THE

CHAPTER VIII.

CONVINCEMENT OF HUMPHREY BACHE.

HE conversion of Humphrey Bache, about the year 1655, from the maxims and religion of the world, to those pure and undefiled principles of Truth under which many seeking souls were now gathering into a visible church, was a remarkable instance of the efficacy of the Light of Christ, received and cherished in the mind, not only to show forth sin in its true character in a manner widely different from the maxims of human policy, but also, in its cleansing operations on the heart, to constrain the subject of its power to righteous confession and compensation for wrongs or injuries committed.

He was brought up a goldsmith in the city of London; but the civil war breaking out between Charles the First and the Parliament, his business failed to afford him a maintenance, and he applied to the leaders of the popular party for some office. He was accordingly employed as an overseer of workmen engaged in building the fortifications about London. His allowance was three shillings a day, with which, for a time, he was well contented. He frequently observed that some of the other overseers would go with those they employed, and treat them to strong drink. Being told by one of the workmen, that the money so spent did not come out of the salaries of those officers, he inquired how that could be. "Do you not know," said his informant, "they can sometimes set down a man more than they employ; or if that cannot so well be, set down for some, two pence a-day more than they give." This was a new idea to Humphrey, who being off his guard, Satan worked therein with much subtilty to betray him. His honesty of

purpose at last gave way, and he began to covet more than his wages; and his heart becoming corrupt in its desires, he soon proved unfaithful to his trust, and acting on the hint he had received, he robbed the commonwealth of its dues. During the time he remained in this employment, the amount he took, more than his wages, was about six pounds.

Of course he had no peace of mind, and was often troubled at the thought of the wrong he was doing. But he had departed from his God, through the inward operations of whose Holy Spirit he might have found preservation from all evil; and he now had no will nor strength to resist the temptation. Encouraging himself in the deceitfulness of his heart, his spiritual eye became, for a time, so far blinded, that he did not see the evil to be so great as it first appeared. His heart was hardened through his continued violation of right, until at length he went on without much conviction or remorse.

When the fortifications around London were completed, Humphrey obtained a situation in the custom-house. Having yet some fear of his Heavenly Father remaining in him, he discharged his duty, for a season, with true fidelity. So long as he retained that fear, he was preserved from joining with those about him in robbing the public treasury. At this time he often felt bitterness of soul for what he had formerly done; and this assisted him, as he firmly resisted all bribes, withholding his lips from the proffered wine-his hand from the tempting silver.

His companions, who had departed from honesty and simplicity, into that serpentine wisdom which uses its plausible pretences to lead others astray, advanced many specious arguments to persuade him to act as they did. Listening from time to time to their beguiling words, he was at length staggered; for he had not as yet learned, that man's only safety from sin depends on his turning away

from the arguments, enticements and examples of unregenerate men, watching unto prayer, and seeking unto God for wisdom to know, and strength to execute His will. He saw that others were violating their oaths, regardless of their duty; and this strengthened the natural covetousness of his heart. Nothing that he heard or saw, had so great an influence on him, as the unfaithfulness of the members of the "Long Parliament," which was then sitting; and he had no hesitation in telling them afterwards, that it was through their evil example, he had been led to violate his

trust.

He soon fell from his integrity, and again sought by unfair means to increase his wages. Yet the Lord, in love to his soul, followed him with reproofs and corrections; and in order to break his hard heart, judgment after judgment was administered to him. He continued, however, going on in the same course of iniquity, until through the inward rebukes of the Holy Spirit, he was filled with fear and terror. Being now devoid of comfort, he became very irritable. A small thing would ruffle his temper, and lead him to quarrel with his dearest friends. He who had been very loving and gentle towards his wife, was now so peevish, so fretful, and so froward, that he would often break out into fits of anger with her, even when she spoke mildly and pleasantly to him.

For a long time he felt the weight of condemnation upon him, and had many thoughts as to what he must do to find relief. Sometimes he thought of making restitution, confessing what he had done, and surrendering himself to the commissioners, to deal with him as they should think best. His heart, however, was not yet rightly subdued; and though for the last year he held the office he scrupulously refused to take more than his due, he still retained the gain of his former wickedness.

We have seen that Francis Howgill and Edward Bur

rough, in the year 1654, came from the north of England to London, preaching the gospel in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, and that many being there gathered into communion with them, meetings were established in and about this great metropolis, that year and the next. One of these meetings Humphrey Bache attended; but what he then heard had very little effect upon him. Some time after, one of his acquaintance inquiring of him whether he had been to hear the Quakers, he replied, he had heard them once. "Yes," rejoined his friend, "but hear them five or six times, and then judge whether it be not truth that they declare." Humphrey accordingly attended two or three meetings more, still without appearing to receive any particular spiritual benefit. After a time, again feeling some inclination to try them, he went to the “Bull and Mouth" meeting, where were those three eminent ministers of the gospel of Christ, George Fox, Francis Howgill, and Edward Burrough. One of them, while speaking of the cross of Christ, which all true disciples must take up daily, said to this effect:-"The carnal mind is enmity against God. As any one comes to stand in the cross, which is the power of God, the enmity is broken down, and reconciliation is witnessed. The enmity is slain by the power of God-by that which crosseth the carnal mind—which is, the Light."

Under this testimony, the heart of Humphrey Bache was reached. The witness for God within him responded to the truth of what was uttered, and to its applicability to his own condition. He knew that "the Light which shineth in a dark place" had discovered his sin to him, and reproved him for that which his carnal mind urged him to do. He saw that as the cross was taken up, death must needs come on the carnal mind; sin must cease; and thus the partition wall between him and his God would be broken down.

Now, as the mysteries of the kingdom were opened before him, his inward eye was anointed to discover the mysteries of iniquity also. His heart was in measure turned to the Lord, and desires were raised in him for perfect redemption from sin. In order to witness this, he was led into inward waiting on the Lord, that he might receive the further manifestations of that divine Light, which he now knew had often convinced him of sin. He who had died to save him, now, by his Holy Spirit, instructed his soul, opening his inward condition, and showing him what yet stood between him and reconciliation with God.

The first thing which was then made manifest to him was his former unfaithfulness to his trust. In the remembrance thereof, trouble and anguish were again awakened within him, and he saw that he was not clear in the sight of immaculate Justice. He had given up his course of dishonesty; but he had not made restitution for that already committed. As he waited at "Wisdom's gate" for direction, it was made plain to his understanding that his covetousness-that which desired to retain the gain of iniquity-must be given up to die on the cross. He felt that all he had unjustly obtained, he must freely pay to the commissioners of excise, for the service of the commonwealth. This was a close trial to him, as it amounted to about one-half of all his outward substance. What added to the trial was, that he was now not easy to remain any longer in the excise, and had a wife and five children to provide for.

While he was in this tried condition of mind, George Fox was inwardly drawn to pay him a visit; and being partly informed by Humphrey of the struggles within him, he said to him, "He that confesseth, and forsaketh his sin, shall find mercy." Humphrey was made sensible that George's heart was raised up in prayer to the Lord on his behalf, and that the petition found acceptance. He has left