Stablishing Against Shaking, Narration
A Miniſter now in Eſſex gave this Narration to a friend of mine, written with his own hand, and his name to it; the Copie is true that I here offer to the Reader.
The 8th MonethMonth, 19th day. 1654.
AT the earneſt deſire of ſome friends, I went with John Ward and Anthony Hunter to a meeting of the deluded ſouls called Quakers, at John Hunters of Benfield-ſide in the County of Durham, where we found about twenty perſons ſitting all ſilent: after we had ſate awhile (all being mute) the Lord moved me to ariſe, and call upon his name by prayer. I was no ſooner up, but my leggs trembled greatly, ſo that it was ſome difficulty to ſtand: but after I had prayed a ſhort ſpace the trembling ceaſed: while I prayed to GOD as a Creatour, there was but little diſturbance, but when I cryed in the name of JESUS CHRIST my Mediatour, God in my nature, now in the higheſt glory appearing and interceding for his Saints, then the Devil roared in the deceived ſoules in most ſtrange and dreadfull manner, ſome howling, ſome ſcreeking, yelling, roaring, and ſome had a ſtrange confuſed kinde of humming, ſinging noiſe.
Such a repreſentation of Hell I never heard of, nothing but horror and confuſion.
After I had done praying (not opening my eyes before) I was amazed to ſee about the one halfe of thoſe miſerable creatures ſo terribly ſhaken, with ſuch ſtrange violent various motions, that I wondred how it was poſsible ſome of them could live.
In the midst of this confuſion, one of them asked if I were come to torment them? To whom I applyed this word, Mat. 8.29.
And while I ſpake ſomething of Faith, they declared that they were come to the faith of Devils, Jam. 2.19. but ſaid we were not attained to ſuch a faith.
After two houres, as we were departing out of the houſe, one of them curſed me with theſe words: All the plagues of God be upon thee. Whereupon, I returned and prayed for ſuch of them, as had not committed the unpardonable ſinne. Thus farre this Miniſter.
Lately in a Town neer me, when the Quakers were met together, there appeared one amongſt them in ſuch a ſhape, as cauſed them to break up their meeting, with no ſmall trouble to divers of them. I cannot learne the perfect manner, for the Quakers will not reveale it; onelyonly ſo much ſome of them have affirmed, and I will not publiſh more than I am certaine of. I wiſh it may turn to their good.
End of the text · Giles Firmin, Stablishing Against Shaking (1656)