A General EPISTLE TO FRIENDS EVERY WHERE Who have Received Believe and know the Truth of GOD as it is in JESUS Jesus answered Are there not Twelve Hours in the Day If a man walk in the Day he stumbleth not because he seeth the Light of this World. But if a man walk in the Night he stumbleth c. John 11. 9 10. Dear Friends and Brethren WHo are made partakers with us of Salvation and Life and Peace with God through Jesus Christ in perilous Times and have been made willing to take part with the Saints through believing in him and have suffered for His Names sake and in patience possessed your Souls as a People filled and furnished with power from on High to do the will of God and finish that work he hath given you to do in your day and Generation my dear love in the heavenly sence of that Salvation Life and Peace which we have received from God through Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace dearly salutes you all every where who patiently have given your backs to the Smiter and in the will of God have suffered Joyfully for well-doing and have not sainted nor been weary neither 〈◊〉 removed nor been shaken in mind when long furrows were plowed upon your backs but in Patience and Long-suffering endured and came through great tribulations for Righteousness sake the goodness of God in helping saving and delivering of us in the time of need is evermore to be minded and never to be forgotten but greatly prized by us all who have been and are preserved living Witnesses of the same to our abundant joy and comfort when things looked most black and dismal without O what Rest refreshment and consolation have a Remnant felt and experienced when others were amazed tormented and surprized with sudden fears to behold their expectations frustrated and their hopes perish your hope was in the Lord and your confidence in him that never fails them that hope in his mercy and put their trust in him And the Lord hath kept you in this Day of Tryal and Hour of Temptation as a quiet Habitation and as a Tabernacle that shall not be destroyed nor one stake thereof removed for all the shaking of the Mountains and the Earth and Heavens that have been and will be more and more to make way for that which cannot be shaken or removed but shall stand for ever and how doth all things work together for good to them that dwell in the love of God and Christ Jesus above all in this day of shaking of all false Foundations and all who have built thereupon How are the shaken in mind they have stumbled and faln and seem to have none to help them up their minds being from the only Helper Christ Jesus the tried Stone Elect and precious who is laid in Sion for a Foundation on which the Church of God is built and which the gates of Hell shall never prevail against and this Foundation of God it stands sure and all who are thereupon kept and preserved they are as Mount Sion that cannot be removed by all the shakings of the winds that arise Floods that come or the Rains that fall because they are built upon this Rock Christ Jesus which is immovable who hath been and is our Rock and Resuge to this day Glory to the Lord God for ever who hath gathered a Remnant to himself out of the World and the wickedness of it and hath brought out from the barren Mountains to the Mountain of his House even the Mountain of Holiness where his hand appears and is seen to work and bring mighty things to pass for and in the behalf of his chosen Heritage whom the Lord greatly delights in and taketh pleasure in doing good unto Now this Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established on the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills how high and strong soever they may appear that are as Mountains lifted up or arise against the Mountain of the Lords House or is of another nature and contrary thereunto they must all be brought down and laid wast in man and woman before the Mountain of the Lord can be established in them and exalted above the Hills which Christ Jesus said must be laid low before the Lord alone be exalted And Daniel saw a little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands that should fill the whole Earth here was no Crafts-man or cunning Artists hands at work in cutting out this little Stone cut out of the Mountain it was without hands no wit or power of man could do it but only through the Wisdom of God and his invisible power for with God all things are possible he can make a little Stone cut out of the Mountain fill the whole Earth he can make a little one become a strong Nation Now Dear Friends feel the Mountain of the Lord's House established on the the top of that which is of the House of Esau which must be as stubble and feel the House of Saul faln and the Tabernacle of David that was faln down raised up in you and that every breach thereof may be healed that the enemy hath made at any time to the weakning or the throwing of it down and when any falls into sin or commits iniquity that makes a breach upon the Tabernacle of David weakens the good in them so then the bad House of Saul grows stronger and wickedness increaseth in such to a great height O how many Mountains and Hills within and without hath the Lord our God already brought down and laid wast that he might set his King upon his Holy Hill of Sion and declare his decree that shall stand notwithstanding what man or men may decree contrary God will accomplish the thoughts of his heart and will bring to pass his Act his strange Act what he hath promised and purposeth to do in and for his undefiled Remnant he will effect it it shall come to pass not a Jot or little shall fail till all be fulfilled So dear Friends feel Christ Jesus Who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords set upon his Holy Hill of Sion who shall Reign for ever and ever and sit upon the Throne of Majesty on High I say in the Name of the Lord God witness his Reign and him to sway the Scepter of Righteousness in you till every thing that is contrary to him or that would exalt it self against his Government be brought into obedience and subjection thereunto that nothing may Rule or Reign but his blessed Life and Power in and over all for evermore and that he may be glorified in you all who is worthy of Glory Honour and Dominion feel and witness him come with power and great glory and taking to himself his great power whereby you will all know every Valley exalted and every Mountain and Hill laid low that would lift up it self to oppose or hinder the work of the Lord or would not the Lord
should Reign and all keep sensible of that day wherein the Lord alone shall be exalted and when all flesh shall tremble before him who layeth low the loftiness of man. What is any Mountain or all Nations before him when he cometh in Triumph Skipping over the Mountains and leaping over the Hills of opposition within and without when he makes his power known how doth he shake the Earth and cause the keepers of the House to tremble and how will he punish that Leviathan the crooked Serpent whose way is in the Sea that long hath deceived the Nations and caused People to wonder after the Beast and to say Who is like unto the Beast or Who can make War with him and maketh many for an hour to give their power to the Beast that is to be slain and with him the false Prophet and given to the burning Flame in the day of the Lord that burns as an Oven and all that are proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble the day cometh that shall burn them up and neither leave of them Root or Branch All Dear Friends keep in the fear of the Lord and think upon his Name But fear not man whose Breath is in his Nostrils neither fear what man can do Professor or Profane if they set themselves in a prejudiced mind and Spirit against you Speaking all manner of evil against you for the Name of Christ which you know and believe in fear you not their fears neither be any of you afraid of their Revilings Whom the Moth shall eat like a Canker and the Wind shall drive away as stubble How hath the hearts of many failed them for fear And what great fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites of this Revolting and Backsliding Age that have not been able to dwell with devouring Fire or stand when the Lord appear Who sits as a Resiner with Fire to purge away the dross and take away all the Tin and who cometh with his Fan in his hand thoroughly to purge his Flowre and gather his Wheat into his Garner where he will keep and preserve it safe and secure it from that that would eat it up and destroy it where ever that appears you who are of God if never so little you are the Lords gathered Wheat into his Garner and who are not gathered to God nor born of God they are the Chaff they are the Children of the wicked One and will do wickedly being void of a Divine or heavenly understanding how wise soever they may be to do evil and they are in the sight of the Lord but a heap of confusion and corruption although their Mountain seem to be never so great and high the Lord can and will lay it low and make it a Plain when he pleaseth and by what way and method he pleaseth So feel the Mountain of the Lord's House established on the top of the Mountain the Mountain of Holiness and the Holy Hill of Sion feel over all unholy Mountains of sin and corruption and God's Holy Hill over all the unholy Hills that are got up in the fall That dear Friends you all may live move and keep your Habitation in Christ Jesus that Noble Vine into which you were grafted that never fell but liveth and abideth for ever who is your Rock and Foundation your Buckler Shield and mighty Defence when the Winds blow Rains fall and the Floods of the Ungodly come forth as if they would overflow the Banks you know who hath power over the Winds the Rain and the raging Sea stedfastly believe in him Christ Jesus and let your hearts be fixed trusting in the Lord 's great power however it be in the World as to Troubles Amazements and Fears In Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace feel a constant Peace that his Peace may remain with you and he may guide you continually and then your Rest also will be glorious in him and patience will possess your Souls in the greatest Tribulation that can come and you will have Joy and Consolation when the Faces of many shall gather paleness and fear and astonishment shall seize and take hold upon others because of the fearsul Judgment that will come upon them due to them for their wickedness and great abominations My Dear Friends THerefore be all diligent to make your Calling and Election so sure and certain that you constantly may have the fresh renewings of the Spirit of God and that to bear you witness that you are of the few or small number who are saved that enter the strait Gate and walketh in the narrow way that leadeth unto Life Eternal which but few find and such as never yet found it how should they walk in it and you that have found it keep low walking in it and let none of your hearts by any means be lifted up by any thing you do for the truth or with any thing that you enjoy from God Who is the giver of every good and perfect Gift whether Temporal or Spiritual but still keep your hearts and minds unto God and in perfect love unto him above all in the pure enjoyment of all the mercies which you have received from him let not the things of this world have place in your hearts again who have been gathered to God out of the World for whosoever let their minds and affections after that which is earthly such cannot well affect heavenly things therefore all have great need even as much as ever to keep your hearts with all diligence that the enemy of the Soul and destroyer enter not again where he once was cast out by Christ Jesus O watch and pray that you enter not into temptation when you are tempted to evil in the hour of temptation watch in the word of God's patience be sure that you keep that hid in your hearts and take heed to it and you will witness it a Light to your Feet to lead and keep you all from the Temptations of Satan to Sin and Evil which you may expect to meet with now altho it be a time of ease as from outward Sufferings for that may expose you more to the assaults of Satan inwardly that now by his Agents he cannot imprison your Bodies fine you nor spoil your Goods for meeting together to worship God he will beset you and assault you now another way to wit within there to work if a diligent constant watch be not kept in the fear of the Lord such will be in danger to be ensnared you know many of you that the enemy hath many snares and when he cannot catch in one he will lay another more privily to catch the innocent in to ensnare such as be of an upright Conversation Therefore let not any of you that by the Lord 's Holy Spirit and Power have known your Souls to be quickened suffer death to enter or prevail again so to cause the second death to have power over you or to be twice dead and pluck'd up by the
roots how can any good Fruit be expected from such Trees but an utter withering But my dear Friends in this time of freedom and outward liberty feel the just and holy One at liberty and to have freedom in all your hearts that there the just may not suffer by the unjust for that vexeth and grieveth the Holy Spirit when any go into that which is evil and commit iniquity in the sight of the Lord that quencheth the Spirit of God 't is all out of the Truth and judged by it and still all is to keep down to that which judgeth down the evil in its first motion in the heart or appearance there then it will not get place to have dominion but you will all in the Name and Power of the Lord have dominion over and Reign over that which is evil which formerly Ruled in your mortal Bodies to the dishonour of God. And Friends Let all beware of Covetousness which is Idolatry Let not any of you covet an evil Coveteousness to your House or to set your Nests on High and keep out of all defrauding cunning over reaching of one another or any which you are concern'd in Trade or otherwise with Oppress not the Poor wrong no man but give unto all that which is their due without grudging Avoid dishonest Gain or making crasty advantages of any person to make your Families Great or Rich in the World. Neither let your hearts be lifted up when you obtain the World in abundance consider you are but as Stewards of it for a little time and must give an Account to the creator of all things how you use it or what good or hurt you have done with it or by it daily take a view of the uncertainty of all visible things and why somtime they are given to the owners thereof to their hurt for it s not that in themselves they are hurtful but because many times they are ill used or abused but at the best not to be trusted in therefore 't is better to be Rich in saith and rich in good Works whilst we abide here in this earthly Tabernacle for every good Tree brings forth good Fruit although the evil Tree bring forth the corrupt evil Fruit therefore all that profess Repentance towards God and Faith in Christ Jesus ought to bring forth good Fruit even Fruit meet for Repentance whereby our heavenly Father may be Glorified and we may be Recorded in the Book of Life as those that are preserved good and faithful Servants to God in our Generation that have pass'd the time of our Sojourning here in the fear of God and finished our course with Joy unto whom an everlasting Crown and Kingdom is prepared and will be given to possess and inherit unto all Eternity O what will a profession of God and knowledg of his Will avail any that are not faithful to God in what he hath shewed them to be his Will Will it not tend to their greater Condemnation Will it not add to their wo and misery in the day of Judgment or when Christ shall enter into Judgment with them and not only Judge Peoples words and works but as Paul said He shall Judge the secrets of all mens Hearts He searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins 'T will be in vain to seek to hide or cover any sin and evil from him that will search and find out all the hidden works of darkness and dishonesty which any would hide or cover from the Lord who seeth all and will assuredly reward every man according to his works such as every one soweth such must they Reap He that soweth to the Flesh of the Flesh shall Reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit of the Spirit shall reap Life Everlasting it is certainly a fearful and dangerous thing to fall into the hands of the living God for disobedience to his Will and holding the Truth in Vnrighteousness for to know God and not to glorifie him as God nor to walk in obedience and thankfulness to him for his benefits this displeaseth the Lord and indeed this is the cause why some convinced among us and know the Truth become vain in their Imaginations whose foolish hearts is darkned and are not obedient to what was manifest in them neither are they Righteous nor walk as becomes the precious Truth of God but through Disobedience and Unrighteousness dishonour God and his Truth which they profess causing the Holy and Righteous way of God to be evil spoken of also causing some to stumble and take offence at the way of God by their unfaithfulness and disorderly walking for whosoever looks out at them were not like to be drawn nearer to Truth but rather driven further from it by the evil Conversation of them that obey not the Truth but do that which is contrary And dear Friends you that have Families of Children or Servants and are set of God over them walk wisely towards them instructing them to fear the Lord to hate evil and love that which is good Teach your Children and Servants the way of God wherein you have found peace and safety that they may come to enjoy the same that you and your Families may serve the Lord and walk together in his way in which is no evil not any thing that can corrupt any Family People or Nation In this way of the Lord his Blessing is felt and experienced to the great satisfaction of all the undefiled in the way Let not any Corruption or Sin have liberty and go unreproved in your Families by a foolish pitty or indulgence towards your Children or negligence of them and your Servants Eternal Good and Happiness but keep a watchful eye and care over all in vour Families that none get up into Pride or run out into Evil and corrupt Words neither any evil way fashion or work which may displease the Lord wound their own Souls and be your grief and sorrow for it will be so if any in your Families especially under a profession of the Truth do that which is evil And you that are Parents or Masters of Families and have not endeavoured to restrain them how will you then be clear of them if they perish in their Iniquity Therefore I beseech you who are Governours of Families Professing the Truth fail not to discharge your duty to all in your Families unto whom you may be instruments of good be of a ready mind to warn and correct them in the love of God when they speak or do evil then there is need for it whether they will hear or forbear do what you can in the Light and Spirit of God to reclaim them from the evil of their waies and doings that they together with you may say and do that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord our God who knoweth but as you are found faithful in this needful work of Teaching your Families the way of the Lord but that you may save many Souls from Death in