CHAP. V. state of those under our name, in many places, both in this and other nations, chiefly occasioned by an inordinate love of the world, and the things thereof, my soul has been deeply humbled in awful prostration."

Griffith's Journal, p. 103.

Burrough's Works, P. 201, 247.

40. In speaking of the meetings managed by unsanctified spirits, he "The seed of God, which should have dominion in says: all our meetings, is depressed. This spirit, getting in amongst us, in every part of the body or society, cannot fail of laying waste; therefore let all consider what spirit rules them. It is a mournful truth (adds he) that among the many thousands of Israel, there are but few, in comparison, who really stand quite upright; who cannot be at all warped by fear, interest, favor, or affection."

41. How far this character falls below the testimony and expectations of the first true witnesses called Quakers, it is evident from all their writings, especially from those of Edward Burrough. The truth is, those blunt and illiterate men, as they are called, who first broke out with such rude and ambiguous expressions, were never commissioned to found a church, nor to build up any people upon the authority of their extraordinary testimony for no church or people could be established till the reign of antichrist was at an end.

42. But while they testified against all the false churches, and false systems that existed on earth, they were commissioned from heaven to announce their certain downfall, and the setting up of that church or kingdom which should stand forever; but the work was not given them to do; their commission extended no further than to declare that God was about to effect it, and would, by means of his own choosing, most certainly accomplish it in his own time.

43. This will appear most strikingly evident from the writings of Edward Burrough, who was cotemporary with George Fox, and who, in the year 1662, in the 28th year of his age, died a prisoner in Newgate, London, for the word of God, and for the testimony which he held. The following short extracts, from his own writings, may show the nature of that testimony for which he patiently suffered unto death.

66

44. "All ye inhabitants of the earth, in all nations throughout the world; hearken and give car, the word of the Lord God, that made heaven and earth is toward you; he is coming to set up his kingdom and his dominion, which never shall have an end; and the kingdoms of this world shall be changed, and shall become the kingdom of the Son of God. The kingdom of Christ is near to come, and the kingdoms of this world shall be changed, and none shall have any part therein, but they that are redeemed out of kindreds, tongues, and people: this we believe; he that can receive it let him."

Burrough's

Work-. p.

193, 194.

45. "This is the time in which all the men of this generation CHAP. V. are fallen, and the Scripture is fulfilled; the night wherein no man can work is upon the world; and further, this is the time of antichrist's dominion. And also we know, the time is now approaching, that the dominion of the beast is near an end, and the holy city shall the saints possess, and the Gentiles shall be driven out of it, according as John said. I say, the time is well nigh expired, and finished, and the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb is risen to make war against the beast and his image, who hath reigned over the kingdoms of the world." But now the mighty day of the Lord, and the judgment of the whore is approaching, wherein she shall be rewarded according to her works."

197.

46. "This I have received from God, I say the holy city shall bid. p. 195, be measured, and she shall be adorned, and as a bride for her husband she shall be prepared; and God's tabernacle shall be with men. The kingdom of the beast must down, and the princely power of darkness must be overthrown, and laws, and times, and things, and powers of men shall be overthrown, and overturned, till he come to reign in the earth, whose right it is to reign over nations and people."

47. "This is written as moved of the Lord, to go abroad through the nations, that all may understand concerning the times, and the changing of times, and how the beast hath reigned in dominion-and the kingdom of Christ hath not been known upon the earth for many generations; but the beast hath been established in his throne of rebellion against Christ Jesus."

48. "All this traditional worship, and false imitations which Ibid p. 437. have been set up since the Apostles' days, shall be overthrown and confounded; the Lord is risen and will dash down, and overthrow all this idolatry now practised amongst Christians: and a great shaking and confounding shall suddenly come among Christians; for the Lord will break down that which hath been builded, because it is polluted; and he will pluck up that which hath been planted, because it is defiled; and a mighty work will the Lord work in the earth. And for this state, all that fear God, and love him, are to wait, for this shall come to pass in the world."

these

49. " 'Concerning the things whereof we have testified, divers years, I am no way doubtful but our God will fulfill them, neither can my confidence be shaken, by what is or can come to pass; for antichrist must fall, false ministry and worship, false ways and doctrines God will confound, false power and false church the Lord will lay low; and truth and righteousness must reign. These things have we prophesied from day to day; and my faith is constant and immovable, that God will effect these things in his season."

CHAP. V.

50. The epistles and warnings of this faithful witness of Christ, are left as a standing monument of the testimony of truth at that day; as a controversy of God with all the inhabitants of the earth, directed unto all sorts of people; as a trumpet of the Lord, and "a true noise of a fearful earthquake at hand, which shall shake the whole fabrick of the earth, and the pillars of its standing shall fall, and never more be set up again. Declared and written by a son of thunder, as a warning to all the inhabitants of the earth. By order and authority given unto me by the Spirit of the living God." So testified Edward Burrough, in the year 1655.

51. Beginning at the head of the nation, he delivers his message to Oliver Cromwell, and all his council-to all judges and lawyers to all astrologers, soothsayers, and wise men-to all generals, colonels, commanders, officers, and soldiers, in England, Scotland, and Ireland-to all the priests, and prophets, and teachers of the people-to all the Papists, their whole body and head at Rome-to all Protestants of the eldest sort to all Presbyterians and Independents-to all Anabaptists-to all free willers to all Ranters-to all seekers and waiters. And lastly, to those who were in the light of eternal life. And two years after, he delivered ten solemn warnings to Friends.*

52. Those testimonies, which were then delivered from time to time, breathe the most evident spirit of prophecy, in regard to the end of a corrupt Christian world, and the setting up of the pure and everlasting kingdom of Christ.

53. Now certain it is, that the many complaints of worldly mindedness, of deadness and insensibility, of resting on a mere profession, and of receiving a false spirit, which stand against the general body of the Friends, by their own writers, are sufficient evidences that they are not that pure, spiritual and heavenly church, of which those witnesses prophesied, whose name they now bear.

• These addresses may be seen at large in Burrough's Works, p. 96 to 114.

CHAPTER VI.

REMARKS CONCERNING QUAKERS, FRENCH PROPHETS, AND
OTHER MODERN SECTS.

THE Church of Christ in the latter day, was not to be composed CHAP. VI.
of the worldly minded-the dead and insensible-or of such as
would be led away by a false spirit. Nevertheless, such a dead
and insensible state had been foretold by the spirit of prophecy,
through the witnesses of God, together with a declaration of its
final overthrow; all of which will in due time be accomplished.

2. Therefore the dissolution of the Christian world, with all its false establishments, was an event as certain as any that had ever been marked out by the spirit of prophecy; and the jarring materials of which it was composed, lost the centre of their attraction and bands of uniformity, within forty years after the testimony of George Fox, Edward Burrough, and the rest, was delivered; when civil rulers caused the persecuting sword to be put up into its sheath, and began to proclaim liberty for every one to enjoy his own faith unmolested.

3. The whole chain of prophecies, that relate to the heavens and the earth that then were, have been evidently fulfilling ever since liberty of conscience was granted; sects and parties have not only been dissolving asunder, and removing more distant from the mother church, and from each other, but the most fundamental points of doctrine, discipline, and government, and even whole creeds, confessions, common prayer books, &c., are, in many parts of Christendom, passing "away with a great noise," "and the elements" in which they were composed, are melting "with fervent heat."

4. So that every attempt to reform, repair, and unite together the different parts of the great Christian world, can only widen the breach, and hasten the final dissolution of the whole.

5. But again, when the Friends, in the declining state of their power, applied to an arm of flesh for protection, and had their religion established by law, and become allied to the government of this world, they united with the remaining power of the beast, through the influence of which they became a dead, lifeless body, as a people.

6. And, in setting out to build another old heaven church upon the principles of their former light and testimony, before the time had arrived for their testimony to be accomplished, they only exposed themselves, equally with others, to suffer the loss of all their superfluous labor, in the general wreck of false buildings.

CHAP. VI.

Fox's Jou.

preface, vol. i. p.

ΧΙΧ.

7. It is true they were very cautious as to adopting those forms and ceremonies of worship which pertained to the kingdom of antichrist; so that in this they are a very distinguished people. Nevertheless, the root and foundation of all false religion, and the very source of this general deadness and insensibility, they did not touch. They spared Agag and the best of the flock.

8. The lawless works and fruits of the flesh they lopped off in a good degree; but the flesh itself they carefully preserved and transplanted over into their new soil. So that, when that power failed, by which God is able, of stones, to raise up children unto Abraham, their numbers might still increase by the works of natural generation, and their children be taught by tradition, to say over the words of their forefathers, while totally ignorant of their spirit and power.

9. "Their way of marriage (says William Penn) is peculiar to them, and is a distinguishing practice from all other societies professing Christianity. They say that marriage is an ordinance of God, and that God only can rightly join man and woman in marriage." But instead of showing how God joins them, they give a lengthy detail of their own proceedings, which are as formal and ceremonial as those of any other professing Christians and they do not state any thing peculiar in their manner or motive of copulation to distinguish their natural posterity as the peculiar people of God more than others.

10. We appeal to the light of Christ within them, whether their secret motive or manner, in the ground work of this matter, is any thing peculiar and distinguishing from the practice of other professing Christians. And until the Friends can give evidence that they are a peculiar and distinct people in this respect, they must be numbered with that generation, with which their ancients testified, God was not well pleased.

11. They cannot be numbered with the true followers of the Lamb, because they do not follow him in the Regeneration; and if they ever enter that kingdom of which their ancients so abundantly prophesied, it must be in the same straight and narrow way of complete self-denial with others of the same corrupt nature; otherwise they never will see that kingdom while the earth endureth.

12. God never intended that the real gifts of the Holy Spirit should be conveyed from one to another by the works of natural generation; but he intended (and it was so) that every succeeding age should be dependent on him for their present gifts and calling.

13. Admitting that the first witnesses among the Friends had no special command from God, either in regard to natural or spiritual marriage, (as was the case) this can be no reason why the matter should be overlooked in them, by those who now stand