The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers. William Sewel

Derby dungeon, and his relations came again to see him, they being much troubled about it; for they thought it a great shame to them, that he should lie thus in jail: besides, it was a strange thing then to be imprisoned for religion. But some judged him to be mad, because he maintained the doctrine of purity, righteousness, and perfection. Among others that came to see him, there was also a soldier from Nottingham, who said to him, ‘Your faith stands in a man that died at Jerusalem; and there was never any such thing.’ This so grieved G. Fox, that he said to him, ‘How! did not Christ suffer without the gates of Jerusalem, by the professing Jews, the chief priests, and Pilate?’ ‘No,’ said the other, ‘he did not suffer there outwardly.’ Then G. Fox asked him, ‘Whether there were not Jews, chief priests, and Pilate outwardly?’ This puzzled the soldier a little, so that he could not deny it. Then he told him, ‘As certainly as there was a chief priest, and Jews, and Pilate, so certainly Christ did suffer there outwardly under them.’ Yet this inconsiderate person said also, ‘That never any of the prophets or apostles, or holy men of God, suffered any thing outwardly; but that all their sufferings were inward.’ Then G. Fox instanced to him many of the prophets and apostles, how they suffered, and by whom they suffered, thereby to confound his silly imaginations. Yet such was the malice of some, that a slander was raised among the people, that the Quakers denied Christ that suffered and died at Jerusalem. This, indeed, is a singular evidence of the credulity of people, taking upon trust any story, how false soever, when it relates to those that are become the object of vulgar odium. Now as G. Fox was often visited by those that came out of curiosity, it is not to be wondered that sometimes he was contradicted by presumptuous and self-conceited persons. Once there came to him some that pretended they were triers of spirits; and these he asked, ‘What was the first step to peace: and what it was by which a man might see his salvation.’ But they, being of an airy mind, took this to be such a strange question, that they did not stick to say he was mad. Thus it appeared that these who pretended to try spirits, did not know what spirit they themselves were of, and that they had not sufficient knowledge to make a good judgment of the corporal constitution, saying he was mad, who was in no wise out of his senses.

      In the time of his imprisonment, he was much exercised in mind about the proceedings of the magistrates, because men were put to death for stealing of cattle, money, &c. and he was the more troubled about it, because this practice was contrary to the law of God in old time. Wherefore he writ the following two letters to the judges.

      ‘I am moved to write unto you to take heed of putting men to death for stealing cattle, or money, &c. for the thieves in the old time were to make restitution; and if they had not wherewithal, they were to be sold for their theft. Mind the laws of God in the Scriptures, and the Spirit that gave them forth; and let them be your rule in executing judgment: and show mercy, that you may receive mercy from God, the Judge of all. And take heed of gifts and rewards, and of pride; for God doth forbid them, and they do blind the eyes of the wise. I do not write to give liberty to sin; God hath forbidden it: but that you should judge according to his laws, and show mercy: for he delighteth in true judgment, and in mercy. I beseech you to mind these things, and prize your time, now you have it; and fear God, and serve him; for he is a consuming fire.’

      The other letter was thus.

      ‘I am moved to write unto you, that ye do true justice to every man, and see that none be oppressed, nor wronged: nor no oaths imposed; for the land mourneth because of oaths, and adulteries, and sorceries, and drunkenness, and profaneness. O consider, ye that be men set in authority: be moderate, and in lowliness consider these things. Show mercy to the fatherless, and to the widows, and to the poor: and take heed of rewards or gifts, for they do blind the eyes of the wise: the Lord doth loath all such. Love mercy and true judgment, justice, and righteousness, for the Lord delighteth in such. Consider these things in time, and take heed how ye do spend your time: now ye have time, prize it, and show mercy, that ye may receive mercy from the Lord: for he is coming to try all things, and will plead with all flesh, as by fire.’

      Whilst G. Fox was in prison among the felons, it grieved him to hear their foul language; and he often reproved them for their wicked words, and evil carriage towards each other: and people did admire that he was so preserved among this bad company, without being defiled by their conversation: but the fear of God so prevailed in his heart, that he could not be charged with any evil word or action all the time he was there: yet he perceived that it was dangerous to converse with such a naughty crew, and therefore he laid before the judges what an hurtful thing it was, that prisoners should lie long in a jail, because they learned wickedness one of another, in talking of their bad deeds; and that therefore speedy justice ought to be done.

      

      Now whilst he was confined here, there was a young woman in the jail for robbing her master of some money; and she being to be tried for her life, he wrote concerning her to the judge and jury, showing them, how contrary it was to the law of God of old, to put people to death for stealing; and that it was an incumbent duty to show mercy. But notwithstanding his writing so, she was condemned to die, and a grave was made for her. G. Fox having heard this, writ a few words, containing, ‘A warning for all people to beware of covetousness, and to fear the Lord, and prize their time, while they have it; that so they might avoid wickedness;’ and when the woman, at the time appointed, was carried forth to execution, he gave this writing to be read at the gallows; but when she was upon the ladder, with a cloth over her face, and ready to be turned off, she was reprieved, and was brought back again to prison, where afterwards she came to be convinced of the truth, as held forth by G. Fox and his friends.

      In the jail there was also detained a wicked man, who was said to be a conjurer; this man threatened G. Fox, and also the jailer, that he would raise the devil, and break the house down; so that he made the jailer afraid. But G. Fox went to him, and said, ‘Come, let us see what thou canst do, and do thy worst: the devil is raised high enough in thee already; but the power of God chains him down.’ At this undaunted speech the fellow slunk away.

      Now the justices to get rid of G. Fox, resolved to press him for a soldier, seeing he would not voluntarily accept of a command; and Bennet sent constables to give him press-money: but he told him, ‘That he was brought off from outward war, and was dead to it.’ And though the commissioners over and again proffered him money, yet he would not take it; at which they grew so angry, that he was committed close prisoner. Hereupon G. Fox wrote to the justices, and those that were concerned in his commitment, the following lines.

      ‘You, who are without Christ, and yet use the words which he and his saints have spoken, consider, neither he nor his apostles did ever imprison any; but my Saviour is merciful even to the unmerciful and rebellious. He doth bring out of prison and bondage: but men, while the carnal mind doth rule, do oppress and imprison. My Saviour saith, “Love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you:” for the love of God doth not persecute any; but loveth all, where it dwelleth: “he that hateth his brother, is a murderer.” You profess to be Christians, and one of you a minister of Jesus Christ, yet you have imprisoned me who am a servant of Jesus Christ. The apostles never imprisoned any; but were imprisoned themselves: take heed of speaking of Christ in words, and denying him in life and power. O friends, the imprisoning my body is to satisfy your wills; but take heed of giving way to your wills, for that will hurt you. If the love of God had broken your hearts, ye would not have imprisoned me; but my love is to you, as to all my fellow-creatures: and that you may weigh yourselves, and see how you stand, is this written.’

      About this time he gave forth a paper to those that were convinced of the truth, to show them the deceit of the world, and how the priests had deceived the people, viz.

      ‘Christ was ever hated; and the righteous, for his sake. Mind who they were, that did ever hate them. He that was born after the flesh, did persecute him that was born after the Spirit; and so it is now. And mind, who were the chiefest against Christ; even the great learned men, the heads of the people, rulers and teachers, that did profess the law and the prophets, and looked for Christ; they looked for an outwardly glorious Christ, to hold up their outward glory: but Christ spake against the works of the world; and against the priests, and scribes, and Pharisees, and their hypocritical profession. He that is a stranger to Christ, is an hireling: