The journal of George Fox, vol. 1 of 2 : $b Being an historical account of his life, travels, sufferings, and Christian experiences.Fox, George
Religion
The journal of George Fox, vol. 1 of 2 : $b Being an historical account of his life, travels, sufferings, and Christian experiences.
Fox, George
Fox, George, 1624-1691
Then I went to DRAYTON in LEICESTERSHIRE to visit my relations. As soon
as I was come in, Nathaniel Stephens the priest, having got another
priest, and given notice to the country, sent to me to come to them, as
they could not do anything till I came. Having been three years away
from my relations, I knew nothing of their design. But at last I went
into the steeple-house yard, where the two priests were; and they had
gathered abundance of people. When I came there, they would have me go
into the steeple-house. I asked them what I should do there; and they
said, Mr. Stephens could not bear the cold. I told them he might bear it
as well as I. At last we went into a great hall, Richard Farnsworth
being with me; and a great dispute we had with these priests, concerning
their practices, how contrary they were to Christ and his apostles. The
priests would know where tithes were forbidden or ended. I showed them
out of the seventh chapter to the Hebrews, “that not only tithes but the
priesthood that took tithes, was ended; and the law was ended and
disannulled, by which the priesthood was made, and tithes were commanded
to be paid.” Then the priests stirred up the people to some lightness
and rudeness. I had known Stephens from a child, therefore I laid open
his condition, and the manner of his preaching; and “how that he, like
the rest of the priests, did apply the promises to the first birth,
which must die. But I showed that the promises were to the Seed, not to
the many seeds, but to one Seed, Christ; who was one in male and female;
for all were to be born again before they could enter into the kingdom
of God.” Then he said, I must not judge so: but I told him, “he that was
spiritual judged all things.” Then he confessed that that was a full
Scripture; “but, neighbours,” said he, “this is the business; George Fox
is come to the light of the sun, and now he thinks to put out my
star-light.” I told him, “I would not quench the least measure of God in
any, much less put out his star-light, if it were true star-light—light
from the morning star.” But I told him, “if he had anything from Christ
or God, he ought to speak it freely, and not take tithes from the people
for preaching, seeing Christ commanded his ministers to give freely, as
they had received freely.” So I charged him to preach no more for
tithes, or any hire. But he said he would not yield to that. After a
while the people began to be vain and rude; so we broke up; yet some
were made loving to the truth that day. Before we parted, I told them
that, if the Lord would, I intended to be at the town again that day
week.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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