +Subjects, chiefly such as have a tendency to elucidate and support the +Principles of Christianity as held by the Society of Friends; in which +there are <i>sixty two</i> different Tracts, price from 3<i>d.</i> to +2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> per doz. Sold by <span class="smcap">Edmund +Fry</span>, 73, Houndsditch; and by <span class="smcap">Harvey</span> and +<span class="smcap">Darton</span>, 55, Gracechurch Street, London: also at +the Manchester and Stockport <span class="smcap">Tract +Depository</span>.</p> +<h2>Footnotes</h2> +<p><a name="footnote25"></a><a href="#citation25" +class="footnote">[25]</a> Instead of being asked those questions, the +present practice is to produce the needful certificates of consent.</p> +<p><a name="footnote26"></a><a href="#citation26" +class="footnote">[26]</a> This second attendance is not now +required.</p> +<p><a name="footnote27"></a><a href="#citation27" +class="footnote">[27]</a> This hardly describes the present +practice. It is not <i>during</i> the gathering only, if at all, that +exhortation takes place. If the corpse be conveyed to a +meeting-house, the meeting is held like any other; and what is here called +‘Exhortation,’ takes place or not, as any minister present +believes him or herself influenced. The usage at the burial ground is +still as here described. Interments often take place without any +previous meeting.</p> +<p><a name="footnote28"></a><a href="#citation28" +class="footnote">[28]</a> The collective sense and judgment of the +church, herein, remains the same, as is manifest by the frequent advices +given forth from their yearly and other meetings.</p> +<p><a name="footnote43a"></a><a href="#citation43a" +class="footnote">[43a]</a> At present (1834) there are eight yearly +meetings on the American continent, which correspond with the yearly +meeting in London, and mutually with each other; they are united in +doctrine, and their discipline is similar.</p> +<p><a name="footnote43b"></a><a href="#citation43b" +class="footnote">[43b]</a> They are thus particularized in a more +recent publication of the society:—This is an occasional voluntary +contribution, expended in printing books; house-rent for a clerk, and his +wages for keeping records; the passage of ministers who visit their +brethren beyond sea; and some small incidental charges; but not, as has +been falsely supposed, the reimbursement of those who suffer distraint for +tithes, and other demands, with which they scruple to comply.</p> +<p><a name="footnote44"></a><a href="#citation44" +class="footnote">[44]</a> This is not now quite correct. A +committee still draws up the General Epistle; but the minutes of the +transactions of the meeting are made as matters occur during its several +sittings.</p> +<p><a name="footnote57"></a><a href="#citation57" +class="footnote">[57]</a> Called the Meeting for Sufferings, and now +held monthly, except exigencies require more frequent sittings.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND +PROGRESS OF THE PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 19377-h.htm or 19377-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/7/19377 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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