by it; for many other lawyers told him, he had brought that to light, which had not been known before. And after the trial, one of the judges said to him, "You have obtained a great deal of honour by your way of pleading G. Fox's cause in court."

The year was now come to an end. But before I go over to the next, I am to mention that the Baptists in England, losing from time to time some of their best members, wrote therefore very fiercely against the Quakers, endeavouring thereby to render them no Christians. But those writings were continually answered, and that with so many convincing reasons, that the Quakers got more adherents by it. The consequence of this was, that a public dispute was appointed to be held between the Baptists and the Quakers, in the meeting house of the Baptists in London. For the Quakers, there spoke by turns, George Whitehead, Stephen Crisp, William Penn, and George Keith; and the opponents were Jeremy Ives, William Kiffin, Thomas Plant, Thomas Hicks, and Robert Ferguson, a Presbyterian, afterwards eminently known in Holland, by the fierce declaration drawn up by him in the name of the Duke of Monmouth, when that unhappy prince went over to England with forces, to dispute the throne against king James.

Jeremy Ives was an eminent teacher among the Baptists, that had been in prison in London fourteen years before on a religious account, and chiefly because for conscience sake, he refused to take the oath.

Not long after he wrote a smart letter from the prison, to two of his society (who having been imprisoned, with him for the same cause, had taken the oath, thereby to obtain their liberty) wherein he reproved them for their falling away, and signified that thus they had increased the burthen of their faithful brethren, from the bearing of which they had withdrawn themselves. But what a changeable creature is man, if he doth not continue watchful, and keep close to the divine grace, continually laying hold thereon! For scarcely five days passed, but this inconstant Jeremy grew very weary of imprisonment, and took the oath also to get out of prison. Neither did he stop here; for it is plain that he was now departed, from his profession. To temporize therefore, and to find out excuses for what he had done, he put forth a book in print, wherein he asserted the lawfulness of swearing. It was asked of him, whether he was that same Jeremy Ives, that once had been of such a tender conscience, that he durst not take an oath, and had afterwards publicly defended swearing as lawful? And he did not deny the fact, for it was notoriously known:

but he went about to disguise the matter, and said, "I am the Jeremy who took the oath of allegiance, and wrote a book to prove that some oaths were lawful, though not all. Neither did

he deny the fore mentioned letter, for it was extant, and written as followeth :

"Brother Pitman and Brother Shewel,

"I am at this time surprised with a holy passion; and though Jonah could not say concerning the gourd, that he did well to be angry; yet (if my experience in the word of the Lord doth not deceive) I can truly say, I do well to be angry with you; whom I have had a godly jealousy of all along, viz. That you would be as easily persuaded to part with,-as unwilling to suffer for, your spiritual liberties. Oh my brethren! Where is your first love? How unlike the Christians in former times are you! Whose zeal was so hot for God, that their eyes prevented the morning, that thereby they might prevent the rage of the adversary, who (as it is now, commanded them no more to worship in the name of the Lord.—I always did conclude, that those that would-quit the cause of righteousness-would quit the ways of holiness, as yesterday's sad experience hath taught, to the perpetual joy of your adversaries, and the saddening the hearts, and adding afflictions to the bonds of the prisoners of the

Lord. I do therefore conjure you, as you will answer the great God another day, to consider, that now is the time for you to look to your ministry, and to the flock over which the Lord hath made you overseers, that you may be able through grace to say, "You are clear from the blood of all men ;" and observe, that God is now come to prove you, to see whether you will keep his commandments or not. Remember when that apostate's case was debated, you had no zeal nor indignation against him, but you smothered all with this, "If it were in a matter of faith and worship that he had fallen from, you would have been as one man against it." Well, behold the Lord is come home to you; the matter now is purely for worshipping God; now God is proving you to see whether you will obey him or no; and did not yesterday's work witness, that you were willing to prefer the fear of a man, that must die, before the fear of the great God: and the fear of them that can kill the body, before the fear of the Lord, that can cast body and soul into hell? I have no more to say but this, that your cowardly temporizing and complying with the precepts of men, makes me jealous, that your fear towards the Lord is taught by the precepts of men. I would not be too censorious, but my grounds are great; and my bonds are my crown, but your cowardly spirit is my great

cross. You little think what a scandal it is amongst us to hear it affirmed that one of you should say, you had rather given fifty pounds than have sworn, and yet swear that you swear willingly. Oh! for the Lord's sake do somewhat that may roll away this reproach; which that you may, is the prayers of your botherr,

who could be contented to write himself,

"your companion in tribulation,

Jan. 14. 1660.

"Jer. Ives."

Brother Ward my fellow prisoner desires to present his love to you, and so do some others.

Thus zealously Jer. Ives wrote to his fellowteachers, who for human fear, and to avoid sufferings, had, against their profession, and the conviction of their consciences, taken the oath. But who could have imagined on sight of such a letter, that he himself within so short a space of time would have done that which he reproved so severely in others. Certainly in this case the saying of the prophet Jeremy seems to be very applicable, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Let therefore him that standeth, be cautions lest he fall." Happy had this man