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EDWARD BURROUGH Edward Burrough was generally regarded as one of the giants of the early Quakers. When the Lord raised up the first generation of minster's after Fox's preaching, Edward Burrough was one of the sixty sent (the Valiant Sixty) by Christ throughout England to preach the Word of Life. The fact that he was sent to London, the most populous city with the greatest potential for harvest, is evidence of the Lord's regard of him. We have a first hand account of his early faith leading to union with Christ from the book Edward Burrough, A Memoir: (the complete work is available for reading on this site)
At this period he felt earnest desires to regain the state from which he had fallen; yet was not humbled enough to seek restoration in that abasing of self which would have prepared him for knowing the gracious promise fulfilled, "Seek, and ye shall find." He endeavored to comfort himself in the recollection of the seasons of inward communion with the Lord which he had formerly enjoyed, saying, "Whom God loves once, He loves forever." This doctrine, which was very prevalent among the Calvinistic Puritans, is eminently evil in its tendency, by soothing the anguish of sin, which the Lord in mercy, as well as in judgment, brings upon his backsliding children, in order to induce them to seek reconciliation with Him through Christ, by repentance and amendment of life. Edward Burrough could not, however, long rest satisfied to trust in former experiences, knowing from the convictions of the Holy Spirit, in himself, that his heart was not right in the sight of God. What would it have availed him, if called into another state of existence, that he had once been favored with Divine approbation, when, to use his own language, "what was the head and ruled in me, was what God had never loved." The witness for Truth in his heart did not allow him to settle down at rest. He grew weary of the preaching of the priests, even of those who made the highest profession, and through the discoveries of that Divine Light which still shone in his heart, he perceived the spiritual ignorance and emptiness of the professors of the Christian name. While in this unsettled state, he informs us, that "It pleased the Lord to send into the parts where he lived, his faithful servant and messenger, George Fox. He spoke the language which I knew not, despite all my high talking." It was about the first of the Fourth Month, 1652, that George Fox came to Underbarrow, where Edward Burrough met with him. He had previously been at Kendal, and had preached at a meeting there with such prevailing power, that a number of persons received his doctrine; and several of these came with him to Underbarrow. The doctrine of the light of Christ Jesus, made manifest in the heart, reproving for evil, giving a right understanding of the Holy Scriptures, and leading the humble and obedient ones to the saving knowledge of Him who died for them, was calculated to produce a strong impression on the minds of those who had long been fruitlessly seeking after truth and religious stability, among empty forms and ceremonies. Yet the truth thus declared to them, being in the cross to man's natural wisdom, was not received without opposition and argument; and among the contenders against it was Edward Burrough. His ability in argument, and his desire to save himself from the acknowledgment of error, were, however, to no avail. For through the power of the Holy Spirit accompanying the word preached, which gave an awakening force to the language of Truth in the mouth of George Fox, this strong minded young man was brought to confess to the soundness of the doctrine which he then heard, and its consistency with the testimony of the holy scriptures. But what was more important to him than all this, his heart was touched and softened, while his mind became enlightened, and he was brought to a sense of his wretched and sinful condition. He tells us, that the Lord was pleased to show him that he was in the prodigal state, above the cross of Christ, out of the pure fear of the Lord, and full of corruption and of the old nature. He felt himself to be a child of wrath, and "no more worthy to be called a son." "A day of weeping, mourning and misery," says he, "and a day of vengeance and recompense came upon me, such as I had never known. One vial of wrath after another, (was poured out), and then I separated from all the glory of the world, and from all my acquaintance and kindred, and associated with the company of a poor, despised and condemned people, called Quakers. Now I am one of that generation which is ever hated of the world; and have chosen rather to suffer affliction with them, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin with the great multitude, though worldly pleasures were not wanting to me. I do bear witness against all formality in religion, and false hirelings, and chief priests, who walk in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees, and of the false prophets of Israel, that were never sent of God to declare his word. I am despised of my neighbors and carnal acquaintance, and am not greater than my Lord, who was called a blasphemer and a deceiver, as now I am. But praised, praised he the Lord forevermore, who has separated me from the world and worldly glories, and has made me a partaker of his love, in whom my soul has full satisfaction, joy and content. While he was thus made to endure the baptism of the Holy Spirit to prepare him for the Lord's service, he had also a large share of outward trouble and conflict. His parents, having been educated in the belief that religion very much consisted in the observance of the church ritual, were not prepared to tolerate in their son a profession which classified them as mere external rituals and ceremonies, and thus contrary to the spirituality of the Christian religion. They no doubt regarded the Quakers as heretics, in denying the saving efficacy of those rituals, which many believed, (although not in Scripture), to be part of Christianity itself, and obligatory on all. Other dissenters, however they might differ on certain points of doctrine or discipline, clung to what were termed the ordinances, [water baptism, wine and bread]. They considered the administration of outward water as the Christian baptism, and the partaking of bread and wine, after it was supposed to have been consecrated [again not in Scripture] by the priest, as the Lord's supper. The Quakers, therefore, were condemned by all other professors of the Christian name; and Edward Burrough's parents were so incensed against him for joining with such a people, that they refused to permit him to remain in their family. When they had rejected him as a son, he offered to remain and work for them in the capacity of a servant, but in this he was also denied. Having now literally given up father and mother for the Lord's sake and the gospel's, he endeavored to walk in faithful obedience to Him who had called him, and whom he found to be a rich "rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." He who declared, "whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother and sister and mother," was with him in this separation from his kindred, sustaining him under the sacrifice he had made of family endearments. Having thus given up all for Christ's sake, and passed
through various exercises and baptisms to prepare him
for the service and station which he was designed to fill
in the church, he received a Divine call to the solemn
work of the ministry of the Gospel; and engaged therein
about two months after his convincement.
When in London, one summer evening he saw a group of working laborers in a field holding wrestling matches after their day's work. Burrough went over to them. When the match was finished, they asked if anyone cared to step into the ring to challenge the winner. Burrough stepped into the ring, in the midst of these ruffians, and immediately began preaching the gospel. The surprised men listened attentively, with many becoming convinced and joining the Quakers. Thus did this fearless minister of Christ preach so convincingly that 10,000 souls were Quakers in London by 1674. But
what adversities did he not undergo! Reviling, slandering, buffeting, and caning, were often his lot; watching and fasting were many times
his portion; and imprisonments, great jeopardies, and danger of life, he was not unacquainted with. But nothing could make this hero shrink;
he always was laboring, and seldom had any hours of rest. In his preaching he was very well received, and eloquent in his speech, and had
the tongue, (according to what an eminent author relates, that knew him from his youth), of a learned orator, to declare himself to the understandings and consciences of all men he met with. He was also a great writer, and often would engage in disputes with those of other persuasions,
sparing no pains, where he thought he could serve the Lord and the church. Burrough was such an effective minister that he was nicknamed Boanerges, the same name Jesus gave to John and his brother James, meaning Sons of Thunder. A DECLARATION
TO ALL THE
WORLD
OF
This is written that all people upon earth may know by whom, and how we are saved, and hopes for eternal life; and what we believe concerning God, Christ, and the Spirit, and of the things that are eternal, appertaining to all mankind to know and believe. Concerning God, Christ, and the Spirit, this we believe. First: That there is only one true God, who is a Spirit, and his presence fills heaven and earth, and he is eternal and everlasting, the creator and preserver of all things, and heaven and earth, and all things therein, by him were framed and brought forth, and all things remain to this day by his Power, and whatsoever, he will in heaven and earth, he brings to pass by his word and power. We believe that this God only is, and ought to be feared, loved, obeyed and worshipped by all creatures, and no other thing besides him in heaven or earth. And we believe, that his worship, and obedience, and fear, and love, is to be given in spirit, even in what his own Spirit moves and leads his people to. We believe his true worship, required and accepted of him, is not by the traditions of men, in outward observances, or set days, or places, but is worshipped only in spirit and truth, without respect of time, places, or things, and that none can worship him in righteousness but his children who are born of his spirit, and are led and guided thereby. We believe that this God has given his Son Christ Jesus into the world, a free gift to the whole world, and that every man that comes into the world is enlightened by him, that every man might believe, and be saved. We believe that he is given into the world, and no nation, country, or people excepted, but to all mankind is he given of God, and has enlightened them, and every man through the world, that believes in, and receives Christ, who is the wisdom and power of the Father, shall be saved with eternal salvation; and every one that believes not in him, shall be damned, and shall possess everlasting misery. We believe that salvation, justification, and sanctification, is only in him, and wrought by him, and no other, for there is no other name given under Heaven but him alone, by which salvation is. We believe all that receives him, and believes in him are reconciled to God, and are made alive to God, to live to him in all things, and do receive the forgiveness of sins, and are set free from all unrighteousness, and from the body of sin and death, and has the witness of the Spirit in them; and the Spirit of the Father they have received, and it witnesses in them of the Father and of the Son, and of the things that belong to their peace; and it is the earnest of the inheritance, and the Seal of the promise of eternal life; and by it are the deep things of God revealed to mankind; and by it the Father and the Son dwells in the Saints; and by it have they fellowship one with another; and the Father, Son, and Spirit are one. This we faithfully believe. Again, Concerning Christ: We believe that he is one with the Father, and was with him before the world was; and what the Father works, it is by the Son, for he is the arm of God’s salvation, and the very power and wisdom of the creator, and was, is, and is to come, without beginning or end. We believe that all the prophets gave testimony of him, and that he was made manifest in Judea and Jerusalem, and did the work of the Father, and was persecuted of the Jews, and was crucified by his enemies, and that he was buried, and rose again, according to the scriptures. We believe he is now ascended on high, and exalted at the right hand of the Father for evermore; and that he is glorified with the same glory that he had before the world was; and that even the same that came down from Heaven, is ascended up to heaven; and the same that descended, is he that ascended. We believe even he that was dead, is alive, and lives for evermore; and that he comes, and shall come again to judge the whole world with righteousness, and all people with equity, and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the day of judgment, when all shall arise to condemnation or justification, he that has done good shall receive life, and he that has done evil, everlasting condemnation. We believe he is to be waited for in spirit, to be known after the Spirit, as he was before the world was, and that is the knowledge to eternal life; which all that believe in him do receive. He subdues death and destroys him that has the power of it, and restores from death to life, and quickens by his Spirit all that the Father has given him; and we believe such he justifies and sanctifies, and such are taught of him; but he condemns all that believe not, but continues in unbelief, and are not taught of him. This we faithfully believe. We believe that to all people upon the face of the whole earth, is a time and day of visitation given, that they may return and be saved by Christ Jesus, who is given of the Father to call the worst of men to repentance, and the most ungodly of sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds, that they might believe, and be converted, and saved. We believe herein is the love of God manifested to all mankind, and that none is shut out by him before they were born into the world; but to all men is a visitation given, and they that do perish, it is because they do not believe in Christ. And destruction is of a man’s self, but salvation is of God, through believing in his Son, who takes away sin, and renews into his own image, that they may become heirs with him. We believe that there is a crown of eternal glory, and an inheritance of eternal life to be enjoyed for evermore by all that believe and are chosen of God. And that there is everlasting, misery and destruction to be possessed by all that believe not, but continues in the state of reprobation, and are not changed from the ways of sin and death, but walks after the ways of their own hearts lusts, fulfilling the will of the flesh, in the evil of this world, and follows not Christ the Light of the world, that they may be saved. And we believe upon all such the wrath of God abides, and that they have no part in the inheritance of God. We believe that it is only he that is born again of the Spirit, and that walks after the Spirit, who is changed from death to life, and who is redeemed out of the world and all its ways. Such only must inherit the Kingdom of God, and they only have right thereunto, and none besides, except those who are washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus, by which their sins are remitted. For his blood cleanses from all unrighteousness and sin, in they who walk in the light which Christ Jesus has enlightened the world withal. We believe that the saints upon earth may receive forgiveness of sins, and may be perfectly freed from the body of sin and death, and in Christ may be perfect, and without sin, and may have victory over all temptations by faith in Christ Jesus. We believe every saint that is called of God, ought to press after perfection, and to overcome the devil and all his temptations upon earth; and we believe they who wait for it shall obtain it, and shall be presented without sin in the image of the Father, and these do not walk after the flesh, but after the spirit, and are in covenant with God, and their sins are blotted out and remembered no more, for they cease to commit sin, being born of the seed of God. And we believe the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God to salvation, and that it ought to be preached freely to all people, and Christ to be held forth to all mankind by the ministry sent of him. We believe this ministry is received by the gift of the Holy Ghost and all they that receive it, are lawfully called to the ministry, and they may preach the gospel of Christ freely, as they have received it freely; and this ministry is not of man, but of God, and is made powerful to the converting of sinners, and to the bringing of people to God, and to the knowledge of his ways. We do not believe that any man is a minister of Christ without the gift of the Holy Ghost, or that the gospel can be received by natural learning or education. We believe any, who preach for a salary, are not the lawful called ministers of the gospel of Christ; but such as are proud, and high minded, and covetous men, who do not profit the people at all. Those who preach for money have run ahead, and were never sent by Christ, who calls by his spirit into the work of the ministry; and as every one has received the gift of that his Spirit, so he may administer to others. Concerning rulers and governors: We believe that there ought to be rulers and governors in every nation, city, country, or town, and they ought to be men who fear God, and hate every evil way. They should judge for God, and not for man, and will judge righteously, equally, and justly, and will give true and sound judgment to all men, without bribery, or respect of persons, not regarding the rich above the poor, but being a praise to all that do well, and a terror to all evil-doers whatever, having knowledge in the pure Law of God, and themselves continually exercised therein. We believe that every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God, pure reason and equity being the foundation thereof, that Gods witnesses in every man may answer to it; and the law ought to be known to all people before transgression be charged or punished in any man. We believe that every transgression ought to be punished according to its nature, and that the punishment not exceed the greatness of the transgression; neither ought any transgressor to escape unpunished; neither ought any upon false suspicion or jealousies be allowed without the testimony of true men, or the confession of the party. We believe that the executors of the law ought to be just men, and not given to drunkenness, or any other evil whatsoever, and ought to be chosen every year, or otherwise, by the common consent of all people, and that no man be stopped of his free choice. We believe that all governors and rulers ought to be accountable to the people, and to the next proceeding rulers, for all their actions, which may be inquired into upon occasion; and that the highest of the rulers be subject under the law, and punishable by it if they are transgressors, as well as the poorest of the people. And thus true judgment and justice will be brought forth in the earth, and all that do well will have praise, and live in rest and peace and all evil-doers whatsoever may stand in awe, and be afraid of God, and just men, and the execution of good laws. Concerning Religion: We believe that it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly religious, and that no man ought to be compelled to, or from any exercise or practice in religion, by any outward law, or power, but every man ought to be left free, as the Lord shall persuade his own mind in doing, or leaving undone this, or the other practice in religion; and every man of whatever profession in religion ought to be protected in peace, providing he is himself a man of peace, not seeking the wrong of any man’s person or estate. We believe that to reprove false opinions, and unfound doctrines and principles, seeking to convince them that oppose themselves, by exhortation, or sharp reproof, by word or writing, ought not to be counted a breach of the peace; or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God, by men of contrary minds or judgments, this ought not to be punishable by the magistrates and their laws; for we believe that the outward Law and Powers of the earth is only to preserve men’s persons and estates, and not to preserve men in opinions; neither ought the law of the nation to be laid upon men’s consciences, to bind them to, or from such a judgment or practice in religion. We believe that Christ is, and ought only to be Lord and exerciser of men’s consciences, and his Spirit only must lead into all truth. We believe that obedience and subjection in the Lord belongs to superiors and that subjects ought to obey them in the Lord that have rule over them; and that children ought to obey their parents, and wives their husbands, and servants their masters in all things, which is according to God, which stands in the exercise of a pure conscience towards God. But where rulers, parents, or masters, or any other, commands or requires subjection in anything which is contrary to God, or not according to him, in such causes all people are free, and ought to obey God rather then man; and we believe that herein God will justify them, being guided and led by his spirit in all what is good, and out of all what is evil. Again: We believe concerning election and reprobation, that there is a state of election, and a state of reprobation; a state chosen of God; and a state rejected of God, and that all mankind is in one of these states; all that are elected, are elected in Christ, and all that are out of him are in the state reprobate, bringing forth fruits of death and darkness, being a child of wrath and disobedience, in the alienation and separation from God, in the transgression, not reconciled to God, the enmity ruling in the heart, being in the fall, and not restored to God again, but ignorant of his power, and of his wisdom, having his understanding darkened that he cannot see nor perceive the things that are eternal; and in this condition his best works are sin, and in whatsoever he does, he cannot be accepted with God, for he is dead to God, and alive to all evil, bringing forth all his works out of that ground which is cursed. This is the condition of all mankind upon the face of the Earth, in the first Adam; and this is the state of reprobation, and all that abide herein are rejected of God, and shall never inherit eternal life, but goes into perdition. Yet all have such a day of visitation so that they may return out of the state of reprobation. But hating knowledge, and despising the love of God, they continue in the reprobate state, and the wrath of God abides upon them. But they that are chosen of God are delivered from wrath, for they believe in the light, and becomes children of the light, and are renewed in mind and heart, and receives the love of the Father, and is planted into Christ the second Adam, and are chosen in him to bring forth fruit to the Father, and all their fruit springs from that ground which is blessed, for they are led by the Spirit of the Father, and such are in the estate of election, who is made heirs with Christ of the everlasting inheritance that never fades away. This we faithfully believe that mercy is not shown to the reprobate, nor judgment to them that are chosen of God. This is to go to all in the world that all people may understand what we believe, and what we have received of God; and they that believe this shall by the Spirit of the Father be saved; but they that believe not, but are disobedient to the truth, shall be condemned because they do not believe. Much more might be written, but in love, this is provided by one who has believed and received the knowledge of these things from God; A Friend to all people, Edward Burrough. London, 1657 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS IN LONDON My dear beloved friends and brethren, in the everlasting unerring Truth, of which you are made partakers, who are called of God to be witnesses of his name, and of his Truth; with my dear love I do salute you, dearly and tenderly, and all the rest of the begotten of God, in that city, whom my soul longs after, [even for] your growth in the inward man. The everlasting Father strengthen you, and refresh you with the living streams from his presence; and his love and power and grace be multiplied among you, to whom He has opened a door, and made an entrance into the true rest, which remains for you, to which the Lord of glory is gathering you, and leading you, and carrying you as lambs in his arms, into the fold of everlasting refreshing. My dear hearts, walk worthy of the Love of God, with which He has loved you, and let your lights show forth into the world, that your good works they may see, who watch over you with an evil eye. Dear Friends, to you that believe, He who is the light of the world, is precious. Therefore in the light wait, that your understandings may be opened and your feet prepared to walk in the ways of the Lord, which to all the children of light are pleasant ways. Do not become entangled with any yoke of bondage, which may burden you from running the race that is set before you; but in the death of all [that is] mortal stand. And there the life of immortality you will see and witness, and the daily food you will receive; that life which the love of the world crucifies. Do you not know that the friendship of this world is at enmity against God; but you are called not to serve the world, but God, who is the light, and the world must serve you. So take heed for fear that your affections, and desires, and hearts be drawn aside from the pure way of life into what is visible, which will not endure forever; for that life is death, and that glory is shame. In the light I read you, and do behold many pleasant plants springing up in the garden of God; and I bear you record, some of you have laid your crowns down at the lamb's feet, and have scorned the glory of Babylon and Egypt. Surely your reward will be everlasting, and your cups will the Lord fill in the sight of your enemies, and your glory shall be above the glory of the earth, and your crowns shall never wither. Therefore press on, and look not back, spare not the fat, nor the best from slaughter, but to the sword bring all your enemies, which have been those of your own house [inside yourself], which have prevailed over you. But now the Lord is arising among you, and you have seen the shaking of the earth, and the heavens, and of the darkness of the sun, and of the falling of the stars; therefore wait to the end, that the crown of immortality you may wear. The day begins to dawn among you, therefore put off every work of the night, and walk all in the day; for you are the light of the world, and a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid. The Lord prosper you, and preserve you, and be with your spirits, and establish you. Amen. EDWARD BURROUGH Dublin, the 14th of the Fifth Month, 1655 A WARNING TO ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE And all you whom the Lord has blessed with riches and increase, see that you do not abuse what God has blessed you with, but in all things that it be used to the glory of the Lord, and not wasted in excess upon the lust of your own minds. For the creation is the Lord's, and all things are given by Him, and taken away at his pleasure, and He marks rich, and He marks poor whomsoever He will. Therefore every man he content with his own, and covet not one another's, nor defraud one another to enrich yourselves, for it is cursed of the Lord. And all you handicraft people, and laboring people, fear you the Lord continually, and use no deceit, nor craft, nor dishonest policy in what you do. Seek not to blind men's eyes by fair outsides, neither to cheat the simple by negligent work; but let the Truth guide you, and that will teach you to do to others what you would have them do to you, and this is acceptable in the sight of God. Let your commodities be just and right, and let all your labor be with a single heart, and do all things as in the sight of the Lord, and then you cannot do evil, if the fear of God is before your eyes. The evil in all things will be denied, and the corruption that is entered into all callings and trades, will be judged out. And be examples one to another of truth and righteousness; and do not defraud, nor cheat one another, nor use many words, nor vain gestures, but own the Lord to be your teacher, who will teach you truth, to do it, and to speak it in all things. And all you young men and apprentices, learn the fear of the Lord, and take heed of temptations, for fear that you will be destroyed, both soul and body by them. Learn not to dissemble, nor to defraud, nor take instructions how to deceive and cheat, but first seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and then all outward things shall be added to you. Give not yourselves to any evil. Beware of wine and women, which steal away the hearts of many. Give not yourselves to vanity, nor fulfill the desire of your own minds in anything. Covet not after riches, neither study how to be proud and vain-glorious. Give not yourselves to craft and human policies, nor to deceive any people; but fear God and keep his commandments, and be subject to your masters, and obey them in all things that are good, and be dutiful to them in what is just and righteous, but deny them in whatever is evil. Learn not guile and cunning from them, neither vice, nor drunkenness, nor cheating, nor any other thing which is evil, but rather reprove those things, than follow them in the least. If you do the truth, and speak the truth in all things, and keep yourselves from whatever is evil, then the Lord will bless you outwardly, and inwardly, and the knowledge of God will be your crown in old age. Cease from all games, [gambling] and vain sports, and from all unrestrained behaviors and vain pleasures, and from all the works of the flesh; for they that follow such things shall neither prosper in this world, nor be blessed in the world to come. Wherefore take heed to yourselves all you that are young in the world; be not overcome of evil, nor follow evil devices, but stand in awe continually, and offend not God, who gives you life, and health, and all good things. And all you masters and heads of families, this is a warning to you. Be examples of all good in your families to your children and servants. Rule in authority in the fear of God, but not in tyranny nor a severe mind; teach and instruct in fear, and not in cruelty. Give no bad example in pride, vain-glory, drunkenness, hypocrisy, or any other evil thing, but stand as a terror over all evil, and as encouragers of all good. Do not restrict the conscience of any under your power, curb sin only, and reprove not righteousness. Seek to be taught of God, and then you may instruct all under you in his way; be forgiving towards your children and servants, and pass over offences rather than punish them with cruelty. And make not a prey upon your servants, to serve your own ends only, seeking your own good only, and not theirs; for such things are evil in the sight of God, and are to be condemned. Let no excess, neither let need be in your families, but what is honest and right. Love that in all things, and follow it. Do not let your anger and passion be excessive when offence is given you, and do not correct in cruelty, but in a good understanding. Walk in the Truth, and fulfill the will of God; and not your own and this is of great price and acceptable in the sight of the Lord. And all you tavern keepers and inn keepers, fear the Lord God, and do not oppress your guest, neither feed the lust of any until they become drunk, for that is cursed of God both in you and them, and that of which He will be avenged. Oh, great is that abomination among you. Much of the good creatures are vainly and wickedly spent and abused in your dwellings. [You think] your advantage [gain of money] stands in the abuse of the creatures by excess, and the Lord is grieved with you because of that. And all sorts of people, rich and poor, high and low, masters and servants, parents and children, buyers and sellers, tradesmen and laborers, listen to the counsel of God, and seek to know his will to you in all things, that you may do it, in following all that is good, and denying all that is evil, that your souls may live. Let not the devil lead you, nor his temptations overcome you in anything, but resist him in whatever he would lead you into, which is against God and contrary to Him. Repent of all evil that ever you have acted, and let the Lord be your guide, that you may not utterly perish, and your city be destroyed for your sakes. The Lord's love is towards you, and He waits to be gracious to you, and desires your return, rather than your destruction, and would heal you if you will wait upon Him, and would bless your city, and make you happy in it, if you do his will, and deny your own. I am a friend to all your souls, and a publisher of peace, and of glad tidings to all that thirst for the Lord; and He has given me power to warn you of all your iniquities and abominations, to deny them; and to warn you to follow what is good. Oh, that you knew in this your day the things which belong to your peace, which now you may know, before they are totally hid from your eyes, and there is no place for repentance, nor time of returning. This day will come upon many, and they cannot escape it, who now harden their hearts against the way of their own peace, and even scorn to be reproved for their transgression. Such my soul pities, who are going in the way of destruction, and run hastily into perdition. I have many times been made sad by reason of such, when I have measured the condition of all people. Upon my bed, I have pondered what abomination was in you, and what would be the end of it and I have desired nothing so much, as that I might faithfully warn you, and free myself and the Lord from the blood of all men. Deep thoughts have been upon me, concerning what the counsel of the Lord is to you all, that I might manifest the Truth, and discover the abominations, and I have not spared to cry repentance to sinners, that sinners might be converted, and turn to the Lord. And thus far I am clear of the blood of all men, and the Lord is clear, and if the wicked perish, it is because of their unbelief and opposing of the Lord. This is the testimony which I give to you, and to all your people. Oh London, listen and consider! This is the day of your visitation, and there is not another way to life, nor to escape everlasting death and destruction, than what the Lord has showed you. Blessed is he that can receive it, and they that deny it do utterly perish without mercy. I am as a stranger among you, yet well known to the Lord, and the testimony of God concerning you shall stand forever, for it is true, and shall not be confounded, though the wicked reject it to their own destruction. Edward Burrough London, the 15th of the Sixth Month, 1657 To all the called and chosen to
faithfulness in Christ Jesus, Let your fellowship be in the life and power of God, and know not one another in words only, and in outward appearance, but witness one another in the spirit and in the Truth, and have communion there, in breaking the bread of life, that Christ Jesus’ Day be seen to be heard in you, and you members to serve Him, and one another, all receiving wisdom from the head, and virtue from the vine, Christ Jesus, that you may abound in love, mercy and peace, and all the fruits of righteousness to the Father. Dwell in the fear and counsel of God, and be subject to his will, not despising the cross, which is the power of God, which slays the birth that is born of the flesh, which is not heir of the promise; but walk in the cross daily, that your understandings may be kept open, to try and discern all spirits, whether they be of God. Believe not every spirit, for lying spirits may arise among yourselves, and go forth from the light, who are not in the Truth, but in the pretension and hypocrisy, with false visions, and lying imaginations, handling the word of God deceitfully, and corrupting and perverting the pure way of God; having the form, but not the power, having left the power and gone from the light. Such utter the words of Truth without the life, and are but as the chaff to the wheat, and they are to be denied and resisted, and not joined to, for fear that innocence and simplicity be betrayed, and your faith made void, and so you be destroyed from the life of God, and death surprise you, and darkness enter your dwellings, and so unbelief, and doubting and murmuring, and lustings after evil arise in you, and you be perverted from the worship of the true God, and grieve his righteous spirit by bowing to idols, and following of other lovers. And so the true God, who has brought you out of Egypt, and made manifest his power in you, be forgotten, and the faith of his Son made shipwreck of, and your latter end be worse than the beginning, and the name of the Lord be dishonored by you; and then woe to you, his wrath shall suddenly break out against you. "Wherefore hear and fear, and listen to the word of the Lord. He has caused his light to shine forth, and his voice to be heard; He has proclaimed his name among you, and has caused his marvelous light to approach when you sat in darkness, in the land of the shadow of death. When you were lost, He sought you, and when you were driven away and scattered, He found you, and brought you home. When you were in your blood and no eye pitied you, He had mercy upon you, and bound you up, and healed you. When you were dead, He said to you, live; and it was so. When you were led captive by the devil under the power of death, He broke the chains and set you free; and when there was none to help or save, his own arm brought deliverance and salvation, and the way of life and peace He set before you." And now all this has his own arm accomplished, that you should be a praise to Him for evermore. If you walk in the way which He has set before you, and keep his covenant which He has made with you, and fulfill his will, and walk in righteousness, in love, and unity, in meekness, lowliness, humbleness, and in soberness, and watchfulness, and in fear of his name; then shall his presence never forsake you, nor his outstretched arm cease to defend and preserve you. He shall go before you, and be your reward; and He shall be your God, and you shall be his people; and shall dwell in Him; and He shall be your hiding-place, and He will be to you a father, and you shall be his children, and his blessing and peace shall remain in your habitations forever and ever. Believe not that spirit, neither follow it which ministers to others what it has not learned of the Father, but has the words without the power, and lives not in the power of what it ministers forth in words, nor is in what it declares, but is in outward show, in the hypocrisy and pretension, and reaches not the life of God, but veils and covers it; that spirit is not of the Father, but is to be denied and not received. Believe not that spirit, neither follow it, which is at liberty in the flesh, and makes the offence of the cross to cease, which is exalted out of the fear of the Lord, in the liberty of the earthly, which crucifies the life, and darkens the eye. That spirit will boast of joy and peace, and experience and knowledge, and speak high words in the airy mind, and would lead you to glory above the cross, until you are past feeling the life; and that spirit produces into the love of the world, which passes away. Beware of that spirit, for it is not of the Father, but to be condemned. Believe not that spirit, neither follow it, which is hasty, and forward, and rash; for that goes out of God's counsel and betrays the just, and strives to be greatest, and to be above the weak, and despises Him, and would be master, and not a servant, and would rule, and not be ruled in the meek and lowly government of Christ. That spirit will judge rashly and unsavorily, and condemn another in secret in what itself is guilty of. Beware of that spirit, for it is not of God, but to be judged with the life of God. Believe not that spirit which draws back into the world, into its lusts and liberty, and fashions which pass away. That spirit forgets God and draws back, for his soul has no pleasure in it, but is vexed with it, where the cross is made of none effect, and the false liberty is walked in, which murders the life. That spirit is of the devil, and is to be condemned. And now all friends of God everywhere, who know Him, and are known of Him, whom He has gathered out of this untoward generation, be diligent in your callings, and keep your meetings in faithfulness, waiting upon the Lord, that you all may receive of his fullness, and may be nourished up to himself; as trees of righteousness, the planting of his own right hand, to spread forth his name and glory, as a people saved by Him. And this know and understand, that spirit is not of the Father, which confesses not the Son to be come in the flesh, who destroys the works of the devil, and takes away sin. Believe and follow that spirit which condemns sin, and destroys it, and takes it away, and so gives peace with God in your consciences, and leads you into all truth, and keeps you from all evil. You that witness this, the Son you know, and the Father you know, to dwell with you, and in you; and this is the first and the last. Believe in Him, and follow Him, and look not for any other; and in this the Father of life and glory, whose dominion is without beginning and end, establish you, and preserve you; amen and amen. Edward Burrough London the 2nd of the Third Month, 1657 For several years Edward Burrough had been very much in London, and there preached the gospel with piercing and powerful declarations. And that city was so near to him, that oftentimes, when persecution grew hot, he said to Francis Howgill, his bosom friend, 'I can freely go to the city of London, and lay down my life for a testimony to that Truth, which I have declared through the power and Spirit of God.' Being in this year at Bristol, and thereabouts, and moved to return to London, he said to many of his friends, when he took his leave of them, that he did not know he should see their faces any more; and therefore he exhorted them to faithfulness and steadfastness, in that in which they had found rest for their souls. And to some he said, 'I am now going up to the city of London again, to lay down my life for the gospel, and suffer among Friends in that place.' Not long after, coming to London, and preaching in the meeting-house called the Bull and Mouth, he was violently pulled down by some soldiers, and brought before alderman Richard Brown, and committed to Newgate prison. Several weeks afterwards, being brought to the sessions-house in the Old Bailey, he was fined by the court twenty marks, and to lie in prison until payment. But judging this unreasonable in a high degree he could not bend thereto for conscience-sake. He was kept there in prison about eight months, with six or seven score prisoners beside, upon the same account. But they were so crowded, that for want of room their natures were suffocated. [He died of jail fever, probably typhus, spread by lice in cold, unsanitary conditions]. Many other Quakers in that prison had also grown sick and died. And though a special order from the king, was sent to the sheriffs of London, for his and some other prisoners' release, yet such was the enmity of some of the city magistrates, especially Brown, that they did what was in their power to prevent the execution of the King’s order. And thus Edward Burrough continued prisoner, though his sickness increased. During the time of his weakness, he was very fervent in prayer, as well for his friends as for himself; and many consolatory and glorious expressions proceeded from his mouth. Once he was heard to say, 'I have had the testimony of the Lord's love to me from my youth: and my heart, 0 Lord, has been given up to do thy will. I have preached the gospel freely in this city, and have often given up my life for the gospel's sake; and now, 0 Lord, rip open my heart, and see if it is not right before thee.' Another time he said, 'There is no iniquity that lies at my door; but the presence of the Lord is with me, and his life I feel justified me.' Another day he was thus heard in prayer to God, 'you have loved me when I was in the womb; and I have loved thee from my cradle: and from my youth to this day; and have served you faithfully in my generation.' And to his friends that were about him, he said, 'Live in love and peace, and love one another.' In the Cambridge Journal, he is also quoted as saying, 'if he [George Fox] had been with me but an hour, I would be well.' (Fox was away from London at the time). And at another time he said, 'The Lord takes the righteous from the evil to come.' And praying for his enemies and persecutors, he said, 'Lord, forgive Richard Brown, if he may be forgiven.' And being sensible that death was approaching, he said, 'Though this body of clay must turn to dust, yet I have a testimony that I have served God in my generation; and that spirit which has lived and acted, and ruled in me, shall yet break forth in thousands.' The morning before he departed this life, (which was about the latter end of this year), he said, ‘Now my soul and spirit is centered into its own being with God; and this form of person must return whence it was taken.' And after a little season he gave up the ghost. Thomas Ellwood, the editor George Fox's Journal, Burrough's was the person who first convinced Ellwood of the Truth, preaching in Isaac Penington's home. Regarding Burrough's death, Ellwood says: "the resulting high affection for him, did so deeply affect my mind that it was some pretty time before my passion could prevail to express itself in words, so true I found those of the tragedy:
Light griefs break forth, and easily get vent, At length, my muse, not bearing to be any longer mute, broke forth in the following acrostic, [ a poem in which the first letter in each line, has a message also - which is ELLWOODS LAMENTATION FOR HIS ENDEARED EDWARD BURROUGH] which she called-
Burrough's death was such a blow to Friends that George Fox in his Journal writes:
Perhaps Edward Burrough's most widely read work, was his outstanding Testimony and Introduction, available on this site for reading, which prefaced George Fox's The Great Mystery of the Great Whore Unfolded and Antichrist's Kingdom Revealed. This web site's purpose is to show how to become
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