Page:Lettersconcerni01conggoog.djvu/43

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Letters concerning

wou'd have had him sworn before he ask'd him any questions: Know, friend, says Fox to him, that I never swear. The justice observing he Thee'd and Thou'd him, sent him to the house of correction in Derby, with orders that he should be whipp'd there. Fox' prais'd the Lord all the way he went to the house of correction, where the justice's order was executed with the utmost severity. The men who whipp'd this enthusiast, were greatly surpriz'd to hear him beseech them to give him a few more lashes for the good of his soul. There was no need of intreating these people; the lashes were repeated, for which Fox thank'd them very cordially, and began to preach. At first, the spectators fell a laughing, but they afterwards listned to him; and as enthusiasm is an epidemical distemper, many were persuaded, and those who scourg'd him became his first disciples. Being set at liberty, he ran up and down the country with a dozen proselytes at his heels, still declaiming against the clergy, and was whipp'd from time to time. Being

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