of the sons of God, though in outward bonds for your sakes. "Known to all that can read me in spirit. "JAMES PARNEL." A FEW LINES Written after visiting the dungeon at Carlisle, in which James Parnel was convinced by George Fox; and on subsequently reading the account of his confinement and death in the prison at Colchester. When Heav'n attracts me from my poor estate, Thee! righteous Parnel! I with tears behold, I stand reprov'd by thee, thou youth divine, On thy fair mind, the boundless power of truth Rose strong and ardent, in thy tender youth; And led thee forward, fearless, without guile, To wake the sinful of this darken'd isle: Many there were, in those laborious days, And struck the servant labouring in his cause. CHAPTER II, LIFE OF JOHN CAMM. THIS Friend was one of those who attended that remarkable Meeting held at Firbank Chapel, in Westmorland, by George Fox, when great numbers were convinced of our principles, and many of them afterwards became eminent ministers and labourers in the gospel of Christ. JOHN CAMM was born at Camsgill, in the Barony of Kendal. His family, it appears, had given name to the place, which had been in their possession for several generations.* He received a good education, and was from his childhood religiously inclined. As he advanced in years, he joined himself in society to such as were most * The word "gill" sometimes signifies a beck, or rivulet and in this instance it seems to have been so applied, in con sequence of a small stream ranping through the estate. strict in the observance of religious duties, and most exemplary in their conduct. He and several others had separated themselves from the national way of worship, and met together for religious improvement, and the performance of divine worship. They had not, however, found what their souls were satisfied with, but were prepared to receive further manifestations of the way of life and salvation. George Fox was the means of opening this to them; and the subject of the present Memoir appears to have received the testimony which was borne by that able minister, with greater readiness than some others, who did not accept it till after close examination and much debate. Being a man of considerable property and good abilities, he was rising in the world, which, according to the account given by his son, "seemed to smile upon him, and the riches and glory of it had exceedingly increased, and were then likely to increase more. Yet all these things became light in his estimation, when placed in competition. with obtaining an inheritance incorruptible, and that fadeth not away; and he readily resigned all for Christ's sake, being willing to follow him through much contempt and many tribulations. After undergoing much secret exercise of mind, he became prepared for the public service of the ministry, in which capacity he travelled in the Northern Counties of England, as far as the borders of Scotland. After his return from this journey, he was engaged to visit some of the Southern parts of the nation, in which he was accompanied by Francis Howgill; and it appears that these two Friends were the first who preached and published the doctrines of our Society in London; but the principal object of this journey was, "to declare the message of the Lord to Oliver Cromwell, then called Protector." They not only paid him a personal visit, but John Camm also wrote to him. The Epistle begins thus: "On the last day of the first month called March,* about two o'clock in the morning, I was moved of the Lord to write these ensuing lines, and to lay before thee the cause of our coming hither to Londou. Friend, we came not to thee to petition any thing from thee in the outward, but in the tender bowels of love to exhort thee to mind thy own condition, how thou standest in relation to the Lord God of heaven and earth, who is powerful, and pure, and holy; who will not acquit the wicked, but will wound the hairy scalp of him who goes on in iniquity; before * The year is not mentioned, but I suppose it to be 1654, -and that he left home in 1653. |