The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-04-26
St. Peters Church,
Freehold and It's Rectofs
BIZ MARCY APPLKGATR. SR.
REV. GEORGE KEITH, FOUNDER OF
FKEkHoLD

- ~
FKkkHoTn.
There appeared with George Keith
me of considerable estates, parts ane
learning, and We appeared like poo
Shrubs, and under a ems OF our pres
ent state had like to have been dis
MAYED. and my Faith had even like ii
have failed me: but / cried nightly II
the God and fountain Of all our tendeI
mercies. that he would look dowI
upon us, and help us. in this time o
great exercise, which was not hid from
Him: bnt his penetrating eye saw. anc
his watchful providence attended u.s.
blessed be His name forever. I contin.
ned my feryent prayers and inter
cessions to the Lord OF Hosts that
He would arise for His great names
sake. and work for US that day that
the eneinies Of truth might not triumph
or vaunto over us, and that none of these
tender plants. which he had
brought to the saving knowledge Of
the truth, might be hurt.
Being thus encouraged in myself. il
arose in my heart to speakto Friends
before we went into the meeting house
and / advised them to be swift to hear
and slow TO speak. and that what was
apoken might be in the Lords power.
for that wounds George the most, and
STAYS that ranting and wicked spirit
in him, more than all the wisdom OF
words without it, and let us maintain
our testimony Of denial against him
and endeavor to get together into one
body that we may be an help and
strength one to another; and let every
d who knows the Lord cry might
" unto Hin, that His living powers
and presence may be amongst US,
and | Believed the Lord would not
suffer any to be hurt.
So the meeting gathered and i'm me.
diatelv after. George stood up to tel
us as before that he was come in the
Queens name to gather Qnakers from
Quakerism, to the good old Mother
Church the Church Of England, as he
called it; and that he could prove out
Of our own books, that we held
errors. heresies, damnable doctrines
and blasphemies; with q threat to looE
to ourselves to answer, or else tbs
auditory would conclude. that what
he exhibited against us was true ]
expected some of the elder Friends
would saw something to him, but none
did; and | having a deep concern upon
my mind lest truth, or the Friends Of
truth. should suffer through our
II management, and such as waited
for occasion, might have an occasion
administered by us against ourselves.
| a y, under this concern OF mind !
stood up, and. signified to the people
what manner OF man George Keith
was. notwithstanding he had walked
many wears amongst US, yet towards
the latter end Of his SO walking with
US. he grew very troublesome. by
reason of a contentious spirit, which
did possess him; and after much la
bour and exercising Of patience, and ex-
tending of love towards him; in order
to recover and reclaim him, all that
labour of love and much forbearance
would not avail for he still persisted in
the work of contention and disturb
ance. Then he was publicly disowned
and testified against by us, as q person
with whom we had no unity or fellow
ship, And being thus cast out, he be
came TO us (agreeble to the saying Of
Jesus Christl as an heather man or q
publican; and being thus disjointed,
to expose as. what lay in his power.
to ali sorts of people, he chose print
ing against us: wherein he hath much
abused us, in leaving out many times
the explanatory parts OF sentences, and
coming words to make the meaning
appear different from what was de-
signed. and indeed from what was most
fair and genuine: Therefore some OF our
Friends found themselves concerned
to follow him in print, for the clearing
MS. from what he, through envy,
would have willingly fastened upon us
and TO return his self contradictions,
MISREPRESENTATION, and misapplica-
ton of our writings upon himself.
and to clear-our own i~nnocency, and
manifest the perverseness and wicked
ness in his spirit. Neither do we, as a
neople. hold ourselves to be under
anv obligation to follow him into for
eicn parts of the world, to answer his
arraignments and charges, not being
conscious to ourselves that we hold
ANYTHING contrary toFriend and ortho
odox doctrine, and also knowing what
he exhibits against us, is the fruit oil
envy and malice, as such we reject it
and trample it under u feet; and
was it not for your sakes, who are
strangers to these things, we should
take no further notice OF George Keith
than slight and reject him al a man
that cares not what he says, nor is he
worthy Of our notice.
Then pausing q little, George being
quiet, a friend STOOD up with q short
lived testimony, and then my com.
panion; all this in much weight ano
with good demonstrations. After then
it pleased the Lord to open my mouth
II think in as much strength. clearnesi
and demonstration as ever; Beginning
with the following words, In that way
you call heresy do we worship ths
God Of our fathers, believing all things
that are written concerning Jesus