The History of the Christian People Called Quakers

1714

The next year, being that of 1714, the queen was often ill, and there was much division among the people: for a bill was brought into parliament called, An Act to prevent the growth of Schism; and the party that prevailed was very active to get this bill passed. And since it tended to deprive the dissenters from keeping schools, and to allow that liberty to none but members of the episcopal church, or at least to nobody but who had license from them, it met with great opposition, and many reasons against it were published; the people called Quakers offered also to the legislature the following reasons against it:

I. The church of England hath frequently declared, by several of her members, in a clerical, as well as civil capacity, by those who framed and espoused one or more of the bills against occasional conformity, that she is in principle against persecution, and for preserving the toleration.

II. The promoters of this bill may please to remember, that the queen hath declared from the throne, that she will maintain the toleration inviolable.

III. The Protestant subjects of this kingdom, who are parents of children, are supposed to have preserved to them, by the fundamental laws of this kingdom, the natural right of the care and direction of the education of their own children; which natural right this bill seems calculated to take away and destroy.

IV. If the governments, which are now either heathen or Mahometan, should take into the same policy, the society which the queen hath incorporated for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, can have very little, if any, good effect or success.

V. May it not seem an objection and contradiction to the many princely and Christian solicitations which the queen by ministers hath made at foreign courts, on the behalf of Protestants, against the violent intrusions of Papists, into their rights and just privileges?

VI. It may be a means to oblige the carrying out of large sums of money for foreign education.

VII. It may probably do much hurt to charitable foundations.

VIII. It seems not to be agreeable to that great law of Christ, Mat. vii. 12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

But whatever was objected, the said bill at length passed, and was confirmed with the royal assent, which gave occasion to the Quakers to add in the conclusion of the printed epistle of their annual assembly at London, the following caution and exhortation: ‘There seems at present to hang over us a cloud, threatening a storm. Let us all watch and pray, and retire to our munition and strong hold in our spiritual rock and foundation which standeth sure; that our God may defend, help, and bless us as his peculiar people, to the end of our days and time here, and the full fruition of the heavenly kingdom and glory hereafter.’

About Midsummer this year died Sophia, widow and electoral princess of Brunswick Lunenburg, on whom the succession of the crown of Great Britain was settled. Scarce two months after her demise, queen Anne deceased, who after having languished a long time, at length was taken away by death on the first of August, the self-same day that the act against the growth of schism was to have taken effect.

The same day George, prince elector of Brunswick Lunenburg, was proclaimed king of Great Britain; who some time after repairing to England, made his entry at London on the 20th of September. Not long after his arrival he declared in council, that he would maintain the toleration in favour of the Protestant dissenters. Hereupon many addresses of congratulation were presented to him, and on the third of October the people called Quakers also offered their address, which was delivered by George Whitehead, and about forty of his friends, introduced by the lord Townsend, one of the principal secretaries of state. The prince was not only present, but many of the nobles, and others also; and G. Whitehead presenting the address to the king, said, ‘We are come in behalf of the people called Quakers, to present to king George our address and acknowledgment: may it be favourably accepted.’ Being then presented, G. Whitehead said, ‘One of us may read it to the king.’ Whereupon he receiving it again, delivered it to Joseph Wyeth, who read it audibly, being as followeth:

To GEORGE, King of Great Britain, &c.
The humble address of the people commonly called Quakers.
‘Great Prince,

‘It having pleased Almighty God to deprive these kingdoms of our late gracious queen, we do in great humility approach thy royal presence with hearts truly thankful to divine Providence for thy safe arrival, with the prince thy son, and for thy happy and uninterrupted accession to the crown of these realms; which, to the universal joy of thy faithful subjects, hath secured to thy people the Protestant succession, and dissipated the just apprehensions we were under, of losing those religious and civil liberties, which were granted us by law, in the reign of king William III. whose memory we mention with great gratitude and affection. We are also in duty obliged thankfully to acknowledge thy early and gracious declaration in council, wherein thou hast, in princely and Christian expressions, manifested thy just sense of the state of thy people, and which we hope will make all degrees of thy subjects easy.

’And as it hath been our known principle to live peaceably under government, so we hope it will always be our practice, through God’s assistance, to approve ourselves of hearty affection, thy faithful and dutiful subjects.

‘May the wonderful Counsellor and great Preserver of men, guide the king by his divine wisdom; protect him by his power; give him health and length of days here, and eternal felicity hereafter. And so bless his royal offspring, that they may never fail to adorn the throne with a successor endowed with piety and virtue.’

To this address the king was pleased to give this gracious answer:

‘I am well satisfied with the marks of duty you express in your address, and you may be assured of my protection.’

The address being read, G. Whitehead spoke to this effect:

‘Thou art welcome to us, king George; we heartily wish thee health and happiness, and thy son the prince also. King William III. was a happy instrument in putting a stop to persecution, by promoting toleration, which being intended for the uniting the king’s Protestant subjects in interest and affection, it hath so far that effect as to make them more kind to one another, even among the differing persuasions, than they were when persecution was on foot. We desire the king may have further knowledge of us and our innocency; and that to live a peaceable and quiet life in all godliness and honesty, under the king and his government, is according to our principle and practice.’

G. Whitehead having thus spoken, his name was asked; whereupon he answered, ‘George Whitehead.’ And having it upon his mind to see the prince also, and intimating his desire to a lord who was gentleman to the prince’s bed-chamber, he made way to it; and thus G. Whitehead, with some of his friends, got access; and they were introduced by one of the prince’s gentlemen into a chamber, where the prince met them; and then G. Whitehead spoke to him, the substance of which was as followeth:

‘We take it as a favour that we are thus admitted to see the prince of Wales, and truly we are very glad to see thee; having delivered our address to the king, thy royal father, and being desirous to give thyself a visit in true love, we very heartily wish health and happiness to you both; and that if it should please God thou shouldest survive thy father, and come to the throne, thou mayest enjoy tranquillity and peace, &c.

‘I am persuaded, that if the king thy father, and thyself, do stand for the toleration for liberty of conscience to be kept inviolable, God will stand by you.

‘May king Solomon’s choice of wisdom be thy choice, with holy Job’s integrity and compassion to the oppressed; and the state of the righteous ruler commended by king David, viz. he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; and he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.’ This speech was favourably heard by the prince.

It was not long after the king’s coming over, that Dr. Gilbert Burnet, bishop of Salisbury, the renowned author of the History of the Reformation in England, died. He generally had showed himself moderate, and had written very plainly against persecution in matters of faith, especially in his ‘Apology for the Church of England,’ first printed in Holland in the year 1688, and afterwards also in England, wherein among other things, he said, ‘I will not deny, but many of the dissenters were put to great hardships in many parts of England; I cannot deny it, and I am sure I will never justify it. And I will boldly say this, that if the church of England, after she is got out of this storm, will return to hearken to the peevishness of some sour men, she will be abandoned both of God and man, and will set both heaven and earth against her.’