with her, and the whole family were loving sixty-five died thereof in one week; and in to me and friends. And the Lord preserved that year, 1665, of the same distemper, sixtythat family, that none of them were infected eight thousand five hundred and ninety-six, with the pestilence, though it greatly increas- according to the yearly bill. ed, and the mortality thereby, so that in a few weeks great numbers quickly died. One evening after I had been visiting Friends in some places in the city, I was taken sick in my stomach and head, and was concerned, lest any of the family where I lodged should be frightened, so as to fear the sickness had taken hold upon me, and I spake to my friend Rebecca Travers, to desire her sister, Mary Booth, not to be afraid on my It was a time of great calamity, sorrow and heaviness, to many thousands of all sorts; and that which added to our friends' affliction, was the hardness of our persecutors' hearts, their cruelty and barbarity in imprisoning and detaining many of them in prison, both in Newgate, London, and the White Lion account; for said I to her, I shall be well toprison in Southwark, after the plague was greatly broken forth, and many people swept away by it. I had not then freedom, satisfaction, or peace to leave the city, or friends in and about London, in that time of great and general calamity, no, not when the mortality was at the height; but was concerned and given up in spirit to stay among them to attend friends' meetings; to visit friends in prison, and at their houses; even when many of them lay sick of the contagion, both in prison, and their habitations. And in all that time the Lord preserved me by his power, through faith, from the infectious distemper; which mercy I esteemed great and wonderful, and hope ever thankfully to remember, in a living sense of the divine hand which upheld and preserved me. Although it was judged the prisons were then infected and poisoned with the contagion, I was freely given up to suffer imprisonment; and on first-days took my night cap in my pocket when I went to meeting, not knowing but I might be apprehended at some meeting, and committed to prison. The Lord gave me faith to be resigned to his will, either to live, or to die for his name and truth sake; and through all those dangers and difficulties, to bear my testimony in faithfulness to his blessed power and life of righteousness, and thereby sustained and wonderfully preserved my life, when the cry and sound of mortality was round about us, from one end and side of the city to another. As the contagion and sickness increased, many of our persecutors were so terrified, that their hands were for sometime weakened. Still many of them were so hardened, that they were resolved to proceed against us to banishment, as when Pharaoh saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. So did our persecutors, when the calamity did not come upon themselves, though they saw how it was abroad, greatly destroying the inhabitants; for it was observed in the weekly bill, that when the plague was most hot and violent in and about London, seven thousand one hundred and morrow, wishing her to tell her sister so. And through the Lord's mercy I was very well next morning, though I had been very sick over night. I was then deeply concerned to visit our friends who were sick in prison, and out of prison, even when some of them were very near death, being often in great suffering and travail of spirit, with earnest prayer and fervent supplications to God for them, who were sufferers by imprisonment and that visitation, that God would appear for them, and plead their innocent cause, and afford them speedy help and deliverance. Being then a witness of that love which casts out fear, through the great mercy and love of my heavenly Father, manifest in his dear Son, I was not afraid to visit my friends when sick and in infected prisons. The Lord bore up my spirit in living faith, above the fear of death, or the contagious distemper; and my life was resigned in the will of him who gave it, for my friends and brethren, for whose sake true Christian love would engage us to lay down our lives to save theirs, if required of the Lord so to manifest our unfeigned love one for another. For it is not only in words and outward appearance that true love is really manifest, but in deed and in truth. But many who profess Christian love and charity, light and truth, in these days of liberty, have not had their love tried, as the love of our friends and brethren was in those days of sore persecution and great calamity; wherein the Lord, notwithstanding, gave us great consolation, comfort and courage-having received certain testimony and evidence in our hearts of the love of God, which we did par take of in Christ Jesus, from which we believed no wrath of man, no persecutions, calamities or distresses, should separate us. In those times of severe trial, the questions and answers given by the apostle, were often remembered; Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword! As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord: Rom. viii. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. Further to show my exercise and concern for our friends in that time, the two following epistles are next inserted. A few seasonable words to all the tender hearted, whose spirits are saddened and cast down at the trials of the present time. O dear friends, retire to Him that is manifest for a sure hiding place to the upright, in the day of calamity and hour of temptation; and in Him you will witness plenteous redemption and refreshments of his life, over all the troubles and sufferings of the present time, and over all fears and doubtings, which would beset any of you, to weaken you either inwardly or outwardly. And none are to let in unbelief, or hard thoughts, or to be shaken in mind, because of the deep sufferings of many of the dear servants of the Lord at this day, who are as killed and crucified, and all the day long accounted as sheep for the slaughter; nor at the great calamity and mortality in this fading city, which extends to the upright and innocent, in divers places, as well as to You that have received the testimony of the unrighteous, to both infants and others; God's love and salvation, and have tasted of and to divers of the sufferers for truth in their the power of an endless life, look not out, nor confinements, who have not contributed to the be discouraged at the deep suffering and trial cause of God's displeasure herein, but are of the present time, though many have a deep taken away in mercy, as to them, and from sense thereof upon their spirits, and the hearts the evil to come. They are delivered and set of many be saddened to see how universal in safety, from the future cruelties and wicked this calamity and overflowing scourge is, in designs of their oppressors and cruel minded this day of sweeping, sifting and trying; persecutors, who have hunted for the blood of wherein the faith of many must be thorough- the innocent; and may not only be charged ly tried, and their patience proved, to the re- with not visiting Christ when he was sick and signation of life and all unto the will of the in prison, but also with killing and murderFather, in whose hands we are, who knows ing him in prison; inasmuch as it is done what is best for his children. His ways are to any of his little ones, by their cruel connot to be measured nor found out by the wis-finement in pestilential or poisonous places. dom of man; for his works and proceedings But we know that for the faithful, there assurare in a cross to all carnal reason and expec- edly remain victory, triumph, and everlasting tation, and to the confounding thereof. But safety, though it be through death to many of they who in the faith and patience of the elect them, who know that it is neither tribulation seed, give up in his will, as those that live nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, by faith in him, and whose hope and refuge nor death, nor life, that shall be able to sepathe Lord is, shall never be confounded nor rate them from the love of Christ. And afraid, though the earth be removed; nor yet hereof we have a sure evidence and living discouraged or unsettled, because of the wick-confidence, in the name and power of the ed, who make a great flourish like a green Lord our God, to whom be glory and praises bay tree, when he is in great power; for he for ever. passeth away and shall not be found. And he that enters into the sanctuary of the Lord, and there abides, shall see the end of his enemies and persecutors, who stand in slippery places, though for a time they have seemed to prosper in the world. So dear and tender hearts, think not the trials strange that attend us at this day, nor be discouraged thereat, as if the Lord had either forsaken his heritage, or left his people desolate; for his love and fatherly care are known to his own, both in giving and taking And dear friends and tender hearts, who away, as he pleaseth; and he is not to be have a sense of the sufferings of the righte-limited, nor the creature to point him out his ous Seed, which bears the afflictions, sorrows way or manner of taking away, or removing and sufferings of God's people through all, any of his own. But he is in freeness of and hath been bruised and wounded under spirit to be submitted unto in all things, that the weight and burden of people's iniquities, no flesh may glory or boast before him, seethough He has been deemed as one plagued or smitten of God; all of you keep in the sense of the power, by which you all may feel your preservation through faith in Him, that is given for a covenant of life and light. All ing all flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower that fades. Nor are any to retain a self-confidence, but live in the pure fear of his name, and wait upon the Lord in singleness of mind, even in the light in which God dwells, and wherein the secret place of the Most High, and shadow of the Almighty are known; where his own seed, his offspring dwells with him, in whom our safety and dwelling place is, above that which is elementary, earthly, corruptible, or fading, and above the fears and terrors which are in the darkness, and deeply seize upon the children of the night, whose habitation is not in the light. They know not whither to go or run for a habitation, the terror and fear of death doth so surprise them, because of the plague in their own hearts; and the pestilence that walks in darkness lies nearer than that of the outward sickness or bodily distemper. For it is the guilt of sin and fear of death, which make that the more dreadful to them that are in bondage therein, which is not the effect it hath upon the innocent and blessed of the Lord, whom he will strengthen upon the bed of languishing, and whose bed he will make or turn in sickness. belong, is the travail and desire of our souls, George Whitehead, London, the 19th of the In the year 1665, that very summer in which the plague and mortality were so great, the persecutors in London were busy to send away our friends whom they had sentenced for banishment, and closely detained in prison for that purpose; they accordingly began early in the year to force our friends on ship-board. son, and weak in body, having been under a course of physic, was carried forth upon the water to Gravesend, the season being very cold, and having no outward refreshment or relief afforded him by the way on the water, within a very short time after he was put on ship-board he died there, and his body was brought up to London and buried in our friends' burying place. The first Friends they shipped were, Edward Brush, Robert Hayes, and James Harding, who, on the 24th day of the first month, 1665, early in the morning, without any timely warning given them, were hurried down from Newgate to Black Friars' stairs, by some of Newgate turnkeys, and from thence to Gravesend, and there forced on ship-board. Thus they whose eyes are towards God, do Edward Brush, a very aged man, and a citisee what contrary effects the same common zen of good repute among his neighbours and calamities, outward afflictions, or distresses, many persons of quality, was thus sent away have on the minds and spirits of persons, as and banished from his dear wife and child. they differ in nature and spirit. Though the But a more lamentable instance of the persetrials of the innocent this day are a stum-cutors' cruelty in this undertaking, was, that bling block to them who have shut their eyes Robert Hayes being taken fasting out of priagainst the light; and some whose minds are out of the patience, stumble at the outward afflictions and deep sufferings of such as are innocent, as they did who, instead of comforting Job in his affliction, upbraided him because thereof, as one not upright or innocent. Howbeit, the righteous shall go on in his way, and the upright shall grow strong in the Lord, by whose love and mercy all their trials are sanctified to them; and all you that I knew this Robert Hayes; he was a very trust in him shall be in safety, and it shall go innocent, loving man, a goodly person, had a well with you. Therefore be not dismayed, fresh, comely countenance, seemed healthy, nor any of you disconsolated, whose hearts and in his prime and strength when first impriare tender towards God, nor let your souls be soned. I was very sorrowfully affected when cast down by the enemy, but live in the inno- I heard how quickly he was despatched out cent life of Christ Jesus, the incorruptible of the world, by that shameful cruelty and seed, in whom redemption, out of the world's inhuman usage inflicted upon him by those corruptions, stands. For though this be a day merciless persecutors. of deep trial and desolation to many, the Lord will yet show forth a signal manifestation of his power and love for his own seed's sake, and in the prosperity of that righteous testimony, for which many have suffered and given up liberty and life, as we have done, whose generation and testimony shall never be extinguished or abolished. So that as the chosen and faithful who dwell with the Lord, and inherit his blessing, you may be preserved in the faith and patience of his own seed, as constant followers of the Lamb, to whom the victory and everlasting dominion On the 18th of the second month, 1665, seven more of our friends were taken out of Newgate, and carried to Gravesend, and there put on ship-board for banishment, as the others were before. It was remarkable, that not many days after those Friends were embarked, Judge Hyde, one of the grand persecutors, was suddenly cut off by death; and who, it is said, was seen well at Westminster in the morning, and died in his closet about noon. About this time the plague began to increase more and more, and the first that was known to die thereof in the city, was within a few doors of Edward Brush's house, who was one of the first that was sent away, and banished as before related. The plague increased, until of that and other distempers, there died eight thousand in a week, in and about the city of London. Oh! the hardheartedness, cruelty and presumption of our persecutors, who in that time of the great calamity and mortality, in the fifth month, 1665, took fifty-five, men and women, of our friends out of Newgate, and forced them on board the ship called the Black Eagle, which lay some time at Buggby's Hole, where they were so crowded, and the sickness being in Newgate, whence they were carried out to the ship, wherein also the distemper broke out among them, that the most of them were infected; insomuch that about twenty-seven of them soon died on ship-board, some at Buggby's Hole, and the rest beyond Gravesend. I visited these Friends, and had a meeting with them when on ship-board; and the Lord my God preserved me both from the distemper and from banishment, wherein I do humbly confess his power and special providence, to his own praise and glory alone. The second epistle, printed in the year 1665, after the heat of the contagion was over, entitled, An epistle for the remnant of Friends and chosen of God, whom he hath yet preserved to bear their testimony, in and about the city of London. To whom this is a testimony of the dear love and tender care which flows forth, and is extended toward them, and all tender hearts who are concerned in the like sufferings, temptations and trials. From their faithful friend and servant in the Lord, GEORGE WHitehead. My dearly beloved friends, brethren and sisters, among whom my soul hath travailed, and suffered for the afflicted's sake, whose burdens and trials are still with me in spirit, as also the love, tenderness, care and freeness of spirit, that have appeared among you to wards the afflicted and harmless sufferers, who have been led and driven as sheep to the slaughter, for the witness of Jesus and of a good conscience. Dear hearts, I feel towards you all, in the spirit and unity of true love in the elect seed, wherein life and dominion are felt by all that wait patiently upon the Lord, in true subjection to his eternal power and counsel, in all the exercises, trials and hardships, that the righteous seed is beset withal; that being thoroughly tried, you may come forth as gold thoroughly refined, and the righteous through all these things may go on in their way, and the innocent and clean in heart may grow stronger and stronger in the Lord, that truth and righteousness may for ever shine forth among you, and all his elect, to the praise of his name. He beholds, feels and bears the sufferings of his people, in his long suffering and patience, wherein the spirits of his chosen ones are exercised, and by which they shall overcome, and be more than conquerors, where neither calamities, distresses, life nor death, shall ever be able to separate from that love, virtue, life and glory, revealed in the faithful in Christ. My dear hearts, the glory and weight of God's righteous testimony of life and salvation, being in his light truly and evidently manifested in and among you, you have great cause for ever to prize his love and glorify his name, and stick close to him therein, whatever perils, trials, oppositions, sufferings or temptations, you meet withal. Be of a constant spirit and upright mind, in the unchangeable truth to the Lord God of life, in whom your preservation and safety stand; knowing that no weight of affliction or suffering here, is comparable to the weight of eternal life and salvation in Christ Jesus, which you are called unto, through the glorious appearance of God's power and gospel of peace and salvation; for the true sense and enjoyment thereof, doth certainly out-balance and far exceed, all the sufferings and trials of the present time, though they are very many and deep. Let none of you be discouraged or shaken in mind at things of this nature, nor because of the seeming advantage or occasion, that the wicked and rebellious and envious spirits, or such as are in prejudice, do take against us, because of that common calamity and late mortality, which has befallen many of the righteous, as well as the unrighteous, as to the outward man, in the city of London. For God's testimony and glory shine, and will shine and break through all these clouds of afflictions, sufferings and reproaches, with which the habitation of the righteous hath been, and is encompassed. Yet the faithfulness and uprightness of many innocent lambs of Christ, in and about that city, are never to be forgotten, which so greatly did appear and shine forth in standing to their testimony, and keeping to the truth in tenderness of conscience and sincerity towards God; who hath called us to meet together in his fear, and in his everlasting name and power, with a real respect to his glory and righteous cause, which is concerned in the obedience of his people, both in that and all other duties and acts required by him. Their obedience and but have offered up their lives, as many manifestly did in that city of London, the last summer, when such a sore visitation was upon it. Many offered up life and all for the truth, and their afflicted brethren and sisters; for whose sakes my soul has been often greatly bowed down and afflicted, and my bowels yearned for them, and I was so moved with compassion and brokenness of spirit, that neither life itself, nor any outward privilege, did seem too dear to me to resign for their sakes. And though the sickness was so hot in the city and prisons, some of the persecutors at that time appeared cruel and wicked against the innocent, to destroy them in these pestilential places of confinement, in which and also on ship-board-wherein so many were confined for banishment-many laid down their lives for the witness of a good conscience. Although the wicked may for a time be lifted spiritual worship, many have not denied or declined, neither under the trials which have proceeded from men, nor under those which came from God; but whether they have been liable to fall into the hands of God or men, for the proof of their faith, they have not departed from Him who makes up his jewels through trials and tribulations. In all these his fatherly care is felt, and his tender mercy and compassion is seen towards his own, as to his peculiar offspring, tender babes, sons, and faithful servants, whom he loves, and therefore chastiseth and trieth, not in anger and fury, but in love, fatherly care and pity; so that those whose eyes are open in the true light, and in a right mind and spirit, have thoroughly weighed the state of the suffering seed among us, which is in the faith of Abraham, brought forth by the immortal power of an endless life; considering the faithfulness and godly sincerity of a remnant, whose life up in their wickedness, and insult over us, hath testified for God herein, both in doing good, and suffering for well-doing. Such who have thus weighed this suffering state, do plainly see, that neither satan nor his instruments, have any real advantage against any of the remnant of this seed, through any of these trials or sufferings, either from the hands of God or men. Many have kept their integrity to the last, and have embraced their trials and afflictions in God's tender love, and have had such unity therewith, that they have been far from either blaspheming or cursing God, as the wicked many times have done and will do, when plagues, woes, torments and pains seize upon them. Neither satan nor his instruments have their evil designs answered therein, as the devil would have had against Job under his affliction, when he sought to make him curse God to his face. The truth of our God, and the innocency of his people, who know the redemption of the soul, which is precious, shall stand over both men and devils, inasmuch as the truth is over the devil himself-who hath the power of death and darkness-even to the confounding and stopping their mouths, that all who are actuated by the power and spirit of enmity and darkness, may be convicted, confounded, and left without excuse before the Lord our God, who will be known to be clear when he judges. Yea, blessed for ever be the name of our God, who hath given us strength and courage to stand in an evil day, over hell and death and the devil, with all his fiery darts and fierce assaults against the righteous. The Lord hath spared and will spare a remnant, to bear his mark and name upon earth, and to hold forth a living testimony for his glory and praise amongst the sons of men, for which many have not loved their lives unto death, because of our deep trials, and the death of so many innocent persons, yet their being so elevated and hardened against us-who are the people of the Lord-does but the more make for their own destruction and misery, as I have often said, and been sensible of. Their torment, which slumbers not, is greater than that of many who have died of the pestilence, by which many, both of good and bad have been removed. To those that are yet alive and remain in their sins, without taking warning thereby, it will prove the greatest plague and judgment, who are the least considerate, being insensible of the hand of the Lord in it, or of their states and conditions. As to this particular calamity or sickness, it is in itself not the worst of judgments which God hath in store for a sinful, provoking, rebellious people or nation; and God's controversy is not yet ended in this nation, nor the vials of his displeasure emptied upon his enemies and the persecutors of his seed. What a sure and heavy judgment is it, and what misery does it presage to many in this nation, that so many innocent or righteous persons in it should be taken away, as those of whom the world is not worthy; but such are taken away from the evil to come, and from future calamities, and set in safety for ever, from them that have puffed at them, and made a prey of them in their life time. And as for us that yet remain, who fear the Lord and stick close to him always, eyeing and setting him before us, in the greatest of our perils and sufferings, we know his goodness endures forever, though the mighty and exalted of the earth boast and insult for a time over us; but the more the suffering is, the greater will be the consolation and glory to them that continue faithful to the end. |