The spirit of envy, lying, and persecution made manifest for the sake of the simple hearted, that they may not be deceived by it : being an answer to a scandalous paper of John Harwoods, who in words professeth God, but in his works doth deny Him, as may appear by what is herein written / G.F. Fox, George, 1624-1691. 1663 Approx. 44 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A40262 Wing F1916A ESTC R28399 10585932 ocm 10585932 45283 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A40262) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45283) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1384:23) The spirit of envy, lying, and persecution made manifest for the sake of the simple hearted, that they may not be deceived by it : being an answer to a scandalous paper of John Harwoods, who in words professeth God, but in his works doth deny Him, as may appear by what is herein written / G.F. Fox, George, 1624-1691. Smith, William, d. 1673. 17 p. [s.n.], London : 1663. Untitled letter, addressed "Dear Friends," signed: William Smith. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Society of Friends -- Apologetic works. 2005-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-08 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2005-08 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE SPIRIT OF Envy , Lying , and Persecution , MADE MANIFEST : FOR The sake of the simple hearted , that they may not be deceived by it . BEING An Answer to a scandalous paper of John Harwoods , who in words professeth God , but in his works doth deny him , as may appear by what is herein written . G. F. And there shall in no wise enter into the holy City any thing that defileth , neither whatsoever worketh abomination , or maketh a lye : but they that are written in the Lambs Book of Life , Rev. 21. 27. LONDON , Printed in the Year , 1663. A Paper of lyes and slanders I have lately seen of John Harwoods with his name at it , which he calls A true and real Demonstration why he denyed the Authority of George Fox , which truly the lyes and the slanders are so manifest false reports , that he hath gathered up , to all men that he hath directed his Book to , considering the unclean actions of the person , which are out of and below civil men , may convince all what a kind of person he hath been for several years , which is not like that such an unclean spirit that runs into such unclean actions that came into the open view of the world , when he would have taken away a womans life , and the woman his , about uncleanness , in the face of a Country , and in the sight of the world ; and they that believe such untrue Narrations , are the same unclean spirits of his , whose actions , practice , carriage , have been such which are a shame for modesty to mention , and he so loathsome and unclean , not fit to come among sober people , and is not worth the heeding what he saith . But somthing is written to his paper , that none of the simple might be deceived that knows him not , nor his carriage , nor his practice , who hath dishonoured God , and his people , and gone into those things , which are out of the bounds of civil men , such an unclean spirit , the unclean spirits may cry up such an unclean spirit to be their teacher . JOHN HARWOOD , first , thou sayest The truth of God among friends thou never didst d●sown . Oh impudencie that thou shouldst be so impudent ! didst thou own the truth of God amongst Friends when thou acted thy uncleanness ? Thy word is never , I never disowned , sayst thou , but in the fear of the pure God , I declare it ; wast thou in the fear of God , when thou runs into uncleanness ? did not thy fruits manifest quite contrary at the Sessions , that thy practice denyed both God & his people ? Was it not time to turn thee out from the Assembly of the righteous , when thou hadst turned thy self from the life and truth : the life turned thee out ; now thou makes a noyse amongst some like unto thy self : And did not thou dishonour God and his testimony , and Christ and his righteousness , when thou went into such unrighteous actions ? and then when thou hadst done thou runs reviling and slandering , and scandaling and scribling against friends , when they could not own thee in thy unclean actions , who never went to the Justice , nor to the Sessions , to clear truth ; & confess to them thy abominable actions , how thou hadst dishonoured God and his truth , and owned thy condemnation amongst them , and how thou had abused his truth . And whereas thou charges G. F. of Capital offences , which are offences unto death by thy unclean spirits judgment , and there thou pourests out thy envy and malice , which no other fruit can be looked from thee , but it will fall upon thine own head , & whoever joyns with thee in this work , they will fall with thee in the same pit . And thou goest about to clear thy self from prejudice and enmity , and fathers thy lies and slanders upon God : Oh blasphemy , wickedness and impudency ! And thou sayst , G. F. hath been searching after the failings and offences of others to publish them . This is one of thy lyes . But where the offences and failings are , and a changing from them , and the people forsake their offences and failings , that is owned , and that no uncleanness might be amongst us , nor enter into the Camp ; if there be any , we search that we may find it out . But in this thou hast made thy self manifest , that would not have offences and failings judged , for he that sins openly is to be reproved openly . And thou sayest The publication of these things ( of thy lyes & slanders and false reports ) is at the just hand of God and mine . Thus thou impudently and blasphemously joyns thy self with God in publishing thy lyes and slanders . And first thou sayest , G. F. calls himself the Son of God , &c. And this thou calls a crime ; thy actions and fruits hath manifested whose son thou art , and thy self to be ignorant of the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth . And as for the esteem of thee , it was never much valued , though G. F. & many other friends , did exhort thee , that thou might have been preserved , as a civil man , & been kept out of these things , which were below many of the World. Another of thy lyes , That G. F. should set up himself in the high place , and throw down others . This is another of thy lyes , for it is the Lord that set him up , and not man , and such wicked unclean spirits as thine is , he doth not own , and such unclean spirits as thou art , are not Gods inheritance ; for I do Judge and am above all such , and ever was , and ever shall be . And so thou art one fallen into the divers temptations , and hurtful lusts , but thy heart is given up to the same which is come up to open view . And what ado hast thou to talk of God , and his divine glory and his truth , and his people , whose fruit hath manifested the uncleannesse of thy spirit . What ado hast thou to take Gods name in thy mouth , that hates to be reformed ? For Korah when he gainsayed Moses , he gainsayed the Law , when he went from truth ; and such instruments as thou art , hast dishonoured the Lord , more then ever thou hast honoured him , and his people , and his truth and therefore thou ragest against them that have lived in it , and have kept their garments clean . And such as thou art said Christ was a Devil , though they could find no seam in his Garment . And what dost thou talk of Israel who hast gone from that which did convince thee , and now become a railer , and false accuser , and impudent ? and thou hast been led into open prophaness , which God brought to light , that the very earth could not bear thee , but judge thee ; and therefore dost thou think that his people would receive thee ? Thou art far off from the fellowship of them ; if thou hadst intended to have got in amongst the fellowship of the Saints in light , and the heirs of the Gospel whose Conversation is in Heaven , thy way had been to have gone to the Magistrates , and the Sessions , and the Countrey , and have preached thy Condemnation for such things , in which thou hadst run out beyond modesty to speak of ; and I know none but thee , and such as thy spirit are , to usurp over the Consciences of people , and enthrone themselves with thy unclean spirit , who hath long burdened the righteous seed But it is risen and will ease it self , and shake you off , like dust and chaffe , and brambles for the fire . And whereas thou speakest of Legal Prescriptions , and to enjoyn to the performance of external forms and practices . This is thy self , and I.P. that man thou exalts so , which prescriptions and External Forms we judge , and therefore ye rage , and God hath abased , and will abase , and your end is seen and manifested ; and thou goest and pretends to teach others , and cannot keep thy self as a man , and thou pretends so much peace and love , and manifests so much envy as thou utterest in thy paper . And thou speaks of G. F. to clear himself if he can amongst friends , and he is clear among true friends . Thou art denyed amongst all true friends , thou hast nothing to do to come amongst them : and before thou saidst it was a true and real demonstration . And so then if he can clear himself ( thou saist ) ; here thou questions my own work againe . Thou saist that G. F. sent a paper with his own hand to it to several Churches , into several Countreys for friends to nominate and appoint such as were esteemed , that they might sit in the place of Magistracy , and to send their names to London to be presented to the present Power to be Comm●ssionated by them . Thou saist , This may truly signifie that I had an end to my self , to exalt my self in the Government of the Nation , in getting up them to sit in Justice , and I would set my self over them , &c. There is not a word of this true , for I was not in London when the paper was sent , neither was it ordered by me , neither sent out by me , neither was I at London till after it was sent forth , neither did I know of the paper till after it was sent forth . And thus thou and all people may see thy wickedness and envy ; and the intent of the paper , as friends told me , which I beleeve and know it was the time of great sufferings and persecution ; when sufferings were laid before the Parliament , they told they knew not how to remedy it , and they told friends that they might nominate some sober men in the Countrey that would not persecute them , and to have them sent up to the Parliament , and this was the intent of friends sending down that paper which thou malitiously makes use of , in rendring friends odious , and me to be the Author of it , who knew not that it was forth , till it was forth . And thou saist , A Letter went forth in G. F's . name , with his hand at it , for all that had been Souldiers and Officers in the Army , that had been put forth upon the account of truth , they might send up their names to London , to be presented to the present Power , that they might be restored into their respective places , and there were many among them that could not take up a carnal sword ; and so see where this man would have led these people ; if he had accomplished this thing , friends had been found in actual Armes at this Powers coming in , it might have caused ruine and destruction of many of the innocent : and this is clearly evident of his usurping the external Government . This is altogether false , and proceeds from an envious , malicious , lying spirit , and a blood-thirsty spirit , the same that acted uncleannesse with a woman , and then would have hanged her , and her thee , for which cause thou wast denyed , and art denyed . But as for a Paper given forth for the souldiers giving in their names , which we had many , and others we had not which were written to , to lay them with others sufferings before the Parliament , but not for them to go into their places again , and to take Government , that was utterly denyed , and to bear arms again , that was never in my heart , neither do I believe it was in their hearts , when that , that thing was laid upon many of them , and was invited to go to take up arms again into their places , but never intended by me nor them , as I said before ; and this lye and slander thou hast uttered forth to manifest thy wickednesse , and further thy malicious spirit . And as for John Hall , what was writ unto him in a private paper , it was from the womans own mouth ; and therefore thou shouldest have judged thine own wickednesse , for that concerned thee , and so it was not report : and this is another of thy lyes , who art raging in Hell , and art there digging deep . And as for Jane Stoaks , she is sufficiently known , and what her actions have been ; and thou sayest , G. F. would not suffer her to be assisted in going to Rome , this is another of thy lyes , for I was not at London at that time , neither did I speak to her when she went , but was in Lancaster Prison , for thou wouldst not suffer her to be assisted in her journey , sayest thou ; and for this lye and slander of thine , thou scoffingly saith , G. F. must come downe upon his knees , which was in a Goale neer 200 miles off when she went , neither did I here of her going till a great while afterwards ; and thus thy envy is made manifest : And thou sayest , G. F. sent George Bayliff into France , who dyed in Prison , who confest no command from God to go in hisservice , neither did he know any particular place to go to into France ; and this is another of thy slanders and lyes , for he had spoken to Gerrard Roberts of it before , and Gerrard hath told me of it since , who afterwards came to me in Kent , where we spake of it together : And thou sayest , that G. F. contrary to the principle of truth , vindicated and justified the practise of Water Baptisme in Humphrey Wooldridge , who baptized a woman , and because I would not utterly deny Humphrey's wrong , and deny him , and judge him out from amongst Friends , as thou didst , who made a discord amongst Friends , who simply did such a thing once , and no more , and here thou thinkest thou hast spyed a great fault , but doest not look into thine own house , who art before finding fault , and judging others for seeking into failings , and here thou hast condemned thy self out of thine own mouth again , to the grief of many Friends , who so impudently made a strife amongst them in judging him . And thou sayest , G. F. when he was at London , takes upon him the place of God , and orders those he accounts Ministers in his will , and sends them to the several meetings about London , and thither they must go , whether they have a command or motion of God to go or no , and in his absence leaves one to order the rest in his place the first dayes , who orders either by word of mouth , or by a piece of paper . Answ . And this is wickednesse and lyes again , and because thou wast judged out , and hath been often judged , and few or none could ever hardly own thy going to any meeting , for when thou wast at the best state , tender Friends could scarce beare thy spirit , many complained to me of thee , and because thou wouldest run up and down in thy will I crossed thee , and severall were moved so to do , as being a man hardly to be trusted , which since thy actions have manifested themselves ; and therefore like Ham , thou seekest for nakednesse if thou couldst find any , nay worse than Ham , for he laid open that which was , and thou layest open thy lyes , that thou mayest further make manifest thy selfe , that all may judge of thee , for we do meet together it s known , and every one takes their motion , and that hath been long that meetings was not set up by me , neither do I allow any in my absence , neither do I send papers to them , for by the power of God in themselves and the Spirit they and I do know what order is ; but thou disorderly man hath gone out of that , and grieved the Spirit by which thou art eternally judged , and judged by it out of the fellowship of it . And thou sayest , G. F. sent Milburey Smith into the ministry , and bid her go and be a Mother in Israel , when she was with a bastard-child , and after brought it forth . Answ . This is a lye , for I never bid her be a mother in Israel , neither did I bid her go into the ministry ; for the first time I saw her I found her in Kent , and when I saw her and I enquired of her , and told Edward Burrough , I did not like her , and spoke of her turning back to her place , and I do not believe she was with 〈…〉 And as for I. P. Unity and amity , that which was written to it will stand , whether thou or whoever opposes , and they which judges it knows not the eternal power , and the life of God , and none doth it but such as are puffed up like thy selfe , and sows this in their ranting up and down , and like the untimely Figs , and like the corn upon the house top ; and thus against the anointed of the Lord do you bend your tongues , and who said the Seed is fallen ; therefore ye cast up the mire and dirt ; and if I. P. have no better proselites nor disciples than thou , and if thou be the mouth of them , and the maintainer of his cause , it is sufficient for all the sober and temperate that fear God to manifest his end and thine . And G. F's Book to the Jews ( the Title of which is , The honour amongst the Jews ) doth not speak of the hat in prayer , which thou & others have perverted my words from that intent to which they were spoken , who wilfully and wickedly would make that which is written to them to another intent , to be for you to pray with the hat on , for them to hold up the rotten Principle of the Ranters , for my Book speaks of putting off the hats to Magistrates . And so you would bring all men to sit like a company of women , & so you would bring all into a form under the penalty of a curse ; for J. P's . law was never call'd in , which many observes , like a company of women sits covered , of whom thou learned it , of the woman not of the man , and so it is your law and your curse that we oppose , who stands in our liberty in the power of God before hats was ; it is not the hat that will cover thy adulterous spirit , which thou hast taken up from J. P. which I have no unity withall , for my unity stands in the power of God before hats was ; but what is to be said to such a one , that casts all reverence , and fear , and vertue behind thee , and gone into scandals , slande●s , and lyes , and makes them thy refuge ? and my practise manifests that I am as I was , and in that which will never change the Seed it selfe , he that can read it may : and the fellowship which stands in hats , and thy unclean actions , and carnal things , and your forms you set up , and would thrust it in among Friends , with the power of God before hats was , is denyed ; and these are more of thy lyes , in saying I would impose and set up external practises amongst the Lords free people , that is your own conditions , that would th●ust in your venemous and idolatrous practises amongst us for as I said before our practice was in the power of God before your outward things were , and thy unclean actions and practices , and thy unclean things which hath been related in papers . And for saying that I said the power of God had remitted thy adulterous practice , I bid thee wait in that which did condemn it , that the power of God might arise for to remit , and instead of waiting , thou takes up all the lyes and slanders that thou canst , and so publishes thy spirit , but I am known to God ( whom thou hast dishonoured ) and manifested in the hearts of his people , whom thou hast disgraced . And what testimony hast thou but lyes and slanders , and strengthens thy self in thy wickednesse , and so thou covers over thy lyes with God , and Christ , and Testimony , and now thy wickednesse boyls in thy heart . And as for thy scornings and scoffs , saying , He is shifting from place to place , from City to City , and Countrey to Countrey , to shun a Prison and persecution . This is more of thy lyes and slanders , for I am known to the Lord , and am in his power , and do as I am moved in it , and the shifting and shrinking is thy own state from place to place , who hath run into these intolerable wickednesses , and prophanenesses , and to cowardlynesse when thou wentest from truth into thy immodest carriages and practices . And others they went where they were moved . But that evil spirits like thy self watches for evil , and feeds upon lyes and evil thoughts , thy judgemen● , which will fall heavy upon thy head , and theirs in the end , and what thou sowest , that thou shalt reap to thy self a heavy burden . And thou saying I sent Thomas Richardson to Ely , and refused to go my self , and friends desired it . This is false , for Thomas Richardson was not with me , he was 100 miles off me , for Thomas Richardson would go as he was moved ; neither did I know that he was there , till he was in Prison , and he had been there , and I sent to him , if he were moved he might go , but I did not know that he was there , till he was in Prison . And as for Ely friends , there were many of them with me at a Meeting , and I had places to go to , and this is thy envy and wickednesse , and there are no friends that did ever desire me ; when I came to answer them , when they 〈…〉 satisfied . And as for saying T. R. burdens the Seed of God , thou mayest for shame stop thy mouth , for the light of salvation is thy condemnation ; so it s the savour of death unto death to thee , which is the savour of life to another , and that I beleeve Thomas Richardson will never deny ; and thou that hast lyed and slandered me , I do not beleeve thou wilt speak truth of him . And here are more of thy lyes in saying I sent papers to Virginia , to slander John Parrot , and Jane Stoakes , in a reviling manner , setting his servants at work , and this is a Judas-like spirit and work , mark his end . The like same spirit said , I had sent papers to Thomas Thurston against Jane Stoaks , and Elizabeth Harris , and when Thomas Thurston came , he manifested their lying spirits , who said he had not received any Letter from me ; but where deceitful spirits run up and down among friends , their tongues preaching one thing , and their lives another , I deny them and shall write after them , as I am moved of the Lord God , and deny them if they do not return by repentance . And whereas thou saist G. F. caused John Fritwell and Christopher Gilbourn , and James Nailor and others , to go down upon their knees afore him , and to make their Confession , and to own Judgement upon that which was charged against them . All people can tell in the Bull and Mouth , whether I spoke to James Nailer to fall down upon his knees there ; by that they may judge of Fritwel and Gilbourn : for if James Nailer , or any else did , or do condemn upon their knees before the Lord , that which they have done against him , in dishonouring of him and his people , I shall never deny it , not call it idolatry , for if John Harwood had done so , gone among the Justices , and in the Countrey , and amongst the Lords People whom he had grieved , and condemned what he had done and acted , and scandalized the truth , it had shewed a penitent heart , and tenderness , and something like the truth , and that would have preserved truth , and not have dishonoured . But instead of doing so , he is grieved at them that did do so ; far off of acknowledging , far off of such an humble mind , as kneels down , sits upon his breech with his Hat on his head in prayer , and so like a numb thing without sence and feeling of the Spirit . In this Capital crime thou speaks of , which thou must judge and condemn , thy actions and practise , and all these things thou had wickedly acted , thou hadst better have judged and condemned , but Esau could not find repentance , though he sought it with tears . And the Seed of God doth condemn all that is contrary to it , & such actions & practises as thine , it s set atop of the head of them . An ●as so● thy envy , & malice , & raging , because I have written against the high places & Pulpits , & says I allow of such like places in our meetings ; there are no such things like a Pulpit in our meeting , let all Friends judge of this , if there be any such thing like unto a Pulpit , for where Friends stands , other Friends stands and sits upon them , and this is one of the capital crimes as thou calls it . And because when Friends go to marry , they were to publish it sometimes before in their meetings , and because it was to be laid before the men Friends , & women Friends to have there approbation before they take one another , this shews a changable spirit & a fallable . Oh the adulterous spirit cannot abide to come to the light , what if it be declared at the market place , for thou art afraid of the light who art out of tru●h . And Friends , who are moved of the Lord God to go together , whom the Lord joynes in the honourable marriage , in the undefiled bed , this we do according to the practise of the Saints of the most High , publish it to them that be in the Power , and Spirit , in which Power and Spirit there is order , which power of God and Spirit of God is before thy defiled bed was ; & as for the speaking of it in meetings , & and laying it before mens meetings , & womens meetings in London , who loves wholsomness , this is no contradiction , but it is one with the former , which thou scoffingly calls order ; but thou would do what thou doest in the dark , where thou art & canst not abide the light ; and therefore declare it in mens meetings , & womens meetings , that is to stop unclean spirits like thine , who declared it in the meeting at the Peel , & the woman declaring nothing , & then runs into the country , & committing adultery with another woman is thy order and forme thou gets disciples into ; and therefore to speak it in men and womens meetings amongst Friends in the truth , this we own to keep down such evil spirits as thine , they being in the truth , that the thing be done in the light , but thou that hates the light hast loved the darknesse , and so thou hast fellowship in it . And as for John Moone , he is owned , & thou wast never to be compared to him nor his ministry , and that which thou hast spoken of him I believe is like the rest , for I have not spoken to him about that thing , but I believe its like the rest of thy lyes . And as for M. F. thou a●t not worthy to take her name in thy mouth , a vertuous woman , when thou sayest , being shut up in a room neer Newgate several houres ; this is thy malitiousness , wickednesse , for there was her Son in law , and her Daughter was passing to beyond the Seas , where they had something to speak together , where several Friends desired to come in and could not , because I had some businesse to speak with them before they went beyond the Seas , which was the occasion of stopping of some Friends ; and this is like thy reports at Elizabeth Trotts house , thy false reports : And as for her being weary of my company , or questioning any such thing , or questioning me or she , this is like thy rest , and I believe she will tell it thee to thy face , for what is to be looked for from thee , & what thou hast acted , with that same line thou measurest others , an innocent people , and a righteous people , and thou that hast no other stuffe to feed people , but such stuffe as this is , with thy surmising and evil jealousies , to judge others to be like thy self ; but truth is clear and is over all , who art like Cumberland and Purseval in thy words , but worse in thy practise , but the Seed is atop of all your heads , and they that will feed upon such things will sink themselves . And as for G.F. going up and down to reproach and revile the innocent , & to warn Friends not to receive him , these are all lyes , or any where else have done the same , these are all lyes , but deceit I judge where-ever I find it , and ever did , and ever shall , but in the will of the Lord I doe it , and his honour & glory I seek , but these have been thy words , to envy , hate , slander , raile and accuse these many years , but I am in the Spirit and Life , and in the Life that ever was that never falls , nor never will fall , that never changes , nor will change ; and what dost thou talk of Israel , and Saints , and meekness , and love , when thou art in thy lyes and slanders , and false reports , and uncleannesses ? but thou and such as thou art hast cast off meekness , and trampled upon love , and cast away pitty , whose fruits declare thy prophaneness , for G. F's . spirit hath shewed the restoring the lost sheep of Israel , but such spirits as thine and yours have driven many back to the world , with your fierceness in the devouring nature ; and as for thy denying G. F's . authority , and others , thou sayest , which is like thy self , they should have set down their hands to a paper , that they might have come to light , thy denying is nothing worth , for when thou wentest in to the adulterous spirit , and into the uncleannesse , who never was redeemed out of it , but gets it in the hypocrisie , what thou professes of God , but denyed by the power and life , and so thy testimony is dead , and thy works for the fire , and the power which I have received is from the Lord , and not usurped , by which I deny all unclean spirits and actions , and the power that I am in , is owned with the Spirit of God in every man ; and this is to satisfie all people of your testimony , because I judge thy uncleannesse , and unclean spirit , and unclean actions , and then they will cry they have no great honour of thee , neither the Lord nor his People , nor sober men ; and G.F. never struck at the life of God , but always struck at the unclean spirits , and thy unclean actions ; nay , there are other things that I judge besides the Hat , thy nasty , dirty paper , which is a shame to modesty to mention . And I. P's , hath sufficiently manifested it self , and the end of it where it is run , and his paper which is not for modesty to mention , forth in writing ; and we know what life he had , the fruits of it hath manifested it self discovered , and these thou calls vertuous , but is one of the seven sins which Solomon speaks of , for that which is excellent , and vertuous , and glorious , G.F. always loved , and self honour he alwayes denyed , there are thousands in the life can witnesse it ; but thy self honour which thou and others seeks and speaks of so much , and the spirit of Saul is entred into many of you , and a worse , and G.F. is in the Spirit of God , the Seed that never fell , nor changeth , and all your Briars and Thorns , and slanders , and scandals , and lying reports , the Seed that he is in and of , was before they were , and will stand when they are gone , and he is in his strength , and the glory of the Lord , by which the Lord hath cloathed him withall , and his eye is opened , and his ear is opened ; and all who hear God , and fear God , their ears and eyes are over your lying tales and wonders ▪ And when thou hast raked up all thy lyes together , thou saist this is a true and faithful Testimony , which is as false as can be ; and G.F. sought to preserve the life in I. P. but that thou and he kicked against it ; and surely I.P. may be ashamed of thee , he is sad and grosse indeed , if he set up thee to be his Factor . For did not he pretend to go to preach the Gospel at Barbadoes , and did not he go into the earth . And the son and the heir G.F. ever owned , but immodesty and undiscreetnesse his soul , and heart , and mind , and spirit was ever against , and denyed self-interest , and the glory that fades , who exalteth the Lord , and the Lord of Life and Glory is risen , which comprehendeth all such dirty spirits as thine is , and the zeal of the Lord shines over them , and will stain all your glory of your fleshly spirits , and utterly overturn them , for the Lords Government is set up , and the Heavenly Authority over you all , in the hearts and consciences of his people , and such spirits as thine are , cannot bring them into traditions , nor into the beggarly and outward rudiments . And is not you that exalts both Hat and Man , and his outward traditions , that is thy exalting , and so justifie thy own unclean actions in Essex , which are not fit to be mentioned . Who neither thee , nor thy practises , which are so bad , nor hardly fit to be mentioned ; who by the Truth and the Spirit of the Lord God , are judged for ever out of the Assembly of the Righteous ; but this is written that no simple ones might take thy lyes and slanders for truth , and for tru●hs sake ( who art unfit to be taken notice of ) for Truth clears it selfe , and the Seed is over all what any can speak against it . And it seems there are some others thou hast with thee , that watches for evil , and goes from the spiritual food , and are watching for evil to feed upon , but they have got none here , but hast invented much thou hast for them to seed upon , and thou hast no true guide in thee , no● these that holds thee up , nor testimony of God , nor power to call thy self to account for thy actions , who hath sold thy self to work wickednesse , which all will fall upon thy own head , and there are no friends in the truth of God , will give any credit to thee in what thou writes or speaks , that are modest , o● are in the wisdome of God. And as for Gilbert Laity and Gerrard Roberts and John Bolton , they are men of more moderation , and gravity , and vertue , and fidelity , as seeing thy practice , & knowing thy spirit and conversation ; and if they see any of thy papers , they are able to judge of them , without any further examination or tryal , as knowing what an evil person thou hast been , of an evill life and conversation : And Gerrard Roberts sayes he knows nothing of it , though this paper was answered long agoe to that , what I had of it , most of thy lyes and slanders before thou published it in print , who by this thinks to vilisie with thy slanders and lyes ; but this is but to manifest thy self , and to sink thee more into the pit of darkness ; for truth is over thy head and all these things , and clears it self , and the Seed reigns , Christ ever was , of which I am in the one Light , before the world began , and doth not matter what any slanderous spirit can say or do of me . And all Friends , Keep your habitation in the Seed of God before these things was , for lying , slanderous , unclean spirits , I do and ever did judge , and can do no otherwise , I have unity with none of them , take them who will , for that I ever denyed them , and do , and shall have a witness in every mans conscience that is pure , and in the day of their downfall and condemnation , of the lyar , and the slanderer , and false accuser . And a great deal of lyes and slanders are in thy paper , which are not worth the mentioning nor writing over , which the Seed runs over them all ; for though there be Judases and false Brethren , and such as causes the truth to be evil spoken of , and seeks to sow discord amongst Brethren , and to cast slanders and false reports , and lyes to vilifie the righteous , the innocent , and the pure , and the spotless , whose garments are pure , and clear , and lives an undefiled life . This is no new thing to see such appear now , for they were of old for condemnation ; and so it stands upon them , though they rise up against the righteous , and mount up to Heaven among the Stars , and so fall down to the earth into Hell ; this condemnation of them was ordained of old . The Light is gone over them , in which is our fellowship . G. F. Dear Friends . THE Life and Power of God , in which ye are raised , and by which ye are nourished and refreshed , is the 〈◊〉 Foundation which shall never be rased our , for it is laid of God , and no man can lay another ; and ye that feel the Life and Power of God in your selves , ye feel Christ the Salvation , Righteousnesse and Wisdome of God , and so ye by the power of God are kept and preserved in sincerity and integrity to God , and thereby comes to be established upon the Rock , which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against , nor all the fiery darts of the wicked touch ; and in the Power of God ye being gathered and established , ye stand and live in that which scatters the clouds , and keeps your eye clear to the Lord God , by which Power ye see in a good understanding through all the spirits and powers which worketh in the darknesse , and by the Power are preserved out of the● , and set above them , where ye reign as Kings in the immortal Seed of God , by which the Serpents head is broken and his Seed destroyed ; and this is the true freedome in the Son , who dyed and suffered , and is risen again in life , and brought Life and Immortality to light , in which Life and Light ye are the children of the most High God , and heirs of the everlasting Kingdome of God , where ye have a sure portion in the Joy , and Peace , and Blessing of God , in which sit ye down and keep your habitation , and the God of life and peace , and endless love , be with you all , and cloath you with the Garment of everlasting praise , that in all things ye may give him the Glory , who lives for evermore . And Dear Friends , Be ye all watchful in the Light by which ye were and are convinced , for the Times are perilous Times , yea , and that amongst such as professe to one Truth , and by declaration speak the same words ; and such there are crept in amongst Friends in the truth , who by fair words and seeming appearances seeks to subvert the simple minded , and to beguile the unstable souls , and so would beget a dislike in the hearts of Friends , against such as Godhath raised and exalted in his heavenly Power , Life , and Wisdome ; and such Papers there are in Print , which are published by John Harwood against G.F. wherein he hath slanderously reported of him , and falsly accused him ; and if any such papers come amongst you , or that ye may hear a report of them , let not your minds be hasty to believe , that what is so reported is truth , but weigh the matter in the savoury life , and you will feel that it came from a very bad spirit , and not worthy of any acceptation amongst Friends that live in the savour of truth , but is to be judged , condemn●d , and cast out . And all that live in the truth and the savour of it , will find a sufficient answer in themselves , by which they may receive their satisfaction . And this is signified unto Friends , that no lyes nor slanderous reports may rest upon the truth , nor remain upon the innocency of Gods anoynted , but with the true spirit of Judgment they may all be cleansed out from amongst the heritage of God. And Friends , All that abides in the truth doth certainly know that G.F. was raised by the mighty power of God , and hath not preached himself , but Christ Jesus the Lord , and himself a Servant for Jesus sake ; he is a living witness of the Resurrection of the Just , not handling the Word of God deceitfully , nor using flattering speech at any time , but in simplicity and godly sincerity he hath spoken in Christ the everlasting Seed ; and his word hath not been yea and nay , but from the beginning his word and his preaching hath been unchangeable , and he the same in the truth , without any variablenesse , and he is grown up in Israel in the mighty power of God , and is cloathed with the heavenly wisdome of God , where his life is hid from the eyes of his accusers ; and they that love the truth , and abide in it , do know that he hath ever been dear and tender over the good in all , and hath judged the evil with righteous judgment ; and though there be many risen , which would weaken his testimony , as if it was not what it had been , yet all that have received his testimony , and continue in his doctrine , have a more sure evidence concerning his life , then to be shaken or moved at the report of false accusers , which in the Light is seen to be that spirit which strikes at the Life it self , and so would kill and take possession , which spirit is to be judged by all Friends in the truth , and the souls of such pitied who with it are ensnared ; for the day of the Lord is to pass upon it , and it shall suddenly with●r and perish , and come to nought ; and all that give up their belief unto it , and therein doth abide , they shall fall as leaves from the Tree , when the vertue retires into its Root . But as for G.F. the Lord God hath exalted him , and the Glory of the Lord rests upon him , and all that have received his Testimony in the love of it , and the Testimony of such as preaches the same Word , and therein doth abide , even the same glory in their measures doth rest upon them , and a sure defence is stretched over it , and the Storms of restless Clouds shall never blast it , nor the waves of the troubled Sea slow over it , the Lord hath spoken it . And this is manifested unto Friends in love to the everlasting truth of God , not setting up a man , or throwing down a man , but in all things giving the power preheminence , and in dearness to the Vessel that is filled with the excellency of that treasure , and also beating down the Prince of the Power of the Air , the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience ; knowing in the Counsel of the Lord God , that whatsoever such spirits pretend to , or in what likenesse soever they do appear , yet the deceivablenesse of unrighteousness is lodged in the Root : And therefore my dear Friends , of all such beware , and love the word of truth , and live in it , that in love , meekness , and peaceableness , ye may feel your rest in the bosome of the Lamb ; and the blessing of the Lord God be upon you for ever . William Smith . THE END . Let this go only among Friends .