A Short account of that faithful servant of the Lord, and diligent labourer in his vineyard, George Gray, who finished his testimony, and laid down the body at Achorthies, in his native country of Scotland, the 8th day of the 12th month, 1689/90 whereunto are added two epistles written by himself in the time of his imprisonment for the truth at Aberdene.
      
       
         
           1692
        
      
       Approx. 20 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 15 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A41850
         Wing G1623
         ESTC R18552
         12661841
         ocm 12661841
         65442
         
           
            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. A41850)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 65442)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 355:14)
      
       
         
           
             A Short account of that faithful servant of the Lord, and diligent labourer in his vineyard, George Gray, who finished his testimony, and laid down the body at Achorthies, in his native country of Scotland, the 8th day of the 12th month, 1689/90 whereunto are added two epistles written by himself in the time of his imprisonment for the truth at Aberdene.
             Gray, George, d. 1689 or 90.
          
           [3]-30 p.
           
             Printed, and sold by T. Sowle ...,
             London :
             1692.
          
           
             Preface by Alexander Seaton.
             Title page illegible on film.
             Print show-through on most pages.
             Reproduction of original in British 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. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Gray, George, d. 1689 or 90.
           Society of Friends -- Scotland -- History.
        
      
    
     
        2007-11 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2007-11 Apex CoVantage
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2007-12 Pip Willcox
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2007-12 Pip Willcox
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2008-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           Short
           ACCOUNT
           OF
           That
           Faithful
           Servant
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           Diligent
           Labourer
           in
           his
           Vineyard
           ,
           
             George
             Gray
          
           ,
           Who
           finished
           his
           Testimony
           ,
           and
           laid
           down
           the
           Body
           at
           Achorthies
           ,
           in
           his
           native
           Country
           of
           Scotland
           ,
           the
           8th
           Day
           of
           the
           12th
           Month
           ,
           1689
           /
           90.
           
        
         
           Where
           unto
           are
           added
           Two
           Epistles
           ,
           written
           by
           himself
           ,
           in
           the
           time
           of
           his
           Imprisonment
           for
           the
           Truth
           at
           Aberdene
           .
        
         
           
             Psal
             .
             112.
             6.
             
          
           The
           Righteous
           shall
           be
           in
           Everlasting
           Remembrance
           .
        
         
           
             Rev.
             14.
             13.
             
          
           Blessed
           are
           the
           Dead
           which
           dye
           in
           the
           Lord
           ,
           from
           henceforth
           ,
           yea
           ,
           saith
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           Rest
           from
           their
           Labours
           ,
           and
           their
           Works
           do
           follow
           them
           .
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           ,
           and
           Sold
           by
           
             T.
             Sowle
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Crooked-Billet
           in
           
             Holywell-Lane
             ,
             Shoreditch
          
           ,
           1692.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           TO
           THE
           READER
           .
        
         
           THe
           living
           Remembrance
           of
           the
           many
           Heavenly
           Comfortable
           Testimonies
           that
           were
           born
           by
           this
           Faithful
           Minister
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             (
             George
             Gray
             ,
          
           )
           and
           also
           of
           his
           Stedfastness
           and
           Patience
           ,
           in
           the
           great
           Sufferings
           and
           long
           Imprisonment
           which
           he
           Cheerfully
           underwent
           for
           the
           Truth
           ;
           being
           fresh
           
           upon
           the
           Minds
           of
           those
           who
           were
           experimental
           Witnesses
           of
           the
           powerfulness
           of
           his
           Ministry
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Blessed
           success
           it
           had
           ,
           especially
           in
           Aberdene
           ,
           and
           the
           Country
           thereabouts
           ,
           where
           he
           was
           most
           frequently
           concerned
           in
           the
           Work
           of
           the
           Lord
           while
           in
           the
           Body
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           therefore
           thought
           fit
           to
           publish
           
             these
             short
             Testimonies
             following
             ,
             as
             an
             evidence
          
           of
           the
           sweet
           Savor
           
             he
             (
             through
             his
             Faithfulness
             to
             the
             Lord
             )
          
           hath
           left
           behind
           him
           ,
           among
           those
           who
           
             (
             in
             the
             fellowship
             of
             the
             Gospel
             )
          
           were
           Conversant
           with
           him
           ;
           and
           also
           of
           the
           real
           esteem
           they
           bear
           
           to
           his
           Memory
           in
           the
           Truth
           :
           Which
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           have
           that
           good
           effect
           in
           those
           who
           read
           them
           as
           to
           stir
           them
           up
           to
           faithfulness
           unto
           the
           Lord
           while
           they
           live
           in
           this
           World
           ;
           
             That
             so
          
           ,
           they
           may
           receive
           a
           Crown
           of
           Eternal
           Righteousness
           hereafter
           ,
           is
           the
           earnest
           desire
           of
        
         
           
             Alexander
             Seaton
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Patrick
           Livingston's
           TESTIMONY
           ,
           Concerning
           
             George
             Gray
          
           .
        
         
           AS
           to
           Dear
           
             George
             Gray
          
           ,
           my
           dear
           Friend
           and
           Brother
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Truth
           ,
           and
           my
           fellow-Sufferer
           in
           Aberdene
           Prison
           ;
           He
           was
           à
           man
           whom
           I
           greatly
           loved
           ;
           for
           though
           he
           was
           a
           Poor
           Man
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           yet
           he
           was
           rich
           in
           Faith
           ;
           and
           though
           his
           Education
           was
           mean
           and
           low
           ,
           he
           was
           endued
           with
           divine
           Wisdom
           and
           Understanding
           in
           the
           
           things
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           good
           sound
           and
           Solid
           Testimony
           he
           had
           in
           the
           Meetings
           of
           the
           Lords
           People
           ;
           insomuch
           that
           many
           Considering
           him
           in
           his
           place
           among
           Men
           ,
           have
           taken
           notice
           of
           the
           Gift
           he
           had
           in
           Delivering
           his
           Testimony
           with
           that
           Soundness
           and
           Weight
           ,
           as
           no
           Critical
           Enemy
           did
           ever
           catch
           him
           in
           a
           Word
           ,
           as
           ever
           I
           knew
           off
           ;
           and
           I
           knew
           him
           at
           his
           first
           coming
           amongst
           us
           ;
           and
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           in
           my
           Heart
           was
           towards
           him
           ;
           For
           I
           never
           found
           him
           under
           Blame
           ,
           nor
           ever
           heard
           of
           any
           that
           could
           Justly
           Blame
           him
           ,
           either
           in
           his
           Testimony
           ,
           Life
           or
           Conversation
           since
           he
           was
           restored
           into
           the
           Obedience
           of
           the
           Truth
           ;
           but
           he
           was
           of
           a
           good
           Report
           .
        
         
           And
           when
           I
           heard
           of
           his
           being
           taken
           away
           from
           amongst
           us
           ,
           I
           was
           satisfied
           in
           my self
           
           (
           having
           that
           Constant
           experience
           of
           him
           in
           his
           Life
           time
           )
           that
           it
           was
           well
           with
           him
           ;
           and
           it
           came
           near
           me
           ,
           the
           Consideration
           of
           the
           great
           loss
           and
           miss
           Friends
           in
           those
           parts
           would
           have
           of
           him
           :
           But
           I
           live
           in
           the
           Hope
           that
           the
           Lord
           will
           in
           his
           own
           time
           raise
           himself
           up
           Faithful
           Labourers
           in
           the
           room
           of
           those
           
             Worthy
             Men
          
           he
           hath
           been
           pleased
           to
           remove
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           to
           himself
           of
           late
           in
           this
           Island
           of
           England
           and
           Scotland
           ;
           and
           my
           Prayer
           to
           God
           is
           ,
           through
           the
           Son
           of
           his
           Love
           ,
           in
           the
           moving
           of
           his
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           that
           all
           who
           remain
           behind
           ,
           may
           so
           live
           and
           walk
           in
           Unity
           and
           Fellowship
           with
           the
           Lord
           God
           in
           the
           Spirit
           of
           his
           Son
           ,
           and
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           as
           that
           his
           Glory
           may
           shine
           forth
           thorow
           us
           all
           ,
           to
           the
           reaching
           and
           gathering
           of
           
           many
           more
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           who
           are
           gathered
           may
           grow
           up
           in
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           Lord
           God
           Almighty
           ;
           That
           over
           all
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           he
           may
           have
           his
           Honour
           ,
           Glory
           and
           Praise
           forever
           ;
           Amen
           .
        
         
           
             Patrick
             Livingston
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           TESTIMONY
           OF
           FRIENDS
           Of
           the
           Monthly
           Meeting
           at
           Aberdene
           ,
           Concerning
           
             George
             Gray
          
           ,
        
         
           AMong
           the
           many
           Watch-Men
           and
           Proclaimers
           of
           the
           blessed
           Morning
           of
           the
           Everlasting
           Day
           of
           our
           God
           ,
           this
           faithful
           Instrument
           was
           one
           ,
           who
           was
           raised
           up
           to
           Visit
           ,
           Salute
           and
           Comfort
           the
           Seed
           of
           God
           in
           this
           Nation
           of
           Scotland
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           as
           a
           Nursing
           Father
           unto
           many
           Babes
           ,
           and
           a
           
           Communicator
           of
           Spiritual
           Gifts
           as
           a
           Faithful
           Steward
           to
           the
           Household
           of
           God
           therein
           ,
           Especially
           in
           the
           Northern
           parts
           thereof
           ,
           where
           his
           Comfortable
           Labours
           and
           useful
           sweet
           Ministry
           mostly
           was
           ;
           and
           truely
           we
           can
           say
           ,
           it
           is
           fulfilled
           as
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           the
           Memorial
           of
           the
           Just
           doth
           flourish
           and
           remain
           as
           a
           fresh
           sweet
           savour
           with
           many
           who
           know
           the
           Seals
           of
           his
           Ministry
           on
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           of
           Christ's
           speaking
           in
           〈◊〉
           thorow
           him
           ,
           to
           the
           refreshing
           ,
           watering
           and
           building
           up
           of
           many
           in
           the
           Unity
           of
           the
           most
           pretious
           Faith
           and
           Love
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           end
           of
           all
           the
           Gifts
           given
           by
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           as
           saith
           the
           Scripture
           :
           And
           truly
           his
           Gifts
           for
           this
           end
           ,
           not
           onely
           of
           a
           large
           understanding
           in
           the
           Word
           of
           God's
           Wisdom
           that
           dwelt
           richly
           in
           him
           ,
           but
           also
           of
           utterance
           to
           express
           and
           bring
           forth
           
           the
           same
           abundantly
           ,
           and
           with
           great
           and
           clear
           demonstration
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           were
           much
           the
           more
           remarkable
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           a
           mean
           unlettered
           Man
           ,
           (
           except
           simply
           Reading
           and
           Writing
           )
           and
           of
           a
           very
           low
           condition
           in
           the
           outward
           ;
           whereby
           his
           Masters
           Power
           and
           Spiritual
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           Furniture
           of
           Gospel
           Ministers
           (
           by
           which
           he
           doth
           immediately
           replenish
           them
           )
           did
           shine
           and
           evidence
           it self
           the
           more
           clearly
           through
           him
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Exhortation
           of
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           who
           said
           ,
           
             Let
             him
             that
             speaketh
             ,
             Speak
             as
             the
             Oracles
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             him
             that
             Ministers
             do
             it
             of
             the
             ability
             that
             God
             giveth
             him
          
           ;
           So
           that
           he
           ,
           being
           without
           any
           pretence
           of
           mixture
           or
           assistance
           of
           the
           acquired
           Learning
           and
           Sciences
           so
           much
           admired
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           pretended
           (
           though
           falsly
           )
           to
           be
           the
           most
           necessary
           accomplishment
           
           of
           Gospel
           Ministers
           ;
           it
           hath
           been
           certainly
           known
           to
           some
           of
           us
           that
           very
           understanding
           Persons
           (
           not
           of
           the
           Profession
           he
           was
           of
           )
           have
           confessed
           their
           admiration
           at
           the
           utterance
           ,
           excellent
           matter
           ,
           and
           pertinent
           Conexion
           they
           observed
           in
           his
           Testimony
           ,
           whom
           they
           knew
           to
           be
           no
           learned
           Man
           ,
           as
           to
           outward
           Learning
           ,
           being
           very
           apt
           to
           Judg
           (
           according
           to
           their
           way
           )
           
           that
           the
           Testimonies
           of
           others
           among
           us
           (
           who
           they
           knew
           had
           some
           of
           that
           Learning
           )
           were
           hepled
           or
           furnished
           thereby
           ;
           but
           as
           to
           him
           they
           were
           at
           a
           stand
           ,
           judging
           it
           ,
           as
           indeed
           it
           was
           ,
           somewhat
           beyond
           their
           natural
           Reach
           .
        
         
           Now
           this
           Gospel
           Ministry
           which
           he
           freely
           received
           ,
           &
           was
           not
           taught
           of
           man
           ,
           or
           by
           man
           ,
           he
           was
           exceeding
           
           careful
           freely
           to
           give
           it
           forth
           for
           his
           Glory
           that
           gave
           it
           him
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           it
           no
           wise
           chargeable
           to
           any
           ;
           Yea
           ,
           in
           this
           he
           might
           glory
           in
           his
           God
           ,
           that
           his
           Hands
           ministred
           to
           his
           Necessities
           
           by
           very
           constant
           ,
           diligent
           ,
           hard
           Labour
           (
           at
           all
           the
           intervals
           of
           his
           Ministerial
           Services
           )
           in
           that
           outward
           Vocation
           and
           Trade
           he
           was
           off
           ,
           being
           (
           as
           many
           of
           the
           Lords
           Servants
           were
           of
           old
           )
           of
           a
           manual
           and
           mechanick
           Trade
           ,
           which
           he
           kept
           most
           diligently
           and
           assiduously
           to
           the
           very
           end
           of
           his
           Dayes
           :
           Yea
           ,
           so
           steadfastly
           unmoveable
           was
           he
           in
           this
           his
           Principle
           of
           not
           making
           the
           Gospel
           chargeable
           ,
           and
           of
           being
           a
           good
           example
           in
           Laborious
           diligence
           with
           his
           Hands
           (
           being
           indeed
           not
           sloathful
           in
           business
           ,
           though
           
           fervent
           in
           Spirit
           ,
           serving
           the
           Lord
           )
           that
           his
           care
           on
           that
           account
           can
           hardly
           be
           expressed
           .
           His
           Care
           and
           Zeal
           was
           great
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           have
           his
           own
           Conversation
           well
           ordered
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           least
           appearance
           of
           evil
           might
           be
           abstained
           from
           by
           all
           Friends
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           things
           that
           were
           truely
           Lovely
           ,
           Comely
           ,
           of
           good
           Report
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           Honour
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Truth
           ,
           might
           be
           Zealously
           followed
           ,
           both
           by
           himself
           as
           an
           Example
           to
           the
           Flock
           ,
           and
           by
           all
           others
           that
           were
           under
           the
           same
           Profession
           with
           him
           :
           He
           truely
           loved
           to
           spend
           and
           be
           spent
           in
           the
           unwearyed
           Labours
           and
           Services
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           His
           Zeal
           therein
           was
           so
           great
           that
           it
           seemed
           even
           to
           spend
           his
           natural
           Strength
           ,
           so
           that
           he
           did
           swiftly
           run
           his
           Blessed
           Race
           and
           lay
           down
           his
           earthly
           Tabernacle
           ,
           (
           wherein
           he
           had
           served
           the
           Lord
           
           with
           Cheerfulness
           )
           being
           about
           forty
           nine
           Years
           of
           Age.
           
        
         
           A
           little
           before
           his
           departure
           ,
           being
           filled
           with
           the
           Power
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           he
           gave
           weighty
           Exhortation
           and
           Counsel
           to
           all
           that
           were
           present
           ,
           especially
           to
           his
           Children
           .
           To
           some
           Friends
           that
           came
           to
           see
           him
           ,
           he
           said
           ,
           
             He
             had
             not
             kept
             back
          
           
           
             the
             Word
             and
             Counsel
             of
             the
             Lord
             from
             them
             ,
             and
             now
             he
             could
             say
             ,
             it
             was
             good
             Doctrine
             to
             leave
             nothing
             to
             do
             till
             a
             dying
             Bed.
             
          
        
         
           He
           had
           been
           sometimes
           much
           exercised
           in
           Testimonies
           at
           Fairs
           or
           Markets
           ,
           and
           in
           Speaking
           to
           People
           out
           at
           the
           Prison-Windows
           in
           the
           time
           of
           that
           long
           Imprisonment
           at
           Aberdene
           ,
           wherein
           he
           was
           a
           faithful
           Yoke-fellow
           in
           Suffering
           for
           Truth
           ,
           to
           his
           own
           great
           comfort
           and
           advantage
           (
           as
           
           well
           as
           to
           the
           Honour
           of
           God
           )
           being
           ever
           after
           that
           Suffering
           to
           his
           dying-day
           ,
           raised
           up
           in
           a
           publick
           Ministry
           for
           the
           Lord
           ,
           who
           had
           given
           him
           not
           only
           to
           believe
           ,
           but
           to
           suffer
           (
           with
           Joy
           )
           for
           his
           Name
           ,
           both
           the
           imprisonment
           of
           his
           Person
           ,
           and
           the
           spoiling
           of
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           mean
           outward
           Substance
           which
           he
           possessed
           .
        
         
           Among
           many
           remarkable
           passages
           which
           might
           be
           mentioned
           concerning
           him
           ,
           this
           one
           thing
           was
           thought
           fit
           to
           be
           here
           inserted
           ;
           That
           being
           
           once
           called
           to
           declare
           Truth
           in
           a
           publick
           Fair
           (
           or
           Market
           )
           in
           
             Old
             Meldrum
          
           ,
           one
           pretending
           some
           Authority
           there
           ,
           did
           violently
           beat
           him
           ,
           who
           fell
           quickly
           after
           into
           a
           
             heavy
             disease
             and
             sore
             pain
          
           ,
           crying
           often
           out
           to
           some
           about
           him
           ,
           
             that
             it
             was
             for
             beating
             the
             Servant
             of
             the
             Lord.
             
          
        
         
         
           He
           was
           little
           in
           writing
           outwardly
           (
           but
           hath
           left
           living
           Epistles
           written
           in
           the
           Hearts
           of
           many
           )
           yet
           these
           two
           following
           Letters
           being
           providentially
           found
           ,
           may
           serve
           for
           some
           taste
           of
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           being
           writ
           when
           he
           was
           but
           very
           Young
           in
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           but
           entring
           in
           to
           his
           publick
           Ministry
           in
           the
           time
           of
           his
           Imprisonment
           .
        
         
           This
           Testimony
           concerning
           our
           Dear
           Friend
           ,
           aforementioned
           ,
           was
           given
           forth
           at
           our
           Mens
           Meeting
           at
           Aberdene
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           Month
           ,
           1692.
           
           And
           subscribed
           in
           behalf
           of
           the
           Meeting
           ,
           by
           
             
               Thomas
               Mercer
               ,
            
             
               John
               Robertson
               ,
            
             
               Robert
               Gordon
               ,
            
             
               Robert
               Burnet
               ,
            
             
               Andrew
               Jaffrey
               ,
            
             
               John
               Gleny
               ,
            
             
               John
               Hall
               ,
            
             
               John
               Forbes
               .
            
          
           The
           Papers
           written
           by
           himself
           ,
           are
           as
           followeth
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           VVARNING
           TO
           THE
           Priests
           of
           Aberdene
           ,
           Sent
           to
           them
           by
           
             George
             Gray
          
           ,
           Weaver
           ,
           and
           Prisoner
           for
           the
           Truth
           in
           the
           said
           City
           ,
           
             the
             6th
             Day
             of
             the
             3d
             Month
             ,
             1676.
             
          
        
         
           O
           Ye
           Priests
           of
           Aberdene
           ,
           How
           long
           will
           ye
           resist
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           ?
           How
           long
           will
           ye
           despise
           Prophecying
           ?
           How
           long
           will
           ye
           speak
           lying
           Divinations
           ,
           and
           speak
           Lyes
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           the
           Lord
           ?
           How
           long
           will
           ye
           hold
           up
           mens
           Inventions
           ,
           
           and
           Traditions
           ,
           and
           Customs
           ,
           and
           Fashions
           ,
           after
           the
           Rudiments
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           which
           must
           pass
           away
           ?
           How
           long
           will
           ye
           deceive
           your selves
           ,
           and
           deceive
           and
           delude
           others
           ,
           by
           not
           knowing
           the
           Lord
           but
           by
           hear-say
           ,
           and
           as
           ye
           have
           learned
           it
           as
           a
           Trade
           to
           gain
           Money
           withal
           ?
           For
           all
           ye
           do
           ,
           is
           for
           Hire
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           give
           you
           no
           Money
           ,
           then
           you
           will
           give
           them
           no
           Preaching
           nor
           Praying
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           is
           a
           sign
           and
           token
           that
           God
           never
           sent
           such
           to
           be
           Ministers
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           teach
           without
           Hire
           and
           without
           Money
           ;
           for
           ye
           are
           Teachers
           for
           your
           Backs
           and
           Bellys
           ,
           and
           not
           careful
           to
           gain
           Souls
           to
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Dreadful
           will
           the
           Day
           be
           that
           will
           come
           upon
           you
           when
           you
           will
           not
           be
           looking
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           Wo
           and
           Misery
           will
           overtake
           you
           before
           ye
           are
           aware
           .
        
         
         
           O
           ye
           Priests
           ,
           ye
           Priests
           ,
           Woful
           and
           Dreadful
           is
           the
           Day
           which
           is
           approaching
           you
           ,
           from
           the
           dreadful
           God
           of
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           for
           your
           Covetousness
           and
           Deceitful
           Dealing
           with
           poor
           People
           ,
           poor
           indeed
           for
           want
           of
           the
           true
           Knowledge
           of
           God
           ;
           for
           ye
           Murther
           and
           Kill
           their
           Souls
           with
           dead
           Lifeless
           Words
           ,
           not
           coming
           to
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           nor
           yet
           speaking
           in
           and
           from
           the
           Power
           and
           Life
           ,
           but
           stealing
           and
           gathering
           Words
           from
           others
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           old
           Authors
           and
           Books
           ,
           and
           tells
           that
           over
           ,
           having
           it
           measured
           by
           an
           Hour-glass
           ,
           and
           so
           ,
           feed
           Peoples
           fleshly
           Ears
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           and
           learn
           them
           a
           notion
           ,
           without
           any
           feeling
           of
           Life
           to
           their
           Souls
           ,
           they
           not
           being
           spoken
           from
           the
           Life
           ;
           and
           so
           People
           come
           bad
           ,
           and
           go
           as
           bad
           away
           ;
           yet
           for
           all
           that
           ye
           profess
           to
           be
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           
           Jesus
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           you
           deny
           to
           be
           led
           ,
           acted
           or
           moved
           by
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           or
           to
           wait
           for
           his
           Power
           ,
           Spirit
           and
           Life
           to
           enable
           you
           therein
           ;
           But
           upon
           the
           contrary
           ,
           you
           do
           maintain
           that
           men
           may
           be
           sufficient
           Ministers
           ,
           without
           Grace
           ,
           *
           without
           the
           Power
           and
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           ;
           and
           that
           a
           Reprobate
           may
           be
           a
           Minister
           and
           Convert
           Souls
           :
           And
           for
           this
           cause
           ye
           hold
           people
           from
           the
           Power
           ,
           and
           suffer
           them
           not
           to
           come
           to
           it
           ,
           nor
           know
           it
           ,
           but
           cry
           up
           the
           Letter
           of
           the
           Scripture
           to
           be
           the
           only
           and
           alone
           Rule
           ;
           and
           reject
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           ,
           as
           he
           reveals
           himself
           in
           Men
           and
           Women's
           Hearts
           by
           his
           Light.
           So
           ye
           are
           they
           that
           pretend
           to
           the
           form
           of
           Godliness
           ,
           and
           deny
           the
           Power
           thereof
           ,
           you
           are
           
           they
           that
           are
           
             Enemies
             to
             the
             Cross
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           which
           is
           the
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           
             your
             end
             is
             destruction
             ,
             if
             you
             repent
             not
             ,
             whose
             Belly
             is
             your
             God
             ,
             who
             mind
             Earthly
             things
             ,
          
           and
           beget
           People
           into
           the
           same
           mind
           with
           you
           ,
           in
           Pride
           ,
           and
           Lust
           ,
           and
           Vanity
           ,
           living
           
             without
             God
             in
             the
             World.
          
           O
           what
           will
           come
           upon
           you
           ?
           O
           ye
           Priests
           ,
           but
           anguish
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           Tribulation
           and
           Horror
           of
           mind
           ,
           which
           will
           make
           you
           to
           cry
           out
           ,
           
             Wo
             ,
             and
             alas
             !
             that
             ever
             we
             were
             born
             .
          
        
         
           O
           Ye
           Priests
           ,
           take
           Warning
           in
           time
           ,
           and
           come
           out
           of
           your
           dark
           d●ce●tful
           wayes
           ,
           or
           else
           Darkness
           will
           be
           your
           Portion
           for
           ever
           ,
           for
           they
           that
           hate
           the
           Light
           in
           their
           Life
           time
           ,
           shall
           not
           enjoy
           it
           hereafter
           :
           Therefore
           ye
           Priests
           ,
           turn
           to
           the
           Light
           and
           believe
           in
           the
           Light
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           become
           the
           Children
           of
           the
           Light
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           
           all
           your
           Hearers
           ,
           and
           sit
           down
           in
           Silence
           until
           the
           Lord
           by
           his
           Power
           ,
           Spirit
           and
           Life
           ,
           raise
           you
           up
           and
           open
           your
           Mouths
           ,
           and
           then
           will
           you
           be
           true
           Ministers
           ;
           and
           never
           till
           then
           ,
           pretend
           what
           you
           will.
           And
           so
           take
           Warning
           in
           time
           ,
           before
           the
           dreadful
           Day
           come
           upon
           you
           ,
           which
           shall
           come
           upon
           all
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           Babylon
           ;
           which
           that
           ye
           may
           do
           ,
           is
           the
           desire
           of
           my
           Soul.
           
        
         
           
             George
             Gray
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           Copy
           of
           a
           Paper
           sent
           by
           
             George
             Gray
          
           to
           the
           Country
           Meeting
           at
           Collihill
           ,
           dated
           from
           the
           Tolbooth
           of
           Aberdene
           ,
           
             the
             eight
             day
             of
             the
             third
             Month
             ,
             1676.
             
          
        
         
           MY
           Dear
           Friends
           in
           the
           Truth
           ,
           the
           Salutation
           of
           Love
           and
           Life
           be
           multiplyed
           in
           and
           among
           you
           from
           the
           Father
           of
           Life
           and
           Love
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           sence
           of
           the
           Pure
           Love
           of
           God
           which
           flows
           in
           my
           Heart
           towards
           you
           ,
           do
           I
           warn
           and
           exhort
           you
           to
           walk
           in
           the
           Cross
           of
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           which
           Crucifieth
           us
           to
           the
           World
           and
           the
           World
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           watch
           in
           Patience
           &
           Meekness
           and
           Calmness
           of
           Spirit
           against
           every
           thing
           that
           would
           draw
           out
           the
           mind
           ,
           in
           any
           measure
           ,
           from
           the
           true
           Meeting-place
           ,
           either
           in
           Meeting
           or
           
           out
           of
           Meeting
           ;
           For
           truly
           my
           Friends
           ,
           he
           or
           she
           that
           doth
           not
           watch
           diligently
           out
           of
           Meeting
           ,
           but
           let
           their
           minds
           go
           a
           gading
           to
           the
           ends
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           take
           no
           heed
           to
           have
           them
           gathered
           in
           before
           they
           come
           to
           Meeting
           ,
           truely
           it
           's
           no
           wonder
           to
           see
           such
           disappointed
           ;
           and
           therefore
           my
           dear
           Friends
           ,
           be
           careful
           every
           one
           in
           particular
           to
           have
           your
           minds
           stayed
           upon
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           the
           Lord
           will
           not
           be
           wanting
           to
           you
           ;
           for
           great
           is
           his
           condescending
           to
           us
           in
           this
           day
           ,
           and
           wonderful
           is
           his
           work
           to
           those
           that
           truely
           watch
           and
           wait
           upon
           him
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           my
           dear
           Friends
           ,
           every
           one
           know
           your
           place
           ,
           and
           let
           not
           any
           go
           out
           nor
           look
           out
           beyond
           your
           measures
           ;
           and
           let
           none
           Speak
           ,
           nor
           Sing
           ,
           nor
           Sigh
           ,
           nor
           Groan
           but
           in
           a
           true
           sence
           of
           their
           Conditions
           ;
           and
           let
           none
           make
           haste
           to
           speak
           any
           thing
           before
           the
           Lord
           ,
           which
           they
           
           know
           not
           to
           be
           from
           the
           true
           power
           ,
           but
           all
           to
           wait
           for
           the
           Power
           and
           Life
           and
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           ;
           for
           truly
           where
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           is
           not
           placed
           in
           the
           Heart
           ,
           the
           true
           Power
           will
           not
           attend
           their
           performances
           ,
           neither
           will
           God
           regard
           their
           Speech
           or
           Prayer
           :
           Therefore
           dear
           Friends
           dwell
           in
           Love
           ,
           and
           walk
           in
           Love
           towards
           all
           Men
           and
           Women
           ,
           and
           feel
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           in
           your
           Hearts
           flowing
           forth
           to
           all
           ,
           whether
           they
           love
           you
           or
           hate
           you
           ;
           for
           truly
           my
           Friends
           ,
           where
           hatred
           is
           brought
           forth
           against
           any
           Person
           ,
           upon
           whatsoever
           account
           it
           be
           ,
           although
           you
           may
           think
           the
           cause
           just
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           separate
           you
           from
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           envy
           and
           hatred
           is
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           and
           he
           is
           there
           where
           it
           is
           ;
           and
           Christ
           Jesus
           will
           not
           dwell
           with
           him
           in
           Unity
           ;
           And
           therefore
           my
           dear
           Brethren
           and
           Sisters
           ,
           Love
           one
           another
           in
           that
           Love
           wherewith
           Christ
           hath
           
           loved
           you
           ,
           and
           likewise
           your
           Enemies
           ,
           for
           Love
           gathereth
           to
           God
           ,
           but
           envy
           scattereth
           ;
           and
           therefore
           I
           warn
           you
           in
           the
           Fear
           and
           Dread
           of
           the
           Everlasting
           God
           ,
           that
           ye
           be
           not
           Hinderers
           of
           the
           Work
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           for
           dreadful
           will
           their
           Portion
           be
           that
           let
           or
           hinder
           it
           in
           this
           day
           ,
           or
           bring
           an
           evil
           report
           upon
           it
           :
           So
           take
           warning
           my
           Friends
           ,
           and
           every
           one
           look
           to
           their
           way
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           prosperity
           of
           Truth
           .
           And
           my
           Friends
           ,
           I
           thought
           the
           Zeal
           of
           Truth
           should
           have
           had
           more
           effect
           upon
           some
           then
           I
           see
           it
           hath
           ;
           but
           I
           shall
           forbear
           ,
           leaving
           every
           one
           to
           their
           own
           Master
           :
           But
           they
           that
           follow
           for
           Loaves
           and
           Fishes
           ,
           when
           they
           get
           them
           not
           ,
           they
           will
           fail
           even
           in
           that
           Zeal
           also
           .
        
         
           My
           Little
           Children
           ,
           Love
           one
           another
           .
        
         
           
             George
             Gray
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A41850-e440
           
             His
             Spiritual
             Accomplishments
             beyond
             ▪
             Mens
             natural
             reach
             .
          
           
             His
             care
             not
             to
             make
             the
             Gospel
             chargeable
             .
          
           
             Weighty
             expressions
             upon
             his
             Death-Bed
             .
          
           
             A
             Remarkable
             Passage
             .
          
        
         
           Notes for div A41850-e770
           
             *
             It
             is
             to
             be
             observed
             that
             the
             Priests
             of
             Aberdene
             did
             strongly
             contend
             against
             the
             absolute
             Necessity
             of
             Grace
             to
             the
             Constitution
             of
             a
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             .