Incidents illustrating the doctrines and history of the Society of Friends

Preface

The present volume is the result of sundry excursions in the wide field of Quaker literature, in which the author has found much that was interesting to himself, and very instructive; and which was attended with a degree of spiritual life, that seemed an evidence that it was written under a measure of Divine influence. Without undertaking to give a connected history of the Society of Friends, he has gathered some fruits and flowers from this rich garden, with the hope that they may prove acceptable to his readers and encourage them to make further explorations for themselves.

Chapter I. Rise Of The Society Of Friends

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The Lutheran Reformation — Reformation in England under Henry VIII., only partial — Persecution generally approved — William Penn's declaration of the Testimony of Friends- George Fox's declaration — Francis Howgill's Testimonies to Christ as our Saviour — Thomas Wilson's experience — George Fox's early labors — Openings on his mind— J. G. Whittier's revelation — George Fox's message — Meeting at Firbank-chapel — George Fox's sermon at Ulverstone — Divine power accompanied his ministry— Sent a prisoner to London — Interview with Oliver Cromwell— Francis Howgill and Edward Burrough's labors in London — Edward Burrough and the wrestler— Edward Burrough's death — John Camm and John Audland at Bristol— Divine power the secret of Friends' success, 9

Chapter II. Charges Against Friends

Witchcraft — Elizabeth Bathurst's explanation —Witchcraft panic— Blasphemy— George Fox's trial at Lancaster — Anne Camm's trial— Refusing to swear— Oaths tendered as a snare — George Fox's defence of not swearing — Refusing to pay tithes— Cruelty of the priests— George Fox's reproof of a priest— Samuel Bownas' declining to receive pay for preaching — Extravagant seizures — Robert Barclay on tithes — History of tithes,— The Ranters— Robert Jordan's trial in Virginia, . 36

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Chapter III. Worldliness

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Use of '^ Thou and thee"— Insincere expressions— Hat honor- Robert Barclay on titles of honor— George Fox before judge Glyn— Case of John Kinsey — Rule of court that Quakers may keep on their hats in court — Plain dress— John Fothergill's experience — John Smith's testimony — John Banks — Joseph Pike— William Jackson— James Emlen— Mode of wearing hair— Gilbert Latey and Charles II.— Ruth Anna Rutter— Thomas Story and a toast — Gilbert Latey refusing to ornament clothing in the way of trade— The bishop's advice as to consistency — Charles Marshall's description of early Friends — Thomas Chalkley's letter to a schoolmaster— Joseph Pike refusing a speculation— John Barclay's explanation of Friends becoming peculiar — Thomas Chalkley reproving a swearer — Thomas Chalkley and card playing — Unprofitable reading — Preservative effects of plainness — Thomas Ellwood's sufferings—Samuel Neale's gunnings— John Thorp's singings — What John Browning saw in the old tobacco house— John Browning and the grave stones— John Roberts cannot plead for grave stones — Consecration of burying-places — William Edmundson's concern to keep under the discipline of the cross, 62

Chapter IV. Convincement

Effected by Divine power— Robert Barclay's experiences— Jane Fenn's experiences — David and Grace Lloyd moved to take care of her — George Whitehead's convincement — Samuel Bownas — Thomas Thompson convinced under the ministry of William Dewsbury — Thomas Wright — Samuel Crisp convinced by Barclay's Apology — David Ferris fmds a living people on Long Island— Edward Andrews burying a bone— Stephen Crisp — Richard Davies helping his master in a dispute — Christopher Healy at a Friends' meeting — Christopher Healy refusing to repeat the catechism — Mildred Ratcliff and John Woolman's Journal—'^ What is it that condemneth me when I do evil?" etc.— Thomas Story on the conversion of Indians— Thomas

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Story on God's mercies— Rebecca Travers and James Naylor — '' Feed not on knowledge " — John Camm and Robert Willis — John Fothergill — Thomas Story's remarkable visitation — Christopher Story meets with Thomas Carleton — Isaac Penington meets with the Lord in a Friends' meeting — Christopher Taylor convinced by a book of Isaac Penington — Visitation to the children of Waltham Abbey School— Henry Hull and tree struck with lightning— Aaron Atkinson reached at a meeting— A visitation of Divine love about 1720, at Plymouth, and North Wales — Tenderness overspreads a meeting at C. Taylor's— John Finch Marsh in a family sitting— Thomas Carrington's prediction about George Withy — George Withy's meeting at Washington — Claude Gay awakened by reading the New Testament, .... ... 99

Chapter V. Divine Worship

Taught by our Saviour at Jacob's well— Robert Barclay's description of — Preaching from prison gates— Hugh Robert's mother — Giles Barnardeston — Persecution — Meeting in the streets — Conventicle Act— Neale's testimony to Friends' zeal —Outrages at Bristol— Faithfulness of the children— The Lord's judgment on the cruel jailor— Prisons turned into houses of prayer and praise— Robert Widder's sufferings- Epistle from Newgate — E. Stirredge's experience — Prisoners praising God— Peace and comfort in prison— Epistle from William Leddra— Isaac Penington's letter to Thomas Ellwood — Edward Burrough's letter of encouragement— Their enemies wearied out— Francis Howgill's prediction— John Burnyeat's testimony— Meeting out of doors— Act for banishment— Futile efforts to carry out said Act— William Bailey's address to king's parliament— Fifth monarchy outbreak— Many Friends imprisoned — John Richardson visits Nantucket — B. Barton on silent worship— J. G. Whittier " The Quaker Meeting," . 155

Chapter VI. Courage

George Fox and Scotch warrants— The colonel who threatened to kill the Quakers— Parts two men fighting— Francis Howgill

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to Oliver Cromwell— George Fox's doctrines not derived from the Independents — The clergy promoters of persecution — Cromwell lived in an unsettled period— William Penn's testimony that George Fox was undaunted — The secret of early Friends' courage — Robert Widders before a Carlisle justice — Barbara Blangdon's singing while whipped — Gilbert -Latey and sir William Sawkell— State of the jails— Richard Davies and the jailor — Powers of the jailors — John Banks at Wicklow —Ambrose Rigg, 197

Chapter VII. Friends As Advocates For Civil Liberty

Trial of Penn and Mead— William Penn and J. Robinson— E. Stirredgeat llchester — E. Stirredge's warning to Charles IL — E. Stirredge and officers who seized their goods— John Skein's warning to the provost of Aberdeen — John Crook's refusing to swear— Samuel Bownas in Long Island — Despotism in New England — Friends faithfulness in bearing testimony — Anne Audland— Richard Farnsworth— Miles Halhead at Berwick—William Edmundson's visitto North Carolina — George Fox's visit to North Carolina — Attending meeting — Joseph Hoag— Dorothy Owen— Ellen McCarty, . . . .218

Chapter VIII. Communion With God

William Edmundson's warning to Londonderry— George Fox's foresight of Oliver Cromwell's death— Thomas Aldam's prediction to Oliver Cromwell— George Fox predicts breaking up of parliament — Wiliam Edmundson and Anne Gould — William Edmundson foresees famine— George Fox and a Judas — Divine visitations — James Claypole relieved of a fit of stone — Remarkable cures— Miles Halhead and Thomas Preston's wife Miles Halhead's wife loses her child— Rebecca Scarlett at Pittsburgh— John Richardson and a man guilty of evil- John Banks' cure of arm— William Dewsbury's testimony— Talken Corsten's wife's recovery — Thomas Story^ in a storm — Woman warned to move her seat — Oliver Sansom forewarned oi his imprisonment, 2o2

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Chapter IX. Ministry

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George Fox at Firbank-chapel— The light of Christ, the seed in all— Edward Burrough on ministry— William Penn on the ground of ministry — Edward Burrough on early ministers among Friends -Edward Burrough's own ministry— Mildred Ratcliff' s sermon — Richard Shackleton on ministry— Joseph loag's advice to old Methodists— George Fox in Wales — William Edmundson in New England— Andrew Jaffray's experience in prison— Samuel Bownas at Jedburgh — Barbara Everard's ministry — Thomas Brown's ministry — London Yearly Meeting in 1675 — Thomas Scattergood preaching to the blacks at Augusta— Princess Elizabeth, of the Rhine— Samuel Bownas preaching with a Bible in his hand — Free ministry — Thomas Salthouse unwilling to receive help from the Quarterly Meeting— Samuel Fisher resigns his living— Religious concerns— Elizabeth Webb — Hannah Gibbons— Ruth Anna Putter's visit — Family visits of Ann Branson — Henry Hull- Advices respecting family visits — Joshua Brown on silent meetings— John Griffith— Peter Andrews— Testimony of a stranger— Peculiar concerns— Sarah Lynes— Thomas Shillitoe visits drinking saloons in Dublin— Isaac Penington on early ministers among Friends— William Dewsbury's call to service— Elizabeth Stirredge's call— Susanna Hatton— Mary Dudley— Mary Capper— Stephen Grellet— Ann Mercy Bell's visit to the markets— John Crook— Joseph Hoag, . . . 279