Chapter X: 1681-1683.—George Fox answers two envious books

written abroad—writes to magistrates to persuade them to
moderation—writes to the Quarterly Meetings—attends the judges
at Chambers, respecting a tithe-suit against himself and his
wife—George Fox had bound himself not to intermeddle with his
wife’s estate—this is shown to the judges in court, at which
they wonder—his counsel thereon founds an argument in his
favour—he again writes against the spirit of strife and
division in the church—writes to the magistrates who had
illegally condemned Friends upon _ex-parte_ evidence—writes two
papers respecting the choice of Sheriffs—Friends are
interrupted at Gracechurch Street Meeting by a civil and
military force—George Fox writes divers books and papers in
support and defence of the Truth—the Spirit of God directed to
as the rule to distinguish between Truth and error, whereby the
evil of persecution may be avoided—an epistle to encourage
Friends under their sufferings, both from the outward powers,
and from false brethren—the laws are now more strictly enforced
against Dissenters—an epistle to Friends, commending them to
the power of God in themselves—writes to Friends imprisoned at
Denbigh, to console them in their sufferings, and exhorting
them to faithfulness—Friends are kept out of their
meeting-houses, and fined for speaking—a Friend is speedily
restored from a sudden illness, in a remarkable manner, through
the prayers of George Fox—persecution is now hot, and George
Fox writes to Friends not to risk the loss of other people’s
goods through their sufferings, 350