Chapter VII (1)

1675-1677.—George Fox attends the Yearly Meeting, and afterwards
sets forward towards the North—attends the Quarterly Meeting at
Lancaster, and goes thence to Swarthmore—writes many books and
papers for the Truth—the titles of several named—writes to
Friends in Westmorland to keep in the power of God, and thereby
avoid strife—writes an epistle to the Yearly Meeting—makes a
collection and arrangement of his various papers and writings,
and of the names of divers Friends engaged in particular
service, or against the Truth—some meetings for discipline
established in the North in 1653—recites his labours and travels
for establishing meetings for discipline—a spirit of discord and
separation appears in the church—the separatists are rebuked and
reproved—the establishment of men’s and women’s meetings is much
opposed—a narrative of the spreading of Truth, and of the
opposition from the worldly powers—death of Priest Lampitt, a
persecutor—George Fox travels again towards the South—writes to
his wife from York—finds some slack in their testimony against
Tithes—writes an epistle to Friends on the subject—attends the
Yearly Meeting—with John Burnyeat, and other Friends, visits Wm.
Penn at his house at Worminghurst, in Sussex—sets things in
order for visiting Holland—precious meeting.

Being now at liberty, I visited Friends in LONDON; and having been very weak, and not yet well recovered, I went to KINGSTON. I did not stay long, but having visited Friends there, I returned to LONDON, wrote a paper to the parliament, and sent several books to them. A great book against Swearing had been delivered to them a little before; the reasonableness whereof had so much influence upon many of them, that it was thought they would have done something towards our relief, if they had sat longer. I stayed in and near London till the Yearly Meeting, to which Friends came from most parts of the nation, and some from beyond the sea. A glorious meeting we had in the everlasting power of God.

This meeting being over, and the parliament also risen (who had done nothing for or against Friends,) I was clear of my service for the Lord at London. And having taken my leave of Friends there, and had a glorious meeting with some of them at John Elson’s in the morning, I set forward with my wife and her daughter Susan, by coach (for I was not able to travel on horseback) towards the North; many Friends accompanying us as far as HIGHGATE, and some to DUNSTABLE, where we lodged that night. We visited Friends, and were visited by them, at NEWPORT-PAGNEL, NORTHAMPTON, and COSSALL, where, amongst others, came a woman, and brought her daughter, for me to see how well she was; putting me in mind, “that when I was there before, she had brought her to me, much troubled with the disease called the king’s evil, and had then desired me to pray for her;” which I did, and she grew well upon it, praised be the Lord! From Cossall we went on by John Simcock’s and William Gandy’s, to WARRINGTON and PRESTON, and so to LANCASTER.

I had not been at Lancaster since I was carried prisoner from thence by the under-sheriff and jailer, towards Scarbro’ Castle. I found the town full of people; for it was both the fair time, and the trained bands were met upon a general muster. Many Friends were also in town from several parts of the county, because the Quarterly Meeting was to be there the next day. I stayed two nights and a day at Lancaster, and visited Friends both at their men’s and women’s meetings, which were very full, large, and peaceable; for the Lord’s power was over all, and none meddled with us. Here met us Thomas Lower and his wife, Sarah Fell, James Lancaster, and Leonard Fell. Next day after the meeting, being the 25th of the 4th Month, we went over the Sands, with several other Friends, to SWARTHMORE.

After I had been a while at Swarthmore, several Friends from divers parts of the nation came to visit me, and some out of Scotland; by whom I understood that four young students of Aberdeen were convinced there this year, at a dispute held there by Robert Barclay, and George Keith, with some of the scholars of that university.[36]

Among others Colonel Kirby paid me a visit, who had been one of my great persecutors; but now, he said, he came to bid me welcome into the country; and carried himself in appearance very lovingly. Yet before I left Swarthmore, he sent for the constables of Ulverstone, and ordered them to tell me, “that we must have no more meetings at Swarthmore; for if we had, they were commanded by him to break them up; and they were to come the next First-day.” That day we had a very precious meeting, the Lord’s presence was wonderfully amongst us, and the constables did not come to disturb us. The meetings have been quiet since, and have increased.

The illness I got in my imprisonment at Worcester had so much weakened me, that it was long before I recovered my natural strength again. For which reason, and as many things lay upon me to write, both for public and private service, I did not stir much abroad during the time that I now stayed in the North; but when Friends were not with me, spent much time in writing for truth’s service. While I was at Swarthmore, I gave several books to be printed. One, _Concerning Swearing_. Another, showing, “that none are successors to the Prophets and Apostles, but who succeed them in the same power and Holy Ghost that they were in.” Another, “that Possession is above Profession, and how the professors now do persecute Christ in Spirit, as the professing Jews did persecute him outwardly in the days of his flesh.” Also the eight following books, viz.:—_To the Magistrates of Dontzic_; _Cain against Abel, or, an Answer to the New Englandmen’s Laws_; _To Friends at Nevis, concerning Watching_;[37] _A General Epistle to all Friends in America_; _Concerning Cæsar’s due, and God’s due, &c._; _Concerning the Ordering of Families_; _The Spiritual Man judgeth all things_; _Concerning the Higher Power_.

Besides these, I wrote several epistles to Friends, both in England, and beyond the seas; and answers to divers papers concerning “the running out of some, who had opposed the order of the gospel, and had stirred up much strife and contention in Westmorland.” Wherefore I was moved to write a few lines, particularly to Friends there.

“THIS IS FOR FRIENDS IN WESTMORLAND.

“All live in the power of God, in his Light and Spirit, which
first convinced you; that in it ye may keep in the ancient unity,
in humility, in the fear of the Lord, and his gentle and peaceable
wisdom, which is easy to be entreated; that in the same Power,
Light, and Spirit of God, ye may all be serviceable in your men’s
and women’s meetings, in the possession of the gospel-order; which
gospel, the power of God, hath brought life and immortality to
light; that in this ye may see over him that hath darkened you. In
this power, the glorious gospel, no apostates can come; for the
power of God was before apostates were, or the fall of man and
woman was, or the devil either, and will be when he is gone.
Therefore praise God in the eternal fellowship of the everlasting
gospel of Jesus Christ, which is not of man, nor by man. And
therefore, all Friends in Westmorland, keep in the power of God,
which will and must preserve and cover you, if ye be preserved.
Let your faith stand in the power of God, and not in the wisdom of
men’s words, lest ye fall. In God’s power ye have peace, life, and
unity; and for want of keeping in God’s power, and in his
righteousness and Holy Ghost, is all this strife come among you.”

G. F.

I also wrote the following general epistle to Friends at the Yearly Meeting in London:—

“MY DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,

“Whom the Lord hath preserved by his eternal power to this day,
over and through many troubles, storms, tempests, and prisons.
Let, therefore, every one’s faith stand in the power of God, which
is over the Devil and was before him. So your faith standing in
the invisible power of God, stands in that which does not change;
and the faith, that Christ Jesus, the power of God, is the author
of, must stand in the power of God; so then it stands in that
which is over all, in which they are established. To this the
apostle brought the church, the true Christians; and so now the
faith of all true Christians, which Christ is the author of, must
stand in the power of God, in which the everlasting kingdom
stands. As every one’s faith stands in the power of God, it keeps
all in the power of godliness.

“For as it was in the days of the apostles, when some were crying
up Paul and Apollos, and so forth, he judged them as carnal; and
exhorted and admonished them, that their faith should not stand in
men, nor in the words of man’s wisdom, but in the power of God. He
said ‘he would not know the speech of them, but the power amongst
them; for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.’ So it
is to be now. Every one’s faith must stand in the power of God,
and not in men, nor in their speeches or good words. For we have
seen by experience, when any begin to cry up men, and their faith
stands in them, such men as would have people’s faith stand in
them, love popularity, and bring not people’s faith to stand in
the power of God. Such cannot exalt Christ; and when such fall,
they draw a great company after them. Therefore the apostle would
not know such after the flesh, but would know them that were in
the power and Spirit; and struck down every one’s faith that stood
in the words of man’s wisdom, that they might stand in the power
of God. So it must be now. They whose faith doth not stand in the
power of God, cannot exalt his kingdom that stands in power;
therefore every one’s faith must stand in the power of God.

“The apostle denied popularity, when he judged the Corinthians,
for looking at Paul and Apollos, to be carnal; such are carnal
still. Therefore all should know one another in the Spirit, life,
and power, and look at Christ; this keeps all in humility. They,
whose faith stands in men, will make sects; as in the days of J.
N. and J. P. and others. The faith of such Christ is not the
author of; and if he hath been, they have erred from it, and made
shipwreck of it. All that are in the true faith, that stands in
the power of God, will judge them as carnal, and judge down that
carnal part in them, that cries up Paul or Apollos; that their
faith may stand in the power of God, and that they may exalt
Christ, the author of it. For every one’s eye ought to be to
Jesus; and every just man and woman may live by their faith, which
Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of. By this faith every
man and woman may see God, who is invisible; this faith gives the
victory, and by it he hath access to God. So every one’s faith and
hope standing in the power of God, all therein have unity,
victory, and access to God’s throne of grace; in which faith they
please God. By this faith they are saved;—by this faith they
obtain the good report, and subdue all the mountains that have
been betwixt them and God.

“This power hath preserved Friends over their persecutors, over
the wrath of men, and above the spoilings of their goods, and
imprisonments; as seeing God who created all—who gives the
increase of all, and upholds all by his word and power. Therefore
let every one’s faith be in his power. In this no schism or sect
can come; for it is over them, before they were, and will be when
they are gone. But perfect unity is in the truth, in the Spirit,
that circumcises the body of death, that puts off the sins of the
flesh, and plunges it down with the Spirit. In the Spirit of God,
there is perfect fellowship; and Christ is the minister of this
circumcision and baptism.

“This is upon me from the Lord, to write unto you, that every one
of you, whose faith Jesus is the author of, may stand in the power
of God. From the Lord I warn you, and all everywhere, of the same.
For if a star should fall, which has been a light, either the
earth or the sea does receive it; that is, the earthly mind, or
the foaming, raging people; though neither the seed, light, power,
nor truth ever fell, nor the faith itself, the gift of God; but
men going from it, become unsavoury.

“Adam, whilst he kept in truth, and obeyed the command of God, was
happy; but when he disobeyed the Lord, he fell under the power of
Satan, and became unhappy, though he might talk after of his
experiences in Paradise; but he had lost his image, his power and
dominion, in which God had created him.

“The Jews received the law of God, and as long as they kept the
law, which was just, holy, good, and perfect, it kept them good,
just, holy, and savoury; but when they turned their backs on the
Lord, and forsook his law, then they came under the power of
darkness, under the powers of the earth, and were trodden under as
unsavoury.

“So the Christians were called ‘a city set on a hill, the light of
the world, and the salt of the earth;’ but when they forsook the
power of God, and their faith stood in words and men, and not in
the power, then their walls fell down, though the power in itself
stood; and they lost their hill, their saltness, and their
shining. And as Christendom now does confess, they are not in the
same power and spirit that the apostles were in; so not in the
same salt, nor upon the same hill. So they came to be trodden
under; and the beast, the whore, and the false prophet are
uppermost, the unsavoury. Their dead faith is in men, and in
words; therefore they are full of sects, and one against another.

“And now the everlasting gospel, the power of God, is preached
again, which was before the devil was, that darkened man; and by
this power of God, life and immortality are brought to light
again. Therefore every one’s faith is to stand in this power, that
hath brought life and immortality to light in them, that so all
may come to be heirs of the power of God, the gospel. Herein all
have a right to the power of God, which is also the authority of
the men’s and women’s meetings, and of all the other meetings set
up thereby.

“Now, as the gospel is preached again, if your faith does not
stand in the power, but in men, and in the wisdom of words, you
will grow carnal; and such are for judgment, who cry up Paul or
Apollos, and not Christ, the author of your faith. They who love
to be popular, would have people’s faith to stand in them; and
such do not preach Christ, but themselves. But such as preach
Christ and his gospel, would have every man and woman to be in the
possession of it, and every man and woman’s faith to stand in
Christ, the author of it, and in the power of God. And as their
faith stands in the power of God, nothing can get between them and
God; for if any should fall amongst us, as too many have done,
that [love of popularity] leads its followers either into the
waters, or into the earth.

“If any should go from the spirit of prophecy, that did open to
them, and from the power, they may speak their experiences, which
the power opened to them formerly. So might Adam and Eve speak of
what they saw and enjoyed in Paradise; so might Cain and Balaam of
what they saw; and also the Jews, Korah and Dathan, who praised
God on the banks, saw the victory over Pharaoh, ate of the manna,
drank of the rock, came to Mount Sinai, and saw the glory of the
Lord. So also might the false apostles speak of their experiences,
and all those false Christians, that turned from the apostles and
Christ. And so may those do now, that err from the Spirit, that
are come out of Egypt (in spirit) and Sodom, and have known the
raging of the Sodomites, as Lot did the outward; and the pursuit
of the spiritual Egyptians, as the outward Jew did of the outward
Egyptians; yet if they do not walk in the Spirit of God, in the
light, and in the grace, which keeps their hearts established, and
their words seasoned, and also their faith in the power of God, in
which the kingdom stands; they may go forth like the false
Christians, like the Jews, like Adam and Eve, Cain, Korah, and
Balaam, and be wandering stars, trees without fruit, wells without
water, and clouds without rain; and so come to be unsavoury and
trodden down; as Adam who lost Paradise, and the Jews who lost the
Holy Land, not walking in the law, and keeping the command of God;
and as the Christians who lost the city, the hill, the salt, and
the light since the apostle’s days, and came to be unsavoury, and
to be trodden under foot of men.

“Therefore, let every one’s faith stand in the Lord’s power, which
is over all; through which they may be built upon the Rock, the
Foundation of God, the Seed Christ Jesus. So all in Christ may be
always fresh and green; for he is the green tree that never
withers. All are fresh and green that are grafted into and abide
in him, bringing forth heavenly fresh fruits to the praise of God.
And though Adam and Eve fell from Paradise, the Jews fell from the
law of God, and many of the Christians fell from their prophecies,
and erred from the faith, the Spirit, and the grace; and the stars
have fallen, as was spoken in the Revelations: yet the Spirit,
grace, faith, and power of God remain.

“Many such states have I seen within these twenty-eight years;
though there is a state that shall never fall, nor be deceived, in
the Elect before the world began. These are come to the end of the
prophecies, are in Him where they end, and renewed by Christ into
the image of God which man was in before he fell,—in that power
where he had dominion over all that God made: and not only so, but
they ‘attain to a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ,’ who never fell. In him is the sitting down
in life eternal, where their feet stand sure and fast in the
gospel, his power. Here their bread is sure; and he that eats this
bread lives for ever.

“And all Friends and brethren, that declare God’s eternal truth,
and word of life, live in it; be seasoned with grace, and salted
with the heavenly salt, that your lives and conversations may
preach wherever you come;—that there be no rawness, no quenching
of the Spirit, no despising of prophecy either in men or women.
For all must meet in the faith that Jesus is the author of, and in
the light that comes from Jesus, and be so grafted into the life,
that your knowledge may be there one of another, in Christ; and
that there may be none slothful, nor sitting down in earthly
things, minding them, like Demas of old; lest you clothe
yourselves with another clothing than you had at first; but all
keep chaste; for the chaste do follow the Lamb.

“And Friends, that are settled in places, and are ministers,
possess, as if ye did not; be married, as if ye were not; and be
loose to the world in the Lord’s power; for God’s oil will be
above all visible things, which makes his lamps burn, and gives
light afar off. Let none strive nor covet to be rich in this
world, in these changeable things that will pass away; but let
your faith stand in the Lord God, who changes not, who created
all, and gives the increase of all.

“Now Friends, concerning faithful men’s and women’s meetings,
which were set up in God’s counsel; whoever oppose them, and the
authority and tenure of them, oppose the power of God, which is
the authority of them. They are no ministers of the gospel, nor of
Christ, that oppose his power, which all are to possess. The
gospel is to be preached to all nations: as deceit is gone over
all nations, and all nations have drunk the whore’s cup, and she
hath them in her cage, her unclean power from the beast and
dragon, out of the power of God, and out of truth, and the Spirit
of God the apostles were in; the power of God must come over all
this again; and all the true ministers that preach the gospel, the
power of God, must bring people into the possession of it again. I
say, whosoever preaches the gospel of Christ and him to people or
nations, those people and nations receiving the gospel, receive
the power of God, that brings life and immortality to light in
them; they see over the devil that hath darkened them, and over
the beast, the whore, and her cage. So, by the power of God, life
and immortality are brought to light in them; then these men and
women, being heirs of this power, the gospel, are heirs of
authority and power over the devil, beast, whore, and dragon.

“This is their possession and portion; and they are to labour in
their possession and portion, and do God Almighty’s business and
service in the possession of the power of God, the gospel, which
is a joyful, glorious, everlasting order. And here is the
authority of our men’s and women’s meetings, and other meetings in
the name of Jesus, the gospel of Christ, the power of God, which
is not of man, nor by man. In this are all to meet and to worship
God; by this are all to act; and in this all have fellowship, a
joyful fellowship, a joyful and comfortable assembly. This is the
day when, in the eternal light, all are to take their possession
of the gospel and its order, that power of God, which they are
heirs of. All faithful men and women in every country, city, and
nation, whose faith stands in the power of God, the gospel of
Christ, who have received, and are in the possession of, this
gospel, the power of God, have all right to the power in these
meetings; for they are heirs of the power, which is the authority
of the men’s and women’s meetings.

“So here is God’s choice (and not man’s) by his power, of his
heirs; and they have all freedom in this gospel, the power of God,
to go to the meetings, the men to the men’s, and the women to the
women’s; for they are heirs of the power, which is not of man, nor
by man, but from heaven, received in the Holy Ghost; and they see
over enmity, and before it was, by the light, by the life, and
immortality, which are brought to light in them.

“The devil, the author of enmity, cannot get into this authority,
power, order, nor fellowship of the gospel; nor into this life,
light, nor unity of the faith, which gives victory over him that
hath separated man from God. Into the unity of this faith the
serpent cannot come, nor into the worship of God in Spirit and
truth can the devil come, or any enmity. And they that are in
this, are in unity over him. Therefore, let every one’s faith
stand in the power of God, the glorious gospel; and let all walk
as becomes the gospel, and the order of it. As every one hath
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, and let him be
their Lord and Orderer. For the preaching of the gospel of Christ
Jesus is to the intent that all may come to be heirs of the
gospel, and into the possession of it; and to be heirs of Christ
and of his government, of the increase of which there is no end;
who is over all in his righteousness, and over all in his light,
life, power, and dominion. Therefore know one another in his
power, his gospel, which is the authority of your meetings; know
one another in Christ Jesus, who is able to restore man out of the
state of the fall, into the image of God, into that power and
dominion that man had before he fell, and into Himself that never
fell, whence they shall go no more forth. Here is the rock and
foundation of God that stands sure.

“And, Friends, be tender to the tender principle of God in all.
Shun vain disputes and janglings, both amongst yourselves and
others; for that many times is like a blustering wind that hurts
and bruises the tender buds and plants. For the world, though they
have the words, are out of the life; and the apostle’s disputing
with them was to bring them to the life. And those disputers, that
were amongst the Christians, about genealogies, circumcision, and
the law, meats, drinks, and days, came to be the worst sort of
disputers, whom the apostles judged; for such destroyed people
from the faith. Therefore the apostles exhorted the churches, that
every one’s faith should stand in the power of God, and to look at
Jesus, the author of it. There every graft stands in Christ, the
vine, quiet; where no blustering storms can hurt them; there is
safety. There all are of one mind, one faith, one soul, one
spirit, baptized into one body with the one Spirit, and made all
to drink into one Spirit, one church, one head, that is heavenly
and spiritual; one faith in this head, Christ, who is the author
of it, and hath the glory of it; one Lord to order all, who is the
baptizer into this one body. So Christ hath the glory of this
faith out of every man and woman; and God through him hath his
glory, the Creator of all in his power, the gospel that hath
brought life and immortality to light in them; and their faith
standing in it, they know the immortal God, serve and worship him,
in his Spirit and in his truth; by which they are made God’s free
men and women, free from him that is out of the truth.

“Now, Friends, you that have long been labourers, and have known
the dealings of the Lord these twenty years (more or less,) as I
have often said to you, draw up what you can, of those passages
and sufferings which the Lord hath carried you through by his
power, and how by him ye have been supported from the first; that
the Lord may be exalted by his power now, and in ages to come, who
hath been the only support, defence, and stay, of his people all
along, over all to himself; to whom be all glory and praise for
ever and ever, Amen. He deserves it in his church throughout all
ages, from his living members, who return the praise to the living
God, who lives and reigns over all, blessed for ever; who is the
life, and strength, and health, and length of days of all his
people. Therefore let there be no boasting, but in the Lord, and
in his power and kingdom; this keeps all in humility.

“And, Friends, in the Lord’s power and truth, what good you can do
for Friends in prison, or sufferers, by informing or helping them,
every one bend yourselves to the Lord’s power and spirit, to do
his will and his business; and in that all will have a
fellow-feeling of one another’s condition, in bonds, or in what
trials and tribulations soever; you will have a fellow-feeling one
of another, having one head, one Lord, and being one body in him.
For God’s heavenly flail hath brought out his seed, his heavenly
plough hath turned up the fallow ground, and his heavenly seed is
sown by the heavenly man, which brings forth fruits to the
heavenly sower, in some fifty, sixty, and a hundred fold in this
life; and such in the world without end will have life eternal. O,
therefore, all keep within; let your lights shine, and your lamps
burn, that you all may be wells full of the living water, and
trees full of the living fruit of God’s planting, whose fruit is
unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

“The Lord God of power preserve you all in his power. Let your
faith stand therein, that you may have unity in the faith, and in
the power; and by this faith and belief you may be all grafted
into Christ, the sure root, where the eternal Sun of Righteousness
shines, in the heavenly and eternal day, upon his plants and
grafts. This sun never goes down; and the heavenly springs of
life, and showers are known to water and nourish the grafts, and
plants, and buds, that they may always be kept fresh and green,
and never wither; bringing forth fresh and green, and living
fruit, which is offered up to the living God, who is glorified in
that you bear much fruit. The Lord God Almighty keep you, and
preserve you all in his power, light, and life, over death and
darkness; that therein you may spread his truth abroad, and be
valiant for it upon the earth, answering that of God in all; that
with it, the minds of people may be turned to him, so that with it
they may come to know the Lord Christ Jesus in the new covenant,
in which the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the
waters do the sea. His life must go over death, and his light must
go over darkness, and the power of God must go over the power of
Satan.

“So, all ye that are in the light, life, and power, keep the
heavenly fellowship in the heavenly power, the heavenly unity in
the heavenly divine faith, and the unity of the Spirit, which is
the bond of the heavenly Prince of princes’ peace; who bruises the
head of the enemy, the adversary, and reconciles man to God, and
all things in heaven and in the earth: a blessed reconciliation!
Let every one’s faith stand in the power of God, which Jesus
Christ is the author of; that all may know their crown of life.
For all outward things without the substance, life, and power,
areas the husk without the kernel, and do not nourish the immortal
soul, nor the new-born babe; but that by which it is nourished, is
the milk of the Word, whereby it groweth in the heavenly life,
strength, and wisdom. The gospel is not of man, nor by man, but is
the power of God, and answers the truth in all; all the possessors
of it are to see that all walk according to it; which everlasting
order is ordained of God already, and all the possessors of him
possess their joy, their comfort, and salvation. My love unto you
all, with him that reigns and is over all, from everlasting to
everlasting.

“Dwell in the love of God, which passeth knowledge, and edifieth
the living members of the body of Christ; which love of God you
come to be built up in, and in the holy faith. This love of God
will bring you to bear all things, endure all things, and hope all
things. From this love of God which you have in Christ Jesus,
nothing will be able to separate you; neither powers nor
principalities, heights nor depths, things present nor things to
come, prisons nor spoiling of goods, neither death nor life. The
love of God keeps above all that which would separate from God,
and makes you more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Therefore in
this love of God dwell, that with the same love you may love one
another, and all the workmanship of God—that you may glorify God
with your bodies, souls, and spirits, which are the Lord’s. Amen.”

G. F.

“All Friends sit low in life, the Lord’s power. Keep your place in
it, till the Lord and Master of the feast bid you ‘sit higher;’
lest you take the highest place, and be put down with shame. He
that hath an ear, let him hear.”

G. F.

“Friends, take heed of speaking the things of God in the words
that men’s wisdom hath taught; for those words will lift up the
foolish, that have erred from the Spirit of God; which words and
wisdom are for condemnation, and that which is lifted up by them,
and they that thereby speak the things of God in them. So that old
house, with its goods, must be thrown under the foot of the new
birth.

“And, Friends, I desire that you may all keep the holy order,
which is in the gospel, the glorious order in the power of God,
which the devil is out of; which was before all his orders were,
and before the world made any.

“This joyful order keeps all hearts pure to God, in everlasting
peace, unity, and order; feel it, and keep the order of it, both
men and women, and come to be heirs of the gospel, which brings
life and immortality to light; and to see over that power of
darkness, by Him who was before the power of death was. In this is
the holy order of love and peace. So keep in this, that keeps you
always pure; what men and women act in this, they act in that
which will stand when the world is gone.

“There hath been some scruple about men’s and women’s meetings.
Men and women in the gospel are heirs of the power, which was
before the devil was; heirs of this, then enter into the
possession of it, and do the Lord’s business therein. Everyone
take the care of God’s honour, and keep all things in
righteousness, in holiness which becomes God’s house, and in that
which honours the Lord God. It eased me, when those meetings were
set up; for men and women, that are heirs of the gospel, have
right to the gospel order; and it belongs to them. Then take your
possessions, and practise in it; be not talkers only, but live and
walk in the gospel, the power of God, which is the authority of
your meetings.”

G. F.

Swarthmore, the 28th of the 2nd Month, 1676.

[The above Epistle was read at the Yearly Meeting in London, the
17th of the 3rd Month, 1676.]

During this time I collected together as many as I could, of the epistles I had written in former years to Friends. I made a collection of the several papers that I had written to Oliver Cromwell, and his son Richard, in the time of their protectorships; and to the parliaments and magistrates that were in their times. I collected also the papers I had written to King Charles II. since his return, and to his council and parliaments, and the justices or other magistrates under him. I made another collection of certificates, which I had received from divers governors of places, judges, justices, parliament-men, and others, for the clearing of me from many slanders, which the envious priests and professors, both here and beyond the seas, had cast upon me. This I did for the truth’s sake, as knowing that their design in slandering me, was to defame the truth published by me, and hinder the spreading thereof amongst the people. Besides these, I made two books of collections; one was, a list or catalogue of the names of those Friends who went out of the North of England, when truth first broke forth there, to proclaim the day of the Lord through this nation. The other was of the names of those Friends that went first to preach the gospel in other nations, countries, and places, in what years, and to what parts they went.

I made another collection, in two books; one of epistles and letters from Friends and others, on several occasions, to me; the other of letters of mine to Friends and others.

I wrote also a book of the types and figures of Christ, with their significations; and many other things, which will be of service to truth and Friends in time to come.

I took notice also of those who had run out from truth, drawn others out after them, and turned against truth and Friends at several times since the first breaking forth of truth in this latter age, and what became of them; noting particularly the repentance and return of such of them as came back to truth again. Some ran quite out, and never returned, but were cut off in their gainsaying and rebellion; for the word and power of God hath blasted and is blasting them, and the holy seed hath ground, and is grinding them to pieces. I have observed, that they who have been convinced, and have not lived and walked in the truth, have been the worst enemies to the truth, and done most hurt amongst Friends in the truth, and to others. In these I have seen fulfilled what the Lord did long since show me, “that such should be greater deceivers than all the priests and professors.” For such as came as far as Cain, Balaam, Korah, and Dathan, and could “preach Christ,” and say, “they had preached in his name;” such as came to be apostles, and had tasted of the power of Christ, and then turned from it, could yet speak their old experiences, and have good words, like Korah and Balaam: but not keeping in the life and truth, they deceived the hearts of the simple. Such come to be of the devil, who abode not in the truth; as Cain, and all the Jews, that abode not in the truth, were. For though Cain did sacrifice to God, and did talk with God; and the Jews could talk of Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, yet Christ told them, “they were of their father, the devil.” In like manner, though they who are called Christians, can talk of Christ, and use his and his apostles’ and disciples’ words, yet not abiding in the truth, and power, and Spirit, that the apostles were in, they are of the devil, out of truth, and do his work. So are all those that have been convinced of God’s eternal truth since it sprang up in this nation, that have not abode in the light, and in the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus; but have turned against the power, and have opposed the work thereof; though they may retain their former experiences, and be able to speak many good words, yet not living in the life and power that gave them those experiences, they live in the power of darkness, which is of the devil: and by the light and truth both he and they are condemned; and must own their condemnation if ever they come to truth again. For to resist the heavenly power, and to oppose the workings and divine manifestations thereof through any, is not a light matter.

As I had been moved of the Lord to travel in his power round this nation, and in other parts, to preach the everlasting gospel, and to declare the Word of Life, which was in the beginning, through many imprisonments, hardships, sufferings, and trials; so I was afterwards moved to travel, in the same heavenly power, about the nation again (and to write to such places where I came not) to recommend to Friends the “setting up of the quarterly and monthly meetings in all counties, for looking after the poor, taking care for orderly proceedings in marriages; and other matters relating to the church of Christ;” though some meetings for this end were settled in the North of England, in the year 1653.

After this also, truth still spreading further over the nation, and Friends increasing in number, I was moved, by the same eternal power, to recommend the setting up of women’s meetings also; that all, both male and female, who had received the gospel, the Word of eternal Life, might come into the order of the gospel, brought forth by the power of God, and might act for God in the power, and therein do business and service for him in his church. All the faithful must labour in God’s vineyard, they being his hired servants, and he having given them the earnest of his Spirit. For a master that hires a servant, and gives him the earnest of his hire, expects he should do his work, after he knows his will, in the outward creation; so all God’s people, that are of the new creation, and have received the earnest of his Spirit, ought to labour with, by, and in his Spirit, power, and grace, and faith, in the light, in God’s vineyard, that they may have their wages when they have done God’s work and business in his day, which is eternal life. But none can labour in his vineyard, and do his work and will, but as they walk in the heavenly divine light, grace, and Spirit of Christ; which it hath been, and is, my travail and labour in the Lord to turn all to.

Some that professed truth, and had made a great show therein, being gone from the simplicity of the gospel into jangling, division, and a spirit of separation, endeavoured to discourage Friends (especially the women), from their godly care and watchfulness in the church over one another in the truth; opposing their meetings, which, in the power of the Lord, were set up for that end and service. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to write the following epistle, and send it among Friends, for the discovering of that spirit, by which those opposers acted, its work and way, by which it wrought, and to warn Friends of it, that they might not be betrayed by it:—

“All my dear Friends, Live in the seed of peace, Christ Jesus, in
whom ye have life. That spirit that comes amongst you to raise up
strife, is out of Christ; for it is the spirit that is not easy to
be entreated, not gentle, so not of the wisdom of God, which is
justified of her children. They that follow that spirit, are none
of Wisdom’s children. There is a spirit that hath made a
separation, and has been against men’s and women’s meetings; yet
those of this spirit have set up one of their own, to which they
have given power, and allow none to sit amongst them but such as
they give power to, looking upon others as usurpers of authority.
This spirit and its work is not of God, though it has made a
jumble amongst some; and the path it may travel in, is through the
earthly affections, amongst the unestablished, or apostates. But
all that are in the life, Spirit, and light, in the grace, truth,
and power of God, bar it out; and such as sit under their own
vine, Christ Jesus, and are grafted into him, have no need of
their exhortation or counsel; for the true believers are entered
into their rest. Therefore all keep in the gospel of peace; and
you that are heirs of the kingdom, keep in your possession of it.

“Some of this spirit have said to me, ‘they see no service in
women’s meetings.’ My answer is, and hath been to such, if they be
blind and without sight, they should not oppose others; for none
impose anything upon them. God never received the blind for a
sacrifice, neither can his people. But Christ has enlightened all;
and to as many as receive him, he gives ‘power to become the sons
of God.’ Such as are heirs of his power, and of his gospel, which
brings life and immortality to light, can see over him that has
darkened them; and all such keep the order of the gospel, the
power of God, and their meetings therein, which preserves them in
life and immortality. These see the great service of men’s and
women’s meetings, in the order of the gospel, the power of God;
for they are meet-helps in this power, which is the authority of
their meetings.

“Now I say to all of you, that are against women’s meetings or the
men’s, and say, ‘you see no service for the women’s meetings,’ and
oppose them, you are therein out of the power of God, and his
Spirit you live not in. For God saw a service for the assemblies
of the women in the time of the law, about those things that
appertained to his worship and service, and to the holy things of
his tabernacle; and so they in his Spirit see now their service in
the gospel; many things in these meetings being more proper for
the women than the men; and they in the power and wisdom of God
may inform the men of such things as are not proper for them; and
the men may inform the women of such things as are not proper for
them, as meet-helps to each other. For in the time of the law, the
women were to offer as well as the men; so in the time of the
gospel much more are they to offer their spiritual sacrifices; for
they are all called, both men and women, a royal priesthood; they
are of the household of faith; they are the living stones that
make up the spiritual building, which Christ is the head of; and
are to be encouraged in their labour in the gospel; for all things
that they do, both men and women, are to be done _in the power of
God_. All such as see no service for these women’s meetings, or
the men’s, but oppose them, and make strife amongst Friends, are
in the spirit of the world, that is against, and forbids our other
meetings;—are in the same spirit of the world, that hath been, and
is against women’s speaking in meetings, and say, ‘they must be
silent,’ &c., though the same apostle commands, ‘that men should
keep silence as well as the women,’ if there were not an
interpreter. Therefore, you may see that the spirit of the world
hath entered such opposers, though they come under another colour;
for they would not have us to meet at all. And these are against
the women’s meetings, and some of them against the men’s also, and
say, ‘they see no service for them;’ then they may hold their
tongues, and not oppose them that do see their service for God in
these meetings.

“Therefore, all you that feel the power of God, and your service
for God in them, both men and women, keep your meetings in the
power of God, the authority of them, as they were settled in it;
then ye will be preserved both over this spirit that opposes them,
and over the spirit of the world that opposes your other meetings;
for it is all one in the ground, and would bring you into bondage.
Such are out of the peaceable gospel, who oppose its order; out of
the faith that works by love; out of the wisdom that is gentle,
easy, and peaceable, &c., and out of the kingdom that stands in
peace and joy. Therefore, keep over that spirit that sows discord
or dissension, and would draw you from your habitation and
possession in the order of the gospel; for it is the same spirit
that deceived Adam and Eve, by which they lost their habitation in
righteousness and holiness,, and their dominion; so that spirit
got over them; and so it would get over you. One while it will
tell you, ‘it sees no service for your meetings,’ and another time
will oppose you. But I say, this is the blind spirit, which is out
of the power of God, and which the power of God is over.
Therefore, keep in the power, that ye may stand up for your
liberty in Christ Jesus, males and females, heirs of him and of
his gospel, and his order. Stand up for your liberty in the
gospel, and in the faith, which Christ Jesus hath been the author
of; for if ye lose it, and let another spirit get over you, ye
will not so soon regain it.

“I knew the devil would bestir himself in his instruments, when
men’s and women’s meetings came to be set up in the power, light,
and truth, and the heirs of the gospel, to take their possession
of it in every county and city, therein to walk, and to watch one
over another, to take care of God’s glory and honour, and his
precious truth; and to see that all walk in the truth, and as
becomes the gospel, and that nothing be lacking; and so to exhort
all whatsoever is decent, modest, virtuous, lovely, comely,
righteous, and of good report, to follow after; to admonish all
that are not faithful, and to rebuke all that do evil. I knew this
would give such a check to all loose speakers, talkers, and
walkers, that there would be an opposition against such meetings.
But never heed, truth will come over them all, and is over them
all, and faith must have the victory; for the gospel and its order
is everlasting; the Seed (Christ) is the beginning and the ending,
and will outlast all; the Amen, in whom ye have peace. I say all
that oppose the men’s and women’s meetings, or that marriages
should be laid before them, or the recording of condemnations of
sin and evil, or admonishing or exhorting such as walk not in the
truth, are of a loose spirit, and their spirits tend to looseness.
Let those take them that will; truth will not have them, nor any
of their sacrifice; for nothing is accepted of God, but what is
done in truth, and in his Spirit, which is peaceable. The
authority of our men’s and women’s meetings is the power of God;
and all the heirs of the gospel are heirs of that authority and
dignity; this is of God, and shall answer the witness of God in
all. The greatest opposers of this practice and work, are such as
have been convinced of God’s truth, but have not lived in it. Such
were the greatest troublers of the church in Moses’ day, and in
the days of the apostles; but mark their end, and read what became
of them all. And therefore, all keep your habitation in the truth,
and therein ye may see what has become of all the opposers of it
for twenty years past; they are all gone, and the truth lives and
reigns; the Seed is over all, and all are one in it, in rest,
peace, and life everlasting; and therein they sit down together in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the Amen.”

G. F.

Swarthmore, the 5th of the 8th Month, 1676.

_Narrative of the spreading of Truth, and of the opposition
thereto._

“The truth sprang up first to us, so as to be a people to the
Lord, in Leicestershire in 1644, in Warwickshire in 1645, in
Nottinghamshire in 1646, in Derbyshire in 1647, and the adjacent
counties in 1648, 1649, and 1650; in Yorkshire in 1651, in
Lancashire and Westmorland in 1652; in Cumberland, Durham, and
Northumberland in 1653; in London, and most of the other parts of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, in 1654.

“In 1655 many went beyond sea, where truth also sprang up, and in
1656 it broke forth in America and many other places.

“In the authority of this divine truth, Friends stood all the
cruelties and sufferings that were inflicted upon them by the Long
Parliament; to the spoiling of goods, imprisonment, and death, and
over all reproaches, lies, and slanders; as well as those in
Oliver Cromwell’s time, and all the acts made by him and his
parliament; his son Richard after him, and the Committee of
Safety; and afterwards withstood and outlasted all the acts and
proclamations since 1660, that the king came in.