John Camm

John Camm: Other Sources

1. Thomas Camm on his father John Camm, from The memory of the righteous revived
2. Charles Marshall on the visit of John Camm and John Audland to Bristol in 1654: from The memory of the righteous revived
3. ‘The Testimony of George Fox, Concerning our Dear Friends and Brethren John Audland, and John Camm ...’ from The memory of the righteous revived

Thomas Camm on his father John Camm, from The memory of the righteous revived (1689)

John Camm, as he was my Father according to the Flesh, so was he also a spiritual Father, and Instructor of me in the way of Truth and Righteousness, the which through the operation of the Word of Life, measureably revealed in me in my Childhood, became effectually to my Confirmation in that blessed Way; for his tender care was great for the Education of me, and the rest of his Children and Family, in the Nurture and Fear of the Lord; and as he was sharp and severe in reproving every appearance of evil, yet with Wisdom, Gravity and great Discretion, the which appeared also in his encouraging and strengthing every appearance of God in his Children, Family, and all People, being an especial example in his life and conversation.

The place of his outward Birth was at Camsgil, within the Barrony of Kendal in Westmoreland, which place hath been possessed by his Ancestors long before him.

As for his Parentage and Education, I shall not say, much more then that it was honest, and of good report, as any of that degree in that part of the Country, as many can testfie; as also that he from his Childhood, was inclined to be Religious, and sought after the best things; and ever since I can remember, he was one that joyned in society with them that were the most strict and upright in the performance of religious Duties, and ordered their lives most according to Holiness and Righteousness.

He having seen beyond the national Priests, and their empty lifeless Forms, and so separated from them, still pressing forward, towards a further manifestation and revelation of the Way of Salvation, which his Soul hungred and thirsted after; and therefore he with many others, who were under the same sence of hunger, often met together amongst themselves; and some openings from the Lord several of them had, from which they could have declared excellent things, having some sight or comprehension thereof, yet wanted the inward possession of the Vertue, Life and Power of what they declared of, and in this state continued many days.

But the fulness of time being come, wherein the Lord in his everlasting loving-kindness did cause his day to spring from on high, and his Light to break out of obscurity, and his glorious eternal Gospel to be preached again upon the Earth, and particularly in this our Nation, having heard the cryes of the Poor, and the sighings of the Prisoners in the Pit; even then the Lord called and anointed several for his Work and Service, to publish this blessed day; to bring Glad-tidings, and proclaim the Year of Jubile.

And first, and more especially, he called forth and made choice of his dear Servant and faithful Messenger to the Nations, George Fox, and sent him into the North Country, and particularly into Westmoreland near Kendal; where there was a Field white unto the Harvest, a People ripe to be gathered, who as abovesaid, were separated in measure from the Worlds Worship, and empty dry Forms of Religion, in many things, and met together as aforesaid, having several that were become Teachers amongst them, but the chiefest John Audland and Francis Howgil, amongst whom the Lord sent this his dear Servant and Messenger George Fox, with the Message of Life; at the publishing whereof in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power of Jesus Christ, the aforesaid John Camm my dear Father, with John Audland, Francis Howgil, Edward Borough, Richard Hubberthorn, and many Hundreds more were convinced, and their hearts opened, as was the Heart of Lydia in former days, and by the Revelation of the day of God, and the inshining of his Heavenly Light in their Hearts, they came to see, that they wanted the lively possession of what they had made a great profession of, which profession several of them had esteemed of, as great riches, of all which they came to be Jesus Christ, they consulted no more there with; but it became as Dross and Dung in comparison of the excellent Knowledg of Jesus Christ, revealed by his Spirit, to regenerate them, and sprinkle their Hearts and Consciences from dead words, to which they were Strangers, notwithstanding their great profession, under the sence of which great was the Cry and the Lamentation of many, unspeakable; for the day of the Lord was dreadful and terrible upon every high and exalted thing, and many lofty ones, and tall Cedars (high in profession) were bowed down under the mighty hand of Gods Power, and Judgment begun at the House of God, the Heart his Temple, and by the Spirit of Judgment and Burning the eternal God entered, and begun his blessed Work, in order to redeem, purge and make clean Vessels for his own use and service, through and by whom he might carry on his blessed design and work in the Nations to the Glory of his Eternal, Name.

And John Camm, amongst many others, was bowed down under the mighty Power of the Lord, and the operation of the blessed Spirit was effectually known in his Heart and Soul, whereby he was made willing to take up the Cross, and become a Fool for Christ's sake, forsaking the World, and all the Glory, Delights, Pleasures, Wisdoms and Riches of it, of which he had enjoyed a share equal, if not above many of his degree; for naturally he was a Wise Man in Worldly matters, having at that time great concerns and dealings therein; and the World seemed to smile upon him, and the riches and glory of it had exceedingly encreased, and was then likely to encrease more; yet notwithstanding all this, the Lord so prevailed by his Power and Spirit in his Heart, that he was made willing to part with all, and counted it a blessed exchange, to be made an Heir in Christ of that durable Riches laid up in Heaven, that his Soul had Travelled for, so that it was no hard thing for him to forsake all for Christ's sake, and become a despised Follower of him through many Tribulations.

And after a day of great trouble and inward exercise, through the blessed operation of that Spirit of Judgment and Burning, wherein he saw the old Heavens and Earth to pass away as a Scrole, and all things to be made new, even as a prepared Vessel[...], the Lord filled him with his Power and Spirit, and put his Word in his Mouth, & called him from all his outward concerns and enjoyments, to publish the same word in the Demonstration of his eternal Power, unto which he of a ready mind was made obedient; and Travelled into all the Northren Countries, to the Borders of Scotland, and to London, to declare the Message of the Lord to Oliver Cromwel, then called Protector, being accompanied by dear Francis Howgil, who were two of the first that published the Message of Truth, in that City, as in this our day gloriously revealed and made known.

In a little time after his return from London he with J. Audland, F. Howgil, Edward Borough and Richard, Huberthorn; (who have all blessedly finished their Course and time here, in that blessed Work, which the Lord called them unto, being entred into the Joy of the Lord; the Labours, together with part of the Travels of Francis Howgil, Edward Borough and Richard Huberthorn are already collected by other Brethren, to which the Reader is referred) these five Brethren Travelled out South-ward, John Camm and Edward Borough through the middle of the Nation, the others through other parts, as the Lord directed, them, and after some time they all met together, with several other Brethren, at London, where the Lord had a great Work; but after some time John Camm and John Audland were called towards Bristol, (after that time Travelling together) where, and in the Countries adjacent, was a Door effectually open'd unto them, and many Hundreds were by the Word and Testimony of Truth, by them published, convinced and turned to God, many of whom have to this day kept their Integrity to God, and are their living Epistles, and can bless the Lord on their behalfs, who made them instrumental in his Hand, to beget them again into a lively hope in Christ the Lord, through whom they have a strong hope, to receive an Inheritanc amongst the Sanctified, being prepared to the Kingdom of glory everlasting.

How gloriously the Lord appeared in that City, and the Countries adjacent, and how he prospered his Work in the Hands of these his Servants, how great and manifold their Labours, Travels, and Perils in those Parts I am not able to relate, but shall leave, in hope that some one or other of my Brethren in those Parts, may be engaged to perform some part of that work, who may have a larger knowledge thereof, as being present with them in many of their exercises, which were not a few to my knowledge; but such was their zeal for the Lord, and the prosperity of his work, that their very lives was not dear unto them, for the Lord, the Gospel, and his Peoples sake, but to spend and be spent they were freely in the will of the Lord given up, their care and watchings being for the prosperity of his work continually.

And being that my Father was but naturally of a weak constitution of Body, inclining to be Consumptive, by the many and daily Travels that he underwent, his outward Body did waste, and his strength spend exceedingly, having a most violent Cough, so that for several Years before his death, he was never able to walk on Foot half a Mile at one time, nay, many times he was not able to go up one pair of Stairs, into a Meeting-place, without help, yet nevertheless while the Meeting continued (through the enlivening Power and Spirit of God) would have been over the sence of his Bodily weakness, but after the Meeting was over, many times as one ready to be dissolved.

In this outward weakness he Travelled through many Countries and places of the Nation, to the confirming and weakness being grown so great, that he was not able many times to get on or of his Horse, without help; through all which the Lord brought him, his faith being fixt in his power; and his life and whole delight was in the prosperity of Truth and Righteousness in the Earth, amongst the Sons of Men.

He was a Man that was richly furnished with the gifts of the holy Spirit, always patient in his great exercises and weakness, of a noble Spirit, and exceeding grave in his carriage and deportment, profound in judgment, and of a quick discerning, a sharp reprover of the World, and the Wickedness therein, as also all deceitful Hypocrites, with disorderly walkers, who made profession of Truth, but walked not according to the Rule thereof. Unity of the Brethren was his joy and Souls delight, and therefore whatever appeared to break the same, his Sword was keen upon to Wound, his Ministry was weighty and deep, and very powerful, not pleasant to the itching Ears that loves smooth words, but reached to the witness of God, and tended to the refreshment of the Seed of the Kingdom, where it was growing and springing up in the Hearts of Gods People; also to the weary, tossed and afflicted; he had often a word in season to their Consolations, being very tender over the good in all; he had openings and sights of many things to come; and he would often say, there would come a day of Famine, and that in that day, many that had made a great shew, would but be like the stony Ground, or the broken Bow in the day of Battel; he would also often say, that his other Son, my Brother; would be an Esau, a rough Man, and not love the Truth, but be a Grief and Exercise to his Mother, but she would have Comfort of her other Children, all which is fulfilled; when he grew near his end, his weakness encreasing, he had great joy as he always had in the company of Friends that were faithful, of which many came to visit him; and many times he would have been wonderfully opened with the Power of the Lord, and overcome with the sence of his Love and Peace, and a fresh Testimony thereof he would often bear, to the great refreshment of Friends and his Family, when he lay in great weakness upon his Bed.

His great care in all his Travels was, that the Gospel of Christ which he had to publish, might be without charge, for all he had or enjoyed of outward things, was freely given up to the Service of Truth, so that he was willing to lay out part of the same in his Travels; also his Heart and House was open, to entertain all Friends that came in Truths Service, having a great Comfort therein; he was a pattern of faithfulness in suffering for Truth's Testimony, though never much in Prison, yet his Goods were often spoiled or taken away, which he suffered joyfully in Truth's Testimony against Tythes, in which Testimony, and all other relating to Truth, he was ever firm, and never shrunk in the least, his frequent Exhortations was to all Friends, and his Family, to be valiant and noble for Truth, and to keep their Faith in God's power, and never to look out, or consult with the Wisdom of the World.

He did often call his Children and Family together, and exhort them with much fervency of Spirit, to fear the Lord, and walk in holiness of Life, as becomes the Gospel that they had believed in; and would often pray to the Lord for us, and bless us in his Name, some Months before he died; he would often call for me to be with him, for he loved me entirely, and it was my joy and delight to serve and obey him in all things; and many times h would wonderfully extol the Name of the Lord, and praise him for his goodness, and great mercy, counting his bodily weakness a happiness, being sanctified unto him by that Word eternal, which had sanctified his Soul, and made him an honourable Vessel, to the praise of his God, under the sence of which he would say, How great a benefit do I enjoy beyond many, who have such a large time of preparation for Death, being dying daily, that I may live for ever with my God, in that Kingdom that's unspeakably full of glory; my outward Man daily wasts and moulders down, and draws towards its place and center, but my inward Man revives & mounts upward towards its Place and Habitation in the Heavens, in the sence whereof his Soul would often wonderfully magnifie the Lord.

That very Morning that he departed this Transitory Life, he called my Mother the Children and Family unto him, gave us many good and seasonable Instructions, to fear the Lord, love his Way and Truth, and walk in it with upright Hearts; charging us to be kind and loving one unto another, telling us that his Glass was run, the time of his Departure was come, he was to enter into everlasting Ease, Joy and Rest; charging us all to be patient, and content with our parting with him, as to the outward, and so presently fainting passed quietly away into a sweet Sleep; whereupon we were all so overcome with Sorrow and Weeping, some of us aloud; as one out of Sleep he was again a wakened, and desired to be a little help'd up in his Bed, speaking to this effect, My dear Hearts, you have wronged me, and disturbed me, for I was at sweet Rest, you should not so Passionately sorrow for my departure, this House of Earth and Clay must go to its place; but this Soul and Spirit was to be gathered up to the Lord, to live with him forever, where we should meet with everlasting Joy; so again taking his leave of every one of us, and charging us to be content with his Departure, lay down (and we being trouble Contentedness) and in a little time he departed, as to the outward, but lives with us in the Spirit; and being Dead his Life Preaches, and is a sweet savour to the Lord and his People: His Distemper was a Cough and Consumption: And he departed this Life in 1665. being the seventh day of the Week, and the next day was his Body laid in Friends Burying Place at Birk-rigg-Park, he being the first that was Buried in that Place ...

[John Camm and John Audland travelled together and convinced many] but most especially in and about Bristol, and several Counties in the West of England, where many can speak and bear Testimony, to the effectual working of that Word of Reconciliation that God had given him to publish, by which they were turned from Darkness to the blessed Light thereof.

In those Countries and many others [John Audland's] Labours and Travels were great, being often accompanied by my Father, John Camm; as long as he had strength outwardly to Travel, their Hearts being firmly knit together, as David and Jonathan, by the Bond of unspeakable Love, their very Lives being endearedly bound up in each other, in which Bond of Love their Unity was kept inviolated unto the end; whereby their Labours and Travels together were-very comfortable and joyous, being perfectly of one heart and spirit, and minding the same things, the glory of God, and the gathering of his Israel, in which Service they spent their daies & strength.

After my Father, John Camm, grew weak of Body, and at last was taken away: Oh, how John Audland would often bemoan the loss of so dear a Companion and faithful Brother, he being left behind, to bear the Burthen of many weighty Travels and Concerns, yet through and over all the Lord assisted him to the end.

The memory of the righteous revived being a brief collection of the books and written epistles of John Camm & John Audland, those two faithful
and honourable servants of the Lord ... together with several testimonies relating to those two faithful labourers /
edited Thomas Camm & Charles Marshal (London: Andrew Sowle, 1689) transcribed from Early English Books Online.

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Charles Marshall on the visit of John Camm and John Audland to Bristol in 1654:
from The memory of the righteous revived (1689)

John Camm was an Ancient man, full of Zeal and Fervency in the Gospel; endued with the precious Gift of discerning, and sound Judgment; terrible to the man of Sin, and full of bowels and tenderness to the travelling Souls; Sharp and terrible to the evil, but sweet and Friendly to the tender; and well inclined unto the way of Righteousness, not sparing his weak body, which he offered up, even unto Death, to serve the Lord God in his blessed work of gathering, which he saw in a plentiful manner to his great satisfaction ... His memory is blessed, and his place is among the living Ancients in Jerusalem.

John Audland was a younger man, of a sweet ruddy and amiable Countenance, and of a chearful Spirit; one of the Wise in heart, filled with the excellent bright sparking glorious Power of the Lord God everlasting; in which he appeared many times so filled, that immortallity shined in his Face, and his Voice was as Thunder, therein dreadful in the Strengh of the Lord of Hosts against the man of Sin, and those in Covenant therewith; terrible in the dread of God against the Workers of iniquity; but livingly tender to the sensible Travellers, and poor in spirit ... These two faithful Ministers of Christ Jesus came to the City of Bristol, in the 5th Month 1654. and first they came amongst a seeking people, who kept one day in the week in fasting and praying, waiting for, and breathing in Spirit after the Morning and Visitation of God, and Day of Redemption; and amongst us they spoke the powerful Word of Life, in the dread of his Name that lives forever; and we were seized on, and smitten even to the Heart; and that Day, and the Visitation of it over took us, which we had longed and waited for ...

On a first day in the morning I went with these two Servants of God, about a mile and half from the City, to a little spring of Water, where I often had spent many Solitary hours in my tender years, seeking the Lord; where we sat some time, and drank of the spring. After some hours of the morning were spent, I saw in them a great travel in Spirit; Trembling, J. A. said, let us be going into the City; so we came to the Street called Broadmead, to a house where were several People met together, enquiring after these two men of God. John Audland was under a great exercise of Spirit, and said, Is here any one that has any interest in any Field? An ancient man said, I have in a Field prety near; notice being given to the People in the house, they came forth; and as we went along, people in the Streets went also to the Field, called Earls-mead; so that we came a pretty number, where some Seats or Stools were brought; Dear John Camm began to speak tenderly, and in great Zeal, directing to the heavenly Grace of God, and [t]estifying against Sin and Iniquity fervently; to which some were attentive in this season; I perceived a great exercise of Spirit on my dear Friend, and Father in Christ Jesus, J. Audland who very much trembled. After dear John Camm stood down, he stood up, full of dread and shining brightness on his countenance, lifted up his Voice as a Trumpet, and said, I proclaim spiritual War with the Inhabitants of the Earth, who are in the Fall and Seperation from God, and Prophesie to the four winds of Heaven; and these words dropt amongst the Seed; and so went on in the mighty Power of God Almighty, opening the way of Life. But, ah! the seizings of Souls, and prickings at heart, which attended that season; some fell on the Ground, others crying out under the sence of opening their States ... Indeed it was a notable day, worthy to be left on Record, that our Children may read ...

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George Fox ‘The Testimony of George Fox, Concerning our Dear Friends and Brethren John Audland, and John Camm, who were Convinced of Gods Eternal Truth in 1652. and Received it, and walked in it, and Preached it’ from The memory of the righteous revived (1689)

WHen George Fox came to Furbanck Chapel in Westmoreland, John Audland and Francis Howgil was preaching there in the morning, but they Preacht freely; and there came Major Boosfield and Col. Benson, and they were free Preachers in Yorkshire also; And in the Afternoon there was a great gathering of People more than in the Morning, and so the House would not hold them, and so I was moved to go upon a Mountain hard by, and the People gathered to the Mountain, and sat down ... many Hundreds received Gods Truth that Day; and Immediately after that Christ the Son of God was revealed in them, John Audland and John Camm, and several others, went forth and Preacht Christ, and his Everlasting Gospel; and John Audland went to New-Castle, and there was cast into Prison for Preaching the Lord Jesus Christ and his Everlasting Gospel, by the Priests and Magistrates there, and hazarded his Life amongst them; and after sometime he and John Camm went up and down the North, and at last they went into the South, and to London, and Bristol, and other parts; and John Audland as far as Plymouth, Preaching Christ and his Gospel, and Mightily the Lords Power and Spirit did uphold them, and carry them on over the persecuting Spirit, both of the Priests and Magistrates, who were in a great Rage against them, that sometimes they were in hazard of their Lives, but they being supported by the Lords Power that is over all, especially one time when I came Prisoner out of Cornwall to Bristol, there was one Paul Gwin, a Baptist, got into some of the Magistrates and Professours about the Year, 1656. which raised the rude People and the Rabble of the City against the Meeting; and John Audland, their envy was so great against him, that it was the Lords Hand & Power that he escaped with his Life; and I coming out of Prison in Cornwall that Year to Bristol, I came to the Meeting in the afternoon, in an Orchard, where was a Multitude of People; and this Paul Gwin being there, the Lords Power did mightily confound him and his Company, that he came there no more; and John Audland stood up and Declared Gods Truth after I had done; and so in the Lords Power came over him, and them that would have destroyed him; and these two Servants and Sons of God spent themselves in the Gospel and Service of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had received Christ, and he had given them Power to become the Sons of God, &c. And through their great Services and Labours in the Lord, they spent themselves, who had their Tryals and their Sufferings by Professors and Prophane, & some that proved false Brethren, and false Apostles; But the Lord gave them Dominion in his eternal Power to the last, in which they finished their Testimony, and dyed in the Lord, and rest from their Labours, and are Blessed, and their Works follow them; and as Christ saith, He that Believes, though he were Dead, yet shall he Live; and he that liveth and Believeth shall never Dye. Joh. 11. 26. In this Life do they Live, and are alive in the Spirit, they that come to the Innumerable company of Angels, and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect know it.

Kingston upon Thames, the 7th of the 4th Month, 1689.
George Fox.

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