all go well, and be kept in good order, both within and without. "My dear heart, as the Lord has been pleased to work a willingness in thee to give up and part with me freely, for his name and Gospel's sake, have thine eye to the recompense of reward, even peace with him; and treasure it up in thy bosom, that it may be thy everlasting portion, when time here shall the Lord is with me; and I am freely given "Farewell, my dear wife, with my sweet babes. "JOHN BANKS. "Near Lurgan, in the North of Ireland, the 21st of the Fourth month, 1671." "The breathing of my soul is for thee, as for myself, for he hath made us one: the Lord preserve thee unto the end, in faithfulness to do his will, that thou mayest be kept in true unity and fellowship with his people, in keeping to meetings on first-day and the weekday. Neglect no opportunity that may make for the good of thy soul, and then nothing for the body will be wanting. Exercise thyself in his law written in thy heart, that so thou mayest feel the streams of his love in thy inward part; let truth be the girdle of thy loins, and faithful waiting in his light, thy dwelling; that although we be far separated as to the outward, we may be made witnesses more and more of the joy of his salvation therein; partakers of that peace which the world can neither take nor give. In my return, after ten weeks, it came upon me that I must go to Wicklow again; and when I came to Dublin, there was a letter from "Thou and my dear children are so near Wicklow, informing that the people desired and dear unto me, that many times the reanother meeting, and that the sergeant who membrance of you draws tears from me; for took me before the governor, was willing we the further I am separated from you, the should meet in his house. The priest hearing nearer you are unto me in spirit; and at this thereof, threatened him and he was afraid, so time my heart is broken into tenderness, being that when I and Friends came there the man sensible, according to the exercise which attends durst not let us meet in his house. We me, that the Lord will yet draw me got another house, but it would not contain all that farther from you, who knows my heart, that came; yet there we met, and it was a blessed if I might to-morrow with clearness, return to heavenly peaceable meeting, without any dis- thee, oh, how gladly would I embrace it! But turbance at all-praises unto the most high truly, my dear, the Lord requires of me, and God, who has all power in his own hand, and cannot forbear to give some hint thereof, thereby can do whatsoever seems good in his eyes, notwithstanding the determination of wicked and ungodly men. Not long after, so soon as the priest had an opportunity, he began to prosecute and imprison Friends for tithes and such like things, and got several put in prison, who came to visit that place; but the truth prospered so much the more, and a meeting of God's people was set up in that town, and continueth. From Dublin, before I went to Wicklow the second time, I wrote the following letter to my wife. "In the nearness of that love which remaineth in my heart without change, I write unto thee; and my prayers are to the Lord for thee, and all with thee; that you may all live in love, and in the fear of God; so will that after I am clear of this nation, I must go for the West of England. From Cork, I intend to take shipping for Minehead in Somersetshire, and so farther, as the Lord is pleased to order me when I come into that nation. Truly the harvest is great in most places; and as the Lord hath been pleased to count me worthy to be called, and sent forth into his work and service, amongst his ministers and messengers, though but one of the least of many, I am freely given up to his blessed requirings, to labour and travail what in me lies, that in the end I may receive a penny. "Therefore, my dear, as the Lord hath counted me worthy to bear a public testimony for him, in preaching the everlasting Gospel, pray with me, that in faith and patience, and with a heart undaunted, I may bear it faithfully unto the end, to the praise and glory of him whose the work is, who is worthy for evermore. That when in this my intended we should not meet there. I bid him produce voyage and journey I have performed what his order, and we would give him an answer. the Lord requires, I may return to thee with He holding out his staff, said that was his true peace, in the joy of his salvation; and order, and we should not meet there, meet that we may live and enjoy one another where we would. I answered, "Keep to thy while we live, as those who enjoy one another word; we shall be content to meet in the King in the Lord, where is the peaceable and quiet street," being a market town, and Friends and habitation; until which time, the Lord God many people being come together, my mouth of life and glory keep and preserve thee, with being opened in a testimony for the Lord, and our little ones, myself, and all his faithful peo- in love to the souls of the people, in turning ple-who is a faithful keeper and preserver, their minds to the teachings of God's Spirit and withholds no good thing from his dear in themselves. children, who can be more to wife, than husband, and to children, than father and mother; who is alone worthy of praise, honour, and glory, both now, and for evermore, Amen. "I am thy dear husband, with love to thee still renewed, "Dublin, the 14th of the Fifth month, 1671." "JOHN BANKS. In about two years after, the Lord required of me to go and visit Ireland again; and coming to Wicklow, I went to the jailer's, to see Friends in prison, and to have a meeting in the town. When the jailer saw me, he said, “Oh, Mr. Banks (as he called me,) are you come again? I think you need not have come any more; you did your business the last time you were here, for I think all the town of Wicklow will be Quakers." "But notwithstanding what is done," I said, "it is my business to come to see how the Lord's work prospers; for the work is his, we are no more than instruments in his hand, which he is pleased to make use of; and more than that, thou hast got many of my friends in prison, and I must needs visit them." The constable, who was a Presbyterian, came with his staff, in a rage, to pull me out of the meeting; and I said to him, "Art thou not ashamed to manifest thyself a liar before so many people? Didst thou not say we should meet where we would, except in our friend's house?" So he was smitten, and could do no more himself, but went among the people and got a butcher, a man picked out for his purpose, to pull me away. And he came in a most rigid manner, and took me by one arm, and haled me down the street a little way; and there came a Friend out of the meeting, and said to him, "Cease from persecuting the innocent, lest the judgment of God fall upon thee." Which did immediately seize upon him, and his hands were loosed from me, that he had no power to pull me any further, but stood trembling by me (I being declaring the truth still,) and he went home and took his bed, and never got from under the judgment till he died. In a little time I saw it my place to be silent, and our friend George Grigson said, "Oh, you people of the town of Antrim! is this the entertainment which you give to strangers? Some in the days of old, by entertaining strangers in true love, entertained angels unawares.' A glorious heavenly day it was for the Lord and his blessed truth, in strengthening the faith of his people, for his power and hea venly presence was livingly manifested in the meeting, and many were convinced, and several came to own and receive the truth in the love of it. The next time I came to visit this nation, I came to this place again, which was in about two years more, and the priest of Wicklow was dead, the governor gone for England, and no soldiers there, truth still prospering, and Friends' meeting settled and established by the power of God in peace and quiet, and Friends well preserved in and through their sufferings. This makes me say there is none like In the time of our meeting, there was a sudunto the true and living God, who has den storm of wind and rain, the like of which, wrought, and is working wonders in the for the time it continued, I have very seldom earth, and bringing strange and mighty acts or never seen, for the water with the dirt ran to pass. And when I had travelled through in a stream amongst us, so that all or most most of the nation, visiting Friends and other of us were wet to the skin. The storm of wind people, being in the north, in that part called and rain, was a figure of their raging perseScot's country, I came up to Antrim, with eight Friends more, intending to have a meeting at our friend James Greenwood's house. When we came, there was a constable with his staff, and a company of people with him; and he stood at the Friend's door, and said he had an order from the lord Mazarine, that cuting spirit; and when it was over, the sun broke forth, and shined very clear; a true figure of the victory the Truth obtained, through the power thereof. This year, going to London, to the Yearly meeting, I wrote the following letters to my wife: mightily appeared amongst us in our meetings, uniting our hearts together and prospering his work; the praise of it for ever belongs unto him. For what he has already done, my soul praise thou the Lord. When my friend John Watson and I had travelled through the nation of Ireland, visiting Friends therein, and been much comforted and refreshed together with them, a concern came upon us to visit Friends in Scotland; and we sailed in a half-decked boat from Donaghadee in Ireland, and landed at Portpatrick in Scotland. From Portpatrick we travelled seventy miles in cold, frost, and snow, in the tenth month, before we came among Friends, which was at Douglas. The evening before we came there, night came on while we were "Oh! that Friends might live in love and unity together, that as the Lord hath been good in preserving a remnant alive to himself unto this day, they may continue so unto the end; and whatsoever would arise among them that in anywise tends to break their heavenly unity and brotherly fellowship, and sows dissention in the churches of Christ, may be nip-upon a mountain, where no way was to be ped in the bud; for if it grow, the effects of it will be bad, and do great hurt among the plantation of God. The Lord keep and preserve all watchful, that the envier of our happiness and truth's prosperity may be kept out and prevented. "It still remains with me to go out of the north of this nation into Scotland, because of which, I have travelled very hard. When we came here first, we staid but one week, and took our journey through the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Clonmell, Tallow, Youghall, and so to Cork, and into the west, and back by Cork again, and so by Charleville and Mallow, down to Limerick, from whence Friends came with us to this Half-year's Meeting. We travelled very hard three hundred and sixty miles to get to it, in which time we had good service for the Lord in many blessed heavenly meetings. With the remembrance of my love to thee, and my dear children, and Friends, not forgetting my duty to my father, I conclude, and remain "Thy ever loving husband, "Dublin in Ireland, 13th of the Ninth month, 1676." "Dear Wife, "J. B. seen, for there was so much snow and ice that we could not ride; and being much wearied with going on foot and leading our horses, we lost our way. But at last Providence so ordered it, that we found a house, and two men came forth and willingly set us into our way; so that we got to a Friend's house, late at night, at Douglas, whose name was William Michaell, and had a meeting there next day. Though there were but few Friends belonging to that place, we were sweetly refreshed and comforted together, in the enjoyment of the Lord's presence, whereby it is evident that with him there is no respect of persons, time, place, or number. From Douglas we travelled to Hamilton, and so to Drumboy, Badcow, Lithgow, and Edinburgh, where we visited Friends and other people, and had good service for the Lord; then to Prestonpans, Leith, and Edinburgh again, where we had two heavenly meetings, though there were some wild scoffing people among them, yet the Lord's power chained them down. From thence to Kelso, Onter, Whittingem, Thrambleton, and so to Morpeth, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and thence homeward into Cumberland. The Lord was effectually with us in our travels and exercises, and we were sweetly preserved together in true love and unity, in our service for the Lord. "In that love which many waters cannot quench, neither floods drown, I write to thee, and have thee daily in my remembrance, toAbout this time a pain struck into my shoulgether with our dear and tender children, who der and gradually fell down into my arm and are always near and dear to my heart, and I hand, so that I was wholly deprived of the hope ever will be unto the end of time, how-use of it; the pain increased both day and ever the Lord may be pleased to dispose of me. "We intend to go from this sea-port town, in order for Portpatrick in Scotland. "We are both well every way; praised and magnified be the worthy name of the Lord our God for evermore. "To the Lord and the word of his patience I commit and commend thee, that in him thou mayest be preserved, with all thine, unto the end, in all faithfulness, to receive the crown of life, and of immortal glory. "Farewell, my dear heart. "Donaghadee in Ireland, the 22nd day of the Tenth month, 1676." "J. B. night. For three months I could neither put my clothes on nor off, and my arm and hand began to wither, so that I applied to some physicians, but could get no cure by any of them. At last, as I was asleep upon my bed, in the night time, I saw in a vision, that I was with dear George Fox, and I thought I said to him, George, my faith is such, that if thou seest thy way to lay thy hand upon my shoulder, my arm and hand shall be whole throughout. This remained with me two days and nights, that the thing was a true vision, and that I must go to George Fox, until at last, through much exercise of mind, as a great trial of my faith, I was made willing to go to him, he be- to give forth a paper to go before me; and I ing then at Swarthmore in Lancashire, when caused copies to be taken, and sent to those there was a meeting of Friends on the first places where this spirit had got the most enday of the week. Some time after the meet-trance. It was read in divers men's meeting, I called him aside into the hall, and gave ings, and those who were of that spirit which him a relation of my dream, showing him my the paper testified against were enraged and arm and hand; and in a little time, we walking cried out at some places, He means us. A together silently, he turned about and looked copy of which paper follows: upon me, and lifting up his hand, laid it upon my shoulder, saying, "The Lord strengthen thee both within and without." I went to Thomas Lower's, of Marsh Grange, that night; and when I was set down to supper, immediately before I was aware, my hand was lifted up to do its office, which it could not do for long before. This struck me with great admiration, and my heart was broken into tenderness before the Lord; and the next day I went home, with my hand and arm restored to its former use and strength, without any pain. The next time that George Fox and I "The Lord our God, even the true and met, he said, "John, thou mended;" I answer-living God, hath promised that he will never ed, "Yes, very well in a little time." break his covenant with his people, nor alter 66 "A true and faithful Testimony for the living God, Well," said he, "give God the glory;" to the word that is gone out of his mouth. This whom I was and still am bound in duty so to covenant which he hath made with, and redo, for that and all other his mercies and fa-newed unto his people, is an everlasting covevours. He hath all power in his own hand, and can thereby bring to pass whatsoever seems good in his eyes; who, by the same, prepares instruments and makes use of them as pleaseth him, who is alone worthy of all praise, honour, and glory, both now, and for evermore. Amen! nant of life and peace, even the sure mercies of David, of which he daily makes those witnesses, who break not covenant with him, but retain their first love and zeal for his name and truth. His name is above every name, his truth is as precious as in the beginning, and his glory shines over all in this day: In the year 1678, as I was travelling in endless praises unto him! He hath gathered the West of England, in Somersetshire, one many into this unchangeable covenant, and evening I had a meeting at our friend William made them nigh unto himself, who are his Thomas's house at Dullverton, into which true-born sons and daughters; children of the meeting came an informer, and some others promise, quickened and raised up from a state with him, and took several Friends' names.of death, to serve him in newness of life. The He was also wicked and abusive, both to me and Friends; and being engaged in testimony for the Lord, I stopped, and said, "Friends and people, mark and take notice of the end of that wicked man;" for it was clearly manifested to me that he would make a bad end. Some time after a Friend wrote to me, that he killed his wife, and was hanged for it at Ilchester. The Friend W. T., was fined by the information of this wicked informer; but he swore against one who was not at the meeting, and so his wicked intention came to nought. Some time after my return home, the Lord laid a necessity upon me to go forth with a testimony against that spirit of separation which had sown discord, and made division in the churches of Christ, casting stumblingblocks in the way of the weak, making the cross of Christ of none effect through a false liberty, and setting up separate meetings. But before I went, I was moved of the Lord work is his own, and the praise and glory belongs unto him for ever. "Herein are the sure mercies known, the durable riches, and the living substance fed upon. He nourished us by the virtue of his word of life, when we were young and tender, which made us grow up before him in stature and in strength, with our hearts filled with love to him, our Father, and in love and unity one with another. All our life long, to this day, hath he been ready to hand forth a suitable supply to our conditions, as we in faithfulness waited upon him. His word is made good and his promise fulfilled, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,' worm Jacob, who art little and low in thine own eyes, that dwellest in the low valley, abiding in thy tent, and dost not hunt abroad upon the mountains of imagination. The promise is yea, d amen, for ever, to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The blessing that makes rich is obtained and partaken of, in the seed and cove4 nant of life, Christ Jesus. I will give thee for a covenant unto the people, and for a light unto the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth. This is he whom God hath given unto us, and we have believed on, and received him, so that he is become our light, life, and everlasting salvation; the high priest of our profession; our redeemer and restorer; our captain, king, and law-giver; our everlasting shepherd; who by his mighty power hath brought us unto his fold of rest, where true peace is; magnified be his name for ever. conversation in all their undertakings; to the end that they may honour and glorify him in their day, by bringing forth much fruit, faithfully waiting upon, and worshipping and serving him. "Oh! the love of our God unto us; the great care and tenderness he hath had over us, ever since we were a people, that we might be faithful labourers in his vineyard. Did he call us to be idle? Surely nay. Did he give a gift unto male and female, that we should hide it in the earth, and not improve it to his glory? Oh! nay. Hath he done so "Dear Friends everywhere, whom God much for us, that we should always be as hath quickened, and raised from death to life, children, and neither speak nor act as men? by the effectual working of his power, be ye Surely nay; but that we should grow up in all stirred up in a holy zeal and true tender-stature and strength before him, as perfect ness, to consider what manner of persons you men and women in Christ Jesus our holy ought to be; being mindful what the Lord head, that we might all work together, as a hath done for you, ever since you were a peo-body fitly framed in holy order, in his heavenly ple; whom he hath made to be his people, who power and spirit, which leads into purity and were not his people-I say, let your conside-holiness, love and true unity, which stand in ration be serious in this matter, that so every the spirit, where no rent is, and where no one of you, in this day of his power, may strife nor separation can enter. bear a faithful testimony for the living God, "Through the blessed working of his alland the sufficiency of his power and holy sufficient power, the Lord in his love brought Spirit, against the old enemy and adversary us together and made us a people, and hath the devil, and his dark power and spirit. For preserved us so, to his praise and our eternal truly, good is the Lord, and faithful in all his comfort. And it is the work of the devil, by promises to them who wait upon him, as his evil power and dark spirit, and wicked inyou yourselves are witnesses. Although our struments actuated thereby, to divide and travels in times past, were under great exer- scatter us asunder. But my testimony for God, cise and deep affliction, with weeping and to you my friends, which still lives in my mourning, with our hands upon our loins; and heart, is to the all-sufficiency of his power. although many have been our trials both within Keep close to that which first gathered you and without, the Lord, by the all-sufficiency near to the Lord and one unto another, who of his power, hath wrought our deliverance, hath placed his name amongst you; and then as we relied upon the same, so that sorrow not all the powers of hell and death, or any and sighing are fled away, and everlasting joy unclean spirit, shall be able to separate, or is sprung up; yea, endless joy is known here, hurt, or break you asunder, for the power of endless comfort and satisfaction; where we God is your foundation. Settle upon this, for can praise the Lord together in the beauty of it stands sure, and is of God's own laying; be holiness, being arrayed with the clothing of ye as weighty stones of his building, and then his spirit, which makes us all comely before you cannot be moved by all the strength of God, even the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter.man's reasoning, nor by all the cunning of the Our unity and fellowship stands in the spirit fallen wisdom of satan; but as your dwelling and in the truth, that comes from the God of is in the pure light, and as you retain the feeltruth, who is light, and in him is no darknessing sense of the Divine life, and keep close to at all; in which, as we live and dwell, we the power, you will be enabled to say, The have unity one with another, and all the powers of hell and death are not able to break us asunder, nor an unclean spirit to hurt us; for we have salvation for walls and bulwarks, and there is no destroying in all God's holy mountain. For the destroying, wasting, and "And now, dear Friends, although the dividing spirit, and cunning deceit, is upon devil, the old liar, be at work in this day, in Esau's mountain and in Cain's field, out from a great mystery, even the mystery of iniquity, the lifed power, the true light and fear of the living God; who is a God of order, and preserves all his children and people, in a comely order, living a godly life and holy Lord our God is the true and living God, and besides him there is not another; and therefore we will trust in him and rely upon his power and holy Spirit, which is all-sufficient for ever. by his evil power and rending spirit, heed him not, nor his instruments, for the power of God is over him and them all, yea, over all that is contrary unto it. For he that was the first, |