which God hath clled me to that I am and in the Elect before the World began This is to go every where abroad amongst Friends who are of the Royal Priesthood which destroys that which made a separation from God From the Royal Seed goes the Royal Commandment The Royal Priesthood which Seed remains for ever from the Royal Seed to the Royal Seed which are the Royal Priesthood which have the Royal Law and Love to Friends and Enemies which is beyond the Love of the World and before it was That is the Royal Love where no Enmity can come FORGIVE us as we forgive them cry Papists cry Episcopal cry Presbyterians and Baptists and Independents these cry and say the Lord's Prayer Forgive us our Debts and Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and then like a Company of senseless Men without Understanding fall a fighting one with another about their Trespasses and Debts and never mind what they prayed as though they never looked for Forgiveness and to receive the things they praycd for Forgive us as we forgive That pray Forgive us Lord as we forgive them and fall a persecuting and imprisoning one another and taking their Brethren and Fellow-servants by the Throat about Religion which in their Prayers they said Forgive us as we forgive them and will not forgive but say their Prayers as the Pharisees did the Scriptures and did not this is he that must be cast into Prison until he pay the utmost Farthing and must not come out And this hath been their Work since the Apostles Days and is not here Law The Apostles and Christ did not bid that any should kill about their Words but that they should love Enemies but ye will kill about their Words who were killed for speaking them forth And so all Friends dwell in the Seed of God which is Heir of the Power of the World which is without End in that dwell and keep your Meetings that ye may all be Possessors ALL Religions will fight about Religions and Worship and kill like the Heathen about their Gods Jews Gentiles Papists Protestants of all Sects which are out of the Power of the Lord and the Spirit that the Apostles were in And so they are all out of the Royal Spirit Fighting Religions that hath the Royal Spiritual Weapons and out of the Royal Seed which saith Love Enemies which is the Royal Command to the Royal Priesthood And they confess they have not the same Power and Spirit of the Apostles so then its true for them to say We are not the spiritual Men we have not spiritual Weapons to fight withal if ye do not help us Higher Powers we fall For we hold our Traditions and that which we have is by Tradition is by the Earthly Powers For we are not made Ministers as the Apostles were by the immediate Spirit and Power and Gifts as the Apostles were therefore the Higher Power must help us and to them go we with our Packet of Letters as Saul did for we are not spiritual-weaponed Men as Paul was For in all these things are the Priests guilty THE Papists Common-Prayer Men Presbyterian Independents Baptists persecute one another about their Inventions which they have invented their Mass their Common-Prayer their Directory Persecuting Religions Church-Faith which they have made and framed their Inventions and Handy-works and not for the Truth For they know not what Spirit they are of that persecute and would have Mens Lives destroyed about their Church Worship and Religion for Christ said He came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them Now they that know not what Spirit they are of that will persecute and destroy Mens Lives and not save them we cannot trust our Bodies Souls nor Spirts into their Hands that know not what Spirit they are of themselves they are not like to be trusted with others that would destroy by a Law which the Disciples would have done by Prayer to command Fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them that would not receive Christ Which Sort Christ rebuked and told them that they did not know what Spirit they were of And now if they did not know what Spirit they were of do these which have persecuted about Church and Religion since the Apostles Days who would compel Mens Bodies Goods Lives Souls and Estates into their Hands by a Law or else make them suffer These are not the Ministers of Christ the Saviour that destroy Mens Lives and they know not what Spirit they are of and the Lives Bodies and Souls are not to be trusted in their Hand And ye that do persecute shall have no Resurrection to Life except ye Repent But they that do know what Spirit they are of themselves they are in the unrebukable Zeal and by the Spirit of God they offer up their Spirits their Souls and Bodies to the Lord which are his whose they are to keep them G. F. WE are of the Royal Seed Elect and Precious Epist 172. before the World began that which ever the Sodomites crucified grieved and vexed by their unrighteous ungodly Conversation who lived in Fulness and Pleasures and abundance of Idleness And we are of that Seed that cannot serve the Wills and Lusts of Men and bow and stoop to them who are a People redeemed out of Kindreds Kingdoms Peoples and Nations who are of the Houshold of God built up together a spiritual House whose Builder and Maker is God and do reign upon the Earth as Kings and Priests unto God whom we serve Day and Night The Houshold of God And are of the Seed that hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which the Princes of the World and Councels and the Great and Wise of the Earth crucified who lived in the Form of Godliness of the Saints Words but quench'd the Spirit in themselves and being that Birth born of the Flesh persecuted that which is born of the Spirit We are of the Seed the Anointed which the Powers of the Earth combine and take Counsel together against whom God we see sitting in Heaven The Royal Priesthood laughs them to Scorn We are the Royal Priesthood who offers daily to the Lord the Spiritual Sacrifice the Holy Generation and the peculiar People zealous of good Works cloathed with the Zeal of Christ against the bad Works and the Workers thereof Therefore of all Nations Peoples Sects Ways Professions and Talkers of Religion are we hated by them that are out of the Way and Power of God though they profess Scriptures Church-Worship and Ministry yet such have crucified Christ and the Lord of Glory We are they that witness the Promise of God fulfilled and that do witness that the Age is come wherein God would shew forth his exceeding Riches and Kindness which was wrought amongst the Apostles The Anointed of God We are the Anointed of God and his Prophets that he saith Touch not who are as the Apple of
to God who have been faithful in their outward Treasure or Mammon one to another So let every one's Conversation be without Covetousness let not that be once named among Saints Covetousness And Do to all Men as ye would have them do to you that is the Law and the Prophets if not ye are judged by them both For the Kingdom stands in Righteousness mark stands in it and in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost mark in it FOR Holiness becomes the House of God Postscript Whosoever acts Unholily it is that doth dishonour his House and doth not become it Whosoever acts Unfaithfully in this Outward Treasure or Mammon The House of God or in the true Treasure to God is not justified in the Sight of God nor Man for they are justified by Faith through Faithfulness both to God and Man For whosoever doth Righteousness is of God and he that doth not Righteousness is not of God For God loveth the Righteous and delighteth in them but not in them that do Vnrighteousness For in the Righteousness they have Peace but out of Righteousness People have Trouble So all God's People his Children his Saints must be Holy as he is Holy and therefore do that which is holy and just in all your Lives and Conversations And whatsoever ye do let it be done to the Praise and Glory of God mark that Have God's Praise and Glory in your Eye in all your Speakings and Doings then ye will be preserved to his Glory and then ye will honour him and them that honour him he will honour and beautifie The fine Linnen and cloath with the fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ that Men may not see your Nakedness For God will have a holy People to serve him in Holiness a true People to serve him in Truth and in his Spirit and in his new and living Way above all the dead Ways that are come by Sin and Unrighteousness and Transgression of his Spirit and Power and Command So all ye that know his Power and Spirit live in it that ye may glorifie God in all your Lives and Conversations and Words that ye may answer that of God in all that ye may glorifie God in your Bodies Souls and Spirits which are his who hath made them and gives them to you for that End To whom be Glory and Honour for ever who created all for his Glory and for his Honour So the Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you faithful in all things to his Glory and Honour for ever He that walketh in his Integrity is Just and blessed shall be his Children after him Prov. 20.7 Vnjust Weights and Vnjust Measures both these are an Abomination to the Lord Verse 10. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 201. In the Stilness and Silence of the Power of the Almighty dwell which never varies alters nor changes but preserveth over and out of 3. Month 3. and above all the Changable Worships Religions Ministers Churches Teachings Principalities and Powers with the Power of God Stilness and Silence which keepeth over all this to the Kingdom of Christ that is Everlasting in which there is no Changing who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords all Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto him of whose Light Life Power and Wisdom Grace and Riches have ye received which comes from him that doth not Change So in that live that doth not Change the Vnchangable Life the Vnchangable Mind the Vnchangable Spirit and Wisdom and the Vnchangable Worship and Church of which Christ is the Vnchangable Head who remains the same yesterday to day and for ever in that ye will feel the Blessing and Presence of the Lord God of Life amongst you The unchangable Church and Worship as ye all abide in the unchangable Kingdom Dominion Power and Life who are Heirs of it according to your Measures who have received the Light and received the Life and Grace and the Power of a Kingdom and a World that hath no end So wait all in it that ye may be Possessors and Inheritors of the Kingdom and of the Life and Power which hath no end and of the Promises that are Yea and Amen and let nothing that is of the World alter you but keep ye in that which keepeth you in the Everlasting Kingdom of God The 3d of the 3d Month 1661. G. F. An Answer to a Letter sent to G. F. concerning the Voluntary Contribution to the King FRiend To the Thing thou Queriest of me concerning this Matter Epist 202. my Answer is Seeing that the King and his Friends desire it not as a Tax or an Assesment but a Free Gift of the People A Free Gift which cannot be said is an Oppression therefore it is left to all Friends to do as they are Free And what the World doth Friends are not to look at who will set up a thing and dislike it but Friends are to mind the Vniversal Power of the Lord God that they may do that freely in their own Power which they do better than by Compulsion Tax or Assess for if all things were done so it were the best in the Free State Bounty and Love which would more break the Hearts of People than by Force of Assesment and Tax So things are left to the Wisdom and Vniversal Spirit of the Lord God The Vniversal Spirit which goes over the Heads of all in the Fall that with the Living Power and Wisdom of God ye may overcome them and so do as ye are Free G. F. WHat Friends Do ye reign as Kings Epist 203. Can they pluck never a one of you out of the Father's Hand Are ye put forth The Father's Hand Do ye witness that Scripture fulfilled put forth to follow the King of Kings the Shepherd who gives Life abundantly In that let your Joy be still and your Comfort remain in which ye will feel the Endless Kingdom and Dominion In that the Lord be with you who is your Strength Comfort and Fulness for Evermore World without End And Friends Mind the Light and dwell in it and it will keep you a top of all the World and the Seed of God mind and know it and in it be Content Dwell in the Power of Truth and be not Negligent in that but Diligent serving the Lord every one in your Measures that to the Lord God every one of you may be a Blessing Be Diligent and a sweet Savour unto him in your Creation and Generation feeling and knowing the Lord's Power every one in your selves yea the Power of an Endless Life and of a Kingdom that hath no End and of a Dominion that is over all Dominions And in the Power of the Lord God Everlasting ye may feel the Seed of God in every particular of you raised up which doth inherit the same that ye may sit down in your own Possession of Everlasting Life And in that Meet together waiting
that the Thorns choak it and the Cares of the World they are such Stony Hearts that the Seed hath not much Earth that when Tryals and Persecutions comes with its heats it is scorched by the heat of the Sun And therefore be ye all warned of these Natures both of the Stony and of the Thorny and of the High-way Ground and of the Fowles and of the Air. And Friends keep down feigned Flattery Keep in the Truth that brings to plain-heartedness that all may be the good Ground that you may abound in Goodness and Righteousness and Holiness for Peace is sown to the Righteous and Gladness to the upright in Heart and see that you walk in the Light and the Life that it may be your Life that you may have Treasure in your Vessels that you may enter in with the Bridegroom having the Oil in your own Lamps that you may inherit the Life that is above all the foolish Talkers which be out of the Peace the Second Adam in whom the Peace is and the Life for they that be in Strife about the Body of Christ are in Adam in the Fall and they are neither at Peace in themselves with God nor Christ nor them that be in Christ so whatever Men or People profess their End manifests them and crowns them with Death or Life So live in the Word which all ends in the Seed this keeps over all Pretences in the Substance and over the Airy Spirits that be out of the Life running up and down sowing Dissention Tatling and Back-biting and Whispering and setting one against another The Seed Christ is over that Spirit and he hath little room in their Hearts for they are abroad in the Fields Above the World lifting up themselves higher than the World but are worse to deceive the Simple but Truth and the Light and the Life is over all that in which all keep your Habitation for Adam lost his Habitation and so his Sons and Daughters who are in the Disobedience are in the Fall and the Jews lost their Habitation from the Love of God and so they lost their Authority and were mingled among the Heathen And the Apostate-Christians lost their Habitation from the Life and Power that the Apostles were in And so have brought all Christendom into Heaps and Sects about outward things being out of the Life and Word which was in the Beginning before the Apostacy and the Fall was So live in the Word in that you have Life and Dominion and Authority over all that which Adam and Eve's Sons and Daughters invented and also over all in the Fall In which Word you have Wisdom as I said before and there is a faithful Witness Christ whose Name is called the Word and he is the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending the Amen And Friends keep over all the Bustlings and Wars and Strife and the Talkers of such things among the Sons of Adam in the Fall you that be in Christ Jesus that never fell in whom is the Peace who makes the First Adam's Sons and Daughters to break their Swords into Plough-Shares and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks that they shall not learn War any more for they that be there are in the foolish State but they that are in Christ are in the wise State and have Spiritual Weapons though accounted by the World foolish yea the Wisdom of God is so to the Wisdom of the World which is Foolishness And so you that the Lord hath blessed in outward things for his Truth keep over them and out of them serving the Lord who hath blessed you lest you be intangled So keep above them in the Righteous Life and Conversation that Righteousness may flow to all Men in all things Honesty and Truth and that which doth Justice and doing justly that may flourish for whose Conversation is ordered aright they shall see the Salvation of God keep out of all Heats and Passions and over the tempestuous Spirits the ground of which is Vncleanness all which are up and down and sudden which makes a Mountain of Wickedness and Vnholiness and keeps out of the Holy Mountain which they that walk in the Light of the Lord goes to and they are taught his Ways Take heed of a false Liberty in any thing to the Flesh but keep your first Love and Habitation in the Power and Truth of God for the lowly Mind the humble and meek and broken and contrite Spirit and Heart the Lord doth not despise but exalt Keep out of the many Words of the World and take heed of a liberty of going into them but keep in the Power of the Lord God over all which was before all and is over all that your Lives and Conversations may preach to all Men and adorn the Truth of God and speak in the Hearts of all Men. Forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some was in the beginning of the Apostacy which entred into the reasoning Part and so went from the Exhorting daily and the Building and the Fellowship and the Communion of the Saints in the Spirit and from the Flocks and the Garden of God which he waters with his Water of Life and feeds with his Bread of Life and sets open his broad Rivers of Living Water to drink And such as forsake the Assemblies of the Righteous some for fear of the Earth and Sufferings become quarrelling Spirits and so go out of the Path of the Flocks Footsteps and sits not down with the Flock at Noon-day in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus for there the Flocks meet and there they have all a Fountain through which they are all of one Soul and Mind and Judgment and Heart and Spirit and comes to be gathered out of all the Separations and Sects and Fellowships and Gatherings and Meetings of Adam and Eve in the Fall and sits down in Christ Jesus that never fell where the Fulness is and the Life in whom there is no Shadow no Variableness nor Turning in him that is the Way But Oh the Poverty the Shadows the Variableness the Turnings the Worships and Traditions and the Sects that be in the World among the Sons of Adam in the Fall Oh the Riches that is in him that never fell the Peace and the Life that was with the Father before the World began the Amen And Friends take heed of the vain Inventions and Arts of the World keep out of their Rhimes and their Verses for they are the Arts of Men and stirs up the light part and lifts up that that pertains to it self that is stirred up that will turn in the end to the Strife or the Earth But you that lives in the Word of God that never fell changes nor alters do not but as you are moved by it and that will stand and remain in whom you may know a Dwelling Life over Death and before it was for the Serpent that got into Adam and Eve by Disobedience they
Spirit the Living God who is a Spirit the God of all Truth he hath his Glory and Honour from the Spirit of the Lord in every Heart And so keep in the Spirit and Truth and Power of the Everlasting God who is from Everlasting to Everlasting that you may know him Lord of the Earth and of the Heaven and of the Heaven of Heavens Ruling and Reigning whose Eye is over all his Works that you may glorifie him in his Power and Spirit and serve him in the New Life which will keep you over all Mens Fables and Devices Whimsies and Imaginations out of all Janglings and vain Disputes of Men of corrupt Minds And so it is good for you all to live in him which is the same to day as he was yesterday Christ Jesus the Power of God and the Seed of Life and Word which was in the Beginning So no new thing but that which was and is to all Eternity Let your Fellowship be in that and your Vnity and Communion be in that for this is seen by the Eternal Eye the Eternal Vnity and the Eternal God So hear his Voice every one of you that speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes the Earth and not the Earth only but the Heavens also The Heavn imports Joys So all the false Joys the lifted-up Joys or exalted Joys and Joys in vain glory and Joys in the world or any outward thing or creature and Men or Women His Voice that speaks from Heaven shakes the Earth and the Heavens and this must be shaken and removed both the Heavens and the Earth before that doth appear that can never be shaken the Noble Royal Seed Elect and Precious before the World began being Heirs of Him come to Inherit Him In Him you shall know that which cannot be shaken and there is the true Joy in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting who is the Beginning and Ending Here is not any either lifted up or fallen down to dispair So I say hear his Voice harden not your Hearts for not hearing the Voice you harden your Hearts and then you provoke God to Wrath and sore Displeasure Let Him have your Ear that speaks from Heaven that you may come to observe his Counsel Teaching Instruction and Direction for all the Prophets and holy Men of God and the Apostles were attentive and obedient to this Heavenly Voice who Witnessed to the Truth who had a Witness in Heaven also And such declared forth the Glorious Truth which they had from the Instructions of the Almighty as you may read throughout the Scriptures what glorious Expressions and weighty Truths they declared whose Ears were attentive to Him that spoke from Heaven and how also they declared against them that stopped their Ears and closed their Eyes and hard ned their Hearts Their Ears not being attentive to the Heavenly Voice but to the Earthly and so if the Earthly and the Sin and Evil have the Ear it will fill it with that which is bad and harden the Heart and choak the Good therefore the Lord must have the Ear who is the Ruler of Heaven and Earth And as your Ears are attentive to the Lord's Voice that speaks from Heaven Iniquity's Mouth is stopped in you the Throne of Iniquity is thrown down in you that is the Wicked Spirit and Power where Iniquity fits and the Chambers of Imagery are thrown down in you where all Thoughts and Imaginations are As the Ear is attentive to the Voice of Him that speaketh from Heaven you will come to the Throne of the Lamb who hath the Power who hath the Victory and the Dominion that all may live there in the Everlasting Power of God that goes over all Deceit which was before Deceit and Darkness was and always feel a growing in the Power of the Lord God that is Universal and Everlasting that you may all be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and come to Inherit it and possess it and sit down in the Possession of the same that every one's Lot may fall in the Land of the Living where the Lord hath his Glory and his Honour for ever and ever O the Glory Glory of the Lord that spreads it over all And here you have his Savour and can taste your Meat in the Power of the Lord God feeding upon every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God having every one's Ear attentive to his Voice In this you grow up in the Life that is Eternal G. F. OH Dear Friends Epist 246. Mind every one your Habitation in the Power of the Lord God that first Convinced you and keep your Possession in it in the sense of God's Love and Mercy to your Souls for your Vnity and Fellowship lies in the spotless Power Truth and Life of the Everlasting God of Life and Power and herein to you the Springs of Life will be opened through which you may be daily Refreshed up to the God of Life Oh be tender of the spotless Truth and Life through which you may come to answer it in all Friends that they may have Vnity with you in the same Life and Power through which you may be a good Savour to God and a Blessing to him in your Generations serving the Lord God in the Newness of Life as a Chast Spouse and Bride to him in Body Soul and Spirit having an Esteem of your Bodies which are for the Lord and to be his Temple not for Adultery or Fornication nor Idolatry Oh therefore mind and keep in the holy Life and feel the Moving and Counselling Power and Spirit of the Almighty in you directing you into the Ways of Truth and Righteousness Peace and Holiness without which none shall see God Live in the Peaceable Life and love it eye that which makes for Peace for God is the Author of Peace and not of Confusion So live all in the precious Truth of God feeling it in its Operation through which Vnity and the Peaceable Life may be preserved amongst you in Righteousness and Peace for Wars and Strifes and Troubles and Fightings comes by Unrighteous Actions which is below Truth and Righteousness for Truth leads into the modest decent and comely Life which is Honourable and Esteemable to God and in the Hearts of all his People So live in the Truth and the Power of it that you may all come to be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and to Inherit and Possess the Endless Life the Power of a World that hath no end And so keep your Eyes to your Possessions and to the Life that hath no end and herein you will encrease in the Truth in the Righteousness and Holiness and the Power and Virtue of the Holy Life and so sit down in your Possessions that you may all serve the Lord in a pure Mind Soul and Spirit and none to defile your Bodies but have esteem of them as Vessels of Honour and Vessels fitted to receive the Treasures of the Lord. London
never changeth For the Word is the same now as it was in the Beginning in Ages past manifested over all which many Thousands have received Glory and Blessing to the Lord God for ever So be Faithful that you may be one another's Crown and rejoycing in the Lord going together in the Love and Fear of the Lord. For Friends in Maryland were a pretty People And Friends you have had large Experience of that Spirit that run into the Hat that it was not of God which scatters to the World and begot none to God which is to be bruised by the Seed of God Christ Jesus which gathers to God London the 1st of the 7th Month 1667. G. F. To Friends in Holland DEar Friends In the Everlasting Power of the Lord God Epist 253. I salute all the Faithful and Vpright among whom the Lord hath Joy and Delight in which Everlasting Power of God have you your Vnity Fellowship and Dominion And so Friends all Sufferings of Friends of what sort soever for Conscience sake to Christ in Holland in Germany in Zealand in Gilderland in the Palatinate in Freezland Sweedland Switzerland and Hambrough send an Account for what they have suffered and by whom together with the Examples that are fallen upon the Persecutors with their Mittimusses and Examinations send all these to London to Friends there that if any Ambassadors or Agents out of any of those Places come to London Friends may make Application to them for there are some Friends who are ordered for the same Purpose to take knowledge of such things And likewise if any Friends have come over into those Parts of the World and have not walked answerable to the Gospel of Truth but have walked scandalously and disorderly whether they have been such who have come over to Minister or Sea-men and Factors or Merchants or Masters of Ships whereby the Lord God hath been dishonoured and his Holy Name blasphemed by which his People are called And also all such who have not been Faithful in their Callings between Man and Man but have been deceitful in their Callings and have been Exactors and have not been true to their Word by such Doings they cause the Holy Name of the Lord God and his Righteous Truth to be evil spoken of That a List of all such may be gathered up and sent over to London to such who are to receive them and that if they condemn those things and have given forth a Paper of Condemnation against them if so that we may have a Copy of it also to take away the Reproach of their Transgressions from Frinds And let the Faithful Friends amongst you meet together to consider and take Care about these things G. F. FRiends Epist 254. let your Affections be set on things that are above for if they be on things below then your Minds Bodies Souls and Spirits will be brought into Bondage and in that the Evil will get into you and burden you which ought to be kept down by the Seed of Life And learn the true Humility of Christ the Second Adam And so all they that watch for the Soul must have the Immortal Eye for the Soul is Immortal And therefore all Eyes must be kept above that which is Mortal and out of it up to the Immortal God whose Dwelling is in the Light And so mind the Gospel which is Immortal and the Government of him that never sinned nor fell and to know the increase of it daily which hath no end For the Lord is establishing his Church in Righteousness and Truth whose Church is without spot wrinkle and blemish or any such thing and his People are a holy Generation and they are to stand up for Holiness in which Holiness they will see God among them And let every one see that they do keep their own Vineyard clean Dear Friends mind the Gospel which is the Power of God that was hefore the Devil and old Adam was in this Power is the Comely Order and out of this Power is all the Vncomely Orders And so know the Government of Christ and the Increase thereof which hath no end And this Governour and Government was before the Devil and old Adam was and will stand when all that is gone G. F. DEar Friends Epist 255. all who from the Beginning have been convinced of God's Truth and are turned to the World or gone into Drunkenness Swearing Pleasure and Loosness or to the old Mass-house or have fold the Truth for a Wife or Husband and gone to the Priests covertly to be Married contrary to the Truth they have professed These all must be Admonished to come to the Light that did first Convince them and give forth a Paper of Condemnation and send it to the Priests and to those Places where they have dishonoured God his Truth and People And so to clear the Truth that none may make a Jest of their Transgressions and by walking out of the Truth cause the Blind to wander so that the House may be swept And ye being an holy Generation may stand up for Holiness in your Generation as the Wicked World stands up for Vnholiness Surrey the 10th of the 7th Month 1668. G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 256. Live in the Wisdom of God which is gentle and pure from above and easie to be intreated all bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ And if any weakness should appear in any in your Meetings not for any to lay it open and tell it abroad that 's not Wisdom that doth so for Love covereth a multitude of Sins and Love preserves and edifies the Body and he that dwells in Love dwells in God for God is Love and Love is not easily provoked and therefore keep the Law of Love to keep down that which is so provoked for that which is easily provoked hath Words which are for Condemnation Therefore let the Law of Love be amongst you which is not easily provoked and this Law of Love being amongst you it will keep down that which is so provoked and its Words and so the Body edifies it self in Love G. F. DEar Friends be faithful in the Service of God Epist 257. and mind the Lord's Business and be diligent so will the Power of the Lord be brought over all those that have gain-say'd it And all ye that are faithful go to visit them that have been Convinced from House to House that if it be possible ye may not leave a Hoof in Egypt And so every one go seek the lost Sheep and bring him home on your backs to the Fold and there will be more joy of that one Sheep than the Ninety and nine in the Fold And Friends all take heed of Sleeping in Meetings and Sottishness and Dulness for it is an unsavoury thing to see one sit Nodding in a Meeting and so to lose the Sense of the Lord And it 's a Shame and a Sadness both and it grieveth the
Living and the Leaves thereof heal the Nations And this Tree stands in the midst of God's Garden who saith In the midst of thy Church will I sing Praise The Eyes of People are upen it which are living Stones a spiritual Houshold of Faith Elect and Precious the Church of the living God written in Heaven so Holiness becomes the House of the Lord. And therefore the Lord doth require more from Friends than all other People because he hath given more to them and so all People do expect more from Friends than all other People in answering that of God in them all in truth and in Righteousness Holiness and Godliness for ye are the Lights of the World and the Salt of the Earth to season it So all must glorifie the Lord God in their Lives and Conversations with their Bodies Spirits and Souls which are Christ's who has bought them and cleansed them with his Blood and the pure Water of his Word who makes them sanctified Vessels of his Mercy for his Glory therefore none must dishonour the Lord. And therefore my Desires are that you may all be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and keep up all your Men and Womens Meetings in the Lord's Power the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light and it will preserve you in Life and Immortality over hom that hath darkned you and in this all will see their Works and Services for the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus in that which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in which Gospel is an Everlasting Perfect Fellowship and Order which will stand when all others are gone all the Saints that do enjoy this cannot but Praise the Lord and sing Praises to him for ever and ever Amen The Apostle saith If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 So they that are in Christ are new Creatures and they that are in old Adam are old Creatures and are in their old Things old Ways old Worships Old things done away and old Religions and have the old Garments and the old Bottles that hold the old Wine and cannot endure the new and have the old rusty moth-eaten Treasure And they that are in Christ the heavenly and spiritnal Second Adam who maketh all things new are new Creatures and spiritual Men and are heavenly-minded and are new Bottles that hold the new Wine and the new heavenly Treasure and have the new Cloathing the fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ and are in the New and Living Way over all the dead Ways and they are in the New Worship which Christ set up above Sixteen hundred Years ago which is in the Spirit and in the Truth in which Holy Spirit and Holy Truth the Holy God is worshipped And this was new to both Jews and Gentiles and is new to all the Apostate Christians who are not in the Holy Spirit and Truth that the Apostles were in And this new Creature in Christ hath a new Religion which is pure and undefiled The new Creature bath the pure Religion and keepeth from the spots of the World And this Religion is new to the Jews and Gentiles and all the apostatized Christians that plead for a Body of Death and Sin to the Grave and a Purgatory when they are dead And they that be in Christ are new Creatures and they have a new Head who is the Head of all things the First born of every Creature and the Frist-begotten from the dead who is alive and liveth for evermore who bruiseth the Serpent's Head who hath made things old but Christ maketh all things new and they tht be in him are new Creatures and they that be out of Christ are the old Creatures in Old Adam and these old Creatures are doting about their old things and their old Bottles old Wine old Garments and are doting about their old Ways old Religions and old worships and persecuting one another with their old Carnal Weapons these old Creatures which dote about their old Worships Religions and Ways so that one old Creature falleth out with another old Creature so that these old doting Creatures in Old Adam out of Christ the Second Adam do wrestle with Flesh and Blood about their old Ways Religions and Worships And these old doting Creatures which be out of Christ the Saviour do destroy one another about their old Ways Worships Religions and Churches And these old Creatures that be out of Christ the Head are monstrous Bodies without a Head till that they have made one and then the old Creatures set it upon their Body which Head as they do think doth pardon their Sins and when this their Head is fallen off their Body then they do make another and set it on their old Creature 's Body But they that are in Christ are new Creatures And Christ is their Redeemer c. and Christ is their Head who is their Redeemer Sanctisier and Saviour who is alive and liveth for evermore and walk in Christ the Second Adam who is Heavenly and spiritual And the old Creatures out of Christ their Walk is in old Adam who are Natural and Carnal and so are their Weapons and Armour that they defend their old Ways Church Religion and worship with they are Carnal and not Spiritual by which they kill one another and the old Creatures do study or dote which way they may destroy or imprison persecute or banish spoil or torture the Righteous or new Creatures in Christ And they that be in Christ are new Creatures their Weapons and Armour are Spiritual and they do not wrestle with Flesh and Blood but Spiritual Wickedness and Rulers of Darkness in high Places and bring down Imaginations and high Thoughts as Christ whom those new Creatures are in teacheth them who saith that He came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them and rebuked such as would have had Mens Lives destroyed and told them that they did not know what Spirit they were of So it is clear that the old Creatures that be out of Christ which destroy Mens Lives about their old Ways Churches Religions and their old Worships do not know what Spirit they are of and although they do not know what Spirit they are of whether it be a good spirit or a bad one yet People must conform to that Way Religion Worship and Church that this old Creature that is out of Christ hath set up or else he will persecute them or destroy their Lives They that do Persecute for Rcligion are ignorant what Spirit they are of though Christ saith They do not know what Spirit they are of And is not this hard to conform to that which the old Creatures have made and set up which do not know their own Spirits nor what Spirit they bd of And therefore were not those Doctrines Ordinances Traditions and Rudiments of the World the old Creatures who
Wisdom and Sobriety and Gravity and Sincerity in Purity and Cleanness And keep free from Deceit and have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them And be Faithful to the Lord walk so as the World may be confounded and ashamed when they speak evil of you as Evil-Doers walking in Humbleness Lowliness and Uprightness before them it will take away all just Occasion of speaking Evil against the Truth And be bold and valiant for the Truth and press forward towards the Mark of the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus and let no Man take your Crown Dear Friends watch over one another in Love and stir up that which is pure in one another and exhort one another daily And the Lord keep you all in his Fear and in his Obedience now and evermore G. F. FRiends Fear not the Powers of Darkness but keep your Meetings and meet in that Epist 23. which keeps you over them and in the Power of God ye will have Unity And Dwell in Love and Vnity one with another and know one another in the Power of an Endless life which doth not change And know the Second Adam The first and second Adam the Lord from Heaven which is above the First Adam the Earthly where all Strife and Transgression is And all Friends every where be Faithful in the Life and Power of God and keep your Meetings above all the World in that which changes not that nothing but Christ may reign among you the Power of God and the Wisdom of God the Sanctification and Redemption that the Just over all may reign and the Seed of God may have the Dominion in you all that with that ye may all be ordered to the Glory of God Love thinks no Evil. and kept in the Bond of Peace and reign in the love of God which is out of the Iniquity and rejoiceth not in it which thinks no Evil. And have this Love shed abroad in all your Hearts and feel it abiding in you which Love of God edifies the Body And know the Word of God abiding in you The Word of God its Effects which was in the beginning and brings to the Beginning which Word being ingrafted it saves the Soul and hammers down and throws down and burns up that which wars against it G. F. TO all Friends every where Epist 24. Dwell in the Truth and walk in the Love of the Truth in Patience and every one in your Measure keep your Habitations and learn that good Lesson of Jesus Christ To be Low and Meek in heart giving no Occasion to the Adversary by Evil-doing Walk Vprightly But walk all honestly and uprightly for the Vpright and Meek in Heart know God and God delights in the Upright and Righteous And walking in Vprightness ye will be bold as Lions resisting the Wicked with your Spiritual Weapons not by bloody Hands as the Wicked are tearing and rending the Just that dwell in the Truth For the Lions want and hunger and rage but ye that fear the Lord shall want no good thing and they that wait upon the Lord he will give them their hearts Desire I witness the Words of the Lord to be true praised be his Name O Friends dwell in the Fear of the Lord and take heed of Presumption Presumption that your Minds run not out into Vanity and Lightness that the World may not take Occasion and the Truth suffer But every one keep your Habitation where God hath called you and take heed of Deceit and form nothing in your own Wills or Minds but grow up in the Inner Man putting off the Old Man with his Deeds as Trees of Righteousness which the Lord hath planted growing in Wisdom and Understanding to do the Will of God and not your own Wills He that doth the Will of God abideth in that which endureth for ever and seeth all Flesh to be as Grass and the Glory of the World to pass away Wo to the Proud Wo unto you proud Men who Compass the Earth to set your Nests on high all your Gods of Gold and Silver must perish and that Mind that holds them up must perish But all Friends mind that which is Eternal which gathers your Hearts together up to the Lord and lets you see that ye are written in one another's Heart Meet together every where growing up in the Spirit to the Lord the Fountain of Life the head of all things God blessed for ever Let not hard Words trouble you nor fair Speeches win you but dwell in the Power of Truth in the mighty God and have Salt in your selves to savour all Words and to stand against all the Wiles of the Devil in the mighty Power of God For God that raised up his own Seed in his Saints which Seed Christ is but one in all and spreads over all and throughout all and we now are thro' him come to have Dominion and Power over the Evil-One and to tread upon that which hath been too strong for us the Enemy of our Peace and the Enemy of our Unity with God and one with another Our Vnity with God and one with another So in that which is raised up in us which trampleth upon the Earthly dark Power have we Vnity with God and Fellowship with his Son and Vnity one with another so known to one another in that which none who are of the World knoweth So our Life is hid and our Happiness Joy and Delight hid from all who are ruled and governed by the Prince of the Air from under whose Dominion and Government we are Redeemed by the only Redeemer Christ Jesus not with Corruptible things neither is our Redemption of Man nor by man nor according to the Will of Man but Contrary to Man's Will And so our Unity and Fellowship with vain Man is loft and all his evil Ways are now turned into Enmity and all his Profession is now found to be Deceit and in all his fairest Pretences lodgeth Cruelty and the Bottom and Ground of all his Knowledge of God and Christ is found Sandy A Sandy Knowledge and cannot endure the Tempest For being brought off from that Foundation and having suffered the Loss of all which seemed beautiful upon the Sand which was there builded according to that Wisdom which was not Eternal but was Earthly upon which the Curse of God was and yet doth remain where it is standing we do declare against that Bottom and Foundation by the Power of God in that Light of Christ which discovers all false Foundations and makes manifest all Sandy Bottoms which Man hath builded upon For where the only true Seed takes Root Earthly Plants and Dwellings there all Man's Plants and Plantations are plucked up for there the Earth in which the Earthly Plants do grow is broken up plowed up and ripped up and all things made manifest which have lain hid in it For in
Seed Christ that never fell nor never will fall nor never changed nor never will change In this Seed Christ is Peace and Rest out of all Troubles out of all Whimsies Christ the Rest foolish Dreams Imaginations Fancies false Visions false Revelations For the Seed in which the Blessing is is felt and the Life and the Light and the Righteousness and the Truth that answers the Witness of God in all Men and Women whether they will hear or forbear And so all that are in Adam in the Fall both Men and Women and there remaining in the Fall they never are in Rest nor Peace Adam in the Fall his Travels but are in Travels Wars Strife Fightings the Lusts being the Ground of all this And Whimsies and Imaginations Fancies false Visions false Dreams Arrogancy Pride Ambition Swellings Puffed-up-ness that beings Shame and covers them with Shame which they possess that are in the Fall out of Christ the Second Adam that never fell For in Adam in the Fall is all the inward foul Weather Storms Tempests Winds Strifes the whole Family of it in Confusion being all gone from the Spirit and the Witness of God in themselves and the Power and the Light in which Power Light and Spirit is the Fellowship with God and one with another through which they come out of Adam in the Fall into the Second Adam that never fell The Second Adam the Quickner the Quickener who awakens Old Adam's Children in the Fall out of their Sleep of Sin and brings them out of his Ways up unto himself the Way Christ that never fell nor changed and out of and from his Teachers and Priests and Shepherds c. that change and fall to the Priest Shepherd and Prophet that never fell nor never changed nor never will fall nor change nor leave the Flock in the cold Wealther nor in the Winter nor Storms nor Tempests nor the Voice of the Wolf doth not frighten him from his Flock For the Light the Power the Truth the Righteousness did it ever leave you in any Weather or in any Storms or Tempests And so his Sheep know his Voice and follow him who gives them Life Eternal abundantly who saith to all that are Dead in Adam I am come mark I am come that ye Dead in Adam might have Life Christ the Second Adam is come that the Dead in the first Adam might have Life and might be quickened and might be awakened to Righteousness who are asleep in the Vnrighteousness And so he doth invite all Adam's Posterity to come to him that all through him might believe and come to Light and come to Life and come up into Peace and Rest for in the Second Adam ye have Peace ye have Rest So they have no Peace nor Rest in the Old Adam in the Fall but in the Second Adam Christ that never fell is both the Rest Christ the Rest and Peace and the Peace and the Life But in Adam in the Fall is neither Rest nor Peace nor Life but Darkness and Trouble and Sorrow and Burdenings and Changins And this Adam's Sons and Daughters in the Fall do inherit and possess in the World Therefore all come out of Adam in the Fall and haste to him that never fell nor never changed in whom ye have all both Rest and Peace and Life that was with the Father before the World began And so Meeting in the Name In in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that never fell keep your Meetings ye who are gathered in his Name and then ye will see over all the Gatherings of Old Adam's Sons and Daughters that be in the Fall and out of his Name But ye being gathered into his Name that never fell Christ Jesus fell the Seed of God over all that set that makes to suffer which was before that was and will stand and remain when that is all gone So Farwell G. F. MY Friends Epist 124. Be faithful and keep your Meetings and in that Light wait which comes from the Head Christ in whom are all your Lives from whence ye have your Light which is the Life in the Son The High Calling in Christ And ye which do witness the High Calling in Christ Jesus and are redeemed by him out of the World and are become New Greatures walk above the World and be not Hasty but in the Light and Life wait that with it your Minds may be directed and guided and joined together with that which is Immortal and Undefild in one Spirit up to the Immortal God And that with the Spirit One Baptism One Faith which he hath given you ye may witness the One Baptism into One Body and ye all with the Light may see the One Faith which Christ is the Author and the Finisher of and that ye may all see the End of you Faith the Salvation of your Souls with that which gives you the Victory over the World And fear the Lord and take heed of Strife and live in Peace and Love one with another believing all in the Light which maketh manifest that all ye may be the Children of the Light And this Belief giveth the Victory over the World He that is of this Faith is born of God and he that believeth in the Light shall not abide in Darkness nor shall ever be confounded For he believeth in that which manifesteth that which is to be confounded and trampled upon and he shall not be condemned but shall have the Light of Life And he that believeth not in the Light is with the Light condemned already And he that heareth not the Voice of the Son of God doth not live but is in Death Therefore he that heareth not the Light which comes from Christ the Life The Voice of the Son of God heareth nor the Vioce of the Son of God and he cometh not to Life And the Hour is come that they which have been in the Graves have heard the Voice of the Son of God and do live and they that do not hear the Voice of the Son of God do not live but are in the Death and the Grave And they that come to believe in the Light hear the Voice of the Son of God and live and out of the Condemnation are come and live over Death and the Grave and Hell and so come to Life G. F. FRiends to you all this is the World of the Lord Epist 125. Know the Seed of God in one another which Seed is Christ Look not out then ye will not Wonder but will be a-top of the Wonderer The Seed The Wonderer which is Christ being known in one another which the Promise of God is to every one of you know the Promises fulfilled in you whereby ye all may witness the Blessing of God fulfilled to you and in you And so in this the Lord God Almighty preserve you all to his Glory and that ye all may know the Flesh of Christ
and the Mystery of the Fellowship is Everlasting So if any wants the Power of God he wants the Mystery in which is the Fellowship althought he may have all the Scriptures 2. And now Friends if any be moved of the Lord God by his Power be Obedient to it Obedience to the Power and waithin the Life and in the Power and it will direct you to the Glory of God in his Wisdom not to abuse it that whatsoever ye do ye may do it to his Glory ye answering the Just Principle of God in every one 3. If any be moved to go to the Steeple-houses or Markets or to Rereove Sin in the Gate or to Exhort High or Low or to Reprove them Reason not with Flesh and Blood nor quench the Spirit And when ye have done in the same Spirit live and then ye will have Peace and Rest and Fellowship with God and one with another For the vnity is in the Spirit and it is the Bond of Peace 4. And all Friends in your Meetings do not quench the Spirit And take heed Judging in Meetings and do not judge one another in the Meetings but have patience until the Meetings be done So if any have any thing upon him to speak to another he may speak to him after the Meeting is done that will cover one another's Weakness and not hurt othres 5. And all Friends every where wait to feel the Power of God in your selves in your Meetings Sleeping in Meetings And take heed of Sleeping and feel the Power of God in one another that ye all may be in the Mystery of the Fellowship For Wo unto them that are at Ease in Zion I Warn and Charge you all in the Presence of the Living God that none make their Habitation in the Earth or build Tabernacles there lest ye become Vagabonds from the Lord But let every one rest in his Habitation in God and here is no Vagabond but there shall every one know an Heir-ship an Habit ation and an Inher it ance And I warn and charge you from the Lord not to make any of the World's Jewels your God but live all in the Power of the Lord God in which ye will be carried over the Spirit of the World 6. And Friends all every where dwell in the Love and Fear of the Lord God and in Peace one with another and in the Power and Life of the Lord God keep your Meetings and live in the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Gospel which is Everlasting This is to go to all the Meetings in the North among them to be reda G. F. FRiends Every one of you having a Light from the Son of God Epish 170. wait in it that ye may come to receive the Son of God from whence it comes and receive Power from him tobecome the Sons of God To Friends at Worcester and have Faith in him For who are of Faith are of abraham's Seed which faith gives the Victory over the World It is by Faith Concerining the Light our Hearts are purified So. dwell in the Light Faith which casts out all Jangling Spirits in which ye may have vnity one with another Vnity and with Christ from whence the Light comes and with the Father whom he is the Way to And that with the Light ye may answer the Light in every Man which comes from Christ though they hate it So the Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you AND all keep your Meetings in the Power of God that the Lord ye may see present among you G. F. An Epistle General to them who are of the Royal Priesthood About 1659. and Chosen Generation Given forth from the Movings of the Power and Spirit of Truth and now made publick To be sent abroad among the Saints scattered in Old and New-England Germany Holland Ireland Scotland Barbados and Virginia for them to read in the Fear of the Lord. FRiends Let all that ye do Epist 171. be done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom all things were made and created that ye may do that which ye do in the true Dominion and then what ye do ye do in the Power of God And all Friends dwell in Love for that is the Mark of Disciple and Fruits of Faith and the Spirit Love the Mark of a Disciple which Love out of a pure Heart is the End of the Commandment and fulfils the Law and in that is Edification and Building And the Fruits of being past from Death to Life there is Love to God Brethren and Enemies being in the Seed that destroys Death and the Power of it the Devil We need no Mass for to teach us for the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture teacheth us how to pray sing praise rejoice 1. The Mass honour and worship God and in what and how to walk and to behave our felves to God and Man and leadeth us into all Truth in which is our Unity and it is our Comforter and Guide and Leader and not Men without which say They have not the Spirit and Power as the Apostles had that gave forth the Scriptures And we need not your Common-Prayer to teach us for the Spirit 2. Common-Prayer that gave forth Scriptures teacheth us how to pray praise sng fast and to give thanks and to praise and worship andin what and how to honour and glorifie God and how to walk before Him and Men and how to use all Creatures upon the Earth and leadeth and guideth into all Truth which was given forth from it which reproves the World of Sin That is our Comforter Leader and Guider by which we know Sonship and in which we have Unity and this doth ever change But that which Man doth invent and their Prayers and Forma which do say Men's invented Forms That they have not the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures do change But the Spirit that gave forth Scriptures teacheth us how to pray speak sing fast give thanks and how to read them with Vnderstanding and how to walk before God and Man and how to worship God and in what for it leadeth us into all Truth which is our Comforter in which we have Unity and Fellowship and to know the true Religion which doth never change And so the Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures is our Director Guide Leader and Comforter which reproveth the World for Sin Directories the End of them And this leadeth to see the End of all Directories which Man invents which have not the Spirit the Apostles had and when they cannot hold it up they cry to the Powers of the Earth to help them And these we see are from the Spirit erred and without the Spirit with whom we cannot trust our Bodies Spirits nor Souls into their hands but have committed them to the Lord whose they are And we are a People that are redeemed from the
earthly Spirits and their dark earthly Spirit and the Power of God was before they were and will remain when that they are gone and it reigns over them all And that is the Word of the Lord God to you all And for my part I had as leive see a Priest to stand up in a Meeting as one of these dark earthly Spirits with their Hats on their Heads when that Friends pray for they cannot deceive Friends For I have been more burthened with their dark subtle and Sophistical Spirit than with the Priests which had no more shew of Reverence to God in that than to a Horse whose outward seeming Righteousness hath deceived many but the Power of God which destroyeth the Deceiver undeceiveth and bringteth People to that which did first Convince them And they that kept on their Hats when Friends prayed after a while some of them ran to the Priests to be married and some to hear them in the Steeple-Houses then this dark earthly Spirit could bow and put off its Hat to its own the dark Spirit which kept on the Hat in the Assemblies of the Righteous in Opposition against the Spirit and Power of God A Fainedness of Love And so this Spirit hath led People into a Fainedness of Love and Liberty which the Power and Spirit of God cannot own but judge and stand over and reign over if they keep their Habitations in the Power and Life and Truth of God which reigneth If they that are and have been in this dark earthly Spirit had but had a regard to the Power of God and his Truth they would have been Tender Offence given and afraid of giving any Occasion of Offence both to them that are within and to them that are without to draw out their Minds to look at that which their earthly Spirit has promoted and so to lay Stumbling-blocks and set up an Idol and an Image to look at which draws Peoples Eyes from the Witness of God in themselves But the Power of God is gone over it and will break it down And so this Belial's Spirit which would be without Yoke cries to such as in Love exhort them and judge it Ye Lord over us And so this earthly dark Spirit which is gotten above the Witness of God in themselves which is not sensible of the moving Spirit and Power of God it sets up its own earthly Form which the Power of God never set up An earthly Spirit but judges And this earthly Spirit judges all that are gathered together in the Power and that are constrained by the Power and Love of God in a familiar way to take one another by the Hand through the dearness and nearness of the Love of God and the pure clean and holy Life and also are moved by the Power of the Lord God to put off their Hats in Prayer This dark Sophistical earthly Spirit thus hath judged these Practices of the People of God afore-mentioned to be but a Form which are done in the Power of God it being out of the Power it self and the Fellowship and Vnity of it And because they that are in it are gone from that which first convinced them into outward things and into their Form in the earthly Spirit it judges those that will not follow them that have lost the Power of God And thus many of them are darkned with a cankered rusty Spirit which will corrupt them and hath destroyed many And this is that Hardness of Heart that has brought the Plague of Hardness of Heart through which there has been Strangeness and not Vnity nor Familiarness nor Nighness in the Truth for how should it when they are gone from that which firt Convinced them To that all must come before they have Fellowship and true Vnity in the Power and Truth of God which if that had been minded it would have led to follow Whatsoever things are Comely whatsoever things are Decent whatsoever things are of good Report and such things as make for Peace But this Spirit has followed the contrary and therefore the Power of the Lord God and the Life and Truth is against it and over it is gone and reigns And ye with your earthly Spirit and earthly Form have given Occasion to the World to say That the People of God called Quakers are divided some with their Hats on and some with them off and so they are opposite one to the other And these are the Fruits of the earthly Spirit which would bring Darkness and Earth over all but the Power of God is over this dark and earthly Spirit and the World and them that are in it and looketh upon them and the World as one against the Truth and the Power of God And the People of God called Quakers The Vnity of the People of God are One and not divided in the Power of God and his Truth and in God's Power and Spirit they are in Vnity in the Truth and Power of an endless Life This I was moved of the Lord God to write G. F. To Friends that Labour in the Ministry that their Lives may Preach DEar Friends and Brethren amongst whom the Vine is manifest Epist 215. and who are by Faith grafting into it The Vine made manifest through and in which ye may bear Fruit to glorifie God be Wise in all things and Harmless that your Lives Conversations and Innocency may preach and reach to the Hearts of all your Opposers and Persecutors And be Faithful and Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and Tender to one another in all Convenient outward things for that is the least Love And dwell in that which redeems you from the Earth the Power of God in which ye may know the Kingdom which is Everlasting and come to be Hairs of that that ye may sit down in your own Possession knowing the Seed of God which was before the Seed of the Serpent was knowing the Birth born of the Spirit The Birth of the Spirit which was before the Birth born of the Flesh was And so live in the Truth by which ye may see over that which stains corrupts cankers loads and burdens the Creation by which Power of God and Truth ye may answer the Spirit of God in all which the Wicked grieve vex and quench by their ungodly Lusts and filthy Conversation and unsavoury Words Fear not Sufferings which bring to wear the Crown Fear not him that can kill the Body only Through Sufferings the Crown but can't hurt the Soul for that that is Immortal goes over him Fear God and fear not him hat can spoil the Goods for the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness of it But mind God's Power and let your Patience be Perfect and all your Words seasoned with Grace that they may edifie by which ye may season the Earth your Hearts being establish'd in the same over all the unsavory Words and Talkers and live in the Truth above them And
World and in the Worship of God in the Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of So that in the Truth you may be preserved in Peace with God and one with another And in the Spirit of Truth you may be preserved in the Vnity and Fellowship of it in which is the Bond of Peace And my desire is that all the faithful Men and faithful Women in the Light and Power and Spirit of Christ And Possession of Truth all may be kept in the Possession of the Truth and that all such may make up the Men and Womens Meetings so that you all may be in your Possessions of the Order of the Gospel and the Government of Christ the Seed that bruises the Head of the Serpent who is the Head of all ill Government and Disorders So that the joyful and glorious Order of the Everlasting Gospel all may be in the Possession of so that in the Light Spirit and Power ye may all have a care of God's Glory and his Honour and his Church's Peace keeping in the Vnity of his Everlasting Spirit which is the Bond of the Heavenly and Spiritual Prince of Princes Peace And all that are in the Possession of this Admonish may admonish and exhort all such as walk not as becomes the Gospel and glorifie not the Lord with their Bodies Souls and Spirits and so see that as every one has received Christ Jesus that they do walk in him that all may walk in the Holiness which becomes the House of God so that God may be glorified by his Light Power and Spirit in all who is over all God blessed for ever And so the God of Glory who hath brought Christ from the Dead Quickned for what end by him are you quickned and raised from the Dead that henceforth you should not live to your selves but to him and walk in him who is the Amen and over all the First and Last G. F. ALL you that are Believers in the Light of Christ Epist 265. which manifesteth Darkness ye are kept by the Power of God unto the Day of Salvation So though your Salvation is not yet compleated Believers how kept yet you have your Keeper the Power of God which neither slumbers nor sleeps and it will keep you unto that Day For those Virgins in the Parable they had their Keeper by which they were preserved in their Virginity which they were never accused of loosing for it is said that the Cry was at midnight that is the mid time of Darkness for Darkness is called Night and the Voice of the Bridegroom was at midnight Arise Now they that had no Oil in their Lamps did not enter with the Bridegroom but they that had Oil did Now that which doth keep is the Power of God and preserves pure unto him in the Virginity from that which would defile the Virgin Mind Virgins and the Virgin Soul and Spirit For it is all from the same Man of Sin that defiles the Mind and the Spirit that leads them out to defile their Bodies and corrupt them therefore all is to mind their Keeper the Power of God which was before the Devil the Man of Sin Oils Lamps was by which Power of God they have Oil in their Lamps through which their Lamps may be always Burning in their Temple and such come to be the Temple of God for they that defile the Temple defile their Souls and Bodies they let in the Defiler and Destroyer and so their Lamps go out and they go from God and his Power the Keeper and such God will destroy and so many as are kept by the Power of the Lord unto the Day of Salvation Day of Salvation Power though the Day of Salvation is not yet compleated yet in the Day of Salvation the People of God are a willing People even in this Day of his Power And so they are to abide with their Keeper which is the Power of God for while they be in the Night and not in the Day of Salvation nor Day of Power tho' they may be in the Widerness of Temptations and Trouble Spiritual Israel's Travel yet may feel the Power the Keeper to lead through all these things out of Egypt through the Red Sea through the Wilderness through Jordan the River of Judgment and over the Canaanites and therefore every one's Faith is to stand in the Power of God and believe in the Power of God that will bring to the Day of God's Power and to the Day of his Salvation For the outward Jew did not enter because of Unbelief and so this great foul Man of Sin hath defiled all Mankind outwardly and inwardly And therefore all to have their Faith to stand in the Power of God their Keeper for the defilement is in the Night by the Power of Darkness and through it By Faith in the Power safety Therefore let thy Faith stand in the Power of God thy Keeper which will keep both Body and Soul and Spirit clean and blameless to the Day of Redemption and Day of Salvation and by the Power of God such will have a Dominion over the foul Man of Sin the Devil for it is he in People that leads and tempts to outward Defilement of their Body Loss of Virginity the Cause and so to lose their Virginity and it is he that draws their Minds from God and Christ and from God's Ways and his Worship and his Truth and his Spirit and his Grace and his Faith that he works in People Therefore if thy Faith stand in the Power of God all by it is preserved in this Body Soul and Spirit in Purity and a hidden Mind Soul and Spirit secret to the Lord who is a Spirit and they are preserved by his Power their Keeper For as is the saying of some of the World that are the most modest that they will keep their outward Virginity to the Day of their Death or of their Marriage but such as before that have no esteem of their Bodies no more than unruly Beasts Vncleanness give up their Bodies to Vncleanness and Themselves to work Wickedness and so forsake their Keeper the Power of God which should keep both inwardly and outwardly And so all the inward Virgin Minds and Souls and Spirits that are hidden to the Lord they will dye before they will lose their inward Virginity but will keep it to the Marriage of the Lamb as the Wise Virgins did by which Power they are preserved over the Man of Sin whom Christ their Husband bruises the Head of and destroys him and his work for Christ was before the Man of Sin was the Devil and his Works either who was glorified with the Father before the World began and therefore all such Virgins as are come to Christ and are married to him Christ your Husband He will deal with the foul Man of Sin Who are married to Christ and bruise his Head and break his Power
the Apostles Days who with the Light beareth witness against it not to be God's witness nor God's setting up And so the Children of the Light that believe in the Light their Bodies their Souls their Spirits and their Minds are washed clean in this pure clean holy Water that comes from above from the pure holy God which is one of these Witnesses in the Earth And the Blood The third Witness is his Blood with which the Hearts of People are sprinkled and their Consciences are sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus As Moses sprinkled the outside of the Posts c. with the Blood of Bulls and Goats which Blood of Bulls and Goats Christ's Blood ends which sprinkles the Heart and Conscience of People So this Blood of Jesus Christ the heavenly Man is felt in the Hearts and Consciences of People by which Blood they are sanctified they are cleansed from all their Dead Works to serve the Living God and to serve their Dead Works no longer So by this Blood they are cleansed from all Sin They that walk in the Light and believe in the Light they are Children of the Light and Children of the Day and the Blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God Blood of Christ cleanseth from all Sin cleanseth them from all Sin and their Garments are made white in the Blood of the Lamb by which they come to testifie of Jesus they overcome the Beast the Whore the false Church And so every true Believer believes as Christ hath taught them to Believe in the Light that so they may become Children of the Light The true Believer hath the Witness in himself They have these three Witnesses that bear witness in the Earth to bear witness in themselves and they can set to their Seal That God is true in all his Works in Prophets and Apostles and his Son and they shall come to know and do come to know the Three that bear Record in Heaven and the Three that bear Record in the Earth G. F. AND all ye Believers in the heavenly Light as Christ hath taught Epist 266. you seek that which is lost and driven away but the false Prophets false Ministers and Teachers they did not seek that which was lost True Ministers seek that which is lost and driven away from God they put no difference between the precious and the vile but mash all together like the Priests and Prophets of our times therefore seek that which was lost and driven away some may be driven away by the Storms some may be driven away by the great Winds of the Wicked and Storms of the Ungodly some may be driven away by Tempests and foul Weather and some may be lost in the foul Weather and lost in the Sea of the World for it is this wicked One that raiseth all these foul Weather and Storms therefore seek that which is lost ye that believe in the Light by which you see then you are distinguish'd from the false Prophets and Teachers and by the Light you put a difference between the precious and the vile for Jacob was found in a desart Land and you see all the Prophets how they sought that which was lost and the Apostles and how Christ encouraged to seek that which was lost and when the lost Sheep was found what Joy there was more than of the Ninety and Nine an who were they that make the Land desolate but the rough Esau's and wild Ishmael's and Core's and who makes the World as a Wilderness but the Devil and who brings the whole World to lie in Wickedness but the Devil that wicked One and if you should not find that which is lost and driven away at the first nor second To continue in seeking nor third time of seeking if you sould not find him that is lost go again that you may have your joy and rejoyce others for Christ in the Parable saith The Prodigal Son was lost yea was dead and is alive again when he had been feeding among Swine and upon Husks and could never fill his Belly When any such come back again they will tell you how hungry they were they could never fill their Bellies among the Husks while they went astray and tell you long Declarations of the Citizen that he was joined to And therefore when the lost is found and brought back again to the Father's House where there is Bread enough Joy for the lost Sheep is found there is Joy and the heavenly Instruments of Musick and the heavenly Feast of the heavenly Fat Things and the heavenly Robes of Righteousness are injoyed And so all be diligent ye Believers in the Light as Christ hath taught you look up and down in the Light you will see where the lost Sheep are and such as have been driven away you will spie them out out of the Woods or Brambles or Pits where there is no Water where they are ready to be Famish'd where they are tied with Thorns and Briars and so with the Light you will see and put a difference between the precious and the vile for whatsoever makes manifest is Light For by that you see and you will see with it how the false Prophets and Ministers and Teachers drive People away they drive them away from God and his Way from Christ and the Covenant of Light How angry they are with them that believe in it With their Clubs how have they beaten many and wounded many and imprisoned many because they would not be driven by them into the Devil's Pit-fold or Prison but do you never give over seeking for the Light shines over all which believe in and walk in the Path of the Just which is as a shining Light for it hath been the work of all the false Teachers and Ministers to drive away from God and his Truth and Light and those have been the Devil's Servants and the Wages he gives them is Death This hath been the Way of all true Ministers to seek that which was lost and that which was driven away as you may see Christ and the Apostles and all the true Prophets did and to bring them to feed in the Pastures of Life and gently to lead them whose Wages is Life and he gives them their heavenly Penny of Life Eternal G. F. To Ministring Friends FRiends Epist 267. All ye that Believe in the Light as Christ hath commanded that are become Children of the Light and of the Day and of the Promise Not to Judge one another and do minister therein do not judge one another in publick Meetings you that do Minister as you have received the Grace and have the Word of the Lord God committed to you that Minister abroad or go abroad in Cities Towns Countries or Nations do not judge one another nor reflect one upon another in publick Meetings for that hurts the Hearers and you do more hurt than you do good and that makes Confusion for if you have any
one anothers good preferring one another in the Truth And so let the true Brotherly Love continue and Kindness Affableness and Courteousness and whatsoever is Decent Comely and of a good Report in the Eyes of God and the Hearts of all good Men that to follow after and so that in your Men and Womens Meetings nothing may be seen of the old Leaven of the old Malice nor of the old Man nor hid Deeds nor his old Image nor his old Bottle may not be drank of nor his sowre Grapes eaten of for if you do it will set your Teeth on edge one against another But mind the Royal Seed Christ Jesus that makes all things new that new and Living Way a new Man after God and his Image So Children of the New Covenant having the new Leaven that leavens up onto the Love of God which edifies the Body of which Christ is Head and new Bettles full of new Wine from Christ the Vine the new Wine which makes all your Hearts glad to God and Christ and one in another To serve God with a new Heart So here is the new Heart the new Spirit the new Life in which the Living God is sered And therefore this is the Word of the Lord God to you all Let this new Way new Covenant new Man new Leaven new Wine new Life shew forth its Fruits in the new Life from the new Man So that the Fruits of the Old may not appear and that the Bond of Peace in the Vnity of the Spirit may be kept amongst you So keep in this Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and none to break their Peace and go into the ill Behaviour for that is out of the Spirit of God and Christ which is meek gentle c. So that the Lord God of your Lives may be Glorified in you all and above all who is over all God blessed for ever and ever London the 15th of the 3d Mouth G. F. ALL Friends that are in the Power of God Epist 312. and in his Spirit through which Spirit you pray unto God and ask in the Name of Christ Jesus which all true Prayers are to be in and the true Singing and Rejoycing is to be in the Spirit All true Worship performed in the Sptrit and the true Preaching and Ministry is to be in the Spirit for the Saints were made able Ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter Now when a Minister in the Spirit of the living God does minister Spiritual and Heavenly Things and they that receives them receives them with joy in the Assembly now he that is a Minister of the Spirit and ministers Spiritual Things and if they that receive them receive them in Sincerity with Joy and Gladness and Rejoice in the receiving of them whilst the other is ministring of them he that is a Minister of the Spirit does not judge such but Rejoyces in them that does receive them and praises God for the same And so likewise they that do Sing in the Spirit does reach to the Spirit in others whereby they have a sense that it proceedeth from the Spirit for at the Hearing of the Speech the true Minister there is Joy to all that seek and thirst after Righteousness for the preaching the Gospel is the Glad-Tidings the Joyful News and is a comfort both to Soul Body and Spirit to all that receive it in Integrily and Sincerity and they cannot but Rejoice at the Cound of the Power where it is received and they that preaches in this cannot judge such as Rejoices in the Spirit and Power and in their Souls praises God when they hear the Sound of it Oh the Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God which is Liberty where this is heard the Sound of it which is the Liberty to the Spirit to the Soul to the Creature if a Creature should praise God in his Soul in his Spirit in the very hearing of the Sound of this glorious Gospel or make a Joyful Melody the Minister of the Spirit which preaches the Glorious Gospel cannot judge such for that and say it is a confused Noise for that is the Minister of the Letter that so judges who may gather up parcels of the Letter and make a Song of that or Preachment of that to which the Gospel-Ministry of the Spirit is the Savour of Death unto Death and of Life unto Life And concerning Praying in the Spirit which Spirit make Intercession to God with Sighs and Groans that cannot be uttered Of Prayer in the Spirit Now where this Spirit is prayed in which all true Prayer is to be in it makes Intercessino through the Vails through the Clouds and thick Darkness by the Invisible Powere to the Invisible God and this prayer being made in an Assembly to the Throne of Grace and there the Assembly in their Spirits joyns in this Spirit and does make Intercession and does enter through the Vails Clouds and thick Darkness to the Throne of Grace and if some of these should praise God in a Joyful Sound with their Souls and Sprit can he that prays in the Spirit and makes Intercession therein judge them that Groans in the Spirit and feels the Intercession to the Throne of Grace No he cannot for he feels a Unity in the Spirit and set case that some do Groan and Sight when another is Praying in the Spirit that makes the Intercession easie in the Invisible Spirit to the Invisible God and Throne of his Grace which the Spirit of God operating in the Assembly makes some to Sigh and Groan being sensible of their wants and the Power has awakened such therefore can any judge such that prays in the Power and Spirit that has awakened them Nay but hears them and is glad where it stirs and so having the Mind of the Lord and makes Intercession to him by his Spirit who hears the Sighs of the Needy and Groans of the Oppressed he cannot judge such and therefore they that do judge such Sighers Prayers and such who make a joyful Melody from the Word dwelling in their Hearts they who judge such are not in the Spirit that makes Intercession and that which is contrary is to be reproved and admonished in private by them that are in the Spirit of God lest they pluck up the Wheat and Tares together and make a Confusion in the Church for God is not the Author of Confusion God the Author of Peace c. but of Peace and good Order But that Spirit which is High and Lofty and can form a Praise by words and Pray in his own Spirit will judge such Sighing Groaning Praising and Singing as before but that exalted Spirit is to be cut down with the Sword of the Spirit For if any should Sigh or Groan or Rejoyce or make a joyful Sound whe another is Praying in the Spirit of God and Ministring in the Spirit Spiritual Things this the Spirit of Error cannot bear
the Brotherhood in the Spirit and to esteem all Men and Women as they are God's Creation whose natural Sun and Rain shineth and falleth upon the just and unjust and on their natural Fields and so doth God's Eternal Son of Righteousness shine with his Light and Grace and Spirit that he doth enlighten them withal and gives his Grace and Peace to all for his Spirit is poured out upon all Thus doth he shine through all and upon all and over all and above all and therefore let your Light shine that are the Believers in the Light that are become the Children of the Light that others may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven in seeing your good Works and your good and gracious Words and Lives and Conversations and mind the more excellent way the Apostle sheweth to the Corinthians which is the Charity that will bear all things and is not puffed up nor envieth not This doth keep above all brittleness And Friends Friends not to alter their settled Meetings without Mutual Consent after that your Meetings are settled and seasoned by the Power of the Lord if that you do alter them without the Consent of Friends in the Power of the Lord that makes and breeds Discontent and therefore keep them after they be settled in the Power of the Lord and you settled in it upon Christ the holy Rock and Foundation of God that standeth sure And in all your Meetings if that there be any Difference between Brother and Brother do not reflect one upon another in Meetings but speak one to another between your selves as Christ Commands and then you may preach the Gospel of Peace freely and speak the Truth in the love of it as it is in Christ Jesus And this is the best way that so nothing may be seen in your Meetings but the Life Truth and Peace so that the Serpent whose Meat is Dust may find none in your Meetings and none to quench nor abuse the Power or Spirit nor none to go beyond it's Motion for if you do you will both bring Trouble and Burthens upon your selves and others and run out that so you cna hardly get in again and therefore be wise in the heavenly Wisdom of God to be ordered in his Spirit of Understanding to the Glory of God and the Comfort and Edifying of his People that you all may know how to behave your selves in the Church of God to the glory of God And let all your Lives and Conver sations preach Vertue Purity Righteousness Holiness and Godliness else you cannot be the Lights of the World nor the Salt of the Earth And when any doth badly or wickedly they instead of being Lights or Salt are unsavory and are stumbling-blocks and when the Salt hath lost its savour it is good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of Men and therefore keep your favour and then you will not come under the Foot of Men and in the Light and then you will not go into Darkness And therefore have Salt in your selves and Oil in your own Lamps and keep in your own Houses for it is the Whore that abideth not in her own House with the Word of Life and Grace and Truth within and to the Light and purifying Faith and mortifying and baptising Holy Spirit of God the Fruits of which Spirit is Love Peace The Fruits of the Spirit Long suffering Gentleness Meekness Temperance and bear one anothers Burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ and forgive one another as Christ hath forgiven you and ftrive to excel one another in Holiness and Righteousness and Godliness and Meekness and Modesty in Vertue Truth and Love that you may all live to the Praise and Glory of God Amen And the Lord saith Isaiah 49.8 speaking of Christ I will give thee for a Covenant of the People to establish the Earth Christ a Covenant of the People to cause to inherit the desolate Heritages So that you may see the fulfilling of this in the Promise and have a Care of God's Glory and all live in the Seed Christ your Sanctuary which is a safe Place over all Storms and Destroyers who was before they were and will be when they are gone in whom you all have Rest and Peace and by whom you are presented to God holy in Body Soul and Spirit and therefore all must be kept clean and holy if that they do offer up or be presented to him that is Holy and therefore you must be a holy People and walk in the holy Truth and obey the holy Word of God and walk godly as the Grace of God teaches which brings Salvation and walk in the Light If that you do keep in the Fellowship in the heavenly Light and in this you do differ from the World that makes a profession of the Scriptures of Truth and dishonoureth God and causes his Holy Name to be blasphemed by their not obeying the Word nor walking in the Light Spirit and Grace and Truth whose Candle is gone out and now cannot indure to hear talk of the Light and therefore let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven and then you will have both his Favour Presence and Blessing and the Lord God Almighty preserve you all and Friends every where in his Power and Seed Christ Jesus Amen The 26th day of the 8th Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in New-Jersey and Pensilvania DEar Friends With my dear Love to you all Epist 376. in God's holy peaceable Truth and my desires are Wisdom of God gentle kind and easie to be intreated That you may be all kept careful of God's Glory Now in your settling of Plantations and Provinces and especially in woody Countries as those are you may have many Trials and Troubles but if you keep in the Wisdom of God that will keep you both gentle and kind and easie to be intreated one of another that will preserve you out of Heats or Extreams or Passions and that all Friends that come over be with speed settled in their Plantations that they may not lie and waste their Time both of themselves and their Servants and spend that which should help to settle them in their Plantations And therefore you that are concerned in ordering those things have a Care that no Reproach come upon your selves and your Countries but there may be such Care taken in all things that there may be no Complaints come into England against you And I desire that you may be very kind and courteous to all in Necessity in the Love of God for there are many People goes over to your Countries some Poor and some Rich and so many Eyes are upon you To be kind to all in Necessity and them that come over to you and therefore my desire is that you may all be careful in the Love of God and in his Truth and Righteousnes as the Family