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OR

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

LIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS,

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES, AND LABOUR OF LOVE

IN THE

WORK OF THE MINISTRY,

OF THAT

ANCIENT, EMINENT, AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST,

GEORGE FOX.

CORRECTED BY THE FIRST EDITION.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

And they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.-Dan, xii. 3.

PHILADELPHIA:

MARCUS T. C. GOULD, No. 6, NORTH EIGHTH STREET.

NEW YORK:

ISAAC T. HOPPER, No. 420, PEARL STREET.

Thomas B. Town & Co. Printers.

1831

ANDOVER-HARVARD THEOLOGICAL LIEKASY CAMPHILUS, MASS,

A71,775

BX 7617

F54.

1831 V1 2

A JOURNAL,

OR

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT,

OF THE

LIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS, &c.

OF

GEORGE FOX.

THIS year several Friends were moved to go beyond sea, to publish truth in foreign countries. John Stubbs, Henry Fell, and Richard Costrop were moved to go towards China and Prester John's country; but no masters of ships would carry them. With much ado they got a warrant from the king; but the East India company found ways to avoid it, and the masters of their ships would not carry them. Then they went into Holland, hoping to have got passage there; but no passage could they get there neither. Then John Stubbs and Henry Fell took shipping for Alexandria in Egypt, intending to go by the caravans from thence. Meanwhile Daniel Baker being to go to Smyrna, drew Richard Costrop, contrary to his own freedom, to go along with him; and in the passage, Richard falling sick, D. Baker left him sick in the ship; where he died. But that hard-hearted man afterwards lost his own condition. John Stubbs and Henry Fell got to Alexandria; but they had not been long there before the English consul banished them from thence; yet before they came away, they dispersed many books and papers there for the opening the principles and way of truth to the Turks and Grecians. They gave the book called, 'The Pope's strength broken,' to an old friar, for him to give or send to the pope; which book, when the friar had perused, he clapped his hand upon his breast, and confessed, What was written therein was truth; but, (said he,) if I should confess it openly, they would burn me.' John Stubbs and Henry Fell, not being suffered to go farther, returned to England, and came to London again. John had a vision that the English and Dutch, who had joined together not to carry them, would fall out one with another.' And so it came to pass.

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Having staid in London some time, I felt drawings to visit Friends in Essex. I went to Colchester, where I had very large meetings, and VOL. II.

1

from thence to Coggeshall; not far from which there was a priest convinced, and I had a meeting at his house. So travelling a little in those parts, visiting Friends in their meetings, I returned pretty quickly to London, where I found great service for the Lord; for a large door was opened, many flocked into our meetings, and the Lord's truth spread mightily this year. Yet Friends had great travail and sore labour, the rude people having been so heightened by the monarchy-men's rising a little before. But the Lord's power was over all, and in it Friends had dominion; though we had not only those sufferings without, but sufferings within also, by John Perrot and his company; who giving heed to a spirit of delusion, sought to introduce among Friends that evil and uncomely practice of keeping on the hat in the time of public prayers.' Friends had spoken to him and divers of his followers about it, and I had written to them concerning it; but he and some others rather strengthened themselves against Friends therein. Wherefore feeling the judgment of truth rise against it, I gave forth the following lines, as a warning to all that were concerned therein.

'WHOSOEVER is tainted with this spirit of John Perrot, it will perish. Mark theirs and his end, that are turned into those outward things and janglings about them, and that which is not savoury; all which is for perpetual judgment, and is to be swept and cleansed out of the camp of God's elect. This is to that spirit that is gone into jangling about that which is below, (the rotten principle of the old Ranters,) gone from the invisible power of God, in which is the everlasting fellowship; so many are become like the corn on the house-top, and like the untimely figs, and now clamour and speak against them that are in the power of God. O! consider! the light and power of God goes over you all, and leaves you in the fretting nature, out of the unity which is in the everlasting light, life, and power of God. Consider this before the day be gone from you, and take heed that your memorial be not rooted out from among the righteous. G. F.'

Among the exercises and troubles that Friends had from without, one was concerning Friends' marriages, which sometimes were called in question. In this year there happened to be a cause tried at the assize at Nottingham concerning a Friend's marriage. The case was thus: some years before, two Friends were joined together in marriage amongst Friends, and lived together as man and wife about two years. Then the man died, leaving his wife with child, and leaving an estate in lands of copyhold. When the woman was delivered, the jury presented the child heir to its father's lands, and accordingly the child was admitted; afterwards another Friend married the widow. And after that, a man that

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