all shall yet work together for good in this very thing, if we can overlook all that stands in the way of our views, Godward, in public matters. See that all be done prudently and humbly, and keep down irreverence and looseness, and cherish industry and sobriety.

"Thou hast heard of our great loss of dear John Burnyeat, and Robert Lodges, one in Ireland, and t'other in England, in about the same week; and Robert Barclay, Th. Salthouse, and dearly beloved George Fox, since. He died at Henry Goulney's, by Gracious Street meetinghouse, where he preached his farewell the First day, and departed the Third, at night, between nine and ten. I was with him; he earnestly recommended to me his love to you all, and said, 'William, mind poor Friends in America.' He died triumphantly over death; very easily foresaw his change. He was got into his inn, before the storm that is coming overtook him, and that night, very providentially, I escaped the messenger's hands. I shall add only, that Friends have had an extraordinary time this General Meeting, so that God supplied that visible loss with his glorious presence."

XX.

VILLIAM PENN did not permit the time of his seclu sion to pass unemployed, but produced several valu

able tracts. One of them is entitled

"A KEY, OPENING THE WAY TO EVERY CAPACITY HOW TO

DISTINGUISH THE RELIGION PROFESSED BY THE PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS FROM THE PERVERSIONS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THEIR ADVERSARIES."

The following passages are taken from it.

READER-Observing the prevailing power of prejudice, we have the less wondered at the hard treatment which we, as a people, have suffered from other persuasions. The credulous have been excited to look upon and treat us as heretics, seducers, blasphemers, and what not, while, blessed be God, our aim and bent have been the very power and work of religion upon our souls, that we might be God's workmanship, through Christ Jesus his blessed Son and heavenly agent; taking this to be the very life and soul of true religion, the effect and fruit of the Divine nature, which makes us Christians indeed here and fits us for glory hereafter. It will be the business of this little key to open a way to so clear and plain an understanding of our true principles, distinguished from our enemies' perversions, that we hope, with God's blessing, all impartial

inquirers will be satisfied of our holy and Christian profession.

Perversion. The Quakers hold that the natural light in the conscience of every man in the world is sufficient to save all that follow it, and so they overthrow salvation by Christ.

A mighty error indeed, if it were true. Principle. But it is at best a great mistake. For their belief and assertion is, that Christ, who is the Word that was with God, and was God, and is so forever, hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world with his own light. And that such as follow the reproofs, convictions, and leadings of that light, with which He enlightens the understandings and consciences of men, shall not walk in darkness, that is, in evil and ignorance of God, but shall have the light of life, that is, be in a holy and living state or condition towards God-a state of acceptance and salvation, which is from sin here as well as from wrath hereafter, for which end Christ was given of God. So that they assert the light of Christ to be sufficient to save, that is, to convince of sin, lead out of it, and quicken the soul in the ways of holiness, and not to be a natural light; but as all men born into the world have a measure of Christ's light, so it may, in a sense, be said to be natural to all men, because all men who come into the world have it. This light is something else than the bare understanding man hath as a rational creature; since, as such, man cannot be a light to himself, but has only a capacity of seeing by means of the light with which Christ, the Word, enlighteneth him. But as the sun in the firmament is the light of our bodies, so the light of the

Y

Divine Word is the sun of our souls-the glorious luminary of the intellectual world; and they that walk in it will by it be led to blessedness.

Perversion. The Quakers hold that the light within them is God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit; so that every Quaker has whole God, Christ, and Holy Spirit in him, which is gross blasphemy.

Principle. This is also a mistake of their belief. They never said that every Divine illumination, or manifestation of Christ in the hearts of men, was whole God, Christ, or the Spirit, which might render them guilty of that gross and blasphemous absurdity some would fasten upon them. But that God, who is light, or the Word Christ, who is light, styled the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, and the quickening Spirit, who is God over all, blessed forever, hath enlightened mankind with a measure of saving light; who said, I am the Light of the world; and they that follow me shall not abide in darkness, but have the light of life. So that the illumination is from God, or Christ the Divine Word; but not, therefore, that whole God or Christ is in every man, any more than the whole sun or air is in every house or chamber.

Yet in a sense the Scriptures say it, and that is their sense, in which only they say the same thing. I will walk in them and dwell in them. He that dwelleth with you shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. I in them and they in me. Christ in us the hope of glory. Unless Christ be in you, ye are reprobates.

Perversion. By the Quaker's doctrine every man must be saved, for every man, they say, is savingly enlightened.

Principle. Not so either. For though the light or grace of God hath and doth, more or less, appear to all men, and brings salvation to as many as are taught by it to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, as the Scripture teacheth, yet it no way follows that men must obey and learn so to do whether they will or not. God tenders saving light or grace to all, and by it calls all, and strives and pleads with all, according to the measure and manifestation of it; but if they will not hearken to it, He is clear of their blood.

Perversion. By the Quakers' Light or Spirit they may be moved to murder, treason, theft, or any such like wickedness, because they say that such as are so led have the light within them.

Principle. This never was their doctrine, nor is it consequent of it. For though they hold that all have light, they never said that all obeyed it, or that evil men, as such, or in such things, were led by it. For herein they know the Spirit of God and the motions of it from the spirit of this world and its fruits-that the Spirit of God condemns all ungodliness, and moves and inclines to purity, mercy, and righteousness, which are of God.

They deny and abominate that loose and ranting mind which would charge the Spirit of God with their unholy · liberty. God's Spirit makes people free from sin, and not to commit sin. Man's sin and destruction are of himself; but his help is in God alone, through Jesus Christ, our blessed sacrifice and sanctifier.