The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-05-03
ST. Peters Church,
Freehold and It's Rectofs
BIZ MAxoY APPLICABLE. SR.

III AfF1h6AIE Ghs
REV. GEORGE KEITH, FOUNDER OR
FREEHOLD.
The Priest of this place whose name
was Sheppard, before my mouth was
opened in testimony, made prepare
ton to write, and when / began to
speak, he had his hat upon his knee,
and a paper upon its crown and pen
and ink in his h ands. and made many
motions to write. but wrote nothing,
as he began so he ended; without writ
ing at all. And as Friends entered
the meeting house in the Lords power
even that power that cut Rabab. and
wounded the dragoon. which had been
at work, kept down in agood degree
the wrong spirit in George, for he
appeared much down, but this busy
Priest called to him several times to
make his reply to what | had spoke.
! After some time I said to the Priest
in behalf of the meeting that he might
have liberty to make reply. He propos-
ed to have another day appointed
for a dispute; to which / said if he
did make o voluntary challenge which
he should not say we put upon him.
we or some of us, (mesning Friends) it
q day and place were agreed upon,
should he find it our conce to answer
him as well as we could. He said We
would have Mr.. Keith here with him
! / told him. if he should and meddled
in the dispute, if | was there, | should
reject him for reasons before assigned.
When the Priest had said this and
somewhat more an elder Of the Pres
byterian congregation clapf him on
the shoulder, and bid him sit down, so
he was quiet, and then stood up George
Keith and owned he had been refresh
ed amongst us that day, and had
heard a great many sound truths
with some errors, but it was not the
Common doctrines which the Quakers
preached.
I then stood up and said, l had some
thing to say to obviate what George
Keith would ~insinuate; for his drift
was to infuse an opinion into them that
the Quakers did not com monty
preach up faith in the manhood OF
Christ, as / had done that day. [
appealed to the auditory. whether
they thought there was a necessity to
press matter 30 universally receiv-
ed amongst Christians, as Faith 10
the manhood OF Christ was? Yet we, as
apeople, had SO often and clearly DEM
J onstrated our faith in the manhood
of Christ, both in our testimonies and
writings, as might satisfy any unbi-
assed person or such who were
not prejudiced against us; and we
f.-~r 80 - on- -nnNlA mHO hatiaUn
more scripturally in the manhood Of
Christ than we do. Bnt inasmuch as
the grace. light, and holy spirit is high
ly concerned in the work of Mans
salvation, as well as what Christ did
for us without us, and this being yet
much a mystery to many called chris
tians; it pleases God to open, in the
course Of our ministry. into the mean
ing and mystery thereof, and to press the
latter more than the former. To
which George made no reply, but be-
gan to exhibit his charges against Us
Gas mentioned before.) and said be
could prove them out Of q Friend |.
books, naming George Fox and Ed.
ward Burroughs &c. He had in al
paper a great many quotations our
of Friends books. and a young ma
with him had many books in 8 bag
out Of which he said. he would prove
the charges he was about to exhibit
against US.
He was now crowded up into the gal
lery between me and the rail. with q
paper in his hand; and / standing over
him, and being taller, could see his
quotations and his pharaphrases about
them; on which I told him loudly.
that all the meeting might hear; that
he offered violence to that sense and
understanding which God had given
him, and he knew in his conscience,
. that we were not that people, neither
were d Friends writings either dam
nabIe or blasphenous, as he
through envy endeavoured to make
the world believe; and that he would
not have peace in so doing. but trouble
from the Lord in his conscience. /
smoke in the Lords dreadful power,
and George troubled so much as sell
dom | saw any man do. | pitied him
in nv heart. vet, as Moses said once
concerning Israel, l felt the wrath OF
the Lord go forth againsthim. George
said: Do not judge me; | replied.
the Lord Judges. and all who are truly
one in spirit with the Lord, cannot
but Judge thee. so he gave over; and
it appearing a suitable time to break
up the meeting, Friends parted in
great love, tenderness and broken
ness Of heart. For the Lords mighty
power had been in and over the meet
ing from the beginning to the end there
Of glorifed and renowned be His
most excellent name, now and forever,
for His merciss are many to those
that love and fear Him, who is the
fulness of all good.
Continued Next Week