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professed since I came among Friends, viz., that the light within being God, the word and the Spirit in every man is sufficient to reveal to every man all that is needful to his eternal salvation." G. K. declared he had been pretty fully heard, and did not desire to detain the meeting longer.

Upon this arose a very interesting and important discussion; in the course of which the representative from LANCASHIRE✶ said,-" The Spirit of God did not move G. K. to publish these things to the world in print; and therein I think I have the Spirit of God."

GILBERT LAITY said,-" It is manifest there hath been a wrong and a suffering to the church of Christ, yet there is a travail that G. K. may be gathered, restored, and brought near ;" and with this charitable sentiment others seemed to agree.

IRELAND." As to the books, and disservice of them, need not be spoken to ; it is too plain. Now, as to G. K.'s delivering the doctrines of truth in the unusual words hath been a grief to many; and I know many of Friends there are sound in the faith, and the beginning was his delivering himself in unusual words and sentences, yet unadvised words uttered, to say Christ within and Christ without are one Christ; and Friends judged it, and here began the ground of the man. And as to the printing, and publishing them in print, it was our ancient father G. Fox's advice, if there were any doubtful or unusual things, not to write them; and G. K. delivering himself in unusual words, and some kind of doctrines we have not received, nor, I believe, never can; and therefore the ground of the matter is his spirit."

LANCASHIRE." Besides printing, I must needs say, all along it appears to me there appears a spirit of separation; yet, I say, let all endeavours be used that the man may be saved."

CLEMENT PLUMSTEAD.—“ I believe William Edmundson hath spoken in the integrity of his heart, so far as he understands the matter. I desire to give my contrary sense, and desire to keep to the balance, and that it was the absurdities of some that was the occasion."

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GEO. WHITEhead.- Pray, friends, keep to the current of life." LEICESTERSHIRE.- "These things that have happened have dishonoured God, been a grief to Friends, and have wounded G. K.'s life; and oh that the wound might be healed!"

WESTMORLAND." There is gross wickedness and spiritual wickedness. I do not charge G. K. with the first, except passion, but rather the latter; and therefore that endeavours may be used to bring him into unity; for certainly it hath been a high and exalted spirit hath been the cause of all this which would predominate."

On the question whether G. Keith, in printing or making public the difference in America, hath done disservice to the truth :

:

SOMERSETSHire.- - -"Friends are greatly dissatisfied with the printed books, because of the effects that have happened by G. K.'s books relating to the differences in Pennsylvania hath done here, by bringing reproach on truth, opening the mouths of our adversaries."

The representatives from SURREY, LINCOLNSHIRE, WESTMORLAND, and DURHAM followed in the same train; the latter declaring " But this I have to say for G. K., he hath declared his desire of unity, and therefore mix judgment with mercy, that he may be gathered; for it is not God's mind any should be cut off.”

HERTFORDSHIRE." As to the matter of those printed books of G. K.'s, there hath been a disservice in publishing them, and some ill use, by some being sent

* The name of the county for which the individual was representative is alone given in

most cases.

to young, convinced people, with advertisements, if they would be Quakers they must not be Christians; but that G. K. had a cause I am satisfied; but his printing I dislike, and think a check should have been put to it. But now it is spread; and he having been a serviceable member, and the eyes of professors are on this meeting; and it arising in G. K.'s heart to desire unity with Friends, and finding him not to disagree with Friends in doctrine; I should be glad he might be gathered."

After LONDON and MIDDLESEX had spoken by their representatives, we find the Friend from Derbyshire saying,—“ Friends, there have been too much tenderness to be used towards G. K.; and some having run into unsound words, have given occasion to our friend G. K., by uttering such things that cannot be stood by, and are to be judged. But that there could not be another way found but printing, I am not satisfied; and printing hath been out of the counsel of God, and hath opened the mouths of our adversaries, and judgment must needs pass upon the publishing in print the weaknesses of some; yet, in the love of God, to use all Christian endeavours to seek to bring in him and others."

HAMPSHIRE." As touching this unhappy difference in America, it is matter of sorrow and grief to many spirits; and as to its beginning an inroad in those parts, hath been for want of true watchfulness, and keeping under the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as for the printed books, they have been sold in the markets, and about streets, and them most greedy of them hath been the preachers of the Presbyterians; and whether the charges are true or false, they ought to be spread no further than the fact was known. Now, the sending these books to England and other nations, and spreading them there, is contrary to the order of truth among us."

YORKSHIRE. 66 Concerning the printing and separation. This printing and separation is a false birth, and a false womb that brought it worth [forth ;] and the spreading these books have been a dishonour to truth, and reproach to us as a people."

LONDON to the same effect.

WESTMORLAND..—“ That living and glorious power by which the Lord reached unto us, and gathered us to be a people, is felt amongst us; and these things have tended to the disadvantage of the holy truth and its professors, and the enemies of it, and is not that which is tender of God's honour or his holy name."

W. MEADE appears to have regretted the line of conduct pursued towards G. Keith.

BUCKS." I bless the Lord, fathers and elders, that I have some share this day among you of that life and power that is here. I am well satisfied the hurt the books with G. K.'s name to have done, and with a sharp sword. It is in the hands of our enemies, and the reproach they have brought on the truth and on us. And as to the occasion, I think there hath not been sufficient occasion for what he hath done but as to the printing, had it been as great as he suggests, the printing and publishing them as they have been is wrong; and to gain him I am willing, but that we may not neglect to clear the truth."

WILLIAM PENN.---“ I perceive these books, and the spreading of them, is a grief and exercise to Friends, especially where they have not been; and before the knot of union between them, printed against us and Friends in union with them in other parts, was untied; and our friend Wm. Edmundson hit the matter, when he hinted it was an unusual way of preaching Christ, that have been offence; and consider his preaching Christ otherwise that [than] Christ hath taught us to preach him; and his opposing, as he hath amongst us, and his treatment of Friends, is also to be considered; and his preaching as he doth gives occasion to other people to be jealous of us that we deny Christ, or undervalue his sufferings. And as to G. K.,

notwithstanding he seems to set aside evidence and judgment of this meeting, yet he is to be sought ; and a regard must be had to the churches of Christ at Pennsylvania, Maryland, Long Island, Rhode Island, and Barbadoes, &c."

CLEMENT PLUMSTEAD." With respect to the meeting, I have forborne to reply to many things now spoken."

WM. MEADE.-" Judge for God, and not from a multitude of fine words: our friend is but slain, not dead."

Geo. Whitehead.—“ I humbly entreat there may appear nothing as a jar in the meeting, but that we may proceed, that things be not too long delayed."

UPON THE SEPARATION.

Many Friends expressed their opinion that the separation was on G. Keith's part; but

CLEMENT PLUMSTEAD said,- "I would willingly have you consider that of the separation, and what G. K. allegeth out of Robert Barclay's book."

And WM. MEADE offered notes about the separation, and that it laid partly on Thomas Lloyd's part.

Upon this WM. EDMUNDSON said,—" Must reason rule here? And as we began let us proceed, and let the Holy Ghost decide, and let us sit in the sense of the love of God, and we can judge of testimonies."

GEO. WhiteHEAD said," The separation is unwarrantable, and not to be excused, nor any precedent among the apostles or primitive Christians for it. Paul said, upon occasion of division,' I will not know the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power; and some were guilty of idolatry, &c. And there were divisions and great corruptions among them, and among the seven churches; but the apostles did not go about to bring a reproach on the name Christian, or cause separation among them."

KENT." The ground of separation hath risen from that which would dictate to Friends what they should do. No man is to prescribe a form of faith; and the books the publishing of them was from a wrong spirit; and that G. K. may be brought through judgment is my desire, to know a purifying."

Several Friends coincided in this view.

The meeting understanding that G. K. desired to come in to be heard, the request was complied with.

GEORGE KEITH then said,--" I was somewhat quick in withdrawing, and have something to offer. There are some that have accused me, and one that made my adversary's words mine, and I desire they may be excepted. I am not willing to name names, unless you desire it. I am sensible of many failings, weaknesses, and imperfections, which I am only accountable to God for; and I am concerned for you, although I am not under any uneasiness in myself; and nothing that you can give out against me can prevail with me to condemn any thing I have done; for I find peace, and the Lord is with me, and I have greater strength than you are aware of."

The following judgment was then determined upon :

JUDGMENT ON GEORGE KEITH.

"At the Yearly Meeting of faithful Friends and Brethren, begun at London on the 28th of the 3rd month, 1694, and held by adjournment until the 11th of the 4th month following.

"A true account of the proceedings, sense, and advice of the said meeting, in the love of God, in order to put an end to the divisions and differences among some of the people called Quakers in America; tenderly recommended to all them that are principally concerned therein.

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Whereas, by agreement of this meeting, all epistles directed to this meeting

should be read openly therein, and thereupon some epistles from America being read in course, in which the differences between George Keith and others were mentioned; and, upon notice thereof given him, he came into the meeting, and desired to have a paper read, and to be heard in his own defence, which the meeting tenderly condescended unto : and whereas the said G. K. did before that, in the public meeting of the brethren belonging to this Yearly Meeting, openly and tenderly signify his earnest desire of union, and that he might not be cast off, so that the breach might be made up, and that he would rather lay down his natural life than it should not be made up, with other expressions of the like import, which did tenderly affect many brethren; and also his open confessions, in divers meetings, to the power and presence of God among us, and with our ministry: and also there being a general sense in this meeting of a great and tender compassion, as well as condescension in the bowels of Jesus Christ, with earnest breathings and supplications to God, both with regard to G. K.'s help and preservation, and also with great respect to the peace of the church of Christ, and prosperity of the holy truth and great work of the Lord God in our day, and the honour of his great and glorious name, and our Christian reputation as a chosen people, gathered, by his Divine power and goodness, to show forth his praise in our age and generation, and to remove and prevent reproaches and scandals that tend to affect us, to our sorrow and grief as a Christian Society and people, that the mouth of iniquity may be stopped, and our enemies that took occasion to blaspheme the holy truth, and reproach us, may be confounded by the great power of the Lord our God, for his name and truth's sake, which we are deeply concerned and zealous for."

The document then recapitulates the proceedings of the meeting, and states that G. K. divers times acknowledged the moderation of the meeting.

"The foregoing causes and reasons, how this meeting came to be concerned in this weighty affair, together with the manner of proceedings thus far, being sincerely related, we proceed, likewise, to give the true sense and Christian advice of this meeting thereupon.

"Concerning the printed books from George Keith and others of his friends, relating to these differences and divisions in some parts of America, it being proposed to this meeting that Friends concerned might singly declare their sense, which they had liberty freely to do, in the fear of the Lord, whose power was over the meeting; thereupon many weighty testimonies were given, in great fear and tenderness of spirit, that the exposing the differences in print to the world, to the view of our enemies, both in America and Europe, hath been of great disservice to the truth, and given great occasion of offence and stumbling to many, and of great sorrow and grief to us and many faithful Friends, opening the mouths of our adversaries, professors, and others, to reproach the truth and friends thereof; and it is the clear and general sense of this meeting, that George Keith, and the rest therein concerned with him, were not acted in God's wisdom and counsel therein, and that they ought to have had more regard to God's glory, and the reputation of our Christian character and profession; and although it appears that some few persons have given offence, either through erroneous doctrines, unsound expressions, or weakness, forwardness, want of wisdom and right understanding; yet, the spreading thereof in print, and in that aggravating manner as they are, and sending them over England and other parts of the world, (unconcerned for the differences,) appears not to be in God's peaceable wisdom, nor consistent with the good order of truth among us, since we were a people; and therefore it is the tender advice and counsel of this meeting, that George Keith should either call in those books, or at least publish something innocently and effectually to clear the body of the people called Quakers, and their ministers, from those gross errors charged on some few in America, and retract the bitter language in them, so far as

he is concerned, which seems to have too much appeared in some few particular persons on both sides, thereby giving occasion to truth's adversaries to asperse us, and to look upon the Quakers rendering reviling for reviling, one against another; which is of an ill savour, and to be removed by God's power and truth, and the root and spirit thereof, in whomsoever it is.

"And wherein G. Keith apprehends himself injured or aggrieved by any particular persons, he ought to exercise a spirit of forgiveness, as he would, for Christ's sake, be forgiven of God and his people, according as he himself hath sometimes openly declared; and we desire the same, in all others concerned, towards him, as in relation to personal injuries and offences."

After asserting the soundness of Friends in Christian doctrine, the document proceeds,

"It was very observable in this meeting, that George Keith, in order to remove some scruples that might be in the minds of some concerning his belief or doctrine about the sufficiency of the light within, did voluntarily declare in these words, viz.,' I know no man upon the face of the earth that professes a belief of the sufficiency of the light within to salvation more than I profess or hold, and have always professed since I came among Friends; viz., that the light within being God, the Word and the Spirit in every man is sufficient to reveal to every man all that is needful to his eternal salvation: which confession did appear to have a tendency to the satisfaction of the meeting in that respect; and it is earnestly desired and tenderly advised by this meeting, that George Keith have a tender regard to our ancient testimony for the sufficiency of the light, the word of faith, the immortal seed and Spirit of truth within, and to the plainness and simplicity of the preaching of it from the beginning, whereby many have been turned to God; which testimony and ministration the Lord hath signally blessed and prospered by his power and presence, for the gathering, confirming, and building up of many thousands of his people in the most holy faith, whereof there are many living witnesses yet remaining.

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Also, this meeting, in true and tender love, for Christ's sake, doth desire and admonish the said George Keith (and even for the peace of his own soul) to watch against his human infirmity and weakness appearing therein, and against such passionate behaviour as there appeared divers times in this meeting, to the trouble and grief of many faithful ancient Friends; and humbly to wait upon God to feel his power to subdue his own passions, and to be very watchful against the same, and against the enemy that takes advantage thereupon to hurt him, or at any time to hurry him into disorder of spirit at unawares, which we pray God make him truly sensible of and watchful against, for his own inward peace, and for good example and behaviour in the church of Christ. Howbeit, we do declare that the said George Keith did, divers times, openly acknowledge his passions, weakness, and infirmities, so that this meeting did the more exercise compassion, charity, and patience towards him; and this meeting's tender advice to George Keith also is, to live in peace and charity among Friends and brethren here in this city, nation, and elsewhere; and to avoid all public and apparent reflections upon ministering Friends or their ministry; and likewise, all ministering Friends to forbear the like towards him; that no occasion of stumbling or reproach may be given thereby, nor any brother hurt in his testimony: and, as George Keith shall approve himself in charity and reconciliation with Friends and brethren here in London and elsewhere, they are desired accordingly to be tender and kind to him, as he sincerely approves himself to be a man of peace and charity towards all, and answering our Christian advice herein."

Then follows some advice to the separatists; and the whole concludes thus:

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