THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES, GOSPEL LABOURS AND WRITINGS, OF THAT ANCIENT SERVANT OF CHRIST, STEPHEN CRIS P. God giveth to man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.-Eccl. ii 26. A PREFACE blessed their labours, and made them successful for the good of many. By the ministry of By way of testimony concerning STEPHEN CRISP, one of these, though but a stripling, and young and his following works. ALTHOUGH my intimacy with our deceased friend was but of later years, yet I find some thing in my mind to write concerning him, and in commemoration of God's blessed power, and word of life that reached him, and made him through faith and obedience unto the Lord Jesus Christ, what he was; for that it is which is most worthy of praise, and without it we are nothing, nor able to do anything that tends to our own peace, or the benefit of others. in years, viz., that servant of God, James Parnell, who finished his testimony with his blood, and left many seals of his ministry in and about that very town of Colchester, where our dear deceased friend, Stephen Crisp was born, lived, was reached, and convinced of the blessed truth; and by the same word that he preached and was an able minister of, was our worthy friend quickened, and made a serviceable minister of the gospel of Christ, and freely preached the same about thirty-five years. He travelled for that end, in many parts of England, It was by this, the Lord in the morning Scotland, Holland, Germany, and the Low of this blessed day that he hath caused to spring countries, endured many hardships, was in from on high, visited his soul in this latter age several perils, and suffered imprisonment for of the world; wherein, after a night of dark- his faithful testimony, for the precious truth, ness and time of apostacy, he was graciously (as by his own journal of his life may more pleased, by that divine and heavenly light, largely appear,) and through his exercise in the which he, in the beginning caused to shine out same, became capable to counsel and advise of darkness, to shine into the hearts of many, those that were under sufferings, and was ready and gave unto them the light of the knowledge to help them therein. He exhorted to, and of his glory, in the face of Christ Jesus, and practised charity, and was mindful to do good made them possessors of this treasure in their and communicate, a sacrifice well pleasing unto earthen vessels, that were poor and despicable God; and also to assist many in their temporal instruments in the eyes of the worldly wise and affairs and settlement thereof; often pressing their own, yet fitted and raised up by the power Friends thereto, and to do it timely, that no dif of him that raised up our Lord Jesus from the ferences, discontents, or trouble might arise af dead, commissioned and sent forth by the ter their decease. And was very serviceable Lord in the evidence and demonstration of his in his advice to many widows, and helpful to eternal Spirit, to publish the glad tidings of fatherless children in divers respects; being enpeace, to preach the gospel of life and salvation, dued with a good understanding both as a man and to turn people from darkness to light, from and a Christian. the power of satan to God; that they might And he that endued him therewith, and gave know remission of sin, and an inheritance him wisdom, preserved him in it, and blessed among them that are sanctified through faith in his labours in the gospel, and made his testithe Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light that light- mony serviceable to many, it being delivered in eth every man that cometh into the world. soundness of speech, with good demonstration, This ministry, as it was of God, and these and accompanied with life and power. The instruments being raised, and sent by him, he consciences of many were so far reached, that they have been made to confess to the soundness thereof, and to the power and truth it came from; and have been brought to be inade witnesses, and partakers thereof, and the life and virtue therein, through faith and obedience to the same. He was also a man that was zealous for truth, and the several testimonies it led us into, against the corrupt world, their ways, worship, vain fashions, and evil customs, and often exhorted Friends to mind the Lord's Spirit, and therein to do his business, and not in their own; nor to boggle or decline their testimony for truth, in any respect, either against the menmade ministers, forced maintenance, or their joining people together in marriage for filthy lucre's sake; or contributing to the repair of their worship houses; or against wars and fight ing; and greatly disliked that any indirect way should be complied with by any, to shift or evade their testimony for the truth, in any respect. Although, in the latter part of his time, he was through infirmity of body, unable to travel much, yet was he very diligent in frequenting meetings, and preaching the gospel therein, and to exhort Friends to brotherly love, provoking them to good works, and pressing them to diligence, and an exemplary conversation, and to train up their youth and children in that way, plainness and simplicity that became the truth, and the humble disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord incline the hearts of all that have them, so to do, that none may contribute of that substance God hath blessed them with, and made them stewards of, to gratify anything in their children, which may be to their hurt, or tend to impede them from succeeding their honest and tender parents, in that precious truth, and the plainness, humility, selfdenial, love and tenderness it hath led them into, that the blessing of God may be continued on our offspring; and from age to age, and by one generation unto another, the Lord's worthy name may be praised, his truth exalted, and he renowned, who is worthy for ever. Amen. In this holy truth, to our comfort, and his great joy, am I well satisfied, did this faithful servant of God finish his testimony and course in this world. And on the twenty-fourth of the sixth month, 1692, being under much bodily weakness and pain, he was visited by his ancient friend and brother, George Whitehead, who gave this account of the same, as the substance of some words spoken by S. Crisp, the twenty-fourth of the sixth month, 1692, viz. “I see an end of mortality, yet cannot come at it. I desire the Lord to deliver me out of this troublesome or painful body. If he will but say the word, it is done. Yet there is no cloud in my way. I have a full assurance of my peace with God in Christ Jesus. My integrity and uprightness of heart is known to the Lord, and I have peace and justification in Jesus Christ, who made me so, (that is, upright to God.) Dear George, I can live and die with thee; and my dear love is with thee, and to all the faithful in the church of God." On the twenty-seventh, being the day before his departure, he said, "I hope I am gathering, (as his expression was understood,) I hope, I hope;" being then scarcely able to speak out his words. G. W. near parting from him ask. ed him, "Dear Stephen, wouldst thou anything to Friends?" After some pause, S. C. gave his answer, viz. "Remember my dear love in Jesus Christ to all Friends." On the twenty-eighth of the said month, he departed this life, and died in the Lord at Wans worth in Surrey, about four miles from London, to which place he was carried for the sake of the air, from the house of William Crouch in London, in a litter, to W. C.'s house there. Being very weak, he was accompanied by sev eral Friends on foot with the litter, lest there should be any want of assistance. After his decease, his body was brought to Grace-church street meeting house in London, where on the one-and-thirtieth, a great number of Friends and others met to accompany his corpse to the ground, and many living testimo nies were borne there, by faithful brethren unto the truth. And then his body was borne on the shoulders of his friends and brethren that loved him for truth's sake, unto the burying ground at Bunhill Fields, and there interred. Several testimonies were also borne there at the grave, to the truth, for the sake of those that yet remain; and that all might love and live in that which makes lovely and living unto God and in his sight; and persevere in diligence and faithfulness in the Lord's work and service, and keep to that Power, and under the government of that Spirit which only is sufficient to enable us to follow the steps of them that followed Christ, and that we might run our race with cheerfulness, finish our course with joy, lay down our heads in peace, rest with the Lord for ever, and have a place in that kingdom that will never fade away. That it may be so with all us that yet re main, is my sincere desire and earnest suppli cation unto the Lord; and that we may always abide in that love, which is the badge or mark of our discipleship, in that Spirit which is the bond of our peace, in that Life by which we have been redeemed, in that grace and faith by which we are saved, and be armed with the whole armour of light, and walk therein; that fellowship with God and one another we may know, and the cleansing virtue of his blood that died for us we may experience, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Being so cleansed, may we possess our vessels in sanctification, and continue in the life of righteousness, and in holy fear wait upon the Lord, to be filled with that wisdom that is from above, and clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and covered with zeal as with a cloak, and endued with a good understanding, and guided by his counsel, and be received into glory, and have the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls; is the sincere breathing, and tender supplication of him who wisheth the good of all men, and prayeth Sion's prosperity, and the peace of Jerusalem, that God would make her an eternal excellency, and the praise of the whole earth. And now having hinted at the author, com memorated the Lord's power, and commended his Spirit, Grace and Truth, by whom grace and Truth came, I shall, courteous reader, recommend thee thereto, and earnestly beseech thee to apply thy heart to it. Let thy mind in the perusal of the following writings, be uprightly exercised therein towards the Lord, that thou mayest truly savour from what spirit they came, for what end they were written; and so come to make a right use of them. By thy daily exercise and waiting upon the Lord there. in, and living obedience thereunto, thou mayest be fitted and enabled to succeed in that life, spirit, and wisdom, which he was endued with. Dear Friends, it is our great encouragement that yet remain, to be faithful to the Lord, diligent in his work and service, zealous for his name, and our respective testimonies for the sake thereof, because that blessed Power, Spirit, Life and Wisdom, that raised up, fitted, furnished and endued this, and many more of our ancient, worthy, and honourable brethren, and made them so, blessed be his holy name, is still with us, and as sufficient as ever. The Lord is as willing to fill up the places of them he hath taken to himself, into the mansions of eternal glory, as he was in tender mercy favourably pleased to furnish them for his work and service, that it may be carried on to his praise, and the honour of his worthy nume, from age to age, and from one generation to another. And therefore let us that yet remain, be faithful unto the Lord, freely given up to follow him, and to manifest our love and respect unto our deceased friend and his works, by following that wholesome counsel and Christian advice, he hath by word and writing freely and frequently given us; that so we may by the same spirit and power, be enabled to follow and succeed him in his work and service, for the precious Truth. So with the words of our Lord Jesus, the Thy sincere friend and well-wisher, George-Yard, London, the 14th of the Third mouth, 1694. A JOURNAL OF THE LIFE OF STEPHEN CRISP, GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVINCEMENT, TRAVELS, LABOURS AND SUFFERINGS, IN AND FOR THE TRUTH. OH! all ye saints, and all ye inhabitants of thy doings." Psal. lxxvii. 10, 11, 12. Who can the earth, let the name of Jehovah be famous feel his goodness, and partake of his love, but it among you, for there is no God like unto him; will constrain a testimony to him? In the sweet and let his mercies and judgments be remem- remembrance of his manifold innumerable merbered and recorded from generation to genera- cies, I am even overcome. For my whole life tion; for infinite is his goodness, and his loving hath been as a continued series of mercy and kindness unspeakable. And although no man goodness, and all my days hath he been my can fully recount his loving kindness to him upholder. When I knew him not he was nigh reached out, yet let all men testify of his good- unto me; yea when I rebelled against him, he ness, and declare of his mercies by which he is ceased not to be gracious; his covenant stood engaging the sons of men to himself, and win- with his seed Christ; and for his sake he spared ning and gathering again the scattered to the me. His long-suffering and patience were extrue rest. Therefore, well said David, "I will tended towards me, else I had been cut off in remember the years of the right hand of the the days of my gainsaying. But oh! well may Most High; I will remember the works of the I say he is a God gracious and merciful, longLord: surely I will remember his wonders of old. suffering, patient and full of compassion. Oh! I will meditate of all thy works, I will talk of let this his name be proclaimed to the ends of VOL. XIV.-No. 4. 18 the earth, and let the ears of the heathen be thing to please God again, and so hereupon opened to hear the sound of his praise. I learned to pray, and to weep in secret, and to covenant with God for more watchfulness, and so I thought for a season I was as one unburthened from my weight. Yet this best state was accompanied with many doubtings and questionings, whether my evils were blotted out, or no: especially when I saw that I was again overtaken by the evil spirit, and led into evil thoughts, words or actions. For the [divine] witness cried even then to have my whole mind given up to the Lord, and that in thought, word and deed, I should serve him, but I knew not that it was from God; but this I knew, that I wanted power to answer the requirings of that in me, which witnesseth against evil in me, and this I lamented day and night. Surely the Lord hath had an eye of tender compassion upon me, from the day that he formed me, and hath appointed me to his praise, and to witness forth his goodness. For so soon as I can remember, and so soon as I was capable of understanding, he made me to understand that which consented not to any evil, but stood in my soul as a witness against all evil; and manifested that I should not lie, nor steal, or be stubborn, or be disobedient, but should behave myself in meekness and quietness, and set truth before me, as that which was better than falsehood. This same witness, even in the days of my childhood, ministered peace and boldness to me, when I hearkened to the counsel of it; but there was a contrary nature and seed in me that was of this world, and not of God, which inclined unto evil, and unto the way and manner of this evil world, as most of all suiting the carnal mind; and an eye began to open in me that saw what was acceptable with man, rather than what was well-pleasing to God. And that eye being daily ministered unto by the various objects, and examples of vanity, a delight sprung up in that which was evil, and my senses became exercised with vanity, by which the pure seed became oppressed and grieved from day to day, and began to cry out against me; and condemnation began to be stirred up in me, and fear entered, where before, no fear was, and the pure innocency was lost. Then the enemy would tempt me to rest, and And then, having at any time done or spoken be quiet, in that it was better with me than with any evil, the [divine] Light, or pure principle in others, and my reason wrought strongly to me, would manifest it to me, and show me that make up a peace to myself herein. But the I ought not so to have done. I felt condemna- pure witness followed me, and left me not, but tion, which how to escape I knew not. But pursued me night and day, and broke my then the evil spirit that led to transgress, would peace faster than I could make it up, for my always stand ready to help in this need. Some-mind was in my own works, and I could see no times it stirred up the subtilty in me, to plead a reason for what I had done, or a provocation, or a good intent, or else to deny, or at least to mitigate, the evil of my deed, and so to stop the mouth of the witness of God, and to see if I could escape the condemnation of the witness of God and procure my own peace. But alas! this was a miserable help, for the light would often shine through all this, and quell my reasonings; and showed me, when I was but a child, that in a pure reason that is from God, there is no reason for any evil, let provocations, temptations, or examples be what they can, or will. So was I often stripped naked from all my reasoning and coverings; and then I learned another way to get ease from the judgment. When I was very young, about seven or eight years old, I would use when judgment overtook me for evil, to yield that it was so; and therefore thought that I must do some When I was about nine or ten years old, I sought the power of God with great dili gence and earnestness, with strong cries and tears; and if I had had the whole world, I would have given it, to have known how to ob tain power over my corruptions. And when I saw the carelessness of other children, and their profaneness, and that they did not, (that I could discern,) think of God, nor were in trouble, though they were far more wicked than I, in their speech and actions; ah, Lord! thought I, what will become of these? Seeing so heavy a hand is upon me, I can find neither peace, nor assurance of thy love. further. I heard talk of a Christ and Saviour, but oh! thought I, that I knew him. My ear was lent to the discourses and disputations of the times, which were very many; and one while I let in one thing, and another while another. Sometimes I heard men dispute that God sees no sin in his people; then I said, surely I am none of them; for he marketh all my transgressions. Otherwhile, men talked of an election and a reprobation of persons before time. I considered that diligently, and thought, if that were so, and I could but get so many signs and marks of an elect soul, as might bring me to quiet, then I would keep it; and not be so tossed as I had been. I grew a very diligent hearer and regarder of the best ministers, as they were reputed; and went with as much diligence and cheerfulness to reading, and to hearing sermons, as other children went to their play and sportings. And when I heard any one treat upon that point of election; and how a man might know times were almost intolerable, so that I wished if he were elect, and would in their dark wis-I had never been born, or that my end might dom lay down signs of a true believer, and be like the beasts of the field, for I counted them signs of an elect soul, then would I try myself in their measure, and weigh myself in their balance, and so gather up a little peace to myself, finding such things in me as they spoke of for signs; as, a desire against sin, a loathing my. self for sin, a love to them that were counted the best people, a longing to be rid of sin, &c. But alas! here was yet but the blind leading my poor blind soul. This was not the balance of the sanctuary; and when I had gotten a little peace and quietness, and thought to hold it, alas, it would soon be shattered and broken. When God's pure witness arose in me, that I must be weighed in the true balance, oh then I found I was much too light; then anguish would again kindle in me, and a cry was in me; Oh whither shall I go? and what shall I do? that I may come to a settled state, before I go hence and be seen no more. In this woeful condition, the thoughts of death would bring a dread over soul and body; and trembling and horror were often upon me, fearing that I was set apart for a vessel of wrath, and must bear the fiery indignation of God for ever. And oh, that word,for-ever,' would often be terrible to me, but how to prevent it I knew not. Now I began to perceive my own insufficiency, and my want of God's power, and that it was not in my own power to keep myself out of sin, and the wages of it was death, so that I was in a great strait, sometimes thinking I had better give over seeking, and sometimes thinking, if I perish I had better perish seeking. Here the good got the upper hand for a season, and I became a diligent seeker, and prayer, and mourner, and would often find out the most secret fields and unusual places, there to pour out my complaints to the Lord. When I was but about twelve years old, my general and constant cry was after the power by which I might overcome corruptions, and although I heard the teachers of those times, daily saying, none could live without sin, and the doctrine of perfection holden as a dangerous error, yet that did not abate my cry; though indeed it did often weaken my belief of obtaining; and so made my prayer almost faithless, and without success. But I knew that without the power of God I must perish, let them say what they would, and I could not reckon myself saved while I was captivated with a corrupt and rebellious nature, let them all say what they could. I remembered the words of Christ, He that committeth sin is the servant of sin, and that I knew was I. In this iron furnace I toiled and laboured, and none knew my sorrows and griefs, which at happy, for they had no such bitter combat here I went groping in that dark and dismal night of darkness, seeking the living among the dead, as many more did, but it was so dark that we that did so could not see one another. As for the priests and professors of those times, the most of them would boast of experiences, and of zeal, and of assurances of the love of God, and what comfort they enjoyed by thinking or meditating of the suffering of Christ for their sins, &c. Alas! thought I, I could think of these things as well you, but my wound still remains fresh, and I see that I am as one of the crucifiers, while I live in sin, for which he died. My soul longed after some other kind of knowledge of him, than that which was to be attained by reading, for I saw that the worst, as well as the best, could attain to that. I durst not lean upon them so much as I had done, but then I began to be somewhat more loosened in my mind from the priests, (though I left them not wholly,) but now began to find out the meetings of those then called Separatists, and to hear their gifted men so called, whose doctrine, I took notice, savoured more of zeal and fervency, than most of the priests did, neither did I see them so covetous to make a gain of preaching, not yet being come to see how they coveted greatness and applause of men. I was often affected with their preachings, but still the former bond was upon me, and they yet strengthened it: to wit, that if I were not elected, I could not be saved, and how I might know, no man could tell me to my satisfaction. The fear of this would often dash my comfort, and then I began to take notice of the loose walking of such Separatists, yea, even of the teachers among them, how that they |