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counsel, steadfastly to wait for his power to
lead thee, in the cross, out of all unbelief, and
cause thee to lie down at rest in obedience to
his will: where thou shalt drink the cup of
the salvation of God. Farewell!
"W. D."

like unto my sorrow;-in this languishing, thee to trust in him. He will embrace thee in despairing, mourning of thy soul, all things the arm of his love, and thou shalt praise his are made bitter to thee as the waters of Marah.name forever! Thus art thou driven from all comfort, as a "God Almighty, in his light and life, raise child without a father, a desolate widow with-up thy soul, and establish thy heart in his out a husband, and as a stranger whom no eye piticth, in thy apprehension: sometimes saying in thy heart, in the heat of the temptation, and of the fire thou hast kindled, Oh, that I had been any creature but what I am! or, if it were the will of the Lord, that he might shorten my days, that I might not be any longer on earth to sin against him! For in thy own sense and feeling, walking in the sparks thou hast kindled, in carnal reasonings, thou discernest nothing but wrath; on every side, horror, misery, and distress; secretly crying out in thy heart,-Oh, that I were alone in the wilderness, or in a cave, or den of the earth, that I might never see nor hear the sons of men any more, but in secret retiredness, mourn out my days until I die.

“Oh, hearken no longer to the enemy, who saith, there hath none travelled where thou art [travelling,] neither drunk of the cup that thou art drinking. He is a liar, who goes about to destroy thy precious soul. I drank the same cup, with my faithful friends who are born of the royal seed: every one in his measure has travelled in the same path, and has endured the same temptations, and walked in the light of the same sparks, and lain down in sorrow, in the sense of the same misery as

thou mournest under.

"No longer lend an ear to the enemy, and to the thoughts of thy heart. Arise, in the light of the covenant, and stay thy heart; and the Lord God will throw down the enemy of thy peace, destroy the carnal reasonings of thy mind, and put out the fire which thou hast kindled. He will deliver thee out of the horrible pit, and set thy feet upon the Rock of Ages. Thou shalt tread down the enemy of thy soul, in the sensible feeling of the love of the Father, who will manifest himself to be a father to the fatherless, a husband to the mournful widow, and a comfort to that which mourns in thee, in the uprightness of thy heart, to do the will of the living God. So, in the power of his might, stay thy heart; and tread upon all doubts, fears, despairing thoughts, and reasonings. Arise over them all in the light of Christ. He will lead thee into the banqueting-house of our God, where thou shalt sit down with all the redeemed of my Father, who are born of the immortal seed, and have passed through great tribulations, and have washed our garments and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This shall be thy portion if thou diligently hearken to the counsel of the Lord, who calls

"York Castle, the 23d of
Third month, 1661."

It would be gratifying to our natural feelings, to be able to contemplate the character of such a man as William Dewsbury, under other circumstances beside those in which we have hitherto found him. We have been incidentally informed, that his home was at Wakefield, that he was a married man, and was blessed with a family of children.* On each of those occasions, when he is permitted to escape from the hands of his persecutors, and to enjoy his liberty again, the mind is involuntarily carried to the scenes of domestic life, prepared to participate in that enjoyment which all parties must feel on so happy an event. It would be interesting to us further, to contemplate this zealous servant and minister of Christ, like Paul the tentmaker, employed in the pursuit of his trade, and to be able to state his success, and how far the Lord had blessed him in these his outward affairs, agreeably to the gracious promise made to him on his setting out in life. But, though there is no reason to doubt the Lord's faithfulness, such was the devotedness of his servant to the cause of Truth, and the testimony of Jesus, that little or no mention is made by him of these things; so that we are at a loss to know, how a man so totally deprived as he was, of the opportunity of enriching himself by his own exertions in business, was preserved from having his wife and family reduced to poverty and distress. We are not even informed, that on his liberation from confinement at York, he visited his home, however probable it is that such was the case. So fully engrossed were the minds of Friends in that day, in the pursuit of the one great object before them, that worldly affairs appear to have had but very little place. They felt and saw that the time was short, and that the fashion of this world passeth away, so they

*The editor has since ascertained, by a copy of William Dewsbury's marriage certificate, in the possession of a Friend, that he was married a second time in the year 1667. He is described as "of Dukes, in the county of York," and his wife as "Alice Reeds, [or Meads] of the borough of Warwick."

were without carefulness; they that had wives were as though they had none, they that wept as though they wept not, they that rejoiced as though they rejoiced not, they that bought, as though they possessed not:-they used this world, as not abusing it.

[A document has come to hand, since the above lines were penned, which affords in a few words a striking illustration of the above remarks as regards William Dewsbury. Under date of the 10th of fourth month, of this year, he makes a request to his correspondent, Margaret Fell, "a mother in Israel," to write to "my tender children and family." He adds, "In the life of my God, I have given them up, with my own life when he will call for it, a free sacrifice in his will it is offered up, for him to do what is good in his eyes."Editor.]

The following beautiful sentence, which closes one of his epistles about this period,

occasion, the Friends were taken before a magistrate at an inn, who tendered them the oaths, and because for conscience sake they refused to swear, they were sent to prison under sentence of præmunire; where, shameful to relate, some of them were detained for as long a period as ten years, and were never brought to any further trial. Such was the exercise of arbitrary power, under which Friends grievously, yet patiently suffered. It appears from Besse's relation of the circumstance, to have been about the eighth month of the year, when this occurrence took place; and as, in the same month, Dewsbury dates an epistle from Newgate prison, London, it is evident that he obtained his liberty at Warwick, and proceeded pretty directly on his journey to that city.

CHAPTER XIV.

may also be added:-" Watch over one an-1661. Act against conventicles, under which

other with a single eye, building up one another in the holy faith, opening your hearts in the free Spirit of God to them that are in need, that ye may bear the image of your heavenly Father, who relieveth the hungry, and easeth the burden, and maketh glad by refreshing his, in the time of need; giving liberally and upbraiding not. Even so be it with you, in the name of the Lord, saith your brother and companion in the Lord Jesus Christ. Farewell!"

In such instances of devotedness as that of William Dewsbury and many of the early Friends, and others the servants of Christ, we are strongly reminded of the words of our Lord to his disciples, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." And there is no reason to doubt, that divine support is often, in gracious condescension, administered under such circumstances, so as to render the creature for the time indifferent to the body and its various necessities.

Friends suffered banishment-Epistles of encouragement-William Dewsbury is imprisoned in York Castle-General Epistle to the Church.

How, and under what particular circumstances, this meek and constant sufferer came to be cast into Newgate, I have not been able to discover. But it was in this year, that the cruel and intolerant act against conventicles, which was framed as an instrument of persecution against Friends, first came into force. By this act it was decreed, that "if any person should refuse to take an oath when by law required, or should maintain the taking of any oath to be unlawful, or if the persons called Quakers should meet for religious excrcise after the 24th of March, 1661, being thereof convicted, they should forfeit for the first offence, five pounds, for the second, ten pounds, to be levied by distress; and, for want of possessions to allow of such distress, to be imprisoned, for the first offence three It was about the beginning of the fourth months, for the second six months; and upon month, 1661, that William Dewsbury was libe- conviction for the third offence, he or she rated from York Castle, as has been stated, by should abjure the realm, or otherwise the king proclamation of Charles the II. In the sixth and council might cause him or them to be month we meet with him in Bedfordshire, at transported to any of the king's plantations Buckrin's Park, the residence of James Nagill, beyond the seas.' These were the acts, by who with Justice Crutt had been already con- which the blessed truth was attempted to be vinced of the truth by his powerful ministry. crushed in those days; and under the mayorBetween this visit and his being in London, alty of one Richard Brown, the leading feawhere he was confined four months in New-tures of whose character were pride, intole gate, we find him suffering among other rance and cruelty, in which he appears to Friends at Warwick, for giving thanks after have delighted; for, says Sewel," he would supper at an inn, which was called preaching commit cruelty with a smiling countenance," at a conventicle. The act of preaching under certain circumstances, had been recently made illegal by the government. On the present

the government had a fit executor in London of this new and barbarous law; some of the consequences of which will be seen hereafter.

I apprehend, however, that it was under a husband, wife, parents, or children, in bonds first offence of meeting for religious worship or out of bonds, and take to you the sharp contrary to this act, that Dewsbury with a threshing instrument, which is the power of multitude of others was cast into Newgate. God, that you may thresh all the mountains Among the epistles which he wrote while of thoughts, fears, or unbelief, and every deconfined there, for the edification and encour-sire and imagination that would draw from a agement of the church and of individuals peaceable rest in God. under various circumstances, is the following; addressed to his dear suffering brethren and companions in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Christ Jesus.

"In him watch and pray, and believe in his name, that you may keep the word of his patience, and in the will of God, quietly lie down in your present sufferings for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. He numbers the days of your sufferings; and when they are accomplished, will plead the cause of his people, in the day in which he will be revealed in flames of fire, rendering vengeance upon all that know him not, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then shall your innocency with all the elect be cleared, in the sight of all people, and you shall shine as the morning stars in the power of God, to enlighten the nations, through the brightness of the glory of God that shall rest upon you, to the gathering of the brethren from far, and the sisters from the ends of the earth; who shall bless the name of the Lord for you that endure in faithfulness unto the end, the crown of glory shall rest upon you forever.

"God, in his everlasting power, keep you in the life of his Son, in unity, to finish your testimony to his glory. Farewell!

"Given forth in Newgate prison, London, the 13th day of the Twelfth month, 1661."

"W. D."

"P. S. Dear lambs, keep in the unity, in the life and power of God; and let your words be few."

We have also from his pen, during this imprisonment, the following animated address to his suffering Friends.

"Dear Friends,

"In the name of the Lord, I lay it upon you, be valiant for your freedom; and with the powerful instrument of God, thresh and bruise down the mountains as chaff and dust. And thresh the head of the old serpent, the devil, spare him not, and be not afraid of encountering: for mighty is the Lord, that hath called you to conquer him. So keep his head under; bruise and keep under all that would disquiet you, or draw you from your rest. That so, in peace in Christ you may all abide, in a pure resignation to the will of the Father. So will your joy flow as a river, and your dominion be in the authority of God, over all the mountains of this world, to reign in the holy life with Christ. In the lowly mind and holy fear, sound out the new song with triumph, over the devil and his angels and the accuser of the brethren; whom you will see cast down; and you shall tread upon him; and bruise him, and all that would join with him, with the sharp threshing instrument, the mighty power of God, which you have received in Christ the Light.

"And in all things you do one for another, let love abound in the innocent life, doing as you would be done unto in the sight of God. And you that are servants in families, who are in sufferings, I lay it upon you, be faithful, that the good savour of God be found among you, to the praise of the Lord. And you that are out of bonds, in what you may, as the wisdom of God leads, be assistant every way, bearing one another's burdens, to fulfil the law of Christ, who is taking to him his great power to reign forever.

"The strength even of the mighty God be with you, and lift up all your heads. Stand in his authority and keep the word of his pa tience, to finish your testimony to the praise and glory of his name, over all, blessed for"All in their measure abide in God, so as ever. Of his dominion there is no end; in to keep your dominion in his heavenly au- which you, dear lambs, may feel and read me thority during these trying days, wherein hus-in the life which is hid from the world, but band is called to forsake wife, and wife hus-known to you in the secret of God, where our band, parents children, and children parents, joy and triumph arc. Whatever becomes of and other created enjoyments, for the testi- the outward man, in the will of God, faremony of the Lord. And all you, who are or well!-yea, farewell, in the name of the Lord! shall be called to bear your testimony, prize "W. D." the mercy of the Lord, who hath made you his chosen jewels and the first fruits among many brethren, to fill up the measure of the sufferings that are yet behind. In the name and power of the Lord Jesus arise, whether

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Given forth in Newgate prison, the 3d
day of the First month, 1661-2."

With a few exceptions as regards some insulated facts, all that is known of the last

twenty-five years of the life of William Dews- whom thy soul thirsted after, is hard to be bury might be comprised in a small compass; expressed. How, in God's authority, have and this will necessarily be the case with con- the striplings run to and fro on the earth, siderable portions of it. He was delivered from Newgate prison, in London, early in the year 1662, and proceeded homewards, where it is probable he continued a few months. We are informed by Besse, that persecution pursued him there also. He says, that on the 29th of the fifth month of that year, he was taken from his own house at Durteen, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and committed to York Castle, his old residence, as a ringleader and preacher among the Quakers.

willing to spend and be spent in all services of love, to persuade thee to forsake all that hath entangled thy mind, and hindered thee from enjoying the innocent life of thy Beloved. Thy mighty men, with many of the sons and daughters of glory, have sealed their living testimony with their blood, in the patience and sufferings of the Lamb of God, that thou mayst be affected with the excellency of the glory of Him whom thy soul desireth. "And now, the Lord God requireth of [A letter under his hand, dated York Castle, every particular son and daughter of Zion, the 3d of the eighth month, states, that there to watch and pray that none enter into are upwards of one hundred Friends his fellow-temptation: and all that have any stain upon prisoners, that they meet daily for the purpose their garments, to come to the fountain which of waiting upon and worshipping Almighty is opened for Judah and Jerusalem to wash God, and that his presence covers their assemblies, to their great comfort and the astonishment of their enemies.-Editor.]

Here he was not idle, but still continued to visit the church by his epistles. Among those which he wrote during this confinement at York, the following is one which I should not feel myself excused in withholding from the reader. It is addressed "in the flowings of the tender compassion of the Lord Jesus, to all the mourners in Zion; and the afflicted, desolate people, who wait for his coming, as for the morning, and have no satisfaction in anything but in the enjoyment of his sweet and comfortable presence.'

in, which is the heart-breaking love of God manifested in the light of his covenant, and sealed up to the soul in the blood of Jesus.

"Oh! come away, come away, out of all your thoughts, desires, doubts, and unbelief, which would turn you aside from the enjoy. ment of the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let none stand afar off because of your littleness, lameness, blindness, weakness, or infirmities, who cannot live at peace until you be healed by the blood of the Lamb.

"Arise, arise, you necessitated people, in the light of the Lord. Give up to the drawing spirit of life in the light of Jesus Christ. He will carry thee, who canst not go, in the arms of his compassions; he will cause the lame to walk; and thou, who art sensible of thy blindness, to recover thy sight; yea, he will heal thee of all thy infirmities, who waitest in the light, to be ordered and guided as a little child by the washing and sanctifying Spirit of the Lord Jesus; who is become a husband to the desolate widow, a repairer of the breaches, and a restorer of the desolate places; in whom the fatherless have found mercy this day, for his name's sake.

"Oh, Jerusalem! who art become the beautiful bride, how did he seek thee in the day of thy divorcement, when thou wast weeping in the wilderness, as a desolate widow, who had not any to comfort her; then thy mournings and breakings of heart were thy greatest comfort! and the more thy tears were shed for want of him, the greater was thy satisfaction. Oh! the weary days thou hadst upon the earth, because thy languishing soul knew not where to meet with thy Beloved, neither didst thou know how to walk in the steps of the "Oh! what shall I say of the unspeakable flock of thy companions; who were comforted love of God in Christ Jesus, the Husband of with His presence whom thy soul wanted. the Bride. Oh! ye sons of the glorious day, Then, though thou knew it not, he was near read, and feel the unsearchable love, and you to thee, enlivening the desires that were to- handmaids, drink of the inexhaustible ocean, wards his name. And in the accepted time which flows over all opposition. This is the he sent forth whom he had ordained, to de- Son of the Father's love, who hath been " a clare unto thee the glory of his love, in the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." light of his own life, in which he hath covered" He was wounded for our transgressions, thee as with a wedding garment, and in it thou appearest comely in his sight, and acceptable in his presence.

"And for thy sake, Oh Jerusalem! thou city of the living God, what hath been endured? How many innocent lambs have suffered for bringing glad tidings to thee of Him VOL. II.-No. 7.

and by his stripes are we healed;" and this is the work of the Lord.-Let all crowns be thrown down before him, he alone shall have the glory, for besides him there is no other.

"Therefore, let every son, daughter, and servant of God, watch and diligently hearken to his counsel: and whatever the natural man

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most inclines to, when the temptation besets you, judge yourselves, look up to the Lord, and resist the devil with boldness in the first assault, and the Lord God will give you dominion over them, and the bond of iniquity shall not have power over you. In his holy authority, every one stand in dominion upon the head of the first man, with all his excellency and glory; that in the perfect freedom every particular individual may reign, in the measure of the light, over every thought and desire that is contrary to the will of God; that, in his will, you may all dwell in the holy faith, which will arm against all the ficry darts of the devil. You shall break down Satan under your feet, and shall overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony; and continually drink of the rivers of pleasure, the presence of the Lord Jesus, our light, life, and rightcousness for ever. For he is become our Husband, and we are as the wife of his bosom, in the delight of his glorious love.

"Let the mourners in Zion rejoice, and the afflicted among the people be glad, and fear the Lord. And let not any who desires salvation in uprightness of heart, say, The Lord regards me not: for whatever thou hungerest and thirstest for in this life, thou art the heir of it, and the Lord will satisfy thy hunger with his refreshings for his name's sake. And this is the portion of those that are least in their own eyes amongst the people: the Lord hath spoken it.

"And all you, inhabitants of the city of the great God, whom the Lord hath prospered in your living testimony, in what he hath called unto,-blessed be the Lord God, for you retain the sense of your nothingness in self, and so become poor with the poorest, and weak with the weakest, and truly make 'self of no reputation,' but humble it to the cross, and do not serve self but God and his people, with all his gifts and ornaments, with which he hath adorned you. Because of the savour which you have in Christ, the souls of the upright in heart do praise the Lord for you. Your steadfast, valiant, unwearied travails, labours, and sufferings for the Lord, cause the hearts of his people to be enlarged with hallelujahs and high praises in the assemblies of his saints. You know that your reward is with you; and wo to them that devise mischief against you, whom the Lord hath blessed.

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Oh, Zion's children, from the least to the greatest, love the Lord Jesus Christ. And let not a thought of the heart draw you from the light, life, and love of the Lord Jesus. Let the day of the resurrection arise upon you, which will set your souls in perfect love, above all infidelity and unbelief. Oh! drink,

to the full satisfaction of your souls, of the cup of his salvation, for it is freely handed to all that love him, who thirst for his mercies, and tread down the self-working spirit: so that all may be bound down in silence, that would move in any exercise to utter words rashly before the Lord.

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My dear Friends, let us comfort and console our souls together; for this is our BeJoved, we have waited for him, and now he is come with power and great glory, to deliver his captives, and to establish them in his glorious freedom, where the evil one shall not prevail against them; and to marry unto himself the soul that has waited for him as for the morning. And all, in this union, feel his power abounding in you, to lead into the daily cross, and to stand over all that would draw from the sweet unity, which is in the footsteps of the flock of his companions who walk in the light. Stir up the gift of God in you, in all faithful obedience. As your hearts are filled with the heavenly power of the Lord, and broken in the sense of the overcomings of his life, and moved in the strength thereof, in any exercise in your families, or in the assemblies of his people,-quench not the Spirit of the Lord, but be obedient, and keep within the bounds of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, which sacrifice is acceptable in his presence. And all feel the love of God enlarging your hearts one to another, that the strong may bear the burdens of the weak, and in pure love all may grow fruitful plants in the vineyard, which God's right hand hath planted.

"And as for our little sister, scattered among the people of the nations, whose broken cisterns have failed her; what shall we do for her? In this day which is come upon us, she shall be spoken for, though at present she cannot draw near, but mourns at a distance, and cries in secret for want of the enjoyment of the God of our salvation. Oh! let your hearts breathe unto the Lord, that he may seal his counsel to her, and cause her to walk in the light of the Lord, with us whom he hath raised to be the first fruits among many brethren, to bear his glorious testimony over the heads of the children of men and above all their wrath, who withstand the appearance of God; who will cause them to bow before his glory, in the day in which he will clear the innocence of his beloved people. Neither by sword, nor spear, nor by the arm of flesh, but with the breath of his mouth, shall he smite the hearts of them that know him not, and by the brightness of his coming, who shall spread his fame over all nations, to gather brethren from afar, and sisters from the ends of the earth. Yea, the mighty shall

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