Early Q Disciplinary Letters 2 1659

[ This next early record was discovered in a register book of a monthly meeting in Hampshire, since the last document was prepared for the press. It is dated 1659, and contains portions of advice similar to those in the preceding article, and occasionally so in the same words: thus proving that some general advice of the kind, had been issued from some influential body or meeting of the Society, at or previous to that early period. ]
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At a Meeting of Friends of Four Counties, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, at the Lodge near Horsham, these as followeth were Judged Necessary by Friends there met, and by them owned, and Tendered as their Counsel and Advice unto all Friends in those Places.
The Third Month, 1659.

1. That all Friends at their several meetings in the aforesaid counties, do make their collections orderly and timely for the use of the poor, or such other necessary uses that shall be seen in the wisdom of God to be serviceable for the good of the body and what is remaining over in the particular, to be brought into the general stock, at the general meeting in each county, to them entrusted for the whole.
2. That all Friends intending marriage, or witnessing a motion of the Lord unto that thing, (before they go outwardly together, ) bring it to the body or that church to which they are joined; that all in the power of the Lord may feel, and in that particular nothing be done hastily or rashly, but in the fear of the Lord and in the presence of many witnesses they may be united, according to the example of the holy men of God in the Scriptures of truth recorded; so that no scandal or blemish may be laid upon the Truth, but all to the light may be brought, which maketh manifest deceit; and that a record in writing of the day, place, and year of such things, be kept within that meeting, whereof one or both are members; under which the witnesses may set their names, or some of them.
3. That a record be kept (as Friends are moved) of the births of children of such as are members or {Page 284} Friends, and of the burial of the dead who die in the Lord, (as they departed out of the body; ) which be done after the manner of the holy men of God recorded in the Scriptures, and not after the custom of the heathen that know not God.
4. That burying places be provided as soon as conveniently may be, in convenient places distinct from the world, as Friends are moved in it.
5. That if any person or persons draw back from the Truth and walk disorderly, some to speak to such as draw back, to exhort and admonish such with a tender and meek spirit, whom they find negligent and disorderly; and if any person or persons after admonition persist in the thing not good, let them be again (as moved) admonished, and before two or three witnesses reproved, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing may be established; and if still they persist and come not to the Truth, then let the thing be delivered to others that be in the Truth, that it may be known to the body, and with the consent of the whole, in the light be determined; and that nothing be done in haste or rashly.
6. That a tender care be taken of all such children, wives, servants, soldiers, or others, who are turned out of their places and families, for the Truth’s sake. And that all single persons, men and women, (who are not called forth in the public or general service in the work of the Lord, ) be ordered in the wisdom of God to several places, whereby they may glorify God in their conversations, and the truth may be preserved by them without blemish, and them in it; that all Friends may be kept in duty.
7. That all Friends in their several places (as {Page 285} they are moved, ) observe their general and particular meetings on the First days and others, (except any of them be moved forth by the Lord unto some other places for the furtherance of Truth, as in the wisdom of God shall be seen and judged serviceable, or just cause shewed, if desired, to the contrary ) for they who forsake the assembly of saints lose the unity.
8. That if any be moved of the Lord to speak in the steeple houses, streets, markets, meetings, or beyond the seas, [they are] not to quench the Spirit of the Lord; and that no Friends judge one another in meetings; but if any be moved to speak [to such,] to do it after meeting in private. And all Friends take heed of slothfulness and sleeping in meeting; but live in the power of the Lord, that you may be kept in the unity: that all things that are done, may be, in the moving power of the Lord God, and nothing out of it.

An addition of Friends who met together from the counties aforesaid, since the said meeting in the third month. 1659.
That care be taken that all sufferings of Friends, who suffer for conscience and Truth’s sake, of what nature or kind soever, be from time to time gathered up and recorded; and to that end some Friends of every meeting convenient, be desired to record the same: and that such Friends who suffer as afore said, do bring the whole matter, with all material circumstances, speedily to him who is to record the same: and that all such records of sufferings as aforesaid, be by him returned at the next general meeting of Friends for that county, there to be recorded in general for the whole county, by him who is desired to record the same.
That if collections be made in the several counties as aforesaid, and [if] the money collected in every particular county is not suficient to supply the necessity of Friends in the same county, that then the other of the said counties, who have any collections in the general stock, do contribute towards the necessity of that county or counties which is in want.
The names of Friends met together the 3rd month 1659, above-mentioned, viz.
Then follow the names of many Friends arranged under the four counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire.

Whilst the above was in type, the following documents have been met with, among our ancient records in London, which, from their very early date and rarity, are curious, and their contents interesting.
At a meeting of Friends out of the Northern Counties of York, Lincoln, Lancaster, Chester, Nottingham, Derby, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham, and Morthumberland, at Scalehouse, the 24th of the 4th Month, 1658.
HAVING heard of great things done by the mighty power of God, in many nations beyond the seas, whither He hath called forth many of our dear brethren and sisters, to preach the everlasting Gospel; by whom He hath revealed the mystery of His Truth, which hath been hid from ages and generations who are now in strange lands, in great straights and hardships, and in the daily hazard of their lives; - our bowels yearn for them, and our hearts are filled with tender love to those precious ones of God, who so freely have given up for the Seed’s sake, their friends, their near relations, their country and worldly estates yea, and their own lives also: and in the feeling we are [have] of their trial necessities and sufferings, we do therefore in the unity of the Spirit and bond of Truth, cheerfully agree, in the Lord’s name and power to move and stir up the hearts of Friends in these counties, (whom God hath called and gathered out of the world, ) with one consent, freely and sent up to London, as a free-will offering for the Seeds sake; that the hands of those that are beyond the seas in the Lord’s work, may be strengthened, and their bowels refreshed, from the love of their brethren. And we commit it to the care of our dear brethren of London, Amos Stoddart, Gerrard Roberts, John Boulton, Thomas Bart, and Richard Davis, to order and dispose of what shall be from us sent unto them, for the supply of such as are already gone forth, or such as shall be moved of the Lord to go forth, into any other nation; of whose care and faithfulness we are well assured.
And such Friends as are here present, are to be diligent in their several counties and places; that the work may be hastened with all convenient speed.
Signed by many Friends; amongst them are
Thomas Aldam, Marmaduke Storr, John Killam, John Richmond, Thomas Bewley, Thomas Taylor, Wiliam Smith.
The next document is addressed simply as follows:
BRETHREN AND FRIENDS,
It having pleased God, in his marvellous love, in these latter days to reveal the mystery of his gospel, which hath been hid from ages and generations, and to make manifest his glorious Truth, which hath been long lost in the dark night of apostacy, since the days of the Apostles -and chosen England before all the nations of the world, as the land of his delight, and to bring forth many thousands therein, (as a kind of first fruits to the glory of his name, ) unto whom he hath given to see those days that many righteous souls long waited for and thirsted after;-let us all, in the simplicity of Truth (which at the first was made manifest to us, ) abide and dwell, and in the liberty Christ Jesus hath made us free, stand fast; that we be not again led back into the errors of those that went before us, who left the power, and got into the form, who brought in that darkness which hath so long covered the face of the earth, that no footsteps may be left for those that shall come after, or to walk, by example: but that all they may be directed [by] and left to the Truth, in it to live and walk, and by it to be guided: that none may look back at us, nor have an eye behind them; but that all may look forward, waiting in the Spirit for the revelation of those glorious things, which are to be made manifest to them.
It is needful that we call to mind, how long, and in what manner, the world has been distracted and divided, about those things which the Apostles practised; and what sad calamity (besides the loss and departure from the Truth) has come upon many nations, about forms and ways of discipline and government of the church (so called) some saying the Apostles made bishops, and gave them power, and they ordained Elders; others saying, nay, it was by the laying on the hands of the presbytery: and others, pleading it was the election and choice of the churches. And how have men gathered themselves into forms and sects, according to their divers persuasions and how are others setting up committees to approve and send forth preachers, and give them maintenance, seeing into the errors of the former: but all being ignorant of the life, or of the true power. And thus have men usurped one over another, and intruded into those things they understood not; and by human policy and invention, set up a carnal, worldly religion and worship, which has for many hundred years overspread the whole face of the earth.
Wherefore, in love and tenderness and in the fear of the Iord, we exhort, that we may all in the unity of the Spirit, dwell in the pure wisdom, which is from above which comprehends that which would lead out to the setting up persons or things: that the power of the Godhead may be known in the body, in that perfect freedom which every member hath in Christ Jesus; that none may exercise lordship or dominion over another, nor the person of any be set apart, but as they continue in the power of truth. And that none exercise any authority but such to whom it is freely given in the Lord for the good of the body: that all the world’s images and ways and forms and sects, may be condemned and confounded; and the glory of Christs body made manifest, in that wisdom and in that power, which the world cannot comprehend; that Truth itself in the body may reign, not persons nor forms: and that all such may be honoured as stand in the life of the Truth; wherein is the power, not over, but in, the body; that our path may be as the way of a ship in the sea, which no deceit can follow or imitate.
That for the better ordering of the outward estate of Friends, in all relations in and to the world and to one another in wisdom and as becomes the Truth, and for making collections for the needs of the church, [let] as many particular meetings, or some Friends from each of them that are near, and can conveniently, meet together once a month, or as occasion shall require: and as many of such Monthly Meetings, or some Friends from each of them in the northern parts of England, as can conveniently come together in a General Meeting twice or thrice in a year, or as occasion requires be joined and united: and that we may not tie up ourselves to the world’s limits of counties and places; but join together as may conduce to the union and fellowship of the church, and to the mutual help of one another in the Lord and we wish the like may be settled in all parts, and one General Meeting of [or for] England.
That for the supplying the needs of the church, and relieving such as are in want, it may be laid upon Friends in every meeting to take care of their own poor; to supply such as are aged and infirm in body; to provide employment for such as want work, or cannot follow their former callings by reason of the evil therein and to help such parents for the education of their children, as have more than they can maintain: that there may not be a beggar amongst us, nor any whose soul need be oppressed with care for food or raiment. And where Friends of one meeting are overburthened and under a greater charge than they can bear, that Friends at each Monthly Meeting, take care to contribute to their assistance.
That Friends at each Monthly Meeting do take care to provide supply for such as are in the ministry amongst them, where there is need; as also for the relief of Friends in prison, or any other, suffering for the Truth’s sake, according to their several wants; and to make collections from time to time for the same. And where Friends of any Monthly Meeting are under a greater charge and burden than they can well bear, the General Meeting of Friends in the North to take care to contribute to them; that we may all bear one another burdens, and walk in love as becomes brethren.
That all collections made by any particular meeting, be paid to such hands, and disposed to such ends, as Friends of that Meeting shall appoint; and the same likewise to be observed by each Monthly Meeting with their collections; and the like also by Friends of the North, at their General Meetings: that the true power of the whole body, and of every part thereof, may be preserved; that every member may act in its own freedom, and every meeting in its own authority, as part of that body which Christ Jesus hath set free. And none to usurp over another; but let him that would be greatest, be servant unto all: that as Friends according to their freedom do contribute, they may be also satisfied it is laid out by the power and in the wisdom of the body to whom they commit it.
That all collections made by Friends at their Monthly Meetings, as also at their General Meetings, be for the needs of the churches in general, and not limited for those only that are in the ministry; who will be as much grieved, as others offended, to have a maintenance or hire raised on purpose for them.
That for the more clearness of Truth, and satisfaction of Friends, two or more persons be still appointed in all trusts about moneys, and be privy to all receipts and disbursements; that the innocency of the upright may be known, and all deceit be prevented.
That all Friends that receive any collections, do from time to time, make account to Friends of the particular meeting Monthly Meeting or General Meeting, by whom they were entrusted; and in order thereunto, that a note under two or more hands be sent out of every county with such collections as are appointed by the General Meeting, to be produced, together with an account how it hath been disbursed [at] the next General Meeting, together with an account how such are entrusted therewith; and that particular notes from every Meeting under two or more hands be sent with their collections to such persons as are appointed by the Monthly Meeting to receive the same, to be produced together with the account how it hath been discharged, at the next Monthly Meeting after: and after every account so made and cleared, all papers to be concealed, and no further remembrance thereof to be had, which may beget many offences in future time, but cannot be of any service to the Truth.
Dear Friends, these things being agreed and [word indistinct] in clearness of Truth, which hitherto have taken up much time at the General Meetings, to the loss of many precious opportunities, -you will see greater things before you, which more chiefly concern the state of the church, and will be of greater service to the Truth as our Friends who bring this from us may lay before you, as there is freedom and opportunity.
From Friends met together at Durham, from several Meetings in and adjoining to the County of Durham, the 1st day of the 8th Month, 1659: to Friends who shall meet together out of the several Northern Counties, at Skipton, the 6th of the 8th Month, 1659.
[Signed by twenty names amongst them, Anthony Pearson, Richard Wilson, Christopher Richmond, &c.]
This letter was presented and read at the General Meeting at Skipton, the Fifth day of the 8th Month, 1659; and was by all Friends owned and approved, and agreed to be observed; and copies thereof to be sent to all Monthly Meetings: Thomas Killam, Sanuel Watson, Henry Ward, William Gandy.
[This document is endorsed.] “To Thomas Doudney, at the Bel Savage in London, deliver this, and for him to give or send it to G. F. with speed and care to be delivered to him, where he is.”
[Another document of a similar kind recommends a collection to be raised for the service of Truth abroad dated from the General Meeting, held at Skipton, the 25th day of the 2nd Month, 1660; it commences thus:]
”DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN, “
”WE having certain information from some Friends of London, of the great work and service of the Lord beyond the seas, in several parts and regions, as Germany, America and many other islands and places, as Florence, Mantua, Palatine, Tuscany, Italy, Rome Turkey, Jerusalem, France, Geneva, Norway, Barbadoes, Bermuda, Antigua, Jamaica, Surinam, [?] Newfoundland; through all which, Friends have passed in the service of the Lord, and divers other countries, places, islands and nations; and among many nations of the Indians, in which they have had service for the Lord, and through great travails have published His name, and declared the everlasting gospel of peace unto them that have been afar off, that they might be brought nigh unto God.” &c.
[A collection is then recommended in every particular meeting, to be sent “as formerly to London, for the service and use aforesaid.”]

[Source: Letters, &c., of Early Friends; Illustrative of the History of the Society, From Nearly it’s Origin, to about the Period of George Fox’s Decease; with Documents Respecting It’s Early Discipline, also Epistles of Counsel and Exhortation, &c. London: Harvey And Dayton, Gracechurch Street, 1841 pages 283-286]