George Fox early bore a testimony against beating him as they went, so that he was cotaking away human life under judicial proceed-vered with blood and dirt. As soon as he ings. While he was in prison, a young wo- could recover himself and get upon his feet, man was brought there for robbing her mas- he preached repentance to them, showing them ter. When she was about to be tried, he wrote the fruits of their false profession and how to the judges and jury, showing them how they disgraced the Christian name. After contrary it was to the law of God to put per- some time he got into the meeting of Friends, sons to death for such offences. She was, and the priest and his hearers coming by the however, condemned to die, and he then wrote house, he went with Friends into the yard and a warning, to be read at the place of execu- again addressed them. They scoffed and called tion, against covetousness and greediness after them Quakers; but such was the power acthe things of this world, which lead people companying his preaching, that the priest away from God and into many hurtful things. trembled, and one of the people called out, The woman was pardoned, and afterward be- "Look how the priest trembles and shakes; came a Friend. he is turned a Quaker also.” In consequence After being a prisoner almost a year, six of the abuse committed that day, two or three months of which he passed in the house of justices convened at the town to examine into correction, and the remainder in the common the matter, and though the person who shed jail, he was set at liberty about the beginning his blood was liable to a severe penalty, of winter, in 1651; and immediately resumed George Fox forgave him and would not aphis travels, going into Leicestershire, Notting-pear against him. hamshire, and Yorkshire, preaching repentance and amendment of life, wherever he came. In several places he met with very cruel usage, being beaten and stoned so as to endanger his life; but through the goodness of his gracious Lord, he was soon healed, and nothing daunted by the hardships he endured, persevered as a good soldier of Jesus Christ in proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation and peace.

In reading these accounts of the sufferings of our worthy predecessors, it is well for us to contrast the hardness of their lot with the ease and liberty we now enjoy; and to remember that our exemption from suffering, was purchased for us by their faithfulness and constancy in bearing testimony to the truth. The principles we profess, are those in support of which they underwent these grievous hardships and imprisonments, and it becomes us to watch with diligence our steps through life, that we may not in any of our conduct violate those principles, or bring a shade over the high profession we are making.

He now became known to many of the justices, some of whom formed a favourable opinion of his doctrine and treated him with marked kindness. Justice Hotham, of Crantsick, was of this character. He acknowledged It does not appear that George Fox was imthat "If God had not raised up this principle prisoned during the year 1652, although he of light and life, which he had known ten was constantly engaged in preaching the Gosyears, and which George preached, the na-pel, and exposing the errors and wickedness tion would have been overrun with ranterism, of the high professors of religion, which proand all the justices in the nation could not duced great excitement against him, particuhave stopped it with all their laws; because," larly among the priests. They procured a said he, "they would have said as we said, and done as we commanded, and yet have kept their own principle still. But this principle of truth overthrows their principle in the root and ground thereof; therefore, he was glad the Lord had raised up this principle of life and truth."

In 1652, coming to Tickhill, he sat some time with Friends at their meeting, and then went to the public worship house, and began to address the people. But they immediately fell upon him and beat him-the clerk striking him on the face with a bible, so that the blood gushed out on the floor of the house: then they cried, "Let us have him out of the church," and accordingly dragged him out and beat him, knocked him down and threw him over a hedge: then they dragged him through a house into the street, stoning and

warrant for apprehending him, and presented an indictment for blasphemy to the court of sessions held at Lancaster, where about forty of them appeared as witnesses against him. Hearing of this, he thought it best to appear openly in the court, and face his persecutors, without waiting to be taken up by the officers. He accordingly went to the sessions, and when the witnesses came to be examined, they contradicted each other so as to destroy the force of their evidence. The indictment was quashed, and George discharged.

He bore testimony in open court that "the Holy Scriptures were given forth by the Spirit of God," which all people must come to in themselves in order to experience fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with one another, and without which Spirit they could not savingly understand the Scriptures. This ex

*These prosecutions on the charges of blasact passed by Parliament in 1650, designed to phemy, heresy, &c., were commenced under an reach the Ranters, a visionary sect which arose during the civil and religious commotions of the times, and published the most wild and blasphemous opinions. They ascribed the attributes of Deity to men-contended that no act, however wicked, was sinful in the saints-that the grossest violations of the moral law were not, in themselves, sinful; and that there was no real difference between moral good and evil. Acting on these principles, they committed many excesses At Carlisle, in 1653, George Fox preached and gave occasion to the irreligious to speak ill of at the Market Cross and in the place of wor- the profession of Christianity. The enemies of ship, and the doctrines he delivered not being Friends, failing in their other accusations, endeaagreeable to some of the people, they stirred youred to produce the impression that their princiup the populace against him, threatening him ples were similar to those of the Ranters, and the Parliament having repealed the other penal stawith beating and stoning. The tumult, how-tutes for religion, they prosecuted them on the ever, was appeased by the soldiery, who per- charge of blasphemy. But in every instance the ceived the injury intended to be done and res-charges fell to the ground. So far from agreeing

George Fox being discharged, resumed his of the people. Then things were altered, so travels, going through Westmoreland, Cum- | that the inquiry was, ، Where was a draper, berland, Northumberland, &c. "The ever- or tailor, or shopkeeper, that was a Quaker,' lasting Gospel and word of life," says he, insomuch that Friends had more business than ، flourished, and thousands were turned to the many of their neighbours, and if there was Lord Jesus Christ and to his teaching." The any trading, they had a great part of it. Then success of his labours provoked the envious the envious professors altered their note, and opposers, who were vexed to see the principles began to cry out, If we let these Quakers of Friends spreading; and they not only in- alone, they will take the trade of the nation vented and circulated many slanders against out of our hands.' This hath been the Lord's them, but prophesied the downfall of the So- doings for his people, and my desire is that all ciety. Their predictions, however, failed, and who profess his holy truth may be kept sensinotwithstanding the sufferings Friends under- ble hereof, that all may be preserved in and went, they flourished in their outward affairs. by the power of his Spirit, faithful to God and Their conscientious adherence to strict inte- faithful to man; first to God, in obeying Him grity, gained them a reputation among the peo- in all things, and then in doing unto all men ple, which was surpassed by none. On this that which is just and righteous in all things subject, George remarks, "The priests and that they have to do with them.' professors had said long before, that we should A change had taken place in the governbe destroyed within a month; after that, they ment of England, King Charles being deposed prolonged the time to half a year; but that and Oliver Cromwell declared Protector of the time being long expired, and we mightily in- Commonwealth. The disturbances and difficreased in number, they now gave out that culties attendant on a state of civil warfare, "we should eat out one another.' For, after reached the peaceable Society of Friends, meetings, many tender people, having a great though they meddled not with political affairs. way to go, tarried at Friends' houses by the In 1654, George Fox was arrested at Whetway, and sometimes more than there were stone, by a company of troopers, and carried beds to lodge in, so that some have lain on the before Colonel Hacker, who, after a partial haymows. Hereupon a fear possessed the pro- | examination, sent him to Cromwell at London. fessors and world's people. They were afraid The colonel was very desirous to extort from that when we had eaten one another out, we him a promise that he would hold no more should all come to be maintained by the pa- meetings, pretending that they were dangerous rishes and be chargeable to them. But after to the safety of the government. But George awhile they saw that the Lord blessed and in- was not free to come under such an engagecreased Friends, as he did Abraham, both in ment, and when he found the colonel deterthe field and in the basket, and that all things mined on sending him to the protector, he prospered with them. Then they saw the knelt down by him and besought the Lord to falsehood of all their prophecies against us, forgive him. He was brought before Cromand that it was in vain to curse where God well at Whitehall, and they had much conhad blessed." versation on the subject of religion. As George "At the first convincement, as Friends could was turning to leave him, Oliver caught him not put off their hats to people, nor say you to by the hand, saying, "Come again to my a single person, nor bow, nor use flattering house-for if thou and I were together but an words in salutations, nor go into the fashions hour of a day, we should be nearer one to the and customs of the world, many Friends who other. I wish thee no more ill than I do to were tradesmen lost their customers; for the my own soul." He was discharged from his people were shy of them and would not trade confinement, and by order of the protector, with them, so that for a time they could hardly taken to the dinner hall and invited to dine get money enough to buy bread. But after- with the company; but he declined accepting ward when they came to have experience of the offer, sending word to him, that he would Friends' honesty and faithfulness, and found their yea to be yea indeed, and their nay nay; that they kept to their word in dealing and would not deceive any, but that if a child was sent to their shops they were as well served as though they came themselves; the lives and conversation of Friends did preach loudly, and reached the divine Witness in the hearts

with the monstrous doctrines of that sect, Friends openly protested against them, and Edward Burrough and others exposed their errors, in writing.

"not cat of his bread nor drink his drink.” When the protector heard this, he said, “ Now I see there is a people risen that I can not win either with gifts, honours, offices or places; but all other sects and people I can." It was told him again, "That we had forsaken our own, and were not likely to look for such things from him."

In the years 1654 and 1655, George Fox continued travelling diligently in England, holding meetings both among his friends and

"Friends,

In that which convinced you, wait; that you may have that removed you are convinced of. And, all my dear friends, dwell in the life, love, power, and wisdom of God, in unity one with another, and with God; and the peace and wisdom of God fill your hearts, which stands in the Lord God. that nothing may rule in you but the life, G. F."

the people generally; and though occasionally which much tendered those assembled on the arrested or otherwise misused, yet the vio-occasion. lence of persecution was in some degree mitigated. In describing the character of his gospel labours, he says, "I directed the people to the light of Christ, by which they might see their sins, and their Saviour Christ Jesus, the way to God, their Mediator to make peace between God and them, their Shepherd to feed them, and their Prophet to teach them. I directed them to the Spirit of God, in themselves, by which they might know the Scrip`tures, and be led into all truth; and by the Spirit might know God, and in it have unity one with another."

Near the close of the year 1655, George Fox and Edward Pyott were arrested at a place called St. Ives, by order of Peter Ceely, Ignorance and superstition gave credence and sent prisoners under a guard of soldiers to many foolish stories respecting him, invent- to Launceston jail. An evidence of the resoed by those who wished to bring into disrepute lution and zeal with which Friends pursued the doctrines which he promulgated, because their religious duty, occurred on their journey. of their acceptance by so large a number of On first-day, at Redruth, the soldiers would pious, respectable persons, in various parts of have them proceed on their way, but George the nation. For the same reason, others were Fox told them it was their sabbath, and it was disposed to criminate him, could they have not usual to travel on that day. Some of the found any semblance of proof that he was towns people collecting about them, he held guilty of the offences alleged against him. the soldiers in discourse, while Edward Pyott About eleven o'clock one night, Richard Hub- preached to the people; and in turn, Edward berthorne and he were roused from their beds entertained them whilst George Fox preached. by a constable, with a hue and cry after two At the same time, a Friend who was in commen, a house having been broken into, near a pany with them, got out and went to the steetown where George Fox had preached to the plehouse to address those assembled there. inhabitants as he rode through it. They aver- He was abused by the enraged company, and red that they were honest men and abhorred the soldiers missing him, also became much such acts. The constable, however, carried incensed. In the afternoon, the soldiers rethem in the morning before a justice; but be- solved to go on, but after taking horse and ing able to prove by competent witnesses that riding to the skirts of the town, George Fox they lodged that night and the succeeding believed it his duty to go back and speak to night at the house of a Captain Lawrence, the man of the house where they had stopped. who became acquainted with George Fox when The soldiers drew out pistols and swore he he was carried up to Cromwell, the justice, on should not go, but disregarding them, he rode examination, said "He believed they were not back, and they followed him; and when he the men that had broken up the house, but he had cleared himself he returned, reproving was sorry that he had no more against them." them for their rudeness and violence. The constable urged him to detain them, saying, they had good horses, and if it pleased him he would carry them to Norwich jail. A singular circumstance, indeed, that an officer of justice should be sorry to find men innocent, when the object of his station was to lessen crime and promote peace and order within his jurisdiction! They were discharged, and George Fox says a great people were gathered to the Lord, in the town where he preached, and where the hue and cry was raised.

In about nine weeks after their commitment, they were brought to the assizes, before Judge Glynn, and standing in the court with their hats on, he commanded them to take them off. George Fox desired to be shown, either from the law or by the Scriptures, the propriety of doing so; but the judge becoming angry, cried out to have him taken away, and they were accordingly conveyed back to prison.

During the time they were in the court, their attention was attracted by the constant By this time some Friends were settled in repetition of oaths, by jurymen, witnesses, and the north of Ireland, and William Edmund- others, directly contrary to the command of son, who was a minister and an influential Christ and his apostles. George Fox was member there, being drawn to make George grieved to observe it, and thought it his duty Fox a visit, he wrote the following brief but to give forth a short declaration of his views comprehensive epistle to the newly convinced on the subject; in which he warns them to flock, and sent it by him; the reading of "Take heed of giving people oaths to swear,