A BRIEF
ACCOUNT
OF THE
mt and
j Of the People called
QUAKERS
I N
^hich their Fundamental Principle, Do-
dtrines, Worlhlp, Miniftry and Difciplinc
are Plainly Declared to prevent the Miftakes
and Perverfions that Ignorance and Prejudice
may make to abufe the Credulous.
?Vith a summary Relation of the former Difpenfations of
God in the World, by way of IntroiaHion.
As unknownf andytt wellknowny 2 Cor. 6.<y.
By m. 5|enn.
London, Printed and Sold by T. Sowk, near the Meet-
injil-ffoiife in White-Hm-Comt in Grtce-Church-Street-
and at the Crooked-Billet in Holy-rodl-hne near shore- '
ditch, 1694. I
A N
EPISTLE
T O T H E
READER:
Reader, this Following Account
o^the People cdled Quakers, 8rc. wa.s
writ in the Fear and Love of God :
Firjl as a jl an ding Tejlimony to that ever
Biffed Truth^ in the inward PartSj with \
which Godj in my Touthful time^ i/ifited my
Souf and for the Senfe and Love of which
I was made willing fin no ordinary Way^ to
relinquifh the Honours and Interefis of the
World, Secondly^ as a Tejlimony for that
Defpifed People^ that God has in his Great
mercy gathered and united by his one blejfed
Spirit in the Holy Profefjion of it; whofe
Fellowfhip I value above all Worldly Great-
nefs. Thirdly, in Love and Honour to the
Memory of that Worthy Servant of God
A 2 G. Fox,
An Epiftle to the Reader.
G. Fox, the Firjl Injlrument thereof, ami
therefore Jlyled by me the Great and Blejfed
Apoftle of our Day. As this gave Birth to
what is here frefented to thy view, in thefirjl
Edition of it, by way of Preface to G. F's ex-
cellent Journal; fo the Confideration of the
frefent ufefulnefs of the following Account
of the People called Quakers, ( by reafon of
the unjujt Rejleclions of fome Adverfaries
that once walked under the Profeffion of
friends ) and the Exhortations that conclude
it, prevailed with me to confent that it floould
be republijht in a fmaller Volume; knowing alfo
full well that Great Books, efpecially in thefe
days, grow Burthenfome, both to the Pockets
and Minds of too many; and that there are
not a few. that defre (fo it be at an eafie rate )
to be informed about this People, that have
been fo much every where fpoken againjl:
But, blejfed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jefus Chrift, it is upon no worfe
Ground than it was faid of old time, of the
Primitive Chriftians; as I hope will appear
to every Sober and Conf derate Reader. Our
Bufinefs after all the ill ufage we have met
with, being the Realities of Religion, an efleftu-
before our Iajl & great change : Th^t
dl may com? to, an Inward, Senfibie and Ex-
Eerimental
An Epiftle to the Reader.
perimental knowledge of God^ through the
Conviftions md Operations of the Light
and Spirit of Chrijl in themfelves ; the fuf-
ficient and blejjed means given to all^ that
thereby all may come favingly to know the on'-
ly true God and Jefus Chrijl whom he hdtb
fent to Enlighten and Redeem the World:
Which knowledge is indeed Eternal Life. And
that thou, Reader, mayjt obtain it, is the ear-
n-ejl defire of him that is ever
Thine in fo good a Work,
W. P.
The
THE
CONTENTS
Chap. I.
Contdning a brief Account of divers TyK-
penfations of God in the World, to the
time he was pleafed to raife this defpifed People
called Quakers.
Chap. II.
Of the Rife of this People, their Funda-
mental Principle and Doftrines,^^^^ Practice
in twelve Points resulting from it; their Pro-
grefs and Sufferings; An Expojlulation with
England thereupon.
Chap. III.
Of the Qualifications of their Minijlry.
Eleven Marks that it is Chriftian.
Chap. n*.
The Contents
Chap. IV.
Of the Difcipline and Praftice (f this
Pe&ple as a Religious Sotiety The Power
Church they own and exercife^ and that which
they rejefl and Condemn; With the Method of
s againfi Erring and Diforder*
Chap. V.
Of the Firjl Injlrument or Perjbn by whom
Go d was f leafed to gather this People into the
way they Profefs. His Name G. Fox; his
many excellent Qualifications; Jhowing a Di-
vincy and not a Human Power to have been
their Original in him. His Troubles and Suf
ferings both from without and within. His
End and Triumph at it.
Chap. VI.
Containing Five feveral Exhortations.
Firfi General, reminding this People of their
Primitive Integrity and Simplicity. Secondly
in Particular, to the Miniftry. Thirdly to
the Young convinced. Fourthly to the Chil-
dren of Friends. Fifthly to thofe that are
yet Strangers to this People and Way^ to whom
this Book, and that it was Preface to, in its for^
A 4 mer
ing Perfons.
The Contents
7ner Edition, may come. All the feverd Exhor-
tations accommodated to their feveral States
and Conditions; that all may anftver the end of
God's love to them, viz. God's Glory and
their oven Salvation. ^
A
( 9 )
A
BRIEF ACCOUNT, &c.
CHAP. I.
Containing a brief Account of dhers
Difpenfations of God in the World^
to the time he n>as pkafed to raife
this Deffifed Tfop/f called Quakers.
Divers have been the Difpenfati-
ons of God fince the Creation of the
World unto the Sons of Men ; But
the Great End of all of them has been the
Kenoxvn of his own Excellent Name in the
Creation and Reflauration of Man'. Man, the
Emblem of himfelf, 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
bleffed the Works of his Hands, fo their
Natures
f 10 ;
Natures and Harmony magnified Him their
Creator. Then the Morning Stars Sang
together for Joy, and all parts of his Works
fa id Amen to his Law. Not a 'Jurr in the
whole Frame; but Man in Paradife, the
Beafts in the Field, the Fowl in the Air,
the Fifh in the Sea, the Lights in the Hea-
vens, the Fruits of the Earth; yea the Air,
the Earth, the Water and Fire Worfhip-
ped, praifed and exalted his Power, Wifdom
and Goodnefs. O Holy Sabbath, O Holy
Day to the Lord !
But this Happy State lafted not long: For
Man, the Crown and Glory of the Whole,
being tempted to afpire above his place, un-
happily yielded againft Command and Du-
ty, as well as Intereft and Felicity, and fo
fell below it; loft the Divine Image, the
Wifdom, Power and Purity he was made
in. By which, being no longer fit for Pa-
radife, he was expell^ that Garden of God,
his proper Dwelling and Refidence, and
was driven out, as a poor Vagabond, from
the prefence of the Lord, to wander in the
Earth, the Habitation of Beafts.
Yet God that made him had pity on him;
A)r He feeing Man was deceived, and that
< was not of Malice, or a.n Original Prefump^
tioii
( II )
tion in him, but through the Snbtilty of the
^ Serpent ( who had firft fallen from his own
® State, and by the Mediation of the Woman,
tlic Man's own Nature and Companion, whom
th the Serpent had firfl: deluded ) in his infi-
nite Goodnefs and Wifdom found out a way
to Repair the Breach, Recover the Lofs,
^ir, and Reftore fallen Man again by a Nohltr
iip- md more Excellent Adam, promifed to be
m born of a Woman; that as by means of a
lolj Woman the evil one had prevailed upon
Man, by a Woman alfo He Ihould come in-
For to the World, who would prevail againft
lole, him and l?ru/p his Head, and deliver Man
1. from his Power: And which, in a figna!
Dii- manner, by the Difpenfation of the Son of
Ifo God in theFlefh, in the fullnefs of Time,-
tie was Perfonally and Eully accompliflied by,
sJe him, and in him, as Man's Saviour and
fj. Redeemer.
odj But his Power was not limitted, in the-
Manifeftation ofit, to that time; for both"
3[]] before and fince his blelTed Manifeftation in^
tilt the Flefh, he has been the Lrght and Life,
the Rock and Strength of all that ever feared
[jj God: Was prefent with them in their
i3t Temptations, followed them in their Tra«'
^ velsand Afflidions, and lupportedand rar--
( id )
ried them through and over the DiiJ^cuIties
tliat have attended them in their Earthly
Pilgriir.age. By this AbePs heart excelled
and Seth obtained the preheminence,
and Enoch walked with God. It was this
that jlrove with the Old World, and which
they rebelled againft, and which fanfliified
and inftriifted Nonh to Salvation.
But the outward Difpenfation that fol-
lowed the benighted State of Man, after his
Fall, efpecially among the Patriarchs^ was
generally that of Angels; as the Scriptures
of the Old Teftament do in many places ex-
prefs, as to Abraham^ Jacob, &;c. The next
was that of the Law by Mofes, which was
alfo delivered by Angels, as the Apoftle tells
us. This Difpenfation was much outward,
and fuited to a low and fervile State; called
therefore by the Apoftle Paul, that of a
School-Mafter, wdiich was to point out and
prepare that People to look and long for the
Meffiah, who would deliver them from the
fervitude of a Ceremonious and imperfect
Dilpenfation, by knowing the Realities of
thofe Myfterious Reprefentations in them-
felves. In this time the Law was written
on Stone, the 1'emple built with Hands, at-
tended with an Outward Prie/hood, and
Exter-
(15 )
External Rites and Ceremonies, that were
Shadows of the Good Things that were to come^
and were only to ferve till the Seed came, or
the more excellent and general manifedati-
on of Chrhir, to whom was the Prornife,
and to all Men only in him, in whom it was
Tea and Ameriy even Life from Death, hn'
7nortality and Eternal Life.
This the Prophets forefaw; and comfor-
ted the believing Jews in the certainty ot it;
which was the Top of the Mofaical Difpen-
fation, and which ended in 'John^s Miniftry,
the Forerunner of the Mejfiah^ as JohTs was
finiflied in him, the Fullnefs of all. And
then God, that at fiindry Times and in di-
vers manners had fpoken to the Fathers by
liis Servants the Prophets, Spoke to Men by
his Son Chrid JefuSy Who is Heir of rdl things,
being the Go!pel-day, which is the Diipenla-
tion of Sonfyip : Bringing in thereby a near-
er Teftament and a better hope; even the
Beginning of the Glory of the latter days,
and of the Reftitution of all things; yea,
the Ref oration of the l\Jngdom trnto Ilrael.
Now the Spirit that was more fparing-
ly communicated in former Difpenlations,
began to be Poured forth upon all Elefh, ac-
cording to the Prophet foel, and the Ligfyt
that
( '4 )
that fbmed in Darknefs^ or but dimlj before,
the moft gracious God caufed to Shine out of
Da^knefs, and the Daj-fiar began to arife in
the Hearts of ^'el ievers,giving unto them the
knowledge of God in the Face (or Ap-
pearance ) of his Son Chrift Jefus.
Now the Poor tn Spirit^ the Meek^t\\Q. true
MournersHungry and Thirfiy after Righ-
teoufnefsythc Peace-makerSythe Pure in Heart,
the Merciful and Perfecuted,ca.mQ more efpeci-
ally ill Remembrance before the Lord, and
were fought out and blelfed by IfraePs True
Shepherd. Old Jerufalem with her Children
grew out of Date,and the New Jerufalem into
Requeft, the Mother of the Sons of the
Golpel-Day. Wherefore no more at Old
Jerufalem, nor at the Mountain of Samaria,
will God be worfliipped above otlier places;
for, behold, he is, by his own Son, deck-
red and preached a Spirit, and that he will
be known as iuch, and worfhipped in the
Spirit and in the Truth! He will now come
fearer than of old time, and he will write his
Law in tJje Heart, and put his Fear and Spirit
'in the. inward parts, according to his promife.
Then'l>.^?2-S Types and Shadows flew away,
the Day having diicovered their Infuflici-
ency in not reaching to the infde of the Cup,
to
(«s)
on to the cleanjittg of the Confcience; and all EIc-
Jir mentaryfervices were expired in and by him
e 18 that is the fubftance of all.
itk And to this Great and BlelTed End of the
k\ Difpenfation of the Son of God, did the A-
fojlhs Teftifie, whom he had chofen and a-
tm nointed by his Spirit, to turn the Jetps from
{/fj their Prejudice and Superftition, and the
k Gentiles from their Vanity and Idolatry, to,
Clirift's Light and Spirit that fhined in them;
^ao: that they might be quickned from the Sins
Jrt and Trefpaffes in which they were Dead, to
Jdrt ferve the Living God in the Nexvnefs of the
bIu; Spirit of Life, and walk as Children of the
if f; Light y and of the Day^ even the Day of Ho~
I (' linefs: For fuch put on Chrijly the Light of
the World, md make no more Provifon for
ijjjj, the Fief J y to fulfil the Lujls thereof. So that
the Lighty Spirit and Grace that come by
J I,. Chrift, and appear in Man, were th^t di-
fine Principle the Apoftles miniftred from,
and turned Peoples Minds unto, and in,'
.which they gathered and built up the"
Churches of Chrift in their Day. For
which caufe they advife them not to quench
the Spirity but to wait for the Spirity and
, Speak by the Spirity and Pray by the Spirity and
y Walk in the Spirit too, as that which ap-
" • proved
( 16 )
proved them the truly begotten Children of
God; BorfZy mt of Flejb and Bloody or of
the will of Man^ but of the will of God; by
doing his will, and denying their own ; by
drinking of thrifts Cup, and being Bap-
tized with his Baptifm of »Self-denial; the
Way and Path that all the Heirs of Life
have ever trod to BlelTednefs. But alas!
even in the Apoftles Days, thofe bright
Stars of the firjl Magnitude of the Gofpel-
Light, fome Clouds, foretelling an Echpfe
of this Primitive Glory, began to appear,
and feveral of them gave early Caution of
it to the Chriftians of their Time, that even
then there was, and yet would be more and
more, 2ifalling away from the Power of
Godlinefs, and the Purity of that Spiritual
Difpenfation, by fuch as fought to make a
fair fljew in the Flefh, but with whom the
offence of the Crois ceafed. Yet with this
comfortable Conclufion, that they faw be-
yond it a more glorious Time than ever to
the true Church. Their fight was true,
and what they foretold to the Churches, ga-
therecl by them in the Namie.and Power of
Jefus, came to pafs; For Chriftians dege-
nerated a-pace into outfides, as Dajs and
Meats, and divers other Ceremonies. And
which
( 17 )
whicli was worfe, they fell into Strife and
Contention feparating one from
another, then Envying, and, as they had
Power, Perfecuting one another, to the
fhame and fcandal of their common Chri-
flianity, and grievous ftumbling and offence
of the Heathen; among whom the Lord had
fo long and fo marvelloufly preferved them.
-And having got at laft the Worldly Power
into their Hands, by Kings and Emperors
embracing the Chriftian Profeflion, they
changed, what they could, the Kingdom
of Chrifl:, which is not of this World, into a
Worldly Kngdom; or at. leafi: ftiled the
Worldly Kingdom that was in their Hands
the Kjngdorn of Chrifl, and fo they became
Worldly, and not true Chriftians. Then
Humane Inventions and Novelties, both in
'Doftrine artd worfhip, crouded faft into
the Church; a Door being opened there-
unto, by the GrofTnefs and Carnality that
appeared then among the generality of
Chriftians, who had long fince left the
Guidance of God's meek and heavenly Spirit,
and given themfelves up to Superflition,
Will-worjhip, and Voluntary Humility. And
as Superftition Blind, fo it is Heady and
Furious; for all muft ftoop to its blind and.
E' bouiidlefs''
( i8)
boundlefs Zeal or Perijh by it: 7/z the
Name of the Sprit, perfecuting the very ap>-
pearance of tlie Spirit of God in others, and
oppofing that in others wliich they refifted
in themfelves, viz. the Light,Grace and Spi-
rit of the Lord Jefus Chrijt: But always un-
der the Notion of Innovation, Herefie, Schifm,
01- fome fuch plaufible Name. Though
Chriftianity allows of no Name or Pretence
whatevergfbr perfecuting of any Man
for matters of meer Religion beingin
its very Nature, Meek, Gentle and Lor-
hearing', and confifts of Laith, Hope and
Charity, which no Perfecutor can have
whilft he remains a Perfecutor; in that a
Man cannot believe well, or hope well,
or have a Charitable or tender regard to a-
nother, whilft he would violate his mind or
perfecute his Body for matters of Laith or
Worjhip towards his God.
Thus the Falfe Church fprang up, and
mounted the Chair. But though Ihe loft
her Nature, fhe would needs keep her good
Name of the Lamhs-bride, the True Church
and Mother of the Faithful: Conftraining
all to receive her Mark, either in their Fore-
head or Right hand ; that is, publickly or
privately. But Indeed and in Truth fhe
was
A- ( 19 )
was Mj)fiery Uabyldrj^ the Mother of H/trlotSy
^ Mother of thofe that, with all their fhoW
'1^ and outfide of Religion, were adulterated
T and gone from the Spirit, Nature and Liffe
of Cnrift, and grown WorlMji, Ani-
"n bitiousy Covetous^ Cruel^ &"C. which are
^ the Fruits of the Flefh and ix)t of the
Spirit.
Now it was that the True Church fled
into the Wiklernefs: That is^ from Super-
fiition and Violence, to a Retiredy Solitary
^ ^ and Lonely State ; bidder*, arid as it were out
Sight of Meny though not out of the
tki World. Which fhows that her wonted
Vifibility was not Ejfential to the being of a
hoi True Church in the Judgment of the Holy
koi^holl:; fhe being as True a Church in tlie
itk Wildernefsjt/'cag^ not as Vifible and Lufiriousy
as wlren Ibe was iri her foi-mer Splendor of
, aiiProfeflion. In this State many Attempts
;loiShe made to return, but tlie Waters were
jodyet too High, and her way blocked up, and
mrii many of her excellent Children, in ieveral
nin^'Nations and Centuries,fell by the Cruelty.q(
■ore-Superfiition, becaufe they would not fall
yd from their Faithfulnefs to the Truth,
flie I'lie laft Age did fet fome fteps towards
was it, both as to Deftrine, Worfhip and Pra-
ftice. But Praftice quickly failed; for
( 20 )
Wickedness fiorved in a little time, as well a-
mong the Profeflbrs of the Reformation as
thofe they reformed from; fo that by the
Fruits of Convcrfation they were not to be
diftinguilhed. And the Children of the
Reformers, if not the Reformers them-
felves, betook themfelves very early to
Earthly Policy and Porver, to uphold and car-
ry on their Reformation that had been be-
gun with SpiritualWe2Lpons; which I have
often thought, has been one of the greateft
realons the Reformation made no better
Progrefs, as to the Life and Soul of Religion.
For whilft the Reformers were Lowly and
Spiritually Minded, and trufted in God,
and lookt to Him, and lived in his Fear,
and confulted not with Flefh and Blood,
nor fought Deliverance in their own way,
there were daily added to the Church fuch
as one might reafonably^fay Ihould be faved:
For they were not fo careful to be fafe from
Perfecution,as to be Faithful and Inoffenfive
under it: Being more concerned to fpread
the Truth by their Faitli and Patience in
Tribulation^ than to get the worldly Power
out of their Hands that inflifted thofe Suf-
ferings upon them: And it will be well if
the Lord fuffer them not to fall by the very
fame way they took to fiaad. In
( at )
In Doftrine thejr were in fome things
fhort; in other things, to avoid one ex-
, tream they run into another: And for
J., Worfhip-, there was for the generality,
P , more of man in it than of God. They
I ' owned the Spirit, Infpiration and Revelati-
on indeed, and grounded their Separation
7 ^ and Reformation upon the Se^ce and Under-
Jlandin^ they received from it, in the Rea-
ding of the Scriptures of Truth. And this
^ , was their'Plea, ^CCiptWe (0
? Cept, tpe Spirit tlje Jntecpjeter, anli
p to etjetp one to^ But yet
there was too rnuch of humane Invention,
Tradition and Art that remained both in
' ® Praying and Preaching; and of worldly Au-
I: thority and worldly Greatnefs in their Mi-
® nifters; efpecially in this Kjngdom^ Sweden,
"!'! Denmark,^nd fome Parts of Germany. God
^was therefore pleafed in England to fhift us
from Veffel to Velfel: And the next re-
move humbled the MiniRry, fo that they
enlii: more Strict in Preaching, Devout m
pre. Praying, and Zealous for keeping the Lord's
ice 1 Day, and Catechizing of Children and Ser-
vants, and Repeating at Home in their Fa-
milies what they had heard in publick.
But even as thefe grew into Power, they
■ B 3 were
were not only for Whipping fonte out, but
others iptOjthe Temple; And they appear-
cd 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 loore retired and
feleft.
They would not conirnvinicate at Large,
or in common with others; but formed
Churches among themfelve^ of fweh as could
give fortie account of their Converlion; at
l^ft, <Df very prorniflng experiences of the
Work of God's Grace upon their Hearts;
and under mutual Agreernents and Cove-
nants of fellowfhip, they kept together.
Thefe People were fornewhat of a ^Qjfter
Temper, and feemed to recommend Reli-
gion by the Charms of its Love^ Mercy and
Goo4nep, rather than by the Terrours of its
Judgments and PuniQjimenty by which the
Former Party \vQuld nave awed People into
Religion.
They alfo 2i\\oyiittfigKeaterliher'ty to Prophe-?
cy than thofe before thenr; for they ad'
niitted tO Speak or Pray, as
\vell their Pa^qr^ wnom. they always
ChoPe,and not the Civil Magiftrate. If fucli
found any thing preffing upon ti;em to ei-
ther
( ^3 )
ther Duty, even without the TtiftinUion of
Clergy or Laity, Perfons of any Trade had
their Liberty, be it never fo Low and Me-
chanical. But alas! even thefe People fuf-
fered great lofs: For tafting of Worldly Em-
pire, and the favour of Prmces, and the
Gam that enfued, they degenerated but
too much. For though they had cryed
down National Churches and Miniftry, and
Maintenance too; fome of them, when it
was their own turn to be Tryed, fell under
the Weight of Worldly Honour and Ad-
vantage, got into profitable Parfonages too
much, and outlived and contradiBed their
own Principles: And , which was yet
worfe, turned fome of them abfolute Per-
fecutors of Other Men for God's Sake, that
but fo lately came themlelves out of the
Furnace; which drove many a ftep far-
ther, and that was into the Water: Jno-
ther Baptifm, as believing they were not
Scripturally Baptized; and hoping to find
that Prefence and Power of God in fubmit-
ting to this Watery Ordinance, which they
defired and wanted.
Thefe People made alfo Profeflion of
Neglefting, if not Renouncing and Cen-
luring, not only the Necelfity, but Ufe of
B 4 all
( H )
all Humane Learning as to the Miniftry;
and all other Qualifications to it befides the
Helps Sind Gifts of the Spirit of God, and
thofe natural and common to Men. And
for a time they feemed like Joh;i of Old, a
Burning and a Shining Light to other Soci-
eties.
They were very Diligent, Pl^in and Se-
rious; ftrong in Scripture, and bold in Pro-
feffion ; bearing much Reproach and Con-
tradition. But that which others fell hy,
proved their Snare. For worldly Power
Ipoiled them too; who had enough of it to
try them what they would do if they had
had more: And they rejied alfo too much
upon their Watry Difpenfation, inftead of
pafling on more fully to that of the Fire
and Holy Ghoft, which was his Baptifm,
who came with a Fan in his Hand, that he
might throughly (and not in part only)
purge his Floor, and take away the Drofs and
the Tin of his People, and make a Man finer
than Gold. Withall, they grew High,
Rough and Self-righteous ; oppofing further
attainment: Too much forgetting the Day
of their Infancy and Littlenefs, which gave
them fomething pf a real Beauty; in fo
much that many left them and all vifiblp
^ ■" ' ■ ■ . ' ' Churches
( 25 )
y, Churches and Societies, and Wandred up
be and down, as Sheep without a Shepherd^ and
ni as Doves without their Mates; feeking their
nil Beloved but could not find Him (as their
, a Souls defired to know Him ) whom their
)ci- Souls loved above their chiefefl: Joy.
Thefe People were called Seekers by fome,
&. and the Family of Love by others; becaufe,
.'ro- as they came to the knowledge of one ano-
ioD- ther, they fometimes met together, not
lij, formally to Pray or Preach, at appointed
iTC times or Places, in their own Wills, as in
itto times pafl: they were accuftomed to do;
bt but waited together in Silence^ and as any
M. thing rofe in any one of their Minds that
they thought Savoured of a Divine Spring,
k they fometimes Spoke. But fo it was that
til, fome of them not keeping in Humility and
it I' in the Fear of God, after the Abundance of
nJy) Revelation, were exalted above Meafure;
iu and for want of ftaying their Minds in an
y humble Dependance upon him that opened
their Underftandings to fee great things in
rjief his Law, they ran out in their own Imagi-
y; nations, and mixing them with thofc Di-
avj vine Openings, brought forth zMonJlrous
I fj Birth, to the Scandal of thofc that feared
ible Cod, and waited daily in the Temple, not
made
• ()
mac^e with Hands, for the Confolation of
lfraei\ the Jew inwurdy and Circumcifion
in Spirit.
This People obtained the Name of Ran^
ters from their extravagant Difcourfes and
Praftices. For they interpreted Chrift's
fullfilling of the Law for us, to be a dif-
charging of us from any Obligation and Du-
ty the Law required of us, inftead of the
Condemnation of the Law for fins paft,
upon Faith andRepentance; And that now it
was no Sin to do that which before it was a
Sin to commit; the flavifli Fear of the Law
being taken off by Chrift, and all things
good that Man did, if he did but do them
with the Mind and Pcrfwafion that it was
fo. Infomuch that divers fell into Grofs
and Enormous Praiffices; pretending in ex-
cufe thereof that they could, without Evil^
commit the fame Aft which was Sin in a-
nother to do; thereby diffinguifhing be-
tween the Action and the Evil of it, by
the Direction of the Mind and Litention in
the doing of it. Which was to make Sin
fuper-abound by the aboundings of Grace,
and to turn from the Grace of God into
IVantonmfs; a fecurer way of Sinning than
before; As if Chrift came not to fave us
from
( a? ")
from our Sins but our Sins; not to take
away Sin, but that we might Sin
freely at his Coft, and with Jefs Danger p
our felves. I fay, this enfnared Divers,
and brought them to an utter and lamen-
table Lois as to their Eternal State; and
they grew very troublefome to the better
fort of People, and furniflied the loofer
with occafion to Prophane.
CHAP
M)
CHAP. II.
of the ^fe of this People, their Fui'N
damental 'Principle and Doctrine
and Practice in tvpfhe Points rejult'
ing from it: Their Progrcfs and Suf-
fcrings: An Ezpofiulation with
England thereupon.
IT was about that very time, as you may
fee in G. F's Annals, that the Eter-
nal, Wife, and Good God was pleafed, in
his infinite Love, to Honour and Vifit this
benighted and bervildred Nation with his
Glorious Daji-fpr ing from on High ; yea with
a mofi fure and certain found of the Word of
Light and Life, through the Teflimony of
a Chofen F?Jfe/, to an effe£lual and bleifed
purpofe,can many thoufands fay,Glory be to
the Name of the Lord for ever.
For as it reached the Confcience and
broke the Heart, and brought many to a
Senfe and Search, fo that which People had
been
- . ( ^? )
been vainly feeking without, with much
Pains and Coft, they by tliis Miniftry,
found within; where it was they wanted
what they fought for, viz. The right way to
Peace with God. For they were diredled
to the Light of Jefus Chrift within them,
as the Seed and Leaven of the Kingdom of
God ; Near All, becaufe in All, and God's
Talent to All. A Faithful and True Wit-
nefs and Juft Monitor in every Bofom. The
Gift and Grace of God to Life and Salvati-
on that appears to all, though few regard
it. This, the Traditional Chriftian con-
ceited of himfelf, and ftrojig in his own
Will and Righteoufnefs, and overcome
with blind X^al and Paffion, either defpifed
as a Low and Common thing, or oppofed as.
a Novelty^ under many hard Names and
opprobrious Terms, denying, in his igno-'
rant and angry Mind, any f ejh Manifefta-'
tion of God's Power and. Spirit in Man in
thefe days, though never more needed to
make true Chriftians. Not unlike thofe
fews of Old that rejefted the Son of God
at the very fame time that they blindly
profelfed to wait for the Mefliah to come;
becaufe, alas, he appeared not among them
according to their Carnal Mind and Expe-
station. This
( 3" )
This brought forth many abufive Books)
whicli fiHed the greater fort with Envjf
and leffer with Rage; and made the way
and progrefs of this Bleifed Teftimony
Straight and Narr(jrv indeed to thofe that
received it. However, God owned his
t7!T';?Wcirk, and this Teftimony did ejfeciu-
ally Reach, Gather, Comfort and Eftablifh
the IVeary and Hiavy Laden^ the Hungry
and 1 hirfty^ tlie Poor and Needy^ the Mourn-
ful and Sick of many Maladies, that had
fpcnt all upon Phyficians of no Value, and
waited for Relief from Heaven j Help on-
ly from above ; Seeing, upon a fcrious Try«
al of all tiling, nothing elfe would do but
Chrijl hirnfeff ; the Light of his Countenance^
a Touch of his Garment^ and Help from his
Hand', who cured tine poor Womans IlTue,
raifed the Centurion^s Servant,the Widow's
Son, the RtJer's Daughter, and Peter's
Mother: And like Her, they no fooner felt
his Power" and Efhcacy upon their Souls,
but they gave up to obey him in a Tefii-
mony to his Power; and that with refigned
Wills and faithful Hearts, through all
Mockings, Contradlciions, Conf [cations. Beat-
ings, Prifons, and many other Jeorpardies
that attended them for his Bleffed Name's
Sake. And
( 3' )
And truly, they were very many and
ks) very Great; fo that in all Humane Proba-
17, bility they muft have been fwallowed up
ay Q^tck of the Proud and Boifterous Waves
ny that fwelled and beat againft them, but
lit that the God of all their tender Mercies was
tij with them, in his Glorious Authority; fo
clih that the Hills often F/e^i and the Moun-
iMi tains Melted before the Power that filled
/iji) them; working mightily for them as well
m- as in them j one ever following the other.
U By which they faw plainly, to their ex-
aul ceeding great Confirmation and Comfort,
m that all things were poflible with him with
tf)' whom they had to do. And that the more
Ifjthat which God required feemed to crofs
mi, Man's Wifdom, and expofe them to Man's
wfcWratli, the more God appeared to help
Iffiie, and carry them through all to his Glory. -
|o«'i Infomuch, that if ever any People could
'f^ff'jfay in Truth, Thou art our Sun and our
-{hShield^ our Rock and Sanctuary \ '^dby thee
Jkils, leaged over a Wall^ and by thee rve
have run through a Trooj>y and by thee we have
jfiil tut the Armies of the Aliens to Fligh^ thcfe
'2II People had Right to fay it. And as God
had delivered their Souls of the wearifom
Burthens of Sin and Vanity, and enriched
their-
ri . , .
( 3' )
their poverty of Spirit, and fatisfed their
great Hunger and Thirft after Eternal
Righteoufnefs, and filled them with the
Good Things of his own Houfe, and made
them Stewards of his Manifold Gifts; fo_
they went forth to all Quarters of thefe
Nations, to declare to the Inhabitants there-
of, what God had done fior them; what they
had found, and where and how they had
found it; 'viz. The way to Peace with God".
Inviting all to corrie and lee and tafte, for
themfelves, the Truth of what they De-
dared unto them.
And as their Teftimony was to the Prin-
ciple of God in Man, the Precious Pearl and
fi.eaven of the Kjngdom, as the only blefled
means, appointed of God, to Quicken, Con-
vince and Sandifie Man; fo they opened
to them what it was in it felf, and what it ■
was given to them for : How they might
know it from their own Spirit, and that of
the Subtil appearance of the Evil one:
and what it would do for all thofe whofe
minds Should be turned off from the
Vanity of the World and its Lifelefs ways
and Teachers, and ad-here to this blelfed
Light in themfelves, which difcovers and
condemns Sin in all its appearances, and
lliows
( 3? ) .
iiei: fhows horv to overcome it, if minded and
tdj! obeyed in its holy Manifeftations and Con-
t!i; visions: Giving Power to fuch to Avoid
rai and Reftjl thofe things that do not pleafe
; l! God, and to^rojvin Love, Faith, and
;he[; Good Works. That fo Man, whom Sin
ks hath made as a Wildernefs, over-run with
tfe Briars and Thorns, might become as the
I^Ie Garden of God, cultivated by his divine
Gm Power, and repleniflit with the moft Vir-
te,fe tuous and Beautiful Plants of God's own
Right Hand Plantings to his Eternal Praife.
But thefe Experimental Preachers of
eP> Glad Tydings of God's Truth and King-
iria dom could not run when they Lift, or Pray
bH; or Preach when they Pleafed, But as Chriji
their Redeemer prepared and moved them by
ojBS his own Bkjfed Spirit, for which they wait-
ed in their Services and Meetings, and
;(iiir Spoke as that gave them utterance; and
tbai: which was as thofe having Authority, and
I] oj not like the Dreaming, Dry and Formal
\vlic; Pharifees. And fo it plainly appeared to
^ ti: the ferious Minded, whofe Spiritual Eye the
; ^var Lord Jefus had in any meafure opened: So
[,|ci that to one was'given the Word of Exhor-
.5 an: tat ion,' to another, the Word of Reproof,
;^a]i to another the Word of Confolation, ancf
Iboff ' ^
(34-)
all by the fame Spirit and in the good Or-
der thereof, to the Convincing and Edify-
ing of many.
And truly they waxed Strong and Fold
through Faithfulnefs ; and by the Power
and Spirit of the Lord Jefus became very
Fruitful; thoufands, in a fhort time, be-
ing turned to the Truth in the inward
parts, through their Teftimony, in Mini-
firy and Sufferingr. Infomuch as in mofl:
Counties, and many of the confiderable
Towns of England^ Meetings were fettled,
and daily there were added fuch as fliould
be faved. For they were Diligent to Plant
and to Water^ and the Lord blelfed their
Labours with an Exceeding great Increafe;
notwithftanding all the oppofition made to
' their blelled Progrefs, by falfe RumorSy Ca-
lumnies and bitter Ferjecutions', not only
from the Powers of the Earth, but from c-
very one that lifted to injure and abufe
them: So that they feemed indeed to be as
poor Sheep appointed to the Slaughter, and as a
People killed all the Day lonq^.
It were fitter for a Volume than a Preface,
but fo much as to repeat the Contents of
their cruel Sufferings from Profeffors as well
as from Prophane, and from Magijirates as
well
Or- ( 35 ^
lilj. well as thQ'iRaUU: That it may well be faid
of this abufed and defpifed People,they went
?oli forth Weeping and fowed in bearing
wa Teftimony to the Precious Seedy even the
jtrj of the Kjngdomy which ftands not in
, be. Words -y the Fineft the Higheft that Man's
ftan! Wit can ufe, but in Power: The Power
ik of Chrift Jefus, to whom God the Father
moj hath given all Power in Heaven and in Earth,
enlli that he might rule Angels above, and Men
ettiei below. Who impowVed them, as their
bot,; Work witnefleth, by the many that were
Pia turnedy through their Miniftry, from Dark-
[ tig nefs to the Lighty and out of the Broad into
the of Life and Peace; bring-
ideii ing People to a Weighty, Serious and
(> God-like Converfation; the Practice of tliat
; Ddll Doftrine w hich they Taught.
And as without this Secret Divine Power
there is no Quickening and Regenerating
of dead Souls, fo the want of this Genera-
dtii Begetting Power and Life, is the
Caufe of the little Fruit tharthe many
Miniftries that have been, and are in the
World,bring forth. O that both Minifters
and People were fenfible of this! My Soul
^ is often troubled for them, and Sorrow an^d
.™j| Mourning compafs me about for theif
G 2 Sakes/
/XV.'
( 3'^ )
Sakes. O that they were Wife! O that
they would confider, and lay to Heart the
things that truly and fubftantially make for
their lafting Peace!
Two things are to be confidered, the
Do^rine they Taught, and the Example
they lead among all People. I have already
toucht upon their Fundamental Principle,
which is as the Corner flone of their Fabrick:
And indeed to fpeak eminently and properly
their Chara^hrtflkk, or main diftinguifhing
Point or Principle, viz. the Light of Chrifi
within^ as God's Gift for Man's Salvation.
This I fay, is as the Root of the goodly Tree
of Doftrines that grew and branched out
from it, which I fhall now mention in their
Natural and Experimental Order.
Firft, Repentance from dead Works to ferve
the Living God. Which comprehends three
Operations. Firft of Sin. Secondly,
A Sence and^ Godlj Sorrow for Sin. Thirdly,
An Amendm^it for the Time to come. This
was the Repentancethey preached and pref-
fed, and a Natural refult from the Principle
they turned all People unto. For of Light
came Sight; and of Sight came Senfe and
Sorrow; and of Senie and Sorrow, came A-
mendment of Life. Which Doftrine of Re-
pentance
f ?7 )
pentance leads to 'Juflificatwn; that is, Tor-
givenefs of the Sins that are fajh-through Chrift
the alone Propitiation^ and the San^ification
or Purgation of the Soul^ from the defiling
Nature and Habits of Sin, Prefent by the
Spirit of Chrift in the Soul. Which is Ju-
ftification in the compleat Sence of that Word:
Comprehending both juftification from the
Cut It of the Sins that are paft, as if they
had never been committed, through the
Love and Mercy of God in Chrift Jefus;
and the Creatures being made inxvardly juft
through the Cleanjing and San^tftying Power
and Spirit of Chrift revealed in the Soul;
which is commonly called SanBifcation.
But that none can come to know Chrift to
be their Sacrifice that RejeQ; him as their
Sanftifier. The End of his coming being
to fave his People from the Nature and De-
flement, as well as Guilt of Sin; and that
therefore thofe that refift his Light and Spi-
rit, make his coming an offering of none
effeft to them.
From hence fprang a Second DoHrine they
were led to declare, as the Mark of the Price
of the High Calling to all true Chriftians, viz.
Perfection from Sin^ according to the Scrip-
tures of truth; which teftifie it to be the
C 5 Tnd
(3S)
End of Chrift's coming and the Nature of
his Kingdom, and for which his Spirit was
and is given, viz. to be PerfeB as our Hea-
I'enlj Father is Perfe^^and Holy hecaufe God is
Holy, And this the Apoftles laboured for,
that the Chrijlians jhould be Sanciifed
"E^tOU^il^^OUt in Body^Soul and Spirit. But
they never held aPerfe6i:ion in tiGfdom and
G/t)ry in this Life, or from Natural Infrmi-
ties, or Death, as fome have, with a weak or
ill mind, imagined and infinuated againft
them.
This they called a Redeemed State, Re-
generation, or the New-Birth; Teaching
every where, according to their Foundation,
that without this Work were known, there
was no inheriting the Kingdom of God.
Thirdly, This leads to an acknowledg-
mcnt of Eternal Rewards and Punifloments,
as tliey have good Reafon j for elR, of all
People, certainly they mud: be the mofi Mi-
ferable-. Who, for about Tcir/y Years, have
been exceeding great Sufferers for their Pro-
feffion ; and, in fome Cafes, treated worfe
than the worjl of Men; yea, as the Refufe
and Off'fcowering of all things.
This was the Purport of their Doftrine
3nd Miniftry; which, for the mod: part, is
what
what other ProfefTors of Chrlftianity pre"
tend to hold in Words and Forms, butno^
in the Power of Godlinefs ; which, general-
ly fpeaking, has been Ibng loft by Mens de-
parting from that Priw/pie and Seed of Life
'if'" that is in Man, and which Man has not re-
^ garded, but loft the Senfe of; and in and by
which he can o^^ be quickned in his Mind
f'*" to ferve the living God in Newnefs of Life.
For as the Life of Religion was loft, and
the generality lived and Worfhipped God af-
ter their own Wills, and not after the Will
1 of God, nor the mind of Chrift, which
ftood in the Works and Fruits of the
Spirit, fo that which they preft, was Tiot
Notion but Experience; no Formality but
xl' Godlinefs-, as being fenfible in themlelves,
through the Work of God's Righteous
Judgments, that without Holinefs no Man
Jhould ever fee the Lord, with Comfort.
Befides thefe General Doftrines, as the
bn larger Branches, there fprang forth feveral
hC" particular Doctrines, that did exemplifie and
further explain the Truth and Efficacy of the
ifnf General Doftrine before obferved, in their
Lives and Examples. As,
fix I. Communion, and loving one another.
i is This is a noted Mark in the Mouth of all
k C 4 forts
(40)
forts of People concerning them. They will
meet^ They will help and jlick one to another.
Whence it is common to hear fome fay,
Took how the Quakers love and take oare of one
another. Others, lefs Moderate, will fay;
The Quakers love none but themfelves : And if
loving one another and having an Intimate
Communion in Religion, and conjlant care to
meet to Worfhip God,and help one another,
be any Mark of Primitive Chriftianity, they
had it, Bleifed be the Lord, in an ample
manner.
II, To love Enemies : This they both
Taught and Pracfifed-. For they did not
only refufe to be revenged for Injuries done
them, and condemned it as of an Unchrifti-
an Spirit, but they did freely Forgive ; yea.
Help and Relieve thofe that had been Cruel
to them, when it was in their Power to
have been even with them ; Of which many
and lingular Inftances might be given : En-
deavouring, through Faith and Patience^ to
overcome all Injuftice and Oppreffion, and
Preaching this Doftrine as ChrifiUn for o-
thers to follow,
III. Another was. The Sufficiency of Truth
fpeaking, according to Chrift's own form of
found Words, of Tea^ Tea, and N'ay^ Nay,
among
( 4> )
d among Chriftians, without Swearing; both
'k from Chrift's exprefs Prohibition to Swear
fay, at all, Mat. 5. and for that they being un-
'Oil der the Tye and Bond of Truth in them-
fay; felves, there was ffo Necejjity for an Oatli;
ndit and it would be a Revroach to their Chrifti-
mil an Veracity to Affure their Trut/j by fuch an
wti Extraordinary way of Speaking ; fimple
otk and uncompounded Anfwers, as Tea and
,tk Alaj, (without Affeverations, Atteffations,
aGji or 6uper-natural VoucherSybeing molf fuita-
ble to Evangelical Righteoufnefs. But of-
y kc feting at the fame time to be puniflit to the
lidM full, for Falfe-Speaking, as others for Per-
esk jury, if ever guilty of it: And hereby they
ictf. exclude, with all True, all Fal/e and Pro-
fhane Swearing; for whicli the Land did
jnCrj; and doth Mourn, and the great God was
3TO! and is not a little offended with it.
IV. Not Fighting but Sujfering, is ano-
.Jit. ther Teftimony peculiar to this People:
,0^ t: They affirm that Chriffianity teacheth Peo-
[] k pie To beat their Swords into Plough-Shares,
[(jfj and their Spears into Pruning-Hook^, and to
learn War no more, that fo the Wolf may lie
down with the Lamb, and the Lion with the
Calf, and nothing that dafroys he entertained
in the Hearts of People: Exhorting them to
( 4-i ")
employ their Zeal againft Sin, and turn
their Anger againft Satan, and no longer
War one againft another; becaufe, allM ars
and Fightings come of Mens own Hearts
Lujls, according to the Apoftle James, and
not of the Meek Spirit of Chrift jefus, who
is Captain of another Warfare, and which is
carried on with other Weapons. Thus, as
Truth [peaking fucceeded Swearing, Fo Faith
and Patience fucceeded Fighting, in the Dch*
ftrine and PraQ:ice of this People. Nor
ought they for this to be obnoxious to Civil
Government, fince if they cannot Fight for
it, neither can they Fight againft it; which is
no mean fecurity to anv State. Nor is it rea-
fonable that People ftiould be blamed for
not doing more for others than they can do
for themfelvcs. And, Chriftianity fet a-
fide, iftheCty?^ and Fruits of War were
well confidered. Peace, with all its Inconve-
niencies, is generally Preferrable. But tho'
tlvey were not for Fighting, they were for
fuhmitting to Government ; and that, not
only for Fear, but for Confcience Sake ; where
Government doth not interfere with Con-
fcience: Believing it to be an Ordinance of
God, and where it is juftly adminiftred,
a great Benefit to Mankind. Tho' it has
been
lieen
of it
aiiyi
tkr,
pven
ofTi
V
srU
tkt
fcelki
Goljx
laprei
ira:
(Im
r 43 )
turn been their Lot, through hlinA Zeal in fomc,
in^ei Interejl in others, to have felt the Strokes
Hffi of it with greater Weight and Rigour than
bt) any other PerfwafiOn in this Age; whilft
ani they, of all others, Religion fet afide, have
win) given the Civil Magiftratethe lead: occafion
liclu of Trouble in the Difcharge of his Off ce.
115^ J V. Another part of the Charafter of this
People was, and is. They refufe to fay Tythes,
le ])|i or Maintenance to a National Minijiry ; and
that for two Reafons; The one is. They
jjGr believe all compelled Maintenance, even to
gjitf, Gofpel Minifters, to be Unlawful, becaufc
expredy contrary to ChrifPs Command,
jjjtu who faid. Freely you have received, freely
At lead:, that the Maintenance of
05 Gofpel Miniders fhould be free and not
forced. The other Reafon of their Refufal
is, Becaufe thofe Miniders are not Gofpel
Ones, in that the Holy Ghod is not their
Foundation, but Humane Arts and Parts.
So that it is not matter of Humour or Sul-
J- lennefs, but Pure Confcience towards God,
that they cannot help to fupport National
I Qj Minidries where they dwell,which are but
J too much and too vidbly become ways of
Worldly Advantage and Preferment,
jjj, yi. Not to refpeft Perfons, was and is a-
u nothet
hi
icGc
C 44" )
nother of their Doftrines and Praf^^ices, for
whicli they were often Bujfetted and Abufed. pPP
They Affirmed it to be fwful to give Flat-
tering Titles, or to ufe Vain Geftures and ®
Complements of RefpeT. Tho' to Virtue
and Authority they ever mude a, Dijference ;
but after their PUtn and Homely Manner,
yet fincere and fubftantial way : Well re-
membering the Examples of Mordecai and 'i
Elihu; but more efpecially the Command
of their Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift, who
forbad his Followers to call Men Rabbi ^
which implies Lord or Mafter; alfo the fa- ^
fljionable Greetings and Salutations of thofe ^^1)1
Times; that fo Sebf-love and Honour ^ to ,1®!'
which the proud Mind of Man is incident,
in his fallen Eftate, might not be Indulged
but Rebuked. And tho' this render'd their \hft
Converfation difagreeable , yet they that ; \1l
will remember what Chrift faid to the Jews,
Hotv can ye believe in me who receive honour
one of another, will abate of their refent-
ment, ifhis DoTrine has any Credit with
them.
VI. They alfo ufed the Plain Language iaii
oiLhowimATheetQ aftngle Perfon, what- itkn
ever was his Degree among Men. And in- mrw
deed the Wifdom of God was much feen Mu
bli
1ft
f "45 )
, for in bringing forth this People In fo Plain an
ii/jil Appearance. For it was a Clofe and Diftin-
Flat- 7 eft upon the Spirits of thofe they
anl came among; fhewing their Infides and
irtiit what predominated, notwithftanding their
tm\ High and Great Profellion of Religion,
inner. This, among the reft, founded fo harfh to
ell re. many of them, and they took it fo ill, that
4; an; they would fay. Thou me, Thou my Dog! If
imanj thou Thoueft me, Pll thou thy Teeth down thy
jwIk Throat', forgetting the Language they ufe
Rill, to God in their own Prayers, and the com-
tlifjl, mon Stile of the Scriptures, and that it is
• till an abfolute and efential Propriety of Speech.
And what good alas, had their Religion
iqiIq done them, who were fo fenfibly toucht
itliiljd with Indignation for the ufe of this Plain^
ijjl; Hone ft and True Speech ?
.(■ tlu VII. They recommended Silence by their
Example, having very few words upon all
iQflQU Occafions. They were at a Word in Dea-
gfeg. ling: Nor could their cuftomers many
wii Words tempt them from it; having more
regard for I ruththcLn Cuftom, to Example
than Gain. They fought Solitude-, but
|.|ijt. when in Company, they would neither ufe
jdjj. nor willingly hear Vnnecejfary as well as Vn^
lanful Difcourfes; Whereby they preferved
ii their
( 4^ )
their Minds fare and ti-adijiurbed fromun-
profitable Thoughts and Diverfions. Nor
could they humour the Cuftom of Good
Nighty Good Morrow, God Speed; for they
knew the Night was Good, and the Day
was Good, without wifhing of either;
and that in the other Expreilion, the Holy
Name of God was too lightly and unthink-
ingly ufed, and therefore taken in Vain.
Befides, they were Words and Wifhesof
Courfe, and are ufuallyas little meant, as
are Love and Service in the Cuftom of Cap
and Knee; and fuperfluity in thofe as well
as in other things was Burthenfom to them:
And therefore They did not only decline to
ufe them, but found chemfelves often preft'd
to reprove the Practice.
VIII. For the fame reafon they forhore
Drmkwg to People, or Pledging of them, as
the manner of the World is: A Praftice
that is not only UnnecelTary, 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 it felf Vam
and Heathenifh.
IX. Their way of Marriage is peculiar to
them ; and fhews a diftinguifhing Care a-
bove other Societies profefting Chriftiani-
'ha
Sf I
I.II
m
;iva
»Fi
%)
iere
iilti
'4'
«of
^K)a
f
JiOt
( 47 )
ty. They fay that Marriage is m Ordimncg
of Gody and that God only can rightly joyn
Man and Woman in Marriage, Therefore
(iooj jj-^gy. neither Priejl nor Magifirate; but
the Man and Woman concern'd, take each
other as Husband and Wife in the prefencc
™ of divers Credible WitnelTes, fromijing'unto
™'l each other, with God's jljTHance, to be Loving
* and Faithful in that Kuation till Death flsall
^^feparate them. But, antecedent to all this.
They firfl: prefent themfelves to the Month-
"^V-ly Meeting for the Affairs of the Church
where they refide; there declaring their In-
^^^'^tentions to take one another ks Husband dind
itlm if the fai(J Meeting have nothing ma-
cliK'terial to obje£l: againft it. They are con-
pt^'ftantly askt the neceffary Qijeftions, as in
Cafe of Parents, or Guardians, if they have
acquainted them with their Intention, and
khave their Confent, &c. The Method of
'n£;the Meeting is to take a Minute thereof,
t tkand to appoint Proper Perfons to enquire of
)einstheir Converfatlon and Clearnefs from all
Peopiothers, and whether they have difcharged
^Wieir Duty to their Parents or Guardians ;
and make report thereof to the next
' Meeting, where the fame Parties are de-
ireifired to give their Attendance. In cafe it
liani' ap-
(4?1"
appears they have proceeded Orderly, the ISjl
Meeting Pajfes thc'iv Propofal, and fo #
cords it in their Meeting Book. And in mli
Cafe the Woman be a Widow and hath «l
Children, due care is there taken that Pro- :k{
vifion alfo be made by her for the Orphans gdi
before the Meeting pafs the Propofal of iieP
Marriage: Advifing the Parties concerned 'iuiii
to appoint a convenient Time and place,
and to give fitting Notice to their Relati- k:
ons, and fuch Friends and Neighbours, as til it
they defire fhould be the Witneifes of ad I
their Marriage. Where they take one a- ifth
nother by the Hand, and, by Name, pro- a h
mife Reciprocally Love and Fidelity, after jPra
the manner before exprelfed. Of all which
Proceedings, a Narrative, in a way of Or- tjiaj
tificate, is made, to which the faid Parties
firfl: fet tlieir Hands, thereby making it
their Aft and Deed; and then divers of juj
the Relations, Spectators, and Auditors fet
their Names as Witneifes of what they Imjj,
Said and Signed. And this Certificate is L
afterward Regifired in the Record belonging |i||j^
to the Meeting where the Marriage is So- i ^
lemnized. Which Regular Method has jijj'i
been, as it deferves, adjudged in Courts of
law d.good Marriage-^ where it has been
by '
( 0 )
) 4 by Crofs and III People Difputed and Con<'
tefted, for want of the accuftomed For-
in mality of Prieft and Ring, &c: Ceremo-
fetl; nies they have Refufed^ not out of Humor,
Pro but Cmfctence, TQniondbly grounded; in as
pill much as no Scripture Example tells us that
'feU the Prieft had any othCr part of Old Time,
leriE than that of a Witnefs among the reft, be-
plaa fore whom the Jews ufed to take one ano-
ther: ■ And therefore this People look up-
Hs,' on it as an Impojition to advance the Rorver
h ff and Profits of the Clergy. And for the ufe
ODEi of the Ring^ it is enough to fay that it was
e, p an Heathenjh and vain Cuftom, and never
siif in Practice among the People of God, Jews
Iwliid or Primitive ChrifiianSi The words of the
oft Ufual form, as With my Body I thee Wor-
M (hipj &c. are hardly Defenfible. In fhort,
tiiij they are more Careful, Exafl: and Regular
ira: than any Form now ufed; and it is Free of
torsK the inconveniencies with which other Me-
t tk thods are attended: Their Care and Checks
cate: being fo many, and fuch, as no Ckndeftine
flgk Marriages can be perform'd among them.
isS> X. It may not be unfit to fay fomething
dh' here of their Births and Burials^ whiclt '
irtsff make up fo much of the Pomp and Solemnity
bes of too many called Chriftians. For Births,-
ii; D the
C 5° )
the Parents Name their own Children;
which is ufually feme days after they arc
Born, in the prefence of the Midwife, if
fhe can be there, and thofe that were at the
Birth: Who afterwardfignafor
that purpofe prepared, of the Birth and
Name of the Child, or Children; wliich is
Recorded in a proper Book, in the Monthly
Meeting to which the Parents belong; a-
voiding the accuftomed Ceremonies and
Feflrivals.
XI. Their Burials are performed with
the fame Simplicity. If the BoAy of the
Deceafed be near any publick Meeting Place,
it is ufually carried thither, for the more
convenient Reception of thofe that Accom-
pany it to the Burying-Ground. And it fo
falls out fometimes, that while the Meeting
is gathering for the Burial, fome or other has
a Word of Exhortation, for the fake of the
People there met together. After which,
the Body is born away by the Young Men,
or thofe that are of their Neighbourhood,
or that were moft of the Intimacy of the
Deceafed Party: The Corps being in a
y/ain Coffin^ vrithout any Covering or purni-
ture upon it. At the Ground, they paufc
foraetime before they put the Body into its
Grave^
. ^ 5« )
1; Grave, that if any one thefe fhoulahave
^ any thing upon them to exhort the People,
I if they may not be difappointed, and that the
the Relations may the more Retiredly and So*
for lemnly take their/^x/ leave of the Body of
tod their departed Kindred, and the Speftators
iis have a Senfe of Mortality, by the occafion
thlf then given them to refleft upon their own
i a- Latter End. Otherways, tliey have no fct
ami Rites or Ceremonies on thofe Occalions.
Neither do the Kindred of the Deceafed ever
wiii wear Mourning', they looking upon it as a
ftlit Worldly Ceremony and piece of Pomp;
Plao, and that what Mourning is fit for a Chrifci-*
rnort an to have, at the Departure of a beloved
m Relation or Friend, fhould be worn in the
diti) Mind, which is only fenfible of the Lofs,
and the Love they nad to them, and Re-
eliai membranccof them: To be outwardly ex-
)f tk prelT'd by a refpeft to their Advice, and care
fliidi, of thofe they have left behind them, and
Wen, their Love of that they Loved. Which
lood ConduQ: of theirs, though unmodifh or un-
ftlic fafhionable, leaves nothing of the Sub-
in a ftance of things neglefted ot undone i And
0- as they aim at no more, lb that fimplicity of
aiilc Life is what they obferve with great Satif*
oils faftion; though it fometimes happens not td
f/) D 2 b©
( Si)
be without the Mockeries of the vain World
they live in.
Thefe things to be fure gave them a
Rough and Dijagreeable Appearance with the
Generality; who thought them Turners of
the World upfide down, as indeed, infome
Senfe, they were: But in no other than that
wherein PW was fo charged, viz. To bring
things back into their Primitive and right Or-
der again. For thefe,and fuch like Praftices
of theirs, were not the Refult of Humour, or
iox civil Dijiinclion, as fome have fanfied,
but a Fruit of Inward Senfe, which God,
through his holy Fear , had begotten in
them. They did not confider how to con-
tfadift the World, or diftinguifli themfelves
as a Party from others; it being none of
their Bufinefs, as it was not their Jntereft :
No, it was not the Refult of Confultation,
or a framed defign by which to declare or
recommend Schifm or Novelty. But God
having given them a fight of themfelves,
they faw the whole W orld in the fame Glafs
of Truth ; and fenfibly difcerned the Aftc-
ftions and Pafiions of Men, and the Rife
and Tendency of Things : What it was that
gratified the Lujl of the Flefj, the Lufi of the
Eye, and the Pride of Life, which are not of
the
('53 )
the Father, but of the World. And that from
thence Sprang in the Night of Darknefs and
Apoftacy, which hath been over People,
through their Degeneration from the Light
and Spirit of God, thefe and many other
vain Cuftoms, which are fecn by the Hea'^
venly Day of Chrift that dawns in the
Soul, to be, either wrong in their Original,
or, by Time and Abufe, Hurtful in their
Praftice. And though thefe things feemed
Trivial tofome, and rendered this People
Stingy and Conceited in fuch Perfons Opini--
on; there was and is more in them than
they were or are aware of.
It was not very eafie to our Primitive
Friends, to make themfelves Sights and Spe-
Bacles, and the Scorn and Derijion of the
World; which they eafily forefaw muft be
the Confequence of fo Vnfajhionable a Con-
verfation in it. But herein was theWifr
dom of God feen in the Foolifhnefs of thefe
things ; Firft , That they difcovered the
Satisfallion 3.nd Concern that People had in
and for the Fafhions of this World, not-
withftanding their high Pretences to ano-
ther; in that any difappointment about
them came fo very near them, as that the
greateft Honefty, Virtue, Wifdom and Abili-
D ? ty,
( 5+ )
ty,werc mwelcom without them.SecondIy,It
Jeafonably and profitably divided Converfation :
For this making their Society uneafie to their
Relations and Acouaintance, it gave them
the opportunity of more Retirement and Soli'
tude; wherein they met with better Compa-
ny, even the Lord God their Redeemer ; and
grewftrong in his Love, Power and Wif-
dom, and were thereby better qualified for
his Service: And the fuccefs abundantly
fhow'd it: BleJJed be the Name of the Lord.
And though they were not Great and
Learned in the Efteem of this World (for
then they had not wanted Followers upon
their own Credit and Authority ) yet they
were generally of the moft Sober of the feveral
Perfwafions they were in,and of the mojl Re^
puteiQv Religion; and many of them Osgood
Capacity^ Subjlance and Account among Men,
And alfo fome among them wanted not
for Parts f Learnings or EJlate-, though
then, as of Old, not many JVife^ or Nome^
&c. vpere called; or at leaft receiv^ the Hea-
venly Calf becaufe of the Crofs that attend-
ed the Profeflion of it in Sincerity, But nei-
ther do Parts or Learning make Men the
better Chriftians, though the better Ora"
tors and Difputants j and it is the Ignorance
( 55 )
of People about the Divine Gift that caufes
that vulgar and mifchievous miftake. Theo'
J^and Praiftcey SfecuUtion and Enjoymenty
Words and Lifey arc two things. Oh'tis
the Penitent, the Reformed, the Lowly,
the Watchful, the Self-denying and Holy
Soul that is the ChrifiUn 1 And that Frame is
the Fruit and Work of the Sprity which is
the Life of Jefus : Whofc Life, though hid
in the fulnefs of it in God the Father, is fhed
abroad in the Hearts of them that truly Be-
lieve^ccording to their Capacity. Oh that
People did but know this to Cleanfe them,
to Circumcife them, to Quicken them, and
to make them New Creatures indeed ! Re-
createdyOV Regenerated after Chrift Jefus unto
good Works j that they might live to God
and not to themfelves; and offer up living
Prayers and living PraijeSy to the living God,
through his own living Spirity in which he is
only to be Worfhipped in this Gofpel Day.
Oh that they that read me could \mtfeel
me! For my Heart is affefted with this
Merciful Vifitation of the Father of Lights
and Spirits to this poor Nation, and the
whole World, through the fame Teftimo-
ny. Why fhould the Inhabitants thereof
reject it f Why fhould they lofe the BlelTed
D 4 ' Bene-
(56 )
Benefit ofit ? Why fbould they not turn to
the Lordrvith all their Hearts, and fay from
the Heart, Speak Lord, for now thy poor Ser-
vants hear ? Oh that thy Will may be done;
thy Great, thy Good and Holy Will, in Earth as
it is in Heaven ! Dq it in us, do it upon us,
do what thou wilt with us\ for we are thine, and
defire to glorifie thee our Creator, both for that,
and becaufe thou art our Redeemer; for thou
art redeeming ua from the Earth ; from the V
nities and RoUutions ofit, to be a Peculiar Peo-
fie unto thee. Oh this were a Brave Day for
England, iffo fhe could fay in Truth ! But
alas, the Cafe is otherwife ; for which fome
of thine Inhabitants, O Land of my Nativi-
ty ! have mourned over thee with bitter.
Wailing and Lamentation, Their Heads
have been indeed as Waters, and their Eyes as
Fountains of Tears, becaufe of thy Tranf-
grellion and StifFneckednefs; becaufe thou
wilt not Hear, and Fear and Return to the
Rock, even thy Rock , O England 1 from
whence thou wert Hewen, But be thou
warned, O Land of great Profeffion, to re-
ceive him into thy Heart: Behold, at That
Door it is he hath ftood fo long Knocking /
but thou wilt yet have none of him. Oh be
thou awakened, left JeruJalem's Judgments
Ts? )
ti do fwiftly overtake thee, becaufe of Jeru^
iin falem^s Sins tlmt abound in thee. For fhe
fr- abounded in Formality, hut made void the
Weighty things of God's Law as thou dai~
ly doefi.
(«, She withftood the Son of God in the
wi Flefh, and thou refifteft the Son of God in
k, the Spirit. He would have gathered lier as
ki an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her
h Wings, and fhe would not; fo would he have
Pfo- gathered thee out of thy Life-lefs Profeffion,
fot and have brought thee to inherit Subftance ; to
But have known his Power and Kingdom : For
m which he often knockt within, by his Grace
ivi- and Spirit; and without, by his Servants
ttff and Witnejfes ; But thou rvouldejl not be ga-
m thered: But on the Contrary, cis Jerufalem
!/i of old Perfecuted the Manifeftation of the
ml". Son of God in the Flefh, and Crucified him,
ion and Whipt, and hnpnjoned his Servants; fo
tlic haft thou, O Land ! Crucified to thy jelf a-
E the Lord of Life and Glory, and done
ou de^ite to his Spirit of Grace; fighting
•e- the Fatherly Vifitation, and Perfecutmg the
it blefted Diipenfers of it by thy Laws and
Magiftrates: Though they have and
e Late pleaded with tliee in the Power and Spi-
; rit of the Lord; in Love and Meekmfs, that
thou
( 58 )
thou mighteft know the Lord and ferve him, ^
and become the Glory of all Lands. r
But thou haft Evilly entreated and requi- ^
ted them. Thou haft fet At nought all their
Counfel, and rvouU hAve none of their Re-
proof, as thou fbouldeft have done. Their ^ '
Appearance was too StrAighty and their Qua-
lifications were too MeAn for thee to receive
them; like the of Old, that cried, /f
yiot this the CArf enters Son, And Are not his
Brethren Among us', which of the Scribesy of 'h
the LeArned ( the Orthodox ) believe in him ? -;
Prophefying their FaII in a Year or two, and
making and executing of fevere Laws to
bring it to pals: Endeavouring to terrific ^
them out of their Holy wAy y or deflroy
them for abiding Faithful to it. But thou
haft leen how many Governments that rife
againft them, and determined their Down- ^
fal, have been overturned and extinguijhedy 'Hi
and that they are ftill preferved, and be- ia
come a great and a confiderable People, a- -Hs
mong the Middle fort of thy numerous In-
habitants. And notwithftanding the many
difficulties Without and Withiny which they
have Laboured under, fince the Lord God ''it
Eternal firft gathered thenru they are an En- •wl
creAfng People; the Lord ftill adding unto fitlj
them,
( 5P )
in them, in divers Parts^ fuch as jfhall be fa-
ved, if theyperfevereto the End. And to
[jiii. Thee, O EngUnd I were they, and are they
Ikj lifted up as a Standard, and as a City fet up-
Re, on a Hill, and to the Nations round about
heii thee, that in their Light thou mayjl come to
fee Light, even in Chri(l Jefus, the Light of
jjyj the World, and therefore and Life
3^ h too, if thou wouldll but turn from thy many
evil ways, and receive and obey it. For in
^ the Light of the Lamb, mufi the Nations of
hmj them that arefaved walk, as the Scripture
a„3 Teftifies,
ysto Remember, O Nation of great Profcfli-
on! How the Lord has waited upon thee
fince the Daivnings of Reformation, and the
(Ikj many Mercies and Judgments by which he
jiyji has pleaded with Thee; and^a'4^'e and^-
low out of thy deep Sleep, and yet hear his
M Word in thy Heart that thou may'ft live,
j [)j. Let not this thy day of Fifitation pafs over
f J. thy Head, nor neglea thou fo great Salva-
jjij. tion as is This which is come to thy Houfe,
Oh. England \ For why fhould'ft thou die,
u; Oh Land that God defires to Blefs! Be affu-
jg(j red it is He that has been in the mid'ft of
Pfcj^/le, in the midft of Thee, and not
jto Pelufton, as thy miftaken Teachers have
made
(go y
made Thee believe. And this thou ihalt
find by their Marks and Fruits^ if thou wilt
confider them in the Spirit of Modera-
tion.
CHAP. III.
Of the Qualifications of their Mimftry.
Eleuen M<^Tks that it is Chri-
ftian.
I. I ^Hey were changed Men themfelves
^ 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 fcen by the great Alteration it made,
and their fir icier Courfe of Life, and more.
Godly Converfation that immediately fol-
lowed upon it.
II. They went not forth, or Preached in
their Time or Will, but in the Will of
God) and Spoke not their own fiudiedybx-
|;er, but as they were opened and moved of
jjis Spirit, with which they were well ac-
quaiated
qualnted in their own Converfion: Which
cannot be exprefed to Carnal Men fo as to
give them any intelligible account; for to
' luch it is as Chrifl: faid, like the blowing of
the Wind, which no man knows whence
itcometh, or whither it goeth. Yet this
Proof and Seal went along with their Mini-
ftry, that many were turned from their
Life-Iefs Profeffions, and the Evil of their
Ways, to an inward 2iT\A experimental know-
ify ledge of God, and an Holy Life, as thou-
lliri. fands can witnefs. And as they Freely re-
ceived what they had to fay from the Lord,
fothey Ftee^ adminifter'd it toothers.
n III. The Bent and Strefs of their Mini-
ftry was Converfion to God; Regeneration
and Holinefs, Not Schemes of Dodlrines
' I and Verbal Creeds, or new Forms of Wor-
ftiip; But a leaving off in Religion the Su-
J perfluous, and reducing the Ceremonious
and Formal part, and prefling earneftly the
Subjlantial^ the Neceffary and Profitable
part to the Soul; as all, upon a ferious Re-
fleftion, muft and do accknowledge.
IV. They diredled People to a Principle
in themfelves, tho' not of themlelves, by
m
, which all that they afferted, Preached and
° Exhorted others to, might be wrought in
them,
Sffi
m
( ) ■
them, and known to them, through Expe-
rience, to be true: Wliich iszhigh and r
diftingaijhing Mark of the Truth of their
Miniftry, both that they knew what they f i
faid, and were hot afraid of coming
^as!
to the Teft. For as they were bolL_
from Certainty, fo they required
formity upon no Humane Authority, but
upon ConviStioHy and the ConviHion of
This Prmcifle; which they afferted was in
them that they Preached unto, and unto that
they direfted them, that they might ejc4-
mine and frove the Reality of thole things
which they had alFrmed of it, as to its
Manifeftation and Work in Mam _ And ^
this is more than the many Miniftries in the s ^
World pretended to. They declare of y
Religion, fay many tilings true, in words, tHot
of Gody Chrijly and the Spirit; of Holinefs at
and Heaven ; that aH Men fbould Repent and iifi
mend their LiveSy or theymllgotoHelly^C. 'Aco
But which of them all pretend to fpeak «?/ J-
their own Kjtowledge and Experience? Or iiil
ever directed Men to a Divine Principle, ttk
or Agent, placed of God in Man, to help fill
him; and how to know it, and wait to feel rtiil
its Power to work that good and acceptable
Will of God in theip. Sait
Some
i.
()
,pc.i Some of them indeed have Spoke of the
and the Operations of it to Sanftifi-
cation, and Performance of Worfhip to
jiB God; but Where, and Horv to find it, and
lii^ wait in it, to perform our duty to God, was
bol'yet as aMyffery to be declared by this /«r-
degree of keformation. So that this
People did not only in words, more than
in ff equally prefs Repentance, Converfion and
'asz Holinefs, but did it knowingly and expert'
thj mentally; and direfted thofe, to whom they
» preached, to a fufficient Principle; and told
lilng them where it was, and by what Tokens they
:o if, might know it, and which way they might
All experience the Power and Efficacy of it to
ntk their Soul's Happinefs. Which is more
Ki' than Theory znA Speculation, upon which
-oii moft other Miniftries depend: For here is
certainty; a Bottom upon which Man may
fui boldly appear before God in thegreat'Day
of Account.
V. They reached to the Inward State and
(j( Condition of People, which is an Evidence
jple, of the Virtue of their Principle, and of
Ijelp their Miniftring from it, and not from their
feel own Imaginations, Gloffes or Comments
^ble upon Scripture. For nothing reaches the-
Heart, but what is fromjhe Heart, Of pier-
(
cesthe Confcience, but what comes from a
living Conlcience. Infomuch as it hath ®)
i often happened, where People have under
Secrecy revealed their State or condition to
fome choice Friends, for Advice-or Eafe,
they have been fo particularly dire£l:ed in tile ^'1
Miniftry- of this People, that they have
challenged their Friends with difcovering :of
their Secrets, and telling the Preachers their
Cafes,to whom a word had not been fpoken/ 'd
Yea, the very Thoughts and Furpojes of the'alar
hearts of many have been fo plainly detedt-: lExj
ed, that they have, like Nathamel^ cryed lnoi
out, of this inward appearance of Chrilf,.
Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the Kjng wi
of Ifrael. And thofe that have embraced irsi
this Divine Principle, have found this Mark i\ \
of its Truth and Divinity (that the Wo- itli
man of Samaria did of Chrift when in the ijc j
Flefh, toho.th&Mefftah,') viz. It had told jmi
them all that ever they had done', fhowed them rtliai
their ir/fdes, the mofi: inward lecrets of their ^tlie:
Hearts, and laid Judgment to the Line, and
Kighteoufnefs to the Plummet; of which \1l
Thoufands can, at this day, give in tlieir iilij
Witnefs. So that nothing has been affir- k®
med by this People, of the Power and le
Virtue of this Heavenly Principle, that
fuch
( «5 )
mj fuch as have turned to it have not found
lath true, and more; and that one half not
iilc! been told to them of what they have feen of
into the Power, Purity, Wifdom and Goodnefs of
iafe God therein.
itli yi. The Accomphjhments with which
fe this Principle fitted, even fome of the mean-
erii eft of this People, for their Work andSer-
the: vice: Furnifhingfomeofthem with an Ex-
oka traordinaryUnderftanding in DivineThings,
if tk and an admirable Fluency and Taking way
eteC' of Expreflion, which gave occafion to fome
one; to wonder, faying of them, as of their Ma-
fc- fter. Is not this fuch a MechaniclPs Son, how
came he ly this Learning? As from thence o-
ancE thers took occafion to fufpeft and infinuate
;klr. they were Jefuites in Diiguife, who have
elh had the Reputation of Learned Men for an
iiitl;; Age pa ft, though there was not the leafl:
liix ground of Truth for any fuch Refleflion.
IticE In that their Minifters are kucwn, the places
f[li£i' of their Abode, their Kindred and Educa-
;aii! tion.
'hict' VII. That they rife Low, and Defpifed,
4eir 3ind Hated, as the Primitive Chriftians did,
and not by the help of Worldly Wifdom or
anl Power, as former Reformations, in part,
tte have done : But in ail things, it may be faid,
"ocli E this
(66)
this People were brought forth in the Crofs;
in a Contrndi^iion to the Ways, Worfhip,
Fafhions and Cuftoms of this World ; yea,
againft Wind and Tide, that fo no Flefh
might Glory before God.
VIII. They could have no defgn to them'
felves in this Work, thus to expofe them-
felves to Scorn and Abufe; to fpend and be
fpent: Leaving Wife and Children^ Houfi
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
MelTage, revived in their Spirits, by the
good Spirit and Power of God. 'viz,.
^ That God is Light,and in him is no dark
'nefsatall; and that he has fent his Son a
'Light into the World to enlighten all Men
' in order to Salvation; and that they that fay
' they have Fellowfhip with God and are his
' Children and People,and yet walk in Dark-
' nefs, viz. in Dilbbedience to the Light in
' their Confcicnces, and after the Vanity of
'this World, thej lie and do not the Truth,
' But that all fuch as love the Light, and
' bring their Deeds to it, and walk in the
' Light, as God is Light, the blood of Jefus
' Chrift his Son fhould cleanfe them from all
' Sin. Thus Jo. 1.4.19. Ch. j. 20. 21.
'iJo.i.'^.6.y. IX.
()
IX. Their known great Conft-mcy and
Tutience in Suffering for their Teftimony, iri
all the Branches of it; and that fometimcs
unto Death, by Beatings, Bruijings, long
and crorvdsd Imfrifonments, and Noifom Dun-
feons. Four of them in New England Dying
»y the Hands of the Executioner, purely for
Breaching amongft that People; Befides Ba-
nijJjments, and Exceffive Blunders and Sec^ue-
firations of their Goods and Eftates, almofl
in all parts; not eafily to be expreffed, and
lefs to have been endured, hut by thofe that
have the fupport of a good and glorious
Caufe; refufing Deliverance by any indirect
ways or means, as often as it was offered to
them.
X. That they did not only, not fhow
any difpofition to Revenge, when it was at
any time in their Power; hut forgave their
cruel Enemies; fhewing Mercy to thofe that
had none for them.
XI. their Blainnefs with thofe in Autho-
rity, like the Antient Prophets, not fearing
to tell them,to theirFaceSjOf their Private and
Publick Sins ; and their Prophecies to them
of their Affliftions and Downfal, when in
the Top of their Glory. Alfoof fomeNati-
onal Judgments, as of the Plague, a.nd Fire^
^ E 2 ojf
(68 )
of London, in exprefs Terms: And like-1
wife particular ones to divers Perfecutors,
which accordingly overtook them, and __
were very remarkable in the Places where
they dwelt, which in time may be made
publick for the Glory of God.
Thus, Reader, thou feeft this People in ,.
their Rife-, Principles, Minifiry and Progrefs; ^
both their General and Particular Teftimo- f
ny : By which thou maift be informed, how, n ^
and upon what foot they Sprang and became .
fo confiderable a People. It remains next "J
that Ifhew alfo their Care, ConduB and (Df
Difcipline, as a Chriftian and Reformed p)
Society; that they might be found living
up to their own Principles and Profeflion.
And this, the rather, becaufe they have
hardly fuffered more in their Charafter
from the Unjuft Charge of Error, than by
the falfe Imputation of Dijorder : Which
Calumny indeed has not failed to follow all :tlif
the true fteps that were ever made to Re- it!
formation, and under which Reproach none sE)
fuffered more than the Primitive Chriftians ^ch
themfelves, that were the Honour of Chri- Jsc
Rianity, and the great Lights and Examples lbs
of their own and fucceeding Ages. ■ 'i\i
CHAP.
^'IC
()
1
I
CHAP. IV.
of the Difcipline and Pradlice i)f this
People as aRe ighus Society, The
Church Power they own and exer-
cife^ and that which they rejeSi and
condemn: With the Method of their
Proceedings againji Erring and
Viforderly Perjons,
1*^1115 People encreafing daily both in
Town and Country, an Holy Care
fell upon fome of the Elders among them,
for the Benefit and Service of the Church,
^nd the firft Bufmefs in their View, after
the Example of the Primitive Saints, was
the exercife of Charity ; to fupply the Necef-
fities of the Poor, and anfwer the like Oc-
cafions. Wherefore Collections were early
and liberally made for that and divers other
Services in the Church, and intrufted with
Faithful Men, Fearing God, and of Good
E 5 Report,
.X 7° ) .
Report, who were not weary in well-doing;
adding often of their ovon^ in large Propor-
tions, which tliey never brought to account,
or defired fhould be known, much lefs re-
Rored to them, that none might want, nor
any Service be retarded or difappointed.
They were alfo very careful,that every one
that belonged to them, anfwered their Pro-
feffion in their Behaviour among Men, up-
on all Occafions; that they lived Peaceably,
and were in all things good Examples.
They found themfelves engaged to record
their Sufferings and Services: And in cafe of
Marriage, which they could not perform
in the ufual Methods of the Nation, but a-
mong themfelves, they took care that all
things were clear between the Parties and
all others: And it was then rare that any
one entertain'd an Inclination to aPerfon
on that account, till he or R iii had commur
nicated it fecretly to fome very Weighty
and Eminent Friends among them, that
they might have afenfe of the matter;
looking to the Council and Unity of their
Brethren as of great Moment to them.
But becaufe the Charge of the Poor, the
Number of Orphans, Mamages, Sufferings
and other matters multiplied', and that it
was
( 7' )
was good that the Churches were in fome
and Method of proceeding in fucli
Amirs among them, to the end they might
the better correfpond upon occafion, where
® a Member of one Meeting might have to do
with one of another; It pleafed the Lord
in his Wifdom and Goodnefs, to open the
Underftanding of the firft Inftrument of
1 ? this Difpenfation of Life, about a Good and
Orderly way of Proceeding: Who felt
4^1 an Holy Concern to vifit the Churches in
mil Perfon thoroughout this Nation, to begin
and eftablifh it among them: And by his
Epiftles the like was done in other Nations
and Provinces abroad ; which he alfo after-
wards Vifited, and helped in that Service,
as fhall be obferved when I come to fpeak of
St® him.
'efi Now the Care, Cofidalf 2.nd DifcipUne, I
* have been Ipeaking of, and which are now
5^1 practiced among this People, is as follow-
tint eth.
This Godly Elder, in every County
where he travelled, exhorted them, that
® Some, out of every Meeting of Worfhip,
fliould meet together once in the Month,
to confer about the Wants and Occafions of
tit the Church. And as the Cafe required.
( 72 )
fo thofe Monthly Meetings were fewer or isfi
more in number in every refpeftive County: si'
Four or Six Meetings of Worfhip, ufually if
making one Monthly Meeting of Bufinefs. n
And accordingly the Brethren met him from It
place to place, and began the faid Meetings, iilif
"VIZ,. For the Poorfirphans, Orderly Walkings i|
Integrity to their ProfeJJion^ Births^ Mm'ia- -li,
ges. Burialsy Sufferings, &c. And that thefe
Monthly Meetings fliould, in each County, iti)
make up one Qyparterly Meeting, where the
moft Zealous and Eminent Friends of the .io;
County fhould affemble to Communicate, Di
Advife and Help cne another, efpecially bti
when any Bufinefs f::emed difficult, or a in
Monthly Meeting was tender of determining • kol
a Matter.
Alfo tliat thefe feveral Quarterly Meetings 'k
fliould digeft the Reports of their Monthly ;ie\
Meetings, and prepare one for each re- ^kJ
fpeftive County, againfr the Tearly M-eting, ijiei
in which all Quarterly Meetings refolve;: i; ]
which is held in London'. Where the
Churches in this Nation, and Oclier Nati-
ens and Provinces Meet by chofen Members :'dlj
of tlieir Refpeftive Counties, both mutual-
ly to communicate their Church ^^ffairs, and '(fj
to advife and be advifed in any depending ^
CaS
( 7? )
f 0! Cafe to Edification. Alfo to provide a Re-
inty; quiftte Stock for the difcharge of general
ally Expences for general Services in the Church,
Bek not needful to be here particularized,
from At theie Meetings Any of the Members
ings, of the Churches may come, if they pleafe, i,'
and fpeak their Minds freely, in the Fear of
m God, to any matter; but the Mind of each
tM; Q^xrterly Meeting, therein reprefented, is
w, chiefly underftood, as to particular Cafes, in
Tetk the Senfe delivered by the Perfons deputed
of tb or chofen for thatService by the faidMeeting.
wtiif,! During their Tenrly Meeting, to which
ecialf their otlier Meetings referr in their Order,
,0[i and naturally Refolve themfelves, care is
m taken by a Se/e^ Number, for that fervice
chofen by the General Affembly, to draw
M up the Minutes of the faid Meeting, upon
kt: the feveral matters that have been under
ch n- Confideration therein; to the end that the
an-. Refpeftive jQuarterlfi and Montk/y Meetings
folre; may be informed of all Proceedings;
; t!ie together with a general Exhortation to
li';- Holinefs, "Vnity and Charity. Of all
to which Proceedings in Tearly, Quarterly
'id and Monthly Meetings, due Record is kept
and by fome One appointed for tfiat Service, or
ling thathath voluntarily undertaken it. Thefe
ile Meetings
( 74 ) ,
Meetings are opened, and ufually concluded J®
in their Solemn waiting upon God, who is
fometimes gracioufly pleafed to anfwer ^
them with as fignal Evidences of his Love 1^
and Prefence, as in any of their Meetings sji
of Worfhip.
It is further to be Noted, that in thefe
Solemn Affemblies, for the Church's Service, *^5
there is no one prefides among them aff^rr
tite manner of the AfTemblies of other %
People: only being their Prejidenf, at!
as he is pleai^ to appear in Life and IVifdom
in any one or more of them, to whom,
whatever be their Capacity or Degree, the '!
rejfi: adhere with a Firm Vnity, not of Au- t}
thority but Conviction^ which is the Divine t®
Authority Way of Chrift's Power and
Spirit in his People: Making good his bleffed tii
Promife, That he would be in the Midjl of his^ an
where and whenever they were met together in his "j ;
Nam? J even to the End of the Wor Id. So be it. tuj
, Now it may be expected,I Oiould here fet n
down what fort of Authority is exercifed :■
by this People, upon fuch Members of \
their Society as correfpond not in their Lives 'ijil
with their Profeffion, and tliat are Re- :C
fraftory to this good and wholefom Order sc
fetkd among them j and the rather, be- ki
cauie
('75 )
udej caufe. they Jiave not wanted their Reproach
hois and Sufferings from fame Tongues and
ifwer upon this occafion, in a plentiful manner.
Lovt The Power they exercife is ru(di as Chrift
tina has given to his own People, to the End of
the World, in the Perfons of his Difciples;
tklE "Mz. To Overfee^ Exhort^ Reprove, and
after long Suffering and Waiting upon the
laft:! Difobedient and Refraflory, to Difowrz
Otlii! them, as any more of their Qlonwiunion, or
(fk, that they will any longer /iantl Chargedm
the Sight and 'Judgment of God or Men, with
ffk their Converfation or Behaviour as one of them,
they Repent. The fubiefl matter a-
ofA bout which this i^uthority, in any of the
Dtj foregoing Branches of it, is Exercifed, is
TOffi Firft, in Relation to common and general
Pralike-, and Secondly, aboutthofe things
{fiii:, that moi'e ftri6:ly referr to their own Cm-
ralier and Profeffion, and which diftinguifli
[)[)eii them from all other Profeifors of Chriftiani-
lerel 0'? avoiding two Extreams upon which
■rtifal many Split, viv. Perfecution and Liberti-
oi mfrn. Tliat is, a Coercive Power, to IVhip
[iVes People into the Temple; that fuch as will
jte. not Comform, tho'Faith and'Coi>
)r(je; fcience, Ihafl bepunijht in their Perfons or
^ Bftates: Or leaving all loofe and at ln^ge, as
(76) • If
to Praflice; and fo unaccountable to all but »!
God and the Magiftrate. To which hurt- ®
ful Extream, nothing has more contributed ft'
than the of Church Power, by fuch i
as fuffer their Fajjions and frivnte Interefis ^
to prevail with them to carry it to Outward 4
Force and Corporal Punifhment. A Pra-
ftice they have been taught to diflike, by 2!f
their extream Sufferings, as well as their
known Principle for an Vniverfal Liberty of 11
Confcieme,
On the other hand, they equally diflike
an Independancy in Society. An unaccountable- jof
nefs in Pra^fice and Converfation to the i;
Rules and Terms of their own Communion, .it
and to thofe that are the Members of it. ,ii
They diftinguifh between Impofing any 1,
Praftice that immediately regards faith or
Worjhip ( which is never to be done or fuf- .lai
fered, or fubmitted unto ) and requiring
Chriftian Compliance with thofe Methods
that only refpeQiChurch Bufinefs in its more
* Civil part and Concern; and that regard
the Difcreet and Orderly Maintenance of the
Character of the Society as a Sober and Reli- jt[
gious Community. Inflaort, what is for the f|
Promotion of Holinejs and Charity, that Men
may P rail ice what they profefs, live up to
their
. '' 77 )
their own Principles, and not be at Liberty
1 but to give the Lie to their own Profeflion with-
butt, out Rebuke,is their Vfe and Limit of Church
3utal Power. They compel none to them, but
fud oblige thofe that are of them to walk Sui-
tahly^ Or they are denyed by them: That is all
itmi the Mark they fet upon them, and the Fower
I Prj' they Exercife, or Judge a Chriftian Society
b, k can Exercife, upon thofe that are the Mem-
stlie: bersofit.
The way of their Proceeding againft
fuch as have Lapft or Tranfgreft, is this,
dii He is vifited by fome of them, and the mat-
witii ter of Faft laid Home to him, be it any evil
to t PraHice againft known and general Vertue,
nii® or any Branch of their Particular T eftimony,
sotf which he, in Common, profeffeth with
ioffC them. They labour with him in much
[0 Love and Zeal for the^ooiof his Soul, the
Honour of God, and Reputation of their Pro-
(joini^. feflion, to own his Fault and condemn it, in
ledofi as ample a Manner as the Evil or 5can lal
was given by him ; which for the moft part,
tgari is performed by fome Written Teftimony
oftk under the parties Hand: And if it fo happen
10 that the party prove Refraclory^ and is not
brtlii willing to clear the Truth,they profefs, from
:M;ii the Reproach of his or her evil doing or Un-
faithfulnefs,
tkk -
faithfblnefs, they, after repeated Entrea-
tks and due waiting for a Token of Repen- v
tance, give forth a Paper to difb-!vn fuch a
Ea<T, and the Pizrty offending; Recording
the fame as a Teftimony of their care for the ,
Honour of the Truth they profefs. '
And if he or fhe Haall clear their Profeffon ■,
and themfelves, by fincere Acknowledg-
ment of thefr Fault, and Godly forrow
for fo doing, they are recei'ved and looked
upon again as Members of their Communi- ' n
on. For as God, fohis true People '
mo Man after Repentance.
This is the account I had to give of the J
People of God called Qmkers^ as to their
Rife, Appearance, Principles and Praifices y!
in this Age of the World, both with Re- ®
IpeiT to their Pailh and IVorjhip, Difcipline W
and Converfation. And I Judge it very pro-
per in this place, becaufe it is to Preface the
fournal of the Fir (I Bleffed and Glorious In-
ffrument of this Work, and for a Teftimo- .
ny to Hnn^m his fineular Qualifications and
Services, in which he abundantly excelled in
this day, and are worthy to be fet forth as
an Exansple to all fucceeding Times; to the
GioryoftiieMy? Gof and for ^ jufl
Mewor.ial to that Worthy and Excellent ^
Man,
C 79 )
J ^ Man, Ms Faithful Servant and Apofile to this
"■ Generation of the World.
'ill
lootei
CHAP. V.
fclFcji- •
Inftrument or ^erfon by
kovi whom God wojs pkafed to gather this
People into the rpay they ^rofefs.
Bis l>{ame G. Fox : His many ex-
cedent Qualifications ; Jhorping a
Divine^ and not a Human Power to
hosue hem their Original in Him.
His Troubles and Sufferings both
from without and within. His End
Triumph.
3tk
nk
tUi-
;!£/a
.• I
rypti"
icetl'i
Saul'.
tk:
sk
I
Ian,
Am now come to the Third Head or
_ Branch of my Preface, viz. Fhclnfiru -
mental Author. For it is Natural for fome,
" to fay, Well, here is the People and Work,
but where and who was the Man, the In-
firument: He that in this Age was fent to
begin this Work and People.^ I lhall, as
God
( 80 )
God. fhall enable me, declare who and what 5re
he was, not only by report of others, but ifi
from my own long and moft inward Con- it-
verfe and intimate knowledge of him ; for iici
which my Soul bleffeth God, as it hath often
done ; And I doubt not, but by that time I arc
■^lave difcharged my felf of this part of my Hi
Preface, my feriom Readers will believe I f
had good Caufe fo to do.
The Blelfed Inftrument of, and in this
day of God, and of whom I am now about a
to Write, was JfOp, diftinguilhed 41
from another of that Name, by that Other's 21
addition of Tounger to his Name in all his iw
Writings; not that he was fo in Years, but iii,
that he was fo in the Truth: But he was alfo .isi
a Worthy Man , Witnefs and Servant of a;
God in his time. %
But this George Fox was Born in Leice'
fier-jhire ^ shout the Year 1624. He de--r\
fcended of Honeft and Sufficient Parents, ll
who endeavoured to bring him up, as they -i]
did the reft of their Children, in the Way
and Worfhip of the Efpecially his
Mother, who was a Woman accomplifht a- itj
bove moft of her Degree in the place where
file lived. But from a Child he appeared -3^;
oFwother Frame of Mind than the reft of his
Bre-
( 8, )
wk Brethren ; being more Religious, Inward j
iikt Stilly Solid^ and Obferving beyond his Tears.,
Cofr as the Anfwers he would give, and the Que-
i;fe ftions he would put, upon occafion, mani-
oftc fefted, to the Afl-onifhment of thofe that
timel heard him, efpecially in Divine Things.
of nc His Mother taking Notice of his Singular
be' Temper^ ?LnAx.h& Gravity, Wifdom Piety
that very early fhined through him, refu-
in tin fing Chtldijh and Vain Sports, and Company,
nk when very Young: She was Tender and
guiSi^ Indulgent over him, lb that from her he
Otlrj met with little Diffculty. As to his Em~
\i\ ployment he was brought up in Country Bu-
arSjk finefs, and as he took moft delight in b/'ee/',
wasL fo he was very skilful in them : An Employ-
rvi: ment that very well fuited his mind in feve-
' ral Refpefts, both for its Innocency and Soli-
J] y tude; and was Emblem of his after Mi-
He& niftry and Service,
'areooj I fhall not break in upon his own Account,
as til? which is by much the beft that can be given,
e flV and therefore defire, what I can, to avoid
l!j li^ faying any thing of what is laid already,
'ilhci' as to the particular PalTages of his coming
ivhe? forth: But, in general, when he was fome-
leared what ^bove Twenty he left his Friends,
[ifliii and vifited the moft Retired and Religious
Bre- . F Peopk
( 8a )
People in thofe Parts: And feme there were
fhort of few, if any, in this Nation,w/'o wait-
edfor the Confolation <^Ifracl Night and Day •
as Zj,cheriaSy Anna and good Old Simeon did
of Old Time. To thefe he was fent, and
thefe he fought out in the Neighbouring
Countys, and among them he Sojourned till
his more ample Miniftry came upon him.
At this time he taught and was an Example
of Silencey endeavouring to bring them from
•Self-performances: Teftifying of and tur-
ning them to the Light of Chrift within
them, and encouraging them to wait in Pa-
tience to feel the Power of it to ftir in their
Hearts, that their Knowledge and Worlhip
of God might ftand in the Power of an
Endlefs Life, which was to be found in the
Eighty as it was obeyed in the Manifeftation
of it in man. For in the Word was Life,
and that Life is the Light of Men. Life in
the Word, Light m Men ; and Life in Men
too, as the Light is obeyed : The Children
of tlie IJght living by the Life of the Word,
by which the Word begets them again to
God, which is the Regeneration and New-
Birthy without which there is no coming
into the Kingdom of God: And' to which,
\vhoever comes, is greater than fohn;
that
mz
mil'
%;
, ani
aringi
di
ihiii
ampli
ifm
idtlT'-
witiil
ntkr.
of ail
IS Lift,
Lfv
into
AW
niog
liclf,
,■
ttol
( 8? )
that is, than 'John^s Difpenfation, Which was
not that of the Kingdom, but the Confiim-
matioH of the Legal, and Forerunning of
the Gofpel Times, the time of the Kjn^om.
Accordingly, feveral Meetings were gather-
ed in thofe Parts; and thus his Time was
employed for fome Years.
In 1652. He being in his ufual Retire-
ment, his Minde exercifed towards the
Lord, upon a very High Mountain, in
fome of the hither parts of Tork/hire, as I take
it, he had zVifwn of the great Work
of God in the Earth, and of the way that
he was to go forth in a publick Miniftry, to
begin it. He fa w People,as thick as Motes in
the Sun, that fhould, in time, be brought
Home to the Lord, that there might be
but one Shepherd and one Sheeptold in all
the Earth.! There his Eye was directed
Northward, beholding a great People that
Ihould receive him and his MelTage in thofe
Parts. Upon this Mountain he was moved
of the Lord to found out his Great and not a-
hie Day, as if he had been in a great Audh
tory; and from thence went North, as the
Lord had fhown him. And in every place
where he came, if not before he came to it,
he had his particular Exercife and Service
F % flbowri
( 84 )
jThown to him, fo that the Lord was his
dcr indeed.For it was not in vain that heTra-
vailed; God in moft places fealin^ his Corft-T
million with the Convincement of fome
forts, as well Publicans as fober ProfelTors^'
of Religion. Some of the firft and mofl:.^J
Eminent of thole that came forth in a pub-
lick Miniftry, and which are now at Reft,j.
were Richard Farnfmrthy James Najlery}
William Dew sherry y Tho. Aldam, Francis]
Howgily Edward Burroaghi, John Cammy^''
John Audlandy Richard Hubberthorny T.m
Tay lory T. Holmes y Alexander Parkery Wil-^
Ham Simpfony William Cattony John Stubbsy^
Robert Withers, Tho. LoWy Jofiah Coalcyf
John Burnyeaty Robert Lodge, Thomas
houfe, and many more Worthies, that cannot" ^
he well here Named; together with divers
yet living of the firft &: Great Convincement;
who after the knowledge of God's purging ®
Judgments in themfelves, and fome time of '
waiting in filence upon him, to feel and re-
ceive Power from on High, to fpeak in his
Name, (which none elfe rightly can, though ^
they may ufe the fame Words ) They felt ^
Its Divine Motions, and were frequently^
flrawn forth, efpecially to vifit the Publick
AJfemblies, to reprove, inform and exhort ■'''i
them:
( §5 )
Sometimes m Markets, Falrs^ Streets,
and by the High-rvaj-fide; calling People to
jQjj Repentance, and to turn to the Lord with
their Hearts as well as their Mouths; di-
(jfgjjlrefting them to the Light of Chrift within
to lee, examine, and conlidcr their
J 4 ways by, and to efchervthe evil,and do the Good
and Accent able Will of God. And they fuf-
j^f'fered great Hardfhips for this their Love,
l^^^and Good-will; being often Stockt, Stoned,
^ Beaten, Whipt and Imprifoned; though Honefl:
' ^ Men,and of Good Report where they lived;
IP that had left Wives and Children,and Houfes
^Jj^'and Lands to vifit them with 2. living Call
j.' to Repentance. And though the Priejis ge-
J^,j^ nerally fet themfelves to oppofe them, and
" write againft them, and infinuated moft
, V Falfe and Scandalous Stories to Defame them;
_ ftirring up the Magiftrates to fupprefs them,
efpecially in thofe Northern Parts; yet God
was pleafed fo to fill them with his living
Power, and give them fuchanopen Door
'.. of utterance in his Service, that there was
a mighty Convincement over thofe Parts.
t And through the tender and fingular In-
'' diligence of Judge Bradjhaw and Judge Fell,
Rand Coll. Wejl, in the Infancy of things,
^,■1 the Priefls were never able to gain the point
E ? they
( S6 )
they laboured for; wliich was to have pro- y.
ceeded to Blood; and, if polTible, Herod-
like, by a Crae/exercife of the Civil Power,
to have cut them off and rooted them out of ^
the Country. But efpecially Judge
who was not only a Check to their Rage in^,
the Courfe of Legal Proceedings, but other-
wife, upon occafion; and finally countenan-
ced this People. For his receiving thCjjjj^
Truth with the Firft, it had that Influence
upon his Spirit, being a Jufi and fVife Man,
and feeing in his own Wife and Family a '^,
full Confutation of all the popular Clamours
againfl: the Way of Truth, that he covered
them what he could, and freely opened his ^
Doors, and gave up his Houfe to his Wife
and her Friends; not valuing the Reproach y
of Ignorant or of Evil Minded People; ■
Which I here mention, to His and her Ho- "
Hour, and which will be, I believe, an Ho- ^
nour and a Bleffing to fuch of their Name and
Family, as fhall be found in that Tendernefs^ j
Humility^ Love and Xgale for the Truth and
People of the Lord. * ^
That Houfe was for fome Years, at Hrft e- ^
fpecially, till the Truth had opened its way
into the Southern parts of this Ifland, an
Eminent Receptacle of this People. Others, J
of'^
( 87 )
of good Note and Subftance In thofe Nor-
thern Countiys, had alfo opened their
HoufeSjwith their Hearts, to the many Pub-
lijb ers^ that, in a fhort time, the Lord had
raifed to declare his Salvation to the People;
and were Meetings of the Lord's
were frequently held, to communicate their
Services and Exercifes, and Comfort and
Edify one anohter in their Blejfed Minijlry,
But leaft tliis may be thought a Di-
greffion, having touched upon this before,
I return to this Excellent Mm: And for his
Perfonal Qualities, both Nn-turd^ Mordand
Divine J as they appeared ^ in his Converfe
with Brethren, and in the Church of God,
take as follows.
I. He was a Man that God endued with
a Clear and WonderfuliyQ^th.: A Difcerner of
others Spirits, and very much a Majler of
his own. And though that fide of his Un-
derftanding which lay next to the World,
and efpecially the Expreflion of it, might
found Uncouth and Unfajhionable to Nice
Ears, his matter was neverthelefs very pro-
found; and would not only bear to be of-
ten confidered, but the more it was fo, the
more Weighty and Inftrufting it appeared.
And as Abruptly and Brokenly as fometimes
F 4 his
his Sentences would leem to fall from him,
about Divine Things, it is well known they
were often as Texts to many fairer Declara-
tions, And wdeed it fhowed, beyond all
ContradiiTion, that God fent him ; in that no
Arts or Parts had any jhare in the matter or.
manner of his Mini fry; and that fo many
Great.y Excellent and Necejfary Truths, as he
came forth to Preach to Mankind, had
therefore nothing of Man's Wit or Wifdom
to recommend them. So that as to Man he
was an Original, being no Man^s Copy.
And his Miniftry and Writings fhow they
are from one that was not Taught of Man,
nor had Learned what he faid by Study.
Nor were they Notional or Speculative, but
fenfible and Tragical Truths, tending to
Comjeffwn and Regeneration, and the fetting
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 my felf, and been made to fay, with my
Lord and Mafter upon the like Occafion;
1 thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of Hearten and
Earth, th(it thou hajl hid thefe things from the
Wife and Prudent of this World, and revealed
them to Babes: For many times hath my
Soul bowed in an Humble Thankfulnefs to the
Lord,
8?)
Lord, that he did not choofe any of the
Wife and Learned of this World to be the
/r/MeiTenger in our Age, of his hlejfed Truth
to Men; but that he took one that was not
0^High Degree, OY Elegant Speech, or Learn~
erw', ed, after the way of this World, that his Mef-
fage and Work, he fent him to do, might
come with (efs Sufpicion, or Jealoufie of
Humane Wifdom and Intereft, and with
more Force and Clearnefs upon the Confciences
of thofe that fincerely Sought the way of
Truth, in the Love of it. I fay, beholding
with the Eye of my mind, which the God
of Heaven had opened in me, the Marks of
God's Finger and Hand 'vifibly, iT^this Te-
ftimony, from the Clearnejs of the Principle,
the Power and Efficacy of it, in the Exem-
flary Sobriety, Plainnefs, Zeal, Steadinefs,
Humility, Gravity, Punctuality, Charity
and Circumfpeci care in the Government of
Church Affairs, which /bined in his and
their Life and Teftimony that God employ-
ed in this Work, it greatly confirmed me that
It XVas cf God, and engaged my Soul in a
Deep Love, Fear, Reverence and Thankful-
nefs for his Love and Mercy therein to Man-
kind: In which Mind I remain, and iliall,
tk I hope, through the Lord's ftrength, to the
d, end of my Days. II
:lie|
lara-
lal
liK
ask
y
tta
Mail,
,btt
ettinj
m
^'oiL
•COIK
■hiof
lion;
'
ntk
fiii
(
po )
II. Inhis Tejlimony or Minifirj, he much
laboured to open Truth to the Peoples
Underftandings, and to Bottom them upon
the Principle^ and Principal, Chrifi Jefus,
the Light of the World; that by bringing
them to fomething that was from God in
themfelves they might the better know
and judge of him and themfelves.
III. He had an Extraordinary Gift in
opening the Scriptures. He would goto
the Marrow of things, and fhow the Mind,
Harmony and Fullfilling of them vt ith much
Plainnefs, and to great Comfort and Edifi-
cation.
IV. The Myftery of the frfi and fecond
jidam, of the Pall and Rejloration, of the
Law and Gofpel, of Shadows and Subjlance,
of the Servants and Sons State, and the
lullfiling of the Scriptures in Chrif, and by
Chrijl, the True Light, in all that are his,
through the Obedience of Faith, were much
of the Subjlance and Drift of his Teftimo-
nies. In all which he was witneffed to be
of God, being fenfibly felt to fpeak that
which he had received of Chrift, and was
his own Experience, in tliat which never
^iTs or Fails.
V.
Uc.
imr
tor
?/,U"
ilisrs
i,I
iVit'
acri
sytk
loa
a
111
Jcial:
'aiai
itev
SJl.
^trii
y. But
f 91 )
V. But above all, he excelled in Prayer^
The Inrvardfiefs and Weight of his Spirit, the
Reojerence and Solemnity of iiis Addrefs and
Behaviour, and the Fervnefs and Fulnefs of
his Words, have often ftruck, even Strm-
gers, with Admiration^ as they ufed to reach
others with ConfoLation. The moft Awfuly
Living, Reverent Frame I ever Felt or Be-
held, I muft fay was His in Prayer. And
truly it was a Teftimony he knew and lived
nearer to the Lord than other Men; for
they that know him moft will fee moft rea-
fon to approach him with Reverence and
Fear.
VI. He was of an Innocent Life, no Bufie-
body y nor Self-feeker neither Touchy y nor
Critical'. What fell from him was very /«-
offenfive, if not very Edifying. So Meek,
Contentedy Modejl, Eajie, Steadyy Tenderit
was a pleafure to be in his Company. He
exercifed no Authority but over Evily and
that every where, and in all; but with
Love y CompaJJton and Long-jujfering. A
mojl Merciful Man, as ready to Forgive, as
unapt to take or give an Offence. Thoufands
can truly fay he was of an Excellent Spirit
and Savour among them, and becaufe there-
of
(92)
of the mofl: Excellent Spirits loved him with
an unfained and unfading Love.
VII. He was an Incejfant Labourer: For
in his Younger time, before his many, great
and deep Sufferings and Travels had enfee-
bled his Body for Itinerant Services, he la-
boured much in the Wordy and DoEiriney and
Difcipliney in England, Scotland and Ireland;
turning many to God, and confirming thofe
that were convinced of the Truth, and fet-
ling Good Order, as to Church Affairs,among
them. And towards the Conclufion of his
Travelling Services, between the Years Se-
njenty One, and Seventy Seven, he Vifited
the Churches of Chrift in the Plantations in
America, and in the United Provinces, and
Germany, as his Journal Relates; to the
Convincement and Confolation of many.
After that time he chiefly refided in and a-
bout the City of London ; and befides his
Labour in the Miniftry, which was Fre-
quent and Serviceable, He mit much, both
to them that are within, and thofe that are,
without the Communion. But the care he
, took of the Affairs of the Church in General
was very great.
yill. He was often where the Records of
the
( 93 )
the Bufinefs of the Church are kept, and
where the Letters from the many Meetings
of God's People over all the World ufe to
come: Which Letters he had read to him,
and Communicated them to the Meeting
that is Weekly held therefor fuch Services;
and he would be fure to ftir them up to an-
fwer them, efpecially in Sujfering Cafes:
Showing great Sympathy and Lom^affion upon
all fuch Occafions; carefully looking into the
Refpeftive Cafes, and endeavouring Speedy
Relief, according to the Nature of them. So
that the Churches, or any of the Suffering
Members thereof, were fure not to be for-
gotten or delayed in their Defires if he were
there.
IX. As he was Unwearied, fo 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
Darhy, Litchfeld , Appleby , before Oli'ver
Crommll, at Launjton, Scarborough , M^or-
cejler and Weflminfler-Hall^ with many o-
ther places and Exercifes, did abundantly
evidence it to his Enemies as well as his
Friends.
But as, in the FrimitiveTimQS, fome rife
up againft the bleffed Apofiles of our Lord Je-
fus
itur3i
fus Chrift, even from among thofe that
they had turned to the Hope of the Gofpel,
and they became their greateft Trouble ; fo
this Man of God had //js fhare of Suftering
from ibme tliat were convinced by him^ who,
through pre]iKlice or miftake, ran againft
him, as one that fought Dominion over Con-
fcience, becaufe he preft, by his prefence or
Epifties, a ready and zealous compliance ■
with fuch good and wholefome things as
tended to an Orderly Converfation about the ^
Affairs of the Church, and in their walking
before men. That which contributed much *
to this ill Work, was, in feme, a begrudg-
ing of this Meek Man the love and eff eem he
iiad and deferved in the Hearts of the peo-
pie, and weaknefs in others, that were taken ®'
with their groundlefs Suggeffions of Impoji-
tion and blind Obedience. ^
They would have bad every man Inde- t
fendenr, that as he had the Principle in him- 7PS.
lelf, he fhould only ffand and fall to that,
and no Body elfe: Not confidering that the '^yl
Principle is One in all; and though the mea- 'N
fure of Light or Grace might differ, yet the "^>10
Nature of it was the fame; and being lb, ' Bi
they ftruck at the which a
people, guided by the fame Principle, are M
natu-
. ( 5^ )
naturally led into: So that what is an evil to
One, is fo to All, and what is Vertuous,
Honeft, and of good Repute to One,
is fo to All, from the Senfe and Savour
of the One Umverfal Vrincifle which is com-
men to all, and which the difalfefted alfo
profefs to be the of all True Chriftian
Fellowfhip, and that Spirit into which the
people of God drink^ and come to be Spiri-
tually-minded, and of one Heart and one
Soul.
Some weakly miftook good Order in the
^ Government of Church Affairs, for Difd^
, fline in Worjhip, and that it was fo preft or
recommended by Him and other Brethren:
And thereupon they were ready to refi[e£f
the fame things that Diifenters had very
reafonably objefled upon the National
Churches, that have coercively prelfed Con-
fbrmity to their Refpeftive Creeds and
iWorlhips. Whereas thefe things related
}wholly to Converfation^ and the Outward (and
'as I may fay) Civil part of the Church) that
men fliould walk up to the Principles of their
Belief, and not be wanting in Care and Cha-
,■ rity. But though fome have ftumbled and
'^,'^lfailen through miftakcs, and an unreafona-
ble Obftinancy, even to a Prejudice; yer,
' bleifed
tnat
who,
;ainf;
Con-
iceo:
liancE
IgSli
[ittk
mod!
il»i
5
aitltl
ettiJl
, aKt
( 9& )
bleffed be God, the Generality have return-
ed to their Firft Love, and feen the Work
of the Enemy, that lofes no Opportunity
or Advantage by which he may check or ^^f
hinder the Work of God, and difquiet the^rH
Peace of his Chmch, and chill the Love ofj«.'
his people to the Truth, and one to another;
And there is hope of divers of the few that ^
yet are at a Diftance. £jj
In all thefe Occalions, though there was
no Perfon tlie Difcoptented ftruck fo fharp-
ly at, as this Good Man, he bore all their ^ |
Weaknefs and Prejudice, and returned
for Reflexion; but forgave them jijj^
their weak and bitter Speeches, praying fot .|fj|..
them that they might have aSenfe of their
hurt, and fee the Subtilty of the Enemy to . .
Rend and Divide, and return into their f "
P/Vy^Love that thought no III. j®
And truly I muft fay that though God,, f!
had vifibly cloathed him with a Di'vine Pre- f
ference and Authority^ and indeed his very
prefence expreft a Religious Majelfy ; yet'^)
he never abufed it; but held his place in the'|^'^
Church of God with great Meek^efs, and
?noJl engaging Humility and Moderation. For f
upon all Occafions, like his bleffed Mafter,'^
he was a Servant to all \ holding and exer-'^
cifing'''^"
i 97 )
Voilj
MJ'
etA
3ve(
alls,
,vtk
:e\i-
lll51|
lltia
dffi
[die,
cifing his Elderftiip ^
thatnad gathered them, with Reverence to
the Headwind. Care over the : And was
received, only in that Spirit and Power of
Chrift, as the Firfi and (^hlef Elder in this
Age: Who, as he was therefore worthy of
double Honour, fo for the fame Reaibn it
was given by the Faithful of this day ; be-
caufe his Authority was inward and not
outward, and that he got it and kept ii jjy
the Love of Gdd, and Power of an Endlefs
Life. 1 write my Kjiow/eJge^ and not Re-
port, and fny Witnefs isTrae, having beea
with hint for Weeks and Months together
on divers Occafions, and thofe of the neareft
and mod: exercifing Nature; and that by
llSl!
eiDCi
, d
u
rlalle
Nisht and by L>ay, by ^a and by Land;
" thi ^ •
in
Ciiil
is and in Foreign Countries : And I can
fay, I never faw liifn oht of his Place, or not
a Match for every Service or Occafion.
For in all things he acquitted himfelf like
a Man, yea a jtrong Man, a New and Heo^
uenly>-minded Man. A Divine and a Nutii'
ralifi, and all of God Almiglity"'s making.
\ have been furprifed at his C^eftiqns and
Anfwers in Natural thing.3; That vyhilft he
was Ignorant of ufelefs and ^pliiftical Sci-
exe, ne had in him the Grounds of ufcful
G aiiil'
k
( 9? )
and commendable Knowledge, and cheriflit^j^^,
it every where. Civil, beyond all Forms of ,
Breeding, in his Behaviour. Very Tempe-!^
rate, Eating Little, and Sleeping Lefs,^^
though a Bulky Perfon.
Thus he Lived and Sojourned among us:, ,
And as he lived, fo he died ; feeling the^''
fame Eternal Power that had raifed and pre-'!'[ ^
ferved liim, in his laft Moments. So full of ^
Affurance was he, that he Triumpht over*^l|
-Death; and fo even in his Spirit to the laft, ™
as if Death were hardly worth Notice or a'
mention : Recommending to fome of us •
with him the Difpatch and Difperfwn of an
Epiftle juft before given forth by him to the®"
Churches of Chrift throughout the World,
and his own Books: But above all. Friends,
and of all Friends, thofe in Ireland and A-
merica,t\v'K.Q oyer. Saying, Mind poor Friends "oti
in Ireland and America.
And to fome that came in and enquired I
how he found himfelf, he anfwered. Never titG
heed, the Lord^s Power is over all Weaknefs
and Death, the Seed reigns, Bleffed be the
Lord: Which was about Four or Five Hours
before his Departure out of this World. He
tvas at the great Meeting Lombard-fireet
on theFirft Day of the Week, and it was
the
nfi:!:
wi
iptl-
14
igii
i
■OKI
of;
of;
toth
/orli'
riwi
frit
U*'
199 )
the Third following about Ten at Night
when he left us ; "being at the Houfeof H.
in the fame Court. In a good Old
Age he went, after having lived to fee his
Childrens Chil iren to many Generations tn the
Truth. He had the Comfort of a jhort III-
nefs^ and the Blelling of a clear Senfe to the
lafl:: And we may truly fay, with a Man of
. God of Old, that being Dead, he^et Speaketh:
And though now abfent in Body, he is Pre-
' fent in Spirit: Neither Time nor Place be-
ing able to. interrupt the Communion of
Saints, or dtjfolve the Fellowlhips of the
Spirits of the Juft. His Works praife him,
becaufe they are to the praife of him that
worked by him; for which his Memorial is
and fha!l be blelTed^ I have done, as to this
part of my Preface, when I have left this
fliort Epitaph to his Name. <i©anp ^OlliSf
Done tjictuoullp in tljig ©ap, but,
5©ear George, tl) ju C.cceUeft t^em
G 2
CHAP.
'M •
( 100 )
CHAP. VL
Cmtaining five feV^ral Exhortations.
Firfl General, reminding this Feo^
fie of their Frimkive Integrity and
Shnfiicity, Stzmdly in Particular,
to the Miniftry. Thirdly to the
Young Convinced. Fourthly to
the Children of friends. Fifthly to
thofe that are yet Strangers to this
— ■* * » iCSj I
'FCi 2
Feofle md fFay^ to whom this Book^
(^and Thai k tPas Freface tOy in its kDa
former Edition^ may come. All the
feveral Exhortations accommdated S
to their fetmal States and Conditi-
ons ; that all may anjwer the end of ikes
Cod's love to them^ viz. God^s Gh-
ilier
ry and their omj Salvation.
?Fnri
A
N D now, Friends, you that profefs j
to walk in the way that this BlelTed i
Man *
( )
Man was fent of God to turn us into, fuffer
Ibefecchyou the'word of Exhortation, as
well Fathers as Children, and Elders as Toung
Men. The Glory of this Day, and Founda-
tion of the Hope that has not madeusaiham-
cd fince we were a People, you know is that
BlelFed Principle of Lv^t and Life of Chrift
which we profefs, and DireQ: all people to,
great and Divine Infirument and Agent:
of Man's Converfion to God. It was by this
that we werefirft Touched, and effefnially
enlightned, as to our Inward State; which
put us upon the Confidcration of our Latter
End, caiifing us to fet the Lord before our
Eyes, and to Number our Days that we
might apply our Hearts to Wifdom. la
tiiat Day we judged not after tiic Sight of the
Eye, or after the Hearing of the Ear, but ac-
cording to the Light and Senfe this BlelTed
Principle gave us, fo we judged and afted
in reference to Things and Perfons, our
fclves and others; yea, towards God our
Maker. For being quickned by it in our
Inward Man, we could eafily difcern the dif-
ference of things, and feel what was Right^
and wliat was Wrotg, and what was Fit
and what not, both in reference to Religious
and Civil Concerns. That being the ground
G 3 of
of the Fellowfhip of all Saints, it was in
That our Fellowfhip ftood. In this we de-
fired to have a Senfe one of another, a^ed to-
wards one another, and all Men; in Love^,
Taithfulnefs and Fear.
In the feeling of the Stirrings and Motions .
of this Principle in our Hearts, we drewf
near to the Lord, and waited to he preparedr
by it, that we might fee/ Drawings and ,
Moyings, before we approached tlie Lord in
Praj er, or opened our Mouths in Minilfry.
And in our Beginning and Ending with Thi^
ftood our Comfort^ Sernjice and Edification.-
And as we ran fafter or fell .fhort, we made
Burthens for our felvesto bear ; our Services
finding in our felves a Rebuke inftead of an
Acceptance; and in lieu of Well done, who
has required thi^ at your hands? In that day,
we were an Exercifed People, our very.
Countenances and Deportnient declared
it. ' ^ . ■ ' * .
Care for others was then much upon t!S,
as well as for our felves ; efpecially of the
foung Convinced. Often had we the Bur-
then of the W ord of the Lord to our Neigh-
hours, R^latiops and Acquaintance; and,
fometimes Strangers alfo. We were in Tra-
vail likewife for one anothers Prefervation:
Not
( i°3 )
Not feeking, but fhuningOccafions cfany
Coldnefs or Mifunderftanding; treating one
another as thofe that believed and felt God
prefent. Which kept our Converiation /«-
nocent, Serious and Weighty; guarding our
felves againft the Cares and Friendfhips of
the World. We held the Truth in the Spi-
rit of it, and not in our own Spirits, or after
our own Wills and Affeftions.
They were bowed and brought into Sub-
jeftion, in fo much that it was vifible to
them that knew us, we did not think our
felves at our own Difpofe, to go where we Lift",
or fay or do what we Lift, or when we Lift.
Our Liberty ftood in the Liberty of the Spi'
rit of Truth', and no Pleafure, no Profit, no
Fear, no Favour could draw us from this
retired, ftri£t and watchful Frame. We
were fo far from feeking occafions of Com-
pany, that we avoided thtm what we could ;
piirfuing our own Bufinefs,with Moderation,
inftead of medling with other Peoples Un-
neceflarily.
Our Words were Few and Savoury, our
Looks Compofed 2ind Weighty, and our whole
Deportment very Ohfervable. True it is,
that this Retired and ftrift fort of Life from
the Liberty of the Converfation of the
G 4 World,
(104. )
WorlfJ, exppfed us to tl:|e Cenfures of ma-
ny, 2isHumouriJ^Sy Co^cei^ed^nd Self-righe^
0X0 Pf rfpns, But it was our Pre/erva-
tiqxf from many Snares, to which others
were continuaily ej^pofedjliy the prevalency
of the It}f| of tl^e Eye, the, fuft of the Fle/k^
and the wide of t:hat wanted noOcca-t
fipns or Temptations to excite them abroad
in the Converfe of the World.
f cannot fprget the Humitity and C.h4p
Xed of that Day. Oh, how Conftmt at-
Meetings, how Retired in them, how jirm
to Truth's Life, as well as Truth's Princi-
pips t And how Entire, and United in our
Cor^munion, as indeed became thofe that
profefs Ope Head, eyen Chrift Jefus the
Lord. '
This being the Teftimony and Example tt
the Man of God, before-mentioned, was. "ai
fent to Declare and Le^ve amongft u?, and t|
we haying Embraced the fame as the Mm- «r c
ful Vifitation of Gpd to us, the Word of Ex- t'Oj
hortation at this, time is, That we co?3fime tq jOj<
he found in tht; Way of this Tefimony, with alt iitjj
Z^al and Inte^ity, and fq ^nuch the more, ly i'jt|
horv.much tkfDay drawetf ttear. * fi,Jj
And it
I (105 )
a- And Firft, as to you my Beloved and
ff! much Honoured Brethren in Chrift, that
u- are in the Exereife of the Miniftry : Oh, feel
lets. Life in your Minillry ! Let Life be yoiJt
Commiifion, your Well-fpring and Trea~
fury in all fuch Occafions; elfe, you well
OTi! know, there qan be no begetting to God,
fince nothing can (quicken or make People
' live to GqcT but the Life of God: And it
muft be a Miniftry in and from Life that
enlivens any Peopie to God. We havefeen
the Fruit of all otker Miniftries by the fe'oe
inci-i that are turned frona the Evil of their Ways,
Qur' It is not our ox Memory^ the repctiti-
on of former Openings, in our own will and
ik time, that will do God's Work. A dry
i Dqdrinal Miniftry, however found in
Words, can reach but the and is but a
Dream at the Beft : There is another Sound-
nefs, that is foundeft of all, viz,. Chrift tho.
pxper of God.. This is the K^y of David ^
that Oyep.s and none Shuts,, and Shutand none.
./|! can Open: As the Oil to the Lamp, and the
/ Soul to the Body, fo is that to the beft of
f Words. Which made Chrift to fay, My
Words they are Spirit, and they are Life ; that
is, they are from Life, and therefore they
id m<kke you alive that receive them. If the
Difciples
wSrnrcmr.'wmmmm^"
f io6 ) .
Difciples, that had lived with Jefus, were
to ftay at Jerufakm till they received it; .''t®
much more muft we wait to recti'ue before
we Minifter, if we will turn People from
Darknefs to Light, and from Satan's power -
to God.
I fervently bow my Knees to the God and
Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that you
may always be like minded, that you may
ever wait Reverently for the coming and
opening of tlie Word of Life,and attend upon ».
it in your Miniftry and Service, that you
may ferve God in his Spirit. And be it lit- ® oi
tie, or be it much, it is well; for much is '<SSpe
not too much, and the leaft is enough , if
from the motion of God's Spirit; and with- le Tt
out it, verily, never fo little is too much, Jlfivei
becaufe to no profit. iiinil
For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediate- , 4et:
ly^ or through the Minijlry of his Servants, ikrt!
that teacheth his People to froft; and to :;er to
be fure, fo far as we take him along with us ri W
in our Services, fo far we are profitable and
no farther. For if it be the Lord that muft iiGi
work all things in us for our own Salvation, sifed
much more is it the Lord that muft work in !?;r'
us for tlie Converfion of others. If there- iitidj
fore it was once a Crofs to us to Speak, tittle
though
( jo; )
ert]though thel.ord required it at onr Hands;
it;^let it never be fo to be Jt/eKS, when he does
ore! not.
oml It is one of the moft dreadful Sayings in
TOjthe Book of God ^ That he that adds to the
\Words of the Prophecy of this Book, God will
Aidd the Blagues written in this Book. To
yoiijkeep hack the Counfcl of God, is as Terri-
ble ; for he that takes away from the IVords of
the Prophecy oj thts Book, God fja'[ take away
his part out of the Book of Life. And truly, it
\mgreat CauHon in it to tliofe that ufe the
Name of the Lord, to ht well afured the
Lord Speaks, that they may not be found of
the Number of thofc that add to the Words
rtJi-jof tlie Teftimony of Prophecy, which the
Lord givtth tliem to bear ; nor yet to miince
crdiminifil the fame, both being fo very
clfmrive to God.
\, Wherefore, Brethren , let us be careful
neither to out-go our Guide, nor yet loiter
behind Him; fince he that makes Flafte,
may wi/rhis Way, and he that ftays behind,
lofe his Guide. For even thofe that have
Received the Word of the Lord, had need
■iii jwait for Wifdom, that they may fee how
e.ltodivide the Word aright-. Which plainly
jimpiieth that it is poffible for one, that hath
,1, received
acili
ipOD
VM
\h
\i is
111!-
lilts,
ho
Ici
d
d
an,;-'
( loS )
received the Word of the Lord, to mifs ra
the Dividing and Application of it, which " ^
rnuft come from an Im^atiency of Spirit, and
a Self-workings which makes an unfound
and dangerous Mixture; and will hardly
beget aright minded living People to
God.
I am earned: in this, above all other Con-
iiderations, as to Puhlick Brethren; well
knowing how much it concerns the prefent ^
and future State, and prefervntion of the
Church of Chrift Jefus, that has been ga'-
thered and built up by a Living and Powers
ful Miniftry, that the Miiiilfry be held,
preferved and continued in the Manifeftati-
ens. Motions and Supplies of the fame Life
and Power from time to time.
And where ever it is obferved that any c
one does Minifter more from Gifts and PartSs
than Life and Power, though they have an ^
Inlightned and Doftrinal Underftanding, • Hi
let them in time be advifed and admonifh^d ■ ac
for their Prefervation, becaufe infenfibly Qthj
fuch will come to depend upon a Self-fu_fft~ %
ciemy; to forlake Chrift the living Foun- ticif
tain, and hew out unto themfelves Cifterns - Go
that will hold no living waters: And by de- "SiG
grees fuch will come to draw others from
waiting
{ 109 )
i ifl miting upon the Gift of God in themfelves,
licl and to feel it in others, in order to their
2^ jlrength and Refrefhme?ttyto wait upon them^
unj and to turn from God to Man again, and fo
■dljjto make Shipvrack of the Faith once deJi-
t(| \fered to the Saints, and of a good Con-
i fcience towards God; which 'are only kept
"ojI by that Divine Gift of Life, that begat the
one,and awakn'd and fan£lified the other in
the beginning.
, Ncff- is it enough that we have known
the Divine Gift, and in it have reached to
the Sfirits in Frijhn, and been thelnftru-
ments of the Convincing of others of the
(jjQ. way of God, if we keep not as low and foor
yf in our felves, and as depending upon the
Lord as ever: Since no Memory, no Repe-
titions of former Openings, Revelations or
Enjoyments will bring a Soul to God, or
afford Bread to the Hungry, or Water to
the Thirfty, unlefs Life go with what we
fay, and that muft be waited for.
O that we may have no other Fountain,
Treafure cm* Dependence! That none may
prefume at any rate to A£f of themfelves
for God, becaufe they have long A£led
from God; that we may not fupply want of
waiting with our own Wifdom, think
'liail that
m
'iftX
f
I
-i]
w
ivet
' ' ' ^ ^ ^ is^
tliat we may take lefs Care, and more liber-
ty in fpeaking than formerly; and that
where we do not fee) the Lord by his Po ver
to open us and enlarge us, whatever be the
Expeftation of the People, or has been our^^. |^
Cuftomary Supply and Chara£l:er, we may
not exceed or fill up the time with our ^ j],
own. vV:
I hope we fhall ever Remember who it jj|[jg
was that your fehesyou cm do nothing: ]
Our lufficiency is in him. And if we are ^
not to fpeak our own Words, or t^ke Thought
what we fhould lav to Men in our defence,jj
wlien cxpofed for our Telfimony, furelyl^^^
we ought to fpeak none of our own Words,
or tdke Thought what we fhall fay in our
Teftimony and Miniftry in the Name of!^^
the Lord to the Souls of the People; for
then of all Times, and of all other Occafions
fhould it be fulfilled in us; for it is not you
that fpeaiy but the Spirit of my Father that i'®
And indeed,the Minifiryof the Spirit muft
and does keep its Anah y and Agreement
with the Birth of the Spirit; that as no
Man can Inherit tlie K ingdom of God, un-
lefs he be born of the S ■/rit^ fo no Minifiery
can beget a Soul to God, but that which
is
i£Di
■^Ti
;:A
let.
k-1
iw
k-
Oils;
OC
es:
( 1" )
is from the Spirit. For this, as I faid before,
the Difciples waited before they went forth;
and in this our Elder Brethren, and Melfen-
■ gers of God in our Day, waited^ 'vifited and
reached to us. And having in the 6)?/-
/•/>, let none ever hope or feek to be made
' perfeB in the Flejb: For what is the Flefh
to the Spirit, or the Chaff to the Wheat ?
And if we keep in the Spirit, we fhall keep
in the Unity of it, which is the ground of
■ true Fellowfhip. For by Drinking into
1 that one Spirit, we are made.one People to
fl 'God, and by it we are continued in the
Unity of the Faith, and the Bond of Peace.
I No Envying, no Bitternefs, no Strife can
"n 'have place with us. We fhall watch al-
jWays for Good., and not for Evil over one a-
mother, and rejoice exceedingly, and not
begrudge at One anothers increafe in the
■Riches of the Grace with which God reple-
nifheth his Faithful Servants.
And Brethren, as to you is committed
the Dilpenlation of the Oracles of God,
which give you frequent Opportunities, and
great Place with the People among whom
you Travail, Ibefeechyou that you would
not think it fufhcient to declare the Word
of Life in their Affemblks, however Edify-
K/i f?
tu:
■incii
I
■|-
■i.
i I
ing
( Ita )
ing and Comfortable fuch opportunities may
be to you and them: But, as was the fej
Pra6lice of the Man of God before menti- tkj
oned in great Meafitfc, when among us, oo i
inquire the State of the feveral Churches
you Vifit; who among them are Ajflicfed^<,
Of Sick, who are Tempttdy and if any are C
VjA'^ithful Or Objiimte ; and endeavour to
IjOfue thofe things in the Wifdom and Porver
of God, which will be a dorious Croxvn up- j|//f
on your Miniftry. As that pj-epares your
way in the Hearts of the People to receive
you as Men of God, fo it gives you Credit
with them to do thernjgood by your Advice ^
in other Refpefts. Tlie Adlifted will
Comforted by you, the Tempted Strength-3^
ened, the Sick Refrefhed, the unfaithful
Conviffed and Reftored, and fuch as are
Obftinate Softned and fitted for Reconcilia- .
fion ; which is Clenching the Naih and ap-
plying and Faffning the general Teftimony
by this particular Care of the feveral
Branches of it; in reference to them more ^
immediately concerned in it. '
For though Good and Vv'^ife Men, andj^?
Elders too, may refide in fiich places, who ^
are of Worth and Importance in the gene- '
ral, and in other Places; yet it does not al-
ways
( "3 )
ivays follow, that they may have the Room
they deferve in the Hearts of the People
tliey live among; or fome particular occafi-
on may make it unfit for him or them to ufe
' that Authority. But you that Travail as
God's Meffengers, if they Receive you in
the Greater^ fhall they refufe you in the
LefsAnd if they own the general Tefti-
mony, can they v/ithftand the fxrttcnUr
Abplicatiou. of it in their own Cafes ? Thus,
ye will fhew your felves. Workmen indeed^
and carry your Bufinefs before you, to the
. praife of his Name tiiat hath called youi
, from Darknefs to Light, that you might
^ turn others from Satan's Power unto God
!ic1i
p
lurt
Pom
xeis
jdi
dvic
and his Kingdom, which is within. And
iitlitl Oh that there were more of fuch Faithful
, Labourers in the Vineyard of the Lord!
jncif Never more need fince the day of God.
Wherefore I cannot but Cry and Call
ifflw loud to you that have been long Profelfors
of the Truth, and know the Truth in the
Convincing Power of it, and have liada fober
Converfation among Men, yet content
12® your felves only to know Truth for your
wlif felves, to go to' Meetings^ and Exercife an
g®' ordinary Charity in the Church, and an hop-
'0'^' nejl Behaviour in the World j and limit
\va)t ■ H- yout
( iH )
our felves within thofe Bounds; feeling
yttle or no concern upon your Spirits for the
Glory of the Lord in the Profperity of his
Truth in the Earth, more than to be glad
that others fucceed in fuch Service. Jrife
Te in the Name and Power of the Lord
nif
Tefus! Behold how white the Fields are
unto Harveft in this and other Nations,
and how few Able and Faithful Labourers ^'
there arc to work therein! Your Country- !,
Folks Neighbours and Kindred wa/zt to ^
know the Lord and his Truth, and to Walk f
in it. Does nothing lie at your Door
upon their Account? Search and fee, and
lofe no time, I befeech you, for the ®
Lord is at Hand. _ ''•
I do not Judge you, there is one that
Judgeth all Men, and his Judgment is true. ®
You have mightily increafed in your outivard '' f"
Subftance ; May you equally increafe in
your inward Riches, and do good with ''5'
both while you have a day to do Good. '
Your Enemies would once have taken what
you had from you, for his Name Sake in
whom you have believed ; wherefore he ^
has given you much of the World in the
Face of your Enemies. But Oh let it be
your Servant and not your Mafter; your
Diverfion
( 115 )
t>iverjton rather than >your Bujtmfsi Let
the Lord be chiefly in your Eye, and ponder
your Ways, and fee if God has notliing
inore for you to do: And if you find your
felves fhort 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 P/oiv, and aflTuredly you
fhall Rea^^ if you faint not, the Fruit of
your Heavenly Labour in God's Everlafting
Kingdom.
And Xou 'Toung Convinced Ones, be you
Entreated and Exhorted to a Diligent and
Chafl waiting upon God, in the way of his
BlelTed Manifeftation and appearance of
himfelf to you. Look not out, but within:
Let not anothers Liberty be your Snare:
Neither Aft by Imitation, but Senfe and
Reeling of God's Power in your felves:
Crulli not the tender Buddings of it in
your Souls, nor over-run, in your defires and
warmnefs of Affeftions,the Holy and Gentle
Motions of it. Remember it is a JlHl Foice
that Speaks to us in this Day,and that it is not
to be heard in the '^o-fes and Hirries of
the Mind ; but is diftinftly underftood in a
Retired Frame. Jefus loved and choje Soli-
H 2^ tudes i
( 116 )
tudes; okzn^omg to Mount aim, to Gardens upo
znk Sea-fides to avoid Crowds and Hurries, ^re
to fliew his Difciples it was Good to be So- Fati
litary, and fit loofe to the World. Two
Enemies lie near your States, Imagination ^owi
and, Liberty ; but the plain, praftical, Liv-
ing, Holy Truth, that has convinced you ti/f
will preferve you, if you Mind it in your <
felves, and bring all Thoughts, Inclina- ?ela
tions and Alfeflions to the Teft of It, to
fee if they are wrought in God, or of the k (
Enemy, or your own felves: So will a true, fou i
Tafe, Difcerning and 'Judgment be preferved bit
to you, of what you fhould do and leave Jce t
undone. And in your diligence and Faith- IA
fulnefs in this way you will come to inherit iiw;
Subftance; and Chrift, the Eternal Wifdom, ieiKl"
will fill your Treafury. And when you are «era
Converted, as well as Convinced, thencf;^- fliisi
your Brethren; and be to every srelo
good Word and Work,that the Lord fhall Sjoj
call you to ; that you may be to his Praife, tadii
who has chofen you to be partakers, with s to
the Saints in Light, of a Kingdom that can- stii
not be fliaken, an Inheritance incorruptible, rj?/
in Eternal Habitations. i
And now, as for you that are the Chil- y
dren of GoWs People, a Great Concern is Ufu;
upon
( "7 )
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 fame Divine Life and
Power, that have been the Glory of this
, Day ; that a Generation you may be to Q^d,
an Holy Nation and a Peculiar People^
lous of Good Works, when all our Heads
are kid in the Dujl. Oh you Toung Men and
Women, let it not fuffice you that you are
the Children of the People of the Lord!
you muft alfo be born again, if you will in-
herit the Kingdom of God. Your Fathers
are but fuch after the Flefli, and could
but beget you into the likenefs of the firf
Adam; but you muft be begotten into the
likenefs of the fecond Adam by a Spiritual
Generation, or you will not, you cannot be',
of ills Children or Off-fpring. And there-
fore look carefully about you, OhyeChil-
dren of the Children of God! Confider your
Standing, and fee wliat you are in Relati-
on to tliis Divine Kindred, Family and
Birth! Have you obeyed the Light, and re*
ceived and walked in the Spirit, which is
tlie incorruptible Seed of the Word and
Kingdom of God, of which you muft be
born again. God is no rdpeder of Perfons.
H ^ • The
(IlH)
The Father cannot favc or anfwer for the'
Child,or the Child for the Father, but in the ^
Sin thou Sinneft, thou flialt die; and in the :
Righteoufnefs tliou doeft, through Chrift .
Jefus, thou fhalt live ; for it is the Willing
and Obedient that fhall eat the Good of
the I^nd. Be not deceived^ God is net
mocked^ fuch as all Nations and People Sosv,
fuch they jhall reap at the hand of the juji j q
God. And then your many and great
Priviledges above the Children of other
people, will add might in the fcale againft ^ ^
you, if you choofe not the way of the
Lord. For you have had Line upon Line^
and Precept upon Precept^ and not only good ^
Doftrinc, but good Example-, and which '^rj^
is more, you have been turned to and ac-
quainted with a Principle in your felves
which otliers have been ignorant of; And
you know you may be as Good as you
pleafe, without the Fear of Frowns and
Blows, or being turned out of doors and for-
faken of Father and Mother for God's Sake '
and his Holy Religion, as has been the p
Cafe of fome of your Fathers in the day . J
they firft entred into this Holy Path. And , ^
jf you, after hearing and feeing the Won- ^
ders that God has wrought in the deliver-
%
( '19 )
ance and prefervation of them, through a
Sea of Troubles, and the manifold Tempo-
ral, as well as fpiritual Bleflings, that he
has filled them with in the fight of their
Enemies, you fhould negle[i and turn your
hacks upon fa great and jo near a Salvation,
you would not only be mofl: ungrateful
Children to God and them, but muft
expeft that God will call the Children of
thofe 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 Oh that it may never be
fo with any of you! The Lord forbid,
faith my Soul.
Wherefore, Oh ye Toung Men and Wo-
men, look to the Rock of your Fathers I
chufe the God of your Fathers : There
is no other God but him ; no other Light but
his j no other Grace but his, nor Spirit but his,
to Convince you. Quicken and Comfort
you; to Lead, Guide and Freferve you to
God's Everlafting Kingdom: So will you
be Polfeffors, as well as Profeffors of the
Truth ; embracing it, not only by Educa-
tion but Judgment and Conviblion: From
a Senfe begotten in your Souls, through
the operation of the Eternal Spirit and
H 4 Power
( '5° )
Power of God; by which you may come fei
to be the Seed of Abrahdm^ through Faithy the
and the circutncifion mt made xvith Handsy tkt
and fo Heirs of the Promife made to the \
Fathers of an Incorruptible Crown. That, tmi
as I faid before, a Generation you may be ti'ons
to God, holding up the Profeflion of the tijhw
blefled.Truth in the Life and Power of it. cost
For Formality in Religion is Naufeous to Vait
God and good Men ; and the more fo, Sdt,
where any Form or Appearance has been Beta
new and peculiar, and begun and praftiied raiv
upon a Principle, with an Vncommon Zeal keen
and Striftnefs. Therefore I fay, for you to may i
fall flat and formal, and continue the pro-
fellion without that Salt and Savour, by Hat(
which it is come to obtain a good Report n, ii
among Men, is not to anfwer God's Love, m.
or your Parents Care, or the mind of
Truth in your felves, or in thofe that are ,
without; Who, tho' they will not obey
the Truth, haye Sight and Senfe enough Imol
to fee if they do that make a Profeflion ^ ^
of it. For where the Divine Virtue of it 4^,
is not felt in the Soul, and waited for, )a|.(|
and lived in, imperfcftions will quickly
break out, and fliew themfelves, and detca iojy
the UnfaitlUiulnefs of fuch Perfonsj and
( lil )
that their hfii^es arc not feafoned with
the Nature of that holy Principle which
they p"jfefs.
Wherefore, Dear Cl ildren, let me in-
treat you to fijur your Eyes at the Tt mpta-
tions and Allurements of this Loiv and Pe-
rijhwg World, and not luffer your affefti-
ons to be captivated by thofe Lufts and
Vanities tliat your Fathers, for the Truths
Sake, long fince turned their Backs upon
But as you believe it to be the Truth,
receive it into yam Hearts, that you may
become the Children of God : So that it
may never be laid of you, as the Evan-
gelift VTites of the Jew s of his time.
That Chrilt, the true Light, came to his
orrn, but his own received U:m not; hut to as
many as received him, to them he gave Power
to become the Ghilartn oj God', which were
horn, not oj Blood, nor of the Will of the
Elefu, nor of the \YiU oj Man, but of God.
A moft clofe and comprehenhve PalTage to
this occafion. You exaclLy and fecuUarly
anfwer to thofe profeffing 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 inyou^
may be very wxil faid to come to his
ownj.
K-:
C 122 )
' 0
own, and if you obey it not, but turn your
Back upon it, and walk after the Vanities
of your Minds, you will be of Thofe that
receive him not, which I pray God may
■ never be your Cafe and Judgment. But
that you may be thoroughly fenfible of the
many and great Obligations you lie un-
der to the Lord for his Love, and to your
Parents for their Care: And with all your
Heartland 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 Tejlimony of your Lathers,
by the Truth and Evidence of your own Ex~
perience; that your Childrens Children
may blefs you, and the Lord for you, as
thofe that delivered a faithful Example, as
well as Record of the Truth of God unto
them. So will the Gray Hairs of your
Dear Parents,yet alive, go down to the Grave
with Joy, to lee you the polferity of Truth,
as well as theirs, and that not only their Na-
tures but Spirit fhall live in you when
they are gone.
I fhall conclude this Account with a few
Words to thofe that are not of our Com-
piunion, into whofe hands this may come;
clpecially thofe of our own Nation.
{"? )
iffl'cnllSf, As you are the Sons and
Daughters of Adam^ and my Brethren
after the Flefh, oftemnA earnefi have been
my Defires and Prayers to God on your be-
half, that you may come to know your
Creator to be your Redeemer and Reftorer to
the Holy Image that, through Sin, you
have loft, by the power and Spirit of his
Son Jefus Chrijl^ whom he hath given for
the Light and Life of the World. And
Oh that you, who are called Chriftians,
would receive him into your Heart! For
there it is you want him, and at that Door
' he ftands knocking that you might let him
I in, but you do not open to him: You are
, full of other Guefts, fo that a. Manger is
I his Lot among you Now, as well as of Old.
Yet you are full of Profellion, as were the
Jews when he came among them, who
knew him not, but rejected and evilly in^
treated him. So that if you come not to
the PolfelTion and Experience of what you
profefs, all your Formality in Religion will
ftand you in no Jlead in the Day of God's
Judgment.
I befeeeh you ponder with your felves
your Eternal Condition, and fee what
Title^ what Ground and Foundation you
! have
f 124- )
have for your Chrift.'anity: Ifmorethao tliei
a Profeflion, and an Hiftorical Belief are I
of the Gofpel ? Have you known the tm:
Baptijm of Fire, and the Holy Ghojl, and God's
the Fm of Chrift that winnows away hi
the Chaff'm your minds, the C/trW Lujls iVw;
and Jffeclio/is ? That Divine Levenof the wT
Kingdom, that, being received, Levens the tliar
whole Lump of Man, fanftifying him through' \Vor!
out in Body, Soul and Spirit ? If this be »th
not the Ground of your Confidence, you is tli]
are in a Miferable Eftate alfurei
You will fay perhaps, that though you korr
are Sinners, and live in the daily Com- ,
million of Sin, and are not Sanctified, as I -jml
have been fpeaking, yet you have Faith in rax 0
Chrift, who has born the Curfe for you, xing i
and in him you are Compleat by Faith; \
his Righteoufnefs being imputed to you. Tk
But my Friends, let me intreat you not j
to deceive your felves, in fo Important a re jjj
Point, as is that of your Immortal Souls. »rf.
If you have true Faith in Chrift, your 4
Faith will make you Clean; it willSanCti-
fie you: For the Saints Faith was their
Victory of old: By this they overcame
Sin within and Sinful Men without. And j
if thou art in Chrift thou walkeft not after
( 1^5 )
the Flefh, hut after the Spirit, whofe Fruits
are N'anifefl-. Yea, thou art a Nem Crea-
ture: New Made, New Fafhioiied ; after
God's Will and Mould. Old things are
done away,and behold,all things are become
JSlew: New Love, Defires, Will, Affections
and Practices. It is not any longer T hou
that liveft; Thou Difobedient, Carnal,
Worldly One; but it is Chrijl that liveth
in thee; and to live is Chrift and to die
is thy Eternal Gain; Becaufe thou art
alTured, That thy Corruptible fhall put on
Incorruption, and thy Mortal, Immorta-
lity ; and that thou haft a Glorious Houfe
Eternal in the Heavens that will never
wax Old or pafs away. All this follows
being in Chrift, as Heat follows Fire, and
Light the Sun.
Therefore have a Care how you prefiime
to Rely upon fuch a Notion, las that you
are in Clirift, whiljl in your old fallen Na-'
ture. For what Communion hath Light
with Darknefs, or Chnft with BeiaH
Hear what the beloved Difciple tells you;
If we fay we have fellowjhip with God, and walk
in Darknefs, 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
( ii6 )
are not Converted to God, we walk m
Darknefs, mA cannot poffiblj in that (late
have any Fellowjhip rvith God. Chrift Cloths
them with his Righteoufnefs that receive his
Grace in their Hearts, and deny themfelves^
and take up his Crofs daily, and follow him,
Chrijft's Righteoufnefs makes Men inwardly
Holy; of Holy Minds, Wills and Practices.
It is never the lefs Chrifts, becaufe we have
it; for it is ours, not by Nature, but by
Faith 3.nd Jdoption: It is thtGift of God.
But ftill tho' not ours, as of or from our
felves, for in that Senfe it is Chrift's, for it
is of and from him ; yet it is ours, ^d muft
be ours in Poffeffion, Efficacy and Enjoyment,
to do us any good; or Chtift's Righteouf-
nefs will profit us nothing. It was after this
manner that he was madeto the Primitive
Chriftians, Righteoufnefs, Sanclijication, Ju-
Jtif cation and Redemption ; and if ever you
will have the Comfort, Kjrnel and Marrow
of t!ie Chriftian Religion, tht^ you mufi:
come to learn and obtain it.
Now, my Friends, by what you have
Read, and will Read in what Follows, you
may perceive that God has vifited a Poor
People among you with this Javing Know-
ledge and Tefiimony Whom he haS' up-
held
( 117 )
held and emreafed to this Day, notwithftand-
ing the fierce oppofition they have met
withal. Defpife not the Memmfs of this
Appearance ; It was, and yet is (we know)
z day of [mall things, and of fmall Account
with too many ; and many hard and ill
Names are given to it: But it is of God, it
came from him becaufe it leads to him.
This we know, but we cannot make ano-
ther know it, as we know it, unlefs he will
take the fame way to know it that we took.
The World talks of God, but what do they
do ? They pray for Power, but rejeSl the
Principle in which it is. If you would
know God, and Worfhip and fervc God as
you fhould do, you muft come to the means
he has ordained and given for that purpofe.
Some feek it in Books, fome in Learned
Men, but what they look for, is in them-
felves, though not of themfelves, but they
overlook it. The Voice is too ftill, the Seed
too fmall, and the Light fliineth in Dark-
nefs. Tliey are abroad, and fo cannot di-
vide the Spoil: But the Woman that loft
her Silver, found it at Home, after flie had
lighted her Candle and fwept her Houfe. Do
you fo too, and you fliall find what Pilate
wanted to know, viz. Truth* Truth in the
Inward
C laB )
Inrvard Parts, fo valuable in the fight of
God.
The light of Chrift within, who is the
Light of the World, ( and fo a Light to you,
that tells you the Truth of your Condition )
leads all, that take heed unto it, out of
Darknefs into God's marvellous Light. For
Light grows upon the Obedient: It is [own
for the Righteous^ md their tvaj is a, jhining
Light^ that jfjims forth more and, more to the
prfeci day.
Wherefore, O Friends, Turn in, Turn
in I befeech you : Where is the Poifon,
There is the /intidote. There you want
Chrift, diuAThere you muft find him; and
blefled be God, There you may find him. Seek
and you/ball find, I teftifie for God. But then
you muft leek aright, with your whole Heart,
as Men that feek for their Lives, yea, for
their Eternal Lives: Diligently, Humbly,
Patiently, as thole that can tafte no Pleafure,
Comfort or Satisfaftion in any thing elfe,
unlefsyou find him whom your Souls want,-
and defire to know and love above all. O it
is a Travail, a Spiritual Tdravail \ Let the
Carnal, Profane World think and fay as it
will. And thi-ough This Rath you muft
walk to the City of God, that has Eter-.
naf
(12?)
nal Foundations, if ever you will come
there.
Well! And rvhaf does this blefled Light:
do for you ? Why, i. It fets all your Sins
in order before you: It detech the Spirit of
this Worid in all its Baits and Allurements,
and fhews how Man came to fall from God,
and the fallen Eftate he is in. 2. It begets
a Senfe and Sorrow^ in fuch as believe in it,
for this fearful Lapfe. You will then fee
him Diftinflly wliom you liavc Pierced ,
and all the Blows and H^^oands you have given
him by your Difobedience, and how you have
made him to feraje with your Sins; and you
will Weep and Mourn for it, audyour Sor-
row will be a Sorrow. 5. After this
it will bring you to the Holy Watch, to take
Care that you do lb no more, and that the E-
nemy furpriie you not again. Then Thoughts,
as well as Words and Works, will come to
Judgment, which is the way ofHolinefs, in
which the Redeemed of the Lord do walk.
Here you will come to love God above all,
and your Neighbours as your ielves. No-
thing Hurts , Nothing Harms , Nothing
makes Afraid on this Holy Mountain. Now
you come to be Chrift's indeed ; for you
are his in Nature and Sfkit, and not your
r
I
own,%
'li
t: 13 0 )
own. And when you are Thm Chrift's,
then Chrift is yours, and not before. And
here Communion witli the Father, and with
the Son you will know, and, the Efficacy of
the Blood of Cleanfing, even the Blood of
^ejtaChriffi that Immaculate Lamb^ which
ipeaketh better things than the Blood of A-
bel; and which cleanfeth from all Sm the
Confciences of thofe that, through the liv-
ing Faith J come to be fprinkled with it from
Fead M^orks to ferve thelivin^God.
To Conclude, Behold the Tefiimony and
Docirine of the. People called f^akers ! Be-
hold their Praciice and Difciflme ! And be-
liold the bleffed Man and Men ( at leaft ma-
ny of them ) that were fent of God in this
Excellent Work and Service! All which is
more particularly expreffed in the Annals of
that Man of God : Which I do heartily
recommend to my Readers moft ferious Pe-
rufal; and befeech Almighty God, that his
IMelling may go along with both, to the
Convincement of many, as yet Strangers to
this Holy Difpenfation, and alfo to the Edi^
f cation of the Church of God in General.
W ho, for his manifold and repeated Mer-
cies andBleihngsto his People, in this day
of his great Love, is cyer to have the
Glory^
c )
Glory^ Honour^ Thankfgi'um^ and Renoivn;
and be it rendred and afcribed, with Fear
and Re'verence, through him in whom he is
well pleafed, his Beloved Son and Lamb^
our Light and Life, that fits with him upon
the Throne, World without End. Amen,
Says One, that God has long fince Merciful-
ly favoured with his Fatherly Vifitation,
and who was not Difobedient to the Hea-
venly Vifwn 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 Trea-
fure, has choftn it for his Chiefeft Joy ;
and therefore recommends it to thy Love
and Choice, becaufe he is with great Sin-
cerity and Ajfection thy SouRs Friend,
William Penn.
The E^D.