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L. V. HODGKIN
L. V. HODGKIN
The following stories are intended for children of various ages. The introductory chapter, 'A Talk about Saints,' and the stories marked with an asterisk in the Table of Contents, were written first for an eager listener of nine years old. But as the book has grown longer the age of its readers has grown older for two reasons: First: because it was necessary to take for granted some knowledge of the course of English History at the period of the Civil Wars. To have re-told the story of the conte
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A TALK ABOUT SAINTSToC
A TALK ABOUT SAINTSToC
St. Patrick's three orders of Saints: 'a glory on the mountain tops: a gleam on the sides of the hills: a few faint lights in the valleys.' 'The Lord is King in His Saints, He guards them, and guides them with His mighty power, into His kingdom of glory and eternal rest, where they find joy, and peace, and rest eternal.' —GEORGE FOX. 'What is a Saint? How I do wish I knew!' A little girl asked herself this question a great many years ago, as she sat looking up at a patch of sunset cloud that wen
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I. 'STIFF AS A TREE, PURE AS A BELL'ToC
I. 'STIFF AS A TREE, PURE AS A BELL'ToC
'I am plenteuous in ioie in all oure tribulacione.' —ST. PAUL (Wiclif's Translation). 'Stand firm like a smitten anvil under the blows of a hammer; be strong as an athlete of God, it is part of a great athlete to receive blows and to conquer.' —IGNATIUS . 'He was valiant for the truth, bold in asserting it, patient in suffering for it, unwearied in labouring in it, steady in his testimony to it, immoveable as a rock.' —T. ELLWOOD about G. FOX . 'George Fox never lost his temper—he left that to h
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II. 'PURE FOY, MA JOYE'ToC
II. 'PURE FOY, MA JOYE'ToC
'Outwardly there was little resemblance between George Fox and Francis of Assisi, between the young Leicestershire Shepherd of the XVII th Century and the young Italian merchant of the XIII th, but they both felt the power of GOD and yielded themselves wholly to it: both left father and mother and home: both defied the opinions of their time: both won their way through bitter opposition to solid success: both cast themselves "upon the infinite love of GOD ": both were most truly surrendered soul
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III. THE ANGEL OF BEVERLEYToC
III. THE ANGEL OF BEVERLEYToC
'To instruct young lasses and maidens in whatever things was useful in the creation.' —R. ABRAHAM. 'It was the age of long discourses and ecstatic exercises.' —MORLEY'S CROMWELL. 'George Fox's preaching, in those early years, chiefly consisted of some few, but powerful and piercing words, to those whose hearts were already in some measure prepared to be capable of receiving this doctrine.' —SEWEL'S HISTORY. 'But at the first convincement when friends could not put off their hats to people, nor s
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IV. TAMING THE TIGERToC
IV. TAMING THE TIGERToC
'The state of the English law in the 17th century with regard to prisons was worthy of Looking Glass Land. The magistrates' responsibility was defined by ... the justice. "They were to commit them to prison but not to provide prisons for them." This duty devolved upon the gaoler, who was an autocrat and responsible to no authority. It frequently happened that he was a convicted & branded felon, chosen for the position by reason of his strength & brutality. Prisoners were ... requ
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V. 'THE MAN IN LEATHER BREECHES'ToC
V. 'THE MAN IN LEATHER BREECHES'ToC
'As I was walking I heard old people and work people to say: "he is such a man as never was, he knows people's thoughts" for I turned them to the divine light of Christ and His spirit let them see ... that there was the first step to peace to stand still in the light that showed them their sin and transgression.' —G. FOX . 'Do not look at but keep over all unnaturalness, if any such thing should appear, but keep in that which was and is and will be.' —G. FOX . 'Wait patiently upon the Lord; let
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VI. THE SHEPHERD OF PENDLE HILLToC
VI. THE SHEPHERD OF PENDLE HILLToC
'On Pendle G.F. saw people as thick as motes in the sun, that should in time be brought home to the Lord, that there might be but one Shepherd and one Sheepfold in all the earth. There his eye was directed Northward beholding a great people that should receive him and his message in those parts.' —W. PENN'S Testimony to George Fox. 'In Adam, in the fall are all the inward foul weather, storms, tempests, winds, strifes, the whole family of it is in confusion, being all gone from the spirit and wi
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VII. THE PEOPLE IN WHITE RAIMENTToC
VII. THE PEOPLE IN WHITE RAIMENTToC
'After a while he (G.F.) travelled up further towards the dales in Yorkshire, as Wensdale, and Sedburgh, and amongst the hills, dales, and mountains he came on and convinced many of the eternal Truth.' —M. FOX'S Testimony to G. FOX . 'In the mighty power of God, go on, preaching the Gospel to every creature, and discipling them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the name of Christ preach the mighty day of the Lord to all the consciences of them who have long lain in darkness....
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VIII. A WONDERFUL FORTNIGHTToC
VIII. A WONDERFUL FORTNIGHTToC
'I look upon Cumberland and Westmorland as the Galilee of Quakerism.' —T. HODGKIN . 'They may have failed in their intellectual formulation, but at least they succeeded in finding a living God, warm and tender and near at hand, the Life of their lives, the Day Star in their hearts; and their travail of Soul, their brave endurance, and their loyal obedience to vision have helped to make our modern world.' —RUFUS M. JONES . 'We ceased from the teachings of all men, and their words and their worshi
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IX. UNDER THE YEW-TREESToC
IX. UNDER THE YEW-TREESToC
'George Fox was a born leader of souls. The flame of religious ardour which burned in him, and the intense conviction and spiritual power with which he spoke, would in any age have made him great. He was born in a generation of revolutions and upheavals, both political and spiritual. Confusion and unrest, war and reformations, give to great spirits a power which, when life is calmer, they might not attain. Fox drew to himself a multitude of noble souls, attracted to him by that which they shared
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X. 'BEWITCHED!'ToC
X. 'BEWITCHED!'ToC
'When ye do judge of matters, or when ye do judge of words, or when ye do judge of persons, all these are distinct things. A wise man will not give both his ears to one party but reserve one for the other party, and will hear both, and then judge.' —G. FOX. 'And after I came to one Captain Sands, which he and his wife if they could have had the world and truth they would have received it. But they was hypocrites and he a very light chaffy man, and the way was too strait for him.' —G. FOX. 'James
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XI. THE JUDGE'S RETURNToC
XI. THE JUDGE'S RETURNToC
'The Cross being minded it makes a separation from all other lovers, and brings to God.' —G. FOX. 'Give up to be crossed; that is the way to please the Lord and to follow Him in His own will and way, whose way is the best.' —M. FELL . 'Now here was a time of waiting, here is a time of receiving, here is a time of speaking; the Holy Ghost fell upon them, that they spoke the wonderful things of God.' —G. FOX. 'Mind and consider well the spirit of Christ in you, that's he that's lowly in you, that'
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XII. 'STRIKE AGAIN!'ToC
XII. 'STRIKE AGAIN!'ToC
'Ulverston consisted of thatched one storied houses, many old shops, gabled buildings standing out towards the street on pillars beneath which neighbours sheltered and gossipped. On market days these projections were filled with goods to tempt gentry and yeomanry to open their purse-strings.'—From 'Home Life in North Lonsdale.' 'By the year 1654 "the man with the leather breeches" as he was called, had become a celebrity throughout England, with scattered converts and adherents everywhere, but v
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XIII. MAGNANIMITYToC
XIII. MAGNANIMITYToC
'Magnanimity ... includes all that belongs to a great soul. A high and mighty Courage, an invincible Patience, an immovable Grandeur; which is above the reach of Injuries; a high and lofty Spirit allayed with the sweetness of Courtesy and Respect: a deep and stable Resolution founded on Humilitie without any Baseness ... a generous confidence, and a great inclination to Heroical deeds; all these conspire to compleat it, with a severe and mighty expectation of Bliss incomprehensible.... 'A magnan
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XIV. MILES HALHEAD AND THE HAUGHTY LADYToC
XIV. MILES HALHEAD AND THE HAUGHTY LADYToC
'Many a notable occurrence Miles Halhead had in his life.... But his going thus often from home was a great cross to his wife, who in the first year of his change, not being of his persuasion, was often much troubled in her mind, and would often say from discontent, "Would to God I had married a drunkard, then I might have found him at the alehouse; but now I cannot tell where to find my husband."' —SEWEL . To Friends—To take care of such as suffer for owning the Truth. 'And that if any friends
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XV. SCATTERING THE SEEDToC
XV. SCATTERING THE SEEDToC
'As early as 1654 sixty-three ministers, with their headquarters at Swarthmoor, and undoubtedly under central control, were travelling the country upon "Truth's ponies"' —JOHN WILHELM ROWNTREE . 'It is interesting to note and profitable to remember, how large a part these sturdy shepherds and husbandmen, from under the shade of the great mountains, had in preaching the doctrines of the Inward Light and of God's revelation of Himself to every seeking soul, in the softer and more settled countries
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XVI. WRESTLING FOR GODToC
XVI. WRESTLING FOR GODToC
'Being but a boy, Edward Burrough had the spirit of a man. Reviling, slandering, buffetting and caning were oft his lot. Nothing could make this hero shrink.' —SEWEL . 'His natural disposition was bold and manly, what he took in hand he did with his might; loving, courteous, merciful and easy to be entreated; he delighted in conference and reading of the holy scriptures.'—'Piety Promoted.' 'Dear Brother, mind the Lord and stand in His will and counsel. And dwell in the pure measure of God in the
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XVII. LITTLE JAMES AND HIS JOURNEYSToC
XVII. LITTLE JAMES AND HIS JOURNEYSToC
O, how beautiful is the spring in a barren field, where barrenness and deadness fly away. As the spring comes on, the winter casts her coat and the summer is nigh. O, wait to see and read these things within. You that have been as barren and dead and dry without sap; unto you the Sun of Righteousness is risen with healing in his wings and begins to shine in your coasts.... O, mind the secret sprigs and tender plants. Now you are called to dress the garden. Let not the weeds and wild plants remai
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XVIII. THE FIRST QUAKER MARTYR
XVIII. THE FIRST QUAKER MARTYR
( From another point of view. ) Extracts from the Diary of the Rev. Ralph Josselin, Vicar of Earls Colne, Essex. 1655.—'Preacht at Gaines Coln, the Quakers' nest, but no disturbance. God hath raised up my heart not to fear but willing to bear and to make opposition to their ways, in defence of truth.' Ap. 11, 1656.—'Heard this morning that James Parnell, the father of the Quakers in these parts, having undertaken to fast forty days and forty nights was in the morning found dead. He was by jury f
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XIX. THE CHILDREN OF READING MEETINGToC
XIX. THE CHILDREN OF READING MEETINGToC
'And all must be meeke, sober and jentell and quiet and loving, and not give one another bad word noe time in the skouell, nor out of it ... all is to mind their lessons and be digelent in their rightings, and to lay up their boukes when they go from the skouell and ther pens and inkonerns and to keep them sow, else they must be louk'd upon as carles and slovenes; and soe you must keep all things clean, suet and neat and hanson.' —G. FOX . Advice to Schoolmasters. 'Dear and tender little Babes,
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XX. THE SADDEST STORY OF ALL
XX. THE SADDEST STORY OF ALL
'Take heed of forward minds, and of running out before your guide, for that leads out into looseness; and such plead for liberty, and run out in their wills and bring dishonour to the Lord.'... 'And take heed if under a pretence of Liberty you do not ... set up that both in yourselves and on others that will be hard to get down again.' —G. FOX . 'The Truth in this city spreads and flourisheth; many large meetings we have, and great ones of the world come to them, and are much tendered. James is
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XXI. PALE WIND FLOWERS: OR THE LITTLE PRISON MAIDToC
XXI. PALE WIND FLOWERS: OR THE LITTLE PRISON MAIDToC
'Let not anything straiten you when God moves.' —W. DEWSBURY , Epistle from York Tower, 1660. 'All friends and brethren everywhere, that are imprisoned for the Truth, give yourselves up in it, and it will make you free, and the power of the Lord will carry you over all the persecutors. Be faithful in the life and power of the Lord God and be valiant for the Truth on the earth; and look not at your sufferings, but at the power of God; and that will bring some good out of all your sufferings; and
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XXII. AN UNDISTURBED MEETINGToC
XXII. AN UNDISTURBED MEETINGToC
'It was impossible to ignore the Quaker because he would not be ignored. If you close his meeting-house he holds it in the street; if you stone him out of the city in the evening, he is there in the morning with his bleeding wounds still upon him.... You may break the earthen vessel, but the spirit is invincible and that you cannot kill.' —JOHN WILHELM ROWNTREE. 'Interior calmness means interior and exterior strength.' —J. RENDEL HARRIS. 'Be nothing terrified at their threats of banishment, for
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XXIII. BUTTERFLIES IN THE FELLSToC
XXIII. BUTTERFLIES IN THE FELLSToC
'My concern for God and His holy, eternal truth was then in the North, where God had placed and set me.' —MARGARET FOX . 'I should be glad if thou would incline to come home, that thou might get a little Rest, methinks its the most comfortable when one has a home to be there, but the Lord give us patience to bear all things' —M. FOX to G. Fox, 1681. 'I did not stir much abroad during the time I now stayed in the North; but when Friends were not with me spent pretty much time in writing books and
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XXIV. THE VICTORY OF AMOR STODDART
XXIV. THE VICTORY OF AMOR STODDART
'From the heart of the Puritan sects sprang the religion of the Quakers, in which many a war-worn soldier of the Commonwealth closed his visionary eyes.' —G.M. TREVELYAN . 'To be a man of war means to live no longer than the life of the world, which is perishing; but to be a man of the Holy Spirit, a man born of God, a man that wars not after the flesh, a man of the Kingdom of God, as well as of England—that means to live beyond time and age and men and the world, to be gathered into that life w
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XXV. THE MARVELLOUS VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP 'WOODHOUSE'ToC
XXV. THE MARVELLOUS VOYAGE OF THE GOOD SHIP 'WOODHOUSE'ToC
'In the 17th Century England was peculiarly rich, if not in great mystics, at any rate in mystically minded men. Mysticism, it seems, was in the air; broke out under many disguises and affected many forms of life.' —E. UNDERHILL , 'Mysticism.' 'He who says "Yes," responds, obeys, co-operates, and allows this resident seed of God, or Christ Light, to have full sway in him, becomes transformed thereby and recreated into likeness to Christ by whom the inner seed was planted, and of whose nature it
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XXVI. RICHARD SELLAR AND THE 'MERCIFUL MAN'ToC
XXVI. RICHARD SELLAR AND THE 'MERCIFUL MAN'ToC
'To resort to force is to lose faith in the inner light. War only results from men taking counsel with their passions instead of waiting upon God. If one believes, as Fox did, that the most powerful element in human nature is that something of God which speaks in the conscience, then to coerce men is clearly wrong. The only true line of approach is by patience to reach down to that divine seed, to appeal to what is best, because it is what is strongest in man. The Quaker testimony against war is
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XXVII. TWO ROBBER STORIES. WEST AND EASTToC
XXVII. TWO ROBBER STORIES. WEST AND EASTToC
'They were changed men themselves, before they went out to change others' —W. PENN , Testimony to George Fox. 'But when He comes to reign, whose right it is, then peace and goodwill is unto all men, and no hurt in all the holy mountain of the Lord is seen.' —G. FOX . 'England is as a family of prophets which must spread over all nations, as a garden of plants, and the place where the pearl is found which must enrich all nations with the heavenly treasure, out of which shall the waters of life fl
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XXIX. FIERCE FEATHERSToC
XXIX. FIERCE FEATHERSToC
'We who were once slayers of one another do not now fight against our enemies.' —JUSTIN MARTYR . A.D. 140. 'Victory that is gotten by the sword is a victory slaves get one over the other; but victory contained by love is a victory for a king.' —GERRARD WINSTANLEY . 1649. 'Here you will come to love God above all, and your neighbours as yourselves. Nothing hurts, nothing harms, nothing makes afraid on this holy mountain.' —G. FOX . 'My friends that are gone or are going over to plant and make out
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XXX. THE THIEF IN THE TANYARDToC
XXX. THE THIEF IN THE TANYARDToC
'In the House of Love men do not curse nor swear; they do not destroy nor kill any. They use no outward swords or spears. They seek to destroy no flesh of man; but it is a fight of the cross and patience to the subduing of sin.' —HENRY NICHOLAS (circa 1540 ). 'We have to keep in mind the thought of Christ. To us it seems most important to stop the evil act, hold it down by force, or push off its consequences on to someone else: anything, so long as we get rid of them from ourselves. Christ's tho
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XXXI. HOW A FRENCH NOBLE BECAME A FRIEND
XXXI. HOW A FRENCH NOBLE BECAME A FRIEND
Sentences from 'No Cross, No Crown,' by WILLIAM PENN . 'Come, Reader, hearken to me awhile; I seek thy salvation; that is my plot; thou wilt forgive me.' 'Thou, like the inn of old, hast been full of guests; thy affections have entertained other lovers; there has been no room for thy Saviour in thy soul ... but his love is after thee still, & his holy invitation continues to save thee.' 'Receive his leaven, & it will change thee; his medicine and it will cure thee; he is as infal
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XXXII. PREACHING TO NOBODYToC
XXXII. PREACHING TO NOBODYToC
'All the artillery in the world, were they all discharged together at one clap, could not more deaf the ears of our bodies than the clamourings of desires in the soul deaf its ears, so you see a man must go into silence or else he cannot hear God speak.' —JOHN EVERARD . 1650. 'God forces none, for love cannot compel, and God's service is therefore a thing of complete freedom.... The thing which hinders and has always hindered is that our wills are different from God's will. God never seeks Himse
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COME-TO-GOODToC
COME-TO-GOODToC
'Flowers are the little faces of God.'—(A saying of some little children.) 'To the soul that feeds on the bread of life the outward conventions of religion are no longer needful. Hid with Christ in God there is for him small place for outward rites, for all experience is a holy baptism, a perpetual supper with the Lord, and all life a sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God. 'This hidden life, this inward vision, this immediate and intimate union between the soul and God, this, as revealed in Jes
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HISTORICAL NOTESToC
HISTORICAL NOTESToC
Note .—The References throughout are to the Cambridge Edition of George Fox's Journal, except where otherwise stated. The spelling has been modernised and the extracts occasionally abridged. 'STIFF AS A TREE, PURE AS A BELL.' Historical; described as closely as possible from George Fox's own words in his Journal, vol. ii. pp. 94, 100-104. 'PURE FOY, MA JOYE.' Historical. See George Fox's Journal (Ellwood Edition), pp. 1-17. See also Sewel's 'History of the Quakers,' and 'Beginnings of Quakerism,
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