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
Now while G. Fox was at Derby in the house of correction, his relations
came to see him, and being sorry for his imprisonment, they went to
the justices, by whose order he was put there, and desired that he
might be released, offering to be bound in one hundred pounds, and
others in Derby in fifty pounds apiece with them, that he should no
more come thither to declare against the priests. But he being brought
before the justices, would not consent that any should be bound for
him, because he believed himself to be innocent from any ill behaviour.
Then justice Bennet rose up in a rage, and as G. Fox was kneeling down
to pray to the Lord to forgive him, Bennet ran upon him, and struck
him with both his hands, crying, Away with him, jailer; take him away,
jailer. Whereupon he was carried back again to prison, and there kept,
until the time of his commitment for six months was expired. But now
he had liberty of walking a mile; which he had made use of, in his own
freedom: and sometimes he went into the market and streets, and warned
the people to repentance. And on the First-days he now and then visited
the prisoners in their religious meetings. But the justices having
required sureties for his good behaviour, it came upon him to write to
them again, as followeth.
‘Friends,
‘See what it is in you that doth imprison; and see, who is head
in you; and see, if something do not accuse you? Consider, you
must be brought to judgment. Think upon Lazarus and Dives; the
one fared sumptuously every day; the other a beggar; and now you
have time, prize it, while you have it. Would you have me to be
bound to my good behaviour? I am bound to my good behaviour,
and do cry for good behaviour of all people, to turn from the
vanities, pleasures, and oppression, and from the deceits of
this world: and there will come a time, that you shall know it.
Therefore take heed of pleasures, and deceits, and pride: and
look not at man, but at the Lord; for look unto me, all ye ends
of the earth, and be ye saved, saith the Lord.’
Not long after he wrote to them again, thus:
‘Friends,
‘Would you have me to be bound to my good behaviour from
drunkenness, or swearing, or fighting, or adultery, and the like?
The Lord hath redeemed me from all these things; and the love
of God hath brought me to loathe all wantonness, blessed be his
name. They who are drunkards, and fighters, and swearers, have
their liberty without bonds: and you lay your law upon me, whom
neither you, nor any other can justly accuse of these things,
praised be the Lord! I can look at no man for my liberty, but at
the Lord alone; who hath all men’s hearts in his hand.’
And after some time, not finding his spirit clear of them, he writ
again, as followeth:
‘Friends,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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