them, I was moved to turn again and speak to the man himself; and he was convinced and his family, and lived and died in the truth. Thence I came to major Bousfield's, who received me, as did also several others; and some that were then convinced have stood faithful ever since. I went also through Grysedale, and several other of those dales, in which some were convinced. And I went into Dent, where many were convinced also. But from major Bousfield's I came to Richard Robinson's, and declared the everlasting truth to him.

The next day I went to a meeting at justice Benson's, where met a people that were separated from the public worship. This was the place that I had seen, where a people came forth in white raiment. A large meeting it was, and the people were generally convinced, and continue a large meeting still of friends near Sedburgh; which was then first gathered through my ministry in the name of Jesus.

In the same week there was a great fair at which servants used to be hired; and I went and declared the day of the Lord through the fair. And after I had done so, I went into the steeple-house yard, and many of the people of the fair came thither to me, and abundance of priests and professors. There I declared the everlasting truth of the Lord, and the word of life for several hours, shewing that the Lord was come to teach his people himself, and to bring them off from all the world's ways and teachers, to Christ the true teacher, and the true way to God. I laid open their teachers, shewing that they were like them that were of old condemned by the prophets, and by Christ, and by the apostles: and I exhorted the people to come off from the temples made with hands, and wait to receive the Spirit of the Lord, that they might know themselves to be the temples of God. Not one of the priests had power to open his mouth against what I declared: but at last a captain said, Why will you not go into the church? for this is not a fit place to preach in, said he. But I told him, I denied their church. Then stood up one Francis Howgill, who was a preacher to a congregation: he had not seen me before, yet he undertook to answer that captain, and soon put him to silence. Then said this Francis Howgill of me, This man speaks with authority, and not as the scribes. After this I opened to the people, that that ground and house was no holier than another place; andthat that house is not the church, but the people, whom Christ is the head of. Then after a while the priests came up to me, and I warned them to repent: one of them said

I was mad, and so they turned away. But many people were convinced there that day, and were glad at the hearing of the truth declared, and received it with joy. Amongst these was one called captain Ward, who received the truth in the love of it, and lived and died in it.

The next first-day I came to Firbank Chapel in Westmoreland, where Francis Howgill before named, and one John Audland, had been preaching in the morning; the chapel was full of people, so that many could not get in. And Francis Howgill said he thought I looked into the chapel and his spirit was ready to fail, the Lord's power did so surprize him; but I did not look in. They made haste, and had quickly done at that time, and they and some of the people went to their dinners, but abundance staid till they came again. Now John Blakelin and others came to me, and desired me not to reprove them publicly, for they were not parish teachers, but pretty tender men. I could not tell them whether I should or no, (though I had not at that time any drawings to declare publicly against them,) but I said, they must leave me to the Lord's movings. So while the others were gone to dinner, I went to a brook and got me a little water, and then came and sat down on the top of a rock hard by the chapel. In the afternoon the people gathered about me, with several of their preachers; it was judged there were above a thousand people: amongst whom I declared God's everlasting truth and word of life freely and largely, for about the space of three hours, directing all to the Spirit of God in themselves, that they might be turned from the darkness to the light, and believe in it, that they might become the children of it; and might be turned from the power of Satan, which they had been under, unto God; and by the spirit of truth might be led into all truth, and sensibly understand the words of the prophets, and of Christ, and of the apostles; and might all come to know Christ to be their teacher to instruct them, their counsellor to direct them, their shepherd to feed them, their bishop to oversee them, and their prophet to open divine mysteries to them; and might know their bodies to be prepared, sanctified and made fit temples for God and Christ to dwell in. And in the openings of the heavenly life, I opened unto them the prophets, and the figures and shadows, and directed them to Christ the substance. Then I opened the parables and sayings of Christ, and things that had been long hid, shewing the intent and scope of the apostles' writings, how that their epistles were written to the elect. And when I

had opened that state, I shewed also the state of the apostacy, that hath been since the apostles' days; how the priests have gotten the scripture (but are not in that spirit which gave them forth,) and have put them into chapter and verse, to make a trade of the holy men's words; and how that the teachers and priests now are found in the steps of the false prophets, chief priests, scribes and pharisees of old, and are such, as the true prophets, Christ and his apostles cried against, and so are judged and condemned by the spirit of the true prophets, and of Christ, and of his apostles; and that none, who was in that spirit aud guided by it now, could own them. Now there were many old people, who went into the chapel and looked out at the windows, thinking it a strange thing to see a man preach on a hill or mountain, and not in their church (as they called it,) whereupon I was moved to open to the people, that the steeple-house (and the ground whereon it stood,) was no more holy than that mountain; and that those temples, which they called the dreadful houses of God, were not set up by the command of God and of Christ; nor their priests called, as Aaron's priesthood was; nor their tithes appointed by God, as those amongst the Jews were; but that Christ was come, who ended both the temple and its worship, and the priests and their tithes; and all now should hearken unto him; for he said, "Learn of me;" and God said of him, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.' So I declared unto them that the Lord God had sent me to preach the everlasting gospel and word of life amongst them, and to bring them off from all these temples, tithes, priests and rudiments of the world, which had gotten up since the apostles' days, and had been set up by such as had erred from the Spirit and power that the apostles were in. Very largely was I opened at this meeting, and the Lord's convincing power accompanied my ministry, and reached home unto the hearts of the people, whereby many were convinced that day; and all the teachers of that congregation (who were many) were convinced of God's everlasting truth that day.

After the meeting was over I went to John Audland's, and from thence to Preston-Patrick chapel, where a great meeting was appointed, to which I went, and had a large opportunity amongst the people to preach the everlasting gospel to them, opening to them (as to others on the like Occasion) that the end of my coming into that place was not to hold it up, no more than the apostles going into the Jewish synagogues and temple was, to uphold those; but

to bring them off from all such things (as the apostles brought the saints of old from off the Jewish temple and Aaron's priesthood) that they might come to witness their bodies to be the temples of God, and Christ in them to be their teacher.

From this place I went to Kendal, where a meeting was appointed in the town-hall; in which I declared the word of life amongst the people, shewing them how they might come to the saving knowledge of Christ, and to have a right understanding of the holy scriptures; and opening to them what it was that would lead them into the way of reconciliation with God, and what would be their condemnation. After the meeting I staid awhile in the town, and several were convinced there, and many appeared lov ing. One, whose name was Cock, met me in the street, and would have given me a roll of tobacco (for people then were much given to smoking tobacco,) I accepted his love, but did not receive the tobacco.

From thence I went to Under-barrow, to one Miles Bateman's, and several people going along with me, great reasonings I had with them, especially with Edward Burrough. At night the priest came, and many professors to the house, and a great deal of disputing I had with them. Supper being provided for the priest and the rest of the company, I had not freedom to eat with them, but told them if they would appoint a meeting for the next day at the steeple-house, and acquaint the people with it, I might meet them. They had a great deal of reasoning about it; some being for it, and some against it. In the morning I walked out (after I had spoken again to them concerning the meeting ;) and as I walked upon a bank by the house, there came several poor people, travellers, asking relief, who I saw were in necessity; and they gave them nothing, but said they were cheats. It grieved me to see such hard-heartedness amongst professors; whereupon, when they were gone in to their breakfast, I ran after the poor people about a quarter of a mile, and gave them some money. Mean while some of them, that were in the house, coming out again, and seeing me a quarter of a mile off, said I could not have gone so far in such an instant if [ had not had wings. Hereupon the meeting was like to have been put by, for they were filled with such strange thoughts concerning me, that many of them were against having a meeting with me. I told them I ran after those poor people to give them some money, being grieved at their hardheartedness, who gave them nothing. Then came Miles and Stephen Hubbersty; and they being more simple

hearted men, would have the meeting held. So to the chapel at Under-barrow I went and the priest came, and a great meeting there was, and the way of life and salvation was opened, and after a while the priest fled away. And many of Crook and Under-barrow were convinced that day, and received the word of life, and stood fast in it under the teaching of Christ Jesus. Now after I had declared the truth to them for some hours, and the meeting was ended, the chief-constable, and some other professors fell to reasoning with me in the chapel-yard; whereupon I took a bible, and opened to them the scriptures, and dealt tenderly with them, as one would do with a child. And they that were in the light of Christ, and Spirit of God, knew when I spake scripture, though I did not mention chapter and verse, after the priest's form unto them.

From hence I went along with an ancient man, whose heart the Lord had opened, and he invited me to his house: his name was James Dickinson; he was convinced that day, and received the truth, and lived and died in it.

From his house I came the next day to James Taylor's, of Newton in Cartmell, in Lancashire. And on the firstday of the week I went to the chapel, where one priest Camelford used to preach, and after he had done I began to speak the word of life to the people: but this priest Camelford was in such a rage, and did so fret, and was so peevish, that he had no patience to hear, but stirred up the rude multitude, and they rudely haled me out, and struck and punched me, and threw me headlong over a stone wall; yet, blessed be the Lord, his power preserved me. He that did this violence to me was a wicked man, one John Knipe, whom afterwards the Lord cut off. But there was a youth in the chapel, writing after the priest, and I was moved to speak to him, and he came to be convinced, and received a part of the ministry of the gospel; his name was John Brathwait.

Then went I up to an ale-house, whither many people resorted betwixt the time of their morning and afternoon preaching; and I had a great deal of reasoning with the people there, declaring to them, that God was come to teach his people himself, and to bring them off from all false teachers, such as the prophets, Christ and the apos tles cried against; and many received the word of life at that time, and abode in it.

In the afternoon I went about two or three miles to another steeple-house or chapel, called Lyndal; and when the priest had done, I spake to him and the people what the Lord commanded me; and there were great opposers;