to bring some to become hypocrites and heretics, and this is the way such men have gone in, to hold up their idolatry and superstition in all ages; witness Baal's prophets. The old serpent knows this well enough; therefore it was said in the revelation, the devil shall cast some of you into prison. Some of whom? Some of the servants and faithful witnesses of Jesus, who would not, and could not worship the beast. But further, suppose I wanted faith and a right understanding of the things that belong to my everlasting peace, do you think that a prison will be a means to bring me into the true faith? Can the prison walls rectify my understanding, or give me faith and wisdom? Did ever Christ command the use of a prison or fine, or any thing of that nature, to men that would not hear him, or believe him? What ground have you for this? Show us your foundation for these actions, and bring command, precept or example for them from Christ or his servants, and then I shall think better of you; but if not, let me tell you, one day you may find your portion to be what the prophet said, Wo to him that spoils, and is not spoiled. Therefore I could gladly desire, even in pity to your own souls, that you would consider your doings; not that I am so much grieved for my own sufferings for truth's sake; no, though my poor wife and children are near and dear to me, yet blessed be the Lord, I have faith in God concerning them, and believe he will take care for them and me too, and can trust the Lord upon all accounts, blessed be his name for ever! Though it is hard, and will be so found one day to you that part me from them, to be stripped from them for my obedience to God, and laid in prison, and by you reported to be one of the worst of men. O! this is the way and manner which the serpent and his instruments of old took with the servants of Jesus Christ, witness Paul's accusers, and persecutors. We, said they, have found this man a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, &c. And the great rabbies of those days, the Scribes, Pharisees, high priests and rulers, that persecuted our great Lord and Master Jesus Christ, accused him to be an enemy to Cæsar, a blasphemer, and a deceiver, &c. 66 And you that are my persecutors, are not you much like these men aforesaid, who persecuted Christ and his apostles, and cried to the rulers for help, in your proceedings against me? And though some of you never saw me as I know of, and none of you ever came to discourse me, or see wherein I was mistaken as to my faith and principles; yet you can fling it out, that I am a dangerous person, a deceiver, and run up and down the country to delude people. These your false charges will one day be remembered, except you repent, which I desire you may. "Consider your doings, and see who you run parallel with; you are but men, you may be mistaken, seeing you are not led by an infallible spirit, and therefore cannot be sure you are in the right; but you go by conjectures, and rest upon the judgment of ancient fathers, reverend divines, as some call them, heathen authors, or else your own conceivings, or the like, and yet are uncertain, and leave the people unsatisfied, and so manifest yourselves to be such as are not sent with the Lord's mes sage, received from God himself, as by your uncertain beating the air is manifest to every one whose eyes the Lord hath opened. So that there is great danger, if I should leave Christ the true light and teacher of men, who now appears by his pure spirit in my heart, and shows me the things that belong to my peace, and follow you, I should then be led, both in principle and practice, to do those things I ought not, and leave undone those things I ought to do; and then I could not escape being a miserable sinner and offender, in whom there is no health. "Suppose I should, contrary to my faith and knowledge, come to you, and live and die in error, for fear of being kept here in prison, and brought to poverty in the world, which, blessed be the Lord, I value not in comparison of my peace with him, the God of peace, and think to plead with God, and say, I did what I did in submission to men's will, who said, they were the ministers of Christ, and was forced to it by the chief priests of our country, and must either submit to their wills, or lie in prison, have my goods spoiled, and my wife and children impoverished; so that I did what I did only to save my estate, and have my liberty, &c., or else I would not have done it, for it was against my faith and conscience, and because of the fear of man. Will this excuse me? If not, then I ask you, can you excuse me to God, and assure me of it, if I will conform to your worship, and give you monies for a pardon of my true obedience to God in disobedience to you? For so indeed the case lieth; if you cannot excuse me, if you should or could force me to sin against God, then why should not I, who am a peaceable man, and wrong no man, but love all men, have my liberty to live as I dare to die? Seeing I must answer for myself, and stand or fall to my own master, what have you to do to judge me, who am the Lord's servant? I must stand or fall to him I serve; how dare you smite your fellow servants, and cast them into prison who have done you no wrong, nor owe you any thing but love, when he that put at liberty, by king James II. I was discharg ed in open court, the 23rd of the first month, 1685-6. Then I went home to my wife, but after I had staid a while, I was concerned to visit friends, and travelled through most parts of this nation, except Cornwall, and was also in some parts of Wales. I had also many meetings in and about Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, and many were convinced, and became obedient to the blessed truth. his fellow servant in prison, who owed him an hundred pence, was so severely judged of his Lord, who had forgiven him a greater debt? And He has taught us to use those words in prayer, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And would you not have God answer your own desire? "Consider these things, and learn to do as you would be done unto; for with the same measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Remember what your Saviour layeth But the priest of Eastwood hearing a great down as great offences at the last day, to those rumour about Friends, as also that many of his on the left hand, Go you cursed into everlast- hearers left him, bade his son who was a ing torment with the devil and his angels; or, priest also, and sometimes preached in his fadepart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I ther's stead, to preach the same doctrine which know you not; for I was an hungered, and you I did; but when he went about what his fagave me no meat; thirsty, and you gave me ther advised him, he was so confounded in his no drink; naked, and you clothed me not; matter, that he could not go on. It happened sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. one day, that I had a very large meeting at And when they answered, when saw we thee the house of Luke Hanks, where I heard that an hungered, thirsty, naked, &c., and did not this priest of Eastwood should say I stole his minister unto thee? He told them, inasmuch sheep from him, meaning some of those who as you did it not to one of the least of these had been his hearers. After meeting I went my brethren, you did it not to me. By which to a friend's house, but that night the priest it is clear, he takes that which is done to his sent his clerk, desiring me to go to his house, followers as done to himself; for indeed it is whither I went, and several friends along with for his sake, who teaches us to live righteous- me. When we came there, we were invited to ly, soberly and godly in this present evil sit down, which we did, and sat a while in siworld; and because we obey him, and keep lence; until the priest of Heynor, who had his command, therefore are we hated of followed us thither, spake to the priest of Eastall men for his name's sake. But the wicked wood, saying, he perceived that I was sent for are not thus treated by you; the swearer, liar, to him, that he might speak with me; upon drunkard, proud person, &c., are left at liberty, which the young priest asked me, how I was and in these days are the men in fashion. But called to be a preacher. But before I answered if it be so great an offence not to visit the ser- his question, he added, I grant that a man vants of Christ, when in distress; what will may be rightly called, though not of God; it be to those that lay them in prison, and for, said he, the king's call is sufficient. keep them there, which is a means to bring which a friend, who was present, said, I supthem into nakedness, hunger, thirst and sick- pose this king has called none of you. No, ness? Was it not said, that it were better a replied the priest, I believe he will call you millstone were hanged about his neck, and he before any of us. I then spake, saying, I decast into the sea, than to offend one of those ny that any man can be rightly called, if he little ones that believed in Christ. What then be not called of God, as was Aaron; and this will his portion be that not only offends them, I was willing to prove by Scripture. The but persecutes them, imprisons them, spoils priest of the house laboured to help his son their goods, belies and slanders their person, out, but he run himself into the same snare, and misrepresents them to the world, takes for they were not able to prove that any man the righteousness of the righteous from him, and takes him from his dear wife and children, and causeth them to suffer also; though it is said, Cursed is he that parts man and wife. What excuse can you make at the last day for these things! How unlike are you to him who is good to all men, and laid down his life a ransom for all, and doth cause his sun to shine upon all, and his rain to descend upon all, and his grace that brings salvation appears in all, and strives with all." I was a prisoner for the gospel's sake here above five years and a half before I was set At was rightly called to preach, unless he was called of God. We talked further till they were both silent and confounded; in this silence a concern came upon me, on which I stood up and preached truth among them, and when I had done, the priests gave me their hands, and we parted friendly; when we were gone, the priest's wife was angry with them, saying, they sent for me like fools, and let me go like fools; but if ever I came again, she threatened, that she would either burn or scald me. After this I heard that the priest of Heynor fell into great trouble of mind, and was confounded in his pulpit. shire, as far as Exeter, where were a fine meeting and a house newly built; and I travel I visited Friends in Lancashire, [and several other parts] and the Lord was with me in his great love and mercy, else my led through several counties to London. The travels had been tiresome and unpleasant, but the Lord helped me many a time; yea, the living know it, and met with him to their comfort, else meeting with me could have done little, for the work was the Lord's, and he wrought in us and for us, of his own good pleasure; glory, honour and praise are wholly due to him. Lord in great mercy favoured me with his power and presence, to my great comfort and joy. After the yearly meeting at London, I went into Hertfordshire and Essex, and to and fro in Suffolk, Norfolk, as far as Yarmouth, and back to Norwich, and up and down in that county to Downham and Lynn, and into the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, Huntingtonshire, After this I went into Cheshire, and to Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and RutChester again, where I had been exercised, and where there was now more openness than formerly. I went to Chester several times after, and had good meetings there, through the Lord's goodness and mercy, who made them so with his precious presence, according to his blessed testimony; that wheresoever two or three are met together in his name, there is he in the midst of them. This I have witnessed many a time; for if the Lord had not been with us, we could have done nothing without him. He was mouth and wisdom to us, and gave us to understand Scripture, and also the motion of his holy Spirit, inspiring us by it; for we spoke as it moved us, and gave us utterance. Renowned and exalted over all, be our gracious God; for we came not with words of our own wisdom, or with words which man's wisdom teacheth or taught us, but with words which the Holy Ghost gave us, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I went to most meetings in the county of Cheshire; and a fine people there were, and much love, unity, peace and concord were amongst Friends. land, into Lincolnshire, to Boston and Lincoln city, and through most of that great county. So into Nottinghamshire, and then into Derbyshire home. Having travelled in great love, many in this journey were turned to the Lord, from the evil of their ways, as at many other times and places, where I travelled, and though I often came home much spent, weak and weary, yet I had my reward with me, my sheaves in my bosom, and usually was soon better when I had rested a while. I had it upon me to go and visit Friends in Scotland; and accordingly I went by Halifax, Leeds and York, where I met Thomas Aldam, who accompanied me. We went to North Allerton, Yarm, Stockton, Bishop Aukland and Durham; thence to Newcastle upon Tyne, where we had great meetings; was at Sunderland, and many places in Northumberland, which I cannot name. We came to Berwick, where the rude people disturbed the meeting, breaking the windows, but a lady who dwelt in Northumberland, being there, went to the magistrates of the town, upon which the rabble were rebuked. Next day we went to Kelso, and had a quiet meeting. James Holliday went with us to Edinburgh, where we were at their yearly meeting for that nation, and it was a comfortable opportunity; the next meeting we had was at Montrose; we had also another meeting before we came to Ury, where the widow of Robert Barclay dwelt. There we staid several days, in which time I observed, that when her children were up in the morning and dressed, she sat down with them before breakfast, and in a religious manner waited upon the Lord; which pious I went much abroad to meetings, and ran care and the motherly instruction of her chilto and fro to the utmost of my ability, in most dren, when young, doubtless had its desired parts of the nation, preaching the gospel free-effect upon them; for as they grew in years, ly, and also travelled into Wales, and through they also grew in the knowledge of the blessed great part of it; and had many good meet-Truth, and since that time some of them are ings there. We were in great danger in become public preachers thereof. passing over the water at Aust into Glouces tershire, but through mercy, got safe to John Bolton's, at Ouldstone, and visited most meetings in that county. I was at Frenchay, and from thence to Bristol, and was at many good meetings in Somersetshire, and in DevonVOL. IX.-No. 9. After this I travelled in several counties in England, both east, west and south; and through other counties northward; as Worcestershire and Staffordshire in my return home, and found Friends in great love and unity, and many were convinced. Truth prospered, and we were sweetly refreshed and comforted together; for we were an help and a strength one to another, and the body edified itself in love; blessed and praised be the name of our God for ever. From thence we went to Aberdeen, and found a fine meeting of Friends, and staid there some time; thence to John Forbes's, and to Cashore, Kingswells, and back to Aberdeen, Ury and Montrose, Dundee, Leith and Edinburgh, at which place they stoned 43 In this year I had a concern to visit Friends with the following lines. An Epistle to Friends in Scotland, written at Truly beloved friends and brethren, With pure love unfeigned, which springs from the Fountain thereof, do I tenderly sa lute you, and all true Friends with you, feeling you near and dear to me at all times when I remember you; and am glad that the God and Fountain of all our mercies, hath reached forth so plentifully to your im mortal souls, and made you so largely to partake with us of his free grace and gift of eternal life, so that your portions and measures hereof are very large, to the mutual joy of you, me, and many more, for which we are deeply obliged to be truly thankful unto our God, from whom every good and perfect gift comes. Unto him alone we ought still to look, that as men in need of con. tinual supply, we may experience his bounti us, when we were quietly in the meeting. Thence to Lithgow, and so to Charles Hambleton's, the duke's servant; from thence we came to Durand, and a town where there was a meeting-house, in which we had a meeting. Thence to Glasgow, where the people were wicked, and thence to Hambleton, where we had a good meeting; so to Argyle and Douglass, and to one James Wood's house, where we had a meeting; and he came with us by Dumfries into England. The Lord in mercy helped me mightily with his heavenly power, and gave us many precious meetings up and down in that nation, though I felt the Scotch people in a bitter, envious spirit in several places, and we were in perils twice, both at Edinburgh and Glasgow, where they stoned us. At Edinburgh a stone hit me as I was declaring in the meeting, but did not hurt me. After our return out of Scotland, we had many good meetings in Cumberland, which were comfortable seasons to us; for the Comforter was with us, and mightily helped us from meeting to meeting. From thence we travelled to Kendal, the Height, and Swarth-ful hand to minister freely to every one of us more, where we had a fine meeting; we were also at Lancaster, from which place we returned back again to Kendal, and passed from thence to Thomas Camm's, and into Yorkshire, to John Blakling's near Sedberg, and by William Ellis's to Skipton, from whence we went to Leeds and Warnsworth, where I left my companion, T. Aldam, and returned home, and there found my wife and family well, to my great comfort; praised be the Lord for ever. Friends in Scotland and elsewhere were very loving to us, and fine living meetings there were in that nation. I felt them in the life near to my spirit, in which the living know one another beyond words, and I hope and believe the Lord will have a great people there in time to come, though the enemy be angry, and would hinder the spreading of the holy Truth, by the enemies thereof; yet his weapons are but carnal, silly and weak. I desire many Friends may think of that nation, and in the will of God give up to visit it; for there is a zealous professing people, and were they but brought to the knowledge of the Truth, I believe very many would be zealous for it. I found that those two worthy men, Robert Barclay and Patrick Livingston, had left a sweet savour behind them, and the removing of them, especially the former, was a great loss to that nation, and cause of great mourning to Friends there, and also to others elsewhere; but blessed be God, he, viz: Robert Barclay, hath left a hopeful family behind him; praises be given to the Lord for ever. for it is he alone that both makes and keeps us and all his, truly living, faithful, fruitful and serviceable in this blessed day of his mighty power, wherein as we abide we have fellowship both with him and one with another. The travail and earnest desire of my soul to the Lord is, that we may all be preserved to the end in true self-denial, humbly, meekly and innocently walking in this glorious day of gospel light, life and power, so as we may help one another's joy; and the blessed unity of his holy Spirit being lived in, no man can take our joy from us, which is only possessed by us as we abide in him, who is life eternal, to whom be praise given by us and all that partake with us, forever, Amen. Many are the exercises, temptations, sufferings and tribulations which attend us here, both within and without. Well may we say, our God is God and changeth not, else ere this we might have been destroyed, for we are poor, and weak, and insufficient of ourselves, to think a good thought. The enemy knows this, and labours to deceive us with his subtle wiles; for if we keep not in him who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, we have no wisdom of our own, or righteousness, or power to save ourselves at all. Oh, the goodness of God to us is undeclarable! And we see as much need as ever to keep looking unto him for help every moment, for all our time is a time of need, and if the Lord was not with us we could not bear up against the enemy's floods, tempests and raging violence and storms, that attend us in this perilous pilgrimage. But glory, honour, praises, and high returns of humble and sincere thanks, be given to our great and merciful God. He is with us, and is the same he was in ancient days, when he carried Israel through the Red sea on dry ground, and gave them to behold his miraculous deliverance, and saved them out of the hands of their many enemies, who sought to destroy them. The sense of his love, and the experience which I have of his goodness, tenders my poor heart, and bows my spirit before him; and I hope you partake with me, and will also feel with me beyond words or writings. Dear friends, I desire we may all be mindful of Him who is our rock and refuge, keep. ing near him always, not forgetting the Lord. Here is divine light, for he dwells in it, and in him is no darkness at all; here we see our states as they are, and that what we are, we are by his grace. Here it is we meet with fresh pastures of life, and feed together, where the enemy cannot come, nor the lofty, unclean Edomite approach. My heart is glad, to feel love run so freely towards you at this time. I do not write these things as though I looked upon you not to know them; no, if I did, I could not be so free and open to you, but a little to remind you, and in these few lines to confer with you in love; for it is the fruits of dear, unfeigned love, I here salute you with, as men that I can say are of my flesh and bones, and members with me, of that sweet, harmonious body, of which Christ Jesus is Head, Lord and King: worthy is he to reign, it is his right; and he that would be great among you, must be least of all; and this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Oh! that we may see this low estate experimentally, for in that place many have met with him, and been met withal by him, who despiseth not the low estate of his servants and handmaids. Surely it behooves us to be low, for our teacher is meek and lowly in heart. I desire you as a brother, to keep up the good order of the blessed Truth amongst you, and let not your monthly and quarterly meetings be neglected, and take care of the whole church of God, in your nation, and delay not to help one another. For God Almighty hath set up his standard, and his controversy is proclaimed against all unrighteousness. I know there wanted some help in some places, when I was with you; the Lord hath gifted some to be helps, and to rule well in the church: and we know the apostles in their travels left the brethren decrees to keep, and took care of the churches as they travelled, and went to see how they did. I hope you will take it well that I make thus bold with you, and will feel my tender love to you. I was glad when I saw a copy of your letter to G. K., yet sorry to see the answer to you from him, or his wife, or both; he must, it seems, be made manifest. I desire you may grow in the heavenly root, and multiply to the glory of him that hath grafted you into it. My dear friends, in every respect be truly obedient unto the Lord, and may he by his own power strengthen, establish and root you deeply in his blessed Truth. To him I tenderly commit you all. He is God Almighty even now as in Abraham's days; to him be praise, worship, honour, glory and renown for ever more, Amen. Read this to all as you see a service, and send honest Bartholomew Gibson a copy of it, and let him know my dear love is to him and his wife, Francis Soneman, and Friends in Edinburgh. Let copies of it be sent to all in Scotland. I thank God I am pretty healthy, but not strong in body. So with my true love to you all, I am your sincere friend in pure love, JOHN GRATTON. I staid about home some time, where I had many meetings, and there was a fine increase in the number of Friends. But many of them went into America, about forty from our monthly meeting, and some others, which lessened our meeting pretty much. My dear and truly beloved, the meek are most filled with love, even that love which is not puffed up, seeks not its own in that sense the apostle means, but leads us to seek the After some time it came upon me to good of all, and the things that are Jesus go and visit Friends in Ireland; divers of Christ's. I pray that we may always dwell whom had been in England, and a love lived in this love, and then we shall be sure to in me to them. I gave up to go, and went to love one another. I was glad in heart, when Westchester in order to it, but found there I felt your love to me in the Lord, when pre- was an embargo laid upon ships, that they sent with you, and to my companion also; must not go out. When we could not go for and also when I felt your love kept fresh to Ireland, we went to Shrewsbury, and so down us after our departure from you in person, into Herefordshire, R. Needham being with not in spirit, and that you remembered me in me, and to the yearly meeting in Wales, at your prayers; I desire you would still re-Ponty Moyle, in Monmouthshire. A fine meetmember me, and I hope I shall not forget ing it was, and after at the Pont, and so over the passage into Gloucestershire, to Bristol, you. |
