AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS Every where To be Distinctly Read in their MEETINGS When Assembled together in the Fear of the Lord. By a Friend of Truth and a Lover of Righteousness Katharine Whitton LONDON Printed for Benjamin Clark Bookseller in George-yard Lombard-street 1681. AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS Every where Dear Friends IN bowels of tender love to all Friends every where am I constrained and pressed in Spirit to give forth this Testimony under which I have lain for a long time bowed in Spirit in a deep sense of the Fatherly care of our God over all his Lambs and little ones which he would gladly have all gathered unto him that he might preserve them from the evil of the day which is approaching for he hath shewed a terrible day near to break forths yea a day that will burn as an Oven and all the proud and they that do wickedly will be as Stubble which cannot endure the Fire for it will be as a flame and serve as a fire to consume the counterfeit Mettal and reprobate Silver that the pure Gold may appear yea that the precious Sons and Daughters of Sion may come forth as Gold seven times tried and shine in their Beauty and Lustre For saith the Lord I will burn the Chaff with unquenchable fire but the Wheat I will gather into my Garner And Friends this is no Reflection but comes for discharging a duty from one whom God in measure hath placed as on Sions Walls and who seeing the Sword come dare not but give warning to such as are not upon the watch For saith the Lord If they take not warning if the Sword come and take them away their blood shall be upon their own heads But if thou do not warn them if the Sword come and take any person from amongst them they are taken away in their Iniquity 〈◊〉 their blood will I require at thy 〈◊〉 And Friends with many Tears and Cries unto the Lord have I been bowed down many a time that I and every one whom God hath concerned may be clear of the blood of all And that the House of Israel may be spoken to least sin be upon us For saith the Lord Cry aloud and spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Yea it is a warning from the Almighty to all and every one of the backsliders in Israel and lukewarm ones and careless daughters of Jerusalem and Women at ease in Sion yea an Alarm is sounded out of the Holy Mountain that you may hear and be awakned to righteousness and stirred up to holiness to meet the Lord in the way of his pure Judgments for woe will be to those that are at ease in that day that is a coming yea the sinners in Sion must mourn fear will overtake all the unfaithful and disobedient yea terror will surprise the hypocrites and woe and misery will be to all those except they repent for it is a warning in my heart unto all such from the Lord that they may all turn unto him by true repentance whose mercy is proffered and observe his Commandments and do them and keep Covenant with him and see that every one be wise in heart and travel in spirit and make it their concern to bring glory unto the Lord in this his day for he keeps Covenant with and extends mercy unto them that love him and keep his Commandments and he hears the Prayers of his own children and hath heard them in every Age and hath not forgot his word spoken by his Servants of old where he saith If you transgress I will scatter you abroad amongst the Nations but if you turn unto me and keep my Commandments and do them though there were of you cast out into the uttermost parts of the heaven yet will I gather you from thence and will bring you into the place that I have chosen to set my Name there And surely Friends we are the people for whom the Lord hath done great things since the day that he hath opened our eyes and let us see our miserable and wretched state and the great need we had of him to help us out of that condition Oh! the many tears with deep sighs and bitter groans in that day can never be forgotten and blessed be the Lord who hath heard the cries of the poor and regarded the groanings of the needy and hath met us in the way of his Judgments and hath brought in the Ministration of Condemnation which was glorious in its time and placed it upon the head of the transgressor in us whereby he hath judged and condemned the transgressing and rebellious part that would not that he should reign and in his infinite love and bowels of tender compassion which yearned towards his own pressed Seed that groaned to be delivered hath he ransomed and redeemed his own in measure and led the same as he did Israel of old out of Egypts darkness and from under Pharaoh's taskmasters to sacrifice unto him and praise him in the land of the living And my dear Friends a remnant through Gods mercy can truly say he hath visited us as with the day spring from on high and are witnesses that refreshment from his presence is come and though sorrow endur'd for the night yet joy came in the morning the day being dawn'd and the morning Sun arisen yea the Winter is now through mercy with many far spent and the storms in measure over and the spring time come and the singing of Birds and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land O! the glorious day that is dawn'd upon us where the morning Stars do sing together and all the Sons of God do shout for joy Oh! the wonderful works of our God and the noble Acts that he hath done he hath made us to see his wonders in the deep and as Israel of old to sing his praises Oh his tender dealings can never be raced out of our remembrance he hath printed them in our hearts and his engaging love constraineth us to speak well of him and to make mention of his Name and speak of his loving kindness and tender mercies which endureth for ever And dear Friends after all this and much more of the Lords dealing with us and kindness and mercy bestowed upon us hath the old adversary and enemy of mankind bestirred himself who in every Age hath gone about to insnare the simple as in Israel of old when he prevailed over Achan to covet the wedge of Gold and the Babylonish Garment for putting his hand to which the whole Camp of Israel was troubled until Achan was found and Babylon's Stuff thrown out and burnt without the Camp And other some taking strange Wives mixing with the Heathen loving their Gold and learning their ways for which Ezra in his bitter Lamentations plucked the Hair from his Head and Beard and Jeremiah wished that his Head were Waters and his eyes a
Fountain of Tears that he might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughters of his people And dear Friends in our Age many hath been the temptations and allurements this enemy hath assaulted the children of the Lord with some times transforming himself as into 〈◊〉 Angel of light to deceive if it were possible the very Elect But blessed be the Lord who hath preserved a remnant out of his snares alive unto himself yet hath he prevailed upon some drawing them into divers disorders whereby the worthy Name of the Lord hath been blasphemed his precious Truth evil spoken of and the simple insnared to the sorrow of a remnant and sadding the heares of the righteous which hath caused many tears and secret cries unto the Lord that he would appear in his wisdom more and more for his own glorious Names sake and Truths sake to preserve the simple and frustrate the enemy of his end And blessed be the Lord who still hears the cry of his own Seed and being zealous of his own glory hath appeared in his Faithful Messengers to gather and encourage men and womens Meetings whereby he is stopping the enemy in his progress by placing judgment on his head and condemnation to that part over which he rules and in this work the Lord hath engaged Sons and Daughters putting his spiritual Sword into their hands for the beating down strong holds of sin in which the mighty Prince of the power of darkness hath his place neither dare they do this work negligently or over-look or connive at any of his practices or proceedings in whomsoever they appear but in Truth and Righteousness judge and condemn the evil under whatever pretence the same do appear at which the evil once is troubled and likes not this way neither would be thus dealt with but under pretence of Truth pleads for more liberty and freedom of Spirit and so transforming himself to betray the simple and defile the Temple of God and sit as God yet he is the Serpent and he can not save his head for the Seed of the woman is brought forth and a bringing forth and the enmity is placed between the two Seedt and her Seed must break his head and he is now a receiving Blows at which he rageth and raileth against the work of the Lord and the instruments he imployeth But the determination of the Lord is to disthrone him and bring him down and take his own possession and reign in his own Temple whose right it is to rule and happy will all such be who in omission do meet him in the way of his Righteous Judgments for they are always mixed with mercy and they shall find it who submit unto him but such as will not that he should reign he will bring them to naught The 〈◊〉 dear Friends let us keep our Womens Meetings in Gods pure fear and wait upon him to feel his powes and heavenly wisdom and that will allow of nothing whereby the worthy Name of the Lord is blasphemed his precious Truth evil spoken of or good Spirit grieved either in the particular or general but by his power and wisdom it will be judged and disowned without respect of persons whether by words or actions Meats Drink or Apparel let the pretence be what it will neither can this sowe pillows under the arm-holes of any nor speak peace to the wicked nor heal the hurt of the Lords people deceitfully but search the wound and pour in the pure â—oyl to the comfort of the wounded That that may be raised which delights to do its Fathers will and honour him in all things i. e. both in life practice and dectrins that so in this holy life we may shine as Lights in the World in Gods wisdom having our Lamps trimmed our Lights burning and in our Consers the sweet Incense which gives a good Savour both to God and man having the Savoury Salt in us with which every word and action may be seasoned that others seeing our holy lives and good conversations may glorifie our heavenly Father And dear Friends let no difference be but in the unity of one Spirit let 's be a people of one heart and mind serving the Lord with one consent seeking his glory unanimously working the work to which he hath called us which work is to stop the enemies work as I said before in what pretence soever he come for Friends he will ask no more then to have footing amongst us under pretence of Truth purting a fair vizardon every action calling pride decency covetousness carefulness Nicety and Curiosity in the forms of Meat Drink or other things a point of good House wisery for every thing he will have a covering like Truth that he may keep his Interest in the hearts of men and women which is the principal part But the Heir is brought forth which must take his Inheritance and the true Light now shineth that discovers him in every action not one corner he can shelter in where he is not seen his coverings are all too narrow the vail which he hath spread over him and his actions must by the power of the Lord which is risen and arising in the bosoms of a remnant be rent in twain from the top to the bottom so my dear Friends whom God hath engaged every one discharge your duty be zealous for the Lord and valiant for his Truth and as the valiants of Israel every one have on your Spiritual armour and weapons in readiness for woe will be to those who do the work of the Lord negligently or with a careless mind But they will with Jâ—â—l be blessed who put their hand to the work and their right hand to the Workmans hammer to the wounding of Israels enemy for he must bow yea he must fall and Songs of Triumph over him as in Deborahs days there must be Therefore Friends let us to the work every one to the imployment to which we are or have been called and while the Light shineth that lets us see every Corner let all that 's unclean be rid and swept out yea let us make clean work for to be truly arrayed in the White-Linen which is the righteousness of Saints is very decent and to have this house to wit our hearts and inward parts clean swept and all its furniture of righteousness set in good and comely order in carefulness is very commendable and consistent with good House wifery too And I do not doubt but those who are careful in the matters before mentioned will not as to outward things come short according to their abilities in any thing that is needful necessary comely decent and of good report as it is not fit they should exceed so I hope they will not come behind what may be of good example and tend to edification and to those things whereby Truth is honoured So Friends let us be Faithful to the Lord and careful over his household and family not as the bad Servant who
smiteth his Fellow but as the good Servant giving them Meat in due season Feeding the Hungry Cloathing the Naked Visiting the Sick binding up the broken-hearted healing the wounded and let it be with Gileads Balm and blessed shall all such be when their Lord cometh whom he shall find so doing and greatly hath the presence of God to his praise appeared to the owning carrying on and blessing of this his own work and large hath been his love and Fatherly care over all Lambs and little ones and very weighty is the work and great the concern to strengthen the weak and confirm the feeble and gather all those that 's scattered by the wiles of the enemy to him that is and always was the ancient Rock and refuge of the righteous in every Age that so if possible not one may be left behind but all be gathered And it is the travel of my Soul and desire of my Spirit that none of those may slight the day of their Visitation whom the Lord hath in any measure touched or that have had their faces turned Sion-wards but that they may be exhorted and admonished and dearly intreated to hast unto the Lord who long hath hovered over us as sometime he did over Jerusalem of old and fair would have all gathered under the shelter of his wings that 〈◊〉 made mention of his Name and many hath been his Warnings and Invitations by his Servants and Messengers and still he stands as with open arms ready to receive all those that come unto him in â—â—â—llity of mind and brokenness of heart So dear Friends let none â—…ick in the World its evil ways vain Customs or foolish fashions be not partakers with them of their pleasures lest such partake of their plagues but be ye separated touch no unclean thing and I will receive you saith the Lord so in this self-denying life and by the ancient power by which we were gathered in the beginning let us hast with speed to our God who is our refuge and sure hiding-place for the storm approacheth and certainly will overtake the negligent careless who are gone from the Shepherd So dear Friends let no pains be spared or means neglected whereby the work so needful may be hastned for it is Gods work and not mans though as I said before it laid on the ancient and honourable in Israel to put the work forward for the Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour as the Apostle said and also esteem them for their works sake And as Deborah said my heart is towards the Governours of Israel and I can truly say many a time when I have viewed in my mind their sufferings tryals and tribulations they went through in the beginning my heart hath been broken and I have secretly said They have broken us a way through the Thickets and trodden us a path through the Desarts they have born the burden in the heat of the day and what can I now do or suffer for the Truth am not I as one born out of due time But living praises to the Lord who in every Age is ready to reward the faithful in what hour soever they labour in his Vineyard and there is not one Member though never so little if in the body nor Instrument though never so weak if prepared of the Lord but all needful and useful in their places to the dressing of the Vineyard of the Lord and for the plucking up of those hurtful weeds that cumber the tender Plants And dear Friends let this be done in Gods pure fear and heavenly Wisdom with a tender care over every weak Plant that it may be nourished within good ground that it may bring forth Fruit to Gods Glory For thereby saith he am I glorified that ye bring forth much Fruit. Then is the labour of love which the faithful bestows answered when the Plants prosper and the Lord is glorified so in this labour as co-workers and fellow-helpers Male and Female for which we were raised up by the Lords Power let us put our hands to the work and none look at their own weakness for the Lord hath been pleaded with touching the 〈…〉 work and the weakness of the Instrument he châ—â—â—… 〈…〉 Answer hath been in the bosom of such i.e. I have chosen the weak things to overturn the strong and Mighty and the foolish things 〈…〉 sound the Wisdom of the Wise and things that are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—ought things that are and it is the travel of my Spirit That none 〈…〉 their hand to the Plow may draw back or be dismayed whatsoever the opposition be for living praises to our God the time is come wherein he is pouring of his Spirit upon his Sons and upon his Daughters Servants and Hand-maids and enduing them with his Heavenly Wisdom and fitting and strengthening them to perform every duty and service he hath called them unto how feeble soever we have appeared to be As he did the ancient Jews when they had the walls of Jerusalem to build though it was then said of them what will these feeble Jews do but mark what Courage they received from the Lord to carry on the work with one hand and with the other hold their weapon and praises to the Lord we have no cause to complain for his ancient power hath been with us thus far and his Heavenly presence hath accompanied us hitherto whereby we are encouraged to the work for which we are appointed even to labour in the Lord for the repairing of the waste places of Jerusalem and making up of the breaches in Sion whom the Lord is making and about to make the praise of the whole Earth for her Beauty must shine forth that many seeing It may have their faces thither waâ—deâ— and beholding Jerusalems glory may desire to dwell within her walls And dear Friends let us diligently view Jerusalem that we may count her Towers and mark well her Bulwarks that we may tell it to generational 〈◊〉 and that those who succeed our day may have those Testimonies lift upon Record what God hath done for us and been unto us 〈◊〉 his Faithfulness may be declared from age to age and from one generation to another O praises praises to our God for evermore for he hath had regard to the low estate of his Hand-maids and hath remembred our many tears when we mourned apart for him as silly Doves 〈…〉 and hath visited with his love owned with his presence which is better then life is self yea he is the beloved of our Souls h◠〈…〉 Comery there is no Spot in him he is Amiable in our eye he is thee chiefest often Thousand there is none like unto him nor worthy to be compared with him he is our beloved and he is our Friend and hath given us cause to say our lot is fallen in a good Land and that we have a large possession yea let this song he sung as in the land of Judah we have a