CHAPTER X

.—1681-1683.—George Fox answers two envious books

written abroad—writes to magistrates to persuade them to moderation—writes to the Quarterly Meetings—attends the judges at Chambers, respecting a tithe-suit against himself and his wife—George Fox had bound himself not to intermeddle with his wife’s estate—this is shown to the judges in court, at which they wonder—his counsel thereon founds an argument in his favour—he again writes against the spirit of strife and division in the church—writes to the magistrates who had illegally condemned Friends upon _ex-parte_ evidence—writes two papers respecting the choice of Sheriffs—Friends are interrupted at Gracechurch Street Meeting by a civil and military force—George Fox writes divers books and papers in support and defence of the Truth—the Spirit of God directed to as the rule to distinguish between Truth and error, whereby the evil of persecution may be avoided—an epistle to encourage Friends under their sufferings, both from the outward powers, and from false brethren—the laws are now more strictly enforced against Dissenters—an epistle to Friends, commending them to the power of God in themselves—writes to Friends imprisoned at Denbigh, to console them in their sufferings, and exhorting them to faithfulness—Friends are kept out of their meeting-houses, and fined for speaking—a Friend is speedily restored from a sudden illness, in a remarkable manner, through the prayers of George Fox—persecution is now hot, and George Fox writes to Friends not to risk the loss of other people’s goods through their sufferings, 350

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