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LETTER III.

οι

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

QUAKER ST

Y

OU have already heard that the Quakers date from Chrift, who according to them was the first Quaker. Religion, fay thefe, was corrupted, a little after his death, and remain'd in that state of corruption about 1600 Years. But there were always a few Quakers conceal'd in the world, who carefully preferv'd the facred fire, which was extinguish'd in all but themfelves, 'till at last this light fpread it felf in England in 1642.

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"TWAS at the time when Great Bri tain was torn to pieces by the intestine

wars,

wars which three or four fects had rais'd in the name of God, that one George Fox, born in Leicestershire, and fon to a filkweaver, took it into his head to preach; and, as he pretended, with all the requifites of a true apostle, that is, without being able either to read or write. He was about twenty five * years of age, irreproachable in his life and conduct, and a holy mad-man. He was equip'd in leather from head to foot, and travell'd from one village to another, exclaiming against war and the clergy. Had his invectives been levell'd against the foldiery only, he wou'd have been fafe enough, but he inveigh'd against ecclefiafticks. Fox was feiz'd at Derby, and being carried before a juftice of peace; he did not once offer to pull off his leathern hat; upon which an officer gave him a great box o'th' ear, and cried to him, Don't you know you are to appear uncover'd before his worfhip? Fox prefented his other cheek to the officer, and begg'd him to give him anc ther box for God's fake. The justice

Fox could read at that age.

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wou'd

X.

wou'd have had him fworn before he afk'd him any queftions: Know, friend, fays Fox to him, that I never fwear. The juftice obferving he Thee'd and Thou'd him, fent him to the house of correction in Derby, with orders that he fhould be whipp'd there. Fox prais'd the Lord all the way he went to the house of correction, where the juftice's order was executed with the utmost feverity. The men who whipp'd this enthufiaft, were greatly furpriz'd to hear him befeech them to give him a few more lashes for the good of his foul. There was no need of intreating these people; the lashes were repeated, for which Fox thank'd them very cordially, and began to preach. At first, the spe&tators fell a laughing, but they afterwards liftned to him; and as enthusiasm is an epidemical diftemper, many were perfuaded, and those who fcourg'd him became his first difciples. Being fet at liberty, he ran up and down the country with a dozen profelytes at his heels, still declaiming against the clergy, and was whipp'd from time to time. Being

one

one day fet in the pillory, he harangued the crowd in fo ftrong and moving a manner, that fifty of the auditors became his converts; and he won the reft fo much in his favour, that his head being freed tumultuously from the hole where it was faftned, the populace went and fearch'd for the church of England clergyman, who had been chiefly inftrumental in bringing him to this punishment, and fet him on the fame pillory where Fox had ftood.

Fox was bold enough to convert fome of Oliver Cromwell's Soldiers, who thereupon quitted the fervice and refus'd to take the oaths. Oliver having as great a contempt for a sect which would not allow its members to fight, as Sixtus Quintus had for another fect, Dove non fi chiavava, began to perfecute these new converts. The pri fons were crouded with them, but perfecution feldom has any other effect than to increase the number of profelytes. Thefe came therefore from their confinement, more ftrongly confirmed in the principles they had imbib'd, and fellow'd

by their goalers whom they had brought over to their belief. But the circumftances which contributed chiefly to the fpreading of this fect were as follows. Fox thought himself infpir'd, and confequently was of opinion, that he muft fpeak in a manner different from the rest of mankind. He thereupon began to writhe his body, to screw up his face, to hold in his breath, and to exhale it in a forcible manner infomuch that the priestess of the Pythian God at Delphos could not have acted her part to better advantage. Infpiration foon became fo habitual to him, that he cou'd scarce deliver himself in any other manner. This was the first gift he communicated to his difciples. These ap'd very fincerely their master's several grimaces, and fhook in every limb the instant the fit of inspiration came upon them, whence they were call'd Quakers. The vulgar attempted to mimick them, they trembled, they fpake thro' the nofe; they quak'd and fancied themselves infpir'd by the Holy Ghost. The only thing now wanting

was

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