over all the contrary in the Male and in the Female having a Light from him that gives the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus Which Light shines in your Hearts and there shall every one feel their Treasure in the Earthen Vessel and the Power which is of God Now whosoever goes from the Light which they are enlightned withal they go into the Darkness and they go into the Wonders and run out gazing Lo here Lo there is Christ and saying Lo he is here Lo he is there I am come a Light into the World saith Christ which every one that cometh into the World is lightned withal which Light is the Covenant and every one who are in the Light are in the Covenant with God And so Friends every where keep your Meetings this is the Word of the Lord God to you and do not heed the Lo-here's or Lo-there's neither be troubled but heed every one the Life of God and do not gad abroad from the Truth within that ye may be kept out of all high-swelling Storms Bustlings and Tempests and with it ye may be kept over the World to him and in him that is not of the World And take heed of denying the Truth whosoever do they go from the Light within them and so go into the Darkness and into the Wonders The Wonderer And who go from the Light within go from the Emanuel from the Saviour within Christ Jesus and from the Truth in the inward parts and from the Wediator between you and God and from the Vine and so ye bear not Fruit to the Glory of God And going from the Light within ye go from your Peace and from the Covenant of God and going from the Light within ye go from the Life where every one receives the Light of Life And who go from the Light within go from the Increase of God who go from the Light within go from the Anointing within them and so continue not in the Son nor in the Father All who go from the Light within go out of the Covenant of Eternal Life But every one walking in the Light within which he hath received he shall there receive the Bread of Life Christ whom the Light comes from And so having your Food within ye shall not go forth to gather it but he that is in the Light and believes in it comes to know the Garner where-into the Wheat is gathered The Bread of Life and the Chaff that is to be burned with unquenchable Fire and the Floor throughly purged and the Immortal Crown is known Therefore all Friends keep in the Power and know the Power of God in one another and the Life that stands in God that out of all Dryness and Barrenness ye may be brought and kept in the Living and Eternal Spirit and Power And so the God of Glory keep you from the Evil that is in the World in Glory and in Vnity every one in your Measures Now the Power of God will never be shaken that which is to be shaken or tossed is out of the Power and the Power remains Therefore dwell in the Power which throws down all that which may be shaken or tossed and raiseth up that which can never be thrown down nor shaken And to you this is the Word of the Lord God And dwell in that and keep in that which keeps you out of and above the Knowledge of that which entreth into the Sensual Part for both these will fail Therefore in the Power and in the Life of God dwell which comprehends the World and reacheth and fathometh over it all in that dwell and live there will be your Peace it will keep you out of the Strife and Combustions and Heaps For this all comes to be fathomed Strife and Combustions chained and kept down by the Eternal Power and bound and bundled up for the Fire and judged down and all that which brancheth forth from it that nothing may reign but Life it self and all the Contrary the Filth amd Dross with the unquenchable Fire is to be consumed and burned Wait all this to know here is the Path of Righteousness and Purity and nothing shall stand but the Mountain of the Lord Glory to the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness which is felt and seen And all being kept in the Light and walking in that which ye are enlightned withal ye cannot be in the Strife for the Enmity is out of the Light and the vain Boaster which comes to nothing but is judged and condemned And when that ye are Met together in the Light hearken to it that ye may feel the Power of God in every one of you So here comes your Ear to be opened to hear the Counsel of the Lord God and here the Eye comes to be opened to see the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of you ye all sitting under you Vines So every particular wait on him who received not Honour of Man neither glorified himself but the Light which enlightneth every one Man's Honour that cometh into the World is a Witnesse against all them that seek their own Glory or glorifie themselves or bear witness of themselves Now they who receive Honour from Man are from the Light both he that gives and he that takes it and it is to be stained and the Light stains it and condemns it So every particular of you to you this is the Word of the Lord God Know the Son of God to be revealed in you And know the Seed which is Christ to which the Promise of God is that ye may all witness the Seed of the Woman to bruise the Serpent's Head in every one of you The Serpent's Head That ye may all witness ye are come to him that was in the Beginning and to the Seed of the Woman which bruiseth the Serpent's Head in every one of you in your own particulars Then ye all will come to feed on the Bread of Life that comes from above And such are Redeemed out of the Transgression who are here that witness this But where the Seed of the Woman hath not bruised the Serpent's Head and that which abides not in the Truth reigns there is the Transgressour So that which is out of the Truth reigning the Serpent being Head The Seed of the Serpent and his Food he sows his Seed his Seed goes forth from him and his Food his Meat is Dust for he could not feed upon Life that abode not in the Truth which is the Life He that abides not in the Truth which is the Life his Food is Dust and he it is that is tormented And who are out of the Truth are out of the Worship of God for who are the Worshippers of the Father they must be in the Truth and in the Spirit And being in the Spirit and in the Truth they are in that the Devil abode not in but is out of and all
through which Christ gives you Rain having purchased the Field wherein the Pearl lies and now is the Spring time that the Lilly and the Rose begins to flourish and the Power of the Lord God who is over all And keep your Testimony for your Religion that you have received from God and for your Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth that Christ Jesus hath set up and for your Gospel-Fellowship which is in the Power of God before the Devil was And see that all live in Peace and in the Love of God for Love edifieth the Body for he who is the Head of it is the beloved of God who is from Everlasting to Everlasting And see that every ones Affections be set on things above To set our Affections upon things above and not upon things below that be Earthly for now is the time to contend for the Faith that gives Victory which was once delivered to the Saints in which you have Vnity And so the God of Power preserve you all and keep you in his blessed Seed to wit Christ Jesus that none of you may be without a Minister without a Priest or without a Prophet or without a Shepherd or without a Bishop but let every one receive him in his Offices Then you all have One who will exercise his Offices in you all whom God hath given for a Leader and a Covenant yea an Everlasting Leader who was the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and is to us this Day And so be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth in the Seed Christ Jesus that through him who Destroys Death you may have a Crown of Life and through him you may be one another's Crown and Joy in the Lord yea I say through Christ who was glorified with the Father before the World began I am just now upon leaving this Island where I have had very great and blessed Service though I underwent very great Weights and Burthens and Sufferings and Travels But all is well and the blessed Seed and Power is over all to whom be Glory for evermore Amen Amen G. F. DEar Friends This is the Counsel of the Lord to you all who are brought into the Eternal Truth of God Epist 285. whose Minds are guided out of the Earth up to God and have received their Wisdom from God which Wisdom order all the Creatures To receive Wisdom from God that with it you may come to know how to order in the Creation with the Wisdom by which all was made This I charge you and warn you all in the Presence of the Living God That you suffer no Creature to perish for want of the Creatures and that none be lost through Sloathfulness Laziness and Filthiness and let not these things be which are for Condemnation with the Light that leads to the Wisdom To Order the Creation with which the Creation must be ordered And Friends let there be no Sloathfulness among you but all keep in Diligence and Liveliness For he that is Sloathful he is an evil Example and such must be judged with the Light that they may come to know the Servants Place and be Diligent And such as have gone up and down begging which you have received in amongst you with the Light which hath convinced them And to Inccurage Industry see that they be kept in Diligence and not wander but be kept in Obedience to the Light to receive their Wisdom from God how to Labour in the Creation and see that they have things decent and necessary and that their Nakedness may be covered that no Reproach nor Shame may come upon the Truth from such as are without but that with the Light all such may be denied who act contrary to it and in the Light which condemns the evil World ye may walk and receive the Light of the Son of God which the World stumbles at which is their Condemnation and in which the Saints have Vnity And all being kept diligent walking in the Light there will be no Sloathfulness For that is judged with the Light And Condemn that which is Evil. which is one with that in his Conscience which condemns him for Evil. This to go among Friends every where G. F. FRiends When you are met together Epist 286. in the Name of Jesus your Saviour let your Minds be over all to him and out of all things that changeth and perisheth and dieth of it self and will corrupt Our Mind to be over all things which perisheth and is visible up to him that is invisible the Lord God and his Son Jesus Christ that you may see him and feel him among you and in your Meetings in his Life and Light and Power and Spirit and that you may know that God is and that he is the Rewarder of all them that diligently seek him and to know that God is present And that which giveth the knowledge of him is the Light that shineth in the Heart in the Face of Jesus Christ and so see him in all your Troubles and Afflictions and that God is present God is present beholding our most secret Thoughts beholding all your Actions done in your Bodies and your Consenting to your Evil Thoughts Lusts or Motions the Thoughts what you will speak or act or Motions which you have not acted outwardly but if you do consent to do them in your Mind or Heart the Lord seeth them there to be done though they be not done outwardly to the sight of Men and so to God you must give an account of things done in your Bodies and of things done out of the Body for God both heareth and seeth what is done in the Body and what is said and done without the Body and therefore turn from the Evil that leadeth to destruction and judge it and your selves for cleaving to it and turn to the Lord and know him who is mighty to save and to reward all them that diligently seek him who is Almighty in his Power to save and deliver and to help in time of need So know him that was from Everlasting to Everlasting And here thou knowest God in his Power Light Kingdom of God stands in Righteousness and Life and Righteousness which his Kingdom stands in in that Righteousness and Power and Holy Ghost and Peace that never will have an End and is over all Kingdoms that will have an End and are unclean and any unclean and imperfect thing may enter into them and in them is Troubles Tumults and Sin and not Peace but Sorrow But into the Kingdom of God no imperfect thing entereth nor Sin nor any unclean thing For the Kingdom of God standeth in Righteousneass and Everlasting Peace and in Joy in the Holy Ghost G. F. FRiends Epist 287. Consider you that have known the Mercies of the Lord God To remember the Mercies of the Lord. and of Jesus Christ Look back and see how them that had known much of
his Epistles And therefore how Careful were the true Apostles of the Saints in their Watching over them For John said If ye walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another And that ye also may have Fellowship with us for truly our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ And these things write we unto you that your Joy may be full For many may talk of the Light and preach the Light Those that walk in the Light are accepted but to walk in the Light that is it which grafts into Christ Jesus and brings to live in him which talking of him doth not And as the Apostle said As every one hath received Christ Jesus so walk in him And the Sayers of the Word and not the Doers deceived their own Souls So there may be many Sayers of the Word deceivers of their own Souls and others and Preachers of Christ Jesus But the Doers of the Word and the Walkers in Christ Jesus are they that are accepted of the Lord. And again as the Apostle saith The Word of Faith was nigh them in their Hearts and Mouths to obey it and do it and that was the Word of Faith which they preached And the Light shined in their Hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus And the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things that is true and is no Lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And these things I have written unto you saith the Apostle concerning them that seduce you So here may all the inward Christians in the Grace Light Truth Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus see what the Apostles exhorted the Saints unto that they might be preserved in their Day and so by the sme now from them that deceived their own Souls and othes And so by this Light The Anointing the Saiats Guide this Word the Anointing Grace Truth power and Spirit of Jesus Christ in the Heart Mind and Soul must all the Saints be guided now by which they may come to be inward Christians and have a Habitation in Christ Jesus and so built upon Him the Living Rock and Roundation as the Saints were in the Apostles Days and so to have Salt in your selves and the Leaven in your own Meal and the Pearl in your own Field and yuor Lamps lighted in your own Tabernacles and nourished with the heavenly Oil. So that you may put a Difference betwixt the Clean and the Unclean and what you are to touch and whaat you are not And that no Man or Woman may look below Heaven for their Bread tonourish their Souls and inward Man and below God and Christ for their Springs which by continuing in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Word by which all things were made and created they shall have a Spring from him the Fountain springing up in them to Eternal Life so they shall have both the upper and nether Springs to nourish the Plant that God hath planted And such as came out of Egypt with Moses and after rebelled against the Lord and Moses and the Law and the Prophets were a greater Grief to Moses and the Prophets than the Heathen And likewise Apostates both under the Law and the Gospel the greatest Exercises to the Servants of God those that came to be Christians called and had got the Form of Godliness came to be a greater Grief to the Apostles than the World for their Work was to seek to destroy that which the Apostle had begotten and them that they had turned to Christ And therefore well might the Apostle exhort the Saints to turn away from such that had the Form of Godliness and denied the Power and therefore he told the Saints The Kingdom of Heaven stands not in Words but in Power and therefore they were to know one another in the Spirit and Power and that is the Internal Knowledge And their Fellowship was to be in the Holy Ghost and their Unity in the Spirit which was the Bond of Peace and their Fellowship was to be inthe Gospel which was the Power of God So an Everlasting Fellowship in the Everlasting Power of God that will out-last the Power of Darkness for it was before it was And also their Vnity was to be in the precious Divine Faith which Christ was the Author and Finisher of the Mystery of which was held in a pure Conscience and their Worship was in the Spirit of God and in Truth So you may see what a Heavenly Unity and Fellowship and a Worship Christ and the Apostles set up And the Saints in the Light Grace Truth Spirit and the Power of God the Gospel lived in it and walked in it So with the Light Grace Truth Power Spirit and Word of Life in the Heart all hold Christ the Head who is the Head of all thigs by whom all things were made who is the Treasure of the heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge who is called the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven And therefore all are to have their Knowledge and their Wisdom from him the Treasure by the Light Grace Truth Power and Spivit that comes from him it leads you to him your Treasure of heavenly Wisdom and Knowledge by which Knowledge you know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal to know And now my Dear Friends concerning True Liberty THE True liberty is in the Gospel the Power of God which the Devil and his Instruments with his false Liberty cannot get into And in this Gospel is the Saints Fellowship which the Devil with all his false Fellowships cannot get into nor find it True Liberty in the Faith of Christ for it is a Mystery Likewise true Liberty is in the Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of which gives Victory over that which separated Man and Woman from God and by which they have access to God again And in this holy pure divine precious Faith that is held in the pure Conscience which pure Conscience hath its pure holy divine precious Liberty in this holy divine precious Faith which works by Love and not as the dead Faith doth which works by Enmity which is the Fruit of this holy pure divine Faith and in it is the divine pure holy and precious Liberty and Freedom So here is the divine holy pure and precious Liberty in this Faith which works by Love that is the Victory over that which brought Man and Woman into Bondage and Slavery and false Liberty Faith is the Saints victory So this living Faith is the Victory over all dead Faiths and false Freedoms and Liberties which holy divine pure and precious Faith 's the Saints were and are to contend for which Christ the Holy One is the
believe in it How can they receive the Order of the Gospel of Christ the hevenly Man from whence the Gospel comes or to receive him to reign in their Hearts when they will not receive his Gospel the Power of God to Salvation in their Hearts And again How can they receive his People or believe his People that are in the Order of the Gospel of Christ and hath received it and him in their Hearts who disobeys it and will not receive it in their own Hearts Such are not like to come into the Order of the Gospel that disobey it Such will disobey Christ and will not regard his People in whom he reigns who walk in the Order of his Gospel the Power of God unto Salvation Now it 's Christ the Second Adam that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World with the Light which is the Life in himself and every one that believeth in the Light and becomes Children of the Light and walks in it they walk in Unity and Fellowship and in the Order of the Light and Government of Christ in such Christ doth reign And all them that hate this Light and will not come to it nor believe in it they are condemned by it Now The Grace of God hath appeared unto all Men. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men and all Men that receives this Grace and Truth that is come by Jesus they receive Christ from whence it comes in their Hearts to be their Teacher and their Salvation and so comes into Christ's Government and Order in the Truth and into the Covenant of Grace And they that hate the Truth and turn from the Grace mto Wantonness and walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace they turn against Christ his Order and Government and his Power also And God pouring out if his Spirit upon all Flesh All that are led by the Spirit of God and Christ are the Sons of God and such are obeyers of Christ's Spiritual Order and Government And they that quench the Spirit of God and rebels against it rebels against Christ's Order and Government and Him in his People and their Spiritual Fellowship and the Gospel of Salvation being preached to every Creature under Heaven which Gospel is the Power of God Every Creature under Heaven must receive this Gospel in their Hearts if they receive Christ and his Government and his Order of the Gospel and him to rule in their Hearts And all you that have received it have received the Comfort of it and those that disobey and rebel against the Gospel the Power of God such disobeys and rebels against God and Christ and his Government and his People which are in the Order of the Gospel the Power of God And as it is said Christ is in you except you be Reprobates and all that receives Christ in them it is by his Light which is the Life in him and the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus and the Faith that he is the Author of and his Spirit and Gospel This they must receive in their Hearts if they receive Christ in them And Christ said to his Disciples and Followers That He would send them the Spirit of Truth the Comforter which should proceed from the Father and the Son which should lead them into all Truth and be should reprove the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment So that which leads the Believers and Diseiples of Christ into all Truth and is their Comforter is the Reprover of the World of their Sin Righteousness and Judgment So here is that which is the World's Reprover is the Saints Comforter and Leader into all Truth and so into all true Fellowship and true Liberty And this Holy Spirit and Comforter does not proceed from old Adam nor any of his Followers but from the Father and the Son And so every one is to have Oil in your own Lamps from the heavenly Olive-Tree To have Oil in our own Lamp from Christ the Olive-Tree that your Lamps may burn always both Night and Day in your Tabernacles looking to your High-Priest who will feed your Lamps with heavenly Oil. And every one have heavenly Salt in your selves to favour withal what is Earthly and what is Heavenly and what is from Below and what is from Above and what is out of the Truth and what is in the Truth And that every one may keep their own Vine in their own Garden Vine and their own Lilly in their own Field or Orchard which Lilly doth exceed Solomon in all his Glory And every one have the Word of Faith in their Hearts and Mouths to obey and do which will Sanctifie and make you Holy and Reconcile you to God And every one have the Anointing or Vnction within you Anointing which you have from the Father or Holy One so that in it you may continue in the Father and in the Son And every one continue in the Grace of God Grace which will teach you how to live and what to deny adn will bring your Salvation and establish you upon Christ the Rock and Foundation from whence the Grace does come And every one abide in the holy divine and precious Faith Precious Faith which you do hold in a pure Conscience by which Faith you do live and have Victory over that which displeaseth God And in this Faith you do please God which Jesus Christ the Lord from Heaven is the Author and Finisher of And every one that hath digged deep Pearl and found the Pearl of great Price and hath sold all and purchased the Field then the Field and Pearl is your own Such do know a thorow Redemption And all you Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ that are become the Children of Light walk in the Light and in Christ as you have received him And every one mind the heavenly Leaven Leaven that will leaven you into a new Lump And every one keep the Feast of Christ our Passover Passover with his heavenly unleavened Bread in Sincerity and Truth And every one mind the Light that God hath commanded to shine out of Darkness and hath shined into your Hearts to give you the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ your Saviour that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of your selves In this you are sensible of his heavenly Treasure in your earthly Vessels and every one have Water in your own Wells and Cisterns and heavenly Fruit on your Trees which God hath planted Nebuchadnezzar though his Greatness reached to Heaven Nebuchaadnezzar bumbled as a Tree yet he was to be hewn down until he knew that the Most High ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men And the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other People Dan. 2.44 And the Stone that smote the Image
worships him must worship him in Spirit and Truth The Beastly Nature in Man and Woman holdeth up the Beast and his Customs and Worships and the Plagues of God are to be poured upon the Beast and all them that worship the Beast and false Prophet And they that abide in the Truth worship not the Beast Inwardly nor Outwardly The Worship of the Beast denied but deny all the Beast's Worships and false Prophets and worship God in Spirit and Truth And they which do not abide in the Truth hold up the Beast's Worship and the false Prophets and they that do so shall have their Portion together Plagues will be poured upon such And ye that know God dwell in the Truth and tread upon the Deceit for God will be Glorified alone To whom be Glory and Honour for ever Amen G. F. TO all my Dear Brethren Epist 20. whom the God of Power hath enlightned with his Eternal Light and discovered unto you his Way of Truth and brought you out of the dark ways wherein ye have walked which dark ways all the World walks in But where the pure Light of God is witnessed it guides to himself The Light is but one which leads out of Darkness and the dark World into the World which is without End Therefore all Friends and Brethren in the Eternal Truth of GOd walk in it up to God and be not Sayers only nor Backsliders for the Backslider is a Sayer and not a Doer and there ariseth Ambition Pride and Presumption out of that Nature But dwell in the pure Light which God hath made manifest to you in your Understanding and turn your Minds to him and walk as Children of the Light The Backslider a Sayer and of the Day and be not Drunken in any thing nor run not to Extremes in any thing but be Moderate and Patient Wait for the Presence of the Great God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and be not so Childish as to be tossed with Mens Words without Life And run not out after others Liberties which they have got into their Notions for thou that dost so wilt not abide in the Truth and so thou may'st come to be shaken and shake others who look at Words But wait every one in particular in the Measure that God hath given you upon God in the Fear of God then your Hearts will be kept clean and this is the sure Way And wait all to have the Son made manifest in you and the Son alone to set you free in your selves in particular The Son makes free and all that are made free by the Son are one But the first Nature that would have Liberty must go into Captivity which they that live in their Carnal Reasoning seek Freedom for But here is Man deceived in his first Birth But ye all in whom the Immortal Seed is brought to Light who are raised up to sit in heavenly Places with Christ Jesus and are become Children of the Day walk as Children of the Day and as Children of the Light and Let your Light so shine before Men that they may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven All loving the Light ye love the one thing which gathers your Hearts together to the Fountain of Light and Life and walking in it ye have Unity one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth you from all Sin The Knowledge of the Letter The Knowledge of the Letter which you formerly got into your Notions and Comprehensions the dark Mind gave dark Meanings to it and so kept you in the Broad Way but now wait all to have the same Spirit manifested in your Understandings which was in them which gave forth the Scriptures who were come out of the Broad Way Holy Men of God who had escaped the Pollutions of the World And if every particular of you know not a Principle within which is of God to guide you to wait upon God ye are still in your own Knowledge which is bruitish and sensual But waiting all upon God in that which is of God ye are kept open to receive the Teachings of God And the pure Wisdom and knowledge is that True Wisdom and Knowledge which comes from above which is to know God and Jesus Christ the Way which is hidden from the World and to walk out of your own Ways and out of your own Thoughts And dwelling in that which is pure up to God it commands your own Reason to keep silent and to cast your own Thoughts out and dwelling in that which is pure it discovereth all this So dwelling in the Spirit it keepeth all your Hearts to God To whom be all Praise Honour and Glory for ever From Judge Fell 's in Lancastire ' the 31st of the 11th Month 1652. G. F. To Friends at Kendal TO that of God in you I do speak Epist 21. that ye may watch over the Weak and see how the Plants of the Lord do grow And walk in the Joy and Love of the Truth Watch over the Weak serving God with Joyfulness of Heart and to you this is the Word of the Lord. And keep all that is bad down and out with the Light which condemns all Ungodliness so keep all that out which is for Condemnation that ye may all be preserved clean and pure that out of Condemnation ye may be kept and walk in the living Light So God Almighty be with you all And I charge you to read this among the Brethren and these Words mind with the Light that no Loosness be amongst you but own and be obedient to the Commands of the Lord that ye may stand out of and above all the contrary Commands of Man And so Fare-well G. F. OH Friends Epist 22. keep close to the Light in you and do not look forth at Words that proceed from a vain and light Mind but at the Power of Words The Power of Words For the Words of God that proceed from him are Powerful and Mighty in Operation to the throwing down of all the strong Holds of the man of Sin The Lord is coming in Power to gather his Chosen ones to himself and to Judge and Condemn the wicked One for evermore He will plague the Beast and burn the Whore and plague and torment the Disobedient and Rebellious and Backsliders very sore Therefore ye that know the Voice of the Lord hearken to it and see how ye stand in his Fear and how ye are brought into the Obedience of the Truth And take heed of looking forth at Man but keep close to the Light in you and see that your Minds be kept close to that and guided by that and being guided by that it will keep you clear and pure to receive the Teaching of the Lord. Have Salt in your selves and let your Words be few and seasoned Words few and savoury that they may be savoury And watch over one another in Love and walk in
Epist 42. which comes from Christ that with it ye may see Christ your Saviour that ye may grow up in him For they who are in him are new Creatures and Old things are passed away and all things are become New And who are in him are led by the Spirit to them there is no Condemnation but they dwell in that which doth Condemn the World and do with the Light see the Deceivers and the Anti-Christs which are entred into the World And such Teachers as bear Rule by their means and such as seek for the Fleece Hireling-Teachers and make a Prey upon the People and are Hirelings and such as go in the Way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam and such as are called of Men Master and stand praying in the Synagogues and have the Chief Seats in the Assemblies All which are in the World which by those that dwelt in the Light were cried against for it did them Condemn and all such as speak a Divination of their own Brain and are filthy Dreamers who use their Tongues and steal the Words from their Neighbours with the Light the World and all these afore-said are comprehended and all that is in it and all they that hate it and all the Anti-Christs that oppose it and all the false Prophets and Deceivers that are turned from it with the Light are comprehended and with the Light are Condemned and all that are turned from it and hate it I am the Light of the World saith Christ and he doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and he that loves the Light and walks in the Light receives the Light of Life And the other he hates the Light because his Deeds are evil and the Light doth reprove him And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World in which Light they that love it walk which is the Condemnation of him that hates it Anti-Christs false Prophets and Deceivers are seen And all the Anti-Christs and all the false Prophets and all the Deceivers the Beast and the well-favoured Harlot all these are seen with the Light to be in that Nature acting contrary to the Light and with the Light are they comprehended and by the Light condemned For he is not an Anti-Christ that walks in the Light that comes from Christ he is no Deceiver that walks in the Light that comes from Christ Many Deceivers are entred into the World The World hates the Light and Deceivers are turned from the Light and the Anti-christs they are turned from the Light therefore they oppose it and some of them call it a Natural Conscience a Natural Light and such put the Letter for the Light But with the Light which never changes which was before the World was are these Deceivers seen where they enter into the World For many Deceivers are entred into the World and the false Prophets are entred into the World the World hates the Light and if it were possible they would deceive the Elect. But in the Light the Elect do dwell which the Anti-Christs Deceivers and false Prophets are turned from into the World that hate the Light That Light which they do hate the Children of Light dwell in the Elect. So it is not possible that the Anti-Christs and Deceivers that are entred into the World that hate the Light should deceive the Elect who dwell in the Light which they hate which Light doth them all comprehend and the World which Light was before the World was and is the World's Condemnation in which Light the Elect walk And here it is not possible that they that dwell in the Light should be deceived which comprehends the World and is the World's Condemnation Which Light shall bring every Tongue to Confess and every Knee to bow when the Judgments of God come upon them it shall make them confess that the Judgments of God are Just G. F. TO all my Dear Brethren the Flock of God every where Epist 43. Keep together in the Power up to God 8. Month 53. and none be discouraged or disheartned at the Enemies without which are without God in the World but be bold all in the Power of Truth triumphing over the World Stand fast in the Freedom of Christ Hold your Freedom and keep and stand fast in it that ye may be armed with Wisdom and furnished against your Enemies who are Wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light But the Wisdom of the Most High is spreading and making it self manifest in your Hearts by which ye may comprehend the World's Wisdom the World's Worship and Knowledge The World's Worship and Knowledge And waiting in that which is Pure it will lead you into that which was before the World was before the false Worship was before the Seducers were before the Antichrist was and before the outward Temple was and false Prophet and Hirelings And here ye will comprehend the World and what is done in the World Therefore every one keep your Habitation abide the Trial and abide the Day and stand fast in your Freedom so far as Christ hath made you free free from Man's Will and Commandments Freedom from the Lusts of the World which imbondageth free from the Fashions and Lusts of the World the fleshly Will which bondageth and burdens the Pure And to you that cannot witness this Wait and mind the Pure and then the Burden will be easie and wait for Redemption and Salvation to make it so And your Strength is to stand still that ye may receive Refreshings that ye may know how to Wait and how to Walk before God by the Spirit of God within you So God Almighty be with you and keep you up to himself under his own Dominion from under the Dominion of Satan that ye may trample him under your Feet And Friends every where Meet together treading and trampling all the Deceit under your Feet Watch in the Eternal and watch over one another in that which is Eternal and see every one that your Words be from the Eternal Life Examin and Search with that which is Eternal which speaks to that which is in Prison in others And ye that are led forth to Exhort or to Reprove do it with all Diligence taking all Opportunities reproving that which devours the Creation and thereby destroys the very humane Reason For the Truth doth preserve every thing in its place And all Meet together every where and in your Meetings wait upon the Lord and take heed of forming Words but mind the Power and know that which is Eternal which will keep you all in Vnity walking in the Spirit See the Lord near and will let you see the Lord near you and amongst you So God Almighty be with you and multiply you and give you the Dew of Heaven the heavenly Dew the living Mercies which nourisheth the tender Plants which causeth them to grow bud and bring forth and water you
like it self Oh therefore mind the Holy Life the Chast Life That is the Bride's Cloathing by which she adorns her self for her Husband Christ Jesus Therefore in that which keeps your Peace live there is your Life and Dominion that Weeds may not grow nor Brambles but that it all may be cut down and weeded out For those grow through the Liberty of the Flesh and by that ye come to be darkned and lose your Discerning and Feeling The Beam in the Eye and there gets the Beam into the Eye by which ye come to Judge with that Judgment which is for Judgment which should be judged down by the Spirit of Truth and Peace And so Live in the same Peace with God and one with another and have Fellowship in the Chast Life and in the Spirit and Power of God And keep down that which lusts to Envy and Strife and Contention for that will not nor cannot bear true Judgment but will flatter and fawn and sow Dissension and so in the End will bring Dishonour both to God and his People That can never abide true Judgment or sound Doctrine for that Adulterates from God and joins in Marriage with that which is Adulterated from God And so the Vnchast follows the Whore and the Adulterer The Whore and Adulterer and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Adulterer and the Whore but the Chast Virgin follows the Lamb and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Therefore all live in the Chast Life by which ye may follow the Lamb of God to his Supper and Marriage And keep ye all out of that from whence Contentions and Strife and Wars arise which are the Fruits of them that live in the Lust which is seen with the Everlasting Power the Ground from whence Strife and Contention and Wars come The Ground of Strife the Vnchaste which live in the Lust which Lust will defile all that receive it Therefore all Friends every where your Fellowship is to be in the Gospel the Power of God and in the Spirit the Fruits of which is Peace in which ye all will be kept in Dominion Pure and Chaste to God and one towards another For all that come to the Sabbath of Rest must put off their Old Cloaths which they have worn in their Old Works Labours and Travels For Six Days the Jews were to labour but the Seventh Day was their Rest which is Perfection G. F. Concerning the Light FRiends Ye that be turned to the Light in it Wait Epist 155. in it Meet together that with it your Hearts may be joined together up to Christ the Head from whence the Light doth come The World's Gatherings with which ye may see all the World and all the Gatherings that are out of the Light which are in the Vanities of their Minds and in the Rebelliousness of their Hearts and Stubbornness of it from the Light But ye believing in the Light and receiving it ye receive and come into the Covenant with God and Peace with God and into that which gives the Knowledge of his Glory and of his Image And this Belief giveth the Victory over the World and brings unto God and into his Likeness and separates you from the World The World and its Likeness and its Likeness and Image and its Fashion which is out of the Light and its Knowledge and its Wisdom and its Honour and its Fear and its Love and its Rejoycing which are out of the Light in the Flesh and in the Iniquity where the Soul is in Death But in the Light rejoycing and walking ye receive the Love of God shed abroad into your Hearts which Love rejoyceth in the Truth mark in that which the Devil abode not in with that ye know and will know the Increase of God and know God and his Law put in your Minds and in your Hearts written where the Fear is placed where the Secrets of the Lord are revealed and the Light which is the Truth comes to be walked in Here is a Joy in the Lord where no Flesh glories In this waiting in the Light the World where there is no End it gives you to see World without End and the Power of the World which is to come ye will come to see and be Partakers of Which Power ye receiving who are in the Light it brings you to become the Sons of God and to be Heirs of the World where there is no End and of the Everlasting Inheritance which fadeth not away and the Riches which are durable where no Thief can come nor nothing to rust or canker for that is out of the Light that doth thieve rust or canker and in the Transgression Therefore ye Saints in the Light of the Most-High God whose Name is dreadful amongst you and his Power made manifest in Measure and his Glory appearing Walk worthy of the High Calling The High Calling Keep your Dominion keep your Place of Rest in the Power and Strength of the Almighty and Meet together in the Love Vnity and Peace Meet in the Love and know one another in this Love that changeth not which being received ye walk in that which condemns that which is changable This Love rejoiceth in the Truth and hath Dominion over him that abode not in the Truth but rejoyceth in that which the Devil abode not in And here the Spirit is received in which God is Worshipped the Father of Spirits He that believeth here believes in the Lord and shall never be confounded for he believes in that which doth Confound and Condemn those who are out of the Light and gone from the Word of God in the Heart and from the Power of God and from the Light of the Glorious Gospel which is the Power of God The God of the World hath blinded their Eyes that abide not in the Truth they are gone from the Light which is the Truth and all that are blinded by the God of the World The God of the World these are out of the Light and out of the Truth Therefore ye being in the Light and to it turned the Light of the glorious Gospel the Image of God is seen and the glorious Gospel received Therefore walk in the Light as the Children of the Light and know the Wisdom that is of her Children justified that ye may answer the Light in every one that comes into the World that hateth it And keep your Habitations that ye may every one feel your Spring in the Light which comes from the Lord and feel your Nourishment and Refreshment which waters the Plants and causeth them to grow up in the Lord from whom the pure living Springs come The Water the Witness And here is the Water which is the Witness in the Earth which doth wash and here comes the Spirit to be known the Witness which doth baptise and the Witness the Blood which doth cleanse which agrees with the Witness in Heaven So he that
let your Backs and Cheeks be ready to the Smiters that ye may overcome the Evil with the Good and may heap Coals of Fire upon their Heads For it is the Good that overcomes the Evil and the Lamb that hath the Victory the rough Goat must not So let your Moderation be known unto all Men honouring all Men Honour all Men. that is having them all in Esteem that ye may set them in the Way of Salvation and Life That the Power of God may come over them that your Meekness and Gentleness may prevail over the rough and in Boldness in the unalterable holy Way you may be preserved which is the New and Living Way which is the Light and Life which brings into Covenant with God in which there is Peace In which the Lord God Almighty give you Dominion and preserve you by his Power into the endless Life where ye all may know Happiness and Peace in the Pasture of Life where all the Sheep and Lambs feed in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you Let Copies be sent to Virginia and Maryland G. F. To Friends in New-England and the Islands beyond Sea TO all my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 216. among whom the Precious Truth and Power of God hath been declared and joyfully received whose Belief Confidence and Innocency is spread abroad who are come to the Vine Christ Jesus that is your Shade whom Bonds and Death have not dismay'd for the Worth of Truth sake And Fetters Irons Whippings Stripes and Spoilings of Goods and the like Cruelties and Persecutions have not daunted ye whose Courage Valiantness and Boldness for the Truth Valiantness for Truth hath much appeared among a crooked and perverse Generation that professed Christ and among whom he hath not had so much place of Entertainment as in their Manger in the outward Dens of Dragons whose Hearts are Dens of Dragons and Places of Darkness and whose Religion and Profession they have shamed being unfruitful in the Ways of God and Christ Workers of Darkness whose Iniquity hath flourished and Sins sprung as the Grass that their Folly and Shame might cover them and that they might be confounded in their Iniquity So ye in the Power of the Lord God in his Might and Strength and Hand The Power of the Lord and Might that brings your Salvation stand in which Power and Arm ye see over that which brought Destruction in which Power that is the Gospel Life and Immortality cometh to Light and captivateth that which hid Life and Immortality living in the Power of God see over it and in that standing all your Feet are shure In which Power of God the Gospel which goes over the Power of Darkness and was before it was ye see before all Transgression and how all things were Blessed which Power goes over all that which bringeth the Curse Wrath Woe Misery Thraldom Bondage and Captivity by which Power of God that is taken Captive in that live and dwell in which ye all have Vnity Peace Concord Love and Fellowship in the Gospel which goes over the Enmity and was before it was in that ye bind and unite and are established and are gathered up to Christ who was before Transgression was which hath scattered from God In the Power of God see over all the Meetings and the Gatherings that are in the Transgression unestablished like Water in this Power is the Praying to the Living God that lives for evermore And then is the Gospel that is Everlasting The Gospel to all Nation preached unto all Nations of Mankind and all that are drove out from God in the Power of Darkness to the intent that they may all come up again to God and have Life and Immortality brought to Light by his Almighty Power that expels Death and Darkness So in this Gospel the Power of God let all your Faith be and stand then are ye all but One. And so all ye that have tasted of the Power sit down under your own Vine and abide in it then will ye bring forth Fruit through the Power of God and Christ Jesus who is the Vine The Vine which goes over the Powers of Darkness which is the cause of Vnfruitfulness Which Power of God Christ Jesus destroys the Devil and his Works of Darkness and dwelling all in the Power of God ye will have every one of you a Habitation in it For God's Power is sprung up in your Hearts so in no wise abuse it thorow Strife or Jangling Strife and Jangling for that eats out But all in the Power of God live and dwell which makes you subject to God and one to another in his Fear that keeps you from Sin and Evil which is the Author of Strife and through the Power of God ye will be all kept in Vnity and Peace and Love And as many as Received the Light The Light Christ Jesus the Power of God which he hath lighted you with who hath all the Power in Heaven and Earth given him he will give you Power to become the Sons of God Therefore every one receive Christ the Light that hath enlightned you and ye shall feel the Power in which Light ye shall all have Fellowship which Light will give every one of you the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus your Saviour And in the Power of the Lord God which hath gathered you over the Powers of Darkness and all the Meetings therein in that Power of God live which is Everlasting and keep your Meetings Meetings in that ye may feel Fulness of Life and Wisdom from above before that which is below was by which ye may all be ordered to God's Glory and order all things under your hands to his Honour Through which Wisdom ye may be a Blessing to the Lord God in your Generation and a sweet Savour to him in the Hearts of all People upon the Earth yea the very Heathen who are enlightned to bring them to the Light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned them withal that they may come to the knowledge of the same Salvation or Condemnation So spread the Truth abroad ye that are in it and have it which the Devil is out of who hath darkened People from God Spead Truth and his Covenant and his Way through which they are strangers to his Life and Kingdom that hath no End and Dominion that is Everlasting wandering in strange Paths in the dark World that lies in Vnrighteousness which the Devil hath made like a Wilderness full of Briars and Thorns that the Lambs in it can hardly walk or work Yet work ye Vineyards and Plantations to the renewing of Peoples Minds in the Light and Power of God and the Knowledge of Christ Jesus turning them from the Enmity and the Darkness the Power of Satan to the Light and to God that they may be Renewed into his Image and Likeness that the Image of the Devil and his
will not have of your Bread of Life and Water of Life let them fast Of the Bread of Life that will neither receive nor give for the Bread of Life and Water of Life is not only given to feed your selves but by it you may feed others and refresh others therefore have Bread in your Houses and Water in your own Well and Fruit of your one Tree and Salt in your selves to Savour withal that you may try all things and have Oil in your own Lamps that they may burn in your own Temple and Odour and Frankincense that it may burn continually upon your own Altar that it may ascend as a sweet Savour Holy and Pure up to God who is Holy and Pure Be not removed off your Ground wherein you may grow and increase And so quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecy hate not the Light but improve your Talent hide it not but improve it mind the Kingdom within and the heavenly Penny and the Spirit of God which is given to Instruct you and walk according to the Rule of the Spirit of God that he hath given to you to profit withal and mind the Truth in the Inward Parts so that you may be adorned and arrayed with a meek and a quiet Spirit For the Light that shines in your Hearts will give you the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ How the Knowledge of God is attained that you may know the Heavenly Treasure in your Earthly Vessels and the Day-Star to arise the Day to dawn in your own Hearts that you may become Temples of Christ He to dwell with you and walk with you and sup with you and the Blood of Christ to sprinkle your Hearts from dead Works and your Consciences also that you may serve the Living God So know the true Faith to purifie your Hearts Christ the Author of true Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of and the true Hope to purifie you And so be true Believers in the Light as Christ Commands and become Children of the Light for he that believes hath the Witness in himself And know the true Word in your Hearts and Mouths which is the Word of Faith the Apostle preach'd which distinguishes your good Thoughts from bad and your good Words from bad which Word is in your Hearts to obey and do Which is as a Hammer to hammer down Sin and Evil and as a Sword to cut it down and as a Fire to burn it up So that by that Word you may be sanctified The Word Sanctifieth c. by that Word you may have Salvation by that Word you may be reconciled to God by which all things are upheld by his Word and Power by this Word you may be born again of the Immortal Seed that lives and abides for ever And so from this Word you may have your Milk for this is the ingrafted Word that is able to save the Soul and raise the Soul that is Immortal up unto the Immortal God And by this Word you will see over all the Deceivers of your Souls which Word was before they were And by this Word you will understand the Scriptures of Truth that cannot be broken And by this Word you will come to Judge all those that are got into the Imaginations concerning the Scriptures and that set them up in the room of God and Christ in their dark Imaginations who in their Darkness cannot comprehend the Light And by this Word you will have Riches out of this Word is Poverty And by this Word you will come to know Life and Salvation for in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and Christ's Name is called The Word of God and the Scriptures are the Words which are to be fulfilled So all be diligent in the Truth that you may be fruitful in the Word of God that it may have its Passage through you all G. F. Concerning those that go out of Vnity and deny Forms THose that are gone from the Light Epist 271. from the Spirit and Power of God and so from the Vnity by the Light and by the Spirit True Vnity in the Light and Spirit and by the Power are judged and the Power and Light and Spirit is over them and they being gone into their own Wills and into a perverse Spirit then they say they will not be subject to Mens Will nor to the Will of Man and that Spirit leads them out of the Bonds of Humanity when they are thus gone from the Light and the Power and Spirit of God they go out of all true Forms into Confusion and Emptiness without Form then they say they will not be subject to Forms and cry down all Forms with their Darkness and a perverse Spirit and so mash all together For there is a Form of Godliness Of the Form of Godliness and there is a Form of Sound Words many have a Form All Creatures have a Form the Earth hath a Form and all Things were brought into a Form by the Power of God for the Earth was once without Form and was void and empty and confused So they that be gone out of the Covenant of God and Life and out of the Power of God are gone into a confused Condition without Form a State which is out of the Bond of Civil Men and Women And so such are confused without the right Form for the Form that God hath made viz. The Form of the Earth the Form of the Creatures the Form of Men and Women the Form of Sound Words the Form of Godliness nor the Form of Sound Doctrine was never denied by the Men and Women of God Those testified against who deny the Power and quench the Spirit But such as got the Form only and denied the Power of Godliness those were denied for they deny the Power and do not only so but quench the Spirit and grieve and vex it and hate the Light by which Light they are condemned G. F. To Friends in Ireland KEep to the equal Measure and just Weight in all things Epist 272. both inwardly and outwardly that you may answer Equity answer Truth in the Oppressed and the Spirit and Grace and Light in all People To do Justice and Equity in all things And so being kept in Righteousness and Equity and Truth and Holiness that preserves you over the Inequality Injustice and the false Measure and Weight and Ballance in all Things both inward and outward And this keeps your Eye open keeps you in a Feeling Sense keeps you in Vnderstanding and true Wisdom and true Knowledge what you are to answer to all Men in Righteousness and Truth and Equity both inward and outward And this is to all you that have purchased or bought any Irish Land so that Justice and Righteousness and the true Measure and true Weight and even Ballance may be among you to answer that which is True and
People to lead them into all Truth and reproveth the World of Sin and the Bread of Life that they have from Christ is in their Arks and Hearts or in their Temples and God doth write his Law in the Hearts and Minds of his People So in the New Testament they have the Law written in the Heart and Mind and the Old they had in the Letter and Tables of Stone and in the New they have the Testament and Testimony the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and the heavenly unleavened Bread in their Hearts which they do keep the Everlasting Feast with And in the Old Testament The circumcised in Heart do eat of the heavenly Bread Flesh the Clean and circumcised out wardly did eat of the Passover the Lamb without blemish But in the New Testament the clean and circumcised in Heart do eat of the Passover Christ the heavely Bread and Flesh and so doth keep the Feast of their Passover in the New Testament And the Old Testament had the outward Temple and Tabernacle and outward Lights But in the New Testament the Saints Bodies are the Temples and Tabernacles of God and his Light doth shme in their Hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ And in the Old Testament it 's said Do this and live and the New saith Believe in the Light Christ and be saved And the Old Testament saith Thou shalt Swear and perform thy Oaths to the Lord But Christ saith in the New True Christians are not to be angry without a Cause Swear not at all And the Old Testament saith Thou shalt not kill nor commit Adultery But Christ in the New saith Thou shalt not be Angry without a cause and thou shalt not lust after a Woman And the Old Testament saith Thou shalt stand up and Curse But the New saith Bless and curse not The Old Testament saith Thou shalt hate thine Enemy But the New saith Thou shalt love thy Enemies and do good to them that hate thee and despitefully use thee So the New Covenant and Testament is not according to the Old And in many other things besides these it might be shewed how one doth exceed the other in Glory G. F. To all the Men and Womens Meetings every where ALL the faithful Men and Women Epist 360. are to be as Abraham and Sarah Abraham the Father of the Faithful and Sarah a Mother in Israel Men and Women are meet belps in the Restoration by Christ Jesus to give Suck and to nourish up the Seed the Heir of the Promise Likewise to be as Adam and Eve before they fell weet-helps in the Image of God and in the Power of God with which they were to sudue the Earth In which Power of Image of God they were not only to subdue the Earth but subdue Unrighteousness and all Ungodliness and that which they know doth dishonour God And likewise all the faithful Women are to be as Dorcas And to be fellow helpers in Christ Jesus a Disciple of Christ Jesus that their good Works of the Spirit and Faith may follow them And also they are to be as Phebe who was a Minister of the Church at Cencrea and she was such a faithful trusty Minister that the Apostle sent his Epistle by her to Rome from Corinth with a Recommendation of her And also all the faithful Men and Women are to be as Aquilla and Priscilla who were the Apostles fellow-helpers in Christ Jesus and had a Church in their House and were Inftructers concerning the things of God and Christ Jesus in his New Testament and New Covenant and of his Kingdom And likewise to be as Mary Magdalen and Joanna and mary the Mother of James and other Women that were with those Women which first preached and declared to the Apostles the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Christ said unto those Women Go and tell his Disciples that he was risen from the Dead so these Women were the first Messengers of the Glad-Tidings Matth. 28. Luke 24. Mark 16. And these Tidiugs did astonish the Apostles at first for they said Certain Women of our Company which were of the Disciples made us astonished saying That Jesus was risen from the Dead this two of his Disciples said when they were talking with Christ Women were the first Preachers of Christ's Rgsurrection but they did not perceive it till he opened their Eyes as in Luke 24. So the Women continued in their firm Belief and then after wards the Apostles came to believer also And therefore it is good for every one to have a Sense of the Resurrection of Christ and not seek him below but seek him above for he is risen from the Dead and lives and sits at the Right Hand of the Living God And also all the Faithful are to be as Miriam the Prophetess to Incourage the Church and Praise God And also to be as Huldah the Prophetess who instructed the King his Princes and Priests in the Law of God and the Old Covenant So they should be much more diligent to teach and instruct in the New Covenant and Testament which doth exceed the Old in its Glory And also to be as Anna the Prophetess an ancient Woman of Eighty four Years Old and she gave thanks and spake of Christ to all them that looked for Redemption in ferusalem and so here was general and a publick Preaching of Christ Jesus And also to be as Hannah in the old Testament who conscecrated her Son Samuel unto the Lord and the Lord accepted her Prayers Tears and Offerings So she had not a mind to let him run Wild. And likewise as Deborah Deborah both a Prophetess and a Judge in Israel who was a Prophetess in the Old Covenant and a Judge in Israel what Victories with outward Weapons the Lord did give her and how she praised the Lord which was by Faith in the time of the Old Covenant But in the time of the New Covenant the true Believers wrestles not with Flesh and Blood but are all to be diligent in the Spiritual Judgment and warfare in the Spiritual Israel And the Apostle writes to Titus how he had left him in Creete that he should set in order the things that were wanting and ordain Elders in every City as he had appointed him And after he had spoken many things to Titus concerning Overseers and Teachers that they must be Blameless he saith That the Aged Men must be sober grave temporate sound in Faith in Charity and in Patience Aged Men and Women that their behaviour be as becomes the Gospel And the AgedWomen likewise that they be in Behaviour as hecomes Holiness not false Accusers c. but to be teachers of good things and that they teach the younger Women to be sober to love their Husbands and to love their Children and to be chaste keepers at home good obedient c. that the Word of God
5. Now all Women may here consider what is to be the Practice of such Women that profess Godliness and trust in God their Adorning is the hidden Man of the Heart which is Incorruptible and their Ornament is to of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price but those Women whose outward Adorning is with broidered and plaited Heir and Gold and Pearls and Costly Array these have not the modest Apparrel which become Modest Sober Shamefaced Women that profess Godliness with good Works but such as are Unsober and Immodest such as look upon such things to become them are cloathed with corruptible and unquiet Spirits that do not possest Godliness with good Works and these outward Ornaments as plaiting and broidering the Hair and wearing of Gold and Pearls and Costly Array the Apostle saith Do not become Women professing Godliness with good Works but them that do not profess Godliness that are Shameless and Unsober they may become such Women that do not trust in God their proud Spirit may lead them to adorn themselves with such things as is said before which the Apostle forbids but the holy Women of God which professed Godliness with good Works and trusted in God adorned themselves not with plaiting the Hair or wearing of Gold or Pearls or Costly Array but with the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price And now consider also you Women that profess Godliness and go under the name of Holy Women who trust in God see that your selves and your Children and all your young Women are Adorned and Arrayed and have on this Ornament as the Apostle wills the Church of Christ to put on as the holy Women did of old and be not of an unmeek and unquiet Spirit and unsober and immodest when you are admonished and exhorted nor act contrary to the holy Women of old that trusted in God and such as professed Godliness according to the Apostles Doctrine And here you may see what care the Apostles had to keep the Saints the Church of Christ their Eyes Minds and Spirits above the wearing of Gold plaiting their Hair and Pearls and Costly Apparrel which is the Glory of this World which the holy Women that trusted in God and professed Godliness with good Works these things were not to be their Adorning nor Ornaments but as is said before the hidden Man of the Heart which was not Corrupt even the meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great price And this ought to be and is the Adorning and Ornament of all the holy Women that profess Godliness with good Works and trust in God And all you that have been Convinced of the Lord's Truth by his Spirit To refuse the Glory of the World take heed of Satan taking you up into a Mountain and of his shewing you the Glory of the World and of your Minds and Eyes going after it and receiving of it and so in that you fall from the Spirit and Truth of God that did Convince you and then to worship the Devil the King of Pride the God of the World that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth and he to lead your Minds and Eyes after every new vain Fashion of the World that passeth away and that lieth in wickedness and so draweth you to the Love of the World which is Enmity to God and into the Wisdom of the World by which ye do not know God and then to such the Gospel of Life and Salvation is hid in whom the God of this World hath blinded their Minds and in such disobedient Ones the Prince of the Air rules and gets into them by disobeying the Truth and in such Christ doth not rule in their Hearts by Faith And it is not like when they make Shipwreck of it and a good Conscience And therefore walk in the Light of Christ and grow in his Grace and the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that bruises the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works that you may all be established upon Christ the Rock and Foundation And if ye do believe in the Covenant of Light Life and Grace then why do not you all train up your Children in the same To Train up our Children n the Coveant of Grace Did not the Lord command the Jews to train up their Children in the Old Covenant and teach them to walk in it And were not all the Males to be Circumcised And they that were not Circumcised were to be cut off from the Congregation of the Lord So are not all you that profess the New Covenant of Grace Light and Life and the Gospel of Salvation preached to every Creature and the Grace of God which brings Salvation that hath appeared unto all Men to teach them to live Godly and to deny Ungodliness c. I say are not you all to train up your Children and Families in this Light of the Gospel and Grace of Christ which brings Salvation and brings them into favour with God that you may have the Comfort of your Children in this World and in that which is Everlasting And that they may be Circumcised with the Spirit of God which he poureth out upon all Flesh that with his Spiritual Circumcision the Body of Death and Sins of the Flesh may be cut off which are come into Man and Woman by Transgression that neither you nor they might dye in the Body of Death and in the Sins of the Flesh and such do not dye in the Lord for they that are not Circumcised with the Spiritual Circumcision are cut off from the heavenly Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God and Christ and from the Church of the Living God written in Heaven And therefore if you will have the Comfort of your Children in this World and that which is to come train them up in the Fear of God and in his Covenant of Light and Grace which Grace brings their Salvation and brings them into Favour with God and into the Spiritual Baptism and Circumcision so that they may serve and worship the Living God in his Spirit and Truth Amen And if Children and young People must be left and let alone to themselves and not be Admonished Exhorted and Restrained from the Evil and Vanities of the World then why did Moses and the Prophets and the Apostles which were sent of God exhort the People to train up their Children in the Fear of the Lord and to teach them his Law while they were young that they might not depart from it when they were old And if that they did the Lord did judge them as ye may read in the Scriptures of Truth and if that they must be left to themselves and not restrained from Evil then how came it to pass that old Ely lost his Life and his Priesthood Ely
the Earth dwell all the noisom Creatures and the Evil Beasts which are hurtful to the Creation For in the Earth the Devil dwells and walks but the Earth being plowed up he is made manifest and the Seat of his Dwelling is broken up That Mind which doth speak of God but lives not dwells not nor abides in the Fear of God that Mind must suffer and pass under the Judgment of God for the Curse of God is upon that Mind For that Mind is Earthly and of the Earth upon which the Curse of God is And that Mind may talk of God and speak of God but not in Union with God nor from Enjoyment of God in the Spirit nor from having purchased the Knowledge of him through Death and Sufferings A Hear-say Knowledge but from Hear-say of him and from Custom and Tradition which the true Fear of God doth destroy that Mind which speaks of him but doth not live in his Fear And that Mind is raised up which doth abide in his Fear and this is Acceptable Sacrifice which is pure clean holy and without Spot Then that which knows God speaks of him which hath purchased the true Knowledge of him through Suffering and to such there is no Condemnation but Joy and Peace And this Mind sings true Praises to God the other in Hypocrisie and therefore the Wo is unto it And this Mind is stayed upon God the other is gadding after the Creatures committing Fornication with other Lovers and speaks of God but is not subject to God and must pass through Condemnation G. F. To Friends in the Truth FRiends Epist 25. the Love of God is to you the Springs are opening and the Plants are refreshing with the living Waters Now Friends walk in the Truth as ye have received it and wait in that which keeps you in the Yea and Nay Yea and Nay the pure Commusication in the pure Communication in the Good Manners In the pure Conversation over all the World ye will reign whose Conversation is in Heaven and here the World ye will Judge walking in the Life And ye which turn from the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned you withal here are the Corrupt Manners the evil Communication the filthy Conversation which with the Light is all to be condemned Ye which turn from the Light are in Esau's Nature and chusing the Earth there is Profaness Therefore take heed to the Light and wait to receive Power from God to stand against that which the Light discovers to be Evil. And ye which are turned from the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned you withal and do turn to the Hireling-Priests which are Changable from the Priest which never changes Judas his Way ye walk in Judas his Steps Wo will be your End ye had better never to have been born ye are Betrayers of the Just. Ye that turn from the Light ye turn from Christ as Judas did and ye that walk in the Light ye walk after Christ and he is your Way but ye that turn from it to the Hireling-Priests Judas is your Way which is Destruction And ye that turn from the Light turn from the Command of God Cain is your Way And ye that turn from the Spirit Cain Balaam Core Balaam is your Way and ye that get up into Presumption Core is your Way which leads into Self-Separation and this Fruit will wither which is natural Knowledge which is seen with the Light and is to be condemned with the Light which never withers which is the Condemnation of the World which all the Children of the Light walk in Which Light walking in it will bring you to receive Christ Christ the Way to Salvation from whence it comes here is the Way to Salvation and as many as receive him to them he gives Power to become the Sons of God And the Son of God is but one in all Male and Female and the Light of God is but one So all walk in it to receive the Son in which Light is the Unity which brings to Fellowship with the Father and the Son And the Oneness is in the Light as the Father and the Son is one and brings you to where he is out of the World from the World and not to be of the World Therefore walk in the Light which is all the World's Condemnation even them of the highest Religion who act contrary to the Light And to you this is given forth from the Word of the Living God And thou that lovest thy Soul love the Light to wait for Christ the Saviour of thy Soul And ye that hear the Word The Word which was in the Beginning wait in the Light which comes from the Word which leads up to the Word which was in the beginning which breaks the World to pieces that lies in Wickedness and burns it as with a Fire and divides asunder the Precious from the Vile This is the Word which makes all clean which is received into the Heart and this is the Word of Faith which we Preach And the World Preaches the Words without being out of the Life and in the bruitish Knowledge which is condemned of God and by all who are of God that have and are in the Life of the Holy Scriptures Therefore I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God to wait in the Light which comes from Christ that with it ye may receive the Life that with the Light and Life which is one ye may come to have the Scriptures opened to you which were given forth from the Light And so all the World who have not the Light guiding their Understandings nor the Life but are Strangers to it there are the Sects The Rise of Sects and Opinions there are the many Opinions there is the Heresie which makes a Profession of the Letter declared from the Light but are out of the Life with the Light all this is condemned and the Children of Light are in Unity in that which gave forth the Holy Scriptures And so to you all this Testimony is from the Word of God This is to be Read among all Friends every where for this was I moved to send among you G. F. Concerning Marriages FRiends All they who do act contrary to the Light which comes from Christ Jesus Epist 26. and it hate whose Deeds are evil and live in strife about Words and their Minds are in Earthly things defrauding and wronging one another they know when they do so with the Light which comes from Christ Jesus So this Light which lets them see and know when they act contrary to it with this Light are they Condemned The Light condemns the Evil. And all that do act contrary to the Light and do join together in Marriage contrary to the Light and are joined with that which is contrary to the Light this is their Condemnation the Light which leads to God But who are joined together with the Light
one shall see the Lord. And let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel To Friends in Cumberland the Holy Power of God which is the Gospel of Christ the Holy One who suffered by the Vnholy Ones And keep in the Lowly Mind and the Humility of Christ that the Fruits of your good Conversation and Translation and Regeneration in your Lives may appear The Fruits of a good Conversation as a People redeemed from the Pleasures of the Flesh and the Spirit of the World and the beggarly Lusts and that ye may obtain the Promise of the Eternal God and the Power of the Truth through the Word in the Heart the hidden Man that ye may obtain Victory over that which wars against your Souls through which ye may be arrayed and adorned and by that ye may be preserved and kept from that which is not of the Father the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life in the Simplicity and Innocency of Christ Jesus over all the Subtilty and feigned Deceit through which ye may esteem nothing in Comparison of that which is of God and him above all through Christ the Light the Truth the Power of God manifested in you False Liberty And keep out of all false Liberties and that which would lead you out of the Fear of God and in that ye will be preserved in the Sense of the Power and the Truth of God in your own Hearts In that every one watch through which Knowledge and Virtue is ministred unto you and Peace from the God of Virtue and Peace And keep out of all that which tends to Strife and Whisperings and Backbitings and Tattlings which draws from the Witness Watch and Fear of God within which leavens into the Fleshly Lusts and Nature and then that Judges and yet is in the same thing for which he Judges others which Nature and Judgment all is for Judgment and Condemnation So be Wise and keep your First Love break not Wedlock with the Lord Jesus Christ keep your first Habitation keep your Garments clean for such as so do they are blessed that ye may shine as Lights to the World Be Examples in Virtue and be Examples in Virtue Righteousness and Holiness walking in the Truth in all Patience and Quietness looking at the Lord your Strength and Christ Jesus the Conqueror and beyond all the Hills and Mountains that ye may be a good Savour to the Lord having Salt in your selves Let your Lamps be burning and your Lights shining and then ye will see over all the Unsavouriness that is in Adam's Family in the Fall who live in Christ the Power of God that never fell and keep Marriage with him the Holy One the Just One the Light the Truth and Power of God who makes an End of all Vnholiness And so walk in the Righteousness that your Feet may be kept in the Way of Peace And keep both your Tongues and Hands and Bodies and Lips and Minds and Words out of all that which would defile and corrupt you and bring you under the Indignation and Wrath of God and his Hand to be turned against you So keep in the Fear of God and keep in his Truth which ye at first received for Truth never changes And walk in the Spirit and then the Lusts of the Flesh will not be fulfilled and then Strife is kept out that which would be high and get up through which comes Strife and Wars So keep your Fellowship in the Spirit in which is the Unity and Bond of Peace Fruits of the Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit will appear Righteousness Holiness Goodness Peace Soberness and Gentleness Chastity and Virtue through which ye may have Fruit to feed the Hungry and to relieve the Sick and Poor For the Unfruitful walks not in the Spirit and so bears not Fruit and so the Curse comes and Briars and Misery So eye the Lord God in all things in the Spirit who is a Spirit in that ye may distinguish his things and the things that are of your selves and what is of Men and what is of God and what to keep alive and what must dye So be Obedient to the Spirit and to the good Power of God that hath quickened you and live in it that ye may dye no more for that gives you Life For they that are made alive and come to dye again and to be Twice Dead Twice Dead plucked up c. and then come to be plucked up by the Roots such lye dead upon the Earth and corrupt it So let not the World let not things visible draw your Minds away from the Lord. Do not mind the Body more than the Lord do not forsake the Lord but be of good Faith in the Truth of God and live in it then ye live in Christ Jesus who is your Way who is your Teacher who is your Prophet who is your Priest who is the Bishop of your Immortal Souls Christ that never fell nor never changed nor never will change And here ye come into the Seed the Top-stone The Seed the Top-stone that is atop of the World set and before the World was who will remain when the World is gone who was full of Grace and Truth and Virtue and Life by whom Grace comes that brings Salvation who is every one of your Teacher in your selves So know Christ the Head and Salvation in which there is Peace and no Condemnation for the Condemnation is upon them that are out of the Light And so live in Vnity in the Light before Darkness and Enmity was in which ye have Peace and Love to God to Christ and to one another G. F. An Epistle to the Travellers in the Lord's Way with a Testimony against the False Prophets and them that hold them up FRriends Epist 38. All are to receive your Spiritual Bread and Water from the Father of Life by which ye may be strengthened and watered from the Father of Life in your passing and travelling on in your Spiritual Journey heartily and comfortably that ye may come to your heavenly Rest The Spiritual Travel being come and coming out of the great City of Sodom towards the City of heavenly Jerusalem where ye shall abide Eternally for ever Reason not with Flesh and Blood that shall never enter take not Counsel of that which draws thee nearer to Carnal things and draws thee to Consult with Carnal Reason Carnal Reasoning and so draws thy Eye and Mind to Visible things and so brings thee to wander from going on thy Journey and if thou followest that thou goest to Death Hell and Destruction and to the Pit and the Snare and that gets Dominion over thee and comes to rule over thee which ought not But every one wait in the pure Spirit to guide you to God then ye shall see the Promise of God fulfilled in you and the Springs of Life opened to you and Refreshment
with his Blessings So the Lord God of Power be with you all my dear Hearts I am with you in the Spirit and in the Love of your God your Father and mine The Lord God prosper guide and protect you and bring you all into his Kingdom of Glory you who are Elected Called Chosen and Faithful who are the Lambs God Almighty bless you and keep you all my dear Hearts The Love of God passeth Knowledge The Love of God is Love past Knowledge which bears all things endures all things hopes all things envieth not thinketh no Evil. And the Love of God is the Ground of all true Love in your Hearts which casts out the Love of the World and the Enmity which was gotten betwixt you and God He that believes is born of God and he that is born of God overcomes the World So Fare ye all well and God Almighty bless and prosper you G. F. And all ye Friends that wait in that which is pure in it self which cannot lie which doth not change Wait upon God for God doth not change and let all Flesh be silent before the Lord that the Life may speak in all then the Mouth of the Lord is known Let Life speak and God is Exalted and Glorified with his own Work which he brings forth And Meet together therein every where and mind that which gathers you and wait on that which is pure which gathers you out of the Worlds Nature Disposition Conversation Churches Forms and Customs which will knit your Hearts together up to God That which gathers you out of all these is the Spirit of the Lord which will gather you up to him who is the Father of Spirits that ye may be able to Judge and Discern and Confound all the Deceit in the World and grow up to be as Kings and suffer nothing to reign in you but what is in the Life Eternal And beware of speaking in the Presence of the Lord except your Words be from the Eternal Life Words spoken from the Word the Eternal Word of God else it doth not profit nor build up nor edifie So God Almighty be with you all in your Meetings that ye may see him to be your Head King and Lord over all To you all who are enlightned with the Light of the Spirit that is the Light which shews you Sin and Evil and your evil Deeds and Actings and the Deceit and False-heartedness The Light teaches Holiness which will Teach you Holiness walking in it and bring you into Unity and it will draw your Minds up to God and in it ye will see more Light But hating the Light there is your Condemnation G. F. ALL Friends Epist 44. wait upon the Unlimited Power and Spirit of the Lord which baptises into one Body where ye will have all Unity in that which crucifies the Flesh and mortifies all evil Desires and puts off the Body of Sin the Old Man with his Deeds and Circumcises without hands and joyns together your Hearts up to God from whence the living Mercies come from the Living God alone who is God over all blessed for ever To that in every one of your Consciences do I appeal and speak to the Measure that God hath given the Light The Light is the Eye loving it and taking heed to it and waiting in it for Power from God it will guide you to the Father of Light in which ye will have all Unity and hating the Light it will be your Condemnation Oh Wait wait upon the Living God to nourish the tender Plant in you that ye may bring forth Fruits of Righteousness unto God for he accepts such and none else Therefore wait upon God he hath a pure Seed among you Let your waiting be in the Light and mind that he is a Wise Man whose Eye is in his Head which is Christ the End of all Priests the End of the outward Temple and the Fool 's Eye is abroad after many Priests and they are led away with Conceivings Temptations and divers Temptations Therefore in the Light wait where ye will see all Deceits within and without For it is a Sin to enter into Temptations but it is no Sin to be tempted Christ was tempted but he entred not into the Temptation Therefore in the Fear of the Lord wait and watch The Light is that which lets thee see Sin and Evil and Temptations which if thou enter into the Light will be thy Condemnation then thy Heart will not be right towards God But in the Light of God all wait Wisdom's Gate which will bring you to see where Wisdom's Gate is the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of it Pure Wisdom is let out of the Treasury into the pure Heart which sees God and fearing the Living God it keeps the Heart pure and clean to receive the Wisdom from the Treasury freely who doth not upbraid And as ye depart from Evil and Iniquity he breaks the Bonds by shewing Mercy and then the Understanding grows pure and clear So in the Power of the Lord God Fare ye well And the Lord God of Power keep you all in his Measure up to himself from and above all the World 's evil Ways Baits Customs and Teachings to trample upon them in his Power that Wisdom may be Justified of you all and ye may be preserved and God glorified To whom be all Glory Honour and Thanks over all God blessed for ever Read these among all my Brethren and Friends and send it abroad to Friends that ye may all know the Power of the Living God in one another not in Words but in Power So Farewell G. F. Concerning the Heirs of the Kingdom of God and how Christ was and his Saints are Tempted THey are the Heirs of the Kingdom of God Epist 45. and of the Generation of God that live out of the Kingdom of the Wicked World up to God in the Seed which all the Promises of God are to following after Christ who was in Egypt and passed out of Egypt the House of Darkness And he was in the Wilderness Christ was Tempted and there he was tempted to Lust after the Creature he was tempted to make himself away he was tempted to Worship the Devil to bow down and worship him He is the Captain of our Salvation he 's gone before he endured the Cross he despised the Shame he suffered the Contradiction of Sinners for the Glory that was set before him he hath won the Crown He hath overcome Egypt and he hath fulfilled the Law he hath overcome the World he hath overcome the Temptations he is able to succour all who are tempted It is no Sin to be tempted but to enter into the Temptation that is Sin He is the Head of the Body he is the Head of the Church Christ the Head of the Church who hath blotted out the Ordinances and Traditions of Men who is the End of the daily
causeth People to err but there is but one Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth and this is the one Spirit that led the Prophets and Apostles to give forth the Scriptures and all the Instructers that are out of it causeth People to err from the Spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in and so are in Confusion And there is one Leader One Leader Jesus Christ Christ Jesus that God hath given and all that are not led by him are led into the Ditch the corrupting place and they tell them there is no Perfection here and all the Learned in Babel's confused Tongues who have the Letter of the Scriptures yet following their own Spirits seeth not and the Divination of their own Brains and using their Tongues such buildeth up Babylon again who are not in the Spirit the Prophets and Apostles were in and know not the Tongue of the Learned nor the Scriptures of Christ and the Prophets and the Apostles but they are as a sealed up Book to them and therefore they are Raging and Contending about the meanings of them teaching their People by their Example to do the same G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 307. who feels the precious Truth of God by which you are made God's Freemen and Women and have bought the Truth To be fruitful in good Works do not sell it for Dross or Dung but be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth you who have received God's Seed into the good Ground that in this Life some bring forth Fifty Sixty and a Hundred fold of Fruit from God's Seed to his Glory and that have received the Anointing Oil in your Lamps from the Holy One that they may burn and shine both Night and Day in your Tabernacles through which you may be lighted into the Bridegroom's Chamber and the Power of God has always been your Keeper and will be unto the Day of Salvation which Power of God is over all yea over the Power of the Devil the Waster and Destroyer who makes the World like a Wilderness and fills it with Vnrighteousness Death Darkness and Cruelty Therefore let your Faith stand in the Power of God which the Kingdom stands in which is a Cross to the World's Power that causes Persecution which Power of God is the Gospel which was before the Devil was that brought Death and Darkness into you this Power of God brings Life and Immortality to Light in you by which Power you see over him that has darkned you and before he was And you that are Heirs of this Gospel keep the holy and heavenly Order of it by which Power of God you come to digg and has found the Pearl in your own Field of great Price by which Power of God you come to sell all and to purchase the Field then you have Riches enough And have Salt in your selves that you may savour withal and that your Salt lose not its savour through which you may be kept from under the Feet of Men though they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution and it is not only given you to believe in Christ but to suffer for his Name whose Name is above every Name and there is no Salvation by no other Name under Heaven but by the Name of Jesus The Name of Jesus a strong Tower whose Name is a strong Tower and the Righteous flee unto it and are safe by whose Name and Power that is over all you have been upheld through all your Tribulations Sufferings Imprisonments spoiling of Goods And Christ Jesus and his Power is the same to day as he was yesterday and so for ever And therefore as I said before let your Faith stand in his Power for Christ's Kingdom stands not in Word but in Power and in Righteousness and in Joy in the Holy Ghost whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and the Riches in it is Everlasting Blessed are all they that are Heirs and Possessors of this their Minds and Hearts are kept over all fading things and the Riches that has Wings that the Spoiler may spoil And therefore Consider all the Faithful before you The excellency of the knowledg of Christ how they Accounted all but as loss dross and dung to the excellency of the Knowledge that they had in Christ Jesus and Consider likewise the Faith of the Martyrs the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Christians that kept the Faith and Testimony of Jesus their Patience was seen And likewise Consider all the Prophets of God to Enoch how their Faithfulness is made manifest and all the rest how they were tried by Persecutors by Prisons and by spoiling of their Earthly Goods and Riches but never of the Heavenly Goods and Riches for there the Thief and Spoiler could not come And therefore mind that Noble Seed that never bowed to Sin and Iniquity nor the Devil but bruises his Head and destroys him and his Works that ye may all be Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone who is your heavenly Food and Bread that comes down from Heaven through whom you may eat and live by him as he lives by the Father and so by eating this heavenly Bread that comes down from Heaven you may have Everlasting Life The Lord may try you by Persecution or spoiling your outward Goods which he has given you by permitting the Spoilers and Persecutors come to try you that you may come forth like Gold seven times tried in the Fire the Perfection of trial for many are the Troubles of the Righteous but the Lord will deliver out of them all and happy are they that are tried Above all Earthly Riches that they may come forth more purer than Gold And let none sell their Birth-right for a Mess of Pottage and a Piece of Bread Esau-like And let let none have their Eyes wander after their carrying away the Fleece nor look back at Sodom's Judgments for the Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof and he can make the Fleece grow again And therefore consider the Riches of Job and the Poverty of Job and how his Friends despised him in his Poverty and how they were reproved and God encreased his Prosperity and lenghthened his Tranquility And as Daniel's Windows were open towards outward Jerusalem in the time of the Informers when he pray'd to his God as he did before in the time when they were not And therefore should not all your Windows and Doors be open towards heavenly Jerusalem your Mother that God may come in and help you against the false Mother and her Children And therefore keep your Meetings in the time of Sufferings as you did before and preach the Word in season and out of season the Word I say that commands the Clouds and Storms and was before they were And therefore blessed are those Eyes that sees the Sun of Righteousness that never sets the Sun of Righteousness that changes not for the Prophet speaks of a Sun and
Faith was and are still denied And all such as preach God and Christ and crucifies Christ to themselves afresh and denies God in their Works were then and are denied And all such as preach the Light and walk in Darkness and preach the Spirit the Fruits of which is Love and Peace and are in Strife and Enmity were never owned by God nor Christ nor good Men though they may be called Christians And all such as preach Liberty and themselves were Servants of Corruption were and are still denied And all such as cries Lord Lord and preaches Christ Christ and does not his Will enters not into his Kingdom themselves And into it they can bring none that do not go into it themselves Which Kingdom stands in Power and in Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost And all such as preach the Word of God and are not doers of the Word they are Deceivers of their own Souls and they may deceive others with the good Words And such cannot be reconciled to God neither can they bring others to Reconciliation with God So this Spirit is but One which Spirit all along has wrought against the true Spirit of God in all his People and was in Srife and Contention and Disquietness against the Righteous in all Ages but it wrought its own Destruction and the Fall of them that followed it as you may see through all the Scriptures And therefore all are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit All are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit the Bond of the heavenly Man Christ Jesus's Peace who renews Man up into the Image of God as Man was in before he fell and not only into that State but up into himself that never fell where they know both his Gospel-Order and his Heavenly Government and are subject to it He being the Head above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions Who is ascended above all that he might fill all things Who is over all the Beginning and Ending and Lives and Reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting the Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read in the Men and Womens Meetings DEar Friends Epist 344. My Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all in whom I have laboured and my Desires are the God of all Peace and the Son of Peace may fill all your Hearts with his Love and Peace and Wisdom and Knowledge in all things to do his heavenly glorious Will in that you will know his Son's Doctrine and as you know it obey it And my Desires are in the Lord All to walk worthy of their Holy Vocation that you may all walk worthy of your Vocation and of him that his called you to Holiness and Righteousness and to Peace so that his Peace may flow as a River and Righteousness run down as a Stream to the gladding of the City of God the Walls of which is his Power and Salvation and Light and Life And now My Friends Keep all your Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have all Salvation which is above every Name under the whole Heaven in which there is no Salvation And also all your Men and Womens Meetings every where keep in the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ his Gospel by which he hath brought Life and Immortality to light in you that you may see over him that hath darkned you and before he was which Power will preserve you in Life and Immortality So that you may now all labour in the Gospel the Power of God in his glorious and comfortable Gospel joyfully serving the Lord in his Gospel of Peace through which Gospel you have Peace with God So that in this Gospel All to be stirred up to Labour in the Lord's Service the Power of God there can come nothing between you and God Here is your heavenly Order not of Man nor by Man So that all the faithful Men and Women may in the Lord's Power be stirred up in their Inheritances of the same Gospel and to labour in it helps-meet in the Restoration as Man and Woman was before the Fall in the Garden of God all are to work in his Righteousness and in his Image in his Power in his Garden to subdue the Earth and keep the Dominion in his Power in the Restoration as Man and Woman did in the Image of God before the Fall Whosoever would hinder you in this Work it is the same Serpent's Spirit that led Adam and Eve into the Fall from the Work of God which now would keep you in the Fall to do his Work and Command and not the Lord's and therefore over that keep your Dominion Authority and Inheritance in the Restoration in the Power of God in which every one of you must give an account to God and therefore be diligent in the Lord's Power Light Life and Spirit in which you all see your Services to God so that he may be glorified among you all and in you all and over you all his Glory may shine And you all Men and Women in your Men and Womens Meetings be diligent labouring in the Light Life and the Power of God the Gospel in the Garden and Church of God so that Righteousness and Peace may flow down amongst you and Truth and Godliness Purity Vertue and Holiness over all that is contrary and that the Weight and Care of God's Glory and his Honour and his pure Holy Name and his Truth Religion and Worship you may all stand up for against that which would in any wise cause it to be evil spoken of by ill Walkers and Talkers and let all things you do be done in Love and condescend one to another in the Power of the Lord and in his Truth have esteem one of another and let all things be done among you without any Strife for it's Love that edifies the Body and knits it together and unites it to Christ the heavenly and holy Head The Reproach taken from Woman that was first in Transgression And now you Women though you have been under Reproach because Eve was first in Transgression the Promise was The Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head And this Promise of God is fulfilled A Virgin should have a Child and they should call his Name Emanuel God with us again For Man and Woman was drove from God out of Paradise and the Serpent became their Head and god of the World but Christ is come according to the Promise of God and his Prophets who was born of a Virgin and therefore saith Mary My Spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour My Soul doth magnifie the Lord for he hath regard to the low estate of his Hand maid for behold from henceforth all Generations shall call me Blessed Now here comes the Reproach to be taken off from Women which were first in Transgression who are not suffered to speak in the Church but here Mary did speak and believe that which was spoken to her And also the Reproach
this Immortal Word and so are of an Incorruptible Generation which is above the Corruptible and here is the hidden Man of the Heart that is Incorruptible known that hath an Everlasting Fellowship and hath an Incorruptible Crown and is an Heir of an Incorruptible Kingdom And now the God of this World and his Followers that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth which is in the Light and Life and in the Gospel and in the Wisdom of the God of Truth For the World is full of Disorder and Confusion but the Living Eternal Immortal God of Truth is a God of Order and not of Confusion who hath sent his Son to destroy the Devil and his Works Blessings and Praises with all Glory and Thanks be unto him who hath all Power Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Amen G. F. DEar Friends Epist 357. All live the Life of the true Christians and not the Life of old Adam that went from God's Command and Voice nor like the Jews To live the Life of Christianity and such as have got the Name of Christians that say There is no hearing of God and Christ's Voice now which are out of the Life Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Image of God that the true Christians were in and Adam and Eve before they fell so that none can live the Life of the true Christians and the holy Prophets and Apostles except they are in the same Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Faith and Image that they were in which is a Life above the World and its God in whom there is no Truth no Life Light nor Power of the Living God abiding in them And therefore before any can live the Life of the Saints they must bow to the Name of Jesus their Saviour in his Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit which cometh from him who submitted himself to the shamesul Death of the Cross and destroyed Death and his Power who had no Sin nor Guile in his Mouth and is risen again for our Justification and so hath tasted Death for every Man and given himself a Ransom for all that all should now bow at his Name Jesus a Saviour and so to his Power and Authority bow who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him So all Men have bowed under Death and Sin by Transgression Christ submitted to the Cross and Death for us And Christ hath submitted to the Cross and Death for them and hath born their Stripes for Sin and Iniquity who had no Sin neither knew any to bring us out of Death and Sin Therefore every one must bow at the Name of Jesus as before whatsoever they do in Word or Deed it must be done in the Name of Jesus and before that they can confess to Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father they must all bow at the Name of Jesus and bow to his Grace and Truth Light Spirit and Power that cometh by Jesus which they know Him the Fountain the Rock and Foundation to build upon who brings out of Death and Darkness into Light and Life and a Kingdom and a World that is Everlasting and there to have Food and Cloathing that is Everlasting G. F. DEar Friends With my Love to you in the holy Peaceable Truth that never changes nor admits of no Evil Epist 358. but makes all free that receive it and tht walk in it To live in Truth which admits of no Evil. and is over all the Clouds without Rain and Wells without Water and Trees without Fruit And from the Truth floweth Justice Equity Righteousness and Godliness Mercy and Tenderness that brings a Man's Heart Mind Soul and Spirit to the Infinite and Incomprehensible God and from it a Love flows to all the Univerfal Creation and would have all to come to the Knowledge of the Truth and it bends every one to their utmost Ability to serve God and his Truth and to spread it abroad and it brings their Minds out of the Earth which makes them brittle and changeable and uncertain for it doth not change neither doth it touch with that which does change As to Vnity It makes all like it self that do obey it Vniversal to live out of narrowness and self and deny it So it brings all into Oneness and answereth the good Principle of God in all People and brings into Humility and the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of his Wisdom and it brings all to have a care of God's Glory and his Honour and watches over all the Professors of it for their good to keep within its bounds and walk within its order which he that is out of Truth leads into all disorder in whom there is no Truth and the Truth makes all its Children free from him and in it to reign over him Thanks Glory and Honour to the Lord God of Truth over all for ever Amen The Lord who is the God of all Peace and Order The Lord is the Protect or of his People alone Protects and Preserves his People with his Eternal Power for the Devil's Power is not Eternal it had a beginning and must have an ending for the Eternal Power limits that Devourer and Destroyer And therefore Friends Patience must be exercised in the Truth and keep to the Word of Patience which Word was before the World was and abides and endures for ever and it will keep Friends over and out of all the Snares of the World and its Temptations So with my Love in the Seed of Life that reigns over all and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all to his Glory Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read amongst Friends FRiends You that are Believers in the Light Epist 359. which is the Life in Christ To Gather in the Name of Jesus and are grasted into him who is ascended far above all Principalities Power Thrones and Dominions by whom all things were made and created all the Children in the New Covenant do Gather together in the Name of Christ Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven and in whose Name they have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven And at this Name must every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and they that have bowed their knee to the Name of Jesus and do confess him to the Glory of God the Father cannot Gather in any other Name under Heaven below the Name of Jesus but Gather in the Name of Jesus which is above every Name under Heaven in whom they have Salvation and so cannot not Gather in any Name below Christ for they do know that they have not any Salvation in whatsoever Name that they do Gather together in below the Name of Jesus And being gathered in the Name of Jesus he