An Account of
John Burnyeat's Convincement: Together with a Iournal of his Travels.
IN the Year 1653. it pleased the Lord in his Love and Mercy to send his faithful Servant
George Fox, with others of his faithful Servants and Messengers of the Gospel of Peace and Glad-tidings, whom he furnished with the eternal power of his Word, in the wisdom and power of which he proclaimed the Day of the Lord unto us, in this County of
Cumberland, and the Northern Parts of
England, and discovered the right Path of Life unto thousands that was in Error, seeking the Lord, but knew not where to find him, nor how to come acquainted with him, although he was not far from us: But this blessed man
G. F. one of a thousand may many say, and chosen before many thousands, was sent amongst us, in the power of the most High, filled with the strength of his Word, in the wisdom whereof he directed thousands unto the Light and Appearance of Christ Jesus their Saviour in their own hearts, that he might come to know him, and the Glory of the Father through him, in his Appearance, and so come to believe in him, with the Heart and with the Mouth confess him unto Salvation; and blessed be the Lord and the Day of Mercy in which he visited; he was pleased to make his Labour of Love effectual unto thousands, in which he sent his Servants to labour, amongst whom it pleased the Lord to grant me that favour to
[Page 2] keep a share of the benefit of this blessed Visitation, whereby I came to be informed concerning the right way of the Lord, and directed unto the true Light, which the Apostle was sent to turn People unto in his Day, and so from the Darkness and from the Power of Satan unto God and his blessed Power, which in my waiting in the Light I received; through which deep Judgment did spring in my Soul, and great Affliction did grow in my Heart, by which I was brought into great Tribulation and Sorrow, such as I had never known before in all my Profession of Religion, so that I might say in Spirit, it was the Day of
Iacob's Trouble, for the God of Heaven, by the Light of his blessed Son which he had lighted me withal, which shined in my heart, let me see the body of Death and power of Sin which reigned in me, and brought me to feel the Guilt of it upon my Conscience, so that I could say he made me even as it were to possess the sins of my Youth, and for all my high profession of an Imputative Righteousness, and that though I lived in the act of sin, the guilt of it should not be charged upon me, but imputed it to Christ, and his Righteousness imputed to me. I found it otherwise when I was turned unto the Light, which did manifest all reproved things; then I came to see that the guilt remained while the body of death remained, and through the power thereof was led into the act of sin; then I saw there was need of a Saviour to save from sin, as well as the Blood of a Sacrificed Christ to blot out Sin, or Faith in his Name for the remission of Sins past; then began the warfare of true striving to enter the Kingdom, then
Paul's state seen, to will was present, but to do many times power was wanting; then was that cry known,
O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! and free from the prevailing power of the Law which remained in the Members, warring against the Law of my Mind, which brought into Captivity to the Law of Sin; then, when this War was truly begun, all my high conceit in my invented
[Page 3] Notional Faith, and my pretence and hopes of Justification thereby was overthrown; so that all that I had builded for several years in my Profession, after the days of my Youth, in which tender stirrings was in me, after acquaintance with the Lord, and the knowledge of him, and peace with him, was seen to be but a
Babel-Tower, which God brought Confusion upon, and so that which could never be perfected to reach to Heaven, being out of the Faith of his Covenant, and that which never could bring truly to trust in his Word, and rely thereupon, but led out into the Invention, willing and self-acting, though another thing talked of; and then seeing all my Works confounded by the visitations of God, and by the springing of the day from on high which discovered things as they were, seeing them all end at
Babel, and the God of Heaven bringing Confusion upon them, I was amazed, and fear beset me on every side, and I began sometimes to fear I was undone for ever, for that had entred my heart that had turned the fruitful Field into a Wilderness, and made that, which I thought had been as the Garden of
Eden, a Forest, and so the Day of God discovered all to be Desolation, Driness, and a Heath, and so brought my Soul to a deep Lamentation, to the beginning of such Sorrows as had never been known by me before; then did I lament and bewail my self many a time, and wish my self in a Wilderness, where I might neither meet with Temptation nor Provocation from without, my weakness was such to withstand in my spirit, for all my Notion I had to talk of my Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ being but my own, which by his Spirit I had no seal for, and so but a Presumption, I saw clearly it was my own Invention, and so but like
Adam's Fig-leave Apron, in which he could not abide God's coming; O the wo that overtook me! O the distress that seized! O the horrour and terrour that sprung in my Bosom! O the poverty and want that my Soul saw it self in through the springings of the discovering Light, towards which the
[Page 4] Eye thereof was turned. And as this Light did spring, which the Apostle of old had wrote of, it manifested all things, not only the want that I was in, but also the reproved things, and then sin became exceeding sinful, and the load and burthen of it became exceeding grievous, and all the pleasure of it was taken away from me, and many more in that day, and then we began to mourn after a Saviour, and look for a Deliverer, and cry for a Helper, and a Healer, for the day of the Lord that made desolate, had overtaken us, and the Fire and Sword that Christ brings upon the Earth, by which he takes away Peace, had reached unto us, and yet we knew not from whence it came, though the Burning and the Judgment thereby was begun, by which the Filth was to be taken away.
And now in this Distress deep was our Groanings and our Cries unto the Lord which reached unto him, and he was pleased to hear, and shew mercy; for we often assembled together, as the Lord's Messengers, whom he sent amongst us, had exorted us, and minded the Light of Christ in our Hearts, and what that discovered, and in our spirits, through its assistance, warred and watched against the evil seen therein, and according to that understanding received, waited therein upon the Lord, to see what he would further manifest, with a holy Resolution to obey his will, so far as we were able, whatsoever it cost us; for this I know was the Condition of many in that day; we valued not the World, nor any Glory nor Pleasure therein, in comparison of our Souls redemption out of that state and freedom, from that horrour and terrour, under the Indignation of the Lord, we were in because of the guilt of sin that was upon us; and so being given up to bear the Indignation of the Lord, because we had sinned, we endeavoured to wait till the Indignation would be over, and the Lord in mercy would blot out the guilt which remained that occasioned wrath, and sprinkle our Hearts from an evil Conscience, and wash us with pure water, that we might draw
[Page 5] near with a true Heart, in a full assurance of Faith, as the Christians of old did,
Hebr. 10. 22. but alas we had not boldness, for the living Faith was wanting, and a true heart we had not to draw near with, and therefore could not have full assurance, but was compassed with fears, horrours, and amazements, and yet came to know that there was no other way, but to dwell in these Judgments, and wait in the way thereof, understanding that we must be redeemed with Judgment, for as was said of
Zion, Isaiah 1. 27. and so waiting therein, we began to learn Righteousness, and strongly to desire to walk therein, and could no longer be satisfied with a talk thereof; and thus waiting for, and seeking after the Lord (though greatly ignorant of him) in a deep sense of our own unworthiness and unpreparedness to meet him, because of the polution of our Hearts, which was seen by his Light that did shine therein, we were still bowed down in spirit, and afflicted and tossed in Soul, and not comforted, and our Hearts unstable, like waters, and the waves going over our Heads, and our Souls in jeopardy every moment, and our Faith so little, we were ready to sink, like
Peter, often crying out in the danger; and in that Distress and vail of Tears we walked through; our Hearts became quite dead to the World, and all its Pleasure and Glory, and also to all our former dead Profession, for we saw there was no Life in it, nor Help nor Salvation from it, though some of us had tried it throughly; we saw it was in vain to look to such Hills or Mountains for Salvation; and then when we began to forsake all on both hands, as seeing the Emptiness of all, both the Glory, Vanity, and Pleasure of the World, and the dead Image of Profession, which we had set up in our Imaginations and Inventions, and worshipped with our unprepared Hearts and unsanctified Spirits, being Slaves and Captives to Sin, as all must needs be that obeys it in the Lust thereof, according to
Romans the 6
th and 16. I say, when we had thus through the sight and sense of the unsufficiency of all
[Page 6] (we either had or could do) to give ease, help, or salvation, denied all, and as we had been directed, turned our Minds unto the Light of Christ shining in our Hearts, and believed therein, according to Christ's command,
Iohn 12. 36. and so met together to wait upon the Lord therein. Then began the Prophane to mock, scoff, and abuse us, and our very Relations, and old Familiars, to be strange to us, and offended at us, and did hate us, and began to speak evil of us, and did think it strange that we would not run with them to the former excess of Riot, as it was of old, 1
Pet. 4. 4. And also the Professor, even such as we had formerly walked in fellowship with in our lifeless Profession, began to reproach us and vilifie us, and speak evil against us, and charge us with Errour and Schism, and departing from the Faith; and also began to reproach the Light of Christ, as natural and unsufficient, and a false Light, and false Guide. And thus Christ, in his Spiritual Appearance was reproached, vilified, slighted, and undervalued, and set at nought by the Carnal Professors of Christianity, as he was in his Appearance in the Flesh by the Jews, the Carnal Professors of the Law, who saw not through the Vail unto the end. And in this our weak state were we beset on every hand, and greatly distressed, tossed, and afflicted, as poor
Israel was when the Sea was before them, and the
Egyptians behind, and their hope so little that they looked for nothing but death, and said to
Moses, Because there were no Graves in Egypt,
hast thou taken us away to dye in the Wilderness, &c.
Exod. 14. 11. Thus through many Tribulations must the Kingdom be entred by all that strives rightly to enter, according to Christ's command,
Luke 13. 24.
And when we were thus in our deep fears, and our Minds not well acquainted with either right striving, out of self, in the light and seed of Life that doth prevail and give the entrance, or true waiting or standing still out of our own thoughts, willings, and runnings which doth not obtain, the
[Page 7] Lord sent his Servants (who had learned of him) to direct us in what to wait, and how to stand still out of our own thoughts and self-strivings in the Light that did discover, who often did exhort us to abide and dwell in the Judgment that we received therein, and by them as we had been turned to the Light, so was our Understandings informed, and we got to some degree of staidness in our Minds, which before had been as the troubled Sea, and a hope began to appear in us, and we met together often, and waited to see the Salvation of God, (which we had heard of) that he would work by his own power. And after we had met together for some time, as we had seasons and opportunities, and also sought the Lord with travelling Spirits both night and day, when we were at our Callings, and upon our Beds, (for we could not cease, our Souls were so afflicted) being in our Assemblies exercised in the living Judgment that sprung in the Light in our Souls, and looking for the Salvation of God, the wonderful Power from on High was revealed amongst us, and many Hearts reached therewith, and broken, and melted, before the God of the whole Earth, and great dread and trembling fell upon many, and the very Chains of Death was broken thereby, the Bonds loosed, and many Souls eased and set at liberty, and the Prisoners of hope began to come forth, and they that had sitten in darkness to shew themselves, and the Promises of the Lord came to be fulfilled unto many, spoken of by
Isaiah the Prophet,
Isa. 49. 9. and
Isa. 42. 7. and 61. 23. and some taste of the Oyl of Joy came to be witnessed, and a heavenly Gladness entered the Hearts of many, who in the Joy of their Souls broke forth in Praises unto the Lord, so that the Tongue of the Dumb, which Christ the healer of our Infirmities did unloose, began to speak and utter the wonderful things of God, and great was the Dread and Glory of that Power, that one Meeting after another was graciously and richly manifested amongst us, to the breaking, tendering, and melting of our
[Page 8] Hearts, Souls, and Spirits before the Lord; then our Hearts began to delight in the Lord, and in his way that he had cast up, and with great servency and zeal; then we began to seek after him, and to meet oftner together than before, our Hearts being so affected with the presence of that blessed Power that daily broke forth amongst us in our Meetings, through which we were greatly comforted, strengthened and edified; for it was that same Comforter our blessed Lord promised he would pray the Father for, and which the Father should send,
Iohn 14. 16, and 26.
And then this being come and received, did teach us to know the Father and the Son; and as we came into Acquaintance with it, and into the Unity of it, we came to be taught by it, and so taught of the Lord, according to that New Covenant promise,
They shall be all taught of the Lord, Isa. 54. 13.
Iohn 6. 4, 5. Then was our Hearts inclined to hearken unto the Lord, and our Ears, which he had opened to hear, was bent to hear what the Spirit's Teaching was, and what he said unto the Church, who was the chief Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul. And thus were we gathered into a right Gospel Exercise, and Gospel Worship by him, and through whose Name we had received Remission of Sins past, and whose Blood had sprinkled our Hearts from an evil Conscience, and who gave the pure Water that washed and made clean; so that with true Hearts many began to draw nigh unto God in the full assurance of Faith, as the ancient Saints did, and was accepted, and had access by that one Spirit, by which we came to be baptized in one Body, and so came to drink into one Spirit, and was refreshed, and greatly comforted, and grew up together in the Mystery of the Gospel fellowship, and so worshipped God, who is a Spirit, in the Spirit received from him, which is the Gospel Worship, according to Christ's appointment,
Iohn 4. 24. And then we came to see over all the Worships in the World, which were set up either by Imitation,
[Page 9] or man's Invention, and saw it to be in vain to worship God,
and teach for Doctrines the Commandments of men, as our Lord had said,
Matth. 15. 9. and therefore were we constrained to withdraw from them, and also many of us to go and bear witness against them in their invented and traditional Worships, where they were ignorant of the Life and Power of God.
And thus being gathered by the Lord Jesus Christ, that
great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls, we became his Sheep, and did learn to know his Voice, and to follow him, and he gave unto us Eternal Life, and manifested the Riches of his Grace in our Hearts, by which we were saved through Faith, and delivered from that wrath, fear, and terrour, which had been so weighty upon our Souls, and in measure from the power of that Death that had reigned, and made us miserable and wretched, and came to partake of that Life wherein the blessedness doth consist; and so then the Lord becoming our Shepherd, he taught us, and led us forth into green Pastures, where we did feed and rest together with great delight. O the Joy, the Pleasure, and the great Delight that our Hearts was overcome with many times in our reverent and holy Assemblies! how was our Hearts melted as Wax, and our Souls poured out as Water before the Lord, and our Spirits as Oyl, Frankincense, and Myrrhe offered up unto the Lord as sweet Incense, when not a word outwardly in all our Assembly has been uttered! And then did the Lord delight to come down into his Garden, and walk in the midst of the Beds of Spices, and he caused the North-wind to awake, and the South-wind to blow upon his Garden, and the pleasant Showers to descend, for the refreshing of his tender Plants, that they might grow still more and more. And now unto them that had known the Night of Sorrow, was the joyful Morning come, according to that ancient experience of
David, Psal. 30. 5. and such as had been in the foregoing deep Afflictions, Tossings, and Distresses, came to witness the fulfilling of that great Gospel Promise;
[Page 10]
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted; behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires; and I will make thy windows of Agates, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant Stones, and all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy Children; In righteousness shalt thou be established, thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terrour, for it shall not come near thee, Isa. 54. 11, 12, 13, 14.
Thus then came we by him to be gathered into Covenant with God, and to witness the fulfilling of the Promises of God,
in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen, and so come to sit together
in heavenly places in him, and so come to feed upon the heavenly food the Bread of Life, that came down from Heaven, which Christ the heavenly Shepherd did give unto us, who had gathered us from amongst the Shepherds that fed themselves with Temporal Things from the Flock, but knew not how to feed the Flock with Spiritual Food, for they had it not. And now we coming to be acquainted with the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ in our Hearts, became great Lovers of it, and Delighters in the Enjoyment thereof, having already counted all things but as Dross and Dung in comparison of the Excellency that we saw therein, and therefore was willing to suffer the loss of all that we might win him, as it was with the Apostle of old; and blessed be the Lord, many obtained their desire; they found their Beloved, met with their Saviour, witnessed his Saving health by which their Souls was healed, and so became his Flock and Family, or Houshold of Faith.
And thus then, as his Children and blessed Family, we still did continue to meet together twice in the Week, or oftner, and in his Name and holy Fear, being
gathered together, his Promise we did witness, according to
Matth. 18. 20. he was
in the midst of us, and did honour our Assemblies with his heavenly
[Page 11] Power and Presence; and that was our great delight; and the sweetness of it did wonderfully engage our Souls to love him, and our Hearts to wait upon him; for we did find the ancient experience of the Church true, as testified in the Scripture, because of the savour of thy good Ointments, thy
Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee.
And growing thus into this Experience of the Goodness of the Lord, and of the Sweetness, Glory, and Excellency of his Power in our Assemblies, we grew in Strength and Zeal for our Meetings more and more, and valued the benefit thereof more than any worldly Gain; yea, it was unto some more then our appointed Food: And thus continuing, we grew more and more into an understanding of Divine Things and Heavenly Mysteries, through the Openings of the Power that was daily amongst us, and wrought sweetly in our Hearts, which still united us more and more unto God, and knit us together in the perfect Bond of Love, of Fellowship and Membership, so that we became a Body compact, made up of many Members, whereof Christ himself became the Head, who was with us, and did rule over us, and so further gave Gifts unto us, by which we still came to be enlarged, and further opened, that we might answer the end for which he had raised us up, and so far blessed us, and sanctified us through his Word that dwelt in our Souls; and so we keeping still in our Zeal, and unto our first Love, and keeping our Meetings, and not forsaking the assembling our selves together, as the manner of some was of old, whose Example the Apostle exhorted the Saints not to follow, the Lord's Power still continued with us, and was renewed daily in our Meetings, by the Openings of which, our Understandings was still more enlarged into the Mysteries of Life and hidden things of God, so that many through the favour of God, grew in their Gifts, and had their Mouths opened, and so became Instruments in the Lord's hand to bear witness
[Page 12] unto the World of the Day of the Lord that was broken forth again, even of the great and notable Day that
Ioel had prophesied of, and
Peter bore witness unto; and also they were sent to bear witness against the World, and its evil Deeds, with all the false Religions with which Mankind had covered themselves withal in the Darkness and Apostasie which had spread over them, and now was seen and discovered by the Light and Day of God.
And thus the Truth grew, and the Faithful in it, and many was turned unto God, and his Name, and Fame, and Glory, and Power spread abroad, and the Enemies Work and Kingdom was discovered, and struck at by the Lamb and his Followers, which made him begin to rage, and stir up his Instruments to oppose the Lord's Work, and with all subtilty to hinder People from following the Lamb, or believing in his Light; and so with Pen, and Tongue, and Hands also, the Beast and his Followers began to war, and to whipping, and scourging, and prisoning, and spoiling of Goods, with reproaching, belying, and slandering the way of Truth, and all that they could do to hinder the Exaltation of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, blaspheming his Light and his Power, calling his Light natural, insufficient, false Guide, with many reproachful Names, and calling his Power Diabolical, and the operation and blessed work of it, which was both to the renewing of the Spirit of the Mind, and also to the reformation of the Conversation from Debauchery, Wickedness, Unrighteousness, and Witchcraft, even like them of old, who said Christ cast out Devils by
Beelzebub the Prince thereof. But by this time, they that kept faithful to the Lord, and his Light and Spirit in their Hearts, who had come forth through the deep Tribulation, as before related, was confirmed, setled, and satisfied, and in the Life that was manifested established, in which they saw over Death, and all mens profession in it, and where they were, and what they sed upon, that cried out so against the Light and Power of
[Page 13] Christ, that was thus with us, and wrought thus in us in our Meetings, and how they were but mocking at the same that those mocked at, spoken of in the second of the
Acts, when they thought the Apostles were full of new Wine, and so drunk; for the high Professors of our days being ignorant of the Holy Ghost, through their resisting of it, blasphemed the Life and Power, and in the Death at the best did but feed upon the Tree of Knowledge. For this I still right-well remember, that in my waiting upon the Lord, in the deep Distress and weighty Judgment that was upon my Soul, to see if he would appear and break through, and open and give relief from under that which kept me down as Bars of Iron, that I could not arise nor asscend, nor have access, although out of the Deep I cried unto him for deliverance; I say, I can remember, that in the first notable inbreaking of the Power of God upon my Soul, or pouring forth of the Holy Ghost upon me, the first opening in the same unto me thereby, was a true discovery of the Tree of Knowledge in the Mystery, upon which I saw I had been feeding, and all the Carnal Professors of Religion, and how we had made a Profession of that which we had no possession of, but our Souls in the Death, feeding upon the Talk of that which the Saints of old did enjoy; and then I saw there was no getting to the Tree of Life, that our Souls might be healed by the Leaves of it, and so feed upon the Fruit thereof, that we might live for ever.
But as there was a coming under the wounding, slaying Sword that Christ brings, by which the Life of the Old man comes to be destroyed, who would still live in sin, and serve that, and yet profess Faith in Christ, and to be his Servant, which is impossible, according to Christ's own saying,
No man can serve two Masters, &c.
Matth. 6. 24. and therefore I saw there was no remedy, either I must be buried by that fiery Baptism of Christ's with him into Death, or else there could be no rising with him into newness of Life; there might be a rising
[Page 14] into newness of Profession, Notion, and Words, but that would not do, it was newness of Life I must come to, the other I had tried over and over; I saw I must dye with him, or be planted with him in the likeness of his Death, that is,
dye unto sin, if ever I came to be planted with him in the likeness of his Resurrection, and so
live unto God, according to
Romans the sixth. Then when things thus opened in me, I clearly saw we had all been deceived, thinking while we did live in the Flesh, and after the Flesh, and so in the Death, feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge, which was forbidden for Food, we might make such a Profession as might bring us to reap Life everlasting; but I soon saw, such as a man lived after, such as a man sowed such should he reap, and not what a man professed, or what he talked of, and then I was willing to bow to the Cross, and come under the fiery Baptism of the Spirit, and let that which was consumable be destroyed, that my Soul might be saved, and come to possess that which would endure and abide, and could not be shaken. Thus were the Heavens shaken also, as well as the Earth, that, that which was not shakeable might remain, according to
Hebr. 12. 27. and so that which condemned the evil Fruits of the Flesh (as they were owned by us so to be in our Profession) both in our loose Conversation, and also in the desires of our Hearts, and fleshly Lusts that therein sprang, unto the Judgment of which we did assent, even so did that same Light and true Witness discover and condemn our fleshly Profession of Religion in that same Nature and Mind which brought forth Evil, or in which Evil did dwell and Rule, and so came our Heaven to be shaken, and our Covering and Garment to be taken away, and we left comfortless and naked, destitute and without a Habitation; and then we saw our sacrificing and our sinning to be alike in the sight of God; for our Prayers was rejected, and all loathed, because both was done in one Nature, and from one and the same Seed and corrupt Heart; and therefore it came to be with us
[Page 15] as with
Iudah of old, as may be read
Isa. 1. and
Isa. 66. 3. where the Lord told
Iudah, their
killing an Ox, their sacrificing a Lamb, their offering an Oblation and burning Incense, was as the slaying of a Man, cutting off a Dogs neck, offering Swines blood, blessing an Idol. And thus we saw, for want of Righteousness, and keeping the Commandments of the Lord, and forsaking of our own ways, and that which was evil, our Religion was loathed by the Lord, and we rejected in all our doings, and left in desolation and barrenness; for whatever we might pretend, that true saying must stand,
A good Tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, nor a bad Tree good fruit; the Tree is known by its fruit.
And thus things opened wonderfully in us, and we saw not only common sins, which all consess so to be, (though they live in them) but also the hypocrisie and sinfulness of the Professors of Religion, even in their Religion, which was performed out of the true Spirit of Grace and Life, which in the Mystery is the Salt that every Gospel Sacrifice is to be seasoned withal, according to the Example in the Figure; and therefore were we commanded to withdraw, and be separated in our Worship, and wait to have our Hearts sanctified, and the Spirit of our Minds renewed, that we might come before him with prepared Vessels; for we soon learned to see this, that it must be true in the Substance, as in the Figure; all the Vessels of the Tabernacle was to be sanctified, consecrated or made holy; and therefore did we come out from among such in their Worship that lived in Uncleanness, and pleaded for Sin, which made unholy, and met together, and waited together in silence, may be some times not a word in our Meetings for Months, but every one that was faithful, waiting upon the living Word in our own Hearts, to know Sanctification thereby, and a through cleansing and renewing of our Hearts and inward Man; and being cleansed and made meet, we came to have a great delight in waiting upon the Word in our Hearts,
[Page 16] for the
Milk thereof, which
Peter speaks of, 1
Pet. 2. 2. in our so waiting, we did receive the Milk, or Vertue thereof, and grew thereby, and was sed with the heavenly Food that rightly nourished our Souls; and so we came to receive more and more of the Spirit of Grace and Life from Christ our Saviour, who is full of it, in whom the Fulness dwells, and in the Power thereof we did worship the Father, who is a Spirit, and waited upon the Teachings of his Grace in our Hearts; and he taught us thereby
to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, godlily, and soberly in this present evil World. And so we came to know the true Teacher, which the Saints of old did witness, as saith the Apostle,
Titus 2. 12. and therefore wanted not a Teacher, nor true Divine Instructions, though we had left the Hireling-Priests, and also other high-flown Notionists, and sat down together in silence, for that was our desire to have all Flesh silenc'd before the Lord and his Power, both in our own Hearts, and from without. And as we thus came into true silence and inward stilness, we began to hear the Voice of him, who said, he was
the Resurrection and the Life; and he said unto us Live, and gave unto our Souls Life; and this holy Gift which he hath given, has been in us as a
Well springing up unto eternal Life, according to his promise; and therefore hath it been our delight all along to wait upon it, and draw nigh with our Spirits unto it, both in our Meetings, and also at other Times, that we might both be taught and saved by it, for by it the Saints
were saved through Faith, &c. as
Paul wrote unto them,
Ephes. 2. 8.
Now from the Year 1653. as before hinted, in which Year I was convinced of the blessed Truth and Way of Life Eternal, unto the Year 1657. I was not much concerned abroad in Travels upon the account of the Truth, save only to visit Friends that were Prisoners for the Truths Testimony; but being mostly at home, following my outward Calling, I was very diligent to keep to our Meetings, being given up in my
[Page 17] Heart thereunto, for I found great delight therein, and many times, when one Meeting was over, and I at my outward Labour, in which I was very diligent also, I did in my Spirit long for the next Meeting-day, that I might get to the Meeting to wait upon the Lord with the rest of his People. And I can also with safety say, that when I was there, I was not sloathful, but in true diligence set my Heart to wait upon the Lord, for a Visitation from him, by the Revelation of his Power in my Soul; and as I waited in the Diligence, Patience, and Faith, I can say this for the Lord, and on his behalf, with many more Witnesses, we did not wait in vain; he suffered not our Expectation to fail, everlasting Glory, and Honour, and Praise to his worthy and honourable Name for ever: The very remembrance of his Goodness and glorious Power in those days revealed and renewed, overcomes my Soul. And so then in diligence waiting, and the Lord so in mercy visiting by his power in our Hearts, my Soul was daily more and more affected with the Glory, and Excellency, and Sweetness of it, and with the holy Dread with which it filled my Heart, for that became pleasant, and then my Spirit was bent to keep near unto it, and to dwell in that holy Fear which the Father thereby placed in my Heart. And then I came to see what
David exhorted unto in the Second
Psalm, when he bid the Kings and Judges of the Earth be
wise and. learned; and further said,
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. O the bowings of my Soul! O the pleasant dread that dwelt upon my Spirit, and the reverent tremblings that came over my Heart, which filled it with living Joy, as with marrow and fatness! And then could I say in my heart, with
David, will wash my hands in innocency, and compass thine Altar, O Lord. O the pleasant drawing near unto the Altar of the Lord (and that not unprepared) by many, whose Hearts were filled, and their Souls and Spirits anointed with the true anointing from the holy One, which
Iohn speaks off in his first
[Page 18] Epistle, which is the substance of what was figured out in that Ointment
Moses was commanded to make,
Exod. 30. 25. which all the Vessels of the Tabernacle were to be anointed withal.
Now when my Heart was thus fitted, filled, and furnished, as it was many a time in our holy Assemblies, with many more, I know that sat under the same dread and power with me; for our Temple and Tabernacle, in which we worshipped, that were
Children of the New Ierusalem, was but one, even the Lord God and the Lamb, as
Iohn saw,
Rev. 21, 22. And so it was in this Power that we sat and worshipped; I say, when my heart was thus fitted and filled, then did I endeavour to keep down my Spirit to the meltings of it, and great was the care of my Soul, that I might no ways miss nor abuse this Power, nor let up a wrong thing into my Mind, to be betrayed thereby; and then I knew, if I kept all that was wrong down, sound Wisdom, and a true Understanding would be grown into, even of those Mysteries that the World was ignorant of; for the Son of God being come, it was he that did give the Understanding, to
know him that was true, as
Iohn said of old, in his first Epistle; and
he was made Wisdom, as
Paul said, 1
Cor. 1. 30. So I often observed, and that with great care and diligence in those blessed and pleasant Seasons, wherein the Lord did so wonderfully appear amongst us, and filled our Hearts with the glorious Majesty of his Power, how it was with my own Spirit, and whether that was subject, as it ought, or no; for I clearly saw, the Enemy might beguile, and lead up into the hights, and unnecessary pride and vain-glorying, in that which the Soul might soon be deprived of, if it kept not humble; for it's the humble the Lord teacheth, and the meek he guides in Judgment.
And thus in the greatest Enjoyments I saw, there was need of care and fear to be kept in; for as those that grew sluggish, idle, and careless in waiting in a Meeting for the Power, did
[Page 19] sit without the sense of it in a dead, dry, barren state; even so such as weer not diligent to mind to keep low, humble, and tender, and so to mind the Nature of the working of the Power, and the Nature of their own Spirits under the Powers exercise; and also to watch against the Enemies subtilty, who lay in wait to betray, might easily be led aside out of the Powers way by the Stranger, even while the Power was a working, and Joy was in the Heart: And thus for want of true Fear and Care, might the Soul come into a loss e're it be aware; and I believe some have so done, and can scarcely find the reason of it.
Great is the Mystery of Godliness, it may truly be said, even the great Mystery which
Paul writes of in
Colossians the first,
Christ in us the hope of glory, &c. And as he is there, great is the Mystery of his working by his Spirit, to the opening and clearing of the Understandings of all that rightly wait upon him: and it is the Soul in the Sanctification and Oneness with the Life, the true Unction that comes to be a Priest, and so of the Royal Priesthood, chosen and elected in God's Covenant, that comes rightly and lawfully to eat of those holy things, and so to partake of the sanctified holy Food. This I did observe, and therefore the Stranger is not to come nigh; this was in the Figure signified,
the Stranger was not to eat of the Passover, Exod. 12. 43. and the Command of God was to
Aaron by
Moses; that
no Stranger should eat of the holy things, &c.
Lev. 22. 10. And
Solomon saith,
The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy, Prov. 14. 10. Much might be said, but this is the matter; its Wisdom, for the Heart that hath known his own bitterness in the Judgment and Distress, and through it is come to this Peace and Joy to keep it, and not to let that which would have no share with it there, come to intermeddle with the Joy, for if it do, it will soon overthrow the Joy of the Soul, and bring to another state, and then have no more pity in the Day of Distress,
[Page 20] than the
Iews had of
Iudas, when they bad him
look to it, what was that to them, when he had betrayed his Master.
And thus I continued, as I have said before, for these four Years, mostly following my outward Calling, and attending and waiting upon the Lord in the workings of his holy Power in my Heart, both in Meetings and at other times, whereever I was, or whatever I had to do; for I found, that as my Heart was kept near the Power, it kept me tender, soft, and living: And besides, I found as I was diligent in eying of it, there was a constant sweet Stream, that run softly in my Soul, of Divine Peace, Pleasure, and Joy, which far exceeded all other Delights and Satisfactions; and this became the great Engager of my Soul to watch with such diligence, for I did find the love of God to constrain. And furthermore, I did observe, that if I neglected, or let my Mind out after any thing else more than I ought, and so forgot this, I began to be like a Stranger, and saw that I soon might lose my Interest in these Riches and Treasure, and true Common-wealth of God's Spiritual
Israel, which Christ had purchased for me, and given me the earnest of to inherit.
And thus being mindful of the opening Wisdom of God, which
was from above, and heavenly, and
not from below, earthly, I was preserved, and helped, and succoured in the needful time; and because of the Blessings and rich Mercies of the Lord that my Soul enjoyed, I was willing to serve him in what I might, and willingly received upon me a share of that Concern that became proper for me, with others, to take upon us in the Church, that I might be helpful in all necessary things. And thus I went on in the holy Fellowship of the Gospel of Life and Salvation, with the rest of my Brethren and Sisters, and many joyful Day we had together in the Power of the Holy Ghost, that was richly and graciously continued amongst us, and daily poured out upon us;
[Page 21] so that we still grew in favour with God, and unity one with another, and received daily strength from the Lord, and an increase of his Divine Wisdom and Spirit, which did greatly comfort us. And in this our pleasant state I do well remember, my Heart was satisfied, and setled into a content, where I was willing to abide; but the Lord that had so dealt by me in Mercy, as I have said, began to stir in my Heart by his Spirit to arise, and go forth in the strength of his Word, and declare against the Hirelings that feed themselves, and not the People, and kept the People ignorant of those good things, that he had made me and others Witnesses of.
And when the Word of the Lord came unto me with this Message, it became a great Exercise unto me, and I would willingly have shunned it, and have dwelt in that Ease, Peace, and Pleasure the Lord had brought me into, but there was none but in obeying the Lord, and giving up to do his Will, that I soon came to know, for I was sure it was the Word of the Lord; and then I yielded in Spirit, and longed for the Day that I might clear my self, and be eased of the Charge that was upon me: for weighty was the Dread and Majesty of the Power of the Word of Life that lived, and as a Fire burned in my Heart, that I could not stay.
And when the first day of the Week came, in Obedience unto the word of the Lord I went to
Aspetry, the Place which the Lord set before me, to speak to one
Warwick a Priest, who when I came, was preaching in their Bell-house, who, soon after I came in, with a Friend with me, began to put forth some subtil Questions to provoke us to speak, that he might have an opportunity to cause us to be haled out, and sent to Prison, but I resolved not to mind his Temptation, but to wait upon the Lord; and when he could not prevail with his Questions to get his end upon us, he spoke to the Constable to put us forth; who answering, bid him go on, and said,
They do not disturb us, &c. Then the Priest went
[Page 22] on with his Sermon, and finished. And when he had done, I began to speak to the People, and the Priest he got away, and the People hurried me out, and kept me and the Priest asunder, so that I got not to speak to him that Fore-noon. So I came away with my Friend, and thought to have returned home; but immediately after I was got out of the Town; the wrath and displeasure of the Lord in his Word sprung dreadfully in my Heart, and a dreadful Cry was in me, from the same,
Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, &c. And then I saw how I had let in a Fear upon me, in which I had shunned the Priest, and spared him, for fear I should be sent to Prison for speaking to him, the Law being such at that day,
That whosoever did disturb a Minister, as they termed it,
should be sent to Prison, &c. And when I found out my Weakness in this, that I had spoke to the People, and spared the Priest that I was sent to cry against, then was I sore afraid, and my Heart filled with horrour, and a sore cry in me still,
Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, &c. then I knew not what to do, for the wrath of God was upon me; and another Cry from the same Word was sounded in my Heart, saying,
Babylon hath sinned, all ye that bend the Bow, shoot at her; spare no Arrows, for she hath sinned, &c. Now when it was thus with me, and I saw that I had not been faithful, but had mist my Service; after I had come so far as the Common above
Plumland, I sate me down, and there I mourned before the Lord, whom I had so grieved, and humbly desired of the Lord, that he would but grant me liberty to go again to clear my self, that I might come into Peace with him again; and then let Life or Liberty outwards go, I did not value. So waiting upon him in this humble bowed frame of Spirit, the Word of Life rose in me again, and opened my Heart, and sealed to me I might go. Then I arose with boldness, and went with speed, till I came there at the Worship house, and the Priest was preaching again
[Page 23] in the After-noon, and I went in and stood before him, till he had done, and then was my Heart filled with Peace, and I resolved in the Name of the Lord not to spare, but speak the Word of the Lord faithfully, whatever I might suffer for it; for in comparison thereof, I valued neither Life nor Liberty. So when he had done, I spoke unto him what the Lord put in my Mouth: He immediately got away and gave me no Answer. But I followed him so quick, and cried out after him, so that he turned again to me in the Grave-yard, and then I did clear my Conscience to him, and a great Dispute we had, for I did not spare him. At last he went away, and would stay no longer. Then I spoke to the People, and did clear my Conscience amongst them; and then I came away in peace, and my Heart was filled with unspeakable Joy, and my Soul with Gladness. Then I saw, it was good to be faithful unto the Lord, and to trust in him, and to obey his Voice; and then I came to feel and see more and more, the woful and dreadful state that the Priests and Hirelings were in, who for their own earthly gain made Merchandise of People; although they were defended by the Laws of Men, yet I found the Laws of God they were in the transgression of, and so were in
Cain's, Corah's, and
Baalam's way, in Envy, and Gainsayers of the Truth, and Lovers of the Wages of Unrighteousness, and so such as
Peter and
Iude wrote of, 2
Peter 2. 15. and
Iude cried Wo against,
Iude 10, 11, 12.
Then some time after I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to go to
Lorton, to speak to one
Fogoe a Priest, who was preaching to the People in their Worship-house, and I stayed till he had done; and there he did affirm in his preaching to the People, that both he and they was without the Life of both the Law and the Gospel. And then I spoke to him, and questioned him what he had to preach, or to pray, that was without the Life of both Law and Gospel? But after a few words, he fell into a rage, and stirred up the People, and
[Page 24] they fell upon me, and haled me out of the House, and did beat me, and the Priest did threaten to put me in the Stocks. So I came away; and that day two Weeks I was moved to go again to speak to the same Priest at
Louswater, the Parish where I did then dwell; and when I came in, the People beginning to look at me, and take notice, the Priest bid them let me alone, if I would be quiet, he would discourse with me, when he had done. So I stood still and quiet, waiting upon the Lord; the Priest he prepared to go to Prayer, but when he saw that I did not put off my Hat (for I could not so do, because I could not joyn with him in his dead lifeless Prayers) Then instead of going to Prayer, he fell a railing against me, and said I should not stand there in that posture. At last I spoke to him, and did ask him,
What he had to pray with, that was without the Life of both Law and Gospel. But he continued calling out to the People, to take me away; so that at last, my Father being there, and displeased with me for troubling their Minister, came himself and haled me out of the House, and was very angry with me. Then I stayed in the Grave-yard, till the Priest and People came out, and then I got to him, and spoke to him again, but he soon began to be in a rage, and to threaten me with the Stocks, and got away. And then I cleared my Conscience to the People of what I had to say, and so came away in great peace with the Lord.
Then not long after, in the same Year, I was moved of the Lord by his Spirit to go to
Briggham, to speak to one Priest
Denton, who then was preaching in the Steeple-house to the People; who in his Sermon, which he had before hand prepared, had many false Accusations, Lyes, and Slanders against Friends, and the Principles of the Truth. I stayed till he had done, and then did speak to him, but got little Answer; but immediately some of his Hearers fell upon me, and did beat me with their Bibles, and with a Staff, or Staffs, all along out of the House, and also out of the Grave-yard, that the next
[Page 25] day I was sore with the Blows, and so the Priest commanded the Constable to secure me, and a Friend that was with me, and next day did cause him to carry us to
Lancelot Fletcher of
Talantyre, who did order a Warrant to be written for us, and so sent us from Constable to Constable, to the common Goal in
Carlisle, where I was Prisoner three and twenty Weeks. And when I wrote a Paper to the Priest, wherein I answered his false Accusation, and sent it to him by a Friend, he would not read it, but, as I was told, put it in the fire and burnt it.
Now while I was in Prison, something came upon me for
Scotland, but I being a Prisoner, and not yet deeply acquainted with the way and work of the Lord's Power and Spirit, as in relation to such a Service, great was the Exercise of my Spirit that I went under; and for want of Experience and a clear Understanding, I was swallowed up, and for a time quite lost in the Deep, where great was the Distress of my Soul beyond utterance; but the merciful God by his powerful Arm and healing, saving Word of Life, did restore and bring up my Soul out of the Deep, where it was for a time buried, and renewed Life and Understanding, and caused the Light of his Countenance to shine, and the Sweetness of his Peace to spring; so that I may truly say, he caused
the Bones that he had broken, to rejoyce. And then when he had thus crushed and humbled, and let me see how he could make all things become as nothing again, and so hide all Glory from Man, then in his Goodness he revealed his Glory, and Power, and Presence, and reviving Life, and so opened to my Understanding his good Pleasure, which with all readiness and willingness of mind I gave up unto, in my Heart and Spirit. So after my being kept about three and twenty Weeks in Prison, I had my Liberty; and so came home, and followed my outward Calling that Summer, and grew more and more into the Understanding of the Mind and Will of the Lord, in that which I had a Sight of, while I was in Prison. And so keeping to
[Page 26] Meetings, and waiting upon the Lord in a true travel of Spirit, after more acquaintance with him, and more enjoyment of his Power and Word, I grew not only into an Understanding, but also into a degree of Strength and Ability sit to answer that Service, which the Lord had called me unto.
And so then in the Faith, that stood in God's Power, about the beginning of the
Eighth Month 1658. I took my Journey into
Scotland, and travelled in that Nation about
Three Months, and was both in the
North and
West of it, as far North as
Aberdeen, and back again to
Edinborough, and so down West to
Lithcow, Hamilton, Aire, and as far as
Port-Patrick; and back to
Aire and
Duglass: and our Service was at their Steeple-Houses, and Markets, and other places, where we met with People; and sometimes at Friends Meetings, where there was any. And our work was,
To call People to Repentance out of their lifeless hypocritical Profession and dead Formalities, wherein they were setled in the Ignorance of the true and living God; and so to turn them unto the true
Light of
Christ Iesus in their Hearts, that therein they might come to know the Power of God, and so come to know Remission of Sins, and receive an Inheritance amongst the Sanctified. And being thus clear of that Nation, we returned into
England, and came over the water to
Bowstead-hill the
first day of the
Eleventh Month, 1658.
Then returning home, I followed my Calling or Trade again from that time, until the
Third Month 1659. and then I took shipping for
Ireland, according to what had been Opened unto me in the Truth, when I was in
Scotland; and grew mightily in me through the Strength of the Power and
Word of
Life, while I stayed at my Calling at home, and kept to Meetings. For the Lord often filled and enriched my Heart and Soul with his glorious Power, and so sanctified and prepared me for that which he set before me: For often in Spirit was I carried thither, and had it sealed unto me, that it was my
[Page 27] place to go into that Nation to serve the Lord, and bear witness unto the Truth, and call People to Repentance, and hold forth the
Way of
Life and Salvation unto them. So I waited till the full Season came, according to the blessed Counsel of God, in which I found his leading Power with me, and to go before me; and so at the time aforesaid I took shipping at
Whitehaven, and landed at
Dunacadee in the North of
Ireland, and travelled up to
Lisbourne, and so up to
Lorgan, and on to
Kilmore in the County of
Armagh, and so up and down in the North for some time amongst Friends, and had Meetings. And many People came to Meetings, and many Convinced and turned to God from the evil and vanity of their ways. And then from thence I travelled up to
Dublin, and thence to
Mountmeleck, and so forward to
Kilkenny, and so on to
Caperqueen, and
Tallow, and so to
Cork and
Bandon: and back to
Cork, and then to
Toughal, and to
Waterford, and to
Ross, and to
Waxford; and had Meetings along, as I travelled: and according to that Ability I received of God, I was faithful, and preached the Truth, and true Faith of Jesus. From
Waxford I came to
Carlough and
Mountmeleck, and so down into the North, and spent some time there.
And so having gone through, and in the fear of God published his Name and Truth, as I had opportunity, I then was willing to return home to
England, and for that end as I intended, came down to
Carrickfergus, but before I got thither, it came upon me that I should return back again to
Lorgan and
Kilmore, and from thence to
Londonderry. And so I sent word to appoint a Meeting at
Lorgan; and went on to
Carrickfergus, and got a Meeting, where there was many People at it; and I did clear my self unto them in the fear of the Lord, and then returned to
Lorgan, as I had appointed. And there I met with
Robert Lodge, newly come out of
England, who had something in his Heart also to go to
Londonderry; this was about, or near the beginning of the
Seventh Month
[Page 28] 1659. So
Robert Lodge and I became concerned in one Work, Service, and Travel together, and were truly united in Spirit, in the Unity of the Faith and Life of Christ, in which blessed Unity and Fellowship of the Gospel of the Son of God, we laboured and travelled in that Nation of
Ireland for
Twelve Months, after we met together, not often parting; but sometimes we were moved to part for the Service's sake for a little time, and came together again: and the Lord gave us sweet Concord and Peace in all our Travels; for I do not remember that we ever were angry or
grieved one at the other in all that time. And so we went down to
Londonderry together, and when we came there, were soon discovered what we were, and then the People were unwilling to receive us, or let us have Lodging for our Money. We were at their great Steeple-house on the
first day, and had a large time among the People to declare the Truth: but at last the Major sent his Officers, who would not suffer us to stay any longer, but forced us out of the City, and down to the Boat, and commanded the Boat-man to carry us over, and not to bring us back again. So being clear, we took our Journey towards
Coalraine, and then to the
Grange, and so to
Antrim, and so up to
Lorgan, and so through Friends in the North. And then after some time we took our Journey into the
South, and did travel through a great part of the Nation, as to
Dublin, Mountmeleck, and to
Arthlone, and
Galloway, Limmerick, Cork, and
Bandon, and so through the
South, and again into the
North. And thus we spent our time with diligent Labour and hard Travel, often in
cold, hunger, and
hardships in that County, which then was in many Parts uninhabited: And in
Prison several times; once in
Armagh, once in
Dublin, twice in
Cork; besides other Abuses we received from many, because of our Testimony which we had to bear for the Lord, in their Towns and in their Steeple-houses, and against their
Hireling-Priests, which sought their
Rewards, and loved the
Wages of
Unrighteousness,
[Page 29] like
Baalam; and worse then he, forces it from the People, like the Sons of
Eli, whose Sin was very great, 1
Sam. 2. 16, 17.
And thus having travelled and laboured in the Gospel together for
Twelve Months, and many being Convinced and gathered to the Truth, we were clear of our Service there, and in the
Seventh Month 1660. we took shipping at
Carrickfergus, and intended for
Whitehaven in
England, but by contrary Wind were driven to
Kirkowbry in
Scotland, and from thence came over Land into
Cumberland, and to
Cockermouth: and then I again returned to my outward Calling, and followed that, and kept diligently to Meetings, for it was still my Delight so to do, and there to be diligent in waiting upon the Lord; for I always found, that therein I received an increase of Strength, Life, and Wisdom from the Lord. And as I found any motion upon me from the Lord to go to any Meeting abroad, either in our Country, or any other, I went and cleared my self, as the Lord gave Ability; and so did return again to my Calling, and so to our own Meeting, where I did delight to wait in Silence upon the Lord: for I loved that much, because I found an inward growth thereby through the Teachings and Openings of his Spirit in my Heart; and when something did open in me for that end, to speak in our Meeting, I gave up, for the most part, sometimes ready to quench through backwardness, but that was hurtful; but I grew over it by degrees, and increased in Faith and holy Confidence more and more.
Now from the
Seventh Month 1660. unto about the
First or
Second Month 1662. I was very much at home at my Calling: and then I was moved of the Lord to go to
London to see
George Fox, and others of the Elders, and to acquaint him with what was upon me from the Lord to go to
America, which came weightily upon me in
Ireland, when I was there; so that I had a great travel in Spirit, and deep Exercise in Mind,
[Page 30] before I gave up. But when I had given up in belief, that it was the
Word of the
Lord, and so gone through it in my Spirit, and submitted unto his Will, the weight and exercise was removed, and I with my former Openness again restored into my Service, and no more of that remained, but a remembrance of the Prophecy or Opening which I had received, and Faith in the Word, which, I was satisfied, was sure for ever. And therein I rested as to that matter, until the time aforesaid that it came upon me to go and and acquaint
G. F. as also
Ed. Burrough, who were then at
London, and
Richard Hubberthorn; for I loved to have the Counsel and Countenance of my elder Brethren, who were in Christ before me. And then I did return through
Yorkshire home, and had some Meetings, as I came along; and stayed at home but a little time, and was moved to go again into
Yorkshire, and went through divers Meetings to visit Friends. And being, as I thought, clear to return home, I came to
Rippon to see some
Friends, that were then
Prisoners for
meeting together to worship God; and going into Prison to see them, and in the Love of God speaking some words of Exhortation unto them, the Goaler took me, and had me to a House in the Town, where the
Major and the
Chancellor, and several of the Aldermen were together; and there the
Chancellor chiefly took in hand to examine me, and sought to ensnare me, that he might get occasion to Commit me to Prison. And first, he would have my
going to Prison to my Friends to have been an Offence; but I pleaded, in so doing I had broken no Law. Then he said, I spoke in Prison; I answered, There was no Law, that forbid us to speak to our Friends, when we came to visit them. Then he asked me, when I was at Church, and when I took the Sacrament according to the Laws of
England? I answered, I knew no Law I had broken, nor no evil I had done to any man; if any man had evil against me, let him bear witness of the evil. Then he began to be in a rage, and said, He would have an Answer
[Page 31] e're we had done,
&c. But when he could not get an Advantage that way, he reached for a Book, and asked me, if I would take the
Oath of
Allegiance and
Supremacy? And when I answered,
Not in Contempt to the King, or his Authority, but in Obedience to Christ's Command, I could not swear. Then he commanded the Clerk to write a
Mittimus, and sent me to the Prison, to the rest of my Friends, who were four and twenty before, and there I was kept Prisoner fourteen Weeks. And because, when we sate down to wait upon the Lord (for we fate down once every day together, and many times Friends with us, that came to see us) I spake something in Exhortation unto Friends, and prayed unto the Lord, as he enlarged my Heart, that we might be comforted and edified together, the Magistrates were offended, and sent the Under-Goaler to take me away, and put me in the Dungeon from among my Fellow-Prisoners, who came at three several times, and every time haled me from my knees, when I was at Prayer, and put me in the Dungeon, a little dark Room, where I was one time
two days and nights, another time
three days and nights, and the last time
seven days and nights. There was a Bowling-Alley before the Prison-door, where several of the Magistrates and others did use to come to their Game, and hearing my voice, were offended; and so sent to take me away. So after fourteen Weeks I was set at liberty, and in some little time I had freedom to return home, and then did, as at other times, follow my outward Calling, and kept to our Meetings at home, but when I was moved to go forth to visit Friends, sometimes in our own Country, and sometimes into
Yorkshire, and
Bishoprick, and would sometimes be
Two Months away, or thereabouts, and then return home to my Calling or Trade: and so thus continued till about the fore-end of Summer, in the Year 1664.
[Page 32] And then that which had been opened unto me four years before, began again to arise in my Heart in that Word which lives for ever, and the living motion of it began to press upon my Spirit towards the fulfilling thereof; and then I saw, the Time drew near, and the Season was coming upon me, wherein the Lord would have me go and fulfil his Word, that I had yielded unto in Spirit so long ago. And then I began to prepare, and set my Heart to leave all things behind, and give up all things else, that I might follow him: and so his Power wrought my Spirit into a right frame, that I could easily leave all things; and then he gave me time to settle and order my outward Concerns, and leave all things clear. And then that Summer I took shipping for
Ireland, and passed through most Friends, and did visit them. And about the
Seventh Month 1664. I took shipping at
Galloway in
Ireland for the
Barbadoes, and was
seven weeks and
two days in sailing to the
Barbadoes; and I stayed there about
three or
four Months, and did visit Friends, and travelled and laboured in the Work of the Gospel, both for the Confirmation of those that were gathered, and for the gathering of others unto the Truth, that they might partake with us of the like precious Faith. And there I met with many that had been hurt by
Iohn Parrot, and carried away with his Imaginations, who lead out of the Power, and from the true
Cross, into
high Notions, and vain Conceits, and so into a
fleshly Liberty, and ease therein, from the true Spiritual Travel and right Exercise, both in Spirit, and outwardly; pretending to be against
Forms, and under that pretence led out of the faithful and diligent practice, which Friends had been gathered into, as to their meeting together, and waiting upon the Lord, counting that a
Form, which he did lead into a slight of, and so caused many, both there and in
Virginia, and other places, to neglect, or in a great measure to forsake the
Assembling of themselves together, contrary to Friends practice, and the Counsel
[Page 33] and Advice of the faithful Labourers, who first laboured amongst us, as also contrary to the Advice of the Apostle,
Hebr. 10. 25. And also, he in his new Notion led many to keep on their
Hats in the time of
Prayer, when any Friend prayed, and condemned our reverend practice of
putting off our
Hats at such times: and so in many things led such as were taken with his Notion, out of true
Order into
Loosness, and such a
Liberty, that the
Cross in most things was laid down by them, and their own Wills followed, and Truth's Testimony let fall. But he ran out of the Truth so far at last, that many began to see him, and what his Spirit led to; and so came to see their own loss, and returned back unto their
first love, and the Power of the Lord went over that dark Spirit, with all the vain Imaginations they had been led into thereby; and so Friends were gathered into their former Unity. Now because of the prevalency of this Spirit, I had the greater travel and exercise among Friends in that Island, and in other places of
America, both in withstanding such as were high and hard, and also to gather back and preserve such, as had in some measure been betrayed, and yet were more innocent and tender.
And so when I had travelled and laboured, as I said before, about
three or
four Months in that Island, and was clear, I took shipping for
Maryland about the latter end of the
first Month, and landed there about the latter end of the
second Month 1665. and so I travelled, and laboured in the Work of the Gospel in that Province that Summer, and large Meetings we had, and the Lord's Power was with us, and Friends greatly comforted, and several Convinced. But a sore Exercise I had with one
Tho. Thurston, and a Party he drew after him for a while, so that both I and faithful Friends were greatly grieved, not only with his Wickedness, but also his Opposition that he made against us, and the Disturbance that he brought upon us in our Meetings; and great was the exercise and travel, that was upon my Spirit both Day and Night, both upon the
[Page 34] Truth's account, that suffered by him, and also for the People, that were betrayed by him to their hurt, who were under a great mistake. But through much labour and travel in the Lord's Wisdom and Power, that both I and other faithful Friends of that Province had to search things out, and to clear things to their Understandings, both as to what related to the Truth, and also Matter of Fact, which he was guilty of, it pleased the Lord so to assist us, and bless our endeavours, in manifesting the Wickedness and Wrongness of the Heart and Spirit of the Man, that most of the People came to see him, and in the love of God to be restored, into the Unity of the Truth again, to our great comfort, Truth's honour, and their Everlasting happiness. But he himself was lost as to the Truth, and became a Vagabond and Fugitive as to his Spiritual Condition; and little otherwise, as to the outward.
So in the Winter following I went down to
Virginia, and when I came there, Friends there, the greatest part of them, were led aside by
Iohn Parrot, who had led them into his Notions, as before is related; and they had quite forsaken their Meetings, and did not meet together once in a Year, and had lost the very
form and
language of the
Truth many of them, and were become loose and careless, and much
one with the
World in many things: so that the
Cross of
Christ, for which they had suffered, was
shunned by them, and so Sufferings escaped, and they got into outward ease. For they had endured very great Sufferings for their Meetings, and did stand faithful therein, till he came among them, and preached up this Notion of his, by which he judged Friends Practice and Testimony in the Truth, and for the Truth, to be but
forms: and so pretending to live above such things, drew them from their Zeal for the Truth, and their Testimony therein so far, that they avoided every thing that might occasion Sufferings. And thus they being seduced or bewitched, as the
Galatians were, into a
fleshly Liberty, the
Offence of the
Cross ceased,
[Page 35] and the Power was lost: and when I came there, it was hard to get a Meeting among them. And much Discourse I had with some of the chief of them, and through much labour and travel with them, and among them, to maintain the Principles of Truth and our Testimony and Practice therein, I obtained a Meeting; and the Lord's Power was with us and amongst us, and several were revived, and refreshed, and through the Lord's goodness, and his renewed Visitations, raised up into a Service of Life, and in time came to see over the
wiles of the
Enemy. So after some time I returned again to
Maryland, and did pass through Friends, and visited their Meetings, and in the
first Month came again to
Virginia, and did visit them, and so returned again to
Maryland, and landed at
New-York in the
fourth Month 1666. and spent some time there amongst Friends, in going through their Meetings. And then took shipping for
Road-Island in
New-England, and there spent some time in visiting Friends, and their Meetings; where I had a comfortable Service. And about the latter end of the
sixth Month, I took my Journey towards
Sandwich; and when I was clear there, I took my Journey by
Plymouth to
Tewkesbury, and so to
Marshfield and
Cittuate, and so on to
Boston, and did visit Friends, and had Meetings: And from
Boston to
Salem, and so on to
Piscatoway. And when I was clear there, I returned back through the Meetings, and came to
Hampton, Salem, Boston, Cittuate, Marshfield, and so by
Tewkesbury and
Plymouth to
Sandwich, and from thence through the Woods to
Ponigantsit, and from thence over unto
Road Island. And after some time spent there, I took shipping for
Long-Island to visit Friends in those parts; and when I was clear, I returned again to
Road-Island in the Winter, and stayed for some time; for there was no going off the Island unto the Main, the Snow was so deep. And about the latter end of the
first Month I took shipping for the
Barbadoes, and landed there in the
second Month 1667. and did spend that Summer there,
[Page 36] and had blessed and comfortable Service among Friends, large and full Meetings, and the Lord's Power and Presence was with us, and several gathered into the Love of the Truth. And in the
seventh Month I took shipping for
Bristol in
England: and after we had been
Ten Weeks at the Sea, except one day or two, being beat off the Coast with an Easterly Storm, and kept out at Sea in a great Tempest, for the most part of
two Weeks, at last we got into
Milford-Haven, and there I landed, about the 27
th of the
ninth Month, 1667. and so did go up too
Haverfordwest in
Pembrokeshire in
Wales, where I met with a Meeting of Friends the same day: and at that time I stayed
four Weeks in that County, and had many blessed Meetings. And then being clear, I took my Journey towards
Swanzey, and did visit Friends there; and so came up towards
Cardiff, and so on into
Monmouthshire: and after I had visited Friends there, I passed over the Water, and came to
Bristol, and did stay there some Meetings, and so up into
Glocestershire and
Barkshire, and so up to
London, and stayed there some time. And after I was clear of that City, I was moved to return again into
Barkshire, and
Glocestershire, and so to
Bristol, and so over into
South-Wales, and down to
Pembrokeshire, all along visiting Friends, and had blessed Service. And then when I was clear of those Parts, I was moved to return again up through the Meetings in
South-Wales, and to
Glocester, and and through
Glocestershire, and
Barkshire into
Buckinghamshire, and so up to
London, and spent some time there that Summer in the Year 1668. And after that I went over into
Surry to see
George Fox, who then was travelling among Friends in those Parts, to assist Friends in the setling of their mens-Meetings, and also to stir them up to visit such as were fallen away from the Truth, and drawn back, and to see, if they could be restored and brought again to a sense of the Love of God, and so to Salvation and Life; which Work
[Page 37] did prove very effectual for the gaining of many. So after I had been a little with him, and at
Horsham (with some Friends that went from
London with me) to visit some Friends that were Prisoners there for the Truth's Testimony, I returned back again to
London, and so took my Journey for the North of
England, through
Hartfordshire and
Huntingtonshire, and then strait down into
Yorkshire, and spent some time in visiting the Meetings about
Knaisborrough, Netherdale, Massom, Thirsk, and there-aways, and then was moved to go down towards
Crake and
Malton, and so on to
Killam and
Burlington, Scarborough and
Whitby, and on into
Cleveland, and so over into
Bishoprick. And after some time spent there, I came over
Stanmore, and so into
Cumberland, and came home to see my Friends and Relations; and stayed but about a Week, or a few days more, and then took my Journey for
London to the yearly Meeting, that then was appointed to be about the beginning of the
tenth Month, and so was there about a Week or two: and then I took my Journey again into the West through
Barkshire and
Glocestershire, and so over into
South-Wales, down as far as
Pembrokeshire, visiting the Meetings, and serving the Lord and his People with faithfulness in the labours and travels of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. And when I was clear of those Parts, I returned back again through
South-Wales up to
Bristol, and so up through the Counties, visiting the Churches, and so up to
London that Spring, in the Year 1669. and stayed about
two Months time in and about the City. And then I was moved again to go into
Buckinghamshire, and so through the Country, visiting Meetings in divers places, till I came to
Bristol, and was at
Bristol about the 25
th of the
fifth Month 1669. And from thence I went over into
Wales again, and did pass through
South-Wales, as far as
Pembrokeshire; and from thence I took my Journey through the Mountains towards
North-Wales, and did visit Friends in
Radnorshire;
[Page 38] and from thence came down to
Shrewsbury, and so on into
Cheshire, and so through
Lancashire and
Westmoreland home into
Cumberland, and stayed there a little, and did visit Friends. And then took shipping at
Whitehaven for
Ireland, and landed at
Belfast in the North, and spent that Winter in
Ireland in the travels and labour of the Gospel, and had blessed Service for the Lord and his People in that Nation, and was richly comforted and refreshed amongst them in the gracious presence of the Lord, that was with us, who is the Recompencer and rich Rewarder of all that are given up in Faithfulness to serve him. So that now none doth lose their Reward under the Ministration of the Gospel, no more then they did under the Law in the Figure, when he said,
Who is thère among you, that would shut the Doors for nought? neither do you kindle fire on mine Altar for nought, Mal. 1. 10. To him be Glory, and Honour, and Praise over all for ever, for he is worthy! And when I was clear of that Nation, I took shipping at
Dublin, and landed at
Whitehaven in
Cumberland, and stayed a little time in
Cumberland, and then took my Journey for
London to the yearly Meeting, that was in the Spring of the Year 1670. and so spent a part of that Summer in
London, and thereabouts, in the Service of the Truth, until I could have a Conveniency to go for
Barbadoes, that being upon me.
And in the
fifth Month all things being ready, I and
William Simpson went down to
Gravesend with many Friends from
London, that did accompany us; and staying there but a few days, we set Sail from
Gravesend the
eighth day of the
fifth Month 1670. and came to the
Downs, and stayed there some days, and then set Sail from the
Downs the
twentieth day of the same Month, and because of contrary Winds we put in at
Falmouth, and stayed two Nights there, and then put to Sea again, and so set Sail for the
Barbadoes, and arrived there the
thirtieth day of the
seventh Month: so that we
[Page 39] were
twelve Weeks from
Gravesend e're we got
Barbadoes. And then I stayed in the
Barbadoes six Months, and had great and weighty Service in that Island, before I could be clear. And my dear Companion
William Simpson, after he had been there was taken sick of a violent Fever, that was very much among People at that time, and very many died; he was sick but about six days, and then was taken away. At his Death, a very little before his Departure, he gave a living, heavenly Testimony unto the Truth, with wholesome Advice unto them that were about him, and departed in the Peace and Joy of the Lord: an Account whereof may be further seen in a Book writ by one, that was with him from his beginning to be sick, until he departed. I was with him very much, but sometimes was constrained to leave him for the Service sake that was upon me. He was a very Innocent man, and full of fear and reverence, and ordinarily very open in his Testimony, and very sweet and pleasant; we walked in great love and unity together; for he was a humble man, and had very low thoughts of himself, and always under dread. He had gone through great Sufferings and Afflictions, and cruel Persecutions for his Testimony and Service sake, that he was called unto; he likewise had met with hard Buffetings from Satan's Messenger, and sore Temptations, by which he had been wounded, and sore hurt, through the wiles of Satan and his cunning slights; of which he would be often speaking to me in our brotherly Fellowship and Communication, wherein we would open our hearts and states one unto another: and in the remembrance of things he was kept very low and tender, and near the Lord, and took great delight in his Power, by which he had been redeemed, and his Soul delivered, and he raised up into a good degree of Dominion, in which he reigned at the last, and with great triumph departed this Life, and is blessed for ever. My Heart is well satisfied, that it is even so; and when he was
[Page 40] taken away from me, my Heart was broken within me, my Spirit was bowed down greatly in the sense of my loss, and I could not but mourn, though not as such that have no hope, for my hope was firm concerning his well-being and gain that he had obtained; but great was my loss, for I was left as one alone, as I had been often before, to bear the burthen my self, which was very weighty upon me at that time, considering the state of the Church in that Island, and the care of it was upon me; but the Lord was with me, and his Power did assist me to go through my Charge, and clear my self, and free my self from the Blood of all Men and Women. And so through all being guided by his Spirit in his Wisdom, the Lord's Children and People were comforted, and my Soul and Spirit refreshed and revived: and so in peace, clearness, and gladness I came away, and took shipping for
New-England, and set Sail the
first of the
second Month 1671. and arrived at
New-York the 27
th day of the same
Month, and so did go from
New-York unto
Long-Island, and did visit Friends on the Island, and other places there-aways, and was with them at their Half-years-Meeting at
Oyster-Bay. And so being clear of those Parts, took shipping for
Road-Island, and was there at their Yearly-Meeting in 1671. which begins the
ninth of the
fourth
1671.
Month every Year, and continues for much of a Week, and is a General Meeting once a year for all Friends in
New-England. And after that Meeting, when I was clear of those Parts, I took my Journey towards
Sandwich, and so did visit Friends all along at
Tewkesbury, Marshfield, and
Cittuate, and so on to
Boston, and there had a Meeting, and so on to
Salem, and
Hampton, and
Piscataway, all along visiting Friends, and had many pretious Meetings, and the Lord was with us, and his Power was over all. And from
Piscatoway I returned back again the same way, and had blessed Service, and so through I came to
Road-Island again, and
[Page 41] there I spent some time, (and went up to
Providence, and did visit Friends there) and so returned again. And when I was clear of those Parts, I took shipping back again for
Long-Island, and landed at
Oyster-Bay, and had some Meetings: and then went down to
Flushing, and so to
Gravesand, and had some Meetings. And then went over to
East-Iersey to visit Friends there, and had some Meetings: and then returned back again to
Gravesand, and from thence went back again to
Oyster-Bay, and was there at their Half-years-Meeting, which began about the
eighth day of the
eighth Month, and had a blessed time. But in our Meeting for Business, we had an Exercise with several, that rose up in a wrong Spirit against the blessed Order of the Truth, which by the Power of God Friends were gathered into, and sweetly setling in. And chiefly their Envy and Bitterness was against
George Fox, and his Papers of
Wholsome Advice, which he in the Love of God had sent amongst Friends; and in that unruly, lose Spirit and Mind they were gone into, being some of them filled with Prejudice, they had written a Book, which they brought in Manuscript to the Meeting, and urged to have it read. But I told them, we had the Papers there, and they might lay down their Objections, they being there, and we would Answer them. But that would not serve; but the Book they would read: and we sate in quietness, till they had done. And when they had done, I reached for it, and by my memory, did go over the Heads thereof, and did clear
G. F. and Friends in our godly Care and Intents, and opened the Service and Benefit of such Things which they did Cavil at, and shewed Friends the Advantage that was therein, both to the Truth and them; and withal reprehended their Slanders and Falshoods, with which they had hurt the Minds of several young and newly-convinced Friends; and so opened unto them, how it was the same Spirit, that of old led those that opposed the
[Page 42] Apostles, and endeavoured to bring a slight, and begit a disesteem in the Minds of the Believers against them, that watched over them for their good, and so endeavoured to lead them into a fleshly Liberty to shun the Cross,
&c. And when I had cleared my self, and informed Friends of the truth of Things, that then by them had been objected against; Friends in general were satisfied, and saw the Mistakes which they had let into their Minds, through the Insinuation of those three men, that had been chiefly concerned in the writing of the Book, and in the Opposition. And so the Lord's Power broke in upon the Meeting, and Friends Hearts were broken, and great meltings in the Power there was amongst us; and so in the same we blessed the Lord, and praised him, and prayed unto him, and they were bowed, and went away. And so Friends were comforted, and the Seed and Life reigned over all, everlasting Glory, and Honour, and Praise be given to him for all his Mercies and Preservations, for he is worthy for evermore.
And so when all our Meetings were over, and Friends in the heavenly Power and Seed comforted, and the bad Spirits, and their evil Work confounded, and brought under, as in the Minds of the Simple-hearted, that were like to be hurt and betrayed by them, and so a coolness and calmness amongst Friends, I was clear. And then took my Journey with some Friends that did accompany me, and went to
Flushing, and down to
Gravesand; and when I had visited Friends there, I went to
New-York, and had a Meeting; and then took shipping for
Maryland there, and set Sail the the 23
d of the
eighth Month, 1671. We met with a sore Tempest, a West-north-west-wind, that blew
In our going down to
Virginia we were in great danger, and had like to have been Castaway with a North-west Storm. so hard, we could carry no Sail for some days; but at last we got into
Virginia, and then sailed up the
Bay, and got to
Pertuxon River in
Maryland the
fifth day of the
ninth Month, and there I landed with my Companion
Daniel
[Page 43]
Gould, who came with me from
Road-Island, and did travel with me that Winter. We visited Friends in
Maryland, and I went down to
Virginia to visit Friends there, and found a freshness amongst them, and they were many of them restored, and grown up to a degree of their former Zeal and Tenderness, and a great Openness I found in the Country, and had several blessed Mettings. And then I did advise them to have a Mens-Meeting, and so to meet together, to settle things in good order amongst them, that they might be Instrumental to the gathering of such as were yet scattered, and stirring up of such as were cold and careless; and so to the keeping of things in order, sweet, and well amongst them.
And thus having cleared my self in the Love of God, I committed them unto the Lord, and the Word of his Grace, and so took Boat again for
Maryland, and got well thither at last; but met with strong Winds, and rough Weather, and some danger: and so spent some time more in
Maryland, till the
Spring. And in the 2
d Month I appointed a Meeting
1672. at
West-River in
Maryland, for all the Friends in the Province, that I might see them together, before I departed, for I was determined to go as soon as I could after that Meeting. And when the time appointed came, and Friends from all Parts began to come,
George Fox, with several Brethren, came from
Iamaica, and landed at
Pertuxon, and from thence came streight to the Meeting. And there were Friends from all Parts of the Province, where they dwelt, and we had a very large Meeting, which did continue for several days; and a
Men- and
Womens-Meeting for the setling of Things, that
Men- and
Womens-Meetings might be established in the Province, according to the blessed Order of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, which Friends by the Power thereof were gathered into in most places. And
G. F. did wonderfully open the Service thereof unto Friends, and they with gladness of heart received Advice in such necessary Things,
[Page 44] as were then opened unto them; and all were comforted and edified. And then when all was over, and we all clear, and all sweet and pleasant among Friends, we departed, and went down to the
Clefts, some by Water and some by Land, and there we had a large Meeting of both Friends and other People. And when that was over, we departed, some went down to
Virginia, and some stayed in
Maryland.
And
George Fox, Robert Withers, George Pattison, and I with several Friends of the Province, took Boat and went over to the Eastern-shore, and there had a Meeting on the
first day, and on the
second day we began our Journey through the Woods to go over Land to
New-England. And took Horse at
Iohn▪ Pitts at the Head of
Tredaven-Creek, and did go through the Woods above the Heads of
Miles-River and
Wye-River, and also headed
Chester-River, and lay two Nights in the Woods,
viz second and
third days at night. And on the
fourth day we came to
Saxifrax-River, and did swim our Horses, and went over our selves in Boats or
Canowes. And so rode on to
Bohemia-River, and there did cause our Horses to swim, and went over our selves in
Canowes. And then came to a Plantation called
Augustines, and there we stayed a little; and about three in the
Afternoon we set forwards, and some of us got to
Delaware to
Newcastle, and got Lodging; for we were sore wet with the Rain: but
Ro. Withers, and
George Pattison lay in the Woods all night, their Horses being tired. Next morning they came to us at
New-castle: We stayed there that day, and next day we got over the River. And when we were over, we could not get an
Indian for a
Guide; and our
Dutchman we had hired, would not go without an
Indian: so we were forced to stay there that day. And the next day he rode about to seek an
Indian, but could get none to go; and so late in the Evening there came some over from the other side from the Town, and we hired one: and so began our Journey early next Morning, to travel
[Page 45] through that Country, which now is called
New Iersey; and we did suppose that we travelled that day near forty Miles. And at the Evening we got to a few
Indian Wigwams, that is, their
Houses; for we saw no
Man nor
Woman, House nor
Dwelling that day, for there dwelt no
English in that Country then. We lodged that Night in an
Indian Wigwam, and lay upon the Ground, as themselves did: and next day we travelled through several of their Towns, and they were kind to us, and helped us over the
Creeks with their
Canowes; and we made our Horses swim at the sides of the
Canowes, and so travelled on. And towards the Evening we got to an
Indian Town; and when we had put our Horses to Grass, we went up to the
King's House, who received us kindly, and shewed us very civil Respect. But alas, he was so poorly provided, having got so little that Day, that most of us could neither get to
eat nor
drink in his
Wigwam; but it was, because he had it not. So we lay as well as he, that was, upon the Ground; only a
Matt under us, and a piece of
Wood, or any such thing under our Heads. So next Morning early we took Horse, and travelled through several
Indian Towns; and that day at Night we lodged in the
Woods. And so the next day, being the
fourth day, we got to an
English Plantation, to a Town called
Middle-Town, in
East-Iersey, where there was a Plantation of
English, and several Friends; and so we came down with a Friend to his House near the Water-side, and he carried us over in his Boat, and our Horses also to
Long-Island. And we got to Friends at
Gravesand that Evening; and next day we took our Journey to
Flushing on
Long-Island. And the next day, being the
seventh day of the Week, we took our Journey to
Oyster-Bay, and came there that Evening, and several Friends from
Gravesand and
Flushing with us; for the next day their
Half-years-Meeting did begin, which
[Page 46] was the cause of our so hard travelling. And besides, we did understand, that those that had been so troublesome the
Half-years-Meeting before, when I was there, in opposing the Order of Truth, and reflecting so upon
G. F. would then be an Exercise to Friends; therefore
George Fox did endeavour the more to get to the Meeting. Which we did very seasonably; and it was of great Service to the Truth, and great Comfort to Friends, for they were greatly under, when we were come, and some of the chief of them began to fawn upon
G. F. So we had our Meetings very comfortably;
first and
second days publick for Worship;
third day for our
Mens- and
Womens-Meetings for Business, about the Affairs of the Church, as usually before. Then on the
fourth day we had a Meeting with those dissatisfied People; for
G. F. would not suffer the Service of our
Men- and
Womens-Meetings to be hindered by such a matter. And so on the
fourth day, as many Friends as had a desire to be there, did come; and the Lord's Power went over them, and Friends were much satisfied. And he that was the chief Instigator of that Mischief, to wit,
George Dennis, who came from
London, and his Wife, not being well owned there by Friends, he now began to disown the matter, and would have cast it upon others, and have willingly appeared clear to
G. F. but that I did prove under his own Hand, that he was a chief Actor at the
Half-years-Meeting before, and read the Book in our Meeting, whether we would or no. And so things being fastened upon him, the Lord's Power went over his deceitful Spirit, and they were all bowed, and the Truth exalted over all; Glory to the Lord for ever, Amen.
Then after this we stayed a little upon the Island, and did go back to have some Meetings, and returned again to
Oyster-Bay: and there set Sail for
Road-Island the 29
th of
[Page 47] the
third Month, and arrived at
Road-Island the
thirtieth of
the same, and there stayed till the
Yearly-Meeting, which began the
eighth day of the
fourth Month, which was the
sixth day of the next Week following; and at that
General Meeting there were many Friends from most Places in
New-England, where Friends dwelt, and abundance of other People came into our Publick Meetings. And we had Meetings for
eight days together, every day a Meeting, some publick, and others
Men- and
Womens-Meetings, for setling the Affairs of the Churches in the Order of the Truth; that all things might be kept sweet, clean, and well. And when all was over, and the Service of the Meetings finished, I took my Journey
Eastward, to go through the Meetings in the
Eastern Parts of
New-England, and with me went
Iohn Cartwright and
George Pattison, and several other Friends to accompany us: and we left
G. F. upon the
Island, and he went to
Providence and the
Narraganset Country. So we took our Journey towards
Sandwich, where we had a blessed Meeting, and were comforted, and richly refreshed in the blessed Presence of the Lord's holy and blessed Power, that was with us, and did open and enlarge our hearts. And when we had spent some time with Friends there, we left them, and travelled on by
Plymouth and
Duxbury, and had a Meeting at
Marshfield, and another at
Scituate; and the Lord was blessedly with us.
And at
Scituate some of the
Elders of their
Church came to our Meeting, where were abundance of People in an
Orchard, and stood up and made opposition: so I ceased speaking to the People, and joyned with them in Dispute. But the People were so displeased at the Interruption they made, that they signified their dislike, and would have them have stayed till I had done; upon which, they said, they would forbear then, and come again. So they
[Page 48] went away: and after their own Meeting was over, they came again, and several Friends stayed with me; and a great Company of People came with them. And then we went into our Meeting-house, which before would not hold the Multitude, and there began to Dispute; and after some time spent, they always endeavouring to make Friends appear to be in the Errour, I said unto them before the People,
If I must be disputed with as an Heretick,
and your Church
esteemed as a true Church,
I am willing, we should come to the Rule Christ hath left, and thereby be tried,
and that is, by our Fruits:
and if you can prove the Fruits
of your Church
to be agreeable to the Fruits
of any antient true Christian Church,
I shall yield; otherwise I must hold my Testimony against it, as a false Church,
&c. But they were mighty unwilling to joyn with me in that Discourse. But I urged the proof of our
Practice by
Scripture, especially in such a great Point as that; and so went on to reckon up the
Fruits of their Church, which was to
fine, and
take away Goods for not coming to their Worship, to
Imprison, to
Whip with Cruelty, to
Cut off Ears, to
Burn in the Hand, to
Banish upon pain of Death, and to
Hang; for they had
hanged four
of our Friends. All which Cruelties their Church had executed upon us, and only upon the account of
Religion. And if they could prove these to be the
Fruits of a
true Christian Church, then I told them, I would own them; otherwise they were to be denied. The proof of these things, or to dispute upon them, they would willingly have evaded; but I stood upon it
necessary, that we might be known by our
Fruits, and our
Practice proved by
Scripture, which they pretended to be their
Rule; or otherwise all was but vain words, and an idle Notion, and they had nothing to do with
Scripture, &c. And then they were confounded, and knew not what to say; but
[Page 49] one of them fled to that Decree made by
Artaxerxes, Ezra 7. 26. But I shewed, how inconsistant it was with the
Gospel-Dispensation, Christ's Command, and the
Christian's
Practice: and further said, I would prove the
Indians, better Christians, than they, by
practice. And instanced the
Indian King, who when they had banished
Nicholas Upshell (an antient, grave, old man, against whom they had nothing, but that he was called a
Quaker) from his Wife and Family, and out of their
Colony, he being received by his Friends at
Sandwich in
Plymouth-Colony, they stirred up the
Rulers of the
Colony to
banish him out of their Jurisdiction, which they did. And when the
Indian King had inquired,
Why they would send that antient Man sixty Miles through the Woods in the cold Winter to Road-Island?
and understood the Matter, he desired him to go with him, and he would keep him, and none should molest him; or to that purpose: and offered him Land and Kindness. So (said I) here was one that would
entertain a Stranger, a Christian Practice, according to
Hebr. 13. 2. when your Church
banisheth Neighbours from their own Dwellings; an act of Cruelty,
&c. Much Discourse we had, but at these things they were confounded; some of themselves having been Actors in Persecution upon our Friends, as Friends told me, after they were gone. So the Lord's Power went over them, they could not stand the trial; and we parted in the Peace and Love of God.
And next day we came to
Boston, where we had a Meeting, and many People came in, and several of Note. After a while, when I was speaking, came the
Marshal and a
Constable, and many People following them. The
Marshal bid the
Constable do his Office; the
Constable, being a moderate man, said,
So he did; he was to see the King's Peace kept And so stood awhile, and heard me; and went away, and told the
Deputy-Governour, he had been at our
[Page 50] Meeting, but he heard nothing but what was true, or no Blasphemy, or to this effect. So the People stayed, and I had a blessed Season to open things to the People, and clear the truth of those Scandals, which the Priests and others had cast upon it: and the People went away greatly satisfied, and spoke well of the Testimony they had heard. Which when Priest
Thatcher heard, it appears he was displeased (for several of his Children were there) and the old, angry, persecuting Spirit got up in him, and next
first day he stirred up
two Magistrates in his preaching to the People, and they sent, and took Friends at their Meeting, and
committed several to
Prison. And we had appointed a Meeting for
Iohn Stubbs and
Iames Lancaster the
third day of the next Week, who came after us through the Country: and when they came, they were
put in Prison, and banished out of the Colony. Thus their old Fruits, like old corrupt Trees, they brought forth again.
So the next day we took our Journey to
Salem, and there had a Meeting, and a blessed Season: But there we met with some, that were gone into that foolish Notion of
Iohn Parrots, keeping on their Hats, when Friends
prayed, &c. So after Meeting was over, where many People was in a
Barn, we had a Meeting with several of the Chief of Friends, and such as were gone after that Spirit; and a great Discourse we had with them, in which we laboured to bring them to an understanding of that Notion they were gone into, and so laboured to open and settle the Minds of Friends in the antient Truth, and blessed Power which they had believed in, and received from Heaven; and then appointed a Meeting to be the next Week against our Return. And so took our Journey towards
Piscattaway, and had a Meeting at
Hampton, as we went, were several People came in, and some of the
Elders of
[Page 51] their Church, and were greatly satisfied; and went away, and gave a good report of the Truth, insomuch that
Seaborn Cotton the Priest, was greatly offended. And the
first day following, he called the Chief of his People together, and would have a Church-Act made,
That no Members, nor Members Children, should go to a Quakers Meeting; and it was to be confirmed by their holding up their Hands: But those that were at the Meeting, would not assent; but one of them did declare, what he remembred of the Heads of what he heard at the Meeting, and maintained it to be Truth. So the
Priest was in a rage, and endeavoured to stir up
Persecution.
And after the Meeting was over, we went along to
Piscattaway with Friends, that came from thence to meet us, and stayed there till the
first day, and had a blessed Meeting: and also had a Meeting with the chief of Friends, both
Men and
Women, about setling of
Men- and
Womens-Meetings: And Friends were very open, and in sweet unity all things were setled, after we had opened things unto them, relating to the blessed
Order of the
Gospel. And so committing them to the Lord, and the Word of his Grace, we returned back again, and had another Meeting at
Hampton, where were several young People, who after the Meeting gave me a Paper, in which they signified their desire to be satisfied in something, that was as a Scruple upon their Minds: To which I answered, and gave them great satisfaction. And when they saw my Openness and willingness to answer, they with reverence, did ask me about divers things, wherein they desired to be informed; and unto all I answered, and gave them satisfaction, and so we parted.
Then I, with Friends with me, took our Journey toward
Salem, and came there against the time appointed, and we had the Meeting which we had appointed, with most of
[Page 52] the Chief of Friends; and it was about setling of
Meetings to look after the Affairs of the Church. And in the Meeting it was upon me largely to open the Service of our
Men- and
Womens-Meetings, and the Duty and Care of the Faithful therein; and when I had done, they did confess unto the Service,
&c. to be very good and right. So then we desired, that they would come into the practice thereof; but when we partly pressed that, they would answer little, but held back; some of them, who (like
Diotrephes of old, who loved to have the Pre-eminence, and so withstood the Apostle) did keep off in their Minds, being of that Spirit I wrote of before in
Virginia, who pretended to be against
Forms. And while we sate waiting upon the Lord, and staying to see what they would come to; and
George Pattison labouring to bring them to a Sense of the Service, and so to come into the Practice, and they not being willing to say any thing, my Spirit being very low, the Word of the Lord came unto me, and the dread of his Power fell upon me: so that after some time I opened my Mouth with a Lamentation, and said; I was sorry, or grieved, that I had that to say, that I must declare unto them, and that was, That while they stood in that Spirit they were in, they could not act in Unity with the Body in honour to the Head,
&c. and therefore after that, our Exhortation was unto them to Condemn that Spirit, by which they had been led aside, and wait for the Universal Spirit of Life, or to this effect; and so we left them, and they were greatly concerned. So the
next day we had a publick Meeting amongst them, and after meeting came away towards
Boston. Then their Consciences being troubled, we had to do with several of the Chief of them, who laboured to have Reversed that I had spoken; and said, It was very hard,
&c. But I told them, I could not do it, the Power had sealed it, and it
[Page 53] must stand; it was, they must come to
Repentance, and
Condemn that Spirit which had deceived, or to that effect. And so we left it upon them according to the Word of the Lord: And since some of them have seen it, and Condemned that Spirit, and given a
Testimony in writing against it; blessed be the Lord, who shews Mercy, and restores out of the Snares of Satan.
And so being clear of all those Parts, we came away strait to
Road-Island, and there we met with
G. F. who was preparing to go Westward towards
Long-Island: So he went away, and
Robert Withers, Iames Lancaster, and
George Pattison with him. And from
Long-Island they went over to
East-Iersey, and so over Land back again to
Maryland; and
Iohn Stubbs and I were left at
Road-Island: Iohn Cartwright we left at
Piscattaway, he went further Eastward; and after some time came to
Iohn Stubbs and me at
Road-Island. I. S. and I went up to
Providence, had a Meeting there; and as we returned, we had a Meeting at
Warwick, where none had been before; and several were Convinced, and did own the Truth. And there we had to do with one
Gorton, and his Company, who were by other People there called
Gortonians, but they called themselves
Generalists: They were of Opinion,
All should be saved. But they were in reality
Ranters: for in our Discourse they would maintain, and say,
No Creaturely Actions could be Sin; and would have no
Whoredom, nor
Drunkenness, nor the like to be
Sin, but what was spiritual; the Outward action was but creaturely. And thus in their filthy, unclean Spirits, they, like the old
Ranters, made merry over the reproof of God's Spirit.
So from thence we came down again to
Road-Island, and there we spent some time, and had a long Dispute with one
Roger Williams, that sent us a
Challenge from
Providence, with
fourteen Propositions, as he called them, but they were
[Page 54]
Charges; and he engaged to maintain them against all Comers; the first
Seaven to be disputed on at
Road-Island, and the latter
Seven at
Providence. We spent in
Dispute with him
three days at
Road-Island; but he could not make any proof of his Charges to the satisfaction of the
Auditory; for there was a great Congregation every day: it would be tedious here to insert the Discourse, if I were able; but I cannot remember it. There is a Book in
Manuscript, of what was taken in
Short-hand of the Discourse at that present; besides there is a Book in print, entituled,
New-England-Fire-Brand quenched, &c. which is an Answer to a Book of the said
R. Williams, which gives some relation of some part of the
Dispute; to which I refer the Reader.
William Edmondson came from
Virginia, and was also with us at the same
Dispute: W. E. and
I. Stubbs went up to
Providence, and spent
one day with him there about the latter
Seven, and so cleared themselves to the People, and came away, when they had done with him.
So after some time together upon the Island,
Iohn Stubbs and I went over, with several Friends that did accompany us, to
Narraganset; and there we had a Meeting the
four and twentieth of the
sixth Month at one
Richard Smith's; and
next day took our Journey towards
Hartford. We came first to
New-London, and from thence to
Norwich, and so to
Hartford, and stayed there
one day: and several of the Professors came in to us, to Dispute with us. And the next day we rode to a Town called
Westfield, near
thirty Miles, which was within the
Massachuset's Colony. And there was a Man and his Wife that received us; and we appointed a Meeting: But when they heard of it, some of their Officers came to us, and commanded, that we should have no Meeting; and so affrighted the People, that none durst come to us. We had a little Discourse with their
Officers or
Elders that came to us; but they
[Page 55] would not stay, but cried out against our Religion. We asked them, If they knew our Principles, that they so condemned? Some of them answered, and said,
Nay, they knew them not, nor did not desire to know them. We asked them, How they could judge of them: and withal told them, They were such as the Scripture did speak of, who
spoke evil of the things they knew not: and they were confounded, and went away; and so scared the People, that none durst come near us.
So we came away to
Hartford again on the
sixth day of the Week, and on the
seventh day several came to us, and discoursed with us: and we desired that we might speak with the Priest, and they had promised that we should; but when we desired him to come, he, or they for him, made an Excuse, he could not that day come from his Study. So the next day (being the
first day of the Week) we did go to their Meeting, and the
Fore-noon stayed without, till they had done. And when they had done, and came forth, we spoke to the People; but they got away, as if they had been afraid of us; and none would stay. So we returned to the
Inn; and stayed there till the
After-noon. And then we did go into their
Meeting-house, and stayed till the Priest had done. And then I stood up, and called unto the People, and desired their patience a little to hear, I had a word of Exhortation to them; and so began to speak. But immediately the
Sexton came to me to interrupt me: but when he saw that he could not stop me, then he drove the People away. And when I saw the People most of them gone, I stept down, and thought to have gone forth after them; but he got to the Door, and shut the Door to keep me in. Then I went round an Alley to get to a
second Door, but he got over the Seats, and shut that. Then I made for a
third Door; he also got to that before
[Page 56] me, and shut that; and so made their Meeting-house a Prison, and kept us in, with a very few People that got not away, till the People was gone, and then let us forth. So we came to our
Inn again.
And after some time several of their
Elders came to us, to
dispute with us, on purpose to keep the
younger People away, as some of them confessed; and when we came to Discourse with them, they would seem to charge us with
breach of the
Sabbath in
coming to their Meeting that day. We took the Bible to us, and said, Come,
first prove a
Sabbath-day under the
Gospel-Dispensation, and then prove our
practice this day to be a
breach of it, if you can, and vindicate
Paul, who
disputed every Sabbath-day in the Synagogue, &c. and then prove by Scriptures your practice this day, and shew,
Where any Christians drove the People away from hearing the Truth? (for they had granted, we spoke nothing but Truth)
and made their Meeting-house a Prison? And so we shut them behind the
unbelieving Iews, who gave liberty to
Paul and
Silas. And they were confounded, and could not tell how to vindicate their doings; and so went away.
Then after they were gone, came into our Chamber many
younger People, and we opened many things to them relating to the
Way of Truth, and cleared things up from the Scriptures; and they were mightily satisfied. And when the old, dry Professors saw, that the
younger People were affected; they sent in a
Constable, to
Command all to depart; but they answered and said, They were House-keepers many of them, and therefore he had nothing to do with them: so they would not go. So we continued still opening the Scriptures unto them; and they were affected. Then the
Inn-keeper, being one of their
Elders, came and took the Candle away, that we might not see to
read in the
Scriptures; and so left us in the dark: then
[Page 57] the People went away, being displeased. So the next Morning,
I. S. and I took our Journey
Westward; and our Friends that came to Accompany us, returned home to
Road-Island. And we went from
Hartford to
New-haven, then to
Milford, and then to
Stratford, and to
Fairfield, and to
Norwich, then to
Stanford, and so to
Greenwich, where we met with Friends; and there we appointed a Meeting. The
Priest of that Town in his
Pulpit had preached against Friends, and often had boasted, how he would
Dispute with the Quakers, if any came there; so when the Meeting was appointed, the People came with a great expectation, of what the
Priest would do. But in the Morning he rode away to
Stanford to a
Magistrate, and sent a
Constable with a
Warrant to apprehend us; who came at the beginning of our Meeting, and took us, and carried us away to the
Magistrate at
Stanford. The People being displeased, many of them followed after us to
Stanford, and our Friends also, to see what they would do: and when we came there, many People was gathered about the House, (for it was but two miles between the Towns) but after a little time we were called into an
inner Room, where the
Magistrate lay upon his Bed, he not being very well. And when we came in, there was none with him but
two Priests, the Priest of
Greenwich, and the Priest of
Stanford, nor none was to be suffered to come in but the
Constable, and
one man of
Stanford that was a Merchant, as they said; he went in and out when he pleased. So the
Magistrate asked us many Questions, and we answered him; and he discoursed with us long in many things, and we answered him; for he was very moderate. Then after a long time
one of the
Priests put in a Question: then I said, If we must Discourse of Divine Things, we did desire to be more publick; for the People were without, desirous to hear. Then
[Page 58] the
Magistrate said to the
Priests, Master
Iones and Master
Bishop, I desire you to go into the
Publick Meeting-House with these men, and there Discourse with them before the People; for, said he, they are sober, rational men. So we accepted kindly of the proffer, and rose up, and went forth; and the
Priests came after us
displeased. But when we were forth of the Door among the People, we called upon the Priests to go up with us, as they were desired; and so we went up, and they and the People also. And when we were setled in their
Meeting-House, and many People, then the
Priests put it upon us to
begin; and so we began with them
first about their
Wages, and so went on to our
Call, which they put upon us. And so about the
Light, which they denied: and so about
Election and
Reprobation, and
free Grace. They affirmed, the
Grace of God had
not appeared to all men, and that
Christ did not dye for all men. Several hours we spent; but the Discourse is drawn up in a Book in Manuscript, and therefore shall forbear it here, for it is large. And so the next day we had a
Meeting at
Greenwich, but the
Priest came, and we had a great Discourse; which is in the said Book. And the
first day following we had a Meeting about
six Miles from thence; and then, being clear of these Parts—
We took Boat, and went over unto
Long-Island, to
Oyster-Bay, and met with
Iohn Cartwright; and so did visit Friends upon the Island.
I. W. and I went over to
East-Iersey, and did visit Friends there; and had several blessed Meetings. And returned back again to
Long-Island, and had several Meeings. And then being clear of those Parts,
Iohn Cartwright and I came to
New-York, in order to get a Passage for
Maryland; and we set Sail from
New-York the
first day of the
ninth Month, 1672. but set Sail at
Sandy-hook out to the Sea the
third day of the
[Page 59] same, and met with rough Weather; but the
sixth day of the same we got in at the Capes of
Virginia, and on the
ninth of the same
Month we came to Anchor in
Pertuxon-River in the
Province of
Maryland, and so got up within a day or two to
Iames Prestons: but the
North-west-wind blew so hard, that we could not get up the
first day. And then we did go through Friends in that
Province, as the Lord made way. And
G. F. and Friends that were with him, who came over Land together, were gone down to
Virginia, and he also did travel over Land to
North-Carolina, and there found some Friends, and returned back again over Land to
Virginia, and so came up the Bay again to
Maryland, and while they were below in
Virginia and
Carolina, we travelled among Friends in
Maryland, and had blessed Service.
Upon the
first day of the
eleventh Month we had a Meeting at
Iohn Baldwin's at
South-River, where were many Friends, and other People, who were come together upon the Occasion of a
Dispute which one
Henry Pierrepoint had challenged us unto, who was a kind of a
Fifth-Monarchy-Man. The
first thing we had to prove, which he had assumed, was,
That the Scriptures
were the only Rule
to try all things by in matters of Faith and Doctrine. About which we had a great Discourse: and we proved,
That the Patriarchs had Faith
and a Rule
for Faith,
before any Scriptures
we have, were written: and shewed, what was their
Rule. We spent several hours in
Dispute about the other
three things, which he had affirmed; but there is a Book in
Manuscript, which is an Answer to them all: therefore shall omit any further mentioning of it here. So after some time spent in visiting Friends, from Meeting to Meeting, where many People came in, at several places (and the Lord's Power
[Page 60] opened us, and we were comforted, and the Consciences of People reached)
G. F. and the other Friends returned, and
Iohn Cartwright took shipping for
Barbadoes.
G. F. and I were some time together; and we were up at an
Indian Town, at the
Emperour's House, where he had ordered the
Indians, both Men and Women, to be there at his House, to wit, the antient and grave; the young People were at another
Wigwam. G. F. spoke unto them by an
Interpreter for the space of
four or
five hours, I suppose, it was nigh
five hours, and they were very still and quiet, and very attentive, and delighted (as we did perceive) to hear. And when the time was over, and we clear, they shewed us kindness, and were going to hang a Kettle on the fire to boil Fish for us to eat, as they told us; but we could not stay, having a great way to go by Water, and it was late. So we came away to the Water-side, and some of them accompanied us till we took Boat: so we came down the River again to Friends, and spent some time more in travel and labour in that
Province.
And
Iames Lancaster, George Pattison, and I, took a Journey to visit some People that was Convinced, up
Potomick-River, but we did Ferry over
Pertuxon-River, and then travelled through the
Woods on foot over Land, till we came to them, and stayed a few days, and had a Meeting or two, and then returned back again to
Pertuxon, and on to the
Clifts, where we left
Iames, being very weary. Then next day
George and I travelled to
West-River, and were there at their Meeting. And next Week we got a Boat, and went over the
Bay to the
Easternshore, and went up
Miles-River to Friends; and from thence we went to meet with
G. F. to speak with him,
[Page 61] having some Intentions to take shipping, and to go for
England with one
Iohn Ore a Friend, a Master of a Katch, that did belong to some Friends at
London.
And when we had been with
G. F. a little time, we returned to
Miles-River to our Boat; and after a little time went away to go over the
Bay towards
West-River, and through some exercise with contrary Winds. At last we got over; and after a little time spent there with Friends, we departed, and went down by the
Clifts, where we met with
G. F. come over the
Bay. And stayed but little there; but went on towards
Pertuxon, where we took shipping, and set Sail out of
Pertuxon-River the 25
th day of the
second Month, 1673.
1673. and came out at the
Capes of
Virginia to the Sea on the
sixteenth day of the same Month. And when we had sailed but a few days, in a Morning early we espied a Fleet of
Ships behind us, about
four and
twenty, and then we stopt a little, supposing them to be an
English Fleet, that sailed out of the
Capes from
Iames-River, two or three days before us. And when some of them came up to us, they told us, it was the same Fleet. So we stayed, and went in company with them, till we came about the Bank of
New-found-Land: and then we met with foul Weather, which did part us one from another, so that we no more got all together again. We were
six that got together again in our Company, and kept together, until we came into the
Bay at
Galloway in
Ireland, where we arrived the 24
th day of the
third Month 1673.
And then from
Galloway I travelled to
Limmerick, and so to
Charlefield, to
Mallo, and to
Cork, and to
Bandon, and as far almost as
Baltimore, visiting Friends, and having Meetings: and then returned back to
Cork, and then took my Journey to
Youghill, and so on to
Tallagh, and
[Page 62] to
Kilcomin, and to
Waterford, and so on into the County of
Wexford, having Meetings in all these places; and the Lord's good Presence with us, to our comfort, Glory, and Honour, and Praise to him for ever!
And then I came up through the County of
Catherlough, and the
Queens County, and so on into the County of
Westmeath, having Meetings all along, and visiting Friends, (and there
George Pattison left me, and took his Journey for
Dublin, and from thence to
London) but I took my Journey for
Caan, and when I had seen Friends, and had a Meeting or two, I took my Journey for the North, the County of
Ardmagh, and the County of
Antrim, and those parts, and did visit Friends, and had many precious Meetings, and the Lord was with us, and his gracious Presence was our daily comfort; to him be the Glory for ever!
And when I had spent some time in the North of
Ireland in the Service of the Truth, I took my Journey for
Dublin. And after some Meetings there, I took my Journey into the County of
Wicklow, and so through the
Province of
Munster a
second time, and also through Friends in
Leinster, and in the
North: so that I did travel through most Meetings a
second time in that Nation. And then being clear of the Nation, I took shipping at
Belfast the 25
th day of the
tenth Month 1673. and the 26
th we set Sail out of the
Lough, and arrived at
White-haven in
Cumberland in
England the 27
th of the same
Month, and stayed about
three Months in
Cumberland for the most part. And then I took my Journey out of
Cumberland towards
Newcastle, visiting Friends and their Meetings, as I went along. And from
Newcastle I went on into
Bishoprick, and through their Meetings, and so on into
Yorkshire, and through
Cleveland, and to
Whitby,
[Page 63] and
Scarborough, Malton, and
York, and had many precious Meetings. And so went up to
Massom, and from thence
Robert Lodge and I, with
Iames Hall, took our Journey towards
London to the
Yearly-Meeting in the Year 1674. and there stayed some time (labouring
1674. in the Word and Testimony which God had committed unto me) in that City. And then I took my Journey into the Country, and went down into
Buckinghamshire, through their Meetings; and so on into
Oxfordshire, to
Worcestershire, and
Glocestershire, and to
Bristol, and then back again, and so through to
Shrewsbury, and on as far as
Wrexham in
Wales, visiting the Churches of Christ: and the good Presence of the Lord in his heavenly Power accompanying, we were often refreshed and sweetly comforted together, to his Praise and our Joy, who is our God for evermore.
And so from
Wrexham in
North-Wales, I took my Journey with
Iohn ap Iohn, who accompanied me towards
South Wales, and we did visit Friends, and had many Meetings as we went along, in
Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire, and
Cardiganshire; and so we passed on by the
West-Sea into
Pembrokeshire, and there visited the Lord's People, and spent some time amongst them there. And then we took our Journey through
Carmarthenshire to
Swanzey; and having a Meeting or two, we passed on towards
Cardiff, visiting Friends in
Glamorganshire; and then into
Monmouthshire; and having visited Friends in that County, we parted; he returned home, and I passed over the Water into
Glocestershire, and so to
Bristol. And so continued travelling through several Counties, visiting the Churches, and so to
London; spent some time there, and then went down into
Essex, and visited Friends in that Country; and returned again to
London to the
Yearly-Meeting
[Page 64] in the Year 1675. And from
London I took my Journey to
Hartford, and so down
Northward with
Iohn Graves and
Iames Hall to
1675.
York, and there we parted. And I went from
York to
Malton, and so to
Scarborough, and
Whitby, and through Friends in
Cleveland, and so to
Stockdon in
Bishoprick, visiting Friends, and having many pretious Meetings. And then passed through several Meetings in that County; and being clear, I then took my Journey for
Cumberland; and being there, I with several Brethren was desired to come over into—
Westmorland to a Meeting appointed by Friends at their
Quarterly-Meeting in
Westmorland, which was to be at
Powbank. So I went thither against the day appointed, with
Iohn Graves, Iohn Tiffin, Hugh Tickell, and
Thomas Laithes, where we met with several Brethren, that were come out of
Yorkshire, at the request of the aforesaid
Quarterly-Meeting. And upon that occasion many Friends of
Westmorland were come together; who, when we were sate together in the Meeting, did present unto us several
Disorders in many things, that were contrary to the Truth; by which they had been grieved, and sorely exercised for a long time in their
Monthly and
Quarterly-Meetings, so that the Spirits of a lose Company were set at liberty, and so much born up and countenanced by
Iohn Story and
Iohn Wilkinson, that the blessed
Order of the
Truth brought forth amongst us by the Power of God, was greatly slighted, and endeavoured to be trodden under by that
lose Company, being thus encouraged by these
two men, that looked upon themselves to be
Elders, and so, like
Diotrephes, loved to have the Pre-eminence; which brought great grief upon the honest and simple-minded. So we hearing, what Friends had to say in that matter,
[Page 65] and observing, what was charged and proved, we desired Friends to give us another Meeting, and let
I. S. and
I. W. be sent to, and desired to meet us, that we might hear them face to face: although they had been desired from the
Quarterly-Meeting, and several others, to come to this Meeting so appointed by the
Quarterly-Meeting, and had refused; and withal sent us a Letter, denying to come, and disowning our Meeting.
Nevertheless, we were willing to have another Meeting, which Friends of
Westmorland freely assented unto; and so it was appointed at
Milthrop the next day. And we (to wit)
six or more of
Cumberland and
Yorkshire Friends, did our selves go to them as Messengers, and did intreat them to go with us to the Meeting, that we might hear them and the Friends of
Westmorland, that were agrieved, face to face, concerning those things that were in charge against them; but they were so high, and so obstinate, that they slighted us all, or any Advice we could give. And so after some hours discourse with them, in which we throughly saw their Spirits to be wrong, we left them, and went to the Meeting appointed at
Milthrop, where Friends were waiting for us. And after we were setled a little in the Meeting, we gave an acccount, how we had endeavoured to perswade them to come through all entreaty we could, but could not prevail. And so we gave a hearing a
second time to the Friends; and then we of
Yorkshire and
Cumberland with-drew; and amongst our selves viewed the whole matter, for it was in writing, and opened our Hearts one unto another. And waiting upon the Lord, there fell a Weighty Concern upon us for the
Truth's sake, and the blessed
Order thereof, with our holy Testimony we had been raised up into, which by them had been slighted, and scorned, and reproached.
[Page 66] So that we could not pass it by, but in the Power of the Lord God, that was dreadful amongst us, gave
Iudgment against that Spirit, that was grown so high, and lose, and fleshly, as thus to undervalue the Testimony of God, and the bringings forth of his holy Power in the Churches of Christ: that thereby all might be kept sweet, clear, and in good Order. And when we had cleared our selves in the rising and springing of the Word of Life, and drawn up our
Testimony in
writing, we gave it unto Friends there, and so departed. Of the
Iudgment given I shall say no more here, because it is in writing in many places.
So I went over to
Swarthmore, and stayed a Meeting there; and then returned into
Cumberland, and stayed there some Weeks, and visited Friends. And being clear, I returned again to
Swarthmore, in order to go over the
Sands towards
Wales, which was before me. And when I was at
Swarthmore, I was moved to go over first into
Westmorland, to visit the Meetings there. So I went over to
Sedber, and had a Meeting there; and then had a Meeting at
Grayrigg, and then came to
Kendall, where I met with
Robert Lodge, and so we had a blessed Meeting there. And the next day we were at
Preston-Meeting; and then I was clear of that County.
And so after a little time, took my Journey into
Wales through
Lancashire and
Cheshire, and so coming to
Iohn ap Iohns, near
Wrexham in
North-Wales, he did go along with me. And in the first place, we went to a
Quarterly-Meeting that was at
Deloberon, at
Charles Lloyds, for two Counties,
(viz.) Merionethshire and
Mongomeryshire, and had a blessed Service for the Truth there among Friends. And then went down into
Merionethshire, and visited the Meetings: and then to
Mehuntleth, and had a Meeting. And then
[Page 67] returned up into
Radnorshire, and visited the Meetings there in that County. And then took our Journey through
Brecknockshire, and
Carmarthenshire, into
Pembrokeshire, where we spent some time amongst Friends, and had several pretious Meetings. And being clear, we took our Journey towards
Swanzey, and
Cardiff, and had several pretious Meetings in
Glamorganshire, and then went over into
Monmouthshire. And after we had visited Friends,
Iohn went with me to the
Ferry, and stayed to see me take Boat, and then returned.
And I went that same day to
Bristol, and stayed some Meetings there. And then went down into
Somersetshire, and did visit Friends there, and had many blessed Meetings. And returned back to
Bristol, and stayed some Meetings there. And then went up into
Wiltshire, and so into
Glocestershire, and through
Barkshire, and into
Oxfordshire, and so into
Worcestershire, as far as
Worcester, and visited Friends, and had many pretious Meetings through those Counties. And from
Worcester returned again down through
Glocestershire, and had several Meetings. And came again to
Bristol; and from thence took my Journey through several Counties, visiting Friends: And so came to
London, and stayed there some time in the Service and Work of the Gospel.
And being clear, I took my Journey for the
North, and did not make much stay at any place, till I came into
Cumberland. And the reason of my so travelling was, because of a Meeting, that was agreed upon by Friends to be at
Draw-well in
Sedber-Parish, about the
former Difference, that had been heard at
Powbank, that was among Friends in
Westmorland, chiefly occasioned by the aforesaid
Iohn Story and
I. Wilkinson, and a lose sort of People, that they did countenance in a
Liberty, that
[Page 68] the Truth would not allow; and therefore could not be born with by such tender Friends, as were zealous for the Truth, who kept their
first love, and therein delighted to uphold that
Antient Testimony for the Lord, against the
Priests and their
Tithes, Hire and
Maintenance, with other things, that were to be born Witness against through
Sufferings: as also for
Meeting together to worship God, which from the beginning had been our practice against such, there being divers
Statutes with
Penalties upon us, for so doing; for fear of which, the aforesaid
I. S. and
I. W. with such as had let in the same
fear through
fleshly Reasoning, did shrink, and hide, and so let fall the Nobility of that Testimony, which we had received, and were raised up to stand for in the beginning. And so because of a failure in divers things, and a
pleading for a
Liberty, from under the exercise of the
Cross, that the
Offence thereof might
cease, the Faithful became concerned, to stand up against that Spirit, that thus was like to weaken or overthrow the
Faith and
Testimony of many, through its subtil Workings in and through divers, who like them the Apostle writes against in his Epistle to the
Galatians, that to avoid
Persecution, endeavoured to bring the Believers under
Circumcision, that so the Offence of the Cross might cease, or Sufferings for the Gospel might be avoided.
Now this Difference still continuing, and they abiding obstinate, and not willing to receive
Advice, nor bear the
Iudgment in the Truth placed upon them, Friends in condescension, to see, if they could be gained, appointed a Meeting at
Draw-well near
Sedber, that
1676. they might have another opportunity, and be heard, what they could further say. And then the Matters were fully gone through before many antient, faithful
[Page 69] Brethren, that were there then assembled, who spent
four days in hearing, and going through the Matters relating to that Difference, that was then occasioned through their Opposition to the blessed
Order of the
Truth, who withstood Friends godly Care for the Preservation of the Dominion thereof in Righteousness. And when all things were heard and gone through by the Brethren, the
Iudgment was again given in the Power of the Lord upon that Spirit, that they had let in, whereby they had been led into a
Separation, and
Division, and
Opposition to the Truth, and the holy Order and Testimony thereof; and they in the same Power and Love, with great Bowels and Tenderness, sought to return back again unto that Spirit of Love and Peace, wherein the Unity and Fellowship of the true Body doth consist. But alas! many of them would not be wrought upon, nor prevailed with; but in that hardness the Enemy had wrought their Hearts into, did persist, until they became open
Enemies to the
Truth, and the faithful Witnesses of it, even to the
Writing and
Printing publickly against them, and what the Truth doth lead into: and so are become such as the Apostles write of, that
greatly withstood their words, and slighted them: of which both
Paul, Peter, Iohn and
Iude write. This Meeting at
Draw-well was in the
second Month 1676.
From thence (after Friends had done what could be done at that time, with holy Endeavours for the reconciling and gathering into the Heavenly Unity, and making up of the Breach) I returned again into
Cumberland with several Brethren, to wit,
I. T. I. B. Hugh Tickhill, Thomas Laythes, Iohn Steel, and so spent a little time in
Cumberland, and then I took my Journey
[Page 70] with
Iohn Tiffin towards
London. And in our Journey we came into
Westmorland, to visit Friends there, where we met with some of those, with whom we had to do at
Draw-well; and then they were grown hard, through
resisting the
Counsel of the
Lord, and had set up a
Separate Meeting, and so run into the Self-Separation, and grown more into the Enmity, and stronger in the Opposition, through Resisting the love of God, that so richly was reached forth unto them in the Heavenly Bowels, that by the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ were opened in the Brethren at the aforesaid Meeting at
Draw-well. For then did the Power of the Eternal God in great Majesty appear, and in a weighty Dread was
Iudgment set and sealed upon that
Spirit, by which they had been betrayed; and by the same Power and Word of Life was a Door opened unto them that had been betrayed, and an entrance in the same set before them, and they with much brokenness and tenderness, in the Power of Love, were sought to return, and be reconciled unto God, and unto his People. But this great Visitation by them being rejected, they grew harder and harder, until they grew, many of them, as before said,
Enemies unto the Cross of Christ; and so withered as to their Spiritual State, and so did become as some of old, whom the Apostle wrote of, as
Trees twice dead, and pluckt up by the Roots—
And then from
Westmorland I went over into
Yorkshire, had a Meeting at
Sedber, and went through the
Dales to
Massom, and visited Friends there-aways. And then
I. T. and I, with
Robert Lodge, took our Journey to
York, and from thence towards
London, visiting Friends by the way, and so came to the Yearly Metting in
[Page 71] the Year 1676. where there were many faithful Brethren assembled together there from most Parts of the Nation: Amongst many things of Concern, relating to the Truth, and the Churches of Christ, that Division in
Westmorland was laid before the Meeting, and how they were hardened, and had set up a
Separate Meeting, and so had withdrawn themselves from the rest of their Brethren, and broken the Christian Fellowship: which thing, when understood by the Brethren there assembled, was a grief unto them. And thefore under the sence thereof, and in that Brotherly Love, with which their Hearts were filled towards them, were there
Two Epistles writ from the Meeting,
one to
I. S. and
I. W. warning and advising them, as Heads and Leaders in that Sedition and Schism, to endeavour to break up that
Separate Meeting, and to be Reconciled unto their Brethren, before they did go abroad to offer their Gift. And the
other was writ to the Meeting, as Advice unto them to Return to their former Fellowship with Friends, and lay that
Separate Meeting down, and joyn with their Brethren in the Unity of the Truth,
&c.
But all this did not prevail with them; but still they grew higher and harder, and went on in the strong Resolutions of their Wills. Only there were divers Particulars, that were for a time concerned in that Opposition and
Separation, whose Understandings the Lord opened, so that they did see the Snare of the Enemy, and returned; and under a sense of the Lord's
Iudgments, did give forth divers
Testimonies in Writing against that Spirit, by which they had been Seduced, with a Confession of the Errour they were led into;
[Page 72] and so returned into the true Fellowship and Unity with the Church of Christ, and were received with Gladness. Glory to the Lord, who is the Saviour and Healer of his People, who now heals and saves by his Word, as he did of old.
SEVERAL EPISTLES WRITTEN
By J. B.
to Friends from divers Places.
IN the dear and tender Bowels of
Love and
Life do I dearly salute you all, who are faithful to the Lord, without respect of Persons, in whose
Life and
Love I feel you, and enjoy you, wherein my Heart is opened towards you, my dearly beloved ones, with whom I am daily refreshed and comforted in Christ Jesus the Fountain and Well-spring of Life and living Refreshment; who is our
Rock and daily
Refuge, unto whom we
fly and are
safe in the day of
storms and
tempest, when the
floods arise, and the raging
Waves of the
Sea do swell and beat; yet in the Light have we a safe hiding-place, and a sure and peaceable Habitation, against which they cannot prevail: As faithful to the Lord we abide therein, whose
Love towards us hath
abounded, and will
abound, as we abide in that, unto which his
Love doth reach, which is his own
Seed; which he hath raised in us by his own
Power and outstretched Arm: wherein the Issues of
Live and
Love are known and received. Therefore, my dear Friends, keep to it, and feel it continually; that fresh,
[Page 98] and lively, and open-hearted, ye may always be in the
Life, that nothing may enter, that would vail the
Seed, and oppress it; for that will stop the Issue of the
Love of
God, which is
shed abroad, and
shedding it self abroad in the Hearts of all the Faithful, whereof we in the bountifulness of his
Love have richly been made partakers of. Therefore as one who with you have been partaker of the rich and endless
Love of
God, I do exhort you, my dearly beloved ones, to
continue in his
Love, and all to abide faithful in the
Life, that
Death again may not pass over any one; but that the
Life, which
God hath raised, may be felt, and that may rule over him, that hath the Power of Death in every one of us, to his own Praise and Glory, who hath redeemed us, wherein the comfort, strength and refreshment is rereceived daily from him, who is the
Life and
Strength of all that wait upon him, and who is near to preserve all them that are upright in their
Love towards him. And herein have we boldness, believing, that
neither Tribulation, nor Affliction, Persecution, nor Distress shall be able to separate us from the Love
of God,
which we enjoy in
Christ Iesus, although he may suffer great things to come upon us (as it is at this day) to
try us; nor yet to
separate us one from another, nor to
break our Unity in the Spirit, wherein we feel and enjoy one another. In which, my dear Friends, I feel you, and have you often in my remembrance, to my great Joy and Gladness of heart: for ye in the Lord are my
Ioy and
Rejoycing many times, when all other Comforts are taken from me; but only that, in which I feel and enjoy you, wherein our
Unity, Life and
Love doth stand, wherein I remain
Your Brother in my measure received, J. Burnyeat.
[Page 99]Postscript.
I Wrote a Letter in the Eleventh Month, before I went out of these Parts, and sent with one, who did intend to pass through
Cumberland; but I hear, it was left in
Yorkshire: which did something trouble me, because that I did not obtain an Opportunity to send again so soon, as I could have desired, in regard we travelled into the
West towards
Galloway and
Cork: But at
Dublin, when I was there I wrote a Letter, which I partly believe, may be come to you. So being in haste, I cannot give you an account, as I would desire; only Times are very troublesome, in regard of the Distractions of the People in this Nation. We were taken
Prisoners, after we came from
Dublin, at
Ardmagh, and kept
three days: It is very hard to Travel in this Nation for us; but for the Seed's sake we are freely given up into the Will of God.
Clanbrasel, in the County of
Ardmagh in
Ireland,
the fourth day of the fourth Month, 1660.
Dear and well-beloved Friends in
Cumberland,
BRethren and
Sisters in the holy
Covenant of
Life, with you is my
life bound up in the unspeakable Bond of perfect
Unity, and unfeigned
Love, wherein I feelingly reach unto you in this
day of weighty
Trial, wherein every ones
Faith and
Patience must come to be
tried, and every ones
Foundation made manifest whereon he stands; blessed are they, whose
Foundation and standing is in the Power of Christ Jesus, the
Rock of
Ages, and
Foundation of many Generations, such shall stand immoveable on the
Rock in the day of
Tempest, and shall be at Peace, and kept in
Safety in the Power, in the hour of Temptation, and
time of
trial. Therefore,
my dear Friends, as if I were present with you, my
Bowels
[Page 100] are opened towards you, and my
Life reacheth unto you, in pure
love, even desiring that every one of you may truly feel and abide in the feeling of the pretious
Life and pure invisible
Power of the blessed God, which he hath made manifest in your Hearts, whereby every mind of them, that hath been faithful to the Lord, is
changed and
renewed, and
redeemed, and made pure and sweet through the vertue and goodness of the same, whereby our Souls continually are refreshed, as we abide in the sensible seeling of the Lord's Presence. O! therefore,
my dear Friends, ye who have tasted of the Lord's
goodness, and have been nourished by his
mercies inwardly, who have felt the weight of his
love, and the value of his
truth in your inward parts, Mind that as your chiefest
treasure; my
dear Friends, that the sweet Consolation, and the pretious Spring of the
Father's
love ye may feel opened in your Hearts from day unto day, and from time to time. For truly
Friends, large is the Lord's
goodness, and exceeding pretious is the Fountain of endless
mercies, which he hath opened in this day, for the refreshing of his own dear Children, whose whole trust and confidence is in him alone: Therefore let none again incline in their minds after the things in this
Creation, or desire further to enjoy it, or any thing in it, then you may enjoy them in the
Covenant of
God. This, my
dear Friends, is truly in my Heart from the Lord to lay it before you, and to warn you of in his Name and Fear, I say,
Friends, that ye, who have tasted of the Lord's
goodness in any
measure, and have felt the working of his heavenly Power, to the
redeeming of your minds out of all
visible things, and to give you an entrance into the Inheritance, that never fades away; That ye may not look back again into the
Glory of the things of this
Creation now in this day of
Trial of your
Faith, but that all may be
offered freely into the
Will of the
Lord; that whatsoever you enjoy, it may be in his
[Page 101]
Covenant: that his
blessing may richly be felt in your inward parts, and his
peace sweetly enjoyed in your Hearts. Or else truly, otherwise, if any seek in the
declining mind to hold any thing out of his
Covenant and pure
fear, the
blessing will not be upon that heart, but it will be unto them, as the
spoil, which the Children of
Israel fell upon contrary to the Word of the Lord; and like unto
Achan's
wedge of
Gold, which became a
Curse in the Camp of
Israel. Therefore let
all with their
all be
freely offered up unto the Lord in Righteousness, with an upright heart, which is but a Service reasonable in this day from us, who have so largely been made partakers of the richness of his
Lovingkindness and
Mercies, that so every heart may stand open, purely waiting for the heavenly
vertue, and for the
renewing of the heavenly
gift, that every one may be strengthened by the same in the inward man; that so we may all together with one heart truly rejoyce in the Salvation, and Consolation of the Lord our God, which we feel and enjoy in Spirit. And furthermore, my
dear Friends, that you all, who feel your hearts and
all freely
given up unto the Lord, both you and yours into his Will,
Mind the
Power which hath made you
willing, and dwell and abide in the sensible feeling of that continually; that so every mind may be kept
low and
humble before the Lord, sensible of the
Rock of their
Salvation, and of the
Arm of their
strength and
preservation; that so all fleshly
boasting and
glorying may for ever be excluded out of the Salvation, Preservation and Keeping of all the Redeemed of the Lord; that he alone, who is the
Salvation of his People, and the
Keeper of
Israel, may have the Honour and Glory, and the Praise, from the Work of his own Hands, who is God over all, blessed for ever and ever, whose Works will for ever praise him in all his Children.
[Page 102]
From me your Brother, who is now Prisoner in the
Dungeon in
Rippon Common-Goal, where I am separated from having Liberty to be amongst the rest of my
Fellow-Prisoners, only because the Lord
opened my
Mouth among them in our
Meeting, when we were together waiting upon the Lord. Iohn Burnyeat.
Written
the fourth day of the sixth Month, 1662.
Barbadoes,
the third day of the first Month, 1665.
UNto whom the pure love of my heart in the
Covenant of
Life doth plentiously flow forth at this time, my Soul dearly Salutes you all, who are faithful unto the Lord, without respect of Persons, whose Minds are kept faithful unto the unchangeable Power of
Life and
Vertue, wherein your Souls have been refreshed, and by which you have been gathered into the belief of the
Truth, and to the Acknowledgment of the same; which in a good degree hath been made manifest in and among you. My Exhortation as a Brother in the Bowels of Love unfeigned unto you, whom my Soul dearly loves, is, That as the
Lord hath appeared, and made
manifest his
Power in your Hearts, even so
wait ye, that your
dwelling ye may come to witness to be in the same. For
Friends, ye know, that it is not sufficient, only to
know, that he hath
Appeared; but that ye feel your
Dwelling to be in the Power, and so in the daily sense of the
renewing of his
appearing in your Hearts: that by it your Hearts may be kept open unto him, and so you from day to day may know the
renewing of his Presence, and the Vertue of his own Life in you. O! my
dear
[Page 103]
Friends, this is that by which every heart may be kept sweet and living, and vertuous, and open unto the Lord so that the Issues of his
Love will become as a
Refreshing River unto every Soul, that keeps faithful unto him.
Therefore
Friends, all mind your
standing and your
dwelling in the Power, and wait for the Inward Operation of it in your Hearts, that by its
dwelling in you, and living in you, your Hearts may be kept
tender, and
contrite and
broken before the Lord. And
Friands, beware of
hardness of
heart, I warn you in God's Fear, for therein the
deceitful Worker gets advantage, and
Unbelief comes to enter; and so such will come short of the
Rest, that God hath prepared for his People, who through the
deceitfulness of
sin come to be
hardned. And so
Friends, least this should come upon any one of you, and so ye fall short of the
Rest, Watch in the
Fear of God, and keep down to the tender Principle of
Life every one of you in your own particulars, by which your hearts may be kept out of the hardness in the
tender- and
brokenness of heart, in which state the Lord is witnessed to
dwell with man and
in man, according to his promise. And so will you know the growing of the holy
Seed in you, into the pure Dominion, by which that which would darken or harden, will be
subjected, and kept in the
subjection; and so your Souls kept in the freedom of the
Seed in God's Covenant, where life and peace is witnessed: and so Heirs of the
Promise, and of the Blessing, being come into the
promised Seed, Children of the
Promise, and so of
Abraham through
Faith, unto whom the
Promise was made, and so blessed with him, who is the Father of all the Faithful, through which we come to be Heirs of the Kingdom, and so in it (according to the
promise) come to sit down with
Abraham, Isaac and
Iacob, in this day of the Gathering of the
Gentiles, and bringing home of the lost Sheep of the House of
Israel.
Therefore
Friends, mind your standing in the Seed Christ
[Page 104] the true Vine, that you may have
life abundantly, and know its abounding in you. For whosoever goes from him, the
Life, the
Seed, the
Vine Christ
Iesus, the Power of God, shall wither, and decay, and die, and in the end be fit for nothing but the
fire. And that shall such know, who in the day of the Lord's Gathering, and tender Visiting in Mercy and Lovingkindness, will not be won and gained into Faithfulness; but slight the
Day of their
Visitation.
Therefore, my
dear Friends, be faithful unto the Lord every particular of you, in that which you have receiv'd from him, and wait to be guided by that in your own hearts. And keep low and down to the Principle of
Life in your own hearts, that you may never become
stiff-necked, nor
hardned in your hearts again. For this was
Israel's
Sin of
old; whose hearts were hardned, and whose
neck was become like an
Iron sinew, that it could not
bend unto God's
Toke. For which he was wroth with his People, and cast off his Inheritance in that day; so that their Enemies had power over them, and laid their
Dwellings desolate. Those things are left unto us for an Example, that we might not fall after the same manner of
Unbelief, but
fear; lest a
Promise being left us of entring into his
Rest, we should fall short through
Unbelief, and so loose the Inheritance, and so by the Enemy have our
Habitations luid
desolate, and so be carried
Captives out of our Dwelling-place. These things, my
Friends and
Brethren, I lay before you in the
fear and
love of
God, which is weigty in my heart towards you all, and so desire, that the Lord may preserve you all faithful unto himself, in the feeling of his
life and good presence, by which your hearts may be kept open unto him, and so open in true Love one towards another, that as a Family in the
love of
God you may dwell together: In which
love my Soul dearly Salutes you all, and so in it remain
To my dear Friends in the
North of
Ireland about
Kilmore, Lurgan and that way.
Your Brother and Companion in the Tribulation and Patience of Christ Jesus, I. B.
Bristol,
the 25th day of the 11th Month, 1667.
Dearly Beloved,
WIth whom in the
Covenant of
Life, Light and
Peace I am one, wherein I am with you, and in Spirit do reach unto you in that
love, which many waters cannot quench; in which my Soul at this time doth very dearly salute you all, ye Children of the
Covenant, which have been born again of the Word Immortal, and in the
life of the true
Seed remain; unto you all, without respect of Persons doth the
love of my Soul reach, with the Salutation of my
life in the power that is endless: In which my desire is, that the Lord may preserve you all, that as living Plants in the Vineyard of God you may flourish, and bring forth righteous Fruits, and so be a
honour unto the Lord in your generation, and then you need not doubt, but the Lord will
honour you in the
glory of his
Kingdom, that is without end. And therefore
Friends, the
life of
Righteousness in the power, that is without end, do you all mind to
live in; that
fruits of
holiness in a godly conversation may be brought forth by you all; by which the
Gospel of
Peace and
Salvation comes te be adorned: and so the effects of Righteousness you will all come to know, which is
peace and
assurance for ever. Which is that you ought all to be mindful of, that the evidence of
peace, by the testimony of the living
Spirit in all your hearts, ye may feel renewed daily; which will not be without an abiding and living in the
life of
Righteousness, whatsoever Notion of Profession may be held in the wrong mind, and not in the power and
life of
Righteousness. For this Testimony is true and living, searching narrowly under all
Coverings, and breaking through all
Vails, entring into the
inner Court, and breaking through into the
Secret Chambers to see, what may have a being there, or be worshipped. So that in vain it is
[Page 106] to
cover any thing in this day, wherein the
searcher of all
hearts hath appeared; and he is come, whose
Fan is in his
hand, who sits as
Resiners fire and as Fullers sope, to cleanse and to purifie his chosen Tribe, that they may be a peculiar People, a chosen Generation, and a Royal Priesthood, to shew forth the Praises of him, who hath called out of
darkness into his marvellous
light. And therefore,
My dear Friends, with open hearts and nakedness of Spirit do you all walk before the Lord, not seeking any
Covering, but that of the
Spirit in the
life of
Righteousness, that its Testimony and witness you may all have in your hearts to bear witness with you unto Justification; that so ye may be cloathed with the
white Robe of
Righteousness in the power of the
Lamb, and so become
Kings and
Priests unto
God, reigning over that in the power of the
Lamb's
Spirit, which can never offer a Sacrifice acceptable, before which the hearkening and obedience hath acceptance: and so will the life of the true Priest be known to spring in you, in which you are accepted, and so in the life of him that is a
Priest for ever after the Order of
Melchisedeck (according to the word of the
promise and of the
oath) you will be a
Royal Priest-hood, offering up an acceptable
Sacrifice unto the Lord. And so my dearly beloved (unto whom my heart in pure love is opened) keep your habitations in the
Life of the
Son, in the
Life of the
Priest, that lives for ever, that you may never be rejected; in him is the Father well pleased, in him are all our
Offerings accepted, and without him ye can do nothing: All
Coverings and
Robes without him are but as
filthy Rags, and all Garments without his power and life of righteousness are no better, than a
Menstruous Cloath, and abomination in the sight of the Lord.
And therefore keep your Garments clean, your hearts pure before the Lord, that the acceptance you may never lose: and mind the living of the power in your hearts, and your living in it unto God the
Father, that as we have been
[Page 107] quickened together in the
Resurrection of the
Life, even so in the same we may worship the
Father for evermore. And so in this,
Friends, doth my heart's love reach unto you all, in which my Soul doth once more very dearly salute you all, ye Children of the Covenant and of the blessed day of God Almighty, who walk in the Light, my heart is ravished with pure
love in the
Remembrance of you: O ye dearly beloved of my Soul, I have not forgotten you, neither have I been unmindful of you, though outwardly we have been
separated; but the antient love hath lived in my heart, yea, and doth live towards you all, which draws forth strong desires in me unto the Lord, that in his Will I might see your faces; which I hope, will be answered in his time: and until then I am freely given up into his
Will to stand out of
time, being satisfied with the invisible
union and
fellowship in the Spirit, that I have with you, which time nor distance of places can never wear out, because that
life and
power, which is eternal, is known; and that
love which changes not, is injoyed, in which I am one with you, and remain
Your Brother in the Covenant, where
Sin is blotted out, and
Everlasting Righteousness is brought forth, in which we worship the Father acceptably, I. Burnyeat.
Barbadoes,
the 30th of the 11th Month, 1670.
I Have had a great
Exercise upon my Spirit concerning this late Observation of a Day, or
Fast, which was set forth and pretended unto; and
seeing the
pride and
vanity, that people was in, not like true Mourners and
Fasters, and such as would have the
Iudgment removed; and also seeing the bitter
Cruelty, that appeared as a part of the
fruits of it; and furthermore, seeing the
difference, that did seem to appear in
Friends minds, about the owning or not owning of it, by submitting unto their Requirings, or doing to the contrary, as a testimony against it; after I had passed under a
[Page 108] deep
Exercise in
Spirit for some time, at last the Lord God by his Eternal Word raised up my Spirit in the zeal thereof, and did
smite against all such
Mockeries: and then in a heavenly Revelation (my Understanding being opened, and closing with the Word) he shewed unto me, that it was to be
Witnessed against by all, that stood in the
Testimony of
God, and that those, that would weaken the Spirits of any in their
Testimony in this or other things, wherein
Friends have a Testimony for God, it was plainly shewed me from the Lord, how they would draw a
vail over the
pure in themselves, and in others, and in a cowardly, underly Spirit, by the corrupted, sallen wisdom, would put the
Candle, that God hath lighted, under a
Bushel, or under a
Bed, and so
cover it for a while, until at last it would be put out: so that we, like other
Professors, at last by this
Spirit would be led to
yield to any thing, rather than
suffer; and so then the
offence of the
Cross might cease. And then also there was another thing, which had been very long under my consideration, of which, I was not hasty to judge or meddle, wherein Friends have somewhat differed; but at this time was not minded by me, because of the other, that was upon me. But when the Lord had cleared the other to me, he brought up this also before my mind, which is about
Sending Men, Horse and Arms to the Training, Trooping or Playing, which is
folly as to us; for which many, that could not
send, have
suffered the
spoiling of their
Goods. And the Lord then plainly satisfied me, that it was his
Testimony, wherein
Friends were to stand, and that they that bore another
Testimony either in words or action, it was from that
Spirit, and in that
Wisdom, that would put a
bushel over the lighted
Candle, and by degrees would put it out, and would lead us to crouch to the
Spirit of the
World, until its large wing of Darkness would over-shadow us, and become our
Covering; and then we should be like others, that have lost their Testimony. And then when the Lord had
[Page 109] thus done, oh! how my Soul was filled with heavenly, divine love towards all the willing
Sufferers for the Lord's
Testimony! So that I can say, it was with me, as it was with
Deborah, when she said, her
heart was towards the Governours of Israel,
who offered themselves willingly among the people; and then I could not but praise the Lord. And so this is the
Testimony, that the Lord did put into my heart, which I am moved of him to give forth, for the comfort and satisfaction of all, that desire to serve the Lord in their Generation, and to keep their Consciences pure, and their Garments unspotted. And therefore
Friends, keep in the
first, for he is the
last, and shall stand, when all others shall fail. And reason not with
flesh and
blood, but wait for the power, that it may open you; and as you are kept open thereby, the wonderful things of God in it will be made known unto you, and the
depths of
Satan will be seen also; and there will be a growing in righteousness. For in the power is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to
faith by which the
just lives; which cannot be witnessed, where the
Testimony is let fall, and the
Light covered, and the
Talent laid in the
earth; though it may be
tied in a white
Napkin of fair
Profession. For the
Gift or
Talent is neither to be hid in the Earth, nor bound by any in any thing, but to have its
liberty, until by its own power all be subjected unto it self, that God may be all in us all. This is the
Testimony, that I am to leave with you in these matters; and so being eased in Spirit, in the lasting love of God I remain
Your Brother, Iohn Burnyeat.
Salem in
New-England,
the 30th of the 4th Month, 1671.
YOU whom the Lord hath called to believe, and to be partakers of his
Divine Nature, and of his manifold
Mercies, that through the strength thereof you might bear witness to his Name, and testifie to his
Truth in your
Day, for which the God of Wisdom suffers you to be
tried, and your
faith to be proved, as it hath been his way in all Ages for the proof of his people, that their hearts might be
tried, and their
Love appear, how weighty it is to him, that hath loved them: whereby the Glory of the
Truth, and the Excellency of it might be made manifest.
And now
my Friends, this is your
day and hour of your
Trial, wherein the Lord by you (I believe) shall be honour'd, and you rewarded with that good
Reward, which shall outballance all the present
Sufferings, unto which the
Glory of the present
World is not to be compared. And though from you it is my Lot to be
separated, and so in the like kind not to
suffer among you; yet I cannot say but that I
suffer with you; for my Spirit is not without a feeling of your
sufferings.
O! you
dear Lambs of the Shepherd's fold, is it so, that the
Wolf seeks to
devour? and is the
Lion and
devouring Bear let loose, that would snatch up the
Lambs? Fear not, though in his Mouth? We have a
Shepherd, that will deliver, and like
David, will save from the power of the Destroyer, so that your Life shall not come under his power: For God is on
Israel's side to preserve, though they would swallow up quick. And therefore let your Trust be in the
Arm of his
strength for ever, and you shall know, that he is able to make up all to you again.
Dearly beloved, My very Heart and Soul salutes you all in the Reach of that
Life, which by nothing that is
visible,
[Page 111] can be stopped; and in the sense and enjoyment of that I am spiritually with you, wherein I may say, I do partake with you both of the
Sufferings and
Tribulations, and also of the
Ioy and
Consolation, that abounds in your Souls, as the
Reward of your Obedience and Faithfulness unto the Lord, that hath called you thereunto, and raised you up for that purpose. And therefore let none look back, nor be dismayed, for the Cause is the Lord's, and he will stand by you, and will plead your Cause with all that rise up against you, and will bring your
Righteousness to
light more and more, and shew who are his, and approved in his sight. And he will also discover and lay open the
Cruelty of such, and manifest them, who outwardly would shew themselves to be
Sheep, but are inwardly Ravenous, and so
Ravening Wolves; and so labour to lay waste the Heritage of the Lord to spoil his
Flock: They are such, who would not have the
Lambs seed quietly in the green
Pasture of the Lord's
pleasure, nor to lie still in the
Fold of true
Rest.
But blessed be the Lord for ever and ever, he hath brought many to the
Mountain of his
Holiness, where they shall not
hurt nor
destroy; even as he hath promised. And therefore let all mind their dwelling there, and be not moved, and the Treasure will be known, and the Riches received, which all the
Spoilers from
Babylon, and
Men of
War from
Egypt shall not rob you of: For it is from thence they all come to spoil
Zion, and to rob her of her Glory. But the Lord is her defender, and her King is in the midst of her, and
Salvation is round about her for
Walls and
Bulwarks; Glory, and Honour, and Praises to the Lord our God for ever and ever! For he hath taken to himself his great power, and is going on
Conquering and to
Conquer: And will effect his own purposes, and bring to pass his own Designs in despite of all his Adversaries; so that when they think to pull down, he is building up; and in that way which they think to destroy,
[Page 112] he will establish, and so repair the Streets of
Zion in troublesome times, and build up her Desolations, and repair her Breaches, as before hath been prophesied. And seeing it is certainly thus, let us all trust in him for ever; and wait upon him, that his power by us may be felt, and his Love and vertue may be fed upon, which nourisheth up the Soul to Eternal Life.
Dear Friends, the Aboundings of the
Love of
God which is in my Heart towards you all, I cannot but signifie unto you, amongst whom I have been a partaker of such pretious
Mercy and rich
Blessings, as we have enjoyed together, and as I am satisfied, still abounds in your Hearts from the
God of our
Mercies. And so
Friends, this is a Testimony of my love unto you all; do you receive it in particular, as if I had writ unto you all, one by one: For this it is the Lord hath made one in his Son, and brought us into
Unity; as we abide in him, there is no
Separation, therefore cannot we be forgotten one by another.
Dear Friends, by this you may understand, that I am very well every way; and going on in the Service, into which I am called. The last day but yesterday I had a Meeting in
Boston, but very
few of the People came, they are still under the
fear of them, who are like them, and of that Generation, unto whom Christ said, would
neither enter-in themselves, nor suffer others. However, we had a very comfortable and peaceable Meeting, and Truth is over them, and will bring them under, and confound their Inventions. From
Your Friend and Brother, Iohn Burnyeat.
To the Rulers, Ministers, and People of the Island of
Barbadoes, who see and take notice in any measure of the Hand of the Lord that is upon them, and have desires in them to have his Iudgments removed.
IT is Sin that provokes the Lord, and causeth his Judgments in his wrath, to come upon a Nation, a People, or a particular; and for that doth the Lord visit with his Rod, and many times smite with his sore Judgments. And while that is lived in, the Lord will not hear, though man may cry, and make many Prayers, as you may see in the Scriptures of Truth. Read
Isaiah the 1
st, and see what the Lord said unto
Israel, when they were revolted, and become a
sinful Nation, a People laden with Iniquity: Tho they offered Sacrifices and burnt Offerings, and called Assemblies, and observed the new Moons and the appointed Feasts, the Prophet called them, the Rulers of
Sodom; and said,
Hear the Word of the Lord ye Rulers of Sodom,
give Ear unto the Law of our God, ye People of Gomorrah;
to what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices, saith the Lord, &c. And further told them, That though they spread forth their Hands, he would hide his Eyes from them, and when they did make many Prayers, he would not hear; their Hands were full of Blood: And therefore commanded them to wash, make clean, and put away the Evil of their doings from before his Eyes, and cease to do evil, and learn to do well; seek Judgment, relieve the Oppressed, judge the Fatherless, plead for the Widow, and then come and let us reason together,
saith
[Page 114]
the Lord. So here you may see, this is the way for Man to cease from doing Evil, and to learn to do well, whereby he may come into acquaintance with the Lord, and to have his Prayers to be heard, and his Requests to be answered, and so the Judgment to be removed. And also
Daniel's Counsel to the King was, that he should break off his Sins by Righteousness, and his Iniquities by shewing Mercy to the poor, that it might be a lengthening to his Tranquillity,
Dan. 4. 27. And all along in the Scriptures of truth, you may see, that
Sin was the cause why the Lord was angry with any People, and why his Wrath came upon any Nation; and that the Lord (though he spared long many times) would not be reconciled unto them, till they obeyed his call in turning from the Evil of their ways; and if they would not be turned, at last he brought his Judgments upon them to cut them off. As you may see concerning
Israel many times, both in the Wilderness, where the unbelieving and disobedient were cut off and perished; and also, after they were come into the Land of Promise, how often because of their Sins, he brought his Judgments over them, and Destruction upon them, after that he had warned them, and by his Prophets called unto them, to leave their Wickedness, and to learn to do righteously, and to amend their ways and their doings: And because they would not hear, but continued in their Sin, the Lord brought his sore Judgments upon them, and rejected them, and cut them off, and laid the Land desolate, notwithstanding the multitude of their Sacrifices, of their Prayers, and of their Observations. So that he that killed an Ox, was as if he slew a Man, and he that sacrificed a Lamb, as if he cut off a Dog's neck, and he that offered an Oblation, as if he offered Swines blood, and he that burned Incense, as if he blessed an Idol; and all this was, because they chose their own ways, and their Souls did delight in their Abominations, as you
[Page 115] may read,
Isaiah 66. 3, 4. And therefore were all their Performances rejected of the Lord, and he brought their fear upon them; because when he called, they would not answer, when he spoke, they would not hear, but did Evil before his Eyes, and chose that in which he delighted not. So that all along you may see in the Scripture, that it was not that which People did do as upon the account of the Worship of God, that did at all please him, or appease his Wrath, while they did Evil before him, and chose that in which he delighted not; as is very evident from the Scriptures of Truth, in divers Testimonies therein to this purpose. Time would fail to mention all; and what was written afore-time, was written for our Learning, and that we should take warning by their Example, who sinned and continued therein till the day of Mercy was over,
Rom. 15. 4. 1
Cor. 10. 11.
And therefore since the Lord hath stirred in you to take notice of his Judgments, and of his Hand upon the People of this Island, prepare your Hearts to seek the Lord in his own way; and before you do pretend to draw nigh unto him that is Holy, or to Worship him, or to offer an Offering, or to keep a Day unto him, forsake your Sins, Put away the evil of your doing from before his Eyes, and learn to do well, that your Prayers may be heard, and that you may keep the Day holy unto the Lord; and so observe the Fast which the Lord hath chosen, which is, To loose the bands of Wickedness, to undo the heavy Burthens, and to let the oppressed go free; and to break every Yoke; to deal thy Bread to the hungry, with such like Works of Righteousness: And then the Lord hath promised, that such, their Light shall break forth as the Morning, and their Health shall spring forth speedily, and their Righteousness shall go before them, and the Glory of the Lord shall be their Reward. And then may such cry, and the Lord will answer, and say, Here
[Page 116] am I; when there is a taking away from the midst of you the Yoke, the putting forth of the Finger, and the speaking of Vanity,
&c. Isa. 58. 6, 7, 8, 9. And therefore try your ways and your doings, and let none think that the Lord is like a Man, that he will be satisfied with fair Words or Pretences; where his Voice is not hearkned unto and obeyed, but Sin lived in, and the Fast kept which the Scripture condemns, which the Lord hath not chosen, as you may read
Isa. 58. 2, 3, 4, 5, verses; for you may see there, how that that People did seek him daily, and had a delight to know his ways, as a Nation that did Righteousness, and forsook not the Ordinances of their God. They asked me the Ordinances of Justice (saith the Lord) and they take delight in approaching unto God; and then cryed, Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our Souls, and thou takest no knowledge? The Lord gives the reason, Behold, saith he, In the Day of your Fast, ye find Pleasure, and exact all your Labours: Behold, saith he, ye fast for Strife and Debate, and to smite with the Fist of Wickedness; ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your Voice to be heard on high, saith the Lord. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen, a Day for a Man to afflict his Soul, and bow down his Head as a Bulrush, and to spread Sackcloth and Ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a Fast, and an acceptable Day to the Lord? saith the Prophet. Nay, as I have shewed before, this is not it; and therefore let every one consider how they are prepared, to keep the Fast that God hath chosen, that the Fruits thereof may be brought forth by every one that pretends unto it, or else their cry will not be heard on high; for the Lord knows every ones intent, and takes notice of their doings; so that it is not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, that shall enter and be accepted, but he that doth the Will of God. So here you may see there is two Fasts, the one chosen, and the other
[Page 117] rejected, and the Fruits of both manifested, whereby they may be known, who are the true Fasters, and who are not, agreeable to what Christ hath said; every Tree shall be known by its Fruit: And so let all mind what they do, and what they bring forth; for they that fast for strife and debate, and do smite with the Fist of Wickedness, they do not fast to the Lord; their Voice he will not hear, according to the Scripture. And such who instead of setting the oppressed free, of undoing the heavy Burthens, and of breaking every Yoke, do bring under Oppression, and lay heavy Burthens, and make Yokes instead of breaking them, such are not the People the Lord will accept in their Fasts, nor whose Prayers he will hear: Because they walk not in the equal way of the Lord, but love to wander, and have not restrained their feet, therefore saith
Ieremiah, The Lord doth not accept them, but will remember their Iniquity and visit their Sins; and therefore the Lord commanded the Prophet, that he should not pray for that People for their good; for said God, When they fast, I will not hear their cry, and when they offer Burnt-offerings and an Oblation, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the Sword, and by the Famine, and by the Pestilence,
Ier. 14. 10, 11, 12. So you may see all along, the Lord doth not regard all that Man can do, or may do, so long as he wandereth from God, and doth not restrain his feet from walking in the evil way. Thus hath it been in all Dispensations of the Scripture before, and therefore much more under this last and most glorious Ministration of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, which is professed by you, wherein the former comes to be fulfilled and finished, or perfected, where Christ himself is the great Law giver, who gives out his Ordinances and Precepts unto all his People, who according to the promise of the Father, gives unto them the Spirit, and writes his Law in the Hearts of all the Children of the new Covenant,
[Page 118]
Ier. 31. 33. which they are to observe and to walk after; and if any one do otherwise, he ought to be dealt withall, according to the command of this great Law-giver,
Mat. 18. 15, 16, 17. First to be spoke to, and see if he will hear, either a Brother, two or three, or the Church: And if he will not hear, nor be gained, then saith Christ, Let him be unto thee as an
Heathen and a
Publican. But he gives no Commission unto Christians to persecute, to put in Prison, to take away Goods, to pull down their Houses, to put their Feet in the Stocks, to root them out of the World Root and Branch, no; nor to wish it so to be done unto them. But if any do, he will reprove such, as he did the Disciples, when he told them, They knew not what Spirit they were of, when they desired Fire to come from Heaven; for he came not to destroy, but to save, as you may read,
Luke 9. 54, 55, 56. And you may see what the Apostle
Paul saith, who was a wise Master Builder; he saith, One Man esteemeth one day above another, another he esteemeth every day alike; but between them, he saith,
Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own mind. So you may see, here is no forcing upon any Man, in those things that appertain to the Worship of God; but as Christ over-rules the Conscience, and perswades the Heart, and brings Man into a belief that it is according to the will of God, so that it may be done in the Faith, without which none can please God; for saith the Apostle,
Whatsoever is not of Faith, is Sin, Rom. 14. 5, and 23. Verses. And therefore as the Gospel is professed, let Christ's commands be observed, and the Example of the Primitive Christians followed, who were blessed in their Day, and had the witness of acceptance with God; who were persecuted, but never persecuted any, nor sought to trouble any, as upon a bodily or outward account, for their Conscience; though they did
[Page 119] reprove them sharply, that turned away from the power of Truth, and became Enemies to the Cross of Christ, whose Belly was their God, who gloried in their shame, and minded earthly things, and so served not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own Bellies,
Phil. 3. 18, 19. Now such the Apostle did bear Testimony against, or any others that did unrighteously; but we do not read, that he either did, or desired to have it so, that they that did not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, should be put in Prison, or in the Stocks, or any such like bodily Punishment, but left them to the righteous Judgments of the Lord at his coming, (having warned them) and so not to have fellowship with them as Brethren; but according to Christ's command, let them be as
Heathens or
Publicans. And so all may see very clearly, that will read the Scripture with a single Eye, that it is not of Christ, nor according to the Primitive Example of the Church in her best State, to inforce the Conscience of any, to do any thing as a Duty to God, which they themselves had not a perswasion unto, though they did very sharply reprove, and very zealously bear Testimony against all such, who made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience, and turned from the guidance and leading of the Grace of God, into Lasciviousness, Wantonness, and fleshly Liberty. And therefore I cannot but desire, that all that profess Christianity, may follow the Example of them that were the first and wisest Builders of Christianity, who laid the Foundation so, that another cannot be laid. And he that would build upon this that is already laid, otherwise than they builded, must suffer loss in the Day when his Works come to be tryed.
And therefore if any see the Lord's Rod, and his Judgments in these things that is upon the People of this Island,
[Page 120] let all such humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God, and wait to feel his mighty Power, to subdue the Man of Sin, and to bring under that which hath oppressed the Soul, that through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the oppressed may be set free, and every Yoke may be broken, that it may be witnessed which was spoken by him,
Ioh. 8. 36. If the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed; and so then People do come to the Fast that the Lord hath chosen, and that Fast cannot be accompanied with Cruelty; nor there is no smiting with the Fist of Wickedness, nor bringing Oppression over the Just, where Christ is owned and followed (as the Lord hath appointed) as a Witness, a Leader and a Commander, for which he is given to the People, as you may read in
Isaiah 55. 4. But where these Evils are brought forth, as the fruits of any Fast, by those that appoint a Fast, or pretend to keep a Fast, is it not like unto
Iezabel's Fast, that she caused the Elders and Nobles of the City to proclaim, where the just Man was witnessed against, condemned, and stoned to Death for nothing, but because he could not give nor sell his Inheritance away, which the Lord had given him? And so we desire the good of all Men, and that every one may take notice of his own ways, how he walks before the Lord, and do unto others as he would be done unto; and that all may be free upon the account of things that appertain to God, and so left to the Judgment of him that knows all Hearts, that from him they may receive Reward.
And as for those things wherein Man is concerned, if any Man do wrong or injury to another in Person or Estate, we say, let such be punished according to the Law, which was made for the Transgressor, and let Judgment run down as Waters, and Righteousness as a
[Page 121] mighty Stream,
Amos 5. 24. This is the way the Scripture largely testifies, wherein Man may come to be accepted, and the Wrath of God appeased, and his Judgments removed, and so the right Desire answered.
From a Lover of Peace and Rigteousness, who truly seeks the good of all Men, John Burnyeat.
Written in
Barbadoes,
about the 29
th of the 11
th Month, 1670. upon the Occasion of a Fast, that was pretended to by the People of the Island, because of a great Sickness that was upon them, whereof many died, of which my Companion
William Simson then died.
WHom the Lord hath called and Sanctified, and chosen in the Son of his Love, through whom he hath visited you in this Generation, as he did the People and the
Gentiles in ancient Days; that you might pertake of his Salvation, and of the Power of his Life, and of the Glory of his Kingdom, with those that are gone before you. I say, for this end hath the God of Wisdom in his Love reached unto you in that Country, with the rest in this Age, that have waited for his Salvation, and have sought
[Page 122] the rich things of his Kingdom in his own way. And now I am satisfied, that many of you in your measures, can seal to the Truth of Christ's Words, who said,
Seek and you shall find; for as he is faithful that hath promised, even so we have found his Words sure and true. And now my Friends, being its certainly so, as many can witness, that they have found that which is Eternal, which belongs to Eternal Life, having been guided by that, which the
Cloud and
Pillar of
Fire in the Wilderness was a figure of; every one with all diligence hold that fast, which you have received, that you may grow in, and be guided by it in your further Travels in the Heavenly Journey, towards the blessed Heavenly
Canaan, which is still before you, as the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus. And therefore observe the true Mark, and still press forward towards the same, as the Apostles and ancient Saints did. And take heed I intreat you, unto your selves, and the exercise of your Minds, lest your Eye inwardly be drawn forth to look at another Mark; for if you do, then will not the Price be the same that was theirs, who was
faithful unto Death, and so continued unto the end, and obtained the
Crown. Therefore be you all watchful, to keep the Enemy of your Souls out of your Hearts, that he may reign who is your Friend, for ever, who seeks your good, and brings Life and Peace unto your Souls, under whose Government and peaceable Dominion you will find Rest and Pleasure for your inward Man. And now my dear Friends, since it is the Lord's Truth you have received, and his Holy Power that you have felt, (in these Countries, even as his People in other parts) dwell you with it, and in it with careful Minds, that you may therein live unto God, as such that have a part in the first Resurrection, that you may reign for ever and ever over the Power of the
Second Death. And all take heed of the mysterious Workings of
[Page 123] the wicked one, who works in Deceit by Guile, in every transformed Appearance, to draw the Mind out of the pure Center in the true Power, to the Likeness and Image which hath no Life in it, where there can be no stedfastness, nor true reigning over the Will that is unruly and foolish. Therefore my dear Friends, keep your Watch every one in your own Hearts continually, that you may not be betrayed from that pure Life, that yields vertue unto your Souls, and nourisheth up to Eternal Life. For I know; that the wicked one, in his deceitful Workings you have been acquainted with, and his evil Design the Lord by his Power, in his Light, hath discovered unto many of you; so that you, by the same, have escaped his hurtful Snares, and yet lives in that which must reign at last over all. And therefore keep your Habitation in the Power that is unchangeable, wherein you may live for ever without fading; for the Power fades not, but abides in its Glory for ever; so that the
first is the
last, the Root and Off-spring. Blessed are they that have kept their first Love, and have stayed in their Righteous Habitation, into which the Power did redeem them; they do still witness a growing from Grace to Grace, from Strength to Strength, and from one degree of Holiness unto another, until they come to be purely like him, who is their Redeemer, who shall change them, and bring them from Glory to Glory, till they bear the Image of the Heavenly Man, and be like him, that is altogether glorious, who is putting of his Glory richly upon his Church, which is his People in this Day. And therefore you that have received the Spirit of the Lord, and are acquainted with it, do you follow it in all its pure leadings with faithful Hearts; for it will certainly lead all the Faithful to know an increase of Glory. And take heed of the Spirit of the World, which is not of God, but leads from him; that
[Page 124] Spirit where it prevails, causeth to wither and sade, and brings Barrenness upon the Soul, and Darkness and Death, and then the Glory is lost, and the Image of the Heavenly then is not born, nor no Man in that is Heir of the Heavenly Inheritance. Therefore it doth behoove all to look to their standing, in that wherein the Heirship is, that none may come short of that Crown, which
Paul said, was laid for him, and all them that loved the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the God of Love and Peace keep you all, in his Love, Fear and Wisdom, that your Dwellings for ever may be in his Peace, which the World cannot take away, nor rob you of; that so with the rest of his Heritage, you may shine in the Light of his Glory, and dwell in the Richness of his Kingdom for ever and ever.
Amen.
Bristol,
the 9th of the 10th Month, 1675.
This is the Desire of my Soul for you all, whom I truly love, and in the Life Salute, wherein I am your Friend and Brother, J. B.
Taunton,
the 7th of the 2d. Month, 1677.
My dear Friends in
Cumberland,
UNto you my Love and Life reaches, and purely flows forth in that which Lives for ever; wherein I do in the Innoceney and Life of Righteousness truly Salute you all, whom the Lord hath raised and called to be a part of the first Fruits unto himself in this day of ours, wherein the Glory of his hidden Life he hath Revealed unto a Remnant, even that which from the Wise and Prudent of this World is still hid; and from such, as turn back into that Wisdom, it comes again to be Vailed, so that the Light of the Glory of it they lose again, though they had a view thereof. And therefore blessed are all, who keep their Habitation in that Power which never Changeth nor Decays, the Glory of the Heavenly things will be still in their view, by which their Hearts will be enlarged towards the Lord, both in Love unto him, and a Living People to his Honour in all things, that his Name may be Exalted, and the Testimony of his Truth in its own pure Nature in every thing kept up, according to its Brightness and Glory, as by the power thereof we were raised up in the beginning, as the life of Holiness grew in us, dear Friends, that which quickned and raised us from the Dead in years past, through which we Live unto God; and as we keep in the same, we shall for ever be accepted by him, and be well pleasing in his sight: but out of that you know none shall be regarded by him, though ye might do much, for he did not regard them in the days of old for all they could do, that did not keep in the Life of Righteousness, though they might go far, even to the covering of the Altar with Tears. And therefore, as I said, that by which you were first quickned and raised,
[Page 126] is that in which for ever we must be accepted, so that every one is to mind and wait for an increase, and by experience of the growth of that wherein there is a coming upwards, from a Child's State, to a farther growth, and still it is in the same Nature, without degeneration from that which was first, and so the first is witnessed to be last, and ye grow more and more into the fulness of Christ, in whom all fulness dwells. And therefore my dearly Beloved, in all your Meetings upon the Truth's account have an eye unto, and wait for an Injoyment of his Blessed and Heavenly and Heart-breaking Power of the Lord God among you, that your Hearts may be broken thereby, and your Spirits melted into true Love and Contriteness, and you preserved in that state, and then will your Hearts be inlarged in the Heavenly Wisdom that is Pure, Peaceable, Gentle and Easy to be Intreated, and in that Wisdom and Power in you all, in the same will all your works stand to the Honour of God, and Comfort one of another, and your Eys will be always to the Promotion of Truth in Righteousness, keeping up your ancient Testimony, into which God raised you by his Power in years past, and in the Life and Power of God you will keep under, and weaken that which would arise to trample his Holy Testimony under Foot, and so keep the House and Family of God in Order, and keep to the Cross to that, which would be out in a Fleshly Liberty, to make void the Cross of Christ, by which we were Crucified to the World, and the World to us; for that which would be from under the Cross, is the same that would lead into the World again, and so would make shipwrack of Faith and a tender Conscience, and lead into headiness, hardness, stubornness, and looseness again, and then do they Apostatise from the Life of God that is in them, and become Reprobates concerning the Faith, and so through forsaking their first Love, lose their
[Page 127] Reward at last. And therefore the true Elders, Elder Men and Elder Women ought to have this Care upon them over the younger, that all may be preserved in the first Love, and first Zeal, that none may lose that, nor draw back into a fleshly Liberty, down into the Wisdom that is from below, which hath not its Spring in, nor from that Heavenly Gift, which cannot keep the Hearts pure, as the Heavenly doth; and you know, it was the Gift of the Heavenly Power, that first Quickned us, and made us to Live to God; and you know, it is the same that keeps our Hearts Tender and Lively, by which we Live for ever. For our Life that we now Live, is by Faith in him who is the Power of God, and we Feed upon him, and his Flesh is Bread, according to his own Words; for he is the Living Bread that came down from God, and still comes down, therefore mind it, wait for it, and stand up for it, and be not starved again upon the barren Mountains of your own Imaginations, where this Bread of Life is not to be found. And dear Friends, keep your Men and Womens Meetings in the Lord's Fear and Power, and keep in the Holy Care, where you may have a sense of your concern in the Body, and feel your Place and Charge every one of you, and be Zealous for Righteousness in the particular and in the general, and the Lord will be with you, as he hath been, I am witness: For none no longer dwells in the Truth and Love, than they dwell in Righteousness, though they may make a profession. And be not at all discouraged in your works for the Lord and his Truth, by that Spirit that would bring a light esteem upon your Holy Care and Godly Order in the Truth, for it is the same in Nature, that in all ages endeavoured to lay wast God's Heritage, and obstruct his Work, and layed stumbling blocks in the way of God's Traveling People, to cause them to fall, and to turn back again; the Lord will blast every desire, that those go about in this matter who let in this Spirit, and bring his Life over
[Page 128] it, and preserve his People therein; that in this Life and Heavenly Liberty, they may Serve him, and Praise him, who Lives for Ever, who is Everlastingly Worthy, to whom be glory and Dominion, World without End.
Dear Hearts, you being Living in my Remembrance, as also the Heavenly Seasons we had together, when I was last with you, my Heart is filled with Love towards you; and in that I send these few Lines, as a Salutation and tender Greeting unto you, that you may know you rest in my Remembrance, as I believe I do in yours. So the God of Love and Peace keep you all in his Love and Fear unto the End, that your Portion may be with him in his Eternal Kingdom, where there shall be no Sorrow, but you may dwell in Pleasure for ever, and for evermore.
From your Friend and Brother in the Fellowship of the Gospel. J. B.
UNto you, who are the called of God in those parts, unto whom the visitation of his Day hath reached, and upon whose Hearts the Heaven'y Light thereof hath shined, in its pure spiritual breakings forth, so that you are become the Children thereof, and do walk therein; unto you all doth the tender Salutation of my Soul reach in the love of God, and in the Fellowship, which is a Mystery, which is held in a pure Conscience, and continued, as we walk and abide in the Light, in which we have fellowship with the
Father, and with the
Son, and also one with another, and so are of one Family and Houshold, partakers of that one Bread, which all the sanctified in all Ages did feed upon; which is that which we are to wait for in this Day, that we may live thereby unto God, and grow through the Divine Nourishment thereof up into his Nature, and into his Strength, wherein we may triumph over the Adversary, as the Antients did of old, and rejoyce in the God of our Salvation, who is our Strength and Tower of Safety for ever.
Dear Friends, Great and large hath the Love and Kindness of our God been unto us (who were Strangers, Aliens and Enemies in our minds unto him) in this, that he hath called and chosen us to be his People, and to bear witness unto his appearance, and the shinings forth of his Light, and of the Glory of his Presence, whereby he hath richly comforted our Souls, and lifted up our Heads above all sorrow, even when the Enemy hath thought to sink us down into the Pit. Thus hath the Lord dealt bountifully with our Souls, and been a ready help in the needful time; to him be the Honour and Glory for ever and ever! So that now it behooves
[Page 130] all, after so many Deliverances, Favours and Mercies, to stick close unto the Lord, and seek his Glory above all, and that with all their strength, that so he who is the good Husband-man, may be glorified through every ones bringing forth of Fruit, according to Christ's command.
Now my Friends, this all observe, that none can bring forth
Fruit unto God's Glory, but as they abide in
Christ the living
Vine; from him is the
Life received, by which, every one lives unto God; and it is by the vertue of that Life, that every one must act to his Praise. And therefore see, that you all retain it in its own Purity, and live in subjection thereunto through your whole Day; that you may be as fruitful Branches, abiding in the right Nature, and bearing holy
Fruit: And then will you feel the holy
Dew abide upon your Spirits, throughout your Age, that will preserve you from withering, your Leaf from fading; and so your
Fruit shall be ripe in due season, and not be untimely brought forth in that which will not endure: For that in which we have believed, will endure for ever. The Heavenly Power which God hath revealed in our Hearts, and made manifest for a standing Foundation, that's sure for ever; upon which, as you all abide stedfast, the
Gates of
Hell, with all the power of Darkness, shall not prevail against you, but you shall be able to withstand him, and keep your Habitations in the Dominion thereof, and dwell in Peace upon the Rock of safety, in the midst of all Storms; and sing for joy of Heart, when those that forsake this Rock, shall howl and lament for vexation of Spirit. For the Lord God will bring his Day and his Power over all, and upon all, that fly to any shelter, or seek any other defence, that have once known his Truth; and he will be unto such as a Moth, and as Rottenness, and their Strength he will waste, and their Garment and Clothing he will destroy, and their Beauty and Glory he will
[Page 131] cause to fade; though they have been as a beautiful Flower in the head of the fat Valley, yet will fading come upon them, even dryness at the Root, and withering and decaying upon the beauty of their Blossoms. And therefore let all keep unto that, and in that, which will not decay, come to nothing, nor never be turned into Darkness, but abide in its vertue and glory, in and by which the Lord hath visited you, and through which his
Day hath
dawned upon your Souls, the
Morning whereof you have known
bright and
clear, as
without Clouds, in which you have seen the Son in his Glory to appear unto your Souls, with his Heavenly healing, warmness and vertue. Now Friends, this is that which for ever is to be kept too, that the Day may be known to increase in the light and glory of it, in its own clearness, without mixture, not mixing with it your own Wisdom, Thoughts, or carnal Imaginations, which do prove such
Clouds, where they are suffered to arise, that they bring
Darkness over the understanding, and make the Day cloudy and dark, and so occasion wandering, and to some turn the very
Eye-lids of the
Morning into the
Shadow of
Death. And through such things hath the Enemy so prevailed over some, that he hath brought them again into the Night of Everlasting Darkness and Confusion, ere they have been aware, whither he would lead; and thus as a Man void of Understanding, over whom the
Whorish Woman hath prevailed, and so led down to the Chambers of Death, have many followed those Steps, that have taken hold on Hell, where Misery is sure to be met withall.
Dear Friends, that which preserves from these Dangers, is that Arm and Power which God revealed in the beginning, by which (as we are Witnesses) he redeemed our Souls out of many afflictions. And therefore, let it be every ones care, to wait for a clear and sensible feeling of that
[Page 132] same Power in its own pure Nature, to spring in all your Hearts every Day, and then will your delight be so in it, and your acquaintance (in a clear Understanding) will be so with it, that you will never be deceived, so as to take any other for it. Then to your comfort, will your Heavenly Peace spring under the Power and Government of him that is the
Prince of true
Peace, and so will your Hearts be made truly glad, and weighty, and ponderous, and not to be carried about with every Wind: For in this is the true and sure Establishment of the Soul, with Grace in the Covenant of Life for ever; and these are they whose Peace is of a standing nature, who are not given to change. But this I have always observed, that where there is an uncertain Spirit or Mind, though in some states into which, at times they may come, they may have Peace, and feel some Refreshment, yet for want of constancy and stedfastness (which is preserved through a true, watchful and diligent attendance upon that which doth not change, which is sure for ever) they lose their Habitation, and their state of Peace, and come to be tossed in their Minds, and afflicted in their Spirits; and also are the occasion of tossing, affliction and distress unto others, who not being aware, may sometimes be in danger to suffer with them, when they fly from the
Word, that should uphold, as it was with
Ionah in the days of old. And therefore it is good for every one, to have their Hearts established with Grace, and in the Grace wait for a settlement, that under the pure teachings thereof, they may be preserved from going into those things that will procure
Woe; and so shall every ones State in that which is good, be more and more constant, and then will there be a growing, and going forward and not backward. For that which doth occasion any to linger, or draw back, is
Carelesness, Unbelief and
Disobedience; and in such the Lord's Soul doth take no pleasure. And therefore in that which doth
[Page 133] not change, all live, by which all changeable and mutable Thoughts, and Imaginations, and Desires will be judged down, and the spring of Life over all will slow; and the
First will be the last; for in that the Beauty and Glory doth stand for ever. And all that abide not in it, to grow in the vertue thereof, (whatever they have been) at the best will be but as a
fading Flower in the head of the
fat Valley, as it was with
Ephraim; the Lord will take no delight in them, but reject them, and cast them out, as such whose
Beauty is
gone, whose
Gold is become
dim, and whose
Wine is mixt with
Water: And so as
reprobate Silver shall they be esteemed even of Men, because the Lord hath rejected them.
So the Lord God keep and preserve you all in that which was from the beginning, and will endure unto the end, that in that ye may flourish and grow, as the
Lilly of the
Valley, and the Tree by the Rivers of Water. This is the desire of my Soul for you all, who truly love you in the love of God, wherein I remain one with you, and am
London,
the 10th of the 3d Month, 1677.
Your Brother in the Truth, J. B.
Let Copies of this be sent to New-England, Virginia, Maryland
and Barbados.
Upon the 2d of the 10th Month, 1677.
ONE
Oliver Morross, an Informer, came into a Meeting in
Mahuntleth in
Mountgomery in
Wales, where
Iohn Burnyeat, in the fear of God was speaking unto the People, and Preaching the Gospel of Peace and Salvation unto them (for their good) as he had received from the Lord; the said
Oliver Morross, Informer, with several Constables, and many other Rude People came twice into the Meeting, to break up the Meeting, and made a great disturbance: But Friends in quietness sitting still (only one who reasoned the matter with him) he at last went out, and all his Company to the Stable, and there took all the Horses, and Friends Horses, all they could find in the Town: But after Meeting we got them again, they being then taken without any colour of Law. But the next day, being the 3
d day of the 10
th Month, the said Informer went to one
William Pugh of
Mathauern, a Justice of Peace (so called) who came along with him, and met
Iohn Burnyeat and
Thomas Ellis upon the Road, and stopt them both, and caused them to turn back to an Ale-house, where this Informer, and another Man (which was
William Pugh's Bayliff) Swore against them for Preaching at the aforesaid Meeting, for which the Justice Fined them, and wrote a Warrant, and sent for a Constable, who by that Warrant seised upon
Iohn Burnyeat's Mare, and
Thomas Ellis's Horse, with Saddles and Bridles; and so they were constrained to Travel on their Way on Foot, till they could get to an Ale-house to get Lodging. This Reward the Lord's Servants Received at their Hands, for their
Love and
Good will to the Souls of People.
[Page 135]
Iohn Burnyeat's Mare was worth about 8
l. Thomas Ellis's Horse, about 3
l. 10
s.
Iohn Burnyeat's Mare Dyed within
an hour and an half after Seizure; and the other Friends took the
Mange and Dyed in the Informer's Hands within
six Months time.
Dear and Well-beloved in the Lord,
WITH you my Soul hath Precious Unity in the Spiritual Fellowship, and Nearness, and Heavenly Oneness, which stands in that Life, by which we were first Quickened; in which we Live, and in the Increase of which we grow into a Heavenly Understanding and true Soundness, in Discerning and Judgment, whereby the Faithful come to be more and more accomplished for their Places, and fitted for every good Work, that so they may answer their Office and Membership in the true Body, whereof Christ Jesus is the Head; of which Body we are made living Members through his Love, who hath called us, and in his Son chosen us to be
Heirs of
Life.
Dear Friends, your selves know, that he who through his Bounty hath blessed us with Spiritual blessings, in Christ Jesus, so that we are made Stewards of his Manifold Graces,
[Page 136] who now doth require answerable Service from us all, according to our gifts received from him; and whosoever is found Faithful to their Gifts and Places, shall certainly witness an Increase, and so grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and so come more and more into true soundness, and to the Spirit of a sound Mind: For you know, how richly the Power of Christ was Manifested in us and among us in the beginning, and how wonderful it did work for the Redeeming of our Hearts out of the World, the Vanity and Pleasures of it, that we might Love and Affect Heavenly things, and delight in the glory of that which comes from Heaven. And in that day you may remember the glorious and Heavenly Raptures we many times were raised up into, and with admiration were ready to turn about and say,
We will Behold this Wonder, the Bush which Burns, and is not Consumed. But since that time many have been the Exercises, and weighty have been the Tryals that have been met with in our Spiritual Progress, through which the Lord hath led us; and many
Temptations hath the Lord delivered us from, and led us out of; and many
Weaknesses hath he passed by, and
Trespasses hath he in his great Mercy forgiven; so that to this day we remain, and that in covenant with him: Therefore have we cause to Praise him, and to Sing unto him. Now our present state and capacity, to which he hath brought us, is to be minded, and our duty therein; for now many are come to be
Free from being Servants or
Slaves unto the old Task-masters; and though but in our Journey, yet there is something to be done, which was truly Figured out in
Israel's Travel; they were to fit the
Tabernacle with all the
Services and
Ornaments belonging thereunto, though in the Wilderness in their Travel; and the
Men and
Women were both concerned (as you may read) in the work to prepare for the Fitting of the
Tabernacle, according to the Command of the Lord. And this was after the
[Page 137] Lord had appeared unto
Moses, shewed his
Wonders in
Egypt, wrought that great Salvation at the
Red Sea, and manifested his dreadful Presence upon
Mount Sinai; and given forth his Holy Law, and his Manifestations, by which he Taught
Israel to do his Will; so that in the observation of which they were blessed; a lively Figure, of what our Souls are Witnesses of, in the Heavenly Substance. So that now we are not to be negligent, for it would not have been well in
Israel to have answered
Moses (when according to the Command of God he put the People upon it, both Men and Women, to Work for the Fitting of the Tabernacle)
We had no such thing, when we came out of Egypt,
we had no such thing put upon us, when we began our Iourney; we will do as we did in the beginning: This would have been
Rebellion against him, that by the Hand of
Moses brought them out of
Egypt, and freed them out of Bondage: And you know, what Judgments and Destruction he brought upon them, that did rebel and gainsay, as
Corah and his Company, who withstood the Ordinance of God.
Oh! my dear Friends, methinks, I am as if I were talking with you of the Lord's Mercies and former Loving Kindnesses and Dealings with us; and being also under a present sense of our present state and capacities, to which he hath brought us, my Bowels within me are even Melted with a Holy Love and Tenderness towards you; and in that Love I send these Lines, as the Salutation of my Soul in that which Lives for ever, and as a signification of that entire love, which in my Heart lives towards you; Wherein I desire, that both you and I forever may so mind our present state, and our growth and the increase of the Mercies of our God unto us, as to answer them by a Faithful Serving of him, and one another in that love which thinks no Evil, and is never weary of doing good, and yet will not vaunt it self. Now this is that which lives in my view, the
Power of
Christ, which was so Richly Manifested
[Page 138] in the beginning, did then Work to the preparing of us to be a People fit to do his Will; and so it wrought unto a Cleansing, Washing, and Sanctifying of us, that we might be Holy Vessels fit for his use. Now being Prepared, the same power in the Faithful works mightily, to the Fitting and Furnishing of us unto every
Good Work, that we might be to the praise of his grace, who hath called us; and if we so be to his praise, we must grow in
Grace, and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: And if we grow in the
Knowledg of him, as we have known him to save us from Sin, and to destroy the evil one, and so to be our Sanctification and Redemption; even so we must Wait to know him to be made of God unto us
Wisdom, that he may be our
Wisdom, and the Fountain of it unto us may be the gift of his Holy Power in our Hearts. And so then, as it did mightily work in our Hearts to Prepare us, even so will the same Gift be felt to work mightily to furnish us with
Wisdom, and to enable for every
Good Work; and so you will know him to be made of God
Wisdom unto you. For the Holy dread of the Power upon the Heart in Righteousness being felt, guides him or her in
Wisdom that
Speaks; the same Holy Fear and Dread upon the Heart guides him in
Silence, that in
Silence sitteth, whose mouth is not opened, and so he is made
still, and Christ your Head, who is one in the Man, and in the Woman,
Wisdom unto you; and so here all will be kept in your places, as you keep in Subjection unto him, who is the
Head, the
Husband of the true
Wife.
And dear Friends, mind his Heavenly Power, and keep under a Holy Reverence unto it, and that will keep you Savoury and Reverent in your Meetings, and clear and in a good understanding, and Subject one unto another; and so you will be Co workers together, and helpers one of another, and so you will come to have the benefit one of anothers gifts: And thus as Members, will you supply in a Blessed
[Page 139] Unity every one your Office in the Body. And therefore my Counsel, as a Brother in Love, unto you is,
Let all be Subject: None, in whom the tender Life in a Heavenly Reverence doth move for Counsel, Advice or otherwise, to quench it, or to stop the Service; for in so doing others may be wronged, as well as the particular, unto whom the Lord intends benefit by thy gift: For it is not good to
Stop; only let all take heed, that their own Spirits may be Subject, that Christ may be head in all, and he may be your Wisdom. And be open and ready in your Hearts to Receive
Counsel, Help and
Instruction one from another, and keep down the forward, heady and rash Spirit, that would run without Reverence, and speak without the true Fear, from that none will rightly understand, nor have a true sense of the Weight of the Service of this Day.
O! it is fresh in my Heart, the Dread, the Reverence, the Fear, that our Hearts were filled with in the beginning, in which we went about Truth's Concern; this same is still to be Felt and Minded, and then all will be kept Savoury; and in this will all your Meetings, your Care and Labour of Love be a sweet Smelling Sacrifice unto the Lord.
And Friends, let your
Monthly and
Quarterly-Meetings be kept orderly for the Service determined and aimed at, that you may be retired from the World, and such not concerned in the Service Proposed for such Meetings; that so all that come, may be either Capable of doing Service in a Reverent Mind, or to Learn that which may be for Truths Honour, their own Good, and your Comfort; and then will all you, who are concerned, get into your Service without Straitness, and so will be a help one unto another in your particular gifts, and the Spring of Life will be opened
[Page 140] among you, and your Meetings will be Delightful unto you; and you in that will be a Delight one to another; and then with one Consent, in the Pleasant Unity you will do the Lord's Work together, as his Servants and Hand-maids, and a part of his pleasant Heritage, which he hath Chosen, and upon whom he rains down his
[...] daily.
And so the God of Peace and Love fill your Assemblies with his Presence, Life and Love, that you may Flourish, as the Plants of his Right-hand-planting, and be faithful through your whole Day, is the desire of my Heart and Soul, who Remain,
Your Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, I. B.
To the Women's Meetings in
Cumberland.
From
London,
20
th of the 4
th Month, 1678.
YOU whom the Lord hath visited and reached unto by his own holy Arm of Heavenly Power; for that blessed end, for which he hath visited many Nations, and appeared unto many People, that he might shew Glory again unto Mankind, which through Sin, they were fallen short of, that so in his Visitation he might renew that Heavenly Image, whereby he might be glorified again among the Sons of Men; and now in this great Day of Visitation, which hath dawned upon the Nations, you in these Countries have been visited and reached unto, and graciously saved and delivered from the Snares of Death, and opened unto the way of Life; so that you have both seen into that hidden Glory, and tasted of, and been enjoyers of the power of that Life, which hath no end. And now that care which always ought to dwell upon your Hearts, is this, that you may
keep in possession that which you have received: That as was said of old,
None may take your Crown from you, nor none may fall short of that Rest, which is prepared for the visited and redeemed of the Lord. The
way you have known, God hath shewed it unto you, and called you to walk therein; and the
mark you have seen, the Lord hath set that before you, that you might press towards it, as the antient Christians did, for the
Price of the
high Calling of God in Christ Jesus. And now dear Friends, that which I desire all may be concerned in, is, how there is a pressing forward towards the Mark, and a going on in this way which the Lord hath cast up or revealed, and called you to walk in; for it is
he that travels on; that shall come to the blessed End, and obtain the Crown of Glory; and not such as lingers or sits down by the way, either to take up a Rest, or look
[Page 142] for another Inheritance, besides what God hath promised, shall be the possession after the War is over, and the Conquest obtained. For
Iordan must be gone through, and the
Canaanites utterly subdued, before any
Man of
War sit down in his Inheritance: Therefore those Tribes, that had their Lots on the other side of
Iordan, were to go through
Iordan, and continue in the
War, till all was subdued: And thus is the saying true,
He that continues unto the end, shall be saved; and he that's faithful unto Death, shall have the Crown of Life. And therefore let a concern be always upon your Minds in this weighty matter, that you may see how it is with you, and whether you are still in your Journey upon your Travel towards the
Mark for the
Price: And as you must mind, whether you are in your Travel, pressing forwards or no; even so you must mind also, that you press forwards toward the
Mark, or else you may come short of the
Price, the blessed Inheritance, and so be such as
Iames speaks of, that
ask and receive not, because they ask amiss. For the Heavenly
Wisdom is to be sought after, and waited for, that comes down from above, which teacheth and guideth in the Heavenly Way, the Heavenly Path of Life and Salvation, where every ones steps will be sure, and their goings will be established, and their understandings will grow. For
the Iust Man's Path, will be as the shining Light, that shines more and more, unto the perfect Day: Here none will be like those that beat the Air, or run at an uncertainty; the Apostle said, they were not such, yet there may be such, whose Pains and Travels may be great. Therefore still I say, let your pressing be towards the
Mark, in the sense of the Lord's power, which is the true Guide, and the true Cross, that mortifies and crucifies the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts, and keeps
Self down in the Death, out of the Reputation, for there is none due unto it. For whosoever gives and seeks
Reputation to it, which ought to be
[Page 143] made of
no Reputation, such can never rightly seek God's Honour, nor work his Work, nor obtain the right Price, nor attain the Crown, but must fall short at last: For it is in him that crucifies
Self, and makes it of
no Reputation, that the Election stands, and in whom the Heirship is for ever. And therefore, dear Friends, wait all to feel his power in your Hearts, and diligently mind the blessed working thereof, that you may feel, how it purgeth your Consciences from dead Works, and cleanseth your Hearts from Sin; for Sin defileth the Heart, that it is not prepared for the Lord, he will not dwell therein. Therefore it must be washed, and dead Works must be purged away; for no Man can serve the living God therein; it must be the living Works in the living Power, wherein we must be accepted. And so let all mind the living Power, which is the living Guide, which doth guide in the living Way, and keeps alive unto God; and so you will all be kept a living People, and grow up in the living Wisdom that is from above, which is inwardly taught by the living Gift, that is received from the
Father of
Lights, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. And as you grow up in this
Wisdom, you will be constant, there will be an establishing, and such will shew out of a good Conversation their
Works, with
Meekness and
Wisdom. But saith the Apostle, if there be
bitter Envying, and
Strife in your Hearts, glory not, and lie not against the Truth; this
Wisdom descendeth not from above, but is
Earthly, Sensual and
Devilish: For where
Envying and
Strife is, there is
Confusion and every evil Work. But the
Wisdom that is from above, is first pure, and then peaceable, gentle, and easie to be entreated; full of Mercy and good Fruits, &c. And the Fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that make Peace; so you may see the
Fruits brought forth, manifest the
Wisdom, from whence it comes: The
Heavenly peaceable
Wisdom brings forth
[Page 144] the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness, and is full of Mercy, gentle, and easie to be intreated, and full of good Works; but the
Earthly brings forth the contrary. Therefore saith the Apostle,
If there be bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts, glory not, and lie not against the Truth: Say not, thou art in the Heavenly
Wisdom, while this lodgeth in thee, for this
Wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly and sensual, and therefore can never establish, but bring Confusion, because he is the Author of it, that can never work good.
And therefore dear Friends, let your Hearts be always kept in subjection unto that Power, that bridles your Wills and crosses them, and keeps you lowly, humble and gentle, where the daily dying, which the Apostle was in, may be witnessed; and so you will see the true
pressing forward towards the Mark, and the true growing into Dominion over him that would hinder; and then, as
Iames saith,
Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to Wrath; for the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God. Yet this I have often observed, Man in a heat of
Wrath would be working for God; but in that he cannot work the Righteousness of God: Therefore well said
Iames, Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to Wrath: And you know, that he whom we ought to hear, saith,
Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart: And so as every one learns of him, and minds the leadings of his Power, and the teachings of his spirit of Grace in their Hearts, they will grow more and more like him, and come into his Nature and healing Spirit, and so in his Grace and Life be Healers and Saviours: And therefore was it said by the Prophet, they should be as
Saviours upon
Mount Zion. Now Friends, every one mind this saving, healing power in your selves, and bow in your Hearts unto it, and be still in your Minds and calm, and you shall see how it will sweeten you, level your Spirits, and bring down that which
[Page 145] is high and losty, and hard, and you shall see, how the Mountains will melt at the prefence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of
Iacob, and you shall see, how the Winds and Seas obey your Saviour, and into what calmness he will bring your Spirits; and then when all is
still, your Ear being opened, which is the
first Work of the
Word, you will be
swift to hear, and hearing, your Souls will live: And you will come down out of all the noises, floatings and swellings, into the calmness and stillness, where you will admire your Saviour, and say,
What manner of Man is this, that even the Winds and Seas obey him? And you will see, that though
Iordan over-flow her Banks, yet at the leadings on of our
Ioshuah, and at the entrance of the feet of our High Priest, it must be
driven back, that the Ransomed of the Lord may pass over dry-shod. Much of this nature in Spirit may be read, as there is a hearkning and keeping low; but the forward, rash and hasty, are often tossed upon the Waters, and very uncertain in their ways and doings; and therefore do produce unto themselves much affliction of Soul and Spirit; for to them the promise doth not belong, where it is said, He will
keep them in perfect Peace, whose Minds are stayed upon him, because they trusted in him.
Now Friends, methinks the Way is plain, if every one would be careful to attend upon the power and its openings, and give way thereunto, and be humble; for its
the humble he teacheth his Ways, and the meek he will guide in Iudgment, and the willing and obedient he will feed, for the Promise is,
They shall eat of the good of the Land. And therefore I do beseech all, be mindful, be you all careful, keep your Hearts out of the World, and the drowning, surfeiting
Cares and
Pleasures of it, that you may neither be choaked, nor surfeited with the excess of that, nor so led up into the worldly
Pleasures, and Liberty out of the Truth, which that draws into, as thereby and
[Page 146] therein to forget the Lord, and overlook your inward State. For if any so do, they lose the Glory, the Beauty and Sweetness of their Heavenly condition; and then they grow weary of the Way of the Lord, and ready to say, as some of old,
What profit is there in serving of God, or in keeping of his Ordinances? And therefore the God of Life stir you up, and awaken all unto Watchfulness and Diligence, that you may grow rich in the inward Man, and be replenished with the Vertues and Graces of God, that you may be a fruitful People in those parts of the World, to the Honour and Glory of him who hath called and visited you, who is Worthy of all Glory and Honour, Praise and Dominion for ever!
And dear Friends, my Heart's love reacheth unto you all, who love and fear the Lord; and in the Love of God I dearly salute you all, and send this as a Testimony of that Love, that still lives in my Heart unto you, and therein I remain,
London,
1680.
Your Friend and Brother, I. B.
THE Love of my Heart and Soul is richly extended forth unto you; and surely, my Heart is affected with you in the Exercise you are under, and do endure in this Day, wherein the Lord seems to be pleased to try you as in a Furnace of Affliction, and to prove your Faith and Patience, that you may come to know the value of it, even of that which is more precious than Gold that perisheth. And truly, my Heart believes, that the Lord doth not suffer it to come upon you to
destroy you, but to
try you; and when his good Will is fulfilled in that, and they have filled up their measure, whose Hearts are hardened in their Cruelty, he will find a way to deliver and bring forth his
tryed and
proved People, whose Hearts are right before him, and whose Souls are wisely set to seek him; unto such shall all things be rightly sanctified, and the Blessing, and the Peace and Glory shall rest upon their inward Man, with the richness of that Life which comes from Heaven, for which you suffer; for it is your innocent suffering for this, (as you have the Witness thereof in your selves) that brings the
Crown and
Diademe of
Glory to be put upon the Head of your inward Man. So that the saying of the Apostle comes to be witnessed,
The Spirit of God and of Glory shall rest upon you. Oh my most dearly beloved Friends! How is my Soul melted into tenderness, and my Heart broken within me, in the meltings of the love of God towards you, and in the sense of your long and weighty Trials, that you have endured and gone through; and yet for all must they seem, as if they were but beginning. Is the strength of the hard-hearted such, that they are resolved to make a full end, or to try what the Lord can do? Will they prove
[Page 148] their Arm to the utmost? Well, the Lord in his own time will manifest, that it is but Flesh, and not Spirit, and therefore that which must decay and wither, and be dried up, and so prove weak at last, when the unseen Arm of the Lord, which they see not, nor know not, shall be revealed, and stretched out, and made bare; which you that look not at things that are seen, have a
Faith in, which
Faith is that by which you live, and in which you have your
Victory, and in which your
Hope doth fasten as an Anchor, both sure and stedfast: So that though the Winds do blow, and the raging Waves do swell high, yet you are preserved and kept from being overthrown and destroyed.
Dearly Beloved, methinks, I find a Word of sweet Exhortation in my Heart unto you, whom my Soul loves, who may be, or are tryed in this exercising Day with
Bonds or
Imprisonments. In the first place, get into a quiet frame of Spirit and Mind within your selves every one, and into a resignedness freely up into the
Will of
God, out of time, looking as little at that, as you can; for if you do, it will make your Exercises worse and harder. For this I have experienced, that when a Man is freeliest resigned into the
Will of
God, and in a right Spirit most given up to suffer for him, he is fittest to have his
Liberty, and most commonly it is the nearest unto him. Dear Lambs, I know there is sometimes a Travel in Spirit, to get into a right place with the inward Man, when the outward Man is in
Bonds; but when the Heart once gets thither, all things are made easie and comfortable by him, who said, his
Yoke was
easie, and his
Burthen light. And now be all concerned thus to get through in your Spirits, and then you will feel, that the
Word of
God is not bound, but
free, and your
Souls will be
free in it and its holy Power, and so be fed by the Milk of it, that your Souls will draw spiritually
[Page 149] from the blessed Breasts thereof, by which you have been born again. And being thus in your inward Man renewed unto God, and up into his Life, where the Habitation of Peace and Quietness is for your Souls, that they cannot reach to bring a Disturbance to, and there feeling your Ease, Joy, Peace and Pleasure to be such, that you can in your
Prison-House sing
joyful Praises unto the Lord; then,
my Friends, be vvatchful, tender and kind one unto another, and over one another, that Love, Peace and Joy may be maintained among you all, who suffer rightly and innocently for the Truth of our God; that so you may be one anothers
Ioy and
Crown of
Rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ your Life and Strength.
And dear Friends, where there is innocency and simplicity,
bear one with another, and
help one another, that in your sufferings you may have fellowship one with another; and so keep in the fellowship of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, where all may be humble and tender, that so while others are striving to provoke you to come out of your places, and to offend the Lord, you may not provoke one another, nor be an occasion unto any one to go out of their place in the Truth, and so to lose their Peace with the Lord and in his Spirit. For I have observed, that there is a care to be amongst Friends, at such times and in such conditions, when they are kept up together, that all things may be kept sweet and pleasant, and that they may even join together in bearing the Burthen that is laid upon them; and those that are more grown, and deeper in their experience, of what they are called unto, may help the weak, and so fulfil the
Law of
Love.
And dear Friends, let not
unprofitable Discourse be gone into, for that may lead into a
striving, that may hurt the unity, that should be kept in the Light, and hath sometimes grown into a
Heat, which hath set some Spirits against one another,
[Page 150] which should have been one, and kept in the Unity, where the love and comfort is. And so all watching in the Light, and waiting to feel the healing Power and Life in your Souls, there will be a sweetness and Heavenly oiliness over your Hearts, in which you will have a delight one in another, and in one anothers good; and this will help you all, and so the
strong comforted in the innocent and reverent care of the
weak, and the
weak comforted in the Love, Care, Gentleness and Kindness of such that are
strong: And this preserves as a pleasant Family, to the Honour of the great Lord and Father. And so then shall you see, how he will delight in you, and appear among you, and enrich you, and bless you every one with a Portion from himself, out of his Heavenly Bounty, and Divine rich Treasure, that none will want
Bread, nor refreshing
Wine to nourish you in the inward Man; but the holy Gift in you will be as a
Well, springing up unto Eternal Life.
And so, you dear suffering Children of the Lord God Allmighty, my Heart and Soul most dearly salutes you all, and in the Love of God I have Unity with you in your blessed Testimony, for which you suffer; in which the God of all Grace and Truth comfort your Hearts, and bear up your Heads over all your Hardships and deep Sufferings, which, as I understand, are renewed and increased upon you: That through him, for whom you suffer, who is your God, and the great Lord of Heaven and Earth, you may be strong to endure and abide to the end, to his Glory and Honour, who is over all, and Worthy of all, Blessed for ever, Amen.
London,
the 20th of the 3d Monh 1682.
From your Friend and Brother, in that which shall out-live all Hardship, in which we have believed, J. B.
A Copy of an Epistle written to Friends at Bristol,
in the time of their Sufferings.
UNTO you, whom God hath Visited in his Love and Mercy, and unto whom he hath shewed Kindness through his Son our Saviour, whom he hath given for Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth; unto you, I say, doth the real Love of my Heart reach forth, and for you in my Heart there Dwels a Care, that as God in the exceeding Riches of his Love and Mercy hath Visited you, and called you to be Saints, through the Sanctification of the Word, and Purifying through Faith, that you being made Holy, might become Heirs of Eternal Life through his Son Christ Jesus, and of that Eternal Kingdom, into which no Unholy thing must Enter. And now being you are called with this Holy Calling, thus to be Heirs through Faith in the Seed, in whom the Election and Heirship doth stand for ever; do you all mind the Heavenly Rule and Government of this Holy Seed in all your Hearts, that your Spirits may be kept in their Places, in Subjection and Reverence unto him, whom the Father hath Anointed, and whose Spirit the Father hath sent forth into your Hearts, to lead you into all Truth, even into him, who said,
I am the Truth, in whom the Fulness Dwells; that you might be in him that is True, even in the Son, in whom the Heirship is: That so you may be Heirs, yea, joint-Heirs with him, that is True and Holy for ever.
And now my Friends, being the Lord in Mercy hath called you unto this high and honourable Calling, to be Saints and Heirs in Christ, mind your Calling, and what you are called unto; and be careful to keep in him, and walk in him, as you have received him, and to sit together in him, in Heavenly places, as the Saints of Old did: for the
Heavenly
[Page 152]
Places are in him, the safe dwelling, and he is the
Way, and in him is the safe
Walking; and therefore did the Apostle exhort the Saints to
Walk in him, as they had received him. Now my dear Friends, all learn to know what it is to
walk in Christ, the Power and Righteousness of God, and then your steps will be sure; For he is the Light, and Day, where there is no occasion of stumbling. And you are to mind your
Sitting together in Heavenly places in Christ, not
a-sunder, not out of the Unity, but together in him, who is but one in all, and holds all in Oneness, in Life and Fellowship that abide in him. For he cannot be divided, his Coat was without Seam; that was the Figure, and so is his
Spirit, that is the Covering of his Body now, which he hath Purchased with his own Blood; it hath no Division or Seam in it, but is
One, although it differs in Manifestation or
Gifts, as to degree or operation, because of the many Offices proper to the distinct Members of one and the same Body, whereof Christ is the Head; yet the Life through the whole Body, by which every Member is supplied with ability to answer its place, is but
One, and thereby is the Body kept in Unity. For the Life doth rule the Members of the true Body, and therefore that Member, that goes from under the Government of the Life, must needs
Die; Death comes over it, and the Power of
Death rules it: and hence comes the Breach of Unity, and the
Discord, and the
Strife, and the
Contention. And therefore let all your Hearts be kept in the Sense of the true Life and Power of God, and in subjection thereunto in true Love, Lowliness of Mind and Humility of Spirit; and then in this right frame of Spirit you will be ready to serve one another in Love, and not to rule over one another in Lordship; for that is not proper, no, nor it is not Natural unto the Living Members of the Living Body, unto whom Christ is the Head, and over whom he Rules. And so dear Friends, you all keeping in the Power, and that
[Page 153] ruling in your Hearts, that keeps tender and lowly, you will be full of an holy Care, and the living Zeal for the Lord's honour, and for the preservation of his People in Righteousness, that the Truth may be kept a top, and Righteousness Lived in by all, that do make a Profession of that honourable Name and Truth, in which we have believed, and through which we have been Saved, and Sanctified, and made holy; and then will
Unity, Love and
Peace spring and grow among you, and you will be a Joy and Comfort one unto another, and strengthners and helpers one of another in this great
Work, and
Day of
God. And thus the Faithful keeping their Places, and their Care in every Meeting, and minding the Order and Government of Truth in themselves, to be kept in Humility, and the holy Tenderness in their own Hearts, there will be that Sweetness and peaceable Reverence, that will be Savoury and Comely in the Eyes of all. And in, and under the Government of this peaceable Spirit you Living and Walking, you may then come to be rightly concerned to God's glory, in the Blessed
Order, which the Truth hath led into, and by the Power of God is now set up in the Churches of Christ, for the keeping of all out and down, that are unclean, unruly and unholy, and preserving of the Camp of God in that Purity, that is proper for it; that he that is holy, may delight to dwell there, and abide in the midst thereof. And dear Friends, all you that keep your habitations in the Lord's Power,
neglect not your
Gifts received from Christ; but be you all concerned in your places, and according to your abilities for the
Honour of
Truth; that every thing that would bring
Dishonour to that worthy name, by which ye have been called, and give Occasion of stumbling unto the weak, may be removed in the Wisdom of God, or at least by the tender power of God Judged out from among you; that the Camp may be kept clean, and Righteousness may run down, and the glory of the Lord break forth upon you, and you
[Page 154] therein may shine to his Praise and Glory for ever more.
Dear Friends, I also was willing to let you know, that our Meeting this year at
London was very quiet, and peaceable; and blessed Unity and comfortable Fellowship in the Power and Love of God was Witnessed among us, and we gathered up in that together, into that care and concern, which the state of the Churches of Christ in this trying day did require. For many of our Friends, in divers places of this Nation, are under great Sufferings for their Testimony: But otherwise the Truth doth prevail and gain upon many Hearts; and through these Tryals God will Magnifie his Power in the end, and Crown his People with Dominion; for through
Sufferings will the Lamb and his Humble and Faithful Followers have the
Victory.
We had also account from divers Countries, of the Prosperity of Truth, and the State of Friends, at the Yearly Meeting now lately over, as
Holland, and the Country that way, and from
Ireland and
Scotland; and so had an account in Letters to the Yearly Meeting of the state of things, and the affairs of Truth, to our great Comfort. And therefore it is desired (that if the Lord should so order, that we may Meet together, as hitherto we have done, and intend, if he permit, to do) that you in
America would endeavour to send over against that time from your several Countries, an account of the Prosperity of Truth, and how it is among you as to the Affairs thereof, that at that Meeting Friends may have an account from you, as we have from other Parts. And for this end it was desired by Dear
G. F. (whom many of you know, hath a general Care upon him for the good of the whole Body) that at your Half-years-Meeting in the latter part of the year, you might draw up an Epistle, which might be sent to be at
[Page 155]
London at the Yearly Meeting every year, and so from your Half-years-Meeting in every place, there may be an account given yearly, which will be a refreshment and comfort to Friends. And therefore it is desired, that if this come in time to your Half-years-Meeting, you would be mindful of it, and answer the desire of Friends; and let Copies of this be sent to
Virginia, Maryland, Pensylvania, and
New-Iersey, and to
Long-Island, and
Road-Island, and to
Sandwich, and where there may be a Service, or to
Scituate, if the Half-years-Meeting be there, and to
Barbadoes, or the
Leeward-Islands.
So with my Love to you all, in that wherein all the Faithful have Fellowship, I conclude and remain
Your Friend and Brother in the Truth, I. B.
Hartford
the 19th of the 4th
Month, 1682.
An Epistle to Friends of
Bristol, Directed to
C. J.
IN that everlasting Truth and Seed of Life, through which the God of Truth hath reached us and visited us, is the living Love and true endeared Affection of my Heart and Spirit Richly and Sweetly let forth and extended unto thee, with thy dear Wife, and your Children; as also unto the Faithful and true-Hearted to the Lord in that City, who in this Trying day are given up unto God, both to
Do and
Suffer for his Name's sake; My Soul, I can still say, is deeply Affected with your Suffering state, and be sure you are many times livingly in my Remembrance, and that in the near Approaches of my Spirit unto the Lord: for in that, in which the access and the true drawing nigh unto him is experienced, do you live upon my Heart, and are brought very often into my view, together with your
Suffering State, under which it is the Pleasure of your Heavenly Father to
Try you, and to prove your
Faith and
Confidence, and to let you know the preciousness thereof in the time of need. And now my dearly Beloved, see all of you, that you keep in the
Faith that gives the
Victory, and truly saves and defends; and know that ancient saying true for ever,
The very hairs of your Head are all numbered, and not one shall fall to the ground, without your Father's Providence. And therefore let
[Page 157] your Eyes be unto him, both for Salvation and Preservation, and know, that he both can and will deliver, when he sees good; for you know him that is the living God, that reigns, and will reign over all, and in due time make all know, that he can do, whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven and in the Earth. And therefore mind your acquaintance with him, and your knowledg of him, in that which may be known of him in your Hearts, and your Unity with his Life in your Souls, that you may all feel the Peace thereof, and the Holy Spring therein, which Man by all his Cruelty cannot reach to put a stop unto: But when they that seek to destroy you, and to take all Comfort from you, have done all they can, this Spring being open in your Hearts, you have Comfort, Peace and Joy, that they neither know of, nor can keep from you. Oh! you dear Suffering Children and tender Babes of the Almighty, who are called unto this day and hour of Temptation or Trial, how doth my Soul Love you! how is my very Heart's Love let forth unto you at this time, as at many other times! The Lord the God of Strength be with you, and strengthen and fill your tender Souls with the Glory of his Life, and the sweetness of his Presence, that your Spirits with gladness may Praise him in the midst of all these Exercises, with which you are compassed. And now my dear Friends, you being so in my Heart, with a living Sense of your
Trials that are upon you, methinks, I see the
Wall with which the God of
Israel doth compass you about, over which the Adversary cannot
shoot an Arrow; tho his
Boasting may be great what he will do, as of Old it was. Oh! happy are they, that abide within the compass of it, and so retire and spread their Cause before the Lord, who is the living God. Remember the King of Old, who commanded silence, and said,
Answer him not a Word, and so returned to the Temple and to the Altar of the Lord, and spread the Cause before him, and confessed the weakness of the Daughter of
[Page 158]
Sion to bring forth; and also his Faith in the sufficiency of God's Power, when he said,
Thou art able to Save, &c.
Oh! my dear Friends, Live up to the Lord in your Spirits, and be Faithful, and keep your Peace with him in the inner-Man, and mind your Unity with his Spirit, and take heed of that, which would obstruct your Fellowship with his Life; let no
Fair Pretences over you Prevail, that may have any tendency to bring your Spirits into Bondage, or any straitness over your Hearts; for that
Bondage will prove the greatest
Slavery: and this I do believe you right well know.
And now my Dear Friends, all of you minding your inward
Freedom, and your Spiritual Ease, in the Freedom and Liberty given you of God through Christ your Saviour; you will have a Dwelling and Habitation filled with
Glory, Riches and
Comfort, over which the Enemies Cloud cannot come: and in that you will see through to the end of all, that would either Darken, or bring Distress. And so you will see, how good it is to trust in the Lord, and to rely upon his Power, and be given up freely into his Will.
And so dear Hearts, my Love is truly unto you all, and in the Love with which I have anciently Loved you, and in which I Love you as much as ever, do I very dearly Salute you all, you tender Suffering Children, and with my Soul and Spirit desire, that God in Mercy and Kindness may bless you with Spiritual Blessing in Christ Jesus, and enrich your Souls with the Divine Fatness of his House, and Pleasure of his Life, that you may have Joy every day, and delight every Morning in your Bosoms; that so your Strength may be renewed, and your Ability so encreased, that you may be able to bear, what is upon you, till the
[Page 159] Lord see good
to Work your Deliverance, and case you of the yoak and Burthen, that you bear. Which the Lord in Mercy take off, if it be his pleasure, is the desire of
Your Friend and Brother in the Fellowship of the Sufferings and Tribulation, and also of the Consolation, which we are called unto through Christ Jesus our Lord. I. B.
The Copy of an Epistle sent to Friends at
Bristol, in the time of their Sufferings. Written at
Eaglesfield in
Cumberland, the
1st of the
6th Month, 1682.
Cork,
the 25th of the 10th Month, 1682.
IN the Everlasting Covenant of Life and Peace, and in the pure spring of Divine Love in the same, do I remember you, and in Spirit reach unto you, and very dearly salute you all, who in the
Faith that gives the
Victory, do remain and stand stedfast, and so keep your Habitations and Dwellings in the Heavenly places, in Christ Jesus your Redeemer, who hath redeemed you out of the Wickedness that is in the World, unto himself, and so into his own Power and Nature, which is righteous; that you might become the Righteousness of God in him, and so be restored into the Image, Nature and State, in which Man was Created, by him that made all things good, and
Man in his own
Image, that he might delight in Man, and that Man might honour and glorifie him. Now this Work of Restauration, you know, God hath sent his Son to effect and accomplish
in Man, and
for Man, that again
Man might honour his
Creator, and become the
delight of his
Maker, whose
delight is to dwell in the Habitable parts of the Earth, even among the
Sons of
Men. And therefore, that you may be his
Delight, and that he may take
Pleasure in you, do you all keep in that which hath
Renewed, or doth
Renew and
change the
Heart and
Spirit of the mind, that in the
Newness thereof you may serve, and honour, and glorifie him, from whom the
renewing Power and
Word doth come, that so the
new Creation, the
new Heavens and
Earth may be known, wherein
Righteousness doth dwell; and that you may have
[Page 161] your Conversation there, and so shine as
Lights among this crooked and perverse Generation, in whose
Heaven and
Earth Unrighteousness doth dwell. And therefore will the Lord (as the Apostle said) not only
shake the
Earth, but the
Heavens also, that that which cannot be shaken, may remain. And truly, I do believe, that many ones
Heaven will be
shaken, before this searching, winnowing,
trying Day be over, that's growing on upon the Nations and People; for the
Heavens of many are grown over, and covered with
Darkness and thick
Clouds, and the Glory thereof is gone, and the brightness and stedfastness thereof is lost; not a
Star to be seen, except a
Wanderer out of its course, out of the
Covenant, that hath greatly
lost its
Light, and so in the Clouds of Darkness
driven to and
fro by the variable, uncertain
Winds, that are, and may be suffered to
blow, to
shake that which is
shakable, and remove that which will not endure, that that which cannot be
shaken, may
remain, and the
Glory of that may appear, which will endure.
Dear Friends, God hath manifested that which is
sure for ever, and will endure, and stand, and last, and you have known the power of it; and as you keep in the holy sense thereof, you will be stedfast, constant and firm in your Minds, and not soon
shaken, nor
removed from your Habitation and stedfastness in the Gospel of Christ Jesus our Lord, which is the power of God, which is above all
Powers, Thrones and
Dominions, and will stand, and cannot be
shaken. For its above
Iohn's Ministration, the Gospel Power and Kingdom is, and he that's
least there, is
greater than
Iohn; and is come to that which is
surer than a
Reed, that may be
shaken with the
Wind; though it be not broken, yet it may be
shaken. And therefore they that would dwell there, and not come on to Christ the Rock, that cannot be
shaken, their Dwelling is not safe, their Habitation will be
thrown down, and their House made a
[Page 162]
Desolation. Methinks I see it so in our Days, upon such that have sitten down short of the Eternal
Substance that ended all
Shadows, Iohn's, as well as those that were before him. And therefore, dearly Beloved, you that have known the Eternal
Substance, the living
Power of the Lord
Iesus Christ manifested in your Hearts, by which you have been quickned, raised up, and made alive unto God, keep to the
Power in your
Souls, and mind its
living in you, that you therein may
live unto God, and so abide a
living People through your Age, God's
living Witnesses in your Day, without Alteration; and so be such as have not only been
Hearers of the Word, but
Doers also; and so such whose House is built upon the
Rock Christ
Iesus, which by the
Storms and
Winds cannot be thrown down. For the sure Foundation being kept unto, you will abide, and endure, and the Lord will bless you with inward
Peace in your
Souls, and true
Pleasure in your
Hearts, and you will enjoy the true
Riches and Heavenly
Treasure, and learn (as you keep to the power of God in your Hearts) to lay up this true
Treasure in Heaven, through the true
Faith, where the
Thief cannot come to
steal, nor the
Moth to
waste or
corrupt. And then your
Riches and
Treasure, that you trust and delight in, being thus laid up in
Safety, your Hearts will be at
quiet and in
ease, and setled in the Kingdom, in Heaven, where the
Treasure is; and then Christ's Words will be witnessed;
Where the Treasure is, there will the Heart be also. Oh my dear Friends, how true are these things! Happy are they that grow up into the experience thereof, through the working, operation, and openings of the true, living, Heavenly Power in their Hearts; such their Minds are kept
free from that which would
entangle, and their
Feet at liberty, that they may
run chearfully the
Race that is set before them. For the
Riches, the
Price that their Hearts are upon, being before them, and the
Mark
[Page 163] also, that they look at, this draws them to look forward, and
press forward; so that they are not of them that draw back to Perdition. And thus Friends, you may see, where, and in what your profitable
Exercise is through
your Day, and where the lasting
Gain, Riches and
Treasure is to be got, that will endure, and be your Portion, when the Enemy and all his Instruments have done what they can. And this made
David say, he would not
fear what
Man could
do unto him, for the Lord was his
Shepherd, he said, and the Lord was the
Portion of his
Cup, and the
Lot of his
Inheritance, &c. And therefore keep your Hearts out of the
World, and the
Riches thereof, which are uncertain; and also above the delighting in the
Glory thereof; and let your delight be in the Lord, and in the sweet and pleasant Enjoyment of his righteous, peaceable Power all the Day long, that you may still feel a Habitation therein, and a place of
Safety to
fly unto in every needful time. And wait you upon its holy springings in your Hearts, that your Souls thereby being united unto God, you may dwell in his
Covenant, and so in
Unity with him and his blessed Son, and so feel the
Fellowship, which is a
Mystery, held in a
pure Conscience.
And dearly Beloved, live at
Peace among your selves, and wait for the Spirit of
Love and
Concord to spring in all your Souls, that the true Mark of Christ's Disciples may appear among you. Remember what he said unto his of old,
By this shall all Men know, that ye are my Disciples, if you love one another. And consider what the Apostle said,
He that dwells in God, dwells in Love, &c. And therefore I intreat you, wait for the power of it in your Hearts, that you therein may
serve one another, and so the whole Body may be
edified, the weak
strengthned, the faint-hearted encouraged, and the lame not turned out of the way, but all
helpt forward on their way. And you all being thus in the
[Page 164] righteous holy Power, exercised for good, (which is that it will lead unto) you will be a
Strength and
Comfort, and
Crown of
Rejoycing one unto another, and so
helpers forward of one anothers Joy in the Lord: Surely this is needful in this Day, wherein
Zion hath so many Enemies; she had need to be as a
City that's at Peace within her self. So the
God of
Peace keep you all in the Dominion of his
Life, that therein you may reign over every
hurtful Thing, and so dwell in the holy Mount of
Safety, where the
Destroyer cannot come; and upon the holy Hill of
Zion, about which he hath appointed
Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks: That so you may all witness
Peace to be within her Walls, and
Prosperity within her Palaces. And so you may every Day witness
high Praises in your Hearts and Mouths unto her
King, who is
King of Kings, and reigns over all, who only hath
Immortality, and dwells in the
Light: To whom be Glory and Eternal Praises, saith my Soul, for ever and for evermore, Amen.
From your Friend, and one that truly loves you in the Truth, J. B.
UNTO thee with thy Dear Wife,
C. H. R. U. and theirs, with the rest of
Friends there in
Prison with you, doth the living sincere
Love of my Heart truly reach and livingly flow forth; for I can say of a truth, that you are often near my Soul, and livingly in my Heart, and that in my nearest approach unto the Lord, when my Life opens, and my Spirit is let forth through the Power thereof, and poured forth into his Bosom (as blessed be his Name, he gives us access by his own Spirit) even then are you many times fresh in my Heart, and Livingly before me, as if I were present in Body with you; and with great delight do I put up my Supplications upon your account, unto the Lord our God, rejoycing to feel the Lord so concerned for you, that by his own Spirit he so often stirs up a remembrance of you in my Soul, and that upon such Holy occasions. Oh! blessed be his Name, he is the
Keeper of
Israel, that neither
Slumbers nor
Sleeps, but remembers his People, and his
Eye is open to see their
Afflictions, and his
Ear is open to hear their
Complaints and tender Groanings; and no doubt, but he will arise in his own due time, to work
Deliverance and
Salvation, and they shall glorify him. Oh! my dear Friends, how is my Soul overcome in the weighty
Love of
God at this time unto you all, who
Suffer, or are given up to
Suffer for his Name's sake, that hath Loved you and values your Testimony above all things; and so are of that number,
that love not your
Lives unto Death, but are given up
to follow the Lamb, whithersoever he goes. Oh! my Heart is affected with you in your Testimony, and can say, as
Debora of old,
My Heart is towards you, who offer your selves willingly among the People, now to
Suffer in the
Lambs Battle (as they did to
[Page 166]
War in the outward
War) for that's the way the Lamb and his followers do
overcome; he was made
Perfect through
Suffering: And the Promise still is,
The Lamb shall have the Victory; everlasting Glory, and Honour and Praise to the Living God that sits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb who is worthy for ever more.
And therefore my dear Friends,
look not
out, look not
back, but to the Lord your Rock and Strength
look for Help and for Deliverance; for you know, that its from
him that
Salvation comes, and not from the Hills and Mountains; for he is the God of the whole Earth, and the
Mountains shall
Melt at his Presence, and before him shall the
Hills Fly, yea the
Sea also shall
Fly, and
Iordan shall be
Driven back, that his Ransomed may
pass on, his Redeemed People may
Enter into their
Rest. Oh! theresore let us Cleave unto the Lord our Saviour, and so sollow Christ our Redeemer, who can cut a passage through the
great Deep; let us not be dismayed at any thing, that may rise up in our way to oppose us, so long as our
Leader is with us, and our blessed
Rock attends us, and we feel our dwelling within the
Munition thereof; our
Bread will be sure, and our
Water will not fail, and our Hearts will not be barren, nor our Souls will not be faint; but we shall grow through the blessing of
Israel's God, and
Live, when with all their cunning the enemies of the Truth have contrived our
overthrow. For there is nothing can hurt us more in the
Trying Day, than
want of
Faith in God's Power, and Arm of strength, which never failed them that put their trust therein. And therefore my dearly Beloved, with whom my Soul is bound up in the
Covenant of
Life, wherein I have Unity with you, and can say, although you bear the
Burden, yet my Heart is concerned for you, and also with you in your Godly concern and
Testimony, for
which you
Suffer; and therefore cannot you be forgotten by me. For as we Love the
Truth, and the Holy Testimony thereof, for which you
[Page 167] Suffer, and are in
Bonds, in Spirit we are often as
Bound with you, and fellow-feelers of your
Burthens. And furthermore, we cannot propose to our selves any
other, than e're long to be
Sharers with you, to be
Partakers of the like
Sufferings, Trials and
Exercises; and therefore still it is our safety to be
Prepared in our Hearts, and into the Will of God to be given up to
Do or
Suffer for his Name's sake.
For our days do seem to be like the
Days of
Old, wherein the Apostle said, they were
Killed all the Day long, and accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter. If we look into the Scriptures, we have a
Cloud of
Witnesses; and so through
what was Written aforetime, which was
Written for our Learning, we may have
Comfort, and our hope
Strengthened, and so be
Encouraged to
Trust in the Lord our
Strength, and in whom our
Hope is. And now it is still to be our care, as
Lambs or
Sheep, to
Live in
Innocency, and so as
Lambs to
Suffer for our
Innocency, and for our
Testimony, which we are called unto; and surely, I often consider, what more
Innocent Practice can we ever be found in, than in our Peaceable
Meetings, to
Wait upon the Living God, and to
Worship him in his peaceable
Spirit, by which our Hearts come to be cleansed of all
Evil, and our Spirits gathered into the
Peace and
Love of God, in which we
Love God again; and not only so, but have our hearts
filled with
Love and
Good will towards all Men, in the Peace and Sweetness of which, we are enabled to
Pray for the
Good of
All, even our
Enemies. And if this must be misinterpreted, and our Righteous and Godly Intents counted a
Transgression of the
Law, and a
Breach of the
Peace, I do not know, what such who so do, can call
Innocency: For surely, every one whose Heart is rightly Exercised in this Godly Duty, which the Living God calls us unto, must needs be
Innocent before God, and in that Frame of Spirit, wherein we
cannot, nay,
dare not desire the
Hurt of
any; but as the Truth ariseth,
Pray for
all Men, both for
Rulers and
People.
[Page 168] Thus, I know, under the Exercise of the Righteous Power of Christ in our
Meetings, are our Hearts qualified; and then if we must
Suffer for
Well doing, under the name of
Evil-doers, we shall be happy; and may satisfy our selves, with what Christ of old said,
The Servant is not greater than his Lord: For if they accounted him a
Blasphemer, and said, he had a
Devil, and so Persecuted him; we may well look unto him, and Comfort our selves in
following such an
Example.
And therefore be ye
Comforted, you Faithful
Sufferers with
Christ, and for him, and Comfort your Hearts in the
Recompence of
Reward, which is with God for you; and wait for the Spirit of God, and of Glory, that it may rest upon you. And never look out, for your
Cause is
Good; it is that which God hath called you unto, and you are happy in your
Nobility and
Valour; and whosoever
shrinks from their Innocent Testimony in this matter, will
suffer Loss in their Inward Condition: for if any
draw back, such shall know, the Lord will not
go with
them, nor have any
Pleasure in
them, nor be their
Comforter, but
Reprover.
And therefore my Soul desires, that all may be
Valiant for the
Truth, and stand in the Power thereof, unto what the Lord hath called unto, that so you may be together as a
City set on a Hill, that cannot be hid. For though the
Foxes have
Holes, and the
Fowls of the
Air have
Nests, yet remember what Christ said to the Man, that said he would follow him.
And so the Lord give you all
Valour and
Strength, and Enrich you with true
Patience, which the
Tribulation worketh into in the right
Exercise, that so you may all
grow up into the true
Experience, and so into the
Hope, which makes not ashamed; that the Love of God may be shed abroad in your Hearts every day, by his Spirit, which he hath given
[Page 169] you: And then will you all feel a dwelling in his
Covenant, and in his
Peace.
And so in this
Covenant, Peace and
Love, I very dearly Salute you all, and in it do I still remain,
Your Friend and Brother I. B.
Castle-Salem
in the West of Ireland,
the 30th
of the 10th Month, 1682.
J. B's Epistle to Friends in
Glocester-Prison.
UNTO you, who are Faithful
Sufferers in that City, with the rest of the Faithful in that City and Country, who in your Hearts are given up to
Suffer for the holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, who hath Called and Redeemed, Chosen, and given you Hearts not only
[Page 170] to
believe, but also to
suffer for his Name's sake, and thus hath counted you worthy as
Vessels of his
Choice; unto you all, I say, in the Name and Love of Christ Jesus our Lord, I send
Greeting, and with-all the tender
Salutation of my Soul and Spirit in that near Affection and holy Union, into which, by the power of the Holy Ghost we have been gathered and united: So that as
Members of that
one Body, into which we have been
Baptized by that one
Spirit, (wherein the true access unto God doth stand) we have our
Fellowship together, and so drink together into that one
Spirit, and are refreshed with the
Water that flows from the living
Rock, that followed
Israel of Old, who is the
Rock of our
Age, the stay of the Generation of the Righteous in this Day, that upon which we have our
sure standing, so that we cannot easily be
moved. Though the Winds do blow, and the Waters swell and toss, and the unestablished be driven to and fro, and so afflicted in their Spirits, yet this
Rock abides for a Habitation and Being of
Safety unto all them, that keep firm thereunto, and so do abide near in their Spirit unto the holy Power thereof, they find the living
Spring of that
Grace from the same in their Souls, that the World cannot take away, whose
Treasure the
Thief cannot
steal, nor the
Moth waste; for its Heavenly, and kept by a Heavenly Hand. And such who mind this, will be ready to offer up their Earthly
Substance, and also
themselves into his Hand and Will, out of which no Man is able to
pluck. And surely, in this Day there is no true
Rest nor
Satisfaction to the Souls or Spirits of Friends, but as they get hither in the
Faith with their
Hearts and
Spirits: And when we are here spiritually, oh this holy
Shield, how doth it defend! Oh the holy
Rock, how do we sit under the
shadow of it! Oh the holy
Ioy, that the Dwellers upon this do feel in their
Spirits, though the
Tempest be
great! Oh the God of Heaven keep us all in the holy sense of this,
[Page 171] that our Spirits may be born up from sinking under our
Exercises in the
Trial; that so we may all glorify him in our Day.
Dearly Beloved, you tender,
suffering Children, whose Hearts are tender of
God's Glory, and therefore are willing to give up
your selves and your
all for his Name's sake, that you may be of that number (who
following the Lamb whithersoever he goes, and not loving your Lives unto Death) that may stand with him upon Mount
Sion: My Heart and Soul is knit unto you, and you are near me, and in the unity of the antient Life, I feeling Love abundantly to flow unto you, you have had a proof of the
sincerity of my
Love of
old unto you: And truly, you that stand in your
innocent Testimony, faithfully do ingage my Heart still more and more in
Love unto
you. Oh the tender meltings of my Spirit in the sweetness of the
Love of
God, in which I reach you, and
rejoyce with you in your
Ioy, which all the
Wrath of
Man cannot put a stop unto. I know, your Hearts are at
ease, and your Spirits
free, and the
Weights and
Burdens from
off you who are freely given up to
suffer, though in these
Bonds outwardly: But there can be no such
spiritual Portion received by any that
shrink from their
Testimony in this
Day of
Trial. For the Word is true for ever,
They that suffer with him, shall reign with him: He the
Captain was made
perfect through
Sufferings, he must be followed by all that come in the fulness, to pertake with him of his Glory. And such who
draw back, and would find a place of
Safety for
themselves to
escape their
Sufferings for their Testimony, though they should
fly to the uttermost parts of the Earth, the Lord's hand will
find them
out, and there will not only be a holding back of the Portion, but a spiritual
Pain will
overtake, where the Heart is tender; and because thereof,
uneasie will every ones place be unto their
Spirits.
[Page 172] And therefore, my dear Friends, keep in the
Faith and
Word that
Iustifies, and then will you reign in the Seed that's heir for ever; wherein you will
Overcome, and
Inherit, and be
Conquerors, and so
Triumph with the
Lamb that must have the
Victory, before whose
Feet the
Crowns of all the
Mighty must be
laid down; unto whom the
Kings of the
Earth, and all Flesh must
bow; in him we trust, his Heavenly
Kingdom we wait for, and pray for the
coming of, that even such as are our
Enemies, by the power thereof may be
Converted unto
God, and so have an Inheritance with us in that
Kingdom, that hath
no End. That so
Mankind might rest together in that
Hope, that makes not
ashamed; where the
Love of
God might be shed abroad in all Hearts by his
Spirit. Thus God is filling the Hearts of his Children with
good Will towards all: The Lord keep us therein for ever!
Dear Friends, by this know, that I am well, and am now come to have a share with you of the
Sufferings, that attend
for the Gospel's sake. I have been
three Weeks a
Prisoner here in the
Marshalsee of
Dublin. So in the true Fellowship of the Gospel am a Partaker with you both of the
Sufferings and
Consolation that attend us for the Testimony thereof. I remain
From the Marshals in the City of
Dublin,
the 25
th of the 6
th Month, 1683.
Your Brother, I. B.
Dublin,
the 19th of the 6th Month, 1685.
UNTO thee with thy
fellow-Prisoners, who
suffer for the blessed Testimony of that precious
Truth, in which we have believed, doth the real and tender Affection, and
Love of my
Heart and
Soul flow forth at this time; and in the sweetness and peaceableness of that which is our Life, do I dearly
salute you, and in the unity thereof tenderly
greet you all, whose Hearts are kept up in that, and under the holy conduct of it, for which you
suffer: In this have we our unity, which in it self lives and reigns over all, and shall reign in its own pure Dominion and Dignity, even the
Power of our Lord
Iesus Christ, to whom
Principalities and
Thrones, and
Dominions must be subject. It is for the Testimony of him, you know, that you
suffer, to wit, the
Testimony of
Iesus, which you have received from him by his
Spirit, and thereby have it
sealed in your Hearts. Though many do not understand the weight and certainty of your
Testimony, for which you
suffer, and therefore may look lightly upon it; yet you, who are enjoyers of the Power, and so have received the
Spirit of
Iesus, which is the
Spirit of
Prophesy, and so his
Testimony therein you feel the
Weight of it, and know the
Certainty of the
Testimony for which you
suffer; and so in your
Sufferings have your
Peace and
Iustification. And therefore, my
dearly Beloved in the Lord, see that you all
hold that
fast in all your Hearts in the inward, rich
Possession of it, for which you
suffer, that you may feel your
Reward with you, and your
Comforter in
[Page 174] you to bear up your Spirits over all your
Sufferings; and so you will have a
Satisfaction in your selves; that whatever others say, or may think of your
Sufferings, and the reason thereof, you know within your selves, that it is for the
Truth, and its
Testimony, that you
suffer, and for the keeping of your
Consciences clear in the sight of God. And so in the hidden Man of the Heart, you rest in quietness, in that hidden
Life which you receive from Christ; and here is your
Peace and
Comfort, which no Man can take from you; no, nor Man knows of it, but such as are in
Fellowship with you, who live in, and love the same Testimony. And therefore those, that know not your
Reward, your
Crown, nor your
Peace, cannot reach to take it a way; and that is our Joy, that we have a
Crown and
Inheritance, that is out of their sight, and so out of their reach.
Oh therefore let all take heed, that through carelesness or
looseness of
Spirit, or any other thing you be not beguiled or
betrayed from that, to the losing of it, while you are
suffering for it! You know, my
Friends, it is possible; such things have been even in our Age, that while some have been
suffering for the
Truth, they have been
betrayed from the
Truth, and the Innocency and Simplicity of it in their Hearts; and so have
lost the
Truth, even that for which they were called to
suffer. For you know, it is an
inward thing, and must be held in the
inward unity of the Mind in a spiritual Fellowship; and if there be not a care, even while we are in one thing doing for the
Truth in the
outward, in the
inward we may
lose it, and our Justification by it; and then whither shall we go for our
Peace and
Recompence? The God of my Life give you all
Wisdom and
Fear, and fill you with holy
Reverence, that you may still stand in awe before him, and be watchful over your spiritual
Path, and the
Feet of your Souls and Minds, that you may
invisibly tread in the
invisible way of
Peace and
Righteousness.
[Page 175] And Dear
Friends, live in
Peace and
Love together amongst your selves, and in a holy, solid
Life before all Men, keeping out of the
Spirit of the
World in all things; that as it is upon a Religious Account that you
suffer, you may appear in all other things to be Religious Men, or otherwise you know, the
Truth cannot be
honoured by your
suffering. For if Men, that
suffer for or upon the account of
Religion, appear not to be
Religious Men, this overthrows the
Glory and
Beauty of their
Religion, and brings it into
Dis-esteem amongst Men: And therefore did Christ command, that our
Light should
shine before Men, by their seeing of our
good Works, &c. And
Dear Friends, have a care of
provoking one another unto any thing that is
Evil; but endeavour to
stir up and
provoke one another unto
Love and
good Works; that you may build up one another therein, and so help to
bear one anothers Burthen, and fulfill the Law of Christ, that you may all be kept up together in the
Iustification and
Peace. And so
Dear Friends, my Heart's
Love being unto you, I send these few lines as a
Testimony thereof, by which you may know, you are in my remembrance in the
Love of
God, and my Heart hath an honourable Esteem of your
Testimony, and your
Sufferings in Righteousness for the same. I desire to be remembred to Friends in the Country, both below
Carlisle, and above, and Friends in the City; to
Io. Carlisle and Family, with the rest: My Wife's dear Love is to you all: My Love is with you. Farewell!
Dublin
the 12
th of the 8
th Month, 1685.
IN the universal Spirit of
Life and
Truth, and of
Righteousness and
Peace doth the tender Affection and pure Love of my Heart flow forth and reach unto you all, who are true Lovers of the Power and the Holiness of the same, wherein alone it is, that we bear the
Image of him whose Name is
Holiness, and his Nature and Being is
Purity; so that in that only we do draw and may draw near unto him, and have Fellowship with him, and enjoy his Presence, who is our
God, our
Life and
Salvation. And therefore in the Unity of that, whereby we have been quickened, and through which we Live unto him that hath quickned us, do I exhort and beseech you all, to mind with Reverence his secret and sweet
Visitations by his Holy Power upon your Spirits in your Hearts; that you feel that to
appear there, and so through the brightness of its
appearing to destroy him, whose coming is after the
Working of
Satan with all
Power, &c. and with all
Deceivableness of
Unrighteousness in them that Perish: And not only to appear and destroy him and his Works, but also to
abide with you, and
dwell in you, and so make you his dwelling-place. And then you being Watchful, shall not Watch in vain, because the
Lord then will be your
keeper; and then, as one said of old,
He keeping the City,
the Watch-man watcheth not in vain. Thus you may see it fulfilled in your own Hearts unto your own Souls, and so have Comfort and Confidence with Holy
David, and with him Live above the
fear of
Evil (though you might walk through
[Page 177] the
Shadow of
Death, as he said) because of the Lord's being with you. And therefore,
Friends, see that you all be mindful of him in his
Appearing by his
Power and
Spirit of
Grace in your Hearts, and let him have Room there, and not to be straitned, or thronged up or oppressed, for he delights to
dwell alone there, and have the
whole Heart to himself, and at his own disposing, that he may
Fill it with that which he takes
Pleasure in, and in which he only may be
Glorified and
Honoured. And therefore doth he require the
Heart, saying.
My Son, give me thy Heart: And Christ Commands, That we should
Love him with
all our Hearts, &c. So as I said, let him have room in your
Hearts, and take heed, that with this World, the
Spirit of it,
Nature of it, and
Love to the things therein, your Hearts be not
filled, and so taken up, that there be not room for him, whose coming is with such Glory and Fulness, that he
fitls all that are rightly
poor and
empty, with that Fulness, Richness and Glory, that there can be no want to them, that have him for their Portion and Inheritance; and so keep single in their Hearts before him. But where the Heart is
filled with
Delight in, or desire after other things out of the
Covenant of God (which is out of his Favour) there the Lord will not have delight to Dwell, there is not room; nay, he will not have delight to appear there, because it will be his
Grief and an
Oppression unto him. Was it not so of old, when he took up his Complaint against both
Iudah and
Israel? As you may see,
Amos 2. how the Lord pleads with them, and threatens them, what he would bring upon them for their
Sins, that he reckons up against them; and withall to aggravate their Crimes (as he might justly do) he also reckons up, and tells them, what he had done for them, how he had destroyed the
Amorites for their sakes, brought them out of the Land of
Egypt, led them in the
Wilderness, given them the
Land of the
Amorites to Possess, raised of their
Sons to be
Prophets, and their
young Men to be
Nazarites: But, saith he unto them,
Ye gave my Nazarites
Wine to Drink, and commanded
[Page 178]
my Prophets, saying,
Prophesy not; behold, I am pressed under you, as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves, saith he. Hence it may be understood, that when he hath been at work, and hath done good by his glorious Power, who
worketh wonderfully for them (and now
in them also) that
believe in his Power; if there be a
going from him, and a
letting in of other things into the Heart, where he should Rule and have his Dwelling in Man, and so with Man, it becomes a
Grief and an
Oppression unto him, and so a
Provocation, that he will not always bear it, nor spare Man, though he is longsuffering, as may be seen very fully in that Prophesy of
Amos, and more at large through the Scripture, which was written for our Learning, that we might be warned, and thereby be stirred up unto that diligence, care and watchfulness, which may tend to our preservation.
And now considering these things that were of old, and observing, how that in our Age the Lord hath made known his wonted goodness unto us, even that which doth far exceed the outward
Priviledges of outward
Israel; for that which he blesseth us withall, is a
Possession and
Enjoyment of a degree of his own
Life, who is the
Creator, by which he
Created all things, which is more than the Enjoyment of the
Creature; the
Loss of which was the great penalty laid upon
Adam, if he
broke the
Command; which he having lost, is again restored unto us through
Christ Iesus, the
Second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, which we having received, do thereby live unto God, and therein serve him.
And so
Dear Friends, the thing that is chiefly in my mind unto you in the reach of the Heavenly Bowels, is, To intreat and beseech you all, To be
tender in your Hearts, and
careful over your Spirits, that you may not let in, nor join with any thing, that will bring
Grief or
Oppression upon your
Life, or lead you into the
Transgression of the
Law thereof. Mind the Exhortation of the Apostle,
Grieve not the Spirit, by which you are Sealed, &c.
[Page 179] And so as you are careful, watchful and wise to take heed unto the Holy Conduct and Blessed Leadings and Direction of this Spirit and the Law thereof, your Souls will dwell in
Peace, and your Feet will tread in a
safe Path, even the
Path of
Peace, and your
Steps will not
Slide; but you will witness what
David said of old, to be true,
The Righteous shall inherit the Land, and dwell therein forever; for saith he,
The mouth of the Righteous speaketh Wisdom, and his Tongue talks of Iudgment. The Law of his God is in his Heart, none of his steps shall slide. So here you see, what it is that keeps from
Sliding, the
Law of God, which is in the Heart; this preserved
David, for it was as a
Lanthorn to his
Feet, and a
Light unto his
Paths.
Oh! my
Dear Friends, you may be happy; yea, we may all be happy, if we be as careful as we ought, to
walk by this
Rule. Oh! the
Sweetness, Peace and
Glory, that he fills the Hearts of all his People with, that take heed unto his
Law: the
Spirit is not grieved, the
Life of the Soul is not Oppressed, the Soul,
Life or
Spirit of Man is at ease, and so in the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, and so in that state, where it can
Sing unto the
Lord, and
Praise him. And therefore all of you mind your
Dwelling, and inward
Liberty, and Spiritual
Freedom from all the
Corruptions of the
World, and of the
Flesh, both inwardly in your selves, and all
Temptations from without, that you may reign in the Dominion of the Seed
Christ Iesus for ever, and so with him be Co-heirs of that Heavenly Inheritance and Possession, which he hath Purchased for you.
And so in the Unity of that
Life, which reigns over all, do I very dearly
Salute you all, who
Love the
Truth; and in that do I desire, that the
God of
Life may bear up your Spirits by his Power, over and a top of all that would
Defile or
Oppress; that you may be preserved to remain the
Sons and
Daughters of God without
Rebuke in and among this
[Page 180] Crooked and Perverse Generation, amongst whom do you
Shine as
Lights, to the Glory of him who hath called you out of
Darkness into his
Marvellous Light; who over all is worthy of Glory and Honour and Dominion, World without End. From
Your Friend and Brother in the Truth, I. B.
Dublin,
the 23
d of the 11
th Month, 1685.
IN the Love and Unity of the Blessed Truth, which lives and abides for Ever, do I very dearly Salute thee and thy Wife; and therein is my Heart's desire for you unto the Lord, that by his blessed Hand and Power, you may be born up and
supported under all
Exercises, that may attend, and in your minds
Preserved with an invisible Eye unto the Lord, taking notice of his Orderings, as it is his
Hand, that brings to pass what he sees
Good; and then in his Fear and Love there will be a Reverent Submitting unto his
Will without
[Page 181] Murmuring or Repining at what the Lord doth. Though
Nature in the
True and
Natural Affection (which good Men and Women cannot be without) may be broken and greatly
bowed down; yet as long as the mind is preserved from
Murmuring at what the Lord doth, it will be well, there will be a Heart Capable of giving him his due, as it was with
Iob.
Dear
R. I must needs say, my Heart is concerned for you, both upon thy own Account, having heard of thy great
Weakness there, and
Affliction thou hast been under, and also because of the
Loss of thy Dear and Tender
Daughter, who in your
Absence is taken away both from you and us. But what shall I say? It is so, and
the Lord hath done it; and it is not safe to
Dispute the Case with him, or say,
Why hath he
done so? But tenderly submit unto his
Will, and bless him that
gives and
takes away, as he sees good. However, this I think I may say to thee and thy Wife with safety, you need not sorrow, as such who have no
Hope, because of the ground God hath given for a
sure Hope of her
Eternal Well-being, which is the
Mark we are all
Pressing towards; and they are happy that do obtain it. For I was with her that
same day that she
Dyed in the Afternoon, and had a serious, weighty season with her. She sent for me, and told me, as soon as I came to her,
That now she was satisfied she must Die; and her Heart was wholly set after her Assurance of Peace with the Lord; and her desires to us, to wit, her Husband and me, was,
That the Doctor might not trouble her or meddle with her, for she was not willing to be molested or hindred from a quiet Departure. For her Heart was set after a peaceable Departure out of this World; as was evident from her words several times. And she was very sensible, and did speak to me with a good understanding; and seemed to be concerned for many (as she said) that came to Meetings in
Dublin, who did not mind their Conditions, or the stay of their minds, which she
[Page 182] feared, would scarcely be Saved. My Heart, I must needs say, was greatly affected with her
Exercise and
Concern, and was Comforted in the Sense of that living Presence, that was with us at that Season. And when we had spent some time together, and were Refreshed, and I to go away, she did most solemnly take her
Leave of me in great Affection, and signified, how kind she took my
Visit; withall seriously saying,
Farewel dear John,
If I never see thee more: And so I came away. In a few Hours after she was struck with Death.
In the Evening my Wife and I went again to see her, then we found her very Ill, but lay quiet, under the
Extremity of her
Pain. We, with several other Friends sate by and waited on her, until she Departed, which was about the 11th
Hour at Night. She went away in
quietness, as I found before was her
Desire. And we sitting and standing quietly by her, our Hearts were broken; and I felt a
Glorious Melting Power, which tendred my Spirit, and a
Brightness and
Light that did shine; and it was sweetly in my Heart, when she was Departed,
She is not gone into Darkness, but is in the Light. The sense whereof was great Satisfaction to me, because I know the
Glory is there, in the
Light for ever. And now
poor Lamb, it is her
Gain, though your and our
Loss. For considering her years, she was a
Modest and
Good Example; and as she said to me at that Season,
She was never inclined to Vanity. And I perceived, her care was sometimes greatly for you, fearing your
Exercise would be
Great. Well, I must needs consider, that the
Loss of such a
Dear Child cannot but come very near
Tender Parents; yet you may be comforted in a satisfaction of her
Well-being, and so rest; and even say with
David, We may go to her,
but she
cannot come to us. And so Comfort your Hearts in the Lord, and so rest in his Will.
And Dear R. this may find thee something better in Health, than we have of late heard; however, I am sure my Heart
[Page 183] truly desires, that it may be so: And if the Lord give strength, I should be glad to see thee here. For methinks, all this while thou hast been absent, thy place seems to be empty; I cannot look upon it, that thou shouldst be from amongst us. But if the Lord give strength, thou shouldst be here, bearing and having thy share with us: For I look upon thee as one of us, and so methinks would not have thee delay, as the way opens. My Wife's very dear Love is to thee and thy Wife; and our Love is dearly to
Ellin Callow, and Friends there. For further account of things, I may leave to other hands: We are all quiet and peaceable here. So with my true and endeared Love unto thee, I conclude and remain
The above is a Copy of a Letter Writ by
John Burnyeat to
Roger Roberts concerning the Death of his Daughter
Ann, late wife to
Amos Srettel, who Departed this Life the 8
th of the 11
th Month, 1685, about the 11
th Hour at Night.
For the Priests in
CARLISLE, and their Followers.
YE which stand up to
teach the
People, behold your Flock which ye
teach, and see what is brought forth among them, such
Fruits, as were never brought forth among them that were
taught of
God, nor by any that he sent. But the small Effect your
Teaching doth bring forth for
God, doth evidence to your faces, that ye are
not sent by him, but
run, and
the Lord doth not send you, therefore doth the People
profit nothing by you, but the
Fruits of
Unrighteousness do still remain among them, and they are not turned to God, and out of their Sins by all your
Teaching. For
Persecution is found in some, and
Pride, and
Drunkenness, and
Mocking, and
Scorning, and
Reproaching of them that fear God, doth appear among them that follow you. Oh consider of it, you that take in Hand to
Teach these People, did ever any of the Ministers of Christ own such for
Christians? Consider of it, was
Persecution found among the Saints? Or did they
Imprison any? Shew one Example in the Scriptures for it, if there be any. Or did the
Apostles own them for
Christians: that did
persecute? Consider of these things, Were not they
Enemies to the
Truth, that did
persecute and
imprison? And was it not the
Saints, that the
Persecution rose
against? And did not the
Apostles suffer
Persecution? And were not they
Enemies to
Christ that
persecuted them? And are not they
Enemies to
Christ that
persecute now? Oh! that you would but consider of it, and see what
Generation ye are of, and what
Fruits ye bear! and whether
ye and
your Followers bear the
Fruits of the
Ministers of
Christ and the
Saints, or ye bear
[Page 185] the
Fruits of the
false Prophets, and of the rude Multitude and
persecuting Generation, that
persecuted the Righteous: For from the beginning the Righteous were
persecuted even from
Abel; but we never read, that the Righteous did
persecute any, but were always Sufferers. So it is evident, that they that
persecute and
imprison, are shut out of the
Life of them that gave forth the Scripture, and are found in their steps, which were
Enemies to the
Truth, and did
persecute them that lived in the
Life of it. And so ye, that take in hand to
Teach the People of this Town, look upon your
Flock, and see, what
Fruits are brought forth by some of them. Yet for all this your
Teaching of them, you have not brought them to so much
Moderation and
Love, as was in
Felix, who
commanded a Centurion to keep Paul,
and to let him have Liberty, and that he should forbid none of his Acquaintance to Minister or to come to him. But we find not so much Moderation nor Love among you, who say, ye are
Christians; for we are
kept in
Prison, and our Friends are
hindered to come to us. Oh be ashamed of your
Flock, ye
Teachers, that for all your
teaching, ye have not brought them so far into
Moderation and
Love, as they were, who
persecuted the Apostles and Saints; and so they must needs be far short of being true
Christians. But you are
bad Examples to them herein; for many of you, who are
Teachers, do cause the Innocent to be cast into
Prison, and
persecuted; and so do manifest your selves by your
Fruits, not to be in the same
Life, the
Apostles were in, who always
suffered, and never did
persecute any. So consider well, ye
Teachers, of this, that your
Flock is not a Flock of
Sheep and
Lambs, but rather the Nature of
Wolves doth appear among them, whose
Mouths are
open against the innocent, who live in the Nature of the
Lamb. Are ye not therefore of those,
who run, and
the Lord never sent you? Who do not
profit the People at all, who from time to time stand up to
teach them, and yet they
[Page 186] remain in their
old Nature, not changed from their former Conversation. Oh cease! Seeing no
Fruit is brought forth to
God by all your labour. Is it not for the
love of
Mony that you
Teach? And do ye not seek after the
Fleece more than the
Flock? And do ye not go from one
place to another for
Rewards? Let that of God in your Consciences answer. Is not this it, which
blinds your
Eyes, that ye do not
see what Generation ye are of, when you read the Scripture? Which testifies, who they were that
persecuted, and who they were that
suffered Persecution then, in the Apostles days. Search the Scriptures, and see whether the
Persecutors, or they that were
persecuted, were the Saints of God in those Days? And whether the way be not the same now in these our Days,
yea or
nay?
From a Lover of your Souls, who is a Sufferer in outward Bonds in the Common Goal in
Carlisle, for the Truth's sake, J. B.
The INNOCENCY OF THE Christian Quakers MANIFESTED;
The Truth of their Principles and Doctrine Cleared and Defended, from the loud (but false) Clamours, base Insinuations, and wicked Slanders of
Iames Barry.
Published for the general Satisfaction and Benefit of all, who simply desire to know and embrace the TRUTH.
‘He that hideth Hatred with lying Lips, and he that uttereth a Slander, is a Fool,
Prov. 10. 18.’
‘I have not sent these Prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoke to them, yet they Prophesied,
Ier. 23. 21.’
‘Therefore Night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a Vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets, and the Day shall be dark over them,
Mic. 3. 6.’
‘Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,
1
Thess. 5. 21.’
SEveral Papers having past between some of us, the People called
Quakers of the City of
Dublin, and one
Iames Barry of the same (who calls himself an
Independent Minister,) occasioned by his often abusing, and frequent reflecting upon us and our Principles, as Erroneous, in his publick Preaching, and sometimes in private Discourse; and an account thereof coming to divers of us, by several Persons, some notice we took of his said Reflections, and accordingly sent to him by way of Admonishment, but did not pursue it; not looking
[Page 188] upon it so very material for us to concern our selves with him, only returning his false Aspersions upon himself, he being reputed a Man so addicted to Rail against divers sorts of People, at last were necessitated, by the many Informations brought us, of his continuing his abusive Reflections upon us, and many desiring to see and hear us together, that they might be satisfied, whether it was so as he had said, or no; and accordingly sent to him, and desired him to give us a publick Meeting, and there to make good his Accusations, or otherwise to acknowledge the wrong he had done us therein. But in answer to our so just and reasonable a Demand, he sent a scurrilous Paper, wherein he both greatly abused us, and the Evidence we had quoted to him, as also several of our Friends, and their Writings in general terms, tho' to this day he hath not produced to us one Sentence out of all their Books, that he doth charge to be erroneous; yet had the confidence to bid us call in all such Books, and let them be burned by the Common Cryer, and deny the Authors of them; and withall denying, he had so said, as we were informed. We thereupon further examined our Evidence, who still affirmed, what he had declared, as aforesaid, was truth: And we also having the substance of the matter in two chief points,
viz. That we denied the Resurrection, and Salvation by the Coming of Christ, witnessed by another of his Hearers, who declared, he had heard him so charge us; to which we returned him an Answer, giving him an account, how that we had examined the said Evidence again, and that he stood to his said Information; and also how that another Person testified as beforementioned, with several Certificates from other Persons of other Abuses and wicked Accusations he had cast out against us. We therefore did renew our Demand unto him,
viz. To give us a Meeting, and then appear to make good his said Charges (if he could) against us, and that we would then also appear to vindicate our Principles, as laid down either by us or
[Page 189] our Friends, whom he had so abused, whose names he had inserted in his first Paper.
After a long time he sent us another Paper, wherein he tells us, that by our method he perceives, we are not like to appear in publick to discourse Principles,
&c. and in a boasting way tells us, that we will not vouchsafe him the least ground imaginable, on which to bottom a hope, that we and he shall come to
grapple in a publick Contest, and so proceeds still in the denial of some of the matter in charge already proved, not failing to renew his Reflections upon us, and our Principles.
Now when we had received this boasting Paper of his, by which one might think, that he on his part should not fail to
grapple in publick, we returned him Answer (seeing he denied some part of the Charge as laid down) and made him this offer as a moderate expedient, to give him a Meeting, and that the Witnesses and he might come face to face, and that they might have liberty before the People to declare their matter of Evidence, which they had to offer, and we to lay down our Reasons, why we were dissatisfied, and then he to say what he could to clear himself: and when all had said, what they had to say to the opening of the matter, we would quietly leave it to the Consciences of the People to judge, and believe, as they should find the Justice of the Case in their own understandings: and this being done, we offered to proceed to discourse with him about those three Principles,
viz. The Resurrection, Iustification, and Perfection in Sanctification, as to Degrees attainable; and further, about particular Election and Reprobation of Persons: and also offered to dispute with him Principle for Principle, so long as might tend to Edification,
&c.
And for this end we demanded a Meeting, and desired an orderly and peaceable Auditory of sober People, that gravely in the fear of God we might go through those things in our
[Page 190] Discourse to our Satisfaction and their Edification,
&c. And further offered our largest Meeting house for an Accommodation to the Meeting, if he pleased; or otherwise we would submit to go to any other convenient place of his appointing: and left it to him, to make it as publick as he thought good,
&c.
Some time after he received this, he sent us another scurrilous Paper filled up with Reflections, not only upon us, but also upon the People that might have been at the Meeting, which he could not possibly know who, nor of what sort; he might have brought all his own Hearers, if he would, we put no limitation, but as above, an orderly, peaceable Auditory of sober People. But instead of coming to
Grapple with us in publick (as he terms it) which one might have thought by his boasting there was to be no doubt of, he flies quite off from that, and tells us of Printing to the view of the World what we have to offer,
&c. And in the beginning of his Paper tells us,
The expedient propounded in our last Paper is altogether vain and impertinent, &c. and saith,
It rather bespeaks us Children not past our Non-age in those things, &c. and further saith,
That our offering such an expedient for an Accommodation, &c. He looks on it to be a part of that Subtlety of which the mystery of Quakerism is made up and constituted, in that we do so readily contrive, and under colour of seeming Zeal for Truth, propose such Mediums, as we doubt not will in the end, or event, make for the advantage of our Cause and Interest, could we, by our pretty Serpentine acts, as easily charm
Iames Barry into a compliance with our Proposals, as our Semi-proselites into a belief, that (because of our forwardness and seeming earnestness to appear for our dark and rotten Cause) the People termed
Quarkers are, beyond all dispute, the only holy and pure People, whom God hath blessed,
&c. Thus far
Iames Barry.
[Page 191] Now let all sober unprejudiced Readers observe and consider, whether our Expedient that we offered, and the Mediums we proposed, be such as he would here suggest and insinuate? and whether there appears such subtle Contrivance and partial Intentions in our method for the advantage of our Cause and Interest, that in the end, or event, if our Proposals had been complied with, beyond all Dispute the Judgment must be given on our side, that we were the only holy and pure People whom God had blessed? Now our Offer was, as before related; and if our Proposals had been complied with, he might have brought whom he pleased; we excluded none that he would bring, nor put any limitation, otherwise than desiring an orderly and peaceable Auditory of sober People: so that it's evident, we had no Contrivance (nor could) in that method we desired, to have only such Persons, as would give the Cause on our side, right or wrong, as he would wickedly insinuate. But it's plain, for all his boasting and railing
Rabshekah like, he has been contriving, how to find out a crafty shift to cover himself in his Retreat, not being willing to appear to our faces in publick, lest he should be publickly manifested and reproved for his unchristian Railing against us, and abusing and belying of us and our Principles behind our backs. But this is not all, that hath this tendency in his Paper; but he renews it over again, to perswade People to believe, That the
Quakers had made such a choice of Moderators, as would give it on their side, let it be Non-sense or Heresie, or what it will;
For, saith he,
you will not leave the Decision to men that are the same in Iudgment with me, &c. and in Answer he proceeds to give Judgment upon the Meeting that was proposed, to whom he saith,
he will not leave it, (counting them the Moderators which the
Quakers chose,) and thus represents the people, calling them
a dark, faithless and ignorant Rabble, whose Nature (saith he)
is the very Recipient of spiritual darkness, and who will on that account suck
[Page 192]
and drink in Whimsies and the poison of Error, as the Fish drinks Waters; with those kind of Moderators, (saith he)
which the Quakers
choose to decide Controversie in Matters of Faith, Nonsense and Heresie will be the best Divinity, Noise and Clamour set off with the paint and varnish of Multitude of Words and Texts of Scriptures, neither understood, nor rightly applyed, will be the most convincing Arguments to prove a Victory. By all this the Reader may see, that he would perswade the People, that the
Quakers had made a choice of what sort of People they would have, and that they were such a People, whose Nature is the very Recipient of Spiritual Darkness,
&c. And with whom Non-sense and Heresie would be the best Divinity,
&c. Let all sober unbiassed People judge in this Case, whether he doth not greatly wrong us, yea or nay? for you may see he is left free to bring whom he would: What! could he find none but such to bring with him, to hear and judge?
Secondly, You see what sort of People we desire, as in our Paper signified; and we also affirm, that it was the desire of our Hearts, to have sober, Conscientious, Religious People, that would have their understandings exercised according to a good Conscience, that they might discern Right from the Wrong, and receive every thing accordingly. And so he goes on further with a Lye from his Pen; and saith,
Certainly, should James Barry
consent to the Quakers
in this Matter, he believes, the Quakers
themselves, as well as others, would laugh at him. This is but a silly shift to endeavour to get off with, and he a Believer of a Lye; for we are more serious in our Resolutions, and intend better things in our Desires, than in the obtaining of them to
Laugh at it. And we do believe, that if
Iames Barry had given us a Meeting, as desired, and had given no more occasion, nor worse than his Answering our desire in that, no sober People would have
Laught at him, nor have made
Rimes of him neither; for all he saith,
When he doth so, he will not be displeased with
[Page 193] Quakers,
and others, if they do make Rimes of him for his folly in this thing. But the Wise in Heart may see the end of all these Evasions and Shuffles and impertinent Excuses, as well as his wicked Abuses, and ungodly Reflections and false Accusations, which he endeavours to cast upon us; and so to the Understandings and Consciences of such we leave it, let them judge between us in this Matter.
But among all these he has yet another Proposal, which it may be he accounts a chief one, offered in a former Paper, and that is, that we agree upon Judicious Persons to be present at our Discourse, who may be in the capacity of Moderators, to judge indifferently, who is in the Right, and who is in the Wrong.
I can hear nothing of that, but willing you are (saith he)
to leave the Dispute to be determined by the Conscience or Reason of every one, that shall hear. We suppose, that in this Proposal he accounts himself above a Child, because he judges our Expedient we propounded, altogether Vain and Impertinent; which rather bespeaks us Children not past our Non-age in those things we pretend to know: However we would have him produce his Example for his riper Age, he thinks himself grown into; and seeing he judges ours Vain and Impertinent, let him prove his Proposal in this Case, to have been the Practice of the Antient Gospel-Ministers and Primitive Christians, and thereby he may Convince us of our
Child-hood. For when he Discoursed with our Friends, that we sent, to whom we left it to conclude with him about time and place for a Dispute; speaking about the Moderators, he said to them,
He looked upon it Improper, that those Moderators, which should be chosen, should be either of his People, or our People; and gave this Reason for it,
that then the Difference would still be the same: So it's evident, that the Moderators must have been of a different Faith and Principle from us both. Now how this would consist with True Christianity, and with a right contending for the Faith
[Page 194] delivered to the Saints according to
Iude's advice, let it seriously be considered. For us to give up our Faith and Testimony, and to be concluded, whether it's Right or Wrong, by Men not of the same Faith, we thought very improper, and that which no True Christian can do.
We do understand, the Apostles and Primitive
Christians were concern'd in Disputes, and did contend for the Faith, and were to give an answer to every man that asked a Reason of the Hope that was in them, with Meekness and Fear, 1
Pet. 3. 15. But where it was thus referred to chosen men agreed upon, not of their Faith, to judge who was in the right and who was in the wrong, is not to be proved from their Example, tho he proposeth, that the sacred Scripture shall be the standard of Examination, and trying every matter by. We find in
Acts 6. 9. and
Acts 9. 29. that
Stephen and the Apostle
Paul were concerned to dispute with such men of malice and bitterness, as
Iames Barry appears to be; but finds no such chosen Men to refer their Testimony, or the Difference between them, and their Opposers unto: We also find in
Acts 17. 17.
Paul disputed in the Synagogue with the
Iews, and with the devout Persons, and in the Market daily with them that met with him: but nothing is said of such
Moderators to be in such a capacity to judge, as
Iames Barry proposeth; and in
Acts 19. 8. how
Paul went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three Months, disputing and perswading the things concerning the Kingdom of God; and in the 9th
Verse, that he disputed daily in the School of one
Tyrannus, but nothing of
Iames Barry's Method of
Moderators. Therefore we leave it to
Iames Barry, to bring forth his Example from the Standard he hath chosen, for examining and trying every matter by; for if he do not, though he saith, we bespeak our selves
Children, he will appear to be in a worse condition, not yet come to be a
Child, and so not so far as the
Childhood of the true Birth, without
[Page 195] which none can enter into the Kingdom of God. But he saith,
Willing we are to leave the Dispute to be determined by the Conscience or Reason of every one that shall hear: We do say, as touching those things which the Witnesses charge him with, seeing he denies some part of it, when he, and we and the Witnesses have said, what each hath to say, we will quietly leave it to the Consciences of the People,
&c. and then proceed to Discourse of the three Principles aforementioned: and when we Dispute, and are perswading the things concerning the Kingdom of God, as
Paul did, as before shewed, whether it be not most proper to leave or commend our Testimony to the Consciences of the Hearers in the sight of God, let Wise Men judge. For the Apostles, as they were concerned in the Ministry, and in handling of the Word of God, did by the Manifestation of the Truth commend themselves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God, as you may see, 2
Corinth. 4. 1, 2. And you may see, what he further saith in
Chap. 5. 11. how he said, they were manifest to God, and did trust also, they were made manifest in the Consciences of them at
Corinth; and this is the furthest we ever intended, thus to leave it to the Consciences of People, and let them receive or reject, as they will answer it to God. And this is evident from the Scriptures, to be the Method of the true Ministers, and such as were concerned to dispute or perswade things concerning the Kingdom of God; but not to give up our Testimony in matters of Faith so to be determined by any chosen or not chosen, whether it is right or wrong, and so to hold or deny accordingly, as to our selves and our own Faith; that we find no Example for, from the true Christians. For
Paul saith, They were made manifest to God, (and there he stood) and did trust, they were made manifest in their Consciences; he also saith, 2
Corinth. 2. 15, 16. they were unto God a sweet Savour of Christ in them that are Saved, and in them that Perish; but to the one the Savour
[Page 196] of Life unto Life, and to the other the Savour of Death unto Death. So that you may see, they did not give their Faith away, as it was to God; but commended their Testimony to every Man's Conscience, and left them to answer it to God, as they received or rejected. So that we do not find in the holy Scriptures
Iames Barry's method of choosing Men not of the same Faith and Principle, to be in a capacity to judge, who is in the right and who is in the wrong, and so to end the Dispute by their Determination. We have been the more large in answering this, because it is looked upon by him and some of his Hearers, to be so wise and necessary a Proposal, that ours, in comparison to it, is accounted by them altogether vain and impertinent.
And to other Qualifications proposed by him, we answered thus in ours to his first Paper, That we look upon it, to be all our Duty to keep in the Fear and Wisdom of God, that we may be preserved out of all Clamours, Janglings, and unhandsom or unchristian Railings, or Reflections on both sides, (which were also his own Terms, having thus assented to him therein.) We further said,
Being thus preserved, then to stand in our Christian Liberty, to endeavour that which may tend to the Honour and Glory of God. There is one passage more in his Paper, we are not willing to omit the observation of, before we proceed further; where he saith,
Blessed they are, I confess, more than the generality of their Neighbours; but saith he,
It is with that kind of blessedness, which is the Portion of God's Enemies; and so cites Psalm 17. 14. and Psalm 73. 12. where it is said;
From Men which are thine Hand, O Lord; from Men of the World, which have their Portion in this Life; Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the World, they increase in Riches. And then
Iames Barry saith,
I doubt not, but that this is one of the most powerful Engines, by which the art of Quakerism
hath been propagated in the Kingdoms of the Earth.
[Page 197] Now let all sober People observe, how he applies these Scriptures, and how like it is to the rest of his envious doings; for first he confesseth, that we are blessed in having Worldly
Riches; so then it is well, that what we have, comes as a Blessing, and is not wickedly got.
O but (saith he)
it is with that kind of Blessedness, which is the Portion of God's Enemies.
Now we would have him make out, how he knows it to be so; Are all that prosper in the World, and increase in
Riches, God's Enemies? Surely nay;
Abraham, Iob, David and
Solomon, when his Heart was inlarged in the Wisdom of God, and many other Faithful Men were
Rich, and yet not
Enemies to God.
Paul in his Epistle to
Timothy did not find fault with their being
Rich; but desired, such might be warned not to trust in them, but to be Rich in good works. And Christ said,
It is more blessed to give, than to receive, Acts 20. 35. Therefore it would be no unhappiness in
Iames Barry, to have
Riches, that he might rather give and be helpful to the Poor, than to be burthensom, and make his Ministry chargeable to his Flock; for we suppose, he is subject to seek and desire it, as well as other Men: as is evident from his receiving several sums of Mony upon pretence of going into
America, which when he had got, fail'd in performance.
Oh but he doubts not, but this is one of the most powerful
Engines, by which the art of
Quakerism hath been propagated,
&c. but what reason he hath thus to believe, he doth not give: But we may easily believe, it is because he is full of Envy and Bitterness towards us, or else he might see cause to doubt of it. But in short, we say, that true Christianity, which he calls
Quakerism, hath not been propagated by this Engine, but by the Power of God, which upheld his People. That it could not be the increase of Worldly Riches that propagated it, will plainly appear, seriously considering
[Page 198] the cruel and grievous Sufferings of our Friends from the very first, that it pleased God to call and raise them up to bear a faithful Testimony to his Name and Truth. Surely, if they had sought the Riches, Ease and Glory of the World, they would not have chosen Afflictions, by chearfully giving their Back to the Smiter, and not with-holding their Goods from the Spoiler. Many to the losing of all, not having a Bed left to lye upon, nor Cattle to Till their Ground, nor Corn for Bread or Seed, nor Tools to work withal: Also Whipping, Stocking, Stoning, Imprisonment they have been treated with. For many years, not so few as a Thousand Prisoners at once; until Released by the present King, scarce a Prison in
England, but hath been fill'd with them; besides many Premunired, their Estates seized, and they kept Prisoners, some for twenty years, others during Life, many hundreds dying Prisoners.
All this in
Old England. Yet
Iames Barry's Brethren in
New-England exceeded
As at large may be seen in
George Bishop's two Books, entituled,
New-England judged. these Cruelties against our Friends there; not only Stockt, but Whipt so unmercifully their Flesh like Jelly, and in that condition drove them many Miles into the Wilderness among the
Indians and wild Beasts.
Yea, Tender Women have they tyed to a Cart, stript to the Wast, and whipt through several Towns, ten Stripes a piece in each on their naked Backs, and then unmercifully left them in Frost and Snow; also cut off Ears, burnt in the Hand, Banisht on pain of Death, and at last put four of our Friends to Death by the hands of the Common Hangman, on no other pretence, but meerly for being
Quakers; in which Cruelty they continued, until stopt by an Order from the late King.
[Page 199] In
Plymouth-Patent they made a Law, to take all the
Quakers Cattle from them, except one, and in the Execution left the worst. Thus our Friends were fully tryed there; but the Lord, who called them not only to Believe, but also to Suffer, upheld them by his Power, so that they chearfully underwent all those Hardships, rather than violate their Faith, or make Shipwrack of a good Conscience. Now all seriously considering their Faithfulness towards their God, their Patience in Sufferings, their Peaceableness towards the several Governments they have lived under, their Honesty and Charity towards their Neighbours, will plainly demonstrate,
Iames Barry's Charge cannot be true,
viz. the getting of Riches is one of the most powerful Engines to propagate the Art of Quakerism, as he scornfully calls our Holy Religion; which we affirm to be no other than Worshipping God in his own Spirit and Truth: and doth also evidence,
Iames Barry's application of the aforesaid Scriptures to be wicked and false, and not as
David intended, who sets them forth in the 73
d Psalm, as you may see;
They set their Mouth against Heaven, &c.
saying, how doth God know, is their knowledge in the most high?
After all this abusing of us, and these shuffling Evasions, to avoid giving us a publick Meeting, he comes off thus;
Seeing therefore, that by coming together, the matter in Dispute is not like to be determined, it remains therefore, that what you have to offer in Vindication of your Selves and Principles, &c.
be in Print exposed to the view of the World by you. But let all consider, why we do not come together to endeavour the Determination of the Matters in dispute; and they may see it is, because he will not appear in publick, though he hath boasted as before, and now puts us to Print in Vindication of our Selves, and the three Principles before mentioned. But wherefore shall we Print in Defence, seeing he hath not in all his Papers laid down one Argument, no
[...]
[Page 200] brought one Scripture to confute any of the three, as laid down either by us, or by our Friends whom he abuseth; nor yet as they are laid down by himself: and besides, the same Friends of ours that he names, and divers others, have writ in Vindication of two of the said Principles. So that whosoever desires to read the Vindication of them, may see it in
Samuel Fisher's Rusticus ad Academicos, never yet answered; and in
George Whitehead's, and
William Penn's, (in answer to divers Books, and
Thomas Hicks's lying Dialogues; where he, like
Iames Barry, forges many Lies against us) entituled,
The Christian Quaker, &c. remaining unanswered either by him, or any else that we ever heard of.
And as for the third Principle, we never before him heard any judge
Perfection in Sanctification as to degrees, attainable in this Life, an Erroneous Principle; and therefore it doth not so much concern us to vindicate in Print, that which so often is done already, and he to make no offer to confute them; however he after his former manner, as may be seen in his last Paper, can make a great threatning boast, saying;
At the back of your Vindication James Barry
will send forth in Print his Arguments, to prove the Quakers
grand Hereticks in these Points, &c. And why would not
Iames Barry give us a Meeting to prove us such, according to his former Boasting? Might not that have been convenient first, or otherwise in writing to have given us some Arguments, that we might have had something to have vindicated our Selves against, that wise Men might have seen a little into the ground of our Difference? But it is to be questioned, whether he hath any Arguments against them, that are fit to be brought forth before wise Men; and therefore his greatest Policy is to keep them hid, and so please Fools with his boasting of them. But, to do him Justice, we must confess, he hath given us cause to appear some way to vindicate our selves and our Principles, according to his demand;
[Page 201] and since he himself proposeth Printing as the Method, now we think it not amiss to do accordingly, believing, he cannot reasonably find fault with that which he himself seems to advise unto.
In his first Paper, he calls us
Persons, who delight in brangling, and stirring up the Spirit of Animosity and Prejudice, and Men of as little Charity and Religion, as those we receive our idle Stories from; whether this be not more his guilt, than ours, we shall leave to the Lord to judge, and also to Men of understanding, who have the knowledge of both our Practices. In his second Paper he charges our
Principles to be
dark and
uncertain, but lays down no Arguments against them. In his last, before recited, you see, how he charges
Quakerism, as he terms it, to be made up and constituted of
Subtlety, and judges us to be in
serpentine acts, and our Cause dark and rotten; and likewise you may see, what an Imputation of being
God's Enemies he endeavours to fasten upon us in his Application of those two Scriptures,
viz. Psal. 17. 14. and 73. 12. and in the conclusion of the same Paper giving his Reason, why he sent all his without date, tells us,
He did it willingly, having seriously considered, that a dateless Answer was at any time good enough for foolish and impertinent Stories, and nonsensical Whimsies.
So that though he lays down no Arguments to confute our Principles; yet you may see, who are unbiassed and without prejudice, what confidence he hath to pass sentence upon us, and our Blessings, to be that kind of Blessedness which is the portion of God's Enemies, and that is a sad portion. Let him be as full of Envy as he can, to answer it, he need desire no worse for us; the Lord forgive the thoughts of his Heart, and the words of his Mouth, and bring him to Repentance, if he see good: for from these doings of his it appears, he is in the gall of Bitterness, and
[Page 202] wants Charity, which is the perfecting Vertue. He spares not to judge both us and our Principles, as the worst of Men and Principles, which if he speaks truth of us, then we are so indeed; but he hath that yet to prove: and therefore he had been wiser, if he had first proved us such, and then given his Judgment upon us; but alas! his Malice and Envy would not suffer him to stay for that, lest he should be prevented for want of proof. You see, how he judges us to delight in brangling, and stirring up the spirit of Animosity and Prejudice, which is the work of evil Men, and our Principles dark and uncertain, and therefore not of God, who is Light and unchangeable; and that our Religion is made up and constituted of Subtlety, then not of Simplicity; and our Acts Serpentine, that proceed from the Wicked one, and not from Christ, that bruiseth the Serpent's head; and our Cause dark and rotten; then it is not in the Everlasting Light. All this being once proved by him, then he makes good his Application; we are Enemies indeed to God and Christ: But all this we do deny, and leave at his Door to prove if he can; and until then we lay it upon him, as a wicked Sentence and Judgment. But this is not all, tho' this were enough, if true, to make the
Quakers and their Principles hated of God and good Men.
But in his Preaching, and other Discourse, as well as in his said Papers, he hath not spared to Rail, Abuse and pass Judgment upon us, as appears by several
Witnesses, one whereof
Iohn Smith affirmed, that he heard him in his publick Preaching declare, That
the Quakers
were the Spawn of the Iesuites, and that the Iesuites were the Spawn of the Devil, which he himself hath since owned to two of our Friends, who spoke to him about it.
Now this false and wicked Accusation we utterly deny, and therefore turn it upon himself to prove the same; we
[Page 203] having born our Testimony against them, as we do against him, and all others who stand up against the glorious appearance of Truth, as it hath pleased God to manifest it in this Day: and therefore do utterly deny to be of their Off-spring; yet do desire, that in his next he would make out, how they are the
Spawn of the
Devil, and we their
Off spring in that Line? So let all People consider the desperate boldness, harshness and hardness of this Man's Heart and Spirit; you see, how in his unwholsom Words he places us in the
Devil's Line and
Off spring, and so near as his
Grandchildren; what worse can he make of us, or in what state that's more dreadful can he place us? Sure in his Judgment we are far separated from God: Doubtless he accounts us of the reprobate number, that God never had Mercy for, since he believes there are such.
It is also evidenced unto us, that he joined the
Quakers and
Muggletonians together, and
Witness Thomas Smith. said, that we did take upon us to know the Dimensions of God,
viz. To know his
length, breadth, bigness, form and
likeness; which is altogether false: for we utterly deny such Erroneous Principles, and have born our Testimony against
Muggleton.
It is also evidenced unto us by two
Witnesses, that
Iames Barry in his Preaching did affirm,
Iohn Kelson, Thomas Cole. that the
Quakers were a bewitching, and blaspheming, erroneous People, cheating God of his Right; and that they did compass Sea and Land to make one Proselite; and when they had done, made him two-fold a Child of the Devil more than before. Thus it appears, that he still endeavours to incense People against us, as that we are from the Devil, and are working for him, to turn and beget to him, and not to God. Those, with many more such like unchristian Reflections and Abuses against us and our Principles, are brought to us, and testified to have proceeded
[Page 204] from his Mouth; and therefore we offered, as before, that we desired a publick Meeting before the People, that the
Witnesses and he might come face to face, and that the People might hear both sides with their
Witnesses, and when all was heard, that we would leave it as before proposed. And this we thought might be a good opportunity for him to clear himself, if innocent; but it's like, he knowing in his Conscience his guilt, made him fly from so reasonable an offer, and shuffle as he hath done, that he might escape coming to the Trial, left he should be further manifested.
Now as to those three Principles
Iames Barry promised to send forth his Arguments in Print, to prove the
Quakers grand Hereticks in, they were in our Answer (to one of his said Papers) sent him, laid down, and expressed according to the following Words,
viz.
To the first we affirm, That we own the Resurrection, and do believe, that the Righteous shall rise and ascend into Glory, and be glorified in Heaven with an Eternal Reward, and that the Wicked also shall rise and come to Iudgment, and be turned into Hell to receive an Eternal Punishment. But that the same fleshly Body which must undergo Death and Corruption, shall rise and enter into Heaven, we leave for thee to prove, and make good from the Scriptures of Truth; being our selves satisfied in believing what the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 15. 36, 37.
when he answers the Fools Question, saying, That which thou sowest, is not quickned, except it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that Body that shall be,
&c. and further saith, verse 44. It is sown a Natural Body, it is raised a Spiritual Body,
&c. And in the same Chap.
saith further, verse 50.
Now this I
say, Brethren, that Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption.
[Page 205] Thus we laid it down, and looking upon
Iames Barry's Asserting, That
it must be the Fleshly Body, which must Die, and see Corruption, (for these are his words) we did believe, he contradicted the Apostle in so saying, and also Christ himself, who said, that the Children of the Resurrection were equal unto the Angels,
&c. Luke 20. 36. And therefore did we offer to Dispute with him in the Vindication of our Faith, as to this Principle.
The second Errour that he charged upon us, was, That
the Quakers
deny, that Men are Iustified and Saved by the alone Righteousness of Iesus Christ, imputed without the Concurrence of inherent Righteousness. And in another Paper Condemns us of Errour, for Believing, that
the Active and Passive Righteousness of Iesus Christ is not the only Righteousness (as imputed to us by God, without any mixture of Righteousness inherent in us) by the which Sinners must be Iustified and eternally Saved. We Answered.
That we do own Righteousness to be Imputed of God, and God's
Imputation thereof to be a Blessing and Happiness unto Man; but do not believe, that Sinners shall be Iustified and Saved by the Imputation only of the Active and Passive Righteousness of Christ without us, without any Righteousness wrought in us by the Spirit of Grace, which comes by Iesus Christ.
Let all People (that are of understanding Hearts) seriously consider this, which he calls an Errour, and charges upon the
Quakers for such an Errour, as that he will prove us
grand Hereticks herein,
&c. for allowing any mixture of
Righteousness inherent in us, that is, cleaving to, or abiding in. One might think, he had never read the Scriptures, thus to exclude the work of
Grace in the Heart. Did not the Apostle say,
Eph. 2. 5.
By Grace ye are Saved, and
vers. 8. again,
By Grace ye are Saved, through Faith, not of your Selves; it is the
[Page 206]
Gift of God. And was not this
Grace a Spiritual Gift? And was it not to be in their Hearts? Did not the Apostle say,
Let the Word of God dwell richly in you? And were they not to sing with
Grace in the Heart?
Col. 3. 16. And was not Christ in them the Hope of Glory?
Chap. 1. 27. And did not Christ say,
Iohn 3. 3.
Except a Man be Born again (or from above)
he cannot see the Kingdom of God? And
vers. 5.
Except a Man be Born of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God: For
that which is Born of the Flesh, is Flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit, as
v. 6. From all which it is evident, that none can enter the Kingdom of God, without this Regeneration, and being Born again. And how can this New Birth be, without the work of the Spirit of Christ in the Heart? And how can this work of Regeneration be wrought, and no
Inherent Righteousness? Or, how can it be, that a Man may be Born of the Spirit, or from above, and have no Righteousness abiding in him? And without this work of Regeneration and New Birth, you see Christ saith, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This being rightly understood, let
Iames Barry tell us, what manner of Justification and Salvation that is, which he means, that is without any mixture of Righteousness wrought in a Man, by the Spirit of Grace, or abiding in him; for he saith,
By the alone Righteousness active and passive of Christ, imputed without any mixture of Righteousness inherent, must Sinners be justified and eternally saved. But it is evident from Christ's Words, that by this eternal Salvation of
Iames Barry's, a Man cannot enter the Kingdom of God, for they are not prepared for it.
Behold, Christ saith, John 15.
I am the Vine, ye are the Branches; abide in me, and I in you: And verse 5.
He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit: Without me ye can do nothing.
[Page 207] Now can it be possible, that any should be in Christ, and Christ in them, and yet no
Righteousness Inherent (that is, sticking to, or abiding in them;) and yet they, as Branches bearing Fruit, and if they do not bear Fruit, they are to be taken away; then not Saved and Justified, if they be taken away; and if they bear Fruit, Christ is in them, and they in him: Then, if it be so,
Righteousness is
Inherent, both by sticking to, and abiding in. So let
Iames Barry make out, how any can be in Christ, and Christ in them, and no
Righteousness Inherent: Or otherwise, how any can be Fruitful, and consequently Justified and Saved, and Christ not in them, and they in him; seeing Christ saith, it cannot be: And
verse 6. You may see the end of all, that abide not in Christ,
As withered Branches cut off, they are gathered for the Fire. So that they that abide not in Christ, bear no Fruit, and are neither Justified nor Saved, agreeing with the very Parable Christ speaks,
Matth. 9. 17.
Neither do Men put New Wine into Old Bottles, else the Bottles break, and the Wine runneth out, and the Bottles perish, &c. Which plainly demonstrates, there must be an inward work of renewing; for it is not the Old, that must enter: Therefore the Apostle saith, 2
Cor. 5. 17.
If any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: And in 1
Cor. 5. 7. The Apostle exhorts them, to
purge out the old Leaven, that they might be a new Lump, &c. and in
Gal. 6. 15. The Apostle having spoken before of the effects of the Cross of Christ, tells them, That
in Christ Iesus neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision availeth any thing; but a new Creature. So that we may see, the Apostle (who believed his Master's Doctrin) pressed to have it answered, by witnessing
the Old Man put off, which was corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts, and to be renewed in the Spirit of their minds, &c. Ephes. 4. 22, 23. And in
Col. 3. 9, 10. There you may see, that the Apostle tells them, they
had put off the Old Man with his Deeds, and had put on the New,
[Page 208]
which was renewed in Knowledg after the Image of him, who had Created him; and was not this new Man Christ, or at least the bringings forth of his Power in them? for the Apostle saith,
Rom. 13. 14.
But put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ, &c. and Col. 2. 6.
As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. And
Col. 3. 11. Having spoken of them that had put on the New Man, as before; saith,
Where there is neither Iew nor Greek, &c.
But Christ is all, and in all. As the Apostle saith, 1
Cor. 1. 30.
He was made of God unto them Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption.
So here was the true Imputation, or gift of God, thus given or made theirs, and so imputed; and so they did witness his Power to Work in them; as the Apostle saith,
Ephes. 3. and 20. And in the same Chapter you may see, how he desired with bowed Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
he would grant them according to the Riches of his Glory, to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the Inward Man; and listewise in his Epistle to
Titus 3. 5. Having spoken of the Love of God to Mankind,
Not by works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to his Mercy he Saved us, by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost: So here still the Apostle hath regard to the Doctrin of Christ, and Maintains Regeneration through the Renewings of the Holy Ghost; so they were Washed thereby, and Born thereof. To this agrees another Testimony of his, 1
Cor. 6. 11. Having told them, that
the Unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God; and having reckoned up to them the wickedness, that the
Gentile were given to; saith,
And such were some of you, but ye are Washed, but ye are Sanctified, but ye are Iustified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
And what saith
James Barry, was not Righteousness here wrought in them? was there none
Inherent, when this work
[Page 209] of Sanctification and Washing was wrought by the Spirit? or were they Saved and Justifyed while they were in those gross Evils before-mentioned? If so, let us know, what manner of Salvation it was; for the Apostle saith,
None shall Inherit the Kingdom of God; and the same Apostle saith,
Phil. 2. 12, 13.
Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling; for it is God, that worketh in you both to Will and to Do of his good Pleasure.
Now it is evident, that though they Preached Remission of Sins past, in the Name of Jesus, to those that did Believe, and so through Faith their Sins came to be Blotted out; yet without this Washing of Regeneration, and work of the Spirit to Renew them, that they might be Born again, as Christ had said, they could not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And therefore you may see how the Christians witnessed the New Birth, and how the Apostles laboured for it; yet this neither was by them then, nor is by us now accounted Man's work alone: But was the work of Christ in them by his Spirit. And that was the reason, why the Apostle came under such a Travel, as in
Gal. 4. 19. where he saith,
My little Children, of whom I Travel in Birth again, until Christ be Formed in you. Here the Apostle was concern'd, lest they should be lost, and he had
bestowed upon them Labour in Vain, as verse 11. seeing they were going out into the Observations, which were unprofitable; and therefore in Chap. 5. 16. saith this,
I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh. So you may see it was the Spirit the Saints were to walk in, and thereby was the overcoming of the Flesh, with its Lusts. As the Apostle in
Rom. 8. doth at large Testify; and tells us plainly,
verse 9. That
if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And verse 14. saith,
As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. But
Iames Barry with some of his Hearers denyed
Revelation, and accounted it an Errour in us to own it;
[Page 210] and therefore it cannot be expected, that they should walk in it, who deny it, or that they should be Adopted by it, or Sealed by it. And therefore let
Iames Barry in his Answer make out, how they came to be Christians, or Children of God, and whether they are Christ's, and how they came to be so, and whether they own Regeneration necessary to Salvation, Yea or nay: And whether this Eternal Salvation he saith Sinners are Saved by, without any Mixture of Inherent Righteousness, do fit Man for the Kingdom of God, Yea or nay: And whether any Man can reap Benefit by the Active and Passive Righteousness of Christ without, except he have a True Faith; and whether any Man can have a True Faith without the Word of Faith; and whether this Word of Faith be not in the Heart,
&c.? Yea or nay: And whether true Faith be not an Effect of this Word in the Heart, Yea or nay; according to
Rom. 10.
And this is not the speech of the Law, but of the Righteousness of Faith, as in verse 6th. and 7th,
Thou need not say, who shall ascend into Heaven to fetch Christ down, or who shall descend into the Deep to bring him again from the Dead, &c. verse 8th,
The Word is nigh in the Heart and Mouth: This is the Word of Faith, which we Preach, and is this Word there in the Heart? And doth it beget Faith in Christ, and concerning his Righteousness, and yet no Righteousness within? For
Iames Barry will have no mixture; it must be a Faith without Righteousness, or else a Justification and Salvation without Faith. So let him send forth his Arguments to prove us grand Hereticks according to his Promise, and then it may be seen, what we have further to say in the Vindication of our Principles; which if he do not, let it rest upon him as such a one, and let Errour and Heresie lye at his Door.
The next Errour that he chargeth upon us, as he lays it down in his own Terms, is, That
we do own Perfection in Sanctification as to degrees in this Life.
[Page 211]
Answer. We having said so much before, tending to prove this no Errour, in our so owning of it, need now say little more; especially, seeing we never heard it accounted an Errour before, till now by him, and do question, whether any will be now of his mind. The Apostle, as is shewed before, said to the Saints,
They were Washed, and they were Sanctified: And again, he speaks of their being Saved by the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost; and
Jude (verse 1.) writes unto such as were
Sanctified by God the Father, and Preserved in Iesus Christ. Was this Washing and Sanctification, which was by God the Father, and by his Spirit, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, altogether without
Perfection, that it is by
Iames Barry accounted an Errour, to hold Perfection of Sanctification in any degree? What! are the Works of God and his Spirit in Christ so Imperfect, that they admit of no degree of
Perfection in them? Then how should the Saints
Perfect Holiness in the fear of God, according to the Exhortation given by the Apostle? 2
Cor. 7. 1. We look upon it, thus to charge God in the Work of his Spirit in Christ, to be little less than
Blasphemy. David saith in
Psal. 18. 30.
As for God his way is Perfect: And in
verse 32.
It is God that girdeth me with Strength, and maketh my way Perfect. And
Moses saith,
I will Publish the Name of the Lord, Ascribe ye Greatness unto our God; he is a Rock, his Work is Perfect, for all his ways are Iudgment, &c.
Deut. 32. 3, 4. These bear a better and truer Testimony for God, his Ways and Works, than
Iames Barry, who will admit of no degree of
Perfection in
Sanctification; which we always held to be the Work of God and his Spirit in Christ wrought for the Saints, and in the Saints: As the Prophet also Testifieth,
Isa. 26. 12.
Lord, thou wilt Ordain Peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our Works in us.
To Vindicate these our Principles, or any thing Writ in Vindication of them by our Friends, which he hath Abused,
[Page 212]
viz. George Fox, George Whithead, William Pen and
Edward Burroughs; we offered to give him a Meeting, and with him to Dispute fairly, that it might be Manifest, whether his or ours did most agree and concur with the Testimony of holy Scriptures.
We offered further then, to Dispute with him about the Doctrine of Particular Election and Reprobation of Persons, or of Christ's not Dying for ALL Men; and told him, we were desirous to be Informed, what Gospel of glad Tidings Ministers of such a Faith and Principle had to Preach to them
that Christ Died not for, which might tend to their Benefit unto Salvation; or whether they never press such to Believe as a Duty Incumbent, nor ever offer Salvation unto them in the Name of Christ, if they do believe? This we said we did look upon to be a material Principle, and ought to be cleared up, because it concerns so great a part of Mankind. And
Iames Barry's Messenger, that he sent with his Papers, said, That
Iames Barry would lay down his Life in Vindication of this Principle: Therefore we expect he should Inform us, what Gospel he hath to Preach to them
Christ. Died not for, and what object of Faith he hath to lay down for them to Believe in; for Faith must have an Object: Or whether they do not press it, as a Duty in general upon all to Believe? And then let us know their Method of Distinction, who Preach not the Gospel to every one; for sure, there can be no Gospel of glad Tidings to those
Christ Died not for: And we know 'tis the common Opinion of such, that they that Christ Died not for, are the greater Number; and if this Doctrine of theirs be true, how can the Message of the Angel be true?
Luke 2. 10.
And the Angel said unto them, fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great Ioy, which shall be unto ALL People. And in the same Chapter you may see, what
Simeon said,
For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation, which thou hast prepared before the
[Page 213]
Face of ALL People. Here he Witnesseth to the general Offer of God unto ALL. And the Apostle,
Rom. 5. 18. saith,
That as by the Offence of ONE, Judgment came upon ALL Men to Condemnation; even so by the Righteousness of ONE, the free Gift came upon ALL Men unto Iustification of Life. And in
Psal. 68. 18.
David, speaking of Christ, saith,
Thou hast ascended up on high, thou hast led Captivity Captive, thou hast received Gifts for Men; yea, for the Rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell amongst them. And to this agrees the Parable of the
Sower, whose Seed fell some on the High-way, some on the Thorny, some on the Stony, and some on the good Ground: And also the Parable of the
Talents, Matt. 25. 15. where it is said,
He gave to every one according to their several Abilities; but ALL did not improve, as
Paul saith,
Rom. 10.
They have not all Obeyed, though they had Heard: and in 1
Tim. 2. 6. you see what he saith of the Mediator,
Who gave himself a Ransom for ALL Men,
to be Testified in due time. 2 Cor. 5. 14.
For the Love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one Died for ALL, then were ALL Dead; and was not their Judgment right in this?
Heb. 2. 9.
But we see Iesus, who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of Death, Crowned with Glory and Honour, that he by the Grace of God should tast Death for EVERY Man. So you see, that by the Grace of God he should tast Death for EVERY Man; and yet
Iames Barry and such, by their ungracious Limitations, would have it to be but for a few; and so he goes to contradict the Scripture, and so is witnessed against, by that which he said should be the
Standard to try every thing by; And therefore is not true according to the
Standard. And in the 1
st Epistle of
John 2. 2. you may see what he saith of Christ and his Death;
And he is the Propitiation for our Sins; and not for ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole World: So not for theirs only, but also for the Sins of the whole World. And 2
Pet. 3. 9.
[Page 214] There the Apostle tells us of the
Long-suffering of God to usward, not willing that ANY should Perish, but that ALL should come to Repentance. And the Prophet
Ezekiel, being of the same mind, declares fully in the 18
th chap. That the Lord hath no pleasure in the Death of a Sinner, but rather that he would Repent and Return. Many Scriptures might be laid down to witness against this unrighteous Principle of limiting God in the universality of his Love to Mankind; for the rejecting of which, and slighting the offers of Free Grace, which has appeared to all Men, according to
Titus 2. 11. Man brings destruction upon himself.
But
Iames Barry's Messenger that he sent, which we suppose may be an esteemed Member of his Church, did charge it to be Blasphemy for any to say, That
Man could do contrary to the Will of God; and when it was offered to be proved in an hundred places of Scripture and more, where the
Will of
God was manifest, and that Men did contrary to it; for if it were not so, we should not have Sin committed; for in the Scripture all sorts of Sin are forbidden: After this was offered, he still affirm'd it. And further discoursing of what benefit the Reprobate could have by the coming of Christ, he said, the Devil had a benefit by it; but being much desired to shew wherein, he could make nothing out.
Iames Barry makes a Boast of his Hearers, most of them being in a state of Grace; but if they be not founded upon better Principles than these, they are far from being in a state of Grace and Happiness. Therefore in Charity we desire, they may look to their standing, and not to be setled upon such unsound Principles, as
Iames Barry the
Independent Minister (as he calls himself) labours to settle them in; which is opposite to God's Free Grace, which brings Salvation.
[Page 215]
Iames Barry also, with some of his Hearers, did account it an Errour in the
Quakers to own
Immediate Revelation; and said, they did disown it. Now seeing it is so, that the immediate Spirit of Christ, and its
Immediate Revelation is denied by him; we demand of him, how he came to be a Minister, and whence he hath his Ability, and that Knowledge of God he pretendeth to have, and from whom he hath received his Gospel that he Preacheth? Its evident enough, not from Christ; for indeed it is not like his, nor him, who
would have gathered the Children of Jerusalem,
as a Hen gathereth her Chickens, and they would not; therefore were they rejected, because they would not be gathered. The Apostle saith, 2
Cor. 3. 6.
They were made able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; and verse 5. saith,
Their sufficiency was of God; and
Gal. 1. 11, 12. the Gospel which
Paul Preached,
It was not after Man; for he neither received it of Man, neither was taught it; but by the Revelation of Iesus Christ; Eph. 3. he declares, That
he was made a Minister according to the gift of the Grace of God given unto him by the effectual working of his Power; and
Peter saith, 1 Pet. 4. 11.
If any Man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God; if any Man Minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified, &c. Now how is this Ability received from God, if not by his Spirit? and therefore he gave different Gifts of the Spirit for the work of the Ministry, and by that they were opened and inlarged, and made able. But
Iames Barry denying this, from whom hath he his
Call? and whence hath he his
Gospel and
Ability? If he saith from God; We desire to know, how he received it, being not by the Spirit, he having denied that; and if it be not by the Spirit, it cannot be from God: For what a Man receives of Spiritual Benefit, it must be by the Spirit, either immediately, or mediately by its working through an Instrument.
[Page 216] Therefore let him make out, how he comes by his
Call, Ability and that
Necessity he pretends to be upon him? for the Divine Spirit being denied, it must be from Man, or else from his own corrupt Heart, for Self-interest; which is most probable, that he might get Gain and live upon the People: For it is evident, his
Necessity is not the same that was upon the Apostle, 1
Cor. 9. 16. He owns not his way of receiving it, nor doth follow his Example in Preaching it.
And to his
Hearers this Advice we give: Consider well your State, and whether you
profit under his Ministry or no: For of old, they that ran, and the Lord did not send them, did not
profit the People; for he denying
Revelation by which the Father and the Son is savingly known, no other Knowledge is come to without it, but by Hear-say, which is not that Knowledge Christ speaks of, which is Life Eternal. And for your satisfaction, read the following Scriptures,
Mat. 11. 27. Christ saith,
Neither knoweth any Man the Father, but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. So Christ is positive, that no Man knows God but by his Revelation,
Mat. 16. 17. Christ saith, it was the Father that Revealed him unto
Peter; and
Gal. 1. 15, 16. There you may see the Father
Revealed his Son in
Paul, 1
Cor. 2. 10. The Apostle speaking of the great things God had prepared for them that love him, saith,
God hath Revealed them unto us by his Spirit; and in
Eph. 1. 17. you may see, how the Apostle prayed for the Saints, That
God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of Glory, would give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of the Son; and 1
Cor. 14. 30. he saith,
If any thing be Revealed
to another that sits by, let the first hold his Peace. Here you may see, that from the Testimony of the Holy Scripture (which your
Minister said, should be the Standard to try every thing by) in the true Church,
[Page 217] Revelation was expected, and to be given way to in the Church; and by the Apostle was prayed for, that God would give the
Spirit and
Revelation unto the Church; for he knew they could not Worship, Pray, Preach, nor Sing aright without it. And what! Is this accounted an Error now by your Minister or you? Where is your Standard? Will you not come to the Scriptures, nor to the Spirit neither? Where is your Bottom and Foundation that you Build upon? What's your Root that bears you? You have got a foolish Builder, he will not follow the Example of
Paul, a wise Master-Builder, 1 Cor. 14. 15.
Paul said,
He would pray with the Spirit, &c.
and sing with the Spirit, &c.
Eph. 5. 18. There the Apostle exhorts them,
To be filled with the Spirit; and
Rom 8. 26. he saith,
They knew not, what to pray for as they ought, but the Spirit helped their Infirmities, &c. And Christ in the 4
th of
Iohn saith. That
God is a Spirit, and they that Worship him, must Worship him in Spirit and Truth; and such doth the Father seek to Worship him. Now let your Minister clear these things up to you; how in your Church or Families either, he and you denying Revelation, can Worship aright, Preach, Pray or Sing aright? and by what you have Ability, and know what to Pray for, without the Spirits help? What! are you so strong of your selves, in your Self-Ability, that you do not need that which the Apostles, and all true Christians sought the help of, and could not do without? Nay, it was that, by which they knew what to Pray for, and therefore they waited for its Assistance: And
Paul said, he would Pray with it. You may make long Prayers, like the
Pharisees, but what will it avail, it being done without that, in which the Saints had access to God? So here your Praying and Worship, and Separation or Gathering being without the Spirit, what can it be, but from self, and in self? And so like them spoken of in
Iude 19.
These be they, who separate
[Page 218]
themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. And we desire you to read the 8th Chapter to the
Romans, and consider, what you are to walk after, as Christians, and to be led by, and to live after; and with what you are to mortify the Flesh, or the deeds of the Flesh, if you own a Mortification needful to Salvation; and whether you can be Christ's, and not have his Spirit? and whether you can be the Sons of God, and not be led by his Spirit? And whether you are Children but by Adoption? And if by Adoption, whether this Adoption is not by the Spirit? And whether it was not the Spirit it self, that bore witness with the Saints Spirits, that they were the Children of God? As
verse the 16. And then consider what your Evidence is, or whether ye have any or no? You considering these things weightily, will certainly find your selves at a loss, while ye are denying the Spirits discovery or
Revelation, whatever
Iames Barry may tell you of your being in a State of Grace.
And therefore ought all People to be turned unto the Spirit and Light of Christ Jesus in their Hearts; and if your Minister do not direct and turn you thereunto, he is no Minister of Christ, nor will ever bring you to Christ your Saviour, and then, how can you be saved? And if he turn you to the
Light and
Spirit of
Christ, then he must own the
Revelation thereof in the Church, or else he denies Christ in his Offices to teach his People, who is both King, Priest and Prophet in his Church; and if he turn People to the Light, then he must not Preach against it; but if this be not a part of his Message, that
God is Light, and Christ is spiritually the Light of the World, and so a part of his work to turn to this Light, he is no Minister of Christ. And for your Satisfaction read these Scriptures:
Paul, a true Minister,
Acts 26. 18. speaking of God's sending him to the
Gentiles, said,
It was to open their blind Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to God.
[Page 219] And 1
Iohn 1. 5. he said, their Message which they had heard of him, and declared, was,
That God is Light: So then they that turn People to the
Light, turn them to
God and
Christ, as is further evident from Christ's own Words,
Ioh. 8. 12.
Then spake Iesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the World, he that followeth me, shall not walk in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life. And
Iohn the
Baptist's Testimony concerning him (who was the Eternal Word, by whom all things were made) was,
That he was the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John 1. 9. And Christ commanded to believe in the Light,
Iohn 12. 36. saying,
While ye have the Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be Children of the Light, &c. So People are both to be turned to the Light, and to believe in the Light, and to walk in it; or else whatever be professed, People can be but Children of Darkness, and such as know not, whither they go. And in
Isa 42. 6. and
Isa. 49. 6. you may see, how God promised, that he would give Christ for a
Light, &c. so that they that deny and slight the Light, deny Christ, God's Light and Salvation. And
Eph. 5. 13. the Apostle saith,
That all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the Light; for whatsoever doth make manifest, is Light. So that you may see, what need People have to mind the Light, or else they must be ignorant of their States, and also of the Glory of God; for in the Light is the Knowledge of God's Glory received, as may be seen in 2
Cor. 4. 6. and also you may see where this
Light is to shine;
For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Iesus Christ.
Much might be said in the Vindication of this Testimony for the true
Light, wherewith Christ hath lighted every Man; but this may suffice to all that will believe the Scriptures, and accordingly turn their Minds to the true Light of
[Page 220] Christ, that he may give them a right understanding to know him that is True, according to 1
Iohn 5. 20. seeing
Iames Barry in his last Paper seems to accuse us, as if we would bring Texts of Scripture neither understood, nor rightly applied; therefore when he sends forth his Answer upon the back of our Vindication (according to his promise) let him give his Applications upon the fore-cited Scriptures, which are quoted for the Proof of our Principles, and as an Evidence against his: and so let him prove us
grand Hereticks, as he said he would; or otherwise let him leave off his boasting, and cease from belying and abusing of us, as formerly he hath done.
Written in Vindication of the Truth, our selves, and the rest of our Traduced Friends.
Dublin,
the 20th of the first Month, 168
[...].
Iohn Burnyeat, Amos Strettell.
POSTSCRIPT.
JAmes Barry's Answer to two Letters (sent him by
Anthony Sharp) which by way of Postscript was in his last Paper to us in the following Words,
viz.
I do acknowledge my self indebted to your Scribe, viz. Anthony Sharp,
in two most exquisite and polite Letters, the which I hope to answer, when I have little else to do: So begging his Worships Patience may bear a little longer with my slowness in this Business, I bid him Farewell. J. B.
For Answer.
Anthony Sharp being abused and belied in particular, as well as we and our Principles in general; when
Iames Barry finds leisure to answer his Letters, we shall leave
Anthony Sharp to reply, who doubtless therein will further manifest both him and his folly, without either such delays, or using such vain and scornful flouts, improper to have come from the Pen of a Christian, much less a pretended Minister.
Memorandum. If any be desirous to see the several Papers, that have past betwixt
Iames Barry and Us, the Originals may be seen with
Amos Strettell, at the
Band and
Hood in
Back-Lane, and true Copies thereof with
Thomas Ashton, at the
Three Kidds and
Gloves in
Cavan-Street, Dublin.