Chapter VIII (1)

1654-1655.—Address to professors of Christianity against persecution—to
such as follow the world’s fashions—to the Pope, and all kings, and
rulers in Europe, against persecution—to the justices appointed for
trying ministers of religion, being a testimony against hireling
ministers—Samuel Fisher and others are convinced at a meeting at
Romney, where the Lord’s power is marvellously displayed—a large
meeting at Coggeshall of about two thousand people, which lasted
several hours—many reproaches are cast upon the truth, and lying
slanderous books published, which are answered, and the truth set
over the gainsayers—to those who scorn trembling and quaking—great
rage is manifested against the truth and Friends, and their
plainness is contemned—to the churches gathered into outward forms,
opening their state and warning of the woes coming upon them—to the
Protector, respecting the imprisonment of Friends for refusing to
take oaths and pay tithes, &c.—to Friends, to offer themselves to
lie in prison for a brother or sister—an encouragement to Friends in
their several exercises.

About this time I was moved to write a paper, and send it among the professors; as follows:—

“_To all professors of Christianity._

“All they that professed Jesus Christ in words, and yet heard him not
when he was come, said, he was a deceiver and a devil. The chief
priests called him so. The Jews said, ‘He hath a devil, and is mad;
why do ye hear him?’ But others said, ‘These are not the words of him
that hath a devil: can a devil open the eyes of the blind?’ The Jews
then doubted, whether he was the Christ or not; and so all, like the
Jews, in the knowledge, in the notion, that profess Christ without
only, where Christ is risen within, do not own him, but doubt of him;
though Christ is the same now and for ever. Jesus Christ said, ‘I and
my Father are one;’ then the Jews took up stones to stone him. And
where Jesus Christ is now spiritually come and made manifest, such as
are Christians in outward profession only, have the same hard hearts
inwardly now, as the Jews had then; and cast stones at him where he is
risen. Jesus said, ‘For which of these good works do ye stone me?’ The
Jews answered, ‘For thy good works we stone thee not; but for
blasphemy, in that thou being a man, makest thyself God.’ Jesus
answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
and the Scripture cannot be broken. Say ye of him, whom the Father
hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I
said, I am the Son of God?’ The Jews said to him, ‘Say we not well,
that thou hast a devil?’ Jesus answered, ‘I honour my Father, and ye
dishonour me.’ And they that were in the synagogue rose up, and thrust
him out of the city; and took him up to the edge of the hill whereon
their city was built, to cast him down headlong. The pharisees said of
him, ‘He casteth out devils, by the prince of devils.’ Jesus Christ
was called a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and
sinners; but wisdom is justified of her children. The officers, when
the high-priests and pharisees asked them, ‘Why have ye not brought
him?’ said, ‘Never man spake like this man.’ The Pharisees said, ‘Are
ye also deceived? Do any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believe on
him?’ but this people, which know not the law, are accursed. Nicodemus
(he that came unto Jesus by night), said unto them, ‘Doth our law
judge any man, before it hear him?’ When Stephen confessed Jesus, the
substance of all figures and types, and was brought before the chief
priests to his trial, he told them, ‘The Most High dwelleth not in
temples made with hands:’ and brought the prophets’ words to witness,
and told them they were stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and
ears, and always resisted the Holy Ghost, as their fathers had done.
Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost, and said he saw Jesus, and they
ran upon him and stoned him to death, as he was calling upon the Lord.
When Paul confessed Jesus Christ and his resurrection, Festus said he
was mad. When Paul preached the resurrection, some mocked; the Jews
persuaded the people, and they stoned him, and drew him out of the
city, thinking he had been dead. They stirred up the Gentiles to make
their minds evil-affected towards the brethren. They stirred up the
devout and honourable women, and the chief of the city, and raised
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their
coasts; and there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and of the
Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully and to stone them. In
like manner all in the nature of those Jews now, whose religion stands
in notions, stir up the rulers, and ignorant people, and incense them
against Jesus Christ, to stone all with one consent, in whom he is
risen. This is, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, and the
blindness of the people discovered.

“The same power now is made manifest, and doth overturn the world, as
did then overturn the world, to the exalting of the Lord, and to the
pulling down of the kingdom of Satan and of this world, and setting up
his own kingdom, to his everlasting praise. The Lord is now exalting
himself, and throwing down man’s self. The proud one’s head is aloft,
fearing he should lose his pride and his crown. The priests incense
the ignorant people, for fear their trade should go down; and the
professors show forth what is in them, being full of rage; which
proves that Jesus Christ, the substance, is not there; but a stony
heart to stone the precious, where it is risen. The carnal mind feeds
upon the outward letter; earth feeds upon earth; and that vineyard is
not dressed, but is full of briars and nettles; and ravenous beasts,
swine and dogs, wolves and lions, and all venomous creatures lodge in
that habitation. That house is foul and is not swept. These are the
persecutors of the just, enemies of the truth, and of Christ;
blasphemers of God and his truth. These call upon God with their lips,
but their hearts are far from him. These feed on lies, priests and
people. These incense the people, and stir up envy; for it begets its
own, one like itself. These are as the waves of the sea, foaming out
their own shame. These have double eyes, whose bodies are full of
darkness. These paint themselves with the prophets’, with Christ’s,
and with the apostles’ words most fair. Whited walls ye are; painted
sepulchres; murderers of the just. Your eyes, your minds, your hearts
are double. Ye flatterers, repent and turn from your carnal ends, who
are full of mischief, pretending God and godliness, taking him for
your cloak; but he will uncover you, and he hath uncovered you to his
children. He will make you bare, discover your secrets, and take off
your crown; he will take away your mantle and your veil, and strip you
of your clothing, that your nakedness may appear, and how you sit
deceiving the nations. Your abomination and your falseness is now made
manifest to them, who are of God; who in his power triumph over you,
rejoice over you, the beast, the dragon, the false prophet, the
seducer, the hypocrite, the mother of all harlots. Now thou must have
thy cup double, give it to her double.

“Sing over her, ye righteous ones, sing over them all ye saints;
triumph in glory, triumph over deceit; sing the song of the Lamb,
triumph over the world; spread the truth abroad. Come ye captive ones
out of prison, and rejoice with one accord, for the joyful days are
coming. Let us be glad and rejoice for ever! singleness of heart is
come, pureness of heart is come, joy and gladness is come. The
glorious God is exalting himself: truth hath been talked of, but now
it is possessed. Christ hath been talked of; but now he is come and is
possessed. The glory hath been talked of; but now it is possessed, and
the glory of man is defacing. The Son of God hath been talked of; but
now he is come, and hath given us understanding. 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 glorified alone.

“Where pride is thrown down, earth and the fleshly will is thrown
down, and the pure is raised up; there alone is the Lord exalted. Let
the heavens bow down to him, and the earth reel to and fro, and
stagger up and down. The Lord is setting up his throne and his crown,
and throwing down the crown of man, and he alone will be glorified; to
whom be all honour and glory, all praises and all thanks! Who gives
his children wisdom and strength, knowledge and virtue, power and
riches, blessings and durable substance; an eye to discern, and an ear
to hear things singly; and brings down the pride of man’s heart, and
turns the wicked out of the kingdom. The righteous inherit
righteousness; the pure, pureness; the holy, holiness. Praises,
praises be to the Lord, whose glory now shines, whose day is broken
forth; which is hid from the world, hid from all worldly-wise ones,
and from all the prudent of this world; hid from the fowls of the air,
hid from all vultures’ eyes, all venomous beasts, all liars, all dogs,
and all swine. But to them that fear his name, the secrets of the Lord
are made manifest, the treasures of wisdom are opened, and the fulness
of knowledge: for thou, O Lord, dost make thyself manifest to thy
children.”

G. F.

My spirit was greatly burdened to see the pride, that existed in the nation, even among professors; and in the sense thereof I was moved to give forth the following paper, directed—

“_To such as follow the World’s Fashions._

“What a world is this! how doth the devil garnish himself! and how
obedient are people to do his will and mind! They are altogether so
carried away with fooleries and vanities, both men and women, that
they have lost the hidden man of the heart, and the meek and quiet
spirit; which with the Lord is of great price. They have lost the
adorning of Sarah; they 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 so strange, that they can scarce look at
one another, they are so lifted up in pride. Pride is flown up into
their head, and hath so lifted them up, that they snuff up, like wild
asses; like Ephraim, they feed upon wind; and are like wild heifers,
who feed upon the mountains. Pride hath puffed up every one of them:
they are out of the fear of God, men and women, young and old; one
puffs up another. They must be in the fashion of the world, else they
are not in esteem; else they shall not be respected, if they have not
gold or silver upon their backs, or if the hair be not powdered. But
if he have store of ribands hanging about his waist, and at his knees,
and in his hat, of divers colours, red, white, black, or yellow, and
his hair be powdered, then he is a brave man; then he is accepted, he
is no Quaker, because he has ribands on his back, and front, and
knees, and his hair powdered. This is the array of the world. But is
not this from the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, or the pride
of life?

“Likewise the women having their gold, their patches on their faces,
noses, cheeks, foreheads; having their rings on their fingers, wearing
gold, having their cuffs double, under and above, like unto a butcher
with his white sleeves; having their ribands tied about their hands,
and three or four gold laces about their clothes; this is no Quaker,
say they. This attire pleaseth the world: and if they cannot get these
things, they are discontented. But this is not the attire of Sarah,
whose adorning was the hidden man of the heart, the ornament of a
quiet and meek spirit. This is the adorning of the heathen, not of the
apostle, nor of the saints, whose adorning was, not wearing of gold,
nor plaiting of hair, but a meek and quiet spirit; which was and is of
great price with the Lord. Here was the sobriety and good ornament,
which was accepted of the Lord. This was Paul’s exhortation and
preaching; but we see, the talkers of Paul’s words live out of Paul’s
command, and out of the example of Sarah; and are found in the steps
of the great heathen, who comes to examine the apostles in his
gorgeous apparel.

“Now, are not these, that have got their ribands hanging about their
arms, hands, back, waists, knees, hats, like unto fiddlers’ boys? This
shows that you are got into the basest and most contemptible life, who
are in the fashion of the fiddler’s boys and stage-players, quite out
of the paths and steps of solid men; and in the very steps and paths
of the wild heads, who give themselves 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 say, if it be out of the
fashion it is nothing worth. Are not these the spoilers of the
creation, who have the fat and the best of it, and waste and destroy
it? Do not these cumber God’s earth? Let that of God in all
consciences answer, and those who are in the wisdom, judge. And
further, if one get a pair of trousers like a coat, and hang them
about with points, and up almost to the middle, a pair of double cuffs
upon his hands, and a feather in his cap, here is a gentleman; bow
before him, put off your hats, get a company of fiddlers, a set of
music, and women to dance. This is a brave fellow. Up in the chamber;
up in the chamber without, and up in the chamber within. Are these
your fine Christians? Yea, say they, they are Christians.

“But, say the serious people, they are out of Christ’s life, and out
of the apostles’ command, and out of the saints’ ornament. And to see
such as are before described, as are in the fashions of the world
before-mentioned, a company of them playing at bowls, or at tables, or
at shuffle-board; or each taking his horse, that has bunches of
ribands on his head, as the rider has on his own (who, perhaps, has a
ring in his ear too) and so go to horse-racing, to spoil the
creatures; O, these are gentlemen indeed, these are bred up gentlemen,
these are brave fellows, and they must take their recreation; for
pleasures are lawful. These in their sports set up their shouts, like
wild asses. They are like the kine or beasts, when they are put to
grass, lowing when they are full. Here is the glorying of those before
mentioned; but it is in the flesh, not in the Lord. These are bad
Christians, and show that they are gluttoned with the creatures, and
then the flesh rejoiceth. Here is bad breeding of youth and young
women, who are carried away with the vanities of the mind in their own
inventions, pride, arrogancy, lust, gluttony, uncleanness. They eat
and drink, and rise up to the play. This is the generation which God
is not well-pleased with; for their eyes are full of adultery, and
cannot cease from evil. These be they that live in pleasures upon
earth; these be they who are dead while they live; who glory not in
the Lord, but in the flesh. These be they that are out of the life,
that the Scriptures were given forth from; who live in the fashions
and vanities of the world, out of truth’s adorning, in the devil’s
adorning (who is out of the truth); and not in the adorning of the
Lord, which is a meek and quiet spirit, which is with the Lord of
great price. But this ornament and this adorning is not put on by them
that adorn themselves, 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.

Moreover it came upon me about this time from the Lord, to write a short paper and send forth, as an exhortation and warning to the Pope, and all kings and rulers in EUROPE; as follows:—

“FRIENDS,

“Ye heads, and rulers, kings, and nobles of all sorts, be not bitter,
nor hasty in persecuting the lambs of Christ, neither turn yourself
against the visitation of God, and his tender love and mercies from on
high, who sent to visit you; lest the Lord’s hand, arm, and power,
take hold swiftly upon you; which is now stretched over the world. It
is turned against kings, and shall turn wise men backward, and will
bring their crowns to the dust, and lay them low and level with the
earth. The Lord will be king, who gives crowns to whomsoever obey his
will. This is the age wherein the Lord God of heaven and earth is
staining the pride of man, and defacing his glory. You that profess
Christ, and do not love your enemies, but on the contrary shut up and
imprison those who are his friends; these are marks that you are out
of his life, and do not love Christ, who do not the things he
commands. The day of the Lord’s wrath is kindling, and his fire is
going forth to burn up the wicked; which will leave neither root nor
branch. They that have lost their habitation with God, are out of the
Spirit, that gave forth the Scriptures, and from the light that Jesus
Christ hath enlightened them withal; and so from the true foundation.
Therefore be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slower to persecute:
for the Lord is bringing his people to himself, from all the world’s
ways, to Christ the way; and from all the world’s churches, to the
church which is in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and from
all the world’s teachers, to teach his people himself by his Spirit;
from all the world’s images, into the image of himself; and from their
likeness into his own likeness; and from all the world’s crosses of
stone or wood, into his power, which is the cross of Christ. For all
these images, crosses, and likenesses are among them, that are
apostatized from the image of God, the power of God, the cross of
Christ, which now fathoms the world, and is throwing down that which
is contrary to it; which power of God never changes.

“Let this go to the kings of France, and of Spain, and to the Pope,
for them to prove all things, and to hold that which is good. And
first to prove, that they have not quenched the Spirit: for the mighty
day of the Lord is come, and coming upon all wickedness, and
ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who will plead with all flesh
by fire and by sword. And the truth, the crown of glory, and the
sceptre of righteousness over all shall be exalted; which shall answer
that of God in every one upon the earth, though they be from it.
Christ is come a light into the world, and doth enlighten every one
that cometh into the world; that all through him might believe. He
that feeleth the light that Christ hath enlightened him withal, he
feeleth Christ in his mind, and the cross of Christ, which is the
power of God; he shall not need to have a cross of wood or stone, to
put him in mind of Christ, or of his cross, which is the power of God
manifest in the inward parts.”

G. F.

Besides this I was moved to write a letter to the Protector, to warn him of the mighty work the Lord hath to do in the nations, and of the shaking of them; and to beware of his own wit, craft, subtilty, and policy, or seeking any by-ends to himself.

There was about this time an order for the trying of ministers (so called), and for approving, or ejecting them out of their places or benefices; whereupon I wrote a paper to the justices, and other commissioners, who were appointed to that work, as follows:—

“FRIENDS,

“You that are justices, and in commission to try ministers, who have
so long been in the vineyard of God, see whether they be such as are
mentioned in the Scriptures, whom the prophets, Christ, and the
apostles, disapproved of. And if they be such as they disapproved, see
how ye can stand approved in the sight of God, to let such go into his
vineyard, and approve of them who will admire your persons, because of
advantage, and if you do not give them advantage, they will not admire
your persons. Such Jude speaks of. See if they be not such as teach
for filthy lucre, for the love of money, covetous, such as love
themselves, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power; from
such the apostles bid to ‘turn away.’ The apostle said their mouths
should be stopped, who served not the Lord Jesus, but their own
bellies, being evil, who mind earthly things. Paul gave Timothy a
description to try ministers by; he said, ‘they must not be covetous,
nor given to wine, nor filthy lucre, nor novices; lest being lifted up
into pride, they fall into the condemnation of the devil:’ these he
was to try and prove without partiality. Now take heed of approving
such as he disapproved; for since the apostles’ days such as he
disapproved have had their liberty; and they have told us, the tongues
were their original, and that they were orthodox men; and that the
steeple-house, with a cross on the top of it, was the church (the
Papist’s mass-house, you may look on the top of it, and see the sign).
But the Scriptures tell us, ‘all the earth was of one language before
the building of Babel;’ and when Pilate crucified Christ, he set the
tongues, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, over his head. And John tells us,
that the beast had power over the tongues, kindreds, and nations; and
that the whore sits upon the tongues, of whose cup all nations have
drunk, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her.
John also said the tongues are waters.

“Christ gives marks to his disciples, and to the multitude, how to try
such as these that you are to try. They are called of men, master;
they love the chiefest seat in the assemblies; they are sayers but not
doers; and, said he, they shall put you out of the synagogues. Seven
woes he denounced against them, and so disapproved them. Christ said,
false prophets should come; and John saw they were come; for they went
forth from them, and the world since hath gone after them. But Babylon
must be confounded, the mother of harlots; and the Devil must be
taken; and with him the beast, and the false prophet must be cast into
the lake of fire; for the Lamb and his saints over all must reign, and
have the victory. The Lord God sent his prophets of old, to cry
against the shepherds that sought for the fleece, Ezek. xxxiv., and to
cry against such shepherds as seek for their gain from their quarter,
and never have enough, Isa. v. 6; and to cry against the prophets that
prophesied falsely, and the priests that bore rule by their means;
which was the filthy and horrible thing, Jer. v. And if you would
forbear to give them means, you would see how long they would bear
rule.

“There was in old time a storehouse for the fatherless, strangers, and
widows, to come to and be filled; and they did not prosper then who
did not bring their tithes to the storehouse. But did not Christ put
an end to that priesthood, tithes, temple, and priests? And doth not
the apostle say, that the priesthood is changed, the law is changed,
and the commandment disannulled? Might not they have pleaded the law
of God that gave them tithes? Have ever any of the priests prospered
that take tithes since, by the law of man? Was not the first author of
them, since Christ’s time, the Pope, or some of his church? Did the
apostles cast men into prison for tithes, as your ministers do now? As
instance; Ralph Hollingworth, priest of Phillingham, for petty tithes,
not exceeding six shillings, has cast into Lincoln prison a poor
thatcher, named Thomas Bromby; where he has been about eight and
thirty weeks, and still remains a prisoner. And the priest petitioned
the judge that the poor man might not labour in the city, to get a
little money towards his maintenance in prison. Is this a good savour
amongst you, that are in commission to choose ministers? Is this glad
tidings, to cast into prison a man that is not his hearer, because he
could not put into his mouth? Can such as are in the fear of God, and
in his wisdom, own such things?

“The ministers of Christ are to plant a vineyard, and then eat of the
fruit; to plough, sow, and thrash, and get the corn; and then let them
reap; but not cast them into prison for whom they do no work. Christ,
when he sent forth his ministers, bid them give freely, as they had
received freely; and into what city or town soever they came, inquire
who were worthy and there abide; and what they set before you, said
he, that eat. And when these came back again to Christ, and he asked
them if they wanted anything, they said No. They did not go to a town,
and call the people together, to know how much they might have by the
year, as these that are in the apostacy do now. The apostle said,
‘have I not power to eat and to drink?’ But he did not say, to take
tithes, Easter-reckonings, Midsummer-dues, augmentations, and great
sums of money; but ‘have I not power to eat and to drink?’ Yet he did
not use that power among the Corinthians. But they that are
apostatized from him, will take tithes, great sums of money,
Easter-reckonings, and Midsummer-dues; and cast them into prison that
will not give it them, whom they do no work for. The ox’s mouth must
not be muzzled that treads out the corn; but see if the corn be
trodden out in you, and the wheat be in the garner. This is from a
lover of your souls, and one that desires your eternal good.”

G. F.

After I had made some stay in the city of LONDON, and cleared myself of what service lay upon me at that time there, I was moved of the Lord to go down into BEDFORDSHIRE to John Crook’s house, at LUTON, where there was a great meeting, and people generally convinced of the Lord’s truth. When I was come thither, John Crook told me that next day several of those that were called the gentlemen of the country, would come to dine with him and to discourse with me. They came, and I declared to them God’s eternal truth. Several Friends went to the steeple-houses that day. And there was a meeting 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 several miles off. John Crook went with me. When we arrived, there was one —— Gritton, who had been a Baptist, but was got higher than they, and called himself a trier of spirits. He told people their fortunes, and pretended to discover to them when their goods were stolen or houses broken up, who the persons were that did it; by which he had got into the affections of many people thereabouts. This man was in that meeting, speaking, and making a hideous noise over the young-convinced Friends, when I came in; and he bid Alexander Parker give a reason of his hope. Alexander Parker told him, Christ was his hope; but because he did not answer him so soon as he expected, he boastingly cried, “his mouth is stopped.” Then Gritton directed his speech to me, for I stood still and heard him express many things, which were not agreeable to Scripture. I asked him, whether he could make those things out by Scripture which he had spoken, and he said, Yes, yes. Then I bid the people take out their Bibles to search the places he should quote for proof of his assertions; but he could not make good by Scripture that which he had said. So he was ashamed and fled out of the house, and his people were generally convinced: for his spirit was discovered, and he came no more amongst them. When his people were convinced and settled in God’s truth, they gave forth a book against him, and denied his spirit and his false discoveries. Many were turned to Christ Jesus that day, and came to sit under his teaching; insomuch that the judges were in a great rage, and many of the magistrates in BEDFORDSHIRE, because there were so many turned from the hireling priests to the Lord Jesus Christ’s free teaching. But John Crook[36] was kept by the power of the Lord; yet he was discharged from being a justice.

Footnote 36:

John Crook was a Justice of the Peace, and a man of note in the county
of Bedford. He became an eminent preacher of the gospel, in which he
laboured extensively, and many were the seals of his ministry. He
suffered many imprisonments, which he bore with patience, as also his
bodily infirmities, often expressing the inward joy and peace he had
with the Lord. He died in 1699, in the eighty-second year of his age,
having been a minister about forty-four years, and his writings were
published in 1701, entitled, _The Design of Christianity testified in
the Books, Epistles, and MSS. of John Crook_.

After some time I returned to LONDON again, where Friends were finely established in the truth, and great comings-in there were. About this time several Friends went beyond sea to declare the everlasting truth of God. When I had stayed a while in the city, I went into KENT. When we came to ROCHESTER, there was a guard kept to examine passengers, but we passed by, and were not stopped. So I went to CRANBROOK, where there was a great meeting; several soldiers were at it, and many were turned to the Lord that day. After the meeting, some of the soldiers were somewhat rude, but the Lord’s power came over them. Thomas Howsigoe, an Independent preacher, who lived near CRANBROOK, was convinced, and became a faithful minister for the Lord Jesus. Some Friends had travelled into KENT before, as John Stubbs and William Caton, and the priests and professors had stirred up the magistrates at MAIDSTONE to whip them, for declaring God’s truth unto them; as may be seen at large in the Journal of William Caton’s life. Captain Dunk was also convinced in KENT. He went with me to RYE, where we had a meeting; to which the Mayor and officers, and several captains came. They took down what I said in writing, which I was well pleased with. All was quiet, and the people affected with the truth.

From RYE I went to ROMNEY, where, the people having had notice of my coming some time before, there was a very large meeting. Thither came Samuel Fisher, an eminent preacher among the Baptists, who had had a parsonage reputed worth about two hundred pounds a year, which for conscience sake he had given up. There was also the pastor of the Baptists, and abundance of their people. The power of the Lord was so mightily over the meeting, that many were reached thereby, and one greatly shaken, and the life sprung up in many. One of the pastors of the Baptists, being amazed at the work of the Lord’s power, bid one of our friends that was so wrought upon, have a good conscience; whereupon I was moved of the Lord to bid him take heed of hypocrisy and deceit; and he was silent. A great convincement there was that day; many were turned from darkness to the divine light of Christ, and came to see their teachers’ errors, and to sit under the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching, to know him their way, and the covenant of light, which God had given to be their salvation; and they were brought to the one baptism, and to the one baptizer, Christ Jesus. When the meeting was over, Samuel Fisher’s wife said, “Now we may discern this day between flesh and spirit, and distinguish spiritual teaching from fleshly.” The people were generally well satisfied with what had been declared; but the two Baptist teachers and their company, when they were gone from the meeting, fell to reasoning amongst the people. Samuel Fisher, with many others, reasoned for the word of life, which had been declared that day; and the other pastor and his party reasoned against it; so it divided them asunder, and cut them in the midst. A friend came and told me, that the Baptists were disputing one with another; and desired me to go up to them; but I said “let them alone, the Lord will divide them; and they that reason for truth, will be too hard for the other;” and so it was. Samuel Fisher received the truth in the love of it, became a faithful minister, preached Christ freely, and laboured much in the service of the Lord, being moved to go and declare the word of life at Dunkirk and in Holland, and in divers parts of Italy, as Leghorn, and Rome itself; yet the Lord preserved him and his companion John Stubbs, out of their Inquisitions.[37]

Footnote 37:

Sewell states that Samuel Fisher and John Stubbs, when at Rome,
conversed with some of the cardinals, and testified against Popish
superstitions. They also spread books among the friars, some of whom
expressed their contents to be true; but, said they, if we should
acknowledge this publicly, we might expect to be burned for it.

Whiting records the death of Samuel Fisher in 1665. “Other Friends,”
he says, “were transported; and many died in Newgate, and on
shipboard, in order to transportation, to the number of 122, in
London, Westminster, and Southwark; particularly Samuel Fisher, &c.,
faithful ministers and labourers in the work of the Lord, taken at
meetings died in the White Lion prison, Southwark, 1665, in the time
of the pestilence [plague], which began in the time of the persecution
of Friends under the Conventicle Act, as a signal token of the Lord’s
displeasure. It broke out first in a house next to that of the first
man that was banished, who lived to return to London, and died at a
great age.”

From ROMNEY I passed to DOVER, and had a meeting, where several were convinced. Near DOVER a governor and his wife were convinced, who had been Baptists; and the Baptists thereabouts were much offended, and grew very envious; but the Lord’s power came over all. Luke Howard of DOVER was convinced some time before, and became a faithful minister of Christ.[38]

Footnote 38:

For some account of Luke Howard, see _Piety Promoted_, Part ix. He was
several times imprisoned; once in Dover Castle, for sixteen months,
for going to meetings. At this time, he employed six men in his trade,
but was obliged to shut up his shop for six months. He obtained the
use of an entry to the prison grate, where meat was drawn up with a
cord, and he worked a little there. He suffered another long
confinement in 1684. Speaking of his imprisonments, he says, “I had
perfect peace, joy, and content in it all; the Lord made it good unto
me, both within and without.”

Returning from DOVER I went to CANTERBURY, where a few honest-hearted people were turned to the Lord, who sat down under Christ’s teaching. Thence I passed to CRANBROOK again, where I had a great meeting. A friend went to the steeple-house, and was cast into prison; but the Lord’s power was manifested, and his truth spread.

From thence I passed into SUSSEX, and lodged near HORSHAM, where there was a great meeting, and many were convinced. Also at STEYNING we had a great meeting in the market house, and several were convinced; for the Lord’s power was with us. I had several meetings in the neighbourhood; and among the rest, one was appointed at a great man’s house, and he and his son went to fetch several priests that had threatened to come and dispute. But none of them came; for the Lord’s power was mighty in us; a glorious meeting we had. The man of the house and his son were vexed, because none of the priests would come. So the hearts of people were opened by the Spirit of God, and they were turned from the hirelings to Christ Jesus their shepherd, who had purchased them without money, and would feed them without money or price. Many that came, expecting to hear a dispute, were convinced; amongst whom Nicholas Beard was one.[39]

Footnote 39:

Nicholas Beard was an early seeker of the Lord in his youth, and would
often travel many miles to hear the best reputed teachers of the
times. He became a faithful minister of Christ, and a large sufferer
for his sake. For one year’s tithes he had taken from him twelve oxen,
six cows, and one bull, which were sold for £111 5s., but worth more.
For worshipping God, and refusing to swear or bear arms, he was
prosecuted on the statute for £20 a month, and underwent imprisonment
several years, and loss of goods to more than £1,000. Yet it pleased
the Lord to support and bless him and a large family, so that on his
deathbed he was heard to say, “O Lord, my soul blesseth thee, and all
that is within me magnifieth thy holy name!” He often desired to
depart and be with Christ, and died in great peace, in 1702, aged
eighty, a minister about thirty years.

Thus the Lord’s power came over all, and his day many came to see. There were abundance of Ranters in those parts, and professors that had been so loose in their lives, that they began to be weary of it and had thought to go into Scotland to live privately. But the Lord’s net caught them, and their understandings were opened by his light, Spirit, and power, through which they came to receive the truth, and to be settled upon the Lord; and so became very sober men, and good friends in the truth. Great blessing and praising of the Lord there was amongst them, and great admiration in the country.

Out of SUSSEX I travelled to READING, where I found a few that were convinced of the way of the Lord. There I stayed till First-day, and had a meeting in George Lamboll’s orchard; and a great part of the town came to it. A glorious meeting it proved; a great convincement there was, and the people were mightily satisfied. Thither came two of Judge Fell’s daughters to me, and George Bishop, of BRISTOL, with his sword by his side, for he was a captain.[40] After the meeting many Baptists and Ranters came privately, reasoning and discoursing; but the Lord’s power came over them. The Ranters pleaded, that God made the Devil; I denied it, and told them, “I was come into the power of God, the seed Christ, which was before the Devil was, and bruised the head of him; and he became a Devil by going out of truth, and so became a murderer and a destroyer. So I showed them that God did not make the Devil; for God is a God of truth, and he made all things good, and blessed them; but God did not bless the Devil. And the Devil is bad, and was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and spoke of himself and not from God.” And so the truth stopped them, and bound them, and came over all the highest notions in the nation, and confounded them. For by the power of the Lord God I was manifest, and sought to be made manifest to the Spirit of God in all; that by it (which they vexed, and quenched, and grieved,) they might be turned to God; as many were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, and were come to sit under his teaching.

Footnote 40:

This Captain Bishop, who is mentioned as wearing his sword, soon
discontinued it, being convinced, and joining Friends. He was the
author of _An Account of the Persecution in New England_, and he
issued a prophetic warning to the King and Parliament, in 1664, for
banishing Friends, which was fulfilled. See _Sewell’s History_; Index.

After this meeting at READING I passed up to LONDON, where I stayed a while, and had large meetings, then into ESSEX, and came to COGGESHALL, where was a meeting of about two thousand people, as it was supposed, which lasted several hours, and a glorious meeting it was; for the word of life was freely declared, and people were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their teacher and their Saviour, the way, the truth, and the life.

On the sixth day of that week I had a meeting near COLCHESTER, to which many professors and the Independent teachers came. After I had done speaking, and was stepped down from the place on which I stood, one of the Independent teachers began to make a jangling; which Amor Stoddart perceiving, said to me, Stand up again, George, for I was going away, and did not at first hear them. But when I heard the jangling Independent, I stood up again; and after a while the Lord’s power came over him and his company; and they were confounded, and the Lord’s truth went over all. A great flock of sheep hath the Lord Jesus Christ in that country, that feed in his pastures of life. On the First-day following we had a very large meeting, near COLCHESTER, wherein the Lord’s power was eminently manifested, and the people were very well satisfied; for they were turned to Christ’s free teaching, and received it gladly. Many of these people had been of the stock of the martyrs.

As I passed through COLCHESTER, I went to visit James Parnel in prison, but the cruel jailer would hardly let us come in, or stay with him. Very cruel they were to him; the jailer’s wife threatened to have his blood; and in that jail they destroyed him, as the reader may see in a book printed soon after his death, giving an account of his life and death; and also in an epistle printed with his collected books and writings.

From COLCHESTER I went to IPSWICH, where we had a little meeting, and very rude; but the Lord’s power came over them. After the meeting I said, “if any had a desire to hear further, they might come to the inn;” and there came in a company of rude butchers, that had abused Friends; but the Lord’s power so chained them that they could not do mischief. Then I wrote a paper, and gave it forth to the town, “warning them of the day of the Lord, that they might repent of the evils they lived in; directing them to Christ, their teacher, and way; and exhorting them to forsake their hireling teachers.”

We passed from IPSWICH to MENDLESHAM, in SUFFOLK, where Robert Duncan lived. There we had a large quiet meeting, and the Lord’s power was preciously felt amongst us. Then we passed to a meeting at Captain Lawrence’s in NORFOLK; where, it was supposed, were above a thousand people; and all was quiet. Many persons of note were present, and a great convincement there was; for they were turned to Christ, their way and their teacher, and many of them received him, and sat down under him, their vine. Here we parted with Amor Stoddart and some other Friends, who intended to meet us again in HUNTINGDONSHIRE.

About two in the morning we took horse for NORWICH, where Christopher Atkins had run out, and brought dishonour upon the blessed truth and name of the Lord. But he had been denied by Friends; and afterwards he gave forth a paper of condemnation of his sin and evil. We came to YARMOUTH, and there stayed a while; where there was a Friend, Thomas Bond, in prison for the truth of Christ. There we had some service; and some were turned to the Lord in that town. From thence we rode to another town, about twenty miles off, where were many tender people; and I was moved of the Lord to speak to them, as I sat on my horse, in several places as I passed along.

We went to another town about five miles from thence, and set up our horses at an inn, Richard Hubberthorn and I having travelled five and forty miles that day. There were some friendly people in the town; and we had a tender, broken meeting amongst them, in the Lord’s power, to his praise. We bid the hostler have our horses ready by three in the morning; for we intended to ride to LYNN, about three and thirty miles, next morning. But when we were in bed at our inn, about eleven at night, the constable and officers came, with a great rabble of people, into the inn, and said they were come with a hue and cry from a justice of peace, that lived near the town about five miles off, where I had spoken to the people in the streets, as I rode along, to search for two horsemen, that rode upon gray horses, and in gray clothes; a house having been broken up on the Seventh-day before at night. We told them “we were honest, innocent men, and abhorred such things;” yet they apprehended us, and set a guard with halberts and pikes upon us that night; making some of those friendly people, with others, to watch us. Next morning we were up betimes, and the constable with his guard carried us before a justice of peace about five miles off. We took two or three of the sufficient men of the town with us, who had been with us at the great meeting at Captain Lawrence’s, and could testify that we lay both the Seventh-day night, and the First-day night, at Captain Lawrence’s; and it was the Seventh-day night that they said the house was broken up.

The reader is to be informed, that during the time that I was a prisoner at the Mermaid at CHARING CROSS, this Captain Lawrence brought several Independent justices to see me there, with whom I had much discourse; which they took offence at. For they pleaded for imperfection, and to sin as long as they lived; but did not like to hear of Christ teaching his people himself, and making people as clear, whilst here upon the earth, as Adam and Eve were before they fell. These justices had plotted together this mischief against me in the country, pretending a house was broken up; that they might send their hue and cry after me. They were vexed also, and troubled, to hear of the great meeting at John Lawrence’s aforesaid; for a colonel was convinced there that day, who lived and died in the truth. But Providence so ordered, that the constable carried us to a justice about five miles onward in our way towards LYNN, who was not an Independent justice, as the rest were.

When we were brought before him, he began to be angry, because 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 should he be offended at it, who was but one of his servants? Then he read the hue and cry; and I told him, “that that night, wherein the house was said to be broken up, we were at Captain Lawrence’s house; and that we had several men present who could testify the truth thereof.” Thereupon the justice, having examined us and them said “he believed we were not the men that had broken the house; but he was sorry,” he said, “that he had no more against us.” We told him, “he ought not to be sorry for not having evil against us; but rather to be glad; for to rejoice, when he got evil against people, as for housebreaking, or the like, was not a good mind in him.” It was a good while yet, before he could resolve, whether to let us go, or send us to prison; and the wicked constable stirred him up against us, telling him, “we had good horses, and that if it pleased him, he would carry us to NORWICH jail.” But we took hold of the justice’s confession, that “he believed we were not the men that had broken the house;” and after we had admonished him to fear the Lord in his day, the Lord’s power came over him, so that he let us go; so their snare was broken. A great people were afterwards gathered to the Lord in that town, where I was moved to speak to them in the street; and from whence the hue and cry came.

Being set at liberty, we travelled to LYNN; where we arrived about three in the afternoon. Having set up our horses, we met with Joseph Fuce,[41] who was an ensign; and we wished him to speak to as many of the people of the town as he could that feared God; and to the captains and officers to come together; which he did. We had a very glorious meeting amongst them, and turned them to the Spirit of God, by which they might know God and Christ, and understand the Scriptures; and so learn of God and of Christ, as the prophets and apostles did. Many were convinced there; and a fine meeting there is, of them that are come off from the hirelings’ teaching, and sit under the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnote 41:

Joseph Fuce was one of those faithful ministers who died in White Lion
prison, Southwark, in 1665, during the time of the plague.

LYNN being then a garrison, we desired Joseph Fuce to get us the gate opened by three next morning, for we had forty miles to ride next day. By that means getting out early, we came next day by eleven or twelve to SUTTON, near the Isle of Ely, where Amor Stoddart, and the Friends with him, met us again. A multitude of people was gathered there, and no less than four priests. The priest of the town made a great jangle; but the Lord’s power so confounded him, that he went away: the other three stayed; and one of them was convinced. One of the other two, whilst I was speaking, came to lean upon me; but I bid him sit down, seeing he was so slothful. A great convincement there was that day; and many hundreds were turned from the darkness to the light, from the power of Satan unto God, and from the spirit of error to the Spirit of truth, to be led thereby into all truth. People came to this meeting from HUNTINGDON, and beyond; and the mayor’s wife of CAMBRIDGE was there also. A glorious meeting it was, and many were settled under Christ’s teaching, and knew him, their Shepherd, to feed them; for the word of life was freely declared, and gladly received by them. The meeting ended in the power of the Lord, and in peace; and after it I walked out and went into a garden; where I had not been long, before a Friend came to me, and told me several justices were come to break up the meeting. But many of the people were gone away; so they missed of their design: and after they had stayed a while, they went away also, in a fret.