Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

which thy foul receives the impreffion form'd by thy felf? Much lefs are they, fince these pour in upon thy mind whether thou wilt or no; confequently thou receivest thy ideas from him who created thy foul But as he leaves thy affections at full liberty, he gives thy mind fuch ideas as thy affections may deferve; if thou liveft in God, thou actest, thou thinkest in God. After this thou needeft only but open thine eyes to that light which enlightens all mankind, and 'tis then thou wilt perceive the truth, and make others perceive it. Why this, fays I, is Malebranche's doctrine to a tittle. I am acquainted with thy Malebranche, fays he; he had fomething of the friend in him, but was not enough fo. These are the moft confiderable particulars I learnt concerning the doctrine of the Quakers; in my next letter I fhall acquaint you with their history, which you will find more fingular than their opinions.

LE T

LETTER III.

ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε

QUAKERS.

Yo

OU have already heard that the Quakers date from Christ, who according to them was the firft Quaker. Religion, fay thefe, was corrupted, a little after his death, and remain'd in that ftate 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 themselves, 'till at last this light spread itself in England in 1642.

'TWAS at the time when Great Britain was torn to pieces by the inteftine 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 filk-weaver, 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

Fox could read at that age.

in

in his life and conduct, and a holy madman. 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 level'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 justice 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 worship? Fox prefented his other cheek to the officer, and beg'd him to give him another box for God's fake. The juftice wou'd have had him fworn before he ask'd him any queftions: Know, friend, fays Fox to him, that I never fwear. The juftice obferving he Thee'd and Thou'd him, sent him to the house of correction in Derby, with orders that he should be whip'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 utmoft feverity. The men who whip'd this enthu fiaft, were greatly furpriz'd to hear him befeech them to give him a few more lafhes for the good of his foul. There was no need of intreating these people; the lashes were repeated, for which Fox

thank'd

thank'd them very cordially, and began to preach. At first, the Spectators fell a laughing, but they afterwards liftned to him; and as enthusiasm is an epidemical ( diftemper, many were perfuaded, and those who scourged him became his first difciples. Being fet at liberty, he ran up and down the country with a dozen profelytes at his heels, ftill declaiming against the clergy, and was whip'd from time to time. Being one day fet in the pillory, he harangued the crowd in fo strong and moving a manner, that fifty of the auditors became his converts; and he won the reft so 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 some of Oliver Cromwell's foldiers, who thereupon quitted the fervice, and refus'd to take the oaths. Oliver having as great a contempt for a fect 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 prifons were crowded with them; but perfecution feldom has any other effect than

to

to increase the, number of profelytes. Thefe came therefore from their confinement more strongly confirmed in the principles they had imbib'd, and follow'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 follow. Fox thought himself inspired, and confequently was of opinion, that he must speak in a manner different from the reft of mankind. He thereupon began to wreath his body, to fcrew up his face, to hold in his breath, and to exhale it in a forcible manner, infomuch that the priestefs 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 fcarce deliver himself in any other manner. This was the first gift he communicated to his difciples. These ap'd very fincerely their master's feveral grimaces, and shook 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 a few miracles, and accordingly they wrought fome.

« AnteriorContinuar »