Creaturcs and in their Shame and in their Inventions or in their Strength Wisdom or Riches But glorying in the Cross of Christ the Power of God the glorying is in that which doth Crucifie from the State of Adam and Eve and all their Sons and Daughters in the Fall and from this State all the Apostate-Christians are since the Apostles Days And in this Power of God is Everlasting Glorying which is a Cross to all that live as I said before in the Apostacy and in the Fall but not a Cross to them that be Redeemed and Crucified for their glorying stands in it which is over all the gloryings in the Fall and all Creatures So in the Power of the Lord God meet wait live and dwell and have fellowship for in the Power Christ lives Therefore now you that are come to know the Gospel preached again which was amongst the Apostles in this Power of God you will feel before the Fall of Adam and Eve where all things were good and blest in the Beginning before the Fall which after the Fall the Curse came which buought the Woe and Misery So you that feel the Redemption out of the Fall you know the State of the Blessing before the Fall how all things were good and blessed Come into the same Power that brings you up before the Fall and brings you to be gathered in the Name of Jesus which is above every Name and be gathered into the Name of Jesus by which Salvation is brought for there is no other Name under Heaven given by which Salvation is brought but by the Name of Jesus So ye being gathered in the Name which is above every Name and also in the Name by which Salvation is brought and by no other Name in that wait and meet and keep together so ye will feel the Blessing of the Lord in you and amongst you So Farewell And consider how the Servants of the Lord and his Royal People and Prophets feared not Flames feared not Dens of Lions or Dragons heeded not Prisonments Bonds Banishments Whips nor Scourgings nor spoiling of their Goods and their Tortures nor feared not their being sawed asunder nor their Socks their Clubs and Staves nor Persecution but chose rather to suffer Reproach with the People of God then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season And how that Reproaches Slanders vilifying Words they regarded not but trampled upon such and said The Sufferings were not to be valued with the Excellency and Riches of Grace which they were made Partakers of And the Cry was What shall separate us from the Love of God which we have in Christ Jesus Shall Death shall Famine or Sword or Persecution or Cold or Nakedness or Things present or Things to come or Heighth or Depth or Angels or Men or Principalities or Powers separate us from the Love of God c. For by the Powers were all the National Worships held up as they are at this Day and the false Prophets the Teachers and the Powers joyned together then against them that were in the Faith by which Faith they overcame and said There was not any thing that was able to separate them from the Love of God which they had in Christ Jesus Mark Christ the Seed who destroys the Devil and his Works in which Seed Christ ye come over the Devil the Author of all Prisoning Persecuting Darkness Vngodliness Vnrighteousness Vnholiness Christ who doth subdue all things to himself whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and Dominion an Everlasting Dominion over all Dominions And in this Kingdom and Dominion have ye all Peace where no unrighteous thing enters And so in this ye come to be a free People in Life and Power and Dominion And there is no new thing under the Sun for the Wicked cries Light is Darkness yet as of old Time and calls Good Evil and Evil Good and Truth Error and cries up the false Teachers and Prophets for the true and false Church and Worship and the feigned Humility for the true and the blind Zeal for the good and true Zeal now as in former Days And so it is the old Enemy of Mankind and his Works which the Seed destroys who reigns Glory for ever to the Highest G. F. FRiends Epist 240. All outward Things Figures Types Shadows and Inventions have been set up since Adam fell which Inventions Christ destroys and the Types Figures and Shadows of him he fulfils and brings Man up out of the Fall to the State Ire was in before he fell and so in the Power of God into Peace Love and Vnity and into the Everlasting Fellowship Cain differed from Abel in matter of Worship Abraham from his Country-men and Nation Likewise in matter of Worship Moses and the Children of Israel differed from the Egyptians and Canaanites and other Nations in matter of Worship Yet after the Children of Israel were brought out of Egypt by the Power of God how soon after did they set up a Calf an Outward thing Therefore in the Power of God keep over all things and in his Wisdom And how soon Chora Dathan and Abyram began to offer a strange Sacrifice after they were brought out of Egypt by the Power of God and went from the Power of God in which they should have offered therefore in the Power of God keep And how soon the Children of Israel when they multiplied and grew numerous offered out of the Life of the Law and the Power of God then their Sacrifices were like unto the cutting off a Dogs Neck and blessing Idols therefore keep in the Life and Power of God And ye may see Daniel's Religion and Worship differed from Nebuchadnezzar's the Emperor of Babylon and likewise differed from the Chaldeans and Persians as yours comes to differ now from all the Apostates gone from the Apostles and Christ's Life and Doctrine and there is the Mystery of Babylon as the Jews differed from outward Babylon therefore keep in the Power of God that keeps you to the Beginning And also ye may see what differences there was among the Churches in the Primitive Times about Meats Drinks Days and Times but the Apostle tells them the Kingdom of God stands not in such things but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost and they were not to Judge one another about such things for Meats was for the Belly and the Belly for Meats but God would destroy both them and it and shewed them that it was below Christians to jangle about such things And also what jangling was there in the Church in the Primitive Times about Circumcision which the Apostle brings them off and tells them That Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth nothing but a new Creature Therefore mind that New Creature and the Faith that works by Love And how also there was Janglings about Baptism and the Supper and about Men some for Paul and some for Apollo c. But the Apostle directed them all to know Christ the Seed in
Changable Priesthood which takes Tithes as the People of God did then But if we hire any Man and set him at Work we will give him his Wages and his Meat but such Dissemblers as say The Scripture is their Rule for it and we neither hired nor set them at Work all such Deceivers are denied who take the Scripture-Words and make a Cloak of them for their Covetous Practices Nevertheless if any Minister of Jesus Christ or Son or Daughter or Servant which Jesus Christ sends forth who said Freely ye have received freely give comes to our Houses and Minister unto us Spiritual Things we will set before him our Carnal things and he that soweth unto us Spiritual things it is the least that we minister unto him of our Carnal things But he that sueth us at the Law for Means Tithe-Suers and calleth me before Courts and Sessions and telleth me He is a Minister of Christ and Christ sent him all such Evil Beasts as the Apostle speaks of we deny who mind Earthly things whose God is their Belly who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies But if any one come into our Houses as afore said to preach the Gospel to us we shall set before them and they shall eat freely as Christ saith Whatsoever they set before you that eat But to give Tithes to such as do not preach to us Spiritual things but deny Christ come in the Flesh and hold up things in the Figure all such we deny and for the Truth 's sake do we suffer by such Tithe-buyers And ye that have bought Tithes to get Gain thereby to you we cannot pay Tithes ye are as bad as the Priests to hold up such things as were acted in the Figure and deny Christ come in the Flesh And though ye may say Give Caesar his Due for a Cloak that Cloak we deny Nevertheless if we be owing any thing to Caesar or to any Ruler or Magistrate or Minister he shall have his Due So Caesar shall have his Due in his place and the Figure we own in its place and Christ in his place G. F. DEar John Epist 30. the Everlasting Arm of the Lord hold thee up and break all thy Bonds asunder and set thee upon the Rock on thy Feet To a suffering Friend in which thou may'st know his Presence and his Everlasting Supreme Power And so the God of Life be with thee And pray for thy Enemies for the Lord to open them and their Hearts and see themselves and thee G. F. DEar Friends Epist 31. Mind the stedfast Guide to the Lord where we do all meet in the Eternal Spirit in Oneness all being Baptised by it into one Body Baptism in one Spiritt having one Food the Eternal Bread of Life which the Immortal feed upon and all made to drink into one Spirit Perfection which is the Cup of the Communion of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which makes Perfect and Redeems from all that is Vain Fleshly and Earthly up to God who is Holy Pure Spiritual and Eternal And let not any of you in your Desires wander from that which is Pure in you then your Conditions will be kept clear and pure to see all things as they are and a clear Separation will be made from that which is of Man and of your own and that which is of God and there will be a Growing up in that which is Pure And so be Low in your Minds waiting for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in you all who is Lord over all to be Lord over all in you And so the Lord God of Power keep you all Farewell G. F. To Friends that their Minds go not out from the Spirit of God FRiends Epist 32. when your Minds go forth from the pure Spirit of God and are drawn out from it there the Image of God comes to be lost G. F.'s Epistle to Friends to live in the Cross About 1653. in those whose Minds goes out from the Pure to lust after that which is in the Fall which may appear like Truth in the Notion in that Nature out of the Truth lodgeth the Inchanter and Sorcerer To speak of Truth when ye are moved it is a Cross to the Will if ye live in the Truth The Inchanter and Sorcerer c. which ye speak ye live in the Cross to your own Wills For that which joyns with the Earthly Will goes out from God and that which is pure and so makes a place for the Inchanter and Sorcerer and the Airy Spirit to lodge in whereby a Grave is made for the Just and the Partition-wall between God and Man standing Death comes to reign and the Grave hath the Victory over such and in the Airy Spirit lodgeth the Inchanter which the Lord will rebuke Dwell in the Pure and Immortal and wait upon the Living God to have your Hope renewed and to be renewed again into the Image of God and the Image of the Devil defaced and the Prince of the Air cast out for he lodgeth in the Mind that doth despair and in that Mind that doth presume So dwell in the Light and wait upon God to have the Image of God renewed and all come to witness your selves to be restored by Christ Jesus into the Image of God The Image of God and to be made by him like to God pure holy perfect and righteous This was witnessed this is witnessed and this will be witnessed measurably with Thousands who are growing up out of the Fall and coming up out of the Grave Let not the Lust go out to any thing which is mortal to be Servant thereto but mind the Joyning to the Life Here ye are kept in the Image of God Not but that ye may use the Creatures lawfully but being kept in the Image of God The lawful Vse of the Creatures ye are kept as Kings over all the Creatures and over the Creation here ye will see all things and by whom they stand To the Pure all things are pure being in the Image of God above all the Creatures below not worshipping the Host of Heaven nor being in Bondage to the Creatures nor minding any thing in Comparison of that which is Immortal which joyns you unto the Lord and all that speak here in that which is Immortal are joyning unto the Lord. But that Nature keep out and that judge which is mortal which will joyn to the Harlot the fleshly from all that there is to be a Separation And here as ye are brought by the Power of God the Gate is seen that stands open which Gate is shut from all Mortal Eyes And all the Wonderers are here seen who inquire after new things and Novelties but the Wise Man satisfies not the Fool Novelties For that part is above the pure if it be not kept in the Cross which not being wrought out will joyn to the Flesh and so
is not a Word in all the Scripture to hold up the Practice of Sprinkling Infants nor the Word Sacrament Sprinkling Infants c. nor to hold up an Hour-glass to preach by for an Hour's time in a place but the vain Mind doth hold up many things which Christ doth not command Earth maketh Masters amongst Earthly Men but let him that ruleth The Earth maketh Masters rule in Love for the Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof And he that laboureth let him labour as to the Lord in love So let Love be the Head in all things and then the Lord is exalted then there is no Eye-service but Singleness of Heart then all that is done is done as as to the Lord. So be faithful in all things and keep from the World 's vain Customs Do not wear Apparel Apparel to gratifie the proud Mind neither Eat nor Drink to make your selves wanton for it was created for the Health and not for the Lust to be as Servants to us and we Servants to God to use all those things to his Glory To whom be Praises Honour and Glory for ever-more who hath created all things to his Glory and so to be used and spent Do not make Profession to be seen outwardly for Christ was Condemned by the World and the formal Professors and all his Followers are as Wonders to the World Therefore marvel not if the World hate you but rejoice Look not back but keep forward knowing that the World is Enmity with God Ye that know the Light love one another and dwell in it and know one another in it G. F. FRIENDS Make not Flesh your Arm by Carnal Reasonings Epist 59. Consultations and Disputings in that part An Exhortation to Friends not to make Flesh their Arm. which is above the Innocent Life for that needs none to plead its Cause but God its Father who will give you sufficient Strength and Wisdom at the same Hour the other shall and will fall before the Enemies of the Lord. G. F. To Friends to keep in the Fear of the Lord. FRiends Epist 60. Every particular mind that which is pure of God in you to guide you up to God and to keep you in the Fear of the Lord that ye may receive Refreshment from God alone in your selves and grow up in the Inward Man nourished and strengthned by that which is Immortal And delight in that which shews you the Deceit of your Hearts and Judges that which is contrary to God and be Obedient to that which is pure The Lord God a daily Help so ye will see the Lord God present with you a daily Help his Hand always ordering of you and as a Shepherd always keeping the Dogs from his Lambs whom he feeds in Green Pastures and waters with his Heavenly Dew of Mercy who makes them all fruitful The Cry of Want and Poverty shall be no more heard in the Land of the Living but Joy Gladness and Plenty The wearied Soul that hath lain in the Pit and in the Mire and lived in the Clouds of Temptation God is our King and cried out for want of the Lord shall cry plentious Redemption and say God is our King who fills Heaven and Earth and the Voice of our King is heard in our Land So Fare-ye-well in the Lord And the Lord God Almighty keep you and preserve you in his mighty Power G. F. FRiends Epist 61. dwell all in the Immortal Seed of God which is Heir of the Promise of God and doth inherit the same so every one of you know the Promise of God your Portion and the Power of God your Portion and the Kingdom of God that is everlasting without End and the Power of an endless Life being Heirs of that come to inherit it knowing it your Portion that ye may possess it and increase in the same Kingdom and Power and endless Life Here ye lay up Treasure in Heaven Lay up Treasure in Heaven where the Thief Moth nor Rust comes not And know the Seed of God in which is the Election that never altereth nor changeth which Seed never changeth neither doth it submit to that which doth change but standeth stedfast and distinct from all the Changables Which Seed endeth all Types Figures and Shadows and variable things and Typical things that do change which Seed doth not change which is Christ which keeps above all the Inventions Rudiments Traditions vain Talkers and Bablers that be in the World and standeth when they will be all gone and have an End In which Seed is Power Wisdom and Life Eternal that remains for ever and ever which hath the Dominion in the Life and Power The Vnchangable Wisdom of God and unchangable Wisdom of God which is pure and gentle from above and preserving above all the Destroying which keeps up the heads of the living to Life in that live Which Seed of God breaks the Head of them that go out of the Truth to wit the Serpent's And here Life goes over all in Renown and Dominion and the Top-stone comes to be over all laid So live in Life and the Love and the Power of God which was before Man and Woman fell in that Power ye are kept over all outward things that have been set up and are set up in the Fall which causeth Pride and Contention and Strife which if lived in keeps out of the Power in which is the Saints Everlasting Fellowship that stands and remains and is Everlasting for ever and ever In which Power the living Seed lives and the living Babes are preserved in which Power they have their Food from the God of Life which is living which nourishes the Immortal Babes up to the Immortal God with the Immortal Food through which they come to be the living Stones that build up the spiritual Houshold The Church is in God who are the Church in God who are brought out of the State where Adam and Eve with his Sons and Daughters is drove from God up to God again by Christ the Power of God who is the Way to God where the Church is in God that is the Pillar and Ground of Truth So all in that live which brings you up to God out of the State of Adam and Eve and his Sons and Daughters in the Fall In that Power as I said before ye will have an everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another which Power of God was before the Fall was In that Power ye will know one another and see one another in which ye shall ever be together in which ye shall see and know your Election before the World began So Fare-well G. F. ALL Friends be Low and in the Life of God dwell Epist 62. to keep you Low Ye are the Salt of the Earth to make it savoury unto God Ye are the Light of the World The Light Justifies walking therein Therefore walk in the Light of Christ
34.35 Mich. 3. And now are such seen and known which our Lord Jesus Christ cried Wo against who stand praying in the Synagogues Mart. 23. having the chiefest Seats in the Assemblies called of Men Masters which devour Widows Houses And now are such Deceives seen and known Deceivers that by their Lies and Lightness have caused the people to err which speak a Divination of their own Brain and use their Tongues and say The Lord sent them when he never sent them And now are th Mockers and Scorners come which the Scriptures speak of which mock Scoffers stone and persecute the Children of the Light as they pass up and down the Streets and many have been almost murdered in the High-ways and Steeple-houses by them And now is the Scripture fulfilled which saith The Beast and Dragon That the Beast and the Dragon shall make War against the Lamb and the Saints for such are manifest now who are as natural brute Beasts what they know they know naturally having not the Life that gave forth the Scriptures but are found in the Self-Separation from the Spirit of God having gotten the Words which were declard from the Spirit of God murdering and destroying as much as in them lyeth those that are in the Light and Life of those holy Men of God that gave forth the Scriptures Now the Shame of all their Profession is seen which is Abomination unto the Lord which profess the Words declared from the Light of God but are strangers to the Light and Life And now the Vnsavoury things are smelt tased of and seen to be among many of the Professors of Religion who are more like Swine rending Dogs and Swine and like Dogs biting and devouring one another than like the Children of the Light Which doth them mainfest to be contrary to the Light which all that are contrary unto with the Light are condemned G. F. To all the Seed of Abraham which suffer for denying the World's Customs and because they cannot hold up the Corrupt Priesthood that is therin or for Testifying against the World that the Works threof are evil ALL Friends and Brethren every where Epist 92. that are Imprisoned for the Truth give your selves up in it and it will make you free To the Prisoners and the Power of the Lord will carry you over all the Persecutors which was before they were For since the Beginning hath this Persecution got up therefore live and reign in that Power which remains when the other is gone and in that ye will have Peace and Vnity with God and one with another who suffer for not putting into the false Prophets Mouths and for Crying against them and for not swearing Sufferings for not Swearing and not giving the World's Complements and their Honour which the Lord is staining and who are suffering for reproving Sin in the Gate Be faithful in the Life and Power of the Lord God and for the Truth be Valiant on the Earth and look not at your Sufferings but at the Power of God and that will bring some good out in all your Sufferings and your Imprisonments will reach to the Prisoned that the Persecutor prisons in himself So be faithful in your Sufferings in the Power of the Lord Tithes Oaths Temples who suffer now by a false Priesthood for his Tithes Oaths Temples which have got up since the Apostles days For as the Apostles and true Christians suffered for denying the Jewish Temple Priesthood Tithes and Oaths so ye do by the false and amongst the Apostatized Christians who are got up since the Apostles days So the Power and Life and Wisdom of the Lord God Almighty keep you and preserve you to finish your Testimony to the End that ye may witness every one of you a Crown of Life Eternal in which ye may sing Praises to the Lord and in that triumph And so be faithful in that which overcomes and gives Victory G. F. That Friends should have a Sense of one anothers Sufferings FRiends Epist 93. in the Power of the Lord God live which goes over the Heads of all the World that so in the Power ye may witness forth the Truth in their Courts and then if ye suffer ye by suffering will get Dominion over their Heads And lay down and offer up your Lives for one another Offer up your Lives for one anoher And here is the Love of and unto the Brethren manifest to lay down their Lives one for another But the Love of Christ is further he laid down his Life for his Enemies So dwell Low in the Life that ye may answer that of God in every one G. F. FRiends Epist 94. I do Warn and Exhort you all in the Presence of the Lord God Dwell in the Measure which God hath given you of himself in which is no Strife Dwell in Vnity but Unity Therefore every one of you dwell in it Boast not your selves And this I do Warn you of Boast not your selves above your Measures but dwell in the Truth it self that with the Measure of the Living Spirit of the Living God ye may be guided up to God in which Spirit ye will all have Vnity in the least Measure of it And so every one of you Judge Self for it would have the Mastery which is to be Condemned with the Light Self Judged and Mastery in which is Vnity So the Eternal God of Light and Life and Power be with you all and in you all And keep from all Strife and above it in Love and Vnity in every Place AND Friends the Going from the Life into the Changable is the Cause of Strife and Confusion G. F. GRow in the Increase of God My Dear Children and know all your Assurance in the Lord and the Seed in every one of you Epist 95. which the Promise of God is to And be Obedient to the Just and in the Truth of God wald and the Love of it And my Dear Hearts in the Seed dwell which gives the Victory over the World Victory over the World and that in the Wisdom ye may be preserved which bruises the contrary under foot whereby ye may reign in the Life of God to be as Nursers and Waterers of the Plants Nursers and Waterers and that all the Contrary may be kept under that in the Eternal Power of God ye may be kept which gives Dominion over all and condemneth the contrary In which Power the Lord God Almighty preserve you to his Glory Amen Live in the Life of God and feel it AND Friends take heed of being hurried with many Thoughts Many Thoughts but live in that which goes over them all G. F. A Warning to Friends to keep to the Light out of Deceit and Strife in Vnity FRiends Epist 96. I do warn and exhort you all in the Presence of the Lord God to Meet together in the Measure of Life that with
which God hath clled me to that I am and in the Elect before the World began This is to go every where abroad amongst Friends who are of the Royal Priesthood which destroys that which made a separation from God From the Royal Seed goes the Royal Commandment The Royal Priesthood which Seed remains for ever from the Royal Seed to the Royal Seed which are the Royal Priesthood which have the Royal Law and Love to Friends and Enemies which is beyond the Love of the World and before it was That is the Royal Love where no Enmity can come FORGIVE us as we forgive them cry Papists cry Episcopal cry Presbyterians and Baptists and Independents these cry and say the Lord's Prayer Forgive us our Debts and Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and then like a Company of senseless Men without Understanding fall a fighting one with another about their Trespasses and Debts and never mind what they prayed as though they never looked for Forgiveness and to receive the things they praycd for Forgive us as we forgive That pray Forgive us Lord as we forgive them and fall a persecuting and imprisoning one another and taking their Brethren and Fellow-servants by the Throat about Religion which in their Prayers they said Forgive us as we forgive them and will not forgive but say their Prayers as the Pharisees did the Scriptures and did not this is he that must be cast into Prison until he pay the utmost Farthing and must not come out And this hath been their Work since the Apostles Days and is not here Law The Apostles and Christ did not bid that any should kill about their Words but that they should love Enemies but ye will kill about their Words who were killed for speaking them forth And so all Friends dwell in the Seed of God which is Heir of the Power of the World which is without End in that dwell and keep your Meetings that ye may all be Possessors ALL Religions will fight about Religions and Worship and kill like the Heathen about their Gods Jews Gentiles Papists Protestants of all Sects which are out of the Power of the Lord and the Spirit that the Apostles were in And so they are all out of the Royal Spirit Fighting Religions that hath the Royal Spiritual Weapons and out of the Royal Seed which saith Love Enemies which is the Royal Command to the Royal Priesthood And they confess they have not the same Power and Spirit of the Apostles so then its true for them to say We are not the spiritual Men we have not spiritual Weapons to fight withal if ye do not help us Higher Powers we fall For we hold our Traditions and that which we have is by Tradition is by the Earthly Powers For we are not made Ministers as the Apostles were by the immediate Spirit and Power and Gifts as the Apostles were therefore the Higher Power must help us and to them go we with our Packet of Letters as Saul did for we are not spiritual-weaponed Men as Paul was For in all these things are the Priests guilty THE Papists Common-Prayer Men Presbyterian Independents Baptists persecute one another about their Inventions which they have invented their Mass their Common-Prayer their Directory Persecuting Religions Church-Faith which they have made and framed their Inventions and Handy-works and not for the Truth For they know not what Spirit they are of that persecute and would have Mens Lives destroyed about their Church Worship and Religion for Christ said He came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them Now they that know not what Spirit they are of that will persecute and destroy Mens Lives and not save them we cannot trust our Bodies Souls nor Spirts into their Hands that know not what Spirit they are of themselves they are not like to be trusted with others that would destroy by a Law which the Disciples would have done by Prayer to command Fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them that would not receive Christ Which Sort Christ rebuked and told them that they did not know what Spirit they were of And now if they did not know what Spirit they were of do these which have persecuted about Church and Religion since the Apostles Days who would compel Mens Bodies Goods Lives Souls and Estates into their Hands by a Law or else make them suffer These are not the Ministers of Christ the Saviour that destroy Mens Lives and they know not what Spirit they are of and the Lives Bodies and Souls are not to be trusted in their Hand And ye that do persecute shall have no Resurrection to Life except ye Repent But they that do know what Spirit they are of themselves they are in the unrebukable Zeal and by the Spirit of God they offer up their Spirits their Souls and Bodies to the Lord which are his whose they are to keep them G. F. WE are of the Royal Seed Elect and Precious Epist 172. before the World began that which ever the Sodomites crucified grieved and vexed by their unrighteous ungodly Conversation who lived in Fulness and Pleasures and abundance of Idleness And we are of that Seed that cannot serve the Wills and Lusts of Men and bow and stoop to them who are a People redeemed out of Kindreds Kingdoms Peoples and Nations who are of the Houshold of God built up together a spiritual House whose Builder and Maker is God and do reign upon the Earth as Kings and Priests unto God whom we serve Day and Night The Houshold of God And are of the Seed that hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which the Princes of the World and Councels and the Great and Wise of the Earth crucified who lived in the Form of Godliness of the Saints Words but quench'd the Spirit in themselves and being that Birth born of the Flesh persecuted that which is born of the Spirit We are of the Seed the Anointed which the Powers of the Earth combine and take Counsel together against whom God we see sitting in Heaven The Royal Priesthood laughs them to Scorn We are the Royal Priesthood who offers daily to the Lord the Spiritual Sacrifice the Holy Generation and the peculiar People zealous of good Works cloathed with the Zeal of Christ against the bad Works and the Workers thereof Therefore of all Nations Peoples Sects Ways Professions and Talkers of Religion are we hated by them that are out of the Way and Power of God though they profess Scriptures Church-Worship and Ministry yet such have crucified Christ and the Lord of Glory We are they that witness the Promise of God fulfilled and that do witness that the Age is come wherein God would shew forth his exceeding Riches and Kindness which was wrought amongst the Apostles The Anointed of God We are the Anointed of God and his Prophets that he saith Touch not who are as the Apple of
the Lord God with you And if the World's Works lie like a Wilderness care not for it and matter it not but do the Work of the Lord faithfully and ye will feel it prosper answering that of God in every one And so God Almighty preserve you in his Power G. F. FRiends Epist 183. Dwell in Patience and in the Power Life and Wisdom of God and in Peace and Love and Unity one with another And be subject in the Power and Life and Wisdom of God to God and to one another that in it ye may be as a pleasant Field to the Lord God As Libies and Flowers and as the Lillies and the Flowers and the Buds feeling the pleasant Showers and the Streams of Life from the Living God flowing upon you and coming into you whereby the Presence and Blessing of the Lord God Almighty amongst you all may be felt And in that the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you that to him ye may be a good Savour And live in Peace And the God of all Peace keep you that nothing may reign and rule amongst you but the Life and Power and Seed and Wisdom of God that in him ye may be preserved by which all things were made and created That ye may be all ordered to his Glory and be a good Savour in the Hearts of all People in which ye do refresh others and are refreshed So dwell in the Fear of the Lord which brings a Dread and Terror upon all his Enemies Esau's Mount that are in Esau's Mount but your Peace comes from the Mountain of God And let your Joy and Peace be in the Lord. G. F. OH my Dear Friends and Brethren every where The Power of the Lord God that is over all live in Epist 184. that in that ye may feel Vnity and Fellowship that in the Power of the Lord God ye may all come to be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life through which ye may inherit Eternity and so to feel Life Eternal abiding in you Now The Man-slayer and Persecutor the Man-slayer hath not Eternal Life abiding in him that is he that envies his Brother so all the Persecutors that envy their Brethren have not Eternal Life abiding in them Under this all the Persecutors about their Church and vain Religion false Worship Faith and Ministry are Therefore all of you feel this Eternal Life abiding in you for he that hath the Son of God hath Life Eternal and so in this Eternal Life ye have Fellowship with God and his Son and with one another and in this the Law of Life that is in Jesus Christ The Law of Life passeth Sentence on the Law of Sin and Death in every Man and Woman and brings it to the Execution Through which Law of Life Righteousness flows and runs down and also Justice and Truth and by this Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Mark in Christ Jesus ye come to know the Lamb's Throne and the Throne of Iniquity thrown down and all blasphemous Mouths stopped and the Chambers of Imagery thrown down and the Houshold of God raised up and the Fruit less Trees thrown down and the Plant of God raised up The Plant of God which is of his own Planting the Tree of Righteousness whose Fruit is unto Holiness whose End is Everlasting Life So mark here 's the Fruit of this Tree and the End of this Tree and by this Spirit ye do distinguish Names and Plantings and Pluckings up and God's Building ye will distinguish from Man's Building and Man's Plucking down and man's Gathering together Ye that are gathered together in the Name of Jesus can distinguish Mens Gathering and their Scattering Oh! The Knowledge of Truth Therefore be Valiant for the Truth which ye are come to the Knowledge of and worship God in that Truth which the Devils is our of and abode not in this makes you free from the Devil and his Works that are out of the Truth Here in this Worship in the Truth and in the Spirit the living God who is a Spirit the God of all Truth he hath his Glory and his Honour from his Spirit in every Heart And so keep in the Spirit and Truth and the Power of the Everlasting God who is from Everlasting to Everlasting that ye may know him Lord of the Earth and of the Heaven and of the Heaven of Heavens ruling and reigning whose Eye is over all his Works that ye may glorifie him in his Power and Spirit and serve him in the New Life which will keep you over all Mens Fables and Devices Fables and Devices Whimsies and Imaginations out of all Janglings and vain Dispates of Men of corrupt Minds And so all to live in that which is the same to day as was yesterday Christ Jesus the Power of God and the Seed of Life and Word that was in the Beginning so no new thing but that which was and is to all Eternity Let your Fellowship be in that and your Vnity and Communion be in that for by the Spiritual Eye the Eternal Vnity with the Eternal God is seen So The Voice of God soakes the Earth and the Heavens Hear his Voice every where that speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes the Earth and not the Earth only but Heaven also The Heaven signifies Joy so all the false Joys the lifted-up Joys or exalted Joy and Joy in vain Glory and Joy in the world or any outward thing or Creature or Men or Women his Voice that speaks from Heaven shakes the Earth and the Heavens and this must be shaken and removed both the Heaven and the Earth before that doth appear that can never be shaken the Noble Royal Seed Elect and Precious which was before the World began being Heirs of him come to inherit him in him ye shall know that which cannot be shaken and there is the true JOy the standing Joy in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting who is the Beginning and Ending here is not any lifted up nor cast down So I say Hear his Voice and hearden not your Hearts for through not hearing his Voice ye harden your Hearts then ye provoke God to Wrath and sore Displeasure Let him have your Ear that speaks from Heaven that ye may come to observe his Counsel Teachings Instructions and Directions For all the Prophets the holy Men of God and the Apostles were Attentive and Obedient to this heavenly Voice who witnessed to the Truth who had a Witness in Heaven also and such declared forth the glorious Truth which they had from the Instruction of the Almighty As ye may read throughout the Scriptures what glorious Expressions and weighty Truths they declared whose Ears were Attentive to him that spake from Heaven and how they declared against them that stopped their Ears and closed their Eyes and hardened their Hearts For such whose Ears are not Attentive to the heavenly Voice are Earthly so
and Praise be to his Name for ever And God accepts you in his Son the second Adam the Seed Christ Jesus who reigns But God is displeased with People as they be in Adam in the Fall as they are out of Christ And so in him be faithful who is your Crown let no Man take your Crown from you Yea I say be faithful to him who was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World who reigns and sits down at the right Hand of God till all his Enemies be made his Footstool he who was Glorified with the Father before the World began sit down in him the Amen and faithful Witness Let this go among Friends and dwell in Peace and Love forbearing one another and so fulfil the Law of Christ From Lancaster Castle the 1st Month 1664. G. F. Two General Epistles to be read in all the Congregations of the Righteous who are gathered out of the House of Adam in the fall into the House of Christ that never fell to be read amongst them ALL Friends every where Epist 232. who are gathered in the Name of Jesus Christ that never Fell nor Changed yea into him that never Fell being Gathered ye will see over all the Gatherings of Adam and Eve in the Fall from the Garden of God and the blessed State and from the Image of God and the Righteousness and the Holiness that he was in before he Fell wherein all is in the confusion in the Fall The Sons and Daughters of Adam are broken into the many Gatherings being in the Fall from Righteousness and Holiness and the Image of God and the blessed state that they were in before they Fell and so are from the Witness of God the Spirit and the Light in their own Particulars And so as Jacobs prophesie was on his Death-Bed to his Sons how that the gathering of all Nations should be unto Shilo unto Christ Jesus mark to Christ Jesus that never Fell who was with the Father before the World began in whom is the Light Life and Peace and Rest in this Gathering and so that Gathering is out of Adam in the Fall up into Christ that never Fell and in him is Safety and Peace and in this Gathering you have every one a River yea of Living Water in your own Bellies which River comes from the Fountain for all Nations are Blessed in him Christ Jesus that takes away the Curse that stood over all Nations and destroys the Devil the Author of it and spreads over the Blessing again and all are Blessed in him and therefore bless and curse not And all they that are saved walks in the Light of the Lamb and so comes to the holy City that comes down from God out of Heaven into which there is no unclean thing enters in which City there is no need of the Sun nor Moon the Lord God and the Lamb is the Light thereof Of this City which fences out all Bad and Unclean and Unrighteous and the Adulterer and Idolater and the Liar and the Power of the Lord God goes over all the Bad and they that come into this City are Seved as I said before and walks in the Light of the Lamb. And therefore Friends all know the Blessed Truth which the Devil is out of which Truth makes you Blessed through which you come every one to have a Crown and so to Feed upon the Tree of Life through which you come to Live for ever the Leaves of which Heals the Wounded Nations So you that have bought the Truth sell it not for Trifles neither give it nor leave it for that which the Tempter will tempt you unto is out of the Truth to outward things but consider all the Faithful all along how they Suffered and by whom and for what in all Ages since the Fall from the Foundation of the World since the Lamb hath been Slain not joyning to Men in any thing which the Sons of Adam have invented and set up the Sons of God nor the Faithful could not joyn to They followed the Lord his Counsel and his Word and Promises and went through the great Tribulations to the Rest as Pilgrims and Strangers to all the Sons of Adam's evil Ways Religions and Worships them that were in the Worship of God and in the way of God Christ Jesus that never Fell saw over them all And take heed of the rough Garments and rough Spirit of Esau's rough Nature but mind the plain Jacob that supplants rough Esau and mind the constant Truth and take heed of the unconstant and such as are given to changing which the Son gives not himself unto for he ends the changings the Son Christ doth that never changes and as every one hath received him so walk in him that never changes walk not in the Traditions of the Jews that changed nor the Gentiles nor the Apostate Christians but in him as I said before Christ Jesus that never changed and the Way that never Fell nor never changed nor never will change and then you will see over all the ways of the Priests the Shepherds the Prophets and the Teachers of Adam and Eve's Sons and Daughters in the Fall that do change and do fall and stumble and are turned by every Wind you being in Christ Jesus that never fell nor never changed in whom you have Life and Peace and Rest For to Preach Christ the Way the Prophet Priest and Shepherd that never fell and People to receive him they come out of all them that doth fall both Prophets and Shepherds and Priests ways and this is opposite to them all in which they took Counsel against them that Preached Christ the Word which was in the beginning before the Jews Ways and Traditions were or the Gentiles or the Apostate Christians and he will be when they are gone So to Preach Christ is not to Preach up the Jews Traditions nor the Gentiles nor the Apostate Christians nor to follow the Traditions of their Fore-fathers but to follow the Word neither receive them nor them that Preach them and to follow that which lives and indures and remains for ever And this is the Word that makes the Jews to Grieve and the Gentiles and the Apostate Christians to Preach the Word which was before their Traditions were and their Inventions and this is the Word which makes wise Men and wise Women and the Word is the Seed which Seed is sown in the Field and the Field is the World and there is Stony Thorny and High-way Ground and Good Ground and so this is Vniversal Doctrine the Vniversal Seed hits the Stony Thorny and High-way Ground and falls upon all only it is the Good Ground that brings forth Fifty Sixty or a Hundred Fold Increase and such as is the High-way Ground they are so full of the Fowles and of the Air that it takes it away and such as are sown among Thorns they are so full of the Cares of the World and the Deceitfulness of Riches
smell and there is a difference between the Carnal Mind and the Spiritual and the meetings of Adam in the Fall and them that be gathered into Christ the Resurrection and the Life and Power and Spirit And the Sun shines and the Light is clear and not dim that you may see your Way and Life though there is a Storm and Tempest in the Sea And so mind the Summer and singing of Birds and not the Winter and Night in which evil Beasts do yell And so blessed and happy are you that have the Oil in your Lamps and have risen at the Voice of the Bridegroom and have laid up in store against this Day that is come which now all the rich in Profession who thought they had something are come to Poverty your old Opposers And the Rock remaineth And therefore all and every one from the Highest to the Lowest let none take your Crown but be Faithful for the Lord's Ears are open to the Cries of his oppressed and afflicted Ones he heareth the Groans and Cries Day and Night of them And the Lord's Eye is open and he sees all the Actions of Men and Times and Seasons are in his Hands who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Strong and All-sufficient Omnipotent God Elshdy who destroyeth the Destroyer and ruineth him that would destroy and ruine all who by his Seed destroyeth him and his Works And so in the Seed sit down in whom ye have Life and Peace and he remaineth and changeth not who now reigneth and is over all and in him live that hath been slain-from the Foundation of the World and prisoned and pressed as a Cart with Sheaves and yet gave his Back and Cheeks to the Smiter and his Hairs to the Pluckers of them off And so in him the Second Adam you will not be weary nor faint nor think the time long of your Sufferings For all the Weariness and Faintings is in Adam in the Fall And so your Church being in God and your Worship in the Spirit and Power and Truth which the Devil is out of and your Fellowship in the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was keep your Fellowship in the Power of God and look above all outward Sufferings and dwell in that which is above all and will stand when all other is gone And so dwell in the Love of God and in the Vnity of the Spirit one with another And in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you all yea over all that which is contrary to his Power to his Glory for ever Amen G. F. ALL my Dear Friends in the Everlasting Power Epist 236. Life and Truth live for you cannot live without it in the Winds and Storms And though the Hills and the Mountains are burnt and the Trees are become fruitless and that Winter hath devoured the former Fruits and you do see that Persecution hath choaked them and the Heat hath scorched them whereby the untimely Figs are fallen and the Corn is withered on the House-top and the Night is come and the Evil Beasts go out of their Den But Truth lives and the Power of God is over them all and Christ ruleth and there is Bread of Lafe and Water of Life in him and in his House though the Caterpillers and Locusts are agreed to eat up all the Green But as you are in the Truth you are in its Day and they in the Darkness are in the Day of Darkness And all who are in the Truth rejoyce through Christ in the God of Truth and never heed Prisons for they are but for a time and mind him who hath all Times and Seasons in his Hand And never heed the raging Waves of the Sea nor be troubled at his Tongue that speaks nothing but Tribulation Anguish and Bondage nor be troubled at the Cords of the Ungodly for the Cords of Love the Power of God are stronger And what doth he that sits in Heaven but laugh them to scorn And so be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth for the Power is the Lords And so my Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed that never fell nor changeth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 237. The Lord is with you all every where who suffer for his Name and Truths sake in all your Bonds and Afflictions be of good Comfort for the Lord is with you neither be dismay'd at your Sufferings for if you suffer Christ suffereth and if you be persecuted it is Christ that is persecuted and if you be not visited it is Christ that is not visited and if you be opprest it is He that is opprest And He will lay no more upon you than you are able to bear And the Angel of his Presence suffered with the Outward Jew and Christ suffereth with the Inward Jew in the Spirit And so hath a fellow-feeling with you all in all your Bonds and Afflictions and Christ who suffereth will overcome all his Enemies He reigns and they must be his Footstool to stand upon And so be of good Faith and be Valiant for the Turth upon the Earth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren all every where Epist 238. Keep your Habitation and your First Love and do not go forth from your Rule of Faith and Life within in which you all have Vnity and Fellowship and the Lord will be your Comforter and Teacher And if you do not go forth from the Light Spirit and Truth within the Light you will feel to guide and lead you and instruct you And by it you may have Immortality put upon you And be not ashamed of Christ Jesus the Light and Life and Teacher nor of his Spirit to lead you For can they find no occasion against you but because you worship God in Spirit and obey Christ Jesus his Command And so as the old Cry was Away with such a Fellow from the Earth it is not fit for him to live so it is now But blessed are those that keep their Habitations clean and live in the Power of the Lord which was before the Curse was G. F. A General Epistle to all Friends ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 239. who are of the Royal Seed of God Patience obtains the Victory that runs the Race and obtains the Crown be married and joyned to the Seed Christ the Lamb slain form the Foundation of the World form its Foundation I say For as you are joyned to the Seed and married to that which hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which hath the Victory and doth overcome by this you come to the End of the World mark to its End And now all Friends look upon the Sufferings that have been since the Fall and since the World began And again look upon the Valiant Prisoners and such as stood with the Lord and for the Lord and followed and obeyed his Movings and Motions and Commands with the Victory they had how they
part through which wrong Liberty gets up which will bring a Plague into the Heart which is worse than an outward Plague O therefore consider the Life and the Power of God hath not the Supremacy in all your Hearts for I feel some Minds and some Bodies have let in that which hath defiled them and doth defile them O Cleanse cleanse cleanse and joyn to the pure Immortal Power for the Power of the Lord God will make room for it self either in cleansing or in vomiting or casting out them and that that doth not joyn to the Power of God Sodom that Whorish and Adulterous Spirit it must to the Fire and gainsaying Core into the Earth And it will throw down that which hath been lifted up The Beesom of the Lord is going forth to sweep the Candle of the Lord is lighted to search every corner of your Houses for the Just walks in the Path which is a shining Light which admits of no rubbish in it O come out of all these things which you have entertained in your Minds which you received not from them that came to minister unto you in the Beginning O dwell in the Power of the Lord God for to keep you low and take heed of getting up into Conceitedness and the Air and to set up that which pertains not to the Kingdom of God but to Strife which never the Apostles nor the Saints since in the Power of God set up for if you do the Power of God will sweep it and you all away And O you that come to be Vessels of Honour and Vessels of the Mercies of God have esteem of your Bodies for such as defile their Bodies are neither Vessels of Honour nor Vessels of the Mercies but of Wrath and are for the Wrath. Therefore keep out Strife keep out Fornication and the Adulterous Spirit keep out the Lusts of the Eye the Lusts of the Flesh and Pride of Life which is not of the Father that that which is of the Father may be received and have an entrance into every Vessel O be not lifted up with a vain Mind and let Balaam's Nature be slain that erreth from the Spirit and raiseth Stumbling-blocks and such as keep not their First Habitation in the Power of God and his Truth become Enemies to such as are Heirs of the Kingdom and the Power of an endless Life Therefore all Friends and People mind that which first convinced you that Power of God which first awakended you and arise and live in it that all your Eyes Minds and Hearts may be kept single and naked to God and to one another and uncloathed of all that which is contrary and is got up since For the Seed and the Life of Christ Jesus reigns and rules Glory to him for ever I have been uncapable to write or receive Writing along time or to speak or bear to be spoken to but have been as a Man buried alive for else I should have writ to you before now and therefore O Dear Friends give no occasion of stumbling keep tender for hardness of Heart is worse than an outward Plague for that brings Destruction many ways And so grieve not the Spirit in others nor in your selves And whatsoever is decent and comely follow honest and of a good report that makes for Peace and not for Strife under pretence of Love for that 's not of God For God who is Love is not the Author of Strife and Confusion but of Peace So I desire you to let Copies of this be sent into Virginia Maryland and New-England to be read amongst Friends in all their Meetings Things are pretty well here Friends being in Love and Unity and the Dread of the Lord God is amongst us who reigns and will reign G. F. An Epistle to be read in all the Assemblies of the Righteous ALL my Dear Friends every where Epist 245. live in the Noble Seed Christ Jesus the Saviour and the anointed One and the Righteous Holy One that your Minds Hearts Souls Spirits and Bodies may be Righteous living in the Righteousness of Christ Jesus in all Love Vertue Truth and Holiness without which none can see God For the Lord loveth the Righteous and the Righteous are in Peace and all Workers of Iniquity their Mouths shall be stopp'd The Throne of Iniquity must down and the Chamber of Imagery in every Heart for the Lord must have the Heart for it is to be his Offering and Sacrifice All Lips must be pure and Hands clean that confess the Lord Jesus Christ and all Tongues and Eyes single to God and one to another and all mind the Lord's Business in the Truth and be given up to him and in it serving the Lord God in newness of Life that all your Feet may be guided in the Way of Peace and to walk uprightly before the Lord in his Way which is Christ Jesus the Light which is Perfect This is the Way of the Just which is a shining Light and in this Way is the Living God well pleased with you And you that grow rich in the World in earthly things who have had a stirring in you formerly in the Service of God take heed lest your Minds run into your outward Businesses about outward things and therein be lifted up above the good and just Spirit and so leave the Service of the Lord and his Business in minding your own For outward Riches and the things of this World will pass away with the outward Riches therein for they have Wings but the Word of the Lord which lives and abides and endures for ever will remain Labour for the Riches of it for that will endure with you and seek the Kingdom of God which will never have an end that stands in Righteousness and in Holiness in which you have Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost then all outward things will follow which is below So that in Righteousness Holiness and Truth as just Men and holy Men and Men fearing God and as righteous Men Sons and Servants and Children of God you may all live in all Righteousness Holiness Pureness Truth Justice and Equity in all manner of Life and Conversation so that your Conversations may shine as Lights of the World knowing that all Unrighteousness Uncleanness Unholiness Unjustice Untruth and Impurity is not of God but is out of the Kingdom of God and likewise all Cheaters and Cozeners who do enrich themselves by Falshood and all Drunkards Adulterers Whoremongers Fornicators Murderers Idolaters and Lyars these Works and Workers are out of the Kingdom of God and his Power and they are of their Father the Devil who is out of the Truth And therefore in the Truth live which the Devil and his Works are out of and that Truth makes you free In which Truth and Spirit is God worshipped All that do violence cursed Speakers and Swearers are out of the Truth and the Command of Christ Jesus and therefore live you in the Love of God in
the Lord to deal with them For that which they get by spoiling you they will never be the richer for and when they have done spoiling the Lord can spoil them and theirs And all the Goods they take from Friends for serving God will torment them at last and be a greater Plague to them more than keeping on your Hats and saying Thou to them was And you have had Experience how the other Powers spoiled your Goods The Spoil of the Righteous not durable Riches to their Persecutors but were they either the richer or the fatter Nay the more thery did eat destroy and devour the more they look like Pharaoh's lean Cattel And did not the Christians of old suffer joyfully the spoiling of their Goods by Professors and Prophane So they that are born of the Flesh will persecute them that are born of the Spirit and they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution and blessed are they that do suffer Persecution for Christ and his Righteousness sake And so never fear the loss of the Fleece for God can make it grow again as he did poor Job's And it is the way of the Enemy and Adversary to set upon the young convinced to think by that means to make them to yield For have you not read it was the way how that the Enemies of Israel of old fell upon the weak and feeble of their Camp and the hindermost of the Flock but they had their Reward at the End And so wait upon the Lord and he will support you though he may try you a while as he doth all his Saints that the Trial of your Faith may come forth more pure than Gold And so never fear Man nor what they are permitted to do unto you but the Lord Though the hungry Lions may lack yet they that wait upon the Lord shall not want any good thing for his Promise is he will never leave them nor forsake them And so the Lord God Almighty give you Power and Courage to stand against all the Wiles of the Enemy and to be Valiant for his Truth upon the Earth And so with my Love in the Everlasting Seed Christ Jesus who is over him that makes to suffer and will be when he is gone Marshgrange the 6th of the 4th Month. 1676. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes MY Dear Friends in the heavenly Relation and Zion's Children Epist 333 amongst whom the Stone that the Builders rejected is elect and precious and in him Christ you are Elect Christ the Head of God's Church who is the Head of the Corner of God's Building And therefore in the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings in whom you all have Salvation and not by any other Name under Heaven and though the Lord may try you where your Minds are and in what by the outward Powers yet be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and if some of you be cast into Prison and your Goods be spoiled the Seed is upon the Head of him that maketh to suffer and will remain when he is gone And the Lord God who giveth the increase of all both Invisible and Visible can make the Fleece to grow again And therefore let your Faith be in the Power and Word of Life And the Authority of your Men and Womens Meetings is the Power of God and all the Heirs of the Gospel are Heirs of Christ the heavenly Man and of his Government the increase of which there is no end And so all walk in Christ So walk in Christ who bruiseth the Serpent's Head that hath gotten between you and God so as you all are in him then nothing can get between you and the Lord God and so in the glorious Order of the Gospel the Power of God dwell which is over the Devil and the World and before he and it was and the Power of God will be when he and it is gone This is the everlafting Gospel which bringeth Life and Immortality to Light and that you all may see over him that hath darkned you to him who was before he was and the Power of God will be when he is gone And therefore walk in the glorious blessed peaceable and comfortable Order of the everlasting Gospel for the Gospel the Power of God is the Gospel of Peace and the Truth is Peaceable The Devil the Destroyer and Adversary abode not in the Peaceable Truth and the Kingdom of God stands in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost and the Vnity of the Spirit is a Bond of Peace yea the Bond of the heavenly Man the Prince of Princes Peace that Bond must be kept by all Zion's Children the Heirs of Life And all seek the Peace and Good one of another To seek Peace and dwell is Love and dwell in the Love of God thet does edifie the Body of Christ and bears all things and endures all things and build up one another in the most holy Faith which you have from Christ the holy One for Holiness becomes the House of God And therefore all mind that which becomes his House and now is the time for every one to put on the Armour of God and to take his Weapons and Arms that you may stand by God's Ensign in the Truth against him that is out of Truth keeping on your Helmet of Salvation as a token of your Victory and your Breast-Plate of Righteousness which preserves both Mind Heart and Soul and your Loins girded with Truth Keep on the Armor of Righteousness that you may be Valiant for it and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel the Power of God that your Feet may stand fast over all slippery Places in the Power of God the Gospel that is sure and everlasting Here is your Armor and your Weapon is the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God the Word of Life and Salvation and Wisdom and Reconciliation that is as a Sword and a Hammer to cut down and hammer down that which hath made a separation betwixt you and God and is as Fire to burn it up And the Shield of Faith that is your Shield by which you have victory and access to God by which Faith all the Just lives and are saved and contend for it which is declared to the Saints by Christ who is the Author and Finisher of it And by this Faith you come to Christ the Author and as many as receive him walk in him that you may be always fresh and green in him who bruises the Head of the Serpent that hath made People lean and barren and hath made so many barren Mountains which Christ is gathering and calling his People from that they might walk in the Light of the Lord and come to the Mountain of the House of the Lord that is established above all the Mountains where God teaches all his the Way of Life Truth and Salvation And the Mountain of the House of the Lord is always green with fresh
Seed of God and feedeth upon the Milk of this everlasting Word which liveth and abideth and endureth for ever and was in the beginning by which Word you have Wisdom and Salvation by which Wisdom all God's Children are justified The Lord God in his Immortal Power preserve you out of all Evil and out of the Earth and over your Enemies within and without in his everlasting Seed Christ that is over all to his Glory for ever Amen G. F. To Friends at Dantzick DEar Friends Epist 336. in the Love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ look above all your outward Sufferings and him that is out of Truth that makes you to suffer and let nothing separate you from the Love of God which you have in Christ Jesus by whom all things were made Not to be moved from the true Foundation Christ Jesus I say let not the Birth of the Flesh with all his carnal Weapons Goals and Prisons Threats or Reproaches move you nor separate you from the Love of God nor from your Foundation the Rock of Ages Christ Jesus But feel the Well of Life springing up in you to nourish the Plant that God has planted in you of his Renown that that may grow up within his Hedge his Power which will keep out the Devil and all the Venomous Beasts from entring into God's Garden or Kingdom And therefore let your Faith stand in the Lord's Power which is your Hedge and Defence and which is your Keeper and will keep you safe that you need not be afraid of your Enemy your Adversary for the Lord's Power is over his Head and you within his Power then nothing can get betwixt you and God and in the Power of the Lord is the City set upon his Hill where the Light shines and the heavenly Salt is and the Lamps burning and Trumpets sounding forth the Praise of God of the Eternal Joy in his Eternal Word of Life that lives and abides and indures for ever And so to the Praise and Glory of God you may bring forth fresh and green Fruit being grafted into the green Tree that never withers Oh be valiant for God's Glory and his Truth upon the Earth To be valiant for the Truth and spread it abroad and spread it abroad answering that of God in every Man and Womans Conscience knowing him that hath brought Everlasting Peace into the Earth So that the Songs of Salvation may be in your Mouths for it is said With the Heart Man believes and with the Mouth Confession is made to Salvation So every true Believer will confess to Christ his Salvation their Way Light and Life out of Death and Darkness their Prophet to open to them their Shepherd to feed them and their Bishop to oversee them their Captain and Commander to command and to lead them their Counsellor for to counsel them and their Priest who hath offered himself for them and also sanctifies them and offers them up to God To whom be all Praise and Golory for ever Amen I writ something to the Magistrates which is in Print in England which if you have it not to give them you may send into Holland and let it be translated into your Language and given to them and spread it up and down in your Country And as for Truth in this Part of the World and in America Truth prospers it prospers and spreads and goes on and by it many Men and Women are made God's Free Men and Women being redeemed from him that is out of Truth that they may serve God in the New Life in Christ Jesus out of the Old Life in Adam in the Fall and so come to live in the heavenly Vnity Wisdom Love and Dominion So in that Love that bears all things and keeps your Hearts Minds and Souls up to God which comes from God through which you come to love God and Christ and one another in that live and dwell Swarthmore the 17th of the 3d Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in Holland DEar Friends To whom is my Love in the Seed of Life Epist 337. that bruises the Head of the Seed of Death and through him you have all Life Eternal who is the Foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles and all God's People in all Ages their Rock to build upon that will stand the Waves of the Sea and all Storms and foul Weather who is the Horn of your Salvation to push down all that stands in your way to God and to push down him that has led Man and Woman from God So that you may all sing of your Rock and the Horn of your Salvation as the Holy Ones did in Ages past and Christ who is your Foundation the Lamb of God who hath been slain from the Foundation of the World Christ overcame the World and is ascended far above all things but now he has overcome the World and is risen and ascended far above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions and is razing down to the Ground the World's Foundation from which Foundation he has been slain and is setting up himself the Living and Everlasting Foundation for all his to build upon and therefore because the World and its Foundation Christ is razing down they are are offended and angry and the Heathen Rage and take Counsel against the anointed but it 's to no purpose for he will shake the Foundation of all false Religions Ways Worships Churches and Teachers and will make the Pillars of them to totter and they must be at their wits end before they see another Foundation for God shook down the Four Monarchies the great Empires of the World and scattered them abroad with his Wind as the Chaff of the Summer Floor all those great Persecutors and the little Stone that 's cut out of the Mountain without Hands The Stone out of the Mountain without Hands c. that no earthly Man has the glory of is becoming a great Mountain and will fill the whole Earth Glory to God for ever and it will dash down all Mens Glory and Pride let them soar as high as Nebuchadnezzar and shelter as many under them as he did in their Sects that he may make them to know that the most High rules in the Kingdom of Men and that his Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom And therefore all Friends that know the Light which is the Life in Christ be faithful in the Truth and spread it abroad answering the Light of Christ in every one for Christ bid his Disciples go preach the Gospel unto all Nations And since that was done are many gathered into the Fellowship and Order of it but since the World has worshipped the Beast and given their Glory and Honour to him instead of God and Christ which Beast is out of Truth and had his Power from the Dragon and the Whore which all Nations has drunk of her Cup and she has rid upon the Beast and now the Everlasting Gospel must