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
Coming to Malton he had great meetings; but it was thought such a
strange thing to preach in houses, that many durst not come there, for
fear of their relations; and therefore he was much desired to come and
preach in the churches, as the steeple-houses are commonly called:
nay, one of the priests himself, called Boyes, (who was so taken with
him, that he called him brother,) did invite him to preach in his
steeple-house: but G. Fox had little inclination to that, because both
priests and people, called that place of worship, ‘The house of God;’
whereas the apostle said to the Athenians, “God dwelleth not in temples
made with hands.” And therefore he endeavoured to draw people off from
them, and to make them sensible, that God and Christ ought to dwell
in their hearts, that so their bodies might be made the temples of
God. Yet for that time he went into the steeple-house at Malton, where
there was not above eleven hearers, to whom the priest was preaching;
but after it was known in the town that G. Fox was there, it was soon
filled with people. And when the priest had done, he sent the other
that had invited him thither, to bring him up into the pulpit. But G.
Fox sent him word, that he needed not go into the pulpit. This priest,
not satisfied with this refusal, sent again, desiring him to go up
unto it, for, said he, it is a better place to be seen of the people.
But G. Fox answered, that he could be seen and heard well enough where
he was; and that he came not there to hold up such places, nor their
maintenance and trade. This created some displeasure, and it was said,
that false prophets were to come in the last times. But this saying
grieved many of the people, and some began to murmur at it: whereupon
G. Fox stood up, and desiring all to be quiet, he stepped upon an high
seat; and since somewhat had been spoken of false prophets, he declared
to the auditory, the mark of those prophets; and he showed, that they
were already come, and were out of the steps of the true prophets, and
of Christ and his apostles. He also directed the people to their inward
teacher, Christ Jesus, who would turn them from darkness to light. And
having opened divers Scriptures to them, he directed them to the Spirit
of God in themselves, by which they might come to God, and also to know
who the false prophets were. And having thus had a large time to preach
to the people, he went away without disturbance.
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