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John Story |
1. From The First Publishers of Truth.
2. From John Story Babilons Defence Broken down, and one of Antichrists Warriours
Defeated (1660)
3. John Wilkinson from The memory of that Servant of God, John Story,
Revived (1683)
4. John Wilkinson & John Story ‘Two Questions proposed by J.W. and
J.S. to friends of the Meeting at Drawell; and their Answers’
5. John Wilkinson & John Story ‘The Judgement of J.W. and
J.S. concerning the Five Heads on which the 44 Articles exhibited against them, were grounded ...
at Drawell’
From the account of Preston Patrick in The First Publishers of Truth
John Storey, Husbandman, allso out of that Meeting, was Called unto the worke of the Ministrey from a low Estate in the World, yet of an honest, poore ffamelly, & while he kept Humble & low was very servisable, Especially in the defence of truth against opposers thereof, in sevrall disputes to the Advantage of truth, being well read in holy scriptuer, and had a large undrstanding & Memory and a grave Carriage, by which he was more Qualified for the service. But in processe of time, growing proud of his gifts, and exalted in his spirit, he Grew to be Contentious, Espechally against good ordr and govrment in the Church, and he drew the aforenamed Jno Wilkinson, of Hutton Meeting, to Joyne with him, and a great many of the looser sorte Joyned to them, as well as some others, simply betrayed by them through the respect they had to them as being Antient Labourers & Ministers; and at last seprated from ffaithfull ffrds Meetings, and set up seprate Meetings, and Continued to Abit & uphould the same till theire decease. But it pleased the Lord to open the understandings of many simply betrayed in Joyneing wth them in the Separation, and so deserted them, and were restored againe to Unity with ffaithfull ffriends. The looser sorte, that did not like the Cross & Govrmt of truth, run out of all profession of truth into the world againe. And those that Continiere yet in that sepration are grown very ffew & smalle in Numbr, louse in ther lives, has lost their Antient Testemony against Tyths, And sevrall runing out to be Marryed by preists, &ct.
‘The First Publishers of Truth’: being early records, now first printed, of the introduction
of Quakerism into the counties of England and Wales
edited Norman Penney (Friends Historical Society
Journal Supplements 1-5; London: Headley; New York: Taber, 1907) 256
From John Story Babilons Defence Broken down, and one of Antichrists Warriours Defeated
I having rightly stated, and vindicated our doctrines against thy slanders, and proved them by the holy Scriptures to be the wholesome and sound doctrines of the Gospel; I shall go on to lay open, and reply against they slanders and falsities concerning us, in which thou has compared us with the Popish Monks; but it had been more wisdome, and more like a Minister of Christ, to enquired [sic] truly into our practices, before thou had given judgement upon us, or have compared us to the Popish Monks, in whose discipiline thou sayest, we seem to be admirably instructed, as will appear by thy following parallels.
Answ. those false parallels, and thy unrighteous judgement of us without knowledge, will not make it appear that we are instructed in the practice and discipline of Popish Monks; whose practice and discipline we deny, but rather will discover thy folly, and manifest thy unrighteous judgement concerning our practices; for which we have example out of the holy Scriptures.
First, thou sayest, we lay much stress upon mean and plaine Apparel.
Answ. Thou hast altogether mist in this thy judgement of us, for no stresse do we lay upon any visible thing for salvation; but in and through Christ onely and alone, have wee Salvation and life Eternal; and as for apparel and rayment wee take no thought, and whether it be mean or not mean apparel which the Lord affords us, with it we are content, yet our Religion that wee are of, doth keep us out of the vanities and pride of the world, of which their foolishnesse in apparel doth many times signify.
Secondly thou sayest, that we practice silence, especially at some times, and lay much of our Religion upon it.
Answ. Thy judgement in this thing; as in many others altogether false, for our Religion did we never lay upon silence, yet we have practiced, and do practice, waiting in the will and council of God, until his mind and word be revealed to us, whereby we may edify, and build up one another in the most holy faith, upon that foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ Jesus himself being the cheif Corner Stone.
John Story Babilons Defence Broken down, and one of Antichrists Warriours Defeated: In an Answer to a
Scandalous Pamphlet, Intituled,
The Quaker-Jesuit: Or, Popery in Quakerisme: Put forth by one William Brownsword,
who calls himself Minister of the Gospel at Kendal.
(London: Printed for Robert Wilson, at the
Black-Spread-Eagle and Wind-mill in Martins near Aldersgate, 1660) 14–15.
John Wilkinson ‘A Brief Relation concerning the Life and Death of John Story’, from The memory of that Servant of God, John Story, Revived (1683)
JOHN STORY, descended of Christian Parents in Westmorland, and they lived honestly, (having Land, Goods and Trade) in good repute among their Neighbours; and he was well Educated in his Youth, and through his diligence grew able in pronunciation of the English Tongue. He was never seen inclinable to any evil Vice, but against all such things from his Youth; neither could he endure any crooked ways, or crossness in a Family, but shewed his disike thereof, and the Gift of God in him did so prevail, that in his Childhood he had a wonderful sense of the Wo and Wrath that would come upon the Wicked, and an opening of Joy and Peace to the Righteous.
In his Youth I know none in these Parts to exceed him in Godliness, for the Fear of God had the chief Room in his Heart, and he had a great regard to keep his Commands; and a Wonderful Knowledge God gave unto him, considering his Day and Age, still seeking more and more the Knowledge of God, and the way of his Kingdom; his Life answered his inward Knowledge, and at the age of ten Years he could not join with any in wanton Sports, Games and Plays, which made many to wonder ... judging it a misspent and lost time: and when he was grown to twelve years of Age, his great enquiry was, where to find a Place and People that sought the Lord; for the Word of God in his Heart did powerfully quicken his Soul to Life.
And Breathing, and Praying in private and publick; and when he found a People seeking the Lord, it was great Joy to his Soul, and he was ready prepared to joyn with such as had Openings by the invisible Spirit of God, namely, such as Gervis Benson, Francis Howgil, Edward Burrough, John Audland, Richard Hubberthorn, &c. and many more in Westmorland prepared of God for the Service of Truth, in, and unto whom God, in the Fulness of Time, revealed his Son, and by his Spirit anointed them Ministers of the Everlasting Gospel, to Preach the Glad-tydings of Salvation, and with many more in sundry Parts of this Nation (an unutterable Blessing to a People and Kingdom) among whom John Story also was Anointed to Preach the Gospel. But before his Call forth into other Countries, he was brought up in the Knowledge of Husbandry, and was skilful in that Work, and also laborious and careful, and joined himself with Families that feared God, and sought him with all their Hearts; he had, in his young Years such a Gift of Prayer, which the Seekers after God had a great Love unto ... and Preached in Publick Assemblies in Westmorland and Places adjoyning about the Age of fourteen Years, and depended on the Gift of God for his Openings and Doctrine, being of a loving Carriage to all People, beyond many that now profess more Knowledge, and boast of high Things in these latter days: he saw with the Openings of God in that Day, That all made Forms Men placed Religion in, were not only empty and dry, without Vertue and Life, but also a Snare, and of evil Effect: and could not joyn to any such ...
Though he was a Man, in his Life, that would not willingly miss the greatest Attainments in Truth, yet he was not ashamed of being silent, when in the Presence of an Assembly; for the Day was, when he saw the King, the Lord of Hosts, whose Majesty made him astonished, at whose Presence and Sight he was struck silent for the space of a whole Year ... and so he waited in silence many a Meeting, and thought himself unfit to preach his Excellency and Greatness ... This was the manner of his Life till God gave him the Word, and called him forth; for he said, If I had sate in Silence all my Life, I durst not go before God spake by his Spirit in me ... He had but a very weak Body, and travelled on foot North and South in this Nation about the Space of three years, I being his Companion, do well know it; and great Colds, after much heat in Meetings, empaired his health, besides his Concern with many Opposers in the breaking forth of Truth, caused many long and tedious Disputes; in which his Moderation in Gods Wisdom greatly appeared, labouring in Truth to convince the Gainsayers ...
He was faithful in Doing or Suffering as required of the Almighty, witness his Sufferings in Salisbury Goal, under sentence of Premunire, almost a whole year, but delivered at the King's Coronation: for before Prescriptions, Outward Orders and Forms among some Friends were so Imposed, and carried a stress of Religion, John Story was not judged a Flyer in Persecution, but esteemed honourable among the Brethren; and it is plain, that because he could not receive some Prescriptions of Men’s, with all its Formalities, therefore was he Proceeded against (by some) as one of a wrong Spirit, and out of the Unity; though he opposed not others therein, if they were so perswaded of God: but they would not be satisfied with that, but opposed him in Publick Meetings, as one that hated to be Reformed; Alas! Alas! his Religion was not formed with orders and Precepts of Men, he could not so far dishonour his God, nor judge any Friends so weak in Understanding to make a breach of Unity with them under pretence of Motion, Government and Dignity: John said, He was often ashamed of such a degeneration: and said, if it did continue, the evil Effects would scarcely cease ...
... the prophecy of the Badness of his Life in 1676, is now proved as false as Solomon Eccles Prophecy1 is, of the Time of his death; for some years after that, God gave him Strength, and carryed him hundreds of Miles in his Service: afterwards he was very weak, at which time a Friends (a Doctor, George Walker) came to visit him and I heard him say, He was near gone to all outward Appearance, unless God had some further Work for him to do. And indeed the Almighty, into whose hand he was committed, raised him up again, and carryed him South and West, strengthening and Comforting the Brethren, till his Testimony was finished in those Parts, whose loss is great, and Cause of sorrowing, that they shall see his Face no more; for the Lord brought him to Westmorland, his Native Country, where he was received with great Gladness, for the lords Power and Presence was with him, to the great refreshment of the truly to the Antient Truth, in which his Doctrine was wonderfully weighty, and his Experience very great.
He was but young in number of years, between fourty and fifty, but he fulfilled a great time, if Wisdom be Gray-hair, and undefiled Life, old Age; he was weak of Body about two weeks, not able to go abroad, but little complained of Sickness; the gentle Dealings of the Lord was wonderful to him, and brought many to remember his meek Behaviour; and Neighbours said, he lived well, and was like to dye well ... And he seeing his Testimony and Time on Earth was finished, his great Love he signified to all Friends in Truth, while he had Strength to speak, desiring God to preserve them in it to the End; and lay silent a pritty while, moving his hands (as I took it, while with him) in a sense of Rest and Heavenly Praise; after that, I had not been two hours from him (which was on urgent occasion) till word came to me, he was Departed.
John Wilkinson THE MEMORY Of that Servant of God, John Story, Revived, Shewing
What manner of Man he was from his Youth to his Grave,
by the Testimonies of several Friends, to whom he
was well known, and by whom (for his Work sake in the Truth) he was greatly Beloved ...
I am a Man of Peace, but when I speak; they are for War, Ps. 120.7
(London: John Gain, 1683) 4–8
transcribed from Early English Books Online.
John Wilkinson & John Story ‘Two Questions proposed by J.W. and J.S. to friends of the Meeting at Drawell; and their Answers’
[Introduction by Charles Harrison] ... As to what follows, if thou canst believe that Men mean as they speak, Read on, if not, stay till thou hast Charity.
Two Questions proposed by J.W. and J.S. to friends of the Meeting at Drawell; and their Answers, Viz.
Question I.
WHether or no, we, and all Gods People ought not to be left, in all Matters of Faith and Discipline (so far as Discipline may become Matter of Faith) to the manifestation of Gods Spirit and Truth in our own Hearts, and to speak and act therein as we are thereby Instructed and Perswaded, and not otherwise?
Question II.
2ndly. Since there are Diversities of Talents and Gifts given by the Spirit of God, and received by Men: Whether the Judgment of Truth it self given forth through a Part of the Members of Christ’s Body, can become a Bond upon any other Part of the said Body, further than their Vnderstandings are illuminated thereby?
Answer.
To the first Question we say, Yea; and Nay to the second Question, with that true and simple Sense that the Words import, and Friends have been used to understand them: but not to strengthen Prejudiced Spirits, who have made that their Plea for their Separation, and against Truths Authority in our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings; nor yet to Justifie any that are Ignorant, through their own Sloth and Unfaithfulness; or to excuse them, that would not be accounted Weak, but Strong, Wise, and as Pillars.
John Wilkinson THE MEMORY Of that Servant of God, John Story, Revived ...
(London: John Gain, 1683) 36–7
transcribed from Early English Books Online.
John Wilkinson & John Story ‘The Judgement of J.W. and J.S. concerning the Five Heads on which the 44 Articles exhibited against them, were grounded ... ’
... which was publickly read in the Meeting at Drawell, as followeth.
ON the whole Matter, in the Fear and Presence of the Almighty God, we declare, That we do approve of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the necessary Service of the Truth: so we farther say, that as those, or any other Meetings of Friends in Truth, shall be continued to answer those Services; we believe, that as it now is, it also will become our Duty to be at Unity with our Brethren in the Services thereof; and that though one of us, Viz. J.W. did condescend to Subscribe to a Paper, for the Erecting a Womans–Meeting in the Country, to answer the ends the Paper proposed; which he testifies he then did in singleness of Heart, for Unity–Sake; yet according to that inward sense we now have, there appears to us no absolute necessity to continue Womens–Meetings, in the Country distinct and separate from the Men, and therefore do Conscientiously forbear to assent or Incourage any to lay the Intents of Marriages before them; yet that Inward Sense and Heavenly Understanding we have received from God, hath, and yet doth confirm us in this Judgment, that ’tis not agreeable with the Line of Truth, to oppose others in the Exercise and appointed Service of the said Meetings as heretofore, and now are settled and agreed upon, who being Conscientious therein, are otherwise minded than we are ... and if it shall please the Lord to manifest unto us a Service in those Meetings in the Country, as well as City, the same Integrity towards God which hath dwelt in us these many years past, we believe will become a Bond on us to joyn Hand and Heart with others our Brethen and Sisters therein; but till then, our desires are, that this may not become an Occasion of straitness in Spirit each toward the other, but that embracing the wholesome Counsel of the Apostle in another Case, (If in any thing ye are otherwise minded, wait till God reveal it) we may walk togethr in that pure undefiled Love of our God, which thinketh no Evil.
2ndly. That though many of our Brethren see a Service in Recording Condemnations,2 and leaving them upon Record to Posterity: yet from that inward Sence and Heavenly Understanding we have, we see no necessity to leave them upon Record to Posterity, or retain them when the Sin is blotted out and remitted by the Lord; neither to be extended further than the Offence is known, nor yet to continue longer than the memory of the Offence abideth; but if any see meet from an inward sense of the Truth in themselves, to leave such a Testimony relating to themselves to Posterity, we have therewith Unity ...
3rdly. As to Tythes, we can in truth say, ’twas never so much as in our thoughts to speak any words whatsoever, with the least intent to strengthen any in the Payment thereof, nor yet to weaken the Faith of any, having a testimony in our hearts, that Tythes as at this Day paid, are Antichristian.
4thly. That as Groanings, Sighings, Soundings and Singings may proceed from Deceitful Spirits, so also we declare, Groanings, Sighings, Soundings, and Singing may be the Fruit of the Spirit of the Lord among Gods People: and that as the first is discouraged, the second ought to be incouraged: and the earnest Desire of our soul is, that as to these things, nothing but the Spirit of Truth and Sound Judgment may appear, either to reprove or Incourage; and though we are accused as if we were Opposers of such Groanings &c. which the Truth approved, yet God is our Witness, we know it not.
5thly.That though we have been represented as Persons incouraging Flying in time of Persecution: We say, we are not Conscious to our selves of so doing: for we believe those who stand not to their Testimony, but flyes therefrom in the Day of Persecution, may truly be counted, either weak in Faith, or departed from the Faith.
And thus having given our Inward Sence, according to the Uprightness and Integrity of our Hearts, concerning these five General Heads, from whence all the 44. Articles do arise: We shall with this conclude, That the God of Heaven is our Witness, our Desires are to approve our selves Men of Peace, in the Abhorrency of all Fleshly Liberty and Looseness, to follow after Truth and Righteousness, that the Reign of the Power of the Eternal God may be over all; so will the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ.
As to the two Questions answered by the Friends and Brethren, met on this Occasion, we in the Fear of the Lord say, We in the proposing thereof, had not the least thought to obtain your Yea or Nay, with intent thereby to strengthen such who may be accounted our Party, in any thing that is contrary to Truth, nor to incourage Looseness or Bad Spirits, but Conscientiously to remove the Scruple of some: and further we say we are better satisfied with your Explication thereon, than with your bear [bare] yea and Nay; for we, as well as you, are sensible Apostates and Bad Spirits, seeking a Fleshly Liberty, to have made use of Arguments deducible from such Principles of Truth, to oppose the Power of God it self, and the Practice of Gods People in the Power.
John Wilkinson
John Story,
John Wilkinson THE MEMORY Of that Servant of God, John Story, Revived ...
(London: John Gain, 1683) 37–9
transcribed from Early English Books Online.
1. Solomon Eccles was a church musician who was converted to Quakerism, broke up his instrumentsand attempted to set fire to them on Tower Hill, and engaged in other striking demonstrations, going naked for a sign through Bartholomew Fair with a brazier of fire and brimstone on his head. He accompanied Fox to Barbados and New England in 1671, returning to Barbados in 1680. His extravagant behaviour and pronouncements became a liability to the movement. In 1677, he issued a prophecy urging Story to return to the North and break up the divided meetings which he and Wilkinson had set up: ‘Arise quickly, and be going, for this is the Word of the Lord to thee, viz. That this Year shalt thou (John Story) die, because thou hast Taught Rebellion against the living God’ [Thomas Crisp Babel's builders unmasking themselves (1681) 15]. In this case, as Wilkinson points out, the prophecy did not take immediate effect. Return
2. ‘Condemnations’ were confessions of ‘those errors and faileings which through the temptation of Sattan some have fallen into; after they have been conuinced of the liueing eternall truth of god’ [Kendal: Cumbria Record Office MS WDFC/FI/12 (Book of Condemnations) page 2], recorded by the Clerk and signed where possible by the repentant sinner. They range from having carnal knowledge of a woman, to putting one's name to a divisive document (see Miles Bateman of Crook's declaration). The preface to the Kendal book is very clear that one of the reasons for recording them is to rebut ‘those calumnyes and aspersions’ cast on the Quaker movement which would use these instances of backsliding as ammunition. Return