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« I A ./
O U R N A L
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
* O F T H E
JLIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES,
»
AND
LABOUR OF LOVE,
IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY,
OF THAT
ANCIENT, EMINENT, AND FAITHFUL SERVANT Ol;
JESUS CHRIST,
GEORGE FOX,
THE FOURTH EDITION, CORRECTED.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
And they that turn many to Righteoufnefs fliall fliine as the Stars for ever and ever.
Dan. xii. 3.
N E W - Y O R K :
PRINTED BY ISAAC COLLINS, No. 189, PEARL-STREET.
1800.
-"^^^V:
* v\ ivivSln'
i
R E F A G E
E I N G A
SUMMARY ACCOUNT
OF THE
DIVERS DISPENSATIONS OF GOD TO MEN,
THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THAT OF OUR
PRESENT AGE, BY THE MINISTRY AND TESTIMONY
OF HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT GEORGE FOX, AS AN
INTRODUCTION TO THE ENSUING JOURNAL.
DIVERS have been the difpenfations of God fince the
creation of the world, unto the fons of men ; but the
great end of all of them has been the renown of his own
excellent name in the creation and reftoration of man :
man, the emblem of himfelf, as a god on earth, and the
glory of all his works. The world began with innefcency :
all was then good that the good God had made : and as
he bleffed the works of his hands, fo their natures and har-
mony magnified him their Creator. Then the morning
ftars lang together for joy, and all parts of his works faid
Amen to his lav/. Not a jarr in the whole frame, but man
in paradife, the beafts in the field, the fowl in the air, the
fiih in the fea, the lights in the heavens, the fruits of the
earth ; yea the air, the earth, the water and fire worfliipped,
praifed and exalted his power, wifdom and goodnels. O
holy fabbath, O holy day to the Lord !
But this happy ftatc laflcd not long : for man, the crown
and glory of the whole, being tempted to afpire above his
place, unliappily yielded againil command and duty, as
well as interell and felicity ; and fo fell below it, loft the
divine image, the wifdom, power, and purity he was made
in. By which, being no longer fit for parac^'fe, he was ex-
pelled that gardeu of God. his proper dwclhng and refidence^
A 2
av PREFACE.
and was driven out, as a poor vagabond, from the prefence
of the Lord, to wander in the earth, the habitation of beafls.
Yet God, that made him, had pity on him ; for he
feeing he was deceived, and that it was not of mahce, or
an original prefumption in him, but through the fubtilty
of the ferpent (that had firfl fallen from his own ftate, and
by the mediation of the woman, man's own nature and
companion, whom the ferpent had firft deluded) in his in-
finite goodnefs and wifdom found out a way to repair the
breach, recover the lofs, and reftore fallen man again by a
nobler and more excellent Adam, promifed to be born of
a woman ; that? as by means of a woman the evil one had
prevailed upon man, by a woman aUo He fhoiild come
into the world, who would prevail againft him, and bruife
his head, and deliver man from his power : and which, in
a fignal manner, by the difpenfation of the Son ot God in
the flefh, in the fulnefs of time, was perfonally and fully
accomplifhed by him, and in him, as man's Saviour and
Redeemer.
But his power was not limited, in the manifeftation of
it, to that time ; for both before and fmce his bleffed mani-
feftation in the flefh, he has been the light and life, the rock
and ftrength of all that ever feared God : prefent with them
in their temptations, followed them in their travels and af-
flictions, and fupported and carried them through and over
the difficulties that have attended them in their earthly pil-
grimage. By this, Abel's* heart excelled Cain's, and Seth
obtained the pre-eminence, and Enoch walked with God.
It was this that ftrove with the old world, and which, they
rebelled againft, and which fanclified and inftru6led Noah
to Salvation.
But the outward difpenfation that followed the benighted
ftate of man, after his tall, efpecially among the patriarchs,
was generally that of angels ; as the fcriptures of the Old
Teftament do in many places cxprefs, as to Abraham, Ja-
cob, &c. The next was that of the law by Moies, which
was alfo delivered by angels, as the apoftle tells us. This
dilpcnfation was much outward, and fuited to a low and
iervile ftate ; railed therefore that of a fchoolmafter, to point
out and prepare that people to look and long for the Meftiah,
who would aolivct thorn trom (he fevvitude of a ceremonious
and imperletl difpenlation, by knowing the realities of thofe
myftcrious reprefentations in themfelves. In this time the
law was written on ftone^ the temple built with hands, at-
PREFACE. V
tended with an outward priefthood and external rites and
ceremonies, that were ftiadows of the good things that were
to come, and were only to ferve till the Seed came, or the
more excellent and general manifcftation of Chrift, to whom
was the promife, and to all men only in him, in whom it
was Yea and Amen ; even life from death, immortality and
eternal life.
This the prophets forefaw, and comforted the believing
Jews in the certamty of it ; which was the top -of the Mo-
faical difpenlation, and which ended in John's miniftry, the
forerunner of the Meffiah, as John's was finilhed in him,
the fulnefs of all. And God, that at fundry times and in
divers manners had fpoken to the fathers by his fervants the
prophets, fpake then by his Son Chrift Jefus, " who is
" heir of all things ;" being the gofpel-day, which is the
difpenfation of fonfhip : bringing in thereby a nearer tefta-
ment, and a better hope, even the beginning of the glory
of the latter days, and of the rellitution of all things ; yea,
the reftoration of the kingdom unto Ifrael.
Now the Spirit, that was more fparingly communicated
in former difpenfations, began to be " poured forth upon
" all flefh," according to the prophet Joel, and the light
that jfliined in darknefs, or but dimly before, the moft gra-
cious God caufed to fhine out of darknefs, and the day-ftar
began to arife in the hearts of believers, giving unto them
the knowledge of God in the face (or appearance) of his
Son Chrift Jefus.
Now the poor in fpirit, the meek, the true mourners, the
hungry and thirfty alter righteoulnefs, the peace-makers, the
pure in heart, the merciful and the perfecuted, came more
efpecially in remembrance before the Lord, and were fought
out and blefled by Ifrael's true Shepherd. Old Jcrufalem
with her children grew out of date, and the new Jerufalem
into requeft, the mother of the fons of the gofpel-day.
Wherefore no more at old Jerufalem, nor at the mountain
of Samaria, will God be worfhipped above other places ;
for, behold, he is declared and preached a Spirit, and he
will be known as fuch, and worfhipped in the Spirit and
in the Truth. He will come nearer than of old time, and
he will write his law in the heart, and put his fear and Spi-
rit in the inward parts, according to his promife. Then
figns, types, and fhadows flew away, the day having difco-
vered their infufficiency in not reaching to the infide of the
cup, to the cleanling of the confcience j and all element'
vi .PREFACE.
ary fervices were expired in and by* him that is the fub-
llance of all.
And to this great and blefTed end of the difpenfation of
the Son of God, did the apoRles teflify, whom he had cho-
fen and anointed by his Spirit, to turn the Jews from their
prejudice and fuperftition, and the Gentiles from their vanity
and idolatry, to Chrifl's Light and Spirit th^t Ihined in
them ; that the'y might be quickened from the fins and tref-
pafTes in which they were dead, to ferve the Living God
in the newnefs of the Spirit of Life, and walk as children
of the light, and of the day, even the day of holinefs : for
fuch " put on Chriil," the light of the xvorld, " and make
" no more provifion for the flefh, to fulfil the lufts thereof."
So that the Light, Spirit, and Grace that comes by Chrift,
and appears in man, was what the apoftles miniftered from,
and turned people's m.inds unto, and in which they ga-
thered and built up the churches of Chrifi; in their day.
For which caufe they advifed them not to quench the
Spirit, but wait for the Spirit, and fpeak by the Spirit,
and pray by the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit too, as that
which approved them the truly begotten children of God,
" horn not of flefh and blood, nor of the will of man, but
*' of the will of God ;" by doing his will, and denying their
own ; by drinking of Chrifl's cup, and being baptized with
his baptifm of lelf-denial : the way and path that all the
heirs of life have trod to blefTednefs. But alas ! even in the
apoftles da)'S (thofe bright fiars of the firfl magnitude of the
gofpei-light) fome clouds (foretelling an eclipfe of this pri-
mitive glory) began to appear, and feveral of them gax'e
early caution of it to the chriftians of their time ; that even
then there v.-as. and ■vet would be more and more, a falling
away from the power of godlinefs, and the purity of that
fpirituii! di'.penfrition, by fuch as thought to. make a fair fhew
in the flefh. but with whom the offence of the crofs ceafed :
yet with this comfortable conclufion, that they faw beyond
it a more glorious time than ever, to the true church. Their
fight was true, and what they foretold to the churches, ga-
thered by them in the name and power of Jefus, came fo
to pafs : for chriftians degenerated apace into outfides, as
days, and meats, and divers other ceremonies. And which
was worfe, they fell into flrife and contention about them,
fcparating one from another, then envying, and, as they
had power, perfecuting one another, to the fhame and fcan-
clai ot their common chrifiianity^ and grie^-^ous Humbling
PREFACE. vii
and ofFenos of the heathen, among whom tlie Lord had fo
long and lb marvelloufly preferved them. And having got
at lafl the worldly power into their hands, by kings and
emperors embracing the chrillian profelTion, they changed
what they could the kingdom of Chrifl, which is not of this
world, into a worldly kingdom ; or at lea ft ftiled the world-
ly kingdom that was in their hands the kingdom of Chrift,
and fo they became worldly, and not true cliriflians. Then
human inventions and novelties, both in doctrine and wor-
fhip, crowded fafl into the church, a door being opened
thereunto by the groffnefs and carnality that appeared then
among the generality of chriftians ; v/ho had long fmce left
the guidance of God's meek and heavenly Spirit, and given
themfelves up to fuperftition, wiil-worfhip, and voluntary
humility. And as fuperftition is blind, lb it is heady and
furious ; for all muft ftoop to its blind and boundlefs zeal,
or perifh by it : in the name of the Spirit, perfecuting the
very appearance of the Spirit of God in others, and oppo-
ling that in them which they refifted in themfelves, viz. the
Light, Grace, and Spirit of the Lord Jefus Chrift ; but
always under the notion of innovation, herely, fchifm, or
fome fuch plaufible name. Though chriftianity allows of
no name or pretence whatever for perfecuting of any man
ibr matters of mere religion ; religion being in its very nature
meek, gentle, and forbearing ; and confifts of faith, hope,
and charity, which no perfecutor can have, whilft he re-
mains a perfecutor ; in that a man cannot believe well, or
hope well, or have a charitable or tender regard to another,
whilft he would violate his mind or perfecute his body for
matters of faith or worfliip towards his God.
Thus the falfe church fprang up, and mounted the chair.
But though fhe loft her nature, fhe would keep her good
name of the Lamb's bride, the true church and mother of
the faithful ; conftraining all to receive her mark, either in
their forehead or right-hand, publickly or privately : but
in deed and in truth fhe was Myftery Babylon, the mother
of harlots : mother of thofe that with all their fhoiv^ and
Dutfide of religion, were adulterated and gone from the Spi-
rit, nature, and life of Chrift, and grown vain, worldly,
ambitious, covetous, cruel, &c. which are the fruits of the
flefh, and not of the Spirit.
Now it was that the true church fled into the wildernefs,
that is, from fuperftition and violence to a retired, folitarv.
and lonely Rate ; hidden and as it were out of fight of mcn^
Vlll
PREFACE.
tho' not out of the world : which fliews that her wonted
vifibihty was not effential to the being of a true church in
the judgment of the Holy Ghofl ; fhe being as true a church
in the wildernefs, though not as vifible and iuftrous, as
when fhe was in her former fplendor of profeffion. In this
ftate many attempts fhe made to return, but the waters were
yet too high, and her way blocked up, and many of her
excellent children in feveral' nations and centuries fell by
the cruelty of fuperflition, becaufe they would not fall from
their faithfulnefs to the truth.
The lafl age did fet fome fleps tov/ards it, both as to
doftrine, worfhip, and practice. But praftice quickly fail-
ed, for wickednefs flowed in a little time, as well among the
protelTors of the retorrnation, as thofe they reformed from ;
lo that by the fruits of converfation they were not to be dif-
tinguifhed. And the children of the reformers, if not the
reformers themfelves, betook themfelves very early to earthly
policy and power to uphold and carry on their reformation
that had been begun with fpiritual weapons ; which I have
often thought has been one of the greateft reafons the re-
formation made no better progrefs, as to the life and foul
of religion : for whilfl the reformers were lowly and fpi-
ritually-minded, and ti-ufted in God, and looked to Him,
and lived in his fear, and confulted not with flefh and blood,
nor fought deliverance in their own. way, there were daily-
added to the church fuch as, one might reafonably fay,
fliould be faved. For they were not fo careful to be fafe
from perfecution, as to be faithful under it.
Being more concerned to fpread the truth by their faith
and patience in tribulation, than to get the worldly pow-
er out of their hands that inflifted their fufferings upon
them ; and it will be well, if the Lord fufFer them not to
fall by the very fame way they took to fland. In doftrine
they were in fome things fhort ; in other things, to avoid
one extreme, they ran into another : and for worfhip, there
was for the generality more of man than God. They owned
the Spirit, infpiration and revelation indeed, and grounded
their feparation and reformation upon the fenfe and under-
flanding they received from it, in the reading of the fcrip-
tures of Truth ; and this was their plea. The Scripture was
the text, the Spirit the interpreter, and that to every one for
himfelf. But yet there was too much of human invention,
tradition and art, that remained both in praying and preach-
ing, and of worldly authority and worldly greatnefs in their
PREFACE. ix
minifters, efpecially in this kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and
fome parts of Germany. God was therefore pleafed, among
us, to fhift from veflel to velfel : and the next remove hum-
bled the minilhy, fo that they were more ftricl in preach-
ing, devout in praying, and zealous for keeping the Lord's
day, and catechifmg of children and fervants, and repeating
at home in their families what they had heard in publick.
But even as thefe grew into power, they were not only
for whipping fome out, but others into the temple: and they
appeared rigid in their fpirits, rather than fevere in their
lives, and more for a part)^, than for piety: which brought
forth another people, that were yet more retired and feleft.
They would not communicate at large, or in common with
others ; but formed churches among themielves of fuch as
could give iome account of their converfion at leaft, of very
promifmg experiences of the work of God's grace upon their
hearts, and under mutual agreements and covenants of fel-
lowfliip they kept together. Thefe people were fomewhat
of a fofter temper, and feemed to recommend religion by the
charms of its love, mercy, and goodnefs, rather than by the
terrors of its judgments and punifhment; by which the
former party would have terrified people into Religion.
They alfo allowed greater liberty to prophecy than thofe
before them ; for they admitted any member to fpeak or
pray, as well as their pallor (whom they always chofe, and
not the civil magiftrate). If fuch found any thing preffmg
upon them to either duty, even without the diftinftion of
clergy or laity ; perfons of any trade, be it never fo low and
mechanical. But alas! even thefe people fuffered great lofs:
for tailing of worldly empire, and the favour of princes, and
the gain that enfued, they degenerated but too much. For
though they had cried down national churches, and minif-
try and maintenance too. fome of them, when it was their
own turn to be tried, fell under the weight of worldly ho-
nour and advantage, got into profitable parfonages too
much, and outlived and contradifted their own principles :
and, which was yet worfe, turned fome of them abfolute
perfecutors of other men for God's fake, that but fo lately
came themfelves out of the furnace; which drove many a
ftep farther, and that was into the water. Another baptifm,
as believing they were not fcripturally baptifed; and hoping
to find that prefence and power of God, in fubmitting to
that ordinance, which they defired and wanted.
Thefe people made alfo profelhon of negleding, if not
B
X PREFACE.
renouncing and cenfuring, not only the neceflity, but ufe
of all human learning, as to the miniflry; and all other
qualifications to it, befides the helps and gifts of the Spirit
of God, and thofe natural and common to men; and for a
time they feemed, like John of old, a burning and a fhining
light, to other focieties.
They were very diligent, plain and ferious, flrong in
fcripture, and bold in profeffion, bearing much reproach
and contradiclion : but that which others fell by proved
their hurt. For worldly power fpoiled them too ; who had
enough of it to try them, what they would do if they had
more; and they re fled alfo too much upon their watery dif-
penfation, inllead of paffing on more fully to the Fire and
Holy Ghoft, which was his baptifm who came with a " fan
*' in his hand, that he might throughly (and not in part
*' only) purge his floor," and take away the drofs and the tin
of his people, and make a man finer than gold. Withal,
they grew high, rough, and felf-righteous, oppofing further
attainment; too much forgetting the day of their infancy and
littlenefs, which gave them fomethingofa real beauty; in-
fomuch that many left them, and all vifible churches and
focieties, and wandered up and down as Iheep without a
fhepherd, and as doves without their mates ; feeking their
beloved, but could not find him, as their fouls defired to
know him; whom their fouls loved above their chiefcfl joy.
Thefe people were called Seekers by fome, and the Fa-
mily of I.ove by others; becaufe, as they came to the know-
ledge of one another, they fometimes met together, not for-
mally to pray or preach, at appointed times and places, in
their own wills, as in times pail they were accuftomed to do;
but waited together in filence, and as any thing rofe in any -^i
one of their minds, that they thought favoured of a divine
fpring, fo they fometimes fpokc. But fo it was, that fome
of them not keeping in humility, and in the fear of God, af-
ter the abundance of revelation, were exalted above meafure,
and for want of Haying their minds in an humble depend-
ance upon him that opened their underflandings to fee great
things in his law, they run out in their own imaginations, and
mixing them with thofe divine openings, brought forth a
monftrous birth, to the fcandal of thofe that feared God, and
waited daily in the temple, not made with hands, for the
ronfolation ofllrael; the Jew inward, and Circumcifion in
fpirit.
Tliis people obtained the name of Ranters from their ex-
PREFACE. xi
travagant difcourfes and pra6lices. For they interpreted
Chrift's fulfilling of the law for us, to be a difcharging of us
from any obligation and duty the law required, inflead of
the condemnation of the law for fins paft, upon faith and re-
pentance, and that now it was no fin to do that which before
it was a iin to commit; the flavifh fear of the law being ta-
ken ofF by Chrift, and all things good that man did, if he
did but do them with the mind and perfuafion that it was lb.
Infomuch that divers fell into grofs and enormous praftices;
pretending in excule thereof, that they could, without evil,
commit the fame a6t which was fin in another to do; there-
by dillinguifhing between the action and the evil of it, by
the direftion of the mind and intention in the doing of it.
V/hich was to make fm fuper-abound by the aboundings of
grace, and to turn from the grace of God into wantonnefs, a
lecurer way of finning than before : as if Chrifl came not to
take away fin, but that we might fm more freely at his coft,
and with lefs danger to ourfelves. I fay, this entnared divers,
and brought them to an utter and lamentable lofs, as to their
eternal flate; and they grew very troublefome to the better
fort of people, and furnifhed the loofer with an occafion to
prophane.
It was about that very fame time, as you may fee in the
enfuing annals, that the eternal, wife, and good God was
pleafed, in his infinite love, to honour and vifit this benight-
ed and bewikL'red nation with his glorious day-fpring from
on high; yea with a moft fure and certain found of the word
of light and life, through the teflimony of a chofen velfel, to
an elFeftual and bleffed purpofe, can many thouiands fay,
" Glory be to the name of the Lord for ever."
For as it reached the confciencc, and broke the heart, and
brought many to a fenfc and fearch ; fo what people had
been vainly ieeking without, with much pains and cofl, they
by this miniftry found within; where it was they wanted
what they fought for, viz. the right way to peace with God.
For they were direfted to the light of Jefus Chriil within
them, as the Seed and Leaven of the kingdom of God;
near all, becaufe in all, and God's talent to all. A faithful
and true witnefs and juft monitor in every boiom. The gift
and grace of God to life and fdvation, that appears to ail,
though few regard it. This, the traditional chriftian, con-
ceited of himfelf, and llrong in his own will and rigliteoul-
nefs, and overcome with blind zeal and palfion, either def-
pifed as a low and common thing, or oppol'ed as a novelty,
B 2
xii PREFACE.
under many hard names and opprobrious terms; denying,
in his ignorant and angry mind, any frefh manifellation of
God's pov/er and Spirit in man in theie days, though never
more needed to make true chriftians : not unlike thole Jews
of old, that rejefted the Son of God at the very fame time
that they blindly profeffed to wait for the Meffiah to come ;
becaufe, alas, he appeared not among them according to
their carnal mind and expeftation.
This brought forth many abufive books, which filled the
greater fort with envy, and lelfer with rage, and made the
way and progrefs ol this blefled teftimony ftrait and nar-
row indeed to thofe that received it. However, God owned
his own work, and this teftimony did efFeftually reach, ga-
ther, comfort, and eftablilh the weary and heavy laden, the
hungry and thirfty, the poor and needy, the mournful and
Jfick of many maladies, that had fpent all upon phyficians
of no value, and waited for relief from heaven, help only
from above : feeing, upon a ierious trial of all things, nothing
elfe would do but Chrift himfelf, the light of his counte-
nance, a touch of his garment, and help from his hand, who
cured the poor woman's iifue, raifed the centurion's fervant,
the widow's Ion, the ruler's daughter, and Peter's mother,
and, like her, they no fooner felt his power and efficacy
upon their fouls, but they gave up to obey him m a tefti-
mony to his power, and with refigned wills and faithful
hearts, through all mockings, con traditions, beatings, pri-
fons, and many other jeopardies that attended them for his
blefted name's fake.
And truly, they were very many and very preat; fo that
in all human probability they muft have been fwallowed up
quick of the proud and boifterous waves that fwclled and
beat againft them ; but that the God of all their tender mer-
cies was with them in his glorious authority, fo that the
hills often fled, and the mountains melted before the power
that filled them; working mightily for them, as well as in
them, one ever following the other. By which they faw
plainly, to their exceeding great confirmation and comfort,
" that all things were pofTible with him with whom they had
" to do." And that the more that which God required
feemed to crols nran's wifdom, and expofe them to man's
wrath, the more God appeared to help and carry them
through all to his glory: infomuch that if ever any people
cofild fay in truth, " Thou art our fun and our fhield, our
^' rock and ian6luary, and by thee wc have leaped over a
PREFACE. xlii
" wall, and by thee we have run through a troop, and by
••' thee we have put the armies of the aliens to flight," thefe
people had right to fay it. And as God had delivered their
fouls of the wearifome burthens ot fin and vanity, and en-
riched their poverty of fpirit, and fatisfied their great hunger
and thirft after eternal righteoufnefs, and filled them with the
good things of his own houfe, and made them ftewards of
his manifold gifts; fo they went forth to all quarters of thefe
nations, to declare, to the inhabitants thereof, what God had
done for them; what they had found, and where and how
they had found it ; viz. the way to peace with God: invit-
ing them to come and fee and tafte for themfelves, the truth
of what they declared unto them.
And as their teftimony was to the principle of God in
man, the precious pearl and leaven of the kingdom, as the
only bleffed means appointed of God to quicken, convince,
and fanftify man; fo they opened to them what it was in it-
felf, and what it was given to them for: how they might
know it from their own fpirit, and that of the fubtil appear-
ance of the evil one, and what it would do for all thofe,
whofe minds are turned off from the vanity of the world,
and its lifelefs ways and teachers, and adhere to this bleffed
light in themfelves, which difcovers and condemns fm in all
its appearances, and fhews how to overcome it, if minded
and obeyed in its holy manifeftations and conviftions : giv-
ing power to fuch to avoid and refiff thofe things that do
not pleafe God. and to grow flrong in love, faith, and good
works: that fo man, whom fin hath made as 4 wildernefs,
over-run with briars and thorns, might become as the gar-
den jo^ God, cultivated by his divine power, and replenifhed
with the moft virtuous and beautiful plants of God's own
right-hand planting, to his eternal praife.
But thefe experimental preachers of glad tidings of God's
truth and kingdom could not run when they lift, or pray or
preach when they pleafed, but as Chrift their Redeemer
prepared and moved them by his own bleffed Spirit, for
which they waited in their fervices and meetings, and fpoke
as that gave them utterance, and which was as thofe having
authority, and not like the dreaming, dry, and formal Pha-
rifees. And fo it plainly appeared to the |erious-mindcd,
whofe fpiritual eye the Lord Jcfus had in any rrje^fure open-
ed; fo that to one was given the word of exhortation, to
another the word of reproof, to another the word of confo-
xW PREFACE.
ladoii, and all by the fame Spirit and in the good order
thereof, to ihe convincing and edifying of many.
And truly they waxed ftrong and bold through faithful-
nefs; and by the power and Spirit of the Lord Jefus became
very fruitiul ; thoufands, in a fhort time, being turned to
the truth through their teRimony in miniftry and fufierings,
infomuch as in moll countievS, and many of the confiderabie
towns of England, meetings were fettled, and daily there
were added fuch as Ihould be laved. For they were diligent
to plant and to water, and the Lord blelTed their labours
with an exceeding great increafe, notwithftanding all the op-
pofition made to their bleffed progrefs, by falfe rumours,
calumnies, and bitter perfecutions ; not only from the pow-
ers of the earth, but from every one that lifted to injure and
abufe them : io that they feemed indeed to be as poor fheep
appointed to the flaughtcr, and as a people killed all the
day long.
It were fitter for a volume than a preface, but fo much as
to repeat the contents of their cruel fufFerings from profef-
fors as well as from prophane, and from magiftrates as well
as the rabble ; lo that it may well be faid of this abufed and
defpifcd people, they went forth v/eeping, and fowed in
tears, bearing teftimony to the precious feed, the feed of the
kingdom, which fiands not in words, the fineft, the higheft
that man's wit can ufe, but in power; the power of Chrift
Jefus, to whom God the Father hath given all power in
heaven and in earth, that he might rule angels above, and
men below; who impowered them, as their work witnefleth,
by the many that were turned through their miniflry from
darknefs to the light, and out of the broad into the narrow
way, bringing people to a weighty, ferious, and godly con-
verfation; the pra6lice of that doftrine which they taught.
And as without this fecret divine power there is no quick-
ening and regenerating of dead fouls, fo the want of this ge-
neratmg and begetting power and life is the caufe of the lit-
tle fruit that the many miniftries that have been, and are in
the world bring forth. O that both minifters and people
were fenhble of this! My foul is often troubled for them,
tiiid forrov/ and mourning compafs me about for their fakes.
C) that they were wife ! O that they would confider and lay
to heart the things that truly and fubflantially make for their
lalling peace !
Two things are to be briefly touched upon, the do£lrine
they taught, and the example they led among all people. I
P R E F A C E. XV
have already touched upon their fundamental principle,
which is as the corner ilone of their iabrick : and to fpcak
eminently and properly, their charafteriOick, or main dif-
tinguifhing point or principle, viz. the light of Chrill with-
in, as God's gift for man's falvation. This, I lay, is as the
root of the goodly tree of doftrines that grew and branched
out from it, which I ftiall now mention in their natural and
experimental order.
Firfl, repentance from dead works to ferve the living God.
Which comprehends three operations, Firfl, A hglit of
fm. Secondly, A fenfe and godly forrow for it. Thn-dly,
An amendment for the time to come. This was the repent-
ance they preached and prefled, and a natural refult from
the principle they turned all people unto. For of light came
fight; and of fight came fenfe and forrow ; and of fenfe and
forrow, came amendment of life : which doclrinc of repent-
ance leads to juflification ; that is, forgivenefs of the iins that
are pafl through Chrifl, the alone propitiation ; and the fanc-
tification or purgation of the foul from the defiling nature and
habits of fm prefent; which is juflification in the complete
fenfe of that word ; comprehending both juflification from
the guilt of the fins that are pafl, as if they had never been
committed, through the love and mercy of God in Chrifl
Jctus; and the creature's being made inwardly juft through
the cleanfing and fan6lifying power and Spirit of Chrifl re-
vealed in the foul; which is commonly called fanftification.
From hence fprang a fecond doclrine they were led to de-
clare, as the mark of the prize of the high calling of all true
Chriflians, viz. perfe6lion from fm, according to the fcrip-
tures of truth, which teflify it to be the end of Chrifl's com-
ing, and the nature of his kingdom, and for which his Spi-
rit was given. But they never held a pcrfeftion in wifdom
and glory in this life, or from natural infirmities or death, as
fome have with a weak" or ill mind imagined and infinuated
againft them.
This they called a redeemed flate. regeneration, or the new
birth : teaching every where according to their foundation,
that without thi^ work were known, there was no inheriting
the kingdom of God.
Third, to an acknowledgment of eternal rewards and
punifhment, as they have good rcafon; for cHe of all peo-
ple, certainly they mull be the moll miferable : who for about
forty years have been exceeding great fuffercrs for their pro-
xvi PREFACE.
feflion, and in fome cafes treated worfe than the worft of
men, yea as the refufe and ofF-fcouring of all things.
This was the purport of their doftrine and miniftry ; which,
for the moll part, is what other profcflbrs of Chrillianity pre-
tend to hold in words and forms, but not in the power of god-
linefs ; that has been long loft by mens departing from that
principle and feed of life that is in man, and which m.an has
not regarded, but loft the fenfe of, and in and by which he
can only be quickened in his mind to fer\^ the living God in
newnefs of life. For as the life of religion was loft, and the
generality lived and worftiipped God after their own wills,
and not after the will of God, nor the mind of Chrift, which
flood in the works and fruits of the Holy Spirit ; fo that
which they prefled was not notion but experience, nor for-
mality but godlinefs ; as being fenfible in themfelves,
through the work of God's righteous judgments, that with-
out holinefs no man Ihould ever fee the Lord with comfort.
Belides thefe dotlrines, and out of them, as the larger
branches, there fprang forth feveral particular doftrines, that
did exemplify and further explain the truth and efficacy of
the general do6lrine before obferved in their lives and exam-
ples. As,
I. Communion and loving one another. This is a noted
mark in the mouth of all forts of people concerning them.
*' They will meet, they will help and flick one to another."
Whence it is common to hear fome fay, " Look how the
'• Quakers love and take care of one another." Others lefs
moderate will fay, " The Quakers love none but themfelves;"
and if loving one another, and having an intimate commu-
nion in religion, and conftant care to meet to worfliip God
and help one another, be any mark of primitive chriftianity,
they had it, bleffed be the Lord, in an ample manner.
IL To love enemies : this they both taught and prac-
tilcd : for they did not only refufe to be revenged for injuries
done them, and condemned it as of an unchriftian fpirit, but
they did freely forgive, yea help and relieve, thofe that had
been cruel to them, when it was in their power to have been
even with them ; of which many and fingular inftances might
be given : endeavouring, through patience, to overcome all
injuftice and opprefhon, and preaching this do6lrine as
chriftian for others to follow.
IIL The fufficiency of truth-fpeaking, according to
Chrill's own form of words, of yea, yea, and nay, nay, a-
mong chriftians. without iwcaring, both from Chrift's ex-
PREFACE. , xyrf
prefs prohibition to " fwear at all," Mat. v. and for that they
being under the tie and bond of truth in themfelves, there
was both no neceffity for an oath, and it would be a reproach
to their chriilian veracity to affure their truth by fuch an ex-
traordinary'' way of fpeaking: but offering at the fame time
to be puniflied to the full for falfe fpeaking, as others for
perjury, if ever guilty of it ; and hereby they exclude, with
all true, all falfe and profane fwearing; for which the land
did and doth mourn, and the great God was and is not a lit-
tle offended with it.
IV. Not fighting but fuffering is another tellimony pe-
culiar to this people: they afhrm that Chriflianity teacheth
people " to beat their fwords into plough-fhares, and their
*' fpearsinto pruning hooks, and to learn war no more, that:
*' fo the wolf may lie down with the lamb, and the lion with
" the calf, and nothing that deflroys be entertained in the?
" hearts of people;" exhorting them to employ their zeal
againft fm, and turn their anger againft fatan, and no longer
war one againft another; becaufeall wars and fightings come
of mens own hearts lufls, according to the apoftle James,
and not of the meek Spirit of Chrift Jcfus, who is captain of
another warfare, and which is carried on with other weapons^
Thus, as truth-fpeaking fucceeded fwearing, fo faith and
truth fucceeded fighting, in the doclrine and praftice of this
people. Nor ought they for this to be obnoxious to civil
government, fince if they cannot light for it, neither can
they fight againft it; which is no mean fecurity to the flate :
nor is it reafonable that people fhould be blamed for not do-
ing more for others than they can do for themfelves. And
Chriflianity fet ahde, if the cofis and fruits of war were well
confidered, peace, with its inconveniencies, is generally pre-
ferable. But though they were not for fighting, they were
for fubmitting to government; and that not only for fear, but
for conicience fake, where government doth not interfere with
confcience: believing it to be an ordinance of God, and
where it is juftly adminiftred, a great benefit to mankind :
though it has been their lot, through blind zeal in fome,
and hitereft in others, to have felt the flrokes of it with
greater weight and rigour than any other perluafion in this
age; whilfl they, of all others (religion fet afide) have given
the civil magiftrate the leall occafion of trouble in the dif-
charge of his office.
V. Another part of the charafter of this people is, they
refufe to pay tythes, or maintenance to a national miniflry,
C
xtIu preface.
and that for two reafons ; the one is, that they beheve all
compelled maintenance, even to gofpei minifteis, to be un-
lawful, becaufe exprefsly contrary to Chrift's command, who
faid, " Freely you have received, freely give:" at leaft, that
the maintenance of gofpei minifteis fhouid be free and not
forced. The ether reafon of their refufal is, becaufe thofe
minifters are not gofpei ones, in that the Holy Ghoft is not
their foundation, but human arts and parts: lothat it is not
matter of humour or luilennefs, but pure confcience towards
God, that they cannot help to fupport national minifters
where they dwell, which are but too much and too vifibly
become ways of worldly advantage and preferment.
VI. Not to reipeft perfons, was another of their doc-
trines and praftices, for which they were often buffeted and
abufed. They affirmed it to be fmful to give flattering ti-
tles, or to uie vain geftures and compliments of refpeft ;
though to virtue and authority they ever made a difference,
but after their plain and homel}'- manner, yet fincere and
fubftantial way ; well remembering the example of Morde-
cai and Elihu, but more efpecially the command of their
Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift, who forbad his followers to
call men Rabbi, which implies Lord and Mafter, alfo the
fafliionable greetings and falutations of thofe times ; that fo
felf-love and honour, to which the proud mind of man is in-
cident, in his fallen eftate, might not be indulged but re-
buked.
They alfo ufed the plain language of Thou and Thee to
a fmgle perfon, whatever was his degree among men. And
indeed the wifdom of God was much feen, in bringing forth
this people in fo plain an appearance ; for it was a clofe and
diftinguifhing teitupon the fpirit ofthofe they came among;
fiiewing their im'ides and what predominated, notwithftand-
ing their high and great profeffion of religion. This, among
the reft, founded fo harfli to many of them, and they took
it fo ill, that they would fay, " Thou me, thou my dog :
" if thou thouellme, I'll thou thy teeth down thy throat,"
forgetting the language they ufe to God in their own prayers,
and the common ftyic of the Scriptures, and that it is anab-
folute and elfential propriety of fpeech : and what good had
their religion done them, who were fo fcnfibly toucli'd with
indignation for the ufe of this plain, honeft, and true fpeech?
VII. They recommended filence by their example, having
very few words upon all occafions : they were at a word in
dealing; nor could their cuftomcrs many words tempt them
PREFACE. x?x
fj-om it ; having more regard for truth than cuftom, to ex-
ample than gain, they fought fohtude ; but when in compa-
ny, they would neither ufe nor willingly hear unnecefTary as
well as unlawful difcourfes ; whereby they preferved their
minds pure and undilturbed from unprofitable thoughts and
diverfions : nor could they humour the cuftom of " good
" night, good morrow, God fpecd;" for they knew the
night was good, and the day was good, without wilhing of
either ; and that in the other expreffion, the holy name of
God v/as too lightly and unthinkingly ufed, and therefore
taken in vain. Befides they were words and wiflies of courfe,
and are ufually as little meant, as are love and fervice in the
cuftom of cap and knee ; and fuperfluity in thofe as well as
in other things was burthenfome to them, and thf;refore they
did not only decline to ufe them, but found themfelves of-
ten preft to reprove the practice.
For the fame reafon they forbore drinking to people, or
pledging of them, as the manner of the world is : a praflice
that is not only unneceflary, but they thought evil in the
tendencies of it ; being a provocation to drinking more than
did people good, as well as that it was in itfelf vam and
heathenifti.
VIII. Their way of marriage is peculiar to them, and is
a diftinguiftiing pra6lice from all other focieties profeffing
chriftianity. They fay that marriage is an ordinance of
God, and that God only can rightly join man and woman
in marriage. Therefore they ufe neither prieft nor magif-
trate, but the man and woman concerned take each other as
hufband and wife in the prefence of divers credible wit-
nelVes, " promiiing unto each other, with God's affiftance,
*' to be loving and faithful in that relation till death fliall fe-
" parate them." But, antecedent to all this, they firft pre-
fent themfelves to the monthly meeting for the aftuirs of the
church where they refide ; there dcclarnig their intentions to
take one another as man and wife, if the faid meeting have
nothing material to objecl againft it. They are conftantly
afked the neceflary queftions, as in cafe of parents or guar-
dians, if they have acquainted them with their intention, and
have their confent. Sec. The method of the meeting is to
take a minute thereof, and to appoint proper perfons to en-
quire oi their converfation and clearnefs from all others, and
whether they have difcharged their duty to their parents or
guardians, and make report thereof the next monthly meet-
ing ; where the fame parties arc defired to give their attend-
C 2
XX PREFACE.
ancei In cafe it appears they proceeded orderly, the meet-
ing paffes their propoial, and io records it in their meeting-
book ; and in cale the woman be a widow and hath chil-
dren, due care is there taken, that proviiion alfo be made by
her for the orphans before the faid marriage ; advifing the
parties concerned to appoint a convenient time and place,
and to give fitting notice to their relations, and fuch friends
and neighbours as they defire fhoiiid be the witnelTcs of their
marriage : v/here they take one another by the hand, and
by name promifmg reciprocally after the manner before ex-
preffed. Of all which proceedings a narrative, in a way of
certificate, is made, to which the faid parties firft let their
hands, thereby making it their a6l and deed ; and then di-
vers of the relations, fpe6lators, and auditors fet their names
as witnefles of what they faid and figned. Which certifi-
cate is afterwards regiflered in the record belonging to the
meetiniT where the marriage is folemr.ized. Which re^^ular
method has been, as it deferves, adjudged in courts of law
a good marriage, where it has been difputed and contefled
for want of the accuflomed formality of prieiland ring, Ac.
Which ceremonies they have refufed, not out of humour,
but confcience reafonably grounded, inafmuch as no fcrip-
ture-example tells us, that the prieft had any other part of
old time than that of a witnefs among the reft, before whom
the Jews ufed to take one another : and therefore this people
look upon it as an impofition to advance the power and
profits of the clergy. And for the ufe of the ring, it is enough
to lay, that it was an heathen and vain cuftom, and never in
pradlice among the people of God, Jews or primitive Chrif-
tians. The v/ords of the ufual form, as " With my body
I thee worfliip," &c. are hardly defenfible : in fhort, they
are more carelul, exa6t, and regular than any form now
Tifed, and it is free of the inconveniencies other methods are
attended wiih. Their care and checks being fo many, and
fuch as no clahdcftine marriages can be peiiormed among
them.
IX. It may not be unfit to fay fomcthing here of their
births and burials, which m.ake up fo much of the pomp and
folemnity of too many cjiiled Chrillians. For births, the
parents name their own children, which is ulually fome days
after tlicy are born, in tiie prcfenceofthe midwite (ilfihiecan
be there) and thofe that were at the birth, &c.j^,who after-
xvards fign a certificate, for that purpofe prepared, of the
l^irth and name ot the child or children, which is recorded
PREFACE. xxi
in a proper book, in the monthly meeting, to which the pa-
rents belong ; avoiding the accullomed ceremonies and
feflivals.
X. Their burials are performed with the fame fimplicity.
If the corpfe of the deceafed be near any public meeting-
place, it is ufually carried thither, for the more convenient
reception of thofe that accompany it to the ground they bu-
ry in ; and it fo falls out fometimes, that while the meeting
is gathering for the burial, fome or other have a word of ex-
hortation, for the fake of the people there met together : af-
ter which the body is borne away by the young men, or thofe
that are of their neighbourhood, or that were moft of the in-
timacy of the deceafed party ; the corpfe being in a plain
coffin, without any covering or furniture upon it. At the
ground, they paufe fome time before they put the body in-
to its grave, that if any one there fhould have any thing up-
on them to exhort the people, they may not be difappoint-
■ed, and that the relations may the more retiredly and fo-
lemnly take their laft leave of the corpfe of their departed
kindred, and the fpeftators have a fenfe of mortality, by
the occafion then given them to refleft upon their own lat-
ter end. Otherwife, they have no fet rites or ceremonies
on thofe occafions ; neither do the kindred of the deceafed
ever wear mourning ; they looking upon it as a worldly ce-
remony, and piece of pomp ; and that what mourning is fit
for a chriftian to have at the departure of a beloved relation
or friend, fhould be worn in the mind, which is only fenfi-
ble of the lofs, and the love they had to them, and remem-
brance of them, to be outv/ardly expreifed by a refpeft to
their advice, and care of thofe they have left behind them,
and their love of that they loved. Which conduft of theirs,
tho' unmodifh or unfafhionable, leaves nothing of the fub-
ftance of things neglc6led or undone ; and as they aim at no
more, fo that fimplicity of life is vv^hat they obferve with
great fatisfaflion, though it fometimes happens not to .be
without the inockeries of the vain world they live in.
Thefe things gave them a rough and difagreeable appear-
ance with the generality ; who thought them turners of the
world upfide-down, as indeed in fome fenfe they were ; but
in no other than that wherein Paul was fo charged, viz. to
bring things back into their primitive and right order again.
For thefe and fuch like praftices of theirs were not therefult
of humOiir^'^as fome have fancied, but a fRiit of inward fenfe,
which God, through hi^ fear, had begotten in them. They
xxH PREFACE.
did not confider hoivto contradi6l the world, or diflinguilli
themlelves ; being none of their bulinefs, as it was not their
intereft, no, it was not the refult of their confultation, or a
framed defign to declare or recommend fchifm or novelty.
But God having given them a fight of themfelves, they faw
the whole world in the f^mie glafs of truth; and fenfibly dif-
cerned the affeftions and pailions of men, and the rife and
tendency of things. What gratified " the luft of the flefli,
" the luft of the eye, and the pride of life, which are not of
'•' the Father, but of the world ;" and from thence fprang in
that night of darknefs and apoflacy, which hath been over
people, througii their degeneracy from the light and Spirit
of God, thefe and many other vain cuftoms ; which are feen
by the heavenlv day of Chrift, which dawns in the foul, to
be, either wrong in tlieir original, or, by time or abufe,
hurtful in their praftice. And though thefe things feemed
trivial to iome, and rendered this people ftingy and conceit-
ed in fuch perfons opinions, there was and is more in them
than they were aware of. It was not very eafy to our pri-
mitive friends to make themfelves fights and fpeftacles, and
the fcorn and derifion of the world ; which they eafily fore-
faw muft be the confequence of fo unfafhionable a converfa-
tion in it. But herein was the wifdom of God feen, in the
foolifhnefs of thefe things. Firft, That they difcovered the
fatisfaftion and concern that people had in and for the
faftiions of this world, notwithftanding their pretences to an-
other ; in that any difappointment about them came fo very
near them, that the greatefl; honefty, virtue, wifdom, and
ability, were unwelcome without them. Secondly, It fea-*
fonably and profitably divided converfation ; for making
their lociety uneafy to their relations and acquaintance, it
gave them the opportunity of more retirement and folitude,
wherein they met with better company, even the Lord God
their Redeemer, and grew fhrong in his love, power, and
wifdom, and were thereby better qualified for his lervice ;
and the fucccfs abundantly iliewed it ; blefied be the name of
the Lord.
And though they were not great and learned in the efteem
of this world (for then they had not wanted followers upon
their own credit and authority) yet they were generally of the
moll fober of the feveral perfuafions they were in, and or the
moft repute for religion ; and many of them of good capa-
city, fubftance, and account among men.
And alfo iome among them neither wanted for parts.
1
PREFACE.
XXlII
learning nor eilate; though then, as of old, not many wife,
nor noble, &c. were called, or at lead received the heavenly
call ; becauie of the crofs that attended the profefTion of it
in fincerity : but neither do parts or learning make men the
better Chriflians, though the better orators and difputants ;
and it is the ignorance of people about the divine gift, that
caufes that vulgar and mifchievous millake. Theory and
pra6lice, expreffion and enjoyment, words and life, are
two things. Oh ! 'tis the penitent, the reformed, the
lowly, the watchful, the felf-den)'ing and holy foul that is
the Chriftian ; and that frame is the fruit and work of the Spi-
rit, which is the life of fefus ; whofelife, though hid in God
the Father, is fhed abroad in the hearts of them that truly be-
lieve. Oh ! that people did but know this to cleanfe them,
to circumcife them, to quicken them, and to make them
new creatures indeed ; re-created or regenerated after Chrift
Jefus unto good works: that they might live to God, and
not to themfelves ; and offer up living prayers, and living
praifes, to the living God, through his own living Spirit, in
which he is only to be worfhipped in this gofpel-day. Oh !
that they that read me could but feel me ; for my heart is
affededwith this merciful vifitation of the Father of lights
and fpirits to this poor nation, and the whole v/orld through
the fame teflimony. Why fhould the inhabitants thereof re-
je61; it ? Why Ihould they lofe the blefled benefit of it ? Why
fhould they not turn to the Lord with all their hearts, and
lay from the heart, " Speak, Lord, for now thy poor fer-
vants hear ?" Oh ! that thy will may be done, thy great,
thy good and holy will, on earth as it is in heaven : do it in
us, do it upon us, do what thou wilt with, us ; for we are
thine, and defire to glorify thee our Creator, both for that,
andbecaufe thou art our Redeemer, for thou art redeemino-
. . . . . ^
us from the earth, from the vanities and pollutions of it, to
be a peculiar people unto thee. Oh ! this were a brave
day for England, if fo fhe could fay in truth. But alas, the
cafe is otherwife ; for which lome of thine inhabitants, O
land of my nativity ! have mourned over thee with bitter
wailing and lamentation. Their heads have been indeed as
waters, and their eyes as fountains of tears, becaufe of thy
tranfgreflion and flifFneckednefs ; becaufe thou wilt not hear,
and fear, and return to the Rock, even thy Rock, O Eng-
land ! from whence thou wert hewn. 13ut be thou warned,
O land of great profeffion, to receive him into thy heart !
Behold, at that door it is he hath flood fo long knocking, but
scxif PREFACE.
thou wilt yet have none of him. Oh ! be thou awakened,
left Jernfalem's judgments do fwiftly overtake thee, becaufe
of Jerufalem's fins that abound in thee. For fhe abounded
in formahty, but made void the weighty things of God's
law, as thou daily doft.
She withftood the Son of God in the flefli, and thou re-
fifteft the Son of God in the Spirit. He would have gather-
ed her, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and
fhe would not ! io would he have gathered thee out of thy
lifelefs profeffion, and have brought thee to inherit fubftance,
to have known his power and kingdom, for which he often
knocked within, by his Grace and Spirit, and without, by
his fervants and witneffes : but thou wouldft not be gather-
ed : but on the contrary, as jerufalem of old perfecuted the
manifeftation of the Son of God in the flefh, and crucified
him, and whipped and imprifoned his feivants, fo haft thou,
O land, crucified to thyfelf afrefti the Eord of life and glory,
and done defpite tohis Spirit of grace ; flighting the fatherly
vifitation, and perfecutmg the blefled difpenlers of it by
thv laws and magiftrates ; though they have early and late
pleaded with thee in the power and Spirit of the Lord, in
love and meeknefs, that thou mighteft know the Lord, and
ferve him, and become the glory of all lands.
But thou haft evilly entreated and requited them. Thou
haft fet at nought all their counfel, and wouldft have none
of their reproof, as thou ftiouldft have done. Their ap-
pearance was too ftrait, and their qualifications were too
mean for thee to receive them, who, like the Jews of old,
that cried, " Is not this the carpenter's fon ? and are not
*' his brethren among us ? which of the fcribes, of the leam-
" ed (the orthodox) believe in him ?" Prophefying their fall
in a year or two, and making and executing of fevere laws to
bring it topafs, by endeavouring to terrify them out of their
holy way, or deftroying them for abiding faithful to it. But
thou haft feen how many governments that rofeagainft them,
and determined their downfal, have been overturned and
cxtinguifhed, and that they are ftill preferved, and become
a great and a confiderable people among the middle fort of
thy numerous inhabitants. And notwithftanding the many
difficulties, without and within, which they have laboured
under, fincc the Lord God Eternal firft gathered them, they
are an increafing people, the Lord ftill adding unto them, in
divers parts, fuch as fliall be laved, if they perfevere to the
end. And to thee were they and are they lifted up as a
PREFACE. XXV
flandard, and as a city fct upon a hill, and to the nations
round about thee, that in their light thou mayeftcorne to fee
light, even in Chrift Jefus, the light of the world ; and
therefore thy light and life too, if thou wouldfl but turn from
thy many evil ways, and receive and obey it. For in the
" light of the Lamb mufl the nations of them that arefaved
*' walk," as the fcriptures teftify.
Remember, O nation of great profeflion ! how the Lord
has waited upon thee fmce the days of reformation, and the
many mercies and judgments with which he has pleaded with
thee ; and awake and arife out of thy deep fleep, and yet
hear his word in thy heart, that thou mayeft live.
Let not this thy day of vifitationpafs over thy head, nor
negleft thou fo gieat falvation as is this which is come to
thy houfe, O England ! For why ihouldft thou die, O land
that God defires to blefs ? Be allured it is he that has been
in the midft of this people, in the midft of thee ; and no de-
lulion, as thy miftaken teachers have made thee believe.
And this thou Ihalt find by their marks and fruits, if thou
wilt confider them in the fpirit of moderation. For,
L They were changed men themfelves before thev went?
about to change others. Their hearts were rent as well a»
their garments changed, and they knew the power and work
of God upon them. This was feen by the great alteration it
made, and their ftrifter courfe of life, and more godly con-
verfation, that immediately followed upon it.
IL They went not forth or preached in their own time or
will, but in the will of God, and fpoke not their own ftu-
died matter, but as they were opened and moved of his Spi-
rit, with which they were well acquainted in their own con-
verfion ; which cannot be exprefied to carnal men fo as to
give them any intelligible account ; for to fuch it is, as Chrift
faid, " like the blowing of the wind, which no man knows
" whence it comcth, or whither it gocth :"yet this proof and
feal went along with their miniftry, that many were turned
from their lifelels profeffions and the evil of their ways, to the
knowledge of God and an holy life, as thoufands can wit-
nefs. And as they treely received what they had to fay lioni
the Lord, fo they freely adminillered it to others.
IIL The bent and ftrefs of their minillry was converfion
to God, regericiation, and holinefs ; not fchemes of doc-
trines and verbal creeds, or new forms ofworfhip; but a
leaving off in religion the fuperfluous, and reducing the ce-
remonious and formal part, and prelhng earnefliy the iubltaii^
D
xxtJ preface.
tial, the neceffary and profitable part; as all upon a fcrious
rcfieclion mull and do acknowledge.
IV. They direfted people to a principle, by which all
that they alfertcd, preached, and exhorted others to, might
be wrought in them, and known, through experience, to
them to be tRie ; which is a high and diftinguilliing mark
of the truth of their miniftry ; both that they knew what
they faid, and were not afraid of coming to the teft. For
as they were bold from certainty, fo they required confor-
mity upon no human authority, but upon conviction, and
the convi6lion of this principle, which they afferted was in
them that they preached unto, and unto that direfted them,
that they might examine and prove the reality of thole
things which they had affirmed of it, and its manifeftation
and work in man. And this is more than the many mini-
flries in the world pretend to. They declare of religion j
fay many things true in words, of God, Chrift, and the
Spirit ; of holinefs and heaven ; that all men fhould repent
and mend their lives, or they will go to hell, &c. but which
of them all pretend to fpeak of their own knowledge and
experience ? or ever direfted men to a divine principle or
agent, placed of God in man, to help him ? and how to
know it, and wait to feel its power to work that good and
acceptable will of God in them ?
Some of them indeed have fpoke of the Spirit, and the-
operations of it to fan6tiiication, and performance of worftiip
to God ; but where and how to find it, and wait in it to
perform, was yet as a myflery referved for this further de-
gree of reformation. So that this people did not only in
words more than equally preis repentance, converlion, and
holinefs, but did it knowingly and experimentally ; and
direfted thofe to whom they preached to a fufficicnt princi-
ple, and told them where it is, and by what tokens they
might know it, and which way they might experience the
power and efficacy ot it to then' iouls happincis : which is
more than theory and fpeculations, upon which mofi other
mini dries depend ; for here is certainly a bottom upon which
man may boldly appear before God in the great day of
account.
V. They reached to the inward flate and condition of
people, which is an evidence of the virtue of their principle,
and of their minillring from it, and not their own imagina-
tions, gloffes, or comments upon fcripture. For nothing
reachcii the heart but what is from the heart, or pierces the
PREFACE. xxvli
confcience but what comes from a living confcience ; info-
much as it hath often happened, where people have under
fecrecy revealed their ftate or condition to fome choice friends
for advice or eafe, they have been fo particularly direfted
in the miniftry of this people, that they have challenged
their friends with difcovering their fecrets, and telling the
preachers their cafes ; yea, the very thoughts and purpofes
of the hearts of many have been fo plainly dete6led, that
they have, like Nathaniel, cried out of this inward appear-
ance of Chrift, " Thou art the Son of God, thou art the
king of Ifrael." And thofe that have embraced this divine
principle, have found this mark of its truth and divinity,
that the woman of Samaria did of Chrifl when in the flelh,
to be the Meffiah, viz. " It had told them all that ever they
did ;" fhewed them their infides, the mofl inward fecrets of
their hearts, and laid judgment to the line, and righteouf-
nefs to the plummet ; of which thoufands can at this day
give in their witnefs. So that nothing has been affirmed
by this people of the power and virtue of this heavenly
principle, that fuch as have turned to it have not found true,
and more ; and that one half had not been told to them of
what they have feen of the power, purity, wifdom, mercy,
and goodnefs of God herein.
VI. The accomplifhments with which this principle fit-
ted even fome of the meaneft of this people for their work
and fervice, furnifliing fome of them with an extraordinary
underftandmg in divine things, and an admirable fluency
and taking way of expreffion, which gave occafion to fome
to wonder, faying of them, as of their Mailer, " Is not this
fuch a mechanick's fon ? how came he by this learning ?"
As from thence others took occafion to fufpctl and infinu-
ate they were jefuits in difguife, who have had the reputa-
tion of learned men for an age paic, though there was not
the leafh ground of tnith for any fuch refle6tion.
VII. They came forth lov/, and defpifcd and hated, as
the primitive chriftians did, and not by the help uf worldly
wifdom or power, as former reformations in part have done;
but in all things it may be faid this people were brought
forth in the cvols, in a contradiction to the ways, woiUiip,
tailiion, and cudoms of this world, yea againll wind and
tide, that fo no flefh might glory before God.
They could have no defign to themfelves in this u-ork,
thus to expofe themfelves to fcorn and abufe, to ipcnd and
be fpent ; leaving wife and children, houfe and land, and
D 2
ocxviii PREFACE.
-ill! that can be accounted dear to men, with their Hves in
their hands, being daily in jeopardy, to declare this primi-
tive meffage, i John i. v. revived in their fpirits by the
good Spirit and power of God ; viz. " That God is light,
" and in him is no darknefs at all ; and that he has fent his
** Son a light into the world to enlighten all men in order
** to falvation ; and that they that lay they have fellowlhip
** with God, and are his children and people, and yet walk
** in darknefs, (viz. in difobedience to the light in their con-
** fciences, and after the vanity of this world) they lie and
*' do not the truth. But that all fuch as love the light and
•' bring their deeds to it, and walk in the light, as God is
*' light, the blood of Jefus Chrifl his fon fiiould cleanfa
*' them from all fm."
VIII. Their known great conflancy and patience in fuf-
fering for their teftimony, in all the branches of it, and that
fometimes unto death, by beatings, bruifings, long and
crowded imprifonments, and noifome dungeons. Four of
jthem in New England dymg by the hands of the execu-
tioner, p«rely for preaching amongfl that people ; befides
banilliments and exceffive plunders and fequeftrations of
their goods and eftates, almoft in all parts, not eafily to be
exprelled, and lefs to be endured, but by thofe that have
the fupport of a good and glorious caufe ; refufing deliver-
ance by any indire£l ways and means, as often as it was
offered to them.
IX. That they did not only not Ihew any difpofition to
revenge, when it was at any time in their power, but for-
gave their cruel enemies, fliewing mercy to thofe that had
none for them.
X. Their plainnefs with thofe in authority, not unlike
the ancient prophets ; not tearing to tell them to their faces
of their private and publick fms, and their prophecies to
them of their affliftions and downfal. when m the top of
their glory ; alfo of fome national judgments, as of the
plague and fire of London, in exprefs terms, and likewife
particular ones to divers .perfecutors, which accordmgly
overtook them, and which were very remarkable in the
places where they dwelt, and in time they may be made
publick for I ha glory of God.
Thus, reader, thou Icefl this people in their rife, princi-
ples, mini [try, and progrefs, both their general and parti-^
cular tellimonv. by which thou mayeft be informed how
jipd ;.ipon what fuot bhey fprung and became fo coqfiderablQ
PREFACE. xxlx
a people. It remains next that I fliew alfo their care, con-
du6l, and difcipline, as a chriftian and reformed fociety, that
they might be found living up to their own principles and
profeflion ; and this the rather, becaufe they have hardly
luffered more in their chara6ler from the unjufl charge of
error, than by the falfe imputation of diforder ; which ca-
lumny indeed has not failed to follow all the true fteps that
were ever made to reformation, and under which reproach
none fufFered more than the primitive chriftians them-
felves, that were the honour of chriftianity, and the great
lights and examples of their own and fucceeding ages.
This people increaling daily both in town and country,
an holy care fell upon fome of the elders among them' for
the benefit and fervice of the church. And the firft bufi-
nefs in their view, after the example of the primitive faints,
was the exercife of charity, to fupply the neceflities of the
poor, and anfwer the like occafions : wherefore colle6lions
were early and liberally made for that and divers other fer-
vices in the church, and intrufted with faithful men, fear-
ing God, and of good report, who were not weary in well-
doing; adding often of their own in large proportions,
which they never brought to account or delired fhould be
known, much lefs reftored to them, that none might want,
nor any fervice be retarded or difappointed.
They were alfo very careful, that every one that belonged
to them anfwered their profeilion in their behaviour among
men upon all occafions ; that they lived peaceably, and
were in all things good examples. They found themfelves
engaged to record their fufFerings and fervices ; and in cafe
of marriage, which they could not perform in the ufual me-
thods of the nation, but -among themfelves, they took care
that all things were clear between the parties and all others,
and it was then rare that any one entertained iuch inclina-
tion to a perfon on that account, till he or Ihe had commu-
nicated it fecretly to fome very weighty and eminent friends
among them, that they might have a fenfe of the matter;
looking to the counfel and unity of their brethren as of
great moment to them. But becaufe the charge of the poor,
the number of orphans, marriages, fufferings, and other mat-
ters multiplied, and that it was good that the churches were
in fome way and method of proceeding in fuch affairs among
them, to the' end they might the better correfpond upon oc-
cafion, where a member of one meetin^j mi^ht have to do
with one ot another ; it pleafed the Lord in his wifdom and
Kxx PREFACE.
goodnefs to open the undeiftanding of the firfl inftrument
of this difpenfation of hfe, about a good and orderly way
of proceeding ; and he felt an holy concern to vifit the
churches in perfon throughout this nation, to begin and
eftablilh it among them ; and by his epiftles the like was
done in other nations and provinces abroad, which he alfo
afterwards vifited and helped in that fervice, as fhall be ob-
fer\^ed when I come to fpeak of him.
Now the care, conduft, and difcipline, I have been fpeak-
ing of, and which is now praftiled among this people, is as
foiloweth :
This godly elder, in every county where he travelled^
exhorted them, that fome out of every meeting of worihip
ihould meet together once in the month, to confer about
the wants and occafions of the church : and as the cafe re-
quired, fo thofe monthly meetings were fewer or more in
number in every refpe6live county ; four or fix meetings of
worfhip ufually making one monthly meeting of buhnefs.
And accordmgly the brethren met him from place to place,
and began the faid meetings ; viz. " For the poor, orphans,
♦' orderly walking, integrity to their profeflion, births, mar-
riages, burials, fufferings, &c." And that thefe monthly
meeting&IJtiould in each county make up one quarterly meet-
ing, where the moft zealous and eminent friends of the
county fhould aflemble to communicate, advife, and help
one another, efpecially when any bufmefs feemed difficult,
or a monthly meeting was tender of determining a matter.
Alfo that thefe quarterly meetings fhould digeft the re-
ports of the monthly meetings, and prepare one for the
county againfl the yearly meeting, in which the quarterly
meetings refolve, which is held yearly in London, where
the churches in this nation and other nations and provinces
meet, by chofen members of their refpeftive counties, both
mutually to communicate their church-affairs, and to advife
and be advifed in any depending cafe to edification ; alfo
to provide a rcquilitc flock for the difcharge of general ex-
pences for general fervices in the church, not needful to be
here particularized.
At thefe meetings any of the members of the churches
may come, if they pleafe, and fpeak their minds freely in
tlic fear of God to any matter ; but the mind of each meet-
ing therein reprefented is chiefly underflood, as to particu-
lar cafes, in the fenfe delivered by the perfons deputed or
cholen ior that fervice.
PREFACE. xxxi
During their yearly meeting, to which their other meet-
ings refer in their order, and refolve themfelves, care is
taken by a felc6l number, for that fervice chofen by the ge-
neral alTembly, to draw up the minutes of the faid meet*
ing upon the feveral matters that have been under confider--
ation therein, to the end that the refpc6live quarterly and
monthly meetings may be informed of all proceedings, to-
gether with a general exhortation to holinefs, unity and
■charity : of all which proceedings in )'early, quarterly, and
monthly meetings, due record is kept by fome one appointed
for that fervice, or that hath voluntarily undertaken it. Thefe
meetings are opened and ufually concluded in their folemn
xvaiting upon God, who is fometimes graciouily pleafed to
anfwer them with as fignal evidences of his love and pre«
ferice, as in any other of their meetings for worfhip.
It is farther to be noted, that, in thefe folemn affemblies
for the church's fervice, there is no one prefides among
them after the manner of the alTemblies of other people,
Chrift only being their prefident, as he is pleafed to appear
in life and wifdom in any one or more of them, to whom,
whatever be their capacity or degree, the refl adhere with a
firm unity, not of authority but conviftion, which is the
divine authority and way of Chrift's power an4*i^irit in
his people ; making good his bleired promife, " That he
" would be in^he mid ft of his, where and whenever they
•' were met together in his name, even to the end of the
" world." So be it.
Now it may be expelled I fhould here fet down what fort
of authority is exercifed by this people upon fuch members
of their fociety as correfpond not in their lives with their
profelfion, and that are refraftory to this good and whole^
ibme order fettled among them ; and the rather, becaufe
they have not wanted their reproach and fuffering from fome
tongues upon this occafion in a plentiful manner.
The pov/er they exercife is fuch as Chrift has given to
}iis own people to the end of the world in the perfons of his
difciples; viz. " To overfee, exhort, reprove," and after
long-fufFering and waiting upon the difobedient and refrac-
tory, '• to difown them as any more of their communion,
** or that they will any longer ftand charged in the fight
*' and judgment of God or men with their converfation or
•' behaviour as one of them until they repent." The fub-
je6t-mattcr about which this authority, in any of the fore-
going branches of it, is exercifed,. is^ lirft., in relation to
Xxxii PREFACE*
common and general praftice : and, fecondly, about thofe
things that more llriftly refer to their own charafter and
profefTion, and diftinguifh them from all other profeffors of
chriftianity ; avoiding two extremes upon which many fplit,
viz. perfecution and libertinifm. A coercive power to whip
people into the temple ; that fuch as will not conform,
though againft faith and confcience, fhall be punifhed in
their peribns or eftates ; or leaving all loofe and at large as
to pradice, unaccountable to all but God and the magif-
trate. To which hurtful extreme nothing has more con-
tributed, than the abufe of church-power by fuch as fufFer
their paflions and private interefts to prevail with them to
cany it to outward force and corporal punilhment ; a prac-
tice they have been taught to diOike by their extreme fuf-
ferings, as well as their known principle for an univerfal
liberty of confcience.
On the other hand they equally diflike an independency
in fociety ; an unaccountablenefs in praftice and converfa-
tion to the terms of their own communion, and to thofe that
are the members of it. They diftinguifh between impofing
any pra6lice that immediately regards faith or worihip
(which is never to be done, nor fufFered, or fubmitted unto)
and requiring chriftian compliance with thofe methods that
only refpeft church-bufmefs in its more civil part and con-
cern, and that regard the difcreet and orderly maintenance
of the charafter of the fociety, as a fober and religious com-
munity. In Ihort, what is for the promotion of holinefs
and chanty, that men may praftife what they profefs, live
up to their own principles, and not be at liberty to give the
lie to their own profeflion without rebuke. They compel
none to them, but oblige thofe that are of them to walk
iuitably, or they are denied by them : that is all the mark
they fet upon them, and the power they exercife, or judge
a chriftian fociety can exercife upon thofe that are the
members of it.
The way of their proceedings againft fuch as have lapfed
or tranfgrefTed is this. He is vifited by fome of them, and
the matter of fa61; laid home to him, be it any evil praftice
againft known and general virtue, or any branch of their
particular teftimony, which he, in common, profeifeth with
them. They labour with him in much love and zeal for
the good of his foul, the honour of God, and reputation
of their profeflion, to own his fault, and condemn it, in as
ample a manner as the evil or fcandal was given by him ;
PREFACE. xxxiii
which for the moll part, is performed by fome written tefli-
mony under the party's hand : and if it fo happen that the
party prove refraftory, and is not willing to clear the tnith
they profefs from the reproach of his or her evil-doing or
unfaithfulnefs, they, after repeated intreaties, and due wait-
ing for a token of repentance, give forth a paper to difown
fuch a fa6l, and the party offending ; recording the fame
as a teflimony of their care for the honour of the truth
they profefs.
And if he or fhe fhall clear their profeflion and them-
felves, by fmcere acknowledgment of their fault, and godly
forrow for fo doing, they are received, and looked upon
again as members of their communion. For as God, fo his
true people upbraid no man after repentance.
This is the account I had to give of the people of God
called Quakers, as to their rife, appearance, principles, and
praftices in this age of the world, both with refpeft to their
faith and worihip, difcipline and converfation. And I judge
it very proper in this place, becaufe it is to preface the
journal of the firft bleffed and glorious inftrument of this
work, and for a teftimony to him in his fmgular qualifica-
tions and fervices, in which he abundantly excelled in this
his day, and are worthy to be fet forth as an example to all
fucceeding times, to the glory of the Moft High God, and
for a juft memorial to that worthy and excellent man, hi»
faithful fervant and apoftle to this generation of the world.
I am now come to the third head or branch of my pre-
face, viz. the inftrumental author. For it is natural for
fome to fay. Well, here is the people and work, but where
and who was the man, the inftrument ; he that in this age
was fent to begin this work and people ? I Ihall, as God
ihall enable me, declare who and what he was, not only by
report of others, but from my own long and moft inward
converfe and intimate knowledge of him ; for which my
foul bleffeth God, as it hath often done ; and I doubt not,
but by that time I have difcharged myfelf of this part of my
preface, my ferious readers will believe I had good caufe lo
to do.
The bleffed inftrument of and in this day of God, and of
whom I am now about to write, was George Fox, dif-
tinguifhed from another of that name, by that other's addi-
tion of younger to his name in all his writings ; not that he
was fo in years, but that he was fo in the truth ; but he was
alfo a worthy man, witnefs and fervant of God in hiii time.
E
xxxit PREFACE.
But this George Fox was born in Leiceflerfhire, about
the year 1624. He defcended of honeft and fufficient pa-
rents, who endeavoured to bring him up, as they did the
reft of their children, in the way and worftiip of the nation ;
efpecially his mother, who was a woman accomphfhed above
moft of her degree in the place where fhe lived. But from
a child he appeared of another frame of mind than the reft
of his brethren; being more religious, inward, ftill, folid,
and obferving, beyond his years, as the anfwers he would
give, and the queftions he would put upon occalion mani-
fefted, to the aftonifhment of thofe that heard him, efpecially
in divine things.
His mother taking notice of his fmgular temper, and the
gravity, wifdom, and piety that very early ftione through
him, refufmg childifli and vain fports and company when
very young, ftie was tender and indulgent over him, fo that
from her he met with little difficulty. As to his employ-
ment, he was brought up in country bufinefs ; and as he
took moft delight in ftieep, fo he was very fkilful in them ;
an employment that very well fuited his mind in feveral
refpefts, both for its innocency and folitude ; and was a juft
figure of his after miniftry and fervice.
I ftiall not break in upon his own account, which is by
much the beft that can be given ; and therefore defire, what
I can, to avoid faying any thing of what is faid already, as
to the particular paffages of his coming forth : but, in gene-
ral, when he was fomewhat above twenty, he left his friends,
and vifited the moft retired and religious people, and fome
there were at that time in this nation, efpecially in thofe
parts, who waited for the confolation of Ifrael night and
day, as Zacharias, Anna, and good old Simeon did of old
time. To thefe he was fent, and thefe he fought out in
the neighbouring countries, and among them he fojourned
till his more ample miniftry carne upon him.
At this time he taught and was an example of filence,
endeavouring to bring people from felf-performances, tefti-
fvino- and tuniinfj to the light of Chrift within them, and
encouraging tliem to wait in patience to feel the power ot
it to ftir in their hearts, that their knowledge and worftiip
of God might ftand in the power of an endlefs life, which
was to be found in the light, as it was obeyed in the mani-
feftation of it in man. " For in the Word was life, and
" that life was the light of men." Life in the Word, light
in men, and life too, as the light is obeyed ; the children of
PREFACE. xxxt
the light living by the life of the Word, by which the Word
begets them again to God, which is the regeneration and
new birth, without which there is no coming unto the king-
dom of God ; and which, whoever comes to, is greater than
John, that is, than John's miniftry, which was not that of
the kingdom, but the confummation of the legal, and open-
ing of the gofpel-difpenfation. y\.ccordingly, feveral meet-
ings were gathered in thofe parts ; and thus his time was
employed for fome years.
In 1652, he being in his ufual retirement to the Lord
upon a very high mountain, in fome of the hither parts of
Yorkfhire, as I take it, his mind exercifed towards the Lord,
he had a vifion of the great work of God in the earth, and
of the way that he was to go forth to begin it. He faw
people as thick as motes in the fun, that fliould in time be
brought home to the Lord, that there might be but one
Shepherd and one fheepfold in all the earth. There his
eye was directed northward, beholding a great people that
fhould receive him and his meflage in thofe parts. Upon
this mountain he was moved of the Lord to found out his
great and notable day, as if he had been in a great auditory,
and from thence went north, as the Lord had fhewn hnn :
and in every place where he came, if not before he came to
it, he had his particular exercife and fervice fhewn to him,
fo that the Lord was his leader indeed ; for it was not in
vain that he travelled, God in moft places fealing his com-
miffion with the convincement of fome of all forts, as well
publicans as fober profeffors of religion. Some of the firft
and moft eminent of them, which are at reft, were Richard
Farnfworth, James Nayler, William Dewftjerry, Francis
Howgil, Edward Burrough, John Camm, John Audland,
Richard Hubberthorn, T. Taylor, John Aldam, T. Holmes,
Alexander Parker, William Simpfon, William Galon, John
Stubbs, Robert Widders, John Burnyeat, Robert Lodge,
Thomas Salthoufe, and many more worthies, that cannot
be well here named, together with divers yet living of the.
firft and great convincement, wlio after the knowledge ol
God's purging judgments in themfelves, and fome time of
waiting in filence upon him, to feci and receive power Irora
on high to fpeak in his name (which none elie rightly can,
though they may ufe the fame words.) felt the divine mo-
tions, and were frequently drawn forth, efpccially to vifit
the publick affemblies, to reprove, inform, and exhort tliem,
fometimes in markets, fairs, ftreets, and by the highway hde,
E 2
xxxvi PREFACE.
calling people to repentance, and to turn to the Lord with
their hearts as well as their mouths ; direfting them to the
light of Chrift within them, to fee and examine and con-
fider their ways by, and to efchcw the evil and do the good
and acceptable will of God. And they fuffered great hard-
fhips for this their love and good-will, being often (locked,
ftoned, beaten, whipped, and imprifoned, though honeil
men and of good report where they lived, that had left wives
and children, and houfes and lands, to vifit them with a
living call to repentance. And though the priefts generally
fet themfelves to oppofe them, and write againft them, and
inlinuated mofl falfe and fcandalous (lories to defame them,
flirring up the magiftrates to fupprefs them, efpecially in
thofe northern parts, yet God was pleafed fo to fill them with
his living power, and give them iuch an open door of
utterance in his fervice, that there was a mighty convince-
ment over thofe parts.
And through the tender and lingular indulgence of Judge
Bradfhaw and Judge Fell, in the infancy of things, the
priefts were never able to gain the point they laboured for,
which was to have proceeded to blood, and if poflible,
Herod-like, by a cruel exercife of the civil power, to have
cut them off and rooted them out of the country. Efpe-
cially Judge Fell, who was not only a check to their rage
in the courfe of legal proceedings, but otherwife upon oc-
cafion, and finally countenanced this people ; for his wife
receiving the trath with the firft, it had that influence upon
his fpirit, being a ju(l and wife man, and feeing in his own
wife and family a full confutation of all the popular cla-
mours againd the way of truth, that he covered them what
he could, and freely opened his doors, and gave up his
houfe to his wife and her friends, not valuing the reproach
of ignorant or evil-minded people, which I here mention to
his and her honour, and which will be I believe an honour
and a blclTmg to fuch of their name and family as fhall be
found in that tendernefs, humility, love, and zeal for the
truth and people of the Lord.
That huufe was for fome years at firft, till the truth had
opened its way in the iouthern parts of this ifland, an emi-
nelit receptacle of this people. Others of good note and
fubftance in thofe northern countries had alfo opened their
houfes with their hearts to the many publilhers, that in a
ihort time the Lord had raifed to declare his falvation to
the people, and where meetings of the Lord's meflfengers
PREFACE. xxxvii
were frequently held, to communicate their fervices and
exercifes, and comfort and edify one another in their blclied
miniftry.
But left this may be thought a digreflion, having touched
upon this before, I return to this excellent man : and for his
perfonal qualities, both natural, moral, and divine, as they
appeared in his converfe with his brethren and in the church
of God, take as follows.
I. He was a man that God endowed with a clear and
wonderful depth, a difcerner of others fpirits, and very much
a mafter of his own. And though the fide of his under-
ftanding which lay next to the world, and efpecially the
cxpreffion of it, might found uncouth and unfalhionablc to
nice ears, his matter was neverthelefs very profound, and
would not only bear to be often confidered, but the more it
was fo, the more weighty and inftrufting it appeared. And
as abruptly and brokenly as fometimes his fentences would
fall fiom him about divine things, it is well known they
were often as texts to many fairer declarations. And indeed
it ftiewed beyond all contradiftion that God fent him, that
no arts or parts had any fliare in the matter or manner of
his miniftry, and that fo many great, excellent, and necef-
fary truths as he came forth to preach to mankind, had there-
fore nothing of man's wit or wifdom to recommend them.
So that as to man he was an original, being no man's copy.
And his miniftry and v»rritings fhcw they are from one that
was not taught of man, nor had learned what he faid by
ftudy. Nor were they notional or fpeculative, but fenfible
and praftical truths, tending to converfion and regeneration,
and the fetting up the kingdom of God in the hearts of
men, and the way of it was his work. So that 1 have many
times been overcome in myfelf, and been made to fay with
my Lord and Mafter upon the like occafion, '* I thank
*' thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou haft
*' hid thefe things from the wife and prudent of this world,
*' and revealed them to babes ;" for many times hath my
foul bowed in an humble thankfulnefs to the Lord, that he
did not choofe any of the wife and learned of this world to
be the firft melfenger in our age of his bleffed truth to men ;
but that he took one that was not of high degree, or elegant
fpeech, or learned after the way of this world, that his me{-
fage and work he fent him to do might come with Jefs luf-
picion or jealoufy of human wifdom and intcreft, and with
more force and clearneis upon the confciences ot diole that
xxxviii PREFACE.
fincerely fought the way of truth in the love of it. I fay,
beholding with the eye of my mind, which the God of hea-
ven had opened in me, the marks of God's finger and hand
vilibly in this teftimony from the clearnefs of the principle,
the power and efficacy of it in the exemplary fobriety,
plainnefs, zeal, fteadinefs, humility, gravity, punftuality,
charity, and circumfpeft care in the government of church-
afFairs, which fhined in his and their life and teftimony that
God employed in this work, it greatly confirmed me that
it was of God, and engaged my foul in a deep love, fear,
reverence, and thankfulnefs for his love and mercy therein
to mankind ; in which mind I remain, and fhall, I hope,
to the end of my days.
II. In his teftimon)' or miniftry he much laboured to
open ti"uth to the people's underftandings, and to bottom
them upon the principle and principal, Chrift Jefus, the
light of the world, that by bringing them to fomething that
was of God in themfelves, they might the better know and
judge of him and themfelves.
He had an extraordinary gift in opening the fcriptures.
He would go to the marrow of things, and fhew the mind,
harmon}', and fulfilling of them with much plainnefs, and
to great comfort and edification.
The myftery of the firft and fecond Adam, of the fall
and reftoration, of the law and gofpel, of ftiadows and
fubftance, of the fervant and fon's ftate, and the fulfilling
of the fcriptures in Chrift, and by Chrift the true light, in
all that are his, through the obedience of faith, were much
of the fubftance and drift of his teftimonies. In all which
he was v/itnelfed to be of God, being fenfibly felt to fpeak
that which he had received of Chrift, and was his own ex-
perience in that which never errs nor fails.
But above all he excelled in prayer. The inwardnefs
and weight of his fpirit, the reverence and folemnity of his
addrefs and behaviour, and the fewnefs and fulnefs of his
words, have often ftruck even ftrangers v/ith admiration, as
they ufed to reach others with confolation. The moft
awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I muft
fay, was his in prayer. And truly it was a teftimony he
knew, and lived nearer to the Lord than other men ; for
they that know him moft will fee moft reafon to approach
him with reverence and fear.
He was of an innocent life, no bufy-body, nor felf-feeker,
neither touchy nor critical : what fell fforn him was very in-
PREFACE. xxxiit
offenfive, if not very edifying. So meek, contented, mo-
deft, eafy, fteady, tender, it was a pleafure to be in his
company. He exercifed no authority but over evil, and
that every-where and in all ; but with love, compaflion,
and long-fuffering. A moft merciful man, as ready to forgive
as unapt to take or give an offence. Thoufands can truly
fay, he was of an excellent fpirit and favour among them,
and becaufe thereof the moft excellent fpirits loved him
with an unfeigned and unfading love.
He was an inceflant labourer : for in his vounger time,
before his many great and deep fufFc^rings and travels had
enfeebled his body for intinerant fervices, he laboured much
in the word and do6trine and difcipline in England, Scotland,
and Ireland, turning many to God, and confirming thofe
that were convinced of the truth, and fettlinij good order as
to church-affairs among them. And towards the conclufion
of his travelling fervices, between the years feventy-one and
feventy-feven, he vifited the churches of Chrift in the plant-
ations in America, and in the United Provinces, and Ger-
many, as his following Journal relates, to the convincement
and confolation of many. After that time he chiefly refi-
ded in and about the city of London, and befides the fervices
of his miniftry, which were frequent, he wrote much both
to them that are within and thofe that are without the com-
munion. But the care he took of the affairs of the church
in general was very great.
He was often where the records of the affairs of the church
are kept, and the letters from the many meetings of God's
people over all the world, where fettled, come upon occa-
fions ; which letters he had read to him, and communicated
them to the meeting that is weekly held there for fuch fer-
vices ; he would be fure to ftir them up to difcharge them,
efpecially in fufFering cafes : fhewing great fympathy and
compaflion upon all fuch occafions, carefully looking into
the refpeftive cafes, and endeavouring fpeedy relief accord-
ing to the nature of them ; fo that the churches and any of
the fuft'ering members thereof were fure not to be forgotten
or delayed in their de fires if he were there.
As he was unwearied, fo he was undaunted in his fervices
for God and his people ; he was no more to be moved to
fear than to wrath. His behaviour at Derby, Litchfield,
Appleby, before Oliver Cromwell at Lancefton, Scarbo-
rough, Worcefter, and Weftminftei-half. wiih many other
Stl PREFACE.
places ami exercifes, did abundantly evidence it to his ene-
mies as well as his friends.
But as in the primitive times fome rofe up againft the
bleffed apollles of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, even from among
thofe that they had turned to the hope of the gofpel, and
who became their greateft trouble, fo this man of God had
his fhare of fufFering from fome that were convinced by him,
who through prejudice or miftake ran againft him as one
that fought dominion over confcience ; becaufe he prefled,
by his prefence or epiftles, a ready and zealous compliance
with fuch good and wholefome things as tended to an order-
ly converfation about the affairs of the church, and in their
walking before men. That which contributed much to this
ill work, was in fome a begrudging of this meek man the
love and efteem he had and deferved in the hearts of the peo-
ple, and weaknefs in others that were taken with their ground-
lefs fuggcftions of impofition and blind obedience.
They would have had every man independent, that as he
had the principle in himfelf, he fhould only ftand and fall
to that and nobody elfe ; not confidering that the principle
is one in all, and though the meafure of light or grace might
differ, yet the nature of it was the fame, and being fo they
flruck at the fpiritual unity, which a people guided by the
fame principle are naturally led into : fo that what is evil
to one is fo to all, and what is virtuous, honeft, and of
good report to one, is fo to all, from the fenfe and favour
of the one univerfal principle which is common to all, and
(which the difafFefted profefs to be) the root of all true
chriilian fellowfhip, and that fpirit into which the people of
God drink, and come to be fpiritually minded, and of one
heart and one ioul.
Some Weakly miftook good order in the government of
church- a (Fairs for difcipline in worfhip, and that it was fo
prelfcd or recommended by him and other brethren : and
they were ready to refleft the fame things that diffenters had
very reafonably objefted upon the national churches, that
have coercively preiTed conformity to their refpe6live creeds
and worfhips : whereas thefe things related wholly to con-
verfation, and the outward and (as I may fay) civil part of
the church, that men fliould walk up to the principles of
their belief, and not be wanting in care and charity. But
though fome have ftumbled and fallen through miftakes and
an unrealbnable obllinacy, even to a prejudice, yet bleffed be
God, the generality have returned to their firfl love, and
PREFACE. xli
feen the work of the enemy, that lofes no opportunity or
advantage by which he may check or hinder the work of
God, and difquiet the peace of his church, and chill the
love of his people to the truth, and one to another ; and
there is hope of divers that are yet at a diftance.
In all theie occafions, though there was no perfon the
difcontented ftruck fo Iharply at as this good man, he bore
all their weaknefs and prejudice, and returned not reflc6lioii
for refle6lion ; but forgave them their weak and bitter fpecch-
es, praying for them that they might have a fenle ot their
hurt, and Tee the fubtilty of the enemy to rend and divide,
and return into their firlt love that thought no ill.
And truly, I mull fay, that though God had vifibly
cloathed him with a divine preference and authority, and
indeed his very prefencc expreffed a religious majefty, yet
he never abufed it, but held his place in the church of God
with great meeknefs, and a moft engaging humility and
moderation. For upon all occafions, like his blelfed Mailer,
he was a fervant to all, holding and exercifmg his elderfhip
in the invifible power that had gathered them, with reve-
rence to the head and care over the body, and was received
only in that fpirit and power of Chrift, as the firfl and chief
elder in this age ; who as he was therefore worthy of double
honour, fo for the fame reafon it was given by the faithful
of this day ; becaufe his authority was inward and not out-
ward, and that he got it and kept it by the love of God and
power of an endlefs life. I write my knowledge and not
report, and my witnefs is true, having been with him for
weeks and months together on divers occallons, and thofe
of the neareft and moft exercifmg nature, and that by night
and by day, by fea and by land, in this and in foreiga
countries : and I can fay I never faw him out of his j^Iace,
or not a match for every fervice or occafion.
For in all things he acquitted himfelf like a man, yea a
flrong man, a new and heavenly-minded man. A divine,
and a naturalifl, and all of God Almighty's making. I
have been furprized at his quellions and anfwers in natural
things, that whilft he was ignorant of ufelefs and fophilli-
cal fcience, he had in him the foundation of ufeful and
commendable knowledge, and chcriflied it every-where.
Civil beyond all forms'of breeding in his behaviour; very
temperate, eating little and flveping lefs, though a bulky
perl on.
Thus he lived and fojourned among m, and as he lived
F
xlli PREFACE.
fo he died, feeling the fame eternal power that had raifed
and preferved him in his laft moments. So full of aifurance
was he that he triumphed over death ; and fo even to the
lafl, as if death were hardly worth notice or a mention : re-
commending to fome with him the difpatch and difperfion
of an epiftlc; juft before written to the churches of Chrift,
throughout the world, and his own books; but above all,
friends, and of all friends thofe in Ireland and America,
twice over: faying, Mind poor friends in Ireland and
America.
And to fome that came in and inquired how he found
himfelf, he anfwered, " Never heed, the Lord's power is
** over all weaknefs and death, the Seed reigns, blefifed be
*' the Lord :" which was about four or five hours before his
departure out of this world. He was at the great meeting
near Lombard-ftreet on the firft day of the week, and it was
the third following about ten at night when he left us, being
at the houfe of H. Goldney iii the fame court. In a good old
age he went, after having lived to fee his childrens children
to feveral generations in the truth. He had the comfort of
a fhort illnefs, and the blefling of a clear fenfe to the laft j
and we may truly fay with a man of God of old, that " being
dead, he yet fpeaketh ;" and though abfent in body, he is
prefent in Spirit ; neither time nor place being able to in-
terrupt the communion of faints, or dilTolve the fellowfhip
of the fpirits of the juft. His works praife him, becaufc
they are to the praife of him that worked by him ; for which
liis memorial is and fhall be bleffed. I have done, as to
this part of my preface, when I have left this fhort epitaph
to his name : " Many fons have done virtuoufly in this
'' day, but, dear George, thou excelleft them all."
And now, Friends, you that profefs to walk in the way
this bleffed man was fent of God to turn us into, fufFer I
befeech you the word of exhortation, as well fathers as
children, and eiders as young men. The glory of this day,
and foundation of the hope that has not made us afhamed
fmce we were a people, you know is that bleffed principle
of light and life of Chrifl, which we profefs, and direft all
people to, as the great inftrument and agent of man's con-
T'erfion to God : it was by this we were firft touched, and
t'fFeclually enlightened, as to our inward ftate ; which put
us upon the confidcration of our latter end, caufing us to
fet the Lord before our eyes, and to numljer our days, that
wc might apply our hearts to wifdoni. In that day we
PREFACE. . xl^il
judged not after the fight of the eye, or after the hearing of
the ear, but according to the Hght and fenfe this blelled
principle gave us ; we judged and afted in reference to
.Tilings and Perfons, ourfelves and others, 3'ea, towards
God our Maker. For being quickened by it in our inward
man, we could eafily difcern the difference of things, and
feel what was right, and what was wrong, and what was fit,
and what not, both in reference to religion and civil con^
cerns. That being the ground of the fellowfhip of all faints,
it was in that our fellowfhip flood. In this we defired to
have a fenfe one of another, acied towards one another and
all men in love, faithfulnels, and fear.
In the feeling of the motions of this principle we drew
near to the Lord, and waited to be prepared by it, that we
might feel thofe drawings and movings, before we approach^
ed the Lord in prayer, or opened our mouths in miniftry.
And in our beginning and ending with this, flood our com-
fort, fervice, and edification. And as we ran fafler, or fell
fhort, we made burthens for ourfelves to bear ; our fervices
finding in ourfelves a rebuke, inflead of an acceptance ; and
in lieu of " Well done," " Who hath required this at your
" hands ?" In that day we were an exercifed people, our
very countenances and deportment declared it.
Care for others was then much upon us, as well as for
•ourfelves, eipecially the young convinced. Often had we
the burthen of the word of the Lord to our neighbours,
relations, and acquaintance, and fometimes flrangers alio :
we were in travail for one another's prefervation ; not leek-
ing, but fliunning occafions of any coldnefs or mifander-
flanding, treating one another as tliofe that believed and felt
God prefent ; wliicii kept our converfation innocent, ferious,
and weighty, guarding ourfelves again ft the cares and friend-
fhips of the world. We held the truth in the Spirit uf it,
and not in our own fpirits, or after our own will and af-
feftions. They were bowed and brought into fubje6lion, in-
fomuch that it was vifible to them that knev/ us, we did not
think ourfelves at our own difpofal, to go where we hfl, or fay
or do what we lifl, or when we lift. Our liberty flood in
the liberty of the Spirit of truth ; and no plcafure, no profit,
no fear, no favcjur could draw us from this retired, ftricl,
and watchful frame. We were fo far from feeking occafions
of company, that we avoided them what we could, purluing
our own bufmefs with moderation, inftead of meddling with
other people's unnecelfarily.
F 2
xllV PREFACE.
Our words were {cw and favoury, our looks compofed
and weighty, and our whole deportment very obfervable.
True it is. that this retired and ftn6l fort of life from the
liberty of the converiation of the world, expofed us to the
cenfures of many, as humourifts, conceited, and felf-righte-
ous perfons. Szc. But it was our prelervation from many
fnares, to which others were continually expofed by the pre-
valency of the lull of the eye, the lull of the flefh, and the
pride of life, that wanted no occafions or temptations to ex-
cite them abroad in the converfe of the world.
I cannot forget the humility and chafte zeal of that day.
O how conftant at meetings, how retired in them, how firm
to truth's life, as well as truth's principles, and how intire
and united in our communion, as indeed became thofe that
profefs one head, even Chrift Jefus the Lord !
This being the teftimony and example the man of God
before-mentioned was fent to declare and leave amongfl; us,"
and we havintj embraced the iiime as the merciful vifitation
o . ....
of God to us, the word of exhortation at this time is, that
we continue to be found in the way of this teflim.ony with
all zeal and integrity, and fo much the more by bow much
the day draweth near.
And firft, as to you, my beloved and much honoured
brethren in Chrift that are in the exercife of the miniftry;
O feel life in the miniftry ! Let life be your commiffion,
your well-ipring and treafury in all fuch occafions ; elfe
you well know there can be no begetting^ to God, fince no-
thing can quicken or make people alive to God, but the life
of God : and it muft be a miniftry in and from life that en-
livens any people to God. We have feen the fruit of all
other miniftries by the few that are turned from the evil of
their wa^^s. It is not our parts or memory, the repetition
of former openings in our own will and time, that will do
God's work. A drv do6lrinal miniftry, however found in
words, can reach but the ear, and is but a dream at the"
beft : tliere is another foundncfs, that is foundeft of all, viz.
Chrift the poxver of God. This is the key ot David, that
opens, and none ftiuts ; and fhuts, and none can open ; as
the oil to the lamp and the foul to the body, fo is that to
the beft of words. Which made Chrift to fay, " My words
*' they are fpirit, and they are life;" that is, they are from
life, and therefore they make you alive that receive them.
If the diiciples, that had lived with Jefus, were to ftay at
Jerufalem till they received it ; fo muft we wait to receive
PREFACE. xh
before we minifter, if we will turn people from darknefs to
light, and from Satan's power to God.
I fervently bow my knees to the God and Father of our
Lord Jefus Chrift, that you may alv/ays be like-minded,
that you may ever wait rtverently for the coming and open-
ing of the word of life, and attend upon it in your minifhy
and fervice, that you may ferve God in his Spirit. And
be it little, or be it much, it is well ; for much is not too
much, and the leaft is enough, if from the motion of God's
Spirit ; and without it, verily, never fo little is too much,
becaufe to no profit.
For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediately, or through
the miniflry of his fervants, that teacheth his people to profit;
and to be fure, fo far as we take him along with us in our
fervices, fo far are we profitable, and no farther. For if it
be the Lord that mull work all things in us, and for our-
felves, much more is it the Lord that muft work in us for the
converfion of others. If therefore it was once a crofs to us
to fpeak, though the Lord required it at our hands, let it
never be fo to be filent, when he does not.
It is one of the moft dreadful fayings in the Revela-
tions, That he that adds to the words of the prophecy
of this book, God will add the plagues written in this book.
To keep back the counfel of God, is as terrible ; for he
that takes away from the words of the prophecy of this
book, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life.
And truly it has great caution in it to thofe that ufe the
name of the Lord, to be well aflured the Lord fpeaks, that
they may not be found of the number of thofe that add to
the v/ords of the teftimony of prophecy which the Lord
giveth them to bear ; nor yet to mince or diminifh the fame,
both being fo very ofiFenfive to God.
Wherefore, brethren, let us be careful neither to out-go
our guide, nor yet loiter behind him ; fince he that makes
hafle may mifs his way, and he that flays behind lofe his
guide : for even thofe that have recei\'ed the word of the
Lord had need wait for v.-ifdom, that they may fee how to
divide the word aright ; which plainly implicth, that it is
polFible for one that hath received the word of the Lord
to mifs in the divifion and application of it, which muft
come from an impatiency of fpirit, and a felf-working ;
which makes an unfound and dangerous mixture, and will
hardly beget a right-minded living people to God.
I am earneft in this, above all' other confiderations, as
xlvi PREFACE.
to publick bretiiren, ^\rcll knowing how much it concerns
the pveleiit and future flate and prefcrvation of the church
of Chrilt Jefus. that has been gathered and built up by a
jiving and powertul miiiiftiy, that the miniflry be held, pre-
fei-ved, and continued in the manifeftations, motions, and
fiipplies of the lame liie and power from time to time.
And wherc-ever it is oblerv'ed that any one does minifler
more from gifts and parts than life and power, though they
have an enlightened and dodrinal underftanding, let them
in time be adviicd and admonilhed for their prefen'ation ;
becaufe infenhbly Inch will come to depend upon felf-fuffi-
ciencv, to forfake Chrifl the living fountain, and to hew
out unto themfelves ciflerns that will hold no living waters,
and bv degrees draw others from waiting upon the gift of
God m themleh-es, and to feel it in others, in order to their
ftrength and refrefhment, to wait upon them, and to turn
from God to man again, and lo to make fliipwreck of the
faith once delivered to the Saints, and of a good confcience
tow^ards God ; which are only kept by that divine gift of
life that begat the one and wakened and fantlified the other
in the be^iinnin-ij.
Nor is it enough that we have known the divme gift, and
in it have reached to the fpirits in prifon, and been the in-
flruments of the convincing of others ot the way of God,
if we keep not as low and poor in ourlelves, and as depend-
ing upon the Lord as ever; fnice no memory, no repetitions
of former openings, revelations, or enjoyments will bring a
Ibii^ to God, or afford bread to the hungry, or water to the
thirfly, unlefs life go with what we fay, and that mufl; be
*vaited for.
0 that we may have no other fountain, treafury, or de-
pendance ! that none may prefume at any rate to a6l of
themfelves for God ; becaufe they ha\'e long acled from
God ; that we may not fupply want of waiting with our
own wifdom, or think that we may take lels care and more
liberty in fpeaking than formerly ; and that where we do not
feel the Lord by his power to open us and enlarge us, what-
ever be the expectation of the people or has been our cuf-
tomary fupply and character, we may not exceed or fill up
the time with our own.
1 hope we fliall ever remember who it was that faid,
" Of vourfelves ye can do nothing ;" our fufficiency is in
Him : and if we are not to fpeak our own words, or take
thought what we Ihould fay to men in our defence^ when
PREFACE. xUil
expofed for our teflimony, furcly we ought to fpeak none
-of our own words, or take thou,ght what wc ftiall lay in our
teflimony and miniltry in the name of the Lord to the Jbuln
of the people ; for then of all times, and of all other occa-
lions, fhould it be fulfilled in us; " for it is not you that
•* fpeak. but the Spirit of my Father that fpeaketh in you/*
And indeed the miniflry of the Spirit muft and does keep
its analogy and agreement with the birth of the Spirit ; that
as no man can inherit the kingdom of God unlcfs he be
born of the Spirit, fo no miniftry can beget a foul to God,
but that which is from the Spirit. For this, as I faid before,
the difcipies waited before they went forth, and in this our
elder brethren, and meffengers of God in our day, waited,
vifited, and reached to us. And having begun in the Spi-
rit, let none ever hope or feck to be made pcrfeft in the
flefh : for what is the flefh to the fpirit, or the chaff to the
wheat ? And if we keep in the fpirit, we fliall keep in the
unity of it, which is the ground of true fellowfliip. For
by drinking into that one Spirit, we are made one people
to God, and by it we are continued in the unity of the faith
and the bond of peace. No envyiijg, no bitternefs, no
flrife can have place with us. We flidll watch always for
good, and not for evil over one another, and rejoice exceed-
ingly, and not begrudge at one another's increafe in the
riches of the grace with which God replenifheth his faithful
fervants.
And, brethren, as to you is committed the difpenfation
of the oracles of God, which give you frequent opportunities
and great place w^th the people among whom you tra\trl, I
befeech you that you would not think it fufhcicnt to declare
the word of life in their afTemblics, however edifying and
comfortable fuch opportunities may be to von and the m :
but as was the pra6tice of the man of God bcttire-mentioned
in great meafure, when among us, inquire the fiate of the
feveral churches you vifit, who among them are aflhcled or
lick, who are tempted, if any are unfaithful or obflinate, and
endeavour to iffue thofe things in the wifdoiu and power
of God, which will be a glorious crown upon your miniftry.
As that prepares your way in tlie hearts of the people to re-
ceive you as men of God, fo it gives you credit with them
to do them good by your advice in other refpc6ts. The
afiFli6led will be comforted by you, the tempted flrengthcn-
cd, the lick refrefticd, the unfaithful convittcd and rellored,
and fuch as are obllinate foftcucd and fitted for rccjnciiia-
xlvlli PREFACE.
tion, which is clenching. the nail, and applying and faftening
the general teftimony by that particular care of the feveral
branches of it, in reference to them more immediately con-
cerned in it.
For though good and wife men and elders too may re-
fide in fuch places, who are of worth and importance in the
general and in other places, yet it does not always follow
that they may have the room they deferve in the hearts of
the people they live among, or fome particular occafion
may make it unfit for him or them to ufe that authority ;
but you that travel as God's meiTengers, if they receive you
in the greater, ftiall they refufe you in the lefs ? And if
they own the general teftimony, can they withftand the
particular application of it in their own cafes ? Thus ye
will fhew yourfelves workmen indeed, and carry your bufi-
ncfs before you, to the praife of his name that hath called
you from darkneis to light, that you might turn others from.
Satan's power unto God and his kingdom which is within.
And oh ! that there were more of fuch faithful labourers in
the vineyard of the Lord ! never more need fince the day
of God !
Wherefore I cannot but cry and call aloud to you, that
have been long profeffors of the truth, and know the truth
in the convincing power of it, and have had a fober con-
verfution among men, yet content yourfelves only to know
truth for yourfelves ; to go to meetings, and exercife an or-
dinary charity in the church and an honeft behaviour in the
world, and limit yourfelves within thofe bounds, feeling
little or no concern upon your fpirits for the glory of the
Lord in the profperity of his truth in the earth, more than
to be glad that others fucceed in fuch fervice ; arife ye in
the name and power of the Lord Jefus ! behold how white
the fields are unto harveft in this and other nations, and how
few able and faithful labourers there are to work therein !
your country folks, neighbours, and kindred want to know
the Lord and his truth, and to walk in it. Does nothing
lie at your door upon their account ? Search and fee, and
lofe no time, I befeech you, for the Lord is at hand. I do
not judge you; there is one that judgeth all men, and his
judgment is true : you have mightily increaied in your out-
ward fubftance, may you equally increafe in your inward
riches, and do good with both while you have a day to do
good. YouY enemies would once have taken what you had
from you for his name's fuke in whom you have believed,
PREFACE. xViK
wherefore he has given you much of the world in the face
of your enemies. But oh ! let it be your lei"vant and not
your mafter, your diverfion rather than your bufinefs ! let
the Lord be chiefly in your eye, and ponder your ways,
and fee if God has nothing more for you to do ; and if you
find yourfeives fhort in your account with him, then wait
for his preparation, and be ready to receive the word of
command, and be not weary of well-doing when you have
put your hand to the plough ; and affuredly you Ihall reap,
if you faint not, the fruit of your heavenly labour in God's
everlaftin^T kinodom.
And you, young convinced ones, be you intreated and
exhorted to a diligent and chafte waiting upon God in the
way of his bleffed manifeftation and appearance of himfelf
to you. Look not out but within ; let not another's liberty
be your fnare : neither a6l by imitation, but fenfe and feel-
ing of God's power in yourfeives : crufh not the tender bud-
dings of it in your fouls, nor over-run in your defircs and
your warmnefs of affeftions the holy and gentle motions of
it. Remember it is a ftill voice that fpeaks to us in this
day, and that it is not to be heard in the noifes and hurriea
of the mind, but is diftin6lly underftood in a retired frame.
Jefus loved and chofe out folitudes, often going to moun-
tains, to gardens, and fea-fides, to avoid crowds and hur-
ries, to fhew his difciples it was good to be folitary and fiC
loole to the world. Two enemies lie near your flate. Ima-
gination and Liberty ; but the plain, practical, living, holy
truth, that has convinced you will preferve you, if you
mind it in yourfeives, and bring all thoughts, imaginations,
and affetlions to the tefl of it, to fee if they are wrought in
God, or of the enemy, or your own felves : fo will a true
tafle, difcerning, and judgment be preferved to you, of
what you fliould do and leave undone : and in your dili-
gence and faithfalnefs in this way you will come to inherit
fubftance, and Chrift, the eternal wifdom, will fill your
treafury. And when you are converted, as well as convin-
ced, then confirm your brethren, and be ready to every
good word and work that the Lord fhall call you to, that
you may be to his praife who has chofen you to be partakers
with the Saints in light of a kingdom that cannot be fhaken,
an inheritance incorruptible, in eternal habitations.
And now, as for you that are the children ol God's peo-
ple, a great concern is upon my fpirjt for your good, and
often are my knees bowed (o the God of your lathers for
G
i PREFACE.
you, that you may coma to be partakers of the fame divine
life and power, that has been the glory of this day, that a
generation you may be to God, a holy nation and a pecu-»
liar people, zealous of good works, v.'hen all our heads are
laid in the dull. Oh ! you young men and women, let it
not fuffice you that you are the children of the people of
the Lord ! you muft alfo be born again if you will inherit
the kingdom of God ! Your fathers are but fuch after the
flefh, and could but beget you into tiie likenels of the firft;
Adam ; but you muft be begotten into the likenefs of the
fecond Adam by a fpiritual generation. And therefore look
carefully about you, O ye children of the children of God,
confider your ftanding, and fee what you are in relation to
this divine kindred, family, and birth ! Have you obeyed
the light, and received and walked in the Spirit, that is the
incorruptible feed of the word and kingdom of God, of
which you mull be born again ? God is no refpefter of
perfons : the father cannot fave or anfwer for the child, the
child for the father, " but in the fin thou fmneft thou fhalt
•' die, and in the righteoufnefs thou doeft through Chrift
♦' Jefus thou Ihalt live ;" for it is the willing and obedient
that Ihall eat the good of the land.
Be not deceived, God is not mocked, fuch as all nations
and people fow, fuch fhall they reap at the hand of the juft
God. And then your many and great privileges above the
children of other people will add weight in the fcale againft:
you, if you choofe not the way of the Lord; for you have
had line upon line, and precept upon precept, and not only
good dottrine but good example ; and which is more, you
have been turned to and acquainted with a principle in
yourfelves which others have been ignorant of, and you
know you may be as good as you pleafe, without the feai'
of frowns and blows, or berftg turned out of doors, and for-
faken of father and mother for God's lake and his holy re-
ligion, as has been the cafe of fome of your fathers in the
day they firft entered into this holy path : and if you, after
hearinij and feeinjr the wonders that God has wrought in
the deliverance and preiervation of them through a fea of
troubles, and the manifold temporal as well as i'pirituai
bleflings that he has filled them with in the fight of their
enemies, Ihould negleft or turn your backs upon ih great
and fo near a falvation, you would not only be moft un-
grateful children to God and them, but muft expcci that
God will call the children of thole that knew him not .to
PREFACE. Ii
take the crown out of your hands, and that your lot will be
a dreadful judgment at the hand of the Lord. But <A\ !
that it may never be fo with any of you ! The Lord forbid,
faith my foul. /
Wherefore, O ye young men and women, look to the
rock of your fathers ; choofe the God of your fathers : there
is no other God but him, no other light but his, no other
grace but his, nor Spirit but his to convince you, quicken
and comfort you, to lead, guide, and preferve you to God's
evcrlafting kingdom ; fo will you be poiiefTors as v/ell as
profeffors of the truth, embracing it not only by education
but judgment and corivi6lion, from a fenfe begotten in your
fouls through the operation of the eternal Spirit and power
of God in your hearts, by which you may come to be the
feed of Abraham through faith, and the circumcifion not
made with hands, and fo heirs of the promife made to the
fathers of an incorruptible crown : that, as I faid before, a
generation you may be to God, holding up the profcffion.
of the bielTed truth in the life and power of it. For forma-
lity in religion is naufeous to God and good men; and the
more fo, where any form or appearance has been nzw and
peculiar, and begun and praftiied upon a principle with an
uncommon zeal and flri6lnefs. Therefore, I fay, far you
to fall flat and formal, and continue the profeffion without
that fait and favour by which it is come to obtain a good
report among men, is not to anfwer God's love, nor your
parents care, nor the mind of truth in yourfelves, nor in
thole that are without ; who though they will not obey the
truth, have fight and fcnfc enough to fee if they do that
make a profeffion of it. For v^-here the divine virtue of it is
not felt in the foul, and waited for, and lived in, imperfec-
tions will quickly break out, and fhew fhemfelves, and de-
te6t the unfaithfulnefs'of iuch perfons, and that their infides
are not feafoned with the nature of that holy principle
which they profefs.
Wherefore, dear children, let me intreat you to fhut your
eyes at the temptations and allurements of this low and pe-
rifhing world, and not fuffer your aflPettions to be- capti-
vated by thofe lufts and vanities that your fathers, for trutii's
fake, long hnce turned their backs upon : but as you be-
lieve it to be the truth, receive it into your hearts, that you
may become the children of God : fo that it may never be
faid of you as the evangelift writes of the Jews or his time,
that Chrift the true light came to his own, but his own re-
Hi P R E F A C E.
ceived him not ; but to as many as received him, to them
he gave power to become the " children of God ; which
*' were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the ficfh, nor
•' of the will of man, but of God." A moft dole and com-
prehenfive pafTage to this occafion : you exaftly and pecu-
liarly anfwer to thofe profefling Jews, in that you bear the
name of God's people, by being the children and wearnig
the form of God's people : fo that he by his light in you
may be faid to come to his own, and if you obey it not,
but turn your back upon it, and walk after the vanities of
your minds, you will be of thole that receive him not,
ivhich I pray God may never be your cafe and judgment;
but that you may be thoroughly fenfible of the many and
great obligations you lie under to the Lord for his love, and
your parents for their care ; and with all your heart, and all
your foul, and all your flrength, turn to the Lord, to his
gift and Spirit in you, and hear his voice and obey it, that
you may feal to the teftimony of your fathers by the truth
and evidence of your own experience ; that your childrens
children may blefs vou, and the Lord for you, as thofe that
delivered a faithful example, as well as record of the truth
of God unto them. So will the grey hairs of your dear
parents yet alive go down to the grave with joy, to fee you
the pofterity of truth, as well as theirs, and that not only
tlieir natures but Spirit fhall live in you when they are
gone.
I fhall conclude this preface with a few woi-ds to thofe
that are not of our communion, into whofe hands this may
•come, efpecially thofe of our own nation.
Friends, as you are the fons and daughters of Adam, and
my brethren after the flefh, often and earnell have been my
defircs and prayers to God on your behalf, that you may
come to know him that has made you to be your Redeemer
and Rcflorcr to the image, that through hn you have loft,
by the power and Spirit of his Son Jefus Chrift, whom he
hath given for the li;;ht and life of the world. And O that
vou, who are called Chriftians, would receive him into
vour heart!' for there it is you w-ant him, and at that
door he Hands knocking, that you fhpuld let him in, but
\'Ou do not open to him ; you are full of other guefls, fo
that a manger is his. lot among you now, as well as of old ;
yet you are full of profeflion, as were the Jews when he
<:amc among them., who knew him not, but receded and
PREFACE. llii
evilly intreated him. So that if you come not to the pof-
feffion and experience of what you profels, all your forma-
lity in religion will ftand you in no ftead in the day of God's
judgment.
I befeech you ponder with yourfelves your eternal con-
dition, and fee what title, what ground and foundation,
you have for your chriftianity : if more than a profeflion,
,and an hiftorical belief of the gofpel. Have you known
the baptifm of fire and the Holy Ghoft, and the fan of
Chrift that winnows away the chaff, the carnal lufts and af-
feftions ? That divine leaven of the kingdom, that, being
received, leavens the whole lump of man, fan6lifying him
throughout in body, foul, and fpirit ? If this be not the
ground of your confidence, you are in a miferable eftate.
You will fay, perhaps, that though you are fmners, and
live in the daily commiffion of fin, and are not fanftified, as
I have been fpeaking, yet you have faith in Chrift, who
has borne the curfe for you, and in him you are complete
by faith ; his righteoufnefs being imputed to you.
But my friends, let me intreat you not to deceive your-
felves in fo important a point as is that of your immortal
fouls. If you have true faith in Chrift, your faith will
make you clean, it will fanftify you ; for the faints faith
was their viftory : by this they overcame fin within and
fmful men without. And if thou art in Chrift, thou walk-
eft not after the flefli, but after the Spirit, whofe fruits are
manifeft. Yea thou art a new creature, new made, new fa-
(hioned after God's will and mould : old things are done
away, and behold all things are become new : new love,
defires, will, affeftions, and pra6tices. It is not any longer
thou that liveft, thou difobedient, carnal, worldly one ; but
it is Chrift liveth in thee, and to live is Chrift, and to die
is thy eternal gain ; becaufe thou art alTured, " That thy
corruptible fhall put on incorruption, and thy mortal im-
mortality ;" and that thou haft a glorious houlc eternal in
the heavens, that will never wax old or pafs away. All this
follows being in Chrift, ^s the fenfation of heat follows fire,
and light the fun.
Therefore have a care how you prefume to rely upon
fuch a notion, as that you are in Chrift whilft in your old
fallen nature. For " what communion hath hght with dark-
nefs, or Chrift with Belial ?" Hear what the beloved difci-
pie tells you ; " If we fay we have fellowfhip with God, and
walk in darknefs, we lie, and do not the truth." That ii>.
liv PREFACE.
if we go on in a finful way, are captivated by our carnal
afFeftions, and are not converted to God, we walk in dark-
iiefs, and cannot poflibly have any fellowfhip with God.
Chrift cloaths them with his righteoufnefs, that receive his
grace in their hearts, and deny themfelves, and take up his
crofs daily, and follow him. Chrifl's righteoufnefs makes
men inwardly holy, of holy minds, wills, and pra6lices.
It is neverthelefs Chrifl's becaufe we have it ; for it is ours
not by nature, but by faith and adoption : it is the gift of
God : but ftill, though not ours as of or from ourlelves,
for in that fenfe it is Chrifl's, for it is of and from him, yet
it is ours, and mufl be ours in polTeHion, efficacy, and en-
joyment, to do us any good, or Chrifl's righteoufnefs will
profit us nothing. It was after this manner that he was
made to the primitive Chriflians, righteoufnefs, fanftifica-
tion, juftification, and redemption ; and if ever you will
have the comfort, kernel, and marrow of the chriflian reli-
gion, thus you mufl come to learn and obtain it.
Now my friends, by what you have read, and will read
in what follows, you may perceive that God has vifited a
poor people among you with this faving knowledge and tef-
timony ; whom he has upheld and increafed to this day,
notwithflanding the fierce oppofition they have met withal.
Defpife not the meannefs of this appearance : It was, and
yet is, we know, a day of fmall things, and of fmall ac-
count with too many ; and many hard and ill names are
given to it; but it is of God, it came from him, becaufe it
leads to him. This we know, but we cannot make another
know it as we know it, unlefs he will take the fame way to
know it that we took. The world talks of God ; but what
do they do ? They pray for power, but reje6l the principle
in which it is. If you would know God, and worfhip and
ferve God as you fhould do, you mull come to the means
he has ordained and given for that purpofe. Some feek it
in books, fome in learned men ; but what they look for is
in themfelves, )-et they overlook it. The voice is too flill,
the iced too frnrdl, and the light Ihineth in darknefs. They
are abroad, and fo cannot divide the fpoil; but the woman,
that lofl her filvrr, found it at home, after fhe had lighted
her candle and fivept her houle. Do you fo too, and you
fliali find what Pilate wanted to know, viz. truth.
The light cf Chrifl within, who is the light of the world,
and fo a light to you, that tells you the truth of your con-
dition, leads all I hat take heed unto it out of darknefs into
PREFACE. U
God's mai'vellous light ; for light grows upon the obedient.
It is lown for the righteous, and their way is a fliining
light, that fhines forth more and more to the perfe6l day.
Wherefore, O friends, turn in, turn in, I befeech you !
Where is the poifon, there is the antidote : there you want
Chrift, and there you muft find hun ; and bielTed be God,
there you may find him. " Seek and you fhall find," I tcftify
for God : but then you muft feek aright with your whole
heart, as men that feek for their lives, yea, for their eternal
lives: diligently, humbly, patient! v, as thofe that can tafle
no ptealure, comfort, or latisfiiftion in any thing elfe, unlefs
you find him whom your fouls want, and delire to know
and love above all. O it is a travel, a fpiritual travel ! let
the carnal profane world think and fay as it will. And
through this path you muft walk to the city of God, that
has eternal foundations, if ever you will come there.
Well ! and what does this blelfed light do for you ? Why,
i. It fets all your fins in order before you: it detc6ls the
fpirit of this world in all its baits and allurements, and
fhows how man came to fall from God, and the fallen eftate
he is in. 2. It begets a fenfe and iorrow, in fuch as believe
in it, for this fearful lapfe. You will then fee him diftinftly
whom you have pierced, and all the blows and wounds you
have given him by your difobedience ; and how you have
made him to fer\'e with your fins, and you will weep and
mourn for it, and your forrow will be a godly forrow. 3,
After this it will bring you to the holy watch, to take care
that you do fo no more, that the enemy furprife you not
again : then thoughts, as well as words and works, will
come to judgment, which is the way of holinefs, in whicli
the redeemed of the Lord do walk. Here you w^ill come
to love God above all, and your neighbours as yourfelves.
Nothing hurts, nothing harms, nothing makes afraid on this
lioly mountain: now you come to be Chrifl's indeed, for
vou are his in nature and fpirit, and not your own. And
when you are thus Chrill's, then Chrift is your's, and not
before : and here communion with the Father and with the
Son you will know, and the eflicac}' of the blood of clcanf-
ing, even the blood of Jefus Chrift, that immaculate Lamb,
which fpeaketh better things than the blood of Abel, and
which clcanfeth from all fin the confciences of thofe that,
fhrouiih tJie living Faith, come to be rnririkled with it from
dead works to ferve the li\ing God.
in P R E F A C Ek
To conclude, Behold the teftimony and doftrine of the
people called Quakers ! Behold their Praftice and Difci-
pline ! And behold the bleffed man and men that were fent
of God in this excellent work and fervice ! All which will
be more particularly expreffed in the enfuing annals of the
man of God ; which I do heartily recommend to my read-
er's rnofl ferious perufal, and befeech Almighty God that
his bleffing may go along with it^ to ijbe convincing of many
as yet flrangers to this holy difpenfation, and alio to the
edification of the church of God in general : who, for his
manifold and repeated mercies and bleffings to his people,
in this day of his great love, is ever worthy to have the glo-
ry, honour, thankfgiving, and renown ; and be it rendered
and afcribed, with fear and reverence, through him in whom
he is well pleafed, his beloved Son and Lamb, our light
and life, that fits with him upon the throne, world without
end. Amen,
Says one whom God has long fince mercifully favoured
with his fatherly vifitation, and who was not difobe-
dient to the heavenly vilion and call ; to whom the
way of truth is more lovely and precious than ever,
and that knowing the beauty and benefit of it above
all worldly treafure, has chofen it for his chiefeft joy,
and therefore recommends it to thy love and choice,
bec^fe he is with great lincerity and afFeftion thy
foul's friend,
William Penn.
The Testimony of Margaret Fox, concerning
her late Hufband GEORGE FOX ; together with
a brief Account of fome of his Travels, Suffer-
ings, and Hardfliips endured for the Truth's Sake,
IT having pleafed Almighty God to take away my dear
hufband out of this troublcfome world, who was not a
man thereof, being chofen out of it, and had his life and
being in another region, and his teftimony was againfl the
world that the deeds thereof were evil, and therefore the
world hated him ; fo I am now to give in my account and
teftimony for my dear hufband, whom the Lord hath taken
unto his blelTed kingdom and glory : and it is before me
from, the Lord, and in my view, to give a relation and leave
upon record the dealings of the Lord with us from the
beginning.
He was the inftrument in the hand of the Lord in this
prefent age, which he made ufe of to fend forth into the
world to preach the everlafting gofpel, which had been hid
from many ages and generations ; the Lord revealed it unto
him, and made him open that new and living way that leads
to life eternal, when he was but a youth and a llripling.
And when he declared it in his own country of Leicefter-
fhire, and in Derbyihire, Nottingharnlhire, and Warwick-
Ihire, and his declaration being againft the hireling-priefts
and their practices, it raifed a great fury and oppofition
amongft the priefts and people againft him ; yet there was
always fome that owned him in feveral places, but very few
that ftood firm to him when perfecution qame on him.
There was he and one other put in prifon at £)erby. but the
other decHned and left him in prifon there ; where he con-
tinued almoft a whole year, and then he was releafed out
of prifon, and went on with his teftimony abroad, and was
put in prifon again at Nottingham; and there he continued
awhile, and after was releafed again.
And then he travelled on into Yorkfhire, and paffed up
and down that great county, and feveral received him ; as
William Dewft)ury, Richard Farnfworth, Thomas Aldam,
and others, who all came to be faithful minillers of the Spi-
rit for the Lord. And he continued iil that country, and
travelled through Holdcrnefs and the Woulds, and abun-
dance were convinced ; and feveral were brought to prifon
at York for their teftimony to the truth, both men and wo-
H
Ivlli The Teftimony of Margaret Fox.
men : fo that we heard of fuch a people that were rifen, and
we did, very much inquire after them. And after awhile
he travelled up farther towards the dales in Yorkfhire, as
Wenfdale and Sedbur; and amongft the hills, dales and
mountains he came on, and convinced many of the eternal
truth .
In the year 1652 it pleafed the Lord to draw him towards
us ; fo he came on from Sedbur into Weflmoreland, to Fir-
bank-Chapel, where John Biaykling came with him; and
fo on to Preflon, Grarig, Kendal, Under-barrow, Poobank,
Cartmel, and Staveley, and fo on to Swarthmore, my dwel-
ling-hoafe, whither he brought the blefled tidings of the
everlafting gofpel, which I and many lifindreds in thefe
parts have caufe to praife the Lord for. My then hufband,
Thomas Fell, was not at home at that time, but gone the
Welfh circuit, being one of the judges of affize ; and our
houfe being a place open to entertain minifters and religious
people at, one of George Fox's friends brought him thi-
ther, where he ftaid all night : and the next day, being a
lefture or a faft-day, he went to Uiverflon fleeple-houfe,
but came not in till people were gathered ; I and my chil-
dren had been a long time there before. And when they
were fmging before the fermon he came in, and when they
had done fmging he flood up upon a feat or form, and de-
fired " that he might have liberty to fpeak;" and he that
was in the pulpit faid he might. And the firft words that
he fpoke were as followeth : " He is not a Jew that is one
" outward, neither is that circumcifion which is outward ;
" but he is a few that is one inward, and that is circumci-
•' fion which is of the heart." And fo he went on and faid
" that Chrifl was the light of the world, and lighteth every
'■ man that conieth into the world, and that by this light
" they might be gathered to God," Sec. I flood up in my
pew, and wondered at his do6lrine ; for I had never heard
fuch before. And then he went on, and opened the fcrip-
tures and faid, " The fcriptures were the prophets words,
" and Chrifl's and the apoflles words, and what, as they
" fpoke, they enjoyed and pofTefTed, and had it from the
" Lord :" and faid, " Then what had any to do with the
" fcriptures. but as they came to the fpirit that gave them
" forth. You will fay, Chrifl faith this, and the apoflles
" fay this ; but what canfl thou fay ? Art thou a child of
*' light, and hafl; walked in the light, and what thou fpeak-
" efl, is it inwardly from God ?" Sec, This opened me fo,
The TefUmony of Margaret Fox. IJx
that it cut me to the heart ; and then I faw clearly, we were
all wrong. So I fat down in my pew again, and cried bit-
terly ; and I cried in my fpirit to the Lord, " We are all
" thieves, we are all thieves, we have taken the fcriptures
" in words, and know nothing of them in ourfelves." So
that ferved me, that I cannot well tell what he fpoke after-
wards ; but he went on in declaring againfl; the iiilfe pro-
phets, priefts, and deceivers of the people. And there was
one John Sawrey, a juflice of peace, and a profcilor, that
bid the churchwarden take him away : and he laid his hands
on him feveral times, and took them off again, and let him
alone ; and then after a while he gave over, and came to our
houfe again that night. And he fpoke in the family
amongft the fervants, and they were all generally con-
vinced; as William Caton, Thomas Salthoufe, Mary
Aflcew, Anne Clayton, and feveral other fervants. And I
was ftruck into fuch a fadnefs, I knew not what to do, my
hufband being from home. I faw it was the truth, and I
could not deny it ; and I did, as the Apoftle faith, " I re-
ceived the truth in the love of it :" and it was opened to me
fo clear, that I had never a tittle in my heart againft it ;.
but I defired the Lord that I might be kept in it, and then
I defired no greater portion.
He went on to Dalton, Aldingham, Dendrum, and
Ramfyde chapels and fleeple-houfes, and feveral places up
and down, and the people followed him mightily : and
abundance were convinced, and faw that which he fpoke
was truth, but the priefts were all in a rage. And about
two weeks after James Naylor and Richard Famfworih fol-
lowed him and enquired him out till they came to Swarth-
more, and there ftaid awhile with me at our houfe, and
did me much good ; for I was under great heavinefs and
judgment. But the power of the Lord entered upon me
%vithin about three weeks that he came, and about three
weeks end my hufband came home ; and many were in a
mighty rage, and a deal of the captains and gre'at ones
of the country went to meet my then hufband as he was
coming home, and informed him, " That a great difafler
'• was befallen amongft his family, and that they were
" witches ; and that they had taken ,us out of our religion ;
*' andthat he muft either fet them away, or all the country
•' would be undone." But no weapons formed againft the
Lord fhall profpcr, as you may fee hercaher.
So my hufband came home greatly offended; and any
H 2
\k The Teftimony of Margaret Fox.
may think what a condition I was like to be in, that either
I muft difpleafe my hufband or offend God; for he was
very much troubled with us all in the houle and family,
they had fo prepoffeffed him againft us. But James Nay-
lor and Richard Farnfworth were both then ar our houfe,
and I defired them to come and fpeak to him ; and fo they
did very moderately and wifely : but he was at firft dif-
pleafed with them, till they told him " they came in love
and good-will to his houfe." And after that he had heard
them fpeak awhile he was better fatisfied, and they offered
as if they would go away ; but I defired them to flay, and not
to go away yet, tor George Fox will come this evening.
And I would have had my hufband to have heard them
all, and fatisfied himfelf farther about them, becaufe they
had fo prepoffeffed him againft them ot fuch dangerous
fearful things in his cominij firft home. And then he was
pretty moderate and quiet, and his dinner being ready he
went to it, and I went in and fate me down by him. And
whilft I was fitting the power of the Lord feized upon me,
and he was ftruck with amazement, and knew not what to
think; but was quiet and ftill. And the children were all
quiet and ftill, and grown fober, and could not play on
their mufick that they were learning ; and all thefe things
made him quiet and ftill.
At night George Fox came: and after fupper my
hufband was fitting in the parlour, and I afked him. If
George Fox might come in? And he faid, Yes. So
George came in without any compliment, and walked
into the room, and began to fpeak prefently ; and the fa-
mily, and James Naylor, and Richard f^arnfworth came all
in : and he fpoke very excellently as ever I heard him, and
opened Chrift's and the apofties praftices, which they were
in, in their day. And he opened the night of apoftacy
iince the apofties days, and laid open the priefts and tlieir
practices in the apoftacy ; that if all in England had been
there. I' thought they could not have denied the truth of
thofc things. And fo my hufband came to fee clearly the
truth of what he fpoke, and was very quiet that night, faid
no more, and went to bed. The next morning came Lam-
pit, prieft of Ulverfton, and got my hufband into the gar-
den, and fpoke much to him there ; but my hufband had
fecn fo much the night before, that the prieft got little
entrance upon him. iVnd when the prieft, Lampit, was
come into the houfe, George fpoke iliarply to him, and
The Teftimony of Margaret Fox. Ixi
afked him, " When God fpoke to him, and called him to
" go and preach to the people ?" But after awhile the
priefl went away : this was on the fixth day of the week,
about the fifth month, 1652. And at our houfe divers
friends were fpeaking one to another, how there were feveral
convinced here-aways, and we could not tell where, to get a
meeting ; my hufband alfo being prefent, he overheard, and
faid of his own accord, " You may meet here if you will :"
and that was the firft meeting we had that he offered of his
own accord. And then notice was given that day and the
next to friends, and there was a good laroe meetin^j the
firfl day, which was the firft meeting that was at Swarth-
more, and fo continued there a meeting from 1652 to 1690.
And my hufband went that day to the fteeple-houfe, and
none with him but his clerk, and his groom that rid with him :
and the prieft and the people were all fearfully troubled ;
but praifcd be the Lord, they never got their wills upon us
to this day.
After a few weeks George went to Ulverfton fteeple-
houfe again, and the faid juftice Sawrey, with others, fet
the rude rabble upon him, and they beat him fo that he
fell down as in a fwoon, and was fore bniifed and blackened
in his body, and on his head and arms. Then my hufband
was not at home ; but when he came home, he was dif-
pleafed that they fhould do fo, and fpoke to juftice Sawrey,
and faid, " It was againft law to make riots." After that
he was fore beat and ftoned at Walney till he fell down,
and alfo at Dalton was he fore beat and abufed ; fo that he
had very hard ufage in divers places in thefe parts. And
then when a meeting was fettled here, he went again into
Weftmoreland, and fettled meetings there ; and there was a
great convincement, and abundance of brave minifters came
out there-aways ; as John Camm, John Audland, Francis
Howgil, Edward Burrough, Miles Halhead, and John
Blaykling. with divers others. He alfo went over the lands
to Lancafter, and Yelland, and Kellet, where Robert Wid-
ders, Richard Hubberthorn, and John Lawfon, with many
others, v/ere convinced. And about that time he was in
thole parts, many priefts and profcffors rofc up, and fallely
accufed him for blafphcmy, and did endeavour to take av.'ay
his life, and got people to fwear at a fcflions at Lancafter
that he had fpoken blafphcmy. But my then hufband and
colonel Weft, having had fome fight and knowledge of the
truth, withftood the Wo pcrfccuting jufticcs, John Sawrey
Ixii The Tefllmony of Margaret Fox.
and Thompfon, and brought him ofF, and cleared him;
for indeed he was innocent. And after the feffions there
was a great meeting in the town of Lancafter; and many
of the town's people came in, and many were convinced.
And thus he was up and down about Lancafter, Yelland,
Weftmoreland, and fomc parts of Yorkfhire, and our parts
above ore year ; in which time there were above twenty-
four minifters brought forth, that were ready to go with
their teftimony of the eternal truth unto the world : and
foon alter Francis Howgil and John Camm went to fpeak
to Oliver Cromwel.
In the year 1653 George's drawings were into Cumber-
land by Milholm, Lampley, Embieton and Brigham, Pard-
fey and Cockermouth, where at or near Embieton he had a
difpute with fome priefts, as Larkham and Benfon, but
chiefly with John Vv'^ilkinfon, a preacher at Embieton and
Brigham ; who was afterwards convinced, and owned the
truth, and was a ferviceable minifter both in England, Ire-
land and Scotland, And then he went to Coldbeck and
feveral places, till he came to Carlifle, and went to their
ftecple-houfe : and tliey beat and abufed him, and had him
before the magiftrates ; who examined him, and put him in
prifon there in the common gaol among the thieves. And
at the alTizes was one Anthony Pearfon, who had been a
juftice of peace, and was convinced at Appleby, when he
was upon the bench, by James Naylor and Francis How-
gil, who were then prifoners there, and brought before him j
{o Anthony Pearfon fpake to the juflices at Carlifle, he be-
ing acquainted with them, having married his wife out of
Cumberland; and after awhile they releafed him. After-
wards he went into feveral other p^rts of Cumberland, and
many were convinced, and owned the truth : and he gather-
ed and fettled meetings tliere amoi^gfl them, and up and
down in feveral parts there in the notth.
In the year 1654 he went fouthwai'd to his own country
of Leicefterfhire, vifiting friends. And then colonel Hack-
er fent him to Oliver Cromv/el : and after his being kept
prifoner a while, he was brought before Oliver, and was-
reieafed. And then he flayed a while, vifiting friends in
London, and the meetings therein ; and fo pafled weflward
to Briflol, and vilited friends there : and after went into
Cornwall, where they put him in prifon at Launcellon, and
one Edward Pyot with hirfi ; where he had a bad, long
inioi ifonment. When he was releafed, he paffed into ma-
The Teftlmony of Margaret Fox. lxi«
ny parts in that county of Cornwall, and fettled meetings
there. And then he travelled through many counties, vifit-
ing friends and fettlmg meetings all along : and fo came into
the north, and to Swarthmore, and to Cumberland.
And fo for Scotland he palfed in the year 1657, and
there went with him Robert Widders, James Lancafler,
John Grave, and others. And he travelled through many
places in that nation, as Douglas, Heads, Haniilton,
Glafgow, and to Edinburgh, where they took him, and car-
ried him before general Monk and the council, and examm-
cd him, and aflced him his bufmefs into that nation ; who
anfwered, He came to vifit the feed of God. And after
they had threatened him, and charged him to depart their
nation of Scotland, they let him go. And then he went to
Linlithgow, and Stirling, and Johnllons, and many pla-
ces, vifiting the people : and feveral were convinced. And
after he had ftaid a pretty while, and fettled fome meetings,
he returned into Northumberland, and into the bilhoprick
of Durham, vihting friends and fettling meetings as he
went ; and then returned back again to Swarthmore, and
ftaid amongft friends awhile, and fo returned fouth again.
[In 1658 judge Fell died.]
And in 1660 he came out of the fouth into the north,
and had a great general meeting about Balby in Yorkfhire ;
and fo came on vifiting friends in many places, till he came
to Sv/arthmore again. And king Charles being then come
in, the juftices fent out warrants, and took him at Swarth-
more, charging him in their warrants, that he drew away
the king's liege people, to the endangering the enibruing
the nation in blood, and fent him prifoner to Lancaftcr
caiUe. And I having a great family, and he being taken
in my houfe, I was moved of the Lord to go to the king
at Whitehall; and took with me a declaration, and an in-
formation of our principles ; and a long time, and much
ado I had, to get to him. But at laft, when I got to him,
I told him, If he was guilty of thofe things. I was guilty,
for he was taken in my houfe : and I gave him the paper
of our principles, and defired that he would let him at
liberty, as' he had promifed that none fliould fuffer for ten-
der confciences, and we were of tender confciences, and
defired nothing but the liberty of our confciences. And
then with, much ado, after he had been kept prifoner near
half a year at Lancafter, we got a habeas corpus, and re-
moved him to the King's Bench, where he was rtleafcd.
IxiV The Tcftlmony of Margaret Fox.
And then would I gladly have come home to my great fa-
mily ; but was bound in my fpirit, and could not have
freedom, to get away for a whole year. And the king had
promifed me feveral times, that we fhould have our liberty:
and then the monarchy-men rofe ; and then came the great
and general imprilonment of friends the nation through :
And lo could I not have freedom nor liberty to come
home, till we had got a general proclamation for all our
friends liberty ; and then I had freedom and peace to come
home.
In 1663 he came north again, and to Swarthmore : and
then they fent out warrants, and took him again, and had
him to Holcrof before the juftices, and tendered him the
oath of allegiance, and fent him prifoner to Lancafter caflle.
And about a month after, the juftices fent for me alfo out
of my houfe, and tendered me the oath ; and fent me pri-
foner to Lancafter. And the next aflizes they tendered the
oath of allegiance and fuprema cy again to us both, and pre-
munired me : but they had mifled the date and other things
in his indiftment, and fo it was qualhed ; but they tendered
him the oath again, and kept him prifoner a year and a half
at Lancafter caftle. And then they fent him to Scarborough
caftle in Yorkfhire, where they kept him prifoner clofe un-
der the foldiers moft of a year and a half; fo that a friend
could fcarcely have fpoken to him; yet after that, it pleafed
the Lord that he was releafed. But I continued in prifon,
and a prifoner four years at that time; and an order was pro-
cured from the council, whereby I was fet at liberty. And
in that time I went down into Cornwall with my fon and
daughter Lower, and came back by London to the yearly
meeting ; and there I met with him again : And then he
told me. The time was drawing towards our marriage, but
he might firft go into Ireland. And a little before this time
was he prifoner in his own country at Leicefter for awhile ;
and then releafed. And fo into Ireland he went : and I
went into Kent anjl Suffex ; and came back to London
again ; and afterward I went to the weft:, towards Briftol,
in 1669, and there I ftaid till he came over from Ireland,
which was eleven years after my former huft^and's deceafe.
In Ireland he had had a great fervice for the Lord and his
eternal truth amongft friends and many peoplq there, but
efcaped many dangers, and times of being taken prifoner,
they having lain in wait aforehand for him in many places;
and being returned, at Briftol he declared his intentions of
The Teftimony of Margaret Fox. Ixi^
marriage ; and there accordingly our marriage was folemni-
zed : and then within ten days after I came homewards ;
and my hufband ftaid up and down in the countries among ft
friends, vifiting them.
Soon after I came home, there came another order from
the council to cafl me into prifon again ; and the fherifF of
Lancafhire fent his bailiff, and pulled me out of my own
houie, and had me prifoner to Lancafter caflle, upon the
old premunire ; where I continued a whole 3^ear : and mofi:
part of all that time I was fick and weakly, and alio my
hufband was weak and fickly at that time. After awhile
he recovered, and went about to get me out of prifon ; and
a difcharge at laft was got under the great; leal, and fo I
was fet at liberty : and then I was to go up to London
again, for my hufband was intending for America ; and he
was full two years away before he came back again to En-
gland : and arriving at Briflol, he came thence to London,
and intended to have come to the middle of the nation with
me. But when we came into fome parts of Worcefterfhire,
they got there information of him ; and one juftice Parker
by his warrant fent him and my fon Lower to Worcefter
gaol ; and the juftices there tendered him the oath, and pre-
munired him, but releafed my fon Lower; who flaid with
him moft of the time he was prifoner there.
And after fome time he fell fick in a long lingering fick-
nefs, and many times was very ill ; fo they wrote to me
from London, that if I would fee him alive, I might go to
him ; which accordingly I did. And after I had tarried
feventeen weeks with him at Worcefter, and no difcharge
like to be obtained for him, I went up to London, and wrote
to the king an account of his long imprifonment, and that
he was taken in his travel homewards ; and that he was fick
and weak, and not like to live, if they kept him long there.
And I went with it to Whitehall myfelf; and I met with
the king, and gave him the paper : and he faid, I muft go
to the chancellor, he could do nothing in it. Then I writ
alfo to the lord chancellor, and went to his houfe, jmd gave
him my paper, and fpoke to him, That the king had left
it wholly to him ; and if he did not take pity, and relcale
him out of that prifon, I feared he would end his days there.
And the lord chancellor Finch was a very tender man, and
fpoke to the judge, who gave out an habeas corpus prcfcnt-
ly. And when we got it, wc fent it down to Worcefter ;
and they would not part with him at firft, but faid, he was
Jx?i The Teftlmony of Margaret Fox.
premunired, and was not to go out on that manner. And
then we were forced to go to judge North, and to the attor-^
ney-general, and we got another order, and fent down from
them ; and with much ado, and great labour and induftry
of William Mead, and other friends, we got him up to
London, where he appeared at Weftminfter Hall at the
King's Bench, before judge Hales, who was a very honefl,
tender man ; and he knew they had imprifoned him but in
envy. So that which they had againft him was read ; and
our Gounfel pleaded, that he was taken up in his travel and
journey; and there was but little faid till he was acquitted.
And this was the lafk prifon that he was in, being freed by
the court of Kinq-'s Bench.
When he was at liberty, he recovered again ; and then I
was very defirous to go home with him, which we did ; and
this was the firft time that he came to Swarthmore after we
were married, and he flaid here about two years, and then
went to London again to the yearly meeting ; and after a*
while went into Holland, and fome parts of Germany, where
he ftaid a pretty while, and then returned to London again
at the next yearly meeting. And after he had ftaid awhile
in and about London, he came into the north to Swarth-
more again, and ftaid that time nigh two years ; and then
he grew weakly, being troubled with pains and aches, hav-
ing had many fore and long travels, beatings, and hard im-
prifonments. But after forae time he rode to York, and fo
pafled on through Nottinghamfhire and feveral counties,
vifiting friends till he came to London to the yearly meet-
ing, and ftaid there and thereabouts till he finiihed his
courfe, and laid down his head in peace.
And though the Lord had provided an outward habita-
tion for him, yet he was not willing to ftay at it, becaufe it
was fo remote and far from London, where his fervice moft
lay. And my concern for God and his holy eternal truth
was then in the north, where God had placed and fet me ;
and likewife for the ordering and governing of my children
-and family ; fo that we were willing both of us to live apart
fome years upon God's account and his truth's fervice, and
to deny ourfelves of that comfort which v»'e might have had
in being together, for the fake and fervice of the Lord and
his truth. And if any took occaiion, or judged hard ot us
becaufe of that, the Lord will judge them ; for we were in-
nocent. And for my ovvn part, I was willing to make many
long journeys, for taking away all occafton of evil thoughts:
The Teftimony of Margaret Fox. Ixrii
and though I lived two hundred miles from London, yet
have I been nine times there, upon the Lord's and his truth's
account ; and of al! the times that I was at London, this lad
time was moft comfortable, that the Lord was plcafcd to
give me ftrength and ability to travel that great journey,
being feventy-fix years of age, to fee my dear hufoand. who
was better in his health and ftrength than many times I had
feen him before. I look upon it that the Lord's Ipecial hand
was in it that I fhould go then, for he lived but about half
a year after 1 left him ; which makes me admire the wiidom
and goodnefs of God in ordering my journey at that time.
And now he hath finiftied his courfe and his teftimony,
and is entered into his eternal reft and felicity. I truft in
the fame powerful God, that his holy arm and power will
carry me through, whatever he hath yet for me to do; and
that he will be my ftrength and fupport, and the bearer-up
of my head unto the end and in the end. For I know his
faithfulnefs and goodnefs, and I have experience of his love;
to whom be glory and powerful dominion for ever. Amen.
M. F.
The Testimony of fome of the AUTHOR'^
Relations.
NEITHER days nor length of time with us can wear
out the memory of our dear and honoured father
George Fox, whom the Lord hath taken to himfelf: and
though his earthly houfe of this tabernacle be diflblved, and
mortality put off, yet we believe he has a " building with
" God eternally in the heavens, and is entered into reft,"
as a reward to thofe great labours, hard luff'erings, and fore
trials, he patiently endured for God and his truth. Of
which ti-uth he was made an able miniftcr, and one, if not
the firft promulgator of it in our age ; who, though of no
great literature, nor fecming much learned as to the out-
ward, being hid from the wifdom of this world, yet he had
the tongue of the learned, and could fpeak a word in due
feafon to the conditions and capacities of moft, efpecially to
them that were weary and wanted foul's reft, being deep in
the divine myfteries of the kingdom of God. And the word
of life and falvation through him reached into many fouls,
I 2
Ixviii Teflimony of Relations, &c.
whereby many were convinced of their great dutv of inward
retinng to wait upon God; and as they became diligent in
the performance of that ferv'ice, were alfo raifed to be preach-
ers of the fame everlafting gofpt^l of peace and glad tidmgs
to others ; who are as feals to his miniflry both in this and
other nations, and may podibly give a more full account
thereof. Howbeit we knowing his unwearied diligence, not
fparing but fpending himfeif m the work and fen'ice where-
unto he was chofen and called of God, could not but give
this fhort teftimony of his faithfulnefs therein, and like wife
of his tender love and care towards us ; who as a tender
father to children, in which capacity we flood, being fo re-
lated unto him, he never failed to give us his wholefome
counfel and advice. And not only fo, but, as a father in
Chrift, he took care of the whole family and houfhold of
faith, which the Lord had made him an eminent overfeer
of, and endued him with fuch an excellent fpirit of wif-
dom and underftanding, to propofe and direft helps and
advantages to the well-ordering and eftablifhmg of affairs
and government in the churclj, as now are found very fer-
viceable thereunto, and have greatly difappointed and pre-
vented the falfe, loofe, and libertine fpint in forae, who to
their confuGon have endeavoured, by feparation and divi-
fion. to difturb the church's peace. And although many
of that fort have at fundry times Ihot their poifonous darts
at him, pubiickly in print, and privately other ways, yet
he has aiwavs been preferved by the heavenly poxver of God
out of the reach of their envy, and all perils and difficulties
that attended on their account ; who, as a fixed ftar in the
firmament of God's power, did conftantly abide, and held
his integrity to the laft, being of a fweet favory life, and as
to converfation kept his garments clean : and though out-
wardly dead yet liveth. and his memon,' is right precious
unto US; and it is and will be to all that abide m the love
of truth, and ha\'e not declined the way or it. For he was
one of the Lord's worthies, valiant for tl>e truth upon earth,
not turning his back in the Qdy of battle ; but his bow ftiii
abidmg in its ftrength, he, through many hardships, brought
gladnefs and refrefhment to Ifrael's camp, being alEfled by
the might of that power that always put the armies of aliens
and enemies to flight. And now, having finilhed hii courfe,
is removed from us into a glorious ftate of immortaliry and
bills, and is gathered unto the Lord as a Ihock of com in
The Te{Hmony of Friends in the ^Eniftrr. bdx
its fuH feafon, and to that habitation of fafetv where the
wicked ceafe from troubling and the weary be at reft.
John Rou>, Margaret Rous,
William Meade, Sarah Meade,
Thomas Lower. M<Ary Lower,
William Inc^ram, Sufanna Ingram,
Daniel Abraham, Rachel Abraham,
Abraham Morrice. I label Morrice,
An EPISTLE by way of Testimony to Friends
and Brethren of the Monthly and Quarterly
Meetings in England, Wales, and ellewhere,
concerning the Deceafe of our faithful Brother
George Fox.
From our Second Da3''s Morning-Meeting in London, the
26th of the 11th month, 1690.
DEAR and truly beloved friends, brethren, and fillers
m Chrift Jefus. our bleffed Lord and Saviour, we lin-
cereh' and tenderlv falute vou all in his free and tender love,
wherewith he hath graciouflv vifited us. and largelv fhed it
abroad in our fouls, to our own unfpeakable comfort and con-
foJation. and towards his whole heritage and offspring : blef-
fed be his pure and powerful name for evermore. And our
fouls do tiTilv and fen'ently defire. and breathe unto l|^]
God of all our mercies, that you all may be prelerNed and
kept truly faithful and diligent in his work and fen^ce, ac-
cording to your heavenlv calling and endo■^^^nenls, with his
liffht, 5^race, and truth unto the end of your da\-s ; as be-
ing hvingly engaged thereby all your appointed time to
fer\-e him. and to wait till vour change come ; that none may
neglect that true improvement of your tiroes and talents that
God has afforded you here for your eteinal advantage hereaf-
ter in that inheritance and life immortal that never fades away.
And that the whole flock and heritage of Chnfl Jefus,
which he has purchafed and bought for himfeh with a price
incorruptible, may always be prefen-ed in his own pure lo\e
and life, fo as to grow, increafe, and profper in the fame,
and thereby be kept m, lore, unity, and peace wiih one
hoc The Teftimony of Friends in the Miniffry.
another, as becomes his true and faithful followers, is that
which our very hearts and fouls defire, being often truly
comforted and enlarged in the living fenfe and feeling of the
jncreafe and aboundings thereof among faithful friends and
brethren.
And dear brethren and fiflers, unto this our tender falu-
tation we are concerned, in brotherly love and true tender-
heartednels, to add and im'part unto you fome account of
the deceafe of our dear and elder brother in Chrifl, name-
ly, his and his church's true and faithful fervant and minif-
ter Geouge Fox, whom it hath pleafed the Lord to take
unto himfelf, as he hath divers others of his faithful fen/ants
and minifters of late time ; who have faithfully ferved out
their generation, and finiftied their teftimony and courfe
with joy and peace. Hov/beit, O dear brethren and friends !
that lb many worthies in Ifrael, and ferviceable inftruments
in the Lord's hand, are of late taken away and removed
from us, fo foon one after another, appears a difpenfation
that deeply and forrowfuUy a{fe6ls us and many more,
tvhofe hearts are upright and tender towards God and one
to another in the truth. The conlideration of the depth,
weight, and meaning thereof is very weighty upon our fpi-
rits, tho' their precious life and teftimony lives with us, as
being of that fame body, united to one head, even Jefus
Chrift ; in w'hich we ftiii, and hope ever fhall have fecret
comfort and union with them, whom the Lord has removed
and taken to himfelf, out of their earthly tabernacles and
houfes, into their heavenly and everlafting manfions.
This our dear brother, George Fox, was enabled by
^4iife Lord's power to preach the truth fully and efiPe6lually
in our publick meeting in White Hart Court, by Gracc-
church-flreet, London, on the nth day of this inftant nth
month, 1690 : after which he faid, " I am glad I was here;
now I am clear, I am fully clear." He was the fame day
taken with fome illnefs or indifpofition of body more than
ufual, and continued weak in body for two days after at
our friend Henry Gouldney's houle in the fame court, ciofe
by the meeting-houfe, ia much contentment and peace, and
very fenfible to the laft. In which time he mentioned divers
friends, and fent for fome in particular ; to whom he expref-
fed his mind for the fpreading friends books and truth in tlie
world at'd through the .nations thereof, as his Ipirit in the
Lord's love and power was univerfally fet and bent for truth
«ind righteoufucfs; . and the making known the way thereof
The Tedimony of Friends In the Mislftry. Ixxi
to the nations and people afar ofF; fignifying alfo to fome
friends, " That all is well ; and the feed of God reigns ove**
all, and over death itlelf : that though he was weak in body,
yet that the power of God is over all, and the feed reigns
over all diiorderly Ipirits :" which were his wonted fenfible
exprellions, bein^ in the living faith and fenfe thereof,
which he kept to the end. And on the 13th inflant, between
the ninth and tenth hour of the night, he quietly departed
this life in peace, being two days after the Lord enabled
him to publifli and preach the blelTed truth in the meeting
as aforefaid. So that he clearly and evidently ended his
days in his faithful teftimony, in perlett love and unity with
his brethren, and peace and good-will to all men, being
about lixty and fix years of age, as v/e underftand, when
he departed this life.
And on the fixteenth of this inftant, being the day ap-
pointed for his funeral, a very great concourfe of friends
and other people affembled at our meeting-houfe in W^hite
Hart Court aforefaid, about the mid-day, in order to attend
his body to our burying place near Bunhiiliieids, to be in-
terred, as friends laft office of love and reipeft due on that
account. The meeting was held about two hours, with
great and heavenly folemnity, manifeftly attended with the
Lord's bleffcd power and prefence ; and divers living tefti-
monies given from a lively remembrance and fenfe of this
his dear ancient fervant, his bleffed miniflry and teRi-
mony of the breaking forth of this gofpd-day ; his inno-
cent life, long and great travels, and labours ot love in the
everlafling gofpel, for the turning and gathering many th^>u-
fands from darknefs to the light of Chrift Jefus. the toun%.
dation of true faith ; alfo of his manifold i'uffcrings, afflic-
tions, and oppofitions which he met withal for his faith-
ful teftimony, both from his open ad\'erfaries and falfe brer
thren ; and his prefervations, dominion, and deliverances
out of them all by the power of God : to \vhora the glory
and honour was and is afcribed, in raihng up and preferv-
incr this his faithful witnefs and minifter to the end of his
o .
days, whofe blelfed memorial will everlaftingly remain.
He loved truth and righteoufnefs, and bore faithful tef-
timony againft deceit and the myftery of iniquity ; and
often, of late time efpecially, warned friends againll covet-
oufnefs, earthly-niindednefs, againfl getting into the earth,
and into a brittle fpirit; and tiie younger fort, againft loofc-
nefs and pride of life.
Ixxil The Teftimony of Friends In the Mlniflry.
A few days before he died he had a great concern upon
his mind concerning fome in whom the Lord's power was
working, to lead them into a miniftry and teftimony to his
trCtth ; who, through their too much entanghng them felves
in the things of this world, did make themfelves unready to
anfwcr the call and leadings of the power of God, and hurt
the gitt that was beftowed upon them, and did not take that
regard to their fervice and miniftry as they ought. And
mentioned the apoftle's exhortation to Timothy, to " take
*' heed to his miniftry, and to fhew himfelf approved," &c.
And exprefted his grief concerning fuch as preferred their
own bufinefs before the Lord's bufmefs, and fought the ad-
vancing worldly concerns before the concerns of truth : and
concluded with a tender and fatherly exhortation to all tp
whom God had imparted of his heavenly treafure, that they
would improve it faithfully ; and be dihgent in the Lord's
work, that the earth might be fown with the feed of the
kingdom, and God's harveft might be minded by thofe
whom he had called and enabled to labour therein : and
that luch would commit the care of their outward concerns
to the Lord, who would care for them, and give a blefling
to them. However, this is not mentioned to encourage any
to run unfent, or without being called of God.
Many are living witnefles that the Lord raifed him up
by his power, to proclaim his mighty day to the nations,
and made him an etFeftual inftrument in our day to turn
many from darknefs to light, and from Satan's power to
God ; and freely to fuff^er and bear all reproaches, and the
manifold perfccutions, buff^etings, halings, ftonings, impri-
fonments, and cruelties, that were in the beginning and for
fome time infli6led on him and others, for the name of
Chrift Jefus.
He was in his teftimony as a fixed ftar in the firmament
of God's power, where all that be truly wife, and that
liun many to righteoufnefs. fliall ftiine as the brightnefs of
the firmament, and as tlie ftars for ever and ever. He knew
and preached the myftery of Chrift revealed, the life and
lubftance, and the power of godlinefs, above all fliadows
and forms": the J^ord endued him with a hidden wifdom
and life. He loved peace, and earneftly laboured for uni-
verfal love, unity, peace, and good order in the churches
of Chrift : and where-ever he met with the contrary, it was
his great grief and burden. He was greatly for the encou-
ragement of faithful labourers in the Lord's work ; and it
The Tefliraony of Friends in the Miniftry. IxxiS
was a great offence and grief to him to have their teflimony
weakened, or labours flighted, through prejudice in any
profefling truth.
And inafmuch as the Lord fuffered him not to be deli-
vered up to the will of his enemies and perfecutors, who
often heretofore breathed out cruelty againft him,- and de-
ligned his deftrutlion ; but in his good pleafure lo fairly
and quietly took him away in his own time, when his tel-
timony was fo blefTedly finiflred, and his work accomplifh-
ed ; this is all remarkable, and worthy of ferious and due
obfervation. as being a fpecial and divine providence and
wildom of God ; to whom we afcribe the glory of all, and
not unto man or creatures. Though we mull needs allow
and own that good report and due edeem which faithful
elders, minillers, and lervants of God and ChriR have by
faith obtained, to the praife of that bleiTcd Power that up-
held them in every age in their day ; many whereof are
even of late taken away fi^om the evil to come, and are at
reft in the Lord, out of the reach of all envy and perfecu-
tion, where the wicked cannot trouble them any more.
And we muft patiently bear our parting with them, and
our lofs and forrow on that account, with reipecl to their
unfpcakable gain : yet how can we avoid being deeply af-
fected with fadnefs of fpirit and brokennefs of heart, under the
fenfe and confideration of fuch lofs and revolutions, which
we have caufe to believe are ominous of calamities to the
wicked world, though of good to the righteous ? Did the
death of plain upright Jacob, namely Ifrael, who was as
a prince of God, fo deeply affeft both his own children and
kindred, as that they made a great and fore lamentation
for him ; and even the Egyptians alfo, that they bewail-
ed him feventy days ? Aisid the death of Mofes fo deeply
affe61: the Children of Ifrael, as that they " did weep and
mourn for him in the plain of Moab thirty days ?" And the
death of Stephen, that faithful martyr of Jefus, fo deeply
afFeft certain men fearing God, as " that they made great
*' lamentation for him ?" And the apoftle P^ul, when
taking his leave of the elders of the church of Ephcfus,
and telling them, " they fhould fee his face no more ?" If
this did fo deeply affeft them, that they " wept all abun-
dantly, forrowing moft of all for thefe words, that they
fhould fee his tace no more ;" with many more of this kind,
how then can we otherwife choofe but be deeply afFefted
with forrow and fadnel's of heart, though not as thole which
K
Ixxiv
The Teftimony of Friends in the Miniftry.
have no hope, when fo many of our ancient, dear, and
faithful brethren, with whom we have had much fweet fo-
ciety, are removed from us one after another? (We pray
God raife up and increafe more fuch!) Yet muft we all
contentedly fubmit to the good pleafure and wifdom of the
Lord our God in all thefe things ; who taketh away, and
none can hinder him, nor may any fay unto him, " Wha6
doll thou ?" Yet we have caufe to blefs the Lord that he
hath of late raifed, and is railing up more to publifh his
name in the earth ; and we that yet remain have but a fhort
time to (lay after them that are gone, but we fhall be gone to
them alfo. The Lord God of life keep us all faithful in
his holy truth, love, unity, and life to the end. He hath
a great work ftill to bring forth in the earth, and great
things to bring to pafs, in order to make way for truth and
righteoufnefs to take place therein ; and that his feed may
come forth and be gathered, and the power and kingdom of
our God and of his Chrifl made known and exalted in the
earth, unto* the ends thereof.
Dear friends and brethren, Be faithful till death, that a
crown of life you may obtain. All dwell in the love of
God in Chrifl Jefus, in union and peace in him ; to whomr
we tenderly commit you to keep and flrengthen you, blefs
and preferve you to the end of your days. In whofe dear
and tender love we remain
Your dear friends and brethren.
Stephen Crifp,
Geo. Whitehead,
Fra. Camfield,
James Park,
John Eli'on,
Peter Price,
John Field,
John Edridge.
Nicholas Gates,
Francis Stamper,
John Vaughton,
Gilbert Latey,
Charles Marfhal,
Rich. Needham,
James Martin,
Daniel Monro,
John Heywood,
George Bowles,
William Robinfon,
William Bingley,
John Butcher,
Benjamin Antrobu^,
Thefe names are fmce added, at the defire of the perfons
following :
Sam. Goodaker, Amb. Rigg, William Fallowfieldi
The Teftimony of Thomas Ellwood, &cj ixx*
POSTSCRIPT.
BEfore his death he wrote a little paper, defning all
friends every-where, that ufed to write to him about the
fufFerings and affairs of friends in their feveral countries,
fhould henceforth write to their feveral correfpondcnts in
London, to be communicated to the Second Day's Meeting,
to take care that they be anfwered.
Thomas Ellwood's Account of that eminent and
honourable Servant of the Lord, George Fox.
THIS holy man was raifed up by God in an extraor-
dinary manner, for an extraordinaiy work, even to
awaken the fleeping world, by proclaiming the mighty day
of the Lord to the nations, and publifhing again the ever-
lafting gofpel to the inhabitants of the earth, after the long
and difmal night of apoftacy and darknefs. For this work
the Lord began to prepare him by many and various trials
and exercifes from his very childhood ; and having fitted
and furnifhed him for it, he called him into it very young ;
and made him inftrumental, by the efFe6lual working of the
Holy Ghoft, through his minillry, to call many others into
the fame work, and to turn many thoufands from darknefs
to the light of Chrift, and from the power of Satan unto
God. I knew him not till the year 1660: from that time
to the time of his death, I knew him well, converfed with
him often, obferved him much, loved him dearly, and ho-
noured him truly ; and upon good experience can f;iy, he
was indeed an heavenly-minded man, zealous for the name
of the Lord, and preferred the honour of God bef(jrp all
things.
He was valiant for the truth, bold in afferting it, patient
in fuffering for it, unwearied in labouring in it, flcady in his
teflimony to it; immovable as a rock. Deep he was in di-
vine knowledge, clear in opening heavenly mylleries, plain
and powerful in preaching, fervent in prayer. He was
richly endued with heavenly wifdom, quick in difcerning,
found in judgment, able and ready in giving, dilcrect in
keeping counfel ; a lover of righteoufncfs, an encourager ot
K 2
IxxTi The Teflimony of Thomas Ellwood, Sec,
virtue, juftice, temperance, meeknefs, purity, chaflity, mo-
defty, humility, charity and felf-denial in all, both by word
and example. Graceful he was in countenance, manly
in perfonage, grave in gefture, courteous in converfation,
Tveighty in communication, inftru6live in difcourfe ; free
from afFe6lation in Ipeech or carriage. A fevere reprover
of hard and obflinate finners ; a mild and gentle admonifh-
er of fuch as were tender, and fenfible of their failings ;
not apt to refent perfonal wrongs ; eafy to forgive injuries ;
but zealoufly earneft where the honour of God, the profper-
ity of truth, the peace of the church were concerned. Very
tender, compaffionate, and pitiful he was to all that were
under any fort of afRiftion ; full of brotherly love, full of
fatherly care : for indeed the care of the churches of Chrifl
xvas daily upon him, the profperity and peace whereof he
fludioufly fought. Beloved he was of God, beloved of
God's people ; and (v/hich walj not the leaft part of his
honour) the common butt of all apoftates envy, whofe good
notwithftanding he earneflly fought.
He lived to fee the defire of his foul, the fpreading of
that blelTed principle of divine light through many of the
European nations, and not a few of the American iflands
and provinces, and the gathering many thoufands into an
eftabliftim.ent therein ; which the Lord vouchfafed him the
honour to be the firft effeftual publifher of in this latter
age of the world. And having fought a good fight, finilh-
ed his courfe, and kept the faith, his righteous foul, freed
from the earthly tabernacle, in wiiich he had led an exem-
plary life of holinefs, was tranflated into thofe heavenly
manfions, where Chrift our Lord went to prepare a place
for his ; there to poffefs that glorious crown of righteouf-
nefs which is laid up for, and fhall be given by the Lord
the righteous judge to all them that love his appearance.
Ages to come and people yet unborn (hall call him bleflfed,
and biefs the Lord for raifmg of him up : and bleffed
fliall we alfo be, if we fo walk as we had him for an exam-
ple : for whom this teftim.ony lives in my heart, He lived
and ditd the SERVANT of the LORD.
T. E.
4
IxxvH
The Appearance of the Lord's Everlafling Truth
breaking forth again in his Eternal Power in this
our Day and Age in ENGLAND
W Herein the Lord's mighty pov/er and word of hfe
hath been richly and freely preached, to the gather-
ing of many into reconciliation with God, by it ; to the
exaltation and glory of the great God, through the bring-
ing forth of the heavenly and fpiritual fruits, from fuch as
have been gathered by his eternal light, power, and Spirit
unto himfelf. And by the fowing to the Spirit in the hearts
of people, life eternal hath been reaped : that the flocks have
been gathered, which have the milk of the word plenteouf-
ly : that the riches of the word have flourifned, and migh-
tily abounded; and God's heavenly plough with his fpirit-
ual men hath gone on cheerfully, to the overturning the
fallow ground of the hearts that had not borne heavenly
fruit to God. And God's heavenly threfhers with his hea-
venly flail have with joy and delight threfhed out the chaff
and the corruptions that have been atop of God's feed and
wheat in man and woman : and thus have they threfhed in
hope, and are made partakers of their hope ; through which
God's feed is come into his garner.
O the unutterable glory and the inexpreffible excellency
of the everlafling glorious truth, gofpel, and word of life,
that the infinite, invifible, and wife God (who is over all)
hath revealed and manifefled ! And how have the profeff-
ors, priefts, and powers rifen up in oppofition againil his
children, that are born of the immortal feed by the word
of God ! And O how great have the perfecutions and re-
proaches, and fpoiling of goods been, that have been exe-
cuted upon them ! But they that have touched them, and
touch them, which are as dear to God as the apple of his
eye, how hath the Lord manifeiled himfelf to ftand by them,
in overthrowing powers, priefls, and Rates ! What changes
have there been fmcc 1644 and 1650, and 1652! How-
have the gaols been filled fince then in this nation with the
heirs of life, God's chofen ones, who had no helper in the
earth but the Lord and his Chrift ! So that truth's faithful
witneiles were fcarcely to be found but in gaols and prifons,
where' the righteous were numbered among the tranlgrc.lfors;
IxxvIII The Appearance of the Lord's Everkftlng Truth, &c.
who had neither ftafF nor bag from man, but the ftafF, the
bread of life, and the bag that holds the treafure that waxes
not old. But the Lord Jefus Chrift, that fent them forth,
was their exceeding great fupporter and upholder by his
eternal power and Spirit, both then and now.
G. F.
JOURNAL
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
LIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS, Sec.
GEORGE FOX.
THAT all may know the dealings of the Lord with
me, and the various exercifes, trials, and troubles
through which he led me, in order to prepare and fit me
for the work unto which he had appointed me, and may
thereby be drawn to admire and glorify his Infinite Wifdom
and Goodnefs ; I think fit, before I proceed to fet forth my
publick travels in the fervice of Truth, briefly to mention
how it was with me in my youth, and how the work of the
Lord was begun, and gradually carried on in me, even
from my childhood.
I was born in the month called July, in the year 1624,
at Drayton in the Clay, in Leicellerfhire. My father's
name was Chriftopher Fox. He was by profeffion a weav-
er, an honefl man, and there was a Seed of God in him.
The neighbours called him Righteous Chrifter. My mother
was an upright woman ; her maiden name was Mary Lago,
of the family of the Lago's, and of the ftock of the martyrs.
In my very young years I had a gravity and ftayednefs
of mind and fpirit not ufual in children; infomuch that
when I have feen old men carry themfelves lightly and wan-
tonly towards each other, a diflike thereof hath rifen in my
Jieart, and I have faid within myfelf, " If ever I come to
*' be a man, furely I fhould not do fo, nor be fo wanton."
2 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL.
When I came to eleven years of age, I knew purenefs
and rj^^hteoufnefs ; for while I was a child I was taupht how
to walk fo as to be kept pure. The Lord taught me to
be faithful in all things, and to a6l faithfully two ways, viz.
inwardly to Go d,- and outwardly to rnan ; and to keep to yea
and nay in all things. For the Lord (hewed me, though
the people of the world have mouths full of deceit and
changeable words, that I was to keep to yea and nay in all
things, that my words Ihould be few and favoury, feafoned
with grace ; and that I might not eat and drink to make
myfelf wanton, but for health, ufing the creatures in their
fervice, as fervants in their places, to the glory of him that
created them : they being in their covenant, and* I being
brought up into the covenant, as fanftified by the Word
which was in the beginning, by which all things are upheld,
wherein is unity with the creation.
But people being flrangers to the covenant of life with
God, they eat and drink to make themfelves wanton with
the creatures, wafting them upon their lufts, living in all
fiithinels, and^devouring the creation ; all this in the world,
in the pollutions thereof without God : therefore I was to
fhun all fuch.
As I grew up my relations thought to have made me a
prieft ; but others perfuaded to the contrary. Whereupon
I was put to a man who was a fhoe-maker by tr^de, and
dealt in wool. He alfo ufed grazing, and fold cattle; and
a great deal went through my hands. While I was with
him he was bleft, but after I left him he broke and came to
nothing. I never wronged man or woman in all that time ;
for the Lord's power was with me, and over me, to preferve
me. While I was in that fervice, I ufed in my dealings
the word j^ Verily] and it was a common faying among thofe
that knew me, " If George fays verily, there is no altering
" him." When boys and rude perfons would laugh at me :
I let them alone and went my way : but people had gene-
rally a love to me for my innocency and honefty.
When I came towards nineteen years of age, being up-
on bufinefs at a fair, one of my coufms, whofe name was
Bradford, a profeflTor, having another profelfor with him,
came and aflced me to drink part of a jug of beer with them,
I, being thirfty, went in with them; for I loved any who
had a I'enfe of good, or that fought after the Lord. When
we had drank a glafs apiece, they began to drink healths,
and called for more drink, agreeing together, That he that
1643] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 3
would not drink, fhould pay all. I was grieved that any,
who made profeflion of religion Jliould offer to do fo.
They grieved me very much, having never had fuch a thing
put to me before, by any fort of people. Wherefore I rofe
up, and putting my hand in my pocket, took out a groat,
and laid it upon the table before them, faying, " If it be
fo, I will leave you." So I went away ; and when 1 had
done my bufmefs returned home ; but did not go to bed
that night, nor could I fleep ; but fomctimes walked up
and down, and fometimes prayed, and cried to the Lord,
who laid unto me ; Q^ " Thou feed how young people
" go together: into vanity, and old people into the earth ;
*' thou muft forfake all, young and old, keep out of all, and
*' be as a flranger unto all."
Then at the command of God, the ninth of the feventh
month, 1643, I left my relations, and broke off all famili-
arity or fellowfhip with young or old. I paffed to Lutter-
worth where I flaid fome time. From thence I went to
Northampton, where alfo I made fome flay ; then paffed
to Newport-pagnel, in Buckinghamfnire ; where, after I had
(laid awhile I went to Barnet, in the fourth month called
June, in the year 1644. As I thus travelled through the
country, profeffors took notice of me, and fought to be ac-
quainted with me ; but I was afraid of them : for I was
Tenfible they did not poffefs what they profeffed. During
the time I was at Barnet, a ftrong temptation to defpair
came upon me. I then faw how Chrift was tempted, and
mighty troubles I was in. Sometimes I kept myleif retired
in my chamber, and often walked iolitary in the Chace to
wait upon the Lord.
I wondered why thefe things fhould come to me. I look-
ed upon myfelf, and faid, " Was I ever fo before ?" Then
I thought, becaufe I had, forfakcn my relations, I h^d done
amifs againft them. So I was brought to call to mind all
my time that I had fpent, and to conlider whether I had
wronged any : but temptations grew more and more, and I
was tempted almoil to defpair; and when Satan could not
effcft his defign upon me that way, he laid fnares and baits
to draw me to commit fome fm, whereby he might take
advantage to bring me to defpair. I was about twenty
years of age when thefe exercifes came upon me, and fome
years I continued in that condition in great trouble, and
fain I woi.ild have put it from me. I went to many a pviclt
to look for coinfort, but found no comfort from them.
L
4 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1644
From Barnet I went to London, where I took a lodging,
and was under great milerv and trouble there : for I looked
upon the areat profeiTcrs of the city of London, and faw
all wa$ dark and under the chain of darknefs. I had an
uncle there, one Pickering, a baptift, and they were tender
then : yet I could not impart my mind to him, nor join
with them ; for I faw all. young and old, where they were.
Some tender people would have had me flaid. but I was
fearful, and returned homeward into Leiceftei-fhire, having
a regard upon my mind to my parents and relations, left I
fhould grieve them ; who, I underftood, were troubled at
my abience.
Being returned into Leiceflerfhire, my relations would
have had me married ; but I told them I was but a lad,
and muft oet wifdom. Others would have had me into the
auxilian- band among the foldiery, but I refufed, and was
grieved that thev oflPered fuch things to me, being a tender
youth. Then I went to Co^'entr\^ where I took a cham-
ber for awhile at a profeffor's houfe, till people began to
be acquainted v/ith me ; for there were many tender people
in that tov.-n. After fome time I went into my own country
again, and continued about a year, in great forrow and trou-
ble, and walked many nights by myfelf.
Then the prieft of Drayton, the town of my birth, whofe
name \vas Nathaniel Stevens, came often to me, and I went
often to him ; and another prieft fometimes came with him ;
and thev would give place to me, to hear me ; and I would
afk them queftions, and reafon with them. This prieft
Stevens afked me, " Why Chrift cried out upon the crofs,
'' My Go?^ my God, why haft thou forfaken me ?" And
%vhy he faid, " If it be poffible, let this cup pafs fiom me ;
" yet not my will, but thine be done ?" I told him ; at that
time the fins of all mankind were upon him, and their in-
iquities and tranfgreffions, with which he was wounded ;
which he was to bear and to be an off*ering for, as he was
man, but died not as he was God ; fo, in that he died for
all men, tafting death for every man, he was an offering
for the fms of the whole world. This 1 fpoke, being at that
tim.e in a meafure fenhble of Chrift's fufferings. The prieft
laid, " It was a veiy good, full anfwer, and fuch a one as
'•' he had not heard/'. At that time he would applaud and
fpeak highly of me to others ; and what I faid in difcourfe
to him on week-days, he would preach of on firft-days,
1645] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 5
which gave me a diflike to him. This prieft afterwards be-
came my great perfecutor.
After this I went to another ancient prieft at Manfetter
in Warvvickfhire, and reafoned with him about the ground
of defpair and temptations ; but he was ignorant of my con-
dition : he bid me take tobacco and fmg pfalms. Tobacco
was a thing I did not love, and pfahns I was not in a ftate
to fmg ; I could not fmg. He bid me come again, and he
would tell me many things ; but when I came he was angry
and pettifli, for my former words had difpleafed him. He
told my troubles, forrows, and griefs to his fervants, fo that
it was got among the milk-lailes. It grieved me that I fhould
open my mind to fuch a one. I faw they were ail miferable
com.forters, and this increafed my troubles upon me. I
heard of a prieft living about Tamworth, who was account-
ed an experienced man. I went feven miles to him, but.
found him like an empty, hollow calk. I heard f)f one cal-
led Dr. Cradock, of Coventry, and went to him ; I afked
him the ground of temptations and defpair, and how trou-
bles came to be wrought in man ? He afked me, " Who
*' was Chrift's father and mother ?" I told him Mary was
his mother, and that he was fuppofed to be the fon of Jo-
feph ; but he was the Son of God. As we were walking to-
gether in his garden, the alley being narrow, I chanced, in
turning, to fet my foot on the fide of a bed ; at which he
raged as if his houfe had been on hre. Thus all our difcourfe
was loll, and I went away in forrow, worfe than I was when
1 came. I thought them miferable comforters, and faw they
were all as nothing to me ; for they could not reach my con-
dition. After this I went to another, one Macham, a prieft,
in high account. He would needs give me fome pliyfick,
and I was to have been let blood ; but they could not get one
drop of blood from me, either in arms or head, though they
endeavoured it, my body being, as it were, dried up with
forrows, grief, and troubles, which were fo great upon me,
that I could have wiftied I had never been born, or that
I had been born blind, that I might never have feen wick-
ednefs nor vanity ; and deaf, that I might never have heard
vain and wicked words, or the Lord's name blafphemcd.
When the time called Chriftmas came, while others were
feafting and fporting themfelves, t looked out poor widows
from houfe to houfe, and gave' them lome money. When
I was invited to marriages I went to none at all ; but the
next day, or foon after, 1 would go and vilit them ; and li
L 2
6 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1646
they v/ere poor I gave them fome money • for I had where-,
with both to keep myfelf from being chargeable to others, and
to adminiller fomething to the neceffities of others.
About the beginning of the year 1646, as I was going
into Coventry, a confideration arofe in me, how it was faid,
that " All chriflians are believers, both proteftants and pa-
pifts ;" and the Lord opened to me that if all were be-
lievers, then they were ail born of God, and palfed from
death to life ; and that none were true believers but fuch :
and though others fiiid they were believers, yet they were
not. At another time as I was walking in a field on a firft-
day morning, the Lord opened unto me, " That being bred
" at Oxford or Cambridge was not enough to fit and qua-
" lify men to be mini Tiers of Chrift :" and I wondered at it,
becaufe it was the common belief of people. But I faw it
clearly as the Lord opened it to me, and was fatisfied and
admired be goodnefs of the Lord, wI;io had opened this
thing unto me that morning. This ftruck at prieft Stevens's
miniftry, namely, that " to be bred at Oxford or Cam-
*' bridge was not enough to make a man fit to be a minifter
*' of Chrift." So that which opened in me, I faw fli-uck at
the priefVs miniftry. But my relations were much trou-
bled, thatj I would not go with them to hear the prieft ; for
I would go into the orchard or the fields, with my bible,
by myfelf. I afkcd them, did not the apoftle fay to be-
lievers, " That they needed no man to teach them, but as
" the anointing teacheth them ?" Though they knew this
was fcripture, and that it was true, yet they were grieved
becaufe I could not be fubjc6l in this matter, to, go to hear
the prieft with them. I faw that to be a true believer was
another thing than they looked upon it to be ; and I faw
that being bred at Oxford or Cambridge did not qualify or
fit a man to be a minifter of Chrift ; what then fliould I
follow fuch for ? So neither them, nor any of the diflent-
ing people could I join v/ith ; but was as a ftranger to all,
relying wholly upon the Lord Jefus Chrift.
At another time it was opened in me, " That God who
" made the world did not dwell in temples made with
" hands." This at the firft leemed ftrange, becaule both
priefts and people ufed to call their temples or churches,
dreadful places, holy giound, and the temples of God.
Bat the Lord fhewed me clearly, that he did not dwell in
thefc temples which men had commanded and fet up, but
in peoples hearts. Both Stephen and the apoftle Paul bore
1646] GEORGE FOX'3 JOURNAL. 7
teftimony, that he did not dwell in temples made with
hands, not even in that v/hich he had once commanded to
be built, fmce he put an end to the typical dil'penfation ;
but that his people were his temple, and he dwelt in them.
This opened in me, as I walked in the fields to my rela-
tion's houfe. When I came there, they told me Nathaniel
Stevens, the prieft, had been there, and faid, " He was
" afraid of me for going after new lights." I fmiled in my-
felf, knowing what the Lord had opened in me concerning
him and his brethren ; but 1 told not my relations, who
though they faw beyond the priefts, yet went to hear them,
and Ayere grieved becaufe I would not go alfo. But I
fhewed them by the fcriptures, there was an anointing
within man to teach him, and that the Lord would teach
his people himfeif. I had great openings concerning the
things written in the Revelations ; and when I Ipoke of
them, the priefts and profeffors would ^ay, that w is a fealed
book, and would have kept me out of it. But I told them,
Chrift could open the feals, and that they were the nearefl
things to us ; for the Epiftles were written to the faints that
lived in former ages, but the Revelations were written of
things to come.
After this I met with a fort of people that held, women
have no fouls (adding in a light manner) no more than a
goofe. -I reproved them, and told them that was not right :
for Mary faid, " My foul doth magnify the Lord, and my
** fpirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
Removing to another place I came among a people that
relied much on dreams. 1 I told them except they could
diftinguifh between dream and dream they would confound
all together; for there were three forts of dreams: multitude
of bufinefs fometimes caufed dr-eams ; and there were whif-
perings of Satan in man in the night feafon ; and there were
fpeakings of God to man in dreams. But thefe people came
out of thefe things, and at lail becam.e friends.
Though I had great openings, yet great trouble and
temptations came many times upon me, fo that when it was
day I wifhed for night, and when it was night I wiflied for
day ; and bv reafon of the openings I had in my troubles,
I could fay as David faid, " Day unto day uttereth Ipcech,
" and night unto night fheweth knowledge." When I had
openings they anfwered one another, and anfwercd the
fcriptures; for I had great openings of the fcriptures: an4
? GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1647
when I was in troubles, one trouble alfo anfwered to
another.
About the beginning of the year 1647 ^ ^^^ moved of
the Lord to go into Derbyfhirc, where I met with fome
friendly people, and had many difcourfes with them. Then
palling into the Peak-country, I met with more friendly
people, and with fome in empty high notions. Travelling
through fome parts of Leicefterfhire, and into Nottingham-
fliire, I met with a tender people, and a very tender wo-
man, whofe name was Elizabeth Hootton. With thefe I
had fome meetings and difcourfes ; but my troubles conti-
nued, and I was often under great temptations. I failed
much, walked abroad' in folitary places many days, and
often took my bible, and fate in hollow trees and lonefome
places till night came on ; and frequently in the night
walked mournfully about by myfelf : for I was a man of
forrows in the time of the firfl workings of the Lord in me.
During all this time I was never joined in profeffion of
religion with any, but gave up myfelf to the Lord, having
forlaken all evil company, taken leave of father and mo-
ther, and all other relations, and travelled up and down as
a flranger in the earth, which way the Lord inclined my
heart ; taking a chamber to myfelf in the town where I
came, and tarrying fometimes more, fometimes lefs in a
place : for I durfl not flay long in a place, being afraid
both of profelFor and profane, left, being a tender young
man, I fhould be hurt by converfing much with either.
For which reafon I kept much as a ftranger, feeking hea-
venly wifdom, and getting knowledge from the Lord ; and
was brought off from outward things, to rely on the Lord
alone. Though my exercifes and troubles were very great,
yet were they not fo continual but that I had fome inter-
milTions, and was fometimes brought into fuch an heavenly
joy, that I thought I had been in Abraham's bofom. As
I cannot declare the mifery I was in, it was fo great and
heavy upon mc, fo neither can I fet forth the mercies
of God unto mc in all my mifery. O the everlafting love
of God to my foul, when I was in great diftrels ! when my
troubles and torments were great, then was his love exceed-
ing great. Thou, Lord, makeft a fruitful field a barren
vvildernels, and a barren wildernefs a fruitful field ! thou
bringell down and fetteft up ! thou killed and makeft alive !
all honour and glory be to thee, O Lord of Glory ! The
knowledge of thcc in the Spirit is life ; but that knowledge
1647] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 9
which is flefhly works death. While there is this knowledge
in the flefh, deceit and felf will conform to any thing, and
will fay Yes, Yes, to that it doth not know. The know-
ledge which the world hath, of what the prophets and
apoftles fpake, is a flefhly knowledge ; and the apoflates
from the life, in which the prophets and apoftles were, have
got their words, the holy fcriptures, in a form, but not in the
life nor fpirit that gave them forth. So they all lie in con-
fufion ; and are making provifion for the flefh, to fulfil the
lulls thereof, but not to fulfil the law and command of
Chrift in his power and Spirit : tor that, they lay they can-
not do ; but to fulfil the lufts of the flefli, that they can do
with delight.
After I had received that opening from the Lord, that to
be bred at Oxford or Cambridge, was not fufiicient to fit a
man to be a'minifter of Chrift, I regarded the priefts lefs,
and looked more alter the diilenting people. Among them I
faw there was fome tendernefs ; and many of them came af-
terwards to be convinced, for they had fome openings. But
as I had foriaken the priefts, fo I left the feparate preachers
alfo, and thofe called the moft experienced people ; for I
faw there was none among them ail that could fpeak to my
condition. And when all my hopes in them and in all m.en.
were gone, fo that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor
could tell what to do ; then, O then, I heard a voice which
faid, " There is one, even Chrift Jefus, that can fpeak to
thy condition." When I heard it, my heart did leap for
joy. Then the Lord let me fee why there was none upon
the earth that could fpeak to my condition, namely, that 1
might give him all the glory. For all are concluded under
fin, and fhut up in unbelief, as I had been, that Jefus
Chrift might have the pre-eminence, who enlightens, and
gives'grace, faith, and power. Thus when God doth work,
v/ho fhall let it ? This I knew experimentally. My defires
after the Lord grew ftronger, and zeal in the pure kno\v'-
ledge of God, and of Chrift alone, without the help of any
man, book, or writing. For though I read the icnptures
that fpake of Chrift and of God, yet I knev/ him not but
by revelation, as he who hath the key did open, and as the
Father of life drew me to his Son by his Spirit, Then the
Lord gently led me along, and let me fee his love, which
was endlefs and eternal, furpaffing all the knowledge that
men have in (he natural ftate, or can get by hiftory or
books. That love let mc fee invfcif as I was without lum ;
10 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1647
and I was afraid of all company : for I faw them perfeft-
]y, where they were, through the love of God which let me
fee myfelf. I had not fellowfhip with any people, priefts,
nor profelTors, nor any fort of feparated people, but with
Chrift who hath the key, and opened the door of light and
life unto me. I was afraid of all carnal talk and talkers,
for I could fee nothing but corruptions, and the life lay
under the burden of corruptions. When I was in the
deep, under all fhut up, I could not believe that I fhould
ever overcome ; my troubles, my forrows, and my tempta-
tions were fo great, that I often thought I fhould have de-
fpaired, I was fo tempted. But when Chrift opened to me
how he was tempted by the fame devil, and had overcome
him, and had bruifed his head ; and that through him and
his power, light, grace, and Spirit, I fhould overcome alfo,
I had confidence m him. So he it was that opened to me
when I was fhut up, and had neither hope nor faith. Chrift,
who had enlightened me, gave me his light to believe in,
and gave me hope, which is himfelf revealed in me, and
gave me his fpirit and grace, which I found fufficient in the
deeps and in weaknefs. Thus in the deepeft miferies, in
the greateft forroxvs and temptations that beiet me, the Lord
in his mercy did keep me. I found two thirfts in me ; the
one after the creatures, to have got help and ftrength there ;
and the other after the Lord the Creator, and his Son Jefus
Chrift ; and I faw all the world could do me no good. If
I had had a king's diet, palace and attendance, all would
have been as nothing ; for nothing gave me comfort but the
Lord by his power. I faw profeflbrs, priefts, and people,
were whole and at eafe in that condition which was my mi-
fery, and they loved that which 1 would have been rid of.
But the Lord did ft ay my delires upon himfelf, from whom
my help came, and my care was caft upon him alone.
Therefore, all wait patiently upon the Lord, whatfoever
condition you be in : wait in the grace and truth that comes
by Jefus; for if- ye fo do, thci;e is a promife to you, and
the Lord God will fulfil it in you. Bleffed are all they in-
deed that do indeed hunger and thirft after righteoufnefs,
they fliall be fatisfied with it. I have found it fo, praifed
be the Lord who fillcth with it, and fatisfieth the defires of
the hungry foul. O let the houfe of the fpiritual Ifrael fay,
His mercy endureth for ever! It is the great .love ot God,
to make a wilderncfs of that which is plcafant to the out-
ward c)e and llcftily mind ; and to make a fruitful field of
1647] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 11
a barren wildernefs. This is the great work of God. But
while people's minds run in the earthly, after the creatures
and changeable things, changeable ways and religions, j^nd
changeable uncertain teachers, their minds are in bondage,
and they are brittle and changeable, toffed up and down
with windy doftrines, thoughts, notions, and things ; their
minds being out of the unchangeable truth in the inward
parts, the light of Jefus Chrift, which would keep them to
the unchangeable. He is the way to the Father; who in
all my troubles preferved me by his Spirit and power,
praifed be his holy name for ever !
Again, I heard a voice which faid, Thou ferpent, thou
doll feek to deftroy the life, but canR not ; for the fword
which keepeth the tree of life fliall deflroy thee. So Chrift,
the Word of God, that bruifed the head of the ferpent, the
deftroyer, preferved me ; my mind being joined to his good
feed that bruifed the head of this ferpent, the deftroyer.
This inward life fprung up in me, to anfwer all the oppof-
ing profelfors and priefts, and brought fcriptures to my
memory to refute them with.
At another time I faw the great love of God, and was
filled with admiration at the inhnitenefs of it. I faw what
was caft out from God, and what entered into God's king-
dom; and how by Jefus, the opener of the door by his
heavenly key, the entrance was given. I faw death, how
ft had paffed upon all men, and oppreflfed the feed of God
in man, and in me ; and how I in the feed came forth, and
what the promife was to. Yet it was fo, that there feemed
to be two pleading in me ; and queftionings arole in my
mind about gifts and prophecies, and I was tempted again
to defpair, as if I had finned againft the Holy Ghoft. I
was in great perplexity and trouble for many days ; yet I
gave up myfelf to the Lord ftill. One day, when I had
been walking folitarily abroad, and was come home, I was
taken up in the love of God, fo that I could not but ad-
mire the grcatnels of his love ; and while I was in that con-
dition, it was opened unto me by the eternal light and pow-
er, and I therein clearly faw. That all vyas done and to be
done in and by Chrift ; and how he conquers and defiroys
this tempter the devil, and all his works, and is atop of
him; and that all tJicle troubles were good for me, and
temptations for the trial of my faith, which Chrift had giv-
en me. The Lord opened me, that I faw through all thefe
troubles and temptations. My living laith was railed, that
M
la GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1647
I faw all was done by Chrift the life, and my belief was in
him. When at any time my condition was veiled, my fe-
cret belief was ftayed firm, and hope underneath held me, as
an anchor in the bottom of the fea, and anchored my immor-
tal foul to its bifliop, caufing it to fwim above the fea, the
world, where all the raging waves, foul weather, tempefls
and temptations are. But O ! then did I fee my troubles,
trials, and temptations more clearly than ever I had done.
As the light appeared, all appeared that is out of the light ;
darknefs, death, temptations, the unrighteous, the ungodly ;
all was manifeft and feen in the light. After this, a pure
fire appeared in me : then I faw how he fat as a refiner's
fire, and as the fuller's fope. Then the fpiritual difcerning
came into me ; by which I difcerned my own thoughts,
groans, and fighs ; and what it was that veiled me, and what
it was that opened me. That which could not abide in the
patience, nor endure the fire, in the light I found to be the
groans of the flelh, that could not give up to the will of
God ; which had fo veiled me, that I could not be patient
in all trials, troubles, anguiflies, and perplexities ; could
not give up felf to die by the crofs, the power of God, that
the living and quickened might follow him, and that that
which would cloud and veil from the prefence of Chrift,
that which the fword of the Spirit cuts down, and which
muft die, might not be kept alive. I difcerned the groans
of the Spirit, which opened me, and made interceflion to
God : in which Spirit is the tnae waiting upon God, for the
redemption of the body, and of the whole creation. By this
true Spirit, in which the true fighing is, I faw over the falfe
fighings and groanings. By this invifible Spirit I difcerned
all the falfe hearing, the falfe feeing, and the falfe fmelling,
which was above the Spirit, quenching and grieving it; and
that all that were there were in confufion and deceit, where
the falfe alking and praying is, in deceit and atop, in that
nature and tongue that takes God's holy name in vain,
wallows in the Egyptian fea, and afketh but hath not ; for
they hate his light, refift the Holy Ghoft, turn the grace
into wantonnefs, rebel againft the Spirit, and are erred from
the faith they- fhould afk in, and from the Spirit they fhould
pray by. He that knoweth thefe things in the true Spirit
can witnefs them. The divine light of Chrift manifefteth
all things, the fpiritual fire tricth and fevereth all things.
Several things did I then fee, as the Lord opened them to
me ; for he fliewed me that which can live in his holy
1647] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ij
refining fire, and that can live to God under his law. He
made me fenfible, how the law and the prophets were until
John ; and how the leaft in the everlafting kingdom of God
is greater than John. The pure and perfect law of God is
over the fleih, to keep it and its -works, which are not per-
fe6l, under, by the perfeft law : and the law of God which
is perfeft, anfwers the perfe6l principle of God in every one.
This law the Jews, the prophets, and John were to perform
and do. None knows the giver of this law but by the Spirit
of God ; neither can any truly read it, or hear its voice, but
by the Spirit of God. He that can receive it, let him, John,
who was one of the greateft prophets that was born of a wo-
man, bore witnefs to the light which Chrifl, the great heaven-
ly prophet, hath enlightened every man that cometh into thei
world withal ; that they might believe in it, become the
children of light, and fo have the light of life, and not come
into condemnation. For the true belief ftands in the light
that condemns all evil ; and the devil, who is the prince of
darknefs, and would draw out of the light into condemna-
tion. They that walk in this light, come to the ,, mountain
of the houfe of God, eflablifhed above all mountains, and
to God's teaching, who will teach them his ways. Thefe
things were opened to me in the light.
I faw alfo the mountains burning up, and the rubbifb,
the rough, crooked ways and places made fmooth and plain,
that the Lord might come into his tabernacle. Thefe things
are to be found in man's heart ; but to fpeak of thefe things
being within, feemed ftrange to the rough, crooked, and
mountainous ones. Yet the Lord faith, " O earth, hear
" the word of the Lord !" The law of the Spirit crolTeth
the flefhly mind, fpirit, and will, which lives in diiobedi-
ence, and doth not keep within the law of the Spirit. 1 faw
this law was the pure love of God which was upon me, and
which I muft go through, though I was troubled while I
was under it ; for I could not be dead to the law but
through the law, which did judge and condemn that which
is to be condemned. I fav/, many talked of the laiv, who
had never known the law to be their fchool-mafter j and
many talked of the gofpel of Chrifl:, who had never known
life and immortality brought to light in them by it. You
that have been under that fchool-mafter, and the condemn-
ation of it, know thefe things ; for though the Lord m that
day opened thefe things unto me in fecret, they have been
fmce publifhed by his eternal Spirit, as on the houfe-top.
M 2
14 GEOPvGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1647
As you are brought into the lan% and through the law to
be dead to it, and witnefs the righteoufners ot the law ful-
filled in you, ye will afterwards come to know what it is to
be brought into the faith, and through faith from under the
law ; and abiding in the faith, which Chrift is the author of,
ye will have peace and accefs to God. But if ye look out
from the faith, and from that which would keep you in the
victory, and look after flefhly tilings or words, ye will be
brought into bondage to the flefh again, and to the law
which takes hold upon the flelh and fin, and worketh wrath,
and the works of the flefh will appear again. This law of
God takes hold upon the law of fin and death ; but the
law of faith, the law of the Spirit of life, which is the love
of God, and which comes by Jeius (who is the end of the
law for righteoufnefs-fake) makes free from the law of fin
and death. The law of life fiefhly-minded men do not
know ; yet they will tempt you, to draw you from the Spi-
rit into the flelh, and fo into bondai'^c. Therefore ye, who
know the love of God, and the law" of his Spirit, and the
freedom that is in Jefus Ghrifl, ftand fafl; in him, in that
divine faith which he is the author of in you ; and be not
entangled with the yoke of bondage. For the miniftry of
Chrift Jefus, and his teaching, bringeth into liberty and
freedom ; but the miniftry that is of man, and by man,
which ftands in the will of man, bringeth into bondage, and
u«4er the fhadow of death and darknels. Therefore nonq
can be minifters of Chrift Jefus but in the eternal Spirit,
which was before the icriptures were given forth ; for if they
have not his Spirit, they are none of his. Though they
may have his light to condemn them that hate it, yet they
can never bring any into unity and feilowfhip in the Spirit,
except they be in it ; for the feed of God is a burthenfome
ftone to the felfifh, fleflily, earthly will, which reigns in ils
C'/.-n knowledge and undcrftanding that muft perilh, and its
own wifdom that is devilifh. The Spirit of God is grieved,
ve.ved, and quenched with that which brings into the flefhly
bondages ; aiid that which wars agairill the Spirit of God
muft be mortified by it ; for the flcTn lufteth againft the
Spirit, and the Spirit againft the flefti, and ihefe are con-
trarv the one to the other. The flcfti would have its liber-
ty, and the Spirit would have its liberty; but the Spirit is
to have its libcity, and not the flclh. If then fore ye quench
the Spirit, join to the flefli, and be fcrvants of it, then ye
are judged and tormented by the Spirit; but if ye join to
1647I GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 15
the Spirit, and ferve God in it, ye have hberty and vi6lory
over the flefh and its works. Therefore keep in the daily
crofs, the power of God, by which ye may witnefs all that
to be crucified which is contrary to the will of God, and
which fhall not come into his "kmgdom. Thefe things are
here mentioned and opened for information, exhortation,
and comfort to others, as the Lord opened them unto me
in that day. In that day I wondered that the children of
Ifrael fliould murmur for water and vi6baals, for I could
have faded long without murmuring or minding victuals.
But I was judged at other times, that I was not contented
to be fometimes without the water and bread of Hfe, that I
might learn to know how to want, and how to abound.
I heard of a woman in Lancalhire, who had fafled two-
and-twenty days, and I travelled to fee her; but when I
came to her, I faw fire was under a temptation. When I
had fpoken to her what I had from the Lord, I left her,
her father being high in profeffion. Palling on, I went
among the profefTors at Duckenfield and Manchefter, wliere
I ftaid awhile and declared truth among them. There were
fome convinced, who received the Lord's teaching, by v/hich
they were confirmed, and flood in the truth. The profel-
fors were in a rage, all pleading for fin and imperfeftion ;
and could not endure to hear talk of perfection, or of a
holy and finlefs life. But the Lord's power was over all ;
though thev v/ere chained under darknefs and fin, whi^h
they pleaded for, and quenched the tender thing in them.
About this time there was a great meeting of the baptifts
at Broughton, in Leiceflerftiire, with fome that had Sepa-
rated from them. People of other counties went thither,
and I went alfo. Not many of the baptifts came, but
abundance of other people were there ; and the Lord open-
ed my mouth, and his everlafiing truth was declared
amongfl them, and the power of the Lord was over them
all. In that day the Lord's power began to fpring ; I had
great openings in the fcripturcs, and feveral were convinced
in thofe parts, and turned from darknefs to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God : his power they did receive,
and by it many were raifed up to praife God. When I
reafoned with profellbrs and other people, fome were con-
vinced, and did fi.and. Yet I was under great temptaiions
fometimes, and my inward fulTerings were heavy ; hut I
could find none to open my condition to but the Lord
alone, unto whom I cried night and day. I went back
l6 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1647
into Nottinghamfhire, where the Lord fhewed me, that the
natures of thofe things which were hurtful without, were
within in the hearts and minds of wicked men. The na-
tures of dogs, fwine, vipers, of Sodom and Egypt, Pharaoh,
Cain, Ifhmael, Efau. &c . The natures of thefe I faw with-
in, though people had been looking without. I cried to
the Lord, faying, " Why Ihould I be thus, feeing I was
" never additted to commit thofe evils ?" And the Lord
anfwered, " It was needful I fhould have a fenfe of all con-
'• ditions, how elfe fliould I fpeak to all conditions ?" In
this I faw the infinite love of God. I faw alfo, that there
was an ocean of darknefs and death ; but an infinite ocean
of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darknefs.
In that alfo I faw the infinite love of God, and I had great
openings. As I was walking by the fteeple-houfe fide in
the town of Mansfield, the Lord faid unto me, " That
" which people trample upon mult be thy food." And as
the Lord fpake he opened to me, that people and profelTors
trampled upon the life, even the life of Chrift was trampled
upon ; they fed upon words, and fed one another with
words ; but trampled under foot the blood of the Ion of
God, which blood was my life : and they lived in their airy
notions talking of him. It feemed llrange to me at the firfl,
that I Ihould feed on that which the high profeflTors tram-
pled upon ; but the Lord opened it clearly to me by his
eternal Spirit and power.
• Then came people from far and near to fee me ; but I
was fearful of being drawn out by them : yet I was made
to open things to them. One Brown had great prophecies
and fights upon his death-bed of me. He fpoke openly,
of what I fliould be made inftrumental by the Lord to
bring forth. And of others he fpoke, that they fhould
come to nothing 1 which was fulfilled on fome, who then
v/ere fomethinfr in fhew. When this man was buried, a
great work of the Lord fell upon me, to the admiration of
many, who thought I had been dead: and manv came to
iee me for about fourteen days. I was very much altered
in countenance and perfon, as if my body had been new-
moulded or changed. While I was in that condition, I
had a fenfe and dilcerning given me by the Lord, through
which I faw plainly, that when many people talked of- God
and of Chrift, &c. the ferpent fpoke in them; but thi»
was hard to be borne. Yet the work of the Lord went on
in fome, and my lorrows and troubles began to wear ofF,
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 17
and tears of joy dropped from me, fo that I could have
wept night and day with tears of joy to the Lord, in humi-
lity and brokennefs of heart. I faw into that which was
without end, things which cannot be uttered, and of the
greatnefs and infinitcnefs of the love of God, which cannot
be exprelTed by words. For I had been brought through
the very ocean of darknefs and death, and through and
over the power of Satan, by the eternal glorious power of
Chrift ; even through that darknefs was I brought which
covered over all the world, which chained down ail, and
Ihut up all in the death. The fame eternal power of God
which brought me through thefe things, was that which af-
terwards fhook the nations, priefts, profeflbrs, and people.
Then could I fay, I had been in fpiritual Babylon, Sodom,
Egypt, and the grave ; but by the eternal power of God
I was come out of it, was brought over it, and the power
of it into the power of Chrift. And I faw the harveft white,
and the feed of God lying thick in the ground, as ever did
wheat that was fown outwardly, and none to gather it ; for
this I mourned with tears. A report went abroad of me,
that I was a young man who had a difcerning fpirit ; where-
upon many came to me from far and near, profeiTors, priefts,
and people. The Lord's power broke forth, and I had
great openings and prophecies, and fpoke unto them of
the things of God, which they heard with attention and li-
lence, and went away and fpread the fame thereof. Then
came the tempter and let upon me again, charging me. that
1 had fmned againft the Holy Ghoft ; but I could not tell
in what. Then Paul's condition came before me, how after
he had been taken up into the third heavens, and feen things
not lawful to be uttered, a meffenger of Satan was fent to
buffet him. Thus by the power of Chrift I got over that
temptation alfo.
In the year 1648, as I was fitting in a friend's houfe in
Nottinghamfhire (for by this time the power of God had
opened the hearts of fome to receive the word of life and
reconciliation) I faw there was a great crack to go through-
out the earth, and a great fmoke to go as the crack went,
and that after the crack there fhould be a great fliaking.
This was the earth in people's hearts, which was to be fha-
ken before the feed of God was raifed out of the earth.
And it was fo; for the Lord's power began to ftiake them,
and great meetings we began to have, and a mighty power
i8 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1648
and work of God there was amongfl people, to the aflo-
nifliment of both people and priefls.
There was a meeting of priefts and profeffors at a juftice's
houfe, and I went among them. Here they difcourled how
Paul faid, " He had not known fm but by the law, which
*' laid. Thou fhalt not luft :" and they held that to be fpo-
ken of the outward law. But I told them, Paul fpoke that
after he was convinced ; for he had the outward law before,
and was bred up in it, when he was in the lull of perfecu-
tion; but this was the law of God in his mind which he
ferved, which the law in his members warred againft : for
that which he thought had been life to him, proved death.
So the more fober of the priefls and profeliors confented that
it was not the outward law, but the inward, which fliewed
the inward luft which Paul fpake of after he was convinced ;
for the outward law took hold of the outward atlion, but
the inward law of the inward luft.
After this I went again to Mansfield, where was a great
meeting of profeliors and people, where I was mox'ed to pray;
and the Lord's power was fo great, that the houfe feemed to
be fliaken. When I had done, fome of the profeflbrs faid,
"It was now as in the days of the apoftles, when the houfe
" v/as ftiaken where they were." After I had prayed, one
of the profeflbrs would pray ; which brought deadnefs and
a veil over them. Others of the profeliors were grieved at
him, and told him, " It was a temptation upon him."
Then he'came to me, and defired that I would pray again ;
but I could not pray in man's will.
Soon after there was another great meeting of profeliors,
and a captain named Amor Stoddard came in. They were
difcourfnig of the blood of Chrift. As they were difcourf-
ing of it, I law, through the immediate opening of the
invifible Spirit, the blood of Chrift ; and cried out among
them, faying, " Do ye not fee the blood of Chrift ? See it
*' in your hearts, to Iprinkle your hearts and confciences
" from dead works, to ler\'e the living God." For I faw the
blood of the ncw^ covenant, how it came into the heart.
This flartled the profeffors, who would have the blood only
without them, and not in them. But captain Stoddard was
reached, and faid, " Let the youth fpeak, hear the youth
" fpeak ;" v/hen he faw they endeavoured to bear me down
witli many words.
There were alio a company of priefts, l^at were looked
upon to be tender ; one ol their names was Kellet, and le-
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 19
veral tender people went to hear them. I was moved to
go after them, and bid them mind the Lord's teaching in
their inward parts. Prieft Kellet was againft parfonages
then : but afterwards he got a great one, and turned perfe-
cutor.
After I had fome fei-vice in thefe parts, I went through
Derbyfliire into my own country Leicefterfhire again, and
feveral tender people were convinced. Pafhng thence, I
met with a gl^eat company of profeflbrs in Warwickfhire,
who were praying and expounding the fcriptures in the
fields. They gave the bible to me, and I opened it on the
fifth of Matthew, where Chrift expounded the law ; and I
opened the inward ftate to them, and outward ftate ; upon
which they fell into a fierce contention, and parted : but
the Lord's power got ground.
Then I heard of a great m.eeting to be at Leicefter for a
difpute, wherein prefbyterians. independents, baptifts, and
common-prayer-men, were faid to be all concerned. The
meeting was in a fteeple-houfe ; to which I was moved by
the Lord God to go, and be amongft them. I heard their
difcourfe and reafonings, fome being in pews, and the prieft
in the pulpit, abundance of people being gathered together.
At laft one woman afked a queflion out of Peter, What
that birth was, viz. A being born again of incorruptible
feed, by the Word of God, that liveth and abideth for ever?
The prieft faid to her, I permit not a woman to fpeak in
the church ; though he had before given liberty for any to
fpeak. Whereupon I was wrapped up as in a rapture, in
the Lord's power ; and I ftepped up, and afked the prieft,
Doft thou call this place (the fteeple-houfe) a church ? or
doft thou call this mixed multitude a church ? For the wo-
man afking a queftion, he ought to have anfwered it, having
given liberty for any to fpeak. But, inftcad of anfwering
me,, he afked me. What a church was? I told him, The
church was the pillar and ground of truth, made up of liv-
ing ftones, living members, a fpiritual houftiold, which
Chrift was the head of: but he was not the head of a mix-
ed multitude, or of an old houfe made up of lime, ftones,
and wood. This fet them all on a fire. • The prieft came
down from his pulpit, and others out of their pews, and the
difpute there was marred. 1 went to a great inn, and there
difputed the thing with the priefts and profeifors, who were
all on fire. But I maintained the true church, and* the true
head thereof, over their heads, till they ail gave out and
N
20 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1648
fled away. One man feemed loving, and appeared for a
while to join with me ; but he foon turned againft me,
and joined with a pried, in pleading for infant-baptifm,
though himfelf had been a baptift before ; fo he left me
alone. Howbeit, there were feveral convinced that day ;
the woman that afked the queftion was convinced, and her
family : and the Lord's power and glory fliined over all.
After (his I returned into Nottinghamfhire again, and
went into the Vale of Beavor. As I went, I preached re-
pentance to the people. There were many convinced in
the Vale of Beavor, in many towns ; for I ftaid feme weeks
amongft them. One morning, as I was fitting by the fire,
a great cloud came over me, a temptation befet me ; and I
fat ftill. It was faid, " All things come by nature:" and
the elements and flars came over me, fo that I was in a
manner quite clouded with it. But as I fat flill and faid
nothing, the people of the houfe perceived nothing. And
as I fat flill under it and let it alone, a living hope and a
true voice arofe in me, which faid, " There is a living God-
" who made all things." Immediately the cloud and tempt-
ation vaniflied away, and life rofe over it all ; my heart was
glad, and I praifed the living God. After fome time I
met with fome people who had a notion that there was no
God, but that all things come by nature. I had a great
difpute with them, and overturned them, and made fome
of them confefs, that there is a living God. Then I faw
that it was good that I had gone through that exercife. We
had great meetings in thofe parts ; for the power of the Lord
broke through in that fide of the country. Returning into
Nottinghamfhire, I found there a company of ihattered
baptifls, and others. The Lord's power wrought mightily,
and gathered many of them. Afterwards I went to Mans-
field and there-away ; where the Lord's power was wonder-
fully manifefted bolh at Mansfield, and other towns there-
abouts. In Derbyfliire the mighty power of God wrought
in a wonderful manner. At Eton, a town near Derby, there
Was a meeting of friends, where appeared fuch a mighty
powej of God that they were greatly fhaken, and many
mouths were opened in the power of the Lord God. Many
were moved by the Lord to go to lleeple-houfes, to the
priefls and people, to declare the everlafting truth unto
them.
At a certain time when I was at Mansfield there was a
fitting of the juflices aboi*r hiring fervants ; and it was up-
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 21
on me from the Lord to go and fpeak to the jafiices, that
they fhould not opprefs the fervants in their wages. So I
walked towards the inn where they fat ; but finding a com-
pany of fiddlers there, I did not go in, but thought to
come in the morning, when I might have a more ferious
opportunity to dilcourle with them, not thinking that a iea-
fonable time. But when I came again in the morning, they
were gone, and I was flruck even bhnd, that I could not
fee. I inquired of the inn-keeper, where llie juflices were
to fit that day? He told me, At a town eight miles off.
My fight began to come to me again ; and 1 went and ran
thitherward as fall as I could. When I was come to the
houfe where they were, and many fervants with them, I
exhorted the juftices not to opprefs the fervants in their wa-
ges, but to do that which was right and juft to them; and
I exhorted the fervants to do their duties, and ferve honeft-
ly, .&c. They all received my exhortation kmdly, for I was
moved of the Lord therein.
Moreover, I was moved to go to feveral courts and flee-
ple-houfes at Mansfield and other places, to warn them to
leave off oppreffion and oaths, and to turn from deceit to
the Lord, and do juftly. Particularly at Mansfield, after
I had been at a court there, I was moved to go and fpeak
to one of the wickedeft men in the country, one who was a
common drunkard, a noted whoremafter, and a rhime-ma-
ker; and I reproved him, in the dread of the mighty God,
for his evil courfes. When I had done fpeaking, and left
him, he came after me, and told me, He was i'o fmitten
xvhen I fpake to him, that he had fcarce any ftrength left
in him. So this man was convinced, turned from his wic-
kednefs, and remained an honeft, fober man, to the aflo-
nifhment of the people who had known him before. Thus
the work of the Lord went forward, and many were turned
from darknefs to iight^ within the compafs of thefe three
years, 1646. 1647, and 1648. Divers meetings of friends,
in feveral places, were then gatliered to God's teaching, by
his light, Spnit, and power : for the Lord's power broke
forth daily more and more wonderfull}%
Now was I come up in Spirit, through the flaming fword,
into the paradife of God. All things were new ; and all
the creation gave another fmell unto me than before, beyond
what words can utter. I knew nothing but purenefs, inno-
cency, and righteoufnefs, being renewed up into the image
of God by Chnfl Jefus ; fo that I was come up to the Hate
N 2
32 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1648
of Adam, which he was in before he fell. The creation
was opened to me ; and it was Ihewed me, how ail things
had their names given them, according to their nature and
virtue. I was at a ftand in my mind, whether I fhould
praftice phyfick for the good of mankind, feeing the nature
and virtues of the creatures were fo opened to me by the
Lord. But I was immediately taken up in Spirit, to fee
into another or more fleadfaft ftate than Adam's in innocen-
cy, even into a ftate in Chrift Jcfus, that fhould never fall.
The Lord fhewed me, that Inch as were faithful to him, in
the power and light of Chrift, fliovild come up into that
ftate in which Adam was before he fell ; in which the ad-
mirable works of the creation, and the virtues thereof may
be known, through the openings of that divine Word of
wifdoni and power by which they were made. Great things
did the Lord lead me into, and wonderful depths were
opened unto me, beyond what can by words be declared ;
but as people come into fubje6lion to the Spirit of God,
and grow up in the image and power of the Almighty, they
may receive the word of wifdom that opens all things, and
come to know the hidden unity in the Eternal Being.
Thus travelled I in the Lord's fen'ice, as he led me.
When I came to Nottingham, the mighty power of God
was there among friends. From thence I went to Claufon
in Leicefterfhire, in the Vale of Bcavor, and the mighty
power of God appeared there alfo, in feveral towns and
villages where friends were gathered. While I was there,
the Lord opened to me three things, relating to thofe three
great profeflions in the world, law, phyfick, and divinity (fo
called.) He fhewed me, that the phylicians were out of the
wifdom of God, by which the creatures were made; and
knew not the virtues of the creatures, becaufe they were out
of the Word of wifdom, by which they were made. He
fhewed me, the priefts were out of the true faith, which
Chrifl is the author of; the faith which purifies, gives vic-
tory, and brings people to have accefs to God, by which
they pleafe God; the myftery of which faith is held in a
pure confcience. He fliewed me alfo, that the lawyers ^vcre
out of the equity, out of the true juftice, and out of the law
of God, which went over the firft tranlgrelhon, and over all
fm, and anfwcred the Spirit of God, that was grieved and
tranlgrefTed in man. And that thefe three, the pliyficians,
the priefts, and the lawyers, niled the world out of the wif-
jiom, out of the faith, and out of the equity a.nd lavy of
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 23
God ; the one pretending the cure of the body, the other
the cure of the foul, and the third the prote6lion of the pro-
perty of the people. But I Icivv they were all out of the
wifdom, out of the faith, out of the equity and perfect law
of God. And as the Lord opened thefe things unto me,
I felt his power went forth over all, by which all might be
reformed, if they would receive and bow unto it. The
priefts might be reformed, and brought into the true faith,
which is the gift of God. The lawyers might be reformed,
and brought into the law of God, which anfwers that of
God, which is tranfgrelTed, in every one, and brings to love
one's neighbour as himfelf. This lets man fee, if he wrongs
his neiiihbour, he wronas himfelf; and this teaches him to
do unto others as he would they fliould do unto him. The
phyficians might be reformed, and brought into the wifdom
of God, by which all things were made and created ; that
they might receive a right knowledge of the creatures, and
underftand the virtues of them, which the Word of Wif-
dom, by which they were made and are upheld, hath given
them. Abundance was opened concerning thefe things ;
how all lay out of the wifdom of God, and out of the
riCThteoufnefs and holinefs that man at the firfl was made
in. But as all believe in the light, and walk in the light
which Chrill hath enlightened every man that cometh into
the world withal, and become children of the light, and of
the day of Chrifl ; in his day all things are feen, vifible and
invifible, by the divine light of Chriil, the fpiritual heavenly
man, by whom all things were made and created.
I faw concerning the priefts, that although they flood in
the deceit, and a£ted by the dark power which both they
and their people were kent under; yet they were not the
greateft deceivers fpoken of in the fcriptures, for they were
not come fo far as many of thefe had come. But the Lord
opened to me who the greateft deceivers were, and how far
they might come ; even fuch as came as far as Cain, to hear
the voice of God; fuch as came out of Egypt, and through
the Red Sea, to praife God on the banks of the fea-lhore;
fuch as could fpeak by experience of God's miracles and
wonders ; fuch as v.-ere come as far as Corah, Dathan,
and their company ; fuch as were come as far as Balaam,
who could fpeak the word of the Lord, who heard his voice
and knew it, and knew his Spirit, and could fee the ftar of
Jacob, and the goodlinefs of Ifrael's Tent ; the fecond birth,
which no enchantrnent could prevail againft : thefe that
24 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1:1648
could fpeak fo much of their experiences of God, and yet
turned from the Spirit and the Word, and went into the
gainfaying, thefe were and would be the great deceivers, far
beyond the priefls. Likewife among chriflians, fuch as
Ihould preach in Chrift's name, Ihould work miracles, caft
out devils, and go as far as a Cain, a Corah, and a Balaam
in the gofpel-times, thefe were and would be the great de-
ceivers. They that could fpeak fome experiences of Chrift
and God, but lived not in the life, thefe were they that led
the world after them, who got the form of godlinefs, but de-
nied the power ; who inwardly ravened from the Spirit, and
brought people into the form, but perfecuted them that were
in the power, as Cain did ; and ran greedily after the error
of Balaam, through coi'etoufnefs, loving the wages of un-
rightecufnefs, as Balaam did. Thefe followers of Cain,
Corah, and Balaam, have brought the world, fince the
apoflles days to be like a fea. Such as thefe I faw might
deceive now, as they did in former ages ; but it is impofli-
ble for them to deceive the eltSt, who were chofen in Chrift,
who was before the world began, and before the deceiver
was : though others may be deceived in their openings and
prophecies, not keeping their minds to the Lord Jefus
Chrift, who doth open and reveal to his.
I law the ftate of thofe, both priefts and people, who in
reading the fcriptures cry out much againft Cain, Efau,
Judas, and other wicked men of former times, mentioned
in the holy fcriptures ; but do not fee the nature of Cain,
of Efau, of Judas, and thofe others, in themfelves. Thefe
faid, it was they, they, they, that were the bad people; put-
ting it off from themfelves : but when fome of thefe came,
with the hght and Spirit of truth, to fee into themfelves,
then they came to fay, I, I, I, it is I myfeif, that have been
the Ifhmael, the Efau, &c. For then they faw the nature
of wild Iftimael in themfelves; the nature of Cain, Efau,
Corah, Balaam, and of the fon of perdition in themfelves,
fitting above all that is called God in them. I faw, it was
the fallen man that was got up into the fcriptures, and was
finding fault v/ith thofe before-mentioned"; and with the
backfliding Jews, calling them the fturdy oaks, tall cedkrs,
fat bulls of Baihan, wild heifers, vipers, ferpents, &c. and
charging them, that it was they that clofed their eyes, ftop-
ped their ears, hardened their hearts, and were dull of hear-
ing; it was they that hated the light, rebelled againft it,
quenched the Spirit, vexed and grieved it, v/alked defpite-
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 2|*
fiillv againfl; the Spirit of grace, and turned the grace of
God into wantonnels ; it was they that refilled the Holy
Ghoft, got the form of godlinefs, and turned againfl the
power ; and they were the inwardly ravening wolves who
had got the fheep's cloathing ; they were the wells without
water, clouds without rain, trees without fruit, &c. But
ivhen thcfe, who were fo much taken up with finding fault
with others, and thought themfeives clear from thefe things,
came to look into themfeives, and with the light of Chrift
throughly to fearch themfeives, they might fee enough of
this in themfeives ; then the cry could not be, It is he or
they, but I and we are found in thefe conditions.
I faw alfo, how people read the fcriptures without a right
fenfe of them, and without duly applying them to their
own dates. For when they read, that death reigned from
Adam to Mofes ; that the law and the prophets were un-
til John ; and that the leafl in the kingdom is greater
than John ; they read thefe things without them, and ap-
plied them to others (and the things were true of others)
but thev did not turn in to find the truth of thefe things in
themfeives. As thefe things were opened in me, I faw
death reigned over them frorn Adam to Mofes ; from the
entrance into tranfgreffion, till they came to the miniflration
of condemnation, v/hich reflrains people from fin that brings
death. When the miniflration of Mofes is paffed through,
the miniflry of the prophets comes to be read and under-
flood, which reaches through the figures, types, and fha-
dows unto John, the greatefl prophet born of a woman ;
whofe miniflration prepares the way of the Lord, by bring-
ing down the exalted mountains, and making flraight paths.
As this miniflration is pafTed through, an entrance comes
to be known into the everlafling kingdom. I faw plainly,
that none could read Mofes aright without Mofcs's Spirit,
by which he faw how man was in the image of God in pa-
radife, how he fell, how death came over him, and how all
men have been under this death. I faw how Mofes receiv-
ed the pure law, that went over ail tranfgrefTors ; and how
the clean beafls, which were figures and types, were offered
up, when the people were come into the righteous law that
went over the firfl tranfgrefTion. Mofes and the prophets
faw through the types and figures, and beyond them, and
faw Chrifl the great prophet, that was to come to fulfil
them. I faw that none could read John's words aright,
and" with a ti-ue underflanding of them, but in and with
16 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1647
tlie fi\me divine Spirit by which John fpake them ; and
by his burning, fhinmg light which is fent from God. For by
that Spirit their crooked nature might be made ftraight, their
rough natures fmooth, and the exatter and violent doer
in them might be caft out ; and thofe that had been
hypocrites, might come to bring forth fruits meet for re-
pentance, and then- mountain of lin and earthlinefs might
be laid low, and their valley exalted in them, that there
might be a way prepared for the Lord in them : then
the leaft in the kingdom is greater than John, But all
muft firft know the voice crying in the wildernels in
their hearts, which through tranfgreffion were become as a
wiidernefs. Thus I faw it was an eafy matter to fay, death
reigned from Adam to Mofes ; and that the law and the
prophets were until John ; and that the lead in the king-,
dom is greater than John ; but none could know how death
reigned from Adam to Mofes, &c. but by the fame holy
Spirit which Mofes, the prophets, and John were in. They
could not know the fpiritual meaning of Mofes, the pro-
phets, and John's words, nor fee their path and travels,
much lefs to fee through them, and to the end of them into
the kingdom, unlefs they had the Spirit and light of Jefus ;
nor could they know the words of Chrifl and of his apoftles
without his Spirit. But as man comes thro' by the Spirit
and power of God to Ghrifb (who fulfils the types, figures,
fhadows, promifes, and prophecies concerning him) and is
led by the Holy Ghofl into the truth and fubfhance of the
fcriptures, fitting down in him who is the author and end
of them, then are they read and underllood with profit and
ijreat delig-ht.
Moreover the Lord God let me fee, when I was brought
up into his image in righteoufnefs and holinefs, and into the
paradife of God, the ftate, how Adam was made a living
ibul ; and alfo the ftature of Chrift, the myftery that had
been hid from ages and generations : which things are hard
to be uttered, and cannot be borne by many. For ot all
the fefts in Chriftcndom (fo called) that I difcourfed withal,
1 found none who could bear to be told, that any fhould
come to Adam's perfeftion, into that image ot God, that
righteoufnefs and holinefs that Adam was in before he fell ;
to be clear and pure without fin as he was. Therefore, how
fhould they be able to bear being told, that any fhould
grow up to the meafurc of the ftature of the fainefs of Chrift,
when they cannot bear to hear that any fhall come, whilft
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 27
upon earth, into the fame power and Spirit that the prophets
and apoftles were in ? Though it be a certain truth, that
none can underftand their writings aright, without the fame
fpirit by which they were written.
The Lord God opened to me by his invifible power, how
" every man was enhghtened by the divine light of Chrift."
I faw it fhine through all, and that they that believed in it
came out of condemnation to the light of life, and became the
children of it ; but they that hated it, and did not believe in
it, were condemned by it, though they made a profeffion of
Chrift. This I faw in the pure openings of the light without
the help of any man ; neither did I then know where to
find it in the fcriptures ; though afterwards, fearching the
fcriptures, I found it. For I faw in that Light and Spirit
which was before the Scriptures were given forth, and which
led the holy men of God to give them forth, that all mufl
come to that Spirit, if they would know God or Chrift, or
the fcriptures aright, which they that gave them forth were
led and taught by.
But I obferved a dulnefs and drowzy heavinefs upOn
people, which I wondered at ; for fometimes, when I
would fet myfelf to fleep, my mind went over all to the
beginning, in that which is from everlafting to everlafting ;
I faw death was to pals over this fleepy, heavy ftate, and I
told people they muft come to witnels death to that fleepy,
heavy nature, and a crofs to it in the power of God, that
their minds and hearts might be on things above.
On a certain time, as I was walking in the fields, the
Lord faid unto me, " Thy name is written in the Lamb's
" book of life, which was before the foundation of the
" world :" and as the Lord fpoke it, I believed and faw it
in the new birth. Some time after, the Lord commanded
me to go abroad into the world, which was like a briery,
thorny wildernefs. When I came in the Lord's mighty
power with the word of life into the world, the world fwel-
led and made a noife like the great raging waves of the
iea. Priefts and profeffors, magiftrates and people, were
all like a iea, when I came to proclaim the day of the
Lord amongft them, and to preach repentance to them.
I was fent to turn people from darknefs to the light, that
they might receive Chrift Jefus ; for to as many as fliould
receive him in his light, I faw he would give power to
become the fons of God ; which I had obtained by re-
ceiving Chrift. I was to dircft people to the Spirit, that
O
23 GEORGE FOX^s JOURNAL. [1648
gave forth the fcriptures, by which they might be led into
all truth, and up to Chrift and God, as thofe had been
who gave them forth. I was to turn them to the grace of
God, and to the truth in the heart, which came by Jefus ;
that by this grace they might be taught, ^\''hich would bring
them ialvation, that their hearts might be eftablifhed by it,
their words midit be feafoned. and all midit come to know
their Ialvation nigh. 1 faw Chrilt died tor all men, was a
propitiation for all, and enlightened all men and women
with his divine and faving light ; and that none could be
true believers, but thofe who believed therein. I faw that
the grace of God, which brings falvation, had appeared to
all men, and that the manifeflation of the Spirit of God
^as given to every man, to profit withal. Thefe things I
did not fee by the help of man, nor by the letter, though
they are written in the letter ; but I faw them in the light
of the Lord jefus Chrift, and by his immediate Spirit
and power, as did the holy men of God by whom the holy
fcriptures were written. Yet I had no flight efteem of the
holy fcriptures, they were very precious to me ; for I was
ill that Spirit by which they were given forth ; and v/hat
the Lord opened in me, I afterwards found was agreeable
to them. I could fpeak much of thefe things, and many
volumes might be written ; but all would prove too fhoit
to fet forth the infinite love, wifdom, and power of God,
in preparing, fitting, and furnifhing me for the fervice he
had appointed me to ; letting me fee the depth of Satan on
the one hand, and opening to me, on the other hand, the
divine myfteries of his own everlafting kingdom.
When the Lord God and his Son jefus Chrift fent me
forth into the world to preach his everlafting gofpel and
kingdom, I was glad that I was commanded to turn peo-
ple to that inward light, fpirit, and grace, by which all
might know their falvation and their way to God ; even
that Divine Spirit which would lead them into all truth,,
and which I infallibly knew would never deceive any.
But with and by this divine power and fpirit of God,
and the light of Jefus, I was to bring people off from all
their own ways, to Chrift the new and living v/ay ; from
their churches, which men had made and gathered, to the
church in God, the general alfembly written in heaven,
which Chnft is the head of; and off^from the world's teach-
ers made by men, to learn of Chrift, who is the way, the
truth, and the life, of whom the Father faid, " This is
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. -29
" mv beloved Son, hear ye him ;" and ofF from all the
world's worfhips, to know the Spirit of truth in the inward
parts, and to be led thereby, that in it they might worihip
the Father of fpirits, who feeks fuch to worihip him ; which
Spirit they that worfhipped not in, knew not what they
worlliipped. I was to bring people off from all the world's
religions, which are in vain ; that they might know the
pure religion, might vifit the fatherlefs, the widows and the
flrangers, and keep themfelves from the fpots of the world :
then there would not be fo many beggars ; the fight of
whom often grieved my heart, as it denoted fo much hard-
heartednefs amongft thofe that profefTed the name of Chrift.
I was to bring them off from all the world's fellowfhips,
prayings, and fmgings, which Hood in forms without pow-
er; that their fellowlhip might be in the Holy Ghofl, the
eternal Spirit of God; that they might pray in the Holy
Ghoft, fmg in the Spirit, and with the grace that comes hv
Jefus ; making melody in their hearts to the Lord, who
hath fent his beloved Son to be their Saviour, caufed his
heavenly fun to fliine upon all the world, and through
them all; and his heavenly rain to fall upon the juft and
the unjuft (as his outward rain doth fall, and his out-
ward fun doth fhine on all) which is God's unfpeakable
love to the world. I was to bring people off from Jewifh
ceremonies, from heathenifh fables, from men's inventions
and windy 'do6lrines, by which they blowed the people
about, this way and the other way, from fe6l to feft ; and
from all their beggarly rudiments, with their fchools and
colleges, for making minifcers of Chrift, who are indeed
minifters of their own making, but not of Chrift's ; and
from all their images, croffes, and fprinkling of infants, with
their holy-days (fo called) and all their vain traditions,
which they had got up hnce the apoftles days, which the
Lord's power was againft. In the dread and authority
thereof was I moved to declare againft them all, and againft
all that preached and not freely, as fuch who had not re-
ceived freely from Chrift.
Moreover, when the Lord fent me into the world, he
forbad me " to put off my hat" to any, high or low; and
I was required to thee and thou all men and women, with-
out any refpeft to rich or poor, great or fmall. And as
I travelled up and down, I was not to bid people Good
morrow, or Good evening, neither might I bow or fcrape
with my leg to any one ; this made the fetls and profeihons
O 2
3© GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1648
rage. But the Lord's power carried me over all to his
glory, and many came to be turned to God in a little time;
for the heavenly day of the Lord fprung from on high,
and broke forth apace ; by the light of which many came to
fee where they were.
Oh ! the rage that was in the priefts, magiftrates, profef-
fors, and people of all forts ; but efpecially in priefts and
profeffors : for though thou to a fmgle perfon was according
to their accidence and grammar rules, and according to the
bible, yet they could not bear to hear it ; and becaufe I
could not put off my hat to them, it fet them all into a
rage. But the Lord fliewed me that it was an honour be-
low, which he would lay in the duft and ftain ; an honour
which proud flelh looked for, but fought not the honour
which comes from God only. That it was an honour in-
vented by men in the fall and in the alienation from God,
who were offended if it was not given them ; yet would be
looked upon as faints, church-members, and great Chrif-
tians : but Chrift faith, " How can ye believe, who receive
*' honour one of another, and feek not the honour that
*' Cometh from God only ? And I (faith Chrift) receive
*' not honour of men." Shewing that men have an honour
which they will receive and give, but Chrift will have none
of it. This is the honour which Chrift will not receive,
and which muft be laid in the duft. Oh ! the fcorn, heat,
and fury that arofe f Oh ! the blows, punchings, beatings,
and imprifonments that we underwent for not putting off
our hats to men ! For that loon tried all mens patience
and fobriety, what it was. Some had their hats violently
pluck'd off^ and thrown away, fo that they quite loft them.
The bad language and evil ufage we recei^'ed on this ac^
count is hard to be expreifed, betides the danger we were
fometimes in of lofing our lives for this matter, and that by
the great profcifors or cbriftianty, who thereby difcovered
they were not true believers. And though it was but a
fmall thing in the eye of man, vet a wonderful confufion it
brought among all profeffors and priefts ; but, bleffed be
the Lord, many came to lee the vanity of tliat cuftom of
putting oft' the hat to meti, and i'At the weight of Truth's
teftimony againft it.
About this time I was forcly exercifed in going to their
courts to cry for juftice, in fpeaking and writing to judges
and juflices to do juftly ; in warning fuch as kept publick
houles for entertiunnicnt, that they ftiould not let people
1648] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 31
have more drink than would do them good ; in teftifying
againft wakes, feafts, may-games, fports, plays, and fhews,
which trained up people to vanity and loofenels, and led
them from the fear of God ; and the days fet forth for holi-
days were ulually the times wherein they moll difhonoured
God by thefe things. In fairs alfo, and in markets, I was
made to declare againlt their deceitful merchandize, cheat-
ing, and cozening ; warning all to deal juftly, to fpeak the
truth, to let their yea be yea, and their nay be nay, and to
do unto others as they would have others do unto them ;
forewarning them of the great and terrible day of the Lord,
which would come upon them all. I was moved alfo, to
cry againfl all forts of mufick, and againft the mountebanks
playing tricks on their ftages ; for they burthened the pure
life, and ftirred up people's minds to vanity. I was much
exercifed too with fchool-mafters and fchool-miftrelTes,
warning them to teach children fobriety in the fear of the
Lord, that they might not be nurled and' trained up in
lightnefs, vanity, and wantonnefs. I was niade to warn
mafters and miftrelTes, fathers and mothers in private fami-
lies, to take care that their children and fervants might be
trained up in the fear of the Lord, and that themfelves
fhould be therein examples and patterns of fobriety and
virtue to them. For I law that as the Jews were to teach
their children the law of God, the old covenant, and to train
them up in it, and their fervants, yea the very ftrangers
were to keep the fabbath among them, and be circumcifed,
before they might eat of their facrifices ; fo all that made a
profeffion of chriftianity ought to train up their children and
fervants in the new covenant of light, Chrift Jefus, who is
God's falvation to the ends of the earth, that all may know
their falvation. And they ought to train them up in the
law of life, the law of the Spirit, the law of love and of faith,
that they might be made free from the law of fm and death.
And all chriftians ought to be circumcifed by the Spirit,
which puts off the body of the fms of the flelh, that they
may come to eat of the heavenly facrifice, Chrifl Jefus, that
true fpiritual food, which none can rightly feed upon but
they that are circumcifed by the Spirit. Likewife I was
exercifed about the ftar-gazers, who drew people's minds
from Chrift, the bright and the morning-ftar, and from the
Sun of righteoufnefs, by v/hom the fun, moon, and ftars,
and all things elfe were made, who is the wifdom of God,
ifom whom the right knowledge of all things is received.
32 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ' C164S
But the black earthly fpirit of the prieft wounded my
life : and when I heard the bell toll to call people together
to the fleeple-houfe, it flruck at my life ; for it was like a
jnarket-beli to gather people together, that the prieft might
fet forth his ware to faie. Oh ! the vaft fums of money that
are got by the trade they make of felling the fcriptures, and
by their preaching, from the highell bifhop to the lowed
prieft ! What one trade elfe in the world is comparable to
it ? notwithftanding the fcriptures were given forth freely,
Chrift commanded his minifters to preach freely, and the
prophets and apoftles denounced judgment againft all co-
vetous hirelings and diviners for money. But in this free
Spirit of the Lord Jefus was I fent forth to declare the
word of life and reconciliation freely, that all might come
to Chrift, who gives freely, and renews up into the image
of God, which man and woman were in before they fell,
that they might fit down in the heavenly places in Chrift
Jefus.
As I went towards Nottingham on a firft-day in the
morning, with friends to a meeting there, when I came on
the top of a hill in light of the town, I efpied the great
fteeple-houfe ; and the Lord faid unto me, " Thou muft
*' go cry againft yonder great idol, and againft the wor-
•' ihippers therein." I faid nothing of this to the friends,
but went with them to the meeting, where the mighty pow-
er of the Lord God was amongft us ; in which I left
friends fitting in the meeting, and went to the fteeple-houfe.
When I came there all the people looked like fallow
ground, and the prieft, like a great lump of earth, flood
in his pulpit above : he took for his text thefe words of
Peter, " We have alfo a more fure word of prophecy,
'• whereunto ye do well, that ye take heed, as unto a light
" that fliincth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the
*' day-ftar arife in your hearts." He told the people this
v/as the fcriptures, by which they were to try all do6i;rines,
religions, and opinions. Now the Lord's power was fa
mighty upon me, and fo ftrong ni me, that I could not
hold ; but was made to cry out, " Oh ! no ; it is not the
" fcriptures;" and told them it was the holy Spirit, by
which the holy men of God gave forth the fcriptures,
whereby opinions, religions, and judgments were to be
tried ; for it led into all truth, and io gave the knowledge
of all truth. The Jews had the fcriptures, yet refitted the
Hoi)' Ghoft, and rcjefted Chrift. the bright murning-ftar^
1649] GEORQE FOX'S JOURNAL. 33
They perfecuted him and his apoftles, and took upon them
to try their doftrincs by the fcriptures, but erred in judg-
ment, and did not try them right ; becaufe they tried without
the Holy Ghoft. As I fpoke thus amongft them, the offi-
cers came, took me away, and put me into a nafty (linking
prifon ; the fmell whereof got fo into my noie and throat,
that it very much annoyed me.
But that day the Lord's power founded fo in their ears,
that they were amazed at the voice, and could not get it
out of their ears for fome time after ; they were fo reached
by the Lord's power in the fteeple-houfe. At night they
took me before the mayor, aldermen, and fheriflFs of the
town. When I was brought before them, the mayor was
in a peevilh fretful temper, but the Lord's power allay 'd
him. They examined me at large ; and I told them how
the Lord had moved me to come. After fome difcourfe be-
tween them and me, they fent me back to prifon; but fome
time after the head fheriflF, whofe name was John Rccklefs,
fent for me to his houfe. When I came in, his wife met
me in the hall, and faid, " Salvation is come to our houfe."
She took me by the hand, and was much wrought upon by
the power of the Lord; and her hufband, children, and
fervants were much changed, for the power of the Lord
wrought upon them. I lodged at the fherifF's, and great
meetings we had in his houfe. Some perfons of confider-
able condition in the world came to them, and the Lord's
power appeared eminently amongft them. This flierifF fent
for the other IherifF, and a woman they had had dealings
with in the way of trade ; and he told her before the other
fherifF, that they had wronged her in their dealings with
her (for the other fheriff and he were partners) and that they
ought to make her reftitution. This he fpoke cheerfully ;
but the other fheriff" denied it, and the woman faid ihe
knew nothing of it. But the friendly fheriff faid it was fo,
the other knew it well enough ; and having difcovered the
matter, and acknowledged the wronji done bv them, he
made reftitution to the woman, and exhorted the other
fheriff to do the like. The Lord's power was with this
friendly fheriff, wrought a mighty change in him, and great
openings he had. The next market-day, as he was walk-
ing with me in the chamber, he faid, " I muft go into the
''• market, and preach repentance to the people." Accord-
ingly be went in his flippers into the market, and into feve-
rai ftreets. and preached repentance to the people. Several
34 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1649
others alfo in the town were moved to fpeak to the mayor
and magillrates, and to the people, exhorting them to re-
pent. Hereupon the magillrates grew very angry, fent for
me from the fheriff's houie and committed me to the com-
mon prifon. When the affize came on, one perfon was mov-
ed to come and offer up himfelf for me, body for bodv, yea,
life alfo : but when I Ihould have been brought before the
judge, the Iheriff's man being fomewhat long in bringing
me to the feflions-houfe, the judge was rifen before I came.
At which I underftood the judge was offended, and faid,
" He would have admonifhed the youth, if he had been
" brought before him :" for I was then imprifoned by the
name of a youth. So I was returned to pnfon again, and
put into the common gaol. The Lord's power was great
among friends ; but the people began to be very rude :
wherefore the governor of the caftle fent foldiers, and dif-
perfed them ; after that they were quiet. Both priefts and
people were aftonifhed at the wonderful power that broke
forth ; feveral of the priefts were made tender, and fome
did confefs to the power of the Lord.
After I was fet at liberty from Nottingham gaol, where
I had been kept prifoner a pretty long time, I travelled as
before, in the work of the Lord. Coming to Mansfield
Woodhoufe, there was a diftrafted woman under a doftor's
hand, with her hair loofe about her ears. He was about
to let her blood, fhe being firft bound, and many people
about her, holding her by violence ; but he could get no
blood from her. I dehred them to unbind her and let her
alone, for they could not touch the fpirit in her by which
flie was tormented. So they did unbind her ; and I was
moved to fpeak to her, and in the name of the Lord to
bid her be quiet and ftill ; and fhe was fo. The Lord's
power fettled her mind, and Ibe mended. Afterwards fhe
received the truth, and continued in it to her death ; and
the Lord's name was honoured ; to whom the glory of all
his works belongs. Alany great and wonderful things were
wrought by the heavenly power in thofe days ; for the
Lord made bare his omnipotent arm, and manifefted his
power to the aftoniftiment of many ; by the healing virtue
whereof many have been delivered fi'om great infirmities,
and the devils were made fubje6l through his name ; of
which particular inftances might be given, beyond what
this unbelieving age is able to receive or bear. Bleifed for
-ever be the name of the Lord, and everlaftingly honoured.
1548] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 35
and over all exalted and magnified be the arm of his glori-
ous power, by which he hath wrought gloriouily : let the
honour and praife of all his works be afcribed to him alone.
WPjile I ^\^as at Mansfield Woodhoufe, I was moved to
go to the fteeple-houfe, and declare the truth to the priefl
and people. But the people fell upon me in great rage,
ftruck me down, and almoft flifled me. I was cruelly
beaten and bruifed by them with their hands, bibles, and
fticks. Then they haled me out, though I was hardly able
to ftand, and put me into the flocks, where I fat fome
hours ; and they brought dog-whips and horfe-whips,
threatening to whip me. After fome time they had me
before the magillrate, at a knight's houfe, where were many
great perfons ; who, feeing how evilly I had been ufed,
after much threat;ening fet me at liberty : but the rude peo-
ple Honed me out of the town, for preaching the Word of
life to them. I was fcarce able to go, or well to ftand, by
reafon of the ill ufage 1 had received ; yet with much ado
I got about a mile from the town, and then I met with
fome people that gave me fomething to comfort me, becaufe
I was inwardly bruifed : but the Lord's power foon healed
me again. That day fome people were convinced of the
Lord's truth, and turned to his teaching ; at which I re-
joiced.
Then went I out of Nottinghamfhire into Leicefterfhire,
feveral friends accompanying me. There were fome baptifls
in that country, whom I defired to fpeak v/ith, becaufe
they were feparated from the publick worftiip. So Oats,
one of their chief teachers, and others of the heads of them,
with feveral of their company, came to meet us at Barrow,
where we difcourfed with them. One of them laid, What
was not of faith, was fin. Whereupon I afked them.
What Faith was ? and how it was wrought in man ? But
they turned off from that, and fpake of their baptifm in
water. Then I afl^^ed them, Whether their mountain of
fin was brought down, and laid low in them ? and their
rough and crooked ways made fmooth and flraight in them ?
They looked upon the fcriptures as meaning outward moun-
tains and ways ; but I told them, they mufl; find them in
their own hearts ; which they feemed to wonder at. We
afked them. Who baptized John the baptifl ? who baptized
Peter, John, and the reft ot- the apoflles ? and put them
to prove by fcripture, that thefe were baptized in water:
but they were filent. Then I aflced them, Seeing Judas,
36 GEORGE FOX's JOU-RNAL. [1649
who betrayed Chrift, and was called the fon of perdition,
had hanged himfelf, what Ton of perdition was that which
Paul fpake of, that fat in the temple of God, exalted above
all that is called God ? And what temple of God that was
in whicli this fon of perdition fat ? And whether he, that
betrays Chrift within in himfelf, be not one in nature with
that Judas that betrayed Chrift without? But they could
not tell what to make of this, nor what to fay to it. So
after fome difcourfe we parted ; and fome of them were
loving to us.
On the firft-day following we came to Bagworth, and
went to a fteeple-houfe, where fome friends were got in, and
the people locked them in, and themfelves too, with the
prieft. But after the priell had done, they opened the door,
and we went in alfo, and had fervice for the Lord amongft
them. Afterwards we had a meeting in the town, amongft
feveral that were in high notions. Then paffing from
thence, I heard of a people in prifon at Coventry for re-
ligion. As I walked towards the gaol, the word of the
Lord came to me faying. My love was always to
THEE, AND THOU ART IN MY LOVE. And 1 WaS ra-
viftied with the fenfe of the love of God, and .greatly
ftrengthened in my inward man. But when I caine into
the gaol where thofe prifoners were, a great power of dark-
riefs ftruck at me ; and I fat ftill, having my fpirit gathered
into the love of God. At laft thefe prifoners began to rant,
vapour and blafpheme ; at which my foul was greatly griev-
ed. They faid, they were God ; but we could not bear
iuch things. When they were calm, I ftood up and afked
them, Whether they did fuch things by motion, or from
Scripture ? They faid. From Scripture. Then a bible lying
by, 1 afked them for that fcripture; and they fhewed me that
place where the fheet was let down to Peter.; and it was
laid to him, what was fanclified he Ihould not call common
or unclean. When I had fhewed them That fcripture
made nothing for their purpofe, they brought another,
which fpake of God's reconciling all things to himfelf,
thmgs in heaven and things in earth. I told them I owned
that fcripture alfo ; but ihswed them it was nothing to their
purpofe neither. Then feeing they faid, They were God,
I allccd them. If they knew whether it would rain to-mor-
row ? They faid, They could not tell. I told them, God
could tell. I afked them, If they thought they Ihould be
always in that condition, or ftiould change ? They anfwer-
1649] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 37
ed, They could not tell. Then faid I, God can tell, and
he doth not change. You fay you are God ; and yet you
cannot tell whether you Ihall change or no. So they were
confounded, and quite brought down for the time. After I
had reproved them for their blafphemous expreffions, I went
away ; for I perceived they were Ranters. I had met with
none before ; and I admired the goodnels of the Lord in
appearing fo unto me, before I went amongft them. Not
long after this, one of thefe Ranters, whole name was }o-
feph Salmon, publilhed a recantation; upon which they
were fet at liberty.
From Coventry I went to Atherftone ; and it being their
lefture-day, I was moved to go to their chapel to fpeak to the
prieft and people. They were generally pretty quiet ; only
lome few raged, and would have had my relations to have
bound me. I declared largely to them, that God was come
to teach his people himfelf, and to bring them from all their
man-made teachers, to hear his Son ; and iome were con-
vinced there.
Then I went to Market-BoiToth, and there was a lefture
alfo. He that preached was Nathaniel Stevens, the prieft
of the ,town where I was born. He raged much when
I fpake, and told the people I was mad; though he had
faid before to Colonel Purfoy, There was never fuch a plant
bred in England : he bid the people not to hear me ; who,
being ftirred up by this deceitful prieft, fell upon us, and
ftoned us out of the town : yet they did not do us much
hurt. Howbeit fome people were made loving that day;
and others were confirmed, feeing the rage of both priefts
and profeiTors ; and forae cried out, that the prieft durft
not ftand to prove his miniftry.
As I travelled through markets, fairs, and divers places,
I faw death and darknefs in all people, where the power of
the Lord had not fhaken them. As I was paffing on in
Leicefterfhire, I came to Twy-Crofs, where there were ex-
cifemen. I was moved of the Lord to go and warn them
to take heed of opprefTmg the poor ; and people were much
affe6led with it. There was in that town a great man that
had long lain fick, and was given over by the phyficians.
Some friends in the town delired me to vilit him. I went
up to him in his chamber, and fpake the word of life to
him, and was moved to pray by him ; and the Lord was
entreated, and reftored him to health. When I was come
down the ftairs into a lower room, and was fpeaking to the
P 2
38 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1649
fervants, and others there, a fervant inan of his came raving
out of another room, with a naked rapier in his hand, and
fet it juft to my fide. I looked fteadfaftly on him, and
faid, " Ahick for thee, poor creature ! what wilt thou da
*• with thy carnal weapon? It is no more to me than a
*' flraw." The ftanders-by were much troubled, and he
went away in a rage. But when the news of it came to his
jTialler, he turned him oat of his fervice. Thus the Lord's
power preferved me, and raifed up the weak man ; who
afterwards was very loving to friends. When I came to that
town again, both he and his wite came to fee me.
After this I was moved to go into Derbyiliire, where the
mighty power of God vvas among friends. I went to Chef-
terfield, where one Britland was prieft. He faw beyond
the common fort of priefts ; for he had been partly convin-
ced, and had fpoken m.uch on behalf of truth before he
was prieft there : but when the prieft of that town died, he
got the parfonage, and choked himfelf with it. I was mo-
ved to fpeak to him and the people in the great love of
God, that they might come off from all men's teaching un-
to God's teaching ; and he v/as not able to gainfay. But
they had ms before the mayor, and threatened to fend me,
v/ith fome others, to the houfe of correftion ; and kept us
in cuftody till it was late in the night. Then the officers,
with the •\v\itchmen, put us out of the town., leaving us to
fliift as v,-e could. I bent my courfe towards Derby, hav-
ing a friend or two with me. In our way we met with ma-
ny proleffors ; and at Kidfey Park many were convinced.
Coming to Derby, I lay at a doftor's houfe, whofe Avife
was convinced ; and feveral more in the town. As I was
walking.in my chamber, the bell rang; and it ftruck at my
life at the very hearing of it. So I aiked the woman of the
houfe, What the bell rung for ? She faid. There was to be
a great letlure there that day, and many officers of the ar-
my, priefts, and preachers, were to be there, and a colonel,
that was a preacher. Then was I' moved of the Lord to
go up to them. When they had done, I fpake to them
what the Lord commanded me; and they were pretty quiet.
But there came an officer, and took me by the hand, and
faid, I muft go before the magiftrates, and the other two
that were v/ith me. It was about the lirft hour after
noon that we came before them. They afked me, Why we
came thither ? I faid, God moved us fo to do ; and told
thern, " God dwells not in temples made with hands." I
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOUP.NAL. 39
alfo laid, All their preaching, baptifm, and facrifices would
never lanftify them; and bid them look unto Chrift in
them, and not unto men ; for it is Chrift; that fanclifies.
Then they ran into many words ; but I told them they
were not to difpute of God and Chrift, but to obey him.
The power of God thundered among them, and they did
fly like chaffs before it. They put me in and out of the
room often, hurrying me backward and forward, for they
were from the firft hour till the ninth at night in examining
me. Sometimes they would tell me in a deriding manner,
that I was taken up in raptures. At laft they aiked me,
Whether I was fanftified ? I anfwered. Yes ; for I was in
the paradife of God. Then they aflced me, If I had no fin ?
I anfwered, Chrift my Saviour has taken away my fm ; and
in him there is no fin. They afked. How we knew that
Chrift: did abide in us ? I faid. By his Spirit that he hath
given us. They temptingly afked. If any of us were Chrift,?
I anfwered. Nay, we were nothing, Chrift: was all. They
faid, If a man Ileal, is it no fin ? I anfwered, All unright-
eoufnefs is fin. When they had wearied themfelves in exa-
mining me, they committed me and one other man to the
houfe of corre6lion in Derby for fix months, as blaf-
phemers ; as may appear by the mittimus, a copy whereof
here followeth :
To the mafter of the houfe of corre6lion in Derby,
greeting.
WE have fent you here withal the bodies of George
Fox, late of Mansfield, in the county of Notting-
ham, and John Fi'etwell, late of StanieftDy in the county of
Derby, hufbandman, brought before us this prefent day,
and charged with the avowed uttering and broaching of
divers blafphemous opinions, contrary to a late aft of par-
liament; which, upon their examination before us, they
have confeffed. Thefe are therefore to require you forth-
with, upon fight hereof, to receive them the faid George
Fox and John Fretwell into your cuftody, and them therein
fafely to keep during the fpace of fix months, without bail
or mainprize, or until they fliall find fuflicient fecurity to
be of the good behaviour, or be thence delivered by order
from ourfcives. Hereof you are not to fail. Given under
our hands and feals this 30th day of 06tober 1650.
Ger. Bennet,
Nath. Barton.
40 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1650
Now did the priefts beftir themfelves in their pulpits to
preach up fin for term of life. Much of their work was, to
plead for it ; fo that people laid, Never was the like heard.
After fome time, the perfon committed with me, not ftand-
ing faithful in his teftimony, got in with the gaoler, and by
him made way to the juflice to have leave to go fee his
mother; and fo got his liberty. It then was reported, that
he faid I had bewitched and deceived him : but my fpirit
was ftrengthened when he was gone. The priefls, profef-
fors, juftices, and the gaoler, were all in a great rage againft
me.. The gaoler watched my words and aftions, often afk-
ing me queftions to enfnare me ; and fometimes he would
afk me fuch filly queftions, as'. Whether the door was
latched or not ? Thinking to draw fome fudden, unadvifed
anfwer from me, from whence he might take advantage to
charge fin upon me : but I was kept watchful and chafte,
fo that they could get no advantage of me ; which they
admired.
Not long after my commitment, I was moved to write
to the priefts and magiftrates of Derby. Arid firft to the
priefts.
O Friends, I was fent to you to tell you, That if you
had received the gofpel freely, you would minifter
it freely without money or price : but you make a trade
and fale of what the prophets and apoftles have fpoken ;
and fo you corrupt the truth. You are the men that lead
filly women captive, who are ever learning, and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth : you have a form
of godlinefs, but you deny the power. As Jannes and
Jambres withftood Mofes, fo do you refift the truth ; be-
ing men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
But you Ihall proceed no further; for your folly fliall be
made manifeft to all men, as theirs was. Moreover the
Lord fent me to tell you, that he doth look for fruits.
You afked me, If the fcripture was my rule ? It is not
your rule, to rule your lives by, but to talk of in words.
You arc the men that live in pleafures, pride, and wan-
tonnefs, in fulnefs of bread, and abundance of idlenefs :
fee if this be not the fm of Sodom. Lot received the
angels; but Sodom was envious. You fhew forth the vain
nature ; you ftand in the fteps of them that crucified m y
Saviour, and mocked him. You are their children;
you ihcw forth their fruit. They had the chief place in
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 41
* the affemblies ; and fo have you : they loved to be called
* Rabbi ; and fo do you/
G. F.
I writ to the magiflrates who committed me, to this
^ffed :
* Friends,
* T AM forced, in tender love to your fouls, to write unto
' X you, and to befeech you to confider what you do,
* and what the commands of God call for. He doth re-
' quire juftice and mercy, to break every yoke, and to let the
* oppreffed go free. But who calleth for juftice ? or loveth
■* mercy ? or contendeth for the truth ? Is not judgment
* turned backward ? Doth not juftice ftand afar off? Is not
' truth filenced in the ftreets ? or can equity enter ? Do not
* they that depart from evil make themfelves a prey ? Oh !
* confider what ye do, in time, and take heed whom ye im-
* prifon ; for the magiftrate is fet for the puniftiment of evil-
* doers, and for the praife of them that do well. 1 intreat
' you, in time take heed what you do : for furely the Lord
* will come, and make manifeft both the builders and the
* work. If it be of man, it will fail ; but if it be of God,
' nothing will overthrow it. Therefore I defire and pray
* that you would take heed and beware what you do, left ye
* be found fighters again ft God.
G. F.
Having thus far cleared my confcience to them, I waited
in the holy patience, leaving the event to God, in whole will
I flood. After fome time I was moved to write again to
the juftices that had committed me, to lay their evils before
them, that they might repent. One of them, Nathaniel
Barton, was a colonel, a juftice, and a preacher.
' Friends,
'XT'OU fpoke of the good old way which the prophet
' X fpake of; but the prophet cried againft the abomina-
' tions which you hold up. Had you the power of God,
* ye would not perfecute the good way. He that fpake of
' the good way was fet in the ftocks. The people cried,
" away with him to the ftocks," for fpcaking the truth. Ah !
' foolifh people, who have eyes and fee not, ears and hear
* not, without underftanding ! " Fear ye not me, faith the
42 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1650
" Lord, and will ye not tremble at my prefence ?" O your
* pride and abominations are odious in the eyes of God !
* You that are preachers, have the chiefeft place in the
' affemblies, and are called of men, Mailer. Such were
* and are againft my Saviour and Maker : they fhut up the
* kingdom of heaven from men ; and neither go in them-
* felves, nor fufFer others. Therefore ye fhall deceive the
* greater damnation, who have their places, and walk in
* their fleps. You may fay, If you had been in the days
* of the prophets, or Chrift, ye would not have perfecuted
* them. Be ye witneffes againft yourfelves, that ye are the
* children of thefe, feeing ye now perfecute the way of triath.
* O confider, there is a true Judge, that will give every one
* of you a reward according to your works. O mind where
* you are, you that hold up the abominations which the true
* prophet cried againft ! O come down, and fit in the duft !
* The I>ord is coming with power, and he will throw down
* every one that is lifted up, that he alone may be exal-
* ted.'
As I had thus written to them jointly ; after fome time
I writ to each by himfelf. To juilice Bennet in this man-
ner ;
' Friend,
* 'THHOU that doft profefs God and Chrift in words, fee
' X how thou followeft him. To take off burdens, to
* vilit them that are in prifon, to ftiew mercy, cloath thy
* own flefh, and deal thy bread to the hungry ; thefe are
' God's commandments. To relieve the fatherlefs, to vifit
* the widows in their affli6lion, and to keep thyfelf unfpot-
' ted of the world, this is pure religion before God. But
* if thou profefs Chrift, and followeft covetoufnefs and
* earthly-mindednefs, thou denieft him in life, deceiveft thy-
* felf and others, and takeft him for a cloak. Wo be to you,
' greedy men and rich men ; weep and howl for your mife-
* ry that fhall come ! Take heed of covetoufnefs and ex-
' tortion : God doth forbid that. Wo be to the man that
' coveteth an evil covetoufnefs, that he may fet his neft on
* high, and cover himfelf with thick clay. Oh ! do not love
' that which God forbids. His fervant thou art whom thou
* doft obey, whether it be of fm unto death, or of obedience
' unto righteoufnefs. Think upon Lazarus and Dives ; the
* one fared fumptuoufly every day, the other was a beggar.
I
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 43
' See if thou be not Dives ? Be not deceived, God is not
' mocked with vain words. Evil communication corrupteth
' good manners. Awake to righteoulnefs, and lin not.
G. f:
That to juftice Barton was in this manner :
' Friend, .
* '' I ^HOU that preachefl Chrifl; and the fcriptures in
' JL words. When any come to follow that which thoa
' halt fpoken of, and to live the life of the fcriptures, thofe
' that preach the fcriptures, but do not lead their lives ac-
' cording thereunto, perfecute them. Mind the prophets,
* Jefus Chrill, and his apoilles, and all the holy inen of
* God ; what they fpoke was from the life : but they that
' had not the life, but the words, perfecuted and imprifoned-
* them that lived in the life which thofe had backflidden
' from.
G. F/
Having written to the jullices and the prisfts, it was upon
me to write to the mayor of Derby alio ; who, though he
did not fign the mittimus, had a hand with the reft in fend-
ing me to prifon. To hini I wrote after this manner :
' Friend,
* '^ I ''HOLT art fet in place to do juftice; but, in impri-»
* X foning ray body, thou haft done contrary to juftice,
' according to your own law. O take heed of pleafmg men
' more than God, for that's the way of the fcribes and
* pharifees : they fought the praife of men more than God.
' Remember who faid, " I was a ftranger, and ye took me
" not in ; I was in prifon, and yc vifited me not." O
* friend, thy envy is not againft me only, but againft the
' power of truth : I had no envy to you, but love. O take
' heed of opprcflion ; " for the day of the Lord is coming,
" that fhall burn as an oven ; and all the proud, and all
" that do wickedly, ftiall be as ftubble ; and the day that
'•' Cometh fhall burn them up, faith the Lord of Hofts : it
" fhall leave them neither root nor branch." O friend, if
' the love of God were in thee, thou wouldft love the truth,
' hear the truth fpoken, and not imprifon unjuftly. The
* love of God beareth and fuftereth, and envieth no man.
* If the love of God had broken your hearts, yqu would
+4 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1650
' {hew mercy ; but you fhew what ruleth you. Every tree
' doth fhew forth its fruit ; you fliew your fruits openly.
' For drunkennefs, fwearing, pride, and vanity rule among
' you, both in teacher and people. O friend, mercy, true
' judgment, and juflice, are cried for in the ftreets : oppref-
' fion, unmercifuinefs, cruelty, hatred, pride, pleafures,
' wantonnefs, and fulncfs are in your ftreets ; but the poor
* is not regarded. Oh ! take heed of the wo : " Wo be
" to the crown of pride ! Wo be to them that drink wine
" in bowls, and the poor is ready to perifh." O rem.ember
' Lazarus and Dives ! One fared delicioufly every day, the
* other was a beggar. O friend, mind thefe things, for they
* are near ; and fee whether thou be not in Dives's ftate/
I wrote alfo to the Court at Derby thus :
* T AM moved to write unto you, to take heed of oppref-
* X fing the poor in your courts, or laying burdens upon
* poor people which they cannot bear; and of impoling
' falfe oaths, or making them take oaths which they cannot
* perform. The Lord faith, " I will come near 'to judgment,
" and will be a fwift witnefs againfl the forcerers, againft the
" falfe fwearers, and againft the idolaters, and againft thofe
" that opprefs widows and fatherlefs ;" therefore take heed
* of all thefe things betimes. The Lord's judgments are all
' true and righteous, and he delighteth in mercy. So love
* mercy, dear people, and confider in time.'
Likewife to the ringers, who ufed to ring the bells in the
fteeple-houfe called St. Peter's, in Derby, I fent thefe few-
lines :
* Friends,
* '' I ^AKE heed of pleafures, and prize your time now
' A while you have it ; do not fpend it in pleafures nor
* earthlinefs. The time may come that you will fay. You
* had time, when it is paft. Therefore look at the love of
' God now while you have time ; for it bringeth to loath
* ail vanities and worldly pleafures. Oh ! confider, time
* is precious ; fear God and rejoice in him, who hath made
* heaven and earth.*
While I was here in prifon divers profeffors came to
difcQurfe with me. I had a fcnfe before they fpoke, that
(
>
1(550] GEORGE PCX's JOURNAL. 45
they came to plead for fin and impeifeftion. I aiked them,
Whether they were believers and had faith ? They faid,
Yes. I alked them, In whom ? They faid, In Chrift. I
replied, If ye are true believers in Chrift, you are pafTed
from death to life ; and if palled from death, then from fin
that bringeth death : and if your faith be true, it will give
you vi6lory o^^er iin and the devil, purify your hearts and
confciences (for the true faith is held in a pure confcience)
and bring you to pleafe God, and give you accefs to him
again. But they could not endure to hear of purity, and
of vi6lory over fin and the devil. They faid, " They
*' could not believe any could be free from fni on this fide
*' the grave.'' I bid them give over babbling about the
fcriptures, which were holy men's words, whilft they plead-
ed for unholinefs. At another time a company of profeffors
came, who alfo began to plead for fin. I aficed them,
Whether they had hope ? They faid. Yes : God forbid
but we fhould have hope. I afked them. What hope is it
that you have ? Is Chrift in you the hope of your glory ?
Doth it purify you, as he is pure ? But they could not
abide to hear of being made pure here. Then I bid them
forbear talking of the fcriptures, which were the holy men's
words ; for the holy men that wrote the fcriptures pleaded
for holinefs in heart, life, and converfation here ; but fmce
you plead for impurity and fin, which is of the devil, what
have you to do u-ith the holy men's words ?
The keeper of the prifon, being an high profelToT, was
greatly enraged againft me, and fpoke very wickedly of me ;
but it'pleafed the Lord one day to ftrike him fo, that he
was in great trouble, and under much terror of mind. And
as I was walking in my chamber, I heard a doleful noife ;
and ftanding ftill, I heard him fay to his wife, " Wife, I
"have feen the day of judgment; and I faw George
*' there, and I was afraid of him ; becaufe I had done hirn
*•' fo much wrong, and fpoken fo much againft him to the
*' minifters and prcfefTors, and to the ju dices, and in taverns
" and alehoufes." After this, towards the evening, he came
into my chamber, and faid to me, " I have been as a lion
*' aeainft vou : but now I come like a lamb, and like the
*' gaoler that came to Paul and Silas tremblinfr." And he
delired he might lodge with me ; I told him, I was in his
power, he might do what he would : but he faid, " Nay, he
*' v/ould ha\'e my leave; and he could defire to be always
'' with me, but not to have me as a prifoner." He iaid^.
46 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165b
'* He had been plagued, and his houfe had been plagued
" for my lake." So I fufFei-ed him to lodge with me.
Then he told me all his heart, and faid, He believed
what I had faid of the true faith and hope to be true ; and
he wondered that tlie other m,an, who was put in prifon
with me, did not ftand it ; and faid, " That man was not
*' right, but I was an honefl man." He confelFed aifo to
me, that at thofe times when 1 had afked him to let me go
forth to fpeak the word of the Lord to the people, when he
refufed to let me go, and I laid the weight thereof upon
him, that he ufed to be under great trouble, amazed, and
•almoft diftrafted for fome time after, and in fuch a condi-
tion that he had little ftrength left him. When the morn-
ing came, he rofe and went to the juftices, and told them,
" That he and his houfe had been plagued for my fake."
•One of the juftices repUed (as he reported to me) that the
plagues were upon them too for keeping me* This was
juftice Bennet of Derby, who was the firft that called us
Quakers, becaufe I bid them tremble at the word of the
X.ord. This was in the year 1650.
After this the juftices gave leave, that I ftiould have
liberty to walk a mile. I perceived their end, and told the
gaoler. If they would fet down to me how far a mile was,
I might take the liberty of walking it fometimes. For I
"had a fenfe that they thought I would go away. And the
gaoler confelfed afterwards they did it with that intent to
have me go away, to eafe them of their plague ; but I told
him I was not of that fpirit.
This gaoler had a fifter, a fickly young womati. She
came up into my chamber to vifit me ; and after ftie had
(laid fome time, and I had fpoken the words of truth to
her, fhe went down, and told them, " we were an inno-
*' cent people, and did none any hurt, but did good to all,
" even to them that hated us ;" and defircd them to be
tender towards me.
A^ by reafon of my reftraint I had not tlie opportunity
of travelling about to declare and fpread truth through the
countries, it came upon me to write a paper, and fend it
forth to be fpread amongft friends and other tender people,
for the opening of their undenlandings in the way of truth,
.and directing them to the true tcachqr in themlelves. It
was after this manner :
' '' i ^HE Lord doth fliew unto man his thoughts, and dif-
* JL covereth ail the fecret workings in man. A man may
{
>
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 47
be brought to fee his evil thoughts, running mind, and
vain imaginations, and may ftrive to keep tliera down,
and to keep his mind in ; but cannot overcome them, nor
keep his mind within to the Lord. In this ft?te and con-
dition iubmit to the Spirit of the Lord that flicws them,
and that will bring to wait upon the Lord ; and he that
hath difcovered them will deftroy them. Therefore ftand
in the faith of the Lord Jefus Chrift (who is the author of
the true faith) and mind him ; for he will difcover the root
of lulls, evil thoughts, and vain imaginations ; how they
are begotten, conceived, and bred ; how they are brought
forth, and how every evil member doth work. He will
difcover every principle from its own nature and root.
* So mind the faith of Chrift, and the anointing which is
in you, to be taught by it, which will difcover all work-
ings in you. As he teacheth you, fo obey and forfake ;
elfe you will not grow in the faith, nor in the life of
Chrift, where the love of God is received. Love beget-
teth love, its own nature and image: and when mercy and
truth meet, what joy there is ! Mercy triumphs in judg-
ment ; and love and mercy bear the judgment of the world
in patience. That which cannot bear the world's judg-
m.ent is not the love of God ; for love beareth all things,
and is above the world's judgment ; for the world's judg-
ment is but fooliftmefs. Though it be the world's judg-
ment and pradice to caft all the filthinefs that is among
themfelves upon the faints, yet their judgment is falfe.
The chafte virgins follow Chrift the lamb, that takes away
the fms of the world ; but they that are of that fpirit which
is not chafte, will not follow Chrift the lamb in his fteps,
but are difobedient to him in his commands. The flefhiy
mind doth mind the flefti, talketh fleftily, and its know-
ledge is fieftily, and not fpirituai ; but favours of death,
not of the Spirit of life. Some men have the nature of
fwine wallowing in the mire. Some have the nature of
dogs, to bite both the fheep and one another. Some have
the nature of lions, to tear, devour, and deftroy. Some
the nature of wolves, to tear and devour the lambs and
ftiecp of Chrift : and Tome the nature of the ferpent (that
old adverfary) to fting, envenom, and poifon. " He that
' hath an ear to hear, let him hear," and learn thefe things
within himfelf. Some men have the natures of other
beafts and creatures, minding nothing but earthly and vi-
fible things, and feeding without the fear of God. Some
48 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1650
have the nature of a horfe, to prance and vapour in their
ftrcngth, and to be fwift in doing evil. Some have the
nature of tall fturdy oaks, to tlourilli and fpread in wif-
dom and ftrength, who are ftrong in evil, which muft pe-
rifli.and come to the fire. Thus evil is but one in all,
but worketh many ways ; and whatfoever a man or wo-
man's nature is addicted to that is outward, the evil one
will fuit him, and pleafe his nature and appetite, to keep his
mind in Ins inventions, and in the creatures from the Cre-
ator. O therefore let not the mind go from God ; for if
it do, it will be fcained, venorried, and corrupted. If the
mind go forth from the Lord, it is hard to bring it in
again : therefore take heed of the enemy, and keep in the
faith of Chrifl:. Oh ! therefore mind that v/hich is eternal
and invifible, and him who is the Creator and Mover of
all things : for the things that are made, are not made ot
things that appear ; for the vifible covereth the invifible
light in you. But as the Lord, who is invifible, doth
open you by his invifible power and fpirit, and brings
down the carnal mind in you ; fo the invifible and immor-
tal things are brought to light in you. O therefore you
that know the light, walk in the light ! for there are chil-
dren of darknefs that will talk of the light, and of the
truth, yet not walk in it ; but the children of light love
the licrht, and walk in the liMit. But the children of
darknefs walk in darknefs, and hate the light. In them
the earthly luils and carnal mind choke the feed of faith,
which bringcth oppreffion on the feed, and death over
themfelves. O therefore mind the pure Spirit of the ever-
lafting God, which will teach you to ufe the creatures in
their right place, and which judgeth the evil. " To thee,
' O God, be all glory and honour, who art Lord of all
' vifibies and inviiibles ! To thee be all praife, who bringeft
• out of the deep to thyfelf ; O pou^erful God, who art
' worthy of all glory !" For the Lord who created all, and
gives life and ftrength to all, is over all and merciful to
all. " So thou, who haft made all, and art over all, to thee
• be all glory ! In thee is my ftrength, refrefhment, and
' life, my joy and my gladnefs, my rejoicing and glorying
' for evermore !" To live and walk in the Spirit of God
is joy, peace, and life; but the mind going forth into the
creatures, or into any vifible things from the Lord, this
bringeth death. When the mind is got into the fiefh, and
into death, the accufcr gets within, and the law ot fm and
(
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 49
* death gets into the flefh. Then the hfe fufFers under the
* law of fin and death, and then there is ftraitnefs and fail-
' ings. For then the good is ihut up, and the felf-righte-
' ouinefs is fet atop. Then man doth w^ork in the outward
' law, though he cannot juftify himfelf by the law, but is
' condemned by the light : for he cannot get out of that
* (late, but by abiding in the light, reding in the mercy of
' God, and believing in him from whom all mercy flows.
* For there is peace in refting in the Lord Jefus. This is
' the narrow way that leads to him, the life ; but few will
' abide in it. Keep in the innocency, and be obedient to
* the faith in him. Take heed of conforming to the world,
* and of reafoning with fleili and blood, for that bringeth
* difobedience ; and then imaginations and queilionings
* arife, to draw from obedience to the truth of Chrift. But
' the obedience of faith deftroycth imaginations, queftion-
' ings, and reafonings, with all the temptations in the flelli,
' bufFetinfJS, lookintrs forth, and fetching up things that are
* paft. But, not keeping in the life and light, not croffing
' the corrupt will by the power of God, the evil nature
' grows up in man ; then burdens v/ill come, and man will
' be ftained with that nature. But Efau's mountain Ihall
* be laid wafle, and become a wildernefs, where the dragons
' lie ; but Jacob, the fecond birth, fhall be fruitful and fhall
* arife. For Efau is hated, and muft not be lord ; but
' Jacob, the fecond birth, which is perfe6i; and plain, fhall
* be lord; for he is beloved of God.
G. F.'
I wrote another much about the fame time, and fent it
amongft the convinced people.
THE LQRD IS KING over all the earth! there-
fore, all people, praife and glorify your king in true
* obedience, in uprightness, and in the beauty of holinefs.
' Oh ! confider, in true obedience the Lord is known, and
* an underftanding from him is received. Mark and confi-
* der in filence, in lowlincfs of mind, and thou wilt hear
* the Lord fpcak unto thee in thy mind. His voice is fwcei
* and plcafant ; his fhecp hear his voice, and will not heark-
' en to another. When they hear his voice, they rejoice
* and are obedient ; they alfo Ting for joy. Oh ! rhcir hearts
' are filled with everlafting triumph ! they fing and praife
5© GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1650
* the eternal God in Zion. Their joy man fhall never take
' from them. Glory to the Lord God for evermore !'
But many, who had been convinced of the truth, turn-
ed afide, becaufe of the perfecution that arofe : whereupon
I writ a few lines for the comfort and encouragement of the
faithful.
* /^OME, ye bleffed of the Lord, rejoice together, keep *1
* \w^ in unity and onenefs of fpirit. Triumph above the
' world ! be joyful in the Lord ; reigning above the world !
* and above all things that draw from the Lord ; that in
' clearnefs, righteoulneis, purenefs, and joy, you may be
* preferved to the Lord. O hear ! O hearken to the call of
' the Lord ! Come out of the world, and keep out of it
' for evermore ! Come, fmg together, ye righteous ones,
' the fong of the Lord, the fong of the Lamb ; which none
' can learn, but they who are redeemed from the earth, and
' from the world.'
While I was in the houfe of corre6lion, my relations
came to fee me ; and being troubled for my imprifonment,
they went to the juftices that caft me into prifon, and deli-
red to have me home with them ; olrering to be bound in
on? hundred pounds, and others of Derby in fifty pounds
apiece with them, that I Ihould come no more thither to de-
clare againft the priefts. So I was had up before the juftices;
and becaufe I would not confent that they or any Ihould be
bound for me (for I was innocent from any ill behaviour,
and had fpoken the word of life and truth unto them) juf-
tice Bennet rofe up in a rage ; and as I was kneeling down
to pray to the Lord to forgive him, he ran upon me, and
llruck me with both his hands, crying, " away with him,
" gaoler: take him away, gaoler." Whereupon I was had
again to prifon, and there kept, till the time of my com-
mitment for fix months was expired. But I had now the
liberty of walking a mile by myfelf ; which I made ufe of
as I felt freedom. Sometimes I went into the market and
ftreets, and warned the people to repent of their wicked-
nefs ; and returned to prifon again. And there being per-
fons of feveral forts of religion in the prifon, I fometimes
vifited them in their meetings on firft-days.
After I had been before the juftices, and they had requi-
red fureties for my good behaviour ("'hich I could not con-
1.650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 51-
fent fhould be given, to blemifh my innocency) it came
upon me to write to the juiliccs again, which I did in the
following manner :
' Friends,
* O EE what it is in you that doth imprifon. Sec, who
' O is head in you. See, if lomething do not accuie
' you. Confider, you muft be brought to judgment.
* Think upon Lazarus and Dives ; the one fared fumptu-
' oufly every day, the other a beggar. Now you have
* time, prize it while you have it. Would you have me
* bound to my good behaviour ? I am bound to my good
* behaviour, and cry for good behaviour of all people, to
* turn from the vanities, plealures, oppreffion, and deceits
* of this world. There will come a time, that you lliall
' know it. Therefore take heed of pleafures, deceits, and
' pride; and look not at man, but at the Lord: for, " Look
" unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye fayed, faith
^'-the Lord."
Some little time after, I wrote to them again :
' Friends,
* X 71 yTOULD you have me bound to my good behaviour.
' V V from drunkenncfs, or fv/earing, or fighting, or adul-
' tery, and the like ? The Lord hath redeemed me from all
' thele things ; and the love ol God hath brought me to
*■ loath all wantonnefs, bleffed be his name. Drunkards,
* fighters, and fwearers, have their liberty without bonds ;
* and you lay your law upon me, whom neither you nor
' any other can juftly accufe of thefe things ; praiied be the
' Lord ! I can look at no man for my liberty, but at the
' Lord alone, who hath all men's hearts in his hand.*
After fome time, not finding my fpirit clear of them, I
wrote to them a^ain :
o.
)
' Friends,
HAD you known who fent me to you, yc would have
received me ; for the Lord font me to you, to warn
you of the woes that are coming upon you; and to bid you
look at the Lord, anjd not at man. But when I had told
you my experience, what the Lord had done for me, then
your hearts were hardened, and you fent mc to prifon^
R
5a GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1650
* where you have kept me many weeks. If the love of God
* had broke your hearts, then would ye fee what ye have
' done : ye would not have imprifoned me, had not my
' Father fufFered you ; and by his power I ftiall be loofed :
* for he openeth and fhutteth ; to him be all glory ! In what
' have I mifbehaved myfelf, that any fhould be boun^ for
* me ? All men's words will do me no good, nor their bonds
* neither, to keep my ^eart, if I have not a guide within,
* to keep me in the upright life to God. But I believe in
* the Lord, that through his flrength and power I (hall be
' preferved from ungodlinefs and worldly lulls. The fcrip-
* ture faith, " Receive ftrangers ;" but you iraprifon fuch.
* As you are in authority, take heed of oppreflion, oaths,
* injuftice, and gifts or rewards, for God loaths all fuch.
* But love mercy and true judgment, for that the Lord de-
* lights in. I do not write with hatred to you, but to keep
* my confcience clear : take heed how you fpend your time.'
I was moved alfo to write again to the priefls of Derby ;
which I did after this manner :
* Friends,
YOU profefs to be the miniflers of Jefus Chrift in
words, but you fhew by your fruits what your minif-
try is. Every tree fhews its fruit : the miniflry of Jefus
Chrift is in mercy and love, to loofe them that are bound,
to bring out of bondage, and to let them that are captivated
go free. Now, friends, where is your example, if the fcrip-
tures be your rule, to imprifon for religion? Have you any
command for it from Chrift ? If that were in you, which
you profefs, you would walk in their fteps who fpake the
fcriptures. But he is not a Jew who is one outward, vv^hofe
praife is of Men ; but he is a Jew who is one inward,
whofe praife is of God. But if you build upon the pro-
phets and apoftles in words, and peiTcrt their life, remem-
ber the woes which Jefus Chrift fpake againft fuch. They
that fpoke the prophets words, but denied Chrift, they
profefTed a Chrift to come ; but had they known him, they
would not have crucified him. The faints, whom the
love of God did change, were brought thereby to walk in
love and mercy ; for he that dwelleth in love, dv/elleth in
God. But where envy, pride, and hatred rule, the nature
of the world rules, not the nature of Jefus Chrift. I write
with no hatred to you ; but that you may weigh your-
felves, and fee how you pafs your time.*
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 55
Thus having cleared my confcience to the pricfls, it was
not long before a concern came upon me to write again to
the juftices, which I did as followeth :
I AM moved to warn you to take heed of giving way
to your own wills. Love the crofs ; fatisfy not your
own minds in the flefh ; but prize your time while you
have it, and walk up to that you know, in obedience to
God ; then you (hall not be condemned for that you know
not, but for that you know, and do not obey. Confider
betimes, weigh yourfelves, fee where you are, and whom
you ferve. For if ye blafpheme God, and take his name
in vain, if ye fwear and lie, if ye give way to envy, ha-
tred, covetoufnefs, and greedinefs, pleafures and wanton-
nefs, or any other vices, be aflured that ye ferve the devil ;
but if ye fear the Lord and ferve him, ye will loath all
thefe things. He that loveth God, will not blafpheme
his name : but where there is oppofing of God, and fei'v-
ing the devil, that profeffion is fad and miferable. O prize
your time; do not love that which God forbids; lying,
wrath, malice, envy, hatred, greedinefs, covetoufnefs,
oppreffion, gluttony, drunkennefs, whoredom, and all
unrighteoufnefs, God doth forbid. So confider, Evil
communication corrupts good manners. Be not deceived,
God will not be mocked with vain words ; the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven againft all ungodHnefs.
Therefore obey that which convinceth you of all evil, and
telleth you that you fhould do no evil : it will lead to re-
pentance, and keep you in the fear of the Lord. O look
at the mercies of God, prize them, and do not turn them
into wantonnefs. O eye the Lord, and not earthly things!'
Beiides this, I wrote the fallowing to Colonel Barton,
who was both a juftice and a preacher :
* Friend,
DO not cloak and cover thyfelf ; there is a God who
knoweth thy -heart, and will uncover thee. He fceth
thy way. >* Wo be to him that covereth, and not witli
' my Spirit^ f^ith the Lord." Doft thou do contrary to
the law, and then put it from thee. Mercy and true judg-
ment thou negleftefl ; l(3ok what was fpoken againft fuch.
My Saviour faid to fuch, " I was fick and in prifon, and
' ye vifited me not ; I was hungry, and ye fed me not ; I
R 2
5+ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1650
' was a ftranger, and ye took me not in." ' And when
they faid, " When faw we thee in prifon, and did not
' come to thee," &c. He replied, " Inafmuch as ye did it
' not to one of thefe little ones, ye did it not to me."
Friend, thou haft imprifoned me for bearing witnefs to
the life and power of truth, and yet profcffefl to be a mi-
nifter of Chrift ; but if Chrift had fent thee, thou wouldft
bring out of prifon, out of bondage, and wouldft receive
ftrangers. Thou haft been wanton upon earth, thou haft
lived plenteoufly, and noarifhed thy heart as in a day of
flaughter. Thou haPc killed the juft. O look where thou
art, and how thou haft fpent thy time ! O remember thy-
felf, and now while thou haft time, prize it. Do not
flight the free mercy of God, and defpife his long fufFer-
ing, which is great falvation; but mind that in thee which
doth convince thee, and would not let thee fwear, nor lie,
nor take God's name in vain. Thou knoweft thou,
fliouldft do none of thefe things ; thou haft learned that
v\rhich will condemn thee ; therefore obey the light which
doth convince thee, fbrfake thy fms, look at the mercies
of God, and prize his love in fparing thee till now. The
Lord faith, " Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth,
* and be ye faved ;" and *' Ceafe from man, whofe breath
' is in his noftrils." Friend, prize thy time, and fee whom
thou fei-veft ; for his fervant thou art whom thou doft
obey, whether of fin unto death, or obedience unto right-
eoufnefs. If thou ferveft God and feareft him, thou wilt
not blafpheme his name, nor curfe, nor fwear, nor take
his name in vain, nor follow pleafures and wantonnefs,
whoredom and drunkennefs, or wraih, or malice, or revenge,
or rafhnefs, or headinefs, pride or gluttony, greedinefs,
opprefTion or covetoufnefs, orfoolifli jefting, or vain fongs;
God doth forbid thefe things, and all unrighteoufnefs. If
thou profeffeft God, and afteft any of thefe things, thou
takeft him for a cloak, and ferveft the devil. Confider
with thyfelf, and do not love that which God hateth. He
that loveth God keepeth his commandments. The devil will
tell thee. It is an hard thing to keep God's command-
ments ; but it is an cafy thing to keep the devil's com-
mandments, and to live in all unrighteoufnefs and ungod-
Imefs, turning the grace of God into wantonnefs. But let
the unrighteous man fordike his ways, and turn unto me,
faith the Lord, and I will have mercy ; " T^irn ye, why
will ye die ? faith the Lord."
1650] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 55
* Howl, ye great ones, for the plagues are pouring out*
* upon you! Howl, ye opprelTors, jor recompenfe and ven-
' geance is coming upon you ! Wo unto them that covet-
* oufly join one houle to another, and bring one field fo
* nigh unto another that the poor can get no more ground ;
^ that ye may dv.'ell upon the earth alone. Thefe things
* are in the ears of the Lord of Hofts. Wo unto him that
* covetoufly getteth evil-gotten goods into his houfe, that he
* may fet his neft on high, to efcape from the power of evil.'
While I was in the houfe of correclion, there came a
trooper, and faid, As he was fitting in the fteeple-houfe,
hearing the prieft, exceeding great trouble fell upon him ;
and the voice of the Lord came to him, faying, " Dofh thou
*' not know that my fervant is in prifon ? Go to him for di-
*' re6lion." So I fpake to his condition, and his under-
Handing was opened. I told him. That which fliewed him
his fins, and troubled him for them, would fhew him his
falvation ; for he that Ihews a man his fin, is the fame that
takes it away. While I was fpeaking to him, the Lord's
power opened him fo that he began to have a good under-
Handing in the Lord's truth, and to be fenfible of God's
mercies. He fpoke boldly in his quarters amongft; the
foldiers, and to others, concerning truth, (for the fcriptures
were very much opened to him) infomuch that he faid,
•' His colonel was as blind as Nebuchadnezzar, to call the
*• fervant of the Lord into prifon." Upon this, his colonel
conceived a fpite againft him : and at Worceiter fight the
year after, when the tv/o armies lay near one another, two
came out from the king's army, and challenged any two of
the parliament army to fight with them ; his colonel made
choice of him and another to anfwer the challenge. And
when in the encounter his companion was flain, he drove
both his enemies within muflcet-fhot of the tow^n, without
firing a piftol at them. This, when he returned, he told me
with his own mouth. But when the fight was over, he law
the deceit and hypocrify of the officers ; and being fenfible
how wondeifully the Lord had preferved him, and fiseing
alfo to the end of fighting, he laid down his arms.
The time of my commitment to the houfe of corre6lion be-
ing very near out, and there being many new foldiers railted,
the commiffioners v/ould have made me captain over them ;
and the foldiers cried, They would have none but me. So
tiic keeper of the houfe of corre6lion was commarided to
56 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1650
bring me before the commiffioners and foldiers in the mar-
ket-place ; where they offered me that preferment, as they
called it, afking me, If I would not take up arms for the com-
monwealth againft Charles Stewart ? I told them I knew
from whence all wars arofe, even from the lulls, according to
James's do6lrine ; and that I lived in the virtue of that life
and power that took away the occafion of all wars. Yet they
courted me to accept of their offer, and. thought I did but
compliment them. But I told them I was come into the
covenant of peace, which was before wars and ftrifes were.
They faid, They offered it in love and kindnefs to me, be-
caufe of my virtue ; and fuch-like flattering words they
ufed. But I told them. If that was their love and kind-
nefs, I trampled it under my feet. Then their rage got up,
and they faid, " Take him away, Gaoler, and put him into
*• the prifon amongft the rogues and felons." So I was put
into a loufy llinking place, without any bed, amongft thirty
felons, where I was kept almoft half a year; yet at times
;they would let me walk to the garden, believing I would
not go away. When they had got me into Derby pri-
fon, it was the faying of people that I fliould never come
out ; but I had faith in God that I ftiould be delivered in
his time : for the Lord had given me to believe that I was
not to be removed from that place yet, being fet there for a
fervice which he had for me to do.
After it was bruited abroad that I was in Derby prifon,
my relations came to fee me again ; and were much trou-
bled that I fhould be in prifon ; for they looked upon it to
be a great fhame to them for me to lie in gaol. It was a
flrange thing then to be imprifoned for religion ; and fome
thought I was mad, becaufe I Hood for purity, righteouf-
nefs and perfection.
Among others that came to fee and difcourfe v/ith me»
there was a certain perfon from Nottingham, a foldier,.
who had been a baptift, as I underllood, and with him
came feveral others. In difcourfe, this perfon faid to me,
*' Your faith flands in a man that died at Jerufalem, and
" there never was any fuch thing." Being exceedingly
grieved to hear him, I faid, " How ! did not Chrift fuffer
*' without the gates of jerufalem, through the profefling Jews,
" chief priefts. and Pilate ?" He denied that ever Chrill fuf-
Lrcd there outwardly. Then I afked him, Whether there
were not chief prieiL and Jews, and Pilate there outward-
ly ? W'hen he could not deny that, I told him, As cer-
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 57
tainly as there was a chief prleft, and Jews and Pilate there
outwardly, fo certainly was Chrifl perfecuted by them, and
did lufFer there outwardly under thetn, Yet from this man's
words was a flander raifed upon us, That the Quakers
fhould deny Chrift, that fufFered and died at Jerufaiem :
which was all utterly falfc ; the leaft thought of it never
entered our hearts. The fame perfon alfo faid, That never
any of the prophets, nor apoftles, nor holy men of God,
fufFered any thing outwardly, but all their fufFerings were
inward. I inftanced to him many of the prophets and
apoftles, how and by whom they fufFered. So the power
of the Lord was brought over his wicked imaginations and
whimfies.
There came alfo another company to me, that pretended
they were triers of fpirits : I afked them, What -was the
firfl flep to peace ? And what it was by which a man
might fee his falvation ? They were prefently up in the
airy mind, and faid, I was mad. Thus they came to try
fpirits, who did not know themfelves nor their own fpirits.
In this time of my imprifonment I was exceedingly ex-
ercifed about the proceedings of the judges and magiflrates
in their courts of judicature, and was moved to write to the
judges concerning their putting men to death for fmall mat-
ters ; and to fhew them how contrary it was to the law of
God in old time ; for I was under great fufFering in my
fpirit becaufe of it, and under the very fenfe of death ; but
[landing in the will of God, an heavenly breathing arofe
in my foul to the Lord. Then did I fee the heavens open-
ed, and I rejoiced, and gave glory to God. So I wrote
to the judges in manner following :
* T AM moved to write unto you, to take heed of putting
' X men to death, for dealing cattle, or money, &c. for
' thieves in old time were to make reftitution ; and if they
* had not wherewith, they were to be fold for their thett.
* Mind the laws of God in the fcriptures, and the Spirit
* that gave them forth ; let them be your rule in cxc-
* cuting judgment ; and fhew mercy, that you may receive
* mercy from God, the judge of all. Take heed of gifts and
* rewards, and of pride ; lor God doth forbid them, and
* they blind the eyes of the wife. I do not write to give li-
* berty to fin, God hath forbidden it ; but that you Ihould
* judge according to his laws, and fliew mercy ; for he de-
* lighteth in true judgmetit, and in mercy. I bcfcech you.
5-S GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651
' mind thefe things, prize your time, now you have it;
' fear God, and ferve him, tor he is a coniuming fire/
Befides this, I wrote another letter to the judges, to this
efFea : .
' T AM moved to write unto you, that ye do true juftice
* X to every man ; fee that none be opprelled nor wronged,
' nor any oaths impofed; for the land mourneth becaufe
' of oaths, adulteries, forceries, drunkennefs, and prophane-
* nefs. O confider, ye that are in authority : be moderate,
' and in lowlinefs confider thele things. Shew mercy to the
* fatherlefs, to the widows, and to the poor. Take heed of
' rewards or gifts, for they blind the eyes of the wife ; the
' Lord doth loath all fuch. Love mercy and true judg-
* ment, juftice and righteoufnefs ; for the Lord delighteth
' in fuch. Confider thefe things in time, and take heed
' how ye fpend your time. Now ye have time, prize it ;
' and Ihew mercy, that ye may receive mercy from the
* Lord : for he is coming to try all things, and will plead
' with all flefli as by fire/
Moreover, I laid before the judges what an hurtful thing
it was that prifoners Ihouid lie fo long in gaol ; fhewing
how they learned wickednefs one of another, in talking of
their bad deeds ; therefore fpeedy juflice flhould be done.
For I was a tender youth, and dwelt in the fear of God ;
and being grieved to hear their bad language, I was often
made to reprove them for their wicked words, and evil car-
riage towards each other. People admired that I was fo
preferved and kept ; for they never could catch a word or
a61ion from me, to make any thing of againft me, all the
time I was there ; for the Lord's infinite power upheld
and preferved me all that time ; to him be praifes and glo-
ry for ever !
While I was here, there was a young woman in the gaol
for robbin;:[ her mailer. When fhe was to be tried for her life,
I wrote to the judge and jury, fliCAving them how contrary it
was to the la-iv of God in old time to put people to death for
Healing ; and moving them to fhew merc}^ Yet flie M^as
condemned to die, and a grave was made for her; and at
tlie time appointed flie was carried forth to execution.
Then I wrote a few words, warning all to beware of greedi-
ncfs or covetoufnefs, for it leads from God ; and that all
fhould fear the Lord, avoid earthly lulls, and prize their
i6si] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 59
time while they have it : this I gave to be read at the gal-
lows. And though they had her upon the ladder, with a
cloth bound over her face, ready to be turned ofF, yet they
did not put her to death, but brought her back to prifon,
where fhe afterwards came to be convinced of God's ever-
lafling truth.
There was alfo in the gaol, while I was there, a wicked
ungodly man who was reputed a conjurer. He threatened
he would talk with me, and what he would do -, but he
never had power to open his mouth to me. And the gaoler
and he falling out, he threatened to raife the devil, and
break his houTe down ; fo that he made the gaoler afraid.
I was moved of the Lord to go in his power and rebuke
him, and to fay to him, " Come, let's fee what thou canfl
" do ; do thy worft." I told him, " The devil was raifed
*' high enough in him already ; but the power of God
" chained him down ;" fo he flunk away from me.
The time of V/orcefter fight coming on, juflice Bennet
fent conftables to prefs me for a foldier, feeing I would not
voluntarily accept of a command. I told them, that I was
brought ofF from outward wars. They came again to give
me prefs-money ; but I would take none. Then I was
brought up to i'erjeant Holes, kept there awhile, and taken
down again. Afterwards the conftables brought me a fe-
cond time before the commifiioners, who faid I fhould go
for a foldier ; but I told them I was dead to it. They faid
I was alive. I told them, where envy and hatred is, there
is confufion. They offered me money twice, but I rcfufed
it. Being difappointed, they were angry, and committed
me clofe prifoner, without bail or mainprize. Whereupon.
I wrote to them again, direfting my letter to colonel Bar-
ton, a preacher, and the reft that were concerned in my
commitment. 1 wrote thus :
* 'XT'OU who are without Chrift, and yet ufe the words
* X which he and his faints have fpoken, confider neither
' he nor his apoftles did ever imprifon any ; but our Saviour
' is merciful even to the unmerciful and rebellious. He
' brings out of prifon and bondage ; but men, while the
* carnal mind rules, opprefs and imprifon. My Saviour
' faith, " Love your enemies, and do good to them that
" hate you, and pray for them that defpitefuily ufe and per-
" fecute you." For the love of God doth not perfecute
* any, but loveth all where it dwelleth. " He that hateth
S
6o GEORGE PCX's JOURNAL. [1651
" his brother is a murderer." You profefs to be Chriflians,
' and one of you a minifter of Jefus Chvift ; yet you have
' imprifoned me, who am a fervant of Jefus Chnft. The
* apoflles never imprifoned any, but were imprifoned them-
* felves. Take heed of fpeaking of Chrift in words, and
' denying him in life and power. O friends, the imprifon-
' ing my body is to fatisty your wills ; but take heed of
* giving way to your wills, for that will hurt you. If the
' loA-e of God had broken your hearts, you would not have
' imprifoned me ; but my love is to you, as to all mv fel-
' low-creatures ; and that you may weigh yourfelves, and
* fee how you fland, is this written.'
About this time I was moved to give forth the following
lines, to go amongft the convinced and tender people, to
manifell the deceits of the world, and how the priefts have
deceived the people.
To all that love the Lord Jefus Chrift with a pure and
naked heart, and the generation of the righteous.
* /^HRIST was ever hated; and the righteous for his
' V—^ fake. Mind who they were that did ever hate them.
* He that was born after the flefh perfecuted him that was
* born after the Spirit ; fo it is now. Mind who were the
* chiefeft againft Chrift ; even the great learned men, the
' heads of the people, rulers, and teachers, that profeflfed
* the law and the prophets, and looked for Chrift, They
* looked for an outwardly-glorious Chrift, to hold up their
' outward glory ; but Chrift (poke againft the works of the
' world, and againft the priefts, fcribes, and pharifees, and
' their hypocritical profeflion. He that is a ftranger to
' Chrift, is an hireling ; but the fervants of Chrift are free
* men. Falfe teachers always laid burdens upon the peo-
' pie ; and the true fervants of the Lord declared againft
' them. Jeremiah fpoke againft hirelings, and faid. It wai;
' an horrible thing ; and. What will ye do in the end ? Fob'
' the people and priefts were given to covetoufnefs. Paul
' Ipoke againft fuch as made gam upon the people, and ex-
' horted the faints to turn away from fuch as were covetous
' and proud, fuch as lo\'ed pleafures more than God, fucli
* as had a form of godlinel's, but denied the power thereof.
" For of this fort," faid he. " arc they, that creep into
" houfes^ imd lead captive lilly women^ who are ever learn-
1651] GEORG.E FOX'S JOURNAL. Ci
ing but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth ;
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, and
as Jannes and Jambres withltood Mofes, fo do thefe re-
fift the truth; but tliey fiiall proceed no farther, for their
' folly fliall be made manifeft unto all men." Mofes for-
fook honours and pleafures, which he might have enjov-
ed. The apoftle in his time faw this corruption entering,
which now is fpread over the world, of having a foim of
godlinefs but denying the power. Afk, any of your teach-
ers, whether you may ever overcome your corruptions or
fins ? None of them believe that: but '• as lons^ as man
' is here, he mufl (fay they) carry about v.'ith him the body
' of fin," Thus pride is kept up, and that honour and
mafterlliip which Chrift denied, and all unrighteoufnefs.
Yet multitudes of teachers ! heaps of teachers ! the golden
cup full of abominations ! Paul did not preach for wa-
ges, but laboured with his hands, that he might be an
example to all that follow him. O people, lee who fol-
low Paul ! The prophet Jeremiah faid, " The prophets
' prophefy falfely, and the priefts bear rule by their means;"
but now the priefts bear rule by the means they get from
the people : take away their means, and they will bear
rule over you no longer. They are fucli as the apoftle
faid, " Intruded into thofe things which they never faw,
' being vainly puffed up with a flefiily mind ;" and as the
fcriptures declare of fome of old, '' They go in the way of
' Cain, who was a murderer, and in the way of Balaam,
' %vho coveted the wages of unrighteoufnefs." The prophet
Micah alfo cried agamll the judges that judged for reward,
and the priefts that taught for hire, and the prophets that
prophefied for money ; yet leaned on the Lord, faying,
' Is not the Lord amongft us ?" Gifts blind the eyes of
the wile. The gift of God was never purchafed with mo-
ney. All the holy fen'ants of God did ever cry againft
deceit ; and where the Lord hath manifefted his love, they
loath it, and that nature which holdeth it up.'
Again a concern came upon me to write to the magif-
trates of Derby.
' Friends,
DESIRE you to confider in time whom ye imprifon ;
for the magiftrate is fet for the punifhment of evil-
' doers, and for the praife of them that do well. But when
S 2
62 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1651
the Lord fends his melTengers to warn you of the woes
that will come upon you except you repent, you perfe-
cute them, put them in pnfon, and fay, " We have a
' law, and by our lav/ we may do it." For you indeed juf-
tify yourfelves before men, but God knoweth your hearts.
He will not be ^v'orihipped with your forms, profeffions,
and fliews of religion. Therefore conlider, ye that talk of
God, how ye are iubjefl to him ; for thofe are his children
that do his will. What doth the Lord require of you,
but to do juflice, to love and fhew mercy, to walk hum-
bly with him, and to help the widows and fatherlefs
to their right ? But inftead thereof ye opprefs the poor.
Do not your judges judge for rewards, and your prieits
teach for hire ? The time is coming, that he who feeth all
things will difcover all your fecrets. Know this alfuredly,
The Lord will deliver his fervants out of your hands, and
he will recompenfe all your unjuft dealings towards his
people. I defire you to confider of thefe things ; fearch
the fcriptures, and fee, whether any of the people of God
did ever imprifon any for religion. They were them-
felves imprifoned. I defire you to confider, that it is
written, " When the church is met together ye may all
' prophefy one by one, that all may hear, learn, and be
'comforted;" and then, '* If any thing be revealed to
' him that fitteth by, let the firft hold his peace." Thus
it was in the true church, and thus it ought now to be j
but it is not fo in your affemblies. He that teaches for
hire may fpcak, and none may contradift him. Again,
conlider the liberty given to the apolllcs, even among the
unbelieving Jews, when after the reading of the law and
the prophets, the rulers of the fynagogue faid unto them,
Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation
for the people, fay on." I defire you to confider in ftill-
nefs, and ilrive not againft the Lord ; for he is ftronger
than you. Though ye hold his people fail for a time,
}'et when he cometh, he will make known who are his ;
for his coming is like the refiner's fire, and like fuller's
foap. Then the ftone that is fct at nought by you build-
ers Oiall be the head-ilone of the corner. O friends, lay
thefe things to heart. Let them not feem light things to
yoLi. I wrote to you in love, to mind the laws of God,
and your own fouls, and to do as the holy men of God
did.'
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 63
Great was the exercife and travail in fpirit that I under-
went during my imprifonment here, becaufe of the wicked-
nefs that was in this town ; for though fome were con-
vinced, yet the generality were a hardened people. I faw
the vifitation of God's love pafs away from them. I
mourned over them ; and it came upon me to give forth the
following lines, as a lamentation for them :
'AS the waters run away when the flood-gates are up,
' Jr\. fo doth the vifitation of God's love pals away from
* thee, O Derby ! Therefore look where thou art, and how
* thou art grounded ; and conhder, before thou art utterly
' forfaken. The Lord moved me twice before I came to
* cry againft the deceits and vanities that are in thee, and
* to warn all to look at the Lord, and not at man. The
' wo is againfl the crown of pride, againft drunkennefs
* and vain pleafures, and againft them that make a profef-
' fion of religion in words, yet are high and lofty in mind,
' and live in oppreffion and envy. O Derby ! thy profef-
' fion and preaching ftinks before the Lord. You profefs
* a fabbath in words, and meet together, drefling yourfelves
* in fine apparel, and you uphold pride. Thy women go
' with ftretched-forth necks and wanton eyes,, Sec. which
* the true prophets of old cried againft. Your aiTemblies
* are odious, an abomination to the Lord : pride is fet up
* and bowed down to, covetoufnefs abounds, and he that
* doth Vv^ickedly is honoured. So deceit bears with deceit,
' yet they profefs Chrift in words. Oh ! the deceit that is
* within thee! It even breaks my heart to fee how God is
' diftionoured in thee, O Derby !'
After I had feen the vifitation of God's love pafs away
from this place, I knew that my imprifonment here would
not continue long ; but I faw that when the Lord fhould
bring me forth, it would be as the letting of a lion out of
a den amongft the wild beafts of the foreft. For all pro-
fefiions ftood in a beaftly fpirit and nature, pleading for fin,
and for the body of fin and imperfection, as long as they
lived. They raged, and ran againft the life and fpirit
which gave forth the fcriptures, yet profeffcd them in words.,
as will appear hereafter.
There was a great judgment upon the town, and the ma-
giftvatcs were uncafy about me ; but could not agree what
to do with me. One while they would have fcnt me up to
64 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i6;i
the parliament ; another while they would have banifhed
me to Ireland. At firft they called me a deceiver, a fedu-
cer, and a blafphemer. Afterwards, when God had brought
his plagues upon them, they ftiled me an honefl virtuous
man. But their good report and bad report were nothing
to me ; for the one did not lift me up, nor the other call me
down : praifed be the Lord ! At length they were made to
turn me out of gaol, about the beginning of winter in the
year 1651, after I had been a prifoner in Derby almoft a
year; lix months in the houfe of corre6lion, and the reft of
the time in the common gaol.
Being at liberty I went on, as before, in the work of the
Lord, pafling through the country into Leicefterfhire, hav-
ing meetings as 1 went ; and the Lord's Spirit and power
accompanied me. Afterwards I went near Burton upon
Trent, where lome were convinced ; and to Bufliel-Houle,
where I had a mteting. I went into the country, where
there were friendly people ; yet an outrageous wicked pro-
feffor had an intent to have done me a mifchief, but the
Lord prevented him : blefl'ed be the Lord !
As I was walking with feveral friends, I lifted up my
head, and law three fteeple-houfe fpires, and they flruck
at my life. I afked them what place that was ? They
faid, Lichfield. Immediately the word of the Lord came
to me, that I muft go thither. Being come to the houfe
we were going to, I wifh'd friends to walk into the houfe,
faying nothing to them whither I was to go. As foon as
they were gone I ftept away, and went by my eye over
hedge and ditch till I came within a mile of Lichfield ;
where, in a great field, fhepherds were keeping their llieep.
Then was I commanded by the Lord to pull off my fhoes.
I ftood ftill, for it was winter ; and the word of the Lord
was like a fire in me. So I put off my fhoes, and left them
with the fhepherds ; and the poor fhepherds trembled, and
were afloniftied. Then I walked on about a mile, and as
foon as I was got within the city, the word of the Lord
came to me again, faying ; Cry, " Wo to the bloody city
*' of Lichfield !" So I went up and down the ftrects, cry-
ing with a loud voice. Wo to the bloody city of
Lichfield ! It being market-day, I went into the mar-
ket-place, and to and fro in the feveral parts of it, and
made ftands, crying as before, Wo to the bloody
CITY OF Lichfield! And no one laid hands on me.
As I went thus crying through the flreets, there fecmed to
165O GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 65
me to be a channel of blood running down the ftreets, and
the market-place appeared like a pool of blood. When
I had declared what was upon me, and felt myfeif clear, 1
went out of the town in peace ; and returning to the fhep-
lierds gave them fome money, and took my Uioes of them
again. But the fire of the Lord was fo in my feet, and
all over me, that I did not matter to put on my fhoes
again, and was at a ftand whether I fliould or no, till I
felt freedom from the Lord fo to do : then, after I had
waflied my feet, I put on my fhoes again. Alter this a
deep confideration came upon me, for what reafon 1 fliould
be fent to cry againll that city, and call it The bloody
city! For though the parliament had the minfter one
while, and the king another, and much blood had been
fhed in the town during the wars between them, yet that
was no more than had befallen many other places. But
afterwards I came to underftand, that in the emperor Dio-
clefian's time a thoufand chrillians were martyr'd in Lich-
field. So I was to go, without m.y fhoes, through the
channel of their blood, and into the pool of their blood in
the market-place, that I might raife up the memorial of the
blood of thofe martyrs, which had been fhed above a thou-
fand years before, and lay cold in their ftreets. So the
fenfe of this blood was upon me, and I obe)-ed the word
of the Lord. Ancient records teflify how many of the
chriftian Britons fufFered there. Much I could write of
the fenfe 1 had of the blood of the martyrs, that hath been
fhed in this nation for the name of Chrift, both under the
ten perfecutions and fince ; but I leave it to the Lord, and
to his book, out of which all fhall be judged ; for his book
is a moft certain record, and his Spirit a true recorder.
Then I paifed through the countries, having meetings
amongft friendly people in many places ; but my relations
were offended at me. After fome time I returned into
Nottinghamfhire, to Mansfield, and into Derbyfhire, viht-
ing friends. Then palling into Yorkfhire, I preached re-
pentance through Doncafler, and leveral other places ; and
came to Balby, where Richard Farnfworth and others were
convinced. So travelling through feverai places, preaching
jepentance, and the word of life to the people, I came into
the parts about Wakefield, where James Nayler lived ;
who, with Thomas Goodyear, came to me, and were both
convinced, and received the truth. William Dewibury
alfo and his M-if(?. with many more came to me. who were
66 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651
convinced, and received the truth. From thence I pafTed
towards captain Purfloe's by Selby, and vifited John Leek,
who had been to fee me in Derby prifon, and was convin-
ced. I had a horl'e, but was fain to leave him, not know-
ing what to do with him ; for I was moved to go to many
great houfes, to admonilh and exhort the people to turn to
the Lord. I was moved of the Lord to go to Beverly
fi;ecple-houfe. which was a place of high profeffion. Being
very wet with rain, I went firft to an inn. As foon as I
came to the door, a young woman of the houfe faid,
" What ! is it you ? Come in," as if jfhe had known me
before ; for the Lord's power bowed their hearts. So I re-
frefhed myfelf, and went to bed. In the morning, my
cloaths being flill wet, 1 got ready, and having paid for
what I had, went up to the fteeple-houfe, where was a
man preaching. When he had done, I was moved to
fpeak to him and to the people in the mighty power of
God, and turned them to their teacher, Chrift Jefus. The
power of the Lord was fo ftrong, that it flruck a mighty
dread amongil the people. The mayor came and fpoke a
few words to me ; but none had power to meddle with
me. So I paflTed out of the town, and in the afternoon
went to another fteeple-houfe about two miles off. When
the prieft had done I was moved to fpeak to him and to
the people very largely, fliewing them the way of life and
truth, and the ground of eleftion and reprobation. The
prieft faid, he was but a child, and could not difpute with
me. I told him I did not come to difpute, but to hold
forth tlie word of life and truth unto them, that they might
all know the one feed which the promiie of God was to,
both in the male and in the female. Here the people were
very loving, and would have had me come again on a week-
day, and preach among them : but I directed them to their
teacher, Chrift Jefus ; and the next day went to Cranfick,
to captain Purfloe's, who accompanied me to juftice Ho-
tham's. Juftice Hotham was a pretty tender man, and had
fonie experience of God's workings in his heart. After,
fome dilcourfe with him of the things of God, he took me
into iris ciofet ; where fitting together, he told me he had
known that principle thefe ten years, and was glad that the
Lord did now fend his fervants to publiftr it abroad to the
people. After awhile a prieft came to vifit him, with whom
I had fome dilcourfe concerning truth. His mouth was
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 67
quickly (lopt ; for he was nothing but a notionifl, and not
in poffdflion of what he talked of
While I was there, a great woman of Beverly came to
juftice Hotham about fome bufinefs. In difcourfe flie told
him, " The laft fabbath-day, as fhe called it, there was an
" angel or fpirit came into the church at Beverly, and
" fpoke the wonderful things of God, to the aflonifhment
" of all that were there; and when it had done, it paflTed*
*' away, and they did not know whence it came nor whither
" it went ; but it aflonifhed all, prieft, profeflbrs, and ma-
*' giftrates." This relation juftice Hotham gave me after-
wards ; and then I gave him an account that I had been
that day at Beverly fteeple-houfe, and had declared truth to
the prieft and people there.
In the country thereabouts were fome noted priefts and
do6lors that juftice Hotham had acquaintance with. He
would fain have them fpeak with me, and oflFered to fend
for them, under pretence of fome bufinefs he had with
them ; but I vvdfti'd him not to do fo.
When firft-day was come, juftice Hotham walked ouC
with me into the fields ; and captain Purfloe coming after
us, juftice Hotham left us, and returned home ; but captain
Purfloe went with me into the fteeple-houfe. When the
prieft had done, I fpoke to both prieft and people ; decla-
red to them the word of life and truth, and direfted them
where they might find their teacher, the Lord Jefus Chrift.
Some were convinced, received the truth, and ftand faft in
it, and have a fine meeting to this day.
In the afternoon I went to another fteeple-houfe, abouC
three 'miles off, where preached a great high prieft, called
a doftor, one of them whom juftice Hotham would have
fent for to have fpoken with me. I went into the fteeple-
houfe, and ftaid till the prieft had done. The words which
he took for his text were thefe : " Ho, every one that thirft-
" eth, come ye to the waters ; and he that hath no money,
" come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk
" without money and without price." Then was I moved
of the Lord God to fay to him, " Come down, thou de-
" ceiver; doft thou bid people come freely, and take of the
" water of life freely, and yet thou takeft three hundred
" pounds a year of them for preaching the fcriptures to
*' them ? Mayft thou not blufti for ftiame ? Did the pro-
*• phet Ifaiah and Chrift do fo, who fpake the words, and
'■ gave them forth freely ? Did not Chrift fay to hi^ minif*
T
68 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651
ters, whom he fent to preach, " Freely ye have received,
" freely give ?" The prieft, like a man amazed, hafted
away. After he had left his flock, I had as much time as
I could defire to fpeak to the people. I direded them from
darknefs to the light, and to the grace of God that would
teach them, and bring them falvalion ; to the Spirit of God
in their inward parts, which would be a free teacher unto
them.
Having cleared myfelf amongft that people, I returned
to jullice Hotham's that night; who, when I came in, took
me in his arms, and faid. His houfe was my houfe, for he
was exceeding glad at the work of the Lord, and that his
power was revealed. Then he told me why he went not
with me to the fteeple-houfe in the morning, and what rea-
fonings he had in himfelf about it ; for he thought, if he
had gone with me to the fleeple-houfe, the officers would
have put me to him ; and then he fliould not have known
what to have done : but he was glad, he faid, when captain
Purfloe came up to go with me ; yet neither of them was
drefled, nor had their bands about their necks. It was a
ftrange thing then to fee a man come into a fteeple-houfe
without a band ; yet captain Purfloe went in with me with-
out his band, the Lord's power and truth had fo afFefted
him that he minded it not.
From hence ■ I pafled on, and came at night to an inn
where was a company of rude people. I bid the woman
of the houfe, if fhe had any meat, to bring me fome ; but be-
caufe I faid Thee and Thou to her, flie looked ftrangely on
me. I afked her if flie had any milk ? She faid, No. I was
fenlible flie fpake falfely ; and, being willing to try her fur-^
ther, I aflced her, If fhe had any cream ? She denied that flie
had any. There flood a churn in the room, and a little boy
playing about, put his hands into it, and pulled it down, and
threw all the cream on the floor before my eyes. Thus was
the woman manifefted to be a liar. She was amazed, blef-
fed lierfeif, took up the child, and whipped it forely : but
I reproved her for her lying and deceit. After the Lord
had thus difcovered her deceit and perverfenefs, I walked
out of the houfe, and went awav tiil I came to a flack of
hay, and lay in the hay-ftack that night, in rain and fnow;
it being but three days before the time called Chriftmas.
The next day I came info York, where were ieveral very
tender people. Upon the firft-day following, I was com-
manded of the Lord to go and fpeak to priefl Bowles and
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 69
his hearers in their great cathedral. Accordingly I went.
When the prieft had done, I told them I had I'omething from
the Lord God to fpeak to the prieil and people. " Then
*' fav on quickly," faid a profefTor, for it was froft and
fnow, and very cold weather. Then I told them, This
was the word of the Lord God unto them, that they lived
in words, but God Almighty looked for fruits amongft
them. As foon as the words were out of my mouth, they
hurried me out, and threw me down the fteps. But I got
up again without hurt, and went to my lodging, and feve-
ral were convinced there. For what arofe from the weight
and oppreflion that was upon the Spirit of God in me,
would open people, ftrike them, and make them confefs
that the groans which brake forth through me did reach
them : for my life was burthened with their profeflion with-
out poffcflion, and words without fruit.
After I had done my prefent fervice in York, and feveral
were convinced there, received the truth of God, and were
turned to his teaching ; I looked towards Cleaveland, and
faw there was a people that had tafted of the power of God.
I faw there was a feed in that country, and that God had
an humble people there. Faffing onwards that night, a
papift overtook me, and talked to me of his religion, and
of their meetings ; and I let him fpeak all that was in his
mind. That night I ftaid at an alehoufe. Next morning
I was moved to fpeak the word of the Lord to this papift.
So I went to his houfe, and declared againft all their fuper-
ftitious ways ; and told him, that God was come to teach
his people himfeif. This put him into fuch a rage, that he
could not endure to ftay in his own houfe.
Next day I came to Burraby, where a prieft and feveral
friendly people were met together. Many of the people
were convinced, and have continued faithful ever lince.
There is a great meeting of friends in that town. The prieft
alio was forced to confefs to truth, though he came not in-
to it.
The day following I went to Cleaveland, amongft thofe
people that had tafted of the power of God. They had
formerly had great meetings, but were then ftiattered to pie-
ces, and the heads of them turned Ranters. I told them,
That after they had fuch meetings, they did not wait upon
God to feel his power to gather the-ir minds inward, that
they might feel Lis prefence and. power amongft them ii;i
their nteetings, to fit down therein and wait upon him : for
T 2
70 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651
they had fpoken themfelves dry ; they had fpent their por-
tions, and not hving in that which they Ipake of^ they were
now become dry. They had fome kind of meetings ftill ;
but they took tobacco, and drank ale in their meetings, and
were grown hght and loofe. But my meffage unto them from
the Lord was, That they fhould all come together again,
and wait to feel the Lord's power and Spirit in themfelves ;
to gather them to Chrift, that they might be taught of him,
who fays, " Learn of me." For when they had declared
that which the Lord had opened to them, then the people
were to receive it ; and both the fpeakers and the hearers
were to live in that themfelves. But when thefe had no
more to. declare, but went to feek forms without life, that
made themfelves dry and barren, and the people alfo ; and
from thence came all their lofs : for the Lord renews his
mercies and his ftrength to them that wait upon him. The
heads of them came to nothing : but m.oft of the people
were convinced, and received God's everlafting truth, and
continue a meeting to this day, fitting under the teaching
of the Lord Jefus Chrift their Saviour.
Upon the firft day of the next week, the word of the
Lord came to me to go to the fteeplc-houfe ; w^hich I did.
When the priefl had done, I fpake the truth to him and
the people, and direfted them to their teacher within, Chrift
Jefus, their free teacher who had bought them. The prieft
came to me, and I had a little difcourfe with him : but he
was foon flopped, and filent. Then, being clear of the
place, I palled away, having had feveral meetings amongft
thofe people.
Though the fnow was very deep, I kept travelling ; and
came to a market-town, where I met with many profeflbrs,
with whom I had much reafoning. I afked them many
queftions, which they were not able to anfwer ; faying,
They never had fuch dtep queftions put to them in their
lives.
From them I went to Stath, where I met with many pro-
fcffors, and fome Ranters. I had large meetings amongft
them, and a great convincement there was. Many received
the truth : amongft v/hom, one was a man of an hundred
years of age ; another was a chief conftable ; a tiiird was a
prieft, whole name was Philip Scafe. Him the Lord, by
his free Spirit, did afterwards make a free 5 linifter ot his free
gofpel.
The prieft of this town was a lofty one, who much op-
165O GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 71
preflTed the people for his tythes. If they went a fifliing
many leagues off, he would exaft the tythe-money of what
they made of their fiili, though they catched them at a
great diftance, and carried them as far as Yarmouth to fell.
I was moved to go to the fteeple-houfe there, to declare
the truth, and lay open the prieft. When I had fpoken
to him, and laid his oppreffing of the people upon him, he
fled away. The chief of the parifli were very light and
vain. After I had fpoken the word of life to them, I
turned away from them, becaufe they did not receive it;
and left them. But the word of the Lord, which I had
declared amongft them, fluck with feme, fo that at night
fome of the heads of the parifh came to me. Moll ot them
were convinced and fatisfied, and confeired to the truth.
Thus the truth began to fpread in that country, and great
meetings we had ; at v/hich the prieft began to rage, and
the Ranters to be ftirred ; who lent me word they would
have a difpute with me ; both the oppreffing prieft and the
leader of the Ranters. A day was fixed, and the Ranter
came with his company. Another prieft, a Scotchman,
came ; but not the opprefting prieft of Stath. Philip Scafe
was with me; and a great number of people met. When we
were fettled, T, Bufhel, the Ranter, told me, He had had a
vilion of me, that I was fitting in a great chair, and that he
was to come and put off his hat, and bow down to the ground
before me; which he did. I told him, It was his own fi-
gure ; and faid, " Repent, thou beaft." He faid it was jea-
loufy in me to fay fo. I afked him the ground of jealouly,
and how it came to be bred in man ? And the nature of
a beaft, what made it, and how it was bred in man ? For
I faw him direftly in that nature of the beaft ; and there-
fore I queried how that nature came to be bred in him ? I
told him. He fhould give me an account of things done in
the body, before we came to difcourfe of things done out
of the body. So I ftopt his mouth, and hi^ fellow Rant-
ers were filenced : for he was the head of them. Then I
called for the oppreffing prieft ; but only the Scotch prieft
came, whofe mouth was foon ftopt, with a very few words, he
being out of the life of what he profefied. Then I had good
opportunity with the people. I laid open the Ranters,
ranking them with the old Ranters in Sodom. The priells
I mamfefted to be of the fame ftamp with their fellow
hirelings, the faife prophets of old, and the priefts that
then bore rule over the people by their means, fecking their
7? GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1651
gain from their quarter, divining for money, and teaching
for filthy lucre. I brought all the prophets, Chrift and
the apoliles, over the heads of the priefts, ihewing how the
prophets, Chrift, and the apoflles, had long fince dilcover-
ed them by their marks and fruits. I direfted the people ta
the inward teacher, Chrifh Jefus their Saviour; and preach-
ed up Chrifl in the hearts of his people, when ail thefe
mountains were laid low. The people were all quiet, and
the gainfayers mouths were flopped ; for though they broil-
ed inwardly, the divine power fo bound them down, that
they could not break out.
After the meeting, this Scottifh priefl defired me to walk
with him atop of the cliflFs. Whereupon I called a bro-
ther-in-law of his, who was in fome meafure convinced,
and defired him to go with me, telling him, I was willing
to have fomebody by to hear what we faid ; left the priefl,
when I was gone, fhould report any thing of me which I
did not fay. We went together, the priefl afking me many
things concerning the light,, and concerning the foul ; all
which I anfwered him fully. When he had done queflion-
ing, we parted ; and he went his way ; and meeting with
Philip Scafe, he brake his cane againfl the ground in mad-
nefs, and faid, If ever he met with me again, he would
have my life, or I fliould have his ; adding, that he would
give his head, if I was not knocked down within a month.
By this, friends fufpefled his intent was, in defiring me to
walk with him alone, either to have thruft me down from
the clilF, or to have done me fome other mifchief ; and
being fruftrated, it made him rage. But I neither regarded
his prophecies, nor his threats ; for I feared God Almighty.
After fome years, this very Scotch priefl and his wife came
to be convinced of the truth ; and about twelve years after I
was at their houfe.
Another prieil came to a meeting where I was ; one in
repute above all the pricfls in the country. As I wa§^dc-
claring, that the gofpel was the power of God, and hpW it
brought life and immortality to light in men, and was turn-
ing people from darknefs to light ; this high-flown priefl
{ciid, The gofpel was mortal. ^I told him, The true mi-
niRer faid, The gofpel was the power of God; and would
he make the power of God mortal ? Upon that, the other
priefl Philip Scafe, that was convinced, and had felt the
itnmortal power of God in himfelf, took him up and re-
proved hini; fo a great difputc arofe between them: the
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 75
convinced priefl; holding that the gofpel was immortal, and
the other holding it was mortal. But the Lord's power
was too hard for this oppofer, and flopped his mouth ; and
many were convinced, leeing the darkneis of the oppofmg
priell, and the light that was in the convinced prieft.
Another prieft fent to have a difpute with me, and friends
went with me to the houfe where he was ; but when he un-
derftood we were come, he flipt out of the houfe, and hid
himfelf under an hedge. The people went and found him,
but could not set him to come to us. Then I went to a
fteeple-houfe hard by, where the prieft and people were in
a great rage : this prieft had threatened friends what he
tvould do : but when I came, he fled : for the Lord's pow-
er Carrie over him and them. Yea, the Lord's everJafting
power was over the world, and reached to the hearts of
people, and made both priefts and profeffors tremble. It
fhook the earthly and airy fpirit, in which they held their
profeffion of religion and worfhip ; fo that it was a dread-
ful thing to them, when it was told them, " The man in
leathern breeches is come." At the hearing thereof the
priefts in many places got out of the way; they were fo
ftruck with the dread of the eternal power of God ; and
fear furprifed the hypocrites.
We pafled to Whitby and Scarborough, where v/e had
fome fervice for the Lord : large meetings are fettled there
fmce. From thence I palTed over the Woulds to Malton,
where we had great meetings, as we had aifo at the towns
thereabouts. At one town a prieft lent me a challenge to
difpute with me ; but v/hen I came he would not come
forth. I had a good opportunity with the people, and the
Lord's power laid hold upon them. One, who had been
a wild drunken man, was fo reached, that he came to me
as lowly as a Iamb ; though he and his companions had
before fent for drink to make the people rude, on purpofe
that -they might abufe us. When I found the prieft would
not cbme forth, I was moved to go to the fteeple-houfe,
and he was confounded ; the Lord's power coming over
all.
On firft-day following, came one of the higheft indepen-
dent profeffors, a woman, v/ho had let in fuch a prejudice
againflr me, that ftie laid, before fhe came, She could wil-
lingly have gone to Ite me hanged. But coming, fhe was
convinced, and remains a friend.
J turned to Malton again, and very great meetings there
74 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651
were ; to which feveral more would have come, but durft
not for fear of their relations ; for it was thought a ftrange
thing then to preach in houfes, and not go to the church,
as they called it ; I was therefore much defired to go and
fpeak in the fteeple-houfes. One of the priefts wrote to
me, and invited me to preach in his fteeple-houfe, calling
me his brother : another prieft, a noted man, kept a lec-
ture there. The Lord fhewed me, while I was in Derby
prifon, that I fhould fpeak in fteeple-houfes, to gather peo-
ple from thence ; and a concern fometimes came upon my
mind about the pulpits that the priefts lolled in. For the
fteeple-houfes and piilpits were off^enfive to my mind, be-
caufe both priefts and people called them the houfe of
God, and idolized them; reckoning that God dwelt in the
outward houfe. Whereas they fhould have looked for God
and Chrift to dwell in their hearts, and their bodies to be
made the temples of God; for the apoftle faid, " God
" dwelleth not in temples made with hands :" but by rea-
fon of the people's idolizing thofe places, it was counted
an heinous thing to declare againft them. When I came
into the fteeple-houfe, there were not above eleven hearers,
and the prieft was preaching to them. But after it was
known in the town that I was there, it was loon filled with
people. When the prieft had done, he fent the other prieft
who had invited me thither, to bring me into the pul-
pit ; but I fent him word, that I needed not go into the
pulpit. He fent to me again, defiring me to go up into
it ; for, he faid, it was a better place, and there I might be
feen of the people. I fent him word again, I could
be feen and heard well enough where I was ; and that
I came not there to hold up fuch places, nor their main-
tenance and trade. Upon this they began to be angry,
and faid, " Thcfe falfe prophets were to come in the laft
" times." Their faying fo grieved many of the people,
and fome began to murmur at it. Whereupon I defired
all to be quiet ; and, ftcpping upon an high feat, declared
to them the marks of the talie prophets, fhewing that they
were already come ; and fet the true prophets, Chrift, and
his apoftles over them ; and manifefted thele to be out of
the fteps of the true prophets, of Chrift and his apoftles.
I direfted the people to their inward teacher, Chrift Jefus,
who would turn them from darknefs to light. And having
opened divers fcripturcs to them, I diretled them to the
Spirit of God in themfclves, by which they might come to
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 75
him, and by which they might alfo come to know who the
falfe prophets Avere. So having had a large opportunity
among them, I departed in peace.
After fome time, I came to Pickering, where in the ftee-
ple-houfe the juftices held their feffions, juftice Robinfon
being chairman. I had a meeting in the fchool-honfe at
the fame time ; and abundance of priefts and profeiTors came
to it, afking queftions, which were anfwered to their fatis-
faftion. It being feflions-timc, four chief conftables and
many other people were convinced that day ; and word was
carried to juftice Robinfon that his prieft was overthrown
and convinced ; whom he had a love to, more than to all
the priefts befides. Alter the meeting, we went to an inn,
Juftice Robinfon's prieft was very lowly and loving, and
would have paid for my dinner ; but I would by no means
fufFer it. Then he offered me his fteeple-houfe to preach
in ; but I refufed it, and told him and the people, that I
came to bring them off from fuch things to Chrift.
The next morning I went with the four chief conftables
and fome others, to viut juftice Robinfon^ who met me at
his chamber-door. I told him, I could not honour him
with man's honour. He laid he did not look for it. So I
went into his chamber, and opened to him the ftatc of the
falfe prophets, and of the true prophets ; and fet the true
prophets, Chrift, and the apofties, over the other; and di-
refted his mind to Chrift his teacher. I opened to him the
parables, and how ele6lion and reprobation ftood ; as that
reprobation ftood in the firft birth, and election in the fc-
cond birth. I Ihewed alfo what the promife of God was to,
and what the judgment of God was againft. He confeffed
to it all, and was fo ooened with the truth, that when an-
other juftice made fome little oppofition, he inforrned him.
At our parting, he faid, It was very well that I did exer-
cife that gift which God had given me. He took the chief
conftables afide, and would have given them fome money
for me, faying, He would not have me be at any charge in
their country ; but they told him, they themfclvcs could
not get me to take any money ; and fo accepting his kind-
nefs, I refufed his money.
From thence I paffed into the country, and tlie prieft
that called me brother (in whofe fchool-houfe I had the
meeting at Pickering) went along with me. When we came
into a town to bait, the bells rang. I diked what tliey rang
for ? They faid, For me to preach in the fteeple-houfe.
U
7r> . GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1651
After feme time I felt drawings that way : and as I walked
to the fteeple-houfe, I faw the people gathered together in
the yard. The old prieft would have had me gone into the
fteeple-houfe. I faid, It was no matter. But it was fome-
thing ftrange to the people, that I would not go into that
which they called the houfe of God. I flood up in the
fteeple-houfe yard, and declared to the people, That I came
not to hold up their idol-temples, nor their priefts, nor
their tythes, nor their augmentations, nor their priefts-wa-
ges, nor their Jewifh and heathenifli ceremonies and tradi-
tions (for I denied all thefe) and told them, that piece of
ground v/as no more holy than another piece of ground. I
lliewed them, that the apofties going into the Jews fyna-
gogucs and temples, which God had commanded, was to
bring people ofF from that temple, and thofe fynagogues,
and irom the offerings, tythes, and covetous priefts of that
time ; that fuch as came to be convinced of the truth, con-
verted to it, and believed in Jefus Chrift, whom the apof-
ties preached, met together in dwelling-houfes ; and that
all who preach Chrift, the Word of life, ought to preach
freely, as the apofties did, and as he commanded. So I was
lent of the Lord God of heaven and earth to preach freely,
and to bring people off" from thefe outward temples made
with hands, which God dwelleth not in ; that they might
knoTv their bodies to become the temples of God and of
Chrift ; and to draw people off" from all their fuperftitious
ceremonies, Jewifti and heathenifti cuftoms, traditions, and
dodlrines of men ; and from all the world's hireling teach-
ers, thai: take tythes and great wages, preaching tor hire^
and divining for money, whom God and Chrift never fent^
as themfeives confefs, v/hen they lay, They never heard
God's nor Chrift's voice. I exhorted the people to come
off from ail thefe things, direSing them to the Spirit and
grace of God in themfeives, and to the light of Jefus in theif
o^vn hearts ; that they might come to know Chriu, theii'
free teacher, to bring them falvation, and to open the fcrip-
tures to them". Tiius the Lord gave me a good opportunity
to open tilings largely unto them. All was quiet, and
many xrere convinced : blelled be the Lord.
I palled to another town, where was another great meet-
ing, the old prieft being with me; and there came profef-
foi-s of feveral forts to it. I fate on a hay-ftack, and fpoke
nothing for fome hours ; for I was to famifh them from
Words. The profefibrs would ever aud anon be fpeaking to
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 77
the old prieft, and afking him when I would begin, and
when I would fpeak ? He bade them wait; and toid'thcm,
that the people waited upon Chrift a long while before he
fpoke. At laft I was moved of the Lord to fpeak ; and
they were ftruck by the Lord's power. The word of life
reached to them, and there was a general convincement
amongft them.
From hence I pafiTed on, the old prieft being ftill with
me, and feveral others. -As we went along, fome people
railed to him and faid, " Mr. Boyes, we owe you fome
*' money for tythes, pray come and take it." But he threw
up his hands, and faid, " He had enough, he ivould h;ive
^' none of it; they might keep it:" and, '• he praifed the
*' Lord he had enough."
At length we came to his fteeple-houfe in the Moors,
and he went before me, and held open (he puipit door;
but I told him I would not go into it. This ileeplc-houfe
was very much painted. I told him and the people, the
painted beaft had a painted houfe. I opened to them the
rife of thofe houfes ; and their fuperftitious ways; fiiewing
them, that as the end of the apoftles going into the temple
and fynagogues, which God had commanded, was not to
hold them up, but to bring them to Chrift the fubftance ;
fo the end of my coming there was not to hold up thefe
temples, priefts, and tythes, which God had never com-
manded, but to bring them from all thefe things to Chrift
the fubftance. I Ihewed them the true worftiip which
Chrift had fet up, and diftinguiftied Chrift the tnie way
from all the falfe wr.ys, opening the parables to them, and
turning them from darknefs to the true light, that by it they
might fee themfelves, their fins, and Chrift their Saviour;
that believing in him they might be faved from their fins.
After this v/e went to one Birdet's, where I had a great
meeting ; and this old prieft accompanied me ftill, leaving
his fteeple-houfe. He had been looked upon as a famous
prieft, above common-prayermen, prefbyters, and inde-
pendents too. Before he was cominced he went fometimes
into their fteeple-houfes, and preached ; for he had been a
zealorTs man m his way : and when they complained of him
to juftice Hotham, he bid them diftrain his horfe for travel-
ling on fhe Lord's day, as he called it ; but Hotham did
that to put them off, for he knew the priift ufed no hovle. '
but travelled on foot.
Now I came towards Crantfick to captain Parfloc's and
U 2
7$ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1651
juftice Hotham's, who received me kindly, being glad the
Lord's power had io appeared, that truth was fpread and
fo many had received it, and that juftice Robinfon was fo
civil. Juftice Hotham faid, If God had not raifed up this
principle of light and life, which I preached, the nation had
been over-run with Ranterifm, and all the juftices in the
nation could not have ftopped it with all their laws ; be-
caufe, faid he. they would have faid as we faid, and done
as we commanded, and yet have kept their own principle
ftill. But this principle of truth overthrows their principle
in the root and ground thereof; therefore he was glad the
L.ord had raifed up this principle of life and truth.
From thence I travelled into Holdernefs, and came to a
juftice's houfe, whofe name was Pearfon, where was a very
tender woman, that believed in the truth, and was fo af-
fe£led therewith, that fhe faid, " She could have left all and
*' have followed me."
Thence I went to Oram, to George Hartife's ; where
many of that town were convinced. On the firft-day I was
moved to go into the fteeple-houle, where the prieft had
got another to help him : and many profefTors and con-
tenders were got together. But the Lord's power was over
all ; the priefts fled away, and a great deal of good fervice
I had for the Lord amongft the people. Some of thofe
great profelTors were convinced, and became honeft faithful
friends ; being men of account in that place.
The next day, friends and friendly people having left me,
I travelled alone, declaring the day of the Lord amongft
people in the towns where I came, and warning them to
repent. I came towards night into a town called Patring-
ton. As I walked along the town, I warned both priefts
and people (for ttie prieft was in the ftreet) to repent and
turn to the Lord. It grew dark before I came to the end
of the town, and a multitude of people gathered about me,
to whom I declared the word of lile.
When I had cleared myfeif I went to an inn, and de-
fired them to let me have a lodging ; but they would not.
I defired a little meat or milk, and I would pay for it; but
they refufed. So I walked out of the town, and a company
of fellows followed, and aflced me, What news ? I bid them
repent, and fear the Lord. After I was gone a pretty way,
I came to another houfe, and dehred the people to let me
have a little meat, drink, and lodging for my money ; but
they denied me. I went to another houfe, and defired th<j
1651] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 79
fame ; but they refufed me alfo. By this "time it was grown
fo dark that I could not fee the highway ; but I difcerned a
ditch, and got a little water and refrefhed myfelf. Then I
got over the ditch ; and, being weary with travelling, I fate
down amongft the furze bufhes till it was day. About
break of day I got up, and paifed on the fields, A man
came after me with a great pikeftafF, and went along with
me to a town ; and he raifed the town upon me, with the
conflable and chief conftable, before the fun was up. I
declared God's everlalling truth amongft them, warning
them of the day of the Lord, that was coming upon ail fin
and wickednefs ; and exhorted them to repent. But they
feized me, and had me back to Patrington, about three
miles, guarding me with watch-bills, pikes, ftaves, and hal-
berds. -When I was come to Patrington, all the town was
in an upronr, and the pricft and conltables were confulting
together; fo I had another opportunity to declare the word
of life amongft them, and warn them to repent. At laft a
profelfor, a tender man, called me into his houfe, and there
I took a little milk and bread, having not eaten for fome
days before. Then they guarded me about nine miles to
a juftice. When I was come near his houfe. a man came
riding after us, and alted me, whether I was the man that
was apprehended ? I afked him, wherefore he afked ? He
faid, for no hurt. I told him, I was : fo he rode away to
the juftice before us. The men that guarded me faid, It
Was well if the juftice was not drunk before we got to him ;
for he ufed to get drunk early. When I was brought in
before him, becaufe I did not put off my hat, and faid Thou
to him, he afked the man that rode thither before me, whe-
ther 1 was not mazed or fond ? The man told him, no ; it
was my principle. I warned him to repent, and come to
the light, which Chrift had enlightened him withal ; that
by it he might fee all his evil words and acHons, and turn
to Chrift Jefus whilft he had tim.e; and that whilft he had
time he fhould prize it. Ay, ay, faid he, the light that is
fpoken of in the third of John. I defned he would mind
it, and obey it. As I admonifhed him, I laid my hand
upon him, and he was brought down by the power of the
Lord; and all the watchmen flood amazed. Then he took
2ne into a little parlour with the other man, and defned to
Ice what I had in my pockets of letters or intelligence. I
plucked out my linen, and fliewtd him I Iiad no lelLers,
He faid, he is not a vagrant by his linen : then he let mc at
8o GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1651-
liberty. I went back to Patrington with the man that had
rode before me to the juftice : for he Hved at Patrington.
When I came there, he would have had me had a meeting
at the Crofs ; but I fiiid, it was no matter, his Iioufe would
ferve. He dcfired me to go to bed, or lie down upon a
bed; which he did, that they might fay they had feen me
in or upon a bed, for they had got a report that I would
not lie on any bed, becaufe I laid many times without
doors. When firft-day was come I went to the fteeple-
houfe, and declared the truth to the prieft and people ; and
the people did not moleft me, for the power of God was come
over them. Prefently after I had a great meeting at the
man's houle where I lay, and many were convinced of the
Lord's everlading trutli, who fland faithful witneffes of it
to this day ; and they were exceedingly grieved that they
did not receive me, nor give me lodging, when I was there
before.
From hence I travelled through the country to the fur-
theft part thereof, warning people in towns and villages to
repent, and directing them to Chrift Jefus, their teacher.
On firll-day I came to colonel Overton's, and had a great
meeting of the prime of the people of that country, where
many things were opened out of the fcriptures, which they
had never heard before. Many were convinced, and re-
ceived the word of life, and were fettled in the truth of
God.
I returned to Patrington again, and vifited thofe friends
that were convinced there ; by whom I underilood, that a
taylor and fome wild blades in that town had occalioned
my bei'.ig carried before the juilice. The taylor came to
afli me forgiveneis, fearing I would complain of him. The
conftabics alfo were afraid, left I Ihould trouble them. But
I forgave them all, and warned them to turn to the Lord,
?.nd to amend their lives. That which made them the more
afraid was this : when I was in the fteeple-houfe at Oram
not long before, a profcfibr gave me a pufh on the breall
in the lieeple-houfc, and bid me get out of the church.
Alas ! poor man ! faid I, doft thou call the fteeple-houfe
the church ? The church is the people whom God hath
pnrchaftd with his blood, and not the houfe. It happen-
ed that juftice Hotliam came to hear of this man's abufe,
fent his warrant fur him, and bound him over to tlie fef-
fions; fo aliltted was he Vv^ith the tnuh, and lb zealous to
keep the peace : and indeed this juftice had afked me be-
J652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 8f
fore, whether any had meddled with me or abufed me ?
But I was not to tell him any thing of that kind ; but was
to forgive all.
From Patrington I went to feveral great men's houfes,
warning them to repent. Some received me lovingly, and
fome flighted me. At night I came to another town, where
I defired lodging and meat, and I would pay for it ; but
they would not lodge me, except I would go to the confta-
ble, which was the cuftom (they faid) of all lodgers at inns,
if flrangers. I told them, I would not go ; for that cuftom
was for fufpicious perfons, I was an innocent man. After
I had warned them to repent, declared to them the day of
their vifitation, and direfted them to the light of Chrift and
the fpirit of God, that they might come to know falvation,
I paired away ; and the people were fomewhat tendered
and troubled afterwards. When it grew dark, I fpied a
hay-flack, and went and fate under it till morning.
The next day I paffed into Hull, admonifhing and warn-
ing people, as I went, to turn to Chrilt jefus, that they
might receive falvation. That night I got a lodging ; but
was very fore with travelling on foot fo far.
Afterwards I came to Balby, vifited friends up and down
in thofe parts, and then paffed into the edge of Nottingham-
fliire, vifiting friends there : and fo into Lincolnfhire, and
vifited friends there. On lirft-day I went to a fteeple-houfe
on this fide of Trent, and in the afternoon to another on the
other fide of Trent, declaring the v/ord of life to the people,
and direding them to their teacher Chrift Jefus. who died
for them, that they might hear him and receive falvation by
him. Then I went further into the country, and had feve-
ral meetings. To one meeting came a great man, a prieft,
and many profefTors ; but the Lord's power came over them
all, and they went their way peaceably. There came a man
to that meeting, who had been at one before, and raifcd a faifs
accufation /igainft me, and made ^ noife up and down the
country, reporting, that I faid I was Chrift; which was utterly
falfe. When I came to Gainfborough, where a friend had been
declaring truth in the market, the town and market-people
w^ere ail in an uproar. I '.vent into a friendly man's houfe, and
the people rufhed in after me; fo that the houfe was hiled with
profefTors. difputers, and rude people. This fixlfe accufer came
in, and charged me openly before the people, " That I laid
" I was Chrift. and he had got witnelics to prove it." W'hich
,put ihe people into fach a. la^je, that they liad myth to do
82 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652
to keep their hands ofF me. I was moved of the Lord to
ftand up upon the table, in the eternal power cf God, and
tell the people, " That Chriit v;as in them, except they
" were reprobates; and that it was Chrift, the eternal power
" of God, that fpoke in me at that time unto them; not
" that I was Christ." And the people were greatly fatis-
fied, except himfelfj-a profelTor, and his own falfe witnelfes.
I called the accufer Judas, and was moved to tell him that
Judas's end ftiouid be his ; that was the word of the Lord
and of Chrift through me to him. The Lord's power came
o^^er all, and quieted the minds of the people, and they de-
parted in peace. But this Judas fhortly after hanged him-
lelf, and a ftake was driven into his grave. Afterwards the
wicked priefts raifed a fcandal upon us, and reported that
a Quaker had hanged himfelf in Lincolnfhire, and had a
ftake driven through him. This falfehood they printed to
the nation, adding fm to fin ; which the truth and we were
clear of: for he was no more a Quaker than the prieft
that printed it, but one of their own people. Notwith-
ftancling this wicked ilander by which the adverfary defign-
ed to defame us, and turn people's minds ?tgainft the truth
we held forth, many in Lincolnftiire received the gofpel,
being convinced of the Lord's everiafting truth, and fate
down therein under his heavenly teaching.
I paffed in the Lord's power into Yorkfliire, came to
Warnfworth, and went to the fteeple-houfe in the forenoon;
but they flaut the door againft me : yet after awhile they
let in Thomas Aldam, and then fhut it again ; and the
prieft fell upon him, afking him queftions. At laft they
opened the door, and I went in. As foon as I was come
in the prieft's fight he left preaching, though I faid nothing
to him; and afked me, " What have you to fay ?" and
prefently cried out, " Come, come, I will prove them falfe
" prophets in Matthew." But he was lb confounded, he
could not find the chapter. Then he fell on me, afking me
many queftions ; and I ftood ftill all this while, not fiiying
any thing amongft them. At laft I faid, " Seeing here are
" fo many queftions afked, I may anfwer them." But as
foon as I began to fpeak, the people violently rufhed upon
!me, thru ft me out of the ftecple-houfe again, and locked
the door againft me. As foon as they had done their fer-
vice, and were come forth, the people ran upon me, knock-
ed me forely with their ftaves, threw clods and ftones at me,
and abufed mc much : the prieft alfo, being in a great rage.
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 8j
laid violent hands on me liimfelf. I warned them and him
of the terrible day of the Lord, and exhorted them to re-
pent and turn to Chrift. Being filled with the Lord's re-
frefhing power, I was not fenfible of much hurt I had re-
ceived by their blows. In the afternoon I went to another
fteeple-houie, but the pried had done before I got thither :
fo I preached repentance to the people that were left, and
direfted them to their inward teacher, Jefus Chrift.
From hence I went to Balby, and Doncafter, where I
had formerly preached repentance on the market-day ; which
had made a noife and alarm in the country. On firft-day
I went to the fteeple-houfe, and after the prielt had done,
I fpoke to him and the people what the Lord commanded
me ; and they were in a great rage, hurried me out, threw
me down, and haled me before the magiftrates. A long ex-
amination they made of me, and much work I had with
them. They threatened my life, if ever I came there again ;
and that they would leave me to the mercy of the people.
Neverthelefs I declared truth amongft them, and direfted
them to the light of Chrift in them ; teftifying unto them,
*' That God was come to teach his people himfelf, whether
" they would hear or forbear. "\ After awhile they put us
out (for fome friends were with me) among the rude multi-
tude, and they ftoned us down the ftreets. An innkeep-
er, a bailiff, came and took us into his houfe ; and they
broke his head, fo that the blood ran down his face, with
the ftones that they threw at us. We flaid awhile in his
houfe, and fhewed the more fober people the prieft's fruits.
Then we went away to Balby about a mile off. The rude
people laid vrait for us, and ftoned us down the lane; but,
blelfed be the Lord, we did not receive much hurt.
The next firft-day I went to Tickhill, whither the friends
of that fide gathered together, and a mighty brokennefs by
the power of God there was amongft the people. I went
out of the meeting, being moved of God to go to the ftee-'
ple-Jioufe. When I came there, 1 found the prieft and
moft of the chief of the parifh together in the chancel. I
went up to them, and began to fpeak ; but they immediate-
ly fell upon me ; the clerk up v/ith his bible, as I was
fpeaking, and " ftruck me on the face with it, to that my
" face gufhed out with blood; and I bled exceedinolv in
" the lleeple-houfe." The people cried, " Let us have
" him out of the church." When they had got me out,
they beat me exceedingly, threw me down, and turned me
X
84 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. ^1652
over a hedge. They afterwards dragged me through a houfe
into the ftreet, Honing and beating me as they dragged me
along ; fo that I was all over belmeared with blood and
dirt. They got my hat from me, which I never had again.
Yet when I was got upon my legs, I declared the word of
life, fhev/ed them the fruits of their teacher, and how they
difhonoured chriftianity. After awhile I got into the meet-
ing again amongfl friends, and the priefl and people
coming by the houfe, 1 went with friends into the yard,
and there fpoke to the prieft and people. The priefl fcof-
fcd at us, and called us Quakers. But the Lord's power
was fo over them, and the word of life was declared in fuch
authority and dread to them, that the prieft fell a trembling
himfelf ; and one of the people faid, " Look how the priefl
" tremble:! and fhakes, he is turned a Quaker alfo." When
the meeting was over, friends departed ; and I went with-
out my hat to Balby about leven or eight miles. Friends
were much abufed that day by the priefl; and his people :
infomuch that iome moderate juflices hearing of it, txvo or
three of them came and fate at the town to examine the
bulinefs. He that had fhed my blood was afraid of having
his hand cut off, for ftriking me in the church, as they cal-
led it; but I forgave him, and would not appear againfl
him.
In the beginning of this year 1652^ great rage got up in
priefls and people, and in ibme of the magiflrates, in the
wefl riding of Yorkfhire, againfl the truth and friends, in-
fomuch, that the priefl. of Warnfworth procured a warrant
from the juflices againfl me and Thomas Aldam, to be ex-
ecuted in any part of the wefl riding of Yorkfliire. At the
fame time I had a vifion of a bear and two great maflifF
dogs ; that I fhould pafs by tliem, and they fhould do me
no hurt : and it proved fo. For the conllable took Tho-
mas Aldam, and carried him to York. I went with Thomas
• twenty miles towards York, and the conflable had a war-
rant for me alfo, and faid, " He faw me, but he was loth
" to trouble flrangers ;" but Thomas Aldam was his neigh-
bour. So the Lord's power reflrained him, that he had not
power to meddle with me. We went to lieutenant Roper's,
where we had a great meeting of many confiderable men.
The truth was powerfully declared amongil them, the fcrip-
tures wonderfully opened, the parables and f^iyings of Chrifl
expounded, the flate of the church in the apofllcs days
plainly fet forth, and the apullacy fniCQ from that ftatc dif-
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. S^-
covered. The truth had great dominion that day : fo that
thofe great men prefent did generally confefs to it, faying,
" They believed this principle muft go over the wliole
" world/' There were at this meeting James Nayler, Tho-
mas Goodyear, and William Dewfbury, who had been con-
vinced the year before, and Richard Farnfworth aifo. ' The
conftable ftaid with Thomas Aldam till the meeting was
over, and then went towards York prifon ; but did not
meddle with me.
From hence 1 went to Wakefield, and the firft-day after
to a fteeple-houfe, where James Na)'ler had been a mem-
ber of an independent church ; but, upon his receiving
truth, he was excommunicated. When I came in, and
the prieft had done, the people called me to come to the
priefl / v/hich I did : but when 1 began to declare the word
of life to them, and to lay open the deceit of the priefl,
they rufhed upon me on a fudden, thruft me out at the other
door, punching and beating me, and cried, '• Let us have
" him to the flocks." But the Lord's power was over them,
and fo reflrained them, that they were not able to put me
in. So I palTed away to the meeting, v/here were a great
many profelTors and friendly people gathered, and a great
convincement there was ; for the people were mightily fa-
tisfied, that they were direfted to the Lord's teaching in
themfelves. Here we got lodging ; for four of us had lain
abroad under a hedge the night before, there being then few
friends in that place.
The fame day Richard Farnfworth went to another great
fleeple-houfe belonging to a high prieft, and declared the
word of truth unto the people ; and great fervice he had
amongfl them : for the Lord's dread and power was mighti-
ly over all.
The priefl of that church, which James Nayler had been
a member of, whofe name was Marfhal, railed man)^ wicked
flanders upon me, as, " That I carried bottles about with
^' me, and made people drink of my bottles, which made
" them follow me." And, " That I rid upon a great black
" horfe, and was feen in one country upon my black horfe
" in one hour, and in the fame hour in another country
*' threefcore miles off;" and, " That I fliould give a fellow
'' money to follow me when I was on my black horfe."
With tbele hcllifh lies he fed his people, to make them
think evil of the truth which I had declared amongfl them.
But by thcfe lies he preached many of his hearers away
X 2
86 GEORGE fOX's JOURNAL. [1652
from him ; for 1 travelled on foot, and had no liorfe at that
time ; and that the people generally knew. The Lord foou
after met with this envious prieft, and cut him off in his
wickednels.
After this I came to High-Town, where dwelt a woman
who had been convinced a little before. We went to her
houfe, and had a meeting. The town's people gathered to-
gether ; we declared the truth to thern, had fome fervice
for the Lord amongfl them ; and they paiicd away again
peaceably. But there was a widow woman in the town,
whofe name was Green, who, being filled with envy, went
to one called a gentleman in the town, who was reported
to have killed two men and one woman, and informed him
asainfl us, thouiih he was no officer. The next morninij
we drew up fome queries, to be fent to the prieft. When
we had done, and were juft going aivay, fome of the friend-
ly people of the town came running, and told us, That
this murdering man had fharpened a pike to ftab us, and
was coming with his fword by his lide. Being juft paf-
fing away, we miffed him. But he came to the houfe
where we had been ; and the people generally concluded,-
if we had not been gone, he would have murdered fome
of us. That night we lay in a wood, and were very wet,
for it rained exceedingly. In the morning I was moved
to return to that town, when we had a full relation of this
wicked man.
From hence we paffed to an houfe at Bradford, where we
met with Richard Farnfworth, from whom we had parted a
little before. When we came in they fet meat beiore us ;
but as I was going to eat, the word of the Lord came to
me, faying, " Eat not the bread of fuch as have an evil
" eye." Immediately I arofe from the table, and ate no-
thincj. After I had exhorted the familv to turn to the
Lord Jefas Chrift, and hearken to his teachings in their
own hearts, we departed thence.
As we travelled through the country, preaching repent-
ance to the people, we came into a market-town, where a
le6la.'-e was h-id that day. I went into the lleeple-houfe,
where many priefts, profeffors and people were. The prieft
that preached, took for his text thofe words of Jeremiah,
chap. 5. ver. 31. " My people love to have it fo :" leaving
out the foregoing words, viz. " The prophets prophefy
" falfcly, and the priefts bear rule by their means." I
fhcwed the people his deceit j and direftcd them to Chrift,
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 87
the true teacher within ; declaring, that God was come to
teach his people himfelf, and to bring them off from all the
world's teachers and hirelings ; that they might come to re-
ceive freely from him. Then warning thenr of the day of
the Lord that was coming upon all flelh, I palfed from
thence without much' oppofition.
At night we came to a country place, where there was
no publick houfe near. , The people defired us to flay all
night ; which we did, and had good fervice tor the Lord,
declaring his truth amongft them.
The Lord had faid unto me, " If but one man or woman
*' were raifed by his power, to ftand and live in the fame
" Spirit that the prophets and apoilles were in who gave
" forth the fcriptures, that man or woman fhould fhake all
" the country in their profeffion for ten miles round." F'or
people had the fcriptures, but were not in the fame light,
power, and Spirit, which thofe were in who gave forth the
fcriptures ; fo they neither knew God, Chrifl, nor the fcrip-
tures aright ; nor had they unity one with another, being
out of the power and Spirit of God. Therefore we warned
all, where-ever we met them, of the day of the Lord that
was coming upon them.
As we travelled, we came near a very great high hill,
called Pendlehill, and I was moved of the Lord to go up
to the top of it ; which I did with much ado, it was fo
very fleep and high. When I was come to the top, I faw
the fea bordering upon Lancafhire. From the top of this
hill the Lord let me fee in what places he had a great peo-
ple to be gathered. As I went down, I found a fpring of
water in the fide of the hill, with which I refrefhed myleif ;
having eaten or drunk but little feveral days before.
At night we came to an inn, and declared truth to the
man of the houfe, and wrote a paper to the prieRs and pro-
feffors, declaring ' the day of the Lord, and that Chrift
' was come to teach people himfelf, by his power and Spi-
' rit in their hearts, and to bring people off from all the
' world's ways and teachers, to his own free teaching who
* had bought them, and was the Saviour of all them that
' believed in him.' The man of the houle fprcad the pa-
per abroad, and was himfelf mightily affefted with the
truth. Here the Lord opened* unto me, and let me lee a
great people in white raiment by a river-fide, corning to
the Lord. The place that I faw them in was about Vv'cnt-
zerdale and Sedbcrgh,
88 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1652
The next day wg travelled on, and at night got a little
fern to put under us, and lay upon a common. Next
morning v/e reached a town, where Richard Farnfworth
parted from me ; and then I travelled alone again. I came
up Wentzerdale, and at the market-town in that dale there
was a lefture on the market-day. I went into the fteeple-
houfe ; and, after the priefl had done, ' proclaimed the day
' of the Lord to the priefl and people ; warning them to
* turn from the darknefs to the light, and from the power
* of Satan unto God, that they might come to know God
' and Chrifl aright, and to receive his teaching, who teach-
* eth freely.' Largely and freely did I declare the word of
life unto them, and had not much perfecution there. After-
wards I palled up the dales, warning people to fear God ;
and preaching the everlafling gofpel. In my way I came
to a great houfe, where was a fchoolmafter ; and they got
me into the houfe. I aiked them queftions about their re-
ligion and worfhip ; and afterwards declared the truth to
them. Thev had me into a parlour, and locked me in,
pretending I v»'as mad, and had got away from my rela-
tions ; and they would keep me till they could fend to
them. But I foon convinced them of their miftake ; and
they let me forth, and would have had me to Ilay, but I
was not to Hay there. Having exhorted them to repentance,
and direfted them to the light of Chrifl Jefus, that thro*
it they might come unto him, and be faved, I pafTed from
them, and came in the night to a little alehoufe on a com-
mon, \vhere a company of rude fellows were drinking.
Becaufe 1 would not drink with them, they flruck me with
their clubs. But I reproved them, and brought them to be
ibm.ewhat cooler ; and then walked out of the houfe upon
the common in the night. After fon^e time one of thefe
drunken fellows came out, and would have come clofe up
to me, pretending to v/hifper to me; but perceiving he had
a knife, I kept off him, and bid him repent, and fear God.
So tlje Lord by his power preferved me from this wicked
man; and he went into the houfe again. Next morning I
went through other dales, warning and exliorting people
every wJiere, as I palled, to repent and turn to the Lord ;
and feveral were convinced. At one houfe, the man of the
houfe whom I afterwards found to be a kinfman of John
Blakelin's, would have gi\-en me money, but I would not
receive it.
As I travelled through llie ddlcs, I came to another
1652I GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 89
man's houfe, whofe name was Tennant. I was moved to
Ipeak to the family, and declare God's everlalting truth to
them; and as I was turning away from them. I was moved
to turn again, and Ipeak to the man himfclf ; who was con-
vinced, with his family, and lived and died in the truth.
Thence I came to major Bousfield's, who received me, as
did feveral others. Some that were then convinced have
flood faithful ever fince. I went alio through Gryfedale,
and feveral other of thofe dales ; in which fome v/ere con-
vinced. In Dent many were convinced aifo. From major
Bousfield's I came to Richard Robinfon's, and declared the
everlafting truth to him.
The next day I went to a meeting at juftice Benfon's,
where met a people that were feparated from the publick
worfhip. This was the place that I had feen, where a peo-
ple came forth in white raiment. A large meeting it was ;
the people were generally convinced, and continue a large
meeting flili of friends near Sedbergh ; which was then firfl
gathered through my miniftry in the name of Jefus.
The fame week there was a great fair, at v/hich fervants
ufed to be hired. I went and declared the day of the Lord
through the fair. After I had done fo, I went into the
ftceple-houfe yard ; and many of the people of the fair came
to me, with abundance of priefls and profelTors. ' There
' I declared the everlafting truth of the Lord, and the
' word of life for feveral hours ; fhexving, that the Lord was
' come to teach his people himfeif, and to bring them off
' from all the world's ways and teachers to Chrift the true
' teacher, and the true way to God. I laid open their
' teachers, fhewing, that they were like thofe that were of
' old condemned by the prophets, by Ghrift, and by the
' apoilles. I exhorted the people to come off from the
' temples made with hands ; and wait to receive the Spirit
' of the Lord, that they might know themfeives to be the
' temples of God.' Not one of the priells had power to
open his mouth againfl what I declared. At laft a cap-
tain faid, ' Why will you not go into the Church ? This
* is not a fit place to preach in.' I told him, I denied their
church. Then ftood up Francis Howgill, who was preach-
er to a congregation. He had not feen me before ; yet he
undertook to anfwer that captain ; and loon put him to
filence. Then faid Francis Howgill of me, ' This man
• fpeaks Vith authoritv, and not as the fcribes.' After this,
I opened to the people, that that ground and houfe was no
90 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1652
holier than another place ; and that the houfe is not the
church, but the people, whom Chrift is the head of. After
awhile the priefts came up to me, and I warned them to
repent. One of them faid, I was mad ; fo they turned
away. But many were convinced there that day, who were
glad to hear the truth declared, and received it with joy.
Amongft thefe was captain Ward, who received the truth
in the love of it. and lived and died in it.
The next firft-day I came to Firbank Chapel in Weft-
moreland, where Francis Howgill and John Audland had
been preaching in the morning. The chapel was full of
people, fo that many could not get in. Francis laid. He
thought I looked into the chapel, and his fpirit was ready
to fail, the Lord's power did fo furprize him : but I did
not look in. They made hafte, and had quickly done, and
they and fome of the people went to dinner ; but abundance
flaid till they came again. John Blakelin and others came
to me, and dehred me not to reprove them publickly ; for
they were not parifli-teachers, but pretty tender men. I
could not tell them whether I fhould or no, though I had
not at that time any drawings to declare publickly againft
them ; but I faid. They muft leave me to the Lord's mov-
ings. While others were gone to dinner, I went to a brook,
got a little water, and then came and fat down on the top
of a rock hard by the chapel. In the afternoon the people
gathered about me, with feveral of their preachers. It was
judged there were above a thoufand people ; to whom I
declared God's everlafling truth and word ot life freely and
largely for about the fpace of three hours ; direfting all to
the Spirit of God in themfelves ; that they -^.light be turned
from darknefs to light, and believe in it, that they might
become the children of it, an(J might be turned from the
power of Satan unto God ; and by the Spirit of truth might
be led into all truth, and fenfibly underfland the words of
the prophets, of Chrift, and of the apoftles ; and might all
come to know Chrift to be their teacher to inftruft them,
their counfellor to direct them, their fhepherd to feed them,
their bifhop to overfee them, and their prophet tq open di-
vine myfteries to them ; and might know their bodies to be
prepared, fanftified, and made fit temples for God and
Chrift to dwell in. In the openings of heavenly life, I
explained unto them the prophets, and the figures and flia-
dows, and direded them to Chrift, the fubftance. Then I
opened the parables and fayings of Chrift, and things that
J652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 91
had been long hid; Ihewing the intent and Tcope of the apof-
tlcs writings, and that their epiu-les were written to the eleft.
When I. had opened that ftate, I fhewed alio the ftate of
the apoilacy fmce the appftles days; that the priefts ha.ve
got the fcriptures, but are not in the Spirit which gave them
forth ; and have put them into chapter and verfe, to make
a trade of the holy mens words ; that the teachers and
priefts now are found in the fteps of the falfe prophets,
chief priefts, fcribes and phai3j[ees of old, and are fuch as
the true prophets, Chrift and his apofties cried againft, and
fo are judged and condemned by the Spirit of the true pro-
phets, of Chrift, and of his apoftjes ; and that none in
that Spirit could own them. Many old people Tvent into
the chapel, and looked out at the windows; thinking it a
ftrange thing to fee a man preach on an hill or mountain,
and not in their church, as they called it ; whereupon I
was moved to inform the people, ' That the fteeple-houfe,
' and the ground whereon it ftood, were no more holy than
' that mountain ; and that thofe temples, v/hich they called
' the dreadful houfes of God, were not fet up by the com-
' mand of God and of Chrift ; nor their priefts called, as
' Aaron's priefthood was ; nor their tythes appointed by
' God, as thofe amongft the Jews v/ere : but that Chrift was
' come, who ended both the temple and its worfliip, and
' the priefts and their tythes ; and all now fhould hearken
' to him : for he faid, " Learn of me :" and God faid
' of him, " This is mv beloved Son, in whom I am well
" pleafed ; hear ye him." I declared thaf the Lord God
' had lent me to preach the everlafting gofpel and word of
' lifa amongft them ; and to bring them off from all thefe
' temples, tythes, priefts, and rudiments of the world, which
* had got up fmce the apoftles days, and had been fet up
' by fuch as had erred from the Spirit and power that the
' apoftles were in.' Very largely was I opened at this meet-
ing ; the Lord's convincing power accompanied my mini-
.ftry, and reached home to the hearts of the people ; where-
by many were, convinced, and all the teachers of that con-
gregation (who were many) were convinced of God's ever-
lafting truth.
After the meeting, I went to John Audland's, and from
thence to Prefton Patrick Chapel, where a great meeting
was appointed ; to which I went, and had a large opportu-
nity to preach the everlafting gofpel ; acquainting the peo-
ple that the end of my coming into that place v/as not to
Y
92 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652
hold it up ; no more than the apoftles going into the Jew-
ifh fynagogues and temple was to uphold tliofe ; but to
bring them off from all fuch things (as the apoftles brought
the faints of old from off the Jewifh temple and Aaron's
priefthood) that they might come to wi'nefs their bodies to
be the temples of God, and Chrift in them to be their
teacher.
From this place I went to Kendal, where a meeting was
appointed in the town-hall, in which I declared the word
of life amongft the people, ftiewing them, ' How they might
' come to the laving knowledge of Chrift, and to have a
'right underftanding of the holy fcriptures ; opening to
' them what it was that would lead them into the way of
* reconciliation with God ; and what would be their con-
* demnation.* After the meeting I ftaid awhile in the town :
feveral were convinced there, and many appeared loving.
One Cock met me in the ftreet, and would have given me
a roll of tobacco. I accepted his love, but did not receive
the tobacco.
From thence I went to Under-barrow, to Miles Bate-
man's ; and feveral going along with me, great reafonings I
had with them, efpecially with Edward Burrough. At
night the prieft and many profeflbrs came to the houfe ; and
a great deal of difputing I had with them. Supper being
provided for the prieft and the reft of the company, I had
not freedom to eat with them; but told them, If they would
appoint a meeting for the next day at the fteeple-houfe, and
acquaint the people with it, I might meet them. They had
a great deal of reafoning about it; fome being for, and fome
againft it. In the mornmg, after I had fpoken to them agaia
concerning the meeting, as I walked upon a bank by the
houfe, there came feveral poor travellers, afking relief, who
I faw were in neceflity ; and they gave them nothing, but
faid they were cheats. It grieved me to fee fuch hard-
heartednefs amongft profeflbrs; whereupon, when they were
gone in to their breakfaft, I ran after the poor people about
a quarter of a mile, and gave them fome money. Mean
while fome that were in the houfe, coming out, and feeing
tne a quarter of a mile off", faid, I could not have gone fo
far in fuch an inftant, if I had not had wings. Hereupon
the meeting was like to have been put by ; for they were
filled with fuch ftrange thoughts concerning me, that many
of them were againft having a meeting with me. I told
them, I ran after thofe poor people to give them fome mo-
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 93
ney; being grieved at their hard-heartednels, who gave them
nothing. Then came Miles and Stephen Hubberlty; who,
being more fimple-hearted men, would have the meeting
held. So to the chapel I went, and the prieft came. A
great meeting there was, and the way of life and falvation
was opened ; and after awhile the prieft fled away. Many
of Crook and Under-barrow were convinced, that day, re-
ceived the word of life, and ftood faft in it under the teach-
ing of Chrift Jefus. After I had declared the truth to them
for fome hours, and the meeting was ended, the chief con-
ftable and fome other profefTors fell to reafoning with me in
the chapel yard. Whereupon I took a bible and opened
the fcriptures, and dealt tenderly with them, as one would
do with a child. They that were in the light of Chrift and
Spirit of God, knew when I fpake fcripture, though I did
not mention chapter and verfe, after the priefts form to
them.
From hence I went with an ancient man, whofe heart
the Lord had opened, and he invited me to his houfe : his
name was James Dickinfon. He was convinced that day,
received the truth, and lived and died in it.
I came the next day to James Taylor's, of Newton in
Cartmel, in Lancaftiire. On firft-day I went to the chapel,
where prieft Camelford ufed to preach; and after he had
done, I began to fpeak the word of life to the people. But
he was in luch a rage, did fo fret, and was fo peevifti, that
he had no patience to hear; but ftirred up the rude multi-
tude, who haled me out, ftruck, and threw me headlong
over a ftone wall. Yet blefled be the Lord, his power pre-
ferved me. He that did this violence to me, was John
Knipe, a wicked man, whom afterwards the Lord cut ofF.
There was a youth in the chapel, writing after the prieft. I
was moved to fpeak to him, and he came to be convinced,
and received a part of the miniftry of the gofpel : his name
was John Brathwait.
Then I went to an alehoufe, to which many reforted
betwixt the time of their morning and afternoon preaching ;
and had a great deal of reafoning with the people, declaring
to them, That God was come to teach his people himfelf,
and to bring them off from all falfe teachers, fuch as the
prophets, Chrift, and the apoftles cried againft. Many re-
ceived the word of life at that time, and abode in it.
In the afternoon I went about two or three miles to a
fteeple-houfe or chapel called Lyndal, When the prieft
Y 2
94 GEORGE FO X's J O U RN A Li [1652
had done, I fpoke to him and the people what the Lord
commanded me, and there were great oppofers ; but after-
wards they came to be convmced. After this I went* to
captain Sands, who with his wife feemed fomewhat afrefted
with truth : and if they could have held the world and truth
together, they would have received it ; but they were hypo-
crites, and he a very chafFy light man. Wherefore I re-
proved him for his lightnefs and jefling; teilinp- him., It
was not feemly in a great profeifor as he was. Thereupon
he told me, Me had a fon, who upon his death-bed had
alfo reproved him for it, and warned him of it. But he
neither regarded the admonition of his dying fon, nor the
reproofs of God's Spirit in himfelf.
From hence I went to Ulverftone, and to Swarthmore
to judge Fell's; whither came one Lampitt, a prieft, n'ho
was an high notionill. With him I had a great deal of
reafoning; for he would talk of high notions and perfedion,
and thereby deceived the people. He would have owned
me, but I could not own or join with him, he was fo full
of filth. He faid. He was above John ; and made as
though he knew all things. But 1 told him, ' Death reign-
'/ ed hom Adam to Mofes ; and that he was under death,
' and knew not Mofes : for Mofes faxv the paradife of
'God; but he knew neither Mofi^s, nor the prophets, nor
' John,' For that crooked and rough nature flood in him,
and the mountain of fm and corruption ; and the way was
not prepared in him for the Lord. He confefled he had
been under a crofs in things ; but now he could finer
pfalms, and do any thing. I told him, ' Now he could
' fee a thief, and join hand in hand with him : but he
' could not preach Mofes, nor the prophets, nor John, nor
' Chrift, except he were in' the fame Spirit that they were
'in.' Margaret Fell had been abroad in the day-time ;
and at night her children told her, ptielt Lampitt and I had
difagreed ; which fomewhat troubled her, becaufe fhe was
in profeffion with him; but he hM his dirty aftions from
them. At night we had great reafoning ; and I declared
the truth to her and her family. Next day Lampitt came
again, and I had a great dealof difcourfe with him before
Margaret Fell, who then clearly difcerned the prieft. A
convincement of the Lord's truth came upon her and her
family. Soon after a day was to be obferved for an humi-
liation; and Margaret Fell alked me to go with her to the
fteeple-houfe at Ulverftone, for fhe was not wholly come
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 95
off from them : I replied, " I muft do as I am ordered
*' by the Lord." So I left her, and walked into the fields ;
and the word of the Lord came to me, faying, " Go to
♦' the fteeple-houfe after them." When I came, Lampitt
was finging with his people ; but his fpirit was fo foul, and
the matter they fang fo unfuitable to their Rates, that after
they had done fmging, I was moved of the Lord to ipeak
to him and the people. The word of the Lord to them
was, ' He is not a Jew that is one outward ; but he is a
* Jew that is one inward, whofe praife is not of man, but of
* God.' Then, as the Lord opened further, I fhewed them,
* That He was come to teach his people by his Spirit,
* and to bring them off from all their old ways, religions,
* churches, and worfhips ; for all their religions, worfhips,
* and ways were but talking of other men's words ; but they
* were out of the life and Spirit which thofe were in who gave
* them forth.' Then cried out one juftice Sawrey, '' Take
*' him away ;" but judge Fell's wife faid to the officers, " Let
*' him alone ; why may he not fpeak, as well as any other ?"
Lampitt alfo, the prieft, in deceit, faid, " Let him fpeak."
So at length, when I had declared a pretty while, juftice
Sawrey caufed the conftable to put me out; and then I
fpoke to the people in the grave-yard.
The firft-day after, I was moved to go to Aldenham
fteeple-houfe, and when the prieft had done, I fpoke to
him ; but he got away. Then I declared the word of life
to the people, and warned them to turn to the Lord.
From thence I paffed to Ramfide, where was a chapel,
in which Thomas Lawfon ufed to preach, who was an
eminent prieft. He very lovingly acquainted his people
in the morning of my coming in the afternoon ; by which
means many were gathered together. When I came, I
faw there xvas no place fb convenient as the chapel : where-
fore I went into the chapel, and all was quiet. Thomas
Lawfon went not up into his pulpit, but left all the time
to me. The everlafting day of the eternal God was pro-
claimed that day, and the everlafting truth was largely
declared ; which reached and entered into the hearts of the
people, and many received the truth in the love of it.
This prieft came to be convinced, left his chapel, threw
off his preaching for hire, and came to preach the Lord
Jcftis and his "kingdom freely. After that fome rude peo-
ple caft fcandals upon him, and thought to have done him
an injury; but he was carried over all. grew in the wif-
S6 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. £1659
dom of God mightily, and proved very ferviceable in his
place.
I returned to Swarthmore again, and the next firft-day
went to Dalton fteeple-houfe ; where, after the prieft had
done, I declared the word of hfe to the people, that they
might be turned from darknefs to light, from the power of
Satan to God ; and might come off from their fuperftitious
ways, and from their teachers made by man, to Chrift the
true and living way, to be taught of him.
From thence I went into the ifland of Walnah; and
after the prieft had done, I fpoke to him, but he got away.
Then I declared the truth to the people, but they were
fomething rude. I went to fpeak with the prieft at hi;i
houfe, but he would not be feen. The people faid, he
went to hide himfelf in the hay-mow, and they looked
for him there, but could not find him. Then they faid, he
was gone to hide himfelf in the ftanding corn, but they
could not find him there neither. I went to James Lan-
cafter's, who was convinced in the ifland, and from thence
returned to Swarthmore, wliere the Lord's power feized
upon Margaret Fell, her daughter Sarah, and feveral
others.
Then I went to Becliff, where Leonard Fell was convin-
ced, and became a minifter of the everlafting gofpel. Se-
veral others were convinced there, and came into obedience
to the truth. Here the people faid, they could not dii-
pute ; and would fain have put fome other to hold talk
with me ; but I bid them, " Fear the Lord ; and not in a
" light way hold a talk of the Lord's words, but put the
*' things in praftice." ' I direfted them to the Divine Light
* of Chrift and his Spirit in their hearts, which would let
* them fee all the evil thoughts, words, and a6lions, that
* they had thought, fpoken, and afted ; by which light they
* might fee their fin, and aifo their Saviour Chrift Jefus to
' fave them from their fins. This I told them was their
' firft ftep to peace, even to ftand ftill in the light that
* fliewed them their fins and tranfgrefiions ; by which they
' might come to fee they were in the fall of old Adam, in
* darknefs and death, ftrangers to the covenant of promife,
' and without God in the world : and by the fame light
' they might fee Chrift that died for them to be their Re-
* deemer and Saviour, and their way to God.'
After this I went to a chapel beyond Gleafton : which
was built, but never a prieft had preached in it. Thither
t
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 97
the country people came ; and a quiet, peaceable meeting
it was, in which the word of hfe was declared, and many
were convinced of the truth about Gleafton.
From thence I returned to Swarthmore again. After I
had ftaid a few days, and moft of the family were convin-
ced, I went into Weilmoreland, where prieft Lampitt had
been amongft the profeffors on Kendal fide, and had
mightily incenfed them againft me ; telling them 1 held
many ftrange things. I met with thofe that he had fo in-
cenfed, fate up ail night with them at James Dickinfon's,
and anfwered all their objections. They were both tho-
roughly fatisfied with the truth I had declared, and dilfatif-
fied with him and his lies, fo that he clearly loft the beft of
his hearers and followers, who hereby came to fee his de-
ceit, and forfook him.
I paffed to John Audland's and Gervafe Benfon's, and
had great meetings amongft thofe that had been convinced
before. I paffed to John Blakelin's and Richard Robin-
fon's, where I had mighty meetings, and then towards
Grifedale.
Soon after, judge Fell being come home, Margaret
his wife fent to me, defiring me to return thither; and I,
feeling freedom from the Lord fo to do, went back to
Swarthmore. I found the priefts and profeffors, and juftice
Sawrey, had much incenfed judge Fell and captain Sands
againft the truth by their lies ; but when I came to fpeak
with him, I anfwered all his objetlions, and fo thorough-
ly fatisfied him by the fcriptures, that he was convinced in
his judgment. He afked me, " If I was that George Fox
" whom juftice Robinfon fpoke fo much in commendation
" of amongft many of the parliament men ?" I told him,
I had been with juftice Robinfon, and juftice Hotham,
in Yorkftiire, who were very civil and loving to me ; and
that they were convinced in their judgment by the Spirit
of God, that the priricipie which I bore teftimony to was
the truth, and they faw beyond the priefts of the nation ;
fo that they and many others were now come to be wifer
than their teachers. After we had difcourfed a pretty while
together, judge Fell himfelf was fatisfied alfo, and came to
fee, by the openings of the Spirit of God in his heart,
over ail the priefts and teachers of the world ; and did not
go to hear them for fome years before he died ; for he knew
it was the truth that I declared, and that Chrift was the
teacher of his people, and their Saviour. He fometimes
98 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1652
wiihed that I was awhile with judge Bradfhaw to difcourfe
with him. There came to judge Fell's captain Sands be-
fore-mentioned, endeavouring to incenfe the judge againll
me ; for he was an evil-minded man, and full of envy
againll mc ; yet he could fpeak high things, ufe the fcrip-
ture- words, and fay, " Behold, I make all things new/'
But I told him, Then he niuft have a new God ; for his
God was his belly. Eefides him came alfo that envious
juftice John Sawrey. I told him, " His heart was rotten,
" and he was full of hypdtrify to the brim." Several
others alfo came, whofe ilates the Lord gave me a difcern-
ing of; and I fpoke to their conditions. While I was in
thofe parts, Richard Farnfworth and James Nayler came
to fee me and the family; and judge Fell, being fiitisfied
that it was the way of truth, notwithftanding all their op-
pofition, fufrered the meeting to be kept at his houfe ; and
a great meeting was fettled there in 'the Lord's power,
which hath continued near forty years,*^ntil the year 1690,
that a new meeting-houfe was ere6led near it.
After I had ftaid awhile, and the meeting there was well
fettled, I departed to Under-barrow, where I had a great
meeting. From thence I went to Kellet, and had a great
meeting at Robert Withers's, to which feveral came from
Lancafter, and fome from York ; and many were convin-
ced. On the market-day I went to Lancafter, and fpoke
through the'market in the dreadful power of God; declar-
ing the day of the Lord to the people, and crying out
againft all their deceitful merchandize. I preached right-
eoufnefs and truth unto them, which all Ihould follow after,
walk and live in; direfting them how and where they
might find and receive the Spirit of God to guide them
thereinto. After I had cleared mvfelf in the market, I
went to my lodging, whither feveral people came ; and
many were convinced, who ilood faithful to the truth.
The firft-day following, in the forenoon, I had a great
meeting in the ftreet at Lancafter, amongft the foldiers and
people, to whom I declared the word of life, and the ever-
lafting truth. I opened unto them. That all the traditions
they had lived in, all their worfhips and religions, and the
profeflion they made of the fcripturcs, were good for no-
thing, while they lived out of the life and power which
thofe were in who gave forth the fcriptures. I directed
them to the light of Chrift, the heavenly man, and to the
Spirit of God in their own hearts, that they might come to
j6s2] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 99
be acquainted vrith God and Chrift, receive him for their
teacher, and know his kingdom let up in them.
In the afternoon I went to the fleeple-houfe at Lancafter,
and declared the truth to the prieit and people ; laying
open before them the deceit they liv^ed in, and direfting
tlicm to the pov/er and Spirit of God which they wanted.
But they haled me out, and ftoned me along the flreet till
I came to John Lawfon's houle.
Another firft-day I went to a ftecple-houfe by the water-
fide, where one Whitehead was prieit ; to whom and to the
people I declared the truth in the dreadful power of God-
There ^came a doftor, fo full of envy, that he faid, " He
*' could find in his heart to run me through with his ra-
" pier, though he was hanged for it the next day ;" yet
this man came afterwards to be convinced of the truth, fa
far as to be loving to friends. Some were convinced there-
abouts, who willingly fate down under the minillry of
Chrift, their teacher; and a meeting was fettled thare in the
power of God, which has continued to this day.
After this I returned into Weftraoreland, and fpoke
through Kendal on a market-day. So dreadful was the
power of God upon m.e, that people flew like chaff be-
fore me into their houfes. I warned them of tha mighty
day of the Lord, and exhorted them to hearken to the voice
of God in their own hearts, who v/as now come to teach
his people himfelf. When fomc oppofed, many others took
my part. At lail: fomc fell to fighting about me ; but I
went and fpoke to them, and they parted again. Several
were convinced.
The firft-day after I had a very large meeting in Under-
barrow at Miles Bateman's, where I was moved to declare,
' That all people in the fall were gone from the image of
* God, righteoufnefs, and holineis, and. were become as
' wells without the water of lite, as clouds without the hea-
' venly rain, as trees without the heavenly fruit ; and were
' degenerated into the nature of beafts, of ferpents, of tail
' cedars, of oaks, of bulls, and of heifers : fo that thev
' might read the natures ot thcfe creatures within, as the
' prophets defcribed them to the people of old, that were
' out of truth. I opened to them, how lome were in the
* nature of do;^s and fwine, biting and rending; fome iti
* the nature of briers, thiftlcs, and thorns ; fome like the
* owls and dragons in the night; fome like the wild afles,
' and horfes, fnufling up the wind j and fome like the
Z
100 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [16^2
* mountains and rocks, and crooked and rough ways.
* Wherefore I exhorted them to read thefe things within in
* their own natures, as well as without : and that, when
* they read without of the wandering ftars, they fliould look
' within, and fee how they have wandered from the bright
* and morning flar. And they fhould confider, that as
* the fallow ground in their, fields muff be plowed up before
' it would bear feed to them, fo mufl the fallow ground of
' their hearts be plowed up before they could bear feed to
* God. All thefe names and things I fliewed were fpokeii
* of and to man and woman, fmce they fell from the image
* of God ; but as they come to be renewed again into the
' image of God, they come out of the natures of thefe
' things, and fo out of the names thereof.' Many more
fuch things were declared to them, and they were turned
to the light of Chrifh, by which they might come to know
and receive him, and mi-^ht witnefs him to be their fub-
ftance, their way, their lalvation and ti"ue teacher. Many
were convinced at that time.
After I had travelled up and down in thofe countries,
having great meetings, I came to Swarthmore again ; and
when I had vifited friends awhile in thofe parts, I heard of
a great meeting the priefts were to have at Ulverftone on a
letlure-day. I v/ent to it, and into the fteeple-houfe in the
dread and power of the Lord. When the pried had done,
I fpoke among them the word of the Lord, which w'as as
an hammer, and as a fire amongft them. And though
Lampiit, the pried of the place, had been at variance with
mod of the prieds before, yet againd the truth they all
joined together. But the mighty power of the Lord was
over all ; and fo wonderful was the appearance thereof, that
pried Bennet faid, " The church fhook;" infomuch that
he was afraid and trembled. And after he had fpoken a
few confufed words, he hadened out for fear the deeple-
houfe would fall on his head. There were many prieds
got together, but they had no power as yet to perfecute.
When I had cleared my confcience amongd them, I
went to Swarthmore again. Thither came four or five of
the prieds. In difcourfe, I afked them, " Whether any
" one of them could fay, he ever had the word of the Lord
*' to go and fpeak to fuch or fuch a people ?" None of
them durd fay he had ; but one of them burd into a paf-
fion, and faid, " He could fpeak his experiences as well as
" L" I told him experience was one thing; but to receive
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ,01
and go with a melTage, and to have a word from the Lord
as the prophets and apoflles had, and as I had had to them,
was another thing. And therefore I put it to them again ;
" Could any one of them fay, he ever had a command
*' or word from the Lord immediately at any time ?" But
none of them could fay fo. Then I told them, The falfe
prophets, falfe apoflles, and antichrifls, could ufe the words
of the true prophets, true apoflles, and of Chrifl, and
would fpeak of other men's experiences, though themfelves
never knew nor heard the voice of God and Chrifl: and
fuch as they might get the good words and experiences of
others. This puzzled them much, and laid them open.
For at another time, when I was difcourfmg with feveral
priefls at judge Fell's houfe, and he was by, I afked them
the lame queflion, " Whether any of them ever heard the
" voice of God or Chrifl, to bid him to go to fuch or
" fuch a people, to declare his word or meff^ge unto
'"them!" for any one, I told them, that could but read,
might declare the experiences of the prophets and apoilles,
which were recorded in the fcriptures. Hereupon Thomas
Taylor, an ancient priefl, did ingenuoufly confefs before
judge Fell, " That he had never heard the voice of God,
*•' nor of Chrift, to fend him to any people; but he fpoke
." his experiences, and the experiences of the faints in former
*' ages, and that he preached." This very much confirm-
ed judge Fell in the perfuafion, " That the priefls were
" wrong ;" for he had thought formerly, as the generality
of people then did, " That they were fent from God."
Thomas Taylor was convinced at this time, and travel-
led with me into Weflmoreland. Coming to Crofland
fleepie-houfe, we found the people gathered : and the Lord
opened Thomas Taylor's mouth (though he was convinced
but the day before) fo that he declared amongfl them,
" How he had been before he was convinced," and, like
the good fcribe converted to the kingdom, he brought forth
things new and old to the people, and fhewed them, " how
'• the priefls were out of the way :" which fretted the priefl.
Some little difcourfe I had with them, but they fled away;
and a precious meeting there was, wherein the Lord's pow-
er was over all, and the people were direftcd to the Spirit
of God, by whicli they might come to know God and
Chrifl, and to underftand the Scriptures aright. After this
I palFed.on, vihting friends, and had very large meetings
in Weflmoreland*
Z 2
IC2 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165^
Now began the priefts to rage more and more, and an
much as they could to ftir up perfecution. James Nayler
and Francis Howgill were call into prifon in Appleby gaol,
at the inftigation of the malicious priefts ; fome of whom
prophefied, " That within a month we fhould be all Icat-
*• tered again, and come to nothing," But bleffed for ever
be the worthy name of the Lord, his work went on and
profpered ; for about this time John Audland, Francis
Howgill, John Camm, Edward Burrough, Richard Hub-
berthorn, Miles Hubberfly, and Miles Halhead, with fe-
veral others, being endued with power from on high, came
forth in the work of the miniftry, and approved themfelvcs
faithful labourers therein ; travelling up and down, and
preaching the go fpel freely ; by means whereof multitudes
were convinced, and many efFeclually turned to the Lord.
Amongft thefe, Chriflopher Taylor was one, brocher to
Thomas Taylor before-mentioned, who had been preacher
to a people as well as his brother; but after they had re-
ceived the knowledge of the truth, they foon came into
obedience thereunto, and left their preaching for hire or re-
wards ; and having received a part of the miniftry of the
gcfpel, they preached Chriil freely, being often fent by thq
Lord to declare his word in fteeple-houies and markets,
and great fufferers they were.
After I had vifited friends in Weflmoreland, I returned
into Lancafhire, and went to Ulverflone, where Lampitt
was priefl ; who though he had preached of a people that
fhould own the teachings of God, and had faid, " That
*' m^en and women fhould come and declare the gofpel ;"
yet when it came to be fulfilled, he perfecuted both it and
them. To this priefl's houfe I went, where abundance of
prieits and profeflbrs were got together after their lecture,
with whom I had great difputings concerning Chrift and
the fcriptures; for they were loth to let their trade go down,
which they made of preaching Chrift's, the apoftles, and
prophets words. But the Lord's power went over the
heads of them all, and his word of lite was held forth
amongfi; them ; though many of them were exceeding envi-
ous and devilifli. Yet after this, many priefts and profellbrs
came to m.e from fir and near. Thofe that were innocent
and limple-minded were fatisfied, and went away refrefhed;
but the fat and full were fed with judgnrent and fent away
empty : for that was the word of the Lord to be divided to
them.
16523 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 103
When meetings were fet up, and we met in private
houfes, Lampitt began to rage. He faid, " We forfook
*'■ the temple, and went to Jeroboam's calves houfes." So
many profefibrs began to fee how he was declined from that
which he had formerly held and preached. Hereupon
the cafe of Jeroboam's calves was opened to the profellors,
priefts, and people. It was manifeiled unto them, ' That
* their houfes (called churches) were more like Jeroboam's
* calves houfes, even the old mafs-houfes, which were fet
* up in the darknefs of popery, which they who called
* thcmfelvcs protcftants, and profcffed to be more enlight-
* ened th?.n the papifts, did ftill hold up, altho' God had
* never commanded them ; whereas that temple, which
* God had commanded at Jerufalem, Chrill came to end
* the fervice of; and thofe that received and believed in
' him, their bodies came to be the temples of God, of
^ Chrift, and of the Holy Ghoft, to dwell in them, and to
* walk in them. And luch were gathered into the name of
* Jefus, whofe Name is above every name, and there is no
* falvation by any other name under the whole heaven but
* by the name of Jefus. And they that were thus gather-
* ed met together in feveral dweliing-houfes, which were
' not called the temple nor the church ; but their bodies
* were the temples of God, and the believers were the
* church which Chrifl was the head of. So that Chrift was
* not called the head of an old houle, which was made by
* mens hands, neither did he come to purchafe, fanftify,
* and redeem with his blood an old houfe, which they call-
' ed their church ; but the people, which he is the head
* of Much work I had in thofe days with priefts and
people, concerning their old mafs-houfes called churches;
for the priefts had perfuaded the people, that they were the
houfes of God ; whereas the apoftle fays, " Whofe houfc
*' we are," &c. Heb. iii. 6. The people in whom he
dwells are God's houfe. The apoftle faith, " Chrift pur-
*■ chafed his church with his own blood ;" and Chrift calls
his church his fpoufe, his bride, the lamb's wife : fo that
this title church and fpoufe was not given to an old houfe,
but to his people the true believers.
On a lefture-day I was moved to go to the fteeple-houfe
at Ulverftonc, where were abund.;nce of profeifors, priefts,
and people. I went near to prieft Lampitt, who was bluf-
tering on in his preaching. After the Lord had opened
my mouth to fpeak, John Sawrey the juftice came to
JO+ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAI.. [1652
me, and faid, " If I would fpeak according to the fcrip-
'• tures, I ftiould fpeak. I admired at him for fpeaking
fo to me, and told him, " I would fpeak according to the
'• Icriptures, and bring the fcriptures to prove what I had
" to lay ; for I had fornething to fpeak to Lampitt and to
" them." Then he faid, I fhould not fpeak; contradift-
ing himfelf, who had faid juil before, " I fhould fpeak,
" if I would fpeak according to the fcriptures." The peo-
ple were quiet, and heard me gladly, till this juftice Saw-
rey (who was the firfl fcirrer up of cruel perfecution in tlie
north) incenfed them againft me, and let them on to hale,
beat, and bruile me. But now on a fudden the people
were m a rage, and fell upon me in the fteeple-houfe before
his face, knock'd me down, kick'd me, and trampled upon
me. So great was the uproar, that fome tumbled over
their feats for fear. At laft he came and took me from the
people, led me out of the ftecple-houfe, and put me into
the hands of the conllables and other officers ; bidding
them whip me, and put me out of the town. They led
me about a quarter of a mile,^ fome taking hold by my col-
lar, fome by my arras and fhoulders, who fliook and drag-
ged me along. Many friendly people being come to the
market, and fome to the fteeple-houfe to hear me, divers
of thefe they knock'd down alio, and broke their heads, fo
that the blood ran down from feveral ; and judge Fell's
fon running afcer to fee what they would do with me, they
threw him into a ditch of water; fome of them crying,
" Knock the teeth out of his head." When they had haled
me to the common mofs fide, a multitude following, the
conflables and other officers gave me fome blows over my
back with their willow rods, and thruil me among the rude
multitude ; who, having furnifhed themlelves with flaves,
hedge-ftakes, holm or holly bufhes, fell upon me, and beat
jne on my head, arms, and ilioulders, till they had deprived
me of^^fenfe; fo that I fell down upon the wet common.
"When I recovered again, and law myfelf lying in a watery
common, and the people Handing about me, I lay ftili a
little while, and the power of the L.ord fprang through me,
and the eternal refrelbings revived me ; fo that I flood up
again in the (Irengthening power of the eternal God, and
firetching out my arms amongfl them, I faid, with aloud
voice, " Strike again ; here are my arms, my head, and
my cheeks." There v/as in the company a mafon, a pro-
fellor, but a rude fcUov/, who with his walking rule-ftaET
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 105
cvave me a blow with all his might juft over the back of my
hand, as it was ftretched out ; with which blow i^y hand
was fo bmifed, and my arm fo benumbed, that I could
not draw it to me again ; fo that fome of the people cried,
" He hath fpoiled his hand for ever having the ufe of it
" any more." But I looked at it in the love of God (for
I was in the love of God to all that perfecuted me) and
after awhile the Lord's power fprang through me again,
and through my hand and arm, fo that in a moment I
recovered ftrength in my hand and arm in the fight of them
ail. Then they began to fall out among themfelves: fome
of them came to me, and faid, If I would give them
money, they would fecure me from the reft. But I was
moved of the Lord to declare the word of life, and lliewcd
them their faife chriilianity, and the fruits of their priefl's mi-
niftry; telling them, They were more like heathens and Jews,
than true chriftians. Then was I moved of the Lord
to come up again through the midft of the people, and go
into Ulverftone market. As 1 went, there met me a foU
dier, with his fword by his fide; '• Sir," faid he to me," I
" fee you are a man, and I am afhamed and grieved that
'•' you ftiould be thus abufed ;" and oflFered to affift me in
what he could. I told him. The Lord's power was over
all, and I walked through the people in the market, none
of whom had power to touch m.e then. But fome of
the market people abufmg fome friends in the market,
I turned about, and fav/ this foidier among them with
his naked rapier; whereupon I ran, and, catching hold of
the hand his rapier was in, bid him put up his fword again,
if he would go along with me : for I was willing to draw
him out from the company left fome mifchief fhould be
done. A few days after, feven men fell upon this foidier,
and beat him cruelly, becaufe he had taken part with
friends and me. It was the manner of the perlecutors of
that country, for twenty or forty people to run upon one
man. They fell fo upon friends in many places, that they
could hardly pafs the highways, ftoning, beating, and
breaking their heads. Wiien I came to Swarthmore, I
found the friends there dreffing the heads and hands of
friends and friendly people, which had been broken or hurt
that day by the profeubrs and hearers of Lampitt. iVIy
body and arms were yellow, black and blue, with the
bruifes I received amongfl them. Now began the priefts
io6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1653
to propliefy again, That within half a year we fliould be
ail put down and gone.
About two weeks after this, I went into Walney ifland,
and James Nayler with me. Wc ftaid one night at a little
town on this fide, called Cockan, and had a meeting there,
where one was convinced. After awhile came a man with
a piflol ; whereupon the people ran out of doors. He cal-
led for me ; and, when I came to him, he fnapped his pif-
tol at me ; but it would not go ofF. This caufed the peo-
ple to m.ake a great buflle about him ; and fome of them
took hold of him, to prevent his doing mifchief. But I
was' moved in the Lord's power to fpeak to him ; and he
was fo ftruck by divine power, that he trembled for fear,
and went and hid himfelf. Thus the Lord's power came
over them all, though there was a great rage in the country.
Next morning I went in a boat to James Lancafter's.
As foon as I came to land, there rufhed out about forty
men, with ftaves, clubs, and fifliing-poles ; who fell upon
ine, beating, punching me, and endeavouring to thruft me
backward into the fea. When they had thruft me almoft
into the fea, and I faw they would have knocked me down
in it, I went up into the middle of them ; but they laid at
me again, knocked me down, and ftunned me. , When I
came to myfelf, I looked up and faw James Lancafter's
wife throwing ftones at my face, and her huftsand lying
over me, to keep the blows and ftones from me. For the
people had perfuaded James's wife that I had bewitched
her hufband ; and had promifed her. That if fhe would let
them know when I came thither, they would be my death ;
and having got knowledge of my coming, many of the
town rofe up in this manner with clubs and ftaves to kill
me ; but the Lord's power preferved me, that they could
not take away my life. At length I got upon my feet, but
they beat me down again into the boat ; which. James Lan-
cafter oblerving, he prefently came into the boat to me,
and fet me over the water from them ; but while we were
on the water, within their reach, they ftruck at us with
long poles, and threw ftones after us. By that time we
were come to the other fide, we faw them beating James
Nayler : for whilft tliey had been beating me, he walked
into a field, and they never minded him till I was gone ;
then they fell upon him, and all their cry was, " Kill him,
'' kill him."
4652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 107
When I was come over to the town again, on the other
fide of the water, the townfinen rofe up with pitchforks,
flails, and ftaves, to keep me out of the town, crying, '• Kill
" him, knock him on the head; bring the cart, and carry
" him away to the church-yard." So after they had abufed
me, they drove me a pretty way out of the town, and there
left me. Then went James Lancafter again, to look alter
James Nayler ; and I being now left alone, %vent to a ditch ;
and having wafhed mylelf, walked about three miles to
Thomas Hutton's. where lod;;ed Thomas Lawlon, the
pricft that was convinced. When I csme in, I could
hardly fpeak to them, I was fo bruifed; only I told them
where I left James Nayler. Whereupon they took each of
them a horfe, and went and brought him thither that night.
The next day Margaret Fell hearing of it, fent an horfe for
me ; but lb fore I was with bruifes, that I was not able to
bear the fhaking of the horfe without much pain. When
I was come to Swarthmore, juflice Sawrey and juftice
Thompfon of Lancafter granted a warrant againft me ; but
judge Fell coming home, it was not ferved upon me : for
he was out of the country all this time that I was thus
cruelly abufed. When he came home, he fent warrants
into the ifie of Walney, to apprehend all thofe riotous
perfons ; whereupon fome of them fled the country. James
Lancafler's wife was aftei-wards convinced of the tiiith, and
repented of the evil ftie had done me ; and fo did fome
others of thofe bitter pcrfecutors alfo; but the judgments
of God tell upon fome, and deiirurlion is come upon
many of them fince. Judge Fell deiired me to give him a
relation of my perfecution ; but I told him, The)' could do
no otherwife in the fpirit wherein they were ; and that they
manifefted the fruits of their prieft's miiiillry, and their pro-
feflio-n and religion to be wrong. So he told his wife 1
made nothing of it ; and that I fpake of it as a man that
had not been concerned : for indeed tiie Lord's power heal-
ed me again.
Alter I was recovered, I wont to Yelland, where was a
great meeting. In the evening came a prielt to the houfe,
with a piflol in his hand, under pretence to light a pipe of
tobacco. The maid of the houle iceing the piflol, told her
mailer: who thereupon, clapping his hands on both the
door-pofts, told him, He Ihoiiid not come in there. While
he Rood there, keeping the door way, he looked up, and
fpied over the wail a company of men coming, fome armed
Aa
io8 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i6;2
with ftaves, and one with a raufket. But the Lord pre-
vented their bloody delign ; lb that feeing themlelves dif-
covered, they went their way, and did no harm.
The time tor the leffions at Lancaller being come, I went
thither with judge Fell; who on the way told me, He never
jiad >luch a matter brought before him, and could not well
tell what to do in the bufmefs. I anlwered when Paul was
brought before the rulers, and the Jews and priefts came
dov/n to accufe him, and laid many falfe things to his
charge, Paul flood ftill all that while. When they had
done, Feflus the governor and king Agrippa beckoned to
him to fpeak for himfelf ; which Paul did, and cleared him-
fclf of all thofe accufations : fo he might do by me. Being
come to Lancafler, and juilice Sawrey and juftice Thomp-
lon having granted a warrant to apprehend me, though I
wiis not apprehended by it, yet hearing of it, I appeared at
tlie fefTions ; where there appeared againft me about forty
priefts. Thefe had chofen one JVIarfhal, a priefl of Lan-
cafter, to be their orator ; and had provided one young
priell and two priefts fons to bear witnefs againft me,
who had fworn beforehand that I had fpoken blafphemy.
When the juftices were fet, they heard all that the priefts
and their witneiTes could fay and charge againft me ; their
orator Marfhal Gtting by, and explaining their fayings for
them ; but the witneffes were fo confounded, that they dif-
covered themfelves to be falfe witneifes. For when the
court had examined one of them upon oath, and then be-
gan to examine another of them, he was at fuch a lofs, he
could not anfwer diretlly ; but faid, The other could fay it.
Which made the juftices fay to him, " Have you fw^orn it,
" and given it, in already upon oath, and now lay, that he
*' can fay it ? It feems, you did not hear thofe words fpo-
" ken yourfelf, though you have fworn it ?"
There \vere then in court feveral who had been at that
meeting, wherein the witneffes fwore I fpoke thole blafphe-
mous words which the priefts accufed me of; and thefe, being
men of integrity and reputation in the country, did declare
and affirm in court, That the oath, which the witneffes had
taken againft me, was altogether falfe ; and that no fuch
words as they had fworn againft me were fpoken by me at
that meeting, Lidecd, moft of the fcrious men of tljat lide
of the country, then at the felfions, had been at that meet-
ing, and had heard me both at that and other meetings alfo.
This wiis taken notice of by colonel Weft, who being a
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 109
juflice of the peace, was then upon the bench ; and ha^-lng
long been weak in body, bleffed the Lord, and faid, The
Lord had healed him that day; adding, That he never {a.v
fo many lober people and good faces together in all his life.
Then turning himfelf to me, he faid in the open fefTions,
" George, if thou haft any thing to fay to the people, tLoii
" mayeft freely declare it." I was moved of the Lord to
fpeak : and as foon as I began, prieft Marflial, the orator
for the reft of the priefts, went his way. That which 1, v/as
moved to declare, was this : " That the holy fcriptures were
" given forth by the Spirit of God; and all people muft
*' firft come to the Spirit of God in thenifelves, by vv^hich
" they might know God and Chrift, of whom the prophets
" and apoftles learnt ; and by the lame Spirit know the
" holy fcriptures ; for as the Spirit of God was m them
" that gave farth the fcriptures, fo the fame Spirit muft be
'•' in all them that come to underftand the Icriptures. By
" which Spirit they might have fellowfliip with the Father^
" with the Son, with the fcriptures, and with one another :
*' and without this Spirit they can know neither God,
" Chrift, nor the fcriptures, nor have a right feilowftiip one
" with another." I had no fooner fpoken thefe words, but
about half a dozen priefts, that ftood behind me, burft into
a pafiion. One of them, whofe name was Jackus, amongft
other things that he fpake againft the truth, faid, That the
Spirit and the letter were infepirable. I replied, " Then
" every one that hath the letter, hath the Spirit; and they
'• might buy the Spirit with the letter of the fcriptures."
This plain difcovery of darknefs in the prieft moved judge
Fell and colonel Weft to reprove them Openly, and tell
them, That according to that pofition, they might carry the
vSpirit in their pockets as they did the fcriptures. Upon
this, the priefts, being confounded and put to filcnce, rufii-
ed out in a rage againft the juftices, becaufe they could not
have their bloody ends upon me. The jufticcs, feeing the
witneftes did not agree, and perceiving they were brought
to anfwer the priefts envy, and hnding that all their evi-
dences were not fufficient in law to make "^ood their cliariie
againft me, difcharged me. And after judge Fell had fpo-
ken to juftice Sawrcy and jiiftice Thomofon concerning the
warrant they had given forth againft me, and fhewing them
the errors thereof, he and colonel Weft granted a fuper-
fedeas to ftop the execution of it. Thus I was cleared in
open feflions of thofe lying accufations which the malicious
A a 2
J TO GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165?
priefls had laid to my charge : and multitudes of people
prai.fed God that day, for it wavS a joyful day to many.
Juftice Beiifon of Weftmoreland was convinced ; and major
Ripan, mayor of the town of Lancafter, aifo. It was a
day of everlafling falvation to hundreds of people : for the
Lord Jefus ChriO:, the waj^ to the Father, the free Teacher,
was exalted and let up; his everlafting golpel was preach-
ed, and the word of eternal life v/as declared over the heads
of the priefts, and all fuch lucrative preachers. For the
Lord opened many mouths that day to fpeak his word to
the pneils, and feveral friendly people and profefTors re-
proved them in their inns, and in the flreets, fo that they
fell, like an old rotten houfe : and the cry was among the
people, That the Quakers had got the day, and the priefts
were fallen. Many v/ere convinced that day, amongfl
tvdiorn Thomas Briggs was one, who before had been fo
averfe to friends and truth, that difcourfing with |ohn
Lawfon, a friend, concerning perfection, Thomas faid to
him, " Doft thou hold perfeflion ?" and lift up his hand,
to have gi\'en tlie friend a box on the ear. But Thomas,
being convinced of the truth that day, declared againft his
own prieil Jackus ; and afterwards became a faithful mi-
nifler of the gofpel, and ftood fo tp the end of his days.
When the feflions were over, Janies Nayler, who was
prefent, gave a brief account of the proceedings thereof in
a letter, which foon after he wrote to friends, and is here
added for the reader's further fatisfaftion :
EAR friends and brethren in the Lord Jefus Chrift,
my dear love unto you all, defiring you may be
* kept fteadfift in' the Lord jefus Chrift, and in the power
* of his love, boldly to witnefs forth the truth, as it is re-r
* vealed in you by the mighty working of the Father : to
* him alone be everlafling praife and honour for evermore I
* Dear friends, the Lord doth much maniieft his love and
' power, in thefe parts. The iecond day of the laft week
' my bi other George and I were at Lancafter. There were
* abundance of friends from all parts ; and a great many
* who hded wuh the priefts, giving out, They now hoped
* to lee a (lop put to that great work which had gone on fo
* fail, and with fuch poxver, that their kingdom is much
* ftiakcn. We were called before judge Fell, colonel Weft,
' juftice Sawrey, &c. to aniwer what was charged againft
* George, There were'tjiree witneffes to ei^ht particU'
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. m
lars, but they were much confufed in themfelves ; which
gave much light to the truth : whei'eby the juftices did
plainly lee that it was envy ; and they divers times
told them fo. One of the witnelles was a young prieft,
who confeffed, He had not meddled, had not another
^prieft fent for him, and let him on work. The other
witneiTes were two priefts fons. It was proved there by
many, that heard one of them fay, If he had power, he
would make George deny his profefTion, and that he
would take, away his life. This was a fingle witnefs to
one of the greateft untruths charged againft George. The
juftices told him, They faw, becaule he could not take
away his life, he went about to take av/ay his liberty.
There was one priefl chofen out of the whole number,
as an orator, to plead againft us; who fpared no pains
to fliew his envy againft the truth : and when he coul-d
not prevail, he went down in a rage ; and there came a
number of them into the room, among; whom was one
Jackus. George was then fpeaking in the room (one of
the judges having wiftied, if he had p<.ny thing to lay, that
he would fpeak:) at which prieft fackus was in fuch a
rage, that he brake forth into many high exprefllons
againft the truth fpoken by my dear brother George ;
amongft which this was one, That the letter and the
Spirit were infeparable. Hereupon the juftices ftood up,
and bid him prove that, before he v/ent any further.
Then he feeing himfeif caught, would have denied it ;
and when he could not get off fo, the reft of the priefts
would have helped him to a meaning for his words : but
the jufticas would admit no other meaning than the plain
fenfe of the wOrds, and told him. He had laid down a
poiition, and it was fit he fhould prove it ; prefiing the
matter clofe upon him. Whereupon the priefts, be-
ing put to filence, went down in a greater rage than
before ; and fome of them, after they were gone down,
being afked what they had done, lied, and Taid, They
could not get into the room ; thereby to hide their
fhame, and keep the people in bhndnels. The juftices,
judge Fell, and colonel Weft, were much convinced of
the truth, and did fet up juftice and equity ; and have
much ftlenced the rage of the people. Many bitter fpirits
were at Lancafter, to fee the event ; but went home, and
cried, The priefts had loft the day. Everlafting praifes
be tt) him 'vho fought the battle for us, who is our King
112 . GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652
for ever ! There were others called, who the witnefTes
confeiTed were in the room when the things charged on
George were laid to have been fpoken ; but they all, as
one man, denied that any fuch words were fpoken : which
gave much light to the juftices, and they durft rely on
what they witnefTed ; for they faid, they knew many of
them to be honed men. There was a warrant granted
o
againfl; us at Appleby ; but juflice Benfon told them it
was not according to law ; and fo it ceafed. I hear he is
a faithful man to the truth. The priefls began to preach
againft the juflices, and faid, They were not to meddle
in thefe things, but to end controverfy betwixt neighbour
and neighbour. They are not pleafed with the law, be-
caufe it is not in the llatute to imprifon us, as the priefl
that pleaded againfl us faid. The juftices bid him go
put it into the ftatute, if he could; he faid. It fhould
want no will of his. They are much afraid that they
fiiall lofe all. They are much difcontented in thefe parts;
and fome of them cry, " All is gone." Dear friends,
dwell in patience, and wait upon the Lord, who will do
his GiNTi work. Look not at man, in the work; nor at
man, who oppofeth the work : but reft in the will of the
Lord, that fo ye may be furnifhed with patience both to do
and to fuffer what ye fliall be called unto ; that your end
in all things may be his praife. Take up his crofs freely,
which keeps low the flefhly man ; that Chrifl may be fet
up and honoured in all things, the light advanced in you,
and the judgment fet up, which muft give fentence againfl
all that oppofeth the truth; that the captivity may be led
captive, and the prifoner fet free to feek the Lord ; that
righteoufnefs may rule in you, and peace and joy may
dwell in you, wherein confifteth the kingdom of the Fa-
ther; to whom be all praife for ever! Dear friends, meet
often toijether; take heed of what exalteth itfelf above its
brother; keep low, and ferve one another in love for the
Lord's fake. Let all friends know how it is with us, that.
God may have the praife of all.'
' Vv'ritten from Kcllet, the 30th day J. N.
' of the Sdi month, .1652.'
At this time I ums in a. fid, and was not to eat until this
work of God, which tiien lay weighty upon me. xvas ac-
complifhed. But the Lord's pov.-?r was wonderfully exalt-
ed, and he gave tralh and friends dominion therein over
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. . 113
all. His glory was freely preached that day, over the
heads of about forty hireling priefts. I Itaid two or three
days afterwards in Lancafter, and had fume meetings there.
The rude and bafer fort of people plotted together to have
drawn me out of the houfc, and to have thrown me over
Lancafler bridge, but the Lord prevented them. Then
they invented another mifchief, which was this : After a
meeting at Lancaller, they brought down a diftrafted man,
and another with him, having bundles of birchen rods,
bound together like befoms, with which they Ihould have
whipped me ; but I was moved to fpeak to them in the
Lord's mighty power, which chained down the dillraQed
man, and the other alfo ; and made them calm and quiet.
Then I bid him tlirow his rods into the fire, and burn
them ; which he did. Thus the Lord's power being over
them, they departed quietly.
The priefls, fretting to fee themfelves overthrown at the
feflions at Lancafler, got fome of the envious jullices to
join with them ; and at the following aflize at Lancafler
inform.ed judge Windham againfl me. Whereupon the
judge made a Ipeech againft me in Open court; and com-
manded colonel Weft, who was clerk of the aflTize, to ifTue
a warrant for the apprehending of me ; but colonel Well
told the judge of my innocence, and fpoke boldly in my
defence. Yet the judge commanded him again, either to
write a warrant, or go from his feat. Then he told the
judge plainly, that he would not do it ; but that he would
ofFer up all his eftate, and his body alfo for me. Thus he
ftopped the judge, and the Lord's power came over all ;
fo that the pnefts and jullices could not get their envy exe-
cuted. The fame night I carfie into Lancafter, it being
the afhze-time : and hearing of a warrant to be given out
againft me, I judged it better to fhew myfelf openly, than
for my adverfaries to leek me. So I went to judge Fell's
and colonel Weft's chambers. As foon as I came in, they
fmiled on me ; and colonel Weft laid, " What ! are you
" come into the dragon's mouth ?" 1 ft a id till the judge
went out of town ; and I walked up and down the town,
but no one meddled with me, nor queftioned nae. Thus
the Lord's bleffcd power, which is over all, carried me
through and over this exercifa, gave dominion over his ene-
mies, and enabled me to go on in his glorious work and
fervice for Im grc<it namq's fake. For though the beafl
ii4 ■ GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1652
maketh war againft the faints, yet the Lamb hath got and
will get the vitlory.
From Lancafter I returned to Robert Withers's. From
thence I went to Thomas Leper's, and a very bleffed meet-
ing we had there ; after vxdiich, I walked in the evening to
Robert Withers's again. No fooner was I gone, but there
came a company of difguifed men to Thomas Leper's, vv^ith
fwords and piftols ; who fuddenly entering the houfe, put
out the candles, and fwung their fwords about amongft the
people of the houfe, fo that they were fain to hold up
the chairs before them, to fave themfelves from heiwr cut
and wounded. At length they drove all the people out,
and then fearched the houfe for me, who it feems was the
only perfon they looked for. They had laid wait before in
the highway, by which I fliould have gone if I had rid to
Robert Withers's, and not meeting with me on the way,
they thought to have found me in the houfe, but the Lord
prevented them. Soon after I came to Robert Withers's,
fome friends from the town where Thomas Leper lived
gave us a relation of this wicked attempt ; and were afraid
left they fhould come and fearch Robert Withers's houfe
alfo for me, and do me a mifchief ; but the Lord reftrained
them, that they came not. Theie men were in difguife,
yet Iriends .perceived fome of them were Frenchmen, and
fuppofed them to be fervants belonging to one called Sir
Robert Bindias : for fome of them had faid, in their na-
tion they ufed to tie the proteftants to trees, and whip and
deftroy them. His fervants often abufed friends, both in,
and going to and. from their meetings. They once took
Richard Hubberthorn and feveral others out of the meet-
ing, carried them a long way into the fields, bound
them, and left them in the winter feafon. Another time
one of his fervants came to Francis Fleming's, and thruft
his naked rapier in at the door and windows ; but a kinf-
man of Francis Fleming's, not a friend, came with a
cudgel, and bid the fervant man put up his rapier^ which
when he would not, but vapoured at him with it, and v^as
rude, he knocked him down, took his rapier* from him,
and, had it not been for friends^ would have run him through
with it. So friends prcferved his life, that would have
deftroyed theirs.
From Robert Withers's I went to vifit juftice Weft,
Richard Flubberthorn accompanying me. Not knowing
the way, nor the danger of the fands, we rode where, we
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. iij
were afterwards told, no man ever rode before, fwimming
our horfes over a very dangerous place. When we were
come in, juftice Weft alked us. If we did not fee two men
riding over t^e fands ? " I lliall have their cloaths anOn,"
faid he, " for they cannot efcape drowning ; and I arn the
*' coroner." But when we told him we were the men, he
was aftonifhed, and v\^ondered how we efcaped drowning.
Upon this the envious priefts and profeffors raifed a flan-
-derous report. That neither water could drown me, nor
could they drav/ blood of me ; and therefore I was a witch:
indeed, fometimes when they beat me with great ftaves,
they did not much draw my blood, though they bruifed my
body very forely. But all thefe flanders were nothing to
me with refpett to myfelf; though I was concerned on
the truth's behalf, which I faw they endeavoured by thefe
means to prejudice people againft ; for I confidercd that
their forefathers, the apollate Jews, called the mafter of the
houfe Beelzebub ; and thefe apodate chriftians from the life
and power of God could do no lefs to his feed. But the
Lord's power carried me over their ffanderous tongues, and
their bloody murderous fpirits ; who had the ground of
witchcraft in themfelves, which kept them from coming to
God and to Chrift.
Having vilited juftice Weft, I went to Swarthmore, vi-
fiting friends, and the Lord's power was over all the per-
fecutors there. I was moved to write letters to the magif-
trates, priefts, and profeiTors thereabouts, who had railed
perfecution before. That to juftice Sawrey was after this
manner :
' Friend,
'^ '' I ^HOU waft the fiift beginner of all the perfecution
' JL in the north. Thou waft the beginner and maker
' of the people tumultuous. TIiou waft the firft ftirrer of
* them up againft the righteous feed, and againft the truth
' gf .Goc' ; the firft ftrengthener of the hands of evil-doers
' atjainft the innocent and harmlcfs : and thou fhalt not
* profper. .'Thou waft the firft ftirrer up of ftrikers, ftoners,
* perfecutors, ftockers, mockers, and imprifoners in the
* north, and of revileis, llanderers, railers, and falfe accu-
* fers; This was thy work ; this thou ilirredft up. So thy
' fruits declare thy fpirit. Inftead of ftiiring up the pure
' mind in people, thou haft ftirred up the wicked, ma-
* licious, and envious ; and taken hand with the wicked,
Bb
m6 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165^
Thou haft made the people's minds envious up and down
the country : this was thy work. But God hath Ihorten-
ed thy days, limited and fet thy bounds, broken thy jaws,
difcovered thy religion to the limple and babes, and brought
thy deeds to light. How is thy habitation fallen, and
become the habitation of devils ! How is thy beauty loft,
and thy glory withered ! How haft thou ftiewed thy evil,
that thou haft ferved God but with thy lips, and thy heart
far from him, and thou in the hypocrify ! How hath the
form of thy teaching difcovered itfelf to be the mark of
the falfe prophets, whofe fmit declares itfelf! for by their
fruits they are known. How are the wife men turned
backward ! View thy ways ! take notice with whom thou
haft taken part. That of God in thy confcience will tell
thee. The Ancient of days will reprove thee. How
hath thy zeal appeared to be the blind zeal of a perfecu-
tor which Chrift and his apoftles forbad Chriftians to fol-
low ! How haft thou ftrengthened the hands of evil-
doers, and been a praife to them, and not to thofe that
do well ! How like a madman and a blind man didft
thou turn thy fword backward againft the faints, againft
whom there is no law ! How wilt thou be gnawed and
burned one day, ivhen thou ftialt feel the flame, and have
the plagues of God poured upon thee, and thou begin
to gnaw thy tongue for pain, becaufe of the plagues !
Thou fhalt have thy rew^ard according to thy works.
Thou canft not efcape; the Lord's righteous judgment
will find thee out, and the witnefs of God in thy con-
fcience fhall anfwer it. How haft thou cauied the heathen
to blafphcrne, gone with the multitude to do evil, and
joined hand in hand with the wicked ! How is thy lat-
ter end worfe than thy beginning, who art come with the
do2 to bite, and art turned as a wolf to devour the lambs !
How haft thou difcovered thylelf to be a man more fit to
be kept in a place to be nurtured, than to be fet in a
place to nurture ! How waft thou exalted and puffed up
with pride ! And now art thou fallen down with fhame^.
that thou comeft to be covered with that which thou ftir-
redft up and broughteft forth. Let not John Sawrey
take the words of God into his mouth till he be reformed :
let him not take his name into his mouth, till he depart
from iniquity. Let not him and his teacher make a pro-
feffion of the faints words, except they intend to proclaim
themfelves. hypocrites, whofe lives are fo contrary to the
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. tiy
* lives of the faints ; whofe church hath made itfelf manifcft
.' to be a cage of unclean birds. You having a form of
* godlinefs, but not the power, have made them that are in
* the power your derifion, your by-word, and your talk at
* your feafts. Thy ill favour, John Sawrey, the country
* about have fmelled, and of thy unchrillian carriage all
* that fear God have been afhamed ; and to them thou haft
* been a grief: in the day of account thou fhalt know it,
* even in the day of thy condemnation. Thou waft mount-
* ed up and hadft fet thy neft on high, but never got high-
* er than the fowls of the air. Now thou art run among
* the beafts of prey, and art fallen into the earth ; fo that
* earthlinefs and covetoufnefs have fwallowed thee up.
* Thy conceitednefs would not carry thee through, in whom
* was found the felhfh principle which hath blinded thine
* eye. Thy back muft be bowed down always ; for thy
* table is already become thy fnare.
G. F.'
This juftice Sawrey, who was the firft perfecutor in tjiafe
eountry, was afterwards drowned.
I wrote alfo to William Lampitt, the prieft of Uivei-
ftone, thus :
* nnHE word of the Lord to thee, O Lampitt! A de-
* X ceiver, furfeited and drunk with the earthly fpirit,
* rambling up and down in the fcriptures, and blending thy
* fpirit amongft the faints conditions ; who hadft a pro-
* phecy, as thy father Balaam had, but art erred from it, as
* thy father did. One whofe fruit hath withered (of which
« I am a witnefs) and many v.'ho have known thy fruit have
* fecn the end of it, that it is withered ; and do fee where
* thou art, in the blind world, a blind leader of the blind ;
* as a beaft wallowing and tumbling in the earth, and in
* the luft ; one that is erred from the Spirit of the Lord, of
* old ordained to condemnation. Thou art in the feat
* of the Pharifees, art called of men mafter, ftandeft pray-
* ing in the fynagogues, and haft the chief feat in the
* affemblies ; a right hypocrite in the fteps of the Phari-
' fees, and in the way of thy fathers, the hypocrites, which
* our Lord Jefus Chrift cried wo againft. Such v/ith the
' light thou art feen to be, and by the light art com-
•• prehended ; which is thy condemnation who hateft it, and
' Bb 2
ii8 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ^1659
* will be fo eternally except thou repent. To thee this is
* the word of God; for in Chrift's way thou art not, but
* in that of the Pharisees, as thou mayeft read, Mat. xxiii.
* All that own Chrift's words may fee thee there. Chrift^
* who died at Jerufaiem, cried wo againft fuch as thou art;
* and Chrifl: is the fame yefterday, to-day, and for ever.
* The wo remains upon thee, and from under it thou canft
* never come, but thirough judgment, condemnation, and
* true repentance. Ta thee this is the word of God. To
' that of God in thy confcience I Ipeak, Vv'hich will witnefs
* the truth of what I write, and will condemn thee. When
* thou art in thy torm.ent (though riow thou fwelleft in thy
' vanity, and iiveft in v«^ickednefs) remember thou waft
* warned in thy life-time. When the eternal condemnation
* ]s ftretched over tliee, thou fhalt witnefs this to be the
' word of the Lord God unto thee, and if ever thine eye
* mould fee repentance, thou wilt witnefs me to have beer^
' a friend of thy foul.
G. F.'
Having thus cleared my confcience fo the juflice and
the priefl of Ulverftone, it was upon me to fend this warn^.
ing in writing to the people of Ulverftone in general.
ONSIDER, O people ! who are within the parifh of
Ulverftone, I was moved of the Lord to come into
' your publick places to fpeak among you, being fent of
' God to dire6l your minds to him, that you might know
* where to find your teacher ; that your minds might be
* ftayed alone upon God, and you might not gad abroad
' -without you for a teacher ; for the Lord alone will teach
* his people; he is coming to teach them, and to gather his
' people from idols temples, and from the cuftomary 'jvor-i
* ftiips v^hich all the world is trained up in. God hath
' given to every one of you a meafure of his Spirit accords
'ing to your capacity; liars, drunkards, whoremongers,
* and thieves, and who follow filthy pieafures, you all have
* this meafure in you. This is the meafure of the Spirit
* of God that fticws you fm, evil, and deceit ; which lets
* you fee lying is fin ; theft, drunkennefs, and uncleannefs,
* to be the works of darknefs. Therefore mind your mea-
* fure (for nothing that is unclean fhall enter into the king-
' dom of God) and prize your time while you have it, left:
* the time come that you will fay^ with forrow, we had
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 119
time, but it is paft. Oh ! why will ye die ! Why will
ye choofe your own ways ! Why will ye follow the courfe
of the world ! Why will ye follow envy, malice, drunk-
ennefs, and fooliih pleafures ! Know ye not in your con-
fciences, that all thefe are evil and fm ? and that fuch as
aft thefe things fhail never enter into the kingdom of
God ? Oh ! that ye would confider and fee how you
have fpent your time, and mind how ye fpend your
time, and obferve whom ye ferve ; for the wages ot fm is
death. Do not ye know, that whatfoever is more than
yea and nay cometh of evil ? Oh ! ye drunkards, who
live in drunkennefs, do ye think to efcape the fire,
the judgment of God ? Though ye fwell in venom, and
live in iuil for awhile, yet God will find you out, and
bring you to judgment. Therefore love the light which
Chrift hath enlightened you withal, who faith, 1 am the
light of the world, and v/ho enlightens every one that
cometh into the world. One loves the light, and brings
his works to the light, and there is no occafion at all ot
llumblins:: the other hates the light, becaufe his deeds are
evil, and the light will reprove him. Thou that hateil this
light, thou haft it. Thou knoweft, lying is evil, drunk-
ennefs is evil, fwearing is evil, whoredom, theft, all un-
godlinefs, and unrighteoufnefs, are evil. Chrift Jeius
hath given thee light enough to let thee fee thefe are evil.
This light, if thou loveft it, will teach thee holinefs and
righteoufnefs, without which none ftiallfeeGod; but if
thou hateft this light, it is thy condemnation. Thus
are Chrift's words found to be true, and fulfilled among
you. You that hate this light fet up hirelings and idols
temples, and fuch priefts as bear rule by their means ]
fuch fliepherds as hold up fuch things, fuch as are called
of men mafters and have the chiefeft place in the aftcm-
blies, whom Chrift cried wo againft, Mat. xxiii. fuch
as go in the way of Cain, in envy, and after the error of
Balaam for wages, gifts, and rewards, thefe have been
your teachers, and thefe you have held up. But thofe
who love the light are taught of God, and the Lord is
coming to teach his people himfelf, and to gather his from
the hirelings, from fuch as feek for their gain from their
quarter, and from fuch as bear rule by their means. The
Lord is opening the eyes of people, that they fliall fee
fuch as bear rule over them. But all, whofe eyes are fhut,
^re fuch as the prophet fpokc of " That have eyes, and
120 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. Ii65t
■ fee not; but are foolifh, upholding fuch things." There-
fore, poor people, as ye love your own fouls, confider
the love of God to your fouls while ye have time, and do
not turn the grace of God into wantonnefs. That which
fhews you ungodlinefs and worldly lulls Ihould and
would be your teacher, if you would hearken to it ; for
the faints of old witneffed the grace of God to be their
teacher, which taught them to live foberly and godly in
this prefent world. You that are not fober, this grace of
God hath appeared unto you ; but you turn it into want-
tonnefs, and fet up teachers without you, who are not
fober, not holy, not godly. Here you are left without
excufe, when the righteous judgment of God fhall be re-
vealed upon all who live ungodlily. Therefore to the
light in you I fpeak ; and when the book of confcience
Ihall come to be opened, then fhall you witnefs what I
fay to be tme, and you all ftiail be judged out of it.
God Almighty dire6l your minds (fuch of you efpecially
as love honefty and fincerity) that you may receive mercy
in the time ot need. Your teacher is within you ; look
not forth : it will teach you both lying in bed, and going
abroad, to fhun all occafion of fm and evil.
G. F.'
As the foreuoinji was direfted to all the inhabitants of'
o o ,
Ulverflone in general, fo it was upon me to write to thofe
more particularly that moft conflantly followed W. Lam-,
pitt. To thefe I wrote after this manner :
' *" I ^HE word of the Lord God to all the people that follow
* JL priefl Lampitt, who is a blind guide. Ye are fuch
■ as are turned from the light of Chrift within, which he
- hath enlightened you withal : ye are fuch as follow that
' which Chrift cried wo againft, that go not in Chrift's
* way, but in the Pharifces way, as ye may read. Mat.
' xxiii. which our Lord cried wo againil. He is the fame
' yefterday, to-day, and for ever ; but him ye own not
' while ye follow fuch as he cried wo againft, though ye
* make a profeiJion, and Lampitt, your prieft, makes a
' trade of Chrift's and the faints words, as his fathers, the
* Pharifees, made a profeftion of the prophets and of Mo-
* fes's words. Wo was unto them who had not the. life,
' fo wo is unto you who have not the life that gave forth
* the fcriptures, as your fruits have made manifcft. For
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. i«<
when the Lord moved fome to come amongft you, to-
preach the truth freely, you knock'd them down, beat,
punched, and haled them out of your affemblies. Such
a people ferves thee, O Lampitt, to make a prey upon,
and thefe are thy fruits. Oh ! let fhame, fliame ftrike
thee and you all in the faces, v/ho make a profeffion of.
Chrifl's words, yet are ftoners, flrikers, mockers, and
fcoffers. Let all fee, if this be not a cage of unclean
birds, which they who had the life of the fcriptures Ipoke
of. Such a company of people thou deceiveft, feedell
them with thy fancies, makefl a trade of the fcriptures,
and takeft them for thy cloak. But thou art manifefl to
all the children of light, for that cloak will not cover thee,
thy fkirts are feen and thy nakednefs appears. The Lord
made one to go naked among you, a figure of thy naked-
nefs, and of your nakednefs, and as a fign amongft you,
before your deftru6lion cometh ; that you might fee you
were naked and not covered with the truth. To the light
in all your confciences I fpeak, which Chrift Jefus doth
enlighten you withal. It will fhew you the time you
have fpent, and all the evil you have done in that time,
who follow fuch a teacher, that acts contrary to this light,
and leads you into the ditch. When you are in the ditch
together, both teacher and people, remember ye were
warned in your life-time. It ever your eye come to fee
repentance, and you obey the light of Jefus Chrift in you,
you will witnefs me to have been a friend of your fouls,
and that I have fought your eternal good, and written
this in dear love to you. Then v/ill you own your con-
demnation; which you muft all ovrn before you can come
into that blefled life, of which there is no end. But ye,
who hate the light, becaule your deeds are evil, this light
is your condemnation. Oh! that ye would love this light
and hearken to it! It would teach you, as you walk up
and down about your occafions, and as v-ou lie upon your
beds, and would never let you fpeak a vain word. In
loving it, you love Chrift ; in hating it. you bring the
condemnation thereof upon yourfclvcs. To you this i.s
the word of God, from under which }'Ou can never pafs,
nor ever efcape the terror of the Lord in the ftate }0u are
in, who hate the light.
G. F/
Amongft the chief hearers and followers of prieft Lam-
ill GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1:1652
pitt, was Adam Sands, a very wicked, falfe man, who
would have deftroyed the truth and its followers, if he
could. To him I was moved to write on this wife :
' Adam Sands,
' np^O the light in thy confcience I appeal, thou child of
' JL the devil, thou enemy of righteoufnefs ; the L.ord
* will ftrike thee down, though no-.v for awhile in thy wick-
' ednefs thou may 'ft reign. The plagues of God are due
' to thee, who hardened thyfelf in wickcdnefs againfl the
' pure truth of God. With the pure trufh of God, which
* thou hafl refilled and perfecuted, thou art to be threfhed
' down, which is eternal, and doth comprehend thee. With
' the light which thou defpifeil thou art feen, and it is thy
* condemnation. Thou as one brutifli, thy wife as an hy-
' pocrite, and both as murderers of the jufl, in that which
' is eternal are feen and comprehended ; and your hearts
' fearched, tried, and condemned by the light. The light
* in thy confcience will witnefs the truth of what I write to
* thee, and will let thee fee that thou art not born of God,
* but art out of the truth, in the beallly nature. If ever thy
' eye fee repentance, thou wilt witnefs me a friend of thy
* foul, and a feeker of thy eternal good.
G. f:
This Adam Sands afterwards died miferably.
I was moved alfo to write to priefl Tatham.
HE word of the Lord to thee, priefl: Tatham, who
T
art found out of the do6lrine of Chrifl ; having the
' chiefeft place in the affembly, being called of men mafter,
' and flanding praying in the fynagogue in the fleps of the
* Pharifees, which our Lord Jefus Chrifl cried wo againft.
' In his way thou art not, but in the way of the Scribes
' and Pharifees ; as thou mayeft read, Matth. xxiii. There
* Chrift's words judge thee, and the fcriptures of truth con-
* demn thee. For thou art fuch a one as fues men at law
* for tithes, yet profeffefl thyfelf to be a minifter of Chrifl ;
* which Chrifl never empowered his to do : neither did any
* of his apoftles or mimders ever do fo. HeVe I charge
* thee in the prefence of the Living God as one out of their
' doctrine, and that thou art one of thofe evil beads the
* fcripture fpeaks of, that minded earthly ^things which the
* life of the fcriptures is againd. Thou art for dedru6lion
1652I GEORGE FOX'3 JOURNAL. Uy
* in the ftate wherein thou flandeft ; and it will be thy por-
tion eternally, if thou dofl not repent. To that of God
in thy confcience I fpeak, which will witnefs the truth of
what I fay. Thou art one that goefl in Cain's way, in
envy, an enemy to God, and from the command of God.
Thou art one that goeft in Balaam's way, from the Spirit
of God, for gifts and rev^-ards, the wages of unrighteouf-
nefs. Thou fon of Balaam, thou art worfe than thy fa-
ther : for though he loved the wages of unrighteoufnefs,
yet he durft not take it ; but thou not only takefl it, but
fueft men at law if th^y will not give it thee : which no
true minifter of Jefus Chrill ever did. Therefore flop
thy mouth for ever, and make no mention of them, nor
profefs thyfelf one of them. With the light thou art feen
and comprehended; who art light and vain, and fpeakefl
a divination of thy own brain, and deceived the people.
That in thy confcience will witnefs what I fay, and will
condemn thee, who art one of thofe that bear rule by their
means, which the Lord fent Jeremiah to cry againft,
Jer. V. and fo thou holdeft up the " horrible and filthy
thing, that is committed in the land.'' They that do not
tremble at the word of the Lord are the foolifh peo-
ple that hold thee up, they are fottifh children without
underftanding. They are wife to do evil, but not to do
good, who are deceived by thee. Thou art one 'of thofe
that feek their gain from their quarter ; a greedy dumb dog
that never hath enough, as th}' pra6i;ice makes manifefl ;
fuch the Lord fent Ifaiah to cry againft, Ifa, Ivi. 11, 12,
Thou art fuch a one as the Lord fent Ezekiel to cry
againit, who feedeft of the fat, and clotheft with the wool,
and makeft a prey of the people. But the L.ord is ga-
thering his fheep from thy mouth, that to thee they fhall
be a prey no longer. Thou enemy of God, here this
prophecy is fulfilled upon thee, Ezek. xxxiv. and thou
art one of them. I charge it upon thee in the prefence of
the Living God. A hireling thou art, and thofe that put
not into thy mouth, thou pr^pareft war againft. Thou
hatell the good, and loveft the evil ; which the Lord fent
Micah to cry agaurft, Mic. iii. Cover thy lips, and ftop
thy mouth for ever, thou child of darknefs ; for wuth the
light thou art comprehended, and feen to be among chem
which the holy men of God cried wo againft; and by the
Spirit of the Living God thou art judged. In the light,
which is thy condemnation, thou art corn'orehended. Thy
Cc
114 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652
* race is feen, and thy compafs known, who art out of the
* commands of Chrift, and out of the do6lrine and hfe of
* the apoftles. Thou art proved and tried. To thee this
* is the word of the Lord ; to thee it fhall be as an hammer,
* a fire, and a fword ; and from under it thou fhalt never
' come, unlefs thou repent ; who art with the hght to be
* condemned, in that ftate wherein thou ftandefl. If ever
* thine eye fee repentance, this thy condemnation thou
* mufl own.
G. F/ *
I wrote alfo to Burton, pricil of Sedberg, to the
fame purpofe, he being in the fame evil ground, nature,
and pra6lice. Many other epiflles alfo and papers I wrote
about that time, as the Lord moved me thereunto, which
I fent among the priefts, profeffors, and people of all forts,
for the laying their evil ways open before them, that they
might fee and forfake them ; and opening the way of truth
unto them, that they might come to walk therein; which
are too many and large to be inferted in this place.
After I had cleared my confcience to the priefts and peo-
ple near Swarthmore, I went again into Weftmoreland.
A company of men with pikes and f laves laid wait for me
at a bridge in the way ; and they met with fome friends,
but miffed me. Afterwards they came to the meeting
with their pikes and ftaves ; but juftice Benfon being there,
and many confiderable people belides, they were prevented
from doing that mifchief they intended. So they went
away in a great rage, without hurting any body.
I went from the meeting to Grayrigg, and held a meet-
ing at Alexander Dickfon's ; to which. the prieft, who was
a baptift and a chapel-prieft, came to oppofe ; but the
Lord confounded him by his povv-er. Some of the people
tumbled down fome milk-pails which ftood upon the fide
of the houfe (which was much crowded) whereupon the
prieft, after he and his company were gone, raifed a flan-
der, " That the devil frighted him, and took away a fide of
" the houfe, while he was in the meeting." And though
this was a known fairehood, yet it ferved the priefts and
profeffors to feed on for awhile ; and fo fhamelefs they
were, that they printed and publiftied it.
Another time this prieft came to a meeting, and fell to
jangling. Firft he faid, " The fcriptures were the word of
*' God." I told him, they were the words of God, but not
1652] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 12^
Chrift, the Word ; and bid him prove by fcripture what ha
faid. Then he faid, it was not the fcripture that was the
word; and fetting his foot upon the bible, faid, it was but
copies bound up together. Many unfavory words came
from him, but after he was gone we had a bleifed meeting ;
the Lord's power and prefence was precioufly manifefled
and felt among us. Soon after he fent me a challenge to
meet him at Kendal. I fent him word he need not go fo
far as Kendal, for I would meet him in his own parifh.
The hour being fixed, we met, and abundance of rude peo-
ple gathered together (befides the baptized people who
were his own members) with intent to do mifchief, but
God prevented them. I declared the day of the Lord to
them, and dire6led them to Chrill Jefus. Then the prieft
out with his bible, and faid, It was the word of God. I
told him it was the words of God, but not God the Word.
His anfwer was, He would prove the fcriptures to be the
word before all the people. I let him go on, having a man
there that could take down in writing both what he and I
faid. When he could not prove it (for I kept him to
fcripture-proof, chapter and verfe for it) the people gnafhed
their teeth for aneer, and faid, He would have me anon :
but in going about to prove that one error, he ran into
many. And when at length he law he could not prove it,
he faid, he .would prove it a God : fo he toiled himfelf
afrelh, till he fv/eat again ; but could not prove what he had
affirmed. And he and his company were full of wrath :
for I kept his alfcrtionS on the head of him and them all ;
and told them, 1 owned what the fcriptures faid of them-
felves, namely, that they were the words of God, but Chrifl
was the Word. So the Lord's power came over all, and
they being confounded went away. The Lord difappoint-
ed their mifchievous intentions againft me ; friends were
eftablifhed in Chrift, and many of the pricft's foiiov.^ers faw
the folly of their teacher.
After this, prieft Bennet, of Cartmel, fent a challenge to
difpute with me. I came to his fleeple-houfe on a firft-
day, and found him preaching. When he had done, I
fpoke to him and his people ; yet the prieft would not
ftand the trial, but went his way. After he was gone, I
had a great deal of difcourfe with the people : and when I
was come into the fteeple-houfe yard, dilcourfing further
with the profeiiors and declaring truth unto them, one of
them fet his foot behind me, and two of them ran againft
Co a
126 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165 J
my breaft, and threw me down backwards againfl a grave-
ftone, wickedly and malicioufly feeking to have hurt me :
but I got up again, and was moved of the Lord to fpeak to
them. Then I went to the priefl's houfe, and defired him
to come forth that I might difcourfe with him, feeing he
had challenged me ; but he would not be feen. So the
Lord's power came over them all, which was greatly mani-
feft at that time. There was amonsfl the priefl's hearers
one Richard Roper, one of the bitterefl profeifors the prieft
had, who was very fierce and hot in contention ; but after-
wards he came to be convinced of God's eternal truth, be*
came a minifler thereof, and continued faithful to his death.
About the beginning of the year 1653 I returned to
Swarthmore, and going to a meeting at Gleafton, a profef-
for challenged a difpute with me. I went to the houfe
where he was, and called him to come forth ; * but the
Lord's power was over him, fo that he duril not meddle. I
departed thence, vifited the meetings of friends in Lanca-
fhire, and came back to Swarthmore. Great openings I
had from the Lord, not only of divine and fpiritual matters,
but alfo of outward things relating to the civil government.
Being one day in Sv/arthmore-hall, when judge Fell and
juflice Benfon were talking of the news, and of the parlia-
ment then fitting (called the long parliament) I was moved
to tell them. Before that day two weeks the parliament
fhould be broken up, and the fpeaker plucked out of his
chair; and that day two weeks juflice Benfon told judge
Fell, that now he (dw George was a true prophet; for Oli-
ver had broken up the parliament.
About this time I was in a faft for about ten days, m}'
fpirit being greatly exercifed on truth's behalf: for James
Milncr and R.ichard Myer went out into imaginations, and
a company followed them. This James Milner and fome
of his company had true openings at the firfl ; but getting
up into pride and exaltation of fpirit, they ran out from
truth. 1 v/as fent for to them, and was moved of the Lord
to go and fliev/ them their out-goings : and they were
brought to fee their folly, and condemned it, and came in-
to the way of truth again. Alter fome time I went to a
meeting at Arnfide, where Richard Myer was, who had
been long lame of one of his arms. I was moved of the
Lord to fay unto him amongfl all the people, " Stand up
*' upon thy legs," for he was fitting down ; and he flood
up, and (Iretched out his arm that had been lame a long
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 127
time, and faid, " Be it known unto you, all people, that
*" this day I am healed/' Yet his parents could hardly be-
lieve it ; but after the meeting was done, had him alide,
took off his doublet, and then faw it was true. He came
foon after to Swarthmore meeting, and there declared how
the Lord had healed him. Yet after this the Lord com-
manded him to go to York with a meffage from him ; which
he difobeyed, and the Lord flruck him again, fo that he
died about three quarters of a year after.
Now were great threatenings given forth in Cumberland,
'\,Th?it if ever I came there, they would take away my life.
' When I heard it, I was drawn to go into Cumberland ;
/.nd went to Miles Wennington's, in the fame parifh from
''which thofe threatenings came : but they had not power to
touch me.
About this time Anthony Pearfon was convinced, who
had been an oppofer of friends. He came to Swarthmore ;
and I being then at colonel Weft's, they fent for me. Co-
lonel. Weft faid, " Go, George, for it may be of great fer-
*' vice to the man." So I went, and the Lord's power
reached him.
About this time alfo the Lord opened feveral mouths to
declare the truth to priefts and people, and divers were caft
into prifon. I went again into Cumberland ; and Antho-
ny Pearfon and his wife, and feveral friends, went along
with me to Bootle, where Anthony left me, and went to
Carlifle feflions : for he was a juftice of the peace in three
counties. Upon the firft-day I went into the fteeple-houfe
at Bootle ; and when the prieft had done, I began to
fpeak. The people were exceeding rude, and beat me in
the fteeple-houfe yard. One gave me a very grfeat blow
over my wrift, fo that the people thought he had broken
• my hand to pieces. The conftable was very willing to have
kept the peace, and would have fet fome of thofe by the
heels that ftruck me, if I would have given way to it.
After my fervice amongft them was over, I went to Jofeph
Nicholfcn's, and the conftable accompanied us, to keep off
the rude multitude. In the afternoon I went up again ;
and then the prieft had got another prieft to help him, that
came from London, who was highly accounted of. Before
I went into the fteeple-houfe, I fat a little upon the crofs,
and friends with me ; but they were moved to go into the
fteeple-houfe, and I went in after them. The London
prieft was preaching, who gathered up all the fcripturcs h«
128 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
could think of, that fpake of falfe prophets, antichrifts, and
deceivers, and threw them upDn us. When he had done,
I recollefted all thofe fcriptures, and brought them back
upon himfelf. Then the people fell upon me in a rude
manner ; but the conftabie charged them to keep the peace,
and made them quiet again. Then the priefl began to rage ;
and faid, I mull not fpeak there. I told him, He had his
hour-glafs, by which he had. preached ; and he having done,
the time was free for me, as well as for him : for he was but
a ftranger there himfelf. So I opened the fcriptures to
them, and let them fee, ' That thofe fcriptures, which fpake
* of the falfe prophets, antichrifts, and deceivers, defcribed
* them and their generation, and belonged to them who
* were found walking in their fteps, and bringing forth their
* fiTiits ; and not unto us, who were not guilty of fuch
* things.' I manifefted to them, that they were out of the
fteps of the true prophets and apoftles ; and ihewed them
clearly, by the fruits and marks, that they, and not we,
were fuch as thofe fcriptures fpoke of. And I declared the
tiiith and the v/ord of life to the people, and direfted them
to Chrift their teacher. All was quiet while I was fpeak-
ing; but when I had done, and was come forth, the priefts
were in fuch a fret and rage, that they foamed at the mouth
for anger againft me. The priefl of the place made an ora-
tion to the people in the fteeple-houfe yard, faying, ' This
' man hath gotten ail the honeft men and women in Lan-
* cafhire to him, and now he comes here to do the fame."
Then faid I to him, ' What wilt thou have left ? And ndiat
* have the priefts left them, but fuch as themfelves ? For if
* they be the honeft that receive the truth and are turned to
' Chrift, then they mull be the difhoneft that follow thee,
* and fuch as thou art.' Some alfo of the prieft's people
began to plead for their prieft, and for tyfches. I told them, "
It were better for them to plead for Chrift, who had ended
the tything priefthood with the tythes, and had fent forth
his minifters to give freely, as they had received freely. So
the Lord's power came over, put to Tilence, and reftrained
the rude p.:ople, that they could not do the mifchief they
intended. When I came down again to Jofcph Nichol-
fon's houfc, I faw a great hole in my coat, which was cut
with a knife, but it was not cut through my waiftcoat, for
the Lord had prevented their mifchief. The next day there
was a rude wicked man would have done violence to a
friend, but the Lord's power flopped him.
1653] GEORGE FOX'3 JOURNAL. 129
Now was I moved to fend James Lancaller to appoint a
meeting at John Wilkinfon's fteepk-houle near Cocker-
mouth; a preacher in great repute, who had three parifhes
under him ; wherefore I ftaid at Milhohn in Bootle till he
came back again. In the mean time fome of t!ie gentry of
the country had formed a plot againil me, and had given a
httle boy a rapier to do me a mifchief with. They came
with the boy to Jofeph NichoUon's to leek me; but the
Lord had fo ordered it, I was gone into the fields. They
met with James Lancafter, but did not much abufe him;
and not finding me in the houfe, went away again. So I
walked up and down in the fields that night, and did not
go to bed as very often I ufed to do. We came the next
day to the fteeple-houie, where James Lancafter had ap-
pointed the meeting. There were at this meeting twelve
foldiers and their wives, from Carlifle ; and the country
people came in, like as it had been to a fair. I lay at ari
houfe fomewhat fhort of the place, fo that many friends
were got thither before me. When I came, I found James
Lancafter fpeaking under a yew-tree ; which was fo full of
people, I feared they would break it down. I looked about
for a place to ftand upon, to fpeak unto the people : for
they lay all up and down, like people at a leaguer. After
I was difcovered, a profelfor afked. If I would not go into
the church ? I feeing no place abroad convenient to fpeak
to the people from, told him, Yes : whereupon the people
rufhed in; fo that when I came, the houfe and pulpit was
fo full, I had much ado to get in. Thofe that could not
get in, ftood abroad about the walls. When the people
were fettled, I ftood up on a feat. ' And the Lord opened
* my mouth to declare his everlafting truth and his ever-
' lafting day ; and to lay open their teachers, with the rudi-
' ments, traditions, and inventions they had been under in
* the night of apoftacy fince the apoftles days. I turned
* them to Chrift the true teacher, and to the true fpiritual
' worftiip ; dirediing them where to find tlie Spirit and
' truth, that they might worfiiip God therein. I explained
* Chrift's parables unto them, and direfted them to the
* Spirit of God in thcmfelvcs, that would open the fcrip-
* tures unto them. I Ihewed them, how all might come to
' know their Saviour, fit under bis teaching, come to be
* heirs of the kingdom of God, and know God's and Chrifts
' voice, by which they might difcovcr all the filfe ftiep-
* herds and teachers they had been under, and be gatliercd
130 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1653
* to the tme Shepherd, Prieft, Bifhop, and Prophet Chrifl
* Jefus, whom God commanded all to hear.'
When I had largely declared the word of life unto them
for about the fpace of three hours, I walked from amongft
the people, who paffed away well fatisfied. Among the
reft a profelTor followed me, praifing and commending me ;
but his words were like a thiftle to me. At laft I turned
about, and bid him ' Fear the Lord ;' whereupon prieft
Larkham of Cockermouth (for feveral priefts were got to-
gether on the way, who came after the meeting was done)
laid to me, ' Sir, why do you judge fo ? you muft not
' judge.' I turned to him, and faid, ' Friend, doft thou
* not difcern an exhortation from a judgment ? I admo-
' niftied him to fear God ; and doft thou fay I judge
* him ?' So this prieft and I falling into difcourfe, I mani-
fefted him to be amongft the falfe prophets and covetous
hirelings ; and feveral being moved to fpeak to them, he
and two other of the priefts foon got away. When they
were gone, John Wiikinfon, preacher of that parifh, and
of two other parilhes in Cumberland, began to difpute
againfl his own confcience for feveral hours, till the people
generally turned againft him : for he thought to have tired
me out ; but the Lord's power tired him out, and the
Lord's truth came over him and them all. Many hundreds
were convinced that day, who received the Lord Jefus
Chrift and his free teaching with gladnefs ; of whom fome
have died in the truth, and many ftand faithful witnelfes
thereof. The foldiers alfo were convinced and their wives,
and continued with me till firft-day.
On firft-day I went to the fteeple-houfe at Cockermouth,
where prieft Larkham lived. When he had done, I began
to fpeak, and the people began to be rude ; but the foldi-
ers told them, we had broken no law, and they became
quiet. Then I turned to the prieft, and laid him open
among the falfe prophets and hirelings ; at which word he
went his way, faying, ' He calls me hireling ;' which was
true ; all the people knew it. Some great men of the tov\- n
faid, ' Sir, we have no learned men to difpute with you.'
I told them, I came not to difpute, but to fliew the way
of falvation to them, the way of everlafting life. I decla-
red largely the way of life and truth to them, and dire6ted
them to Chrift their teacher, who died for them, and bought
them with his blood.
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 131
When I had done, I went about two miles to another
great fteeple-houfe of John Wilkinfon's^ called Brigham ;
where the people, having been at the other meeting, were
mightily affeft-id, and would have put my horfe into the
fleeple-houfe yard : but I faid, ' No ; the prieft claims
* that ; have him to an inn.' When I came into the ftee-
ple-houfe yard, I law the people coming in great compa-
nies, as to a fair ; and abundance were already gathered in
the lanes and about the fteeple-houfe. I was very thirfty,
and walked about a quarter of a mile to a brook, where I
got fome water, and refrcftied myfelf. As I came up
a^ain, I met Wilkinfon ; who, as I paffed by him, faid,
' Sir, will you preach to-day ? If you will,' faid he, ' I will
' not oppofe you in word or thought.' I replied, ' Oppofe,
' if thou wilt ; I have fomething to fpeak to the people.
* And,' faid I, ' thou carriedft thyfelf fooliflily the other
* day, and fpakeft againft thy confcience and reafon, info-
* much that thy hearers cried out againft thee.' So I left
him, and went on ; for he faw it was in vain to oppofe, the
people were fo affcfted with the Lord's truth. When I
came into the fteeple-houfe yard, a profeffor alked. If I
would not go into the church ? And 1 feeing no convenient
place abroad, went in ; and ftood up on a feat, after the
people were fettled. The prieft came in alfo, but did not
go up to his pulpit. ' The Lord opened my mouth, and
' I declared his everlaftiog truth and word of life to the
' people ; direfting them to the Spirit of God in themfelves,
' by which they might know God, Chrift, and the fcrip-
' tures, and come to have heavenly feilowlhip in the Spirit.
■ I declared to them, that every one that comeih into the
' world v^?■as enlightened by Chrift the life ; by which light
* they might fee their fms, and Chrift, who was come to
' fave them from their fins, and died for them. And if they
' came to walk in this light, they might therein fee Chrift
' to be the author of their iaith, and the finillier thcreot;
' their Shepherd to fc-ed them, their Prieft to teach them,
' their great Prophet to open divme myftencs unto them,
' and to be always prefent with them. I explained alio to
' them, in the openings of the Lord, the firft covenant,
' fhewing them the figures, and the fubftance of thofe
* figures ; bringing them on to Chrift, the new covenant.
' I alfo manifefted to them, that theie had been a night of
' apoftacy hncc the apoftles days; but that now the ever-
* lafting gofpel was preached again, which brought life and
D d
13? GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
^ immortality to light ; and the day of the Lord was come,
' and Chrift Avas come to teach his people himfelf by his
• light, grace, power, and fpirit/ A fine opportunity the
Lord gave me to preach truth that day for about three
hours, and all was quiet. Many hundreds were convinced;
and fome of them praifed God, and faid, ' Now we know
* the firft ftep to peace.' The preacher alfo faid privately
to fome of his hearers, that I had broken them, and over-
thrown them.
After this I vv^ent to a village, and many people accom-
panied me. As I was fitting in an houfe full of people,
declaring the word of life unto them, 1 caft mine eye upon
a woman, and difcerned an unclean fpirit in her. I was
moved of the Lord to fpeak fliarply to her ; and told her,
Ihe was under the influence of an unclean fpirit. Where-
upon the woman went out of the room. I being a flranger
there, ,and knowing nothing of the woman outwardly, the
people wondered, and told me afterwards, I had discovered
a great thing : for all the country looked upon her to be a
wicked perlon. The Lord had given me a Spirit of dif-
ceming, by which I many times faw the flates and condi-
tions of people, and could try their fpirits. Not long be-
fore, as I was going to a meeting, I faw fome women in a
field, and difcerned an evil fpirit in them ; and I was mov-
ed to go out of my way into the field to them, and declare
unto them their conditions. Another time there came one
into Swarthmore hall in the meeting-time, and I was mov-
o
ed to fpeak lliarpiy to her, and told her fhe was under the
power of an evil fpirit ; and the people faid afterwards, fhe
was generally accounted fo to be. There came alfo another
time a woman, and ftood at a diftance from me. I call
mine eye upon her, and faid, ' Thou haft b.een an harlot :'
for I perfe6lly faw the condition and life of the woman.
She anfwered, Many could tell her of her outward fins,
but none could tell her of her inward. I told her. Her
heart was not right before the Lord ; and that from the in-
ward came the outward. This woman was afterwards con-
vinced of Gods truth, and became a friend.
From the aforefaid village we came to Thomas Bewley's,
near Coldbeck ; and fiom thence, having had fome fervice
for the Lord there, I paffcd to a market-town, where I had
a meeting at the crofs ; and all was pretty quiet. W^hcn I
had declared the truth unto them, and dire6led them to
Chriil their teaclier, fome received tha truth. We had
i6s3] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 133
another meeting upon the borders, in a fteeple-houfe yard,
to which many profeffors and contenders came ; but the
Lord's power was ov^er all ; and when the word of life had
been declared amongft them, fome received the truth there
alfo.
From thence we travelled to Carlille, and the paftor of
the baptifts, with mod of his hearers, came to the abbey,
where I had a meeting, and declared the word of life
amongft them. Many of the baptifts and of the loidiers
were convinced. After the meeting, the paftor of the bap-
tifts, an high notionift, and a flaftiy man, afked me, ' What
* muft be damned ?' I was moved im.mediately to tell him,
' That which fpoke in him was to be damned.' This ftop-
ped his mouth ; and the witnefs of God v\ras railed up in
him. I opened to him the ftates of eledion and reproba-
tion ; fo that he faid. He never heard the like in his life.
He came afterwards to be convinced.
Then I went to the caftle among the foldiers ; who beat
a drum, and called the garriion together. I preached the
truth amongft them, ' direfting them to the Lord Jefus
* Chrift to be their teacher, and to the meafure of his Spirit
' in themfelves, by which they might be turned from dark-
' nefs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. I
* warned them all, that they fliouid do no violence to any
' man, but fhould fhew forth a chriftian life : telling them,
' that he who was to be their teacher, would be their con-
* demner, if they were difcbedient to him.' So I lelt them,
having no oppofition fiom any of them-, except the fer-
jeants, who afterwards came to be convinced.
On the market-day I went to the crofs. The magiftrates
had both threatened, and fent their ferjeants ; and the ma-
giftrates wives had faid, If I came there, they would pluck
the hair off^ my head ; and the ferjeants ftiould take me up.
Neverthelefs I obeyed the Lord God, went upon the crofs,
and declared unto them, ' That the day of the Lord was
' coming upon all their deceitful ways and doings, and de-
' ceiiful merchandize ; that they ftiould put away all cozen-
' ing and cheating, and keep to Yea and Nay, and (peak the
' truth one to another : fo the truth and the power of God
' was fet over them.' After I had declared the word of life
to the people, the throng being fo great that the feijeants
could not reach me, nor the magiftrates wives come at me,
I paJTcd away quietly. Many people and foldiers came to
me, and fome baotifts, that were bitter contenders ; amongft
D d2
' 13+ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [[1653
whom one of their deacons, an enAnous man, finding the
Lord's power was over them, cried out for very anger.
^ Whereupon I fet my eyes upon him, and fpoke fharply to
him in the power of the Lord : and he cried, ' Do not
• pierce me fo with thy eyes, keep thy eyes off me.'
The firft-day following I went into the fteeple-houfe :
and after the prieft had dons, I preached the truth to the
people, and declared the word of life amongfl them. The
prieft got away ; and the magiftrates defired me to go out
of the fteeple-houfe. But I ftill declared the way of the
Lord unco them, and told them, I came to fpeak the word
of life and falvation from the Lord atnonsft them. The
power of the Lord v/as dreadful amongft them, fo that the
people trembled and ftiook; and they thought the fteeple-
houfe fhook ; fo!ne of them feared it would have fallen
down on their heads. The magiftrates wives were in a rage,
and ftrove mightily to have been at me : but the foldiers
and friendly people ftood thick about me. At length the
rude people of the city rofe, and came with -ftaves and
ft-ones into the fteeple-houfe, crying, '' Down with theie
' round-headed rogues :' and they threw ftones. Where-
upon the governor fent a file or two of mufqueteers
into the fteeple-houfe to appeale the tumult; and com-
manded all the other foldiers cut. So thole foldiers took
me by the hand in a friendly manner, and faid, they would
have me along with them. When we came into the ftreet,
the city was in an uproar ; the governor came down ; and
fome of thofe foldiers were put in priion for ftanding by
me againft the town's-people. A lieutenant, who had been
convinced, came and brought me to his houfe, where there
was a baptift meeting, and thither came friends alfo. W^e
had a very quiet meeting ; they heard the word of life glad-
ly, and many received it. The next day, the juftices and
magiftrates of the town being gathered together m the town-
hall, they granted a warrant againft me ; and fent for me
before them. I was then gone to a baptift's ; but hearing
of it, I went up to the- hall, Avhere many rude people were :
fome of whom had fworn ftrange falfe things againft me,
I had a great deal of difcourfe with the magiftrates, wherein
I laid open the fruits of their priefts preaching ; fliewed
them how they were void of Chriftiariity ; and that, though
they were fuch great profcilors (for they were independents
3nd preftjvterians) they were without the poflcTlion of that
which they profelltd. After a large exaroifiation, they corri^
16533 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 135
mitted me to prifon as a blafphemer, an heretick, and a fe-
ducer; though they could not juftly charge any fuch thing
againft me. The gaol at Carlifle had two gaolers, an up-
per and an under, who looked like two bear-wards. When
I was brought in, the upper gaoler had me up into a great
chamber, and told me, I Ihould have what I would in that
room. But I told him, he Ihould not expefl any money
from me, for I would neither lie in any of his beds, nor eat
any of his vi£luals. Then he put me into another room ;
where after awhile I got fomething to lie upon. There I
lay till the affizes came ; and then all the talk was, that I
was to be hanged. The high fheriff, Wilfred Lawfon, flir-
red them much up to take away my life ; and faid, He
would guard me to my execution himfeif They were in
a rage, and fet three mufqueteers for guard upon me ; one
at my chamber-door, another at the flairs-foot, and a third
at the flreet-door; and they would let none come at me,
except one fometimes, to bring me fome neceffary things.
At night they would bring up priefts to me, fometimes as
late as the tenth hour ; who were exceeding rude and de-
vilifh. There were a company of bitter Scotch priefts,
prefbyterians, made up of envy and malice, who were not
fit to fpeak of the things of God, they were fo foul-mouthed;
but the Lord by his power gave me dominion over them
all, and I let them fee both their fruits and their fpirits.
Great ladies alfo (as they were called) came to fee the roan
that they faid was to die. While the judge, juftices, and
fheriff were contriving together how they might put me to
death, the Lord difappointed their defigns by an unexpeft-
ed way. For the judge's clerk, as I was informed, ftarted
a queftion among them, which confounded all their coun-
lels ; after which, they had not power to call me before the
judge. ...
Anthony Pearfon being then in Carlifle, and perceiving
they did not intend to bring me upon my trial, wrote a
letter to the judges, as followeth :
- To the judges of affize and gaol-delivery for the north-
' ern parts, fitting at Carlifle.
YOU are railed up to do riohteoufnefs and jufllce, and
fcnt forth to punifli him that doth evil, and to en-
< courage him that doth well, and to fet the opprefled free.
' I airi therefore moved to lay before you the condition of
136 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
George Fox, whom the magiftrates of this city have
call into prifon for words that he is accufed to have fpo-
ken, which they call blafphemy. He was fent to the gaol,
till he fhould be delivered by due courfe of law ; and it
was expected he fhould have been proceeded againft in
the common law-courfe at this affizes. The informations
againft him were delivered into court, and the acl al-
lows and appoints that way of trial. How hardly and
unchriftianly he hath been hitherto dealt with, I fliall not
now mention ; but you may confider, that nothing he is
accufed of is nice and difficult. And, to my knowledge,
he utterly abhors and detefls every particular which by
the aft againft blafphemous opinions is appointed to be
puniftied, and differs as much from thofe people againft
whom the law was made, as light from darknefs. Though
he be committed, judgment is not given him, nor have
his acculers been face to face, to affirm before him what
they have informed againft him ; nor was he heard as to
the particulars of their accufation, nor doth it appear that
any word they charge againft him is within the aft. But
indeed I could not yet fo much as fee the information,
no not in court, though I defired it both of the clerk of
the affizes and of the magiftrate's clerk; nor hath he had a
copy of them. This is very hard; and that he fhould be
fo clofe reftrained, that his friends may not fpeak with him,
I know no law nor reafon for. I do therefore claim for him
' a due and lawful hearing, and that he may have a copy of
•' his charge, and freedom to anfwer for himfelf ; and that
• rather before you, than to be left to the rulers of this
''town, who are not competent judges of blafphemy, as by
' their mittimus appears ; who have committed him upon
* an aft of parliament, and mention words as fpoken by
' hiin at his iaxamincition which are not within the aft, and
' whiph he utterly denies. The words mentioned in the
' mittimus he denies to have fpoken, and hath neither pro-
' fcllld noL avowed thcrn.
' Anthony Pearfon.'
Notwithftanding this letter, the judges were refolved not
to fuflVr mc to he brought before them ; but reviling and
froffing at me behind my back, left me to the magiftrates
of the town : giving them what encouragement they could
to exercife their cruelty upon me. Whereupon (though
I had been kept fo clofe in the gaoler's houfe that friends
i6j3] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 137
were not fufFered to come at me, and colonel Benfon and
juftice Pearfon were denied to fee me, yet) the next day,
after the judges were gone out of town, an order was fent
to the gaoler to put me down into the prifon amongll the
mofs-troopers, thieves, and murderers ; which accordingly
he did. A filthy, nafty place it was, where men and wo-
men were put together in a very uncivil manner, and never
a houfe of office to it; and the prifoners fo loufy, that one.
woman was almofl eaten to death with lice. Yet as bad as
the place was, the prifoners were all made very loving and
fubjeft to me, and fome of them were convinced of the
truth, as the publicans and harlots were of old; fo that they
were able to confound any priefl that might come to the
grates to difpute. But the gaoler was cruel, and the under-
gaoler very abufive both to me and to friends that came to
fee me ; for he would beat friends with a great cudgel, who
did but come to the window to look in upon me. I could
get up to the grate, where fometimes I took in my meat ;
at which the gaoler was often offended. Once he came in
a great rage, and beat me with his cudgel, though I was
not at the grate at that time ; and as he beat me, he cried,
come out of the window, though I was then far from it.
While he ftruck me, I was moved to fnig in the Lord's pow-
er, which made him rage the more. Then he fetched a
fiddler, and let him to play, thinking to vex me ; but while
he played, I was moved in the everlafling power of the
Lord God to (ing; and my voice drov^^ned the noife ot the
fiddle, ftruck and confounded them, and made them give
over fiddliniT and go their wav.
Juftice Benfon's wife was moved of the Lord to come
to vifit mc, and to eat no meat but what (he eat with me
at the bars of the prifon window. She was afterwards her-
feif imprifoned at York, when file was great with child,
for fpeaking to a priell ; and was kept in prifon, and not
fuffered to go out when the time of her travail was come :
fo fhe was delivered of her child in the prifon. She was an
honeft, tender woman, and continued faithiul to tlie truth
until fhe died.
Whilft 1 was in prifon at Carlifle, Jam.es Parnel, a little
lad about fixteen years of age, came to fee me, and was
convinced. The Lord quickly made him a powerful mi-
nifter of the word of life, and many were turned to Chrill
by him, though he lived not long. For travelling into
Effex in the work of the miniftry, in the year 1655. he
138 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
was committed to Colchefter caflle, where he endured very
great hardfhips and fufFerings ; being put by the cruel
gaoler into a hole in the caflle wall, called the oven, fo
high from the ground that he went up to it by a ladder,
which being fix feet too fhort, he was obliged to climb from
the- ladder to the hole by a rope that was faftened above.
And when friends would have given him a cord and a baf-
ket to have drawn up his viftuaJs in, the inhuman gaoler
would not fuffer them, but forced him to go down and
up by that fliort ladder and rope to fetch his vi6luals
(which for a long time he did) or eife he might have fa-
miflied in the hole. At length his limbs being much be-
numbed with lying in that place, yet being obliged to go
down to take up Ibme viftuals, as he came up the ladder
again with his viftuals in one hand, and catched at the rope
with the other, he miifed the rope and fell down from a
very great height upon the ftones ; by which fall he was fo
wounded in his head, arms, and body, that he died in a
fhort time after. When he was dead the wicked profelfors,
to cover their cruelty, wrote a book of him, and faid,
" He failed himfelf to death \" which was an abominable
falfehood, and was manifefled fo to be by another book,
wrote in anfwer to that, called, " The Lamb's Defence
" againfl Lies."
When I faw that I was not like to be brought to a pub-
lick hearing and trial (although I had before anfwered in
writing the particular matters charged againft me at the
time of my firfl examination and commitment) I was mo-
ved to fend the following paper, as a publick challenge to
all thofe that belied the truth and me behind my back, to
come forth and make good their charge.
F any in Weflmoreland, Cumberland, or el fe where,
that profefs chriftianity and pretend to love God and
* Chrifl, are not fatisfied concerning the things of God
' which I George Fox have fpoken and declared, let them
' publifli their dilfatisfaclion in writing, and not backbite,
' lie, and perfecute in fecret. This I demand of you all
' in the prefence of the Living God, as ye will anfwer it
* to him. For the exaltation of the truth, and the con-
* founding of the deceit, is this given forth. To that of
' God in your confciences I fpeak ; declare or write your
* diIlatisfa6lion to any of them whom you call Quakers,
' that truth may be exalted, and all may come to the light,
16533 GEORGE FOX'S JOIJRNAL. 139
* with which Chrifl hath enlightened every one that cometh
* into the world; that nothing may be hid in darknefs, in
* prifons, holes, or corners ; but that all things may be
* brought to the light of Chrifl, and by it may be tried.
' This I am moved of the Lord to write, and publifh to
' be fet upon the market-croffes in Weftmoreland and elfe-
* where. To the light of Chrifl in you I fpeak, that none
' of you may fpeak evil of the things of God, which you
' know not ; nor aft contrary to the light that gave forth the
* fcriptures : left you be found fighters againft God, and
' the hand of the Lord be turned againft you.
' G. F.'
While I thus lay in prifon, the report raifed at the time of
the aflizes, " That I fhould be put to death," was gone far
and near; infomuch that the parliament then fitting, which
I think was called the little parliament, hearing that a
young man at Cariifle was to die for religion, caufed a let-
ter to be fent to the fheri"fF and magiftrates concerning me.
Much about the fame time I wrote alfo to the jufiices at
Cariifle, who had caft m.e into prifon, and perfecuted
friends at the inftigation of the priefls iox tithes; expoftula-
ting the matter with them thus :
' Friends, Thomas Crafton and Cuthbert Studholm,
YOUR noife is gone up to London before the fober
people. What imprifoning, what gagging, what
havock and fpoiling the goods of people have you made
witliin thefe tew years ! Unlike men ; as though you had
never read the fcriptures, or had not minded them ! Is
this the end of Cariifle's religion ? Is this the end of
your miniftry ? Is this the end of your church, and of
your profefiion of chriftianity ? You have fhamed it by
your folly, madnefs, and blind zeal. Was it not always
the work of the blind guides, watchmen, leaders, and falfe
prophets, to prepare war againft them that could not put
into their mouths ? Have not you been the priefts pack-
horfes and executioners ? When they fpur you up to bear
the fvvord againft the juft., do not you run on agamft thofe
that cannot hold up inch as the fcriptures always teftified
againft ? Yet will you lift up your unholy hands, and call
upon God with your polluted lips, and pretend a faft,
who are full of ftrife and debate. Did your hearts nc\'er
burn within you ? Did you never come to queftion your
E e
140 GEORGE F O X's JOURNAL. [16^3
' conditions ? Are you wholly given up to do the devil's lufts,
' to perfecute ? Where is your loving enemies ? Where is
* 3'our entertaining ftrangers ? Where is your overcoming
' evil with good ? Where arc your teachers, that can ftop
* the mouths of gain-layers, convince gain-fayers, and fuch
' as oppofe themlelves ? Have you no minillers of the Spi-
' rit, no foidiers with fpiritual weapons, difplaying Chrift's
' colours ? But all the dragon's, the murderer's, the perfe-
' cutor's, arm of flefli, Cain's weapons, chief priefts taking
* counfel, Judas and the multitude with fwords and ftaves,
* Sodom's company raging about Lot's houfe, like the
' priefts and princes againll Jeremiah, like the dragon,
* beaft, and great whore, and the falfe church, which John
' faw fliould call into prifon, kill, and perfecute ? Whofc
* weapons are you bearing ? Doth not the falfe church, the
' whore, make merchandize of cattle, corn, wine, and oil,
' even to the vtry fouls of men ? Hath not all this been
' fince the true church went into the wildernefs ? Read
' Revelations the 1 2th, with the 1 8th : do you not read
' and fee what a fpirit you are of, and what a bottomlefs
' pit you are in ? Have not you dillionoured the place of
' juftice and authority ? What ! turned your fword back-
' ward, like madmen, who are a praife to the evil-doer, and
' would be a terror to the good, with all force and might
* to flop the way of juftice ! Doth not the Lord, think you,
' behold your aftions ? How many have you wronged ?
* How many have you imprifoned, perfecuted, and put out
* of your fynagogues ? Are you they that muft fulfil the
* prophecy of Chrift, Matth. xxiii. John xvi. Read the
* fcriptures, fee how unlike you are to the prophets, Chrift,
' and his apoftles, and what a vifage you have, like unto
' them that perfecuted the prophets, Chrift, and the apof-
' ties. You are found in their fteps, wreftling with flefh
' and blood, not with principalities and powers, and fpiri-
* tual wickednefs ; your teachers imprifoning and perfe-
' cuting for outward things, you being their executioners ;
* the like whereof hath not been in all the nations. The
' havock that hath been made, the fpoiling of people's
' goods, taking away their oxen and fatted beeves, their
' fheep, corn, wool, and houfliold goods, and giving them
* to the priefts that have done no work for them. More
* like mofs-troopers than minifters of the gofpel, they take
' them from friends; fuing'lhcm in your courts, and fining
' them bccaufc they will not break the command of Chrift ;
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 141
' that is, becaufe they will not fwear. Thus you a6l againfl:
' them that do not lift up a hand againft you, and as much
* as you turn againft them you turn againft Chrift. But
' he is rifen that will plead their caufe, and yuu cannot be
' hid. Your works are come to light, and the end of your
« miniftry is feen, what it is for; for means. You have dif-
' honoured the truth, the gofpel ; and are of thofe that make
' it chargeable. You have loft your glory. You have dif-
' honoured yourfelves. Perfecution was ever blind and
« mad. Read the apoftle, what he faith of himfelf, when
' he was in your nature. Exaltation and pride, and your
< lifting up yourfelves, hath brought you to this ; not being
* humble, not doing juftice, not loving mercy. When fuch
* as have been beaten and bruited by your rude company,
* to whom you are a praife and encouragement, have come
' and laid things before you, that you might have done jul-
« tice, preferved and kept peace, you, knowing they could
' not fwear, have put an oath to them. This hath been
' your trick and cover, that ye might not do juftice to the
' juft; but by this means go on ftill further to encourage
' the evil-doer. But the Lord fees your hearts ! If ye were
* not men paft feeling, ye would fear and tremble before
' the God of the whole earth ; who is rifen, and will ftain
* your glory, mar your pride, deface your beauty, and lay
*= it in the duft. Though for a. time you may fwell in your
' pride, glory in your ihame, and make a mock of God's
* meffengers, who, for reproving fin in the gate, are become
' your prey ; you will feel the heavy hand of God and his
'judgments at the laft. This is from a lover of the truth,
' of righteoufnefs, and of your fouls ; but a witnefs againft
' all fuch as make a trade of the prophets, Chrift's, and the
* apoftles words, and are found in the fteps of them who
' perfecuted the prophets, Chrift's and the apoftles life ;
' who perfecute thofe that will not hold you up, put into
' your mouths, and give you means. Tithes were before
* the law, and tithes were in the law ; but tithes fince the
* days of the apoftles have been only fince the falfe church
' got up. Chrift, who is come to end the law, and to end
' war, redeems men out of the tenths, and out ot the nines
" alfo. The redeemed of the Lord ftiall reign upon the
' earth, and know the eleftion which was before the ivorld
' began. Since the days of the apoftles, tithes have been
' fet up by the papifts, and by them that went from the
' apoftles into the world ; fet up by the falfe church that
E e 2
142 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
' made merchandize of the people, fmce the true church
' went into the wildernefs. But now is the judgment of
' the great whore come ; the beaft and falfe prophet (the old
* dragon) fhall be taken and caft into the fire, and the
* Lamb and his faints fhall have the viftory. Now is
' Chrifl come who will make w^ar in righteoufnefs, and de-
' ftroy with the fword of his mouth all thefe inventors and
' inventions that have been let up fince the days of the
' apoflles, and fince the true church went into the wilder-
' nefs. And the everlafling gofpel, which is the power of
* God, fhall be preached again to all nations, kindreds, and
* tongues in this the Lamb's day ; before whom you fhall
' appear to judgment. You have no way to efcape. For
' he hath appeared who is the Firfl and the Lafi:, the Be-
* ginning and the Endmg, the Alpha and the Omega : he
* that was dead is alive again, and lives for evermore !'
I mentioned before, that Gervafe Benfon and Anthony
Pearfon, though they had been juftices of the peace, were
not permitted to come to me in the prifon; whereupon
they jointly wrote a letter to the magiftrates, priefls, and
people at Carlifle, concerning my imprifonment : thus,
E who is called George Fox, who is perfecuted by
rulers and magiftrates, by juftices, priefts, and peo^
* pie, and who fufFers the imprifonment of his body at this
' prefent time as a blafphemer, an heretick, and a feducer,
* him" do we witnefs (who in meafure are m.ade partakers
* of the fame life which lives in him) to be a minifter of the
* eternal word of God, by whom the everlafting gofpel is
* preached ; by the powerful preaching whereof the eternal
* Father of the faints hath opened the blind eyes, unftop-
* ped the deaf ears, let the opprefTed go free, and hath raif-
* ed the dead out of the graves. Chrift is now preached
' in and among the faints, the fame that ever he was ; and
* becaufe his heavenly image is bortie up in this his faithful
' fervant, therefore doth fallen man (rulers, priefts, and
* people) perfecute him. Becaufe he lives up out of the
* fall, and teftifies againft the works of the world, that the
* deeds thereof are evil, he fuffcrs by you magiftrates, not
* as an evil-doer. Thus it was ever where the feed of God
' was kept in prifon under the curfed nature, that nature
* fought to im.prifon them in whom it was raifed. The
* Lord wiii make him to you as a burdcnfome ftone; for
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 143
the fvvord of the Spirit of the Almighty is put into the
hands of the faints, which fhall wound all the wicked ;
and fhall not be put up till it hath cut down all corrupt
judges, juftices, magiftrates, priefls and profelTors ; till
he hath brought his wonderful thing to pafs in the earth,
which is to make new heavens and a new earth, where-
in fhall dwell righteoufnefs ; which now he is about to do.
Therefore fear the Lord God Almighty, ye judges,
juftices, commanders, priefts, and people ; ye that for-
get God, fuddenly will the Lord come and deftroy you
with an utter deftru6lion, and will fweep your names
out of the earth, and will reftore his people judges as at
the firft, and counfellors as at the beginning. And all
perfecutors fhall partake of the plagues of the whore, who
hath made the kings of the earth and the great men drunk
with the wine of her fornications, and hath drunk the
blood of the faints ; and therefore fhall you be partakers
of her plagues. We are not fuflFered to fee our friend in
priibn, whom we witnefs to be a mefTenger of the Living
God. Now, all people, mind whether this be according
to law, or from the wicked, perverfe, envious will of the
envious rulers and magiftrates, who are of the fame gene-
ration that perfecuted Jefus Chrift; for he faid, " as they
' have done to me, fo will they do to you." And as he
took the love, the kindnefs, and fervice that was fhewed
and performed to any of his afflided ones in their fuff^er-
ings and diftrefs, as done unto himfelf; fo the injuries
and wrongs that were done by any to any of his little
ones, he refented as done unto himfelf alfo. Therefore
you, who are fo far from vifiting him yourfelves in his
fuffering fervant that ye will not fuffer his brethren to
vifit him, ye muft depart, ye workers of iniquity, into the
lake that burns with fire. The Lord is comino to threfti
the mountams, and will beat them to duft ; and all cor-
rupt rulers, corrupt officers, and corrupt laws, the Lord
will take vengeance on, by which the tender confciences
of his people are opprelfed. He will give his people his
law, and v/ill judge his people himfelf, not according to
the fight of the eye and hearing of the ear, but v/ilh
righteoufnefs and equity. Now are your hearts madsj
manifeft to be full of envy againft the living truth of God,
which is made manifeft in his people, who are.coni;cmncd
and defpifed of the world, and fcornfully called Quakers.
You are worfe than the heathens that put Paul in prifoii,
]44 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1655
* for none of his friends or acquaintance were hindered to
* come to him by them : therefore they fhall be witneffes
* againft you. Ye are made manifeft to the faints to be of
* the fame generation that put Chrift to death, and that put
* the apoftle in prifon, on the fame pretence as you act
< under ; in calHng truth error, and the minifters of God
' blafphemers, as they did. But the day is dreadful and
' terrible that ftiall come upon )'ou, ye 'evil magiftrates,
' priefts, and people, who profefs the truth in words out-
' wardly, and yet perfecute the power of truth and them
* that fland in and for the truth. While ye have time,
* prize it, and remember what is written, Ifa. liv. 17.
' Gervafe Benfon,
' Anthony Pearfon.*
Not long after this the Lord's power came over the jufti-
ces, and they were made to fet me at liberty. But fome
time before the governor and Anthony Pearfon came down
into the prifon to fee the place where I was kept, and un-
derftand what ufage I had. They found the place fo bad,
and the favour fo ill, that they cried fhame of the magif-
trates for fufFering the gaoler to do fuch things. They cal-
led for the gaolers into the prifon, and required them to
find fureties for their good behaviour; and the under-gaol-
er who had been fuch a cruel fellow, they put into the pri-
fon with me amongft the mofs-troopers.
After I was fet at liberty I went to Thomas Bewley's,
where came a baptill-teacher to oppofe me ; who was con-
vinced. Robert Widders being with me was moved to go
to Coldbeck fleeple-houfe, and the baptift-teacher went
along with him the fame day. The people fell upon them,
almoft killed Robert Widders, and took the baptift's fword
from him and beat him forely. This baptift had the inhe-
ritance of an impropriation of tithes, and he went home
and gave it up freely. Robert Widders was fent to Carlifle
gaol, where having lain awhile he was fet at liberty. Wil-
liam DewfDury alfo went to a fteeple-houfe hard by, and
the people almofl. killed him, they beat him fo ; but the
Lord's power was over all and healed them again. In that
day many friends went to the fleeple-houfes to declare the
truth to the priefts and people; and great fufFerings they
underwent, but the Lord's power fuflained them.
Now 1 went into the country, and had mighty great
1653I GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 145
meetings. The everlafling gofpel and word of life flou-
riflied, thoufands were turned to the Lord Jcfus Chrift
and to his teaching. Several who had taken tithes as im-
propriators denied the receiving of them any longer, and
delivered them up freely to the parifhioners. Palling into
Weftnioreland I had many great meetings. At Strickland-
head 1 had a large meeting, where Henry Draper, a juftice
of peace cut of Eitlioprick, came, and many contenders
were there. The priefts and magiftrates were in a great
rage againft me in Weftmoreland, and had a warrant to ap-
prehend me ; which they renewed from time to time. Yet
the Lord did not fufPer them to ferve it upon me. I tra-
velled amongft friends, viliting meetings till I came to
Swarthmore, where I heard the baptifts and profeiTors in
Scotland had fent to have a difpute with me. I fent them
word, I would meet them in Cumberland at Thomas Btw-
ley's, whither accordingly I went, but none of them came.
Some dangers at this time I underwent in my travels.
Going through Wigton on a market-day, the people of the
town had fet a guard with pitch-forks ; and though fome of
their own neighbours were with us, they kept us out of
the town and would not let us pafs through it, under a
pretence of preventing the ficknefs, which there was no
occafion for. However, they fell upon us, and had like to
have fpoiled us and our horfes ; but the Lord reftrained
them, that they did not much hurt ; and we paifed away.
Another time, as we were palling between two friends
houfes, fome rude fellows lay in wait in a lane, and exceed-
ingly f toned and abufed us; but at laft, through the Lord's
afiiftance, we got through them, and had not much hurt.
But this fhewed the fruits of the priell's teaching, which
Ihamed their profeffion of chriflianity.
After I had vifited friends in that county, I went into
liifhoprick, having large meetings by the way. A very
large meeting I had at Anthony Pearfon's, where many
were convinced. From thence I paffed through Northumber-
land to Derwentwater, where we had great meetings; and the
priefts threatened they would come, but none came. The
everlafting word of lite was freely preached, and freely re-
ceived; hundreds being turned to Chrift, their teacher.
In Northumberland many came to difpute. Some
pleaded againfl perfection ; to whom I declared, ' That
' Adam and Eve were pcifc6t before they fell : and all that
*■ God made was perfctt ; and that the impcifcttioa came
146 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165J
* by the devil and the fall : but Chrift, who came to de-
' ftroy the devil, faid, " Be ye psrfed." One of the pro-
feffors alledged that Job faid, ' Shall mortal man be more
' pure than his Maker ? The heavens are not clean in his
* fight. God charged his angels with folly.' I fhswed
him his miftake, and let him fee, ' it was not Job that faid
' fo, but one of thofe that contended againft him ; for Job
' flood for perfetlion, and held his integrity ; and they were
' called miferable comforters.' Thefe profeffors faid, The
outward body was the body of death and fm. I diicovered
their miftake in that alfo, fhewing them, ' That Adam and
' Eve had each of them an outward body, before the body
* of death and fm got into them ; and that man and woman
* will have bodies, when the body of fm and death is put
' off again ; when they are renewed up into the image of
* God again by Chrift Jefus, which they were in before
* they fell.' They ceafed at that time from oppofmg, and
glorious meetings we had in the Lord's power.
Then paffed we to Hexam, where we had a great meet-
ing atop of an hill. The prieft threatened he would come
and oppofe us, but he came not ; fo all was quiet : ' And
* the everlafting day and renowned truth of the everliving
' God was founded over thofe dark countries, and his Son
' exalted over all. It was proclaimed amongft the people,
' that the day was now come, wherein all that made a pro-
' feflion of the Son of God, might receive him ; and that
* to as many as would receive him, he would give power
' to become the fons of God, as he had done to me.' It
was further declared, ' That he who had the Son of God,
' had life eternal ; but he that had not the Son of God
(though he profefled all the fcriptures, from the firft of
' Genefis to the laft of the Revelations) had no life.' So
after all were dire6ted to the light of Chrift, by which they
might fee him, receive him, and know where their true
teacher was, and the everlafting truth had been largely de-
clared amongft them, we paifed through Hexam peacea-
bly, and came into Gilfland, a country noted for thiev-
Here a friend fpying the prieft, went to fpeak to him ;
whereupon he came to our mn, and the town's-people ga-
thered about us. The prieft faid, He would prove us de-
ceivers out of the bible, but could find no fcripture for his
purpofe. Then he went into the inn, and after awhile came
^out again, and brought fome broken fentences of fcripture.
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 147
that mention the cloftrines and commandments of men, &c.
and Touch not, Tafle not, &c. for they perifh with the
ufing. All which, poor man ! was his own condition ;
whereas we were perfecuted becaufc we would not tafte, nor
touch, nor handle their do6lrines and traditions which we
knew perifhed with ufing. I afked him, What he called
the lleeple-houfe ? * Oh,' faid he, ' the dreadful houfe of
' God, the temple of God.' I fhewed him, and the poor,
dark people, ' That their bodies fhould be the temples of
* God, and that Chrift never commanded thefe temples, but
' ended that temple at Jerulalem which God had com-
* manded.' While I was fpeaking, the prieft got away :
and afterwards the people made as if they feared we would
take their purfes, or fleal their horfes ; judging us like them-
felves, who are naturally given to thieving.
The next day we came into Cumberland again, where we
had a general meeting of thoufands of people atop of an hill
near Langlands. A glorious and heavenly meeting it was;
for the glory of the Lord did fliine over all ; and there were
as many as one could well fpeak over, the multitude was
fo great. Their eyes were turned to Chrift their teacher ;
and they came to fit under their own vine ; inlbmucli that
Francis Howgill, coming afterwards to vilit them, found
they had no need of words ; for they were fitting under
their teacher Chrifl Jefus ; in the fenfe whereof he fat down
amongft them, without fpeaking any thing. A great con-
vincement there was in Cumberland, Bifhoprick, Northum-
berland, Weftmoreland, Lancashire, and Yorkfliire ; and the
plants of God grew and flourifhed, the heavenly rain de-
fcending, and God's glory fhining upon them : many
mouths were opened by the Lord to his praife ; yea, to
babes and fucklings he ordained ftrength.
After my releafe from Carlifle prifon, I was moved to go
to prieft Wiikinfon's fteeple-houfe again : and being got in
before him^ when he came, I was declaring the truth to the
people, though they were but few ; for the moft and beft. of
his hearers were turned to Chrift's free teaching ; and we
had a meeting of friends hard-by, where Thomas Stubbs
was declaring the word of life amongft them. As foon as
the prieft came in, he oppofcd me : and there we ftaid moft
part of the day : for when I began, he oppofed me ; fo if
any law was broken, he broke it. When his people would
be haling me out, I manifefted his fruits to be fuch as
Chrift fpake of, when he faid, ' They fhall hale you gut of #
F f
"Sj
j^8 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
* their fynagogues:' and then he would be afhamed, and
they would let me alone. There did he ftand, till it was
alnioft night, jangling, and oppoiing me; and would not
go to his dinner, for he thought to have wearied me out.
But at laft the Lord's power and truth came fo over him,
that he packed away with his people. When he was gone,
I went to the meeting of friends, who were turned to the
Lord, and eftablilhed by his power upon Chrift, the rock
and foundation of the true prophets and apoftles.
About this time the priefts and profelfors fell to prophe-
fying againft us afiefh. They had faid long before, That
we ihouid be deftroyed within a month ; after that, they
prolonged the time to half a year: but that time being long
expired, and we mightily increafed in number, they now
gave out. That we would eat out one another. For after
meetings, many tender people, having a great way to go,
tarried at friends houfes by the way, and iometimes more
than there were beds to lodge in ; fo that fome have lain on
the hay-mows : hereupon fear poiTefTed the profelTors and
world's people. For they were afraid, that when we had
eaten one another out, we would all come to be maintained
by the parilhes, and be chargeable to them. But after
awhile, when they faw that the Lord bleffed and increafed
friends, as he did Abraham, both in the field and in the
"bafket, at their goings forth and comings in, at their rifings
•up and lyings down, and that all things profpered with
them.; then they faw the falfehood of all their prophecies
againft us ; and that it was in vain to curfe where God had
bleffed. At the firll convincement, when friends could not
put off their hats to people, nor fay You to a lingle perfon,
"but Thou and Thee, or could not bow, nor ufe flattering
words in falutations, nor go into the faftiions and cuftoms
of the world ; many hiends, that were tradefmen, loft their
cuftoracrs ; for the people were fhy of them, and would not
trade with them ; fo that for a time fome could hardly get
money enough to buy bread. But afterwards, when people
'carae to have experience of friends honefty and fiiithfulneis,
and found that their Yea was Yea, and their Nay was Nay;
that they kept to a word in their dealings, and that they
v.'ould not cozen and cheat them ; but that if they fent a
child to their fliops for any thing, they were as well ufed as
if they had corne themfelves ; the lives and converfations of
friends did preach, and reached to the witncis of God in
the people, Thea things altered fo,, that all the, inquiry
i6ss1 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 149
was, ' Where was a draper, or fhopkeeper, or taylor, or
' fhoemaker, or any other tradefman, that was a Quaker ?'
Infomuch that friends had more bufinefs than many of their
neighbours ; and if there was any trading, they had a great
part of it. Then the envious profelTors aUered their note,
and began to cry out, ' If we let thefe Quakers alone, they
' will take the trade of the nation out of our hands.' This
hath been the Lord's doings to and for his people ! which
my defire is, that all who profefs his holy truth may be
truly kept fenfible of; and that all may be preferred in and
by his power and Spirit, faithful to God and man : firfl to
God, in obeying him in all things ; and then in doing unto
all men that which is juft and righteous, in all things that
they have to do or deal with them in : that the Lord God
may be glorified in their praftifing truth, holinefs, godli-
nefs, and righteoufnefs amongfl people, in their lives and
converfations.
Friends being grown very numerous in the northern
parts of this nation, and divers young convinced ones com-
ing daily in among us, Lwas moved of the Lord to write
the following epiftle, and fend it amongft them, for the
flirring up the pure mind, and raifmg an holy care and
watchfulnefs in them over themfelves, and one another, for
the honour of truth.
* To you all, friends every-where, fcattered abroad :
I
God, from whom it comes. And all ye, who are chil-
' dren of God, wait for the living food from the living God,
* to be nourifhed up to eternal life, from the one fountain
' from whence life comes; that in order ye may all be guided
* and walk : fervants in your places, young men and young
' women in your places, and rulers of families ; that every
•' one, in your refpe('?live places, may adorn the truth in the
' meafure of it. With it let your minds be kept up to the
' Lord Jefus, from whence it doth come ; that a fweet fa-
' vour ye may be to God, and in wifdom ye may all be
' ordered and ruled : that a crown and a glory yc may be
' one to another in the Lord. And that no 11 rile-, bilter-
' nefs, nor felf-will may appear amongft you ; but with the
' Light in which the unity is, all that may be coijdcTnned.
' And that every one in particular may lee to and take care
' of the ordering and niling of their own family; that in
F f 2
jjo GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653
* righteoufnefs and wifdom it may be governed, the fear
and dread of the Lord fet in every one's heart, that the
fecrets of the Lord every one may come to receive, that
fte wards of his grace you may come to be, to dilpenfe it
to every one as they have need ; and fo in favouring and
right-difcerning you may all be kept : that nothing con-
trary to the pure life of God may be brought forth in you,
or among you ; but all that is contrary to it, may by it
be judged ; that in light, in life and love ye may all live ;
and all that is contrary to the light, life, and love, may be
brought to judgment, and by that light be condemned.
And that no fruitlefs trees be among you ; but all cut
down, condemned by the light, and caft into the fire ;
that every one may bear and bring forth fruit to God,
and grow fruitful in his knowledge and in his wifdom ;
and that none may appear in words, beyond what they
are in the life that gave forth the words. Here none fhall
be as the untimely figs ; none fhall be of thofe trees whofe
fruit withers : fuch go in Cain's way, from the light ; and
by it are condemned. Let none of you boaft yourfelves
above your meafure; if you do, out of God's kingdom
you are excluded : for in that boafling part gets up the
pride and the ftrife which is contrary to the light that
leads to the kingdom of God, gives an entrance thereinto,
and an underftanding to know the things that belong to
the kingdom. There the light and life of man every one
receives ; him who was before the world was, by whom it
was made; who is the righteoufnefs of God, and his wif-
dom : to whom all glory, honour, thanks, and praife
belongs, who is God bleffed for ever. Let no image
nor hkenefs be m.ade; but wait in the light, which will
bring condemnation on that part which would make
images ; for that prifons the jufl. To the lufl yield not
the eye, nor the flefh ; for the pride of life (lands in that
which keeps out the love of the Father ; and upon which
his jadgtnents and wrath remain, where tjie love of the
world is fought after, and a crown that is mortal. In this
ground (he evil enters, whicli is curfed ; which brings
forth briers and thorns, where death reigns, and tribula-
tion and anguifli are upon every foul, and the Egyptian
tongue is heard : all which is by the light condemned.
There the earth is, which mufl be removed: by the light
it is feen, and by the power it is removed, and out of its
place it is aiakcn ; to which the thunders utter their
1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 151
* voices, before the myfteries of God be opened, and Jefus
' revealed. Therefore all ye, whofe minds are turned t^
* this light, wait upon the Lord Jelus for the crown that is
' immortal, and that fadeth not away.
' G. F.'
• This is to be fent amongfl ail friends
* in the truth, the flock of God, to
* be read at their meetings.'
While friends abode in the northern parts, a pricft of
Wrexham in Wales, named Moigan Floyd, having heard
reports concerning us, fent two of his congregation into the
north to inquire concerning us, to try us, and bring him
an account of us. When thefe triers came amongfl us, the
power of the Lord feized on them, and they were both
convinced of the truth. So they ftaid fome time with us,
and then returned to Wales ; where afterwards one of them
departed from his convincement ; but the other named
John-ap-John, abode in the truth, and received a part of
the miniftry, in which he continued faithful.
Now were the priefls greatly difturbed at Newcaftle,
Kendal, and in moll of the northern counties. There be-
ing one Gilpin, who had fometimes come amongfl us at
Kendal, and foon ran out from the truth into vain imagi-
nations ; they made what evil ufe they could of him againft
us ; but the Lord's power confounded them all. And the
Lord God cut off two of thofe perfecuting juflices at Car-
lifle; and the other, after a time, was turned out of his
place, and left the town.
About this time the oath or engagement to O. Cromwcl
was tendered to the foldiers ; many of whom were dilband-
ed, becaufe in obedience to Chrift, they could not fwear :
John Stubbs, for one, who was convinced when I was in.
Carlifle prifon, became a good foldier in the Lamb's war,
and a faithful minifter of Chrift Jefus ; travelling much in
the fervice of the Lord in Holland, Leland, Scotland,
Italy, Egypt, and America. And the Lord's power pre-
ferved him out of the hands of the papifts, though niany
times he was in great danger of the inquifition. But fome
of the foldiers, who had been convinced in their judgment,
but had not come into obedience to the truth, took O.
Cromwel's oath ; and, going afterwards into Scotland, and
coming before a garrifon there, the garrilbn thinking they
152 ' .GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1654
had been enemies, fired at them, and killed divers of them ;
ivliich was a lad event.
When the churches were fettled in the north, and friends
were fat down under Chrifl's teaching, and the glory of
the Lord fhined over them, I paifed from Swarthmore to
Lancafler about the beginning of the year 1654, vifiting
friends, till I came to Synder-hill-green,- where a meeting
was appointed three weeks before ; leaving the north frefh.
and green, under Chrill their teacher. We palfed through
Halifax, a rude town of profeiiors, and came to Thonuis
Taylor's, who had been a captain, where we met with fome
janglers : but toe Lord's power was over all ; for I travel-
led in the motion of God's power. When I came to
Synder-hill-green, there was a. mighty meeting ; fome thou.-
fands of people, as it v/as judged, and many perfons of
note were there, captains, and other officers ; and there
was a general convincement; for the Lord's power and truth
was fet over all, and there was no oppofition. . .
About this time did the Lord move upon the fpirits of
many whom he had raifed up, and fcnt forth to labour in
Iiis vineyard, to travel fouthv/ards, and fpread themfelves
in the fenace of the gofpel to the eaftern, louthern, and
weftcrn parts of the nation: Francis Howgill and Edward
EuiTOugh to London; John Caram and John Audland to
Briitol ; Richard Hubberthorn and George W^hitehead to-
wards Norwich ; Thomas Holmes into Wales, and many
ethers different v/ays : for above lixty minifters had the
Lord raifed up, and did now fend abroad out of the north
country. The fenfc of their fervicc being very weighty
upon me, I was moved to give forth, the following paper:
* To friends in the minillry :
* A LL friends every where. Know the vSeed of God,
' IX. which bruiffth the feed of the ferpent, and is atop
* of the feed of the ferpent; which Seed fins not, but bruit-
* eth the ferpent's head that doth fin, and tempts to fin :
* which Seed God's promifc and bleffing is to; and which
' is one in the male and in the female. Where it is head,
* and hath bruifed the head of the other, to the beginning
* )'Ou are come ; and the younger is known, and he that :s
* forvant to the younger; and the promife of God, which
' is to the Seed, is fulfilled and fulfiUing; and the fcripturcs
* come to be opened and owned; and the fleih of Chnil
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. . 153
known, who took upon him the feed of Abraham accord-
ing to the flelli ; the cverlafhing piieiUiood kno;vn, and
everlafling covenant. Chrift takes upon him the feed of
Abraham, and is a pneft after the order ot Melchifedeck ;
without father, without mother, without beginning of days
or end of hfe : this is the pried that ever lives ; the cove-
nant of hfe, light, and peace. The everhiiUng offering
here is known otice for all, which oliering overthrows that
nature which oflered ; out of which the prieilhood arofe,
that could not continue by reafon of death. And here is
the other offering known, the everlafling offering ; which
perfects for ever them that are ianftified : which offering
blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances, triumphs over
them, and afcends above all principaliticw*: and powers.
He that hath the Spirit of Jeius, fees this ; and here is
the love of God received, that doth not rejoice in iniqui-
ty, but leads to repent of it. This is the word of the
Lord God to you all, friends every where fcattered abroad,
Know the power of God in one another, and m that re-
joice ; for then you rejoice in the crofs of Chrift, who is
not of the world ; which crefs is the power of God to all
them that are faved. You, that know and feel the pou'cr,
you feel the crofs of Chrift., you feel the gofpel, which is
the power of God unto falvation to everv one that believ-
eth. He that believes in the light, believes in the ever-
lafting covenant, in the one offering, comes to the life of
the prophets and Mofes, comes to fee Chrift the hope, the
myftery, which hope perifheth not; lets you fee the hope
that perifheth, which is not that niyilevy : and the expecla-
tion in that perifhing hope fades. Where this never-failing
hope is witneffed, the Lord comes to be fanClified in the
heart,' and you come to the beginning, to Chrift the hope,
which periftieth not; but the other hope, the other expect-
ation perifheth. So all of you, know the perifhing of
the other, and the failing of tiie cxpetlation therein; and
know that which perifiicth not : that you may be ready
to give a reafon of this hope with mecknefs and fear, to
every man that aflicth you. Chrift the hope, the mvftery,
perifheth not; the end of all perifhing thm^^s, the end of
all changeal>lc things, the end of the decaying covenant,
the end of that v*'hich wa.\cth old; the end of the firft co-
venant, of Mofes. and of the prophets; the ric'litecufncfs
^of God, Chrifl Jeius the Son: his throne ye will know,
^ feeir.s with him ye will be ; who makes his ciiiuueii kings
154 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
and priefts to him, and brings them to know his throne,
and his power. There is no juftification out of the Hght,
out of Chrifl; juftification is in the light, in Chrift.
Here is the doer of the will of God ; here is the entering
into the kingdom. He that beheves in the hght, becomes
a child of hght ; and here the wifdom is received, that
is juftified of her children. Here believing in the Hght,
you fhall not abide in darknefs ; but Ihali have the light
of life ; and come every one to witnefs the light that
fhines in your hearts, which will give you the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God, in the foce of Je-
fus Chrifl. With this light you will fee him reign, who
is the prince of life and peace ; which light turns from
him that is out of the truth, and abode not in it ; where
the true peace is not.
' Friends, Be not hafty : for he that believes in the light,
makes not hafte. Here the grace is received, by which
you come to be faved; the eleftion is known, which ob-
tains the promife ; the will is feen, that wills ; the mind is
known, that runs, which obtains not; but ftops and dulls.
Now, that with the light being feen, and judged, and
flopped, the patience is here known, which obtains the
crown ,♦ and the immortality is brought to light. So all who
aft contrary to the light, and do not believe in it, do not
come to juftification. And all friends, if you go from the
light, from wanting to have the promife of God fulfilled
to the Seed, whereby you may know Chrift reign, you
thereby bring on yourfelves changeable garments, and
come to wear the changeable garments, and the ftrange
flefti, which leads to adultery, which the law goes upon ;
which fhuts out of the kingdom : and out of this will doth
proceed the work or building that is for the fire; whereby
you may come to fuller lofs. Therefore love the light,
which doth condemn that ; and receive the power from
the Lord, with which you ftand over that, and condemn
it ; feeling and feeing that which gives you viftory over
the world, and to fee out of time, to before time. Again,
friends. Know Abraham, that muft obey the voice of Sa-
rah, that bears feed ; which cafts forth the bond-woman
and her fon. Do not go forth, there will the wildnefs
lodge. Know that which bears the wild fon, and its mo-
ther, vvho is not Sarah ; for the promife is to the Seed,
not of many, but one ; which feed is Chrift : and this
feed now you come to witnefs ftands on the top of all,
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 155
* yea, on the head of the ferpent. And fo all, as I faid
' before, who come to feel and Vv'itnefs this, come to the
* beginning : and this to all the feed of God, the church,
' that it you may all come to know, where there is no ble-
' mifh, nor fpot, nor wrinkle, nor any fuch thing. This is
' that which is purchafed by the blood of Jefus, and to the
* Father prefented oat of all that defiles ; which is the pillar
' and ground of truth. None attain to this, but fuch who
' come CO the light of Chrift, who purchafed this church.
' They who go from the light, are ftiut out and condemned,
' though they profefs all the fcriptures declared from it.
' Therefore v/alk in the iidit. that you may have fellowfhip
' with the Son, and with the Father; and^ome all to wit-
' nefs his image, his power, and his law, which is his light,
' that hath converted your fouls, and brought them to iub-
' mit to the higher power, above that which is out of the
' truth : that you may know here the mercy and truth, and
' the faith that works by love, which Chrifl is the author
* of; who lighteth every one of you : which faith gives the
* vidory. That which gives the viclory, is perfe6l ; and
' that which the miriifters of God received from God, is
* that which is perfetl ; and that which they are to miniiler,
* is for the perfecling of the faints ; till they all come in the
* unity of the faith unto a perfect man. This is the word
' of the Lord to you all : Kvery one in the meafure of life
' wait, that with it all your minds may be guided up to the
' Father cf life, the Father of fpirits : to receive power from
' him, and wifdom, that with it you may be ordered to his
' glory : to whom be all glory for ever ! Ail keep in the
' light and life, that judgeth down that which is contrary to
' the light and life. So the Lord God Almighty be with
' you all. And keep your meetings every-where, being
' guided by that of God; by that you may fee the Lord
' among you, who lighteth every man that cometh into (he
' world; that men who are come into the world might be-
* lieve. He that believeth not, the light condemns him
' he that believeth, cometh out of condemnation. This
' light, which lighteth every m.an that cometh into the
* world, which they that hate it ftumble at, is the light of
* men.
' All friends that fpeak in publick. fee that it be in the
' life of God ; for that begets to God ; the fruits of that, fiiail
* never wither. This lows to the Spirit which is in prifon,
* and of the Spirit rcans life; and the other fo.vs to the
^ g
ts6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
flefli, and of the flefh reaps corruption. This you may
fee ail the world over amongft thefe feeds-men, what may
be reaped in the field, that is the world. Therefore in>
the Spirit ot the Lord wait, which cuts down and calls
out all this, the root and branches of it. So in that Wait
to receive power, and the Lord God Almighty preferve
you in it; whereby you m.ay come to feel the light, that
comprehends time and the world, and fathoms it : which,
believed in, gives you viftory over the world. Here the
power of the Lord is received, which fubdues all the con-
trary, and puts off the garments that will ftain and pol-
lute. With this light you come to reach the light in
every man, wi^yzh Chrifl: enlightens every man that cometH
into the world withal ; and here the things of Chrift come
to be known, and the voice of Chrifl heard. Therefore
keep in the light, the covenant of peace ; and walk in the
covenant of life. There is that which maketh merry over
tile witnels of God, and there is that which maketh merry
in the Lord ; which rejoiceth over that which hath made
merry over it : of that take notice, you who be in the
light. Such the Lord doth beautify, whofe truft is in his
flrength ; and the Lord doth fee fuch, and them that are
in his liglit. But fuch as be from the light, whofe eyes
are after their abominations and idols, their eyes are to be
blinded, their beautiful idols and their abominations to be
deilroycd, and by the light condemned, which they have
made froin the life in their own flrength : which with the
light is feen, and overthrown by the power of God. '- If
' you can change my cov'enant," faith the Lord, " which
' keeps the day in its feafon, and the night in its feafon
* (mark, my covenant, the light) if you can change this,
•' then may you change the covenant of God with his feed.''
* So ail friends that are turned to the light which cometh
*■ from him by whom the world was made, who was before
'' it was made, Chrift Jefus, the Saviour of your fouls,
* abide m tlie light, and you will fee your falvation to be
* wails and bulwarks againft that which the light difcovers-
' to be contrafy to it. Waiting in the light you will re-
' ceive the power of God, which is the gofpel of peace,
* that you may be (hod with it. Know that in one another
' which raifeth up the feed of God, fets it over the world.
'- and the eartJi, and crucifies the alFedions and lulls : then
' die U'atk curn.es to reign, \yhicji. is the guide.
'G. F/
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNA'L. J57
About this time Rice Jones of Nottingham (who had
been a Baptifl and was turned Ranter) and his company
began to prophefy againfl: me, giving out, That I was then
at the highefl, and after that time I iliould fc\ll down as fi^ft.
He fent a bundle of raihng papers from Nottingham to
Mansfield, Claufon, and the towns thereabouts, judging
friends for declaring the truth in the markets and in the
fleeple-houfes ; which papers I anfwered. But their pro-
phecies came upon thciTifelves ; for foon after they fell to
pieces, and many of his followers became friends, and con-
tinued fo. And through the Lord's b^effed power truth
and friends have increaled, and do increafe in the incrcafe
of God ; and I by the fame power have been and am pre-
len'ed, and kept in the everlafling feed that never fell nor
changes. But Rice Jones took the oaths that were put to
him, and fo difobeyed the command of Chrift. Many fuch
falfe prophets have rifen up againfl me, but the Lord hath
blafted them, and will blall all who rife againfl the blelfcd
feed, and me in that. My confidence is in the Lord ; for
whofoever did, I faw their end, and how the Lord would
confound them before he fent me forth.
I was now at Svnder-hill-green, where I had a lar^^e
meeting in the day-time, and another at night in Thomas
Stacy's houfe ; for the people came from far and could not
foon depart. The high IherifF of the county told captain
Bradford he intended to come up, with half a dozen of his
troopers, to the meeting; but the Lord prevented him.
When I had (laid fome meetings thereabouts, I travelled
up and down in Yorkfhire as far as Holdernefs, and to the
Land's-end that way, vifiting friends and the churches of
Chrift; which were finely fettled under his teaching. At
length I reached captain Bradford's houfe, whitlier many
Ranters came from York to wrangle ; bat they were con-
founded. Thither came Ihe called the lady Montague ;
who was then convinced, and lived and died in the truth.
Then I went to Thomas Taylor's, within three milts of
Halifax, where was a meeting of about two hundred peo-
ple; amongft which were many rude perfons, and divers
butchers, who had bound themfelves with an oath before
they came out, that they would kill me (as I vas told) :
one of thofe butchers had been accufed for killin"- a man
and a woman. They came in a very rude manner, and
made a great difturbance in the meeting, whicJi being in a
cloi'e, Thomas Taylor ftood up and fiid to them, '•' If you
G g 2
ijS GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1654
*' will be civil, you may flay ; but if not, I charge you to be
*' gone from ofl: my ground/' But they grew worle, and faid
they would make it like a common ; and they yelled and
made a noife as if they had been at a bcar-bailing. They
thrafl friends up and down, who being peaceable, the
Lord's power came over them. Several times they pufh'd
me off from the place I ftood on, bv the crowding of the
people together againfl me ; but ftili I was moved of the
Lord to ftand up again as I was thru if down. At laft I
was moved of the Lord to fay to them, ' If they would dif-
' courie of the things of God, let them come up to me one
* by one ; and if they had any thing to objecl, I would an-
* fwer them all,^'one after another ;' but they were all filei.t,
and had nothing to lay : and then the Lord's power came
fo over them all, and anfwcred the divine witnefs in them,
that they were bound by the power of God, and a glorious
powerful meeting we had, and the minds of the people
were turned by the holy Spirit in them to God, and to
Chrift their teacher. The powerful word of life was largely
declared that day, and in the life and power of God we
l^roke up our meeting ; and that rude company went their
way to Halifax. The people allied them, " Why they did
" not kill me, according to the oath they had Iworn ?"
They maliciouilv anfwered, '• I had fo bewitched them
*' they could not do it." Thus was the devil chained at
that time. Friends told me, thev ufed to come at other
times and be very rude, and iometimes break their feats
and make Irightfui work amongft; them ; but the Lord's
power had now bound them. Shortly after, this butcher,
that had been accufed of killing a man and a woman be-
fore, and who \\'2.?, one of thofe that had bound himfelf by an
oath to kill me, killed another man, and was thereupon fent
to York gaol. Another of thole rude batchers, who had
alfo fworn to kill me, having accuRomed himfelf to thruil
bis tongue out of his mouth in derifion of friends when
they palTcd hy him, had his tongue fo fwoUen out of his
mouth that he could never draw it in again, but died fo.
Sciveral ilrange and fudden judgments came upon many of
tbefe coni'pirators againfL me, which would be too large to
declare here. God's vengeance from heaven came upori
the blood-thirfly, who fought after blood ; for all fuch fpi-.
jits I laid before the Lord, and left him to deal v.'ith
tiiem, v/ho is ftronger than all, in whofe power I was pre-r
ierved and Cairicd on to d^ his work. The Lord hath
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 159
raifed a fine people in thofe parts, whom he hath drawn to
Chrift, and gathered in his name; who feel Chrift-amongfl
them, and fit under his teaching.
After this I came to Balby ; from whence feveral friends
accompanied me into Lincolnfhire, of whom fome went to
the fleeple-houfes, and fome to private meetings. There
came to the meeting where I was, the fherifFof Lincoln,
and feveral with him ; who made great contention and jan-
gling for a time : but at length the Lord's power flruck
him, that heirwas convinced of the truth, and received the
word of life, as did feveral others alfo who had oppofed, and
continued am-ongd friends till they died. Great meetings
there were, and a large convincement in thofe parts. Many
were turned to the Lord Jefus, and camie to lit under his
teaching, leaving their prieils and their fuperftitious ways ;
and the day of the Lord flourifhed over all amongft them
that came to our meetings in that country. One called Sir
Richard Wrey was convinced; alfo his brother and his
brother's v/ife, who abode in the truth and died therein ;
though he afterwards ran out.
Having vifited thofe countries, I cams into Derbyfbire ;
th« llierifF of Lincoln, who was lately convinced, being
with me. In one meeting we had fome oppofition ; but
the Lord's glorious power gave dominion over all. At
night came a company of bailiffs and ferving-men, and
called me out. I went out to them, having fome friends
with me. They were exceeding rude and violent; for they
had, it feems, plotted together, and intended to have carri-
ed me away with them in the dark of the evening by force,
to have done me a mifchief ; but the Lord's power chained
them, fo that they could not elFeft their defign; and at lafl
they went away. The next day Thomas Aidam, under-
ftanding the fei-ving-men belonged to a knight, who lived
net far off, went to his houfe and laid before him the bad
carriage of his fervants. The knight rebuked them, and
did not allow of their evil behaviour towards us.
After this we came to Skegby, in Nottinghamfhire, where
we had a great meeting of divers forts ; and the Lord's
power went over them, and all was quiet. The people
were turned, to the Spirit of God, by v/hich many came to
receive his 'power, and to fit under the teaching of Chrifl:,
their Saviour. A great people the Lord hath in thofe
parts,
I palied towards Kidfley-park, where came many R.ant-
i6i? GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1654
ers ; but the Lord's power check'd them. From thence I
went into the Peak-country to Thomas Hammerfley's
where came the Ranters of that country, and many high
profefibrs. The Ranters oppofed me, and fell a fwearing.
When I reproved them for Iwearing, they would bring
fcripttire for it, alledging Abraham, Jacob, and Jofeph
fwore ; and the priefts, Mofes, the prophets, and the angels
fwore. ' I confeiled all thefe did fo, as the fcripture re-
■ cords; but faid I, Chrift (who faid. Before Abraham was
' I am) commanded, Swear not at all. Cfirift ends the
* prophets, the old priefthood, the difpenfation of Mofes,
' and reigns over the houfe of Jacob and Jofeph ; and he
* fays, Swear not at all. And God, when he bringeth the
* firft-begotten into the world, faith. Let all the angels of
' God worfhip him, to wit, Chrift Jefus, who faith, Swear
* not at all. As for the plea that men make for fwearing
* to end their ftrife, Chrift, who fays. Swear not at all, de-
* ftroys the devil and his works, who is the author of ftrife ;
* for that is one of his works. And God faid, " This is
*' my beloved Son, in whom I am well plcafed ; hear ye
*' him," So the Son is to be heard who forbids fwearing.
* And the apoftle James, who did hear the Son of God,
* followed him, and preached him, forbids all oaths, James
* V. 12.' So the Lord's power went over them: and his
Son and his dotlrine was fet over them. The word of life
was fully and richly preached, and many were convinced
that day. This Thomas Hammerfly being fummoned to
fei-ve upon a jury, was admitted to ferve without an oath ;
and being foreman of the jury, when he brought in the
verdict, the judge declared, " That he had been a judge fo
*' many years, but never heard a more upright verdi6t than
*' that Quaker had then brought in." Much might be
written of things of this nature, which time would fail to
declare. But the Lord's blelfed power and truth was
exalted over all, who is worthy of all praife and glory for
ever !
Travelling through Derbyfhire, I vifited friends till I
came to Swanington, in Leicefterfliire, where was a general
meeting, to which many Ranters, Baptifts, and other pro-
felfors came : for great contefts there had been with them,
and with the priefts in that town. To this meeting feveral
friends came from divers parts ; John Audland, Francis
Howgill, Edward Pyot from Briftol, and Edward Burrough
from London ; and feveral were convinced in thole parts.
1654] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. i6<
The Ranters made a diflurbance, and were very rude; but
at Ldl tlie Lord's power came over them, and they were
conioiinded. The next day Jacob Botfcomly, a great
Ranter, came from Leicefter ; but the Lord's power ftopt
him, and came over them all. There came a pricft too ;
but he alfo v/as confounded by the mighty po^ver of the
Lord. About this time the priefls, Baptills, Ranters, and
other profeiTors were very rude, and ftirred up rude peo-
ple againfl us. We fent to the Ranters to come forth, nnd
try their god.# Abundance of them came, who fang, -v/hil-
tied, and danced ; but the Lord's power fo prevailed over
them that many of them xvere convinced.
After this I went to Twycrofs, whither came fome Rant-
ers, who lung and danced before me ; but I was moved in
the dread of the Lord to reprove them : and the Lords
power came over them, fo that fome of them were convin-
ced, and received the Spirit of God; who are become a
pretty people, living and walking foberly in the truth of
Chrift, I went to Anthony Brickley's, in Warwickfhire,
where there was a great meeting; feveral Baptifts and others
came and jangled : but the Lord's power came over them.
Then I went to Drayton, in Lcicefterfliire, to vifit my
relations. As foon as I was come in, Nathaniel Stephens,
the pricft, having got another priett, and given notice to
the country, fent to me to come to them: -for they couM
not do any thing till I catrie. I, having been three years
away from my relations, knew nothing of their defign.
But at 1 aft I went into the fteeplc-houle yard, where the
two priefts were ; and they had gathered abundance of
people. They would have had me gone into the fteeple-
houfe. I afked them, what I iliould do there ? They
faid, Mr. Stephens could not bear the cold. I told
them, he might bear it as well as L At laft we went into,
a great hall, Richard Farnfworth being vv^ith me; and a
great difpute we had with thcfe priefts concprning their
practice, how contrary tliey were to Chrift and liis apoilles.
The priefts would know where tithes were Ic^rbidden or
ended. I fhewed them out of the feventh .chapter to the
Hebrews, ' That not only tithes, but the priefthood that
* took tithes, was ended; and the law was e'nded aifd difan-
' nulled by which the priefthood was made, and tithes were
' commanded to be paid.' Then they ftirred up the people
to fome lightnefs and rudencls. I had known Stephens
from a child, therefore I laid opca his condition and the
\6i GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1654
manner of his preaching : ' and how he, like the reft of
* the priefts, did apply the promifes to the iirfl birth which
* mull die. Eat I fhewed that the promifes were to the
* feed, not to many feeds, but to the one feed, Chrift; who
* was one in male and female: for ail were to be born again,
^ * before they could enter into the kingdom of God/ Then
he faid, I muft not judge fo. I told him, ' He that was
* fpiritual judged all things.' Then he confelTed, That was
a full fcripture ; But, neighbours, faid he, this is the bufi-
iieis ; George P'ox is come to the lit^ht oi the fun, and
now he thinks to put out my ftar-light. I told him, ' I
' would not quench the leafl; meafure of God in an)^, much
' lels put out his ftar-light, if it were true light from the
* morning-ftar. But I told him, if he had any thing from
' Ciirift, he ought to fpeak it freely, and not take tithes
* h"om the people for preaching ; feeing Chrift commanded
* his minifters to give freely, as they had received freely/
So I charged him to preach no more for tithes or any hire.
But he faid, he would not yield to that. After awhile the
people began to be vain and rude, whereupon we broke
up ; yet fome were made loving to the truth that day. Be-
fore we parted, I told them, ' If the Lord would, I intend-
' ed to be at the town again that day feven-night.' In the
interim I went into the country, had meetings, and came
again that day feven-night. Againft that time this prieft
had got feven priefts to help him ; for he had given notice
at a lecture on a market-day at Adderfton, that fuch a day
there would be a meeting and a difpute with me. I knew
nothing of it ; but only had faid I fliould be in town that
clay feven-night again. Thefe eight priefts had gathered
feveral hundreds of people, even moft of the country there-
abouts, and would have had me into the fteeple-houfe. I
rcfufed to go in, and got on a hill, and there fpoke to them
and the people. Thomas Taylor, }ames Parnel, and fe-
veral other friends were with me. The priefts thought that
day to have trampled down truth ; but the truth came over
them. Then they grew light and the people rude. The
priefts would not ftand trial with me; but would be- con-
tending here and there a little with one friend or other.
At laft one of the priefts brought his fon to difpute with
me ; but his m.outh was foon ftopt. When he could not tell
how to anfwer, he would aik his father, and his father was
confounded alio when he came to anfwer for his fon. So
after they had toiled themfelves, they went in a rage to
i6s4] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 163
prieil Stephens's houfe to driiifc. As they went away I
ll^id, ' I never came to a place where i'o many prieils toge-
' ther would not fland the trial with me.' Whereupon
they and fome of their wives came about me; laid hold of
me, and fiwningly faid, ' What might I have been, if it
* had not been for the Quakers ?' Then they fell a pufhing
of friends to and fro, to thruft them from me, and to pluck
me to themfelves. After awhile feveral lufty fellows came,
took me tip in their arm.s, and carried me into the ftecple-
houfe porch, intending to have carried me into the fteeple-
houfe by force; but the door being locked, they fell down
on an heap, having me under them. As foon as I could
I got from them to my hill again : then they got me from
that place, took me to the fteepie-houfe wall, and fet m.e
on a bafs like a ftool ; and all the priefts, being cotne backj
Hood under with the people. The priefts cried. Come, to
argument, to argument. I faid, ' I denied all their voices,
* for they were the voices of hirelings and ftrangcrs.' They
cried, Prove it, prove it. I direO:ed them to the tenth of
John, where they might fee what Chriil faid of fuch; he
declared, ' He was the true Shepherd that laid down, his
' life for his fheep, and his fhecp heard his voice and fol-
* lowed him : but the hireling would fly when the wolf
' came, becaufe he wa« an hireling.' I oflFcred to prove
that they were fuch hirelings. Then the priefls plucked
mc off from the bafs again, and themfelves got ail upon
bafles under the lle^ple-houfc wall. Then I felt the mighty
power of God arife oyqy all, and told them, ' If they would
' give audience, and hear me quietly, I would fhev\'' them
' by the fcriptures why. I denied thofe eight priefts or
' teachers that ftood before me, and all the iiireling teachers
' of the world whatioever, and I would give them Icriptures
* for what I faid.' Whereupon both priefts and people
confented. Then I ftiewed them out of liaiah, Jeremiah,
Kzekiel, Micah, Mala'chi, and other prophets, that they
were in the fteps of fuch as God lent his true prophets to
cry againft ; for, laid I, ' You are fuch as the propliet jere-
' miah cried againft. chap. v. when he laid, " The prcphats
*■' prophefy falielv, and the priefts bear rule by their means ;"
* which he called an horrible filthy thing. You are fuch
' as ufed their tongues, and faid, Thus faith the Lord,
* when the Lord never fpoke to them. Such as followed
* their own fpirits, and faw nothing; but fpoke a divination
' of their own brain : and by their lies and their lightnefs
II h
i64 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654.
* caufed the people to err,^ Jer. xiv. You are fuch as they
' were that fought their gain from their quarter ; that were
' as greedy dumb dogs, that could never have enough,
' whom the Lord fent his prophet Ifaiah to cry againft,
* I fa. Ivi. You are fuch as they were who taught for
* handfals of barley and pieces of bread, who fewed pillows
' under people's arm-holes, that they might lie foft in their
' fins, Ezek. xiii. You are fuch as they that taught for the
* fleece and the wool, and made a prey of the people, Ezek.
* xxxiv. But the Lord is gathering his fheep from your
' mouths, and from your barren mountain ; and is bringing
' them to Chrift, the one fhepherd, whom he hath fet over
' his flocks ; as by his prophet Ezekiel he then declared he
' would do. You are fuch as thofe that divined for money,
* and preached for hire; and if a man did not put into their
' mouths they prepared war againft him, as the prophet
' Micah complained, chap, iii.' Thus I went through the
prophets too largely to be here repeated. Then coming to
the New Teftament, I fhewed from thence, that ' that thev
* were like the chief priefls, fcribes, and pharifees, whom
* Chrift cried wo againft, Matth. xxiii. And that they
' were fuch falfe apoilles as the true apoftles cried againft,
' fuch as taught for filthy lucre ; fuch antichrifts and de-
' ceivers as they cried againft, that minded earthly things,
' and ferved not the Lord Jefas Chrift, but their own bel-
' lies : for they that ferved Chrift gave freely and preached
' freely, as he commanded them. But they that will not
' preach without hire, tithes, or outward means, ferve their
' own bellies, and not Chrift ; and through the good words
* of the fcriptures, and feigned words of their own, they
* made merchandize of the people then, as (faid I) ye do
* now. When I had largely quoted the fcriptures, and
' flrewed them wherein they were like the pharifees, loving
* to be called of men mafters, to go in long robes, to ftand
* praying in the fynagogues, to have the uppermoft rooms
' at feafts and the like ; and when I had thrown them out
' in the fight of the people amongft the lalfe prophets, de-
* ceivers, fcribes, and pharifees, and fhewed at large how
* fuch as they were judged and condemned by the true
* prophets, Chrift, and the apoftles, 1 dire6l:ed them to the
* light of jefus, who enlightens every man that cometh into
* the world ; that by it they might fee whether thefe things
' were not true as had been fpoken.' When I appealed
to that of God in their confcicnces, the light of Chrift Jefus
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 165
in them, they could not abide to hear it ; they were . all
quiet till then ; but then a profefTor faid, George, what !
wilt thou never have done ? I told him, 1 fhould have done
Ihortly. I went on a little longer, and cleared m'yf'ejf of
them in the Lord's power. When 1 had done, all the
priefts and people flood filent for a time ; at lafl one of the
priefts faid, They would read the fcriptures that I had
quoted. I told them, with all my heart. They began to
read the twenty-third of Jeremiah, where they faw the
marks of the falfe prophets that he cried againfl. When
they had read a verle or two, I faid. Take notice, people ;
but the priefts faid, Hold thy tongue, George. I bid them
read the whole chapter throughout, for it was all againfl
them. Then they ftopt, and would read no further ; but
afked me a quellion. I told them I v/ould anfwer their
'queflion, the matter being firfl granted that I had charged
them with, viz. that they were hli'e prophets, falfc teachers,
antichrifts, and deceivers, fuch as the true prophets, Chrift,
and the apoftles cried againfl. A profeffor faid Nay to
that; but I faid, ' Yea: for you leaving the matter, and
' going to another thing, feem to confent to the proof of
* the former charge.' Then I anfwered their queftion,
which was this; ' Seeing thofe falfe prophets were adulte-
' rated. Whether I did judge prieil Stephens to be an
' adulterer ?' To which I anfwered, ' He was adulterated
' from God in his praftice, like thofe falfe prophets and the
* Jews.' They would not ftand to vindicate him, but broke
up the meeting. Then the priefts whifpered together; and
Stephens came to me, and defired that iny father, brother,
and I might go afide with him, that he might fpeak to me
in private, and the reft of the priefts ftiould keep the peo-
ple trom coming to us. 1 was very loth to go a fide with
him; but the people cried, ' Go, George; do, George, go
' afide with him.' Being afraid, if I did not go, they
would fay I was difobedient to my parents, I went, and
the reft of the priefts were to keep the people ofF; but they
could not, for the people, being willing to hear, drew dole
to us. I afked the prieft, what he had to fay? He faid,
' If he was out of the way I ftiould pray for him, and if
' I was out of the way he would pray for me ; and he
* would give me a form of words to pray for him by.' I
replied, ' It feems thou doft not know whether thou beeft in
* the right way or no; neither doft thou know wlitther I am
* in the right way or no; but I know that i am in the ever-
H h 2
r66 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
• lafling way, Chrift Jefus, which thou art out of. Thou
' wouldfl give me a form of words to pray by, yet thou de-
' nieft the Common Prayer Book to pray by as well as I,
' and I deny thy form of words as well as it. If thou
■ wouidfthave me pray for thee by a form of words, is not
' this to deny the apoille's do6lrine and practice of praying
* by the Spirit, as it gave wonds and utterance ?' Here the
people tell a hraghing ; but I was moved to ipeak more to
him. And when I had cleared myfelf to him and them we
parted, after I had told them, that I fhouid, God willing,
he in town that day feven-night again. So the prieixs
pack'd away, and many people were convinced that dc^y ;
for the Lord's power came over ail. Many that were coa-i
\'inccd before, were by that day's work confirmed in the
truth, and abode in it : and a great fliake it gave to the
priePis. Yea, my father, though a hearer and follower of
the prieft, was fo well fatisfied, that he ftruck his cane up-
on the ground, and faid, ' Truly I fee, he that will but
' (land to the truth, it will bear him out.' I paiTed about
in the country till that day feven-night, and then came a-
gain; for we had appointed a meeting at my relations houfe.
Priell Stephens, having notice beforehand thereof, had got
another prieft to him. They had a company of troopers
with them ; and fent for me to come to them. But I lent
them word, our meeting was appointed, and they might
come to it if they would. The priefts came not ; but the
troopers came, and many rude people. They had laid their
plot. That the troopers fliould take every one's name, and
then command them to go home ; and fuch as would not
go, they fhouid take, and carr}- away with them. Accord-
ingly they began, and took Icveral names, charging them to
go home ; but wlien they came to take ray name, my rela-
tions told them I was at home already : fo they could not
take me av/ay that time. NevertheJefs they took my name;
but the Lord's power was over them, and they went away,
both profclfors and troopers, croffed and vexed becaufe
they had not their ends. But feveral were convinced tha(:
day, and admired the love and power of God. This was
tliac prieft Stephens, who once laid of me, ' Never fuch a
' plant was bred in England:' yet afterwards he reported,
' That I was carried up into the clouds, and found again
' full of gold and filver;' and many falfe reports he raifed
on me. but the Lord fwept them all away. The reafon
why I would not go into their lleeple-houfc was, becaufe I
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 167
was to bear my teflimony againft it, and to bring all ofF
from fuch places to the Spirit of God; that they might
know their bodies to be the temples of the Holy Ghoft;
and to bring them ofF from all the hireling teachers to
Chrift, their free teacher, who died for them, and purchafed
them with his blood-
After this I went into the country, had feveral meet-
ings, and came to Swanington, where the foldiers came ;
but the meeting was quiet, the Lord's power was over
all, and the foldiers did not meddle. Then I went to Lei-
ccfter ; and from Leicefter to Whetllone. There came
about feventeen troopers of colonel Hacker's regiment, with
his marfhal, and took me up before the meeting, though
friends were beginning to gather together; for there were
feveral friends from divers parts. I told the marlhal, ' He
* might let all the friends go, I would anfwer for them all.'
Whereupon he took me, and let all the friends go ; only
Alexander Parker v/ent along v/ith me. At night they had
me before colonel Hacker, his major, and captains, a great
company of them. ; and a great deal of difcourfe we had
about the priefts, and about meetings; for at this time there
was a noife of a plot againfl O. Cromwel. Much reafon-
ing I had with them about the light of Chrift, whiclren-
lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. Col.
Hacker afked, Whether it was not this light of Chrift that
made Judas betray his mafter, and after led him to hang
himfeif? I told him, ' No: that was the fpirit of dark-
* nels, which hated Chrift and his light.' Then col. Hacker
faid, I might go home, and keep at home; and not go
abroad to meetings. I told him, ' I was an innocent man,
' free from plots, and denied all fuch work,' His fon Need-
ham faid, ' Lather, this man hath reigned too long ; it is
' time to have him cut off.' I afked him, ' FoT what ?
' What had I done ? or whom had I wronged from a child ?
* for I was bred and born in that country, and wjno could
* accufe me of any evil from a child ?' Col. Hacker afked
me again, If I would go home, and ftay at home ? I told
him, ' If I fliould promife him fp, it would manifeft that
* I was guilty of fomething, to make my home a piifon :
* and if I went to meetings, they would fay I broke their
* order. Therefore I told them, I fhould go to meetmgs,
' as the Lord fhould order mc; and could not fubmit to
' their requirings : but I faid, we were a peaceable people.'
* V/^il then/ laid colonel Hacker, ' I v/iil fend you to-
i68 -GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 16543
* moiTow morning by fix o'clock to my lord prote£lor, by
' captain Drury, one of his life-guard.' That night I was
kept prifoner at the Marlhalfea ; and the next morning by
the fixth hour I was delivered to captain Drury. I dcfired
he would let me fpeak vvith colonel Hacker before I went ;
and he had me to his bed-fide. Colonel Hacker fet upon
me prefently again to go home, and keep no more meetings.
I told him, ' I could not fubmit to that ; but muft have my
* liberty to ferve God, and to go to meetings.' ' Then/
faid he, ' you muft go before the proteftor/ Whereupon
' I kneeled on his bed-fide, and befought the Lord to for-
' give him ; for hg was as Pilate, though he would wafh
' his hands; and when the day of his mifery and trial fhould
' come upon him, I bid him, Then remember what I had
' faid to him.' But he was ftirred up and fet on by Ste-
phens, and the other priefts and profefTors, wherein their
envy and bafenefs was manifeft ; who, when they could not
overcortie me by difputes and arguments, norrelift the Spi-
rit of the Lord that was in me, they got foldiers to take
me up.
Afterwards, when colonel Hacker was imprifoned in Lon-
don, a day or two before his execution, he was put in mind
of what he had done againft the innocent ; and he remem-
bered it, and confeffed it to Margaret Fell ; faying. He
knew well whom Ihe meant ; and he had trouble upon him
for it. So his fon, who had told his father I had reigned
too long, and it was time to have me cut off, mio-ht obferve
how his father was cut off afterwards, he being hanged at
Tyburn.
I was carried up pr-ifoner by captain Drury from Leicef-
ter; and when we came to Harboroagh, he afked me, If I
would ^o home, and ftay a fortnight ? I fhould have my
liberty, he faid, if I would not go to nor keep meetings.
I told him, I could not promife any fuch thing. Several
times upon the road did he afk, and try me after the fame
manner; and ftill I gave him the fame anfwers. So he
brought me to London, and Iodised me at the Mermaid
over againft the Mews at Charing- Crofs. As we travelled,
I was moved of the Lord to warn people at the inns and
places, where I came, of the day of the Lord that v/as
coming upon them. William Dewfbury and Marmaduke
Storr being in priibn at Northampton, he let me go and
vifit them.
After captain Drury had lodged mc at the Mermaid, he
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL, 169
went to give the prote6lor an account of me. When he
came to me again, he told me, The protector required that
I fhould promife not to take up a carnal fvvord or weapon
againft him or the government, as it then was ; and that I
Ihould write it in what words I law good, and let my hand
to it. I laid little in reply to captain Drury. But the
next morning I was moved of the Lord to write a paper
' To the prote6ior, by the name of Oliver Cromwel ;
* wherein I did in the prefence of the Lord God declare,
' that I did deny the wearing or drawing of a carnal
' fword, or any other outward weapon, agamfl him, or any
' man. And that I was fent of God to ftand a witnefs a-
* gainfl all violence, and againll the works of darknefs ; and
' to turn 'people from darknefs to light ; to bring them from
' the occafion of war and fighting to the peaceable gofpel ;
* and fi-om being evil-doers, which the magillrates fword
' fhould be a terror to.' • When I had written what the Lord
had given me to write, I let my name to it, and gave it to
captain Drury to hand to O. Cromwel ; which he did. Af-
ter iome time captain Drury brought me before the proteft-
or himfelf at Whitehall. It was in a morning, before he
was drelfed; and one Harvey, who had come a little among
friends, but was difobedient, waited upon him. When I
came in, I was moved to fiy, ' Peace be in this houfe :
* and I exhorted him to keep in the fear of God, that he
' might receive wifdom from him ; that by it he might be
* ordered, and with it might order all things under his hand
' unto God's glory.' I fpoke much to him of truth ; and
a great deal of difcourfe I had with him about religion :
wherein he carried himfelf very moderately. But he faid,
We quarrelled with the priefts, whom he called miniflers.
I told him, ' I did not quarrel with them, they quarrelled
' with me and my friends. But, laid I, if we own the
* prophets, Chrift, and the apoftles, we cannot hold up
' luch teachers, prophets, and (hepherds, as the prophets,
' Chrift, and the apoftles declared againft ; but we muft
* declare againft them by the fame power and Spirit. Then
* I fhewed him, That the prophets, Chrift, and the apof-
* ties declared freely, and declared againft them that did not
' declare freely ; fuch as preached for filthy lucre, divined
* for money, and preached for hire, and were covetous and
* greedy, like the dumb dogs that could never have enough:
' and that they, who have the fame Spirit that Chrift and
' the prophets, and the apoftles had, could not bufe declare
170 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
* againfl all fuch now, as they did tlien.' As I fpoke he
feveral times faid, It was very good, and it was truth. * I
* told him, That all Chriftendotn (fo called) had the fcrip-
' tures, but they wanted the power and Spirit that thofe
* had who gave forth the fcriptares ; and that was the real'on
* they were not in feilowfhip with the Son, nor with the
' Father, nor with the fcriptures, nor one with another/
Many more words I had with him; but people coming in,
I drew a little back. . As I was turning, he catched me by
the hand, and with tears in his eyes, faid, Come again to
* my houfe ; for if thou and I were but an hour of a day
* together, we fhould be nearer one to the other;' adding,
That he wifhed me no more ill than he did to his own foul.
I told him, ' If he did, he wronged his own foul ; and ad-
* monifhed him to hearken to God's voice, that he might
' Hand in his counfel, and obey it; and if he did fo, that
* would keep him from hardnefs of heart : but if he did
* not hear God's voice, his heart would be hardened.' He
faid, It was true. Then I went out; and when captain
Drury came out after me, he told me, His lord prote61;or
faid, I was at liberty, and might go whither I would. Then ■
I wds brought into a great hall, where the protector's gentle-
men were to dine. I afked them. What they brought me
thither for ? They faid. It was by the proteflor's order,
that I might dine with them. I bid them let the proteftor
know, I would not eat of his bread, nor drink of his drink.
When he heard this, he faid, ' Now I fee there is a people
' rifen, that I cannot win either with gifts, honours, offices
* or places; but all other fe6ls and people I can.' It was
told him again, ' That we had forfook our own ; and were
* not like to look for fuch things from him/
Being fet at liberty, I went to the inn where captain
Drury at firft lodged me. This captain, though he fome-
times carried it fairly, was an enemy to me and to truth,
nvid oppofed it. When profefTors came to me, while I was
under his cuftody, and he was by, he would fcoflF at trem-
bling, and call xifi Quakers, as the Independents and Prel-
bytcrians had nicknamed us before. But afterwards he came
and told me, That, as he was lying on his bed to reft him-
felf in the day-time, a fudden trembling feized on him, that
his joints knocked together; and his body Ihook fo that he
could not rife from his bed : he was fo fhaken, that he had
not llrcngth enough left to rife. But he felt the power of
the Lord was upon him ; and he tumbled ofT his bed, and
1654^] GEORGE FOX'a JOURNAL. 17^
cried to the Lord, and faid, He would never fpeak againft
the Quakers more, fuch as trembled at the word of God.
During the time I was prifoner at Charing- Crofs, there
came abundance to fee me, almoft of all forts, priefts, pro-
feiTors, officers of the army, &c. Once a company of
officers being with me, delired me to pray with them. I
fat flill, with my mind retired to the Lord. At laft I felt
the power and Spirit of God move in me ; and the Lord's
power did fo fhake and (hatter them, that they wondered,
though they did not live in it.
Among thofe that came was colonel Packer, with feveral
of his officers. While they were with me, came in one
Cob, and a great company of Ranters with him. The
Ranters bcijan to call for drink and tobacco: but I deiired
them to forbear it in my room, telling them, ' If they had
' fuch a mind to it, they might go into another room.'
One of them cried, ' All is ours :' and another of them
faid, ' All is well.' I replied, ' How is all well, while
* thou art fo peevifli, envious, and crabbed ?' for I faw he
was of a peevifh nature. I fpake to their conditions, and
they were fenfible of it, and looked one upon another, won-
dering.
Then colonel Packer began to talk with a light, chaffy
mind, concerning God, Chrift, and the fcriptures : it was
a great grief to my foul and fpirit, when I heard himi talk
fo lightly; fo that I told him, ' He was too light to talk of
' the things of God : for he did not know the folidity of a
* man.' Thereupon the officers raged, and faid, Would I
fay fo of their colonel ? Packer was a Baptifl: : he and the
Ranters bowed and fcraped to one another very much ; for
it was the manner of the Ranters to be exceeding compli-
mcntal, fo that Packer bid them give over their compli-
ments ; but I told them, ' They were fit to go together, for
' they v/ere both of one fpirit.'
This colonel lived at Theobalds near Waltham, and was
made a juftice of peace. Lie let up a great meeting of the
Baptifl s at Theobalds Park ; for he and fome other officers
had purchafed it. They were exceeding high, railed againfl
friends and truth ; and threatened to apprehend me with
their warrants, if ever I came there. Yet after I was fet
at liberty, I was moved of the Lord to go to Theobalds,
and appoint a meeting hard-by them ; to which many of
his people came, and divers of his hearers were cosivinced
of the vv-ay of truth, received Chrift the free teacher, and
I i •
171 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [^654
came o£F from the Baptift ; which made him rage the more.
But the Lord's power came over him fo, that he was not
able to meddle with me. Then I went to Waltham, hard-
by him, and had a meeting there. The people were very
rude, gathered about the houfe, and broke the windows.
Whereupon I v/ent out to them, with the bible in my
hand, defired them to come in ; and told them, ' I vvrould
* (hew them fcripture both for our principles and praftices.'
When I had done fo, I (hewed them aifo ' that their teach-
* ers were in the fteps of fuch as the prophets, Chrift, and
* the apoflles cried againft. I direfted them to the light of
Chrift, the Spirit of God in their own hearts ; that by it
*' they might come to know their free teacher, the Lord
* Jefus Chrift.' The meeting being ended, they went
away quieted and fatisfied ; and a meeting hath lince been
fettled in that town. But this was fome time after I was
fet at liberty by O. Cromwel.
When I came from Whitehall to the Mermaid at Cha-
ring-Crofs, I ftaid not long there: but went into the city of
London, where we. had great and powerful meetings ; fo
great were the throngs of people, that I could hardly get to
and from the meetings for the crowds ; and the truth fpread
exceedingly. T. Aldam and R. Craven, who had been
fheriff's of Lincoln, and divers friends, came up to London
after me : but A. Parker abode with me.
After awhile I went to Whitehall again, and was moved
to declare ' the day of the Lord amongft them ; and that
' the Lord was come to teach his people himfelf :' fo I
preached truth both to the officers, and to them that were
called Ohver's gentlemen, who were of his guard. But a
prieft oppofed,. while I declared the word of the Lord
amonoft them: for Oliver had feveral about him, of which
this was his news-monger ; an envious prieft, a light, fcorn-
ful, chaffy man. I bid him repent; and he put it in his
news-paper the next week, that I had been at Wliitehall,
and had bid a godly minifter there repent. When I went
thither again, I met with him ; and abundance of people
gathered about me. I manifefted the prieft to be a liar in
feveral things that he had affirmed ; and he was put to
filence. He put in the news, that I wore lilver buttons ;
which was falfe; for they were but ochimy. Afterwards he
put in the news, that I hung ribands on people's arms,
which made them follow me. This was another of his lies ;
for I never ufed nor wore ribands in my life. Three
i65+] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 173
friends went to examine this priefl, that gave forth tiiis falfe
intelhgence ; and to know of him where he had that infor-
mation ? He faid, It was a woman that told him fo ; and if
they would come again, he would tell them the woman's
name. When they came again, he faid, It was a man, but
would not tell them his name then; but if they v/ould come
again, he would tell them his name, and where he lived.
They went the third time; and then he would not fay who
told him ; but offered, if I would give it under my hand
that there was no fach thing, he would put that into the
news. Thereupon the friends carried it to him under my
hand; but when they came, he broke his promife, and
would not put it in : but was in a rage, and threatened
them with the conilable. This was the deceitful doing ot
this forger of lies : and thefe lies he fpread over the nation
in the news, to render truth odious, and to put evil into
people's minds againfl friends and truth ; of which a more
large account may be feen in a book printed foon after this
time, for the clearing of friends and truth from the flanders
and falfe reports raifed and call upon them. Thefe pricfts,
the news-mongers, were of the independent fe6l, like them
in Leicefter; but the Lord's power came over all their lies,
and fwept them away ; and many came to fee the naughti-
nefs of thefe priefls. The God of heaven carried me over
all in his power, and his bleffed power went over the na-
tion ; irifornuch that many friends about this time were
moved to go up and down, to found forth the everlaiting
gofpel in mofl parts of this nation, and alfo in wScotland ;
and the glory of the Lord was felt over all to his everla fling
praife. A great convincement there was in London ; fome
in the prote6lor's houfe and family. I went to have feen
him again, but could not get to him, the officers were
grov/n fo rude.
The Prefbyterians, Independents, and Bnptifts were
greatly diflurbed; for many of their people turned to the
Lord Jefus Chrift, fat down under his teachings, received
his power, and felt it in their hearts ; and then they were
moved of the Lord to declare againfl the reft of them.
I appointed a meetmg in the fields near Atlon, in which
the word of life, the laving truth was declared ireely. The
Lord's power was eminently manifeiled, and his blcllcd day
exalted over all.
About this time I was moved to write a paper, and fend
it among the profeiibrs, on this wife :
li 2
174 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
* To all profeffors of Chriflianity :
* A LL thofe that profeffed Jefns Chrifl in words, and
'JLjL yet heard him not when he was come, faid, he was a
* deceiver and a devil. The chief priefts called him fo.
* The Jews faid, " He hath a devil, and is mad ; why do
*' ve hear him ?" But others faid, " Thefe are not the
•' words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the
*' eyes of the blind ?" The Jevv's then doubted whether he
* was the Chrifl, or no. So all, like the Jews, in the
* knowledge, in the notion, that profefs Chrifl: without only,
' where he is rifen within, do not own him, but doubt of
* him ; though Chrift be the fame now and for ever. He
* faid, " I and my Father are one ; then the Jews took up
" ftones to ftone him ;" and where jefus Chriil is nov/ fpi-
' ritually come and made raanifeft, fuch as are chriftians in
* outward profeffion only, have the fame hard hearts in-
' wardly now as the Jews had then; and caft flones at him,
* where he is rifen. Jefus faid, " For which of thefe good
'' works do ye flone me ?" The Jews anfwered, '' For thy
" good works we ftone thee not; but for blafphemy, in that
*' thou being a man, makefl thyieif God." jefus anfwered
* them, " Is it not written in your law, I faid you are
*' gods ? and the fcripture cannot be broken. Say ye of
*' him, whom the Father halh fanclified and fent into the
*' world, Thou blafphemefl, becaufe I faid, I am the Son
^' of God? The Jews laid to him, Say we not well, that
<' thou haft a devil ? jefus anfwered, I honour my Father,
*' and ye diflionour me. And they that were in the fyna-
" gogue rofe up, and thruft him out of the city ; and took
" him up to the edge of the hill whereon their city was
*' built, to caft him down headlong. The Pharifees faid,
*' He calleth out devils by the prince of devils." Chrift
' wns called a glutton and a wine-bibber; a friend of pub-
* licans and fmners; but wildom is ]ufli{ied of her children.
' The officers, when the high-priefts and Pharifees afked
^ tliem, " Why have ye not brought him ?" faid, " Never
<' man fpake like this man." The Pharifees faid, " Arc
<• you alfo deceived ? Do any of the rulers or of the Pha-
" rifces believe on him ? but this people, which know not
<• the law, are accurfed. Nicodem.us laid unto them (he
<• that cune unto Jefus by night) doth our law judge any
*« man before it hear him ?" When Stephen confelied Jcr
< In:., the fubftance of all figures and types, and was
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 175
brought before the chief priefts to his trial, he told them,
■ The Moft High dwelleth not in temples made with
■ hands ;" and brought the prophets words to witnefs, and
told them, They were llifF-necked and uncircumcifed in
heart and ears, and always relifted the Holy Ghoft, as
their fathers had done. Stephen was full of the Holy
Ghofl, and faid, He faw Jefus ; and they ran upon him,
and iloned him to death, as he was calling upon the Lord.
When Paul confefTed Jefus ChriQ;, and his Refurreclion,
Fefcus faid, He was mad. When Paul preached the relur-
reccion, feme mocked. The Jews periuaded the people,
and they fhoned him, and drew him out of the city, think-
ing he had been dead. The Jews flirred up the Gentiles,
to make their minds evil-affefted towards the brethren.
The Jews ftirred up the devout and honourable women,
and the chief of the city : and railed perfecution againft
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coafts :
and there was an alTault made both of the Gentiles and of
the Jews, with their rulers, to ufe them defpitefully, and
to flone them. In like manner all in the nature ol thofe
Jews now, whofe religion ftands in notions, flir up the
rulers and the ignorant people, and incenfe them againft
Jefus Chrift, to flone all with one confent in whom he is
rifen. This is, that the fcripture might be fulfilled, and
the blindnefs of the people might be difcovered. The
fame power now is made manifeft, and doth overturn the
Vv'orld, as did then overturn the world, to the exalting of
the Lord, and the pulling down of the kingdom of Satan
and of this world, and fetting up his own kmgdom, to his
everlafting praife. The Lord is now exalting himfelf,
and throwing down man's felf. The proud one's head is
aloft, fearing he Ihould lofe his pride and his crown. The
priefts incenfe the ignorant people, for fear their trade
fliould go down ; and profelTors fhcw forth what is in
them, being full of rage ; which (hews that Jefus Chrift
the fubftance is not there ; but a ftony heart, to ftone the
precious, where it is rifen. The carnal mind feeds upon
the outward letter; earth feeds upon earth; and that vine-
yard is not dreffed, but is full of briers and nettles; and
ravenous beafts, fwine, dogs, wolves, and lions, and all
venomous creatures lodge in that habitation. That houfe
is not fwept. Thefe are the perfecutors of the juft, ene-
mies of the truth, and of Chrift. Thefe are blafphemers
of God and his truth. Tiicfe call uDon God with their
176 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
lips, but their hearts are far from him. Thefe feed on
lies ; priefls and people. Thefe incenfe the people, and
ftir up envy ; for it begets its own, one like itfeif. Thefe
are as the waves of the fca, foaming out their own fhame.
Thefe have double eyes ; whofe bodies are full of dark-
nefs. Thefe paint thenifelves with the prophets, with
Chrift's, and with the apoflles words moil fair. Whited
walls, painted iepulchres, rnurdcrers of the jufl you are.
Your ty^s are double, your minds are double, your hearts
are double. Ye ilatterers, repent and turn from your
carnal ends, who are full of mifchief; pretending God
and godlinefs, taking him for your cloak ; but he will un-
cover you, and he hath uncovered you to his children.
He will make you bare, difcover your fecrets, take off
your crown, take away your mantle and your veil, and
ftrip you of your cloathing; that your nakednefs may ap-
pear, and how you fit deceiving the nations. Your abo-
mination and your falfehood is now made manifeft to thofe
who are of God; who in his power triumph over you, re-
joice over you, the beaft, the dragon, the falfe prophet, the
feducer, the hypocrite, the mother of all harlots. Now
thou mud have thy cup double. Give it to her double.
Sing over her, ye righteous ones, fing over them all, ye
faints ; triumph in glory, triumph over the deceit : fing
the fong of the lamb ; triumph over the world, fpread the
truth abroad. Come ye captives out of prifon; rejoice
with one accord, for the joyful days are coming. Let us
be glad, and rejoice for ever! Singlenefs of heart is come;
purenefs of heart is come ; joy and gladnefs is come.
The glorious God is cxaltincr himfelf: truth hath been
talked of, but now it is polTeHed. Chriil hath been talked
of; but now he is come and poflfelled. The glory hath
been talked of; but now it is pofTelTed, and the glory of
man is defacing. The Son of God hath been talked of;
but now he is come, and hath given us an underftanding.
Unity hath been talked of; but now it is come. Virgins
have been talked of; but now they are come with oil in
their lamps. He will be giorined alone. Where pride is
thrown down, earth and the fieflily will is thrown down,
and the pure is raifed up; there alone is the Lord exalted.
Let the heavens bow down to him, and the earth reel to
and fro, and ftagger up and down. The Lord is fetting
up his throne and his crown, and throwing down the
crown of man; he alone will be glorified: to whom be
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 177
* all honour and glory, all praifes and all thanks ! He gives
* his children wifdom and jftrength, knowledge and virtue,
* power and riches, bleffings and durable fubftance; an eye
* to difcern, and an ear to hear things fmgly ; brings down
' the pride of man's heart, and turns the wicked out of the
' kingdom. The righteous inherit righteoufnefs ; the pure,
'* purenefs ; the holy, holinels. Prailcs, praifes be to the
* Lord, whofe glory now fliincs, whofe day is broken forth ;
' xvhich is hid from the world, hid from all worldly-wife
*■ ones, from all the prudent of this world ; from the fowls
* of the air; from all vultures eyes, all venomous beads, all
* liars, all dogs, and all fwine. But to them that fear his
' name, the fecrets of the Lord are made manifeft, the trea-
* fures of wifdom are opened, and the fulnefs of knowledge :
* for thou, O Lord ! doll make thyfclf manifefl to thy
* children.
' G. F.'
My fpirit was greatly burdened to fee the pride that was
got up in the nation, even amongft profeffors ; in the fenle
whereof I was moved to give forth a paper diretled
' To fuch as follow the world's fafliions :
* T^THAT a world is this! how doth the devil gar-
V V nifh himfelf ! how obedient are people to do his
will and mind ! They are altogether carried away with
fooleries and vanities, both men and women. They have
loft the hidden man of the heart, the meek and quiet fpi-
rit ; which with the Lord is of great price. They have
loft the adorning of Sarah ; tliey are putting on gold and
gay apparel ; women plaiting the hair, men and women
powdering it; making their backs' look like bags of meal.
They look fo ftrange, that they can fcarce look at one
another; they are fo lifted up in pride. Pride is flown
up into their head ; and hath ib lifted them up, that they
fnuff up, like wild alfes, and like Ephraim : they feed
upon wind, and are got to be like wild heifers, who feed
upon the mountains. Pride hath puffed up every one of
them. Thev are out of the fear of God; men and wo-
men. Young and old; one puffs up another. They
muft be in the fafhion of the world, elfe they are not in
efteem ; nay they ftiall not be rcfpc£tcd, if they have not
gold or iilvsr upon their backt;, or if the hair be not
178 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654.
powdered. But if one have ftore of ribands hanging
about his waift, at his knees, and in his hat, of divers
colours, red, white, black, or yellow, and his hair pow-
dered ; then he is a brave man, then he is accepted, then
he is no Quaker. He hath ribands on his back, belly,
and knees, and his hair powdered. This is the array of
the world. But is not this from the lull of the eye, the
luft of the flefh, or the pride of life ? Likewife the
women having their gold, their patches on their faces,
nofes, cheeks, foreheads, their rin^s on their fingers, wear-
ing gold, their cuffs double under and above, like a
butcher with his white fleeves ; their ribands tied about
their hands, and three or four gold laces about their
cloaths; this is no Quaker, fay they. This attire pleafeth
the world; and if they cannot get thefe things, they are
difcontented. But this is not the attire of Sarah, whofe
adorning was in the hidden man of the heart, of a quiet
and meek fpirit. This is the adorning of the heathen;
not of the apollle, nor of the faints, whofe adorning was,
not wearing of gold, nor plaiting of hair, but that of a
meek and quiet fpirit, which is of great price with the
Lord. Here was the fobriety and good ornament which
was accepted of the Lord. This was Paul's exhortation
and preaching. But we fee, the talkers of Paul's words
live out of Paul's command, and out of the example of
Sarah, and are found in the fteps of the great heathen,
who comes to examine the apoftles in his gorgeous ap-
parel. Are not thefe, that have got ribands hanging
about their arms, hands, back, waifts, knees, hats, like
fiddlers boys ? This (hews, that they are got into the
bafefl and moft contemptible life, who are in the fafhion
of fiddlers boys and flage-players, quite out of the paths
and flcps of Iblid men ; in the very fteps and paths of
the wild heads, who give themfclves up to every invention
and vanity of the world that appears, and are inventing
how to get it upon their backs, heads, feet, and legs ; and
fay, If it be out of the fafhion, it is nothing worth.
Are not thefe fpoilers of the creation, who have the fat
and the beft of it, and wafte and deftroy it ? Do not
thefe incumber God's earth ? Let that of God in
all confcienccs anfwer, and who are in the wifdom
judge. And further; if one get a pair of breeches like
a coat, and hang them about with points, and up almofl:
to the middle, a pair of double cuffs upon his hands, and
J654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 179
a feather in his cap, here's a gentleman; bow before hiin,
put off your hats, get a company of fiddlers, a fet of mu-
fick, and w-omen to dance. This is a brave fellow. Up
in the chamber; up in the chamber without, and up in
the chamber within. Are thefe your fine Chriftians ?
Yea, fay they, They are Chriftians ; but fay the ferious
people, They are out of Chrift's life, out of the apoille's
command, and out of the faints ornament. To fee fuch as
are in the fafliions of the world before-mentioned, a com-
pany of them playing at bowls, or at tables, or at fhovel-
board, or each taking his liorfe, with bunches of ribands
on his head, as the rider hath on his own, perhaps a ring
in his ear too, and fo go to horfe-racing to fpoil the crea-
tures. Oh! thefe are gentlemen indeed, thefe are bred up
gentlemen, thefe are brave fellows, they muft take their
recreation ; for pleafures are lawful. Thefe in their fports,
fet up their Ihouts like wild affes. They are like the kine
or beafts, when they are put to grafs, lowing when they
are full. Here is the glorying of thofe before-mentioned;
but it is in the flefti, not in the Lord. Thefe are bad
chriftians, and ftiew that they are gluttoned with the crea-
tures, and then the flefti rejoiceth. Here is evil breeding
of youth and young women, who are carried away with
the vanities of the mind in their own inventions, pride,
arrogance, luft, gluttony, uncleannefs. They eat and
drink, and rife up to play. This is the generation which
God is not well pleafed with ; for their eyes are full of a-
dultery, who cannot ceafe from evil. Thefe be they that
live in pleafures upon earth ; thefe be they who are dead
while the)/ live; who glory not in the Lord, but in the
flefh : thefe be they that are out of the life that the fcrip-
tures were given forth from, who live in the faOiions and
vanities of the world, out of truth's adorning[ in the devil's
adorning (who is out of the truth) not in the adorning of
the Lord, which is a meek and quiet fpirit, and is with
the Lord of great price. But this ornament and this a-
dorning is not put on bv them that adorn thcmfelves, and
have the ornament of him that is out of the truth. That
is not accepted with the Lord which is accepted in their
eye. ' G F.'
It came upon me about this time from the Lord to write
' a fhort paper and fend forth, as an exhortation and warn-
' ing to the pope, and all kings and rulers in Europe.
K k
l8o GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1654
' Friends,
YE heads, rulers, kings, and nobles, of all forts, Be
not bitter, nor hafty in perfecuting the lambs of
Chrift, neither turn yourfelves againft the vifitation of
God, and his tender love and mercies from on hish, who
fent to vilit you ; led the Lord's hand, arm, and power
take hold fwiftly upon you ; which is now ftretched over
the world. It is turned againft kings, and fhall turn wife
men backward, will bring their crowns to the dull, and
lay them low and level with the earth. The Lord will be
king, who gives crowns to whomfoever obey, his will.
This is the age, wherein the Lord God of heaven and
earth is ftaining the pride of man and defacing his glory.
You that profefs Chrift, and do not love your enemies,
but on the contrary fliut up and imprifon thofe who are
his friends ; thefe are marks that you are out of his life,
and do not love Chrift, who do not the things he com-
mands. The day of the Lord's wrath is kindling, his fire
is going forth to burn up the wicked, which will leave nei-
ther root nor branch. They that have loft their habita-
tion with God are out of his Spirit that gave forth the
fcriptures, and from the light that Jefus Chrift hath enlight-
ened them withal ; and fo from the true foundation.
Therefore be fwift to hear, flow to fpeak, and flower to
perfecute ; for the Lord is bringing his people to himfelf,
from all the world's ways, to Chrift the way ; from all the
world's churches, to the church which is in God, the Fa-
ther of our Lord Jefus Chrift; from all the world's teach-
ers, to teach his people himielf by his Spirit ; from all
the world's images, into the image of himielf; and from
all the world's crofl'cis of ftone or wood, into his power
which is the crofs of Chrift. For all thefe images, croffes,
and likehefTes are among them that are apoftatized from
the image of God, the power of God, the crofs of Chrift,
which now fathoms the world, and is throwing down that
which is contrary to it ; which power of God never chan-
ges.
' Let this go to the kings of France and ot Spain, and to
the pope, for them to prove ail things and to hold that
which is good. And {irft to prove, ihat they have not
quenched the Spirit ; for the mighty day of the Lord is
come, and coming upon all wickednefs, itngodlinef'^, and
urivighteoufnefs of men, who will plead with all flefh by
fire an.d hy fv/ord. And the truth, the crown of glory,
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. i8i
* and the fceptre of righteoufnefs over all iliall be exalted ;
' which fhall anfwer that of God in every one upon the
* earth, though they be from it. Chrifl is come a light into
' the world, and doth enlighten every one that cometli into
' the world, that all through him might believe. He that
* feeleth the light, that Chrift hath enlightened him withal,
* he feeleth Chrift in his mind, and the crofs of Chrift,
' which is the power of God ; he ftiall not need to have a
' crofs of wood or ftone to put him in mind of Chrift, or
' of his crofs, which is the power of God manifeft in the
* inward parts.
' G F.'
Befides this I was moved to write a letter to the Prote61;-
or (io called) ' to warn him of the mighty work the Lord
' hath to do in the nations, and the fhaking of them ; and
* to beware of his own wit, craft, fubtilty, and policy, or
* feeking any by-ends to himfelf.'
There was about this- time an order for the trying of mi-
nifters (Co called) and for approving, or ejefting them out
of their places or benefices ; whereupon I wrote a paper to.
the juftices and other commiftioners, who were appointed
to that work.
* Friends,
' "\7'OU that are iuftices, and in commiiTion to try mr-
' A. nifters, who have fo long been in the vineyard of
* God, fee whether they be fuch as are mentioned in"*the
' fcriptures, whom the prophets, Chrift, and the apoftles
* difapproved of. And if -they be fuch as they difapproved,
* fee how ye can ftand approved in the fight of God. to let
' fuch go into his vineyard, and approve of them who will
* admire your perfons becaufe of advantage, and if you do
' not give them advantage they will not admire your pcr-
' fons ; fuch Jude fpeaks of. See if they be not fuch as
' teach for filthy lucre, for love of money, covetous, fuch as
' love themfelvcs, who have a form of godlinefs, but deny
' the power ; from fuch the apoftle bids, Turn awav. The
' apoftles faid, their mouths fliould be ftoppcd, who fi rved
'not the Lord Jefus, but their own bellies; bein^'- evil
* beafts, flow bellies, who mind earthly things. Paul gave
' Timothy a defcription to try minifters by : he faid. They
* muft not be covetous, nor given to wine, nor filthy lucre,
* nor novices ; left being lifted up into pride, they tali into
K k 2
iS2 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1654
the condemnation of the devil. Thefe he was to try and
prove without partiality. Take heed of approving fuch
as he difapproved ; for fince the apofties days, fuch-as he
difapproved have had their liberty; and they have told
us, The tongues were their original, that they were ortho-
dox men, and that the fteeple-houfe, with a crofs on the
top of it, was the church (the Papifts mafs-houfe, you
may look on the top of it and fee the fign.) But the
fcriptures tell us, " All the earth was of one language
betore the building of Babel." And v/hen Pilate cruci-
fied Chnft, he fet the tongues, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin
over his head. And John tells us, that the bead had
power over the tongues, kindreds and nations : and that
the whore fits upon the tongues, of whofe cup all nations
have drunk, and the kings of the earth have committed
fornication with her. John alfo faid, The tongues are
waters. Chrift gives marks to his difciples, and to the mul-
titude, how to try fuch as thefe that you are to try. They
are called of men mailer, they love the chiefeft feat in the
affemblies, they be fayers but not doers ; and, faid he,
they fhall put you out of the fynagogues. Seven woes he
denounced againft them, and therefore difapproved them.
Chriil faid, Falfe prophets Oiould come ; and John faw.
They were come : for they went forth from them ; and the.
world fmce hath gone after them. But Babylon mull be
confounded, the mother of harlots ; and the devil muft be
taken, and with him the bcafl;, and the folfe prophet muft
be call into the lake of fire: for the Lamb and his faints
over all mufl reign, and have the vi6lory. The Lord fent
his prophets of old to cry again fl the fiiepherds that fought
for the fleece, Ezek. xxxiv. and to cry againfl fuch fhep-
herds as feek for their gain from their quarter, and never
have enough. Ifa. v. 6. and to cry againft the prophets
that prophefied filfely, and the priefts that bore rule by
their means ; which was the filthv and horrible thing, Jer.
V. And if you would forbear to give them means, you
would (ce how long they would bear rule. There was
in old time a florehoufe for the fatherlefs, flrangers, and
widows, to come to and be filled ; and thofe did not profr
per then who did not bring their tithes to the florehoufe.
Bat did not Chrifl put an end to that prieflhood, tithes,
teinple, and pricfls ? Doth not the apoftle fay, The prieflE-
t hood is changed, the law is changed, and the command-r
'• m^At dilannuiied ? Might not they have plcade4 th? Ifiw
1654] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. i8j
* of God, that gave them tithes ? Was not the firft author
' of them fmce Chrift's time the pope, or fome of his
' church ? Did the apoftles call men into prifon for tithes,
' as your miniilers do now ? As inilance : Ralph HoiHng-
' worth, prieft of Phillingham, for petty tithes, not exceed-
* ing fix {hillings, hath caft into Lincoln prifon a poor
* thatcher, Thomas Bromby ; where he hath been about
* eight and thirty weeks, and (till remains prifoner : and
* the prieft petitioned the judge, that the poor man might
' not labour in the city to get a little money towards his
* maintenance in prifon. Is this a good favour amongft you
' that are in commiffion to choofe minifters ? Is this glad ti-
* dings ? to caft in prifon a man that is not his hearer, be-
* caufe he could not put into his mouth ? Can fuch as aie
* in the fear of God, and in his wifdom, own fuch things ?
' the minifters of Chriil 'are to plant a vineyard, and then
* eat of the fruit; to plow, fow, and threili, and get the
* corn ; and then let them reap: but not caft them into
' prifon for whom they do no work. Chrift, when he fent
* forth his minifters, bid them give freely as they had re-
* ceived freely ; and into what city or town ioever they
* came, inquire who were worthy and there abide ; and what
* tlfey fet before you, faid he, that eat. And when thefe
* came back again to Chrift, and he aiked them. If they
* wanted any thing ? they faid, No. They did not go to a
* town, and call the people together, to know how much
* they might have by the year, as thefe that are in the apo-
* ftacy do now. The apoftle faid. Have I not power to
* eat and to drink ? But he did not fay. To take tithes,
' eafter-reckonings, midfummer-dues, augmentations, and
^ great fums of money ; but have I not power to eat and
' to drink ? Yet he did not ufe that power among the
' Corinthians. But they that are apoftatized from him will
* take tithes, great fums of money, eafter-reckonings, and
* midfummer-dues ; and caft thofe into prifon that will not
* give it them, whom they do no work for. The ox's mouth
' muft not be muzzled that treads out the corn; but ice if
* the corn be trodden out in you, and the wheat be in the
' garner ? This is hom a lover of your fouls; and one that
* dcfircs your eternal good,
' G. F.'
After I had made fbme ft ay in the city of London, I
Wi^s moved of the L,ord to go into Bedfordfl^ire to John
j84 GEORGE F O X's JOURNAL. [1655
Crook's ; Wliere there was a great meeting, and people ge-
nerally convinced of the Lord's truth. When I was come
thither, John Crook told me, that the next day feveral of
thofe called the gentlemen of the country would come to
dine with him, and to difcourfe with me. They came,
and I declared to them Qod's eternal truth. Several friends
v/ent to the fteeple-houfes that day. And there was a meet-
ing in the country, which Alexander Parker went to ; and
towards the middle of the day it came upon me to go to it,
though it was leveral miles OiT, John Crook went with me.
When we came there, there was one Gritton, who
had been a Baptift, but he was got higher than they, and
called himfelf a trier of fpirits. He ufed to tell people their
fortunes, and pretended to diicover when goods were ftolen,
or houfes broken up, who the perfons were that did it :
by which he had got into the affections of many thereabouts.
7"his man was in that meeting fpeaking. and making an hi-
deous noife over the young convinced friends, when I came
in ; and he bid Alexander Parker give a reafon of his hope.
Alexander Parker told him, Chrift was his hope ; but be-
caufe he did not anfwer him fo loon as he expefted, he
boaftingly cried, His mouth is Hopped. Then Gritton
direfted his fpeech to me ; for I flood ftill and heard him
exprefs many things not agreeable to fcripture. I afked
him, ' Whether he could make thofe things out by fcrip-
' lure which he had fpoken ?' He faid. Yes, yes. Then
I bid the people take out their bibles and fearch the places
he (hould quote for proof of his affertions ; but he could
not make good by fcripture what he had faid. So he was
afliamed, and fled out of the houffe, and his people were
generally convinced ; for his fpirit was difcovered, and he
came no more amongft them.. ^ When they were fettled in
God's truth, they publiflied a book againft him, denying
his fpirit and his falfe dilcoveries. Many were turned to
Chrift; that day, and came to fit under his teaching ; info-
much that the judges were in a great rage, and many of the
magiftrales in Bedfordihirc, becaufe fo many were turned
from the hireling priefts to the Lord Jefus Chrill's free
teaching. But John Crook was kept by the power of the
Lord ; yet he was difcharged from being a juftice.
After fome time I returned to London again ; where
friends were finely eflabiifhed in the truth, and great com-
ings-in there were. About this time feveral friends went;
beyond fca, to declare the everlallin^ truth of God. Wheu
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1S5
I had ftaid awhile in the city, I went into Kent. When
wc came into Rocheller, there was a guard kept to examine
paffengers ; but we palled by, and were not liopped. So
I went to Cranbrook, where there was a great meeting ; fe-
veral foldiers were at it, and many were turned to the Lord
that day. After the meeting lome of the foldiers were
fomewhafc rude; but the Lord's power came over them.
Thomas Howfigoe, an Independent preacher, who hved
not far from Cranbrook, was convinced, and became a faith-
ful miniiler for the Lord Jefus. Some friends had travelled
into Kent before, as John Stubbs and William Caton; and
the priefls and profeifors had ftirred up the magiftrates at
Maidftone to whip them for declaring God's truth unto
them; as may be feen in the journal of William Caton's
life. Captain Dunk was alfo convinced in Kent. He went
with me to Rye, where we had a meeting ; to which the
niayor, officers, and feveral captains came. They took
what I faid in writing, which I was well pleafed with. All
was quiet, and the people afiFefted with the truth.
From Rye I went to Rumney, where the people had
notice of my coming fome time before. There was a very
large meeting. Thither came Samuel Fiftier, an eminent
preacher among the Baptifls, who had a parfonage reputed
worth two hundred pounds a year; which for confcicnce
lake he had given up. There was alfo the pallor of the
Baptifls, and abundance of their people. The power of
the Lord was fo mightily over the meeting, that many were
reached, and one greatly fhaken ; and the life fprang up in
divers. One of the paftors of the Baptifls, being amazed
at the work of the Lord's power, bid one of our friends
that was fo wrought upon. Have a good confcicnce.
Whereupon I was moved of the Lord to bid him, Take
heed of hypocrify and deceit; and he was filent. A great
convincement there was that day. Many were turned from
darknefs to the divine light of Chrift, and came to fee their
teachers errors, and to fit under the Lord Jefus ChriIVs
teaching ; to know him their way, and the covenant of
light, which God had given to be their falvation ; and
they were brought to the one Baptifm, and to the one Bap-
tizer, Chrift Jefus. When the meeting was done, Samuel
Fiflier's wife laid, ' We may difcern this day betwixt ileili
' and Spirit, and diftinguilh fpiritual teaching from fiefiily.'
The people were generally v.'cll fatisH^^d with what had been
declared: but the two Baptid teachers and their conipa-
*86 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. C165S
ny, when they were gone from the meeting, fell to reafon-
ing amongft the people. Samuel Fifher, with divers others,
reafoned for the word of life, which had been declared that
day, and the other paftor and his party reafoned againft; it ;
fo it divided them afunder and cut them in the midft. A
friend came and told me, ' That the Baptifts were difputing
' one v/ith another, and defired me to 00 to them/ 1 faid,
' Let them alone, the Lord will divide them, and they that
' reafon for truth will be t6o hard for the other : and fo
it was, Samuel Fiflier received the truth in the love of it,
became a faithful minifter, preached Chrift freely, atid la-
boured much ; being moved of the Lord to go and declare
the word of life at Dunkirk, m Holland, and in divers
parts of Italy, as Leghorn, and Rome itfelf; yet the Lord
preferved him and his companion John Stubbs out of their
inquifitions.
From . Rumney I palTed to Dover, and had a meeting,
where feveral Vi^ere convinced. Near Dover a governor and
his wife were convinced, who had been Baptifls. The Bap-
tifts thereabouts were much offended, and grew very envi-
ous; but the Lord's power came overall. Luke Howard
of Dover was convinced fome time before, and became a
faithful minifler of Chrift.
Returning from Dover I went to Canterbury, where a
few honefl-hearted people were turned to the Lord ; who
fate down under ChrilVs teaching. Thence I pafTed to
Cranbrook again, where I had a great meeting. A friend
went to the fleeple-houfe, and was call into prifon ; but
the Lord's power was manifefted, and his truth fpread.
P'rom thence I palled into SuiTex, and lodged near
Horfham, where was a great meeting ; and many con-
vinced. Alfo at Steyning we had a great meeting in the
market-houfe, and ieveral were convinced there and there-
away; for the Lord's power was with us. Several meet-
ings I had thereabouts: amongft the reft a meeting was
appointed at a great man's houfe, and he and his fon went
to fetch feveral priefts who had threatened to come and dif-
pute. But none of them came, for the Lord's power was
mighty in us. A glorious meeting -we had. The man of
the houfe and his ion were vexed, becaufe none of the
priefts \vould come. -So the hearts of the people were
opened by the Spirit of God, and they were turned from
the hirelings to Chrift Jefus, their ftiephcrd, who had pur-
chafed them without money, and would feed them without
1655] aEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ig;
money or price. Many that came, expelling to hear a
difpute, were convinced; amongft whom Nicholas Beard
Vvas one. ' .\.
Thus the Lord^ power cams over all, and his day many
came to fee. TheCe were abundance of Ranters in thoie
parts, and profeff^ji's, who had been fo looie in their lives
that they began 'to be weary of them, and had thought to
have gone into Scotland to have lived privately ; but the
Lord's net catchec' them, and their underftandmgs were
opened by his light. Spirit, and power, through which they
came to receive the truth, and to be fettled upon the Lord ;
and fo became very fobcr men, and good friends in the
truth. Great blelfing and praifing the Lord there was
amoncrfl them, and sreat admiration in the country.
Out of Sulfex I travelled till I came to Reading ; where
I found a few that were convinced of the way of the Lord.
I ftaid till the firft-day, and had a meeting in George Lam-
boll's orchard ; and a great part of the town came to it.
A glorious meeting it proved; great con\-incement there
was, and the people were mightily fatisfied. Thither
came two of judge Fell's daughters to me, and Georse
Bifhop, of Bnfiol, with his fv\'ord by his fide, for he was
a captain. After the meeting many Baptiils and Ranters
came privately, reafoning and difcourhng ; but the Lord's
power came over them. The Ranters pleaded, that God
made the devil: I denied it, and told ihem, ' I was come
* into the power of God, the ftjed Chrift, which u'as before
* the devil was, and bruifed his head ; and he became a de-
* vil by going out of truth ; and fo became a murderer and
' a dellroyer. I (hewed them, that God did not make him
' a devil ; for God is a God of truth, and made all thin<:s
* good, and blcfied them; but God did not blefs the devil.
* And the devil is bad, and was a liar and a murderer from
* the beginning, and fpoke of himfelf, and not from God.'
So the truth ftopt and bound them, and came over all the
higheft notions in the nation, and confounded them. For
by the power of the Lord I was manifeft, and fought to be
made manifeft to the Spirit of God in all, that by it they
might be turned to God; as many were turned to the Lord
Jefus Chrift by the holy Spirit, and were come to fit under
his teaching.
After this I pafted to London, where I ftaid awhile, and
had large meetings: then went into ElFex, and came to
Cogftiali, where was a meeting of about two thoufand
LI
&i>
188 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
people, as it was judged, which lafled feveral hours, and
a glorious meeting it was ; for the word of hfe was freely
declared, and people were turned to the Lord Jefus Chrifl,
their teacher and Saviour, the way, the truth, and the
life.
On the fixth-day I had a large meeting near Colchefter,
to which many profefTors and the Independent teachers came.
After I had done fpeaking, and was ftept down from the
place on which 1 Hood, one of the Independent teachers
began to make a jangling; which Amor Stoddart perceiv-
ing, faid, Stand up again, George ; for I was going away,
and did not at the firil hear them. But when I heard the
Independent, I flood up again, and after awhile the Lord's
power came over him and his company ; who were con-
founded, and the Lord's truth went over all. A great flock
of fheep hath the Lord in that country, that feed in his
pafturcs of life. On the firfl-day following we had a very
large meeting not far from Colchefter, wherein the Lord's
power was eminently manifefted, and the people were very
well fatisfied; for being turned to the Lord Jefus Chrift's
free teaching, they received it gladly. Many of thefe peo-
ple were of the ftock of the martyrs.
As I pafied through Colchefter, I went to vifit James
Parnel in prifon; but the gaoler would hardly let us come
in, or ftay with him. Very cruel they were to him. The
gaoler's wife threatened to have his blood; and in that gaol
they did dcftroy him, as the reader may fee in a book
printed foon after his death, giving an account of his life
and death ; and alfo in an epiftle printed with his coUefted
books and writings.
From Colchefter I went to Ipfwich, where we had a lit-
tle meeting, and very rude ; but the Lord's power came
over them. After the meeting, I faid, ' If any had a defire
' to hear further, they might come to the inn ;' and there
came in a company of rude butchers that had abuled
friends : but the Lord's power fo chained them they could
not do mifchief. Then I wrote a paper and gave it forth
t^ the town, ' warning them of the day of the Lord, that
' they might repent of the evils they lived in; dire6ling
' them to Chrilt, their teacher and way ; and exhorting
• them fo forfake their hireling-teachers.'
We palled ' from Ipfwich io Mendlelha^, in Suffolk,
where Rffbert Duncon lived. There we had a large meet-
ing that was quiet, and the Lord's power was prccioufly
16553 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1^9
felt amongft us. Then re paiTed to a meeting at captain
Lawrence's, in Norfolk ; where, it was judged, were above
a thoufand people; and all was quiet. Many perfons of
note were prefent, and a great convinccment there was.
They were turned to Chrift, and many of them received
him, and fate down under him, their vine. Here we par-
ted with Amor Stoddart and others, who intended to meet
us again in Huntingdonfhire.
About the fecond hour in the morning we took horfe for
Norwich, where Chrift opher Atkins, that dirty man, had
run out, and brought diihonour upon the bleffed truth and
the name of the Lord. But he had been denied by friends,
and afterwards he gave forth a paper of condemnation of
his fm and evil. We came to Yarmouth, and ftaid awhile;
where there was a friend, Thomas Bond, in prifon, for the
truth of Chrift. There we had lome fervice ; lome being
turned to the Lord in that town. From thence we rode to
anotha: town about twenty miles off, v/here were many
tender people. I was moved of the Lord to fpeak to the
people as I fat upon my horfe, in feveral places as I paffed
along. We went to another town about five miles from
thence, and fet up our horfes at an inn; Richard Hubber-
thorn and I having travelled five-and-forty miles that day.
There were fome friendly people in the town ; and we had
a tender, broken meeting amongft them, in the Lord's
power, to his praife.
We bid the hoftler have our horfes ready by three in the
morning ; for we (intended to ride to Lynn, about thrce-
and-thnty miles, ' next morning. But when we were in
bed, about eleven at night came the conftable and officers,
with a great rabble of people into the inn, and laid, TJu y
were come with an hue and cry from a juftice of peace,
that lived near the town where I had fpoken to the people
in the ftreets as I rode along, to fearch for two horfenicn
that rode upon grey horfes, and in grey cloaths ; an houlb
having been broken upon the feventh-day bdore at night.
We told them, ' We were honeft innocent men, and ab-
* horred fuch things ;' yet they apprehended us, and fet a
guard with halberds and pikes upon us that night ; making
fome of tfiofe friendly people, with others, watch us. Next
morning we were up betime, and the conftable with his
guard carried us before a jiiftice of peace about five miles
off. " We took two or three of the fufficient men of the
town with us, who had been at the meeting at caplairt
LI 2
i9» GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
Lntvrcncc's, and could teflify tha!, we lay both the feventh-
day night and the firft-day nigiu at captain Lawrence's;
and it was the feventh-day night that they laid the houfe
was broken up. The reader is to be informed, that during
the time I was prilbner at the Mermaid at Charing- Crofs,
this captain Lawrence brought feveral Independent ju dices
to fee me there, with whom I had a great deal of dilcourfe ;
which they took offence at. For they pleaded for imperfec-
tion, and to fm as long as they lived; but did not like to
liear of Chrift's teaching his people himfelf, and making
people as clear v^diilft here upon the earth as Adam and
Eve were before they fell. Thefc juftices had plotted toge-
ther this mifchief againft me in the country, pretending an
houfe was broken up ; that they might fend their hue and
cry after me. They were vexed alio and troubled to hear
ot the great meeting at John Lawrence's; for a colonel was
convinced there that day, who lived and died in the truth.
But Providence lo ordered; that the conftable carried us to
a jullice about five miles onward in our way towards Lynn,
who was not an Independent juftice, as the refl v/ere.
When we v/ere brought before him, he began to be angry,
bccaufe we did not put off our hats to him. I told him,
I had been before the protector, and he was not offended
at my hat ; and why fhould he be offended, who was but
one of his fcrvants ? Then he read the hue and cry ; and
I told him, ' That night, wherein the houfe was faid to be
'broken up. we were at captain Lawrence's houfe; and
' that we had feveral men prefent could tePtify the truth
* thereof.' Thereupon the juftice, having examined us and
them, faid, ' He believed vv^e were not the men that had
' broken the houfe ; but he was lorry,' he faid, ' that he
* had no more againft us.' We told him, ' He ought not
' to be lorry for not having evil againft us, but rather to
* be glad ; for to rejoice when he got evil againft people,
' as for houfc-breaking or the like, was not a good mind in
* him.' It was a good vAvAe. yet before he could refolve,
whether to let us go, or fend us to prifon: and the wicked
conftable ftirrcd him up againft us, telling him, ' We had
•■ good horfcs ; and that if it p leafed him, he would carry
* us to Norwich gaol.' But Ave took hold of the juftice's
confjftion, ' That he believed we were not the men that had
' broken the houfe ;' and after we had adn^niftied him to
fear the Lord in Iiis day, the Lord's power came over him,
that he let us go; io their (hare was broken. A great peo-
1655 j GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 191
pie were afterwards gathered to the Lord in that town,
where I was moved to fpeak to them in the ilreet, from
whence the hue and cry came.
Being fet at liberty, v/e travelled to Lynn ; to which we
came about the third hour in the afternoon. Having fet
np our horfes, we met with joleph Fuce, who was an en-
fign. We defired him to fpeak to as many of the people
of the town as he could, that feared God ; and the captains
and officers to come together : which he did. We had a
very glorious meeting amongft them, and turned them to
the Spirit of God, by which they might know God and
Chrift, and underiland the fcriptures ; and learn of God
and of Chrift, as the prophets and apoflles did. Many
were convinced there ; and a fine meeting there is, of them
that are come off from the hirelinas teaching, and fit under
the teaching of the Lord Jefus Chrill.
Lynn being then a garrifon, we defired Jofeph Fuce to
get us the gate opened by the third hour next morning;
for we had forty miles to ride next day. By that means
getting out early, we came next day by the eleventh or
twelfth hour to Sutton, near the ifle of Ely, where Amor
Stoddart, and the friends v/ith him, met us again. A mul-
titude of people was gathered thither, and no lefs than four
prieils. The prieft of the town made a great jangle ; but
the Lord's power fo confounded him, that he went away.
The other three flaid ; and one of them was convinced.
One of the other two, whilft I was fpeaking, came to lean
upon me : but I bid him fit down, feeing he v»^as fo (loth-
fuL A great convincement there was that day. Many
hundreds were turned from darkneis to light, from the
power of Satan unto God, and from tlie fpirit ot error to
the Spirit of truth, to be led thereby into all truth. People
came to this meeting from Huntingdon, and beyond ; the
mayor's wife of Cambridge was there alfo. A glorious
meeting it v/as ; many v.'crc fettled under Chrifl's teaching,
and knew him their Shepherd to feed them : for the word of
hfe was freely declared, and gladly received by them. Tiie
meeting ended in the power of the Lord, and in peace ;
and after it was done, I walked into a garden : ivherc I
had not been long, before a friend came and told me, fcve-
ral juftices were come to break up the meeting. But ma-
ny-of the people were gone away; fo they miffed of their
defign : and after they had flaid awhile, the}- departed alio
in ft Iret.
j^z GEORGE FOX'S JOURN^Ii- [1655
v.
That evening I pafied to Cambridge. \Vlien I came in-
to the town, the fcholars, hearing of me, were up, and were
exceeding rude. I kept on my horfe's back, and rode thro*
them in the Lord's power; but they unhorfed Amor
Stoddart before he could get to the inn. When we were
in the inn, they were fo rude in the courts and in the
ftreets, that the miners, colliers, and carters could never be
ruder. The people of the houfe aiked us. What we would
have for fupper ? ' Supper!' faid I, ' were it not that the
* Lord's power is over them, thefe rude fcholars look as if
* they would pluck us in pieces, and make a fupper of us.'
They knew I was fo againft the trade of preaching, which
they were there as apprentices to learn, that they raged as
bad as ever Diana's craftfmen did againft Paul. At this place
John Crook met us. When it was within night, the may-
or of the town, being friendly, came and fetched me to his
houfe; and as we walked through the ftreets, there was a
buftie in the town ; but they did not know me, it being
darkifli. They were in a rage not only againft me, but
againft the mayor alfo ; fo that he was almoft afraid to walk
the ftreets with me, for the tumult. We fcnt for the friendly
people, and had a fine meeting in the power of God; and
I ftaid there all night. Next morning, having ordered our
horfes to be ready by the fixth hour, we paffed peaceably
out of town ; and the deftroyers were difappointed : for
they thought I would have ftaid longer in the town, and
intended to have done us mifchief; but our pafling away
early in the morning fruftrated their evil purpofes againft us.
Then we rode to Biftiop-Stortford, where fome werz
convinced ; and to Llertford, where alfo fome were convin-
ced ; and where now there is a large meeting.
From thence we returned to London, where friends re-
ceived us gladly; the Lord's power having carried us
through many fnares and dangers. Great fervice we had,
for many hundreds were brought to fit under the teaching
of the Lord Jefus Chrift their Saviour, and to praife the
Lord through him. jamcs Nayier alfo was come up to
London ; and Richard Hubbcrthorn and I ftaid fome time
in the city, vifiting friends, and anfwering gainfayers : for
we had great difputes ^vith profeilors of all forts. Many
reproaches they caft upon truth, and lying flanderous books
they gave forth againft us; but wc anfwered them, cleared
God's truth, fet it oyer them, and the Lor^!^ power was
over all.
i»55] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 193
Amongfl other fervices for the Lord, which then lay up-*
on me in the city, I ^vas moved to give forth a paper to
thofe that made a fcorn at trcmbhng and quaking :
' nr^HE word of the Lord to you all, that fcorn trem-^
' X bling and quaking, who fcorn, throw ilones at, and
' belch forth oaths againft thofe who are trembling and
' quaking, threatening and beating them. Strangers ye are
' to all the apoftles and prophets ; and are of the generation
' that ftoned them and mocked them in thofe ages. Ye are
' of the fcofFers which they fpake of, that are come in the
' lafl times. Be ye witneffcs againft yourlelves. To the
* light in all . your confciences I fpeak, that with it you
' may fee yourfelves to be out of the life of the holy men
' of God.
' Mofes, who was judge ov6r all Ifrael, trembled, feared,,
* and quaked, when the Lord faid unto him, I am the God
' of Abraham, and the God of Ifaac, and the God of Jacob;
' then he trembled, and durft not beliold. This, which
* makes to tremble now, ye teachers and people feoff at,,
* and fcorn thofe in your ftreets who witneis the power of
' the Lord. Mofes forfook the pieafures of the worlds
' which he might have enjoyed for a fcafon. He might
* have been called the fon of Pharaoh's daughter; he re-
' fufed it, and forfook Pharaoh's houfe; yet was no vaga-
' bond. David, a king, trembled. He was mocked ; they
* made fongs on him; they wagged their heads at him.
* Will you profefs David's words, and Mofes's words, who
' are in the generation of your fithers, mockers, fcofrers,
* wonderers and defpifers, which are to perillr ? O blufh I
' Be afliamed of all your profelTion, and be confounded!
' J ob trembled, his flefh trembled, and they mocked him ;
' fo do you now mock them in whom the fame power of
' God is made manifeft ; yet you .profefs Job's words. O
' deceitful hypocrites ! will ye not own fcripture ? O for
' fhame ! Never profefs fcripture words, and deny the
' power, which, according to the fcripture, makes tiie keepers
' of the houfe to tremble, and the ilrono; man to bow him-
' fclf. Thefe things priefts, magiftiates, and people feoff
' at; but with the power ye are judged, and by the power
' and life condemned.
' The prophet Jeremiah trembled, he fhook, his bones
" quaked, he reeled to and fro, like a drunken man, when
* he faw the deceit of the priefts and prophets who were.
!^4 GEORGE fOX's JOURNAL. [1655
* turned flom the way of God ; and they were not afhamed,
« neither could they blufh. Such were gone from the light;
* and fuch were they that ruled over the people. But he
* was brought to cry, O foolifh people ! that had eyes, and
* could not fee ; that had ears, and could not hear ; that did
* not fear the Lord, and trenrible at his prefence, who placed
^ the fands for bounds to the fea by a perpetual decree, that
* the waves thereof cannot pafs ! And he faid, " A horrible
" thinir is committed in the land; the prophets prophefy
•' falfely, and the priefls bear rule by their means. Shall
*' not 1 vifit for thefe things, faith the Lord ? Shall not my
" foul be avenged upon fuch a nation as this ?" They were
* fuch as did not tremble at the word of the 'Lord; there-
' fore he ca.lled them a foolifii people. Hear all ye the
* word of the Lord, ye foolifh people, who fcorn trembling
' and quaking. Give over profefling the prophet Jeremiah's
' words, and making a trade of them ; for with his words
' you are judged to be among the fcoffers, fcorners, and
* flockers. For he was flocked by your generation ; and
' you now ttock them that tremble at the word of the
' Lord, at the power of the mighty God, which raifes
' up the Seed of God, and throws down the earth which
' hath kept it down. So you that are in the fall, where
* death reigneth, enemies of the truth, defpifmg the pow-
< er of God, as thofe of your generation ever did, wo
* and mifery is your portion, except you fpeedily repent.
' Ifaiah faid, " Hear the word of the Lord, all ye that
" tremble at his word." And he faid, " This was the man.
" that God did regard, who was of a broken and contrite
" heart, and trembled at his word. When their brethren
" hated and perfecuted them, faying, Let the Lord be glo-
" rified ; he fhall appear to your joy, but they fliali be
'' afhamed," IHi. Ixvi. ^. Now all ye fcofrers and fcorners,
' that defpife trembling, you regard not the word of the
* Lord ; they are not regarded by you, that tremble at the
' word ; who are regarded by the Lord : therefore you are
' contrary to Ifaiah's words. Profefs him and his words
* no more for fhame, nor make a trade of his words. Ye
' that feek for your gain from your quarter, ye greedy,
« dumb dogs, that never have enough, ye are they that de-
* fpife trembling; ye are fuch as Ifaiah cried againft, who
' himfelf witneifed trembling. Llere therefore be ye wit-
* nelfes againft yourfelves, that with the light in your con-
* fciences ye may fee ye are out of the prophet Ifaiah's fpi-
1^55] (GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 19^
lit, and are haters of them that tremble, whom the Lord
regards ; but fuch you regard not, but hate, perfecute,
mock, and rail againft. It is manifeft you walk in the
fteps of your forefathers, that perfecuted the prophets*
Habakkuk, the prophet of the Lord, trembled. Joel, the
prophet of the Lord, faid, " Blow the trumpet in Zion,
' and let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble." The
people ihail tremble, and all faces fhall gather blacknefs ;
and the people fhall be much pained. And now this
trembling is witneffed by the power of the Lord. This
power of the Lord is come ; the trumpet is founding, the
earth is fhaking; the inhabitants of the earth are trem-
bling; the dead is arifmg; and the living is praifing God:
the world is raging ; the fcoffers are fcorning ; and they
that witnefs trembling and quaking wrought in them by
the power of the Lord, can I'carce pafs up and down the
ftreets but with ftones and blov,\s, fifls and flicks, or dogs
let at them, or they are purfued with mockings and re-
proaches. Thus you vent your malice againft them thac
witnefs the power of the Lord, as the prophets did ; who
are come to the broken heart and contrite fpirit ; who
tremble at the word of the Lord, and whom the Lord
regards : thefe you ftone, ftock, fet your dogs at ; thefe
you fcofF and fcorn ; thefe you revile and reproach ; but
thefe reproaches are our riches; praifed be the Lord who
hath given us power over them. If you fee one, as Ha-
bakkuk, whofe lips quivered, whofe belly fhook; who
faid', " Rottennefs was entered into his bones," and who
trembled in himfelf ; if you fee fuch an one in this condi-
tion now, ye fay he is bewitched. Here again you fliew
yourfelves ftrangers to that power, to that life which was
in the prophet : therefore, for fhame, never make a pro-
feilion of his words, nor a trade of his words ; nor of
Joel's, who witneffed trembling, which ye fcorn and fcolF
at. Ye proud fcorners, mifery is your end, except you
fpeedily repent. Daniel, a fervant of the moft high God,
trembled; his ftrength and his breath were gone. He
was prifoned, he was hated, he was perfecuted. Thev
laid baits and fnares for him, in whom the holy Spirit of
God was. For fhame, you that make a profeflion of Da-
niel's words, give over your profefhon, priefts and people,
who fcolF and fcorn at trembling : with the light you are
fcen to be out pf Daniel's life, and by the fame power
jou are judged, at which you fcorn and feoff. Here again
M m
196 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165^
' be ye witneffes againft yoiirfelves, that you are fcorners
' and fcofFeis agalnll the truth ; and with the fcripture you
' are judged to be contrary to the life of the holy men of
' God. Paul, a minifter of God, made by the will of God
' a meffenger of the Lord Jefus, a veffel of the Lord, to
' carry his name abroad into feveral nations, when the dark,
' blind world have got fome of his words and epiflles, you
' teachers make a trade of them, and get great fums of mo-
' ney for it, fo you deflroy fouls for dilhoneft gain; making
* a trade of his words, and of the reft of the apoftles, pro-
' phets, and of Chrift's words, but denying the Spirit and
' life that they were guided by, and that power which fhook
' the flefh and the earth ; which the apoftle witnefled, who
* faid, " When he came among the Corinthians, he was
" with them in weaknefs and tear, and in much trembling,
" that their faith might not ftand in the wifdom of words,
" but in the power of God ;" in that power which made him
' to tremble. This power it is that the world, and all the
' fcoffing teachers, fcofF at and fcorn at in your towns, in
' your villages, in your affemblies, in your alehoufes. For
' fhame, lay afide all your profeffions of the apoftle's words
* and conditions ! Some that Icoff at this power, call it
' the power of the devil. Some perfecute, ftone and ftock,
* imprifon and whip them, in whom that power is made
' manifeft, and load them with reproaches, as not worthy to
* walk on the earth ; hated and perfecuted, as the ofiF-fcour-
* ing of all things. Here you may lee you are in the fteps
' of your forefathers, who perfecuted the apoftles, and a61;ed
' fo againft them ; ftocked them, mocked them, prifoned
' them, ftoned them, whipped them, haled them out of the
' fynagogues, reproached them, and Ihamefully treated
' them. Do not you here fulfil the fcripture, and Chrift's
' faying, who laid, " If they kill you, they will think they
" do God fervice ?" Yet you make a profcflion of Chrift's
' words, of the prophets and apoftles words, and call your-
* felves churches, and minifters of the gofpel. I charge
* you, in the prefence of the living God, to be filent who
* a6l fuch things ! Mind the light in your confciences, ye
'' fcoft^ers and fcorners, which Chrift hath enlightened you
*' withal ; that with it ye may fee yourfelves, what ye a6t,
' and what ye have a6led ; for who a6l fuch things fball not
' inherit the kingdom of God : all fuch things are by the
* light condemned.
* You who come to witnefs trembling and quaking, the
aSssI GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 197
powers of the earth to be fhaken, the luflful nature to be
deftroyed, the fcorning and fcoffing nature judged by the
light; in it v/ait to receive power from him who fhakcs
the earth. That power we own, and our faith (lands in
it, which all the world fcofFs at; the lofty, the proud, the
prefuinptuous, who live in prefumption, and yet inake a
proftilTion of the fcriptu res, as your fathers the Pharifees
did, who were painted fepulchres and ferpents ; and as
the Scribes did, who had "the chicfefl places in the affem-
blies, ftood praying in (he fynagogues, and were called of
men, Mafters, whom Chriil cried wo againft. Thefe are
not come fo far as the trembling of devils, who believed
and trembled. Let that judge you. The light and life
of the fcripture is feen and made manifeil, and with it all
you fcoiiiers, perfecutors, and railers are feen.
' Take v\rarning, all ye powers of the earth, how ye per-
fecute them whom the world nicknames and calls Quakers,
who dwell in the eternal power of God ; left the hand of
the Lord be turned againft you, and ye be all cut ofF.
To you this is the word of God, Fear and tremble, and
take warning; for this is- the man whom the Lord doth
regard, v/ho trembles at his word ; which you, who are
of the world, fcorn, ftock, perfecute, and imprifon. Here
ye m^ay fee ye are contrary to God, contrary to the pro-
phets; and are fuch as hate what the Lord regaids, which
we, whom the world fcorns. and calls Quakers, own.
We exalt and honour that power which makes the devils
tremble, fhakes the earth, throws down the loftinefs of
man, the haughtinefs of man, and makes the beafts of the
field to tremble, and caufes the earth to reel to and fro,
cleaves it afunder, and overturneth the world. This pow-
er we own, honour, and preach up, whom the \vorld
fcornfally calls Quakers. But ail perfecutors, railers, and
fcorners, ftockers and whippers, we deny by that povver
which throweth down all that nature ; as leeing that all
who aft fuch things, without repentance, {hall not inherit
the kingdom of God, but are for dofiru61;ion.
' Rejoice, ail ye righteous ones, who are perfecuted for
righteouinefs fake; for great is your reward in heaven.
Rejoice, ye that fuffer for well-doing; for ye fhall not
lofe your reward. Wait in the light, that you may grow
up in the life that gave forth the fcriptures ; that with it
ye may fee the faints conditions, and all that which they
tellified againft; with it ye will fee the ftate of tiiofe that
i\l m 2
tgn GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1655
* did reproach and feoff them, mock, perfecute, whip, flock,
* and hale them out of the fynagogues before magiflrates.
* To you, who are in the fame light and life, the fame
* things they do now ; that they may fill up the meafure of
* their fathers. With the light now they are feen, where
* the light, life, arid power of God is made manifeft ; for
* as they did unto them, fo will they do unto you. Here
* is our joy; the fcripture is fulfilled, and fulfilling; with
* the light which was before the world was, which is now
* made manifeft in the children of light, they fee the world,
* comprehend it, and the afilions of it : for he that loves
* the world, and turns from the light is an enemy to Godj
* he turneth into wickednefs : for the whole world iieth in
* wickednefs. He who turns from the light, turns into the
* works of evil, which the light of Chrift teftifies againft.
* By this light, where it is made manifeft, all the works of
* the world are feen and made manifeft.
' G. f:
Creat was the rage and enmity of the people, profeffors
as well as prophane, againft the truth and people of God
at this time ; and great the contempt and difdain they
iliewed of friends plainnefs. Wherefore I was moved to
write the following paper, and fend it forth, direfted as —
An epiftie to gathered churches into outward forms, upon
earth.
* A LL ye churches gathered into outward forms upon
* xV the earth, the Son of God is come to reign ; he will
* tread and trample, will ftiake, and make you quiver, you
* that are found without his life, his light, and his power,
* His day hath appeared ; mortar and clay will you be
* found. Breaking, ftiaking, and quaking is coming among
' you ! Your high building is to be laid defolate ; your
* profeifcd liberty ftiail be your bondage: the mouth of the
* Lord of Hofts hath fpoken it. Tremble, ye hypocrites,
* ye notionifts. The fenced cities fliall be laid.qefolate, the
* fruitful fields fliall become a wildernefs ; your fiilfe joy
* ftiall become your heavinefs : the time of weeping and
* dcfolation draweth nigh ! Come ye witty ones, fee how
* yc can ftand betore the Almighty, who is now come to
'' plead with you. You'll fall like leaves, and wither like
* we;eds ! Come you, that have boafted of my name, faith
^ the Lord, and have gloried in the flefli, ye fhall fade lik^
6s5] GEORGE PCX's JOURNAL, ijj,
a flower : who have flain my witnefs, yet boaft of my
words, which have been as a fong unto you. Come ye
novehfls, who love novelties, changeable fuits of apparel,
who are in the falhions outward and inward, putting on
one thing this day, and another the other day. " I'll flrip
thee," faith the Lord, " I'll make thee bare, I'll make
thee naked, and thou fhalt know that I am the Lord."
What ! hall thou profeiTed the prophets words ? haft thou
profelTed the apoilles words, and my Son's words ? haft
thou covered thyfelf with their expreftions ? thinkeft thou
not that I fee thee out of my life ? thinkeft thou, thou
witty one, to hide thyfelf where none can fee thee ? think-
eft thou, if thou flieft to the uttermoft parts of the earth,
that I am not there ? Is not the earth mine, and the ful-
nefs of it, faith the Lord ? Come all ye that have trufted
in your own conceited knowledge and wifdom, who were
never yet out of the earth, and the lufts of it, never yet
got the load of thick clay ofi^ you, never were out of the
drunken fpirit, whofe imperfe6lion appears, which muft
be come upon as a potter's veflel ; broken cifterns ; ye
that have been wife in your own conceit, wife in your
own eyes, in which pride hath lifted you up, and not
humility ; you muft be abafed. You have run on, every
one after his own invention, and every man hath done
that which was right in his own eyes, that which pleafed
himfelf. This hath been the courfe of people upon
earth. Ye have run on without a king, without Chrift,
the light of the world, which hath enlightened every one
that is come into the world. But now is truth rifen,
now are your fruits withering. You that are fortified, and
have fortified your ftrong houfes, called your churches,
make your cords ftrong, the Lord will break you afunder,
ye that are gathering in, and ye that are gathered. For
the Lord is rifen to fcatter you, his witnefs is rifen in
the hearts of his people ; they will not be fed with dead
words, nor with that which dies of itfelf ; nor will they
be fatisfied with the hufks which the fwine feed upon.
All ye priefts in the nation, and teachers, that now ftand
againft the light, your envy fhews that ye are in Cain's
way ; your greedinefs ftiews that ye are in Balaam's way ;
your ftanding againft the light, which hath enlightened eve-
ry man that cometn into the world, doth manifcft that you
are in Core's way, that fpoke the great high words of va-
jiity; ye, whofe qonfgienccs <\]:efeai'ed «\s v,'ith au hot iron..
2C0 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165^
vvhofe judgment doth not linger, whofe damnation doth
not flumber, who I'erve not the Lord Jehis Chrift, but
your own bclh'es ; who are as the evil bealts fpoken of,
which have deftroj^ed many families, takf n away their cat-
tle, their horfes, their goods, even their houfehold goods ;
deflroyed many poor men, even whole families, taking
their whole eftates from them, whom you do no work
for. O the grievous actions that are feen done by you,
the minifters of unrighteoufnefs ; whofe fruits declare to
the whole nation, that you are not the meffengers of God!
your a6tions declare it; your taking tithes, augmenta-
tions, treble damages, midfummer-dues, as ye call them,
of thofe vc do no work for, nor minifter to.
' All ye powers of the earth, beware of holding fuch up
as are unrighteous. Let not the words of the unrighteous
overcome you, left the righteous God, the judge of hea-
\'en and earth, take hold upon you ; whole judgment is
according to that of God in you, which will let you fee
when you tranfgrefs. Come you proud, lofty ones, who have
not confidered the handy-ivorks of the Lord, but have
deftroyed them ; nor have regarded the way of the Lord,
but have had plenty of the creatures, and have therewith
fatted up yourfelves, and forgotten the Lord and his way :
O let Ihame cover your faces here upon earth ! Come ye,
that are given to pleafures, who fpend your time in fports,
idlenefs, and fulnefs ; your fruits declare the fins of So-
dom ; yet you will make a talk of my name, and of my
feints words. " But I behold you afar off," faith the
Lord. You are proud and lofty; you are bad patterns,
bad examples, full, rich, and idle; who lay, others are
idle, that cannot maintain your lufts. Oh ! the unright^
eous balances that are among people ! O the iniquity
\n mcafuring ! O the opprellion in ruling and govern-
ing ! Becaufe of thefe things my hand fhall come upon
you, faith the Lord. For the oppreffion is entered into
the ears of the Lord, who gives reft to the wearied, to the
buidenecl, to the opprefied ; who feeds tha hungry, and
clothes the naked ; who brings the mighty from their
feats, bents the loay to the ground, and makes the haughty
bend. Come, I'aith the Lord, ye mockers, fcorners, and
rebellious ones, light and wild people, vain and heady;
you have had your da}' of joy, you have fcoff^ed, you
have mocked and derided my mclTcqgcrs, my ambaifadors,
who liave preached in your ftreetSj and cried in your ^j-
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL- 2o<
naorosues and temples : a day of trembling and lamenta-
tion fhall come upon you when you are not aware. 1 11
take away your pride and your height ; I'll fliake you as
a leaf, and bring you to be as men diflracled. Ill diflract
you, and make you that you fliall not truft one another
in the earth ; v/ho have joined hand in hand againft my
fervants in the truth. I'll fmite you with terrors, and
bring frets and fears upon you; the cup of my indigna-
tion and fury fhall you drink. Wheie will you appear,
when repentance is hid from your eyes ; when prophane
Efau, your father, is fet before you, and Ifhmael and
Cain, wild and envious, whoFe fruits declare the ftock ?
Come, ye proud priefls, who have eaten up the fat of the
nation, who by violeiice have taken other men's goods,
whofe envy hath llain many, whofe wickednefs and darkneis
hath abounded, and whofe unrighteoufnefs daily appears.
Your fruns every day declare it, in fummoning up by writs
and fubpoenas from moll parts of the nation for wages
andftithes, fuch as ye do no work for. Oh ! the abomi-
nable unrighteoufnefs ! how is the ftate of man loft, that
thefe things they do not take to heart, to feel them !
What havock is made in moll parts of the nation by fuch!
And all ye pritfts and teachers, who are railing and brawl-
ing in the pulpit, fetting people at variance one againft ano-
ther, haters and hateful, provoking people to hate one
another ; here is the feed of enmity feen which you have
fown and are fowing, whofe feed muft be bruifed by the
feed of the woman, which atop of your heads is fet.
' G. F.'
This year came out the oath of abjuration, by which
many friends fuiFered. Several friends went to fpeak with
the Prote6lor about it ; but he began to harden. And fuf-
ferings increafing upon friends, by reafon that envious ma-
gi ftrates made ufe of that oath as a fnare to catch them in,
who they knew could not fwear at all ; I was moved to
write to the ProtecLor as followeth :
* 'TPHE magiftrate is not to bear the fword in vain, who
' jL ought to be a terror to the evil-doers ; but the ma-
* giftrate that bears the fword in vain, as he is not a terror
' to evil-doers, fo he is not a praife to them that do well.
' Now hath God raifed up a people by his power, whom
' people, priefts, and ma^^iftrates, out of the fear of God,
ioi GEORGE FOX'a JOURNAL. [1655
fcornfully call Quakers, who cry againfl; drunkennefs (for
drunkards deftroy God's creatures) and cry againil oaths
(for becaufe of oaths the land mourns) and thefe drunkards
and fwearers, to whom the magiftrate's fword fhould be a
terror, are, we fee, at liberty ; but for crying againft fuch,
many are call into prifon, and for crying againft their
pride and filthinefs, their deceitful merchandize in mar-
kets, their cozening, their cheating, their excefs and
naughtinefs, their playing at bowls and fbovel-boards, at
cards and at dice, and their other vain and wanton plea-
fures. Who live in pleafures are dead while they live»
and who live in tvantonnefs kill the juft. This we know
by the Spirit of God which gave forth the fcriptures,
which God the Father hath given to us, and hath placed
his righteous law in our hearts ; which law is a terror to
evil-doers, and anfwcrs that which is of God in every
man's confcience. They who a61; contrary to the meafure
of God's Spirit in every man's confcience, caft the law of
God behind their backs, and walk defpitefully againft the
Spirit of Grace. The magiftrate's fword, we fee, is borne
in vain, whilft evil-doers are at liberty to do evil, and
they that cry againft fuch are, for fo doing, puniftied by
the magiftrate, who hath turned his fword backward
againft the Lord. Now the wicked one fenceth himfelfj
and perfecutes the innocent, as vagabonds and wanderers,
for crying againft fin, unrighteoufnefs, and ungodlinefs
openly, in the markets and in the highways ; or as railers,
becaufe they tell them what judgment will come upon
thofe that follow fuch praftices. Here they that depart
from iniquity are become a prey, and few lay it to heart.
But God will threfh the mountains, beat the hills, cleave
the rocks, and caft into his prefs which is trodden with-
out the city, and will bathe his fword in the blood of the
wicked and unrighteous. You that have drunk the cup
of abominations, an hard cup have you to drink, you who
are the enemies of God, of you he will be avenged. You
in whom fomething of God is remaining, confider; If
the fword was not borne in vain, but turned againft evil-
doers, the righteous would not fufFer, and be caft into
holes, dungeons, corners, prifons, and houfes of correftion,
as peace-breakers, for crying againft fin openly, as they
are commanded of the Lord, and for crying againft the
covetoufnefs of the priefts and their falfe worftiips ; who
exatl money of poor people, whom they do no work for.
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 203
Oh ! where will you appear in the day of the Lord ?
How will you ftancl in the day of his righteous judgment ?
How many gaols and houfes of correction are now made
places to put the lambs of Chrift in, for following hinx
and obeying his commands ! The royal law of Chrift,
To do as ye would be done by," is trodden down under
foot ; fo that men can profefs him in words, but crucify
him wherefoever he appears, and call him into prifon, as
the talkers of him always did in generations and ages paft.
The labourers, which God, the mailer of the harveft,
hath fent into his vineyard, do the chief of the priefts and
the rulers now take counfel together againft to caft them
into prilon : here are the fruits of priefts, people, and
rulers, without the fear of God. The day is come and
coming that every man's work doth and fliall appear; glo-
ry be to the Lord God for ever! See and coniider the
days you have fpent, and the days you do fpend ; for
this is your day of viatation. Many have fuft^cred greafi
fine?, becaufe they could not fwear, but abide in Chrift's
doftrine, who faith, Swear not at all : and by that means
are they made a prey upon for abiding in the command of
Chrift. Many are caft into prifon and made a prey up-
on, becaufe they cannot take the oath of abjuration, tho'
they denied all that is abjured in it ; and by that means
many of the meffengers and minifters of the Lord Jefus
Chrift are caft into prifon, becaufe they will not Iwear nor
go out of Chrift's command. Therefore, O man ! conii-
der ; to the meafure of the life of God in thee I fpeak.
Many alfo lie in gaols, becaufe they cannot pay the priefts
tithes ; many have their goods fpoiled, and treble dama-
ges taken of them ; many are whipped and beaten in the
houfes of correQion, who have broken no law. Thefe
things are done in thy name, in order to proteft them in
thefe a6lions. If men fearing God bore the Iword, and
covetoufnefs was hated, and men of courage for God were
fet up, then they would be a terror to evil-doers and a
praile to them that do well ; and not caufe fuch to fuffer.
Here equity would be heard in our land, and righteouf-
nefs would ftand up and take place ; which giveth not
place to the unrighteous, but judgeth it. To the meafure
of God's Spirit in thee I fpeak, that thou may eft confider
and come to rule for God : that thou mayeft anfwcr that
which is of God in every man's confcience ; for that is it
which bringeth to honour all men in the Lord. There-
Nn
304 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165^
' fore con fider for whom thou ruled, that thou maveft come
' to receive pov/er from God to nrle for him ; and all that
* is contrary to God may by his light be condemned.
' From a lover of thy foul, who defires thy eternal good,
' G. F.'
S'j.fFerings and imprifonments continuing and increafing,
and the Proteclor, under whofe name they were inflidled,
hardening himfelf againft the complaints that were made to
him, I was moved to give forth the following lines amongft
friends, fo bring the weight of their fufferings more heavy
upon the heads of the perfecutors.
WHO is moved by the power of the Lord to offer
himfelf to the juflice for his brother or filler in
prifun, to lie in prifon in their (lead, that his brother or
filler may come out of prifon, and fo offer his life for his
brother or filler ? Where apy lie in prifon for tithes,
witneffing the priefthood changed that took tithes, and the
unchangeable priefthood come ; if any brother in the
light, who witneffeth a change of the old priefthood that
took tithes, and a difannulling of the commandment for
tithes, be moved of the Lord to go to the priefl or impro-
priator, to offer himfelf to lie in piifon for his brother,
and to lay down his life that he may come forth, he may
cheerfully do it, and heap coals of fire upon the head of
the adverfary of God. Likewife where any fufFer for the
truth by them who are in the untruth, if any brother be
moved of the Lord to go to the magiftrate, judge, gene-
ral, or proteftor, and offer up themfelves to the prifon,
to lay down their lives for the brethren ; as Chritl hath
laid down his life for you, fo offer your lives one for ano-
ther. Here you may go over the heads of perfecutors,
and reach the witnefs of God in all. And this fhall lie
a judgment upon them all for ever, and be witn&ffed to
hy that which is of God in their confciences. Given
forth from the Spirit of the Lord through
' G. F/
Bcfides this, I wrote alfo a fhort epiftle to friends, as an
encouragement to them in their feveral exercifes.
* My dear friends,
* TN the power of the everlafting God which compre-
* JL h«nds tha power of darknefs. and all temptation, and
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 205
* that v/hich comes out of it, in this power of God dwell.
* This will bring and keep you to the word in the begin-
* ning; it will keep you up to the life, to feed tliereupon,
* in which you are over the power of darkncfs, and in
* which you will feel dominion and life. And that will let
' you fee before the tempter was and over him, into which
* the tempter cannot come ; for the power and truth he is
' out of. Therefore in that life dwell, in which you will
* know dominion. Let your faith be in the power over the
* weaknefs and temptations; look not at them; but in the
* light and power of God, look at the Lord's flrength,
* which will be made perfect in your weakefl ftatc. In all
' temptations look at the grace of God to bring your falva-
' tion, which is your teacher to teach you ; for wlien you
' look or hearken to the temptations, you go from your
* teacher, the Grace of God ; and fo are darkened in going
* from that teacher which fliould bring your lalvation, the
' Grace of God, which is fufficient in all temptations to
' lead out of them and to keep over them.
' G. F.*
After I had cleared myfelf of thofe fervices for the Lord,
which lay upon me in the city of London, I paifed into
Bedfordfhire and Northamptonfhire. At Wellingborough,
in Northamotonfhire. I had a <jreat meeting, in which the
Lord's everlafting power and truth was over all ; and many
in that country were turned to the Lord. Great rage was
amongft the profeffors ; for the wicked priefls, Prefbyteri-
ans, and Independents falfely reported, ' That we carried
* bottles about v/ith us, which we gave people to driiik of,
* which m.ade them follow us :' but the Power, Spirit, and
Truth of God kept friends over the rage of the people.
Great fpoiling alfc there was of friends goods for tithes b\-
the Independent, Frefbyterian, and fome Baptifl priefls,
who had got into the fteeple-houles.
From Wellingborough I went into Leicefterfhire, u'here
colonel Hacker had threatened. If I came he would impri-
fon me again, though the Proteftor had fet me at liberty :
but when I was come to Whetftone, the meeting from v/hich
he took me before, all was quiet. Colonel Hacker's v.nfs
and his marfhal came to the meeting, and were convinced ;
for the glorious, powerful day of the Lord was exalted ovcv
all, and many were convinced that day. There were at that
meeting two jufiices of the peace from Wales, their n.,mei
N n 2
ao5 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1655
were Peter Price and Walter Jenkin ; who came both to
be minifters of Chrift.
I went from thence to Silebv, to William Smith's, where
was a great meeting, to which feveral Baptifts came ; one
of them, a Baptift teacher, was convinced, and came to fit
under the Lord's teachmg by his Spirit and Power. This
Baptift faid, He had baptized thirty in a day.
From thence I went to Drayton, my native town, where
fo many priefts and proieffors had former!}/ gathered to-
gether a>^ainft me ; but now never a prieft nor profeffor did
appear. I afked fome of my relations, W^here all the priefls
and profellors were ? They faid the prieft of Non-eaton
was dead, and ei^ht or nine of them were feekin^ to c[et his
benefice. ' They will let you alone now/ faid they, ' for
* they are like a company of crows, when a rotten fheep is
* dead, they all gather together to pull out the puddmgs ;
* fo do the. priefts for a fallen benefice." Thefe were fome
of their own hearers that faid fo of them : but they had
fpent their venom againft me, and the Lord delivered me
hy his power out of their inarc.
Then I went to Bad^lev, where was a great meeting.
Numbers came far to it. Many were convinced, and turn-
ed to the Lord; who came under Chrift's teaching, and
were fettled upon him, their foundation and rock.
From thence I paiTed into Nottinghamfhire, and had
large meetings; and into Derby fhire, v/here the Lord's
power came over all. Many were turned from darknefs to
light, from the power of Satan unto God, and came to re-
ceive the Holy Ghoft. Great miracles were '.vrought in
many places by the power ot the Lord through fe\^eral.
In Derbyfhire James Nayler met me, and told me, fe-
ven or eight priefts had challenged him to a difpute. I
bad a travail in my Spirit for hirn, and the Lord anlwered
me. I was moved to bid him "o on, ' and God Almighty
* would be with him, and give him the victory in his pow-
' er.' And the Lord did fo ; infcmuch that the people faw
the priefts vvrerc foiled, and cried, ' A Nailer, a Nailer hath
* confuted them all.' After the difpute he came to me again,
praifing the Lord. T^ius was the Lord's day proclaimed,
and fet over all their heads. People began to fee the apof-
tacy and flavery they had been under to their hireling
teachers, and came to know their teacher the Lord Jefus,
who had purchafed them, and made their peace betwixt
Cod aiid them. While v:q were here, friend^ came out of
1655] GEORGE rOX's JOURNAL. 207
Yorkfhire to fee us, and were glad of the profperity of
truth.
After this I paiTed into Warwickfhire amongft friends,
vifiting their meetings ; and fo into Worcefterfhire. I had a
meeting at Binningham, where feveral were convinced, and
turned to the Lord. I came to one Cole's houfe near
Chattan. This Cole had given an Independent, preacher
a meeting-place, who came to be convinced ; after which
he laid afide his preaching ; whereupon the old man
Cole gave him an hundred pounds a year, I had a meet-
ing there ; a very great one it was, iniomuch that the
meeting-place would not hold the people. Many were
turned to the Lord that day. Afterwards, when the time
of trials came, this Independent did not ftand to that which
had convinced him ; but turned back : whereupon the old
man took away his lool. a year from him again. But
Cole himfelf died in God's tiTith.
I heard that at Evefliam the majriilrates had caft feveral
friends into divers prifons; and that, hearing of my coming,
they made a pair of high flocks. I fent for Edward Pitta-
way, a friend, who lived near Evefham, and afked him the
truth of the thing. He faid, it was fo. I went that night
with him to Evefham ; and in the evening we had a large,
precious meeting, wherein friends and people were refrelh-
ed with the word of life, the power of the Lord. Next
morning I rode to one of the prifons, and vifited friends
there, and encouraged them. Then I rode to the other
prifon, where were feveral prifoners. Amongft them was
Humphry Smith, who had been a prieft, but was now be-
come a free minifter of Chrift. When I had vifited friends
at both prifons, and was turned to go out of the town, I
efpied the magiftrates coming up the town to have fcizcd
me in prifon. But the Lord fruftratsd their intent, the in-,
nocent efcaped their fnarc, and God's blefled power came
over them all. But exceeding rude and envious v/ere the
priefls and profeffors about this time in thefe parts,
I went from Evefham to Worcefter, and had a precious
meeting there, and quiet. After which, coir^ing towards
our inn, forne profeflbrs fell to difcourfe with friends, and
were like to have made a tumult in the cit)'. As we n-cnt
into the inn, they all cluttered into the yard; but I went
among them and got them quieted. Next day I walked
into the town, and had a great deal of difcourfe with fome
of the prcfciibrs concerning Chrifi and the vrav cf truth.
2o8 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165 j
One of them denied, that Chrift was of Abraham according
to the flefti, and that he v/as declared to be the Son of God
according to the Spirit. I proved from Rom. i. that he
was of the feed of Abraham, being made of the feed of Da-
vid according to the flefh ; and tliat according to the Spirit
he was declared to be the Son of God. Afterwards I
wrote a paper concerning it.
From Worcefler we went to Tewkfbury, where in the
evening we had a great meeting, to which came the prieft
of the town with a great rabble of rude people. The prieft
boafted, that he would fee whether he or I fhould have the
vi6lory. ' I turned the people to the Divine Light, which
' Ciirill, the Iieavenly and Ipiritual man, enlighteneth them
* withal ; that with that Light they might fee their fms,
* and that they were in death and darknefs, and with-
' out God in the world; and might alfo fee Chrifl; from
' whom it cometh, their Saviour and Redeemer, who fhed
' his blood and died for them ; who is the way to God, the
* truth, and the lile.' Mere the priefl began to rage againft
the Light, and denied it ; for neither prieft nor profefTor
could endure to hear the Light fpoken of. Having railed
at the Light the prieft went away, and left his rude com-
pany amongft us ; but the Lord's power came over them,
though mifchief was in their hearts.
Leaving Tewklbury we paflcd to Warwick, where in the
evening we had a meeting at a widow-woman's houfe with
many fobcr people. A precious meeting we had in the
Lord's power; feveral were convinced, and turned to the
Lord. After the meeting, a Baptift in the company began
to jangle ; and the bailiff of the town, with his officers,
came in, and faid, What do tbefe people here at this time
of night ? So he fecured John Crook, Amor Stoddart,
Gcrrard Roberts, and me; but we had leave to go to our
inn, and to be forth-coming in the morning. The next
morning many rude people came into the inn, and into
our chambers, defperate fellows ; but the Lord's power gave
us dominion over them. Gcrrard Roberts and John Crook
went to the bailiff to know what he had to fay to us. He
faid, we might go our ways, for he liad little to fay to us. As
wt: rode Out of town, it lay upon me to ride to his houfe,
to let him know. ' That the Protctlor havinsj eiven forth
' n:i inftrument of government, in -vViiich liberty of con-
' Icicnce was gi-ant-ed, it was very ftrange that, contrary to
' that inllrunR-nS of government, he would trouble peace-
ir>55] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 209
' able people that feared God/ The friends went with me,
but the rude people gathered about us with ftones. One
of them took liold of my horfe's bridle, and broke it ; but
the horfe drawing back threw him under him. Though the
bailiff law this, yet he did not Hop, nor fo much as rebuke
the rude multitude ; io that it was much we liad not been
llain or hurt in the ftreets ; for the people threw Hones and
flruck at us as we rode along the tov/n.
When we were quite out of the town, I told friends,
' It was upon me from the Lord that I mull go back into
' the town again ; and if any one of them felt any thing
' upon him from the Lord, he might follov/ me ; the reft
' that did not, might go on to Dun-cow.' So I palTed
through the market in the dreadful power of God, declar-
ing the word of life to them ; and John Crook followed
me. Some ftruck at me ; but the Lord's power was over
them, and gave me dominion over all. I fhewed them
their unworthinefs of the name of chrillians, and the un-
ivorthinefs of their teachers, that had not brought them into
more fobriety ; and what a fliame they were to chriflianity !
Having cleared myfeil I turned out of the town again,
and paffed to Coventry ; where we foimd the people clofed
up with darknefs. I ^vent to a profeffijr's houfe I had for-
merly been at, and he was drunk ; which grieved my foul
fo, that I djd not go into any houfe in the town ; but rode
into fom.e of the ftreets, and into tjie market-place. I felt
the power of the Lord was over the town.
Then I went to Dun-cow, and h.ad a meeting in the
crening, and fome were turned to the Lord by his Spirit,
as fome alfo were at Warwick and Tewklbury. We lay at
Dun-cow that night; where we met with [ohn Camm, a
faithful mlnifter of the everlallinp- "ofpel. In the inornincj
there gathered a rude cornpany of prieils and people, who
behaved more like beafls than men : for fome of them came
riding on hovfeback into the room where v/e were ; but the
Lord gave us dominion over them.
From thence we palTed into Leicefterlhire, where we had
Si great meeting at the place where I had been taken for-
merly. After that we came to Badgley, in Warwickfhire.
Here William Edmundfon who lived in Ireland, having
fome drawings upon his fpirit to come into England to fee .
me, met with me ; by v/hom I wrote a few lines to friends^
then convinced ir; the north of Ireland.
iic GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. t>6^|
' Friends,
' T N that which convinced you, wait ; that you may have
' Jl that removed you are convinced of. And, all my dear
* friends, dwell in the life, love, power, and wifdom of God,
' in unity one with another, and witjh God ; and the peace
' and wifdom of God fill all your hearts, that nothing may
" rule in you but the life which ftands in the Lord God.
' G. f:
When thcfe few lines v/ere read amongft the friends in
Ireland at their meeting, the pov/er of the Lord feized up-^
on all in the room.
From Badgley we palTed to Swanington and Higham, and
into Northamptonfhire and Bedfordfhire, having great meet-
ings. Many were turned to the Lord by his Power and
Spirit. When we came to Baldock in Hertfordfhire, I aflc-
ed, ' If there was nothing in that town, no profeffion ?' It
was anfwered me, There were fome Baptifls, and a Baptift
woman fick. John Rufh of Bedfordfhire went with me to
vifit her. When we came in, many tender people were
about her. They told me, ' She was not a woman for this
' world ; but if I had any thing to comfort her concerning
' the world to come, 1 might fpeak to her/ I was moved
of the Lord to fpeak to her ; and he raifed her up again,
to the allonifliment of the town and country. Her hufband's
name was Baldock. This Baptift woman and her hufband
came to be convinced ; and many hundreds of people have
met at their houfe fince. Great meetings and convince-
ments were in thofe parts afterwards ; many received the
word of life, and fat down under the teaching of Chrift
their Saviour.
When we had vifited this fick woman, we returned to
our inn ; where we found two defperate fellows fighting fo
turioufly, that none durft come nigh to part them. But I
was moved in the Lord's power to go to them : and when
I had loofed their hands, I held one of them by one hand,
and the other by the other, Ihewed them the evil of their
doings, and reconciled them one to the other ; and they
were fo loving and thankful to me, that people admired
Sik it.
From thence I palTed to Market- ftreet, where God had.
a people ; and through Albans to London, w^here friends
Were glad of the profperity of truth, and the manifeftation
of the Lord's glorious power, which had delivered us, and
itSjs] GEORGE F 0 X^s JOURNAL. an
carried us through many dangers and difficulties. I alfo
rejoiced to find truth profper in the cit)'-, and all things
well amongft friends there. Only there vras one |ohri
Toldervey, who had been convinced of truth, and run out
from it ; and the envious priefls took occafion from thence
to write a wicked book againll friends which they fluffed
with many lies, to render truth and friends odious. They
intituled their book, " The Foot out of the Snare." But
this poor man came to fee his folly, and returned, condem-
ned his backfliding, anfwered the priefts book, and mani-
fefled all their lies and wickednefs. Thus the Lord's povv--
er came over them ; his everlafting Seed reigned, and reigns
to this day.
After I had tarried fome time in London, and had vifi-
ted friends in their meetings, I went out of town, leaving
James Nayler in the city. As I palled from him, I cait
my eyes upon him, and a fear ftruck me concerning him ;
but I went away, and rode to Ryegate in Surry where I
had a little meeting. There friends told me of one Tho-
mas Moore, a juflice of peace, that lived not far from Rye-
gate, a friendly, moderate man ; whereupon I went to viiit
him at his houfe, and he came to be a fei"viceabie man in.
truth.
We paffcd to Thomas Patchings, of Binfcombe in Go-
dalming, where we had a meeting, to which feveral friends
came from London. John Bolton and his wife came on
foot in frofl and fnoxv. After we had parted with friends
there, we went towards Horibam Park ; where having vifii-
ed friends, we went to Arundel and Chichefter, where we
had meetings. At Chichefter many proRirors came in, and
made fome jangling : but the Lord's power was over them.
The woman of the houfe, where the meeting was, though
convinced of truth, yet not keeping her mind clofe to that
which convinced her, fte fell m love with a man of the
world, who was there that time. When I knew it, I took her
afide, and was moved to fpeak to her and to pray for her; but
a light thing got up in her mind, and (he liighted it. Af-
terwards fhe married that man ; and loon after went dif-
traded; for he was greatly in debt, and Ihe greatly difap-
pointed. Then was I lent for to her ; and the Lord was
entreated, raifed her up again, and fettled her mind by his
power. Afterwards her hulband died ; and fhe acknowledged
the juft judgments of God were come upon her, for flight-
ing the exhortation and counfcl J had given licr.
O o
212 GEORGE FOX'9 JOURNAL. [1655
After we left Chichefter, we travelled to Portfmouth.
There the foldiers had us to the governor's houfe. After
fome examination, the Lord's power came over them, and
we were fet at liberty, and had a meeting in the town. Af-
ter which we came to Rin/^wood, where in the evening we
had a meeting. Several were convinced, and turned to the
Spirit of the Lord, and to the teaching of Chrift Jefus
their Saviour.
From Ring wood we came to Pool ; and, having fet up
our horfes at an inn, we fcnt into the town to inquire for
fuch as feared the Lord, and fuch as were worthy ; and wc
had a meeting there with feveral fober people. William
Baily, a Baptift teacher, was convinced at that time. The
people received truth in the inward parts, and were turn-
ed to the Lord Jefus Chrift, their rock and foundation,
their teacher and Saviour ; and there is become a great ga-
thering in the name of Jefus of a very tender people, who
continue under Chrift's teaching.
We went alfo to Southampton, and had a meeting, where
feveral were convinced. Edward Pyot of Briftol travelled
with me all this weftern journey.
From thence we went to Dorchefter, and alighted at an
inn, a Baptift's houfe : we fent into the town to the Bap-
tifts, to let us have their meeting-houfe to affemble in, and
to invite the fober people to the meeting ; but they denied
it us. We fent to them again, to know why they would
deny us their meeting-houle ? io the thing was noifed in.
the town. Then v\'e fent them word, If they would not
let us come to their houfe, they, or any people that feared
God, might come to our inn, if they pleafed -, but they
were in a great rage. Their teacher, and many of them
came up, and flapped their bibles on the table. I afked
them, ' Why they were fo angry ? were they angry with the
' bible ?' But they fell into a difcourfe about their water-
baptifm. I alked them, ' Whether they could fay they
* were fent of God to baptize people, as John was ? And
' whether they had the fame Spirit and power that the apof-
* ties had ?' They laid, They had not. Then I aiked
them, ' How many powers there are ? Whether there arc
* any more than the power of God, and the power of the
* devil ?' They faid. There was not any other power than
thofe two. Then faid I, ' If you have not the power o(
* God that the apoftles had, you act by the power of the
* devil/ Many fober pcopla were prcfent, who faid, " They
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 213
" have thrown themfelves on their backs." Many fubftan-
tial people were convinced that night ; a precious fervice
we had there for the Lord, and his power came over alL
Next morning, as we were pafling away, the Baptifts, be-
ing in a rage, began to Ihake the duft off their feet after us.
' What,' faid I, 'in the power of darknefs ! We, who are
* in the power of God, fhake off the duft of our feet againft
* you.'
Leaving Dorchefter, we came to Weymouth ; where alfo
5ve inquncd after fober people; and about fourfcore of them
gathered together at a prieil's houfe, all very fober people.
Moft of them received the word of life, and were turned
to their teacher Chvill Jefus, who had enlightened them
with his divine light, by which they might fee their fins,
and him who faveth from fm. A bleffed meeting we had
with them, and they received the truth in the love of it,
with gladnefs of heart. The meeting held feveral hours.
* The ftate of their teachers, and the apoftacy was opened
* to them ; and the itate of the apoftles, and of the church
* in their days : and the ftate of the law and of the prophets
' before Chrift, and how Chrift came to fulfil them ; that he
* was their teacher in the apoftles days ; and that he was come
* now to teach his people himfelf by his power and fpirit.'
All was quiet, the meeting broke up peaceably, the people
were very loving ; and a meeting is continued in that town
to this day. Many are added to them; and fome who had
been Ranters came to own the truth, and to live very foberly.
There was a captain of horfe in the town, who fent to
me, and would fain have had me to have ftaid longer; but
I was not to ftay. He and his man rode out of town with
me about feven miles; Edward Pyot alfo being with me.
This captain was the fattcft, merrieft, cheerfulleft man, and
the moft given to laughter, that ever I met with : infomuch
that I was feveral times moved to fpeak in the dreadful
power of the Lord to him ; yet it was become fo cuftomary
to him, he would prefently laugh at any thing he faw. But
I ftill admonifhed him to come to fobricty, and the fear of
the Lord, and fmcerity. We lay at an inn that night ; and
the next morning I was moved to fpeak to him again, when
he parted from us. Next time I faw him, he told me, When
I fpoke to him at parting, the power of the Lord fo ftrurk
him, that before he got home he was ferious enough, and
had left his laughing. He afterwards was convinced, and
became a ferious good man, and ditd in the truth,
O o 2
314 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
Parting from him, we went to Honiton ; and at our
inn inquired, What people were in the town that feared
God, and ferit for them. There came to us fome of the
particular Baptifts, with whom we had a great deal of rea-
foning. I told them, ' They held their doftrine of par-
* ticular ele61ion in Efau's. Cain's, and Ilhtnaers nature ;
* not in Jacob, the fecond birth : but they mull be born
* again before they could enter the kingdom of God. And
' that as the promife of God was to the Seed, not as many,
* but as one, which was Chrifl ; io the eleftion and choice
* ftands in, Chrift; and they mud be fucli as walk in his
* light, grace, Spirit, and truth.
From thence we paiTed to Topfham, and ftaid over firfl-
day ; but the inn-keeper and his people v/ere rude. Next
morning we gave forth fome queries to the priefls and pro-
feffors : whereupon fome rude profelfors came to our inn ;
and, had we not gone when we did, they had flopped us. I
wore a girdle, which through forgetfulnefs I left behind me,
and afterwards fent to the inn-keeper for; but he would not
let me have it again. Afterwards, when he was troubled in
his mind about it, he burnt it, left he fhould be bewitched by
it, as he faid ; vet when he had burnt it, he was more trou-
bled than before. Some, notwithllanding the rudenefs of
the place, were convinced, and a meeting was afterwards
fettled in that town, which hath continued ever fince.
After this we pafiTed to Totncs, a dark town. We lodged
there at an inn ; and that night Ed"\^''avd Pyot was fick, but
the Lord's power healed him, fo that the next day we
got to King's Bridge, and at our inn inquired for the fober
people of the town. They direclcd us to Nicholas Tripe
and his wife ; and we went to their houfe. They f^i^t for
the prieft, with whom we had fome difcourfe; but he be-
ing confounded, quickly iek us. Nicholas Tripe and his
wife were convinced ; and fmce there is a good meeting of
friends in tho.t country. In the evening v/e returned to our
inn. There being many people drinking in the houfe, ' I
' was moved of the Lord to go amongll them, and direft
* them to the light which Chriil the heavenly man had en-
* lightened them withal ; by which they might fee all their
* evil ways, words, and deeds, and by the fame light they
* might a (To fee Chriil jefus their Saviour.' The inn-keeper
ftood uneafy, feeing it hindered his guefls from drinking;
^nd as ioon as the lafl wordii were out of my mouth, he
inatched up the candk% and faid, ' Come, here is a ligl^S
i6553 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 215
* for you to go Into your chamber.' Next morning, when
he was cool, I repreiented to him, ' What an uncivil thmg
* it was for him fo to do ;' then warning him of the day of
the Lord, we got ready and paffed away.
We came next day to Plymouth, refrefhed ourfelves at
our inn, and went to Robert Gary's, where we had a very
precious meeting. At this meeting was Elizabeth Trelaw-
ny, daughter to a baronet. She being fomewhat thick of
hearing, came clofe up to me, and clapped her ear very
nigh me, while I fpake ; and fhe was convinced. After
this meeting came in Come jangling Baptifts; but the Lord's
power came over them, and Elizabeth Trelawny gave tefti^
mony thereto. A fine meeting was fettled there in the
Lord's power, which hath continued ever fince ; where ma-
ny faithful friends have been convinced.
From thence we paffed into Cornwall, and came to an
inn in the parilli of Menhenniot. At night we had a meet-
ing at Edward Flancock's, to which came Thomas Mounce
and a prieft, with a great deal of people. We brought the
prieft to confefs. That he was a minifter made by the flate,
and maintained by the ftate ; and he was confounded and
went his way : but many of the people ftaid. I direfted them
to the * light of Chrill, by which they might fee their fins,
* and their Saviour Chrill Jefus, the way to God, their Me^
' diator to make peace betwixt God and them ; their Shep-
* herd to feed them, and their Prophet to teach them. I di-
' reded them to the Spirit of God in themfelves, by which
■ they might know the fcriptures, and be led into all truth ;
* and by the Spirit might know God, and in it have unity
' one with another.' Many were convinced at that time, and
came under ChriiVs teaching ; and there are fine gatherings
in the name of Jefus in thofe parts at this day.
We travelled from thence through Penryn, and came to
Hellion ; but could not get to the knowledge of any fober
people, through the badnefs of the inn-keepers. At length
w^e came to a village, where fome Baptifts and fober people
lived, with whom we had difcourfe. Some of them were
brought to confefs, that they Humbled at the light of Chrill.
They would have had us to have flaid with them ; but we
pafled thence to Market -Jew; and having taken up our
lodging at an inn, we fent over night to inquire for fuch as
feared the Lord. Next morning the mayor and aldcrnicu
gathered together, with the high-fheriff of the county ; and
l^Ut the cpnftables to bid us come before thtm. We alked
ii6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1655
them for their warrant ; and they faying they had none, we
told them, we fhould not go along with them without a
warrant. Upon the return of the conflables without us,
they fent their fergeants, and we aflced them for their war-
rant. They faid, they had none ; but told us, the mayor
and aldermen ftaid for us. We told them, the mayor and
his company did not well to trouble us in our inn ; and
we fhould not go with them without a vrarrant. So they
went away, and came again ; and when we alked them for
their warrant, one of them plucked his mace from under
his cloak. We aiked them, Whether it was their cuftom
to moleil and trouble ftrangers in their inns and lodgings ?
After iome time Edward Pyot went to the mayor and alder-
men, and a great deal of difcourfe he had with them ; but
the Lord's power gave him dominion over them all. When
he returned, feverai of the officers came to us ; and we laid
before them the incivility and unworthinefs of their carriage
towards us, the fervants of the Lord God, thus to Hop and
trouble us in our inns and lodgings ; and what an unchrif-
tian aft it was. Before we left the town, I wrote a little
paper, to be fent to the fevcn parifhes at the Land's End.
THE mighty d^y of the Lord is come, and coming,
wherein all hearts fhall be made manifeft, and the
fccrets of every one's heart fliall be revealed by the light
of Jefus, who lighteth every man that cometh into the
world, that all men through him might believe, and that
the world might have life through him, who faith, " Learn
' of me ;" and ot whom God faith, " This is my beloved
' Son. hear ye him." Ghrifl is come to teach his people
himfelf; and every one that will not hear this Prophet,
which God hath raifed up, and which Mofes Ipake of,
when he faid, " Like unto me will God raife you up a
' Prophet, him fliall you hear:" every one, I fay that will
not hear this prophet, is t© be cut off. They that de-
fpifed Mofcs's law, died under the hand of two or three
witnefies ; but how much greater punifliment will come
upon tiiem that neglcft this great falvation, Ghrifl: Jefus,
wi70 faith, " Learn of me, 1 am the wav. the truth, and
' tiie life ;" who lighteth every man that cometh into the
world; and by his light lets him fee his evil ways and
evil deeds. But if vou hate that light, and go on in evil,
this light will be your condemner. Therefore, now ye
have time, prize it : for this is the day of your vifitation.
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. iiy
* and falvation offered to you. Every one of you hath a
* light from Chrift ; which lets you lee you (liould not lie,
* nor do wrong to any, nor fwear, nor curfe, nor take God's
* name in vain, nor ftcal. It is the light that flicws you
' thefe evil deeds : which if you love, and come unto it,
* and follow it, it will lead you to Chrift, who is the way
' to the Father, from whom it comes ; where no unrighte-
* oufnefs enters, nor ungodlineis. If you hate this light*
* it will be your condemnation ; but if you love it, and
' come to it, you will come to Chrift ; and it will bring
' you off from all the world's teachers and ways, to learn of^
* Chrift, and will preferve you from the evils of the world j
' and all the deceivers in it.
* G. F.'
This paper a friend, then with me, had ; and when we
were gone three or four miles from Market -Jew towards the
weft, he meeting with a man upon the road, gave him a
copy of the paper. This man proved to be a fervant to
Peter Ceely, a major in the army, and a juftice of peace
in that county ; and, riding before us to a place called St*
Ives, fliewed the paper to his mafter. When we came to
Ives, Edward Pyot's horfe having caft a fhoe, we ftaid to
have a flioe fet ; and while he was getting his horfe ftiod, I
walked to the fea-ftde. When I came back, I found the
town in an uproar. They were haling Edward Pyot and
the other friend before major Ceely. I followed them into
the juftice's houfc, though they did not lay hands upon me«
When we came in, the houle was full of rude people ;
whereupon I alked, Whether there were not an officer
among them, to keep the people civil ? Major Ceely faid,
he was a magiftrate. I told him, ' He ftiouid fhew forth
' gravity and fobriety then, and ufe his authority to keep
' the people civil ; ibr I never faw any people ruder : the
* Indians were more like Chriftians than they.' After
awhile they brought the paper, and afked. Whether I would
own it ? I faid. Yes. Then he tendered the oath of abju-
ration to us : whereupon I put my hand in my pocket, and
produced the anfwer to it, which had been given to the
proteftor. After I had given him that, he examined us
i'everally, one by one. He had with him a filly, young
prieft, who alked us many frivolous queftions; amongft the
reft, he defircd to cut my hair, which then was pretty long ;
but I was not to cut it, though many were offcndc-d at it.
2i8 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. {1655
I told them, ' I had no pride in. it ; and it was not of my
' own putting on.' At length the juftice put us under a
guard of foldiers, who were hard and wild, like the juftice
himfelf : neverthelefs we ' warned the people of the day of
' the Lord, and declared the truth to them.' The next day
he fent us guarded by a party of horfe, with fwords and
piftols, who took us to Redruth. On firft-day the foldiers
would have carried us away ; but we told them, It was
their fabbath, and it wavS not ufual to travel on that day.
Several of the towns people gathered about us ; and whilft
I held the foldiers in difcourfe, Edward Pyot fpoke to the
people ; and afterwards Edv/ard Pyot held the foldiers in
difcourfe whilft I fpoke to the people. In the mean time
the other friend got out backwards, and went to the fteeple-
houfe, to fpeak to the prieft and people. The people were
exceeding defperate, in a mighty rage againil him, and
abufed him. The foldiers alio miflinij; him, were in a great
rage, and feemed ready to kill us ; but I declared the day
of the Lord, and the word of eternal life to the people. In
tiie afternoon the foldiers were refolved to have us away ;
fo we took horfe. When we had rid to the town's end, I
was moved of the Lord to go back again, to fpeak to the
old man of the houfe. The foldiers drew out their piftols,
and fwore I fliould not go back. I heeded them not ; but
rode back, and they rode after me. So I cleared myfelf to
the old man and the people ; and then returned with them,
and reproved them for being fo rude and violent.
At night we were brought to a town then called Smeth-
ick, but Cnce Falmouth. It being the evening of the firll-
day, there came into our inn the chief conftable of the
place, and many fober people ; forne of whom began to
inquire concerning us. We told them. We were prifoners
for truth's fake ; and a great deal of difcourfe we had with
them concerning the thmgs of God. They were very fober,
and very loving to us. Some of them were convinced, and
flood faithful ever after.
When the conftable and thefe people were gone, others
came in, who alfo were very civil, and went away very
loving. When all were gone, we went to our chamber to
go to bed ; and about the eleventh hour Edward Pyot faid,
' I will ftiut the door, it may be fome may come to do us
' a mifchief.' Afterwards we undcrftood captain Keat, who
commanded the party, purpofed to have done us fome in-
jury that night; but the door being bolted, he milled his
1655] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 21^
defign. Next morning captam Keat brought a kinfirtan of
his, a rude, wicked man, and put him into tiie room ; him-
leJf ftariding without. This evil-minded man walked huff-
ing up and down the room ; I bid him fear the Lord.
Whereupon he ran upon me, ftruck me with both his
hands ; and, clapping his leg behind me, would have"
thrown me down, if he could; but he was not able, for I
rtood ftiff and ft ill, and let him ftrike. As I looked to-
wards the door, I faw captain Keat look on, and fee his
kinlman thus beat and abule me. Whereupon I faid to
him, ' Keat, doll thou allow this ?' He faid he did. ' Is
' this manly or civil,' faid I, ' to have us under a guard,
* and put a man to abufe and beat us ? Is this manly, ci-
' vil, or chriftian ?' I dehred one of our friends to fend
for the conftables, and they came. Then I dehred the
captain to let the conftables fee his warrant or order, by
which he was to carry us ; which he did ; and his v/arrant
was, to condu6l us fale to captain Fox, governor of Pen-
dennis caftle ; and if the governor fhould not be at home,
he was to convey us to Lancefton gaol. I told him, He
had broken his order concerning us ; for we, who were his
prifoners, were to be fafely conduiSled ; but he had brought
a man to beat and abufe us : fo he having broken his or-
der, I wiflied the conftable to keep the warrant. Accord-
ingly he did, and told the foldiers, They might go their
ways, for he would take charge of the prifoners ; and if
it cod twenty fhiiiings in charges to carry us up, they
fhould not have the warrant agam. 1 fhewed the foldiers
the bafenefs of their carriage towards us ; and they walked
up and down the houfc. pitifully blank and down. The
conftables went to the caftle, and told the officers what they
had done. TJic officers foewed great dillike of captain.
Keat's bafe carriage towards us ; and told the conftables,
major-general Deftorough was coming to Bodmin, and
that we ftiould meet him ; and it was likely he v\'ould free
us. Mean- while outsold guard of foldiers came by way of
entreaty to us, and provniled they would be civil to us, if
we would go with them. Thus the morning was fpcnt till
about the eleventh hour; and then, upon the foldiers en-
treaty, and promifc to be more civil, the conftables gave
them the order again; and we went v/ith them. Great: was
the civility and courtefy of the conftables and people of that
town towards us, who kindly entertained us ; and the Lord
rewarded them with his truth ; for many of them have fince
P p
220 . GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
been convinced thereof, and are gathered into the name of
Jefus, and fit under Chrift, their Teacher and Saviour.
Captain Keat who commanded our guard, underftanding
that captain Fox, who was governor of Pendennis caflle,
was gone to meet rhajor-general Defoorough, did not carry
us thither; but took us dirccliy to Bodmm, in the way to
Lancefton. We met major-general Defborough on the
way. The captain of his troop, that rode before him, knew
me, and faid, ' Oh, Mr. Fox, what do you here ?' I re-
plied, ' I am a prifoner.' ' Alack,' faid he, ' for what ?'
I told him, ' I was taken up as I was travelling.' ' Then,'
faid he, ' I will fpeak to my lord, and he will fet you at
* liberty.' So he came from the head of his troop, and
rode up to the coach, and fpoke to the major-general. We
alfo gave him an account how we were taken. He began
to fpeak againft the light of Chrifl ; againft which I ex-
horted him. Then he told the foldiers, They might carry
us to Lancefton ; for he could not flay to talk with us, left
his horfes ftiould take cold.
To Bodmin we were had that night ; and when we came
to our inn, captain Keat, who was in before us, put me in-
to a room, and went his way. When I was come in, there
ftood a man with a naked rapier in his hand. Whereupon
I turned out again, called for captain Keat, and faid,
' What now, Keat, what trick haft thou played now, to put
* me into a room where there is a man with his naked ra-
' pier ? What is thy end in this ?' ' Oh,' laid he, ' pray
' hold your tongue; for if vou fpeak to this man, we cannot
' all rule him, he is fo deviiilli.' ' Then/ faid I, ' doll
* thou put me into a room where there is fuch a man with
* a naked rapier, that thou fay'ft, You cannot all rule him ?
' What an unworthy, bafe trick is this ? and to put me
* fmgle into this room from the reft of my friends, that were
* fellow-prifoners with me ?' Thus his plot was dilcovered,
and the mifchief they intended was prevented. Afterward
we got another room, where we w^ere together all night ;
and in the evening we declared the truth to the people :
but they were dark and hardened. The foldiers, notwith-
Handing their fair promifes, were very rude and wicked to
us again, and fat up drinking and roaring all night.
Next d:'y we were brought to Lancefton, where captain
Keat delivered us to the gaoler. Now was there no friend,
nor friendly people near us ; and the people of the town
Were ii dark, hardened people. The gaoler required us to
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 221
pay feven fiiillings a week for our horfe-meat, and feven
Ihillings a week for our diet apiece. After fome time feve-
ral fober perfons came to fee us, and fome ot the town were
convinced ; and many friendly people out cf feveral parts
of the country came to vifit us, and were convinced. Then
got up a great rage among the profeflTors and prietls againft
us. They faid, This people Thou and Thee all men with-
out refpecl, and will not put off their hats, nor bow the
knee to any man ; but we fliall fee, when the affize comes,
whether they will dare to Thou and Thee the judge, and
keep on their hats before him. They expefted we fhould
be hanged at the affize. But all this was little to us ; for
we faw how God would ftain the world's honour and glo-
ry ; and were commanded not to feek that honour, nor
•give it ; but knew the honour that cometh from God only,
and fought that.
It was nine weeks from the time of our commitment to
the affizes, to which abundance of people came from far
and near to hear the trial of the Quakers. Captain Brad-
den lay with his troop of horfe there, whofe foldiers and
the fheriCF's men guarded us to the court through the
multitude that filled the ftreets ; and much ado they had
to get us through. Befides, the doors and windows were
filled with people looking upon us. When v/e were
brought into the court, we flood a pretty \vhile with our
hats on, and all was quiet ; and I was moved to lay, ' Peace
* be amongfl you ?' Judge Glyn, a Welflmian, then chief
juftice of England, faid to the gaoler, ' What be thefe you
"* have brought here into the court ?' ' Prifoners, my lord,'
faid he. ' Why do you not- put ofF your hats ?' laid the
judge to us. We faid nothing. * Put off your hats,' faid
the judge again. Still we faid nothing. Then faid the
judge, ' The court commands you to put off your hats.*^
Then I queried, ' Where did ever any magiflrate, king, or
'judge, from Mofes to Daniel, command any to put off
' their hats, when they came before them in their courts,
* either amongfl the Jews (the people of Godj or amongfl
' the heathen ? And if the law of England doth command
' any fuch thing, fliew me that law either written or print-
' ed.' The judge grew very angry, and faid, ' I do not carry
' my lav/-books on my back.' ' But,' faid I, ' tell ni2
' whcr^ it is printed in any ftatute-book, that I may read
* it.* Then faid the judge, ' Take him away, prevaricator!
* 111 lerk him.' So they took us away, and put us among^
Pp 2
221 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
the thieves. Prefently after he called to the gaoler, « Bring
' them up again ! Come,' faid he, ' where had they hats
* from Mofes to Daniel? Come, anlwer me; I have you
* fi\[\. now/ I repHed, ' Thou niayetl read in the third of
* Daniel, that the three children were cafl into the fiery
' furnace by Nebuchadnezzar's command, with their coats,
* their hofe, and their hats on/ This plain initance flop-
ped him ; fo that not having any thing elte to the point,
he cried again, ' Take them away, gaoler/ Accordingly
we were taken av/ay, and thrnft in among the thieves ;
where we were kept a great while; and then, without being
called again, the ftierifF's men and the troopers made way
for us to get through the crowd, and guarded us to prifon
again, a multitude of people following us, v/ith v/hom we
had much difcourfe and reafoning at the gaol. We had
fome good books to fct forth our principles, and to inform
people of the truth; which the judge and juftices hearing
of, thev fent caotain Bradden for them, who came and vio-
lently took cur books from us, fome out of Edward Pyot's
hands, and carried them away ; io we never got them
again.
In the afternoon we were had up again into the chamber
by the gaoler, flierifF's men, and troopers ; who had a
might)^ toil to get us through the crowd of people. When
we were in the court, waiting to be called, oblerving the
jurymen, and fuch a multitude of others {wearing, it griev-
ed m.y life to fee, that fuch as profelfed chriftianity fliould
fo openly difobey and break the command of Chrill and
the apoftle. A.nd I was moved of the Lord to give forth a,
paper again fl fwearing, which 1 had about me, to the grand
and petty juries,
C oncerni n g S w k a r i n c .
'AKE heed of giving pe(;ple oaths to fwcar : for
Chrifh our X^ord and Mailer faith, " Swear not at
" all ; but let your communication be yea, yea, and nay,
" nay : for whatfocvcr is more than thefe cometh of evil.''
' If anv was to fuiFer death, it muft be by the hand of
' two or three witneiTes ; and the hands cf the witneifes
' -wi^rc, to be tirft upon him to put h.im to death. The
* apoiile {ames faith, " My brethiun, above all things fwear
i'not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other
V acjrh, left ye faH i.'ito condemnation/' Hence yc md,y fee
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL, 223
thofe that fwear h\\ into condcrrjnation, and are out of
Chrift's and the apoltle's doclrhie. Every one of you
have a light from Chrift, who faith, " I am the light of
' the world," and doth enlighten every man that cometh
into the world. He faith, " Learn of me," v/hofe doc-
trine, and that of the apoftle, is not to fwear; but " Let
' your yea be yea, and 3'our nay be nay, in all your com-
' munication ; fOr whatfoever is more conieth of evil :"
they that go into more than yea and nay go into evil, and
are out of the doClrine of Chrill. If you fay, " That
' the oath was the end of controverfy and ftrife ;" thofe
who are in ftrife are out of Chrift's docl;rine ; for he is
the covenant of peace, and who are in that, are in the co-
venant of peace. The apoftle brings that but as an ex-
ample : as men fwearing by the greater, and the oath was
the end of controverfy and ftrite among men ; faying,
Verily, men fwear by the greater: but God. having no
greater fwears by him.ielf concerning Chrift ; who, when
he was come, taught not to fwear at all. So thofe who
are in him, and follow him, cannot but abide in his doc-
trine. If you fay, " They fwore under the law, and under
' the prophets ;" Chrift is the end of the law, and of the
prophets, to every one that believeth for righteoufnefs
fake. Now mark, " If you believe, I am the light of the
' world, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into
' the world," faith Chrift, by whom it v/as made ; now
every man of you that is come into the world is en-
lightened with a light that comes from Chrift, by which
the world was made, that all of you through him might
believe, that is the end for which he doth enlighten you,
Now if you do believe in the light, as Chrill commands,
' Believe in the light, that you may be children of light ;''
you believe in Chrift, and learn of him, who is the way
to the Father. This is the light which fhews the evil ac-,
tions you have all afted, the ungodly deeds you have
committed, the ungodly fpeeches you have fpoken ; and
all your oaths, curfed fpeaking, and ungodly atlions. If
you hearken to this light, it will let you fee all that you
have done contrary to it ; and loving it, it will turn you
from your evil deeds, evil ways, and evil words, to Chrift,
who is not of the world; but is the light, which lighted^
every man that cometh into the world, and teftifies again ft
the world, that the deeds thereof are evil. So doth the
light in eyery man, received frorn him, ^eftify a^ainft alj
224 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
' evil works, that they are contrary to the light ; and each
* fhall give an account, at the day of judgment, for every
* idle word that is fpoken. This light fhall bring every
* tongue to confefs, yea and every knee to bow, at the name
' of Jefus: in whicii light, if you believe, you fliall not
■ come into condemnation, but to Chrift, who is not of the
* world, to him by whom it was made : but if you believe
* not in the light, this is your condem.nation.
' G. f:
This paper pafTmg among them from the jury to the
juftices, they preiented it to the judge; fo when we were
called before the judge, he bid, the clerk give me that paper,
and then afked me, Whether that feditious paper was mine ?
I told him, ' If they would read it up in open court that I
* might hear it, if it was mine, I would own it, and Hand
* by it.' He would have had me to have taken it, and
looked upon it in my own hand ; but 1 again defired,
' That it might be read, that all the country might hear it,
* and judge whether there was any fedition in it or no; for
* if there was, I was willing to fuffer for it.' At lafl the
clerk of the aflize read it with an audible voice, that all the
people might hear it. "Wlicn he had done, I told them,
* It was my paper. I would own it; and fo might they
* too, except they would deny the fcripture : for was not
* this fcripture language, the words and commands of Chrift
' and the apoflle, which all true chriftians ought to obey ?*
Then they dropped that fubjeft; and the judge fell upon
us about our hats again, bidding the gaoler take them oft;
which he did ; and giving them to us, we put them on
again. We afked the judge and juflices, ' What we had
' lain in prifon for thele nine weeks, feeing they now ob-
' jecled nothing to us but about our hats ?' And as for
putting off our hats, I told them, ' That was the honour
' v/hich God would lay in the duft, though they made fo
* much ado about it; the honour which is of men, and
* which men feek one of another, and is a mark of unbe-
' iicvers. ' For " I low can ye. believe," faith Chriil, " who
" receive honour one of another, and feek not the honour
*' that comcih from God only ?" Chrift faith, " I receive
*• not honour froin men ;" and all true chriftians fliould be
* of his mind.' Then the judge began to make a pompous
fpeech. how hs rcprciented the lord Proteflor s perfon, who
made liim lord chief jufticc of England, and feat him to
i656] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. iz^
come that circuit;, &.c. ' We deiircd him then, that he
' would do us juftice for our talfe impvifonmcnt which we
* had fufrercd nine weeks wrongfuliy.' liut inllead of that,
they brought an indictment framed againit us ; lb lull uf
lies, that I thought it had been againli feme of the thieves,
'• That we came b'y force and arnis, and in a hoUile man-
" ncr into the court:" who were brought as alorehdd. I
told them, ' It was all falfe ; and ilill we cried for juftice
' for our faife imprifonrnent, being taken up in our journey
' without caufe by major Cecly.' Then Peter Ceely laid
to the judge, ' May it pleafe you, my lord, this man (point-
' ing to ms) went afide with me, and told me how iervice-
* able I mjght be for his delign ; that he could raife forty
' thoufand men at an hour's warning, involve the nation in
* blood, and fo bring in king Charles. I would have aided
* him out of the country, but he would not go. If it pleafe
* you, my lord, I have a witnefs to fwear it.' So he called
upon his witnefs; but the judge not being forward to ex-
amine the witnefs, I defircd, ' That he would be pleafed to
' let my mittimus be read in the face of the court and coun-
* try, in which my crime was fignified for which I was fent
' to prifon.' The judge faid, It fhould not be read. I faid,
* It ought to be, feeing it concerned my liberty and my
* life.' The judge faid again, It fhall not be read. I faid,
' It ought to be read; for if I have done any thing worthy
* of death, or of bonds, let all the country know it.' Then
feeing they would not read it, I ipoke to one of my fellow-
prifoners, ' Thou haft a copy of it, read it up faid I.' It
fhail not be read, faid the judge ; gaoler, take him away.
Til fee whether he or I ftiaJl be mafter. So I was taken
away, and awhile alter called for again. I ftill called to
have the miittimus read ; for that fignified the caufe of my
commitment. I again fpoke to the friend, my fellow-pri-
ioner, to read it up; which he did, and the judge, juftices,
and the whole court were filent ; for the people were eager
to hear it. It was as foilowcth :
' Peter Ceely, one of the juftices of the peace of this
' county, to the keeper of his highnefs's gaol at Lan-
* cefton, or his lawful deputy in that behalf, greeting:
I SEND you here withal by the bearers hereof, the
bodies of Edward Pyot, of Briftol. and George Fox,
' of Dravton in the CIa'»-. in Lcicefterfhire, and William
226 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
Salt, of London, which they pretend to be the places of
their habitations, who go under the notion of Quakers,
and acknowledge themfelves to be fuch ; who have fpread
feveral papers tending to the dillarbance of the pubhck
peace, and cannot render any lawful caufe of coming into
thoie parts, being perfons altogether unknown, having no
pafs for travelling up and down the country, and refufing
to give fureties for their good behaviour, according to the
law in that behalf provided ; and refufe to take the oath
of abjuration, &c. Thefe are therefore, in the name of
his highnefs the lord Protetlor, to will and command
you, that when the bodies of the faid Edward Pyot,
George Fox, and William Salt, fhall be unto you brought,
you them receive, and in his highnefs's prifon aforefaid
you fafely keep them, until by due courie of law they
fhall be delivered. Hereof fail you not, as you will an-
fwer the contrary at your perils. Given under my hand
and leal, at St. Ives, the 18th day of January, 1655.
' P. Ceeiy/
When it was read I fpoke thus to the judge and juftices,
' Thou that fayefl thou art chief juftice of England, and
* you juftices, know that, if I had put in fureties, I might
* have gone whither I pleafed, and have carried on the de-
* fign (if 1 had had one) which major Cecly hath charged
* me with. And if I had fpoken thofe words to him, which
*,he hath here declared, judge ye whether bail or mainprize
' could have been taken in that cafe.' Then, turning my
fpeech to major Ceely, I faid, ' When or where did I take
' thee afide ? Was not thy houfe full of rude people, and
* thou as rude as any of them, at our examination ; fo that
* I afked for a conflable or fome other officer to keep the
* people civil ? But if thou art my accufer, why littefl
* thou on the bench ? It is not the place of accufers to fit
* with the judge. Thou oughtell to come down and fland
* by me, and look me in the face. Befides, I would afic
* the judge and juftices. Whether or no major Ceely is not
' guilty of this treafon, which he charges again ft me, in con-
* cealinop it fo \on<i as he hath done ? Does he underftand
' his place, either as a foldier or a juftice of the peace ?
' For he tells you here, " That I went afide with him, and
*' told him what a defign I had in hand, and how fervice-
*' able he might be for my defign : that I could raife forty
*' thoufand men in an hour's time, bring in king Charles,
1656] . GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 227
" and involve the nation in blood." He faith moreover,
•' He would have aided me out of the country, but I would
" not go ; and therefore he committed me to prifon for
*' want of fureties for the good behaviour," as the mittimus
' declares. Now do you not fee plainly, that major Ceely
* is guilty of this plot and treafon he talks of, and hath
* made himfelf a party to it, by defiring me to go out of the
' country, demanding bail of me, and not charging me with
* this pretended treafon till now, nor difcovering it ? But
* I deny and abhor his words, and am innocent of his de-
* vilifh defign,* So that bufinefs was let fall; for the judge
faw clear enough, that inftead of enfnarin:? rne, he had en-
fnared himfelf
Major Ceely got up again, and faid, ' If it pleafe you,
* my lord, to hear me : this man ftruck me, and gave me
* fuch a blow as I never had in my life.' At this I fmiled
in my heart, and faid, ' Major Ceely, art thou a juflice of
* peace, and a major of a troop of horfe, and tellefl the
'judge in the face of the court and country, that I, a pri-
* foner, ftruck thee, and gave thee fuch a blow as thou ne-
' ver hadft the like in thy life ? What ! art thou not
* afhamed ? Prithee, major Ceely, faid I, where did I
* flrike thee ? and who is thy witnefs for that ? who was
' by ?' He faid, It was in the Cafde-green, and captain
Bradden was (landing by when I ftruck him. ' I defired
* the judge to let him produce his witnefs for that; and call-
' ed again upon major Ceely to come down from the bench,
* telling him, It was not fit the accufer fliould fit as judge
' over the accufed.' When I called again lor his witnefs,
he faid captain Bradden was his witnefs. Then I faid,
' Speak, captain Bradden, didft thou fee me give him fuch
' a blow, and ftrike him as he faith ?' Captain Bradden
made no anfwer, but bowed his head towards me. ' I de-
' fired him to fpeak up, if he knew any fuch thing ; but he
' only bowed his head again. Nay, laid I, fpeak up, and
' let the court and country hear; let not bowmg of the head
' ferve the turn. If I have done fo, let the law be inflifted
•' on me ; I fear not fufferings, nor death itfelf, for I am an
* innocent man concerning all his charge.' But captain
Bradden never teftified to it. The judge, finding thofe
fnares would not hold, cried, Take him away, gaoler ; and
when we were taken away, he fined us twenty marks apiece
for not putting off our hats ; to be kept in prifon till we
paid it; and fent us back to the gaol.
228 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
At night captain Bradden came to fee us, and feven or
ei"ht iullices with him who were verv civil to us, and told
us, They believed, neither the judge nor any in the court
gave credit to thofe charges which major Ceely had accufed
me of in the face of the country. And captain Bradden
faid, Major Ceely had an intent to have taken away my
life, if he could have got another witnefs. ' But laid I,
• Captain Bradden, why didft not thou witnefs for me, or
' agamft me, feeing major Ceely produced thee for a wit-
' nefs that thou faweft me flrike him ? When I defired
' thee to fpeak either for me or againft me, according to
' what thou faweft or knewefl, thou wouldft not fpeak.'
Why, faid he, when major Ceely and I came by you, as
you were walking in the Caule-green, he put off his hat to
you, and faid, Plow do you, Mr, Fox ? your fervant. Sir.
Then you faid to him. Major Ceely, take heed of hypocri-
fy and of a rotten heart ; for when came I to be thy mafler,
and thou my fervant ? Do fcrvants ufe to call their mailers
into, prifon ? This was the great blow he meant that you
gave him. Then I called to mind that they walked by us,
and that he fpoke fo to me, and I to him; which hypocrify
and rotten-heartednefs he manifefted openly, when he com-
plained of this to the judge in open court, and in the face
of the country ; whom he would have made believe that I
ftruck him with my hand.
Now were we kept in pnfon, and divers came from far
and nigh to fee us, of Vv^hom fome were people of account
in the world; for the report of our trial was fpread abroad,
and our boldnefs and innocency in our anfwers to the judge
and court was talked of in the town and country. Among
others Humphry Lower came to vifit us, a grave, fober,
ancient m.an, who had been a juftice of peace, and was ve-
ry forry we Ihould lie in prilbn; telling us, how ferviceable
we fliould be if we were at liberty. We reafoned with him
concerning fwearing;: and having acquainted him they
tendered the oath of abjuration to us as a fnare, becaule
they knew we could not fwear; and fhewed him, that no
people could be ferviceable to God if they difobeyed the
command of Chrift; and that they that imprifoned us for
the hat-honour, which was of men, and which men fouglit
for, they prifoned the good, and grieved the Spirit of God
in themfelves, v.-hich ihould have turned their minds to him.
So we direfted him to the Spirit of God in his heart, the
light of Chrill Jelus ; and he vvas thoroughly convinced^
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 229
and continued fo to his deatli, and became very ferviceable
to us.
There came alfo to fee us, one colonel Roufe, a juftica
of peace, and a great company with him. He was fall of
words and talk, as ever I heard any man in my life, fo that
without intruding, there was no fpeaking to him. At
length I afked him, ' Whether he had ever been at ichool,
* and knew what belonged to queflions and anfwers ?' [this
I faid to flop him.) At fchooi ! faid he, yes. At fchool !
faid the foldiers ; Doth he fay fo to our colonel, that is a
feholar ? Then faid I, ' If he be fo, let him be ftill and re-
* ceive anfwers to what he hath laid.' Then I was moved
of the Lord to fpeak the word of life^o him in God's dread-
ful power ; which came fo ove*r him that he could not open
his mouth. His face fwelled, and was red like a turkev.
His lips moved, and he mumbled fomething; but the peo-
ple thought he would have fallen down. I ilept to him ;
and then he faid, He was never fo in his life before ; for
the Lord's power flopped the evil power and air in hrni,
fo that he was almoll choked. The man was ever after ve-
ry loving to friends, but not fo full of airy words to us ;
though he was full of pride : but the Lord's power came
over him, and the reft that were with him.
Another time there came an officer of the armv, a very
malicious, bitter profefTor, whom I had known in London.
He was full of airy talk alfo, and fpoke fliahtly of the light
of Chrift, and againft the truth, as colonel Roufe had done,
and againft the Spirit of God being in men, as it was in
the apoftles days, till the power of God that bound the
evil in him had almoft choked him alfo, as it did colonel
Roufe ; for he was fo full of evil air, that be could not
fpeak ; but blubbered and ftuttered. From that time that
the Lord's power ftruck him, and came over him, he was
ever after more loving to us.
The affizes being over, and we feltled in prifon upon
fuch a commitment that we were not likely to be foon re-
leafed, we broke off from giving the gaoler (even ihiilings
a week apiece for our horfes, and feven fhiibngs a week
for ourfelves, and fent our horfes into the country. Upon
which he grew very wicked and devilifh, and put us down
into Doomfdale, a nafty, ftinking place, where they ufed
to put murderers after they were condemned. The place
was fo noifome, that it was obferved few th;it went in did
ever come out again in health. There was no houfe of
Q12
23d GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
office in it ; and the excrement of the prifoners, that from
time to time had been put there, had not been carried out
(as we were told) for many years. So that it was all like
mire, and in iome places to the top of the fhoes in tvater
and urine ; and he would not let us cleanfe it, nor fufFer
us to have beds or ftraw to lie on. At night fome friendly
people of the town brought us a candle and a little ftraw ;
and we went to burn a little of our ftraw to take away the
ftink. The thieves lay over our heads, and the head-gaol- s.
er in a room by them over our heads alfo. It feems the
fmoke went up into the room where the gaoler lay ; which
put him into fuch a rage that he took the pots of excrement
from the thieves, and poured them through a hole upon
our heads in Doomfdale, till we were fo befpattered that
we could not touch ourfelves nor one another. And the
ftink increafed upon us ; fo that what with ftink, and what
with fraoke, we had like to have been choked and fmother-
ed. We had the ftink under our feet before, now we had
it on our heads and backs alfo ; and he having quenched
our ftraw with the filth he poured down, had made a great
fmother in the place. Moreover he railed at us moft hide-
oufly, calling us hatchet-faced dogs, and fuch ftrange names
as we had never heard of. In this manner we were obliged
to ftand all night, for we could not fit down, the place was
To full of filthy excrement. A great while he kept us after
this manner before he would let us cleanfe it, or fuffer us
to have any victuals brought in but what we got through
the grate. One time a girl brought us a little meat; and
he anefted her for breaking his houfe, and fued her in the
town-court for breaking the prifon. A ijreat deal of trouble
he put the young woman to ; whereby others were fo dif- ^'
couraged that we had much ado to get water, drink, or vic-
tuals. Near this time we fent.for a young woman, Ann
Downer, from London, who could write and take things
v.-eli in Ihort-hand, to buy and drefs our meat tor us; which
fhe v/as very willing to do, it being alfo upon her fpirit to
come to us in the love of God ; and fhe was very fervice-
able to us.
The head-gaoler, we were infoiTned, had been a thief,
and was burnt both in the hand and in the fboulder :
his wife too had been burnt in the hand. The undcr-
gaoler had been burnt both in the hand and in the fhouU
der : his wife had been burnt in the hand alfo. Colonel
Bennet, a bfiptift-teacher, having purchafed the gaol and
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 231
lands belonging to the caftle, had placed this head-gaoler
there. The phfoners and fome wild people would be talk-
ing of fpirits that haunted Doomidale, and how many had
died in it, thinking perhaps to terrify us therewith. But I
told them, ' That if all the fpirits and devils in hell were
' there, I was over them in the power of God, and feared no
' fuch thing ; for Chrifl, our Prieft, would fanclify the
' walls of the houfe to us, he who bruifed the head of the
* devil.' The prieft was to cleanfe the plague out of the
walls of the houfe under the law, which Chrift, our Prieft,
ended ; who fanftifies both inwardly and outwardly the
walls of the houle, the walls of the heart, and all things to
his people.
By this time the general quarter-fefiions drew nigh ; and
the gaoler ftill carrying himfelf bafely and wickedly towards
us, we drew up our fuifering cafe, and fent it to the feffions
at Bodmin. Upon the reading of which the juftices gave
order, ' That Doomfdale-door fhould be opened, and that
* we ftiould have liberty to cleanfe it, and to buy our meat
* in the town.' We fent up a copy alfo of our fufferings
to the Protector, fetting forth how we were taken and com-
mitted by major Ceely, and abufed by captain Keat as
aforefaid, and the reft in order. Whereupon the Proteftor
fent an order to captain Fox, governor of Pendennis-caftle,
to examine the matter about the foldiers abufmg us, and
ftriking me. There were at that time many of the gentry
of the country at the caftle ; and captain Keat's kiniman,
that ftruck me, was fent for before them, and much threat-
ened. They told him, ' If I ftiould change my principle,
* I might take the extremity of the law againft him, and
' might recover found damages of him.' Captain Keat was
alio check'd for fuffering the prifoners under his charge to
be abufed. This was of. great fervicc in the country ; for
afterwards friends might have fpoken in any market or ftee-
ple-houfe thereabouts, and none would meddle with them.
I underftood that Plugh Peters, one of the Protedor's
chaplains, told him, ' They could not do George Fox a
' greater fervice for the fpreading of his principles in Corn-
' wall than to imprifon him there.' And indeed my impri-
fonment there was of the Lord, and for his fervice in thofc
parts ; for after the affizes were over, and it was known we
were likely to continue prifoners, feveral friends from moft
parts of the nation came into the country to vifit us.
Thof? parts of the weft were very dark countries at that
233 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
time ; but the Lord's light and truth broke forth, fhincd
over all, and many were turned from darkne fs to light, and
from fatan's power unto God. Many were moved to go
to the fteeple-houfes, feveral were fent to prifon to us, and
a great convincement began in the country: for now we
had liberty to walk in the Caftle-green, and divers came to
us on firfl-days, to whom we declared the word of life.
Great fervice we had, many were turned to God up and
down the country ; but great rage got up in the priells and
profcffors againfl the truth and us. One of the envious
profellors had gathered together many fcripture-fentences
to prove, ' That we ought to put off our hats to the peo-
* pie/ and he invited the town of Lanceflon to come into
the Caftle-yard to hear him read them. Amongft other
inflances that he brought, one was, ' That Saul bowed to
' the witch of Endor.' When he had done we got a little
liberty to fpeak, and fhewed both him and the people,
' That Saul was gone from God, and had difobeycd him,
* like them, when he went to the witch of Endor: that
' neither the prophets, nor Chiift, nor the apoflles ever
' taught people to bow to a witch.' The man went away
with his rude people ; but fome fhaid with us, and we
Ihewed them, That this was not gofpel-inflrutlion, to teach
people to bov\r to a witch. For now people began to be
affvicled with the truth, and the devil's rage increafed ; fo
that we were often in great danger.
One time there came a foldier, and while one of our
friends was admonifhing and exhorting him to fobriety, &c.
I law him begin to draw his fword. Whereupon I ftept
to him, and reprefented what a fhame it was to offer to
draw his fword upon a naked man, and a prifoner, and how
unfit and unworthy he was to carry fuch a weapon ; and
that, if he fhould have offered fuch a thing to fome men,
they would have taken his (word from him, and have bro-
ken it to pieces. So he was afhamed and went his way ;
and the Lord's power preferved us.
Another time, about eleven at night, the gaoler being
half drunk, came and told me, He had got a man now to
diipute with me (this was when we had leave to go a little
into the town.) As foon as he fpoke thefe words, I felt
there was mifchief intended to my body. All that night
and the next day I lay down on a grafs-plat to flumber,
and felt fomething rtill about my body; and I flaited up,
arid (Iruck at it in the power of the Lord, and ftill it was
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 235
about my body. Then I rofe and walked into the Caflle-
green, and the undcr-kceper came and told me, There was
a maid would fpeak with me in the prifon. I felt a fnare
in his words too, therefore I went not into the prifon,
but to the grate ; and, looking in, I law a man that was
lately brought to prifon for bemg a conjurer, v/ho had a
naked knife in his hand. I fpoke to him, and he threaten-
ed to cut my chaps ; but being within the gaol he could
not come at me. This was the gaoler's great difpiltant. I
went foon after into the gaoler's houfe, and found him at
breakfaft; he had then got his conjurer out with him. I
told the gaoler, his plot was difcovered. Then he got up
from the table, and call his napkin array in a rage ; and I
left them, and went away to my chamber; for at this time
we were out of Doomfdale. At the time the gaoler had faid
the difpute fhouid be, I went down and walked in the court
(the place appointed) till about the eleventh hour; but no-
body came. Then I went up to my chamber again ; and
after au'hile heard one call for me. I (lepped to the ilairs-
head, where I faw the gaoler's wife upon the Hairs, and
the conjurer at the bottom of the ftairs, holding his hand
behind his back, and in a great rage. I aficed him, ' Man,
* what haft thou in thy nand behind thy back?' ' Pluck
* thy hand before thee,' faid I ; ' let's fee thy hand, and
* what thou haft in it ? Then he angrily plucked forth
his hand with a naked knife in it. I ihewed the gaoler's
Wife their wicked defign againft me; for this was the m.an
th^y brought to difpute of the things of God. But the
Lord difcovered their plot, prevented their evil deiign; and
they both raged, and the conjurer threatened. Then I was
moved of the Lord to fpeak fharply to him in the dreadful
power of the Lord; and the Lord's power came over him,
and bound him down ; fo that he never after durft. appe.ir
belore me, to fpeak to me. I faw it was the Lord alone
that preferved me out of their bloody hands ; for the devil
had a great enmity to me, and ftirred up his indrunients to
feck my hurt. But the Lord prevented them ; and my
heart was filled with thankfgivings and praifes to hitn.
Now while I Vv'as exerciled witli people of diveis forts,
jthat came fome out of good-v/ill to viht us, fome out of an
envious carping mind to wrangle and difpute with us, and
fome out of curiofity to fee us; Edward Pyot, who before
his convincement had been a captain in the army, and had
a good underftanding in the laws and rigliLs of the people,
234 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
being fenfible of the injuftice and envy of judge Glyn to
us at our trial, and willing to lay the weight thereof upon
him, and make him fenfible thereof alfo, wrote an epiflie to
him, on behalf of us all, which was thus :
' To John Glyn, chief juftice of England :
* Friend,
WE are freemen of England, free-born; our rights
and liberties are according to law, and ought to
be defended by it ; therefore, with thee, by whole hand
we have fo long fufFered, and yet do fufFer, let us a little
plainly reafon concerning thy proceedings againft us, whe-
ther they have been according to law, and agreeable to
thy duty and office, as chief minifler of the law or juftice
of England ? And in meeknefs and lowlinefs abide, that
the witnefs of God in thy confcience may be heard to
fpeak and judge in this matter : for thou and we muft all
appear before the judgment-feat of Chrift, that every one
may receive according to what he hath done, whether it
be good or bad. Therefore, friend, in moderation and fo-
bernefs weigh what is herein laid before thee.
' In the afternoon, before we were brought before thee at
the affize at Lancefton, thou didft caufe divers fcores of
our books to be violently taken from us by armed men,
without due procefs of law ; which books being perufed,
to fee if any thing in them could have been found to have
been laid to our charge (who were innocent men, and
then upon our legal iflue) thou haft detained from us to
this very day. Our books are our goods, our goods are
our property, and our liberty it is to have and enjoy our
property : and of our liberty and property the law is the
defence ; which faith, " No freeman fhall be diffeized of
his freehold, liberties, or free cuftoms, &c, nor any way
otherwife deftroyed : nor we fhall not pafs upon him,
but by lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the
land, Magna Charta, cap. 29." Now, friend, confider,
is not the taking away of a man's goods violently, by force
of arms, as aforefaid, contrary to the lav/ of the land ? Is
not the keeping of them, fo taken away, a dilfeizing him
of his property, and a deftroying of it and his liberty,
)-ea, his very being, fo far as the invading of the guard
the law fets about him is in order thereunto ? Calls not
the law this a deftroying of a man ? Is there any more than
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 235
one common guard or defence to property, liberty, and
life, viz. the law ? And can this guard be broken on the
former, viz. property and liberty, and the latter, viz. life,
be fure ? Doth not he, that makes an invafion upon a man's
property and liberty (which he doth, who, contrary to
law, which is the guard, adsagainil either) make an inva-
fion upon a man's life ; fince that which is the ground of
the one is alfo of the other ? If a penny or penny's worth
be taken from a man contrary to law, may not by the lame
rule all a man hath be taken away ? If the bond of the law-
be broken upon a man's property, may it not on the fame
ground be broken upon his perfon ? And by the fame rea-
lon as it is broken on one man, may it not be broken upon
all, fince the liberty, property, and beings of all men under
a government are relative, a comjriunion ot wealth, as the
members in the body, but one gioard and defence to all, the
law ? One man cannot be injured therein, but it redounds
to all. Do not fuch things tend to the fubverfion and dif-
folution of government ? Where there is no law, what is
become. of government? And of what value is the law-
made, when the minifters thereof break it at plealure upon
men's properties, liberties, and perfons ? Canftthou clear
thyfelf of thefe things, as to us ? To that of God in thy
confcience, which is iuft, do I fpeak. Haft thou afted like
a minifter, the chief minifler of the law, who haft taken
our goods, and yet detaineft them, without fo much as
going by lawful warrant, grounded upon due information,
which in this our cafe thou couldft not have ; for none had
perufed them, whereby to give thee information ? Shouldeft
thou exercife violence and force of arms on prifoners goods,
in their prifon-chamber, inftead of proceeding orderly and
legally, which thy place calls upon thee above any man
to tender, defend, and maintain againft wrong, and to pre-
ferve intire the guard of every man's being, liberty, and
livelihood ? Shouldft thou, whofe duty it is to punifh the
wrong-doer, do wrong thyfelf? Who oughteft to fee the
law be kept and obferved, break the law, and turn afide the
due adminiftration thereof? Surely, from thee, confidcr-
ing thou art chief juftice of England, other things were
expetled, both by us and by the people of this nation.
' And friend, when we were brought before thee and ftood
upon our legal iftue, and no accufer or accufation came in
againft us, as to what we had been wrongtully imprifoned
for. and in prifon detained for the fpace of nine weeks,
Rr
23(5 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i65<$
fhouldeil not thou have caufed us to have been acquitted
by proclamation ? Saith not the law fo ? Oughteft thou
not to have examined the caufe of our commitment, and
there not appearing a lawful caufe, to have difcharged
us ? Is it not the fubftance of thy office and duty, to do
juflice according to the law and cuftom of England ? Is
not this the end of the adminiftration of the law ? of the
general affizes ? of the gaol-deliveries ? of the judges go-
ing the circuits ? Hall not thou, by doing otherwife,
atled contrary to all thefe, and to Magna Charta? which.
Cap* 29. faith, " We fhall fell to no man, we fhall deny
' or defer to no man, either juflice or right." Haft thou
not both deferred and denied to us, who had been fo
long oppreffed, this juflice and right ? And when of
thee jullice we demanded, faidft thou not, " If we would
' be uncovered, thou wouidfl hear us, and do us juftice ?"
— " We fhall fell to no man, we fhall deny or defer to no
' man either juflice or right," faith Magna Charta as afore-
faid : again, " We have commanded all our juftices,
' that they fhall from henceforth do even law, and execu-
' tion of right to all our fubje6ls, rich and poor, without
' having regard to any man's perfon ; and without letting
' to do right for any letters or commandments which may
' come to them from us, or from any other, or by any
' other caufe, &c. upon pain to be at our will, body, lands
• and goods, to do therewith as fhall pleafe us, in cafe they
'do contrary," faith Stat. 20 Edw. Ill, Cap. 1. Again,
' Ye fhall fwear, that ye fhall do even law and execution
• of right to all, rich and poor, without having regard to
' any perfon ; and that ye deny to no man common right
' by the king's letters, nor none other man's, nor for none
' other caufe. And in cafe any letter come to you contrary
' to the law, that ye do nothing by fuch letter; but certify
' the king thereof, and go forth to do the law notwithftand-
' ing thofe letters. And in cafe ye be from henceforth
' found in default in any of the points aforefaid, ye fhall
' be at the king's will of body, lands and goods, thereof
' to be done, as fhall pleafe him :" faith the oath appointed
by the ftatute to be taken by all the judges, Stat. 18 Ed.
III. But none of thele, nor any other law, hath fuch
an cxpreflion or condition in it as this, viz. " Provided
' he will put off his hat to you, or be uncovered." Nor
doth the law of God fo fay, or that your pcrfons be re-
fpetlcd ; but the contrary. From v/hcnce then comes
i6s61i GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 237
* this new law, " If ye will be uncovered, I will hear you,
*' and do you juftice ?" This hearing complaint of wrong,
* this doing of juftice, upon condition ; wherein lies the
* equity and the realonablenefs of that ? When were thefe
* fundamental lav/s repealed, which were the iffue of fo
' much blood and war ; which to uphold, coft the miferies
* and blood of the late wars, that we fhall now be heard, as
* to right, and have juftice done us but upon condition,
* and that too fuch a trifling one as the putting off the hat ?
* Doth thy faying fo. who art commanded, as aforelaid, re-
* peal them, and make them of no effeft, and all the mifc-
* ries undergone, and the blood fhed for them of old and
' of late years ? Whether it be fo or not indeed, and to the
* nation, thou haft made it fo to us ; to whom thou haft
* denied the juftice of our liberty when w^e were bctore thee,
* and no accufer nor accufation came in againft us, and the
* hearing of the wrong done to us who are innocent, and
* the doing us right. And bonds haft thou caft and conti-
* nued upon us until this day, under an unreafonable and
* cruel gaoler, for not performing that thy condition, for
* confcience fake. But thinkeft thou that this thine own
* conditional juftice maketh void the law ? or can it do fo ?
' or abfolve thee before God or man ? or acquit the penalty
* mentioned in the laws aforefaid ? unto which haft thou
* not confented and fworn ? viz. " And in cafe ye be from
*' henceforth found in default in any of the points aforefaid,
" ye fhall be at the king's will, of body, lands, and goods,
" thereof to be done as ftiall pleafe him." And is not thy
' faying, " If ye will be uncovered (or put off your hats)
*• I will hear you, and do you juftice ;" and becaufe we
* could not put them off for confcience-fake, thy denying
* us juftice, and refufing to hear us, as to wrong, who had
* fo unjuftly fuffered, a default in thee againft the very ef-
' fence of thofe laws, yea, an overthrow thereof, for which
*■ things fake (being of the higheft importance to the v/ell-
* being of men) fo juft, fo equal, fo neceflary thofe laws
* were made, and all the provifions therein ? To make a
' default in any one point of which provifions, expofeth to
* the faid penalty. Doft not thou by this time lee where
* thou art ? Art thou fare thou fhalt never be made to
' underftand and feel the juftice thereof? Is thy feat fo
* high, and thy fence fo great, and art thou fo certain of
* thy time and ftation, above all that have gone before thee,.
* whom juftice hath cut down, and given them their due^
R r 2
238 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
that thou fhalt never be called to an account, nor with its
long and fure flroke be reached ? Deceive not thyfeif, God
is come nearer to judgment than the workers of iniquity in
this age imagine, who perlecute and eviLintrcat thoie that
witnefs the Juft and Holy One, for their witneflingof him,
who is come to reign for ever and ever. Saith he not, he
will be a fwift witneis a.Tainil the falfe fwearers ? God is not
mocked.
* Surel)^, friend, that muft needs be a very great offence,
which deprives a man of juftice, of being heard as to
wrong, of the benefit of the law, and of thofe laws afore-
rehearfed ; to defend the juftice and equity of which, a
man hath adventured his blood and all that is dear to him.
But to fland covered (or with the hat on) in confcience to
the command of the Lord, is made by thee fuch an of-
fence (which is none in law) and rendered upon us
(who are innocent, ferving the living God) effe6luai to de-
ny us juftice ; though the laws of God, and of man, and
the oath, and equity and reafon lay the contrary, and on it
pronounceth fuch a penalty. " If ye will be uncovered
' (Uncovered, faidft thou) 1 will hear you, and do you
' juflice :" but juftice we had not, nor were we heard, be-
eaufe Jefus Chrift, who is the higher power, the lawgiver
of his people, in our confciences commanded us not to
refpe6l perfons; whom to obey we choofe rather than man.
And for our obedience unto him haft thou caft us into pri-
fon, and continueft us there, till this very day ; having
fhcwedus neither law for it, nor Icripture, nor inftances of
either, nor examples of heathens or others. Friend, Come
down to that of God, that is juft in thee, and confider,
was there ever fuch a tbuig as this heard of in this nation ?
What is become of fcrioufnefs, of true judgment, and of
righteoufnefs i An unrighteous man, ftanding before thee
with his hat off, fhall be heard : but an innocent man, ap-
]>earing witji his hat on in confcience to the Lord, fhall
neither be heard, nor have juftice. Is not this regarding
of perfons contrary to the laws aforefaid, and the oath, and
the law of God ? Underftand, and judge. Did we not
own authority and government oftentimes before the
court ? Didft thou not fay in the court. Thou waft glad to
hear fo much from, us of our owning magiftracy ? Pleaded
we not to the indictment, though it was fuch a new-found
one as England never heard of before ? Came wg not when
thou fentcft for us ? Went we not when thou bidft us go ?
656] GEORGE EOX's JOURNAL. 239
And are we not ftill prifoners at thy command and at thy
will ? If the hat had been fuch an offence to thee, couldft
thou not have cauied it to have been taken ofF, when thou
heardft us fo often declare, we could not do it in confci-
ence to the commands of the Lord ; and that for that caufe
we forbore it, not in contempt of thee, or of authority,
nor in difrefpeft to thine or any man's perfon (for we faid,
we honoured all men in the Lord, and owned authority,
which was a terror to evil-doers, and a praife to them that
do well ; and our fouls were lubjeft to the higher powers
for confcience fake) as thou cauledft them to be taken off,
and to be kept fo, when thou caliedft the jury to find us
tranfgrellors without a law ? What ado haft thou made to
take away the righteoufnefs of the righteous from him, and
to caufe us to fufFer further, whom thou kneweft to have
been fo long wrongfully in prifon contrary to law ? Is not
liberty of confcience a natural right ? Had there been a law
in this cafe, and we bound up in our confciences that we
could not have obeyed it, was not liberty of confcience
there to take place ? For where the law faith not againft,
there needs no plea of liberty of confcience : but the law
have we not offended ; yet in thy will haft thou caufed,
and doft thou yet caufe us to fufFer for our confciences,
where the law requires no fuch thing : and yet for liberty
of confcience hath all the blood been fpilt, and the mife-
ries of the late wars undergone, and, as the prote6lor faith,
this government undertaken, to preferve it; and a na-
tural right, he faith, it is; and he that would have it, he
faith, ought to give it. And if it be a natural right, as is
undeniable, then to attempt to force it, or to punifh a man
for not doing contrary to it, is to aft againft nature : which
as it is unreafonable, fo it is the fame as to offer violence
to a man's life. And what an offence that is in the law,
thou knoweft ; and how, by the common law of England,
all afts, agreements and laws, that are againft nature,
are mere nullities : and all the judges cannot make one cafe
to be law, that is againft nature. But put the cafe, our
ftanding with our hats on had been an offence in law, and
we wilfully, and in contempt, and not out of confcience
had ftood fo (which we deny) yet that is not a ground
wherefore we fhould be denied juftice, or to be heard, as
to the wrong done to us. " If yc will not offend in one
• cafe, I will do you juftice in another:" this is not the
language of the Jaw, or of juftice, which diftributes to eve-
240 GEORGE FOX»s JOURNAL. [165^
ry one their right ; juftice, to whom juftice is due ; pu-
nifhment, to whom punifhment is due. A man who doth
wrong, may alfo have wrong done to him ; Ihall he not
have right, wherein he is wronged, unlets he right him
whom he hath wronged ? The law faith not fo ; but the
wrong-doer is to fuffer, and the fuflFerer of wrong to be
righted. Is not other wife to do, a denying, a letting or
flopping of even law, and execution of juftice, and a
bringing under the penalties aforefaid ? Mind and confider.
* And fliouldft thou have accufed, when no witnefs ap-
peared againft us, as in the particulars of ftriking Peter
Ceely, and difperfiing books (as thou faidft) againft ma-
giftracy and miniftry, with which thou didft falfely accufe
one of us ? Saith not the law, " The judge ought not to
be the accufer ?" much lefs a falfe accufer. And waft
thou not fuch an one, in affiming, that he difperfed
books againft magiftracy and miniftry, when the books
were violently taken out of our chamber, undifperfed by
him, or any of us ? Nor didft thou make it appear in one
particular, wherein thofe books, thou fo violently didft
caufe to be taken away, were againft magiftracy or minif-
try ; or gaveft one inftance or reply, when he denied what
thou chargedft therein ; and fpoke to thee to bring forth
thofe books, and make thy charge appear. Is not the
fvvord of the magiftrate of God to pafs upon fuch evil-do-
ing ? And according to the adminiftration of the law,
ought not accuiations to be by way of indiftment, wherein
the oft^ence is to be charged, and the law expreffed, againft
which it is ? Can there be an iflue without an indiftment ?
Or can an indiftment be found, before proof be made of
the off^ence charged therein ? And haft not thou herein
gone contrary to the law, and the adminiftration thereof,
and thy duty, as a judge ? What juft caufe of offence
gave George Fox to thee, when, upon thy producing a
paper concerning fwearing, fent by him (as thou faidft) to
the grand jury, and requiring him to fay, Whether it was
his hand-writing ? he anfwered, " Read it up before the
country; and when he heard it read, if it were his, he
would own it ?" Is it not equal, and according to law,
that what a man is charged with before the country,
fhould be r^ad in the hearing of him and of the country ?
When a paper is delivered out of a man's hand, altera-
tions may be made in it to his prejudice, which, on a fud-
dcn looking over it, may not prelently be difcerned ; but
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 241
by hearing it read up, may be better underflood whether
any fuch alterations have been made therein ? Couldft thou
in juftice have expefted, or required him otherwife to do?
Confidering alfo, that he was notinfenfible how much he
had fufFered already, being innocent ; and what endea-
vours there were ufed tocaufe him further to fufFer ? Was
not what he faid a plain and fingle anfwer, and fufficient
in the law ? Though (as hath been demonftrated) contrary
to law thou didft aft, and to thy office, in being his ac-
cufer therein, and producing the paper againfl him. And
in his liberty it was, whether he would have made thee
any anfwer at all to what thou didft exhibit, or demand
out of the due courfe of law : for to the law anfwer is to
be made ; not to thy will. Wherefore then waft thou fo
filled with rage and fury upon that his reply ? Calmly,
and in the fear of the Lord confider : Wherefore didfl: tliou
revile him, particularly with the reproachful names ot jug-
gler and prevaricator ? Wherein did he juggle ? Wherein
did he prevaricate ? Wherefore didft thou ufe fuch threat-
ening language, and fuch menacings to him and us, fay-
ing, Thou wouldft ferk us, with fuch like ? Doth not the
law forbid reviling, and rage, atid fury, and threatening
and menacing of prifoners ? Soberly mind ; is this to act
like a judge, or a man ? Is not this tranfgreffion ? Is not
the fword of the magiftrate of God to pafs on this as evil-
doing, which the righteous law condemns, and the higher
power is againft, which judgeth for God ? Take heed what
ye do ; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is
with you in the judgment : " Wherefore now, let the fear
' of the Lord be upon you ; take heed, and do it : for there
' is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor refpeci of
' perfons, nor taking of gifts," faid Jehofhaphat to the
judges of Judah. Pride, and fury, and paihon, and rage,
and reviling, and threatening are not the Lord's : theie,
and the principle out of which they Ipring, are for judg-
ment, and muft come under the fword of the magiftrate
of God; and of an ill favour, efpecially fuch an expref-
fion, as to threaten to ferk us. Is not fuch a faying more
becoming a pedant, or fchoolmafter with his rod or ferula
in his hand, than thee, who art the chief juftice of the
nation, who fitteft in the higheft feat of judgment ; who
oughteft to give a good example, and fo to judge, that
others may hear and fear? Weigh it fobcrjy, and confider.
Doth not threatening language demonftrate an inequality
Hi GEORGE FOX'S jOURNAJ.. Ii6s6
and partiality in him who fits as a judge ? Is it not a de-
terring of a prifoner from (landing to and pleading the
innocency of his caufe ? Provides not the law againll it ?
Saith it not, That irons and all other bonds ihall be taken
from the prifoner, that he may plead without amazement,
and with fuch freedom of fpirit as if he were not a pri-
foner ? But when he, who is to judge according to the
law, ihall beforehand threaten and menace the prifoner
contrary to the law, how can the mind of the prifoner be
free, to plead his innocency before him ? or expert equal
judgment irom him, who, before he hears him, threatens
what he will do to him ? Is not this the cafe between thee
and us ? Is not this the meafure we have received at thy
hands ? Haft thou herein dealt accordincr to law ? or to
thy duty ? or as thou wouldll be done unto ? Let that of
God in thy confcience judge.
' And didft not thou lay, there was a law for putting ofF
the hat ; and that thou wouldft Ihew a law ? and didft
not thou often fo exprefs thyfelf ? But didft thou produce
any law ? or (hew where that law might be found ? or any
judicial precedent, or in what king's reign, when we fo
often defired it of thee ? having never heard of or known
any fuch law, by which thou didft judge us. Was not
what we demanded of thee reafonable and juft ? Was that
a lavoury anfwer, and according to law, which thou gaveft
us, viz. " I am not to carry the law-books at my back, up
' and down the country ; 1 am not to inftruft you ?" Was
ever fuch an expreftion heard before thefe days to come
out of a judge's mouth ? Is he not to be of counfel in
the law for the prifoner, and tb inftruft him therein ? Is
it not for this caufe that the prifoner, in many cafes, is
not allowed counfel by the law ? In all courts of juftice
in this nation, hath it not been known fo to have been ?
y\nd to the prifoner hath not this been often declared,
when he hath demanded counfel, alleging his ignorance
in the law, by reafon of which his caufe might mifcarry,
thoutih it were riditeous, viz. " The court is of counfel
•Tor you ?" Ought not he, that judgeth in the law, to be
expert in the law ? Couldft not thou tell by what a£l; of
parliament it was made, or by what judicial precedent, or
m what king's reign, or when it was adjudged fo by the
common law (which are all the grounds the law of En-
gland hath) had there been fuch a law, though the words
of the law thou couldft not remember ? Surelv, to inform
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 24^
* the prifoner when he defired it, efpecially as to a law
* which was never heard of, by which he proceeds to judge
* him, that he may know what law it is by which he is to
' be judged, becomes him who judgeth for God : for fo the
' law was read to the Jews, by which they were to be judg-
' ed, yea every fabbath-day ; this was the commandment of
* the Lord. But inftead thereof to fay, " I am not to carry
" the law books at my back up and down the country ; I
*' am not to inftructyou :" To fay, " There is a law," and
' to fay, " Thou wilt fhew it;" and yet not fhew it, nor to
* tell where it is to be found ; confider whether it be con-
* fiftent with favourinefs, truth, or juflice?
' Have hot thy whole proceedings againfl us made it
' evidently to appear that thy deiire was to caufe us to
' fuffer, not to deliver us, who being innocent, fufFered;
* to have us afperfed and reproached before the country,
* not to have our innocency cleared and vindicated ? Doth
* not the taking away our books as aforefaid, and the pe-
* rufing of them in fuch hafte before our trial, and thy ac-
' culing us with foraething which thou faidll was contained
* in them, make it appear that matter was fought out of
* them wherewithal to charge us, when the Et Cetera war-
* rant would not Hand in law by which we were committed,
* and were then upon our delivery according to the due
* courfe of law ? Doth it not further appear, by thy refu-
* fmg to take from our hands a copy of the flrange Et
* Cetera warrant by which we were committed, and of the
* paper for which we ftood apprehended, to read it or caufe
' it to be read; that fo our long fufFerings by reafon of both
' might be looked into, and weighed in the law, whether
* juil or righteous, and the country might as well fee our
' innocency and fufFerings without a caufe, and the manner
' of dealing with us, as to hear fuch reports which went of
' us as great offenders, when we called upon thee often fo to
' do, and which thou oughtefl to have done, and faidft, Thoa
' wouldft do, but didft it not ; nor fo much as took notice
* before the country that we had been falfely imprifoned,
' and had. wrongfully fuffered ? But what might afperfe
* and charge us thou broughtell in thyfelf, contrary to law,
' and didfl call to have us charged therewith. Is not this
' further maniftft, in that thou didft caufe us on a fudden
* to be withdrawn, and the petty jury to be called in with
'their verdift ; whereupon Peter Ceely's falfely accufing
* George Fox " with telling him privately of a defign, and
Sf
344 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165^
• perfuading him to join therein," was by George Fox
made fo clear to be a manifeft falfehood, and fo plainly
to be perceived, that the caufe of our fufferings was nof
any evil we had done, or law that we had tranfgrefled,
but malice and wickednels ? And is it not abundantly
clear from thy not permitting us to anfwer, and clear our-
felves of the many foul flanders chai^ged upon us in the
new-found indi6iment, of which no proof was made ?
But when we were anfwering thereunto, and clearing our-
lelves thereof, thou didfl; flop us, faying, " Thou mindedft
' not thofe things, but only the putting ofF the hat :" when
as before the country the new-found indi6lment charged
us with thofe things, and the petty jury brought in their
verui6t, " Guilty of the trefpaifes and contempts mention-
' ed therein ;" of which (except as to the hat) not one wit-
nefs or evidence was produced ; and as to the hat, not
any law or judicial precedent, upon the tranfgreffion of
which all legal indiftments are to be grounded ? Now the
law feeks not for caufes whereby to make the innocent
fufFer; but helpeth him to right who fufFers wrong, re-
lieveth the opprelled, and fearcheth out the matter, Whe-
ther that of v/hich a man ftands accufed be fo or no ;
feckipg judgment and haflening righteoufnels : and it
faith, " The innocent and the righteous flay thou not."
But whether thou haft done fo to us, or the contrary, l^t
the witnefs of God in thee iearch and judge; as thefe thy
fruits do alfo make manifeft.
' And, friend, confider how abominably wicked, and
how highly to be abhorred, denied, and witnelTed againft.,
and how contrary to the laws fuch a proceeding is, as to
^ charge a man with many offences in an indictment, which
they who draw the indi6lment, they who profecute, and
they who find the bill, know to be falfe, and to be put
in purpofely to reproach and wound his good name ;
whom, with fome fmall matter which they can prove, they
charge and indift, as is the common practice at this day.
Prove but one particular charge in the indi6lment, and it
muft ftand (fay they) for a true bill ; though there be ne-
ver fo many falfehoods and lies therein, on fet purpofe
to wrong him who is malicioufly profecuted : this is
known to the' judges, and almoft to every man who hath
to do with and attends their courts. How contrary is this
to the end and righteoufnefs of the law, which clears the
innocent and condemns the guilty* and condemneth not
1656] GEORGE FOX'j JOURNAL. 245
the righteous with the wicked! Much it is cried out of:
but what reformation is there thereof? How el(e ftiall
clerks of aflize, and other clerks of courts fill up their
bags (put of which perhaps their mailer muft have a fecret
confideration) and be heightened in pride and impudence ;
that even in open court the}' take upon them to check
and revile men without reproof, when a few lines might
ferv6 inilead of an liundred ? How clfe fhall the fpnit
that is in men, that lulleth unto envy, malice, fhife, and
contention, be cherifhed and nouriflied, to feed the law-
yers and dependants on courts with the bread of men's
children and the ruin of their families, to maintain their
long fuits and malicious contentions! For a judge to fay,
' I mind not thefe things; I'll not hear you; clear your-
' felves of what you are falfely accufed of: one thing I
• mind in your charge, the reft are but matter of form, let
' there to render you fuch wicked men before the country'-,
' as the thing that is to be proved againft you is not fuf-
• ficient to make out." Oh! abominable wickedneis, and
perverting of the righteous end of the law, which is lb careful
and tender of every man's peace and innocency ! How is
the law in the adminiftration thereof adulterated by the law-
yers, as the fcriptures are mangled by the priefts! And
that which was made to preferve the righteous, and to
punifh the wicked, perverted to the punifhing of the right-
eous and the preferving of the wicked ! An eye for an
eye, a tooth for a tooth, life for life, burning for burning,
wound for wound, a ftripe for a ilripe ; he that accnfeth
a man falfely, to fulFer the fame as he ftiould have luder-
ed, who was falfely accufed, if he had been guilty. This
faith the righteous law of God ; which is agreeable to
that of God in every man's confcicnce. Are not fuch
forms of iniquity to be denied, which are lb contrary to
the law of God and man ? Which lerve for the gender-
ing of ftrile, and the kindling of contention ? And of this
nature was not that, wiih which thou didfl caufe us, to be
indicted ? And this form didft not thou uphold, in not
permitting us to anfwer to the many foul Uandtrs therein ;
laying, " Thofe things thou mindedll not ?" Will not
the wrath of God be revealed from h<5avcn againfl all un-
uodlinefs and unriditeoufnefs of men, who hold the truth
in unrighteoufnels ; who are fo tar from the power of god-
linefs, that they have not the form, but the form of ini-
quity, which is fct up and held up inflead of and as a
Sf2
246 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
* law, to overthrow and deftroy the righteoufnefs of the
* righteous, and lo to ihut him up as by the law he can
* never get out ? Is not the cry, thinkefl thou, gone up ?
" It is time for thee to fet to thine hand, O Lord, for thine
*' enemies have made void thy law \" Draws not the hour
* nigh ? Fills not up the meafure of iniquity apace ?
* Surely the day is coming, and hafleneth. Warned ye
* have been from the prefence, and by the mouth of the
* Lord ; and clear will he be when he cometh to judgment,.
* and upright when he giveth fentence. That of God in
* every one of your confciences fhall fo to him bear witnefs
* and confffs, and your mouths fhall be flopped, and be-
* fore your judge lliall je be fdent, when he ihall divide
* you your portion, and render unto you according to your
* deeds. Therefore, whijfl thou haft time, prize it, and
* repent: for verily, " Our God ftiall come, and ftiall not
*•' keep lilence; a fire fhall devour before him, and it fhall
*' be very tempeiluous round about him. He fhall call to
*' the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may
*' judge his people; and the heavens fhall declare his righte-
*' oufhefs : for God is judge himfelf. Conlider this, ye that
*' forget God, lefl he tear you in pieces, and there be none
'' to deliver."
* And, friend, fhouldft thou have given judgment againft
* us (wherein thou didfl fine us twenty marks a-piece, and
* imprifonment till payment) without caufing ns, being pri-
* loners, to be brought before thee, to hear the judgment,
' and to move what we had to fay in arrcfl of judgment ? Is
* not this contrary to the law, as is manifcfl to thofe who
' underftand the proceedings thereof? Is not the prifoner to
' be called before judgment be given ? And is not the in-
^ diftment to be read ? and the verditSl thereupon ? And is
' not liberty to be given him to move in arreft of judgment ?
* And if it be a jull exception in the law, ought not there
* to be an arrefl of judgment ? For the indictment may not
' be drawn up according to la'.v. and may be wrong placed,
' and the offence charged therein may not be a crime in
' law ; or tiie jury may have been corrupted or menaced,
' or fet on bv fome of the juftices ; with other particulars,
' which are known to be legal and juft exceptions. And
' the judgment ought to be in the priforjer's hearing, not
' behind his back ; as if the judge were fo confcious of the
* error thereof, that he dares not give it to the face of the
* prifotier. But thefe privileges of the law, this juiliqe we
J656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 247
(who had fo long and To greatly fufFered contrary to law)
received not, nor could have at thy hands ; no, not lb
much as a copy or fight of that long and new-found in-
di6lment (which in England was never heard of before,
nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in
law, nor ever was there any law or judicial precedent that
made it fo) though two friends of ours, in our names and
behalfs, that night, the next day, and the day following
often delired it of the clerk of the afiize, and his ailiftant
and fervants; but they could not have it, nor fo much li-
berty as to fee it. And it is like it was not unknown or
unperceived by thee, that, had we been called as we
ought to have been, or had known when it was to be giv-
en, thfee or four words might hdt^t made a fufficient legal
arrefl of the judgment given on that new-found indi6lment,
and the verdi6l thereupon. Therefore as our liberties,
who are innocent, have not in thy account been worth the
minding, and efteemed fit for nothing but to be trampled
under foot and deftroyed ; fo, if we find fault with what
thou haft done, thou haft taken care that no door be left
open to us in the law, but a writ of error : the confidera-
tion whereof, and the judgment to be given thereon, is to
be had only v/here thyfelf is chief; of whom fuch com-
plaint is to be made, and the error affigned for the reverfe
of thy judgment. And what the fruit of that may be well
expefted to be, by what we have already mentioned as
having received at thy hands, thou haft given us to un-
derftand. And here thou mayft think thou haft made
thyfelf fecure and fufliciently barred up our way of relief,
againft whom (though thou knewcft v^^e had done nothing
contrary to the law or worthy of bonds, much lefs of the
bonds and fuff^erings we had fuftained) thou haft proceeded,
as hath been rehearfed; notwithftanding that thou art, as
are all the judges of the nation, intruftcd not with a legif-
lative power, but to adminifter juftice, and to do " even
• law and execution to all, high and low, rich and poor,
•' without having regard to any man's perfon ;" and art
fworn fo to do ; and wherein thou doft. contrary art liable
to punifhment, as ceafing from being a judge, and becom-
ing a wrong doer and an oppreifor ; which what it is to be
many of thy predecclTors have underftood, fome by death,
others by fine and imprifonmcnt. And of this tliou mayft
not be ignorant, that to deny a prifoncr any of the privi-
* leges the law allows him^ is to deny him juftice; to try
248 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 1:1655
* him in an arbitrary way, to rob him of that liberty which
* the law gives him, which is his inheritance as a freeman :
* and which to do, is in efF<f6l " to fubvert the fundamental
*' laws and government of England, and to introduce an ar-
*' bitrary and tyrannical government againft law ;" which is
* treafon by the common law : and treafons by the common
* law are not taken away by the ftatutes of 25 Edw. III. 1
* H. IV. 1, 2. m. See O. St. Johns, now chief juflice
* oi the common pleas, his argument againft StraflFord, fol.
' 65, Sec, in the cafe.
' Thefe things, friend, we have laid before thee in all
* plainnefs, to the end that (with the light of Jefus Chrift,
* who lighteth every one that cometh into the world, a mea-
* fure of which thou hstft, which Iheweth thee evil and re-
* proveth thee for fm, for which thou muft be accountable)
* thou being ftill and cool mayft confider and fee what thou
* haft done againft the innocent, and ftiame may overtake
* thee, and thou mayeft turn to the Lord, who now calleth
* thee to repentance by his fei-vants, whom, for witneffing
* his living truth in them, thou haft caft into, and yet con-
* tinueft under cruel bonds and fufterings. 1
* From the gaol in Lancefton, ' Edw. Pyot/
'the 14th day of the 5th
' month, 1656.
By this letter the reader may obferve how contraiy to law
we were made to fuffer; but the Lord, who faw the integri-
ty of our hearts to him, and knew the innocency of our
caufe, was with us in our fufferings, bore up our fpirits,
and made them eafy to us ; and gave us opportunities of
publifliing his name and truth amongft the people : fo that
feveral ot the town ^came to be convinced, many were made
loving to us, and friends from divers parts came tovifit us ;
amongft whom were two out of Wales, who had been juf-
tices of peace. Judge Hagget's wife, of Briftol, came to
vifit us, who was convinced, with feveral of her children ;
and her hufband was very kind and ferviceable to friends,
and had a great love to God's people, which he retained to
his death.
In Cornwall, Dcvonftiire, Dorfetftiire, and Somerfet-
fliire, truth began mightily to fpread; many were turned to
Chrift Jefus and his free teaching : for many friends that
came to vifit us were drawn to declare the truth in thofc
1656] jGEORGE F0X'« journal. 249
counties ; which made the priefls and profefTors rage, and
they llirred up the magiflrates to enfnare friends. They
fet up watches in the flreets and highways, on pretence of
taking up fufpicious perfons ; under which colour they (lop-
ped, and took up friends coming to vifit us in prifon ;
which they did, that they might not pafs up and down in
the Lord's fervice. Rut that which they thought to have
Hopped the truth by, was the means of fpreading it fo much
the more ; for then friends were frequently moved to fpeak
to one conftable, and t'other officer, and to the juftices they
were brought before ; which caufed the truth to fpread the
more in all their parities. And when friends were got
among the watches, it would be a fortnight or three weeks
before they could get out of them again; for, no fooner had
one conftable taken and carried them before the jufticcs,
and they had difcharged them, but another would take them
up and carry them before other juftices : which put the
country to a great deal of needlefs trouble and charges.
As Thomas Rawlinfon was coming out of the north to
T'ifit us, a conftable in Devonfhire took him up ; and at
night took twenty fhillings out of his pocket : and after
being thus robbed he was caft into Exeter gaol. They caft
Henry Pollexfen alfo into prifon in Devonfliire, under pre-
tence of his being a jefuit ; who had been a juftice of peace
for the moft part of forty years before. Many friends were
cruelly beaten by them ; nay fome clothiers that v/ere but
going to mill with their cloth, and others about their out-
ward occalions, they took up and whipped ; though men of
about eighty or an hundred pounds by the year, and not
above four or five miles from their families.
The mayor of Lancefton took up all he could, and caft
them into prifon. He would fearch fubllantial grave wo-
men, their petticoats and their head-cloaths. A young man
coming to fee us, I drew up all the grofs, inhuman, and
nnchriftian aftions of the mayor, gave it him, and bid him
feal it up, and go out again the back wav ; and then come
into the town through the gates. He did fo, and the watch
took him up, and carried him before the mayor; who prc-
fently fearched his pockets and found the letter; wherein
he law all his aftions characterized; which ftiamcd him fo,
that from that time he meddled little with the Lord's
forvants.
From the fenfe I hr-.d of the fnare that was laid, and mif-
cbief intended in flatting up thofc watches at tiut time to
450 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
ftop and take up friends, it came upon me to give forth
the following lines, as
An exhortation and warning to the magiftrates.
ALL ye powers of the earth, Chrift is come to reign,
and is among you, and ye know him not ; who doth
enlighten every one of you, that ye all through him might
believe in him ; who is the light, who treads the wine-
prefs alone without the city, and whofe feet are upon it.
Therefore fee all, and examine with the light what ye are
ripe for ; for the prefs is ready for you.
' Before honour is humility. You that would have ho-
nour before ye have humility, are ye not as the heathen
are ? Ye would have honour before ye have humility ;
did not all the perfecutors that ever were upon the earth
want this humility ? They wanted the honour, and yet
would have the honour before they had the humility, and
had learned that. So ye. that are out of humility, are out
of the honour, and y^jje not to have the honour who
have not the humilitj^ ', for before honour is humility :
mark, before it.
' Ye pretend liberty of confcience, yet one fhall not
carry a letter to a friend, nor men villt their friends, nor
vifit prifoners, nor carry a book about them, either for
their own ufe or for their friends. Men fhall not fee their
friends ; but watches are fet up againft them to catch and
flop them : and thefe muft be well armed too againfl an
innocent people, that have not fo much as a (lick in their
hands, who are in fcorn called Quakers. Yet by fuch as
fet up thefe watches is pretended liberty of confcience ;
who take up them whofe confcicnces are exercifed towards
God and men, who worfhip God in fpirit and truth;
which they that are out of the light call herefy. Thefe
fet up watches againfl: thofe they in fcorn call Quakers,
becaufe they confefs and witnefs the true light, that light-
cth every one that cometh into the world, amongft people
as they pafs through the country, or among their friends.
This is the dangerous do6lrire which watchmen are fet up
againfl, to fubdue error, as tney call it, which is the light
that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world;
him by w^hom the world was made, who was glorified
Vv'ith the Father before the world began. For thofe whom
they in fcorn call Quakers, have they let up their watch-
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 351.
es, able men, well armed, to take them up that bear this
teltimony cither in words, books, or letters. So that is
the light you hate, which enli^^htens every man that com-
eth into the world ; and thefe that witnefs to this light you
put m prifon j and after you have impriloned them, you
let up your watches to take all up that go to viht them>
and to imprifon them alfo : fo that by fetting up your
watches, ye v/ould ftop all relief from coming to prifon-
ers. Therefore this is the word of the Lord God to you,
and a charge to you all, in the pre fence of the living God
of heaven and earth : every man of you being enlighten-
ed with a light that cometh from Chrift, the faviour of
people's fouls ; to this light, all tuke heed, that with it
you may fee Chrift from whom the light cometh, you
may fee him to be your Saviour by whom the world was
made, who faith, Learn of me. But if ye hate this light,
ye hate Chrift who doth enlighten you all, that through,
him you might believe. But not believing in the light, nor
bringing your deeds to the light, which v:i\\ make them,
manifeft and reprove them, this becomes your condemnerj^
even the light. Remember you are warned in your life-
time ; for this light is your way to ialvation, if you w^alk irt
it; and this light is yourcondemner, if you rejeft and hate
it. You can never come to Chrift, the Second Prieft,
until you come to the light which the Second Prieft hath
enlightened you withal. So ye that come not to the light,
}'e go to the priefts that take tithes, as did the firft prieft-
hood ; and fo hale out of your fynagogues and temples as
that priefthood did v/hich took tithes : which thofe of the
fecond priefthood did not. Was there ever fuch a gene-
ration! Or did ever fuch a generation of men appear as
doth now in this age, who are fo full of madnels, envy,
and perfecution, that they ftand up in watches, with bills
and weapons, againft the truth, to perfccute it. as the towns
and countries declare; which rings as Sodom, and like
Gomorrah ! And this hath its liberty, and truth is ftood
againft ; to reprove iin is accounted a breach of the peace,
as thofc fay who are out of the truth, and fet up their;
watches againft it. G. ¥.'
Befides this general warning, there coming to my hand
a copy of a warrant iffued from the fefiions of Exon, in
exprefs terms, " For apprehcnduig of all Quakers /' where-
in truth a;iid friends were reproached and vilihcd, 1 was
r t
252 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1556^
moved to write an anfwer thereunto, and fend it abroad,
for the clearing of truth andiiiends from the flanders therein
caft upon them : and to manifeft the wickednefs of that
perfecLiting fpirit from whence it proceeded; which was
after this manner :
WHEREAS there was a warrant granted the laft
feffions holden at Exon, on the eighteenth day of
the fifth month, 1656, which warrant is " For the appre-
' hending and taking up all fuch as are Quakers, or call
' themfcives Quakers, or go under the notion of Quakers ;"
and is diredted " to the chief conftables, to be fent by
' them to the petty conftables, requiring them to fet watch-
* es, able men with bills, to take up all fuch Quakers as
' aforefaid ;" and whereas in your laid warrant you fpeak
of the Quakers fpreading feditious books and papers ; I
anfwer, Thev, whom ye in fcorn call Quakers, have no
feditious books or papers ; but their books are againfl fe-
dition, and feditious men, feditious books, feditious teach-
ers, and feditious ways. Thus ye have numbered honeft
men, godly men, holy men, men that fear God, among
beggars, rogues, and vagabonds ; putting no difference
between the precious and the vile. You are not fit to
judge, who have fet up your bills, and armed your men
to ftand up together in battle againfl innocent people, the
iambs of Chrift, who have not lifted up an hand againfl
vou. But if ye were lenfible of the Hate of your own
country, your cities, your towns, your villages, how the
cry of them is like Gomorrah, the ring like Sodom, and
the found like the old world, where all flefh had corrupted
its way, which God overthrew with the flood ; if you
did conlider this with yourfelves, you would find fome-
thin<T to turn the fword a-^ainft, and nofeagainft the lambs
of Chriil, and not make a mock of the innocent, that
ftand a witnefs againft all fin and unrighteoufnefs in your
towns and fteepie-houfes. Noah, the eighth perfon,
a preacher of righteoufne fs, was grieved with the filthy
converfation of the wicked : fo are we now. Juft Lot was
grieved with their unmerciful deeds, and the filthy conver-
lation of Sodom. And were not thefe hated of the world,
and of them that lived in filthinefs ? And whereas you fpeak
of thofe you in fcorn call Quakers, that they are a griet to
thofe whom you call pious and religious people, and their
religion ; fuch as are in the religion that is vain, whofe
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 2,-3
* tongues are not bridled, I believe the Quakers are a grief
* to ; but are not a griet to fueh as are in the pure religion,
' which keepeth unipotted of the world; which fets not up
* bills, nor watches, to maintain it by the world ; for they
' are not of the world, who are in the pure religion, which
' keeps them unipotted of the world : mark, the " pure
" religion, which keeps unfpotted of the world." But fuch
* as are in the religion that is not pure, who have a form of
' godlinefs, and not the power, fuch as you call pious, the
' truth itfelf to fuch was always a grief; and io it is in this
* age. And now your fruits appear, the end of your reii-
* gion and profeffion, and what you pofiefs : but you are in
* the error, and have been but in the profeffion, out of the
' poiTeliion of the Spirit, who are not in the Spirit of truth.
' P'or where did that ever fet bounds, and number the ju ft
' and innocent with the wicked ? But the wicked fet bounds
* and limits to the juft, and numbered them among the
* wicked; yea, all manner of evil they fpoke of them, as ye
* are doing now of us. According as it v/as foretold in the
* fcripture, fuch as tremble at the word of God, you cafl out
' and hate, you that have your temple-worfhip. You fisy,
* the Quakers come to difturb you in your churches. Was
* it not the practice of the apoftles to go into the fyna-
* goguesand temples, to witnefs againft the priefthood that
* took tythes ? Was it not the practice of the Jews to halo
' them out, perfecute them, and flone them, that wiLneflld
' Chrifl the fecond prieft, and went to bring people off
* from the firft priefthood ? Was it not the practice of the
* prophets to go and cry againft the high places ? And was
' it not the pra6Hce of the Jews, when they were back-fiid-
* den, and of the heathen, to imprilbn and perfecute the
' prophets, and fend after them into other countries ? Is not
' this your-pra6lice now, who are holding up your high
* places ere6led by the Papifts, which ye now call your
' churches ; where ye beat and perfecute ? What kind of rc-
' ligious people are you, that are filled with fo much inad-
' nefs ? Did not Paul confefs he was mad while he was in
* your praftice, haling, l>eating, prifoning. putting out of
* the fynagogues, having his authority from the chief priclls ?
* And are not the chief priefts the caufe of this ? Was there
' ever fuch a cry made in any age paft, as there is nov/ in
' the pulpits, railing againft an innocent pcop'e, who lift
* not up an hand againft you ; and who are indeed the pi-
* ous, that are of the pure religion, who fear God, and
T t 2
354 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
* worfliip him in the Spirit and in the truth, but cannot join
* with you in your religion? Do not the minifters of God
* fay, that the fcriptures are a declaration, which you call
* the word ? Do not you rob Chrill of his title, and of
* his honour, and give it to the letter, and fhew yourfelves
* out of tJic doftrine of the miniflers of God, who called
* the fcriptures by the name of writings and trearii'es, and
* declarations; and faid, Chrifl's name is called the Word
* of God i' Are not you here in the error you fpeak of,
* which i» common talk among you ? There was talk
* among fome of you of your gofpel-fhining. Doth the gof-
*■ pel. perfccute ? Did ever any of thofe that did pofTefs it
' cad into prifan, and riot fufFer others to vifit them ? Are
* you like Chriflians irt^his, or like heathen, who fet bounds
• * and watches over the land, that they fliould not pafs to
* vifit thofe in prifon ? Was ever the like heard m any
" age ? Search and fee, if you have not outftript them all
' in your watches, if not in your manner of persecution,
' and in your imprifonments. Oh ! never talk that we are
* a grief to them that are in the pure religion.
' And whereas in your warrant we are rt prefented as difaf-
* fefted to government ; I fay, the law, that is a terror to the
* evil-doer, we own ; the higher pov/er, to which the ibul muft
* be fubje^l ; but we deny the evil-doer, the malicious man
* reigning, and the envious man feeking for his prey, whofe
* envy is againft the innocent; who raifeth up the country
' againft: honefi men, and fo becomes a trouble to the coun-
' try, in railing them up to take the innocent : but that we
* leave to the Lord to judge. Your falfe accuditions of
* hercly and blalphemy we deny. You fhould have laid
" them do'vn in particulars, that people might have feen
* them ; and not h.ive flandered us behind our backs. The
* law faith. The crime fhould be mentioned in the warrant.
' Then lor your laying, " We deny the godly miniflers to
*' be a true miniltry of Ghrifl;" that is falfe; for we f^iy,
* The godly miniflers are the minifters of Chrifl:. But
* wliich of your minifters dare fay that they are truly godly ?
' And for your ch.nging us with feducing many weak peo-
* p)c, that is falfe alio; we leduce none. But you, that
* ckny the light which lighteth every man that cometh into
* the world, are feduced from the anointing which fliould
* teach you ; and if ye would be taught b)* it, ye would
' not need that any man fhould teach you. Ikit luch as are
* taught by the anointing which abidcth in them, and deny
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 455
man's teaching, thcfc ye call feducers, quite contrary to
John's do6lrine, 1. Joh. 2. That which is truth, ye call
{educing; and that which he calls feducing. you call truth.
Read the latter part of the chapter. I warn you all from
the Lord God of glory, fet not any bound againft him.
Limit not the Holy One ot Ifrael; for the Lord is rifmg
in power and great glory, who will rule the nations with
a rod of iron, which to him are but as the drop of a buck-
et. He that meafures the waters in the hollow of his
hand, will dafh nations together as a potter's v^eflel. And
know, you that are found in this his day blafphcming his
work which he hath brought forth, calling it blafphemy,
fighting againft it, letting up your carnal weapons, making
your bonds ftrong ; God will break afunder that which
your carnal policy hath invented, and which by your car- ,
nal weapons ye would uphold, and make you know there
is a God in heaven, who carries his lambs in his arms,
which are come among wolves, and are ready to be torn
in pieces in every place, yea, in your fteeple-houies ;
where people have appeared without reafon and natural
afFcclion. Therefore all ye petty conftables, fhcriflFs, and
jufliccs, take warning j take heed what ye do againft the
iambs of Chrift; for Chrift is come, and coming, who
will give to every one of you a reward according to your
works, you that have the letter, which fpeaks of Chrift;
v/ho are perfecuting that which the fcripture fpeaks of:
fo your fruits make you manifett. Therefore every one,
fheriff"s, juftices, conftables, &c. confider what ye polfefs,
and what a profeflion ye are now in, that all thefe carnal
weapons are fet up againft the innocent, yea, againft the
truth ; which fhews, that yc have not the fpiritual wea-
pons : and that ye want the counfel of Gamaliel, yea, ye
want the counfel of fuch a man among you, who laid,
• Let the apoftles alone : if it be of God, it will ftand ;
' if it be not, it will come to nought." But ye may fee
yourfclves, on the contrary, in the fpirit of them that
came with Judas, with fwords and ftaves from the cliicf
priefts againft Chrift: ftill it is againft Chrift, where he is
made manifcft. Paul (while Saul) went againft him,
though he and the Jews profelled a Chrift that was lo
come : yet Paul perfecuted him, where lie was manifcfted
in his faints. So ye profefs a Chrift that i.s come, but
perfecute him where he is manifcft. You that have the
letter, the high places, the fynagogiics, you perfecute
2s6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
* him where he is made manifcfl in his faints, as the Jews
* did. Tiiofe who were in the letter, out of the life, per-
* fecuted them that were in the life of that which they pro-
* fcfs in the letter : fo do you perfecute them that are in the
■ life, and are yourfelves ftrangers to it ; as your fruits make
' appear. You have numbered the people of God amongft
* tranfgrelTors ; but have you prifoned any of the rogues
* and tranrgveHors you fpeak of? You have prifoned the in-
* nocent, and let the others go free.
* G. F.'
When I had fent abroad the foregoing, fo great a fenfe
came upon me of the veil of darknefs that was over the
priefts and profelFors of chriilianity, that I was moved to
give forth the following, as an awakening warning to them :
LINDNESS hath happened to the profeffed chrif-
tians of the letter now-a-days, as blindnefs happen-
ed to the Jews ; who profeffed the letter, but owned not
the life, which the letter fpeaks of: as the chriflians now,
to whom this blindnefs hath happened, who profefs the
fcripture, but own not the life which the fcripture fpeaks
of. For againil the life the Jews flood, who profeffed the
letter of the fcripture ; but they were blind, they gathered
counfel again ft the life : they were in an uproar, when the
babe was born in Bethlehem, Herod and all the chief
priefts. And Herod fought to deftroy all the young chil-
dren in Bethlehem, yet miffed the babe ; Herod, that fox,
though he put John to death. You may fee here, how
the literal profeffors Hood up, not for the truth, but
quite againft it. Furthermore, the chief priefls confulted
together how they might take jefus by fubtilty, and put
him to death; mark, by their fubtilty. The profeflors
of a Chrift that was to come, they preached of a Meffias,
of a Chrift, of a Saviour; but denied the life. When he
was made manifeft, the chief priefts, .who were gathered
together with the council, faid, His difciples had ftolen
him away by night ; and gave large fums of money to the
foldiers to declare this. Likewife in the day, when the
children of Ifrael were in Egypt, and they with their
children began to fpread and multiply. " Come." faid the
Egyptians, " let us deal wifely with them to affli6l them,
' and tax them :" which held till the Lord overthrew their
oppreffors, and brought his feed by his mighty power
horn under the opprcffor, and exalted liis fon above all;
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 257
' though the heathen raged, and the people imagined vain
' things. He made his power known, that all might i'ee
'' that there was no God upon the earth but himfelf. This
' power now hath brought forth the work of the Lord !
' Many, who are turned to the hght, Chrift, have received
* the power of God, and are thereby become the fons of
* God. Now this birth, that is born of God, are the
* powers of the world joined together to crucify ; to put to
* death thofe Jews in the Spirit, as they put Chrift to death
' in the fleih formerly. This is the birth that all the wicked
'■ world is enraged againfl. Againfl this they fet their watch-*
* es, this birth, brought forth by the mighty God of Jacob,
' who rides upon the high places of the earth. This is the
* birth that the profeffed chriftians without the life in our
' days rage agamft, and lay out all their wifdom about.
' Are not the chief priefts and wife men of the earth con-
* fuiting together how they may deftroy this birth ? Is not
' this the birth that is banifhed out of your hearts, you that
* profefs the fcripture, and are talkers of it, but do not own
* the light and life which the fcripture fpeaks of, as the
* Jews would not; and fo will not have Chrift to reign
' over you, as they would not ? Do you not hale out of
' your fynagogues, and before magiftrates ? Do you not
' herein fulfil Chrift's words, who faid to his difciples. They
* fhould be haled out of the fynagogues, and before rulers ?
* Do you not perfecute them from city to city ? Do you
* not almoft fill your prifons with them ? And now fet your
' watches, that none fhould vilit them, whom you have put
* into prifon ? Is not this an unchriftian fpirit ? How can
' you for fhame fay, you are upholders of tiTith ? Or how
' can you for fhame fay, that truth hath been profelfed
' among you ? We grant th<s^t you have talked oi it. And
* how can you for Ihame fay, '' The gofpel fhines among
" you," when you will not own it, the life of it; when you
' call it error, and the evil feed ? Yea, the very truth, the
' very life of truth ye have blafphemed againft now, as the
' Jews did againft Chrift, calling him a devil; you now
' call it error, and the evil feed, and ftand up againft it,
* and turn the fword againft it. It was the Jews in their
' days who turned the fword againft Chrift ; fo it is in thefe
' days the chriftian profeftors of the fcripture, but out of
' the life that gave it forth; as thofc were the Jews outward
' in the fiefii, not the Jews in the Spirit. Is it not a fliarne
' to the minifters of the gofpel (as they are called) that th«;y
258 GEORGE FOX*3 JOURNAL. [165^;
can find no better way to maintain that which they call
the truth, and their gofpel, than by carnal, weapons,
(locks, prifons, whips, watches, and wards, and powers of
the earth ? Were thefe the apoftles weapons ? Carnal
watches, flocks, prifons, and hahngs out of the fynagogues,
when they came to fpeak ? Judge yourfelves, what an
antichriflian fpirit you have. Never talk of defending
truth with that which is againft truth. For are you not
fetting up the rabble of the world againft it ? Do they not
join with you, with fwords and ftaves againft it ? Is this
the life of chriftians ? Is not this the life of error, and of
the evil feedfman ? Surely ye would find work enough,
if ye were in the fear of the Lord, to turn your fwords
againft the profanenefs, the oaths and wickednefs, that are
in your ftreets and highways. How do they ring like
Sodom, and give a found like Gomorrah I But thefe are
become a prey in this age, that reprove in your gate fin,
wickednefs, and profanenefs. They are become your by-
word. Againft them your councils are gathered, them
you caft into prifon, and hale them out of your fyna-
gogues : and caft them likewife into prifon that write and
fpeak againft it ; and fet your guards to ftop and hinder
any from vifiting them whom you caft into prifon, and give
them the names of vagabonds and wanderers. Was ever
the like heard in the days of the heathen againft the apof-
tles, who witnelTed the gofpel ? Did they fet guards and
watches in every town, in every city, to take the difciples,
the brethren, the believers, that heard the apoftles were
caft into prifon, and came to fee what they wanted ?
Shew ye not as much rage and fury now in your age, as
was in thofe in that age ? How can you talk of the gofpel,
and of defending the gofpel, when you are fetting guards
and watches againft it, are defendincj that which ftands
againft it ; and the lambs of Chrift are almoft torn to
pieces amongft you, who are like wolves ? for the Lord
hath now fent his lambs among wolves. Have not you
profeftcd the words of Chrift, the prophets and apoftles,
as the Jews had long profeffed the fcriptures, the words
of Mofes, and the prophets, that prophefied of Chrift then
to come ; and ftood againft him when he was come ? as
you do in this day of his reign, in this day of his glorious
golpel, who are pevfr.cuting the meflengers of it, impri-
Ibnitig them, perlccuting them in your ftreets and high-,
ways, and fetting up your watches againft them who bring
J656] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 259
the glad tidings of peace to your fouls ; whofe feet are
beautiful atop of the mountains ; mark, atop of the moun-
tains; that againft which the mountains rage and fvvell ;
but God will make them to melt ; the Sun is rifen, which
will make them to melt. God will cleave the rocks and
mountains afunder, and make the hills to bow perpetual-
ly ; for his Son he will exalt, and his glory he will give
to him, and not to another. Therefore be awakened, ye
rulers of the earth, and take counfel of the Lord. Take
not counfel together againll him. Make not your bonds
ftrong. Set not yourfelves in battle againft him : for ye
will be found but as briers and thorns before him, which
the fire ihall confume. Therefore be awakened, ail ye
talkers of the fcripture, that gather yourfelves together by
your multitudes and meetings, and have had your teach-
ers ; but not having the Spirit that gave forth the fcrip-
tures, the Lord God of glory, the Father of fpirits, will
fcatter you. All your bonds will not hold you together,
who are out of the Spirit, which is the bond of peace.
The threfhing inftrument is gone forth, which will beat
the hills to pieces. Sion is rifen to threili. Out of the ho-
ly mountain is the trumpet lounded. Stand not up againil
the Lord : for all nations are to him as the drop of a buck-
et. Fie that meafures the waters in the hollow of his hand,
and weighs the earth in fcales, the Lord of Flofls is his
name, who is now rifen and rifing, to plead the caufe of
the innocent, and is exalting his Son, and bringing his
flieep to him. Now are they feen and known, that feed
upon wind, that , are lifted up, given up to believe lies ;
who report, and fay, " Report, and we will report it."
Now are they feen, who have a form of godlinefs, but
deny the power : fo Chrifl is denied ; for Chrift is the
power of God. And the power being denied by you,
that have a form of godlinefs, and the v/ords of the fcrip-
tures; the gofpel is denied : for the gofpel is the power of
God. Thus It is among you that have the knowledge
and wifdoin that is fenfual, earthly, and devil ifh. Doth
it not appear fo? Let your gaols and watches witnefs
your fruits in every town. Your wifdom is eaiihly, fen-
fual, and deviliih. You have a knowledge and wifdom,
but not that which is from above; for that is pure and
gentle, fo is not your knowlc-dge. But to know Clinfl,
is life eternal. Your fruits have manifcfled, tJiat yoii
are not of this ; and fo out of tiie power of God, which
%Go GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 1x6^6
is the crofs of Chiift; for you are found in the world,
out of the power of God, out of the crofs of Chrift,
pcrfecuting. So that which doth perfecute, and fend
forth writings and decrees to flop and take up all, and fet
watches, and prepare bonds to limit the Lord ; to im-
prifon and perfecute, and fufFer none to go and vifit
them : this fliews you are not chriftians, but fland againll
the chriftian life, which brings to love enemies. Where
is your love to your enemies who are thus perfecuting
your friends ? " He came to his own, and his own re-
' ceived him not." Here is a turning the fword againft the
juft. Do you fhew here a chriftian's life, or yourfelves
chriftians, who are filling your gaols with the chriftians
in the Spirit, you that are in the letter (in fhadows) as the
JeM'^s in the letter did, put the Jews in the Spirit into
prifon ? Is not this the fruit in our days of chriftians
in the letter, to put chriftians in the Spirit into prifon ?
Doth not this ftiew that your decrees, which you have fent
forth, proceed from death, who thus aft againft the life,
and them that are in it ; which the fcriptures were given
forth from ? Is it not here, as it was with Saul, when he
went to perfecute, to hale to prifon, and bind all that he
could find calling upon that name, vvho were chriftians
in the life^ the Spirit, fuch as you are perfecuting, becaufe
they arc in the life, though you profefs their words ? Are
not your decrees gone forth from the fame fpirit of envy,
againft the fame Spirit of Chrift they were in? Is it not
manifeft to all that fear God, and to the Ibber-minded and
honeft-hearted people, that fee your pratlices, your decrees,
your letters, to ftop, to moleft, to hinder, to imprifon them
that are moved of the Lord to do his will, or to go to
vifit prifoners whom you have iraprifoned ? Doth this
ftiew you to have a fpirit like Paul, yea, or nay ? Are
you not quite contrary, like them that perfeCuted Paul ?
The day hath declared it. To that of God in you all I
fpeak, which fhali witnefs it at the laft day, the day of
judgment. Perfecution was blind in all ages ; and mad-
nefs and folly led it : yet perfecution got always a form
or pretence of godlinefs, a talk of religion, as in the days
of Mofes, of Jeremy, of Chrift, and of the apoftlcs.
« Come," faith the council, " let us crufti them while they
' are young, they have almoft overfpread the nation in
• every corner." This is as much as to fay, " Let us put
' this birth to death, as Pharaoh and Herod did the ciui-
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 261
' dren." But the Lord caufed his truth the more to fpread.
* For you may read what numbers came out of Egypt ! and
* what multitudes followed Chrifl ! Therefore with confi-
* deration read thefe lines', and not with fury. Let not fool-
* ifhnefs appear ; but conlider in humility the paths you
* go in, what fpirit you are of, and what the end of your
* converfation is; for in love to your fouls I write, that in
* the day of your vifitation you may confider it.
' From him who loveth righteoufnefs, and the efta-
' blifhing of it, and truth, peace, and faith, which
* is by Chrift jefus (Mercy and peace be multiplied
* among fuch !) But a witnefs againft all hypocrites,
* and all who have a profeffion, but live out of the
* poffelTion ; in an hypocritical religion, in the lulls
* and fafhions of the world, having a form of godli-
* nefs, but Handing againft the power with might
' and main, fword and flafF. Which things declare
* your converfation and praftices to be out of Chrifl's
* life againft the gofpel practice, and contrary to the
' manner and order of the faints.
' G. F.'
We xvere continued in prifon till the next affize ; before
which divers friends, both men and women, were fent to
prifon, who had been taken by the watches. When the
affize was come, feveral of tliefe were called before the
judge, and indidled : and though the gaoler brought them
into court, yet they inditled them, that they came in
' by force of arms, and in an hoftile manner ;' and the
judge fined them, becaufe they would not put off their hats.
But we were not called before the judges any more.
Great work we had, and fervice for the Lord, both be-
tween the aflizes, and after, amongft profeiFors and people
of all forts : for many came to fee us, and to reafon with us.
Elizabeth Trelawny of Plymouth (daughter of one called
a baronet) being convinced, the priefts, profeffors, and
fome great perfons of her kindred, were exafperated, and
wrote letters to her. She being n. wife and tender woman,
and fearing to give them any advantage, fent their letters to-
me ; which I anfwered, and returned them to her again,
for her to fend the anfwers to them. Which fhe did : till
growing in the power. Spirit, and wifdom of God, fhe be-
came able to anfwer the wifcft prieil and profelTor of thenv
Uu 3
262 GLORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
all; and had dominion over them in the truth, through the
power of the Lord, by which (lie was kept faithful to her
dearli.
While I wag in prifon here, the Baptifts and Fifth-mo-
narchy-men prophefied, That this year Chrifl fhould
come, and reign upon earth a thoufand years. And they
looked upon this reign to be outward : when he was come
inwardly in the hearts of his people, to reign and rule ;
where thefe profelfors would not receive him. So they
failed in their prophecy and expeftation, and had not the
pofleffion of him. But Chrifl is come, and doth d-vell
and reign in the hearts of his people. Thoufands, at the
door of whofe hearts he hath been knocking, have opened
to him; and he is come in, and doth fup with them, and
they with him ; the heavenly fupper with the heavenly and
fpiritual man. So many of thele Baptifts and Monarchy-
people turned the greateft enemies to the followers of
Chrift : but he reigns in the hearts of his faints over all
their envy.
At the afTize divers juftices. came to us, and were pretty
civil, and reafoned of the things of God foberly ; expref-
fmg a pity to us. Captain Fox, governor of Pendennis
Caftle, came and looked me in the face, and faid never a
word ; but went to his company, and told them, ' He ne-
' ver law a fimpler man in his life. I called after him, and
faid, ' Stay, man, we will fee who is the fimpler man.'
But he went his way. A light chaffy perfon.
Thomas Lower alfo came to vifit us, and offered us
money, v/hich we refufed ; accepting neverthelefs of his
love. He afked us many queftions concerning our deny-
ing the Icriptures to be the word of God; concerning the
f icraments, and fuch like : to all which he received iatis-
fidion. I fpoke particularly to him; and he afterwards
f.ud. My v.'orJs v/ere as a flafh of lightning, they ran fo
throuj.'h him. He faid, He never met with fuch men in
his life, for they knew the thouglits of his heart; and were
as the wile iliafter-builders of the aflemblies, that faftcned
their words like nails. He came to be convinced of the
truth, and remains a friend to this day. When he came
home to his aunt Harabley's, where he then lived, and
inade report to her concerning us ; flie, with her fifter
tirace Billing, hearing the report of truth, came to vifit us
iu prifon, and was convinced alfo. Great fufi'crings and
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 263
fpoiliog of goods both he and his aunt have undergone for
the truth's fake.
About this time I was moved to give forth the following
exhortation to friends in the miniflry :
* Friends,
IN the power of life and wifdora, and dread of the Lord
God of life, and heaven and earth, dwell ; that in the
wifdom of God over all ye may be prcferved, and be a
terror to all the adverfaries of God, and a dread, anfwcr-
ing that of God in them all, fpreading the truth abroad,
awakening the witnefs, confounding the deceit, gathering
up out of tranfgreffion into the life, the covenant of light
and peace with God. Let all nations hear the found by
word or writing. Spare no place, fpare no tongue, nor
pen; but be obedient to the Lord God: go through the
work ; be valiant for the truth upon earth ; tread and
trample upon all that is contrary. Ye have the power, do
not abufe it ; and ftrength and prefence of the Lord ; eye
it, and the wifdom ; that with it you may all be ordered
to the glory of the Lord God. Keep in the dominion ;
keep in the power over all deceit; tread over them in that,
which lets you fee to the world's end, and the utmoft
parts of the earth. Reign and rule with Chrift, whole
fceptre and throne are now fet up, whofe dominion is
over all to the ends of the earth ; whofe dominion is an
everlalling dominion, his throne an everlafting throne,
his kingdom an everlafting kingdom, his power above all
powers. Therefore this is the word of the Lord to you
all : " Keep in the wifdom of God," that fpreads over
all the earth; the wifdom of the creation, that is pure
from above, not deftruftive. For now fliall falvation go
out of Zion, to judge the mount of Efau ; now fliall the
law go forth from Jerufalem, to anfwer the principle of
God in all ; to hew down all inventors and inventions.
For all the princes of the earth are but as air to the pow-
er of God, which you are in, and have tailed of: there-
fore live in it, that is the word of the Lord to you all ;
do not abufe it ; keep down and low ; and take heed of
falfe joys, that will change.
' Bnng all into the worfliip of God. Plow up the fallow
ground. Threfli and get out the corn ; that the feed, the
wheat, may be gathered into the barn : that to the begin-
ning all people may come ; to Chriftj who was before th.<i
26+ GEORGE FOX'S. JOURNAL. [1655
world was made. For the chafF is come upon the v/heat
by tranfgrefTion. He that treads it out is out of tranfgref-
fion, fathoms traufgreffion, puts a difference between the
precious and the vile, can pick out the wheat from the
tares, and gather into the garner ; fo brings to the lively
hope the immortal foul into God, out of which it came.
None vvorflhip God but who come to the principle of
God, which they have tranfgrefl'ed. None are pIov\^ed
up but he who comes to the principle of God in him,
that he hath tranfgrelfed. Then he doth fervice as to
God ; then is the planting, watering, and increafe from
God. So the minifters of the Spirit mufl minifter to the
Spirit that is in prifon, which hath been in captivity in
every one; that with the Spirit of Chrifl people may be
led out of captivity up to God, the Father of Spirits, to
ferve him, and have unity with him, with the fcriptures,
and one with another. This is the word of the Lord to
)ou all, a charge to j^ou all in the prefence of the living
God ; Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places,
iflands, nations, where-ever you come ; that your life and
conduft may preach among all forts of people, and to
them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the
world, anfwering that of God in every one ; whereby in
them ye may be a bleffing, and make the witnefs of God
in them to blefs you : then to the Lord God you fhall be
a fweet favour, and a bleffing.
' Spare no deceit. Lay the Sword upon it ; go over it.
Keep yourfclves clear of the blood of all men, either by
word or writing, and keep yourfelves clean, that you may
{land in your throne, and every one have his lot and fland
in the lot in the Ancient of days. The bleffing of the
Lord be with you, and keep you over all the idolatrous
worfhips and worfhippers. Let them know the living
God ; for teachings, churches, worffiips muft be thrown
down with the power of the Lord God, fet up hy man's
earthly underflanding, knowledge, and will. All this
muTt be thrown down with that which gave forth the fcrip-
ture ;■ and v.'ho arc in that, reign over it all. That is tjie
word of the Lord to you all. hi that is God worffiipped,
that brings to declare his will, and brings to the church
in God, the ground and pillar of truth: for now is the
mi;;hty day of the Lord appeared, and the arrows of the
Almighty gone forth ; which ffiall flick in the hearts of
the Wicked. Now will I arife, faith the Lord God Al-
t656] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 7.65
* mighty, to trample and thunder down deceit, which hath
* long reigned and flained the earth. Now will I have my
» glory out of every one. The Lord God Almighty over
* all in his ftrength and power keep you to his glory, that
< you may come to anfwer that of God iji every one, Pro-
' claim the mighty day of the Lord ot lire and iword, who
* will be worihipped in fpirit and in truth ; and keep in the
* life and power of the Lord God, that the inhabitants of
« the earth may tremble before you : that God's power
* and majefty may be admired among hypocrites and hea-
* thens, and ye in the v/ifdom, dread, life, terror, and dorai-
' nion preferved to his glory ; that nothing may rule or
* reign but power and life itlelf, and in the wifdom of God
' ye may be preferved in it. This is the word of the Lord
' God to you all. The call is now out of tranfgreffion, the
* Spirit bids, Come. The call is now from all falfe wor-
' fhips and Gods, from all inventions and dead works, to
* ferve the living God. The call is to repentance, to
* amendment of life, whereby righteoufnefs may be brought
' forth, which fhall go throughout the earth. 1 herefore yc
* that be chofen and faithful, who are with the Lamb, go
' through your work faithfully in the ftrength and power of
' the Lord, and be obedient to the pou'er ; for that will
' fave you out of the hands of unreafonable men, and pre-
* ferve you over the world to himfelf. Hereby you may
' live in the kingdom that ftands in power, v/hich hath no
* end ; where glory and life is.
* G. F.*
After the affizes, the fherifF, with feme foldiers, came to
guard a woman to execution that was fentenced to die ; and
we had a great deal of difcourfe with them. One of them
wickedly laid, ' Chrift was as paffionate a man as any that
* lived upon the earth.* For which %vicked faying we re-
buked him. Another time we alked the gaoler, what do-
ings there were at the felnons ? He faid, fmall ma'^ters,
only about thirty for baftardy. We thought it very ftrange
that tltcy, who profefTed themfclves Chriuians, (lioald make
fmall matters of fucli things. But this gaoler w^^s very bad
himfelf. I often admonidied him to fobricty ; but he would
abufe people that came to vifit us. Edward Pyot had a
cheefe fent him by his wife from Briflul ; and the gaoler
took the cheefe from him, and carried it to t/ie major, to
(earch it for trcafonable letter.^, as he faid : and Lliough they
266 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
found no treafon in the cheefe, they kept it from us. This
gaoler might have Taeen rich, if he had carried himfelf civil-
ly ; but he fought his own ruin, which foon after came
upon him : for the next year he was turned out of his place,
and for fome wickednefs was caft into the gaol himfelf; and
there begged of our friends. And for fome unnilinefs in
his carnage, he was by the iucceeding gaoler put into
Doomfdaie, locked in irons, beaten, and bid to ' remember
' how he had abufed thole good men, whom he had wick-
' edly, without any caufe, caft into that naily prifon :' and
told, ' That now he defervedly fhould fuflFer for his wicked-
' nels, and the fame meafure he had meted to others, he
' ftiould have meted out to himfelf.' He became very
poor, and died in prifon. His wife and family came to
mifery.
While I was in prifon at Lancefton, a friend went to
Oliver Cromwel, and offered himfelf, body for body, to
lie in Doomfdaie in my fte^d ; if he would take him, and
fet me at liberty. Which thing fo ftruck him, that he faid,
to his great men and council ; ' Which of you would do
* fo much for me, if I were in the fame condition ?' And
though he did not accept of the friend's offer, but laid,
' He could not do it, for it was contrary to law ;' yet the
truth thereby came mightily over him. A good while after
this he fent down major general Defborow pretending to
fet us at liberty. When he came, he offered, if we would
fay, ' We would go home and preach no more,' we fhould
have our liberty ; but we could not promife him. Then
he urged, that we fhould promife ' to go home if the
' Lord permitted :' whereupon Edward Pyot wrote him
this following letter :
' To major general Defborow.
' Friend,
* 'Tn HOUGH much might be faid as to the Hberty of
' Jl Englifhmen to travel in any part of England, it be-
' ing as the Englifliman's houfe by the law, and he to be
* proteftcd in any part of it ; and if he tranfgrefs the law,
' the penalty upon the tranfgrelfor is to be inflicled. And
* as to the liberty of confcience, which is a natural right,
' and a fundamental, and the exercife of it by thofe who
* profefs faith in God by jefus Chrift, it is to be protefted,
' as by the inftrumcnt of government it appears, though
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 267
they differ in doftrine, worfhip, and difcipline; provided
that liberty extend not to property, or prelacy, nor to li-
centioufnefs. Where thefe rights are denied us, our liber-
ties are infiinged, which are the price of much blood and
treafure in the late wars. Yet in the power of God over
all, by which all are to be ruled, are we, and in it dwell,
and by it alone are guided to do the vvill of God ; whofe
will is free, and we, in the freedom of his will, walk by
the power, either as it commands or permits, without any
condition or enforcement thereunto by men ; but as the
power moves, either by command or permilhon. And
although we cannot covenant or condition to go forth of
thefe parts, or to do this or that thing, if the Lord permit
(for that were to do the will of man by God's permiffion)
yet it is like we may pafs forth of thefe parts in the liberty
of the will of God, as we may be feverally moved and
guided by the pure power, and not of neceffity. We who
were firfl committed were pafling homeward when we were
apprehended ; and, as far as I know, we might pafs, if
the prifon doors were commanded to be opened, and wo
freed of our bonds. Should we Itay, if the Lord com-
mands us to go, or fhouLd we go if the Lord command
us to (lay ; or having no command to flay^ but being
permitted to pafs from hence, the pure power moving
thereto, and we yet flay ; or go, when as before com-
manded to flay : we fhould then be wanderers indeed :
for fuch are wanderers, who wander out from the will and
power of God, abroad, at large, in their own wills and
earthly minds. And fo, in the fear of the Lord God,
well weigh and confider, with the jufl weight and jufl
balance, that juftice thou mayfl do to the jufl and inno-
cent in prifon.
' Edward Pyot.'
Some time having pafTed after the foregoing was deliver-
ed him, and he not giving any order for our difcharge, I
alfo wrote to him as foUoweth :
' To major general Defborow.
* Friend,
' T^7E who are in the power of God, the ruler of all,
, V \ the upholder of all things, and know and dwell in
* his power, to it we mull be obedient ; which brings us to
X X
26» GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1655
{land out of all men's wills, unlimited. To fay, " We
' will if the Lord permit," in a cale of buying and felling
to get gain, if the intent be lo to do, may be done ; but
we ftanding in the power of God to do his will, and to
fland out of man's will, if man propofe, " We fhall have
' our liberty if we will fay, we will go to our outward bc-
' ing, if the Lord permit, or if it be the will of God ;" and
becaufe we cannot fay thefe, words in this cafe, fliall not
have our liberty, when we know that the will of God is,
we fhail " go to fpeak at fome other place :" here we can-
not fay thefe words truly. For to fay, " We will go to
' our outward habitation, if it be according to the will of
•' God," when we know the will of God is otherwife ; we
cannot fpeak fo, tiiily and clearly. Neither can any man fiy
fo to him, that requires it of him; who flands in the pow-
er, and knows the power of God to lea'd him, according to
God's will, and it leads him to another place than his out-
ward horns. But the Son of God, who came to do and
did the will of God, had no place whereon to lay his head :
and the aDoftles, and manv of the followers of Chrift, had
no certain dwelling-place. Now if thefe fbould have been
rellrained, becaufe they could not fay they would go to
their outward homes, if it were the will of God, when
they knew it was the will of God they fhould not, and
they could not do the will of God in doing fo, and there-
fore could not fpeak thofe words to fatisfy man's mind and
will, would not hich reftraint have been evil ? Abraham
could not do the will of God, but in going from his native
country; and who are of taith are of Abraham, of whom
Chrift came according to the flefli. Now, if you allege,
' This is to let all loole and at liberty to idlenefs," I {dy,
No : fuch as are in the power of God, who do the will of
God, come to receive his wiidom, by which all his crea-
tures were created, and by which they are ufed to his glo-
ry. This I fhall fay, whoever are moved by the l^ord
God of glory and power to go to their outward habitati-
ons, fuch of us may go to our outward homes ; and there
be diligent in ferving the Lord, that they may be a blei-
fihg from God in their generation ; diligently ferving him
in life and doftrinc, in manners, in converfation, in all
things. And who are moved of the Lord to ^o to any
other place, we (landing in his will, and being moved by
his power, which comprehends all things, and is not to be
limited, wc fhall do his Vv'ill which we arc commauded lo
i55''0 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 269
* do. So the Lord God open your underftandings. that you
* mav fee this great power of the Lord, whicli he is now
* manifefting among his children in this his day ; that ye
* may not withftand it in our friends, that are come into the
* power of God, and to God, and know him by whom the
* world was made, by whom all things were created that
* were created, and there was not any thing made but what
' was made for him. and to him, and by him ; who is the
* power of God, and doth enlighten every man that cometh
* into the world. Friends being come to this light which
* cometh from Chrift, and having received power irom him
* by whom all things were created, to whom all power in
* heaven and earth is given, who is the wildom of God; we
* have received wifdom and power from him, by which the
* Lord doth give us to know how to uie and order the crea-
* tures to the glory of him, the Creator of all thmgs. Friends
* here are taught of the Lord to be diligent, ferving him ;
* and who come into the life, the fcriptures were given forth
* from, are given up to ferve the Lord. Of this I have in
* all your confciences a witnefs. So, if thou open the pri-
* fon-door, we fhall not ftay there. If thou fend a liberate,
* and let us free, we fhall not ftay in prifon ; for Ilrael is to
* go out free, whofe freedom is purchafed by the power of
* God and the blood of }efus. Bat who goeth out of the
* power of God lofeth his freedom.
* The 13th of the 6th ' George Fox, and the reft
' month, 1656.' ' who are iufFerers for
< the truth in Lancef-
* ton gaol.'
After this major Defborow came to the Caftle-green,
and played at bowls with the juflices and others. Several
friends were moved to go, and adnionifli them againft
' fpending time fo vainly ;' dcfiring tliem to conlider, ' 7\hat
* though they profefled themfelves to be chriftians, yet they
' gave themfelves up to their pleafures, and kept the fen-ants
' of God mean-while in prifon ;' and alfo told them, ' The
' Lord would plead with ihem, and viiit them for fucli
' things.' But notwithflanding what was v.'rote or faid to
him, he went away, and left us in prifon. We underdood
afterwards that he left the buhnefs to colonel Bennct, v.'ho
had the command of the gaol. For fome time after Bennet
would have fet us at liberty, if we would havd paid his gaol-
X X 2
27© GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
er's fees. But we anfwered, ' We could give the gaoler no
* fees, for we were innocent fufFerers ; how could they ex-
* pe6l fees of us, who had fuflFered fo long wrongfully ?"
After awhile colonel Bennet coming to town fent for us to
an inn, and infifted again upon fees, which we refufed. At
lafl the power of the Lord came fo over him, that the thir-
teenth of the feventh month, 1656, we were fet at liberty.
We had been prifoners nine weeks at the firft affize, called
the Lent-affize, in the fpring of the year.
Obferving while I was here prifoner how much the peo-
ple (they elpecially who were called gentry) were addi£i:ed
to pleafures and vain recreations, I was moved, before I left
the place, to give forth feveral papers as a warning to them,
and to all that fo mifpend their time. One of which was
thus :
« ■
' This to go abroad among thofe, who are given to plea-
' fures and wantonnefs.
THE fins of Sodom and Gomorrah were pride, ful-
nefs of bread, and abundance of idlenefs. Their fil-
thy converfation vexed the righteous foul of juft Lot day
by day, and they would not take warning ; on whom God
therefore fent fire, and turned them into afhes. And in
fpiritaal Sodom and Egypt was our Lord Jefus Chrift
crucified ; and it is written, " The people fate down to eat
' and to drink, and rofe up to play ; with whom God was
* not well pleafed, and there fell three and twenty thoufand
' in one day." Thefe the apoftle commanded the faints
they fhould not follow ; for thefe things happened to
them for examples, and are written for our admonition.
God fpared not the old world ; but referving Noah, a
preacher of righteoufnels, brought the flood upon the world
of the ungodly, making them an example to all that after
fhould live ungodly. Mark, ye ungodly ones, who are
as natural brute beafls, v/ho fpeak great fwelling words of
vanity, alluring through the lufls of the flefh, through
mucli wantonnels, as they that count it pleafure to riot in
the day-time, fporting yourlelves with your own deceiv-
ings ; ye fhali receive the reward of unrighteoufnefs. Ye
are as dogs and fwine turned to the vomit, and wallowing
in the mire, fpeakingevil of things that ye know not ; and
unlefs ye repent, ye fhall utterly perifh in your own cor-
ruptions. Ye have lived in pleafure on the earth, and
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 271
' been wanton. Ye have nourilhed your hearts, as in a day
' of flaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the jufl, and
' he doth not refill you. Go to, weep and howl for the mi-
' fery that is coming upon you. She that liveth in plea-
* fures, is dead while fhe liveth. God condemned the ci-
* ties of Sodom and Gomorrah, makmg them an example to
* all thofe that after fhould live ungodly, in the wicked, fil-
' thy converfation : mark, here is your example. Hear
' this, ye that are given to pleafures, and read your exam-
' pies. G. F.'
Another, upon my taking notice of the bowlers that came
to fport in the Caftie-green, was as followeth :
* ^ I ^HE word of the Lord to all you vain and idle mind-
* X ed people, who are lovers of Iports, pleafures, foolifli
* exercifes, and recreations, as you call them ; confidcr of
* your ways, what it is you are doing. Was this the end of
* your creation ? Did God make all things for you, and you
* to ferve your lulls and pleafures ? Did not the Lord make
' all things for you, and you for himfelf, to fear and wor-
* fhip him in fpirit and in truth, in righteoufnefs and true
' holinefs ? But where is your fervice of God, fo long as
* your hearts run after lulls and pleafures ? ye cannot ferve
* God and the fooiilh pleafures of the world, as bowling,
* drinking, hunting, hawking, and the like. If thele have
' your hearts, God will not have your lips. Confider, for
* it is true. Therefore from the Lord mufl you all v;itnefs
' wo and mifery, tribulation and wrath, who continue in
* the love and^praftice of your vain fports, lulls, and plea-
' fures. Now is the day, when all every-where are exhort-
' ed to repentance. O foolifh people, wicked and flow of
' heart to believe the threatenings of the great Jehovah
' againft the wicked ! What will you do in the day of the
' Lord's fierce wrath, that makes hafle to come upon the
' world of ungodly men ! What good have your foolifli
' fports and delights done you, now they are paft ? Or what
'■ good will they do you, when the Lord calls for your fouls ?
' Therefore all now awake from deep, and fee where you
* arc ; and let the light of Jefus Chrill, that fiiines in every
* one of your confciences, fearch you thoroughly, and it
* will let you clearly fee, for all your proftffion of God,
* Chrift, and the fcriptures, you are ignorant of them, and
' enemies to them all, and your own fouls alfo ; and being
272 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
* found living in pleafures, you are dead while vou live.
' Therefore doth the Lord by many melTengers forewarn
* you; and calls you to repentance and deep humiliation ;
* that you may forfake the evil of your doings, own this day
* of your viiitation, and while you have time prize it : left
' the things which belong to your peace be hid from your
' eyes for your difobedience and rebellion againft the Holy
' One. And then it had been good that you never had been
' born : repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, A-
' gain I fay, Repent !
' To the bowlers * Given forth in LanceRon-
* in the green.* ' g^ol, in Cornwall.'
Being releafed, we got horfes, rid towards Humphry
Lower's, and met him upon the road. He told us, ' He
' was much troubled in his mind concerning us, and could
* not reft at home ; but was going to colonel Bennet to feek
' our liberty.' When we told him, ' We were fet at liber-
* ty, and vv ere going to his houfe ;' he was exceeding glad.
To his houfe we went, and had a fine, precious meeting ;
many were convinced, and turned by the Spirit of the Lord
to the Lord Jefus Chrift's teaching.
From his houfe we went to Loveday Hambley's ; where
we had a fine large meeting. The Lord's power was over
all ; many were convinced there alfo, and turned to the
Lord Jefus Chrift, their teacher.
After we had tarried there two or three days, we came
to Thomas Mounce's, where we had a general meeting for
the whole county ; which, being very large, was held in his
orchard. Friends from Plymouth were there, and from
many places. The Lord's power was over all, and a great
convincement there was in many parts of the county.
Their watches were down, and all was plain and open ; for
the Lord had let me fee, before 1 was at liberty, that he
would make all the country plain before us. Thomas and
Ann Curtis, with an alderman of Reading who was con-
vinced, had come to Lancefton to fee us while I was pri-
foner ; and when Ann and the other man returned, Thomas
Curtis ftaid behind in Cornwall, and had good fervice for
the Lord at that time.
From Thomas Mounce's we pafled to Lancefton again,
and vifrted the little remnant of friends that had been railed
up there v\Iiile we were in prifon; and the Lord's plants
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 273
grew finely, and were eftabliflicd on Chrift, their rock and
foundation. As we were going oat of town again, the
conflable of Lancefton came running to us with the cheefe
that had been taken from Edward Pyot ; which they had
kept from us all this while, and were troubled with it.
But we, being now at liberty, would not receive it.
From Lanccfton we came to Okington; and lay at an inn,
which the mayor of the town kept. He had (lopped and
taken up feveral friends, but was very civil to us ; and was
convinced in his judgment.
From thence we came to Exeter, where many friends
were in prifon; and amongll the reft James Nayier. For a
little before we were fet at liberty, James had run out into
imaginations, and a company with him, who raifed up a
great darkneis in the nation.* He came to Briilol, and
made a difturbance there. From thence lie was coming to
Lancefton, to fee me ; but was ftopped by the way, and
imprifoned at Exeter; as were feveral others, one of whom,
an honeft, tender man, died in prifon there; whofe blood
lieth on the heads of his perfecutors.
The night that we came to Exeter, I fpoke with James
Nayier : for I faw he was out, and wrong, and fo was his
company. The next day, being firfl-day, we went to vifit
the prifoners, and had a meeting with them in the prifon ;
but James Nayier, and fome of them could not ftay the
meeting. There came a corporal of horfe into the meeting,
who was convinced, and remained a very good hicnd. The
next day I fpoke to James Nayier again; and he flighted
what I faid, was dark, and much out ; yet he would have
come and kiflTed me. But I faid, ' Since he had turned
' againft the power of God, I could not receive his fliew of
* kindnefs. The Lord moved me to flight him, and to ' fet
' the power of God over him.' So after I had been war-
ring with the world, there was now a wicked (pirk iiicn
amongft friends to war againft. I admoniihed him and his
company. When he was come to London, his refifting
the power of God in me, and the truth that w:us dtclarc;!
to him by me, became one of his greateft burdens. But
* James Nayier was a monument of human Aailty. His gift in tlie
minifliry was eminent ; his experience in divine things truly great. He
fell throngh iinwatchfulncfs, but was rcflorcd through deep fuifcrings and
Bnfei^^ned rep-ntance. His own writings are the mofl clear ard Hvtiy vie-
fcripiion of the various difpenfacions he underwent : feme of tlitm dtfei va
to be Uinlhiitted to tlie l«eft pofterity.
274 GEORGE FOX'3 JOURNAL. [1656
he came to fee his out-going, and to condemn it ; and after
fome time he returned to truth again : as in the printed re-
lation of his repentance, condemnation, and recovery may
be more fully feen.
We pafFed from Exeter through Cullumpton and Taun-
ton, vifiting friends ; and had meetings amongft them.
From thence we came to Puddimoor, to William Beaton's;
where on a firft-day we had a very large mxeting. A great
convincement there was up and down that country ; many
meetings we had, and the Lord's power was over all ; many
were turned, by the power and Sph'it of God, to the Lord
Jefus Chrift, who died for them, and came to fit under
his free teaching.
From thence we went to John Dando's, where we had
another precious meeting. The Lord's power was over
all, and many were convinced of God's eternal truth.
Some contention was raifed by profelTors and Baptifts, in
fome places ; but the Lord's power came over them.
From thence we came to Edward Pyot's, near Briftol.
It was the feventh-day at night that we came thither. It
was quickly noifed over the town that I was come. I had
never been there before.
On firll-day morning I went to the meeting in Broadmead
at Briftol ; which was- large and quiet. Notice was given
of a meeting to be in the afternoon in the orchard. There
was at Briftol a rude Baptift, named Paul Gwin, who had
ufed before to make great diilurbance in our meetings; be-
ing encouraged by the mavor, who, as was reported, would
fometimes give him his dinner to encourage him. Such
multitudes of rude people would he gather after him, that
it was thought there had been Tometimes ten thoufand peo-
ple at our meeting in the orchard. As I was going into
the orchard, the people told me. That Paul Gwin, the
rude, jangling Baptift, was going to the meeting. I bid
them, ' Never heed ; it was nothing to me, who went to it.'
When I was come into the orchard, I ftood upon the ftone
that liicnds ufed to ftand on when they fpoke : and was
moA-ed of the Lord to put off" my hat, and to ftand a pretty
while; and let the people look at me; for fome thoufands
of people were there. While I thus ftood filent, this itide
Baptift bc'jjan to find fault with my hair; but I faid nothing
to iiim. Then he ran on into words; and at laft, ' Ye wife
* men of Briftol,' faid he, ' I ftrange at you that you will
' ftand hcie. and hear a man fpcak and affirm that which
t656] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 275
* he cannot make good.* Then the Lord opened my mouth
(for as yet I had not fpoken a word) and I afked the peo-
ple, ' Whether they ever heard me Ipeak : or ever law me
' before ?' And bid them ' take notice what kind of man
' this was that fhould fo impudently fay amongft them, that
* I fpoke and affirmed that which I could not make good ;
* and yet neither he noi' they ever heard hie or faw me before.
' Therefore that was a lying, envious, malicious fpirit thaft
* fpoke in him ; and it was of the devil, and not of God.
* I charged him in the dread and power of the Lord to be
* filent; and the mighty power of God came over him, and
* all his company. A glorious, peaceable meeting we had ;
* the word of life was divided amongll them ; and they
* were turned from darknefs to light, and to jeius their
* Saviour. The fcriptures were largely opened to them ;
* and the traditions, rudiments, ways, and do6lrines of men
* were laid open before the people, and they were turned
* to the light of Chrift, that with it they might fee them,
* and fee him to lead them out of them. I opened alfo to
' them* the types, figures, and fhadows of Chrifl in the time
* of the law ; and fhewed them, That Chrifl was come, and
* had ended the types, fhadows, tythes, and oaths, and put
* down fwearing, and had fet yea and nay ihftead of it, and
* a tree miniftry : for he was now come to teach people
* himfelf, and his heavenly day was fpringing from on
* high.* For many hours did I declare the word of life
amongft them in the eternal power of God; that by him
they might come up into the beginning and be reconciled
to him. And having turned them to the Spirit of God in
themfelves, that would lead into all truth, I was moved to
pray in the mighty power of God; and the Lord's powert
came over all. When I had done, this fellow began to
babble again ; and John Audland was moved to bid him
repent, and fear God. So his own people and followers
being aftiamed of him, he paffc^d away, and never came
again to difturb the meeting. The meeting broke up qui-
etly, and the Lord's' pawer and glory fliincd over all : a
blelfed day it was, and the Lord had the praife. After
awhile this Paul Gwin went beyond fea ; and many years
after, I met with him again at Barbadoes : of which in its
place.
From Briftol we returned to Edward Pyot's, where we
had a great meeting. The Lord's power was over all,
truth was declared and fpread abroad, and m.iny were turn-
276 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
ed to Chrift Jefus, their life, their Prophet to teach them,
their Shepherd to feed them, and their Bifhop to overfee
them. After the meeting I had reafoning with fome pro-
feflbrs ; and the Lord's truth and power came over them.
From Edward Pyot's we palled to Slattenford, where we
had a very large meeting (Edward Pyot and another friend
being ftili with me ;) and a great turning of people there
was to the Lord Jelus Chrift their teacher. People were
glad that they were brought to know their way, their free
teacher, and their Saviour Chrift Jefus.
The firft-day following we went to Nathaniel Crips's
houfe, who had been a juilice of peace in Wiltfhire ; where
it was fuppofed between two and three thoufand people
were at a meeting, and all was quiet. * The mighty power
' of God was manifefl, and people were turned to the grace
* and truth in their hearts, that came by Jefus Chrift, which
* would teach them to deny all ungodiinefs and worldly
* lulls, and to live foberly and godly in this prefent world.
' So that every man and woman might know the grace of
* God, which had appeared to all men, which was faving,
* and fufBcient to bring their faivation. This teacher, the
' grace of God, would teach them how to live, what to do,
' and what to deny : it would feafon their words, and efta-
* blilh their hearts. This was a free teacher to every
* one of them : fo that they might come to be heirs of
* this grace, and of Chrifl:, by whom it came ; who hath
* ended the prophets, and the priefts that took tythes, and
' the Jewifh temple. And as for thefe hireling priefts that
' take tythes now, and their temples (which priefts were
' made at fchools and colleges of man's letting up, and not
* by Chrift) they, with all their inventions, were to be de-
' nied. For the apoftles denied the true . priefthood and
' temple, which God had commanded, after Chrift had put
'an end thereto. The fcriptures,. and the truths therein
* contained, were largely opened, and the people turned
* to the Spirit of God in their hearts ; that by it they might
* be led into all truth, underftand the fcriptures, know God
* and Chrifl, and come to have unity with them, and one
* with another in the fame Spirit.' The people went away
generally fatisfied, and were glad that they were turned to
Chrifl Jefus, their Teacher and Saviour.
The next day we went to Marlborough, where we had
a little meeting. The feflions being held that day, they
were granting a warrant to fend for me; but juUice Stooks,
J656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 277
being at the feffions, flopped them, telling them there was
a meeting at his houfe yefleiday, at which were feveral
thoufands. So the warrant was flopped, our meeting was
quiet; and feveral received Chrift Jefus their teacher, and
came into the new covenant, and abode in it.
From hence we went to Newbury, where we had a large
blefTed meeting ; feveral were convinced. Thence we palf-
ed to Reading, where we had a large, precious meeting
in the Lord's power amongft the plants of God. Many of
other profeflions came in, were reached, and added to the
meeting. All was quiet, and the Lord's power was over
all. We went from Reading to Kinglton upon Thames,
where a few came to us that were turned to the Lord Jefus
Chrift : but fince it is become a large meeting.
Leaving Kingfton, we rode to London. When we came
near Hyde Park, we faw a great concourfe of people, and
looking towards them, efpled the protedor coming in his
coach. Whereupon I rode to his coach fide. Some of
his life-guard would have put me away ; but he forbad
them. So I rode by his coach fide with him, ' declaring
* what the Lord gave me to fay to him, of his condition,
* and of the fuflPerings of friends in the nation ; iliewing
* him, how contrary this perfecution Vv'as to Chrift and his
* apoftles, and to chriftianity.' When we were come to
James's Park Gate, I left him ; and at parting he defired
me to come to his houfe. Tiie next day, one of his wife's
maids, whofe name was Mary Scinders, came to me at my
lodging, and told me. Her mafter came to her, and faid, he
would tell her fome good news. When ftie alked him,
What it was ? He told her, George Fox was come to town.
She replied. That was good news indeed (for fhe had re-
ceived truth) but ftie faid, She could hardly believe him ;
till he told her how I met him, and rode from Hyde Park
to James's Park with him.
After a little time Edward Pyot and I went to White-
hall ; and when we eame before him, Dr. Owen, vice-
chancellor of Oxford, was with him. We were moved to
* fpeak to Oliver Cromwel concerning the fufferings of
' friends, and laid them before him : and dire6led him to
' the light of Chrift, who had enlightened every man that
* Cometh into the world. He faid, It was a na-tural light;
* but we fhewed him the contrary ; and manifefted that it
' was divine and fpiritual, proceeding from Chrift the fpi-
' ritual and heavenly maa; and that which was called the
Yy 2
27S GEORGE FOX^s JOURNAL. £165^
* life in Chrift the Word, was called the light in us. The
* power of the Lord God arofe in me, and I was moved in
* it to bid hira lay down his crown at the feet of Jefus.'
Several times 1 fpoke to him to the lame elFcft. I was
ftanding by, the table, and he came and fat upon the table's
fide by me, faying, He would be as high as I was : and lb
continued fpeaking againft the light ot Chrifl jefus; and
went his way in a light manner. But the Lord's power
c:uiie over him, fo that when he cam^e to his wife and other
company, he faid, ' I never parted fo from them beiore :*
for he was judged in himfelf.
After he had left us, as we were going out, many great
perfons came about us ; one of them began to fpeak againft
the light, and asainft the truth; and I was made to flmht
him, for fpeaking fo lightly of the things of God. Where-
upon one of them told me he was the major-general of
Northamptonfhire. ' What !' faid I, ' our old perfecutor,
' that has perfecuted and fent fo many of our friends to pri-
* fon, and is a fliame to chriftianity and religion ! I am
* glad I have met with thee,' faid L So I was moved to
fpeak fharply to him of his unchriftian caniages ; and he
flunk away : for he had been a cruel perfecutor in North-
araDtonfhire.
After I had vifited the meetings of friends in and about
London, I went into Buckinghamfhire, and Edward Pyot
wa5 with me ; and in feveral places in that county many
received the truth. Great meetings we had, and the Lord's
power was eminently manifefled. I paffed through North-
amptonfliire and Notlinghamfliire into Lincolnfliire. After
feveral meetings in Lincolnfliire, I had at laft a meeting,
where. two knigiits, one called Sir Richard Wrey, the other
vSir John Wrey, with their Avives, were at the meeting.
One of their wives was convinced, received the truth, and
died in it. When the meeting was done, we paffed away;
and it being in the c\ening, and dark, a company of wild
ferving m^^n encompalfed me aboul^ with intent, as I ap-
prehended, to have done me fon.:ie mifchief. But I fpoke
aloud to them, and ailced, ' What are ye? highwaymen ?
Whereupon fome friends and friendly people behind came
up to us. and knew fome of them. So I reproved them
for their uncivil and rude carriage, exhorted them to fear
God, and the Lord's power came over them, and ftopped
their mifchievous defign ; blclfed be his name for ever.
Then 1 turned into liuntingdcnfhire. ■ The mayor of
1656^1 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ; 279
Huntingdon came to vifit me, and was very loving, and
his wife received the truth.
Thence I palfed into Cambridgefhire, and into the Fen
Country ; where I had many meetings, and the Lord's
truth fpread. Robert Craven (who had been fherifF of
Lincohi) Amor Stoddart, and Alexander Parker were with
me. We went to Crowland, a very rude place; for the
town's people were got together at the inn we went to, and
were half drunk, both priefl and people. ' I reproved
* them for their drunkennefs, and warned them of the day
* of the Lord that was coming upon all the wicked ; exhort-
* ing them to leave their drunkennefs, and turn to the Lord
* in time.' Whilfl I was thus fpeaking to them, and (hew-
ing the prieft the fruits of his miniftry, the priefl. and the
clerk broke out into a rage, and got up the tongs and fire-
fhovel at us ; fo that had not the Lord's power preferved
us, we might have been murdered amongfl; them, ^'et,
for all their rudenefs and violence, fome received the truth
then ; and have fl:ood in it ever fmce.
From thence we palTed to Boflon, where mofl; of the
chief of the town came to our inn, and the people feemed
to be much fatisfied. But there was a raging man in the
yard; and Robert Craven was moved to fpeak to him, and
told him, He fhamed chriflianity ; which, with fome few
other words, fo flopped the man, that he went away quiet.
Some were convinced there alfo.
Thus we had large meetings up and down ; for I travel-
led into Yorkfhire, and returned out of Holdcrnefs, over
Humber, vifiting friends ; and then going into Leicefl:er-
fhire, Staffordlhire, Worcefterfhire, and Warwickfhire,
among friends, I had a meeting at Edge-hill. The.»-e came
to it Ranters, Baptifl.s, and feveral forts of rude people;
for I had fent word about three weeks before, to have a
meeting there; fo that hundreds of people v/ere gathered,
and many friends came from far to it. The Lord's ever-
laft;ing truth and word of life reached over all ; rude and
unruly fpirits were chained down ; and many that day were
turned to the Lord Jefus Chrifl;, by his power and Spirit,
who came to fit under his bleffed free teachiny;, and to be
fed with his eternal, heavenly food. All was peaceable ;
the people paffed quietly away, and fome of them laid. It
was a mighty, powerful meeting : for the prefence of the
Lord was felt, and his power and Spirit amongfl; them.
From hence I paffed to Warwick, and to B.iglcy ; hav-
286 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165(5
ing precious meetings. From thence into Gloucefterfhire,
and ib to Oxford, where the fcholars were very rude ; but
the Lord's power came, over them, and great meetings we
had up and down, as we travelled. Then I went to colo-
nel Grimes's, where was a very large meeting; and from
thence to Nathaniel Crips's, where came another juflice to
the meeting, who was alfo convinced. At Cirencefter
alfo we had a meeting, which is much increafed; fo we
came to Evefham again, where I met John Camm.
Thus having travelled over mod part of the nation, I
returned to London, having cleared myfelf of that which
lav upon me from the Lord. For after I was releafed out
of Lancefton gaol, I was moved of the Lord to travel over
inoft parts of the nation (the truth being now fpread, and
finely planted in moft places) that I might anfwer, and re-
move out of the minds of people fome obje£lions, which
envious priefts and profeflTors had raifed and fpread concern-
ing us. For, what Chnfl laid of falfe prophets and anti-
chrifls coming in the lafi; days, that they applied to us ; and
faid. We were they.
Therefore was I moved to open this through the nation,
and to fhew, ' That they, who faid we were the falfe pro-
* phets, antichrifts, and deceivers, that fhould come in the
* lafl: days, were indeed themfelves they. For when Chrifl
' told his difciples in the viith and xxivth of Matthew, that
' talie prophets and antichrifts fliouldcome in the laft times,
' and, if it were poffible, fliould deceive the very ele6l, he
* faid, " By their fruits ye fhall know them : for they fhould
" be inwardly ravening wolves, having the fheeps cloathing."
" And," faid hp, " do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
" thiftles ?" as much as to fay. Their nature and fpirit fliould
' be like a thorn, or like a thiftle ; and he bids his difciples
' not go after them. But before the difciples were deceafed,
* the antichrifts, falfe prophets, and deceivers were come.
' For John in his firft epiftle faid, " Little children, it is
•' the laft time; and as ye have heard that antichrift fliall
*•' co.me, even now are there many antichrifts, whereby we
" know that it is the laft time." So here, as Chrift faid to
' his dilciplcs, They fhould come ; the difciples faw they
' were come : as may be feen at large in Peter, Jude, John,
' and other places of fcripture ; " whereby," lays John,
•• we know it is the laft time :" and this laft tin^e began above
< fixtcen hundred vears fince. John faid " They went out
•• from us ;" the falfe prophets^ antichrifts, feducers, and
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 281
deceivers, went out from the church ; '•' But you," faid
he to the church, " have an anointing which abideth in
you ; and you need not that any man teach you, but as
■ the fame anointing teacheth you of all things ; and as it
hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him." Chnll faid to his
difciples, " Go not after them, for they are inwardly ra-
vening ^Wolves ;" and John exhorts the faints to the
anointing within them ; and the reft of the apoftles ex-
hort the churches to the grace, the light, the truth, the
Spirit, the word of faith, and to Chrift in their hearts, the
hope of glory. Chrift told the faints, that the Spirit of
truth, the Holy Ghoft, fhould be their leader into all
truth ; and Jude exhorts the church to " pray in the Ho-
ly Ghoft," and " to be built up in their moft holy faith,
which Chrift was the author of." Chrift, by his fervant
John, exhorted the feven churches to hear what the
Spirit faid to the churches ;" and this was an inward
fpiritual hearing. Chrift fays, the inwardly ravening
wolves ftiould have the fheeps cloathing. Paul fpeaks of
fome in his time that had a form of godlinefs, but denied
the power. John faid, " They went out from us." Jude
faid, " They go in Cain's way, and in Balaam's and
Corah's way." By all which it may be clearly feen, that
the falfe prophets and antichrifts, which Chrift foretold
fhould come, the apoftles faw xvere come ; and in their day
the laft time was begun. Thefe went from them into the
world, and the world went after them ! Thefe were the
fore-men, the leaders of the world, that brought them into
a form of godlinefs, but inwardly ravened from the power
and Spirit ! Thefe have the ftieeps cloathing, the words of
Chrift, of the prophets, and of the apoftles ; but are in-
wardly ravened from the power and Spirit that they were
in who gave forth the fcriptures. Thefe have made up
the beaft. and the whore ! Thefe have gotten the dragons
power, the murdering, deftroying, perfecuting power !
And thefe are they that the world wonders after ! Thefe
have drunk the blood of the martyrs, prophets, and faints,
and perfccuted the true church into the wildernefs ! Thefe
have let up the falfe, compelling worfhips, and have drunk
the blood of the faints, that will not drink of their cup !
Thefe have made the cage for the unclean birds, that have
their feveral unclean notes in their cage; which cage is
made up by the power of darknefs, and unclean ghoft :
and the birds of the cage deny the Holy Ghoft, and the
48i GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
power of God, which the appftles were in, to be now
manifefled in the faints! Thus fince Chrift faid, the falfe
prophets and antichrifls fhould come, and the apoille
laid, They were come, the beaft^s and the dragon's wor-
fliip hath been fet up ; the whore is got up with her falfe
prophets, her cage hath been _made, all nations have
drunk of her cup of fornication, the blood of the martyrs
and faints they have drunk, and the true church hath fled
into the wildernefs. All this lince the apoflles days. Yet
the blind deceivers of all forts, the antichrifts and falfe
prophets of our age, would make us and people believe
that the falfe prophets, antichrifts, and deceivers are come
but now ; though John and other of the apoftles tell us,
they began to come above fixteen hundred years ago.
And ye may fee what work and corifufion they have made
in the world ; how much blood thefe Cains have drunk,
that went in Cain's way : which blood cries to God for
vengeance upon Chriftendom ! And hov/ thefe Balaams,
who have erred from the power of the Spirit which the
apoftles were in, have coveted after other men's eftates,
the many gaols, courts, and fpoiling of goods will bear
witnefs. And how thefe Corahs have gainfayed the life,
power, and fpirit which the apoftles and true church were
in, and the free teaching of Chrift and of his apoftles, and
the work of their miniftry, which was " to prefent every
' man perfeft in Chrift Jefus," hath been evident.
' Therefore in the name and power of the Lord Jefus was
I fent to preach again the everlafting gofpel, which had
been preached before unto Abraham, and in the apoftles
days ; and was to go over all nations, and to be preached
to every creature. For as the apoftacy hath gone over all
nations fince the apoftles days, fo that the nations are be-
come as waters, unftable, being gone from Chrift, the
foundation; fo muft the gofpel, the power of God, go
over all nations again. We find the falfe prophets, anti-
chrifts, deceivers, whore, falfe church, beaft, and his wor-
fhip in the dragon's power, have got up in the times betwixt
the apoftles and us. For Chrift faid, '' They fliould
' come :" and the apoftles law, " They were come," and
coming in their days ; and that they went forth from them,
and the world went after them. And now hath the Lord
railed us up beyond them, and fet us over them in the
everlafting gofpel, the pov/erof God: that as all have been
darkened by the beafts, whore, falfe prophets, and anti-
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 283
chrifts, fo the everlafting gofpel may be preached again by
us to all nations, and to every creature, which will bring
life and immortality to light in them, that they may fee
over the devil and his falfe prophets, antichrifts, feducers
and deceivers, and over the whore and beaft, and to that
which was before they were. This meffage of the glorious,
everlafting gofpel was I fent forth to declare and publifh,
and thoufands by it are turned to God, having received it ;
and are come into fubjeftion to it, and into the holy order
of it. And lince I have declared this mefTage in this part
of the world and in America, and have written books of
the fame, to fpread it univerfally abroad, the blind pro-
phets, preachers, and deceivers have given over telling us,
the falfe prophets fhould " come in the laft times ;" for a
great light is fprung up and fhines over their heads : fo that
every child in truth fees the folly of their fayings.
' Then they got other objetlions againft us, and invented
fhifts to fave themfelves from truth's ftroke. For when we
blamed them for taking tithes, which came from the tribe of
Levi, and were fet up here by the Romifh church, they
would plead, " That Chrift told the fcribes and pharifees,
' they ought to pay tithes of mint, anife, and cummin,
' though they negle6led the weightier matters :" and that
Chrift faid, " the fcribes and pharifees fat in Mofes's feat,
' therefore all that they bid you do, that do and obferve."
And when we told them they were envious perfecuting
priefts, they would reply, " That fome preached Chrift
' of envy, and fome of contention, and fome of good-will."
Now thefe fcriptures and others fuch-like they would bring
to darken the minds of their hearers, and to perfuade them
and us, " That we ought to do as they lay, though they
' themfelves were like the pharifees ; and that we ftiould re-
' joice when envious men and men of ftrife preached Chrift ;
' and that we ftiould give them the tithes as the Jews did to
' the tribe of Levi." Thefe were fair gloffes ; here was a
great heap of hulks, but no kernel. Now this was their
blindnefs ; for the Levitical priefthood Chrift hath ended,
and difannulled the commandment that gave them tithes,
and the law by which thofe priefts were made. Chrift did
not come after that order, neither did he fend forth his mi-
ni fters after that order; for thofe of that order were to take
tithes for their maintenance, but his mimfters he fent forth
freely. And as forbearing the pharilees and the Jews pay-
ing tithes of mint, anife, and cummin, that was before
Z z
28+ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
Chrifl was facrificcd and ofFered up; the Jews were then
to do the law, and perform their oflFerings and facrifices
which the Jewifh priefls did teach them. But after Chrifl
was ofFered up, he bid them then, '■' Go into all nations
' and preach the gofpel ; and lo," laid he, '•' I will be with
' you to the end of the world ;" and in another place he
faith, " I will be in you." He did not bid them go to
hear the pharifees then, and pay tithe of mint, anife, and
cummin then ; but " Go, preach the gofpel, and believe
' in the Lord Jefus and be faved, and receive the gofpel,"
which would bring people ofF from the Jews, the tithes,
the Levitical law, and the offerings thereof, to Chrifl, the
o le Offering, made once for all. O what work had the
apoftle both with the Galatians and the Romans to bring
them off the law to the faith in Chrifl !
' And as for the apollle's faying, " Some preached Chrifl
' of envy and flrife," &c. That was at the firfl fpreading
of Chrifl's name abroad, when they were in danger not on-
ly to be cafl out of the fynagogues, but to be floned to
death, that confeffed to the name of Jefus; as may be feeii
by the uproars that were among the Jews and Diana's
worfhippers at the preaching of Chrifl. So the apoflle
might well rejoice if the envious, and men of flrife and
contention did preach Chrifl at that time; though they
thought thereby to add affliftion to his bonds. But af-
terward, when Chrifl's name was fpread abroad, and ma-
ny had got a form of godlinefs, but denied the power
thereof, " Envious, proud, contentious men, men of flrife,
' covetous men, teachers for filthy lucre," the apoflle com-
manded the faints to turn from, and not to have any fel-
lowfhip with them. And the deacons and miniflers were
firfl to be proved, to fee if they were in the power of
godlinefs, and the Holy Ghofl made them overfeers and
preachers. So it may be feen how the priefls have abuf-
ed thefe fcriptures for their own ends, and have wrefled
them to their own deflruftion, to juflify envious, conten-
tious men, and men of flrife. Whereas the apoflle fays,
* The man of God mufl be patient, and apt to teach ;"
and they were to follow Chrifl, as they had them for
their examples. The apoflle indeed was very tender to
people, while he faw them walk in fimplicity, as in the
cafe of thofe that were fcrupulous about meats and days ;
but when the apoflle faw, that fome drew them into the
obfervation of days, and to fettle in fucli things, he thcQ
1656] GEORGE FOX»s JOURNAL. 285
* reproves them fharply, and afks them, " Who had be-
" witched them ?" So in the cafe of marrying he was ten-
* der, left their minds fhould be drawn from the Lord's
' joining ; but when they came to forbid marriage, and to
' fet up rules for meats and drinks, he called it a " do6trine
*' of devils," and an '• erring from the true faith." So alio
' he was tender concerning circumcifion, and in tenderneis
' fufFered fome to be circumcifed ; but when he faw they
' went to make a feft of it, and to fet up circumcifion as a
* ftanding praftice, he told them plainly, " If they were
" circumcifed, Chrift would profit them nothing/' In like
* manner he was tender concerning the baptizing with
* water; but when he law they began to make lefts about
' it, fome crying up Paul, others ApoUos, he judged them,
' and called them carnal, and thanks God he had baptized
* no more but fuch and fuch ; declaring plainly, that he
' was fent to preach the gofpel, and not to baptize ; and
* brought them to the one baptifm by the one fpirit, into
* the one body which Chrift, the fpiritual man, is the head
* of; and exhorted the church, " all to drink into that one
*' Spirit." For he aflerted in the church the one faith,
* which Chrift was the author of; and one baptifm, which
' was that of the Spirit into the one body ; and one Lord
* Jefus Chrift, who was the fpiritual baptizer, who John
' faid ftiould come after him. And further the apoftle de-
' clared, that they, who worfhipped and ferved God in the
' Spirit, were of the circumcifion of the Spirit, which was
" not made with hands;" by which the " body of the fins
*' of the flefh was put off^:" which circumcifion Chrift is
' the minifter of.
' Another great obje6lion they had, " That the Quakers
" denied the facrament," as they called it, " of bread and
*' wine, which" they faid, " they were to take, and do in re-
" membrance of Chrift to the end of the world." A great
* deal of work we had with the priefts and profeftbrs about
' this, and about the feveral modes of receiving it in Chrift-
' endom, fo called : for fome of them take it kneeling, fome
' fitting; but none of them all, that ever I could find, take
* it as the difciplcs took it. For they took it in a chamber
' after fupper ; but thefc generally take it bv fore dinner ;
' and fome fay, after the prieft hath blefiTed it, it is " Chrift's
" body." But as to the matter, Chrift faid, " Do this in
'' remembrance of me." He did not tell them how oft thev
' fhould do it, or how long; neither did he enjoin them to
Z z 2
286 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
do it always as long as they lived, or that all believers in
him [liould do it to the world's end. The apoftle Paul,
who was not converted till after Chrift's death, tells the
Corinthians, that he had received of the Lord that which
he delivered unto them concerning this matter, and relates
Chrifl's words concerning the cup thus; " This do ye," as
oft as ye drink it, " in remembrance of me :" and himfelf
adds, " For [as often as]j ye do eat this bread, and drink
' this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come." So
according to what the apoftle here delivers, neither Chrift
nor he did enjoin people to do this always, but leaves it
to their liberty, [" as oft as ye drink it," &c.] The Jews
did ufe to take a cup, and to break bread and divide it
among them in their feafts ; as may be feen in the jewifh
Antiquities ; fo the breaking of bread and drinking of
wine were Jewifli rites, which were not to laft always.
They did alfo baptize with water, which made it not feem
a ftrange thing to them, when John the Baptift came with
his decrealing miniftration of water-baptifm. But as to
the bread and wine, after the difciples had taken it, fome
of them queltioned whether jefus was the Chrift ? For
fome of them faid, after he was crucified, " We trufted
' that it had been he which ftiould have redeemed Ifrael,"
&c. And though the Corinthians had the bread and wine,
and were baptized in water, the apoftle told them they
were " reprobates, if Chrift was not in them ;" and bid
them " examine themfelves." And as the apoftle faid,
' As oft as ye do cat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
' fhew forth the Lord's death ftill he come;"] fo Chrift
had faid before that he was the " bread of life," which
' came down from heaven ;" and that " he would come,
' and dwell in them ;" which the apoftlcs did v.'itnefs fuL
filled ; and exhorted others to ieck for that which " comes
' down from above :" but the outward bread and wine,
and water, are not from above, but from below. Now ye
that eat and drink this outward bread and wine in remem-
brance of Chrift's death, and have your fellowfhips in that,
will ye come no nearer to Chrift's death than to lake bread
and wine in remembrance of it ? After ye have eaten in
remembrance of his death, ye muft come into his death,
and die with him, as the apoftles did, if ye will live with
him. I'his is a nearer and further advanced ftate, to be
with him in the feliowfiiip of his death, tlian only to take
bread .:.iid %'ine in reipembrance of it. You rnuft h^v^
1656I GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 287
fellowfhip with Chrifl in his fufFerings; if ye will reign
with him, ye muft fufFcr with him ; if ye will live with
him, ye mull die with him ; and if ye die with him, ye
muft be buried with him ; and being buried with him in
the true baptifm, ye alfo rife with him. Then having fuf-
fered with him, died with him, and been buried with him,
if ye are rifen with Chrifl, " feek thofe things which are
' above, where Chrifl fitteth on the right hand of God."
Eat the bread which comes down from above, which is
not outward bread; and drink the cup of falvation which
he gives in his kingdom, which is not outward wine.
And then there will not be a looking at the things that
are feen (as outward bread and wine and water are :) for,
as fays the apollle, " The things that are feen are tempo-
ral, but the things that are not feen are eternal." So here
are many flates and conditions to be gone through before
people come to fee that, and partake of that which
* Cometh down from above." For firft. There was " a
' taking of the outward bread and wine in remembrance of
' Chrifi's death." This was temporary, and not of necef-
fity ; but at their liberty, " As oft as ye do it," &c. Se-
condly, There mufl be "a coming into his death, a fuf-
fering with Chrifl ;" and this is of necefTity to falvation ;
and not temporary, but continual: there mufl be "a
' dying daily." Thirdly, " a being buried with Chrifl."
Fourthly, " a rifmg with Chrifl." Fifthly, After they
are rifen with Chrifl, then •=' a feeking thofe things which
' are above, a feeking the bread that comes down from hea-
' ven," and a " feeding on that and having fellowfhip in
' that." For outward bread, wine, and water are from
below, and are vifible and temporal ; but, faith the apof-
tie, " We look not at things that are feen, for the things
' that are feen are temporal, but the things that are not feen
' are eternal." So the fellowfhip that flands in the ule of
bread, wine, water, circumcifion, outward temple, and
things feen will have an end: but the fellowfliip which
flands in the gofpel, the power of God, which was before
the devil was, and which brings life and immortality to light.
by which people may fee over the devil that has darkened
them, this fellowfliip is eternal, and will fland. And all
that are in it feek that which is heavenly and eternal, which
comes down from above, and are fettled in the eternal
myflery of the fellowfhip of the gofpel, which is hid from
^U eyes that look only at viftble things. The apolllc told
tSS GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
* the Corinthians, who were in diforder about water, bread
' and wine, that he " defired to know nothing amongft
" them, but Jefus Chrift, and him crucified."
Thus were tlie objeftions which the priefts and profeflbrs
had raifed againft friends anfwered, and the ftumbling-
blocks they had laid in the way of the weak removed. And
as things wer« thus opened, people came to fee over them
and through them, and to have their minds fettled upon
the Lord Jefus Chrifl, their free teacher: which was the
fen/ice for which I was moved to travel over the nation after
my imprifonment in Lancefton gaol. In this year the
Lord's truth was finely planted over the nation, and many
thoufands were turned to the Lord ; infomuch that there
were feldom fewer than one thoufand in prifon in this na-
tion for truth's teftimony ; fome for tithes, fome for going
to the fteeple-houfes, fome for contempts, as they called
them, fome for not fwearing, and others for not putting ofiF
their hats, &c.
After I had vifited mofl parts of the nation, and was
come to London again, finding that evil fpirit at work
which had drawn J.N. and his followers out of the truth,
to run friends into heats about him, I wrote a fhort epiftlc
to friends, as followeth :.
' 'TnO all the ele6l feed of God called Quakers, where
' X the death is brought into death, and the elder is
* fervant to the younger, and the ele6l is known, which
' cannot be deceived, but obtains vi6lory. This is the
* word of the Lord God to you all. Go not forth to the
' aggravating part, to flrive with it out of the power of
' God, lefl ye hurt yourfelves, and run into the fame na-
' ture, out of the life. For patience muft get the viftory,
* and to anfwer that of God in every one, which muft bring
' every one to it to bring them from the contrary. Let your
* moderation, temperance, and patience be known unto all
* men in the feed of God. For that which reacheth to the
* aggravating part without life, fets up the aggravating part
* and breeds confufion ; and hath a life in outward ftrife,
' but reacheth not to the witnefs of God in every one,
* through which they might come into peace and covenant
* with God, and fcllowfliip one with another. Therefore
* that which reacheth this witnefs of God in yourfelves, and
* in others, is the life and light; which will out-laft all, is
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 289
* over all, and will overcome all. Therefore in the feed
* of life live, which bruifeth the feed of death.
« G. F.'
I wrote another fhort epiftle to friends, to encourage
them to keep up their meetings in the Lord's power ; which
here followeth :
'' Dear friends,
KEEP your meetings in the power of the Lord ; which
power is over all that which is in the fall and mull
have an end. Therefore be wife in the wifdom of God,
which is from above, by which all things were made and
created ; that that may be juftified among you, and you
all kept in the folid life, which was before death was ; and
in the light which was before darknefs was with all its
works. In which light and life ye all may feel and have
heavenly unity and peace, poffefling the gofpel-fellowfliip
that is everlafting; which was before that vvhich doth not
lafl for ever, and will remain when that is gone. For the
gofpel being the power of God, is pure and everlafting.
Know it to be your portion ; in which is ftability, life,
and immortality, fiiining over that which darkens the
mortal. So be faithful every one to God in your mea-
fures of his power and life, that ye may anfwer God's
love and mercy to you, as obedient children of the Mod
High ; dwelling in love, unity, peace, and innocency of
heart towards one another; that God may be glorified iti
you, and you kept laithful witneffes for him, and valiant
for the truth on earth. God Almighty preferve you all
to his glory, that ye may feel his bleffing among you, and
that ye may be poffeffors thereof.
' G. f:
About this time many mouths being opened in our
meetings to declare the goodnefs of the Lord, fome that
were young and tender in the truth would fomctimes utter
a few words in thanklgiving and praifes to God; that no
diforder might arife from thence in our meetings, I was
moved to write an epiftle to fiiends by way of advice in
that matter :
A
LL my dear friends in the noble feed of God, who
have known his power, life, and prefence among
290 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165&
you, let it be your joy to hear or fee the fprings of Hfe
break forth in any ; through which ye have all unity in
the fame, feehng Hfe and power. And above all things
take heed of judging any one openly in your meetings,
except they be openly prophane or rebellious, fuch as are
out of the truth ; that by the power, life, and wifdom ye
may fland over them, and by it anfwer the witnefs of God
in the world, that fuch, whom ye bear your teftimony
againft, are none of you : that therein the truth may fland
clear and (ingle. But fuch as are tender, if they fhould be
moved to bubble forth a few words, and fpeak in the feed
and Lamb's power, fufiFer and bear that ; that is, the ten-
der. And if they Ihould go beyond their meafure, bear it
in the meeting for peace and order's fake, and that the fpi-
rits of the world be not moved againft you. But when the
meeting is done, if any be moved to fpeak to them, be-
tween you and them, one or two of you that feel it in the
life, do it in the love and wifdom that is pure and gentle
from above, for love is that which edifies, bears all things,
fuflPers long, and fulfils the law. In this ye have order
and edification, ye have wifdom to preferve you all wife
and in patience ; which takes away the occafion of ftumb-
ling the v.-eak, and the occafion of the fpirits of the world
to get up : but in the royal feed, the heavy ftone, ye keep
down all that is wrong, and by it anfwer that of God in all.
For ye will hear, fee, and feel the power of God preach-
ing, as your faith is wholly in it {when ye do not hear
words) to bind, to chain, to limit, to fruftrate, that no-
thing ftiall rife nor come forth but what is in the power;
with that ye will hold back, with that ye will let up and
open every fpring. plant, and fpark; in which will be
your joy and refrefhment in the power of God. Ye that
know the power of God and are come to it, which is the
crofs of Chrift. that crucifies vou to the ftate that Adam
and Eve were in in the fall, and fo to the world, by this
power of God ye come to fee the ftate that Adam and Eve
were in before they fell : which power of God is the crofs,
in which ftands the evcrlafti ng glory, which brings up into
righteoufnefs and holinefs, the imafje of God, and cruci-
fies to unrighteoufncfs and unholinefs, the image of fatan,
that Adam and Eve and their fons and daughters are in
under the ^lU. Through this power of God ye come to
fee the ftate they were in before they fell ; yea, and I fay,
to an higher Hate, to tlie Seed Chrift, the Second Adam,
1656] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. tgt
by whom all things were made. For man hath been driv-
en from God. Ail Adam and Eve's fons and daughters,
being in the ftate of the fall in the earth, are driven from
God. But it is faid, " The church is in God, the Father
' of our Lord Jefus Chrift :" fo v/ho come to the church,
which is in God the Father of Chrift, they muft come to
God arain, out of the ftate that Adam and his children are
in in the fall, out of the image of God, out of iighteouf-
nefs and holinefs ; and they mutt come into the righteouf-
nefs, into the true holineis, the image of God, and out
of the earth whither man hath been driven, when they
come to the church which is in God. The way to this is
Chrift, the Light, the Life, the Truth, the Saviour, the
Redeemer, the Sanftifier, and the Juftifier, in and through
whofe power, light, and life, converfion, regeneration,
and tranflation is known from death to life, from darknefs
to light, and from the power of fatan to God again. Thefe
are members otthe true church, who know the work of re-
generation in the operation and feeling of it ; and being
come to be members of the church of God, they are indeed
members one of another in the power of God, which was
before the power of darknefs was. So they that come to
the church that is in God and Chrift, muft come out of
the ftate that Adam was in in the fall, driven from God, to
know the ftate that he was in before he fell. But they
that live in the ftate that Adam was in in the fall, and can-
not believe a poflibility of coming into the ftate he was in
before he fell, come not to the church which is in God ;
but are far from that, are not paflTed from death to life, but
are enemies to the crofs of Chrift, which is the power of
God. For they mind earthly things, and ferve not Chrift;
nor love the power which fhould bring them up to the
ftate that Adam was in before he fell, and crucify them to
the ftate that man is in in the fall ; that through this pow-
er they might fee to the beginning, the power that man
was in before the heavenly image, holinefs and righteouf-
nefs was loft : by which power they might come to know
the Seed, Chrift, which brings out of the old things, -ariSt;
makes all things new ; in which life eternal is felt. Far%14
the poornefs, emptinefs, and barrcnncfs is in the ftate rhat
man is in in the fall, out of God's power ; by which
power he is made rich sgain, and in which power he hath
ftrength again : which power is the crofs, in which the my-
■ ftery of the fellowftiip ftands ; and in which is the true glo-
3 A
292 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ^656
rying, which crucifies to all other gloryings. And friends,
though ye may have been convinced, and have tailed of
the power, and felt the light, yet afterwards ye may feel a
winter-ftorm, tempefl and hail, frofl and cold, and tempt-
ation in the wildernefs. Be patient and ftill in the power
and in the light that doth convince you, to keep your
minds to God ; in that be quiet, that ye may come to the
fummer ; that your flight be not in the winter. For if ye
fit ftill in the patience which overcomes in the power of
God, there will be no flying. The hufbandman, after he
hath fowh his feed, is patient. And ye by the power be-
ing kept in the patience, will come by the light to fee
through and feel over winter-ftorms and tempefts, and
all the coldnefs, barrennefs, and emptinefs.: and the fame
light and poxver will go over the tempter's head ; which
power and light w^as before he was. So in the light ftand-
ing ftill, ye will fee your falvation, ye will fee the Lord's
ftrength, ye will feel the fmali rain, ye will feel the frefti
fprings, your minds being kept low in the power and
light : for that which is out of the power lifts up. But
in the power and light ye will feel God, revealing his
fecrets, infpiring your minds, and his gifts coming in
unto you ; through which your hearts will be filled with
God's love, and praifes to him that lives for evermore ;
for in his light and power his blefiing is received. So in
that, the eternal power of the Lord Jefus Chrift preferve
and keep vou ! Live every one in the power of God, that
ye may all come to be heirs of that, and know that to be
your portion ; even the kingdom that hath no end, and
the endlefs life which the Seed is heir of. Feel that fet
over all, which hath the promife, and blefiing of God
for ever.
' G. F.'
'About this time I received fome lines from a high-flown
profeiror, concerning the way of Chrift ^ to which I return-
ed the following anfwer :
' Friend,
* TT is not circumftances we contend about; but the u'ay
* JL of Chrift and his light, which are but one; though
* the world hath imagined many ways,. and all out of the
' light, which by the light are conde;nned. He who preach-
* ed this light,. laid, " He that knowefh God, heareth us;
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 293
** he that is not of: God, heareth us not : hereby know we
*• the Spirit of truth, and the fpirit of error." It is the
* fame now with them that know the truth ; though the
* whole world lies in wickedneis. All dilpeolations and
' differences that are not one in the light we deny ; and by
' the light, that was before feparation, do we fee them to
' be felf- reparations in the fenfual, having not the Spirit.
' Their fruits and end are weighed in the even balance, and
' found to be in the dark, the Lo-here, and Lo-there thou
' telleft of ; and the prefence of Chrift is not with them,
' though the blind fee it not; who fee not with the pure
* eye, which is fingle ; but with the many eyes, which lead
* into the many ways. Nor are any the people of God,
* but who are baptized into thi*s principle of light; which
* all the faithful fervants of the Lord were ever guided by
* in all ages, fmce the apoflacy and before. For the apo-
* ftacy was and is from the light ; and all that oppofe the
* light are apoftates. Who conteft againft the truth, are
' enemies to it, and are not aftuated by the Spirit; but
* have another way than the light. All fuch are in the
* world, its words, fafliions, and cuftoms, though of feve-
* ral forms, as to their worfhip ; yet all under the god of
' this world, oppofing the light and appearance of Chrift,
* which fhould lead out from under his power, of v/hat form
' foever they are ; yet are they all joined againft the light.
* All thefe are of the world ; and fighting againft them who
* are not of the world; but are gathered and gathering out
* of fhe world: fo it ever vi^as againft the people of God,
' under what name foeVer. They only are faints by calling,
* who are called into the light ; and fons of Sion, which
' vary not from the light, to which the Spirit is promifed,
* which is not tied to any forms out of the light ; wherein
' all inherit, who are co-heirs with Chrift ; which many la'k
' of, who inherit the earthly, inftead of the heavenly.
* And whereas thou fpeakeft of Chrift and his apoftlcs cloath-
' ing themfelves with the fayings and words ot the prophets ;
' and of their being your example in fo doing ; I fay,
' wolves will take the Iheep's cloathing ; but the light and
'-life finds them out, and judges (not by their ftolcn words,
'but) by their works. Nor did Chrift cover himfelf with
' any words, but what were fulfilled in him : neillicr do any
' of Chrift's boaft in other m.en's lines made ready without
' them ; to which rule if ye be obedient, fewer words and
* more life will be feen among you. Then ye will not
a^^2
294 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
count it ftraitnefs to filence the flefli ; and hear what he
iaith, wb.o fpeaks peace, " that his people turn no more
'• to folly." If ye once know, that what is Rolen rnufl be
Kcfiored fourfold ; the mouth of the lalfe prophet will be
flopped, which builds up in deceit, but not in righteouf-
nth. And U'hereas thou fayefl, " The Spirit of truth
' affords nothing but endlefs varieties ;" I fay, the Spirit
of truth thou knowefl not : for the Spirit of truth laid,
' There is but one thing needful ;" and to fpeak the fame
thing again is fafe for the hearers ; but that fpirit which
affords nothing but endlefs varieties, is not the Spirit of
truth, but is gone out into curious notions ; and the num-
ber of his names and colours is read no-where but in the
unity of the Spirit of truth. All others call truth deceit, and
deceit truth, as the blind that oppofed the light ever did,
who are ever learning endlefs varieties, but never able to
come to the knowledge of the truth, nor to an end of their
labours : but when they are out of one form get into ano-
ther, fo long as they can find a green tree without. Thus
ye are kept at work all your life, and to the grave in for-
row, as the dumb priefts, thou telleft of, have been before
you ; only ye have got a finer image, but lefs life. And
thou, whofe teaching hath no end, art in the horfe-mill
thou fpeakeft of. I have read the epiflles to Timothy,
and to the Hebrews; and there 1 find, the duty of all
believers is to fee the law of the new covenant written in
the heart, whereby all may know God, from the leaft to
the greatcft. 1 know the holy fcriptures are^ j^rofitable for
the man of God ; but what is that to the man of fin, to
the firfl-born, who is out of the light, and being unftable
and unlearned, wreft them to their own defl;ru6tion ; but
to the life cannot come ? And for your two ordinances
thou fpeakefl of, I lay, upon the fame account ye deny
the priells of the world therein, we deny you; being both
of you not only out of the life, but out of the form too.
That command, Matt, xxviii. 19. ye never had, nor its pow-
er; which was, " To baptize into the name of the Father,
• Son, and Holy Ghofl." What Paul received of the
Tord, that body and that bread, ye know as little of, but
what yc have ibund in the chapter ; nor of the coming of
Chrift neither, who cannot bcHeve his light. And where-
as thou fpt^akeR of preaching Chrift of envy, and pleadeft
for it; I fay, fuch preachers we have enough of in thefe
days. What elfe art thou doing, who fayed, Paul was
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 295
fent to baptize ; though Paul fays, he was not : fo thou
wouldefl prove him a har, if any would believe thee
before him. Thou fayefl alfo, " For aught thou knoweft,
' he might baptize thoufands." Thou mightefl as eafily
have faid millions, and as foon have proved it. Thou
mayefl fay the fame of circumcifion alio, and on the fame
ground. As for the figns that followed thofe that believed,
which thou fayeft are ceafed ; I fay, they who cannot re-
ceive the light cannot lee the figns, nor could believe them,
if they fhould fee them to carp at ; no more than formerly
they could do, who oppofed the light in former ages.
They cannot properly be faid to ceaie to fuch, who never
had them ; but have only heard or read that others long-
ago had them. But that the power, and ligns, and pre-
fence ot God is not the lame that ever it was, in the mea-
fure wherein he is received in the light, that I deny ; and
declare it to be falfe, and from a fpirit that knows not God,
nor his power. And as for the gofpel-foundation thou
fpeakell of, I fay, it is to be laid again in all the world.
Ye never were on it, fmce the man of fm fet up his forms
without power. Till ye can own the light of Chrift,
which the faints preached, and their life and praftice ; for
fhame, ceafe to talk of their foundation, or glorious work,
or quakings and tremblings, the 'faints experiences, which
the world knows not, nor can own : though ye cannot read
that ever ajiy came aright to declare how they knew God,
or received his word, without them. In thy exhortation
thou biddeft me, '^ Love Chrifl, wherefoever I fee him."
But hadll thou told me where one might come to fee him,
or how one might know him, thou hadfl fhewn more of a
chriftian in that than in all thou haft fpoken. But it
fecms, ye are not all of one mind. Some of you fay,
' He is gone, and will be no more feen till doomfday."
But if ever ye come to fee Chrifl: to your comfort, while
ye oppofe his light, then God hath "not fpoken by me.
This thou fhalt remember, when thy time thou haft fpent.
' G. F/
Great oppofition did the priefts and profeffors make
about this time againfl; the light of Chrift Jefus, denying it
to be univerfally given j and againft the pouring forth of
the Spirit, and fons and daughters prophefying thereby.
Much they laboured to darken the minds of people, that
they might keep them ftill in a dependence on their teach-
296 GEORGE F O X's J O U RN A L. [1656
ing. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to give forth
the following lines, for the opening of the minds and iin-
derflan dings of people, and to manifeft the blindnefs and
darknefs of their teachers.
TO you profefTors, priefls, and teachers, who are in
darknels, and know not the Spirit in prifon, nor the
light that fhines in darknefs, which the darknefs doth not
comprehend ; but are as infidels, whom the god of the
world hath blinded, and to whom the gofpel is hid. For
though ye have the four books, the gofpel is hid to you ;
who are now flranging at the work of God, and do not
believe chat Chrift hath enlightened every one that cometh
into the world. To you I offer fome fcriptures to read,
which will prove your fpirits, and try them, how contrary
they are to the apoflles fpirit, the Spirit of Chrift and of
the faints. " Chrift went, and preached to the fpirits in
prifon," 1 Pet. iii. 19. He that readeth, let him under-
iland whether this was a meafure of the Spirit, yea or
nay, or the Spirit without meafure, which he miniftered
to ? " For he whom God hath fent, fpeaketh the words
of God ; for God giveth not the Spirit by meafure unto
him," Joh. iii. 34. Here Chrift had not the Spirit given
unto him by meafure. The apoftie faid, " We will not
boaft of things without (or beyond) our meafure," 2 Cor.
X. 13. So here was meafure, and not by meafure. Chrift,
who received not the Spirit by meafure, told his difciples
he would " fend them the Comforter, the Spirit of truth,
that he fhould guide them into all truth : for he fliould
not fpeak of himfelf, but whatfoever he fhall hear, that
fhall he fpeak, and he will fhew you things to come.
He fhall glorify me : for he iball receive of mine, and
Ihew it unto you," Joh. xvi. 13, 14. Mind, read, and
learn ; the Comforter fhall receive of mine, faith Chrift,
and fhall ihew it unto you : who hath the meafure, re-
ceives of his who hath not by meafure. The Comforter,
when he comes, is to reprove the world of fin, of righte-
oufnefs, and of judgment, ver. 8. Now mind the great
work of God : the Spirit of truth, which leads the faints
into all truth, which receives of Chrift's, and Ihews it unto
the difciples, who are in the meafure, he fhall reprove
the world of fin, bccaufe they do not believe, &c. The
Comforter, whom Chrift will fend, takes of his, and fhews
it to the difciples ; the fame reproves the world. Mind
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 297
* now, whether this be a meafure, yea or nay, which comes
* from him who received not the Spirit by meafure ? He
* that leads the believer into all truth, reproves the iinbe-
' liever in the world, of fin, of righteoufnefs, and of judg-
' ment. He that is led into all truth, fees that which is re*
* proved, by the Spirit of truth that leads him. Chrill
* faith, " He fhall take of mine, and Ihew it unto you." Is
* this a meafure, yea or nay, from him whom God gave the
* Spirit not by meafure unto ?
' Again the Lord faid, both by his prophet, Joel ii. 28,
* and his apoftle, A6ls ii. 17, 18. " It fhall come to pafs
" in the laft days, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
" flefh, your fons and your daughters fhall propbefy, your
" young men Ihall fee vilions, and your old men fhall
" dream dreams : and on my fervants and on my hand-
" maidens 1 will pour out in thofe days of my Spirit, and
" they fiiall prophefy." Look, ye deceivers ; here the
' Lord faith, he v/ill pour of his Spirit : mark the word o f
* the Lord's Spirit upon all flefh. What ! young men, old
' men, fons and daughters, and maids, all thdfe to have the
' Spirit of God poured upon them ? Here, fay they, thefe
* deny the means then. Nay, that's the means. And the
' great and notable day of the Lord is coming, wherein
* it fhall come to pafs, that whofoever fhall call on the
* name of the Lord fhall be faved. The God of the fpirits
* of all flefh is known : and, faith the apoftle, who would
' not boaft of things beyond his meafure, " That which
*' may be known of God, is manifeft in them ; for God
" hath fhewed it unto them," Rom. i. 19. By this which
* was of God manifeft in them, they knew covetoufnefs,
* malice, murder, deceit, and ungodlinefs; knew that the
* judgments of God were upo» fuch things ; and that they
' were worthy of death ; not only that did the fame, but who
' had pleafure in them that did them. Therefore, laid the
* apoftle, '* the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
*•' againft all ungodlinefs and ucrighteoufnefs of men," SiC.
' Now this of God manifeft in them, which God fliewed unto
* them, by which they know unrighteoufnefs, and God's judg-
* mcnts thereupon, and that they which commit fuch things
* are worthy of death ; whether this be a meafure, yea or nay,
' which is of God, and which he hath fhewed to them ? What
' was that in them, that " did by nature the things con-
'' tained in the law, which fhewed the work of the law
"written in their hearts/' Rom. ii. 14, 15. Mark, '•' writ-
i^n GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656
" ten:" fhall not this judge them that have the outward
* law, but are out of the hfe of it ? The apoftie faith, " The
" manifeftation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
" withal," 1 Cor. xii. 7. There are diverfities of gifts, but
* the fame Spirit ; the manifeftation of it is given to " every
" man" to profit withal. Mark, " To one is given by the
" Spirit, the word of wifdom ; to another the word of know-
" ledge by the fame Spirit : to another faith by the fame
" Spirit ; to another the gifts of healing by the fam.e Spirit :
" to another the working of miracles ; to another prophecy;
" to another difcerning of fpirits ; to another divers kmds of
*' tongues ; to another the interpretation of tongues : but
" all thefe worketh that one and the felf-fime Spirit, di-
" viding to every man feverally as he will." Mark that,
* To every man feverally as he will.
' Again the apoflle faith, " The grace of God, that
" bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us,
" that denying ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, we fhould
"live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent world,"
' Tit. ii. 11, 12. Now ye that turn from this grace, which
* brings falvation, into lafcivioufnefs, ye deny it, and fay,
' that which teacheth the faints, who by grace are faved,
' hath not appeared to all men. Jude faith, " Behold, the
" Lord cometh with ten thoufands of his faints, to execute
" judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly
" among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they
" have ungodly committed, and of all their hard fpeeches,
" which ungodly fmners have fpoken againfl him," ver. 15.
' Here mark again ; him that cometh with ten thoufands of
' his faints, to convince all of their ungodly deeds and hard
' fpeeches : here it is, all of their ungodly deeds ; and all
' of their hard fpeeches ; none left out, but all to be con-
* vinced and judged, the world reproved, by him who comes
* with ten thoufands of his faints, and will reign, and be
' king and judge. And have not ye all fomethmg in you,
' that doth reprove you for your hard fpeeches, and your
* ungodly deeds, the ungodlicfl of you all, who live in your
' hard fpeeches againft hiin, and againft his light and fpi-
* ritual appearance in his people.
' Again, the apoflle, writing to the Gentiles, faith, " But
" unto every one of us is given grace, according to the mea~
" fure of the gift of Chiift," Ephef iv. 7. Now mark,
' Here is the meafure of the gift of Chrift, " who lighteth
" every man that cometh into the world," Joh. i. 9. '• that
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 299
' all men through him might believe. He that believeth
' on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is
* condemned, &c. And this is the condemnation, that
' light is come into the world," &c. Joh. iii. 18, 19. Now
every man that cometh into the world being enlightened,
one loveth it, and brings his deeds to the light, that with
the light he may fee whether they be wrought in God:
the other hates the light, " becaufc his deeds are evil ;"
he will not bring his deeds to the light, becaufe he knows
the light will reprove him. So he that hates the light,
wherewith Chrifl hath enlightened him, knows the light
will reprove him for his evil deeds ; and therefore he will
not come to the light.
' Again, the Lord by his prophet faith-concerning Chrift,
' I will give him for a light to the Gentiles, that he may
' be my falvation to the ends of the earth," I fa. xlix. 6.
And what is that which the children, that walk according
to the courfe of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the " fpirit that now worketh in the
'children of difobedience," Ephef. ii. 2. are difobedient
to ? Mark, and read yourfelves, who, being difobedient,
walk according to the courfe of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air ; Mark, I fay, what it
is that all fuch are difobedient to ? He that hath an ear,
let him hear. The apoftle faith to the ColofTians, " The
' wrath of God cometh upon the children of difobedience,"
Col. iii. 6. Come, ye profelTors, let us fee, Is not this
fomething of God that is difobeyed ? Is it not that which
is of God manifeft in them, which God hath fhewed
them, which lets them fee God's judgments are upon fuch,
when they aft unrighteoufly ? Is not this the meafure
of God, the Spirit that is in prifon ? and the Spirit of
God that is grieved ?
' And ye profeffors, come, let us read the parable of the
talents, and reckon with you, and fee who it is that hath
hid the Lord's money in the earth ? Come, ye that have
gained, enter ye into your mafler's joy. Go, thou that
haft hid the Lord's money in the earth, into utter dark-
nefs ; " take it from him, and give it to him that hath :"
every man fhall ha\^e his reward. For the Lord hath
given to ••' every man according to his feveral ability,"
Mat. XXV. 1.5. Mark that, " To every man according to
' his feveral ability :" Read this, if you can. Now is the
Lord coming to call ^verv man fcverally to account, to
loo GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. C'^j^
whom he hath given feverally, according to their ability.
Now the wicked and flothful fervant, who hid the Lord's
money in the earth, will be found out; and the Lord's
money will be taken from him, although he hath hidden
it. To hiiji the Lord's commands have been grievous ;
but to us they are not, who love God and keep his com-
mandments. " And," faith the apoftle to the Romans,
' I fay, through the grace given unto me, to every man
' that is among you, not to think of himfelf more highly
' than he ought to think : but to think foberly, according
' as God hath dealt to every man the meafure of faith,"
Rom. xii. 3. Read and mark, here is a meafure of faith.
" And," faith another apoftle, " as every man hath re-
' ceived the gift, even fo minifter the fame one to another,
' as ftewards of the manifold grace of God," 1 Pet. iv, 10.
' For the gflce of God hath appeared to all men." The
good ftewards can give their account with joy : but ye bad
ftewards, that turn from the grace of God into lafciviouf-
nefs, ye will be reckoned withal ; ye ftiall have your re-
ward. " But," fay the world, " muft every one minifter
' as he hath received the gift ?" Yea, fay I, " but let him
' fpeak as the oracles of God ; and let him do it as of the
'ability which God giveth," ver. 11. John in the Reve-
lation faith, " They were judged every man according to
' their works," Revl xx. 13. Chrift faith, " Every idle
' word that men fhall fpeak, they fliall give account thereof
' in the day of judgment," Mat. xii. 36. " Ye that name
• the name of Chrifl, depart from iniquity," 2 Tim. ii. 19.
' The Son of Man fhall come in the glory of his Father,
' with his angels, and then he fhall reward every man ac-
' cording to his works," Mat. xvi. He who is gone into a far
country,', and hath given talents to every one of you, ac-
cording to your feveral ability, " will render to every man
• according to his deeds," Rom. ii. 6. '• And further I fay
' unto you, if any man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is
' none of his. And if Chrift be in you, the body is dead
' becaufe of fm ; but the Spirit is life, becaufe of righteouf-
' nefs," Rom. viii, 9, 10. So let the light, which cometh
from Chrift, examine ; for the Lord is appearing. Ye
that have received according to your ability, fmite not
your fellow-fervant. Think not that the Lord delayeth
the time of his coming. Be not as they that faid, " Lefc
• us eat and drink, for to-morrow we fliall die."
' The apoftle tells the Ephefians, that unto him " this
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 301
•* grace was given — to make all men fee what is the fellow-
" Ihip of the myftery which from the beginning of the
*' world hath been hid in God. who created all things by
*' Jefus Chrift," Eph. iii. 9. Read and underftand every
* one with the light which comes from Chrift, the myftery;
* which will be your condemnation, if ye believe not in it.
* This is to all who ftumble at the work of the Spirit of
* God, the manifeftation of it, "which is given to every
*' man to profit withal." Come, ye profefibrs, who ftumble
' at it ; let us read the parables. " A fower went forth to
*' low ; and fome feed fell on the highway-ground, and
'* fome on ftony ground, and fome on thorny ground : the
" feed is the Word, the Son of Man is the (eedfman. He
" that hath an ear, let him hear," Mat. xiii. Now look,
' all ye profelTors, what ground ye are ? And what ye
' have brought forth ? And whether the wicked feedfman
' hath not got his feed into your ground ? " He that hath
*' an ear, let him hear it." And come, read another parable
* of the houfeholder hirinsr labourers to po into the vine-
' yard, and agreeing with every man for a penny, Mat. xx.
* Every man is to have his penny ; the lall that went in, as
* well as the firft: " and the laft fhall be firft, and the firft
" ftiall be laft; for many are called, but few are cho-
" fen. He that hath an ear, let him hear." There w as a
* query put to Cain. " If thou doft well, fhalt thou
" not be accepted ?" Gen. iv. 7. And Efau had a birth-
' right, but defpifed it. Yet it is not " of him that wil-
*' ieth," Rom. ix, 16. but by grace ye are faved," Ephef.
' ii. 8. And ftand ftill, and fee your falvation. Exod.
' xiv. 13. And ye that are children of light, put on the ar-
' mour of light, that ye may come into the unity of the faith,
' and of the know^ledge of the Son of God ; unto a " per-
'•fe6l man, unto the meafure of the ftature of tlie fulriefs of
" Chrift : that henceforth ye be no more children tolled to
"and fro," Eph. iv. 13.
' The Lord fiid, he would make a new covenant, by
" writing his law in people's hearts, and putting his Spirit
*■ in their inward parts," whereby they fhould all come to
* know the Lord, by Vi'hom the world was made. Now
'every one of you mind the law written in your hearts,
* and this Spirit put in your inward parts, that it need not
' be faid to you, " Know the Lord :" but that ye may wit-
* nefs the promife of God fulfilled in youi But, fay the
* world and profeifors, " If every one mult conio to witnefa
Q S 2
302 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1656
* the law of God written in their hearts, and the Spirit put in
^ the inward parts, " what mull we do with all our teachers ?"
As we come to witnefs that, we need not any man to teach
us to know the Lord, having his law written in our hearts,
and his Spirit put in our inward parts. This is the covenant
of life, the everlafting covenant, which decays not, nor
changes not : and here is the way to the Father, without
which no man cometh unto the Father. Here is the ever-
lafting prieflhood, the end of the old priefthood, whofe
lips were to prefer ve knowledge; but now, faith Chrift,
' Learn of me :" who is the high-prieil of the new prieft-
hood. And, faith the apoftle, " That ye may grow
* up in the knowledge of jefus Chrift, in whom are hid the
' treafures of wifdom and knowledge." So we are brought
off from the old priefthood that did change, to Chrift, to
the new priefthood that doth not change; off from the
firft covenant that doth decay, to the everlafting covenant
that doth not decay, Chrift Jefus, the Covenant of Light,
from whom every one of you have a light,, that ye might
believe in the Covenant of Light. If ye cIojQjn: believe,
ye are condemned ; for light is come into the world, and
men love darknefs rather than light, becaufe their deeds
are evil. " I am come a light into the world," faith
Chrift, " that whofoever believeth in me fliould not abide
' in darknefs, but have the light of life," John xii. 46.
' Believe in the light, that ye may be children of the light."
Ye who do not believe in the light, but hate it becaufe it
manifefts your deeds to be evil, ye are condemned by the
light. Therefore while ye have time, prize it. Seek the
Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he
is nigh ; left ye fay, " Titne is paft :" for the rich glut-
ton's time was paft. Therefore, while time is not quite
paft, confider, fearch yourfelves, and fee if you be not
they that hate the light, and fo are builders that ftumbk
at the corner-ftone ; for they that hated the light, and dw
not believe in the Ught, did fo in ages paft. " I am the
' light of t!ie world," laith Chnft, " who," the apoftle faith,
' doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world."
Chrift alfo faith, '• Learn of me;" and of him God faith,
' This is my beloved Son, hear ye him." Here is your
Teacher. But ye that hate the light do not learn of
Chrift, will not have him to be your king to reign over
you ; him, to whom all power in heaven and earth is gi^--
tn, who bears his government upon his fhoulders, who is
I6s6] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 503
* now come to reign, who lighteth every man that cometh
* into the world, who will give to every man a reward ac-
* cording to his works, whether they be good or evil. So
* every man, with the light that comes from Chrift, will fee
* his deeds, both he that hates it and he that loves it. And
* he that will not bring his deeds to the light, becaufe the
* light will reprove him, that is his condemnation ; and he
* fhall have a reward according to his deeds. For the Lord
* is come to reckon with you. He looks for fruits ; the ax
* is laid to your root ; and every tree of you, that bears not
* good fruit, mull be hewn down and call into the fire.
' G. F.'
Having flaid fome time in London, and vifited the meet-
ings of friends in and about the city, and cleared myfelf of
what fervices the Lord had at that time laid upon me there,
I left the town and travelled into Kent, SulTex, and Sur-
ry, vifiting friends ; amongfl; whom I had great meetings,
and often met with oppofition from Baptifls and other
jangling profeffors ; but the Lord's power went over them.
We lay one night at Favnham, where we had a little meet-
ing. The pepple were exceeding rude ; but at lad the
Lord's power came over them. After meeting we went to
our inn, and gave notice, ' That any who feared God might
* come to our inn to us.' There came abundance of rude
people, the magiftrates of the town, and fome profeffors. I
declared the truth to them ; and thofe of the people that be-
haved themfelves rudely, the magiftrates put out of the
room. When they were gone, another rude company of
profeffors came up, and fome of the chief of the town.
They called for faggots and drink, though we forbad them,
and were as rude a people as ever I met withal. The
Lord's power chained them, that they had not power to do
us any mifchief ; but when they went away they left all the
■faggots and beer, which they had called for into the room,
for us to pay for in the morning. We ftiewed the innkeep-
er what an unworthy thing it was ; but he told us, " we
*' muff pay it ;" and pay it we did. Before v/e left the
town, I wrote to the magiftrates and heads of the town, and
to the prieft, fliewing them how he had taught his people,
and laying before them their rude and uncivil carriage to
ftrangers that fought their good.
Leaving that place we came to BafiUgftoke, a very rude
town ; where they had formerly very much abufed friends.
304 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 1:1655
There I had a meeting in the evening, which was quiet;
for the Lord's power chained the unruly. At the clofe of the
meeting I was moved to put ofF my hat, and to pray to the
Lord to open their underftandings ; upon which they raifed
a report, ' That I put oiF my hat to them, and bid them
* good night,' which was never m my heart. After the meet-
ing, when we came to our inn, I fent for the innkeeper, as
1 ufed to do; and became into the room to us, and Ihew-
cd himfelf a very rude man. I admonilhed him to be fo-
bcr. and fear the Lord ; but he called for faggots and a pint
of wine, and drank it off himfelf; then called for another,
and called up half a dozen men into our chamber. Thereup-
on I bid him go out of the chamber, and told him he fhouid
not drink there ; for we fent for him up to fpeak to him con-
cerning his eternal good. He was exceeding mad, rude,
and drunk. When he continued his rudenefs and would
not be gone, I told him, ' The chamber was mine for the
' time I lodged in it;' and called for the key. Then he
went away in a rage. In the morning he would not be feen ;
but I told his wife of his unchriftian carriage towards us.
After this we came to Bridport, having meetings in the
way. We went to an inn, and fent into the town for fuch
as feared God ; and there came a fhopkeeper, a profeffor,
and put off his hat to us : and feeing we did not the like to
him again, but faid Thou and Thee to him, he told us,
' He was not of our religion ;' and after fome difcourfe he
went away. After awhile he fent to the inn to us, to de-
fire us ' to come to his houfe, for fome would fpeak with us.'
Thomas Curtis went to his houfe ; where when he came,
the man had got the prieft and magiftrates thither, and they
boaftedmuch that they had catched George Fox, taking him
for me. ^ When they perceived their miftake they were very
angiy ; yet the Lord's power came over them, fo that they
let him go again. Mean while I had an opportunity of
fpeaking to fome fober people that came to the inn. When
Thomas was returned, and we were paffing out of the town,
fome came to us, and laid, ' The officers were coming to
' fetch me ;' but the Lord's power was over them, fo that
they had not power to touch me. There were fome con-
vincc?d in the town who were turned to the Lord, and have
ilood faithful in their tcftimony to the truth ever fince, and
2) fine meeting is fettled there.
PaifiMg from hence we vifited Portfmouth and Pool,
>]iere we had glorious meetings ; and many were turned to
1656] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 305
the Lord. At Ringwood we had a large general meeting,
where the Lord's power was over all. At Weymouth we
had a meeting ; and from thence came through Dorcheflier
to Lime, where the inn we went to was taken up with
mountebanks, fo that there was hardly any room for us or
our horfes. In the evening we drew up fomc queries con-
cerning the ground of all difeafes, and the nature and
virtues of medicinable creatures, and lent thetn to the
mountebanks; letting them know, ' If they would not an-
' fwer them, we would flick them on the crols next day/
This brought them down and made them cool, lor they
could not anfwer them ; but in the morning they reafoned
a little with us. We left the queries with fome friendly
people that were convinced in the town, to Hick upon the
market-crofs. The Lord's power reached fome of the fobet
people in that place, who were turned by the Light and
Spirit of Chrill to his free teaching.
We then travelled to Exeter; and at the Seven Stars, an
inn at the bridge foot, we had a general meeting ot friends
out of Cornwall and Devonfhire ; to v^hich came Humphry
Lower, Thomas Lower, and John Ellis from the Land's-
end, Henry Pollexfen, with friends from Plvmouth, Eli-
zabeth Trelawny, and divers other friends. A blelfed hea-
venly meeting we had, and the Lord's everlafling power
came over all ; in which I faw, and faid, ' That the Lord's
' power had furrounded this nation round about as with a
* wall and bulwark, and his feed reached from lea to lea,'
Friends were eftablifhed in the everlafling feed of life,
Chrift Jefus, their life, rock, teacher, and flicpherd.
The next m.orning, major Blackmore fent foldiers to ap-
prehend me ; but I was gone before they came. As I was
riding up the ftreet. I law the officers going down. So the
Lord croflTed their delign, and friends paifed away peacea-
bly and quietly. The foldiers examined fome friends after
I was gone, ' What they did there ?' but when they told
them, ' They were in their inn, and had lulinef^ in the
' city,' they palled away without meddling ativ further with
them.
From Exeter I took mectincrs as I went, till I Cdine to
Briflol; and was at the meeting there. Aiti-r it was d<.>ne
I did not ilay in the town; but paiTed into Wales, and hi'.d
a meeting at the Slone. Thence ijoinjjj to Cardin". a iuflice
of peace fent to me, dcfiring, ' I would come with halt a
* dozen or my frien.ds to his houle.' So I to.gk *i hicud or
3o6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
two and went to him, and he and his wife received us very
civilly. The next day we had a meeting in CardifF in the
town-hall ; to which that juftice fent about feventeen of his
family. There came fome difturbers, but the Lord's power
was over them ; and many were turned to the Lord. To
fome who had run out with James Nayler, and forfook
meetings, I had to fend word, ' That the day of their vifit-
' ation was over ;' and they never profpered after.
We travelled from CardifF to Swanfea, where we had a
bleffed meeting; and a meeting was fettled there in the
name of Jefus. In our way thither we pafled over in a
paffage-boat with the high flierifF of the county. The next
day I went to have fpoken with him, but he refufed.
We went to another meeting in the country ; where the
Lord's prefence was much with us. From thence we went
to a great man's houfe, who received us very lovingly ; but
the next morning he would not be feen : one, that in the
mean time came to him, had fo eftranged him, that we
could not get to fpeak with him again.
We pafiTed through the countries, having meetings, and
gathering people in the name of Chrifl, their heavenly
teacher, till we came to Brecknock ; where we fet up our
horfes at an inn. There went with me Thomas Holmes,
and John-ap-John, who was moved of the Lord to ' fpeak
'in the ftreets.' I walked out but a little into the fields ;
and when I returned the town was in an uproar. When I
came into the chamber in the inn, it was full of people, and
they were fpeakmg in Welch. I defired them to fpeak in
Englifh, which they did; and much difcourfe we had.
After awhile they went away. Towards night the magif-
trates gathered in the ftreets with a multitude of people,
and they bid them ftiout, and gathered up the town ; fo
that, for abeut two hours together, there was fuch a noife
as the like we had not heard; and the magiftrates fet them
on to fhout again when they had given over. We thought
it looked like the uproar, which we read was amongft
Diana's craftfmen. This tumult continued till it was within
night, and if the Lord's power had not limited them, they
fecmed likely to have pulled down the houfe, and us to
pieces.
At night the woman of the houfe would have had us go
to fupper in another room ; but we, difcerning her plot,
refufed. Then fhe would have had half a dozen men come
into the room to us, under pretence of difcourfing with us.
iGsll GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ^6f
We told her, ' No perfon fhould come into our room that
* night, neither would we go to them.' Then fhe faid, we
ihould ' fup in another ro'om ;' but we toid her, we would
have no Tapper if we had it not in our own room. At
length, when flie faw Ihe could not get us out, (he brought
up our fupper. So Ihe and they were croffed in their de-
fign ; for they had an intent to have done us mifchief, but
the Lord prevented them. Next morning I wrote a paper
to the town concerning their unchriftian carnage, (hewing
the fruits of their priefts and magiftrates ; and as I pafiTed'
out of town I fpoke to the people, and told them, They
wefe a fhame to Chriftianity and religion.
From this place we went to a great meeting in a fteeple-
houfe yard ; where was a pried, and Walter jenkin, who
had been a juftice, and another juftice. A bleifed glorious
meeting we had. There being many profelfors, I was mov-
ed of the Lord to open the ' fcriptures to them, and to
' anfwer the objeftions which they (luck at in their profef-
* fion (for I knew them very well;) and to turn them to
* Chrift, who had enlightened them ; with which light they
' might fee the (ins and trefpalfes they had been dead in,
* and their Saviour who came to redeem them out of them,
* who was to be their way to God, the truth and the life to
* them, and their pried made higher than the heavens ; fo
' that they might come to fit under his teaching.' A peace-
able meeting we had ; many were convinced, and fettled in
the truth that day. After the meeting, I went with Walter
Jenkin to the other judice's, who faid to me, ' You have
' this day given great fatisfaftion to the people, and anfwer-
' ed all the objeftions that were in their minds. For the
people had the fcriptures, but they were not turned to the
Spirit, which fhould let them fee that which gave them
forth, the Spirit of God, which is the key to open them.
From hence we pa (Ted to Richard Hamborow's at Ponte-
moil, where was a great meeting ; to which there came an-
other judice, and feveral great people; whofe imderdand-
ings were opened by the Lord's Spirit and power, and they
were turned to the Lord Jefus Chrill, from whence it came.
A great convincement there was; a large meeting is gather-
ed in thofe parts, and fettled in the name of jefiis.
After this returning to England, we came to Shrewfbury,
where we had a great meeting ; and vilited friends up and
down the country in their meetings, till we came to Wil-
liam Gandy's, in Chefhire, where we had a meeting of be-
3C
So8
GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL.
C1657
Pro-
had
and
and
tween two and three thoufand people, as it was thought; and
the everlafting word of life was held forth, and received that
day. A bleffed meeting it was ; for friends were fettled by
the power of God upon Jefus Chrift, the rock and foun-
dation.
At this time there was a great drought ; and .after this
general meeting was ended there fell fo great a rain, that
friends faid, They thought we could not travel, the waters
would be fo rifen. But I believed the rain had not gone
fo far as they had come that day to the meeting. The next
day in the afternoon, when we turned back into fome parts
of Wales again, the ways were dufty, and no rain had fallen
thereabouts.
When Oliver Cromwel fet forth a proclamation for a fall
throughout the nation for rain, in a very great drought, it
was obferved, that as far as truth had fpread in the north,
there were pleafant fliowers and rain enough ; yet the fouth,
in many places, was alraofl; fpoiled for want of rain. At
that time I was moved to waite an anfwer to the
te6lor's 'proclamation ; wherein I told him : ' If he
* come to own God's truth, he fhould have had rain ;
' that drought was to them a fign of their barrennefs,
' want of the water of life.'
About the fame time was wrote the following paper to
' diflinguilli betwixt the true and falfe fafts.'
Concerning the true Falls and the falfe.
TO all you that are keeping falls, who " fmite with the
fifl: of wickednefs, and faft for flrife and debate ;"
again fl you hath the voice cried aloud, like a trumpet,
that you may come to know the true faft which is accepted,
and the fall which is in the ftrife and the debate, and
fmiting with the fill of wickednefs :" which faft is not re-
quired of the Lord. ■' Behold, in the day of your faft
you find pleafure, and exa6l all your labour : behold, ye
faft for ftrife and debate, and to fmite with the fift of
wickednefs : ye fliall not faft, as ye do this day, to make
your voice known on high. Is it fuch a faft that I have
chofen,'"' faith the Lord, " a day for a man to afflift his
foul ? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrufli, and to
fpread fackcloth under him ? Wilt thou call this a faft
and an acceptable day to the Lord ?"
' Confider ail you that faft, ice if it be not " hanging
1657] GEORGi! FOX'S JOURNAL.
309
' down the head for a day like a toulrufh," and fafting for
' ftrife and debate," and to " fmite with the fids of wicked-
' nefs, to make your voice to be known on high ?" But this
faft is not accepted with the Lord ; but that which leads
you from llrife, from debate, from wickednels ; which is
not the *' bowing down of the head as a bulrufh for a
' day," and yet live in exacting and plealurc ; this is not ac-
cepted with the Lord : but that which feparates froin all
thefe before-mentioned. That which leparates from
' wickednefs, debate, flrife, pleafures, fmiting with the hfl
' of wickednefs," brings to know the true faft, which
' breaks the bonds of iniquity, and deals bread to the hun-
' gry ; brings the poor that are caft out to his own honfe ;
' and when he fees any naked he covers them, and hides
' not himfelf from his own flelh." Here is the true faft
which feparates from them, where the bonds of iniquity
are ftandmg, the heavy burthens of the oppreffed remain-
ing, and the yoke not broken ; who deal not bread to the
hungry, and bring not the poor to their own houfe ; and
fee the naked but let him go unclothed, and hide thern-
felves from their own flelh. Yet fuch will make their
voice to be heard on high, as Chrift fpeaks of the pliari-
fees, who " founded a trumpet before them, and disfi-
' gured their faces," to appear to men to faft; but the bonds
of iniquity were ftanduig, ftrife and debate was Handing,
ftriking witii the fifts of wickednefs ftanding ; thofe made
their voice heard on high, who had their reward.'
' But that which brings to the true laft, which appears
not to men to faft, but unto the Father " who fees in
'fccretj the Father that feeth in fecret fhall reward this
' openly." This faft feparates from the phaiifees faft, and
them that " bow the head for a day like a bulrufh." This
is it which brings " to deal bread to the hungry, and to
' ciothe thine own flefh when thou feeft them naked, to
' bring the poor to thine houfe, and to loofe the bonds of
'wickednefs:" mark, this is the faft; and " to undo everv
' heavy burden (mark again) and to let the oppreiled go
' free ;" this is the faft : and " to break every yoke." When
thou obferveft this faft, " Then ftiall thy light break forth
' as the morning, and thine health ihall fpring forth Ipee-
dily, and thy righteoufnefs ftiall go before thee ; the glo-
ry of the Lord fhall be thy rere-ward. Then ftialt thou
call, and the Lord fliali anfwer; thou* flialt cry, and
he fhall fay. Here I am : if thou take away from the
3 C 2
$m GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL ^1657
** midft ci dice Ae Toior, tlie piHting fatth ci ihe fia«fcr.
^' and fpeakmg vanity : and if tboa diair oat ihv fcul co tb^
"homgnr. and ^i^the :tfflided iVml, then Ihali chv light
*^ a*ife hi obftmritr; and thv djiknefs be as the Eoon-day."
* The lic3t brings to know this faft: and walking in it. this
* £ift is k^ : and he that believeth in the light, abides
* noc; indai^neu. Anda^^n; " The Lofd (hall guide thee
*" cootimiallT, and fatistv thr ibul in dioogfat. and make far
'' :hv bones ; and di^a ftalt be like a watered garden, and
• -lie a fpring crf^ water, wfaofe waters &il not," Ifa, Iriii.
* I i. Theic aie ther that are .guided with the light, which
* comes from Chiift where the fprings are.
' Aifd afain : • They that ftall be of ibee (tl»t keep this
*^ £ifi ihall boild tlic M wa&e places, and tfaoa ffaalt laife
'* op the nondatk^ of many generatioos: and thoa flialt be
'• ciiled the iLpaiici of the breach, the reftcwer of paths to
*" dwell in.* Ila. Iriii. 1 9. Now diat which gires to fee
* die foottdarion of many .^nentioiis, is the light which
' iepaialts fitom all that which b oot of the light ; and they
^ that go oot of the light, thoagh tbev mav pretend a faft,
* and bowing down the head ibr a time : yet thev are ^from
< this &ft. di^ dotfa Taife np the fomeiation of many gene-
* ratioas. and is the repsber of the breach, and reftorer of
' the paths to dwell in. That which dodi give to fee this
*■ fewiadatiog of many generatiims. and thefe iMreach^ that
* are to be repaired and refiored, and paths to dwell in. is
* the light winch brings to know die true ^Q. ; and where
' tins £ftii is known, which is from wickednefs. from debate,
' froEn ftrife. from pieafores. from exacting, from the Toice
* that is beard on high, from the fpeaking of vanity, from
' iIk b(»& of iniqaitv, which. bre^LS e\ ery yoke, atid lets
* the opT?rsded go free; heic the health grows, here the
* jaoin-jny is knowrr. righieoafbefs goes ibrth ; th^ glory of
* ti»e Lord i* i]ie rere-ward, the hgfat rifeih. die fool is
* dra^iTi out to the bangrv, and tati5fie5 the a^ded foul ;
* aiKi the fprings of living water are kzmwn and felt. The
* waters lail not here ; the Lord guides contiimally. and the
' ^y^iodiSMm of many gODefarions comes to be feen and raif-
' ed ap : the D^»iier <]f %ieache5 is here n-itnefldJ. the ref-
' torer of paAs to dwell in.
• Bat all fach^ are oct cs the i :. : • : :h the propheL.
* were io. wim which thev law Chr..:, a.'i i-^ch to be in
' fctls where was ftrife, where was wickedne&, where was
*■ del»te. wh^re was ** bowinz the Iiead like a bulralh lor 4
r657j GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 311
'' dav,"' lifting their voice on high, and the bonds of wick-
* ednefs yet ftanding, the burdens unloofed, the oppreiled
* no£ let go free, the yoke not broken, the nakednels not
* clothed, the bread not dealt to the hungry, and this
' foundation of manv generations not raifed up ; until thefe
* thin.vb before-mentioned be broken down, on fuch- the
' li^hc breaks not forth as the morning, and the Lord hears
' therm not. Such have their reward ; their miquities have
* feparated them from their God, their fins have hid his
* face from them that he vv'iil not hear, their hands are de-
* filed v/ith blood, and their fingers with iniquit}-; whofe
* lips have fpoken lies, and tongues have muttered per-
' verfenefs. '' None calleth for juriice. nor any plead for
'•' trath ; they trail in vanitv and Ipeak lies, they conceive
*' raifchief and bring forth miquity. They hatch cockatrice
*' -ggs. and weave the fpider's web; he that eateth ol their
*' eggs, dies, and that which is crufhed breaks cut into a vi-
*' ptr; their webs fhall not become garments, neither fhall
*' thcv cover themfelves with their works." Mark and take
* notice: " Their works are v.orks of iniquity,, and the acl
*' of violence is in their hands : their feet ran to do evil, and
" they make hafte to fhed innocent blood. Their thoughts
*' are thoughts of iniquity, wafting and deftruction are in
" their paths ; the way of peace thev know not, and there is
^' no judgement in thei: doings. They have made them a
*• crooked path ; whofoever goes therein (hall not know
"peace:" mark: Such go from the light, therefore is judg-
* ment far off, neither doth juftice overtake. Here is ob-
* fcurity, here is the walking in darknefs, here is the grop-
' in^ hke blind men. as though they had no eyes, and their
' ftambling at noon-day in defolate places, like blind men.
* Here is the roaring like bears, and mourning forely like
' doves ; here judgment is looked for. but there is none.
' and falvation is put far off : for the light is denied, which
* gives to fee it. But here is the mulriplving of tranfgref-
' fion. and their finsteftifving againft them, and the tranf-
* greffion that was within them, and their miquities which
* they knew in tranforeflin? and hnng againil the Lord,
' fpeaking the things they Ihould not; when thev knew by
* that of God in them, thev fhouid net ioeak it: So de-
» parting from the way of God, fpeaking oppreHion, re*
* volring. conceivin^i ana uiterini^ forth from the heart words
* of falfehood ; here judgment is turned awav backward, and
^ ja(iicf ftand$ afar off : truth is feikn in the ftrccis. and
3!2 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth ; and. he that de-
parteth from evil, makes himfelf a prey ! The Lord faw
it, and it difpleafed him. Thefe are fuch as are in the
fall which God doth not accept ; and are not in the true
faft, ivhofe " h^ht breaks forth as the morning :" but thefe
are fuch as are in the falfe fafb, who grope hke bund men.
• That which gives to know the true and falfe faft, is the
light, which gives the eye to fee each faft ; where the
true judgment is, and the iniquity ftandeth not, nor the
tranfgreffor, nor the fpeaker of lies : but that is judged
and condemned with the light, which makes it manifeft.
And thofe who are in this tail, when they call upon the
Lord, the Lord will anfwer them, " Here am L" Here
truth is pleaded for and falfehood flies away. But they
who are out of thistaft in the perverfencls, their tongues
uttering perverfe things, are Humbling and groping like
blind men, out of the light, in the iniquity which fepa-
rates from God, who hides his face from them that he
will not hear : going from the light, they go from the
Lord and his face. So this is it which mufl be fail-
ed from, for this it is which feparates from God: and
here comes the reward openly, which condemns ail
that which is contrary to the light ; injuflice, iniquity,
tranfgreffion, vanity, that which brings forth mifchief;
which hatcheth the cockatricc-eg.;s, and weaves the fpi-
ders web : he that eateth of thefe eggs, dies. Mark, That
' which is crufhed breaks out into a viper." Mark again,
' Their webs fhall not become garments, neither fhall
' they cover themfelves with their works of vanity : acls of
' violence are in their hands." This is all from the light,
in the wickednefs. " Their feet run to do evil, and they
' make hafte to fhed innocent blood : their thoughts are
' thoughts of vanity ; wafting and deftruftion is in their
' path." This is all far from the light. Again : " The way
' of peace they know not, there is no judgment in their
' goings : they have made them crooked paths, whofoever
' goes therein ihall not know peace." Mark ; who goes in
their way, that know not the way of peace, fhall they
know peace ? " "W'hofe path is crooked, where there
' is no judgment in their goings :" take notice, " No jtidg-
' mcnt in thsir goings :" This is all from the light, which ma-
nifcfteth that which is to be judged; where the covenant
of peace is known, where all that which is contrary to it is
kepL out. All Avho live in thofe things contrary to the
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 313
* light, in the falfc tiifl, may mark their path, and behold
' their reward ; vv^ho are out of the hght, ttumbUng and
' groping hke Wind men. They that be in the true faft are
' leparated from all thefe ; tlieir words, their actions and
* fruits, and their faft ; but to thofe whole faft breaks the
' bonds of iniquity, whom the Lord hears, and to whom
' righteoufnefs Iprings forth, and goes before them, the
' glory of the Lord is their rere-ward.
' G. F,'
We paffed into Wales through Montgomerifhire, and fo
into Radnorfliire, where there was a meeting like a leaguer,
for multitudes. I walked a little afide, whilft the people
were gathering : and there came to me John-ap- |ohn. a
A\'e]fhman, whom I defired to go to the people ; and if he
had any thing upon him from the Lord to them, he might
fpeak in V/elfti. and thereby gather more together. Then
came Morgan W^atkins to me. who was become loving
to friends, and faid, * The people lie like a leaguer, and
* the gentry of the country are come in.' 1 bade him go
up alfo, and leave me ; for I had a great travail upon me
for the falvation of the peopk. When they were well ga-
thered, I went into the meeting, and ftcod upon a chair
about three hours. I ftood a pretty while, before I began
to fpeak : after fome time I felt the power of the Lord
over the whole affemblv : and his everlafting life and truth
lliined over all. ' The fcriptures were opened to them, and
' the obje6lions they had in their minds anfwered. They
were directed to the light of Chrift, the heavenly man ;
that by it they might fee their fms, and Chrift Jefus to be
their Saviour, their Redeemer, their Mediator, and come
to feed upon him, the bread of life from heaven. Many
were turned to the Lord Jefus Chrift, and to his free teach-
ing that day ; and all vs'ere bowed down under the power
of God ; fo that though the multitude was fo great that
many fat on horfeback to hear, there was no oppoiJLion.
A prieft fat with his wife on horfeback, heard attentively,
and made no objeflion. The people parced peaceablj',
with great fatisfatlion ; many of them laxing, They ne\ er
heard fuch a fermon before, nor the fcriptu*e« fo opened.
For the new covenant was opened, and the old. the na-
ture aii'i terms ot each, and the parabJes were explained.
The ftate of the church in the apoftles days was fet forth,
the apoftacy fincc laid open ; and the free teaching of
3H GEORGE Font's JOURNAL. [1657
' Chrift and the apoflles was fet atop of all the hireling teach-
' ers ; and the Lord had the praile of all, for many were
* turned to him that day.'
I went from thence to Leominfler, where was a great
meeting in a clofe ; many hundreds of people being gather-
ed together. There were about fix congregational preach-
ers and priefts amongfl the people ; and Thomas Taylor,
who had been a prieft, but was now become a minifter of
Chrift Jefus, was with me. I ftood up, and declared about
three hours ; and none of the priefts were able to open
their mouths in oppofition ; the Lord's power and truth fo
reached and bound them. At length one prieft went off
about a bow-ftiot from me ; drew feveral of the people after
him, and began to preach to them. So I kept our meet-
ing, and he kept his. After awhile Thomas Taylor was
moved to go and fpeak to him ; upon which he gave over :
and he, with the people he had drawn off, came to us
again ; and the Lord's power went over all. At laft a
Baptift, that was convinced, faid, ' Where's prieft Tombs ?
' how chance he doth not come out ?' This Tombs was
prieft of Leominfter. Hereupon fome went and told the
prieft ; who came with the bailiffs and other officers of the
town. When he was come, they fet him upon a ftool over*
againft me. I was fpeaking of the heavenly, divine light
of Chrift, which he ' enlightens every one withal that com-
* eth into the world ; to give them the knowledge of the
' glory of God in the face of Chrift Jefus their Saviour.*
When prieft Tombs heard this, he cried out, ' That is a
' natural light, and a made light.' Then I defired the peo-
ple to take out their bibles, and aftced the prieft, ' Whether
* he did affirm that was a created, natural, made, light,
* which John, a man fent from God, bore witnefs to, when
* he laid, " In him (to wit, in the Word) was life, and that
*' life was the light of men," John i. 4. Doft thou affirm and
' mean, faid I, that this light here fpoken of was a created,
' natural, made light ? He faid. Yes. Then I fhewed by the
' fcriptures, that the natural, created, made light is the out-
' ward light in the outward firmament, proceeding from the
' fun, moon, and ftars ? " And doft thou affirm," faid I, " that
" God fent John to bear witnefs to the light of the fun,
'' moon, and ftars ?" " Then," faid he, " Did I fay fo ?" I
' replied. " Didft thou not fay it was a natural, created,
" made light, that John bore witnefs unto ? If thou doft
" not like thy words, take them again, and mend them."
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 315
* Then he faid " That light, which I fpoke of, was a na-
" tiiral, created light." I told him, He had not at all
' mended his caufe; for that light, which I fpoke of, was
* the very fame that John was ftnt of God to bear witnefs
* to; which was the life in the Word, by which all the na-
* tural lights, fun, moon, and ftars, were made. " In
" him (to wit, the Word) was life, and that life was the
" light of men." I directed the people to turn to the place
in their bibles, and recited to them the words of John,
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
*' God, and the Word was God. The fame was in the
*' beginning with God : All things were made by him, and
*' without him was not any thing made that was made." (So
all natural, created lights were made by Chrifl the Word.)
* In him was life, and the life was the light of men : and
* that was the true light which lighteth every man that
* Cometh into the world.' And Chrifl faith of himfelf,
John viii. 12. 'I am the light of the world:' and bids
them ' believe in the light,' John xii. 36. And God faid
of him by the prophet Ifaiah, ch. xlix. 6. ' I will alfo
' give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou may eft be
' my falvation to the ends of the earth.' So Chrift in his.
light is faving. And the apoftle faid, ' The light, which
* fhined in their hearts, was to give them the light of the
' knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus
' Chrifl :' which was their treafiire in their earthen veiFels,
2 Cor. iv. 6. J.
When I had thus opened the matter to the people, the
pried cried to the magili rates, ' Take this man away, or
* clfe I Ihall not fpeak any more.' ' But,' faid I, ' prieft
* Tombs, deceive not thyfclf, thou art not in thy pulpit
* now, nor in thy old mafs-houfe; but we are in the fields,'
So he was fhufFling to be gone : and Thomas Taylor flood
up, and undertook to prove our principle by Chrifl's para-
ble concerning the lower, Mat. 13. Then faid the prieft,
' Let that man fpcak, and not the other.' So he got up
into jangling for awhile; till the Lord's power catched him
again, flopped and contounded him. Afterwards a friend
Hood up and told him, He had fued him for tithe e«[os,
and other friends for other tithes : for he ivas an Anabaptift
preacher, yet had a parfonage at Leominfter, and had fe-
veral journeymen under him. He laid, ' He had a wife,
* and he had a concubine ; his wife was the baptized people,
* and his concubine was the world.' But the Lord's power
3 D
3i6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
came over all, the everlafting truth was declared that day,
and many were turned by it to the Lord Jefus Chrift, their
teacher and way to God. Of great fervice that meeting
was in thofe parts. The next day Thomas Taylor went to
this prieft, reafoned with him, and overcame him by the
power of the Word.
From this place I travelled in Wales, having feveral
meetings, till I came to Tenby ; where as I rode up the
xtreet, a juftice of peace came out of his houfc, defired me
to alight, and flay at his houfe ; which I did. On firft-
day the mayor with his wife, and feveral others of the chief
of the town, came in about the tenth hour, and flaid all
the time of the meeting. A glorious meeting it was.
John-ap-John being then with me, left the meeting, and
went to the fteeple-houfe ; and the governor caft him into
prifon. On fecond-day morning the governor fent one of
his officers to the juftice's to fetch me; which grieved the
mayor and the juftice ; for they were both with me in
the juftice's houfe, when the officer came. The mayor and
the juftice went to the governor before me ; and av;?hile af-
ter I went with the officer. When I came in I faid,
' Peace be unto this houfe.' And before the governor
could examine me, I alked him, ' Why he caft my friend
* into prifon ?' He faid, ' For ftanding with his hat on in
' the church.' I faid, ' Had not the prieft two caps on
* his head, a black one and a white one ? Cut off the brims
' of jthe hat, and then my friend would have but one ; and
* the brims of the hat were but to defend him from weather.*
' Thefe are frivolous things,' faid the governor. ' Why
* then,' faid I, ' doft thou caft my friend into prifon for fuch
* frivolous things ?' He aflied me, ' Whether I owned
' eleClion and reprobation?* ' Yes,' faid I, ' and thou
* art in the reprobation.' At that he was in a rage, and
faid, ' He would fend me to prifon till I proved it.' I told
him, ' I would prove that quickly, if he would confefs
* truth.' I afked him, ' Whether, wrath, fury, rage, and
' perfecution, were not marks of reprobation ? for he that
' was born of the fleffi, perfecuted him that was born of the
' Spirit ; but Chrift and his difciples never perfecuted nor
' imprifoned any.' He fairly confefled, That he had too
much wrath, hafte, and paffion in him. I told him, ' Efau
' was up in him, the firft birth; not Jacob, the fecond
* birth,' The Lord's power fo reached the man, and came
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 317
over him, that he confeflTed to tRith ; and the other juflice
came, and fhook me kindly by the hand.
As I was palling away, I was moved to fpeak to the
governor again ; and he invited me to dinner with him ; and
fet my friend at liberty. I went back to the other juftice's
houfe : and after fome time the mayor and his wife, and
the juftice and his wife, and divers other friends of the
town, went about half a mile out of town with us, to the
water-fide, when we went away ; and there, when we part-
ed from them, I was moved of the Lord to ' kneel down
* with them, and pray to the Lord to preferve them.' So
after I had recommended them to the Lord Jefus Chrift,
their Saviour and free teacher, we palfed away in the Lord's
power ; and he had the glory. A meeting continues in that
town to this day.
We travelled to Pembrokefliire ; and in Pembroke town
had fome fervice for the Lord. From thence we paffed to
Haverford-weft, where we had a great meeting. All was
quiet ; the Lord's power came over all, many were fettled
in the new covenant, Chrift Jefus, and built upon him,
their rock and foundation : and they ftand a precious meet-
ing to this day. The next day, being their fair-day, we
pafTed through the fair, and ' founded the day of the Lord,
* and his everlafting truth amongft them.'
After this we came into another county, and at noon into
a great market town ; and went to feveral inns, before we
could get any meat for our horfes. At laft we came to one,
where we got fome. Then John-ap-John being with me,
went, and fpoke through the town, declaring the truth to
the people ; and when he came to me again, he faid
he thought all the town were as people afleep. After
awhile he was moved to go and declare truth in the llreets
again; then the town was all in an uproar, and cafl him
into prifon. Prefently after, feveral of the chief of the
town came down, with others, to the inn where I was, and
'faid, * They have caft your man into prifon.' ' For what ?'
faid L ' He preached in our ftreets,' faid they. I afked
them, ' What did he fay ? Had he reproved fome of the
' drunkards and fwearers, and warned them to repent, and
* leave off their evil doings, and turn to the Lord ?' I
afked them, ' Who caft him into prifon ?' They faid,
* The high-fheriff, the juftices, and the mayor.' I aiked
their names, and whether they underftood themfelves ? and
whether that was their carriage to travellers who pafftd
3 D a
jiS GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
through their town ; and to ftrangers that admonifhed them,
and exhorted them to fear the Lord, and reproved fin in
their gates ? Thefe went and told the officers what I faid ;
and alter awhile they brought John-ap-John guarded with
halberds, in order to put him out of the town. I being at
the inn-door, bid the officers take their hands ofiF of him.
They faid, ' The mayor and^jufticcs had commanded them
* to put him out of town.' 1 told them, ' I would talk
* with their mayor and jullices anon concerning their un-
* civil and unchriftian carriage towards him.' I fpoke to
John to go look after the horfes, and get them ready ; and
charged the officers not to touch him ; and after 1 had de-
clared the truth to them, and ffiewed the fruits of their
priefts, and their incivility and unchriilian-like carriage,
they went away and left us. They were a kind of Inde-
pendents ; ■ a very wicked town, and falfe. We bid the
inn-keeper give our horles a peck of oats ; and no fooner
had we turned our backs, but the oats were flolen from our
horfes. After we had refreffied ourfelves a little, and were
ready, we took horfe, and rode up to the inn, where the
mayor, flieriff, and juflices were. I called to fpeak with
them, and afked them the reafon, ' Wherefore they had
' imprifoned John-ap-John, and kept him in prifon two or
' three hours?' But they would not anfwer me a word;
only looked out at the windows upon me. I fhewed them
* how unchriflian their carriage was to ftrangers and travel-
' leis, and manifefted the fruits of their teachers ; and de-
' clared the truth to them, and warned them of the day of
' the Lord that was coming upon all the evil-doers : and
' the Lord's power came over them, that they looked affia-
med ; but not a word could I get from them in anfwer. So
when I had warned them to repent, and turn to the Lord,
we paifed away ; and at night came to a little inn, very
poor, hut very cheap ; for our own provifion, and our two
horles coH but eight pence : but the horfes would not eat
their oats. We declared the truth to the people of the
place, and founded the day of the Lord thro' the countries.
From thence we came to a great town, and went to an
inn. Edward Edwards went into the market, and declared
the truth amongft the people ; who followed him to the inn,
(illed the inn-yard, and were exceeding rude. Yet a good
fer\'ice we had lor the Lord amongll them. For the life of
chriftianity and the power of it tormented their chaffy fpi-
yits, ;ind came over them, fo that fome were reached and
X657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 3x9
convinced; the Lord's powercame over all ; and the ma-
giflrates were bound, they had no power to meddle with us.
After this we came to another great town on a market-
day ; where John-ap-John declared the everlafting truth
through the ftreets, and proclaimed the day of the Lord.
In the evening many gathered about the inn ; and fome of
them, being drunk, would fai-n have had us into the ftreet
again ; but feeing their defign, I told them, ' If there were
* any that feared God, and deiired to hear truth, they might
* come into our inn ; or elfe we might have a meeting with
* them next morning.' Some fervice for the Lord we had
amongd them, both over night and in the morning : and
though they were hard to receive the truth, yet the feed
was fown ; and thereabouts the Lord hath a people gather-
ed to himfeif. In that inn alfo 1 turned my back to the
man that was giving oats to my horfe ; and looking back,
he was filling his packets with the provender. A wicked,
thievifh people, to rob the poor dumb creature of his food !
I had rather they had robbed me.
Leaving this town, and travelling on, a great man over-
took us on the way. He purpofed (as he told us afterwards)
to have taken us up at the next town for highwaymen. But
before we came to the town, I was moved of the Lord to
fpeak to him. What I fpoke, reached to the witnefs of
God in the ntan ; who was fo afFefted therewith, that he
had us to his jioufe, and entertained us very civilly. He
and his wift: defired us to give them fome fcriptures, both
for proof of our principles, and againft the priefts. We
were glad of the fervice, and furniihed him with fcriptures
enough ; and he wrote them down, and was convinced of
the truth, both by the SpiTilt of God in his own heart, and
by the fcriptures, which were a confirmation to him. Af-
terwards he fet us on in our journey ; and as we travelled,
we came to an hill, which the people of the country fay is
two or three miles high ; from the fide of this hill I could
fee a great way. And I was moved to fet my face feveral
ways, and to found the day of the Lord there : and I told
John-ap-John (a faithful Welfh minifter) in what places
God would raife up a people to himfeif, to fit under his own
teaching. Thofe places he took notice of; and fince there
hath been a great people arifen there. The like I have
been moved to do in many other parts inhabited by rude
people : yet I have been moved to declare the Lord had a
feed in thofe places : and afterwards there hath been a brave
320 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
peopl6 raifed up in the covenant of God, and gathered
in the name of Jefus ; where they have falvation and free
teaching.
From this hill we came to Dolegelle : and went to an
inn. John-ap -John declared through the flreets ; and the
town's people rofe and gathered about him. There being
two Independent priefts in the town, they came out, and
diicourfed with him both together. I went to them : and
finding them fpeaking in Weifh, I afked them, ' What was
' the fubjeft they {poke upon, and why. they were not more
* moderate, and fpoke one by one ? For the things of
' God,' I told them, ' were weighty, and they Ihould fpeak
' of them with fear and reverence.' Then I defired them
to fpeak in Englifh, that I might difcourfe with them ; and
they did fo. They affirmed, ' That the Light, which John
' came to bear witnefs of, was a created, natural, made
* light.' I took the bible, and fliewed them (as I had done
to others before) ' That the natural lights, which were made
* and created, w'cre the fun, moon, and ftars : but this light,
* which |ohn bare witnefs to, and which he called the true
* light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world,
* is the life in Chrifl the Word, by which all things were
' made and created. The fame that is called the life in
' Chrift, is called the light in man. This is an heavenly,
' divine light, which lets men fee their evil words and deeds,
* and flhev/s them all their fms ; and (if they would attend
' to it) would bring them to Chrifl, from whom it comes,
* that they might know him to fave them from their fin, and
* to blot it out. This light, I told them, fhined in the
* darknefs in their hearts, and the darknefs in them could
* not comprehend it ; but in thofe hearts, where God had
* commanded it to fhine out of darknefs, it gave unto fuch
* the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Chrift
* Jefus their Saviour. I opened the fcriptures largely to
' them, and turned them to the Spirit of God in their hearts;
' which would reveal the myfteries in the fcriptures to them,
« and would lead them into all truth, as they became fub-
' jecl thereunto. I direfted them to that which would give
' every one of them the knowledge of Chrift, who died for
' them ; that he might be their way to God, and might
' make peace betwixt God and them.' The people were
attentive, and I defired John-ap-John to ftand up, and
fpeak it in Welfh to them; which he did : and they gene-
TAlly received it, and with hands lifted up, bleffed and praif-
I6s7] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. ^u
ed God. The priefls mouths were flopped, fo that they
were quiet all the while ; for I had brought them to be fo-
ber at the firfl, by telling them, ' when they fpoke of the
* things of God and of Chrifl, they fhould fpeak with fear and
* reverence.' Thus the meeting broke up in peace in the
ftreet. Many of the people accompanied us to our inn, re-
joiced in the truth that had been declared to them ; and that
they were turned to the light and Spirit in themfelves, by
which tliey might fee their fin, and know falvation from it.
When we went out of the town, the people were fo affected,
that they lifted up their hands, and bleffcd the Lord for our
coming. A precious feed the Lord hath there-away ; and
a great people in thofe parts is fince gathered to the Lord
Jefus Chrifl, to fit under his free teaching ; and they have
fuffered much for him.
From this place we paffed to Caernarvon, a town like a
caftie. When we had fet up our hories at an inn, and re-
frefhed ourfelves, John-ap- John went and fpoke through
the flreets ; which were fo flraight and fhort, that one might
(land in the midfl of the town, and fee both the gates. I
followed John-ap-John, and a multitude were foon gather-
ed about him ; amongfl whom a very dark priefl began to
babble ; but his mouth was foon flopped. When John
had cleared himfelf, I declared the word of life amongfl the
people ; ' dire6ling them to the light of Chrifl in their hearts,
* that by it they might fee all their own ways, religions,
* and teachers, and might come off from them all to Chrifl,
* the true and living way, and the free teacher.' Some of
the people were rude, but the greater part were civil ; and
told us, ' They had heard how we had been perfecuted and
' abufed in many places, but they would not do fo to us
* there.' I commended their moderation and ibbriety,
* and warned them of the day of th.e Lord that was coming
* upon all fm and wickednefs ; teflifying unto them, that
* Chrift was now come to teach his people himielf, by his
' Spirit and power.'
From hence we went to Beaumaris, a town wherein John-
ap-john had formerly been a preacher. After we had put
up our horfes at an inn, John went and fpoke through the
ftreet ; and there being a garrifon in the town, they took
him, and put him into prifon. The inn-keeper's wife caine,
and told me, ' That the governor and magiflrates were leiid-
* ing for me, to commit me to piiton alio.' 1 told her,
_ * They had done more than they could aiifvvcr already;
322 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
* and had afted contrary to chriilianity in imprifoning him
' for reproving fin in their ftreets and gates, and for declar-
* ing the truth.' Soon after came other friendly people, and
told me, ' If I went into the ftreet, they would imprifon
' me alfo ; therefore they defired me to keep within the inn/
Upon this I was moved to go and walk up and down in the
jftreets ; and told the people, ' What an uncivil, unchrifti-
* an thing they had done, in calling my friend into prifon.
And they being high profefTors, I afked them, ' If this was
* the entertainment they had for ftrangers ? And if they
' would willingly be fo ferved themfelves ? And whether
* they, who looked upon the fcriptures to be their rule, had
* any example in the fcriptures, from Chrift or his apoflles,
* for what they had done ?" So after awhile they fet John-
ap-John at liberty.
Next day, being market-day, we were to crofs a great
water ; and not far from the place where we were to take
boat, many of the market-people drew to us ; amongft whom
we had good fervice for the Lord, ' declaring the word of
* life and everlafting truth unto them, and proclaiming the
* day of the Lord amongft them, which was coming upon
' all wickednefs; and directing them to the light of Chrift,
' which he, the heavenly man, had enlightened them with-
* al ; by which they might fee all their fms, and all their
* falfe ways, religions, worftiips and teachers : and by the
' fame light might fee Chrift Jefus, who was come to fave
* them, and lead them to God.' After the truth had been
declared to them in the power of God, and Chrift the free
teacher fet over all the hireling teachers ; I bjd John-ap-
John get his horfe into the boat, which was then ready.
But there being a company of wild gentlemen, as they cal-
led them, got into it, whom we found very rude, and far
from gentlenefs ; they, with others, kept his horfe out of
the boat. I rode to the boat's fide, and fpoke to them,
fiiewing them, ' What an unmanly and unchriftian carriage
* it was ; and told them, they Ihewed an unworthy fpirit,
* below chriftianity or humanity.' As I fpoke, I leaped
my horfe into the boat amongft them ; thinking John's
horfe would have followed, when he had feen mine go in
before him : but the water being pretty deep, John could
not get his horfe into the boat. Wherefore I leaped out
again on horfeback into the water, and ftaid with John on
that fide, till the boat returned. There we tarried from the
eleventh hour of the forenoon to the fecond in the afternoon^
i557] GEORGE PCX's JOURNAL. 323
before the boat came to fetch us ; and then had forty-two
miles to ride that evening ; and by that time we had paid
for our paffage, we had but one groat left between us in
money. We rode about fixteen miles, and then got a little
hay for our horfes. Setting forward again, we came in the
night to a little ale-houfe, where we thought to have ftaid
and baited. But finding we could have neither oats nor
hay there, we travelled all night ; and about the fifth hour
in the morning got to a place within fix miles of Wrexham ;
where that day we met with many friends, and had a glo-
rious meeting ; the Lord's everlafling power and truth was
over ail : and a meeting is continued there to this day. Ve-
ry weary we were with travelling fo hard up and down in
Wales ; and in many places we found it difficult to get meat
either for our horfes or ourfelves.
The next day we paffed from thence into Flintfhire,
founding the day of the Lord through the towns : and came
into Wrexham at night. Here many of Floyd's people
came to us ; but very rude, wild, and airy they were, and
little fenfe of truth they had : yet fome were convinced in.
that town. Next morning one called a lady fent for me,
who kept a preacher in her houfe. I went to herhoufe, but
found both her and her preacher very light and airy ; too
light to receive the weighty things of God. In her lightnels
fhe came and alked me, ' If ihe lliould cut my hair ? 1 was
moved to reprove her, and bid her cut down the corrup-
tions in herfelf with the fword of the Spirit of God ; fo after
I had admonifhed her to be more grave and fober, we palT-
ed away. Afterwards in her frothy mind ftie made her boa ft,
that fhc. ' came behind me, and cut off the curl of my hair/
but (he fpoke falfely.
From Wrexham we came to Weft-chefler : and it being-
the lair-time, we (laid there awhile, and vifited friends.
For I had travelled through every county in Wales, preach-
ing the everlafling gofpel of Chri'l: and a brave people
there is now, who have received it, and fit under Chriil's
teaching. But before I left Wales, I wrote to the magif-
trates of Beaumaris concerning their imprifoning |ohn-ap-
John ; letting them fee their condition, the fruits of their
chriftianity, and of their teachers. Afterwards I met with
fome of them near London ; but oh ! how aihanied thcv
vvcre of their aciion !
From Wefl-chefter we came to Liverpool, where \v;\s. at
(hat time a fair : and as I rode through the fair, there Hood
3 !•■
324- GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
a friend upon the crofs, declaring the truth to the people ;
who feeing nie ride by, and knowing I had appointed a
meeting to be the next day upon an hill not far off, gave
notice to the people, ' That George Fox, the fervant of
' the Lord, would have a meeting next day upon fuch an
* hill ; and if any feared the Lord, they might come and
' hear him declare the word of lile to them.' We went that
night to Richard Cubban's, who himfelf was convinced,
though not his wife ; but at that time fhe was convinced
alfo.
Next day we went to the meeting on the top of the hill,
which was very large. Some rude people with a prieil's
wife came, and made a noife for awhile ; but the Lord's
power came over them, the meeting became quiet, and the
truth of God was declared amoncrft them. Many were that
day fettled upon the rock and foundation Chrift Jefus,
and under his teachmg ; who made peace betwixt God and
them.
We had a fmall meeting with a few friends and people at
Malpoth. From thence we came to another place, where
we had a meeting. There came a bailiff with a fword, and
was rude ; but the Lord's power came over him, and friends
were eflablifhed in the truth.
From thence we came to Manchefter : and the feflions
being there that day, many rude people were come out of
the country. In the meeting they threw at me coals, clods,
ftones, and water : yet the Lord's power bore me up over
them, that they could not ftrike me down. At laft, when
they faw they could not prevail by throwing water, ftones,
and dirt at me, they went and informed the juilices m the
fefTions ; who thereupon fent officers to fetch me before
them. The officers came in while I was declaring the word
of lile to the people, plucked me down, and haled me into
^leir court. When I came there all the. court was in a dif-
.• -order ar\(i a noife. Wherefore I afked, ' Where were the
' magiftratcs, that they did not keep the people civil ?' Some
of the julUces laid, They were magilfrates. I afked them,
' Why then they did not appeafe the people, and keep
' them fober ?' For one cried, FU fw^ear, and another cried,
ril fwear. 1 declared to thejuffices, ' How we were abufed
' in our meeting by the rude people, who threw ftones,
' clods, dirt, and water : and how 1 was haled out of the
' meeting and brought thither, contrary to the inftrumentof
' government, which faid, '* None ftiould be molcited in
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 523
" their meetings that profefTed God, and owned the Lord
" Jefus Chrift ;" which I did.' Tne truth ib came over
them, that when one of the rude followers cried, ' He
' would fwear;' one of the juflices checked him, faying,
' What, will you fwear ? hold your tongue.' At lall they
bid the conflable, ' Have me to my lodging, and there I
* fhould be fecured till to-morrow morning that they fent
' for me again.' So the conftable had me to my lodging.
As we went the people were exceeding rude ; but I let them
fee the * fruits of their teachers, how thev fhamed chriRia-
' nity, and difhonoured the name of jefus which they pro-
* fefTed.' At night we went to a juftice's in the town, who
was pretty moderate, and I had a great deal of difcourfe
with him. Next morning we fent to the conflable to know
if he had any thing more to fay to us ? He fent us word,
' He had nothing to fay to us, we might go whither we
* would.' The Lord hath fince raifed up a people to fland
for his name and truth in that town over thofe chafry pro-
feffors.
We pafTed from Manchefler, having many precious
meetings in feveral places, till we came to Prefton ; be-
tween which and Lancafler I had a general meeting : from
which 1 went to Lancailer. There at our inn I met with
colonel Weft, who was very glad to fee me ; who meeting
with judge Fell, told him, ' I was mightily grov/n in the
* truth ;' when indeed he was come nearer to the truth, and
fo could better difcern it.
We came from Lancafter to Robert Widders's. On the
firft-day after I had a general meeting near the Sands-fide,
of friends of Weftmoreland and Lancafhire, when the
Lord's everlafting power w^as over all ; in which the word
of eternal life was declared, and friends were fettled upon
the foundation, Chrift Jefus, under his free teaching ; and
many were convinced, and turned to the Lord. -^
Next day I came over the vSands to Swarthmore, where
friends were glad to fee me. I ftaid there two firft-davs, vi-
liting friends in their meetings there-away. They rejoiced
with me in the goodnefs of the Lord, who by Jiis eternal
power had carried me through and over many difficul-
ties and dangers in his fcrvice; to him be the praife for
ever !
Having got a little refpite from travel, I was moved to
write an epiille to friends, as followeth :
3 L 2
326 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 11657
ALL friends of the Lord every where, whofe minds
are turned in towards the Lord, take heed to the
light within you, which is ihe hght of Chrift; which, as
you love it, will call your minds inward, that are abroad
in the creatures : fo your minds may be renewed bv it,
and turned to God in this which is pure, to worlliip the
living God, the Lord of holts over all the creatures.
That which calls your m^inds out of the lulls of the world,
will call them out of the affeftions and defires, and turn
you to fet your affections above. The fame that calls the
mind out of the world, will give judgment upon the
world's affe6lions and lulls, that which calls out your
minds from the world's teachers and the creatures, to have
your minds renewed. There is your obedience known
and found ; there the image of God is renev/ed in you,
and ye come to grow up in it. That which calls your
minds out of the earth, turns them towards God, where
the pure Babe is born of the virgin; and the Babe's food
is known, the children's bread, which comes from the liv-
ing God, and nouriflies up to eternal life : which baoes
and children receive their wifdom from above, from the
pure living God, and not from the earthly one ; for that
is trodden under foot by fuch. All who hate this light,
whofe minds are abroad in the creatures, in the earth, and
in the image of the devil, get the words of the faints (that
received their wifdom from above) into the old nature and
their corrupted minds. Such are murderers of the jufl,
enemies to the crofs of Chrift, in whom the prince of the
air lodgeth, fons of perdition, betrayers of the juil.
Therefore take heed to that light, which is opprelfed with
that nature ; which light, as it arifes, fhall condemn all
that curled nature, fhall turn it out, and fhut it out of
the houfe. So ye will come to fee the candle lighted, and
the houfe fweeping and fwept. Then the pure pearl
arifcth, then the eternal God is exalted. The fame liuht
that calls in your minds out of the world (that are abroad)
the fame turns them to God the father of lights. Here in
the pure mind is the pure God waited upon for wifdom
from above; the pure God is feen night and day, and the
eternal peace, of which there is no end, enjoyed. People
may have openings, and yet their minds go into the lufls
of the flcOi ; but there the affections are not mortified.
Thert-fore hearken to that, take heed to that, which calls
your mmds out of the affections and lulls of ■the world
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 327
* to have them renewed. The fame will turn your minds
' to God; the fame light will fet your afiFeftions above, and
' bring you to wait for the pure wifdom of God from on
* high, that it may be juftified in you. Wait all in that
* which calls m your minds and turns them to God ; here
' is the true crofs. That mind fhali feed upon nothing that
' is earthly, but be kept in the pure light up to God, to
* feed upon the living food which comes from the Jiving
' God. The Lord God Almighty be with you ail, dear
' babes, and keep you ail in his ftrcngtji and pov/er to his
* glory, over all the world, ye whofe minds are called out
* of it, and turned to God, to worftiip the Creator and ferve
* him, and not the creature. The light of God which calls
* the mind out of the creatures, and turns it to himlcli,
* brings into a being of endlefs joy and peace. Here is
* ahvays a feeing God prefent, which is not known to the
' world, whofe hearts are in the creatures, whofe knov\^ledge
' is in the flefh, whofe minds are not renewed. Therefore
* all friends, the feed of God mind and dwell in, to reign
* over the unjuft ; and the power of the Lord dwell in, to
* keep you clear in your underftandings, that the feed of
* God may reign in you all; the Seed of God, which is
' but one in all, is Chrifl in the male and in the female,
* which the promife is to. "Wait upon the Lord for the jufl
' to reign over the unjuft, for the feed of God to reign over
' the feed of the lerpent, and be the head ; and that all that
* is mortal may die : for out of that will rife prefumption.
* So fare ye well, and God Almighty blefs, guide, and
* keep you in his wifdom,
' G. F.'
About this time friends that were moved of the Lord to
go to the fteeple-houfes and markets, to ' reprove fm, and
' warn people of the day of the Lord,' fuffered much hard-
fliip from rude people, and alfo from the inagiftrates ; being
commonly pulled down, buffeted, beaten, and frequently
fent to prifon. Wherefore I was moved to give lorth the
following expoftulation to be fpread amongft people, to
fhew them how contrary they afted therein to the apoftlcs
do6lrine and pradtice, and to bring them to more modera-
tion.
S it not better for you that have caft into prifon the fer-
vants and children of the Lord God forfpeaking, as they
528 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
were moved, in fteeple-houfes or markets, Is it not better,
I fay, for you to " try all things, and hold fall that which
• is good ?" Is it not of more honour and credit, to " prove
' all things, and try all things, than to pluck down in the
' fteeple-houfes, pull off the hair of their heads, and caft
' them into prifon?" Is this an honour to your truth and
gofpel you profefs ? Doth it not fhew that ye are out of
the truth, and are not ready to in{lru6l the gainfayers ?
Hath not the Lord faid, " He will pour out of his Spirit
• upon all flelh, and his fons and daughters Ihall prophefy,
• and old men fhall dream dreams, and young men fee
' vifions, and on his handmaids he will pour forth of his
' Spirit ?" Was not this prophecy in ages paft ftood againft
by the wife, learned men in their own wifdom, and by
the fynagogue-teachers ? Were not fuch haled out of
the fvnagogues and temple, who witneffed the Spirit pour-
ed forth upon them ? Doth not this fhew, that ye have
not received the pourings forth of this Spirit upon you,
who fill the gaols with fo many fons and daughters, and
hold up fuch teachers as are bred up in learning at Oxford
and Cambridge, and are made by the will of man ? Doth
not this fliew, that ye who are bred up there, who are
made teachers by the will of man, and who perfecute for
prophefying, are ftrangers to the Spirit that is " poured
'■ forth upon fons and daughters ;" by which Spirit they
come to " minifter to the fpirits that are in prifon ?" The
Lord hath a controverfy with you who are found
pnloning and perfecuting fuch as the Lord hath poured
his Spirit upon. Do not your fruits fhew, in all the na-
tion where ye come, in towns, cities, villages, and coun-
tries, that ye are the feedfmen made by the will of man,
who fow to the flefli, of which nothing but corruption is
reaped in nations, countries, cities, and villages ? Ye
are tooked upon and your fruits, and that which may be
gathered is feen by all that are in the light, as they pafs
through your countries, towns, cities, and villages, that
ye are all the feedfmen that have fown to the flefh. Of
this take yc notice, who are of that birth that is born of
the ileih ; ye fow to your own, perfecuting him that is
born of the Spirit, who fows to the Spirit, and of the
Spirit reaps life eternal. Such ye, who fow to the flefh, caft
into prifon. Do ye not hale out of the fynagogues? per-
fecute and beat in the fynagogues, and knock down ? Are
not thefe the works of the flefh ? Have not many been
i6s7] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 329
almoft murdered and fmothered in your fynagogues ?
Have not ionie been haled out of your lynagogues, for
but looking at a priefl, and after caft into pri'on ? Doth
not all this make maniteft what fpirit ye are of, and your
fruits to be of the flefh ? What pleafures and fports in
every town are to be feen among your flocks, that four to
the flefh and are born of it ! Whereas the minillers of
the Spirit cried againil fuch as " fported in the day-time,"
fuch as " ate and drank, and role up to play," fuch a,s
' lived wantonly upon earth in pleafures," fuch as lived
in " fulnefs of bread and idlenefs," fuch as " defile the
'' flefh ;" fuch did God overthrow, deflroy, and fet forth
as examples to ail them that after fhould live ungodly.
But are not the fruits of this reaped in every town ? Can-
not ye from hence fee, that here is lowing to the flefh :'
Again, what fcorning, fcofiing, mocking, derifion, and
flrife. What oaths, drunkennefs, uncleannefs, and curfed
fpcaking ! What lull and pride is feen in the ftreets !
Thefe fruits we fee are reaped of the flcHi. So here we
iee the feedfman, him that fows to this flefh, of which
nothing but corruption is reaped, as the countries, towns,
cities, and villages make manil^ll. But the minifters of
the Spirit, who low to the Spirit, come to reap life eternal.
Thefe difcern the other feedfman, v/ho fows to the fleili,
and of the flefli reaps corruption. For the day hath ma*
nifefted each feedlman, and what is reaped from each is
feen; glory be to the Lord God for ever! The minifters
of the Spirit, born of the Spirit, fons and daughters
which have the Spirit poured upon them, and witntfs the
promife of God fulfilled in them, by the Spirit of God
preach and minifler to the fpirit in prifon in every one,
in the fight of God, the Father of fpirits. God'o hand is
turned againft you all that have deltroyed God's creatures
upon your luft. God's hand is turned againfl you that
have wronged by unjuft dealing, defrauded, and oppref-
fed the poor, and have refpe£led the perfons of the proud,
and lend not your ear to the cry of the poor. The Lord's
hand and arm againfl you all is turned, and his righteous
judgment and juftice upon you all will be accompiifh-^d
and repaid, who ihall have a reward, every one accord-
ing to his works. Oh ! the abomination and hypocritic.d
profeffion that is upon the earth, where God and Ciuiii,
faith, hope, the holy Spirit, and truth is profclfed, but
the fear of God, and the f^ith that purifies and givcj vie-
330 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. C1657
toiy over the world, not lived in ! Doth it not appear
that the wifdom which rules in all thofe^ vs^hom the leedl-
man that fows to the flelli lows for, and who are born
of the flelh, are from below, earthly, fenfual, and devilifh,
their underdandinar brutifh, and their knowledj^e natural
as the brute beafls ? For men and women in that ft ate
have not patience to fpeak one to the orher of the fcrip-
tures, Without much corruption and flefh appearing, yet
they have a feigned humility, a wiil-worfhip, and rigli-
teoufnefs of felf; but they own not the light, which
' lighteth every man that coraeth into the world, Chriil
Jefus, the righteoufnefs of God :" which light being own-
ed, felf, and the righteoufnefs of felf, comes to be denied.
Here is the humility that is contrary to the light, and that
is below and feigned. Here is the wifdom that is from be-
low, earthly, fenfual, and devilifh : for people can fcarce dif-
fer from one another without deftroying one another, pri-
foning and perfecuting one another, when they fpeak of the
fcriptures. This is the devilifh wifdom murdering and
deftroying. This is not the wifdom that is from above,
which is pure and peaceable, gentle and eafy to be entreat-
ed, full of mercy and good fruits. Here all may read each
feedfman, which hath each wifdom. He that fows to the
fleflr, and is born of that, hath the wifdom that is earthly,
fenlual, and devilifti ; he that fows to the Spirit, a minifter
of the Spirit, hath the wifdom from above, which is pure,
peaceable, gentle, and eafy to be entreated ; the wifdom by
which all things were made and created. Now is each wif-
dom difcovered, and each feedfman : the day, which is the
light, hath difcovered- them.
' G. F.*
I was moved alfo to give forth the following epiftle to
friends, to ftir them up to be bold and valiant for the truth,
and to encourage them in their fufferings for it.
ALL friends and brethren every where, now is the day
of your trial, now is the time for you to be valiant,
and to fee that the teftimony of the Lord doth not fall.
Now is the day for the exercife of your gifts, of your
patience, and of your faith. Now is the time to be armed
with patience, with the light, with righteoufnefs, and with
the helmet of falvation. Now is the trial of the flothful
leivant, wlio hides his talent., and will judge Chiift hard.
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL.
33«
Now. happy are they that can fay, " The earth is the
' Lord's and the fulnels thereof, and he gives the increafe ;'*
therefore who takes it from you ? Is it not the Lord (till
that fufFers it ? For the Lord can try you as he did Job,
whom he made rich, whom he made poor, and whom he
made rich again ; who Hill kept his integrity in all condi-
tions. Learn Paul's leifon, In all Rates to be content ;
and have his faith, " That nothing is able to fcparate us
' from the love of God, which we have in Chrill Jefus."
Therefore be rich in life, and in grace, which vt'ill endure,
ye who are heirs of life, and born of the womb of eternity,
that noble birth that cannot floop to that which is born
in fm, and conceived in iniquity ; who are better bred and
born, whofe religion is from God, above /ill the religions
that are from below ; and who walk by faith, by that
which God hath given you, and not by that which men
make, who walk by fight, from the Mafs-book to the Di-
re6lory. Such are fubje6l to flumblc and fall, who walk
by fight and not by faith. Therefore mind him that de-
ftroys the original of fin, the devil and his works, and
cuts off the entail of Satan, viz. fin ; who would have by
entail an inheritance of fin in men and women from gene-
ration to generation, and pleads for it by all his lawyers
and counfellors. For though the law, wl>»ch made no-
thing perfeft, did not cut it off; yet Chrift being come
delhoys the devil and his works, and cuts off the entail
of fin. This angers all tJic devil's lawyers and counfel-
lors, that Satan fhail not hold fin by entail in thy garden,
in thy field, in thy temple, thy tabernacle. So keep your
tabernacles, that there \-e may fee the glory of the Lord
appear at the doors thereof, lie iaidiful ; for ye fee what
the worthies and valiants of the Lord did attain unto by
faith. Enoch by faith was tranflatcd. Noah by faith was
prefervcd over the waters in his ark. Abraham by faith
forlook his father's houle and religion, and all the religions
of the world, Ifaac and Jacob by laith follovi'cd his ileps.
See hov/ Samuel and other of the Lord's prophets, with
David, by faith were preferved to God over his enemies !
Daniel and the three children by faith efcaped the lions
and the fire, and preferved their worfhip clean, and by it
were kept over the worihips of the world. The apolUes
by faith travelled up and down the world, were pieftrved
from all the religions of the world, and held forth the
pure relipion to the dark world, which ihev had received
3 f
jjS GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
from God ; and likewife their fellowfhip was received from
above, which is in the gofpel that is everlalling. In this,
neither powers, principahties nor thrones, dominions nor
angels, things prefent nor things to come, heights nor
depths, nor death, mockings, nor fpoiling of goods, prifons
nor fetters were able to fcparate them from the love of
God, which they had in Chrift; Jefus. And friends,
' Quench not the Spirit, nor defpife prophefying," where
it moves ; neither hinder babes and fucklings from cry-
ing Hofannah ; for out of their mouths will God ordain
ftrength. There were fome in Chrifl's day that were
againft fuch, whom he reproved ; and there were fome in
Mofes's day, who would have flopped the prophets in the
camp ; whom Mofes reproved, and faid by way of en-
couragement to them, ' Would God, that all the Lord's
' people were prophets !" So I fay now to you. There-
fore ye that flop it in yourfelves do not quench it in
others, neither in babe nor fuckling ; for the Lord hears the
cries of the needy, and the fighs and groans of the poor.
Judge not that, nor the lighs and groans of the Spirit,
which cannot be uttered, left ye judge prayer ; for prayer
as well lies in fis^hs and groans to the Lord as otherwifc.
Let not the fons and daughters, nor the handmaids be
flopped in their prophefyings, nor the young men in their
vifions, nor the old men in their dreams ; but let the
Lord be glorified in and through all, who is over all,
God bleffed for ever ! So every one may improve their
talents, every one exercife their gifts, and every one fpeak
as the Spirit gives them utterance. Thus every one
may minifter, as he hath received the grace, as a good
fleward to him that hath given it him ; fo all plants may
bud, and " bring forth fruit" to the glory of God : " for
the manifeflation of the Spirit is given to every one to
profit withal." See that every one hath profited in hea-
venly things ; male and female, look into your own vine-
yards, fee what fruit ye bear to God ; look into your own
houles, fee how they are decked and trimmed ; fee what
odors, myn'h, and frankincenfe ye have therein, and what
a fmell and favour ye have to afcend to God that he may
be glorified. Bring your deeds all to the light, which ye
are taught to believe in by Chrift, your head, the heaven-
ly man : and fee how they arc wrought in God. Every
male and female, let Chrift dwell in your hearts by faith
(Chnft in ths male and in the female ;) and let your
j657] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 333
* mouths be opened to the glory of God the Father, that
* he may rule and reign in you. We muft not have Chrill
* Jefus, the Lord of Life, put any more in a flable arao.ngll
* the horfes and alFes ; he muft now have the bcft chamber,
* the heart ; and the rude, debauched fpirit muft be turned
* out. Therefore let him reign whofe right it is, who was
* conceived by the Holy Ghoft; by which Holy Ghoft ye
* call him Lord, in which Holy Ghoft ye pra}-, and have
* comfort and fellowfliip with the Father and with the Son.
* Therefore know the triumph in it, and in God and his
* power (which the devil is out of) and in the feed which
' is Firft and Laft, the Beginning and Ending, the Top
* and Corner-ftone : in which is my love to you, and in
* which I reft
' Your friend, G. F.'
POSTSCRIPT.
* Friends, be careful how ye fet your feet among the
* tender plants that are fpringing up out of God's earth,
* left ye tread upon them, hurt them, bruifc them, or crufti
* them in God's vineyard.!
After I had tarried two firft-days at Swarthmore, and
vifited meetings thereabouts, I paffed into Weftmoreland
in the fame work, till I came to John Audland's, where
was a general meeting. The night before I had a vifion of
a ' defperate creature that was corning to deftroy me, but I
* got vi61;ory over it.' The next day in the meeting-time
came one Otway, with fome rude fellows. He rode round
about the meeting with his fword or rapier, and would fain
have got in through the friends to me ; but the meeting
being great, the friends ftood thick, fo that he could not
eafily come at me. When he had rid about feveral times
raging, and found he could not get in, being alfo limited
by the Lord's power, he at length went away. It was a
glorious meeting, ended peaceably, and the Lord's ever-
lafting power came over all. This wild man went home,
became diftra£l:ed, and not long after died. 1 A^nt a paper
to John Blaykling to read to him while he lay ill, fnewing
him his wickednefs ; and he did acknowledge iomething
of it.
From hence I went through Kendal, where a warrant
had long lain to apprehend me ; and the conflablcs feeing
3 ^^ 2
334 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
me rnn to fetch their warrant as I was riding: through the
town ; but before they could come up with it I was pafl,
and fo efcaped their hands. '^
I travelled northwards, vifiting meetings, till I came to
Strickland-head, where I had a great meetmg. Mofl of the
gentry of that country being gathered to an horfe-race, not
far from the meeting, I was moved to go and declare the
truth to them ; and a chief-conftable did alio admonifh them.
Our meeting was quiet, the Lord was with us ; and by his
word and power friends were fettled in the eternal truth.
From hence we pafled into Cumberland, where we had
many precious, living meetings. After we had traveiled to
Gilfland, and had a meeting there, we came to Carlifle,
where they ufed to put friends out of the town ; but there
came a great flood while we were there, that they could not
put us out of the town ; fo we had a meeting there on the
firft-day. After which we pafled to Abbey-holm, and had
a little meeting there. This is a place v/here I told friends
long before there would be a great people come forth to the
Lord ; v.'hich hath fince come to pafs, and a large meeting
ther^ is gathered to the Lord in thofe parts.
I pafled from hence to a general meeting at Langlands in
Cumberland, which was very large ; for m.ofl; of the people
had fo forfaken the pricfts, that the fteeple-houfes in fome
places flood empty. And John Wiikinfon, a preacher, that
1 have often named before, who had three fteeple-houfes,
had fo fev/ hearers left, that, giving over preachmg in the
fteeple-houfes, he firfl; fet up a meeting in his houfe, and
preached there to them that were left. Afterwards he fet
up a filent meeting (like friends) to which came a few : for
mofl; of his hearers were come to friends. Thus he held on,
till he had not pafl half a dozen left ; the reft ftill forfaking
him, and coming away to friends. At laft, when he had
fo very kw Itfc, he would come to Pardley-Crag (where
fr:ends had a meeting of feveval hundreds of people, who
were all come to fit under the Lord Jefus Chrifl's teaching)
and he would walk about the meeting on the firft-days, like
a man that went about the commons to look for flieep.
During this time, I came to Pardiey-Crag meeting, and he
with three or four of his followers, yet left him, came to the
meeting that day ; and were all thoroughly convinced.
After the meeting. Wiikinfon afkcd me two or three quefti-
ons, which I anlVered to his fatisfatlion ; from tliat time he
eame amongfl friends, became an ableminifler, preached the
16573 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 335
gofpel freely, and turned many to Chrift's free teaching.
And after he had continued many years in the free miniftry
of Chrift Jefus, he died in the year 1675.
I had for fome time felt drawings on my fpirit to go into
Scotland : and had fent to colonel William Ofborn of
Scotland, defiring him to meet me; and he, with fome
others, were come out of Scotland to this meeting. After
It was over (which, he faid, vvas the mod glorious meeting
that ever he faw in his life) I pafled with him and his com-
pany into Scotland ; having Robert Widders with me ; a
thundering man againfl hypocrify, deceit, and the rotten-
nefs of the priefts.
The firft night we came into Scotland, we lodged at an
inn. The inn-keeper told us, an earl lived about a quar-
ter of a mile off, who had a defire to fee me ; and had left
word at his houfe, that if ever I came into Scotland, he
fhould fend him word. He told us, there were three
draw-bridges to his houfe ; and that it would be nine
o'clock before the third bridge was drawn. Finding we
had time in the evening, we walked to his houfe. He re-
ceived us very lovingly ; and faid. He would have gone
with us on our journey, but that he was before engaged to
go to a funeral. After we had fpent fome time with him,
we parted very friendly, and returned to our inn. Next
morning we travelled on, and palling through Dumfries,
came to Douglas, where we met with fome friends ; from
thence we palTed to the Heads, where we had a blelfed
meeting in the name of Jefus, and felt him in the midll.
Leaving Heads, we went to Badcow, and had a meeting
there : to which abundance of people came, and many were
convinced : amongft w^hom was one called a lady. From,
thence we palTed towards the Highlands to William Of-
born's, where we gathered up the iulFerings of friends, and
the principles of the Scotch priefts, which may be feen in a
book called, " The Scotch Priefts Principles."
Afterwards we returned to Heads, Badcow, and Gar-
ftiore, where the faid lady Margaret Hambleton was con-
vinced; who afterwards went to warn O. Cromwel and
Charles Fleetwood of the day of the Lord that was coming
upon them.
On firft-day we had a great meeting, and feveral profef-
fors came to it. Now the priefts had frighted the people
with the do6lrine of el^ion and reprobation : telling them,
* That God had ordained the greateft part of men and wo-
33^ GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
men for hell; that, let them pray, or preach, orfing, and
do what they could, it was all to no purpofe, if they were
ordained for hell ; that God had a certain number, which
were eleftcd for heaven ; and let them do what they would,
as David an adulterer, and Paul a perfecutor, yet elefted
veflels for heaven. So the fault was not at all in the crea-
ture, lefs or more; but God had ordained it fo.' I was
led to open to the people the falfenefs and folly of their
priefls doctrines, and fhewed them, the priefts had abuf-
ed thofe fcriptures which they had brought and quoted to
them, as in Jude, and other places. For whereas they
faid, " There was no fault at all in the creature;'* I fhew-
ed them, that they, whom Jude fpeaks of, to wit. Cain,
Core, and Balaam, who, he fays, were ordained of old to
condemnation, the fault was in them. For did not God
warn Cain and Balaam, and put the queflion to Cain,
' If thou doft well, fhalt thou not be accepted ?" And did
not the Lord bring Core out of Egypt, and his company ?
yet did not he gainfay both God and his law, and his
prophet Mofes ? Here people might fee that there was a
fault in Cain, Corah, and Balaam ; and fo there is in all
that go in their ways. For if they, who are called chrif-
tians, refill the gofpel as Core did the law, err from the
Spirit of God as Balaam did, and do evil as Cain did, is
not here a fault ? which fault is in themfelves, and is the
caufe of their reprobation, and not God. Doth not Chrift
fay, " Go, preach the gofpel to all nations ?" Which is
the gofpel of falvation. He would not have fent them into
all nations, to preach the do£lrine of falvation, if the
greateft part of men had been ordained for hell. Was
not Chrift a propitiation for the fins of the whole world,
for thofe that became reprobates, as well as for the faints ?
He died for all men, the ungodly as well as the godly, as
the apoftle bears witnefs, 2 Cor. v. 15. Rom. v. vi. And
' he enlightens every man that coraeth into the world," that
through him they might all believe. And Chrift bids
them believe in the light : but ail they that hate the light,
which Chrift bids all believe in, are reprobated. Again,
' The manifeftation of the Spirit of God is given to every
' man to profit withal ;" but they that vex, quench, and
grieve it, are in the reprobation ; and the fault is in them,
as it is alfo in thsm that hate his light. The apoftle faith,
' The grace of God, which brings falvation, hath appeared
' unto all men, teaching us, that denying ungodlinefs and
it5s7j GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 337
** worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly, and
* godly in this prefent world," Tit. ii. 11, 12. Now ail
' thofe that live ungodly, and in the lufls of the world, that
* turn from this grace of God into wantonnefs, and walk:
* defpitefully againft it, and fo deny God, and the Lord
* Jefus Chrift that bought them, the fault is in all fuch that
' turn from the grace of God into wantonnefs, and walk
' defpitefully againll that which would bring their falvation,
* and fave them out of the reprobation. But the priells,
' it feems, can fee no fault in fuch as deny God, and the
' Lord Jefus Chrift that bought them, fuch as deny his
* light, which they fhould believe in, and his grace, which
' fhould teach them to live godly, and which fhould bring
' them their falvation. Now all that believe in the lioht of
* Chrift, as he commands, are in the eleftion ; and fit un-
* der the teaching of the grace of God, which brings their
' falvation. But fuch as turn from this grace into wanton-
* nefs are in the reprobation : and fuch as hate the light are
* in the condemnation. Therefore I exhorted all to believe
* in the light, as Chrift commands, and own the grace of
' God their free teacher; and it would afluredly bring them
' their falvation : for it is fufficient.' Many other fcriptures
were opened concerning reprobation, and the eyes of the
people were opened; and a fpring of life rofe up among
them.
Thefe things foon came to the priefts ear ; for the peo-
ple, that fat under their dark teachings, began to fee light,
and to come into the covenant of light. The noife was
fpread over Scotland, among the priefts, that I was come
thither ; and a great cry was amongft them, that all would
be fpoiled ; for they faid, ' I had fpoiled all the honeft men
* and women in England already' (fo according to their own
account, the worft were left to them.) Upon this they gather-
ed great alfemblies of priefts together, and drew up a num-
ber of curfes to be read in their feveral fteeple-houfes, that
all the people fhould fay Amen to. Some few I will here
fet down ; the reft may be read in the book before-mention-
ed of " The Scotch Priefts Principles."
The firft was, ' Curfed is he that faith. Every man hath
* a light within him fufficient to lead him to falvation : and
' let all the people f^iy, Amen.
The fecond, ' Curfed is he that faith, F#iith is without
' fin : and let all the people fay, Amen.'
33« GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
The third, * Curfed is he that denieth the fabbath-day :
* and let all the people fay. Amen.'
In this laft they make the people ciirfe themfelves ; for
on the fabbath-day (which is the leventh day of the week,
which the Jews kept by the command of God to them)
they kept markets and fairs, and fo brought the curfe upon
their own heads.
As to the firft, concerning the light, Chrift faith, ' Be-
* lieve in the light, that ye may become children of the
* light :' and, ' he that believeth fhall be faved : he that be-
' lieveth fhall have everlalling life : he that believeth paffes
* from death to life, and is grafted into Chrift.' ' And ye
* do well,' faith the apoftle, ' that ye take heed unto the
' light that fhines in the dark place, until the day dawn,
* and the day-ftar arife in your hearts.' So the light is fuf-
ficient to lead unto the day-ftar.
As concerning faith, it is the gift of God : and every gift
of God is pure. The faith, which Chrift is the author of,
is precious, divine, and without fm. This is the faith which
gives viftory over fin, and accefs to God ; in which faith
they pleafe God. But thofe are reprobates themfelves con-
cerning this faith, and are in their dead faith, who charge
fin upon this faith under pain of a curfe : which faith gives
viftory over their curfe, and returns it into their own
bowels.
There were a company of Scots near Badcow, who chal-
lenged a difpute with fome of our Scotch friends (for with
me they would not difpute :) fo fome of the Scotch friends
met them at the market-place. The difpute was to be
concerning the fabbath-day, and fome other of their princi-
ples before-mentioned ; and I having got their principles
and affertions, ftiewed the friends where they might eafily
be overthrown ; and a Scotch friend, a fmith, overthrev\r
them clearly.
There were two Independent churches in Scotland, in
one of which many were convinced ; but the paftor of the
other was in a great rage againft truth and friends. They
had their elders, who fometimes would iexercife their gifts
amongft the church members, and were fometimes pretty
tender : but their paftor (peaking fo much againft the light,
and us, the friends of Chrift., he darkened his hearers ; fo
that they grew blind and dry, and loft their tendernels. He
continued preaching againft friends, and agninft the light
of Chrift Jcfus, calling it natural : at laft one day in his
S657] (5E6RGE FOX's JOURNAL. 335,
preaching he curfed the light, and fell down as dead in his
pulpit. The people carried him out, laid him upon a
grave-ftone, and poured ftrong waters into him, which
Fetched him to life again ; -ancf they carried him home, but
he was mopilh. After awhile he dripped oft his cloaths,
put on a Scotch plaid, and went into t\\e country amongft
the dairy-women. When he had ftaid there about two
weeks he came home, and went into the pulpit again.
Whereupon the people expe6led fome great manifeftatioii
tor revelation from him ; but, inftead thereof, he began to
tell them what entertainment he had met with ; how one
woman gave him fkimmed milk, another buttermilk, and
another good milk : fo the people were obliged to take him
out of the pulpit again, and carry him home. He that
gave me this account, was Andrew Robinfon, one of his
chief hearers, who came afterwards to be convinced, and re-
ceived the truth. He faid, he never heard that he reco-
vered his fenfes again. By this people may fee what came
upon him that curfed the light, which light is the life in.
Chrift, the word ; and it may be a warning to all others
that fpeak evil againft the hght of Chrift.
Now were the priefts in fuch a rage, that they ported to
Edinburgh, to O. Cromwel's council there, with petitions
againft m.e. The noife was, ' That all was gone ;' for fe-
veral friends were come out of England, and fpread over
Scotland, founding the day of the Lord, preaching the ever-
lafting gofpel of lalvation, and turning people to Chrift
Jefus, who died for them, that they might receive his free
teaching. After I had gathered the principles of the Scotch
priefts, and the fufFerings of friends, and had feen friends in
that part of Scotland fettled, by the Lord's power, upon
Chrift their foundation, I went to Edinburgh, and in the
way came to Linlithgow ; where lodging at an inn, the inn-
keeper's wife, who was blind, received the word of life, and
came under the teaching of Chrift Jefus her Saviour. At
night came in abundance of foldiers, and fome oiTicers, with
whom we had much difcourfe ; fome were rude. One of
the officers faid, * He would obey the Turk's or Pilate's
' command, if they fhould command him to guard Chnft
* to crucify him.' So far he was from all tendernefs, or fenfe
of the Spirit of Chrift, that he would rather crucify the Juft,
than fuffcr for or with the Juft ; whereas many officers and
niagiftrates have loft their places, before they would tura
againft the Lord iind his Juft One.
o- G
|<fO GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
When I had flaid awhile at Edinburgh, I went to Leith,
where many officers of the army came in with their wives ;
and many were convinced. Edward BiUing's wife was one.
She brought a great deal of coral in her hand, and threw it
on the table before me, to fee whether I would fpeak againft
it, or no. I took no notice of it, but declared the truth
to her, and (he was reached. Many Baptifts were very
rude ; but the Lord's power came over them, fo that they
went away confounded. Then there came in another fort ;
one of whom faid, ' He would difpute with me ; and, for
* argument's fake, would deny there was a God.' I told
him, ' He might be one of thofe fools that laid in his heart,
* There is no God ; but he Ihould know him in the day of
* his judgment.' So he went his way, and a fine precious
time we had afterwards with feveral people of account ; and
the Lord's power came over all. William Ofborn was with
me. Colonel Lidcot's wife, William Welfh's wife, and fe-
veral of the officers themfelves were convinced. Edward
Billing and his wife at that time lived apart ; and ffie being
reached by truth, and become loving to friends, we fent for
her hufband, who came, and the Lord's power reached to
them both ; they joined together in it, and agreed to live
together in love and unity, as man and wife.
After this we returned to Edinburgh, where many thou-
fands were gathered together, with abundance of priefts
among them., about burning a witch ; and I was moved to
declare the day of the Lord amongfl them ; which when I
had done, 1 went from thence to our meeting, whither ma-
ny rude people and Baptifts came. The Baptifts began to
vaunt with their logick and fyllogifms } but, ' I was moved
* in the Lord's power, to threffi their chaffy light minds ;
* and fhewed the people, that, after that fallacious way of
* difcuurfing, they might make white feem black, and black
* feem white : as, that becaufe a cock had two legs, and
* each of them had two legs ; therefore they were all cocks.
* Thus they might turn any thing into lightnefs and vanity ;
* but it was not the way of Chrift, or his apoftles, to teach,
*^ fpeak, or reafon after that manner,' Hereupon thofe Bap-
tifts went their way ; and after they were gone, we had a
blefted meeting in the Lord's power, v/hich was over all.
I mentioned before, that many of the Scotch priefts being
greatly difturbed at the fpreading of truth, and the lofs of
their hearers thereby, were gone to Edinburgh to petition:
the council agaiuft mo.. When I Ciune from the meeting to
j657] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL, 34,
the inn where I lodged, an officer belonging to the council
brought me the following order :
' Thurfday, the 8th of 06lober, 1657, at his liighnefs's
* Council in Scotland :
' Ordered,
* '' I ^HAT George Fox do appear before the Council on
' X Tuefday the 13th of 06tober next, in the Forenoon.
' E. Downing, Clerk of the Council.'
When he had delivered me the order, he afked me,
' Whether I would appear or no ?' I did not tell him whe-
ther I would or no ; but afked him, ' If he had not forged
* the order ?' He faid, ' No ; it was a real order from the
* council, and he was fent as their meffenger with it/
When the time came I appeared, and was had into a great
room, where many perfons came and looked at me. After
awhile the door-keeper had me into the council-chamber :
and as I was going, he took off my hat. 1 afked him,
Why he did fo ? and who was there, that I might not go
in with my hat on ? I told him, I had been before the
Proteftor with my hat on.' But he hung up my hat and
had me in before them. When I had flood awhile, and
hey faid nothing to me, I was moved of the Lord to fay,
Peace be amongfl you. Wait in the fear of God, that ye
may receive his wifdom from above, by which all things
were made and created ; that by it ye may all be ordered,
and may order all things under your hands to God's glo-
ry.' They afked me, ' What was the occafion of my com-
ing into that nation ?' I told them I came to vifit the
feed of God, which had long lain in bondage under cor-
ruption ; that all in the nation, who profelfed the Icrip-
tures, the words of Chrifl, of the prophets and apoflles,
might come to the light, Spirit, and power, which they
were in who gave them forth ; that in and by the Spirit
they might underfland the fcriptures, and know Chrifl
and God aright, have fellowfliip with them, and one with
another.' They aflced me, ' Whether I had any outward
bufmefs there ?' I faid, ' Nay.' Then they afked me,
How long I intended to flay in that country ?' I toJd
hem, ' I fhould fay little to that; my time was not to be
long ; yet in my freedom in the Lord I flood, in the will
of him that fent me.' Then they bid me withdraw; and
the door-keeper took me by the hand, and led me forth.
3 G 2
S4» GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. iiS^f
In a little time they fent for me again, and told me, ' I
* mufl: depart the nation of Scotland by that day fevennight/
I alked them, ' Why ? What had I done ? What was
* my tranfgreflion, that they paffcd fuch a fentence upon me
* to depart out of the nation ?' They told me, ' They
* would not difpute with me.' ' I defired them to hear
* what I had to fay to them.' They faid, ' They would
* not hear me.' I told them, ' Pharaoh heard Mofes and
* Aaron, yet he was an heathen; and Herod heard John Bap-
* tift ; and they fhould not be worfe than thefe,' But they
ciied, ' Withdraw, withdraw.' Whereupon the door-keeper
took me again by the hand and led me out. I returned to
my inn, and continued flill in Edinburgh ; vifiting friends
there and tliereabouts, and ftrengthening them in the Lord,
After a little time I wrote a letter to the council, to lay be->
fore them their unchriftian dealings, in baniihing me, an
innocent man that fought their falvation and eternal good.
' To the council of Edinburgh :
YOU that lit in council, and bring before your judg-*
ment-feat the innocent, the juft, without fhewing
what evil I have done, or convidfing me of any breach of
law ; and afterwards ye banilh me out of your nation,
without telling me for what ; though I told you, when ye
afked me ' How long I would flay in the nation ?' that
my time was not long (I fpoke it innocently;) yet ye banilh
me. ■ Will not all, think ye, that fear God, judge this to
be wickednefs ? Confider, did not they fit in council
about Stephen, when they Honed him to death ? Did
they not fit in council about Peter and John, when they
haled them out of the temple, put them out of their
council for a little feafon, and took counfel together ; and
then brought them in again, threatened, and charged them
to fpeak no more in that name ? Was not tliis to ftop the
truth from fpreading in that time ? Had not the priefts
an hand m thefe things, with the magiflrates ? and in ex-
amining Stephen, when he was floned to death ? Was
not the council gathered together againft; Jefus Chrift,
to pat him to death ? and had not the chief priefts an
hand in it ? WTien they pcrferute the juft, and crucify
the juft, do they not then negleti judgment, mercy, and
* juftice, and the weighty matters of the law, which are juft ?
^ W^s not lliQ apoftle Paul tofled up and down a?id impri-
X6573 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 34J
foned by the priefts and the rulers ? Was not John Bap-
tift caft into prifon ? Are not ye doing the fame work,
fhewing what fpirit ye are of? Now, do not ye fhew the
end of your profeflion, the end of your prayers, the end of
your religion, and the end of your teaching, who are now
i||COine to banilli the truth, and him that came to declare
it unto you ? Doth not this fhew that ye are but in the
words, out of the life of the prophets, Chrift, and hii%.
apoflles ? for they did not ufe fuch practice, as to banifii
any. How do ye receive flrangers, which is a command
of God among the prophets, Chrid, and the apoftles ?
Some by that means have entertained angels at unawares ;
but ye banifh one that comes to vifit the feed of God, and
is not chargeable to any of you. Will not all that fear
God look upon this to be fpite and wickednefs againfl the
truth ? How are ye like to love enepiies, that banifh your
friend ? How are ye like to do good to them that hate
yoii, when ye do evil to them that love you ? How are
ye like to heap coals of fire on their heads that hate you,
and to overcome evil with, good, when ye banifh thus ?
Do ye not manifefl to all that are in the truth that ye have
not the chriftian fpirit ? How did ye do jufiice to me,
when ye could not convifl; me of any evil, yet banifh me?
This fhews that truth is banifhed out of your hearts, and
ye have taken part againfl; the truth with evil-doers, with
the %vicked envious priefts, ftoners, ftrikers, and mockers
in the ftreets ; with thefe, ye that banilh have taken part j
whereas ye fhould have been a terror to thefe, and a praife
to them that do well, and fuccourers of them that are in
the truth; then might ye have been' a blefling to the na-
tion, and not have baniftied him that was moved of the
Lord to vifit the feed of God, and thereby have brought
your names upon record, and made them ftink in ages to
come, among them that fear God. Were not the niagif-
trates ftirred up in former ages to perfecute or banifli, by
the corrupt priefts ? and did not the corrupt priefts ftir up
the rude multitude againft the juft in other ages ? There-
fore are your ftreets like Sodom and Gomorrah. Did
not the Jews and the priefts make the Gentiles minds en-
vious againft the apoftles ? Who were they that would
not have the prophet Arrjps to prophefy at the king's
chapel; but bad him fly Hb way ? When Jeremiah was
put in the prifon, in the cmngeon, and in the ftocks, had
pot the priefts an hand with the princes in doing it ? Now
344 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
* fee all, that were in this work of banifhing, prifoning,
* perfecuting, whether they were not all out of the life of
* Chrift, the prophets, and apoftles ? To the witnefs of
* God in you all 1 fpeak. Confider, Whether or no they
' were not always the blind magiftrates, which turned
' their (word always backward, that knew not their friends
' from their foes, and fo hit their friends ? Such magiftrates
""^^were deceived by flattery.
' G. F.'
When this was delivered, and read amongfl them, fomc
of them, I heard, were troubled at what they had done ;
being made fenfible that they would not be fo ierved them-
felves. But it was not long before they that banifhed mo
were banifhed themielves, or glad to get away ; who would
not do good in the day when they had power, nor fuffer
others that would.
After I had fpent fome time among friends at Edinburgh,
and thereabouts, I paffed from thence to Heads again, where
friends had been in great fufFerings ; for the Prefbyterian
priefts had excommunicated them, and given charge, that
none fhould buy or fell with them, nor eat nor drink with
them. So they could neither fell their commodities, nor
buy what they wanted ; which made it go very hard with
fome of them ; for if they had bought bread or other vic-
tuals of any of their neighbours', the priefts threatened
them fo with curfes, that they would run and fetch it from
them again. But colonel Afhfield, being a juftice of peace
in that country, put a ftop to the priefts proceedings. This
colonel Afhfield was afterwards convinced himfelf, had a
meeting fettled at his houfe, and declared the truth, and
lived and died in it.
After I had vifited friends at and about Heads, and en-
couraged them in the Lord, I went to Glafgow, where a
meeting was appointed; but not one of the town came to
it. As I went mto the city, the guard at the gates took
me before the governor, who was a moderate mati. A great
deal of difcourfe I had with him ; but he wms too light to
receive the truth ; yet he fet me at liberty : fo I pafled to
the meeting. But feeing none of the town's people came
to the meeting, we declared truth through the town ; then
palfed away, vifited friends meetings thereabouts, and re-
turned towards Badcow. Several friends declared truth in
tlieir ftceple-houfes, and the Lord's power was with them.
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 345
One time, as I was going with William Ofborn to liis houfe,
there lay a company of rude fellows by the way-lide, who
had hid themfelves under the hedges and in bufhes. I
efpying them, afked him, ' What they were ?' ' Oh !' faid
he, ' they are thieves,* Robert Widders, being moved to got
to fpeak to a prieft, was left behind, intending to come af-
ter ; lb I faid to William Ofborn, • I will flay here in this
* valley, and do thou go look after Robert Widders/
But he was unwilling to go, being afraid to leave me there
alone becaufe of thofe fellows ; till I told him, ' I feared
' them not.' Then I called to them, afking them, What
they lay lurking there for ? I bid them come up to me ; but
they were loth to come. I charged them to come up to me,
or elfe it might be worfe with them. Then they came trem-
bling to me; for the dread of the Lord had flruck them.
I admonifhed them to be honeft, and dire6led them to the
light of Chrifl in their hearts, that by it they might fee
what an evil it was to follow after theft and robbery ; and
the power of the Lord came over them. I Raid tliere till
William Ofborn and Robert Widders came, and then we
paffed on together. But it is likely, if we two had gone
before, they would have robbed Widders when he had
come after alone, there being three or four of them.
We went to William OfDorn's, where we had a good
opportunity to declare the truth to feveral people that came
in. Then we went among the Highlanders, who were fo
devilifh they had like to have fpoiled us and our horfes ;
for they ran at us with pitchforks ; but through the Lord's
goodnefs we efcaped them, being preferved by his power.
From thence we paffed to Stirling, where the foldiers
took us up, and had us to the main-guard. After a few
words with their officers, the Lord's power coming over
them, we were fet at liberty ; but no meeting could we get
amongft; them in the town, they were fo doled up in dark-
nefs. Next morning there came a man with an horfe that
was to run a race, and mofl of the town's people and the
officers went to fee it. As they returned from the race, I
had a brave opportunity to declare the day of the Lord
and his word of life amongfl thenu Some confeilcd to it,
and fome oppofed ; but the Lojti's truth aiid power came
over them all.
Leaving Stirling we came to Burnt-IHand, where I had
two meetmgs at Captain Pool's ; one in tlie morning, the
other in the afternoon, Whilft tliey w^.nl to dinner I walk-
346 GEORGE FOX»s JOUltNAL. [165^
ed to the fea-fide, not having freedom to eat with them.
Both he and his wife were convinced, and became good
friends afterward ; and feveral officers of the army came in
and received the truth.
We paiTed from thence through feveral other places in
that country, till we came to Johnftons ; where were fe-
veral Baptifts, that were very bitter, and came in a rage to
dilpute with us. Vain janglers and difputers indeed they
were. When they could not prevail by difputing, they
went and informed the governor againfl us, and next morn-
ing they raifed a whole company of foot, and banifhed me,
Alexander Parker, James Lancafter, and Robert Widders
out of the town. As they guarded us through the town,
James Lancafter was moved to fing with a melodious found
in the pov.'er of God, and I was moved to proclaim the day
of the Lord, and preach the everlafting gofpel to the peo-
ple. For the people generally came forth, fo that the
flreets were filled with them ; and the foldiers were fo
afhamed, that they faid, ' They had rather have gone to
* Jamaica than have guarded us fo.* But we were put into
a boat with our horfes, carried over the water, and there left.
The Baptifts, who were the caufe of our being thus put
out of this town, were themfelves, not long after, turned
out of the army ; and he that was then governor was dif-
carded alfo when the king came in.
Being thus thruft out of Johnftons we went to another
market-town, where Edward Billing and many foldiers
quartered. We went to an inn, and deftred to have a meet-
ing in the town, that we might preach the everlafting gofpel
amongft them. The officers and foldiers faid, ' We fhould
* have it in the town -hall ;' but the Scotch magiftrates in
fpite appointed a meeting there that day for the bufinefs of
the town. Which when the officers of the foldiery under-
ftoO'J, and perceived that it was done in malice, they would
have had us to have gone into the town-hall neverthelefs.
But we told them, ' No, by no means ;' for then the magif-
trates might inform the governor againft them, and fay,
* They took the town-hall from them by force, when they
* were to do their town-bufmefs therein.' We told them,
* We would go to the market-place,' They faid, ' It was
* market-day.' We replied, ' It was fo much the better;
* for we would have all people to hear the truth and know
' our principles.' Alexander Parker went and ftood upon
the market-crofs/vvith a bible in his hand, and declared the
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 347
truth amongft the foldiers and market-people: but the
Scots, being a dark, carnal people, gave little heed, nor
hardly took notice what was laid. After awhile I was mo-
ved of the Lord to (land up at the crofs, and to declare
with a loud voice the everlafting truth, and the day of the
Lord that was coming upon all fin and wickednefs. Where-
upon the people came running out of the town -hall, and
gathered fo together that at lall we had a large meeting ;
for they only fate in the court for a colour to hinder us
from having the hall to meet in. When the people were
come away, the magiftrates followed them. Some walked
by, but fome flaid and heard ; and the Lord's power came
over all and kept all quiet. ' The people were turned to
' the Lord Jefus Chrift, who died for them, and had en-
* lightened them, that with his light they might fee their
' evil deeds, be faved frorh their fins by him, and might
' come to know him to be their teacher. But if they would
* not receive Chrift, and own him, it was told them, that
* this light which came from him would be their condemna-
* tion.'
Several of them were made loving to us, efpecially the
Englifh, and fome came afterwards to be convinced. But
there was a foldier that was very envious againfl; us ; he hat-
ed both us and the truth, fpoke evil of the truth, and very
defpitefully againft the light of Chrift Jefus, which we bore
teftimony to. Mighty zealous he was for the priefts and
their hearers. As this man was holding his hat before his
face, while the prieft prayed ; one of the prieft's hearers
ftabbed him to death. So he, who had reje6ted the teach-
ings of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and cried down the fervants
of the Lord, was murdered amongft them whom he had fo
cried up, and by one of them.
We travelled from this town to Leith, warning and ex-
horting people as we went, to turn to the Lord. At Leith
the innkeeper told me, the council had granted warrants to
apprehend me, ' becaufe I was not gone out of the nation
* after the feven days were expired that they had ordered me
' to depart the nation in.' Several friendly people alfo came
and told me the fame. To whom I faid ; ' What do ye tell
* me of their warrants againft me ? If there were a cart load
' of them I do not regard them ; for the Lord's power is over
' them all.'
I went from Leith to Edinburgh again, where they faid
the warrants from the council were out a<Jainft me. I went
3
H
348 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1657
to the inn where I had lodged before, and no man offered to
meddle with me. After I had vifited friends in the city, I
defired thofc that travelled with me to get ready their horfes
in the morning ; and we rode out of town together. There
were with me Thomas Rawlinfon, Alexander Parker, and
Robert Widders. When we were come out of the town,
they afked me, ' Whither I would go ?' I told them, ' It
' was upon me from the Lord to go back again to Johnflons
* (the town out of which we had been lately thruft) and to fet
* the power of God and his triUh over them alfo.' Alexan-
der Parker faid, ' He would goiilong withme ;' and I wifh-
ed the other two to ftay at a town about three miles from
Edinburgh till we returned. Then Alexander Parker and I
got over the water, which was about three miles over, and
rode through the country ; but in the afternoon, his horfe
being weak and not able to hold up with mine, I put on
and got into yohnflons juft as they were drawing up the
bridges, the officers and foldiers never queflioning me. I
rode up the flreet to captain Davenport's, from whence we
had been banifhed. There were many officers with him :
and when I came amongfl them they lifted up their hands,
admiring that I ffiould come again ; but I told them, ' The
' Lord God had fent me amongft them again.' They went
their way ; and the Baptifts fent me a letter, by way of chal-
lenge, ' That they would difcourfe with me the next day.'
I fent them word, ' I would meet them at fuch a houfe,
* about half a mile out of the town, at fuch an hour.' For
I conddered, if I fhould flay in town to difcourfe with
them, they might, under pretence of difcourfing with me,
have railed men to put me out of town again, as they had
done before. At the time appointed I went to the place,
captain Davenport and his fon accompanying me ; where I
flaid fome hours, but not one of them came. While I ftaid
waiting for them, ]\efpied Alexander Parker coming; who
not being able to reach the town, had lain out the night
before ; and I was exceeding glad that we were met again.
Captain Davenport was then loving to friends ; but af-
terwards coming more into obedience to truth, he v.;as turn-
ed out of his place, for not putting off his hat, and for fay-
Thou and Thee to them.
When we had waited beyond reafonable ground to expc6l
any of their coming we departed ; and Alexander Parker
beinff moved to "O again to iJie town where we had the meet-
ing at the market-crpis, I palicd alone to lieutenant rol-
16572 GE-ORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 54^
ter's quarters, where I found feveral officers that were con-
vinced. From thence I went to the town where I had kft
the other two friends, and they and I went back to Edin-
burgh together.
When we were come to the city, I bid Robert Widders
follow me ; and in the dread and power of the Lord we
came up to the two firft Gentries, and the Lord's power came
fo over them, that we paffed by them without any examina-
tion. Then we rode up the ftreet to the market-place,
and by the main-guard out at the gate by the third centry,
and fo clear out at the fuburbs, and there came to an inn
and fet up our horfes, it being feventh-dav. Now I faw
and felt that we had rode, as it were, againfl: the cannon's
mouth or the fword's point ; but the Lord's power and im-
mediate hand carried us over the heads of them ail. Next
day I went to the meeting in the city, friends having notice
I would attend it. There came many officers and foldiers
to it, and a glorious meeting it was ; the everlafting power
of God was fet over the nation, and his Son reigned in his
glorious power. All was quiet, and no mm offered to
meddle with me. When the meeting was ended, and I had
vifited friends, I came out of the city to my inn again. The
next day, being fecond-day, we let forward towards the
borders of England.
As we travelled along the country I efpied a fteeple-
houfe, and it flruck at my life. I afked, what fleeple-houfe
it was ? and was anfwered, it was Dunbar. When I came
thither, and had fet up at an inn, I walked to the ffeeple-
houfe, having a friend or two with me. Wlien we came to
the fteeple-houfe yard, one of the chief men of the town was
walking there. I fpoke to one of the friends that was with
me, ' To go to him, and tell him, that about the ninth hour
* next morning there would be a meeting there of the people
* of God called Quakers; of which we defired he would
* give notice to the people of the town.' He fent me word,
* That they were to have a lefture there by the ninth hour ;
* but that we might have our meeting there by the eighth hour
* if we would.' We concluded fo, and defired him to give
notice of it. Accordingly in the morning both poor and
rich came ; and there being a captain of horfe quartered in
the town, he and his troopers came alfo, fo that we had a
large concourfe : and a glorious meetiag it was, the Lord's
power being over all. After fome time the priefl came,
and went into the fleeple-houfe ; but we being in the yard,
3 H 2
ayo GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165/
mofl; of the people ftaid with us. Friends were fo full,
and their voices fo high in the power of God, that the prieft
could do little in the houfe, but came quickly out again,
ftood awhile, and then went his way. I opened to the
people, ' Where they might find Chrift Jefus, turned them
* to the light, which he had enlightened them withal, that
* in the light they might fee Chrift who died for them, turn
* to him, and know him to be their Saviour and teacher ;
* let them fee, that the teachers they had hitherto followed
* were hirelings, who made the gofpel chargeable; ftiewed
* them the wrong ways they had walked in, in the night of
* apoftacy, direfted them to Chrift, the new and living way
* to God; manifefted unto them, how they had loft the re-
* ligion and worfhip which Chrift fet up in fpirit and truth,
* and had hitherto been in the religions and worfhips of
* men's making and letting up ; and after I had turned the
* people to the Spirit of God, which led the holy men of
* God to give forth the fcriptures, and ftiewed them that
* they muft alfo come to receive and be led by the fame
* Spirit in themfelves (a meafure of which was given unto
* every one of them) if ever they came to know God and
* Chrift and the fcriptures aright, perceiving the other friends
* to be full of power and the word of the Lord, I ftepped
* down, giving way for them to declare what they had
* from the Lord to the people.' Towards the latter end of
the meeting fome profeflors began to jangle ; whereupon I
ftood up again and anfwered their queftions, fo that they
leemed to be fatisfied and our meeting ended in the Lord's
power, quiet and peaceable. This was the laft meeting I
had in Scotland. The truth and the power of God was fet
over that nation, and many, by the power and Spirit of
God were turned to the Lord fefus Chrift, their Saviour
and Teacher, whofe blood was ftied for them ; and there is
fince a great incr<^are, and great there will be in Scotland,
tho' the time may be far diftant at prefent. For when firft I
fet my horfe's feet upon Scottifti ground, I felt the feed of
God to fparkle about me, like innumerable fparks ^ fire.
Not but that there is abundance of thick, cloddy earth of hy-
pocrify and falfenels atop, and a briery, brambly nature,
\vhich is to be burned up with God's word, and plowed up
with his i pi ritual plough, before God's feed brings" forth
heavenly and fpiritual fruit to his glory. But the hufband-
jnan is to wait in patience.
From Dunbar we came to Berwick, where we were quef-
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 351
tioned a little by the officers ; but the governor was loving
towards us, and in the evening we had a little meeting, in
which the power of the Lord was manifefted over all.
Leaving Berwick we came to Morpeth, and through the
country, vifiting friends, to Newcaftle, where I had been
once before. The Newcaftle priefts wrote many books
againft us, and one Ledger, an alderman of the town, was
very envious againft truth and friends. He and the priefts
had faid, ' The Quakers would not come into any great
* towns, but lived in the fells like butterflies.' I took An-
thony Pearfon with me, and went to this Ledger and Ijive-
ral others of the aldermen ; ' defiring to have a meeting
* amongft them, feeing they had written fo many books
* againft us : for we were now come, I told them, into their
* great town.' But they would not yield we fhould have a
meeting, neither would they be fpoke with, fave only this
Ledger and one other. I queried, ' Had they not called
* friends butterflies, and faid, We would not come into any
* great towns ? And now we were in their town, they would
* not come at us, tho' they had printed books againft us :
' who are the butterflies now ?' Then Ledger began to plead
* for the fabbath-day. I told him, They kept markets and
' fairs on that which was the fabbath-day, for that was the
' feventh day of the week; whereas that day which the pro-
' fefled chriftians now meet on, and call their fabbath, is
* the firft day of the week.' As we could not have a pub-
lick meeting among them, we got a little meeting among
friends and friendly people at the Gate-fide ; where a meet-
ing is continued to this day in the name of Jefus. As I
was palling by the market-place the power of the Lord rofe
in me ' to warn them of the day of the Lord that was com-
' ing upon them.' And not long after, all thofe priefts of
Newcaftle and their profeffion were turned out when the
king came in.
From Newcaftle we travelled, having meetings and vifit-
ing friends, in Northumberland and Biflioprick. A very
good meeting we had at lieutenant Dove's, where many
were turned to the Lord and his teaching. After which I
went to vifit a juftice of peace, a very iober, loving man,
who confelTed to the truth.
From thence we came to Durham, where was a man
come from London to fct up a college to make minifters
of Chrift, as they faid. I went with fome others to reafon
with the man, and to let him fee, ' That to teach men He-
35» GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1657
brew, Greek, Latin, and the feven arts, which were all
but the teachings of the natural man, was not the way to
make them minifters of Clirill. For the languages began
at Babel ; and to the Greeks, that fpoke Greek as their
mother-tongue, the preaching of the crofs of Chrift was
foolifhnefs; and to the Jews, that fpoke Hebrew as their
mother-tongue, Chrift was a ftumbling-block. The Ro-
mans, who had the Latin, perfecut:ed the Chriftians ; and
Pilate, one of the Roman governors, let Hebrew, Greek,
and Latm atop of Chrift when he crucified him. So he
might fee the many languages began at Babel, and they fet
them atop of Chrift, the Word, when they crucified him.
John the divine, who preached the Word which was in the
beginning, faid, " That the beaft and the whore have
' power over tongues and languages, and they are as wa-
' ters." Thus, ,1 told him, he might fee the whore and the
beaft have power over the tongues and the many languages,
which are in myftcry Babylon ; for they began at Babel,
aiid the perfccutors of Chrift Jefus fet them over him,
when he was crucified by them ; but he is rifen over them
all, who was before them all. Now (faid I to this man)
doft thou think to make minifters of Chrift by thefe na-
tural, confufed languages which fprung from Babel, are
admired in Babylon, and fet atop of Chrift, the Life, by
a perfecutor ? Oh, no !' The man confeffed to many of
thefe things. Then we fhewed him further, ' That Chrift
made his minifters himfelf, gave gifts unto them, and bid
them " Pray to the Lord of the Harveft to fend forth
' labourers." And Peter and John, though unlearned and
ignorant as to fchool-learning, preached Chrift Jefus the
AVord, which was in the beginning, before Babel was.
Paul alfo was made an apoftle, not of man, nor by man,
neither received he the gofpel from man, but from Jefus
Chrift; who is the fame now, and fo is the gofpel, as it
was at that day.' When we had thus difcourfed with
him, he became very loving and tender : and after he had
confidered further of it, declined to fet up his college.
From Durham we went to Anthony Pearfon's, from
thence into Cleveland, and paffed through Yorkfhire to the
further end of Holdcrnefs, and had mighty meetmgs, the
Lord's power accompanying us.
After we paffed from Anthony Pearfon's, we went by
Hull and Ponifret to George Watkinfon's, and vifited moft
gf the meetings m thefe parts, till we. came to Scale houfc^
1657] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 3^3
and fo to Swarthmore ; the everlafting power and arm of
God carrying us through and prcferving us. Atter I had
Vilited friends thcre-away, I paffed into Yorkfliirc -and
Chefhire, and fo through other counties into Derbyfhire
and Nottinghamfhire ; and glorious meetings we had, the
Lord's prelence being with us.
At Nottingham I fent to Rice Jones, dcfning him * to
* acquaint his people that I had fomething to fay to them
* from the Lord.' He came and told me, ' Many of them
* lived in the country, and he could not tell how to fend
* to them/ I told him, ' He might acquaint them about
* the town of it, and fend to as many in the country as he
' could.' The next day we met at the caftje, there being
about fourfcore people, to whom I declared the truth for
about the fpace of two hours ; and the Lord's power was
over them all, fo that they had not power to open their
mouths in oppofition. When I had done, one of them
afked me a queftion, which I was loth to have anfwered ;
for I faw it might lead into jangling, and was unwilling to
go into janghng, for fome of the people were tender; yet
1 could not well tell how to efcape it. Wherefore I an-
Iwercd the queftion, and was moved forthwith to fpeak to
Rice Jones, and lay before him, ' That he had been the
* man who had fcattered fuch as had been tender, and fome
* that had been convinced and had been led out of the va-
* nities of the world, w^hich he had formerly judged ; but
* now he judged the power of God in them, and they being
* fimple turncxi to liim ; fo he and they were turned to be
* vainer than the world : for many of his followers were
' become the greateft foot-ball players and wieftlers in the
' whole country. I told them it was the ferpent in him
' that had fcattered and done hurt to fuch as were tender
* towards the Lord. Neverthelefs, if he waited in the fear
* of God for the feed of the woman, Chrifl Jeius, to bruile
' the ferpent's head in him, that had fcattered and done the
* hurt ; he might come to gather them again by this heaven-
' ly feed ; though it would be an hard work tor him, to ga-
* ther them again outof thofe vanities he had led them into.'
At this Rice Jones faid. " Thou lieft, it is not the feed of
*" the woman that bruifes the ferpent's head." ' No ! faid I,
* what is it then ? " I fliy, it is the law," faid he. * But
* faid I, the fcripture, fpeaking of the feed of the woman,
* faith, " It fhall bruife thy head, and thou Ihalt braife his
'* heel:" now, h^th the law an heel, faid I., to be bruifed ?'
354 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. ^1657
Then Rice Jones and all his company were at a ftand, and
I was moved in the power of the Lord to fay, ' This feed,
' Chrifl Jefus, the feed of the woman, which Ihould bruife
* the ferpent's head, fhall bruife thy head, and break you all
' in pieces.' Thus I left on the heads of them the feed,
Chrift ; and not long after he and his company fcattered to
pieces ; feveral of whom came to be friends, and ftand to
this day. Many of them had been convinced about eight
years before, but had been led afide by this Rice Jones ;
for they denied the inward crofs, the power of God, and
fo went into vanity. It was about eight years, fince I had
been formerly amongll them ; in which time I was to pafs
over them, and by them, feeing they had flighted the
Lord's truth and power, and the vifitation of his love unto
them. But now was the time that I was moved to go* to
them again, and it was of great fer\ace ; for many of them
were brought to the Lord Jefus Chrift, and were fettled
upon him, fitting down under his teaching and feeding,
where they were kept frefti and green ; and the others that
would not be gathered to him foon after withered. This
was that Rice Jones, who had fome years before faid, ' I
' was then at the higheft, and fhould fall ;' but, poor man !
he little thought how near his own fall was.
We left Nottingham, and went into Warwickftiire,
Northamptonfhire, and Leicefterfliire, vifiting friends, and
having meetings as we travelled. We came into Bedford-
fhire, where we had large gatherings in the name of Jefus.
After fome time we came to John Crook's, where a general
yearly meeting for the whole nation was appointed to be
held. This meeting Lifted three days, and many friends
from moft parts of the nation came to it ; fo that the inns
and towns round thereabouts were filled, for many thou-
fands of people were at it. And although there was fome
difturbance by fome rude people that had run out from
truth ; yet the Lord's power came over all, and a glorious
meeting it was. The everlafting gofpel was preached, and
many received it, which gofpel brought life and immortality
to light in them, and Ihined over all.
I was moved by the Power and Spirit of the Lord to
open unto them the ' promifc of God, that it was made to
* the feed, not to feeds, as many, but to one ; which feed
' was Chrift : and that all people, both male and female,
' fljould feel this feed in them, which was heir of the pro^
* mife ; that fo they might all witnefs Chrift in them, the
-1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 355
* hope of glory, the myftery which had been hid from ages
' and generations, which was revealed to the apollles, and
' is revealed again now, after the long night of apoflacy.
' So that all might come up into this feed, Chrift Jefus. walk
* in it, and fit down together in heavenly places in Chrifl
* Jefus, who was the foundation of the prophets and apof-
' ties, the rock of ages, and is our foundation now. All
* fitting down in him, fit down in the fabflance, the firft
* and the laft, that changes not, the feed that bruifes the
* ferpent's head, which was before he was, who ends all tho
* types, figures, and fhadows, and is the fubflance of theirx
* all; in whom there is no fliadow.' Now, thele things
were upon me to open unto all, that they might mind and
fee what it is they fit down in.
' Firft, They that fit down in Adam in the fall, fit dowa
' in mifery, in death, in darknefs and corruption.
' Secondly, They that fit down in the types, figures, and
* (hadows, and under the firft priefthood, law, and covenant,
' fit down in that which muft have an end, and which madet
* nothing perfetl.
' Thirdly, They that fit down in the apoftacy, that hath
' got up fince the apoftles days, fit down in fpi ritual Sodom
* and Egypt ; and are drinking of the whore's cup, under
' the bead's and dragon's power.
' Fourthly, They that fit down in the ftate in which
* Adam was before he fell, fit down in that which may be
* fallen from; for he fell from that ftate, though it was
' pertect.
' Fifthly, They that fit down in the prophets, fit down
•' in that which muft be fulfilled: and they that fit down in
* the fellowfhip of water, bread, and wine, thefe being tem-
* poral things, they fit down in that which is fliort of Chrift,
* and of his baptifm.
• Sixthly, To fit down in a profefiion of all the fcriptures,
' from Gcnefis to the Revelations, and not be in the pow-
* er and Spirit which thofe were in that gave them forth ;
' that was to be turned away from, by them that came into
' the power and Spirit which thofe were in that gave forth
' the fcriptures.
' Seventhly, They that fit down in the heavenly places
* in Chrift jefus, fit down in him that never fell, nor ever
' changed. Here is the fafe fitting for all his eled, his
' church, his fpiritual members, of which he is the Hying
* hc;id. his living ftoncs, the houfchold of faith; of which.
2 I
3$6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
houfe he is the corner-ftone, that ftands and abides all
weathers. " For," as the apoftle faid, " he hath quick-
ened us, who were dead in fins and trefpaffes, &c. and
made us fit together in the heavenly places in Chrifl Jefus ;
that in the aties to come he mii^ht ftievv the exceeding riches
of his grace, in his kindnefs towards us, through Jefus
Chrift." Now the ages are come, that his kindnefs and
exceeding riches towards us through jefus Chrift is truly
manifefted in ns, as it was in the apofhles days ; even in us,
who have been dead in fins and trefpaifes, as they were; but
now are quickened, and made to fit together in the hea-
venly places in Chrifl Jefus, the firfl and the lafl, by
whom all things were created ; who is afcended above all,
and is over all, and whofe glorious prefence is now known.
All that fit down here, in Chrifl Jefus, fee where all other
people fit, and in what. The promife of God being to the
feed, which is one, Chrifl Jefus, every man and woman
muft come to witnefs this feed, Chrift in them, that they
may be heirs of the promife ; and inheriting that, they will
inherit fubflance. Thefe things were largely declared of;
the ftate of the church, and the ftate of the falfe church fince
the apoftles days, opened ; and how the true church fled
into the wildernefs : and the ftate of the falfe prophets,
which Chrift faid ftiould come, and John faw were come,
and how all the world wondered after them ; and how they
had filled the world with falfe dotlrines, ways, worftiips,
and religions : and how the everlafting gofpel is now
preached again to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peo-
ple ; for all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people had
drunk the whore's cup, and ftie was over them, and fat up-
on them. In this night of apofiacy the pure religion and
worfhip in fpirit, which was in the apoftles days, the way
of life and living faith, and the power and Holy Ghoft
were loft ; but now they came to be fet up again by Chrift
Jefus. his melTengers and minifters of the gofpel, as in the
apollJes days. For as Chrift fent his difciples to go and
preach the gofpel into all the world, and after that, the falfe
prophets and antichrifts went over the world, and preach-
ed their falfe dotlrines and traditions, and heatheniih and
Jewifti rudiments, fo now again the everlafting gofpel muft
be preached to all nations, and to every creature, that
they may come into the pure religion, to worlhip God in
the Spirit and truth, and may know Chrift Jefus, their
way to God, tg ba the author gf their £utb, and may re-
165S] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 357
* ceive the gofpel from heaven, and not from men ; in which
* gofpel, received from heaven, is the heavenly fellowihip,
* which is a myftery to all the fellowfhips in the world.'
After thefe things had been largely opened, with many
others concerning Chrift jefus and his kingdom, and the
people were turned to the divine light of Chrill and his
Spirit, by which they might come to know God and Chrift,
and the fcriptures, and to have fellowfliip with them, and
one with another in the lame Spirit, I was moved to de-
clare and open divers other things to thofe friends who had
received a part of the miniftry, concerning the exercife of
the-ir fpiritual gifts in the church : which, being taken in
writing by one prefent, was after this manner ;
* Friends,
* nr^AKE heed of deflroying that which ye have begot-
* X ten : for that which deftroys, goes out, and is the
* call-away. And though that be true, yea-, and may be
* the pure truth which fuch an one fpeaks, yet if he doth
* not remain in that, and live in that in his particular, but
* goes out, the fame which he is gone out from cometh o\'er
* him. So that which calms and cools the fpirits, goes
* over the world, and brings to the Father, to inherit the
' life eternal ; and reaches to the fpirits in prifon in ail.
* Therefore in the living, immovable Word of the Lord
* God dwell, in the renown thereof: and remain on the
•foundation that is pure, and that is fure : for whofoever
' goes out from the pure, and ininifters not in and from
' that, he comes to an end, and doth not remain ; although
' he may have had a time, and may have been ferviceable
' for a time, while he lived in the thing.
' Take heed of many words ; what reacheth to the life,
* fettles in the life. That which cometh from the life, and
' is received from God, reacheth to the life, and fettles
' others in the life : the work is not now as it was at firll ; the
' work now is, to fettle and ftay in the life. For as friends
' have been led to minifter in the power, and the power
' hath gone through, fo that there hath grown an under-
* (landing among both people of the world and friends,
' fo friends mud be kept in the life which is pure, that with
* that they may anfwer the pure life of God in others. If
' friends do not live in"" the pure life which they fpt-ak of,
' to anfwer the life in thofe they fpeak to, the other part
* fteps in ; ancj fo there comes up an outward acquaintance,
3 I 2
35S GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1658
and he lets that come over him. But as every one is
kept living in the life of God, over all that which is con-
trary, they are in their places ; then they do not lay hands
on any fuddenly, which is the danger now : for if any one
do, he may lofe his difcerning, may lay hands on the
wrong part, fo let the deceit come too near him ; and the
deceit will Ileal over, fo that it will be an hard thing for
him to get it down. There is no one Itrikes his fellow-fer-
vants, but firfl; he is gone from the pure in his own parti-,
cular ; for when he goeth from the light he is enlightened
withal, then he ftrikes ; and then he hath his reward : the
light, which he is gone from, Chrifl, comes and gives him
his reward. This is the flate of the evil ferx'ants. The
boifterous, the hally and rafh, beget nothing to God; but
the life, which doth reach the life, is that which begets to
God. When all are fettled in U^ life they are m that
which remains for ever ; and what^rafceceived there, is re-
ceived from the Lord ; and whaAOp receiveth from the
Lord, he keepeth ; fo he fitteth fti^«,ool, and quiet m
his own fpirit, and gives it forth as flBis moved; but to
the harlots, judgment.
' Friends, This is the word of the Lord to you all, be
watchful and careful in all meetings ye come into ; for
where friends are fitting together in lilence, they are many
times gathered into their own meafures. When a man
is come newly out of the world, from miniflering to the
world's people, he cometh out of the dirt ; and then he
had need take heed that he be not rafh. For when he
comes into a filent meeting, that is another Hate ; then he
mufl; come, and feel his own fpirit, how it is when he
comes to them that fit filent. If he be rafh, they will
judge him; that having been in the world, and amongft
the world, the heat is not yet off him. For he may come
in the heat of his fpirit out of the world ; whereas the
others are ftill and cool ; and his condition in that, not be-
ing agreeable to theirs, he may rather do them hurt, by
beoettinir them out ot the cool itate into the heatinij flate ;
if he be not in that which commands his own fpirit, and
gives him to know it.
' There is great danger too in travelling abroad in the
world. The fame power, that moves any to go forth, is
that which mail keep them. For it is the greateft danger
ro go abroad, except a man be moved of the Lord, and go
in the power of the Lord ; for then, he keeping in the
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 359
power, is kept by it in his journey, and in his work ; it will
enable him to anfwer the tranfgrefled, and keep above the
tranfgreffor. Every one feehng the danger to his own par-
ticular in travelling abroad, there the pure fear of the Lord
will be placed and kept in. Though they that travel may
have openings when they are abroad, to minifter to others;
yet, for their own particular growth, they muft dwell in
the life which doth open ; and that will keep down that
which would boaft. For the minifler comes into the
death, to that which is in the death and in prifon: and fo
returns up again into the life, into the power, and into the
wifdom, to preferve him clean.
' This is the word of the Lord God to you all ; feel, that
ye ftand in the prefence of the Lord ; for every man's word
fliall be his burden ; but the word of the Lord is pure, and
anfwers the pure in every one. The Word of the Lord is
that which was in the beginning, and brings to the begin-
ning. It is an hammer to beat down the tranfgrelTor (not
the tranfgreffed) and as a fire to burn up that which is con-
trary to it. Friends, come into that which is over all the
fpirits of the world, fathoms all the fpirits of the world,
and ftands in the patience ; with that ye may fee where
others ftand. and reach that which is of God in every one.
Llere is no ftrife, no contention, out of tranfgreffion : for
he that goeth into ftrife, and into contention, he is from
the pure Spirit. For where any goeth into contention, if
any thing hath been begotten by him before, that conten-
tious nature doth get atop, fpoileth that which was begot-
ten, and quencheth his own prophefying. So if that be
not fubje6ted by the power in the particular, which would
arife into ftrife, that is dangerous.
' If any one have a moving to any place, and have fpo-
ken what they were moved of the Lord, let them return
to their habitation again, and live in the pure life of God,
and in the fear of the Lord ; fo will ye be kept in the life,
in the folid arid feafoned fpirit, and preach as well in life
as with words (none muft be light or wild.) For the feed
of God is weighty, brings to be folid, and leads into the
wifdom of God, by which the wifdom of the creation is
known. But if that part be up which runs into the ima-
ginations, and that part be ftanding in which the imagi-
nations come up, and the pure fpirit be not thoroughly
come up to rule and reign, then that will run out that
"will glory, boaftj and vapour ; and fo will fuch an one
36d GEORaE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
fpoil that which opened to him ; this is for condemnation.
Let every one mind that which feels through and com-
mands his fpirit, whereby every one may know what fpi-
rit he is of; for he fhould firft try his own fpirit, and then
he may try others ; he iliould firft know his own fpirit, and
then he may know others. Therefore that which doth
command all thefe fpirits, where the heats and burnings
come in and get up, in that wait which chains them down
and cools : that is the eleft, the heir of the promife of
God. For no hafly, rafh, brittle fpirits (though they
have prophecies) have held out, and gone through, they
not being fubje6led in the prophecy. The earthly will
not abide, for it is brittle ; in that ftate the miniftry was
another's, not the Son's; for the Son hath life in himfelf,
and the Son hath the power, which man being obedient
to, he may be ferviceable : but if he go from the pure
power, he falls and abufeth it. Therefore let your faith
ftand in the pure power of the Lord God, and do not
abufe it ; but let that fearch through, and work through ;
and let every one Hand in the power of the Lord, which
reacheth the feed of God ; which is the heir of the promife
of life without end. Let none be hafty to fpeak ; for ye
have time enough, and with an eye ye may reach the wit-
nefs ; neither let any be backward when ye are moved ;
for that brings deftruftion. Truth hath an honour in the
hearts of thole who are not friends ; fo that all friends be-
ing kept in the truth, they are kept in the honour, they
are honourable, for that will honour them ; but if any
lofe the power, lofe the life, they lofe their crown, they
lofe their honour, they lofe the crofs which fhould crucify
them, and they crucify the juft ; and by lofing the power,
the Lamb comes to be flain. And as it is here, fo will
it be in other nations ; for all friends, here and there, are
as one family : the feed, the plants, they are as a family.
All being kept in that which fubjefts all, and keeps all
under, to wit, the feed itfelf, the life itfelf, that is the heir
of the promife; and that is the bond of peace : for there
is the unity in the Spirit with God and with one another.
He that is kept in the life hears God, and fees man's con-
dition: and with that he anfwers the life in others that
hear God alio : thus one friend, that is come into that,
cdinprchends the world. But that which friends fpeak,
they mufl live in ; fo may they cxpeft that others may
come into that which they fpeak, to live in the fame. For
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 3^1
the power of the Lord God hath been abufed by fome*,
and the worth of truth hath not been minded. There hath
been a trampling on, and marring with the feet, and that
abufeth the power. But now every friend is to keep in
the power, and to take heed to it ; for that muil be kept
down which would trample and mar with the feet, and the
pure life and power of God is to be lived in over that ;
that none with the feet might foul or mar, but every one
may be kept in the pure power and life of the Lord.
Then the water of life cometh in ; then he that minifter-
eth drinketh himfelf, and giveth others to drink.
' When any fball be moved to go to fpeak in a fleeple-
houfe or market, turn in to that which moves, and be
obedient to it ; that that which would not go may be kept
down : for that which would not go will be apt to get up.
And take heed on the other hand, that the lavifliing part
do not get up, for it is a bad favour; therefore that mull
be kept down and kept fubjeft. Wait in the light of the
Lord that ye may be all kept in the wifdom of God. For
when the feed is up in every particular, there is no dan-
ger ; but when there is an opening and prophecy, and the
power ftirs before the feed comes up, there is fomething
that will be apt to run out rafhly ; there's the danger, and
there muft be the patience in the fear. For it is a weighty-
thing to be in the work of the miniflry of the Lord God,
and to go forth in that. It is not as a cuftomary preach-
ing ; it is to bring people to the end of all outward preach-
ing. For when ye have declared the truth to the people,
and they have received it, and are come into that which
ye fpake of; the uttering of many words, and long de-
clarations out of the life, may beget them into a form.
And if any fhould run on rafhly into words again, with-
out the favour of life, thofe that are come into the thing
he fpake of will judge him ; whereby he may hurt again
that which he had raifed up before. So friends, ye muft
all come into the thing that is fpokcn in the openings of
the heavenly life among you, and walk in the love of
God, that ye may anfwer the thing Ipoken to.
' And take heed all of running into inordinate afFetlions;
for when people come to own you, there is danger of the
wrong part getting up. There was a Ilrife among the dif-
ciples of Chnll, who fhould be the greatcll ? Chrift told
them, " The heathen exercife lordlhip. and have domi-
* nion over one another; but it lh<iii not be fo among
362 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ^iSsS
•' you/' For Chrifl the Seed was to come up in every one
* of them ; fo then where is the greateft ? That part in the
* difciples, which looked to be the greateft, was the fame
* that was in the Gentiles. But who comes here to live in
* the Word that fanftified him, having the heart fanftified,
* the tongue and lips fan6lified, living in the Word of wif-
* dom, that makes clean the heart, and reconciles to God,
* all things being upheld by the Word and power ; as there
* is an abiding in the Word of God, that upholds times
* and feafons, and gives all things increafe, here dwelling
* in the Word of wifdom, if there be but two or three
* agreed in this on earth, it fhall be done for them in hea-
* ven. So in this muft all things be ordered by the Word
* of wifdom and power, that upholds all things, the times
* and the feafons, that are in the Father's hands ; to the
* glory of God, whereby his blefTmg may be felt among
* you ; and this brings to the beginning. This is the word
* of the Lord God to you all, Keep down, keep low, that
* nothing may rule nor reign in you, but life itfelf.
* The power being hved in, the crofs is lived in ; and
* where-ever friends come in this, they draw the power and
* the life over ; they leave a witnefs behind them, anfwering
* the witnefs of God in others. Where this is lived in,
* there is no want of wifdom, no want of power, no want of
* knowledge ; he that miniftereth in this, feeth with the eye
* which the Lord openeth in him, what is for the fire, and
' what is for the fword, what muft be fed with judgment,
* and what muft be nouriflied. This brings all down, and
' to be low, every one keeping to the power ; for let a man
' get up ever fo high, he muft come down again to the
* power where he left ; what he went from, he muft come
' down again to that. Before all thefe wicked fpirits be got
' down, which are rambling abroad, friends muft have pa-
' tience, muft wait in the patience, in the cool life ; and who
* is in this doing the work of the Lord, he hath the tafting
* and the feeling of the Lamb's power and authority. There-
* fore all friends, keep cool and quiet in the power of the
' Lord God; and all that is contrary will be fubje6led ;
' the Lamb hath the vi6iory, in the feed, through the
' patience.
' If any have been moved to fpeak, and have quenched
'that which moved them, let none fuch go forth afterwards
* into words, until they feel the power to arife and move
' t-hcm thereto again ; for after fche firft motion is quenched,
1658] GEORGE FOX»s JOURNAL. 36^
* the other part will be apt to get up ; and if any go forth
* in that, he goeth forth in his own, and the betrayer will
* come into that And all iriends, be careful not to med-
* die with the powers of the earth ; but keep out of all fuch
* things ; as ye keep in the Lamb's authority, ye will anfwer
* that of God in them, and bring them to do juflice, which
* is the end of the law. Keep out of all jangling ; for all
* that are in the tranfgreflion are out from the law of love ;
* but all that are in the law of love come to the Lamb's
' power, in the Lamb's authority, who is the end of the law
* outward. For the law being added becaufe of tranfgref-
* fion, Chrift, who was glorified with the Father before the
* world began, is the end of the law ; bringing them that
' live in the law of life, to live over all tranlgreffion ; which
* every particular mufl feel in himfelt.'
More was then fpoken to many of thefe particulars;
which was not taken at large as delivered.
After this meeting was over, and moft of the friends gone
away, as 1 was walking in John Crook's garden, there came
a party of horfe, w^ith a conftable, to feize me. I heard
them afk, ' Who was in the houfe ?' Somebody made an-
fwer, ' 1 was there/ They faid, ' I was the man they
* looked for;' and went forthwith into the houfe, where they
had many words with John Crook, and fome few friends
that were with him. Brt the Lord's pov/er lo confounded
them, that they came not into the garden to look for me ;
but went their way in a rage. When I came into the
houfe, friends were very glad to fee them fo difappointed,
and that I had efcaped them. Next day I palled from
thence : and after I had vifited friends in feveral places,
came to London, the Lord's power accompanying me, and
bearing me up in his fervice.
I had not been long in London, before I heard that a
jefuit, who came over with an embaffador from Spain, had
challenged all the Quakers to dilpute with them at the earl
of Newport's houfe ; whereupon iome friends let him know
fome would meet him. Then he fent us word, ' He would
* meet with twelve of the wiiefl learned men we had.*
Awhile after he fent us word, ' He would meet with but
' fix ;' after that, he fent us word again, ' He would have
* but tlnee to come.' We haltered what we could, left,
for all his great boaft, he fliould put it quite oiF at laft.
When wc were come to the houfe, 1 bid Nicholas Bond
3 ^
364 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1658
and Edward Burrough go up, and enter the difcourfe with
him; and I would walk awhile, in the yard, and then come
up after them. I adviied them to flate this queftion to him,
' Whether or no the church of Rome, as it now ftood, was
* not degenerated from the true church which was in the pri-
* mitive times, from the life and doctrine, and from the pow-
* er and ipirit that they were in ?' They Hated the queftion
accordingly : and the Jeluit affirmed, ' That the church of
* Rome now was in the virginity and purity of the primi-
* tive church/ By this time I was come to them. Then
we a&ed him, ' Whether they had the Holy Ghoft poured
* out upon them, as the apofties had ?' He faid, ' No.'
' Then,' faid I, ' If ye have not the fame Holy Ghoft
' poured forth upon you, and the lame power and Spirit
* that the apofties had, ye are degenerated from the power
* and Spirit which the primitive church was in.* There
needed little more to be faid to that. Then I afked him,
' What fcripture they had for fetting up cloyfters for nuns,
' abbeys and monafteries for men ; for all their feveral or-
' ders ; for their praying by beads, and to images ; for
' making croffes ; for forbidding of meats and marriages ;
* and for putting people to death for religion ? If, (faid I)
' ye are in the pra6fice of the primitive church, in its pu-
* rity and virginity, then let us fee by fcriptures where-ever
* they pra6tifed any fuch things ?' (For it was agreed on
both hands, that we fliould make good by fcriptures what
we faid.) Then he told us of a written word, and an un-
written word? I afked him what he called his unwritten
word ? He faid, ' The written word is the fcriptures, and
* the unwritten word is that which the apofties Ipoke by
' word of mouth ; which (faid he) are all thofe traditions
* that we praftife.' I bid him prove that by fcripture.
Then he brought that fcripture where the apoftle fays, 2
Their, ii. 5. ' When I was with you, I told you thefe
' things. That is,' faid he, ' I told you of nunneries and
' monafteries, and of putting to death tor religion, and of
* praying by beads, and to images, and all the reft of the
* pratlices of the church of Rome ; which,* he faid, ' was
*■ the unwritten word of the apofties, which they told then,
* a!)d have fince been continued down by tradition unto
' tht(c times.' Then I defned him to read that fcripture
* again, that he might fee how he had perverted the apof-
* tie's words ; for that which the apoille there le!L> the
' TiK'ilalpnians, " ke had tpld them befoje,," is not an un-
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ^6$
* written word,, but is there written down ; namely, That
* the man of fin, the fon of perdition, fhall be revealed be-
* fore the great and terrible day of Chrift, which he was
' writing of, fhould come : fo this was not telling them any
* of thofe things that the church of Rome pracliles. In
* like manner the apoflle, in the third chapter of that epif-
* tie, tells the church of fome diforderly perfons, " he
" heard were amongfl them, buiy-bodies, who did not work
" at all; concerning whom he had commanded them by
*' his unwritten word, when he was among them, that if
" any would not work, neither fhould he eat : which now
** he commands them again in his written word in this epif-
*' tie," 2 ThefT. iii. So this fcripture afforded no proof
for their invented traditions, and he had no other fcripture-
proof to offer. Therefore 1 told him, ' This was another
* degeneration of their church into fuch inventions and tra-
* ditions as the apoftles and primitive faints never praftifed."
After this he came to his facrament of the altar, begin-
ning at the pafchal lamb, and the fhew-bread, and came to
the words of Chrift, ' This is my body,' and to what the
apoftle wrote of it to the Corinthians ; concluding, ' That
* after the prieft had confecrated the bread and wine, it
* was immortal and divine, and he that received it, received
* the whole Chrift.' I followed him through the fcriptures
he brought, till I came to Chrift's words and the apoftle's.
I fliewed him, ' That the fame apoftle told the Corinthi-
* ans, after they had taken bread and wine in remembrance
* of Chrift's death, that they were reprobates, " if Chrift
*' was not in them ;" but if the bread they ate was Chrift,
* he muft of necefTity be in them after they had eaten it.
* Befides, if this bread and this wine, which the Corinthians
* ate and drank, was Chrift's body, then how hath Chrift a
* body in heaven ?' I obferved to him alfo, ' That both the
* difciples at the fupper, and the Corinthians afterivards,
* were to eat the bread and drink the wine in " remem-
*' brance of Chrift," and to '' fhew forth his death till he
" come ; which plainly proves the bread and wine, which-
* they took, was not his body. For if it had been his real
* body that they ate, then he had been come, and was then
* there prefent, and it had been improper to have done fuch
* a thing in remembrance of him, if he had been then prc-
* fent with them, as he muft have been, if that bread and
* wine v.'hich they ate and drank had been his real body.*
As to thofe words of Chrift, ' This is my body,' 1 told hin\
3 K 2
366 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
.' Chrift calls himfelf a vine, and a door, and is called in
* fcripture a rock. Is Chrift therefore an outward rock,
' door, or vine ?' O, faid the Jefuit, ' Thofe words are to
* be interpreted;' ' fo, faid I, are thofe words of Chrift,
•' This is my body." Having ftopped his mouth as to ar-
gument, I made the Jefuit a propofal thus ; ' That feeing
* he faid, " The bread and wine was immortal and divine,
" and the very Chrift ; and that whofoever received it, re-
** ceived the whole Chrift ;" let a meeting be appointed be-
* tween fome whom the pope and his cardinals fhould ap-
* point, and fome of us ; let a bottle of wine and loaf of
* bread be brought, and divided each into two parts, and let
* them confecrate which of thofe parts they would. Then
* fet the confecrated and the unconfecrated bread and wine
* in a fafe place, with a fure watch upon it ; and let trial be
* thus made. Whether the confecrated bread and wine
* would not lofe its goodnefs, and the bread grow dry and
* mouldy, and the wine turn dead and four, as well and as
* foon as that which was unconfecrated ? By this means,
* faid I, the truth of this matter may be made manifeft.
' And if the confecrated bread and wine change not, but
* retain their favour and goodnefs, this may be a means to
* draw many to your church : if they change, decay, and
* lofe their goodnefs, then ought you to confefs and forfake
* your error, and flied no more blood about it : for much
* blood hath been fhed about thefe things ; as in queen Ma-
* ry's days.' To this the Jefuit made this reply , " Take,"
faid he, " a piece of new cloth, and cut it into two pieces,
*' and make two garments of it, and put one of them upon
'* king David's back, and the other upon a beggar's, and
*' the one garment ftiall wear away as well as the other."
* Is this thy anfwer, faid I ? Yes, laid he. Then, faid I,
* by this the company may all be fatisfied that your confe-
* crated bread and Vv'ine is not Chrift. Have ye told peo-
* pie fo long, that the conlecrated bread and wine was im-
* mortal and divine, and that it was the very and real body
* and blood of Chrift, and doll thou now fay it will wear
' awav or decay as well as the other ! I muft tell thee,
*' Chrift remams the fame to day as yefterday," and never
' decays ; but is the faints heavenly food in all generations,
* through which they have life.' He replied no more to
this, bemg willing to let it fall; for the people that were
prefent faw his error, and that he could not defend it.
Then I alked him, • Why their church did perfccute, and
tj658] GEORGE FOX'g JOURNAL. 367
* put people to death for religion ?* He replied, ' It was not
* the church that did it, but the magiftrates.' I aflccd him,
* Whether thofe magiftrates were not counted and called
* believers and chriftians ?' He faid, Yes : ' Why then,
* faid J, are they not members of your church ?' * Yes,' faid
he. Then I left it to the people to judge from his own
conceffions, whether the church of Rome doth not per(e-
cute, and put people to death for religion. Thus we part-
ed, and his fubtilty was confuted by fimplicity.
During the time I was at London, I had many fervices
lay upon me ; for it was a time of much fuffering. I was
moved to write to O. Cromwel, and lay before him the fuf-
ferings of friends both in this nation and in Ireland. There was
alfo a talk about this time of making Cromwel king; where-
upon I was moved to go to him, and warned him againfl
accepting it, and of divers dangers ; which if he did not
avoid, I told him, ' He would bring fhame and ruin upon
* himfelf and his pofterity/ He feemed to take well what
I faid to him, and thanked me ; yet afterwards I was mov-
ed to write to him more fully concerning that matter.
About this time the lady Claypool (fo called) was fick
and much troubled in mind, and could receive no comfort
from any that came to her; which when I heard of, I was
moved to write her the following letter :
* Friend,
BE ftill and cool in thy own mind and fpirit from thy
own thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle
of God to turn thy mind to the Lord, from whom life
comes ; whereby thou mayeft receive his ftrength and
power to allay all blufterings, ftorms and tempefts. That
is it which works up into patience, into innocency, into fo-
bernefs, into ftillnefs, into ftayednefs, into quietnef^ up to
God, with his power. Therefore mind, that is the word
of the Lord unto thee, that the authority of God thou
mayft feel, and thy faith in it, to work down that v.hicli
troubles thee ; for that is it which keeps peace and brings
up the witnefs in thee, which hath been tranfgreffed, to
feel after God with his power and life, who is a God ol
order and peace. When thou art in the tranlgrcflion of
the life of God in thy own particular, the mind ilies up in
the air, the creature is led into the night, nature goes out
of its courfe, an old garment goes on, and an uppermofl;
' clothing : and thy nature being led out of its courf-; it
368 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165^
comes to be all on fire in the tranfgreffion, and that defac-
eth the glory of the firft body. Therefore be ftill awhile
from thy own thoughts, fearching, feeking, defires, and
imaginations, and be ftayed in the principle of God in
thee, that it may raife thy mind up to God, and flay it
upon God, and thou wilt find ftrength from him, and find
him to be a God at hand, a prefent help in the time of
trouble and of need. And thou being come to the princi-
ple of God, which hath been tranfgrelfed, it will keep thee
humble ; and the humble God will teach his way, which
is peace, and fuch he doth exalt. Now as the principle of
God in thee hath been tranfgrefTed, come to it, that it may
keep thy mind down low to the Lord God ; to deny thy-
felf, and from thy own will, that is the earthly, thou muft
be kept. Then thou wilt feel the power of God, which
will bring nature into its courfe, and give thee to fee the
glory of the firft body. There the wifdom of God will be
received (which is Chrift, by which all things were made
and created) and thou be thereby preferved and ordered to
God's glory. There thou wilt come to receive and feel the
phyfician of value, who clothes people in their right mind,
whereby they may ferve God and do his will. For all
diftraftions, unrulinefs, and confufion are in the tranf-
greffion ; which tranfgreffion muft be brought down, be-
fore the principle of God, which hath been tranfgrefled
again ft, be lifted up ; whereby the mind may be feafoned
and ftilled, and a right underftanding of the Lord may be
received ; whereby his bleffings enter, and are felt over all
that is contrary in the power of the Lord, which raifes
up the principle of God within, gives a feeling after God,
and in time gives dominion. Keep in the fear of the Lord
God ; that is the word of the Lord unto thee. For all
thefe things happen to thee for thy good, and for the good
of thofc concerned for thee, to make you know yourfelves
and your own weaknefs, that ye may know the Lord's
ftrength and power, and may truft in him. Let the time
paft be fuflPicient to every one, who in any thing hath been
lifted up in tranfgreffion out of the power of the Lord ;
for he ran bring down and abafe the mighty, and lay
them i'n the duft of the earth. Therefore, all keep low
in bis fear, that thereby ye may receive the fecrets of God
and his wifdom, may know the ffiadow of the Almighty,
and fit under it in ail tempefts, ftorms, and heats. For
God is a God at hand, and the Moft High rules in the
i6s8] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 369
children of men. This is the word of the Lord God un-
to you all; what the light doth make maniteft and dif-
cover, as temptations, diftraftions, confufions ; do not
look at thefe temptations, confufions, corruptions, but at
the light which difcovers them and makes them manitcfl ;
and with the fame light you may feel over them, to receive
power to ftand againft them. The fame light which lets
you fee lin and tranfgreflion, will let you fee the covenant
of God, which blots out your lin and tranfgreffion, which
gives viftory and dominion over it, and brings into cove-
nant with God. For looking down at fin, corruption,
and diflraflion, ye are fwallowed up in it ; but lookmg at
the light, which difcovers them, ye will fee over them.
That will give victory, and ye will find grace and (Irength ;
there is the firft flep to peace. That will bring falvation ;
by it ye may fee to the beginning, and the " Glory that
was with the Father before the world began :" and come
to know the feed of God, which is the heir of the promife
of God, and of the world which hath no end ; and which
bruifes the head of the ferpent, who flops people from
coming to God. That ye may feel the power of an end-
lefs life, the power of God which is immortal, which
brings the immortal foul up to the immortal God, in
whom it doth rejoice. So in the name and power of the
Lord Jefus Chrift, God Almighty ftrengthcn thee.
' G. f:
When the foregoing paper was read to her, fiie faid, ' It
* ftayed her mind for the prefent.' Afterwards many friends
got copies of it, both in England and Ireland, and read it
to people that were troubled in mind; and it was made
ufeful for the fettling of the minds of feveral.
About this time came forth a declaration from O. Crom-
wel, the Proteftor, for a ' coile6lion towards the relief of
* divers proteftant churches,' driven out of Poland, and of
' twenty proteftant families, driven out of the confines of
* Bohemia.' And there having been a like declaration pub-
lifhed fome time before to invite the nation to a day of
folemn fafting and humiliation, in order to a contribution
to be made for the fuffering proteftants of the vallies of"
Lucern, Angrona, &c. who were perfecuted by the duke of
Savoy; I was moved to write to the Proteclor and chief
magi ft rates on this occafion, both to ftiew them the nature
of a true lift (fuch as Go4 requires sinji a.ccepts) and to
370 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165$
make them fenfible of their injuftice and felf-condemnation
in blaming the papifts for perfecuting the proteftants abroad,
while they, calling themfelves proteftants, were at the fame
time perfecutmg their proteftant neighbours and friends at
home. That which I wrote to them was after this manner :
* To the heads and governors of this nation, who have
* put forth a declaration for the keeping a day of fo-
* lemn fafting and humiliation, for the perfecution (as
* you fay) of divers people beyond the feas profefling
' the reformed religion, which, ye fay, hath been tranf-
* mitted unto them from their anceftors.
A Profession of the reformed religion may be tranf-
mitted to generations, and fo holden by tradition ;
and in that wherein the profellion and tradition is holden,
is the day of humiliation kept, which ftands in the will of
man. This is not the faft that the Lord requires, " To
' bow down the head like a bulrufh for a day," and the day
following be in the fame condition as they were the day
before. To the light of Chrift Jefus in your confciences
do I fpeak, which teftifieth for God every day, and wit-
nefTeth againft all fin and perfecution; which meafure of
God, if ye be guided by it, doth not limit God to a day,
but leads to the faft the Lord requires, which is " to loofe
' the bonds of wickednefs, to undo the heavy burdens, to
' break every yoke, and to let the oppreffed go free," Ifa.
Iviii. 6, 7. This is the faft that the Lord requires, and
this ftands not in the tranfmiflion of times, nor in the tra-^
ditions of men. But this ftands in that which was before
times were, and which leads out of time, and fliall be when
time fliall be no more. Thefe that teach for doftrine the
commandments of men, are they that ever perfecuted the
life and power, when it came. And whereas ye mention
a decree or edicl that was made againft the faid perfecuted
proteftants, all fuch decrees or edidls proceeded from the
ground of the pope's religion and fupremacy, and therein
ftands his tyranny and his cruelty, a6ied in that will which
is in that nature which exercifeth lordfl^ip over one ano-
ther, as ye may read, Mark x. 42. Luke xxii. 25. as all
the heathen do, and ever did ; and in the heathenifh na-
ture is all the tyranny and perfecution exercifed by them
that are out of the obedience to the light of Chrift Jefus
in the conlciencc, which is the guide and kadev of all.
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 371
who are tender of that of God in the confcience. But
who are not led by this, know not what it is to fufFer for
confcience fake. Now, whereas ye take into your confide-
ration the fad perfecution, tyranny, and cruelty exercifed
upon them whom ye call your protellant brethren, and
contribute and adminifler to their wants outwardly ; this
is good in its place, and we own it; and fee it good to
adminifter to the necelTities of others, and to do good to
all ; and we, who are fuflPerers by a law derived from- the
pope, are willuig to join and to contribute with you to
their outward neceffities. For " the earth is the Lord's,
' and the fulnefs thereof;" who is good to all, gracious to
all, and willing that all fliould be faved and come to the
knowledge of the truth. But in the mean time, while ye
are doing this, and taking notice of others cruelty, tyran-
ny, and perfecution, turn your eye upon yourfelves, and
fee what ye arc doing at home. To the light of Chrifl
Jefus in all your confciences I fpeak, which cannot lie,
nor err, nor bear falfe witnefs ; but doth bear witnefs for
God, and cries for equity, juflicc, and righteoufnefs to be
executed. See what ye are doing who profefs the fcrip-
tures, which were given forth by the faints in light, who
dwelt in the light and in the life of them. For thefe who
now witnefs the fame light, the fame life, and the fame
power which gave forth the fcriptures, which ye in words
profefs, them ye perfecute, them ye hale out of your iy-
nagogues and markets ; them ye beat, flock and imprifon.
Let that of God in your confciences, which is jufl, right-
eous, and equal, examine and try whether ye have any
example or precedent to exercife this perfecution, which
many now in this nation fufFer under, who are a people
harmlefs and innocent, waiting in obedience towards God
and man. And though ye account the way of truth they
walk in herefy, yet therein do they exercife themfelves. to
have always a " confcience void of olFence towards God
' and man ;" as ye may read the faints of old did, A6ls
xxiv, 14, 15, 16. not wronging any man, neither giving
any jufl. caufe of offence, only being obedient to the com-
mands of the Lord, to declare as thev are moved by the
Holy Ghofl : and flanding for the teflimony of a good
confcience, fpeaking the truth in Chrifl, their confciences
bearing them witnefs that they lie not : for this du they {rd-
fer under you, who in words profefs the fame thing for
which they fuffcr. Now fee if any age or gencraljon did
o L
572 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
ever pei fecute as ye do ? For ye profefs Chrift Jefus who
reveals the Father, and perfecute thofe who witnefs the re-
velation of the Father by Chrift Jefus unto them. Ye
profefs Chrift Jefus, who is the light of the world, " that
enlightens every one that cometh into the world ;" yet per-
fecute them that bear witnefs and give teftimony to this
light. Ye profefs that the word is become flefli, yet perfe-
cute them that witnefs it fo. Ye profefs that whofoever
confelfeth not that Jefus Chrift is come in the flefii is an
antichrifl, yet perfecute them that do confefs him come in
the flcfh, and call them antichrifts and deceivers. Ye pro-
fefs that the kingdom of Chrift is come, yet perfecute them
that witnefs it come. Ye profefs Chrift Jefus the refurrec-
tion and the life, yet perfecute them that witnefs him to be
fo. If ye fay, " How fhail we know that thefe people,
' who fay they witnefs thefe things, do fo or no ?" I an-
fwer, Turn your minds to the light which Chrift Jefus
hath enlightened you withal, which is one in all ; and if
ye walk in the light, ye fliall have the hght of life ; then
ye will know and fee what ye have done, who have per-
fecuted the Lord of Glory (in his people) in whom is life,
and the life is the light of men. To no other touchftone
fiiall v/e turn you, but into your own confciences ; there
may ye find the truth of what we have declared unto you,
according to the holy fcriptures. When the books of con-
fciences are opened, and all judged out of them, then ftiall
ye witnefs us to be of God, and our teftimony to be true.
Though now ye may ftop your ears, and harden your
hearts, while it is called to-day, then ye fhall know what
ye have done, and whom ye have tranfgrefled againft ;
then ye Vv'ili fee that no perfecutors, in any age or genera-
tion before you, did ever tranfgrefs againft that light and
meafure of God made manifeft in fuch manner as ye have
done. For though Chrift and the apoftles were perfecut-
cd in their time, the Jews for the moft part did not know
that he was the Chrift when he came, notwithftanding they
had the fcriptures which prophefied of him ; neither did
they belic\e that he was riien again when the apoftles
preached his refurre6lion. But ye fay, " Ye believe he is
■ come, ye believe his refurre6lion ;" yet ye perfecute thofe
that witnefs him come in the flefh, thofe that are buried
with him in baptifm, thofe that are conformable to his
death, and know the power of his rcfurreftion : thofe ye
perfecute, hale before raagiftrates, and fufi^er to be beaten
165R] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. c^^^
in your fynagogues ; thofe ye caufc to be whrpped and
flocked, AiamefuUy entreated, caft into priibn, and kept,
as many gaols in this nation at this day teliify to your fa-
ces. Tlierefore honcflly confider what ye are doing while
ye are taking notice of others cruelties, left ye overlook
your own. There is fome difference in many things be-
tween the popifh religion and that which ye call the pro-
teftant. but in this perfecution of yours there is nof^der-
ence ; for ye will confels that the foundation of your reli-
gion is grounded upon the fcripturcs, yet ye perfecute
them that are in the lame life which they were in who gave
forth the fcriptures, yourfelves being the meaiuvhiie under
a profellion of the words they fpoke : this ye fhall one day
witnefs. So ye have a profeflion and form, and pcrlecute
them that are in the polTefTion, life, and power. Know
affuredly that ye muft come to judgment ; for he is made
manifefl to whom all judgment is committed. To the
light of Chrift jefus in your confcienr.es, which fearcheth
and trieth you, turn your minds ; Hand flill, and wait
there to receive the righteous law, which is according to
that of God in the confcicnce, which is now rifing and
bearing witnefs againft all ungodlinels and unrighteouf-
nefs of men ; and they whom ye perfecute are manlfeft to
God, and that of God in all confciences fhall bear witneis
for us that we are of God; this ye fhall one day witnefs,
whether ye will hear or forbear. Our rejoicing is in the
teftimony of our confciences, that in fimplicity and godly
fincerity (not with flcftily wifdom, but by the grace of
God) we have had our converfation in the world, not
handling the word of God deceitfully, but in the mani-
feftation of the truth, commending ourfelves to every
man's confcience in the fight of God ; and if our gofpcl
be hid, it is hid to them that are loft. For witneffing the
holding the myftery of fiith in a pure confcience do we
fuffer, and are fubjeft for confcience fake. This is thank-
worthy, if a m.an, for confcience fake, endure griefs and
fufferings wrongfully. In this is our joy and rejoicing,
having a good confcience, that whereas v.-c are evil fpukcn
of as evil-doers, they may be afhamed that lallel)' accufc
our good converfation in Chrift ; which is not only the
putting away the filth of the flefli. but the anfwer of a
good confcience towards God, by the refurrcCtion of jefus
Chrift. This we w^itncfs made manifeft (eternal praifes
to the living God!) and bear teftimony to that which
3 L 2
374 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
* fpoke it in the apoftle in life and power. Therefore do
* we bear witnefs and teftify againfl thofe, who, being got
* into a form and profelTion of it, do perfecute the life and
* power. To the eternal light of Chriil Jefus, the fearcher
* and trier of all hearts, turn your minds, and fee what ye
* are doing ; left ye overturn your foundation, whereon ye
* pretend to Hand, while ye are profeihng the fcriptures,
* and' perfecuting the life, light, and power, which thofe
* were in who aave them forth. For the ftone cut out of
* the mountain without hands, is now ftrikmg at the feet
* of the image, the profeffion which is fet up, and Hands
* in the will of man. Now is that made manifeft, unto
* which all mull anfwer, and appear before the judgment-
* feat of Chrift ; that every one may receive the things done
* in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it
* be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the
* Lord, we perfuade men ; but we are made manifeft unto
* God, and fhall be made manifeft in all your confciences,
* which ye ftiall witnefs.
' G. F/
Divers times, both in the time of the long parliament,
and of the proteftor (fo called) and of the committee of
fafety, when they proclaimed fafts, I was moved to write
to them, and tell them, their fafts were like unto Jezebel's :
for commonly, when they proclaimed fafts, there was fome
mifchief contrived againft us. I knew their fafts were for
ftrife and debate, to fmile with the fift of vi'ickednefs ; as
the New-England profeflbrs foon after did ; who, before
they put our friends to death, proclaimed a faft alfo.
Now it was a time of great fuffering ; and many friends
being in prifons, many other friends were moved to go to
the parliament, to oiler themtelves up to lie in the fame
prifons where their friends lay, that thofe in prifon might
go forth, and not perifh in the ftinking gaols. This we
did in love to God and our brethren, that they might
not die in prifon ; and in love to thofe that caft them in,
that they might not bring innocent blood upon their own
heads ; which we knew would cry to the Lord, and bring
his wrath, vengeance, and plagues upon them. But little
favour could we find from thole profeffing parliaments ; in^
ftead thereof, they would rage, and fomctimes threaten
friends that attended them, to whip, and fend them home.
Then commonly foon after the Lord would turn them out.
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 375
and fend them home ; who had not an heart to do good in
the day of their power. But they went not off without
being forewarned ; for I was moved to write to them, in
their feveral turns, as I did to the long-parhament, unto
whom 1 declared, before they were broken up, ' that thick
* darknefs was coming over them all, even a day of dark-
' nefs that Ihould be felt.'
And becaufe the parliament that now fat was made up
moftly of high profeffors, who, pretending to be more re-
ligious than others, were indeed greater perlccutors of thole
that were truly religious, I was moved to lend them the
following lines, as a reproof of their hypocrify :
O FRIENDS, do not cloak and cover yourfelves :
there is a God that knoweth your hearts, and that
will uncover you. He feeth your way. " Wo be to
' him that covereth, but not with my Spirit, faith the
' Lord." Do ye atl; contrary to the law, and then put it
from you ! Mercy and true judgment ye negleft. Look,
what was fpoken againft fuch. My Saviour fpoke agamft
fuch : *' I was fick, and ye vifited me not : I was hungry,
' and ye fed me not : I was a ftranger, and ye took me not
' in : I was in prifon, and ye vifited me not." But they
faid, " When law we thee in prifon, and did not come
' to thee ? Inafmuch as ye did it not unto one of thefe
' little ones, ye did it not unto me." Friends, ye imprifon
them that are in the life and power of truth, and yet pro-
fefs to be the minifters of Chrift ; but if Chrift had fent
you, ye would bring out of prifon, out of bondage, and
receive ftrangers. Ye have lived in pleafure on the earth,
and been wanton; ye have nourifhed your hearts, as in a
day of daughter; ye have condemned and killed the juft,
and he doth not refill you.
* G. F.'
After this, as I was going out of town, having two friend$
with me, when we were little more than a mile out of the
City, there met us two troopers belonging to colonel Hack-
er's regiment, who took me, and the friends with me, and
brought us back to the Mews, and there kept us prifoners
a little while ; but the Lord's power was fo over them, that
they did not bring us before any officer; but after awhile
fet us at liberty. The fame day, taking boat, I went to
Ivingfton, and from thence to Hampton Court, to fpcak
37$ GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [.65S
with the Proteftor about the fufFerings of friends. I met
him riding into Hampton Court Park ; and before I came
to him, as he rode at the head of his Hfe-guard, I favv and
felt a waft (or apparition) of death go forth againfl him ;
and when I came to him, he looked like a dead man. Af-
ter 1 had laid the fufferings of friends before him, and had
warned him, as I was moved to fpeak to him, he bid me
come to his houle. So I returned to Kingfton, and the
next day went to Hampton Court, to have ipoken further
v/ith him. But when I came, he was fick, and— — Har-
vy, who waited on him, told me, The doftors were not
willing I Ihould Ipeak with him. So I paffed away, and
never law him more.
From Kingfton I went to Ifaac Penington's, in Buck-
inghamfhire, w^iere I had appointed a meeting; and the
Lord's truth and power were precioufly manifefted amongfl
us. After I had vifited friends in thofe parts, I returned
to London ; and foon after went into Effex ; where I had
not been long, before I heard the Prote6lor was dead, and
his fon Richard made Proteftor in his room. Whereupon
I came to London again.
Before this time the church faith (fo called) was given
forth, which was faid to be made at the Savoy in eleven
days. I got a copy of it before it was publifhed, and
wrote an anfwer to it : and when their book of church faith
was fold up and down the ftreets, my anfwer to it was fold
alio. This difpleafed fome of the parliament-men ; fo that
one of them told me, ' They mull have me to Smithfield.*
I told him, I was over their fires, and feared them not.
Reafoning with him, I wifhed him to confider. Had all
people been without a faith thefe fixteen hundred years,
that now the priefls muft make them one ? Did not the
apoftle fay that Jefus was the author and finifher of their
faith ? And fmce Chrifl: Jefus was the author of the apof-
tles faith, of the church's faith in the primitive times, and
of the martyrs faith, fliould not all people look unto him
to be the author and finifher of their faith, and not to the
priells ? A great deal of work we had about the priefts
made-faith ; for they called us houfe-creepers, leading filly
women captive, becaufe we met in houfes, and would not
hold up their priefts and temples which they had made and
fet up. I told them, it was they that led filly women cap.
live, and crept into houfes, who kept people always learn-
ing under thsni; who were covetous, and had got a form
1658] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL* 377
of godlinefs, but denied the power and Spirit, which the
apolUes were in. Such began to creep in the apoflles
days ; but now they had got the magiftrates on their fide,
who upheld thofe houfes for them, which they had crept
into, their temples, with their tithes : whereas the apoftles
brought people ofF from even that temple, and thofe tithes
and oflFerings, which God had for a time commanded. And
the apoftles met in feveral private houfes, being to preach
the gofpel in all nations ; which they did freely, as Chrift
commanded them. Thus do we, who bring people ofF
from thefe priefts, temples, and tithes (which God never
commanded) to meet in houfes, or on mountains, as the
faints of old did, who were gathered in the name of Jefus ;
and Chrift was their Prophet, Prieft and Shepherd.
Major Wiggan, a very envious man, was prefent, yet
he bridled himfelf before the parliament-men, and fome
others that were there in company. He took upon him to
affert, ' Chrift had taken away the guilt of fin, but had
* left the power of fin remaining in us.' I told him, that
was ftrange do£lrine ; for Chrift came to deftroy the devil's
works, and the power of fin, and fo to cleanfe men from,
fin. So major Wiggan's mouth was flopped at that time.
But next day defiling to fpeak with me again, I took a
friend or two with me, and went to him. Then he vented
a great deal of paftion and rage, beyond the bounds of a
chriftian, or moral man ; whereupon I was made to reprove
him ; and having brought the Lord's power over him, and
let him fee what condition he was in, left him.
After fome time I pafled out of London, and had a
meeting at fergeant Birkhead's at Twickenham, to which
many people came ; fome of confiderable quality. A glo-
rious meeting it was, wherein the fcriptures were largely
and clearly opened, and Chrift exalted above all, to the
great fatisfa6lion of the hearers.
But there was great perfecution in many places, both by
imprifoning and breaking up of meetings. At a meeting
about {^even miles from London, the rude people ufually
came out of feveral parifhes round about, to abufe friends,
and often beat and bruifed them exceedingly. One day
they abufed about eighty friends, that went to that m.cet-
ing out of London, tearing their coats and cloaks from olF
their backs, throwing them into ditches and ponds ; and,
when they had befmcared them with dirt, they faid they
looked like witches, The next firft-day I was moved of
378 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
the Lord to go to that meeting, though I was then very
weak. When I came there, I bid friends bring a table,
and fet it in the clofe, where they ufed to meet, to ftand
upon. According to their wonted courfe. the rude people
came; and I, having a bible in my hand, fhewed them
theirs and their teachers fruits ; and the people became
afliamed, and were quiet. I opened the fcriptures to them,
and our principles agreeing therewith ; and turned them
from darknefs to the light of Chrift and his Spirit, by which
they might underfland the Icriptures, fee themfelves and
their fins, and know Chrifl Jefus to be their Saviour. So
the meeting ended quietly, and the Lord's power came over
all, to his glory. But it was a time of great fufFerings ; for
befides imprifonments (through which many died) our
meetings were greatly difturbed. They have thrown rotten
eggs and wild-fire into our meetings, and brought in drums
beating, and kettles, to make noifes with, that the truth
might not be heard ; and, among thefe, the priefts were as
rude as any ; as may be feen in the book of the fighting
priefts, wherein a lift is given of fome priefts that had a6fu-
ally beaten and abufed friends.
Many friends were brought prifoners to London, to be
tried before the Committee ; where Henry Vane, being
chairman, would not fufFer friends to come in, except they
would put off^ their hats ; but at laft the Lord's power came
over him, fo that through the mediation of others, they
were admitted. Many of us having been imprifoned upon
contempts (as they called them) for not putting off our hats,
it was not a likely thing that friends, who had luff^ered fo
long for it from others, fhould put ofF their hats to him.
But the Lord's power came over all, and wrought fo, that
feveral were fet at liberty by them. Inalmuch as fufferings
grew very fharp, 1 was moved of the Lord to write a few
lines, and fend among friends, to encourage them to go on
faithfully and boldly through the exercifes of the day ; of
which a copy here follows :
' A yf Y dear friends every where, in prifon or out of pri-
' IVX fon ; Fear not, becaufe of the reports of fufferings ;
' let not the evil fpies of the good land make you afraid,
* if they tell you the wails are high, and Anakims are in
• the land ; for at the blowing of the rams horns did the
* walls of Jericho fldl, and they that brought the evil report
• perifhed in the wildernefs. Dwell in faith, patience, and
15^8] . GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL*. 3-9
' hope, having the word of life to keep you, which is be-
' yond the ]aw ; and having the oath of God, his covenant,
* Chrift Jefus, which divides the waters afunder, and makes
* them to run all on heaps ; in that (land, and ye will fee
* all things work together for good to them that )^ovc God*
* In that triumph, when fufFerings come, whatever they be.
' Your faith, your fhield, your helmet, your armour you
' have on. You are ready to Ikip over a mountain, a wail,
* or an hill, and to walk through the deep waters, though
* they be as heaps upon heaps. The evil fpies of the good
' land may preach up hardnefs ; but Caleb, which iignifies
* an heart, and Jolhua, a Saviour, triumph over all.
' G. f:
After awhile 1 went to Reading, where 1 remained undep
great fufFerings and exerciies, and in great travail of fpirit
tor about ten weeks. For I faw there was great confufion
and diftraftion amongft the people, and that the powers
were plucking each other to pieces. And I faw how many-
Were deftroying the fimplicity, and betraying the truth. A
great deal of hypocrify, deceit, and llrife, was got upper-
inoft in the people, fo that they were ready to {heath their
fwords in one another's bowels. There had been tender-
tiefs in many of them formerly, when they were low ; but
when they were got up, had killed, and taken pofleflion,
they came to be as bad as others : fo that we had much to
do with them about our hats, and faying Thou and Thee
to them. They turned their profeffion of patience and
moderation into rage and madnefs ; many of them were
like diftra6led men for this hat-honour. Foi* they had hard-
ened themfelves by perfecuting the innocent, and were at
this time crucifying the Seed, Chrifl, both in themfelves
and others ; till at lall they fell a biting and devouring one
another, until they were conlumed one of another; who
had turned againft and judged that which God had wrought:
in them, and fhewed unto them. So fhortly after God
DverthrevtT them, turned them upfide dovrn, and brought
the kingr over them, who were often fuiniifrng that the
Quakers met together to brin^i in kin<j Charles, whereas
friends did not concern themfeives with the outward powers
or government. But at la ft the Lord brought hitn in, and
many of then), when they faw he would be brought in,
voted for the bringing him in. So with heart and voice
praife the name of the Lord, to whom it doth bfiong; who
3 --1
38o GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1658
over all hath the fupremacy, and who will rock the nations,
for he is over them. I had a fight and fenfe of the king's
return a good while before, and fo had fome others. I
wrote to Oliver feveral times, and let him know, that while
he was perfecuting God's people, they whom he accounted
his encniies were preparing to come upon him. When
fome forward fpirits, that came amongfl us, would have
bought Somerfet-houfe, that we might have meetings in it,
I forbad them to do fo : for I then forefaw the king's com-
ing in again. Befides, there came a woman to me in the
Strand, who had a prophecy concerning king Charles's
coming in, three years before he came ; and fhe told me,
fhe muft go to him to declare it. I advifed her to wait
'•upon the Lord, and keep it to herfelf ; for if it fhould be
known that fhe went on fuch a meffage, they would look
upon it to be treafon ; but flie faid, Ihe muft go and tell
him, that he fliould be brought into England again. I faw
her prophecy was true, and- that a great ftroke muft come
upon thofe in power : for they that had then got poftellion
were fo exceeding high, and fuch great perfecution was a6led
by them who called themfeives faints, that they would take
from friends their copyhold lands, becaufe they could not
fwear in their courts. Sometimes, when we laid thefe fuf-
ferings before Oliver Cromwel, he would not believe it.
Wherefore Thomas Aldam and Anthony Pearfon were
moved to go through all the gaols in England, and to get
copies of friends commitments under the gaolers hands,
that they might lay the weight of their fufferings upon Oli-
ver Cromwel. ' And when he refufed to give order for the
releafing of them, Thomas Aldam was ' moved to take his
* cap off his head, and rend it in pieces before him, and to
* fay unto him, •' So fhall thy government be rent from
" thee and thy houfe." Another friend alfo, a woman, was
' moved to go to the parliament (that was envious againft
' friends) with a pitcher in her hand, which fhe broke into
' pieces before them, and told them, " So fliould they be
" broken to pieces :" which came to pafs fhortly after. And
in my great fuffering, and travail of fpirit for the nation,
being grievoufly burdened with their hypocrify, treachery,
and falfehood, I faw God would bring that atop of them
which they had been atop of; and that all muft be brought
down to that which convinced them, before they could get
over that bad fpirit within -and without : for it is the pure,
j6sn2 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 381
invifible Spirit, that doth and only can work down all de-
ceit in people.
While I was under that fore travail at Reading, by rca-
fon of grief and forrow of mind, and the great exercife that
was upon my fpirit, my countenance being altered, and my
body become poor and thin ; there came a company of un-
clean fpirits to me, and told me, ' The plagues of God
* were upon me.' I told them. It was the fame fpirit fpoke
in them that laid fo of 'Ghrift, when he was ftricken and
fmitten ; they hid their face from him. But when I had
travailed with the witnefs of God, which they had quench-
ed, and had got through with it, over all that hypocrify
which the outlide profeifors were run into, and faw how
that would be brought down, and turned under, and that
life would rife over it, I came to have eafe; and the light,
power, and fpirit, fliined over all. And then, having re-
covered, my body a,nd face fwelled, when I came abroad
into the air; then the bad fpirits faid, ' I was grown fat;'
and they envied at that alfo. So I faw that no condition
nor ftate would pleafe that fpirit of theirs: but the Lord
preferved me by his power and Spirit through and over all ;
and in the Lord's power I came to London again.
Now was there a great buftle about the effigy of Oliver
Cromwel lying in ftate ; men Handing and founding with
trumpets over his image, after he was dead. At this my
fpirit was greatly grieved, and the Lord, I found, was high-
ly offended. Then did I write the following lines, and
fent among them, to reprove their wickednefs, and warn
them to repent.
* /^ FRIENDS, what are ye doing! What mean ye
* V>/ to found before an image ! Will not all fober peo-
* pie think ye are like mad people ? " Oh, how am I
*' grieved with your abominations ! Oh, how"flm I wea-
*' ried! My foul is wearied with you, faith the Lord ; will
*' I not be avenged of you, think ye, for your aboniina-
*' tions ?" O how have ye plucked down and fct up ! O
* how are your hearts made whole, and not rent ! How
* are ye turned to fooleries, which in times pad ye flood
' over. How have ye lofl my dread, faith the Lord ! O
' therefore fear and repent, le(l the fnare and the pit take
' you all ! The great day of the Lord is come upon your
* abominations : the fwift hand of the Lord is turned againft
' them <ill. The fobcr people in thefe nations Hand amazed.
3 M 2L
382 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1:16531
* at your doings, and are alhamed, aj if ye would bring in
* popery. ' G. F/
About this time great ftirs were in the nation, the minds
of people being unfettled. Much plotting and contriving
there was by the feveral faftions, to carry on their feveral
interefts. And a great care being upon me, left any young
or raw people, that might fometimes come amongft us,
Ihould be drawn into that fnare, I was moved to give forth
the following epiftie, as a warning to fuch :
ALL friends every where, keep out of plots and buf-.
tling, and the arm of flefli ; for all thefe are amongft
Adam's ions in the fail, ^vhere they are deftroying men's
lives like dogs, beafts, and fwine, goring, rending, and
biting one another, deftroying one another, and wreftling
with flefh and blood. From whence arife wars and killing,
but from the lufts ? Now all this is in Adam in the fall, out
of Adam that never fell, in whom there is peace and life.
Ye are called to peace, therefore follov/ it ; that peace is
in Chrift, not in Adam in the fall. All that pretend to
fight for Chrift, are deceived ; for his kingdom is not of
this world, therefore his fervants do not fight. Fighters
are not of Chrift's kingdom, but are Vv^ithout Chrift's king--
dom : for his kingdom ftands in peace and righteoufnefs,
but fighters are in the luft : and all that would deftroy
men's lives are not of Chrift's mind, who came to fave
men's lives. Chrift's kingdom is not of this v/orld ; it is
peaceable: and all that are in ftrife, are not of his king-,
dom. All that pretend to fight for the gofpel, are deceiv-r
ed : for the gofpel is the power of God, which was before
the devil, or fall of man v/as : and the gofpel of peace
was before figliting was. Therefore they that pretend
fighting, and talk of fighting fo, are ignorant of the gof-r
pel. All that talk of fighting for Sion, are in darknefs :
Sion needs no fuch helpers. All fuch as profefs them-,
felves minifters of Chrift, or chriftians, and go about tq
beat do\vn the whore with outward, carnal weapons, the
fleih and the nvhore are got up in tijemfelves, and they are
in a blind zeal : for the whore got up by the inward ra-.
vening from the Spirit of God; and the beating down of
the whore muft be by the inward ftroke of the fword of
the Spirit within. All fuch as pretend Chrift |cfus, and
coiifefs him, yet run into the uie of carnal weapons^ wreft*
1659} GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 383,
ling with flefh and blood, throw away the fpiritual wea-
pons. They that would be wreftlers with flefh and blood,
throw away Chrifl's do6lrine ; the flefli is got upon them,
and they are weary of their fufferings. vSuch as would
revenge themfelves, are out of Chiifi's doftrine. Such
as being flricken on one cheek, would not turn the other,
are out of Chrifl's do6lrine. Such as do not love one
another, nor love enemies, are out ot Chrifl's do£lrine.
Therefore ye, that are heirs of the bieffings of God, wliich
were before the curfe and the fall was, come to inlierit
your portions : and ye that are heirs ol the goipel of peace,
which was before the devil was, live in the gofpel of
peace, feeking the peace and good of all men : and live
in Chrift, who came to fave men's lives, out of Adam in
the fall, where they deftroy men's lives, and live not in
Chrift. The Jews fword outwardly, by which they cut
down the heathen, was a type of the Spirit of God within,
which cuts down the heathenifh nature within. So live
in the peaceable kingdom of Chrift Jefus. Live in the
peace of God, and not in the lufts, from whence wars
arife. Live in Chrift, the prince of peace, the way of
God, the fecond Adam that never fell. Live not in Adam
in the fall, in the deftrutlion, where they deftroy ov.z
another. Come out of Adam in the fall, into the fecond
Adam that never fell. Live in love and peace with all.
men ; keep out of all the buftlings in the world ; meddle
not with the powers of the earth ; bat mind the kingdom,
the way of peace. Ye that are heirs of grace, heirs of the
kingdom, heirs of the gofpel, heirs of falvation, friints of
the Moft High, and children of God, whofe converfation
is in heaven, that is above the combuftions of the earth ;
let your converfation preach to all men, and your inno-
cent lives, that thofe who fpeak evil of you, beholding
your godly converfation, may glorify your Father which
is in heaven. Friends every where, this I charge you,
which is the word of the Lord God unto you all, - Live
' in peace, in Chrift the way of peace ;" therem feck the
peace of all men, and no man's hurt. In Adam in the
fall is rvo peace; but in Adam out of the fall is the peace:
So ye being in Adam which never fell, it is love that
overcomes, not hatred with hatred, nor ftrife with ftrifc.
Therefore live all in the peaceable life, doing good to all
men, and feeding the good and welfare of all men.
' G. F/
384 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. Ii6s9
■ Not long after this, George Booth rofe in arms in Che-
fliire, and Lambert went againft him. At which time fome
foohfh rafli fpirits, that came fometimes amongft us, were
ready to have taken up arms ; but I was moved of the Lord
to warn and forbid them, and they were quiet. In the time
of the committee of fafety (fo called) we were invited by
them to take up arms, and great places and commands were
oiTered fome of us ; but we denied them all, and declared
againft it both by word and writing; teftifying, that our
weapons and armour were not carnal, but fpiritual. And
Jeft any that came amongft us, fhould be drawn into that
fnare, it came upon me from the Lord to write a few lines
on that occalion, and fend them forth, as a caution to all
amongft us. Of which this is a copy :
ALL friends every where, take heed to keep out of the
powers of the earth, that run into wars and fightings,
whicli make not for peace, but go from that ; fuch will
not have the kingdom. And friends, take heed of joining
with this or the other, or meddling with any, or being
bufy with other men's matters ; but mind the Lord, hi^
power, and his fervice. Let friends keep out of other
men's matters, and keep in that which anfwers the witnefs
in them all, out of the man's matters part, where they
muft expecl wars, and the difhonour. Friends every
where, dwell in your own, in the power of the Lord, to keep
your minds up to God, from falling down to the ftrength
of Eg3'pt, or going thither for ftrength, after ye are come
out of it, like the children of Ifrael, after they were come
out of outward Egypt. But dwell in the power of the
Lord God, that ye may keep over all the powers of the
earth, amongft whom the juft hand of God is come : for
they have turned againft the juft, and difobeyed the juft
in their own particulars, and fo gone on in one againft the,
juft; therefore the juft fets them one againft another.
Now he that goes to help among them, is from the juft
in himfclf, in the mad and unftayed ftate, and doth not
know by the All-feeing eya (that beholdeth) him that re-
compenicth and rewardeth, and lives not in the hand, in
the power that mangles and overturns, which vexeth the
tranfgrefibrs, that come to be blind and zealous for they
do not know what. Therefore keep in peace, and in the
love and power of God, and in unity and love one to ano-
ther, left any go out, and fall with the uncircumcifcd ;
J659] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. zS
o"- )
' that is, they that are from the Spirit in theinfclvcs, and
' they that go from it, go into the pit together. Therefore
* ftand in that (it is the word of the Lqrd God to you all)
* in the fear and dread of the Lord God, his power, life,
* light, feed and wifdom, by which ye may take away the
' occafion of wars, and fo know a kingdom which halh no
' end, and fight for that with ipiritual weapons, which takes
' away the occafion of the carnal : arid there gather men to
' war, as many as yc can, and fet up as many as ye can
* with thefe weapons.
' G. F.'
After I had flaid fome time in London, and had vifited
friends meetings there and thereabouts, and the Lord's
power was fet over all, I travelled into the counties again,
pafling through SuflFolk, EfTex, and Norfolk, vifiting friends,
till I came to Norwich, where wc had a meeting about the
time called Chriftmas. The mayor of Norwich, having
got notice beforehand of the meeting I intended to have
there, granted a warrant to apprehend me. Wherefore
when I was come thither, and heard of the Vv'arrant, I fenJ:
fome friends to the mayor to rcafon with him about it.
His anfwer was, the foldiers fhould not meet ; and did we
think to meet ? he would have had us met without the city r
for he faid, the towns-people were fo rude, that he could
hardly order them, and he feared that our meeting would
make tumults in the town. But our friends told him, we
were a peaceable people, and that he ought to keep the
peace ; for we could not but meet to worQiip God, as our
manner was. So he became pretty moderate, and did not
fend his officers to the meeting. A large meeting it was,
and abundance of rude people came, with intent to have
done mifchief : but the Lord's power came over them, io
that they were chained by it, though feveral prielh were
there, and profeflbrs, and Ranters. Among the priefts, one,
whofe name was Townfend, flood up and cried, Error,
biafphemy, and an ungodly meeting ! I bad him not burden
himfelf with that which he could not make good; and 1
afked him, what was our error and biafphemy ? for I told
him, he fhould make good his words, before I h$d done
with him, or be fiiamed. As for an ungodly meeting, I faid,
I did believe there were many people there that feared God,
and therefore it was both unchrillian and uncivil in him, to
charge civil godly peo.ple with an ungodly meeting. He fai Jj
S8i5 GEO RGE FOX^s JOURNAL. [165^
My error and blafphemy was, in that I faid, people muft
wait on God by his power and Spirit, and feel his presence,
when they did not fpeak words : I aflced him then, Whe-
ther the apoftles and holy men of God did not hear God
fpeak to them in their filence, before they fpake forth the
Scripture, and before it was written ? He replied, Yes :
David and the prophets did hear God, before they did pen
the fcriptures, and felt Jiis prefence in filence, before they
fpake them forth. Then faid 1, All people take notice, he
faid this was error and blafphemy in me to fay thefe v/ords ;
and now he hath confeffed it is no more llian the holy men
of God in former times witnefTed. So I fhewed the people,
that as the holy men of God, who gave forth the Scriptures,
were moved by the Holy Ghoft, did hear and leani of
God, before they fpake them forth, fo muft they all heark-
en and hear what the Spirit faith, which will lead them into
all truth, that they may know God and Chrift, and may
underftand the Scriptures. O, faid the prieft, this is not
that George Fox I would fpeak withal ; this is a fubtil man,
faid he. So the Lord's power came over all, the rude peo-
ple were moderate, and were reached by it ; and fome pro-
feffors called to the priefts, faying, ' Prove the blafphe-
* my and errors, which ye have charged them with : ye
* have fooken much asainft them behind their backs, but
' nothing ye can prove now to their faces.' But the prieft
began to get away : whereupon I told him, we had many
things to charge him withal, therefore let him fet a time and
place to anfwer them ; which he did and went his way. A
glorious day this was : for truth came over all, and people
were turned to God by his power and Spirit, and to the
Lord Jefus Chrift, their free teacher, who was exalted over
all. And as we pafTed away, generally people's hearts were
filled with love towards us ; yea, the ruder fort of them de-
fired another meeting : for the evil intentions they had
againfl; us were thrown out of their hearts. At night I paf-
fed out of town to a friend's houfe, and fr6m thence to colo-
nel Dennis's, where we had a great meeting : and afterwards
travelled on, vifiting friends up and down in Norfolk, Hunt-
inptonfliire, and Cambridgeftiire. But Georsje Whitehead,
and Richard Hubberthorn ftaid about Norwich, to meet
the prieft, who was foon confounded and down, the Lord's
power came fo over him.
After 1 had travelled through many counties in the
Lord's fervice, and many were convinced, notwithftaiiding
1659] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 387
that in fome places the people were very rude, I returned
to London again, when general Monk was come up thither,
and the gates and polls of the city were pulling down.
* Long before this I had a vifion, wherein 1 faw the city
* lie in heaps, and the gates down ; and it was then repre-
* fented to me, juft as I faw it feveral years after, lying in
* heaps when it was burned.'
Divers times had I, both by word and writing, forewarn-
ed the feveral powers, both in Oliver's time and after, of
the day of recompenfe that was coming upon them : but
they rejc6ling counfel, and flighting thofe vifitations of love
to them, I was moved now, before they were quite over-
turned, to lay their backfiiding, hypocrily, and treacherous
dealing before them, thus :
FRIENDS, Now are the prophecies fulfilled and ful-
filling upon you, which have been fpoken to you by
the people of God in your courts, in your fleeple-houfes,
in your towns, cities, markets, highways, and at your
feafts, when ye were in your pleafures, and puffed up,
that ye would neither hear God nor man; when ye were
in your height of authority, though raifed up from a
mean ftate, none might come nigh you without bow-
ing, or the refpeft of perfons, for ye were in the world's
way, compliments and fafhions, which for confcience fake
towards God, they could not go into, being redeemed
therefrom: therefore they were hated by you for that caufe.
But how are ye brought low, who exalted yourfeives above
your brethren, and threw the juft and harmlefs from
among you, until at laft God hath thrown you out : and
when ye caft the innocent from amongft you, then ye
fell a biting one another, until ye were con fumed one of
another. And fo the day is come upon you, which be-
fore was told to v/)u. thoutjh ve would not believe it. And
are not your hearts lo hardened, that ye will hardly yet
believe, though ready to go into captivity ? was it not told
you, when ye Ipilt the blood of the innocent in your ilee-
ple-houfes, in your markets, in your highways and cities,
yea, and even in )'Our courts alfo, bccaufe they faid the
word Thou to you, and could not put off their hats to you,
' That if fomething did not rile up amongd yourfeives,
' to avenL{e the blood ot the iimocent. there would come
•' fomething from beyond the ftj.s, which lav referved there;
" which being brought hy the arm of God, the arm of ilefLt
Q N
3^58 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1659
* and ftrongeft mountain cannot withftand ?" Yet ye
would not conlider, nor regard, nor hear; but cried,
peace, peace, and feafted yourfelves, and fat down in the
fpoil of your enemies, being treacherous both to God
and man ; and xvho will trufl you now ? have ye not ta-
ken covenants and oaths ? and broken covenants and oaths
betwixt God and man, and made the nations breakers
both of covenants and oaths ; fo that nothing but hypo-
crify, and rottennefs, and falfehood under fair pretence,
was amongft you ? When ye pretended to fet up the old
caufe, it was but yourfelves ; for which ye long flunk
to fober people, who faw that ye would do no good. But
it was a joy for any of you to get up into authority, that
ye might have praife, and honour, and refpeft ; and they
that were in the felf-denial were a derifion to you ; from
amongft whom that was banifhed. Thus ye became the
nations maflers, and not fervants ; whereas the greatefl of
all fhould be the fervants of all. But there ye loll your
authority, not confidering your eftates, from whence ye
were, and to what end God had raifed you up ; but for-
got the Lord, and quenched that which was good in your-
felves, and perfecuted them that lived in it : and fo are
grown fo grofs and perverfe, that at laft ye are fit for
neither God nor man. Have not ye ufed to call the Qua-
kers the *anatic people, and the giddy heads ? but whither
now are ye giddying ? into Cain's city Nod, which figni-
fies fugitive, or wandering ? Have not ye perfecuted and
imprifoned to death, fuch as God had refpeft to, and is
now reproving you for their fakes, by them whom ye have
hated ? Were not many amongtl you cut oflF for your
peifecution. and yet the reft of you would not take warn-
ing ? W^as not there a book of examples fet out unto
you, of what fudden and ft range deaths happened upon
the perfecUcors of the innocent ? and yet ye would not
take warning, until the overflowing fcourge is now coming
upon you. Are not ye they that have killed like Cain, who
have killed about vour facrifice, and mingled the blood of
the innocent with it ? Hath not God now vagabonded
you, that ye fhould become a curfe upon the earth, who
have perfecuted friends to death ? Did not the blood of
the righteous cry out of the ground for vengeance i* And
will not the blood of the righteous be required ? Could
ye think, that the Lord would fit always with bloody
hands, and fifts of wickednefs I Ah! What's become of
1659] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 389
' all your feafts and your fafts, the prayers and blefiTings of
' your priefls I
' G. F.*
Being now clear of the city, and finding my fpirit drawn
to vifit friends in the weftern parts of England, I went out
of town ; and paffing firft into Surry and SuiFex, came to
a great town, where there was a large meeting, to which
feveral friends from Reading came ; and a bleiled meeting
it was. The prieft of the town was in a great rage, but did
not come out of his houfe, whereiore, hearing him make a
great noife in his houfe, as we were paiTing from the meet-
ing, we bid him come out into the flreet, and we would dil-
courfe with him ; but he would not. So the Lord's power
being over all, friends were refreflied therein. From thence
I went to another market-town, where in the evening we
had a precious meeting ; and the frcfh fenfe of the prefence
of the Lord God was fweetly felt amongft us. Then turn-
ing into Ilampfliire and Dorfetfhire, I went to Rmgwood
and Pool, viliting friends in the Lord's power, and had
great meetings amongft them.
At Dorchefter we had a great meeting in the evening at
our inn, to which many foldiers came, and were pretty civil.
But the conftables and officers of the town came, under
pretence to look for a Jefuit, whofe head (they faid) was
lliaved : and they would have all to put off tlveir hats, or
elfe they would take them off, to look for the Jcfuit's
Jhaven crown. So they took off my hat (for I was the
man they aimed at) and they looked very narrov»'ly ; but
not finding any bald or fhaven place on my head, they went
away with fhame : and the foldiers, and other fober pe(>ple
were greatly offended with them. But it was of good fer-
vice for the Lord, and all things wrought together for good ;
for it affecled the jx;ople : and after the officers were gone,
we had a fine meeting ; and people were turned to the Lord
Jefus Chrift, their teacher, who had bought them, and
would reconcile them to God.
From thence we paffed into Somcrfetfhire, where the
Prefbytci'ians and other profeffors were very wicked, and
often difturbed friends meetings. ' One time efpecially
' (as we were then informed) a very wicked man put a bear's
' fkin on his back, and undertook with that to play pranks.
* in the meeting. Accordingly, fetting himfelf oppofiie to
^ the friend that was Ipeaking, he lolled his tongue out ui
3 ^ 2
390 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1659
' his mouth, and made fport to his wicked followers, caufing
' great ditlurbance in the meeting. But an eminent judg-
' ment overtook him, and his punifliment {lumbered not;
* for as he went from the meeting there was a bull-baiting in
* the way, which he ftayed to lee ; and coming within the
' bull's reach, he ftruck his horn under the man's chin into
' his throat, and thruft his tongue out of his mouth, fo that
' it hung lolling out, as he had u led it before in derifion in
' the meeting. And the bull's horn running up into the
* man's head, he fwung him about upon his horn in a moil
* remarkable and fearful manner. Thus he that came to do
' mifchief amongft God's people was mifchieved hinifelf ;
' and well would it be if luch apparent examples of divine
* ven,^eance would teach others to beware.'
We travelled through Somerfetfliire and Devonfhire, till
we came to Plymouth, and fo into Cornwall, vifiting the
meetings of friends, to the Land's-end. Many precious and
bieffcd meetings we had all along as we went, wherein the
convinced were eftabliihed, and many others were added to
them. At the Land's-end an honefl fifherman was convin-
ced, who became a faithful minifter of Chrift. I took no-
tice of iiim to friends, telling them, ' He was like Peter.'
AVhile I was in Cornwall, there were great fhip wrecks
about the Land's-end. It was the cuftom of that country
at fuch a time, both rich and poor went out to get as much
of the wreck as they could, not caring to fave the people's
lives ; and in fome parts of the country they called Ihipr
wrecks God's grace. It grieved my ipirit to hear of fuch un-
chriftian aftions, confidering how far they were below the
heathen at Melita, who received Paul, made him a fire,
and were courteous towards him, and thofe that fufFered
fh'pv.Teck with him. Wherefore I was moved to write a
paper, and fend it to all the pariflies, priefts, and magif-
trates, to reprove them for fuch greedy aftions, and to warn
and e^ihort them that, if they could affift to fave people's
lives and preferve their fliips and goods, they fhould ufe
their diligence therein ; and confider, if it had been their
own condition, they would judge it hard, if they fhould be
upon a wreck and the people fliould fhive to get what they
could from them, and not regard their lives.
' Friends and people,
AKE heed of greedinefs and covetoufnefs, for that
ig idolatry ; and the idolater mult not enter into the
:T
1659] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 391
kingdom of God. Take heed of drunkennefs, oaths^ and
curlings, for fuch are deftroyers of the creatton, and make
it to groan. Lay afide all fighting, quarrelling, brawling,
and evil-fpeaking, which are the works of the flefh and
not of the Spirit, for who follow fuch things are not like
to inherit the kingdom of God. Put away all corrupt
words, which are unlavoury, and mifnaming one another,
for ye muft give an account for every idle word. Lay
afide all profeflion and religion that is vain, and come to
the poffeffion, the pure religion, which is to vifit the fa-
therlefs, the widow, and the ftranger, and receive them,
for fome thereby may entertain angels or the fervants of
the Lord unawares, as Paul was entertained after the fliip-
wreck at Melita. Do not take people's goods from them
by force out of their fliips, teamen's or others, neither
covet after them ; but rather endeavour to preferve their
lives and goods for them, for that fhews a ipirit of com-
paffion, and the fpirit of a chriflian. But if ye be greedy
and covetous after other men's goods, not mattering what
becomes of the men, would ye be ferved fo yourfelves ?
If ye fhould have a fhip caft away in other places, and the
people fhould come to tear the goods and f!:iip in pieces,
not regarding to fave your lives, but be ready to fight one
with another for your goods, do not ye believe fuch goods
would become a curfe to them ? May ye not as furely be-
lieve fuch kind of aSions will become a curfe to you ?
When the fpoil of one ftiip's goods is idly fpent and confu-
med upon the lulls in alehoufes, taverns, and otherwife, then
ye gape for another. Ls this to " do as ye would be done
' by ;" which is the law and the prophets ? Priefl Hull, are
thefe thy fruits ? What doft thou take people's labour and
goods for ? Hafl; thou taught the people no better man-
ners and converfation, who are fo brutiih and heathenifii H
All fuch things we judge in whomfoever. But if any
friend or others preferve men's lives, and endeavour to
fave their goods and eftates, and reflore what they can
fave of a wreck to the owners, if they confider them for
their labour, dping in that cafe unto them what they
would have done to themfelves, that we approve. And
if they buy or fell, and do not make a prey, that is al-
lowed of ffcill in the way of " doing as ye would be done
■ by," keeping to the law and to the prophets. If you
fhould be wrecked in another country, ye would have
Other people fave your lives and goods, and have your
392 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [165*7
goods reftored to you again, and you ought to confider
them for fo doing. All that do othervvife, who wait for a
wreck and take the goods for yourfelves, not regarding the
^ lives of the men, but if any efcape drowning turn them a
begging up and down the country, and if any efcape with
a little rob them of it, all that do fo are not for preferving
the creation, but deftroying it : and thofe goods which
are fo got fliall be a curfe, a plague, and a judgment to
them, and the judgments of God will follow them for aft-
ing fuch things ; the witnefs in your confciences fhall an-
fwer it. Therefore, all ye who have done fuch things,
' do fo no more," left a worfe thing come unto you. But
that which is good, do : prefer\^e men's lives and eftates,
and labour to reftore the lofs and breach : that the Lord
requires. . Be not like a company of greedy dogs, and
woife thati heathens, as if ye had never heard of God, nor
Chrift, nor the fcriptures, nor pure religion. And prieft
Hull, have people fpent their money upon thee for that
which is no bread ? for a thing of nought, that thou haft
fuch fruits ? All fuch teachers, that make a trade of the
fcriptures (which are given forth from the Spirit of God,
to be believed, read, and praftifed, and Chrift, whom
they teftify of. enjoyed) we utterly deny ; who own Chrift,,
and are come off from your fteeple-houfes, which were the
old mafs-houfes ; for there are thefe bad fruits harboured,
thofe are the cages of them. But come to the church
which is in God (1 TheiL i.) and come all to the light
which Chrift Jefus hath enlightened you with, which
ftiews you all your ungodly words, ungodly thoughts, and.
ungodly aftions. This will' be your teacher if ye love
it, your condemner if ye hate it. For the mighty day of
the Lord is coming upon all wickednefs and ungodlinefs ;
therefore lay aiide vour whoredoms and fornications. And
ye magiftratcs, who are to do juftice, think ye not that
the hand of the Lord is againft you, and that his judgments
will come upon you v/ho do not look after thefe things, and
ftop them with the law, which is, " To do .unto all men
• as they would have done unto them," whereby ye might
be a good favour in )-our country ? Is not the law to pre-
ferve men's lives and eftates, " Doing unto all men as
' they would men fhould do unto them ?" For all men
' would have their lives and eftates preferved ; therefore,
iUouid not ye prcferve others, and not fufFer them to be
i€6o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 393
* devoured and deftroyed ? The evil of thefe things will lie
* upon you, both priefts and magiflrates.
' G. F/
'POSTSCRIPT.
' All dear friends who iear the Lord God, keep out of
' the ravenous world's Ipirit, which leads to raven and de-
' ftroy, and is out of the vi^ifdom of God. When Ihips are
* wrecked, do not run to deftroy and make havock ot fhip
' and goods with the world ; but run to lave the men, and
* the goods for them : and fo deny yourfelves, and do unto
' them as ye would they ftiould do unto you.
' G. F.'
This paper had good fervice among people : and friends
have endeavoured much to fave the lives of men in time of
wrecks, and to preferve the fhips and goods for them. And
when fome, who fufFered fiiipwreck, have been almoft dead
and flarved, friends have taken them to their houfes to fuc-
cour and recover them, which is an a6l to be pra6tiied by
all true chriftians.
I had many precious, blcffed, living meetings in Corn-
Tvall, feveral eminent people being convinced in that coun-
ty, whom neither priefts nor magi Urates, by fpoiling goods
or imprifonments, could bring to forfake their fhepherd, the
Lord Jefus Chrift, who bought them ; and friends who were
turned to Chrift, their Teacher and Saviour, being fettled
in peace and quietnefs upon him, their Foundation, we left
them to the Lord's teaching and ordering, frefh and green.
Thomas Lower, who had accompanied me through that
county, brought me over Horfe-bridge into Devonftiire
again ; and after feveral meetings in Devonftiire we came to
Somerfetftiire, where we had divers large and peaceable
meetings, and vifited friends till we came to Briftol.
I entered Briftol on a feventh-day. The day before tlie.
foldiers came into the meeting, and were exceeding rude,
beating and ftriking friends with their mufkets, and drove
them out of the orchard in a great rage, threatening what
they would do if they came there again. For the mayor
and the commander of the foldiers had, it fetms, combined
tof^ether to make a difturbance amon^jft us. When Iri^nds
-11'
told me what a rage there was m the town, how tjiey were
threatened by the mayor and foldiers, and how unru!}- they
394 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. I1660
had been the day before, I fent for George Bidiop, Thomas
Gouldney, Thomas Speed, and Edward Pyot, and defired
them to go to the mayor and aldermen,' and requeft them,
feeing they had broke up our meetings, to let us have the
town-hali to meet in ; and for the ufe of it we would give
them twenty pounds a year, to be diftributed amongfl the
poor : and when the mayor and aldermen had bufmefs to
do in it, friends would not meet in it, but only on the firft-
days. Thofe friends were aftonifhed at this, and faid, The
mayor and aldermen would think they were mad. I faid,
Nay ; for they fhould offer them a confiderable benefit to
the poor. And it was upon me from the Lord to bid them
go. At lafl they confented, and went, though in the crofs
to their own wills. When they had laid the thing before
the mayor, it came fo over him, that he faid, ' For his part
' he could confent to it, but he was but one.* He told
them of another great hall they might have, but that they
did not accept of, it being inconvenient. So they came
away, leaving the mayor in a very loving frame towards
them ; for they felt the Lord's power had come over him.
When they came back, I fpoke to them to go to the colo-
nel, and lay before him the rude carriage of his foldiers,
how they came armed amongfl naked innocent people, who
were waiting upon and worftiipping the Lord; but they
were backward to go to him. Next morning, being firft-
day, we went to the meeting in the Orchard, where the fol-
diers had fo lately been fo rude. After I had declared the
truth a pretty while in the meeting, there came in many
rude foldiers and people, fome with drawn fwords. The
innkeepers had made Ibme of them drunk ; and one of them
' had bound himfelf with an oath, ' to cut down and kill the
* man that fpoke.' He came prefling in through the crowd
to within two yards of me, and flopped at thofe four friends
before-mentioned (who fhould have gone to the colonel as
I would have had them) and fell a jangling with them.
On a fudden I faw his fword was put, up and gone; tor
the Lord's power came over all, and chained him with the
reft. We had a blelfed tneeting, for the Lord's everlafling
power and prefence was felt amongft us. The day follow-
ing thofe four friends went and fpoke with the colonel, and
he fent for the foldiers, and cut and flafhed fome of them
before the friends faces. Which when 1 heard of 1 blamed
them for letting him do fo, and alfo for not going on the
fcventh-day as I would have had thcmj which might have
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL.
39?
prevented this cutting of the foldiers, and the trouhle they
gave at our meeting. Thus the Lord's power came over
all thole perfecuting, bloody minds, and the meeting was
held in peace for a good while after.
I liad then aUo a general meeting at Edward Pyot's near
Briflol, at which it was judged were feveral thoufands of
people ; for befides friends from many parts tliercabouts,
lomc of the Baplifts and Independents, with their teachers,
came to it, and many of the lobcr people of Briflol ; in-
fonmch that the people who (laid behind faid, ' The city
' looked naked/ fo many were gone out of it to this meet-
ing. It was very quiet, many glorious truths were opened
to the people, and the Lord jefus Chrifl was fct up, who-
is the end of all figures and Ihadow^, of the law and the
firll covenant. It was declared to the people, that all
figures and Ihadows were given to man after man fell, and
that all the rudiments and inventions of men which have
been fet up in Chriflendom, many of which were Jewifli and
heathenifli, were not fet up by the command of Chriil ; and
all images and likeneffes man has made to himfelf or for
himfelf, whether of things in heaven or things in earth, have
been fince he loft the image and likenefs of God, which
God made him in. But now Chriil is come to redeem,
tranflate, convert, and regenerate man out of all thefe things
that he hath fet up in the fall, out of the true types, figures
and fhadows alfo, and out of death and darknefs, up into
the light, life, and image of God again, which man and
woman were in before they fell. Therefore all now fliould
come, and all may come to receive Chrift Jelus, the lub-
flance, by his light, fpirit, grace and faith, and fliould live
and walk in him, the Redeemer and Saviour.
And as we had a great deal of work with priefts and pro-
feflbrs, who pleaded for imperfection, I was opened to de-
clare and manifell to them that Adam and Eve w'ere perleft
before they fell, and all that God made he law was good,
and he blelFed it ; but the impcrfeclion came in by the fall,
through man's and woman's hearkening to the devil who was
out of truth. And though the law made nothing periecl,
yet it m ido way for the bringing in of the better hope, wliich
hope is Chrift, who deftroys the devil and his works, which
made man and woman imperfe£l. Chrift faith to his dilci-'
pies, ' Be yc perfefl, even as your heavenly Father is p-r-
' fe6l :' and he, who himfelf was perfect, comes to ni.ikc
man and woman perfeft again, and brinj>s thero a^aiu to the
396 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
ftate which God made them in. So he is the maker up oT
the breach, and the peace betwixt God and man. That
this might the better be underftood by the loweft capacities,
I ufed a comparifon of two old people who had their houfe
broken down by an enemy, fo that they, with all their chil-
dren, were liable to all ftorms and tempefts. And there
came fome to them that pretended to be workmen, and of-
fered to build up their houfe again, if they would give them
fo much a year ; but when they had got their money they
left their houfe as they found it. After this manner came
a fecond, third, fourth, fifth, and fixth, each with his feve-
ral pretence to build up the old houfe, and each got the
people's money, and then cried, * They could not rear up
* the houfe, the breach- could not be made up ; for there is
' no perfeftion here.' They tell them, the houfe can never
be perfe6lly built up again in this life, though they have
taken the people's money for doing it. For all the fe6l-
mafters in chriitendom (fo called) have pretended to build
up Adam's and Eve's fallen houfe, and when they have
got people's money, tell them the work cannot be perfeftly
done here ; fo their houfe lies as it did. But I told the
people, Chrift was come to do it freely, who by one offer-
ing hath perfe£ted for ever all them that are fanctifitd,
and renews them up into the image of God, which man
and woman were in before they fell, and makes man's and
woman's houfe as perfe£l again as God made them at the
firft; and this Chrift, the heavenly Man, doth freely.
Therefore all are to look unto him, and all that have re-
ceived him are to walk in him, the Life, the Subftance,
the Firft, and the Laft, ' The Rock of Ages, the Founda-
' tion of many Generations,' Largely were thefe and ma-
ny other things opened to people, the word of life was
preached, ^which lives and abides, and all were exhorted to
hear and obey it, that by it all might be born again of the
immortal feed, and feed of the milk of the word. A glo-
rious meeting there was, wherein the Lord's everlafting feed,
Chrift Jefus, was fet over all, and friends parted in the
power and Spirit of the Lord, in peace, and in his truth,
that is over all.
About this time the foldiers under general Monk's com-
mand were rude and troublcfome at friends meetings in
many places, whereof complaint being made to him, he
gave forth the ^ilpwing order, which fomewhat reftrained
them :
,1660]. GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 397
" St. James's, the 9th of March, 1659.
** T DO require all officers and foldiers to forbear to dif-
" A turb the peaceable meetings of the Quakers, they doing
*' nothing prejudicial to the parliament or commonwealth
*' of England.
^ Geonic Monk."
o
After this meeting, I paffed to Oldefton, to Nailfworth,
and to Nathaniel Crifp's; where was a large meeting, and
feveral foldiers, but quiet. From thence we paflcd to
Gloucefter, vifiting meetings. In Gloucefter we had one
that was peaceable, though the town was very rude and
divided; for one part of the foldiers were for the king,
and another for the parliament. As J paffed out of the
town over the bridge, Edward Pyot being with me, the
foldiers there faid, * They were for the kmg.' After we
were pafl; them, they were in a great rage that I had efcaped
them, and faid, ' Had they known it they would have ihot
* me with "hail-fhot rather than I Ihould have efcaped.'
But the Lord prevented their devilifh defign, and brought
me fafe to colonel Grimes's, where we had a large gefieral
meeting, and the Lord's truth and power was fet over all ; "
friends were eftablifhed upon the Rock, and fettled under
the Lord Jefus Chrift's teaching.
We palfed from thence to Tcv.kfbury, and fo to Wor-
cefter, vifiting meetings as we went. And in all my time
I never faw the like drunkennefs as then in the towns ; for
they had been choofing parliament-men. At Worcefler
the Lord's truth was fet over all, people were firtely fettled
therein, and friends praifed the Lord ; nay, I fuw the very
earth rejoiced. Yet great fears and troubles wer£ in many,
looking for the king's coming in, and that all things fhould
be altered. They would a(k me what I thought of times
and things ? I told them the Lord's power was ov'rr all,
his light fhined over all, and that fear would take hold only
on the hypocrites, fuch as had not been faithiul to God,
and on our pcrfecutors. In my travail and fuftcrings at
Reading, when people were at a ftand, and could not tell
who might rule, I told them the Lord's power was over all
(for I travelled throuL'h in it) and his dav fhined whofoever
fhould come in, and whether the king came in or md. all
would be well to them that loved (he Lord, and were taitii-
3O2
398 GEORGE FQX's JOURNAL. C1660
ful to him. Therefore I bid all friends fear none but the
Lord, and keep in his power that was over all.
From Worcefter I vifited friends meetings till I came to
Badgely ; from thence I went to Drayton, in LeiceflerHiire,
to vifit my relations. While I was there, one Burton, a
juftice, hearing I had a good horfe, fent a warrant to fearch
for me and my horfe ; but I was gone before they came, fo
he miffed of his wicked end. I paffed to Twycrofs, Sv/an-
ington, and Derby, where I vifited friends, and found my
old gaoler amongfl them, who had formerly kept me in the
houie of corrc(5tion there, who was now convinced of the
truth which I then fufFered under him for. PafTing into
Derbyfliire and Nottinghamfhire, I came to Synderhili-
green, vifiting friends meetings; and fo to Ealby in York-
Ihire, where our yearly meeting at that time was held, in a
great orchard of John Killam's, where it was fuppoied fome
tiioufands of people and friends were gathered together. In
the morning I heard a troop of horfe was fent from York,
about thirty miles off, to break np our me!»ting, and that
the militia newly raifcd was to join them. I went into the
meeting, and ftood up on a great flool ; and after I had
fpoken fome time, two trumpeters came, founding their
trumpets pretty near me, and the captain of the troop
cried, ' Divide to the right and left, and make way.' Then
they rode up to me. I was declaring the everlafting truth
and word of life, in the mighty power of the=Lord. The
captain bid me ' Come down, for he was come to difperfe
* our meeting.' After fome time I told him, they all knew
we were a peaceable people, and that we ufed to have fuch
great meetings; bu.t il he apprehended we met in an hoftile
way, I dcfired him to make fearch among us, and if he
found eitlier fword or piftol about any there, let fuch fuffer.
Pie told me, * Ke muft fee us difperfed, for he came all
' night on purpofe to difperfe us.' I aflced him. What
honour it would be to him to ride with fwords and piftols
amongfl fo many unarmed men and women as there were ?
If he would be ftill and quiet, our meeting probably might
not continue above two or three hours, and w-hen it was
done, as we came peaceably together, fo we fhould part ;
for he migiit perceive the meeting was fo large all the coun-
try thereabouts could not entertain them, but that they in-
tended to depart towards their homes at night. He (aid,
' He could not Oay to fee the meeting ended, but muft dif-
' pcrfe' them before Ijc went.' I dgtiied him then, if he
i66o] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 399
himfelf could not flay, that he would let a dozen of his
foldiers flay, and fee the order and peaceablcnefs of our
meeting. He faid, ' He would permit us an hour's time/
and left half a dozen foldiers with us. Then he went away
with his troop, and friends of the lioufe ^ave the foldiers
that flaid, and their horfes, lome meat. When the captain
was gone, the foldiers that were left told us, ' We might
*■ flay till night if we would.' But we flaid but about three
hours after, and had a glorious, powerful meeting ; for the
prefence of the living God was manifefl amongll us, and
the feed, Chrifl, was fet over all. Friends were built upon
him the foundation, and fettled under his glorious, heaven-
ly teaching. After the meeting friends paffed away in peace,
greatly refreftied with the prefence of the Lord, and filled
with joy and gladnefs that the Lord's power had given them
fuch dominion. Many of the militia-foldiers flaid alio,
much vexed that the captain and troopers had not broke up
our meeting, and curfed the captain and his troopers. It
was reported they intended evil againll us that day ; but
the troopers, inflead of affifling them, were rather afhflant
to us, in not joining them as they expecled, but prevent-
ing them from doing the mifchief they defigned. Yet this
captain was a defperate man ; for it was he that fa id to me
in Scotland, ' He would obey his fuperior's commands, it
* it was to crucify Chrifl he would do it, or execute the
* great Turk's^ commands againfl the chriftians if he was
' under him.' So that it was an eminent power of the
Lord, which chained both him and his troopers, and tliofe
envious militia-foldiers alfo, who went away, not having
power to hurt any of us, nor to break up our meeting.
Next day Vv-'e had an heavenly meeting at Wanni worth
of friends in the miniflry, with feveral others ; and then
friends parted. As they paffed through the country feveral
were taken up ; for the day that our firfl meeting was held
on, Lambert was routed, and it made great confufion in the
country ; but friends were not kept long in prifon at that
time. As I went to this meeting there came feveral to mc
at Skegby in Nottinghamfliire, who were going to be fol-
diers under Lambert, and would have bought my horfe of
me ; and becaufe I would not fell him, they were in a great
rage againfl me, ufing many threatening words: but I told
them, ' God v/ould confound and fcatter luem ;' and wxthiu
two or three da)*^ after they were fcattercd indeed.
From Warmfworth I patfed, in the Lord'.s power, to
400 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. Ii66<3
Barton-abby, where' I had a great meeting ; from thence
to Thomas Taylor's, and fo to Skipton, where was a gene-
ral meeting o^ men triends out of many counties concerning
the affairs of the church. ' A friend went naked through
' the town, declaring truth, and was much beaten. Some
• other friends alfo came to me all bloody.' As I walked in
the Itrcet, a defperate fellow had an intent to have done me
railchief; but he was prevented, and our meeting was qui-
et. I'o this meeting came many friends out of mofl parts
of the nation ; for it was about bufmefs relating to the
church both in this nation and beyond the feas. Several
years before, when I w^s in the north, I was moved to
recommend to friends the fetting up of this meeting for that
fervice ; for many friends fuffered in divers parts of ths
nation, their goods were taken from them contrary to law,
and they underftood not how to help themfelves, or where
to feek redrefs. But after this meeting was fet up, feveral
friends who had been magiflrates, and others who under-
ftood fomcthing of the law, came thither, and were able to
inform friends, and to affift them in gathering up the fuffer-
ings, that they might be laid before the juflices, judges, or
parliament. This meeting had ftood feveral years, and
divers juflices and captains had come to break it up ; but
when they underftood the bufinefs friends met about, and
faw friends books, and accounts of colleftions for relief of
the poor, how wc took care one county to help another,
and to help our friends beyond fea, and provide for our
poor that none of theni fhould be chargeable to their pa-
riflies, Sec. the iuflices and officers confeffed that we did
their v/ork, and would pafs away peaceably and lovingly,
' commending friends praclice,' Sometimes there would
come two hundred of the poor of other people, and wait
till the meeting was done (for all the country knev/ we met
about the poor) and after the meeting friends would fend
to the bakers for bread, and give every one of thofe poor
people a loaf, how many foever there were of them ; for
we were taught ' to do good unto all, though efpecially tO'
' the houfchold of faith.'
After this meeting, I vifited friends meetings till I came
to Lancaflcr; from whence I went to Robert Withers's, and
fo to Arnfide, where I had a general meeting for all the
friends in the counties of Weflmoreland, Cumberland, and
Lancafhire. This meeting was quiet and peaceable, and
the ii\-ing prcfcnce of the Lord wms amongft us. I went
i«6o] GEORGE FOX'a JOURNAL. 40$
back with Robert Withers, and iiiends palled away, frefh
in the Hfe and power of Ghriil, in which they had domi-
nion, being fettled upon him the Heavenly Rock and Foun-
dation. Several rude fellows, ferving-men belonging to Sir
George Middleton, a juflice, that lived not far otf, came to
have made fome difturbance, as it was thought ; but the
Ineeting being ended they did nothing there : but lighting
on three women friends going homeward, they fet upon
them with impudent fcofFs, and one of them carried him-
felf very abufively and immodeftly towards them. The
fame man abufed other friends alfo, and was fo outrageous
that he would have cut fome with an ax, but that he was
reftrained by fome of his fellows. At another time the
fame man fet upon fix friends that were going to a meeting
at Yelland, and beat and abufed them fo, that he ' bruifed
' their faces and fhed much of their blood,' wounding them
very fore, and one of them in feveral parts of his body ;
yet they lifted not an hand againft him, but gave him their
backs and cheeks to beat.
From Robert Withers's I went next day to Swarthmore,
Francis Howgil and Thomas Curtis being with me. I had
not been long there before Henry Porter, a juftice, fent a
warrant by the chief conftable and three petty conftables to
apprehend me. I had a fenfe of the thing beforehand; and
being in the parlour with Richard Richardfon and Marga-
ret Fell, fome of her fervants came and told her, there
were fome come to fearch the houfe for arms, and they went
up into fome of the chambers under that pretence. It came
upon me to go out to them, and as I was going by fome
of them, I fpoke to them ; whereupon they afJced me my
name. I readily told them my name^ and they laid hold
on me, faying, I was the man they looked for, and led me
away to Ulverflone. There they kept me all night at the
conftable's, and fet a guard of fifteen or fixteen men to
watch me ; fome of whom fate in the chimney, for fear I
fhould go up the chimney: fuch dark imaginations polleiTed
them. They v/ere very rude and uncivil to me, and would
neither fuflPer me to fpeak to friends nor friends to bring me
necelfaries ; but with violence thruft them out, and kept a
flrong guard upon me. Very wicked and rude they were,
and a great noife they made about me. One of the confta-
bles, whofe name was Afhburnham, fiiid, ' He diil not think
* a thoufand men could have taken mc.' Another of the
eouftables, whofe name was Mount, a very wicked man,
402 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. I1669
faid, • He would have ferved judge Fell himfelf fo, if he
* had been alive, and he had a warrant for him/ Next
morning, about the fixth hour, I was putting on my boots
and fpurs to go with them before fome juiiice; but they
pulled ofiF my fpurs, took my knife out of my pocket, and
hafted me away along the town, with a party of horfe and
abundance of people, not fuflPering me to flay till my own
horfe came down. When I was gone about a quarter of
a mile with them, fome friends, with Margaret Fell and her
children, came towards me, and then a great party of horfe
gathered about me in a mad rage and fury, crying out,
' Will they refcue him ! will they refcue him !' Where-
upon I faid, ' Here is my hair, here is my back, here are
* my cheeks, ftrike on !* Upon which their heat was a little
alTuaged. Then they brought a little horfe, and two of
them took up one of my legs, and put my foot in the flir-
tup, and two or three lifting over my other leg, fet me
upon the little horfe, behind the faddle, and fo led the
horfe by the halter, but I had nothing to hold by. When
they were come a pretty way out of the town, they beat
the little horfe, and made him kick and gallop ; whereupon
I flipped off him, and told them, ' They fhould not abufe
' the creature.' They were much enraged at my getting
off, and took me by the legs and feet, and fet me upon the
fame horfe behind the faddle again, and led the horfe about
two miles, till we came to a great water called Carter-ford.
By this time my own horfe was come to us, and the water
beiiig deep, and their little horfe fcarce able to carry me
through, they let me get upon my own horfe through the
perfuafion of fome of their own company, they leading him
through the water. One wicked fellow ' kneeled down,
* and lifting up his hands blelFed God that I was taken.*
When I was come over the fands, I told them I had heard
I had liberty to choofe what juftice I would go before ;
but the conllables cried, ' No, I fhould not.* They led
me to Lancaller, about fourteen miles, and a great triumph
they thought to have had ; but as they led me I was moved
to ' fmg praifes to the Lord, in his triumphing power over
' all.' When I was come to Lancafl;er, the fpirits of the
people being mightily up, I flood and looked earneflly
upon them, and they cried, ' Look at his eyes !" After a
while I {poke to them, and they were pretty fobcr. Then
came a young man who took me to his houfe, and after a
little time tb© officers had me to iruijor Porter's^ the juftice
16^0] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 403
who had fent the warrant again ft me, who had feveral others
with him. When I came in. I faid, ' Peace be amongft
* you.' Porter afked me, ' Why I came into the country
* that troublelbme time ?' I told him, ' To vifit my bre-
* thren.' But faid he, ' You have great meetings up and
* down/ 1 told him though we had, our meetings were
known throughout the nation to be peaceable, and we were
a peaceable people. He faid, ' We law the devil in peo-
* pie's faces.' I told him, ' If I faw a drunkard, or a fwear-
* er, or a peevifh heady man, I could not fay I faw the
* Spirit of God in him.' And I afked him, ' If he could
* fee the Spirit of God ?' He faid, ' We cried againft their
* minifters.' I told him, While we v.^ere as Saul, fitting
under the priefts, and running up and down with their
packets of letters, we were never called pcftilent fellows nor
makers of fedls ; but when we were come to exercife our
confciences towards God and man, we were called peftilent
fellows, as Paul was. He faid, We could exprefs ourfelves
"well enough, and he would not difpute with me ; but he
would reftrain me. I defired to know, ' for what, and by
' whole order he fent his warrant for me ;' and complained
to him of the abufe of the conflables and other officers after
they had taken me, and in their bringing me thither. He
would not take notice of that, but told me, ' He had an
' order, but would not let me fee it ; for he would not re-
* veal the king's fecrets ;' and befides, ' a prifoner,' he faid,
' was not to fee for what he was committed.' I told him,
that was not reafon ; for how fhould he make his defence
then ? I laid I ought to have a copy of it. But he faid,
There was a judge once, ' that fined one for letting a pri-
' foner have a copy of his mittimus; and,' faid he, ' I have an
' old clerk, though I am a young juftice.' Then he called to
his clerk, faying, ' Is it not ready yet ? Bring it ;' meaning
the mittimus. But it not being ready, he told me I was a
difturber of the nation. I told him, I had been a biefling
to the nation, in and through the Lord's power and truth,
and the Spirit of God in all confciences would anhvcr it.
Then he charged me as an ' enemy to the king, that I en-
' deavoured to raife a new war, and imbrue the nation in
' blood again.' I told him, I had never learned the pof-
tures of war, but was clear and innocent as a child con-
cerning tho{^ things ; and therefore was bold. Then came
the clerk with the mittimus, and the gaoler was fent for and
commanded to take me, put me into the Dark-houlc; and
'^ P
40^ GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1660
let none come at me, but keep me there clofe prifoner till
1 fhould be delivered by the king or parliament. Then
the juftice afked the conflables where my horfe was ? ' For
' I hear,' (aid he, ' he hath a good horfe ; have ye brought
' his horfe ?' I told him where my horfe was, but he did
not meddle with him. As they had me to the gaol the
conftable gave me my knife again, and then afked me to
give it him : I told him, Nay ; he had not been fo civil to
me. So they put me into the gaol, and the under-gaoler,
one Hardy, a very wicked man, was ex^eding rude and
cruel, and many times would not let me have meat brought
in, but as I could get it under the door. Many came to
look at me, fome in a rage, and very uncivil and rude.
One time there came two young priefls, and very abufive
they were ; the meanefl people could not be worfe. A-
mongfl thofe that came in this manner, old Preflon's wife
of Howker was one. She ufed many abufive words to me,
telling me, my ' tongue fhould be cut out,' and that ' I
' Ihould be hanged ;' fliewing rne the gallows. But the
Lord God cut her off, and fhe died in a miferable condition.
Being clofe prifoner in the common gaol at Lancafter, I
defired Thomas Cummins and Thomas Green to go to the
gaoler, and defire a copy of my mittimus, that I might
know what I flood committed for. They went ; and the
gaoler anfwered, ' He could not give a copy of it, for an-
* other had been fined for fo doing ;' but he gave them
liberty to read it over. To the beft of their remembrance,
the matters therein charged againfl me were, ' That I was
' a perfon generally fufpefted to be a common difturber of
' the peace of the nation, an enemy to the king, and a chief
' upholder of the Quakers feft; and that I, together with
* many of my fanatick opinion, have of late endeavoured
* to raife infurreclions in thefe parts of the country, and
' embroil the whole country in blood. Wherefore the gaol-
* er was commanded to keep me in fafe cuftody, till I
* fhould be releafed by order from the king or parliament.'
When I had thus got the heads of the charge contained
in the mittimus, I wrote a plain, downright anfwer, in vin-
dication of my innocency to each particular, as followeth :
AM a prifoner at Lancafler, committed by juftice
Porter. A copy of the mittimus I cannot get ; but
>' luch expreffions I am told are in it as are very untrue.
* As that I am " generally fulpe6:cd to be *i commozi dif-
GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 405
rber of the nation's peace, an enemy to the king, and
that I, with others, fhould endeavour to raife iniurrec'-
tions, to embroil the nation in blood." All which is ut-
terly falfe; and I do, in every part thereof, deny it. For
. am not a perfon generally fulpefted to be a difturber of
the nation's peace, nor have given any caufe for fuch fuf-
picion ; for through the nation I have been tried for thefe
things formerly. In the days of Oliver I was taken up
on pretence of railing arms againft him, which was alio
falfe; for I meddled not with raifmg arms at all. Yet I
was then carried up prifoner to London, and brought before
him ; when I cleared myfelf, and denied the drawing of a
carnal weapon againfl him, or any man upon the earth ;
for my weapons are fpiritual, which take away the occa-
fion of war, and lead into peace. Upon my declaring
this to Oliver, I was fet at liberty by him. After this I
was taken, and fent to prifon by major Ceely, in Corn-
wall, who, when I was brought before the judge, informed
againft me, " That I took him afide, and told him, that
' I could raife forty thoufand men in an hour's time to in-
• volve the nation in blood, and bring in king Charles."
This alfo was utterly falfe, a lie of his own inventing, as
was then proved upon him ; for I never fpoke any fuch
word to him. I never was in any plot, I never took any
engagement or oath, nor ever learned war-pofture. As
thofe were falfe charges againft me then, fo are thefe now
which come from major Porter, who is lately appointed
to be juftice, but wanted power formerly to exercife his
cruelty againft us ; which is but the wickednefs of the old
enemy. For the peace of the nation I am not a difturber
of, nor ever was ; but feek the peace thereof, and of all
men, and ftand for all nations peace and men's peace upon
the earth, and wifh that all nations and men knew ray in-
nocency in thefe things.
' And whereas major Porter faith, I am an " enemy to
' tlie king," this is falfe ; for my love is to " him and to all
' men," even though they be enemies to God, to them-
felves, and me. And I can fay, It is of the Lord that
he is come in, to bring down many unrighleoufly fet up ;
of which I l^ad a fight three years before he came in. It
is much he ftiould fay I am an enemy to the king ; for I
have no reafon fo to be, he having done nothnig againft
me. But I have been often imprifoned and pcrfecuted
thefe eleven or twelve years by thofe that have been both
3 1" 2
4©6 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
again ft the king and his father, even the party that Porter
was made a major by and bore arms for; but not by them
that were for the kmg. I was never an enemy to the
king, nor to any man's perfon upon the earth. I am in
the love that fulfils the law, which thinks no evil, but
loves even enemies ; and would have the king faved, and
come to the knowledge of the truth, and be brought into
the fear of the Lord, to receive his wifdom from above,
by which all things were made and created ; that with that
wifdom he may order all things to the glory of God.
' Whereas he calleth me, " A chief upholder of the
Quaker's fe6l," I anfwer : the Quakers are not a fe61;, but
are in the power of God, which was before fe6ts were,
and witnefs the cleftion before the world began, and are
come to live in the life which the prophets and apoftles
lived in who gave forth the fcriptures; therefore are we
hated by envious, wrathful, wicked, perfecuting men.
But God is the upholder of us all by his mighty power,
and preferves us from the wrath of the wicked that would
fwallow us up.
' And whereas he faith, " That I, together with others
of my fanatick opinion," as he calls it, " have of late en-
deavoured to raife infurreclions, and to embroil the whole
kingdom in blood:" This is altocrether falfe; to thefe
things I am as a child, and know nothing of them. The
poftures of war I never learned ; my weapons are fpiritual
and not carnal, for with carnal weapons I do not fight.
I am a follower of him \yho faid, " My kingdom is not
of this world." And though thefe lies and flanders are
raifed upon me, I deny drawing of any carnal weapon
againft the king or parliament, or any man upon the
earth ; for I am come to the end of the law, " to love
enemies, and wreft'le not with flefh and blood;" but am
in that which faves men's lives. A witnefs I am againft'
all murderers, plotters, and all fuch as would " imbrue
the nation in blood ; for it is not in my heart to have any
man's life deftroyed. And as for the word fanatick, which
fignifies furious, foolifli, mad, &c. he might have conli-
deted himfelf before he had ufed that word, and have
learned the humility which goes before honour. We are
not furious, foolilh, or mad ; but through patience and
meekncis have borne lies, flanders, and perfecutions ma-
ny years, and have undergone great fufferings. The fpi-
ritual Ri^n, that wrelUes not with flefti and blood, and the
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 407
Spirit that reproves fin in the gate, which is the Spirit of
truth, wifdom, and found judgment, is not mad, foolifli
furious, which fanatick fignifies ; but all are of a mad, fu-
rious, foolilh fpirit, that wreftle with flefh and blood, with
carnal weapons, in their furioufnefs, fooliOmcfs, and rage.
This is not the Spirit of God, but of error, that perfecutes
in a mad, blind, zeal, like Nebuchadnezzar and Saul.
' Inafmuch as I am ordered to be kept prifoner till I be
delivered by order from the king or parliament, therefore I
have written thefe things to be laid before you, the king
and parliament, that ye may confider of them before ye a6t
any thing therein ; that ye may weigh, in the wifdom of
God, the intent and end of men's [pirits, left ye aft the
thing that will bring the hand of the Lord upon you and
againft you, as many have done before you who have been
in authority, whom God hath overthrown. In him we
truft whom we fear and cry unto day and night, who
hath heard us, doth hear us, and will hear us, and avenge
our caufe. Much innocent blood hath been flied. Many
have been perfecuted to death by fuch as were in authority
before you, whom God hath vomited out bccaufc they
turned againft the juft. Therefore confider your ftanding
now that ye have the day, and receive this as a warning of
love to you.
' From an innocent fuft^erer in bonds, and clofe pri-
' foner in Lancafter caftle, called
George Fox.
Upon my being taken, and forcibly carried away from.
Margaret Fell's, and charged with things of fo high a nature,
fhe was concerned, looking upon it to be an injury ofFe^rcd
to her. Whereupon flie wrote the following lines, and fent
them abroad, dire6led thus :
* To all magiftrates concerning the wrong taking up andim-
prifoning George Fox at Lancafter.
' T DO inform the governors of this nation, that Henry
* X Porter, mayor of Lancafter, fent a warrant with four
* conftables to my houfe, for which he had no authority nor
" order. They fearchedmy houfe. and apprehended George
* Fox in it, who was not guilty of the breach of any law, or of
' any offence againft any in the nation. After they had taken
* him find brcuc^ht him before the laid Henry Porter, bail
4o8 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
* was offered what he would demand for his appearance, to
' anfwer vvha^ could be laid to his charge ; but he (contrary
* to law, if he had taken him lawhilly) denied to accept of
* any bail, and clapped him up in clofe prifon. After he
* was in prifon a copy of his mittimus was demanded, which
* ought not to be denied to any prifoner. that he may fee
* whrit is laid to his charge ; but it was denied him ; a copy
'4i^ could not have, only they were fufFered to read it over.
* Every thing there charged againft him was utterly falie ;
* he was not guilty of any one charge in it, as will be prov-
* ed and manifcilcd to the nation. Let the governors con-
' fider of it. I am concerned in this thing, inafmuch as he
' was apprehended in my houfe, and if he be guilty, I am
' fo too. I delire to have this fearched out.
' Margaret Fell.*
After this Margaret Fell determined to go to London to
fpeak with the king about my being taken, to fhew him the
manner of it. and the unjuft dealing and evil ufage I had
received. Which when juflice Porter heard of, he vapour-
ed that he would go and meet her in the gap. But when
he came before the king, he having been a zealous man for
the parliament againft the king, feveral courtiers fpoke to
him concerning his plundering their houfes ; fo he had
quickly enough of the court, and returned into the country.
Meanwhile the gaoler feemed very fearful, and faid, He
was afraid major Porter would htmg him becaufe he had
not put me in the Dark-houfe. But when the gaoler went
to wait on him, after he was come from London, he was
very blank and down, and alkcd ' how I did ?' pretending
he would find a way to fet me at liberty. But having
overfhot himfelf in his. mittimus, by ordering me ' to be
' kept prifoner till I fhould be delivered by the king or
* parliament,' he had put it out of his power to releafe me
if he would. He was the m.ore dejefted alfo upon reading
a letter which I fent him ; for when he was in the height of
his rage and threats againft me, and thought to ingratiate
himfelf into the kiitg's fav^our by imprifoning me, I was
moved to write to him, and put him in mind, * How fierce
' he had been againft the king and his party, though now
' he would he thought zealous for the king.' Among other
paiTages in my letter, I called to his remembrance, that
Y'licn he held Lancaftcr caftle for the parliament againft the
kings he was fo rou'^h and fierce asrainft thole that iavoured
O O Q
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 409
the king, that he find, ' He would leave lliem neitlier dog
* nor cat if they did not bring him provifion to his caRle/
I afked him alfo, ' Whofe great buck's horns thofc were
' that were in his houfe ? and where he had them and the
' wainfcot that he cieled his houie withal ? Had he not
* them from Hornby caftle ?'
About this time Ann Curtis, of Reading, came to fee
me ; and underftanding how I ftood committed, it was
upon her alfo to go to the king about it. Her father, who
had been fherifF of Briftol, was hanged near his own door
for endeavouring to bring the king in ; upon which conh-
deration Ihe had fome hopes the king might hear her on
my behalf. Accordingly, when fhe returned to London,
fhe and Margaret Fell went to the king together; who,
when he underftood whofe daughter fhe was, received her
kindly. And her requeft to hrni being ' to fend for me
* up, and hear the caufe himfelf,' he promifed her he would,
and commanded his' fecretary to fend an order for bringing
me up. But when they came to the fecretary for the or-
der, he faid, ' It was not in his power; he muft go accord-
* ing to law ; and I muft be brought up by an Habeas
* Corpus before the judges.' So he wrote to the judge of
the king's bench, (ignifying it was the king's pleafure I
ihould be fent up by an Habeas Corpus. Accordingly a
writ was fent, and delivered to the flieriif ; but becaufe it
was directed to the chancellor of Lancafter, the fherifF put
it ofF to him ; on the other hand the chancellor would not
make the warrant upon it, but faid the fherifF muft do that.
At length both chancellor and fherifF were got together;
but being both enemies to truth they fought occafion for
delay, and found an error in the writ, which was, that be-
ing direfted to the chancellor, it faid, ' George Fox: m
' prifon under your cuftody,' whereas the prifon I was in
was not in the chancellor's cuftody, but the fherifF's ; fo
the word your ftiould have been his. Upon this they
returned "the writ to London again, only to have that one
word altered. When it was altered and brought down
again, the fherilF refufed to carry me up, unlefs I would
feal a writing to him, and become bound to pay for the
fealing and the charge of carrying me up : which I denied,
telling them, I would not ftal any thing to them, nor be
bound. So the matter refted awhile, and I coiiLinued in
prifon. Meanwhile the aflize came on ; but as there was a
Wilt for removing me up, I was not brouglit before the
410 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1660
judge. At the affize many came to fee me. I was moved
to I'peak out of the gaol-window to them, and fliew them,
' How uncertain their rehgion was, and that every fort,
* when uppermoft, had perfecuted the reft. When popery
* was uppermoft, people had been perfecuted for not fol-
' lowing the mafs ; and thofe who held it up cried, " It was
•' the higher power/' and people muft be fubjeQ to the
* higher power. Afterwards they that fet up the Common
* Prayer perfecuted others for not following that; faying,
" It was the higher power, and we muft be fubjeft to that."
' Since that, the Prefbyterians and Independents cried each
' of them, " We muft be fubjeft to the higher power, and
" fubmit to the direftory of the one and the church faith of
" the other." Thus all, like the apoftate Jews, have cried,
" Help, men of Ifrael, againft the true Chriftians." So
* people might fee how uncertain they are of their religions.
' But I direfted them to Chrift Jefus, that they might be
* built upon him, the Rock and Foundation, that changeth
' not.' Much on this wife I declared to them, and they
were quiet and very attentive. Afterwards I gave forth a lit-
tle paper concerning True Religion, as followeth :
* 'T~^RUE Religion is the true rule and right way of ferv-
* JL ing God. And religion is a pure ftream of righteouf-
* nei's flowing from the image of God, and is the life and
* power of God planted in the heart and mind by the law
* of life, which bringeth the foul, mind, fpirit, and body to
' be conformable to God, the Father of Spirits, and to
' Chrift ; fo that they come to have fellowftiip with the Fa-
' ther and the Son, and with all his holy angels and faints.
' This religion is pure from above, undefiled before God,
' leads to vifit the fatherlefs, widows, and ftrangers, and
' keeps from the fpots of the world. This religion is above
* all the defiled, {potted religions in the world, that keep
* not from defilements and fpots, but leave their profeflbrs
' impure, below, and fpotted ; whofe fatherlefs, widows,
' and ftrangers, beg up and down the ftreets.
' G. F.'
Soon after this I gave forth another againft perfecution,
on this wife :
* T^ H E Papifts, Common-prayer-men, Prefbyterians,
* JL Independents, and Baptifts perfecute one another
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 411
' about their own inventions, their Mafs, their Common-
•' Prayer, their Diretlory, their Church-faith, which they
' have made and framed, and not for the truth ; for they
' know not what fpirit they are of, who perfecute, and
* would have men's Hves deftroyed about church-worfhip
' and rehgion, as Chrift faith, who alfo faid, " He came
" not to deftroy men's Hves, but to fave them." They that
' know not what fpirit they are of, but will perfecute and
' deftroy men's lives, and not fave them, we cannot truft
' our bodies, fouls nor fpirits in their hands ; they know
' not what fpirit they are of themfelves, therefore they are
' not fit to be trufted v\rith others. Thty would deftroy by
' a law, as the difciples once would have done by prayer,
' who would have commanded " fire to come down from
" heaven," to deftroy them that would not receive Chrift.
' But Chrift rebuked them, and told them, " They knew
" not what fpirit they are of." If they did not know what
* fpirit they were of; do thefe who have perfecuted about re-
' ligion fince the apoftles days, who would compel men's
' bodies, goods, lives, fouls, and eftates into their hands by
' law, or make them fuff^er ? Thofe that deftroy men's lives
* are not the minifters of Chrift, the Saviour ; and feeing
* they know not what fpirit they are of, the lives, bodies,
' and fouls of men are not to be trufted in their hands. And
' ye that perfecute fhall have no refurreftion to life with
' God, except ye repent. But they that know what fpirit
' they are of themfelves are in the unrebukeable zeal, and by
' the Spirit of God they off^er up their fpirits, fouls, and bo-
* dies to the Lord, which are his, to keep them.
* G. F.'
While I was kept in Lancafter gaol, I was moved to give
forth the following paper, ' For ftaying the minds of any
' fuch as might be hurried or troubled about the change of
' government.'
' All friends,
< T ET the dread and majcfty of God fill you I Concern-
« jLi ing the changing, of times and governments, let not
' that trouble any of you ; for God hath a mighty work and
' hand therein. He will yet change again, until that come
* up which muft reign, and in vain ftiall powers and armies
' withftand the Lord ; for his determined work ftiall come
' to pafs. But what is now come up, it is juft with the
4ia GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1660
« Lord that it fliould be fo, and he will be ferved by it.
* Therefore let none murmur, nor diflruft God ; for he will
* provoke many to zeal againft unrighteoufnefs, and for
' riehteoufnefs, through things which are fufFered now to
* work for a feafon : yea many, whofe zeal has been even
* dead, fhall revive again, and they fhall fee their backflid-
* ings and bewail them bitterly. For " God fhall thunder
*' from heaven, and break forth in a mighty noife, his ene-
*' rnies fliall be aftoniihed, the workers of iniquity con-
" founded, and all that have not on the garment of righte-
*' oufnefs ihall be amazed at the mighty and ftrange work of
*' the Lord, which fliall be certainly brought to pafs." But
* my children, look ye not out, but be ftill in the light of
' the Lamb, and he fhall fight for you. The Almighty
* Hand, which muft; break and divide your enemies, and
* take away peace from them, preferve and keep you whole,
* in unity and peace with himfelf, and one-with another,
* Amen.
* G. F.'
I was moved alfo to write to the king, to ' exhort him
* to exercife mercy and forgivenefs towards his enemies, and
* to warn him to rellrain the prophanenefs and loofenefs
* that was got up in the nation upon his return.*
To the KING.
* King Charles,
' nr^HOU camefl not into this nation by fword, nor by
* X viftory of war, but by the power of the Lord. Now
* if thou dofl not live in it, thou wilt not profper. If the
* Lord hath Ihevved thee mercy and forgiven thee, and thou
' dofl not ftiew mercy and forgive, God will not hear thy
' prayers, nor them that pray for thee. If thou doft not
* flop perfecution and perfecutors, and take away all laws
* that hold up perfecution about religion; if thou perfifl in
' them, and uphold perfecution, that will make thee as blind
* as thofe that have gone before thee : for perfecution hath
* always blinded thofe that have gone into it. Such God by
' his power overthrows, doth his valiant a6ls upon, and
* bringeth falvation to his oppreffed ones. If thou bear the
* fword in vain, and let drunkennefs, oaths, plays, ma)-
* games, with fuch like abominations and vanities be en-
* couraged or go unpunifhed, as fetting up of May-poles,
* with th(£ image of the crown atop of them, &c, the na-
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 413
* tions will quickly turn like Sodom and Gomorrah, and be
* as bad as the old world, who grieved the Lord till he
' overthrew them ; and lo he will you, if thele things be not
* fupprelTed. Hardly was there lo much wickednefs at li-
* berty before as there is at this day, as though there was no
* terror nor fword of magiftracy ; which doth not grace a
* government, nor is a praife to them that do well. Our
' prayers are for them that are in authority, that under them
' we may live a godly life, in which we have peace, and
* that we may not be brought into ungodlinels by them.
•' Hear and confider, and do good in thy time, whilfl thou
' haft power ; be merciful and forgive ; that is the way to
' overcome and obtain the kingdom of Chrift.
' G. F.'
It was long before the flierifF would yield to remove me
to London, unlefs I would feal a bond to him, and bear
their charges ; which I ftill refufed to do. Then they con-
fulted how to convey me up, and firft concluded to fend
up a party of horfe with me. I told them, ' If I were fuch
* a man as they had reprefented me to be, they had need.
* fend a troop or two of horfe to guard me/ When they
confidered what a charge it would be to them to fend up a
party of horfe with me, they altered their purpole, and con-
cluded to fend me up guarded only by the gaoler and fomc
bailiffs. But upon farther confideration they found that
would be a great charge to them alfo, and therefore fent for
me to the gaoler's houfe, and told me, if I would put in bail
that I would be in London fuch a day of the term, I fhouJd
have leave to go up with fome of my own hiends. 1 told
them I would neither put in bail, nor give one piece of fil-
ver to the gaoler : for I was an innocent man, thcv had im-
prifoned me wrongfully, and laid a falfe charge upon me.
Neverthelefs I faid. If they would let me go up with one or
two of my friends to bear me company, I might go up and
be in London fuch a day, if the Lord fhoulcl permit ; and,
if they defired it, I or any of my friends that went with me
would carry up their charge again ft my (elf. When they
faw thev could do no otherwife with me, the (herifF con-
fented that ' I fhould come up with fome of my fi lends,
' without any other engagement than my word, lo appear
' before the judges at London fuch a day of the term, if
' the Lord ihould permit.' Whereupon I was let out of
prifon, and went to Swarthmore, where I ftaid two or three
3Q2
414- GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
days J and from thence went to Lancafter, and fo to Pref-
ton, having meetings amongfl friends till I came into Che-
fhire, to William Gandy's, where was a large meeting with-
out doors, the houie not being fufficient to contain it.
That day the Lord's everlafting feed was let over all, and
friends were turned to it, who is the heir of the promife.
Thence I came into StafFordftiire and Warwickfhire, to An-
thony Bickliff's, and at Non-eaton, at a priefl's widow's
houfe, we had a bleffed meeting, wherein the everlafting
word of life was powerfully declared, and many fettled in
it. Then travelling on, viliting friends meetings, in about
three weeks time from my coming out of prifon, I reached
London, Richard Hubberthorn and Robert Withers being
with me.
When we came to Charing-crofs, multitudes of people
were gathered together to fee the burning of the bowels of
fome of the old king's judges, W'ho had been hanged, drawn
and quartered.
We went next morning to judge Mallet's chamber, who
was putting on his gown to fit upon more of the king's
judges. He was then very peevifli and froward, and faid,
J might come another time. We went another time to his
chamber, when judge Fofler was with him, who was called
Lord Chief Juftice of England. With me was one called
Efquire Marfli, one of the bed-chamber to the king. When
we had delivered to the judges the charge againft me, and
they had read to thofe words, ' That I and my friends were
* embroiling the nation in blood,' &c. they flruck their
hands on the table. Whereupon I told them, ' I was the
* man whom that charge was againfl, but I was as innocent
* of any fuch thing as a new-born child, and had brought
* it up myfelf ; and fome of my friends came up with me,
* without any guard.' As yet they had not minded my
hat; but now, feeing mv hat on, they faid, ' What, did I
* ftand with my hat on !' I told fhem I did not ftand fo
in any contempt of them. Then they commanded one to
take it off; and when they had called for the marfhal of
the king's bench, they laid to him, You muft take this man
and fecure him, but you muft let him have a chamber, and
not put him amongfl the prifoners. My Lord, faid the
marfhal, I have no chamber to put him into; my houfc is fo
iidi that I cannc>t tell where to provide for him but amongft
the prifoners. Nay, faid the judges, you mult not put him
amongft the prifoners. But when he iliil anfwcred, he had
j66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 415
no other place to put me in, judge Fofter faid to me,
* Will you appear to-morrow, about ten of the clock, at
' the king's bench bar in Wellminiter-hall ?' I laid, ' Yes,.
* if the Lord give me ftrength.' Then faid judge Fofter to
the other judge, ' If he fays yes, and promifes it. you may
* take his word.' So I was difniilfed. The next day I ap-
peared at the king's bench bar at the hour appointed, Robert
Withers, Richard Hubberthorn, and Flqnire Maifh going
with me. I was brought into the middle of the court, and
as foon as I came in I was moved to look about, and turn-
ing to the people, faid, ' Peace be among you ;' and the
power of the Lord fprang over the court. The charge
againfl me was read openly. The people were moderate,
and the judges cool and loving; and the Lord's mercy was
to them. But when they came to that part of it which
faid, ' That I arid my friends were embroiling the nation
* in blood and railing a new war, and that I was an enemy
* to the king,' &c. they lifted up their hands. Then, ftretch-
ing out my arms, I faid, ' I am the man whom that charge
* is againft, but I am as innocent as a child concerning the
* charge, and have never learned any war poflures. And,
* faid I, do ye think, that if I and my friends were fuch
* men as the charge declares, that I fhould have brought it
* up myfelf againft myfelf ? Or that I fhould be fuft^ered to
* come up with one or two of my friends with me ? Had I
* been fuch a man as this charge fets forth, I had need to
* have been guarded up with a troop or two of horfe. But
* the ftieriff^ and magiftrates of Lancafhire thought fit to let
* me and my friends come up with it ourfelves, almoft two
' hundred miles, without any guard at all ; which, you may
' be fure they would not have done if they h id looked upon
' me to be fuch a man.' The judge afked me, Whether it
fhould be filed ? or what 1 would do with it ? I anfwered,
Ye are judges, and able, I hope, to judge in this matter;
therefore do with it what ye will ; for I am the man thcle
charges are againft, and here ye fee I have brought them
up myfelf. Do ye what ye will with them, I leave it to
you. Then judge Twifden beginning to fpeak fome angry
words, I appealed to judge Fofter and judge Mallet, who
had heard me over night. Whereupon they laid, ' Thoy did
' not accufe me, for they had nothing againft me.' Then
flood up 'fquire Marfh, and told the judges, ' It was the
* king's pleafure that I ftiould be fet at liberty, feeing no
* accufer came up againft; me/ They aflied me, ' Whether
4i6 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [i66o
* I would put it to the king and council ?' I faid, ' Yes,
* with a good-will.' Thereupon they fent the fheriff's re-
turn, which he made to the writ of Habeas Corpus, con-
taining the matter charged agaiiifl; me in the mittimus, to
the king, that he might lee for what I was committed. The
return of the fherilF of Lancailer was thus :
Y virtue of his majefty's writ to me direfted, and
hereunto annexed, I certify, That before the receipt
* of the faid writ, George Fox, in the faid writ mentioned,
* was committed to his majefly's gaol at the caflle of Lan-
' caller, in my cuftody, by a warrant from Henry Port^-,
* efquire, one of his majelly's-juftices of peace within the
* county palatine aforefaid, bearing date the fifth of June
' now laft pafl ; for that he, the faid George Fox, was ge-
' nerally fufpefted to be a common difturber of the peace
' of this nation, an enemy to our fovereign Lord the king,
' and a chief upholder of the Quakers left; and that he,
* together with others of his fanatick opinion, hai'e of late
' endeavoured to make infurreftions in thefe parts of the
* country, and to embroil the whole kingdom in blood.
' And this is the caufe of his taking and detaining. Never-
' thelefs, the body of the faid George Fox I have ready be-
' fore Thomas Mallet, knight, one of his majefty's juflices,
' affigned to hold pleas before his.majefly, at his chamber in
' Serjeants-inn, in Pleet-ftreet, to do and receive thofe
' things which his majefty's faid juftice fhall determine con-
' ceming him in this behalf, as by the aforefaid writ is re-
' quired. ' George Chetham, efquire, fheriflp.'
Upon perufal of this, and confideration of the whole
matter, the king, being fatisfied of my innocency, com-
manded his fccretary to fend an order to judge Mallet for
my releafe; which the fecretary did, thus:
IT is his majefty's pleafure, That you give your order
for the reieafing and fetting at full liberty the perfon of
George Fox, late a prifoner in Lancafter gaol, and com-
manded hither by an Habeas Corpus. And this fignili-
cation of his majefty's pleafure fhall be your fufficient
warrant. Dated at Whitehall, the 24th of Oftober 1660.
' Edward Nicholas/
* For Sir Thomas Mallet, knight, one
* of the juftices of the king's bench.'
.i46o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 417
„V When this ordei* was delivered to judge Mallet, lie forf h-
i/ith fent his warrant to the marfhal of the king's bench lor
my releafe ; which warrant was thus worded.
' 13 V virtue of a warrant which this moiTiing I have rc-
' JLJ ceived from the Right Honourable Sir Edward
' Nicholas, knight, one of his rnajefty's principal fecretaries,
' for the releafing and fetting at liberty of George Fox, late
* a prifoner in Lancafter gaol, and from thence brought hi-
' ther by Habeas Corpus, and yefterday committed unto
* your cuftody ; I do hereby require you accordingly to re-
* leafe and fet the faid prifoner George Fox at liberty : for
* which this fhall be your warrant and difcharge. Given
* under my hand the 25th day of 06lober, in the year of our
^ Lord God 1660.
* To Sir John Lenthal, knight, * Thomas Mallet/
* marfhal of the king's bench,
* or his deputy.*
Thus, after I had been a prifoner fomewhat more than
twenty weeks, I was freely fet at liberty by the king's com-
mand, the Lord's power having wonderfully wrought for
the clearing of my innocency, and V*orter, who committed
me, not daring to appear to make good the charge he had
falffly fuggefted againfl me. But after it was known I was
dilcharged, a company of envious, wicked ipirits were tiou-
bled, and terror took hold of juflice Porter; for he was afraid
I would take the advantage of the law againfl him for my
wrong imprifonment, and thereby undo him, his wife, and
children. And indeed I was prclTed by fome in authority
to have made him and the rell examples ; but I laid, I
fliould leave them to the Lord ; if the Lord forgave them I
fliould not trouble myfelf with them.
Now did I fee the end of the travail which I had in my
fore exercife at Reading; for the everlafting power of the
Lord was over all, and his blelled trutli, lite, and light
fliined over the nation, and great and glorious meetings wc
had, and very quiet ; and many flocked unto the truth.
Richard Hubberthorn had been with tlie king, who laid,
' None fhould moicfl us lo long as v/e lived p-.-accabl}-,' and
promifed this upon the word of a king ; telling him, wc
might make ufe of his piomile. Sonic friends w^:re alio ad-
mitted in the koufe of Lords, to declare their realoiis, why
4i8 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i65o
they could not pay tithes, fwear, nor go to the fleeple-
houfe-vvorfliip, or join with others in worfhip ; and they
heard them moderately. There being about feven hundred
friends in prifon, who had been committed under OHver's
and Richard's government, upon contempts (fo called) when
the king came in he fet them all at liberty. There feemed
at that time an inclination and intention in the government
to have granted friends liberty, becaufe they were fenfible
we had lufFered as well as they under the former poWerS.
But when any thing was going forward in order thereunto,
fome dirty fpirits or other, that would feem to be for us,
threw fomething in the way to flop it. It was faid there
was an inftrument drawn up for confirming our liberty,
which only wanted hgning ; when on a fudden that wicked
attempt of the Fifth-monarch}'-people broke out, and put
the city and nation in an uproar. This was on a firft-day
night, and very glorious meetings we had that day, wherein
the Lord's truth ftiined over all, and his power was exalted
above all ; but about midnight the drums beat, and the cry
was, ^ Arm, Arm.' I got out of bed, and in the morning
took boat, and landing at Whitehall-ftairs, walked through
Whitehall. They looked ftrangely at me there ; but I paf-
led through, and went to Pall-mall, whither divers friends
came to me, though it was now grown dangerous paffing
the ftreets ; for by this time the city and fuburbs were up in
arms, and exceeding mde the people and foldiers were ; in-
fomuch that Henry Fell, going to a friend's houfe, the fol-
diers knocked him down, and he had been killed if the duke
qf York had not come by. Great mifchief was done in the
city this week ; and when firft-day came, that friends went
to their meetings, many were taken prifoners. I ftaid at
Pall-mall, intending to be at the meeting there ; but on the
ieventh-day night a company of troopers came and knocked
at the door. The maid letting them in, they ftrait laid hold
of me ; and there being amongft them one, that had ferved
under the parliament, he clapped his hand to my pocket,
and afked, ' Whether I had any piftols ?' I told him. He
knew I did not ufe to carry piftols ; why did he alk fuch a
qucftion of me, who he knew to be a peaceable man ? O-
thers of the foldiers ran up into the chambers, and there
found in bed 'fquire Marfh. who, though he was one of the
king's bed-chamber, out of his love to me had come and
lodged where I did. When they came down again, they
faid, ' Why fhould wc take this man away with us ? We
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 419
will let him alone. Oh ! faid the parhament-foldier, he is
one of the headvS and a chief ringleader. Upon this the
foldiers were taking me away ; but 'fquire Marlh hearincr of
it, fent for the commander of the party, and delircd him to
let me alone, for he would fee me forth-coming in the
morning. In the morning, before they could fetch me, and
before the meeting was gathered, there came a company of
foot to the houle, and one of them, drawing his fword,
held it over my head. I aflced him, ' Why he drew his
' fword at a naked man ?' At which his fellows being
afhamed bid him put up his fword. Thefe foldiers took
me away to Whitehall before the troopers came for me.
As I was going out feveral friends were coming in to the
meeting, whofe boldnefs and cheerfulnefs I commended,
and encouraged them to perfevere therein. When I was
brought to Whitehall, the foldiers and people were exceed-
ing rude, yet I declared truth to them ; but fome great
perfons coming by, who were very full of envy, ' What,'
laid they, ' do ye let him preach ? Put him into fuch a
' place where he may not ftir.' So into that place they put
me, and the foldiers watched over me. 1 told them, Tho'
they could confine my body and fhut that up, they could
not flop up the word of life. Some thereupon came, and
afked me, ' What I was ?' I told them, I was a preacher
of righteoufnefs. After I had been kept there two or three
hours, 'fquire Marfh fpoke to lord Gerrard, who came and
bid them fet me at liberty. The mavflial, v.hen I was dif-
charged, demanded fees. I told him, I could not give
him any, neither was it our pra6lice. I alked him. How-
he could demand fees of me who was innocent ? Then I
went through the guards, the Lord's power being over them;
and after I had declared truth to the foldiers, I went up
the ftreets with two Irifh colonels that came from White-
hall to an inn, where many friends were prifoners under a
guard. I defired thofe colonels to fpeak to the guard to
let me go in to vifit my friends that were prifoners there;
but they would not. Then I ftcpt to the centry, and de-
fired him to let me go up; which he did. AV'hile I was
there the foldiers went to Pall-mall again to fearch for rm ;
but not finding me they turned towards tlie inn, and bid all
come out that were not prifoners ; fo they went out. jjut I
afked the foldiers within, V/hethcr I might not Hay awhile
with my friends ? They faid, Yes. I llaid, and efcaped
their hands again. Towards night I went to Pall-mall, to
3R
420 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
fee how it was with friends there, and after went into the
city. Great rifling of houfes there was at that time to fearch
for people, I went to a private friend's houfe and Richard
Hubberthorn with me. There we drew up a declaration
againft plots and fightings, to be pre Tented to the king and
council ; but when we had finifhed it, and fent it to the
prefs, it was taken in the prefs.
Upon this infurreftion of the Fifth-monarchy-men great
havock was made both in city and country, fo that it was
dangerous for fober people to ftir abroad feveral weeks after;
and hardly could either men or women go up and down
the ftreets to buy provifions for their families without being
abufed. In the country they dragged men and women out
of their houfes, and fome fick men out of their beds by
the legs. Nay, one that was in a fever the foldiers dragged
out of his bed to prifon ; and when he was brought thither
he died. His name was Thomas Patching.
Margaret Fell went to the king, and told him what fad
work there was in the city and nation, and fliewed him we
were an innocent peaceable people, and that we mufl keep
our meetings as we ufed to do whatever we fufFered ; but
it concerned him to fee that peace was kept, that no inno-
cent blood might be fhed.
Now were the prifons every where filled with friends and
others in the city and country, and the polls were fo laid
for the fearching of letters, that none could pafs unfearched.
We heard of feveral thoufands of our friends that were call
into prifon in feveral parts of the nation, and Margaret
P'ell carried an account of them to the king and council.
The next week we had an account of feveral thoufands
more that were call into prifon, and Ihe went and laid them
alfo before the king and council. They wondered how we
could have fuch intelligence, feeing they had given fuch
llrift charge for the intercepting of all letters ; but the Lord
did fo order it that we had an account notwithftanding all
their floppings. In the deep fenfe I had of the grievous
fufFerings friends underwent, and of their innocency to-
wards God and man, I was moved to fend the following
epiftle to them, as a word of confolation, and to put them
upon fending up their fufFerings.
I
My dear friends,
N the immortal feed of God, which will plead its own
innocciicv, who are inheritors of an everiafting king-
i66o] GEORGE PCX's JOURNAL. 421
* dom, which is incorruptible, and of a world and riches
* that fade not away, peace and mercy be multiplied amongfl
* you in ail your fufferings ; whofe backs were not unready,
* but your hair and cheeks prepared ; who never feared fuf-
* ferings, as knowing it is your portion in the world, from
* the foundation of which the Lamb was flain ; who reigns
' in his glory, which he had with his Father before the
* world began. He is your rock in all floods and waves,
* upon which you can fland fafe, with a cheerful counte-
* nance, beholding the Lord God of the whole earth on
* your fide. So in the feed of God, which was before the
* unrighteous world in which the fufferings are, live and
* feed, wherein the bread of life is felt, and no caufe of
' complaint of hunger or cold. Friends, your fufferings
' all, that are or have been of late in prifon, I would have
* you fend up an account of, and how things are amongfl
* you, that it may be delivered to the king and his council ;
* for things are pretty well here after the itorm.
* G. F.'
* London, the 28th of the
'11th month, i66q/
Having loft our former declaration in the prefs, we mad'C
hafte and drew up another againft plots and fighting, got it
printed, and fent fome copies to the king and council ;
others were fold up and down the ftreets, and at the Ex-
change. Which Declaration was fome years after reprinted.
* A declaration from the harmlefs innocent people of
' God, called Quakers, againft all fedition, plotters,
* and fighters in the world ; for removing the ground
' of jealoufy and fufpicion from both magiftrates and
' people in the kingdom concerning wars and fighfe-
' ings.
' Prefented to the king the 21ft day of the 11th month,
* 1660.
' /^UR principle is, and our practices have always been
' V^ to feek peace and enfue it ; to follow after righteouf-
' nefs and the knowledge of God; feeking the good and
* welfare, and doing that which tends to the peace of all.
' We know that wars and fightings proceed from the lufts
' of men, as Jam. iv. 1, 2, 3, out of which lulUthe Lord
3 ^ 2
'42« GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [i65o
* hath redeemed us, and fo out of the occafion of war.
* The occafion of war and the war itfelf (wherein envious
* men, who are lovers of themfelves more than lovers of
* God, luft, kill, and defire to have men's lives or eftates)
* arifeth from the luft. All bloody principles and pradlices
* we, as to our own particalars, do utterly deny, with all
* outward wars, ftrife, and fi^htmg with outward weapons
* for any end, or under any pretence whatfoever : this is
* our teflimony to the whole world.
' And whereas it is objecled :
' But although you now fay, •' That you cannot fight
*■' nor take up arms at all; yet if the Spirit move you, then
*' you Will change your pripiciple, you will fell your coat
" and buy a fword, and fight for the kingdom of Chrift.
' To this we anfwer, Chrift faid to Peter, " Put up thv
*' fword in his place ;" though he had faid before, he that
' had no fword might fell his coat and buy one (to the ful-
' filling of the law and the fcripture) yet after, when he had
* bid him put it up, he faid, " He that taketh the fword
" (hall perifli with the fivord." And Chrift faid to Pilate,
*' Thinkeft thou, that I cannot now pray to my Father,
** and he ftiall prefently give me more than twelve legions
*' of angels?" And this might fatisfy Peter, Luke xxii. 36.
* after he had put up his fword, when he faid to him, " He
*' that took it, fhould perifh by it ;" which fatisfieth us,
* Mat. xxvi. 51, 52, 53. In the Revelations it is find, " He
*•■ that kills with the fword ftiall perifti with the fword; and
•' here is the faith and the patience of the faints." So
' Chrift's kingdom is not of this world, therefore do not his
* fcrvants fight, as he told Pilate, the magiftrate who cruci-
* fied hirn. And did they not look upon Chrift as a raifer
* of fedition ? and did not he pray, " Forgive them ?" But
* thus it is that we are numbered amongft tranfgreffbrs,
' and amongft fighters, that the fcriptures might be fulfilled.
' That the Spirit of Chrift, by which we are guided, h
* not changeable, fo as once to command us from a thing,
' as evil, and again to move unto it. We certainly know
' and teftify to the world. That the Spirit of Chrift, which
* leads us into all truth, will never move us to fight and
' war againft any man with outward weapons, neither for
* the kingdom of Chrift tior for the kingdoms of this world.
' Firft, Becaufe the kintjdom of Chrift God will exalt,
' according to his promife, and caufe it to grow and flourifti
' in rightcoufnefs, " Not by might, nor by power (of out^
l56o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 425
' ward fword) but by my Spirit, faith the Lord," Zech. iv.
6. So thofe that ufe any weapon to light for Chrift, or
for the ellabhfliing of his kingdom or government, their
fpirit, principle, and practice wc deny.
' Secondly, We earncftly defire and wait, that (by the
word of God's powei*, and its efPedual operation m the
hearts of men) the kingdoms of this world may become
the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chrift; and that
he may rule and reign in men by his Spirit and truth ;
that thereby all people, out of all different judgments and
profeffions, may be brought into love and unity with God,
and one with another; and that all may come to witnefs
the prophet's words fulfilled, who faid, " Nation fliall not
• lift up fword againft nation, neither fhall they learn war
' any more," I fa, ii. 4. Mich. iv. 3.
' Since we, whom the Lord hath called into the obedi-
ence of his truth, have denied wars and fightings, and
cannot any more learn them. This is a certain tefiimony
unto all the world of the truth of our hearts in this parti-
cular, that as God perfuadeth every man's heart to be-
lieve, fo they may receive it. For we have not, as fome
others, gone about cunningly with devifcd fables, nor have
we ever denied in practice what we have profelfed in prin-
ciple; but in fmcerity and truth, and by the v/ord of God,
have we laboured to be made manifeft unto all men, that
both we and our ways might be witneffed in the hearts of
all. And whereas all manner of evil hath been falfely
fpoken of us, we hereby fpeak the plain truth of our
hearts, to take away the occafion of that offence, that fo
we, being innocent, may not fuffer for other men's of-
fences, nor be made a prey of by the wills of men for that
of which we were never guilty ; but in the uprightnefs of
our hearts wc may, under the power ordained of God for
the punifhment of evil-doers, and for the praife of them
that do well, live a peaceable life in all godlinefs and ho-
ncfty. For although we have always fuffercd, and do
now more abundantly fuffer, yet we know it is for right-
eoufnefs fake: " For our rejoicing is this, the teilimony
' of our confciences, that in fimplicity and godly finccrity,
' not with flefhly wifdom, but by the grace of God, we
• have had our converfation in the world," 2 Cor. i. 12,
which for us is a witnefs for the convincing of our ene-
mies. For this we can fay to all the world, wc have
wronged no man, vie have ufcd no force nor violence
424 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
againfl any man, we have been found in no plots, nor
guilty of fedition. When we have been wronged we have
not fought to revenge ourfelves, we have not made refiftance
againft authority; but wherein we could not obey for con-
fcience fake, we have fufFered the mofl of any people in
the nation. Wc have been counted as fheep for the
daughter, perfccuted and defpifed, beaten, ftoned, wound-
ed, (locked, whipped, imprifoned, haled out of the fyna-
gogues, caft into dungeons and noifome vaults, where ma-
ny have died in bonds, fliut up from our friends, denied
needlul fuftenance for many days together, with other the
like cruelties. And the caufe of all thefe our fufFerings is
not for any evil, but for things relating to the worflup of
our God, and in obedience to his requirings. " For which
' caufe we ftiall freely give up our bodies a facrifice, rather
' than difobey the Lord ;" knowing, as the Lord hath kept
us innocent, he will plead our caufe when there is none
in the earth to plead it. So we, in obedience to his truth,
do not love our lives unto -death, that we may do his will,
and wrong no man in our generation, but feek the good
and peace of all men. He who hath commanded us,
' That we fhall not fwear at all," Matth. v. 34, hath alfo
commanded us, " That we fhall not kill," Matth. v. So
that we can neither kill men, nor fwear for nor againfk
them. This is both our principle and our pradice, and
hath been from the beginning ; fo that if we fuffer, as fuf-
pecled to take up arms or make war againft any, it is
without any ground from us ; for it neither is, nor ever
was in our hearts, fince we owned the truth of God ; nei-
ther fhall we ever do it, becaufe it is contrary to the Spirit
of Chrift, his do6f rine, and the praftices of his apoflles ;
even contrary to him for whom we fuffer all things and
endure all thinors.
' And whereas men come againfl us with clubs, flaves,
drawn fwords, piftols cock'd, and beat, cut, and abufe
us ; yet we never refifted them, but to them our hair,
backs, and cheeks have been ready. It is not an honour
to manhood or nobility to run upon harmlefs people, who
lift not an hand againfl them, with arms and weapons.
' Therefore confider thefe things, ye men of underlland-
' ing ; for plotters, raifers of infurre6lions, tumultuous ones,
' and fighter.;, running with fwords, clubs, flaves, and pif-
' tois, one againfl another ; we fay, thefe are of the world,
' and have their foundation from this unrighteous worlds
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 425
* from the foundation of which the Lamb hath been flain :
* which Lamb hath redeemed us from this unrighteous
' world ; we are not of it, but are heirs of a world of which
* there is no end, a kingdom where no corruptible thinpf
' enters. Our weapons are Ipiritual, not carnal, yet mighty
' through God to the pulling down of the ftrong holds of
* lin and Satan, who is the author of wars, fijihtiny;, murder
* and plots. Our fwords are broken into plough-fliares,
* and fpears into pruning-hooks, as prophefied of in Micah
* iv. Therefore we cannot learn war any more, neither rife
' up againfl nation or kingdom with outward weapons,
' though you have numbered us aniongfl the tranfgreifors
' and plotters. The Lord knows our innocency herein,
* and will plead our caufe with all people upon earth at
* the day of their judgment, when all men fhall have a re-
' ward according to their works.
' Therefore in love we warn you for your fouls good,
* not to wrong the innocent, nor the babes of Chrift, which
* he hath in his hand, and tenders as the apple of his eye ;
* neither feek to deftroy the heritage of God, nor turn your
* Iwords backward upon fuch as the law was not made for,
* i. e. the righteous ; but for the linners and tranfgreffors,
* to keep them down. For thofe are not peace-makers nor
' lovers of enemies, neither can they overcome evil with
' good, who wrong them that are friends to you and all
* men, and wifh your good and the good of all people
* upon earth. If you opprefs us as they did the children
' of Ifrael in Egypt, if you opprefs us as they did when
' Chrift was born, and as they did the ChriRians in the
* primitive times, we can fay, '• The Lord torgive you ;"
' leave the Lord to deal with you, and not revenge our-
' felves. If you fay, as the council faid to Peter and John,
*' You muil fpeak no more in that name ;" and if you ferve
' us as they ferved the three children fpoken of in Daniel,
' God is the fame as he ever was, that lives for ever and
* ever, who hath the innocent in his arms.
' Oh ! friends ! ofF.md not the Lord and his little ones,
* neither afflift his people; but confider and be moderate.
* Run not hallily into things, but mind and conlider mercy,
* juftice, and judgment; that is the way ior you to profpcr
* and get the favour of the Lord. Our meetings were flop-
* ped and broken up in the days of Oliver, under pretence
* of plotting againfl him ; in the days of the Connnittee of
* Safety we were looked upon as plotters to bring in king
426 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i66q
* Charles ; and now our peaceable meetings are termed fe-
' ditious. Oh ! that meri fhould lofe their reafon, and go
' contrary to their own confciences ; knowing that we have
' fufFered all things, and have been accounted plotters all
' along, though we have always declared againfl them both
* by word of mouth and printing, and are clear from any
' fuch thing ! Though we have fufFered all along, becaufe
' we would not take up carnal weapons to fight againft any,
' and are thus made a prey upon becaufe we are the inno-
' cent lambs of Chrift, and cannot avenge ourfelves ! Thefe
' things are left upon your hearts to confider ; for we are
' out of all thofe things in the patience of the faints, and
' we know as Chrifl faid, " He that takes the fword fhall
" perifh with the fword/' Matth. xxvi. 52. Rev. xiii. 10.
" This is given forth from the people called Quakers, to
" fatisfy the king and his council, and all that have any
" jealoufy concerning us, that all occalion of fufpicion
*' may be taken away, and our innocency cleared."
'POSTSCRIPT.
* Though we are numbered amongfl tranfgreirors, and
* have been given up to rude, mercilefs men, by whom our
* meetings are broken up, in which we edified one another
* in our holy faith, and prayed together to the Lord that
* lives for ever, yet he is our pleader in this day. The Lord
' faith, " They that feared his name fpoke often together,"
' as in Malachi ; which were as his jewels. For this caufe,
' and no evil doing, are we caft into holes, dungeons, houfes
' of corre6lion, prifons (fparing neither old nor young, men
' nor women) and made a prey of in the fight of all nations,
* under pretence of being feditious, &c. fo that all rude peo-
' pie run upon us to take pofTcffion ; for which we fay, The
' Lord forgive them that have thus done to us ; who doth
* and will enable us to fuffer; and never fhall we lift up
' hand againfl any man that doth thus ufe us ; but that the
* Lord may have mercy upon them, that they may confider
' what they have done. For how is it poihble for them to
' requite us for the wrong they have done to us ? Who to
* all nations have founded us abroad as feditious or plotters,
* who were never plotters againft any power or man upon
* the earth, fince we knew the life and power of Jefus Chrift;
* manifeftcd ia us, who hath redeemed us from the world
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 427
' and all works of darknefs, and plotters therein, by which
' we know the election before the world began. So we
' fay, The Lord have mercy upon our enemies, and forgive
' them for what they have clone unto us.
' Oh ! do as you would be done by ; do unto all men as
' you would have them do unto you ; for this is the law
* and the prophets.
' All plots, infurreftions, and riotous meetings, we deny,
' knowing them to be of the devil, the murderer ; which we
* in Chriil, who was before they were, triumph over. And
* all wars and fightings with carnal weapons we deny, who
* have the fword of the Spirit ; and all that wrong us, we
* leave to the Lord. This is to clear our innocency from
* that afperfion call upon us, " That we are fcditious or
" plotters."
Added in the reprinting.
' Courteous reader,
* ^ I ^HIS was our teftimony above twenty years ago, and
' JL fince then we have not been found attmg contrary to
* it, nor ever fhall ; for the truth that is our guide is un-
* changeable. This is now reprinted to the men of this age,
* many of whom were then children, and doth ftand as our
* certain teftimony againft all plotting and fighting with
* carnal weapons. And if any, by departing from the truth,
* fhould do fo, this is our teftimony in the truth againft
* them, and will ftand over them, and the truth will be
* clear of them.'
This Declaration did fomewhat clear the dark air that
was over the city and country ; and foon after the king
gave forth a proclamation, ' That no foldiers ftiould fearch
' any houfe without a conftabie.' But the gaols were ftill
full, many thoufands of friends being in pril'on ; which
mifchief was occafioned by the wicked rifing of thofe Fifth-
monarchy-men. But when thole of them that were taken
came to be executed, they did us the juftice to clear us
openly from having any hand in or knowledge of (heir plot.
After that the king, being continually importuned thereun-
to, iffued forth a 13eclaration, " That friends ftiould be let
** at liberty without paying fees." But great labour, tra-
* vail, and pains wzxe, taken before this was obtained ; for
Thomas Moor and Marsi^aret Fell went often to the km^j
about it.
.9 s
428 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
Much blood was fhed this year, many of the old king's
judges being hanged, drawn, and quartered. Amongft
thofe that fufFered colonel Hacker was one, who fent me
prifoner from Leicefter to London in Oliver's time. A fad
day it was, and a repaying of blood with blood. For in
the time of O. Cromwel, when feveral were hanged, drawn,
and quartered for pretended treafons, 1 felt from the Lord
God that their blood would not be put up, but would be
required, and I faid as much then to feveral, and now alfo
upon the king's return, when feveral that had been againll
the king were put to death, as the others that were for the
king had been before by Oliver. This was fad work, de-
flroying people contrary to the nature of Chriftians, who
have the nature of lambs and fheep. But there was a fecret
hand in bringing this day upon that hypocritical generation
of profeffors, who being got into power grew proud, haughty,
and cruel beyond others, and perfecuted the people of God
without pity. Therefore when friends were under cruel
perfecutions and fufFerings in the commonwealth's time, I
was moved of the Lord to write unto them, to draw up
their fuflPerings, and lay them before the juftices at their
feffions ; and if they would not do them jullice, then to lay
them before the judges at the affize ; and if they refufed them
juflice, to lay it before the parliament, and before the protec-
tor and his council, that they might all fee what was done
under their government; and if they would not do juflice,
then to lay it before the Lord, who would hear the cries of
the opprefTed, the widows, and fatherlefs, whom they had
made (o. For that which we fufFered for, and which our
goods were fpoiled for, v/as our obedience to the Lord in
his Power and in his Spirit, who is able to help and fuc-
cour, and we had rlo helper in the earth but him. And he
heard the cries of his people, and brought an overflowing
fcourge over the heads of all our perfecutors, which brought
a quaking, a dread, and a fear amongft and on them all ; fo
that thofe who had nick-named us (who are the children of
light) and in fcorn called us Quakers, the Lord made to
quake, and many of them would have been glad to have
hid thcmfelves amongft us ; and fome of them, through the
diftrefs that came upon them, did at length confefs to the
truth. Oh I the daily reproaches, revilings, and beatings
we underwent amongfl them, even in the highways, becaufe
we could not put off our hats to them, and for faying Thou
and Tiiee to them ! Oh ! the havock and fpoil the priefls
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 429
made of our goods, becjrufe we could not put into their
mouths and give them tithes ! Bcfides cafting into prifons,
and befides the great fines laid upon us becaufe we could
not fwear ! But for all thefe things did the Lord God
plead with them. Yet fome of them were fo hardened in
their wickcdnefs, that when they were turned out of their
places and offices, they faid, ' If they had power they
* would do the fame again/ And when this day of over-
turning was come upon them, they faid, ' It was all along
* of us.' Wherefore I was moved to write to them, and to
afk, ' Did we ever refill them when they took away our
* ploughs and plough-gears, our carts and horfes, our corn*
* and cattle, our kettles and platters from us, and whipped
* us, and fet us in the ftocks, and call us into prifon, and
* all this only for ferving and worfliipping God in fpirit
* and truth, and becaufe we could not conform to their re-
* ligions, manners, cuftoms, and fafliions ? Did we ever
* refift them ? Did we not give them our backs to beat,
* our cheeks to pull off the hair, and our faces to fpit on ?
* Had not their priefts, that prompted them on to fuch
* work, plucked them with themfelves into the ditch ? Why
* then would they fay, " It was all along of us ?" when it
* was owing to thetnfelves and their priefts, their blind pro-
' phets, that followed their own fpirits, and could forefee
* nothing of thefe times and things that are come upon
* them, which we had long forewarned them of; as Jeremi-
* ah and Chrift had forewarned Jerufalem. They thought
* to have wearied us out and undone us ; but they undid
' themfelves. Whereas we could praife God, notwithftand-
' ing all their plundering of us, that we had a kettle, a
* platter, an horfe, and plough ftill.'
Many ways were thefe profeffors warned, by word, by
writing, and by figns ; but they would believe none till it
was too late. William Sympfon was moved of the Lord
to go at feveral times for three years naked and bare-footed
before them, as a fign to them, in markets, courts, towns,
cities, to priefts houfes, and to great men's houfes ; telling
them, " So ftiould they be ftripped naked as he was ftrippcd
" naked \" And fometimcs he was moved to put on hair-
fackcloth, and to befmear his face, and to tell them, " So
" would the Lord God befmear all their religion as he was
" befmeared." Great fufferings did that poor man imder-
go, fore whippings with horfe-whips and coach-whips on
his bare body, grievous ftoning and imprifonments in three
3 S 2
430 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
years time, before the king came in, that they might have
taken warning ; but they would not, and rewarded his love
"with cruel ulage. Only the mayor of Cambridge did nobly
to him, for he put his gown about him, and took him into
his houfe.
Another friend, Robert Huntingdon, was moved of the
Lord to go into Carlifle fteeple-houfewith a white fheet
about him, amongft the great Prefbyterians and Indepen-
dents there, to fliew them that the iurplice was coming up
again ; and he put an halter about his neck to fhew them
that an halter was coming upon them ; which was fulfilled
upon lome of our perfecutors not long after.
Another, Richard Sale, living near Weftchefter, being
conftable of the place where he lived, had a friend fent to
him with a pafs (whom thofe wicked profeiTors had taken up
for a vagabond, becaufe he travelled up and down in the
work of the miniilry) and this conftable, being convinced
by the friend thus brought to him, gai'e him his pafs and li-
berty, and was afterwards hirnfelf caft into prifon. After
this, on a le6lure-day, Richard Sale was moved to go to the
fteeple-houfe in the time of their worfhip, and to carry thofe
perlecuting priefts and people a lanthorn and candle, as a
figure of their darknefs ; but they cruelly abufed him, and
like dark profeiTors as they were put him into their prifon cal-
led Little Eafe, and fo fqueezed his body therein that not
long after he died. Many warnings of divers forts were
friends moved in the pawer of the Lord to give unto that
generation ; which they not only rejefted, but abufed
friends, calling us giddy-headed Quakers, but God brought
his judgments upon thole perfecuting priefts and magiftrates.
For when the. king came in, moft of them were turned out
of their places and benefices, thefpoilers were fpoiled ; and
then we could aik them, Who were the giddy-heads now ?
Then many confeiTed we had been true prophets to the na-
tion, and faid, Had we cried againft fome priefts only they
fliould have liked us then ; but we crying againft all, that
made them diflike us. But now they faw that thofe priefts,
then looked upon to be the beft, were as bad as the reft. For
indeed fome of thole that were counted the moft eminent
priefls were the bittereft and greateft ftisrcrs up of the ma-
giftrates to pel (ecu ti on, and it was a judgment upon them
to be denied the free liberty of their conicicnces when the
king came in. becaufe when they were uppermoft they would
yiot hiwe liberty of coufcience granted to others. One
j66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 43*
Hewes, of Plymouth, a prieft of great note in Oliver's days,
when fome liberty was granted, prayed, ' That God would
* put it into the hearts of the chief magiftrates of the nation
* to remove this curfed Toleration.' Others of them pray-
ed againll it by the name of Intolerable Toleration. But a-
while after, when the king was come in, and pricil Hewes
turned out of his great benefice for not conforming to the
Common Prayer, a friend from Plymouth meeting with
him, afked him, ' Whether he would account Toleration
* accuried now ? And whether he would not now be glad of
* a Toleration ?' To which the prieil returned no anfwer,
fave by the (baking of his head. But as ftiff as this fort of
men were then againft Toleration, it is well known many
of them petitioned the king for Toleration and for meeting-
places, and paid for licences too. But to return to the prc-
fent time, the latter end of the year 1660 and the beginning
of 1661.
Although thofe friends, who had been imprifoned upon
the rifmg of thofe Monarchy-men, were fet at liberty, yet
meetings were much diflurbed, and great fufferings friends
underwent ; for befides what was done by officers and foldi-
ers, many wild fellows and rude people often came in.
There came one time, when I was at Pall-mall, an ambalTa-
dor with a company of Irifhmen with rude fellows : the
meeting was over before they came, and I was gone up in-
to a chamber, where I heard one of them fay, he would
* kill all the Ouakers.' I went down to him, and was mov-
ed in the power of the Lord to fpeak to him. I told him,
the law faid, ' An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ;*
but thou threateneft to ' kill all the Ouakers, though they
* have done thee no hurt.' But, faid I, here is gofpel for
thee: ' Here's my hair, here's my cheek, here's my Ihoul
' der,' turning it to him. This came fo over him, that he
and his companions ftood as men amazed, and faid, It that
was our principle, and if we were as we faid, they never
faw the like in their lives. I told them, What I was in
words, I was the fame in life. Then the ambaifidor who
had flood without, came in; for he faid, that Irifli colonel
was fuch a defperate man, he durft not come in with him
for fear he fhould have done us fome mifchief ; but truth
came over him, and he carried himfelf lovingly towards us,
as alfo did the ambalTador ; for the Lord's power was over
ihem all.
At Mile^end friends were kept out of their meeting-place
432 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1660
hy foldiers : but friends ftood nobly in the truth, valiant for
the Lord's name, and at laft the truth gave them dominion.
About this time we had an account that John Love, a
friend that was moved to go and bear teftimony againfl the
idolatry of the Papifls, was dead in prifon at Rome: it was
fufpecled he was privately put to death. John Ferrot was
aifo prifoner there, and being releafed came over again ;
but after his arrival here, he, with Charles Baily and fome
others, turned afide from the unity of friends and truth.
Whereupon I was moved to give forth a paper, declaring
how the Lord would blaft him and his followers, if they
did not repent and return, and that they fhould wither like
the grafs on tlic houfe-top ; which many of them did : but
others repented and returned.
Alfo before this time we received account from New-
England, ' That the government there had made a law to
' banifh the Quakers out of their colonies, upon pain of
' death in cafe they returned ; that feveral of our friends,
' having been lb banifhed and returning, were thereupon
' taken and actually hanged, and that divers more were in
' prifon, in danger of the like fentence to be executed upon
' them.' When thofe were put to death, I was in prifon
at Lancafler, and had a perfeft fenfe of their fufferings as
though it had been myfelf, and as though the halter had
been put about my ov/n neck, though we had not at that
time heard of it. But as foon as we heard of it, Edward
Burrough went to the king, and told him, ' There was a
' vein of innocent blood opened in his dominions, which
' if it were not flopped would over-run all.' To which the
king replied, ' But I will flop that vein.' Edward Bur-
rough faid, ' Then do it fpeedily, for we know not how
' many may foon be put to death.' The king anfwered,
' As fpeedily as ye will. Call (faid he to fome prefent)
' the fecretary, and I will do it prefently.' The fecretary
being called, a mandamus was forthwith granted. A day
or two after, Edward Burrough going again to the king to
delire the matter might be expedited, the king faid, He had
no occafion at prefent to fend a fliip thither, but if we
would fend one we might do it as foon as we would. Ed-
v;ard then afked the kmg. If it would pleafe him to grant
his denutation to one called a Quaker to carry the manda-
mus to Xew- England ? He laid, ' Yes, to whom ye will.'
Wht-reupon E. B. named Samuel Shattock, who being an
mhabita^ii of Nsv»'-England was banifhed by their law, to
i66o] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 433
be hanged if he came again, and to him the deputation was
granted. Then he fent for Ralph Goldfmith, an honed
friend, who was mafter of a good fliip, and agreed with him
for three hundred pounds (goods or no goods) to fail in ten
days. He forthwith prepared to fet fail, and with a prof-
perous gale, in about fix weeks time, arrived before the
town of Bofton in New- England, upon a firft-day morning.
With him went many paflengers, both of New and Old
England, friends, whom the Lord moved to go to bear their
teftimony againft thofe bloody perfecutors, who had exceeded
all the world in that age in their bloody perfecutions. The
townfmen at Bofton, feeing a fhip come into the bay with
Englifli colours, foon came on board and allced for the cap-
tain. Ralph Goldfmith told him. He was the command-
er. They afked him, » If he had any letters? He laid.
Yes, They afked, If he would deliver them ? He faid,
' No, not to-day.' So they went aftiore, and reported.
There was a Ihip full of Quakers, and that Samuel Shat-
tock was among them, who they knew was by their law to
be put to death for coming again after banilhment ; but
they knew not his errand nor his authoritv. So all being
kept clofe that day, and none of the fhip's company luf-
fered to go on fhore ; next morning Samuel Shattock, the
king's deputy, and Ralph Goldfmith, went on fhore, and
fending back to the lliip* the men that landed them, they
two went through the town to the governor's, John Endi-
cott's door, and knocked. He fent out a man to know theic
bufmefs. They fent him word their bufinefs was from the
king of England, and they would deliver their meilage to
none but the governor himfelf. Thereupon they were ad-
mitted in, and the governor came to them ; and having re-
ceived the deputation and the mandamus, he put off his
hat and looked upon them. Then going out, he bid the
friends follow him. He went to the deputy-governor, and
after a fhort confultation came out to the friends, and faid,
' We fhall obey his majefty's commands.' After this the
mafter. gave liberty to the palfengers to come on fnore, and
prefently the noife of the bufinefs flew about tiie town ;
and the friends of the town and the pafTengcrs of the ftiip
met together to offer up their praifcs and thankfgivings to
God, who had fo wonderfully delivered them from the terth
of the devourer. While they were thus met, in came a
poor friend, who, being fcntenccd by their blooJy law to
die, had lain forae time in iroa,s expecling cxvcution. This
434 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [i66o
added to their joy, and caufed them to lift up their hearts
in high praifes to God, who is worthy for ever to have the
praiie, the glory, and the honour; for he only is able to
deliver, to fave, and fupport all that lincerely put their truft
in him. Here follows a copy of the mandamus.
'CHARLES R.
* 'THRU STY and weil-beloved, We greet you well.
* jL Having been informed, that feveral of our fubjefts
* amongft you, called Quakers, haVe been and are impri-
* foned by you. whereof fome have been executed, and
* others (as hath been reprefented unto us) are in danger to
* undergo the like, we have thought fit to fignify our plea-
* fure in that behalf for the future ; and do hereby require,
* that if there be any of thofe people called Quakers amongft
' you, now already condemned to fufFer death or other cor-
* poral punifhment, or that are imprifoned and obnoxious
* to the like condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed
' any further therein ; but that you forthwith fend the faid
* pcrfons (whether condemned or imprifoned) over into this
* our kingdom of England, together with the refpeclive
* crimes or oflFences laid to their charge, to the end fuch
* courfe may be taken with them here as fhall be agreeable
' to our laws and their demerits. And for fo doing, thefe
* our letters fhall be your fufficient warrant and difcharge.
' Given at our court at Whitehall, the gth day of Septem-
* ber, 1661, in the 13th year of our reign.'
Subfcribed : ' To our tinfty and well-beloved John En-
* dicott, efquire, and to all and every other the gover-
' nor or governors of our plantations of New-England,
.' and of all the colonies thereunto belonoing, that now
* are or hereafter fhall be, and to all and every the
* minifters and officers of our plantations and colonies
* whatfoever within the continent of New- England.
' By his majefly's command,
William Morris.*
Some time after this feveral New-England magiftrates
came over, with one of their priefts. We had feveral dif-
courfes with them concerning their murdering our friends,
i66i] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 43;
the fervants of the Lord; but they were afliamed to fland
to their bloody a6lions. At one of thofe meetings I alked
Simon Broadftreet, one of the Nevv-Enghmd magillrates,
Whether he had not an hand in putting to death thofe four
fervants ot God, whom they hanged for being Quakers
only, as they had nicknamed them ? He ccnfeffcd, He had.
I then afked him, and the reft of his affociates then prefent.
Whether they would acknowledge themfelves to be fubjcds
to the laws of England ? And if they did, * by what law
they had put our friends to death ? They faid, They were
fubje6ls to the laws of England, and they had put our
friends to death by the fame law as the Jefuits were put to
death here in England. I afked them then, Whether they
did believe thofe friends of ours, whom they had put to
death, were Jefuits or jefuitically affetled ? They faid,
Nay. Then, faid I, ye have murdered them, if ye have
put them to death by the law that Jefuits are put to death
here in England, and yet confefs they were no Jefuits. By
this it plainly appears ye have put them to death in your
own wills, without any law. Then Simon Broadftreet,
finding himfelf and his company enfnared by their own
words, faid, Did we come to catch them ? I told them,
they had catched themfelves, and they might juftly be
queftioned for their lives ; and if the father of William Ro-
binfon (who was one of thofe that were put to death) was
in town, it was probable he would queftion them, and
bring their lives mto jeopardy. Hereupon they began to
excufe themfelves, faying, ' There was no perfecution now
' amonoft them :' but next morning we had letters from
New- England, giving us account that our friends were per-
fecuted there afrefh. Thereupon we wtnt to them again,
and ftiewed them our letters, which put them both to fiience
and to ftiame. In great fear they feemed to be. left fome
fhould call them to account and profecute them for their
lives, efpecially Simon Broadftreet ; for he had at firft be-
fore fo many witnefTes confefled, ' He had a hand in put-
* ting our friends to death,' that he could not get from it ;
though he afterwards through fear Ihuffled, and would have
unfaid it again. After this he and the reft foon iett the city,
and got back to New-England again. I went alfo to go-
vernor Winthorp, and difcourled with him about tlicfe
matters ; but he afl'ured me, ' He had no himd in putting
' our friends to death, or in any way perftcuting of thctn,
* but was one of them that protcfted agamll jt.' Thcfe
3 '^'
436 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1661
'ftingy perfecutors of New- England were a people that fled
out of Old England thither from the perfecution of the
bifhops here; but when they had got power into their
hands, they io far exceeded the biihops in feverity and cru-
elty, that whereas the bifhops had made them pay twelve
pence a Sunday (fo called) for not coming to their worfhip
here, they impofed a fine of five fhiiiings a day upon fuch
as fhould not conform to their will-worfhip there, and fpoil-
ed the goods of friends that could not pay it. Befides,
many they imprifoned, divers they whipped, and that moft
cruelly; they cut the ears off fome, and fome they hanged:
as the books of friends fujTerings in New-England largely
ihew, particularly one written by George Bifhop of Brillol,
intituled, New-England judged : (in two parts.) Some of
the old Royalifts were earneft with friends to have pro-
fecuted.them ; but we told them, we left them to the Lord,
to whom vengeance belonged, and he would repay it. And
the judgments of God have fince fallen heavy on them ;
for the Indians have been raifed up againft them, and have
cut off many of them.
About this time I loft a very good book, being taken in
the printer's hands : it was a uleful, teaching book, con-
taining the fignification and explanation of Names, Para-
bles, Types, and Figures in the fcriptures. Thofe who
took it were fo affefted therewith that they were loth to
deftroy it ; but thinking to have made a great advantage of
it, they would have let us had it again, if we would have
given them a great fum of money for it ; which we were
not free to do.
Before this, while I was prifoner in Lancafter caftle, the
book called the Battledore came forth, which was written
to ihew that in all languages Thou and Thee is the proper ,
and ufual form of fpeech to a fingle perfon, and You to
more than one. This was fet forth in examples or inftances
taken out of the fcriptures, and out of books of inftru£i;ion
in about thirty languages. John Stubbs and Benjamin
Furly took great pains in compiling it, ivhich I put then! '
upon ; and fome things I added to it. When it was finiih-
ed, fome of them were prefented to the king and his coun-
cil, to the bifliops of Canterbury and London, and to the
I wo univerfiries one apiece; and many bought of them.
The king faid, ' It was the proper language of all nations.'
The bifliop of Canterbury, being aflced what he thought of
it, was fo at a Hand that he could not tell what, to lay to
i66i] GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 437
it. For it did fo inform and convince people, that few
afterwards were fo rugged towards iis for faying Thou and
Thee to a fmgle perfon, which before they were excecdino-
fierce againft us for. For Thou and Tliee was a fore cut
to proud flefh, and them that fought felf-honour; who,
though they would fay it to God and Chrift, would not
endure to have it faid to themfelves. So that we were often
beat and abufed, and iometimes in danger of our lives for
ufing thofe words to fome proud men, who would fay,
' What! you ill-bred clown, do you Thou me !' as though
there lay chriftian breeding in faying You to one, which is
contrary to their grammars and teaching books, by which
they inflrufted their youth.
Now the bifhops and priefts being bu fy and eager to fefe
up their form of worfhip, and compel all to come to it, I
was moved to give forth the following paper, to open the
nature of the true worfhip which Chrift let up, and which
God accepts ; thus :
* /^HRIST's worfhip is free in the Spirit to all men;
' V^' and fuch as worfhip in the Spirit and in the truth
' are thofe that God feeks to worfhip him ; for he is the
' God of truth, and is a Spirit, and the God of the fpirits
* of all flefh. He hath given to all nations of men and wo-
* men breath and life, to live, move, and have their being
* in him, and hath put into them an immortal foul. So all
* nations of men and women are to be temples for him to
* dwell in ; and they that defile his temple will he dellroy.
* Now as the outward Jews, while they had their outward
' temple at Jerufalem, were to go thither to woHhip (which
* temple God hath long fince thrown down, and deflroyed
* that Jerufalem, the vifion of peace, and caft off the jews
' and their worfliip, and in the room thereof hath fet up his
' gofpel-worfhip in the Spirit and in the truth) fo now all
* are to worlliip in the Spirit and in the truth. This is a
' free worfhip ; for where the Spirit of the Lord is and
* ruleth, there is liberty ; the fruits of the Spirit arc feen,
* and will manifeft themfelves; and the Spirit is not to be
* limited, but to be lived and walked in, that the fruits of it
' may appear. The tares are fuch as hang upon the wheat,
* and thereby draw it down to the earth; yet the tares and
* the wheat mull grow together till the harveft, Kft they
* that take upon them to pluck up the tares fhould pluck up
* the wheat with the tares. The tares are fuch as woifhip
3 T 2
438 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1661
not God in the Spirit and in the truth, but grieve the
Spirit, vex and quench it in themfelves, and walk not in
the truth ; yet will hang about the wheat, the true wor-
fhippers in the Spirit and in the truth. Chrift's church
was never eftabliilied by blood, nor held up by prifons ;
neither was the foundation of it laid by carnal armed men,
nor is it preferved by fuch. When men went from the
Spirit and truth, they took up carnal weapons to maintain
their outward forms, and yet cannot preferve them with
their carnal weapons ; for one plucketh down another's
form with his outward weapons. And this work hath
been among the Chriffians in name fince they loft the
Spirit, and ipiritual weapons, and the true worftiip which
Chrift fct up. that is in the Spirit and in the truth ; which
Spirit and truth they that woifhip in are over all the tares,
A! I that would be plucking up the tares are forbidden by
Chrift, who hath all power in heaven and earth given to
him; for the tares and the wheat muft grow together till
the harveft, as Chrift hath commanded. The ftone that
fmote the image became a great mountain, and filled the
whole earth : now if the ftone do fill the whole earth, all
nations muft be temples for the ftone. All that fay they
travail for the feed, and yet bring forth nothing but a birth
of ftrife, contention, and confufion, their fruit fiiews their
travail to be wrong ; for by the fruit the end of every one's
work is feen of what fort it is.
' G. F.'
About this time many Papifts and Jefuits began to fawn
upon friends, and talked up and down where they came,
that of all the feels the Quakers were the beft and moft felf-
denying people; and faid, ' It was great pity that they did
' not return ito the holy mother church.' Thus they made
a buzz among the people, and faid, ' They would willingly
' diicourfe with triends.' But friends were loth to meddle
with them, becaule they were jefuits, looking upon it to
be both dangerous and fcandrJous. But when I under-,
flood it, I faid to friends, ' Let us difcourfe with them, be
' they what they will.' So a time being appointed at Ger-
rard Roberts's, there came two of them like courtiers. They
afked our names, which we told them ; but we did not afk
their names, for we underllood they were called Papifts,
and thev knew we were called O'lakers. I afked them the
fame cjucftioa that 1 had forme- ly aftced a Jefuit, namely,
9661-1 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. 43^
* Whether the church of Rome was not degenerated from
* the church in the primitive times, from the Spirit, power,
* and praftice that they were in in the apodles times ?' He
to whom I put this queftion, being fubtle, laid, ' He would
* not anfwer it.' I allced him, Why ? But he would fhew
no reafon. His companion faid, he would anfwer me;
and faid, ' They were not degenerated from the church in
' the primitive times/ I afked the other, ' Whether he was
' of the fame mind ?' He faid, Yes. Then I replied, for
the better underftanding one another, and that there might
be no mi (lake, I would repeat my queftion over again after
this manner : ' Whether the church of Rome now was in
' the fame purity, pradice, power, and Spirit, that the
* church in the apoftles time was in ?' When they faw we
would be exaft with them, they flew off, and denied that,
faying, ' It was prefumption in any to fay they had the
* fame power and Spirit which the apoftles had.' I told
them, It was prefumption in them to meddle with the words
of Chrift and his apoftles, and make people believe they
fucceeded the apoftles, yet be forced to confefs, ' They were
* not in the fame power and Spirit that the apoftles were in:'
This, faid I, is a fpirit of prefumption, and rebuked by the
apoftles Spirit. I fhewed them how different their fruits
and praftices were from the fruits and praftices of the apof-
tles. Then got up one of them, and faid, ' Ye are a com-
* pany of dreamers.' Nay, faid I, ye are the filthy dream-
ers, who dream ye are the apoftles fucceffors, and yet con-
fefs, ' Ye have not the fame power and Spirit which the
* apoftles were in.' And are not they defilers of the flefh,
who fay, ' It is prefumption for any to fay, they have the
* fame power and Spirit which the apoftles had ?' Now,
faid I, if ye have not the fame power and Spirit which the
apoftles had, then it is manifeft that ye are led by another
power and fpirit than the apoftles and cliurch in the primi-
tive times were led by. Then I began to tell them how
that evil fpirit, which they were led by, had led them to
pray by beads and to images, and to fet up nunneries, fria-
ries, and monafterics, and to put people to death for reli-
gion ; which praftice I fliewed them was below the law,
and far fhort of the gofpcl, in which is liberty. They were
foon weary of this du'courfe, and went their way, and gave
a charge, as we heard, to the Papifts, ' That they iliould
' not difpute with us, nor read any of our books.' So we
were rid of them ; but we had reafonings with all the other
440 GEORGE FOX's JOURNAL. [1661
fefts, Prefbyterlans, Independents, Seekers, Baptifts, Epif-
copal-men, Socinians, Brownifts, Lutherans, Calvinifts,
Arminians, Fifth-monarchy-men, FamiHfls, Muggletonians,
and Ranters ; none of which would affirm they had the
fame power and Spirit that the apoftles had and were in j
fo in that power and Spirit the Lord gave us dominion
over them all.
As for the Fifth-monarchy-men I was moved to give
forth a paper, to manifeft their error to them ; for they look-
ed for Chrift's perfonal coming in an outward form and
manner, and fixed the time to the year 1666; at which time
lome of them prepared themfelves when it thundered and
rained, thinking Chrift was then come to fet up his king-
dom, and they imagined they were to kill the whore with-
out them. But 1 told them the whore was alive in them,
and was not burned with God's fire, nor judged in them
with the fame power and Spirit the apoftles were in. And
their looking for Chrift's coming outwardly to fet up his
kingdom, was like the Pharifees ' Lo here,' and ' Lo there/
But Chrift was come and had fet up his kingdom above
fixteen hundred years ago (according to Nebuchadnezzar's
dream and Daniel's prophecy) and he had dafhed to pieces
the four monarchies, the great image, with its head of gold,
breaft and arms of filver, belly and thighs of brafs, legs of
iron, and feet part of iron part of clay ; and they were all
blown away with God's wind, as the chafF in the fummer
threftiing-floor. And when Chrift was on earth, he faid,
His kingdom was not of this world : if it had, his feiTants
would have fought ; but it was not, therefore his fervants
did not fight. Therefore all the Fifth-monarchy men, that
are fighters with carnal weapons, are none of Chrift's ferv-
ants, but the beaft's and the whore's. Chrift faid, ' All
' power in heaven and in earth is given to me;' fo then his
kingdom was fet up above fixteen hundred years ago, and
he reigns. And wc fee Jefus Chrift reign, faid the apoftle,
and he fliall reign till all things be put under his feet ; tho*
all things are not yet put under his feet, nor fubdued.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
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