bait, and great confusion was the result. Ell-the word of the Lord. And now, in my freewood, with all the ingenuousness of a man of dom in God, I declare to the children of Zion, real worth, relates his own case with full con- what the judgment is that did arise in my fessions of his error, which he publicly con-heart, to this purpose: John, if thou propademned.

gate what thou hast written in this paper, thou In an epistle addressed by William Dews- wilt wound more hearts, and cause more troubury, "to all the faithful in Christ," &c., ble of spirit among the tender-hearted people bearing the date of 1663, he thus describes of the Lord, than when the temptation entered the progress of this error, as it took posses- James Nayler: who deeply suffered, but the sion of the minds of those who were the Lord restored him again by true repentance. leaders in its propagation. "In that which And as to my particular, it is not my nature tries and weighs your own spirits, in coolness to be found striving with thee or any upon the and singleness of heart, try and taste what earth; but having declared the truth to thee, spirit they are of who come among you at I will return to my rest in the Lord; and let this day; wherein many come forth with us every birth live out the length of its day, and as to the owning of truth in their judgments, let time manifest what is born of God. For who regulate the outward man in some re- that spirit that stands up in self-striving, will spects like the children of truth. Some of weary itself, and die, and end in the earth. them have felt the stroke of the judgment of And this will certainly come to pass upon all the Lord [for sin,] which hath caused them to those that do not diligently wait in the light, forsake some things in which formerly they to judge the outgoings of their minds, [yielddelighted; and in some measure of zeal theying] in true self-denial to be lead in the foothave borne a testimony to the light, enduring stripes and imprisonments, both in this nation, and some beyond the seas. While they stood in the fear of the Lord, he for his name's sake delivered them from the winter storms they suffered under; yet for want of watchfulness, the mystery of iniquity has wrought and Such was the amiable, and discriminating drawn them from the light into the pride of line of conduct which William Dewsbury purtheir hearts, to deck themselves with the jew-sued, in the wisdom that was given him to rule els and gifts, which the Spirit of God gave in the church of God, and such the harmless unto them when they were humbled before and lowly authority which he exercised. Alhim. But, departing from the redeeming though, at this period, trials and afflictions judgment of God, the deadly wound was sorely proved the Society from within, as did healed again, and instead of giving glory to persecutions from without, there was from God for their deliverance, they in this time of time to time a degree of faith administered to rest, took their flight as on the sabbath day, such steadfast spirits, as were numerous among upon the mountains of high imagination, and Friends who were the labourers and sufferers did sacrifice on the high places."-" And of that day, which made them a match for having gone from the light, they neither re-every occasion wherein they were called to garded the glory of God nor the good of his people."

Such as these became a source of much trouble and concern to their brethren; and after having succeeded in unsettling the minds of many, fell off from the body, drawing away their adherents after them. Further on, in the same epistle, the author writes as follows:

"Oh! how did my bowels yearn for the preservation of John Perrott, in doing what I could, to draw and separate him from that spirit which gave forth the paper that propagated the keeping on of the hat in prayer, and reflected upon those that called upon the name of the Lord with their heads uncovered. But after much counselling of him in tender love, to stop that paper from going abroad, but he would not be separated from that spirit that gave it forth, I cleared my conscience in VOL. II.-No. 7.

steps, where the flocks of Christ's companions delight to walk, serving one another in love, and every one with the spirit of love and meckness, seeking to restore another out of what any have done, through the violence of temptation or weakness.'

exercise it. In this faith, which is the saints' victory, the same writer, in his address, proceeds to hand them the word of encouragement. "Dear brethren, though great be the wrath that withstands the work of our God, which wrath worketh openly and mysteriously, to lay burdens upon the innocent, and to add afflictions to the afflicted;—in the word of the Lord that ariseth in my heart, I declare, they shall but weary themselves, and all their hopes shall fail them, and their expectations shall come to naught, who wait for evil concerning you who love the Lord better than your lives, and delight in waiting to feel his power at all times, leading and ordering you in the bonds and within the limits of his spirit."

This subject must not be concluded, without presenting the reader with some further information, relative to the manner in which a very

34

large proportion of those persons became dis- he cannot be my disciple," so it was with entangled, who had thus been taken in "the Friends in that day; there could be no resnare of the fowler."-" A meeting was ap- serves: those who were not prepared to part pointed to be held in London, through a divine with all, even to the renunciation of lawful opening in that eminent servant and minister enjoyments, for the testimony of a pure conof Christ, George Fox; for the restoring and science, in which the faith is preserved, could bringing in again those who had gone out not abide the fiery trial of that time, but must from truth and the holy unity of Friends fall back. Of this number was not William therein, by the means and ministry of John Dewsbury; he was ready at all times to "enPerrott." This meeting, or rather these meet-dure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus ings, lasted whole days, and some who had Christ." Such indeed was the deep and run out from the truth and clashed with abiding effect of that sweet evidence of the Friends, were reached by the power of the love of God in Christ Jesus to his soul, with Lord; which came wonderfully over them, which the Lord was pleased to favour him and made them condemn themselves, and tear previous to his venturing upon the work of the their papers of controversy to pieces. George ministry, and such the evidences vouchsafed Fox, who relates the circumstance, had seve- of the heavenly power that attended him and ral meetings with them, and "the Lord's ever-Friends, that according to a testimony which lasting power," as he declares, "was over all, he bore when on his death-bed, he never afand set judgment on the head of that spirit in terward played the coward, but joyfully enwhich they had run out. Some acknowledged tered prisons as palaces, telling his enemies that Friends were more righteous than they; to hold him there as long as they could; and and that if Friends had not stood, they had in prisons he sang praises to his God, and esbeen gone, and had fallen into perdition. And teemed the bolts and locks put upon him, as thus, the Lord's power was wonderfully mani-jewels; "and in the name," says he, "of the fested, and came over all."

"In this manner," Ellwood writes, "in the motion of life, were the healing waters stirred; and many through the virtue and power thereof were restored to soundness; and indeed, not many lost. And, though most of these, who thus returned were such as, with myself, had before renounced the error, and forsaken the practice; yet did we sensibly find, that forsaking without confessing, in case of public scandal, was not sufficient; but that an open acknowledgment of open offences, as well as forsaking them, was necessary to obtaining complete remission."—Ellwood's Life, p. 241, &c.

eternal Gód, I always got the victory; for they could keep me no longer than the determined time." When at liberty, he was an indefatigable labourer in the cause which he had espoused with so much sincerity and zeal.

On one occasion, about this time, we find from Besse's Collection of the Sufferings of Friends, that he was at a meeting in Warwickshire, at the house of one William Reynolds, which was disturbed by a constable accompanied and assisted by a rude multitude, armed with swords and staves, who pulled the Friends out of the house, and having beaten and abused some of them, fell to breaking the windows in the constable's presence. These were the every day occurrences of those lawless and intolerant times.

Besides an abatement of numbers in the Society, from the cause now described, it will not be difficult to believe, that while persecu- Towards the close of the year 1660, Wiltion did to a certain extent prevent its in- liam Dewsbury is to be traced to Ouse-bridge crease, there were those also to whom the way prison, in the city of York, to which he was proved too narrow, as it involved greater sa- committed in company with eleven others, crifices than they were willing to submit to. among whom I find the name of William Without an unreserved dedication of soul, Tuke, for refusing to take the oaths, no doubt, such as these would be not unlike the children of allegiance and supremacy. It may be here of Ephraim, who, carrying bows, turned their remarked, that the practice of that day, by backs in the day of battle. Although they which the dominant party forced these oaths might be said to have the weapons, the know-upon the people, and thus through the freledge and the profession, yet wanting that liv-quent changes in the government made them ing faith which could alone fortify them with to swear and forswear, was a sufficient reason courage and endurance, they would be unable with Friends for refusing to take them, indeto stand the brunt of that fiery trial, which pendently of those strong objections which awaited the faithful servants of Christ. As they entertained, on scriptural grounds, to all our Lord said to his immediate followers, "If oaths, as unlawful under the Gospel dispensaany man come to me, and hate not his father, tion. The truth had made them free from the and mother, and wife, and children, and bre- necessity of oaths; they were an upright peothren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, ple; and for conscience sake, conducted them

justice." These latter are his own words.

selves as such, both privately and to the some others of his brethren, "by the late government, so far as the laws of man did proclamation, which we own as an act of not infringe upon the paramount obligations of religious duty. And their words of promise were more binding to them, than the oaths of most other people.

From Ouse-bridge prison he was shortly after removed to York Tower, and from thence to the castle, where, by the date of one of his epistles, I find him in the third month, 1661. Besse, from whom these particulars have been obtained, informs us, that the whole number of Friends imprisoned at one time in York castle, and other prisons in the county, in the two months of which he had been writing, was five hundred and thirty-six, of whom five hundred and five were in the castle itself; where five died through the unhealthiness of the place.* William Dewsbury was not long detained in confinement after the above date; for in the postscript to an address, altogether worthy of a Christian minister, dated the 20th, which he wrote and found means of presenting to King Charles II., then newly seated on the throne; he informs the king, that before the document could be sent to him by a private and safe hand, he was set at liberty, with

The act just referred to, appears to have originated in the circumstance of Margaret Fell, the wife of Judge Fell, of Swarthmore Hall, appearing twice before the king, with a view to lay before him the grievous sufferings of Friends. This was about the time of the rising of the fifth monarchy men, in whose absurd views Friends, to their cost, were unjustly supposed to have participated. The object of Margaret Fell was much promoted, by an act of justice performed towards the Society by some of these unhappy and mistaken persons; who, before the sentence of the law was executed upon them, publicly cleared Friends of any participation or knowledge of their design.

George Fox also threw in his mite. He published a declaration against all sedition, plotters and fighters, asserting Friends to be a harmless people, whose principles were against wars and fightings. This timely act, appears to have had considerable weight with both the king and council in procuring the desired relief. William Dewsbury's address to the king, will be introduced in a subsequent page; it is recommended to the notice of the reader, as a specimen of that true independence of mind, which Christianity in its genuine nature produces in the character of man.-[See Appendix.]

It has already been intimated, that while under confinement at York, William Dewsbury wrote several epistles of encouragement to be dispersed among Friends, exhorting them to steadfastness and faithful adherence to the testimonies which had been given them to bear, notwithstanding the trials and sufferings to which they were subjected. Among these, the following will serve as a specimen of his mind at this juncture.

"Dear brethren and sisters in the church of the first-born,-Grace, mercy, and peace

*It is not the editor's purpose here to enlarge on the subject of these lamentable facts, or he might readily produce a mass of evidence, in illustration of the cruelty and wrong inflicted upon the Society at large during this period. But an original letter of a Friend, addressed to George Fox, having come to his hand, dated from the place of William Dewsbury's frequent allotment, "the dungeon of Warwick jail," an extract may serve to show, that other places were not behind York, in the entertainment given to his suffering people."Dear George Fox, my love flows forth unto thee in the pure, holy, immortal life; and Friends here, their dear love is to thee, and our love to all faithful Friends in and about London. There are many of us here imprisoned in Warwick, to the number of one hundred and twenty, as near as we can judge of it, and amongst us some women Friends; and they continue going on in their persecution still. There were several more brought to prison this morning; and of what prisoners are at Co-be multiplied in and amongst you, to whom ventry, and in another place in this county, we God revealed what he determined and is now have not certain knowledge; but we heard, that manifesting, that every one in the life of God there are above a hundred, besides ourselves, at might stand single, out of and over the snares Warwick. We that are here are kept close from of those whom God lays aside as the broken coming one to another. There were some of our reeds of Egypt; that his own name might be Friends, a little time since, put into a close cellar, where they had not room to lie one by another; trusted in, and his mighty arm alone seen and and one of them being near dead for want of room felt, in leading and preserving his people to and air, was brought forth very weak; and he yet his glory, as witnessed this day, blessed be remains sick and weakly. This cruelty of the the God of our strength and safety. persecutors hath caused a great cry against them from many in Warwick; since which time, they have removed the prisoners to a more convenient place; but they are there kept close, and there is little coming to them many times, but with much difficulty to bring us necessary things: but sometimes it is otherwise." 6th of twelfth month, 1660.

"All dear and chosen vessels of God, whether in bonds or out of bonds, in the everlasting light and life stay your minds, and lift up your heads, and be strong in the name of

the Lord.

And fear not the wrath of man, for it is limited and shall turn to the praise of

God forever; who is making up his jewels, Thus was this dedicated servant of Christ, and gathering his wheat into his garner, and himself a prisoner for his testimony, enabled the sheep of his pasture into the safety of his" in the spirit of power and of love and of a power, that he may lead them and save them sound mind," to encourage the suffering flock. with his outstretched arm, to the confounding This was a time, when it may be said with of the heathen that know not God. much truth, that Friends were accounted as little better than sheep for the slaughter, and when their enemies seemed ready to swallow them up quick. We who live in this day of ease, have little conception of the amount and extremity of their sufferings, and have need to be cautioned against indifference. We should never forget, it was through the endurance of such wrongs as have now been related, though to a far greater extent, that our present degree of religious freedom has been purchased for us.

whatever he calls you unto. When the Lord fills the heart of any one of you with his presence, and his life moves in thee, quench not the spirit; I am commanded to lay it upon thee, whosoever thou art, from the least to the highest growth.

"Dear Friends, wait to be kept in the bond of the spirit, obedient to its motions:-to cease and stay when it moves not, as well as to begin any exercise when it moves. Dear and tender babes, as well as you strong men, retain the pure* in every particular, and let not anything straiten you when God moves. And, thou faithful babe, though thou stammer forth a few words in the dread of the Lord, they are accepted. And you that are strong, serve the weak in strengthening them; and wait in wisdom, to give place to the motion of the spirit in them, that it may have time to bring forth what God hath given. Dear brethren, feed the lambs; and loose the tongue of the dumb, that praises may arise in and amongst you all, to the glory of God; that in him you may be a well-spring of life one to another, in the love of God, in which the Lord God keep you all. W. D."

"Dear faithful Friends in God, who have known the day when nothing hath been dear to you, not life itself, that you might enjoy the light of the countenance of God, which he hath now manifested in the everlasting covenant in Christ; and which now constraineth to stand over, and above all flattering tongues, and all threatenings and wrath of men. This will be more and more manifest, before this day of trial be over; and what wrath soever the Lord suffers to arise in the powers of the earth, without he moves, do not any seek to stop it. Let God have the glory; the wrath of man turns to his praise, and the remainder he will restrain, while the babes in meekness and patience stand still, and give glory to God in faithful obedience, with life to death, if the Lord call for it. He hath blessed the labour of all whom he called into the vineyard, for whom my heart is enlarged, in the strength of the life I have received of the Father.

"Oh! feel me, for I am with you, filled with joy in the Lord, that his birth is brought forth and the captive set free, the tongue of the dumb loosed and the living power of God raised, to offer up living praises on the holy altar of God, in the assemblies of his saints.

"The wisdom which is from above is first pure." The meaning of the writer doubtless is, "preserve a pure conscience by obedience to that in the soul which leads into purity of life, which is not of man, but from above; for disobedience causes straitness:" this is what the writer cautions the church against.

Fill

"Oh! lift up your heads, be glad in the strength of the Lord, in this his day of gathering the good ripe fruit in the vineyard of the Lord. Now do the vines abound with virtue, laden with clusters of the purest grapes full ripe, which drop abundantly with wine, renewed in the kingdom of the Father. your cups, be not straitened in your spirits to receive of the fulness of God. In whom I am constrained to say unto you in the light,drink, drink abundantly; let the thirst of the soul reach forth earnestly, to draw more and more of the divine life, that it may comprehend you in its power. That in its strength your hearts may be set free over all below, and your spirit in the light of life, raised in the heavenly harmony, to praise and glorify the name of the Lord, to the astonishment of all that know not God. Whatever he gives, this keeps all that abide in it low in his fear, so that neither heights nor depths, tribulation nor distress, persecution nor famine, nakedness, peril, or sword, life nor death, things present nor things to come, can ever separate them from faithful obedience to Christ Jesus, the Light.

"And, dwell over all created enjoyments, in the unlimited power, to guide you, whether in bonds or out of bonds, so that your words be few and savoury at all times, and minister grace to the hearers. And be tenderly affectioned one to another in the love of God; and in unity in him who is blessed forever! Farewell. "Your brother,

"WILLIAM DEWSBURY."

"From the Tower in York, 25th

of First month, 1661."

The third epistle above referred to, is thus superscribed:-"Let this go abroad amongst all the afflicted and wounded in spirit:

"Dear child, which criest, over all the world, and beyond all the pleasure, pomp, and vanity therein, for the enjoyment of the light and countenance of God;-fear thou not, neither be thou discouraged, because of the violent assaults of the enemy, who seeks to draw thee into carnal reasonings, and thus to kindle a fire to thyself, and causes thee to walk in the light of the sparks which thou hast kindled ;-and this thou hast at the hand of the Lord, in going from his counsel thou liest down in sorrow. Few know thy great distress; but, to the Lord it is known, and to those who have walked in the same path.

"Oh, thou afflicted soul, who livest in the deep sense of the working of the evil one in thy mind, and many times art ready to say,Never was any like unto me, nor any sorrow