Chapter XI (1)

1683-1685.—A salutation of love to Friends, designed to stir up
the pure mind—an epistle to Friends commending them to
Christ, the rock and sure foundation—an epistle of counsel
to Friends—George Fox taken from a meeting and examined by a
magistrate, but soon released—writes an epistle to the
faithful to beware of a seducing spirit—after the Yearly
Meeting sails for Holland, and lands at the Briel—attends
the Yearly Meeting at Amsterdam—writes to Galenus Abrahams,
a Mennonist or Baptist, who, seven years before, bid him
“keep his eyes off him.” for he said “they pierced him,” but
now he was become very loving and tender, as well as his
family—George Fox returns to England—writes to the Duke of
Holstein an able defence of women’s preaching—writes an
epistle of counsel to Friends—advises with, and assists them
in, drawing up an account of sufferings, which is printed
and spread amongst Parliament-men—writes a caution to
Friends, to keep out of the world’s spirit &c.—and a warning
against pride and excess in apparel.

Some time after the Yearly Meeting I went down to KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES to visit Friends there; and while I was there it came upon me to write the following epistle to Friends in general, as a salutation of love, and to stir up the pure mind in them:—

“DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,

“Who are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, who are believers in the light, which is the life in
Christ, and are become children of the light and of the day;—who
are grafted into Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven,
and are gathered in the name of Jesus, in whom ye have salvation,
and not in any other name under the whole heaven. For Christ Jesus
saith, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them,’ Matt. xviii. 20. So you being gathered
in the name of Jesus, he is in the midst of you, a Saviour, a
Mediator, a Prophet, a Shepherd, a Bishop, a Leader, a Counsellor,
the Captain of your salvation, who bruises the serpent’s head, and
destroys the devil and his works. Therefore, brethren in Christ
Jesus, exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For you
are made partakers of Christ, if ye hold fast the beginning of
your confidence stedfast to the end, Heb. iii. 14. Therefore hear
Christ’s voice, for he is in the midst of you a teacher.

“Take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief
in departing from the living God, as there is in too many in this
day of provocation and temptation. While it is to-day hear his
voice, and let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and
to good works. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised and hath
called you), not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; (mark) as the manner of some is, that
did and do forsake the assembling of themselves together: but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day of
light appearing. For if we sin wilfully, after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for
sins; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries, Heb. x.

“And therefore it is good not to forsake the assembling of
ourselves together, but exhort one another daily; for Christ is in
the midst of his people a teacher, and a prophet, who saith,
‘Learn of me; the way, the truth, and the life.’ We being many,
are one body in Christ, gathered in his name, and everyone members
one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given us, whether they be prophecy, let us prophesy
according to the proportion of faith; and let those that minister,
wait on their ministry; those that be teachers, on their teaching;
and him that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do
it with simplicity; and he that ruleth, with diligence; and he
that showeth mercy, is to do it with cheerfulness. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned
one towards another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one
another. Rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulations; be not
overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good; and, if it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men,
Rom. xii. This is and was the practice of the church of Christ.
And now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost. I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that
ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are
able also to admonish one another, Rom. xv. 13, 14. Here the
church of Christ, in which He was in the midst a teacher and the
head of the church, were and are able through him to admonish one
another. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which ye are
also called into one body, to wit, of Christ. Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another, &c., Col. iii. Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and
the Father by him: and above all things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness.

“The apostle said to Timothy, ‘Be not thou ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner; but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power
of God, who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling; not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,’
2 Tim. i. 8, 9. It concerns every one not to be ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, who hath called them by his grace; and not
to be ashamed of any of Christ’s prisoners, and afflicted ones for
Christ’s and his gospel’s sake, who abolishes death, and brings
life and immortality to light through his gospel: you that believe
in the light, know it.

“Peter saith, in his general epistle to the church of Christ, ‘As
every man’ (mark, every man) ‘hath received the gift, so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God, not of
men; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which
God gives, not of the ability of men’s arts and sciences, that God
in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ,’ &c. For
these gifts and grace come from Jesus into the hearts of the
members of his church, whom he is in the midst of. And if any man
suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify
God, &c. Every true Christian hath the presence of Christ, who
hath all power in heaven and in earth given him, to support him
with his power, light, and life. Christ saith to his believers,
‘Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and
they will scourge you in the synagogues, and you shall be brought
before governors and kings for my name’s sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take
no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you
in the same hour what ye shall speak: for it is not you that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. And ye
shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth
to the end, shall be saved. The disciple is not above his Master,
nor the servant above his lord; it is enough for the disciple that
he be as his Master, and the servant as his lord: for if they have
called the master of the house Beelzebub, what will they do to his
servant? Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul, &c. A sparrow shall not fall to the ground without
your heavenly Father, &c. The hairs of your head are all numbered;
ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall
confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father
who is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will
I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. And whosoever shall
be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be
ashamed,’ &c., Matt. x. And again Christ saith, ‘Whosoever shall
be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he
comes in the glory of his Father with his holy angels,’ Mark viii.
38.

“And Christ saith to his disciples, ‘He that receiveth you
receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent
me: he that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall
receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man
in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s
reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little
ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I
say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.’ Matt. x.
40-42. Here ye may see how Christ encourages his disciples, and
them that receive them. And John saith, ‘Among the chief rulers of
the Jews many believed in Christ; but because of the Pharisees,
they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue,’ John xii. 42. Too many such believers there are
now-a-days, who dare not confess Christ, lest they should lose the
favour of men. But Christ encouraged the faithful disciples, and
told them they would put them out of their synagogues; yea, that
the time should come, that whosoever killed them would think they
did God service: And ‘these things,’ said he, ‘will they do unto
you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these
things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may
remember that I told you of them,’ Jo hn xvi. 2-4. Here we may see
what Christ told his disciples should come to pass to them. And
Saul before he was converted, compelled the Christians to
blaspheme, and make havoc of the church of Christ, Acts viii. and
chap. xxii. and xxvi. And did not the beast in the Revelations
compel both small and great to worship him and his image? And did
not all worship it, but they who had their names written in the
Lamb’s book of life? Did not Nebuchadnezzar set up an image sixty
cubits high, and six cubits broad? And did not he cause a herald
to cry aloud ‘It is commanded that all people, nations, and
languages fall down, and worship the golden image that
Nebuchadnezzar hath set up; and whoso falleth not down, and
worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of the
fiery furnace?’ And were not Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, cast
into the furnace? Dan. iii. But God delivered them.

“Therefore it is good to be faithful to God and his worship in
Spirit and in truth. The Jews agreed that if any man should
confess Christ, he should be put out of their synagogue, John ix.
22. So it was for Christ’s sake they were excommunicated out of
their synagogues. But as it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a
stumbling-stone, and a rock of offence; and whoso believes on him,
shall not be ashamed.’ So Christ is a stumbling-block and a rock
of offence to all the unbelievers in the light, which is the life
in Christ, whether they be Jews, Christians, or Gentiles. The Jews
believed Christ was to come, from the Scriptures; and the
Christians believe he is come by the Scriptures; but do not
believe in the light, as Christ commands, and so do not become
children of the light. Therefore ye that are believers in the
light, and are become children of light, walk in Christ, your way,
life, and salvation.”

G.F.

Kingston, the 5th Month, 1683.

Before I left Kingston, something further opened in me, which I was moved to write, and send amongst Friends; as follows:—

“DEAR FRIENDS,

“My love is to all in the holy Seed, that reigns over all. And my
desire is, that every one, both male and female, may feel the Seed
Christ in you, which is heir of the promise of life eternal, that
ye may all grow up in Christ Jesus your head, and be built upon
Him, the rock and foundation that God hath laid, which stands sure
over all rocks and foundations in the world;—that ye may eat and
drink of this spiritual rock, the spiritual water and food; so
that ye may truly and inwardly say, that your rock and foundation,
your bread and water of life, is from heaven, and your bread and
water is sure; and that ye know his voice that feeds you, and
leads you into the pastures of life, which are always fresh and
green. In this, your affections are set on things that are above,
seeking that which comes down from above, where Christ sits at the
right hand of God, making intercession for you; who is your
Mediator, making peace between God and you; who is your heavenly
Bishop to oversee you, that ye keep in his light, life, and power,
and do not go astray from his heavenly fold and pasture, that He
your Shepherd may feed you therein; who is your Prophet, to open
to you the fulfilling of the promises and prophecies, himself
being the substance; that ye may live in him, and he in you, yea,
and reign in your hearts, there to exercise his offices, his
prophetical, priestly, and kingly office, who is heavenly and
spiritual;—that ye may know the three that bear witness in the
earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, which is the life of
Christ, which cleanseth from all sin; the Water that washes and
refreshes you; and the Spirit that baptizes and circumcises you,
and leads you into all truth; that ye may come all to drink into
one Spirit, and keep the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of
the heavenly peace. So being led by the Spirit of God, ye are his
sons and daughters, and by his Spirit will come to know the three
that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Ghost. These are the three witnesses that are in heaven, that bear
record of all things; for he is God in heaven, and God in the
earth.

“Therefore I desire, that ye may all feel his love shed in your
hearts, and in it live (above the love of the world, which is
enmity), and in that you will keep in the excellent way. For love
edifies the body of Christ, builds his church up, and keeps out of
the enmity, for it is above it, and brings and keeps all in true
humanity, and in the true divinity; to be courteous, kind, and
tender, one towards another, and to show forth the nature of
Christ, and true Christianity in all your lives and conversations;
that the blessings of the Lord may rest upon you, as ye all live
in the seed of the gospel, the seed of the kingdom of God, in
which all nations are blessed. In that ye will all have a care of
God’s glory. There is the hill or mountain, where the light shines
to the answering the witness of God in all; and the salt that is a
good savour to the witness of God in the hearts of all; and that
savour being kept in, the salt doth not come under the feet of
men.

“So my love to you all in Christ Jesus, whom God hath given to be
a sanctuary for all his people, who is from above and not of this
world, in whom you have life, peace and salvation. In Him, God
Almighty keep and preserve you all to his glory. Amen. As you live
in the peaceable truth of God, it keeps you under, and within, his
protection; but they that make a profession of the Scriptures of
truth, and yet live out of the truth, in the spirit of strife,
unquietness, and discontent, in a contriving, plotting, ravenous,
destroying spirit, which is of the devil, and not of God, that
spirit is judged out of the truth, and to be of him, in whom there
is no truth, whose portion is in the lake, and in the fire that
burns.”

G.F.

Kingston, the 27th of the 5th Month, 1683.

Having visited Friends at and about Kingston, I returned to LONDON; for it being a suffering time with Friends there, I had not freedom to be long from the city. I went to the meeting at THE PEEL, which but a little before the justices and constables had broken up, and had carried themselves very roughly; but that day it was in the house and quiet; and a glorious meeting it was, blessed be the Lord.

On the First-day following I went to the meeting at GRACECHURCH STREET. When I came there, I found three constables in the meeting-house, who kept Friends out; so we met in the court. After I had been some time there, I stood up and spoke to the people, and continued speaking some time. Then one of the constables came, and took hold of my hand, and said, “I must come down.” I desired him to be patient, and went on speaking to the people; but after a little time, he pulled me down, and had me into the meeting-house. I asked them if they were not weary of this work. One of them said, “indeed they were.” They let me go into the widow Foster’s house, which joined to the meeting house, where I stayed, being hot. When the meeting was ended, for one prayed after I was taken away, the constables asked some Friends, “which of them would pass their words that I should appear, if they should be questioned about me”; but Friends telling them, they need not require that, for I was a man well known in the city, to be one that would neither fly, nor shrink; they went away, and I heard no further of it.

The same week I was at the meeting at the SAVOY, which used to be kept out and disturbed; but that day it was within doors and peaceable; and a precious time it was. The First-day after, it was upon me to go to the meeting at WESTMINSTER, where there used to be great disturbances; but there also the meeting was within doors, that day, and very large. The Lord’s power was over all, and kept all quiet and still; for though many loose spirits were there, yet they were bound down by the power and Spirit of the Lord, that they could not get up to make disturbance.

About this time I was moved to write the following epistle:—

“FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,

“Who have received the peaceable truth, let the fruits of its
peaceableness and of your quiet spirit appear in all your
meetings, and in all your words and actions; for he that inhabits
eternity dwells with a humble heart, he gives grace to the humble,
and resisteth the proud. Heaven is his throne and the earth ye
walk upon is his footstool; happy are ye that see and know him
that is invisible. And now, Friends, let all things be done in
your meetings, and otherwise, in love, without strife or
vainglory. For love fulfils the law, love overcomes, and edifies
the body of Christ. There is neither self nor envy in love,
neither is it puffed up; but abides and bears all things. See that
this love of God have the sway in you all and over you all.

“Christ saith, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be
comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness;
for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see
God. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the
children of God. Blessed are they that are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice
and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.’

“Now Friends, here is a great deal in these words; and all must be
in these states and conditions, if they have these blessings. The
children of God are peace-makers, and strive to make peace in the
truth; and to live in peace with all men, if it be possible. So
live in peace and good-will to all men; which good-will is both
for their sanctification and salvation. And, Friends, consider,
the wisdom of God, which is from above, is pure, peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and without hypocrisy. Dear Friends, let this
pure, peaceable, gentle wisdom, that is from above, that is easy
to be entreated, and is full of mercy and good fruits, be
exercised and practised in all the true churches of Christ, so
that wisdom may be justified of her children. For the works of the
flesh, or fleshly spirit, are hatred, variance, wrath, strife,
envyings, drunkenness, revellings, adultery, fornication,
lasciviousness, uncleanness, &c., and they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruits of the Spirit
of God are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance, &c. So, dear Friends and brethren,
strive to exceed one another, and all people upon the earth, in
humility, meekness, gentleness, temperance, love, patience,
pureness, and in mercy; then ye will show forth the fruits of the
Spirit of God, and of his heavenly wisdom that is from above. In
this, wisdom will be justified of her children; ye will be the
salt of the earth, the light of the world set on a hill, that
cannot be hid; and your moderation will appear to all men.

Be ye just and righteous, faithful and true in all your words,
dealings, and conversations, so that ye may answer the truth in
all people; for Christ saith, his Father is glorified by such as
bring forth fruits, when men do see their good works; for he that
doeth righteousness, is accepted with God. And he that dwells in
love, dwells in God; for love is his habitation. Let that be the
habitation of every one that hath received the truth; for if it be
not, such do not dwell in God, let them profess what they will.
Therefore my desire is, that all you who have received Christ, the
Seed, which bruises the serpent’s head, may walk in Him, your
sanctuary, life, and salvation, your rest and peace. Amen.”

G.F.

London, the 14th of the 6th Month, 1683.

I continued yet at LONDON, labouring in the work and service of the Lord both in and out of meetings; sometimes visiting Friends in prison for the testimony of Jesus, encouraging them in their sufferings, and exhorting them to stand faithful and steadfast in the testimony, which the Lord had committed to them to bear; sometimes also visiting those that were sick and weak in body, or troubled in mind, helping to bear up their spirits from sinking under their infirmities. Sometimes our meetings were quiet and peaceable; sometimes they were disturbed and broken up by the officers.

One First-day it was upon me to go to the meeting at the SAVOY, which was large; for many professors and sober people were there. The Lord opened many precious, weighty things in me to the people, which I declared amongst them, and “directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves, which the Lord had given them a measure of; that all by the Spirit might understand the Scriptures, which were given forth from the Spirit of God; and that by the Spirit of God, they might know God, and Christ whom God hath sent; whom to know is eternal life; and that by the Spirit, they might all come into Christ, and know Him to be their sanctuary, who destroys the devil, the destroyer, and his works, and bruises the serpent’s head. For Christ was a sanctuary to them, to whom he was a Saviour, whom he saved from the destroyer. And Christ did baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and did thoroughly purge his floor, and burn up their chaff with unquenchable fire; this is, sin and corruption, which is got into man by transgression; but Christ gathereth his wheat into his garner. So all that are baptized with Christ’s baptism, their wheat is in God’s garner; and no spoiler can get into God’s garner to meddle with the wheat there, though they may be permitted to meddle with the outward goods,” &c.

As I was speaking in the power of the Lord, and the people were greatly affected therewith, suddenly the constables, with the rude people, came in like a sea. One of the constables said to me, “Come down;” and he laid hands on me. I asked him, “Art thou a Christian? We are Christians.” He had hold of my hand, and was very fierce to pluck me down; but I stood still, and spoke a few words to the people; desiring of the Lord that the blessings of God might rest upon them all. The constable still called upon me to come down, and at length plucked me down, and bid another man with a staff take me, and carry me to prison. That man led me to another officer’s house, who was more civil; and after a while they brought in four Friends more, whom they had taken. I was very weary and in a great perspiration; and several Friends hearing where I was, came to me in the constable’s house; but I bid them all go their ways, lest the constables and informers should stop them.

After a while the constables led us almost a mile to a justice, who was a fierce, passionate man; who, after he had asked me my name, and his clerk had taken it in writing, upon the constable’s informing him that “I preached in the meeting,” said in an angry manner, “Do not you know, that it is contrary to the king’s laws to preach in such conventicles, contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England?” There was present one —— Shad (a wicked informer, who was said to have broken jail at Coventry, and to have been burned in the hand at London,) who hearing the justice speak so to me, stepped up to him, and told him, “that he had convicted them on the Act of the 22nd of King Charles the Second.” “What! you convict them?” said the justice; “Yes,” said Shad, “I have convicted them, and you must convict them too upon that Act.” With that the justice was angry with him, and said, “You teach me! what are you? I’ll convict them of a riot.” The informer hearing that, and seeing the justice angry, went away in a fret; so he was disappointed of his purpose. I thought he would have sworn somebody against me, whereupon I said, “Let no man swear against me, for it is my principle ‘not to swear;’ and therefore I would not have any man swear against me.” The justice thereupon asked me, “If I did not preach in the meeting;” I told him, “I confessed what God and Christ had done for my soul, and praised God; and I thought I might have done that in the streets, and in all places, viz., praise God and confess Christ Jesus; and this I was not ashamed to confess. Neither was this contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England.” The justice said, “the laws were against such meetings as were contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England.” I said, “I knew no such laws against our meetings; but if he meant that Act that was made against such as met to plot, contrive, and raise insurrections against the king, we were no such people, but abhorred all such actions; and bore true love and good-will to the king, and to all men upon the earth.” The justice then asked me, “if I had been in orders;” I told him, “No.”

Then he took his law-books and searched for laws against us; bidding his clerk take the names of the rest in the mean time: but when he could find no other law against us, the clerk swore the constable against us. Some of the Friends bid the constable “take heed what he swore, lest he were perjured; for he took them in the entry, and not in the meeting.” Yet the constable, being an ill man, swore “that they were in the meeting.” However, the justice said, “seeing there was but one witness, he would discharge the rest; but he would send me to Newgate, and I might preach there.” I asked him, “If it stood with his conscience to send me to Newgate for praising God, and for confessing Christ Jesus?” He cried, “Conscience! conscience!” but I felt my words touched his conscience. He bid the constable take me away, and he would make a mittimus to send me to prison when he had dined. I told him, “I desired his peace, and the good of his family, and that they might be kept in the fear of the Lord;” so I passed away. And as we went the constable took some Friends’ word, that I should come to his house the next morning by eight. Accordingly I went with those Friends; and then the constable told us, that he went to the justice for the mittimus after he had dined, and he bid him come again after the evening service; which he did; and then the justice told him he might let me go. “So,” said the constable, “you are discharged.” I blamed the constable for turning informer, and swearing against us; and he said he would do so no more. Next day the justice meeting with Gilbert Latey, asked him, “if he would pay twenty pounds for George Fox’s fine.” He said, “No.” “Then,” said the justice, “I am disappointed; for being but a lodger I cannot come by his fine, and he having been brought before me, and being of ability himself, I cannot lay his fine on any other.”

After I was discharged, I went into the city. The same week the sessions coming on, where many Friends were concerned, some as prisoners, and some on trials of appeal upon the conventicle act, I went to a Friend’s house not far off, that I might be in readiness to assist them with counsel, or otherwise, as occasion should offer; and I found service in it. But as my spirit was concerned on behalf of Friends, with respect to their outward sufferings by the persecutors without; so an exercise also came weightily upon me at this time, in the sense I had of the mischievous working of that adulterated spirit, which, being gone out from the heavenly unity, and having drawn out some that professed truth into enmity and opposition against Friends, endeavoured to trouble the church of Christ with their janglings and contention. And as a further discovery of the working of that seducing spirit, and a warning to all Friends to beware of it, I was moved to write the following epistle:—

“_To all the elect faithful, called, and chosen of God,
the flock and heritage of God, who have been acquainted with
the dealings of the Lord, and have kept your habitations in
his life, power, and truth, being built upon the holy,
heavenly rock and foundation, Christ Jesus, who was the
foundation of the prophets and apostles; which foundation
stands sure._

“Many foundations have been laid since the apostles’ days, by such
as have gone from Christ, the true and sure Foundation; but their
foundations have proved rotten, and come to nought; and they
themselves have come to loss. Many, since the day of Christ and
the truth hath appeared in this nation, have had some openings and
sights, and come among us for a time; and then gone out from us
again; these have been the comers and goers, like those in the
apostles’ days. Such had an outward profession of the truth, and
have gone from the true foundation, Christ Jesus, and so from the
heavenly society and unity of the saints in light. Then they set
up foundations of their own; and having a form of godliness, but
out of the power thereof, out of the order thereof, such have
turned to janglings and vain disputings. This sort of spirit you
have been acquainted with, who have kept your habitations in
Christ Jesus, the First and the Last.

“And you are not insensible of the scurrilous and filthy books of
lies and defamations, which have been spread abroad in this
nation, and beyond the seas, against the faithful. It is very well
that the Lord hath suffered them to publish their own shame in
print, that truth’s enemies may be discovered; that their fruits
and spirits have appeared and manifested themselves both in print
and otherwise. And I do believe, that the Lord will yet suffer
this spirit so to publish its fruits, its shame and nakedness, to
professor and profane, and to all sober, moderate, and innocent
people, that its shame and nakedness shall more fully appear.
Though for a time it hath been hid and covered with the fig-leaves
of an outward profession, and sometimes with fawning and
flattering words, as at other times, it hath discovered itself by
rough, lying, and defaming words; yet the Lord God will blast all
such vain talkers, that do not walk in the order of life, truth,
and the gospel.

“Therefore, ye that are faithful, stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made you free in his government. It is upon
his shoulders; he bears it up; of the increase of it, and of its
peace, there is no end. For all quarellers against his order and
government are not in him, nor in his heavenly, spiritual
government and peace. Therefore, ye faithful ones, who have stood
the trial through many persecutions, imprisonments, spoilings of
goods; you know that there is a crown of glory laid up for you.
You that suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his kingdom
of glory; ye that die with Christ, shall live with him in eternal
life, in the world that hath no end, who have gone through the
sufferings without, and within, by false brethren, by comers and
goers, that have caused the way of truth to be evil spoken of, and
have been the persecutors of the faithful with their tongues; and
by printing and publishing their lying, defaming books against the
faithful, these have stirred up the magistrates and priests who
were willing to get any occasion to speak evil of the right way,
and precious truth of Christ, by which his people are made free;
it would have been better for such had they never been born. But
God hath brought them to light, and their fruits and ravenous
spirits are seen, savoured, and known; who are become Judases, and
sons of perdition, to betray Christ now within (where he is made
manifest) to the priests, magistrates, and profane, as Judas
betrayed Christ without to the priests and Pilate; though some of
the magistrates and sober people see their envy and folly, and
that they have more malice than matter against the faithful. But
the Lord will consume this Judas, or son of perdition. The Lord
will consume him with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy him
with the brightness of his coming. So let all the faithful look
unto the Lord. And let the wicked son of perdition know, though he
may be got as high as Judas without (who was partaker of the
ministry with the apostles,) ‘the Lord will consume him with the
Spirit of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightness of his
coming.’ That is his portion. The brightness of the Lord will
destroy him, and the Spirit of his mouth will consume him. And
when he is destroyed and consumed, there will not be a son of
perdition to betray Christ in his people, and his people that live
and walk in Christ, who hath all power in heaven (mark, in heaven)
and in earth given to him; and with his holy and glorious power he
limits and orders; so that nothing shall be done against his
people, but what is suffered for their trial and their good,
neither by apostates, persecutors with the tongue, Judases, sons
of perdition to betray, or the outward powers to imprison, or
spoil goods; all these are limited by Christ’s power, who hath all
power in heaven and in earth given to him. Every one’s faith is to
stand in him and his power, and rejoice in his power, and see the
increase of his righteous, holy, heavenly, spiritual, peaceable
government, in which the glorious, holy order of life is lived and
walked in, by all his sons and daughters. In his Spirit is the
holy unity and bond of peace; though ye be absent in body one from
another, yet all joying and rejoicing, being present in his
Spirit, and beholding in the same Spirit your spiritual order,
unity, and fellowship, and the steadfastness of your faith in
Christ Jesus, who is steadfast for ever, the First and the Last,
whose presence is among his people, and who is their head. Here is
heavenly Sion known, and heavenly Jerusalem, and the innumerable
company of angels (which are spirits) and the spirits of the just
men made perfect. Here is the general assembly, and a general,
heavenly, holy, and spiritual joy and rejoicing, lauding and
praising the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, that lives for
evermore. Amen.”

G. F.

London, the 14th of the 8th Month, 1683.

“Read this in your assemblies amongst the faithful.”

I tarried a little in LONDON, visiting Friends and meetings, and labouring in the work of the Lord there. And being on a First-day at the Bull-and-Mouth, where the meeting had long been kept out, it was that day in the house peaceable and large; the people were so affected with the truth, and refreshed with the powerful presence of the Lord, that when it was ended they were loth to go away.

After some time, having several things upon me to write, I went to KINGSTON, that I might be free from interruptions. When I came there, I understood the officers had been very rude at the meeting, abusing Friends, and had driven them out of the meeting-place, and very abusive they continued to be for some time. Whilst I was there I wrote a little book (printed soon after,) entitled, “The Saints’ heavenly and spiritual worship, unity, and communion, &c., wherein is set forth what the true gospel worship is, and in what the true unity and communion of the saints stands; with a discovery of those that were gone from this holy unity and communion, and were turned against the saints, that abode therein.”

When I had finished the services for which I went thither, and had visited the Friends, I returned to LONDON, and visited most of the meetings in and about the city. Afterwards I went to visit a Friend in ESSEX; and returning by DALSTON, made some stay at the widow Stot’s, where I wrote an epistle to Friends, declaring the word of the Lord to them, which may be read amongst my other printed books.

I came from Dalston to LONDON, and next day was sent for in haste to my son Rous’s at KINGSTON, whose daughter, Margaret, lay very sick, and had a desire to see me. I tarried now at Kingston about a week, and then returned to LONDON; where I continued for the most part of the winter and the spring following, until the general meeting in 1684, save that I went once as far as Enfield, to visit Friends thereabouts. In this time I ceased not to labour in the work of the Lord, being frequent at meetings, and visiting Friends that were prisoners, or that were sick; and in writing books for the spreading of truth, and opening the understandings of the people to receive it.[58]

The Yearly Meeting was in the 3rd month. A blessed weighty one it was, wherein Friends were sweetly refreshed together; for the Lord was with us, and opened his heavenly treasures amongst us. And though it was a time of great difficulty and danger, by reason of informers and persecuting magistrates, yet the Lord was a defence and place of safety to his people.

Now had I drawings in Spirit to go into Holland, to visit the Seed of God there. And as soon as the Yearly Meeting was over I prepared for my journey. There went with me from London Alexander Parker, George Watts, and Nathaniel Brassey, who also had drawings into that country. We took coach the 31st of the 3rd month, 1684, and got to COLCHESTER that night. Next day being First-day, we went to the meeting there; and though there was no notice given of my coming, yet our being there was presently spread over the town, and in several places in the country at seven and ten miles distance; so that abundance of Friends came in double-horsed, which made the meeting very large. I had a concern and travail in my mind, lest this great gathering should have stirred up the town, and been more than the magistrates could well bear; but it was very quiet and peaceable, and a glorious meeting we had, to the settling and stablishing of Friends both in town and country; for the Lord’s power was over all; blessed be his name for ever! Truly the Lord’s power and presence was beyond words; for I was but weak to go into a meeting, and my face (by reason of a cold I had taken) was sore; but God manifested his strength in us and with us, and all was well: the Lord have the glory for evermore for his supporting power. After the meeting, I think above a hundred Friends of the town and country came to see me at John Furly’s, and very glad we were to see one another, and greatly refreshed together, being filled with the love and riches of the Lord; blessed be his name for ever!

We tarried at Colchester two days more; which we spent in visiting Friends, both at their meetings for business and at their houses. Then early in the morning of Fourth-day we took coach for Harwich, where we met William Bingley, and Samuel Waldenfield, who went over with us. About eight at night we went on board the packet, Richard Gray master; but by reason of contrary winds it was one in the morning before we sailed. We had a very good passage; and about five in the afternoon next day we landed at the BRIEL in HOLLAND, where we stayed that night. Early next morning we went to ROTTERDAM, where we abode some days.

The day after we came to Rotterdam, one Wilbert Frouzen, a burgomaster, and kinsman of Aarent Sunneman’s, hearing I was there, invited me to his country house, having a desire to speak with me about some business, relating to Aarent Sunneman’s daughters. I took George Watts with me, and a brother of Aarent Sunneman’s had us thither. The burgomaster received us very kindly, and was very glad to see me; and entering into discourse about his kinsman’s daughters, I found he was apprehensive that, their father being dead, and having left them considerable portions, they might be stolen and married to their disadvantage. Wherefore I told him, “that it was our principle and practice, that none should marry amongst us unless they had a certificate of the consent of their relations or guardians; for it was our Christian care to watch over and look after all young people that came among us; especially those whose natural relations were dead. And as for his kinsman’s daughters, we should take care that nothing should be offered to them but what should be agreeable to truth and righteousness, and that they might be preserved in the fear of God, according to their father’s mind.” This seemed to give him great satisfaction. While I was with him there came many great people to me, and “I exhorted them all to keep in the fear of God, and to mind his good Spirit in them, to keep their minds to the Lord.” After I had stayed two or three hours, and had conversed with him on several things, I took my leave of him, and he very kindly sent me to Rotterdam in his chariot.

Next day being First-day, we were at the meeting at Rotterdam, which was pretty large, and declared to them by an interpreter. The day following Alderman Gaul came to speak with me, with whom we had much discourse about religious matters; he seemed to be well satisfied, and was very tender. Several other persons of account had intended to come to speak with me that day, but being hindered by extraordinary business (as I understood), they came not.

We went next day to AMSTERDAM, where we had a large and very precious meeting. In the afternoon I was at another meeting with Friends there, about business.

There is a Yearly Meeting at Amsterdam for the Friends of Holland and Germany, &c., which begun now on the 8th of the 4th month, and ended on the 12th. Here we had a fine opportunity of seeing Friends from many parts, and of being refreshed together in the love of God. After this meeting, before those that came out of the several provinces were gone, we had a meeting with some particular Friends, about the places and countries into which we who came out of England in the work of the ministry were to travel; and to enquire who among them were suitable persons to go along with us for interpreters. When this was concluded on, William Bingley[59] and Samuel Waldenfield[60] took shipping for Friesland, with Jacob Claus, their interpreter.

Alexander Parker and George Watts remained with me. We tarried a few days longer at Amsterdam, where I had further service. Before I left I went to visit one, Galenus Abrahams, a teacher of chief note among the Mennonites, or Baptists. I had been with him when I was in Holland about seven years before; and William Penn and George Keith had disputes with him. He was then very high and shy, so that he would not let me touch him, nor look upon him (by his good will), but bid me “keep my eyes off him, for,” he said, “they pierced him.” But now he was very loving and tender, and confessed in some measure to truth; his wife also and daughter were tender and kind, and we parted from them very lovingly.

Feeling our spirits drawn towards Friesland, Alexander Parker, George Watts, and I, having John Claus of Amsterdam with us for our interpreter, took shipping, and having sailed nine or ten leagues, we left the ship, and travelled through Friesland, sometimes by boat, sometimes by waggon, visiting Friends and tender people in the towns and villages where we came; having one or two meetings in a day. After we had been at LEUWARDEN, we passed by FRANEKER to HARLINGEN in West Friesland, which was the furthest place we went to that way. And having been six days from Amsterdam, and had very good service in that time, visiting Friends and publishing truth amongst the people, we took ship at Harlingen for Amsterdam on the 26th of 4th month, and arrived there that night. The First-day following we were at the meeting at AMSTERDAM, which was very large and precious. Many of the people were there, their teachers, and some great persons also. They seemed very attentive, and a good opportunity we all had, one after another, to declare the word of the Lord and open the way of truth amongst them, John Claus interpreting for us. I tarried next day at Amsterdam; but George Watts went to a burial at Haarlem, attended by many hundreds of people, amongst whom he had a good opportunity, and came back at night to us.

The day following we went by boat to OSAN-OVERTON in WATERLAND, and thence, in another small boat, about a league over a small river, where we passed over and by a hundred bridges, and so went to LANDSMEER to a Friend’s house whose name was Timon Peters; where we had a very good meeting. We returned to AMSTERDAM that night, and were at the meeting there next day. Many were at this meeting besides Friends, and among the rest, the great Baptist teacher, Galenus, who was very attentive to the testimony of the truth, and when it was over, came and got me by the hand very lovingly.

We went next day by boat to ALKMAAR, about eight leagues from Amsterdam, passing through SARDAM, the great town of ship-carpenters, and several other towns in the way. At Alkmaar, which is a pretty city, we stayed, and had a meeting next day at William Williams’s. There were besides Friends many very sober people at this meeting, who were very attentive to the testimonies of truth, that were borne both by Alexander Parker, George Watts, and myself, John Claus being our interpreter. This was on a sixth day, and on the seventh we returned to AMSTERDAM, being willing to be at the meeting at Amsterdam on First-day, because it was likely to be the last we should have there. Accordingly we were at it, and a very large and open meeting it was. Many great persons were at it, some earls, we were told, with their attendants, out of Germany, who were very grave and sober, and the everlasting gospel was preached unto them.

After this we took leave of the Friends of Amsterdam; and next morning departed thence to HAARLEM, where we had a meeting at a Friend’s house, whose name is Abraham Frondenberg. Great numbers of people were at this meeting, and of great service it was. After it a watchmaker of Amsterdam, who, with his wife, attended it, desired to speak with me concerning religion. I had much discourse with him, and both he and his wife were very low and tender, received with gladness what I spoke to them, and seemed well satisfied when they went away.

We went next day to ROTTERDAM, where we tarried two meetings; and on the 16th of the 5th month went to the BRIEL, to take ship for England. About four in the afternoon we went on board the packet, William Sherman master, and set sail from the Briel. But when we had gone over the Maese about a league, we cast anchor at a place called the PITT, because it is near to the sands, where we stayed till about four next morning; when, having a pretty fair wind, and the tide with us, we weighed anchor, and by four next day were within five leagues of Harwich, over against Aldborough Castle; but the wind falling short, and the tide being weak, it was one in the afternoon before we came so near to HARWICH that boats could come to receive the passengers and goods. There were on board about forty passengers in all; English, Scotch, Dutch, French, Spanish, Flemish, and some Jews.

I spent a day with Friends at Harwich, while Alexander Parker and George Watts went by water to visit Friends at Ipswich, and returned at night. Next morning early we all took coach for Colchester, and were at the meeting there, which was large and peaceable; after it, we travelled to WITHAM, and lodged there that night. Next day, William Mead meeting us on the way at HARE STREET, I went with him to his house, the other Friends going on for London.