On the 21th of the first Month, 1678. Was delivered me a Manuscript, subscribed G.F. with a Testimony and Postscript subscribed, John Blaykling.
What is therein written, and subscribed G.F. is a Reply to an Answer that I gave to a Paper given forth by G.F. dated the 4th Month, 1678. which was read in the Mens Meeting of Friends in the City of Bristol.
And forasmuch as G.F. hath laid down two False Assertions, on which he seems to build the greatest part (if not all) of those things which he concludes are False Charges, I shall apply my self to manifest those two False Assertions, and so the Force of his six sheets of Paper, (in answer to one of mine) will for the most part (if not altogether) fall to the ground, as such an impertinent idle discourse, that’s nauseous to men of Honesty, and endued with Understanding, unless it be the Fruit of Understanding, and Honesty (which I know is not, nor can be) to give credit unto the words of a Man, detectable of many Lyes from the sight of his own Reply, and compared with what he pretends to Answer.
Moreover, ‘tis observable, that he not only praiseth himself at a high rate, but also vilieth and scandalizeth others in general terms, and sometimes in particular, and {Fifth Part 37} yet brings no proof for either; to me it appears, that his best skill to answer any thing is (of late) so manifested, which cannot but be obvious to every impartial Eye, that shall throughly peruse, and ponder his Answer to me.
G.F’s first False Assertion hinted at, as before is contained in these his words, viz. [My Paper is an Epistle to Friends, which thou confessest, is an Exhortation in itself good.]
To this I Reply, this Sentence and Assertion is False, and not to be found in my Answer to him; my own words, relating to an Exhortation in itself good, is, in my Answer, to be found only in these two Sentences, viz. The above recited Paper I take to be wholly made up of Queries, to all those, that make away their Estates for fear of the Spoilers in time of Persecution; excepting this one Sentence of Exhortation, Do you not distrust and despair of God Almighty, his Protecting and Delivering you with his Almighty Power? to the Exhortation, I say, it is in itself good, &c. Which plainly relates to that one sentence, which I took to be an Exhortation, but not to all his Paper, which he terms an Epistle to Friends. From G.F’s words, viz. An Epistle to Friends, such as have not heard what is contained in the said paper, may be apt to conclude, that it contains something of Exhortation, Counsel, Doctrine, Instructions, Teaching, Prophesying, or Prayer, or at least some Sentences; which imports his being then exercised in some, or one of the aforementioned spiritual gifts: but no such thing is therein found, more than what may be pretended from the aforesaid sentence of Exhortation (as I took it) but that Sentence may also be taken for a Query, as well as an Exhortation. And as to the rest of the paper, ‘tis all Queries, which gives me occasion to ask this question, viz. Whether such a Paper can properly be called, an Epistle to Friends in Truth? especially since 'tis easily {Fifth Part 38} savoured, that those he writes to, are such, as in his esteem are exercised in the spirit of the World, that lusteth to Envy; for so his words clearly import, if one of his Queries, and the beginning of his paper be compared; the beginning of his paper runs thus; Friends, all you that do make away, or over your Estates, &c. and then about the middle of his queries this saith, Whether this Spirit that doth so, is not the Spirit of the World, that doth lust to Envy?
To conclude, as to this False Assertion; G.F. hath scattered the substance thereof in at least, eight several places, in his Answer to me, which to speak in plain and vulgar Language, is one downright Lye, told eight times over; and since in the second Page of the said Manuscript, he seems to imply, that I have not been Civil and Ingenuous as a Man, I now appeal to all ingenuous Readers, whether this his Action shews any degree of Civility, or Ingenuity either as a Man, or Christian?
The second False Assertion before hinted at, I thus manifest; I proposed Thirteen Queries to him, after I answer the substance of his Queries, and having so done, I then proceeded to add, and that in a distinct Paragraph from the Queries, these few following lines, viz.
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 lad 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 do perceive, there are Ears that hear and do understand, and have boldness, and Confidence given them of the Lord, to stand in the {Fifth Part 39} Gap, as Witnesses against such, who cry against Fleers in time of Persecution, and yet are Fleers at such times themselves; that blame others for securing of their Goods from the Spoilers, and yet Secure their own; that prompt the Poor to offer up their ALL, and yet take Care 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 be the chief Nourishers and Upholders of such; that bear witness against Wickedness and Dark Spirits, and yet be so dark, as to record an Idolatrous Woman for a Virtuous one; and (as it’s 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 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 Watchers 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 to, 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.
From these last words George Fox, Page the second, thus saith, And thou hast many queries upon my Epistle, and on thy conclusion sayest; Thou believest, that I am the Man that is quilty of them all. So by this appears, they are {Fifth Part 40} charges against me: This Construction of G.F. is utterly wrong; for my words, from whence he draws that conclusion, cannot in common sense, and according to the Connexion of words, so import, they being only relative to the preceding matter, contained in a distinct Paragraph, after I had done with the Queries: but yet I would not have any to think, that I asked one Question, as having no ground so to query.
Moreover, ‘tis observable, my aforesaid words will not amount unto a Charge, because to believe and to charge are two distinct things; for a man may believe a Charge, and yet have no hand in giving the Charge; but a man cannot honestly charge another, and yet pretend he doth not believe the Charge.
G.F’s manifest Weakness doth not end here; for suppose his Construction had been my Meaning, he might then have justly accused me of Folly; but not justly have rendred me one charging him with False Accusations (as on this occasion he hath done) since the Queries were not answered by me, without which no certain Accusation could be really manifested, because questions may be answered in Truth, sometimes by Yea, and sometimes by Nay: On the false Assertion G.F. is become guilty of as many Lyes, as my Queries before proposed are in number, viz. thirteen. Besides, if G.F.’s Judgement, manifest in his reply, touching me (viz. that I have manifested Madness and Folly) were true, yet my Folly hath not been so great, as to write one Lye eight times over, and thirteen particular Lyes (and all on the foot of two False Assertions) besides many more, as hereafter in this my reply will appear (and that also detectable from the view of my Paper and G.F’s Answer thereto) as he hath done. I will not adventure to say this, in him was the Fruit of Madness and Folly; though ‘tis evident, he doth not heed what he writes; and in the most charitable Construction, what I can put thereon, the {Fifth Part 41} Reason he so doth (as I take it) springs from an Imagination possessing his heart, that he concludes whatever first arises in his mind (on the sight or hearing of any thing) is fit to be brought forth, and stood by. And truly, 'tis to be doubted, the like Imagination hath professed many (amongst whom I take John Balykling to be one, by giving for a False Certificate) to cover G.F. in his Defence of a Lye against the Truth, of which more anon.
I now come to signifie that G.F’s sending those Queries, was more like the Action of a Friend to a company of Hireling Priests, than the Action of one Friend to a Meeting of Friends, accounted by some the Church, and that what I writ by way of Answer to him by name, was more plain than his emoting in general terms, so far as Queries may be called Smiting. Neither was my reading my Answer in the Mens Meeting against my former declared sense and Judgement, though G.F. doth so insinuate, instancing the case of Thomas Cam which is remote from his purpose; 1. Because Thomas Cam was never allowed by me, or any that I know of, to read any Paper in the Mens Meeting. And 2. when as Agreement was appointed between Thomas Cam and John Wilkinson in order to prove John Wilkinson an Encourager of Wickedness; Friends were not willing to hear Thomas Cam read Papers, to prove other men wicked, not present, because the business of the Meeting was to prove John Wilkinson Wicked; and though ‘tis not proper for one Friend to bring forth Accusations against another Frend, in order to obtain a Judgement against the Accused behind his back, (which was the case of John Blaykling and twenty five more Accusers and Informers against John Story and John Wilkinson when they refused to own their Authority over them) yet if one, that hath professed the truth, hath sent abroad his Papers, having a {Fifth Part 42] tendency to put one Friend against another, about securing Outward Estate, when he hath advised the like, and not only so, but hath made Lyes his Refuge, thereby abusing honest men, that cannot submit to his will, 'tis proper enough for me, or any, that may have a Concern of Conscience (as I have) to discover the fruits of such a Deceiving, Betraying Spirit, though behind the back of him, in whom, it appears: But should I choose nine persons, and summon G.F. before them, as Judges over him, without his Assent and if he would not own their Authority, proceed to accuse and obtain such Judges to judge the matter, and spread that Judgement over a Nation, to his Defamation, right or wrong, it would not add to my Credit, though I might quote nine (who have been taken to be of the party with G.F.) for a President in the very like Case; and not only so, but might also quote several others, judging me, with respect to my Answer to G.F. without either hearing what I could say, to manifest the Reasonableness of my so writing, or G.F. to plead his Innocency, to all the matters written by way of Reflection on him.
And whereas G.F. saith, that I said to Bray Dayly, that I sent it (meaning my Answer) to G.F. three weeks before it was read in the Meeting; I say that’s utterly false; ‘tis probable I might acquaint him, 'twas written so long before, or left some time before with Charles Jones senior of Bristol to be sent to G.F. (for so I did) but he desired more time to consider, whether he would send it or no, than I was willing to grant.
Page 32th of George Fox’s Manuscript he thus saith, Here it is evident thou hast fulfilled my former words, that these thy pretended Queries were all of them real Charges, seeing here thou sust, thou firmly believest, that I am the Man, that hath been quilty of all these things before=mentioned; and therefore, the less I do take notice of them, because I know them to be all False and Malicious Chrages.
From the words [All false and Malicious Charges,] I refer {Fifth Part 43} it to the Reader to consider, whether there is not about five or six lyes more, whereof he may from thence be detected, and that form the view of his own Reply only, besides that which may be termed Forgery, in adding to my words (viz. before-mentioned) which words are none of mine, but his, and (as I take it) to render me to speak what I neither thought, or intended. My first Query is about his staying almost a quarter of a year from Meeting, or at least a very considerable time, though held in the very house of his Residence; this he denyes not, but pretends he was Weak, so that the breath of People, sitting near him, did overcome him; further adding these his very own words, viz. So that it was hard for me to sit by any out of the Meeting, much more in it.
In my third Query it’s thus said; “And yet art not thou sensible that thou art the Man, that hast advised the Rich to secure worldly Estate, that so the Persecutors might not become Spoilers thereof. To this G.F. answers, Thou hast not particularized any, though thou hath generally charged me; and therefore, this is a groundless Accusation and Calumny.
On this Query, I take occasion to observe, that he is detectable of several Lyes from the view of his own paper, if Isaac Penington and Mary his Wife may be properly termed the rich; and if they may not, I query of G.F. whether any among us may? The 1st Lye, whereof I take him on this occasion, to be detectable, is that he saith thus, Thou hast not particularised any; when in my paper I had thus in particular queried, “whether thou G.F. whilst Isaac Penington was in Prison, and in expectation of being Premunired, did not advise, or at least encourage Mary, the Wife of Isaac Penington, to secure her or their Estate? if thou deny it, I shall undertake to prove it, or bring Testimony under the hand of a Credible Friends in truth, that Mary Penington did signifie so much.
The 2d I take notice of, is these his words, Though thou {Fifth Part 44} hast generally charged me. To which I say, I did not; for I named not the Rich in general; and with this he charges me against in his Reply, in these words, viz. As thou goest over and over they Paper of False Charges, that I should advise the Rich, in a general way, to secure their Estates.
The 3d I take notice of, on this occasion, is from this word [groundless] when as he doth not deny, that he did so advise Mary Penington, signifying also, That if Mary Penington in her weakness did secure her Land for her, and her Children, &c. yet what is this to thy making away thy Estate, &c? and so bids me, make what I can of it, saying, Hers was but a particular case; which leads me to observe thus much, that my Query was not Groundless, and so this may (as I take it) justly be termed the Third Lye, whereof he is detectable, from these his before-cited words, viz. Thou hast not particularized any, though thou hast generally charged me, and therefore this is a groundless Accusation and Calumny: But that which aggravates his Error the more, is his thus saying, I never advised thee to make away thy Estate, nor none else, as if Mary Penington was no body.
And as to these his words, yet what is this to thy making away thy Estate?
I answer and confess that G.F. amongst his many Lyes, hath written some Truth; for ‘tis very true, ‘tis nothing to the making away my Estate; doubtless it only secured their own, and not mine, neither was G.F. ever so friendly to me, as to take so much care of me and my family: besides, on another score, I may say, 'tis nothing to me, because I never profest my self principled to walk by other peoples outward Patterns; without knowing a better ground so to do, than a mere Outward Example, neither did I so do from any {Fifth Part 45} Dispensation given me, from G.F. and anybody else, and if any shall seem displeased at my using the word Dispensation on this occasion; to be plain, I shall tell the Reader in short, that I find G.F. in his Reply thus to say, on the very Occasion relating to Mary Penington, viz. For sometimes when people are weak and tender, and in trouble, they are to be left in some Cases, which they cannot bear, as in another case the Apostle said concerning Dayes, &c. but when they would make a sect of it, and their Principle as thou dost; then the Apostle judged them. On which words of George Fox, these necessary Observations may be made, if friends of truth are to be left in some cases, then (according as I take G.F’s Meaning to be) some body is to leave them; This some Body, in this Case, I take to be G.F. supposing himself invested with Power in some Cases over Friends to leave them.
Here I am sensible the Reader may query, What are they to be left to?
To this I answer, G.F. doth not, in so many words tell what; but yet ‘tis plain his Meaning is (if it be just to measure his Meaning by his Words) not to leave them to their own; for then Mary Penington (in probability) would not have acted according to his Advice; because G.F. in his Answer saith, He heard, Mary say, She durst not remove his Moveable Goods: and therefore I reasonably suppose, that his further Meaning is, that he hath power to dispense with Friends doing something, contrary to what they (according to their own Measure received) have Freedom in themselves to do, which to me is further evidenced from the latter part of his words, which are these, But when they would make a sect of it, and their Principle, as thou dost, then the Apostle judged them. To which I say, he hath quoted no Scripture to prove his Assertion, and I affirm he is capable to quote none for proof, thus to write as a just Parallel in my Case; However his words serve Effectually to manifest unto me his Pride and Ignorance; for by these his words [make a Sect of it and their {Fifth Part 46} Principle] (compared with what I have already observed on this Occasion) shews to me, that acting according to ones Principle (in some Cases at least) without an Allowance so to do from G.F. is worthy of Condemnation, which I take to be the Fruit of his Pride, or Ignorance; all which being considered, occasions me to query of G.F. Whether 'tis not Deceit in him to insinuate, as if Mary Peningtons securing her Estate, was the Fruit of her Weakness, when it seems clearly to appear, that 'twas not only done in Persuance of his Advice, but also he himself confesseth in his Answer, That he heard Mary Penington say, she durst not remove her Moveable Goods: And whether 'tis not the Fruit of great Partiality and respect of Persons in G. F. to have so great a Regard to the Securing of her Estate for her and his Children; and yet take occasion to Query, Whether the Spirit that does so (meaning, Making away Estates, &c. for Fear of the Spoiler in time of Persecution, &c.) is not the Spirit of the World, that doth lust to Envy, which is Earthly, Sensual, and Devilish: which doubtless will be taken by some, to be intended by him as a Reflection on such, as should so do, without a Dispensation from him?
To be plain, If G.F. had so great a Care for others, not outwardly related to him, I know no Reason why I may not take the same Care for my Wife and Children, which are many, though I have no Dispensation from him so to do; and why he should Condemn me for so doing, I understand not; unless he thinks my Care therein may prevent an Outward Blasting, which some of his Temporizing party have Prophesied, will come upon me, and all that joyn to that Spirit, as they were pleased to Phrase it.
In my 5th Query, it’s thus said, “And dost thou not remember, that at a Quarterly Meeting in Glocster-shire, (suddenly after thy last departure from Bristol) there was a Person, that judged me not fit to judge in that Meeting, because I had secured a part of my goods without Doors, (though I had {Fifth Part 47]} left abode two Hundred Pounds value of Moveable Goods, 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 thy self then present, manifested a dislike thereof (as well as several others) after thy usual manner thus, Whisht Whisht? Doth thou not also remember, that I then signified to this effect, If what I had done was a crime, those who were accounted of the chiefest amongst us, were guilty of Crimes of the like nature? This G.F. (in answer thereto) denies not, but in effect confesseth it, by these words, But I did not say nothing else but Whisht Whisht. I now desire the Reader to compare this with his before-cited words, viz. I know them to be all (meaning all my Thirteen Queries before spoken of) False and Malicious Charges; and then consider, whether he hath not herein belayed his Conscience at a large rate?
I now come to reckon with George Fox for his Answer to my 10th Query; a part whereof is, “Whether ‘tis fit for one that feeds of the fat of the Land, &c. and that hath twelve or thirteen hundred pounds well secured out of the reach of the Spoilers, &c. to admonish a company of Poor, Innocent, Harmless Friends, that has three or four Cows a piece, to feed themselves and Children, not to secure them from the spoilers, &c.? if it be not fit for such an one so to Admonish, I then Query, whether thou are not the man, that art so qualified, and who (in effect) hast so admonished? To this, a part of G.F’s Answer is on this wise, The Lord knows, I had neither twelve, or thirteen hundred Pounds in my life, secured out of the Reach of the Spoiler. It’s true I might have had something in the other Powers dayes, that descended to me as my Birth-Right; but I gave it away to my Relations, not for fear of Persecution, or to make it away from the Spoilers. On this I observe, that he doth not deny; but he denies that he had so {Fifth Part 48} much secured. And as to his speaking of something, that descended to him, as his Birth-Right; ’‘tis probable enough, that some, in Ages to come (comparing that with his not denying to have had twelve, or thirteen hundred Pounds, and that he gave not away what descended to him by Birth-Right for fear of Persecution) may conclude, that he had some Estate by Birth-Right, which might be accounted worth twelve or thirteen hundred Pounds; or at least very considerable: But I cannot take that to bespeak so much Credit and Repute to him, as a plain stating that matter would be; because I can truly say (and so I believe many more can) That in his Person I accounted the Testimony of the Apostle Paul fulfilled, who said, God hath chosen the Foolish things of the Word, to confound the Wise, and God hath chosen the Weak things of the World, to confound the Mighty; and Base things of the World, and things which are Despised, hath God chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to Nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his Presence: And partly on this score, can I, in the fear of the Lord, say, (and that justly too) that he was to me (whilst he kept his Place and Habitation in the Truth) truly Honourable; and therefore , I am persuaded, that he would have added more to his Repute and Name, to have acquainted the Reader (if he would needs discourse of his Birth-Right) that he descended of Poor Parentage, and that before he went abroad to preach the Light, he was a Journymen Shoemaker, and as such one, wrought Journey work with George Gee of Manchester (if he so did, as Report saith he did) and so have given Glory to God, that in years past , he made Choice of so poor, mean and despised a Person, through whom to preach the Everlasting Light, Christ Jesus, the Guide to the Father, and if G.F. had ever since he went abroad to Preach, laboured (whilst able and at leisure, with his hands, as the Primitive Apostles did) or otherwise been industrious in an Outward Calling, that the Gospel of {Fifth Part 49} Christ might not be Chargeable, and so gotten twelve or thirteen hundred pounds, that also might have tended to his Repute, especially, if instead of discoursing of that which descended unto him by Birth-Right, he had signified that out of the twelve, or thirteen hundred Pounds, he would take Care of his poor Relations, that so their Outward Man might be somewhat more Refresht, and Comforted with necessary Food, Rayment and Living, than of late Years they have been many and that whilst he was reputed to be in the Enjoyment of all things needful as to Outward Enjoyments.
The Consideration of these things, brings to my remembrance, G.F’s Language in another Case, and occasions me to use the like; Poor George! I am sorry for thee, and pitty thee; and one Reason amongst many more, that I could now give, why on this Occasion I so say, is this, I well remember the day was, and yet is, wherein I neither did, or do measure him according to the Nonsense of his Words, but the Intent and Meaning of his Mind; and yet his disingenuity towards me, is so great, as that it appears, that one of his chiefest Defences for himself (next to a Lying Tongue and suffering False Certificates to be made use of in his favour, (of which more anon) hath been to pervert sound and undetectable words, to render his Friend guilty of so much Evil, as G.F. hath unjustly charged me with, rendering me intending that, which never was my Meaning, nor yet the Import of my Words, as plainly appears by his concluding, that all my Queries are Charges, though (as before is hinted) I would not have any think, I asked one Question groundless, and that I account his Paper of Queries (which he terms an Epistle) to be in itself a good Exhortation. And since he writes that he gave away something, that descended to him by Birth-Right; I think it needful, on this Occasion, to tell him, that it hath been credibly Reported, that John Story hath been judged by him, or at least by some of the Party with him, for giving {Fifth Part 50} unto his Mother the Rent of a small Estate, this his Kinsman gave him; saying, John Story should have kept the Estate in his own Hands, or at least got a Tenant that would not have paid Tythes, that so a Testimony might have been kept up against Tythes: Which occasions me to query of G.F. (if he was concerned in this matter) whether he might not by that Rule, be worthy censure, for given away something, that descended to him by Birth-Right, and whether it might not as well have been his duty to have kept the same, to have born a Testimony in the Case of Tythes, as well as John Story’s Duty so to have done?
In part of my twelfth Query, ‘tis thus written, “Whether or no a suffering for the Testimony of such a False Prophet, as Solomon Eccles hath proved himself to be, as is manifest by his Prophesying John Story’s death within a year, and since expired, can be called a suffering for the Gospel of Christ? To the twelfth Query a part of G.F’s Answer is on this wise, Here is another of thy deceitful Queries; but where the Deciet lies, he doth not inform me, neither do I understand wherein he placeth the Deceit, especially, since G.F. in his particular Answer thereto, doth not say, he was a true Prophet, but yet signifies this much in his favour, That he would not have him made an Offender for words, since he acknowledged them; and this appears from G.F’s own words on this Occasion, viz. And it is not right to make a man an Offender for Words, if he acknowledge them; as I percieve, Solomon Eccles hath done. I now recommend the aforesaid Query and Answer to the Consideration of every Impartial Reader, doubting not but all such will find Geroge Fox detectable of another plain, downright Lye, since he hath with respect to all my Queries, thus said, as before is cited, I know them to be all False and Malicious Charges.
For a further Manifestation of that Spirit, which led G.F. in his Reply to me, I think it needful to take further {Fifth Part 51} notice of these his words, viz. And it is not right to make a man an Offender for words, if he acknowledges them. Doubtless G.F. intended this as a Reproof to me, in terming Solomon Eccles a False Prophet. What in or out babling is this! when he durst not in Plain, Down-right termes say, He was no False Prophet; nor yet say, that he was on this Occasion made an Offender for a Word by me; For if we say, It is not right to make a man an Offender for words, if he acknowledge them; the Meaning thereof in common sense, and according to a Christian Spirit is this, that if a Man’s Words express not his Meaning, and he so declares, when he is charged therewith; Then if he say, that was not my Meaning, ‘tis not right to insist on a Man’s Words in such a Case, to make him an Offender; but what’s this to Solomon Eccles, who after he had written, and given forth his Prophesie, to continue, as that which he would stand by, did not pretend that he had not exprest himself according to his Meaning; and therefore the words of G.F. as aforesaid, seem but a deceitful Contrivance to cover a False Prophet. Moreover, 'tis observable, that G.F. doth not say, that Solomon Eccles hath acknowledged, that his Words were Wrong.
‘Tis also to be noted, that the Words so spoken by G.F. in Relation to this False Prophet, Solomon Eccles, seem to be grounded on the Words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah 29.21. That make a Man an Offender for a Word, which by the Scope of the said Chapter, seems to relate unto the True Prophets, and hath been so expounded; and were not intended as a Defence for such False Prophets, as Solomon Eccles hath proved himself to be, who thereby had offended many Brethren (especially in the City of Bristol, where he publih’d his False Prophesie who therefore on that Occasion have had something against him, which occasion me to query of G.F. whether he did not approve of the False Prophet’s going beyond the Sea, in the work of the Ministry? {Fifth Part 52} and if so, Whether he hath done well to encourage such a False Prophet, in such a Service, until such time that he had known, that he had been reconciled unto his Brethren, whom he had offended? But if G.F. shall deny, that he did Encourage him, I then say (for 'tis best to be plain) that such a Denial is like to have little Place with me (whilst G.F. appears, as of late he hath,) not only because G.F. seems to publish Lyes (as it were by Heaps) but also because 'tis very improbable that he (who had so great an Esteem for G.F. as to many is known he had) should go in such a Service without his Approbation.
However, such a Denial may reasonably occasion an Answer to this Query, Whether G.F. hath been as industrious to bar the door against Solomon Eccles, in offering his Gift, as he and others have been against John Story and John Wilkinson’s offering their Gift, though never proved to be False Prophets, as ever we could understand?
One thing more is Remarkable on this Occasion from G.F. his Words, before-cited, viz. ‘Tis not Right to make a Man an Offender for Words, when he acknowledgeth them, Hence I take Occasion to query, Whether since James Naylor came to a Sight and Sense of his Fall, and through true Repentance, and open Confession before the Lord and his People, in many Parts of the nation, found acceptance with the Lord and his People; I say, whether 'twas not a wrong Spirit, that led George Fox to acquaint John Wilkinson and John Story, in a Letter written Anno 1676. That they would become as hardened and as bad as the old Opposers, amongst whom he reckons up James Naylor, not having so much Charity, as therewith also to acknowledge his being, through true Repentance, and Contrition of Heart, restored: 'Tis well if the Reason thereof be not, because James Naylor could never be brought by George Fox (as Report saith) to condemn these Words, or Words to this Effect, spoken by him, I AM BUT A FIGURE OF ANOTHER.
{Fifth Part 53} I now come to take notice of what G.F. saith to this my Query, whether thou G.F. did not advise Nathaniel Crips to buy his Tythes, &c. if thou deny it, I will undertake to prove it, or bring it under the hand of Nathaniel Crips that thou so did. To this a Part of G.F’s Answer is on this wise; But for him to turn this, and say, I advised him to buy his Tythes, he doth make me a great deal of Wrong, and so he might have spared to impeach me Wrongfully. And in another Part of his Answer, thus; In the Morning I was walking in his Chamber, I saw this Spirit made some like Devils, that they mattered not what they said, to blemish the Reputation of them, that wished them well, both Temporally and Spiritually.
From the Word Temporally, ‘tis rational to suppose, that G.F. for the temporal Good of Nathanial Crips, advised him to buy his Tythes, even as he denies not that he advised Mary Penington, for the Good of her and her Children (whereof I have already treated) to secure her Estate from the Spoilers; but here methink the Reader may be apt to query, What should be the Reason that G.F. should seem to deny this, and not his advising Mary Penington to secure her Estate, since here also he might have as well crept out (under the Notion, that Friends in some Cases, when they are weak, are to be left;) as he did in the Case of Mary Penington.
To this I say, G.F. can best answer, however the Reader shall have my thoughts, which are these, I think that Isaac and Mary Penington had not of late so honourable and good Esteem for John Story, as Formerly, though they may for G.F. even as Nathaniel Crips hath of late been disaffected with G.F’s Actions in some things, though not with John Story’s, so far as I know. Now if G.F. should have denied the Matter relating to Mary Penington, it might have occasioned the loss of his Interest in her and her Husband, and (with them) in many more, because they know {Fifth Part 54} it to be Truth; and if he could have gotten Twenty Eight Persons to have signed a False Certificate, that he did not so advise; ‘would have had no more Credit with them, than the signing of the False Certificate, hereafter following, by Twenty Eight hands (whose End therein I take to be, to evidence in his favour that, what I and many more, saw with our Eyes, was Untrue) hath place with me, and such many others, which is none at all: but G.F. having already (in great Measure, as I suppose, if not altogether) lost his Interest in the heart of Nathaniel Crips, he, peradventure in that Case, scruples not to deny the Truth, and for ought I know, 'tis on this Confidence, that he can obtain a False Certificate, under the hands of Twenty Eight Persons, that he did not so, which though it might the more confirm Nathaniel Crips, that G.F. is wrong, yet many others might be the more confident that his Opposers are Wrong; and since the Import of his Answer implies a Denial, that he advised Nathaniel Crips to buy his Tythes, I think it needful here to cite, not only Nathaniel Crips his Certificate and Testimony in that Case, but also the Testimony of Robert Arch, in Relating to G.F’s Advice to him also touching the Buying of his Tythe.
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