The Missing Cross to Purity

Much more was said than I can now remember. But he was ignorant and not acquainted with these things, that he had no resource to oppose me or deny what I said; so his purgatory was all thrown aside as an invention of men, and their pretending to pray men out of purgatory is all a cheat by which to get money, and all their pardons are nothing but deceit, for the Lord only has power to forgive sin. Much opened in my mind, and all he could say came to nothing; so we parted friendly.

Oh! blessed be the Lord, who has discovered the great deceiver, and all her abominations; and the false prophet, with all his transformings are seen, and both thrown down to the earth together. She is full of the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, and she thirsts for more; but the Lord has a remnant that have come out of her, and refuse to partake with her of her sins, for fear that they should partake with her of her plagues; for strong is the Lord God Almighty, that judges her.

I also had good service with many other people, and sometimes got to some meetings at Little-Eaton and other places, but I did not write down what passed in all places, only some things of note.

I wrote to the priests of Derby, about the rude, wicked practices which the people of that town lived in, for they made bonfires; and one year they carried about a thing they called the pope, and then burnt it in the fire, and the next year they carried about a thing they called Presbyter John, and burnt that also; and these things, with many others I beheld in the town, grieved me very much.

About this time the priests in their pulpits preached aloud, that active obedience must be practiced by all the king's subjects. And one Henry Ward having been one day with the mayor, came to me in the evening, and told me that the mayor said, we must obey the king actively; so that if the king did command us to worship Mahomet, we ought to do it; and if it was amiss, it would be the king's fault, and not ours.

At this time the Act for twenty pounds per month was put in execution, against those who were rich, or such whom the prosecutors were minded to afflict; upon which one Burrows of Derby, to avoid suffering, conformed; and there was scarcely a man in that town, according to the remarks I then made upon them, who was willing to be reputed a Presbyterian, for they had no meeting in or about that town, unless it was secret.

Such is the cowardice of men, whose religion is built upon the tradition and inventions of men, and not upon Christ; for from this it is plain, how needful it is for men to lay their building upon that Rock, which neither the windy doctrines of men, nor the swelling waves of persecution are able to move.

 In this time of my confinement, several people resorted to me in prison on first-days, and we had good meetings there; for though the ministers of the gospel may be shut up in jails for the testimony's sake, yet the word of God cannot be bound, for it had free course, and was glorified.

 This prison was made easy to me, and things were well at home with my dear wife and family; and though she was a tender woman, yet she was enabled, through mercy, to keep markets, to carry on our business for a livelihood; she also came sometimes to see me in prison, though it was sixteen miles, which was had for her in the winter season.

While I was a prisoner I wrote a little book, which I entitled The Prisoner's Vindication, also some epistles and letters to Friends, and meditations in verse, for my children. The reason why I wrote some remarkable passages of my sufferings for Truth, and also the great things which the Lord has wrought for me, both in supporting me therein, and delivering me out of, is that my children and others may be encouraged to be faithful to the Lord, and valiant for the Truth upon the earth; for this cause it came into my mind, to tell to others how good the Lord has been to me, for which I am deeply engaged to praise his great name.

[The following extract is taken from the work above alluded to.]

To all Persecutors, both by words and actions.

Upon the 16th day of the Sixth month, called August, 1680; I being at Bakewell about my trading, it being a fair, was arrested by two or three bailiffs, by virtue of a writ of Excommunicato Capiendo, for not coming to the parish church, so called, and not appearing at the Spiritual court. I had appeared there several times and offered the parish priest that if by clear Scripture he could make it appear I was in an error, I would take him for my friend. And further, that if he could make it appear from clear Scripture, that it was my duty in the sight of God to come to the parish church and conform to them, I would do it. But he did not find it his business to seek to inform me at that time, or any other, being not so charitable as to ask me come another time and then he would discuss it with me. Although after this I was never cited to the court again, yet upon the day before mentioned, I was sent to Derby jail where I remain a prisoner.

After I was sent to prison, many false charges were flung after me, to render me and Truth odious to the country people, who were ready to wonder why they should send such a peaceable man to prison. I was by my persecutors highly accused to be an heretic, a factious fellow, the ringleader of a factious people, a blasphemer, an enemy to Caesar, a dangerous fellow, and a spreader of dangerous principles, and what not. Their purpose in all these accusations was to make the people think poorly of me, and believe against their better judgment that I was some dangerous man; insomuch, that they said, I was not fit to live, especially not fit to be loose in the country; for by keeping me in prison, they had hopes to scatter the rest of dissidents to the Church of England. At the hearing of these malicious and false calumnies, I was grieved, not for myself, but others, who I heard were ready to think badly of me; because such reports had gained some credit with some, who were thought both wise and sober, and they believed them, because others believed them. Those others believed them because my persecutors, who are looked upon by most to be spiritual men, reported them among these uncharitable men. Not one came to show me my reported sad condition, but in prison I must lie, come what will come of wife and children. My wife went with two friends more to the Arch-Deacon, so called, and showed him the unreasonableness of my suffering and the need of my liberty; but his words were great charges as before said, though he never conversed about religion in his life. It is true, he also said, that he would come to me and converse me, and if I was in the right, and he in the wrong, I should come out of prison, and he would go in for me; but he yet fails to make his words good. I do declare to all that may read these lines that if I cannot make it appear that he is wrong, and I right, I then will be content to stay where I am; only I would be judged by men unprejudiced against the Truth, such as are not partial, and make no outward gain [monetary profit] of the Scriptures. Many others have desired my release, some by letters, and some person appeals; but all fails except I will conform and pay the charges they have been at in laying me in prison; which thing I cannot, and dare not do. For, first, I believe I ought not to conform to the worship that is now maintained by the priests of this nation by their preaching and practice, which is not supported by their own purses (money); for both they and their worship has cost the people dearly. Secondly, I believe, that though they call my way of worship heresy, yet I believe it is the true worship of God; and I do find by good and great experience, that the Lord God of heaven and earth, who is a Spirit, does approve and own it so to be. For the worship I own and believe is the true worship of God, that is spoken of in John 4:23-24. They that worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth; and said our Saviour, the Father seeks such to worship him. Thirdly, seeing our Lord, Christ Jesus, did set up, appoint and command this worship, therefore I believe I ought not to leave it, and run to another worship, that is no where commanded in Scripture, either by Christ or any of his apostles, thinking thereby to save my estate, and to live at liberty in the world, and enjoy those natural rights and privileges of which I am a free-born heir to and which I note that the drunkard, swearer, cursor and proud wicked person is not deprived of, though he is so wicked. Lastly, seeing I do those things I believe I ought to do, and have not given any just occasion of offence, or done wrong to any man; therefore I cannot consider myself to be at fault and give monies for a pardon to those, who while they are pardoning others, by which they are committing the highest sins they can approach unto. If I have sinned, it is against God, and to him I look for mercy; but in this I am not by him accused or judged as a sinner, but owned and justified by him, and can say, it is God that justifies me, who shall condemn me? Now should I come to my persecutors, and own myself an offender, and buy their absolution, and conform to their invented ceremonies, then should I by so doing give God's spirit and my own heart and conscience the lie; from which, I hope, without offence I may take the liberty to say, good Lord preserve me.

But seeing I must have no better treatment from my persecutors than a prison, which indeed is the way of argument that the false prophets in all ages have taken, with things of the like nature, as fines, whips, lions' dens, fiery furnaces, faggots, and such like; I desire they will be pleased to allow me to treat them with a few arguments, which are in my mind, and when I have done, I shall leave them to do, as it shall please God to suffer them, as to me, and desire they may consider and consult their own profit eternally, and not forget, that before long, both they and I must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil.

And first, I enquire of you that persecute me and others, whether if it was so, as you say falsely it is, that I was a heretic, a factious fellow, etc., what precept or example you have from Christ or his apostles, to lay me in prison, seeing I am a peaceable man and just in my dealing, and pay to Caesar his due, as many that know me will witness? But instead of a command for persecution, does not our Lord Christ prohibit it several times? It may be you will say, it is no persecution that is done in this kind to an erroneous person, etc., though it may be, for all he is so called by you, who call light darkness and darkness light, he is a true Christian, and servant of Jesus Christ. Does not Christ prohibit all manner of violence, cruelty, imposition and the like, when he tells his followers to love their enemies, which prohibits  persecuting their friends; and whatever they would that men should do unto them, to do so unto men, saying, this is the law and the prophets. He also said, with what measure you use (or give), it shall be measured to you again? Is it obeying Christ's command to lay men in prison? You would not be so done unto for your faithless faith and worthless worship. Though you profess to love God, yet while you in works deny him, I shall not much heed your profession; for he is a true lover of him that keeps his commandments, as will be found one day, when those that pretended to preach and prophesy in his name, and in his name to cast out devils, shall be bidden to depart from him, as workers of iniquity. And if those that preach and prophesy in his name, and in his name cast out devils, are sent away from him, because they, for all that, were workers of iniquity, what do you think will be the portion of those that preach and prophesy in man's name, and by man's authority only are held up; and instead of casting devils out, tell people, they must live in sin all their lives, and make the people content to let the devil keep the house, hurry them on into iniquity, transgression and sin all the days of their lives; and for all this, tell those very people that they are Christians, and though they do those things they ought not, and leave undone those things they ought to do, and are miserable offenders, in whom there is no health, yet while they put into the priest's mouth, are owned as a dear brother and sister, and so called when they are buried by him, though it may be they have killed themselves in a drunken bout. О! how dreadful will the end of these things be! It is a grief to my spirit to think of it.

But further, did not Christ command that both tares and wheat should grow together? And do not these two words, wheat and tares comprehend all mankind? What can you make for your practices here ? If I am a tare, you should let me alone until  the day of the harvest; for what have you to do with another man's servant; to his own master he stands or falls. Christ Jesus showed a reason also, why he would have men to let them alone, and both grow together; for, he said, for fear that while you pluck up the tares, you root out the wheat also. This clearly shows that men may be mistaken, especially those that have not an infallible spirit; for it is the spirit of God that is infallible, which searches and makes all things manifest, even the deep things of God. We have had sufficient experience, that under pretence of plucking up the tares, which is contrary to Christ's command, the devil has labored with all his might, to root the wheat out of the world; and though Christ said, he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, yet the devil came to kill and destroy men's lives, not to save them. Christ rebuked his disciples, when they would have called fire from heaven, and told them, they did not know what spirit they were of. My kingdom, he said, is not of this world. He did not come to be Lord and King in an outward manner, and make men yield to him by outward force, for if so, then would his servants fight; but he came to set up his kingdom in the hearts of men. It was promised by the Lord, that he would give him for a covenant to the people, and would create new hearts in them, and write his laws in them, and put his fear in their inward parts, and be their God. So when Christ came, he said to them, the kingdom of heaven is within you; and said the prophet, he shall sit as a refiner's fire, and fuller's soap; what for but to purify the heart, that it may offer an offering in righteousness? It is true, the apostles in their weakness, did forbid those that they found casting out devils in his name, because they did not follow him; but did Christ approve of it? No, he rebuked them, saying, he that is not against me, is for me.* I think this might be taken notice of by you priests, who persecute me and others; since you have seen some of your drunken hearers become very sober men, after they have come to hear the Quakers, as you call us, preach. Some of your swearers, cursing, proud, profane hearers become very careful people, both in words and deeds; and what! does this grieve you? I think you should realize such men as these, that prevail so upon people's hearts to be good men, men of your side, if you are for God, and should, like Christ, whom you call your Lord and Master, rather rebuke such as forbid us, than forbid us yourselves. When, like Peter, John, and Paul, we dare not but speak the things we hear and see and are commanded, not then to take us and put us in prison; and so stop the mouths of them God has opened, and be angry with them, though they do what they do freely, and look for no part of your great revenues. Remember, you do not desire to be similarly treated; and also it is worth your taking notice, that those our Saviour Christ whipped out of the temple, were buyers and sellers; what would you think, if such must be whipped out of your steeple-houses now, and only those were admitted to preach, who would preach freely! But though he whipped such out of the temple, as before said, yet we never read that he whipped any into the temple; or that if any would not come to that place, he imprisoned them, or fined them, or the like. No, he was a Shepherd, tender and loving to them. If any go astray, his way to fetch them in by  his ever gentle calls to them, in reproving, rebuking and checking them in their hearts by his spirit, and following them with his righteous judgments in their inward man.

*Casting out devils in the name of Jesus is one thing to be tolerated. However, if someone preached a different way to salvation, they were to be firmly rebuked and stopped - even cursed. Paul said: For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Titus 1:10-12. And Paul said: if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9

So that for want of true peace with God, many have returned again to him, who shows them how they offend; and when they return, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, than over ninety-nine just persons which need no repentance. Just persons; mark that! Such persons as these do not exist in your church of miserable offenders. But let me ask you, is not faith the gift of God? And what is not of faith, is sin; is it not ? If so, then I ask, what you would gain if you could make a man choose to conform to your worship, which contrary to his faith and conscience, just so that he would not lose his enjoyments of wife, children, liberty and estate. Would this not make no more than hypocrite, one that seemed to be what he is not ? No, may I not say any better than a heretic; for I take him to be a heretic that is condemned of himself, that allows himself to do what he condemns himself for. This way of persecuting men for their faith and conscience, is the way to bring some to become hypocrites and heretics, and this is the way such men have gone in, to hold up their idolatry and superstition in all ages; witness Baal's prophets. The old serpent knows this well enough; therefore it was said in the revelation, the devil shall cast some of you into prison. Some of whom I Some of the servants and faithful witnesses of Jesus, who would not, and could not worship the beast. But further, suppose I wanted faith and a right understanding of the things that belong to my everlasting peace, do you think that a prison will be a means to bring me into the true faith? Can the prison walls rectify my understanding, or give me faith and wisdom? Did ever Christ command the use of a prison or fine, or anything of that nature, to men that would not hear him, or believe him? What ground have you for this? Show us your foundation for these actions, and bring command, precept or example for them from Christ or his servants, and then I shall think better of you; but if not, let me tell you, one day you may find your portion to be what the prophet said, Woe to him that spoils, and is not spoiled. Therefore I could gladly desire, even in pity to your own souls, that you would consider your doings; not that I am so much grieved for my own sufferings for truth's sake; no, though my poor wife and children are near and dear to me, yet blessed be the Lord, I have faith in God concerning them, and believe he will take care for them and me too, and can trust the Lord upon all accounts, blessed be his name forever! Though it is hard, and will be so found one day to you that part me from them, to be stripped from them for my obedience to God, and laid in prison, and by you reported to be one of the worst of men. О! this is the way and manner which the serpent and his instruments of old took with the servants of Jesus Christ, witness Paul's accusers, and persecutors. We, they said, have found this man a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.. And the great rabbis of those days, the Scribes, Pharisees, high priests and rulers, that persecuted our great Lord and Master Jesus Christ, accused him to be an enemy to Caesar, a blasphemer, and a deceiver. And you that are my persecutors, are not you much like these men before said, who persecuted Christ and his apostles and cried to the rulers for help in your proceedings against me? And though some of you never saw me as I know of, and none of you ever came to converse me, or see how I was mistaken as to my faith and principles; yet you can fling it out, that I am a dangerous person, a deceiver, and run up and down the country to delude people. These your false charges will one day be remembered, except you repent, which I desire you may.

Consider your doings, and see who you run parallel with; you are only men, you may be mistaken, seeing you are not led by an infallible spirit, and therefore cannot be sure you are in the right. But you go by conjectures, and rest upon the judgment of ancient fathers, reverend divines, as some call them, heathen authors, or else your own conceivings, or the like, and yet are uncertain, and leave the people unsatisfied, and so manifest yourselves to be such as are not sent with the Lord's message, received from God himself, as by your uncertain mouthing of high words is manifest to every one whose eyes the Lord has opened. So that there is great danger, if I should leave Christ the true light and teacher of men, who now appears by his pure spirit in my heart, and shows me the things that belong to my peace, and follow you, I should then be led, both in principle and practice, to do those things I ought not, and leave undone those things I ought to do; and then I could not escape being a miserable sinner and offender, in whom there is no health.

Suppose I should, contrary to my faith and knowledge, come to you, and live and die in error, for fear of being kept here in prison, and brought to poverty in the world, which, blessed be the Lord, I value not in comparison of my peace with him, the God of peace, and think to plead with God, and say, I did what I did in submission to men's will, who said, they were the ministers of Christ, and was forced to it by the chief priests of our country, and must either submit to their wills, or lie in prison, have my goods seized, and my wife and children impoverished; so that I did what I did only to save my estate, and have my liberty, etc., or else I would not have done it, for it was against my faith and conscience, and because of the fear of man. Will this excuse me? If not, then I ask you, can you excuse me to God, and assure me of it, if I will conform to your worship, and give you money for a pardon of my true obedience to God in disobedience to you? For so indeed the case lies; if you cannot excuse me, if you should or could force me to sin against God, then why should not I, who am a peaceable man, and wrong no man, but love all men, have my liberty to live as I dare to die? Seeing I must answer for myself, and stand or fall to my own master, what have you to do to judge me, who am the Lord's servant? I must stand or fall to him I serve; how dare you smite your fellow servants, and cast them into prison who have done you no wrong, nor owe you anything but love, when he that put his fellow servant in prison, who owed him an hundred pence, was so severely judged of his Lord, who had forgiven him a greater debt ? And He has taught us to use those words in prayer, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And would you not have God answer your own desire?

 Consider these things, and learn to do as you would be done unto; for with the same measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Remember what your Savior laid down as great offences at the last day, to those on the left hand, Go you cursed into everlasting torment with the devil and his angels; or, depart from me, you workers of iniquity, I know you not; for I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat; thirsty, and you gave me no drink; naked, and you clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. And when they answered, when did we see you as hungered, thirsty, naked, and did not minister unto you? He told them, inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it not to me. By which it is clear, he takes what is done to his followers as done to himself; for indeed it is for his sake, who teaches us to live righteously, soberly and godly in this present evil world; and because we obey him, and keep his command, therefore are we hated of all men for his name's sake. But the wicked are not thus treated by you; the swearer, liar, drunkard, proud person, etc., are left at liberty, and in these days are the men in fashion. But if it is so great an offence not to visit the servants of Christ, when in distress; what will it become of those that sentence them in prison, and keep them there, which is a means to bring them into nakedness, hunger, thirst and sickness? Was it not said, that it were better a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than to offend one of those little ones that believed in Christ. What then will his portion be that not only offends them, but persecutes them, imprisons them, spoils their goods, belies and slanders their person, and misrepresents them to the world, takes the righteousness of the righteous from him, and takes him from his dear wife and children, and causes them to suffer also; though it is said, Cursed is he that parts man and wife. What excuse can you make at the last day for these things! How unlike are you to him who is good to all men, and laid down his life a ransom for all, and does cause his sun to shine upon all, and his rain to descend upon all, and his grace that brings salvation appears in all, and strives with all.

I was a prisoner for the gospel's sake here above five years and a half before I was set at liberty, by king James II. I was discharged in open court, the 23rd of the first month, 1635-6. Then I went home to my wife, but after I had stayed a while, I was concerned to visit friends, and traveled through most parts of this nation, except Cornwall, and was also in some parts of Wales. I had also many meetings in and about Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, and many were convinced, and became obedient to the blessed truth. But the priest of Eastwood hearing a great rumor about Friends, as also that many of his hearers left him, told his son who was also a priest and sometimes preached in his father's absence, to preach the same doctrine which I did; but when he attempted to preach as his father had advised him, he was so confounded in his matter, that he could not go on. It happened one day, that I had a very large meeting at the house of Luke Hanks, where I heard that this priest of Eastwood said that I had stolen his sheep from him, meaning some of those who had been his hearers. After meeting I went to a friend's house, but that night the priest sent his clerk, asking me to come to his house, where I went, and several friends along with me. When we came there, we were invited to sit down, which we did, and sat a while in silence; until the priest of Heynor, who had followed us there, spoke to the priest of Eastwood, saying, he perceived that I was sent for to him, that he might speak with me; upon which the young priest asked me, how I was called to be a preacher. But before I answered his question, he added, “I grant that a man may be rightly called, though not of God;” for, he said, the king's call is sufficient. At which a friend, who was present, said, “I suppose this king has called none of you.” “No,” replied the priest, “I believe he will call you before any of us.” I then said that I denied that any man can be rightly called, if he is not called of God, as was Aaron; and this I was willing to prove by Scripture. The priest of the house labored to help his son out, but he ran himself into the same snare, for they were not able to prove that any man was rightly called to preach, unless he was called of God. We talked further until  they were both silent and confounded; in this silence a concern came upon me, on which I stood up and preached truth among them, and when I had done, the priests gave me their hands, and we parted friendly; when we were gone, the priest's wife was angry with them, saying, they sent for me like fools, and let me go like fools; but if ever I came again, she threatened, that she would either burn or scald me. After this I heard that the priest of Heynor fell into great trouble of mind, and was confounded in his pulpit.

I visited Friends in Lancashire, [and several other parts] and the Lord was with me in his great love and mercy, else my travels had been tiresome and unpleasant, but the Lord helped me many a time; yes, the living know it, and met with him to their comfort, else meeting with me could have done little, for the work was the Lord's, and he wrought in us and for us, of his own good pleasure; glory, honor and praise are wholly due to him.

After this I went into Cheshire, and to Chester again, where I had been exercised, and where there was now more openness than formerly.

I went to Chester several times after, and had good meetings there, through the Lord's goodness and mercy, who made them so with his precious presence, according to his blessed testimony; that wherever two or three are met together in his name, there is he in the midst of them. This I have witnessed many a time; for if the Lord had not been with us, we could have done nothing without him. He was mouth and wisdom to us, and gave us to understand Scripture, and also the motion of his holy Spirit, inspiring us by it; for we spoke as it moved us, and gave us utterance. Renowned and exalted over all, be our gracious God; for we came not with words of our own wisdom, or with words which man's wisdom teaches or taught us, but with words which the Holy Ghost gave us, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 I went to most meetings in the county of Cheshire; and a fine people there were, and much love, unity, peace and concord were among Friends.

After this I traveled in several counties in England, both east, west and south; and through other counties northward; as Worcestershire and Staffordshire in my return home, and found Friends in great love and unity, and many were convinced. Truth prospered, and we were sweetly refreshed and comforted together; for we were an help and a strength one to another, and the body edified itself in love; blessed and praised be the name of our God forever.

I went much abroad to meetings, and traveled around to the utmost of my ability in most parts of the nation, preaching the gospel freely; and I also traveled into Wales, and through great part of it, where we many good meetings. We were in great danger in passing over the water at Aust into Gloucestershire, but through mercy, got safely to John Bolton's, at Ouldstone, and visited most meetings in that county. I was at Frenchay, and from there to Bristol, and was at many good meetings in Somersetshire, and in Devonshire, as far as Exeter, where a fine meeting and a house had been newly built. I traveled through several counties to London. The Lord in great mercy favored me with his power and presence, to my great comfort and joy. After the yearly meeting at London, I went into Hertfordshire and Essex, and to and fro in Suffolk, Norfolk, as far as Yarmouth, and back to Norwich, and up and down in that county to Downham and Lynn, and into the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, into Lincolnshire, to Boston and Lincoln city, and through most of that great county. So into Nottinghamshire, and then into Derbyshire home. Having traveled in great love, many in this journey were turned to the Lord, from the evil of their ways, as at many other times and places, where I traveled, and though I often came home much spent, weak and weary, yet I had my reward with me, my sheaves in my bosom, and usually was soon better when I had rested a while.

I had it upon me to go and visit Friends in Scotland; and accordingly I went by Halifax, Leeds and York, where I met Thomas Aldam, who accompanied me. We went to North Allerton, Yarm, Stockton, Bishop Auckland and Durham; there to Newcastle upon Tyne, where we had great meetings; was at Sunderland, and many places in Northumberland, which I cannot name. We came to Berwick, where the rude people disturbed the meeting, breaking the windows, but a lady who dwelt in Northumberland, being there, went to the magistrates of the town, upon which the rabble were rebuked. Next day we went to Kelso, and had a quiet meeting. James Holliday went with us to Edinburgh, where we were at their yearly meeting for that nation, and it was a comfortable opportunity; the next meeting we had was at Montrose; we had also another meeting before we came to Ury, where the widow of Robert Barclay dwelt. There we stayed several days, in which time I observed, that when her children were up in the morning and dressed, she sat down with them before breakfast, and in a religious manner waited upon the Lord; which pious care and the motherly instruction of her children, when young, doubtless had its desired effect upon them; for as they grew in years, they also grew in the knowledge of the blessed Truth, and since that time some of them are become public preachers of the Truth.

From there we went to Aberdeen, and found a fine meeting of Friends, and stayed there some time; there to John Forbes's, and to Cashore, Kingswells, and back to Aberdeen, Ury and Montrose, Dundee, Leith and Edinburgh, at which place they us, when we were quietly in the meeting. Then we went to Lithgow, and so to Charles Hambleton's, the duke's servant; from there we came to Durand, and a town where there was a meeting-house, in which we had a meeting. Then we went to Glasgow, where the people were wicked, and there to Hambleton, where we had a good meeting; so to Argyle and Douglass, and to one James Wood's house, where we had a meeting; and he came with us by Dumfries into England. The Lord in mercy helped me mightily with his heavenly power, and gave us many precious meetings up and down in that nation, though I felt the Scotch people in a bitter, envious spirit in several places, and we were in perils twice, both at Edinburgh and Glasgow, where they stoned us. At Edinburgh a stone hit me as I was declaring in the meeting, but did not hurt me.

After our return out of Scotland, we had many good meetings in Cumberland, which were comfortable seasons to us; for the Comforter was with us, and mightily helped us from meeting to meeting. From there we traveled to Kendal, the Height, and Swarth more, where we had a fine meeting; we were also at Lancaster, from which place we returned back again to Kendal, and passed from there to Thomas Camm's, and into Yorkshire, to John Blakling's near Sedberg, and by William Ellis's to Skipton, from whence we went to Leeds and Warnsworth, where I left my companion, Thomas Aldam, and returned home, and there found my wife and family well, to my great comfort; praised be the Lord forever.

Friends in Scotland and elsewhere were very loving to us, and fine living meetings there were in that nation. I felt them in the life near to my spirit, in which the living know one another beyond words, and I hope and believe the Lord will have a great people there in time to come, though the enemy be angry, and would hinder the spreading o the holy Truth, by the enemies thereof; you his weapons are but carnal, silly and weak I desire many Friends may think of that nation, and in the will of God give up to visit there; for is a zealous professing people there, and if they were only brought to the knowledge of the Truth, I believe very many would be zealous for it.

I found that those two worthy men, Robert Barclay and Patrick Livingston, had left a sweet savor behind them, and the removing of them, especially the former, was a great loss to that nation, and cause of great mourning to Friends there, and also to others elsewhere; but blessed be God that Robert Barclay has left a hopeful family behind him; praises be given to the Lord forever.

In this year I had a concern to visit Friends with the following lines.

An Epistle to Friends in Scotland, written at Monyash, the 22nd of the eleventh month, 1694.

Truly beloved friends and brethren, With pure love unfeigned, which springs from the Fountain thereof, do I tenderly salute you, and all true Friends with you, feeing you near and dear to me at all times when I remember you; and am glad that the God and Fountain of all our mercies, has reached forth so plentifully to your immortal souls, and made you so largely to partake with us of his free grace and gift of eternal life, so that your portions and measures hereof are very large, to the mutual joy of you, me, and many more, for which we are deeply obliged to be truly thankful unto our God, from whom every good and perfect gift comes. Unto him alone we ought still to look, that as men in need of continual supply, we may experience his bountiful hand to minister freely to every one of us for it is he alone that both makes and keeps us and all his, truly living, faithful, fruitful and serviceable in this blessed day of his mighty power, wherein as we abide we have fellowship both with him and one with another. The travail and earnest desire of my soul to the Lord is, that we may all be preserved to the end in true self-denial, humbly, meekly and innocently walking in this glorious day of gospel light, life and power, so as we may help one another's joy; and the blessed unity of his holy Spirit being lived in, no man can take our joy from us, which is only possessed by us as we abide in him, who is life eternal, to whom be praise given by us and all that partake with us, forever, Amen.

Many are the exercises, temptations, sufferings and tribulations which attend us here, both within and without. Well may we say, our God is God and changes not, else before this we might have been destroyed, for we are poor, and weak, and insufficient of ourselves, to think a good thought. The enemy- knows this, and labors to deceive us with his subtle wiles; for if we keep not in him who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, we have no wisdom of our own, or righteousness, or power to save ourselves at all. Oh, the goodness of God to us is  without measure! And we see as much need as ever to keep looking unto him for help every moment, for all our time is a time of need, and if the Lord was not with us we could not bear up against the enemy's floods, tempests and raging violence and storms, that attend us in this perilous pilgrimage. But glory, honor, praises, and high returns of humble and sincere thanks, be given to our great and merciful God. He is with us, and is the same he was in ancient days, when he carried Israel through the Red sea on dry ground, and gave them to behold his miraculous deliverance, and saved them out of the hands of their many enemies, who sought to destroy them. The sense of his love, and the experience which I have of his goodness, tenders my poor heart, and bows my spirit before him; and I hope you partake with me, and will also feel with me beyond words or writings.

Dear friends, I desire we may all be mindful of Him who is our rock and refuge, keeping near him always, not forgetting the Lord. Here is divine light, for he dwells in it, and in him is no darkness at all; here we see our states as they are, and that what we are, we are by his grace. Here it is we meet with fresh pastures of life, and feed together, where the enemy cannot come, nor the lofty, unclean Edomite approach. My heart is glad, to feel love run so freely towards you at this time. I do not write these things as though I looked upon you not to know them; no, if I did, I could not be so free and open to you, but a little to remind you, and in these few lines to confer with you in love; for it is the fruits of dear, unfeigned love, I here salute you with, as men that I can say are of my flesh and bones, and members with me, of that sweet, harmonious body, of which Christ Jesus is Head, Lord and King. Worthy is he to reign, it is his right. He that would be great among you, must be least of all; and this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Oh! that we may see this low estate by experience, for in that place many have met with him, and been met withal by him, who despises not the low estate of his servants and handmaids. Surely it behooves us to be low, for our teacher is meek and lowly in heart.

My dear and truly beloved, the meek are most filled with love, even that love which is not puffed up, seeks not its own; in that sense the apostle means to leads us to seek the good of all, and the things that are Jesus Christ's. I pray that we may always dwell in this love, and then we shall be sure to love one another. I was glad in heart, when I felt your love to me and my companion in the Lord, when I was present with you; and also when I felt your love kept fresh to us after our departure from you in person, but not in spirit. I was also happy that you remembered me in your prayers; I desire you would still remember me, and I hope I shall not forget you. I desire you as a brother, to keep up the good order of the blessed Truth among you, and let not your monthly and quarterly meetings be neglected, and take care of the whole church of God, in your nation, and delay not to help one another. For God Almighty has set up his standard, and his controversy is proclaimed against all unrighteousness. I know there was a lacking of some help in some places, when I was with you; the Lord has gifted some to be of help, and to rule well in the church; and we know the apostles in their travels left the brethren decrees to keep, and took care of the churches as they traveled, and went to see how they did. I hope you will take it well that I make boldly do the same for you, and will feel my tender love to you.

I was glad when I saw a copy of your letter to G. K., yet sorry to see the answer to you from him, or his wife, or both; he must, it seems, be made manifest. I desire you may grow in the heavenly root, and multiply to the glory of him that has grafted you into it.

My dear friends, in every respect be truly obedient unto the Lord, and may he by his own power strengthen, establish and root you deeply in his blessed Truth. To him I tenderly commit you all. He is God Almighty even now as in Abraham's days; to him be praise, worship, honor, glory and renown forever more, Amen.

Read this to all as you see a service, and send honest Bartholomew Gibson a copy of it, and let him know my dear love is to him and his wife, Francis Soneman, and Friends in Edinburgh. Let copies of it be sent to all in Scotland. I thank God I am pretty healthy, but not strong in body. So with my true love to you all, I am your sincere friend in pure love,

John Gratton

I stayed about home some time, where I had many meetings, and there was a fine increase in the number of Friends. But many of them went into America, about forty from our monthly meeting, and some others, which lessened our meeting pretty much. After some time it came upon me to go and visit Friends in Ireland; several of whom had been in England, and a love lived in me to them. I gave up to go, and went to Westchester in order to it, but found there was an embargo laid upon ships, that they must not go out. When we could not go for Ireland, we went to Shrewsbury, and so down into Herefordshire, R. Needham being with me, and to the yearly meeting in Wales, at Ponty Moyle, in Monmouthshire. A fine meeting it was, and after at the Pont, and so over the passage into Gloucestershire, to Bristol, and into Somersetshire, to Richard Vickris's, at Chew, John Whiting's at Wrington, and William Laurence's at Axbridge, and back to Bristol to the yearly meeting there, and from there to the yearly meeting at London. After that I returned home with my wife, and stayed about seven days, and then set forward again for Ireland with Godfrey Newhall, a Friend of Yorkshire, and went to Whitehaven in Cumberland for George Rook's company, and so to sea; the winds were somewhat contrary, and we were in some danger of our lives; but we put into the Isle of Man, and at last arrived safe at Dublin in the fifth month.

We had many precious meetings in that nation, especially their province meetings, and Friends were generally in sweet love, unity, peace, concord and order, and good government among them, and great love and care of one another's families, the poor and youth in all respects. When we had been at all the meetings of Friends that we knew of in the nation, or seen some Friends of all the meetings, and were clear to come away, we left them in true love, being well satisfied in visiting them; and took shipping at Dublin, and came to Holyhead, and through Wales to Westchester, and so home.

Many Friends in Ireland had a great care upon them in the oversight of the flock, watching over them; reminding Friends to be careful in all respects, to keep their profession without blame, and that none run inordinately after the world, or break in other men's debt; to prevent which they are advised to labor lawfully for the maintenance of their families, providing things honest in the sight of men; by thus watching over one another, doubtless some things are prevented, which otherwise might prove a discredit to our holy profession.

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After his return from Ireland, he kept no exact account of the residue of his travels, though he visited Friends in divers counties, laboring in the work of the gospel, as he found drawings thereto, though in his latter days he was afflicted with disease, which much abated his natural strength; nevertheless he came several times to London, and particularly in the winter, 1699.

He also came to the yearly meeting in 1700; and in his return home had many good meetings in the way, being accompanied by John Cade to Blyth, where his wife met him.

The next year he traveled as far as Bristol, and was at their yearly meeting. From there he went to Bath, and traveled up to London to the yearly meeting, which fell in the fourth month, 1701. It was a large and precious meeting, after which he returned home.

He also came up to the next yearly meeting in London, 1702. At this time he brought up his Treatise relating to Tithes, which was an answer to a letter, entitled, The Clergy's Legal Right to Tithes..

In the year 1703, he came again to the yearly meeting, visiting Friends in many places as he came.

The 26th of the second month, 1704, he set out again for London, visiting Friends in many places as he came, as in Nottinghamshire, Huntingtonshire, the Isle of Ely, and a great part of Norfolk, and had several meetings in Suffolk, the last of which was at Ipswich, from which place he came to Colchester, and was at their meeting on first-day; after which he visited several meetings in Essex, and then came to London to the yearly meeting; having traveled in this journey three hundred and thirty-four miles, according to his own account.

After his return home at this time, there is no account of his traveling for two or three years : greater weakness growing upon him, it is probable he continued about home, visiting Friends as he was able.

In 1707, he disposed of his estate at Monyash, and dwelled with his son Joseph some time; then he went to visit some Friends in several adjacent places, his wife accompanying him, though both of them were aged and weakly. But after they returned home, his wife growing weaker and weaker, departed this life the 4th of the tenth month, 1707; dying in peace with the Lord, leaving a good report behind her, among those who knew her. The account of her death he gave himself, saying, a very comfortable wife she had been to him nearly thirty-eight years; adding, that she had never hindered him from going abroad to visit Friends.

In the year 1708, he took a journey to London again, and went into some parts of Essex, Surry and Kent; after which he returned to London again, where staying some time, he was taken ill, and weakness increasing upon him, he removed out of the city, for the benefit of the air, to Richard Richardson's, near Uxbridge, where he was carefully attended for three weeks, in which time, several Friends of London went to visit him. From this place Daniel Wharley took him to his house; from there he went to Ailsbury, and by small journeys he got home, Richard Needham accompanying him. He continued living with his daughter above three years, being weakly until his decease, which was in the ninth month, 1711, aged about seventy years; dying, no doubt in peace with the Lord, and unity with all the faithful, and is entered into his everlasting rest, among the faithful followers of Jesus.

<John Gratton's Letters Continued>>>>