1666-1669.—George Fox visits a man above one hundred years old, who
had been convinced—refutes a slander that Friends love none but
themselves—has a meeting at Captain Taylor’s [at Brighouse],
where a neighbouring knight threatens again to imprison
him—comes to London, and finds the city in ruins as he had seen
it in a vision some years before—is moved to recommend the
setting up of monthly meetings to take care of God’s glory, and
to admonish and exhort such as walk disorderly—travels through
the nation for this purpose—meets with opposition in
Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire—when at Shrewsbury it was
rumoured that “the great Quaker of England was come to town”—the
hypocrisy of the Presbyterians detected—they and the
Independents persecute when in power, but flinch in time of
persecution by other powers—George Fox recommends certain
regulations to be observed relative to Friends’ marriages—he
also recommends the establishment of a school at Waltham for
boys, and one at Shacklewell for girls—the meetings for
discipline are the means of a great reformation among the
people—George Fox discovers a cheat, writes a prophetic warning
to Friends—monthly meetings settled throughout the nation—the
order and good results thereof—George Fox disputes with a
Papist—confers with Esquire Marsh (Justice), and shows him how
to distinguish between Friends and other dissenters who refused
the oath—Justice Marsh is afterwards very serviceable to Friends
in screening them from suffering, and recommends the king to
grant liberty of conscience—fourteen monthly meetings are
settled in Yorkshire—Isaac Lindley to George Fox—when at
Scarbro’ the governor presses George Fox to accept his
hospitality—large and precious meetings.
Being now freed from my imprisonment in Scarbro’ castle, I went
about three miles to a large general meeting at a Friend’s house,
that had been a chief constable; and all was quiet and well. On the
fourth day after, I returned to Scarbro’, and had a meeting in the
town at Peter Hodgson’s house. To this came one called a lady, and
several other great persons, also a young man, son to the bailiff of
the town, who had been convinced, while I was there in prison. That
lady (so called) came to me, and said, “I spoke against the
ministers.” I told her, “such as the prophets and Christ declared
against formerly, I declared against now.”
From hence I went to WHITBY; and, having visited Friends there,
passed to BURLINGTON, where I had another meeting. Thence to ORAM,
where I had another meeting: and thence to Marmaduke Storr’s, and
had a large meeting at a constable’s house, on whom the Lord had
wrought a great miracle.
Next day, two Friends being to take each other in marriage, there
was a very great meeting, which I attended. I was moved to open to
the people the state of our marriages, declaring how the people of
God took one another in the assemblies of the elders, and that it
was God who joined man and woman together before the fall. And
though men had taken upon them to join in the fall, yet in the
restoration it was God’s joining, that was the right and honourable
marriage: but never any priest did marry any, that we read of in the
Scriptures, from Genesis to the Revelations. Then I showed them the
duty of man and wife, how they should serve God, being heirs of life
and grace together.
I passed thence to Grace Barwick’s, where I had a general meeting,
which was very large. I came next to Richard Shipton’s, where I had
another meeting; and so to a priest’s house, whose wife was
convinced, and himself grown very loving, and glad to see me. This
was that priest, who, in the year 1651, threatened, “if ever he met
me again, he would have my life, or I should have his;” and said,
“he would lose his head, if I were not knocked down in a month.” But
now he was partly convinced, and become very kind. I went from his
house towards the sea, where several Friends came to visit me; and
amongst others, Philip Scafe, who had formerly been a priest, but,
having received the truth, was now become a preacher of Christ
freely, and continued so.
Passing on, I called to see an ancient man, who was convinced of
truth, and was above a hundred years old. Then I came to a Friend’s
house, where I had a great meeting, and quiet. I had a great meeting
near MALTON; and another large one near HULL; from which I went to
HOWDEN-DYKE. As we went into the town, the watchmen questioned me
and those that were with me; but not having any warrant to stay us,
we passed by them, who in a rage threatened they would search us
out. I went to the house of one called the Lady Montague, where I
lodged that night; and several friends came to visit me. Next
morning, being up early, I walked into the orchard, and saw a man
about sunrise go into the house in a great cloak. He stayed not
long; but came soon out again, and went away, not seeing me. I felt
something strike at my life; and went into the house, where I found
the maid-servant affrighted and trembling. She told me, “that man
had a naked rapier under his cloak.” By which I perceived he came
with an intent to do mischief, but the Lord prevented him.
I then visited Friends till I came to YORK, where we had a large
meeting. After which I went to visit Justice Robinson, an ancient
justice of the peace, who had been very loving to me and Friends
from the beginning. There was a priest with him, who told me, “it
was said of us, that we loved none but ourselves.” I told him, “we
loved all mankind, as they were God’s creation, and as they were
children of Adam and Eve by generation; and we loved the brotherhood
in the Holy Ghost.” This stopped him. After some other discourse, we
parted friendly, and passed away.
About this time I wrote a book, entitled _Fear God, and Honour the
King_; in which I showed, “that none could rightly fear God, and
honour the King, but they that departed from sin and evil.” This
book affected the soldiers much, and most people.
Having visited Friends at YORK, we passed to a market town, where we
had a meeting at George Watkinson’s, formerly a justice. A glorious,
blessed meeting it was, and very large, and the Seed of life was set
over all. We should have been troubled to get into this town, had
not Providence made way for us; for the watchmen stood ready to stop
us. But a man riding just before us, the watchmen questioned him
first; and perceiving he was a justice of peace, they let him pass;
and we riding close after him, by that means escaped.
From this place we passed to Thomas Taylor’s, formerly a captain,
where we had a precious meeting. Hard by Thomas Taylor’s lived a
knight, who was much displeased when he heard I was likely to be
released out of prison; and threatened that, “if the king set me at
liberty, he would send me to prison again the next day.” But though
I had this meeting so near him, yet the Lord’s power stopped him
from meddling, and the meeting was quiet. Colonel Kirby also, who
had been the chief means of my imprisonment at Lancaster and
Scarbro’ castles, when he heard I was set at liberty, got another
order for taking me up; and said, “he would ride his horse forty
miles to take me, and would give forty pounds to have me taken.” A
while after I came so near as to have a meeting within two miles of
him; he was then struck with the gout, and kept his bed, so that it
was thought he would have died.
From Thomas Taylor’s I visited Friends till I came to
SYNDERHILL-GREEN, where I had a large and general meeting. The
priest of the place, hearing of it, sent the constable to the
justices for a warrant, and they rode their horses so hard, that
they almost spoiled them; but the notice they had being short, and
the way long, the meeting was ended before they came. I did not hear
of them till I was going out of the house, after meeting was over,
and then a Friend came and told me, “they were searching another
house for me, the one I was then going to.” As I went along the
fields to it, I met the constables, wardens, and the justice’s
clerk. I passed through them, they looked at me, and went to the
house they had been searching. Thus they lost their design; for the
Lord’s power bound them, and preserved me over them; and Friends
parted, and all escaped them. The officers went away as they came;
for the Lord had frustrated their design; praised be his name for
ever.
After this I went to DERBYSHIRE, where I had a large meeting. Some
Friends were apprehensive of the constables coming; for they had
great persecution in those parts; but our meeting was quiet. A
justice of peace in that county had taken away much of Friends’
goods; whereupon Ellen Fretwell had made her appeal to the sessions;
and the rest of the justices granted her her goods again, and spoke
to the persecuting justice, that he should not do so any more. She
was moved to speak and warn him; whereupon he bid her, “come and sit
down on the bench.” “Ay,” said she, “if I may persuade you to do
justice to the country, I will sit down with you.” “No,” said he,
“then you shall not; get out of the court.” As she was going out,
she was moved of the Lord to turn again, and say, “she should be
there, when he should not.” After the sessions were ended, he went
home, and drove away her brother’s oxen, for going to meetings. Then
Susan Frith, a Friend of Chesterfield, was moved of the Lord to tell
him, that “if he continued in persecuting the innocent, the Lord
would execute his plagues upon him.” Soon after which he fell
distracted, and died in that state. This relation I had from Ellen
Fretwell herself.
I travelled into NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, and had a large meeting at SKEGBY;
from thence I went to MANSFIELD, where also I had a meeting; thence
to another town, where there was a fair, at which I met with many
Friends. Then passing through the forest in a very thundering and
rainy day, I came to NOTTINGHAM. So great was the tempest many trees
were torn up by the roots, and some people killed; but the Lord
preserved us. On First-day following I had a large meeting in
Nottingham, very quiet; Friends were come to sit under their
teacher, the Grace of God, which brought them salvation, and were
established upon the rock and foundation, Christ Jesus. After the
meeting I went to visit the Friend who had been sheriff about the
year 1649, whose prisoner I then was.
From Nottingham I passed into LEICESTERSHIRE and came to SILEBY,
where we had a large, blessed meeting. After which I went to
LEICESTER to visit the prisoners there, and then to John Penford’s,
where we had a general meeting, large and precious. From thence I
passed, visiting Friends and my relations, till I came to WARWICK,
where having visited the prisoners, I passed to BADDESLEY, and had a
precious meeting there. Then I travelled through NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,
BEDFORDSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, and OXFORDSHIRE, visiting Friends in
each county. In Oxfordshire the devil had laid a snare for me, but
the Lord broke it; his power came over all, his blessed truth
spread, and Friends were increased therein.
Thus after I had passed through many counties, visiting Friends, and
had many large and precious meetings amongst them, I came to LONDON.
But I was weak with lying almost three years in cruel and hard
imprisonments; my joints and my body were so stiff and benumbed,
that I could hardly get on my horse or bend my joints; nor could I
well bear to be near the fire or to eat warm meat, I had been kept
so long from it. Being come to London, I walked a little among the
ruins, and took good notice of them. I saw the city lying, according
as the word of the Lord came to me concerning it several years
before.
After I had been a time in London, and visited Friends’ meetings
through the city, I went into the country again, and had large
meetings at KINGSTON, READING, and in WILTSHIRE, till I came to
BRISTOL, where also I had many large meetings. Thomas Lower came
thither out of Cornwall to meet me: and Friends were there from
several parts of the nation, it being then the fair time. After I
was clear of Bristol, I left that city and went to Nathaniel
Crisp’s; and so through the country to LONDON again, having large
meetings in the way, and all quiet, blessed be the Lord. Thus,
though I was very weak, yet I travelled up and down in the service
of the Lord, who enabled me to go through it.
About this time some, that had run out from truth and clashed
against Friends, were reached unto by the power of the Lord, which
came wonderfully over, and made them condemn and tear their papers
of controversies to pieces. Several meetings we had with them, and
the Lord’s everlasting power was over all, and set judgment on the
head of that which had run out. In these meetings, which lasted
whole days, several who had run out with John Perrot and others,
came in again, and condemned that spirit which led them to keep on
their hats, when Friends prayed, and when they themselves prayed.
Some of them said, “that Friends were more righteous than they,” and
that, “if Friends had not stood, they had been gone, and had fallen
into perdition.” Thus the Lord’s power was wonderfully manifested,
and came over all.
Then I was moved of the Lord to recommend the setting up of five
monthly meetings of men and women in the city of London (besides the
women’s meetings and the quarterly meetings,) to take care of God’s
glory, and to admonish and exhort such as walked disorderly or
carelessly, and not according to truth. For whereas Friends had had
only quarterly meetings, now truth was spread, and Friends were
grown more numerous, I was moved to recommend the setting up of
monthly meetings throughout the nation.[14] And the Lord opened to
me what I must do, and how the men’s and women’s monthly and
quarterly meetings should be ordered and established in this and in
other nations; and that I should write to those where I did not
come, to do the same. After things were well settled at London, and
the Lord’s truth, power, seed, and life reigned and shone over all
in the city, I went into ESSEX. After the monthly meetings were
settled in that county, I went into SUFFOLK and NORFOLK, Thomas Dry
being with me. When we had visited Friends in those parts, and the
monthly meetings were settled, we went into HUNTINGDONSHIRE, where
we had very large and blessed gatherings; and though we met with
some opposition, the Lord’s power came over all, and the monthly
meetings were established there also. When we came into
BEDFORDSHIRE, we had great opposition; but the Lord’s power came
over it all. Afterwards we went into NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, where we had
many precious gatherings, and the monthly meetings were settled
there. Then passing into LINCOLNSHIRE we had a meeting of some men
Friends of all the meetings in the county, at his house who had
formerly been sheriff of Lincoln, and all was quiet. After this we
passed over Trent into NOTTINGHAMSHIRE again, the ex-sheriff of
Lincoln being with me, where we had some of all the meetings in that
county together. Our meeting was glorious and peaceable; and many
precious meetings we had in that county.
At that time William Smith was very weak and sick, and the
constables and others had seized all his goods, to the very bed he
lay upon, for truth’s sake. These officers threatened to break up
our meeting; but the Lord’s power chained them, so that they had not
power to meddle with us, blessed be his name. After it, I went to
visit William Smith, and there were constables and others watching
his corn and beasts, that none of them might be removed.[15]
Thence we passed to LEICESTERSHIRE and WARWICKSHIRE, where we had
many blessed meetings. The order of the gospel was set up, and the
men’s monthly meetings established in all those counties. Then we
went into DERBYSHIRE, where we had several large and blessed
meetings. In many places we were threatened by the officers, but,
through the power of the Lord we escaped their hands. Leaving things
well settled in Derbyshire, we travelled over the Peak hills, which
were very cold (for it was then frost and snow), and came into
STAFFORDSHIRE. At Thomas Hammersley’s we had a general men’s
meeting; where things were well settled in the gospel order, and the
monthly meetings established also. But I was so exceedingly weak, I
was hardly able to get on or off my horse’s back; but my spirit
being earnestly engaged in the work the Lord had concerned me in,
and sent me forth about, I travelled on therein, notwithstanding the
weakness of my body, having confidence in the Lord, that he would
carry me through, as he did, by his power.
We came into CHESHIRE, where we had several blessed gatherings, and
a general men’s meeting, wherein all the monthly meetings for that
county were settled, according to the gospel order, in and by the
power of God. After the meeting I passed away. But when the justices
heard of it, they were very much troubled, that they had not come
and broken it up, and taken me; but the Lord prevented them. After I
had cleared myself there in the Lord’s service, I passed into
LANCASHIRE, to William Barnes’s, near WARRINGTON, where met some of
most of the meetings in that county; and there all the monthly
meetings were established in gospel order. From thence I sent papers
into WESTMORLAND by Leonard Fell and Robert Widders, and also into
DURHAM, CLEVELAND, NORTHUMBERLAND, CUMBERLAND, and SCOTLAND, to
exhort Friends to settle the monthly meetings in the Lord’s power in
those places; which they did. So the Lord’s power came over all, and
the heirs of it came to inherit it. For the authority of our
meetings, is the power of God, the gospel, which brings life and
immortality to light; that all may see over the devil that hath
darkened them, and that all the heirs of the gospel may walk
according to the gospel, and glorify God with their bodies, souls,
and spirits, which are the Lord’s; for the order of the glorious
gospel is not of man, nor by man. To this meeting in Lancashire,
Margaret Fell, being a prisoner, got liberty to come, and went with
me to Jane Milner’s in CHESHIRE, where we parted. I passed into
SHROPSHIRE, and from thence into WALES, and had a large general
men’s meeting at Charles Lloyd’s, where some opposers came in, but
the Lord’s power brought them down.
Having gone through DENBIGHSHIRE and MONTGOMERYSHIRE we passed into
MERIONETHSHIRE, where we had several blessed meetings; and then went
to the sea-side, where we had a precious meeting. And Friends in
these parts, being established on Christ, their foundation, and the
monthly meetings settled in the power of God, we left Wales and
returned into Shropshire, where the Friends of the country gathering
together, the monthly meetings were established there also. Then
coming into WORCESTERSHIRE, after many meetings amongst Friends in
that county, we had a general men’s meeting at Henry Gibb’s house,
at PASHUR, where also the monthly meetings were settled in gospel
order.
The sessions were held that day in the town, and some Friends were
concerned lest they should send officers to break up our meeting;
but the Lord’s power restrained them, so that it was quiet; through
which power we had dominion. I had several meetings amongst Friends
in that county till I came to WORCESTER; and it being the fair time,
we had a precious meeting there. There was then in Worcester one
Major Wild, a persecuting man; and after I was gone out of town,
some of his soldiers inquired after me; but having left Friends
there settled in good order, we passed to DROITWICH, and thence to
SHREWSBURY, where also we had a very precious meeting. The mayor
hearing that I was in town, got the rest of the officers together,
to consult what to do against me; for they said, “the great Quaker
of England was come to town.” But when they were come together, the
Lord confounded their counsels, so that, when some were for
imprisoning me, others opposed it; and so being divided among
themselves, I escaped their hands.
We went also into RADNORSHIRE, where we had many precious
gatherings, and the monthly meetings were settled in the Lord’s
power. As we came out of that county, staying a little at a
market-town, a justice’s clerk and other rude fellows combined
together to do us mischief on the road. They followed us out of
town, and soon overtook us; but there being many market-people on
the way, they were somewhat hindered from doing what they intended.
Yet observing two of our company ride at some distance behind, they
set upon them; and one of them drew his sword, and cut one of those
two Friends, whose name was Richard Moor, Surgeon, of Shrewsbury.
Meanwhile another of these rude fellows came galloping after me and
the other Friend that was with me; and having to pass over a narrow
bridge, in his eagerness to get before us he rode into the brook,
and plunged his horse into a deep hole in the water. I saw the
design, and stopped, desiring Friends to be patient, and give them
no occasion. By this time Richard Moor came up to us, with the other
Friend that was with him, who knew the men and their names. Then we
rode on, and a little further met another man on foot much in
liquor, with a naked sword in his hand. And not far beyond him we
met two men and women, one of whom had his thumb cut off by the
drunken man; for he, being in drink, attempted rudeness to one of
the women; and this man withstanding him, and rescuing her, he drew
his sword and cut off his thumb. Now this drunken man had a horse,
which being loose, followed him some way behind. I rode after it,
and having caught it, brought it to the man that had his thumb cut
off; and bid him take the horse to the next justice of peace, by
which means they might find out, and pursue the man that had wounded
him.
On this occasion I wrote to the justices, and to the judge of the
assize which was then at hand; and employed some Friends to carry it
to the justices first. The justice to whom the clerk belonged,
rebuked his clerk and the others also, for abusing us on the
highway; so that they were glad to come and entreat Friends not to
appear against them at the assize; which, on their submission and
acknowledgment of their fault, was granted. This was of good service
in the country, for it stopped many rude people, who before had been
forward to abuse Friends.
We passed into HEREFORDSHIRE, where we had several blessed
gatherings; and we had a general men’s meeting also, where all the
monthly meetings were settled. There was about this time a
proclamation against meetings; and as we came through Herefordshire,
we were told of a great meeting there of the Presbyterians, who had
engaged themselves to stand and give up all, rather than forsake
their meetings. When they heard of this proclamation, the people
came, but the priest was gone, and they were then at a loss. Then
they met in Leominster privately, and provided bread, cheese, and
drink in readiness, that if the officers should come, they might put
up their Bibles and fall to eating. The bailiff found them out, and
came in among them, and said, “their bread and cheese should not
cover them, he would have their speakers.” They cried, “what then
would become of their wives and children?” But he took their
speakers and kept them awhile. This the bailiff told Peter Young,
and said, “they were the veriest hypocrites that ever made a
profession of religion.”
The like contrivance they had in other places. For there was one
Pocock at London, that married Abigail Darcy, who was called a lady;
and she being convinced of truth, I went to his house to see her.
This Pocock had been one of the triers of the priests; and, being a
high Presbyterian, and envious against us, he used to call our
Friends house-creepers. He being present, she said to me, “I have
something to speak to thee against my husband.” “Nay,” said I, “thou
must not speak against thy husband.” “Yes,” said she, “but I must in
this case. Last First-day,” said she, “he and his priests and
people, the Presbyterians, met; they had candles and tobacco-pipes,
bread, cheese, and cold meat on the table; and they agreed
beforehand, that if the officers should come in upon them, then they
would leave their preaching and praying, and fall to their cold
meat.” “O,” said I to him, “is not this a shame to you, who
persecuted and imprisoned us, and spoiled our goods, because we
would not join you in your religion, and called us house-creepers,
that now ye do not stand to your own religion yourselves? Did ye
ever find our meetings stuffed with bread and cheese and
tobacco-pipes? Or did you ever read in the Scriptures of any such
practice among the saints?” “Why,” said the old man, “We must be as
wise as serpents.” I replied, “this is the serpent’s wisdom indeed.
But who would have thought that you Presbyterians and Independents,
who persecuted and imprisoned others, spoiled their goods, and
whipped such as would not follow your religion, should now flinch
yourselves, and not dare to stand to your own religion, but cover it
with tobacco-pipes, flagons of drink, cold meat, and bread and
cheese!” But this, and such-like deceitful practices, I understood
afterwards, were too common amongst them in times of persecution.
After we had travelled through Herefordshire, and meetings were well
settled there, we passed into MONMOUTHSHIRE, where I had several
blessed meetings; and at Walter Jenkins’s, who had been a justice of
the peace, we had a large gathering, where some were convinced; this
meeting was quiet. But to one before this, came the bailiff of the
hundred, almost drunk, pretending he was to take up the speakers.
There was a mighty power of God in the meeting, so that, although he
raged, the power of the Lord limited him, that he could not break it
up. When it was over, I stayed awhile, and he stayed also. After
some time I spoke to him, and so passed quietly away. At night some
rude people came, and shot off a musket against the house, but did
not hurt anybody. Thus the Lord’s power came over all, and chained
down the unruly spirits, so that we escaped them. We came to Ross
that night, and had a meeting at James Merrick’s.
After this we came into GLOUCESTERSHIRE and had a general men’s
meeting at Nathaniel Crisp’s house, where all the monthly meetings
were settled in the Lord’s everlasting power; and the heirs of
salvation were exhorted to take their possessions in the gospel, the
power of God, which was and is the authority of their meetings. Many
blessed gatherings we had up and down in that county, before we came
to BRISTOL. And after several powerful meetings there, the men’s and
women’s meetings were settled there also.
As I was in bed at Bristol, the word of the Lord came to me, that I
must go back to London. Next morning Alexander Parker and several
others came to me: I asked them, “what they felt?” They in like
manner asked me, “what was upon me?” I told them, “I felt I must
return to London.” They said, “the same was upon them.” So we gave
up to return to London; for whatever way the Lord moved and led us,
thither we went in his power. Leaving Bristol, we passed into
WILTSHIRE, and established the men’s monthly meetings in the Lord’s
power there; and visited Friends till we came to LONDON.
After we had visited Friends in the city, I was moved to exhort them
to bring all their marriages to the men’s and women’s meetings, that
they might lay them before the faithful; that care might be taken to
prevent those disorders that had been committed by some. For many
had married contrary to their relations’ minds; and some young, raw
people that came amongst us, had mixed with the world. Widows had
married without making provision for their children by their former
husbands, before their second marriage. Yet I had given forth a
paper concerning marriages about the year 1653, when truth was but
little spread over the nation; advising Friends who might be
concerned in that case, “that they might lay it before the faithful
in time, before anything was concluded, and afterwards publish it in
the end of a meeting, or in a market, as they were moved thereto.
And when all things were found clear, they being free from all
others and their relations satisfied, they might appoint a meeting
on purpose for the taking of each other, in the presence of at least
twelve faithful witnesses.” Yet these directions not being observed,
and truth being now more spread over the nation, it was therefore
ordered, by the same power and Spirit of God, “that marriages should
be laid before the men’s monthly and quarterly meetings, or as the
meetings were then established; that Friends might see that the
relations of those that proceeded to marriage, were satisfied; that
the parties were clear from all others; and that widows had made
provision for their first husband’s children, before they married
again; and what else was needful to be inquired into; that all
things might be kept clean and pure, and be done in righteousness to
the glory of God.” Afterwards it was ordered, in the same wisdom of
God, “that if either of the parties, that intended to marry, came
out of another nation, county, or monthly meeting, they should bring
a certificate from the monthly meeting to which they belonged; for
the satisfaction of the monthly meeting before which they came to
lay their intentions of marriage.”[16]
These things, with many other services for God, being set in order,
and settled in the churches in the city, I passed out of London, in
the leadings of the Lord’s power into HERTFORDSHIRE. After I had
visited Friends, and the men’s monthly meetings were settled there,
I had a great meeting at BALDOCK, of many sorts of people. Then
returning towards London by WALTHAM, I advised the setting up of a
school there for teaching boys; and also a girls’ school at
SHACKLEWELL, for instructing them in whatsoever things were civil
and useful in the creation.[17]
After I had had several precious meetings in the country, I came to
LONDON again, where I stayed a while in the work and service of the
Lord; and then went into BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, where I had many precious
meetings. At John Brown’s, of WESTON near Aylesbury, some of the men
Friends of each meeting being gathered together, the men’s monthly
meetings for that county were established, in the order of the
gospel, the power of God; and the power of the Lord confirmed it in
all that felt it, and they came thereby to see and feel, that the
power of God was the authority of their meetings. Then after the
monthly meetings were settled there in the order of the gospel, and
upon the foundation of Christ Jesus, I went to Nathaniel Ball’s, at
NORTH NEWTON near BANBURY, in Oxfordshire, who was a Friend in the
ministry. And there being a general meeting, where some from all the
meetings were present, the monthly meetings for that county, were
then settled in the power of God; and Friends were very glad of
them; for they came into their services in the church, to take care
for God’s glory. After this meeting, we passed into GLOUCESTERSHIRE,
visiting Friends, till we came into MONMOUTHSHIRE, to Richard
Hambery’s; where meeting with some from all the meetings of that
county, the monthly meetings were settled there also in the Lord’s
power, that all might take care of God’s glory, and admonish and
exhort such as did not walk as became the gospel. And indeed these
meetings made a great reformation amongst people, insomuch that the
justices took notice of their usefulness.
Richard Hambery and his wife accompanied us a day’s journey visiting
Friends, till we came to a widow’s house, where we stayed that
night. Thence we passed over the hills next day, visiting Friends
and declaring truth to the people, till we came to another widow’s,
where we had a meeting. She could not speak English, yet she praised
the Lord for sending us to visit them.
We travelled till we came to SWANSEA, where on the First-day we had
a large and precious meeting, the Lord’s presence being eminently
amongst us. On a week day afterwards we had a general meeting beyond
Swansea, of men Friends from Swansea, Tenby, Haverfordwest, and
other places; and there the monthly meetings were settled in gospel
order, and received by Friends in the power of the Lord; and the
Lord’s truth was over all.
From hence we endeavoured to go by water into Cornwall, and returned
through Swansea to MUMBLES, thinking to get passage there, but the
captain deceived us; for though he had promised to carry us, yet
when we came he would not. We went to another place where there was
a passage-boat, into which we got our horses; but some rude men in
the boat (though called gentlemen) threatened to pistol the master,
if he took us in, who, being afraid of them, turned our horses out
again; which put us out of hopes of getting over that way. Wherefore
turning back into the country, we stayed up all night, and about two
in the morning took horse, and travelled till we came near CARDIFF,
where we stayed one night. The next day we came to NEWPORT; and it
being market-day there, several Friends came to us with whom we sat
a while; and after a refreshing season together we parted from them,
and went on our way.
Beyond this market-town we overtook a man, who lingered on the way,
as if he stayed for somebody; but when we came up to him, he rode
along with us, and asked us many questions. At length meeting with
two others, who seemed to be pages to some great persons, he made
acquaintance with them, and I heard him tell them he would stop us,
and take us up. We rode on; being in our way; and when he came to
us, and would have stopped us, I told him, “none ought to stop us on
the king’s highway, for it was as free for us as for them;” and I
was moved to exhort him to fear the Lord. Then he galloped away
before us; and I perceived his intent was to stop us at SHIPTON in
Wales, which was a garrison town, through which we were to pass.
When we were come to Shipton, John-ap-John being with me, we walked
down the hill into the town leading our horses. It being the
market-day there, several Friends met us, and would have had us to
an inn. But we were not to go into any inn; so we walked directly
through the town over the bridge, and then we were out of the limits
of that town. Thus the Lord’s everlasting arm and power preserved
us, and carried us on in his work and service.
The next First-day we had a large meeting in the FOREST OF DEAN; and
all was quiet. Next day we passed over the water to OLVESTON; where,
after we had visited Friends, we came again to William Yeoman’s
house, at IRB’S COURT in Somersetshire. From thence we went to a
meeting at PORTISHEAD, whither several Friends from Bristol came to
us. After this we went further up into the country, and had several
large meetings; and the Lord’s living presence was with us,
supporting and refreshing us in our labour and travel in his
service.
We came to a place near MINEHEAD, where we had a general meeting of
the men Friends in Somersetshire. There came also a cheat, whom some
friendly people would have had me to take along with me. I saw he
was a cheat; and therefore bid them bring him to me, and see whether
he could look me in the face. Some were ready to think I was too
hard towards him, because I would not let him go along with me; but
when they brought him to me, he was not able to look me in the face,
but looked hither and thither; for he was indeed a cheat, and had
cheated a priest by pretending to be a minister; he had got the
priest’s suit and went away with it.
After the meeting we passed to MINEHEAD, where we tarried. In the
night I had an exercise upon me, from a sense of a dark spirit,
working and striving to get up to disturb the church of Christ. Next
morning I was moved to write a few lines to Friends as a warning
thereof, as follows:—
“DEAR FRIENDS,
“Live in the power of the Lord God, in his Seed that is set over
all, and is over all trials that you may have with the dark
spirit, which would be owned in its actings, and thrust itself
amongst you; which is not come as yet: but in the power of the
Lord God, and his Seed, keep over it, and bring it to
condemnation. For I felt a kind of dark spirit thrusting itself up
towards you, and heaving up last night; but you may keep it down
with the power of God, that the witness may arise to condemn its
actings, so far as it hath spread its dark works, before it have
any admittance. So no more, but my love in the Seed of God, which
changeth not.”
G.F.
Minehead in Somersetshire, 22nd of 4th Month, 1668.
Next day several Friends of Minehead accompanied us as far as
BARNSTAPLE and APPLEDORE in DEVONSHIRE, where we had a meeting.
Barnstaple had been a bloody, persecuting town. There were two men
Friends of that place, who had been a great while at sea; and coming
home to visit their relations, one of them having a wife and
children, the mayor of the town sent for them, under pretence to
converse with them; and he put the oaths of allegiance and supremacy
to them. Because they could not swear, he sent them to Exeter jail,
where Judge Archer premunired them, and kept them till one of them
died in prison. When I heard of this, I was moved to write a letter
to Judge Archer, and another to the mayor of Barnstaple, laying
their wicked and unchristian actions upon their heads, and letting
them know, “that the blood of that man would be required at their
hands.”
After a precious meeting at Appledore among some faithful Friends
there, we passed to STRATTON, and stayed at an inn all night. Next
day we rode to Humphrey Lower’s, where we had a very precious
meeting; and next day to TRURO; visiting Friends till we came to the
LAND’S-END. Then coming up by the south part of that county, we
visited Friends till we came to TREGANGEEVES, where at Loveday
Hambley’s we had a general meeting for all the county; in which the
monthly meetings were settled in the Lord’s power, and in the
blessed order of the gospel; that all who were faithful might
admonish and exhort such as walked not according to the gospel; that
so the house of God might be kept clean, and righteousness might run
down, and all unrighteousness be swept away. Several that had run
out, were brought to condemn what they had done amiss; and through
repentance came in again.
Being clear of the county of CORNWALL, we came into DEVONSHIRE, and
had a meeting amongst Friends at PLYMOUTH. Whence passing to Richard
Brown’s, we came to the widow Phillips’s, where we had some men
Friends from all the meetings together; and there the men’s monthly
meetings were settled in the heavenly order of the gospel, the power
of God; which answered the witness of God in all. There was a great
noise of a troop of horse coming to disturb our meeting; but the
Lord’s power prevented it, and preserved us in peace and safety.
After things were well settled, and the meeting over, we came to
KINGSBRIDGE, and visited Friends there. Then leaving Friends in
those parts well settled in the power of God, we passed to TOPSHAM,
and MEMBURY, visiting Friends, and having many meetings in the way,
till we came to ILCHESTER in SOMERSETSHIRE. Here we had a general
men’s meeting, and therein settled the men’s monthly meetings for
that county in the Lord’s everlasting power; and Friends being
refreshed and comforted in the Lord’s power, and established upon
Christ, their rock and foundation, we passed to PUDDIMORE; where, at
William Beaton’s, we had a blessed meeting, and all was quiet;
though the constables had threatened before.
When we had visited most of the meetings in Somersetshire, we passed
into DORSETSHIRE to George Harris’s house, where we had a large
men’s meeting. There all the men’s monthly meetings for that county
were settled in the glorious order of the gospel, that all in the
power of God might “seek that which was lost, and bring again that
which was driven away; cherish the good, and reprove the evil.”
Then we came to SOUTHAMPTON, where we had a large meeting on
First-day. Thence we went to Captain Reeves’s, where the general
men’s meeting for Hampshire was appointed; to which some of all the
county came, and a blessed time we had. There the men’s monthly
meetings for that county were settled in the order of the gospel,
which had brought life and immortality to light in them. But there
came a rude company of Ranters, who had opposed and disturbed our
meetings much. One of the women had lain with a man, who declared it
at the market-cross, and gloried in his wickedness. A company of
these lewd people lived together at a house hard by the place where
our meeting was. I went to it, and told them of their wickedness.
The man of the house said, “Why! did I make so strange of that?”
Another of them said, “It was to stumble me.” I told them, “their
wickedness should not stumble me, for I was above it.” And I was
moved of the Lord to tell them, “that the plagues and judgments of
God would overtake them, and come upon them.” Afterwards they went
up and down the country, till at last they were cast into Winchester
jail, where the man that had lain with the woman stabbed the jailer,
but not mortally. And after they were let out of jail, this fellow
that had stabbed the jailer hung himself; the woman had like to have
cut a child’s throat, as we were informed. These people had formerly
lived about London; and when the city was fired, they prophesied,
“that all the rest of London should be burnt within fourteen days,”
and hastened out of town. Though they were Ranters, great opposers
of Friends, and disturbers of our meetings, yet in the country where
they came, some people that did not know them, would be apt to say
they were Quakers. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to write a
paper, to be dispersed among the magistrates and people of
Hampshire, to clear Friends and truth of these lewd people and their
wicked actions.
After the men’s monthly meetings in those parts were settled, and
the Lord’s blessed power was over all, we went to a town where we
had a meeting with Friends. Thence we came to Farnham, where we met
many Friends, it being the market-day. We had many precious meetings
up and down that country. Friends in those parts had formerly been
plundered, and their goods much spoiled, both for tithes, and for
going to meetings; but the Lord’s power at this time preserved both
them and us from falling into the persecutor’s hands.
We passed thence, and had a general men’s meeting at a Friend’s
house in SURREY, who had been plundered so extremely, that he had
scarcely a cow, horse, or swine left. The constables threatened to
come and break up our meeting, but the Lord restrained them. At this
meeting the men’s monthly meetings were settled in the authority of
the heavenly power. After we had visited Friends in that county, and
had many large and precious gatherings, we passed to a Friend’s
house in SUSSEX, where the general meeting for the men Friends of
that county was appointed to be held; and thither came several
Friends from London to visit us. We had a blessed meeting; and the
men’s monthly meetings for that county were then settled in the
Lord’s eternal power. There were at that time great threatenings of
disturbance; but the meeting was quiet. We had several large
meetings in that county, though Friends were then in great
sufferings there, and many in prison. I was sent for to visit a
Friend that was sick, and went to see those that were prisoners.
There was danger of my being apprehended; but I went in the faith of
God’s power, and thereby the Lord preserved me in safety.
Having visited Friends through the country, we passed into Kent,
where, after we had been at several meetings, we had a general
meeting for the men Friends of that county. There also the men’s
monthly meetings for that county were settled in the power of God,
and established in the order of the gospel, for all the heirs of it
to enter into their services, and care in the church for the glory
of God. Friends rejoiced in the order of the gospel, and were glad
of the settlement thereof, which is not of man nor by man. After
this I visited Friends in their meetings in KENT; and when I had
cleared myself of the Lord’s service in that county, I came up to
LONDON.
Thus were the men’s monthly meetings settled through the nation; for
I had been in Berkshire before, where most of the ancient Friends of
that county were in prison; and when I had informed them of the
service of these monthly meetings, they were settled amongst them
also. The quarterly meetings were generally settled before. I wrote
also into Ireland by faithful Friends, and into Scotland, Holland,
Barbadoes, and several parts of America, advising Friends to settle
their men’s monthly meetings in those countries. For they had their
general quarterly meetings before; but now that truth was increased
amongst them, they should settle those men’s monthly meetings in the
power and Spirit of God, that first convinced them.
Since these meetings have been settled, and all the faithful in the
power of God, who are heirs of the gospel, have met together in the
power of God, which is the authority of them, to perform service to
the Lord therein, many mouths have been opened in thanksgivings and
praise, and many have blessed the Lord God, that ever he sent me
forth in this service; yea, with tears have many praised the Lord.
For now all coming to have a concern and care for God’s honour and
glory, that his name be not blasphemed, which they profess; and to
see that all who profess the truth, walk in the truth, in
righteousness, and in holiness, which becomes the house of God, and
that all order their conversation aright, that they may see the
salvation of God; all having this care upon them for God’s glory,
and being exercised in his holy Power and Spirit, in the order of
the heavenly life and gospel of Jesus, they may all see and know,
possess and partake of, the government of Christ, of the increase of
which there is to be no end. Thus the Lord’s everlasting renown and
praise are set up in every one’s heart that is faithful; so that we
can say, the gospel order established amongst us, is not of man, nor
by man, but of and by Jesus Christ, in and through the Holy Ghost.
This order of the gospel, which is not of man, nor by man, but from
Christ, the heavenly man, is above all the orders of men in the
fall, whether Jews, Gentiles, or apostatized Christians, and will
remain when they are gone. For the power of God, which is the
everlasting gospel, was before the devil was, and will be and remain
for ever.
And as the everlasting gospel was preached in the apostles’ days to
all nations, that all nations might come into the order of it,
through the divine power, which brings life and immortality to
light, that they who are heirs of it, might inherit the power and
authority of it; so now, since all nations have drunk the whore’s
cup, and all the world hath worshipped the beast (but they whose
names are written in the book of life from the foundation of the
world, who have worshipped God in Spirit and in truth, as Christ
commanded), the everlasting gospel is to be, and is, preached again,
as John the divine foresaw it should, to all nations, kindreds,
tongues, and people. This everlasting gospel torments the whore, and
makes her and the beast to rage, even the beast that hath power over
the tongues, which are called the original, to order them, by which
they make divines, as they call them. But all that receive the
gospel, the power of God, which brings life and immortality to
light, come to see over the beast, devil, whore, and false prophet,
that darkened them and all their worships and orders, and come to be
heirs of the gospel, the power of God, which was before the beast,
whore, false prophet, and devil were, and will be, when they are all
gone and cast into the lake of fire. And they that are heirs of this
power and of this gospel, inherit the power which is the authority
of this order, and of our meetings. These come to possess the joyful
order of the joyful gospel, the comfortable order of the comfortable
gospel, the glorious order of the glorious gospel, and the
everlasting order of the everlasting gospel, the power of God, which
will last for ever, and will out-last all the orders of the devil,
and that which is of men or by men. These shall see the government
of Christ, who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him; and
of the increase of his glorious, righteous, holy, just government,
there is no end; but his government and his order will remain; for
he who is the author of it, is the first and the last, the beginning
and ending, the foundation of God, which over all stands sure,
Christ Jesus, the Amen.
Being returned to LONDON, I stayed some time there, visiting
Friends’ meetings in and about the city. While I was in London, I
went one day to visit Esquire Marsh, who had showed much kindness
both to me and to Friends; I happened to go when he was at dinner.
He no sooner heard my name, than he sent for me up, and would have
had me sit down with him to dinner; but I had not freedom to do so.
Several great persons were at dinner with him; and he said to one of
them who was a great Papist, “Here is a Quaker, whom you have not
seen before.” The Papist asked me, “whether I owned the christening
of children?” I told him, “there was no Scripture for any such
practice.” “What,” said he, “not for christening children?” I said,
“nay.” I told him, “the one baptism by the one Spirit into one body
we owned; but to throw a little water on a child’s face, and say
that was baptizing and christening it, there was no Scripture for
that.” Then he asked me, “whether I owned the Catholic faith,” I
said, “yes,” but added, that “neither the Pope nor the Papists were
in that Catholic faith; for the true faith works by love, and
purifies the heart, and if they were in that faith that gives
victory, by which they might have access to God, they would not tell
the people of a purgatory after they were dead.” So I undertook to
prove that “neither Pope nor Papists that held a purgatory
hereafter, were in the true faith; for the true, precious, divine
faith, which Christ is the author of, gives victory over the devil
and sin, that had separated man and woman from God. And if they, the
Papists, were in the true faith, they would never use racks,
prisons, and fines, to persecute and force others to their religion,
that were not of their faith. This was not the practice of the
apostles and primitive Christians, who witnessed and enjoyed the
true faith of Christ; but it was the practice of the faithless Jews
and Heathens so to do.
“But,” said I, “seeing thou art a great and leading man among the
Papists, and hast been taught and bred up under the Pope, and seeing
thou sayest, ‘there is no salvation but in your church,’ I desire to
know of thee, what it is that doth bring salvation in your church?”
He answered, “a good life.” “And nothing else?” said I. “Yes,” he
said, “good works.” “And is this it that brings salvation in your
church, a good life and good works? Is this your doctrine and
principle?” said I. “Yes,” said he. “Then,” said I, “neither thou,
nor the Pope, nor any of the Papists know what it is that brings
salvation.” Then he asked me, what brought salvation in our church?
I told him, “that which brought salvation to the church in the
apostles’ days, the same brought salvation to us, and not another;
namely, ‘the Grace of God,’ which, the Scripture says, brings
salvation, and hath appeared to all men, which taught the saints
then, and teaches us now. This Grace which brings salvation, teaches
to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly,
righteously, and godly. So it is not the good works nor the good
life that brings salvation, but the Grace.” “What!” said the Papist,
“doth this Grace that brings salvation, appear unto all men?” “Yes,”
said I. “Then,” said he, “I deny that.” I replied, “all that deny
that, are sect-makers, and are not in the universal faith, grace,
and truth, which the apostles were in.”
Then he spoke to me about the mother church. I told him, “the
several sects in Christendom had accused us, and said, ‘we forsook
our mother-church.’ The Papists charged us with forsaking their
church, saying, ‘Rome was the only mother-church.’ The Episcopalians
taxed us with forsaking the old Protestant religion, alleging,
‘theirs was the reformed mother-church.’ The Presbyterians and
Independents blamed us for leaving them, each of them pretending,
‘theirs was the right reformed church.’” But, I said “if we could
own any outward city or place to be the mother-church, we should own
Jerusalem, where the gospel was first preached by Christ himself and
his apostles, where Christ suffered, where the great conversion to
Christianity by Peter was, where were the types, figures, and
shadows, which Christ ended, and where Christ commanded his
disciples to ‘wait until they were endued with power from on high.’
If any outward place deserved to be called the mother, that was the
place where the first great conversion to Christianity was. But the
apostle saith, Gal. iv. 25-27, ‘Jerusalem, which now is, is in
bondage with her children; but Jerusalem which is above, is free,
which is the mother of us all.’ For it is written, ‘Rejoice, thou
barren, that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest
not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an
husband.’ The apostle does not say, outward Jerusalem was the
mother, though the first and great conversion to Christianity was
there. And there is less reason for the title [mother] to be given
to Rome, or to any other outward place or city, by the children of
Jerusalem, that is above and free; neither are they Jerusalem’s
children, that is above and free, who give the title of mother
either to outward Jerusalem, to Rome, or to any other place or sect
of people. And though this title [mother] hath been given to places
and sects amongst and by the degenerate Christians, yet still we
say, as the apostle said of old, ‘Jerusalem that is above, is the
mother of us all.’ And we can own no other, neither outward
Jerusalem nor Rome, nor any sect of people for our mother, but
Jerusalem which is above, which is free, the mother of all that are
born again, and are become true believers in the light, grafted in
Christ, the heavenly Vine. For all who are born again of the
immortal Seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever,
feed upon the milk of the Word, the breasts of life, and grow by it
in life, and cannot acknowledge any other to be their mother but
Jerusalem which is above.” “O,” said Esquire Marsh to the Papist,
“You do not know this man, if he would but come to church now and
then, he would be a brave man.”
After some other discourse, I went aside with Justice Marsh into
another room, to speak with him concerning Friends; for he was a
justice of peace for Middlesex, and being a courtier, the other
justices put much of the management of affairs upon him. He told me
“he was in a strait how to act between us and some other Dissenters.
For,” said he, “you cannot swear, and the Independents, Baptists,
and Fifth-monarchy people say also they cannot swear; therefore,”
said he, “how shall I know how to distinguish betwixt you and them,
seeing they and you all say it is for conscience’ sake that you
cannot swear?” I answered “I will show thee how to distinguish.
They, or most of them, thou speakest of, can and do swear in some
cases, but we cannot swear in any case. If a man should steal their
cows and horses, and thou shouldst ask them whether they would swear
they were theirs; many of them would readily do it. But if thou try
our Friends, they cannot swear for their own goods. Therefore, when
thou puttest the oath of allegiance to any of them, ask them,
‘whether they can swear in any other case, as for their cow or
horse;’ which, if they be really of us, they cannot do, though they
can bear witness to the truth.” Hereupon I gave him a relation of a
trial in Berkshire, which was thus: A thief stole two beasts from a
Friend of ours, the thief was taken and cast into prison, and the
Friend appeared against him at the assizes. But somebody having
informed the judge, that the prosecutor was a Quaker, and could not
swear, the judge, before he heard what the Friend could say, said,
“Is he a Quaker? and will he not swear? Then tender him the oaths of
allegiance and supremacy.” So he cast the Friend into prison, and
premunired him, and set the thief at liberty that had stolen his
goods. Justice Marsh, said, “that judge was a wicked man.” “But,”
said I, “if we could swear in any case, we would take the oath of
allegiance to the king, who is to preserve the laws that are to
support every man in his estate. Whereas others, that can swear in
some cases to preserve a part of their estates, if they be robbed,
will not take this oath to the king, who is to preserve them in
their whole estates and bodies also. So that thou mayest easily
distinguish, and put a difference between us and those people.”
Justice Marsh was afterwards very serviceable to Friends in this and
other cases; for he kept several, both Friends and others, from
being premunired. When Friends were brought before him in time of
persecution, he set many of them at liberty; and when he could not
avoid sending to prison, he sent some for a few hours, or for a
night. At length he went to the king, and told him, “he had sent
some of us to prison contrary to his conscience, and he could not do
so any more.” Wherefore he removed his family from Limehouse, where
he lived, and took lodgings near St. James’s Park. He told the king
that “if he would be pleased to give liberty of conscience, that
would quiet and settle all; for then none could have any pretence to
be uneasy.” And indeed he was a very serviceable man to truth and
Friends in his day.
We had great service at London this year; the Lord’s truth came over
all, and many that had gone out from truth came in again, confessing
and condemning their outgoings. After I had stayed some time in
London, I visited Friends in SURREY and SUSSEX, and in other places
that way, and afterwards travelled northward, having Leonard Fell
with me. We visited Friends till we came to WARWICK, where many were
in prison; and we had a meeting in the town. I passed thence to
BIRMINGHAM and BADDESLEY. At Baddesley I had a large meeting; after
which I came to NOTTINGHAM, where on First-day we had a precious
meeting, but not without danger of being apprehended, the constables
having threatened to take up Friends.
I passed thence, visiting Friends, till I came to BALBY, and so to
YORK, to the quarterly meeting; and a blessed time we had. Friends
in Yorkshire had seven monthly meetings before; and they were so
sensible of the service of them, that they desired to have seven
more added to them, for truth was much spread in that county. So
they were established; and now they have fourteen monthly meetings
in that county.[18]
It being the assizes at York, I met with Justice Hotham, a
well-wisher to Friends, who had been tender, and very kind to me
from the first.
After I had finished my service for the Lord in York, I passed into
the country. As I went a great burthen fell upon me, but I did not
presently know the reason of it. I came to a meeting on First-day at
Richard Shipton’s, which was very large, but there being one the
same day at another place also, the priest of that place, being
misinformed that I was to be there, got a warrant, and made great
disturbance at that meeting; of which Isaac Lindley, who was there,
gave me an account in the following letter:—
G.F.
“When thou went from York, the First-day after thou wast at
Richard Shipton’s, that day I had appointed a meeting ten miles
from York, where there had not been one before. But the priest and
the constable got a warrant on the seventh day, and put thy name
only in the warrant, for they had heard that thou wast to be
there. They came with weapons and staves, and cried, ‘Where is Mr.
Fox?’ over and over; many Friends being there, they concluded thou
wast among them. But those raveners, being disappointed, plucked
me down and abused me, and beat some Friends, and then took me
before a magistrate, but he set me at liberty.”
ISAAC LINDLEY.
Then I visited Friends at WHITBY and SCARBRO’. When at Scarbro’, the
governor hearing I was come, sent to invite me to his house, saying,
“surely I would not be so unkind as not to come and see him and his
wife.” After the meeting I went up to visit him, and he received me
very courteously and lovingly.
Having visited most of the meetings in Yorkshire, the WOLDS, and
HOLDERNESS, I came to Henry Jackson’s, where I had a great meeting.
Thence to Thomas Taylor’s, and so to John Moor’s at ELDRETH, where
we had a very large meeting; the Lord’s power and presence were
eminently amongst us. Not far from this place lay Colonel Kirby,
lame of the gout, who had threatened that “if ever I came near he
would send me to prison again; and had bid forty pounds to any man
that could take me;” as I was credibly informed.
After this I came into STAFFORDSHIRE, and CHESHIRE, where we had
many large and precious meetings. I had a very large one at William
Barnes’s house, about two miles from WARRINGTON; and though Colonel
Kirby was out again, as violent in breaking up meetings as before,
and was then at Warrington, the Lord did not suffer him to come to
this meeting; and so we were preserved out of his hands.
-----
Footnote 14:
For some very interesting particulars respecting the setting up of
Monthly and other disciplinary Meetings and their object, see
_Letters of Early Friends_, pp. 288-292.
Footnote 15:
The William Smith mentioned here was originally pastor of an
Independent congregation, living after the strictest manner of
that people. He was convinced about the year 1658, and became a
faithful labourer in the gospel. Many were turned to God by him,
for he proved himself a minister of Jesus Christ, in labours, in
travails, in watchings, necessities, and distresses, suffering
much loss of goods and long and tedious imprisonments. For not
paying tithes he was imprisoned twenty-one weeks among felons in
Nottingham jail; and another time had the value of £42 taken from
him, whilst he was in prison, for £7 demanded by the priest of
Elton.
In the times of his frequent imprisonments, William Smith wrote
several books, which were printed together in a folio volume in
1675, entitled _Balm from Gilead, &c._ When at liberty he
travelled abroad strengthening the brethren, and though often
visited by sickness, he was kept in patience and content, much of
the power and presence of God appearing in him many times when he
was in great weakness of body, to the admiration of beholders.
During his last sickness, one evening, many Friends being in the
room sitting in silence, he turned in his bed towards them, and
plentifully declared of the love of God, by which they were much
refreshed and tendered. He also testified of a large portion which
he had in life eternal. Then he spoke to Friends “to be mindful of
truth, and of their service therein, more than of their daily
food; and so committed them to the grace of God.” The day before
he died he called his children (six or seven), and tenderly
exhorted them “to keep in the fear of God, and to love the truth,
and God would be a father and portion to them.”
Footnote 16:
Some interesting documents, exhibiting the early care of the
Society with regard to marriages, may be referred to in _Letters,
&c., of Early Friends_, p. 259, 279, 283, &c. So early as 1659, at
a meeting of Friends from four counties, an _Epistle of Counsel
and Advice_ was issued on this, and other subjects; recommending
“that no marriage take place hastily or rashly; but in the fear of
the Lord, and in the presence of many witnesses, according to
Scripture example; that so no scandal or blemish may be laid upon
the truth, but that all may be brought to the light; that a record
in writing of the day, place, and year, be kept within the meeting
where a marriage occurs, of which one or both are members; under
which the witnesses may set their names.”
Footnote 17:
In the establishment of the schools at Waltham and at Shacklewell,
at the suggestion of George Fox, we have evidence of his desire
that a useful education should be imparted to youth. It is an
error to suppose the early Friends depreciated human learning, and
they must be exonerated from any such charge. They exhibited in
their own persons, the practicability of the union of knowledge
and virtue. While they were, many of them, eminent for their
learning, they were distinguished for the piety of their lives.
They were indeed the friends of both, but did not patronise the
one to the prejudice and expulsion of the other. They always
maintained (as Friends continue to do) that learning is not
necessary to make a gospel minister, and here it is that many have
mistaken their meaning.
Barclay, in his celebrated _Apology_, nowhere condemns the
propriety, or usefulness of human learning, or denies it to be
promotive of the temporal comforts of man. He says the knowledge
of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, or of Logic and Philosophy, of Ethics
or of Physics and Metaphysics, is not necessary. But mark his
meaning. Not necessary to make a minister of the gospel. But where
does he say that knowledge, which he himself possessed to such a
considerable extent, was not necessary; or that it did not
contribute to the innocent pleasures of life? What would have been
the character of his own book, or what would have been its
comparative value and usefulness, had he not been able to quote so
many authors to his purpose in their original texts, or to have
detected so many classical errors, introduced such apposite
history, or to have drawn up his propositions with so much logical
and mathematical clearness and precision; if he had not been among
the first literary characters of his day?
William Penn was equally celebrated with Barclay as a scholar. His
works afford abundant proof of his erudition, and of the high
cultivation of his mind. Like the rest of his associates, he was
no advocate for learning as a qualification for a minister of the
gospel; but he was yet a friend to it, on the principle that it
enlarged the understanding, and that it added to the innocent
pleasures of the mind. He entreated his wife, in the beautiful
letter he left her before he embarked on his first voyage to
America, “not to be sparing of expense in procuring learning for
his children; for that by such parsimony, all was lost that was
saved.” And he recommended also, in the same letter, a
mathematical and philosophical education.
Penn’s Secretary, James Logan, was also a patron of learning among
the early Friends. He was a correspondent of Sir Hans Sloane and
other literati of Europe, a contributor to Philosophical
Transactions, and bequeathed his library, of 3000 vols. on arts
and sciences in various languages, to the city of Philadelphia,
with an endowment to preserve it for public use.
Thomas Ellwood, the companion of Milton, was so sensible of the
disadvantages arising from a want of knowledge, that he revived
his learning with great industry after he had become a Friend. “I
mentioned before,” says he in his Journal, “that when I was a boy
I made some progress in learning, and that I lost it all again
before I came to be a man. Nor was I rightly sensible of my loss
therein, till I came amongst Friends. But there I both saw my loss
and lamented it, and applied myself with the utmost diligence at
all leisure times to recover it. So false I found that charge to
be, which in those times was cast as a reproach on the Society,
that they despised and decried all human learning, because they
denied it to be essentially necessary to a gospel ministry, which
was one of the controversies of those times.” Ellwood’s friend,
Isaac Penington, assisted him in this matter, and through his
influence with Dr. Paget, procured him the means of improvement in
becoming a reader to Milton.
Footnote 18:
The fourteen monthly meetings mentioned above as settled in
Yorkshire so early as 1669, were York, Balby, Pontefract,
Brighouse, Knaresbro’, Settle, Malton, Thirsk, Richmond, Guisbro’,
Scarbro’, Kelk, Oustwick, and Elloughton.