{Fifth Part 28} Queries to GEORGE FOX
- Art Thou the man that hast taken liberty to stay almost a Quarter of a year from Meetings, or at least a considerable time, though held in the very House of thy Residence; or if thou didst at any time come within the aforesaid space, whether it was not so seldom, that it became matter of Excercise to other Friends for thy sake? and did not John Blaykling by Name manifest his Burthen and Exercise of Spirit, on thine and the Truths behalf, for thy so doing? and didst thou not after he had so done, a little amend in that Case?
II. Wouldst thou not have accounted this in another, to be the Fruit of a Careless, Slothful, Negligent, Libertine or Dark Spirit, that was either departed, or departing from the Truth?
III. Hast thou not a sense, that thy aforesaid Paper of Queries may cast a Line of Reflection on every one, that may secure from the Devourer any part of that outward Substance which God hath given them to maintain their Families? and yet are not thou sensible, that thou are the Man that hast advised the Rich to secure Worldly Estate, that so the Persecutors might not become Spoilers thereof? And if so,
IV. Will it not evidently appear, that these thy Reflecting Queries are the Fruit of that Spirit that lusteth to Envy, and appears with two Faces?
- Dost thou not remember, that at a Quarterly=Meeting in Glocester-shire, suddenly after thy last departure from Bristol, there was a Persen, that judged me not fit to judge in that Meeting, because I had secured part of my goods without Doors {Fifth Part 29} (though I had left *1 Enough subject to the Spoilers besides) and dost thou not remember, that none of the said meeting declared any Approbation of his so doing, and that thou self then present, manifested a dislike thereof (as well as several others) after thy usual manner thus, Whisht Whisht? Dost thou not also remember, that I then signified to this effect, If what I had done was a crime, those who were accounted as the chiefest amongst us, were guilty of Crimes of the like nature? Dost thou not remember that nothing was then said in Answer thereto, either by thee or any other? and if ‘twas then a Crime, why didst thou not then inform the Meeting, and to speak in thine own Language, become a reproof to that Spirit, and to me in particular? If it be not a crime, why hast thou sent forth thy Paper of Queries which plainly carries a Line of Reflection on such as have, or may secure from the Spoilers, when I cannot but believe that thou dost know those who have not accounted their Lives too dear, to offer up for the Testimony of Truth2, and would not have departed a foot from the Meeting where their testimony for truth hath been concerned (though thou hast proved a Shrinker) have notwithstanding secured their Estates for their families, and never have been exhorted to the contrary, or reproved by thee, so far as ever I could hear?
VI. Whether thou hast not, contrary to thy own Conscience and thy former Counsel, written thy Paper of Queries to gratifie that envious Spirit, which exclaims against me, for securing Part of my Estate? And whether thou therein hast not acted that behind my Back, by directing it to be read at the meetings, which I have, and usually do frequent, that thou {Fifth Part 30} wast either afraid or ashamed, to have spoken to my Face in the hearing of others, lest openly in the view of the Country, thou shouldst have been detected for appearing with two Faces? for so do I now believe thou hast manifested thy self and that one of these Appearances is but the Fruit of that Spirit in thee which, lusteth to Envy, because I remember not, that ever I heard, before the time of my leave securing something from the Persecutors, that any Friends judged one another in that respect, or that any, from a Principle of Conscience, refused to do that thing that I then did, which was no more than what I often have done, when there was occasion for the Preservation of my Outward Estate, in that day wherein thy respect was most unto me, though now, this must be made use of, as the only Matter of fact to stain my Reputation, and render me one that’s out of Truth.
VII. Whether it be not better, to secure a man’s outward Substance, to pay his Debts, and maintain his Family (when he is capable so to do) and keep stedfast in his Testimony at Meetings, than when persecutors come, to shift out of Meeting, whereby both Body and Estate too may be saved, as thou hast done?
VIII. Whether it be better so to do, as aforesaid, than to let all lie open to the Persecutors, and depend upon thee, and ——- to solicite at Council board? Thy Language to Thomas Pierce of this City, occasions this last Query which, as he hath said, was on this wise, or to this effect: What would you do, were it not for ———- Me and a few more to appear for you at Council-table, or before King and Counsel?
IX. Whether thy writing so much of trusting God, being compared with thy aforesaid boasting language to Thomas Pierce (which hath proved but like a Reed of Egypt)shews not confusion?
{Fifth Part 31} X. Whether it be fit for one that feeds of the fat of the Land, and lives in fullness of Plenty, attended in may respects like an earthly Prince, and that hath twelve or thirteen hundred-pounds, with the increase thereof for many years (if any be) well secured out of the reach of the Spoilers and Persecutors, to admonish a, company of Poor, Innocent, Harmless Friends, that may have three or four Coins a piece to feed themselves and Children, not to secure them from the Spoilers? and if it be not fit for such an one so to admonish, I then query, Whether thou art not the man that art so qualified, and who in effect hast so admonished?
XI. Whether a man under the aforesaid Qualifications and Circumstances, can by such an admonition; as aforesaid, answer God’s Witness in the Consciences of such to whom he is so known, especially, when no better Care is taken, by the Admonisher for the Relief of such, when their all is gone, than this viz. Never heed, the Fleece will grow again; don’t despair, trust the Lord; spread your sufferings before the judges; be careful to send your sufferings to the quarterly Meeting, that so they may be brought up once a year to London to be recorded?
XII. Whether or no a suffering for the Testimony of such false Prophets, as Solomon Eccles hath proved himself to be (as is manifest by his prophesying John Story’s death within one year, and since expired) can be called a suffering for the Gospel of Christ? and if not, whether it be not better to secure ones outward substance from the Spoilers, then to let it lie open to be taken away for Fines imposed for the preaching of such false Prophets? and since, ‘tis said, Solomon Eccles manifested the same first to thee, I query whether thou wast not an Encourager of the said False Prophet, (because 'tis said he cries thee up as one that’s greater then Moses ) or whether thou didst become Reproof to him?
{Fifth Part 32} XIII. Whether or no it be not the fruit of an Enlightened Understanding, in those who are called dark Spirits, to secure what they have from being taken away for Fines imposed, for the babling of such, whose great business at meeting is to rail against Faithful Friends, under the Notion of Dark Spirits? and whether otherwise the Prophesies of those, who have prophesied blasting and withering outwardly, might not quickly come to pass where Persecution is?
The aforesaid queries, my desire is, that thou George Fox mayest answer, that so the simple=hearted Friends may plainly know, what thy Judgement is in things of this nature; for I have cause to believe that many such are at this day drawn into the Belief and Practice of some things for which they have no sufficient ground from the Conviction of Conscience in themselves; but rather as prompted thereto by such, who are like unto those, who lay heavy Burthens on others, which they themselves will not touch with their little fingers; but blessed be the Lord, there are Eyes that see and so perceive, there are Ears that hear and do understand, and have boldness and Confidence given them of the Lord, to stand in the gap as Witnesses against such, who cry against Fleers in time of Persecution, and yet are Fleers at such times themselves; that blame other for securing their Goods from the Spoilers, and yet Secure their own; that prompt the Poor to offer up their ALL, and yet take to advise the Rich to secure their Estates; that cry against others as Unruly because they will not be subject to them, and yet think themselves not obliged to be subject to any Rule but their own; that testifie against Libertines, and yet take Liberty to Backbite, Slander and False Accuse; that declare against Tale-bearers, and yet be the chief Nourishers and upholders of such; that bear withness against Wickedness and Dark {Fifth Part 33} Spirits, and be so dark as to record 3 an Idolatrous Woman for a Virtuous one; and (as its said) to try the Bad Spirits; that cry against loosness, and yet be so loose as to quote a meeting of Men and Women where 4 Lewdness was committed, to prove Womens Meetings as G.F. hath done; that would be accounted Watch-men, watching for Good, Healers of Breaches, Removers of Stumbling-blocks, and yet appear Watching for Evil, and not for Good; Increasers of Differences, by adding fewel to the Fire, and casting Stumbling-blocks in the way of the Simple; that appear Reprovers of such for Tythe-Payers, who ever bore a Faithful Testimony against it, and yet advise others to buy their Tythes; that say God hath given them Infallible judgement in all things, and yet appear notoriously fallible. How far thou G.F. art concerned in such things as these, will appear in the day of the Lord, when every mans Words and Works must be brought to judgement; for I firmly believe, thou art the man that hast been guilty in all these things; and in the mean time take this as the fourth Warning, Caution or Advice, from the Hand of thy Friend (who never knew the Moment wherein I had more Peace in any one Action of my Life than in what I now am writing) let the time past be sufficient, repent for thy many Miscarriages, which God hath raised me (as an instrument in his Hand) to discover unto thee; for the Imperiousness of thy Spirit hath but all ill Savour in the Nostrils of God’s people, and as it was said of the priests of old (whereof the prophet declares) that because they caused many to stumble, therefore were they despised, and made vile before all the People; so it may in time, be said of thee, unless thou Repent, because thou hast laid Stumbling-blocks before many.
{Fifth Part 34} The Righteous God is Witness between thee and men (when no mortal Ear, that I know of, did Hear, save our own) that thou toldst me (after thou grantedst my Request of having an hours private Discourse with thee, at my being at London this Last Spring) That thou knowest what thou didst in the Quotation of Micah’s Mother, that Idolatrous Woman (though thou rendredst her as one recorded for her Wisdom and her Virtue) and that thou sawest ‘would be a Stumbling-block: I therefore cannot but take this opportunity seriously to put it to thy Conscience; dost thou think thou hast done well to put a Stumbling block before the people of the Lord? dost thou think a blessing can attend such an Action in thee, when Christ himself hath pronounced a general woe against those who are guilty thereof?
Oh George! consider, before it be quite too late; do not continue an instrument to raise Divisions, Strife and Contention amongst the professors of the Truth; for if thou dost, that loss of many souls may be laid at thy door, which in one day may be a burthen too heavy for thee to bear.
Perhaps, some may think, many things I hint at, are groundless, especially the matter relating to G.F’s advising the rich to secure Worldly Estate, and to buy Tythes; and therefore to come a little closer, I add these two queries:
- Whether thou G.F. (whilst Isaac Penington was in prison, and in Expectation of being premunired) didst not thou advise, or at least encourage Mary Penington, to secure her or their Estate? and whether afterward thou G.F. didst not speak in discourse with another Friend about the same matter to this effect, viz. What a condition she (viz. Mary Penington) had been in, had it not been for thee (meaning as to outward Estate.) If thou G.F. deny this, I will undertake to prove it, or bring Testimony {Fifth Part 35} under the hand of a Credible Friends in Truth, that Mary Penington did signifie so much as is queried in the first part of the query; and also prove, by being under the hand of a Credible Friend in Truth, to whom thou G.F. spoke, according as is queried in the latter part.
II. Whether thou G.F. didst not advise Nathaniel Crips of the County of Glocester to buy his tythes both of Priest and Impropriator? If thou deny it, I will undertake to prove it, or bring it under the hand of Nathanial Crips that thou so didst.
Bristol the 20th of the 7th Month 1678.
William Rogers
The aforesaid answer was read in the Mens Meeting of Friends of the City of Bristol, at which some of the Party with G.F. seemed very uneasie; whereupon some Friends to William Rogers proposed to this effect; That, William Rogers was in the City (for he acquainted a Friend, that he would be within, at his House, if Occasion should be to send for him, and ready to stand by what he had done) and that, if they pleased, they might appoint a Meeting on purpose with William Rogers on this Occasion; but none of the Party with G.F. appeared to appoint a Meeting; the secret Cause whereof, we believe, was, because that some of the Party with him were conscious to themselves, that G.F. in many things, was represented no otherwise than he had manifested himself to be. Thus far the Citation out of the 15th Section of the 2d. part of the said Manuscript.
To the aforesaid Answer and Queries given by me, G.F. made a Reply with a False Certificate, (as hereafter will be mentioned) annexed thereto by John Blaykling, unto which I writ a Rejoynder, and caused the same to be copied, and {Fifth Part 36} sent unto him. And forasmuch as some other Abuses laid at G.F’s door are, together with my Rejoinder, mentioned in the 21th Section of the 2d part of the Manuscript before cited; I think it needful to insert, not only my Rejoinder, to G.F. but also some other part of the said Section, pertinent on this Occasion (with the Omission of some Names for the Reasons mentioned in the Preface to the 1st part) which now follows.
-
Note, My Fines have been above nintety pounds Sterling, and I have more than double that value unsecured and subject to the Spoilers at the place of my Residence, besides, what hath been distrained from me already.↩
-
Witness many faithful friends in Reading, or near it.↩
-
*Read G.F’s book touching Womens Meetings, page 43. 44.↩
-
* Viz. The Meeting before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, where old Elly’s Sons lay with the Woman, as in G.F.’s bool of Women’s meetings.↩
No comments:
Post a Comment