XR5542 I took notice also of those, who had run out from Truth, and drawn others out after them, and turned against Truth and Friends at several times, since the first Breaking forth of Friends of Truth in this latter Age, and what became of them; noting particularly the Repentance and return of such of them, as came back to Truth again. But some ran quite out and never returned again; but were Cut off in their Gainsaying and Rebellion: for the Word and Power of God hath blasted, and is blasting them, and the Holy Seed hath ground, and is grinding them to pieces. And this I have observed, that they, who have been Convinced, and have not lived and walked in Truth, have been the worst Enemies to the Truth, and done most hurt amongst Friends in the Truth, and to others: And in these I have seen fulfilled, what the lord did long since shew me, That such should be greater Decievers, than all the Priest and Professors. For such as came as far as Cain, and Balaam, and Corah, and Dathan, and could preach Christ, and say They had preached in his Name; and such as came to be Apostles, and had tasted of the Power of Christ, and then turned from it; such have the good Words, like Corah and Balaam: but not keeping the Life and Truth, such deceived the Hearts of the Simple both then and now, and such come to be of the Devil, who abode not in the Truth; as Cain, and all the Jews, that abode not in the Truth, were. For though Cain did Sacrifice to God, and did talk with God; and the Jews could talk of Abraham, Moses,, and the Prophets: Yet Christ told them, They were of their Father, the Devil. In like manner, though they, who are called Christians, can talk of Christ, and use his, and his Apostles and Disciples Words; yet not abiding in the Truth, and Power, and Spirit, that the Apostles were in, they are {Page 271} of the Devil, out of Truth, and do his Work. And so are all these, that have been Convinced of God’s Eternal Truth, since it sprang up in this Nation, that have not abode in the Light, and in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus; but have turned against the Power, and have opposed the Work thereof: Though they may retain the former Experiences, and be able to speak many good Words ; yet not living in the Life and Power, that gave them those Experiences, they live in the Power of Darkness, which is of the Devil: And by the Light and Truth both he and they are Condemned; and must own their Condemnations, if ever they come to Truth again. For to resist the Heavenly Power, and to oppose the Workings and Divine Manifestations thereof through any, is not a light Matter. And as I had been moved of the Lord, to travel in his Power round about this Nation, and in others parts, to Preach the Everlasting gospel, and to declare the Word of Life, which was in the beginning, through many Imprisonments, Hardships, Sufferings and Trials; so I was afterwards moved to Travel in the same Heavenly Power about the Nation again (and to write to such Places, where I came) to recommend unto Friends the setting up of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in all Counties, for the looking after the Poor, and taking Care for Orderly Proceeding in Marriages, and other matters relating to the Church of Christ: Though some Meetings for this end were settled in the North of England in the Year 1653.
After this also, Truth still spreading further over the Nation, and Friends increasing in Number, I was moved by the same Eternal Power to recommend the setting up the Women’s Meetings also; that all, both Male and Female, that had received the Gospel, the Word of Eternal Life, might come into the Order of the Gospel, brought forth by the Power of God, and might act for God in the Power, and therein do Business and Service for him in his Church. All the Faithful must labour in God’s vineyard; they {Page 272} being his Hired Servants, and he having given them the Earnest of his Spirit. For a Master, that hires a Servant, and gives him the Earnest of his Hire, expects, he should do his Work, after he knows his Will, in the Outward Creation: So all God’s People, that be of the new Creation, and have received the Earnest of his Spirit, ought to labour with, by, and in his Spirit, Power and Grace, and Faith in the Light, in God’s Vineyard, and they may have their Wages every one, Male and Female, when they have done God’s Work and Business in his Day, which is Eternal Life. But none can labour in his Vineyard, and do his Work and Will, but as they walk in the Heavenly Divine Light, Grace, and Spirit of Christ; which is, hath been, and is my Travel And Labour in the Lord to turn all to.
But some that professed Truth, and had made a great Shew therein, being gone from the Simplicity of the Gospel into Jangling, Division, and a Spirit of Separation, endeavoured to discourage Friends, (especially the Women) from their Godly Care and Watchfulness in the Church over one another in the Truth; opposing their Meetings, which in the Power of the Lord were set up for that End and Service. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to write the following Epistle, and send it forth among Friends, for the discovering of the Spirit, by which those Opposers were acted, and its Work and Way, in and by which it wrought; and to warn Friends of it, that they might not be betrayed by it.
All my dear Friends, Live in the Seed of Peace, Christ Jesus, in whom ye have all Life. And that Spirit, that come amongst you to raise up Strife, is out of Christ; for it is the Spirit, that is not easie to be intreated, nor gentle, so not of the Wisdom of God, which is justified of her Children: And so they, that follow that Spirit, are none of the Wisdom’s Children. Now there is a Spirit, that hath made a Separation, and has been against Men and Women’s Meetings; yet has set up one of their own, whom they have given Power to: and that none shall sit amongst them, but whom they give Power to, but shall be looked upon as Usurpers of Authority. Now this Spirit and its Work is not of God, though it has made some Jumble amongst some: and the Path it may travel in, is through the earthly Affections, or the Unestablished, or the Apostates. But all that are in the Life, and Spirit, and Light, and Grace, and Truth, and the Power of God, bar it out; and such as sit under their own Vine, Christ Jesus, and are grafted into him, have no need of their Exhortation or Counsel: for the true Believers are entred into the Rest. And therefore all keep in the Gospel of Peace; and they that be Heirs of the Kingdom, and of it, keep in your Possession of it.
Now some that are of this Spirit, have said to me, They see no Service in Women’s Meetings. My Answer is, and hath been to them and such, If they be Blind and without Sight, they should not oppose others; for there is none Imposes any thing upon them: for God never received the Blind for a Sacrifice, neither can his People. But Christ has enlightened all; and to as many, as received him, he give Power to become the Sons of God: And such as be Heirs of his Power, and of his gospel, which brings Life and Immortality to Light, they can see over him, that has darkened them: and all such do keep the Order of the Gospel, the Power of God, and their Meetings in it; which preserves them in Life and Immortality. And all these do see the great Service of the Men’s and of the Women’s Meetings, in the order of the Gospel, which is the Power of God: For they are Meet-helps in this Power, which is the Authority of their Meetings. And now I say to all you, that be against Women’s Meetings, or the Men’s, and say You see no Service for the Women’s Meetings,, and oppose them; you are therein out of the Power of God XR5441, and his Spirit you live not in. For God saw a Service for the Assemblies of of Women in the Time of the Law, about {Page 274} those things, that appertained to his Worship and Service, and to the holy Things of his Tabernacle; and so do they in the same Spirit see now their Service in the Gospel: many things in those Meetings being more proper for the Women to see into, than the Men; and they in the Power and Wisdom of God may inform the Men of such things, as are not proper for them: and the Men may inform the Women of such things, as are not proper for them, as Meet-helps each unto another. For in the Time of the Law, by the Law of God the Women were to Offer, as well as the Men; and so in the time of the Gospel much more, are they to Offer their Spiritual Sacrifices: for they are all called, both Men and Women, a Royal Priesthood; and they are of the Houshold of Faith, and they are the Living Stones, that make up the Spiritual Building, which Christ is the Head of; and are to be encouraged in their Labour in the Gospel: For things that they do, both Men and Women, are to be done in the Power of God. And all such, as see no Service for these Women’s Meetings, or the Men’s, but do oppose them, and make Strife amongst Friends, are in the same Spirit of the World, that is against and forbids our other Meetings, and says, They must be silent, &c. though the same Apostle commands, That Men should keep Silence as well as the Women, if there were not an Interpreter. XR7953 And therefore all Friends, you may see, that the Spirit of the World hath entred such Opposers, though they come under another Colour: For they would not have us to Meet at all. And these are against the Womens Meetings, and some of them against the Men’s also; and say, They see no Service for them: Then they may hold their Tongues, and not oppose them, that do see their Service for God in these Meetings.
Therefore all you, that feel the Power of God, and your Service for God, as aforesaid, in them, you {Page 275} Men and Women, keep your Meetings in the Power of God, the Authority of them, as they were settled in it; and then ye will be preserved both over this Spirit, that opposes them, and over the Spirit of the World, that opposes your other Meetings: For it is all one in the Ground, and would bring you into Bondage. For such as are out of the Peaceable Gospel, who oppose its Order; and out of the Faith, that Works by Love; and out of the Wisdom, that is gentle, and easie, and peaceable, &c. and out of the Kingdom, that stands in the Peace and Joy. Therefore keep over the Spirit, that sows Discord or Dissension, and would draw you from your Habitation and Possession in the Order of the Gospel: For it is the same Spirit, that deceived Adam and Eve, by which they lost their Habitation in the Righteousness and Holiness, and their Dominion: and so that Spirit got over them, and so it would get over you. One while it will tell you, It sees no Service for your Meetings; and another time Oppose you: But I say, This is the blind Spirit, which is out of the Power of God, and which the Power of God is over. And therefore keep in the Power that ye may stand up for your Liberty in Christ Jesus, Males and Females, Heirs of him and of his gospel, and his Order: and so stand up for your Liberty in the gospel and in the Faith, which Christ Jesus hath been the Author of; for if ye lose it, and let another Spirit get over you, ye will not so soon regain it again. For I knew, the Devil would bestir himself in his Instruments, when Men’s and Womens Meetings came to be setup, and all in the Power, Light and Truth, and Heirs of the Gospel to take their Possession of it in every County and City, in it to walk, and to watch one over another, and in it to take Care of God’s Glory and Honour, and his precious Truth, and as becomes the Gospel, and to see that nothing was lacking: and so whatsoever was Decent, Modest, Virtuous, Lovely, Comely, {Page 276} Righteous, and of good Report, to follow after; and to admonish and exhort all, that was not Faithful, and to rebuke all that did Evil: I knew, that this would give such a Check to all loose Speakers, Talkers and Walkers; I did not expect, but that there would be an Opposition against such Meetings XR4316. But never heed, Truth will come over them all, and is over them all; and Faith must have the Victory: for the Gospel, and its Order is Everlasting, and the Seed (Christ) is the Beginning and the Ending, and will out-last all, the Amen, in whom ye have Peace. I say, all that oppose the Mens and Womens Meetings, or that Marriages should be lad before them, or of Recording of Condemnations of Sin and Evil; or, Admonishing or Exhorting such, as walk not in the Truth; they are of a loose Spirit, and their Spirits tend to Looseness: and let them take them, that will; for Truth will not have them, nor will have none of their Sacrifice: For nothing is accepted of God, but what is done in Truth, and in his Spirit, which is peaceable. And the Authority of our Men’s and Womens Meeting is the Power of God; and all the Heirs of the gospel are Heirs of that Authority and Dignity: and this is of God, and shall Answer the Witness of God in all. And the greatest Opposers of this Practice and Work will be and are such, as have been Convinced of God’s Truth, but have not lived in it; and such were the greatest Troublers of the Church in Moses Day, and in the Days of the Apostles: But Mark their End, and read what became of them all. And therefore all keep your Habitation in Truth, and therein ye may see, what became of all the Opposers of it for Twenty Years past: They are all gone, and the Truth lives and reigns, and the seed is over all, and all is One in it, in Rest, Peace, and Life Everlasting; and therein they sit down together in the Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus, the Amen.
Swathmore, the 5th of the 8th Month, 1676
[Source: A Journal or Historical Account of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, Christian Experiences and Labour of Love in the Work of Ministry, of that Ancient, Eminent and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, George Fox: Who departed this Life in great Peace with the Lord, the 13th of the 11th Month 1690, Vol. 2. 1709 edition pgs. 270-276]
Below is the same quotation from the Armistead edition of the Journal
I wrote also a book of the types and figures of Christ, with their significations ; and many other things, which will be of service to truth and Friends in time to come.
I took notice also of those who had run out from truth, drawn others out after them, and turned against truth and Friends at several times since the first breaking forth of truth in this latter age, and what became of them ; noting particularly the repentance and return of such of them as came back to truth again. Some ran quite out, and never returned, but were cut off in their gainsaying and rebellion ; for the word and power of God hath blasted and is blasting them, and the holy seed hath ground, and is grinding them to pieces. {And this}I have observed, that they who have been convinced, and have not lived and walked in the truth, have been the worst enemies to the truth, and done most hurt amongst Friends in the truth, and to others. {And} XR5574 In these I have seen fulfilled what the Lord did long since show me, “ that such should be greater deceivers than all the priests and professors.” For such as came as far as Cain, Balaam, {and} Korah, and Dathan, and could “preach Christ,” and say, “they had preached in his name;” such as came to be apostles, and had tasted of the power of Christ, and then turned from it, could yet speak their old experiences, and have good words, like Korah and Balaam : but not keeping in the life and truth, they deceived the hearts of the simple. Such come to be of the devil, who abode not in the truth ; as Cain, and all the Jews, that abode not in the truth, were. For though Cain did sacrifice to God, and did talk with God ; and the Jews could talk of Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, yet Christ told them, “ they were of their father, the devil.” In like manner, though they who are called Christians, can talk of Christ, and use his apostles' and disciples' words, yet not abiding in the truth, and power, and Spirit the apostles, were in, they are of the devil, out of truth, and do his work. So are all those that have been convinced of God’s eternal truth since it sprang up in this nation, that have not abode in the light, and in the ‘Spirit and power of Christ Jesus ; but have turned against the power, and have opposed the work thereof; though they may retain their former experiences, and be able to speak many good words, yet not living in the life and power that gave them those experiences, they live in the power of darkness, which is of the devil : and by the light and truth both he and they are condemned; and must own their condemnation if ever they come to truth again. For to resist the heavenly power, and to oppose the workings and divine manifestations thereof through any, is not a light matter.
As I had been moved of the Lord to travel in his power round this nation, and in other parts, to preach the everlasting gospel, and to declare the Word of Life, which was in the beginning, through many imprisonments, hardships, sufferings, and trials ; so I was afterwards moved to travel, in the same heavenly power, about the nation again (and to write to such places where I came not) to recommend to Friends the “setting up of the quarterly and monthly meetings in all counties, for looking after the poor, taking care for orderly proceedings in marriages ; and other matters relating to the church of Christ;” though some meetings for this end were settled in the North of England, in the year 1653.
After this also, truth still spreading further over the nation, and Friends increasing in number, XR6555 I was moved, by the same eternal power, to recommend the setting up of women’s meetings also ; that all, both male and female, who had received the gospel, the Word of eternal Life, might come into the order of the gospel, brought forth by the power of God, and might act for God in the power, and therein do business and service for him in his church. All the faithful must labour in God’s vine yard, they being his hired servants, and he having given them the earnest of his Spirit. For a master that hires a servant, and gives him the earnest of his hire, expects he should do his work, after he knows his will, in the outward creation ; so all God’s people, that are of the new creation, and have received the earnest of his Spirit, ought to labour with, by, and in his Spirit, power, and grace, and faith, in the light, in God’s vineyard, that they may have their wages when they have done God’s work and business in his day, which is eternal life. But none can labour in his vineyard, and do his work and will, but as they walk in the heavenly divine light, grace, and Spirit of Christ ; which it hath been, and is, my travail and labour in the Lord to turn all to.
Some that professed truth, and had made a great show therein, being gone from the simplicity of the gospel into jangling, division, and a spirit of separation, endeavoured to discourage Friends (especially the women), from their godly care and watchfulness in the church over one another in the truth ; XR4684 opposing their meetings, which, in the power of the Lord, were set up for that end and service. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to write the following epistle, and send it among Friends, for the discovering of that spirit, by which those opposers acted, its work and way, by which it wrought, and to warn Friends of it, that they might not be betrayed by it :—
“All my dear Friends, Live in the seed of peace, Christ Jesus, in whom ye have life. That spirit that comes amongst you to raise up strife, is out of Christ ; for it is the spirit that is not easy to be entreated, not gentle, so not of the wisdom of God, which is justified of her children. They that follow that spirit, are none of Wisdom’s children. There is a spirit that hath made a separation, and has been against men’s and women’s meetings ; yet those of this spirit have set up one of their own, to which they have given power, and allow none to sit amongst them but such as they give power to, looking upon others as usurpers of authority. This spirit and its work is not of God, though it has made a jumble amongst some; and the path it may travel in, is through the earthly affections, amongst the unestablished, or apostates. But all that are in the life, Spirit, and light, in the grace, truth, and power of God, bar it out ; and such as sit under their own vine, Christ Jesus, and are grafted into him, have no need of their exhortation or counsel ; for the true believers are entered into their rest. Therefore all keep in the gospel of peace ; and you that are heirs of the kingdom, keep in your possession of it.
“ Some of this spirit have said to me, ‘ they see no service in women’s meetings.’ My answer is, and hath been to such, if they be blind and without sight, they should not oppose others ; for none impose anything upon them. God never received the blind for a sacrifice, neither can his people. But Christ has enlightened all ; and to as many as receive him, he gives ‘power to become the sons of God.’ Such as are heirs of his power, and of his gospel, which brings life and immortality to light, can see over him that has darkened them ; and all such keep the order of the gospel, the power of God, and their meetings therein, which preserves them in life and immortality. These see the great service of men’s and women’s meetings, in the order of the gospel, the power of God ; for they are meet-helps in this power, which is the authority of their meetings. XR3755 Now I say to all of you, that are against women’s meetings or the men’s, and say, ‘you see no service for the women’s meetings, and oppose them, you are therein out of the power of God, and his Spirit you live not in. For God saw a service for the assemblies of the women in the time of the law, about those things that appertained to his worship and service, and to the holy things of his tabernacle ; and so they in his Spirit see now their service in the gospel; many things in these meetings being more proper for the women than the men ; and they in the power and wisdom of God may inform the men of such things as are not proper for them; and the men may inform the women of such things as are not proper for them, as meet-helps to each other. For in the time of the law, the women were to offer as well as the men ; so in the time of the gospel much more are they to offer their spiritual sacrifices ; for they are all called, both men and women, a royal priesthood; they are of the household of faith; they are the living stones that make up the spiritual building, which Christ is the head of ; and are to be encouraged in their labour in the gospel ; for all things that they do, 'both men and women, are to be done in the power of God. All such as see no service for these women’s meetings, or the men’s, but oppose them, and make, strife amongst Friends, are in the spirit of the world, that is against, and forbids our other meetings;—are in the same spirit of the world, that hath been, and is against women’s speaking in meetings, and say, 'they must be silent,’ &c., though the same apostle commands, ‘that men should keep silence as well as the women,’ if there were not an interpreter. Therefore, you may see that the spirit of the world hath entered such opposers, though they come under another colour ; XR4560for they would not have us to meet at all. And these are against the women’s meetings, and some of them against the men’s also, and say, ‘they see no service for them ; XR2748 then they may hold their tongues, and not oppose them that do see their service for God in these meetings.
“ Therefore, all you that feel the power of God, and your service for God in them, both men and women, keep your meetings in the power of God, the authority of them, as they were settled in it ; then ye will be preserved both over this spirit that opposes them, and over the spirit of the world that opposes your other meetings ; for it is all one in the ground, and would bring you into bondage. XR2448 Such are out of the peaceable gospel, who oppose its order; out of the faith that works by love; out of the wisdom that is gentle, easy, and peaceable, &c., and out of the kingdom that stands in peace and joy. Therefore, keep over that spirit that sows discord or dissension, and would draw you from your habitation and possession in the order of the gospel ; for it is the same spirit that deceived Adam and Eve, by which they lost their habitation in righteousness and holiness, and their dominion; so that spirit got over them; and so it would get over you. One while it will tell you, ‘ it sees no service for your meetings,’ and another time oppose you. But I say, this is the blind spirit, which is out of the power of God, and which the power of God is over. Therefore, keep in the power, that ye may stand up for your liberty in Christ Jesus, males and females, heirs of him and of his gospel, and his order. Stand up for your liberty in the gospel, and in the faith, which Christ Jesus hath been the author of; for if ye lose it, and let another spirit get over you, ye will not soon regain it. I knew the devil would bestir himself in his instruments, when men’s and women’s meetings came to be set up in the power, light, and truth, and the heirs of the gospel, to take their possession of it in every county and city, therein to walk, and to watch one over another, to take care of God’s glory and honour, and his precious truth ; and to see that all walk in the truth, and as becomes the gospel, and that nothing be lacking ; and so to exhort all whatsoever is decent, modest, virtuous, lovely, comely, righteous, and of good report, to follow after ; to admonish all that are not faithful, and to rebuke all that do evil. I knew this would give such a check to all loose speakers, talkers, and walkers, [^1]that there would be an opposition against such meetings. But never heed, truth will come over them all, and is over them all, and faith must have the victory ; for the gospel and its order is everlasting ; the Seed (Christ) is the beginning and the ending, and will outlast all ; the Amen, in whom ye have peace. I say all that oppose the men’s and women’s meetings, or that marriages should be laid before them, or the recording of condemnations of sin and evil, or admonishing or exhorting such as walk not in the truth, are of a loose spirit, and their spirits tend to looseness. Let those take them that will ; truth will not have them, nor any of their sacrifice ; for nothing is accepted of God, but what is done in truth, and in his Spirit, which is peaceable. The authority of our men’s and women’s meetings is the power of God ; and all the heirs of the gospel are heirs of that authority and dignity ; this is of God, and shall answer the witness of God in all. The greatest opposers of this practice and work, are such as have been convinced of God’s truth, but have not lived in it. Such were the greatest troublers of the church in Moses' day, and in the days of the apostles; but mark their end, and read what became of them all. And therefore, all keep your habitation in the truth, and therein ye may see what has become of all the opposers of it for twenty years past ; they are all gone, and the truth lives and reigns ; the Seed is over all, and all are one in it, in rest, peace, and life everlasting; and therein they sit down togetherin the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the Amen.”
G.F. Swarthmore, the 5th of the 8th Month, 1676
Source: Journal of George Fox (Armistead Edition) pgs. 161 - 167. London. MDCCCLII (1852).
[^1] The 1709 edition of the Journal reads I knew, that this would give such a Check to all loose Speakers, Talkers and Walkers; I did not expect, but that there would be an Opposition against such Meetings View Passage in Source Document, instead of the Armistead edition above, which reads: I knew this would give such a check to all loose speakers, talkers, and walkers, that there would be an opposition against such meetings. The sentences do not share the same subsance. Armistead also adds A Historical Narrative of the Spreading of the Truth immediately after Foxes' letter. This narrative also serves to alter the substance of Foxes' topic in the letter. The Focus of the narrative is on opposition and persecution by people who were not in the gathering of Friends wherein the focus of the letter is on Friends in the gathering who opposed the establishment of outward forms to guide the gathering.
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