CHAP. XXI.

1685 to 1690-Writes an Epistle to Friends on Account of Commotions in the Nation-Account of his Gift of Land and Meeting House at Swarthmore Resides principally about London-An Epistle to the Yearly Meeting at York-Increasing Infirmities-His Death and Burial.

DURING the latter part of the reign of Charles the Second, the nation was much agitated with popular disaffection; on which account George Fox became exercised for his Friends, lest they should be drawn into the spirit of contending parties, and neglect an attention to their own religious duties. On this account he was concerned to write them an Epistle, "To caution all to keep out of the spirit of the world, in which trouble is, and to dwell in the peaceable truth." From this Epistle it may not be improper to give the following ex

tract:

"Dear Friends and Brethren, whatever bustlings and trouble, tumults or outrages, quarrels, or strife, arise in the world, keep out of them all. Concern not yourselves with them; but keep in the Lord's power and peaceable truth, that is over all such things; in which power ye seek the peace and good of all men. Live in the love which

God hath shed abroad in your hearts, through Christ Jesus; in which love nothing is able to separate you from God and Christ; neither outward sufferings, persecutions, nor any thing that is below and without; nor to hinder or break your heavenly fellowship in the light, gospel, and Spirit of Christ; nor your holy communion in the Holy Ghost, that proceeds from the Father and the Son, which leads into all truth."

This Epistle is dated at London, the 11th of 4th month, 1685; and in the year 1688, about the time of the Revolution, he wrote another of a similar tendency. Thus did this faithful overseer watch over and encourage the flock, being on all occasions ready, both by word and deed, to minister to their wants; to extricate them from their difficulties; to guard them against all snares; and to warn them of the approach of that enemy, which goes about, either as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, or as a cunning serpent endeavouring to deceive and to betray. In such services as these did he employ the remainder of his days, adding to them acts of liberality both of a private and public nature. Of this trait of his

conduct it may be proper to relate some circumstances, respecting a meeting-house at Swarthmore; which was provided at his expense, and

with the ground on which it stood, and some other

adjoining, was given by him to the Society. It will doubtless be most acceptable and interesting to the reader, to be presented with some copious extracts from the papers which he wrote on this occasion; as they tend to exhibit his character in various points of view, in a very striking manner.'

"George Fox's declared intention and motion for his giving up Petty's house and land for ever, for the service of the Lord and the people called Quakers."

"The eternal God, who hath in and by his eternal powerful arm, preserved me through all my troubles, trials, temptations, and afflictions; persecutions, reproaches, and imprisonments; and carried me over them all, hath sanctified all these things to me, so that I can say, all things work together for good to them that love God, and are beloved of him."

"And the Lord God of the whole heaven and earth, and all things therein, both natural and spiritual, he hath been, by his eternal arm and power, my preserver, and upholder, and keeper, and hath taken care and provided for me, both for temporals and spirituals, so that I never did want; and have been content and thankful with what the Lord did provide for me."

"And now the Lord hath done so much good to me, and to his name, truth, and people, to whom

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I have offered up my spirit, soul, and body, which are the Lord's, made and created for his glory. And also I do offer and give up freely to the Lord for ever, and for the service of his sons, daughters, and servants, called Quakers, the house and houses, barn, kiln, stable, and all the land, with the garden and orchard, being about three acres of land, more or less; with the commonings, peats, turfings, moss, and whatsoever other privileges that belong to it, called Swarthmoor, in the parish of Ulverstone."

"And also my ebony bedstead, with the painted curtains, and the great elbow chair that Robert Widders sent me; and my great sea case or cellaridge, with the bottles in it. These I do give to stand in the house as heirlooms, when the house is made use of for a meeting place; so that a Friend may have a bed to lie on, and a chair to sit in, and a bottle to hold a little water to drink."

"It being free land, and free from all tithe, both great and small; and all this I do freely give up to the Lord, and for the Lord's service and his people's, to make it a meeting place of."

"It is all the land and house I have in England, and it is given up to the Lord; for it is for his service, and for his children's."

GEORGE FOX.

"I do and have given up Petty's, which I bought of the children Susannah Fell and Rachel Fell for seventy-two pounds; for God's people to meet in, when they do not meet at Swarthmoor Hall; and let the rest of the ground and malt house maintain the meeting house, which may be made fit, either the barn or the house, as the Lord shall let Friends see which is best; and to slate it, and pave the way to it, that so Friends may go dry to their meeting. And let or set part of the house and land to maintain itself for ever for the Lord's service. And you may let any poor honest Friend live in part of the house. And so let it be for the Lord's service to the end of the world; and for his people to meet in, to keep them from the winter-cold, and the wet, and the summer-heat."

The foregoing extracts are from papers dated at Kingston-upon-Thames, the 13th of 12th month, and the 22d of 1st month, 1686-7, which appear to have been sent to Thomas. Lower, who lived at Marsh Grange, in Lancashire, accompanied with a letter which also enters into many minutiæ, respecting the proposed meeting house; and, I apprehend, the insertion of the principal part of it, will also be acceptable.