About this time G. Fox wrote also another letter to O. Cromwell,
wherein he signified to him, that if he had been faithful, and
thundered down deceit, he would yet have done many mighty things.
And he also advised him, not to slight sober men, and true hearts;
but to mind the law of God, and his fear and dread; to take heed of
flatteries, and to prize his time now he had it.
The lady Claypole, Cromwell’s most beloved daughter, being sick, and
much troubled in mind, so that none that came could minister any
comfort to her, G. Fox visited her with the following letter:
‘_Friend_,
‘Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own
thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle of God, to turn
thy mind to the Lord God, from whom life comes; whereby thou
mayest receive his strength, and power to allay all blustering
storms and tempests. That is it which works up into patience,
into innocency, into soberness, into stillness, into stayedness,
into quietness, up to God with his power. Therefore, mind, that
is the word of the Lord unto thee, that the authority of God
thou mayest feel, and thy faith in that, to work down that which
troubles thee: for that is it which keeps peace, and brings up
the witness in thee, which hath been transgressed, to feel after
God with his power and life, who is a God of order and peace.
When thou art in the transgression of the life of God in thy
own particular, the mind flies up in the air, and the creature
is led into the night, and nature goes out of its course, and
an old garment goes on, and an uppermost clothing; and thy
nature being led out of its course, it comes to be all on a
fire, in the transgression; and that defaceth the glory of the
first body. Therefore be still awhile from thy own thoughts,
searching, seeking, desires, and imaginations, and be stayed in
the principle of God in thee, that it may raise thy mind up to
God, and stay it upon God, and thou wilt find strength from him,
and find him to be a God at hand, a present help in the time of
trouble, and of need. And thou being come to the principle of
God, which hath been transgressed, it will keep thee humble; and
the humble, God will teach his way, which is peace, and such
he doth exalt. Now as the principle of God in thee hath been
transgressed, come to it, that it may keep thy mind down low to
the Lord God; and deny thyself, and from thy own will, that is
the earthly, thou must be kept; then thou wilt feel the power
of God, which will bring nature into its course, and give thee
to see the glory of the first body. And there the wisdom of God
will be received, (which is Christ, by which all things were
made and created,) to be thereby preserved and ordered to God’s
glory. There thou wilt come to receive and feel the Physician of
value, who clothes people in their right mind, whereby they may
serve God, and do his will. For all distractions, unruliness,
and confusion, is in the transgression: which transgression
must be brought down, before the principle of God, which hath
been transgressed against, be lifted up; whereby the mind may
be seasoned and stilled, and a right understanding of the Lord
may be received; whereby his blessings enter, and are felt,
over all that is contrary, in the power of the Lord God, which
raiseth up the principle of God, within, and gives a feeling
after God, and in time gives dominion. Therefore keep in the fear
of the Lord God; that is the word of the Lord God unto thee;
for all these things happen to thee for thy good, and for the
good of those concerned for thee, to make you know yourselves,
and your own weakness, and that ye may know the Lord’s strength
and power, and may trust in him. Therefore let the time that
is past be sufficient to every one, who in any thing hath been
lifted up in transgression, out of the power of the Lord: for he
can bring down and abase the mighty, and lay them in the dust
of the earth. Therefore all keep low in his fear, that thereby
ye may receive the secrets of God and his wisdom, and may know
the shadow of the Almighty, and sit under it in all tempests,
storms, and heats. For God is a God at hand, and the Most High
rules in the children of men. So then, this is the word of the
Lord God unto you all, What the light doth make manifest and
discover, as temptations, distractions, confusions, do not look
at the temptations, confusions, corruptions, but at the light
which discovers them, and makes them manifest. And with the same
light you may feel over them, to receive power to stand against
them. The same light which lets you see sin and transgression,
will let you see the covenant of God, which blots out your sin
and transgression, which gives victory and dominion over it;
and brings into covenant with God. For looking down at sin and
corruption, and distraction, ye are swallowed up in it; but
looking at the light which discovers them, ye will see over them:
that will give victory, and ye will find grace and strength; and
there is the first step to peace. That will bring salvation, and
by it ye may see to the beginning and the glory that was with the
Father before the world began; and so come to know the seed of
God, which is the heir of the promise of God, and of the world
which hath no end, and which bruises the head of the serpent,
who stops people from coming to God. That ye may feel the power
of an endless life, the power of God which is immortal, which
brings the immortal soul up to the immortal God, in whom it doth
rejoice. So in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, God
Almighty strengthen thee. G. F.’
The paper being read to the aforesaid lady, it staid her mind somewhat;
but she lived not long after, so that O. Cromwell met with almost
continual trouble, for discontent against him increased more and more.
Now, since the Protestants in the valley of Lucerne, and elsewhere,
were much persecuted, there came forth a declaration from the protector
to keep a fast, and one also for a collection for the relief of
distressed Protestant churches. On this occasion, G. Fox to show what
kind of fast it was that God requires and accepts, wrote the following
paper:
‘_To the heads and governors of this nation, who have put forth
a declaration, for the keeping of a day of solemn fasting and
humiliation, for the persecution, as you say, of divers people
beyond the seas, professing the reformed religion, which, ye
say, has been transmitted unto them from their ancestors._
‘A profession of the reformed religion may be transmitted to
generations, and so holden by tradition; and in that, wherein the
profession and tradition is holden, is the day of humiliation
kept; which stands in the will of man, which is not the fast that
the Lord requires, to bow down the head like a bulrush for a day,
and the day following be in the same condition as they were the
day before. To the light of Christ Jesus in your consciences do I
speak, which testifieth for God every day, and witnesseth against
all sin and persecution; which measure of God, if ye be guided
by it, doth not limit God to a day, but leads to the fast which
the Lord requires, which is, “To loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens, to break every yoke, and let the
oppressed go free.” Isa. lviii. 6, 7. This is the fast the Lord
requires; and this stands not in the transmission of times, nor
in the traditions of men: but this stands in that which was
before times were, and which leads out of time, and shall be,
when time shall be no more. And these that teach for doctrine the
commandments of men, are they that ever persecuted the life and
power when it came. And whereas ye mention a decree, or edict,
that was made against the said persecuted Protestants; all such
decrees or edicts, proceed from the ground of the pope’s religion
and supremacy; and therein stands his tyranny and cruelty, acted
in that will, which is in that nature, which exerciseth lordship,
over one another, (as you may read, Mark, x. 42. Luke, xxii.
25,) as all the heathen do, and ever did; and in the heathenish
nature is all the tyranny and persecution exercised, by them that
are out of the obedience to the light of Christ Jesus in the
conscience, which is the guider and leader of all who are tender
of that of God in the conscience. But who are not led by this,
know not what it is to suffer for conscience sake.
‘Now, whereas ye take into your consideration the said
persecution, tyranny, and cruelty exercised upon them, whom ye
call your Protestant brethren, and do contribute and administer
to their wants outwardly; this is good in its place, and we own
it, and see it good to administer to the necessities of others,
and to do good to all: and we who are sufferers by a law derived
from the pope, are willing to join, and to contribute with you,
to their outward necessities. “For the earth is the Lord’s, and
the fulness thereof;” who is good to all, and gracious to all,
and willing that all should be saved, and come to the knowledge
of the Truth. But in the meantime, while ye are doing this, and
taking notice of others cruelty, tyranny, and persecution, turn
your eye upon yourselves, and see what ye are doing at home. To
the light of Christ Jesus in all your consciences I speak, which
cannot lie, nor cannot err, nor cannot bear false witness; but
doth bear witness for God, and cries for equity, and justice, and
righteousness to be executed. See what ye are doing, who profess
the Scriptures, which were given forth by the saints in light,
who dwelt in the light and in the life of them. For them who do
now witness the same light, the same life, and the same power,
which gave forth the Scriptures, which ye in words profess, them
ye persecute, them ye haul out of your synagogues and markets,
them ye beat, stock, and imprison. Now let that of God in your
consciences, which is just and righteous, and equal, examine and
try, whether ye have any example or precedent to exercise this
persecution, which now many in this nation suffer under, who are
a people harmless and innocent, walking in obedience towards God
and man. And though ye account the way of Truth they walk in,
heresy; yet therein do they exercise themselves to have always a
conscience void of offence towards God and man, as ye may read
the saints of old did, (Acts, xxiv. 14, 15, 16,) not wronging
any man, neither giving any just cause of offence; only being
obedient to the commands of the Lord, or declare, as they are
moved by the Holy Ghost; and standing for the testimony of a
good conscience, speaking the truth in Christ, their consciences
bearing them witness that they lie not: for this do they suffer
under you, who in words profess the same thing for which they
suffer.
‘Now see if any age or generation did ever persecute as ye do:
for ye profess Christ Jesus who reveals the Father, and persecute
them that witness the revelation of the Father by Christ Jesus
unto them. Ye profess Christ Jesus, who is the light of the
world, “that enlightens every one that cometh into the world;”
and yet persecute them that bear witness, and give testimony to
this light. Ye profess that the Word is become flesh, and yet
persecute them that witness it so. Ye profess that whosoever
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is an
antichrist; and yet persecute them that do confess him come in
the flesh, and call them antichrists and deceivers. Ye profess
that the kingdom of Christ is come; and yet persecute them that
witness it come. Ye profess Christ Jesus the resurrection and the
life; and yet persecute them that witness him to be so. If ye
say, ‘How shall we know that these people who say they witness
these things, do so, or no?’ I answer, turn your minds to the
light which Christ Jesus has enlightened you withal, which is one
in all; and if ye walk in the light, ye shall have the light of
life, and then ye will know and see what ye have done, who have
persecuted the Lord of glory, (in his people,) in whom is life,
and the life is the light of men. To no other touchstone shall
we turn you, but into your own consciences, and there shall ye
find the truth of what we have declared unto you, and of what we
bear testimony to, according to the Holy Scriptures. And when
the books of consciences are opened, and all judged out of them,
then shall ye witness us to be of God, and our testimony to be
true, though now you may stop your ears, and harden your hearts,
“while it is called to-day.” But then ye shall know what ye have
done, and whom you have transgressed against; and then you will
see that no persecutors in any age or generation that ever went
before you, did ever transgress against that light and measure of
God made manifest, in such a manner as ye have done. For though
Christ and the Apostles were persecuted in their times, the Jews,
for the most part of them, did not know that he was the Christ,
when he came, notwithstanding that they had the Scriptures, which
prophesied of him; neither did they believe that he was risen
again, when the apostles preached his resurrection. But ye say,
ye believe he is come; and ye say, ye believe his resurrection,
and yet ye persecute those that witness him come in the flesh,
those that are buried with him in baptism, those that are
conformable to his death, and know the power of his resurrection;
those ye persecute, those ye haul before magistrates, and suffer
to be beaten in your synagogues; those ye cause to be whipped
and stocked, and shamefully entreated, and into prison cast, and
kept: as many jails in this nation, at this day testify to your
faces.
‘Therefore honestly consider what ye are doing, while ye are
taking notice of others’ cruelties, lest ye overlook your own.
There is some difference in many things between the Popish
religion, and that which ye call the Protestant: but in this
persecution of yours there is no difference; for ye will
confess, that the foundation of your religion is grounded upon
the Scriptures; and yet now ye are persecuting those, that
be in the same life which they were in who spake forth the
Scriptures; yourselves being the meanwhile under a profession
of the words they spake: and this ye shall one day witness. So
ye have a profession and form, and persecute them that are in
the possession, life, and power. Therefore know assuredly that
ye must come to judgment; for he is made manifest to whom all
judgment is committed. Therefore to the light of Jesus Christ
in your consciences, which searcheth and trieth you, turn your
minds, and stand still, and wait there to receive the righteous
law, which is according to that of God in the conscience, which
is now rising, and is bearing witness against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men; and they whom ye persecute, are
manifest to God, and that of God in all consciences shall bear
witness for us, that we are of God; and this ye shall one day
witness, whether ye will hear, or forbear. Our rejoicing is in
the testimony of our consciences, that in simplicity and godly
sincerity, (not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God,)
we have had our conversation in the world; not handling the word
of God deceitfully, but, in the manifestation of the Truth,
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of
God; and if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
and for the witnessing the holding the mystery of faith in a pure
conscience, do we suffer, and are subject for conscience sake.
This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience sake endure grief
and suffering wrongfully. And in this is our joy and rejoicing,
having a good conscience, that whereas we are evil spoken of,
as evil-doers, they may be ashamed, that falsely accuse our
good conversation in Christ; which is not only the putting away
of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
towards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And this we
witness made manifest, (eternal praises to the living God,)
and bear testimony to that which spake it in the apostle in
life and power: and therefore do we bear witness, and testify
against those, who being got into a form and profession of it, do
persecute the life and power.
‘Therefore to the eternal light of Christ Jesus, the searcher and
trier of all hearts, turn your minds, and see what ye are doing,
lest ye overturn your foundation and bottom whereon ye pretend to
stand, while ye are professing the Scriptures, and persecuting
the life, light, and power, which they were in, who gave them
forth. For the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, is
now striking at the feet of the image, the profession which is
set up, and stands in the will of man. Now is that made manifest,
unto which all must answer, and appear before the judgment seat
of Christ; that every one may receive the thing done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but
we are made manifest unto God, and shall be made manifest in all
your consciences, which ye shall witness.