The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.Sewel, William
History
The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.
Sewel, William
Society of Friends -- History -- Early works to 1800
This is certain, that James Nayler came to very great sorrow, and
deep humiliation of mind; and therefore, because God forgives the
transgressions of the penitent, and blotteth them out, and remembereth
them no more, so could James Nayler’s friends do no other than forgive
his crime, and thus take back the lost sheep into their society. He
having afterwards obtained his liberty, behaved himself as became a
Christian, honest and blameless in conversation; and patiently bore the
reproach of his former crimes.
When king Charles the Second had ascended the throne, one Richard Blome
published a book, entitled, The Fanatic History, which was said to be
published with the approbation of orthodox divines, (so called,) and
dedicated by him to the king. This book struck chiefly against the
Quakers, and was stuffed with a multitude of lying stories, and the
fall of J. Nayler was not concealed in it. He being then alive, took
up the pen, and answered the falsities contained in it, relating to
himself: and because R. Blome, in his dedication, said, ‘That if his
majesty put not forth his royal hand of power suddenly, to restrain us,
we are so numerous, and seducing, that we will, (in a little time,)
diffuse our poison over the better part of his kingdom, which none but
a regal authority can stifle.’
‘I say then, what is become of your spiritual weapons? Have not
your teachers told people of the strength of truth, and the power
of godliness? Have you lost both, (may wisdom say,) and run you
now to the arm of flesh, to get errors stifled, (as you call
them,) or else your hope is lost, and your faith fails you? Did
ever any of Christ’s ministers leave their spiritual weapons, to
run to the arm of flesh, or a carnal weapon to stop seducers? I
say, no. This they never did; but with spiritual weapons they
wrestled, and overcame spiritual wickedness, and with them cut
down heresies, blasphemies, and false worships, and cleared the
churches of Christ of them, and drove them down before them in
the world: for none could resist the spirit by which they spoke,
of all the false priests, and false worshippers; but being put
to the worst, they cried, (as you do,) to rulers and people,
Help us, or all will be overrun: for they that turn the world
upside down are come hither, (mind your cry.) And then the rude
multitude ran on heaps upon them, and made tumults often, and
fell upon them with staves and fists, and assaulted the houses
that entertained them, as you do, and so hauled them before
rulers, who took their parts herein, and put them in prison, and
often whipped them; unless it were some that were so noble, as
not to heed the cry of the multitude; but would hear their cause,
and give them leave to speak, before they would sentence them
that were accused. And this was the nobility of heathen kings and
rulers; and do not you seek to make England’s rulers worse than
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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