iWiiiiiiiiiii miiB 
 9mmmmmass 
 
 The Quakers 
 
 F. S.Turner 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 Ex Lf^ns 
 
 SIR MICHAII SADLFR 
 
 Ac\)riRi:n 10)48 
 
 WITH rilh" ]IUV Ol- Al.lMN'E OV THF 
 
 SCHOOL Ol' rnrcATioN
 
 THE OUAKERS.
 
 THE QUAKERS 
 
 A STUD}' 
 
 HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL 
 
 REDE RICK STORRS TURNER 
 
 LONDON 
 
 s A\' AX SOX X ]: X s c 1 r ]: T x .t c o 
 J 'AT !: 1 ixosi"]': I 't ,s( ,)U auj-: 
 
 1S8U
 
 P R E F A C E 
 
 In 1S72 tlic writer of this l)0(^k rctiirnod in broken 
 health from a scc(jik1 period of missionary labour in 
 China. I'wo years later some members of the Society of 
 Friends invited him to become secretary of a Committee 
 formed to agitate for the suppression of tho Opium 
 Trade between India and (Jhina. At this time lie was 
 totally ignorant of the lii.-^tory and religious belief of the 
 Friends, unless tlu; X'agiie and haz}' iiotions al (.)ut them in 
 the po})ular mind l)e called kno^\dedge. Although asso- 
 ciation in ])hilanthropio work, and much kindness re- 
 ceived by him, pro(biced in his nun<l a higli esteem for 
 their Society, strange to say, he remained in the same 
 state of ignorance for nine 3'ears. The Quakers do not 
 ]>roselyti/c : ;uid he was too much absorbed in other 
 studies to enter up(_)n an investigation whicli seemed of no 
 practical interest. The stud\- of the ]^]\'i(k'nces of Chris- 
 tianity, connncnced in China for the sake of the heathen, 
 had to bo continued at home in tlie face of the rJsiiig 
 tide of sce[)ticism, whicli threatened to sweep away tlie 
 \'ery foundations of the Clnastian faith. A long and scu'c 
 mental conllict he liad to pass through, in tlie course of 
 ^\hich he was sometimes reduced well-m'gh to dcspaii'. 
 Hut in tlic great mercy of Cod, he kept his hold on the 
 faith, or rather the truth k'ept its hold upon hiiu ; until 
 giadually ;i n(;w conception of the (.'hi'istian religion and 
 its e\idences Avas revealed to him. This conce[)tion he 
 wrcjtc down in the early ])art of 1S8-"), in a paper as }'et
 
 Prcfc 
 
 face. 
 
 uii})ul>li.sli(jcl. Ill that ycjira (|ual<<T lady l;;l\ u liiia a eo])y 
 of Jolm Wooliuans Journal. At once lu' i\'COL;'iiis(/(l tliat 
 his new coiicc']")tioii was not new, but liml Ijccn rcvcalcil 
 to (jtliers Ijci'oi'e. FoIl()^vln^ tlu; (.-luc lie |)hni'4r(l iiito 
 t]u3 stu<ly of (leori^'c I'^ox anil the jirimitivc (^'uakcrs, 
 trafiMl tilt.' stoi'y to tlic ])rosent ilay, au<l was Inl to t!ic 
 conviction that it was his duty to write the hoi.ik now in 
 the reader s hands. 
 
 'J"h(.' wi'iter is not a '^hiahor, nor is the Look e^])ecially 
 ad(b'cssed to (,)uak'eis. Its central truth is, accoi'iIinL;' to 
 his belief, the ^ery foundation of the Christian faith, 
 whicii. in this scejjtical ;iL;'e, it b(dio\'e> exci-y (.'hri^tiaii 
 to j'CiioAN- clearly, as well as to ]to-s">s exjio'lnieiitally. 
 'Idii'ivl'i )i-e, if he has had an\' cia^s c[ ivailcr^ in Ids 
 th:ai:dit nioi'e than another, it has beiii tho<c who. 
 ha\'c had to pa^s thi'ouuh. oi' ai'e n tw in tin' mid'-i "f a 
 eiintlict with uidiellcf. iJiit thi'- h^ cm iionc^tly -i}" 
 and let the rra<hi' jud^v- the hi--t 'I'y i-, a^ far a^ his 
 miiio>t endra\oui- ci luld attain, ])urr hi-^tory. Not a \\'oi-d, 
 not a liic, of th" hi-^t-a'y is ;icc, iuhumi I it I'd ti > tic cxi^vnrv- 
 nt'an apoliM-etic ai'^'U lilt 'lit, ,M iich tlierr i-> in the iiariati\ e 
 which the write!' ciMild \\;\\\' wi-^lcd otlnTwi^c, but the 
 truth, lh<' whole truth, and iiMthin-' hut tic li'iith, has 
 1 iiM'U his aiiii. 
 
 'I'he bav-^i-ht that -ollle ^f (he |-'rieiid-> wi.l be -lieM'd 
 
 hy ]Mirtiuii> (,r the l,,,,k is jiaiiii'ul to the\\i-I|er. J'.ut 
 
 tllM.ewh(i-e fiirefjlthers cal'id I Icl 1 1 ^i j \ e-, l|(,t bai'i'ly 
 
 I'"i ii'iid-, hill I'd iejiiU , if 'IVul ii," and ' ( 'idldi- 11 I -f the 
 
 Id'^ht ." W ill fleily aeklmw led-e lli.il lie ] , ; | , 1 |ii, (dlolce, 
 .\li-lahe|| he may he; lait it Wa- illiper.il !\ e lliiU 1|(- 
 -hnllld Wlile the wll^Ie trulll a^ it a|i]ie;irei| [ii him.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. INTRODUC'IORV 
 
 II. -rm; challI'.xgi', 
 
 III. THE AI'OSTLK OF THE IXWARD T.ICHT 
 I\'. PROCLAMATION OE THE MESSAOl'. . 
 V. THE Sl'r.STAXCT-; OE QUAKER DOC'IRIM 
 \I. Tin: T'RE TH I RH'AEEHAXT . 
 VIE EAXAIKISM .... 
 \'ll[. .MIEAC EE.S AXl) ER()PHi;CIES 
 IX. SCHISMS AXI) niSCTPEIXi: 
 X. IME (^I'AKI'.RS AS I IM-A' AIM'EARIJ) TO 
 
 Ol'I'OXI'lxrs 
 XI. Pi;XX AXI) l',ARCEA^' 
 
 XII. rm: wrefixcs oi' (;i:oro1': lox 
 XHi. Tin: i)i:cA\- oi' (jL:AKi:RisM 
 xi\'. (;i:oR(;i-: ki:it'ii 
 
 x\-. THE, (;i:xrERV OF (^)U1]:tism 
 x\i. Tin: i>i\tsioxs of ?^ioi)Erm (^)L'aki:rism 
 
 X\ll. Illi: EECLEIARITn:s of (QUAKERISM 
 X\ni. Ill i: IXWARD E1(;HT 
 
 XIX. ox siaT'-]:vii)Exr ri.eioiol's tiu'th 
 XX. ox Tin: si:ei-i:\-ii)f:xcf: oi' c iiris i iaxeia' 
 
 XXI. Tin: CHURCH, I Hi: PIliEE, AXI) rill' SPIRI 1 
 
 xxii. Tin: lEiT'Ri: oi' chrisitaxeia 
 
 ixi)i:x .... 
 
 i'A(;e 
 
 I 
 
 lO 
 
 2 1 
 
 44 
 
 5^ 
 70 
 
 99 
 119 
 140 
 
 160 
 182 
 
 '^ I 2 
 
 234 
 248 
 261 
 286 
 309 
 327 
 34^ 
 
 359 
 
 403
 
 THE QUAKERS. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 INTIIODUCTORY. 
 
 Ix IGiH, after a whole generation of mortal combat, 
 Catholicism and Protestantism stood face to face, Llced- 
 ing and breathless, yet mutually defiant and irrcconcile- 
 ahle. Germany was half-depopulated. Once flourishing 
 cities were ruined, and fertile districts had faden back to 
 forest. All Euro})e had taken part in the conflict, and 
 the nations were drained of life-blood and treasure. 
 Slowly and sullenly kings and priests recognised the ex- 
 haustion of their resources, and terminated by the peace 
 of West[)}ialia the ddiirty Years AVar. The attempt to 
 restore the Unity of the Church l)y the sword had failed. 
 Luther and Leo X. had rent the Church in twain, and the 
 schism was irreparable. The two sections into which 
 western Chfi^-:tianity was then split have diverged farther 
 with the years, and to-day they eye each other across a 
 great gulf; neither party seriously essaying the con- 
 version of the other ; each regarding the evangelization 
 of Asia and Africa as an easier enterprise, more likely to
 
 The Ojial'crs. 
 
 be rcwardud by speuily success, lluin ;iuy cllbi't to re- 
 unite Christendom. 
 
 In England, in the year 1048, Puritanism was 
 triumphant. Khio- Charles was a prisoner, for whom the 
 axe was shai'pcning, to i'all in the comini^^ January. 
 Episcopacy was snp])ressed. J'omanism, hated and feared 
 as Aiitichrist endxidied, was too wealv in Britain to 
 cause serious alarm. ())i our island soil, Protestantism 
 stood, a strong' man armed, who had bound his foe and 
 taken possession of his i^''o(.tds. i'dushed with victory, 
 conlident that the Lord (_)f Hosts was on his side, the 
 stroiiL;' man may even have di'eamt for a moment of 
 crossing- the wa\'es, and renewing the war against Rome. 
 Just at this time, in this puritan h^nglaud, a new Re- 
 former a])])eai'ed, who challenged Protestantism in its 
 stronghold, <lenounced the r(d"ornie(l churches as uirspar- 
 ingly as they diMiouneed the I'apaey, and proclaimed 
 through tlie length and hi'eadth of the lane], the return 
 to the Wv)rld of that jD'imit i\e and spii'itual (du'istian- 
 ity, the tem])oi-ary disap])caranei' ol which from the earth 
 was piT-figurcil, he said, in apocalyptic \ision, 1)\' the 
 tlight of tho Woman ai'rayed with the sun, and with the 
 moon undei' her feet, \\lio, aftrr the Mrih of the Ahm-child, 
 was coiiijii'lliil to lice fi'DUi I hr di-a^-nn, and to hide in the 
 wildi'i'Mos, iinl il tlic a] i[h )iiit .'d t inn'. 
 
 'I'll is pi'ccui si T 1,1' I hi- iirw Ucfni-i nation, b\' name ( icorge 
 l''ii\, w a,^ h'lrn in \^''-\ 'Oid \\a> t wcnly-lhrci- years 
 old when the W'r .t pha lian pracc w ;i> >ign<'d. W'Tl-niidi 
 f<irj;ottcn now, exc.pt hy llir .^niall m-ci whicli (races 
 Its oriLiiM to him, ivadi r> of thi< gcncratldn (atcli a 
 glimpse (if him, thiough the .-^pei'tachs of uiic a\ ho 
 wa^ in .--omc rrspccf.> a k indrcd spirit , Thomas Carlyle.
 
 Introductory. 
 
 " Perliaps the most remarkable incident in modern 
 history/' Carlyle makes his Teufelsdrockh say, " is not 
 the Diet of Worms, still less the battle of Austerlitz, 
 Waterloo, Peterloo, or any other battle ; but George 
 Fox's making to himself a suit of leather. This man, the 
 tirst of the Quakers, and by trade a shoemaker, was one 
 of those to whom, under ruder or purer form, the Divine 
 idea of the Universe is pleased to manifest itself, and 
 across all the hulls of Ignorance and earthly degradation, 
 shine through in unspeakable Awfulncss, unsj)eakable 
 Beauty, in their souls ; who therefore are rightly accounted 
 Prophets, God-possessed, or even Gods, as in some periods 
 it has chanced." 
 
 Whatever the esact meaning of this language, it shows 
 tliat the great moral teacher of the nineteenth century, 
 to whom also something of a prophetic character has 
 been attributed, held the Quaker prophet in sincerest 
 reverence, and in a sense believed in his mission. 
 The "suit of leather" is not quite historical. In his 
 journal Fox wrote that in many places the priests, that 
 is the clergy, were so afraid of him^ that they would get 
 out of tlic way when they heard that, "the man in 
 leathern breeches is come."^ Nor was he altogether 
 a shoemaker. lie tells us himself: "I was put to a 
 man that was a shoemaker by trade, and that 
 dealt in wool, and used grazing, and sold cattle ; 
 and a great deal went through my hands." - William 
 Penn says : " As to his emplojnnent, he was brought 
 up in country business, and as he took most delight 
 in sheep, so he was very skilful in them, an em- 
 
 1 Journal Edition 1827. Vol I. page 140. 
 - //)/'/. pago 70.
 
 4 TJu Quakers. 
 
 pltiyiiiciit liiul vciy uell suited li'is mind in several 
 respects, Loth from its iiinocency and solitude ; and was a 
 just figui'e of his after ministry and service." Probably 
 young George learnt to hondlc awl and bristles, and 
 could coljblc a slioe, or sew a pair of leather breeches, but 
 in the lattei' part of his apprenticeship he seems to have 
 been employed \\\ attending mai']<(;ts. Tli.it he was the 
 iirst of the C^hiakers is true ; but without explanation the 
 statcniciit con\'eys an erroneous impi'cssion. The Quakers 
 liave r<.ir gt^nerations been a ([uiet religinus sect, few in 
 nundiei's, inoli'ensive, and retiring : so far from zealous in 
 obtruding tlieir peculiar tenets upon public attention 
 tliat pe'ibnps hardly an\- one outside tlu'ir fraternity 
 knows exactly what their ci"(,'ed is ; but everybody knows 
 ami I'espects them as a sober, wealtliy, |)eaeerul, ]>liilan- 
 throj)ic society of nonconl'cji'miiig Clo'istians, tin; IVieuds 
 of all, the enemies of none. 
 
 Xot ol' such Qhinkei's was George I'\>x the first and 
 founder; but of a people of jdmost entii'ely opposite 
 cliaractiri-^tics, a }'ri)plc numerous, notoiidiis. ;igL;res>ive ; 
 ])ooi-, ])e)'>eeutcd, and of e\il reputation. in the eyes ol' 
 theii' colli, iiipdi'ai'ies the lir-t f.hiakei's were Joaits in 
 (1 is-"! I i.e. di--tuibrr, oi' llic chiii-ehes, eiiiis--ai'ies of Sabin, 
 thehitot -pawn 111' h.ll, uiidenniiiiiig the vei'y ibuuda- 
 tioiis of ;he tiaith ; tlie moiv to he hated and 
 dreaded, hecause \\v\- ((,!!(( ajed diabi.jiral designs \iiider 
 the 'eub oi' a.u oiitwai'dly -irictaud I ilaie.ejess ni' irality. 
 Ill thfirnwii (ye-> the-.' eahiuiniati-d t'ulk v.ere no sect-, 
 l.n.t till' only hue ( 'hiir.-h, disiiiely raided up to coinjilete 
 th'- w I'll; ef I Ih- b-d'i a-jiia ; i' ill and to rest < ire j mi r. pii mil isc, 
 splril ua I * 'Ini-l i;iiiily. Hi chard I '.ax I er and John biinyan 
 s.i.w in ( ii oi-^-e I'"(..\ :i half-ei-a/,Ml bhisnhenii'r, a <kduder
 
 Introductory. 5 
 
 of gitldy brains and seekers after novelties, a hei'etic of 
 lierctics. In the eyes of William Penn and Robert 
 Barclay lie was a pi'opliet sent from God. The Quakers, 
 instead of keeping their principles retired in the quiet 
 shade of secluded meetings as tlieir descendants do, were 
 in their first generation tlie universal disturbers of the 
 churches. They entered catiie^lrals and parish churclies 
 in the time of public worship, and contradicted the 
 preachers in the name of tlie Lord. They proclaimed 
 their message on the higiiways anl the hill tops ; to the 
 king in his palace, to parliament in session. Wlicn 
 Lord Protector Cromwell opened his parliament at West- 
 nunster, Samuel Fislier, tliough not a member, rose to 
 declare to him the word oftho Lord. Edward Burroughs 
 wrote to Charles II. witli the boldness of EHjah address- 
 ing King Ahab. Suoh men could not escape persecu- 
 tiu]i, nor did they wish to escape. One injunction of 
 tliuir Divine Master, I find them to have overlooked, and 
 it \v;is tills ; " When they persecute you in one city, flee 
 yo unto anotlier." The Quakers would not flee, tlicy 
 prL'fc'errcd to diu. So tlie prisons of England were fiUed 
 with them, and numbers perished uu^ler tiieir sufferings. 
 Xor was th^'ir ze;il limited to these islamls. In Paris 
 th ;y wiu'e denounce' 1 as a liellish sect. They traversed 
 and t(j()]c ro )t in Holland, Germany, Denmark, S\\'cdL'n, 
 and America. Tlieir women ci'ossed sea and land to 
 bear God's word trj tlie Pope and to the Sultan. They 
 were the filth (jf tlie world and the oii'-scouring of all 
 things iri the eyes of the orLh<.)d(jx ; an-l the mol), prompt 
 to support the ijrthod jxy of the day, stoned them, bj;it 
 them, rollu^I them in the mire, Www^ them into tiie 
 stream. Ihit the more they vrer pv.'rsecuted, ihe more
 
 6 TJie Quakers. 
 
 they flourished. Before the death of their founder, 
 their nuuibei's, tlieir piety, their encruy ami zeal en- 
 couraged them to predict the universal triumph of their 
 principles. 
 
 Xot less remarkable than the vehemence of their 
 earh- zeal, and the furious oi)position it encountered, is 
 the suddenness and completeness of its subsidence. Up 
 to the end of the seventeenth centuiy, they confidently 
 foretold the conversion of the world to ([uakcrism. Li 
 the eighteenth they were paralyse], almost fossilised. 
 In the nineteenth they sadly calculate the probable 
 date of their extinction. Durino- the last few years an 
 increase of activity has arrested the decline and revived 
 hope in some breasts. But the stii'rings of new life are 
 tlie result of the influence of modei'u evangelicalism, not 
 a i'e\i\al of the old (puikerism of C^eorge 1\)\'. Already 
 to the student, ipiakei'ism set'Uis t(j belong to a nuiseuni 
 of I'eli^ious antiijuities I'atlier than to foi-ni a h\ing ])art 
 of the (/hurch (if the present day. Among the (^hiakers 
 it is a lVe(jUentIy expressed opinion tliat tlieir decay as 
 a drUdmiiiatiiin has been brought about by tht." genei'al 
 acci'ptaiice of thi'ir ]irinci])les ; an opinion nut destitute 
 of cdu^idti-able ])lau>ibinty. The more we study iheii' 
 ofiuinal doctrines, the greater is our astonisluiicnt to 
 ob-ci've in ]io\\- true a srtise ami to how gi'eat a dci^qee 
 (|uakei-i>in was pi-ojihct ic ; advocnt ing, gi'iH'i-juions in 
 ad\ anee, I'rfoi nis which ai't.^ now aec^nipji^hed facts, and 
 othci' icfoi-iiis the incr^^ily of which bcgms to lie ]))- 
 ('i\i (1. lu'liL;ious tojriation, for w hicli they were amon^ 
 the eai'lie-^t and ino->t C'ln^i-^teiit ]i|eaders, is now the ac- 
 cept eel (loc! line ofciN il'/'' 1 hniiianity. They wei't; the lii'>t 
 to ii;-.i-; iijHin that t nit h ol' >pi;eeh anil lixity of jii'ice in
 
 Introductory. y 
 
 traffic which is the ostabh.shoJ custom of trade ainona'st 
 us. The sturdy Quaker i-efusinf^ to doti' his hat, to how 
 and scrape and bend the knee, to nobleman, magistrate, 
 or monarch, was the harbinger of the nKjdern demo- 
 cratic spirit. In an age wlien fine gentlemen arrayed 
 tlicmselves lilvc peacocks, tlie (Quaker gentleman cut oil" 
 the buttons and bows from his dress, and the Quaker 
 tailor refused to make foppish attire, though the refusal 
 cost him his livelihood. Quakers were the Hr.-st 
 temperance reformers, the earliest friends of the negro 
 slave. They from the lirst elevated woman to complete 
 e([uality with man ; they advocated, and for themselves 
 obtained, the abolition of oaths ; they protested against 
 war as unchristian, and cIkjso rather to die than to kill. 
 Two centuries ago, the Quakers emanci[)atod themselves 
 from the domination of a professional clergy, and proved 
 by experiment that the highest type of Christian life is 
 possible without sermons and without ceremonies. All 
 these particular features of cpiakerism are parts and 
 consequences of their conception of the source and 
 nature of Christianity itself; and n(jt until after a careful 
 survey of their doctrines and practice shall we be in a 
 position to consider how far this conception was true, 
 and to what (Extent it was obscured and encuudjeretl l)y 
 the admixture of en'ors ]^revalent in their day. Jhit the 
 cursory glance we have already taken may well make us 
 marvel, l)otli that so excellent a people were onec; so 
 foully libelled and bitterly hated b}^ their fellow- 
 Christians, and now have so sadiy dwindled away. 
 l']ven in their decay, there is a (piict <lig!iity and l)i'auty. 
 In the last century wlien ([ual<ei'isia ;is a rtdigious 
 movement was on the verge of extinction, the life that
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 was in it I'e-appeared in the form of philanthropy; and 
 in this character the sect lias ever since taken the lead 
 among the churclies. Plainly through their zeal and 
 self-denial the abolition of West Indian slavery was 
 achieved, and still, with unwearied })ertinacity, though 
 almost alone, they toil for the entire suppression of 
 slavery the wide worhl over. In the great work of 
 prison reform, Elizabeth Fry takes rank with John 
 Jloward. In the temp)erancc movement, in the educa- 
 ti )n of t'no masses, in the protection of opprcsseil 
 aboriginal race's, in advocating peace and goodwill among 
 men, tlie (^)uakors march in the tirst rank of philan- 
 throi)isls. Wiien Paris, freed from the German leafruer, 
 was on the brink of starvation, Quakers hurried for- 
 ward with sup})lies, and were wailing outside with 
 stores (if fn;)il, beiore the ]". )ad was opeuc'l. tSuch deeils 
 as these have won for them the respect and love of 
 mankiml. i'robalijy there is not one f^nglishman in a 
 thou-and who c.nild give an account of Quake)- truets ; 
 and rnt one I'higlishman in a tliousand who is igimrant 
 that iVom William reiin to Joseph Sturge and John 
 jjright, Quakers have been the fi'iends ami benefactiU's 
 of the human ]'ace. 
 
 'J'o stU'ly tills (leoigc l'\)x ;uiil his principles, to try 
 to discm-n whether he w.is ;i h:ilf-ci';ize(| i'anilic or a pro- 
 ])iiet (jf (!oJ, wouM si'cin then not likely to ]u-o\-e mis- 
 sjicnt time. Pii.^ilily till.' stU'ly m;iy .-IkmJ some light 
 upon the religion, pei-pli-xities of the ]il-esellt (la\'. 
 ]'o>sibly tlie .-^u f leii dc Miji'iice i,l' tile seet iin\- h;u-e been 
 due to thef;iel (Imt the age w.is not fully ri[)'' foj-the 
 
 l-eceptioli (it the tiutll wlliell ^^;!S re\-e;l!cil to fux; ailil 
 
 his followers. \\'(; iiiu-l uot pj-'judge the case bebtre
 
 Introductory. 9 
 
 hearing. It may turn out in tlic end, tliat sonic oi' us 
 will attribute the arrest of the movement to the diseox eiy 
 that its original impulse vvas in a false direction : othei's 
 may judge that the collapse was rather due to the un- 
 laithfulness of the succeeding generation to the truth 
 they had received. But, whatever the issue, the study 
 of so remarkable a development of Christianity can 
 hardly fail to be instructive. Quakerism is an off-slioot 
 from the great Christian trunk, and a f)i()logical study of 
 this one ininor brancli may aid our efibrts to understand 
 the whole tree.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TIJK CIIALLEXGE. 
 
 One Sunday morning in 1G4I) in what month is not 
 known, and tlic year is fixed only l)y a marginal noto, to 
 which some doubt attaches; possibly the occurrence may 
 belong to the end of Ki-iS the congregatitjn in the 
 principal church of Nottingham witnessed a memorable 
 scene. The townsfolk had passed through a long period 
 of excitement ; for seven years l)efore, King Charles 
 hoisted his royal standard in tiieir old castle; and after- 
 wards their town was lield for the parliament, gallant 
 Colonel Hutcliinson doing bi'ave deeils of arms against 
 till' Cavjiliei's. Hut now Hutchinson was in Lundou, 
 where ]\r. had lately been one of the judges who tried 
 the ddVated monarch; and peaci' was in all the land, 
 sn\-e thnt Cromwell was mustering his forces for li'eland. 
 The great niany-\\indo\V(>d church was pi'olialdy hllcil 
 with wor.>liip])ei\s : for tho.-^r wei'e churcli-going, sermou- 
 lieai'ing da}'s, \vlii'n abs"jit<.'es and di^sent"i"s wi'i'e few 
 and unpiij'ular. The ser\ ice was conducled accMi'ding to 
 the |)ii-eclory of the Westminster Assembly, and the 
 cli'i-gynian in the puljit A\as a Pj-e-^byti-rian. In the 
 piv\ioiis cent wry (^)!heii f;iizabcth ejected the mass and 
 
 iii-talji'd the piMvei'-l k. Xdw tlie ]vaig 1 'a I'l ia luei it 
 
 f'H-l'ale tlie j.ray.a-1 k and int ii iduci'il the ( !cne\-au 
 
 t'^irni (if \\i)r>hip. In b')Lh cases the people^ ;i minority
 
 TJic CJtallciio-c. 1 1 
 
 excepted, submissively accepted the changes. The offici- 
 ating divine on tliat Sunday inurning, whether the Rev. 
 Ellniundus Lay cock, the vicai-, or another, was doul)tless 
 a clergyman of standing and repute ; and the sermon 
 would be earnest and scholarly. One would like to be 
 able to revive in mental picture the long-ago scene ; the 
 sober citizens and their wives ; soldiers of the sfarrison ; 
 the magistrates, the gentry, the craftsmen, and the poor, 
 seated rank behind rank, in solemn stillness ; while up 
 above in tlie tall pulpit, the grave, black-robed parson 
 watched his hour-glass as he duly gave forth his sixthly 
 and seventhly; and the serious monotony of his discourse 
 rijllcd over their heads, like the low thunder of unseen 
 waves beating o]i the dark shore of a world of dreams, 
 ^leantime the maiden's thoughts strayed to her lover; 
 tlie trooper wondered whether he would be sent to the 
 Irish war : the townsman mused sadly on the recent 
 news from Lomlon, and as he imagined to himself the 
 black-draped scaflbld outside Whitehall, and the blood- 
 dri})ping head of the Lord's anointed held on high in 
 the executioner's hand, he shuddered ; for the hearts oi 
 the people were hn'al to King and Church, and hated 
 the military despotism which professed to bestow on 
 them civil and religious liberty. So the preacher droned 
 on in the pulpit, ami the hearers stared at him in that 
 half-narcotized condition with which church-goers arc 
 faunliar. Suddenly a man stepped forth into the aisle 
 in view^ of all; and a strong clear voice rang uut like a 
 battle-cry. Li an instant the Idooil leapt to the brain, 
 e\'ery slee})er woke, and a thousan(l eager faces were 
 straining towards the youth, lie was a tali, gaunt, young 
 man, with piereing eyes, long hair, his countenance pale
 
 12 
 
 Tlie Quakers. 
 
 and emaciated as -vvitli froriueiit fasting ; Lut tlio glow of 
 enthusiasm liglitcd it up as lie flatly contradicted the 
 preacher, hurling Lack in his teeth the very f<jundation- 
 doctrine of the Protestant f.iith. "No. It is not the 
 Scriptures. It is the Spirit of God." Is he another 
 Luther, hei'ald of a new Kefoi-mation, or is he a mad- 
 man ? In justice t<j him, and n.s a preface to our inquiry, 
 lot George Fox describe the scoue for us in his own 
 words. 
 
 ''Now as I went towar'Is Xottingliam lai a first-day 
 in the morning, witli friends to a nifijting tlier^', ^sdi'^n I 
 came on top fjf a hill in sight <>f the town, I espied tlie 
 great stee})le-housf, and tht,' Loi-d said unto me : 'Thou 
 nni-t go cry again>t ywiidci' givat idol, and ;l.gain^^t the 
 w<irship[)('rs tli<-]'(;in.' S(; 1 said nothing of this to the 
 fi\i'nds that ^s"f)'o "witli me, hut \vcnt on witJL them to 
 til',' mcftiiij. whfrc tlie miglity ]hi\vit of thr Lord was 
 amongst u< ; in wliii-li 1 h-ft friruds >ittiiiL;" in the mrctitiLT, 
 and I \vi.;iit nway t^ tlu' stf('olf-ti'iu-" : Jind when 1 came 
 thrrr all th.'iirnp!,. lookol iik.' fallow- gi-Mund : ;!!,d the 
 ]iriiv-t. lilo' a gi-'.-at lump of < ai'lh, >tiMid in hi- jiiilpit 
 ahovc. And hr to .k fur his t<xt tl.^'x; word-; of \\\,-v -, 
 ' W'l; ha\-c al-o a iiion' >urc ^\o]d of jiiMjil^'cy, Nvhcrcu.Mto 
 yu d') wrll th.O y.; fik^j \\^-^A, a- unto a light that .-hiiioth 
 in a dark ]il;ie.', until tin' A\\\ d:iwii, Mnd the d;i\--.star 
 ai-i-e in yiui- hr;i)-H.' And ln' told th-' p'oph'thal this 
 w ;is the Sciiptui'f.\ hy N\l.ich (lii^y \\i)-c to ti-\' all 
 dnrt]-ini'-, ]-idi'_:iiin-. ;ind ojinji -n ;. N^w tin- hoi-d's 
 ]iow,.-i- was so mi dity u]>o;i in-, and -o ^tlMng in niis that 
 I CMidd not, IimM, I,: It w a. m.id- to la-y oat and :-,i\- : 'Oh, 
 no, it i- U'^t th- S'-)-ij.tuiv> ; ' ],uL I told thorn wha.t it 
 A\;i-, liJMir 1\- ;': ih!'.- "--ilV, 1\- which th'- liwi\- im^n oj'
 
 The CJiallcngc. 13 
 
 (Jod gave forth the Sciiptuies, ^vheleby opinions, religions, 
 and judgments were to be tried : for it led unto all trutli, 
 and so gave the knowledge of all trutli. For the Jews 
 had the Scriptures, and yet resisted the Holy Ghost, and 
 rejecteil Clirist, the bright morning Star, and persecuted 
 Christ and his A.postles, and took upon them to try their 
 doctrines by the Scriptures ; but erred in judgment, and 
 did not try them aright, because they h'ied without the 
 Floly Ghost. Now as I spake thus amongst them, the 
 officers came and took me awa}', and put me into a nasty 
 stinking prison, the smell whereof got so into my nose 
 and tliroat that it very much ainioyed me."-^ 
 
 Poor George. lie was not yet accustomed to prisons, 
 tlic conditioji of which in England at that time, and for 
 long after, was not unsavoury lucrely, but too often 
 deadly. During the ensuing quarter of a centur}' Fox 
 s[)cnt about six years in piisons, in which lie endured 
 worse tlian foul smells. JJut now the young man was 
 fre>h from the iields and the woods, and coniinement in 
 a stinking gaol was an oli'ciisive novelty to him. lie 
 riclily deserved the punishment, you say, for liis scandal- 
 ous interiu})tion of the preacher. It is douiitful, how- 
 ever, whetlier the interruption was in itself a serious 
 oilence, if an ollence at all, according to tlie feeling au'l 
 custom of those times. In the reHgious excitement 
 v\'iiich had so largely contributed to bring about the 
 upheaval of the wliole fiaiiiework of societ\', 11 was n(jt 
 an unheard of thing tii:\t a preacher should be chalh-nged 
 in his very pulpit. Did not the Ajiostle I'aul ordain, 
 that it' anything were revealed to him that sat by, tlien 
 the first speaker was to hold his peace / The interrup- 
 ^ Foxs Jouiiial, Vol. J., page 105.
 
 14 TJie Quakers. 
 
 tion no doubt was an irregularity, which might, iiowcNcr, 
 lui\c been justified, or at least excused, if the character of 
 tlic communication had been other than it was. George 
 Fox was listened to in silence for some minutes : and not 
 until the shocking nature of his utterance was perceived, 
 did the order issue for his removal. Two or three years 
 before this time Parliament had enacted an " Ordinance 
 for tlic Suppression of Jjlasphemies and Heresies," in 
 which it was decreed that the <lenial of the doctrine of 
 the Trinity, or of the divinity of Christ, or l]i(il llw /vo^/rs 
 of l^rrii)liLi'(i art' the Word of God, was to be ])unished 
 by (loath, unless the olfender sliould abjure his lieresy. 
 His startling decUiration in Xottingluvm Church brought 
 Ceoig'e I'^ox perilously near to the a])]>licati()n of this 
 statute: nor can we wonkier that the magistracy felt 
 bound to subj(,'ct liim to strict cxaminatitjn. 
 
 ( )ur intfiwst being rather in the ]iris(;)ner than in the 
 judges, let us turn back for a second glance at that page 
 fi'oni ]iis journal. 'i"he reader notes tlmt Fox entered the 
 chui'ch in a liostile i'lnnie of mind. 'i"he xwy sight of 
 the gi'eat ' steepie-hiiu>e " iilleil him with prophetic 
 wratli. "The Loiil .s;iid unto me, tlmu nui<t go cry 
 against yoiide]- ^reat id^il." The steejile-house was tlic 
 idi il. I'l ipiilar hinL;-ua'j''\ p' ij'ula )' seiil iineiit, then as no\\-, 
 calleij the buildin-- eou-iMa-aled to >aered use-,, the House 
 of < e )(1 ; and to l''i i.\ this \\a^ i'h ilat ry. Some time I letbre, 
 there \\a> a ^i-i-.-it l'.i t Inia u j; iii (iiii> df the beieester 
 churche-,, iiiwhieji I'ri -I ly teiian-. aii'l b>a])tl-t>. ha lepend- 
 ent>;in'l l'!|ii-e' 'p i liaii - met t'l ili-eu^s their diU'ereiiees. 
 I''i>\ was there, and li-.Ieued (|uie|ly fur awhile, until a 
 woman veiitui'e<l to put a i|Ue^ti<iii. The clergyma]! 
 wliM \va - in the pul]iit -aid that a woman was not
 
 The Challenge. 15 
 
 permitted to speak in the church. " \Vlierciip(Hi," 
 Fox tells us, " I was wrapped ^ up, as in a rapture, 
 in the Lord's power ; and I stepped up in a place, 
 and asked the priest : Dost thou call this (the steei^le- 
 liouse) a church ( Or dost thou call this mixed nnd- 
 titude a church i For the woman asking a question 
 he ouudit to have answered it, having (dven liberty for 
 any one to speak. But he did not answer me iieither, 
 but asked me what a church was. I told him, the church 
 was the pillar and ground of truth, made up of living 
 stones, living memlicrs, a spiiitual household, winch 
 Christ was the head of ; but He was not the head of a 
 ]nixed multitude, or of o.'ii ohl house made up of lime, 
 stones, and a-ood. This set them all on fire ; the priest 
 caine down out of his pulpit, and others out of tlieir 
 ])ews, and the disj)ute there was marred.'"- The steeple- 
 houses, the old mass-houses, as Fox perpetually reminded 
 his Protestant adversaries they had Ijeen formerly, were 
 in his view " idols," theobj(_'cts of surierstitious reverence, 
 and theref(n'C otfensivc to God. Xor was the worship 
 carried on therein less displeasing to him. " When I 
 heard the bell toll to call the people together to the 
 stfCple-house it struck at my life : f(;r it was just like a 
 market-ljell, t') gather people togethei', that the pi'ie>t 
 might set forth his wares to sale. (J, the vast sums of 
 money that arc gotten by the trad<! they make of selling 
 the sci'iptures, and by their preaching, I'rom the higiicst 
 bisho[) ti> the lowest priest. A\'hat one trade else in the 
 world is couiparalih; to it T ' Te'tzd s sale of in<lulgences 
 did not stink m<n'e intolerably in Luther's iKjstrils than 
 
 ^ ' \\'r;qipij(b lii^ wrote, for ivipt. - JonrncJ J. i'.'J. 
 
 3 Jonraal I. 105.
 
 1 6 The Quakers. 
 
 the tithes and stipends of the clergy in those of George 
 Fox. He denounced all who received money for preach- 
 ing, whether they received it from the state or from 
 their congregations, as covetous hirelings, diviners for 
 filtliy lucre, false shepherds who devoured the flock. 
 Besides his aversion to a paid ministry, lie was opposed 
 to the clergy on other grounds ; for it was one of his 
 earliest revelations that " Ijeinix bred at Oxford or Cam- 
 bridge was not enough to make a man fit to be a 
 minister of Christ." What was the nature and what the 
 value of tliese " revelations " of his must be considered 
 in another chapter. Here we note that the audacious 
 young reformer set out on his mission, running full tilt 
 against the prevalent faith in the Church, the priesthood, 
 and th(; Bible. 
 
 At this point I am somewhat afraid that my reader 
 may think that he wants to he:ir no more about Ceoi'ge 
 I'^ox. If the T-eadur is a sceptic, to whom not even the 
 iVilih.! is a revelation from (jodjie will hanlly consi'ler it 
 worth while to listen to the " re\'elations " of an ignorant 
 fanatic of the benighted age of the Puritans. Jf Ikj is an 
 oflh:)dox !i'/lie\'ei\ eliiigiiig to the trrulilional faith in the 
 Word of (lodjie will lu," dismi-^ied at this i-eckiess assault 
 on its autliority. In either er.se, he ma}', perha|'S, on 
 farther iin c-.t igat ion, see cause to modify his tirst im- 
 pression. Wliatevel- oUl- liel'o was, ii, vnuld bi.' dllilcuit 
 to name the inati wh^i !ii\r 1 his iSiMe iiun-i', and was 
 moie fandliai' willi it> eoiit'Uts than he. in his liretiuie 
 it was said. l!i;it il llif iaMewere lo.-^t, it eouM be written 
 down again friaii l''o\ s lijis. Sdiht of his \\litiuL^^s con- 
 sist almost en tiri'l\- ol' c ait iiiU'iUs (|Uiit;it ions ul' the sacred 
 tt.'.xt: ai;<l in i'\(a'y ewiit |-o\f|->y he ajipialrd t>i tin; seiip-
 
 TIic CJialkngc. i"] 
 
 tures to de(,-i(le. Wliatcvcr wc may think of his revela- 
 tions, had not his mind been thorouglily stccpL'd in, and 
 saturated by, tlie scriptures, he would never have had 
 any revelations at all ; or at least they would not have 
 come in the f(jrm which we shall see tliey assumed. On 
 the other hand, he who has rejected the idea of an ck- 
 ternal revelation, should not hastily impute his own view 
 to George Fox. It may be that a patient study of the 
 records of this simple shepherd lad, may throw some 
 light on the possibility of the human spirit receiving 
 illumination ivom. the Divine. At any rate, the saintly 
 character of the man, the deep impression he made upon 
 his contemporaries, and the fact that in some respects he 
 was far in a<lvance of his age, coiistitute a claim upon 
 our attention which may well outweigh any unfavourable 
 impression produced by his first appearance on the 
 scene. 
 
 No man can be understood apart from the generation 
 to which he belongs. If, as Carlyle avers, " the age of 
 the Puritans is not extinct only, and gone away from us, 
 but is grown unintelligible, what we ma}^ call incred- 
 ilde,'' ^ then we may as well abandon the study of George 
 Fox, and of much beside. Carlyle, howe\'er, means no 
 more than that he himself did not believe what the Puri- 
 tans believed. " The Christian doctrines which then dwelt 
 ;i!ive in every heart have now in a manner died out of 
 all hearts very mournful to behold, and are not tlie 
 guidance of this world any inore."^ A touching lament- 
 ation this, but only a rlietoiical way of expressing his 
 sorrow that he could not h<dd fast to the faith his mother 
 
 "- Oliver Cromu-cirs Letters and Spcccltcs, \o]. I. chap. i. 
 2 Ihid.
 
 1 8 The Quakers. 
 
 tauojit liim. Tn tlio si)iritn;il as in the niatc]-ial world 
 'Vficiciit ty[)0.s suiAivo alongside of recent forms. TJui 
 stone and liroiize aL;'(.'S extend ijito the age of iron. So \\\ 
 I'eligion, Paganism, Jndaisni, ajul Christianity exist side 
 by side. llonKUusni and rrutcstantisni ai'e co]iteni})or- 
 arie.s, and it is possible to uirlcrstand seventeenth century 
 Puritanism, because it continues ow into the nineteenth 
 century. Sliades of dittbrence there must be, but pro- 
 bably in the difiieulty of estimating their importanco the 
 danirer of exairi'-eratini'- is i^reater than tliat of neirlecttng 
 them. The iirst half of the seventrcnth century is fre- 
 quently s[)()kt'n of as a [)eriod of cxtraonlinary religious 
 excitement, the pi'olitic ]^arent of a shoal of mushroom 
 sects : Planters, Seckt^rs, Fandlists, and other micouth 
 and now unintelligible names. In their batrei.l of re- 
 ligious lib 'I'ty, the Pi'esliytiTian clei'gy gh);ite(l (jver the 
 discovery (f each new moii^t'M', as another ai'gunient 
 against tolerati m. ()iie of them collected, inider the 
 re])ulsive title " ( iMiigro'na,'" ' no fewer tlian one Innidred 
 and se\cnty fills ' opii. ions ;ind liiTetieal seets. Ihe list 
 is foi-iiiidablc, but. soire' oi' the e()ii(lemtied opinions are 
 li;iniili->s en .11 di. ot h I's eo.ild iU'Ver ha\'e been more 
 tiiMii will u; I fi-ai;ei's of t ho iiioni ait. We do not think 
 t'le age of .Mill an'l l)ai-win, llu\le\- and Spoiieer, es- 
 peeially ci'^ibiou-. bm tln' vy\\<v-. reinrns of our own 
 day contain a list o|' ,;.,'ct ^ ab,KiL as fiag an-l lully as 
 e^centric iis that br ju aLlic 1 ! ly r.ilw.iibs. With the 
 Mormons, liic Shakd-, tin' l'f'uli:i r !'. .[ile, the Soiiilua- 
 li t;s, tho Agajiciihiiii', til Aiiglo-j.-,. aeiiie-, and sneh. lik'e, 
 ; laon^.^L u>, it i.-> le^t for as t exehiim jiuaiiea .-eNcnteenth 
 
 r.v '1 li'.iuas Ivlw.inls. J.on ion. liia;.
 
 The Challenge. 19 
 
 century fanaticism. The enlai'g'cment of tlic intellectual 
 horizon by the wonderful pro,a-c,ss of physical science ; 
 the achievements of JJiblical criticism, a branch of study 
 not entere<l U[)on two centuries ai^^o ; the researches into 
 coniparatl\-e rdii^-ion ; and that g-cn(jral growth of the 
 human mi/id of which we are scarcely sensible, have all 
 combined to intlucnco our religious sontinicnts, to a de- 
 gree which cannot easily be measured. These deductions 
 being allowed for, and it must be rememljered that there 
 are multitudes who are but slightly ah'ected by them, the 
 Puritanism of George Fox's day is still iireached in a 
 thousand pulpits, is still the honest belief, and the rule 
 of life, of a numerous l)ody of adherents. 
 
 In the middle of the seventeenth century, England 
 was almost entirely Protestant ; and the Protestants, 
 whether Calvinistic or Anglican, were above all else 
 Scripturalists. Despite of his dislike for Genevan 
 Presbyterianism, Ai'chbishop Laud was at one with 
 it in regarding the Bible as the supreme rule of faith. 
 When Fox began to teach, Luther had only been dead 
 about a h.undred years ; and King James's N'ersion of the 
 Li'i)!e liad for a generation been the spiiitual fo!)d of the 
 ]'!^nglish people. The religion in wdiicli Fox was brouglit 
 up, from whi(;h he had during years of painful conlliet 
 vainly s jught light, strength, and peace, was in its ground- 
 woi'k a book-religion. In the ancient catholic creeds, 
 G(id occupies tlic first phicc as the object of faith, and 
 witli Ilim Christ and the Holy Spirit ; hallowed by the 
 Holy Catholic Cliureli aiid the eonnnunion of saints. 
 The Scriptures are net mentioiied, neither as the object 
 nor as tlio rule of faith. In the Confession of Faith ofthc 
 Westminster Assembly of Divines, the first place is occu-
 
 20 The Quakers. 
 
 pic<l ])y the lioly Scriptures, which are declared to Lo 
 tlic rule of faith and life. 'J'his important innovation, 
 fiist introduced liy Zwingli, gives definite expression to 
 the transition fruni Catholicism to I'rotestantism. The 
 liiblc tahes the jdacc of the Church as the supi'eme 
 autliority, an.d becouK'S practicall}' the mediator between 
 man and God. luit t]:e ]jib!e is trented as a storehouse 
 of texts, to be extracted and combined into a system by 
 the labour of ])lvines. The doctrine of justification by 
 faith as taught l)y Luther, and that of God's so^erei(i;nty, 
 shown in predt'stination, \w its t\^ofold asjiects of election 
 and I'cprobaiion, as taught by Calvin, tilled almost tlic 
 whole horizi HI of religious thought. In the background 
 of all, th(> t"ii'ible doom of everlasting torment hanging 
 o\"i'i' a guilty wo]-M maile it the one immediate and jii'in- 
 cipal object of the bt/liewi' to escape from (hunnation. 
 Such was the I'eligious atmo^]ihei-c which Fox breathed 
 f]'om his childhood. lb' I'ound it not life-gi\ ing, but 
 stilling: and wandeied In daikiiess and despaii-, until, as 
 lie believed. Cod Himself led him by Ili^ Spiiit iido the 
 light ami peace and jMy of a i-ei-fect >al\ati"n. Then he 
 dartd to d'i'y tlie w la >le aia'ay ol' tin' i'l'otestant (dei'gy, 
 with hi- .star; liiiL;' a iiiii lUMCeiiieiit : " ( )ii. iid. It is nut the 
 Seiiptures. It is tli<' Spiiat el' (hmJ."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE APOSTLE OF THE IXWAllD MGirr. 
 
 The "Journal or Historical Account of the life, travels, 
 sufferings, Christian cxperiuncos, and labour of love in 
 the work of the ministry of tliat ancient, eminent, and 
 faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Geoiiue Fox, wlio 
 de[)arted this life in great peace with the Lord, the l'3th 
 of the IHli month, KiOO," was left by him in niauuseript, 
 and ]>y liis desire ])ublis]ied after Ids decease. The term 
 "journal " is not altogether approjnaate ; for though it is 
 ovideiit that Fok wrote fi'eijuent, almost daily, memo- 
 ramla duiing much of his later Hfe, tlvj earlier and more 
 interesting and important portion of tlie narrative was 
 written long subse([ucntly to the ex])erienco recorded. 
 Twenty years before his death, therefore under Ids 
 direction or with his approbation, the collected writings 
 of one of his followers were })ublisheLl, whom tlie editors 
 boldly style on the title-]iag(;, '' Tiiat true Trophet and 
 Faithfid Servant of (Jod, Ivlwai'd rui'roughs." ]^ong 
 after, when the mastei''s turn came, the sur\iving dis- 
 ci[)les, perh'i])S in the prudence of old age, did not accord 
 to him the title of pro})het : ;i noticeabh^ omission whicli 
 will conu; again to our remendirnnce in its ])lace. Mean- 
 time, prophet or not, tlie autobiography of George Fox 
 is a precious possession, worthy of a place on the book- 
 shelf by the side of Augustine's Confessions : ly " (irace
 
 22 TJie Quakers. 
 
 Abounding to tho Chief of Sinners," whicli is John 
 JBunyan's .lutouiograpliy ; and cvcji Ly the side of the 
 imijiortal '' Pilgrim's Progress " itself. Bunyan and Fox 
 indeed ought not only to be ke])t, but to be read together. 
 Nearly of the same age, Bunyan being four years younger 
 tlian Fox, both of them the chiltU'cn of labourers, and 
 labourers themselves, one a shepherd, the other a tinker, 
 both of them receiving the m^'rest rudiments of educa- 
 tion, tliey resembled each other in the extraordinar}' in- 
 tensity of their I'eligious experiences. Both waded I'o]- 
 ycai's thi'ougii shnighs of despondency and x'alleys of the 
 shadow of death ; botli emerged into the suidight of a 
 steadfast Christian faith, both became mighty preachers 
 and ])roliJic writers, and lioth sufieied griexous persecu- 
 tion for their steadi'a^t adhereiicj to eonseientioiis con- 
 victions. But tlie dilierenctjs between the two outweighed 
 their ]'eseiid)]ances, and made them lii'e-loiig antagonists. 
 Bunyan lieai-tilyacceptc(l the[>i'e\'aleiit Cal vin;Siii, against 
 whieli I'^'ox rebrlled. niiiiN'an ^vas au iiiiaginati\e genius, 
 ablr to clothe his eoncepti' ius with pels- >nality,and to make 
 them li\e and mo\"e and speak in i'aseinating allegoi'y. 
 Imix w;is no genius; l)ut inti'llectually slow-witted antl 
 uuiiiin^iiijit ive ; in s])eech ami with the pen, clumsy, in- 
 artistic, (('.lions.' \'et, when we come to think of it, 
 Jhiiiy;in"s jiilgi'im is at Invst but a po(*r creature, though 
 pouri i-aycd hy a iiia--t'T"s hand. ( 'haianin'j,- and ir,.stiau> 
 ti\i' a.s the .-.t'iry i<, w^' hnd upon i'. 'lire! ion lliat we reel 
 j|i 1 L^ri at aim lU III i 'i' ri'\ > rruer t'l w it> Ii^ti >. '1 jiis di irs no 
 
 ' Thi.s cril i( i.^Ill is li.i.scil (.11 ;i .sliiily "t .-ill I''m.\'.s W J'it iliLJ.S. If tlh' 
 ,/ki// /(!(/ ,'il' III!' i.s ci.ii.-.idcrtMl, it iii.iy ;i]i]irar uiuli'.-;i-T\ t.'(l. I'ol't ioli.4 
 (if tin; ]icr.s(iual ii;u r;U i\ (' arc wriilcii in u siiinilc, n;itufal .style, at 
 tiiiu s jj.iw frful and pat lict ic.
 
 The Apostle of the Iiiicard Light. 
 
 discrcilit to the author's artistic faculty, for it was not 
 liis purpose to gluiii'y his Cliri^tian. Buuyau 2')aiutcd 
 the actual Christian of his day and of our day, tho irre- 
 solute feehle creature whom we know S(j well, who 
 saddens us by failinij so innuensely short of the ideal. 
 At one stage, he falls asleep, at another he goes astray : 
 to- lay he tights Aj)ollyon for his li!e ; to-morrow he 
 yiidds without a blow to Giant Despair. By grace of 
 repeated help and stiuiulus from all (quarters, now from 
 Evangelist, again from Interpreter, fitted out by maidens, 
 accompanied by friends, somehow or other he just manages 
 to keep going on the right r.^a 1 ; l>ut we never feel sure 
 of him until he is safe across the river. In Fox's jcjurnal 
 vv'c see another sort ui Christian, one who is himself 
 Evangelist, Interpreter, Crea.t-heart, and Valiant-iV)r- 
 truth, not in fiction, lait in living fact. Here is a 
 Christian who for four years continuously fought with 
 Apollyon and strugglt.Ml through the valley of the sliadow 
 of death. Then, having won his way through tlie dark- 
 ness to the light, for forty years he lived in the light, 
 with tlie world, the flesh, and the de\'il held down under 
 his feet. This man's sins (\o not tundjle off his back, but 
 are washed out of his heart: ho carries ikj roll in his 
 hand as a pledge that he wiil be saved at hist ; he is saved 
 alrea<ly Ijy a di\'ine J^iglit sluniiig <n'er in his heart, 
 which drives away all the foul creatures of tlie dark, 
 fiUs him with joy, ;uid nudces him iiivnhierabK' t(_) aU the 
 ;i-saults of tlie ho^ts oi' darkiU'ss. The' diliia-eiice betwei n 
 JJunyairs Pilgrim and ['V)x's joumrd is the diii'erence be- 
 tween their religious beliefs. Eunyan wanted to l)e saved 
 from hell ; b'ox wanted to 'he saN'ed from sin. Eunyan 
 believed that to Li'et rid of sin he nni.-.t wait until he iioi
 
 24 TJic Quakers. 
 
 to liL'iuen. Fox believed tliat in the strength of Chiist 
 lie could overcome sin in this life. Most oi' us, alas ! 
 i'voni personal experience arc inclined to side with Bunyan. 
 We admire his Pilgrim's Progress so much because he is 
 so true to nature, so like ourselves. Yet he must bo a 
 strange sort of Cliristian who can read throuo-h tliis 
 journal oi" sim[)le, sturdy, indomitable George Fox, "stiff 
 as a tree and puie as a bell," whom no violence, no 
 sufferings, could deflect one hair's-breadth from his 
 faithfulness to truth and to Christ, whose voice rang out 
 clear in the proclamation of his mes>age, whetl.er in the 
 jiresence of frowning judgt/s or furious mol)s ; whose 
 piMctical wisdom -was so great, ami wIkj moved on 
 through tlie vicissitudes of a storm-tost life with a serene 
 light of hea\'(Mdy ])c;u'e uijou his brow lie must be a 
 strange sort of Christian, 1 say, who does not lo\-e that 
 man with a great lox'e, and desire to be like him in the 
 purity- and strength of his Christian character. Whether 
 Cieoig^i-' Im)>: had idtaiiied to moi-al ])erfecti<in, I know 
 not; but this at least is sure, tli:it in his joui'ual we 
 have before us the image of a (/hi'istian hero and saint, 
 appi'o.-u'hing ncai-er the ideal of the (Jos])els than most 
 who lieai- the ii;iin of sdut. As he was the founder of 
 (|U;ikei-isiii^ so it ahn(t a]>|)i'ai's to ha\'e (>xpir(Ml with 
 iiiin. Soni" sketeh of tin' man is in(lis])ensalile to a 
 study of tile (loeh'ine which he t;iU'4h(. ()iily an outlliii'. 
 
 sketeh cm lie att-Ulpteil hiTe. l!logra|illieS of ( ieolg-e 
 l''oX alre;ely exi-t.hllt all of tlielll an' li;l'-ed up III mi'l 
 
 owe thi'ir \aliie to \\\> own iiarral i\t! ; IVoiii which we 
 
 shall ipiote as largely as our s])aci' ]ermits; and to 
 
 which we reft,'!' the student foi- the more coin | 'let e ])ictii re. 
 
 Afl''r;in int I'o' hictory p,-i r.igr^iph, his nan;iti\(' hegins;
 
 The Apostle of the I /i ward Light. 25 
 
 " I was born in the month culled July, in tlic year 10-2 1-, 
 at Drayton in the Clay, in Leicestershire. My father's 
 name was Ciiristoplier Fox ; he was b}'' profession a 
 weaver, an honest man, and there was a seed of God in 
 him. The neighbours called him Righteous Christer. 
 My motlier was an u])right woman ; her maiden name 
 was ^lary Lago, of the family of the Lagos, and of the 
 stock of the martyrs. In my very young years I had a 
 gravity and staycdness of mind and spirit, not usual in 
 children ; insomuch that whe]i I have seen old men 
 carry themselves lightly and wantonly towanls each 
 other, I have had a dislike thereof risen in my heart, and 
 have said within myself, 'if ever I come to be a man, 
 surely I should not do so, ni)r be so wanton.' When I 
 came to eleven years of age, I knew pureness and right- 
 eousness, foi' while I was a child I was taught how to 
 
 walk to be kept pure As I grew up, my relations 
 
 thought to have made me a priest; but others persuade(l 
 to the contrary; whei'enjion 1 was pnt to a man that 
 was a shoemaker l)y trade, and that dealt in wool, and 
 used grazing, and sold cattle, and a great deal went 
 through my hanils. While I was with him he was 
 blessed, but after I left hiiu he broke and came to 
 nothing. I never wronged man or woman in all that 
 time: for the Loi'd's power was with me, and o\'er me, 
 to })reserve mo. While I was in that s 'rxiee I n-eil in 
 my dealings the wt^i'd ' \^erii\',' and it was a common 
 saying among people that knew me, ' M (Jeorge says 
 " Verily," there is no altering him.' ^\dlen. boys and 
 rnde people would laugh at me, 1 let them alone, and 
 went my way ; bnt people had generally a \k\\<) to me 
 for my iinujcenc_)' and honesty."
 
 26 
 
 TJlc Oiiakcrs. 
 
 This is iiLiarly all tliat is reor.lo'l ofc' Fox's childhood 
 and youth. Williaiu Poiiu tolls us that his ])aruiits, cs- 
 pociaily liis niothor, who was a woman accoiuplished above 
 jiii)st ol'herde^Tce,oiid^avouivd to hrin:^' him up in tho way 
 au'l wors]u[) of tho nation; that is, in the Church bylaw 
 estahlishiMl. The simplicity an.'l thouij'litfuluess of tho 
 child, the gravity bijyoud his ye;irs, his iudifreivnco to 
 boyish sports, aad intonso iatorest in s[)iritual matters, 
 must ha\'0 seemed to parental allccticju to mark their 
 son out as one destlni^d to serve in the ranks of tlic 
 sacred ])riestlio(jd. We know not tiie dissuasions v\ducli 
 
 1"" 
 
 'ailed n_ra!i 
 
 ;iis lU'opositio: 
 
 1 ; the' cost of a Uruver- 
 
 sity e lucatioii it ujay have b'.'-ai ; oi-, perhaps, appin;- 
 h'Misiou thitd'aithful ministers would have a hard time 
 of it under the severe rule of Arehl)ishop Laud, wlio was 
 thi'U at the zenith of his sinister ]'0[)utation. Whatever 
 tlie obstacle, tlu' lore of the se]i!)o!s y>)Uiie' l^'ox was not 
 toa('(prn-(\ ''I'lie shcepd'.ild and the mas-lcet-place were 
 his class-TMoms, wliere he stiidied his l!ib!e, hisown heart, 
 and the ways<ir maid<iiid. I"'i>r sniiie tlvu- or six years 
 this hinted, until the boy h;id e'rowii almost to manhood, 
 and had p!-i>\ed liis ability in business atlJiirs ; then 
 canit; llie j)i\iiu' call widen di'()\e him out into the 
 wdlderne<s. Let him ted the tale hinHelf. 
 
 " \\ hell I cam t!i\\-;u-ds ninet( en X'eai's of a^'e, i beine' 
 UjKiii business at a bur, niie (,[' my CDU'-ins, \vhiise name 
 was llradf'ed lieiiii;- a ja'.ife -\-'\\ a,nd ha,\In;_;' jiiiotia r 
 pid'e:;-!)!' wiiii liiMi . eaine t > \\\" aiid a>ked me I ) driid-: 
 part. n|' ;i ju-- ,,!' I,,.,.)' with tiiem, and 1 lieiii-- tliiisty, 
 Went in with tli'^m : I' ir I 1m\-,m1 any that had a srn.-.e of 
 -nod, (,) did .MT-k after the IvU'd. And when wv. liad 
 diand< a ''las-, aiilee,-, the\- be un to drink healths, and
 
 The Apostle of tlie Lnoard Light. 27 
 
 called for more drink, agreeing together, tliat lie that 
 would not drink should pay alh I was grieved that ;iny 
 that made profession of religion should d(^ so. Th(>y 
 grieved me very much, havhig never had such a thing 
 [);!t to me before, hy any sort of people. Wherefore I 
 rose up to be gone, and putting my hand iato my pocket 
 I to )k out a groat, and laid it down uj)on the table 
 Ircfore them, and said, ' If it bo so, 1 11 leave you.' So I 
 went away ; and when I liad done what business I liad 
 to do, I returned home, but did not go to bed that night, 
 nor could not sleep, but soimtimes w.ilked up and dowu, 
 ;ind sometimes prayed and cried t.) the Lord, who said 
 mito !iie, 'Thou seest how young people go together into 
 ^anity, and old people into the earth, and thou must 
 forsake ;ill, both young and old, and keep out of all, and 
 be as a stranger unto all ' " ^ 
 
 This was the crisis of Fox's history, the parting of the 
 ways, the turning point where the n;irrow rugged path 
 of \irtue and self-con(p.iest divides from the broad easy 
 road of self-indulgence and weak-mindcLl acquiescence in 
 the world's standard of morality. Sneer ;it liim for a 
 strait laced puritan : scoff at the }recisoness whicli would 
 not (Jrlid'C except to cpiench thii'st, and thought it sin to 
 f[uafi"t(j the health of a political party or a pi'otty lass : 
 it remains clear to the eye of wi.-;dom that just here w;is 
 for CJeorge Fox the strait gate which led to life eternal. 
 Only an extra glass or two, wliat would it ha\'e nrattei'ed ? 
 A tem[)orary excitement of the sj)irits, a pu.'asant sense 
 of freedom from cai'es and self-eoiUrol, a jolly song or 
 two, with a sly wink at the comely wench who brought 
 the li([uoi", and perlia[)s a momentary licence i)f the im- 
 ^ Jiiirnui' T. 7<>.
 
 28 ' TJic Quakers. 
 
 .'igination to stray into pleasant but dangerous regions, 
 what was the liarm of it ? Youth must have its iling, 
 and one cannot always be in a church, singing psalms. 
 So we can imagine young Bradford and the (jther arguing, 
 as tlicy strolled arm in arm from the hostelry, with a 
 slight unsteadiness of gait; and they may have even 
 felt morally superior to the milk-sop who did not dare, 
 once in a while, to l<30sen the reins a bit. Well they 
 took their way, and (leorgc Fox his. Whither theii's 
 led, we kn(jw not. They inay have Ivept within certain 
 limits and jogged along to the end ]io woi'sc than the 
 most of us ; l)ut they heard no di\'ine \'(.)ice ; not to them 
 was it give)! to ])ass through dnikness and tormenting 
 tli'cs and fathondess abysses of doubt an<l (h.'spondency, 
 and t'leroafter to emei'ge into the" light on the serene 
 heights wher(,' the human soul dwells in Ijlesseil con- 
 sciousness of oneiK'Ss ^\ith tlie I'^tiTiial. 
 
 (._Ie*)ig-e Io)X was of another spirit than theirs. With 
 liiin I'eligion was an a!l-rndiracing' realily. ] !(.' ilid not 
 as yet understand niueli, but he know at least, that hyi>i)- 
 crisy is an abomina.t ii m biToic (lod and man. To b;M)n(.' 
 thing in chui'cli anlaiMtlirr Inllio ta\frn \\-as to him 
 into!ci-ablc. !t was not that a ((aijilo of young men 
 should di ink a little more t ha n w as gimd i'm- 1 1 a an, which 
 di-~t rr-Sfd him so s ii'dy. It was t hat ])i'i irc--->i )rs i>f re- 
 ligion slaaild be l(\-]Mi(a-iti'S. llnw ctaild lif in such 
 coni]iany, cxpij^rd to ^ui'ii t lanpi at ions, attain to tic 
 li(uni'-s iii' characlor wliicli Ic I'.-li to ln-iho oiir thing 
 la-'di'id '. So ho giio\fil and pra_\rd, and (aiod to the 
 koi-.j, tliroiigli tlic walolir-, of the night, until hel'oi'e 
 ij'iwn the Word of tic k( n'd cini'' to him, a \"oice wdiich 
 he b( Ii. \ed to ho dixiiie, wldeli hade liini to joiv-ake all,
 
 The Apostle of i/ie luivard Light. 29 
 
 and 1)0 as a stranger unto all. " At the command of 
 Ood," ho tells us, "on tlic ninth day of th(3 seventh 
 month, 1G43, I left my relations, and broke oil' all famili- 
 arity or fellowsliip with old or young : and I passed to 
 Jjuttcrworth, where I stayed some time ; and from thence 
 I went to Northampton, where also I made some stay; 
 then passed from tlience to Newport Pagnel in Bucking- 
 hamshire, where after I had stayed awhile I went unto 
 IJarnct, and came thither in the fourth montli, called 
 June, 164-4. And as I tlnis travelled tln'ough the 
 countries, professors took notice of mo, and sought to l)e 
 acquainted with me, l)ut I v/as afivaid of them, for I was 
 sensiljlc they did not possess what they professed. Now 
 during the time that I A\'as at Barnet, a strong tem})ta- 
 tiiai to despair came upon me; and then I saw liow 
 Christ was tempt('(l, and miglity ti'oul)les I was in; and 
 sometimes I kc}>t myself retired in my chamber and 
 often walked solitary in tlie chacc there, to wait upon 
 the Lord." 
 
 YoY three or foui' years young Fox lived this secluded 
 life, wandei'ing from town to town, seeking counsel ii'om 
 experienced ministers, list('ning to all opinions, but at- 
 taching himself to none. 1 fe liad liecome what was then 
 known as a Seeker. These Seekers, who are fre(|Uentl}' 
 I'eferred to in the literature of that da}", and \\ho ha\'e 
 le'ft a few fragriientai'y writings, Avere a })i'etty numer- 
 ous class, who, after foi'saking the National Church for 
 the greater purity and freedom of the sects, had grown 
 dissatisfied with these also, and ab;ind(_)ned all \isiblc 
 churches and societies, wandering up an<l down, as sheej> 
 without a sheplierd. ''These [>eople," William Penn 
 tells us, " were called Seekers by some, and the I'^amily
 
 30 TJic Quakers. 
 
 of Love by otliers ; because, as they came to the kiiow- 
 ledg'e of one another, tliey .sometimes met togethiT, not 
 foi'inally to pray or })rea',;]i, but to wait to'gctlu'i" in 
 silence, and as anytliing rose in any one of tlicir minds 
 tliat tbey tliought savoured of a di\-in(.! spi'ing, so tlu'y 
 sometimes spoke." Many of tlie Seekers afterwards be- 
 came (Quakers ; but before Fox began liis public teaching 
 some of the Seekers had become infected with libertine 
 and antiiiomian ideas ; and under the name of lianters 
 shocked all decent pco])le by their licentious doctrines 
 and immoralities. Fox soon came into collision with the 
 sect, and reclaimod some of them, l^^'irst, however, he 
 had to undergi) a long trial of darkness and temptations, 
 wliicli wcll-ingh (bY)ve him to despair. 
 
 Fi'om Jjai'iH't he N\'ent to London, Init there ho found 
 no liclp. Though iiKiny gi'eat ])i'c;ichers tauglit ther(^ 
 Eduiund Cal.-imy, and '"' siK^M'-tongucd " William Dates, 
 Samuel (dark, and I'ctcr \'iidc, with mauy others to 
 ]'^>x all \\'a,s dark' and under the clrdn of dark'uess. 
 Wdien we read in Calamy's sei'inon, piTaehed in W'est- 
 miirster Abbey bcfoi'i; the House of Loi'ds on ( 'lirist mas 
 (lav, Kilt, ol' whieli sermon l''o\ may ha.\'e been a, hearei-, 
 the de^crii'iion of the misei-abje state of religion in Lon- 
 don at that ( iiiie, we ai'e tlie le~s sM!])ri-i' 1 that the young 
 S -el^er could ili ccrn no li_;'ht amid the ilai'kness. l.,atfi- 
 on we shall see t hat ( 'alamy's dort rine was not of a chai'- 
 actef to i'elie\'(! l''ox's mind. ].,ea\ing London, he I'c- 
 turni'il jiome I'oi' a, while, A\hen his I'elations would ha.\'e 
 had him take a wife, but, hi' told them he was lait a lad, 
 and nnist ;_vt wisiloni. ( )thi'i's want I'd him to eidist as 
 ,a soldi'-r. i)i-pleas.M| with t lie>e at ! i';n]it-- to di\e)-t his 
 mind from the gi'eal lple;^t^ box left home again and went
 
 TJtc Apostle of the Inward Light. 
 
 to Coventry, but soon returned, and betook liiinself t) 
 visiting- the clergy of the neiglibonrhood. His parisli 
 ]n'i('st ap])landed his Scripture knowledge, and re]~ieated 
 liis ideas in liis Sunday sermons, nnich to George's dis- 
 gust. TJic priest ot" ^binsetter bade liini smoke tobacco 
 and sing psahns. Anotlier, living at Tamworth, was 
 counted an experienced man, but Fox found him but like 
 an empty hollow cask. Dr. Cradock of Coventry lost 
 his temper because the uidiajipy lad, absorbed in his 
 spiritual troubles, unwittingly trod upon the doctor's 
 il(jwer-beil as they were walking and tallying in his 
 garden. The priest of ]\bae]ia!n advised |)]iysic and 
 bleeding. Alas 1 poor Fox ; among all these learned rab- 
 bis, not one understood his disease, not one could admin- 
 ister even temporary relitd*. Tliis is the less to be won- 
 dered at, because at this time Fox Idmself, as his naT'rati\'o 
 siiows, did not understand tlie nature and causes of las 
 troubled state. He appealed to the priests to tell him 
 what was "the ground of temptations and despair, and 
 liow tr(jubles carjie to be wrougld in man ?" Again and 
 a.g;iin he groans out of the depth of Ins wretchedness 
 tliat none " could speak to liis condition." As lie wan- 
 dered tlu'ough th.c land, lodging now a month here and 
 ag;uu a few weeks there, many "professors," as he styles 
 them, and many " to'uder," that is, conscientious pe()ple, 
 took notice of the tall, rpiiet, mel.'incholy youtli, and 
 would gladly liave welcomed liim into fellowship, for 
 eve]i in the midst of his miseiy there were momentary 
 ]jre;dvs in the clouds, and light i'rom alxjve slujne thro>ugh, 
 wdien lie would utter some startling pi'egn.'i.nt saying 
 wdiich drew attention to him as to one who li\ed ne;ir to 
 the source of insi)iration : l)ut he shi'anlv back from the
 
 32 TIic Quakers. 
 
 admiration of those who conld not help liim. "My 
 troubles coritiniicd," he tells ns, " and I was often under 
 <^rea,t te]n}ttations, and 1 fasted ]iiuch, and walked abi'oad 
 in solitan' places many day?:, and often t(X>k my ]3il)lc 
 and went and sat in hollow trees and lonesome places 
 till niglit came on, and frequently in the night walked 
 mournfully about by myself: for I was a man of sor- 
 I'ows in the times ofthe iirst workings of the Lord in me."^ 
 If now wc inqinre what was the luiture, Avhat were 
 the causes, of Cleorge Fox's mental conflicts, wc nuist 
 construct the answer for ourselves, for plain and explicit 
 statement on this subject is not to be found in his |)ages. 
 One peculiarity cannot be missed. Grievously as he 
 complains of temptation, he l)arely acknowledges sin. 
 ll^idikt' Augustine and fjunyan, George l'"'()X pours out no 
 humiliating coni'ession of iiiniioralities and sins. Almost 
 nt the same time that tliis tall pale shepherd lad from 
 Li'icestei'shire, Jiihle i]i hand, was ci'ouching, like a 
 wounded aimunl in some liollow ti'ee, liemoaiung his 
 misei'v, another young man, a tiid<(M' of InMllbi-d-^liire, 
 A\as (lri\eii \\fll-nigh disliaetcd by his fear of danma- 
 ti )n ; ajid ho who woidd unddv-tand the spii-it of \\\\ 
 ])uritan age, shouM by all means reail "( d-aee .Abound- 
 ing to the ( 'hief 111" Simiei's," in which, with the charm of 
 genius, honest .lohn liunyan recounts in tlirillinLr 
 sentenc<'S the stoiy ofhis awful tei'i-ors and his delivei-- 
 auce. l*aid')W((l with the imagination of a ]>oet, r)un-\'an 
 vi\'ilied the ili-ie>t, hai-de>t iliicii-ines of ('al\ini-~m till 
 t.hey spuke, and hissed at. ami --tung him. Ifowevei- 
 e\a'_:'!4'e'rate(l his estluiab' df liis dwn depra \it \-, liowe\-ei- 
 ])ure]y iinaginary the sin ol'" se'lllng Christ " which was 
 ' .h.<,u\ I. N2.
 
 TJic Apostle of the Iir.i'ard Light. 33 
 
 the occauon of his most horrible alarm, thd'e is nothing 
 mysteri'ons in his description of his case. lA'ar dF holl 
 was the horror which haunted him night and day ; an 
 awfnl apprehension tiiat he was not one of the elect ; 
 doubts wlu^ther he had the right kind of faith, whether 
 he had been elfeetually called, an intolerable di'oad that 
 he had connnitted the nnpar(h)nable sin ; these were the 
 snake-headed furies which pursued him for years. 
 George Fox, on the contrary, lies open to the suspicion 
 of S'df-righteousness. In all this long chapter of lamen- 
 tations we have to search carefully for an expression or 
 twij unmistakeably indicating a sense of guilt, lie is 
 ]^ainfully con-cious (.)f a nature at variance with itself, 
 of " two thirsts '" within him, the one after the creatures, 
 the other after the Lord. He is tempted to think that 
 he has sinned against the Holy (Ihost, but he recognises 
 it as a tem])tation. When he saw the natures of dogs, 
 swine, and vipers, of So'lom and ]<]gypt, within, in the 
 hearts of wicked men, he cried to the Lord, saying, 
 "Why should I bo thtis, seeing I was never a<ldicted to 
 conmiit those evils?" Yet it W(;uld be a misconception 
 to imagine that he was a self-righteous Pharisee. In 
 the crisis of his conflict, he acknowle'lges that "all are 
 concluded under sin, and shut up in unbelief, as I have 
 been." The lessons of chihlhood, the pious example and 
 wateliful care of parents, acting upon a sensitive con- 
 sci-'UC'', had kept him singularly ])ure in outward conduct, 
 l)ut he felt the internal discoi-d of a fleshly ]iatur<' and x\ 
 seltidi will, struggling again>t the s[)irit, an^l knew that he 
 t(X) was a .-inner, ami '^ that all was done, and to be done, in 
 and by Christ " wlio destroys th- devil and all his Avorks.^ 
 ^ Jouritfd, I. 85. 
 
 c
 
 34 Tli(^ Qifdkrrs. 
 
 Nevertheless it ejiimot l)C disputed that Ftjx was, 
 comparatively, little troublcil ab.nit damnation. In all 
 liis misL'iy, he was see]-:inij,' the truth, rather than 
 personal safety. He was not luuinted hy IVar of hell, 
 nor stuni^' by the remorse of a jj;uilt-la<l('n eonseiencc ; 
 but oppressed by a sense of darkness and weakness 
 which lie felt, not for hinr-;clf alone, Ijut for the whole 
 world. What he ciaves is light ; lie wants to know the 
 truth that he may be free. \Vliile otliers shuddered at 
 the bare mention of evei'lastini^- torments, and quailed 
 Ixd'ore the terrible doctrines of election ;ind reproba- 
 tion, (Jcoi'ge Fox appears, so far as we can judge I'rom 
 this nx-eonnt of his tcmptatioirs, hardly to liave re- 
 mend)ered these tcrj'ihc conceptions. V\d]at distresses 
 him is the spectacle of an evil wcjrld, a world in dark- 
 ness, out of harmi)ny ^vit]l the Diwine Law, going to 
 destructii)n b^'ausc t!ie se-'ds of disease and death are 
 within. IFe wanted delix'eranee, here and ]iow, from the 
 power (if moral e\il, d.'li\cr;'ince perfect ;inil comj>leti.' ; 
 and those \\\\n o'i'ere-l to wretched mail an inlV'rior boon, a 
 ]ll(;re e,-ca])e from dcsei'\ed peii;dties, Si-eliied to him 
 
 dfceiNi'i's ;iiid (bc''i\'' 1. I'litil \\.' attained to tilis saha- 
 tion fi'oiii darkiio^ an 1 sin, until he --aw the truth wliich 
 ])laci'd this -:il\;!iioii \\ i ! 1 e 11 the iv;,eli of all mankind, 
 he wa> wreteheil. He atlaiiu'd it, and was hlled with 
 joy iiii>!M;d>a M'', 
 
 Sue'i, if wi' iii'oi ]avt him eriglit. was the ehai-ai'tia- of 
 f he rrli-i'-u-- struggle, througli which (ieoige l''o\ paiii- 
 I'ully foii-ht his way during ^. \cral years. What, was 
 the iiatuiv and im ihol o!' hi. brii \rra iier '. ( )ne word 
 ex|uv.--- it; it enu>' i ly iv\-, hat ion. He soiiglit unto the 
 pri.' t-, I'Ul ii'iiler they uoi- th'' <n--iiiii:ig preaeher.s
 
 Tlic Apostle of the Lnoani Light. 
 
 could give liiiu help. Ho pored over his Bihle, until 
 mind ;uid ineuiuiy vere saturated with its ciaiteiits ; 
 hut "it is written" hrought no healing comfort to his 
 soul. Fastings and prayers ahounded, and in ahnsgiving 
 he Avas not slack, Init salvation was not in these. When 
 all else was unavailing, thore came a voice, a \'ision, an 
 " op-'uing," an inward light, and the truth of Gud M'as 
 revealed to him. It was, he had no shadow of douht, a 
 Divine comnran<l which had seiit him fm'th upon his 
 wanilerings, but not until the third year did the hrst 
 " rovelati(jn " come. Then the " openings " Ijegan, and by 
 gradual stops he slowly emerged out of the stiliing dark- 
 ne-;s, into the filesscd light of life. The lirst I'evehition 
 is so simple; it appears to us so obvious a truism; that 
 to est('em it a ''revelation" seems almost a sign of half- 
 Avittelness. 'Vo George Fox, how. ^'er, it was a nr)ment- 
 ous experience, tlie time and place (jf which he can nm'er 
 forget. " About tlu) beginning (jf the year 1 Gdij, as I was 
 going to Coventry, and entering towards the gate, a 
 consideration ar(.)se in \\\\ how it was said that ad 
 Christians are believers, b(jth Protestants and Pajjists ; 
 and the Lord opene<l tome that if all wei-e beliex'ei's, then 
 thry wiu'e all b(,)rn of God, an'l passed from death to life, 
 and that none wei'o true be'lievers but such ; and thougli 
 othm's sai 1 they were believers, y(;L they were not."^ 
 This, then, was the iii'st revelatio!! vouchsafed t<j (JeorLTO 
 Fox I He sets it f(jrth in his own clumsy rouuil-about 
 way; but ex[tressed in a single pi'o]i(j.>ition, it nonounts 
 simj)ly to this, that all triK," belie\ers ai"'' boi'u of ( ioi], 
 and pa<sed from death unt ) lii'e, that is, that saUation is 
 an actual change in the man's own state of heai't and life, 
 1 Jojf,i<i' 1. so.
 
 36 The Qitakcrs. 
 
 not a Lare legal change of relation to penalty. This 
 is a mere comnionplace of theology, as old as tlie pages 
 of the New Testament ; how then can it have heen to 
 George Fox a " revelation " i At present wc are relating 
 the histoiy ; and it is part of the history, that Fox 
 acee]")ted tliis as a revelation from God. Later on, we 
 may review his revehitions as a wh(de, and try to 
 estimate their value. But it may be remarked here, in 
 passing, that the orthodoxy of that day sharply, some- 
 times angrily, distinguished between justification and 
 sanctiHcation. All true believers, said ortlK)dox3', are 
 justitied by faith alone ; and orthodoxy resented it as an 
 instdt to the sovereignty of the Dfity, and a slight upon 
 the merits of Christ's sacritice, if the moral change 
 wroui^'ht in the sinner's character were so much as 
 mention<jd in this connection. Hence it came to pass 
 that the moral chan.;e hardly seemed necessary to 
 salvation, howe\'er propin* and desiralile in itself. And 
 as a matter ot' fact, the doeti'ine that belie\'ei's niay be, 
 even ought to be, made iierl'ectly holy in this life was 
 regai'ih'tl as rank heresy. It is true, the I'est of the 
 l'urit;in di\-ines wrw ])i-actically as zealous for holiness 
 as ( ieoi'gt.! hox hiniselt'; and it would be as unfair to 
 ae'cept his view of their teaciiing, as theirs of his. Never- 
 tlii'los one ran easily uiide!'>tand ho\v(ieorge l^'ox may 
 lia\e stuinbli'd o\ri-and stiaiggied with tlnse dilii* ulties, 
 durln-" tho-^r yi'.'irs of darkness. A salvation whicli lelt 
 Ihe brliexri- siill a siuiioi' s^eiiird to him iio salvatioii at 
 all. When ;it length his eyes wei'e opened, and he saw 
 (l,.:ii-l\- th;it ii!;ui'> niMvnl eoiiilition is no mere secondary 
 consideration, laU tli;it it> lejfU -i-at ion is il^eli" the very 
 H.'Lhation of God, is it so surpiasing that the slow-A\-itted,
 
 The Apostle of the Liioard Light. 37 
 
 humljle-mindcd peasant lad, should never fur an instant 
 imagine that his own wit and wisdom had discovered 
 this o-l,jrious truth, sliould lionestly helieve that it was 
 directly revealed to him by God liimself: ? 
 
 Again a revelation came. "At another time, as I was 
 walking in a field on a first-ilay morniivj;, the Lord 
 openeil unto me that being bred at Oxford or Cambridge 
 was ntit enough to tit and ((ualify men to be nniiisters of 
 Christ ; and I stranged at it, Ijoeauso it was the connnon 
 bulicf of the ]Kv.)[)le ; but I saw it clearly as the Lord 
 opened it t(j me, ami was satished, and admir. d the good- 
 ness of tlie Lord who had opened this tiling mito mo 
 that m(.)riiing."-'- 0, .-^'or/r/v/ .sv'/;;^//''cw7((s I one is ready to 
 exclaim ; was this a revelation ] Who ever believed 
 th;it mere eilnc.itloa anl orlinition could make men 
 priests in Clirist's temple? Yet George lojx '"' strangnl 
 at it because it was tiie common b(diet' of tlui peoiih'/' 
 We liave another witness for that. J]unyan tells us that 
 when he began to reibrm his vicious life, " I Wiis so over- 
 run with the s[)irit oi' superstition, that I adored and 
 t!nt with great <l.jvolion, evtui all things (Ixjth the high 
 place, ])riest, chn'k, vestment, service and what else) 
 belonging to the cliurch ; counting all tilings hnly that 
 wei'e thei'uin C(jntained, and especially tin:' lu'ifst and the 
 clerk most happy, airl without doulit, gi'eatly birssed, 
 because they were the si^rvants, as I then tliought, of 
 God, and Were principal in the h<dy temple, to d(j His 
 woi'k therein. This conceit grew S') stiMiig in a little 
 time upon my spirit, tliat had L but seen a ])riest (though 
 never so sordid and d(d)au(died in his life) I should 
 Jind my spirit fall under him, reverence him, airl knit 
 
 J Ihhl.
 
 The Ojiakcrs. 
 
 nnto him ; yea, I tliouo'lit, for the love I did bear unto 
 theni (snpp<:).sino- them tlio ministers of God) I could 
 liave laid down at their feet, and have been trampled up- 
 on by them ; tlieir name, Lhoir garl), and work, did so 
 intoxieate and bewitch me."'- Tluis Bunyan amply con- 
 firms Fox's statement as to the popular belief. Froni 
 the time when he received this second revelation, George 
 Fox, to the great grief of Ids relations, refused to attend 
 with tliem at the parish church. Nor wonhl he j"(jin with 
 tlie dissenters, Imt would get into the orchard, or into the 
 fields, with his Jiible, by himself. 
 
 Tlie thii'<I revelatio;i struck at the ])opular reverence 
 for tlie sacred edifices. "At another time it was opened 
 in me, ' d'h;it God who made the world, diil not dwell in 
 temples made with, hands.' Idds at iii'st seemed a strange 
 word, because both priests ;\nd i^eople u<ed to call their 
 temph's or churches, dreadi'ul places, and holy ground, 
 and the tiuiiph'S of Gi:d; but the Lord showed me, so 
 that I did see clearly that Jbjdid not dwell in these 
 temples, A\-hich men had comnuuideil and set up, but in 
 })jople's hearts; for both Stephen and the ApostK> L'aul 
 bore te^l inioiiy that lie did not dwell in temples made 
 with hail Is, nor e\-en in that wliich he had once com- 
 manded I ) be l)uilt, since i b^ put an end to it, but that 
 I lis people were ills teiiipli', and lie dwelt ill them. This 
 opened in me as I walked in the fiefis to my rt lations' 
 house ; and when I came there, the\' told me that 
 Xathaniol Sti'\'eiis, the ])rie-it, had b.-eii thoi-e, and told 
 them he was aiVaid of me b)r going after new lights; and 
 I smiled in niy>olt', knowing what the Lord had opened 
 in me, conc(:rniiig him and his brethren; l)utl told not 
 
 I o',w,-.' .1/.,./,,,/;,,;/. e',i,.r]r.s c.iiiinii. issi;, ja-c 20.
 
 TIic j.{posllc of the LizjiD'ci LigJit. 39 
 
 my relations, who, ttiouL^'ii tliey saw Ijcyoml tlic pfi(!sts, 
 yot they went to liear thoiii, auil wore grieved h 'cause 1 
 would not o'o also; hufc I hrou_;'lit them Ser4)tur(.'S, and 
 told thoai tlierc was an anointiui^' within man t ) teach 
 him, anl that the Lord would teach His ])eople Him- 
 self.''^ 
 
 Tliesc three earliest revelations have been recounted 
 at leng-tli in the exact words of tlieir recipient, anil the 
 (juotations will he serviceable wlien we cane to iiwestigatc 
 the ([Uestion whether Fox did really receive tliem from 
 God, or was self-deluded. To coutinue our historical 
 narrative; after thesi;^ lie had other and o'reat openings, 
 whicii he docs ncjt rccerd, coueeriiiiig tlie things written 
 in the Apocal^'psc ; but in spite of tlic openings, his 
 mental distress C;)ntinued. Yet he was not forsaken. 
 '" As I cannot declare tlie givat misery 1 was in, it was so 
 great and lieavy upon nvc ; so neitlier can I set ftjrth the 
 mercies of God unto me in ad my misery." Tlie received 
 th(3ology, the Establishe<l Chureii,t]ie dissenting preachers, 
 ])ublic v/orsbip aivd tlie sociidy of other Cliristians, ho 
 had abandoned all, and v/as now solitary with his Bible. 
 ''And when all m_y iiope in tlicm and in all men was 
 gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to hel}) me, nor 
 could tell what to do; t'len, ()! then, I heard a voice 
 wliich said: 'There is one, e\'en (dnast Jesus, that can 
 speak to thy condition ; ' and when I lieard it, my heart 
 did leap for Joy. Tlien the Lord did let me see wdiy 
 tliere was none U])(ai the earth that could speak t(\) my 
 condition; nanudy, that 1 ndght give Him all i!ieglo)-y, 
 for all arc conclude:! under sin, and shut up in uidu'liof 
 as I liad been, that Jusus (dirist might luu'e the pre- 
 1 .Jnuriuil, 1. 80.
 
 40 TJie Quakers. 
 
 eminence, who enlightens and gives grace, and faith, an<l 
 ]iower ; thus vrhen God dutli work who shall let it? and 
 this I k]iL\v experimentally. Wy desires after the Lord 
 grew stronger, and zeal in the purt; knowledge of God, 
 and of Clirist alone, witliont the help of any man, book, 
 or writing; for though I read tlie Scriptures that spake 
 of C/hrist and of God, yet I knew 11 im not, but by 
 revelation, as He who hath the Key did open, and as the 
 Fatlier of Life drew me to If is Son l)y His Spiiit; and 
 then the Lord did gently lead me along, and did let me 
 see His love, which was endless and eternal, and sur- 
 pass -th all the knowledge that men ha\-e in the natural 
 state, or can g<.'t by history or books, and that love did 
 let me see niysdf ;is I was without Him ; and I was afraid 
 of all com])any, for I saw them perfectly where they 
 were, through the love of ( iod which let me see myscd:"'/'^ 
 Now lie was iicarly thi'ough the dark valley. Now he 
 begins his ra])iurous ])raisc of the great themr of his 
 prophecy, tho Light within, the indwelliiig Glirist. 
 " (.'hrist it v/as, who had oiili-htencd me, that gavt' me 
 His light to briiiNc in, ami ga\'e mo hupc whieh is in 
 llimscli', ivxcalod jliiM>clL" in me, ami i^'avti me His 
 Spiiit, and gavo n.o His ^raco, which I I'unnd snlhciriit 
 in the dcrjis and in weakness.'- Now the ]'e\'elat ii ins 
 eanic ahundint ly. Snnictimes he hi'ard, sometimes he 
 saw. " .\L:-ain 1 heai'd a Ndiee whieh did say, 'Then 
 
 S.Tpcllt, tho',1 do.^t seek to de.^f Toy the life, bl it CaiHt \V A : 
 f")' the >Wo:,l W hi.b k. ,]): til t he t IVr , ,f lifr ..liaj] (f..vti-o\- 
 
 ther. ' Next it wa-a, N'i^iiai. " ( )iic day when I had 
 
 keen walking >(ilitii-ily akroa'l.and was cm])],. liMinr, I 
 
 wa.> taken nj) in the lo\r df (h),], so that I could not but 
 
 ' J<'",n<'[, 1. s;;. - //,;,/, p. si. //,;,/. ],. s.^.
 
 The Apostle of the Inicayd Light. 41 
 
 ailniiro the f^roatncss of His love ; and \\\\\\q. I uas in 
 tluit condition it M'as opened unto nie by the et^Tiial 
 light and power, and I therein clearly saw that all was 
 done, and to l)e done, in and \)y Christ."^ At this period, 
 in the years 1647 and 1648, Oeorge Fox lived an ecstatic 
 life. At intervals revelations ceased ami the light was 
 veiled, but even then his secret belief stayed firm, and 
 hope h'dd fast to its anchor. The doctrines he was to 
 spend his life in proclaiming, came crowding in upon his 
 S(nd, grailually assuniiiig deilnite shape, and falling into 
 order. Christ appears as the Light, enlightening every 
 man which conieth into the world, that by faith all may 
 become ctiildren of the li'dit. His lan^aiafc glows with 
 rhapsodical fervour, and once at least overpasses the 
 bounds of sober reason. " Xow was I come up in spirit 
 throu'ih the flaming svv'ord into the paradise of God. 
 All things were new ; and all the creation gave another 
 smell unto me than before, beyond what words can utter. 
 I knew nothing but inncness, and iniiocency, and 
 righteousness, Ijeing renewed up iiito the image of Cod 
 by Christ Jesus ; so that I say ] was come up to the state 
 of Adam, which he was in before he fell. The creation 
 was opened to me ; auil it was shewed me how all tilings 
 had their names given them, accor:h'iig to their nalui'i; 
 and virtue. Ami I was at a stand in in\' mind, whether 
 I sh'Mihl practise physic for the good of maid<ind, seeing 
 the natiu'c and \'irtues of the creatni'es wei-e so opened to 
 
 me by \\w Loi'd (ireat tilings did the L a-d k'ail 
 
 me into, iind W(jnderfnl depths wei'e ojiened tuito me, 
 
 beyond what can bywords bi' tleclai'ed ; but as people 
 
 come into subjection to the Spirit of Cod, and grow up 
 
 ^ Jvumul, 1. 85,
 
 42 The Quakers. 
 
 in the image and power of tlio Almiglity, they may 
 receive the word of wisdom tliat f)pen.s all tiling-^, and 
 come to know the liidden nuity in the Eternal Ijeiii'.;-."'^ 
 This savonrs of Jjidnnenism : it is asserted indoe^l that 
 Fox plagiarises a whole j)aragraph from the German 
 theo.sophist. One is sorry to meet with it in (ieorge 
 Fox, Ijut it is due to him to point out that this partieidar 
 hit of iiu'sticisia stands out like a fragment of far- 
 travellijd I'ock in a stratum witli whieh it does not 
 harmonise. This excepted, his most rapturous utterances 
 are ordinary Christian feeling exalted to a white heat. 
 After the hmg ngony of darkness, doul)t, and well-ni;^h 
 despair, words fail him to express the heauty and joy of 
 the light. Colder and duller natures ma}' l)e disposed to 
 criticise ecstasies they have nevei' experii/nc.'d, hut surely 
 the most frigid will, on reflect ion, allow that excess in 
 lo\ing and praising God is im])ossil)]('. Let human 
 emotion soar to its lofti.'st, it must fall shoi-t of the 
 Infinite. 
 
 J^() (icorg<! Fox jiassed out of darkiic.-s into the li^dit of 
 Christ, nnd learned the pure and j)ei-i'ect gos])el whieh 
 heiieet'oi'th he ^v;ls to pi'oelaim t'oi- the I'ei'ormatiou of an 
 apostaie ehui'ch, and t!ie salvation of mankiml. Long as 
 our account has liecn, it is much ahridgeil fivim the 
 oi-iginal narrativi'. JUit enough has l)e(ai cited to make 
 it clear that l''ox fully helicved tliat he was the reeipi(ait 
 of" revelations IVoni (Idd. Lest tliere should he the 
 shadow of a daiht "ii this ji linf, let this ([notation de- 
 eid<,' till' i|U.Nt imi : "Tiicsc tliiii-s I did not see hy i\\^^, 
 liil] "f man, 111 )! h\i;ic h; t .i' i t 'e lU _;ii t le 'y a I'c writ ti'ii 
 in th<' Irlleiv, hut J sa.w tlnan in the light of the Loixl
 
 The Apostle of the Iiiioard Light. 43 
 
 Jesus Christ, and l>y His immediate spirit and power, as 
 did tlio holy men of God l)y whom the Holy Scriptiu-os 
 were written. Yet I had no sliglit esteem of the Holy 
 Scriptures, but they were very precious to me, for I 
 A\'as in that spirit hy which they were given forth ; 
 and wdiat the Lord opened \\\ lue, I afterwards found 
 vras agreeahle to them." ^ The I'eadcr may conclude Ihat 
 ijuor GeorLie was labourino- under an liaUucination. This 
 we do not now stay to discuss. First let us get the facts 
 l)eforo us ; and this fact is the ftnurdation of all that 
 follows : George Fo.m dil verily belie\'e and was sure 
 that he was the recipient of divine inspiration as certainly 
 as the prophet-' and apostles Wi re. For this inspiration 
 he boldly claimed infalhbility. " Now when the Lord God 
 an<l His Son Jesus Christ did send me forth into the 
 world, to preach His everlasting gospel and Kingdom, I 
 was glad that I was commanded to turn people to that 
 inwai'd light, spirit, and grace, by which all might know 
 their salvation, and their way to (rod ; even that diviue 
 spirit which would h^ad them into all truth, and which I 
 infaililjly know would never deceive any." ^ 
 
 1 JovmnJ, I. 101. 
 - Ihld, I. 102.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 rROCLAMATIOX OF TirK MKSSAOE. 
 
 In a retrospect of liis ^vork, written in 1070, Fox says 
 that the Lord sent liini forth in 1G43; and I'ecords the 
 progress of tlic trntli in Leiccstersliire and Warwickshire 
 in tlic two foUowini^ years. According to tliis account 
 his puhlic niinistiy began wh^n he (piitted liomc and 
 Lnsiness ; and was cai'i-ied oii (hu'ing tlie p(M'iod of his 
 mental conflicts. The fuller narrative in his Journal 
 makes no mention of liIs ])reac]di)g and gaining' convcu'ts 
 until 1''i\7. Wiljiaiii Pfim's I'l-cface to the Journal 
 suggests an exi'laiiatiou of the discrc]~)ancy. During the 
 years of his temptations, Vax, -wanilei-ing in search of 
 ti'uth, occasiiinally fell in with liith' ('om]~)anies of I'eligious 
 ])e(i])le, whei, like him-elf, weic dis ntistieil ^\ith all ex- 
 isting chui'ehes. and kej-t tliems.K'es a]*art, hein-j; known 
 as Seekei'.-, or the I''aniily of h'i\i'. Fox snmetinies sat 
 among t h^'se in silence, and oera ^i( iiialK' eneoui'aged them 
 to wait ill ]iatieiice. until liglit shuuld dawn uji'-n ilean. 
 
 'J'he^e hrief U t t el'a li ee -4, the mi. re i ll I ] e'l s<i \e for theii- 
 
 raiiiy, kimlled a ]]'<]>< in the h'-arts ,,\' <M;iie cf thes(> 
 Si'ekiT^ that 111 llic wi^tfid iiiela neholy yi ail h (ioil was 
 ]avp;irin;;' a t ' acher \'n\- them. A fifi' his i'e\ elat ions, I'^ox 
 sp'dcc more fi-ei |Ueiii ly a ih I Minrc fully; an^l in IdlTa 
 dxin-' man ' ]< nly pr^plii -i' d that he sIimuM he a gi'i'at 
 in.sliumeiit in the hand nf the Loi'd. ko\ fell ill after
 
 Proclai)iatio)i of tJic JMcssagc. 45 
 
 tlie prophecy, and appears to have hecii tal'cn for dead. 
 Tiiis -was the last ;'reat wave of alfiictioii, the " very 
 ocean of darkness and deatli," from which he emerged to 
 rejtnce in a more glorious manifestation of the di\-ine 
 Love than had ever been given before. " And I saw into 
 tliat wlucli was Avithout end, and things which cannot 
 be littered, and of the greatness and infiniteness of the 
 Love of God, which cannot be expressed in words .... 
 And I saw the harvest white, and the seed of God, lying 
 thick in the ground, as ever did wheat that was sown 
 outwardly, and none to gatlier it ; and for this I mourned 
 with tears. And a report went abroad of me that I was 
 a young man that had a discerning spirit ; whereupon 
 many came to me from far aiid near, professors, priests 
 and people ; and the Lord's power brake forth ; and I 
 hail gri,'at ojieuings and ]M'opliecies ; and spake unto 
 them of the things of God, ami they heard with attention 
 and silence, and went away and spread the fame there- 
 of." ^ In the next year, IG tS, he was encouraged by a 
 vision. " As I was sitting in a friend's house in Xotting- 
 hamshire (for by this time the power of God had opened 
 the hearts of some to receive the word of life and reconcilia- 
 tion), I saw there was a great crack to go throughout tlu' 
 earth, and a great smoke to go as the crack went ; and 
 tliat after tlie crack there should be a great shaking : 
 this was the earth in people's hearts, winch was to br 
 shalc'Ui b.'fore the see 1 of God was raised out of tlu^ 
 earth. And it was so, for the Lord's ])ower began to 
 shake tliem, and great meetings we began to ha\'e, and a 
 miglity power and W(n-k of Go 1 tliere was ainong-^t 
 people, to the astonisiimeut of b.)th ])e ijile and |ii-ie>ts." 
 
 ^ Jun:a,0, I. 00. - i/'/'/, I). !'l.
 
 46 The Quakers. 
 
 Thus Le was fairly launclicd upon his ministry : impelled 
 by an inward power mightiei" than himsulf, to ever 
 bolder attacks upon the creeds and customs of all the 
 churches in the land, until, as was narrated before, he 
 challenged the priest in his ])u1])it, in the great church 
 of Nottingham, and was forthwith consigned to prison. 
 Henceforth for forty-two years he laboured incessantly 
 in prison and out, until death brought rest. Our plan 
 docs not permit us to follow him step by step throughout 
 his narrative, but we must select a few incidents, to 
 ilhistrate the character of the man and his work. 
 
 We left him shut up in the " nasty stinking prison." 
 That same night the magistrates had him beiorc them, 
 and after a long examination, the majority agreed in 
 sending him back to gaol. But one of them was con- 
 verted before the examination was conchided. This 
 Avas one of tlie sherills, who immediately removed him 
 from the j)rison to liis own house. The sherilf's wife 
 met Fox in the hall with the words, " Salvation is come 
 to our houst!.'' Husbanil, children, servants, all wei'c 
 greatly allected. TIk^ pi-isoncr became a rt'\-<-rcd guest, 
 and the sheriff's house tlie rt sort of in([nii-e!s into the 
 new <locti'ine. The marvellous powei' Avhich aceom- 
 ])anieil the teaching is seen in the case of the sheiiif 
 himself liemem!)ei'in_;" that lie had wi'oiiged a woman 
 in the way ol" ti-ade, he siaids Cor hei\ op-iily conresses 
 tlui wrong, ami makes restitution. The next mai-ket- 
 (lay he was walking \vitli Fox in his ehauilier, when a 
 conviction sei/.i'd him (hat he luu-t l^o and pi'eaeh to tla; 
 i)c(iple. ()ut lie Went on the instant, in his slip])efs, as 
 he was, ami ])i'eai-hed i-epeiitance- in the marki't, and 
 througli the sti'eets. I'lie example A\'as infectious.
 
 Proclamation of tlic Message. 47 
 
 Other toAvnsmen were impclkMl to exhort the mayor ami 
 the magistrates to repent ; to Avhich they replied Ly 
 removing Fox from tlie sheriffs house into the connnon 
 caoL AVlien the assize came, a frien<I offered to be his 
 suljstitute, hody for Itody, life for life. On the other 
 hand, the opposition became furious, and threatened 
 violence ; so that the governor of the Castle had to send 
 soldiers to disperse the people. These scenes in Not- 
 tingham fairly re})resent the early part of Fox's minis- 
 try : great stirrings of spirit it aroused, sudden and 
 irresistible cun^iLtiolls, producing innnediate practical 
 results. The %vrong-doer made restitution ; the priest 
 forsook his beneiice ; the soldier broke his sword; the 
 young heir risked his inheritance, and was turned into 
 the streets : the persccutoi" became a Quaker ; and tlie 
 p)ersecuted jc)yfully took the s})oiling of their goods, the 
 loss of their liijerty, and c^f life itself, fo]- the sake of 
 that which they believed to be a message from God. 
 Those who did not receive the dcjctrine raged against it 
 in uncontrolIal)le fury. Priests and peuplc, mngistrates 
 ami mub, Hung themselves upon the lilasphemous 
 heretics, broke up their meetings, beat and stoned the 
 pi-eachers, shut tliim u}) in gaol, resolvetl to crush the 
 hateful sect in its infancy : lut the stormier the blasts 
 of persecution, the more widely the ilanies (^f the new 
 teaching spread. 
 
 Released from Nottingham gaol. Fox travelled as be- 
 fore in the work of the Lord. At Mansfield he healed 
 and C(jnverted a mad-woman:^ then lie was m()\'ed to 
 go to the ste'3plediouso there ami d(.'clar(' IIk; truth to 
 the priest and the [lenple. Imprisonment in his case 
 1 Juurnnl^ T. 107.
 
 48 The Quakers. 
 
 haviiii,' no deterrent ettVct, they tried at Mansfield what 
 bodily punishment "svould (Id. '' Tlic |)eo|de fcdl n])on 
 lue in great rage, and struck nie down, and alniost stitled 
 and smothered me ; and I was cruelly beaten and bruised 
 by tliem with their hands, bibles, au'l sticks. Tlien 
 tliey hauled me out (though I was scarcel}- able to 
 stand) and put me into the stoek>, wliere I sat some 
 hoiu's ; \\\\\ they brought doj,--w]dps and horse-whips 
 thrivatening to whip i!ii\ And alter some time they had 
 mi' bi'Tort' tlie magistrate, at a knigiit's house, where 
 M'L-re many gi'cat per.^on^, who, set ing how t-villy I had 
 bi'L'U us'l, ;P'tei' much thrt'atening, set me at liberty. 
 But th'^ rude ]ie >ple stoned mo out of tlu- tmvn, for 
 prcac'dng tle.^ w^ ird i>f lit'e to them. And [ w.as scarce 
 abl.' t'l ijo. Ml- \wll ti) stand, by rrasin of the ill-usa^'o 
 I had rcei'ivcd ; yet with uui'di ado I got aljout a mile 
 from tlie tnwn. and tlien I met witli son^e ]>e(_)ple tliat 
 gave me sim-'thin^^ to comfort m'\ b._'<';ui-e I was in- 
 war Uy bi-ui^.' 1 : but thr L >rd's ]>owrr >oon licah'd me 
 au'ain. And that ilay s nn |)>"opl,' \\>-\\' eon\'inced of 
 tie.' Lord's truth, and tui-ii^'d t > His t^ac'dng, at wln-h 
 I iTJoii'tMl." 1 bvouu'h u<:i_;--' >\\A\ as this ^o in In-cami.' a 
 common cxpn-irncr ; and during thi' coiiiin_'' years, liis 
 impfi->o;iiivnts v\'ci-i' Ids va'ati>>ns from ne ib-\'I(jl"nce. 
 His ii'r \\;v> r'jH'ntidiy thi-fati'iirl, and more tlian Mucr, 
 b\- ("dm ^-Mp li'i-ity to f,';i!- he di-ai"med tho foe. 
 Wlii'ii a man r;in at bim witli a nabf 1 r.ipi.'r, and s^'t ir. 
 ju-t at liis A'\r. I'liv li iildii.^' -ti'aif;i^tly on liim, .-.aid. 
 -.Mack f'l' tli'-r, pM,,i- eroatuiv! \\h:t wilt tliou d., w ith 
 ti:y catiial woapMH ', \\ i> n-i more to nn' tli'Ui a straw. ''^ 
 W'itliin a \ rai' or -' ni't^'r tho r<l' a-o f i^ ^m X. ittingham 
 ' ./..n,n '/, I. ie>. - i/.;,/, ,,. 1 11.
 
 Proclamation of the Message. 49 
 
 gaol, Fox was again in piisoii aL Dcr'uy. liis account of 
 the occasion is too cliaractcristic to be omitted : " Then 
 coming to Doi'l)y I lay at a doctor's house, whoso wife 
 was convinced ; and so were several nioi'C of the town. 
 Ani.l as I was walking in my chamber the l)ell rung, and 
 it struck at my life at the very hearing of it ; so I asked 
 the woman of the house what the hell rung for ; and she 
 said there was to be a gi'eat lecture that day, and many 
 of the officers of the army and priests and prcacliers were 
 to lo there tliat day, and a ccdonel that was a preacher. 
 Then was I moved of the Lord to go up to tliem ; and 
 wlien theyliad done I spake to them what the Lord com- 
 manded me, a]id tlu'y were pretty quiet. But there came 
 an otficer, and toi)k me l)y the hand, and said I must go 
 befo]-e tlie magistrates, and the other two that wore with 
 uie. It was about the first liour after noon that we came 
 l)efure them. They asked me why we came thither; 
 I sai(b Oo'I moN'ed ns so to do ; and I tohl theui God 
 dwells ]iot in temples made with hands. I told them 
 also, all their ]iivaching. ])aptism, and sacrifices would 
 never sanctify them, and bid them look \n\io Christ in 
 them, and not unto men ; for it is Christ that sanctities. 
 Then they }-au into uiany words ; but I told them they 
 were not to dispute of God and of Christ, but to obey 
 Him. And the power of (Jod thundered amongst them, 
 and they di<l fly like chaff before it. They put me in 
 and out of the room often, hurrying backward and for- 
 ward often ; for tliey were from the fir,>t hour 
 until the ninth at night in cxamininu- mo. And some- 
 times they would tell me, in a deriding manner, that 
 I was t iken up in raptui'es. At last they a~,ked nuj 
 whether 1 was sanctilied ; I ansv.'crcd yes, for T was ni
 
 50 21ic Quakers. 
 
 the p.iradiso of God. Tlicn tlicy asked mc if 1 had no 
 sin ; I answered Christ ray Saviour ]ias taken away my 
 sin, and in Iliiu there is no sin. They asked liow we 
 knew tliat Christ did ahide \\\ us ; I said l)y His Sjiiiit 
 that Ho hatli o-ivcn us. Tlicy teinptingly asked if any of 
 ns were Christ ; I answered, Nay, we were nothi]lL,^ 
 Christ was all Thc}' sai<l, if a man steal is it no sin I 
 I answered, all nnri^'hteousness is sin. So wlien they 
 liad wearied themselves in ex-amining me, tlu\y connnitte<l 
 m<^. and one other man^ to tlie House of Correction in 
 Derby for six months as hhispliemers." - The mittinnis 
 states that they were " char:^aMl witli thc avowed utter- 
 iui^ and bro.iching- of divers hlaspliemous opiiii(v.rs, con- 
 trary to a lato Act of Parliam^it." One of tlie com- 
 mitting ma[;-isti"ates was Justico JJennett, " wlio was the 
 Hi'st tliat called us (Quakers, because I bid tliem tremble 
 at the Word of the Lord."'' In the House of Ctn'i'ection 
 I'^ox iliscovei'ed that he could s|>eak by thc ]ien. In bi'ief 
 pithy hdters he warneil m;tL;'isti'ates, priests, and peojile. 
 'I'he justices soon lia<l had enough of him, but it \\'as always 
 easier to put (Jeoi'^-e. I'\)x in ])ris()n than to get him out. 
 The DiTby magistrates did imt know theii' man, so they 
 b;i 11' his g;eilei' let hiiu out with lilierty to walk a mih', 
 leipiii-- tiiat h'.' wouM \\alk away aUogethei-. His I'cla- 
 t.ons oll'cre'l ball I ; the auiount nl" a hundred p lumls * 
 that he >ln)iil i imt i-eiui'ii to I )ei-by t<> attack the priests, 
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 Proclamation of ihc Jllessaj^e. 51 
 
 plain-spoakinri;' opistlcs continued to annoy the mai;-is- 
 strates, wJio can^-lit at what seemed an excellent chance of 
 .Ejettinr,^ rid of him. " Now the time of my coinmitnient 
 to the House of Correction l)eing very near (wt, an<l 
 there beini;' many ]ie\v soldiin's rai-^ed, tlie Coirmussioners 
 would have made mo caj)taln (n'er them ; and the soldiers 
 cried th';y W(juld ha\"e none hut me. So the keeper of 
 the House of Correction was commanded to bring me uj) 
 Ijefore tlie Commissioners and soMiers va tlie market- 
 place ; and there they proflereil me that jn'id'erment fas 
 tliey called it), asking- me if I \\-ould not take up arms 
 for the Common wi'jdth aL;'ain-t Charles Smart. I told 
 them I knew whence all waivs (hd arise, even fi'om the 
 hist, ;iceording- to Jnim's's doctrine ; and that I lived in 
 the virtue of that life and power that took away the 
 occasion of all wars. Jjut tliey courted mo to accept of 
 their oiler, and tlioiif^'lib I did hut compliment with them. 
 But I told them I was come into the covenant of peace, 
 which was before wars and strifes were. Tlr^y said they 
 ol}er(Ml it in love and kindness to me, because (jf my 
 virtue ; and such like ilatteriiiL;' words they used. But L 
 told tliein, if that was tludr love and kindness, I tramph.'d 
 it under my feet. Then their rage got up, and they said : 
 'Take him away, gaoler, auil put him into the dungeon 
 amongst tlie rogu(.'s and f(dons.' So I was had away, and 
 put intoa lousy, stinking place, withoutany bed, amongst 
 thirty felons, where I was kept almost half a year, unless 
 it were at times: foi- they wouM sometimes let me wallc 
 in the garden, lia\'ing a belief that I -would not go away." ^ 
 What a loss to tli(.' army, and disa[i[)ointmenl. to tin; 
 clergy was that ! If Fox could have accepted, no stouter 
 ' ./.w',ve/, I. ]L\s.
 
 ^2 TJic Quakers. 
 
 captain would have led in the u])hill charge at Dunbar, 
 or at Worcester fight. Preacliing captains and colonels 
 were ])lentif"ul already : one inoi'c wonld be no such 
 matter, and "wdicn the army marched lie must move with 
 it ; besides, tliero was the chance that some providential 
 bullet or pike-thrust miglit effectually silence this trouble- 
 some controversialist. Fox, too, would liave found his 
 advantage in it, for the most furious priest-led mob would 
 shrink from assaulting tliat tall'commanding figure, with 
 steel cap on head and broadsword at side. But Fox's 
 peace principles were w^ell known, and probably his 
 adversaries hoped to diminish his influence by convict- 
 ing lum of inconsistency, but they were disappointetl. 
 
 \vl tlie felon's gaol Fox oljscrved the corrui'iting influ- 
 ence of long impi-isoiuiieuts, in which the prisoiiers learned 
 badness one oL" another ; and addressed to the judges an 
 a]peal that s])i_HMly Justice sliould be done. lie also 
 inter\-ened on behalf of a young woman in tlie gaol, who, 
 for robbing liei' mastei' of some money, was being ti'ie<l 
 for her life. Fox wrote to tlie judge and jury about her, 
 showing them how couti'ary it was to the law of (!od in 
 old tinii' to put people to death for stealing, and mo\"ing 
 them to show mei'cy. Tlu' poor ereatui'e was condenuied, 
 and l)roUL;bt to the gallows, but wdieii blindfolded on the 
 ladde)- a. repiiexc ai'ri\'e(l. In the ])ris()n she A\'as eon- 
 verteil, ;uid hecaiiie a (^)uaker. These are among the 
 man\' ])rool's tli.-it (Jedi-ge l*'(ix A\-as no mere religious 
 fjinatie. lie had a genuine pity for all human woes, and 
 a hui'iiini;' hat i-e<l ( t' inju-t iee oi' e\-ei-y kind. 
 
 Wdieii tla-i'oyal aiaiiy was mai(diing towards \\'i)i-C(\ster, 
 and t'roli levies were heiiig made. Justice l;eiineit, tried to 
 foi'ce bo.v to accei)t the ])ress-mone\-. This attemjit alscj
 
 Proclmnation of tJic Message. 53 
 
 failing, the magistrates could not tell ^vllat to do Avitli 
 liim, and at length they uncci'enioniou.sly turned him out 
 of gaol, after he had been a prisoner almost a year, h^et 
 free again, Fox was immediately at his work, and spent 
 about four years in the northern counties, gathering 
 churches, and bi'inging them into order. His fame spread 
 far and wide : among the common folk ho was regarded 
 with awe, as one ])ossessed of mysterious p(.)wers. Some- 
 times l)eing inhospitably refuseil shelter, at other times 
 fi'om clioice or iuiliiference, he S') frequently passed tlie 
 ]dght in the o})en air, that tlie rejioit got abroad that he 
 could not be in a be'l.^ Another report alleged that he 
 rode a gr^at bhick horse, wliich could carry him from 
 place to place with supernatural speed. One day he 
 sudi.lenly appeared in JjeN-erley church, and on the morrow 
 a great lady of th(.> place related to Justice Hotham how 
 an angel or spirit came into their church, spake the 
 wou'lerful things of God to the astonishment of all, and 
 then ])assed away, none knowing wlience it came or 
 whither it went. On that occasion he nuist have been 
 carried up in spirit to a vision of heavenly things, the 
 d^'scription of which eutranceil the hearers. Jhrt he 
 C(_)uld 1)0 terrible also. Jud^-e jjennett called them Quakers 
 because, as lie said, [""ox liailc them trembh; : he might 
 more nptly have sai'l, because Fox made them tremble. 
 At Uh'crstone on(_! of the clergym"n thought tliat the 
 church shook while Fox was prt;acliing ; and he hastened 
 out for fear it slioidd fall upon his head. \\\ l\(;nd;d, on 
 the market day. Fox went through the town, warning 
 tlie ])eople (.)f tht; might}' day of the Lord, audi " so d.ivad- 
 ful was the power of Clod that was upon me, that peojde 
 ^ Ju^u-nxl, I. 15;^,.
 
 54 '^lii^ Quakers. 
 
 flew like cliati" Lofoi'o \\\(^ into their houses."^ lie \\<is 
 accused of:" gaiiiiiiL;- c(^]i\'('i't.s by Lcwitcliing them. Pop- 
 ular report attrihuted some ]uystcrious power to the 
 Quakers, so that they were rey;arded with alarm. Chris- 
 tophe]- Story, aji early convert, relates that the mere 
 approach of two Quaker preachers lilled him with a 
 mii;-hty dread, so that lu; had much ado to refrain from 
 shakitiL;' and tremhlin^' in their ])]'eyence. 
 
 Fox lu'lieve*! tliat he ])(jss('ssc'd tlie <.;'ift of discernment 
 of spirits, and he use<l it fri'ely, at times offensively. One 
 A\()man he puhlicly accused of witcheraft: and ai'ter- 
 ^\ards the people told him that she Avas i^'enerally so 
 aecountel. To anutlier he said, " Thou hast l)een a har- 
 lot ;" and slie, he teds us, was afti'i'wards con\dnced of 
 Ciod's truth, and hecame a Friend. Sittinij^ dowii at tahle, 
 in a hfUisc wh(_'ro he had keen cis'iliy I'ecfivcd, tlie word 
 of the ]/ird came to him, sa^ini;', " Eat not tlie bread of 
 such as have an e\'il eye."' Jio i^'ot ui) immoijiati'ly and 
 would cat nolhini;'. The woman of tlu' house was a 
 l)a]tist. We arennt told that she becamt; a (^)uakcr. In 
 llic ca-c of .SMiiic of Ills ii])poncn( > Vox used this L;'ift with 
 an uiicDjiijiliiiiciitio'y iVaiilxOcss. " Thci'c came to .liiilL!;t^ 
 kcH's that ( 'a]it;nM SaU'ls licforciiicnt iimcil^ eutlcavouiiuL;' 
 to iiicficM' the Juil^v against me, fdi' he ^\as an c\ik 
 miiiih' 1 man. and fii!l of ei!\y against, me: and \"i t he 
 couMsjicak hi^h I hiii'^s, and O'-'' tlie Scriptui-e -Wdrds, 
 and say, ' k.eli.ild I niaki' all thin-s nc\v.' lad I tehl 
 him, thill he mii>t ha xc a. new ( Im j, j'di' his ^od \\-as his 
 bc||\-. koidi's him. I l;!l III')' came aI>o that ciuii nis jii.stice 
 biliii Sa wfi-y ; anil I td'd him hislieai'l ^vas r(ittcn,a)id 
 he was full (if hx'piici'isy to the brim. Several othei- 
 ' ./m, -,,,/. I. \--i.
 
 Pyoclamatioii of tli: Jl/rsstrgv. 
 
 3 1 
 
 people also came, whoso states the Lord ;4'ave iiic a dis- 
 ceriiini;' of: and I spake unto their conditions.''^ In his 
 denunciations of the beneficed clergy, and the (hssi'ntini,' 
 ministers who I'cceived salaries, as iiirelings, false shep- 
 herds, devourin:^' the Hock, Fox appears in his least 
 amiable aspect. Even amon^" these there was the dis- 
 tinction of bad and worse. The receipt of the following- 
 epistle by the Ulverstono clergyman, William Lampitt, 
 was not calculated to conciliate. '"' The word of the Lord 
 to thee, () Lam]Htt I who art a decei^'er, surfeited and 
 drunk with tlie earthly spirit .... a blind leader of the 
 blind, a beast wallowing ami tumbling in tlie earth, and 
 in tlie lust, one that is erred from the spirit of the Lord, 
 who art of oM ordaineil for condemnation, a right liypo- 
 crite in the steps of the Pliai'isees, and in the way of thy 
 fathei's, the hyponites, which our Lord Jesus Christ 
 cried v>'(je ag'ain.st. Such with the light thou art seen to 
 be, and by the light art comprehended ; wliieh is t!iy 
 condenmation who hatost it, and will be so etei'ually, 
 exeept tluju re})ent .... And when thou ai't in thy tor- 
 m 'lit remember thou wast warned in thy life-time ....'"' 
 Tliis might })a-s for one of Ludovick Muggleton's sen- 
 tences of damnation, ^\'e!e it not that George Fox Jiolds 
 out a possibility of escape f)y re[>entance. ''Jdiis 
 readiness to consign antagonists to everlasting toi'inent 
 was common to all churches in that age. Ivepulsive as it 
 is, we must nut be so utterly disgusted by Gei)rge Fox's 
 employment of the weapon, as we should Ijc if it were 
 wieMed with like personality to-day. 
 
 d\jrril.le in his denuneijitions of wiek'edness. and p.iti- 
 less against liypocrisy, Vuk was naturally ol' ;i (|uiet 
 1 Jni',n', T. 170. - J:'>'r,n,K I. IS!'.
 
 56 The Quakers. 
 
 shrinking-, lovcablc disposition ; and ho powerfully 
 attracted tliose who came under the influence of this 
 more winning side of his character. " Wlien I first 
 went to him," says one of his converts, " he treated me 
 in meekness like a land). He took me hy the hand and 
 said : Young mau, this is the wor<l of the Lord to thee. 
 There arc three scri])tures thou must witness to he 
 fulfilled; first, thou must he turned from darkness to 
 light; next tliou must come to the knowledge of the 
 glory of God; and then thou must he changed from 
 glory to glory. Ami this inade such an imiires^ion on 
 me that I was fully persuaded that he was srnt of Ciod ; 
 and the W' rd of life was in him ; and what he then said 
 unto mo was more eflectual than all 1 had ever heard 
 from any teachers hefore."^ Another diseiple asserts 
 that there was not a meeker mau U])on earth, ddiouias 
 l"]llwood says : " I knew him not till the year .lG(i(\ IVoui 
 that tiuie to the time of" his death, I knew him awII, 
 lo\"e(l him deai'Iy, lionoui'ed him truly. . . lie ^\as 
 N'aliaut for the truth, li^ld in assei'tiug ir, jiatieiit in 
 suirenug for it, umvearied in lahoui'ing in it, stead\' in 
 his totimony to it. . . (o-acefu.l he ^\as in coujiteuauce, 
 ii"iauly ill ])ers(iiiage, gra\c in uesture, courteous in con- 
 versation ; .... ;i se\(ae r(])ro\"er of hard and ohstinat e 
 sinners; a mil'l and geiulc a !m iiish(a' ol' such a-^ \veie 
 t'-iiilei- and scii^ilile of thrii- i'adinu-: not Mj-t t iie--nt 
 liersonal wiong-, (:i~-y to fiir_;i\c injurlf^: hut zeal iisl\' 
 earnest, wle-i'e the honour of ( iod, the | ij^ i--| lei it \- (!' 
 tnith, the ] cace of the v'hurch. Wire conci-i-nri! : \rr\- 
 t'-nder, compas.idiiali', and pitii'ul he \\as to ;dl that 
 
 I .l-liii 'I'.iyl^rs ic.MiiiiMiiy ; I'lvlixud to /'-...'.s /y^/.-'/.s, \'.il. I. ],. 
 
 Ci. l'llll.uirl^i!li;L I'llil :m11.
 
 Fi-oclaination of the Mcssas:;c. 57 
 
 Avcre under any sort of alHiction." ^ Such Avas Cicorgc 
 Ft)X, as Elhvood saw him. Sucli ^ve may discern him 
 to liave been, from his o\vn writing's, from t;ie testimony 
 of ]iis friends, and from tlic silence of his foes, wlio in 
 their l.)iiterest liatred of his doctrines leave the moi-al 
 cha]-actcr (if the man iinassailed. In tlie first liery zeal 
 of youth, ami in the calmer force of age, lie was a man 
 who, whatever view we may take (_)f his insjiiration and 
 of his theoloo-y, stands among tlie noblest in the ranks 
 of sainth'io 1, and more than many, reminds us of the 
 charactei' of the Master in whom he believed. 
 
 ^ Prutixed to JdiiriKd. Editieu 1827, na 40 Ixxi.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Till-: srnsTAXCi-: or Quaker doctjune. 
 
 A NEW prop'ict ]i;i'l arisen a false prupliot, cried the 
 (.)i'tli(jJox a ti'uc prupliet of God, exclaimed hundreds 
 ;rnd tlionsands, who asserted that they tlieniselves knew 
 in their own exj^eriencc a similar inspiration. Withiii 
 ten years (jnal-cer nreetinL,rs were estaldished all over 
 l']iiL;'land, ;in'\ some in Irelanif and Scotland. So(_)n the 
 new doctrim,' s[)read to (Germany and Holland, and in 
 the Amei'lean eolonii^s. Wliat was this new go.-pel, or 
 new editioa of thi' old i^'ospel, and wherein lay its 
 atti'acti\'e i'oi'ci.' :* (Jcii-l;-,) Fox's revelations were the 
 siM'd-tliou^'hts oi' his tcachiiii;' ; but a fuller considei'a- 
 tiou of its chai-actcr ^\ill help us to undci'stand how it 
 won sncli spiMMly ar.d sii^aial success. 
 
 The first tlnni;' that stiihcs us in (icoi'^-c l-'ox's preach- 
 in^' is iis prc-i'iiiiucutly pi-artical charactci'. Chi'ist iaiiity 
 is a,h<)\c ;ill tliiiiL;--^ a luoial foi'ce ; hut soniehdw oi- dthcr 
 tic thfof.nicnl ,s\->tt'iim (if noumuism .iml rr(itcst;uitisni 
 ha\(' (ifhai hrcu jiopulai'ly ci >ii-t runl as iiirdcds v\diere- 
 li\- the nlisciicc cif umiTdity can he ciaid<)iic(l. 'I'he 
 ori'^itiai iiii]>ul-c winch di'oNc ( Icor^c l''ox i)d(> solitude 
 \\-;is his hciTii)- ;it llie iucou^i-^tcucy of jii'ofcs^cdly 
 rrli'^ious ])ro!.lr. W'licn hi^ coiilliid ^\as onci-, and la; 
 rthiiiied to ]a-oclaiiu the cxcrla^t iii'j,' L'-ospc!, morality 
 \\;is not i'l him a con-npuaicc <'f Cliiists salvation, l)ut
 
 7 he Substance of Canker Doctrine. 59 
 
 identical with it. His ]-)rcaciruig was as inncli con- 
 cerncMl about right con(Uict as about true theology. To 
 liini the distinction between things secular and things 
 religious, seemed not to exist. He ])reaclic(l in the 
 market as often as in the church, and about the market 
 as much as about the church. At the outset of Ids 
 nnnistry, he happened to bt; at iFans'ield when the 
 justices were sitting at an inn, supervising the hiring of 
 servants.'^ Admonished of the Lord to go and speak to 
 the justices that they shouM ]iot oppress the servants in 
 their wages, Fox drew near to the inn, but finding a 
 company of lidiUers there, he shrank l)ack, concluding 
 to ^vait for a more seasonable opportunity.. In tlie 
 morning, the j'ustiees were gone. AVhen the young 
 prophet heard that, he tells us tliut he ^\'as struck blind. 
 Standing there, he intpnred of the imd'Ceeper where the 
 justices were to sit that <hiy, and when his sight 1)egan 
 to return, he ran thither as fast as he could, and faith- 
 fully delivered his message. Thenceforth he ne\cr 
 dared to delay, though he found the duty painful, but 
 went to the cotirts io ciy for justice, au'l to the public- 
 houses to warn the publican not to let peo])le iKU'e moi'c 
 drink than would do them good. In fairs and in niark'cts 
 he protested against deceitful merchandi.-e. cheating and 
 cozening, warning all to deal justly and to sp(_'ak the 
 truth, to let their yea be yea. and their nay be nay, an<l 
 to do unto others as they would have others do unto 
 them ; and forewarning theiu of the gi'eat ami terribie 
 day of the Lord, which would come upon them all. 
 p]<[ually practical, though more in the spirit of his age 
 th;\n ours, was his testifying a.gainst May games and 
 ^ Jn,u-n<iK 1. "^.
 
 6o The Quakers. 
 
 feasts, music and st:iL;'o ])]avs, "for tliey burtliened the 
 puro life, and stirred up [jcople's minds to vanity." ^ 
 ITe visited scliools to warn schoolmasters and mistresses 
 t(j teach their ]MTpils sobriety in the fear of the Lord ; 
 and did not nei^'lei-t to exhoi't parents and heads of 
 liouseholds to a Ikithful discharg'e of their duties to- 
 wards children and servants, (jeori^'c Fox liegan with 
 this kind of preacliiiii:;', and stuck to it to the en<l. If 
 pi-^opie Would he Christians, th(,'y should he moi-al 
 Christians, for to none els(.' would he concede the name. 
 His latt^-^t 1jiogra]dier regards Fox especially as a social 
 rei'ormur ; - and undoubtedly Fox la'ought religion t(-) 
 hear U])on soeial life Avith exti'aordiiiary persistence and 
 success, and has stamped his followers with this charac- 
 teristic to the present day. J>tit of social reform or 
 political ]'L'form, independently of religious reform, 
 Ccoige Fox never so iinvh as dreamt. With him all 
 life was a unity, all lil'e was religion, and onl\' by 
 ])!n-(_' I'fligiiiii did he ex}ect society and govcrmncnt to 
 ])( rcgciK'i-.ited. 
 
 Till' >upcrlicial pi'culiai'ities of ((uakerism, by rxcitiug 
 tli(; s-'iH'c of the ridi<'ulous, are lai'gcly rrs|iou>ib!f for 
 di\rrtiiig attention fVoni its essential doetrines. Its 
 ocldities \\-ere di-likeij iVoiii tlic lirst, but in fox's day it 
 was tlieir doct fines, not their ei 'cent i ici' ie^, whi h bi- luglit 
 upon (Ik.' (^)uakei-s f h,; exeta adions oj' Ciii i-tendoai. Son a; 
 of (he pe(adia)'i(ie> of the (^)iinki'rs Ixdiaig r;ilher ( i the 
 scccind L;eiHa'at i^ai than (he Hiv-t. In cond'amdiig gaudy 
 and foppish attii'e, i''"X \\as oidy eehning (he scn(iiii(Mits 
 ol" the l'uritan<. if' wore no pi'taili.ir garb him-' U', ex- 
 ' .h.,,r,,nl. I. lal. 
 
 - A. ('. \'.]<:i:cy -':", r Fur : 11, r i:,',!y N.,,,?,,-.s. JS.S).
 
 The. Substance of Quaker Doctrine. 6l 
 
 ccpt at one time tlie leather breeches, and ho imposed 
 none iijion his followers. The quaker peculiarities of 
 speech vere not at first so peculiar as they hy lapse of 
 time became. Fox stiffly adhered to verbal exactness in 
 the use of the personal pronouns, but in this he followed 
 the example of a portion at least of the baptists. It 
 nnrst be remembered also that it was then the ordinary 
 custom to use "' thou " and ' thee " between equals and 
 friends and to inferiors ; and the early Quakers adhered 
 to i^n'ammar, whereas tlieir successors affectedly employed 
 " tliee " as a nominative case.^ The Ba})tists also antici- 
 patcf] the Quakers in their objection to the heathen 
 names of the mouths and days of the week. Fox was 
 deficient in moi-al perspective. His refusal to dofi' his 
 hat to social supcrioi's exhibits a sturdy independence of 
 charact'jr like that which inspired Ihirns's song. But 
 while we admire, we have a feeling that Fox i-aised 
 these nnnor nioralities almost to a level with tlie 
 weightier matters, justice, mercy, and truth. Xo doubt 
 Fox was greatly intluenced by the Scriptural precepts 
 coiidenuiing respect of persons, and eenunanding to lion- 
 our all men.- Whether or not he made too nnieh of 
 tlu^'se lessei" matters and Fox woul<l not to sa\'e his life 
 swer\'e a hair"s-breadth from the line' of his conscienti- 
 ous conviction it would be a mistake to sup|)ose tliey 
 were pronunent in his j)ublic teaclung. He lield liis 
 opiifious, n(jt hjosely, but tenaciously, and woifid inain- 
 tain tliem against all comers; but it was not by (IweHing 
 on ])oints of granunar and eti(juette tliat lie sliook tlie 
 riations. 
 
 1 Tlic L'ihvrbj "ftlir Spirit, S:c., l)y Jolm TaiUy, ITOO, ja-e 00. 
 
 - Janius ii. i, 9 ; 1 Polcr ii. 17
 
 62 The Quakers. 
 
 War Fox regarded as iiicoiiipatible with pcrfuct 
 Christianit}', Imt we do not hear that lie required 
 soliiiers to give u[) their profession. William Peun, 
 Avhcu he was converted, was a courtier and a galhmt, 
 wlio had borne himself witli C!)nspicuous courage in a 
 duel, and ha'i held miHtary command under lleni'y 
 Cromw(dl in Ireland. Long after he had turned Quaker, 
 lie still, like other g.'ntlemcn, wore his swoi'd. Uni'asy 
 in his mind, very likel_y iu coirsctiucnce of the criticisms 
 of his hretliren, lie coi^sulted Ftjx on the subject, wlio 
 a<lvised him to wear his sword as long as he could. 
 Oaihs, e\'eu iu courts of justice, I'\)x utterly refused, 
 rcgar(]ing them as forbidden by Christ's couunand. 
 Orthodoxy at that time was rigidly Sal)batarian, \)\\i 
 1^'ox on the contraiy was th<_)rougldy Pauline in this 
 respect. In rcgai-d to th(j two sacraments he went be- 
 yond Paul, li')lding that they were ti'mporaiy oi'dinanees, 
 iutt'udi'il I'oi- the ti'aii-^ition ])ei'i(>d while the infant 
 ('hurch w;;s hampered by its .Jewisii swaddling-clothes, 
 but inn!.'(;c>--:n-y nid misuitable in a puri-ly s| iritual 
 religion. .Men and ^\>)mln were cjUil in the ('liui'ch, 
 and the Women might ju'eaeh as I'lcely as the men. 
 'i'ithi's wi'i'i" niM iII-IiimI ui;i|er the Xew 'I'estanieiit, and it 
 was >infid to p'ly thein. It was wi'mej,' b)r a minister to 
 
 ]'eCei\ (_ p.l N'meiit t'l ir prejlel I i U '_;' the ( in^pc I, whether I roll 1 
 thi' --late (i)- IVoiii \\\~. own CMii-i'ei^^-at i"!). All these Mia\- 
 i M' ir,clu ie 1 ;i , po't^oT that jaa'-t ie;d I'eligion ol' which 
 
 (ieorge l'"o\ Ii'Cime aU exaiilple, llut it Would iiC a, 
 
 griat mi-taki' to !.,,>!< noon ihe>e ] .a 1 1 ieular ]iraet i<'es as 
 t lie I .--,. aiee ol' i''o\'> 1 eiehhe^' and the -. an'ee of its power. 
 No ne-re peeuiiai'it Ie.> of >peech, opinion, or beha\i(jur 
 CO ,ld win ace ]itanei' foi- ,1 ne .\- | .,, ,j,hi t ; imi' would un-
 
 The Substance of Quaker Doctrine. 63 
 
 usual zeal for veracity, hoiiesty, chastity, ami the oilier 
 moralities be sutlicient alone io produce the enthusirtstic 
 faith with which his iii','ssa;^'c was receiveil. AVe must 
 l;o deeper for the causes of his success, and wo cannot 
 do bettei" than enquire of his earliest an 1 most dcvoti-Ml 
 followers, Avhy ho seemed to them a messenger from 
 heaven ? 
 
 In l(Jo2, George Fox entered Westmoreland, prea,ching 
 as he went, and passed ow to Fuiiiess. A friend took 
 him to lodg.;; at Swarthmore near UK'erstone, the 
 residence of Ju^lge FelV where it was the custom 
 to entoitain ministers and religious people. Tiie 
 next day, luing a Lecture or fast day, .Airs. Fell 
 and lier cliih.lren vrent to church, hut Fox would 
 not accom])any them. lie wadtefl until the pra\'ers 
 were (jver, and entered when the hymn helore sermon 
 was Indng sung. Let Airs. I'A'll relate what ensued. 
 "And wheui tliey had done singing, he stool up upon a 
 seat or form, au'l desirtsd that lie iinght ha\'e lieerty to 
 speak : and he that was in the puljat said lie^ miuht. 
 And the fir>t words tliat he spok_' were as f illows. ' iK; 
 is not a Jew that isoiie outward ; neiiher is that eircum- 
 ci>i'>n whii'h is outward, hut he' is a J(/w that is one 
 inward ; and that is cii'euiiLei ion A\iiich is of the lieai't.' 
 And So he Went on and said, how that Christ was the 
 Light of tlu,> WfU'id, a::d lighteth c\'ei-y man that cometh 
 into the woi'ld ; and that hy this light thc\' might ! 
 gathei'ed to (Joil, i.V:e. And I stood up in my ]ew, air! I 
 wou'lered at his iloetrine, for I had ne\er lieii'd >ueh 
 
 ^ Tlic house still stands iinc!i;iirj,'i,(l. Tlu}" slmw Uic idMiii wlioi'o 
 ilio family s;it, and (jioei'gu Fnx wiih t lieiii, ami ilir vondnw fnuu 
 "ssliich he preached to au audience in the .'ireh.ird liclnw.
 
 64 
 
 TIic Ouakcrs. 
 
 bi't'oro. And tliL'ii he wont on and opened the Scriptures, 
 and said tlio Scriptures wi^re tlie Prophets' Avords, and 
 Hirisfs words, and tlie Apostles' words, ant] what, as they 
 sp.>ke, they enjoyed and posse-sed, and liad it from tlio 
 Lord : and said, thru what had any to do with the 
 Scriptures, hut as tliey came to tlie Spii'it tliat L;'a\"e 
 them t'.irth { ^'ou a\ ill say Christ saith this, and tlu> 
 Apostles s:iy this hut what cans't thou say '. Art thou 
 a child 1)1' li-ht, and hast walked in the li!j,-ht I and what 
 thoii speakest, is it inwardly i'rom (Jod .' \:e. d'his 
 opened me so, that it cut me to the heart ; and tlien L 
 saw clearly M'e were all wron^'. So I sat me down in 
 my pew a-;un, and cried hitterly ; and 1 crietl in \\\\ 
 spirit t> the Tyird, 'We are all tliie\-es : we are all 
 thie\es; we ha\'e tiken the Script^ires in woi-.ls. and 
 kuDW n ahiuL;' nl' them in ours.^hes.' So that sei'N'ed me, 
 that I eann 't well tell what he spake al'lerwards : hut 
 he w.'Ut on in d^'-lai-iir^' a^:^iu-^t the false pi'ophcts, and 
 jiiirsts, and d.'Cfi\frs of tlr' jieojile. And there was one, 
 .lohn Sawrcy, a ju-^tiee ot' the pra^'o and a jiiMt'essor, 
 that hid tie' eiiui-chwaidt-n take him away ; and ho laid 
 hi-> hand- I >n him -Naaal tiiiii's, and tcij^ them nil' a^'aiu, 
 and Irt liiiii al' 111.' ; and thmat'ta' awliilo he^-a\e ovoi-, 
 and cam.' t'> <inr leai-^' a^'aiu that ni-ht. And \\v ^pcke 
 in till' f.ami'y ani' ln^-t tin' Ma'\ant-, and they w ero all 
 ^.aei-ail\- tMiuinrc'l, as Wilham ('atoii, TiKimas Salt- 
 luai-'a Mai'y A-Im'W, Ami^' <'la\tiin, an^l -rNeial nthia' 
 >rr\ant-. And 1 wa- --trii-h.ai iiun >ueh a sailni'-^s 1 
 IvU-'W n^t what t idi>, my hu->hand 1 uin^ t'roni hone'. 1 
 vaw it wa-^thi' ti-iith.and I enuld not d^iiy it ; and I 
 did as tie- Api-tle >aitii,'I r'e.a\rd tie' truth in tie' 
 l(i\.' of it,' and it \sa-; dpfieel to nir ->i) t'lear, that I liad
 
 The Substance of Oiiakcr Doctri;u' 
 
 6; 
 
 never a tittle in w\\- lieart a':;-ain-;t it : l>nt I ile-ii'eil tlie 
 Li )! 1 tlint I iniu'lu- l)e k^'pt in ii : ;iul tli'^n I il-sii-^'ij no 
 UT'::U<'r |iM;ti<>:i."^ Si^ .Maru'ar.'t Frll liovinn' a ^nak'.-r, 
 an 1 >_'\-.'nr'\'n Vi'ars at't-n-war Is. wlnni JikI^-v' Fi/.l lial 
 li 'i>:i il 'ivl 111' )!- than t-'ii ye ir-. sh b'caia.' F')x's\vife. 
 Sh'' wa^ ;i wMuvm ol' li>autit'ul >p';rit an'l u'i\.'at c nn-aL^e, 
 t^iiii;!.;' an 1 su:r"'rin_;- nut -h for !i a- t'aitii, tM wiiirh >lie 
 w."!- -r'a-lfi-t niitil il'a'h. I'^immi tlii- ar innt nt ii-n- 
 c >M\'''i'>i '11. -');iK> laay iiibT l 'lat pi'i'N'i' I'l-l v sli lial 1 1 Mai 
 a [' a'Mi ili-r. \\'ii!i I'lr aaiy lb' ir"-tV'lt r^'li^-i >!i. lint tlin'e 
 isn^ahiu,;' in t'l'^ inr:nt!v'' t'l siipprjrt this vi..'\\' : she 
 il'i;-- n It h'-iiii" lL'r-''.t' a!')ii.', l.ut eri'-s ont tint they 
 Wk'Y-- ah tli!"\'''s. tha> inchi-liiii all tho^e t<") whr)ni she 
 ]ia 1 h)-)lc.>.l np as t-adhav^ aial I'X iinplcs. If, liow.jv-r. 
 any 'loaht han-'s on-. a- her ;aaa;iin_;'. !'' n> e-'injiare tiie 
 t-'-tiiU'iny of ;vai)clu'i- di-ci])!.'. 
 
 J]/forr' ]"ox; ivMclial Swarthiaore. he preaohe'l in 
 Ki'iiilal. in the town liall : thenC-' he wrait to Un^Ier- 
 haia- )\v. w la i',' ho nv.a a hvl of sixteen o;' s.>V(ait xai y.airs. 
 wit'a \\"h'i;a h- ha 1 u'roat I'.MsouiiiM-^. Tliis was liUu-ai'l 
 Buri-'au-h-. N\-ho h.-!-Miii' an ;n''hnit helirvia- aial fiavont 
 jriV'aeiia- cf ipi i l-c.'i'i^m. Yov ri_;-ht year- he -was the 
 ipiai<i'r apo-tlf nf L iialoa. wlaa^' h' .ii>'.l a natiayr's 
 'h'-rii a,t the ;i _.\. i,f :2s. Ivlw-ar^l JVariMn^'h- was H' >t a 
 f(a-iai'i>t. Fi-.iiii tli'_' a.u'' wf twe'.v,' he was inten-ely 
 ea'.-n '^t in r^'!i_;-;oii, foil iwinj; th- s'riet --t seet e.f tae 
 puritans, nnril lu' h c-i'.n a >e-eker, "Then it plea-ei 
 th- h. ;.]." lie - ly-^, t'l s ai I h's tiaie an 1 aiithful -erv.mt 
 anil la 'ss .!!- !", U au'e Fo'v, who soaki' tiie !an_;- aa^e 
 whi'ji i un'lei--;r 'o 1 nor." Tiiej-e were e-rrar r ase,IhIl.,^s 
 h"'W'e-i them, ae 'or lin ' te. Fo\'s i .urnal. hur 15 naen-'lis 
 
 Ti stini 'iiv . >f jfar ',iro' 
 
 1 ;\::\eii :> the Jv-^rnaK p. liv
 
 66 The Quakers. 
 
 soon caught the inoaiu'nq; of tlu' now gospel. " First the 
 Loi'd brought us to know and see ]^ertectly tliat (Jod lias 
 given to US, eN'ei'y one of ns in |);u"tieiilai', a Li'j,ht iVoni 
 Hinis'df, sliiiiiii'4- in our licarts and eonscii-net's : wliieli 
 LiLi'iit, Clu'ist lli.^ Soil, tlic Saviour of tiie worl !, liad 
 liglitiMl vxvYx n)an, anil al! nnnkind withal : ar.<l \ve 
 found this L'ght to Ik; a, suliieiciit tcachtT to l(;nd us to 
 Ciirisr, Jesus, fiom \\':i('M(.:(' tliis Iji^ht caMii', and tluTchy 
 gave us to leccivc ( 'hrist ;ind to witui'ss Kim to dwell 
 in us ; an 1 in all tiling's we Iniind the Li-ht Avliich vre 
 wer(! enlightened willial, and ad laaiikind, (wliirh is 
 Cdu'ist) to 1)0 alone, an 1 only s Jlieie'iit to bring to bfo 
 and etei'iial sa.i\-atioii."'^ 
 
 Anotiier of t!ie.-e l\endal couN'erts, Fi-aneis llowgiil, 
 who also beeaiue an eminent in'raciier and was Jhu'- 
 ron'_;hs' cnllraL;-!!'' in i.ondon, I'elates a, sinnlar st'ny of 
 li:s(e\\n ei>!i\ ia^ii 111. lie ioo from a cliild set liis heart 
 to know (J)d, r.'ad mueli and jirayel innc'i, but sdU was 
 si'll'-eoiH jmnnrd. lie coiiielained lo tlu' eler^y, and they 
 told 1dm that sill \\;is imt impu'ed to be]i.\<n's : (hat 
 tdiii-t had tal.eu it away, Ian thai the guilt sliould re- 
 main while he ]i\-.'d. This je' ihoiiyht a iidserable eon- 
 diiion.and he a-i'l them for (he I njrpcndiaits, and thrse 
 b.r (ia' l;a].(i-a-. ' rai( ^idi -aW sa id, 1 he let ( .a- was (lu^ 
 w< a' ! aiid laiji', ; iid ( 'hri ( a> ( a dd-.{a ne.' and w it h< at; had 
 ^\-\\^- ah." Smii,i> e|.';ir!i,d tiv. -wall, and xanc njijox'l 
 it. Si aie- pi' el:' Mn-d !'i i m -ja ;'., ; IJ!'!; ;dd .- i 11 , ] la ! . j , i c- 
 s-nf. a 1,1 til ( ^Mii-, w a d' III' a w a \- : i idx' 1 -ii \e ai:d ad 
 i> lii.i die i. bail ie-, ].' .i.i- I'-'dieA, , I id h-ard a. \aii(-e, 
 sayina, " Ilis -ia\ain thuii art to wlmai thou i .1 n^ycNt,"' 
 and found no ji.'jier. Wdeii (ir.Mgv box a]i[)rared, he 
 
 I'rrtu-i; tw (;,M,i-v Fi.x'.-. 0',-e' M>'.^l'r,i.
 
 The Substance of Quaker Doctrine. 6j 
 
 too received liim as a messenger of God, brint,dniT a 
 
 go'^pel never conceived of before. " Iininediat(dy as soon 
 as I heard oiK^ declare that the Li^'ht of Clii'ist in man 
 was the way to (Jhrist, 1 l)"lii'Ved llie I'^teriial word of 
 trutli. aie'i that of (fod in my cmsL-icnce seeded t^) it."^ 
 
 Thi'se inst'inces mny suHice to mak(^ it elenr, hfw it 
 wa-^ th.'it fox's m(.'ssa^'(3 c.ime to iio.unn hearts as a ww 
 e'o-[)(d, nniina^'iiied b'foie, but oiiC(.' hearib commt^sHliiir)- 
 it>eb'as the veiy trutli of (jo !. They ha'l Ihmmi broni^'ht up 
 in an awful reveix-nee for the bi!ile,as the only Word of ( lod 
 to tliem : h'Ut the dortriiies -which the elei-gv extracted 
 from its p;ie-i's^ anil delivered as of dixdno jiuthority, diil 
 net seem to them to be ili\'ine : and th(^\' knew not wdiere 
 to look for a way out of their })ei'i)lexities. Uprose one 
 in their mid^t and to'd them that (!o'l had spoken to 
 him, and was speakinp; to them, as snrely as bEe s|)ok(! 
 to propliets and aj)ostles of old : they heard and won- 
 d 'red, and l)elieve'l, because tiiey fonU'l it e\'en so. (iod 
 was s|)e.d<iiii;-, liad lone' been speakine; in tlieir Jiearts, 
 thorio-h hithei'to tliey had not kno\\'n that it was their 
 FaihiM-'s voice. Tle'y liad lic^on taught that their salva- 
 tiiei was purciiasL'di f.ir theni by a great ti'ansaetiou 
 IjetNveeu the' Son of (bid and the b'ath' ], whieh was 
 Cilb'eti' 1 sixteen hnndri^'d }-e;irs lud'oi'e ;i': C d\';iry, oiUside 
 Tei'Msaiem. The whole ti'ansaetion was external to them- 
 selws, far oil" in the invisili'e, aied their comiection witii 
 it setaned rtanote, arbitrary, aiid unceiaain. (Jeoi'ge I'^ox 
 crit.'d out among them, "])o ye iiot se(> tlie 1 h;od of: 
 (dirist I See it in ycmr heaits, to spiankle yo.ui' hearts 
 and C(.)nseiences froiu dead woi'ks, to ser\'e the li\ing 
 
 1 Works ef FnuR'is fTew^'ill. ' Tlu; lulicritaiico ef Jueob dis- 
 covered." l'';iges 0-' vt .SL(/.
 
 68 
 
 The Quakers. 
 
 G(i(I."^ Tlion thoy like liiiiisclf ' s;nv it, tlio l)]()()il of 
 the New Covi.'naiit, liow it came iiitD tlie heart."' I'hcy 
 liai] hfcu taii^'lit tlie ihity of rcpLaitance. of foi'sakiiiCT 
 sin, an 1 tliat AN'ithoiit liolim-ss iio man sliall S('(.' tlu'Loixl: 
 hut in rlic same hreutli rli>'y h;i<l luM'ii wai'nf<I iliat lioli- 
 nc^-^ was unattainahh' in tliis lilV. J'.ut ( ir-oi'^-c f'ux tojil 
 tiicm that '(.'In-ist di'l n'lt di^' for sinners, tnat t!i''y 
 sh >nl'l li\'r all til ii' life-time in sin. ami ilie in their 
 sins." ' There is a time I'oi' men to see they have sin, 
 anil have simieih ami a time to eonfess anil fms'ike it: 
 and there is a time to witness tlie' hknul df ('hi'l^t cleans- 
 ini;' from all sin, and there is a time to witness tin; truth 
 horn of (dod, wdiieh doth not commit sin. - d'hey heard, 
 and the Joy of a e'reat hope dawned iijioii their soiil<, 
 like the li^ht of the liiornin-- snn aftei' a niu'ht of e\ il 
 (]re:ims. hox's ^^.>])ld was t:ie --osp.d o1' Id-lit : the li-'ht 
 within. ('hri--t the IJ-'ht. ( )iie ean imau'ine how his 
 fne.; sleme n.. he ..|,oke of the hi, .^^-d Idjil in which he 
 Idm-elf dwelt ill l!n--]ie;lk;ll lie ];..;ie,.. ' ' >. ihelefol'e, NUn 
 
 that know the li-ht, walk in th" liolit 1 ho!' there ai'e 
 ehildieii of d;.rkne.. ih;,! will tnik of ih- li-hi .-iiid ..f 
 the truth ;ind not walk in it: lait the c'dldivn of ihe 
 li--|it lo\e the li-'ht an I walk in the lidii." <^hid.;.r<, 
 the \\'( .1-1 1 ca Me 1 I h-m, 1 ril tiny called I h'an - 'ix-e- ; I'i' ]! hs 
 oi' triilh ' and " liie ehilaivn o|' the li-ht." Ti:e ehi'divu 
 ui" the d'.;-hi th'^y lo\ ed ihi' name, i'or \\ e:\j.ie-, el an 
 inwe.: d r ;diiy. 
 
 'ldiM> ih'' ive.'ptioii of hiixV mi'-sa_:-e is \\,,\ imino 1- 
 
 l;-i'ole to n-^. \\> l-.-jeetioi ,M Uo CJlll he iUnf r>0'od wilh- 
 
 ' ./.-',,,,,/. I. Dl', 
 
 ' loo.-. W,,rl.,.;, 77., (:,.!< .U;/5',,-;'. jin-e sit : see uIsM ,/,,wr;w/. 
 Vek II., na-e ISf..
 
 The Substance of Quaker Doctfine. 69 
 
 out bt'lieviiiL;' LJuit <ill \vli(; rel'us(!d the new doctrine \verc 
 lo\(;-rs oiMarkiiess laoi'v' than 11 ^'ht, because th.eir deeds 
 wci'e e\iL d\) many a grave, gedly, and learned dl\'iiie 
 Avhose ewii exp.uienco continued to liiiu tiie unl(|ue and 
 iacoinparahh.', inspiration and .siipreuu3 autiiority of tlie 
 SiTi[)tuivs, ^Vld.h w/is tlie tradition of the Clnirch, and 
 the c'li'dinal <l)ctrine of tlie Ilefunnation, tliis talk of tlie 
 inward t 'a!;heM-, the Clu'ist within, seenieii dang'crous 
 hci'ij^y. j-]cch_'siastica!. lii.stDry sliuweil hiiu how the same 
 t'efitful teu leiicy had apj^ 'ared oftentimes before, a, 
 I't'uitiiil sei'd of a ]ii3ruicio(is crop (^f errors. Not being 
 gil"t"'l, as Fox suj)[)(>se(l hiiiisidl' t) b >, v.dth the di:~cern- 
 iiiiMit of spirits, WW e:i!iuot judge \v)\\' far tlie ite\'. William 
 I/imj)itt of (dvci'sl:oni', the \\-\. Xathaniel Stevens of 
 Dr. vvloii, and ocli'i-.s who canu; under l'\)v's c )udemua- 
 tioii wej'e iiilluenci'd by iinwoi'thy moti\'e>;. AW' know that 
 ti^; l)L'st of the clvrgy, such, nu-n as Baxter, Owen, and 
 ( 'al.amy, \ver>) leading antagonists of (piakerism ; and in 
 diit> C'iLii'se nnist set forth a sununary (jf their arguments 
 aga,inst it. b'ii'st ol' all we want to gvd a clear coucejjtion 
 of wh.at Fox actually b.'lii'ved and ta'.'ght : and alri'ady 
 We hav(> se;'n, enough to account for the rapid establish- 
 mniL of the lU'W Church.
 
 CIJAPTER VI. 
 
 Till-: '1 r.l'Tll riilL^MiMLVXT. 
 
 (iEolUJl': Fox: liad H'^t to wait for success: it spraiii;' forth 
 to iiiL'L't him. When he appeared the harwst was ri[)e, 
 and iii soiiH.' eases the mature fruit droppe I into his haucfs 
 withoat liis effort. Startling as liis doctrines may 
 app'ar to some of us, they were not hy any means entire 
 novi'lties in t'lat a_;'i'. T'wo (^jaalcei's of this nineteenth 
 eeiitui-y, ioihiTt l')arel;iy,' a de-ccndant of t!e' ^Teat apolo- 
 L;'ist ol' (|Ua!^llism. a;.d William 'I'alfack,- iia\e lalionred 
 to pi'o\e til. It ( I 'oi':;-!' Vn\ was in no one ]ia)'t ii'u'ar 
 entirely an oi-ii;-ina'wr ; and it nin-'t he aeknow ledi^'eil 
 that t heii' fdi rai's lia\e keen lai'^'eK' sneee>sl'nl. l-]\en 
 his eeiiiral dnetrinc, liic hi^ht wiihin. the supremaey ol' 
 tlie Spirit s teaehiii;4'. had h 'en ant ieip.it ed. \\ hat made 
 fox the leader of a, L;'reat reh-ious mii\-cment wa^lhe 
 slreii--th ul' his eon\"ietion thai A- had i'ecei\ei| thesi; 
 Iralli^, n^t I'l-Mm meii, hiU immeiliately IVom (!im1. and 
 that h had a di\in' e mimis^i^in { > ])uMi--h them i'di' the 
 I'e^eM aMti'in ( il' all a] 11-! ate ( 'liri-;!i':i(f nil. The hait iis hy 
 ihi'MjM-ii pr. I'lrii ail ion .if whieii h-- >le>,ij< the iiaiinns, 
 had keen .eia'eily p'liidiavl ky a few retired .-piiil-., or 
 
 /,. , / /,,y ../ '. , .,.;/ I- ,,:,;.., e'. ;7/,, ].y \ I , .\ r, ,1 i;,,M 1 'V. 
 
 Lai't'ii. l"-^7-'. Ai ia I'l' i''!i'\\ar,' e-"ea In' will iVr i iii'ie ly ]>c 
 ,|ii'.'r'l, Irl liiiii t.r i!i-.0)iiMii ^lu '1 as IJiilMal I "i,! nla v, ! ia- \ i iaii'_;ia'). 
 - Willi till 'I'alhifk'.s ';..;/. /'-,,., ,|v. l,,.iul<ai, l.St*S.
 
 T]ic TnitJi TriiiinpJu-nit. 
 
 tiiiiiilly (Ii\'ulyc 1 to small private o-jitlaTliiij^-s ; lait rather 
 as pious speculations than solid certainties, a'olo to bear 
 the cuiniaoii (Iayii_H'lit. Uiitii Gecu'n-i) F(.)X a[)peareiL no 
 one lia I the courage to l.'ty, in their name, tlie whole 
 strength of the dominant orchoiloxy, sup[)orte 1 as it was 
 hy the uiagistra/y. They were waiting for tiieir lea ler, 
 au'l when h" raisLvl t!ie standaril and IjhiW the triniip.'t, 
 tliey has cue 1 to his side. S.ane, ind 'eil, recognised the 
 coming p:'ophet h^'tore he had fliiady ouiei'ged iVoin liis 
 L)nj," contlict with t'le ])owers of darkir'ss. Elizahclh 
 llo)tten, aft'Twards the tirst woman-preacher of the 
 Frltui'ls, who in oM agi_; twice crossed the Atlantic,e!rilured 
 nnicli gri 'N'ous Tisigt,', an 1 hraved deitli its^'if in the scr- 
 vici_! ot the ti'Uth. att;ich('d laa'seif to (_h'<u.g-e Fox when 
 he M'as siili in the very middle <jf his woes. Captiin 
 Amo< St'>Maril rangi' 1 hinr^df nii his side, crying, " Let 
 tlr.' youth s])eak : hear tie.' \-(nith speak;"'" wIhui the 
 (jrtlujdox N\'ou'.d have chuiiDured hnn down for the 
 lier.'tieal a-s.aaion that he siw th(.' hloo I of Chri>t in the 
 heart, ihtjm that tiure Stoddard clave to tiie lad, an 1 
 was faithful unt(j doath. Tliesc and others NVcri) " (;on- 
 vini'.'il,' as their sayiirj,' was, and in si'\-,"i\d. 'p'aci'-; they 
 gath 'i't'd t )gotlrn' in miv'tings t'or worshi[) and waiting 
 upon (jod : at lli'.--t, without any distinctive namo, with- 
 out an}' conscious pur[)ose of starting a wk^ax rtd'oi'inaiion. 
 Only hy ih'gr.'cs was it nri le cf;ar t) i"'ox hinr^L'h' tliat 
 he was S'lnt for the ro\uval ^f ad (Jtwistendoiu. Jn the 
 li'rst years there is no reeor(l of ;iu\' pri-a'-h;u- hoides 
 f^)X, and \v\ aiojKi suli'ered for the trutii. IJut wlcn he 
 ent'.a'cd Xottingham to ciiall'mgi.' Ihhlical l'iM'i>i!aMity in 
 the great chtircli of St. .Mary's, ihin'.; were iii>c-[a(;s who 
 wlU'c accompanying him in las j(nirney : and when he
 
 72 
 
 TJiC Quakers. 
 
 was iin])ris(>iie(l for tlic second time at Derl)y, lie twice 
 Sent foitli e[)istie.s to tlie '" C(jnvince(l and ten<lrr peopU'," 
 anion^' wlinni lie had lieeii laljcairini;'. " Frien'Is and 
 otlK'i' tender jirople,' tin' ])lirase indicates that ;it tiiis 
 time many were liow.iin^' round him in an nndecided 
 state ol nnnil. Some success he ha-l in the miilland 
 couuries, hut we hav(Mio me;in>ot' edimatiii^' it- amount. 
 U])on his release iroin piison. he ^wi'iit into \'oi-hsliir(\ 
 and it was in this and the nci^'iihoni inn' couiitie- that he 
 laid broad and dee]) the i'oundatioiis of the new ( 'Inu'cli. 
 in lliree or four years the whof' eountrys:(li' was stiii'<' 1, 
 aiid th(' fame (d' the chiidien of tho ii_;ht ^])i'oad i'ai' and 
 wide. Preaciiers arose amoiui,- them, who followed in 
 Foxs fo(jtsteps ; entering the ciiurches aiid ptd)!ie places 
 as he did, proclaimino cxt.'rywhcre tlic new -ospol \vh:ch 
 was the old, the primili\"o u'o--p I oi' lKo hi>L century. 
 Idcliard Farnswo! til, Jamrs ^.'ayjrr. an^l Wildam J )('ws- 
 hury, were conxinced and rt'ci'i\cil t'lo ti'tith in Idol. 
 The next year saw th" llttjo haii'l increased \^\ tlio 
 aC'-eS-ion ol' I atrroui^'iis and 1 low - ill, ( '.imni and Audland, 
 llidiard lluhl.a-dini'n and. .\lilrs llalle-ad, and scvci'al 
 mii;hty mon ol" \alour hcside-. \\\ hiok the pi'catdicis 
 had hi'c.iiiir >- 1 ^i-.al a ciimp.iiiN', ti.al ne'i'o tiian si.\t\' 
 \Vt ro >tnt I'oitii iVi'in tho uiaiii eiainii'y to ilic castrrii, 
 >( iUt iiorn, and wr^inai jiail-; nl' tlic nation. So lai-_;va 
 hand of prcaeiiri - ;i'jii'-^ a ;_;roat lei--t "f 1 k hov (]> ; 
 ah h ai^h t h'' ] 'i-i >] i' a't a 'ii > -1 piv adici--, t- 1 i la' \\ in 'l^ nnial iia- 
 wa- la r^ci' ana 1!l;' 1 1 a' < y la, ki a-> t lia n i~> leaial a na ai^' i ii la r 
 ( 'hii->t ian ( .'iiuivla'-.. .No ciai-M-- wa^ ta hon onriey ]'( )\'.-, 
 lil'c-iJmo, liiit tlaa-,- aO' t'a.t-- on irciad wliirli pm-.i that 
 the i:i>d\' lapidiy ^^e\^ dnian.;' it- lir-t -vneiaiion. Jn 
 I oral. ( ie 1-. e I'l ,\ w file- : 1 1 1 t li i> \a a i' 1 h e 1^ id'.- LlMlth
 
 The Truth Triuiiipha)it. 
 
 / :> 
 
 was Hndy ])lantcil over tiie nation, aii<l many thousands 
 wiTo tuniL'd to tliL' Li)i'(l: iiisoniiich that thd'c wxmo sel- 
 dom iV'Wer tliau one tlioiisand in ])rison in this nation, 
 for ti'Utli's ti'Slimony, som(_' for tithes, souu- for u^ini;- to 
 till.' stoe' Icdiou cs, some foi- not sweaaani^', and otluTs for 
 n .t jiuliini;' oil" llK.'ii' hats, izc.' ^ So^ai after tho Hcstor- 
 arion a carcl'ul ennmvn'ation of (j)'i;ikors in piis -n 
 tln'oun'liont all l-^nuland was mado, and it was Cnnnd 1h;:t 
 tho numhi'r cxccfd("(l four thousand and two hundrod. 
 If M"i' ai'ant tiiat in tli(.' ])roj)ortiiin of their niartyi's to 
 th(.' wliolf nund :(_!, this ,-tuhhoi'n i'olk, (.'(dijix' cx'ci'y otlirr 
 ]):irt of tlio' Chri>tian Cdiuridi in e x'-e I'y a.n'c, still four th<.)U- 
 sand in ])rison must r'|)rL-sent many tinu's tiiat lunnhcr 
 outsid^'. llolimt ISfirclay the A'ounL^'or, in his interestiiiL;' 
 Work alroady rct'orrol to, stat-.'S that tiie' Frlcmds in 
 Loii(h;n^ in liiTo. e-.Limat''d tlndr ] nn i d. or in the t net rojiol is 
 as am'aintin'4' to t^ni th(rasand ; and he coni[)Ult'> the: 
 w]b)le nuni' er in fhiiihind and Wales, in the \'eai' ITOO, 
 as a_t L,-ast sixty thou-and. This conr areij \\\{\v lie 
 total ])o|ml;Liion oi' that d.jiy wa.s a much lai'-vr fi'actioii 
 than it would he now. 'L'liere wei'i; also at that lime 
 floiiri^hin^' (}uak'er ehuiehes in Ii'el.-nul aii'l Scotland, on 
 the' (."ontinent, and in the jilantaiions in America. 
 (^>ud<i'ri>m estahiished it-.eli' dnrini;' f'ox's lifetime in a 
 mannm', ajul to an extent, v, hieh mii:ht ^\'ell si em to 
 je^ani^!' tlnj hnal rinl\-ei>ad trium])]! wldeh the(^)ud<er 
 pro|)h't^so coniidently l'or,.-t Id. I f ene eonij/a.res i-',.xs 
 s'icee.>.^ with that ol Luther, the '^leat ('ei'in;;!! i-efoi'mer 
 sa.w his doclriiK's meav; widely spread, and v/hei-e tliey 
 cam.', lu'a'^' ev'nerall}' a.cc"]iLed : out .Liith' i s relormahoi, 
 w,is alme.-t iVom thellisa ialveii nnd.r th- jiatroua -e 1 1 
 
 ' Jnumn', 1. ;i.jt;.
 
 74 
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 eartlily princes, and (le!'L'ii*k'(I by caiiial weapons. For a 
 coniparis(jn witli a relii^'ioii propa^j^'ated Ijy purely spiritiuil 
 means, Fox would Jia\'e liad to go back to priinitive 
 Christianity itself, oi wliicli, indeed, bo ever asserted and 
 belie\'ed th;it Ids te;iching was the true revival. In the 
 tii'.-^t century of our religion no eiuimei'atioii of tire 
 believers Vs'as taken, and wdietlier there wej'e nu^re 
 Christians at thech^seof the first generationof Christianity 
 than (^uak'M's at the close of the first goncration of 
 qiiakerisni, it is impossible to say. At least it is certain 
 that so far as numbers go, Ceorgo Fox met with splemlid 
 su.;cess. 
 
 15idii'\(.'rs Were gathered in from all ranks and 
 clas-'s, unless p('r]KH)s tlie highest. The mnjority were 
 tra'icsmcn, jirtizans, yenmeii, fai'inei's: but men of Awalth, 
 })'),dti<)n and uinxcrsity educjition \\'ere not rai'e ami )iig 
 tlii'iii. X baruiii't's daughter, .Miss Id'ehiwncy ol' i*i\'- 
 mouth. and L;ely .M;irg';irrt J buidilct' <n, became i iiri)jled 
 coiiNcHs. biiiicrss Miizaiirtli, diiughti-r of the bickdcss 
 i''i odi'i icl< Kill-- of l>ohci]na, and .^i-lcr of Sophia, 
 JJiichc,-.^ of Ih-iiioNi I', ihc niolliri' of our Iving ( toorgo I.., 
 was, if 11 )t i|ult(; a C* '''h'-r, at f'lsL ;i, sincere |)roseIyt:e 
 <i' t lie g it e ; 1 lilt two or t hree he lies do nut sutlic to ^ixi! 
 a tinge (,f a.i i>tocr;iey to t he <^)iiakers. If the iinhiiity 
 i'efn>eil |.) J"in a peujile who rel'iised theiu tiieir 
 
 ;!CCll M I )lili-i i defilVliec, ;ll|i| \\l|o~e .slUl'dv i lld.e] irl idel Ice 
 
 of -pii'it Mild ( '11 iiiet iiiii4 h;i\e >ce;i-.cd In threaten the' 
 
 e\i -.telle,' i,i' 1 1 li \' i I egei 1 Dl'd'^r.-^; tile fllloed 'Ji^^'WWV aiid 
 
 t h"ir f rieii'l- wei'i' iiiii -.M !( ([i^''r\ at i vi'. Smi if ihe>-^ 
 
 .illdge f'lTl, .bl-liee ILudlM III. and fkjllil'e M,-Il >M, rei-i-i \-ed 
 
 l'"w\ and lii^ teMCiiing with miieh -^ympiilliy, and de- 
 fendt.'d him to the iiLiiiD.st of Lluir p(AVi.'r, \viLh(jut
 
 TJie Truth TrinnipJuDit. 75 
 
 t'onually adopting his opinions. OtluTs, landed 
 ]iruprictors, justices ut' tlie p(":iC'-\ cleru'viurn, ollircrs in 
 tin." army, t'lok all risks, and u})eidy acci'[)tod the 
 op])i'()lirious name ot' Quakers. 
 
 Readers oi' Fox's journal and othei' records oi tlie rise 
 oi: ([uakeiisiii eamiot fail to lie struck with the innnher 
 ot soldii'rs who joined him. (_\a}>taiu Stoddard, C'a[^t:\in 
 Ward, i'olonel Oshorn, Colonel Ashtield, Major lvi})an, 
 (/Hptiiu Ijrown, Colonel Lilhui'ii, Captain Tool, Colonel 
 l)a\id i5irela\', with many olhcers and nrai, enlisted in 
 tile (piakei' I'anks ; and others are named who I'eceix'ed 
 ([uakt;r mceiinL;'s in their houses, \\lio nia\' ha\e heen 
 (^hiakers tluauseh-es, though it is not so stated, it one 
 Wia'e asked to guess the previous profession of any one 
 of the ipiaker ])re;ichei-s, setting the wonien-preachers 
 asii'ie, till' likeliest c-injeeture would he that he had 
 liou In tlie -irmy, prolidoly in tiie ai'Uiy ot the i'arlia- 
 m 'Ut, bin -oiiie wlio had i'on^'ht for the King wxto 
 aiiion^- tlean. Nor did these stalwart warrioi's discern 
 all at once the ineomjiatiliility of their mihtary 
 character wit!; the (j)iiakei- pi-ol'^s-ion. Capljiin J),\dn- 
 jiort ri'inained in the army, until he was turnetl oul lor 
 not [lutting oil' his hat, and for saying thou and thee to 
 his su})eriors. IJuri'oULdis madv; it a complaint to 
 Cromwell, that soldiers, as well as justices of the ]>eatCo, 
 and other oiiicial>, had heen di-charged on aeciaml ^^i 
 ijUakerism. .Man\- (^)uaker soldici'- iel'l ( 'romwaU's ioiiiy 
 when h.e rnpiircd of llaan an o;.th ol' tidoliiy. At that 
 time tlu;\' could iiglit, though they could not .-w.-jir. 
 'i'iiere Were (.^)uakei'.> in tlie na\y too. In ono ^iiio thei'e 
 was a little hand of them, who ai'ter ( ndiiring much 
 l>eisecution, \\ere recogiused as the ljra\L>t mcii ou
 
 -je 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 l)oaril, aU'l ,s[)('ciall\' sclcctt'd for the most laiiu'(/roiis 
 .scr\-ie', iii wliidi they di 1 not i'lil to u[)liol I tlicir 
 rcputi'. Shji; oL' tli'--' w>'i'i' pri'si'iitly t'lirllicr cii- 
 li^htciiui], and ill 'U iii'ii ill':' aous; nor blows, iidi' threat 
 (_)t liau.dii^' at the yai'.l-arin (^ul I move theia to lift a 
 1iii^'';i' a,;' ; ill ;!} tli Iii",' of ,i frl!o\\'-in:i'ii. j)i^iiiiss.'il LVoiii 
 the iia\'y, Tiioiiias L'U'tin^' eut'ri.Ml tlie. m-rrhaut- 
 seiviej. His sliij) was captuicl by tlie Tiirl-cs in tiu' 
 .Mediterranean, aii<l steered foi' Ai^'iei's. Ihiariiied, and, 
 wdlliout sti'il^in^' a blow, he and tiie otner se tineni undirr 
 his leadei'slii)), j'eiooi-: tiie ves-el, and made their eaptors 
 cap:i\-es. Trne to liis }ii ineiples, LiiitiiiL;' stoutly 
 r i'n-ed t) medxc money by ilie sale of liis pi-isoners, and 
 ua\"e anitlr r [ii'oof of iiis e io!nes> ;ind eouraoc by hvnd- 
 in-j,' thiin on tlnii' own siioi-e. 'I'iie exploit: w.is \v- 
 [xaied to biin'4 (''awle. wiio \i;i;ed tlie shl[) ;u ( b-a\-e>- 
 end. Tlie---' f;e-;> i-n;irci\- di^>ip;Ue the NU->oicii.n ih.it 
 V\y peace-jirini-ipje , oj' the ( Mi,Mker> li;i 1 tlieir ori'_;in in, 
 oj- Wi-re ,-up]H irti d by. -diiir (j.'licii-ney in ( lur.i _i-. (hi 
 rile folit l';i ry, ilir-c f.i.f.wcrs of ('.(Ml'i^-e box were (he 
 ^toiit"--l - 'Im'.-i : ! ! 1 111. n ol' t'leir a^'''; men wlio had 
 
 fwllMWe I i; II , ei 1 -, W VX cilMl -. , or with ( V. Mil We. I 1 lll'lied 
 
 t'.ie ri !> of li_;-lit on Mii'-^i 111 Mior; and aft a- jM-oNiii;' 
 t h ir <|ii;dily on iii:in\- ;i hard I'oiiu'li' h 'id, ii-p|,iy,-i j a 
 II ii iler c^:; r;i ^' in d i riii'_;\ ;i 1 i h' n'^ Me i li c. in-.-ii-ii.-e. I ( i 
 l'\- d' iwii I e.'ir -w . .!.!-, ;ind (.II't I li 'r eh. In-; I" 1 ii'' 
 
 -.liiil'l-. *' li.'l I fi rej;i \-, ,-1 111,111 wilh ih.' biDii.j (i! liir 
 
 ( ;. ir ion- 111 hi- \ .111-, ( I in 1-1 ( I, iid. '11- I 'f will 'III (Oil'' i ir' 
 h'-ni "1' l-\ h:i rl ' 'iii'i I -j'lil hi- ii!'' w ;i rri ii- I'li ili.^<'on- 
 liti'iil iiii'j.r I i;.^ 'ji' ;il < iii-li \ 11-. ;iii'l ['Mirie'd ;i wliile- 
 li,i!r.^.| \ci '1,111, I" 'inbr.ir ' i h.' * y.ri h'-r i'.dt h, e.n' i ni .kiy 
 l"-,ir ih- iii-o|ciicf '.f tl.i^ r.ibhlr ,i)' l'i'linl'nr''li, a,-.
 
 The TrutJi TriunipJiaitt. 
 
 77 
 
 Whittier lias suni^. Whatever ^vc may think of the 
 early Qualce>rs, at least they were not cowards. 
 
 There were educate 1 nien amoni;' these children of 
 thi^ li^'ht. Thoiuas Lawson, ' a hiidi s n't of pricsr," and 
 d'hoinas Taylor, ''an ancieait priot, ' ah:indoned tln-ir 
 hellchces to folloxv ( leor^'e l''ox ; as did others ot" theil' 
 cloth, (dies 1 hirnardiston ^vas a n'cutleiiian of [M-opi'i'ty, 
 (diiicated at the niux'ersity for tlu' Churcii, to \\hieh 
 after six years of stilly he could not incline ; he 
 cntei'ed the arni\', attained the I'ank of colonel, and 
 eniL.'d Ity joiinn;^- the Quakers. Samuel l^'isher, accord- 
 ini;- to (,'roese, tiie anti-(piaker Instoi'ian of (juaherism, 
 was a man siu'^uljii'ly ]cai'ne<l and Avondei'l'udy eloipicnt ; 
 an accurate ( d'eelv and J^atiu scliolar, and suliicieiit K' 
 \'ei-s('d in Ifehrew to wiite a kook lor the Jews in that 
 lanuaiauc EnjoyiuL;' a liviiiL!,' worth .")()() a yeai', he 
 resiinied it to kcceane a J!a])tist ])]-eacher, on wlatt 
 amount of stipend history saith not, hut little or nnich, 
 he li'a'.'c that u]) also, to ])ri_'ach the' L:'os[)el freely amoui;- 
 the friends of truth. Wiiliain Ames, the <^>u;dve!' apo>tle 
 of llolland, Avas ])r(.'viousl\' a ])a])tist jn'c'iclier autl a. 
 ndlit'uy olHecr who kejit his men ^\^'\\ in hand hy 
 ^ti'iet di-^cipline. So hi^'hly was he estoiaiiiMl foi- 
 elo jUeuce and leaiannu', that h.e was .s-ylcd the " ])eriVct 
 doctor." It must be adudtted, howe\-er, that the 
 enrlie.^t (pKvker writin_i,rs, considci-e(l a^ litei'atui-e, art' 
 pool- aiid teiliais. Not until near upon the lieuinniirj,' 
 of th(,' second ^'enei'atioii of ((uakciism, \\ ere its doctiines 
 Si't forth in a p(U'--picuous manner l>y l\'nn and 
 liarciay. Much of the ])rec(Mliiin' coiit ro\ n-.sia I litera- 
 ture is wearisomely tautoloo'ical, an<l del'riccd l>y had 
 o'ran\mar, as well as bad taste. 'Jdie men who came to
 
 78 
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 tlio I'roiit at fu'st wero mostly liko Goorii:o Fox hiiiisolf, 
 men of tlic i^ooplc, wlio had only sucli modicum of 
 edncatiou as the couiitiy-side affordi'd, and who iiuitat(Ml 
 their lea<ler's depreciation oi.' luniinn learniiiL;", and dead 
 lanunaLj'es. Tlicir pmver l;iy in ilic iervoiu' (.)f their 
 faith, tlie consistency of tlieir li\'es, and in a rude 
 natural eloquence at times risinj^- into iM])tui'e, at 
 times midtine' in tendei'iiess., and at times thunder- 
 in^' in deinniciation. Our lindts do nut ])ermit a 
 particular ]-(d'e]'encc to them all, hut let us e'lance at 
 two or three of these first ndssionaries of the (juaker 
 L;'ospcl. 
 
 '' Whilst T was in the dun;;'(H)n at Carlisle,"' Georo-e 
 I'^'ox wi'ites in his .loui'nal, the year w;\s Hio.'h "one, 
 James I'armd, a little lad of ahout sixteen years of a^'e, 
 came to see mi\ and ^\'as con\'inced: an<l (In.' T^ord 
 fpiickly maile him a ])n\verful miiuster of tlie Woril of 
 jiil'e, and many wei'e turned t) ( 'iii-i>t hy him ; though 
 he li\cd not lon^-, lOi- t I'aA'elliiiL;' into i'lssex in the work' 
 ol' the ministry, in th year Hi.").") in- was couMiiitte ! to 
 (Jolelp>>.,ter ( 'a--t le, w'ler,. !ii. endure 1 \-ei'y ^reat ha-'l- 
 ships and sull'ei in;4' .. h in^' lad. h\' t lie ciaiel J.ai 'ei' into a 
 hole in t he ( 'a-i le wall, called the- oxen, so hi-'h (roni the 
 ^reiuml, thai he \\-v\\\ u|i to it. hy a ladiha-, x\-liieh hein;j^' 
 six feet too ,-hort, he was t'ain to elimh from the lajMer 
 to the hii'i' liy a roj)e ihaj wa> I'asl eiied ,a 1 io\-e. Aial 
 when friend,^ waild ha\'e ^i\,al him a coi^l a,nd a lia-icet 
 to l,a\-e i|;awn up ho; wet"als ia.ihe inhuman iaiha' 
 \\'ouM n 't .-aitiia' theai, ].ai foieeij liiai to >_<j) ilowii and 
 U]i l)\-that shiii'l la tier and ro])e to I'eteii hi-, \-iet ua Is, 
 \\ hieji foi- a haie- tini" he did, oi- I'Ise ],,> mii^ht have heen 
 I' nii-he ! in tla'hole. /vt lenij-th, his lind)S heiim- iinich
 
 TJie Truth TrhinipJiant. 
 
 79 
 
 benumbed witii lyin^'in tliat place, yet l)eing constrnincd 
 
 to n'o (liiwii to t;i]<(! up some victuals, as lui came uj) the 
 la^Mel au'.'iiu with liis victuals in one hand, and catehed 
 at tlie I'ojic with tie.; othei-, he mis-cil the rope 
 and fell down from a ^'ery i;'reat heig'lit Ui)On. the' 
 stont.'S, liy \vhi('h fall he was exceedingly woe.nded 
 on his head and arms, and his Ixjdy was nuudi Ijiuiseil, 
 and he di(;d in a >h(.)rt tine- after."' So perished the 
 iir.-t <^)uaker who u^ave his life foi' liis f;iith. The poer 
 little lad, small in size, and in-i^-niticant iu pei'sonal 
 aeprarare'e, was c ntemptieaisly duhlj^'d " the quaking' 
 \n)\. '" Yet this ijiiakii!^' li ly slexjlc the eastern ceunties, 
 almost as F(jx: had shaken tlu; north. Son of a l;il) )ur- 
 ine' man of Ib/tford, he had received some education, 
 p!U'ha])s at the Grannuaj; Schoe] of that ])lace. Accord- 
 ini;' to ids own account a e-rcat sinner, he w;is convertt/d 
 at tlie' ;i.e'(^ of fourteiii, and jeineil a "people whom tlie 
 Lord was gathering' out of tiie dark world, to sit down 
 to^'e'tlier and wait u])en his name." Hearing' of the 
 'j> ;a!<ei'S, he felt one in spirit with them liefoi\.' he saw 
 th 'ir faees. He visited f'ox iu the (Carlisle dungeoii, 
 (Unhi'aced his doctrine' and ]ie;iched it in (,aiida'id_e. 
 (Jontemptilde as his ap[)earanci.; wa-, h<' created a. gr^ ait 
 S'cir-ntion. Town and gown ra.ged a.rourid him, aiel a 
 lj.i[itisi pi'eacher challenged him to a p'lhj'e discu.s-iiin. 
 'idle iJapti t o'peiied tir(_' v.ith the point-hlank' (pie^tioii : 
 ' 'idle writings of the Prophets aj.id Aiu).^t!es, which ai'c 
 C'dd'' I Scrii)ture, wh(.'tlier ;\re tlie}' the words aaid s;i\diigs 
 of the mo-t Lligii CJod : yea or nay i" To this his I'oy- 
 adver;-ary rejdied : " 'idie W'oi'd of (lod, which, is ( k) 1, 
 winch dwelt iu the Prorihets reml Apostles, fiom it tliey 
 si:)(d-:e forth the tliiuu's wdiicli are recorded in the
 
 8o 
 
 T]ic Quakers. 
 
 Scrii^tnrc."^ Tho Ba])ti.st cried out, " Xo answer,' ami 
 appc-iUMl to the yoTiiii;' ]n'U'sts auil scliolars ; but spile (_f 
 till? claiiioiir around liiin, I'ai'iiel refused to add to or 
 alter liis I'eply. One WMid'.'rs at this, for Fox w<>uld 
 proiiiptlv iia\''' ri'tui'ucd a dii'ect alilriiiati ve. "Then 
 the prii'st tool< out his IViMe," Fox ttdls us, jiar)-atiiiL( 
 o'le of ids inauy eneouut ,'i's, " and said it was tin.' Word 
 of (lod. I t'i'd liini it WHS the words ol' (dod, but not 
 (dod the Word. 1 owned what the Seri jituri's s dd of 
 tlu'iiis d\"i'<, naiui'ly, 1 hat they wore tin.' ^Vllrds of ( iod. 
 but ('iiidst was tiie Word." Jhit J'arnid a])pears to have 
 ]>ushiMl (|ii;v!veM- views to tludr extreme. J'^-x W(juld not 
 aehno\vli' l.^'!' th'> existing' chtirehes to be ti'U(j (dmrelu^s : 
 ]*.ii'iii'l blinitly speaks of them as the heathen. 1"^:)X 
 rei'uscl to ci-Iii'^-i' to the I'lcli au(l i^'renf. I'ai'iiel in- 
 vei^'h''(l a-ain->t tiie luxurii)us iind self-indulgent dfeof 
 till' ari->toer;icy wdtli the asjjri'ity of a iiiodeni sorinhst. 
 Xotwit h.--tandiii;_;', ]) 'I'liMps because of, the i'ou_;hness of 
 his hnni^aia^v, he ea.us' il ;.ov'it exeiiemeiit in the ea-t 'rn 
 (lunti'vs. There was ahoa tender an I lo\iii_;- >ide to 
 his eha i-aet e)-, and a p.taait eadur.i'iee of .sulieriie^f. 
 whieh lirew many h^art^ lo him. ( ' uuin^' out of .St. 
 _N irho!;;-^ ( 'irirch a i ( 't i! -lii'-.! er, a nrin -li'iiek hiai \\it!ia 
 L^Te'it -lali', ^ayiM-- : " Tiiei e, la he that J'oi'di'sns ( 'liri-t's 
 
 sake." ' ihleilh I '!o l:k' il \^'Y deI|S ('illi-t'> SlixC," 
 
 \\;i -, I h" in 'k i'eply,'' Ti.o'i->aads (a^wd-d loheai' t h(^ 
 bo\- pre lejpa'. an 1 n am b a -> i ve.-, \ .-d h'> d^ei rm . W i ddn 
 two Ol- I II ' _^ e I r,-, lie P lun h'd laa n \' ^^ i id ni 'el i n^-- in 
 F--ex. and pii : F -h d -- 'N ^a-a 1 \\' lal i n ^-^ in deieuc of t he' 
 t nil h. \\ hieii al'lia-his ih_'ath waa'e (-(.lieiMel and repiib- 
 
 1 /',,,-,,.'.. '..'/. /. / ir,,/;-, /-, It;;."), p. l'o.-., ,'57.
 
 Tlic Truth Trinviphant. 8i 
 
 lislioil l>y his admirers. Tlicy coiitaiii invectives against 
 the elei'L;'}' and the establis!ie>l religion wliieli, coming 
 from a mere h-jy, must have be jn exasi)eratiiig where 
 they were imt convincing. Yet tlie yomli lia I true 
 piety and force of cliaracter, or he could not have made 
 such a dee[) impression,, and wun so many converts. 
 
 Fariis\\(,)rth, Xa\ler, and Dewsbury were converts 
 beiort.' Panieb and leading preachers mufh longer. 
 Xayhu', \\di(j acliievLM] a lamentable noti^riety, will 
 app.^-ar in the n*jxt ciiapter. Tiie other two present 
 no distinctive featin'cs to single tliem out lor special 
 lui/ntiiju from so great a nundjer of zeaions a,nil 
 >ulf-s:icriliciMg nbniisters. Indeeil, the homogeneit}' of 
 t:le^e ea)'Iy ipiLilci^r preacli(j)'s in their belief and its 
 (xpi<;.->iiai. in tla_'ir cnn Uict ;ind tiieir sulfcrings, 
 iu tliidr ('Xi'filiaicies and their defects, is remari\able. 
 'Ldh-y sieiii :ul U> have bcL'U cast into one mould ; or, as 
 t'^ey tlaaus d\cs ljelii'\'ed, iirspirrd by th'-.' same Spirit. 
 i'('rf^.'etly nr lejxarU'nt of ca-di e>th(jr, never dreaiuing of 
 o A'jiing a/ii'giaiicc to any railhly leader, not evcii U) Fox 
 hiiiis !;', th 'X' ukjvimI (ju parallel liut'S, in ;i liarmony of 
 purpose and of pr.ictice sel l(jiu to be found in I'eli^'ious 
 c iiiuauiiiDiiri rule.j liy ere ds and rulirics. The sight 
 a]'[)::icnt di-ei'ipanry 1 etwet-n the ([uakiiej,' boy and 
 ( M:oi;4" l''()\ which lias just Ik.'cu mentioned is notice.djle 
 for it- I'arity. Sidiism ;infl discipline wei'c not tliought 
 ol" at hr-t ; tliey all fouglit as (<jinr.Mles in the givat wa.r, 
 e;ieh one' in'le[)en(lently in his own cormu' of the' tieM 
 lii<e' tlie ilomeric lieroes nrouud Ti'oy, Imt nil in sinnlar 
 aims an<l iu the same sjiii'it again-t tlie same loe. If 
 an}- must be singled out, let it be tiie two who in the 
 great dispersion of lGo4 turned their ste[is towards the
 
 82 
 
 TJie Ojiakers. 
 
 metropolis. Then, as now, pr<)l),ioly more tlian now, 
 Lonilou iiy its pojiuhjusn 'ss and weallli, its politii/al and 
 reli2,'ious wei.lit, ovei'sna Unsi-d die wliole countiy : iniil 
 the men whom the Spirit desi^'uate 1 l:o lahour iiL tais 
 great centre of the national ii.e Franeis llowgill and 
 Edward IJurrou-hs nnist luive seemed to their hrethrcn 
 at least not inferior to tlie rest. Tlieir con\'ersion has 
 already been reuited : a few words here about their 
 career. 
 
 lI(^\VL;id. a W'esi nioi'ciand riian, possessed landed pro- 
 perty, iee<d\e 1 a Lhu\-eisity educa! ion, Jel't tiie J-]stab- 
 H.-^heil. Ciitii'cii ani] Ijeeame an indi pendent minisier. 
 Ijciore he Ijeeame a Quakei' he was nnr./ii esteeme I and 
 hel(Aed in his own neigiibiourliood. After la'aring l'\)X 
 preach, he exclaimed ; '' This ni;in s[n.'aks widi aitlioi ity, 
 anil not as the MM'ii^ies'. and imme'ddntely embraced and 
 conl'es-ed the ti'utli. lie was about tblrty-li\'e \'<ars old 
 wlii'ii lie' >t:i!'te 1 with ! ai ri'i audis f or London. Ib'ie he 
 labiaue'l ilunM; mo-t of tiui next U-w years, '"an 
 ennn lit aud iTiijUcnt nrm. ' Soon ai'ii-r coiiniij,' to 
 Loiiil'.n, 111' ob'iaini'd a!i juti i-\ ie-;\- with the I'l'^ria a', 
 and ill till' nam oi' lie' Lord iii'iiiandi'd llie sli >] ])-_( of 
 p'^'.-^ecatii ill. < 'I'oiiiw ill, ijiii'-bioiiiiig lii-^ di\ iin' eomniis- 
 siun, t'lok no imniedi;; ti' ai.-lioii, in coiiM'i|ijiie'e of \\ lileh 
 lIow_;ill put. Ins ]iro[iiee\' ill wiiMiij', and it 1 villains 
 
 li'^il.lr b\- us, one oWt of luaiiy ~]i.'.-| M.en^ ,->Ull I'Xi.'lllI ot' 
 
 (pialM'T 1 1 To] lie cw I 111' eh:i i at'i 1 r i if w li,eh iiiii,~>l b ' ea ri'aillx- 
 con-idia'i' ; wieii \\i' ;irri\i' a; ibel ]i;;rt I'l' liiir -;ii j^et. 
 i li'i'^' w i; iii'iy 1 r,i;i-i-i il 1 ' i ;i n if I b i\'_;',b ^ let : i i',,'e. a n i.bi>- 
 tra: ioio if 111 - fi':ii |i --. -jn I It ;i i;d I'li I ir^' i-i 'iitld- iie< i ii !i i-- i iwn 
 mi.-.-^ion. I b' aildr. --i'~ till' L ird lli_:li 1 'r. ^i .i-t i a- bbiiil ly, 
 as : Li'icnd I was mo\ ed b\- the Lord to come' to thee
 
 Tlie Truth TriinnpJiaiit. 83 
 
 . . . . TlierL't'ore hear llio ^V(nd ol:' the LwrJ . . Thus 
 saitli IIkj Li.)r<l, i chuso liice init of all the nations whuu 
 tliuii wa.st little in thine own eyes, and threw (juwn tlie 
 mountains and the powers (jf the eai'th iieldt'e tliee, wluch 
 h;id estahhsiie I wiekedness by a law, and I cut theui 
 dow n, auti b^ol^e tiie }'okes aiul bonis of tlie oi>])ressor, 
 andnui'le theiu st<J0|> l)elbre tiiee, that thcni pas-;eilsL over 
 them, and trod u[)on their ]i(>eks : but, thus saith the f.ord, 
 now thy huart is neit upri^'ht bcfor.' me, Ijutth'ai lakest 
 eouu.si.d, but no: of m(> . . . What ! srath the ]. >rd, I hue I 
 tlii'own bowii all ihi; o[)pre.-'-^oi's, anil ta'ok'i-n tindr hiws, 
 an I lliwu art n^w L;'oii;_;' about to cstaldi-h them a^'ain, and 
 art ,u'idn_;' to Ijuild a^-ain that Nvhich 1 ha\"e destroyed ? 
 Wiieiebav thus saaih tlr- boi-.l, Wdlt tlrai linbit .Me, and 
 set bound.-, to Me, when and wlie]';-'and how, and by whom 
 1 sjudi d.'elarc and [)ubIi-lL My nana/ i Then will I bruak 
 thy eeM'd, and r. an ac liiy sOiive, aial exidt MyMal' in thy 
 o\ci'thro\v. 'I'hcref' o'e tins is the W(n'd (jf the .hord to 
 the, whctbi/r thou wiit heal', or fotbcir. It tliou t:d<e 
 not jiwa.y all those la\vs whirJi are made conet ribmi;' 
 ivj ;'4'i(.)n, wiier.'liy tin' | (':ii>le wliich an'i,' dear in mini.' ey^s 
 ai'e o]i|i;e>sed, thoU shait m^t be e^tabii^hed ; liut as tliou 
 lia.^t troiden downi niin;.' einnrii/s by ]ny power, so r^halt 
 tiiou l)i/ li'o'jilen down by my po'\Vei', and 1 liou siialt know- 
 that i am the' .Lni'd ; Ibr m}y.j_'os|:el shall not be established 
 liy thy sw(.)riJ, nor b\' thy law : bul by iny mi^'ht ami by 
 my S[)iiit. I'nto thee, this is ihe word of the J^oi'b, 
 Siint not the e'fernal Spii-iy by ^\ hich 1 will puMi.-^h my 
 n: nie' ',\heii^ {\\\y\ \\-heiv, aird how 1 will : I'la' if tl.iai d- st, 
 then sha.lt be as dust bd'oiH.' tiie wind. 'I'iie inouth of 
 thel^ord hathsp'.k'-n it, anil lu' \vill [!in-b)rm his [iromise. 
 ' irUUcun t'iiiii-cf'.i nistonj, Fiiundti Library Editieii, P':. L, p. --ti.
 
 84 
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 l^oor old Oliver. Between the biu,-()ted horror of the 
 rj'esli\-terj;vii.s at the hare iiientioii of the wurd, tolera- 
 tion ; ami the steni rcsolN'e of his pifaehiiiij,' eolonel.> and 
 capt;iins, nt^t to \ Icl I one iuta of the rcii_i;'!OU.s Hhe^rty 
 tliev had won with their swords, ho must (jften ha\ c felt 
 Ins [lO-itiou well ni_L;'h uiiti'iialjle, a)ul wished himself 
 haek again at lliintiii_e-di)ii, amid his beeves and his 
 hri.'W iiiL^s. Aiid novr t'aese laiiatie (.^hi.:\keis eome ers'lng, 
 " I'erseeutioii, })ersecutii)n," in his ears, as if it -were all 
 his doiiiLi,'! Too well he Jviiows tiiat, seowi as tliey may 
 ai;'aiiist eaeli otlier, holl; I'resh.y Um iaiis ;',nd lnde])endents 
 are riiercih' s in their detei miiritiuii nut to sul'er this 
 new hej-esy to ha\ e fi'e:.' course. And Nvhat do the 
 fellow.- want :' ^.Ot sinioly to lie let a](jne, l)ut to ha\'e 
 lilie)1\' to [)i'eaeh in th'- I'liurt-li'-^ and cenits of JusLiee, 
 and e\en in j';irlian;em. iis.'ir, Tli.' demind \vas pn j)os- 
 teKiu^: to yield would lie lo j-ermitail eixil order to he 
 |iei-|H'tualiy <li^turhe(i hy e\cry crack-l ii'ained enthusiast 
 who I'anei'.'d liiiaself ins; uieil. .\nd yet and yet iiisi do 
 thai I'U'jJu't'd (xt^'i-ior ( )li\ er h,id a iendv_r heart, anil he 
 w;;s s'.nc''i'el\' de.-^ii'ous i.i' reli-i jus peai-e, ^jeiiei-al ti'h'ia- 
 ti.-n, and ;i 'Midil measure oi' lil) riy i'oi' all. Ih- I'il; d 
 tl,e>e oo'^r <yiai',ei's. I'( U' hr knrw tlir sc\erity and tlie 
 tVe' jUiiii iniii.--l;ee ol' llicO' suH'i-i'i n_^-^ : n^i- \v;i.> in- ipiMe 
 sure tli.'it there \\;i- n^t a m^asuie ol' | he i)i\ine Snirit 
 sjcakiii',;' Ihronu'h lliem als >. .\ay ; he was sure that 
 th O' va^: and yi t it \\;i-> litlle he eouM, of d.ir. d 
 \i) du (ill llu'ir leliMif. h.-iih^jiy, mil' pitii's (tli\ei-. 
 'I'll,- (^)ii;ikci\- tuo h.M'l .: S<M1 nf j.ity Ini- liiin : Imt they 
 i'uiU- liclic\('d their j.rM|ila-r;c>, ;,!i.l l)e|i--\.'(l that they 
 wit iiiv-->ed tiie fallihiii'iit o|' llieiii within tin' ne\| few 
 \-ears.
 
 TJie TrutJi TrimnpJiaiit. 
 
 85 
 
 Whctlier or no tlieli'tuse orCroniwellwiis ovt-rtlirowiil)}' 
 divine (lisi>leasure on aeconut of" tlie ill troatmcnt of the 
 Quaki'i'.-;, the L;-l(^;ious JAestoi-ation lir<niL;ht u]x>n thrin 
 sco;])i(,)ns i'i)r whips : arid the littlt^ iino'i/r of the merry 
 inonaich was thicker than stern Cromwell's loins. Xi't 
 tliat Chai'le'S hiinsclf was of a ]^ersecntii\L;' tenijU'i', or 
 that he had any special dislike to the (^)uak'ers. On the 
 contrary, he many tinres, while 3'ct ne\\' to his seat, int(M'- 
 fc]'ed to do sj'.ecial ]vii;d)icss(.'s to Geor^'t.' Fox, and other 
 individnal m'']id)ers of the so(dftv. Bnt Vernier, tlie Fifth 
 
 M 
 
 on a re I ly pre 
 
 acher, at th.e liead of fortv or tiftv 
 
 of the olil Vv'ariFirs of t'le Commonwealth, Furst iiito 
 London streetsd-C'.'jit nil tlie city in adarm for daysda'oke Ity 
 his tiei'C(- cha:r;;-e the lloust hold L;'na!'ds,and shookCdiarles's 
 nm\'ly-ae(jni!'ed throne, ^j'hen a uni\"e]'sal panic swept 
 aAvay all thoui'lits of 1110 leration. It was after this insni'- 
 re<-ti()n that the four th()nsa!id and two Imndi'ed (^)nakers 
 wei'e thrown into prison, ti\'e hundi'el of lluaii in London. 
 ]F)^\'^i]]"s spiiit was soi^dy exercised. Was this the 
 d(di\'e]-aj!ce which was to follow the Divine juduanent on 
 the nid'aithfnl (Jro'iiwelis ? For we>d<s and months he 
 pe)iidere(i and ])raye''l, and ])aliently waited on the Lo]'d, 
 to know JFsnutid caieei'inne' the time to come. At \\\-~^t 
 on the 2Nt!i of tle'thii'd month of ItJfli the answer came, 
 and this also remains on jceord, a r(aiiai'ka_hle iir-tance 
 amoni:,- the (jnalaa- levela.ti' ns. " .Vnd whilst I was wait- 
 iiiU' ont of all visihie thin_;s. and (piite ont of the world 
 in my s])ii-it, and my heaj't np 11 nitliiiu' lait tie' li\inu' 
 Cioil, the Iv)rd ojaaaMJ the sprinu's of the ^a'eal dei ]>, ;ind 
 overdowed my ^\hol( heart with li_;'ht and lo\-e : niid my 
 eyes wei'e as a fonntain, ke'a.nse of tears of joy. 'cause 
 of His heiitae'e, of whom He shewed me, and said unto
 
 86 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 me ill ;i full, frcslj, liviiiLi,- power, ;iik1 a holy i'nll testi- 
 iHouy, so tliat my Ix'avt \\'ns la^isllO(l llici-i'witli in joy 
 niis])c;il<alilc. ami I \\-;is out oL' tin- liody wilii (lod in His 
 ]ica\('iily ]);ira<lis(\ avIioic I s:l^\' niiil felt iliiii'is uimttcr- 
 a'l)lo, and l);'yt!]i([ all (lemon^ti'atioii ami s|)fecli. At last 
 tlic life cIomm] witli my unilcrstaiKniii;', ami my spirit 
 ]istcii('-l unto 1 lim. ami tlic cxci-lastiui;' ( iod said. ' Sliall 
 I hide auyt'diiL;' fi'oia those that s '(d^ my t'a-e in ]-i^-htc- 
 ousnrss '( ]\ay. ] A\dll manifest it to tliom that t'car 
 mi'; I A\dll speak' : do thou listen, and ])uhlidi it amonu' 
 all my jn-ople, that tiicy niay be I'oml'ni'lcd a.nd thou 
 satisilcd.' "^ 'J'lie di\inc nu's-^ay;'*' usiiorod in 1 'y this 
 eestatie i']'.'lud,c i- a d elaration that smi, moon, and stai's 
 shall eeasc to shine, and eoine to an end sooner tha.n 
 "the coN-eiiaut 1 ha\'e madi' wdth this peojile, into A\hieh 
 they are eiitei-eil v.dth nie, shall end oi' he lu'oken. ^'ea, 
 thllU^h the piiwei's of dai'kness and hrl! coinhine auain^t 
 tlii'Mi, and thejaws of deat'i o]) ai it-^ mi luth. yet 1 will 
 ili'Ii\er thi'iii and Irad (hem lhron--ii all. i will ld<e 
 till ir en inii'S, I will hurl (luin hillea' and ihithfi-. as 
 stoneware hin-li'il ina>lin'_r: ;i'id ih" mi'mmial nf ihi^ 
 naiinii whii-h i-^ Ip^ly unto nii' shall m'V'i'i' h'' r-oli' 1 nut. 
 hilt ^liall li\ e thi'oujh all aue-^. ;i^ ' cluud nf w it ne--^i's in 
 ^-''ina'et iiMo; to ciinr ...."' 'i'li' ] ml ilieal i^ m nf ihis 
 ic\i'l'!t id'i em-i-ura-'i .1 \\w \v. lirxia-- in lh'' daiki'M hDUi' 
 (T tlp'ii' 'oiiM- -:;- mI' J-.)'- '('It !i'.-. and d'l-d't'"'- its 
 nean ay nri-ai e-aMl'nrird ili)W'_d!l hini^'lf in \.^- t di^ns 
 
 and li'iji. l.'^,-, I linian 111. l'''a' hi-> tniai \'.'m-' t" e iini' 
 
 lli''\i-r\ n-\l yi ;!r. .\ia-i-|i'l in hi- n:il i\-f <-"Unly. t he 
 n-th "t ;dh-ei;ine'' wa-^ t'^ndia-id in him and .T e iiii--i' ).'- 
 i'ii-<l. .\ I >\v\\ a linii' all i-\ | I'e na l a ai - and i-.an^ai- 
 
 ' ,S - . //:./..,;'. r;i.l ill.. Y.v:y VA .
 
 TJie Truth I'l-iunit'Jiaut. 
 
 s- 
 
 str;inct'.s were u-^ele-^s. After a sfasr)ii of tin- law's i]c:ay. 
 lie li ai'd tlie jn<lue pronounce tlu^ fatal st.'iitciiee. " You 
 are ]iut eut of the l<i!iu''s proti'i-tiou ami ih'' liencfit (/f 
 tlii_^ law: your lau^ls are e^ iiiii-en.te t^ tlie kiii^' during' 
 yoiii' lifiy: airl your ^'ooils ami ehaUcis foi" ever: and y(ju 
 to 1h^ a ]>rison<'r dnrini;' your life."-'- The L;'ate,s of AppL.;- 
 l)y i;';i(_>l clo-i'd Ijcldnd hini : lour years lie ]ia-si?d \\\ ini- 
 priso:ni!cnt, ln'arini;' hinr-^elf elieeii'uliy, and laliouriu'i to 
 si'r\e the trutli 1)\' liis ])en, tlien he difl in niueh c^m- 
 tent. 
 
 lli< conira lo in tlie holy war, 'thi- son of thundei' and 
 con-"l;iii'>n." and ' true ja'ophet of (iod," Ivlwar..! JJur- 
 ]'oui:li, o]- lhn'i'oUL;'li-, was son of a chnrclinian of sonic 
 wraltli, iivin,'' in or near Ivcuibd, and luid as good an 
 e lnc;)tion as his n;itive jdact' could aii'ord, Irat was not a 
 clas-lcal schol;ir. CoiiiiiiL;' undd' Fox's inlluenee when 
 ahout ciuhti'oi! years old, In- liad to take up his cross at the 
 outsid. i'wr his father tiirnol Idni out of doors. ]-].\])elled 
 i'roni hoie.e, the lad acemnpanie'd Fox in his joui'iicys, audi 
 took a nmn's ]i;irt in W(.)rk and sulil'ring. His \-i\-i.l iv- 
 ]iv'iiihr;inci' of those cai'ly (hiys in the north country, 
 iVoiu l(')o2 to Ki-ll, is worth (|notine': 'And iu llu' 
 he^'inniri-' we were hut few in nund)e]- .... and all the 
 ])ri'sisand rulers we!-e iu an ui'i'on.r .... there were 
 ut'roeo'siu stee])ledi')nses, an i n]>r()ars in niaikets. and 
 oi'teu haling hefore niayistr;ites, .... the prie-ts ja'each- 
 ing in their prdoits, wwA je/aying a_;-ainst us, and setting 
 d;iys a]i;ii't to seek: tln'ir (lo 1 ajainst us, crying without 
 CL'nsin^'in ])uhlie]< an 1 in la'iwite. //'/'' s-^ ,///;- >//, Kn'ui' 
 
 O.U'I iUiis In ,,i If. and that we NVel'e /A , ,;/, y's, \V;ir!,<s, 
 
 and S'll I"'/ ,<. and -u.eh like .... ;i,nd sc-oci' one steeple- 
 ' ,s' '. 'n y/;s^,,;/. I'ait lii.. ]r.v.sr r.'i.
 
 88 The Quakers. 
 
 honso or market in all tlio'^^o counties l)iit may Avitness 
 wliat T)catinu's, l^rni^iiii^'s, Sliakinu's, llalin^'s W'' liave 
 snii'ered. . . . J-]:it no'avitlistanlinj,' all that was acted 
 and spoken a^'aitist n-^, many Imndi'cds of the honest and 
 s()l)er people owned ns. and also many rude ami nn^'odly 
 people \\'ere coiivei-te<l to IIk,' truth. ''^ One sees them 
 ev(_'n ]i(nv throni;']! the loni;' vista of two cenhnies and 
 moro, those elei'i;y men and dis^entiii^' in .aclici's, struck 
 with con-tciaiation at the nj^risiiiL,'' of tin's strauL^'e fana- 
 tii'ism, fasting and ]Vi'.:tyinir aL;'ain>t its pru^Te-s, lieartdy 
 sinr'ei'e in their jiious hm-rni-, t houi^k iiot ([uitc Chi'ist- 
 lilce ill their too (>\'ide;it syiiij'a.thy with the fury of the 
 mofi : l^ox, Xayh,']', l]ni'i'oUL;'hs and the I'est on tlieir ])ait 
 hurniuL;- with un(pte!ichahle zeal, ^vori'yinu' the prie'sts 
 A\-ith aecus'itions of jjreaeliiuL;' for hire, and proclaim- 
 in^' with nnlionnded confl leiwe tlio adxcnt of the true 
 L:'os))(d. So the (-(ndlict rai^-etl. until the fe\v heeajiie 
 many, aiel tin: sixty lecaehers ili-]ier^ed on tlieir sexcral 
 A\'a.\'s. Wdi'Mi lloWLj'ill and ])-n-i'ou_;hs ;ini\e(l in the 
 o-reat city, they fouiel a iiflle haiKlful of frieuds alre;id\' 
 o'ath-Tel: h'lt the l)ulk of tlie woi-k Ava,s theii's. \\\w~ 
 I'ouu'h'^ soon showel his ([u.-d it \'. it wa.s sininiHT t inie, 
 and the cill/en- in tin.' eNoaiiiiL;' sti'olied in the hefis. 
 \\ i'e>t hu'.;' was n populai- amus anent, a!:d 1 'un'oie_;hs sm w 
 a (aowd .'ii'ound a sti'on_; and dexterous fellow who iln-cw 
 hi> a. ntajoni-t - one ;i 1 1;' ;niot lna'. 'Idiivc ]i;i(i fnlf ii, end 
 th'' e(i:ii|iicr( ,r 1 'ok 'd iMund l!ii' rin-- f'li- ;i f.Mnili ,i],j,,,ii- 
 eiit, hut U'l oiP' d;iri (1 lo -,'ep foiwnrd. 'Ik'H WwYV ai'.riis 
 stjipi'd iiii'i t!i" iied-t. end tip' w rc--t ! o' L;'->''d with 
 a^t aii liMii-nt ;il i h :-> puny a i\''r a i y, I', ^r llin r- ar di -, lii^e
 
 The Truth Triinnpliaut. 89 
 
 Parno], was small ot' stature. 'J'lio crowd oam>]-ly ex- 
 |iccti''l sdiiic aiuu-i'iniMii, hut wlu'u Jjuri'DUulis (ipcncil 
 liis liiMutli. tli(.' victory Avas his: for tlic lad was a Hoau- 
 (I'U'i's. auid wliuii lie s]).)k(; of tlic liulii of (.'hrist au-l llio 
 witnrv.s ^^it!li^, it was with htvirt-picicini;- power. '" Ih' 
 Avas one of those ^'a.liauts whnsi.' h^w never tui-iicl hack, 
 uoi' swoi'd empty from the slauuhier of the mio'hty : for 
 tlie L)id hles-ed his powerful ministry with a veiy 
 glorious sul'C'/ss : nay, he was sueh an excellent instiu- 
 nieiit in the hauil of (hxl that c.\c\\ some nuLi'hty and 
 eminent men wen.' touche(l te the' lieait hy the ]M)wer of 
 the Avo]'(l of Jif(\ AN'hieh he [)r; ached." His z al was 
 iudefatiuahle. irow^'ill hears Av it r.es- of him thn.t dui'in.;' 
 th(' ten years from hi-, con\-ersion to his deatli. Ijui'rouu'hs 
 n''\'er one ^vithdrew for so much as one wee'k fi'oni his 
 work, either for rest or on pri\-ate husiness. A hulky 
 folio prcsi.M'ves his tnnui'rous piihlicitions. In tic city 
 of London many liundi'(_'ds were con\-L'rted hy his minis- 
 try. Jle iirmly heiie\'e(l himself to he an iiispired 
 ]ro])h<_'t, au<l so he was re_;';ude 1 hy the (^)iiakia' ( 'htii-ch. 
 A\ hat he s!'(.)l-:e a.iid \\'i'ote was hy order and authorUy 
 e-iven unto him hy the Spii'it ol' tic TJxiie^' (hid, ;ind !'or 
 his w-ads he h,ld!y ch'dmed infallihi'dty.' Fea-e to f;ie<' 
 ;iiel in writini;". he pi'ophesii'd a^ain-t the I'rotet tor and 
 foi'et.ild his (hath. Like the oth.a' (^)u;d<i_'r p.'.vnclmrs he 
 AVears two risj'cets. In his ]>! r-onni eiiar.-u-ter. in his 
 lo\ inn' exhortations to his fellow-lirl!i'\-ei's, he \\ius u]ion 
 us hy a powerfuhy attraet i\-e ( 'hri -t i;i a cl!;iiae[er: hat 
 wa.'ch him in c>intro\"ersy. and his ;in-oy;iM<-e of manufi', 
 Ins h,it!(a']iess of ileinniciiition, his iiuolei'.-int ^junl, jiro- 
 diiC(; a h"'h]ii;' (.)[' re\'uls!on. Ili-^ mind a'hnitted ol no 
 ^ Scu liis L-lji' tu ;m AsscuiMy of An-ihupt -sts ;it Xcweastlo. 1(;:)4.
 
 90 
 
 The Quakers 
 
 grji'lafions : tlio \\'A\t was all li'/lit. the darkiio.^^ all lilack 
 as licll. With (lidicult;/ lie lu'uu.rlit liiiii-^cir ('conslMiially 
 
 ti) Ti'f()M-llis ' ;l l;|i'a-l!l''' nf si 1 1 ' ( M 1 1 V ail'l t '1 1'L I'l H - - (if 
 
 coiisciriii-c ill some ()(' tlioso wlio (liil not r.t one n'^crpr 
 tlii' i[:!;!!xci' <l()fti'iurs, aii<l to ailiiiit that tin'}' Ipi'l ;' - 'I't 
 ol" iiiaiiiicil ami l>liii<hMi rclii^imi A\liich yet Avas m it ali- 
 siluti'ly ilcath ii-rlF. Hn*: foi- tlie ch'i'u'y, i'MV lli^ hii-cliiiL;- 
 prc'ichciN, 111' lins no woi'd ot:' rliaiity. livtuniiiiL;" to 
 Loii'loii iVoiii a ^isit to ISiistol to share the sufii'riiii;'s of 
 till' ])('rs('cuti.Ml, wiih a rurcsi-ht of his (Ica.th.lK' av;is cast 
 'with six' or s('\'(')l sf-orc others iiits* NeW'jni e jOMm iM. 'rh(> 
 ]ilae \\ns a, \'i rit'il ile lihi'-l; hole. .'Uaiiv o! th<' ])i'isi iiici-s 
 sieki'iKMl ainl dicl of" sulfoeat ! in. Stronu' inti'rrst \\-as 
 nia'h' to lUMcin-. ! eirr^ lU^lis" ]'i'h-a->e, ainl a royal di'. h i- was 
 ohtaiiii'il, lait till' eniiiit\- of tln' city aiith< uilies i|i'laye(l 
 its exi'cat ii Ml. .\fter ii--ht niMuths' iiii] ii-i~i 'inmait he 
 (lie! at th" au'' of ci Jit aiel twciily. 
 
 I 'iii-iaiii: 1 iii'j; ti li!. lV"oiii'iit i 'loHaL;-e, anil c< niiiiiiaiicni 
 ill iiiii-Mi:!- -[iii-Mii - .-lua-ria'il the ii\i- cf ihi'-- dan lit !-> 
 nii--i' Ilia I'ii' s ('anmi and Andland whu wcul t-i laastnl 
 A\iav r' ci\.(l with M'li n- tnimill-. which ihry eic- 'ini- 
 i-rcl N'lth tic CM t iniary itaii lii-i'ciii'.' ti i -iilfi'rinL;'. In 
 a h'W- \-.'ar^ ih-x' '.-athiav i a "T: at hatd of 1 .lii'V-r^ 
 
 riiuiii t'li'iii. Ill;; I'lilh w^'V'- net t h' o- -.ircne'tM li\- 
 h lie', and oi-'d ( ,j' c- in -innnt i n. I 1 id i' i t! h- irii. 
 H-r I'M -'lidi'i', w ::'i W'eit i < N^aw a-h. I'a d in N' w- 
 ;i ' II >'! M lie' 1 1 !' i:v | eirr' ai h-. fa ri i - W' Tt h di-d 
 
 ]ir.a 
 anil' 
 ii-at" 
 
 i;i jia,, : Xnyi v in |i;.;(l ;,| a' ..at thi' ;i_'V m'' I j.. 
 WdlliMiii ['w-hei'\', lii'-id''. I'tlna- i Ml] ir; anil' ii! -. cii- 
 dni-'d !'. \-'';i'-' C' lililp 111' lit ;it Waiwi'dN, ill -|ii|i' of 
 w'Idch h-li\id lid Iio^s, (i.'Mi-v \\ddrla;id ainlH' dl" 
 t lie ( ai lii- I 'Oiiiiiof ndiii-^lii'-. h'tiL;" -niNixtd fnxaial
 
 The Truth TriinnpJunit. 
 
 91 
 
 livod to present an adilre.ss to Goo]-o'c T. ^ilmiy nniiios 
 lii'sidcs tlu'sc ]ia\'o an 0(|iial claini to mciitioii in tlio 
 nolilc list oi' (|nal<ci' ])roaclnrs ol:' tlio s jwiit'ciiilt 
 contnry. \\'iili;uii IV'ii'i is too wcll-kiiowii to iiccil 
 cnloi;!!n!t. liolicrt ISarclay's t'aino rests upon his 
 Avi'il iii.',s \vliich nnrst lie notieeil in auotlier cliapter. 
 
 Tiio M'onien preachers must not l)i> ])asst'(I Avitliont 
 notice. Jjeiii^' calliMl a,iil iuspireil hy thi.; sauic S[)ii'it, 
 theoi'etically tliey were on a jierfect ei^uality Avitli the 
 men: ]iractie;il]y tla.'y occupied a decidetlly suhoriliuati; 
 position. nUhou'di om^ in its'If hotli conspicuous aiK.l 
 iia]) 'i't;nit. They were i'ewcr in nunihei', i1" we uiay 
 iti(iii;e iVoiu ti;i' iia.uies unaiLiouiMl in tic liistories. ilany 
 wouieti ilevoto'l t!ienrse!\(,'s to reli-^ious sci'\'ices, sucli as 
 ^isitill^; tlie sick and tlie ]u-i--oners, watchin^' o^er the 
 W'laiien in i.lieii- co!><;'i'e'4'ation.s, distrihutiuL;' r(diL;-i(ars 
 Looks, and coiu-eisin^' with those wdioui tl'.ey met : sneli, 
 altlion^li it ma\' h(,' diilicult to dla^v tlie line, sliould 
 liai'dly he classed a^s ])-i-e;udiei"<. Others ;i])|>eai' to have 
 liad one special iMessaL;'(! connnitted to them, tlie delixaay 
 ol" which, so far as tla^ records sh"W. c-an-iiruted th ir 
 \vhol ]iuhlic miui--tr\'. i'\)i' iiist inee, (Iniiu'^- the 
 lioriih'y creel ])ers('cut ion ol' the <,)ii;ihers in I'ui'it in 
 Ameiiea, -Mary ( 'lar!:, wil'e oj' a iipsdinnt-tMiioi- ol" 
 L'.ndon, hd't ii-r hu^l):oid -mvX childivn. and sail-d t . 
 ISo^t ai to >\'a]'!i th'' p'l'secutors to d"'d-f I'i'.im their 
 iuii|nit\'. "Aider .-Ik' had deiix'tu'ed her me-sn';-e, >he 
 ^\a -; uuua'reil'nlly rewarded ^viih tw'(aity stripe-; of a 
 Mdiip with three coi'd.s, on her nnl^i'd haek', and ilei;)ined 
 ])riM)n(M' ahout tweh'c \\'e!'ks in the winter sea-^on. 
 This com])letes th" histoi'y of Mniy ( 'l:irk"s ]iuh!ic 
 ministrv : allhouidi she uia\' lane keen w c(aisiant
 
 92 
 
 The Quakers. 
 
 preacli(>r i]i London i'oi- ;uii:'1it wc ]<now. Anno Downor 
 ]^r(MclH'il tlicre, iM'foi-,^ tlir niTi\'al of lioAvo'ill and 
 T)UiT()n_L;'li.s : and otlic]' Wiinicn iullowcd lici- cxani])h\ 
 .Mar-aiX't Fell, ai'tcr\va]'ds Mar^-arct Yoy,, wws a /crdi ms 
 pivaclicr. Anioiii;- tlic twrK'c who acconipaiiird (Icoio-o 
 Fox in liis missionary jonnicy to America, were two 
 women, one of wdioiii ^\e kno^^' was a ])reae]ier. Of tlie 
 eleai'iy reco;_;iiise(l \V( inieii-jirericliei's Ave niay select Ainie 
 (aiinn J'or mention, Sla^' was a well-educate 1 \\-oman, 
 married tii'st to John Audland, the Ijristol preacher, 
 llnshand and ^dfe v.ei'e convineed in ^Vestllloreland in 
 l^l.l^, and hoth hepin to preach in the next year. \\\ 
 \\')')'-\, Aime Andlaiid ^\as conn!iitte(l to ])rison at Anek- 
 land, Mdiere she])reached IVom hei' ])i'is'in wimlow, At 
 ilaidiui'y in ( )xt'ord>hii c she was ii!iliet"d i'oi' Maspliemy, 
 hut an attempt) to !.M't her liunieil did not -ncC(cd. 
 iv^c.ijiiiii wiili hie, she was impi i^onrd in aii ahominahle 
 hole. 'The ])i-iSMii wldthcr she was sent \\"as a na-i\' 
 jdace, scxci'.d sto])s nndcr^'ionnd ; on tlie side wlici'eof 
 was a coiiiium;! >cwor, which soiurt mios sfMd<. \^-vy 
 much, and iV. 'l;s and t i;ids ci'a\\dod into t h'' ro uu. I lore 
 ^ho was ]^o])t nhout r;^ht moiilhs, hul shewed herself 
 caiteni, hrin'4' ]>i'i suided tliat ii w.-'.s i'.,i- tic Ford's 
 snke -de thus siiil'cr-ii." ' Twm yi',ir> aflci' th- d^^ath of 
 li"i' hu-h:ind, >lii' uiMiaio 1 Thoiii;is ( ';iinin. aUo a mini-fei', 
 Siio tjiid i!i I 7"o at a '^irrat ;i'_c, J-aNiiii;' a _; u i 1 ropnta- 
 
 Flell. h i- reCiil'dcd if hel'. ''ih^lt >heC;nih' tMho\^(.]] 
 
 aci|Uai III ' 1 \\ii:i aiixernt ;i'->, 1 ut hyad tlio>o -.he was (he 
 m'M'e -^I'urr d ' ii t > ad\aii<-c in t:U'' ]'iety,;;iid wa-a 
 \ia\' I'i'iiin rk:ih'e t ;i -lifi' in ih" cliurdi. haxiiiL;- ;iii 
 exlraoi (linary uift to (licfuv tlio truth. And yet sh(_^ 
 
 ' ,s'. H-,/;. ji;..i,,oj, I'aii i\'., p:i-e ;;s;.
 
 The Truth Triumpliant. g'- 
 
 was very iiioJest and huiulile, iiisoiuucli that 1k)W full 
 soever .she was oi: matter, she rarely a])peare<l to preach 
 ill large lue^'tings, wlie'U she knew there were men 
 (jiialiheil for that s,Tvie; : aul siie was g'rie\'eii when she 
 perci'ive'd any of heT sex to be too forward on such 
 occasions, an 1 therefore she advis^jel them to Ise cautious, 
 th aiL^h she did not (jmit to encourage t'le gooi.l in all, 
 ;ind eu^leax-oured not to ijUench the Spirit in. ;iny/" ' In 
 s lui.' other 'wouieu, zeal was more conspicuous than 
 discretion. KlizLihi'th Ilcavo)!s and idizabeth Fletclier 
 spoke in th'.' --tri'et-:. of Oxi'oi'd, and entered the colleges 
 to a Idi'e-s t;ie stu lents. Tne inid'.'i--gr,elu:ite,> tied the 
 pO'ji' woiiu'u togx'ther, put them uirler the pinni), ;ind 
 th 'U di'.L .go 1 them ihi'ough a dilc'i. Ihiis did not ileter 
 thorn fi-om S| leaking in one of the churehes a i'ew days 
 aft-U', aud bringiiig upon theujselves im; -risojnnent and 
 a sound uhip[)ing.- At iJristi.)l i'ilizabeth Marshall 
 aeco-ted tho prie^^t in chui'eh ai't a' he luid oi^missrd the 
 c aiL;'ri gMtion with the beJiedietion, saying : " This is the 
 word of the Lord to thee, i warji thee to J'e[ient and to 
 mind tho liglit of tduast in thy consciei.ce. ' ^' iSaibara 
 jjhmg Ion of Ih"i-.iol, oiii;inali\" a sclioolmi>tre>s or 
 governess, eN'ideutly well-connecied, as >he was a 
 fro [Mont visitor at the Ivirl of Bat'u's. aftor laa; con- 
 vea'sion visile I many t'jwns in the W'.st (jf i'higland, to 
 bear ha' t'stimoay in the sti'eple-iioiises, 'getting im- 
 ])ri-ono'l ro[)eat''dly. She (a'o-;sed oNt'r to h'oijuid ;Mrl 
 di4ingiii ar;il ]ita-,Mdi' 'o\' hor cour-i^e' and pia's 'X la-onee 
 in the wotIn, dopite miai}' ha:ddii[)-;. .\laiy l''idior 
 travelled aloua to A.drianojile wliere she .1. livoi\d 
 her message to Saitan Mohannued in the nndst of 
 1 Ibid. - Ibid, Part I., p. 24'a. ^ Ibid, p. :.'u8.
 
 94 The Quakers. 
 
 his camp. On tlic whole one couchidcs that the "woiiieii 
 (tft'iirly (]iiak()'isiii, iu s[)ilc oi' .S!)ini' shockiiiii," iu-Laiiet-s 
 i)i I'aiialiei.sm, ciiitrihutcil ii-tt a litlKj to the proui'f^s of 
 tliu li-utii. 
 
 Natui'ally I'^ox's joui'iial and llu; other I'ccord-; are 
 ahuost ent ircly taken up hy tlie .-.]); ritu;il e-xpi'iariiuL's, 
 tlie e\'anL;'''li>lic Lahonrs, ami tlic pi'i'sceutJon^, of tlie 
 cliihhH'U of the L';-;'iit. ijiiD if ihc iuiprcs^ion is \)\\)- 
 (h.ieed tliat tlu; Q lakurs were niisUy pieaehcrs, and 
 tliat (piaki'ri.^ni e iii-.i-ti' 1 elii 'lly in l)oai'in;j,' si-i'iU'in^, it 
 Would L;'rcaidy nii^lcid us. \;'ii]i n- prrachiuL;' s>nMions 
 nor lieariiiL;' C[\v\\i was essciuial Lo I'u.ir iTli^'ioii. True, 
 one j)reei'pt was perpetuall}" re[)eaied : Ivee]) yoiir 
 iiicctiiiL;'.s : l\c('p your nieiM iii'_;;s. At tlie ajipoiiUeil 
 h iw, in tlu; ai)jM)in!i"d place, \\\.i l-'iieiiils oi' i\-\\\\\ nlM'^t 
 ;i>>i'iiilile to wait upon (Joij. Wdi llier word should 
 111' spiikeii. i,r pray a- utt^Mvl, di'peudel no': U])on ilieii- 
 
 will, liUt UjiHl till' |)i\iiie Spil'it. Thel'e ^\er.' llleedll^-S 
 
 ill wiiifdi tiiii' ;d'ti'i' lime, it mi-hL he '\^)\^ months 
 ti>-ellii'r, the littli- li:iiii| of ni'hex .!-; mt animal ill an 
 a.\-t'iil -eillii'-s, ro-..' aiid >-pirat"d williiui ]ia\iiiL;- 
 h'ai''l an aiiiMM' \ ae,'. I) )iilii,!e--> tie' preai'li'a'> wci'i' 
 iiiaii^/, liUt prra'-aiii^- was not th^' eliii'l' thiii^'. The 
 cllii r t!nn;_;' Wa- eoU-lMet. Thai lM|->y noise o|' e inll'o- 
 
 N'S'sial pi'opa;_;-anlisai lo which we lisi,ai aci-os-, ija; 
 ceiil iiii^'s, niu -1 not make u, foi'^-d tlie (|Mii'L da i ly lili^ 
 oi' 1 i;i' ( ^)iia kias. wliTli was its ino,; eline j \-r a reumi et. 
 
 M Ui'll of t iii - I'lMMl il - liat 111'-- coald 111! 1 > ii eoT' |i > 1 i n 
 
 hiuory, iail laa'- ai<l llci'i' Wi' cileli ^'liaipsc, of the 
 e\ I raoi'i lin.a r\' lio>Tt\" lo prineipli' wiileji c!ia i'ae; i aascd 
 this piMiplc. It \\as thrii- haliii |o lirin-'e\i ry jiari of 
 thi-i)' heha\ioni' lo the te^t of tiie Li^hl.and to reject
 
 The Truth Trlitinphant. 
 
 9S 
 
 ii!l wjiicli couM Hot :)e;U' tlic ])tU'<; C'ifstial i';i\-. In 
 tiicir oinirn'rcial ilL'arni;4-.s t'lcy ii[)1i(m1 a staml .y\ of 
 ])iol)ity w'liicli at lirst iuciUTcil ,^usj)io;<)ii iVom its x'cj'y 
 s^^;UlJ,^li^^s. Wiiiiam ivliauii Is )u ioinid that tlu 
 Friiai'ls' -strict rule oi" ^'L'^it\', wliicli avouM at oia-i; ask 
 or oiior tiii' jirlco iute;!iL-!d to io ^l\'ou or taki'ii, was a 
 liiirlraiico to iloiri_i,' basin. 'ss. " \\\ tlios-'. days tlii; ki't",)- 
 iii^' to Olio prii'o in .sjlliu;^' n'oods was a u'roat stuuililiii ;- 
 lii'.ck to most sorts of jjuoidu, and made tliem .^tiin I at a 
 di-t:inci' i'rom bnyiiij,' for s )me time, tmtii lae\' saw 
 fartiim; into tlnj jii.->tico ol" llie maiiuer tlierooi'.' ^ Tia'-e 
 Q'lalc'r >li(/, )d<:(}-.'i)ers carried tlie, Li^lit into tii^ir sli()j)S, 
 and ai-tuaUv madi.; tlie ;j,'oods tliey liealt in matters (f 
 rons -it'Mc . (jiiliei't Latey, a i'as'nona'.de West-end 
 till'ir, wlio li'vl l)ei'n"in L;'ieat l,usine>s in the woild,' 
 ;viid who li:id a lar^'e coinr'Ction amonj,- person^ (ii: i';i,nk 
 and i|'iality, who,^ aopa,rid lie liad l)een aeenstomed to 
 si't olF '' witli mncii su[)erlluity oL' lace and rihhon^,'' 
 alder ill' heL-amc a (^tnakei', I'onn 1 oat that his e urseieiice 
 woedd 11 "t Sillier liim to aid and ahet this e\tiM\;i'4'aiu'i\ 
 \V)\- I) p^n'mit his sjr\'ants to do so. lie male his 
 eon>ri('nci; tiie m^a^ure hy wliieh to cut his cat lomers' 
 coat-. ^Naturally the cu>t(,imers (jliji'Ctt-d, his hnsiius.-^ 
 di (;ayci], lie was compi'll'd to dismiss his ^vorkm^'n, and 
 tlie ]iros[)eet of having to h.'Come a joai'iieyman him.-.elt", 
 stared him in the L'uee. Honest (jiihtM't e-ca[ie I tliis 
 hard i'ate somehow; [)i'.ieiaoiy a^ tlr' tdJuiikcrs ineriMscil 
 in numhin', they L'oiind tluei- way to his shop. Atkins .n 
 and Ai-ms':rong, dcang on-iiu.'ss (ai the Seotti--ii liu-.t'r, 
 not oii!\' (ieciined to simi '..;' ''le, as was common around 
 
 ' Wdihuo E<lMinn>Unu's-Jnur<il. FncuilV Lil.nn v, N'^l. \\., 
 
 p. J'
 
 96 
 
 The Oj lakers. 
 
 tliciu, but refused to sell ' such striped and i^'audy cloth 
 as was nut seeiuly I'or irleuds to wear."' C'luistoplier 
 Story tells us that " lioiu'st iiieii Is of wliat employiiieut 
 soever were' tiieu conceraed to be tt.'.stiiuouy-beai'ei-s in 
 the way of iliL'ir tradtj or busine'ss, and thoui^'h it looked 
 I'or a time as if it would hurt their trades^ yet as 
 friemls were faithful, and ]5erse\ ered in w meek and 
 (juiet --.pirit, th(.'y prospered; and thougli some liad but 
 litih' wlieii they were con\diiced, their endeavoui's A\'erc 
 bles-ed : for bidii^' dili^'jnt in the manaL;em>'nt of their 
 trades ;aid ail'airs, and earefull\" kee])ing liieir words 
 ;!,nd proadsis tlicy ^'aineil credit in the country."- The 
 tiui'.; came when peo[)le would ini[uire for a ([Uaker 
 tr;^li'-iiian oi- artizan. Then the <^)uak('rs L^aew rich, and 
 weahli s:!pped t!ie i'ortre>s ^\'llieh persecution ami 
 poxi'iay haii assauhcd iu \;i,i:i. Ihit tliat was in tlie 
 aft a' time. In this lirst a^c hom'-^ty and iuijustry, 
 li'Uu'abty an 1 biotlicily kin lir's^ rei_;ii il auiiai'j,' tlicm. 
 A 'j;ra\f siiupiii-ity nde 1 in iln-ir f;uiiil_\' lil'e. Thoiaas 
 l'M\\())d O'lh US how, when he was sliil a i^'ay youlli, 
 Ills fath- 1- aad he went to ('h:dfont to \i-it Isaac 
 reuir.-lMii, h- |., .-<iu of the W' nUiiy aldei-iiiaii, wlio !iad 
 iiiariird l/id\' Sj iriii'^'ett : and Im/.' surja^i-el and dis- 
 mi-.ieil thi'V wciT to liii(l their old i'rienes terui'd 
 (,)nai^eix, a lieople wiio^e name they had seii-cely heard 
 li t''H-e. ' ."-io yivat a elianu'e fi'om a fi'i'i' dekonaii- and 
 conrtK' ori dl belmxiour, which we fiaanei'ly liad 
 I'nnnd tlnen in, to -o strict a ioa\ity as they now 
 r,ci'i\ea n-, \\i:h. ili'l iidI a bide a!nii--i' u-, and dis- 
 appoint our ex p^ (: at i' -n nf --neji a plea-ant \iat as v.a^ 
 ' /,;.,.// \:,\,fn-<K \'.,1. IX.. p. l.-.ti.
 
 The Truth Triinnphant. 97 
 
 used to haN'c, and hail now promised ourselves."^ The 
 
 Quakers shared to the fud the Puritau dislike of uuisic 
 
 nud sports, and their vouhl;' folk were trained severely. 
 
 Jedni Banks, a worthy preacliei', writi'S to his children, 
 
 Sarah, Jolni, and Ann, that they sliould " be (juiet and 
 
 Sober, not wanton, nor given to play Ijy no means, nor 
 
 laug'idng ; but nnnd your books, aud that which is 
 
 gond; and o'o to meetings, and love one another." The 
 
 seiitimeuts of John Banks were general among the 
 
 Quakt.'rs. In theii' attire the early Fi-iends A\'ere neither 
 
 so uniform nor so scru[iidous as their descendants 
 
 b-cai]ie. L'eoi'ge I'ox niay Ije seen buying a scarlet 
 
 go\\-n j'or Ins wil'e; aud that excellent lady, minister 
 
 tliougli she vr;is, wore her ribbons and laces, and if not 
 
 pariieular about the st\ le of her gown, yet her daughter 
 
 was to)' lier, lor we uiay read ^liss Sarah's note to the 
 
 ilressmaker, desiring that it niay be made " veiy civil 
 
 and as Uisuall}' woi'n." The Misses Fell seem to have 
 
 been hand>ome and li\'ely young women. Avho could 
 
 w< ;u' sky blue stockings, red petticoats, and blue a])rons. 
 
 In time'.-^ of bei'ea\'enient the Friends would not give in 
 
 to tlie custom of ^\earing black. \VliaLe\'er their garb, 
 
 liuman Ik arts beat warndy in tlieir bi'ea.-ts des^jite the 
 
 iij,id self-i-(_'straint to whicli they trained tlieuiseU'Cs. 
 
 Voun'4 idlwood long sighed I'or tlie i)eautlt'ul ]\liss 
 
 Ciulielma Spring(;tt, Isaac Peinngton's ste})-daugliter, 
 
 ;ind resigned her rehictantly to the su[)ei'ior merits of 
 
 William Penn. William Caton travelling as a preacjier 
 
 in Ibilland and Gei-U!an\', fell in lo\'e with Aiuiekeu 
 
 iJirrix, aud his love was returned: but for smei-al months 
 
 they hesitated to contract an engagtuuent. At length 
 
 ' Eilxrood & Ilisiory writtuii by himself. llSbD, edii., page 21. 
 
 o
 
 98 
 
 Tiic Oiu-ikcfs. 
 
 ^^'illi,lm ii;ul ;, i . \ .1;: li ',!. W'ahiiij,' uwliilc cxceed- 
 iii_ly -^[;i'il';i-l;y iu ll.r li-lit.. llio Jva'l, the life Ijcgaii to 
 ;iri-i'. ;:ii'l tijr \\oi-i[ wf llic J.oii] tu^tilic I uuto mc tlius, 
 -;iyiii_; : Sh,; i^ ili./ -il'L ni' lluj L'H'.l uiito thcc.' " -^ 
 'l'in;i \v) I'^r-lxi-'l lur ;i> ilif J^i)]-^'.-. ^-il't. This is an 
 lii-t r;u'tl\-f i!i-t:iiici' <>l' ih'' <^>u;tl-;LT"s i'aitli ia divine 
 jui'iaip'r. Th'' n'laiiit lla\-(.ui' oi' ihc i'nllowiiii;- ([U-akcr 
 li>\ <;-li-ticr i\',w l.iiiidi-i ! \\.\v\ wv.yv \ cars ol<l, sliows tliat 
 tia' -tl-'a_-i--l 1-' li^i' .:;- c^ >l I \ ia i i' 'i is (In lioi. cliill tllC 
 a iii'i't a ':i >. ' Ala! \\>\\. inv ' laa ri.->t:. I'l w'iioiii lay liaart 
 i- j -a )' i-i i^,' ;;:,;; 1. aa i in thai wliieli jii'-l l)(y:ai oiir 
 uiii-a.Mi 1 iu<'-t hcai'l iiy (aa! raa'" ihaa iii iliu arnistii' 
 I'Wl-" ,'! la i^ ill, aiai -a'al il ihiIm l!ir.' with l!a_' lijis oi' 
 liuii.."' Ill ti..' ii.i.i->i >.r liav--i ].:a--v(ani)n, la'art 
 w'a.;.; .!ra'.'.- t'l \:^-\\\\. and i'..y l.i\-,'d lacdi 'tii(rna]ie 
 lla- I'-~, l.-au-'- ih-y l-\.d I'ar Uai! h ( l L'hri-t ! ud'oro 
 ah til ill J . 
 
 -' ' /. '- / /- /., li\- I'aai , - Aim.; laulac Is;;. 
 
 \ M,a. t \\
 
 ciiiArTj<:ii VII. 
 
 I'AXATK LSM. 
 
 A ]'AiN'i'UL duty Is noNv licl'tn'o us. Were it L-iwf'ul to 
 ])urtr<iy ouly the l)rii.';iit and beautit'ul in ([iiaker stoiy, 
 (ii-aw'm.;' the Ivindly veil oi! ()lili\'ii)U (n'er re})Uisi\o iu- 
 ci l(;iits, that cwurse wouhl ])?. plc;is:mter Loth i'or wiiter 
 anl TL^a-lei'. J5uu p.-irLijilily wouhl render this hook 
 Vohieless. ddie reader is iii\ited to share in a study of 
 ([unkcrisui, uudertakt.'U, u )t Tor ])h.'asure iu>r tlie mere 
 ^'I'ai.lhcatiou. of cui'iosity, l)ut in tlu; secret liope that in 
 this diivetiou may Ije found some useful gui<lanee for to- 
 dny. With this (jhjeet in view it is imjjei'atix'e that wo 
 should know tlie Qurdcers as ihey actually were, and see 
 wdilther they were led by unlinntt'd eo ilidence in their 
 own suffjeclive con\ ictiiais. i\lereo^'er p:irtiality towards 
 theui would Ije injustice to others. Not the ignorant 
 m )0 only, hut saintly men like Jjaxt(^r and Uutherford 
 and 0\ven, ix'^'arded the Qualvcrs Avitli an aversion 
 amounting to liorror. If the Q,itak(!rs had been alto- 
 gethej' and only childrcji of the Light, shining with the 
 ceiestial beauty of a Christ-lik(_^ spirit, this general de- 
 tt.'station of thoir very name would f)e as inexplicable as 
 inexcu-Nabh}. lJnha[)[)ily some of them did not ])reservc 
 theii' mental balance, but were carried away by an over- 
 conlid.ence in theii- [jursuasion of Divine inspiration into
 
 100 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 sliamei'ul acts, wliieli j^'u fur to explain tlic pcipular 
 (li>like. 
 
 'I'hat (Ic'Di'ij^'c I'^ox was liy some acct'aiiitod ]iia(l, is, 
 riiiu'iiilicfiii^ aL;aiii>t \\']i()in tlic liku accusation was 
 liidui;]!!, ii'i l)I('iiiis!i upon liis lii^li I'rjaitation. It is 
 niH'ilt'iil, li(.\\ CN .], to si.'c wlu'lluT an\' tliiiiij; can lie 
 l'i'i.iii'4'lit ;;i^'aiii->L liiiii N\]iich woiiM i;'i\c some colmn'to 
 till' arcu-al i' 111. liis 1 ^iii[K)i'ai'y toiirli ol' i liMiiiiciii-ni lias 
 Ih',11 iv:'(1Ti(1 1(1 alr.aj'.y. \'i>ii iii;i i \' tlnai^li lie was, 
 laciili i'.''iiiiiir \\a-< n )t iii^aiu.'. aiiil if i''iix iliil I'nr oiu' 
 iii'iiin 111 liirii lii^ cvt - ill tlic (lii'cL't ii 111 dl' ^iiiiiini' sprcuia- 
 t;oii-, lie i'c ( iliittiy LUnii''l lluiii ax^ay a^aiiK aia! 
 ';''\i.ti-.l l.iiii ell' III ill- -piriiual, ihhimI ;iii 1 ])raclical 
 >!' li'-- III' til.' ( 'liri-t i;iii rrk^i-ii. liis cJ.-Mni to iii^] aralidii 
 -I'l ap:ii'l fill' -.''p;ir;il>' r \;n 1 1 1 1 la t ioi I . < n ii'yc 1'\iN, in liis 
 |-Ii;i r.ii't r .i:i'l r.-iM'-r. pri.-i-]il> tin' >] irrtnclr nf an 
 I -mi ill III ly -.iiiip!!'. - iln-r-iiiiii'|i' !, win il'-ln-'i rtri 1, hm ll hily- 
 .1 ill' ( 'iiri -; iMi. 1 1|' a t } j ' (iiily t'lii rare in lliis \\-iir|il dl' 
 
 iiUl--. \<\ tli-r.' i-. nhr >I]-;i1il;v i \Ci | it 'h il i;i I i 1 icii |i 1 1 1, 
 wlili'll lii!|~t ii l,:i ri;il II !, ;llli| ill lii-^ I'Wll WhTiIn. Ih'C-iUni' 
 
 ail I |i Hi' lit 111 it liiik> it dii tn ijir .st raiiu'i'i'. saililn- 
 
 iVi-.ik. i.f-.illii' 1. 1' lii- ii '!li.\\ .T^. It li;:jip.-l,r.i ill id.-)!, 
 1 1 '11 a! I r i,i - ii ! : I'll iDi I Ii 1 1 :\- ] : ' -I 111. 
 
 ' \i!'l : I '.'.;.. w ;i ! I-. 1 1I-- aliiiM- w i I 1 1 >i'\i'r,i| iVii m 1-. 1 
 lil'l iiii;ii..;, 1,',m1,:ii,; I --'iw I 1 1 ri . -I 'pji -I ,. mi-i' s] ,i n>, 
 .11 i I li' \- t I ia-1. ;:i my lil'i' : an. I I a- I,-'! I'riiii'U w liaL 
 I 'lai-' I ;i;i' w a , aii'l \\\>y .:i ai LianlIi'M. I Mill h " liat i 'I \' 
 til- \', ' ii ! 1 1 1' I la- I."! 1 run.' ti I nil, I liat 1 mii-t ^a, t liitlirr. 
 .'^ I i"ill: ! !ia- to ll.i Ip.ll-i' \\r Wi M' '.^I'lnu' t'l. I wi'-liiij 
 Ml' ir ! I li'i 1 '.. i-i'' y. nil iia 1 I \'. a Ik iiil I till' ill .11 -I', '-a \-iiiL;" 
 ii..;ia!i_- t I ii,.aii \',li:iiii 1- I w.i-^ in ^^i .. .\ii.l a- S' .dii as 
 tia;\ \\i i'.' _iin.-, 1 ^li la.i'.l a\\a\, aial ui-nL l'\" iii\-c\tj
 
 Faiiaticisin. loi 
 
 over licd^'G and ditcli, till I camo within a mile of Lich- 
 fu'Ll, wlu;]'c ill a o-reat ticM, there were shepherds keeping 
 their sheejv I'heii I wa-^ cnaiiiaiided l)yt]ieL()rd to pull 
 otf my shoc'S : and I stood still, ff(.)r it was winter) ; and 
 the wo]"d of the Lf)rd was like a lire in me. So I putolf 
 my hliO('S, and left the'iii with the shepherds, and the 
 pour shepherds tremhled, and \vere astonished. Then I 
 Widked on ahoiit a mile till I came into tlie cit}', and as 
 soon as T uot within the city, th<,' word of the Lord cam(^ 
 to me aii'ain, saying-: 'Cry, Woe init > the hloody city of 
 Liehfl(ld.' So I went np and d<A\'n the streets, cryiny 
 with ;i, loud vnice, '' \V(je to the' Moody city of Lichfield.' 
 And it heinn' m;irket-diay, I went into the market-place, 
 and to anil fro in the sevei'al parts of it, and made 
 stands, crying' as hefore, ' Woe to the bloody city oE 
 Lichiiidil.' And no one laid hands on me. But as I 
 Went thus, ci'yiiii;; thiou^'h the streets, there seemed to 
 me' to l)e a channel of hlood ruiniine- (hjwii the streets, 
 and the mark'et-])laee' a])peared like a pool of hlooil. 
 Now w hen 1 had declai'ed what was upon mi.\ anel lelt 
 myself clear, I went out oi the town in peace, and re- 
 tuiinn'4' to th'i slii'])hei'ils, i4'a\'e them S(jme money, and 
 tiKjk my shoes of the-m a^'ain. j]ut the (ire of the J^erd 
 was so in my fe'et, ;ind all over me, that 1 diel ]i(jt matter 
 to put on my shoe's any more, and was at a stand 
 wheth(-'r I should or no, till I felt iVec^dom from the 
 Lord so to do : and then alter I liJid washed my A'et 1 
 put on my shoe's aL;"ain. Afti'r this a dee]) con>ideratie)n 
 came upon mi', why, oi' for what I'eason, 1 sliouM Ije sent 
 to cry aL;'ainst that city, and call it, tiie IdiKjdy city. 
 For th(ni.di the pai'liamnit had the mirrster oin; wliile, 
 and the kini>' ancjlher wliile, ami much hliK^d hat] heen
 
 lo: 
 
 TJie Oi/akers. 
 
 sliL'.l ill tlu: town (-lurhi^i;- tlio ^va^,s IjetAVcen tlicm, yet 
 tliat vras no luore tliaii liad liefallen many otiior places. 
 l!nt .'!i'r(>i'\\;ir<]s I came to r,n<lev>taii<l tliat in the 
 lvii]):'iM!; Diocletian's time, a tlionsaml Christians ^ver(.' 
 mari\i'r!l in hichliehh So I was to !j,'o. vrithont my 
 shn.s, tiii-nM-h the cliaiiiiel of theii- hlo^ kI, and into the 
 |u)m1 of thrii- liidod ill tlie market-])!ace, that I mi^'ht 
 rai-c ii]i t!ie meiai'i'ial ot tlie hlood of those martyrs 
 wlii 'h lia 1 h'TU SIM d alMl^e a th.onsaiid years before, and 
 la'.- i-old ill tlirir >ti'ei-ts. So thi; sense of this hlood \vas 
 Tl]M)ii iiii>, ;uid I (ihryed th.e wol'd of the' Lord. Ancient 
 i'ccni-,1^ tc-^tif\' h.ow m;uiy of the ('liristian Ihvitons 
 sudiivd llii'iv: and mueli 1 could W!'it(,' ci' tin; seiis(; 1 
 had iif till' li'dod ol' t!ie martyrs that hath heen shed in 
 thisiin'ii.n fill' till' name of ( 'hri>t. hnlh nnder the ten 
 1 li'i'-i i-iM ii III', nnd siiiei' ; hu; 1 IcnNC it to tlie F.drd. and 
 
 ur (il \\ ha 
 
 h :dl ^1: 
 
 >e imlL'Cu ; tor in- 
 
 !!' ivci rd. aiud his siarit a tria 
 
 iw 1^ 'k IS a nw i-t c- rt 'n 
 r.'i'i '!' f !. ' 
 
 hieliii'-ld mark''i-iilae,', iiiidrr the ^lu-nlow i-f fhc^ 
 hr.'Mii iliil )! iM'-w;inii I liii'i'-^ji'ri-l calhi'ilial, li;is wit- 
 ni'--i'd I wm .-a raii'_^''' -.]ii'ie aeli'< : 1 la r.'d'i mt cd ( ieui-.a" I'nx, 
 a- \\i' l:;i\-i' iiMW -ir\\ liiiii, -t i-idi:i'.: ti> ;i!id \'vn. nial (a'\-- 
 iii-- w ii a his -ti'Mtm-iaii leu j^, W'di' \.\ i ln' lilm i.l\- cit \-:" 
 
 ,'llid ill i1m' il''\: rcii'ijiV th' '.oval S;!liiU"l .h il| n -i ]i^ 
 >i;indim:- i'mt.^ i'-iiMv, ]> ; lua :' l!\-. 1 a r.'di(;idcd ia t !a' 
 r.siii. d-M!iL;- ] iiS!,-i iicc \iV l:'s i ii'_4Ta t i ! 'idi' \n hi> railn'i-. 
 Wdiv -h"!ild W" jiid-v ciilca' (if tl:(aa .' Wci-.' it not 
 iin'i-.' -imnly. a!;i' V<\ hii s - 1 1 f, 1 i liaxi' it I m 1 lie 1,, u'd^ 
 end !li- hMM!<.i.nt i >!' wldi-Ii all - - ii leny .nio; iiia' -d raii'^^e 
 
 M-, ,M' In^dr. ll,,^...-.!;;dl Ii' ]vj\.uA i We llUiy net 
 
 \ i' Id tn thi-. imiaihi'. hi caiivi. this cxtrr.ordinaiA' he--
 
 Fanaticisvi. 103 
 
 haviour of George Fox was perhaps the germ of more 
 distressing dis])lays \\\ his i'nllowers. It is to be noted 
 tliat he liiuiself was pei'plcxeil by the occurrence, though 
 lie never (l()ul)t(.nl tliat he liad obeyed a Divine impulse, 
 lie songlit i'()i" an ex])];ination, 1jut tliat whicli satisfied 
 his mind is open to obvious objections. fSeeing* iliat Fox 
 lived long before the scientilic study of history began, 
 Avc could not expect him to consider that the Lich- 
 iieldians of his day had little more connection with the 
 ancient Britons than the ]-]nglish in Xew Zealand have 
 Avith the Maoris : \\{)X should we insist much upon the 
 mci'ely legendary character of the tradition. Still, 
 allowing (M:'orge Fox to take the histoiy as it shaped 
 itseif to liis contem[K)raries, it nngiit be pointed out to 
 liim tint tlie responsilulity for the massacre rested upon 
 Diocletian an<l his jAomairs^ and that Lichfield fnrnished 
 the ]iiartyrs: conserpxently it Wfis Home not Lichfield 
 whicli desLTN'ed the reproach of being "the Idoody city." 
 It had I'ei^n more appropriate to call the Lichfield folk 
 among whom he moved, to repent of the civil strife 
 wdiicli had stained tlie aisb'S of their fai]' catheilral with 
 th(; blood of f./llow-townsmen then hardly dry. But 
 wai\"ing aside F<.)x's atter-thought, another explanation 
 is ofi'.'red by his nari'ati\'e. It was tlie three spires 
 which '' sti'U'dv at his life." Tlie cathedral in Fox's eyes 
 was an idol : its will-worship ofi'ensive to (jod : its 
 priests, liiri'ling she])hcrds, who slew the flock, and were 
 guilty of its blool. Id.is Bible, over wliicli he had pored 
 so constantly that almost every line and word was im- 
 printed on his bi-ain, had told him that an ancient pro- 
 phet of (bod, EzL'kiid, di'nonnced Jerusalem, in the midst 
 of whicli Jeliovah's temnle raiscl its statelv heiLiht. as
 
 104 
 
 TJic Oii.ykcrs. 
 
 the citlH'tlral in tlio nii'l^toi' Lii-lilidd, cryiiiL;- npiinst it, 
 ' ^V(H to t!u' !i!'>ii'ly ciiv/' 'i'li()U4h not couscioiisly re- 
 iiitiiilM'ivil liy liiiii ;it tli;it iiioini'iit, wi' can tract,' in tliis 
 old llcliivw Sciijitiirc llif ()li^inal of liis ])r()])lictic cry. 
 Ihit till' llclircw |)roj)liit> lia<! not liccn cont'/nt Avitli 
 nHTc vci'li;)! ))rott'^ts: tlu'V lia 1 hern coniman'lcd to 
 pn'scnt tlirir i-.ww l.'odii's in. sti';inj;'(' and humiliating' 
 ways as si'_;'ns to tlii^ ]ico|ili'. Jsniali ]iad sti-i])]od liiniself 
 nn'i L;-Mni' n:i]<i'l in fi'i'n--ali'in. (Jl'tcnt iiiM'S nuist ]''ox 
 !ia\"r woiidi red at tlh' i-icoid. \o\\' tlio iiii|inls(' S'MZi's 
 liMi;, tli"UL;li \\ illiout coDscioUS nicliiory o1' tla; precedent, 
 to do -^^ a:ii-i liinu' ^'1' ill" k'iiil, and lie iiiiauiH''s liiniseH" to 
 lie dixiiii'ly oi'dei-iMl to ]i'it o!!' his shoes. Sncli is the 
 cxnl mat ioii whieli oilia's lt>eil' as nioi'i' ])rolia!i!e than 
 1 1 i > own. 
 
 Till' lan'ina-v of -i--ii> i-> jnMhaMy older than th,U of 
 Sounds, and aninii^' the ancient jjelirew-. it wa.s >tili a 
 li\dii'_;' l;inenaji', to a imieli iv^-.Wi-y exiiMit than it is 
 ana ar.;' oiir-'-l \ I'-. Tiie\' lure tli^ar eli a h iir_;- to e\ia'e-s 
 Mii_;-'a', pm .ill -:ie!.-el all ;nid ^^jaitikl' 1 th !ii-;'l\a'- with 
 a-lc'^, tM i-xpr.'-- t!,' ir ei'i' t'. Ih'la-i'W pi'ipli.-t^ in rni- 
 [ilo\i!i-- ^i-iid'in'_;'n:iL:''' w'ei'e makiiaj' u-- of tja' ni-st 
 powiafiil \'eldel>' for ei i;i\i-\'!ii'_^' tli-ar iii'MnnL;' ANddch 
 tlpy p.i.-. -,-d. I'ait in 'In- -e\ i iili'- nt li eiiitiii'\- in 
 I'hijl.-i lid tie--.' nii-fla-d- w'.ae an a lai'li r. aii-iii. and it i-> w 
 mark i-f ' i.- .!- I '< .x'- I r- iii-' e an : lai-iai-.' lh;il ln' felt 
 
 fhi-, .!> ap!'.-,!'-, IV. ail 111- :i't mpt t'l lApl dn t! ip' in- 
 
 -t.inee in w ii eii h tri'' i liie m-aliod, and t r. m Id- iie\-ia- 
 a-;iiii r.'-' a t lie: ''i i'^ n-e. ||i^ I'. .IJ. ,\\ ,a\- i!nii;n ipil v 
 e;in-li' lip till' 1 di a ;iiid e;iiai''l it to nmeji r,-]!,)- 
 kai^tli-. Le-t we -li..nll Jiid--.' tleaii foMhai-ldw we; 
 iiiM-t i i;ir in mill i l!i.-il io liif i-ari\- (.'m.-iIm r- two tidies
 
 Faiiaticisin. 105 
 
 wurc iiiflisputably certain; one was the inspiration of 
 the l)ihli^ the otlier was their own inspii'ation. Both 
 these inspirations were infallilile : and to doubt their 
 own iirspiration was to call in questic.ai that of the 
 Bible ; for was not the same Spirit, who was the sotirco 
 oi' Biblical inspiration, distinctly ])roiaised to them by 
 the Bible itself ? From these premises it ft)l!owcd that 
 everything' done by Isaiah, Hosea, Ezekiel, and tlie other 
 prophets, b\' coiinnandof Cod, howevt.T otlensive to their 
 feelinL;'s, must 1je riglit and y,'ood : that what Cod had 
 Commanded befcjre lb; might command again: and that 
 shoidd He comnumd it, His beliesing p(M)ple must at all 
 ci;,>ts obey. Fi'om tids iron chain of logic, thei'o was for 
 tlh'iu, of course, no possilile escape ; but still one fails to 
 S"o th(! last liidv by which this logic was welded to 
 action. How was it that the Quakers passed from the 
 belief that God Tnt(j]d re(|uire of them certain painful 
 acts of obedience, to the assured pei'siiasioii that Lie had 
 actu;dly counuanded tliem to per(bi-m these acts ? This 
 they could not explain. All wo know is that du.ring the 
 first generation of ipiakeiism many of them did experi- 
 eiice such a persuasi(m, and did act upon it, to the in- 
 t'^'use astonishment and disgust of their more sober- 
 minded contemporaries. 
 
 l'\)X stopped at taking oft" his slioes, but others out- 
 went him a long way. (3n one page of his Journal ho 
 describ(,'S three remarkable instances. Bobeit IFunting- 
 ton "was moved of, the Lord to go into Carlisle steeple- 
 house, with a white sheet about him, amongst the great 
 rresl)yterians and Independents thei'e, to show them 
 that the surplice was coming n]t again: aiid he put an 
 halter about liis neck, to show them that an halter was
 
 io6 
 
 The Oiiakcrs. 
 
 CMiniiiL:' 11] on tliiMii : wiiieli was i'ullillcil upon soiiu^ of 
 oui' ])"is nt'M-s iKil Imiu' nl'i <.). "^ No (latti is Li.ivcii for 
 till- jiT'i'li'-tic ^iu'!). wliicIi ;i- to its fonn was iiiofi'ri!--ive, 
 if l!iil;<M'iii >. ,\i'i- can we tliiiil-: tlh'it port]- nirlianl Sale 
 (|f.(a'\-,'i I lii-s <-il 'all', \v!iM, on a Ici'turi" day,'" was inovccl 
 to ^-1) t ) til" sii'"p!i'-li:)'i.M' in till' tiiii"' of their woi-sliip, 
 anil t) vwvYx tlio^ ]ic]-s Mail iiKj,' priests and jteoplc a 
 lant'Tii and w candf'. as a li'j,uri' of tlndr darkness: lait 
 tliey ei'nejly ;di'M'l liiiii. and HI-;'- (firl^ pi-ofcs-ors as 
 tl'.ey wci-'\ tliey j.m liini into their jtri^on called Idltle- 
 Ivi^-; and so >:|Ui''Z"d his hody therein that not Vavj^ 
 afier lie ijird." |'",,x s-!W in thes.' sii^'ns (ioi's waniin;' 
 to t !m' ]i-i's (Mi; or,-, hilt tho^.' who wrr -warned s'lw \n\\y 
 til' .-ee, inrieities of ' -iddydieaded (^(iiakeiN." If sncU 
 -^i-iM a-. I ;!' ah >\'' pri'ln.ecil a sn-pieion of the pciTect 
 -;iidiy 'T ill" < Mi;dx-i' ]>rMp!;,'t^, wliit are we to think ol" 
 till-, wdi'ed loe^ r,.,-,,i;nt- lir-t of tlie thr.'e:' \\dillani 
 
 Syiiip- !l W:l- liji\-. d ';' ih- Lord ',o'_;-i ;it >e\iT::l tilU'S 
 
 f' 0' tlo'. ' y .-MO, ir'k" ! an I h.-o-a'oot i-!'i.re them, as a 
 --i-n nnto tlain: in iiiiido''-. e-'iii'l-, t iwnn, (dtie-.. to 
 pi-i"-td liou-'S Mild l-Te:ii nvn'- 1; III .I'.. ('Mill : t kail, 
 .o di .a!,! tk,.y I- ;d! -iri]!]. d iril^ed, a-, k- wa. -t-'ipp-d 
 
 n:l k'-d, A n 1 - 'IM ! 'Ill - ll'' Wa lllo\ i I to pm i .;i li;dr- 
 
 < le!.-], ,t !i, ;Mid I' I 1. '!,,..|i- Id !';ie-, ;iii| lo t-1! t li in. so 
 \\oi|id tk" I. id ( \'-\ h IIP ;ir ;dl t!ear r. r-I..M. ;:- ke 
 w;i I - ni!':a-i 1. ( i r :! t ii''' e : i > j di 1 ! k' ? l o ^r ii,:iu 
 nnd-r. o, .^,v- 'Addonoi '- wiik ii' a'-"- w k 'p-, and I'-.-Kdi- 
 
 :- -! I iiiiii _' .'01' I iiapri--! m- 
 
 fi a-e tie' l\ov^- cMiie in, 
 
 '!ii I le'\- Would 
 
 w id] i -. o] I !d k ir.' 1 .. ^^y . 
 
 Ill' 111 -, 1 1 ill!' \' -.w \ 
 
 ' I i 
 
 t!;il tle\- ll 
 
 \ ' I i ,,i a w :; nnn 
 
 : ! .1 ; I 'lit 1 '-. .11 le i in- i '\ ' w i I i er 
 I ./'..'o ./'. 1. \'y.\. 
 
 i-e. ()id\- t
 
 FaiiiXticisvi. 107 
 
 ^[.-lyin- of Camlirid^-e <li<l nol>h' to liim, for he put liis 
 li'ow'ii al)<)ut him. ami toolc liiin into his house." 
 
 AVilliam Synipson's fashiiai of oltlTiriu' liimself as a 
 siu'u aj)])cais to h;i\'o hoL'ii soniowiiat frequently ailoptt'd. 
 h'ox r.'latL'S tvro other instances, an.d in anijther ])Lico 
 spea]<s of aji indelinito nuniher ; and \vc meet Avitli fre- 
 (|Uent ri/Pcrencc to the practice in early quaker litei'aturc. 
 ri'|)ys, in liis diary j'or July 20, KJGT, writes : " One 
 thiiiL;- extraordinary was, this day a man, a Quaker, came 
 naked thr )ui;-li tlie Hall, [Westminster Hall] only very 
 ci\iny tii'd ahr)ut the loins to avuid scandal : and with a 
 ch.-inn'j,' ili^h of lii'c and Ijrinrst'ine hurinn^' up(>n his head, 
 did pa-s tln-oui^h tlie JLall. cryinii'. 'lu'iicntl' 'RepentI'" 
 One Would like to think that William Sympson and the 
 riv>r ^\lle !i'-:e tins man '" eix'ilK' tioil ahout tlie loins ; " hut 
 I iV-ar it was v.'oi p,h,\'ays so, for ]'^)x: dtaiies the inte'rpj'cta- 
 tidii of Isaiali's nak'';ihu"-s aft^r this fasliion ; and the 
 coarse hmuua'^-e u--L'd hy Sannnd ]-"islier^ is iiiconipatihlo 
 witli the su;i])')sition of any rug'ard for decency. Idiere 
 is no hliid^ini;- tlie fact that Fox. Howvill, ]'^ish(a-, Penn, 
 and the (alaa' (^)iiaki'r writers unhesitatingly reo-inlcd 
 thc-c nak'i'd men as a.etinu' hy L)i\'ine in.ijudsi'. Fox ex- 
 ]ri'ssly >tati's this: 'And the Ford made oni; to ,''0 
 naked amony you : a ii^'are of your nakedness, that you 
 miu'ht see tlait you wei'e n.ake.l, an<1 not covered with 
 the ti-uth.'' 
 
 I'liei'e seems to jiave keen a sort of mania foi- Ijecom- 
 \\vs, a si'.o!, whi-jli injected (;ven a e'eiit'eman and a schofir 
 lihe led'ort ]];!rr]ay. One can see iu jds case, how the 
 id";i eou'nl suddenly seize upon and fa.^cinate its ^ictim, 
 per.-uading him that tlie' ^reater his repui;-nance to oljcy,
 
 ;oS 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 till' Lfi'^'iti.T x\\() iivrit ill olMMlicnco, the more torrihlo the 
 jinl^-nii'iit, shuuM lie ]\'si.st the coininand of the Lord. 
 One nioi'iiiii;^-, ([nitc iiuexpecteijly, I5;irc!ay, a wciltliy 
 yoimc,'' L;-t'iitl('m;ui of aiieieut family and landed estate, 
 tlaai twiaity-fiiui' years old, awoke to feci liinisi^lf sum- 
 iiiiaicil liy a i)i\-lia mandate, to i;'o, elotla.'d in sack-eloth, 
 and sjiiinkle-l ^\it !i ashes, tlironu'h the streets of Aher- 
 deeii, callin.;' tlie ]ieo]ile to repentance. 1 le could not, like 
 I'^ox, (ih'y tli'' e anniaii'l on the insiant. I''o.\, after that 
 ilay in liis eni'ly career \\'hen he was stiaiek hiind for dis- 
 ohii jii'iicc. wh'-n t!ie coiiiinand o( tie.' L a'll came, fuHiilcd 
 it at onci': an'l when Ihei-e ^\as any (lani;'er, he ])rcfeia'ed 
 to enronnl''!' it afaie^ as in Xoiiin^'ham chui'ch, anil the 
 LicJiHi'l/i mai'k'et -]ilace. ( 'ojoiie! i'.arclay's son cannot 
 he -ii-,]i cti'i] 111' ]iiiy>ic;il cowar.lice. h;it lie shrank' from 
 humilini i'l;!. 'I'h.' luirilm vrrnici] int .lernl lie. and he 
 w;i-> i.l.Ii^v.l t,, ^cfK (lie >yni]iatliy anil ad\'ice of li's 
 fi iiii !-. Ik' li.-on,:i:! l he Lmt ! \\ ii h te;ir> that thi-> (Mi]) 
 mijhi ] .:i-- fr '!M him ; let in \;ihi. hrietcN eiic' ini'a'_;'ei| 
 him: Ir' l'r.-''ly ;_;m\i' \\y t'l the hMr,i'swill: tliat ^anie 
 i|;iy he t.. ik n|> hi- ei-n-'-, an-l i li-i-h:t r-vil tin- haril cum- 
 nii-->.''n. 1 miiiei li;itily hi- kurJen \\ n- reni')\ei|, am! 
 -iviiity i-.'tiirnel. " I lia\e juie,' wiih m\- (Mi-i," he 
 
 WI'mIi', ;i;ii| ;im -;ili~h'''l th:lt hi- I'C' 1 1 1 i I'i 1 1 -N I hax'e 
 ;i!i-\\"er,'.l ill liii- thiie;." Ik' |i!i'ih~he'l ;in id.i|i|,iii ;iii,| 
 t'ua-liine ;eMr''^- t(i evj,|;iiii | , | ., rd 1 1,! i k ;i 1 i|i ] a'' 'Ce Jm',., 
 .Ill 1 ^\\'\>\r.' if ^ |..,.Mii. : |,Mt it is 11, i! ic,;]M:. that with 
 
 hiln .-I- with k' c. liljc.' \\;e, ell illeh. Siln.' \-i';ir~; aflej-. 
 
 A !i' lr--\\' .ki li'iMy, \\\\> 1 li;e I k i-a ] a-' e "-t . I r. i 1 in ( '. i ivjn \-'~, 
 -t-p-. -t rip]ii'il to t'.i' \\;!i-l. So|m|ii,ii |->.-|,., ^^;|^ jn,. 
 oth'T iif I h"-' iiiii-l' m!c' i pruolea-. W'lcai in livl.-iiirlin 
 [titj'.i. hi' eati re 1 n \\ 'iii.in k'athoiic chapid in (ial\va\',
 
 Fanaticism. 109 
 
 during mass, " naked above his waist, with a chafing dish 
 of coals and Ijurning briinst<)nc upon liis head," and cried 
 out, " Woe to these iilcdatrons worshippers. God liatli 
 sent me this d-iy to wai-n you, and to .^how you what 
 M'id be yi-'Ui' [lortion, except y(ju repent.'^ I think it 
 M'as lie who startled the L ndoners during tlie great 
 plague, l.)y stal'i-ang thi'ough the city de]iouncing woe in 
 a sinular luaiuier. 
 
 The frenzy work(Ml among the women also. Two 
 women entei'ed ^t. Paubs Cathedral during the time of 
 worsldp, tlndr hair hanging down, and >aturated with, 
 liio^id, so th.tt it dripped upiai tlie pavement as they 
 wallved. \n this state the}' ap[)r():iched the altar, on 
 whieli they poured Ijlood, uttering s-nie words wliicli 
 ap[*.'ar to have bi'en inaudiljle.- .Vt J)i(.'ppe a Quakeress 
 and iiei' maid went to the J^rotestant meeting-house on 
 Sunday wliere a cr(J\vded congregation was assembled. 
 They Secured a cons[)icuous place near the pulpit, and 
 brl'()i-(,' the service was concluded, tla.-y stood \\\). Tlie 
 maid )-emo\'ed her mistress's mantle and hooil, when she 
 was Seen t<j be ciothetl in sack-cloth, and her hair hang- 
 ing down, s[)rinklei] with aslies ; tlien she turned herself 
 r(jund several times that all the people might see her : 
 b )th tile wcjmeii led down Tq)(jn their knees and prayed, 
 and then they went out ot the meeting, many follow- 
 ing them, among whom tliey (listribuled books. The 
 (^)uakei' historian cei]v-i(iers tliat she meant this as a sign 
 to testify against their jjride in a})parei.'^ Sarah Gold- 
 
 i Uidortj <iflhc Qtuihrrs in. lrrl,,,ul, by \Night & Rutty, ]>. 1 H*. 
 - 77t''. LnnJon.. Fritn<U Mediivj-s by W. l^cck i^- T. F. WM, iritil>, 
 p. 141. 
 
 ^ Scicd'A History, Vol. 111., p. 297.
 
 I 10 
 
 The Ojiakcrs. 
 
 smith ili\'>s'jil hersolf in sack-clotli jiml witli dislicvcllGd 
 \\\\\Y ;\\\A liiri u[)oii !i(.T lu.'ail, passed tlirniidi liristol 
 stri.-<>;s, iui'l >:) mI up at the liiL^'li c'ijs,^ in tlio iiruket- 
 plncL'. as a ,-.i_;ii a^aJii^t pridt.;.^ In Bai'ljadous, Maivarot 
 Jh'ewsi;'!' di^li'^iU'cd \\v\' i'ac'..\ It't licr liair Iuiiil;' Lkjsc 
 ah ail li'M' -liiaddta--, ]ait a^lius on her liead, and sack- 
 eliitli lAi ! lii-r el ahiii^-, a.nd in tliat >tate went to tlie 
 eliin'cii ill Spl_lii'-, Day wliiai the jaie-t and tiie jteoph' 
 wrr.' ;ii WMi-liip.- \\\ iids insLance a eopy ot the niitti- 
 iMiH w'ni'-h i'-aM,ii -d I;!-;' to pris ai, hel])> us to imagine 
 lii" cli'-a- prid'ir.'d hy tia,' uu-eeiiily ;i]ip irili^ai : a, 
 -t;oliri| r. :ii-a.'_at!' Ml. cliiiiirtai iVi-lit-aa'h wiaiaii i^'irly 
 I'.-niitiiri; M.ir^ar' ; Do'W-aua- d:M-id'^]!y iii'id'' an iiapac^- 
 ->i' ai, ihuaaii pi'"h,i ' ,1^\- 111 .; d,' i li^ kind v\ hieh --Iif d'--ii'i;ih 
 I 'iili-ipiaiy, lia-if 1-- w-i;-' y.a l-i I'd. A> Wdidaiii 
 S\aii;i-iii iiiiilntci U:iari.-i) lii'a^' Wia'i' < Hnk'a' w'wuaai 
 ilil'.-i I M;i! ' I ilp/il-li Oi ii,ili;U'' Wilii.Mii S\jiiji-iia. We 
 (;;ii l,;ii-oiy hi;oiii' ll,*' iMid^.a'- i'.a' linar 1 iiai iiiahili(\,- 
 t I r.-.ili-'- Ilril ;i ~i_;-n wloch -li^i'hi'd i/iiid'ia h\- \\ -, \\\- 
 d' ''ai'-\'. iio_iil iiM\.' !c.-a ::ii- -- iai'.ai-,\i' in nmaiait 
 .ha'ii-- I !'aii. h' ' 1, >!' ii I im; ir,; \ .1 i a \\ i ! a. i in S\-|i;i .-. in's 
 d:'\-. .-Old II . iira-Mi .-. : - t.i ia:i. aa i \\\~- i^md ,\\\ iaiim- 
 
 ;i :' I ;,"' lid !' ' 1 !i - 1 1 1 1 1 ii. r- > a - i ii.a ; d i ai. 1 1 i 4' our 
 
 t i Mr \'> 111 1 li.! \'' h .II . 1;! I ly ;ir'-ia a I iMi' I 111 hi lia. aiio el-e- 
 wdi-r-' Im ill'' -ijiii "f alhM.a la diy mid" ni'ii, iIm' >.'h'- 
 Iiuaii a:i ' i' ai nl' ili" I'^yal ja.'ph''; in i-xld i 'U iny liim "If 
 I I^'' ;i ci 'Mnii ai e. ' lis'. pr. -'n! -. il - 'if m n n ;d I ):j,'"tii"i- 
 
 hlia'"i' III .' ;'! fi' \\:\\ wiiic'i \\ \\"\-- la \\iili;iin 
 
 > , iiij.- I i' . "^\ "^-. 11' h;i I'idil I ":a ii" w ,; (,,'" iy i'"- 
 
 |i.-ai in_ ill pT" ' I'll I '11 hi." I '1'. ip;i"a I 'in w ;. i.'Hi li'Mul ly 
 
 hii-iii-.'-n: .^lili f' a- nun tln'iv w;i- ili.' cxmi-" hi;il lie 
 
 I i\.i.<. s .sw,/, , ,,.;/. \i .n 1 7'm /. 'i (; ii' la;:;.
 
 Fanaticism. 1 1 1 
 
 liad whai liu :>upi '(.->.! I i;> i.tj a prL'i:edeiit, in the recunlcrl 
 acts ol" Scripture })roplicts. Tiii.s |ialliation ciinnot be 
 ]ilca'lc(l I'or the women v/lio outrageil the inoJf.sty ot" 
 tliL'ir SfX, ex{;().siiin' tliciiiseh'es jiaked in piiVtlic places 
 afU'i' Synipsdii.^ t'asliioii. It' tiiese painful stories wei'O 
 only found in writers liostilc to tlic; Friends, one niiL;]it 
 pass tlifiii !,>y a^ possddy I aseless calumnies; but Bcsse, 
 tii'j Quaker Idsturian of the persecutioirs of his Lrutlu-un, 
 iro-ratt'S t^vo such events, ^'iviii_n' names, places, and dat; s. 
 liu jiuitliLT couuuunds iror rt'ljulces the actors, thou;j^h it is 
 [iiain Ilu was )iol so cunl'idL'iit of thuii; di\"in(' comndssion 
 ;i> J''(ix w'iis in rru'ard to ihat <jf Sympsou. So iVir as 
 \\\\ j'i'.MlIir'.; l:'o.;s, iri ^^.ud-v'-r wi'iter lias ju.-ililiiMl these 
 Women ; oi liie coiitrai'y, -wdiL']! t.-'J.nUed wdlh their iii- 
 di-e- -ncy by opponents, they di-;p]ay manifest reluctance 
 to ;ici<iio\\de(liie tlie facts. Their I'eluctance is hoiunir- 
 ahle to thidr .-ense' (.)f n.-ttural nmdesty, ami nothin,;' but 
 the impei"ati\'e diuty of an historian (jvercomes my own 
 !(d;;ctance t(j i\'fer io these worst exhildtions of (piaker 
 fanaticism. 
 
 'i'here is a u'cneric likem.'^s in edl these cases, from 
 Fox s walkini;' barefoot and JJarc'ay's sackcloth, to the 
 iii'iecent conduct of Sympson iuwl othei'S. \\\ all one 
 ])i'rceives an unconscious (<r delif)ei'at(.' imitation of 
 Scripture precedcmt. \\\ all there is an cdement of self- 
 sacrilice, consentini!,' to do violence to one's own feelings, 
 to expose oneself to I'idicule, contempt, and suti'ering, in 
 obijdience t(j a supposed eonimanl (jf (_Iod. These sym- 
 b- ilic acti(ais were a straiinir.;' towards a desired end, a 
 <h ^[)er;lte (hl'ort to impri/ss mdndievers with the con- 
 viction which ])c>sse.sseil the-mseKes, (d" theii- di\inc 
 nns^ion. " V'ou see with yottr eyes," they said, " that
 
 I 12 
 
 TJic Onakcrs. 
 
 Avr (j)nalvri-s arc as sure of onr inspiration as were tho 
 Scriptni't' ]>i'()[ili('t^ wlioiii you acknowlcdo-c : wc dare do 
 us tlicv did, v\v\\ v\v)\vA,\ it sliocdcs your lino iV'elinij;s and 
 hurts our own. \\ c arc made \"isiljlc signs to you of tlio 
 tiMitli (il'oiir iiic.s.^a^c : and avc arc willing to ondui'c any 
 dcgi'i'C i)t' >liainc and suHci'ini;", if so lc\ve can ]^rcvail 
 u] 11)11 you to rc[)rnt air I receive our messai^'c." ])iso-ust 
 at lie' lii'iToi'iiiauci'S nin>t not l)lind us to llie evident 
 sincerity of the |iei-l'()iiiicrs : but,, their sincerity being 
 adiiilnrd, \\ li;it uuaranlee ha\c -we, that th^'re was ]ict 
 miiuird w itli it, a iiira>in'c oi' diseased <lcsire for notor- 
 ii't\,ot' wleeh tli-'V were not eoiiscioirs ddic nieutal 
 ]i;it Ik il )-y of t'aiial iei^iii is lil t If undinv-tood. A >UiL;estion 
 h;!-> bell iiiidi' teat I lie bnrb hmUs trc:U niciit the (^uakcl'S 
 i\]He-iiiie-d ell'.M-ti'd tlifir it;\>''!1. l'rob;iMy ijicre was 
 ;iel:iiii eid ri'-aeliiui. The cxeo-x > nj' i';in;i t iei ~!ii ]iro- 
 x'lik.'b |i''r'-ic'ii i< Ml Im ]ir(H'|. i| til 1 .;i rb 1 roii-> I'Mrnnes; 
 and tie- iiiiiil"--- ei'nilih'-, nl' j mt-'-cm! > u ^ jU'-iXi.K.'d the 
 i';in,iti''- |M , ,1,-,! iii.itc rep. I il mil ( .1' t lifi r otreiiee>, William 
 
 S\lll]i-M|l W.-l-, not (ii-lell'rd by hi^ W ll I | i] li i Ig^. 
 
 It li.i^ been ii'M't-,-,-] ! y to iii.le aiid \vci^h llic-c nn- 
 ph'tent ;e-|i'iM -- i>l early ijuakfri'-iii : but a caution is 
 n.e.j, J, ii'il lii ;itlaeh I oi i much iiiipi rlaiiee lo them. The 
 Lii'.wu e;i-e, nre lew,;nid (hiub||e-~s i i' a 1 1 that actually 
 ( eel in VI 1 h;el been reeorJe.h tic total would still be small, 
 coiii|i;ired with t he win ile nnndicr of t he (j)iiakers, \\'erc 
 theie iiiei-e th;iii a dozen, or a scure, or so, at- ihe most '. 
 A- Kmx's single I'xl r;i\ ;e_;;ince at I^ichlieM is oiil weie-he(| 
 b\- I hi' w hi lie inllueiiee (if ;i lonu' ;ind consist en t |y sebej'- 
 iinii'lid life, ;is Ihi'erl I l.i rcl;iy s -;ickclo! h day in Abei'- 
 d. '11 i^ coiintei-Ti;il;inee( I 1 ly the yeiifs of gr;i\e |iiet\- and 
 xTid sch .lar.slii|i i,f which his ^i-eat .\]i<)loey was the
 
 Fnnnticisvi. 1 13 
 
 fruit ; '-^o tlie fanaticisni oi" quakerisni, taken at its woi'st, 
 \va.s l)!it a small fractioii oi' a L;'reat spiritual force, of 
 wliicli ti'ue o'0(Uiiiess anJ Christian faith were tlic chief 
 elements. Ther^' was also a marked diminution in these 
 siL;-ns ill th(_> second i;'(_meration ; and when the third 
 !;( ui'1'n.tion of qiiakevism comes on the stage, the signs 
 are matters of liistijry, and the (,^),uakL'r historians are by 
 ]io muans i|iute sur^' that the actors of tlu'iu were veri- 
 tahly im])fllLMl hy an immi'diat*' divine inspiration. 
 
 \Vliate\'t.'r ju(i'imfnt ww pass upon these eccentricities 
 tliey weri,' pa.i't of quakL'ri^m, endured or not disclaimed, 
 hy the ]'ec')gnise'l body of Friemls. Evidently Fox, 
 Ijarolay, and as far as ^\'e know all tlie others, men and 
 WDiiieii, to tile last rctaiuiMl thi.' belief that the\' had been 
 imi)el!ed by tlie spiiit of (dod. It was quite otherwise 
 in tlie case of James Xaylm;, whose shocking aberration 
 has ]iow to be described. lie was warned, expostulated 
 with, and r^'pudiated, before liis ])uldic offence ; and 
 dining tlie wdiole course of his insane l^ehaviour, ho was 
 the h'adt.'r of a r(!V(dt. Instead of persisting in his 
 delu-^ion. he bitterly bewailed and repented it, re-instat- 
 ing himself among the I'd'iunils, by the completeness of 
 liis retjantatinii, and tlie unmistakable sincerity of his 
 Cdiiti'ition. Thus the whole sad story might iairly be 
 pris^i'il by, as n<.)t pmtaiuing to the true current of (piakor- 
 ism . yid siMjing that it branched oil" from that current, 
 it wdll be bidterm^t to i-'iiore it. X;i}der, son of a York- 
 shin' farmer, ]'\)x's senior Ijy nine years, was one of 
 CroiiiweH's Avarriors. He joini.Ml at the outset of the war^ 
 and served with credit and pr(jmotion. until Si'otland 
 was Conquered. Invaliiled in 104!J, he rtdurned to 
 his jdough an<] his i'annly. At this time he was a mian-
 
 114 
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 ler ot:' an Iji(k*p<'n<l()iit Cliui'cli, wliicli exconniiunicatcd 
 him, aftiT lie ha<l aerc])t(Ml F^x's doctrines in Ki.")!. 
 The C'llitoi- of tlic ])nl)lislic'l rcpoi't of ]iis ti'ial ^t-itcs that 
 hc' liad stTii a letter si^'uiMl liy tlu; jiastor ;ind nthers, 
 whicli asseiteil tliat Xa\dei' was L;'uiky of inniioral con- 
 (hiet. l"'ox eiilier did not hc'ar of tlio accusation, or dis- 
 helieved it. Tlie two t'ouglit .si(h3 hy si'le in (h)sest 
 amity, (hii-liiL:" the first liot excitement of their tiei'cc 
 assauh, upon the pi'iesLs and tlie stee])le-houses. Nayh-r 
 calls I''ox '' liis ilcar hi'other (ieoi-o-e/' and joiirs liiiii in 
 \vritiii;4 " Saul's ei'rand to Damascus,'' a j)i'otest au'ainst 
 thi'ir ])ei-seciitors. In eilucation, in eloipience, in in- 
 tellectual iH)\\-cr, Xayler may have lieon tlie su]')eri(ji'. 
 (Jiie ol' ( 'i-oiiiweli's oihcei's attiMctcd 1 ly the si^'ht of 
 a ci'ii\\(|, i\\^-w \\>\\v and found ihey wci'e jistenin.;- to 
 Xayl'T. I !' -^Io..,l rnot 'il t ) lie -pot. scareil and tivnihl- 
 iii_;'; aid ackii' i\\ l-'i !_;' 'il a ft e)-\\ari !- thai Jaiinvs Na\-li'r's 
 ])ri'a''hiii_;' t "i ri li'i I him iii'Ti'than the Scots at Hunhar. 
 W'e ha\i'an inl i'r''--l iiiL:' L;lim]i-eof Na\li'i- tlii'oUL;'h the 
 e\e-, oryiiiiiiM' Tom I'd Iwo' 11 1. \\ h o iiii'i hiiii .-it the limi-e 
 of l-;eic I'^'iiiii :i< .11 ;it'terhis f.ill and rico\-ei-\-. Siiuii'c 
 I'd! w I H id, d"i mi - father, was not at all !ii(dined h' accept 
 tic hcr.'-y \\hi(di had iiilect.'.] hi^ frieiKl I'eniiwtun, and 
 ridyiic.;' ii|) .11 Id- llcTi^ical r.-adiii'^- and skid in dis- 
 ]i. lint i 11, tackled I he (,)!ia kit-, lvl\\;ird laifreiiulis ;ilso 
 \\;i iiii'T-) (111 til kipitty -uhj.ct. pr-'dc-t ina.t i. Ill ; lait^ 
 -iHiii fiiuiid ilia; llii' ,-^impli'di I ik iiiL;' hiieiids w rvr naire 
 I li;iM hi- iiialcli. ddiiilii;!-. I'dlw'iiil tidls u-that .\;i\der 
 ill' ik'd Ilk.' .-I p!:iiii -1 III I ill' c 111 111 ly :ii;i ii, ;i li u-l la i idiii.-i n oi' 
 di'-pli -rd, kill li.' hail. 11. -i lii- -iikji'i-t \\d 1 1 1 -n mneli jicr- 
 soi.-iiiiv and (di'.'ir ifen- iii-t rat i. m llial hi-i ri'.'i-oiiin.i- 
 .-I'l 1 111 111' irr. -i-t ilile.
 
 Fanaticism. 1 1 5 
 
 Of a gentle and loving disposition, persuasive in argu- 
 ment and powerful in denunciation, of ascetic baLits 
 once he i'ast>'d f<ii' iifteen days, James Xayler stood in 
 the front lank of tlu; (^)aakor lead(']'s, hardly second to 
 F(jx hiiiis'jlf : hut the adniirrition and atl('eti')n he attracted 
 canse(l ;i nii.^eralde dowid'all. (leorgc,' Fox cons])icriously, 
 and hardly less the other (Quaker preachers, j)resent 
 themselves heforo us in the historical records as men 
 devoid of egotism, to an almost incredihle degree. JMivy, 
 ji-aliaisy, self-assertion, seU'-seekiiig, a]^])ear t(j liavc 
 utterly died out of their hearts. Xayler Avas an ex- 
 cei)ti(jn to this self-etiacement. Following Ilowgill, and 
 Ihu'rnuglis t) London, he was gi'eatly a<lmired as a 
 pi'eacher, airl a little gr^mp, mostly of women, flattered 
 and eaivssei.l him. Some forward women disturhed tlio 
 laeetings hy dis])utes with hh)WgllI and Furroughs, and 
 l)t'ing I'e'hu'xed, ap[u'aleiA to Xayler for support. The 
 suhjuet in dispute is not stato'd, hut can Ije diseovere(l 
 fi'om what l"'>ll()wed. The (piaker doctrine of Christ 
 dwelling and ruling in tlie heart of tlie helie\'er easilv 
 lent itself to mystic pantlitdstic iniaginatioirs, and alrea-lv 
 l'\)x: anil Xayler had hueu accused in the ]ii)i'th (jf identil'\-- 
 i:ig th(;nr-el\'es with ('hi'ist. On his trial hefoi'e .lustice 
 Fcarson at Apjih'hy, in !()o"2, Xaylei' acknowdedgcd that 
 his a-s-rdon of Cdiii-t's dwediug in him meant a spii'itual 
 indweldng hy faith. IhU now these silly Wdiiien l)e^an 
 to addi-e th(_' ('h]-ist wilhin dames Xayler, as thou^F tlie 
 Di\-ine Word had appeared in a second incarnation ; and 
 Xayler iiuoxicated hy the sweet inceirse of their flatteries, 
 flrst endured, then aceepted the homage. Ahartlia 
 Synionds and Hannah Stranger addressed him as tlie 
 FA'erlasting Son of Uighteotisness, Fairest among ten
 
 Ii6 
 
 TJic OiiaJccrs. 
 
 tliousaii'l, Vriiieo (if I'oacc, Kiiv^'ol' Isi-a'_'l, tlic Sou of (lod. 
 'J'hci]' liusl i.-ui'ls sliarci] in tlwlr iiitV.tnatioii, .loliii Stran^-cr 
 wi'itinL;' to liiiii, '' Th}' uaiiic i-< no inoi-c to lie callcil Jaiiu.'-;, 
 l)ut -Icsus." 'J'o cxciti'il iin;iL;iiiatioiis tln'iH/ was a i-ccii^ni/- 
 a')l(' likciu'-s l)i^t\V(_'cu the fi-arin'cs of Xavlci- ami the 
 porh'a.it of tlic Sax'ioui', saiil to liavc liccii sent to jiouic 
 ill till" ilays of 'ril)('i-ius Cavsar; ainl in tlif accoiiiit of liis 
 ti'ial Xaxler is a'.-cuscil i if -tU'ly iiiu' to incr^'a-^t' lln' I'cscni- 
 Maiicc liy liis iiiaiiiicT of wcaiinij,' liis liai]' aihl licai'd. 
 ('nal)lc to i'aci' tlic ciai'-ui'c o|' liis br. itlici' jUTacliiTs, 
 Xaylci" traxcllcil westward, followi'd liv a little IijuhI. 
 Ml' ^\as iiiipi'isoiiiMl at ,1'^xctcr, \\liei'u tlicsc M-oiiicii loidt 
 licfoi'i' liiiii, and ki<-i'd liis I'cct. Dorcas I'a'liuvy asserted 
 in 111 1- exidi'iK-e at llie ti'ial, tliat slu' dit.'d in Exeter 
 pri-MK.wim (1( ad tw.iday^, and tliat Xaylo' raised her 
 IVoni 1 ill' di;id ; and ^le' -aid 1 lial lea' im alter was \\ i( ness 
 of iMi' iiiirarj''. I''ii.\ eoinin;^' to |-]\i'tiT, \i--iti'il Xaxd.a- 
 and llii' I itle'r <^*n;dea'> in tin' jiia-i ai, and lali.aii'cd foi' 
 tliri'i' d;iy-- Im e"ii\inei' Imii and lii-> I'oiImwci-s o|' tlndr 
 d'l;i-ii 111-, lait in v.dii. In tie' laid f"o\ ]'rfn>ed to 
 arkiiM\vIi-i|-v IitmI !i,t]i,m,,| wiili ill,, v-hi-niiaties, and irft 
 tie III wit li - ani'l iiiir.; Iiki' an i'\C' iiiiiiiiiiiiea t ii hi. ^'etit' 
 ifi.-iint .'ijijirnr I liai (ui.r-v f'i.\ fully ivaji-cd tlif pitch 
 ofin-enily .if whieli tle^y Wei-f ahoiit to u'i N'e start iilli;- 
 (\idi 111'''. Wleai .Neylrr wa^ iv|i'as"d fnan tlir u'aol, ln' 
 joane-Md I ly < d.-i -! on 1 mry a nd W-iU. atliaef'd !iy ,-ix of 
 hi > f' .Je 'Wi r-. niiilir way till' i'a na : le- -pi cad .-oinriif 
 llear e;;naieiit- in tin' r^^ad h.-i'iai' liini. I'ra w iiii;' 1 1 i'_:-|i 
 t . 1 li i-n '1 1 MM' I .f t le -. ( ^Mie Kcr-. wie ' w I .aid le >' i f ai' 1 lea r 
 l,;ii - n . 1 hi' Liird 1 \\ '\\ I'r'aciaia' ma' lit h- ( 'Id-l' dii-i ie,. 
 I. a ill.' l-aii-li. w-diNid 1 'e |-.'hi';ii|i' 1 in tie- Oiadwax' hrfoinj 
 .l:,i;:i -, Naxfa'. .\ 11 a'ea' -f tl.ian l-l .\;i \-|i a-, hor-i' l.v
 
 Fanaticism. 1 1 7 
 
 tlu' l)ri']lo; two oi the vrouicu s[)l;i-]ied and wadod knco 
 (]>(]) in nni'l, one dn caidi siilo of liis liorsc : tlie otlicvs 
 l"iill()Wod on ilse footpatli ; and so tliroULi,li tlio falling 
 r;iin on that antnnni da}', the crazy coin]);iny entered tlie 
 city, cliantin^- as they tramjied through the mire, " tioly, 
 Iv^ly, lioly, J.onl (Jod of Sahaoth. Plosannali in the 
 hig!n'st.''' In the city they were iimncdiately arrested, 
 and thi.; gra\ity of the olt'aiL'e led tlie magistrates to 
 seiiil tle'Ui up to be tried hy tlie Parliament. Their case 
 oi;euj'ied the llou>e Idi' ahout twel\"e days. In his 
 exandn;ition ?N;iyliM' nnswcre 1 amhigaously, and somc- 
 tiiiU'S rcl'u-i>d to ;in>\vc]' nt all. Aslce'd Ai't thon tlic 
 Iv, ( rla-iing Soji of (did T' he re[iliei], " Where ( d)d is 
 m;inili',-t in the' il'^sli, there is the l^erlasting Scat uf ( !od ; 
 and 1 do witni'-s (.h)'! in the ih'sh. I am the Son of 
 Ih'd, ;iiid the Sm of t!od is hut one.'"' To a |)re\d(ais 
 (jUe^tinu, ' Art tliou the o;dy Sun (jf (hjd '.'' he answered, 
 I am the S.ni of ( 'ny\, hut 1 ha\'e many Ijreihren ; "' yet 
 he was not ]irepared to admit that the othei's were sent 
 I'rom ( iol as he was scid. After his I'ccijveiy he tried 
 to thiidv tliat his fanh ^\as Hunted to not rei'using the 
 di\ Iiie honoui's |rdd to him hy tlie an'ouumi, and that lie 
 had iioi p>tsiti\ i'l\- acc'.'pti'd and chumiMi the diginly tliey 
 a-,(M'iiird lo him. 
 
 ;'ii(' .--rn'i'iii'L's |ias-(d ii])()n the wonnMi ;'o-e not re- 
 cord n h hut tiM.'y Were impi isoiicd,. ^ii'ohahiy al-o whi])]ied. 
 As for Xayler his sentence was SL'\'ej'e enough, although 
 many of his judgi.'S no douht thought the\- were ciring 
 on the .siije <'f Imicrwy in r.ot si'iitenciu^- him (> ho 
 huoiii Ujv hiasphemy. lie ^\a^ iiidniiLMl ut W'estniiu-ter, 
 sc.)urged to the centre uf L(aLdon, pidoried th.-i-t\ his 
 tongtie was Ijored with a. Jiot iron, he was taken to
 
 118 
 
 TJtc Quakers. 
 
 JJristdl, Avliippi'il tlirrc, and then Lroui^'lit l)ac]<; to London 
 to lie iin]iris(iji(Ml ;it Jiard hdiniir diirini^' tlie pleasure of 
 i'ai ruuii"ut. ilis iirst \vlii])[)ii!i;' was so sevcie, that the 
 tdiiune-hoi'iiin- had to he iH)-t])iined iur a weelc. ]\lean- 
 tiiiie th(.' st'Vei'il}' oT the sciitrnee ]n(\"ed puhlie coia- 
 pa->i()iK and. ]rtilions \\ere .-^eiit hoth to rarhaniunt, and 
 to the I'i'oleetoi- i'or a ])artiai i-.'ini>sion. ( 'ronnvell sent 
 live eniiiicnt ministers to visit him th(3 day hel'ore 
 (.dii-i>tmas, hut Xaylei' was sttdihirn, an^l rlicir report of 
 thi' inti'i-\ iv'w dci-iilcd C'roiiiWL'il not to intri'fere. 
 
 Shut up in 1,'i-idi'Wcll. aftei' a lime the unha])])y man's 
 s.-i.nity lettirned ; and he hfurtily repi-nte<I the scandal 
 he had eau>t;d. llcpi'.'achin;^- himself for laek of watch- 
 i'uhies-^, an.ij for ^venk \ ie'idin;^ to otiiers, aeksiowded^ing 
 that darioK >s came oxer hinr ;ii;d that he wa^ niuhr the 
 ]owei' (,r tiie ad\'er-ai'y, he d ns not excuse hiiuself on 
 the erduni! tif iu-aniiy ; and it is not ea^y to jii'oMounci' 
 an o])iiii.,i] as to the exact nature of his uiental d.i^turh- 
 aiiee. iJut noiidida liaii'.'S o\ei' t he thoi-nuelni' s- of his 
 I'l I 'eiita nei-. I h)W lie L,et oui o! ]iii-.ou We do Hot kuow ; 
 hilt he \\;is I'rlrn-, (! Iiirni'c 1 1 1.")! I, a i id ohtaiiicd recon- 
 eihatiiiii with his hreihreii. lie resumeil his laliours 
 with hi^ old eanie.-t ne-.s ;nid >omethiiiL;' of his former 
 |''\\'i-. hut his >uli'riii-'^ seciii to ha\-e undeianiiied his 
 
 edh^l il III i,,|l_ ;i||,| ill \\\{\{) lir t\\vi\. while on the I'oad 
 
 ] >uri,i-\ ill-- tM hi. h( iiii,' in I lie inii't h.
 
 CHzVPTER VIIL 
 
 MrR.iCLKS A\D PIKIPIIECIES. 
 
 A Divixi: iiiossao'c to men in;iy conceivaLly be accrcditcMl 
 by external si^'us, or rely solely Ti|)on its internal 
 evidence a])pcaling- to the witjiess in ex'er}' man's con- 
 science. The early Qmdceis, while i'uUy acceptino' the 
 coimnon beliel* of tlieir a^'e in the mii'acles and pre- 
 dictiuirs reeoi'ded in tlie .Scrijitiires, founded tlieir own 
 claims to 1>e received as the messeno'ors of God entirely 
 upon the character of their messa-j^'e. Isaac Peninii'ton 
 sa\'s, 'It is likewise excf])te 1 a^'ainst us that we do not 
 Avork nnracles;'' and replies that it was enough for 
 them to feel an^l live in the moving of the i)ower of 
 (h)d's S])irit. In a greal dispute at Amsterdam between 
 the fam<nis Baptist, Dr. Galenus Afirahams, on the one 
 side, and Penn, l]arclay, and Fox on the other, Abrahams 
 laid it down as incontrovertible tliat niiracles are 
 rcfpiired to accredit a messenger from (lod. Penn 
 ar^.^ued that the Christian religion having been once 
 already confirmed by iniracles, a r^petitiou of the proof 
 was unnecessary. Uii (piaker principles, indet'd, it is 
 I'asier to see that nnracles are unnecessary now tiian that 
 tlie'V were necessary at any time. The cluld (rf the 
 Light was con\dnced by the Jjight, which was for him a 
 pi.-rfecb proof; and he belie\'ed that a spark (,)f the same 
 divine Light was sinning in every human heart, only
 
 I20 
 
 77/(- Oitakcr. 
 
 rc(Hiiriiii;- to be atteiiikMl to and obt-ycd, in order to 
 incroa>;e to tlic same clear and cianineini;' Lii;lit as Ilg 
 hiiusolt" onj()\'od. Wdien tliis attention and obeiliencc 
 were given, nnracles were not needed : it tlie diviiic 
 Lig'lit were nei;lected and dis(.>be\'ed, tlie plainest 
 miracles would not convince. 
 
 (Quakerism l)ein:_;- thus on its own showing;' independent 
 of exti'tnal e\ddeiice, one ^\ould not ex[ect to meet ^\'itll 
 mii'aculous events in its liistoi'v. JUit tie- < 'hildren of 
 the Li^ld Were gi'eatly inlhienced by Sei'ipture }i'e- 
 ce(Ient. 'J'liey beli'ewd ^\itllollt (piiv^tion tin; iri^piration 
 of till.' iJlble : they belie\'e 1 that jaMphets ami a])ostles 
 he.-ded the sick. I'aised the dead, i'oretold the fnture ; 
 they lidieNed ihn.t (iod had ui^tll to tiiem the same 
 S))ii'it; iiatuially the occurreiiee of siiiiilar sigir^ in 
 C'lniieetiiiu with th<'ir miiii>ti'y eniild not >''eiii incredible 
 to tliciii. 'I'heii' di'li'act'irs are;i:-'il ihei;i ol' eX]ieeling 
 and att eiiipt iicj,- mir.udi'S : ' and the crazy W'iineii wlio 
 bu//i'd ;irMiUid Niiyta- ga\'e --miiic ei miit .nniie' (m the 
 cli.-ilgi- ; i.ill ihr^i' wei'e d i --I \'i > Wed by t hi ' * ^*n.,Mk ers, ;i 1 id 
 
 mU>t lint br 1 nkell ;is lv[i|T^i||t;l I i\e. T ll ' gre;! t 111 ; ij ' i I'i I y 
 
 of lliiir kieji-r-,, eilhii' by direct >( :it '.'ment--. such as 
 li.'-i- III' I'liiiii-iiiji aii'l I'liiii ju^l (lUoted, er by I'dr.-iiu- 
 in_;- ri'iiii liiyi:-- cliiim t" mii'iicil. lus po\\ eivs in their 
 
 ('hMrch, ;ii-ci>liti'i| ih,. I'lict l||;lt 1 1 1 i r;i c]. > ilj.] |i.,t OiClir 
 within llii'ir k ic cw Icl'j'". (i^'i,i^_.v bi ix. hi iwe\-er, held ;i 
 -I 'iiM'W Ih-ii ililiiiviit p.-ii'Mii. lie ih'l iMii. strain nl'lei' 
 miiMcle-. ; hi- iliil lint ;iii|H';i| to ihrin ;e> i-\!dciici'S : he 
 r.iivlw it i-\, ), iiiciii ii iiirl thi'iii ill hi> I ii-i-i HI I'sc-, i.r in 
 
 W lit 111 
 
 lie 
 
 ) 1 11 1 1 . ' 111 
 
 - iil'e ; but ill id- 
 
 ' 77"- i'<i,.,,in-J: //;,-.',e.,-./ ; ..r ;ili |-;\;ii't I tct,! ii Ml ;iliil .\rcM|iiit ,,f 
 
 iIh <M \|;;il,:i],tl-t< ;illi| N . >\ <M|:,k,l>. I .. .1 H 1 1 1 1 1 . Ilil'.O. Vli;!],. V.
 
 Miracles and PropJiccics. 121 
 
 journal lie a^srrts tliat laii'acles were ^\r(J^^1lt l)y 
 s,'\'cral. {u'jilxiiig to a correspoii It^it who seems to 
 liave reasoned like (Jaleuus Al>rahains, Fox wrote : "As 
 for tile si<;'i:is ^v]licll iollowel those that helle\'ed, which 
 thou snyest are eease'd, I say, they wlio camiot I'ceeive 
 the li^^'ht cannot see the si^^^ns, nor could believe theui it" 
 the}' .-.luaihl se:' them to cai']) at ; no more than formerly 
 they could do, who ojiposed the light in former aii,'es : 
 they cannot jirojierl}' he said tr) cease to such, who never 
 hail them, hut ha\a' only heard or read, that others long 
 ago liad them. ]}ut that the power, and sigiis, and 
 pi'i--cnce' of (ujd, is not the same a.s e\e!" it was, in the 
 measure A\dierfiu he is recei\'ed in the light, that 1 
 di-iiy.'"^ Credidous Fox uiay ha\'e heen, hut he was 
 cl a^-^igh((_d (jiioui^'h to pc/ceive the ei'i'or (d' liis op])on- 
 e;its. They pMa'se.ad.ed themseh'o'S that thoy acct"[)t(jd 
 tile ]]i'de Ijecause it \\'a.s attestL'(l hy mir.-icles, whorea'^, 
 in tiaith, " th<;_y ue\'er had the ndracles;" for them the 
 nnracles had no exi-t^nce, ajiai't tVom tlu' testimou}' of 
 tin' lji;ok, wliich they -^uppiised to rest upon their 
 e\ideiic(,'. Fox was, at lea>t, logically consistent. .1 f e 
 iie'jicvi'd the Sci'ipturi' re\'ehition, not on the ground of 
 mii'ach.'s, but because he saw its truth; he believed in 
 tilt.' miracles (jf Sci'i[)turc without (htlicult}', because he 
 bebeN'ed that sinnlar e\'ents had hjippened ^\ ithin (he 
 raiig'.' of his own (xperieuce. It is renrarkable that in 
 tins latter belisd! he was S(j litth,' su])poiaed by his 
 foll(jw<ji's, ^\ho hoAveX'U' have handii^d dou'n liis own 
 st;iteinents on tlie subject without ]iote or comme.nt. A 
 brief re\dew ed" the in.^tance-; he gives, and of the 
 c\idcnce in their favour may be interesting. Tlie 
 ^ JourncJ. 1. -Jt't^.
 
 122 The Quakers. 
 
 miraculous o'onoi'cally a])peal.s to us from remote ai[;'es and 
 regions ; liere in seveiiteentli century Euglaml, it is 
 almost nex.t door to us, and one may be excused a curious 
 desire to exannne it au'l its e\'idence. 
 
 Passini;' l)y cases of answers to jo'ayei', for those wiiicli 
 bear a closer resemblance to Sci"i[)ture miracles; the 
 earliest recor-lcij in the joui'ual took place soon alter 
 I'^ox's release from his first imprisonment. '" ComiuL;- to 
 AhinsfioM-wcHxllionse, there was a, dist!'acte(l woman 
 uiiilei' a doctor's liiml, witji he]- hair loose all abijut her 
 e;ii-s; ;uiil he \vas alujut to let her blood, sbe bciiiL;' first 
 b.)unil,aud many jjeoiile beiiie; ;ii.)oui her, holdiiig her by 
 \ ioli'uec : but licM'ould get no lilood fi'om Inn'. And I 
 de.>ir(_'d them to mifniid her and let her alone, foi' they 
 coid'l Jiot toueh tlie spirit ill hei- by which she was 
 toi'iiienteil. So thi'y did unliiiid her. And 1 Avas mo\-ed 
 to s]ir;i_k t I hei'. ;i!id Ml the name of the JvU'd to liid her 
 be (piiet and still: and she was so. Am! the Lor(fs 
 ]Hiwer --I'iileil h'l' niiiel, and slie meiideil. and afterwards 
 I'ec i\e<l iiie trutli, aiid eMiilinueij in it to her death. 
 .\ nd the hord ,-, MM me was honoiii-ed ; to whom the glor\' 
 of ;dl hi> \\(l^h-^ befiii^-.. Many great and wondi'idid 
 lliiii-s Were wi-iiiigiii liy the h' a\eidy ])ower in tho->e 
 day- ; I'ni- the hor 1 made Imre his (imnipoteiit arm : and 
 m uiit'i' ted hi> ]i iwer ii the a^lDid^hment ol' man\', b\' 
 the hahu-' \irtne where:)!' man\' ha\i' Iceii deli\ei'ed 
 iV'-m ui'' .'!! iiih rmit ie^, and l!ie de\iU w.i'e made sulijecl 
 thri.ngh hi-, name; ()!A\!iieh ]iaiti(Mdar instances might 
 lie -ixeii lh\i.iid what tin- nilbelie\ ilig a;e i> ali!(.; to 
 
 l'eeii\e iil' hi^al'." ' l''ii\ e\id' lllly diMV-, lln| intend US to 
 
 .-ii|, ]!,- that llie !'ew caM;.- recoided l,y him ai'e all that 
 ' ./..,-,,-.'/, I. Jit?.
 
 31 i racks and PropJiccics. 123 
 
 came within his knowlodge. Yet tliorc arc some re- 
 mark.i.Llc ones. Iviclii'.nl Vixk^x and James Alilner made 
 the first scliism in tlie '[Uaker comunniity. Reljukcd 
 ky Fl)X, tlicy repented and returned. "After some 
 time,' Fox \vrite<, " I went to a meetini^" at Ai"nsi(k^. 
 v/kcre ]vi(diai'il Myer was. Xow lie had l)een long- Lime 
 (ji' one oh' liis arms ; and T was moved of tlie Lord to say 
 unto liim, amoiin'st aU tlie |)L'ople, ' Pr()})li!jt ^lyer, stand 
 uj) npon tliy \(''I,-'-^' For lie was sittinu" down. And he 
 stood up, an'] strctelii'd ont Iris arm that had lieen hime 
 a h)u^' tiiiv.e and said, ' 15e it Icnown mito you, all ])eopk\ 
 tiiat this (hiy I am ln'alcil.' But Ins parents could hardly 
 k''li('ve it; htnt after t'lK.^ meetini,;' was done liad him 
 a-^ide, and took oiidiis donlilet, and tlien tliey saw it was 
 trui'. ITe came sooir aftin- to Swai'tlimore meetino', and 
 th'M'c declared liow the Loi'd liad healed him." -^ Fox's 
 woieicrful power o\'er tin.' mcntaliy-atllicte'l is illusti'ateil 
 hy an oCi'uri'enec in Am'i'iea. "At this meetini;" was a 
 \\'oia;in that li\ed at Ananicssy, who had lieen many 
 y-ais in trouhlc of mind, and sometimes wotdd sit 
 moping- n(>ai' two months t')L;'ether, and hardly speak or 
 mind anylliine'. When 1 heard of her, I was mo\ed of 
 th ' ]v)rd to l:,'o to liei', and tell her that salvation was 
 eoiiit' to her lujiLse. And after! had s])oken the word 
 of life to hei', and inti'eated the Lord for hei-, sh(_! mended, 
 and Went up and down \\lth ns to meeting's, and is since 
 well : kie.sed he the Loid ! ^ - 
 
 For the al)ove cases, wi' ha\'e no testinK>ny except 
 Fox's own assertion. (Jutside Fox's jonrnal, the refer- 
 ences to miracles are scanty and \ae'ue : hiu there is one 
 exef-pliai, a I'ema^kahle and interesuiie' exeepiion, whieli 
 Janru'd, I. VM. - Jovmal, 11. i(;4.
 
 124 
 
 TJic Ouakcrs. 
 
 must iiofc 1)C withheld. John IJiinks. a woitliy (^^>uak(r 
 lncacliiT who was com-ertt d in l(i-')l ai;<l livrd till 1710, 
 who, lik'C mail}' of the enrly J'^riL'tids, iinitatiMl ]''ox in 
 kcepin!^' a journal, narrat"S a miracle of ^\"hich he was 
 the suhji:c't jui'l (!l'oi;l;'o I'\)X the jnsti'unicnt. " Ahout 
 lliis time," he wi'itrs in j()7(), "a ])ain sli'uek mr in my 
 shouhk'r which L;'i'adna]ly I'cll down into n)y ai'm and 
 haiuk so that t;ic use thereof 1 was wholly dc[)ri\'cd of ; 
 and not only so, hut my ]^ain greatly inci'ea--ed holh day 
 and niglit : and for thi'ee months 1 uidtlii r ])ut my 
 cloLlies on nor oil' myself, aiid niy arm and hand liegan 
 to withci', so that L did seek to some |ihy>iri;iii^ f(a' cnre, 
 hill no cure' couhl 1 ^'et hy any of theni, until ;it last, as 
 I was asli-ej) in my h-d in tlie nl^ht time, [ sa\v in a 
 \idoiL (hat 1 was with d-ar ( i,M)r^v f'o\, aai 1 I thought 
 I ^aid nntohiiu: ' ( Icoigo, uiy fait h is -ueh, that, if thou 
 seiv-~t it thy \\a\- io lay thy hand upo,] my >hou!di'i', my 
 ai'Mi and hand sjia 11 he made \\dioh> throughout;' which 
 I'euiaiui'd \\dth me al'fer I awaked, two d.iys and nights, 
 that the ijiiii-- wa- a true \i-^ion, a, ud thai | uiu>t go to 
 (ic.iig-i' ho>; ; uiiiil at la-t through uiueh exereise ol' 
 uiiiid, ar- a inaraiiil ereat trrd o|' ui\' laith, I w.rs made 
 wiliiue to -o to hiui. he hein^- then at Swai't hmoi'e in 
 hanea-hire, wdiej-c th-re was;i me. ting. if hiiiaids, h.eing 
 oil the lir-i da\' of ill.' wi'..';. Ala! siiuiciimc .al'l.a' t!ic 
 III' et ill _:, I (';d f- ! hi III ,a-i( |e into t lie h;d I, a ir i ga n.' him 
 a r.'!,ati..ii i.r iii\' e-iiie-ni a -^ .afore-aid. --hi iwiii'.;; him ni\' 
 arm a ad hand ; an i in .i lit! 1- I iiic, we w a^^ iu;- t .)-. tie a- 
 >i,.ait, h t ii; 11 d a '1. .lit ,aiid l""!:ed ii|i..!i m ', li : 1 Iii';' up 
 hi^ h.and, ai:d leid il up. iii my --fodder and ai.h 'fl,i_; 
 hold .-.treiiet liiai the.' I...ih within .and wilh.iut. And 
 -o \\, |,;ii-|rd, , -111.1 I wa-nl lo Thoiiia- howir,-, ol' Aiar.-^h
 
 Miracles and Prophecies. 125 
 
 Gi-ang-i', that nio'lit ; and wlicn I was sot down to supper 
 in his liouse, iinincdiat'dy Ijcforc I was aware, \\\y hand 
 was lit'rcd up to do its office, wlueli it couhl not for so 
 li.inu' as afoi't.'-aid ; wiiicli ^truclv nu' into a great admira- 
 tion, and my heart was h]-()k{'n into true temlerness be- 
 fore the Lord : anil the next <lay I went home, vrith my 
 hand and arm i-estorcd to its foi'nu.'r u>e, witliout any 
 pain. Ami tlie nt'Xt time tliat (ie(j]'g'(3 ]''ox and J. inet, 
 111' readily >a,ii], ' Jolni, tli'iu mended, tliuu mendech' I 
 air^-wrrt'd '' Vcs ; \'t-]'y Avdl, in a littUj time.' ' A\'cU,' 
 said lie, ' ,!j,i\"e ('od tlie u'lory ; ' to whum I was and am 
 stid hoinel in ilut\' so to do, for tluit and all (jtlier his 
 imji'eies ;ind i'a\'oiirs, wlio hatii all power in his 
 own liniid, ;ind eau tlierehy hrino- to pass wdiatever 
 sce-ms L;'ood in Ijis e\'es ; wlio by tlie same tits and pre- 
 pai'es instrummits, ami malces use thereof as pleasetli 
 him, \s lio is al(j]ie woi'thy of all praise, honoui', and 
 U"l<ir\', 1)0l1i now and for e\'(;rmore. Amen.'*' ' 
 
 Jidin l]anl<s can b(; known from his journal. He was 
 a ni'in of \-eliemeiit and sturdy cliaracter, wlio toiled and 
 suifeivMl for th'.' trutli unweari(;diy. Moi'i; tlum once 
 he' h;el a. remarkable (Iream, wdiieli he accepted as from 
 t.iod : but hi." doi's not a])pear to lia\'e been (jue to whom 
 mar\'(ds wore e\'e']'\'-day oecurreiiees. d'liis accornit of his 
 cui'e tlirouo'ii the instrumentality ol" (leoi-e-e Fox is tlni 
 one >olitniy instance (jf the kind in liis jouiiml. Thei'e 
 dojs not seem to be' the slrelow ol' a I'ea-on ibr hesitat- 
 i'n.;' to accept this narrati\-e as a true account so far as 
 the facts !ire C')ne'rned : and its acce])tanc(^ removes any 
 [)rejudic(', ii' such existed, ai^'ainst (Jei)re'e' l''ox"s narra- 
 tives. ]jut iihleed, to those who know the aDiount of 
 ' FrUnU Librnr:'. Vol IX., p. tii5.
 
 126 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 eviJrjicc for tlu.' oCL-urrencr of .similar cuies l>y similar 
 mi'aiis ill ijiu' own ila\', it will ii')t 'i' difti-ult to 1i._'li(;\'e 
 that these h'liicst (^)u;ikt.'i-s aro ])i'i'f,'ctly tnistwoi'thy in 
 tlicii' i-.'latioii ol' wlrit c'liUL' within ihfir uwn I'xpijricnce. 
 So they saw anil heanl, s the phmMiiK'na ajipcareil lioth 
 to tlii'ii' s^^nscs aii'l tlii'ii' understandiiiL;'. W'hethei' tlicy 
 were I'i^'ht in thcii' inicrpi ('l.-itii >n <>1" 'Jicir cxju'i-icnce, 
 an<l wlijit exactly thit interiiret.-il i' >n w;i>, let the i-eader 
 judL^-e. As to the hitte!' [loiut, without ;i t teiii ] it i 111;' any 
 (letinition oi' miraeh;, 1 think it is certain that I'^ix u^ed 
 th" Wold, in the s!'ns,> ^\hicll In.' ])Ut upon ii in the ddy 
 i')iM)k with which he was I'amiliar. ( dnloubtedly lie 
 saw in these cni'es, the lin^-er ol' (iod: luit he also saw 
 ih'' liiiL;-fr oflioil e-vcryw hei'e. Ilciv I inu-t K\ive the 
 sdij-'ct. The li^r 111' the^e woid;s of hcaliiiu' nn'^'ht he in- 
 
 Cl'e.-wed hy the ndditiMn nl' one ol' t Wd niol'i'. hut oi' imiie 
 
 liioiv ri'iieii-knlile ; and ;it itsntiii"--t tli'lisi is a >hnrt 
 one. 
 
 ri-iphecic- iiccapy dciTlrdly a iieac i n i poi'i ,-i nt p|;:c,' 
 t h.ni in i race'- in I Im' i pi.-oo-r -ti iry. Am' 'ii-' the ( 'iii Idivii 
 id Lijhl. n pi-'i'li ! \\;i-> <>i!e whii hy in^-pi iv; I i' 'ii >pake 
 ih.' w-r.j I'f t hi' hnriL 'I'm pi',-!i'i I Ih' rmnre was nut. 
 ii"ei'--;i rih,- iiii'lndi'l in lu^ ruiie:i.in. Si'.iue of thrii' 
 pii ipic t -, hi e,\ I \ I'l', I hd I'l a-t.'d I'm a r- i'\ rm . ; .'nid -< 'iiie 
 'd ili.-ii' pi'.- h.'iiiiii-. \\-i I'.-, ii w;i ^ '-'d'h "''' i'ldiillid in a 
 
 reli,;i rh;r ]' III aaiiT. Mir,ie'i'-,. \\\\ lii-T III' (n-(i|-v !'(,. \c 
 
 III' ,MM\' i-tiii'i' no- a'l-ii.lid wilh lio-^ di -;id Willi ;i^i' as 
 (\a ji'iic - ; I h;i ! \'. liia '!ie.' 1 1|. y ; i o ] i;i--t . I li' iv i~, in, 
 pM--ihh' W:i\- 111' ji'Ililij ,-|l heiii t'lir ihi' p':rp()-i' nf \-ia'i- 
 lii'.-lliiiM. I''"\ I'l-it I:.i- oi illcil.t \-, whiil ill- Wi-i.ti- !!i;it 
 
 ;i f! lelilir 111 
 
 -I ;l lici-- mi _dif h,' ; \i'll \. 
 
 \"' ili'l W li;it i III.- 
 
 iiiihi'di'N iim' a-i; i-- alile t-i ivcrixa'. O'i what use woidd
 
 miracle <^ and Prophecies. 127 
 
 it have been for hiin to appeal to the evidence of liis 
 own iiiirack's, and to proiluce Joim Banks, and otiier 
 Quakers, as witnesses, wlien he and they were all regarded 
 as fanatics, impostors, Jesuits, s])awn of the devil, and so 
 forth ] \V(_' ^\dio know the Quakei's better, and jndy'e 
 them mo]'e truly than their contem[)oraries, cannot ])ut 
 tliem into the witness-box, to ascertain exacth' what 
 they did, what they saw, and what they meant. Pro- 
 ]:)hcci('s otter nnich ;j,'reater facilities to the iiiquii-cr. 
 I'ubHcly utter(.'d predictions would be I'cmendjcrcd l.iy 
 huii'lrcds and by tlearsands : prcdietions wii'tten dowii 
 ;iiid priiite*! c;in now be com])arril with their alleged 
 fidlilmcnts. Hence, if not more ])(.)tent as evidence, they 
 are more ])i-odueible, an<l it is only natural that those 
 wlio believe<l tliat they saw the prophecies rultille<l under 
 theii- \vY\- eyes, should point to them triumphantl v. 
 AVe of the after age can congratulatt^ ourseh'es on tlu; 
 ])e)ssibility of coming, Ity comparison of dates and 
 serutiii}' of facts, to somt' detiinte conclusion in this de- 
 partmi^nt of inquii'}'. It "will be woi'th while therefore, 
 to tak(' ]iains to set forth accui'ately what these pn;- 
 dietions were, and what th(> aileg('(l fulliiujents. 
 
 Tui'iiiiig in the i!r>t ])lace' to tin; joui'iial of CJenrge 
 ]''ox, he saw in the ix-turn of King L'luules, followed by 
 the execution ot tlu' leu'icides, and the ejection of the 
 pui'itans from powei' and ot the I'resbyt ria.n cleig-\' frtiii 
 their benetices, a clear fulfilment of tlie |U'ojihecies de- 
 livei'ed by the (,)uakers in the time ol' the ( 'anmon'Weahh. 
 \\ illiam Sympson and the otln'rs \\'ho made themsel\-es 
 signs W(.'re projjhets ako. Fox writes : ' .Many Avays 
 weix; these ])rofessors warned, both Ijy word, by writing, 
 and by signs .... many warnings (d" many sorts were
 
 i2cS The Quakers. 
 
 fi-ionds moved in tlic power of tlie Lord to i^ive to that 
 
 e'ellel'atinii. \\"lli'jll tliey IK't (illiy I'ejeeted, liut aliU->L<l 
 
 friends, c;dli])L;- us L;'idily-lieaded (^)n;)kers.'"' After tlio 
 restoratioii, "(itd la'ou^lit liis iud^'iiieiits upon those 
 pei'seeutinu' ])rie^tsand iiiaL;i^trat''s," aii'! Fox with a veiy 
 natural i'eelin;j. ndds, " then we couhl jisk": tlieni, wdio were 
 the -iddy liejids imw.'"- and lie recni'ds it as a faet, 
 ' lli^'U numy did c-iid'css \\\'li;i<l hrcii tru'_' jii-opliets 1o 
 thenatiiiu.' 1 1 cnnm it reasdiiahly he coutesteil tliat tlio 
 <.^'ual<t.'i's (hnhi'_;' tlie ( 'rianweilian ei'a, openly and re- 
 peatedly deiiounced coiiiini;' judgment u])()n their ])ei-s(.>- 
 culors : ;uid that, alt'T the i'e>t< irati< ui, u])()n many of 
 t]i'>i' \eiy men .d^'ii-'d jud^'iui'iits fell. Whatever 
 n;ilui-al >at i^fjict ii in !'< e\ felt in this exideiit fullilmeiit of 
 pT'ijihccy. he was inn leiidi-i'-lii;;irled, toil ( "hri-tinn, to 
 t;iki' ]i|i';i^uiv ill the >iiirri'lii-s of his ojil toi-meiitors. 
 
 The p;ir;l J r;l] ih in W ilieh ln' I'el'eix to thi^ mnttel' desel'\es 
 
 to lir r\ 1 r.-e-Oi i I'll]- the iii->l-hl it L;i\e-^ into tin- ^-.'nuiin' 
 liinii;inil\ 111' ihe iiiueh --u treriie.;'. iiiiieli-!iir^'i\'iii'_;' leader 
 ol' ih'' < Mi;d^fr^. .Much Mn.id w;i- -hi'd this yc;ii-. m'!ii\- 
 of tlnlil ih.-it h;id I'l'-li till' old Kili;^''-^ Judu'.- I'i'illL;- 
 h;in'_;i''l. dr.-iwn ;iiid o ii;i rt "ri 'd. And ;iiiii 'U-'-t lle-m thnt 
 
 -^' 1 -llti'i'l'i-i 1. ( 'i .|i .||i'l ll;i-krr W;l- I'lie. hi' \\l|ii -^ollt llle 
 
 ] ifi-i iiii r Ir- 111 l/'ic'-or tii Lmii'Ihu in i 'li \ir'-^ time, of 
 
 \\ h ieli ;; II ;l''ei iUni i > -IN I'll 1 I'l'i iTe. A -,-e I i\\\\ it \',-;l-, ;ll|d 
 ;l r. j I.-' \ ill./ ' d 1 '! ' " 1 with 1 '' - " 1. I'"' M' i'l till' I iilli- of 
 
 ( )h \ i-r ( 'r. iiii ,\ iji. w hi-ii .1 \i'i' . 1 nil 11 Wi'i'i ] ,:ii t : i dril h 
 k\- liiii! k^'iii,:' In ii-i-d, dr.iwii ;iiid jUi i t -i i - 1 I'l .r ]ire- 
 t.-nd'-d t iv;i-..ii-. I li-ii iVmn tin- j/.i'il < m ..], i lnii t \\,.\y 
 li!..i,,l v.i.iiM n-t 111' |iiil up. hut wi.'.ilij 111- fi (iiiio'il ; mid 
 I ~;iid ;i- uiueh thill Ii' -\(r;d. .\nd n<i\\ upon the' 
 
 ' .r.^', ,.''. I. !'.:;. - /'.-/. \>. i;m.
 
 JMiraclcs and Prophecies. 129 
 
 Kiiif^'.s return, when several of tiiein that lm<l lioen 
 no'ainst tlie Ivin^- were put -to death, as the otiiers tliat 
 were for tlie King, had ]jeen before by 01i\ er ; this was 
 sad work, destroyin^ij of people contrary to the nature of 
 Christians, who have the natures of lambs and sheep."^ 
 Fox was too larg-e-hearted to Ije moved l)y the snti'erings 
 of Quakers Oidy: it was a sad day for him when their 
 persi-cutors were brought out for exectition. Neverthe- 
 less, it would be Strang'' had he not seen in this an 
 interposition of Ood on b'half of His sutK.'ring children. 
 " And He ilid hi'ar the cries of His peopltj and <lid bring 
 an overtiowing scourge ovei' the heads of all otir perse- 
 cutors, which 1 nought a quaking, and a dread, and a fear 
 amongst, and on them all: so that tliey, who h;id 
 nickname<l us, (who are the children of light), and in 
 scoiii called us (Quakers, th:' Loi-d made them (]uake, and 
 many of them wcjuld have l)een glad to have hid tliem- 
 seh'es amongst us ; and some of tliem, through the 
 distr. ss that came upon theau, did at length come to 
 coid'ess to the; truth." - 
 
 So far as yet ;ii)|)ears, these quaker pr(jphecies, ad- 
 nn'tteilly fultiiled i]i their own generation, were not of a 
 d'.'tiuite chaiacter. They aimounced in general language 
 that (h)d wouM interfere for His ])eo})le and execute 
 >-en:^eance upon tlndr enemies; but nothing was said 
 ]:eforehan<l as to th" time, or manner of tlie lultilnn^'nt. 
 That th.e Almighty will some d;iy, and in some way, 
 (itlicr in this world or the m'xt, right all wrongs, deliver 
 His sulfei'iug children, and punish tlie wicked, is an 
 article of laith among ddieists, and an instincti\'e ex))ec- 
 tation of the human heai't. Is it not tlien possible 
 1 Journal, T. 491 , - JonrnnI, I. 492.
 
 130 TJic Quakers. 
 
 that mcro general utti'rances of tin's faith, afldi'esscd 
 as warnings to their aih'ci'saries, W( I'l.' alter the down- 
 fall of those a(K"('i'sarirs sii]ip()scil to have liail a niore 
 distinctly I'l'eilictiN'c eharaetcr than they a<tually had ? 
 For instance, take tlie e;ise ot' ])()m]' Colonel Hacker, who 
 seems to have heen vei'y I'elnetant to injni'e Fox; the 
 Journal snys, (Colonel llr.cker had fox to his hedside 
 and bade him go home, iuid keep no more meetings. 
 " I told him, I could not suhmit to that, hut must ha\'e 
 iny iibt.:rty to serve (iod, and to go to uieetings. '^^i'lieii. 
 vSaid he, you nni>t go hi-t'oi-e the I'rot et 'V. \\'lie;-eu|iou 
 1 kneeled on Ids lielsi'ie, ;iiid he-,ou-lit the Lir(l to 
 forgive him, for he was ;is I'ilate, though he would wash 
 his hamls; and when tlie d:iy ol' his mi>eiy and trial 
 should com.' upon liim, I lii 1 hini then i-eini'nd)ei', what 
 I had said to jiiin."^ ilacker did reme idier it wlu'U 
 ])i'epai'ing himsidl i'or Tyhurn. and cnnCesed to snuie 
 C^,uahei'> who \i>it,'d him that h'' was tiouhleil about 
 what he thi'U did. Near a-> pi', diclaiii and Inlhlinent 
 coii'e->|'i iud in tliKca-^", it y.'t dor^ n^l appear on (do>e 
 examination that in Ib.li (ieirgc l''ox had any foresight 
 of what wa.> -oing |o happen >1.\ yeai> at'lm'. Ilis 
 pi-ophecy waad I ha\c Immh eeuaiiy i'nililli'd on thesup- 
 pM>ili(in that Ibachcr had r^.-ipcd ;:1| Jndgincnt in this 
 life, and had >Mliia-. d foi' hi-> --in in I lie in\ i-d lie worid. 
 
 lloWrVr)-, (M'.,|-gc I'ox brlir\rd that he WaS lifted 
 
 with a IIP a~-inv ol' t'l .1 i-^i-iit intd tlc' I'ntnri' ; as ap])cars 
 tViim tlo'i'' insianc<'> ri c idrd m he- .hairnal. 'Ilnng 
 one d,a\' Ml S\\ a rl line ao llall. winai .lnd'_^v brjl and 
 ,|ii-tic.' biai-'-n \\<-\<- lahJn^- of liir n^'W,- in the news- 
 bniik, and ol' t la' I'ai llaiii' lit th.it w a > -i II i ng ( w ji icli was
 
 Miracles and Prophecies. 131 
 
 called the Long Parliament) I ^va.s moved to tell tlicm 
 that liefore that day two weeks the Parliament should 
 he hmlct'ii u[i, and tlie Speaker plucked from his chair. 
 And tliat day two wccdcs Justice Benson coming thither 
 again tohl Judge Pell that now he saw George Avas a 
 true ]n-o[)het, for Oliver had liruken up tlie Parlia- 
 ment by that time."^ AVhile he was a prisoni/r in 
 Lancaster Castle he foresaw an.d foretold ilie defeat 
 of the Turks ; and at another time an angel with a 
 glittering lirawn hword, prefigured the wars A\'ith 
 liolland, tlie plague and the lii'e of London.- As to 
 the>>-' cases, they rest upon his own statement only ; it 
 doc.^ not a}ip(;ar that he wrote the visions down at the 
 time of rt.cei\ing tliem : and we have no lueans of veri- 
 heatiou. Thomas AMam's ]Ti'opliecy against Cromwell, 
 rehited in the' Journal, is more open to examination. 
 AMam and Anthony Peiu'son were mo\"e<l to go to all 
 tlie gaols in J'^ngland and collect particulars (T' the 
 friends who were sulii'l'ing there. These they laid 
 l)ef(jre tile Pi'otector. "And when lie would not give 
 order for the releasing of them, Thojuas Aldam was 
 UKn'ed to take his c;ip froiu oH' Ins head, and to rend it 
 in pieCi'S liefore him, and to sa}' unto him, '' So shall thy 
 gove)'ument h(.' lent from thee and thy house. "''"'' Plere 
 we have a deiiuite j-rediction, which, sti'ictly inter^jfeted, 
 was half-falsiiied and half -ful Idled. Tlie (Jovermnent 
 was not r.'Ut i'rom Ci-omwell during his life-time ; it 
 was relit froui his succe'-sor. At this point we uiay 
 leax'e Pox's Journal I'or the present, reserxing his pio- 
 pliecies (jf the tiaumph of ([iiakerism initil we have 
 completed the survey of those relating to past events. 
 1 Journal,!. 198. - Ibid, IJ. r.7. Ibid, I. 445.
 
 132 11 ic Quakers. 
 
 The two Quaker j>rt>p]iet.s whose predictions were, in 
 the opinion of tlieir fellow-believers, nujst siii;nail_\' ful- 
 iilleil \v. their own time, were Edward Bin-rou^'lis, wh(.)in 
 we already know, and a second Geor^'e Fox who has not 
 hitherto been intioihiced in these pau;cs. This GeiU'gc 
 Fox, a Suitblk man, not of kin to the founder of the 
 Quakers, was styled (Jeorge Fox the ^'ouni^'er. He 
 joined thi.' Quaker's cai'l}', and was ;i faithful and 
 honourcil pj'eacher luitil his death. In the prtd'ace to 
 his Collected W'litin^'s, which i-eachedi a second edition 
 in l()(j5, his pi'ojihrciL's ;ire acMuct'd as a pi'oof of the 
 di\ine oi'i:^'in of ([Uakcr docti'ine : " The woj'k itseli" niay 
 phiinly appear to be of (Jnd. Jn one respect by jiis ])r()- 
 phceies, cei'taiii of which came to be fidiiiled whilst ho 
 boi'c tiiC body about him." Of Eilward ihu'roughs also 
 it i-> said : " lie foi'.'-p.i-oj.hcs'cd unto them th;!t were in 
 auth'iiily in thf d.ays past, of theii' desti uci ioii, and (f 
 tlieii" ovcrthi-ow . . . and this pro])het oi' (Jod livrd to 
 see thcii' dc-oiatioii coinr (whii'h was >vA to behold) aiid 
 his )iidphccii's wne fulhllrd in his own days.'' 'I'iie 
 [U'edictioii^ of tjii'x'two men claim carei'ul and minute 
 e.xaminat 'va\. 
 
 in I'.iiii-i lUjhs' works fhi'te is a ]iieec benriiii; the title, 
 '(io(,.| ('i.iuieil and Ad\ ie': b'ejeeted by I )isi .bediejit 
 M.-n ; and ihe Days of ()li\'ei- (Vumwib's \'isitalion 
 j'a-s"d ii\er; and also di' Kiehard ( 'I'l imw ell, his Son, 
 lite l'r-|f.-t-r- ol'Thr-e Nation,-."' 'i'hi- was jaiMished 
 in bi'.'.i. Ii ('nlain-^ a re|iiint nt' -e\rral htti'i's de- 
 livij-rd to ()ri\ii- \\\ 1(1.")7 ami lli.")S and In iiichard in 
 till' l;itter yeai', hojl aiid manly epi-^tle-, IVer ti om ser- 
 vilit\', the bur'ieii ofwhieji is the unjust siiti'eiaiiM's of 
 ' .Iii.iiitli Cniit.s' 7''>/;,..,M/. laflixcd t.i r.iiiTouulis' Works.
 
 Miracles and PropJiecies. 133 
 
 tlie Quakers. The great Protector is fearlessly arraigned 
 as permitting persecution which he might stop with a 
 word. The last letter to OHver Cromwell was " given 
 into his hands at Hampton Court, in the sixth month 
 1()58, about a month bef'(n-o his death." This letter 
 contains the pro})hecy, "hut if thou continuest in thy 
 o]>pressi<)n the Lord will suddenly smite thee." In a 
 subsequent letter to Richard, after his father's death, 
 OUver is accused of neglecting his duty, "and, therefore, 
 he was suiitten of the Lord and suddenly taken away in 
 juilgment." Well. No doubt the death of the great 
 Protector at the comparatively early age of iilty-nine 
 appeared to come ([uite suddenly 'o those who saw how 
 iihlispeusable he was to the stability of the Common- 
 weal tli. Put Oliver's health had been failing ibr years ; 
 and he was worn out with labours, anxiiities, and 
 s irrows. Lneuiies may aci^ept the view that he was 
 smitten of the Lord : friends may hold that he was 
 taken away from the evil to come. Tlic facts are before 
 us, and whether Edward Btu'roughs' words are to be 
 taken as a clear prediction of a foreseen event, or a 
 threat inspired by a sense of injustice, which hap]H;ned 
 to meet with the send)lance of J'ulfilment, nuist b(>, left 
 for each reader to form his own opinion. 
 
 Two days before Oliver Cromwell's death, Edward 
 Iharoughs sent a letter to th(? wife and children, who 
 were anxiously watching the dying bed, reiterating his 
 former demand, " let the persecution of the Quakers 
 cease," and })lainly threaterung Ihem with dcstiHietion 
 in case of disobediimce. That the Pi'otect orate was 
 set aside in a lew months we know ; Imt are we com- 
 iJcUed to believe that Burroughs foresaw and foretold
 
 134 TJie Quakers. 
 
 tlic event, l)y divine inspiration i Mere luinian 
 
 sagacity niii^'lit ]ia\'o liazarilcd tlie conjecture Avitliont 
 i(r(_'at prcsumiitioii, liut there is no n(H'e<sity to iiii])ute 
 such conj^'cture to tlic (,>uaker pr(i])h('t. 1 1 is deinmcia- 
 tion may he- fully acrouuted fur hy his iniuiutahlc 
 conviction of the ri-hteousness ol:' his dcuiand, and his 
 faith that Clod would surely ])uinsli unjust and cruel 
 L;'ovcrinnents. 
 
 (Jieor^-e Fox the youu^'er, ])i-inted a jtaper ])i'edicting 
 " Iti'each upon hreach, in>ui'rection u])<>n insurrection, 
 (.)verturiiing upon o\'tn'turiiing, he;i|)s upon heaps, di- 
 vision u])i>ii dixdsion/'' in such j)h rases foretell ing the 
 ap])i'oacliing end of the existing- ])o\vei's, the l^irlianient 
 and their ai'iny. A coj)y of this ]):i]ier Avas given to 
 eaeh iii^anlii'r of Pai'lianiiMit hel'oi'.' (!eneral Moidc 
 enteivd L ai Ion with hi^ti'oops. .V \:-\\' months lattn* 
 t!iis pa])ei' wa > reprinte I ' that people may ser that the 
 Loril hath fuilih^'d MJi'eeiy m;iny of (he wdr^ls whieh he 
 ga\c iin! I !iis S'a'\an' and jUMphet to dcclai'e unto 
 theiii, and that tlify may s.'- that their hath heeu a 
 trui' prophet's iiii'^-age among thini, and tliat peoph; 
 ma \- take hei'il that, lhey,s|i-ht n^t tin' I^ a'd's pr<i])hets, 
 a-- thi'V did wJi'im 1m' hath now laokeii." 'riils is the 
 iipi^l ixpjicit a-->iiti(in ol' fnltdii'd jirdietiMH that we 
 iia\emrt with. >d ' ifailit it wa-. ma^le in -oimI faith, 
 and in th'' expcetati'ai tliat it WmuM he gvntaally 
 ivi-(ii;-iii-'',|. \ y\ ill tli'i-c toiiililou-. tinier al'tcr the 
 (Iratii (if ()li\cr and iv-,i-iia i i^ii nl' llidiarl, xa^aic 
 iitoaane-^ --ne'i a-, \\i> hi\'' t r.i n ~eri 1 1'- 1 mijht >eciii 
 iMth^r a if--er:pt I ai "f th" piv^ail t ha n a pi'idi'-t inii i if 
 thi' I'iiMiri'. II .\\ , A 1-. < ;,,ir .!"> ,\ I he yoan-er, I iiMiight
 
 Miracles and Prophecies. 135 
 
 tliat lie liad foretold the overtlir^jw of the Parliament's 
 power^ and AEonk (overthrew it ; so much may be safely 
 said. 
 
 More reinarkaV'le is tlie prediction of the great 
 Plague, and the Fire of London. The plagno i"ag>'d in 
 10(J">, tile lii-e destroyed the city in IGGG ; the alleged 
 prediction is i'onnd in a pnblication entitled "England's 
 sad Estate and Condition lamented, ^rc," which was 
 |)rii!t"(.l the 15th of the second month, IGGl, shortly 
 hi'i'orc its anthor's di.'ath. It lias already been noted 
 that althoiigi), in the view of the Quakers, the 
 downi'all of the Presbyterians and Cromwellians was a 
 jnil'j,-ment n])on them for their persecution of the 
 (_'hd(.lr(;u oi" Light, th^' restoration of the monarchy 
 hi'ouglit no piMiiiani-nt relief. The respite they en- 
 joyt.'d last(,'d only a few months, until the insurrecticjii of 
 N'emiL'r and the Fifth-monarehy men led to a persecti- 
 tion tiercer than any that had jjreceded : and with the 
 ])ersecution came a renewal of tiie [irophecies. The 
 y(junger ]'(jx.'s remarkable prediction I'eads as follows: 
 ' Oh '. England, J'aigland ! A day (jf sorrow and 
 cahimity is coming upon many of thy inhaldtants. I 
 ha\'e long bcini snisilde of it : even a day of such 
 Ijivalciinj, Coiif'j.iiuo, au'l Ji'.dijiiici^t, as hath not been 
 
 f(a' a long space Oh ! I'Jigland, England I I 
 
 ha\'e olt heard an 1 treasui't^d up what the J^ord hath 
 said in me ctjucinaiing th\' Inhabitants : but now nnist I 
 dec'.are in the ap}>ointed season. Tmis hath the bord 
 spoken in me for a long time concerning thy Inhabit- 
 ants, saying, Tlic p(:npl(' o.j\'t<>(> imuii^j: (/tc iicuple are 
 TOO MAXY^: / iri/l TIII.V TIIKM I v:Ul THIN 
 Til EM. [Markl that is, //. .rill n.<'hr i;,,ni FEWER,
 
 136 Tne Quakers. 
 
 fur tlicy cuinber the ground. And the spirit of the 
 Lord liatli ot't si^-iiiliod unto me for a lon^' time, That 
 an OVERFLOW IXG SCOURGE, yea, even an cxcm/lng 
 GREAT and TERRIBLE JEJJGMEXT is to come 
 uixm thee, O Land, and that many in tliee shall fall 
 and be taken awa}' in the Jud^'ment ; an<l the Spirit of 
 the Lord signiheth unto me, tliat the time (Irc.tcefh 
 i)if/Ji."^ Truly a remarkalile jiropheey, nor ean \\ e Le 
 snr[)rised that four years altci-, in the awl'ul days of t!;e 
 jtestilence, those who had read it hefoi'e, took, it down 
 fi'om the hook-shelf and gaze*! at the words while the 
 death-cai't went ahont the strt'ets, and the dreadful cry, 
 ' Ih'ing out youi' dead '' rang in theii' eai's ; an<l tlujught 
 that tliey witnessed its unnnstak;dile' fulhhnent. 
 
 Sewel, in his hi-^t iry, i-elates other pre'lietinus of the 
 gi'eat fire. 'S'eai's liefore, 'I'iioiiias Ihig^vs jiassing througli 
 the sti'eets of London, |)reaelie(l re[)eiitaiiee to llie in- 
 habitants, au'l eoiiuiig ihi-ou-'h C'lieap-^ide he erit/il out 
 that ntdess L'iikIoii i-e]'ent''d as Xiiiex'elMlid, ( !od W'udd 
 dr>ti"oy it. 'J'lioiiias Ilibctl of i luiitiiigdonsliiiv eanir to 
 boiidiiH a few days bei'ore LJie liui'iiiug of the eit\', and 
 uiil)ULt'itiiiig his elotiM'>, so as to f.ol^ as if lie had juit 
 th''in on hastily on getting- out of bed, he wriit about 
 thr city I iroiiouneiug a julguii'Ut by iii'i' wliieh .should 
 lay it w;i-ti'. St;ange lo >;iy, tlie inninillale rultihiiciit 
 of liis pi'i' iictiou .si'enis to ha\'e iii-i\cii jiiin di>ti'acte'l. 
 \\r V>nk his -.laud at tlie cast en 1 of ( 'iifajisi Ic, and 
 spi'i'.ad his aiaiH f"i'ih, a- if to slay lln' jaM^Tr-^ nf []\,- 
 llaiue-, and had not some tVi nd> t'oic.'l hiiii awa\-, In.; 
 nii^-iit lia\a- pri-i^hcij 1 ,y thi' \'.Vi\ Sm tln' sti>r i^o.M, 
 b;it thf lii.storian eii'-s no authorilii-s, and we cannot
 
 Miracles and Prophecies. I37 
 
 examine the original sources, as in the cases of Burroughs 
 and G(!.)rgc Fox the younger. 
 
 Having drawn attention to those historical jire- 
 dictions which were regarded as fulfilled, it is a duty to 
 point out one which, on tlie contrary, failed of fultil- 
 Kirnt. This same George Fox the younger, from the 
 prison in wliicli lie shortly afte)' expired, addressed 
 a I'cmarkaltle letter to King (Jliarles the Second. With 
 the fearlessness of an Elijah, the Quaker prophet re- 
 Lukes the uiigodly King, and in that respect the epistle 
 commands our adtniiation. The juirely predictive 
 p(jrti(m of it runs thus : " Certainly it had been better 
 for thee if thou hadst never came, for I have seen it 
 tending t(j thy <lestruction. And when I have seen the 
 abununation and the cruelties which are connnitted and 
 intended, there hath a pity arose in me towards thee for 
 thy soul's sake ; and it hath been my desire, if it might 
 stand with the will of God, that he would put it into thy 
 heart to go out of the land again, that so tliy life 
 might be i)reserve:l, and that thou mightest have time 
 
 to repent when the Lord appears against thee 
 
 th<ju nnist fall ; verily there is a great desolation near, 
 tliy hand cannot stay it. . . . O what shall I say that 
 ndght l)e for thy safety ! Verily 1 can say little ; the 
 Lord's decree must stand ; the Lord is highly dis- 
 ])lea-e(l, and his wrath is near to be revealed, and he is 
 swift in his goings, and he will shorten the days of his 
 enemies for his elects' sake. that thy soul might be 
 saved in the day of the Lord ! " ^ Now what nmst be 
 said of this ? If within the next lew months or years, 
 
 ^ WrUiiujs uf George Fox the younger, Socoiul edition iGGf), 
 page 2(i0. First edition does not contain this.
 
 n8 The Quakers. 
 
 tlicrc liad been a l)lo()ily coiinter-rL'Voliitioii, if Charles 
 II. liail pt'i'islied li]-:*^' his I'atlici' on tlic scafi'olil, or died 
 swoi'd ill hand on roa^'hteii lii.'ld, e\'ents whieh di/spite 
 A'enncr's I'ailurc seemed at tliat tiiiii.; hy no means 
 hii^dily im])robahle no (hjubt this lettin' \Vi)uld liavc 
 heen re])rinti!d with an ao[)i'iidix point! ni;' ont how 
 notably it had been i'uliiniM]. Se^diiy' that (Jharles 
 reig'iied for twenty-live years aider the pi'opheey, and 
 dii'd puaccd'ully in In's bed, oiie cannot but conehi le tlmt 
 the jirophct's anti(d[)ati<.>n of tlie Kin^^'s deatii was not 
 inCadibly itr~pirt_Ml. 
 
 (diu,' class of (|uaker prophecies remains for considera- 
 tion. Thi,' pi'imitivc (^)ual-:ers i'ci;';!j-(led tiieii" society as 
 till' oidy true Chui'ch of Christ, and accord ini^'iy expi'cted 
 its uhimato' ninxin'sal triumpli. As naii'ated in a pre\d- 
 ous elia])ter, Mow'^in, in the d.u'kest liour dI tlielr piM'se- 
 cut ions, had it i'r\rah' I to him tliut " tl:e man'ii'i.d (^f 
 thi> nation whieh i-- h^ly uulo me sjiab iir\-ri' lie I'oMtrd 
 out, but shad li\e Id ad a^i--^ as a eh)ud nl' wdliies-os in 
 U'lairra til ais to eomc. ' In rejily to tho>e who L;lerrudv 
 ant ieijiati'd tie; s])eedy e.\l iuet iou dl' (lie (|uakei' hi i'rs\-, 
 IhirroUu'lis exclaims, "() ych'ols and bjiii(l . . . I tell 
 y<ai,nay; Wf-hab ipa t'ali ma'iir dc(a'ea-i'il, nni- come 
 to nau-ht : hut th" 'I'lailh >h,all siaiiil fi a- e\ir, andwe 
 .-^hali h,' th'' iviiMWiir 1 )'co],l,. ,,t' till' wlmle eaiah. . . . 
 And, \- t'l II ih and ! ihnd. il ^ yi iii i iia t will la II and ciiiie 
 to iiiithin',;-, aiel ina W'- whiaii ihi' I/a'd is laiii^in.;- uji 
 out I >!' tie a] H .-,1 acy, \\ hii-h yi )M all aiv. 1 'i w a- I In i roughs. 
 It' hi- ciiuid ri luni I > Lineliai now, il' h ciadd sui'\'ey 
 the ^talcnj' i|ua hrri -III in th i- la iii I a nd t io'i ai -hoiil tin; 
 Wiirld, what wiaild be ]ii> I'l > liii;^.^ ,' (i(-.i-i> I''ox, too, 
 tliou-li we I'ecjill lei predic'iiii' -o precise as thi-~ oi.' liis
 
 Miracles and Prophecies. 139 
 
 fdllower, fully expected the o'eneral triumph of his priii- 
 ci[)les. It is not for us to say that in the L)ng- run all 
 Christi'n>loiii will not lie converted to the views of the 
 Children of Light. It may be so. But their present 
 condition sa'Uy contrasts with these confident ex- 
 pectati(jiis. 
 
 Must we, on account of this manifest failure, write 
 down tlie Quakers as false pro})hets ? That were hard 
 measure. Fallihle we nmst pronounce them ; too ahso- 
 hite in their identilication of their own conceptions with 
 the })ei feet triith of God, an error into which all are prone 
 to fall. Wwi false prophets ( >,'o. " The Truth shall 
 staii'l for e\er : '' this was the essence and spirit of their 
 prop'.icey. Their partienlar predictions of futui'e e\'ents 
 do not couijiel us to attrihute to them a miraculous fore- 
 sig-ht of things to cuijie. IJut the prophecy which 
 springs from faith in C!od, which exnltingly foresees and 
 foretells the liiial triumph of truth and righteousness 
 and love this \\-a-- in tlieir hearts and in their mouths 
 ahundantly and this pa'ophecy cannot fail.
 
 CHAPTi-:a IX. 
 
 SCHISMS AN]) DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The facts iiarmtcd in previous chapters suffice to show 
 that rarely has disciph'tie 1)een more needed, and its 
 pi'ospcicts liavc seldom looked less hopid'ul. than among 
 tlu' Quakers hetweeii the years 1G50 and IGGO. ]lim- 
 self owning no spiritnal anthority hut that of the Holy 
 Sjui'it dweHing in liim, (deoig'c Fox liad gathered a hand 
 of entliusiasts Avho h)lj()W(Ml liim, not ;,s discijilfs a 
 master, hut as iTeo-Luices a c;ijitaiii wliom they ohrx'ed 
 just so I'ai" and s ) long as thtsy Iclt ih'M use Ives eoiistrai'icd 
 hy inti'riMi inipids". Any oni> o!' them tliiukiiig him- 
 scll' moved hy the Spii'lt lui-lit at any moment di\-e!g(> 
 to aii\' ]ioii;t of the compass and utidert:d<e any e>:(ra.\a- 
 gaiit (nterpi-i.^e. In tjiat period of intense excitement, 
 tliey i-ushe 1 t > tlie assault, u|ioii the exis ing churches as 
 cacji saw his opportunity, without oi'der and without 
 (once]-t. The con\-ei't.s whom they gat liercd, wei'e, em- 
 phalii^ady enj aii'd not to look t( any man as ilieii- 
 t-ac1i"i', hat to I iod alone. .Many of these c aixials !ia<l 
 pi-c\io;!>ly rchcHcd against evei-y i-eligious auihoi'ity 
 an^i lain into wild excesses of licf iice, iVoui which l''o.x 
 ivclainic 1 t JMau to suhmit to the )(>: I'aints of ('hia'stiau 
 moralitx'. 'I'hi> \vas hi> highi .-.L hoiioui' ; yet it is ('vi- 
 (haiL ihat the reception oi' such eon\'erts into the (piaker
 
 Schisms and Discipline. 141 
 
 couimuiiity involved a serious peril. Some cit' tlicse old 
 Kanteis Avere but superticially impressed, and soon 
 brought trouble and reproach upon the Ciiikb'en of Light. 
 Discipline became an im])erative necessity. 
 
 It is not to be supposed that during the first ten or 
 twelve years of cpiakerism there was absolutely no 
 discipline among them, although during this period it 
 was not formally deve!oi)ed into a system. Quite early 
 in the story wi; read of schisms, and schisms imply a 
 ])re-existing unity. JIow among individual belicivers 
 owning no authority in religion except the indwelling 
 Spirit, an I extremely jealous of human dictation, a 
 cohi.'sion of doctrine and ])ractice could be secured nuiy 
 c'lpp 'ar to r(_M|uiie explanation ; but if so, it is not far to 
 seek. 1 hese Children of the Light not only professed 
 til he, but actually were, in some good degree, guided 
 and ruled l)y the Spirit of Christ, and that spirit is the 
 sj)irit of love. They were, like the primitive Church, 
 taught of C!od to love one another, so that George Fox's 
 re-iterated precept, "Keep your meetings: Keep youi' 
 meetings," was to them no external dictation of the man 
 (!('(>ig-e Fox, but a voice of the Spirit which echoed in 
 tlieiiistsU'es also. Thes(,( meetings, held on Sunday's and 
 other (lays in private hou.-es, were in part guai'ded 
 ag';ii;;st the intrusion of thi; faint-hearted, the selfish, the 
 worldly, by the fierce stoi'ms of ])ersecution which 
 ho\\l(,'d around them constantly, and often burst in 
 and liroke them U[) by viohmce. Thus persecution 
 ^\ithout and brotherly-love within, with a moi'c than 
 ordinarily firm hold on the jiractical morality of the 
 Christian life, cond)ined to protect these little hands of 
 believers Irom dissension and misconduct. Their chief
 
 [42 
 
 The Quakers. 
 
 danger was the liability to mistake their own fervid 
 imaginations for the impulses of tlie IS})iiit ; and it was 
 just this weak siik' wliich tln'}' liardly daieil tn iurtify 
 hy pj'ccautioris, k'St tliey should Ijc guilty of ilie sin of 
 limiiiiig or resisting tlie Spirit of (iod. 
 
 The lii'st lrc'aeh in their liarmony was occasioned ]y 
 this neglect, and Foxs recoi'd in his .hui]-ji;d sliows liow 
 deeply ]i(> was trouhled tlierehy. ''Ahout this time 
 (It)-");]) I was in a fast fur ;d>out ten nays, my s[)ii'it 
 heiiig greatly exei'cised on trutlTs hehalf: for James 
 .Miliirr and Uirharil Myer went out into inia^iiiation--, 
 ami a company followed theni. This .lames Milner, 
 and SMiric of his conijiany, had true openings at the 
 \\\>i: hut getting up into pride and exaltation of 
 spirit, they r,in out i'roni ti'utli. I \\'as sent for to them, 
 anij wa-^ ni()\-,'ij of tie' J^ord to ^-o, and shnw tliem their 
 gnin'j,-- liirth : and tliey came to sre tlieii' I'mIIv ami con- 
 ilemiied it, and came into tiie way ol' truth again. ' 
 i;ii-liaril Myir app^mcd in the la^t clia])ter as t la' suh- 
 jeet ol' a miiMeul 'US eui'e. \\ 1 ' Hml Jaiiii'^ M nner a-s(ici- 
 atid with k'lx, .\a_\ Irr, 11 ulil .cri la a-ii, a m 1 lahcrs in the 
 W't >' niiii-'la nd pc|;ti:in |m I'arlianicnt i'dr i he >u] ip.'e:->ion 
 ol' thi' (|Uakrr here-y. Thi> ihuMnina,! >jMcili.s the 
 chari;' > aja in t MihaT. " .la ni.'^ .Al i haa' pr^ >rr>->ct ii him- 
 '..If to I..' < io. 1 and ( 'lii'i-^l , and uixi'-. Hill po.plieei.'S ; ( I) 
 that th' day of judgment shall he tlu' l.nh Novemher; 
 ''Ij that th'M'e sjiall nc\ia' judge si t at Laia-asicr a-ain ; 
 (;'), that i.e must cfc ion_;' s||:il<,. il,,. I'uuiii lal ioiis ol' the 
 ^rrat s\-|ia jo^iic, mi^ainug lie' I 'a 1 liaiinaU . - Ailowin"' 
 for >'A\\'- nii-iiiaii i--,t;Maliiig of ([Uak.T lan-uagi' on tla,' 
 
 ' .lnuynl^ I. IKS. 
 
 - (ieor;4t! J''..x',s ll'nrl.s, \'m1. Hi.. ]i. .')S8.
 
 Sc/nsvis a/id Discipline. 143 
 
 part of tlio Westmoreland cler,uy, one can, throng'li their 
 spectacles, sec tliis (.Quaker ])i-o!>het, cxeitcd to t'l'cnzy by 
 ob!()4iiy and ill-usaL;X', standing' at Ij-iy before liis judges, 
 and pouring out a lloi^il of uungled doctrine and ])redic- 
 ti'in. of whicli we have a reminiscence here. Prophet 
 Milncr, thougli on tliat occasion ])arti;dly disowned by 
 Fi>;\, appears to liave C')iitiinie'd his predictions in some 
 (jU.-dvia- meeting, until the authoi'ity and arguments of 
 Geiirge F(jx recalled Inm and his followers to a saner 
 mind. In some respects tins l)rief local disturbance 
 ba'csliaddwed tlie mueh mortj seriiais scln"sm in connec- 
 tion with JaiiH'S Xaylci', winch h;is alreadx' been nar- 
 rati-il. hi sub^ci|nciit ca-es it was the occurrence of 
 si-li'-iii whicli led to tlio ( stablishment of discl})line ; and 
 it may be tli;it the mectiir^s which were settled in the 
 niath of l-higlaiid in lij-j'), had their origin in tlie troulde 
 caused hy pi'Mphets -Mx'er and .Milncr. 
 
 At what tiiue tlu' <.^)u d<ers began to keep a register of 
 members I lia\'e not a>C''rtained. liegular attendance at 
 meetings was liold a suliicient sign of memliershi[), there 
 buliig no Celebration of sacraments to mark (jut believers 
 from the woi'ld. -^ny one walking inconsistently M'as 
 di^o\\iied, as we see in tlu' caso of one Christopher 
 All^iiistif Xorw ich, ' wdio Ijj'ought dishonour upon the 
 blessed tiuth and name of the J^on.l." lie was "judged 
 and denied b\- fi'iends ; and afterwards he gave forth a 
 paper of condemnation of his siji and evih'^ This is an 
 instance of the welhceusii lered pruih.aice whicii shines 
 in (piaker clmrch busine>s. .V repentant simier, de- 
 siring to bi; recei\'ed back into fellowship, nnist himself 
 acknowledge and C(ind(.'urii his sin in writing. Thus the 
 1 Journal, 1. 2(i0.
 
 144 The Quakers. 
 
 purity of tlieir t'cUowsliip was maintained by the ex- 
 pulsion of otlbnders, instead of by scrutiny u[)on 
 entrance. Ministers were recognised iVoui an early date, 
 as is shown in the Journal: but, even when so many as 
 sixty went forth from the north in 1G54, there is not a 
 word about their selection by Ueorge Fox, oi' by the 
 congiei^^ation : their mission is attributed to the Lord 
 moviug upon their spirits, aud to thataKjne. Still there 
 nuist lia\'e been mutual consultation before they could 
 divide the land auiong'st tliem, and <.^o Ibrth two aud two 
 to detined liclds of labour; aud at this time, or soon 
 after, c(dlections were luade to provide necessaries I'or 
 the pooi'er nunisters ; ad of which argues a lueasure of 
 huuian fui-ftliouglit aud guiihmce. Judge Fell's house 
 at Swai'tiiuiore was tlie head-cpiarters where the funds 
 wert' i<fpt, aud the busiue,-.s coi'i'cspoiHlciicc cai'i'ied ou. 
 In all thc-^c an-ang('Ui('uts the rt'-^pcct aud lox'c with 
 which Fox \\;is rc^.'ii'detl, secured for hiui great iuMu 
 euee. The atit hoi' of " 'I'he Inner Life of the Sects of the 
 Commonwealth" is disposed to see in (h'orgi; I'ox a 
 seventeenth centui'v Wesley, a])pointing and i-ccnlling 
 preachei's as he thought Ht. No doulit Fox's peisona! 
 inlluenee was gieat, hut he seems to lia\'c exei'ci.-(Ml it 
 sparingl}'. The leading preatdiers tVeely remonstrated 
 with him, particularly ohjecting to the women-pfeacluM's. 
 Fdward llui'ioughs wi'ote once and again, (oni])laining 
 ti.at some of the ju'i-ai'liers made \\\v truth to lie e\il 
 .spoken of. In l().'^>i) he sent ba(d-; a yoiuig woman with 
 this pith\' epistle, " 'Idds little shoi-t maid that comes to 
 thee, >he has bi'eii this long while alii'oad, anil in her 
 theft; is little or no ser\ ice as in the nunis; ry. It wei'c 
 well to lie laid on her to be a servant siuntnvhere. That
 
 Sc/iisvis and Discipline. 145 
 
 is more her place. I leave it to thee. Friends where 
 she has been have been burdened by her." Doubtless 
 Fox would, after this, employ his intluenco to persuade 
 the little sh(_)rt maid to refrain from preachinr^ for awhile 
 and wait in silence upon the Lord, nor is it likely that 
 ho woidd be unsuccessful, especially if tlie little maid 
 was dt'[)(.'ni]ent for travelliuL;' expenses upoii the iSwarth- 
 muiL' i'uud. I do U'lt See in the (piotalioiis given from 
 tlii> cori'i'SpoiubinCL' tiiat Gi'orgo Fox exercised anything 
 like a dicta* orship ;iinong the ministers.'- 
 
 Tlie lirst Year!}' Meeting vras held in Bedfoi'dshire in 
 IGoT or Itlo^j : "a genei'al yearly meeting for the whole 
 nation," to wliich many Friends from most parts of the 
 country canu', s(j that the inns, and towns ]'oun<l about, 
 Were tilled. The meeting lasted thr(}0 days and was 
 attended by thousands. " An<l although there was some 
 distui'bance b\' some ru'le people that liad run out from 
 truth, yet tlie Lonls power came over all, and a glorious 
 meeting it wa-." S(j far as it a])pears, this meeting was 
 a gathering of Friends lor the sake of unity, and for 
 pi'ayer and exh')ri<ition. J Jut the next mention of a 
 Vr;ii-ly Meeting tells of a meeting attended by men oidy, 
 wldeli was ^^^ a business eharacter. Its (jbi^jcts were, in 
 the jirsi place', to secui'e for the po- a' L'riends who were 
 sulfei'lng pei'SL'eutieii. the advie-e ol" tho>e wluj had be'cn 
 ju-rii-es and magistrates, and who iniilerstood >omethinf 
 of the' law; and also lo i-eeord their sulferings that tlu.'y 
 miu'lit b-e laiii before the jn^tiees, judge-, or pailianient. 
 Ileiice the (plaint name, '' ^b/t;ting Ibr Sutlerings," still 
 boi'iie by an intluential connaittee of the London Yearly 
 Meeting. ]]esides this care for the persecutcfb they 
 i Biirclay's Jo,>oy Lij,^ Jvc, p. 340, ct sr<j.
 
 14^ TJie Quakers. 
 
 made cuUectioiis ior tlie relief of the poor, took care that 
 none sliould be cliaru'eable to their narishes, sent hob) to 
 Friends heN'oiid the seas, and in other ways manit'estcd 
 the spirit of Chj-istian charity. 
 
 Tliese ari'anL;'einents sufficiid until after tlie Kostora- 
 tion. All over the country the weekly lueetin^-s for 
 worshi]) carried on tlieir own discipline in an inibrinal 
 way ; excc})t in the noi'tii, and iK.M'hajis some otlior places, 
 where spcciid meeting's held ([uni'tei'ly or lUdiithly 
 for church business had been est;i l):i-he(l. In Kioi), 
 IjuriMiiuhs a i\ised the estnblisnnieid of sueh a nieetin;,;' 
 in London. TIk.' ^'e;uiy Mi'etin^'s exldbite(l ;ind niabi- 
 tained the unity of the whoU; Ixxly, ajid the more earnest 
 an<l intbu'ntial Fi-iends who attende(l them AV<iuld I'etui'ii 
 to their liojiies, to Avedeli (jNcrthe local nieetini^'s and carry 
 out the sUL;;!4-estions they had reeei\'ed in the e'reat 
 assend>ly. In ihi.' i-eh'iitless per.x'cution of ;dl noncon- 
 foiMiiist-. aftei' tlie Ib'storat ion, dui'inL;- which the (^>uakei's 
 sidl"'i-eil iiioi-e seNiTely than any otheis, (icoro-e fox was 
 impriso e(l b)r about h\'e nioiitli> in HidO, al'tci- wjiich 
 lie \vas frcr. with tie' exception of a short iniprixuniient 
 at Leierstd', until jiili.'b III t! is ycic runaair^ of a plot 
 ill llii' iioith .^jiun-i'i] (111 tlie ]iiaei-t !'':ti'^ to increased 
 acti\i!y. i o\ wa^--izcd a! S\\-;i rt j , iir !,. nviii:'- I'oi'e- 
 w.-irn. d, ho could he\'c ;iNi>elc.| ari'c-t. liiit lie \'olunt:irily 
 suhin!it-b, I'-arip'^' tli.-i! ii' ihcy fail-'l to c'o.tmc hiin, 
 till' p: r - cii(, ,!- \\(Miiil \cnt \\\^'\y ra.c iij.mu !,-<s cdu- 
 spuMidi;- !'V:c!i h,. i .'ft'ii-inu' ti'liK.c t he ( .,-{ h- o|" abcL;'- 
 i'iMce ;inb -iijai'i:! c\ , hi' niiihrw nt iicarb/ t h o,.,- \"c;n'S 
 of o'uel coiihiicjiiciit. In Lanca-^lci' ( 'a>th' ( 'olonel 
 Kirby L;'a\ e oriha- to the jailer to keep him close, and 
 ^nthn' no Ijesli alive t" come at him, as one' utilJL to be
 
 Sc/nsjns and Discipline. T47 
 
 discoursed with by men. Here he was put into a room 
 in the tower, which was fidi-d witli stnoke from fires in 
 the lower rooms, so that poor Fox was ahnost stilled. 
 Tho rain beat in upon Ins bod, and he had to rise and 
 St :)p the aperture as well as he couM, hii^h winds often 
 makiiiL;' his laltour vain. " In this maimer did I lie all 
 that loni;' cold wiiiter till tlie next assize; in wdiich 
 tinuj I was so star\'(_'(l with cold and rain, that my body 
 was i^i'eatly s\\'ell(;d, and my liinbs much benumhed.'' ^ 
 AitL'i' the assizes he was rimiovcid to Searbor ug'h, bciiii^' 
 tlien so weak tliat he could hai'dly sit on horseljaclc. flei-e 
 his sutfcring's were, if possi])le, worse than before ; and 
 it s;M'm(-'il to him tliat his foes aimed at his (h-ath. Shut 
 up in that ;_;'rini fortivss, almost surrounded by the sea, 
 W(_'t and cold, au'l half-star\'ed, denied the society of 
 I'ricnds, the sport of th(3 rough sohbers and gazinr(-st(jck 
 of g-ay visit<ji-s, he bore his miseries with unshaken 
 fortitude. lb;ro it was that the A'ery soldiers wh.o had 
 mocked his sulferings, chaiiged to a gi-eat r(;spect for the 
 indonutablc man, saying that he was "stiff as a tree, and 
 as loui'e as a bdl."^ Just one day before^ the g're;it hre 
 of LondMii th(3 royal order came dowii, which releised 
 him aiter Ui'sirly tlu'e ; yi.'ars of erne! imprisonuieiit. 
 r]n!eiM;ing from his is )!;ii.ion. Fox bjinrl that during los 
 jibsence the (|Uaker soeielie-s had Ijeen gi'eatly <listract d 
 by a new heresy, and it was this which led to t!;e 
 esGiiblishment of a lirm sy,-,i;em of discipline throng-' iout 
 th ' wh >le ([uaker eliurch. I'^'ox regard. 'd his l.-iboia's in 
 tlui c:ins';' as a s 'l'oi! I ar:d distiir.-t urssi^jn, imp isi'd 
 Uj)on iuiii l)y the same heavenly p^jwer which ha<l sent 
 him fortli l)ei'i)re to pn.'ach tlie e\'(r lasting gos]X'l. His 
 1 Journal, II. 55. 2 J,rr,vd, II. 70
 
 148 Tin: Quakers. 
 
 first commission was to gather the church, his second 
 was to regnhite it. In both he had an e(|ual assurance 
 of the divine guidance. 
 
 Willi all our rrsjioet i'or the Qual<(U's and their great 
 leader.it is <liHicult to rc[)i'ess a smile A\hen one heais 
 that the occasion (.)t' ten }'i';)rs or more of hitter strife 
 among them M'as nothing more than the (question 
 whethei' or not the head sliouM he unco\'ered in prayer. 
 I'lie (^)iiaker.s \vere the \-i('tims of theii' own \iitui-s. If 
 w<! have to sidi.'ct one exeellmt (|Uality as pre-eminently 
 a (luaker viitue, it mwst hi- C'>iiseiciitiou--ness. With 
 tlii'm everything, small au'l gri-ut, was matter (d con- 
 science, anil Conscience once ha\'ing ]>ronouneed its 
 d(MMsion, they wouM he torn to ])icees hei'ore they would 
 <lisoh(;v it : l)ut not content \\\y\\ |)(n'sonal tidelity to 
 eonxietion, thoy would shake and oN'i^rtui'U all existing 
 (Mistoms oi' societ\', and (Miilan^'ei' tie' e\i-t cnce of their 
 own church I'athei' than (olei-ate a di lierence of opinion. 
 This " hat-hi nioui' '" hail heeii discerned to he wi'ong, 
 a mere Ihit te; y ol' t he I'ich and ereat. ( leci-^-i' I''ox was 
 f.ii-liid'leii hy the Lord t^ jaU 'ill' hi- hat to any, high or 
 \nw . ami wa- rei|nire(l to " Thee and Th ai a 1 m-n and 
 W' aicai. wit hi lilt any i'.-.occi to lich ni- poo)-, _;a-eat or 
 ^iiinjl, iiia-w:i- h'' t" hi'l ]i'M|ih' -n-.l ncirrnw oiyeood 
 (\-iaiiii _'. nor t > h'lW 1 a' -(m-.i'm^ wiih hi- ie-' (m .-niy oni'd 
 
 Wii;it (iiMi]--,' |-'(iX lie.i\,(| ;i-, \\ ilixiii.' ci i , i ; 1 1 la Hi 1 . lllS 
 t'MihiWi l'- |vr. i\.'^! ;ii-M. ('iiiiOliMI ivf;,-!.! ij].' e| i^l , ,) i |;i ly 
 
 t,,k.ai-iif ii-p'ci t. p' i->-ei .. :iii I c!m\\ii- t' 1 i!ia,i-t rates 
 and kiiiL;-. Thai t Ic c ai-i'ipieiie - appi^arr-l to l^'cxil 
 wa- niithinj- to (niu'e'e l'"<i\. I'reiu,|ic,. w;is excited 
 again-t his nil->-i' n : jia-d-iuate tinip.i-, hur-t out into 
 I .ln,i,n,>i. I. In:;.
 
 Schisms and Discipline. 149 
 
 uiist,'(jinly exliil)iti()ns of r;\n\.', often IcaJiui;- to cruel 
 u-a^v of tliosL' wlio provoki'd it. All tliis was nothing 
 to Cicorgo Fox ; truth was trut'.i, and nuist bo followed 
 d('Sj)it.3 all eoirsci^ucnces. And now he saw this very 
 quality which had enaliled him and his disciples to 
 tiiuinph over all outward opposition, rending his church 
 in twain and tilling tin.' helievi'rs with grief and dismay. 
 A ])i)l(.'micpj ti'Jict called "The Spirit of the Ilat,"-^ 
 reveals the humours of the controversy. F(.)X had seen 
 that lie nnrst not unc(n'er his head as a sign of respect 
 to i;ian : some wi)nM-l.>e logical (Quakers deduced the con- 
 clusiiiu that it was absurd to uucox'cr the head as a sign of 
 I'l'-p^'Ct b(d'(jre (hy\. Fok slid to them, " You give no 
 mni'c i'('Vt.'i-i,'ni'e to ( bxl than to a horse." They re[lied : 
 Vuu would nr)t uncover before men, because you denied 
 that was truehoiioar. Vou did not deny that kings and 
 m.igistrates should bo lionoure'l, but you said, taking off 
 till' liat was iKjt true honour. Is that hon.iur to licgi\en 
 to (Jtid wliicli you dcclart'd to bo worthli'-s when rofitse<l 
 to moll ? " ( Ifoiit was tii(.' outciy against tyranny ; loud 
 was the demand for (Jiiristian lihi-rty to obey the 
 dictates of the Spii'il, an<l (o he fre(i fi'om huiirin ei'din- 
 jinoi'S. F..X and the oth t l^ad 'I's wi'i'o accusi'(l of 
 si'tting thi_;m>el\(_'s iibox'o their larthreii, and of assuming 
 autiiority to bind an 1 loose in tlie t'hirch. Foi' yeais an 
 aei'imonious controNou'sy ra^i'rdin tie' m '(^tiiigs. d'iioso' 
 wlio did ii'it uncovor Wi^w^^ r\\\ o M the llatt U's oi' llatm-'n. 
 Tie.' two jiai'ties wo're se> bitterly op](!S 'd, that, according 
 to this paniohu't, iiitermai'i iag v< octween th<se holding 
 c^aitrary opini<ais woio discouraged, and e\'en Ijiii'ial in 
 
 ' In the British Museum Library, uiarked "-'a-' London, 1G73.
 
 150 The Quakers. 
 
 the Quaker cemeteries was refused to Hatmcn. They 
 were all stili' as trees, they ^\ere all scnruers of conse- 
 quences. The llatineii would not eoni])!^^ v.'ith ancient 
 prejudice nor 3deld to huniaa dictation. The uncm'ci-ers 
 would not tolerate a breach of the unity of tlie Church. 
 The true Spirit was o:u', ;ind couiil not impel to 
 antie; ):iistic coui-s;>s. Tiiis scpa'atist jUMctice iinist 
 sprin;^ iVom a dai-iv, eirtldy, nay d;j\'ilisli sjiij-it. So the 
 sad strife was prolon^'cd for yeru's, ;iml the [)e;i.ce of the 
 Church, and perhaps its vei'}' life, its jriwer t(^ l^'rov,', we; e 
 saci'diceil, because neitlru' j):vity could yield in I'egard to 
 a nrttter oi no intriirdc im})ortance. The Jew pra\ s 
 with co\'ered heal, the Christian witli uncovered, hut 
 not on this accouiit is llr.' one moi'e, the other less 
 pleasini^- to liiui, who is w o]\s';i])ped \\\ s})ii-it ;uid i]] 
 tnilh. 
 
 John, ren-oi (^i'iiiL;-lc;ide!' of Liie Hatters) joined the 
 (^^uaki'i's ii'it f 'iiM- ;i : t-i' iheir oi-ijin. With zral aiid self- 
 d 'X'otioii, wliii-ji w'.iid 1 ha\e ohiaine.i for him hi^h hoiioui' 
 ill iprakcr atiual-. hut ibi' his -;ii)> (jir'ut heresy, l'en-.;t 
 aad atiotlici-, n.oii'i hull' or L i\"i', ^lir^'d for lial\' lo 
 pri 'el.-uiii I uo :;. - ,|h'l. i i m 'V \i->iii'J i ,. '.Ji. iiii ,-i nd \ nueo, 
 and reached lumie, w hi^re liiey \\. re ,irie>L.(i. Jjo\-e 
 die.i ill |iii.oii; .M)iiie said hi \\ai->[MU toifath. i'errot 
 \va^ eoii;iii>-d 111 a JUMihc hii^i)Ual; a fact which was 
 i'e!,.e,ii' lered ai;:: iii-^t 1 1 1 1 1 1 , a I'l . 'i' he Ihel 1 )i-(;' aiie a .^cln>mat iC, 
 and .^oiii.' liili;!.;;;! f'toa'.-> written i.y hna wlieii in Itdy, 
 waa'e pr'idiie.i a-, pr ;or oi' Ins in-amiy. To\\ai'd.-- the 
 clo.-. ' oi' til'' (. 'on 11 lien weal tl) pel'lo 1, elii a t.> to Jil'ecm'e' his 
 
 reiea, M' wai'e ; urC'. ^I'li 1. ear 1 h : ]'e> rnaie 1 to iiii-l,oi(i, to 
 Ijj welcoiiieil with o])en ai'iiis as one wiaj hail .^uii'eied 
 much for the L^'<js[)el. He mad(' a L:reat impression as a
 
 SchLsvis and Discipline. 
 
 lU 
 
 man of singular sanctity and spirituality ; and his novel 
 doctrine that it was a superstitio;i to ]'e;uo\'e the liat 
 during prayer it seems that it v/as the (piaker custom 
 to sit with the liat on in tlie meeting, except during 
 au!.[il)le p ;i\'er was accepted as uKjre suiiablc to a 
 spiritual dispensation. Thomas EUwoo.l ;iiid otheis were 
 ca[)tivated by it. When Ge^n-ge Fox reappeared in the 
 assejiibiics, he threw hiiirsclf with all the \'ehemence of 
 liis strong cluiracter against tliis indecent inn(jvat,ion. 
 A solemn meeting was appointe 1 in Loni.lon for a travail 
 in spii-it on beluUf of the hereti(,'s, wlucli was held 
 day after d;iy for several days. Some of Perrot's party, 
 among wliom \s;is rdiwood, c onfesseil their fault, tore up 
 tlu'ir C'-.'nti'oversial pap<!rs, and were received into the 
 unity oi' the b xiy agrdn, with great gladness of heart. 
 Othi'i's in (lisboit p'Jii-ts oi' tht,' comitry sent letters of sub- 
 mission, ;uid eveii froiji across the seas similar communi- 
 cations were ]'ecei\'ed. Thus the C(;nscr\"ative party 
 tr!uni[)lied, aiiil in Fox's view, "the Lord's power was 
 wondcri'ully ma..iiV;-,ted, ;i,nd came over iid,"-' Jt ^\as 
 not ((u'.te all, i'or i'cin^ and a taction slill stoo.l out, and 
 tia'i'o was a party (T" Hatters for se\'eral years. Peiaot 
 in course (.)!' time wtait to Anraica, ;arl tiiere, it was sai(b 
 h'l't ihe (ju.iici.'r l)oily, and foil into bad ways, afti-r wJiich 
 his party owinoicd anil d.^.ippoai'cd. 
 
 Tiie jiat-mcn liaviiig been reelainied or diso^vne<!, P^ox 
 s 't iiiKTiit the great work ol.' bringing the wiiole Church 
 wiihin one strict <lisei[)iine. "'I'lien was 1 mo\ed oi the 
 Loj'>l to rec unmend the setiing-up of li\'e montidy 
 meetiu'i'S of meii and women m the City of i..ondon 
 (besides the women's meetings and the (quarterly meetings) 
 ' Juarnal, 11. 77.
 
 152 The Quaker, 
 
 to take care of God's glory, and to admonish and exliort 
 sucli as walked disorderly or carelessly, and not accoi'iling 
 to truth ; for whereas i'rionds had had only (quarterly 
 meetino's ; now truth was spi ead, ;ind friends wei'e gi'own 
 more numerous, I was moved to recommend the setting- 
 up of montldy meetings throughout the nation."^ 
 According to this, the quarterly meetings already existed, 
 while a later record represents the ([narterly meetings 
 also as the creation of tiiis time. The wouiesi's meetings 
 here recognized as alrea^ly at work, are afterwards 
 ascribed to a still latei" })eri(jd thari tiie monthly meetings. 
 Probahly the truth is there were Ijoth women's and 
 qitarterl}' meetings previously, in Loudon and a few other 
 places, but tliat they were f(jr tlie tirst time estabHslied 
 systematically throughout the whole country after 
 Pei'rot had shown the iieee^sity foi' a strictm' discipline. 
 These details, howev(.'i', are uuimpoi-tnnt : tin.' givat fact 
 was that now th'- nn'etings i'oi' disi'ipliiie wi'e charged 
 "to take cai'c of (uid's g!ory. ' i''(i|-uierly, a-- we have 
 seen, they ^\ere tn lake eaJ'e ol' tlie pinii-, tl;e ])'U'seeul ed, 
 and tlc'ir bi'rtin- 'U b yoial .-ca-. At tliat tiuie, 1 sujipose, 
 it was not J'ec(i^'!ii-M'd that they !iad to taki' care ol the 
 .d. Did 11'. t He iMlle ill His ('hureli^ l,y His 
 IJillL;' in tin; hcalt nf e\ci\' i)elu;\rr/ Wouid 
 
 ! ^ 1 can id' llisiiwji gfa'y' What need 
 
 'i^^- lie in t'l iiU'ilVaf { Nay. W'luld imt such 
 i' b.. a pi-i-~uiii|ii ui lU-- bo it iiig < d' the Spirit of 
 t hi !>' da \'-, \\'i':i;oii Sv i m j >- ii va, abiiWrd to 
 CiUiiliy ill hi- iad'Tiail maiinii-. i'ni' three 
 ll'iniif ilileri'-avi fi'i' ( ii )d's ^fii'y. l!ut \\i)\\ 
 
 the (dhurcli realised its iv-|i 'ii-ii aiity for tlic wiioje be- 
 
 ' .}uny,.,,\ II, 77. 
 
 glory 1 
 
 d' c 
 
 Spii it 
 
 dW( 
 
 m.( H 
 
 1- taL 
 
 wa> 1 
 
 hiTe 
 
 iiiterfi 
 
 a cue 
 
 Cn.l '. 
 
 in 
 
 jiaiad'. 
 
 tia. 
 
 war.-^. 
 
 and
 
 Si/iisi/is and Discipline. 
 
 liax'iour ot" every one of its members. Xo disorderly 
 conduct, no careless walking', was to pass unrepriA'cd. 
 Month by ni(Hith there must Ije strict >crutiny; and to 
 secure its thoroui^liness, tliere were separate meetings for 
 men and women, in v.ddcii matters could be liaudled 
 A\dneh were unfit for a mixed assembly. The duty of 
 iiHitual watchfulness was enjoined, and the whole moral 
 inllu(;nce of the entire community was bi'ong'ht to bear 
 upoji each indi\ddual mcudjer. ^Vith a spii'it of earnest 
 I'ii ty [)rrva'iing the body, such a discipline inust have 
 bi'cn A\-elbnigh irrvsistUde : ])roducing either complete 
 externa! conformity to the standard of moi'ality upheld 
 b\- the h'ody, oi" drix'itig the recalcitrant meudjer.s froui 
 the communion. 
 
 Srliism introduced (lisci]iline, but the disci])line 1)C- 
 canic a .-standing occasion of schism. On its fiist pronnrl- 
 gation it was met with strong opposition in somo ])Iaci's, 
 and ;dtliOU_;li it was succe-sl'uby established throughout 
 tin.' land, and whci'ev(.'r (jual<ri'i>m existed, the remainder 
 of Fox's liie was one haig l^attle for its mrdntenanee. 
 Throwing his whole energy into the work, he bore down 
 0})p' silii.n bytliL' persistent as-eition that these arrange- 
 ments w e]'e tlie result eif (b\ii:e insjiii ation. Tliese wt'i'e 
 not plairs c)f hunuin -wi-^d.! )in, methoils of ex]:e(lier.cy, 
 rules \()luiitarily auri'cd to, p.i'opest'd, seconded, and 
 carrit'd l)y a maj(jiity of votes. Such a iiotioii as deter- 
 mining a mtittei' by voting was undi-eanit of in a (juak'er 
 a-Hiiib]}'. I'ox dechircd A\ith assured c('n!idenee. it A\'as 
 " the po\\'er of (h)d, in which the or(ier is establi>lud; 
 and the ett riial Spirit and Light, in A\hich the men's 
 and Avonien's m"etinL;s A^'ere set np.''' 'Idds x'w.w was 
 ' Kp'iAli-^ cccxvii.
 
 154 TJlc Quakers. 
 
 generall}' accepted. We are not for a niouieut to sup- 
 }>ose that l^'ox was a ^^loluiunned receiviiig revelationsfrom 
 ]ie:iven whicli a credulous following accepted ;is such on 
 liis bare assertion. The quakcr beUef was, tliat all 
 true believers liave the spirit of Go'l, and all wdio are 
 gui'letl by tlic spii'it of God are, so far, inlallible. Hence 
 it was that Fox could boldly ajtpea! to them for con- 
 fn'iuati(;n of the div ne authorit}' of this discipline : "All 
 }'()U that bio gathered in the hol^' name of the Lord 
 Jesus (Jhii.-t, ye know that all your meetings for 
 woi'siiip (d' Cio;i, and all your (juarterly meetings, and all 
 your montlily meetings, and all your women's meetings, 
 and all your ^'early meetings are set uj) l)y the ))ower 
 and s])iiiL of the Lord Cuxl, Jind witnessed by His spirit 
 and power in your hiTirts."^ 'I'liose who did not cry 
 iVmcn to this, but resisted the estalilishment of this 
 .system ol' chui'cli-gox'ei-nment were ruthlessly l.)i-anded 
 as acluatefl by the e\il spirit. " Aow. iriends, \\'ho;M)- 
 e\er shall come, under what piude'iice soewi', to alt'i' 
 tlie>e meetings, oi' to den^y and s|e;ik against the iiieii's 
 and women s meeting-, it is the sjnrit ol' conl'iisioii and 
 opposition, whieli would be .seeming to do something; 
 yet its woik is to dixpiiet the sim|ile minds, and it is 
 the \ci-y same spirit with John I'errot's. Mark liis 
 end."- 
 
 \ et there weie aiiioiig the friends snine \\\\') sturdily 
 bra\i'd r'< i,\ .-- deii:inei;iti( 111. Wheiitiiey iirpiired oi' th(; 
 L a-il, iiei iiil riial \iiiee (if tiie Spiiat e-iiilii'iiied in them 
 the di\ iiie ;;ui hi inly ol' ihe iKiNci arrangeiiieiits ; which 
 on tliL' Contrary .seemed ! i ihem to .-aviuii' o!' liuman 
 ^\dt ami will, 'i l:e women s meetings wei-e a great 
 ' Juiimnl, II. [1. .'_i(JU. '- J'Jpi^Uij cccxvu.
 
 Schisms and Discipline. 155 
 
 ,stuiiil)ling-block. Women preachers, tliough not alto- 
 g'other I'opnlar, were tolerated, because it was not for 
 man to detennine through wliom the Spirit might please 
 to convey liis message : besides for them there was 
 Scri[)ture preccdinit. But for women's separate meetings 
 there \Vi\s no prcceilent, and tlie innovation seemed 
 to be a bi'cach in tlie iii'liv'sjljle unity of tlie Churcli. 
 Si'h}cteil for attack as tlie ol)vious]y vuhierable place in 
 tlie -ivstem, the v.'ouio'i's meetings were not the sole 
 rea-.on foi- op.iosiiig th ' disclp'inc. I'he root of the 
 objection wi'nt nrach deeper, and was at bottom an in- 
 stiiictive alarm lost individu;d libci'ty should be over- 
 b,)rn(' by the authority oh' a lew great names, or the 
 ^V'.Ji^ht ot mci'e numb;;r-:. In the beginning, it was said, 
 th^To were no such meetings, no suidi discipline, yet had 
 they not lived tog'^ther in jieace and unity ^ Ab)reover, 
 was it not their fundinieutal principle that every one 
 ought to bi! guided by the Spirit wdthin, and not to be 
 g')verne(l ])y man-made rules? An outcry was raised 
 against jiidging' and ' pix'scrijitioirs.'" Xo one, it was 
 said, and, the apj'cal to the Aposth.' Paul is olndous, liad 
 a right to judge his br )ther, or to jjrescrllje to his 
 biMtlier how lie should a.-t. These claims for in !i\uthial 
 liheity, l-'ux encounterc^l with assertions of Church 
 authority wdiieh ( \-en TionK." itself could not sui'pass. 
 " The s.dnts in tlie power andspii'it oi" (!od liad and have 
 po\V(n' to jud'^e oi' vords aed mainiers, of li\-es an<l c^u- 
 Nxnvations : the\' can diseeiii and distiiii^uish ^\llo ser\cs 
 (J(jd and ( 'hrist, and wi;o ser\es Him not; and so can 
 put a distinctioii between the })r. >iane and the holy. ^ 
 And he who had been the most intolerant of forms, be- 
 ' Journal, l\. \). 'iGo.
 
 is6 
 
 TJte Quakers. 
 
 came liimsoU'a j^lcadcr I'or forms. " Wlieii tlicy are tlius 
 gone fortli from tliL' liiu'lit aiid tlie power and tlie sp'n'it 
 of (!i)d, they i:'o out of all trut.' foi'ms, into C'(.)nfusi()n and 
 emptiness, without I'oi-m ; tlien tlu'V say tln^y wdll not 
 he suhjcet to forms, and cry down all forms w ith their 
 dai'kness and a ])ervci'sc spirit, and so nia^h all tog'ether. 
 Vov there is a foi'in of godliness, and a form of sound 
 woi'ds.''^ 
 
 The opposition in the north was led hy two ])ri'aehers, 
 John Wilkinson and J(dni Stoi'y, against whom nothing 
 is allegt'(l, ('xce])t thcii' resistanee to tlie now arrange- 
 ments. J^ondon and the west of England were dis- 
 turhi.'d hy till) eontroversy ; wdnrh I'rom ahout 1(177 to 
 KiS:^ Avas liorecly maintainod in tlie m;ijoiit\' of the 
 niictings thi'oughout the kingdom. William Kogers 
 wi'ote a hdol^ called " Tlic Chi'i^tian (,)n;ikrr,"' aceusing 
 (icoig-c \'\)\ ;ind Ids fojiowci's ol' unraitiii'idiic^s to the 
 tiutli. lo'gors clijiniiigoil ;i di^cu>s!on in llio London 
 ^'(';^lly .Mict iiig. and wa> proiiijitiy iiiol hy Mdw'iod ;iiid 
 
 others. Tlie dehati' colltlllUed tVollI > I X oclock ill tile 
 
 m"niiii'_;' until alT'i' mid-daw and if we are to aei'i'pt, 
 I'illwood'.^ aee-iii!it, Ih)^' rs I'etreated i jiioiiiiiiiMU-ly. 
 Till onglio!lt the li)ii'i eoilte^l, t'le oMer Jil-eaelielS aild 
 the _;i-. air)- iiuiiihr of t lie ( ^) 1 la.k e I's a d 1 1 1 1 vd t - ' I''mx and 
 
 1he diseipjiiie. 'I'lie d i>-.> '1 1 1 I > ai t s e^t i 1 il 1 --1 1 1 ' 1 Si'palMt(_' 
 
 iiii'it inu' - N\lii'li caitiiiMcd until ait'i' hMX^ile.nh, In 
 t h'' end. tie' ( Jua k^a- li i-^i < iria n S.'W . 1 >ay -., 1 1h' -i a .a lat i t s 
 'di'ea\ad and \"ani-ii''d as >n(i\\ in iIh' lii'ld-. Like 
 
 (miiI'-o f'l.X. 1.1' -aw in llii' di-a]i!M,i i'.llicc ef liie 
 
 seld>iiial ies a pr'",f of tin' di\iiie di>; >iea>iire. It is, 
 hw\\e\-er, lel i;nre,i.>o!ial il>' to >ll]lpll,-^e that llie ciu.^hing
 
 Schhius and Discipline. 157 
 
 out of individual liberty hel[)ed to cause the sta^i^nation 
 which fell u|)on quakerisui iu the eighteenth century. 
 Discipline triumphed, and its bonds were wound tightly 
 rouml tlie community. Uniformity, decency, quietude, 
 Were secured ; but was it not at the expense of life ? 
 
 Ami<l the strife of cnntroversy, and tlie bitterness of 
 schisms, we li)(jk in \'ain b>r tlie ideal Chiistian Clnu'ch. 
 That unln])py delusion (jf infallibility maii'ed the (juaker 
 ni()\emi'nt fmm its outset. George Fox never learned 
 the full truth of toleration. He })erceived plainly enough 
 the fully and crime of ridiginus persecution ; btit he did 
 not see the mistake and the mischief of thatmental intoler- 
 ance' ^vhicll resents difi'e'rence of o})in!on as a sin, and ca.n- 
 ii'it recognise an identical spiritual life tinder a diversity 
 of i'oi'ins. This blemish dwarfed and deformed his 
 societN' fVom its birth, and slirivelled into a soon withered 
 sect, tliat which sIkjuM luwe blossonuKl and expan<led 
 into the ]'e-union and revivificatie)ii cT' Christendom. 
 ^Nevertheless in s])ite of this sad failure, a loving eye can 
 discei'n the linenm'Uits of the ide;il, gleaming tln'ough 
 these inihiijipy ol iseuratie'us. The Qual^e'i- C'hurcli was 
 at first truly Cathe)lic. \\\ England, v'^cotland, Ireland, 
 in th" ])lantati<ius bey(aid the seas, and amonj the eon- 
 tin en tal natiiars, it was one ( 'liu.i'ch, one family, undivided, 
 animat"d by one >])irit, and onl_\- t'>o clo-ely unifoini in 
 b(dief and o1>-.i'i'vances. Tin; nai'rowne>s of national and 
 deii(/miimtitinal churehism was uidoiown in its assendilies. 
 The (^)uuki'rs not oidy belic\-e(l but realised that in the 
 Churcli (;f Chi'ist distinctions of nation and race dis- 
 appear. In the tir.-it fei'vour eif spirituad life they looked 
 forwai'd conhdently to the regeneration i'>f the whole 
 woi'ld thr(jtiuh tlieii" ULisr-ion. When this e'nthusiasin
 
 T^.S The Quakers. 
 
 (li(;d away tliey mitiGjated sectariaii narrowness by the 
 development of that tolerant spii'it to wliicli tlvir founder 
 (lid 5iot attain. Having no Ioniser a mission to the world 
 they avoidel controversy, and cultivated their own 
 spiritual life in meekness and rctiredness. ]^ut the 
 cultivation was not iudividual only ; it was social. 'Jdiis 
 (piiet, ])atient, pers('\-c]'ing, and Ionuul;' care for the 
 s])iritnal life of all its momhers, is the chief beauty of 
 the (^unk'ci' ( 'hnrch. Tii tlioir lowest stat',' of declension, 
 there was ;i sense' of ti'uth and righteousness aiiioJiL;- 
 tliem wbicli couM not endure that the (diui'cli of ('hrist 
 should l)e dehleil 1)y moral impurit}'. l)eli\(M'ed fi'oni 
 {\w. false and embaj'rassin^- distinction of clergy and 
 laity, they ])i'esent the insti'Ucti\'e s])ectacie of a I'eliu'ious 
 < I'di'r without rules, yet better goN-erned l)y the S])ii-it, 
 llian iuiina--tie ord.o-s by the rules of St. Fi'ancis or St. 
 lieiiediet; ol a I'eli^'iMns ('(iiinuuiiily, not hically i-olated 
 IVdmi the world, but. wdiile abidiiiL;- in all the n;dura], 
 di\!nely-a]>pi>inl el I'cint ions ol' famils', soeial, and jiolit ical 
 life, yd separated in sjiii'it, not less successfully ili;in 
 IVa'erni! i's 'hvclliiiM' in the (f'-o't, or cnopcd within stoin^ 
 \\:\\\-. Not tlijit tl;ey w. re ;it all liui-^ aial alloMvMiev 
 iicci-d'nl in ivcli! ,iii- i;:c v,(,i'! ily sj iri . l-'ai' fr^m it. 
 
 .\ I I'nif it s.'i iiicd ;i. it' l.,\-, m|' h!iii;.-\-. ()!" ,!,,. of 
 
 pli'.i iiri'. ^\'oull i'\ [ iii^Mii ,'i th.'l;-^' sp.i rk ( ,f 1 1),' i )i \-!ii(' 
 liJV. This r\i inc; i. II \\:i , ;i \ ;-rt.- 1 b , I )i\iMf 'jt.-ic^' : ;nid 
 t!,.' ' Mi.ik, 1- ( 'lunvh ''I- h.-rii ],r,.-; r\^-\ to this d;;\-. (,, 
 sn"- 'e^t I I i-y. s t!i;i' e:ni s,-|. ;i I : hoU-'h thi'\- tlnau- 
 
 :\-:\. - -.W'- ji'-lV;!;.- il'i! Illl-!!';- t!|.i- \\M'' C-Pl OlsC TU it, 
 
 ;in idi';d ol' a ('liin'ch which shiil coiubini' jHia'c'-t 
 catholicity with p I'fet't inoixidual lilierty, and ])ci'fect 
 naitual care aia! n sjioiisibility, a ('hurch in which the
 
 Sc/iis7Hs and Discipline. i ^g 
 
 bond of union sliall not bo intellectual but spiritual, not 
 exact ao-rei'Uient in dognia, l)ut the pc^session of a 
 spiritual life, AvliicU abliors and instinctively rejects the 
 selfish and the impure ; the very life of Christ produced 
 in His own by the one Spirit of Ged.
 
 CTTAPTKR X. 
 
 nil-: Qi"AKi:]is as Tiir.v .\iMM;AiiED to their 
 ori'oxi-.x'j's. 
 
 " 1'' I wi'itr till' history nf a rcliL;'i()ii,'' says Tu'iian,^ '"'one 
 (ii-lit jii'>t to ]i;i\c Im'Iji'NciI ill it (williout wliic!) it 
 w ;iM ii'it l)c ])(issil)l(' [<) uinlcr'-tniKl liy wliat incaiis it 
 ra-c''i;it cil ail 1 .'-atisliiMl tin; ci insrliaicc of innn) : and tlicii 
 "IP- -liMiiM lia\r craMMl to lK'lir\c it in .".n uiU[UnlitiiHl 
 iii.iiiip r, f ] al'^Mhiti' I'nilii is iiu;i iiii[)atilili' witli sincci'e 
 lii-iMi-y. " ir t!i!-^ Ill' ^M, llicii till' true icli^inn, su] >]iiising 
 -ucli III 'Xi-t, 1 -; till' miiy ri'li'jioii wliicli ran iim'cr liavo 
 a tiMh' liistiiiy : it > m 111' : "i it ^ liriiiL;' li-([iia!i lird I'lir tlio 
 t'l-k liy llrir I'.iilii. and a,! i-iali'- I ly tli'-ir ilisluyalty to 
 trutli. M\''ii 111 t Ip' I'a -I' I'i' a II : in j i-iTitI i'i''i:don, w !i;(di 
 l!' nan 1.' il i- a.i' im u 'r>\'i- a t'l ii' ha \ iia^' I'asi'd to I h'Iii'N'c, 
 til'' r'-Nu'.dMii ill' t'.'Tm^ pill lure 1 li\' llio jiaiiii'iil dis- 
 ri.\ . ry I I. ;ii ! li- ivH-'iMii i- ipit rr. -oilil,' will nimv tluui 
 i-i 111 I ii .ao di i-'^' ill.' :id\ a II I M'.a' 'I lin' iiiiiinat ' kiiow- 
 \'-i^'- ai"|nir d ! ^y iIp' pr^'Niiiii- lii'ii-l'. In aiidyiiii^' 
 ] a_,l'ai, IliM iipI li i.'in'i' I.I tin- I'.-iM '^^ jiicli is -uilahlc 
 ill III 1 1 a anM Mi'.il ;i na |hi\ -''.: I -i-i.ai'- n- nn j .i >--! i ilr, and 
 it ;i liii'! .'I I a ai I- di-. lai'lni. Man i> ii r --a ri 1\- intcr- 
 i-ti- 1 in till- -Illy I'l, ;iiia ..iiiiinl: di\i-l liini--c||' of this 
 iniiiiin I- ]i|--.ii;il iiil I'l'i -I. \\i' iiiii-t acci.pt, tlu; Fact, 
 ;iiid -'riiin-l\- r.'i'i 'ini-iny Miir li.'il.ility to 1 c iiiP'Ousci- 
 ' ('-. /. ./...',.. I L'; h 1. 1 la I' .11. Ill' I'M.laci a .11, ii,'iy(j iM.
 
 TJieir Opponents. i6i 
 
 ously influenced by our desires and fears, endeavour to 
 guard against it 1:)y precautions ; amongst wliicli, in the 
 study of a particular fe)rui of ruligion, to give a fair liear- 
 ing to its antagonists is one of the must obvious. 
 
 In tlic newsprints of the Counnonwcalth, such as the 
 V[('j']dij Voxt, and a low comic periodical called Mer- 
 cariuy Famigosiu-i^ or tlu' Suiolci ng Noel a r nail, qua,ker- 
 ism is described as a compcjund of pantheism and 
 lieentiousness. Tracts and pam|.)hlets of the period 
 wliich liave cscn.ped the dust-l)in they merited, catch- 
 pennies printe<l to suit tiie taste of a coarse and credul- 
 ous nge, full of absurd ilctions, disgusting orgies, and 
 Satanic a|)paritions, remain to testify to tlie notoriety of 
 tlie sect, and tlie popular demand for infurmation about 
 it, If tlie s(Aind morality of the Quakers were not full}^ 
 establislied by direct e\'idence, these scurrilous attacks 
 wouM be wortliiess as evidence to the contrary. Possibly 
 duiing the intense excitement attending its first pro- 
 nudgation, wJien as yet the need ibr disci imination and 
 disci[i]ine among tlie converts was not fully realised, 
 unworthy characters may ha\'e cre|)t into the Quaker 
 Church, whose misconduct gave some occasion to the 
 scand;ilous reports alluded to in the F((.n<i.itvh: Hl^lory, 
 a puljlication of the llestoration, which, lii<e liutler's 
 Jl iiiliin'ii--<, manifests the re-aciion against the extremes 
 of i'uritanism. However this i)e, the high morality of 
 the Friends of truth is unim[)eachable, and can atibrd to 
 igncn'c calumnious tales. Even from some of tliese 
 ]vablieations which relied for their sale upon tlie popular 
 di--lik<' of the sect, inx'oluiitary evidence in the Quakers' 
 i'avcnir can be extracted. The Y(M and Xai/ AintanACck, a 
 stupid and rilaldjest-book, which atibrded entertainment
 
 1 62 TJie Ojiakcrs. 
 
 to pot-lionsc frequenters in Cliarles the Second's reign, 
 insinuates that many tradesmen joined tlie Quakei's Lc- 
 causc tlieir practice of sticking to one pi'ice in a bargain 
 was found a sure bait to catch fools, and attributes the 
 increase of tlieir ninnbei's to tlie desire of tlie poor to 
 shai'c in tlio t)Cnevolence of tlie Avealthier inendjers of 
 the society. With thanks f(_)r this unintended testimony 
 to the conspicuous honesty and liberality of the early 
 Friends, we gla<ny turn away fi'oni the inspection of 
 such nauseous litei'ature. 
 
 'I'en yeai's after that outburst in Xottingh.-im church, 
 hardly any one in iMigland can have l)een altogether 
 ignorant oi' the existence ol; (ieorge Fux and his followers; 
 ;ind ;ui immense nvniduM' must lia\'e heard their voices in 
 the churches and streets ; hax'c seen them hustled by 
 m<d)S ami haleil to j)i'is()n I ly consiabh's. l!ut, as ;dways 
 ha])])ens, CM!item])oi'ai-ii's A\-ci'e Knabh; to estimate', ai'ight 
 the com]i;u'ativ<' im|>()rtance ol" tlie excnts of the time, 
 and, with the' exee|iti(in ol' iTJiglous eonti'o\'ei'sialist- , Jio- 
 body ihou'^ht it worth his while to inl'orm himself ac- 
 curately about this seet e\ei-ywhere spoken against, and 
 to I'ccord his obs<'i'\ at ions for tlie' bciicllt of postei'ity. 
 I'assim;' allusions hci'c and flu re illustrate the merely 
 su|)r|-|iclal k iiowlcdgo of lliciii whieli was ] h is.^^sscd l)y 
 iiUi-lliuviit Hull (if t hat time. I )i-. 'i'lioinas i'ldloi-, having 
 linidiid that Inxik of his ( "liurcli history wlii(,-li recounts 
 the ])cr>rrut ions of the i-oign of bidoijy Mary, laying 
 asidr his ])i-n to briliink him>'ll' of sdmr topic to dilate 
 upon ill its dedication to llaroii r.i'o^jke. reiiiembcj's the 
 ignorant and clowiii-ii fanatics wjio. in hi,-, owji geiiei'a- 
 tion, win'(j notoriotis foi' the steadfastness with which they 
 hael endured sutferini'S for conscience sake: but the tales
 
 Their Opponents. 163 
 
 lio has lieard of William Syinpson and others, and of 
 QuaiC(3rs rct'iisino- customary tokens of respect to nobles 
 and m;^^istrates, call forth, instead of" pity and ailmira- 
 tion, a hope of their speedy sup[)ression. That staunch 
 loyalist and picms cluirchman, John Evelyn, visiting 
 through curiosity some of tliese poor wretches contined 
 in Ip.s^vich gaol, can see in them only fanatics of danger- 
 ous ])rinci[)lL's, a melanch-oly proud sort of people and 
 exc(x'dingiy ignurant.^ llis friend l\'pys, not a bad sort 
 (if man as the vrorld goes, i)ut fond of money, and the 
 i'('V('rs(' of piiritanic;d in his moral coiie, shows a nuicli 
 kiudiici' s[)irit. He jots down in his diary on August 7, 
 iO<J4, 'M sa-\V several ])(;or creatures carried by, by con- 
 stabltjs, for being at conventicles. They go like landjs 
 ^vitholU any resistance. 1 would to God they would 
 cither conform, 01- be more wise, and not lie catched 1 " 
 Two years lati-r his relaliw, d'homas Pepys, " did conic 
 to me to cetnsult about the business of being a justice of 
 the peace, which he is much against, and among other 
 rea-ons, tells me that he is n(jt free to exercise ])unis]i- 
 nient accordhig to the Act against Quakers and otlier 
 peo[ile bn- religion." Thi; atteni])t to coerce consciences 
 then, as always, produced a natural reaction in fav(nn' of 
 the' [lersecuted. fjisjiop ])urn(_'t in his History of his own 
 tiuie. describi.'s the extra oi'dinary lirmness of the Quakers 
 wdien th(' rigoi'ous execution of the Act drove all other 
 disse'uters into concealment. '"' ddie behaviotir of the 
 Quakers was more particular, anil Iiad in it something 
 th;it look(Ml bold. They met at the sauLe place, and the 
 same hour as before. And when they were seizeel none 
 of them would go out of the way: tliey went altogether 
 1 Llianj, Vol. I., page 315.
 
 164 TJie Quakers. 
 
 to ]iiison: they stayed tlierc till they were dismissed, foi' 
 tliey wouM \\K)\j pay tlnnr Ihics set oil them, woy so uiiich 
 as tlic Jail i'ees. And as soon as they were let out, they 
 went t .' tlii'ir iiu'eiiiig houses a<^'aiii ; and when they 
 found iliese were sliut uj) by order, they held their ijieet- 
 iiiL;'s in the sti'eets hel'ore the doors (jf these houses. '^Ihey 
 said ilii'y N\"ould not di>;o\\n or Ije ashamed of their meet- 
 in_;- lo;;vllii:r to woi'sjiip ( iod, but iu imitation of Daniel, 
 t'ae}' would ^V'' it the iiKU'e publicl}', because they were 
 foibiddiai the doini;' it.'^ Uurnet perliaps had not 
 hrard that in jjiislol ;iud Jleading, wluai the j';itliers and 
 mothers \\ i/rc' ad in pris(jn, the cl)ildren, \\diosc y<,)Uth 
 piot'Tted tl'em iTcan arrest, stood in theii' p:irents' places, 
 holding' tliei)- mretinL;s in iho streets, (U'spite of jeers and 
 t' ili> iVian mobs and mai;iNtrates. JJurnet aeh'nowled^'es 
 that the ])' rx'er.-encss, as lie calls it, (<!' the (^>uakei's otit- 
 wrai-.n 1 I li- l;'o\ ei-iimeiit. 
 
 One lil!-^>onelp^^ in abirat the tjuakiis w a.> swaliowi'd 
 ;_;ii"ddy. ( il ra d 'rwic-ianl> as ilny were, to wIkihi 
 Lui ir I'ani in and ( al \ 1 :ii.^ai sccnird bin a hall-w ay sla;_;'e 
 t'o.iii ii'oMir, tlicy \\i rr j I'ii iih-icion-ly desca'ibi'il as l'a[iists 
 i;i di-'^ni-.'.'. i'rymii' i ii>co\a;rrd this in hi.)], a.iid ruslie(l 
 t" 1 In' ]iri ^- \> il li "'ilic (^Miaku^ i innaskcd, aiid cica.rl\^ 
 Oi'tici'd n I be bin t he ^jiaw n ci' loMiii-li i'Vo^N, ,b;>nites, 
 ;iiid iiiin.i r.ii bivi )'^ : ^oil iVmh: UmM;'.' lo MMUice the 
 inn ^\ ica h d. < d.idy I'ai rd [in.b-h .\'aiii>n." < )n ikr mei-e 
 li'':i I -iV ( \ I'ii iir,- wT ;i I ',^i-^|M| in iiiiiionLrr he a>.^erls that 
 I w M I' i';inci-'';in iVi.nx had br.ii preach i ui:,' in London 
 i.iid' ] li.r in~.-in-i' <il' <^lnak'is^ and ihal the same or 
 ih'i iwi. :,'ii-;i\ ;;lii ! a|iiM;Mvd in b'ri-idl. I'lvinui 
 liimly b. li.'\,(i iii,;i i!m- rlii. f -| .-ak.r-. and rulers umonf 
 
 ' //-/..,.. \'.l. I,. li:ur 171.
 
 Tlieir Opponents. 165 
 
 all the (lis-^ontinij; cinv.;'i-eij;ations, and particularly among 
 the Quakers, were Romish emissaries, Avhich is cn()U;^h to 
 Ciinvict him of crL'fluliiy, evt'ii had he not solemnly re- 
 corded it as a matter oi' fact that tlu' Quakers used en- 
 chanted ])otions, hraceh.'ts, and rihhnns to intoxicate 
 novices and draw tluun into their felkjwship. Yet this 
 al)surd alle;.;"ation of a pojash orie-in Avas widely credited 
 down to the end of the century. In " the Qualvcr and 
 the Pa])ist 'parallel'd " ^ t\renty agreements are produced ; 
 t]i(.' denial of tlie su])remacy of Scripture, and assumption 
 of infallihility occupying the forefront. "Foxes and 
 Fireljranls " assi-rts that the Jesuits acknowledged hav- 
 ing spent twenty ys.-ars in ha'umei'ing out the sect of the 
 (,)iial<ers; tlie design l;eing t(.) ruin the I'l'otestant religioii 
 hy the ])romotion of sectaiianism, and so t<j pave the 
 \\'ay for tin.' i-eturn of jiopery. Willi;im Penn, on account 
 nf Ins intimacy with James II., was str(i;igly suspected 
 of heing hinisidf a Papist,- and even some of the Quakers 
 ap])ear to have douhted him. 
 
 Pryinu', Fuller, ilurnet r.nd tlie others knew nothing 
 at iirst hand alxjut quakerlsiu. 'I hey merely retlecied 
 the popular prejudiee, whicli tlicy strengthened without 
 trying to imderstand tin.' penple whom they calunniiated. 
 P)Ut on tlie whole, w]iate\-er cause the Quakers had fui- 
 just complaint, tliey could not reasonably comjilain of 
 inattention. A long succession of pious and leai'ued 
 men, churchmen and dissenters, encountered them in 
 contro\-er>y, and for this p)urposc took considci'ahle 
 })aii!s to master their docti'ine. Their verdict was de- 
 cidedly unfavourahle. The epithets showe'.'ed upon it 
 
 ^ AiKuiymouH. Loiulon, 1(;71. (In IJri'i.ili ?>Iu.suuia.) 
 - Bi/rncC'-i Illslorij, III. I;j2, note.
 
 1 66 
 
 TJie Quakers 
 
 iiiid its profcssoi's are of the most lurid description : 
 
 (laimiulil<> liercsy, lioj'i'id l.]as])lieiiiies, Satanical d('])tlis, 
 
 dialiolical di'Insioiis, coiideiiuied Pliarisees, odious 
 
 livjiocritcs, iiiasl<('il dc\ils, ar.d such like. Xor can we 
 
 wondor tliat in an n^'c M'hen orthodoxy was deemed an 
 
 r>sfntial (Miiditinii ui' sal\'ation, ([uakerism was ]'eL!,'ai'ded 
 
 as si)ul-df-.tr(iyiiii4' : for it ^\'as tah'en to h;' notliing less 
 
 tiiau li!as|)hcmous rei('etii)n of the true .Jesus (dirist, and 
 
 setting' u]> ;i f;ils ; (_'liri^t in llis j-oom. In Kioo the \iear 
 
 of St. A'ieleihi^, Hri^toh a])p(.'ar(Ml ai^'ain^t tluan in a hook,-' 
 
 on tlie title ])ni4'e of which lie wrote, that it was " 1)y 
 
 Unljili I'Vrmcr, a servant of that Jesus Christ that was 
 
 ciuelficd ;it .l(ru:-;dcm over 1 000 years a^'o :" implying 
 
 tliat the (^)uakci-s lielicved in annthei' Christ. John 
 
 l'';d'l<), a th ainhtful ( 'on^'i'e-'atii 'ual minister, wlio (piotes 
 
 nhuii(l,-iiit !y t'rMiii (|uakrr writiui^s, (Idincs a C^)uaker 
 
 thus: ' 1 call liim a '^)uakri' tliat ]>rnfcs>rs the Li<^-ht 
 
 witlilu e\cry man [n ]n- the cnly Lord, and veiy (o(|."'- 
 
 'I'lp'y ] a-e:iciii-l, 1m' --ay-, ' a ( 'hri^t wilhin, in 1 1] ijmsit ion 
 
 1". .Mil] CMiit -Ml] i| mI', a ('Iii-i--! witliDU'." C'""''^''i' ""'''t i'll^"'^ 
 
 W''i '' .-I I tii'-i dp- O'l'-. U-, -enernlly ' eillea' silent, ni- taken 
 
 u]i vilh \\\i- ',ii|!'ai aial Niiihait i iTU j >! i^ns dt' di~;mal 
 
 h' i\\ !iie_:- ;i U' 1 h- a-i'i 1 il.' I'ca i-iiej^ ! i'l-l'-' mi- --U'l(|eiil\- tnkeil 
 
 :i^ \\'\'\\ ill- ra'liii--^irhii,.-,^, diahiu'.;- and I'. )a !ii ill u' a t the 
 
 n^' 'it 1 1, and - !!i- I;, ill-- I'ai iiji lin - r^ iini 1 a-^ -t ai'k dead ! 
 
 > Ml- -nri, thii,-^ a~ thi I ha\ - -, -M and heard : and 
 
 ^' he' ! ' !'- ;ii- imd-idaM- t-0 ini -ni. - dC, arr so 
 
 nioe^ e,i: ;,ad i:> ii i^.!!-. tl,;ii I 1m in-li you ha\-e now 
 
 ;deM^.i, '] v..-\ ;do, .,,!,, r !,.i'i i!,,. hitnr ;-ort ,T theui, you 
 
 d;M-.- n-l d. n\ ilaH il v, a -<'."'' d h- r.]i|y n. |''nx and 
 
 ' I ': ..,; , y. o,. .' u V . . le;,;,. 
 
 ',' -"- ' :. . ' '/ '.'.',,;',,. i.,.i,a,,a in;;;. ;/.;</.
 
 TJicir Opponents. iGy 
 
 Xayler'y ' S.-iuVs Errand to ])ainascn,s " l)y one of the 
 Westmoreland cleruy also refers to physical phenomena 
 resultiii:;' froni the ni'-ntal ('xcitoinent of the meetino-s : 
 "tlicir jiraotices do excci'ilhio-ly savour of sorceric ; the 
 qna]<inL;-s. swi Ulna's, roai'ln^-s, I'omnino-s, (such as never 
 ^V(_> heard of, hut such as Averc^ possessed of the *h:'vil) of 
 pei'sous at their nn^etiiiiis, and especially of little 
 childi'en, L;'i\'lnu' a sad suspicion of it; and the more l)y 
 reason of the known sus])icion u])on Georg-e Fox, to deal 
 witli tlie <li'vil, h(_!!:*ore ever Ik^ came to us in tiiese parts ! " *- 
 ])eductini4' liherally for su])erstition and prejudice, there 
 is ]irohahl\' a nucleus (jf fact here. Ikit leaving 
 anonymous and obscure authorities, let us summon a 
 fi'AV Avitnesses (jf the highest character, to give their 
 account of this quakerism which they so llercely ana- 
 thematized. 
 
 Recent (^)iiaker writers have taken pains to show that 
 in mauy (;f their doctrines and practices the Quakers 
 were auticipati''! 1)\' tlie ]]a]:)tists, the ohject being to 
 pro\L' that (ieorge Fox was not sf) original as has been 
 supposed. Jdowever that fie, the early Quakers had no 
 stouter antagonists than these; sauie JJaptists, who 
 should, if the thetji'y bi; true, have understood them 
 be'ttei' than most. Anil among the Ijaptists, the im- 
 uiortnl jvuthor of Pil^-rim's l^'ogi'ess. nnght, of all men, 
 hax'e bi'en expected to ivceive (b'orge Fox with open 
 arui<. Did G(;oi-.;'e Fox sh'ugL;'Ie f(jr years througli 
 teri-ibf; tem])t;itioiis ? Sd did .John lju]i3'an, sinking, if 
 possible, e\'(_'n intc) decprr nbysses. ])id George Fox 
 hear \-(.)ices fi'i)ni heaven ? So did John Jjunyan, re- 
 
 1 A hr'iif IIi^jIij in Sm'l'.i Errnml {a Ddmasn's. Ain.aiyinouf-',
 
 1 68 Tlie Quakers. 
 
 pcatedly. Had Gooro-o Fox visions ? 80 liad Bunyan. 
 Did C!o()ri;'C Fox rcccivo rovelatioiis ? So did Eunyan. 
 Wlioso rcails Ijiinyaii's tcniljlo " (ilracc Ahouiidiiig-," will 
 find the instances. ] [ere let ns ((note just one, not froiu 
 that book, l.)ut from the hitest biogi'aphy of the great 
 aliei^'orist : choosing it hecausi; of its marked similarity 
 to, and significant div(;rgence from, George Fox's notable 
 exclamation in. tlie gre;it meciting wlierc Captain 
 Stodihird was converted. " ])o you not set; the blood of 
 Christ?" cri(;d Fox, " See it in your hearts." " Ft)r I 
 saw it," he tells us, " the blood of the New Co\-enant, how 
 it came into tlie hcjirt." Tjunx/an also had a vision of 
 tlie blood. '' \ saw through gract; that it was the blood 
 shed oil (*;dvaiy that di<I sa\'e and redt'om siinicrs, as 
 clearly and as really with the e\"es of iny soul, as evei' 
 inethought I h;id seen a penny loaf bought with a 
 penny." ' The two \-isions were e([nally \'i\'id, tlie 
 object seen wa,s the same, but nevertheless the dill'erent 
 interpretations of the two seers were for tliem iri'ccon- 
 cilab](!. One saM' Christ within, the othei- Christ with- 
 out. I'uip/an does iiot a])])ear to have encountei'etl !'"'ox 
 liersoiudly. but to him all Quakers were scoil'ei's aiul 
 blnspliemers destine(l, in eompnny \\\i\\ llanters anil 
 drunhards, to wee])iiig, Availing, and gnashing' (;f teeth : '^ 
 villi" !''o.\ el;!sses ilunyan by nanu; ;imo]ig reprobates 
 and mt-,M'i!^cis oi' the (le\il.''' 
 
 Win u i!h' <,>U'''^-''''~^ cjhik; to l!edford (own in IGGo, 
 
 ' .]<.hn /;.',^;' ; Ih, 1.;/., T;ns n<J Wnrk. lV-l"lin I'O'Wn, 
 i;.A. 1. Mini, ,11 ISS:, |,M-r I-..'."). 
 
 >'""-'''--/' '' 7',-'.V,' Oy,,,,/, ic.^C. Til lUiiiy.'iii'.s Wcii-l.s. FeJk, 
 ( ili: i-11, \'nl. !. ]). ."i~.'S. 
 
 'l"h' O',,,,/ .1/,/.;', ,;/, l,:l;.V ; 1.
 
 Their Opponents. 169 
 
 Bunynii Vv'as twenty-eight years old, and had Leen 
 preaching for about a 3^ear, but was as yet unaware of 
 Ids literary gift. After their wont, the Q.iiakers went 
 sti'aight to the niarki't cross, and there proclaimed their 
 di^dnc commission. The sturdv youni>- tinker, o-irt in 
 leathern apron, and with hammer in hand, as we may 
 suppose, ste|)ped out from his workshop to listen to them, 
 and inuiiediately opposed their doctrine. Soon after ho 
 met them in dispute in St. Paul's Church in Bedford. 
 So deeply was Bunyan moved that now for the first 
 time lie ventured into authorship. " Some Gospel 
 Truths Opened," puldished in 1G56, is an unsparing 
 a'-sault on the whole rpiaker position. Edward 
 BuiTouglis replied, and Bunyan rejoined : the con- 
 troversy was vigorously maintained, and there is no lack 
 of material foi- judging as to the merits of the dispute. 
 
 What was it wlncli aroused tlie Baptist preacher's ire 
 against the Quakers ? It was l)ecause, as he understood 
 tliem, they rejected tlie Christ of God, the historical 
 (Jlu'ist who was crueified for men, who is in lieaven at 
 the riglit hand of God, who shall come again to judge 
 the world ; and put in His place a fiction of th.eir own 
 imagination. " But I would not have thee think," lie 
 says to Burroughs, " that I speak at random in this 
 thing. KncMv for certain that J myself have heard 
 them hhixplij'ino, yea, with a grinning countenance, at 
 the doctrine of tliat ?sLan's second connng from heaven 
 above the stars, who was born of the \drgi]i ]\rary. 
 Wy<\, tliey ha\'e told me to my face that I have used 
 conjui'ation and ^\itcllcraft, because v>diat I preache<l 
 ^\as according to the Scriptures. I was also told to my 
 i'jice tliut I [)reached up an Idol, because I said that the
 
 I70 The Qnaktrs. 
 
 Soti (if Mary ^vas in lionven Avitli the same body that 
 M'as (MMicitird on the (h'os-^. And many other thin,^s 
 \\\\\v tliry hla^j'lniiion-ly ^(llt(d a^-niu>t tlic [."rd of 
 ]ifr and u'loi'y. riiid llis I'lvcidn- L:'<i-]Kd."' ^ A^'ain lie 
 .'-ny,-. "I .sliall Idl \(m nl' ydui' sister Anne IJlacdsdcy, 
 A\liM did hid nil' ill tlic ;nidicncc of many, to tlirow aAvay 
 till' Scrijitui'cs. to whicli I answcri d. Xo! foi' then the 
 d('\il woiilil Im' toil liai'd I'oi' !iH'."'-' IJiin-dn^hs in his 
 r.^jily to ''one .hdiii lUniii ai, (inc of (^oi^'s ai'iiiy," in 
 w liirh 111.' aecnses liim of more than a liinidrcd " I'oule 
 lii'ty lyes and slandei's,"' ' hy no means snccecded in 
 persuadiiiL^' Ihmyan that they two really meant the 
 same thinL;". On the contraiy ]jnrronL;'lis was vei'y sure 
 that they did not mean the same tiling', and ]ia<l small 
 ho])(' of incut iiiLi; ISunyan in heaven. Jhit our ]resL'ut 
 hu-im's> is with Ihmyan, and it is jili.'asant to hear him, 
 dcspiti' his d('lrst;if ion of thcii' hellish doetrine, testify 
 to tlie iiiof.i] characj () (,f thi'--(' al loiiiinal u' h I'rtics. 
 I t.h tlicf. iv;idrr, pl.-nnly, lliMt foi' (lie uvmradiiy, 
 till' \-i'iy ojMiiioii^ tlint .-ii'i' hi'M this d.iy hy tlu; 
 (^*n,i k'ivs, arc the >;iiiii' tint llln^ ;i:;o witi; lii'id 1 ly the 
 itnnt i'i--. ()iily tlic ll;i ntiT-^ hai I ni;idi' llieiii (liri'Mdhan.! 
 at Mil .-diliMii -, , jiii-l till' (^'ii;ikir- lia\"e s-'t a n''W L;hiss 
 iljHiii tlii'in ;i-;iiii hy ;iii niit\\-|;rd |r-;;d linliiii'ss or 
 ri'jlil '! '0 .111--. ' 
 
 'fill' viMj- mI'O'T I')ini\;iii n;i-t if-'iii \\\ tlie mai'ki t cross, 
 hicli.'od l'..i\i'r |iriiiliil lii- Hue Slicrt a-.-iiiist the 
 
 I /;'. M,/ \v.^,'. . \..\. 1.. |.;rri' ;.--. 
 i;i..v.i,\ /; ,. .,,. ,,;, i i:;. 
 
 VVw/', /;,, >!,. :^,l,..> ,>/ .,'!. ]\y |-Mv,;il,| l'lllT.01.;!,s, I. nil, lull 
 
 k;:.?. 'ii:l'' I'l"-.
 
 Their Opponents. 171 
 
 QualvLTs." Bunyjiii was a genius ; Baxter, although in 
 liis (lay lie occupied ari eminence of reputation from the 
 lieight <jf whieli Lotli Fox ami Bunyan nuist ha^e l(joked 
 small, was hut of an oi'dinaiy ty})e of cliaracter, 
 tliough a |")rince in the class to which he Ijelonged. 
 Fervent in his piet}', an ehnjueiit and intensely earnest 
 preacher, a skilful leader of men, a good scholar and 
 keen polemic, lie wa,s an all-round representative of the 
 dominant orthodoxy of the Conniionwealth ])eriod ; 
 when lujuiani^-m was abhorred, ju-elacy distrusted, dis- 
 sent C(jn<lennie'd, and a reformed Catholic Church, which 
 shoulil include all reasonable and moderate Christians, 
 an<] ha\'e power to silence all others, was still the ideal 
 of the majority. Baxter's antagonism to the Quakers 
 was a foregone conclusiou, even had the new doctrine 
 })resente<l itself to him in a rational and respectful 
 manner: hut respect for ecclesiastical dignities and 
 sweet reasonableness towards opponents were consjucu- 
 ously lacking in tlie lirst ap(.)stles of (Quakerism. Jjaxter 
 tells us they shouted after him in the streets, called him 
 dog and de\-il,^ bade him go thresh and dig, said he had 
 n(.>t tie; spirit, and would ]iot ]U'each unless he were 
 paid for it.- It seems aluKjst increililile that '' holy 
 Bichai'd Baxter," shotild have been so re\-iled, but such 
 is his own e'videnee. ^^'o wonder that aiiujug the twenty- 
 foui' ]vasoiis against (piakerism in his "One Sheet," their 
 denyiug and railing at the Church ;vn<l ministers of Christ 
 ocrupies the iirst place. The [)ei'sonal attack Baxter 
 luiglit have }tassed hy ; the assaidt on the sacred oflice 
 
 1 0,M' ,s7u/ (iiyilnsi tJtc (^'t/Ac/u By racliard Baxter, WtJ. 
 llea.>.ai 0. 
 
 - 77a' Qua]:Lr's CutecJiisin. By llicliard Baxlei'. C*"-'*^!')' i'J-
 
 ij2 TJic Quakers. 
 
 lie eoiiM not liut resent, for in liis Ix'lii'f, a duly consti- 
 tntdl ministiy Avas a divinely ordained means of 
 saK'ation : iMt indeed alisohitely ni_'Ces-aiy, imt in fact, 
 the ordinary eliamie] liv wdneli <4'<ispel-L;'i'ace was con- 
 \'('\'e<l. ills next olijectinn to tlieni was the nneei'taJnty 
 of tlieir tencliini;-. " I ne'Vci' met with any man tliat 
 licai'd of any sum or holy of the'ir di\inity, i'aith, or 
 reli^'ion, which they puhlishud. X(.), not so nmch as in a 
 catechism, or sh(jrt confession. Xor did I ever liear that 
 one of their s[>eakers did e\'cr j'ccite the suh.^tarice of 
 tlieir helief." It is ([uite true that the earlier puhlica- 
 tions of the Friends were not systematic nor scholarly- 
 I'enn and Jj;irclay at a later time removed this reproach, 
 hut without conx'erliiiL:,' IJaxter to their \-iews. The 
 remainder of liis twenty-four I'easons, with his "Second 
 Sheet," and the " (^)u;dvei''s catechism,"" must all he passed 
 h\', that we may ;4l\e his delihei'ate j'uili;'ment on the 
 (^)ual;i'i'- iTcorilc'l in ]ii> auto-liio^ra] ihy. " The (^)uake]-.s 
 woi'f hut tie' ihintei's luined I'l'om horiitl ])iopha,ni'iiess 
 ami hla^phcmy, to a lifi' of extreme au^trriiy on the 
 othri- >idi'. Tlicy mad'' t'lo Li^ht which e\-ei-\- man lia.s 
 within him to he hl^ suilicirnt I'ido, ami eoiisrt|nciiLl\- 
 thi' Scriptui'o-^ an 1 mini-^tiy ai'e -it liidi* h\-. 'I'lu'V 
 -ji 'ak niueli I'mi' llie 1 1 wcHi m'.^', ;i:i 1 woi-kiuL;' o!' the Spirit 
 inn-; liiil lilll'' "I' iu-a ihc.ii i- .n, .-iiid \\\y ii/ii-dnii of sin 
 an'l "iir i-.ci .iM'i hnl i( in villi (\<A i ini .n-h ! >u-^ < 'hi'ist. 
 
 \t lir-t ih-y di'l u-o to fall into Tivmhlin-s and 
 
 s'.nMtini''. \i'iu;liii:^ in Ileal' m-i't iii---, aii:| pr<'( u.JimI 
 t.. h- \;..'.iilly .e-l .1 hy tia' >y\v\\ ; hiii wnw ijiai, is 
 e .! - -I : 1 h-y 1 'uly up .t . aaj h- t iiat pi''-; -i p k -I h to l;c 
 in 'V '1 I'y tli.' ."-'jiirll -p-ak.t'i ; ainj > 'inrtiinos (lir\- say 
 ii'akin , hat, -i; an liMiir <.>v \\\ yy in siVncc, and then de-
 
 TJicir Opponents. 17 
 
 part. One wliilo divers of tlieiii went naked tlirougli 
 divers eliief towns and cities of tlie land, as a pro})lietieal 
 act. Some of them have faniislied and drowned tliem- 
 selves in melancholy, and others nndertaken by the 
 power of the Spii'it to raise them, (as Snsan Plerson did 
 at Claines near Worcesti'r, where they took a man out 
 of his gTa\'e, that had so made away witli himself, and 
 commanded Inm to arise and live ; but to their shame). 
 .... }.Lany Fr;uiciscan fryer.-s and other j)ni>ists have 
 iMjen })ro\'ijd to lie disguised s[)eakers in their assendjlies, 
 ami to lie among them ; and it's like are the very s(jul of 
 all these hori'ible dehi.-^ions. Uut <jf late one William 
 l\.'nii is b(/come their Lca<!cr, and would reform the sect, 
 and ^ct up a kind oi minir^try among them."^ Thus did 
 the (^)uakcrs finpeai- wdiun looked ;it thixnigh the eyes of 
 Ala-^tcr Uitdiard Jjaxter, tme of the shrew(iest and best 
 mt'U (li'his lime, lait far from ujiprejudiced. Nevertlie- 
 I'ss, Ik; me;int the tiuth, altlujugii in the ab(A'e extract 
 tla'i-e is suilieient pr(i(^r(^l' his fullibiiity. Sul)se(|Uviitly 
 hij liaiidsonudy ackmiwh-dgcs the exemplai-y deV(jtion of 
 thesu heretics in keeping up their nu'etings fur worship 
 ill the lace of implacalilc persecutors, ;uid thereliy acting 
 as a sliitdd i'(jr the mure timi<l dissenters.- He admits 
 t(ju, that this courage and self-sacriiice I'eceived its 
 I'fwai'd in the aceo'ssiou of many honest men to their 
 su(_-iet\'. 
 
 '' (u'ui'gi; I'^jx digg'd out of Ills ikirrowes," is one of 
 those humorous titlus in which (KU' i'urufathers delighted, 
 thf apter bec;i.use its ilnal word is a play upon the name 
 of Edward IjUJ'roaghs whu asslded Fox in ^\'^ilil)g his 
 
 ' llcHqnia' JjiAxtcrlitnn;. Part 1., sec. l-o. 
 - Ibid. I'iut il., p. 4o^>.
 
 T74 
 
 Tlic O/mkcrs. 
 
 " (Jrcat M}'.story,"' to wlvich tliis bo^lc refers as tlio 
 aulliority <>ii (|uakei'isiu. Its a,iitli<tr was tlie ((;le1)i-at(!(l 
 liDi^'er Williams, I'lmi^k'r of the State of iilio Ic Jslaml, 
 one of the i;oh'.est of the Puritan tiand whieh lai'l tlie 
 foundation of Anierieau L;Teatness in New EuL;'laipl. 
 Fleelnii; iVoni the Lauili;ui })ei'seeutiou, x'ouul;' Williams 
 Ian if d in Ho-ton in ll!.")l fi-om the li)>t sln])\\ hieh fo] lowed 
 the Maylltowr and Speedwell. J^ovely in his c.-U'i'lai;'*', 
 L;'odly and zealous, ]ia\dug ])recious L:,'ii'ts, the youni^" 
 ministrr seciiUMl to bo sent hy lieaven to eneoura^'e tlio 
 we;U'icil, h:df-star\'iMl colonists : and he \\'as ^vekome(l 
 with joy. JjuL hi' had learned a lesson in the sehool of 
 pei'secutiou which the earliisr emio-rants had failed to 
 ae((uire. Jiauci'i li't, tin.' United States histojian, says, 
 "lie was llic llr>t ]icrsuu in moilnii ( 1ii'i>tendi>ni to 
 a>scia in its plriiitmle the dnctiini;' ol' lihci'ty ol" con- 
 science, the ('([uality of o[)inions hefore the law ; and in 
 its det'eiiee hi' w;is haihiii^'er of .Alii ton, the j.i'ecair.Mir ;ind 
 suj'erii ir I if .lei emy 'i'liylnr. ' The I'lii'itiin li.'oidamon"- 
 wliDiii he I'oimd hiiii-eir Were not nf th;it mind. I hoy 
 llJld crii-^ed the Ath'llllic t') ;ichie\e reli-'iwlls liheri\- I'lir 
 tliem-el\"i <. not |',,r .lew.-. Tni'l;-, inliil Is ;ind hei'etics. 
 'I'hi' yi.inii:- ajM^ile ,,1' p .lernlh iH, hel.Mil ;i>hewa-- hy 
 hi- ll-ek, hiel Im ih^e int.. the w i h lenie-,-. ; ;in.l ;iL last 
 
 Slleeec iei I ill fi .1 1 I 1 . 1 i 1 1 -, ;1 eij ( ,1 il ni n i 1 1 4- W elijll'lel' I or, a ni'W 
 
 ciiliiiiy, lie iir-1 in ( hri--leii' l< im in which liheii \- of ci)n- 
 Neii n' e \\ a - iiiaile I he ei iiaa-i' -o ine ( d ci\il -. i\ eianiieiit. 
 In .-uh-'''i!:'ait y.'ar-. wleai 'Mi;ikei\-^ wer.' h.iii-- \\hij)iied 
 anil ha ii-e. i in S;i j.^ni a 1 1- 1 I !( .-o ai. W i i liam- ei iS m \- dU'ered 
 I !: -Ill ;: 11 a-\ laiM. In 1 1 '-,::!< h i ii-v l-'iex w a- in ^America, 
 anil \j-ileil IdiiHle Ul.iicl, will re he iiii'i with a lo\ in"- 
 
 ' l;aiirr,,M V I ,,il..l >'/.</,.,, \',,!. I. ],,,--, '_'!IS,
 
 Their Opponents. 
 
 /b 
 
 reception. Ho was Lidgod in the o'ovcrnor's liousc, and 
 the L;''>\'er]iui', tlic de|)nty-governor, and several of the 
 [)rincipal persons of tlie coliiiy Jittended the (piaker 
 nieet'nvs. Tlieir Yearlv AleL'tiiie' for New Enii'land and 
 the adjacent c^jlonies was held at this time in llliode 
 I-^h\n<], am] nuiiK.TOUsly attended, hotli l)y Quakers and 
 (jUtsid(_M's. It was a ^'otjd time i'ur tlic (j)uals:ers, wlio 
 rejoici.'d t<j hear the voice of tlieir n'reat leader, and of 
 his C'iiii[)anions from the (dd country. Fox lelt that a 
 lire]) im[)i'rssion had been made, and wrote in his Journal, 
 '' till' u'lirious power of thi.^ L'jril was over all, and ilis 
 hlc-^sc^l truth and life liowing amon-'st them, had so knit 
 ami inntL'd chum t(i_:ethi'r that tl;ey spent two days 
 in ud^iiiu' l''a\'e one (if ;iiiother, and of the liiends of the 
 i>iaii !, and then ln-iui;' nd;4htiiy tilled \\dth the presence 
 and powei' of the' J.ord, tl^'y Went away with joyful 
 he,-iit> to tlitdr scN'eial hahitations." ^ 
 
 The father of the Colojiy, the N'eiiel'alde Uoi^'er 
 Williams, ;it this time o\'er sex'enty years of age, was no 
 unmoN'ei.l spectator of thes(,' scenes. Liberty of con- 
 scii.'iiee di'l not with him mean indltference to truth, and 
 peThaps tlu' fei'lino' that lie liad alienated himself from 
 m^'ii whom h(' iHAere'd and lo\'ed, by liis doctiine of 
 tol(_T;ition, made liim the moi'e eager ti) prove that he 
 was us Zealous as they against this ])estilent ([Uaker 
 her(vsy. lie chalh/nged (jeoige j-'ox to a discussion, 
 w hich for some reason not stated, tla." Quaker veteran 
 deidiued. 1 lowever, di>put;uits were not wanting : Stubs, 
 Ijiunyeat, and i-jdmundson, (aicoriut^'ri'd \\'illiams for 
 iour <ia.\-s in succession. Judging fruUL his botdv, whicli 
 is ;i rep(jrt by Williams of the long debate, the keen 
 
 ^ Jn,>r,n(l II. 14(3.
 
 i;6 
 
 TJic Quaker. 
 
 ^vi^y (lid mail prosed t!u.' tlirt'c Quakers hard; Lut the 
 eiiid>at was a drawn (nic, botli sides clainiiiii>' tlie victor}^ 
 On this occasion we liavc tlie I'arc i^'ood fortmie of l.ieing 
 alilc to .^cc I'ach side tiiroiiL^'li the eyes of tlie other. 
 Widiaiiis, who Avas c\"ideutl\' an lioiion.raMe an<l lovealjle 
 old laaii, thoUL;h a sharp coiitrowrsialist, describes Jolm 
 >Stuhs as " learned in the llehrew and the (d'eek," John 
 Jhiniet, or LJurnyeat, as "of a nioilerate spirit, and a very 
 alile speaker ; " \\hile William lvlinunds(.)n he i'ound to 
 he " \'eiy ii^-iu)i'aiit t)f the scriptures, and of other learn- 
 iiiL;'; a stout portly man with, a ^'I'eat \i)ice, a e(Histaiit 
 exercise of m}' patience: he ^vould often A'a})our, and 
 preach loi:ijf, aiul would interrupt." What Stubs and 
 JJurnye;it thought of Williams we do not Icnow ; but 
 J*]dmuii<lson ke])t a joui'iial, and ^^lote in it that they 
 di.^puted with "one Ko-er W illiaiii'^. an old priest, and an 
 eiimiy to ( ruth ; '' "all slanders and accaisations a:j,'ainst 
 the (^)uakri's ; "' but '" the bitter o!d man could make no- 
 thiiiu' oul ol' it . and \va> >ilcnccd. W ell, iieit hei' ol these 
 bi-rathi'd tip- prayi-r to M'f thfiUM'Ke,-- a> otht-r-^ saw tluiu ; 
 a piayr llir iMJIilmeiit ol' which would pi'obah|\- he far 
 IVoiM i-omioii ill'.;- toiii,~.(, ol' u^>. but now our(;uestion 
 i-, w li;ii did bi'-i^r \\'iMia!ii> think ahoiii the (^'uakers and 
 till ir d' 'ct riie- .' 
 
 b;!-^ln_: !Vm|ii i''o.\'> iiecoii nt oT lii^\isit to liliode Is- 
 l.-iiid t'l \\'illi;iiiis' roiii 1 .,\ I 1 -iai liiK.k, is likr [\ suddeu 
 (ii;i ii_:'' I if w i;il 1p r. < )iii' 0,iy t In- all' i^ i'almw the li^'ht 
 '_'^di 11, idl n;itui-i' i> h.-iilh'O in tr,!iii|uil bi';uit\' ; walkiii"' 
 ihii.u-li ti.c -r.i\is ,-iiiii iiiijid' .\\ s, \\,. ;isk ourstdves 
 \'. h' I h -r b ! n (> liud I ii' l';ni I r. Tie- w ind sjiili <, ami on 
 tli>- iip.N'iw i,r_;.,id r!..iid-, dri\r .irr, .-, tli,. sky, the ^'reat 
 lit' I -- tli'ir lim;.- ,-i- i i' in ;i-iiny, i,-iin --weeps the
 
 Their Opponents. 177 
 
 landscape, and rent boughs l)Ostrcw the roads: the whole 
 
 world seems groaning and travailing in pain. 80, read- 
 ing Fox's J()\u'nal, wc feel we are communing with a 
 Christian soul of a rare and beautiful piety. In Wil- 
 liams'" b-)ok, v.'e see the aged Puritan tearing a mask oft' 
 the Quaker's face, and belioh.l, the angel of light Ijccomes 
 a devil. The transformation at first is inexplicable. 
 Williams was nnimpeachably a true Christian as well as 
 Fox, yut each could see in the other only an agent of 
 Satan 1 How could such misconception exist ? A para- 
 gra[)h from AVil Hams' book partially explains it. " I 
 towk my seat," the good old man writes, "and began by 
 telling them that the jlost liigh was my witness, that 
 not out of any prejudice against or disrespect to the 
 [lersons of the (Quakers (many of whom I knew and did 
 love and honourj," did he undertake that controversy. 
 Ifi'nce, Avhen Fioger Williams asserts that Satan was 
 using the Quak(.'rs as instrumeiits "to fill his hellish 
 pauneh with souls," th.at "the de\'il b}" the claws of this 
 ^ile fox hath torn at the heart of the Son of God," and 
 that "the Papi-ts' and Quakers' tongues are Ijoth spit- 
 ting and belching out lire from one lire of Hell," we may 
 tak'e all these lioirid expressions to be <inly an emphatic 
 way of ex])ressing dilference of opinion on theological 
 topics. Searcliing for the reason of this violence, we find 
 nothing new in lioger Williams' allegations. Like 
 Funyau, like ]]axter, he charges them with denying 
 Christ, and rejecting tlie Scri|)tures. Perhaps he })uts 
 the charge moi-e s\vceiingly, for he declares that " the 
 people called (Quakers (in efi'ect), liold no God, no Christ, 
 no Spirit, no angel, no devil, no resurrection, no judg- 
 ment, n(j heaven, no hell, but what is in man." Surely
 
 I7S 
 
 The Oiinkcrs. 
 
 there imist liave been some ^TdUiul for n iiiisnnfkMstanfl- 
 iiiL;- sliarcil in eniinnoii liy tlin'c sucli excellent men as 
 liunyan, JJaxter. and W'iHianis, \vli< l'(>rnie<l their jial.u;- 
 nients (|uite inilejx'nih'iii 1 y. What this was we must 
 iiKjuire in another eliapter: liut Ix-l'ni'e procetMlini;' to 
 tills, let ns take one more glance at the (^tnakers throno'h 
 eonteiiiporary I'y'S, ami this time, not through thosi; of 
 an oithoiiox lielie\-er, lint of jin arch-hcretif and i'i\'al 
 ])ro|ilirt. He may 1h' thonu'ht no vm-y trn>t\\'oi-th}' wit- 
 ness, liut there is a reason for takiiiLi,' his e'\ idenee which 
 will hei'eafler apnear. 
 
 Loilowicke Mn;_:L;'!t/toii, tailor raiil ])ro[)het, anJ founder 
 of the sect of the .Muu-i;-letonians (^\hiell still exists in an 
 obscure' condition;, Wiis clnsse'd to--etlu;r witli tJeor^'e 
 ]'^ox hy the oi'thodox ; hut ill ti'utli the two were wide 
 as the ])"lcs asundci', di hi'i-iii;.;' more from each other than 
 ])uth did li-om the e>tahli>hr(| rcli-inn. M ii^'^h/ton and 
 Ids cousin, .lohu Iotnc, el,-iimi'd to 1m' the two Witnesses 
 fort 't oh 1 in till' llcxrlat i'liis, and to ha \ I' r.-e.'ix .d a di\ ine 
 coiinni--ion to pi < >eii lunrc ^.n^n(l^ o|' i p^i'iiai jU'l^'nuait , 
 1)1 it h o)' >;i 1\ a 1 i in ami i la in nat i< ai, i ai iia li \ ii hia k \^\ name. 
 Twi 1 I !a 111 I 1- jiP' i|ilnt->, Ih '1 1 It - and Ta ny, had lon_;- a hu>ed 
 till' (a'filiiiily of t he LMn.|oiirr>, ]iivtiaa lini;- t hat t hry had 
 l-ai-.-.| i|.;el (MM-Mii^ Im lif.', .aial ] 'i^ a . .^i n^- x^^ \v\v\ the 
 linie I !' I all' I ! aa \ -i'^ air I h' ai ;i IP I -^.-i ini^ 1 o .h aar-ahan, to 
 h-'-'l lli'iii Willi iii.-inna, aiai 'ii\i \^- liu' \\>-A Sea heron,' 
 tie 111 ' Tim- Tw m Wii n. -- - 'I- ;ii:lv riir-c 1 ]a-o]ihets 
 Ih 'Ini I - ;iii,! T.i ny, w !iM - I ai a : i-r > !'. I, . aif a! I in me and 
 lie- oil;.)- ih.,\\ii..| ;i! --.'.i. M ie_;-j|.a ' ai aial Krr\-e re- 
 yar.hd ihi- a~;i |iei-t' .-!' ii;. ar .ii\iiic c niiini-.-i. ai and 
 pr-c. ''!. 'i Oi -.iioaic'- otlei-. Tn r^aav-ax of tiedr 
 lii'a''U I h' \- a - aiiv.l ,i.in:il iVJiriiw ni a'c than twice
 
 TJi'Ar Opponents. 179 
 
 tliat num1_)or were seiitcMiccd to hell, iiiclnditig Fox, 
 Wliitohoad, Peim, Pt'iiiiii^-tou and about fifty more of the 
 Quakers. The (Quakers freely retaliated by [)i'oiionncin_r>- 
 the bko dooDi u])Oii MugL;det:)ii. Amid these rival pro- 
 phots ruthlessly damniiiL;" eaeh other, one feels as in a 
 ni'j,'htinare (h'oaui, or in Budlaui ; and is tempted to think 
 tlifin all insane to4'(-'ther. Vet, his supjiosed revelation 
 from heax'en exeeptiN], thure is no reason to doubt Mui^^- 
 H'h^ton's sanity, liis doctrine, g'rossly olfensive as it is, 
 is based upon a literal and mati^i'ialistic interpretaiion of 
 eortain texts of ."^cripturc. {\ A made man in His own 
 imiig'o, therefore (Jod is like a man, is a corporeal being. 
 'I'hc '' \V(.)rd became llesh '" is no tig'ure but a literal fact, 
 and the man Jesus Ldirist is the oidy God. ' The children 
 ot" yotir father, tlu.' de\'il," is not iigura,tive, but means 
 tliat the du\dl entered ]*]ve and l)ecame the parent of 
 wicked men. Farther detail of these gr<)ss imaginations 
 may be spared. SufMc(! it to say that "\Iug;gleton i.s 
 tlu; extreme' of literalists : and we cannot afford t(-) 
 losu the wai'inng of his example. He did not, it is true, 
 carry this principle of inter[)ref:ation consistently 
 thi'ough the Jhble, from Genesis to lve\'(;iation. Tiu.'rc 
 wei'e texts which woul 1 not lit his system, and he met 
 tliis dillii'ulty by boldly claiming that he alone possesseil 
 the key to the ti'Ue inte'r[)i-etation of S 'i-ipture. Still he 
 goes fai' in liis literalism, and ;ibides a signal instance of 
 the ]K'rils of that way of appi-oaching tiie' loible. When 
 once texts of Scri[)tttre are accepted as di\'ine facts, not 
 t(j be (piestioned by human reason, the Church of Rome 
 can deri\'e thence its doctrine (jf ti'ansubstantiation 
 Luther, in confenMice at Ahirburg, chalking Iloc c^t 
 ciirpiis iiuainv, before him on the table, can, behind this
 
 I So 
 
 The Oiiakci's. 
 
 cntrciichincnt, (lefy the r(\asoninpf and the tears of 
 
 Zwiiv^li and tlie Swiss rcforiiicrs, tliroii'^li tlie live-long 
 day; and a tliDUsand 'cssri- minds c-ni shape out tlieir 
 se'veral heresies on the same I'undanicntal ])i'inci}de. 
 ?.luy'L;'lctoii a^'ain is a lini' cxanijiL' oi' tla/ elass ol' Hiin<ls 
 to whom the material is the only I'cal, tlie s])iritual 
 always to lliem heini;" nea.r al<iii to the naa'dy imaginary, 
 (hi both grounds Mii^'^-let'iu ahliorred tlu' (^>uakers, as 
 they abhorred him ; and, yet, sti'an^'c to say, in the long-- 
 contimied contest Ixdween tliem, there were Muggleto- 
 nians who became Quakers, and there were Quakers 
 wdio turned Muggk^tonians. In lii.s " Neck of tlie 
 Quakers Broken " and ' A Lo(jking-gdass for George 
 Fox," both published in 1003, ^luggleton, as a 2)rophct, 
 inispaiiiigly consigns the Quakers to liopeless perdition; 
 l)ut as a juan, honestly ael-ciiowli'dges their good (piali- 
 tics, jind ^ine('r^ly piti(_'S thcii- innnrribHl sufferings. 
 " Vou ha\-t' l)a!il!'il the ])i'irsts ol" thii nation liy that 
 light within \'ou, bccaust' yon ai'c I'allen to a moi'e 
 ]iTcisr exactness nf jii'c than they, though your doctiine 
 is woi'se tlian tlieii-s."' 'I'liis test imoiiy sujiports that of 
 !>axle)-and Jlunyan a.~. to the' idgli moial charaelei' dl" 
 the ('iiildren ol' the bight. The woi'st Mugglefun has to 
 >a\- of them, is that at the tir>t they u>rd to lall into 
 witeli-iaal't his: "Mippodng it was ihe Sjiirit of Chii>t 
 t'iiat nio\i'd yai to I'l^am at the mi 'Uth and .-igh and 
 -r^.an.-ind hev.!:'"'' and the-e niani I'e-.!,! ( li ms he ridmits 
 li:ld li-e. ilii- i'O'eiir (,;:->:'!; I'l'Twhieli ii,:!,,-! |,,. taki^s 
 cirdd to him-iM'. Mtti'ibiiiing ih'^ chaii-v o, i].,. tciTer of 
 his eur-e. Ahli.'Ugh he i-, >ane thiy .-o'e all going to 
 I Ti.. .\.J: n/ ilr ij'.iL. ,.s /;,,,/,. ,^ p. IS.
 
 TJieir Opponents. i8i 
 
 lioU, ]ic cannot lielp pitying them for their undeserved 
 snilerings in thi-j life. " If ysni Quakers wouhl forbear 
 meeting, you need not .suii'er for your faith at all .... 
 1 am sorry that many innocent harmless people should 
 waste their estates, suffer imprisonment, and impoverish 
 tlieir liealtli, ami suithr hanishnient, and so hring their 
 Ih'es to an end before tlieir time, for that which is not 
 trut!!.'"^ Queer old Muggletou .' One hopes thou wcrt 
 crazy after all : for thou luiflst not a hard heart, desi)itc 
 thy ghastly deligiit in pronouncing sentences of dannia- 
 tion. "I ahva\"s loved the persoeuteil better than I did 
 the pers;.'cut:ir, ' lie says; "1 have known some that liave 
 K st their lives for cijuseienee s;dci', wliieli 1 have been 
 Sony for, though I knew they sutthred for a mere lie as 
 all }-ou Quakers d(j.'"- 
 
 After ha\'ing indicated the character of ]\luggleton's 
 I cliff it is har<lly necessary to point out tlie utter anta- 
 gonism Ijetween him and Fox. "The Quadvers' Christ," 
 to "\Luggleton Avas '' n(jthing else Init ;in Allegciry."^ "I 
 am sure," ho saj's, " when I tallced with John Perrot 
 about Uoil, he could ni'Ver find a ])orson, but an inhnitc 
 S[iirit, without a boily or person at all ... I could 
 nm'er lind any <,)uaki_'r to own Go 1 to be a person in the 
 foi'm of a man, b;it an inlinit'; S[)ii'it that hlls hea\'en 
 and eaith aial all places and things.""^ To Mtiggleton 
 the muteiia! rdone was trut.' ; tin' spiritual was a dream. 
 
 - i/-/'/, p. 70. 
 ' //-/'/. p. -11. 
 
 ' ycrLoflhr n:,l:rrs iJoJ^r,,^ p. 21.
 
 CHAm^:]| XT. 
 
 PKNN AM) J^.AllCI.AY. 
 
 Bax'Uu'.'s cdnqdaiiit lliat lie conld not iiiid any \\]L(.']'e a 
 plain statcuiciit of the (juakor creed is not snrj)]'ising. 
 In tlieir early enthusiasm tlie Children of the Light 
 Aviote I'liapsodies, not creeds: ]ro])hetic denunciations of 
 the apostate eiinix-hes, not a])ologies fur tlieir own. They 
 niet tlieir antagonists \vith \'e]ienient assertions and 
 ^vrath^nl denials, Avhich failed to con^incc, hecansc they 
 could not make it clca]' tliat tliey understood their own 
 teaeliiiig and its logical c(iiise(iuences. I'oi'ne along on 
 the hosom of a mighty s])iritual loi'ce, tlu^y \vere sure 
 that it ])i-iie((dcd I'lom the ^'er\ tlii'oiie of tlie J{]tei'nal 
 IJglit, the I'Uciiial L()\c, hecausr it hrought the Light 
 and Lo\c into tlieir licarts aii<l tlieir li\cs ; this they 
 ^\|^e alisohitcly sine was the xcry spirit, the e^'erdiving 
 tnitli ol" oi'iginal ( 'li rist iaiiily, and ad wlio i-esisted this, 
 SIM iiicd to tlu'iii nil hdo of tlie t I'Ul li, cliildreii of the 
 Wicked ( )iic. Meant inic for t\\cnty years mail}' a 
 >inci re (^'liri-t iaii walclied tlcii- jirogicss in amazement 
 and peijilexiiy, admiring tlieir consistent li\( s. hut mar- 
 \-elling at llcir eceint I'iclt les. and ahlioriing their ])re- 
 t' ii-Imiis. kiix, lanreu.:li-, and llie hevt ot" iditd'atc 
 
 pi-..j:liet- of ijll.'ikel i>l||, CmuM iM't llieet. the lei j M 1 1'emcnts 
 
 of till-- >tate of mind. At length the wiiLings of 1*01111 
 an(l I'larclay rohed away IJa.xters reproach, a.n<l rendered
 
 Pcnit and Barclay. 183 
 
 it impossible for any candid opponent to pretend that it 
 was difficult to discover what the Quakers really 
 believed. 
 
 WiUiani Penn, who was a schoolboy when Baxter 
 publishcil his couijilaint, joined the Quakers in 16()7, and 
 S')on became so ci.inspicuous among them, that Baxter 
 mistook him for their leader and reformer. From a 
 Worldly point of \'iew he was the i^'reato'st acrpiisition the 
 rpiakers e\'ei' made. Handsome, :-a!lant, talented, wealtlu^, 
 the heir to court favour, he mio-ht have as])ired to great 
 em[il(jyment in the State; but he saciiticed everything, 
 })leasurL', pro^pLets, and parental love, to become an out- 
 cast and a pri-oiicr I'or tlic des])ised name of quakor. 
 WeigJited as he was by Ins uncourtly and unpopular 
 reliuion, he nevei'tlieless attained to considerable influence 
 ill tlie roign of Jamos II., and tlio foundation and govern- 
 ment of Prnnsyh-ania sutllciently attest his ])olitical 
 sagacity. AVieldiug a fluent pen, he was the flrst to put 
 ('luakcr doctrine into rradable form, and gain the attention 
 of niun of tlie world. Pe}jys noted in his diary, Oct. 12, 
 lOOS, 'Iveail a ridicuhju-^, nonsi'usical book set out by 
 Will. l*fn for the Quakers; ' and again, some months 
 after, ' liot W. I'on's bool^: aL^-aiu,>t the Trinity. I got 
 my wife to Y(\v\ it to me, and 1 hnd it so weU writ as, I 
 thin!<, it is too good f(jr him evt/r to have "writ it ; and it 
 is a serious sort of bo(jk, not lit for everybody to read." 
 l-]velyn, too, made aerpuiintanco with tliis treatise, and 
 recorded, Jan. .'>, l(jG8-9, "Afiout this time one of Sir 
 Williiim Bemi's S'>ir^ published a blasphemous book 
 against the JJeit\" (jf our Idessr'd Lord."' I'enn's books 
 were read, A\'e see, not by Friends only, but by the 
 general public; and lienceforLli for thirty yeai's he was a
 
 iS4 The Quakers. 
 
 literary e1iam[)i()ii oi lii.s faitli. " Tlii; Cliristiau Quaker,'' 
 "No Cross, ]U) Crmvn," ;uiJ oilier puljlications, which 
 iill live ^ohlnu's, j resented the (j'.iaker doctrine, not 
 always, perhaps, witri [)eri"ect selt'-consistenc}', but in a 
 simple and atti'acLive lV)riii, animated hy a g'enuine piety, 
 which must liave seeuri'd i'o]' the ne^\' creed a t"avonral)le 
 consideration from all whose ndnds were o])en to welcome 
 fresh liglit. 
 
 But i'enn's numerou.s A\-oihs }"ield tlie ]'ahii to (nc 
 book, for genei'ations re'^arded by tlie l^'iiends of truth 
 as the best exptjsitiou of their belief, the fauKjus "Api)h)gy 
 for tlie '^v\w, (Jlu'istian l)i\-iiiity ;is tlie same is ludd fortli 
 and ]a'eached by the peojile in scorn called Quakers," 
 p\d)lished in l(i7(i, b}' llobert I'arclay, wliom we saw in 
 a pi'evious chapter, passing throu;^h tlie sti'eets of Aler- 
 deen with s;ich'cloth on his ]hiil)S. Traiiiei! in the 
 univei'silirs of T.-iris ami his own city, a, ripe scholar, a 
 skilled loL;'ician, well-read in llie i'\'dhers and the Ue- 
 formers, Harclay lii'oui:,'hl to his iu--i;, wiil(_' knowle(l'_;c, a 
 clfai' 1 lead, and deep sjii ritual e.\p.-i-ieiice. 'l"he syUo fistic- 
 form of the A polo-'\-, ;iiitii]Ua(cd r\ til t heii, ;U!d llow loiio- 
 obsolete, is pcdailtie ;iiii! rcpui -i\ ! to ir,odel-U ta-^le, but 
 it a^>i-.l^ ihat rxaetin' - of ex] u-'-.-ii .11, and s lUiidiios of 
 I'l-a.^oiiiiig, w liieii jirc lie' di-^li iie| ions of ilic hook. The 
 chirf iiih'ir-.t ol' ill.' N.oi'k 1^ ill il.-. ehapt''! on I iiiiihdiatc; 
 le'\ rl.ili' 111, whii-li barelay, in > iilii'.' .e^rreiiU'li t with 
 
 ( Ii-i )l-_;r bi iX ;ii|, 1 1 I,,. ], ,11 ji of prrarh^'l.N W h o :-, 1 1 1'l'o! I 1 1. ! ei I 
 
 him, heel t' I ii'' llir iikdiiia'c 1'. aiei l;i ( ii 111 of ] ii-'idii, and 
 til.' aipri 111' .iii; :,oii i \ i a ,i 1! mat ha'-- of fa il ii a le I [.a'.-iet iee. 
 b.-i'M)-.' pi-r-i'iii Hi-- |');irclay'- a!--nm.-ni, ha u-; once aL;'ain 
 sniAry th [Hi-itioii maintained by I la' i'role..tant 
 ehureho.
 
 Pcnn and Bare lay. 185 
 
 The lleforination was at iirst a revolt against tlio 
 corruptions of the Clmrch, vatlier than against tlic idea 
 of (Jhurch antliority. Luther, assailing Tetzel's in- 
 dulgences in defence of the vital doctrine of justitica- 
 ti(.)n hy iaith, took his stand upon the truth wlncli is 
 revealed in tlic Scriptures, rather than uj>on the Scrip- 
 tures themselves. His depreciation of the Epistle of 
 James and the Apocalypse are intelligihle only on this 
 hypothesis. But the craving for an infallible court of 
 ai)])eal soon entln-oned the Bihle in the seat left vacant 
 Avhen the ancient authority of tlie Church was rejected, 
 Tlie \"erhal inspiration and infallil>ility of the Bible 
 l)ecame tlie foundation truth of Protestantism. Calvin 
 ]ield and tauglit that "the Scriptures liave come from 
 Iiea'^e]! as directly as if (^od had been lieard giving 
 utterance to them."^ This a-sum})tion was no novelty 
 in\X'nted under the pressure of controversial re(|uire- 
 ments, but tlie ancient faitli of ( hristendom, and the 
 Protestants liadi tlie adx'antage of being able to summon 
 Rome itself as ;i witricss in its favour, tlie dispute l)0- 
 tween tliem beiiig, not in respect to tlie divine character 
 of tlie Bil)le, but to the evidence of its authority, and 
 the 1 ight to interpret it. Only the immediate a]>])lica- 
 tiou to, ;iiul sole dependence up(jn, the Scripiuies were 
 new, and in the interval between CaKin and Fox there 
 hai[ iM.'eii time en(.aigh for this Pi'otestant reliance on the 
 written W'onl, to beceune matter of education and 
 hab'it, to ex]>ress itself in catechisms and creeds, to 
 inlix itself deepl}' in the hearts of believers, initil it 
 
 ^ Insti'nUs iif tiic L'li rl.-itiu.ii litliijlon. V>y Jolm C;dvin. Tiuiis- 
 luted by lioiiry Bcveridge, (Calvin Translation Society, 18-15). 
 Ijot.ik 1., chap. \'ii., page UO.
 
 1 86 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 soohilhI to tlicin the vcj-y Iniiiidatiuii of their faith, 
 apart fi'oin wliich true ^'odliiicss was incoiiC('ival)l(\ 
 'i'lio treiiicii(loiis sti'UL;'uh> oi' tln'oc u'ciieratioirs witli tlie 
 Avliole iniLj'iit of the l*a]>ai-\' coniiniii'd tlie Ih'otcstaiits 
 ill tluir hrlief tliat u]oii tliis foundation alone lliey M'erc 
 st'cure and iiivincihh.'. lh)\v nia.ny C'ln'istian souls had 
 livi'd and died in this faith ! lIo\\' many y'rcat preachers 
 and wi'iti'rs h.ad toiled foi- it ! How many holy martyrs 
 had :^'i\"en their hodies to thellanies t'oi' it ! l'\)i' it what 
 q'reat Avai's had hern wa^'ed, \\diat loni;- ai;'o)ues en- 
 dured ! Now at lene-th, at'tej- thirt\" yeai's of internecine 
 stiife, half ]']u]'o])e liad Avon the Y\'ji\\i to hold and teach 
 the Chiistiau faith upon this hasis, and who can wonder 
 that amoni;' the I'l'otestant nations it seemed the dead- 
 liest h(_M-esy to (hmht it for a moment :' To the Protestant 
 the liihje had become a miraculous liook, not to he 
 criticiseil liiit to he i'evei'e(|, the su])renie autlioi'it}', the 
 one iid'allil 'le t'oundat ion. 
 
 This i'( luiidat ii HI was accepted as nltimale, I'eipiiriiii;' 
 no extiTiial su]ipor(. Tiie (piestioii, how do we know 
 that thr laije is tli^ w^rd of (ioil .'' w as oidy ceiisidcivd 
 
 ill eoll-cipii lice of ihe iueollNrlli.'Mt e'ailllS of lllO 
 
 Tapi-t- to c-talili^h lhi> i iidi-pdisa 1 lie tnilh l>v the 
 t r.'idil i( 111-- and the iiif;dlil 'ilil y of liner ( 'hureli. I'\)rce(l 
 t hii- t' 1 u'l'Oiei' at 1 ih' (ph'-^t i"ii, ( 'al\ in ivma id.> t liat '" the 
 >uii).cl \\y\\ d--i'i'\.'> to I),' trealrd iM<av at lai'i;-e and 
 
 piilldi'Trd lii"|-c ae(Mirat<'|y," ' hut >tiai!uv|\- elloliMli ,,x- 
 
 (Mi-.-- hiiii^-lf IVi'in uiidi'i talxiiiL;' il, On aiiotlna' pa^e he 
 I'T.mmU th'' ipe-ti-ii ;e. an in-^nll tn ihi' l|..I\- Sidi'it! 
 Ili,^ I' I'ly '" leHiie \\a- : we kiiow lli.it the IliMi' is 
 ihr wi-rd of ( ;,m| l,y the t,'' -t iiimny .,f il,,. Spirit of ( iod ; 
 
 ' l,..l,h,l,s. \',,|. I., ,,;,._;,: IK).
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 187 
 
 the di\-inc origin of the Scriptui'cs is sclf-o\'ident to tlie 
 liiiniaii ijiiiii], wlioii tanglit l)y tlic Spirit. ' Sci'i})tui'e 
 Leaivs upon tlie face of it as clear evidence of its truth, 
 as white ami hlack do of their colour, sweet and bitter 
 of their taste." ^ Upon this testimony of the Spirit, and 
 upon this self-evidence, he places his reliance. The 
 dcuiand of pr(_)fane men to have it proved to them by 
 reason that Closes and the prophets were divinely in- 
 spirc^l is prei)()sterons. '"' Let it thei'efore he held as 
 fixed, that those, who are inwardly tauo'ht hy the Holy 
 Spirit acipui'sec implicitly in Scripture; .... we ask 
 not for procjfs or pi'ohahilities on which to re.^t our judg- 
 ment, hut we suliject our intellect and ju<lgmciit to it, as 
 ti]() tj'air-:c(nident for us to estimate."- Arbitrary and 
 inadtKpiate as this treatiuent of the sul)ject is, it served 
 th(.' iiumcdiate pui'poso of providing a reply to the 
 I'apal objection tiiat th(3 Protestant had no means of 
 knowing what Avas Scripture and what was not. This 
 was the oidy difli(-ult\' tliat v\'as at that time pressing. 
 '^J'lui Pjcjtesta.nt mind Avas jiot scirsiljlo of any other. It 
 acccptcil th(.' lhl)li' as tlic Woi'd of (lod, ^\ith:.nt rcipiir- 
 \\vx thi',-c, or iuiy othci' I'easons, for the luditd'. Had 
 Ihosc alli'mMl ]'cas(_)iis been more than more cunt I'oxcrsial 
 wi''i])oii-, they would lia\'c b;.'cii used as tests; and it 
 would imiue liately ha\e been diseoxcre I that the con- 
 tents of 1 loly Scriptui t' ai'e not throughout homogeneous, 
 that there are pijrtinns which are self-e\'ident, and other 
 pnrti(ais which arc not, and that the testimony oi the 
 Spirit is not ei[Uall}' clear hji' the' whole. In reality the 
 JTilde was accepted as the ultimate foujidatioii, Avithout 
 
 - i/'/'/, puge 95.
 
 1 88 
 
 The Quakers. 
 
 requiring any jiroof of an assumption upon wliich evciy- 
 thing 'lupendod If doubts intruded, tlioy were regarded 
 as temptations of the devil. 
 
 Cah'in's teueliing was accepted liy tlie Englisli Puri- 
 tans, liieliard Siljbes, " ])oa\'eidy Sitibo-/' to wliose 
 writings iSaxtrr owed so mucli, says, '-jsaiali was the 
 })cinuan, CJod tlie mouth, ddic licad dict;vtoth, tlie hand 
 writctli. CJii'ist tlie head dictatL'th ; ami Ids servant 
 writ(;th."'^ Silthrs holds Cah'in's ddctrine of vei'ljul in- 
 si>iration, and lu,' holds it on the same grounds. '' Whence 
 hath the Scri|)ture autlK)rity ? Why from itstdf. it 
 i-; the word, it earrieth its own lett"rs t 'stimonial with 
 it.'' " How know you the light to lie the light hut hy 
 it-oif ( and liiat hi'e is hot hut ly its^'lf :' hidnciples 
 pro\'i_; themsL'hes only hy oXj >;.aionc<\, and this pri]ici[ile 
 is So jii-ovt'd hy itsrlf, that thcrr is no child of (_!od hr.t 
 c.m say hy (.wjicricnci' that the woi-d is th.c \voi'd." ''J'lio 
 lr;u']i( d -lohn ()wi'n, ill a little hi) k- in which he calls 
 tli'' (Juakcis ])ioi' il'luded f.'uiatics,"" mdotains tlie 
 doc'ti'inc ill it-. h;ddc-t foian. and wilhaijuiti' amusing 
 simjiliolty. 'I'll" ]ii-<iphc(, he tdls us, is to Im' hdicxcd 
 Oil the ;iut h' ii'ity nf hi-, ()\\-ii st a ti'incnt, that ho is a pro- 
 jilii't: in --j ii(i' ( if w hii'li maxim .hihii I )\\ ni i ;i^l not he- 
 lii'\i' ill (;,Mii-v h(i\ ! hut ( )wcn, ilidimli \\<- -.onuh' 
 ma liiiJiii'd ill'' mir.M-uiMiis ( unmuii ic;it i' m of l)j\-iiii' 
 iv\ -iiM i' 'h t'l tlh' \, rO'T-, dl' Scripluro. CDald at limos 
 p''ri-.i\r liif (!i;i'cidty tlii~> ihci.ry iiiNolx^'d; and tln-n 
 Ih' i at Ih ;oa .111.' with ihi' \"n>v d'-illdnl fa i la t ie>.'' 
 Ih' -.ly-. ill th.' -.Oil' l>M.h', " \ ' ;i. -11]'], lie that ( iod 
 si,(. dd -jM.'ik Im n- IV.'iii lha\i n, ;'- Ih- -j'nh ' to .Mosas, 
 or ;i-. Ih' >]);ikf to ('hri-t, how -diould wi' he ahle to 
 
 ' s,ih.^ w<.,i... iviiii.'ii, I'-tiL'. \'ni. II., ]i. r.i:..
 
 Penn and Barclay. 189 
 
 know it to 1)0 the voycc of God ? Cannot Satlian cause 
 
 a voycc to 1)0 heard in the aire, and so deceive us ? or 
 may tliero not bo some way of tlie kind found out 
 wherehy men mio'lit impose upon us with tlieir do- 
 hisious ] l\:)pe (Jehjstinc thought lie heard a voice fi'om 
 licaven, wlien it was but tlie cheat of his successor. 
 }.Iust we not r(.'st at hast in that to Ocinv which accom- 
 panies tlic true \'()ice of God, evidencing itscdf, and 
 ascertaining the soul beyond possibility of mistake."^ 
 Jlichard IJaxter, in res[)ect to this topic, occupied an 
 cxce[)tional position. To his acute mind the necessity 
 for proving the Bible to bo God's Word v\-as a])parent, 
 and he essayed tlie task which the great Cahin had 
 P'roiunnice-d impossilde. To a modern reader his argu- 
 ments a})])ear weak, and he acknowledges that his at- 
 teMupt was an (jifence to his contemporaries.^ In tlieir 
 minds, the failure of his logic, far from discrediting the 
 Holy Scripture, would conlirm the established belief 
 that proof of its Divine authority was impossible and 
 superiluous. tSuch was the mental attitude of orthodox 
 J'rotestantisni in England in the middle of the seven- 
 teenth century. 
 
 \L\i)X since George Fox cried out in Nottingham \ 
 churcli, "Oil, no! It is not the Scriptures," fiji" nearly 
 tldrly years, the Quakei's had laboured under the 
 grie\'ous im])utation of denying the \Vor<l of God. 
 Vehemently tht^y ])r()tested ;ig;iinst tlie ch.argt,', Init in 
 \-aiii. At iiTii'th th(> careful definitions of llobert I3;ir- 
 clay set fV)rth tlieir me;ining so clearly tliat henceforth 
 
 Fuvtr of tlui ;<rrii'tinT. V,y John Owen, D.D. Oxford, 1(559. 
 - ,b'('oifs' Ectdadiiuj Ikd. 2iid I'art, p. 210.
 
 1 90 The Quakers. 
 
 there could lie no dispute about it aiuon^' intelligent 
 })t ople. In one sen.se they denied the Scriptures, in 
 another they did not. They denird that the ScJ'iptures 
 were the supreme authority, and ultiniat'' foumlation, 
 claiming those honoui's for that lldly S})ii'it, IVoni Avhoni 
 the Scriptures proceeded, and hy whoni they themselves 
 were inspired. The}' ackiiowledgcil the inspiration and 
 inl'allihility of the Sn-ipturcs, and in a sense their 
 authoj-ity, only an authoi'ity srcundary and ^uhoi-dinate, 
 being derived fi'om the Spirit. Some (piotations will 
 substantiate this i'epre>eutation of their \iews. In his 
 ]irop(jsition on liinnediate Ivevelation Barclay says, "the 
 testimony of the Spirit is that alone by Avhich the true 
 knowledge of (!od hath keen, is, an(lcan be oidy I'ewaled."' 
 "'Idiese J)ivine Inward Jlewdations, which we make ab- 
 S!)|ut''ly ni'cessary f^i' the building u]) of true i'aith, 
 neither dn, iini' can e\-er c-nti-adict the outwanl testi- 
 ncmy of tin.' Sci'i]tiires, or right and ."^ound iieasoii : yet 
 from In-nee it w id icit folhiw, that the-^e |)i\ine KeX'ela- 
 tions are to be subjeetr.l to the Test, eitller of the out- 
 \\;ii'd Ti'^tiiii' 'iiy i>|' the Serijituris, oi' ol' the natui'al 
 I'easoii of m.'iii, as to a more nolileor eerl.-dn I'lde and 
 
 tdUch^bille.''' The independence (if inHliedillle re\(da- 
 
 ti'iii li;i\in'4 been tliiis piaiidy a->erted. he liui'iis Ids 
 sliips liehind him by no f-ss plniidy a-->igidng the Scrip- 
 tures to ;;n ini'eii'ii' po->ition. ' bxeiiu^e tliiy ai'e oidy a 
 I )!'el,n'al ion of the bountain.and not the boiintain itself, 
 th I'efore tlc'y are not to bi' c^terined the principal 
 'ii'oinid of all Triuh and Knowledge, nor y.^i the Ade- 
 'pi.'ite Primary Itideof faith and Manners, ^se^elthe- 
 lc>~;, ;is that which -iNcth a true -mvX faithful Totimony 
 ' .l/-/rw,/. Sixili I'Miiinii in I'liiu'l.-iii'l. 17-I'. p. \>^.
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 191 
 
 of tlic fh'st Foundation, they arc and may bo esteemed 
 a Secondaiy llule, .'sulwrdinatc to the Spirit, from wliicli 
 tlioy have all tlieir ExceUoncy and Certainty ; fur as by 
 the inward Testimony of tlie Spirit wo do alone ti'uly 
 know tliem, so tliey testif\- that the Spirit is tliat Guide 
 by wliiidL the Saints are led into all Trutli ; tliereforo, 
 aec(>rdiiiL;' to the Seriptures, the,' Sj^/i i-'it is the first and 
 principal Leader."'- The o-raviry of these pro[>o.sitions 
 is iiicontestable. Let us look at the arguments IJarelay 
 adx'anees in support of tliem. 
 
 If na.'re logic is to |ue^ail, Ijarclay ought to liave won 
 hi> opponents over to his doctrine of immediate revela- 
 tion. Distiiviuisliing between certain, spiritual, saving 
 lienrt-knowledgf, aiul uncfrtain, literal, and soaring airy 
 licad-knowdedge, h<' puts the l^'athei's and the Reformers 
 into the witness-box to prove that the true knowledge 
 (jf Go'l is inwardl}' rcn'oaled by His Spirit and by this 
 alone. "It is the Jiiward .\bist('iV' said Augustine, "tliat 
 tcMclieth : it is (jhi'ist that te'acheth, it is ins|)iration 
 tiiat t(,'acheth : where the inspiration and unction is 
 ^\ anting, it is \-ain that ^\ords fi'um AN'ithout are beaten 
 in."'- (dement, 'l\'rtullian, .ferome, Gregory, C\'ril, I'er- 
 nard, are ([noted to the same etl'ect. Jjuther taught, 
 " Xo man can I'iglitly understand (b)d, or the Word of 
 Clod, unless he inuiiediatvly receive it from the Lloly 
 Spii'it; neithe'r can anyiau.' ]'ecei\-e it from the lb)ly 
 Spii'it exce])t ht^ tind it b\- experience in himself; and 
 in this ex])erienci.' the Ib'ly (diost teacheth as in his 
 pr(.)per scho(jl ; out of ^\hich school nothing is taught 
 but mer(! talk."" if it le said that these saints and 
 doctors were ojdy contem[)lating the S[)irit as lie oper- 
 ' i/.;-/., i>. 07. ' Tl'l'l.. i>. 22. ' II,;. I. ^ p. 21.
 
 192 TItc Quakers. 
 
 fitcs in conncetio]! witli tlic Sciiptarcs, Barclay observes : 
 ' Xdi- (laro any ail'irm that none come to the knowledge 
 of (.'<)(1 and sal\';itioii hy tlie inward revelation of the 
 Spii'ir, without tlicso otiior outward means, nidcss they 
 !)( so 111 lid as to exclude ^Vbel, Seth, X(.)ali, Al)i'a]\ani, 
 Jol), and all the Holy patriarclis from true knowledge 
 and snK'alifin."'' 
 
 J lining ]ii'e]);ired the way, and cond)ated prejudice, 
 hy citing illustiiiars leaders of the Church in his favoui', 
 he pi'oceeils to establish his doctrine by the Scriptui'es 
 thems(d\'es. This argument need not be reproduced 
 here. No (jne at all ac([uainted \\\i\\ the Bilde nee(ls to 
 be rennnded tliat the oper;ition of the Spirit of God 
 upon th(,' human heart is tauL;ht throughout the Old 
 Testament, and is the special pi'onuse in the Xew. We 
 pass then to his ]iext ai'gument, which is this : " That 
 which ;d! I'i'oi'essoi-s of < 'li r'/sl luti il ij, of what kind soevei', 
 ni'c i'ni'ced ultimately to recur untn, when jircssed io the 
 l;i-t : thnt for ;ind l>ecau-e of vhich ad other h^tunda- 
 tiniis ;irc rec( iiiiiMciided and accnunteil AViU'thy ti> he l!e- 
 l!r\-c(| ; and without which they are gi'anted Io 1m; of no 
 Wiig'it ;it ad, must needs he the oidy mo-^t true, cntain, 
 aiii] uiniiowdilc I'^oundat ion of ad ( 'hri-1 ian f'ai t h. - "A.s 
 to tjif Pavi-.!-,. thr\- place their I'oiniilat ion in the judg- 
 ui'iit '\ the ('hureh aoid tradiiion. If we pics^ them to 
 ay why ilie\- hclicxr as the ('jnirch doth, theii' answer 
 i-, 'h'cime t l:i' ( 'hureh i< .always led hy tlie iid'dlibje 
 Spirii." S:. IhI'.' the leading of the Sj.ii'ii is the niniost 
 !' 'MM ;;0 i( -ii.' All I foi' the l'i'iile>t.int> and SociniaiiS, 
 
 '"'h \'. hieh -.-1. ir.W li dye t he ^cril't Ure> to he the foUll- 
 
 d.iti'.n and inle of theii- faith ; the tine as sul jectiscly 
 I //..,/.. |,. -1;. - II :,/. ], (ii, //.;,/, |,. 1::,.
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 193 
 
 iatlaenced by the S[iliit of God to use them : the other 
 as managing them with and by tlieir own reason : ask 
 both or either of them, why they trust in the Scriptures, 
 and take them to be their rule ] Their answer is, ' Be- 
 cause we have in them the mind of God delivered unto 
 us, by those to whom these things were inwardly, im- 
 mediately, and objectively revealed by tlic S]Diiit of God,' 
 and not because this or tiiat man wrote them, but be- 
 cause tlie Spirit of God dictated them." ^ All parties in 
 Christendom unite in making the revelations of the 
 Spirit the foundation of the foundations upon wliich 
 their own faith is built ; tlierefore the Spirit is the ulti- 
 mate foundation and supreme authority. \ 
 
 Thus Barclay has established the doctrine of immedi- 
 ate revelation Ijy the three-fold proof : firstly, it is 
 supported by the testimony of all the Ijest Christian 
 teacliers : secondly, it is the doctrine of the Bible ; 
 thirdly, this very doctrine is that upon which the lliblo 
 itself depends fur its authority. In conclusion, he oilers 
 the verification of experience. It is the privilege of 
 e\'ery true Christian to receive such re\'elations. '"' The 
 seciet Light which shines in. the heart and reproves un- 
 I'ighteousness is the small begimnng of the revelation of 
 CJod's Spii'it, which was ih'st sent into the world, to re- 
 pro\e it of sin. (J(.)hn xvi. 8.) And as, by fu)'saking 
 iniijuity thou comest to be ac<ptainted with that hea\-eidy 
 \'oiee in thy heart, thou shalt feel, as the old rx:ian, or the 
 natural man, that savoureth not the things of Goil's 
 Kingtlom is p)ut off, with his evil and coii'upt all'i'ctions 
 and lusts ; I say, thou slialt l\'el the new man, or the 
 spiritual birth and babe I'aised, which hath its spiritual 
 
 1 i /.<'/, p. (k). 
 
 N
 
 194 
 
 The Oitakcrs. 
 
 senses, uiid c;iu seo, feci, taste, liauJie, raid smell, tlie 
 tliinL;-s of the s])irit, but till then, the k'uowledge of things 
 s})iiitn;d is liut as an historical faith. . . . Wait then 
 for this ; and as thou becoiiiest litted for it, thou shalt 
 reeeivt; more and moi'e, aiid hy a livini^f experien.ce easily 
 I'efiite tlieir igiujrance, \vh() ask, How dost thou know 
 that lliou art acted hy the Spirit of (!od ( Which Avili 
 apjiear t<j thee a (juestiou no less ridiculous, than to ask 
 one whose eyes ar*^ ()])en, How he kncnvs the sun shines 
 at noon-day ' And thou^'h this he the surest and cer- 
 taiiK'st Avay to aiis\ver all (jhjections ; yet hy Avliat is 
 aho\(; \v]-itten it may appear, that the n:iouths of all such 
 o])])osers as deny this doctrine niay 1)0 shut hy untjues- 
 tioiiahle and unanswerahle reasons."^ 
 
 'V\\' "A|iolouy" I'ailed toconNUUce the ruritans; made so 
 little impri's-^ion upon them that no one of note thoui^iit 
 it worth his whih^ to wi'ite a re])ly. ISarelay wi'ote the 
 hook in .kaliu, ;iiiil jiuhlished the oiiuiual edition at 
 Amsterdam in KiTli. (,^)uakerism had nothing" local and 
 iintioiial ill its eiia raett'i', hut aiiiie<| at the nformat ion 
 of ( 'hil-^ti'iidom, and ('oii\"er-ioii of the world. JKaieeit 
 was lit tin;.!,' that tli^' J\])o!o^y ' should lirst appear in what 
 wa> :-l ill t lie Common iaie;-iiau,'i' of the >ch ilars ol' fan'ope. 
 (mi t lie (( )nt iiieiil l\\'o oi'thi'ee 1 1 leojo-la n.> j'ejiliedto it 
 ill tlie s:iiae lanu'na.a'. 'iVa iisl.ilei] hy its authoi', three 
 kii'^li -h eilit ii )n> ap]ie;i reij in I (iTN, and ei'.^'h' more before 
 therii'lol' i iie crnhiry, hed'l-^ i iiree prlnt''d in Dublin 
 and i , in Alirrie.l. The Jri<n'l.> pi'i ii 1 1 j it I \' discel'Ued 
 1 lie \ ,l|l|c 111' I he \\i Ilk. ;;!io ]ill-,la-i i K ci Tel na t ii iH. ( !eol'e-(i 
 l\ I il li -pea k - oi ci i||i-el :i 111 > mail.' in a 1! i lieii' nu et in-s to 
 p;iy t lie e.\p(aise of an eiliiimi if ei-hl (i!oii>an<l copies 
 ' //'('/, ii[i. (;ii luiil ti7.
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 195 
 
 for distribution. XcvcrtLcless, tliis i'oruiidablo attack 
 on the Protestant position was allowed to i^'o unanswered 
 by any leader of the Churcli, was altogether unnoticed, 
 except by obscure indi\-iduals: and it was left to George 
 Keith, who was at the time of its publication a zealous 
 Quaker and close comrade of Barclay, to issue the first 
 iormal answer in the year 1702. V\liat a contrast to the 
 rece})tion of George P^jx, James Nayler, and the illiter- 
 ;ite champions who rallied round them ! In Fox's 
 ' (jieat Mystery," which appeared in 1G50, nearly a 
 liuiidred names of writers against ({uakerism are men- 
 tioiK'd, who, within ten years, hail hurried to the defence 
 of th(> ark of the Lord against the heretics. ]\Ian3' of 
 these, including Bunyan, J5axter and Owen, were living 
 long after the "Apology" appeared. Faldo too was liv- 
 ing, and could hardly have missed seeing the book ; 
 ItogL'r WilliauLS was living ; but all kept silence. How 
 can this neglect be acc(junted foi- ? Was the "Ajiology" 
 too hard a nut for any one of th'}f;c doughty controver- 
 sialists to crack ] That can hardly bo the cx[)lanation. 
 Keen-witted Baxter, learned Owen, and a hundred more, 
 surely cuuld have replied to Barclay if they had chosen. 
 ( )r if not ; if they had felt th(; I'easouing of the " Apoloi^y " 
 to Ijo uniinsvv'cr.djle, they wcjuld ha\'e owned their defeat 
 and i_'mbr;icod tlie quaker faith. We are shut u[), there- \ 
 lore, to the coriclu-ion that the reaswiungof tlie '" Apolouy " 
 dill not Convince', ajid that its neglect is an indication 
 tisat it maile but a slight im]>re,-sioii. As <|Ual<i ]'ism be- 
 t-ame b(_'tter understo^nj, (,iiid l];ii-clay's book must ha\'e 
 gj'e'atly pi'omoted tin; under.-stiiiidiug of it) so it became 
 lebs fearei.l. Idie churches by this tiijie \\'ere used to its pre- 
 sence, knew tlic worst that it could do, and no longer feared
 
 196 The Quakers. 
 
 the (Icrectiou of the great body oi" the pei)})U^ Akhough 
 another thirty or forty years were to pass before the 
 Quakers tlieiuseU-es brgaii t" be seiisi1)le that their pro- 
 gress was arre.^ted, they were ah'cady settling <lo\vn into 
 tlie dimensions of a seet, wliicli a centui'}' Later would be 
 one of the snialle-<t and nio^t obscure. Barclay summed 
 up in a ma-^teriy maimer ;vll that couhl be saiil on be- 
 half of ([uakerism ; and the ago practically replied, if 
 this be all, ^vc need trouble our heads no further about 
 the matte 1'. 
 
 l"h(; failuie is indisputable, but it is by no means 
 thei'eby estaltlished that IJarcla}' and the (j)uakers were 
 in the wrong. Why di<l Prott stantism fail in S[iain, 
 Ital\', I'l'ance, vVustria, Bavarin, Poland ? Wliy did 
 Christianity itself fail in western Asia, and northern 
 Africa ? All tlioe pi-obU'ins are too complex for solution 
 in tlu' jirLseiit conditions of human know led j,-e, but in 
 i-eganl to them all it. may sai'ely l)e ns>m'ted that mei'C 
 failure docs iinl jusdfy an ad\'ei's.' judgment. The end 
 is not \'et I'eached, and who slmll say that the I'ailui'e is 
 not niei'ely tem]iMi-;ii'y .^ I'o-^ihly in the case df (piak- 
 eii>i!i, tiie blame dl' its fa.ilure may b-long jaanripally to 
 
 tho.-c wlio rejecteil it. N eNei'l 1 leleSS there mUst luiN'O 
 
 bci'ii I'l'a-oirs wl'V it C'ruM n^t cianj'el the .-itteiitioii and 
 ;,.,-^-nI ef the ( .-iriK st ;iiid tin lUght i'ul aie..aig its contem- 
 |(ir,iiiis: ;iiid whi-n Wi' examine bai'il.-iys '"Apology" 
 nil. re elii-cly, it is e\ ident that he gi-;iiilcl to( j nnich 
 ;uid prM\i(l too little, to carry witii him the mind of 
 tic ay. 
 
 lb' gr;iiitid t'Ki much. llim-ell' li(IIi-\iiig with the 
 niM^i pi-(4'.innd ci ai\ ictinn, jmd de-iring to pei-.uadc all 
 riiri.^tian-, that tla' true and >ure I'oundation of their
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 197 
 
 faith is, not a collection of ancient documents, wliich, 
 
 traiislated into Eiiglisli, cjuld Ijo boii^'lit in one volume 
 l'(jr live shillings and carried in the pocket, but the living 
 and cx[)erienced action (jf the Holy Spirit of God in the 
 human heart ; he aUowed that volume to retain the 
 miraculous character ascribed to it by the prevalent 
 ortliodoxy. If ]]arclay could have studied the Scrip- 
 tures in tljc enlightened freedom which his own great 
 principle ought to have conferred, he would have seen 
 tliat the Prot'jstant conception of the verbal infallibility 
 of the Bible was erroneous ; and had this been demon- 
 strated, the readers of his book would have been com- 
 pullcil to take refuge in the teachings of the S[)irit, if 
 tlicy \v(aild not ]'eti'ac(i their steps to Rome. But the 
 faith (j!-' the Quakei's in the infallibility of the Bible was ^ 
 as co]ii[ilete and uncritical as that of their opponents. 
 The utmost extent of their audacity was to point out 
 the uncertainty of transcriptions and translations, and 
 altlH)Ugli this is of itself sufticient to take away the 
 assui'ance of infallibility which the Protestant theory 
 reipiiix's, instead of insisting upon the argument, they 
 practically ignored it, anil by accepting the Scri[)tures as 
 the sole judge in controx'i'rsies, they re-in^tated them in 
 the position of sujiremjic}', frijm which they liad 
 been displaced. The " Apology " is a striking illustration 
 (;f this incoiisisteney. Barclay i]i (jne })lacc btjldly claims 
 that the Spiiit is a clearer and more certain teacher tlian 
 the Bible. "The real aiid undoubted experience whei"e(jf 
 I myself have been a witness of, with great admi}'ati(ai 
 of the hn'e of (bjd to his children in these latter days. 
 F(_)r 1 ha\'e known some ol' my iVieii'ls, \\\\o profess the 
 same faith with me, faithful servants of the Most High
 
 198 The Quakers. 
 
 God, niid full of divine knowledge of liis^ truth, as it was 
 innuL'diately a;id inwardly revealed to thein by the 
 Spiiit, from a true and living experience ; wluj n(jt only 
 were ignorant of the Greelv and Ilel)re\v, l)ut evun some 
 of them could not I'ead tlnar own vulgar language ; who, 
 being pressed by the adversaries with some citations out 
 of tlie English ti'anslatio^n, and iiialin.'; thoiu to disagree 
 with tlie manifestation of truth in their own hearts, have 
 boldly aflirnied the S[)irit of God never said so; and that 
 it was certainly wr(jng ; for they did not believe that any 
 cd" the IIol}' Prophets or Apostles had ever written so ; 
 ^\dlich, when I on tins account seriously examined, I 
 really found to be errors aiid corru]:)tions of the trans- 
 lators."^ \\\ spite of his admiration of this pi'oof of the 
 su]!erioi'ity of tlie S])iiit to the Book, almost innnedi- 
 ately Jj,irc;;iy sui'renders this ad\-antage. Because the 
 Sci-ijitures "are eonniionly ackno\vle:lged by all, to have 
 been \\'i-itttMi by tlu' Dictates of the 1 I0I3' Spirit, and 
 that the Iha'di's which niay bi' su])pos(Hl by the Injui'y 
 of Tine s to ha\-e slipt in, are not such, but that thn-e is 
 a sullicii'ut clojir testimony Itd't t > all the Ivsentials of 
 tin; Christian kaitli ; v^c do loo]< upoii them as the only 
 lit outwai'd .luilgi' of (. 'oidroN'ei'sii'S among ( 'hi'istians ; 
 and that w hat.s(e\-er Doeli'ine is contrai'y to theii- Testi- 
 mony, may thei'efni-e Justly be rejcctod ;is I'Vdso. And 
 for oui' jinrts A\-e are N'l'ry willing' t hat all (air l)o<'i)-ines 
 and I'raciicesbe tried bytlKan; which we ni\ci' i'ei'use<l, 
 nor e\-ei' sh;dl, ill all (oait ro\ ci^ii s with our Adxaasaiies, 
 as the d!eic:e and IV'st. W'c shall also be \;'ry willing to 
 admit, it as a, positixo certain Maxim, llnil /rluih.arr/r 
 
 (I II 1/ (Id, jii'i Ill/ill ii<J /(> //" S/iiril, ii-jiirh IS mill I'll rij to 
 ' i/.a/, la-e .Si'.
 
 Penn niid Barclav. 199 
 
 l]ui S''i'ip' iri'p>i, he (icco'ii/nJpiJ aiid ypcl^oivl a Dclv.xioo of 
 th" drrii'"^ A'j^am, ho pro\'c.s liy a sini]^!*! .syllnoisni that 
 it is not necessary to bfli'j\'c that the JJihlc is coniplute. 
 
 "That Avhieh cannot 1)0 provoil by Scripture is no 
 iii'cessary Ai'ticlc of l^iitli. 
 
 '' ]5ut the Canoa of the Scripture ; tit Avit, tliat tliere 
 ar'i so man}- I'ofjks precisely, neither more or loss, can- 
 not he proved hy Scri]")tui'e : 
 
 ' 'I'herefure, it is no necessary Article of Tviith."- 
 
 The a]'gument is unanswerable: but he lias practically 
 abandonoil it by the afHrniation '"'that the Scriptures 
 U'ivo a full aui] anijilo testimony to all the principal 
 (hietrines of the Christian faith,"-' and by his distinction 
 ' lirtwixt a rcN'rlatiou of a now i^'osptd, and ]ie\v doctrines, 
 and a ncAV ]'c\"elation of tlie L;'oi;d old L;'os]xd, and 
 d'.)Cti'ines ; the last we ])leal I'oi-, but the lirst ^\e utterly 
 ilrny.''^ This is, in ciieet, an abdieation of the supre- [ 
 iieicy of the Spirit, I'or it linrits that Spirit to the i 
 SiaM[)ture, although it has been pro\-c(l that Scrip- 
 ture itstdf does not defint! its own limits. To be 
 logically faithful to Ills own docti'ino, JJarclay should 
 lune shown that it is impossible for Chjd to contradict 
 Ihm-;oir, and theref(jre the ]'e\'elations of His Spirit 
 in all a^-- s must bo perfectly one and self-con- 
 sistent, and, sup]X)sino- that lie should sec ht to in- 
 spire a supjdemeiit to the Bible, it would cer- 
 tainly bo in harmony with the' existin::4' Scriptures ; 
 but it is not im]>;ssible for men. to be unable to 
 diseern the coirsisteiicy of a succeoiling- roN'olation 
 with that which preced(;d : as was the case m ith the 
 .b'ws to whom the Xe\v 'J'esbament ap[)eared to conti'a- 
 
 1 ]!:ld, ynv^o 82. - Iirl. p. !t2. - i/.;./, p. [)l. ' JhlJ,
 
 200 The Quakers. 
 
 diet tlic Old. From these ]").rennse.s the deduction that 
 the autliority of tl)(> Spii'it is su[)reiue, is easy ; because 
 the immediate reveiation iieeds no eoidirmation, wliereas 
 the Scri[)tui'e is lialde to nHsinteri)retation, and re<|uifes 
 the conlirmation of the S|)irit. L(\iJ,'ic, liowever, tliongh 
 made nmcli of wlien it answers on(,''s purpose, is seldom 
 ad(.)\ved. to liave its own way all thrr)ugh. Barcla}^ and 
 the (^uaJ<ers liad heen Ixji'n and lired in the connnon 
 i'aitli in the iid'allihility and perfeetion of the Bihle, and 
 had no inclination to part with this faith. Their 
 reliance n[)on the Spirit Avas an addition to tlndr 
 ])}'e\'ious lielief, whieh seemed to them in no way to in- 
 terri'r(3 with that belief, rather to place it on a secure 
 i'onudation. J'ut tlui Protestant wanted no other 
 "I'ouudation than the Jiihle itself. Cirant liim the divine 
 (\M't;iiiit \' of the svritten Word, and he was (^-ontent. The 
 ih)maiii>t mi-lit oti'er him the iid'allihilit\- of the Church, 
 tlic C)nnk(']' ud_L;h( oH'cr thi3 imiiu'diate I'ewlation of the 
 S])ii'it, a^ foiniilaiious lor the foundation, Imt he declined 
 tn listen lo c'tht T. 'I'hci'e nni;-ht he sninc ti'uth in what 
 t!if\' lUL^cd, hut if so, it en<le<l in the conlirmation of the 
 tiiitl) (if the Jiihle ; heini;- assured of whicli he could 
 airMr(l to (li>reL;ai'd them both. 
 
 ( >r;iiitin.;- tot. mueh, Barclay pro\'ed too little. Im- 
 liii' lliiti' rc\ elntion ! 'Jdie direct teachiuL;- of the Spirit 
 oi' (i'.d: W'lio would nol ci'a\-e tiiis ]iriceless 'j(\\i, if 
 iiidc'd it be po'-sible for man :' l''.\en the jxissession of 
 .in iid'.'iilibje biiolv lea\'es I'oom for many conti'ovei'sies, 
 diiiiiult i.s^ iloulii^. ^\lli(h men Ion l;- to hax'e set at rest, 
 h l'.ii'el;iy h,-id ]'ro\cd liis di ict line, the I'ui'itans would 
 n 't li;i\i' i ivnicd it wit li (m ijij neglect. Jlai'clay. if he could 
 h'-.'ii' it, nii^lit he .-.ur[ii-i.-^eil at this coinplamt. ilave I
 
 Peiin and Barclay. 201 
 
 not given, he might say, irrefragable proofs from 
 Christian experience, and from Scriptm-e ? Have I not 
 pointed out tlie way in whicli each one may verify it for 
 liimself ? The behcver can say, " one tiling I know, that 
 wliereas I was blind, now I see." To attempt to prove 
 immeihatc revelation to those wlio have no experience 
 tliereof, would be speaking of light to the born-blind. 
 Ikit to this it may be replied that Barclay liimself lias 
 given a deliiiition of immediate revelation whicli 
 indicates exactly the kind of ])roof which is possible and 
 necessary. " Tliis divine revelation, and inward illu- 
 mination is that which is evident and clear of itself 
 forcing, by its own evidence and clearness, the well-dis- 
 ]K)Sim1 understanding to assent, irresistibly moving the 
 same thereunto, even as the common j)rinciples of 
 natural truths do move and incline the mind to a 
 natui'al assent: as, that the whole is greater than its 
 part ; that two contradictories can neither be both true, 
 nor both false." This admir;ibly clear dehnition excites 
 to a still higher ])itch our sense of the desirability of this 
 blcs-^ing. Evident, and clear of itself, in certainty 
 cijuivalent to mathematical and logical axioms who 
 would not gi\'e ail that he hath, to possess religious 
 truth of that kind '. IJut in giving the delinltion, 
 Barclay has bec<aiie responsible I'or furnishing the proof. 
 How can self-evident truth lie proved '-. Only by self- 
 manifestation : no other proof is possible, and no other 
 is needed. But this /.s needed, and what liindered 
 jjarclay from unfolding the cont('nts of this revelation, 
 so far as he possessed it? It in no way lessens the 
 value of self-evident truth that it is communicated from 
 mind to mind. Before Euclid the self-evident truths of
 
 202 I'he Quakers. 
 
 geometry wore ex'iilent to few or iioiic, aiil since liis 
 time siK'Ccssix'c <_;'riii'!-;itioiis of scjioo'-lioys have ]iasse(l 
 over liis i)(sii:< (!</ non'.ni , to .-'^taiii aeiinaiiitaiico \vitli tli<^ 
 properties of a ti'iaDi^'Ie : l)nt it diuiiiiishes not the 
 certainty nor the value of inathciiiatiejvl triitli that it 
 ee.nic to us tliroui;';i tlie (li'eek ])i)iloso])lici-. It was in- 
 (anuhciit np^u Jjarelay to set out tie.' contents of that 
 ]'('V(']ation Avliicli he liad receiveih Aihuitted tliat some 
 A\'oul(l he unalh' to see the truth even wlien set l)erore 
 thci)- e\'(.\s : tliat it reipiiiws, as he said, the well-dis'iosed 
 niiml to pcre.-i\'e it : the trutli itself would test their 
 ea]);ieity, and his I'cspMiisihility extendcil no i'arther than 
 the eonnunnication of Mhat he had iveeived. This, 
 J5ai'c!ay nowhere atteiii[)ts to do, and the omission is 
 made the more conspicuous by his I'efei'cjice to one and 
 only ti) oiic, ti'uth so known: ''that secret li_e,'ht which 
 chilli'-; in thi' heart, and rc]):\j\('s unriL;hteousn('ss." This 
 i-^ a ti'utli cajtdi'ie oi' \crilic ition, and is actually verified 
 hy ;dl, U!ilc.-s ih" most de;_;radicd. 'Jdiis secret li;dit 
 s'ainiii'j,' Wit Iiin juid I'cj ii'')\"in^' uuri j^htfou^ui'ss is indciMJ 
 the \riy ro'indatiMii <>1' lu ii\ility and I'ahL^ion. d'ake it 
 a\\-a\', a!id all Uihle^, churches, revelations, I'di^-ions, are 
 an rm])iy name; hdi-, ha\in^' thi-, ii' we liax'e nanij;ht 
 lii'ddi', can man cnmpfiiii ihat le' i-^ titally d.cstitute of 
 li'_;iil li'Miii iica\en. I!a\in^- indicated this, wliy did iK^t 
 !!ai'c'ay piviceerl to state wdiat .lilier (laiths came t > him 
 in ihi' ^.uni' ili\:ne li'jht ^ Ilia :di(aice. ln"s ]ii-aa-tical 
 ' ado] .j ii in of till' Serlji! ure~ as cduta ni!n'4' t he i'e\ clations, 
 -U_'-'i't the ,su.-]'iei 111 thai he I'lauid llo othel' iiadli 
 dmilaiK' iv\iaf'd. Ti.e I'l'i >(.-! ant miylit ea-ily .-ujijjdsc 
 thai t he (^)nakii' ua-oit im m-.re than he ]iim>e||' meant 
 \\!.i II hi' s:ud, that the Scai] a urr^ ai'e !>n wii to he Clod's
 
 J^cun aud luo-clav. 203 
 
 ^^v 
 
 wor^l, l)y till' tcstiiuoiiy <1: tlio S[)irit. Coiiscieuco (,'oii- "\ 
 
 victs (,t' ^iii : only tlio WWAm roN'cals t!u' nnucly, and bv / 
 the rL!\'i'lati<)ii pnjvc-; itsolf diviuo. Sceuroly cutiv'nclit.' I 
 ill this stroiio- position, tlio oftliodox believer could adbrd 
 to disi'e:^'ard Ijarclay's iiiianswerabli: logic. Possiljly, it 
 occnri'ed to bis mind, as probably it has occuiTed to the 
 I'eadfr's, that desjiite their antag<aiisni, there Avere im- 
 [)oftaiit points of agreement, which in the end might 
 reconeile them. ]]ut in the meantime, Ijarclay had left 
 iiiimefbiate rewlation an unknown ([Uantity, while I 
 . j)ractically he submitted to the Jiuthority of Scripture 
 as unreserx'edly as the lAiritan (h<b Under these cir- 
 cum.^tances it is no wonder that the Puritan clave to an 
 authority known, tried, aud p)ro\'e(l ; ami declined to 
 reenioiizL' "what seemeil sli-idowy and, uncertain. 
 
 ^\diliam Peun, the popudar ex]) )nent of ([uakci'ism, 
 was in th(! Held bcfVu'e JJarclay, aud continued long after 
 him. ''The Cliristiau '' uiker, and his di\'ine testimony 
 stated and viudieate l from Scripture, Iteasou, and 
 Authority," not the earliest of his works, was ])ublished 
 in IGtiO, s(n'en \ e;irs Ijeforc Parelay's Apology; and 
 " Primiti\e (diristiauity ]te\ ived in tlu.; faith aud prac- 
 tice of the People cedlcd t^biakei's," appeared in IGI)(i, six 
 years after JSarclay's de.ith. ddicir writings arc dis- 
 similar as the men. Parehu', a scliolar and ;i ])]nloso[ih(U', 
 learned hiiuself ;uid addr(.'S>ing tla; learned, is so clear a 
 thinker, so careful and exact in (.'xpression, that no (juc 
 can lulss his meaning. Penn, the iti'actical statesuian, is 
 copious, llueiit, trans[)arent, coneealiug nothiui;', l)ut 
 lea\uug us in uucerta.iuty, Ijecouse. he himselL' has iiot 
 fathomed tlie deijths of his su1)ject. 'Idieir di liereut \\'a\'s 
 of stating their ease show the diil'ei'ence of their in-
 
 304 ^'/''^ Quakers. 
 
 tt'llcctual L'ap:icity. llirclay, csclicwiiig the uncertainty 
 ()[" li^^urati\'o lall^^aL^(, li";'ins Avitli a [).\'v-iso term, im- 
 inediatf J'l'X'clati' !i, wuic-li liu unfuiils in an ample ami 
 exai/t (Ictinition. IVain avoids definition, and cleaves to 
 the use 111' ,-.crl})tural ii^'ures. lie speaks of the Liglit, 
 and it' a^l<:ed to expla,i]i it, he tells us it is also called 
 "spirit, u'race, word, lire, sword, lianuiier, power, seed, 
 tnitli, \\'ay, lii'e, Mood, A>-ater, bread, unction," a nnd- 
 tlplicity ( t epltl'.ets which onl}' coiifuses the mind. With 
 a show of reason the Ijishop of CVjrk com})lained, " Vou 
 have never Ijeen ahle yet, that I could lind, to make out 
 what you mean hy the Li^'ht of Christ within man. For 
 you \\\\\ iKit allow it to he either the natural, rational 
 I'a'/ulty, 111- common, innate notions, oi' natural C'>nscience, 
 or cnii^cleiice illuminated hy the pi-eaehiiiL;- of the gospel, 
 and the (iprintldu of the H'dy tJhost tlierehy ; '""-^ and, 
 '|uiti' unci )!iscii)us that he himself \\'as gUMy using ti/rms 
 vhicli in\"()lve the ileepest luystciics, doii-ed tliem to 
 undri'^tand Ihcirown me:inlng, hrfnrc ti'ying to make 
 othiavs und'Mstan 1 it. I'cnn can nnly reply tliat they 
 mi'.in what the Sci'lptui'es mean, ^\hen th.^y call Ciiiist 
 ' ill'' Id.rht of the woi-ld;'- and hlsutiiKist endea\()Ul" 
 at plaliinc->s of s]iefch can I'each no fuilhir than to 
 - ly it is ihf ' \vv\ pi'incijile of llle and light, Avhl(;h 
 il hniiinatf^ tic con^ciiaicr,'''' a tenacious c'inging to 
 lii'-t -1 pli' irii-al language which indicatt.'s an inahilily to 
 I !lill!^ with' lUt it. 
 
 i'^nn \\a-. imt aware ol' his own dcfVct. He seemed tn 
 iii:ii-ll' t'. li'li\lii-- in hriiad daylight, and that if an- 
 
 ' /- '. 11'..,' -.:;:,! ,,iii.:ii. l.MuaMH, 17.SL'. v.>!. V. p. ;;(;].
 
 Pe7in and Barclay. 205 
 
 other eoul<l not nnderstand him, it must bo because he 
 was a "natural man, who undcrstandeth not the things 
 oi" the Spirit." Hence he exliibits none of BarcLiy's 
 caution, hut is ready to tell us oifhand what are the 
 contents of that innnediate revelation, as to which 
 ] Barclay was so chary of information. In " the Christian 
 Quaker," havini;- proved from the Scriptures that the 
 (Jentilcs were lighted with a divine light, he proceeds to 
 set forth the truths thus conununicated to them. 
 
 " First, then, froju their own authorities I am taught 
 to aflirm : That the Gentiles beiie\'ed in One holy, in- 
 linite, and eternal God. 
 
 " Sec(jndly, That they did therefore so believe, because 
 God had imprinted the Knowledge of Himself on their 
 hearts ; or, in our language, that He had lighted all man- 
 kind witli a divine light, which, if oljcyed, wtjuld lead to 
 eternal liap})iness. 
 
 "Thirdly, That they held and ])ractised high sanctity 
 of life. 
 
 " Fourthly, That they aflirmed the innnortality of the 
 S(ail, and eternal I'ewards of felicity or misery, according 
 to man's obeihence to, or reljellion against the eternal 
 (J oil, his Creator."^ 
 
 Thfse statements Penn supports by many pages of 
 (piotatious from the ancients ; beginning with Orpheus 
 and Hesiod, and proce'eding through a long chain to 
 Seneca and E[)ictetus. It is not our business now, to 
 di-cuss hovr far Penn's opini(.)n about the degree of en- 
 lighteiimeiit gi'anted to the heathen is sidistantiatcd ly 
 ^^hat A\e l<now of tliem. V\'e are more directly concerned 
 in our own case, ami these statements interest us, because 
 ^ 11 o/'/.s, A'ul. 1. pugt' 188,
 
 2o6 TJie Quakers, 
 
 if they ;irc tliu coiiLcut.s of the iiiiuicdiato revelation 
 i^-Inx'Ii to tile heathen, tlicn wc shall find tlieni also re- 
 Nealed to us, in tiie same immediate and self-evident 
 manner : that is, (jii the liypothesis tliat our minds are 
 ' A\'eIl-dis])osed," that we duly attend to the shining of 
 the secret h'i^ht within, and do not oh'scnre it hy ^vilful 
 disohedienee. Are tli'^se trutlis so revealed to every 
 sincere Clnistian \ It is euough to })oint out that Pemi's 
 fourth hv'ad c<jntains matter which is clearly not sclf- 
 e\'id(;nt. The natural iunnortality of the soul, and tlie 
 eternity of future punishment, ai'e doubted or denied hy 
 many who are firm l)elie^ers in the Bihle ; and certainly 
 are not clear and sure to all honest truth-lovin<jj minds, 
 i.pai't i'rom the Ihhle. Penn therefore is not a reliable 
 <:.'Mid(3 to the knowledge of innuediate revelation. 
 
 A.;ain, neai'iy thirty years latei', Tenn wrote in his 
 '" rriiiiiti\'e Ciiristianit}' lievi\-ed," aiinther account of 
 the I'cxeiatioiis of the inn er Li ;^ 'l it, and this time from 
 thi' (Jhiistian jioint of \'iew. 'J'his di\ine, universal, 
 friieaciims principle g'ives inan, 
 
 " hii'.-t, The kn()\\-led_i;\MA' (iml and of hinisrlf; and 
 lli''i'iiii a si--ht of his duty, and disohedienee to 
 il. 
 
 SiTon.dly, it l)ei;'ets a trTie Ne;?xe ;ind nw/'/w/' foi- sin, 
 i:i ll.o-.' t!i;it sei'ioiisly I'l i^'ai'd the coiixict ions of it. 
 
 'i'iili'.iiy, ll rn ilil'^-s tJii'iii to /o/'.sw/,'/ >in,;Moi . ;niel ilies 
 
 r,' Ml il. 
 
 ' i'oiMilily. It ;i]'pii^s ( lod's nici'cii'-i in ( 'lirist , for l!ie 
 / '-'/"' ,/'.-- (i|' ill- tliat aiT ]>a^t unto jus! i lie.-ition, upon 
 :~':ih -iiic.-r \\ ] mluniT ;nid ( ! k dienee. 
 
 " hil'lhly. It ui\e> to till- I'ailhful, perse\ I'l'aiice unto a
 
 Pcnu a)id Barclay. 207 
 
 pcii'cct mail, and the absurancu oi' Ijics.bcdne.ss, world 
 Avitliout end." ^ 
 
 .^ 111 this place the Light witliiii is I'ogardcd as an active 
 force rather tlian as iiicie knowledge. This is an im- 
 ])()rtant ohservation wliich deserves to be well-considered. 
 Jjut confining ourselves nov/ to tlie Light in its character 
 ol' mental perce'})tion, and coin])aring this second ex- 
 })()sition oi' its contents with the former, it is noticeable 
 tliat the doccriiio of justification throngli Christ is 
 added : an addition v>hich caniKjt be Ijronght inidei' 
 ]]archiy's definition of imnKdiati^ revelation, and con- 
 firms the view tliat i'cnii haii no accurate conception of 
 tlic subj(jct. 
 
 l^eaving tlie questiijn of the validity of its ]'(jot-idea, 
 if we look at <[Uaker doctrine iis a ^\dK)le, as it is seen in 
 the pages of i\;nn an<] Larclay, wc are sensible of an 
 apparent inconsist(,'nc}\ At one' moment ^vc are con- > 
 templating a reasonable and Sciiptnrai Christianity,' 
 more attractive than that of the Puritans ; at ;uiother 
 moment \ve S(,'em to lose siglit of Chi'istianity altog'(^ther, 
 and to be gazing at a simple uni\'ei'sal religion of Nature 
 pure tlieism, in \\djich ol)edienc(! to the measure; of" 
 liglit granted to each man, is the sum and suttstance of 
 the faltli. Scrijitural <piakerism, if we may so denomi- 
 nate the first <.ii' thcs(.' two ;i^[)('cts of the doetrinc, fjiirly 
 merits the n])p('jlation, |)rini!tive (Jliristianity ]'('vi\ed. 
 'i licre is an honest attempt, successl'ul in good mea-;ui'e, 
 though suiiis'wdiat marred by an oNci'strietness of literal 
 intei'pret;itioii, \\hich would least of uH be (}.\])('eted from 
 the (^uedvei's, to g('t rid of the accrt'tions ot lii'iee'ii 
 he.ndred years, and to return to the .sim[ile teachings of
 
 2o8 The Oj takers. 
 
 the Xcw Testaiiiciifc. The definitions and developments 
 of the Catliolic creeds, and the theological systems of the 
 lleformers, are passed lj\", in order to learn the Christia^^' 
 faith at the mouth of the Evanrrclists, Ai)Ostles, and 
 Christ Himself. Jf in tlie use of tiie New Testament 
 there appears to he a mai'ked leaning to the Johanninc 
 documents, this is a reaction from the ultra-Paulinism 
 of Lutlier and Calvin, which one may easily condone. 
 Still better is the determination to displace dogmatic 
 theology from its pre-enjinencc, and to make practical 
 morality, holiness of heart and life, the essential thing. 
 if one part of tlie Scriptures more than another, em- 
 hoflies and expresses the cpiaker view of the Christian 
 I'l'iigion, it is the Sermon on the ]\Lount. Theologians in 
 those (la\'s depreciated " mere morality," and that 
 estimate continued riglit down to the youth of the 
 present generation, and even still continues in some 
 (juartcrs. I'eim tells us, in his time some went so far as 
 to ]ireach, '" that thei'e ai'e thousands of moral men in 
 hell.' ' lint in the teeth of ]) ipulai' ])rejudice, IV'ini was 
 )iot niV.'iiil to say that in his Ju'igmcnt, morality, not 
 do;jiii;i iiiakcs a ( 'lii'islinn. ' l*'or it is not opinion, or 
 sjic'Milat ion, oi- notions of what is true, or assent to 
 jii'lieli'S (/! ])i-o]i( isitions, thoii-h ne\t i' so soundly worded 
 that m;ik('S a man a tru>' l)rliC\ cr, or a tiue (.'hristian ; 
 hut it is the conroriiiity ol' the niiinl and practice, to the 
 will ol' ('Oil. - \\hate\ei- may he the erj'oivs and 
 (lelieieiirii^ oL' the (^)iiaker>, no I'eader of l>arela\''s 
 " i\jio!( j'_^y, ' ainl reini's"No ('ro.s, ii,i (,Vo\\ii,'' can fail 
 to ri;e( (gnl,-e t liaL t liey were heart}' I ielie\-er> in the " "'ood 
 
 ' ir,., /,.<, \-,,l, IW p. 11... 
 - \Vn,h,, \-,,l. \'. p. \).
 
 Penn and Inn relay. 209 
 
 old gosp;']," learnt first-hati'l ffom its primitive .sources 
 in tlie Xew Testament, ami that for their own personal 
 salvation they were sincerely ohei.licnt to its teaching. 
 
 But tliere is another as])ect of quakerism manil'ested 
 in tlieir wi'itings, whicli, although they themselves seem 
 to Ije f[uite up.aware of an\' incongruity, ]n'ovokes the 
 reader to exclaim : this is n;jt Christianity at all, this is 
 a \\id\Y and independent religion, of which we never heard 
 leiore I It may he true, it ma\' he false, hut one thing 
 is clear, it is not the I'eligion of the Jjihie ! There is hut 
 one doctrine in this religion, that of the inner Light ; 
 tlicre is hut one way of salvation, ohcdiencc to the Light. 
 f]very man has some de'gree oi illumination hy this 
 Liglit, and each one is responsihle for that degree, and 
 for no more. Idie siniplicity, tlio universalit_y, the ap- 
 [larent justic^', tiie apparent sell'-e\ddence, of this hrief 
 crL'ed, counnend it to the mind ; .:ind if it were presented, 
 n!)t as the whole truth, hut as a part ol' '.ho truth, it 
 would he ertsy of acceptance. Lut Penn ;uid the (^uakei'S 
 frequently ])resent this docti'ine, as though it were the 
 ^^dlole truth of Christiairity. Pytliagoras and Solon, 
 Socrati'S and Plato, Zcuo, I'lutarch, ^ilarcus Aurelius, 
 audi many more, who never heard tlio name of Cdiri,-,t, or 
 oniy hciird to disheliove, a])pear in their writings as 
 essentially good Ciu'istians : ^ juid on the same }>rinci]de, 
 all thuse who ha\'e nevt_'r heard the (.iospel are as truly 
 enlightened hy Chiist, and as ahle to attain sa!\-ation 
 tl'.rough Christ, as the v\"elldnstructed Jjihlical scholar 
 in i'aigland. 
 
 TJiis startling d ictrine \vhich seems to detlii'ono 
 
 hi-torical Cluistianity, and to degrade it to the raid: ol' 
 
 ^ ('Jtrldian Oiia]u:r. Chapcerd vii. to xiii. 
 
 o
 
 2 1 o The Quakers, 
 
 a mere species of the one true, universal, all-embracing, 
 uatui'al tht'ism, is nevertheless discovered by the Quakers 
 in tlie Christian Scriptures. Penn finds it whole and 
 complete in the lirst chapter of Joliu's first epistle. 
 " God is Lii^ht. If Ave walk in the li;j,ht as lie is in the 
 light we ha\e fellcjwship one with another, and the 
 blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." 
 The benefit accrues for the sake of Christ's death, but it 
 may he received b}' those A\ho ha\'e no knowlcMlp^t; of 
 tliat death. 1'he uiiivei'sal I'dig-ion is comiected with, 
 iiistoi'ical (dnistianity by identifying (dn'ist with the 
 Light witliin. In some mystical sense, Christ is crucified 
 afresh in every Iniman hcai't which I'esists the Light ; 
 111,' rises again within the heart, when the Light is obeyed 
 and ('X])els tlie darknt'ss. It was this aspect of (pvaker- 
 ism which sccnuMl to IJunyan to be a dfiiial of Jesus, the 
 Sou of Mai'y, who A\-as cinicilit'd witliout flu? gate of 
 .Ici'u-^nh'm. It was tiiis ^\lli(h ma<U' Muggh'ton say tlic 
 <,uakcr's ( 'lirist is a mere allcgoi'y. Ihit in trutli the 
 (^Mia!<ri's -Wfi'o no ili'iiicrs of histoiical Ciiristianity. 
 I'l\cr}' word of the four (lospcis was as precious to tiiem 
 a , to the oiilioilox believer. XeNcrtheless they maiu- 
 taiiieij the all-sutlicieiicy of the Light within, apai't from 
 111'- Sta iptui'es, with the fullest eomiction of its truth. 
 
 I hey heaitily hi'lievcd in histoi'ic ( 'lirisf iaiiity, and as 
 h' artily l:r|ii\((j (liai this histoi'ie belief was not neces- 
 -ii'v i'"i' -al\ at ii 111. Sal\atii>n was to them an internal 
 -i'irilual priiees-^, an iniiei- I'ex'elat ion, w herel ly the soul 
 \- lair-id IVmhi sin, and 1 in mght into oliedieiit harmony 
 ^'iili tlie |)i\iii,. x\ill. They held fad both the Xi'W 
 
 le taiin hi j'lieu in \\lii(h thi' spiritual essence of Chris- 
 ' i'Uit \ i. en In iiii-l. and lh<' |ierfecL independence of that
 
 Pcnn and Barclay. 2 1 1 
 
 essence of all external historical embodiment. They be- 
 
 Jievod the Gixspcl tliat J(;sus Christ eaine into the world 
 to save sinners, and with equal fervour tliey believed 
 tliat sinners could be saved in total ignorance of the 
 name and liistory of Jesus Christ. 
 
 In the age of Barclay and Penn this inconsistency 
 could not be satisfactorily handled. The first generation 
 of Quakers held both views with equal tenacity. In the 
 later course of qiiakerism, sometimes the scriptural, and 
 S(jnietimes the spiritual aspect of their faitli, obtained 
 the ascendancy, wdiile the otlier aspect was depreciated 
 or neglected. The Children of the Light have swayed 
 from si'Ie to side, but tliey have made no advance. Only 
 now at lengtli after two centuries have elapsed, the 
 liglit of a new day begins to dawn, in which, tliough 
 dindy as yet, the eternal, spiritual truth of the Divine 
 manifestation in Christ Jesus is seen as it has never 
 been seen befoi'e. But before we turn to gaze upon the 
 increasing brightness of the new day, there is tlie story 
 of the decline of quakerism to lie told.
 
 CIIArTEll XII. 
 
 THE v;ritix(.;.s of ceoimie eox. 
 
 Fox's Journal docs not mention tlio Apohxjy nor any of 
 ] Barclay's or renn's works. Tlierc is no evidence tliat 
 !'^ox e\'er read tlic A jx id ><]>/, and if lie did, it is question- 
 able wlietlier lie perfectly sympathised with its lo_,dcal 
 precision. 'J'o liiuiseif liis own simple spontaneous 
 elfr.sions, the outpouring's of a mind tilled with tlic 
 Spirit; might not uiniaturally seem a more satisfactory 
 and mort^ authoritatiN'e statement of the truths revealed 
 to him. It seenrs in liarmony with his character tliat lie 
 shoidd neither pi'aisc nor ciuidi'iini, that he should ex- 
 pi'ess no opinion whatex'ri', on the \\'o)-lv of his coad jntoi's. 
 lie w;is sin-(> that he himself ^\as taught of (Jod, and J'or 
 th(j delivery of his own niessMg'e he was respoirsihle. 
 Odiers, too, were taught oi' llie same Spii'it, and so fa]- as 
 Ihey all s])oke an<l wi'ote nnder that guidance, there 
 could not hut he nnity amniig them, unity which would 
 m;;nir'v-t its, 'If. I'ei juiiiug no ;;l icslalion iVom him. 
 
 The \ei-lio^ily, nioii'itoiiy, tanloloj-y, of I'^ox's tlt.ree 
 
 thoU-and p.-lges solely tl'y llie |(i|l.;'-suli'el-ing re.ider. ^'et 
 
 ill )n- !(< t( > 1 111' anlli')!' il nin>l hi' I'eniemho-eij tliat he did 
 111.1 jMop-'- to inl'iel on nny huni'in Iteiir^- the ])en;inco 
 ,.riv;;ding tlie wh-l-. stdl le .; ,,r ivadiie;- ilieni strnight 
 (liri.iivM willdn e ii.nit-d liiiii'. Ah'-t ol' h.'s writings 
 were! hrief, \;irying IVum an e}>i.--lle of a dozen lines to a
 
 TJic Wrifiiigs of George Fox. 
 
 21 
 
 [Kiiii|)iilct of tWL'iily or thirty p;iL;'cs, ami v/ere addressed 
 tv) particular persons, classes, or localities, to fulfil an 
 iiunicdiate pui'po.se. Tlioru arc only two wcks ot:' i'or- 
 iniilalilo l^^u:^tlL aiuo:i';j; tluiu, and of these the Joui'ual 
 alone was distin.ctly dcsigUL'il f(a' post jrit\'. The other 
 '' Tlie Circat i^.lystery of the Gi'cat ^\dlo^e Unfolded," 
 consists of replies to about a hundred assailants of 
 quakrrisiu, and its mission was no Avider than the range 
 of tlie attack. Artistically consi'.lei'cd it is a wrt'tehed 
 pioc<j of work. Tln'ro is no attempt to elas-ify the 
 chaig'i'S,nor to systematise the tlefence. l*]aeh hook \vi'itten 
 against the (Quakers is dealt with separately, after this 
 fasiiion. " Ihdph Farmer, his book, called ' Satan en- 
 tln'oiii'd in his Chair: ' which is a title suitable to himself. 
 V\'ho is discernei] by the (Jhilihvn of the Day to be 
 S;iLan"s seedsmaii.^' The Ih-v. ['alph Farmer, \icar of 
 St. Xichola^, Jjristol, having called tlie (juakcr teaehing 
 " Sathaiiicall depths and diabolicall delusions," was ]'e}>iiid 
 in lilce coin. Abtise w;ismet byabuse:Fox Ijeing apparently 
 quite unable to understand that any good man coid'l 
 pos^ilily ha\'c mental dilhculties about ([uakerism, and 
 his ]epl;es to objectioirs must oft(;n luive intensilied 
 hostility. Farjner, for instance, made the remark : ' W'e 
 do !i(;t pi'(dend to iirfalliljility as you do." ^ In answer 
 to this I'ox says : '"' A\di<j arc in th(.' Spirit arc in that 
 which is iid'allible." .... '" Xone are ministers of the 
 Spiiit, but A\-ho hav(! that v,-hich is infallible, nnd ar(; in 
 tliat which is infallibh;. So yo do well to coidV.ss th;it 
 ye ha\'e not the ini'addjle Spirit; ye ai'e not infallibji', 
 and so no ministers (;f the S]>irit. ' This answer was not 
 
 1 (',n<:t M-j.st,n,, pun-c 1.14, (PIiilacklpliLi Edition cf W(..rk.s <f 
 Gcergo Fux, ly31.)
 
 214 The Quakers. 
 
 calculated to conciliate luilpli Fanner. Bui ag-aiii it 
 must be n'|)cate(], tlioui^'li it has already been said more 
 tlian once ; to understand tlic true spirit of Georo'e Fox, 
 and the secret of his great iniiucnce, Ave nmst not judge 
 Jiim as \\<\ is seen in the arena of controversy ; but watch 
 him in liis evangelistic work, and in his ])ast(jral care of 
 the Church which he gathered. 
 
 Fox's mission was, \\\ his own l)elief, not to a nation, 
 nor even to a continent, but to the woild. To fulfil it 
 he wrote epistles to the Pope, to the Kings of Spain, 
 I'rance, and Poland, to the Emperors of Austria and 
 China, to the great Tui'lc and the King of Algiers, also 
 to the Jews. Protestant prejudice mari'ed the address 
 to the Pope, and sheer ignorance that to the Turk. The 
 Pope is tnld to his face that hc is Antichrist: and in the 
 letter to the Sultaii Fox alleges that the Mohannnedans 
 ^v<llshi|i])(Ml th(> sun, moon, and stars, and idols of stone, 
 woo<l, and metal. "^ Jn jileading with Chiistian pi'inces 
 foi' tolei'ation. l'\)X is reasonable, dio-nidc.]^ and pathetic. 
 1 1 is address fi-oni his pi'ison at Jjancaster to the Houses 
 of Pai'lianniit shows his humanity and politieal sagacity : 
 
 ' I'^i-iends. ilei-e is a few things for xow to take into 
 
 Ci >nsidel';if ii 111. 
 
 "Let no man be ])nt to death for cattle or money, oi- 
 aii\- such outward things. |''or I ly the la\\' of (Jod, th(;y 
 \\erc to i-e>tore fouiiojd, and if they had it not, to be 
 sold for their theft. 
 
 " Let yiiiii' l;i\\> be drawn up in one short \dlume. 
 
 ' Let all wilts, iiidiet iiieiits, \'e., lia\"e uo more in them 
 thiiii ran ju-tl\' be eluii'geil upon jieoplc. 
 
 1 II'.. /-An, V..1. IV., p;i-u L'Jt;.
 
 The 1 Vritiiigs of George Fox. 2 1 5 
 
 " Let no })iisoner lie loiio' in gaol, for tlicy leam bad- 
 ness one of another. 
 
 "And let no one be prosecuted about cliureli woi'ship. 
 " From a love of your souls, 
 
 "G. F., a prisoner in Lancaster Cfistle."^ 
 
 Advice far in advance of tliat day ; some of it still 
 waiting to be followed. But religious, not political 
 reform, \vas Fox's iirst object, and it is in his religious 
 wi'itings we sec him in his best mood. Here is a brief 
 epistle addressed to the quaker society, which in a few 
 lines contains the essence of his doctrine : 
 
 "All Friends, bu low, and dwell in the life of God, to 
 kee]) you low. Ye are the salt of the earth, to make it 
 sa\<)ur}' unto Gtjd. Ye are the light of the world. 
 Therefore walk ye in the light of Christ, whose light 
 doth justify you. Who then shall condenui you \ 
 Therefore in that <lwell, which doth condemn all the evil 
 in the world. G. F."- 
 
 The calnniess of tone, the practical character of this 
 brief epistle, exhibit Fox as he was habitually. 
 Occasionally, l)ut rarely, lu; breaks out int(j ]-aptnr<)Us 
 exclamations. " \\'e witness the ]un)})y day of the J^ord 
 is come, the go(.d and hap[)y da}', and glad tidings to 
 s<ju1s, the day of (.^hrist. L'j'aises, praises l)e to llim for 
 ever! All ye children of the Lord, praise the Lord for 
 ever, sing praises inito the Lord fur e\'ermorc I This is 
 the day of salvation, and the everlasting gospel. (J lad 
 tidings arc come unto our souls, free ])ardon of sin by 
 Jesus Christ, who is come to take away sin and to destroy 
 
 i l)i>dvhml ir<.rl;.,, \o]. I., pago 205. 
 - ]^plM,:,s \u]. J., ]S^). Lxii.
 
 2l6 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 tlie woi'ks of tiic devil." ^ lint llicsc outliur.sts are cx- 
 ce])ti(.)jial. For tlic most part Fox's emotions Avere deep 
 I'athcr tliaii noisy, and liis reli^doii is iir.st and Ijcfore all 
 things practical. " Tradesmen, this is tlie word of the 
 Lord to 3'()U. Ask no more than ye will ha\'e for your 
 connnodity ; and keep to 3'ea and nay in ynir cornuuuii- 
 cations."- And Ftx\ not only Icuew this was the word 
 of the Lord, but the tradesmen who heard, him deliver 
 his message, received it as the word of the Lord, and 
 obeyed it accc.trdingly. " Some of 3'ou do know, when 
 truth hi'st broke forth in Loiidon, that many tradesmen 
 conld Jiot take so nmch money in their shops for some 
 time as would buy them l)read and water." iS'e\'ertheless 
 these men, th.ongh the bread was scant, though the wile 
 ])ined, and tho' chihbi'U crie(l, stuck to tlieir strange 
 fasliion of hoi'.cst yea and n,iy, until the public tiis- 
 co\'erc(l th;it tin; new wa\' was ht'tter ihaii the old- 
 "Now they will trust you bclbrc Ihcir uww jieojilo, 
 knowiiig thai you will not chi at luu- w i-ou^-, noi' ci^/oii, 
 nor ojipi'c,--; thfiii. i''i;r the cry is \V)\\ aunuigst tlirui 
 that ai-i; without, ' Wdio'o ;> there a <Juaf;er of .^aich and 
 such a traded' So that ihey will deal with I'^iiemls 
 lieiore they will deal A\ith their own."' luto excry 
 
 i'e i 'w\ cai I i, il tlii> same li-lit of i rut li 
 'i"e{:d abtiiance in Ids day ANa"- noL 
 
 MMi/di), nor li;id he any \ i.--ion ol' local 
 o])ti(iii, or Oiial prehi! iii ii.ii of the li(|Uor ti-aflic, but to 
 tli<j^e <'ii'.a'j'ed iii I hi- ba-,iiir-^ l;c \\i-it(s: " hirst, all \'(iu 
 \ intiiei -, I lait. ^'11 wiia\ti;at kecj) (a \ ei i;s. 'r such like 
 
 ' /A.,/, ;'/ /r,/.s, \-.,i. I., ],:,sM" 17. 
 - 7/.;./. p:i-e '.h;. 
 
 I'ris'l,, ce!i. 
 
 dep.irl meuL ol 
 and i-i'jliteoUsiK 
 
 X'et aliM\c the
 
 Tlic Writings of George Fox. 217 
 
 ]ioiiscs, aiul all you iiuikocpcrs, and yoii tliat keep 
 \"ictualliii;.>; liouses, ale-houses, stron^'-water slio[)s, sec 
 tliat }-ou never let aiiy man or woman linvc any more 
 Avi.'ie, ale, stroni^;' drink, hraudy, or stroii'^,' waters, than 
 what is for their health and good."^ 3.1any vintners and 
 others owned the word of the Lord, aiid signed their 
 names to this document as a pledge that they A\-ould 
 carry on business in its spirit. 
 
 Prosy as Fox's st3do is, now and again, though, it 
 must be confessed, rarely, a glcaui of humour sliines 
 across his page, and we cateh an amusing glimpse of tlie 
 })e(>ple among whom lie bore his testimony. We enter 
 the chui'ch, au'I seethe nnnister, stuck up "in a thing 
 like a tub/' ]q'eaehing by the houj'-glass, and when the 
 sriiid has ruu down, he draws to a conclusion, saying, 
 " lIil; time is j/ast, neighbours. - We see the lashiunablc 
 folk Vv'ith their ga}' ajtparel, men and women decked out 
 in bright colours, witli gold or silwr kice, tludr hair 
 [)(.)\vdere 1 so tliat ''their l)acks li)(dc as if they ^Vl're 
 caiTying bags of meal."-' Fox was priictical enough to 
 hold that showing merc\' t(^ tlie poor was better than 
 allendiiig pra^'er meetings and liearing sermons. " Ls 
 this true Curislian I'digioii," lie asks, " to see so mut-h 
 preaching, p!'a\-in;.;-, sermons, lectui'es ; and to see so 
 ma:)\' blind and lame, iHjor men and women, and children, 
 up and down the streets, and at the steeple-house doors:' 
 ]s not t'lis an ill sa\'eair aiiiong you, and in yon ;nid the 
 high pi'ol'ession ye profess \ . . . . the pool", ready to be 
 starved, cry in the sti'eet ; and you are so jiroud, that 
 
 ^ J-j/iistlc, ccclx.wi. 
 
 - l>ortrln<d Wuii:^. A'ol. I., page ?,V^. 
 
 ' 1I>1,!, A^,l. I., page J;i!.
 
 2r8 
 
 TJic Oiiakcrs. 
 
 }'()U cannot ti-'ll liow to go up and down tlie streets, in 
 yiuir lacf(l sliocs, and clothes, and hats."^ ]jut the 
 religious exlmrtations to the ChiLb'en of the Light are 
 not less ])oiiited and pi'actical tlian tl)(jse addressed to 
 the outside Avoild. Wo, sees the Friends growing rich, 
 and ^\-arns tlicni against the danger, lie writes to 
 America: "All I'Viends eveiy where that have Indians 
 oi- I'lachs; you are to prL'acli the gospel to tlieni and 
 other sei'\-ants, if you he ti'ue Christians, for tlic gospel 
 of saKation was to he preaclied to ever}' creature under 
 hi'a\en."- \\\ a word, what (Jeoi'ge Fox was as a preacher, 
 tliat he A\'as as a writer. With j)en and witli voice, lie 
 ga\"(.! forth the saiiie message. " Wait in the Light of 
 (ioland walk in it; then ye A\i!l ha\'e unity one with 
 anothci-; and the blood of .lesns Chi'ist will cleanse you 
 IVom all sin." 
 
 lv\;ielii' delinit ion, eh.arer e.\])!anation, we shall look 
 i'oi' in \;un. 'i'he Scripture metaphors, the light, the 
 si'imI, fully sati:d'\' i''o\, am! he can c )neei\'e of no tlilii- 
 euUy in eiimjinhciidin^- lln ni, e.\ee])t that which arises 
 li'tiin lack of till' trinh the\- signify. ''For now the 
 childicn of light lia\f light, and can see one another; 
 the fliililrcn of l^g\]it, SihIhih, and i!ali\lon cannot see 
 our aiiMthi'i-. ... A pi-i.phct is a sfcr ; and so with the 
 light he will -ce. . . . The path of the just is a, shining 
 light ; the palh ni' ihr iinjnsl is darkness. So thei'e ai'c 
 hnt two p;illis. Xi.w th" nnin-t caimot- ahiile to hear 
 t;ilk of till' light, hut e;i!l it natiii'al, and civati'il, and 
 niaiji', o)- e^.n-eii'iici'. Tley 'Im not knnw what to call it, 
 w li'-^r (kirkm-,-, e;inn'it ci impivln'iid llic li^ht, thnugh it 
 ' /A. /,;/, w/ ir,,,/, ., Vni, 1., Y-.vsy i:;,-,.
 
 The Writ 'nigs of George Fox. 219 
 
 sliincs in tlic darkiicsi^ A dark man is a Mind 
 
 man. A Llind man hatli not true jadgment. Therefore 
 liow sliould tlie\- call it otherwise but a natural light, a 
 created or made liglit ? So the Pharisees Ijelieved that 
 Christ was to come, and preached liim to come : as the 
 Protestants and Papists ])rcach liim tliat he is come, and 
 t(j come, and can tell by Scripture where he was cruci- 
 iied, as the Jews ctjuld tell by Scripture where ho was to 
 1)0 born. But they were all against Christ the light. 
 When he came they said Christ had a devil I . . . . 
 Ami so they are nf) true believers, neither Protestants 
 nor Papists, wIkj only believe Clnist is come, from 
 Scripture, as the Jews believed Christ was to come, 
 lV(jm Scripture." . . . ^ All Christians admit the in- 
 suthciency of a merely historical belief, but if Fox is 
 asked to explnln more precisely what he meairs by the 
 light; what is taught by iunuediate revelation; and to 
 what extent it mak'es us independent of the external 
 hist(jry; the i'(,'(piest njeets with no doliuite response. 
 The only content of the immediate revelation explicitly 
 announced by Jjarclay, is the knowledge of sin ; to 
 which in one place. Pox adds the knowledge of salva- 
 tion. " AVith the light with which you see your sin, 
 which Christ Jesus hath eidightened y(ni withal, \\\\X\ 
 the same you niay sec 3"our salvation, Christ Jesus, 
 from whence it comes, to save you from your sin.'' - 
 But there is the same defect here that was noticed in 
 Pemi's Avide statements : Fox does Jiot make it a])})aront 
 that this im})ortant addition is either self-evident or 
 independent of Scripture. 
 
 ^ 7','/M'.s7/e, ccl.w. 
 
 - JJoctriiud IVorkx. Vol. T. page 20().
 
 Tlic Quakers. 
 
 ill ii'[>!\' ttj JJ.ixti'i", -FfiX denies the iiifalliljility of tlie 
 Seri]itni\s. ' And tlie Scriptures wliicli si^-uii'y wj-it- 
 in,^'-^ i;;it'.\;ir(l wrilinu's with ])aj)er n,nd ink, iire niit, ;is 
 yuu say, iutanihh'/' ^ I!;it this I uiiilerstand to refer to 
 the iii.'iterial Ij'^Mk, th.i' thing tliat can be i^'rasped liy the 
 hail h or at nio,t to tlie copies and translati(jns as dis- 
 tinLi,'uis]iL'il t'roia tlaj originals. In tlie same paragra})h 
 he says, " the S(a'i])tures are the words of (,!od," and as 
 such could not hut he infallihle. That he himself and 
 o'lIku' iii'li.'\-iTs wei'e inspired h\' the saim; Spirit which 
 iiisjiir.-d A]) istli's ;nid l~'ro])hets was the very basis oC his 
 fnitli: and this Spirit he I'epeatedly ass"ids, is infall- 
 ible. L'>gic;illy, VnK ought t') have ]ilaced his own 
 \\ritiiiL;s (111 a le\'('l wdtli the 1 b)ly Scriptures, or rather 
 t'l ha\e clniiiK'd sujuaiMrlty I'ur thcni : biXMUse his 
 \vrilii!.> W"!-' o-'iy.n.d;, while the Sci'iptures \\'e pes^e-s 
 ai'c (iiily remote c-ipirs. 'idna'e is, how(;N(>r, no symptom 
 
 of di -.ire, either to diailaC'the Ihble, ol' t ) ^Upj I'emel 1 1 
 it. ^ et We do \\'.)[ meet \\- i t ll ;1 1 1 \' ack llo W ! ed ;_;1ll el 1 1 o f 
 
 the iiii'erl, rity oi' his own wi-iting-. br<'( jUejit Iv hi' 
 
 m;d.e> u-e of the |'^ . ri 1 1 u !;i , "this is the wor.l of the 
 
 Lord." In one in-;,ince he ^eem-; delihem tely to erdi 
 
 ;it!"nti^in to (iie -im! ',! rii \- betw.-!i jii^ epistle-; nnd 
 
 th'e;- ro:it;;ined ill tll" X^^W Te-C lOiie; it . ''And IIOW, 
 friend :, i h Aji 'O !e .! ili;i WTiie^ ;i -'-neraj epi-ale to th(! 
 
 eliUM'h oi'<'liri,t, ac | ij) ,) \,)\\, I he ehurch of ( ''n'i>t. 
 
 Ni iW \''' ha \ 
 
 ye hn'.ixv all 
 
 i:jMii this i;;;!; ual ca-' il W'.:;!! v-^\\\r\- a tal-;' im- 
 
 pre>-ieii. I'ract ie;dly tiie llible \\;e a ; iiiueji Lo l'\>.\ as 
 
 1 ','/..'/ M ..!. ,>J. jo-e 17t;. 
 
 - Ih,rlri,r,l IW.rl.s. V,,l. 111., [,:iae I'll. 
 
 a line! a ai 1 1 
 
 the IlMly f )ne, n,|,| 1 ,y j (, 
 \ ' rtheie - il' -^(re-, \V e I'e L'lid
 
 The ]Vriti7igs of George Fox. 221 
 
 to t]ic most l)iblical of Protestants. It was the food of 
 Iiis i)\\\\ spiiitual life ; it was the great source of liis 
 ai'o'uii Hints, appeals, iiisti'uctioiis. it it were not that 
 he; liimscit' distiiietly declares the contraiy, the rea(](/r 
 would infor from the use he makes of it that lie 
 I'eLj^arded the Biljle a-; the hii^'hest revelation, the supreme 
 authority- J'jut with him the Light within, the divine 
 teachei', the Spirit of God, was the great revealer, the 
 authority ahuve all other, whether Church or Look. 
 J^ven in regard to the Holy Scrii)tures he protested 
 against the popular faith in their mere letter ; and it 
 would have Lcen inconsistency to have claimed inspira- 
 tion for his own v\'ritings, as writings. He belie\'ed 
 that he was ijispired, that he came to the })eople with 
 tlie word (jf tlie Lf'rd in his heart : and whether lie 
 conveyed it hy tiie lips or hy the ])en, it was the same 
 i]is})ired message. If he was totally inicoiiscious of 
 writing " scri])tures " in the teclnucal sense, so were, as 
 far as Ave can judge, the writers of the Jjihle. The 
 Koran and the J^ook of Moi'mon were artiiiciady com- 
 l)Ose(l with the deliberate intent of securing the 
 authoiity of divine revelation. Lut Havid and Isaiah, 
 Laid and John, wrote psalms and prophecies and 
 epistles, as simply and naturally as they delivered their 
 spoken messages. 'I'he Xew Testament seems ([uite un- 
 coTiscious tiiat it is preparing itself to be buund up in 
 one volunie with the Old. At least we may say this of 
 CJeo]-ge Fox that he (piotes the wlude Jiiblc as inspire<l, 
 just as the New Testament v\-riters ([uote theJlebinnv 
 Scriptures, iuid tha.t he is entirely unconscious of a 
 (li^sign to write ar) appendix to i;u:m. '^i'lie (^'i'-''^^'^'"' <d" 
 his own gencratiori lui.l no temptation to exalt his
 
 TJie Quakers. 
 
 \\v\\mvi9,, for tlioy enjoyed the same inspiration ; and no 
 one wlio lias plodded tlirouo;1i Ids tliree tlionsand pages 
 AviU bo sui'prised that succeeding generations allowed 
 most (jf them to fall into complete oblivion. 
 
 In his uso of the Jjiblc Fox displayi'd as nnich incon- 
 sistency as the most confirmed Biblicalist. Vehement as 
 wci'c his ])i'()tL'sts against bondage to the letter, he could 
 be as slavishly literal as any man. At times he ai'gues 
 upon the ])i'inciple that everything for which a text 
 cann(jt be (pioted is wrong. He asks, whether in ])rimi- 
 tive times CMiristians used to set np dancing-schools and 
 fencing-si/hools i He demands Scripture for stage-plays 
 and shows, foi' buil-baiting, and cock-lighting, nine-pins 
 and bowls, I'or football, wrestling and nmsic : ^grouping 
 together lii'utal a!id iiinoreut anursements. Ai't is ban- 
 ished I'roiii tlie home nnd shop, as well as from the 
 meet iiigdiouse. "All friends, and pi'ople, ])!u(d< down 
 your images, youi' likenesses, your pictui'es. your re]n-e- 
 seiitalioiis of things in heaxi'U, things on the earth, an<l 
 things in the watei-; ] say, ]iluek thein dut of yonr 
 hou-^es, walls, (ir >igns, or ol her jilaecs.' - Literalism liei'c 
 is pushed t" its e\ti-eme ; but it ^\as not i"'ox's manner io 
 do things by halves. lie read in the l''pislle of J;imes, 
 ' if ye ha\-e re>peet to person^, ye com nut sin," and forth- 
 witii b' i\\ ing. Ml 'liing the hat, and othei' eustomai'y tokens 
 (if iN'>]ieet are at all ee.st to be ab.uidMiii'd. d'hei'e is 
 111 it king in t ln' ext ivmcs and excesses i if ea rly (|uakerism 
 fi.i- which Sciipluie precepts Of pivcrdeiits werc not 
 i|Miited. If imepai't el' the N i w Testament moi-e than 
 ani it her wa-- coiivfant ly in l'"i >\'s nund, it was the Sel'liion 
 
 ' ]).{ r\nni jr.. ,/,.., ^',,l. 1. 11. ;;i(;, 
 
 -i/.;./, Vi.i. 1. jiUM' ;;;?.
 
 The Writings of George Fox. 223 
 
 on the INfouiit. Two of its precepts, interpreted literally, 
 ha\e been almost the peculiar property of tlie quaker 
 society : " swear not at all " : " resist not evil." Another 
 precept of the same sermon, " Lay not \\\) for yourselves 
 treasures upon earth," ho seldom mentioned, and the 
 Quakers were left to interpret it as they would. Fox 
 could not only neglect a passai^-e of Scripture, hut on the 
 strength of one, could cotiti'adict another. " Freely ye 
 ha\c received, fi'cely give " condemned all ministers who 
 took stipends. "The lahourer is worthy of his hire," 
 was not allowed to justify them. Fox could go farther 
 tlian this: and openly set aside distinct injunctions of 
 Holy Writ: of which that forbidding women to speak 
 in the church, and the precepts in respect to baptism and 
 th(! Lord's Supper are the most notable instanc(;s. 
 
 Another sign of tlu; dominion the Scriptures exercised 
 over Fox's mind is his mai'ked aversion to terms and 
 phrases which he did not meet with in the Bible. Ho 
 shows this not only in ix'fusing the use of theological 
 terms, such as tlui Ti'init}', which have been disliked by 
 many: but apparently ([uitc innocent phr;;ses are in- 
 cluded in this condenniation. " Moral law," is a phrase 
 ho will not allow to pass unchallenged. ^ Tliere is no 
 scrlptui'o for it. Again, "the written word" cannot be 
 permitted. An objcctiou several times repeateil, to 
 speaking of Christ's "human body,''- scenrs to ha\'e had 
 a <leeper Sj)ring than the objection to aii imscriptural 
 ])hras(^: though it is not clear what Fox is aiming at. 
 " And Joseph of Arimathaja went to Pilate and asl^ed 
 him for the body of Jesus. Now Jo<e])li did not cnU it 
 
 1 Great MijHterif, pagu 398. 
 " Ibid, pago 180.
 
 224 I'J^'^ Quakers. 
 
 the human l)ody of Jcsiis, or give it sucli a name, as may 
 be seen in the l^^vangelists, and nowhere (Hd tliey give 
 liim such names as human bed}', or immanity, whicli 
 names ye liave added to him more than tlie Scriptures 
 
 do Tlie Apostle snith, 'he tliat eatfth and drinketh 
 
 unwortldl}' eateth and drinketh liis own damnation, be- 
 cause he (Hscerns not the Lord's liody.' Now, ^vllat say 
 yc! to tliis, ye that call his body human ? may not every 
 nnw;)rthy cater see and discern that which is liuman ? "' 
 (dirist, he reminds liis readers, is called a spiritual I'ock 
 1)ei'ore he was liorn oi" a virgin ; and lie is tlie second 
 man, the Lord from lieaven. " And is the iirst man 
 human, and the second man tlie Lord from lieaven, 
 Innuan als(^ ? Will ye give them both tlie name human ? 
 W'liero had yc; such words to call the second man withal 1 
 not I'rom the Seriptun^'S, for they give him no such by- 
 n.-niu'S.'' ^ One suspects a leaning to docctism at this 
 lime; but not tlio d'n-etism wliicli was b.iscd on the 
 noti-'ii of liie sinfulnf-^s of ma.ttei-: [''ox rert.-iiidy ac- 
 Cf])trd tlie h;~>'Li I'ica! inearnalion in i;.s literal sense; lait 
 b) hiiii the coipoieal exi^telie^' of -JesMs ( 'hri t oil ihe 
 earth was only an eniboilinicnL of an elernal spiritual 
 exi,-.t('iiei'. 'I'll" notion that Clwist- i^; now in liea\-en 
 with a natural and c.iiiial body, hr re] aidiates us ^\'orthy 
 oidy oi' the gross'.t sort. "And ('hri.-i Jesus is not 
 l-;iiowii ;is he i.- ( io i. in lii> divinity ; iioi- in liis lli sli, a.s 
 ho was manil'''-.t : bni 1 ly tlii - his di\ine !i:a\enly light, 
 wliieli \vi' own and b>eilr\s' in a> Ih' (oannands, who ait- 
 clilldiv!] of the li'.^'ht : wliii-li naine oi- title ('ln'i,->t be- 
 :.|.iW(-l on U-, b'fiire y.'i! pr. ifi;>-' ir-, nieknamed us 1)}' 
 \:\v nanio of <^!ua '-s i'- . in tii.' yo;ir biaO. .,',!i';ij name one 
 ' hnrirnnii /r..,'.. N'mI. II.. [.j.. i:.i, !:,2, i:,!.
 
 TJie WritiuQ^s of GcorQ;c Fox. 225 
 
 Bcniirt of Din-by gave us, when he cast u.s into prison."^ 
 Ifow do "v know Christ ? Xot in his divinity ; for God 
 is ijicompi'L'hensible by the finite creature : not as ho was 
 at Xazaretli and in Jerusalem ; for that is remote liistor}^, 
 of wluL-li \\-e only liear from otliers. But ic know Him, 
 as tlie Lii^-ht of God sliining in our hearts, tlie Eternal 
 life whieli existed before the history, and exists still, the 
 same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. This seems to be 
 Fox's view ; the point of contact between the human soul 
 ami (Jod is not in ancient history, but in present experi- 
 ence, in Ghrist who is the Light. It is not that he denies 
 or overlooks the historical truth. All the gospel story 
 he accepted and believed, in simplicity and sincerity: but 
 he C(nild not rest in that as mere fact; he must look 
 through the fact to the spirit inside oi it. ]*'ox's mental 
 habit was at the \'ery anti]")odes of ^luggleton's. Tliat 
 "grossest s')it of professor" seemed incapable of a purely 
 sjMi'itual conce})ti()n. b'\'en '"' C!od is a spirit " was wn- 
 satisfact(a'\' to his mind, and to be real to him, God 
 must have bodily form and substance. Fox on the 
 contrary while he heaitih' accepts the incarnation as a 
 fact, must always remember that there is a meaning in 
 it; and the meaning, the Light within, is more pj-ecious 
 than the I'act. Fox, as it wei'e, abides alwaj's on the 
 Mount of Transfiguration: sees the Lord thrr)ugh all his 
 story from the manger to the cross, not in the connnon 
 light of our dim eai'thU' day, but with the j)i\inc; Light 
 sliining thrijugh tln' eai'thly \-esturc ; so that the meiely 
 tnnporal and historical seems lost to his sight in the 
 o\-er[)oweriug ra<liance (^f the Etiaaial Lo\'e. 
 
 These latter qu<jtations ari^ tak(;n from his " Tc'stimouy 
 1 iA,V/, ].age I'.ti).
 
 V 
 
 226 
 
 TJic Quakers. 
 
 of ^v]lat we lifli(/\e of Christ," Avrittcn L}^ Fox in 
 ^\^'lct'stc^]lis(Jll in Ki"-"). i'e Avas role;iso(l in that year, 
 juiil tlii.-^ wa-; tlic \i\>v (.[' lii.^ iiiipri.sianiivnts, 1ait lie e.iine 
 out SD iiiucli v.cakrniM], tluifc it was lowj;^ Ld'orc lie rc- 
 (M)\(aT(l liis ]iatural stinaigtli ;ig;rin, if lie did ever i'ully 
 reco\-cr it. I'^ii'tLa'n more years Averc allotted to liini, 
 yc-u's of nnd.iniinishcd fer\'our, iinrcniittini^- labour; and 
 tln'ii his v,-i)i']< ^\'as (haie. The latter years oi" l'\)x's life 
 dille]'e(l ]narl<(_'dly from the commencement of his pnhlic 
 v.'orlc. '"J'he ch;ing'(_' c;imc ii;radually. Xo precise di\ad- 
 iiiL;' line c;ui he discei'ned, nor can the causes of the 
 chanu'i' be cei'taiidy indicited : hut I am disposed to re- 
 L;'ard the I'estta'ation of Charles JI. as the he^'iiuiiii^ of 
 the second eliajtter (d' ([uakeri>m. .Duriui;- the Ci\'il war, 
 ;iiid undii' the ("oiiimi )n\\'ealth, niea's nnnds were heated 
 to iMtiiiii^' ]i()iiit, ;iiid society M'as ci)U\ulsed by the 
 Niolciicc of its own eiU'ttidns. .Vmid the \arious i'orees 
 wdiicli contenih'd (':)) (lie ma->trry, rrli'_;-ion \vas the 
 stion_;v,t. I )iiii-i'Iii;'- in thcii- eic(' is, di iii I'in;,;- in their 
 iiii'lhods, till- V. i^ -i, b;'>t, .-iiid sli'o;!L;v^t men wnv all 
 a_ovc(l tli.it, ivlidon i, th'' li)' t d,(!ty oC man, the first 
 conc'i'n of a jxopl.', and nrarly all of llieiii a^incd that 
 ii ro-eiai io!i aiid sn]i]i'rt s'.oald bi' \]\c iirsL business 
 oi' ih -oxo iiini'iit. This ] criod of L^-eiieral excitement, 
 ;ind ca-i'r do^iir f.ir (ho ri'jlii si tllrmrnt oi' i'eliL;-ion, was 
 b' '\ o].]:. iri uiiiiy, w hrii hi-^ mc--.:i_r-,. (-im,. ;is a. ti'Miiipet- 
 i-.dl ;iiid th-ii- ;Mid-- riilli'd roimd thr standai'd of C'hrist 
 til- la.ia. but w lid" he was callin-- all to tiie new re- 
 f' 'i-ni-o j-ii th'' biiiiPoi, a]ip.';dfd to the swocd, and in 
 til' w liii ar-.ry i'linni h, nionarcliy. pi'dacw ]);irliaments, 
 li'^ii 1.1. ily it . ir, W'lc o\oi! hi'own. 'i'iion caUK; tlie 
 !-:'-l:"n. 'll;o ne.j.'iity ad.and' Jicd in de^pail' the at-
 
 The IVritijiq-s of George Fox. 227 
 
 tempt to place national affairs, civil and religious, on the 
 basis of reason, justice ami ti'iitli. Cwiirles II. was en- 
 tbroncil, tlio old constitution was restored, and the 
 dissatisfied ininoi-ity sternly reprcsseil. Hie Quakei's 
 felt the inllucnee of the general change. Tliey no longer 
 claimed the riglit to propliesy in ])aiish churches. No 
 longer can Fox record in his Journal conversions of 
 col(-)]iels and justices of the peace; of clei'gymen and dis- 
 senting ministers who forsook Ijenelico and stipend, to 
 foll(jw him in preaching a free gospel. Durijig this 
 closing period of his life quakerism reached its high- 
 vrater mark : then, or soon after tlie tjhbing tide began. 
 Ab'eady (piakerism vras assuming the aspect of a sect. 
 Not that Fox ever acknowledged, or appeared conscious 
 of this. To him all Chri-tendom was in the a})ostacy : 
 his mission was the revival of ])rimitive Clnistianity ; 
 au'l in the end all the churelics and sects must end)]'acc 
 liis reformation. In this conviction he never w.ivered. 
 '^I'he I'eally gieat success of his laboui's nnght vcell con- 
 iirm this expi'ctation in tiie breast of o:ie who re- 
 membcM'ed the solitej'y strug.des of thirty years befoi'c, 
 A\'h:>n he ])assed his days in the woods, reading his ]]il)le 
 in a hollow tree, and sp(3nt the nights in lonely wan<ler- 
 in:;'s, d:u'l;n;'ss ;ir(j!nid a;id dai'kness within his soul. 
 Th-'U light l)ral:e in upon his s])ii'it, iind he issued forth, 
 to e.ssail \'enerated superstitions and inbred prejudices, 
 at iii'st absolutely without IViend or hel[)ei'. Jhit now 
 Jmi iand was coN'cred with ([uaktn- nieetiiigs, anil th(; 
 mnv ChiU'ch luid spread f;ir both in jilin'ope arid America. 
 '1 he tree was young and sti'ong, gi-een <ind fru.itful ; 
 ])i"o!!Using to gather the ir'itions under its sha-Iow, nnd 
 iill the whole earth. Yet there was a change, perceptible
 
 22S TJtc Quakers. 
 
 lo us, if iii.)t to liini. O'lic \'cry .snccrss ;iclii(_'\'LMl was in 
 j^oiiK' respects a hindi-aucc to further progress. Tlic 
 (]i>cii'line ^\as generally adopted ; l)ut to the last Fox 
 and till' otliei' ])r..'aeiiers ]ia<l to tight against " disorderly 
 si)ii'its." Their time and strength Avei'o diverted from 
 agu'rcs-iN-e preaching, to the care of theii' owji numerous 
 Cdiigrcgatii'iis. Ah 're au'l more, quah"erism was shrink- 
 ing to th(-' dimensions of a small separated society. 
 
 A change too liad come o\-er the spirit of the society. 
 The im])eLuo.^ity of youth was ]xrs.sed, and it was settling 
 down i'lto the sohriety of iniddle ago. Tdie tlaming zeal 
 Avhich hurst into tht.' chui'clies, and carried the glad tid- 
 ings thi'ough fail's and markets was cooling dowii. 
 Si-ns and proplx'cies hecame rai'c, and ceased Con- 
 spit-uiiusly stauiu/h to their con\ictioirs, the repeated 
 ^tniuis (if jiersccution Avhich hurst o\'er all noncon- 
 l'(>i'nii>t^, s]>cnt ihcii' chief fury upon them ; 1ut its 
 hjji-ils were >lrengllicning, not dcstrueti\-e. At tlie 
 s;niic linic with ])ciscculiMn, nndther nidiv insidiuus foe 
 was ;)->ailiii'4 tle'ii' jiicty, the seductiw intlucncc of in-o- 
 spci'ity. Tiic (^)ua':ei's were growing I'icli, and wealth 
 ^\,I- hi'Inging lack, c^ iid'i irmity to the AVorld. The 
 i!il^-ionary /''al wliidi nio\-cd .lolin Stuhs ainl lieiu'y 
 loll to ciiihaik oil till' long ;oi(l pr]-ilous journc\' to 
 ( 'lii'ia : and t'l-oiij^ht .Mar\- f'i-lni' into ihc ])rescnco of 
 Siill;in Mahoimt at Adi'ia no] if', co .jcl d,,wn as the 
 ^. ,cir| \- '.' r>\v w ra It Idi'r. 
 
 'I'iiiii' l.i(.n.:i.t it- in\itahli' changes to I'',,x jiims,.]!", 
 ih- x'^a-. no fm-vr tli<' -aunt, hall'->! ar\'rd \dutii, \\diose 
 i; ' 11 fr.Mnc .-' ' Mi'd ;ilni'->l iiio'ii-,11 ile to luinoia', iati^'ue, 
 and Mow-: liiit a laru'c, stout, hcaxy Uian, of sei-cno 
 c 'Unti nanc-' anil sedate deiin anoui', feeling the inipera-
 
 TJic Writings of George Fox. 229 
 
 ti\o need oi' liushaiKliiig a limited ainoinit of Ijodily 
 .strcu-tli. But liis eye was still brii;-]it, liis voice clear, 
 and his s[)irit. it" s )l)ere'] l)y years, still i;'lu\\'eii \vlth a 
 IkjI}' ilaiiic of faith and love, not less intense, if steadier 
 anil less litful than before. Old and weak, with strength 
 impaired Ijy long and cruel impris^jnuicnts, lie twice 
 undert(jok arduous missionary jtnnaieys (jn the continent 
 Penn, Barclay, Jvia'th and (jthers, accompanied him on 
 the first occasion. \\\ those days tra\X'lliiig was dilllcult, 
 fatiguing and dangerous. Inns were })our, rijads bad ; 
 ^va]Ied towns closed their gates at night-fall. Often tlie 
 tra\'ellei's spent the days in open waggons or boats, with 
 I'aiu ])ouring do\vn : and undi'-ellas were unknown in Eu- 
 I'olKj. at that tim(\ They had at times to pass the 
 night on straw, l^'ing down in theii' wet clothes. \ et 
 J-'ox plorlded on utnnurnnu'iugly, for three months, 
 tlii'ough Holland and pai't of (Germany. There was 
 plenty of woi'k for him to do. The )-eai-ly meeting held 
 in Amsterdam I'cpi'esented Frieiids in all the United 
 Provinces of IJohaml, in .Emf(j(,'n, the Palatinate, Haui- 
 bnrgli, Pi'ederick'sta<lt, ])ant/.ic, and "other places in and 
 about ( lermaii}'.'' So wide an extension implies consi- 
 dei'able missiiaiary /(^al amoiig the (Quakers, but iievcr- 
 theles-; there is no I'ecord of any later elibrt proportionate 
 to that memoi'ablo exodus of the sixty ministers from 
 the north of Enghind in LG")4: nor do the ([uieter labours 
 of Crisp, Mead, Whitehead and the second generation of 
 (|uaker pt'eachei's exhiljit tlu; fi'rN'id enthusiasm, and 
 marvcllons powers, of BuiToughs and l^naud, ( annn and 
 Howgill. 
 
 Fox was strong and hopeful to the end. Thei'e were 
 perilons days in the closing period of Charles the SLC<;nds
 
 230 The Ouakcj-s. 
 
 \\'\'j^\\, ^\]ull tlic iiieutini;'-lL()ii.su (_lour.s were nailed up by 
 tiie iiia^'istrates, a.nd tlio Fiiends ccmld only asseiublo in 
 tile (tjien streets. .Dauntless as ever, Fox liastened to tho 
 ]~)()st of dan;4er, and exposed hiniselt' to the 1)rnnt of the 
 attack. IJut he e.<ciped inipi'isonmcnt. Fifteen or six- 
 teen liundi'ed (^,uakers were released by tlie Act of In- 
 dulL;'ence of James II. 'I'lien came the abdication, the 
 ci>ro;intion of \\dlliani and jMavy, an<l tlie inauguration 
 of a new era of rdiu'ious liberty which Fox saw but did 
 i;ot inidci-stand. Accustomed to persecution all his life, 
 the ces.-ation would seem to him a mere lull in tiic 
 t'.Miij'cst: hut it "was in truth the commenceiiu'ut of that 
 a^-f of jierl'i'ct relii^'ious toleration, for ^vllich he liad all 
 his llh' conti'iidr'l, and \vhich was h.eiicefoj'tli to be 
 i^-radually but sur.'ly cstablislied. Fox could not foresee 
 this, nor lh;it ^^ith tho absence of ]iei',-eoution, the life ol 
 (jUalxori.-m would die away, lb' clo-cd liis e\'es on the 
 scene ^^]l(ll the (,'liiMron of tho bi"ht ^\ole still nuuiei'- 
 ous. aMil fiir the nio;-t part faitld'ul. In the year htlVi'c 
 hi. .hr.th he wr,.!e to ;he (,>n;doi's in l^ai-l ;idoos : "My 
 des:i-es ;ire that Ve i!i;iy \'\\k' wwA walk in the peaceahh; 
 truth n:-(;,:,K ;r,el de'w f>.i'!!i tha! ye ;!iv the chihh-en of 
 the llLdit, and 01' the truth ; for the hea\(iilv, L;'entle, and 
 p'.;ice;dile \\i: (1(1)11 isju-tllied by hei- ehijilren. . . . 1'here- 
 t"oi-e Io\'e one anotln'j', Ibr lo\-e is ol' (iod and hatreil 
 i-> I d t 111' (!c\ ih and v\rY\ one t iiat lo\eth is Ixu'n of ( iod, 
 
 and f:now> (iid So it is not e\ei'y om^ that talks 
 
 ol' the li;_dit, ;inil t;ilks of the wi.i'd, and of ri^hteonsuess, 
 .Old fdk^MTl hM-t,,.,nd of C.d.but he t]:at doth (he will 
 I'i' ' '" 1. And t ii! refi); e. my frit nd.--, ah slilxc to exctd 
 one ;iii'ither in f)\e, ajiil in \ irtue, and in m-dikI Hl'e and 
 C"n\ (I'.-ation ; and strive al! to be' of one mind, heart, and
 
 The Writings of George Fox. 231 
 
 juili^-inent in tliG Spirit oi Clod; for in Christ all are one, 
 and arc in peace in Him." ^ This was the faitli, this the 
 spirit ill whieli tlie last months Averc spent. From this 
 time Fox stayed in Lond(.)n and its neif.jhl)onrhood, going 
 " from meeting to meeting, labouring diligently in the 
 work of tlie LorJ, and opening the di\'ine mysteries of 
 tlie heavenly things, as God by His Spirit opened them 
 in me." As lie laboured among them, the signs of a 
 gr(jAving laxity and worldliness op[)ressed liis spirit, and 
 mo\ed him to write a solemn warning to tlie young 
 ]L'0})le against vajiity and tlie fashions of the world, and 
 to tlie old against "growing dowinvards, and j'aking 
 at'tor the earth."- It ^vns \\ reminiscenec of his ilist call 
 near]}- iil'ty \'oars befoi'o, when the di\'ine voice said to 
 liim: " i'hou seest lujw \'ouiig penple '^o together into 
 vanity, an<] old people into the earth, and thou must 
 f(>.rsako all, b(jth young and old, and keep cut of all, and 
 1 as a stranger luiti) all." He did forsake all; until the 
 word of the L')rd came to him, and he reltirned to sum- 
 mon a chosen people, the young from their \'anity, the 
 old from their covetousness, and to lea'l them into the 
 li"-ht and truth and j<;}' oi the kingd(;m of hea\'on. It 
 is the oft-t(dd story: the Siidder for its frequenc}'. Tlie 
 prophet Comes \\-ith his di\ine message, and gathers out 
 a selected company, who for a time walk in its spirit and 
 power : then the world creeps in, faith grows dim, and 
 the second or third generation shows the army of the 
 Lord a mixed nndtitude, the hearts of many of whom ai'c 
 o\'er for turiiing back to Fgyjit. 
 
 \\\ fallhful e})istles, in faithful ;iddrcssos, Fox spent 
 
 1 J,,n,-n<i!, Vol. 11., I.;i-u411. 
 - Ibhl, page 417.
 
 TJic Ouakcrs. 
 
 tlic iiiontlis ami weeks. In London on tlic lOtli of the 
 eleventli niontli, lO'JO, lie wrote liis last letter to tlie 
 I'^ilends in L'elan'l, closing tlnis : " And Clu'ist, the seed, 
 I'eigns, and his })Ower is over all; who brnises tlic ser- 
 pent's liead, and destroys the devil and his works, and 
 was hei'ore he was. And so all of y(ju live and walk in 
 (dn-ist Jesus; so lliat nothing may Ix; between you and 
 (b)d, but (dn'ist, in wdioni ye have salvation, life, rest, 
 and peace with Ciod. 
 
 "As foi' tlie passages of truth in this land and abroad, 
 I <]o heai'thiatin J lolland and Cerniany, ami tliereawax's, 
 i'lbiids are in ]o\-e, unity, and pei.ce : and in Jamaica, 
 ISjiiliadoes, Xevis, ^Vntego, Maryland, and Ne^v j'^ngland, 
 I ]ii;ii' notliing but I'l'icnds are in mnty and ])i'ace. The 
 b'>i'(l pi'cse)'\'e tliciii all out oi' the \\()ild (in which then' 
 i-i trouMi'; in ( 'liil-t -Jesus, in whom thei'e is ]K'ace, life, 
 lo\e, and unity. Amni. Ho my love in the Lord desus 
 ('hiist. tw all frii'iids eNcrywliere in your land, as though 
 I nniind tlicm. ( . I"'. ' ' 
 
 'I'hi' iH'Xt d.-iy, liciiig thi' (ii>t d;iy of tlio week', he 
 poachi'il in thi' meeting at ( irnci church StiTft: ;i^ ho 
 I. ft, tlie 111, ctlng lie frh. the cold ^tilke ;it his lieaif, hut 
 h" -;ild, "1 am 'jliid I wa-- here; now I am cK'ai', J am 
 i'ully elerir.' 'Two d;iy> nrtei' he pencefidly tell asleep. 
 Hi. la.t ive.,i',l, ,| ss^.vA-^ vo re, " .Ml is well. " The seed of 
 
 ( ie.l l-rl-li, ,,\ ,! ;i!|, ;i|l,| ,l\-rr de;illl il^elt". And though 
 
 (',-:iid hej I ;in[ Weak in hidy, yet, the ]irwerol' (iinj is 
 o\ e|- all, and the -iM,! i-iign. (.\"ei' all disoi-ili^rU- >pii'its." 
 'Thu-Mi'ied 111' hi- il;iys in hi-^ lailht'nl t e-^i imony, in 
 ]Hri'ect |,,\(; aiid unit}' with hi- hi'et hreii. anil in peace 
 
 1 ,/,,.',,:,,/. \- 
 
 ., lo e I-..
 
 The Writings of George Fox. 
 
 and goodwill to all men, on the IStli day of the eleventh 
 HK^nth, 1G90, being then in tlie G7th year of his 
 
 age." ^ 
 
 1 IIM, page 4;J0.
 
 CHAPTER XII r. 
 
 TllK ])!:CAY OF QUAKERISM. 
 
 Tiii: death of (Jeorgc Fox doses tlic licroic age of 
 (|iuik('rism ; lieiicciorth is a molanclioly story of decay. 
 Wdic'ii tin ir iiu\ssaL;'c liad, to all appearance, heeii finally 
 aii<l hopidcssly rejected l)y the churches, the Children of 
 tlio Li;-;iit theiii.selves uneoiisciously ceased to believe in 
 it. T;ici-o was Hi) aclvnow led;j,-ed chan::;e in doctrine, nor 
 ill tactics, hat practically tlicy reg'arded theuiselves no 
 l(tii_"er as (Jed's ])roj)hcts coiinnis>;ioned to recall apostate 
 Cliihsteiidom (o prii!iiti\c> Chri.^.tianit}' ; and Avithdrew 
 to imurish a si|!;i!ate spiritual lil'e in the (piiet of their 
 I'ctii'id ni('it!ii;:;s. '^'''icy ceased to Ije pioneers of a 
 L'.i'iieral iTi'diiiKitioii, and hc^canie a sect anioni;' other 
 seels. W-.y a, liiac tliey llovn-isln-d, the most })owerrul of 
 the noiironloniiin^' sects, hnt theii' glory Avas taken 
 IVniii tlieiii, tlieir idreiigth declined, ami lellKirgy set in. 
 'i'lie sceptieal re.'U'tlou A\hicli in the lirst half of the 
 ei-lit( cnt h cintury suceee;!ei] to the hot levers of 
 relig'eitis e\ci(.a:ieiit of ( leerge fox's era,, alfcctcd them 
 in I'l iiniiioii will', all llie eliurelies. Cnlike the otliei" 
 cliurclies, Ihey did not, renew (In ir sti'enetli after tlu; 
 gre'it r(\i\al iniliatid li\' the Methodists. Their decline 
 C'litinued ill sjiite of the stirrings of n^'W life all around. 
 Th'' ^leiy of deea\- is nnattiacli\'e, and modei'n writers
 
 The Decay of (Juakcrisvi. 235 
 
 (ill quakcrisiii rarely care to trace its course. If it \Ycro 
 our olijcct to seareli for tlie startling, the picturesque, 
 the interesting', we niiglit fall in with tlic general ex- 
 ample, and close our study at this point. But our 
 ])nrposc is not to annrsc ourselves, hut to discover truth. 
 AVe want to know whether God did reveal anything to 
 these (Jespised Quakers, and if so, what that was. As 
 in the estimation of spiritual truth, its power to live and 
 propagate itself is an im[)ortant element, this period of 
 leclension cainiot l)e overlooked. Let us try to con- 
 dcns(j tlie liistorj' into a hi'ief conijiass hy taking ;i 
 i'a]")id sui'V(}y of its whole course ; and then single out 
 souK' ]>;i"ticulais fijr ampler notice. 
 
 ])uring the ilrst quarter of the eighteenth century, 
 quaki'rism appeared to he in a Ihjurishing state. If the 
 lii'.;t love ;ind ze;d h.ad somewliat cooled even during its 
 fouii'ler's lifetime, there was no percc])tihle decline in 
 mmdiers nor in prosperity for many ycai's after his 
 decease. Sewel, wi'iting their history in the early years 
 of tlie centur}^, calls them '"'a gi'eat peojile," and has no 
 suspicion of their dec;iy. In 1725 Th.omas Chalkley 
 thoag'ht that thoy were still an increasing p(>o])]e. lie 
 ]nay have mistaken ])rogress in one or two localities for 
 general growth, hut it is clear that he was not aware 
 that the ehh tide had set in. Soon after, complaints 
 of dech'usion, Ijoth in spirit and in numl:eis, hecome 
 frequent. It will ho pretty near the truth to say th.at 
 quakerism had o]"ie gi iteration of pi'ospei'ity after (loorge 
 Fox's death, that is from IGOO to ]72(). .Dui'ing this 
 })eriod the soeiety was numerous, strong, and might not 
 uiu'casonadd}' hope iV>r the eventual triunq)li of its 
 principles. At that time the other cluirches could not
 
 236 The Quakers. 
 
 l)ut roi^'ard it ;is an important factor in the religious 
 
 c-onditinn (A tlie nation. In order to measure the snb- 
 
 setj^iient descent it is nee ssary to ascertain as nearly as 
 
 possible tlie lieiglit to A\-]iie]i ([uakerism attained. Xo 
 
 census of their nund)ers was taken, but two estimates 
 
 liave come dinvii to ns from independent sources, neitlier 
 
 of them 2)i'eju(bced ill favour of the sect. One of these 
 
 is found in " Tlio Snake in the Crass," an attack ujion 
 
 (|uai<:erisui (piite in the style of Bunyan, Faldo, aud 
 
 itdg'er Williams, by the Kcv. Charles Leslie, a non- 
 
 juiiug clei-gyuiau, autlujr of the " Short and J^asy 
 
 Metliod A\-ith the ])eists," and numerous other W(,>rks. 
 
 ll(j sa\'s tlu're, were a lumdred thousand Quakers in 
 
 iMigh'iud. Another estinuito was obtained as the result 
 
 of au inijuii'}' uiidei'takc'H at the desii'e of Kiug William 
 
 ill. who wished to ascertain the pro])o]-tions of (JhiU'ch- 
 
 uieii, I >isseiite]-s, and I'apists, in the Kingdom ; and this 
 
 >et the (j)unkei's down at lifty thousand, about oiie hall" of 
 
 tlie iota! nuud>er of the nonconfoi'inists. The (,)uakcr 
 
 .uitlioi', to wiiom we owe this iid'oruiatiou, thiidcs that 
 
 L ^lic ^vi>htd to alarm the public, ;iud may ]ia\'e oN'ei'- 
 
 I'^liiiiMti'l: while l\iiig Wdlliaui's returu probably de- 
 
 >ii'i'd to mnguil'y the national Church. lie Inmself 
 
 ^Ull]l(l-^(^s that there wei'e about sixty thousand in 
 
 hn_!!;iiid aii<l Wnles, at the tiiue of l"\)X\s death. ^ if to 
 
 tlif~e we aild the iai'ge nuuibers in Ji'eland and Scot- 
 
 huil. ])ii li,-i]i> ke>lie"s hgui'e \\ould not be too high fb]- 
 
 til'' eidniiiial i. Jii ()[' the sect iu the Cuite(l Kiugdoui. 
 
 AuMtlii-r ,|ii;ike)' ;iuth<)ril v skates lliat in KiJS tlu; 
 
 li'iiiph uinidi(acd t(ai thousaud in kMii<l(in alone." In 
 
 ' ','-'/-: ..-^ /'.'./ ./,,./ /,.,../, I, V.I. s. i;,,\viitivr, |.p. (;!i-7-'. 
 //,, /,,,,/,,,, /,;,,,,/,; .I/,./;,,,,;. \\y \\ , \\,.,\ and 'I'. V. Ibll,
 
 TJic Decay of Quakcrisui. 237 
 
 IGGO there were at one time more than four thousand 
 Quakers in prison.^ We shall probably not be far 
 A\ron^' if we a.^siune that the fjuaker population of the 
 three Kini^'donis reached the nund)er of one hundred 
 thousand when it was at its ]n:2,'hest ; and this was not 
 far from the year 1700. In 1800 they were twenty 
 thousand, and at ]n'esent they number only fifteen 
 thousand. This diminution is silarming enough to 
 threaten a not-distant extinction of the sect. But the 
 figures alone Ijy no means adequately represent the 
 decline of the Children of Light ; to appreciate aright 
 their former importance and their present insigniticaiice, 
 the great increase of population must be taken into 
 acc'iunt. If the Quakers had gained no new converts 
 iVom outsiiJe Ijut had retained their own children Avithin 
 their sect, increasing thus with the natural increase of 
 the population, they who were one Inmdred thousand 
 in 1700 out of a total population of live millions, would 
 be seven hundred thousand now, out of thirty-live 
 millions. Even if we adopt the lowest estimate of the 
 time of their prosperity, they should nund)er now three 
 hundi'cd and tifty thousand, instead of fifteen thousand. 
 Again, in King William's estimate they are considered 
 t(3 be one half of the iionconformists, that is, eijual in 
 mu.ubers to the Indei)endents, Baptists, rresb3-terians, 
 and. lioman Catlr-dics, all added together. \\\ our da}', 
 instead of being the largest dissenting lody, equal to all 
 the rest, they are not one hundreilth part of the non- 
 conforunst total. Such is the contrast in this country. 
 Looking abroad, we sec that on the Continent quakerism 
 is all but extinct. In America only, the case is some- 
 ^ Ri "wiitrce, [).'igo 72.
 
 2^8 TJic Quakers. 
 
 wliat less doleful. There tlic Friends number ahout one 
 liundrcd and iii'ty tliousand, and this is perliaps as high 
 a nnudiL'r as tliey at any time reached/ Ihit this coni- 
 ])a]-ati\'e pj'osjici'ity shrinks into an almost lu)[)c]ess 
 dijcadciicc wlu'n lonk'cd at ly tlie side oi' the immense 
 increase of population in the States. 
 
 '_riic]-e is no need to emphasize the present low estate 
 of the society of l^'riends. Tliey are themselves painfully 
 sensible of it. Lut it is necessary to lay stress u])on the 
 fact that they did at one time occupy a higli pLice among 
 the I'eligioiis bodies, and bid fair to accomplish a general 
 refoi'mation of aJl ; for this prosperous estate lasted for 
 so short a time, that the fact is unknown except to a few 
 who have made a study of their history, an<] even after 
 ])atient study, and \\ith all the evidence before one's 
 mind, it is stiil diiiicult to realise that the Quakers at 
 one time swarmed in tlie land, seriously alarming the 
 oldci' chin-elics by their ra})id progress. So it was, hovs'- 
 (\t'i', and it is important to bear in mind that our problem 
 is, IK it to rxj'lain how tlie (.^uakei's atti'acted ;i K'-iW minds 
 of .' ] ('Cii!i:u' ti-mpi'i-ament; but wh}', ha\-ing ;it out; tim*; 
 f'lUM i widr ;;cei'ptance among Christi;!ns, and ha\ing 
 lini'-l ;it uiii\ri'-al sway, they i'ell again into obli\-ion, 
 ,\\v\ bieanie tie' ffrb'e I'ollc ^\e now see. Once tlu^y were 
 miglity in W' ir!-;, -tr.mg (o suiiei', hei'oic in enduiT:nee ; 
 ihi'ii- I'liiit' li'hd ihi' (;;i-lli, ami they \i;:^'\\ to be as 
 Siwcj s;iys, ;i, ^I'cat pc ip!f. As such we must picture 
 tli'!ii t'l niii-' .'!\ I'-;, diM-ing tie; earlier yrai's of the last 
 '.iitei-y. it' Mii.iiM'i'i in h,', 1 ;d\\-;)ys been ^\'hat it is now, 
 I'l i^ igiiitir;:!it ;i!|,| i 1 ,;i j ipi'rci;! i il i Spiritual forcc, its 
 hi t^'iy wowl'l Jiai' liy I m" wi ii'i li >tud\-in!.';.
 
 The Decay of Oi(ak'crisui. 239 
 
 When George Fox from liis J vino- Ijcd mentally sur- 
 veyed the quaker societies, he saw l>ve, unity, and peace 
 pi'cvailinL;' c\'ery\vhcre, the ]Hnvcr of God o\-er all, the 
 seed of God ]'( 'inning over ;dl disiu'dcrly spirits. Many 
 a sore contHct with these "disorderly spirits" he liad in 
 his time, aiid his liard-won victories had not been gained 
 without heavy losses ; l)ut his death-Led was cheered by 
 the thought that doctrijic and discipline were securely 
 established throughout the ]iew church. He did not fore- 
 see that fresh trouble would spring up almost inunediately, 
 and that the leader of another fornndable schism would 
 be one of his aldest and inost esteemed adherents, his 
 wife's son-in-law, George Iveith. This strange chapter 
 in the history is so instructi\'e that it must be separately 
 t(dd. The controversy lasted several years, and was 
 c:iri'ied on with painful acrimony on both sides. After 
 Keith's defection, or ejection, the society had a long 
 season of peace. One by one the ancient leadei's, men 
 \\ho had been Fox's disci}>les and companions in labou.r, 
 J'emi, Fllwood, l^atey, \\ddtehe;id. and others were called 
 to their rest. Among these, George Whitehead, whoso 
 connection with (piakerism. dated from its commencement 
 in the ]iorth, and who ^\as one of the sixty ministers who 
 started from the north in I(j5d, by his rge, his consistent 
 character, and eminent ser\'ices, ap'iioached nearest to 
 the })()siti()n of s;iccessor to Geoig'e ]''ox. At eighteen 
 years of age he was the ((>u:ik(;r apostle oi" Noid'olk, and 
 through all tin; hery trial oi tlie IJrst generation he bore 
 his full share of laboiir and of suil'ei-ing. J lis conn-ades 
 Parnel, Jjin'roughs, ]Lo\vgi;l, iluliljei'tlioi'n, and irw-iny 
 more, succumbed to the rigour.s <jf im[a'isoiniient ; but 
 he survive*] to the veiieraljle age of S7, and fuUilled Gi'^
 
 240 The Quakers. 
 
 rears of luim'stry. AVIicn they buried him in Bunliill 
 Fields, ill 1722-:), the Quakers lost the last link which 
 co]iii(;ete<l tiicm with the birth-time of their society. 
 
 After Ills dt'atli tlie paucity of materials for history is 
 one siL;'ii of the sta^'iiation of quakerism. A few books 
 f)f no iotrinsic imiiortancc were written aij;ainst it, to 
 ^\-hieh the Quakers issued e(|Ually unimportant rejdies. 
 ]\Iiiiisteivs there were, who travelled from meeting to 
 meeting, but with rare exceptions they did not attem|)t 
 to convert the outside world. Their journals are 
 jeremiads. In place of the trumpet-toned triumphings 
 of Fox, I burroughs, and the first prophets, or the sober 
 confiilence of Tenn, Barclay, and the second generation, 
 theii- i>ag('S are hlled with lamentation over the visible 
 decadence of the Quaker Church. "Streinions exertions 
 Were no doubt made by the faithful leaders and teachers 
 of the Chnrch to stem the advancing t;de of declension, 
 bait whilst mend)ership was undefined the task was 
 i'ound ini]>ossible. l^a- more tlian half a centui'y matters 
 grew gi-ailually woi'se, till the chui-ches began to make 
 out ddiiiiti' li-ts of their members (in acc<.)]'dance with 
 tlie bules of Settlement, ^'eai'ly Meeting, .I7.")7), and 
 ;ieti\-e measui'es were; subs(.'(jUeiitly taken to ])ui-ify the 
 cMii]). 'I'lie stdt lenient ol' uieuibershi]) in it sell" dissi'xei'ed 
 iiiniiy \\Iio had hitherto been lool<ed iqioii as (^)uak'ei'S ; 
 ami (lilt of thi ise who \\'ere I'egistereil ;is ( 'hureh members, 
 iimiiy iiiMi'e were jiflrrw nrds disowned hy the Six London 
 Ml 'ft iii--^ Tor fill ir disorderly t'oiiilmd. "' l'>y this st ringeiif. 
 di-i'i]iliiii'. ;i]i]iricd with inei-i'asi'i| \ igonr and difermin- 
 ;iti '0 al'lir 17ii", the scciidy was ])Ui"ged of iiiC' .nsistent 
 ;iiid iiiiiiii )r:il leiiiilii'i s. ddif <li<suliite and disluniest were 
 ' 77m /.,/,, /-V;. '/.; J/m/mm/s, page J2l'.
 
 TJie Decay of Quakerism. 241 
 
 cxcoiuiuuuicatcd, and iiiar.y shared tlio same fate v\'lu)sc 
 only fault was disoljcdienco to quakcr tenets. Those 
 who paid titlies, those wlio were married l)y a priest, 
 wore exchaded as ruthlessly as the druidvard and the 
 fraudulent ljanlvru])t. Ijirthrigiit memhcrshi:) vras the 
 rule of the society, as it is to this (Liy. The children of 
 <^uakei-s were registered as mernhers of the Ci'.urch 
 witliout requiring from them any profession of faith. 
 Thtu'e was no very eager desire to add new meml)crs by 
 proselytism from other churches, or Ijy conversion from 
 tlu; world. Thus the qualcer society gradually crystallised 
 into its present form, hardly a Christian Church in the 
 sense of that W(rrtl;is understood Ijy Christians generally, 
 l)ut ;i clan or corpijration, partly religious, partly social, 
 })arll\' ei\-il, consi-ting oE converted and u":ic'>nvcrted 
 p(.'rsons, hound together by family relationship, and 
 looking suspici(y.)sly on the infusion of new klood.-*- 
 
 The spectacle oi;" th.e Quaker Church in its decay watch- 
 ing the youth arid growth oi' :.L'jthudi-m is an allecting one. 
 It was h.'ss than a cimtury since George Fox raiseil that 
 jiotuit cry in Xottiugliam church ; not llf'ty years had 
 ]i,assed siiici; tlie gi'cat QualvCr leader was carried to his 
 gi'a\'e ; liis followers stdi numbered teiis oi' tlujusand.s ; 
 airl tho'ir iiaN'ting Iiouses studded t]ie country; tliey 
 Were wealthy and inilueiitied, the d:iys of obloquy and 
 persecution long left behind. j>Uu v.diile they cnj'oyed 
 ]i(,a.ce ai;d p.i'osi)erit\', tli(' couaitry S(;eme 1 to be sinking 
 fa~,t into ]")ra(.'', ie.'d lic'itheuism. !)eisiii \\'as spreading 
 ;imiaig the U])p,'r c'as^t--;, ;v:^,d tin; lower were giwn o\ei' 
 to ignuranc(i and imnKaality. lu this wsy oL' iiicreasiiig 
 daihiicss, where ^vas the Light oi;' tlu; Quakers '. It had
 
 '42 TJtc Quakers. 
 
 li;()ne out ;il together, or ^vas liicldcii under the laisliel of 
 llu'ir iiieetino-liouscs. The voice wliicli tliim(hTed in 
 the iii;irkct-})hice, deiiouiicijig tlie jndi;'iiients of God 
 ;ii;';iinst dislioiiesty nnd vice, Avas lieavd no more. Xo 
 Child oi: the Liglit i^-atliei'ed tliousands around liini on 
 ]nll-side or conunon, to listen to tlie hlesscd tidino-.s of a 
 prrscnt Cln'ist, not Far from any onu of us, hringini^ 
 salvation to tlio hrokfii and contrite in heart. Suddenly 
 a UL'W voice was hcai-d in the land. The silence and 
 the darkjic^s of death was broken hy a little hand of 
 Oxfiii'd students, clei'^'^'mcn of the Ivstahlished Chui'ch. 
 (Jod reliuke<l these degenei'ate Qiiak(M's with a di^'ine 
 irony. The iirst re^elation that (l(V)ri;'e Fox received 
 was that " heiuL;' Ijred at Oxford or Cand)ridge was not 
 eiKiugh to lit mill (|ualify men to he Tuiiu'sters of (dn'ist, 
 and he sti'angeil at it."' Xow (iod showed the Quakers 
 that heiiig hrcil at Oxfenl A\-as not enouuh to dis(|nalify 
 lueii friiiii liriiig chosen messen^'ers oi sal\atiiin. To 
 ]ii-otest agaiusL the hii'eliiig clergy, the ])riests of ]5aal, 
 was anidug tln' r(iicm<i>t ol' (|uaker |ir!iici|tl('S. Xow 
 tlic<f " pi'Iots ((f haal '" enacted the jiart wldch hox and 
 1 lowgill, and Whitehead, and tlie otliei- (|Uakei' preach ei'S 
 ( iiacted a ceiihii'v kel'ori'. (Jeoige W'hitlield swayed 
 ihe Iviiidnii |M,jiula''e i)y his eJ(M|Uellce (Hi .M( h a'lields, 
 ju-t a-> Ivlward i'airi'i m- lis ha<j --wjiyed iheiii in the 
 Millie jilace. .Idhii W'e-jey jireaelied at ih'i-t' il. until 1 he 
 ]i''ii],|i> died ahiU(l, Wile sliiick diiwii. wci'e M-i;;ed with 
 
 \iii|ellt tl'i lllkjili--. The .Melheilist jUVaclul-.N tilled tile 
 
 lauil wilh their t'aiiie ; u]m'11 ihein the he>iility ol' the 
 cleiey ;iiid n]i]iei- cla^-e-, aii'l the Minil ci'Uel I'ui-y of the 
 u;i il, \\ei I- A\ i'eake(l, a^ u]i"ii 1 1 1 ' < 'h i 1 , 1 pc 1 1 of ihe Light in 
 the 1,\, -eiie dax'-. K \ e T \- w h ei'e M 1 1 h' -d i -^t Societies
 
 TJic Decay of Quakerism. 243 
 
 \verc ;:;'athercd, Alctliudist ciuipcls ^vcio reared, and in 
 tliirty or forty yoar.s John ^W^slcy accomplished a work, 
 and attained a })o,sition, almost exactly analogous to that 
 of his pi'e<h'cessor, CJeorge Fox. ^[eantime where were 
 the inllowers of George Fox? They stood on one side 
 and watched tliis mighty work of Clod. Some of them 
 criticised and condemned : some of them owned the 
 ])ivine Hand, and blessed the new prophet. Now and 
 again John Wesley held sweet and loving interconrso 
 witli some of the Friends ; although he fraid\ly con- 
 deiinied the tenets and the practice of the sect. He 
 ^\rites in his Journal, June 1 o, 17o9 ; " I had much talk 
 Avitli one who is called a (Quaker, but he could not 
 receix'C my saxdng, I was too strict for him, and talked 
 of such a perfection, as he could not think necessaiy." 
 At Jyiunceston, Sept. 'I'l, 174o, some persons stopped 
 him in the street. " Before Ave had spoken many words, 
 our souls took acquaintance with each other. I found 
 they were calle(l (Quakers, but that hurt not me, seeing 
 tlui love of (!od was in their hearts." On aiiother 
 occasion, "I breakfasted with one of the most lovely old 
 men I e'Ver saw, John (larret, a .Dutchman by birth, 
 and a speaker among the Quakei's." Tln^y came to hear 
 Jiini preach, and thert) ai'e several entries in his Journal 
 of Quakers receiving ba])1isni. Once at least oiie of 
 Wesley"s preachers Urft him, and joined the Quakers. 
 ]jut on the wh(.)lc the attitude of the ()uakers towards 
 Methodism was that of mere s[)ectators. The\' won- 
 dered, tlu.'y could not but own the power of ( !od, yet 
 they did ]iot altogethei' ap[)rove ; Ihey did not help; 
 they were Jiot stirred u]) to enmlation. When Wesley 
 was ])reaching at Bristol, penitents were lading down.
 
 ?44 
 
 The Ojtakcrs. 
 
 l;-; oiUiin'^', aiitl crying aluuJ, jiiul rising up tu give [)raisc 
 for tlieii- dclivcranco. " A Quaivcr wlio stood !.y was nob 
 a little (lispleasc'l at tlic dissimiilatioa of tlics ; creatures; 
 and was Ijiting liis iips and knitting liis brows : wlien 
 he dropped down as thunderstruck. Tlie agony lie was 
 in vras eveii terrible to behold. We be.soiiglit God n<jt 
 to lay fody to his eharge. And lie soon lifted U{) his 
 head, an I cried aloul, ' Now I know tliat thou art a 
 prophet oi' the Lord.' " That Quaker was a re}U'esen- 
 tati\'e. So we can imagine the majority of his sect, 
 looking on wibh puz.^iled brow, marvelling at the sight 
 of poor sinners trondding and (piaking, -when the 
 Methodists preached temperance, rightemisness and 
 jiiilgment to conu'. The Quakers of that generation 
 hel ne\'er sci'u anyth.ing like it, and could liardly 
 liclii'Nii tkiat it was gi'mu'iic in tie; long run tleey 
 cwuM not but ov.-n thed tho Wrdoys and Whitlield luel 
 li.'fii ral v,'d up to do a great woi'k ; lint they diil not as 
 ;i. lidly roccl\-i' th.d renewed b;i])'ion of the liol_\- S[)irit 
 whicii ('.riuo upon oi.hcr chui'rh.'i; unli's-; wl' mm' a si^qi 
 of till-, In toi'ii' iiicroio- ol" / il I'oi- inhTiial ])uriiy 
 whicli b'gm in l?!''), an 1 einliou<':l lor twcnty-ono 
 N'l'Mfs, ;i dl;''i|)li!iary \'; -il;i; ion of t!i"ir m (tin;.;'s ; until 
 at li';i-( ;iu cxt vwvA IT f' 'I'l i I; : i ii >> i ^\;^s ihoiMughl}- aecom- 
 ],lide.l, 
 
 Till' glory o!' !;;( '! i|M;ikc)'i'eu is iis ])hi l;)nthro]iy. 
 'I'h-y h: '1 f-ioi tlic liist h(-n con ^pie'r .us foi- tb<ei' 
 f lc\''it i. Ml io piMci icol ( 'io'i .1 iaiiiiy. .-oil cwn in lli.'ir 
 1m\v oe,;Ui', lirotjirrlyddndn .-.-; wv\ diarily to the po-n- 
 Wi'Te ;i tr.i'i.iion IV-iiii (li.er re rly ilry ^. in the second 
 hiill'oi'thc 1.1 I cci;tury this pihifintiiropic ;-pirit began 
 to bud toi'lh ill new blo.->.->oms, and to extend its
 
 TJlc Decay of Onakerisiii. 245 
 
 fnigrancc and fruitfulncss be^'oiid tlic bounds of sect, 
 and nation. Tliis ii]>t appoarcd in tlio anti-slavciy 
 JUO^cnlent, of tlio orig'in of vrliicli soniL'tliing will 1)0 
 said in connection Vvitli the name of John Woolman, a 
 niovcnicnt wliicli it is a singular pleasure to think upon, 
 a lasting honour to the Quakers, wliicli has deservedly 
 earned for tlieni the aLUniration and love of the whole 
 (diri.-^tii]! Church. Yes. Whale we laitlifully and un- 
 llinchingly pouriray the s])iritual decadence of the 
 Cliil'lren of Light, let us all the more delight to con- 
 template the lesser yet heavenly radiance of a true 
 human charit}', whieh Logan to shine upon the cn- 
 slax'uLl African, an:l has cjutinued ever sin.ce to shed its 
 g.}:itle he-aling rays upon the poor, the sick, tlic 
 prisoner, tlie ignorant, the oppressed, of every colour, 
 ;'nl in ;ill co]itinents. If the Quakers long ago ahdi- 
 c ited thai- fiuietion ot sjiiritual leaders and teachers, 
 tliey hiN'e sine.) nohly a:;pired to t.ike the lead in all 
 g-o )d di.'O^ls 01; luim.:in ijonevoLaice. Theirs is the true 
 rcdigion oi; Iramanity, base 1 upon, not lajstile i\) the 
 I'eli^ion of Clu'ist. ]Ia]pily they have now imitators 
 find ri\;ils in ;ill Chri>tian churches, yet none Vv-ill 
 gTud;i'e to acknowlct^lge the debt due to them for their 
 early exam])le of Zi'al, s'll^Jenial, and generosity in 
 iVirilanthrr,])ic; liiboui's. 
 
 After the expulsion of (Jeorge Iveith in Kl'/o, the 
 Quiikers lia I more than a lunidred years oi freedom 
 fr. )m iutenial dissen -ion. Tnough the sect was stea-lily 
 dv.'iad'iing away, tliou 'h it was hastening its own 
 extinctiu]! liy rv^mm'sc'essl v exconnuunicatina; th 
 
 ose 
 
 vs'ho coaoaniLted the un])arilonible sin of gettir;g manie 1 
 in the ]);ivis]i church, th.(> ancient docfi-iia' and disei[)lin(;
 
 ?4'^ The Quakers. 
 
 ]M'()v<)l<eil 110 iiiuniiur of dissent or opposition. Tliere 
 A\-;is iKjt lii'i; cnoui;']!. to ,su[)port <i rebellion. It ^y;ls not 
 until nt'ter the Fjvncli Revolution, in tlu; wide-spread 
 ai^'itatioii of liunian tliouglit which followed tliat i^'reat 
 c ):ivulsion, that signs of niental acti\-ity aj'>j)eared, in 
 au attack, first n[)on the disci j^linc of the society, then 
 upon the ancient faith of the Friends, led l)y Abraham 
 Shaeklcton in Ireland, and su])[)orted by Hannah 
 liarnard, a travelling minister from America, who 
 arrived in Ireland in ITOS.^ The opinioirs of iSliackleton 
 WK'iw a se\ere shock to the (piaker fVateriiity. In the 
 name (jf the Light within, he depreciated tlie Holy 
 Scriptures, <]enied their infallibility and the deity of 
 our Lorib He was disowned in LSOl, and many others 
 ^\ho sy]iipathi/rd with his views shai'ed the same fate, 
 '^riie ni'xt year llaiuiali Barnard, accuseil of unitarian- 
 i->in, and uns )und opinions al)out the, liible, was dis- 
 owned in L >ndon, and w\ her return to Amei'iea ^\'as 
 exconiinuincati'd 1)y lier own .\bjeting. In bsl:^, Thomas 
 l''MSti'r, ol' Ijondon, after a stubboiii ilel'enee, Avas dis- 
 owuimI i'ui' nnibariainsm. This appears to ha\'e been the 
 l.id lingci'lng eeho ol' j lainiah Ijarnai'd's inlluence. The 
 next gi'eat schism, tlie most formilabh; secession tlu; 
 s leicfy e\ei- experienced, was led by l^lias Jlielcs in 
 Aimriea. This e\ent bi'ings us down to modern tims's, 
 wli'ii wi' si'e the old (|Uakei' society s])lit up into three 
 <li-liurt li idii's, nil claiming- to lie the tiaie descend mts 
 of ( ;, , ii'M', . box, and the ])rinnlive (^Juakeis. These thi'ce 
 ]iii-lii'-> \\\\\ lia\i' (o bi' >tudied in t he -ji rsons (.)f their 
 I' elcr^, I'^lias jbeks, Jo-cpli John ( lui'iiey, and dohn 
 
 ' 77. s.. ;./;/.;//,;.,./..;,, /A- .\";,m/.,,i/a r.,,\nj. I'.y wiiiiiiui 
 W'A -.n. \~A. 1. i,;,ee ;;:. ,/ .<,,,.
 
 Tlic Decay of Quakerism. 247 
 
 W'illair, tlio lii'st of whom is accu.s('(l oi rational ism ; tho 
 socoml of liaviiig forsaken primitive (juakerism fur an 
 evangelical docti'inc hardly distinguisliable fi'om Wes- 
 leyanism ; and the third claims to have upheld the true 
 v'ki nu'dui, the good old doctrine, faithful both to the 
 Light within, and the inspired volume. The attempt t(_) 
 ailjulicate upon thes(j charges and counter-charges will 
 in\()l\'c no shght labtnir, nor can wc promise befi ire- 
 hand to satisfy our own minds, ^vhile we have the 
 certain prtjspect of disideasing two out of the three 
 |)arties, and th(3 possibility of offending all. Xevei'thc- 
 Ifss to this complex pnjblem our inrpiiry lias led us, and 
 it must be facdl lunid)ly but feai'lessly, in dependence 
 upon the guidance of the S[>irit of truth, and with a 
 (h.'termination to follow whithersoever it leaiLs. It niay 
 be that thi.! time is now ripe for (bscoridtig the true 
 mei'its of ])ast controversies; or if not so, at least avc 
 may hope that, sincerely seeking the truth in the light 
 which is given to us, and depending solely upon the 
 hi'lp that Cometh from above, our progress shall Ite in 
 tlu; right dii'echon toward the more perfect truth yet to 
 1)e revealed in God's e-Qod time.
 
 CMArTEIl XIV. 
 
 (;i:onGE KEiTir. 
 
 ()iH(Ji;{;i': ]vi;rrH, a ScotcUnian, was i}i IGGl: a student at 
 Abcr.lccn, ;iml a Icadci' i]i tlic (Quaker Cliurcli then'. 
 j^I.shop Jjuiuict, wiio was. Ills fellow-student, writes of 
 him : "he was esteemed the most learucd man tiiat ever 
 \\'a.-i in th;it sect; he Vt'as well vei'sed hoth in tlie oriental 
 ion^'urs. ia philosopliy ;ind maOiematics."-^ The year ot" 
 his hii'th is not rceoi'ded, hut }>rohahly he Av;is still a hid 
 of ;'J;oi!t ei'.riile'.'U oi' l\\(]ity, when lie fust JoiiUMl the 
 ( jUMkci',';. I'.'.nii'l, V\diilchcad, ;;nd othei- i'jimniis ministers 
 A'.ci'c moi'c ])i'i iminiii; th;in he aln like early ai'V. li' ^\c 
 siipjiose hhii j \\c;!ty-<mc in h,(jl, then lie was se\-ent\' 
 A\'hen lie di^'d, a clisyy m;in of tln' ("huicii d' J'lnLdand, in 
 [i ]']. I'( ii- t hii'i_\' y'' irs in ili' i'lMiii i-anh' (d' the a.rmy 
 ol' (|Uakfi-i-iii, d'ii'in;;' t'lc kisi ( wasily years of has life 
 its iiiii-t dama_;-"M"- i ij'ji! )ii(ad, the slm-y oi' thi^ maids lii'e 
 at tii'-i : i'dit is in>\]ilieahl!' ; hal if niMia cai-ci'nl cxai]!- 
 iiaitiiiM, thi' my-d ay \;'!n'di' s, his vnr ma\' rimii di the 
 kfy wina-.'wiih In e.xolain thi' \\-iiii!(_> ri !dlf i4' ( juakia'isni. 
 (liMi]'^'.> j''(.x \i~iti'd S(Mtl:'ail in Id")?, llisarcountof 
 hi- lahMin-s th'-rr i^ laa' wl' tin.' la ( spirit stii'i-in';' 
 (h;i]i'aa-> ill hi- dMurii;d, \\-hirh it is i'l I'lv -hiii.'; to I'ead, 
 ; i'ti r ( .iir d'']a-r--.iii;_;- I'l i T' > ] c ! Mi'(jiia!- r d, '(.(.] -h rale. '\\']\
 
 (rcorgc Keith. 2.19 
 
 years of toil, triumpli, and sufiering, had made Fox a 
 \'cter;iii ill the Iio]y war, coniidL'iit of victoiy, \\\i\\ a 
 Ininiinij,- entlmsiasin in liis ;50ul. " Wlien tir.st I sot my 
 ]iorsi'"s foot u])on the ScoLiish j^'i'ound," lie says, " I fo'lt 
 the sood of (lod to sparivlo ahoist me, nke innumerable 
 sj)ai']>:s ()[' lire."-'- Foi' some weeks lie rode from city to 
 eity, turniii^;' many "to the Lord Jesus Christ, then- 
 Saviour and Teacher, wh.oso blood was shed for them." 
 Well for him was it that Cromwell conquered at Dunliar ; 
 ( therwise the stern disei[)les of Calvin and Knox would 
 assuredly have cut bis journey short, by im})risonment, 
 if not by (loath. As it was they moved Cromwell's 
 military Council to order his cx}valsi<)n, but Fox openly 
 <lolied the order ; and it was not enforced. The colonels, 
 captions, aud soldieiy Vv'oi'o Ireiiuently ;nnong Ins hearei's, 
 and doubtless he met with more sympathy among tbem 
 than among the natives. ]'\)X boldly assailed the 
 Cal\-iiiistic doctrines of election and reprobation, eharg- 
 iug the priests Vvdth teachiiig that " God had ordained 
 the greatest part of men and women f(.)r boll," which they 
 (liil; and tliat "the fault was not at all in the creature, 
 less or more, but (Jod has ordained it so," which 
 nssuredly wiis not tlieir doctrine, although the ]:op',dar 
 mind must have ibund it diilicult to refrain frour the in- 
 ferenc-'. ]jut Fox had his own doctrine of election, 
 clear ;vnd sharj^, ;ind propou.nde<l it V\ ith the full confi- 
 dence of inspiration. "iSov/, all tluit Ijelieve in the 
 liiglit of (*hrist, as lie cor.imands, ai'c in tlie cleetion ; 
 but such as liate the Light are in tlie coudeuuiat'ou.''- 
 How the presb'ytori.'in preachers r;v;ed ag;iiiist this 
 .:'<;'o-,;.:', T. !;;.
 
 250 The Quakers. 
 
 auilacious lu'rotic I Unal)lc to stop liis mouth by physical 
 force, tlu'y n'atliored in synod or convocation, and drew 
 lip a coiniiiination to he read in all their chui'clios. 
 " Curscil is ho that saith, every man hath a Light within 
 Ilim, sutiicient to leail him to salvation: and let all the 
 ]H,M)})le say, .Vmen. Cnrsed is he that saith, faith is 
 without sin : ami let all the per)ple say, Amen. Cursed 
 is he that denieth the Sahhatli-day : anil let all tlie 
 ]K'()])le say. Amen ; "^ and so on. This was the Sc<^thind 
 into which Ge()l^c Fox inti'oJuced liis i^'ospcl of the inner 
 Lii^'ht, ol' the supremacy of the Spirit, of the usclessness 
 of all fjrms, and of the duty of universal toleration. If 
 We' lia\-e to sin^'le out one factor which was esjK'cially 
 I'espoiisilile for t!ie faihire of bhiL;'land's stru^'gle for ci\'il 
 ;iud religious lil)ert}' in the se^enteenth century, it was 
 Scotch ]i'eshytei'iaiiism, the stuljb(,)rn intolerance of the 
 111 Ml wlio signed tile' (,\n'en:iiit with their h'o )d. and 
 e )!ii])elli'd ( 'harles 11. t ) sign it ngaiust his c mscience. 
 M-n like the saintly Hutherford strengthened tlie \Ve>t- 
 miii>t''r Assembly in that l)lind hatred of toleration, in 
 th it tixi'i I res )l\-e to coL'rce consclenc .'s, which rendered 
 ]).i ili.-iiii -iitai'y go\'i_'rmn Mit ini])ossible, necessitated the 
 mililary despotism, and l)rought back the tyi-anny and 
 li'- ail ioii-iii'>s of the Stuarts. Tle'se were the men who 
 t liuii'l' a-ed cni'si's u|)on the b'hildi'eii of the Light tVom a 
 tliMiHnid ]itil|iil-. I f i|Uakia'isin could take I'oot among 
 -U'-li ni.ai a- tle-.i', its conxa-i'ts slmnld \\\\\v been tiaic; as 
 -o.|. ^tealfa>t unto death. And such they \\-ere, tin; 
 b.a ri-l.i y>, the .laliVays, and oth(a' nnaidirrs of the hia'oic 
 I'MM'I, liul aiiiMii-- them was lie, who liLa'anie the apostait; 
 K> ith.
 
 George Keith. 251 
 
 George Fox did not reacli Aherdeen. Our earliest 
 iK^ticc of Quakers in tliat city is in IGGO, wlicn wc; liear 
 of a little coin])any of l^^ieiids of truth, to wlioui the 
 s])irit of Ali;xander Jalfray Avas strongly drawn. Jaffrayj 
 bji'nin 1(U4, was one of the leailing men of Aherdeen. 
 A gentleman, a sehohir of the university, a man of pro- 
 ])crty, and a soldier, lie was ]\Iendjer of Parliament for, 
 and Trovost of the city. When, after Charles I. liad 
 Ix'en Leheaded, Scotland sent four Couunissioners to oiler 
 the cr(jwn to Charles If., on condition of his signing tho 
 (JoN'enant, Jalfray was one, tlie others hidng Lords 
 iJnjdie and Lihcrton, and tlie Earl of Cassilis. Jaffray 
 fiaight at Duidiar, A\'n.s wcnnided, and taken prisoner. 
 Cromwell tliouglit his capti\'e wortli encountering in 
 another kind of Ijaitle. lie, .bdect\\'o()d, and Dr. Owen 
 set upon him with argunumts to convince him of sin- 
 i'uliiess in tliat matter oi tlie Co\'enant. And they 
 succenleil. This was the man who, when again on the 
 losing side, a })risoner in the ^(dhootli in KiGO, felt 
 his ]i(.'ai't drawn to the desjii.sed Quakers, and resolved 
 tiitis ^\ith himself: "Whatever maybe of mistake in 
 the w;iy and ()])inions of tlie people called Quakei's, al)out 
 tht' JJL:,ht within tlu'm, as to the uni\'ei'sality and opera- 
 tion of it ; after some inquiry thereabottt, my rcsoltition 
 is t(j waive the de1)atable part thereof, and as I may in 
 tliL^ strcJigth of the Lord, to improve and make ttsc of 
 what truth I iind in the thing itself to mind seriously 
 and most closely to walk tip to the Light in the con- 
 science."^ In this lutmble and cautious temper, he 
 united himself to the pcrsectitefl Irateriuly, and four 
 years later wr(jt(! down his conviction that "the ])ower
 
 252 TJic Quakers. 
 
 ;uk1 life of Jioliness is more truly known amongst them, 
 and eminently licld I'oj-lh l)y thi-'m, tlian hy an}' people 
 else, that have come fortli since the Apostho's d;n>; .... 
 'J'hey dearly owii, and rejoice in the use of the Holy 
 Scriptures, and desire to live up to the practice of all 
 the truths of God declared to them." This testimony to 
 the character of tlie enrl}- Quakers from one of the forc- 
 liujst men in Scothiml, negotiator with Charles II., 
 captive and convert of Cronuvell, whose knowledge of 
 men was leased upon a wide experience, is suflicient to 
 clear them ironi the suspicion of ha\'ing keen merely 
 ignwrant and excited fanatics. 
 
 V\\ this little hand of eminently holy people, who 
 loved their Ijiljles, and okeyed them, Robert Jlarelay and 
 (ile(a'ge Keith were pi-oudiient ministers. Iveith v/as the 
 1irst to a]>])(ar in ])rint, and Jati'ray's testimony w;is 
 g'iven in a prt-fjiee to his hook. This a])peai\'d in ](j(ik 
 111 t!:at \e;ir Keith was in ])]'is()n for ten ment!;;;, and 
 
 S"\-e!-i'ly 1 e;ite;i. Tile liext ye.'U' lie ;dtemj>ted to ])rr;1i-h 
 ill the ce.the'il'.-i 1 di' .Vkel'deeii, aiul Was l^iinekei] (d the 
 grouinh Jii JliTO lie ])u1ilislie(l "Tiie fdght of Triuli 
 .Triumphing ; ' \^'m\ in ! ('w ! a 1 )()i)l< on " l/iii\-ers;d ( li'ace." 
 hi lli?-'-' h'' aii'l ih)!icrt i!arela\' dis])uted with some 
 tle'ojo'jieal :.tirl 11! ; < f tlie uni\ crdty. ^'miie time after 
 thi-; we had him in k iielon, a-;-;;sting' ( li.ory.-e W'h.itelie.id 
 in a. cdnl roN'risy wit h thv; r)a]ili-fs. 'i'lie la tier ]>art ol' 
 Keif h'.-> hd'r \\-as .s]ieiit in laLT-iiiil and Aniei'ica, ;d lirst 
 in chi'^" a-. ' >ei;:tiiin with (.'cMrg.' I'ox.an 1 with I'enn a.nd 
 kar-!a\-aiid ili.ir ei'iinae'rs. Ww hrcaiMc 1 )\- his mari'i- 
 ;e'V with oni'oi' Mai\;Mrrt krlhs daugTt a-s a mianhri'oC 
 l'"\'s. I'aieily circle. In ll;?? la' ;ie, eaananied I\)X in 
 li' w. eii itnaii il tiair. and was \\e|iaai kt 'mi'^ a'social"
 
 Gco7'o-e KcitJi. 
 
 -^30 
 
 ill tho discussion with Galeniis Abru]iams. At some 
 time, ]i()\v or earlier, be er.tertainoil tlic opinion of one 
 Van lielmont, t:i;it tlicro is a transmigration of human 
 souis, l)ut he liimself explains that it was only as an 
 liypothcsis, to meet tlic difficulty of tb.e ca-c of those 
 \\\\\) in their former life had ne\'ei' lia'l the opportunity 
 of he'irin;; the Gospel. In l(iS2 ho vras im})risoned for 
 rei'u-^in^i; to take tlio oath, and agaiu iji 1G84 ho was 
 couiined in Newgate. In 1G89 lie j()urn(^}-e(l in An^erica. 
 Tln.i.s (paite up to the time of Fo.x's death, George Keith 
 v:as a Quriher of the Quakei-s, nor do wc detect any- 
 ^\diere a murmiu- of suspicion or dissatisfaction on either 
 sidie. If Iveith had (lied at tliis time, lie would have 
 been enshrined along with Barclay and reiin, as on.e of 
 tli(_' saints an.d hero'i^s of the tsest age of (|uakerism. 
 
 After To-k's deatji, Iveith seems another man. Having 
 been a zeabais Fneiid for thirty A'cars, having borne his 
 full share in tlie sudbrings o!'t!ie time of pcrsecutio]i, he 
 s[ient tb.e la--t twerity years uf Ids life, A'viien (piakeiism 
 w;;s ])e;iC'.'iul and pi'osp^eruus, in Li'i'adnall}' I'etracing bis 
 >i^'\''', until lie end.od !>} esitering the Church of ihig- 
 lon 1, b('e:niii]!g a " iiin-Iing," a " pi'icst of B;^aV and a 
 xeiicmciit antr^g.^ni-t (d his bfobmg fi'iends. Witbiii 
 two }'ears of box's decease, be was at varianc(i with liis 
 brrthren. A quaker histia'iiin accuses him of selfdm- 
 p>ii'tanee, \';iin s[)(xadations, discMutent "with the (piiiker 
 tbsciplin(\ He revi:^ited America in 10-2, and speedily 
 v:i^ in\ul\-edi ill li^.t dispides widi the preachers t;ieie,and 
 tile (biN-eriior ef rennsy! va.nia. i\!'ier m mtlis of a.crimon- 
 ie-us dis-ens'on, the maj'iaity disowned Keitli, ^\]lo, how- 
 c\'er,had a considerable following. J Lis party cadded them- 
 selves Christian Quakers, and maintaincil a separate ex-
 
 254 ^^^^ Quakers. 
 
 ist('iiCij for .soiuo years. Uetuniiiig to London in 1(J94, 
 A'iok'iit altercations with Whitclicad, Pcini, and Elhvood, 
 terniiiiatcd in Kcitli's expulsion. Hero also a minority 
 espoused Keith's views, with whom he cstahlished a 
 se})arate meeting in 1G95 ; still calling himself a Quaker. 
 In 1701 he joined the Estahlislied Church, and was sent 
 hack to America as a missionary hy the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel. Thei'c his former adherents 
 would not receive him ; and he soon returned to England. 
 In 1702 his reply to I Barclay's Apology appeared. After 
 this he w;is appointed to the benefice of Edherton in 
 Sussex, where he made himself uiipopulai', it is said, hy 
 ]'igour in the collection of his tithes: he died in 171'>, 
 and is reported to have expressed regret on his death- 
 he d. 
 
 Tile story comes to us through a strongly prejudiced 
 soui'Ci'. ddiat Keith exhibited infirmities of temper is 
 ])roliahI(; enough, hut it is not less ])rohahle that these 
 iiilii-iiiitics ^\tl( Vint conliiied to his side. The fact is, 
 Iveitli's ciimplett' eliaiigc ol' iVoiit was inexplicabh! to his 
 riiriiici' ciiiiii'adrs, and they ciadd only understand it on 
 ihc 1i\-](iitl!('^is (if seir-('i)ii(;cit and (lisa[)pointed amhitiou. 
 It is only fair ti 1 l\cil li io say t hat (lua'e is no e\' idcnce for 
 tlirsc ch.argi s. 1 n his ani l-(|uakcr writings, his tone is mo- 
 dia-alc, iVanlv in ackno\\lcilgi]ig his former eia'oi's, kindly 
 tow'ii'ds his (>pponenfs. Ilai'sh evpi cssidus distlL;'ure(l 
 
 1h'' '''''' ''"'' di,-CUS->i( iirs, but kiese \\v\\\ Used b\- both 
 
 sides; and if liiice denunelat Ions ( )!" heresy ai'(! enough 
 to depiixc a man ol' ('hiistian cliai'a.etia', it W(add he 
 (iilllailt to llnd any oiii' in that w^v. ^\"llo-e claim to be 
 (aiddei'ed a ('hibaian would stami. ('eilainly the 
 eai ly <^>Mal;ei's are no exception to the geiiei'al mile.
 
 George Keith. 255 
 
 Nevertheless, Keith's complete change of front is even 
 now a startling and perplexing phenomenon ; and it is 
 }iot surprising tliat his old friends were iinahle to regard 
 it in an inipaitial light. At one time standing shoulder 
 to shoulder with llohert Barclay against a hostile 
 'World ; at another fighting him foot to foot ; at first 
 preaching the sutticiency of the Light within ; after- 
 wards denouncing the doctiine as rank heathenism ; he 
 Seems to ImAO renounced all that he formerly believcil, 
 and to ha\'e ado[)ted all that he formerly rejected. Xo 
 wonder that the Quakers de'emed him a spiritual apos- 
 tate He is judged more mercifully in these days.^ But 
 modern Quakerism has itst'lf, though at a shjwer rate, 
 pjassed through a Keithian transformation ; and there- 
 lore has less difficulty in Ijeing charitable. 
 
 To tinderstand Keith's case, we nnist remendjer that 
 quakerism was spirittial Christianity growing otit of 
 and flourishing upon the soil of Bihlicalism. Geoi-ge 
 I'^ox's teaching was a reaction from the literalism (jf the 
 Puritans, a protest against the legal external view of 
 (dirist's r(;d('mption ; a reh^rmation, not hy denial, hut 
 hy addition. Fox [iractically iiiaintained the iid'allihility 
 of the Seriptures as sincerely as any Puritan, and his 
 faith in the pers(jn and work of the historic Chiist was 
 not less real, not; less inteirse, than theirs. ]]ut he 
 I'escticd himself from Ijomlage to the letter 1)y faith in 
 tin.' iudwehing Spirit: and the doctrine of Christ 
 AN'ithin, thu uni\'ersal sa\ing Light, cleairsing tlie soul 
 from sin, changed redemption from an outwar*! far-(jff 
 lt'g;d transaction into an actual present sah'atien. Thus 
 the old doctrine remained side hy side with the new, 
 ' VwYr nfO'copjc Fuy, l.y W. Talliick. p. 17'-'.
 
 256 TJic Qual'crs. 
 
 and he \va ; c<j:K;cio;;:i of na iiiconsl.stoucy between Iheni. 
 Naturally lie laid most stress upon tlic truths Avhich had 
 heL'U ne.dected by tlio Ciuirches, and revealed anew to 
 liiniself ; and the rn')rc because these doctrines brini,^ the 
 ti'uth clo.^est home to tlio lieart, and arc inunediately 
 eillcjieious. In C0]ise(|ue]icc, accusations of denying 
 Chi'ist and the Scripture's were liurled at liis liead ; but 
 lie knew they were i';vlso, and disre^^'arded them. It' 
 thei'e was a want oi" coln'rcnce between the parts of the 
 s\-SL(_'m, if it C!jiitai:ied within itself the seedis of divcrgin;.j 
 d-\'e!()pments, Fox was \\x)i conscious of tliis. Now let 
 us tiy to lealise th.e reception of (jU;dverism by the little 
 lijuid of AbL'rdonians of whom Iveith was one. It is 
 l-hiin fi'om the st;itemends of Ja'ii'ay's diary that some 
 01' them joined the ri'ati'rn.ity without a full and unrc- 
 sei-ved ace. ptance of tin; (hieti'ine of the inward Light. 
 'i'h''\' wi'Ti^ attrai ted, not by lh('ol(Mle:d dogma, bnt by 
 piTicI ;ca! ( 'h;-i-ti:in lilb. In this bit h' company of despised 
 <y.i;il;i'i\- tlii'y i'l lun ! \m^V'.' ' 'iii'isti'Ui hmaibty, ])Urity,lo\'e, 
 scii'-di'ohd, m;:rtyi'doin, thin tiicy coiijil (hc.ci'u in the 
 (|o;iiiii;nit: pr^' byl I'l'i.-in.l-iM. 'i"h''y had not the sbghtcst 
 thei|.;-lii ol' d''jio ill;;' til!' iVibh' IVtMii its ].!,','('; ])Utonl\' 
 oi' i.r|i :,-, (]:, r. ii-hl;/ (ari'ving it i;.to jirai'i ice. Vav IVom 
 i! i;n. |i;i hi !i^ ti.- ;: I'.'ini ! hi I'ai.- r;;itli iii Jesus ('hi'ist, 
 tlii'V i'.ow it;.l'-i'.l t hi'ii- \ ilaj nni'Si with liini as n(>\-er 
 bi|'< ai'. Snjiji- i' ( !i er_c ixi'ii 11 ' uch a man, unsusi'i'-ious 
 ;il i'r^t I '[' \\ir liieiil t'a:d( Ilia,--. ;nid ]Mi--,il)le dr\clnp- 
 ni'i'l ' ' T f jO;! !;' rl I'l, '>],\y di -c i\(ahig thiaii somewhat 
 l;:ii' in I'l'e, ;ii;d then ;i( |ii;i re-.-M-ihng thian not as true 
 ijM,. hei'i 111, lail ;; i!- ] i\e! leji ; ;!i|(l |1|,. liddh' ol' his 
 \ ai ili;ii ' i. - i.,-e|\id. II' iiii gi\ings loo-ein his mind 
 dms!;.;- j'e^.'s ii let inie, t he cx t I'a ( ii'd i na ' v per:~enal iidh;-
 
 George Keith. 257 
 
 cnco of tliat great man overpoworeil K('itli'.s \vcaker 
 eliaracttT. One can un^lcrstand tliat to Keitli, Fox 
 seemed ahva}'s to lioldtlie lialaiice true, .-md to l>e altle to 
 restrain liis followers from extremes in either direction. 
 'J'liere aif indications that even dnriiig this ])eriod, Keith 
 \\'as ]i(;t ])eLi'eetly satisfied with ([uaker opinions. 
 That notion of transmigration was an hypothesis to 
 s')l\-c the ilillicult}' of the' p<j^sil>ility of the sah'ation of 
 those who had not heard tlie gosptd st(jry. lie thouglit 
 that pious heathen wlio liad never heard of Christ, 
 might Ije rehoi-n and so recei\'c the gospel. It is said 
 also, tliougli no date is giveii, that Keith wished to have 
 a ( '<_)iitessi(ai of Faith drawn np, and suhmitteil to every 
 (,)naker for signatui-e ; a proposition which, perhaps, 
 heti'ju's want of coiilidcnct; in tlu' orthodoxy of some of 
 hi> party. Afte'r F(j.\'s deatii, Keith might well think it 
 his duty to bo more watchful than before against the 
 intrusion of f;dsi.' doctrine into the society. He liegan 
 to f(';u' tliJit the manner in A\']iieh some of the ])]-eachers 
 iiisistel u[ion the suHlcieuey ()f faith in tin." inner Light, 
 piactieaily excludeil faith in tin' historical person aii<l 
 ^vo]k' di' Christ Jesus. When he endeax'oured to reeall 
 tliem to a due appreciation of the external historic facts, 
 thci]- o])]iositiou seeiui'd to him an accusati<jn that liis 
 own ]ii-eaeliing Christ ^\ithout and Christ within was 
 I'reaching two (Jhi'lsts. It was the old ditlieulty owr 
 \\-hich LurroTighs and iUnuMii wresth'd and anatlu/ma- 
 ti/eMJ each otlu'r so long liefore. If the inwaril LiL;-ht 
 is \'e]'y Christ, tlu; Son of (!od, tiie same as the liistorie 
 Kedi'cnii'r, then Ik.' who has tlu' Light, has Christ : and 
 tliu-- is not de])eni]ent upon a distant hi,-^to]ic knowledrj-e 
 of Hi 111. Twenty yeai's bei'ore, Keitli st<.)utl}' denie(| tiie
 
 25H The (Junkers. 
 
 cliaro-o tliat tlio Quakers in v;il idatod tlio gospel lilstory 
 now he ])e;;'an to suspect that lie was mistaken. We 
 liave his own account of the cliange. " WJkmi Fitzwater 
 sail] in liis piva'cr at the _\'eaily meeting in P]iiladel[)]iia 
 these words : '0 (Jo;l \\\\o died in ns, and liast risen in 
 us;' I did puLlicly in tlie meeting repreliend him as 
 
 speaking hliisphemonsly It' at an\" time I ]n\\Q 
 
 said tliat Clirist is crucitied in any one, I did in no wise 
 understand it so, that he sufiered in the k'ast as God, 
 l)nt as that seed of God suflereth in men h}' tlieir sins, 
 wldcli seed ot" Ciod helongeth to (dn-ist, as a certain 
 mend)er of Christ, mystically speaking."^ When tiie 
 iIood-gat(;s of contrcn'ersy were o})ened, it was easy for 
 the Quakers to prove that Keith in old time had used 
 (piaker kmguage and taught (juaker doctrine. lie in 
 reply could not deny his own statements, ^^dueh existed 
 in ji-int ; 1>ut he asserted that expri'ssions which he had 
 uscil allcgdi'icaily were misnndci'stood. According to 
 liim, his advei'sjuies In Pennsyh-ania "had this seirsc oi' 
 meaning of ( 'hri^t witliin, that this oidy shoidd he 
 ealli'd ;iiid cstiM'incil Glii'ist, A\-|iich they did IVcl in their 
 h ai'ts to re]ii'n\-e sill, and to ivlVesh tle'iii Avilli a certain 
 ji)\-il'ai any time tlieydid well.' lii; does not charge 
 ilif j'jiglish (^)iiakii's witli jrnin-- to tins exti'iMiie, hut 
 deel;ii'(s t!i;it W'idiam I'eiiii, who denouiieeij him to his 
 i'ae as ;iii apo-taie, s;u<l in pulijie meeting that " ,l'Vi(.;nds 
 se(' no L!!'''at need of ]ii'eaehiM_;- the faith of Ciirist's 
 (le;it]i ;iiid su If i ri 11 -s. i'"nr all I'lii'^laud and all (^'hi'isten- 
 dom h;i\'i' tlinf, i'aith.and it<liith not ])rolit them ; hut 
 the faiili wiiieli pnilitetli ne'ii is the faith of Christ 
 within, and this iVi.'nds pri-a'-li." Keith himself said 
 ' Ivcitli's letter appeiidtMl to Crix'se's liistery.
 
 George Keith. 259 
 
 sninotliing very liko tliis in his quaker da^'s. He asserts 
 liowovor, that lie always regarded the Scriptures as the 
 iiecessar}' mean and the only rul(_' of fVath, and acknow- 
 ledges that most of the Quakers were unsouiK.l in this 
 ]-espect. 
 
 One result of the controversy with Keith was the pro- 
 mulgation Ijy ilie Quakers in 1095, of a Confession of 
 Faith, drawn up, it is said, by George Whiteliead, and 
 signed by him and the leaders of tJie society. This 
 docinnent asserts, what the (Quakers firndy believe'l, the 
 scriptural orthodoxy of their creed. But we learn the 
 I'eal meaning of their system from Barclay's Apology, 
 Avhich they recognis(.'(l as its best exp()siti(jn. Iveith's 
 i-e])ly to this ceh;brate 1 Ixxjk sets out, fully and fairly, the 
 I'aiiical ditierence between quakerism and the ]ircvalent 
 ortlujdoxy. J]arelay, iri his " Apology Adndicated," amply 
 C(jntirms this momentous ditferencc. " That is falsely 
 supposed/' says the Quaker champion, " tliat the essence 
 of the Chi'istian r(.;iigion consists in the liistorical faith 
 and kn(J^\ledge of the Ijirth, death, life, resui-]'cction, and 
 a,-cei!si(in. of Chi'ist. 'J'hat faith and historical know- 
 ledge is indeed a })art of the Christian religion, but not 
 such an essential part, as that without ^\hich the Chris- 
 tian religiori cannot onsi.-^t ; but \v\\ integral pai't, which 
 ,';;o;-s to the C-nijJeting (;f the Chi-i-.tiiin rel]gion, as the 
 h;inds or feet ()f a man, are the iiit'.'gral parts <>f a man, 
 without v/hich, nevertheless, a man inay exist, Ijut not 
 an entire and complet*; man."^ In his reply, Keith 
 admits that he himself had us(.'d siunlar language Ijefore 
 Barclay, but explains that he UK.'aJit only that it was 
 n(jt neces^aiy to possess such a clear and explicit know- 
 ^ iJ'U'r'jJij'ti irurJ^s, fulio cditi(jn, p. 8iJe.
 
 ?6o 
 
 'J' he Quakers. 
 
 le(lu,'e, as is coiitaiiUMl in the (iospols ; otlicnvise tlic 
 patriarclis could not liavc liecn sa\'ijd. But in his later 
 time Keith iiiaiiitaius that the ancient saints had a ])ro- 
 ]ihfti<- \'ie\v oi'thf liedecuier, and that soiiic deurce' ot' faith 
 in Jesus Chi'ist as lie was t(.) come, or as lie has come, in 
 tile flcsli, is an essential part ot'tlu' Cln'isLian religion. In a 
 Word Ivei til Joins i-Mie on the vital points. Barclay tauu'ht 
 the sutlicieiicy of the inward Bii^'ht. Keith denied it. 
 Jjarchu' tauu;ht that immediate I'cvclalion was gi\'en t(j 
 all l)tdi(;\i'rs. Keith asserted that it was giN'cn only to 
 pro])hcts and apostles, and i'e(|nired conhnnation by 
 iniracles. Jiarchiy taught that the Sci'i[)tui'es were a 
 secondary I'ule. Keith believed in their su[)renie 
 authoi'it}'.' 
 
 Keith's ea^e shows that the iniallihility oi the Ijilile, 
 and the supreme authority of tin.' Spirit, are doctrines 
 \\ liieh cannot permanently coalesi'c. lly his return in 
 old au''' to the Prot'stant orthodnxy of his hoxdioixh 
 Ki ilh ani ieipated in liis own ])er>on the jn'ocess A\hieh 
 i-; liing more slowly rullillcl in the (^)iiaker ( hurch. 
 Till' eoiiiph'te clivje which he tra\er-ed in one life-time, 
 (|nak'ti--m has leit entii'ily accompli^hi'd to this (la\'. 
 Iliit aliva'ly the ina j' ii'ity a re e-.-iiitially Keithian : and 
 unh'-- a IH'W iv\i\ a! can i(-> them, lea hackward to the 
 un-lahlr posiiioii oecii]ii:d hylli^orgc fox, hut l'or^vald 
 to a la'W apjii-i Inii-i^n ot' ( hri.'-I ia nity, slmj ilm', clearer, 
 III. .re >] iiritual. and IVcer iVom the ami li jiiit ii-s of eari\' 
 i|UMloi-i^iii. we may expect their cut ire re-ah>orption in 
 
 the oldel- chure]ie> ;it lio \ei'\- (H^tallt date. 
 
 77(. ^ '.(/< /"/'/ -///" V""''' 
 
 '/ : liv (icei'-'c Ktjith
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 T]1E CENTCJIY OF QUIKTISM. 
 
 Ai'i'Mii the ejection ()(' Cu'oi-gc Keitli, foi' ;x IuhkIixmI years 
 the Quakei's lia<l jx'acc, iiiiinok'sted by })er,seciiti<)ii, iin- 
 (listurbcil l)y .seliisiii. .Inqirisoiiiiient i'or rei'usal to pay 
 tithes eoivti]iue(h hnt Avitli tliis exception they had no 
 ]ou_L;'er any coni])laiiit ri^-ainst tiie law of the laml, otlier 
 than th.e disabiUl i(_'.s common to all noneonl'orniists. 
 TlicN' A\'(.'i'e vexed hy no intei'iial dissensions, hccanse no 
 one N'cntui'ed to (|Uestlon either the (h)ctiane or the dis- 
 ci])line rec(;i\'cd i'rom their lathers Xo i^reat thiidvcr 
 dex'eloped the system of liohert JJarclay, to opjjose its 
 spiritualism t(j the e-rowin^' I'ationalism of tlie a^v. No 
 izi'eat pi'eaehei's went forth to attack tlie apostate 
 churches and their hireling' cler^'y, to denonnee (iod's 
 jud^iiient in the market-place and pi'oclaim tlie e-ospcd 
 of uiii\e]'sal e'l-ace on the lull-side. They stood on the 
 defensive in theii' intrenchiiients, content to let the ^Tcat 
 wurld alone, stiivine- onl}' to L;'uard their cami) ae'ainst 
 the inti'Usion of its corrn[)tinu,- iiilluence. It "was the 
 ])eace ol" staenatioii. One may call this pci'io 1 of their 
 history, the century of rpiietism, nndcrstandin.;' hy the 
 teiMii that hahit of miudl which shriidcs i'rom a^i'U'ressi ve 
 eifort, allows the churches and the ^\'orld to go on their 
 (jwn wa}', seeks only to worship (iod in retirement, to
 
 262 
 
 The O linkers. 
 
 nourish one's own rclii^'ious life, and to c^^unnend tlie 
 tnitli ratlicr liycondiict tliiinlty preacliini^-. Quietism has a 
 ]a]e heautyol:' its oAvn, atti'active to timid, gentK\ Inmililo 
 souls; hut it is tlie lieauty of evcniuL;' twiliuht and of 
 jiutumuiil decay, its humility, its sense of human im- 
 ])otence, its scru[)rtlous dread of iusinccrity. irs purpose 
 rather t^) he th.iu to talk", these exei'ilcnt (paalities mr.y 
 leal one to mistake i|uietisiu for the path oCvisdoui, 
 thi'uani.w w;!\', the time ( 'hi is!i;iii life. A _L:'ra\'e nds- 
 tak(' it Would h' : for tiiat whieh diileri'iitiates (piieti^m 
 is not the' p('>st_'S>ion of these L;'oi)d (juaiities, of which it 
 lias no monopoly, htit the ahscuce of", or delieit'iicy in, 
 othei- n'ood (|ualltit's, the failh Avhich lias a mission from 
 (!od to the AN'oiid; the lo\c wliicli cannot I'cst in personal 
 saKalioii ; the zoal which sacri'ices all, e^en one's own 
 (juii'tiiess of spirit, ill tlni scrxice of ( dirist and humauit}'. 
 W hi'ii the Li^lit >hni',c \\\\\\ nonii-dny clearness in tlieir 
 Jicails, the < hihlrni kS tho Lii^'hl ^\ele lin'ht-hoarers in a 
 ilark worM : \\hfii (he >r^^A dl' ( .'oi] sprauL!,' nj) within 
 thtiii, and hrnii-hl i'orih ahuiidaent I'ruits of lo\-e, Joy 
 ;iihI pc;irc, tlii^y went forth to sow the S' cd CNcrywliere. 
 'I h'^y h.-id hcrii (pii'li'-ts ill th" d;iys wlun tlioy were 
 si'.k(i-,> ; liiit wImii till' irNtlalioii e;!iiic they wci'e 
 i|uii ti.-i s III I !i iii'^cr. ( Miii't i-iii is not )iia feet C'lirist iaiiity ; 
 ti a' di I1-, < 'hfi~i v.;i- 111 i|iiiia i-t . or thci'i' had l-ecii no 
 ( a ' I i I 1 1 1 X 1 1 a 1 . 
 
 Til-' 1 r;iii-it ii ai frian tic oninii-- i mliu^In-^m of the 
 e;;r!i. ! .ju.-iki 1 i an 1 1 . t h.- di .it 1: hki' stihin--^ nf its middle 
 ] ii ii 1 1 w ;e: -li i',\ , iiiid ;ii lira iiii-u-] 'i la - L < >iii' ly (aio 
 t hi' ;i _i-i 1 I i-i;ii-hi r-. w hi I had ^hni-id t hi' \ iji a'l ais life (if 
 till' liiiii' ni' ]M-i'-iciitii 111, ]i;i->i d a\\a_\a iliirmoeii ais of the 
 im j iiiidiii;; eh.iiiL;'''. We hr>l hrjir thf accfiits of alarm
 
 T/ic Ccittnry of Ouutisi/i. 263 
 
 ill the pau;'c.s ot" William Brcjinlield '^ ^vll(), rctiirnini!,' to 
 iMii^'laiul after an aliseiicc of more than twenty years, 
 was startled to see tin- clian;::;'e in tlie appeai'anco and 
 hal)its of the onee poor despised self- denying Children 
 of Light. Their gay ap})arel seairlalized him ; in their 
 dress they Were hardly distiii^nishahle from the Avorld. 
 d'he men woi'e ilanntir.g ]ieiiwigs, abonnnations made 
 of v,'oinen's i)V goats' hair, coeked hat-^, coats cut d be 
 ninih' : the women had tiieir hoo])e 1 j^dticoats, laced 
 shoes, clcckt hose, gold chains, lockets, ji.'Wtds, ami line 
 sili<s. Jjromiield roundly accused the Quakers of 
 apostacy : so great was the change. Foi'merly their cry 
 luid heen against an apostate Christendom. Now a 
 proplset of themselves cried against apostate Quakers, 
 acknowlei-lging oidy a remnant as true to their |)rinciples. 
 Idds lh\.)m1ield must have heen a notable figure in his 
 time : and as peiliaps the last echo of primeval quaker- 
 i-^m, the last, or ;i,mong the last, who boldly claimed the 
 gift of pro[)hec\', his st<.)ry deserves some attention. He 
 was a me<lical man, a pre.^^byterian in Cromwell's tinu;, 
 who became a (Quaker in IGT-k The favour shown by 
 James II. to the (Quakers, attached him to the cause of 
 tl'.c falling monarch. Having ti'ied in \'ain to dissuade 
 him from ilight, he iVjlhjwed tlu^ King to Irelantl, and 
 afterwards to i'aris, where he actetl for }'ears as his con- 
 liiK'ntial secretary. In this situation he, incurred the 
 cnnnt}' of the Karl of Midilletoii, \\]\<>, after King 
 Jamt'ss (Iratli, sncceeil(M| in getting hiuL impi'isoned in 
 the JSastille. Thei'e foi" nine years he endured much 
 suffering, not with the serene e([Uaninnty which had 
 
 ^ The luutli of Ihc Tfiif: Christian, oiui ihc I'rliuitiix Qualxr'.H 
 luiifh, by \V. Uronilifld : 1725.
 
 264 ^-Tlic Quakers. 
 
 (li.'^liiiU'uislKMl Cctji'^'c Fox uud iiuuiy more in their iiu- 
 jirisoiiiiioiits. llflrasuf] at Icn^'tli, lie I'ctunicd to JMi^'land, 
 to lu_' ai^'aiii scizt.'d and coiiliiicd in Newgate, where he 
 penned his Confession of Faitli in 1711. 
 
 Jn Ids own story of Ids hife, ap])ended to tins Confes- 
 sion, the reader is struck ly the i'recjnency of visions and 
 preilicti(.)ns. Such ini])ressions wei'e coninion among tlio 
 early (Quakers, hut heconie rare in their Liter Idstoiy. 
 This is e\ident from a comparison of tlic records of four 
 laiidsters, Ijronifleld, llicliardson, Clialkde}', and Jjownas, 
 who were hoi'ii in the seveideeidli century, with tliose 
 of i'liur otiiei's, ( diurcliman, Cd'iHitli, (Jough, and \\\jol- 
 niau, who heloiig wluiHy to the eighteenth ceidur\'. It 
 i-. iioticeulih' also that the lirst (|Uartei- of the eighteeutli 
 ci'iitury had its ci'o]) of i-eligious fanatics, hut there is 
 Jiotluug to connect them wit li the tpiaher hod}'. There 
 w ere pi (ijilii'ts ill ( dasgtiw and in Ivdiihurgh, and tliree 
 priil)h>tr>-iv> ill l!i-l>t'il,' a.^ we learn IVoiu conleinjjdrai'}' 
 ]iam]ihli t> : llioiigh lln'V were so hltle jvgardi'd that 
 tli'-i^: i^ iM rcord (if tlii'ir oiigiii or ct mnect iiin>. Sonnj 
 I'Vmch ]iri iplii't -> AvliM eanii' I Liiidnu exeilcd more' 
 att''iit i' 111, hut till' C'"'''^''''^ cxjio-cd thi'ir pi'ctciisii >ii,s.- 
 I'uttiiig lle-^'' facN (".;> t lirf. Mile WMiild naturally ((, 11- 
 ji-cture tliat, t 1m' lat' r C'"ahir-- w iTc III d-pMM'd to hrlii-N e 
 in sup' I'liat iiral mniiiiV^tat i< an, such as had hfcii un- 
 <|iic-.t iMiiiii-ly ac'.pod in til.' lii--( (lays. Tli.' jiainial ol" 
 Sam I id hnw iia- -i\ c- |m idt i\ c jn'. ) 't' (.1' I hi- ehaiMe'. Me 
 Ir.-iiilJy (h-taih tlic ] .n k-: -, I ly w hieli the cldriN ( ,f t h(; 
 s'M-i.'t_\ ill l>(ai'f>ii thri'W C'lhl watir iipMii (piai<ei- ]U'e- 
 
 ' I '.'' ';.- .- /V.././,^ /..'/ Ilw, ;,.,, l,y Marv I l.rr, .Vc. 
 1:1 :-i -i, I .n'.i.
 
 TIu: Century of Oi/iclishu. 265 
 
 tcii>i(>iis to priiplircy, aiiil .succclmIciI in silejieltiL;" tluMii. 
 llin t'liciid, Isiiac Air.vandt'i', first I'orctolil in the JJristol 
 iiKH'tiiiu' tliat (liviiiu juil^iiK'nt A\'as cc^huhl;' on tlie ])ef>|>lc 
 for tlu'ir })ri(lo and \viclveilnc<s, and tliat tlicrc wouid !)( 
 a ^'I'cat mortality. In L()nd(jn, at tlic Yearly Meeting', 
 lie Avisjicil t(j rcpe-at liis prophecy, l)ut the elders of the 
 Clnu'cl) ^vc]e not satisfied, and advised liini to return 
 lunne, Avliieli he did, in nuieh trouble of mind. There- 
 upon Bownas Idniself i'elt an impulse to go to London 
 on tjie same errand, determining however to consult some 
 f';vithi"ul hrcthren, hcforc (hdivcring his message. Him 
 also, till' elders sucee'eded in silencing, not hy pei'emjttory 
 authoi'ity, hut hy judicious procrastination. 'I'hcy ad- 
 vi^i d caution, and wailing upon the J^oi'd, meanwhile 
 visiting him <laily Aviih fathei'ly teiuh'ruos, miLll he was 
 himself C(.)ntent to I'cl'rain iVom pnhlishing the pi'ojiliecy. 
 Treatment of this kin<l, steadily ])ersisted in, would 
 ])lace a check upt-n excited imaginations. Henceforth, 
 se\'ere self-i-e[)ression charactei'ized the ((),uakers ; their 
 gi-ave formality disf(juraged (diullitioirs of entlnisiasm ; 
 and fanaticism had to seek other (Aitlets. 'I'Juis tlie 
 strange Ameiican sect, the Shak(_'i's, sju-ang indirectly 
 from the soeiet_y()f Friends, daia; W'ai'dhiw, a ])ro])hetess, 
 who announced in the mai'kc t-place of Jlohon, in ha,n- 
 cashire, that the end of all things w;;s at liand, that 
 C'hiist was ahout to reign, and that I lis second appear- 
 ance would he in a Mdinan's form, \\as c)ri-inall\' a 
 (^^iiakeress. She coiucrted ^Vnn Lee, a])(ior woman of 
 ?iiaiichestei', to hei' fnith. Ami hee gained disci])l(\s, and 
 h-il them to America, \\di(;i'e tln^y multi]>licd, until there 
 are n(jw six thousand of them in eighteen \-illage settle- 
 ments.' 
 
 1 Xc\r .!//(,/>", hy Uepworth Dixon, V..1. 11., p. 114.
 
 ]()h 
 
 The Quakers. 
 
 Ill ;viii)tlii'i' Inspect Uromfield's story indicates a 
 transition state. Hitherto, in spite of fVe(ine,nt schisms, 
 tiici'c had been a h\iii<^ innty anion^' tlie (^)nak('rs, in 
 faitli. in doctrine, in jUMctice. In an einiiu;nt di';"ree 
 tlifV I'ldliih'd tlie npostolic injunction tliat they shcndd 
 \\\\ spc-dv the sanii' tliin'j; and he ol' the sanu^ mind. 
 'i'hi'ii' seliisnis were tlie direct result of tliis lixiuL!,' unity. 
 The i''i'i<'iids otTiuth could not cont(.'nte(lly sit toj^'ether 
 in tlicii' i:ii'ftinL;'s in a nu'i'e senddnnce ot:' liarmony ; 
 tlicy mu>t he, and l<no\v tliat tliey were, oi:' one iu.'art, 
 ;nid lit' on- mind. J 1' ii-i'econciiah!c (Vdlbi'ences arose, 
 then ol: neccss'ty some nmst n'o out, because in the 
 ('lini'cli tlie Spirit of Vx^aX reii^'ns, and wliere that Spii'it 
 ivl;4iis,tli('i'i' is unity. Sucli was ori<4'in;d ([iiakerism; an<l 
 wlp'n Kciili (hli'cred from Ins hretln'cn, the controversy 
 ^vas pur^uodi to tlio l)iti('r end ; l)nt in In'onditdd's case 
 it \\as nut so. llci'e was a man nttoriuL;" htderodox 
 opinion-^, ()p])(isi'd hy nnotlioi' sturdily ortliodo.x ; .'ukI 
 the (^>u;d-. or ( 'Iiiirch doeiiiiiM;_;' to inti"r\"eiii'. It could not 
 hi' snid that tie' ipestinns raised wci't" uidmporf ant. In 
 hi- haith of the 'IVui' ( 'hri- 1 ian,' Ilromlield ^ave ibith 
 a, \aiiati^iii of ih" ( Vei'd. ' \, \ hrhe\e in oik (!o(l, (he 
 h.ithir Ahiii^hly, Ahakor*.!' liravm and eaUh. II. .\iid 
 ill .h-ai- ( 'ii ri^t , I lis I luly Son, t ho faonial Spii'it, \\ hicli 
 lari'o iianii'> makl-^ oiio only (lud, wiiiidut ] ua'sonality. 
 III. I h li"\ ( ai-i ill t l;o .|,icti ino ,,r the -Teat Tl-opIleL 
 .lo-u-, eilf d th- ( 'iiri-t, of the .(.-d oi' |),i\ id, aec-rdiiio- 
 t . ih" If'dl. I \' ( 'olieri\-,-d hy II, o pi'.'diotion ,,f the 
 Ih.ly <di--t. W l;.irii m|' iI,,. \-iiyiii Mai'v. \'i. Who 
 >iilf. ivd iiiafa' I'laitin^ I'ilate, was, \ I I ., ( 'nioi tied, died, 
 and was huiacih and )' ..-o a'_';dn the third da\-, aecoj-diiiL;- 
 t.. tho Ihily S(a-iiiture>. \lll, I 1 .elio\ , t fat ( iod has a
 
 Tlic Century of Quietism. 
 
 267 
 
 ti'iiu C'inirc]i U[;ou cartli, and tliat Church to be nni- 
 \LTsa], wliic'li is cathohc. IX. \\\ the ccjimuunion of 
 saints. X. In the foi'<;i\'encss of sins. XI. In th.e 
 resnri'cctidii of tlic Lody, ami XII., In the life cvrr- 
 lastino-.'' This is plainly a form of unitaiianism, and 
 iuv'.lvrs \\ driiinl of the niiracnlniis conc('i)tii>n. Bi-oni- 
 hcld is e:\plit:it on tliis point. Idio Xew TL'staincnt, 
 with tiie exci.'ption of Matt. I. 17-2o. wliicli passa^ij,'*? he 
 I'cjcctLMl on account of its inconsistency witli tlie otlior 
 ])assaL;'i_'s, traclies, aecordin^- to liis view, tliat Jesus Avas 
 tlio' son of JosL'ph. Tiioui^-li he stoutly inaintains tliat 
 Ids doctrine was tliit of all the old Quaker leaders ; so 
 la]' as my i'ea<ling- has i;'one, none of theni denied the 
 miraculous conception, and while they would not use 
 tlio phraseology of trinitarianism, preferriiiL;" scriptural 
 laiiLj'uau'c, they W(>re not unitarian. Henton Crown, 
 Ihondield's antag-onist, was a decided trinitarian, and 
 claimed the tj^uaker Fathers as his su]'>port('rs. To hini 
 J5romfield replies; "This angry ad\'ei'.-^ar}' of mine has 
 taken a great deal of pains and ti'ouble to cpiotc divers 
 of our anticnt Fi'lcir^s' t(.'stlmr)iii('s cuncerinng Jesus 
 {Mu-i>t's suh',']-ings, hirth, death, and resurrection; all 
 whieli I knownohody that denies anything, either in the 
 Holy Serl])tur(\ or anv faithful testimoines hd't hy our 
 j-'rieii(k, that is cousi-teiit with truth ; an<l truly most 
 of th(,^ antieiit Friends that I liave heard preach I'or 
 ahi)\'e lifty years, they always laboured to hiiiig peO}>le 
 to tli<' k'nowledge of Jesirs Chiist A\ithiii, the ]io]Ki of 
 gloiy, a)id nr)t to trust to the man .lesus tiiat died at 
 Jerusalem. For, although we all heliev(.' that he was 
 born of the Virgin Mary, sutl'ered inider i'ontius Pilate, 
 died and was buried, and rose the thii'd day, and
 
 2rnS 
 
 llic Quakers. 
 
 jisceiideil into Iicua'l'H ; yet wc; say that llic liistufical 
 i'aitli will sa\'o no man, except we come to Christ in his 
 second comiiii;-, to jjni'ge our morta.l hodies from dead 
 works, to serve tlie livini;' Cio.l." ^ This ma}" he accepted 
 as a fair acconnt of tlie teacliini;' of tlio early 
 Quakers, hut it does not suflice to show that tliey 
 wouhl liave ap[)ro\'e<l of William I^romtiehh The 
 founders of tin; society were not eaL;'er to enter into 
 the trinitarian conti'oversy, heiui;' satisfleil with and 
 ul)-orh('d hy their L;'reat doctrine of the Light within, 
 and its ])iMctical resuUs. If iJromheld's huok had ap- 
 peai'cd wdien l'\)\', liai'clay, and Peon Averc li\inL:;, it 
 mi'ght luive heen censui'e(l. Whctliei' the majority of 
 th" (^>uakers who I'cad it, syiii[)alliize'(l with him, or 
 with his opfioncnt, we ha\a' Jio means of jnd^'iiii;'. ddie 
 el Ifrs who hail dissuaded .VlexaiKhu' and D^nvnas 
 from ]iuhlisliiiiL;- their ])ro])liecies, were content to allow 
 tlil~> L;ra\'e eonti'oxersy to dii.' out of itself. 'The I'ein'U of 
 ipiiet ism w as creejjin^' ( ui. 
 
 When the ] in i^i'ess of deism he^'nii to cau^e alarm in 
 (he ehurehe>, the (^)u;d<ei-.s were accuseil of hein^' deists. 
 Asa niall er ol' l'a:'t , deiNin diil nnt ,>[irin;_;' fi'om ([uaker 
 Mill, Woiihtiin and Tindal were sniis of efa'-'x-nien ; 
 1 \illln. In Inn-'ed to the ( 'huivh ef JMiM-Innd ; Tolaiid 
 wa^df linman ('allmlie e\t i-aet i' m. In antecedents, in 
 teiiiiH iMineMt, \\\ aiui, tli^'re was tiothiuL;' in caiinion 
 lietwi'.'ii the (^)iiMk''rs and the di'ists, except otdy the 
 anta^'ini-ni nf k-ith In the kenelic,' 1 cha-^'w W'oolslou 
 eiil< iji-,d the <^'iiak'ax, U'li k,'can-e lie juwd them, Imt 
 kcea a-" he hat ed tlie pi'ii' .t .. Tindal, wla i ii<es lan^aiaya; 
 -li'ikin-ly similai' to (hat of U\^- (^hiakia's, <-leai's them 
 
 ' A llj,l<J In ll,nl., l!,n,rn, <lr,, l7L'(i,
 
 llie Century of Qnictisiu. 269 
 
 of cniiiplicity, liy 'lenyino- and mockinr^ their Liu'Ht 
 ^vitllill. ]3cspito his contiMiiptuons disclaimoi', tlie re- 
 sciiil)lauci.' li(_'t\\'ij(.'ii the ddsls' " l;nv of Nature, "" the 
 clc.-ir and distinct //'//A/ tliat cidii^'litens all men,'' "' th<' 
 e;ui<lle of our .Maker lighted Uj) in (_'\'ery hreast to ^'uide 
 and .>hiut' perpetually,'"' and the Quaker's inward Light is 
 startling. Here are t^vo groups of men, agreeing in tlie 
 ass:jrtion of important truths, fur instance, the heing 
 and perfV'Ctions of G(,)d, man's moral nature and dnties ; 
 agreeing too in the assertion that tliey know these 
 ti'uths intniti\'ely and certainly, not as the result of 
 extcrnnl ex]^erionee or laborious induction, bnt by viidne 
 of an inti'i-nal faculty, wliich tliey butli call a light 
 within tlic mind. AVhat conclusion can, a rati(jnal man 
 di'ducf from these faets, but tliat this faculty is 
 tile same in both cases; and that if the two groups 
 disagree about the name, this nnist lie merely a vci'bal 
 di-<])ut<;\ indicating, ncjt a difierfnce in the thing itself, 
 liut in their modes of L)ol<i]ig at and (h_\scribing it ( 
 Ti'uly if this were S(_), deism and (pialverism \\-()uld be 
 pi'oM'd to lie lIu; same thing essentiaUy, and tlie natnr.-il 
 iTjisDii of Tiudal \\'ould lie the innuLMliatc reve!ati(_)n of 
 liai'cljiy, A\it!i a mere cliang(.' of name Closer exandna- 
 tiou, hoWL'X'ei', (lis>i])at('s our pi-rplexity. Tlic ditlbreiice 
 is >ci'ii to Ik," not at all a verbal one, but entii'ely in Die 
 ri'gii)!i of fact. Tin; truth is tliat the deists were 
 pr<'t('iiiliTs old}'. They ]irufcsM'd to dci'i\-o friiiii un- 
 aided human rcas'ai a kno\vledg<' of (icul wliich they 
 did not derive froiu that soiu'ce, but stole fi'oiii the 
 C'hii^tian (.'hurch and Sci'ijit ure-. We Iokav that this 
 >\"as so. ];ecause if natural reason was comjietent to 
 attain to (jivinc knowledge in the eighteenth century it
 
 2'jo The Quakers. 
 
 would be competent in the ninetecmtli. Is it ^ Atiioism, 
 Agnosticism, Positivism, loudly answer, X(j. 'J'hcn the 
 deists of last century were under a delusion in imagin- 
 ing tliat tlieir reason taught tlieui tliese liigli truths. 
 'J'liey luid no liglit of tlieir own, l)ut the light which 
 shone in them, making these truths visible, shone from 
 outside in tluit Chi'istiaiiity wliich they strove to under- 
 mine. Human reason does not and cannot attain to 
 that knowletlge of God, to which tlie deists laid chxim. 
 The Quakers and the deists met as tra\-eheis from 
 different regions, and going in opposiie directions, may 
 meet at a conuuon camping ground, and speak together 
 in the same languag(\ To the Quakers it was tlieir 
 vernacular, tlu; language of their hearts, expressing 
 a living reality ; while the deists oidy adopte<l some 
 coiu'entional })hrases wliich were useful for the occa- 
 sion, but had no ]'ea] meaning for tliem, were soon 
 forgotten, and liave long been mere nonst^ise in the 
 ears of tiieii- deseeiidants. \\dii!e tliis shai-p distinction 
 bctwe<'n ([Unkerisiii and deism must be maintained, 
 it is lint ini])ron;dile tliat many of tlie eigliteenth 
 century (Juedxci-s were infected in \-aiious degi"oes 
 witii the lalioiialistie >]MiIt oi' the limes; certainl\- 
 they displayed no great xi-oiir in opp;)-iii;;' it; liardh' 
 cnc'l e\-en to deny tie' chai'_;e of .synij'jit hv- \\\i\\ it. 
 This t >) may lie aiioilci' iinlit'aiiiin nf tiie apatliyoi' 
 
 Aliout I7.")<) \ital reh^-ion among the (^hiakei's ^\-as at 
 its lowc.-^t. The society I'ound it-elf eiicuuilieicd A\'itli a 
 mixcil multitU'li,' oi' nominal jirofcsxirs whose conduct 
 wa-. a coii-'tani n'])ro;;ch. 'I'he discipline had beconu; 
 ; Imost a deaiJ letter. Oli'eiiders went ioi' years uncen-
 
 TIlc Ccnlnry of Qitictisvt. 271 
 
 siired, almost unnoticed.^ But tlicro were faithful souls 
 who mourned over the general declension, and resolved 
 to "purify the camp." In 17G0, a strong- committees 
 was appoint(.'d by the Y^'ai'ly Meeting to travel thrcjugh 
 the land, and exhort the subordinate meetings to this 
 holy work. Samuel Fothergill, AVilliain Dillworth, and 
 others, labouring with unwearied zeal for t^ventJ years, 
 ett'ecti'd a great reformation. Disorderly walkers were 
 dealt with individually ; some were won to a genuine or 
 professed repentance, others were excomnumicated. 
 Naturally the reform was distasteful to the merely 
 noiiiinal Quakers, and there was opposition. Some went 
 to law, and others threatened violence. In Xottingham, 
 a licli young Quakei'ess, by name Mary Jerom, was dis- 
 owned by tlie meeting, iov M'hat fault is ]i(;t stated. 
 Wealth was no offence aniong the Quakers, but the pomps 
 and vanities of wealth were condemned ; and it is likely 
 enough that this young lady of property was warned 
 against " the lust of the eye an'l the pride of life," and 
 resented the admonition. An}- way she refused to sul)- 
 nnt to disownment ; and carrierl her case to the law courts. 
 ])(d'eated in her hrst suit, she gained her second, but the 
 Quakers a]>pealed ; and wealthy as she was, she had had 
 enoui^h of law ;- and succundj(.'d. From one of the sea- 
 poi'ts, nKunb'ers of the society were in the habit of send- 
 ing their ships out armed, for defence ogainst enemies 
 and pii'ates. A de}>utati(jn which c:ime to remojisti'ate 
 against this breach of quaker principles had to ily for 
 tlieir lives. These cases, lanvever, nmst be regarded as 
 (piite excei)tion.al. The conflict was a s|)iritual one, and 
 
 1 7.oH(/o/i Fnxnih-: 3/"^,^^(;/,s, pp. ]85, 25:). 
 - Guu'jii's llis'onj, Yul. lY., p. ij">5.
 
 T/ie Quakers. 
 
 tlio resolution of tlio supporters of discipline i)rcvaile(l. 
 ]-]cfoi"c tli' third (|uart<'r of the century exjjired, its work 
 ^\';is duiic, aud tlic .S(_)cieLy of Friends ;issnm<,Ml the 
 jieeuliar character, winch it prcser\X'd intact until a 
 I'cccnt pci'ind. Plainness of dress became almost a 
 unii'orni ; plainness of speech, a pass-word; rigid in- 
 sistence upon (piaker ])eculiarities niarle niembei'ship in 
 the frateriuLy dependent, not on lidtdity to Christ nnd 
 to Conscience, lut npon loyalty to the traditioirs of the 
 socictv. Not that the I'eformers were conscious of this 
 eri'or, though it has been pei'ci'ived l)y their descendants.' 
 ^\i>r, if they had bci'ii fully aware of all the nieainng of 
 their actlnu, is it easy to see any other course open to 
 them, slmi-t of the entire abau'lonnient of their position. 
 Having lost the cimlidenee in their dixiiie mission which 
 hid .-inimat'd their fathers to atti'iii])t the conversion of 
 all (yhi'l-ti'iidom, haxiiig fallen baek upon themsel\"es, 
 and uudci'l akeii the wofk' of si'lf-])uri!ieati()n as the oiu; 
 woik i^-'iNcn tiaiii to do ; llicy nobly icsoKi d to do this 
 work thoroughly and honi'^tly. If a man wi->l e(l to he 
 jiccdinitid a ( Mi;iker. hr nni-t be ;i (^)nak''r. Tln'y ^\ould 
 not ;illo\\ him to enjoy the reputation and the pri\'ilegcs 
 \\1, ill' shirking lip- l.ni'den^ of the so;-imy. I'nhapjiily 
 tli(\- no long' 1' ])o--,c,>(d the same clrai' light from (led, 
 waikiiiL;' ii) whieh theii' kathcfs kui'W that the\' wvyv in 
 the (iiily 1 1 ue ( 'kuich, to which all the other ehurchos 
 nni-l in the end submit. C'"'"'-^'''''^''! b'i'l heeome a sect, 
 oMi'amae.:- ma.ny : and thei'etdi-i' Iniil tlie gi'eatei' sh'ess 
 npoii tlio-.' piuit- oi' dlli'erence which ga\-eit a reason 
 I'-r i]i;i!ali-n. To hekaii:- to (lie society it A\as not 
 ei,i.ii-li Im he f.iithfnl to ( 'hrl-^t, and to CdnMaeiice: there 
 ' /;.,-',,/,,, M, ,/,,,;.,, 1,1,. i:;;i. i.-,;; ics.
 
 The Ccntiirv of Ouiciism. 
 
 \\A> a (listiiietivo suinetliiug, a peculiar tone and ilavour, 
 tenets anil cu.st<:>ms of their own, which Friends must 
 ho compelled to preserve. Doubtless, these good men 
 were pei'suaded that all these quakerisms were according 
 to the Spirit of Christ, and supported by Scripture ; 
 lut they did not allow them ti) depend upon these sup- 
 I)orts. The (piiaker tradition was a fixed well-under- 
 sto(jd s}'stem, whicli could not be submitted to free 
 di>cussi(jn. If any chafed under this strict rule, the 
 way out was ahvays open. " The ilesli saith, there is 
 little in dress, religion doth not consist in apparel. 
 Tlifi'e is little in Uuiguagi,' ; there is little in pJiying 
 tithes to the priests ; there is little in cariying guns in 
 our slii[)s, to defend oursLdx'es in case we are attacked by 
 an enemy. I'o which, I thiidc, it niay Ije added, there is 
 littl<: or ]iothing in peojile wlio pl(^ad as abox'c hinted 
 [)ret('nding to be of our society .... I have often 
 wondered why sucli continiKi to profess with us at all."^ 
 So wrote John (bilHth, a zealous minister of those days, 
 who took an acti\'e part in carrying (jut the discipline ; 
 and we niay be sui'e, did his Ijest to relieve the society 
 C)f these half-hearted waverers. 
 
 An aiMress, containing (pieries [)r()pounded by the 
 \'carly Mee'ting with summaries of tlie replies received, 
 ;md conv('(pT('nt exhortations, publishe<l by the Com- 
 mittee' of Vf-itoi's in ITCd, throws clear light upon the 
 spirit and princifih-s which guided the reformati(in.- It 
 is reiiiai'kablc that throughout this long document, there 
 ii from the first line; to the last, n(.)t a trace of anxiety 
 about orthodoxy of belief, ]iot an inHicatiie;! th.it the 
 
 1 JoirrjinJ nfjnlm Crlnilii, J 77'.', ]> i-'L 
 - J.ijiuloii. Friciiil.i' Mictiii'j'-'. p. .'J81,
 
 2/4 
 
 I'lie Oiiakcrs. 
 
 SDcict}' had any .standard of doctrine. Jjarclay's 
 A])il()oy still was the standard. In 1748, wlicn the 
 ricnipoti'ntiarics were assciul)led at Aix-la-Cliajxdle 
 to make peace Ketween England and I'^]'ance, tlie J^on- 
 A^^w ni('ctin,u' sent cojties (.)t" tliis ianions work to tliein ; 
 and A\-it]i tlie l)uo]<:, a letter statiiii;" that it containedt 
 a coni])eiidi()ns \-iew oi' the Christian religion, divested 
 of corruptions.^ Antliojiy JJenczet's "Short Acconnt 
 ol' the J'eople called (j)ual<ers," published in JTSO, 
 tcaclics Bai'clay's d(.)ctrines, and refers to liis writings 
 and those of Penn and Whitelicad as acknowledged 
 iuithoritics. 'Jdie silence of tliis address cainiot he 
 .'Utriliiitcd to any inclination to withdraw fi'oni the 
 thi'oliigy of their fathers; hut they simply display 
 no concern ahout dogma, Ijeeause their whole interest 
 Centres in ]ii'ietiee. All dillerences of theological 
 o]ilMiiiii were at this time lulled to rest in tlie sleep 
 of i|uieii--m, or if any existed, the reformei's wei'e indif- 
 rrriiiL 1(1 them. Their great anxiety was that I'i'iends 
 sii( iiiM k (!] their meetin-s, [)re>er\ e lo\ f an^i unity; t rain 
 U|i 1 ln'ii- ehildi'en iu a godly eonvi'i-.-a lion, and in the I're- 
 (|'eiii riadingiil' I h ily Seri ] it ui'e, a^ a ho in plainness <if 
 - 1 1' I el I, lielia\i our and appni d ; that they should refuse to 
 1 1 I \ t ii li<'^ and ehuicii-i a t''^ ; 1 le ju^t in all their dealings ; 
 U'li iiiiiiTy eiiiiti'iO'y to the rules of the s(iciet\; and 
 r.M;:lly -hi'uld j'lit llio diM-i[.|iiie in |ii'aeliee. in this 
 .i'Mrr->, uiii\(r>al nii'i'al duliis, and ili>[iulalile ijuaker 
 < ! oinaiiei-, ;i|.]Har on an e'|ual I'liotiug. This h!emi>h 
 1 \e [1 1 -i, t 111' lUc aiid --[lirii i if t he ad i rc-s arc ad mi I'al ile. 
 * Ml Ml" llMie_;' liii'-i' ii't'i ii-nna--. had -I't their heai'ts, to 
 n,,ii.. ihiir -i'ci.ly in iv;dity wliai it | u'l .t'e-.^,ril to l.)e a 
 ' o,,-i://,-., //;./,,,, iw ;;(;:;.
 
 TJic Century of Quietism. 
 
 Clir!>tiau Churcli ; auJ hy a (,'liristiaii CliTircli, tliey 
 uii<liTsti>()(I a society in wliich the Spirit of (Jlirist 
 ]\'i^-ne(], in wliicli love to Ood, ami lirotherly love, care 
 for tlie po(jr, dili^^ence, purity, meekness, suttering for 
 the trutli, were the essentials of ri'li_i;'ii)n. 
 
 Strict and stea'ly application of tlu; discipline saved 
 th(! society, tlu.ai^'h at sc\'erc cost, '^idio (wcliision of tluj 
 iininoral, tlic ^\orldl\--]llinded, anil merely nominal 
 adherents was no loss, hut a piin. If, however, Piow]!- 
 ti'ce is right in his opinion that thi.' enforcement of the 
 marriage rule cost tlie s(.)ciety ahout one-third of its 
 ne n\hers, many nnrst have Ijfcn turned out who were 
 h''tt(;i' Chri>ti;!ns than otliers wliom the disci}ilinc 
 did not touch, for disciphnc after all can effect onl\' an 
 extei'nal I'eform ; it canncjt discidminate hetween living 
 religion and its souUess iiuitatieai. In tlie quaker 
 disidpHiKj there was no attempt in this direction ; ]io 
 profe>sion of lieiitd", of con\'er-ion, of regeneration, of 
 spiiritual e'Xperienci', was requirod. If a mend)er of tlie 
 society hy hirth was outwai'dly respectaf)le, and con- 
 foi'med to the usages of the st'ct, he \\'as undisturlie^d in 
 his nunnhei'sliip : whihj the (.j>ttaker who was a living 
 ( 'hristian, ii.' he got married l)y a ]^rie>t, sufli'i'ed e.\C(jm- 
 munication. 'hht_; society necessarily lost many true 
 nieiidiei's of (.'hri-t, and hy the opei'ation of its own 
 rules, ceaseil to Vv purely and oid\' a Christian ("hurch. 
 'I'hinned in nuud)eivs, tln^se that I'emained liid<ed to- 
 gctlier hy intermarriage, tin; I'lieiids hecame a clan oi- 
 eMiTioration. 'f'ie\' maintained a high standard (d' 
 morality : enjoyc] unjre than an avei'a.ge share of worldly 
 ]iro^])erity ; were in good geiici'al rejmte ; ha(l no desire 
 to disturh the cond'urt of their neiu'ldjours, and looked
 
 2 76 The Quakers. 
 
 ratln'i- shy upon any outsider \\\\o wislio!l to euti'i' their 
 sofiL'ty. I'll'! (li.scipliuo Avas succc'ssful i]i stereotyping 
 (pial<ci'isui, and ]n'esL'i'\'ino- it fcjr a tiiue from extinction ; 
 liut it eould nut j-e\italise tlie societj', could not place it 
 a^-aiu in tiie \ani;'uai-d of progress to lead the Cluircli 
 uniwi'sad in the pathway of Light to the Jiiternal City. 
 
 Although in its hostility to licence, (juakerisni stiliened 
 into l(innali.-ni, and struggling for self-preservation, sank 
 into a sect; we should do it injustice if we mistook its 
 d<d't;cts for its inner life-spirit. 'Jdie Christian fj-aternity 
 which, even in its (piivdist stage, [)roduced .John Wool- 
 man, deser\-i_'N the adndration and gratitude of the wdiole 
 Chio'cli of all time. Xor nmst we overlook the fact that 
 We o\\'e our kiiitwlcdige of Jnm to his journal and other 
 wiilinu's. Thei'e musthax'e keen '\\\ the society in which 
 a cliaractiT of sueli I'ai'e lowliness was <le\'eIo])ed, many 
 kindiTd >ou]> A\ ho wroti' no journals : A\dio, less endoA\'e(l 
 than he, wrx^' calh.'d to no puhlic serxice, hut who were 
 ilhuiiiiii'd \\ithin l>y the same ceh'stial light, and shone 
 iiki' him. in theii- moi'e retired s])heres, to the gloi'y of 
 (liid, and I'tiiehl of their I'rllow-m.ii. W'oohiian, \)^n-\\ 
 in I 7-". in ><'cw Jersey, did not cross the Atlantic until 
 \\\K- yai' of liis death, 177-. Ili' was not therel'oi'e a 
 IVuit m|' the i-i'\I\al of iliseipilne which lia> just keen 
 I f'-^ci iiH'd, h;il ((iiiiits lath^'i' a^ uiic of its mnti\'e po'.\-ers. 
 I'm!' ahh'iugh the -^preial \idl iti^iu i-el'd-rrd to ahoN'c, 
 ;ijp',;id \< the kiiti-h i^|e~, einy. .\ineriea keiiir_,- too 
 r.iM'.O' to I'Miiir undei- tile d i -^ei pi 1 1 la I'y coiui'oj of tiie 
 
 l.-lld<.ll ^e;0ly Mei'tillU- the (^)ll;dxelS (,11 li.itll side.^ of till! 
 
 . i.'- ;i II e .11 -t li el. d lull 1 iiic < 'hiiivli. Tile iv-ular inter- 
 
 eh,lli_;-. mT epi-1 le^ l">l|lld the t W o kra 1 1 ell CS oi' tile (dnH'cdl 
 
 in eiely. .Ve'iidiei--- and mini->t,ei-s )a^sed IVom one side
 
 The Century of Qiiictism. 
 
 j/ 
 
 to tliG otlior Avitli tlicir coi'tificatos in their liands, and 
 Were ciiually at lionn'^ NN'licther licre or tlierc. Of tlic 
 t'unv niinistt-Ts ^v]^u.^c journals shed light on this pci'iod, 
 Gougli and (^rrillitli helongcd to this country, Churclunan 
 and Wo(jhnan Averc Amoiican. Tlu'ce out <^f tlic fcnir 
 lahoured Ijoth in tiio ohi country and intlie new. Tlieir 
 I'rcoi-ds sIkjw that the s]:)iritual .state of tlic Quaker 
 cliuifh was sal)stantially t]i(_' same in tlic inotlier-country 
 and in tlie colonics. Qualvcrisni was indopendent of 
 n;i.lionahty, an<l John Woohiian niay l)(i faii'ly taken as 
 its I'epi'esentative for ]-]nghiniI as well as America. 
 
 Tlie limits of tliis woi'k forbid an attempt to sketch 
 till' life ami ciiai'actia- (jf (jiie Avlmst,' jcnu'nal C'hamhng 
 ];roii()unced heyond eom]);u'ison the s^V(,Ht(^st and purest 
 autwhiograpliy m the language. lv.h\';ird Jrving ami 
 ("I'alih Jlohinson wei'e hardly less euiphatie in their 
 ])i-ai-e. Owi:. of (jur leailing re\-ic\vs I'egarded \Vo(_ilman 
 as the man who, in all th(_; ce'uturies sinci.' the advent ol' 
 (liiist, li\'ed iicai'est to the ])iviiie |)atterii. Whittier, 
 the (piakcr ]H)('t, almo-^t worshii)S tlu.! " sei'ene and 
 heautiful spirit I'edcemed of the Lord from all seltish- 
 ni's-^." ' ("hailes Laaiih said : '''(ietthe wi'itings of John 
 W'ooluian hy hrai't.'' These eulogiums will sni'inhse 
 those to whiim tiie Ner\' nauie has hitherto been mi- 
 known ; hut let thi'in read his joiu'nal and then jiulge. 
 l\)S>ihly they may not at hrst altogethei' agi/ee with 
 such high ])raisi'. Tlu' characte'r, though ]ure, true and 
 lox'ing, niay seem a little too sombre, 'hhey may take 
 olieiice at his excessl\'e sci'UpTdosit}', aud ipiarj'el with 
 the asceticisiu to which it led. The (.'hi'istiau life, to 
 
 1 Thr Jnn ,-,,<(] nf. Jul,,, M', ,l:,,i ,, . Willi all i lit In,] lU'tiuU ] ,3- Jullll 
 
 (;. wiiitticr, is,s:j. pp. -2, :_',, v.).
 
 278 TItc Quakers. 
 
 ])lccis(' Inniian uatnro, must Lo Itrigliter, more joj'-ons, 
 iiiiii'c (li\('r>iiiiMl. l')Ut ii" tliislic tlic coiiiinoii feclini;, it' 
 ^\ (toliiiaii scciiis too miK.-li a man of sorrows, let us uiake 
 this cxL-iisc for liiui ; it Avas not for liiuiself lie soi'roAvcd, 
 liut fur otlici's, and lie iiad a liigli ]']xain])le in this. If 
 lie felt till' W'i (']<:( 'dnc'ss and the woes of mankind too 
 h'rply. to tile lessoning of Ids own jo}', and impairing of 
 liis lioilily health, was lie not at least trjdng to imitat(> 
 tlie ])ivin(' Maste'r, A\li()m lie lo\'e(l ? A second and a 
 thii'd ])i'i'usal of Ins journal will profiably modify the' 
 iir^t opinion : and tlic readei" ma}' come to see that, e\'en 
 if we alhnv lie was mistaken in some snmll details, in 
 liis life and ckaraeter as a wliole, a lieaveidy wisdom 
 shines out which is, to m(n"e' Innnan sagacity, as clear 
 sunli'^ht is to tlie glinniiei' of gas lamps struggling 
 thi'DUgh a fog. In. j)olitical ccononi}' higher, moi'e 
 niipni'tnnt and valuahle, truth, can he learned from the 
 ]';tgcs nf tJiis Tnicilucaieil tailoi', than in the scientilic 
 irrafiscs on tin' sulji'ct. Wdsilom in him was not a, 
 .--jia ni (' fieidt}' : it was Ionc slicclijing its light upon 
 i'.u-N. It' one ti'ies to exjii'css tie' man in one woi'il, that 
 wiod tiMi-t, he till' I'liihodimiid of the \"er\' s])irit of 
 < 'hri-l ianity. It is impos.-dilc to (dl from his wi'itings, 
 \\\\:\\ his ijo-inat ic hclii'i" \\-a'-, or A\-helIii'i' he had an\'. 
 Ifinny ha\e liceii unita 1 ia n, ai'ian, or trinitarian. lie 
 iii;iy ha\<' i-ej-a f. Ici 1 the liiMc as vd'hally iid'al lilile, ( a- he 
 nny not. 'I'hi' phrase ilo'_;'\- of what is callcil cN-an^'clical 
 * 'liri~t ia !iii \- is lint foiiiiil In his pa_:'f<. S;ili-;tit n'jon, 
 \i'Mraai^ a t .H'eie ait , Im' ni'\ia' alluhs to; cxcn the 
 hi i''iic I'act- of S(aij'tuiv ai'i' not nuait I< >ncd ; altlioim'li, 
 
 ill ila- al i-iiicc (if any ti'ai I' >ei ] a ici-ni, it i> jn'ohahlc 
 
 liait la- ar.-,'],|,.,l t],,. hi-tMi'\- a^ In' ivad it. lad this we
 
 The Century of Quietism. 279 
 
 Iciiow al>)nt the man, that from liis cliildliood lie ]ia<I 
 (oinuninion with tlic iiivisililc God, tliat " to i;'i\'o him- 
 si'lt'njj wholly to thi^ service ot" (mA, to place liis whol(3 
 trust in Go-1, an<l in all thing's to act on an inward 
 principle of virtue,"'- became tho constant aim and 
 ]i-actice of his life. Throiyli ' tlie revelation of Jesus 
 (Jhrist'' he saw '"'the ha])pine'ss of humility ;" ami Vvdicn 
 increasing' tra'le ])resented the prospect of wealth, he 
 di.'liberately turned away, and became a journeyman 
 tailor.- >So lie livi.'d and laboui'e-l, embracing in his 
 wide-reaching lo\'e, the negro slave, the In<]ian savage, 
 the povert3'-stricivi'n miners, (he factory ^vorkers, and 
 agricultural lab )urei's of England : loving them all, not 
 as a ])rofession;d ]diilanthr()pist, but because he could 
 not hfli) it: hn'ing them as a mother loves her chiM. 
 
 If Wiiolman dirteri^Ll at all 1'rom the general ([uakiu' 
 Sentiment it was in a wiiler tolerance, lie " ibund no 
 nai'i'DWuess res|)ectiiig sects and ()|)inions, but belie\'eil 
 that siucere U])]'ightdieai'ted jn'Ople, in c\'ery society, 
 who truly 1o\-(m1 ( iod, \\'ere acccptetl of lliin."^ "All true 
 Ghristiairs are of the sanu,' spirit." I'homas a Kem[>is 
 ;iiid .jMhn liuss wi'i'c' both, in his belief, ' sincere- 
 henrted followi'i's of (,!h]'ist.'' ' Xoi' does lu' l(_'a\'e' us in 
 doubt as to his ce)nception of Chi'istinuitx'. Once in a 
 time of sii;l<iii'ss, slek'iie^s near to <leath, in the night 
 liours lie had a \'isi^)n. 1 Te seemed to ha\'e IVirgotten his 
 o^\ll name, and to be mixed ^\ith a mass of huuian 
 beings in as great mist^-y as the\' could be and li\'e, so 
 that his se])arate iileiitit}' was gone. 'I'hen he heard the 
 angels sing, ".[ohn W'o 'Iman is dead," ami wonde'red 
 e-i'eatly what th(." hea\'enly ^-(ace might mean. In tlui
 
 28o TJic Oiinkcrs. 
 
 iiioniini;' wlii.Mi his wife aivl others came to his Ijcdsidc, 
 he asked tliem it: tliey kuew who he was. They 
 tlioui^'lit he \v;is ll<_;'lit-lieail('>l, Ijut lit' did not tdl thciii liis 
 \isio]i, tlioui^h lie, gi'eatly ]onL!,'ed to understand the 
 luysteiy. So Avealc was lie, tliat s])eecli was difhcult ; 
 at length ''I felt a ])i\'ine power prepare my moutli 
 that I could s[)eaic, and I then said, ' I am cruciiied with 
 (dirist, nevertheless I li\(' : yet not I hut (Jhi'ist livcdh 
 ill nie. And tlu.' life ^vhich I now liN'e in the Ihish, I live 
 hy the faith of the Son of God, who loved nu>, and gave 
 lumsclf for uic.' '^I'hcn the mystery was opened and I 
 pcreei\'ed there was j(jy in heaven over a sinner who 
 had replanted, and that the language, 'John Woolman 
 is <lcad,' meant no more than the death of my own will.'"-"- 
 Xo mure than the death of his ewii will ; a mere trinsm 
 of ('hi'is;i:ui dogiiei ! ()nly in his case, it was no theo- 
 louicil [fiii't, hut the ruling pi'ineiple of life. Christ's 
 sM!\;iliiin mi'.'Uit to him no neu'c than that, hut also no 
 Ifss. All Ins ilays he A\as sti'i\ing towarils that, eiidur- 
 iie^' l"t!y. aiiij t ho'rl'oi-i' mn-^t panii'ul humilial ions, risk- 
 iuL:' ilie (-^teou oi' 1 ii '.^t -lo\( m 1 IVii'inls, Tu K 1( 'I'l a k 1 iig the 
 haidi'-t tad-;s, \\\v\ straining al'ter ^\hat many \\()uld 
 acei)Unt, an exag'_:ri';!tc(| srlfo li'iiiai. Il was in latei' life 
 that he hail thai \ i^iun : y^A at'tei' a course which to most 
 wiiiiM h;i\c seriiied thiwless, o)' its oiily llaw au 
 (\c. -^ of Mlfa'eiumeiat ion, hi' still regjii'.ls himself as a 
 1 .pi'iitMut sinnei', ami hears the angels sii;g o\cr his 
 ritnrn a^ thnneh he Ih-el heeii ;i jiroiligal. Let -lolm 
 Wi'iilmaii (lie, that ('hri^t may li\-e in him; (hat was 
 h - riliji'in: yit he niennt nothing my-^ilcal, onl\' (Jie 
 <li;il h id hi -^ own will.
 
 1 Jic Century of Quietism. 
 
 281 
 
 \Vi)(.)]iii;in',s life was hisgi'catest servicer to tln' (,'liareli, 
 aibl it' no special result could 1>3 traced to it, it would 
 still coiuuiaud adiuiratiou aud n'ratitude. But he 
 al fords a striking' illustration of the far-reaching in- 
 tlueuci! (jf simple iidtdity to conscience. Never was a 
 hundder soul, nor one; who less anticipated heing identi- 
 fied with tlie origin oi a world-wdde stiaiggle and 
 \ictoty (jf truth anil philaiithri)[)y. fjiit, althinigh lu_' 
 ^vas not alone in the work, although aiiti-slavery feeliiig 
 lV)nnil expression among the (Quakers hcd'ore he was 
 Ijorn, he and Benczet, a Quaker schoolmaster of 
 i'l.'nnsylvania, ^\'ere the authors of a protest against 
 slavciy which achieved the deliverance oi the Quaker 
 Chni'ch from the stain. 'Yo Woolman more than any 
 othe]' is to he attributed this moral xictoi'y, which hoth 
 ill its lui'thol audits ivsult ti'ansci'iids that of Clark- 
 sou ;i.nd Wilherfcjrce, Lloyd Gai'i'ison and ]jcecher 
 Stowe. The' later anti-sla\ei'y ciiisade, both in lM)gla.iid 
 and Amei'ica, was an ajipeal to jndjlie ojiinioii and 
 to the L(.'gis!atui'e, to fo]'Ce e\'il-doers to desist ii'om 
 injustice ; ;uul its natural climax \vas a great war, which 
 C'lst h;df-a-ndllion (!' lixes, and treasui'e iiua'e than 
 (.;(;ugh to ha\"e redeemed every slave in the Uinon. 
 W'o.ilmans method, though he would hax'e been glad (jf 
 li'ei^'ation in the right diinjctiun, could it ha\'e been 
 obtnined^i A\-as an. appeal, not to the Ciuwrinnent iior to 
 the jiopulace against the slaxe-holdei's ; but dire-ct to the 
 sla\'e'-hoMei's themselves, to that 'witness for truth, I'igld- 
 eousnes^-., mercy, v/hicli, he believed (^oil had j^laeed in 
 (^'Xy'Vy man's conscience, and therefoi'e in their consciences 
 ;dsM. 1 u till.! ]i'o-ecution of this appe;d, he relied not upon 
 1 J\,i<r,i<il, i.a-e JO.'!.
 
 o f-5 o 
 
 TJtc Oualcers. 
 
 cl(MUTneiat!()]i, but ii]^i)U love; ho ]~)itio(l tlic sla^"('-llol(lol 
 not less siiiccrclv tlmn lie i)lti(' I tlic slave. Whitticr 
 tells a story ' of another aut.i-sla\'ery a(lvt)cate, wliicli 
 sii'ikiii^ly illusti'ates the change that had passed over 
 (|nakefisiii, and the supei'ioi'ity of Woolnian's spirit. 
 r>eiijaiiiin ]^a\', amid the res[)ectahle decorum of 
 eighteenth ceiituvv ([aalvei'isni, I'ecalls the extra\'agances 
 of Iliintingt(jn and Sale, Sympson and I'^ccles, in tlu' 
 ])i'eceding century. In I'aigland he was disownech In 
 America ho x'iolently denounced shu'e-liiiMiiig. J^^x- 
 pelled fi'om tlie West Indies, he came to Idiiladelidiia, 
 ;ii]d foinid the same ovil existing tliei'o. I le sliook the 
 dust of the city (.)ft' his feet, ami took \\\) liis ahodo in a 
 (i\-e, di-iid<iirj,' tlio water \\hich llowed by, and eating 
 only \-(>!4-etahl('s. Mis personal ap])e;u'an(!o was as re- 
 mai'knhle' ;is liis moilc of life. Oidy four feet and a 
 h;df high, hnneh-hneketl, with iirojcci ing chest, small and 
 niii'\"i'U lt'L:;-<, and I^aig ariii->, his head liuge, '.-(iNcred l)y 
 ;iii eiioniioiis whitr hai, from lieiicath which a]i])eare(l 
 
 l;ir-i' Sdlfiiiii eyes ;iud a ] >rol II i UeU t 1 lose, t he I'est: of his 
 i';ice coxrred W i t ll a loU'j,' wllite licjird i'alliiig low 
 ujHiii his liienst. such was the ligni'e wliieh used to 
 i-^^Mi' forlli fi^'iii the ca\"e to ]ii'cach deliveraiici' to tin.; 
 c;i])ti\'i' ' ill <Jinki'r inert iii^'s, to the di^-.-nst, ;nid in- 
 di'_;n:it ion of tic -^l;i xi'-lioldiii;^' i'"riiaids. ( )ii one occasion 
 h- cnt-ivd tic \harkct Strct .Meeting, aii.j a h'a^ling 
 fVi'icI rc(|ni'-t '(! sdiiif oui' to t:ike liliii out. A liui-ly 
 lilack-mil ll \(ihiiiti'ci-fi I to (jn it, leading liim to tlie gate 
 ;Mcl thiading him out w ith sucli i'orce, that he fell into 
 t 111 ^nt t <a'. 'I'll! rr Ic kiy until t he meet in-' closcil, telling 
 
 the ky-^tam!el', th.-lt he did not feel [Yr<' to i'isc. " Let
 
 The Century of Quietism. 283 
 
 tlioso who cast mo Iutc raise me up. It is tlioir l)iisiness 
 iKjt mine." T\\Q tallies wore turiKM], since tlie davs 
 ^v]ltn George Fox was put into Xottingiiam gaol. Again 
 at Burlington, New Jersey, AVoolman's own meeting, 
 Lay appeared in the animal assenddy, wrapped in his 
 lijng white overcoat, and paced up tlie aisle. Stoi>ping 
 nddway he exclaimed, " You slavediolders ! Why don't 
 A'ou throw off your quaker coats as I do mine, ami show 
 \'uurselves as y(ju are !" Casting oft' as he spoke, his 
 outer garment, he disclosed to the astonished assembly a 
 nulitary coat underneath, and a sword dangling at his 
 luMds, Id(dding in one hand a large hook, lie drew his 
 sword with the other. ''In the sight of God," lie cried, 
 " v(ju ar^' as guilty as ii* you stalihi'd your slaves to the 
 heart, as I do this Ijook \" Suiting the acti(jn to the 
 word, he picrc<'il a small hladder filled with thi; juice oi 
 ])oke-weed, which lie liad conceal(.'(l between the covers, 
 and sp}'iid\le<l as with fresh blood those who sat near 
 hiiii. Woolman probably was present, but howev(^r 
 nmch he may have felt the force of tins "sign," his 
 <)^y\\ testimony against sla\'ery was deliver(Hl iii an 
 entirely ditfin'ent spirit and mamiei-, and with a dif- 
 ferent re>ult. La_y A\'as treat(Ml as a nuisance : Wool- 
 man convert(;'l the slave-holders. In 17.")f, when he 
 priided his ilrst ])am])hlet on slavery^ slaN'o-holding 
 ^vas common auKjug Friends. " Fldei's and nunis- 
 t<.')'s, as Well as the yuungei- and less high in jU'efession, 
 hai] their house ser\'ants and field hands." Qualcei's 
 wei'e engaged in the importation of sla\'es i'rom 
 Africa, and bought and sold slaves. Tlu.' Childi'cn of 
 the Light ([Uot(_Ml tla.; same Scriptures in sup])ort of the 
 ])ractice, Avhich were afterwards cited by Presbyterian
 
 284 llic Quakers. 
 
 doctors, ]\[ctlK)(Hst l)isliop,s, and Baptist preachers.^ 
 W'oolinaii saw slavery in tlio i'aiiiilics whicli ciitfrtaincd 
 liitiL as he went on liis rcliL;ions j(airnoys, and liis con- 
 science compelled liini to testily against the injustice, 
 sometimes by giving money to tlie slaves, and sometimes, 
 at gi'(,'at cost to his owii feelings, by ottering [)ayment to 
 liis liosts for tl)i'ii' liospitality. '^Idiirty 3'ears after 
 liis (irst ])n1jlic protest, in l7<Si, the society of Friends 
 in America was entirely free from slav('-hoMing. Not 
 oidy so, l)nt the society reci)guised the justice of coui- 
 ]M'nsating the slaves for their eirforced labour during 
 the time of b()n(Lig'e ; and the (jiiondam slave-holders 
 admitted and fulfilled the obligation I All this was accom- 
 pbshed, not by cnmpnl.-ion, l)ut by love : or the only com- 
 ]iulsion was the societ_y's refusal, after long jiatience and 
 ycai's of Counsel and remoJLsti'aiice, to own as ('hristians 
 lho>e who pei'sisted in ()p[)ression. Some few resisted 
 fo till' last, and had to ])e excoiuniunicated : but the 
 great ma_ioi-ity \ieMiMl to the persuasions and e\;Uii])le of 
 ' ])Ui'o reason'' and"' uni\'ers;d lo\-e." Jiunian histoj-y 
 ]U'('sciits \v\\ ]iai'a!lels to this ti-iwm])h of the s])ii-it of 
 ('hrist o\ci' si'lhshn('ss and e\il custom. Jf the other 
 ('hristiaii chuiThes had wielded W'oolnum's weapons and 
 ^^'on his \-ielMiy. what a sad and blooily ch;ipter in the 
 hi>ti)i'y ^)\ Aniei-ica would ha\e b 'cn escaped! 
 
 In.lohu \\ oolnian and Anthony lieiiezet (piake!' phil- 
 aidJiropy lli'-^t liccame c^nspieuously bj'illlant. Thence- 
 ioi'tji the wclls])ring o|' (piakei' bciichceuce has ne\'ei' run 
 di-y. In tho liws of ( 1 r. lloj , and Ad.ai, .b.s^'ph Sturge, 
 fJizalHth I'Vy, and iu;ni\' nioi'o, it llowed on, and still it 
 
 ' \Vlu\i',n'A I lit, -0,1, 1, -I;,,,, u:vr !_'.
 
 The Cciitnry of Quietism. 285 
 
 ilu\\'.s, })r(jving that whatever be tlic defects of theqiiakei- 
 fo]in of Christianity, it has learned this lesson well, that 
 U) he a Cliristian is to live in tliis world after the manner 
 of Him wlio went about doing good.
 
 CIJArXER XV J. 
 
 TJIE DIVISIONS OF MODERN QUAKERISM. 
 
 (^)rii;T[S:\r, it was said, is cliaracterised l)y its absorption 
 ill tlic, cultivation of personal piety, to the neglect of 
 ( tinrts for tlie salvation of tlic world. This, however, 
 must not h(! too ri!^"i<lly construed. John Woehnan, for 
 instance, whose I'eautit'ul spirit and holy life were im- 
 bued with tlie pur(_'st and best typo of ([uietisni, was a 
 wvy crusader, a knie'lit-erraiit of God, ever on the watch 
 or m;i,rcli ;i^-ain^t the jxnvers of darkness. Sla\'ery and 
 sebl>h luxury were tlu; two s|)ecial b)rnLS of evil which 
 Ik; assailed in a lifedoiiL;' c<>n1lict, by land and sea, over 
 thousands of miles; bnt it was e-i\-('u to him to see 
 tlirou^-li theoutwnrd and temporary forms of e\dl, and 
 to st rike tl)roU_;li tliem at the \'ery heart of liypocrisy, 
 srjji^liiic'.s, and indfliet', not (Ih; forms of evil, but 
 sjiirilual wiekediios ifsrif. ^ ct thei'o was s(iii(;thiue" of 
 I 111' defect I if i|iiieti>!ii ill liiiii, iiianife.sting itself in in- 
 ditlbreiiee, eoinjinrat i\ e indill'erciiee, to intellectual truth. 
 lie f( luml no nnriMwne-s wit li i'cL;'ard to sects and o])inions. 
 Ill coiiipn ri-oii willi the jin miot iuii of \'irtut; and inwai'd 
 spirit ii.il i^'li^'iiin. diilermei's 1 1|' don-iiin and ritual wei'e 
 iinwoit liy of ;ittenfiiiii. Tiiom.is a Kenijtis, writini;' the 
 I iiilt;it inn I >f < 'liri--t . ;ind .b ilm I liis> luii iiiii'^ at the stake, 
 w ere liiii h true ( dii-istians, of t_lie same spirit, whom he 
 ei|iially ci niiiiiends, tliou-'h the one belonged to tlie church
 
 Divisions of Modern Quakerism. 287 
 
 wliicli Ijiirnt the other. But the practical ililicreiice 1)0- 
 twccii ])urniiig and ])eiiig" burnt is considcraljlc ; and 
 althou^'li in Wocdnian's time rch^ious ])er.secution was 
 ()lisi)lcto, the antagonisms of belief, whicli had formerly 
 led to the infliction and en(Uu'ance of t(jrture and death 
 on their behalf, still remained. Catholic, Protestant, and 
 (^)uaker, were not onl}" separated in distinct ecclesiastical 
 corpia-ations, but mentally di\ided by important diver- 
 sities of creed. It is undoulttedly always right and our 
 bounden <hity to g^A'e our lirst attention, and to assign 
 from lirst to last, the supreme place to the cultivation of 
 right conduct and inward s]iiritual religion. It niay l)C 
 b(;st for many to avoid controversy u]i)on religi(jus diti'er- 
 enci'S ; but a contented acquiescence in the divisioii cjf 
 Christ's Church, in the acceptance of contradictory be- 
 liefs as though they ^\ere etpially trui', is not right, nor 
 is it a state (^f nrind whicli can permanently hold the 
 lield. The human mind is impelleil by a power IjCj'ond 
 itself and its (jwn choice, to seek a S(jlutiLin of its diili- 
 eulties, to striv(_' ibr a larger vision of truth, in Avhich 
 diversities sliall Ite harmonizcii, and all Christendom be 
 reunited in (Jhi'ist. 
 
 A\'<jolnian's latitudinarian tolerance was itself a for- 
 waril muwment, part oi tlu; general pi'ogress of human 
 thought, whleh c'lnducte'ii quai^ei'lsni, not to a iinal rest- 
 ing-[lace, but to a pni'tiug of tli(i wax's, N\-here the Chil- 
 dren of the I^ight, uiiabh/ to ',vji\'v<^ as to the right path, 
 ^('[laratcd inti) two eoiiip;inie>, om; oi thesi/ again sub- 
 dl\ idine- into tM^o, M'hicli compairies for thest- lU't\' year,-, 
 YA-\. have hi/ld un their separate ways. '['lie recog- 
 nition that true spiiitual lib' could and did exi>t and 
 ll<.)urish in other conniuinions iiuite as well as in
 
 288 The Quakers. 
 
 their own, was in I'aet nn abandomnont oi' the oriij,iiial 
 claim of tlic Childrcji of the Lig'ht to be tlio only true 
 Churcli. (j)uakeri.siii i'onnd itselfc' in a new position, and 
 had to adapt itself to new relations. Severing itself at 
 first from the gi'eat hody of the Protestant cluirches, 
 the original C^uaker Church marched on its separate 
 way, nnder the iinidance of the Liirht within, carrying 
 with it a numher of traditional l^eliefs, which it held in 
 common with all Protestants; just as Martin Luther and 
 the I'rotestants, in their sepaiution from the Catholic 
 clnu'cli, brought away traditional beliefs Avhicii they had 
 h(dd from their childhood, in common witli all Christen- 
 dom. Xow, brought in the progress of the ages to the 
 j)oiiit at which these traditi(Mial beliefs were called in 
 ([Uestion, a. poition of th(3 (^)uakers fell back uj)on tlio in- 
 wai'd Jjight, upon the spii'it which ])romotes virtue and 
 inwai'il religion, as the one certain and sufHcient truth. 
 All besides was eom]i;iratively indi ilereiit ; if iniliii'erent, 
 might be loosely held ; if loosely held, might be doubted, 
 e\'en denied. The uni\ei'sal sa\'ing Light, the innnediatc 
 ie\elation which guides into all truth, this is the one 
 fundnmentnl, e>senli;d doctrine of the ('hristian ]"(digiou, 
 e\i'i-\ t liing outside (if this is une-senti;d. AnotluM' .and 
 l;ii'-ei- p.n't. of t lie friends mo\-ed in an opposite (lirection. 
 I'Vmn t lie aeknow ledgiiient that true ( di ri^-t iainty could 
 and did (>xi-t out dd the C^'i'd^er ( diui'tdi, they di-ew the 
 i ni'i Ti'iice t hat , not the distineiive tenets ol' (piak(.;rism, 
 but the doetrines which wei'i' ludd in connuoii Ity all 
 I'loti'-tant (diin'(dii's. mn^l Ih' the i'unda mental and ^dtal 
 iniih^iil' t In- ( 'ini -na n r.di^ioii. Orawn liy ihis atti'ac- 
 1 i'ln, t lie\', in>rn>ibly at lir-^t, I'eveited to the Protestant 
 faith in the suiireine authoritv of the Pible. The im-
 
 Divisions of Modern Onakcrisni. 289 
 
 niOfllato revelation wliich Fox bclievoil, wliicli ] Barclay 
 taught, for wliicli so many of tlie first Qualvcrs joyfully 
 laid down their lives, was neglected, discredited, by some 
 even disavowed. This retrograde movement of the 
 Ijihlieal ])arty was resisted by a minority, as a heresy 
 not less destructive of true' (juakerism, than the free- 
 tliinkdng rati(jn;ilism, wiiich lesseneil tlie rightfid, thougli 
 snlxji'dinate authority of Holy Scripture. This third 
 party strenuously C(jntended for the doetrine of the in- 
 Avard J^iglit, not only as distinctive (->f (piakerism, but as 
 indispensahle to true (Jhristianity ; and at the same time 
 stoutly maintained their own oi'thoiloxy, and that of the 
 fir.^t (^>uakei's, in res})ect t(j the traditional L'rtjtestant 
 cnitiil. These three main dix'isions (jf the Society were 
 irreconcilable. Whatever remained of John Woolman's 
 tolerant spirit was reserved tor the non-(piaker churchi3s. 
 Christians of the various ex'angelieal eouniurnicms might 
 1)0 recogniseil as such, Ijeing akngether outsiile the range 
 of th(_! internal disseir-^ions of (juakei'ism ; while each 
 Itranch of the Quakers sternl}' exconnnunicated the other 
 two. None ce'uld be recogniseil as Friends, except those 
 who held the genuine d(.>ctrine of Friends ; and the 
 genuine doctrine of Friends was to each party that which 
 each [)aiiy maintained it to Ijc. 
 
 The stoiy of these sehisms extends over a pei'iod of 
 aJM)ut lift}' yeais, begimiing with 170-"), and is now 
 hai'dly wortli telling at full length. It includes minor 
 eon\ul>ions ()f a local and temporary chai'actei', b}' AN'hich 
 p'li'tions ()i the society were trmi away, or cast otf, to 
 suH'er absm-ption in other religi(jns comnunn'ons, (ir dis- 
 appear in the vortex of the woj-ld. Our coucej-n heing 
 witli the permanent disrujition of the society, it will
 
 290 TIic Quakers. 
 
 snllico to take ii[) tlic stoiy with the appearance (jii tiie 
 scene of tlie leailei's in the conllict, Klias Ilicks and 
 Joseph .Ji)lni tlurney. It becomes a (jUestion to wliich 
 of tliese precedence sliould he i^'iveii, l)eeause we are na- 
 turally iiii'liiiL'd ti) attribute to \\\\\\ who is lirst present'jd 
 to our eyes, the blame of disturbini^- the peace oi:' the 
 (.Quaker Church by inno\'atioiis. As, howevei", Elias 
 J licks was Ibrty years oliler than his great opjionent, 
 and as tlie great secession in America was effected 
 under his ]eadei'shi[), bei'oi'c Cbirney appeared in that 
 C(auitry, let us begin, as the Quaker histories do, with 
 the founder of the " llicksites," lea\ing it for snbse(paent 
 Consideration, whether they or their antagonists origi- 
 nated the breach. 
 
 If A\e were to acce[>t unreservedly the im])ression [iro- 
 dut-cd by writers belonging to the hostile branches of 
 ([ii;d<eri-^m, \vo should regard Julias J licks as an apostate, 
 a ]'f[)rob;ite, a h^ineui Magus of the idneteenth cenluiy, a 
 T'lm I'aiiie masipii'rading ;is a (^*uaker. tJrellet assiuds 
 that tlie llicksit's rcjccteil (Jhri>t, and accounted the 
 liloxj shril on t'aUai'y an unholy tldngd Joseph .Jcjhn 
 (iui'iiey ci)n-.idei'ed Ilicks the authoi' ol' the most 
 dangeiMiis ;ind the most o(riar-i\'(; of all the fi.)rms of 
 iiiti^lelity which ha\'e e\cr beru ])almed on the credvdity 
 of mankind.- llodg^oii, llie hi-'.oi-ian of the third or 
 W ilfin ite I'.ii t> . -peak-- of \\\>. " aw liil schism, " " dreadfnl 
 en(ii>," the '-lilih" ol' his sent inn nts.-' Tallack says 
 that "many of Idias iliek~,',s a-Miliwus are t(,)0 blas- 
 
 ' S,_rlH,lini'^ /,,;/. .;/ N/,y,/,, ,, O', ,//,/, J, . L'OS. 
 
 - ,s7,;,7,,,-, ,,,, yv^'/A Vnvl]r,iU,i;- l,y.I. .). (iuncy.
 
 Divisions of Modern Quakerism. 291 
 
 plieiii'.jii.s ior (jUDtatio]!."^ This consensus of condeuuia- 
 tion by such excellent Christian men would blast Hicks's 
 character etfectually, AVere it not for the remembrance 
 that we have heard these shrieks of [)i(jus horror before. 
 Just S(j did Faldo and Baxter, (J wen and Bunyan, unite 
 in anathematizing Cleorije Fox and the first Quakers. 
 Turniui^- fro;n these invectives of the(^logical opponents 
 to Hicks's own writings, we at once (iiscovcr that this 
 arcli-hcretic ^va^ a simple, humble-minded, earnest 
 (Quaker of the old school. Hodgson hims(.df admits that 
 " he was esteemed as a good and Icind neighbour, bore a 
 gojd moral character, and ap])ears to have often been 
 useful in his \'iclnit\' in works of charitable good will, or 
 in Settling ditferenccs.'^ His outward life thus irre- 
 proachable, tile genuineness of his inward spiritual 
 religioir is manifest in the ])ages of his journal. JBorn in 
 174S, in Long Island, of (Quaker ancestors, liis youth Avas 
 passed amid the Frien^Is among whom John W'oolmau 
 ministered, and probably he himself lieard Woolman 
 pn.'ach. Hiclvs was a country farmer ; in his youth fond 
 (jf his gun, and of dancing, but he ab;ind(jned these 
 pleasures at the call of religious con\'ictiou. Durin"- 
 tlie American war of inde})eudence, he felt himstdf called 
 to the ministry, and theiicel'orth laljoured with great 
 zt;;d, and attained a high i)lace in the esteem of thi; 
 SMciety. Ht3 w;rs a born orator, worthy to Ije rank'ed 
 A\'ith, or above, W(d)ster, Clay, and Everett. " Tall, and 
 of m<_)st shapely form, with black eyes that blazed at 
 timi;s as meteors, he had an inner a])])arently inexhaust- 
 ible fund of \olcanic 'j)assion temlerness blended with 
 
 ^ Tliuiiai.s HlLtllHof, by Willium TuUack, p. 84. 
 - Iloihjson 1. 100.
 
 292 TJic Quakers. 
 
 a curiDUs I'cinorseless firmness, as of sonic surgeon oi)cra- 
 tiiig on a Iji'loVL'd patient."^ His great theme was the 
 Liglit within ; his one aim to })romote a true, living, 
 spiritual, ])ractical Christianity. He was more dogmatic 
 and controversial than Wooliiian. There seems to have 
 been in him a revival of the old aggressive zeal, and 
 something of the acei'iiity, of ttie early (.Quakers. " Hire- 
 ling })ri('sts " were as olleiisiv(> in his eyes as in those of 
 Cieorge Y\)'\. He \vo\dil have no compromise with the 
 religions of the world, and denounced all Jiew-fangled 
 ni'dhods and arrangi'iaents for religious woi'k and 
 Worship in tlie will of man. Ht; was a Quaker to the 
 hack-hour, and stood out maid'ully for the "ancient 
 sim[licity." This so-called iididd, liniling that some 
 meiiiliii-s of the Sdciidx' were ca])ti\'ated by Paine's Age 
 (if bi'a--on, writes in his journal ; '' Tiider a seirse therc- 
 i)f, iii\- sj'irit \vas drr])ly humbli'il l)id'oi'e the Ahajcsty of 
 Ji(M\-cii,and ill the anguish of my s.ul J said, ' Spure thy 
 people, () bu'il, and gi\e imt thy heritagr to rc[)roach, 
 and sull'ia- not thy truth to bill in th(> streets." - i'l'esseil 
 in -pii-it, h'' jireached " the li^lu. spirit, giMce, and truth 
 III (lui- Lord .je-ns ('hi'i-t,onr holy pattern, as tin' only 
 place I .f rel'ug''- "^ A-'ain, he was led to show the dangri- 
 (it'ti-iiMing tlio -aUatiMii ef oui'>onls to aiiyt hing short 
 (,!' a full suri-eii.l.a- of Mill- w ilk, a ml an (mU iiv dedieact ion 
 (if (lai- hi'arts t-iili.- k a'd, in an huuiMe cii-cMnn^pcet 
 walkiiiL:' h''l'"i''' llini.and sepa ra t Iiig oui'-el \-es from the 
 woi'ld, n- spirit and niainier>.' ' Si he lal^oured on until 
 li.' was eight\'-two ycai-.> off cond-teiit ly pointing to 
 
 ' Wall \Vin!iii:in, iiL 77m ('.,,/./,;/ .l/w/w.;,,,, ^"cw Series, A'el. 
 
 XI., p. e:;-. 
 
 - ./,,./,-,..,/, [1. 70. ' /'.('/, p 71'. ' i///'/, p. 78.
 
 Divisions of Modern Quakerism. 293 
 
 ''the inward maiiilVst ition of divine lii^'ht, which I'eveals 
 it^tdf in the heart of man, against sin and uncleanness, 
 as essential and sufhcient to salvation."^ This was his 
 dying testimony. " The cross of Christ is the perfect 
 law of (J(_)d, written ii] the heart .... there is hut one 
 Jv)i''l, (jne faith, and but one l)a[)tism .... Xo rational 
 being can be a I'eal Christian, and true disciple of Christ, 
 until he comes to know all these things verified in his 
 own experi(.'nce.'' He was a g0(jd man, a true Christian, 
 and a (Quaker of the Quakers. His very errors were the 
 errors of a Quaker, and since tiie generation of the 
 pei'sonal disci})les of (ieorge Fox, it wouM be difficult to 
 point out any nian, who had a simpler and iirmer faith 
 in tilt,' centi'al truth of (piakerism than Klias hiicks. 
 
 This being so, one ^^'onders A\'hy this man came to bo 
 I'egardeil In' tlie majcjrity of the Societ}' as an emissary 
 fi'om the bottondess pit. Xor is our wonder lessened 
 Avlifii Ave notice that he was seventy years old Ijefore 
 I'umours of his heresy were geiu'rally current, an<l had 
 attaineil his full fourscore yeai's, A\iien he and his fol- 
 lowers were ext'iideil ivowi tlie Society. Stephen (Jrellet, 
 it is tru<_', disc )\'ert.'(l his heterodox}' so earlj' as 1 SOS ; - 
 but even then Hicks was sixty v'ears old, and it iiuist 
 be remiMidierc(l tliat (irellet A\'as a hj'euchman by biiUi, 
 and educatf'd as a lloman Catholic, so that he cannot b(^ 
 ri'unr<ie(l us a rcpi'(.'seniati\"e of American (piakei'i>m. 
 ilc-ides Credet, he]'e an<i tho'e one and another felt un- 
 easy about llicl<s, but the facts remain that until neai- 
 tiie close of Ins hiiig Hfe Hicks was in g(.Mieral esteem, 
 that thei'e is no sign anx'whei'c' in his uu'itings of a 
 
 ' IhhK p. \1. 
 
 - .S(jtl...liiu\s iifdhi. V..1. I., 1*. \V1.
 
 294 ^^''^ Quakers. 
 
 cliaiinfc of o[miioiis, or new departure in liis tcacbino-, 
 an<l t}iat Avlicii at ]a^t he was iVirccd to secede, lie carried 
 \\'ith lain al)oufc one tliird of the Cliiirch, who then and 
 since maintain that tliey and ire were always faithful 
 to the ori-inal (^hiaker doctrine. These facts suggest 
 that the liei'ce contlict which arose is not to be attributed 
 to Jliclvs's defection from quakerism, but, on the contrary, 
 ti.) his determined and somewhat narrow-minded resist- 
 ance to a pia'ceptible departure of many of the Friends 
 iVom the s])i)'it and practices of thei]- iorefathers. In- 
 deed there is little I'oom for douljt on this point. John 
 \'> ilbnr ti-aees the origin of the l(jw state of the society 
 in I'aigland to the Fiiends joining witli tlie bishoi)S and 
 clei'gy in the formation of the 13ible Society, and points 
 ont that wlierci tlie parents C(jrdially joined with the 
 ' hii'eling cleigy," their childi'en leiirnt not oidy to eni- 
 brnce their ])ni'ents' friend, the ])riest, but the pi'iest's 
 inhieiples ;dsi).^ Now I'dias 1 licks was an (jutspoken 
 <ipp(ine)d of liiMe ;nid Missionarx' Societies ; the methods 
 ;ind unijei'ly iii'4' ideas of which art^ ]-p|)ngnant to the 
 s])iiit and juact iei-s of (leorge l''"X. Jealousy of leliance 
 n]ioM ihe eilic.iry of the letter of Scripture was cari'ieil 
 t'> an rxli'rinc by the lii'st (^)uakei's. 1'he !5ili|e was not 
 'ad in (pia kci' hhm-! iii._.s foi- xvorship, n< u' is it to this day 
 as ;i riili"; a ll le ai'..;li in a few nu'etin-s libei'ty to rea,d a 
 jii'i-tlnn of Scrijit ru'c has been claimed anil yielded 
 lo ailni_: the Seri|)!uivs aloud in the lamilw now a AVell- 
 e-takli-li(M| eiKfoiii, \\-as an inno\'ati(in in i liekss time.- 
 SaiMUi'l l'riw)ias, ;i woithy mini^tci' of tlie old scliooh 
 \\a^ nnc;i^y in hi-, mind fst Iw should seai'ch the Sci'l})- 
 
 ' ,/,,,/,,.',/ ,,/./,,/,,, ir;//,,/,-, ].. ii;;.
 
 Di7'?s!(Vis of Moderji Quakerism. 295 
 
 tni'os too mucli, and lialf aprilogises for taking his Bihlo 
 nut ut" liis ]x;ck('t.-^ Again, if tliei'c was any one featnrc 
 in the religions of tiie world, more ahhorront to the early 
 Quakers than another, it was tlie eni])loynient of '"'liire- 
 h'ngs " to ]reach tlie Gospel. These may l,ie narrow- 
 minded an<l mistaken prejudices, and the moderir Friends 
 whf) sym])athise Avith and su])]^ort IViiilc and ^lissionary 
 societies niay he congratulati.Ml ou tlieir wider vie^vs ; 
 hilt they arc tlie iini(_)vatoi'S, and l^]lias llicks was the 
 conservative Quaker. The novelties to which he oh- 
 /jected wei'e sym])toms of a deeper cliange goirig to tlie 
 \'L'iy root of (piak't^'vism. ]j(d"(i'e we listen to the charge 
 of heresy hrought again-^t Ilick's, it will he well first to 
 examijie the theological position (jf the other two diN'i- 
 sions of quak'erism. 
 
 Joseijh .h)hn (iurney, Ijorn in 17SS, and thus Idias 
 Ilicks's junior hy forty years, hecamc the recognised 
 leader of the ]arg(.'st hody of the modern (Quakers. 
 Though tlie two men never came pei'sonally i]ito cidlision, 
 thougli the llicksite schism was an accomplished fact 
 heforc (iurney crossed the Atlantic, tlu/re is a solid hasis 
 for this rccogiution of Hicks and Cmrney as the leaders 
 on the opposite sides. Neither of them originated tlie 
 mowments with which they Ixu/ame identifi(!d. Both 
 were mighty men of valour, unflinching comliatants for 
 the ti'uths which they helieved, unrivalled in ahility, in 
 earnestness, in alaindant lahour, hy any of their fol- 
 lowers. lliel<s stood ti}) for old-fa-diione(l (piakerism 
 of the primitive type, which, hut for liim, might ha.ve 
 (piietly and inseusihU' disap]K'artMl, stdjiaci'ged hy the 
 rising tide of the c\'angelical re\'iN'al. (Iurney was the 
 1 .Invni'd uf Hiimuvl i;uir,,ns, 1,1,. 20, :L', !KS.
 
 296 The Quakers. 
 
 cliiM ol." tliat revival, the consequence, not the cause, 
 ()[' its intj'oiluction into the society of Friends ; but 
 \vitliout liiiii its (lc\'el(ipnicnt would have 1)een long de- 
 layed ; perhaps, iii<leed, the adiierents of tlie old quaker 
 (Ijcti'ine might liave succeeded in ejecting it from the 
 society. J lis M'l'itings, his personal influence, were the 
 means by which it won its remarkable triumph, lie 
 may therefore rightly be studied as the representative of 
 the evangelical branch of the Quakers ; and there arc 
 am])le materials for the study. 
 
 (Jurney was a Quaker by descent, by affection, but 
 onl}' accidentally, and superilcially : in the heart and life 
 of his religion lie was an e\'angelical l.'rotestant of the 
 sehool of Wesley, Simeon, and AVilberforce. To be con- 
 \iiu-ed of this it is onl;/ necessaiy to I'ead his 1)ooks with 
 op(>n eyes. lie did not abandon qnakerism, Ixx-anse he 
 iievei' belie\'ed it, nexc)- uiidei'stood it. From the iii'st 
 his spii-inud lil'e was nlien to the society to which ho 
 out waiilly ielhci-' d. d'o him i|iia]<;erism was not ( "lo'is- 
 tianily. and ( '!iri>t iaiiit \' \\-a.s I'ai' di'arer than (|uakefisiii. 
 llccoiiM not iiiid it in his heart to forsaki'tlie cliurch 
 of lii^ i'atlifl-s, w jiieji li' silK'ci'i'ly belie\-ed to be a, bl'aiiell 
 oi' the \-i>iblc ( 'hnix'li, and a lii'aiii-li in some respeets 
 jiui'iT and ni';ii-ei- b) the ]irimiti\e faith and ])raetiee 
 lliaii thcotle'i' bi-anches. lint he saw that- t he s[.ii'itual 
 lil'i' 11! tlir M>i'icty (if I"'ticni!s A\-as at a low clil)^ and 
 ("!iti ni]'iatr 1 it, extinction as ])o^,sili!c. \\'ha,te\-ei- 
 liil.:lit ho its (at'', hi' was det ri'ini ni'd to de\-ote his life 
 to till' pinindt ion III' pin-c gMspd doet i-ino.' \\'e need to 
 go \.iy liith; way into his writings (o make the dis- 
 
 ' U-, //..',- n{ J. ./. Owr,r;', l)y J. rcviLll j;r;illliu';iite. V( ], 
 
 I., e. :;::..
 
 Divisions of Modern Quakerism. 297 
 
 c-Mveiy that Gui"u<;y'.s coiiceptioiis of the gospel diii"cr 
 A\idoly froiji tliosc of George Fox. Askoil to .-set foitli 
 tlic way of sah'ation, instead of pointing tlie inquirer to 
 the Liglit within, lie Ijcgins by attempting to [)rovc the 
 genuineness of the New Testament writings ; for unless 
 he can produce iaith in the words of Scriptui-e, he has 
 no hasis on which to Ijuildd Half conscious that his 
 ({uakerisni was not ra'lical, that the root of his convic- 
 tions grew in otlier soil, in ground which the first 
 Quakers had abandoned, iic askcil himself why ho was a 
 Quaker, and his " Observations on the Peculiarities of 
 the Societv' of Frien'is," present his view of the reasons 
 \\'liich justify tlie separate existence of the sect. licrc 
 hr distinguishes between peculiarities and essentials; 
 Ity peeidiarities lie means " the p)artieuhir sentiments and 
 ])i'actices \\-lucli distinguish the diti'creiit classes of trtie 
 UiiristiaiH. '- Tliese peculiarities are in his view com- 
 parati\'ely unimportant, and " Christians, miited as they 
 ar(.' in th.e great fundamentals of <loctrinc and practice, 
 should abstain fr(jm judging o]- condeuniing one another 
 on acC'juut of their minor (lilfei'cnces." In tliis bo^ik 
 Fox's fundamental tloctrine of the inward Light is 
 regar<led as one of the peculiarities! If any doubt a))Otit 
 tlie auti-([uakeJ'ism of Joseph Jolni Gurney can I'emain, 
 it will be dissipated by an honest consideration of his 
 " f]ss;iys on the I'^vidences, ])octi'inos, an.] Fi'actical 
 (Jjtei'ation of Christiainty," the fundamental conceptions 
 oi' which are at the very antipoiles of orighial ([uakerism. 
 'J he title of the lir.-^t essay indicates the immi'iiso' di\'ei'- 
 geiice. "On the })r(djability of a divine re\'elation to 
 
 1 -1. L,H,,- to ,1 Frlvnl, c^c, IS-l-i.
 
 298 
 
 The Onakcrs. 
 
 mankind and on tla^ i^vnuincncss of t)io New Testament/' 
 Ti'v to iniagiiK." (u_'()r^-o Fox oi' Ivobui't !5arclay listening- 
 to this (liscns^ion ot" " anteced'jnt ])i'(jl)ability tliat during' 
 the coursj of His f^^overnnient of tlio world (led wijuld 
 bestow upon mankind, a clear outward revelation " 1' 
 Kvery line, every plii'ase, manifests the anti-quaker. 
 How loivj; AN'ould Cieoi'i;'!' Fox haN'e alloAved him to pro- 
 e(,'ed, before stei'idy demandini;- ; "Art tluai then blind 
 to the clear ////'v/yv/ re\"e!ation which is no niei'e pi'oba- 
 hility, but a divine cr rhi i nl tj / J f so, thou art no C'liris- 
 tian." in this hai'sh condennrition ()eorL!;e l'\).\ would 
 hriN'e exhibited tlie i'allibility of his jud^'ment; but 
 siiu'i're Christian as he was it is cei'tain that (lurney's 
 I'o it conee])t!oii of ( du'istianity m^'I'immI with that of 
 llaxtei', Ihniyan, and I'Vldo. was diametrically opposed 
 t ) that of Kox, 1 iurron^'hs, and HowL;ill. Chi'istianity is 
 in his \ifw essiiitially an extei'nal reN'elation, accreilited 
 by mii;e-li':<. I lis i'(li'_;iuii is eni])hatica.ily a book- 
 irh^bai. With him tlie authoiity of the liible is 
 paiaiii'iuiit to e\rry othrr. " baith . . . is a reliance of 
 ihi' mind on the ti-uth of that \\hich is ju'obable, but )iot 
 k nnwii," " The doclriiH' of the uni\ri's;d savim;' Li^'lit, 
 thf \ci'\' lil'f-b|i M lil oi' (|iial\ci'i--iii, lias U(t phiee in 
 < iui ui'y's sN^t'in. We M'areli tln' li\ehnndrr(l pa^'es of 
 lids book '(V line tiac!' uf ^runiin' (|nakcr doctrine, and 
 an-h in \aiii. Mow (iuniey could call him^cli', t inid\' 
 liiiii~-lt' a < hiikrr. i~; at lir-t si^ht itie\|ilicil h' ; but tlu' 
 iiciital pr.ici--, \\ a - --niijik'. WIh'IIiiI' he consciou'^ly 
 iv,i .iiii'd out till' malt' ] (ir nil, he e\-id'aitly tnolc his 
 .1 ind iip-'ii till' fact that (|ua]ce)-i>m from the fiist 
 d clifid it-'if no now iii\-ciitiiin : it was ]>i'indti\'e 
 
 ' i:- w,,:. ,,. 1. - /;.s:o/ XII.
 
 Divisions of Aloderu Qnnkcrisni. 299 
 
 ("liristiaiiity rovivcd ; that and notliii^^' else. He, 
 -lost.'pli John (hirney, "was a Cliristian and tlieixdbrc a 
 Quaker. To the " leliiiious peeidiarities " of qnalcerism, 
 lie cordially adhered, and as to the fnndaniental dilier- 
 ences hetween it and evangelicalism he persuaded Idni- 
 s dt' that they never existed. Fox and the early Qnakeivs 
 were nn((uestionably Christians, and Christianity, as 
 (Juiney saw it, is the ini'alliljility of the Scriptures, and 
 the forensic theoiy of the Atonement. X(t to lujld 
 (.lurney's doctrines is not to he a (Christian ; therefore 
 (Jeorge Fox and the rest, wliatever they scLtd, must have 
 'uff'diit what Gurney meant. When Gurney denounced 
 Fox's teaching, he called it Hicksism. Confronted l)y 
 ([Untations wliich c<juld not be exjtlained away, Ik; 
 admitted that " some of tlieir early writers in the heat 
 oi" controversy, expressed themseh'cs obscurely and even, 
 it ma\' be, incorrectly."-^ Later on lie grew bohh']', and 
 in the fac(,' of the Lr)ndon Yearly Meeting declared, 
 "that many writers and individuals, both in the early 
 and latter a^"es of this Society, in their zeal to nphcdd 
 their own \-iews, ]ia<l sadly connnitted themselves on this 
 subject [the anthorit}' of Holy Scripture]; and lie re- 
 Lj'retled to ackiensledge it. '^I'hey liad adv(!cat((l ]irin- 
 ciples winch he did not hesitate to declaie, if carried out, 
 were comph.dely subver.--i\-e of Christiainty. "- Among 
 tliesc " many wiiters " must be included Fox, Peiin, 
 !;;irclay, and ahnost or (piite e\"ei'y other w'losi,' wj'itings 
 li;!\'e come down to us from the iirst and second gt-nei-a- 
 tidiis of ([uakerism. Yet in spiti; of all this exddence, 
 ( inrney persuaded himself that the society had always 
 
 1 Str'trlnyrson Truth Vui<r,r,,U,l. 
 - U'xhjson. Ye]. J. p. .';n2.
 
 ;oo TJie Quakers. 
 
 l)r(:ii oi'tli'xlijx. It \\;i^ ;ui aiJiiaLlo (I<;lu.sioii. Wlio tliat 
 li;i,^ i-(;a'l till; -^toi'y 'jT til-; (;arly Friends can lielp l<jviiii,^ 
 Llicsii { What li(;;i.i't caj) illii (^f .syinpathisini^- with tlieir 
 (xtrjuiriliiiJiiy consci'jiitiijusiK.'.ss, tlif^ir hercac cojistancy, 
 tlifir wliololicjirti'il sd t"-r;iaLS(j(;rati(ai, tlieii- lives luiiii- 
 iidUt with th(j DiviiK' la'_;-lit ol" (Jhi'ist, can consent t(j 
 uiiehi'i^tianize than, cai ac(;ount of the(j]oL,^ical crroi-s ? 
 In tin; licit of cantrovci'sy the Puritans prcaiouiicod them 
 ac<aii'S(jil ; b'.it now all (Jhristendoin has reversed the 
 jud'^iiie'iit. What wondei' that (iiirney coul I not hrin'^ 
 himself to fixcommunicati; ami ;uiath(;mati/e his own 
 ancestoi's, hoth of the tlesh, and of tlrj si)ii'it { Jiut he 
 must do this, oi' p-rsuade himsdt" that th'.'y w^'rc.; always 
 o 'tho li)X at hi; ii't. lEedid mare. tli;in this : he' not oidy 
 p 'I'sua le 1 hims;lf, he (%ai'i-l''l t!ie '^I'eat hulk (jf tho 
 s!)ciety aloiii;- with him, in repudiat in;j; the ipiakiu" 
 dMetiiiies. whih' a^s-rtin^^ thit thi' Hualvi'i's were always 
 S')und ill the' i';Mth. 
 
 Ai'li'i' the llicks sehi-^m in Aiii'i'iei, .lohn Wilhur, a 
 WMi'tliv miiilsf.ci' of tip' old ipi.-iki'i' typi', \-i-iit''d i'aij,-land, 
 aii'l was ])i'c->i'nt at lie- Ivui l</ii \'c;i,rly .M(!eliiiL;' In I Sd2. 
 1 1 MiL^^ on of i,:i')v wh ) liiid rent the Ami'i'iean Society 
 oi' l*'iiieeU in 1 wain, in Dnfr (n eji^'t the 1 1 ieksiti' hei-e-;y, 
 hi-^ oi'l Imi fixy as ,'i Hiia ki'i- was ah )\-.' su-;|ei'ion. On his 
 an-i\al hi' -.,M')n i jisr. )\-.'i'cd th,' si'i'i ai- dfl'ivf ii m ol' Mm^'lish 
 ( hril;i-i-, iV' an tin' fait li 'S I h-ir fat hers. '' 'l"lh 're arc many 
 \\ Ml', an 1 -Mail' auiMii',;' tla' I' a'.-iei i-t, who ai'r disposed to 
 thiak that \\u- wr'tia-'. "f ilMk-i't !'. ii'ciay and othei'S 
 am 111-' "ur aui-aiit l''ri n i . ai'- ineoi'r. el , and do not 
 h' it lO' ill M -.ayiii:^-; a nd furl ii")' -ay t hat tln' Sei'iptures 
 ar- til ' ' Wwrd <if O'hI; and the hi'.^t. if not the only 
 luf' (<f iii'acLiee, as Well as of lait.h, and recommend that
 
 Dh' is ions of Modern Onnkcrisni. 301 
 
 miiii^ters rely upon them more and more for a qualifii^a- 
 tlou to preach." ^ He found "among this people under 
 one name, two armies arrayeil, army against army."^ 
 Elizabeth Fry tried to n^iake out that they were one in 
 spirit, but John Wilbur was not to be persuaded. Ho 
 mi.'t Joseph John Gurney, and accused him to his face, 
 of behig uns:)und in the tloctrincs of Friends. Wilbur 
 found a small remnant who sympathized with him: John 
 Barclay, a descendant of the author of the " Apology," 
 T. ]]. Gviuld, who continued to believe that '"Joseph J(.)hn 
 Guruey is as great an enemy to the I'ruth as ever he 
 was," ^ and others. All the Quakers were not fascinated 
 by the eloipience and piety of the new leader, though 
 the great majority were, ddie publication of some letters 
 by Wilfnir |)rv)t',^sting against this disloyalty to tlie old 
 standards, bvtnight the, matter to a head. Isaac Crewd- 
 son retorted in a little book called the "Beacon," pro- 
 fessedly a warning against the errors of Elias Hicks, but 
 realh' a p(/nit-l)lank renunciation of liobert Ijarclay and 
 the doctrine C)f innnediate revelation. K. sharp contri)- 
 versy ciisued. So many protests against the "Beacon" 
 wei'e' heard, that the leaders of the society tried to silence 
 its author. Grewds'jn had moved too fast for the main 
 body (jf the Friends. Refusing to suljniit to censure, he 
 and his small band of adherents I'csigned their member- 
 slii[). The open assailants of the qnaker doctrines re- 
 ceiveil a rebutf, and for the moment, t'le Quakers of the 
 old scliool succ 'ssfully asserted their right to continue in 
 the church of their fathers. But it was their last rally 
 in this couiitiy. In the Yearly M(M'ting of I.S.'>G Gurney 
 
 1 Journal of the Life of Jolm Wilbur, \) lo'.>, 
 - Ihld, p. 157. = Ibid, p. 2'Sc,.
 
 302 TJie Quakers. 
 
 plainly iutl mated liis iixcd resolve to retire from the 
 society, rather than unite with that which in liis view 
 was unsonnd. " No, my friends," said lie, " \vc are, wo 
 always have heeu, and l)y the grace of God, we always 
 will he, a Christian hody ; hut when once we sliall have 
 admittfd the principle that impressions made ujion our 
 own minds can he superior to Scripture, we liave ceased 
 to hu Christians."^ Tlie "impressions made upon our 
 own nnnds " hy wdiat ? hy whom ? The (Quakers of 
 the (dden time hedevcl in immediate I'cvelation from the 
 ILoIy Cliost, in the Spirit of Christ dwellini^^ in them, 
 i^'uiding tliem into all truth ; and the impressions made 
 />// ////'.s >S'y^/'/'/7, they held to l)e tlie primary rule; the 
 Scripture, t)nly a secondary rule. J3ut Joseph John 
 (iunicy woulil not have it so; he was not content to 
 deny the hchef of his fathers ; lie insisted that sucli had 
 m;\'er hern their hclief; and the Yearly Meeting acquiesced. 
 A new declai'ation of helief in the iloly Scriptures, in 
 ai'cordaiu'e with his sentiments, was a lo[)ted,'-^ and from 
 thai time iL^lici't llarclay's "Apology" ceased to he the 
 (piakiT standard of orthod()\y. (Jne more edition was 
 i.^surd aL the expi'nsc of the Society, hut its assailants at 
 IrngUi suciM'cilcil ill (Viitaluing a ])ractical rcpndiation (;f 
 it hy the a.ut.h()i'ities of the ]^ondon Yearly -Meeting.-' 
 
 SoDii ai'U-i' (ou'iicy \isited America. Ilei'e John W'il- 
 hiii' n-^Mhilii y (ip])()>c(l him; only to iiicnr the penrdty of 
 I'xeoiiimuiiirai inn Idi' ids lidelil.y to the ancient (pialver 
 (iiM'(l. i;uL tiie Ameri(.-an (^)ual<;ei's were not so unaJiim- 
 oii-i a> I hi >-,! ill l'jiL;land. ( )iie-tini'il ol" them ha<l seceded 
 wilii l'>na.^ Ilieix-^. riie larger hody again <li\ ided, the 
 
 ' //u,/,/o,,, \'nl. 1,, p. ;]Ui. 
 
 - //,;-/, 1., :;u.-,. -^ ii>iJ, Vei. Ji., \>. ;;07.
 
 Divisions of Modern Onnkcrisni. 303 
 
 siuailur iVactiou t'ljllowiiiij Jolin Wilbur. Fi'oiu this tiino 
 the Quaker Church lias been divided into three distinct 
 societies, be^irles some smaller frau'meiits of which it is 
 iKjt necessary to L;ivc account in this place. Each of these 
 thr(_'e societies claims to bo the society of Friends, to the 
 exclusion of the other iwo. After forty or iifty years of 
 se[)ai'ation, they still remain apai't, thoui^h their mutual 
 I'epulsiou is perhaps less decided than at iirst. But history 
 can hardly include within its sco[)e, events whicli are 
 still taking' shape. Our review of quakerism has con- 
 ducted us to this tripartite division, anil nuist be con- 
 cluded witli an atteni[)t to estimate its character and 
 meanin;.,^ Let us place ourselves in the miilst of tlie 
 thii'd and smallest party of the three, which, for conveni- 
 enc ', \V(; luay call tlie AVilburitt'S, and from tlieir point 
 (jf view describe the opposite errors of the other two 
 sections. 
 
 T(j the Wilburites the heresy of Elias Micks was no 
 L'ss shockiiiL!" tlian to the Gurneyites. Hodgson, the 
 W'ilburite hist(ji"ian oL' these nineteenth century schisms, 
 di;ti'cts the (ii'st symptoms of unsoundness in Hicks's 
 tearliing, in an excessive attachment to the doctrine of 
 Christ within, to the ]ieL,d(;ct cf the historii'al manifesta- 
 tioii of tlu; L()rd Jl'sus in Jud;ea.-^ Next he accuses 
 Ibicks of dis])aragiiig the !Scri[)tui'es and of a I'ationalistic 
 tri'Mlmi'iit if the Bible. f]lias Hicks i'evi\"(Ml Bromfii'M's 
 ifouljt alijut th(' miracul(jirs conception, regardeil the 
 son'y of the Fall as an allegory, and denied the person- 
 ality of the devil. 'rh(_' hoi'rihed ri^coii of his critic from 
 these audacious sentiments cle-ariy slujws tlie Wilburit;.' 
 po.-^ition. With them the infallibility of the Bible was 
 
 i il'j'l.j^on, 1., ('h;i[)lui' i\'.
 
 \v; 
 son 
 
 304 TJic Quakers. 
 
 un([Ursti()n;iljle trutli, and tliis di)ctriiic marie a sliarp lino 
 of division between them and tlic Hicksitc^. Ilodu^son 
 als(_) accuses Hides of deL,a-ading our blessed Lord Jesus 
 CJhrist to a mere man, and His work to mere example, 
 d< preciatini^f or denx'ing His atonin:^^ sacritice. In the 
 eyes of tlie Wilburites, as of the Gurneyites, Hicks was a 
 I'atioiia'.ist, a S(jeinian, an anticluistian. His doctrines 
 are ' liUb," and to excounnunicate him and his followers 
 ,'as im[ii'i'ative (diristian duty, "^'et even Hody'son had 
 )m(,' doubt whetlier Hicks reall\' was so bad, whether he 
 really appreciated the sco])e of his ex})ressions, and 
 niraut all that tins inter[)retation puts \\\)o\\ his words. 
 Sorrowfully Ijut firmly he g'ives jud^'uient ag-ainst Hicks: 
 Wi' may u<e our freedom and reconsider the case. 
 
 Was Ivins Hicks a unitarian, a I'ationalist, an anti- 
 (lni^li;in '. Tiic application of the last epithet is simpl\' 
 till' outcome of theological prejudice, and may Ije set 
 .i-ide ;it once. Was he a unitarian.^ He was ]iot a 
 ii'iiiitarian, as the eai'ly nuak<_'i-s wan'e not. He and 
 tli^'V alike icl'usi- I the language and ihe concept ions of 
 I lio Ai liana-ian cret'd. I" hey ho\ve\ er iVenuently asserled 
 ihoir belief in the. ''three ihat beai' I'ecord in hea\'en,'' in 
 the (l.Mty oL' ( ,'liiist, and of the Spirit. llicks a])pears to 
 h t\e beli.-\ed that ('liri>t, the f^ternal W( .rd, the hight 
 ;iiid hi'e of men, is tiail\- ( lod ; that desus, the son of 
 M;iry, w a ^ (lady inaii, his divinity con-.i-<t iiig in the in- 
 dwediii-' ol tlie I'lteiTial Wold in hiiu. \\ a-^ llicks a 
 r,i 1 ,0:1a li-t .' If in any lopecl ln' wi'iit bi'voiid the 
 tenehine; I ,|' ( Jeoje,. |'\i.\, it was in his greater freedom in 
 e! it lei-iii-- SciiplMie, hi^ gicatef I'eliance upon j-ight 
 i'.i~'ai.' It niu-t lie I vim iiibercd, liowaAcr, that in-
 
 Dii'isio/is of Modern Quakerism. 30- 
 
 terpvotations of Scripture whicli are now accepted by 
 many, pcrliaps by most, intelligent readers of the Bible, 
 made oui' forid'atliers slmddcr. The calm, sober and 
 scriptural reasoning of his follower, S. M. Janney, is 
 sufficient to exonerate the llicksites from the charge of 
 irreverent and irrational criticism of the Sacred Textd 
 
 Ileturning to our standpoint in the Wilburite section, 
 let us now look at the Gniiieyites through their spectacles. 
 Why was it that John Wilhur, fJohn Barclay, WilHam 
 Hodgson, T. \\. Gould, and others, regai'ded the Gur- 
 neyit s as schismatics, no h'ss false to tlu'. Truth than 
 was ]<]li;is Hicks ? Because the Wilburites believed in 
 the divine revelation given to George Fox. The new 
 declaration about tlu^ Scriptures adopted by the London 
 Yearly Meeting, they stigmatise as " false and insidious," 
 'a direct abandonment of the princi])le always pro- 
 mulgated in the writings of the early Frlen<ls, that 'the 
 appointed means ' for the soul of luan to obtain a saving 
 kn()\\dedge of Gol, is a being taught in the school of" 
 <Jhiist, tiirough obedience to the 'Inspeakiug Word,' and 
 iaitli iu the roN'elations oi" Ills Holy Spirit immediatdy 
 ill the heait ; whicli will always be cini^islr nl ir'ifli 
 Scrij)', lire.' - in tiieir \'iew, I'^lias Jlieks i-.-jeeted the 
 llib'e : .b)S{ i)]i John tJurney i-ejected the S|)ii'it. JJoth 
 criMrs Were I'undiiuie-it.-d and falal. 'i'la'V o)i!y who 
 fi'lhi-re'd te> the aneieiit d'tetrines of (priU'erism, weie true 
 b itli t) th(.' Jloly r^eriplan'-s, and t) the Ligiit Avithin, 
 the immediate teacliing ox the Sjtirit, without wiiieh we 
 c.-uiiiot be s;i.ve I. 
 
 Must W(^ then come to the conclusion that the 
 
 ^ <'(inr< rsdt inih-< on ]!< liijiiiii.-i Siil'jcct.f, hy !s. ]\I. -Jiinuey. 
 - Jluihjson I. ,'!0G, ;!07. 
 
 U
 
 3o6 TJie Quakers. 
 
 Wilhuvitcisi arc th(^ true Qunkm--^, the genuine dcsccnd- 
 aiits of Georo'c Fox ? If iiiere fidelity to traditional 
 I'ldit'f is to decide, jadgiucnt must lio given in tlicir 
 favoui'. But tliis consideration compels a pause. It was 
 a marlvcd chara/'teristic (jf tlie Childrc}! of tlie Light 
 that tliov would not be content with a traditional 
 belief. It was not euougli for George Fox that God's 
 ^\'old came to ai)ostl('s and prophets thousands of years 
 before : iiot until G(jd spalce to A/y/i in his own heart, 
 was lie satisfied. And that divine Voice spake in all 
 men, would ihey l)ut attend. Therefore he did not 
 dream of adding a new tradition to the old, of sujiple- 
 menting Scri[)tare by authoritative \\'ritings. The 
 \Vilburit(.'S ttmaciously clung to the tradition tliat God 
 had revealed His truth to Fox and ilie early Quakers, 
 but they had wo (Mjually clear consciousness that tliey 
 themselves had this same revelation, gi\-eu directly to 
 th^m. This 1'mI them to hold their faith in a traditional 
 way. Thi'V ])i'actically reversed original ([uakei* doc- 
 trine; theii- faith resting priuiai'ily on the Scriptures 
 ''//'/ (he re -oi-ils of their fathei's ; oidy secondarilv upon 
 ih-' lii:-;ht within. The declai-ation respecting the 
 Scriptures iidr.idueed liy dose[)h John (Jui'ney was 
 ol!'ensi\c to them, because it was intended to " exclude 
 thi' idea of any di\'ine aut.hority in tla; \vritings of such 
 m.ii as ( leoi'ye l^'ox, Kobeit Barclay, or I-aac Fenington, 
 "T in th" exci'ileid c ide of discipline and coid'essions of 
 t'.-iltli e-t abli--liid and acknowledgeil b\' l^'riends under 
 I'c ]iiintiMg> ol' \\i-d''!ii iVom on Ingh." ' \\'illiani 
 ('.Miiilly coiitendeil that George I'ox's douiaial "is a 
 di\i',c|y ;inthoi;,M-d ]< c ,i-d of doct riiies of ti'Ut' rc'Iigion,
 
 Divisions of Modern Quakerism. 307 
 
 or else Georo-c Fox was an impostor ; but I believe him 
 
 to have been truly an eminent apostle."^ '' Xot that we 
 
 would by any means put our own writings un an equality 
 
 with the Holy Scriptures,' says Hodgson, " but as some 
 
 of tliem possessing a degree of the same authority." - 
 
 The Sjnrit is the primary rule, said George Fox, the 
 
 Scriptures, only a secondary rule ; an<l our Quaker 
 
 books are a tertiary rule, say the ^^^ilburites, not quite 
 
 equal i'> the Bible, but practically m<)re authoritative in 
 
 di^tcrmining wliat rpiakerism is ; in controversy between 
 
 the S(_'etions of tlie C^uaher Church, tlic ap[)eal should not 
 
 be to tlie Xew Testament but to the writings of Fox 
 
 ami Barclay. If it be said that tins ap[)eal to a tertiary 
 
 rule is fuUowing tlie example of George Fox who stoutly 
 
 maintained tlie infallibility of his doctrine an 1 discipline, 
 
 iiijiosing it peremptorily Uj)on every member of the 
 
 Church ; this is granteLl. The Wilburites stereotype the 
 
 errors of their founder, and in their adherence to the 
 
 " letter " of early quakerism, misinterpret its spirit. 
 
 'I'liuugh the hrst Quakers madij a tremendous mistake in 
 
 their notions of infallibility, it was the infallibility of the 
 
 S[)irit they rebel upon, not their own ; and if they 
 
 would U'jt suljordiuate the teacliing of the Sj)irit to the 
 
 Bibli.', they still less W(juld have consented to erect their 
 
 o.vn writings into an autlunitative stan lard. Elias 
 
 Hicks was in spirit more lo\'al to George Fox and the 
 
 (Mi-ly Quakers than wa,s John WiHnu- ; for he did not 
 
 biiiid his faith u])on the writings of George Fox, but 
 
 upi)!i the Truth itself, and was ready to foUcnv the 
 
 Trath whithersoever it led. Yet Hicks also was more 
 
 under the influence of ([uaker traditions than he knew. 
 
 1 lljul. 11. 35u. -Ibid. III. 3."}5.
 
 308 The Quakers. 
 
 Ho was an I'clio ratlier than an original voice from 
 Heaven. He coiiM not sec that qnal-cerisni required to 
 111' ]'efur]iieil. bei'ure it could oiler itself as the pattern 
 i'oi' a general reformation. The main body of the 
 societv, folluA\dng Joseph John Gurney, shook off the 
 foulisli nntioil of qnaker infallihilit}', but at the same 
 time g'<i\'e u]) that faith in the real presence of Christ in 
 His C'hui'ch Ity His Spirit, which was the ver}^ essence of 
 original ([uaki/rism. In exalting the Scriptures to the 
 paramount autliority, they made tlie Bible a necessary 
 mean between the human heart and the divine Spirit. 
 Ti'ue or not, one cainiot ileny the cogency of H()dgson's 
 Mppeal to fjuakei" writings in pi'oof that this is the 
 exaet contrary of tlie teaching of George Fox. 
 
 The Chilih-en of the Light are extinct. For one 
 gciiei'ation their light 1)lazed as a beacon, attracting the 
 attention of all ( "hristendom. Soon it died down and 
 di^;i])])eai'ed. Their dt'scendants wci haiger claim the 
 nnme, can maki; no ])i'('tensi(ai to be the Light-bearers, 
 inuminaling the on\vai-(l traek, ])ointing out to all the 
 cliurehes, tlie DuIy w;i\' to ti'ue reformation, unity, an<l 
 xlctoi'v o\i'r tlie ^\orld. '^Fheir stoiy has lieentuld: it 
 I'l iiiiiins now to gatlid- its lesxais. ^\'as tlieir early 
 jii'Miiilx' a dfhi-ion :* Was tlieir " Liglit " a false fire, 
 kiii'b-'l by thi' friiliuii of human fanaticism ? Tins is a 
 i|M'' tioii of w idr)' I'aiige than (|iiakei'i.-m ; it concerns all 
 ( ';iri-l l;inily : it bc!i)!i:s t<.) tlu" ^ery nature of man. 
 <)iii' may weli ii-eudil' at the ihought of entering uj)on 
 S' ) \;i^t, So \iLal an intpiii'y.
 
 CHAPTER XVIT. 
 
 THE rECCLTAlilTIES OF QUAKERISM. 
 
 If tliG great central doctrine and origiiiatino; inipuke of 
 (|nakerisiii, the Liglit within, is a delusion, what re- 
 mains after that is removed is of C(;mparatively small 
 im])ortancc. Still liaviiig traced tlie history from George 
 Fox to Joseph Jolni Gurney, let us, before reverting to 
 tlie founder of the society, give some attention to the 
 ])resent ])osition of the sect. In the \'iew of Josepli John 
 Gurney the true visible Church of Christ consists of a 
 nuui1)er of societies, united in the great fundamentals of 
 doctriiie and practice, but divided by minor ditFercnces, 
 " ])articular sentiments and ])racticos distinguishing the 
 different classes of true Christians, which may be de- 
 Jiouiinated religious peculiarities."-^ 
 
 ^I'o make a precise list of the particular sentiments 
 and practices wdnch distinguish tlie society of Friends 
 would not l)e easy, because they are not a fixed (piantity. 
 Some of the old welhknow]! niarks of the eighteentli 
 century Quaker, the peculiar garb, singularity of speech, 
 refusal to doll' the hat, liostility to nnisic, art, and 
 innocent recreations, have disa|)pcared, or are disajspear- 
 iiig. Other peculiarities still generally maintained, are 
 alread)'- c;dlcd in ([Uestion, and S(jmetinies given up by 
 iiidi\iduals and by meetings ; the exclusion of i)salmody, 
 
 ^ Ohscrvablovs on tJie licliijions I'ecidiarUics^ &c., p;i,L,'(: .'^0.
 
 310 Tlic (2uakcrs. 
 
 tUid oi" tlio rcadiui^' of t]io Bible from public worship, for 
 instance. In America some Friends desire liberty to use 
 the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; but 
 this innoNation is stoutly resisted by tlie majority. 
 Six j)eculiarities may be named as characteristic of the 
 society ; two relating to sc;cial and ^^(ditical life, viz. the 
 refus;il to take an oath and the testimony against war; 
 the otlier four affecting tlie internal religious life of the 
 society. Tliesc; are, the disuse of tlie ordinances or 
 sacraments, silent worsliiji, recognition of women as 
 ministers, and tlie strong objection to a paid ministry. 
 
 ]jefore considering the merits of these peculiarities, it 
 is reasoiudde to in([uire, by wliat standard are they to be 
 judged ; 1)y tlie written Word, or the teaching of the 
 Spirit ? ]\lo(lern ([uakerism emphatically asserts the 
 paramount autliority of Scripture: yet Curney claims 
 for the tenets of Friends the authority of the Sjjirit also.-^ 
 ]Severth('less it is an impoi'tant consideraticm that in the 
 \iew of the modern (Quaker, no];e of these truths and 
 duties attain to the first I'ank of cei-fainty and autliority. 
 N'hcy arc unt 'M'nndanu.'ntals," but "minor diflerences," 
 " jTligi()U> ]i('culiai'iti('s.'' Ls it then lawful to exalt into 
 tciiiis of ((.iiiiininion and conditions of mendjei'ship, 
 Sfiiiiiiiriils and ])racti('cs \\dneh, confo'ssedly, the great 
 Jb'ad of ilic ('huridi docs not make the conditions of 
 union with Jiim / Not to jiress this (piestion, which is 
 an a\\d<\\ai'd one fbi' oth("i's besides tlu; Quakers, let us 
 note, that for some of these tenets, plain imperative 
 Seiiplure coinnianils ai'e <jUoied. But abo it cainiot be 
 (Acid loJKed that otiiei- e(|ually ]>lain and imperative; 
 Scripture commands which might ha\e been erected mio 
 
 1 ()\,An-rai\i>,^, Chap. \\\.
 
 The Peculiarities of Quakerism. 3 1 1 
 
 quaker peculiarities are disregartle 1. Again, some of 
 their clierishcd sentiments and practices arc contrary to 
 tlie express injunctions of Holy Scripture : in the 
 opinion of most readers of the Bible, both learned and 
 sim]de. In all this inconsistency and per[)lexity, how- 
 ever, the Quakers are neither more nor less involved 
 than the otlier Protestant churches. George Fox laid down '^ 
 a clear principle, which, consistently followed, would 
 guide through every difficulty, viz. that the Spiiit of 
 Christ, and not the letter of Scripture, is the supremo 
 authority. But even George Fox was far froni con- 
 sistent in tlie a])])lication of the truth which had been 
 revealed to him ; the prejudices of liereditary traditional 
 Ijelief were still strong, and had greater inliuence over 
 him than lie himself knew. As for those who assert, as 
 do some of his descendants, that the letter of Scripture 
 must govern all, they in connnon with the rest of the 
 Protestants are compelled by their initial error to resort 
 to ingenious reasonings, to justify their adherence to the 
 letter in one case, and their neglect or contravention of 
 the letter in another. 
 
 Let us briefly glance at these six peculiarities. 
 Strongest in the support of Scripture authorit}^ is the 
 refusal to take an oath. " Swear not at all," is a 
 counnand which appears to admit of no possible excep- 
 tion. But so also is the conmiand, separated fiom thy 
 former by only a iaw lines of text, " Give to him that 
 askcth thee, and from liim that would borrow of tlice 
 turn not tliou away ;" and a little further on we read, 
 " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon eartli.'' So 
 we might go on quoting, to iUustrate the difficulty into 
 which a rigidly literal and k'gal insistence unon the
 
 j 1 2 The Qiiah-crs. 
 
 su|>cri'ici<il lueaiiiiig oi' Scri}>turo words has plunged so 
 
 many souls from the first until now. Ifavo wo not yet 
 
 learned tliat our Divine Teacher's words arc spirit and 
 
 ai'e life, only to Ijo understood as interpreted by His 
 
 (luiekeiiing sjiiiit^ If tlie very letter of Christ's words 
 
 is to \a\ strained to tlie utmost, then the (piaker refusal 
 
 to swear in a court of justice is hindino-, not upon them 
 
 oidy, liut upon all. If liowever the wliolc Christian 
 
 t/hurch inclu;ling the (Quakers, does not ol)oy tlie letter 
 
 in many other cases, then it is open to discussion 
 
 ^\hether it (Aight U) he decisi\'e in tlds case. Sucli a 
 
 diseus-ion need not be entereil u|)on here; we liaving 
 
 bcftjre us the nnach more important (|uestion, whether 
 
 the S[iii'it of Christ is not indeed the living, ever 
 
 pi-fsrnt guide, the only trustworthy interpreter of 
 
 Scii])Lui'e ( If that truth l)e recognised, is it then clear 
 
 in llie ligli'o of that S[)irit that it is under no circuni- 
 
 st.'uiccs liiwl'id for a ChristiaJi to take an oatli ( 
 
 The coniiiiuiid " ilesist not es'li," as heard by ipiaker 
 v:\v>, plninly I'oi'bids the Christian to ciigage in war 
 miller any circuiiistaiicos whatsoever. Ihit this is one of 
 lliMM' eases the analogy of which casts doubt npon the 
 ipiakia' \li'\v oi' tile jrrerjit referred to in tin.; jirecesling 
 pa iagra])li. \'(a-lialiy considered, " ]-esi>t not evil," does 
 iii'i. ,>]ieci;dly apjtly to v/ar. I^vil, as a mere v.'oi'ii, in- 
 clud''.^ moral as well as material e\'il ; and iesistance 
 may li' moral as well as ])liysical. Jf this injunction 
 wej-e iiiiei'iireie 1 hi t ( i"; 1 11 _y , wiiliout iiei'iiii-sioii (T' any 
 liiiiit.iUen t I the \\ide,-|. sweep oi' tile' Words, it A\'onld 
 i'"ndiiei 11"! only to ah iirdit ies, l)ut to participation in 
 ini|iiuy. 1 here ne\i-i' has been any oiu^ so Foolish and 
 iii'xereiit as to W]-en(di llrse wortls fi'om their coiiLext,
 
 The Peculiarities of Quakerism. 
 
 am I force thcui to a uuivursal apiilication plainly beyond 
 the original intention. A particular and limited mean- 
 ing being- the true one, tlie question arises, does that 
 meaning certainly forbii.l military operations ? There 
 is nothing in the context to show that it refers to 
 ilie soldier moi'e than to the policeman. Whether 
 therefore the Quakers rely upon this precept, or upon the 
 exhortation " Love your enemies," it cannot be said that 
 they are indisputably supported by the letter of Scrip- 
 ture, in their objection to the protection of life and 
 pro[)erty against fereigii attack by arms. Their testimony 
 against war iinds surer support in the spirit of Chris- 
 tianity. With the sad story of eighteen Christian 
 centuries behind us, and the present s])ectai4e of all 
 Euro})e in arms prepared for fratricidal strife, no 
 Christian would wish that testimony less clear, less 
 persistent. Nor would he willingly allow tiie blessing of 
 tlie peace-maker to be a peculiarity of qiiakcrism. 
 Christianity is o])posed to war, not so much because 
 war means the iniliction of })hysical injury, as Ijecause it 
 springs from covetousness, pride, ambition, hatred, lust 
 of tt'rritor}', greed of connnerce ; base and selfish passions 
 which war within and against the soul. ]-.,et it l^e 
 sorrowfidly admitted that Christian churehes have been 
 far too ready to espouse nati(jnal quarrels, have fre- 
 ([uently failed in their duty to protest agjiinst the 
 unrighteous -wars of ambition and greed; and all honour 
 be given to the peace-loving Qualc(M's who have so often, 
 amid mockery and (jbIo([uy, prote.-^ted iigainst the folly 
 and wiekedness of nuitual slaugliter. Ihit if tlie Friends 
 will so shape their protests, and base tliem on such 
 grounds, that there can be nothing of ([uaker p..culiarity
 
 3 1 4 The Quakers 
 
 111 tlioiii, it "will lie (';\-icr fcT otluT Clii istiaii.s to coii- 
 i'filcratc with tlieui in their eltbrts to maiutaiii peace. 
 
 'J'lie qnaker tenets \\\ i-v':.]X'et to oatlis and war ]iro- 
 l)'ihjy o]'ii;'iiiate(l in intei'jirctations of Scripture wliieh 
 wrru consiilei-aMy inthienced by tlie events of tlie time, 
 fn time (la\'s of civil strife, King Parliament and Pro- 
 tector in succession exacted oatli after oath ; men swore 
 and fi'i'swore; sci-upuloiis consciences were ensnared and 
 ti-onl'lr:l. l''ox ^voiild clear away all this troulde by a 
 siiiLcli: sli'oko. Christ said, "Swear n(jt at all;" so let 
 all rc--al, ci\il, mhit'U'y authoi-ities 1)0 set at nani^'ht in 
 this rcsjK'ct. Similarly, the decision ai;uinst war was 
 calli'd forth by the solicitations to enlist on this siile, and 
 on that. Th" assertion that Christ's s])ii'it is airainsr all 
 wai's set tin.' soul ii'ce and i;'ave it peace in the niid>t of 
 the cnntlict of t'avalici's and Iloundhfads. 'Idie four 
 ])i'c!iliarit les now to be c aisideiX'd have a deeper root, 
 'riiiiu-h ti'xts can bo ])roilu('e(l both for and against 
 thf-o, till' wt/ight of Scriptui'c, it will generally bo 
 a'4)-i'oil, is opposed to the (piak^r \-i('Ws. r,c this so or 
 ie4, h is cNidcnl that those peculiar \-iews about worship 
 lia\c tlieii- coniia.on oi-igin in tlie ([uaker doctrine of the 
 Sjiii-it. ( 'iiii>tiaii wiirshiji, in the' faith of the ChiMreii 
 lit' Light, is pui-el\' spii'itual ; it is not mei'ely worshi]) in 
 \^hirh man's -piiit a]>priiaclies tho I'lternal, but worship 
 ii.--|'ire'i by tlie Spirit of (iod. The use (jf symbolic 
 rite-, hy tlie early ( 'hiastians was, accoi'ding to thein, only 
 a teiiipoiaiy ;Mii'\i\-al of .1 mlaisiii, pei-mitto' 1 in the infant 
 'iiys id the ('iiiirch, hut liwt ])ermi->iblo to those who 
 li'i\ ' uO'N'. 11 i" till' nude 1.^1 ,111' ling o|' ji' ire spiritual Chris- 
 'i'inity. \\(ii->:ilp inu>t be a silent waiting of the soul, 
 until tile Spirit nio\es t<> ])rai>o, oi' jnayer, or preaching;
 
 The Peculiarities of Quakerisiii. 3 1 5 
 
 Tof uli \vur(ls without tlio S[)ii-it are ineanino-loss and 
 ()l!t'U.-:i\e. Man may not set limits to the Spirit of God ; 
 t.'iercfore the women are as free to prophesy as the men, 
 if it please tlie Divine Spirit to move them. The sacred 
 function of the ministry cannot be entrusted to a pro- 
 fessional class, engaged and paid to undertake at set 
 times, wilh or witliout a liturgy, a worship which is 
 (Hsplrasing to God, 1). 'Cause it is not the fruit of His own 
 iiuvorkiug Spirit. For the Quaker, therefore, tliere is no 
 ]irii'sthood, no sacrament, no iiturgx', no hymn-hook, not 
 evL'U a Biljlo, in his meeting for tlie worship of God ; he 
 will have no one ajijxjinted to prt'side : Christ is present 
 and presides. There is notliiiig but an assembly of 
 human souls, gathered into soh^nni stillness, in the im- 
 mediate presence of the ])eity, waiting until it shall 
 ])lease God to speak in and through one of them, to and 
 f(;r the rest. 
 
 Tills is indeed a spiritual worship ; only fitly to bo 
 contemplated in a reverent spirit. Let ns try to estimate 
 it according to the truth. ])ev()id of all extei'nal atti'ac- 
 tions, thei-e is a great ntti'activcncss in its sim[)licity and 
 spirituality. We see hosv it at once s\veei)s away the 
 gra\"i'st blemishes, the grc^ssest coi'ruptions, which have 
 been the scandal and the disease of Glirlstcndom. ]f 
 this sim})le s[)iritual worship had prevailed in the 
 Church from the first centuiy onwar^l^ the whole 
 lloman hierarchical system with its colossal perversions 
 of Christianity could not have arisen. There would 
 have been no tyrannical priestcraft, strangling civil and 
 j'uli.rious bbei'ty ; no intei'position of human mediators 
 between God and the soul ; no externalization of the 
 redemptive work in miraculous sacraments ; no tremen-
 
 U() 
 
 llu- Ouakcrs^ 
 
 dous l)ui\lfii ol' Jo_a-m;i Iiuposod by councils uiul by 
 popes. Otic CduKl almost consent to jiart with the sini])lo 
 symbolical litcs instituted by the Lonb if thereby the 
 snl'soipiep.t pei\evsion (>t' them by sacerilotalism couUl 
 luiN'e been (>-^c;';pe(l. M\'eu anion-' the ret'irmeJ churches, 
 t'le prol'os^ional cle!^y Icu'e been tar from an unmixc'l 
 ble-sln_;-. liea-onable an.l scrip! Ufal as it is that those 
 \vh<t-e wh.ile li\'es are cleNote 1 t > tlie ser\ice of the 
 (.'hareh slioaM recei\e a titling- maintenance fran tlte 
 I'liurvli, ihe o\i-.tence k^S. a cl;i-^s (>f \\v:\\ con-eia-ated to 
 thi>ser\iee almost ensures amon^ them, human nature 
 lu'in:;- what it is, the pre-^e-iee y^^ s )me who ser\'e toi' 
 lihliy laere. .\pait from this painful scandal, cla^s 
 iiU<a-o- 1^. ela-^s pav'ju.liees, spring- up; theol'->L:;ical preju- 
 tlu'i's ;;re ^t reot\ [ nl ; freeilom y-^i thoii^-ht ami of s[H'ech 
 ail' hamp":t>l. M\en when th^'re is trur piety, conscicu- 
 lious C'Cn ietion. and eai'uost zeal, one can hardly, with 
 I'.'ason, expee! tlb> papotud freshness o{ spontaneous 
 iMuliu-ia-in in [!c> ruutine sersices o!' a paid minister, 
 ll a ^illi-^;ian it\ii'lioi- ^i\es np his libvaty tn lie silent, 
 a nd en:;' i^' - ii >p. ak at ^titod time-, he will sonu'linios 
 hi\e t'> ->p 'ak when \w would I'athor hold his toiw'ue. 
 iii> u; ( I'aM.-c-- wid M>'.iu'times be the inert' echo and 
 r^'N I'.'i ': aii. in .if hi-< ]):i--t d anict md.s, instead c^f li\in^" 
 w t'l'l-^ ^! I'in 0114' up t'oan fri'->li in-^piiai ion. Adi 1 to ;dl 
 t'a.-i' "lij-ot; lis tho in.>\it ;d ile ttaaf ne\- of a proiossional 
 y-\yv:.\ t'l (n_r>iss ihr v. li.>I.> time and attention (^\. the 
 < 'l.ai'rh : s 1 tlwii tlu' sj iri:ud oxptaiiau'o and in^i^-ht nf 
 !;,.- 1 CM ill-! laity is I'll!' thi' m.'si | art shut U[) in the 
 -'m-iu' I'f thiii- ii\\n luarts, haNini;' in* oppoi'lunit \' of 
 utt'aaui'o. Triiiy when nuo caurasts all this with the 
 ampliiity, the siiu'ta'ily, iho sptnitanoousiu'ss, the tVeed om.
 
 The Peculiarities of Qunkerisju. 
 
 .-)'/ 
 
 ilio spiiitualiLy, the I'resli living inspiration of tlu^ (juakor 
 iiKN'tiiig, one asks onoself wliotlier it wouM not bo a 
 
 Messiul exc'liaiiL'V ti) get I'iil of the t'oi-inalisiii of lituri^'itv-; 
 and set services, the weariness of shallow ami bigoted 
 s(Mnu)ns, at the risk of sonietinies ha\-ing to be content 
 ^vith a wholly silent meeting ? 
 
 It is but a tlream. When we wake np and look at 
 the tacts, the dream N'anishes. It is possible to believe 
 that (lod tlid speak to the (duii-eh ami the world by 
 (u'di'go l'\)x; and his comi'ades ; but it is not possible to 
 i-('j,ard Ihe ([uaker t^liundi of" the past bundled and lil'ty 
 \'cai's a,s in any sjx'cial sense (he recipient of Dixint^ 
 (.iilighteiniicnt, the tcMuple of the Holy Sjtirit, the 
 sanctuary whei-e Divine^ oracles arc given I'oi'th. ^riieo- 
 rcfa-ally the ([uaker way ot worship may be the ti'ue 
 wav, hut pi-actically for this long time there has been no 
 light shilling furth fi'om theiUH\ no Divine N'oice heard 
 ; herefrom, for the guidance of the I'huich and cou\'ei'si()n 
 of the world. Tossed on a troubled ocean of iloubts and 
 dillicnltii^s, the seekers of this giMUM-atiou look this way 
 and (had. to liud the I'ight path; some in despair of other 
 help U'turn to the Catholic Chuich ; s;>me strrnuoiisly 
 t'K'a\i' to the letter of Seri[itnre; some wandt-i' away into 
 I'at i"iiaiism. \\\ the midst td' all this u])hea\'al, ad (his 
 unrest, (liese agonies of doul)(, this \-ehenient longing 
 for some light from hea\eu, the descendants of the 
 ('hildren of the Jaght shriid-; \\i(liin the (piiet of their 
 separate meetings, conscious that they ha\'e no l)i\ine 
 nu-ssage for the woi'ld. II" one eideivs a ((uakei- meeting, 
 he hears no insjiii'ed \-oici\ no li\>sh oracle ; all is sileid, 
 or the silence is only broken by tlu^ faint and feeble 
 echo of i>ast ijispiration. ddie teaching of Iiistoiy and
 
 1 8 The Oiiakers. 
 
 of fact outwuighs tUeoiy. It is known in Christian 
 
 oxpericnco that the spiritual way of worship has no 
 
 exclusive enjcjviiieiit of the Spirit \ tliao God does deign 
 
 t ) meet and bless the worship[)ers who make use of set 
 
 forms and symbolic rites ; that through the ministration 
 
 of a salaried and professional clergy He does convert 
 
 siiuiers, and feed His children with spiiitual food. In 
 
 the hist century the Wcsleys and Whitfield, "hireling 
 
 pri(,'sts" as tliey were, \ve]'e cliosen of God to do at least 
 
 as i-Teat a work as ]^\)x aecomplislied a century before 
 
 . ... " ' 
 
 and, unlike F(_)x's work, Methodism in its second centui'v' 
 
 shows no signs of decay, but nuiiibers its adlierents bv 
 
 tens of milUons. \\\ our own generation, when we think 
 
 of those who have b; en leaders of religious thouglit, tlie 
 
 names of Xewman, i'usty, and Keble ; JMaurice, StanL y, 
 
 and V. \\ . Itobertson, and many more of the "hireling 
 
 clcigy " ]-eadily occur to us; no Quaker, since Clurney, 
 
 has attained reputation as a religious ti^acher outside his 
 
 own sect. 
 
 Thus w(! arc conducted to an iiapiiiy wliicli touelies 
 
 th-' licait of the matter, (banted that the juisuse of 
 
 ni<;iiis is sadly frcipient, is it contrai'\- to tho will of Clod 
 
 tli;it llif ( 'liureli siKaild em[)loy in woi'ship, \-arious means 
 
 a'laptcd to varying ages, conditions and circumstances? 
 
 In oiluT woi-ds, m;iy man take any active jiart in the 
 
 [lubbc wiir.-hip of ( iod, and ])ivaching of the tiiitli, or 
 
 nm^t 1m' bi' cntii-rly pas^ive, exce])t as h(> is consciously 
 
 ;it 111.- \\\\v- the i-(M-ipiciit and ( ig-an of an inward Divine 
 
 iiillii.'iicc >. (;r.)i-gr Io)X held th;d man must l)e passive: 
 
 111' (muM not ])n'ach noi' pi'ay in his own will, or at the 
 
 bi'Ming (if othrr men. Ihit he was comp(;lled Ity the 
 
 n.'iiiirc of the cast' to abandon this principle in one par-
 
 Tlie Peculiarities of Quakerism. 319 
 
 ticular. The Children of the Light must " Keep their 
 meetings : " they must assemble at the appointed hour 
 in the pre-deterniined place. They were not to sit at 
 home, waiting for a special inward impulse to go to 
 meeting ; but they must go, habitually, regularly, in 
 obe<lienco to a general anil external rule, in this case 
 the habit is recognisi/d as reasonable, right, and a Chris- 
 tian duty, apart from a special and distinct perception of 
 oliHgation on each several occasion. If their attendance 
 at wor.-^iiip is .secured by the ordinary exercise of human 
 intelligence and A\'ill, acting under the general conviction 
 of I'eligiuus duty, wliy shouM the opei'ation of that in- 
 tidligence and wiU be deeme<] an impediment to tlie 
 rece})ti<jn of thu inllucnces of the Spirit ? In all other 
 departments oL' luiman life, accumulated experiences pro- 
 duce expectations anl habits, which become guides of 
 con<luct. Li\'ing foi'ccs work channels for themselves, 
 and by tlieir own action lielp t(j predetermine their 
 future course. Is it then certainly unlawful to permit 
 tlie o]">eration of tliis natural force in the Cliurch and in 
 its W(jrship ? In parliaments, in political meetings, in 
 me.^dings of all kinds, univci'sal experience has fomid 
 that tlie appointment of a president is favourable to 
 go;)d or<ler and the attainment (jf tlu; object of the meet- 
 ing. Thos<i who anticipate that it may Ije their duty to 
 s]).'ak in such meetings, far from thinkin.;- it wrong to 
 make preparation, would in most cases feel it highly 
 cu'[)alde not to study the subj(,'ct, ami se)metimes the 
 \-ery words beforeliand. Wlien the object of the meeting 
 is to iiiijvart instruction, the previous selection of those 
 most (pialilled to teach, an<l definite pre-arrangement 
 M'ith them, is recognised a > the best means for accomplfsh-
 
 ^20 TJic Quakers. 
 
 iiio; the 011(1. Routine, formalism, the blunting of 
 sensibility by custom, are disadvantages which we have 
 tu stru'igl',,' ;vg.iiu-t in ])olitics, education, medicine, 
 connuo'co, in e\ery dejiartment of human life, as ^^'ell as 
 in i-c!igion. Everywhere the tendency to act from 
 mci'e lialdt has to be steadily oj^posed by an eifort to gain 
 ail ever fresh perce[)tion of the present facts and of our 
 real relati(jns to them. How often has adherence to 
 fixed rules and traditional usages, lost cam})aigns, ruined 
 nations, delayed referins, perpetuated human igncirance 
 and misLry I Nevertheless order, prti-ai'rangeinent, tlie 
 u>e of means which experience has shown to be suitable, 
 are I'ight evcnywhere else ; wliy should they be excluded 
 iVom the meeting f(jr worship ? 
 
 'I'h(_' <[uaker tloctrine does not permit the applicatit)n 
 of this general law to religious woi'shij). They h)elie\'e 
 that the Christian ministry cannot be rightly exercised 
 except under the direct and immediate inlluence of th(,' 
 Spirit. " If it be the di\dne will that they should minis- 
 ti'i', they b^'licN'e it will be manifested to them by the 
 di\iiic Spirit, whi'U lliey ai'e to speak', whom they are to 
 aij Irr-s, and what things the\- are to expi'ess.''^ " Wdii'U 
 he ;ip^ Mvii.'Uih th'd the secret connnand has gone I'orth 
 t >\\ai' !> Iiini, rw.ilhj to a'ldress, eitlier th^ coiigi'egalion 
 in ] jr';iciii;|._;_ ( ,] thi' Alniijlily in pi'ayer : lie obeys the 
 niaipl it of Ills L ad, and -)icaks as the S;)irit gi\'es him 
 111 t ra iic,>," 'I'his de^ai jil ion of (piakei" ex[M.'rience im- 
 \>\\<-- a -peeiuj aii'l ])i'eiiliar inspiration, not given io other 
 iiiiai t'l'-, not ( iijoyed by t Ie'm~>''l\'es at other times. 
 A'liiiit h'^l that tlii'y wlio Jiave not had tliis ex])erience 
 e.i i;i''i inaki' thi'ir want oi' it a rule to measure liy ; yet 
 ' Iil,,,,-r,dl',n6, Chap. A\
 
 TJie Peculiarities of Quakerism. 321 
 
 even so, we are not altoo'ctlicr without the means of 
 testing tlie reahty of the Divine afflatus. The Spirit is 
 o-i\-en not to the preacher only, hut in some maimer and 
 measure to the hearer also. We are hidden to try the 
 S2')irits. Gurney in this immediate connection points out 
 tliat tlic spiritually minded hearer can discern when tlie 
 services degenerate into the use of words without iit'e. 
 Judged by this test, it would he difficult to sustain tlie 
 claim of the Quaker ministers to be favoured with a 
 peculiar inspiration, superior in kind or degree, to that 
 bestowed upon other Christian ministers. Again, it is 
 not easy to understand why this peculiai' inspiration 
 sliouLl be confined to the meeting for worsliip, as it 
 seiMus to be f)y the admission tliat " in tcacltiiKj a much 
 greater libei'ty is given f(ir the use of our merely human 
 I'acnlties, than in the higher and more important office of 
 projdiecy or preaching."^ Was Josepli John Gurney 
 specially ins]nreil when ho was preaching, and ]iot in- 
 spired at all, or ordy in (piite an iid'erior sense, when he 
 wi'ote those books which lielj^ed to change the wlioh^ 
 cui'rent of modern (piakcndsm ? If so, it seems a pity 
 that his sermons were not taken down in shorthand, and 
 })rinte(l ; instead of works which are evidcmtly tlie pro- 
 ducts of " merely Imman faculties." 
 
 With a |)rofoun(l sense of the importance and the 
 mystery of the suf)ject, with an earnest desire to avoid 
 I'ash judgments, and any word which would grieve a sin- 
 cere believci', it must Ijj pointed out that there is at least 
 a danger of superstition in tlie Quaker's l/elief. What is 
 iiisjiii'ation ? Who can tell ? We may not be able to 
 undei'stand the mystery, but we may know tlio cxperi- 
 ^ Ibid page V'.u .
 
 322 The Oiinkcrs. 
 
 cnco. That Cod docs teacli and move us by His Spirit, 
 no Christian, can doubt. But wlio can discriminate tlio 
 ]u)int Avlicro human activity must cease, in order that 
 the J)i\ine work ma}' 1ieL;in \ (_)], is there such a point ? 
 Is it true tliat the activity of the Jmman intehigence and 
 the human will is an impediment to the Divine influence ? 
 ' \V )rk out 3-our own salvation," saitli tlie Scripture, "for 
 it is Cod that worketli in you, l)oth to will and to do." 
 When temptation comes we do not wait for a separate 
 Divine admonition to ]'csist: in our very reco^-nition 
 that it is a temptation to evil, the ])i\ine command to 
 rc-ist is conveyed. When in secular husiiiess, or social 
 life, a call to duty comes, we do not wait for an inward 
 im])uls(' before we discliai'oe it. Tlie sight of our duty is 
 itself the voice of Cod to us ; and if we arc slack in 
 obedience, conscience is jiot slow in condenniation. Oui' 
 whole life seems to bo so nmch of on( piece, of oiu; 
 tfxt ui'e, tlint it is ditllcult to ]-ecci\'e the doctrine that 
 one icin of lil'r is siibject to ])i\'ine iiitluenee in a manner 
 ,'iho'_;-(M hfi- pcculiai-. Ojie imagines the (j)uaker nn'nister 
 siiiiiiL;' ill sili'iiee among his fdlow-woi'shipjiei's, meilitat- 
 iii'.f oil I li\ iiM' I lut li, oi' t hiiik iiig of the s|)irit ual needs of 
 ti.o.-,!' pr,'.-ent. llis hi;art\\ai'ms within him: he longs 
 t'l iiiipai't some' eun>olatioii ei- in^ti'uct Ion oi- wai'ning, 
 aiel Im' I'itIs ;iii impulse ti> sjicak. ^"eed we inl'e)' an 
 lniiui;it ii 11 of the |)i\iiic will, dilU'i-eiit alto^-efher in 
 Liii'l fi'iiii tle.t, which the same man feels wjien lie is 
 iiHi\i'i| to ei\e brcail lo flie huii'jry :' And v by should 
 imt >iinil;ii- ei ici 1 1 1 i>t ;i i ici s. (Ik; si-lit of a, \\aitilig Congre- 
 e.ii i"ii >il t ill-' at hi- I'lM-l . cdiix ry to ;i ( 'hi i>l iaii mini>tei" 
 "f ;M|. ! h' r ih ll<i|llil,;it inn. ;mi i-(|1!;iI eiiiix irt inn tlia.t he is 
 111.'!' r .1 h.xiiP' ((iiiiinand (o tc-ieh tliciii: e\cn thou'di
 
 The Peculiarities of Qunkcrisv!. 323 
 
 lie is one whoso whole life is devoted to this work, 
 though he has been pi'aAdng and stud\dng for days be- 
 forehand witli this very prospect before him, and comes 
 i-eady prepared with text and serinon ? That is the 
 question between the Quaker and other Christians. Does 
 the use of the faculties -which God has bestowed, in the 
 way in which it is right for us to use them in all other 
 affairs, become a hindi'anco which prevents the reception 
 of His best inspii'ations in public prayer and preach- 
 ing ? 
 
 There does seem to 1)0 at least a danger of supei'stition 
 in the Quaker views. In their tirst uprising they were 
 cai-ried awMy into an excess of utterance, sometimes mis- 
 taking for di\iuo inspiration what was the outcome of 
 their own heated imagiiiations. In latei' times the mis- 
 tak'e seems to have been on the side of excessive re- 
 straint. -Dr. Ash, one of CUirney's intimate friends, tells 
 us that in his childhood though he was blessed with 
 godly parents and a cirtde of relatives and fi'iends, most 
 oi' whom W(ire of a like chai'acter, no one attempted to 
 impi'css his opcniing mind with divine triith, or to draw 
 his atlt'ctions towards God and Chi'ist ; he never heard 
 the voice of j)ra.y(;r either in his own family oi' in those 
 oi' his ])ious rc'latives, and ncj one ever taught him to 
 ])rav. Aitcrwards, when he had becotue a lixdng Chris- 
 tian, the ideas which he had imbibed ;is a Fi'ieiid led 
 him for a h>ng time to regard specific acts of pi-ayer as 
 wan-anted only by soiue special anointing or im])ulsc of 
 the Holy Spirit; so that not until \\\ had known for 
 aluiost twenty years what it was to lift up his heart to 
 God, had he ever ventured (with ]*erhaps a solitarx' ex- 
 ci^ption.) t ) Ijcnd his knees before Him, or to gi\-c \-ocal
 
 324 TJie Quakers. 
 
 uttt'rniK'c to ilic desires of Ins soul.^ Tliis glivnjise into 
 tli<' interior of (|n;ikcr family life and personal relii^ion, 
 dni'iii^' tlic early ycai> ^^\ the oeiitiii'}', liclps us to under- 
 stand Ikiw tlii'ir peculiar ludief in inspiration freipiently 
 rt dui'ed nieetin_;-s to total silence for years together, 
 until tliey Cense 1 to l)e held; a result which does not 
 tend to i-enio\'e tli(.' suspicion tliat there is some admix- 
 tui'e oi' eri-or in the (piaker theory. 
 
 Xeverthele~s whoso steadily looks into the discipline 
 and practice of the society of I'riends Avill see nmch to 
 admire, something perhaps to en\y. This spectacle of 
 human snuls hound together in closest hrotherhood l)y a 
 ceuimon faith: all free to s])eak, all free to he siU'ut ; 
 their woi'>hi|>, in spii'lt and in truth Christ Himself hy 
 1 1 is Spii'it ]iresiding in theii' midst; their disci[>line, tlie 
 tender faithful watching over one another in hrotherly 
 l()\i', wiili the ])ei'>i^tent ]-es()l\-e to clear th(^ Church 
 IVmih nil ]i;irt ici]ial i< 'U in iniijuity: theii- docti'ine, in 
 iiiteiitinn at len-t. nuthinn' moi'e noi' less than the an'IkiIc 
 triilh lif New Te-taiiient ( 'hi'ist iainty, inter])reted hy 
 the lielp (if tlie 1 h ily Spii'it '. it is in conception a lofty 
 ideal, and il' hut imp 'rfeet ly reali.^ed, is it not so -with all 
 idi'.il- ' (ii'anted ih;it as an ideal it is not altogether 
 suiti il 1n cxery ag'' and gi'ade of humanity, we niay _yct 
 a-rec that it ollia'-. >u---i-,t ions which the othei' C 'hihst ia.n 
 cliuri'he> wiiuld d'l Weil to con-ider. ]ierhaps in jiai't to 
 follow. While tlie 'jreat majoinyof ( 'hri.^t ians ai'e still 
 d' iiiiin;it' (| hy f.ecli'da ^1 iel^m and 1 '.i 1 >! icalism, it would 
 I . jii'iiiatui-e t" (|i-cn-- wla tlc'i' ill the reiL;-ii of a jiurer 
 and niMie ciili-htiied ( 'hi'i-t ianity, traditional usages 
 whi'-hhaM' iM'cu so ti'ri ihly ahii>i d will he altog(;thei- 
 
 I I /;./,. .7.0/ ,;;,;/ Lo:, l.y t:.hv;ird Abli, .M.A., j.p. 1 and 12.
 
 The Pcailiai'itics of (Jna/ccrisiii. 3-5 
 
 discai'dcd. When wc consider the immense, the inc;il- 
 eulahle e\'ils, wliicli have resulted from sacramental and 
 sacerdotal perversions of Christ's teacliing, we OAve a 
 large debt of gratitude to those who have taught, and 
 proved by a noble exauiple, that even if a paid ministry 
 and ceremonial observances are lawful and useful, they 
 are certainly not indispensable to the Christian life. 
 We niay leave this subject in hearty accordance with 
 Joseph John Gurney's conviction that the " religi(jus 
 pecuHarities," whetlier of tlie (^uakei's, or of other 
 Christian chu)"clies, are of nunor impoi'tance, and can 
 vejy well be lei't over for fui'ther consideration, until 
 the fuTidauiental basis of <jur religious belief and life is 
 clearly ascertained and securel}' fixed. 
 
 Gui'ury died in liSdT : with that date let our historical 
 retrospect conu) to an end. Al)out ten years later an 
 ailvertisement olfering iu(jney })rizes for essays on tlie 
 causes of the decline of ({uakerism called attention to 
 the low condition of the society. Rowntrce's insti'uctivc 
 Ijook, and a number of pamphlets, were published in 
 consc'pience of this invitation. Since that time there 
 ha-^ been an increase of activity among the I'^riends. 
 Home and foi'eign mission work has been undertaken. 
 Research has been made into tlu; archives of tlu,! society, 
 nnd mail}' interesting books throwing light iq)()n its 
 early history ha\'e been printeil. I'hilanthropic work 
 has been maintained and increased. Even into the poli- 
 tical ai'eiia members of the society have descended, 
 'f ht'ological in(|uiry has re-awakened. 1'he a])])earance 
 in JSS5 o|" -'A liL'asonahle l^'aith,"' the joint woi'k of 
 three members of the societ}' ; and in bS^S? of "Old- 
 fashioned (^uaherism," by William Pollard, indicate a
 
 326 The Quakers. 
 
 I'l'jictioii agaiiisL ( iuiiicjism, and a pai'Lial rcN'crsioii to- 
 Manls the faith of tlu' cai'ly Qiiakei's. Wwi into recent 
 ami stiil pi'iiiliiiU' discussions it is not advisable for us 
 to enter. (.^)iial';ej'isni iias been sutiiciently exhibited to 
 ]ii-i'[iar' us for tlie only inquiry wlucli is of vital con- 
 cern ; whctlier tlie stoiy of George Fox and his followers 
 contains any spiritual help for the Church of this age ; 
 NvJiL'tlu'r the inward Liglit which shone in him, shines 
 for ns al>o ; and whether we niay lio])e that its increasing 
 i-adiancc \\\\\ dispil tlie dark shadows now gjitherlng so 
 thickly ar(juiid our iiineteenth century Christianity. 
 'I hcse ar(.', the iuipuries which will occupy the succeeding 
 chaptcJ's.
 
 CHAPTER XVIU. 
 
 THE IXWAIID LIGHT. 
 
 Tm: nii.s.sioii of George Fox was to direct all incii to 
 the " inward Light;' "the manifestation of C^lirist in tlio 
 lieai't/' the S[)irit of (Jod, man's true teaeher. Tliis 
 was tlie ]'evelati(.)n given U) him, Ijy wliieh he was saved, 
 in wliich he li\ed tlie Cliristian life. This was Ids 
 message to the Church and the world, which attracted 
 thousands to his side, hy wliich a new church was 
 founded, a church manifestly inspired by the indwelling 
 Spirit of Christ, and for a time, too brief a time, holding 
 out the hope of a universal dilfusion of spiritual Chris- 
 tianity. Wlien faitli in the inward Light declined, the 
 Church built upon it declined. Li the history of 
 quakerism there is nothing of vital importance except 
 this. If this Light was true then, it is true now ; and 
 certainly it is not less needed to-day, not less precious, 
 jiot less important than in Fox's days. Let us then 
 endeavour, in the lirst ])Iace, to ascertain what Fox him- 
 self meant by the Light within. 
 
 Among Christians tliere is no controversy about the 
 existence of an inward Light. It is a doctrine of the 
 jjible ; all the churches receive it ; it is a fact of ex- 
 perii.'uce. jjaxti'r and tlie presbyterin,ns did not <lill'er 
 from Vox and the (^uakcas, in that the one }arty 
 bidieved only in the Bible, the other only in tlie Spirit. 
 Loth parties acce])ted both tiailhs. Their clifFerence was
 
 3J.S 71 ic Quakers. 
 
 as t(j tlic (ti-dcr and cijuiiuciion of tlicsc truths, their 
 I'flativc iinportaiice and practical application in tlie 
 spiritual life. In order to estimate this ditference, and 
 dctei'niine ^\']nch side was nearer to the trutli, we must 
 1)0 aeipiainte-l with the real inner meaning of both. 
 \Vliat was Christianity in the inmost convictions, and 
 tlie consetjuent desires and efiorts, hopes and fears of the 
 Puritans { What was the range of their thoughts upon 
 religi(jus tliemes, and what its })ractica] outcome ? We 
 begin with the Puritans, because (|uakerism is only 
 intelligibk', when .seen against the background of the 
 ])Uritauisin from the nddst of Avhich it emerged. 
 
 d'heologieally, tiie puritan di\-ine took his stan<l upon 
 the iJil-le. This was to liim the re\'elation of God. All 
 ieligi(jus truth was stored up in Holy Scripture; all the 
 \\ ords ut" Jloly Scriptui'e were inf'allibk'. The inspira- 
 tion by wliicli the writers of Scripture wert' guided was 
 in ils nntuic altogetiier distinct from the. iiifhimce of 
 tlic S]>ii-it W()i-]\ing in tlie hearts (jC ordinrii'y brhcN-ei's. 
 \\\ siiinc, natural human reason, by others, I'eason under 
 lip' guiding of the S])irit, was ]-egarded as the reeipirnt 
 of the Scrijif ui'c rexclatiun: but in neitlier view nnist 
 uiiin's I'c'isdii ]resuna' to ci'cct, itsell' into a judge of the 
 pl.'iin statmiciits o! the liible. (luai- and exact woids 
 ot I joly \\ lit aiT till' final and siijircme authoi-it \-, bcfoi'e 
 w !i M-h 1 111- hilii'Nrr must prostrate himscll' in uiupicstion- 
 ihl;- --111 iiiii-.^ioii : howcNrr dark, mysterious and tt.'rribh! 
 'h'-i' woiils may he; cNcn sluaild they seem to con- 
 ''I'li'i- ii"l I'lily orilii;;iry human icasoii, but tln^ sanu; 
 'i-'ai liiliil wiili ;iil th.' ciili-liii'iiiug and saiictifyiji"- 
 iullu. iKT^ (,r ihr Il<i|y Spiiii. Did a doulit arise in the 
 "iumI wlirthri- ,-1 iiaitieuhir douiiia. oi' the whole doif-
 
 The Imvani Light. 329 
 
 liiatic schciiio thus oljtaiiied, was ti'ue, it must be stitlfd 
 liy rcmeuibering that " thus saitli the Lord." If the 
 claiui of the Scriptures to Ije accepted as in this sense 
 the Word of God was challenged, this was n)et by an 
 appeal to the evidences, external and internal, to 
 niiraclcs and prophecy, and to the manifestly divine 
 character of the revelation. J3ut it must l)e remendjered 
 that the Puritan, speaking genei'ally, did not go so far 
 Ijack as that; the divine authority of the Bible was 
 with him an axiom, lie did iKjt enter into an examina- 
 ti'iiL of the ])ro(;fs. Here and there one, like Kichard 
 JSaxtfr, frit that this rcgin]i of thought ought to be 
 tliM)';, uglily explored, bnt it was not thoroughl}' ex- 
 ]La\>d: as a matter of fact, it was altogether neglected 
 I'}' the great majority. The verbal inspiration of the 
 Scri[)tures, their iiifairil)ility, their supreme authority, 
 W(.'re' fundamental in the rr(jtestant theology. Hence, 
 althi;ugh lie acknowledgerl the existence (jf an inward 
 Light, to tlie Turitan the Word of God was tiie greater 
 Light which juled in the spiritual day; unto which the 
 measure of spiritual illumination vouchsafed to believers^ 
 could not but be inferior, both in d(_'gree and authorit}'. 
 
 Tlic L'uiitans were not all di\ines. Besides the 
 preachers, and e<li"icated laymen who could study the- 
 ology, there wei'e the simple foil-:, wdio ]iear<l sei'moiis, 
 and CDiihJ, v(j]|ie of them, just read their Lilies. What 
 was the character of the I'eligious life, among unlearned 
 as well as learned, which was sup[)orted by the puritan 
 ex[ e)siti<jn of Scripture truth '{ This is a wide ([Uestion, 
 roid we narst leniendiei' that \\ here\"er we tui]i our eyes, 
 whether to the ancient Catholic an<l Orthodox Churches, 
 or to the many randiications of Lrotestantism, we see
 
 330 TIic Quakers. 
 
 e\eiy\\liri'c ('\'i<lc!icc\s of a Cliristiaii lii'c wliicli cannot 
 l)c attributed to tlic distinctive theologies of the several 
 cluiiches. If then we discern a peculiar type in 
 })uritanisni to Avhich it is necessary to call attention, it 
 nnist not he ftrgotten that among the Puritans also, 
 tliere were tli'K-c who were hotter than wo should ex- 
 pect from tlieii' creed. Still it is needful to ascertain 
 tlie jxculiar cliai'acteristics of the puritan religion, a 
 compreliciision of wliich is necessary to our in(j[uiry. 
 
 To tlie ])Ui'itan, Clod, Eternity, Lh_!aven and Hell, tlie 
 Law whicli condciuneil him, the Atonement which 
 secured icmission of its sentence for a favoured few, the 
 awl'ul decrt.^es of ])redestination and reproLation, were 
 all of them infinite external realities. These realities 
 ^\el( iidinite. His own personal existence v/as infinitely 
 insignificant ; nothing was great in him, hut his guilt ; 
 this indeed as an ollence against (J(jd attained to a kind 
 of reflecti'd iidiinty, through which it deserved an infinite 
 puiiishmeiit. Ihit apart from this, man was a worm, 
 dust, coiitemptihle lieiieatli the power of language to 
 expi'ess. between this despicahle creature and Almighty 
 (ind, tliei'e, ^\as an iiiflm'te distance. TJiese ]H>alities 
 Were. e\ten!;d. Ivxcept his -in, all were outside him, woi 
 lieli)iigitig to his ])ers()iial lieing, hut existing indiepend- 
 eiitl}' and (lijieti\ely. Www the work of Redeemiiig 
 h<i\-e was alldgether outside; tlu> region of human ex- 
 pi-rieiiee ; it was an act of tla_! Dixiiie SoN'ereignty ([uite 
 iu'le])! iideiit (if human mei'it and demerit. ^Jdie At(;ne- 
 iniiif \\a-> a ureal t i'aii--a(a Ii ai Kitwecii two ])e'rsons in 
 tiH' (iMdhea'l. the |-"athia- aial the S^ai. 1 1 isf orically, it 
 was an exliaaial woi'k, performed hy the incai'nate tSon 
 at a I'riiK.te iilaee ill a, Ioult au-o aije. For ohtaininir tli(3
 
 The Iinvard Liiilit. ^U 
 
 buiiL'lit of ihis salviitioii, man wus dependent U[)on an 
 arbitrary decree of which ho could know iiothing ; and 
 actual realisation of the blessing came as the sc(|ucnee of 
 a pergonal belief in which nothing of the nature of a 
 moral cause coukl be admitted. It is true that sancti- 
 llcation was regarded as a Jiecessary conchision of tlie 
 redeeming ])rocess; but altogether as a consequence, 
 nex'er as a cause or reason, or co-ordi.'iate part, of the 
 process. Thus, practically, tlie one momentous ([uestion, 
 was, am I one of the elect ? Next to that, was the 
 inijulry as to the nature of justifying faith, and the 
 peissiinliiy of its attainment. It was a religion in wdiicli 
 the future issues of eternal ha}rpiness or misery out- 
 balance 1 the present moral distinctions between good 
 and evil. After all, the saved were not saved because 
 they Were morally butter than the lost. The lust were 
 not lost because they were morally worse than the 
 saved. Then, the eternity of the torture ! Of course 
 these Puritans could not comprehend their own words ; 
 they lia<] no more knowledge of eternity than wc have, 
 ijut they thought they had a clear and definite know- 
 ledge of it. It is dillicult for us to comprehend how the 
 tv)tal etleet of this the(dogical system could have been 
 other than one of two results, either the hardening of 
 the heart, or madne>s. 
 
 What was the practical outcome of a j-eligion of this 
 type ? Granted that many of the Puritans passed 
 through these gloomy regions of tliought into a perst)nal 
 ex[)erience, wherein religion became of a different tA'pe ; 
 ^vliere faith l)ecame chihl-like, jtenitence blossomed out 
 into reformation, where conlidenee in the Father of our 
 spirits through Jesus Christ grew into iilial love ; so
 
 'Jlie Quakers. 
 
 t.li;i.L th*.' nf'\'v' lit'i; of ll)i; (;liJl'i)'cri of" 0';<i \v;i-5 Ijorii, ;i,ii(l 
 iJoUi'i-]i':'l. ;ui'l <j,Y^iw t'Avari] ])f;rr';ctif;n. It still rf;rii;uris 
 
 (,-|i;ul' tli-'i.t till-, lii''t,!i'ji| (;!' C;ont';lilj)l;i.til)'_^ ';t<;J')i;i.l l't;;i,l i ti(;S, 
 
 liful ;i, sli-'ji)_ii- t,i;nM';;i''y to i]j;i,l<<; (r-f-jijA; IVuiii fiitui-o 
 ])'ilil-}ilii':lit tlif; fi)'-.t 'Jf'.-Ji.t ol>j';C:t, n.li'] \: ) J-f-'luco ]j<:l'.-.OIi;i,l 
 cij;i.i;i.';t'j)' t; ;i, :-,':c;o;i'l;i)-y r:oi]-i'l';i';i,tion. li' t!i';r';l"oi'':, lli'; 
 rjll;ji';ii of ii]ati\' \v;i.- 'ji'outi'k'l in f(;;i,i' ivitli':!' tlui.n iti 
 fait!i JUi'l ill lo\-'; ; if it 'lo'.^*;n';ivi.t'; 1 into f'>i-iii;i.l p)' ;f'- -:- 
 -i ,/)i iti-^t<;;].'l of j>ro'iu':itiir ;i, now llfo; il' this i'or(ii;i,l pi-o- 
 f',-~^ion \'.;i.s fr';'|U',-n1 1}' stuitio'l hy ino iii-i-touoii.-s ',y\v\ 
 co;i-;i':ious hv Mii':on-.f;ious livjjocrisi''-.. this i'<;-ult only 
 \iV' r-:'-.-. that 1juhi;o'i jijUju'o c;i,nijot ho 'lol i vi:)'(;il fi-om 
 
 iJlOlvi.l 0'. il !)V ;Ui ;i.)jpi:;i,l to S';!f-itit :r';.-,t, OV<;n tllOM'_'ll 
 iq^oii ?ui infinit'; .-.rM.h;. 
 
 Qi^J:';ri-iii wn.s ;i. )'';'-oil from tlio oxt.i-oiiir:^ i^f j,ii)'it;iii- 
 i-,;ij. f 'o!ijj;;i.rin'^' tlio t\".'o. wo ;i,t onoo ]r;ff;';ivo t.hi'oo 
 iii;[)Oi't;uit 'liir'-iono':-. 'I'h'; Piiritan'.i J'oli'jion hi:'_';;ui in 
 r.ii'; '.ont..;iii j,hi.',ion of Jon <;xtoi')i;i,l cii'oio of iiifinlto 
 'imi'-iii' ).i~. i'o>; f'o'in ! tho i;oiJiini:n';oiiji;nt oi hi.T j'o- 
 l''jiori \',-i!,hiM liim-iJf, in ?', jjjint of Li'_^ht, a point of 
 ': wi^i.':t h' ;!,.'. '-'11 hi-, ,-;oul ;i.n'l ^/o'l. ;i. to vJ^i.tion whioli 
 )i);'l'; hiiii - ' hiui '-if u. . lio \'.'.'i,~, ;i, ..inii'-)' ln-foi'o <^Joi|. 
 1 ! ...-n^ II';. I, fj,';i ni:,}-, .Ju'l_Mri';nt to Coiuo^ ;j.I1 th;i.t \.\.~,\. 
 -.'.''p '.r iiii'i,_'-:ri;i.T.ion whi;h ;).pp;ili'-'l JUi'l oft-tinios 
 p.u'-.ly/'l th'- l'iiiit,;i,ti. fox lo-t -,i'_'hl of it ;ill, in this 
 'I-, '( ' !). ..'I'lii'j^ ;i.ll oi.h -Oi hm'j' ''O!) -,'';ioii -,n': : of tho 
 ;/: ;i', f.i';', lii-i.'. !i'; .'..!. ;). in;i':r, t,)i;i.t, )io ..r.v hi^ ',in in 
 :. l-!_0,t, of ' - , 1 It. .',,. , ti i\. t,t,;,,t, Ir; 'l:n:'' I, Of ' loU t,t,<;'| 
 
 :h; V;;.-;. \'..'-',-\ )-.;! !!:,; t, ' , ' V ;i,!l '-xi.',':!, hut hoW 
 '...! 1- .:;/ ': '.':-'; ly't .',:. 'I hilll ;)!)'! t,!|.- p|-' -I'jit f';;Jlt_)', 
 ;;., !li';:'i;i_f -.'.Xt,!! I i<j 1 , -,';Iit/:IJ';'; oi' OOIl lottJ tlJi.ti Otl itl hi-; 
 
 -'V.;, ' .J] !)': ' lij th'- W-i.y oi' !ook'n/ ;).i to'loinption
 
 l\v ("hri>r. tliore was an fiiiaily ^vt'll-lrl^a'kv'l e^:it:a>t. 
 Til-:' ruritan's r^"leuipti"n wa^ an external Tr;;]'i>acii';':i. 
 a^'c 'niv::-L^J ai l'.il\ary -'x:-- n l.i:::lrL'l vc-ir- ;-::'ji\': 
 liis Savioai' wa- ilu- ^^jrinvJ Iv:n_: far a". ove. iiivi^il'- in 
 \\.v a:-tan: l.eavcii. To F^'X :.is i\lvm]tivri va^ a p:\- 
 C'-^ e.;:::v,l ''n v\':::.:n h:> \vn ^';l:l. His Saviour was 
 C:.r:-: t'.c L'_::.t u\v.,-ii:::_: in hin:. and t-xr-^iin^ T: e 
 n:orai rvii. Do vc n^'t: see i: \ he cried iJ'Ur. IvT lie saw 
 the I'io- 1 O'f l"!n-:-r. hew it ci^ansvth th-:- Jivarr. A^rain. 
 F'X i.vi'i the :.:>:. he hviivi vi t:.- Puritan as hrnhy as 
 lie. hut t'.v :h-:^ rie h^-iivf was n^t cn'_n_;';f r ihi.i. in- 
 :e a was w. r:.. n ti.nij. wttn nt a V'!\-v::t cXV'v'iriiee 
 :' :h- ^i--an>ia_: ] ;'W,i- .e:' Ld.ri>r wihhn the s eh. T\.c 
 'id: i i:-:i::.:i :i wa- ::.:s. Ti.e Fnritan"s j-i^at anxirtv 
 wa^ I- .^_-ay.- ti.v da:: :.ati:.n :t :..d:. IF- \..n>t ihrsakv 
 
 :h i n : --xve t t'.' ''': iihiy i-.iivv'-.d : r^. ni t:.^:;l wiiii^ 
 . ::i::-- wa- t' F. x n::;.:\- a" . n.ina; iv. 1F> l^:^:J- 
 
 _:.:,::: wihi ne::.i:i_: .^-s: t r inni sa.%a:i ]i wa- 
 _: ; a: a:.d _:-ave. W^- \v:._- iiv- in an a_e wii^n Cai\d:d-:n
 
 334 rJic Quakers. 
 
 is no Ioii^'>u' predoniinaiit, wlioii mucli tliat was strange 
 and new in Fox's teaching has been long familiar to 
 religious iii!im1s, rcijuire an efi'ort to I'ealise how iiinnense 
 was th(_> change from the awfully dark and terrible 
 dogmas which the Puritan deduced by an iron logic from 
 till' words of St. Paul, to the free, joyous, hopeful life of 
 Christian experience into which Fox conducted the 
 Ciiildrm of the Light. B'jtween the two conceptions of 
 ( /hi-isti;inity, tlie two mcthoils of seeking salvation, the 
 two ways (;f living the Cliristian life, who in tluvsc days 
 c;ui hesitate ? J hit a deeisioii in Fox's favour on these 
 ])oiiits docs not necessarily shut us up to acceptance of his 
 doctiine of the inward Light. Why did not Fox o])pose 
 and amend tlie Cabinistic theology l)y showing that a 
 better system can he derived fi'om Jloly Scri[)tui'e ? 
 -Manx' have laboureil in that held, both 1efore antl since 
 liis time, and with much success. The Ihble is certaiidy 
 st i-oii_;ly ( 'aixinistic when John (_'al\'in has the mani])U- 
 laliug of its ti'xts. St. Paul, ami not St. Paid aleiie, I'ur- 
 nls'ies ahiindant material for th;it system. but the P>il>le 
 is 11' it what t lie 1 'rotes tan ts wmild hav(- it to be, one hook, 
 eiiiaiiat ing IVom one autlmr, ex])i-i'ssiiig one great idea. 
 b i> a hti'ralnie, i-e| )re>eiit i Mg diil'erent sta^'es in tlui 
 jirogiess of hiniian thought , dixci-se \-iews of ti'uth as 
 si'i'U liy dillriviit miii<ls. II' it be an aiticle of biitli that 
 till' l)I\in" Spirit iir-^pii-ing the sex'ei'al authors, gave to 
 tl ' eollcetloii ;i unity ill which one ])art is halanced 
 a aiii t atioiln'r, ri'sultlii'^- in a wisdom of the whol(> 
 hn _ ] aiel if'^p^T \\vm\ th- writers oi' the parts concei\-ed ; 
 ti 111 we must also 1,(. 11.. \,. that (h- saiin' S].irit can enable 
 oth- r lnt'r]ii'.'ti'r. to draw from \\-. inexhaustible treasures 
 o'';,. r .loginatlc systems, vi]),.).;, ,r to tliat of the Puritans.
 
 The Inward LigJit. 335 
 
 (reorge Fox miiilit have adopted this method. He could 
 ]iave derived his system from the Scriptures, for when in 
 possession of it, lie fuuiid it sliinino- out in everj^ hook, 
 almost in every page of the sacred volume. Instead of 
 thus making his first appeal to, and drawing all his 
 authority from, the Book acknowledge;! by all to bo 
 divine, he asserted another authority, an inward Light, 
 a direct teaching from God, superior, as lie said, to the 
 Scripture. Why did he take a course so perilous, so 
 certain to give offence, so hard to justify, against 
 opponents ? 
 
 The answer which we get from George Fox is that tlie 
 fact was so. God did teach him by His Si)irit. The 
 Light slione in his soul, and he saw the truth. He did 
 not get it from the Ijihlc, though it was there. He 
 knew it first by revelation, and then, with the revelation 
 eidightening him, lie could see the tiiith in the Scriptni'es. 
 This is his doctrine of the inward Light. Was it true, 
 or a delusion ? 
 
 Hero we are cord'ronted by the oltvious explanation ()f 
 nnconsci(ms coreljration. I'hero was nothing new in Fox's 
 revelations. They were new to liim, but th('y had been 
 gi\'en to others bef(j]'e him, and were plaiidy taught in 
 the Scriptures. Fj'oin a child l'\)X had known the Scrip- 
 tu]-es, foi' yeai'S lie had ]^ored over the pages of his Biljle, 
 until he knew it almost by heart. At the moment 
 when the revelation flaslied into his mind, he foi'got that 
 lie had read it in the Lible. Wlien it ci.me it was but 
 the revival of a ])revious impression, which he had for- 
 gofien ; and therefore the notion that lie was the sulject 
 of an inuuedlate ]3ivine ins]')ii'ation was a delusion. 
 
 The explaiiatii ]i is ])hur-ililo, but will it account for
 
 ,26 The Quakers. 
 
 tlie fact ? Wiiat Fox assorted was that lie saw tlic truth 
 itselF, saw it in liiiiise]f, saw it in a liglit wliich came 
 i'roin (ii)il. 'I'liis is soniethiiiy' more than knowinij the 
 truth Ijeeause it is written in the Bible. Take now sonio 
 cleinentai'V moral ])rece})t, such as, " Thou shalt not steal." 
 'I'his i)]'ece))t is contained in the decalogue. To the Puri- 
 tan, the decalogue was the source of its authority. There 
 could not l)e a more awful sanction than the very voice 
 of (jod heard in thunder on Sinai, than words of God 
 engra\'ed with the DiN'ine linger on the tables of stone. 
 lUit Fox made the di'ead discovery that (iod had written 
 tliis |)rece[)t in his heart; he knew it was true b(icaus( it 
 was wi'itti'U there ; he was not dependent upon the pen- 
 tatcuch for this Divine voice, this woi'd of ( Iod ; he heard 
 i;, in hiiiisell", and knew, knew iid'allibly, that it was 
 ( Iod s command to him. 'J'his is a i'act of spiritual ck- 
 liericiicc which tlu^ psycdiological theoiy of uncoirscious 
 cci'cbi'nt ioii cainiot ex])lain a.way. It is not an experi- 
 I'hCf ]i(M-uli;ii- to |'\)x mill a few others. All men have 
 It ill >:A\V' d.'gi'ee, oi' may ha\'e it: and unless thry haxc 
 h^d it, it is iisi'l''ss to disi'U<s the subject with them. 
 L ! ii> lo )k ;i.t, the t'act once moi'c. 
 
 Tlio;i shah not, steal." Ivarnt, by rote in the cate- 
 chism, iv.kI ill the llihle, or as inscribed ;ibo\-e, the altar, 
 eiit'irc^'l by the assurance t.hat these are ( Joil's woi'ils, 
 ixjiiv^ .i\ e (i|" 1 1 is will, this i> the lettiM" : it is outside tin; 
 man. I 111 s, iJiere is soinething within him ^\'llich cor- 
 r^'^pMn'ts tlcr''t'>, an-l enter,-; into its spiiat, lijs o'ledieiif^e 
 t ' tic CI iiniiia !iil is almost dexand ol" moral (|Ua,lities. 
 ' '' '1 c iiniiKinds this ; he is toM. (Id i i > in iiiiite|_y strong, 
 
 a'b' t'l inlliel inilliea-ni-able jielialtieS Ibr di>olHMlienC(^ 
 
 til' r-twi'e si, 111 II, ,t. (;,) I'Muiiil and roiin>l these thouu'hts
 
 The Inward Light. 337 
 
 as loiif^ as you please, nothing better than a prudent 
 regard to one's own interest will result. " Thou shalt 
 not steal." Reason takes the precept in hanrl : weighs 
 it, measures it, defines property, calculates the conse- 
 quences ot" infringing tlie law, discerns that stealing is 
 seldom sate and protitable to the thief, and always 
 injurious to society. Reason concludes that the greatest 
 happiuL'ss ot" the greatest juiniljer is yn'ouioted by observ- 
 ance of the rule ; to which, in the abstract, it therefort; 
 gives a cordial support. When reason has done its best, 
 it huds the [)recept to 1)0 an induction of intelligent self- 
 iuturcst, morally indistinguishable from compliance with 
 superior force. '"' Thou shalt not steal." There comes 
 an actual temptation ; the conscience is awakened ; it is 
 no longer a subject of speculative iiKpiiry and al)stract 
 intLM'cst but a case for practi('al decision: sliad I, or shall 
 1 not ? Then the voice within is heard, which is notour 
 own ; then the law written in the heart burns as Avith 
 fire, and we feel as well as see the command. It is no 
 longer an outward I'ule, the expression of a mere 
 arbitrary will. It is the law of God; it is the law of 
 our nature ; it is the truth itself. This is immediate 
 revelation, f(n' it retpiires no proof beyond itself. It is 
 tlve ultimate foundation. There is nothing beyond this. 
 \Wi A\ant no more than U) know the truth in the felt 
 presence' of (dod. 
 
 'I'he, (.'xisteiict! of an inward light of this kind is 
 generaUy recognised, under the names of conscience, the 
 moral sense, spiritual intuitions, natural religion, the 
 ''not ourseUes which makes for righteousness." 'Jdiat 
 this inward percieption of moral distineti(,)ns, accompanied 
 by a sense of moral obligation, was at the root of Fox's
 
 liL'litjf respcctiiiL,^ tlie imvard lii^'lit, is sliown 1 13^ his con- 
 stant appeal to conscience as tliu liij;ht sliining in tlie 
 hearts of others. So far liis opponents agreed with him. 
 '^I'hey too acknowledg'ed the light \vliicli enables men to 
 know" j'ight from wrong; bnt they s^t com[)aratively 
 littlii stoi'e by it. In their opinion it was only a natural 
 light, a created light, a property of human nature, the 
 chief use of which was to convict of sin. Fox, on the 
 contrar\ , regarded it as tlie light of (jod shining in the 
 hiniian soul ; the purpose of which was salvation. It 
 M'as jiot natural, not created; it was nothing less than 
 the l^teiiial W'orl, " the light whicli lighteth evt'ry man 
 that C'liiiedli into the world;" that is Christ Jesus, not 
 now kno\\]i after the flesh, but in the 8[)irit, dwelling in 
 the heart. 
 
 ('I'';ii'ly, the inward Light of (leorge Fox contained 
 two elriiiciits. it was not a simj^h^, s[)iritual experience 
 ;dnii(; ; i( \v;is Spiritual ex])erience impregnated liy 
 Serljilur.^ teaching. Cntil he had this spii-itual en- 
 liu'iit '-niipMil, he did not undei-stand the Seri])tures ; tln^y 
 W'Te to him niri'c external woi'ds with whieli he struggled 
 in \ain. Hut. when light came, and he saw the, truth, 
 N'^liit he -, 1 \v wa-. n^it a re\a'lation given I'or the tii'st 
 tiiii- t'l Iiim. liut the i-i>\-elat inn pi'eviously gi\a'n to 
 
 "t'llelN, aU'l J'ee(,i-,|el jn [Ik! liolv Sci'i] )tUl-eS. If tllC 
 
 re eler will t urn baej^tdtlie third cha](ter of this book, 
 11' '"tier ^till. rei.j box's own aecount in his ,Joui'nal, 
 be will v-e tli;il box iie\-er atlempti'd to uin'a\el tJK'se 
 Iw') tlo'ea'U, wJiich Were intei t wini.'d at i^vrvy point in 
 
 'b' 111 I lii-> experience, fiMui the moment be hrst was 
 
 '"^-e:ou. liial <i.M| \\a> teaeliiti_.- liim I ,y ||is Spiiit: ami 
 '"'''''1 1' I'ue he wa.-> eoii>ei(_>U'- of this di\im; teaehimf.
 
 The Imvard Light. 
 
 There is little difficulty in apprehending what Fox 
 meant by his " revelations." He by no means intended 
 a communication of a divine secret made to him, and 
 denied to otliers. He took no account of priority of 
 time. As a matter of fact the revelatioirs granted to him 
 were, fur the inost part, granted to liis fellow believers 
 also, and liad been given long ages before, to apostles and 
 prophets ; only they had been lost sight of during the 
 a{)ostacy. They were recorded in the writings of the 
 Old and New Testaments, but that did not make them 
 revelations to him, or any one else. The revelations 
 came when the S[)irit of God "opened" his heart or 
 " opened " the Scriptures, so that he saw the truth, and 
 knew tliat it was the truth c^f God. Sometimes the 
 revelation came without his having, at the time, any 
 passage of Scripture in his mind ; at other times, the 
 o[)enings were ojvenings of the Scriptures. Fox did not 
 value the one kind more tlian the other. What he did 
 value was the certainty that God Himself was teaching 
 him l)y His S[)irit. 
 
 Wo shall miss the full meaning of the inward Light if 
 we regard it exclusively as the connnunication of know- 
 h'llge. The Light is not only revealing, it is pm-ifying : 
 it dispels the darkness and ex])els all evil creatures 
 that cannot bear the light. This Fox exi)ressed by 
 another fav(jurite figur(3 : the seed. The S[)irit is in the 
 he.art like a seed, whicli, if hjdgt'd in gcxtd S(.)il, will grow, 
 and s])ring up, and bjing forth fruit. This was to Fox 
 the one thing needl'id. AFere knowledge was to him a 
 small matter. The one great longing of his soul was to 
 be delivered from all moral impurity, to be like Christ, 
 and to do Christ's work in the world. When we have
 
 3 -1-0 The Qnakxrs. 
 
 got to tlic centre of Fox's life, and look at things from 
 liis staiul])()int, it is not so difficult to appreciate the 
 suhlimc aiidacit}' of his assurance that he was inspired 
 of{;o(l. He did n(;t attempt to ex])lain the number of 
 tlu! lieast; lie did not profess to inter[)ret prophecy, and 
 foi'etc^U how ]oii_^; the world is to last; he seemed to care 
 little or nothinn- about the secrets of tlie future with 
 what led}' we shall be raised, or what heaven is like. 
 lie Would not doi;'ma,tise on the mN'sti'rics of the Triinty 
 in unity, and tlie divine foreknowleilge. lUit he knew 
 bv tin; Hi:^ht of (lod shining in his S()ul, the diiierence 
 hut ween sin and holiness, and he knew that God willed 
 that he shouhl be holy ; he knew that Christ died in 
 oi-(!oi' tliat he nught bo holy. When he saw these divine 
 realities, righteousness, truth, ])urity, love, revealed to 
 him in Christ Jesus, he had no doubt, no hesitation. He 
 was sure lui was inspired of (iod ; tliat C!od was workiiig 
 in ]iim,that the light was Christ within. 
 
 This survey leads to tlie conclusion that Fox's doctrine 
 of \\\y\ inward laglit is a true but inromph^ft^ account of 
 a real s|iiriLual ex[)erience. There are intuitions of 
 s[ili-ilual and moral truth; tliere is a verihcation in 
 experiv'iice of th(j teaeliing of Scripture. ISut neither 
 1-'m\, I Jai-i'lay, noi' I'enn suecei'dc'l In freeing thesuhjeet 
 fiMiii ol)ScuiiLy. What ai'e th(>se inluitions / How far 
 ill they I'eaeli, niid do they sutliee as the basis of our 
 >|iiritud life, williMiil th(j te;udiing of Ser!])ture ? ^yo 
 ;iiliiiija. was m-ide 1 ly the' early C'uakers to analyse their 
 iiwii iiiwai'd li_;ht,and lo determine what jiart of it was 
 iiii h 1 1 iid'in III" ;dl hi-toiied religimi. They accepted 
 U\y Sei ijii.ure> a-> 'li\i!ie|y inspire], and willingly agreed 
 to ha\e their doctrines tested ly this .standard; but
 
 The Inivard LigJtt. 341 
 
 neither they nor tlie Puritans critically examined the 
 nature and grounds of Scriptural autliorit}'. An un- 
 questioning faith in the Bible, as verbally inspired, and 
 miraculously infallible, is no longer in possession of the 
 field : and it becomes, therefore, the more necessary that 
 we should investigate witli the greatest care, the nature 
 and the limits of tliis in\vard Light, and also its relations 
 to the Bible and to Christianity.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ox SELF-KVIDENT RELIGIOUS TRUTH. 
 
 Ts tlicre any self-evident religions truth ? Before this 
 (juestion can he discussed, we require sonic explanation 
 of this phrase, " self-evident." Self-evident is sclf- 
 known, known by and from itself, requiring no argu- 
 ment, no external proof, to produce conviction. Barclay's 
 statement clearly expresses this meaning. " Tliis divine 
 revelation and inward illumination is that wliich is 
 evident and clear of itself ; forcing l)y its own evidence 
 nnd cleai'iiess, th(^ w(dl-disposed understanding to assent, 
 in-csisnl)ly moving the same thereunto, even as the 
 conuuon principles of natural truths do move and incline 
 the mind to a natural assent; as, that the whole is 
 grejitci- than its ])art; that two contradictions can neither 
 1m' lioth true nor hoth l'als(\" 'idle definition is clearness 
 its. If, hut a, I'emni-k may he made u])on the ilhistcations. 
 '1 hc^i' ;ire taken from the ahstract reasoniiigs of mathe- 
 matii's and logic. 'i'o a seholai- and philosophei- like 
 I 'a relay, such ilhrstratious of his ]U'i)ici])le came readiest 
 to hand, hilt the gi'eatcr ])art of maulvind arc; neitlu;)' 
 [hill )-i )]ihiTs noj- scholars, .and if seli'-eNident truth is of 
 a kind wliirh i-rqiiircs the cajiacity of vividly a])pre- 
 hi aiding mental ah-^f ractions hefore it can he a])preciated, 
 the niajiii-ity of i\\r human I'ace are destitute of it. 
 I hat -Mcli \v;is iidt riarc]a\-"s view is iilain fi'om his
 
 Ou Sclf-Evidcnt Religious Truth. 343 
 
 (l(3ctnuc of the universality of this savinq- light. There 
 is, JKjwever, n(.) necessity to conhne hiui or ourselves to 
 the particular instances he has added to his definition. 
 Every truth clearly ajtprehended in consciousness, every 
 well-defined fact of experience is self-evident. A tooth- 
 ache is self-evident as well as a triangde. Truth to be 
 self-evident must ho given in consciousness, an<l so given 
 as to be clearly seen, certainly known. At bottom, 
 consciousness is the measure of self-evidence. This is 
 expressed in the proverbial saying, " As sure as I am of 
 my own existence ; " a degree of certainty which cannot 
 be exceeded. 
 
 Having explained the term, the C|uestion put is, are 
 tlit'ru any self-evidtmt trutlis in religion ? On tlie thres- 
 l)oM we meet tlie obvious objection tliat in no other 
 ri.'^d la (jf thought are there so many di verso, even con- 
 tradictory ()])ii)i(jns. Surely if religious truth be self- 
 evident, all men slujuld see it; at least all whose mental 
 ca]^acity is sufiiciently developed to exercise itself upon 
 ]-eIigious problems; yt^t, judgiiig men by their confessions 
 and their conduct, some see nothing at all in this direc- 
 tion : the many see but little and that confusedly ; the 
 fi;w whoso vision is clear enough to produce marked 
 etie(ds ill character and conduct, do not agree in the 
 aceoimt they give of what they see. This ditliculty 
 s^'uds us back to I'ecoirsider. Wliat is self-e\-ident truth? 
 It is tiuth evident l:)y itself, to m(\ I am the subject in 
 which this (ibject inheres, it is seen and known as a part 
 ot my consciousness. There is a common assumption 
 that the constitution of human nature is the .same in all 
 men, on the gi'ound of wliicli I expect j'ou to see as I 
 see : you ex[)ect the same of me : and both of us e.xpect
 
 344 T^^^ Qjiakcrs. 
 
 till.' agrccinoiit of all othoiN. But tliis assumption is itsolf 
 in'itlior a selt'-evideiit trnlli, nor a demonstrated inference 
 iVom complete inductic^n; it is nothing more than a good 
 ^vorlcing li^'potliesis verilied to a considerable extent. 
 In this particular case, is it a reasonable assumption 
 that, if there be self-evid(>nt religions truth, it will be at 
 once self-c\'ident to eveiybody, as the self-evident truths 
 of mathematics arc^ ? On the contrary, while there is no 
 reason whatever, apart from experience, to expect that 
 this sliould be so, experience itself, without strajdiig 
 beyond the boundaries of self-evident truth, gives a 
 eaution against the expectation. In regard to mnnbers, 
 lines, spaces, I iind myself (piite indiiierent, having 
 within m\'self neither preference nor aversion. A circle 
 is seen to be a circle, its centi'c, its radii, are so, as I see 
 them ; and I have no wish that they should be other- 
 wise. lUit in regard to moral an<l religious truths the 
 case is did'erent ; I Iind myself ca]iablc of seeing these as 
 they are, and y('t of wishing them to be otherwise; ] 
 detect in myself diU'ei-eiit dispositions towards them at 
 ditfri-eiit times: tlie truths remaining unchange 1. 1 look 
 old ujion the World and see men a)'e, some good, some 
 b;i'l ; a ili>t inetioii ofnunlity which alfects tlieir mental 
 c.i]i:ieiiy foi' i-eligious ti'uth. Ibeiiceto re([uire universal 
 .is^i'iit as the maik' of seli'-e\i(leid. tnilh in I'eligion would 
 not, be reasonable, lict it be su])pose<l that one half, or 
 omm ti'iitli, oi- any smaller fraciion of maid<ind do see 
 1-1 li_.il Ills truth; what they see, they s(-e ; and the blind- 
 n''-s (if the i'e>t detiacfs not from theii" ^ision. 'Jdie 
 u ant oi' uni \ersal agreeiiK.'id. should least of all be ui'g(Ml by 
 t ;.i >-,. who ha \- 1 aeceptod the doctrine of exolution, Avliich 
 r< <' 'j,-iii -.'s t Iv (l.\ , iMi.mciit of new \ ai ieties in an ascend-
 
 0}i Self -Evident Religious TrutJi. 345 
 
 Is there self-evident religious truth ? There i^;. The 
 moral qualities called right and wi'oiig, the sense ot" 
 obligation to choose the riglit, and the self-condemnation 
 when the wrong has been chosen, these are self-evident. 
 In regard to these, there is little occasion to claim 
 exemption from the rcquii-ement of universality. If 
 men do not see these truths becaus(3 they will not, they 
 are bad men, and their dissent may be disregarded. The 
 universal agreement of the " well-disposed," as Barclay 
 has put it, is enougli to satisfy the requirements of 
 rt^ason. If there are savage tribes, and individuals in 
 tlic midst of civilization, api)arently destitute of the 
 moi-al sense, the non-existence in these cases cannot 
 negative its conscious existence in others. But indeed, 
 the general consensus of mankind has so confirincd the 
 particular attestation of conscience itself in each indivi- 
 dual, that it is uimecessary to labour this point. iMore 
 tlian once in the course of the present volume, it has 
 seemed important to utter a warning against the danger 
 which arises from the imp(js,sil)ility of discussing religious, 
 moral, as also political and social, ([ucstions, in a disin- 
 tei'ested s])ii'it. ^A\\\\ is interested in tlieso matters, and 
 it is folly to overlook the faet. On tho otlier hand, it is 
 perhaps not quite needless to guard against excessive 
 distrust on this account. Jjeeause in any judgment 
 between man and man, a Judge wlio-e interest strongly 
 inclines to one side is thereby exposed to suspicion, and 
 a i>laintilf though honest can hardly l)e expected to 
 estimate his own case with absolute inq'jartiality, a 
 habit is foi'ined of associating the ideas of self-interest 
 and untrustworthiness. '["'ransferring this to the inner 
 s[>here, we may be afraid to re])(jse coniidenco in our
 
 ).6 TJic Quakers. 
 
 own ccniscionsness wlioii it a|)pcar.s to give cviilencc in 
 siippiirt of our desires. lvcasonal)le caution no one can 
 l)laiii(\ l)ut it is ^vell to roineniher, l)ot'orc the testimony 
 of Imnian iiaturc is ruled out of court, tliat there is no 
 other witness who can 1)0 sunnnoned. All experience 
 eoiues to, is enacted in this nature ; and if it is to be dis- 
 iriistcil, tlien unixersal scepticism results. HoAvever, 
 there is a consideration in the present case which re- 
 iie'A'('s us from uneasiness on this scor(\ Tliese self- 
 e\'ident ndigious trutlis are not always and in every man 
 in aec!rdance witli sui>])osed self-interest; but ])robabIy 
 at least as much oi" more opposed to human desire as 
 -np[)Mrted thei'eb}-. Who is there that has ]iot at some 
 1 iiii'', cither on his own account, or on that of otliei's, felt 
 t he awful biii'di'n of moral objio-ation and di-ead of j^ossilile 
 CMiisi' pi.'iiccs from its \-iolation, to an exti'ut Avhich has 
 ^t i-o;igIy leinptcii liim to wish tliat it wei'e an ilhisiou? 
 !Ii)W many a guiHy wretch vrould give all that he has, 
 and life it^i'if, to know that there is no day of judgment. 
 I^\>'ii tliiix' wlio ha\'e no fcai' (ju their own aceoiint, if 
 tlicy ha\(' Icarncil tn Io\'e thi'ii- urighbours as tliemseh'es, 
 'nil hardU' he al ti i^cthi'r igiioi'aiit of a similai' IVtdiiig. 
 Ili-idc- thi^ fori'lMiding of tlif future, the law of moral 
 "1 i|i;_;at i' 111 ^hai-kjrs the a] >] nd itcs and iiieliiiat ions, which 
 hafc undi-r it> rest I'aints and woiiM gladly throw them 
 I i|i' il' jii .^^ili],'. hiinkliiL;' at the human I'aec as a wdiole, it 
 I- imavdilili' that a nioial law -which has been admitted so 
 \\id>'ly,and furx) loiej- ages, can kcami'i'c lignieiit of the 
 iina -inat il '11. Il thwarts m\' inelinatioiis, it comes bo 
 t^\''n me and my )'liasiires, it, se's me ])ainful aiul 
 'il'I'ir.-nt ly i in] m ..-,i I ,]. ta>ks, it hara-scs nic with self- 
 i'|""'U'li, il huiiiiliatis nie with Sfli'-disgiist, it will
 
 On Sclf-Rvidcnt Religions Ti'utJt. 347 
 
 neither let nio live in peace, nor allow n\e to expect a 
 quiet ret"uL;'C in tlie gi-ave. \\\ the rearlul expectation of 
 wliat may come after, even the best of men, tliose whom 
 WQ, call saints, take refuge in the hope of infinite mercy, 
 outside and heyond the scope of strict law. It is ti ue 
 tliat we are not disinterested in this matter ; that, on the 
 coutraiy, we are so supremely interested as to make a 
 iV'(,'liiii;- uf self-distrust naturally arise. Yet our desires 
 and our fears, our inclinations an<l our aversions, so 
 counter-bahmce eaeli otlier as to dispel the suspicion that 
 self-intei'est invalidates our mental judgments. In view 
 of this it may contidently be asserted that the religious 
 trutlis which have l)ecn indicated are not less self- 
 e\'ident than mathematical axioms ; the distinction be- 
 tween right and wrong is seen as ck.'arly as that two 
 straight lines cannot enclose space, the obligation to do 
 the ]-ight and refuse the wrong is as certain as tliat two 
 and two make four. 
 
 No theoiy of the genesis of the moral sense can in- 
 validate this certainty. IJarclay is right in calling it 
 revehition, " immediate revelation ; " for revelation is tlie 
 nnvL'iling and disclosing of what before was hidden and 
 unseen, 'fhe totality of being is infinite, we see that 
 part which com(\s within the range of our \-ision ; and 
 th(3 enlargement of r)ur seeing power is to us revelation. 
 ]5y this ])erceptivity of I'ight and wrong a new world is 
 diselos(Mb a whole moral and s|)iritual world, of realities 
 beautiful and terrible. Thisnun-al world is innnediately 
 known; not by hearsay, noi- through long chain (.)f 
 i^^asnning; we are in contact with it; it is gi\-en in our o\\ n 
 <-onsci(jUsness, and ]xjssesses theiefore all the certainty 
 of consciousness, the surest certainty, both in kind and
 
 34''^ J^^Jic Quakers. 
 
 (locjrGC, known to man. ]S'o liypotliesis of the gradual 
 
 (volutiDn of coiiscienco aliVcts tliis Cv'rtainty. Whotlier 
 shnvly educed or instantaneously inspired, the moral 
 sense exists, and by it right and wrong are known. The 
 trcacliory ol! Judas, ^Icssalina's profligacy, the cruelty of 
 f\'an the d'cn'ihlc, on the one liand ; on the other the 
 \irtuc ol' Mar(Mis Auriilius, the philanthropy of John 
 ilowai'd, the sell-sacrilice of Father Damien, these are 
 spiritual realities, no more to be explained away or 
 weakened l)y theories al)Out origin, than are Alps and 
 Iliiaalayas. 'I'liey exist, and we see them. It may ho 
 that the hunnn eye has arisen from a long series of 
 aucesti'al eyes, hi.'ginning fi'om a rudimentary organ, 
 hai'illy of vision, but mm'edy of sensitiv^eness to the dis- 
 t iuction bi'twecn light and dai'kness. The evolution of 
 ihi' b wlily I've doL's not throw <l()ubt upon the reality of 
 light and darkness. However it came to be, the eye 
 sci^s; and \isi(ii rin't^als land, and sea, and sky, and all 
 tie' \voi'|(b. So tlie s[)iritual \'isi(n is vision, ho\vc\'er it 
 origiiiiit ' I. ()!i('i', in possession <_f the moral sense, \\(\ 
 h a\c a real cxp-'rii'iice, of a nrw sjihere of liring ; and the 
 s|H'cula' i\c iiii|uii'\' as to the genesis of the faculty can 
 in no wMv afrrrt the trutli ol" the phiniomciia, it I'ewals. 
 
 All liMiiiaii knowli'di;'!' is relative: nothing is ioiowrr 
 1 ly man e\cc]it tlirough tlie senses and the mind. \\'hy 
 should a shadi' of doiilij be cast over moi-al tiaith on this 
 a"rMinii '. lli';it ;ind coM, hca\-y and light, lai'gt.' and 
 mall, a I'l' as i'i'l;i i \-c as |i^ht ami wri mg. These (|ualities 
 ai-i- a , I i| i-eiTiicil l)\-. ;nid exist I'oi', (Ills human coiiscious- 
 U' -- t'l wjiieli ihi\- nre maiiii'e--t. All knowledge I'ests 
 nil im.il ' ly on f.Mitli; faith in the tiaisl worthiness of this 
 ( 'II i-i'iii -n.-,^, ;ind of" the nnknown soiu-ee \\'henee it
 
 On Sclf-Ei'idciit Religious Truth. 3^9 
 
 couics, and by wliicii it is .siistciiiied. Proi'ussor Huxley 
 .sa\-s : '' Tlic 0110 act of faith iu the con\'ci't to science, 
 is the confession of tlie universality of order, and of the 
 absolute validity, in all times and under all circumstances, 
 of the hnv of causatioji." ^ The conceptions of this uni- 
 versal (jrder and (jf the l;nv of causation are the pi'oduet 
 of the exp(_;riencc of phenomena which is given in our 
 cunscicmsness ; and if human consciousness, fallible 
 thuugh it is, is untrustworthy, then science is im- 
 possible, it is not one act ot iaith which sultices for 
 science, but a perpetual state (jf faith is I'equired. All 
 kniAvledge, '.vlietlier physical or s])iritual, ultimately 
 re^ts on faitli, and tlie ])hysical not less than the spiritual. 
 
 And in fact, the re\'elati<jns given to man, relative and 
 partial though they be, do eifectively command human 
 cre'dence. The great moral distinctions of right and 
 wrong, with all the vast train of eonse([Uenccs tlowing 
 therefrom, ari; as certain, and as sttrely believed, as the 
 order of the' physical world and the laAv of cairsation. 
 
 Is this aU { Is "the secret light wduch shines in the 
 heart and repro\'es unrighteousness" the sum total of 
 th(.> sell'-evideiit truth (;f religion '{ If tlie diseiimination 
 betwci'U right and wrong is all that isgi\enin coirscious- 
 ne-s, wli\' speak of this as religious truth { ^^dly not 
 call it simply " moraV using a tei'm which implies ]io 
 refeicnce to the Deity/ IJarelay calls this Li^ht, " the 
 small be-inning of tlie re\(.'lation of ( iod's Spirit:" an 
 attribution not selt'-e\'ident. The J^ight is self-e\'ident ; 
 Ijut not its cause : it is kindled by an invisible hand, it 
 is supported by an uns(_'en sup])'i\'. Vet we caiUKit doubt, 
 we ought nut to dutibt, that our moral faculty with 
 
 ^ iZ/c t,j Cliuiirg Jj(ii:viit, by Frauciis Duiwiii, \'ol. 11. p. 2'>,'0.
 
 350 TJic Quakers. 
 
 all its ivvel-itioiis. proceeds from that unknown Power 
 wlujnce the whole uui\'erse proceeds. Conscience is part 
 oi" the universal ortlei' ; has been evolved, or intro(hiced 
 liy the, all-eiuhraciiiL;' law of causation. Who or wliat 
 is that Linlviiown iMj\\'ei'^ We name it (Jod ; Ijut a iianie 
 eoni'ers no knowledge. The Infinite, the Absohite, 
 the I'^iternal, that which is independent of all phenomena, 
 and the cause of all phenomena, is necessarily in- 
 conceival)le by Unite beings. Yet our nescience is not 
 alisolute: the Inhnite exists ; so much we know ; nor is 
 th(' knowledge slight and unimportant; but outweighs 
 in gi'andeui' and momentousucss all science besides. 
 iUit it our knowledge of CJod is coniined to His l)are 
 existence, it is practically e(|tiivalent to absolute ignorance, 
 and Wf are left to the chilly darkness of agnosticism. 
 Tlui A'ery nanu' ol'dod, with all its liall()we(l associations 
 shouM bt: di'oppcd. Much should we lose : we shoidd feel 
 <ii])]iaiis and comfoi'tless. Still thei'e are compensations. 
 \\ I' sliou'd Idse the comfort, l)ut gain I'dief from tlu; 
 Ici fur. Whet hci' loss oi- gain, W(! cannot choose; ^\e must 
 f'llldw fhf trntli w hilhci-soever it leads, be it into the 
 daikiic^siir dcspaii'. ^'l't befoi'c we make the greatest 
 I'lMineiat ii 111 i.f.-ill, let us be cleai' as to its necessity. 
 
 In (ic(,rgi' l''i.\'> tiiijc there wei'e atheists: the peruliai- 
 pha-e (.r tliMiight called agiK ist icism, if it existed, had 
 III it yet (leliiu'il it -elf, toiiiid a, iinme, and ])i-(>sentt'd itself 
 as ;i ]ilii!< i^Mphy. ()ueeatla^t, (leiii'ge l''ox was tem})ted 
 by athi-i^tii- >ii'_;-'_;-c>l idiis. "And one morning as I was 
 -iltin.;' 1 ly lie' hir, a -r.-at cloud came o\-er me, and a- 
 l-aiotat j. ,11 l.--.,t iiie ; and I >a I still. And it was said, 
 ' ail tiiln-s C(,iiie by nature ; ' and tin- elements and stai's 
 eaiiji' uvi r iic, >o that 1 was in a. matiner (piite
 
 On Sclf-Evidcnt Religious Truth. 
 
 clfjuded with it ; but inasmucli as I sat still and 
 said iiotliing the people of the house perceived nothing. 
 And as I sat still under it and let it alone, a li\-ing 
 hope arose in nie, aiid a true voice arose in me 
 which said : ' There is a li\"ing God who made all things.' 
 And inimediateh' tlie cloud and temptation vanished 
 away, and life rose o\'er it all, ami my heart was glad, 
 and I praised the living God. And after some time I 
 met with some people that had such a notion, that there 
 was no (Jod, hut that all things came hy nature. And I 
 liad great (h-pute with them, and overturned them, and 
 made srime of them confess that there was a living God : 
 then J saw that it was good that I had g(me through 
 that exci'cise. ' -^ These two opposing \'oices who has 
 not heard them ] give us an insight int(j wdiat Fox 
 meant h}' "revelation." The p)'0cess of his thought he 
 d,-es not ex|)ress ; indeed, he seems, at the time, to have 
 hiMMi unconscious oi it; but tlu're was a logical |)rocess, 
 for afterwards he was able to "put it into an etl'ective 
 ai'gnmcnt. A mind saturated by the Ijible could not 
 miss the sublime argument of the Psalmist : 
 
 ' Tliu liuavcu.s ilucl.'ire the; glniy (if Coil, 
 
 And tlie linn.-uneiit shewoth His li;indiwi>ik, 
 
 Day uiitu (lay ultfi'utli .si)oec'li, 
 
 And iijglit unto iiiyht sliewetli knowledge." 
 
 >v'nr would this other be less convincing: 
 
 " lie that planted the car, shall lie not hear :' 
 Hij that formed the eye, shall He not sue ^ 
 11 c that chastiscth the heathen, shall not He curreet { 
 He that teacheth man knowledge, shall net lie know f 
 
 1 JuurunK T. !to.
 
 352 iJ^^ Quakers. 
 
 Probably the arguuient of these last two lines had more 
 weight than all other with George Fox. That the Book 
 said so, was not enough for him ; but this he knew in 
 Ids own experience. In those years of mental conflicts, 
 (Jod liad chastised Idrw, God had taught limi knowledge. 
 Now when a voice out of the darkness whispered to his 
 soul, there is no God, all things come by nature, he was 
 dumfonndcred for awhile ; but when he recovered from 
 the stupefaction, lie know it was a he ; he knew that 
 was the true voice which said " There is a living God, 
 who made all things." It was not possible for him to 
 doubt that the Lord of his conscience was the Lord of 
 the universe. 
 
 Is it so with us ? \\\ these days many who acknowledge 
 the iiioial sense are in doubt about its author. They do 
 not dispute the validity of conscience ; nor that the sense 
 of iiioi'al obligation is not simply subjective, but l)ears 
 within itsi'lf the stamp of external autliority. Never- 
 theless, reaction against anthi-opoiiioi'[)hic concei)tions 
 of the Di'it}', and the pressure' of dilHeuUies in the iiature 
 of tilings, such as the existence of misery and of w icked- 
 iirss, hiiiilii- th(;m fi'oni lu-ai'tily belie\ing in (iod. 
 ('nwilling to deny His existence, unable to l)elievc in 
 liim, ihi'V ci'iilVss t hi'iiisch-es ngnostics. 
 
 Is ihi-. he>it;itioii of mind, this inability to come to a 
 (li'ci.-^ioii, ;i wi.'akucss to be ])itied, il" not blamed; or a 
 
 SMiiiiil jiidginciit (o be adopted as (lie last NN'ol'd of 
 pliilo>oj)liy :' * d' laic it seems to ha\c Iieen jiut i'orward 
 in the 1,-itle)' guise. Atheism is irrational ; theism, it is 
 ,-:il(|, liieks pi-iMif; to liehe\t! williout e\'idenc(' is 
 wi'ong : iherefoi-e we must sit down contented \\'\\\\ 
 a^OH'St iei -111, and shape oui'li\es accordingly. Lut this
 
 Oil Sclf-Evidcnt Religious I'rntli. 
 
 is just what it is not possil)le to do. Atlicisni, if it 
 C(.)ulil bo dciiionstratcMl, it' it were heartily credible, wouM 
 aiibrd tirm gnjund to tread upon. We should then 
 know that we ought to eliminate from our minds all 
 iutiueuces and motives proceediui;- from the conception 
 of a Deity, and frame our conduct solely in accortlanee 
 with human motives and uuiterial laws. But agnosti- 
 cism gives nc^t this f reeilom, for agnosticism is ignorance, 
 notliing better. It darcs Ufjt say, there is no God; it 
 ra.tlier inch'nes ti) atlmit that God is, if only it be allowed 
 that lie is altogether uidvUtnvn. Ihnv can ignorance be 
 a starting-point, or an ultimate resting-place for a 
 sy.-tem of thought ] How can igiKjrance form a soliif 
 basis f(jr action { AgiKjsticism in its nattire is inde- 
 ei^i(jn ; hence alvin to ii'resolution and inaction. In- 
 stead (jf IjL-ing something to boast of and champion in 
 ci.)ntru\'ersy, it ruall}' condemns its indiappy \'ictim to a 
 pitiable Condition of perpetual sttspense. 
 
 Moreover agnosticism is not pure ignorance. Pure 
 ignorance is that in which there is no idea of the olject 
 ill the mind. Pure ignorance excludes doubt. The lower 
 animals are in this state as regariis the Deity ; and for 
 au_:ht we kn(jw, among the inimmeiablc ^\orlds, there 
 may I m,- j-aces of iiituUigent beings in other respects not 
 inii'ri(jrto man, in who.^e mind.^ there has ncN'er risen the 
 in(|uii'\' ^\hether the uni\-eise has a Creator, whether 
 li.'hiud the current of lleeting phenomena, there; is an 
 Lternal Gause. Dut our case is not like theirs. The 
 uni\erse so act> u[)on us that it suggi'sts the impury as 
 to its oriL;i)i, as to the source of its order, the cause of its 
 phenomena, tlie atithority w heJico emanates the moral 
 huv. The in(|uiry is forced upon ti^ ly the cousdtution
 
 354 ^^^'C' (^//^i'/'tV'.v. 
 
 of our jjatui'o, tlic; answer too is su;J,^cstcd, and we arc 
 [)<)\veii'ully ini})ollG(l to accept it: 1)ut tliero are dllli- 
 cnltios. The answer is not so plain, Init that inisgivini^'s 
 may arise, de)ul)ts may creep in. Ao-nosticism a\'ers that 
 doubt and inilecision are in the nature of tlio case in- 
 evitaljle and final. Miserahle is our lot, it' this he tho 
 trutli ; Ijut if" it Ijc so, it is bootless to strive ag'ainst the 
 truth. jN'e\'ertheless before we acciuiesce in this melan- 
 choly conclusion, let us consider the situation once ai^'ain. 
 \\ e stand liere C(.)nsei(jus of an inward Liglit, wlbrdi 
 reveals the patli (jf duty ; we are C(anpelled to attrilute 
 that LiL;'ht to an unkiKJwn canst.', no-t to ourselves ; for 
 Avo know too well that we are and have been too often 
 o[)[)osed to tho Lii;'ht, and of ourselves prone to g'o in 
 (piile the opposite direction. Wiiat is it then :* Shall 
 we linL;'er for ever in imbecile inactivity, because in- 
 ti'lleetua! diilieultles art; iir^oluble '. Nay, let us up and 
 follow the Li^'ht, and see whither it will le'ad. See now 
 whcthi'i" this Light will not lead }'<iu, tiKUigh \"ou eannot 
 h'liixr Clod, t<.) Iriisl in lliiii '. 'V\\r I'aliacy of agiiost icisiii 
 i.^ this: it eonlbunds igiioi'aiiei' of liie nature of ( ioil, \vilh 
 iu;ioran>'e- of iiis re'alion to us and our ]'olalioii to llim. 
 I'he Ltenial ( 'aust; is iiiaeees^ibjc, but (he elfect is aceess- 
 i 111 I', anil th<; ( 'a use i d^lll e,\ ii as ( 'au^v uf the eliV'ct. (Jod is 
 im'(ini])rch:ui-ib|(', 1 lut Mis will etaiefrnlni;' man is not in- 
 C'>mpivhiai>ib|,'. This the iwwai'd Lij,iil, the law \\rlt(''n 
 on the belli, reveals with unuiistak'eablo cli'arni'ss. And 
 b\- tliis Li-Ill wo lio, in a ciaiain Sfiisc, seo (lod, and 
 kuMW C-l. Th.' kp.i.whMJjv (if Cm 1 i. iiMt a d. Unite, 
 (han<ai-,i I'jibf' k m iwhi Ige, like (ln' k iiowloi Ige ofmatiie- 
 maiic> or the phy-ieal >eifiiei>; it i^ akin to that 
 know Icif'v (if the uni\er>al oi'di r and law, which has
 
 On Self-Evident Religious Truth. 
 
 :d 
 
 1)!,' 'U (l(',sci'ibcd as an act of faitii. " I'his confession (of 
 tlic nniversality of onler, and of the aLsolutc validity of 
 the law of causation) is an act of faith, because b\' ti>e 
 nature of tlie ca:e, the truth of such propositions is not 
 susceptible of proof. But such faith is not blind, but 
 reasonable : because it is invaiiably contirnicd by ex- 
 perience and constitutes the sole tmstworthy foundation 
 for all action."^ Just so is the fundamental faith of 
 rchL^'ion justified. It is invariably coniirnicd 1iy e.K- 
 pci'iL'iHM^'. Ii;inunieraljlo are the errors into which man's 
 sliort^lghtedness, rashness, and self-conceit cause him to 
 fall, both in the pursuit of [ihysieal science and of 
 i't'Ii j,-i(nis truth. Through tentative e.xperimcnt.s, often 
 uudi'rtaiven under misconcepti(jns, and witli the expec- 
 tation, e\'en tho dcdre, of results which do not occur, 
 ]i!iysieal scienc(_! iiglits its way onward to the larger 
 ti'utli ; S(j in tho i[U st of moral perfecticju, many a 
 blunlijr, many a faihirc is incurred ; but again and 
 again we tinil by experience that God teaches ns through 
 our v(,'ry mistal-ces and cN'en our >ins. The pDgrcss of 
 ku iwl'idge is the proof that the sci(/ntilic faith is true ; 
 tiio growth of the moral ch;iraeter toward perfection is 
 tho pr(_)of that the religions faith is true. 
 
 To this the agir)stic may reply, "I too, own the 
 vn.lidity of the liioral law, an-1 do hoir^stly strive to 
 sliapc iny life accorilingly." ^sor can any reasonable 
 I'air-mindei] man doubt tlie sineei'ity of this confession, 
 and its pi'actieal (ViiitfulnL'ss. But we ma\^ fairly ask 
 lii)ii the (juestion : Is yonr agnost ii-i-;m a help or a 
 bin li'juice t<) 3'on in yoiir stri\-ing al'tu' moral perfec- 
 tions '. Nay more, although \'ou do stoutly resist 
 
 ^ I'roio.ssur lluxky ; in Liji: of Dirrinn. Vol. II. page 200.
 
 J 
 
 '5 TJic Quakers. 
 
 tuiiiptations, and manfully adhere to that standard of 
 morality to whicli yuu liave attained, are you not 
 conscious tliat with tlie loss of your faith in God, there 
 is a dauL^'er of that standard beconiini^ insensibly 
 lowered ; aye, and that even y(-)n, under the strain of 
 extraordinary teni])tation, niight look around for the 
 support wliicli religious faith ailbrds, and missing its 
 sustaining powej-, might succumb ? These arc (questions 
 whicli tlie agnostic must answer, not the believer f(n' 
 him. To the theist, the position of the ag]l()^tic is not 
 easily intelligible. The moral (qualities of conduct and 
 of character being true distinctions, they all'ect, when 
 a])preliende(l, the Christian and the agnostic similarly. 
 Believer and unbeliever alike can see the beauty of 
 virtue, alike loathe the hideousness of vice; nor can we 
 dotiljt that some agnostics are better men than many 
 pioies-oi's of ]Tligi(;n. J>ut what the believer cannot 
 under>t;iiHl is tlie agnostic's failure to porceiNe that the 
 moral \;\\\ is a icvelat ion of ( iod. The agnostic si cms to 
 sc\(;-i' moi'alit}' IVom the unity oi' all things, not Lo allow 
 that it proci'f Is IVom tln' Inlinitc and b.ti'rnal Cause of 
 the uni\f)-sc, whence all el>e [)reeeeils. Ai)pai'ently to 
 him, molality is an ae(|uii'ed insiinel A\hich gi-ows up in 
 an artilieial society, williout I'ontin the trtie nature ot" 
 things. ( )iie supp'i-i's the agnostic, me(litating thus: 
 the Inhnite jireducis tlie tigei' and the cohra, as well as 
 t l,c lamb and tin' ilo\-e, limC I'oem for Nero and .Messalina 
 a,-, wtli a,-^ lor Saint Louis and ."^'aint Cathaiiiie; and L 
 lia\c no I'ea^on to sujipo-i' that to the Iniinite the one 
 hiiiij is mure connate, moi-e aceejda Me tlian the other. 
 It' this he hi^ thought, morality must appear to him an 
 acijuii'eil ta->te which he can hardly make a rule for all
 
 Oil Sclf-Evidcnt Religious TrutJi. 
 
 men ill all circainstaiicos. 'I'lio moral law cannot possos.s 
 fill' him tlic liiL;'hc-<t possiMc validity, caniiut l)c of e(|ual 
 i-ank wit) I the uni\crsal urtlcr and law of causation. 
 Jjut, as was said, the ai;-nostic'.s position is n(jt easil}^ in- 
 tclliL;-il)lo 1)\' the believer. It is better to leave him to 
 ^])eak for hiniself. 
 
 j-'or himself, the l)elie\'er can say that his faith 
 ill (!i)d is the impulse which sustains and nru'es 
 him on ill his endea\'our after the perfect life; that he 
 cannot co!icei\'i' how -witlujut this faith the perfect life 
 can exist. To him faith in God is the sul)stratum of all 
 the virtutis. It is (Mpially inconcei^ahle how the true 
 sjiiritual life can l)e^in, and how it can he ])erfectod 
 witliout this faith. For the first revelation of the 
 inward LiL;-ht is sin ; airl if sin is unpardonahle, iii- 
 ei-;i.dica1)lr, then are we left to des]iair. Jjiit with the 
 re\elatiein oi or.r sin coiik/s also the u'race of contrition, 
 t'lf iminil^e to abhor n.nd r.ject the' sin, and tlu^ hope of 
 J )i\ine forL;-i\'eness and helj). d'hus trust in C!od is the 
 initial step in the way to moral perfection; and its 
 culmination is that suijiime climax of faith when the 
 iiidi\idu:il can render up himself, b(jdy, soul and sjiirit: 
 nil he- is and all he has, in the midst of sluirpest sulier- 
 iui;-, and into tlie darkue-s of diMth, in p-rfect trust that 
 (iod i'ciL;'iis over all, and all is well. 
 
 (uid, duty, I'aith, these are tin; fuiidamentnl \-ei'itie.s of 
 sclf-evidfiit ridi-ion. ddiry are not obtaiiu'il, as mathe- 
 matical axioms are, by simple mental abstraction ; nor 
 do thi'y, by bare enunciation, command unix-crsa! assent. 
 'J'hry re'piiin; to lie fi'lt, in order to be known: thr\'be- 
 cume solf-e\ii]ent in a. lixin^- ] -rocess. Duty i\:\cals ( Iod: 
 the si'iist; of sin burns this c(.)n-- iction into the -oiil. j]y
 
 358 TJie Quakers. 
 
 ]ienitenec an<l prayer, new relations of pardon and peace, 
 I'aitli and lnjpt,', arc cnti^rcd into, ddic process is not tlie 
 work of a day, but a life-lonj; experience : and tliat 
 Light which at lirst was dindy and fitfully visible, 
 l)ric,ditcns more and more, until it illumines the whole 
 atmosphere of our heiuL;', and we know G(jd, not only as 
 the Author of tin: moral law, hut as our Sax'iour frc^m 
 sin an<l condemnation.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ON THE sklf-kvtdi:nce of CnniSTrANITY. 
 
 (^IIRTSTIAXITY as sct forth in catcclusins, creeds, sermons, 
 ami systems of tlicoloL;y, comprises much t1iat is not 
 seli'-evident. Tho nature of the .Deity, tlie oi'i,L;'in of t1io 
 universe, aiiL;'(;lic and dialiolic spirits, miraculous events, 
 jud^'mcnt to come, lieaven and hell, are not im- 
 mcdiati'ly re\caled to each indivi(hial believer, do not 
 cniiio within tlic sphere of Ins present spiritual ex- 
 ]ieiii'nce. It' we discard all other teaching, and go back 
 to the X^ew Testament, its pag(^s contain historical and 
 doeti'inal matti^; ri'lating to these topics. (Jhristi;inity, 
 as a A\di()le, is not self-evident. 
 
 Some portion of Christianity is self-evident. All the 
 self-evident moral and religious trnth, i-cfm-ed to in the 
 ])ri'cedin .r chapter, is contained in ChiTslianity. To dis- 
 tinguish Ijctween s(df-c\-idi'iit Chi'istianity, and that 
 ]()i'tinn of the (christian faith which rests ujion tlio 
 ;i:ith()i'ity of histoi'y, tradition, the Cdnn-ch, and the 
 Sci'i[)turcs, is a ta>lc A\diich was not undci'takcii by the 
 (^)uakcrs, nor lias it been, to my knowledge^ foi'iiially and 
 successfully undi-rtaken by aaiy one; although the internal 
 ('\i<lenci' of (diristianity has Ix-iii fi'oiu the 1irst its most 
 con\iiicing ai'gumcnt. A tacit assuiii])tion is frcipuaitly 
 made that both the IJiblii and Ciiiastiaiiily are oi'ganic 
 \ital unities, the ]arts of \\diich are inscj)arab!e. Jf this
 
 ;6o The Quakers. 
 
 be so, then tlio ,self-ovi<l(MK'in[^' r|nality AS'liidi l)elc)ng.s to 
 a part, avails to prove tlic truth of tlic whole. Tlie 
 avguinent is sonin], l)ut tlie su])pressc(l premiss is too 
 iin])ortant and far-reaching to be lightly assfuted to. It 
 requires its own proof, and the first stop in attempting 
 to furnish it wouLl be accurate demarcation and defini- 
 tion. Let us know what is self-evidencing Christianity, 
 and what Christian truth lies outside the verification of 
 the inward Light. 
 
 In these days there are not a few whose hearts are 
 set on truth and righteousness, who practically acknow^- 
 ledge and follow the Light within, but who cannot, or 
 think th'^y canncjt, abide in that (Christian faith in 
 which they were educated. Xevertheless they hold fast 
 to whal they conceive to Ije the spirit of Christianity, 
 and strive to carry it into practice. Now, if such an 
 one \\-ere to dc.scri!)(^ what is lett to him, after parting 
 ^\ith historical Christianity, if he were to analyse his own 
 religious expci-ieiice and tell irs what he sees, M'hat he 
 knows, in this region : it would be of great interest. 
 ]'ossil)ly the attL'iii|)t might lead him to pf]'ci'i\-c that 
 this iniK/r expci'iene(,' of his (jwn, is a eonlirmation of the 
 essential ti'uth of (Jhristiaiilty, and that therefore his 
 reiiuneiation of it was a mistake. As fjir as I am awaiv, 
 nothing of the kind has hiihei-to bi'eii published. Ae- 
 eoiiiits we lia\ e ol' the mental pr.x'esscs which led to tlu' 
 I'ejo'etion of ChrislianiLy ; hut the>e descri[itioiis ai'e not 
 contributions to the knowh-ilge ot' sell'-o'vident I'eligion. 
 'I'hey gi\e us tlu; imjiression of maihiei's afloat on a 
 bi'oki.'ii pifciiof wreck, or of |)eople whose, homes have 
 bei'ii de-,t I'l lyrd ly eai-th(pial<e c^ )iisl ruet ing a t.unporary 
 shelici' amid tlie' I'uins ; I'atln'r than of peaci'ful hushano-
 
 On tlic Sclf-Rvidcncc of Cliristiavity. 361 
 
 mon "svatcbino- the G;rowtli of the socds tlicy liavo j'lauted. 
 A\'c Iiavo still to wait for the |)liil()sn])liical oxliiliition 
 nt |)ure spiritual religion abstracted Jrom its historical 
 eniljodiincnt. 
 
 The Cliildren of the Lio;ht did not attempt to work out 
 this prol)lem because they were born into a liistorical re- 
 ]i'4-ir)n, the lieritacfc of the a(jfes, which, according to theii- 
 liclief, i'uUy satisfied every demand of tlie inner light, so 
 that to them the one was the evidence of the truth of the 
 otlu-r. Tliey Ijelieved in the Christ of the Bildc because 
 lie seemed to them the ti-utli to which the Light witliin 
 tlii.'iu testilied, the ideal to whicli it ])ointed, the external 
 manifestation in histoiy of the divine life whi(.-h was 
 \\-ijrking in them the salvation of their souls, ddiey did 
 11 it try to di'Velop internal I'e'iigion indejieirli'ntly of 
 ( 'lu-istianity, Ijecause Christianity ajul tlieir own re- 
 ligious experience appeai'('d to them identical. In a 
 ])receding' chajiter, it Avas ])oint(;d out that ]5arclay's 
 A[)ology fiiiled to convince his own generation, because, 
 on the one hand, Ir.' did not uni'old the contents of im- 
 mediati,' I'C'Vtdation ; and on the other, lie |)i";ictically 
 acci-]ted the J'j'otestant doctrine of the inl'allil lility of 
 Scri])tui'e. J5ai-clay v.'as apparentl}' ipiite nneonseious of 
 the' di'fi'rts of his argument. His Apology was not 
 ;eldressrd to sceptics, but to the chnrclies of Christen- 
 dom, lie ami thoy held common ground in their 
 unei-itical acc('j)tance of tin; J^ilile. Neither .side felt th(! 
 sli^ihtest diliicult}' in belic\ing the mii'aculous. I'o both 
 theii' Tni([U(>stioning faith in the su])(>i'natural ii;s]iira- 
 tion of Seriiitui-e A\-as a guarantee of tlu; truth of all its 
 C'lutriits. If somi' of the (|Ua]<ers besides Ih'oiafield 
 (jil'ed in (piestion jjortions of the sacred stoiy, JJarelay
 
 362 The Quakers. 
 
 was not one of them. Fol' hiin the wlujle Biljle was 
 verified Ly tlie witness ot" tlie Spirit. " As wo believe," 
 he saySj "all those thin^i^s to have been certainly trans- 
 aeted, which are recorded in the Holy Scriptures, 
 concerning the Birtlt, Life, Miracles, Biifferinfj.'^, Resurrec- 
 tion and Ascension of C/trisl ; so we do also believe 
 tliat it is the duty of every one to believe it, to whom it 
 pleases God to reveal the same, and to Ijrijig tliem to tlie 
 knowledge of it ; yea, we believe it were Do/nmahle 
 Unhdief not to believe it, when so declared : Init to 
 I'esist that Holy Seed which, as miiidcd, woidd lead and 
 incline every one to believe it, as it is otfercd unto 
 them ; though itrevealeth not in every one the outward 
 and explicit Knowledge of it, ncvertlieless it always 
 nsseuteth to it, uhi declaratar, where it is declared."^ 
 Not nnfi\'(picntly tlie early Friends presented theii' 
 own sj)iritual experience as a repetition, a new f'ullil- 
 mcnt, of tlu; great transactions of Scripture. In tlicm 
 t\\i) Full took' place; Christ was crucified in them, by 
 f heir sins ; in their I'epentance and I'egeneration, Christ 
 was Ijoi'ii, (yiii-i>t I'ose from the de.ad. J5ut I'ar iVom in- 
 ti'tiding this my-^tical fullihnent to throw doubt u\M)n 
 the hi.-^toric reality of the JUble events, they found in 
 their pei'sonal ex]~)ei'ienee an indubifabh' conlirmatioii of 
 tlie hisbiiy. i'Mward Hui'i'ouglis held that it made him 
 inilfpcudeiit of all other testimony. '' Wc witness," in; 
 declared, " the same (Jlu'ist made manil'est in us, and 
 His resurrection, not because I'aul said so, but we have 
 Seen it, and are witnesses of it .... it is nut taking theii' 
 woi-'ls, noi- th\' own imaginations that is j'^aith, nor ii' 
 thiiu know Chfiit no neai'ei- than Jeiusalem, nor no 
 ' J/-/e;/;/, p. m.
 
 0)1 tJic Sclf-Rv!(fciici' of ChristiauJIy. 363 
 
 nearer tlian above tlie stars, that is not to know Clirist 
 risen i'runi tlie dead."^ 
 
 This rejection of the historical and solo reliance upon 
 tlic spiritual evidence, was perhaps a ilii^ht of rhetoric. 
 The spiritual presence and power of Christ in the hearts 
 of J [is disciples is a sutlicient proof to the believer of His 
 s[)iritual resurrection; but for tiic liistoric event as 
 nari'ated in the gospels, liistoric evidence is required. 
 Idle spiritual evidence strono'ly predisposes to the recep- 
 tion of the Instoric, but cannot altogetlier dispense 
 ^\it]l it. 
 
 However, the quakers did not live in our time. 
 To t1)eni, and to other religious people of their age, 
 the historic cvi<liMice seenie<l anqde. There is no 
 niM'd to apologise for the adh(3ren(^e of the Quakei's to 
 th(! Christianity of the New Testament, d'hey found 
 that it pei'fectly satisfied their moi'al sense, that it 
 shone Avith diviner radiance, as their own s])!ritual cap- 
 acity grew. They did not spend their strength in a 
 critical examination of its historic evidence, because in 
 their view a merely historical faith was worthless. In 
 this the; Quakei's consistently maintained their fuuda- 
 mt'iit.-d ]iriiici})le. It is one thing to hold a traditional 
 croed, under the inlluenc(-i of authoi'ity, or convinceil hy 
 ('\tei-nal proofs : ([uite another to see truth for oneself 
 and thus to possess the certainty that it is the truth. 
 Of the nature and I'cality of this spiritual N'ision every 
 one who possesses a moral sense is aware, because he sees 
 or feels something (^f the kind in himself. E\'ei'y one, 
 too, who has ap[)lied this moral sen^e to (he successive 
 e.\})eriences of life, knows that while the faculty of 
 
 1 An&v:<:vs to I'hiUi) ^<-i'ii-':t- end Juhii Jiucre, Kji")!.
 
 364 ^/''^ Quakers. 
 
 testing truth exists in liiniscif, tlic knowL^'li^o of trutli is 
 more frerjuently comtnunicnted to him from witlioiit 
 than inile[)endeiitly attained by liis own pci'soiial medi- 
 tations and prayers. Idie process by which the Quakers 
 tested the truth of Christianity is therefore recogniz- 
 ahly valid, though it properly applies only to tlio 
 s])iritual essence of Cliristianity, and not directly to its 
 historical form. From the rudimentary perception of 
 the distinction Ijetween right and wrong, and the feed- 
 ing which this brings of an unknown power to whom 
 we are resj^onsible, to the joyful confidence in Jesus 
 Ciirist as the ideal of humanity, tlie revealer of 
 the Father, the Saviour of th(; world, the progress 
 is immense, and viewed from outside may seem im- 
 ]")Ossible. But to these Qual<(n-s it seemed that they 
 -wcn-e led every step t)f the way by the sannj light, 
 and th;it tliey saw the whole ever widening circle 
 of truth, by the same faculty of spii-itual xdsion. There 
 is no wa\' of verifyinj; oi* disproviuL^" this but by I'djlow- 
 ing the same ])ath. The I'oad is ()|)en to all. 
 
 The In\'isib|e f'athei- of Spirits s])e;iJvs to the inner 
 soul of man, saying: ''('an you trust .Me .' will you trust 
 Me ^ This li^'iit. sliiuiug wilhiu which ri-veals vou to 
 yiiuivself and c >n( Iciniis the e\-il witliin you is not to 
 (f'-^t I'MV, but tos'i\-e. ft p<iiiitst!ie Way, will you trust 
 and 1''i11mw .' " llapjiy hi' who can renly ; I can, (Jod 
 h Ijiing ni , and I will. I euiii it know lllin. but I can 
 triHl: and I ru-^i in ; in lliin I wil I a \ai i iii\--i'ir of all the 
 t'a/'hin'j,- and th'' help I'or my spiriiual life wliieh Me in 
 t'e- pr..L;-i-i'ss di' ill'' ages has gi\-rn to my t'orcfatheTs, and 
 into wliii'li, a I'e'h inherit anci', lie bids me ciitei'. To 
 one who bv birth and educatii>n is a ( 'hiistian, there
 
 On the Sclf-Evidciicc of Christianity, 
 
 is no tcaclier, no example, no inipuL'^e to the divine 
 life comparable to Jesus Christ. His voice lie hears 
 sayin(, '' I am the Liglit of the worhl : lie that folhnveth 
 me shall not walk in tlu) darkness but shall have the 
 li:4'ht (jf life." It is not in the words of the fourth i^^ospcl 
 onl\", that he hears the V(jiee. lie hears it in his own 
 inner being-, Avhei'e each holy precept, each loving word, 
 each sr\"eral feature in the moral perfection of that char- 
 acter, and tliL' impression of the whole summed up in 
 His great self-sacrilice, and i-e[)i'oduced in a measure in 
 tlio^e will) li\c by llim, re-eehoes this vuiee, e\'er repeat- 
 ing its loving in\-itation : "Come intto ^le ; " "Follow 
 .M'. . ' And )io\v, as he obeys this ^'oice, behold, just 
 in ])r'.>])nrtii)n to his faithful ()l)edlence, he is delivered 
 tVom the d(imlni(jn oi'e\'il, he attains to inward parity 
 and pi'aee, he ])assrs ''from ^leath unto life," and knows 
 himself a new ci'eature." l-'eeble at lir.^t his trust, and 
 coiivcioiis of painful elFort ; but accunntlated ex[)(,'rieiU'e 
 in\-ai'i;dil\- \'e]'ifying it, it becomes habitual, strong, and 
 sure. 'I'he Light ^hines so steadily and clear, that the Chifl 
 of the Light marv(ds how he can ever ha\e doubted, lunv 
 any can fail to see and beliexe. He. is, and kn(ws that 
 he is, a fallihle man, not inca[^alde of en'oi's and preju- 
 dii'c-- : and if he is a \\ise man he ar'know le(lgi;s the pos- 
 sdilo, e\cn the probable, exi>tence of an element of ei'ror 
 in ills th(" (logical s\'sLeni, suppo>ing him to ha\ e one. I)Ut 
 
 10 him ( 'iiri.^tianiry is not a cr(,'ed oidy, Ijut his .'spiritual 
 
 11 lie the lil'e ()f Chi ist i piickei dug him in t(j the Christ-like 
 lii'i.'. \\ hatevei' else i> doubtful, this he knows to be 
 ti'Ue. lb' will never conseiit to delix'tU' his ('hiistian 
 i'aitli into the hands of the historian, the anti(piarian, the 
 ai'ch.-.eologi.st. Let these work at their tasks in the true
 
 366 The Quakers. 
 
 sciciitilic spirit, and disiiitiji- from tlio long buriod ])ast, 
 so inut;]i of historic certainty as they can. The livino' 
 Clu^istian knows that his Clu'istianity is not a matter of 
 ancic!it history, Itnt a present spiritual life; and ho 
 possesses an cx[)crience wliich historical research cannot 
 talvc away. 
 
 K\'en the ]>ositivist and the ao-nostic can perceive 
 the reality of this Christian ex])erience. " Ardent 
 love, g-i'atitude, and veneration for Christ," says a dis- 
 tiiig'uished positivist, "li'hi'ii kindled, (n-<; ahle to stiai) 
 th'; chains of hal)it, and sometimes to ])revent their being' 
 NVL'lded togL'ther again. But it is rash, not to say reck- 
 less, to trust to a r;iu<lom cyclone of the nobler passions 
 to save us from our sins."'- This acknowledgment is the, 
 \\\n\\i 3'emarkable, because the writer is sti'ongl}' disposed 
 to attribute all dilFei'ences (.)f moral character to heredity, 
 education, and circumstances. " A m;in with a ci'iminal 
 natui'e anil education, un ler given circumstances oL' 
 t'lnptnti' 111, (;,ui no moi'e lu'lp committing ci'ime, than he 
 CduM hejj) h i\iug a he;i laehe luider certain condiUDUs of 
 brain an I ,-t Miiaeh."- Again, " iiotldng is gaine 1 by dis- 
 guising the I'a-t lliat tliere is no I'eineily for a had he'art, 
 an I !io s'i'i-.titut" I'lir a g ) m1 one."' What is this, b it a,n 
 ariiitrai'y cont I'alie! ion of the expei'ience already ac- 
 knowledged |i> be true.' liel'edily, education, cii'cum- 
 stance, ih '-.e riem Ills in the jirodndion ol' character ai'e. 
 admitted b\- all, but the ( du ist ian (c^tihes to a new force, 
 the inlbieiiec ol" the (ratddng ami the spirit of Idii'ist, by 
 \\lii(di he is consdoiidy imjiehcd. Tins is not to be tlis- 
 
 ' 77-. X, ,,;-- ,;/" .1/ ,,, liy .lain,-.-, (d.llvr MMri.^m, iss;, p. L'SG. 
 - //.;./, ]>. I'Sll.
 
 Oil the Self-Evidciicc of Christianity. '^Gj 
 
 poM;! of l)y assuriii'j,- the saints that, liki} tlio poets, they 
 wei'e l)'U'n, nut made ; and tlie sinners that tlie}" cannot 
 help Iteinj; so. Tiie ''saints" who know how tlioy 
 strui^'u'led, wept, and pray^d against an evil lieai-t of 
 nnhelicf, an inward proclivity to moral oUenees from 
 wliich their outward coniluct has Ijeen free, unanimously 
 deny that tln^y arc of diti'erent race and (piality from 
 other men. Tiie " sinners " wlio, withmit attaining tfj 
 the fami.' of sainlliness, wage a life-hjug caitlict against 
 moral e\'il, will indignantly [)rotest against their dee[) 
 cou^eii^'Utiou^ caiN'ietion, their coiistant, though im[)crfeet, 
 endeavour to carry that conviction into practice, heing 
 (iL'Sci'ihed ;is "a random cyclone of the nobler p;issi(jirs." 
 No. The rrign of ord.er and law is unix'ersal. Doe.^ 
 tluj student of science ne'cd t<j hj remimleil of tliat '. 
 
 I'rofess )r lliixh'}' acknowledges, as lieartily as(.)ne can 
 ex[H'ct from an outsid^-r, the i-e;ility (jf the Christian 
 e;\pi;rienCi'. ' I am nntch disposed to thinl-: th;it the 
 enc MuragtMiK.'nt, tlie consolation, and tlie peace allordcd 
 to (_';irn(.v^t l)idie\'ers in e\'t'n the \\'ijrst t'oi'ins of ('hi'is- 
 tianity are of great practical ad\'antage to them."^ " It' 
 a man can lind ;v (i'iend, the hy]);/>r:is!s of all liis hopes 
 tlie mirror oi' hi-^ rtliical id.'al, i:i the .'e>o.^ oCany, or all 
 of the gospels, let him live 1 )y faith in that ideal. Who 
 .shall or eiii 1" n'oi-l iiiiii :' Ihit h't him int delu'le hinrsclf 
 wilh lie notion th it his falt'i is (>\'i I'lVe (if 1 he o!(jec!i\-e 
 realiiy of ihat in wliicli he. tiai-ts. Su'-li t,'\'idenee is to 
 li ; ohtiiif I only In' till' u-;e' of the meLh )ds oi:' scient'e, 
 a- ; ]i[)lie'd to history anrl to lit>:rature, and it amounts at 
 pr>'- eit to very little.'"- Ther(; is an amhiguity here. 
 
 1 X;,rl..uiil, (', iijiirii. Fc!.ra:uy, iss!), p. Ki. 
 - ll,i,l,iK ISO.
 
 ?6S TJtc Ojiakcrs. 
 
 In an important sense, tliere is no possil)ility of doubting 
 the objective reality of that in which the Christian trusts. 
 The Christian holds his Bible in his hand, the Book is a 
 sensible objective reality. The Roman Catholic enters 
 the ChuT'ch, kneels at the altar, lifts up his eyes to the 
 crucifix. The Church is an oljective reality. The l)e- 
 liever is (prite certain that he did not write the JHble, he 
 did not found the Church. From the Bible and tlie 
 C-hurch he derives liis kn<jwleily;e of the historical Jesus 
 Christ. Now the position of the ordinary believer is this : 
 he is not competent for the task of the scientiiic his- 
 t(,)rian ; are there in tlie iud;j;ment of Professor Huxle\', 
 a hundred persons in the world, who are competent I 
 More or fewer, they arc a small class of ex})erts, wlio in 
 the long run, will, as far as scientiiic knowledge goe ;, 
 cari-y tlie world after them. Jjut tlie millions of be- 
 lievers acce])t tlie teaching of the J]ible and the Church, 
 anil through this tlun' come into contact with the Jesus, 
 who wins their ali'eetiens and rules their li\-es. I'l'ofessor 
 Huxley holds that the objectixc reality in which they 
 ])lace theii' ti'ust is not historically ch.'ar and sure. The 
 Chui'ch ;uid the Hilile may both he mistaken as to what 
 Jesus < 'hrist aetuall}' was and is. ddie credulous venera- 
 tion ol' his dis('i])les and their suecessois may have added 
 leatui'i's to his characlcr, incidents to his life, which did 
 nut lielong to him. The inti'lligeid' heliever cannot deny 
 the pn-siliility ot" this. (Jonsidci'lng the \-arying and 
 jiarti}' conllicling pha-rs of thought in the chui'ches, 
 it is manil'est that they ai'e not int'allilile. ( 'onsider- 
 in'_;' the rallihilit\' uf human iiaturr, an inl'alliole i!ook 
 can only !(. Iirli(\til ujmih e\ldenee of nn raetdous inter- 
 )io>ltic>n. Hut the ( "hrisliaii will not thei'efoi'e allow
 
 Oil the Sclf-Evidcncc of CJiristhmity. 369 
 
 tliat his faith must nccf'ssarily stand or fall l)y the 
 jndcfnicnt of a huuilred, or a thousand, exports in his- 
 torical lore. "If it is not historically ti'uc," says Pro- 
 fess(jr Huxley, " that such and such things happened in 
 Palestine eiglitecn centuries ago, what hecomes of 
 (Jln'istianity '. And what is historical truth, hnt that of 
 wliicli the evidt'uee h^'ars strict srientitic in\'cstigation I 
 
 'l-'he Christianity of the churches stands or falls 
 
 hy the residt of the purely scientific investigation of 
 these ([Ui'stions/'^ Here again is an ambiguity, or 
 p )s>il)ly an intentional qnalidcation. "The Christianity' 
 of the cliurches ; " does the phrase hint that there is 
 another Christianity than any which the churches have 
 cnnc-;ived ] The pr()gri'-s of Ijihlical criti(asm and his- 
 t irii'al investigation, liave moililied, and may yet moilify 
 till' dogmatic theology of some at least r)f the churclies, 
 hut nurst ("hi'istiajiity itself stand oi- fall hy the result of 
 purely scicntiiic iu^'(.stigat:on ] 'I'he answer is sim[)le 
 and complete. Christianity has stood tor eighteen 
 hiiinlred years, and stands toda}', independently of purely 
 scientiiic investigation. Confessedly the scientitie study 
 ol" liistory is n-it a ctMitury old. Chi'istianity was huilt 
 up lM'foi-(i 1h(> scieuc<3 of history was thonght of: its 
 f'iuudatiou is not exact kiiuwle'dge, hut spiritual tiaith 
 spirltuaiiy discerncl. One lived and died near two 
 ihousaml yeai's ago, 'wiio was ahle to awaken the con- 
 seiijuce. and inspire tlie heart of man -with nohle thoughts 
 .01 1 I'i'^ht im[)ulses, as never did man before, as never 
 no^uliu- since; this man iuiplanted an ideal (jf a new life 
 in the minds of his follow. u'^ which livr>d and ]Vi'opagated 
 ii'sidf. i'^aith in lliin com[)lcted tie' I'.ible, jtrodnced tlio 
 1 Xlitclccnth Ccutunj. Aird], ISSD, p. ISj.
 
 37o T]ie Quakers. 
 
 Clinrcli ; and to this day faith in Him, produced by 
 the Bible and tlie Church, can arrest uien in their down- 
 ward career, aid their struggUni,^ steps as tliey strive to 
 tread tlie narj'ow Avay, give llictn peace witli God 
 and victory over sin, raise them to the liigliest moral 
 ideal of which the human mind has any conception. We 
 ca,n afibrd to leave purely scientific investigation to do 
 its own work. The heliever knows that his faith can- 
 not be overthrown by the result, because it rests not 
 upon history alone, but upon truth immediately known 
 in personal experience. 
 
 Let it 1)0 frankly admitte(l that we do not possess 
 historic certainty for every detail of the Saviour's bio- 
 graphy. Some portions of the gosjoel story maj^ bo 
 legendary : howev(;r shocking this uiay be to pious 
 feeUng, let us honestly confess that we have not sti'ict 
 scientific evidence for Q.\(^xy incident of tlie nan-atives. 
 Le't it be granted tliat we cainiot ]irove the nn'racles, that 
 wlien tliey are lielieved, tliey are lie]ie\-eib not on account 
 ol' yn iri'esistible weight of testimony, l)ut l)i'caus(^ fliey 
 
 ai'(,' ass(jei;iti'd \\\\\\ fl'iltlis wliirli -aw lielii'\-e(| oil the 
 
 gi'ound of intei'iml ex'iiliMiee niid ('hi'i^tian expei'ience'. 
 The pi'dgress of scientific inx'est igaf iiai lias had soiiu^ 
 ('tfect upon us nh'eady, an<I its furt her aijvance may lia\-e 
 iii<)i'(\ i'.ut the ('hri--tian may re])ly to tlie agnostic 
 al'tei- tliis iiianiier: wliat you and I call (Jlni-tiaiiity 
 is a, \'e)'y (.(Hii]ilex niaiter: it is near two tliousaoid 
 yeai's oM ; it has n. sure hi^loi'ic fduiiilat ion, ;i.s sui'e as 
 anythiii'j" in hisl'iry, \ i/., that .loiis lixi'd nnd taught in 
 < i;ililee, and dird upnu the ('tmss, aiid was iieliexcd by 
 Mi- di-eipli-, ((I li;i\,' j-i-i'ii IVoiii till' dca(J: that tcachiiiL;-, 
 and life, , in I de;itli,a,nd liie hdiel' in thai I'esuri'cct ion,
 
 0)1 llic Sclf-Evidoicc of CJiristiainty. 371 
 
 produced the Christian life, which is tlK^ essence and 
 H[)iritual power of Chi'istianifcy. And so (Ihristiaiiity 
 took root and L;'i'e\v; and Imiiian intrlleets have exercistMl 
 t'neniselws upnn it imt a,l\va\-s to its improvement; and 
 human lieiirts Jiavc chmi^^ to it, brin^'ing sometimes tlieii" 
 own superstitiiiiis to miu^de witli its ])urity; and thus 
 throui;'h the centuries rituals and creeds and systems of 
 thcolo;j;y have l)uilt upon tlie original foundation, supei'- 
 structurcs partly of gold and silver and precious stones ; 
 ])artl\' of Wood and hay and stuhhle. Now \-ou a^k' me, is 
 ( diristiaiiity ti'uc ? I re[)ly: that ilei'jends upon wli;;t 3'()U 
 iiH/an liy (, 'hi-i-tianity. The (dirisl ianity of the clnirclies 
 of t1ie pi'esent day is certainly not altogether true, for the 
 cliurches dill'er and e\'en contividict each other on some 
 ])i)iiits : and there must be eri'or on (jne side or the 
 other. I have no guarantee that the ]^irimitive church 
 vas abs(.)lutely peifeet, and I am unablt; to pro\"e that the 
 records which it luis be([ueathed to us were miraeulously 
 ]>resei-\'e(l fi'om Ci't'or. I'^)]' my ]>art I test the truth of 
 Christianity by the inward Light, and in practical 
 exjicrienci'. Christiainty ])i'()l'esses to be a revtdation 
 from (<od, to save me fi'om my sins, and bi'ing me into 
 llie', tiaii' lii'i;. 1 find in experience that it is a I'evelation 
 IVom Cod, it does sa\'e me from my sins, it does bring 
 me into the tiaie life. Wduai J say that I am sui'e tliat 
 ( 'in-i-^tianity is true, I make a statt.'iuent which camiot 
 bt! all'ected by scientihc iiivcstigation of hislory, Itecaust' 
 1 mean that s]uritual essence and energy of (lie Chi'isdan 
 i'aith, which I know in my own ])ri'sonal expeiaence. 
 'J'o me the light of the kiiowledge of the giery of (!od 
 shiui'.'- iVoni the face of Jesus Christ.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE CIIURCir, THE BIBLE, AND THE SPIRIT. 
 
 The story of tlie Cliikh-cn of tlio Li^'lit begins witli an 
 aiHrniation and ends with a query. In tlic great church 
 at Xotti])ghani, George Fox cliahenged the Protestant 
 creed l)y liis assertion that it is n(jt the Scriptures, but 
 tlie Holy Spii'it, wliereby opinions, religions, and judg- 
 ments were to l)e ti-Jed. We ]iavc seen that liis doctrine 
 of tlie inward Light is not a dehision ; that it is ])ascd 
 uj)on moral and spiritual intuitions, which are funda- 
 mental truths of human jiaturc ; but the relation of the 
 inward Light to the Church, and to the Sc]'i]itures has 
 yet to be considci'cd. Is it (ru(\ as Vox declainM], that 
 this inward IJght is the ultimate and suprt'me authority 
 ill religious truth I 
 
 Vn\ maJntained i,li,it his doctrine v.'as a re\'ival of 
 ])i iinil i\'e ( 'hrisl ianity. 'I'he lii'st generation of Cdu'is- 
 tians liad no (^'hristiacii Scriptures. Onr l^oi'd Jesus 
 CJhri.^t left no -written doiannent as His last will and 
 ti'stam;'nt. \i\ the iourth gospel we ai'e told that Just 
 b'^i'di-e His death lie jiromised the coming of another 
 liejpi'r, whose preseiict; shonld moi'e tlian com])ensatc 
 [nv ilis abs^aiee, wIio>e presence should in souk; sejise bo 
 iii< pi-e^eiice, e\i-n the Spii-ii oi' TiMitli wlio shc)uld gindo 
 ill" lli^ri])Ies into all truth. The piMinise was i'ullilled. 
 'I'he S[)l)it (T' Christ was the supreme authoi'ity and
 
 The CliurcJi, the Bible, and tlic Spirit. 
 
 J/ J 
 
 iiiipcliiiii;' force in tlio iirst C'liristiuu Churcli. Tlie 
 decree of the earliest council ran thus : " It seenieJ g(jod 
 to the Holy Ghost and to ns ! " ]\vcry believer was 
 taiii^-lit to regard hinisell: as having th.e S[)Irit (hvelling 
 in him ; and v/as bidden to judge the spirits wliether 
 U Ley were of Go 1. Paul called the Gorintldan Church 
 an epistle of Christ, written not with ink, lait with the 
 S[)irit. \\\ thost) days believers li\'ed and walked by 
 the S[iirit. George i'^ox claimed that in inmself and his 
 fulloweis, this primeval gos})el of the S[)irit, after it liad 
 beiMi long lost in the darkness of the aptjstacy, was 
 restoreil in its })i-isLine purity. 
 
 A'et, e\'eu then, Christ inns were not so guided by the 
 Spirit as to le imle[)en(h'nt of the Church. The whole 
 L'hiireh, guiiled by the same Spirit, liad ])o\ver to bind, 
 to LH)se, to excommunicate. Apostles and prtjphets wei'e 
 tlie teachers and rulers of the c )ngregati(jn, were in a 
 true sense foundations upiju which the li\'ing edihcc; was 
 built. If the doctrine of the inward Liglit means tlie 
 rejection of all external autliority, and reliance upon 
 subjeetiN'e perceptions ah)ne, it is inconsistent both with 
 the New Testament history, and Avitli all subseijUent ex- 
 [)erience. The child kneehng at his mother's knee, and 
 learning to say, "Our l\athei'," is ca]i<'ible of I'cligioUs 
 feeding, may ha\e a conscious feeling of awe and of tru^t 
 in an in\isil(lo I'resencj; l)ut this interjial witness of the 
 Spirit dovjs neit <lispens(.' with the external iirstructioii. 
 What is true of tlie child, is true for all. Tin- S[)ii'lt of 
 (.!od does not isolate the Ijcliewi', and besl'.w upon him 
 separatt.' enlightenment, iiide[iendently ui' hi.-. natuJ'al 
 place in the order of existence. The S[irit works 
 through the Church, and through the JBible, so that it is
 
 374 '^/''^ Quakers. 
 
 iuipossihle, except p'jr!ia]).s in ii few rare cases, to doter- 
 luiiie that we owe tlio iirst perception of any truth to 
 the i]iward Li^'lit alone. Practically, the innnediate 
 teacliino' of the Spirit, in the case of the majority of us, 
 leads not to the fresh discovery of truth, l)ut to the vcri- 
 lication of trutli ]n-esented to the mind by external 
 autliorities. Douhtless tliere once were original revela- 
 tions of truth : iior need we deny the possibility of 
 original revelatimis now. But we expect no new 
 revelations, exce})t such as shall come through a fidler 
 understandang, and mure faithful following of the old. 
 I'or us the function of the Spirit is to test, to discrinn- 
 nate, to assimilate or reject, the inlluences which entiT 
 the soul fi'om tin,' teaching of the clnu-ches, the \'arious 
 int(;r[)retations of Scripture, and in oi.lier ways. Tiie 
 Spirit enal)les us to ])rove all things, and to hold fast 
 that whi(;li is good. In this sense the assertion of 
 (ieoi'ge fox that the Spirit is the ultimate authority is 
 intenigibh\ Hut is it ti'ue '{ 
 
 ir it is ti'ue, th(,; cluirehes li:i\-e shown a manifest 
 )-t'hictaiicc ti) .'icccpt this truth. ( )iif mi j,-hL have tliouglit 
 th;il the [ii'oll'cr to c-iclioi' usol'a I )i\ini' guide, an iii- 
 ti'i'n.il ilhiniinat ion, a dirrct \'ision oi' <]>iritual ]'calit'.('s, 
 enabling us to see nnd to kni)W with clear certai)ity 
 lliDS", thing's which belong to oui' s[uritu:d life, would be 
 wclci )iiici 1 with thaiiki'ul acceptance; that <.',\vvy one 
 would bc-tir himseli'at onct! to make trial of this inward 
 l>i_;ht. The hist'iry of eighteen centuries shows that 
 iirnikind \vould trust in nnylhin^' rather than in ihis 
 inanii'e^tal ion of ('hrist within the h^'arl. 15" itjjruphet, 
 or Sci'iptui'e, or ('hurcli, or Seiiuic', men ha\'e always 
 looked, and do still look, for the foundati<;n of their
 
 Tltc CInircJt, tJic lUblc. and tJic Sp'n'it. 
 
 75 
 
 laitli Mutsitlo tli(jiiisel\'cs. Vrry earl\' tlii' tcacliiii^n' el:" the 
 >pirit was sultDrdiiiatod to the authority of tliu Cliurch. 
 Tlic Cliristiau taitlL caiiiu to bo rc^anlLMl as a deposit 
 i'roiii the past, liamleil down to successive ii,'eiici'atioiis, 
 wdiicli Could no l(jiiL;'ei' \'ei'ii'y it, as at lirst, by the im- 
 mediate revehitioiis of the indwelling Spirit. l\jr tiftcen 
 huiidn;d years ecclesiastical authority was the ultimate 
 t'ouiidatioii, bt^'vond which in(|niry could not go. When 
 ihe coj'ru[)lions ot the Church compelled the Chiistiaii 
 conscii'uce' to br(;ak away from its dominatioii, there was 
 no fi'aidc return to thi' primitive faith in the presence of 
 I'hri^L by His Spii'it in the heai'ts of Ijelievers. The 
 J]iblc was exaltcil to the jiosition of supreme authority ; 
 bcc:uiiL' tiie exti'rnal riwelatinii ; " bel'ore which luunan 
 I'easDii, though eidigliteued. by the Spii'it's teaching, must 
 sulimit u ithout (piestion. The (insertion that Cl<jd Himself 
 is our teacher was greeted with cries of derision, shouts 
 of ' blas[)hemy.'' Two hundreil years have passed away 
 since then, and witli them, iirst a vain attempt to fonnd 
 religion upon mere human reason : then a great revival 
 of living piety Ijase I U})on the Protestant d(jctrine of the 
 infallible Jiook ; wdien this waned, and doubts ami 
 ditlicultii's iiniltiplied, a great reaction t(nvards the ancient 
 bi'liL'f in the authority of the Church succeeded. It 
 cannot be sai'l that Christians ha\'e ei'i'ed by too eager 
 coniidi'uce in the inward J^ight. Mistrust of our (jwn 
 Itigical [lowers, of the range of our mental \ision, of (jui' 
 ])ersijnal inclinations, desii'cs and fears, that is reason- 
 able enough: but, wlim it is a (|Ufstion, n^t of self- 
 conlidcnci', but of conliilence in the JJivine S[)irit, it is 
 pos.-iible t(j err on the side of unl)elief, as well as on that 
 of presumiition. A sur\-ey (jf the state of Christendom
 
 3/6 The Quakers. 
 
 ;it tlio prosent time suo'g-csts a serious iiKiuiiy whether in 
 tiic rejection of the doctrine of the inward Light, the 
 Church did not lose its way. 
 
 Suppose that it were granted that an external 
 authority is preferable to an internal guide, that men and 
 women being poor fallible ci'eatures, if taught to depend 
 upon impressions made upon their own minds by the 
 Holy Sj)irit, will ftill into the error of mistaking their 
 own vain imaginations for these im])ressions ; the ques- 
 tion arises, is there such an authority ? Has God given 
 an external revelation, known to l)e such, apart from the 
 inward illumination of His Spirit in the heart ? 
 
 I'lie authority of the Church : what is its nature, its 
 source, its extent? iJy the Cluirch let us understand 
 neither the lujman, tlie (Jrcok, the Anglican, nor any 
 other; 1)ut the Churcli of Christ which con.sists of all 
 true Christians, the life and acti\'ity of whicli is partly 
 manifested, })artiy lundcreil and obscured, by tliese; 
 several oig'anizations. This true (Jhui'cli, tliis li\ing 
 temple of the Spirit of Chi'ist, possesses and exercises a 
 rightful authority, ]iot extrinsically conl'ei'red, but in- 
 lier.'ut in its wA-y nature. " We speak that we do kn(.)W, 
 and l)ear witness of that we ha\'e seen," is tlie testimony 
 of the (dnu'ch as it was of its h\)un(ler. This testimony 
 convicts of sin, calls to repeidance, awakens faith, begets 
 si)iritual \\h\ directs to that inward witness of the Spirit 
 wliich confirms its te.'iehing. The soui'ce of this ant horily 
 is till' li\ing presence of iln' !)!\-ine Spirit. Its rxtent is 
 coiniiini^in'aii' with the niiswrr of t he same Spirit, spe;ik- 
 iii^' in till' h'ail of tln' indix iilu;d beHi\ci'. 'I'Ik; vo'ce 
 of tiie ('hurch speaks to the \\"itness of the S])irit within, 
 and when the S])irit within attesis the message, the
 
 T!ic CliurcJi, the JUblc, and i he S/^irjt. 377 
 
 C/hurcli's te.ieliiiiL^' comes witli divine autliorih". WIumi- 
 s()over a Ciiurch ovci'passin^^ this limit, cuiisti'ucts a dog- 
 matic system, and enacts a law, "Tiius shalt tliou be- 
 lieve," it no longer aj)i)eals to its legitimtite autliority ; 
 and the appeal though i're(iuently made and submitted 
 to, is a result of confusion of tliought. Whether the 
 sevci'al })ropositions of the creed arc argued one by one, 
 witli reasons aiid evidences adduced for each separatcdy ; 
 or w'liether an attempt is made to support a claim to in- 
 fallibility which shall establisji the whole system at once ; 
 in either case, by the resoi't to logical ])roofs, tlio claim to 
 authoiity is \'irtually suri'endercd. In the moral an 1 
 ,s[aritrial lil'e, authority is inherent, not dependent upon 
 external demonstralifju. Fui'lhermore, if it were \V(,)rtli 
 while to examine tlie argument by ^\'llicIl it is sought to 
 pro\'e tile eljiini of the Uoiirin C'nureli to iul al';ibilit\% it 
 would be seen that the iiiward Li^^lit is an in(HspensabK; 
 linlv in the cliain. (Jtlier Unl<s are defective, but if they 
 were all sound, they depend upon this, ll-emove this, 
 and tlie wliole arg'umeiit falls to pieces. When closely 
 scrutinized this (hjgma of the Chui'ch's infallibility i''~* 
 seen to be an illegitimate extension of an authority 
 pj'operly Ix'longing oidy to self-e\ident trutli, an exten- 
 sion which attempts to cover other regions of thought, 
 where the human mind should I'est content with some- 
 thii'.g sho)'t of absolute certainty. 
 
 The Holy Scri|)tures possess divine authoiity, and ai'e 
 in a true sense, the f<ani(lation of the spiritual life of 
 churches, and oi indi\iilua!s. .Men can an-l do build 
 their lixes upo)i this liook. In its ]ages are stored u[) 
 Ireastu'cs of trtith of price inestimable, revelations gi\'en of 
 old to patriarchs and })ro]jhets, evangelists and apostles.
 
 T^y?, The Quakers. 
 
 Tlio honest truth-socker from wliose eyes the veils of self- 
 conceit and prejudice have been removed, reading the 
 sacred Volume, docs see here truths of God and of man> 
 and of man's rehxtion to (Jod, which shine in tlieii' own 
 self-evident li^^'ht, and j^aiidc liim to a life of trust and 
 obedience, of purity and peace, in wliich lie knows that 
 he is in tiic truth, and has feUowship with Go(L This 
 self-hnninousness of the truths of the spiritual life, 
 diffused tliroughtjut the vohime in various degrees, con- 
 s])icuousiy concentrated, as in a glorious central Sun, in 
 Jesus Christ, is tliat testimony of the Spirit, U])(.)n which 
 (Jah'in and the lieformers rightly relied as tlie sufficient 
 and only proof of the Divine inspiration of the Scriptures. 
 Those who see this liglit shining therein, will not be 
 overwhelmed by a tliDUsand doubts, diliicullies and ob- 
 jectioirs. 'I'hese ai'e but passing clouds, earth-l)Oi']i mists, 
 arising i'rom our misconceptions. 'Idiey may obscure the 
 licaveidy J.iight fo]' awhile, but tliey ])ass by, and the 
 Light is seen again, in its (lix'ine ])urity nnd gloiy. '^Fhc 
 Christian salely ti'usts his Ijihle, so long as he uses it in 
 his own s])iritual life, and \(;rifies its truth in pi'acfice. 
 This is its own claim, that it can "make wise unto 
 saK'ation:" tliis is its pui'[)oses, " that the man of God 
 ma\' b(! jierlrct." 
 
 ddic beibriucrs went bfyoiid this. They atti'ibutt'd a 
 mii'aculous charncter to the text of the Bible. Its author 
 was th(; Holy Cdiost ; its ^vo]^ls, the utterances of (.!od, 
 to be cstci'uii' 1 far afioN'e Jnnnan reason, fai" ai)ove the 
 tcacliin^;' of f 111' S)iiiil in i he bcli(!vri-. If coiillict arost' 
 brtwcrii icasoii ;ind tlif Spii-it on tlic one hand, and the 
 (\[)i-e<s statements of Scripturt; on the otlu'i', tluMx; was 
 iio(|Ue>lion as to Avhich must yield. "' 'Idnis saith the
 
 TJic CJturcJt, the lUblc, and the Spirit. 379 
 
 J.')i''l,'' must put -MX cu'l to all iloiiliLs. It' this coucc[)tloii 
 ot thc3 authority of the Ijil.ilc is true, it is ]iot a seli- 
 o\-i(]eiit truth, liut oiuj M'hicli must be established by 
 arguuK'uts au<l evideuces. Is it so cstabhsheil i 1"he 
 study of till.' (diristiau e\'iilences allbrds occu[)ation for a 
 life-time, and the great majority of believers luwe neither 
 time ]i(jr ca})aeity to undertake the iu\'estig'atioii. lUit 
 all bfli(j\'ers, both the unlearueil and the h^anie'il, 
 know that thi'ir talLh in Holy Scri[)turo dues not 
 I'est tipou thes(j external e\'i(lences. The inward Lig'ht 
 is the ti'ue source of the autlioj'ity of SLahpttU'e ; 
 and all att(.'m])ts to ]U'o\-e an aiuhorlty (jf the written 
 Won I higher than that (jf its source, are pre<lestined to 
 fa/durc. \\\ i'a'-t, the Ijihb', as is eviihuit enough to the 
 rea h-r wliuse mind is diseiicumbtav-'il of inhcrittMl pre- 
 ju lie s, does not [)Ut foi'tli any (.laiui to an infallibility 
 such as the l\iritans belie\'e(l it to possess ; ami more 
 than that, tin' absence (jf this alleged infallibility is 
 plainly \"i>iblo to open eyes. 
 
 The wonder is, that the rr(;testants, ha\'ii)g pci'suaded 
 themselves that they fully believed that the texts of 
 Sci-ipture wi.a'e' tlie \*'ry wcu'i.ls of (hxl, \vi dared to 
 handh' them by human I'cason; to ex])lain them, some- 
 times to explain tht'in away; to se[)ai'ate ])ro[)ositioirs 
 I'lvmi their eoidext, and recombine them in new coiuK.'e- 
 tioii- ; and linall}', by this metliod, to deduce from the 
 words of !Sci'iptui'(}, systems of doctrine Avhich diti'ei", 
 more or less, frtjm tlu^ express statements of Scri[)tui'e 
 it>clf. The sci'U]iuh'sity of Cleoi-ge V^w A\'hich refused 
 to acknow leilg(_' tla-ohigical tfi-ms and jihi'ases, such as 
 " the Trinity," which are not foiuid in the Jjible, is more 
 consistent with faith in the di\ine iiiSplralion of Scrip-
 
 380 TJie Quakers. 
 
 turo, tli;iu t1io treatment of tlic Bil'le as an nntinislird 
 and ili -arranged production, requiring to Ijo jierfecited 
 for practical use Ity human industr^^ and ingenuity. 
 The tlieory of an infallible JJook needs tliat of an 
 infallible interpreter ; for who else shall dare to interpret 
 it ? How strange to Avatch Jolni Calvin, who firmly 
 believed that the Sci'iptures came from Heaven, "as 
 directly as if Clod had been lieaid giving utterance to 
 tliem," ^ and professed to subject his iiitellect and judg- 
 ment to them as "too transceiident for him to estimate/ '-^ 
 yet writing his I ii^tltiUes to show belie\'ers what they 
 " ought i^rincipall}" to look for in Scripture,'' and giving 
 them "a kind of ke}^ to a riglit and I'eady understand- 
 ing of the sacrt'd volume." 'i'his iuc.)nsistency between 
 thoory and practice is a sign that the theory of a 
 miraculously dictated text does not accord with the facts. 
 The labours of the I'rotestant divinus in explaining the 
 ijible are oidy not bJaiuewortJiy, because the Jiilde is not 
 the k'ind of l.nxik they would have it to ])e. It is, as the 
 old (j)uaki'rs taught, not the revelation itself, but a 
 I'eeiird ot the J'(j\'elation given to holy men of old. It 
 can only become a ]'e\(T'itioii to its I'eaders, as they are 
 enabled to enter into its meaning by the enlightening 
 intlui'iice (if the S[iirit of God. 
 
 The theologieal <liseussion, then, ])oints to the con- 
 elusion that the inwai'd Light is the ultimate and supreme 
 authoritA', because its evidence is in itself, whereas the 
 authority of the t'hure'h and that of the |]il)le depend 
 up in it. W'iicn it is sought to stretch tht/n- aulhority 
 lA'Noud tlii.-! limit, the demand arises; ^\hence hast thou 
 i Inl^tUnlr^, Veil. I. ('\rx\<. vii. p. .S!. 
 
 - II IV I, p. :.:>.
 
 The C/uirch, tJie Bible, and the Spirit. 381 
 
 this authority ? The answer must always at last be 
 brought back to the test of the inward Light. No 
 external proofs can avail to est.al)lish the Divine ins[)ira- 
 tion of the Church and of the Bible, without the testi- 
 mony which is afforded by their harmony with the 
 witness of the Spirit. 
 
 The history of the believers in the inward Light warns 
 us that there is danger even here. We have seen that 
 U-ither the infallil)ility of the Church nor of the Book 
 can b(j sustained : but is not the Spirit infallible ? is not 
 the S])irit Cud i 'J'lie example of the early Quakers 
 indicates the S('ri(jus conse([Uencos of trusting to logical 
 ic;isuni]ig in such mattei's. The S[)irit is Cod ; the 
 Spirit of (rodworl<s in men; but "tlie spirit" of the 
 (^uakcrs was, Jiot the pure cause, but the eflcct of that 
 cause woi'king in tlu} midst of human ignorance, prejudice, 
 an.l conceit. The iidluence of the Spii'it in tlie heart and 
 mind of the believer produce's as its result, perci;ption of 
 ti'uth, con\'iction of duty, foi'niati')n of character. In 
 tliis result we see, not tlu; S[)irit of Cio I alone, but the 
 S[)irit (jjierating upon human hniteness, fallibility, in- 
 lii'mity. After a time, the (j>,ua!vei's fully realised that 
 trust in the inward Light did iiot pei'uiit them to att]-i- 
 bute ijd'allibility to their own judgnieids. A\'illiam I'eim 
 deiiii'S th;it the' (Quakers ever did assert tlu'mselves 
 infallible: they oidy asserted '"'that all who ai'e led by 
 tilt; inl'allible Lii^ht, ami ]i\'e aci'oi'ding to its manifesta- 
 tions, are so far peri'ect and so I'ar inl' liiljlt' in the right 
 way, as they are' led by it, an.d r,ot a jot fartlier."^ This 
 bi.\\-i'\-er was not written u;d;l s id sc:;:ilals had sh(l^\i1 
 the li.Mbilit}' of the Chihlren of Light to be self-deceived, 
 1 rtniis U'orL'i, Vol. A'., p. '.).
 
 382 TJie Quakers. 
 
 and suppose themselves led by the Light when they 
 were not. These examples remain on record to warn us 
 of the necessity of deep ])crsonal humility, of readiness 
 to recognise the illumination of the Spirit in others as 
 well as ourselves, and of gratefully accepting the teach- 
 ing accumulated for us in the Church and in the Bible, 
 so far as this is corroborated l)y tlie Light within. 
 " What was it from you that the word of God went 
 forth ? or came it unto you alone ? " ^ 
 ^ 1 Cor. xiv. oG.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Tire FUTURE OF CIIRISTIAXTTY. 
 
 Till-: history of quakerisni is in some respects a miniature 
 of the ]iist<jry of Cliristianity. The internal changes in 
 the society of Friends imitate on a small scale the 
 vaster clianges of Christendom during eighteen cen- 
 turies. Our study has brought us face to face with 
 two classes of facts; tlie divisions, and the mutations, of 
 tlie Christian religion. Clu'istianity is not an indivisible, 
 immutable unity. 1'h(i Christian Churcli is split up into 
 rival, even hostile sections ; and these separate sections 
 have undergone important alterations in the process of 
 time. Some of these communities liave declined in 
 numl)er ami in p(jwer, In otir own day we are pain- 
 fully accustomed to hear tlu' confident assertion tliat 
 Christianity itself is dying, and will soon be dead, 1)tiried, 
 ;uid f'.)rg()tt('n. It is an era (^f transition ; the oM is 
 parsing away ; the laiw is not yet ch^arly discerni.Ml ; 
 hence men's liearts fail them for feai; ami the love of 
 many wax(_'s cold. In such a time the st(ay of tlie rise 
 iind decline of the (Children of the l^ight may suggest an 
 nuf'asy fear lest (Christianity itself be aft(.']' all (inly a 
 laig'e'r (jiiakerism. a wave <jf religious excitonent of 
 greate'i' intensity and wider sweep, whieh has rolled 
 ac)'oss the contiiumts and adown the ages foi- neai' two 
 thousand years, whi(;h nmy tako.; an(jther thousand or
 
 384 TJie Quakers. 
 
 two to die away, but nevertheless is inevitably destined 
 to wane and disappear at last. Is this the right deduc- 
 tion from our story ? 
 
 We cannot forecast the future of Christianity, until 
 we have a clear notion of what Christianity is. When 
 we set ourselves to examine attentively these conflicting 
 currents of thought, tliese changing aspects of religious 
 life, it begins to be apparent that the nature of true 
 Cliristianity in itself, and the notion and expression of 
 it in creed and church, are not by any means perfectly 
 identical. Komanism and Protestantism, for instance, 
 are irreconcilable foes; but there is a Christian spirit in 
 the Catholic Cliurch which leaps up to embrace the 
 same spirit in the Protestant Church, defying all the 
 anathemas of the clergy to keep them asunder. St. 
 Anselm, St. Bernard, St. Francis are saints to the 
 Protestant as well as to the Catholic. John Woolman 
 clasps Thomas c\ Kem})is to his heart. St. Elizabeth 
 and Elizabeth Fry arc sisters. The good Earl of 
 Shaftesbury, stanchest of Protestants, opens his arms to 
 Cardinal ALmning and invites liim to an alliance against 
 the common foe.^ In the story of qnakcrism, nothino- 
 suri)]-ised us more than the extreme repulsion between 
 the first believers in the inward Light and their Puritan 
 contemporaries. George Fox and John Jhmyan clash 
 and wn.'stle in their lifetime, but we from afar can 
 discern that they were one in spirit, and we doubt not 
 tliey love each otiier in heaven. It dawns upon us 
 then thiit Christianity is Ji^t only and altogetlier, just 
 '..'r.at cacli or aoy oiie of Lh(.'S(^ thought it to bo, liut 
 
 I ll<^(:<k'i-'.s Life ;iiul Work of flic Suvcutli Eavl f)f Shaftesbury, 
 \u\. 111. p. 2H.S.
 
 Tlie Future of CJiristianity. 385 
 
 s jiuothing coininoii to them all^ suJiiutliiiio' of which they 
 wt'Tc nut fully cijnscious, or to which thoy did not 
 ;Utach s<;) imieh importance as they did t<^ the dou'mas of 
 ihtnr respective creeds. We begin to donbt our former 
 siipt,'i'H."ial conclusion that Christianity is iiuitahlc and 
 divi-ihle. Is not Christianity a permanent and pro- 
 gi'ijssi\-e unity just as liumauity is { Ditlereuces of 
 cj'oui', race, and iritionalit\', cannijt destroy the commo]i 
 imaian nature of the Ivsqaimaux and the Xegro, the 
 (Jaueasian and the Moni^'olian. ])i\'ided by localities, 
 ]an_;u.iL:'i>s, and N'arying dcg'rees of diA'elopment, often 
 array e<l ai^-aiirst each otlua- for unitual slaughter, in spite 
 id' ail, niankiirl is one fiimily; and we recognise these 
 ;diena.t;(/jr-> and h; .utilities as unhap'py ])erversions and 
 mi.-.t.ik,;<, wliich delay the realisation of tlie true uni- 
 \'er-al biodii-rhooil. Is it \u)i so in tie-'. Chui'ch of Clnist ? 
 Christia.nit}' is a life; the true li'e of man; the life (jf 
 t'ie spiiit reigning over all the lusts of the llrsh ; the life 
 of tlic human spirit in perfect harnuaiy with the Divine- 
 lii.-rein is tlie will of tlie l^ti'rnal, fo]' man and in man, 
 re\"(a!s d aral fubdle.l. Ciiristiaui I \', we call it, because 
 lirst iii Je-^iis, th(3 Cluist, tliis life Avas manifested in its 
 higlr.'-t ])Li fecti'^n, in a siiress glory never S(j much as 
 im.'igined i)i c(ainectioji \\\i\i any other name. This 
 life, incarn.-ited in llim, })ropagated itseif among the 
 nations and along tla.' ;\y'cs ; we sec it around us ; we 
 f<'ol it thr(bl)i]ig within us. This life is oiK; and tlie 
 ^amc in all \\\\() know its ])ower, ajid is inwardly felt to 
 b(^ .~,ucii, despite all theological dilferences. Life, and 
 human conceptions of what life i,--, are not i'h'ntieal. 
 ( 'hoiuistry and physiology ha\-e taught us much about the 
 Iranian bo;ly ; albeit the mystery of its life is still in-
 
 
 Tiic Quakers. 
 
 oxplical)lc as ever. But tlic liniuan bo(h' lived just as it 
 liw.s uow, licfore Ilarvej' diseoNcrnl tin.' eii'culatiou ef 
 tlie lilood. Heart and lung's, veins and aiteries, per- 
 formed tlieir functions in the days of Henier and of 
 Moses, as perfectly as they do now. Our creeds and 
 theologies are human conceptioirs of what the Christian 
 life is : l)ut the Clnistian life was heforc them all, is 
 itulependent of them all, and prohably no one of them is 
 a ])erfectly true and adeipiate description of tlie realit}-. 
 'J'helr diversities, their mutations, pro\'e that they are 
 imperfect, not that the life itstdf is imperfect. Cliris- 
 tiaidty is the liie ^\ hich Christ lived, ^vhich lives in us 
 now hy His S])irit. 
 
 An era of transition is a time of trial. We hear the 
 champions of uidieliet' shouting their hurras over the 
 downfall of ancieut creeds ; we see them point ing exult- 
 iiigly to tlie e\"ideiit d(>eay of faith in ecclesiastical 
 authority and llihlicnl ini'nllihility. Many a heart ci'ies 
 out in arigui>li, " J t' tlie toundntions he dc^tiMyod, what 
 can the righteous do C" 'I'lie it iTor and the exuhation 
 are alike a mi^taki'. 'I'he lound,at ii )ns arc iudo-tructihle : 
 the sceptics do hut o\-ei'thi-o\v artilieial hulwai'ks. ^\lli(ll 
 add no sti-iaiLi'th, ^\'hich oidy eiieuiiduT and distigure tlie 
 real Chii^-tiaii voi-ity. Ah'U lall< ol" Chi-i^tiaiuty dying 
 (iu1,hul w ( \\ ho lia\c M'i'ii (hat ( 'lni-^t ianity is tin' liie 
 (,r ( 'lii'i-^t in man, and w ho i'fjuie(! in a conscious ])ailiei- 
 pnti'iu in thai lil'c. kmiw that they ai'e utt''i'iiig an 
 al i>iiidlt \-. 'I'iie 111''' eaniH 't <ii'' h-'cairvc it >pi'ings from 
 till' ini'xhau-tililo fcuntain of all life, the J'kernal Cod. 
 As tn the \ ai'xiiiL;' drgri (> (.1' it-- mani l"f-~taf ion at ])articu- 
 lai- ti-Ui' -, \\f aro ipit inrallihh' Jildgos: hut tlaU'e aie 
 -r. ,nnd ' \"Y lie- I 'II el' t hat ni'\ i r in an\- iirecediuL;' gouei-a-
 
 TJic Future of CJiristiaiiity. },'?^'j 
 
 tion was there so much Christianity in the world, nor 
 Cliristianity of so ^'oocl a (quality as now. The contro- 
 versies of the da}- belong to the intellectual region ; and 
 the intellect is but a portion, and not the noblest 
 portion, of human nature. The affections, the conscience, 
 and the will, are more im])ortant factors of our l:)eing 
 than the intellect ; and Christianity is firmly rooted in 
 these. As a matter of fact, the great majority of 
 Christians arc little moved by the heat and noise and 
 passion of the intellectual conflict. They believe and 
 live, they lo\"e and obey ; Christianity is their salvation ; 
 it saves them from \ice and selfishness and fear ; it 
 works in them purity and truth, [)eace and self-sacrifice; 
 they know this, and go on their way, careless of the 
 phil()<o})hers. Chiistianity of this kind prol)ably was 
 ne\'er before so abundant, so actiw, so fearless. A 
 recent ^vriter who persuaded himself and tried to 
 persuade us, that the Christian religion is evidently 
 moribund, argued that its decease \\\\\ not be so great 
 a loss after all, l)ecause Christianity is unfavoural)le to 
 morality I And to support tins \'iew he devoted a 
 chapter to pi'ove that in"t]i(! ages of faith " lunopean 
 society was ^astly more immoral than it is in ottr own 
 day.^ llis facts may be granted, and a diametrically 
 o])}io.slte cont'hision di'awu from tlicm. IJecause tlui so- 
 called ''ages of faith'' were moi'all}' dai'k ages, the infer- 
 ence might be securel}' di'awn, if tlier(3 were no other 
 e^idence for it, that their Christianity was either oidy 
 nominal, or largely con-u[)t and distorted ; for Chris- 
 tianity is essentially morality illumined by the Liglit of 
 Christ. The true deduction from the ex[)erience of 
 ' Thf Sfvvirr nf M<iii. r>y .JjuiicsCeLter^Iorisoi), 1<S,S7. Chap. ^'l.
 
 3'SS TJic Quakers. 
 
 eighteen Christian ceiituries, is that the spirit, the li!e, ut" 
 Christianity is inJestnictihle. Ilomanism may decay) 
 Protestantism 'aiav decay, Quakerism may decay, hut tlie 
 incorruptible seed, the Word of (dod, li\-ctli and ahidetli 
 for (n"er. 
 
 Altliou<^di the future of Christianity is secure, its 
 ])rescnt condition is luiiversally felt to bo unsettled and 
 lursatisfactory. Christianity is spirit and life : Lnt it is 
 spiritand life residing \Aithin atraditioual Ixxlyof doctrine 
 and practice, or, more strictly speaking, within several 
 traditinnal bodies of doctrine and practice, akin but not 
 identical ; from which it cairnot be at \\\\\ dissevered. 
 These traditions are })artl}' true, di\dnely prepared and (jr- 
 dained rcce})tacles oL' the spiritual essence; ])artly artihcial, 
 mere drajiei'y and decoration added ly human hands, 
 wlu'cli do Init encuniber and ilisligure the sinijile beauty 
 oi' di\iiie tiaitli. Ihil wlio sliall (h'terunne for us, \\hich 
 is the' ti'ue \ital Iradition, and wlneli tlie s|)urious exere- 
 sc.'Uce :" Timid (diri-lians si'e thi' old ludii'is ol' tlieii' 
 i';itlieis, tlie beiiel's oi' their o\\ n ehildhood and youlh, bit 
 by l)it (.Tundiliiig away, nnlii they are sei/.e 1 with an 
 agony oC alarm, lest all >hou!d ilisa, j)j)eai', lir>t the ( 'huich, 
 then tiie ifible, th n the Chi-i-t, and la-^l of all, (;.id al.M) ; 
 leasing them eoM, helpless, and benighted, with nolhing 
 iiut a mere scntinant ol' moialiiy ami I'eligion, di'pii\-ed 
 (li' all oLjcet^ whii-h en ati-~ry ii> eiaxings. ('farei' 
 heads and slowlri- hearts, Nsideh ha\e lel'usvd to yield to 
 panic, knowing that nothing can destroy the truth, \va\\\ 
 \i't been much ] ri'plexed ill theell'oit b) determine ^vhat 
 i^the \ital truth, and what can be safely and advan- 
 taetoiisK' Mii-iTndeivd, not only wilhoiif injui'y, but to 
 the ^(ilid 'j;iin ol' spii'itua! ( 'hrisfinnity. The infallibility
 
 The Future of Christiaiiity. 389 
 
 of the Church conM l^c well spared, when wo luel the 
 iiifalliljle Book to full back upuii. Ijut now, after a 
 whole generatioji of hesitation and misgiving, the truth 
 about the Book is at last generally perceived and ac- 
 k'nowlcdu'L'd. Tiiero is still a strong party "which 
 ^'Lheln^,llt!y denies the truth, and (jbstinately per.-ists in 
 the oldtliigmn. Three ceiitni/ies luu'e passed since the 
 Beforination ; and the dogma of the infallibility (jf the 
 (oiurch is to-day upheld by half Christendom. It will 
 be nothing sur])risliig if th(/ dogma of the infallible Ijook 
 commands a laige biidy of adherents three generations 
 or it may lie tiiree centuib's hmce. Xe\'ertheless, the 
 true ( 'luireh, the ^nngua^d (d' the host (jf the Lord, 
 mo\'es on, as its Leadei' guides. Bomainsm is left be- 
 liind, (Respite' its ]nultitudes, its ont^\'ald unity and 
 ;!])ii;i.f.aiL strength. Jji 'nliealism is left Ij^innd; although 
 it also c aunroids a great IiDst of sinci^re devotees, who 
 live (as tlicy think^: by it, and would die for it. Those 
 \\d;o liav(.' fairly emei'L;'.'il i'rom thes(; nnseonceptions, and 
 Set tlndi- ffices stedbistly on th" forwar^l march, may be 
 comparati\'idy few, Itut they bjllow (b)d"s leadiug. and 
 tlicy know it. J]ut Avhither :' ^Vh;lt shall no^v be their 
 w.o.'-liwoi'd '. what sh'dl now be the ta'de'r of tlrdr mareb, : 
 t li!' jil'in of their ent reni'liiu'-'ius :* the eh:;sen ground for 
 linii' batth'liidd ^ They b)llowed the truth in faith; 
 tle'y" Went out. not Ivuowing whither tliey Weiit. ' The\' 
 Ici't till' ol(l Tniteiiabiij ]) ).-,itions, in h)}"al obedience to the 
 i )i\iie; cedl, b'.it the}' do not at once enter upon ^ t'ttled 
 wvA seetn'e habitations. The}' ^v.lndel a- pilgrims who, 
 thi;Uu-h in tile' Tj'omised J.and, do not as }-et iuhabit a 
 t'iiritled .baar-alem, injirei^aialile ag.-iin.-^t asaailt. 
 
 Tue do'oua of the infallif)Ie B.xdc haN'iim' Iteen stn;-
 
 390 TJtc Quakers. 
 
 renilerod, tlio believer reiii'n'cd as little as possible i'rom 
 his old position. At'tor all, lie said to himself, verbal 
 iafallibility, j)lenary insinration, arc not indispensable. 
 Not these, but the truths guaranteed by thorn, are 
 what I need. The great facts of the gospel, these nuist 
 be true. Christianity without Christ is impossible. 
 This then is the new ground he selects for his eutrencli- 
 ments : external histoi'lc certainty. Tlie Christian life 
 holds him fast : he will not surrender that, under any 
 stress of intellectual perplexity ; because he knows in 
 his inner consciousness that it is true. But the Christian 
 life is ro )ted in Christ Jesus. Historically, this life 
 began in Him : actual!}', his own personal faith is the 
 response to the appeal which that life makes upon him. 
 Therefore the (Jhrist of histtjry, the Christ of the New 
 'i'cstament, boi'u at Ij^dhlohem, crucitied on Calvary, 
 I'aist'd fi'ojii ilie <lead, and exalted to the throne of 
 hea\'eii, is the true fouirlation of his religious I'aith. 
 Tills is iiidis]cir--abK' to him. Cix-o him the substantial 
 
 tlTith of the gospel stol'V, and his basis is seCUl'e. 
 
 Xo om; can //''v it him. lb' must hims(dt:' examine 
 the e\'idence^ and ascei'taiu wliethm' Cod has given him 
 this whieli hi' has settled \\\\\\ him<i-li", is the indis])i'n- 
 saJile' foundation. Does h.> possess this external historic 
 (ei'tnint \' '. I''or t weni \' yeai's, oui' a]i ilogi-ts have toiled 
 toeoii^truet achain of ai'guineiit to coin'ince him that 
 be (f)es. It is Sisyphean lal)our. Historic certainty of 
 the human life of our La'd, that is secui'e. ]5ut the 
 supiTiial ural ehuie 'nt . t 'n' \ii'gin hirth.the I'e-animation 
 of' tlh' crileiiii'd 1,;, 1\-, its a-ei'usidii to the sk'ies, ;n'e th-'Se 
 iiiaMeixot' kiiowie Ige, or olij.'eis of faith '. If they were 
 nrittiTs of knowf^f,.-,., cNaails established by testimony
 
 The iuttiirc of C/iristiaiiity. 
 
 391 
 
 a]);ii't iVom \\\K' trutli of tlio religious doctrines based 
 upon tlu'U), they wuuM bo a cominun ground and starting- 
 ])oint, l)oth for tlie ])eli('ver and the uidjelievcr in 
 (/hristianity. But confessedly these nn;([Ue e\'ents are 
 credible only when considered as events in the story of 
 tlie Sun of (jod. That is, when tlui Incarnation, the 
 liesurrection, the Ascension, are believed prior to exami- 
 nation of the evidence, then oidy, if i\\v\\, the liistoric 
 evidence is found to l)e ample. 
 
 Here is the partini;' of tlie ways wlicre, in sori'owful 
 loyalty to truth and intellectual honest}", many have 
 abandoned tliv3 name and pr.d'ession of Christianity. 
 A\'hat else could th<'y do :" l-'or a hundreil yeai's and 
 more our di\-ines and apologists, from Butler and Paley 
 to the [)resent da\', liax'e be(.Mi teaching tliat Christianity 
 is an exti'rnal re\elation, a r(,'\'elation by its nature 
 elevated aljove the juilgment of human facultie'S, neces- 
 sarily tlierefore, acer(3'lit(.'d. in the la>t rest)rt by super- 
 natiU'al credentials, tliat is by nuracles and prophecy. 
 It was contcniled that tiio historic evidence can'ied us 
 back to eyi-'-witnesses, and ]daced the marvelhms occur- 
 rences b'yi^nd the reach of douljt ; that the resuri'ection, 
 for instance, was a pi'o\'ed and imlul/itable event, estal)- 
 li--h''d by the \'er\' same e\ddence as tliat ^vhich estaldishes 
 till' cruciiixion. I'he apologists Jiow acknowle<lge that 
 what till' e\'idenci' establishes is that tlie hr>t generation 
 of Christians l)elieved in i\\v, rusui I'eetion. Their belief 
 is the ultimate fact Avhich is historically ceidain. And 
 in reg<trd to the mii'acles giaierally, it is ne)W clearly seen 
 that we lMdie\-e the mii'acles ( i !' we b.dieve tlie^m) on 
 account of tlie doctrines, not the dnctrines on ac 'ount t)f 
 the miracles. Vet Ave Avei'e taught that a[)art from the
 
 392 T/ic Quakers. 
 
 e\'kl(.']ico of the miracles, we ouglit not to receive sucli 
 doctrines. No Avonder that th(jsG who were bound 
 to Cliristianity by no more than tlie h)i;ical argument 
 liave taken tlieir departure, and become agnostics or 
 ]:)Ositivists. Tliat the (Jliristmii I'aitli. was not extin- 
 guislied, tliat so few c<jm])aratively ^\cre lost, while so 
 many I'emaineil, that the (bsc'.)vei'y of the WLiaknes-; of 
 the logical position has Ijeeii contem})oraueous wit!i a 
 marked revival of spiritual life and missionary zeal, is 
 sufficient proof that the faitU is not ideJitical with oui' 
 explanation of its nature and origin. It is ur)i'e than Ave 
 can underdand, and has deeper roots than we can lay 
 bare, We need not fear. (Jhristianity sui'\'i\'ed ecclesi- 
 asticism ; it sur\dv(\s bibjicalism, it AviU survive the 
 treurendous disc(jveiy that the old ajxdo^-rtic argument 
 lias ;;olIa[)sed. 
 
 At the present moment the C'hureli has ]i )t fully 
 recovered from thi' bewiMermeut coiiseipient upon 
 this discover}'. 15 'lie\'ers hold fast by thf life, hui tlr-y 
 ha\'' not emci'g'ed into the light, 'i'hi'y know and are 
 sui'.' in thi'ir li'Mi'is tint .bv-^us ('hrist isthi' ^\;1y, the 
 truth an<l tie' ilfr, br,f tlirir inf-l!ee(s aiv b 'rogg.:!. On.- 
 
 b\- one till' chelishc'l hclirl'-; oi' a lil'''-l illic, of gcllflMtions 
 
 anil agi's, have hci'U d !! )li-;h'' 1, e.nd a-; yet the proci'^s 
 of I'ceiiint ruetii)n is n^it ;i[)j) ir-Mit. Ih-ii"tical mm got 
 iiiij),!' i^'iit. Thi'y w^'ary dl" frnill >-; ili-eussion, n'.oUc 
 arhitiMi'Ily ti)]);it a sto-p, s > I'arn-- (h^'y thi'iiis'dxT ; ai'e 
 ( iiiC'Tni'il, ti) CI ml i-i>\ t'i->y, ill iiiipilry, to douht. ThcA' 
 kiiMW h\' an inward f^'lipg th' ('^^!i!!;il iruth of ihr 
 ( ':iri-t i;i!i ri-li4i')n ; lli^y I-.om\v by ..u'ilbeii liisijrir 1 1 
 (\;i|i'iii'c tliat thi- r':i_;i'in lie^ it- riot- in .le-ns ol' 
 N;iz;ii'rt,Ii, ,-ini| till' gM>pcj ^lury. 'I'iii-y will as-nnio the
 
 The Future of Christianity. 393 
 
 trutli of Cliristianit}", witlioiit pn.'cise (.lefiniti(.>ii of A\'liat 
 tli</\' iiiraii l>y it, witliuiit exact Jin'cstigatioii \\\\\' tliry 
 l>f!it'Ve it. Lit'tj is short. The ^vo^k is ui'gciit. There 
 is no end to debate. Tlie}' must put an end by an act 
 oi' 'N\'ill. Tln'y will belie\'e, and wi)r]<;, an^I prjiy i'oL' their 
 O'.vn salvation and tlie saK'ation of tlie woi'id, lea\dnL;' 
 cunti'(A-ei'.-y to the t]ieuloi;'ians and seienti>ts. 
 
 ]]at lii'ji'e' are those to whom tiiis ilbiu'ical cuDiprounso 
 is iiiiposdbL'. They must i;"0 on strivinj,' to tlie last for 
 a rec-jiicilialiou bjtwejii tlie heart and the intellect. 
 ]?as-:i';nate ti'uth-lovers like Honi'i Fredorie Ainiel, \va.\v 
 b 'en constniuel by internal conflict, ha\'e li\-ed seeining'ly 
 bli^'hti'd li\-es, because they couiij not attain to the 
 rei:-onciliatioii. ^^'i;t the ([U'ist is taktMi up by new 
 si'ek'n's, and must be, until the ^oal is reaehed. Ah .' 
 ho'.\- fall of aiiu-uish is the 1 )ii,u', slow, vaiidy ]>]'otracteil, 
 pi'()Cess (d" surrendei'. The liist condition of seeui'ity, of 
 p\ice, of h.'althy g'rowth, is t!_) be true' to the truth. 
 ,Viid the truth I'eipiirt'S th:d ^\'^' should g-ive up trying;- to 
 thiidc that we know th.it to be true, whieh ^ve do mjt 
 know to be true, d'rue it ni i\' ])e, ( lo'l may see it to be 
 \v\\:\ liut if v.'e <lo ]iot know it ti) be true, then to 
 at'o'iapt to p-rsuade ours_dvt;s that w ,' do, is di^oljodienee 
 to th.i; Lbd't, i'-^ <listrust of Go 1. ^IusL I c]i(.)os(; between 
 the (_biur.-h aud Cod '. Then let the Chureh -'o. Alust 
 1 chii ),~,e b:'tWL'en tin,' Ijible and ( b)d :' Then let the 
 Uibh' i;o. Mu-^t I ehoo.. ,' betw.'en Jesus Clirist and (b)d? 
 Then cNo.-n .b'-^us b'hi'ist will i :dve up. After this, there 
 is i;othin;_;' lei'i to ,-;i'-iiiiee. To i;'I \'e up uiy own personal 
 iiumoi't:ib;\' is noiliiuij,', is ralh'U' a relief. Wdio Avoedd 
 N\i,-h to li\'e herrafuu', withou.t .Jesus L'hi-is:: :' L(,'t all 
 go, if truth so retptire. JJut thoug-h the daj-kness closes
 
 391 J^lic Quakers. 
 
 all around, on the ])a-t, on tlu,' luture, on the present 
 also, tlioUL;'h all is uncertainty, all is niystury ; in one 
 small cii'cle around \\\y feet, there shines a clear li^ht 
 I'rDiii heawn. The revelation of duty is the i-cvclation 
 of (i(jd. ^Vll else is ,ii,'oiu', but God and duty abide. 
 -Now I ]i\e ill ;ind by the pure truth. Ther>' are no 
 more make-b;'licves : no uKjre subtle and sophistical 
 S(df-persuadini;s, that in certain circuni^taiK-es, to minis- 
 ter to my cL;'otistical cra\'ini;'s, two and two can amount 
 to fivi'. I am brou^ht \t'r\' low : I ha\'e been stripped 
 of all my ti'easures : 1 have descended to the bottom ot" 
 the abyss ; but at least I am now on the solid i^'rotind. 
 ][encel:'ortli, " Lo 1 1 come to do Thy will, O (!ol : Thy 
 law is in my In/art." For all else, "it Is the Lord. Let 
 Jiim<lo as st'cmeth ILim ^'ood.' For me, absolute selt- 
 surrciider, humble, pfitii'ut, watchful oln'ilicnce, li^ht to 
 st.'c the next >t p forward, strength to takr tliat one 
 step ; this is my tiar; life. With h'ss than this 1 cannot 
 !i\t'. I baxdni;' this much. I may well b(.> contiait, whi'tlea' 
 my lif'' cndui'f but for a day, or through tli<' a^ons of 
 a' iiis. 
 
 This i- till' sui'e foundation. Tins is the true lirLiin- 
 llin^ iif tiie ("hri^tian life. That lii'i' is not rooted in 
 far-i itf >u|i"i'iia t ural cNt-nts. in unattainable nictapiiysical 
 le-i-hts ; but in tie' m rt iii_;'-]i' mil b.'tWfrii ( lod and the 
 soul in th'' coMsciou-^iirss of duty. W'l' must l)uild u]) 
 our spii'itual lii'i' upnii (I'taint ii's, not n])on naaa- ])i'ob;i- 
 bilitif-^. hMwc\-ci- pi-( ibnhlc. (lod and (hity are e(a-tainties; 
 ] airily, f '\-!'. -.(||"--.;)ci'i hi-'' arc cialaint I'-s. ( 'oii^eieiiee is 
 (' iii^ciMU-ii"-s. i-, -pii-itM;il \i-i(iM: tlaav is un (.riniiity 
 ('i:i ii 1-, -ur-a-, ef i-ii\ iMi 'T-' t rii^; wi at hy ihnn thi-. 'Ida' 
 --"lid iMi-th lH'n''ath, th'' ma^ii.'--tic canopy of hea\a'U
 
 The Future of Christianity. 395 
 
 witli all its worlds, may 1)0 an illusion rather than tliis ; 
 For the external unix'erse is but reported to the conseious- 
 ness liy the senses, whereas conscience is the iuiiiiuiliate 
 coi^niizance of spiritual tiaith, no more capable of illusi\'c- 
 nuss than the truths of mathematics. This is the iuAvard 
 [iiL;'ht which shon(> so brightly in George Fox an<l his 
 di^ei[)los; ^\hic'l has shone in every pious soul fi'om the 
 beginning of tlio world, though too often neglected, even 
 mistrusted. Xow in the end of the ages, God sen<ls us 
 Ijack to this, calls us back to ll.imsrlf. lie is our present 
 guide, oui' iumie(]iate teacher. I fe will have us trust in 
 Ilim alone. 
 
 Tliis lessDU learneil, obedience Ijrings its reward. 
 Now the believei' discovers what that means ; " lui that 
 h)vetl! his lil'e shall lose it ; he tliat loseth his life for 
 M \' s;d<:(} shall lind it." For the truth's sak(\ that is for 
 Giii'ist's sake, we g.ive U]) all, airl all is being given back, 
 cli'inge'd as to its form, clothed in Ui-w Ijeauty and powm-. 
 AVe dared not build U[) our hdth in the suj^ernatural Son 
 of (jod, on the evidence (jf ndracles : but left alone with 
 the Son of Man, the Ci'ucilie'd, we loveil Ifim as never 
 bid'oi'c, and as we hund)ly end(.'a\'oui'('d to walk in llis 
 steps, I'j! He \vas transligured before us; all His memory, 
 all I Lis story, all llis inlluenc(; through the ages A\as 
 illumined by its own celestial light, until it shone A\'ith 
 the glory of the Eternal ].,ove, and we heard the voice 
 from hea\-en, " This is my belo\'ed Son : heai- ye Him." 
 'Jdie mii'acles we camiot A'crify ; bui the Spirit of Christ 
 beai's witness to our s])irit, and \\'e know that I te is the 
 Word of (Mjd. the Light of the woi'ld, the IJevealeJ- of 
 tlie fatlu^r. d'hei'(,> is one C'.Mdi'al I)i\ine thought, in 
 which is sinnmud up for us all that (Jod means man to
 
 39"^ 'il'^ Quakc7-s. 
 
 be, so far as wc can conceive it ; and tliat tliouglit is 
 Chi'i.st. Tliere is one })erfect ]3i\'ine nianit'estation of 
 tlio heart of tlie Infinite Father, and tliat manifestation 
 is Clirist. "^riierc is one reconciliation of the sinful, 
 suflerini^-, sti'ug^'ling world, to tlie Eternal Kighteousness 
 and Et'jrnal Jvn'i^, and that reconciliation is (diri.st. 
 And tiie Christ is not afar in the distant haze of a dindy 
 disecrned ]iisti>]'}', hut lie is tlie Li_i;'ht ^vitlun, the veiy 
 8iirJt which illniiiincs our life, and lea<ls us int(J His 
 oww likeness. AVe i;a\'e up the Jjilde as an infallible 
 oi'aclc, speaking," uuintellii^'ible niystei'ies, and \\i.)\\ it is 
 o'iven bad: to us, the record of Clo.l's ti.'achinu' to His 
 ])ci)j)l(' of old, the t]'easin\'-house of re\'clations io and 
 throii;j,'h pro[)hets and apostles and the Son Himself, 
 which A\'e can enter into, and in our measure receive ;ind 
 ]) ossess, by the inspiration of the same Spirit. AVe ,L;'a\'e 
 U[) lie) Church as the inr.-dlibje authoiity, lord o\"cr(M)d"s 
 h;'i-it;i'4'e : it is ^i\-('n back to us as the conniiunion of 
 s.iiuts, tht' home ol' Ch)d"s chiidn'ii, a s[)iritual brother- 
 hooil to Avliich iDaiiy uiic )nsci()U<ly bcloir^;-, who ai'e i_L;"no- 
 I'.iiit of Its \vY\- naiiii'. W'c L^'aN'i' up our own iuiinoi tality, 
 and Wc liiid oiii'-cK'cs rdriTcly in ])>is-cssi(>n of the 
 ctiTunl hl'c. Wdi-ei oiici' w;.' Icixc attained to the cont- 
 ])!cle --ui'i coilc]-, when \\v hn\'e ;_;'lvi'ii \\\\ all and oui' own 
 S''l\-cs ;ds >, to (c)d and to the trnih; then a N'oice is 
 hrard saying- : " .\11 things ;;i-e yen is ; w liether the Moabl, 
 or jile, nr d 'ath, oi' th;nL;N ])irsiad, oi' thiii^'s to conic, all 
 are yi )ii!v>; : am 1 yi' ;n e ( "iiia-t"s, an I (';!ri--t is ( iod s. ' 
 
 This i^, an (Ma of t r.-in-it ion. it is notuixaai to us to 
 I'orc-i'i' tlie t'litiirc. It :> eiaaijli f'oi' ii< (hnt we vw.\ s'c 
 till' diri'clidii in which the ('liiii'ch is beiu:^- ^nilc'l by 
 till' (iNaaaailiiiL;' Sjiirii. The clian^cs wliich will coiiu.', in
 
 TJie Future of Christianity. yjj 
 
 custcjiH, luriii, ritual, and creed, we cannot predict. V>\\i 
 \\u may rest assured that notliiu;:,^ Avliich is true and yoed 
 shall perish. We may Cf^niidcntly expL'ct that the Chris- 
 tianity of the future ^vill be more spiritual, more practical, 
 more catholic, more Christ-like. Ah'eady the d;nvning' 
 ot the new era has begun. Already in thousanils and 
 tlajusands of hearts the new light is shining. Already 
 wtj huar a thousand voices ciy : Christianity is not the 
 Church: Christianity is not the Bible, Christianity is 
 (Jhri.-t. (Vlrt.'ady we can mark how m;iny a (piiet stiong 
 soul utters no woi'd, but goes Jbrth Avith compressed lips, 
 t(. li\c the Clu'ist, iirstca'] of talking aljout Him. It may 
 be that this new era now beginning is <l(j>tine(l to work 
 as iuar\-ellous a ehaugi' in religion, as the dawning of the 
 hiaconian era has etiecte<l in seieJice. When Christians 
 e'vei'ywhere leai'u to (put remote and unfruitful specula- 
 ciiars fur the actual ])iactice of the Christian life, \^'hen 
 we all perc(.'ive th.at,n(;ttoknow theti'Ulh abotit Chri.^t,but 
 to lie ourseiX'es in our iiieasure reprodiictioiis of Christ, 
 is true Ci;ri.^tianit\', niny it not be hojied that in the in- 
 iinite mei'cy and lo\-e of Cod, there' will be such a (piick- 
 eiiing of faith and love and hoi'e, such an out})ouri]ig of 
 Cluist-Iih'e bene\<.)Ience toward tlie poor, the stih'ering 
 and the sinftil, such an impetus of self-sacriiice I'or the 
 elm'Jitii;!! of the degrailed ami \iciotrs, such a wealth of 
 (dii'istiau character, A\'oll-b:dan.ci'(l and complete in 
 honesty ;ind \'eineil\', tfiujiernnci.; and coru'jige, puritx' 
 and kdii'lliness, tliat it sh;i!l seem as theiugh a tiew lace of 
 men had In/en evolv(_Ml, btdiohling \vhich the world will see 
 a b'hristianity tuiiniagined hitherto, a victorious Kingdom 
 of God sidididng humanit}' to itself, neediitg no evidence 
 otitsihi itself to prove its divine truth, siiining in the
 
 59''^ TJic Quakers. 
 
 hearts and eyes of all, with the light that is from lieaven ? 
 Hei'C and there in the past there have hecn a few Christ- 
 like men and women, scattered points of light illumining 
 t]u' wide spaces of darkness, and the world has felt itself 
 liallowed by their presence, and has worshi])}')ed them as 
 the saints of CJod. What shall it he when the whole 
 Church awakens to the truth, and actually lives the life 
 of Christ ? 
 
 It is not yet the full daj", only the early streaks of 
 dawn art^ seen ahove the horiz^u. Jhit to us it is given 
 to he friends of truth and chilih'en of tlie Liglit, to know 
 tlie Clu'ist within, the Lord and Saviour of our Hfe. Let 
 us hi true to tlie truth, and walk in the liglit, waiting 
 hundily and patiently uprmCod, seeking to he guided hy 
 IJis Spii'it, instead of following our own wiHs, then shall 
 v.-e do our part to hasten thr brightness of the coming 
 day, and shall have our place in the J'^ternal Ifome. 
 
 This toru' of glowing cwnhdenee is not possible to all 
 at all limes. Tiie prince of Di'eamers, of ^vhose ('ahin- 
 i>tie theology these pau'e> have spolven di-^par.igiugly, 
 was a shi'ewd obsei'ver of human uatm'e, and has de- 
 ]iirtcd ii with mar\'clli )us ti<le!ily. The mt-n and ^voulen 
 ill \\ho~e company he made hi> own pilgrimage, and 
 wlios ]ioil raits he has plio; dgi-aplicd j'di- u^ in his book, 
 A\-ei-f not all of them ( b'ea tdiea rts and \'aliants I'oi- truth, 
 umI all cxrii ('hristians, l'"ai!hruh and Hopefuls : in his 
 jouiiicx' hi' ti'a\-elled aloiii;- in friM|Uent ci'ntael with Des- 
 pMii( |iaie\-. and his dawghtrr M udi-a i'raid. with hedile- 
 111111(1, llcady-tii-liait , and l-"eai'ing. Tlieir deseeiidants 
 ert'cp and stnmbjc along tla' mad to-day, and at times 
 thriai_;h tcar-dimniid eyr-. can scarce ili>cern whether 
 lla'\' arc mi the road, and have no far-otf vision of the
 
 The Future of Chiistianity. 
 
 399 
 
 CclL'stial city. And there arc those ainoni^^ ii.s,a.s tliere were 
 ill Jjunyan's day, altlioug-li not incUidcd in his picture, 
 honest seekers after trutli, wlio liaA'e not found tl)(,' Way, 
 and cannot feel sure that tliere is a Way at all. Fossil ily to 
 some of the>e i'echUi ones, and searchers, the st(.)ry of the 
 Children of the Light may hring a i^leani of hope, and 
 give a ^niidini^- cine. They may see how it is po-^sihlo to 
 walk liy faith, withont credulity, or iirsincerit}'. The 
 int 'llectual de^elopnl(.'nt of the early (^nakcrs was 
 two centnrii's hehind onr own ai;'e ; their o])inioirs 
 CiiniKjt he altogether oni's. J]ut their method, which 
 in s])ite of some lilemishes, was on the whole 
 eminently successful, is as suitahle for oursch'es as for 
 them. 'J'he peculiarity of their method was this ; the_y 
 mtele practical experiuient of Christianity from the 
 in>iile. (Jf course' they were not the iirst discoverers of 
 this method. All ti'uc Christians ha\'e ado})ted it in all 
 au'e-^. J hit the.^c des[)ised (^'uakers nioi'e clearl}', more 
 thoi(.)Ughly than others recognised that this is the true 
 ^\';iy : that we ought to he_;in with this; that, in fact, 
 there is ikj otlier. It was a great discovery, worthy to 
 he' reclcoiK'd a rev('latinn frum (lod, a re\"elation still 
 imperfectly acknowledged. for until this day most 
 in([uii-ei's stand outride Christianity, demanding that it 
 sli;dl give a ]dain account of its<.Mf, ami prove that it is 
 wh.'it it clainrs to he. hefore tlmy will xdeld ohedience. 
 'I'lii'- srems, hut is not, reasonahle ; it necessarily takes a 
 Inii^- time, jind meanwhile ^\dlat are we doing.'' We 
 nnist act ; and we are morall}' hound to follow the Jdght 
 ^\ithilK hefore we have s(.)h-ed all logicnl ])uxzles. .^h)re- 
 over this ^\ay of pi'occeding treats Christhanit}' as 
 though it wei'e principally a matter ^^^ k'Uo^vledge. Tn
 
 400 TJic Quakers. 
 
 fact, it is not solely nor chiefly a matter of knowledge ; 
 it is a matter involving conscieiice, conduct, faith, and 
 feeling. Without entering into tlie (juestion of the 
 exact relations and propoi'tions of these several elements, 
 is it quite reasonable to postpone all the rest until the 
 intellectual incpiiry is concluded ? These Children of the 
 Light did not think so. They began with conduct, they 
 began with faitli. But it was not faith in a wide seliemo 
 of doctrine, cmbraciiig the uiuvcr.sc aiul eternity : it was 
 faith in a present experience, of a very limited range, 
 l)ut of tlie certainty of which they had full assurance. 
 The secret Light shining in the heart to reprove un- 
 riglitcousness, was to them a revelation of God, that is, 
 of His ^\ill c<inc(;rning them. This was in them the 
 faint strerdc of da^^n, higiiming of a heavenly day ; this 
 was the little seed, which grew to a goodly ti'co. 
 
 The advantage of this method is that it gives, within 
 limits. Certainty. Christian doctrine, it is plain, is not 
 cipially ci.-rtaii!, in all ii^s parts. Confessedly, -we have in 
 some m;i.tters to be ctaitent v.dth pi-ol)abiiit\' ; which 
 ac.-oi'ding to J'/isliop .Butlei' is "the very guiile of Hie. '^ 
 Lut ])i'()b;ibility does not suiiico for faith; pi'obaJjility is, 
 after all, enly amHher name i'or doubt; a lugh degree of 
 ]ir()l)al'ility means tluit there is little room for doubt; 
 but there is still some i(M)m. Faith requii'es certaJnt}', 
 and cannot exi-t ujion any other basis. Xow Cliris- 
 tianily consists oi' ir;nh \\'hich (.(am^s within the range of 
 lunneiliate intuilion, present e.\])erieiu'e, and constant 
 \-ei'i(it:alion ; and of other truth l\'ing outside this range, 
 but more or less closely connected with. it. Facts of the 
 remote jiast, ex})eclations of the unseen future, attempts 
 
 ' IniroJi'.rlluu to (he An,dc<lil.
 
 llie Future of Christianity. 401 
 
 to express the Infinite in human language, these cannot 
 have certainty of the same kind as that which belongs 
 to the contents of our personal experience. Therefore, 
 in order to have a saving faith, we must begin by trust- 
 ing in the present revelation of God's Spirit. When we 
 fully trust in God, where we have certain knowledge, it 
 will become easy to trust, not our own speculations but 
 Him, for all which lies beyond the range of certainty. 
 
 This certainty grows. They who trust in the first 
 and simplest revelations of duty, with that trust which 
 is obedience, have an ever widening perception of the 
 truth of the Christian life, which is manifested in Jesus 
 (dirist. They know that His perfect faith in God, His 
 perfect loyalty to truth. His perfect love to man, all 
 culminating in His great act of self-sacrifice on the 
 Gross, arc; the highest revelation oi God to and in man. 
 Those who have seen this truth know that it is true. To 
 them, nothing in physical science, nothing in mathe- 
 matics, nothing whatever which comes within human 
 thought and experience, is more sure, more trustworthy 
 than this. " We know that the Son of God is come, and 
 hath given us an understanding, that we know Him that 
 is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son 
 Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.'"' 
 
 THE EN]).
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abiul'.ams, (Jalunus, 11 'J 
 
 Aut (jf luiliilgijiice;, the, '2'M) 
 
 ^^giiu.sticism, '.)')0-'So~, 3!it) 
 
 AliUuii, Thoiiia.-i, l.'U 
 
 Alcxtunler, Isaac, Sli.") 
 
 Ames, William, 77 
 
 ,\!iiei'ica, (Quakers hangeil in, 17i 
 
 Amasemcnts, 97, '222 
 
 A]iti->lav(jry agitatinii, "isl 
 
 Aj.o/";,i/, ilu , is4, -212, -ITA, 2:j\), 271, o(il 
 
 A[)Ostacy, the, 2, 227 
 
 Apostate (,)uakei's, 2ii.'5 
 
 Art, V'i\ an ciieniN' of, 222 
 
 Asli, Dr., :!-;] 
 
 Athiiii., ,!,")(), 3.11, :i.->3 
 
 Atkins, CliristoijlKi', 14.'! 
 
 Atkinson and ArmstiTjair, i)-') 
 
 Audland, Jolm, DO, !j2 
 
 |]anks, John, ',]7, 121 
 
 liaptists, the, (]1, 1(J7 
 
 iJarclay, (,'<)!onel, ~'\ 
 
 ilarclay, Ilohcrt, 107, 181-203, 221), 2r,2, 2*;0, 3(2, 3G1 
 
 jiarelay, lioljert (the younger), 7U, 73, 1-14- 
 
 JJarnard, Hannah, 24fi 
 
 Uarnardiston, (^iles, 77 
 
 liaxter, Kiehard, 4, 170- 17.'), 180, HI.") 
 
 Jjenezet, Anthony, 27-1, 2Sl 
 
 Iknnet, Judge, .12, ,13, 22.1 
 
 Bible, the, Protestant belief in, IS-l-lSS, 328, 378 ; Quaker belief in, 79, 
 
 190, 220, 361 ; Quaker use of, 32, 43, 222, 274, 310, 379 ; Quaker 
 
 disuse of, 170. 31-1 ; the authority of, 377 ; the canon of Scrin- 
 
 ture, 199 
 lUangdon, Barljai'a, 9.3 
 lUaspheniv, (Ordinance against, 1-1 
 IMhme, Jacob, 42, 100 
 iJuwnas, .Samuel, 2tj4, 2(J,1 
 IJrewster, Margaret, 1 10 
 ih'omlield, William, 20.3 
 iircjwn, Henton, 2(.i7 
 lUuiyan, .lohn ; liis autoljiograpliy, 22, 32 ; compa.red \\itli Fox, 22, 
 
 107 : his hostility to (pudvcrism, 4, KkS, 210 
 Burnet, Ijisho]), 103 
 Burnyeat, .Tojin, 170 
 Ijurroughs, Ivlward, .1 ; esteemed a ]iiophet, 21 ; conversion, G.l ; bc- 
 
 conus a jireachei', 72 ; nunislry and death, 87-90 ; claims infalli 
 
 bility, S9 ; his prophecies, 1.32; a complaint, 144; controversy 
 
 with Bunyan, 109 ; his witness to Christ, 3(i2 
 Butler and Palev, 391, 400
 
 404 Index. 
 
 {.'alaniy, Ednmnd, Sermon l)y, .'>0 
 
 Calvin and Calvinism, ISfj-lbU, 249, o3o, o34, ;]SU 
 
 Camm, Anne, 92 
 
 Cai'lylo, Thomas, 2, 17 
 
 Catholicity, 1.37 
 
 Certainty 'in rclio-ion, 194, .347, 370, 374, 37G, 3S5, 401 
 
 Chalkley, Thomas, 23.5, 2(14 
 
 Charles II., .1, 70, So, 127, 137, 147, 1G2, 226, 227, 2.30 
 
 Children of the Liglit, US, 129, 211, 308, 317 
 
 Children, quaker, 97 
 
 Christian quaker, the, by ^y. Ko,o-crs, 15C, by W. Penn, 184 
 
 Christianity, 9, 17, 192, 207, 2G2, ~2S.'), 3.J9, 3S3 ; historical, 20!>, 22.-., 
 
 2.17-2.-)9, 370, 390 ; iiuaker conception of, 207, 301 
 Church, tlie, 1, 1."), 372-370; authority of, l.jo, 372, 37o ; the churches, 
 
 309, 370, 3S3 
 Churcliman, John, 204 
 Clark, -Mary, 91 
 
 Clei'g} men becoming Chial^ers. 77 
 Confession of (juaker faith, 2--|9 
 Continental (juakerisni, 229, 2.37 
 Cieeds, the ancient catholic, 19 
 Crewdson, Isaac, .'>()1 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, .-., S2, S4, US, 12S, 131, 133, 249, 2.-.1 
 Cromwell, Kichard, 132 
 
 Decline of (jiiakerism, 0, MS, 2.'J4 
 
 Deism, 241, 2(iS 
 
 Dewsl.nrv, W illiam, 72, Si, 90 
 
 Discipline, 1 10, 324 ; re\ival of, 271-27." 
 
 l)ivisi(jns of (piakerisiii. 2S(i 
 
 D.icetism. 221 
 
 1 )(j\\ ner, iVnne, 92 
 
 l-'.ccles, Solomon, lOS 
 
 Ivlnuuulson, \\'illiam, 9.">, 170 
 
 i'.dwards, Tliomas, IS 
 
 I'llizaheth, i'rincess, 74 
 
 l':ilw(;o.l, 4 honias, .-.U, 97. 1 1 I, 1.31. ir.O, 2.'. 1 
 
 lOpistles (,f (Ic.irL'e fox, 7^:^, 72. 211, 21."), 21s, 219, 2.32 
 
 i'lvelyn, .lolm, l(i:'., 1^3 
 
 J'lxidences, the Christian, .391 
 
 Fal.lo, .Ic.hn, 100, 19.-. 
 
 I'anat iei~in, 99 
 
 l',inal[rl; U\sln,-y, fh. , 101 
 
 l''armcr, Kalpli," ICC, 21;; 
 fai'iisw'.i-th, l;ich;ii'(l. 72, \M 
 
 ivii. .iii.i-v. 71, i;;ii, 1 ; i 
 k, 11, M ii.ar. I, c;; 
 
 IVll, the MisM,-, 97, 2.V_> 
 l"iic of l,on,l,,ii. the, 1 .'l"! 
 Ii>l;er, Mary, 9.3
 
 Index. 405 
 
 l''i,~l!CT, SaiiiiK'l, ."), 77, Ii-t7 
 
 llctcher, Klizul.etli, 98 
 
 l'\.).stoi', Tlioinas, '1\^) 
 
 Foundations of faith, the, 3.')7, ."iSd, ol) 1- 
 
 Fox, (ieorj^e, his birth, '17i ; chiklhood, S.l, 26 ; trade, 8, 2."); ahandons 
 business and friends, 20 ; waniUsrings, 21J ; becomes a Seeker, 2!,' ; 
 in London, 80 ; visits the clergj', 81 ; his trouldes and tempta- 
 tions, 82, 850: liis revelations, 8.3-42; beginning of public ^\ork, 
 44 : a vision, 4") ; contradicts a clergyman in Xottingham chnrch, 
 1 I ; put in priso:i, 18 ; in the sheritrs house, 40 ; released, 47 ; 
 crui'.l usage, 48 ; second imprisonment, 49 ; oll'ered a captaincy, 7)\ ; 
 his fame spreads, .18 ; preaches morality, 09 ; his leather breeches, 
 8, 01 ; at Swarthmore, ()8 ; his success, 72; in Carlisle prison, 
 7S ; cries \\'oe against Lichfield, 100; rejects Xayler, ll(i ; his 
 nuracles, 122-12.'); his prophecies, 1.30; visits .'Scotland, 248; in 
 Lancaster Castle, 140; in Scarborongh (Jastle, 147 ; Ins second 
 mission, 147 ; visits America, 174 ; his writings, 21, 212 ; travels 
 on the cfjntineiit, 229 ; closing yeai's, 230 ; death, 282 ; his char- 
 acter, 2."). 21, .)^), .")."')-.")7 ; courage, 48 ; humanity, .')2, 129 ; know- 
 led-'e and love of the lUble, 10 ; hatrcil of stceple-liouses, 14, 88, 
 100 : disci-riiment of spirits, .It : his teaching, ,18. See also Light, 
 the iuwai'd 
 
 i-"n\-, (icorgo (tlie younger), 132, 181-137 
 
 Fietwell, .John, .10. 
 
 Friends of trutli, OS, 20() 
 
 i"ry, i-;ii/,abt:th, 2.S4, 3X4 
 
 Fuller, Thomas, 102 
 
 ii'iO'jnnm, 18 
 
 (Wmntly, William, 300 
 
 (!<i)i-iii- Fijj- ili'jijiJ mil of hi', Burrov.-c-^, 17.3 
 
 (iold^^mitli, Sa'rali, 109 
 
 ' iough, .James, 2()4 
 
 dr^ni Mii.<i, rii, lh< , 191, 213 
 
 Cr.dlct. Stej-.iien, 284. 290 
 
 Ciiliith, .bdin, 2 1). 273 
 
 Curacy, .Joseph .John, 240, 290, 29-1-.302, 309, 321, 32.1 
 
 Hacker, Colonel, 12S, 1.30 
 
 Jhii, Tlu Sj.lrit <'/ff,,, 149 
 
 Hat-honour, 01, i4S, 222 
 
 JIatters or Jlatmen, 1 49- 111 
 
 Jleatlien, the, 201, 209 
 
 Heavens, Klizabeth, 98 
 
 Jlicks, Llias, 2J0, 290-291, .300, 301, .303, .30L .3(w 
 
 Hireling clei'gv, 7, M, 02, 77. 8n, 171. 223, 242, 1,18 
 
 Hodgson, William, 21 (I, .30.3, .301, :;07 
 
 llootltn, F.lizalieth, 71 
 
 H(;\vgill, Francis, (iO, 82, Si, 87 
 
 Hubbertliorn, Lichard, 72, 90 
 
 Human body of .Jesus, the, 22.3-221
 
 4o6 Index. 
 
 Huntington, lt()l)ert, ]().") 
 
 Huxley, i'l'ofessor, 041), .'JGj, oGS, oUl) 
 
 Indians and Xccrrocs, 218 
 
 Infallibility, of'tlie .Scriptures, 200, 220, 2-16, 2G0, 290, 328, 377-;Wl, 
 
 USD : of the Chnrch, 180, o77, 3^9 ; of George Fox, 43 ; of E. 
 
 ]]urrougIia, S9 ; of the (Quakers, lo7, 213, 381 
 
 JafT'ray, Alexander, 251, 236 
 James II., 230, 203 
 Janney, S. ISI., 30.5 
 Jeroni, ^lary, 271 
 
 "Keep your meetings," 91, 141, 319 
 Keith, Oeorge, 195,\>29, 239, 24."), 24S 
 
 L;unpitt, ^Villiam, .35 
 
 Latey, (Jilbei't, 9.j 
 
 Laud, Arelihishop, 19, 2G 
 
 Law.son, Tlionias, 77 
 
 Lay, ]]enjamin, 282 
 
 Leslie, Charles, 230 
 
 LiehJield, lOO-lOl 
 
 LiLdit, the inward, 41, 119, 193, 204, 218, 22.1, 219, 25], 257, 2i:0, lOO, 
 
 288, .327, ;i.'!S-340, 349, 373, 381 
 Love, (^)uaker.s in, 97 
 Lovedetter, a quaker, 98 
 Lufl'or Love, MO 
 LTiuatics eui'ed, 122, 12.3 
 Lurtinu', I'h.omas, 7() 
 Luther, .Martin, 20, 179, 185, 1!)! 
 
 Manning, Cai'dinal, 381 
 
 ^vlarsli, Ls(juire, 74 
 
 Meeting for Sutl'erings, tlie, 1 15 
 
 Meetings, N'earh, 145, 140, 150; monthly and (jiiartcrly, 140; women's, 
 
 i51, 1. 14, "155 
 :\Iend)ership, 143, 240; birtliright, 241 
 Methodism, 241, 318 
 Milner, .lames, 123, 142 
 Ministei's. 141 
 
 .Miracles, 47, 110, 119-120, 173 
 Monk, Ceneral, I.U 
 
 Moral (liaract(r of the Quakei-s, 101, 170. 172, 180 
 Morality, 5N, 20S 
 Mori.-oii, .lamrs ('otter, .300, 3S7 
 MuL'uletiin, Lo.lowieke, 178dSl,2-J5 
 Music. 00, 222 
 Mycr, bicliiir.l. 12:1, 1 !2 
 My.~lici.-m, 223, 302 
 
 v^ Xakrd (Juak( rs, 100, 107, lit), 17:! 
 Xavler, .Jamrs, 72, ll.'MlS 
 yc'rk nf ihf <hial:>r< Urok^ n, ISO
 
 Index 407 
 
 Xews])riiits of tlie Connnomvcaltli, Kj] 
 Xo Crosi, Xo Crown, 184 
 Xottingham church, ]2 
 Non-resistance, 273, 312 
 Kunibcr of the Quakers, 73, 235-233 
 
 Old-fashioned Quahyrhni, 323 
 Opponents of Quakerism, IGO 
 Oaths, 02, 75, 311, 31-1 
 Owen, John, 188, 195, 251 
 (J X ford and Camlnidge, 37 
 
 Papers of condemnation, 1-13 
 
 Papists, (^)uakers taken for, 164, 173 
 
 Parnel, James, 78-81 
 
 ]-'eaee principles, 51, 02, 312-314 
 
 Peculiarities of Quakerism, GO, 272, 207, 299, 309 
 
 Punington, Isaac, 9(), IPJ 
 
 Pei!n,"\Villiam, 3, 5, 02, 119, 173, 179, ]S2, 2i)3-2()7, 229, 258, 381 
 
 P('])ys' Diary, 107, 103, 1S3 
 
 P.nfcction, ;J4, 50, OS, 333 
 
 Perrot. Jolm. 150, 154, 181 
 
 Pci-secutious, 73, 7(i, 78, 87, 91, 92 
 
 I'hihuithropy, S, 217, 244 
 
 I'hy^ical plienomen;i produced l<y proacliing, 100, 172, 243 
 
 Plague, the great. 135 
 
 I'lc.iding for sin, 333 
 
 Prayer, 323 
 
 Preachers, sixty, 72, 144 
 
 I'reshyterians, 10, 14, 127, 135, 249, 333 
 
 Prize Essays, 325 
 
 Prophecies, 82, 85, 89, 120-139, 142, '2v^ 
 
 Protestantism, 2, P), 192, 288, 329 
 
 Prynne, 104 
 
 Puritanism, 14, 17-19, 30, 97, 174, 1S8, 220, 328-333 
 
 (Juaker, origin of name, 50, 224; dress, GO, 95, 97, 203 ; family roli'qon 
 274, 324 ; love-making, 97; tradition, 273 " ''' ' 
 
 Quakerism, original character of, 4, 255, 301 ; decay of, G, 234 ; o-ood 
 results, 7 ; scrupulosity of, 148 ; difTcrent aspects of, 2()7-'209 
 modern, 309, 310, 325 ; its method, 399 ' ' 
 
 r)uakerism, past and i)re,ient, 230 
 
 (Quietism, 201, 280 
 
 Ranters, IS. 141, I7.S 
 
 lleason, 270, 32S 
 
 /.'. a.^onahlt FadJi, A, 325 
 
 JLceve, John, 178 
 
 iieformation, the, 185,378 
 
 Pc'jiridcs, execution of the, 128 
 
 JN.'Uan, Ph'ucst, 100 
 
 liestoration, effect of the. 227 
 
 Revelation, immediate, 190-20;!, 205, 200, 312
 
 408 Index. 
 
 Romanism, 2, 15, 20, 3r>, IDS, 171, 177, 192, 214, 219, 2s7, 3SS 
 liules of Settlement, 240 
 Rutlicrford, 2r)0 
 
 Sale, Ilic1iai-(l, 100 
 
 Sd-vJ'H Erraiul Id D'una^rii^, 114 ; reply to, 107 
 
 Schisms, 12:{, 140, l^yi], 22S, 2Gf;, 2SS 
 
 Seekers, 18, 29, 44, 399 
 
 Self-evident religions trntli, 342-358 
 
 Sermon on the Monnt, 21 S, 223, 311-314 
 
 Sliaekelton, Abraham, 210 
 
 Shakers, the, 205 
 
 SliaftesLury, l-larTof, 384 
 
 Sibbes, Richard, 1S8 
 
 Signs, 104-112, 131 
 
 S)iake in the (I'ra-s-f, the, 230 
 
 Socinians, the, 192 
 
 Sohliers becoming Quakers, 75 
 
 Spirit, tlie Holy, 33, 140, 141, 152, ISO, 328, 372 
 
 Spirits, discernment of, 54, 321 
 
 Springett, Oulielma, 97 
 
 Stoddard, Amos, 71 
 
 Story, Christo])hcr, 90, John, 150 
 
 Stubs, dohn, 175 
 
 Swartlimore, (i3, 124, 144 
 
 Sympson, \\'i!liam, lOd", 127 
 
 n'allack, William, 70, 290 
 '^remperance, 210 
 ''I'heatre, tlie, (iO, 222 
 "^rheo and 'I'liou, Oi 
 'I'hiiiy Years' Wai-, the, 1 
 Tithes, 02 
 Trade-reform, 95, 210 
 
 ^'cnner"s insuri-cct inn, S5, l;!5 
 ^isio^s, 40, 45, I2t, 204, 279 
 
 War, 02, 271, :'. 12-31 t 
 Wesley, .lolm. 1 11, 212, 213, .!1S 
 Westiiiiuslcr Assembl v, the, Id, 19 
 ^Vestphalia, INa.r of.' 1 
 Wliitclna.l, Cc.rge, 239, 252, 250 
 WilkinsdU, .lohn,' 150 
 Williiii', .bilui, 217, -no, 302 
 Willi.ims, i;..-ri-, i7ll7S, l'.)5 
 WolUMi -pr. ;;rlui,~, '.)1 11,1, 1 1 1, 155 
 Woiiicli taiiati.s, 10!). 1 11,1 i:., 1 10 
 Wiinliiiaii, .1(^111, 215, 2!il, 270-2^7 
 \\'ijr.-hi]i, spiritual, 315 .')21 
 
 y. niul X'iiJ Mnmu'irh. Kil 
 
 Zw iiiLdi's imiovati(jii. 20
 
 ^ 
 
 3 1158 00424 5410 
 
 f ll . 
 
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