WILLIAM PENN ON GEORGE FOX.

(From his Preface to Fox's "Journal.")

[GEORGE FOX, founder of the Society of Friends or "Quakers," was born 1624 in Leicestershire of a poor family, but of precocious moral sense; he passed through a spiritual crisis at nineteen, and forsook the world for a while; then wandered about for three or four years seeking direction, in vain; satisfying himself, in 1647 he began itinerant preaching near Manchester, and thenceforward made a chief vocation that which caused much of the persecution of the early Quakers, - entering churches during service and preaching against the ministers, which of course caused immediate uproar and subsequent jailing, once for almost a year. From 1669 to 1673 he was on a proselytizing tour in the Western Hemisphere; and on his return was again imprisoned fourteen months for illegal meetings. His later years were spent with fair quiet in London, where he died in 1690.]

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[WILLIAM PENN was born in London, 1644; son of Admiral William Penn, a professional seaman under Cromwell and Charles II. Of early spirituality like Fox, he was reared a Puritan, and set toward Quakerism while at Christ Church, Oxford. After more than one quarrel with his father over the new doctrines and their prejudice to his career, and being sent to the Continent and Ireland to see service and gain worldly sense, he became a Quaker minister in 1667; and his history for many years is largely one of the writing of polemic books and tracts, at first of great violence and aggressiveness, then of arguments for universal toleration, and some imprisonments. In 1670 he was arrested for street preaching, and after a long struggle was acquitted; the court fined and imprisoned the jury, who carried up the case and won a verdict of illegal imprisonment, great legal landmark. In 1676 he became a proprietor of West Jersey, and drew up a very liberal constitution for it, and many Quakers settled there. Discouraged by futile efforts to secure toleration for Dissenters, and the rancors of the Popish Plot, in 1681 he obtained a grant of American territory for settlement on his own principles (Pennsylvania); remained there two years and founded Philadelphia. Returning in 1684, he was after Charles's death in high favor with James; supported the Declaration of Indulgence, secured the release of twelve hundred Quakers from prison, and in Monmouth's rebellion did the little he could to mollify James's vengeance. After the Revolution he was much suspected and in some danger for a time. The rest of his long life was spent in work for and troubles over Pennsylvania, in religious effort, writing, and public speaking. He died in 1718. He was one of the most influential religious writers as well as religious leaders of his age.]

I. HE WAS a man that God endued with a clear and wonderful depth, a discerner of others' spirits, and very much a master of his own. And though the side of his understanding which lay next to the world, and especially the expression of it, might sound uncouth and unfashionable to nice ears, his matter was nevertheless very profound; and would not only bear to be often considered, but the more it was so, the more weighty and instructing it appeared. And as abruptly and brokenly as

sometimes his sentences would fall from him, about divine things, it is well known they were often as texts to many fairer declarations. And indeed it showed, beyond all contradiction, that God sent him; that no arts or parts had any share in the matter or manner of his ministry; and that so many great excellent, and necessary truths as he came forth to preach to mankind, had therefore nothing of man's wit or wisdom to recommend them; so that as to man he was an original, being no man's copy. And his ministry and writings show they are from one that was not taught of man, nor had learned what he said by study. Nor were they notional or speculative, but sensible and practical truths, tending to conversion and regeneration, and the setting up of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men; and the way of it was his work. So that I have many times been overcome in myself, and been made to say, with my Lord and Master upon the like occasion: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of this world, and revealed them to babes." For many times hath my soul bowed in an humble thankfulness to the Lord, that He did not choose any of the wise and learned of this world to be the first messenger, in our age, of His blessed truth to men; but that He took one that was not of high degree, or elegant speech, or learned after the way of this world, that His message and work he sent him to do, might come with less suspicion or jealousy of human wisdom and interest, and with more force and clearness upon the consciences of those that sincerely sought the way of truth in the love of it. I say, beholding with the eye of my mind, which the God of heaven had opened in me, the marks of God's finger and hand visibly, in this testimony, from the clearness of the principle, the power and efficacy of it, in the exemplary sobriety, plainness, zeal, steadiness, humility, gravity, punctuality, charity, and circumspect care in the government of church affairs, which shined in his and their life and testimony that God employed in this work, it greatly confirmed me that it was of God, and engaged my soul in a deep love, fear, reverence, and thankfulness for His love and mercy therein to mankind; in which mind I remain, and shall, I hope, to the end of my days.

II. In his testimony or ministry, he much labored to open truth to the people's understandings, and to bottom them upon the principle and principal, Christ Jesus, the Light of the

world, that by bringing them to something that was of Go themselves, they might the better know and judge of Him themselves.

III. He had an extraordinary gift in opening the S tures. He would go to the marrow of things, and show mind, harmony, and fulfilling of them with much plainness to great comfort and edification.

IV. The mystery of the first and second Adam, of the and restoration, of the law and gospel, of shadows and stance, of the servant's and Son's state, and the fulfilling o Scriptures in Christ, and by Christ, the true Light, in all are His through the obedience of faith, were much of the stance and drift of his testimonies. In all which he was nessed to be of God, being sensibly felt to speak that whi had received of Christ, and which was his own experien that which never errs nor fails.

V. But above all he excelled in prayer. The inwar and weight of his spirit, the reverence and solemnity o address and behavior, and the fewness and fullness of his w have often struck even strangers with admiration, as used to reach others with consolation. The most awful, 1 reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say, was prayer. And truly it was a testimony he knew and nearer to the Lord than other men; for they that know most, will see most reason to approach Him with reverend fear.

VI. He was of an innocent life, no busybody nor seeker, neither touchy nor critical; what fell from hi very inoffensive, if not very edifying. So meek, cont modest, easy, steady, tender, it was a pleasure to be in his pany. He exercised no authority but over evil, and that where and in all; but with love, compassion, and long-suf A most merciful man, as ready to forgive as unapt to t give an offense. Thousands can truly say, he was of an lent spirit and savor among them, and because there most excellent spirits loved him with an unfeigned a fading love.

VII. He was an incessant laborer; for in his younge before his many great and deep sufferings and trave enfeebled his body for itinerant services, he labored m the word, and doctrine, and discipline in England, Sc and Ireland, turning many to God, and confirming tho

were convinced of the truth, and settling good order as to church affairs among them. And towards the conclusion of his travelling services, between the years seventy-one and seventy-seven, he visited the churches of Christ in the plantations in America, and in the United Provinces, and Germany, as his following Journal relates, to the convincement and consolation of many. After that time he chiefly resided in and about the city of London; and besides the services of his ministry, which were frequent and serviceable, he wrote much, both to them that are within, and those that are without, the communion. But the care he took of the affairs of the church in general was very great.

VIII. He was often where the records of the affairs of the church are kept, and the letters from the many meetings of God's people over all the world, where settled, come upon occasions; which letters he had read to him, and communicated them to the meeting that is weekly held there for such services; and he would be sure to stir them up to discharge them especially in suffering cases, showing great sympathy and compassion upon all such occasions, carefully looking into the respective cases, and endeavoring speedy relief, according to the nature of them. So that the churches, or any of the suffering members thereof, were sure not to be forgotten or delayed in their desires, if he were there.

IX. As he was unwearied, so he was undaunted in his services for God and his people; he was no more to be moved to fear than to wrath. His behavior at Derby, Lichfield, Appleby, before Oliver Cromwell, at Launceston, Scarborough, Worcester, and Westminster-Hall, with many other places and exercises, did abundantly evidence it to his enemies as well as his friends.

But as in the primitive times, some rose up against the blessed apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, even from among those that they had turned to the hope of the gospel, who became their greatest trouble; so this man of God had his share of suffering from some that were convinced by him, who through prejudice or mistake ran against him, as one that sought dominion over conscience; because he pressed, by his presence or epistles, a ready and zealous compliance with such good and wholesome things as tended to an orderly conversation about the affairs of the church, and in their walking before men. That which contributed much to this ill work, was, in

some, a begrudging of this meek man the love and esteem he had and deserved in the hearts of the people; and weakness in others, that were taken with their groundless suggestions of imposition and blind obedience.

They would have had every man independent; that as he had the principle in himself, he should only stand and fall to that, and nobody else; not considering that the principle is one in all; and though the measure of light or grace might differ, yet the nature of it was the same; and being so, they struck at the spiritual unity, which a people, guided by the same principle, are naturally led into; so that what is an evil to one, is so to all, and what is virtuous, honest, and of good report to one, is so to all, from the sense and savor of the one universal principle which is common to all, and, which the disaffected also profess to be, the root of all true Christian fellowship, and that Spirit into which the people of God drink, and come to be spiritually minded, and of one heart and one soul.

In all these occasions, though there was no person the discontented struck so sharply at as this good man, he bore all their weakness and prejudice, and returned not reflection for reflection; but forgave them their weak and bitter speeches, praying for them that they might have a sense of their hurt, see the subtilty of the enemy to rend and divide, and return into their first love that thought no ill.

And truly, I must say, that though God had visibly clothed him with a divine preference and authority, and indeed his very presence expressed a religious majesty, yet he never abused it; but held his place in the church of God with great meekness, and a most engaging humility and moderation. For upon all occasions, like his blessed Master, he was a servant to all; holding and exercising his eldership, and the invisible power that had gathered them, with reverence to the Head and care over the body; and was received only in that spirit and power of Christ, as the first and chief elder in his age; who, as he was therefore worthy of double honor, so for the same reason it was given by the faithful of this day; because his authority was inward and not outward, and that he got it and kept it by the love of God, and power of an endless life. I write my knowledge and not report, and my witness is true, having been with him for weeks and months together on divers occasions, and those of the nearest and most exercising nature, and that by night and by day, by sea and by land, in this and in foreign