: God or in the evil one, and make this blessed light the guide of their life; fearing, with a holy fear, to do any thing that this light manifests to be evil; waiting and watching with a godly care, to be preserved blameless before the Lord;-I say, all such become children of light, and witnesses of the life of Jesus. O blessed wilt thou be for ever, if in the way of this holy light thy mind walks to the end! "Let this that hath visited thee lead thee; this seed of light and life, which is the seed of the kingdom. Yea, it is CHRIST, the true and only seed of God, that visited my soul, even in my young years; that spread my sins in order before me, reproved me, and brought godly sorrow upon me; making me often to weep in solitary places, and say within my soul, O that I knew the Lord as I ought to know him! O that I served him as I ought to serve him!' Yea, often was there a great concern upon my spirit about my eternal state, mournfully desiring, that the Lord would give my soul rest in the great day of trouble. Now was all the glory of the world as a bubble; yea, nothing was dear to me that I might win. Christ for the love, friendship, and pleasure of this world were a burden unto my soul. And in this seeking state, I was directed to the testimony of Jesus in my own conscience, as the true shining light, giving me to discern the thoughts and intents of my own heart. And no sooner was I turned unto it, but I found it to be that which from my childhood had visited me, though I distinctly knew it not. And when I received it in the love of it, it showed me all that ever I had done, and reproved all the unfruitful works of darkness; judging me as a man in the flesh, and laying judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet in me. And as by the brightness of his coming into my soul, he discovered the man of sin there, upon his throne; so by the breath of his mouth, which is the two-edged sword of his Spirit, he destroyeth his power and kingdom. And having made me a witness of the death of the cross, he hath also made me a witness of his resurrection. So that in good measure my soul can now say, I am justified in the spirit; and though the state of condemnation unto death was glorious, yet justification unto life was and is more glorious. "In this state of the new man, all is new: behold, new heavens and a new earth! Old things come to be done away; the old man with his deeds put off. Now, new thoughts, new desires, new affections, new love, new friendship, new society, new kindred, new faith; even that which overcometh this world, through many tribulations; and new hope, even that living hope that is founded upon VOL. V.-No. 3. true experience, which holds out all storms, and can see to the glory that is invisible to carnal eyes, in the midst of the greatest tempest. "It is the same blessed seed of light, life, and grace, which from God the Father is sown in thy heart, and which hath moved and wrought there the change which thou hast witnessed from the spirit of this world. Turn to it, watch in it, that by it thou mayst be kept from all that it discovers to be contrary to God; especially from thyself, from thy own runnings, willings, and strivings. For whatsoever is not born of the Spirit is flesh, and that inherits not the kingdom of God; but all that sow to it shall inherit corruption. By this thou wilt come to feel, not only all sin to be a burden, but all thy own righteousness, yea, all man's righteousness to be a burden. Thou wilt see the difference between the duties and prayers which thou begettest, and the duties and prayers which, in thy true silence from all self-activity of mind, the Lord begets in thee. "O that thou mightst know the mystery of the new birth, and what that is that can truly call God, Father; even that which is begotten of him, which liveth, and breatheth, and hath its beginning and being in that life which is hid with Christ in God, and by which it hath been quickened to the knowledge and worship of Christ and God. And this thou shalt not fail to know and enjoy, as thou patiently sufferest the Lord to work his own work in thee by his own blessed Spirit. And that which will give thee to savour and discern the right motions and conceptions, duties and performances in thyself, from the false, will give thee to savour and discern that which is right from that which is false in others; that which is of God, from that which is of man. "Have a care of gathering sticks, and kindling a fire of thy own, and then compassing thyself about with the sparks of the fire which thou hast kindled, for the end of this state is to lie down in sorrow; because the heavenly fire is absent, which maketh the sacrifice ac ceptable: yea, the Lord may stir in thy heart, but thou mayst bring forth: but he that gives to conceive, he brings to the birth, and he giveth power to bring forth acceptably; for without Christ we can do nothing; and blessed are they that stir not, before the angel moveth the waters, and go not before Christ, but are led by him, and that awaken not their Beloved till he please; in whose hands the times and the seasons are. O blessed are they, whose eyes are opened to see him always present, a God always nigh at hand; whose hearts are stayed upon his holy appearance in them, and are thereby translated into his like 12 ness; whose faith and hope are in Christ in them, the hope of glory. Lord, blessed and magnified for ever and ever, amen! "Thy great and faithful lover for the blessed and holy Truth's sake, "Duysburg, the 13th of the "WILLIAM PENN. "My dear friend, weigh these things with. a serious, retired, sweet, and tender frame of spirit; and God who hath called me and thee, by the light of his dear Son, open thy understanding to perceive the Truth as it is in Jesus, and what is the mystery of the fellowship of the saints in light. So to the Lord I recom"P. S. The enclosed I received from a remend thee, the watchman and keeper of Israel.ligious young woman at Frankfort. We have The Lord be thy strength and holy comfort, had a blessed opportunity in this town with and speak peace to thee, and never leave thee some that have a desire after the Lord, in nor forsake thee till he hath conducted thee, which we are abundantly comforted. through all tribulations, to his everlasting kingdom of rest and glory. "O dear heart! be valiant, and stay thyself upon Christ Jesus, the everlasting rock, and feel him a fountain in thy soul; feel his blood to cleanse, and his blood to drink, and his flesh to eat feed upon him, for God hath given him for the life of the world. We have just now received thy message and salu- Here follows a letter to her father, the Graef of Bruck and Falkenstein. "To the Graef or Earl of Bruck and Falkenstein. "Friend, "I had seen thee, had not thy father's strange sort of severity hindered. I confess I do not use to be so treated in my own country, where the Lord hath raised up many thousands of witnesses, that he hath gathered, out of all sects and professions, to worship him, not in their spirits or wills, but in his will, Spirit, and Truth. And we are generally, after much affliction and suffering, in good esteem, even with the great ones of this world. And this let me add for thy particular comfort, that though I have been a man of great anguish and sorrow, because of the scorn and reproach that hath attended my separation from the world, (having been taught of Jesus, to turn my back upon all, for the sake of that glory that shall be revealed;) yet to God's honour I can say it, I have a hundred friends for one, yea, God hath turned the hearts of my enemies towards me; he hath fulfilled his promise, to turn the "By what law are men not scandalous, hearts of the parents unto the children. For under no proscription, harmless strangers, my parents, that once disowned me for this about lawful occasions, and men, not vagablessed testimony's sake, (of the Jew, Chris-bonds, but of good quality in their own countian, circumcision, and baptism inward, against try, stopped, menaced, sent back with solthe fleshly Christian,) have come to love me diers, and that at sun-set, exposed to the above all, and have left me all; thinking they night in an unknown country, and therefore could never do and leave enough for me. O forced to lie in the fields? I say, by what law how good is the Lord! yea, the ways of his mercy are even past finding out. "I wish thy salvation, and the Lord reward thee good for the evil that thou showedst unto me and my friends the last night, if it be his will. But since thou art but a mortal man, one that must give an account, in common with all, to the immortal God, let me a little expostulate with thee. are we judged, yea, thus punished, before heard? Is this the law of nations, or nature, "Wherefore, my dear friend, trust in the or Germany, or of Christianity? Oh! where Lord for ever; and the God of Abraham, is nature? where is civility? where is hospiIsaac, and Jacob, the God of the prophets and tality? But where is Christianity all this while? of the apostles, the God of all the holy mar- Well, but we are Quakers: Quakers! What tyrs of Jesus, illuminate, fortify and preserve is that for a name? Is there a law of the em thee steadfast; that in the end thou mayst pire against that name? No. Did we own it? receive the reward of life and eternal salva- No. But if we had, the letters of that name tion to whom be glory, and to the Lamb neither make up drunkard, adulterer, thief, that sits upon the throne, one God, and one murderer, nor traitor: why so odious then? what harm hath it done? why could Jews come upon thee as an armed man, and there pass just before us, that have crucified Christ, be none to deliver thee! "I am thy well-wishing friend, "WILLIAM PENN. "Duysburg, 3d of the Seventh and not Quakers that never crucified him? But ignorance is as well the mother of persecution as superstition: and the false Christian, and the false Jew have but one father. "But argumentum ad hominem my friend, bear with me a little. Art thou a Christian? This being done, we went to Dr. Mastricht's How canst thou be rude, uncivil, and perse- to inform him of what had passed, who though cute then? Thou art to love enemies, not of a kind disposition, and very friendly to us, abuse friends, harmless strangers. Well, but yet seemed surprised with fear, (the common this life is dead, this doctrine antiquated, Jesus disease of this country,) crying out, "What Christ turned out of doors, I perceive. will become of this poor Countess? Her fa"What art thou for a Christian? A Luther hath called her Quaker a long time, betheran? Yes. Canst thou so soon forget the practices of the Papists, and with what abhorrence thy ancestors declared against such sort of entertainment? Were not they despised, mocked, and persecuted? And are their children treading in the steps of their old enemies? Friend, it is not reformed words, but a reformed life that will stand thee instead. It is not to live the life of the unregenerate, worldly-minded, and wicked, under the profession of the saints' words, that will give an entrance into God's rest. Be not deceived, such as thou sowest, such must thou reap in the day of the Lord. Thou art not come to the Berean state that tried all things, and therefore not noble in the Christian sense. The Bereans were noble, for they judged not before examination. "And for thy saying, We want no Quakers here;'-I say, under favour, You do: for a true Quaker is one that trembleth at the word of the Lord, that worketh out his salvation with fear and trembling, and all the days of his appointed time waiteth in the light and grace of God, till his great change cometh. One that taketh up the daily cross to his will and lusts, that he might do the will of God manifested to him by the light of Jesus in his conscience; and according to the holy precepts and examples in the Holy Scriptures of Truth, laid down by Jesus and his followers for the ages to come. Yea, he is one that loveth his enemies rather than feareth them; that blesseth those that curse him, and prayeth for those that despitefully treat him; as God knoweth we do for thee. O that thou wert such a Quaker! Then wouldst thou rule for God, and act in all things as one that must give an account to God for the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil. Then would temperance, mercy, justice, meekness, and the fear of the Lord dwell in thy heart, and in thy family, and country. "Repent, I exhort thee, and consider thy latter end, for thy days are not like to be many in this world; therefore mind the things that make for thy eternal peace, lest distress having himself very severely to her, but now he will conclude she is one indeed, and he will lead her a lamentable life: I know," said he, "you care not for suffering, but she is to be pitied." We told him, that we both loved her, and pitied her, and could lay down our lives for her, as Christ hath done for us, in the will of God, if we could thereby do her good; but that we had not mentioned her name, neither was the letter, that he gave us to her, so much as seen or known of her father. But still he feared that our carriage would incense the Graef so much the more against both his daughter, and all those serious and inquiring poople up and down his country. We answered with an earnestness of spirit, that they had minded the incensings and wrath of men too much already, and that true religion would never spring or grow under such fears; and that it was time for all, who felt any thing of the work of God in their hearts, to cast away the slavish fear of man, and to come forth in the boldness of the true Christian life; yea, that sufferings break and make way for greater liberty, and that God was wiser and stronger than man. We asked him, if there were any in that city who inquired more diligently after the way of the Lord. He recommended us, (as we had already been informed in another place,) to the family of the Prætor, or chief governor of the town; whose wife, and sister more especially, were seeking after the best things. So we parted with him in love, and by the help of his daughter, were conducted to this family. We had not been long there, before a schoolmaster of Dusseldorf, and also a minister came in, inquiring after us, having heard of us at Mulheim, where he preached the day before to the people, or else by the way of our attempt to visit that place, and the entertainment we received at the hands of the Graef. He sat down with us, and though we had already had a sweet opportunity, yet feeling the power of God to rise, the meeting renewed. And, O magnified be the name of the Lord! he witnessed to our testimony abundantly in all their hearts and consciences, who were broken into much tenderness and certainly there is a blessed power and zeal, stirring in that young man; yea, he is very near the kingdom. So we took our leave of them, leaving the Lord's peace and blessing upon them. It was now something past the twelfth hour of the day. In the way to our lodging, we met a messenger from the Countess of Falkenstein, a tender young man, near to the kingdom, who saluted us in her name with much love; telling us, that she was much grieved at the entertainment of her father towards us, advising us not to expose ourselves to such difficulties and hardships, for it would grieve her heart, that any who came in the love of God to visit her, should be so severely handled; for at some he set his dogs, upon others he puts his soldiers to beat them:"But what shall I say?—that itself must not hinder you from doing good," said the Coun. tess. wife, who had formerly been a preacher, and being conscientiously dissatisfied with his own preaching, laid it down, and is now in a seeking state. But in lieu of him, we found out three more, with the person who had been recommended to us. We bespoke a meeting amongst them after dinner, which accordingly we had at a woman's house of good note in the town; who told us, that she had been long in a solitary estate, dissatisfied with the religions generally professed in that country, waiting for salvation, and she hoped that now the time was come, and that we were the mes sengers of it. The Lord was with us in the meeting, and their hearts were opened by the word of God, to receive our testimony as glad tidings of salvation. Meeting being done, we immedi ately returned to our lodging, desiring we might see them together in the same place the next morning, to take our leave of them; to which they readily assented. Next morning we came, and had a precious meeting with them, and there were some present who were not there the night before. So we left them in much love, and after having refreshed ourselves at our inn, we went to Rees; where we met with a counsellor of Gelderland, with whom we had a good oppor tunity to declare the testimony of Jesus, who received it, and parted with us in much kindness. We answered him, that his message was joyful to us, that she had any regard to us, and that she was not offended with us. We desired the remembrance of our kind love unto her, and that he would let her know that our concern was not for ourselves, but for her. We invited him to eat with us; but he told us, he was an inhabitant of Meurs, and was in haste to go home. So we briefly declared From thence we went to Emrick, and there our principle and message, recommending him called upon an eminent Baptist teacher, reto Christ the true Light in his conscience, and commended to us by one of Wesel. We parted. We went home to dinner, having spent some time with him, opening to him the neither eaten nor drank since first-day morn- way of life, as in the light it is manifested to ing, and having lain out all night in the field. all that love and obey the light; and of that We had no sooner got to our inn, but the more spiritual and pure ministry, which from man was constrained to come after us, and sat the living word of God is received by many down with us, and inquired concerning our true ministers in this day. The man was Friends, their rise, principles, and progress, somewhat full of words; but we felt the living and in all things about which he desired satis- visitation of the love of God reached to him, faction, he declared himself satisfied. Dinner and so we left him; making all the haste we being done, and all cleared, we departed that could, to get to Cleve that night; which ac city, being about the fourth hour in the after-cordingly we did, though late, being forced to noon, and for want of accommodation, were walk one-third part of the way. forced to walk eight English miles to a town called Holten, where we rested that night. That night, notwithstanding, one of us went to a certain lady, to whom we had recom mendations from the Princess, and who was particularly known to one of us; informing her, we were come to that city, desiring know what time next day we might give her THE next morning, being the 4th of the sev-a visit; she appointed eight o'clock in the enth month, we set out for Wesel, and got morning. CHAPTER XV. thither at noon. The first thing we did, as About that time we went to see her; she had been our custom, was to inquire who was received us agreeably, considering her quality worthy; particularly for two persons, recom- and courtship, far from showing any appear. mended to us by the Countess of Hornes, who ance of offence at our deportment. We told We found her, our message and visit was to those of one of them was gone to Amsterdam with his that city, who had any inclinations or desires, lives with the Princess Elizabeth. hunger or thirst after the true and living knowledge of God: for that end, we had left our own country, and had travelled up and down in several parts of Germany. She told us, that some there were who searched after God; but she feared the name of Quaker would make them shy, because they were called Quakers themselves, by people of the same profession, only for being more serious and retired in their conversation. We replied, that it was an honour to the name, that all sobriety throughout Germany was called by it; this ought to make the name less odious, yea, it will make the way easier for those that are truly called so, or that are Quakers indeed. It will take off much of the wonder, and it may be, of the severity of the places where we come, that the name is gone before us, and hath received a dwelling-place in their towns and cities. In fine, to all such, God had committed to us the word of life to preach, and such we seek out in all places whither the Lord brings us: and hitherto we can say it, to the praise of our God, he hath vindicated our service and testimony by his own blessed power, shed abroad in their hearts to whom we have been sent. She told us, she would send for an attorney at law, one who was more than ordinarily eminent; having deserted the church, and being therefore reproached with the name of Quaker. In this interval, we had close discourse with her; a woman certainly of great wit, high notions, and very ready utterance; so that it was hard for us to obtain a true silence, a state in which we could reach to her. But, through some travail of spirit more than ordinary, we had a sweet time of refreshment, and the witness was raised in her; and we really and plainly beheld a true nobility, yea, that which was sensible of our testimony, and did receive it. By this time, the person she sent for came, and a blessed sweet time we had: for the power and presence of the Lord, our staff and strength, unto whom our eye hath been throughout all our travels, that we might only be acceptable in him-plenteously appeared amongst us; both of these individuals confessing to the truth of what had been said, and the attorney especially, to the living sense in which the Truth had been declared. The Lord have the glory of his own work! We would have returned to our inn to eat, according as we had appointed in the morning; but she laid a kind of violent hands upon us, and necessitated us to stay and eat with her; which we did. We had no sooner sat down, but her brother-in-law, a man of quality and employment in the court of the Elector of Braden burg, came in and dined with us. As we sat at meat, we had a good meeting; for the time was much taken up about the things of God, either in answering their questions, or ministering to them about the true Christian nature and life; in all which, her brother behaved himself with great sweetness and respect. After dinner, we took our Christian leave of them in the fear of God, recommending unto them the light of Christ Jesus, that brings all that receive it into the one spirit, to live in holy peace and concord together; particularly and alone speaking to the lady and the attorney, what was upon us as to their states. We departed; and soon after took wagon for Nimeguen, where arriving about the seventh hour that night, we immediately took wagon for Utrecht, and got thither about the tenth hour next morning. We hear there is a people in that city; but had not now time to visit them, referring it to another opportunity. About the first hour in the afternoon, George Keith and Benjamin Furly took wagon for Rotterdam, and I took wagon for Amsterdam, where I came safely that night, about six o'clock in the evening; and I found Friends generally well, though it is a sickly time in this country. The meeting-house is much enlarged, and there is a fresh inquiry among many people after the Truth, and great desires to hear the testimony and declaration of it. I also understand, that dear George Fox is returned from Fredericstadt and Hamburg into Friesland, whither T. R. and I. Y. are gone from this city to meet with him. He has had a hard time of travel with respect to the weather, yet I hear is in good health, through the Lord's power that hath kept him. Here I received a lettter from the Princess Elizabeth, in answer to mine of the 25th of the sixth month, from Manheim, alias Fredericsburg. "The 4th (14th) of September, 1677. "Dear Friend, "I HAVE received your greetings, good wishes, and exhortations with much joy, and shall follow the latter as far as it will please our great God to give me light and strength. I can say little for myself, and can do nothing of myself, but I hope the Lord will conduct me in his time, by his way, to his end; and shall not shrink from his fire; I do long for it; and when he assures my ways, I hope he will give me power to bear the cross I meet therein. I am also glad to hear the journey hath been prosperous, both in the constitutions of your bodies, to withstand the badness of the weather, and in the reception you had in Cassel, Frankfort, and Krisheim |