CHAPTER Ìv.

LIFE OF MARMADUKE STEVENSON

THIS fellow-sufferer with William Robinson, lived at Shipton, near Market-Weighton, in Yorkshire. The earliest account I find of him, is contained in a paper which he published at Boston after sentence of death had been pronounced upon him. It begins thus: "In the beginning of the year 1655, I was at plough in the east part of Yorkshire, in Old England, near the place where my outward being was; and as I walked after the plough, I was filled with the love and presence of the living God, which did ravish my heart when I felt it, for it did increase and abound in me like a living stream: [yea] so did the life and love of God run through me, like precious ointment giving a pleasant smell, which made me to stand still. And as I stood a little still, with my heart and mind stayed upon the Lord, the word of the Lord

came to me in a still small voice, which I did hear perfectly, saying to me, in the secret of my heart and conscience: "I have ordained thee a prophet unto the nations ;" and at the hearing of the word of the Lord I was put to a stand, seeing that I was but a child, for such a weighty matter. So at the time appointed, Barbadoes was set before me, unto which I was required of the Lord to go, and leave my dear and loving wife and tender children; for the Lord said unto me, immediately by his Spirit, that he would be as an husband to my wife, and as a father to my children, and they should not want in my absence, for he would provide for them when I was gone,"

Notwithstanding these prospects, he remained under the exercise about three years, not sailing: for Barbadoes till the fourth month, 1658. While he was on this island, he was informed of the law inade in New England, for putting Friends to death who returned after banishment. On hear ing of this law, his mind felt a secret attraction that way; and after he had finished his services in Barbadoes, he sailed for Rhode Island, where he visited his Friends in the love of the gospel. Here, as he relates it, "the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Go to Boston with thy brother William Robinson." With this intimation of duty he complied; the result of which being already

related in the account of William Robinson, it would be superfluous to repeat it. After his companion had suffered, Marmaduke Stevenson stepped up the ladder, and expressed himself thus to the surrounding multitude: "Be it known unto all, this day, that we suffer, not as evil doers, but for conscience sake." And when he was about to be turned off, he said: "This day shall I be at rest with the Lord."

During his confinement, he not only wrote the paper, from which an extract is already made, but also a long Address to the Inhabitants of Shipton, Weighton, and elsewhere, which is entitled, "A Call from Death to Life, and out of the dark Ways and Worships of the World, where the Seed is held in Bondage under the Merchants of Babylon." He, as well as his fellow-sufferer, wrote a letter directed" To the Lord's People;" which showing the state of his mind when the prospect of death, by the hand of an executioner was before him, it may be proper to insert a part of it here; viz.

"Oh! my dear and well beloved ones, who are sealed with me in the holy covenant of our Father's love, my love and life runs out to you all who are chosen of God and faithful; for you are dear unto me, the Lord knows it, and are as seals upon my You lambs of my Father's fold, and

breast.

is

sheep of his pasture, the remembrance of you precious to me, my dearly beloved ones, who are of the holy seed, and bear the right image, which springs from the true vine and offspring of David, and stock of Abraham, the father of the faithful; and the redeemed ones, who are reconciled to God and one to another, in that which sea and land cannot separate; where you may feel me knit and joined to you, in the spirit of truth, and linked to you as members of his body; who is our : head and rock of sure defence, for us to fly unto; where we are kept safe in the hour of temptation; and in the day of trial shall we be preserved in the hollow of his hand; where his banner of love will be over us, to compass us about; where we shall have recourse to the living springs, which come from the pure fountain and well-spring of life, which issues forth abundantly to refresh the hungry and strengthen the feeble minded; where you may feel me, my beloved ones, in the green pastures, among the lilies of the pleasant springs, where our souls are bathed and refreshed together, with the overcomings of God's love, and the virtue of his presence, which is as precious ointment poured forth, giving a pleasant smell.

"So my dear Friends! let us always wait at the altar of the Lord, to see the table spread; that so we may sit down and eat together, and be re

freshed with the hidden manna, and living food of life, that comes from Him who is our life, our peace, our strength, and our Preserver night and day. O! my beloved ones! let us all go on in his strength, who is our Prince and Saviour, that his image we may bear, who is meek and lowly in heart, and mind the true and sure foundation of many generations, the chief Corner Stone, elect and precious; the Rock of Ages on which the Saints were built; and if we all abide thereon, we shall never be moved, but stand for ever as trees of righteousness, rooted and grounded in Him, who will be with us in all our trials and temptations which we may meet withall'; and here will the Lord our God be honoured by us all that are faithful unto death: we shall assuredly have a crown of life which will never be taken from us.

"Oh! my beloved ones, what shall I say unto you, who drink with me at the living fountain, where we are nourished and brought up as twins, at the breasts of consolation; where I do embrace you in the bond of peace which never will be broken. O! feel me and read me in your hearts; for I am filled with love when I think upon you, and broken into tears; for the remembrance of you doth refresh my son, which makes me often to think upon you, and have you in remembrance, you jewels of my Father, and first fruits of his increase,