Stripes we are healed Did not he suffer the Contradictio of Sinners who died for Sinners and went into the Grave for Sinners and died for the Ungodly yea tasted Death for every Man who through Death destroyed Death and the Devil the Power of Death and is risen For Death and the Grave could not hold him nor the Powers and Principalities Death could not hold Christ in the Grave with all their Guards and Watches could not hold him within the Grave but he is risen and is ascended far above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions and is set down at the Right Hand of God and remaineth in the Heavens till all things be restored And he is restorign with his Light Grace Truth Power Spirit Faith Gospel and Word of Life so that you read of some that came to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus And therefore all must bow at the Name of Jesus their Saviou in his Light Grace Truth Power Spirit and Gospel for he hath bowed for you if you rise with him and you must suffer with him if you will reign with him and die with him if you will live with him And all that are dead and buried with Christ and are risen with him they will seek those things that come down from above where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God and there you will seek those things which come down from above and not things which are below For those which seek those things that are below are the Talkers of God and Christ and the Prophets and Apostles words but they are not dead with Christ nor risen with him and therefore they do not seek those things that come down from Heaven where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God But they are them that seek the things that are above To seck those things which are above that are dead with Christ and risen with him they I say do seek those things which come down from Heaven where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God and they have not only sought them but have found them and received them and come to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus a safe established and heavenly sitting in the heavenly Rest and Habitation in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last and over all from Everlasting to Everlasting Blessings and Praises over all be to the Lord God through him for ever Amen God is a God of Order The Eternal Living God of Truth he is a God of Order and is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Chruches of the Saints Now the Author of Confusion and not of Peace is the God of the World who abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him and when he speaks a Lie he speaks of his own for he is a Liar and the Father of it Now the Jews which did the God of the World's Lusts and them called Christians that do were in Strife Confusion and Disorder For the Jews they went out of the Order of Aaron and oses going from the Spirit of God poured out upon the House of Israel and so went from the Lord and his Law into Confusion and Disorder which the living God of Truth was not the Author of Also the Christians who go from te Light Grace Truth Power Spirit Gospel and Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of they go from Christ and his Order who was not madee a Priest after the Order of Aaron but after the Order of Melchizedeck who was without beginning of Days or end of Life an Everlasting Order And such go into Strife and Confusion that go from Christ which Christ and God is not the Author of but the World's God who got into Man and Woman by Transgression and Disobedience of the Command of God who is the Author of Confusion Strife and Disorder in whom there is no Truth For what Order can there be in the World's God and amongst his Subjects in whom there is no Truth For in whom there is no Truth there is no true Order and they that abide not in the Truth Grace Light Spirit Gospel Faith and Word of Life they abide not in the Order of God and Christ And such will cry against the Order of the Truth Light Grace Spirit Gospel Faith and Word of Life which bring into the Order of Christ and the Order of the Living Eternal God of Truth who is a God of Order and delights in Order having Pleasure in them that live in his Sprit and Law of Life and the Gospel and its Order For Blessed is the Man that delights in the Law or Order of God it was so under the Old Covenant Much more Blessed is the Man or Woman that delights in the Law and Order of Love and the Law and Order of Faith and the Law and Order of Life and of the Gospel the Power of God And none keep the Law of Faith but who keep in the Faith which Christ is the Author of which wourks by Love And none keep the Law of Life but who keep in the Law of the Spirit and walk in it which is in Christ Jesus the heavenly and spiritual Second Andam who was before old Adam who under the World's God out of Truth in whom there is no Truth nor true Order but Confusion and Disorder And therefore all who come to God who is a God of Order must come bythe Grace Truth Light Power Gospel Faith and Anoitnting the Word of Life within and such come to love the Lord Jesus Christ and to delight in God and Christ's Order So you may see that God is a God of Order who called Aaron and Moses and they had an Order from God And Melchizedeck had an Order and Christ is after his Everlasting Order Christ'r Kingdom is Everlasting And Christ the Truth hath an Everlasting Kingdom that stands in Everlasing Righteousness and Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost yea an estableshed Kingdom that will never have an end and cannot be broken and no imperfect defiled nor corruptible thind enters into is And all Christ Jesus's Subjects of his Everlasting Kingdom that see it and enter into it are born again not of the Will of Man but of an Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God and have the Incorruptible Milk of the Word of God by which the grow from Babes to Men of God and have the Fine Linnen the Incorruptible Cloathing the Righteousness of Christ which is the Linnen which they do wear in Christs Kingdom So all Christ's Subjects of his Kingdom are known by their Birth and Cloathing and live in the Order of hiw Gospel of Love Lifew Light Grace and Truth and no Man comes into his Kingdom and Order but by the Light Grace Truth Faith Power and Spirit and Anointing and Word of Life within through which they know Christ and his Everlasting Kingdom that stands in Power and Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost
he that can receive it let him and he that hath an Ear to hear it let him hear In Time and before Time what the Spirit saith Abel was the Second Birth he was no Murderer nor no Sinner for God called him And God saw no Iniquity in Jacob but Esau the first is hated and not perfect And except ye be born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And he that is born of God sins not because the Seed of God remains in him neither can he sin 1 John 3.9 because he is born of God And he that is born of God overcomes the World he that is born of God is not of this World And he that is born of God testifies against all the Works of the World and the Wickedness of it and he that is born of God doth not commit Sin He that commits Sin is of the Devil and hath not seen God at any time Hereby are the Children of God made manifest from the Children of the Devil for he that sins is of the Devil and knows not God For this Purpose was the Son of God made manifest to destroy the Works of the Devil and he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous And they that were of the Second Birth were taught of God Born of God and needed no Man to teach them and were come into the Everlasting Covenant And those are the Second Birth who are born again of the Immortal Seed by the Will of God and not by the Will of Man And as many as received Christ he gave Power to them to become the Sons of God which are not born by the Will of Man but by the Will of God John 3.5 not by Water only but by Water and the Spirit G. F. TO all Friends who are in the Vnity which is in the Light Walk in the Light Epist 46. It is one Light that doth Convince you all and one Christ that doth call all to Repentance up to himself the one Head Concerning the Vnity which is in the Light which is Christ The wise Man's Eye is his Head who changeth the Mind and calleth from above to that which lies below it is he alone that gives Faith and all who are in this Faith are one It is one Power that raiseth up the Seed and your Faith being out of Words in the Power ye are all one and that Seed is one and ye are all one if ye he Ten Thousand which Seed is one which is Christ and he is the Master which is one and all the Brethren who are in the Spirit are one Ye have all one Eye ehich is the Light one Fire which Consumes all which the Light discovers to be evil and one Spirit which baptises all into the one Body where there is no Confusion but Pureness and Oneness Therefore all Friendds mind the Oneness and that which keeps you in the Oneness and Vnity it is that which keeps you out of the World and this one Light leads you out of Darkness into the Everlasting Day where ye see the Church of God But living in the Darkness and following that Mind it leads into the World's Assemblies who have the Letter of the Saints Words but live out of the Life smiting at one another fighting for the Husks But minding the Light within it leads you into the Assemblies of the Righteous who are in the Life The Kernel is to be found within The Kernel and the Husk distinguished the Husk is without which the Swine feed upon but the Pearl is hid from them and the Swine and the Dogs would devore them in whom the Pearl is found They are Outsides who feed upon Outsides God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth dwells not in Temples made with Hands Acts 17.24 and hath made all Nations of Men that dwell upon the Face of the Earth of one Blood and hath appointed the Times and Seasons and hath given to every one a Measure according to their Ability God hath given Ability to every one according to their Measure that are Faithful to it and here is the Righteousness of God received and the Wrath of God revealed upon the Children of Disobedience The Grace of God hath appeared unto all which taught the Saints to deny Ungodliness and teacheth us which the World turns into Wantonness and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and yet tempts God and calls for Grace These are they that set up Teachers without And Christ saith He is the Light of the World and hath enlightned every one that cometh into the World and he that loves the Light brings his Deeds to the Light to him there is no occasion of stumbling and this Teaching guides to God the Father of Light And the other he hates the Light because the Light will reprove him here he knows his Deeds are evil by the Light And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light And here thou must become silent The Sight of Sin Oh Flesh that temptest God to give thee a Sight of thy Sins for Christ hath enlightned thee and given thee a Sight of thy Sins which shall be thy Condemnation hating it For thou that hatest it hast it And it is Thou that puttest the Letter for the Light which was given from the Light from them that walked in the Light but thou hating the Light given thee thou knowest not the Conditions of them that had the Light but puttest Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness and so Wo rests upon thee It is Thou that puttest Evil for Good and the Wo rests upon thee And it is Thou that art covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord And it is Thou that stand'st not in the Counsel of the Lord but followest thy own Imaginations that art turned out from God and so the Wo rests upon thee And thy Kingdom and Crown is Pride and Wo is to the King of Pride And Thou art the Wicked that forgettest God which must be turned into Hell and livest in Perversness and art a Child of Disobedience who disobeyest the Light and so the Wrath of God rests upon thee But who love the Light and walk in the Light Jesus Christ is their King whose Gospel is preached to every Creature For Death having passed over all Men all in the first Nature are Children of Wrath and all in the Second are Children of God The Seed is sown upon all sorts of Ground The Seed and its fourfold Ground upon the High-Way-Ground Thorny and Stony Ground and Good Ground And Christ hath given to every one a Measure and Ability according to his Measure he that improves not his Measure he hath the Eye and seeth not and Ear and heareth not and Heart and doth not understand
be not blasphemed And likewise Titus was to exhort the young Men to be sober-minded and here you may see the Apostle which did forbid one sort of Women to be teachers which were Usurpers of Authority which both the Law and the Gospel forbids yet the Law and Christ and the Apostles in the Gospel incouraged the Honourable Women to Preach and to Teach For Christ sent the faithful Woman to declare and preach his aged And to be teachers of good things and honourable and faithful Women to Prophesied and Teach and to be teachers of good things as before That is his Charge to them in general Then he comes to Particulars charging them that they should teach the young Women to be sober and discreet chast and good and to love their Husbands and their Children that the Word of God be not blasphemed So these to be were as Mothers to the younger Women and were publick Women in their publick Services and Charge that was committed to them And a Bishop and an Elder or a Deacon was to order and rule well his own House and to have his Children in subjection with all Gravity For if a Man know not how to rule his own House And to rule well their own House how shall he take care of the Church of God So every Man and Woman is to teach instruct and order their own Children and Families as the Jews did in the old Covenant then much more they should Train them up in the new Covenant which exceeds the old so that in all things they might give thanks and praises to God that in all things the Lord might be glorified in all their Families So all Christian Families are concerned in these Particular Services before they come to the General Service to wit to be Overseers and Ministers faithful Men as Fathers and faithful Women as Mothers and Teachers of good things and the young Men and Women as Brethren and Sisters in purity And so let none spoile their Families with bad Lives And to keep their Tongue under the Bridle and unruly Tongues with letting the Poison of Asps be under their Tongue by which they spoile and corrupt their Families which begets into a loose and bad Language but that is to be bridled by the Word of God for a soft Tongue breaketh the Bone the Tongue of the Just is as choice Silver and the Tongue of the Just is Health and useth Knowledge aright and a wholsome Tongue is a Tree of Life and who keepeth his Mouth and his Tougue keepeth his Soul from Trouble And after that Solomon had spoken of a Vertuous Woman he saith And the Law of Kindness to rest in their Tongne In her Tongue is the Law of Kindness and her Children riseth up and calls her Blessed and her Husband also praises her He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And therefore all is to keep in this Law of Kindness and there your Candle doth not go out by Night and your Virtue will flow for the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness and Better is he that rules over his own Spirit than he that takes a City for he that hath no rule over his own Spirit is like a City that is broken down without Walls then the security and strength is gone And to rule over their own Spirit And therefore let every one keep his own little City with the Spirit and Power of God by which you have Power over your own Spirit and then the Power of God is your strength and keeps you safe in it that be led by the Spirit of God And so that all Men and Women may exercise their Talent their Gift that God hath given them in the true Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World that is the Light in Christ that they may become Children of the Light and grafted into Christ and walk as Children of the Light and of the Day And that all may profit in the Manifestation of the Spirit that God hath given them and be led by the Spirit that you all may be the Sons and Daughters of God in this day of his New Covenant and New Testament wherein God poureth forth of his Spirit upon all Flesh which none is to grieve vex nor quench nor rebel against but obey it And the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men to teach them to live Godly Righteously and Soberly All to be faithful Stewards of the Grace of God and to deny Ungodliness and Unrighteousness And therefore all are to be Faithful Stewards of this Grace of God which teaches them and brings them their Salvation For the Apostle saith As every one hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God that the God of all Grace and Christ by whom it comes may be glorified in all his People who gives unto them freely the spiritual and heavenly Gifts And the Gospel of Peace and glad Tidings God and Chrift hath sent to be preached to every Creature under Heaven And all you that have received it by which Life and Immortality is brought to Light in you by which you see over him that hath darkned you by the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God and are come to be Heirs of this Everlasting Gospel the Power of God so you are Heirs of the Everlasting Order of the Gospel for the Power of God is the Order and Authority of all your Meetings This Everlasting Gospel the Power of God is an unlimitted Order and this Glorious Order of the Gospel the Power of God is beyond the Order fo Aaron God's Order is beyond the Or-of Aaron and beyond all the Orders of the Heathen And the Power of God cannot be limitted though it may limit that which is contrary to it and out of the Truth So our Order and Government is of Christ and his Gospel and in his Light and Holy Spirit and we are Heirs of it Being Heirs of Christ and grafted into him by Belief and all his Sons and Daughters do know his Glorious Liberty and their rest in him The Liherty in Christ is a glorious Liberey For we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we can cry Abba Father for the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ And now Friends as I said before Train up all your Children in the Fear of God in his New Covenant of Light and Grace Friends to train up thier Children in the Fear of God that they may know Christ who is their Baptizer and Circumciser and he sprikles your Consciences and Hearts with his Blood to cleanse you from all Sin and the Lord writes his heavenly Law in their Hearts that they may obey it and do it For doth
in the Presence of the Living God of a feigned Humility and a feigned Love Feigned Love and Humility which is out of the Light and then that to use as a Customary Salutation or a Formal Gesture which is all for Condemnation and to be kept out being out of the Covenant So see that all your Actings be in and from the Light here ye will be kept clean and pure and will come to be sealed in the Everlasting Covenant of God with the Light which comes from Christ And again I charge you all in the Prefence of the Living God not to suffer your Minds to go out to Contend with them Contentions out of Truth who be not of the Truth in that which is out of the Truth both which are to be condemned with the Truth For the same Mind will boast and get up which is out of the Truth and reaches at things in the Comprehension though it lives not in it but is excluded out of the Truth and shall not enter but is for Condemnation And so to you all this is the Counsel of the Lord God of Power and of Peace that in Peace ye may be preserved to wait for the Spirit of Grace and of Wisdom and of Vnderstanding And Friends all every where Meet together waiting upon the Lord that your Minds may be guided by the Spirit of God up to God And know the Life of God in one another which all whose Minds are abroad are Strangers to and to the Covenant of Promise for the Covenant and Promise of Life is with and to the Seed The Covenant and Promise of Life And there is no Sin Iniquity or Transgression in the Covenant for that is all Judged being out of the Covenant of God And therefore all wait that ye all may come to witness the Covenant of Life made with your Souls and to find the Witness the Seal of the Spirit that ye are Sealed to God with Sin and Transgression finish'd and that ye may all witness Sin and Transgression finished and blotted out by Christ Jesus the New Covenant of God and ye may all come to know the Lord and to love the Light which Christ hath given you to teach you then ye will witness the Covenant yea Ten Thousands will witness the Covenant Christ Jesus For as the Lord said I will give him for a Covenant of Light to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes And so this Light doth open the Eyes of the blind All ye that were blind as the Gentiles or the Jews ye know that with the Light your Eyes are opened and ye do see the New Covenant the Unchangable Priest the Unchangable Covenant So in that which changeth not dwell that that which is changable and wavering may be Judged and Condemned with that which changeth not And though the Ministration of Condemnation was and is glorious in its time The Ministration of the Spirit yet the Ministration of the Spirit exceedeth in Glory which changeth not and there is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus the New Covenant who walk in the Spirit But who are in that which changeth running into the Changable Ways and Works without and are in that Nature which hates the Light all such are for Condemnation by the Light which is Eternal and never changeth And all the beggarly Lusts Traditions and Rudiments of Men which are acted in that Nature contrary to the Light are for Condemnation by the Light So dwelling all in the Light which is Vnchangable ye come to Judge all the Changable Ways and Worships Changable Worships that are Variable and Changable by that which comes from God which changeth not and with his Light which he hath given all those things are Judged So dwelling in the Judgment ye will be filled full of Mercy for first Judgment and then Mercy is to spread over all that the Just may rule over all And Friends I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God let no Evil Communication Evil Communication nor evil Words proceed out of your Mouths And if ye find the Root in you not taken away that would act such things dwell in the Light which lets you see the Evil Communications and with the Light give Judgment upon it in the particular and first Judge it there for that is it which corrupts the Good Manners And there areno good Manners but all is corrupted whilst there is Evil Communication and all that Profession is Abomination to the Lord whilst that stands So put away all filthy Communication out of your Mouths and all Wrath Vnrighteousness and Vngodliness with the Light ye will see it all and walking in the Light and loving it ye may Judge all that with the Light and with it come to know the good Manners and pure Communication And walking in this Light it will keep out all Evil Communication from amongst you for the corrupt Manners are there and procced form that and all the Profession which is performed in that Nature whilst the Evil Communication is standing is Abomination and for Condemnation For all the Evil Manners corrupt and all their Profession is corrupt and for the Fire So all walk in the Light with which ye are enlightned for it will teach you all the good Manners and pure Communication Good Manners and condemn all corrupt Manners and corrupt Communication and so to have the Heart and Mind cleansed from all such things And all walking in the Light ye have the Besom labour to sweep the Land from all such corrupt Manners and vain Communication and with the Light all that comes to be Judged down So the Light is the Judge and the Condemnation and in the Light walk and ye will shine And My Dear Brethren in the Covenant of Life keep to Yea and Nay and call the days First day Second day Third day Fourth day Yea and Nay Fifth day Sixth day and Seventh day as they were given forth First day Second day c. and called by God in the Beginning The Endless Riches ye are made partakers of and the Endless Inheritance ye are come to have a share of Heirs with Christ of the Kingdom that never fadeth away and ye that suffer with Christ shall reign with Christ And to you all Friends who are not come up to the Covenant and cannot witness that ye are come into it and sealed by the Spirit follow no Image-makers but the Life guiding you which is Eternal that will hew down all Imaginations and Likenesses and Images and Image-makers Image-makers that the Glorious God the Father of Life may be exalted the Ground of all Truth And Friends none to speak abroad but as ye are moved of God with the Spirit of the Lord and to that be obedient as faithful Servants that ye may enter into the Joy of your Lord. And Friends I warn and charge you all that there be no keeping of Old things
in store in the Mind or Memory or Heart-rising one against another or Backbiting among you Evil-speaking or speaking evil one of another but Judge that out by the Light of Christ And dwell in the Life of God then ye all in this Life of God will have Vnity And beware of and not suffer that in you to Contend which goeth out of the Truth but by the Truth Judge it out And Meet together every where knowing one another in the Spirit and not in the Flesh and with the Spirit of God wait upon God the Father of Spirits And Friends Live not on that which is out of the Truth but all be kept low that that which is pure of God and comes from God ye may live and feed upon And that there be no feeding on feigned Love Feigned Love but on that which is Pure and Eternal without Mixture or Stain that all the other may be hewen down and trampled upon and troden down Earth to the Earth Dust to the Dust that ye may allbe kept pure and in Joy waiting for the Eternal Riches from the Eternal God So all to know the Ministry and Prayer which is from and in the Spriti and in it all are one and by it all the contrary is Judged And take heed of Pride but by the Eternal Spirit Pride keep all that down and judge it The Sacrifices of the Wicked are Abominaiton to the Lord and he hears not Hypocrites but the Prayers of the Righteous are heard G. F. FRiends in the Life and Power of God dwell Epist 49. which doth teach you to deny your selves which keeps you from all Strife and from all Deceit that nothing may appear Self-denial but by the pure Spirit it may be Judged and that by the Spirit of God ye may all be kept up to him who is a God of Order and not of Confusion For all who are in Confusion are in that Nature that 's contrary to the Light who are with it to be Condemned And so the God of Life be with you all that the Fear of the Lord in all your hearts may be set that the Dread Terror and Fear of the Lord amongst you may remain and Faith from him ye may all come to receive and Love And let Love proceed one towards another from the Faith which purifies that all Actions to the Light may be brought that all Deeds contrary to the Light may with it be Condemned that in Peace and Righteousness ye may all grow up in that which is Eternal guided to him who is Eternal taking all heed to the Measure of God's Grace that with it your Minds may be guided up to God the Father of Life and all your Minds with the Eteranl kept to him who is Eternal That the Kingdom of God ye may all come to see The Kingdom of God waiting in the Light taking heed to it which calls to Repentance which informs your Minds towards the Kingdom of God where there is no End but Love Joy and Peace for Evermore And wait in the Light for Power to remove the Earthly part that ye may all witness the Kingdom and Joy in the Holy Ghost that with the Light your Minds may be kept up to God who is Pure and in it ye may all have Unity who in the Light of Life do walk For who contrary to the Light do act this is their Condemnation Vnsavoury Speeches c. And let no unsavoury Speeches nor Prophaness nor Loosness nor Idleness nor Filthiness be amongst you but be diligent serving the Lord in the Light for all that which is contrary to the Light with the Light is to be Condemned And to you this is the Word of the Lord that with the Spirit of the Lord that comes from the Father of Spirits ye may all come to witness the Spirit of Promise and set to your Seals that God the Father of Spirits is true So in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ be ye all kept and preserved and Keep together and Meet together that ye may grow in the Measure of God's Grace G. F. And all Dear Friends in the Eternal dwell that as the Plants of the Lord ye may grow The Plants of the Lord. and ye who are the Vineyard-dressers keep out the subtil and cunning Foxes who make their Holes in the Earth If in the Light ye all dwell which was before the Earth was with it ye will the tender Plants preserve And all Friends in that which is pure patiently wait to inherit the Substance and in that dwell which sees beyond the Shadow Types Traditions and evil Lust And dwell in the Life that ye may be nourished with living Food and be kept above the World in the Light that the Son of God be not crucified afresh with that which turns from the Light into the Lust So all ye that have a Sight of this and are come hither Wait in the Light that ye may grow up in the living Word to comprehend the World that every one of your Souls may come to find its Rest where no Burden is and the Travel in the Will of Man is ceased For all those Travels and Burdens are among them that contrary to the Light do act Self-Burdens and Travels and the Burden is their own and the Travel is their own which is to be condemned with the Light which leads up into Life And so the Power of the mighty God of Life be with you which is raising up his living Seed and the Seed is one which is turning up the Earth and cleaving it asunder and removing it out of its place and bringing into the Faith of Abraham and to the God of Abraham The Lord God be with you that in the Light dwell whose Minds are turned towards Christ the Way from all that which Christ the Light discovers to be evil Ye Children of the Light seek to turn many to the Light and to Wisdom's Gate bring them that ye may all come to be Door-Keepers in the House of the Lord and see what must be kept out of hi House Wisdom's Gate Door-Keepers and what to receive into the House and own no Sacrifice but that which is from the Living which is accepted of the Lord. G. F. ALL Friends Dwell in that which is Pure Epist 50. and wait for the Power of God to preserve you in that which is Pure up to God Concerning the Power of God And know the Seed of God in one another that the Knowledge which is after the Flesh may die and know the Power of God in one another Let your Faith stand in that which throws out the Earthly Nature and the Loftiness of Man which overturns the Worldly Wisdom and the Carnal Knowledge which is bruitish and Devilish In that which is Pure dwell that ye may be able to discern and savour and comprehend that which is not Pure Dwell in that which is
the other into Captivty where the Apostates are and so are become like untimely Figs or like unto the Corn upon the House-top Now this is the Word of the Lord God unto you all Keep your Habitations in the Light Life and Power which ye first received and felt in your selves that ye may be cloathed with the Blessing of the Lord which was before the Curse was And live in the Unity in the Light which was before Darkness was or the Power of it and in the Life which was before Death was and in the Truth which was before the Devil was and in the Power of God which was before the Power of Satan was All live in this that ye may be cloathed with that which is Immortal and attain to the Crown of Life and to know the Election before the World began He that is the First and the Last that is the Beginning and the Ending sit down in him not in Adam in the Fall but sit down in Christ that never fell and there that Life ye will come to know Sit down in Christ which was with the Father before the World began And so live in the Substance which is the Seed Christ who ends the Prophets first Conveant first Priesthood and all the Types and Figures and Shadows given after the Fall G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 167. Be not carried away by good Words and fair Speeches Good Words and fair Speeches nor the Affectinate Part which is taken with them but every one have hold of the Truth in your selves and the Life and Light and Power of the Most-High by which ye may be staied upon Christ Bread the Staff of Life your Bread of Life he is the Staff of your Heavenly and Eternal Life Bread is the Staff of Life Now Friends who have denied the World Songs and Singing Songs and Singing sing ye in the Spirit and with Grace making Melody in your Hearts to the Lord. And ye having denied the World's formal Praying Praying pray ye always in the Spirit and watchy in it And ye that have denied the World's giving of Thanks and their saying of Grace and living out of it do ye in every thing give Thanks to the Lord through Jesus Christ And ye Giving Thanks that have denied the World's Praising God with their Lips whilst their Hearts are afar off do ye always praise the Lord night and day Saying Grace and from the Rising of the Sun to the Going down of the same praise ye the Lord. And ye that have denied the World's Fastings Praising Fastings and of their hanging down their Heads like a Bulrush for a day who smite with the Fist of Wickedness Keep ye the Fast of the Lord that breaks the Bond of Iniquity and lets the Oppressed go free that your Health may grow and your Light may shine as the Morning G. F. FRiends all every where who have tasted of the Love Epist 168. Mercy and Kindness of God and his Power ye are called to Holiness and Chastity Therefore keep out of inordinate Affections Inordinate Affections and inordinate fleshly Love and feigned Flattery and Desires which is below the Truth which will bring you to Infirmness And keep out of fond Affections and fond Love that draws out the fleshly Part the fleshly Eye and brings into Pride and Loosness and false Liberty and to abuse the Power of God Oh keep out of all Vncleanness whatever may be pretended and fleshly Desires for the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life are not of the Father but of the World And therefore keep down that which is not of the Father but of the World And take heed of dishonouring your Bodies and defiling your Minds but keep your Bodies clean from all Fornication Fornication and Adultery Adultery and Vncleanness for that which pretends otherwise and doth so defiles it and is out of the Truth and is contrary to the Law of God and contrary to Christ's Doctrine And therefore defile not your selves but live pure chast and holy as becometh the Saints for no Adulterer nor Fornicator hath any part in the Kingdome of God Such go from that of God in themselves and quench the Spirit of God and abuse his Power and go into fleshly Love and fained Desires and flattering Pretences covering it with a false Liberty and so are in the Bondage to the beggarly fleshly Lusts and whom they overcome they bring into the same Bondage and through their fained Flattery and dissembling Carriage rob and beguile and spoil Flattery to fulfil their insatiable ungodly Desires Wills and Lusts Therefore live in the Truth for all such things are out of the Truth and such as do the same whatsoever they be therefore all that go into Vncleanness under what fair Pretence soever are to be Judged G. F. TO all the Elect Chosen and Faithful Epist 165. who are of the Royal Seed of God living Stones Elect and Precious knit and built up together and united the Family and House-hold of God London the 11th of the 3d Month. and come to his Mountain that is established upon the top of all Mountains that walk in the Light of the Lord in Unity and Covenant with God in the Covenant of Life and Peace with him Who in this the Lamb's Day are the Gold tried in the Fire Who have been tried by Goods spoiling As Gold tried in the Fire by Bonds by Whippings by Mockings and Reproaches in the Day of the Lamb's Power and some have been tried unto Death and ye have proved to be the pure Gold that hath come out brighter and brighter Who have not feared the Waves of the Sea nor the Winds who fears not the storms nor the Weather whose Anchor holds which is the Hope the Mystery which Anchors the Soul which is Immortal to the Immortal God Among whom the Star or Jacob is seen and the Morning-Star is risen and the Sun of Righteousness shines and the Lamb's Voice is known the Charch in the Glory and Beauty is appeared and appearing The Mirriage of the Lamb. the Marriage of the Lamb and the Bride and the Wedding-day is known in which there is Unity and the Vigins sing Praises and follow the Lamb because of his sweet Ointment and the Virgins are upon Mount Zion And the Gospel is going forth unto all Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Life and Immortality is coming to Light thuough the Gospel which is the Power of God and the Mystery of the Fellowship is known The Mrstery of the Fellowship which is in the Power And for want of the Power the Gospel in which is the Fellowship hath Christendom been on Heaps and the Heathen Ignorant And now ye who know the Power of God ye know the Gospel and ye who are in the Power of God ye are in the Mystery of the Fellowship So Mark the Fellowship is a Mystery
the Cross of Christ 3dly The Fellowship of the Gospel the Power of God expels away all that which hath darkned the Vnderstanding darkned the Mind darkned the Heart and by the Power of God Life and Immortality is brought to Light in you by which Power of God ye come to see before that was that hath darkened you from Life and Immortality and over that Life and Immortaliy shines being in the Power of God which was before that was that had darkned Mankind and the Power of God the Gospel expels away that which burdened your Spirits Minds Hearts Consciences and Souls so that being driven away by the Power of God and the Mind set at liberty the Spirit the Conscience the Heart the Soul that is Immortal being brought up by the Power of God here the Soul hath its pleasure in God then by the Power of God Man seeth over that which hath burthened his Spirit Mind Soul and Conscience and beyond it and before it was where the Spirit Soul Mind and Conscience cries glad Tidings And here is the joyful Gospel and here is the Faith in the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God and here is Life and Immortality come to Light through the Power of God the Gospel which Power of God the Everlasting Gospel was before that was that darkned Man from Life and Immortality and hath loaded Peoples Minds Herts Souls and Consciences the Power of God was before that was and remains when that is all gone So now ye that are come to be Heirs of the Gosepl know it your Portion for as a Man is Heir of a Piece of Land or Hourse it 's his Portion which must have and end and he comes to Inherit it So Heirs of the Gospel it 's the Portion of Man and Woman and they that Inberit it they Inherit the Power of God which hath no end which was before the Power of Darkness was which hath darkned People from Life and Immortality and loaded their Spirits but being Heirs of that which was before that was here you Inherit the Gospel you Inherit the Power of God in which is stability here you are Church-Members and here you are Living Stones and here you are built up together a Spiritual Houshold here the Church in God is known the Father of Christ who is the Way to God where the Church is for now as Adam and Eve were drove from God and being in the Fall there Sons and Daughters have their Churches enough heaps upon heaps one against another and Heads of every Church and there they plead for Sin while they live upon the Earth but the Church that is in God the Father of Christ doth not so for as Mankind was drove from God they must come up again out of that state where they are defiled and be washed sanctified and cleansed and brought up out of the Fall up to God again If they come to the Church that is in God and the Fellowship which is the Gospel-Fellowship which is the Power of God in which is Stability before that was that hath unestablished People the Gospel the Power of God was and before the Devil was that hath unestablished People In which Gospel is Peace Stability Life and Immortality which is come to Light again In this is the Church-Fellowship with Christ in God which will stand for the Gospel is Everlasting the Church of God is the Pillar and ground of Truth Therefore this will stand when all other Churches and Fellowships amongst the Sons and Daughters of Men in the Fall will have an end Pillar and Ground of Truth The Church in God will stand the Pillar and Ground of Truth and the Fellowship of it will remain Therefore ye Heirs of the Gospel and Church-Members of it inherit it and sit down in the Fellowship of the same And this is beyond all the Writings Subscribings and Promisings to the Church-Fellowships that be among the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the Fall that when a storm comes or a Tempest they fly from their Church and Fellowship both But the Gospel stands the Church in God stands the Pillar and Ground of Truth which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against 4thly Worship in Spirin and Truth The worship of God is in the Spirit and in the truth that 's the Publick Worship which Christ set up he preached it when he put down the Worship at the Mountain and at Jerusalem and said God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth and the bour is come and now is that the Father seeks such to worship him Then the Hour was that Worship was set up above Sixteen hundred Years since when he denied and put down the Worship at the Mountain and at Jerusalem where the Fore-fathers worshipped So this Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth was contrary to the Fore-fathers This is the Publick Worship and this is not private nor particular the Nations Worships are particular which the Sons of Adam are broken into the several Worships one against another but this Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth hits all Men and Women they must come to the Spirit in themselves and the Truth in the inward parts this is publick this is not a private Worship but brings every Man and Woman to the Spirit of God in their own Hearts and Truth in their inward parts in which Spirit and Truth they must bow down and come into it if they be Worshippers of God in the Truth and in the Spirit And this is the standing Worship that Christ preach'd up a-top of the Hill where the Fore-fathers had worshipped And this Worship is over the Worship that was at Jerusalem and over the Worship that was at the Mountain so by this must every Man every Son of Adam and Daughter come to the Spirit in their own particulars and Truth in themselves by which they must know God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth and so no Man must grieve nor vex nor quench the Spirit but all must worship in it and they must come to the truth in the Heart to the hidden Man in the Heart to a meek and quiet Spirit and they must not rebel against the Spirit if they worship in it and all coming to it they have the adorning that which beautifies and adorns them in the Eyes of God none must walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace nor turn the Grace of God into Wantonness if they worship God in the Spirit if they grieve vex quench the Spirit of God within and turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and walk despitefully against the Spirit of God and rebel against the Spirit of God within and are haters of the Light These go from the publick Worship of God in the Spirit and Truth to the particular which fallen Men have invented but they that worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth are in that
be executed For you know after a Thief or a Murderer is Condemned and Judged and have Sentence past upon him yet he is not executed that Day the Execution comes afterwards And therefore after Condemnation or Judgment is past upon any inward Evil or any outward Action of Evil let Execution be speedily done with the Living Hammer and the Living Sword and the Living Stone that the Living Fire may burn it up and consume it No Man after he hath beaten his Child hateth him ever afterwards but loveth him if he repent and amends so doth the Eternal Father and if the Child be fallen down into the Dirt he doth not go and tumble him more into the Dirt or into the Ditch and there let him lie in the Dirt and Ditch but takes him out and washes him and so doth the heavenly Father which leads his Children by his Hand and dandles them upon his Knee And so all that be called Fathers in the Truth or Mothers their Tenderness should be the same to all little Children in the Truth that can hardly go without leading that sometimes may fall into the Dirt and Ditch and ship aside and then be troubled and cry To such there should be Tenderness shewn and to wash them and help them and Love to such should be manifest for there is difference betwixt a stubborn rebellious and wilful Child and one that is Penitent for those must have great Chastisements that knows the will of their Father and doth it not they must have greater Stripes and sorer Stripes they must look for be sure to expect it than the other For Christ is manifest in the Flesh to condemn Sin in the Flesh all that witness Christ in them Male and Female I say Christ manifest in their Flesh he doth condemn the Sin that is in their Flesh yea and makes an end of Sin and finishes the Transgression and brings in Everlasting Righteousness into them But first he condemns the Sin that is in their Flesh the Unrighteousness in their Flesh and Ungodliness in their Flesh the Lyar the Swearer that is in their Flesh the Adulterer the Fornicator the Idolater and all Sin whatsoever it is he condemns in the Flesh So Christ is manifest in the Flesh to condemn the Sin that is in the Flesh that every one that witnesses Christ condemning Sin in the Flesh that they through Christ that condemns Sin in the Flesh might become God's Righteousness so they become anothers But the Sin being uncondemned in the Flesh they are of the Serpent of the Unrighteous One of the Ungodly One who adulterated from Truth they are his But the Sin being condemned in the Flesh Christ is manifest in the Flesh so that they become Christ's they are God's and are in Christ who destroys the Devil and his Works that are out of Truth And these know the New Life which God is served in and these know the New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness and these knows the Old Earth wherein dwells Vnrighteousness And these can bring forth things New and Old For they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God they that are led by the Spirit of the Devil are the Children of the Devil and his Works they do the Works of their Father as they that are led by the Spirit of God his Works they do the Works of their Father and all they that quench the Spirit of God and vexes the Spirit of God and grieves the Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and turns it into wantonness and disobeys the Word of God in their Hearts and Mouths Sure you all may see such are not the Sons of God and do not the Works of God though they may profess the Scriptures from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelations Neither doth that Birth know the Scriptures for they are known by the Spirit of God the Holy Ghost which led the holy Men of God to speak them forth by the same Spirit are they known again And Christ who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin he is known by the Holy Ghost again which led the holy Men of God to give forth Scriptures which now leads into all Truth And all them now who despise Revelations Inspirations Prophecies Gifts and Talents they despise the Spirit of God and his Gifts Such are neither Ministers of God or Christ nor his Sons but are the Sons of him that is out of the true Spirit that is of God in the Darkness Babel and Confusion who think they can do great matters with their Languages and with them make a Trade of the Scriptures who cannot endure any People should come to the Spirit that gave them forth for none can walk in the Spirit that quenches it and vexes and grieves it And none comes into the Church Fellowship that grieves and vexes and quenches the Spirit of God For the Fellowship is in the Spirit that is the Bond of Peace and none is led into all Truth but by the same Holy Ghost that was in the holy Men of God that gave forth the Scriptures of Truth And all that are led by this Spirit of Truth are led from the Spirit of the Devil that is out of Truth And all that are led by the Spirit that is out of Truth are the First-Birth of the Flesh and of that Murderer which will persecute him that is born of the Holy Spirit of God which leads into all Truth Which they that are led by the Spirit that is out of Truth are out of both the Father and Son And they that are led by the Spirit of Truth are the Sons of God and here are both in the Father and in the Son and in the Truth which abides for ever And here the Heir the Son inherits his Possession his Inheritance in the Kingdom that never hath an end The true Hope the true Cross the true Faith the true Worship the true Religion the true Way true Image and true Fellowship have been lost since the Apostles-Days amongst those called Christians which are out of the Life And they that have lost the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God in which is the true Fellowship they have set up a wooden or a stone Cross c. so false Crosses false Christians They that have lost the true Hope which purifies as He is Pure they have set up a Purgatory to cleanse them when they are dead And others cry up a Body of Sin and Death on this side of the Grave with their Hypocrites Hope and they have lost the true Ministry and set up a false One to preach up Imperfection And People were imperfect in old Adam before Christ came for the Law made nothing Perfect but the true Minister Christ in you the hope of Glory doth make Perfect both in the Apostles Days and now Christ in you the hope of Glory said the Apostle
is Pure before God and undefiled in his Sight that keeps from the Spots of the World Mark the Spots And these do not cry up a Body of Death nor a Purgatory when they are dead they are kept from the Spots of this World So they are far degenerated from this pure Religion from above which is undefiled before God which keeps from the Spots of this World and leads to visit the Fatherless Widows and Strangers whose Religion is that they must have a Body of Sin and Death unto the Grave and a Purgatory when they are dead And their Fatherless and Widows and Strangers must go a begging in the Streets All these Religions are from below and of their own making and not from above but of him that is out of Truth And all they that come to this pure Religion that is from above and comes to receive it it must be by the Spirit of God within and the Light of Christ within and his Grace within and his Faith within And the Image of God in them hath been lost since the Apostles days that Man and Woman was renewed into by Christ and therefore they have set up so many Inventions of their own Brain and outward Images and Likenesses and worship them for Man and Woman was in the Image of God before they fell And when they fell from the Image of God they set up many Images of God and Man and other Creatures of things in Heaven and things in Earth And when Christ came he renewed Man into the Image of God again and into his Likeness but since the Apostles days have they lost this Image of God and this Likeness and made a profession of Christ and the Apostles words as the Jews did of the Law and worshipped the Works of their own Hands and Images But now is Christ renewing Man again into the Image of God as they were in the Apostles days yea also I say as Adam and Eve were in before they fell Yea and in this Image of God they will reign over all Images and Image-makers either with hand or brain for they have made those Images and Likenesses by the Evil Spirit that is out of Truth which the Spirit of Truth leads out of and above them and from their works Glory to God for ever for his Image and his Likeness is led into by Christ Jesus and into Adam and Eve's State before they fell and not only into that State but into Christ Jesus that never fell And the true Praying hath been lost since the Apostles days for none can pray truly but by the Spirit of God unto God who is a Spirit or unto Christ who is a Quickning Spirit And all they that have erred from the Spirit cannot abide to hear talk of it and yet may have the Scripture from Genesis to the Revelations and make Prayers and say them over and give them to others to say over and so Pray by the Book and that must help his Infirmity and so have erred from the Spirit and from the true Doctrine of the Apostles who said The Spirit must help their Infirmities and they must pray in the Spirit So all that grieves and vexes and quenches the Spirit of God cannot pray in it to God who is a Spirit But they think to be heard by their much Babbling and asks and prays but do not receive and every one must come to the Spirit of God in themselves and to the Light and to the Faith that purifies his Heart and to the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and by this his Mind is to be turned towards Christ who prays to God and asks in the Name of Jesus and in the Power and Light and Spirit of Christ And the true Fellowship hath been lost and Sanctification and Belief and the Righteousness since the Apostles days For many have had the letter but lost the Life the Notion but lost the Possession the Profession but lost the Substance Christ Jesus but the true Fellowship is in the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was and since Men lost this Power of God they have not known the Scriptures aright but they have set up Fellowships by that Spirit which is of him that is out of the Truth that have destroyed one another and persecuted them which are in the Power of God which is the Gospel which was before the Devil and all the Fellowships in old Adam was and will be when they are all gone Now the Gospel-Fellowship is a perfect Fellowship a pure and an holy Fellowship it is an everlasting Fellowship for the Power of God is everlasting it is over the Jews Fellowship in the outward things and the Gentiles invented Fellowships and the Fellowships of Bread Water and Wine for these are no Mysteries the World's Fellowship is no Mystery the Fellowship of Bread Water and Wine is no Mystery but the Gospel-Fellowship is a Mystery and none sees it but who comes to the Light of Christ and to the Truth in the inward parts For this is a standing Fellowship the Gospel the Power of God and all Fellowships out of it are imperfect and corrupt where the Body of Death and Sin and their Purgatory is pleaded for which Fellowships below Men make and are of Men and from Men but the Gospel is not of Men nor by Men but of God and from Christ So this Fellowship is the Church-Fellowship that is in God and it is a pure Fellowship the Gospel-Fellowship is which Gospel brings Life and Immortality to Light and expels away all that which darkens and burdens and loads the Soul Mind Spirit and Heart So this is Glad-Tidings to the Immortal Soul which comes by the Immortal Power up to the Immortal God where Life and Immortality comes to Light and to shine over him that hath darkened it Here is liberty to the Immortal Soul Mind and Spirit in the Gospel the Power of God which is the Gospel-Fellowship which is a Mystery but Bondage and Darkness to the other so Life and Immortality is hid from all them that makes Fellowships below and have their Fellowships by Men and of Men who are out of the Power of God the Gospel and makes Fellowships of old Authors and makes Fellowships of the Scriptures But being erred from the Spirit they know not the Scriptures nor the Power of God and there they are in Strife and Enmity in their Fellowships and falling-out about their Bread and Wine some taking it one way some another and falling-out about their handy Works and plucking People from one another to themselves and not to Christ nor his Gospel-Fellowship that came not by Men neither was it of Man So they that deny Revelation cannot preach Christ until he be revealed nor cannot preach the Gospel until it be revealed And they that say Revelations are ceased they may as well say there is no Gospel and so have no Christ to preach and are only Ministers of the Letter neither have
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
thing to say have Patience let that Gift be exercised and speak to one another by your selves alone But exercise the Gift oft Patience for that was the way before any thing was spoken against any of the Church and that will shew the Spirit of Order and Government and the Spirit of Love and of Patience and Humility and keep down Passion and that part in your selves that cannot bear all things nor endure all things whereby the Love comes up that will endure all things and bear all things which edifies the Body and by which the Body is edified for the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets this shews the true Spirit for that which cannot bear all things many times is forward in Judging that cannot bear all things nor endure all things and so goeth out of the true Love and Edification which breeds Confusion and Distraction and destroys more than ever it will beget to God And also goes out of the Church Order first speak to him alone for by that he may win his Brother Speaking publickly makes Strife some owning and some disowning and that Spirit must be shut out by the true Spirit that keeps Order and Unity and Fellowship and the true Love which edifies the Body And so every one which feels the Power stirring in them to Minister when they have done To live in the Power wherein they minister let them live in the Power and in the Truth and in the Grace that keeps in the seasoned Words and that keeps in a stablish'd and seasoned Life And so all may Minister as they have received the Grace so every one is a Steward of the Grace of God if he do not turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and so to Minister in that Love and Grace and Power that keeps all things in Subjection and Order and in Unity in the Life and in the Power and Light by which you may see that of God in every Man and answer to that which God hath shewed unto People For the true Labourers in the Vineyard do answer that of God the true Ministers brings People to that which is to instruct them viz. the Spirit of God True Ministers reacheth to the Witness of God in Mens hearts and so are Ministers of the Spirit and Ministers of the Grace they answer the Spirit and the Grace and Truth in all in which all that do Minister have Unity and through which they have Fellowship with God and Christ G. F. Not to be over-thoughtful of the things of this World FRiends Epist 268. Did not God provide for Man and Woman before he made them Did he not make all things in Six Days And the sixth Day he made Man in the Image of God in Righteousness and Holiness And therefore Christ who is the Son of God who comes to restore Man up again into the Image of God Not to be over-thoughtful and leads Man up into his Image in Righteousness and Holiness as he was in before he fell Doth he not reprove such as take thought and told them of their little Faith and that they could not add one Cubit to the Stature that God had made and it was the Practice of the Heathens and of the Gentiles to take thought So it 's clear before God made Man he took care for him but after Man was fallen from the Image of God and his Righteousness he took care and toiled though he cannot add one Cubit to his Stature in the Lord's Work For thou maist sow thy Seed in the Ground or Garden thou maist have much Cattel But trust in the Lord for all and other things but yet there is no increase but by the Lord neither of thy Seed nor of thy Cattle for is not the Earth the Lord's and the Fulness thereof Mark and doth he not give the increase who upholds all things by his Word and Power who is the Creator of all and provided for Man before he made him and set him in Dominion over all the Works of his Hands which Dominion Man lost Man lost Righteousness and Holiness in his disobeying the Command of God Christ restores Man into the Image of God which Christ comes to restore Man to and sets Man above all again as he was in the Beginning and up to his own State beyond Adam before he fell to him that never fell And so all that believe in the Light as Christ commanded in the Light they see they cannot add Cubit to the Stature and so they come to grow in the Faith in Christ and in God And so herein hath the Lord the Praise of his Works and all things praise him who hath created them all to his Honour and to his Glory and to his Praise and Man to glorifie him in Righteousness and Holiness in the Image of God and of Christ Jesus above all other Creatures in the Covenant of God in the Covenant of Light and Life in Christ Jesus Him by whom the World was made by him they praise and please God and in their pleasing God they Honour God and Christ G. F. Concerning the single Language ALL Friends Epist 269. that do believe in the Light as Christ hath commanded you and are become Children of Light keep to the proper Speech Proper Speech Thou to One and You to many that is Thee and Thou to a singular and You to many as you may see throughout the Scriptures it was the Language of God and Christ his Prophets and Apostles and all good Mens though it is the Practice of the First Birth and of the Flesh to say You when they should say Thou therefore take you heed of Flattery to please Men and of letting the World's Spirit over you though they have learn'd in their Grammar and Accidence and other teaching Books the Plural and Singular Language yet they speak Plural when they should speak Singular to One. G. F. FOR all that be gathered in the Name of Jesus Epist 270. and are mad a live by him and quickned by him they come to the Flock of Christ and know where they feed at Noon-Day they are gathered into the Name of Jesus Christ Salvation in no other Name than the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name and know that there is no Salvation under the whole Heaven but in the Name of Jesus in the Testimony that they have of Jesus which is the Spirit by which they see Jesus and see his Pastures of Life see his Springs of Life and his Rivers of Life and his Bread of Life and see the Foot-steps of the Flock the Testimony of Jesus the Spirit by which they see him and his Flock and they see the barren Mountains they have been upon and come off from And therefore all you that be gathered into the Name of Jesus and walk in the Path of the Just where the Footsteps of the Flock are quench not the Spirit in any and if any
will not have of your Bread of Life and Water of Life let them fast Of the Bread of Life that will neither receive nor give for the Bread of Life and Water of Life is not only given to feed your selves but by it you may feed others and refresh others therefore have Bread in your Houses and Water in your own Well and Fruit of your one Tree and Salt in your selves to Savour withal that you may try all things and have Oil in your own Lamps that they may burn in your own Temple and Odour and Frankincense that it may burn continually upon your own Altar that it may ascend as a sweet Savour Holy and Pure up to God who is Holy and Pure Be not removed off your Ground wherein you may grow and increase And so quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecy hate not the Light but improve your Talent hide it not but improve it mind the Kingdom within and the heavenly Penny and the Spirit of God which is given to Instruct you and walk according to the Rule of the Spirit of God that he hath given to you to profit withal and mind the Truth in the Inward Parts so that you may be adorned and arrayed with a meek and a quiet Spirit For the Light that shines in your Hearts will give you the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ How the Knowledge of God is attained that you may know the Heavenly Treasure in your Earthly Vessels and the Day-Star to arise the Day to dawn in your own Hearts that you may become Temples of Christ He to dwell with you and walk with you and sup with you and the Blood of Christ to sprinkle your Hearts from dead Works and your Consciences also that you may serve the Living God So know the true Faith to purifie your Hearts Christ the Author of true Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of and the true Hope to purifie you And so be true Believers in the Light as Christ Commands and become Children of the Light for he that believes hath the Witness in himself And know the true Word in your Hearts and Mouths which is the Word of Faith the Apostle preach'd which distinguishes your good Thoughts from bad and your good Words from bad which Word is in your Hearts to obey and do Which is as a Hammer to hammer down Sin and Evil and as a Sword to cut it down and as a Fire to burn it up So that by that Word you may be sanctified The Word Sanctifieth c. by that Word you may have Salvation by that Word you may be reconciled to God by which all things are upheld by his Word and Power by this Word you may be born again of the Immortal Seed that lives and abides for ever And so from this Word you may have your Milk for this is the ingrafted Word that is able to save the Soul and raise the Soul that is Immortal up unto the Immortal God And by this Word you will see over all the Deceivers of your Souls which Word was before they were And by this Word you will understand the Scriptures of Truth that cannot be broken And by this Word you will come to Judge all those that are got into the Imaginations concerning the Scriptures and that set them up in the room of God and Christ in their dark Imaginations who in their Darkness cannot comprehend the Light And by this Word you will have Riches out of this Word is Poverty And by this Word you will come to know Life and Salvation for in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and Christ's Name is called The Word of God and the Scriptures are the Words which are to be fulfilled So all be diligent in the Truth that you may be fruitful in the Word of God that it may have its Passage through you all G. F. Concerning those that go out of Vnity and deny Forms THose that are gone from the Light Epist 271. from the Spirit and Power of God and so from the Vnity by the Light and by the Spirit True Vnity in the Light and Spirit and by the Power are judged and the Power and Light and Spirit is over them and they being gone into their own Wills and into a perverse Spirit then they say they will not be subject to Mens Will nor to the Will of Man and that Spirit leads them out of the Bonds of Humanity when they are thus gone from the Light and the Power and Spirit of God they go out of all true Forms into Confusion and Emptiness without Form then they say they will not be subject to Forms and cry down all Forms with their Darkness and a perverse Spirit and so mash all together For there is a Form of Godliness Of the Form of Godliness and there is a Form of Sound Words many have a Form All Creatures have a Form the Earth hath a Form and all Things were brought into a Form by the Power of God for the Earth was once without Form and was void and empty and confused So they that be gone out of the Covenant of God and Life and out of the Power of God are gone into a confused Condition without Form a State which is out of the Bond of Civil Men and Women And so such are confused without the right Form for the Form that God hath made viz. The Form of the Earth the Form of the Creatures the Form of Men and Women the Form of Sound Words the Form of Godliness nor the Form of Sound Doctrine was never denied by the Men and Women of God Those testified against who deny the Power and quench the Spirit But such as got the Form only and denied the Power of Godliness those were denied for they deny the Power and do not only so but quench the Spirit and grieve and vex it and hate the Light by which Light they are condemned G. F. To Friends in Ireland KEep to the equal Measure and just Weight in all things Epist 272. both inwardly and outwardly that you may answer Equity answer Truth in the Oppressed and the Spirit and Grace and Light in all People To do Justice and Equity in all things And so being kept in Righteousness and Equity and Truth and Holiness that preserves you over the Inequality Injustice and the false Measure and Weight and Ballance in all Things both inward and outward And this keeps your Eye open keeps you in a Feeling Sense keeps you in Vnderstanding and true Wisdom and true Knowledge what you are to answer to all Men in Righteousness and Truth and Equity both inward and outward And this is to all you that have purchased or bought any Irish Land so that Justice and Righteousness and the true Measure and true Weight and even Ballance may be among you to answer that which is True and
was and in the Truth and Power of God which the Devil is out of that every one of you may have your Penny that precious Penny and heavenly Treasure from God Almighty the great Lord who is the orderer and disposer and governour and ruler in the Vineyard among his Servants who pays them their Wages and gives them their heavenly Penny of Life Mark it is the Labourers in the Life And the Lord will give us the beavenly Penny Truth and Power of God that labours in God's Vineyard that have their heavenly Penny that Everlasting Treasure So see that you have it if you be in the Labour of Life you will have it Friends you see how Men and Women can speak enough for the World for Merchandize for Husbandry the Plow-man for his Plow but when they should come to speak for God they quench the Spirit and say and do not obey God's Will but come let us see what the Wife Merchants can say have they found the Pearl and Field and purchased the Field which yields those glorious glistering Pearls let us see what can you say for God and that heavenly Merchandise 1670 What can the Plow-man say for God with his Spiritual Plow Is the Fallow-Ground Plowed up Has he abundance of the heavenly Seed of Life So what can the heavenly Husband-Man say has he abundance of Spiritual Fruit in store What can the Thresher say his he gotten the Wheat out of the Sheaf the heavenly Wheat with his heavenly Flaile and let us see what can the Spiritual Plowman Husband-man and Thresher say for God And how they have laboured in the Vineyard that they may have their Penny some are breakers of Clods in the Vineyard some are Weeders some are cutting off the Brambles and Bushes and fitting the Ground and cutting up the Roots with the heavenly Ax for the Seed some are Harrowing in some are gathering and laying up the Riches so you may see here are Merchants Plow-men Harrowers Weeders Reapers Many sorts of Labourers in Gods Vineyard Threshers in God's Vineyard yet none are to find fault one with another but every one labouring in their places praising the Lord looking to him for their Wages their heavenly Penny of Life from the Lord of Life So none are to quench the Spirit nor to despise Prophesie lest ye limit the Holy One and every one is to minister as he hath received the Grace which hath appeared to all Men which brings Salvation so that the Lord's Grace his Light and Truth and Spirit and Power may have the passage and the rule in all Men and Women that by it he may have the Glory and from it in all who is blessed for ever and for ever The Lord hath said From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles Now mark Friends this is a large Space wherein God's Name shall be great and the Lord further saith Holy and pure Incense is to be offered to God In every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure Offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts Now mark Friends this heavenly Incense and pure Offering is a spiritual Offering which is to be offered by the Spirit to God who is a Spirit then here none quenches the Spirit of God in their own Hearts and all such comes under the Title of the Royal Priesthood offering up Spiritual Sacrifices which Royal Priesthood has a Priest that lives for ever Christ Jesus And Friends do not quench the Spirit nor abuse the Power when it moves and stirs in you be obedient but do not go beyond nor do not add to it nor take from it for if you do you are reproved either for going beyond or taking from it And when any has spoken forth the things of the Lord by his Power and Spirit let them keep in the Power and Spirit and that keeps them in the Humility that when they have spoken forth the things of God they are neither higher nor lower but still keeps in the Power before and after and being obedient to the Spirit and Power of God it keeps them from deadness and alive to God and keeps them in a Sense that they do not go beyond and run out as some you know have done and all that hath come for want of living in the Power of God and in his Spirit which keeps all things in Subjection and in Order and in the true Fear of the Lord always to feel the Presence of the Lord with you Come Fisher-men what have you catched with your Nets What can you say for God Your Brethren Peter and John Fisher-men could say much for God Read in the Acts and you may see it I would not have you degenerate from their Spirit Shepherds and Herds-men where are you What can you say now for God whose abiding is much in the Fields David Jacob and Amos your fellow Shepherds and Heards-men do not you see they could say much for God I would have you to be like them and not to degenerate from their Spirit Come Trades-men Tent-Makers Physitians and Custom-Men what can you say for God Do not you read that your fellow Trades-men in Ages past could say much for God Do not degenerate from their Spirit Do not you remember the Accusations of the wise and learned Grecians when the Apostles preached Christ among them that they were called Poor Trades-men and Fisher-men Therefore be Faithful The Preachers of Jesus Christ now are the same to the Wise of the World as then G. F. DEar Friends Epist 276. live in Peace and Love and Patience one with another for that doth edifie the Body and Strife doth not but doth eat out the Good To live in Peace and Love for the Body doth edifie it self in Love in which there is Nourishment and Vertue and Life from the Head so in that meet and build up one another Dear Hearts be faithful and live in the Life and Power and Seed of God and in Love and Peace one with another And so the God of Peace in it preserve you Peace be among you and live in that which keeps Peace for the Peace-makers are blessed And all strive for that which makes for Peace and they that are Lowest and so keeps receives the most from God G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 277. when you were formerly in a Profession you took your Servants your Apprentices your Children along with you to your Places of Worship Care in training up Friends Children and Servants And now that you are come to Truth and are convinced that the same is the Truth of God through which you come to have a Portion and Inheritance of Life and Salvation and of a Kingdom and World which hath no end and into a Possession of that which formerly you did profess in Words Now therefore Friends you that are come to
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
but swells and breaks out into Confusion and Disorder which as I said before is to be cut down with the Sword of the Spirit for he denies the effect of true Prayer and the Spirit of Prayer which makes Intercession who hath or would have no feeling of the effects of true Prayer but that which is Formal and in the Imitation that makes many to Groan and Sigh which is burdened with that Spirit yea many tender ones And therefore all is to keep low before the Lord in the Humility in the Spirit and Power out of the Imagination Imitation and Self-exaltation And so keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace Caution to keep cut Imagination c. yea the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace hear the Gospel of Peace is known and the Peace of God which passes all Understanding which is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Prince of Princes Peace who saith In me you have Peace and all is bound by the Spirit of God to keep his Peace and all his Believers and faithful Ones and true Christians are bound to keep it amongst themselves and in all their Assemblies his Church which he is the Head of Worcester Goal the 14th of the oth Month 1674. G. F. FRiends Epist 313. All that are sensible of the Power of God and has received it All live in the Power of God which is Immortal and Everlasting live in it and grow up in it for the Power of God is over the Power of the Devil which Power of God is the Gospel and it 's called the Cross of Christ And therefore all ye Men and Women that has received the Gospel the Power of God and come to be Heirs of it take your Possessions of the same and init keep your Mens and Womens Meetings in your Possession of the Gospel the Power of God herein is the holy heavenly and powerful Order which is Everlasting and will have no end and this Order of the Gospel which is the Power of God is over all the Orders is the World and before they were whether Jews Gentiles or Apostate-Christians For the Apostle saith in Gal. 1.11 12. Now I certifie you Brethren to wit the Church that the Gospel which was prech'd of me was not after Man for I neither received it of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus So I can declare to you all in the Presence of the Lord That the Gospel which is the Power of God I neither received of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ And all you that have received the same Power to wit the Gospel and are Possessors of it can testifie that the Gospel the Power of God is neither by Man nor of Man tho' some Men and Women in their Carnal Wisdom may oppose it but as Peter saith 1 Pet. 1.11 12. The Gospel by the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven was it which was preached to the Churches then and so it is now And therefore all you that have received it this heavenly and everlasting Power of God the heavenly Dignity keep in your Possessions of it beig Heirs of it and in the Holy Order of it and walk as becomes the Gospel and let your Conversation be accordig to it as the Saints As the Saints did in Primitive Times and the Churches were in the Primitive Times for Christ That redeemed his People out of their vain Conversation and purchased them with his Blood and is become the Head of the Church the heavenly and spiritual Man has given them a heavenly and spiritual Possession and Order to walk in and to keep in which is the Heavenly and Eternal the Power of God whcih I am not asamed of of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1. 16. And the Cross of Christ is the everlasting Powere of God so no longer do you keep in Fellowship but as you keep in the Cross of Christ for the Enemy to the Cross of Christ is the Mind that runs into outward and earthly things and sets up another God to wit their Belly and another Glory to wit their Shame and therfore it 's called the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God so this Fellowship is not of Man nor by Man for it is in the Everlasting Power of God And therefore forsake not the Fellowship And forsake not the Assembling your selves together and the Assembling of your selves together in it as the manner of some is and was but Exhort one another and so much the more because ye see that the Day draweth nigh more and more unto you for if there be a Sinning wilfully after that ye have received the Knowledge of the Truth there remanins no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for Judgment and for Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries And therefore keep in the new and living Way which is prepared for all the true Believers as you may see in Heb. 10.20 And exhort one another daily while it is called to day mark while it is called to day for thou maist lose the Harvest Day and be hardned before to morrow and lest any of you be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin and this was the Practice of the Church that was in the Light Power and Spirit of God as in Heb. 3. And in Titus see how the Apotle admonishes him who was in the Power of God to Exhort and Rebuke with all Authority and so forth after he had shewed him how the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation which appeareth to all Men which taught the Saints how to live c. and they that went from it was to be Rebuked and others Exhorted to it Tit. 2.11 And also he Instructs Timothy who was in the Power of God to Exhort the Church and likewise that the Scriptures Scriptnre profitable for Reproof Instruction Correction c. which were given forth by the Inspiration of God were profitable for Doctrine to Reprove Instruct and Correct in Righteousness that the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnish'd to all good Works mark the Man of God not the Man of the World that denies Perfection and they that have the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures does the same 2 Tim. 3.16 17. And they that was to Exhort was to be an Example in Word and Conversation in Love in Spirit in Faith and in Pureness such was to give attendance to Exhortation and to Doctrine and still are as you may see in 1 Tim. 12.13 And Peter saith to the Church in the Primitive Times which ought to be the Practice of the Church of Christ now as every Man hath received the Gift even so let him minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace o God If any Man speak let
him speak as the Oracles of God if any Man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God gieth mark God giveth and not Man or as God hath ministred to him that God in all things may be glorified through jesus Christ to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever and ever Amen 1. Pet. 4. And the Apostle saith to every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ for there is one God and Father of all which is above all and through all and in you all so every one now as then is to mind him that is in them all who is above all and his Gift and the measure of Grace the Gift fo Christ for it will teach them and bring their Salvation and through the measure of the Gift of Grace they grow up to a perfect Man and to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ as may be seen Eph. 4. And as God hath dealt to every Man a Measure Of Faith in the Faith they should walk which gives them Victory and access to God which purifies their Hearts with which they please God And the Apostle said to the Church then which is to be the Practice of the true Church now That according to the Grace that was given whether we Prophesie Every one to keep to the Measure of Grace received let us Prophesie according to the Proportion of Faith or any Office let us wait on the Office or he that Teacheth on Teaching and he that Ministreth on Ministring or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation and he that distributeth let him do it with simplicity c. And be that sheweth Mercy with cheerfulness as you may see Rom. 12. So all this is to be done in the Faith and according to the Measure of the Grace given to every one so that all may be done in the Faith according to the Measure of Grace given to every one so that all may be done in the Faith from one Spirit which the manifestation of is given to every one to profit withal by which Spirit they are all baptized into one Body which Christ the heavenly Spiritual Man is the Head of So all Members from the Eye to the Foot are serviceable in the Body in the Grace of God who are joined together by the Spirit of God and to Christ their Head from whom they receive Nourishment for the Spirit of God does distribute to every one severally as he will and so are all made to drink mark to drink into one Spirit in which they have all Fellowship in the heavenly drinking of the Spiritual Drink and eating of the Spiritual Bread that comes down from Heaven Therefore every Man and Womans Eye must be lifted up to Heaven and Minds and Thirsts and Desires and Hearts and the Soul that hungers and the Needy that sighs and the Poor that groans for this Bread that comes down from Heaven and the Spiritual Drink and so they may have the Spiritual Bread in their own Houses and heavenly Water in their own Cisterns with which they may have to refresh them felves and others So here may all eat and drink to the Praise and the Glory of God for all drinks into one Spirit And as they eat of the Bread that comes down from Heaven then they can say the Scripture is fulfilled all Eyes are Lifted up unto thee thou opens with thy Hand to wit thy Power and thou fillest with thy Blessings and then with their Souls Hearts and Spirits Minds and Lips they will shew forth his Praise in praising God the Creator who is in all over all through all and above all And therefore in the Power and Name of Jesus in whose Name you were gathered keep your Meetings your Mesn and Womens Meetings that in the Power you may be kept in the Holy Vnity and Holy Order in Diligence in the Church of God and in his Business and Affairs Admonishing Exhoring Rebuking such as talk and does not walk accordingly such as professes and does not possess and such as are the Sayers and are not the Doers So that every ones Life and Conversation may be as becomes the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ the heavenly Man and keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace which if you break you fonfeit your Riches in your Estate and Inheritance of Life And some Men may say Man must have the Power and Superiority over the Woman because God says The Man must rule over his Wife and that Man is not of the Woman but the Woman is of the Man Man and Womin to be helps-meet now as in the beginning Indeed after Man fell that Command was but before Man fell there was no such Command for they were both meet helps and they were both to have Dominion over all that God made And as the Apostle saith for as the Woman is of the Man his next Words are so is the Man also by the Woman but all things are of God And so the Aposcle clears his own Words and so as Man and Woman is restored again by Christ up into the Image of God they both have Dominion again in the Righteousness and Holiness and are helps meet as before they fell So then the Man is not without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear But there is some dark Spirits that say That for Women to meet together to worship God apart from the Men is monstrous and ridiculous But this dark Spirit has not defined what Worship is for if a Company of Women should meet together and some of these Women should kneel down and lift up their Hands and Eyes to God and pray to God or praise God as John would have fallen down to the Angel this is Worsbip And if the dark Spirit calls this Monstrous and Ridiculous because Men is not with them then it will follow it will be monstrous and ridiculous to pray to God or to worship God except Men be with them Therefore with the Spirit of God all may see what Confusion this dark Spirit is running into that is against Womens-Meetings and that Women must not worship God apart from the Men and calls it monstrous and ridiculous but from their own monstrous Spirit their own ridiculousness is manifest For you may see in the Scripture what Worship was and what Worship is such as was not to worship Idols they were not to lift up their Hands nor Eyes to them nor to fall down to them but to worship God and to bow bown to him and to lift up their Hands and Eyes to him for all Men and Women must lift up their Eyes Hands Hearts and Spirits to the Lord and to bow to him and worship him and ought in all their Meetings that gather in the Name of Jesus to wait upon the Lord for Wisdom Counsel and Vnder
standing that by it they may be ordered and directed in his Holy Service and Business in his Holy Church which Christ is the Holy Head of as they are directed and ordered by the Lor's Power and Wisdom to praise and magnifie and glorifie him with Thanksgiving both in your mesn and Womens Meetings and all other Meetings in the Name of Jesus Christ for he is in the midst of them their Prophet Priest Teacber Shepherd Bishop and Counsellor opening with his heavenly Power feeding with his heavenly Food counselling with his heavenly Counsel sanctifying them to present them to the Holy God without Spot over-seeing them with his Holy Power and Spirit that God may have the Praise and the Glory through Jesus Christ in all and through all who is bleffed for ever So Friends are not to meet like a Company of People about Town or Parish-Business neither in their Mens nor Womens Meetings Frienas to feel the Pewt of God in their Meetings for the Affairs of Truth but to wait upon the Lord and feeling his Power and Spirit to lead them and order them to his Glory that so whatsoever they may do they may do it to the Praise and Glory of God and in Unity in the Faith and in the Spirit and in Fellowship in the Order fo the Gospel and the Devil and his Instruments cannot get into this Gospel which is the Power of God and that makes him rage and he would not have the Woman to have a share in it who first deceived the Woman and now would again nor the Men neither Nor he cannot get into the worship of God which is in Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of and therefore keep your Possessions in the Power of God and your Habitations there within and in Christ Jesus who bruises the Head of the Serpent who is the Head of all false Orders and Disorders and has made the World like a Wilderness and he in his Instruments is against the Order of the Gospel and the Power of God that Men and Women should be in the Possession of and the Dignity thereof And this many spoke evil of in the Apostles Days and so they do now but the Power stands and the Order of it over his Head and his Instruments and Christ is the same to Day as Yesterday and so for ever and of the increase of his Government there is no End So all that be Heirs of Christ and of his Power and Righteousness are Heirs of his Government and they see there is no End of the increase of it And you may see how the Apostle after he had convinced People he brought them into Order of the Gospel and the Jews after they came out of Egypt they were brought into the Order of the Law of God And as the Christians come to believe in Christ then they are to come into the Order of the Gospel So as I was first moved of the Lord God G. F. moved first to preach the Gospel to go up and down the Nation to preach the Gospel then after the Lord moved me to go up and down to exhort and to write that all People might come into the Possession of the Gospel and the Order of it which is the Power of God which was before the Devil was which is not of Man nor by Man and his Word by which all things are upheld and ordered to the Glory of God And Christ is a Priest after the Order of Melchizedeck So you may see there was a Heavenly Order in the Power and Spirit of Christ's Priesthood as there was of Aaron's of whose Order Christ came not And the Apostle saith to the Church Let all things be done decently and in order And this Order was in the Power of God the Gospel 1 Cor. 14. Afterwards to exhort to the walking in the Order of the Gospel where all Decency is And the Apostle saith Though he was absent in the Flesh yet he was present with them in the Spirit rejoycing and beholding their order to wit the Churches Order and their stead fastness in Christ And as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him So this was the Spiritual Order of the Gospel which the Apostle in Spirit beheld and does admonish them unto in whom their walking should be to wit in Christ the Spiritual heavenly Man and not to walk in Old Adam who was without this Spiritual heavenly Gospel-Order which is the Duty of all true Christians to walk in Christ and his Gospel-Order And it 's said in Psalm 37.23 The steps of a good Man is ordered by the Lord and that is by his Power and Spirit And in Psalm 50. To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew forth the Salvation of God and whoso offereth Praises Glorifies me saith the Lord. So they that offers up Praises by the Spirit they glorifie God which all must keep to and not quench And all whose Conversation is ordered aright it is by the Power of God the Gospel for they are kept by the Power of God unto the Day of Salvation and this is the right Order and everlasting Order which all must keep and walk in by which all Conversations must be ordered aright that all may see their Salvation Christ Jesus who is the Head of the Church and who fees and receives him has Life Everlasting and through him they have Peace with God So all in him live and meet in whom you have Life and Peace that is Everlasting that none can take away which Peace is not this World's Peace And also the whole Church of Christ which are the Believers in the Light Children of the Light living Stones that makes up the Spiritual Houshold over which House Christ is the Head True Believers a Chosen Generation c. all such Believers Men and Women are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation a Peculiar People that they should shew forth the Vertue of Christ that hath called them out of Darkness into his Marvelous Light So into him the Life to wit Christ Jesus by whom the World was made here in him they know their Election before the World began So a Royal Priesthood Christ's Church is called offering up Spiritual Sacrifices to God who is a Spirit and this Royal Priesthood has a High Priest made higher than the Heavens to wit Christ Jesus and this Royal Priesthood is not after the order of Aaron whose Order was proved by his Rods bearing Fruit laid over Night in the Tabernacle and in the Morning brought forth Fruit but your Order is proved by your Rods budding and bringing forth Fruit in the Morning of God's Day which are the Fruits of the Spirit through which Spirit you come to offer according to your Order which is in the Power of God the Gospel the Spiritual Sacrifices To offer up Spiritual Sacrifices c. the first Fraies of the Spirit to God who is a Spirit according
to your Order as I said before of the Gospel the Power of God For the Jew outward was to offer the first Fruits of the Earth according to the Order of Aaron but according to the Order of the Gospel you both Men and Women are to offer the first Fruits of the Spirit to God who is a Spirit over all blessed for ever And shew how the Lord has blest you in your Spiritual Fruits and how you have been Captives in Spiritual Egypt and how you were redeemed Much more I might Write concerning these things but they are hard to be uttered or to be born for there has so much Strife and Foolishness entred into the Minds of People and a want of the stilness and quietness in the pure Spirit of God in which things are revealed that hath been vailed in which things are opened that hath been hid and uncovered that hath been covered But wait all in the Dilligence in the holy Life by which the holy things are seen and received in which the holy Vnity and Fellowship is So no more but my Love G. F. To all my dear Friends Elect and Precious in America STand fast in the Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of Epist 314. by his heavenly Ensign To stand fast in the Faith in your heavenly Armor and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Heavenly Gospel of Peace and your Heads preserved with the Helmet of Salvation and your Hearts fenced with the Breast-plate of Righteousness and so stand feeling and seeing God's Banner of Love over your Heads manifesting that you are the good Ground that God's Seed hath taken Root downward in and springs upward in and brings forth Fruits in some Sixty and some Hundred fold in this Life to the Praise and Glory of God always beholding the Sun of Righteousness that never sets ruling the supernatural Day of which you are Children and the Persecutors Sun the heat of it which rises and sets again cannot scorch your Blade which it may do that Seed that grows on the Stony Ground And therefore be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and fear him And be Valiant for God's Truth that can break their Fetters their Goals and their Bonds in sunder and can make your Fleece to grow again after the Wolves have torn the Wooll from your Backs for the Rod of the Wicked shall not be always upon the Backs of the Righteous And therefore mind Christ who is the first and last who bruises the Head of him who is the Head of all Persecutors to wit the Devil And consider how all the Faithful in all Ages suffered from Righteous Abel to Just Lot and the Children of Isreal by Pharaoh and the true Prophets by the false and Christ and the Apostles by the vagabond Professing Jews out of the Possession and what rejoycing it was to them to suffer for the Lord Jesus and how it was given unto them not only to Believe but also to Suffer so it was the Gift of God to them not only to Believe but to Suffer and to bear them up in their Sufferings And consider how all the Martyrs and Saints have suffered since the Apostles days by the Heathens and false Christians and so there is no new thing under the Sun And therefore keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus And keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name in whose Name you have Salvation and be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and sound his Name abroad and keep in the Truth and give no just Occasion to the Adversary for the Lamb must have the Victory and keep in the Lords Power that is over all and in his peaceable Truth in which you will seek the Good and Eternal Welfare and Salvation of all People And the Prophet Isaiah speaking of Christ says In all their Afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them so all Friends feel the Lord in all your Afflictions And the Apostle saith We our selves glory in you to wit in the Churches of God for your Patience and Faith in all your Persecutions and and Tribulations that you indure So here you may see the Saints are one anothers Joy in the Lord who doth uphold them in all their Persecutions Tribulations and Sufferings and therefore look over the Devil that is out of Truth that makes to suffer to Christ who bruises his Head and in Christ who is First and Last in him have you Rest Life and Peace And you see by Faith Examples of Faith Moses chose rather to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season So by Faith he esteemed the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt And by Faith Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the Wrath of the King for he indured as seeing him who is invisible and so by Faith God's People now forsake Spiritual Egypt And by Faith the Mouths of the Lions were stopp'd and by Faith they indured Tortures not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection and by Faith they underwent all the cruel Mockings Scornings Bonds and Imprisonments and by Faith they underwent Stoning and Sawing asunder and were tempted and slain with the Sword and they wandered about in Sheep skins and Goats-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy c. Now all these lived in the one Faith by which they saw him who was invisible which is the Faith of God's Elect now which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of which Faith upholds his People now as it did them against the Persecutors in Days and Ages past And hold fast the Hope which anchors the Soul which is sure and stedfast that you may float above the Word's Sea for your Anchor holds sure and stedfast in the bottom let the Winds Storms and raging Waves rise never so high And your Star is fix'd by which you may steer to the Eternal Land of Rest and Kingdom of God So no more but my Love to you all Swarthmore in Lancashire the 12th of the 12th Month 1675. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends To whom is my Love in the Holy Truth Epist 315. my desire is that you may all be valiant for it against all Deceit that the Camp of God may be kept clean Faithful in their Testimenies and all may be faithful in your Testimonies of Light and Life against all those things which have come up in this Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of God So look at the Lord and his Eternal Power which hath brought you out of the Night of Apostacy to his Eternal Praise and his Power hath preserved you to this Day The Lord with his glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his
so that his Name may be glorified and he honoured in your bringing forth much heavenly Spiritual Fruit from the heavenly Seed that Christ the heavenly Seeds-Man hath sown in your Hearts that so an Hundred fold of Holiness Righteousness Godliness Vertue and Piety from this heavenly Seed you may bring forth and increase in this Life-time and in the World to come reap Life Everlasting And give no occasion to your Adversaries neither in your Lives nor Words but that you may all serve God in the New Life shewing forth that you are new Men and that you are renewed in the Image of God and that you are born again of the Immortal heavenly Seed by the eternal Everlasting Word that lives and abides and endures for ever And that you do feed upon the heavenly Milk and Bread from above and that your Conversation is in Heaven and that you are cloathed with the fine heavenly Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints which is Christ's the Heavenly and Spiritual Man's Livery by which his Servants are known by his Badge of Righteousness and distinguished from all the Servants of Old Adam Egypt Sodom and Babylon with their Badge of Vnrighteousness And so be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth And be valiant for the Truth c. and spread it abroad preach Christ and his Kingdom his Light his Grace his Truth to Men that all should walk in it and his dreadful Day upon all the Talkers of God Christ his Prophets and Apostles Words that do not walk in the same Power Spirit and Life Grace and Truth as they walked in I say Preach this to the Magistrates and amongst the Heathen-men and shew your seles to be quickned by Christ who have been dead in Sins and Trespasses but that you are now made alive by him and so shew forth his Light Life and Truth and that you are awakened to Righteousness and therefore shew it forth to them that are asleep in the Vnrighteousness So that the Lord's Glory and righteous Power Truth Light and Life may flow over all to his Glory over all for ever Amen And much I could write to you concerning these things but I have not been very well but blessEd be the Lord God his Everlasting Seed is over all which reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting and my Life is in it And therefore stand and live in the Lord's Name and Power which is against all manner of Vnrighteousness and in the Light which is against Darkness and all the Works thereof and in the Life which is against Death and over Death and all the Actors of it and in the Truth that is over all Evil and against all the Doers thereof within and without And so that in the Light Life Power and Truth of God and in his Holy Spirit you may live in Fellowship and in the Vnity of the Spirit which is your Bond of Peace yea even of the Prince of Princes Peace which the World cannot take away from you Swarthmore the 5th of the 9th Month. G. F. An Encouragement to all the Faithful Womens-Meetings in the WORLD who assemble together in the Fear of God for the Service of the Truth Wherein they may see how the Holy Men encouraged the Holy Women both in the Time of the Law and in the Time of the Gospel though Selfish and Vnholy Men may seek to Discourage them But go on in the Name and Power of Christ and Prosper FRiends Epist 320. You may read in the old World how one FAmily after another till Noah's time served the Lord God And then from Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Wives and after Moses and Aaron had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and that they were come to be a great People Moses said I would all the Lord's People were Prophets Numb 11.29 And when a young Man said unto Moses Eldad and Medad do Prophesie in the Camp Moses desired that all the Lord's People were Prophets and he would have had Moses to forbid them But Moses ansered and said unto him again Would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them So Moses here who was Captain Governour and Judge over Israel was far from restraining any from Prophesying in the Camp but reproved his Envy that would have had him forbid them and did moreover encourage them by saying I would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets And surely all the Lord's People are made up of both Men and Women And the Lord having given his Law to the Children of Israel which was Holy Just and Good the Lord said I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel So that by this Spirit they might understand his Law which was Spiritual Ezek. 39.29 Now in the time of the Law there were the Assemblies of the Women for all the Women that were wise of Hearth did work with their Hands about those holy Things which God had commanded And all the Women those Hearts stirred them up in Wisdom Assemblies of the Women under the Law these Women wrought about those holy Things that belonged to the Tabernacle and Sanctuary as you may see in Exod. 35. And likewise the Assemblies of the Women in the 38th Chap. and of the Womens assEmbling at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and in the Margent it 's said They assembled by Troops Now here you may see That the Women were in the Work and Service of God as well as the Men and they had their Assemblies For God had poured out of his Spirit upon the House of Israel to give them an Understanding both Men and Women to do that and make those things which God had commanded which were called holy things which were but Figares and Shadows of the Substance Christ Jesus the Holy One. Now Moses and Aaron and the Seventy Elders did not say to those Assemblies of the Women We can do our Work our selves and you are more fitter to be at home to wash the Dishes or such-like Expressions but they did encourage them in Work and Sevice of God in those things which God had commanded them in the time of the Law For God having pured his Spirit upon the House of Israel God give his Spirit to the House of Israel under the Law to give them an Understading to do those things which God had commanded them by which Spirit their Hearts were stirred up to do God's Work both Males and Females And in the time of the Law the Women were to offer up Sacrifices and Offerings as well as the Men upon God's Altar as you may see Hannah when she brought Samuel and offered him up to the Lord she brought him to the House of the Lord in Shiloh and when she brought him she took up with her three Bullocks besides Flower and Wine So see how she paid her Vows to the Lord and offered up her Sacrifices upon God's
Altar And other Places might be shewed of the Womens Offerings and Sacrifices And you may see Hannah's fervent Zeal to God and what a large Speech she made in magnifying and exalting the Lord in 1 Sam. 1st and 2d Chap. And so you may see the Offerings and Sacrifices of the Women were accepted upon God's Altar as well as the Mens But the hire of a Whore was not to be brought into the House of God for any Vow for it was an abomination to the Lord Deut. 23.10 Now Hannah's Husband and the other Womens Husbands Hannah's Offering that offered up their Offerings upon God's Altar were not offended at them nor did they say their Offerings were enough for them both but every one was to offer up their Peace-Offerings and Thanksgiving-Offerings themselves and other Offerings So here youmay see the Service and Work of the Women and how serviceable the Women were in their Assemblies in the time of the Law about the Tabernacle and Holy Things and how the Women offered upon God's Altar as well as the Men they had their Liberty But the hire of the Whore was to be kept out of God's House and not to be offered up upon God's Altar So ye may see man and Woman were meet helps in Paradise before the Fall and Death reigned from Adam till Moses and after Moses received the Law from God which went over Death and Sin that brought it who saw the State of Man and Woman in Paradise Men and Women in the time of the Law were meet helps again to one another in the Work and Service of the holy Things about the Tabernacle and Sanctuary and the Women had their Assemblies And it 's said in Joel 2. and in Acts 2. That the Lord would pur cut of his Spirit upon all Flesh in the last Days or Times So this Spirit being poured upon all Flesh in the Christian Times God poureth his Spirit upon all Flesh under the Gospel Sons and Daughters Hand-maids and Servants old Men and young Men that by the Spirit of God all these might have his Visions Prophesies and Dreams and this is his Spirit by which all should profit in the things that be Eternal and to serve God in the Spirit both Men and Women Sons and Daughters old Men and young Men Hand-maids and Servants and all offer up to God his Spiritual Sacrifices For all being dead in old earthly Adam Christ the heavenly Adam has tasted Death for them all and is a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World and he enlightens all and his Grace hath appeared unto all and his Spirit is poured upon all Flesh and his Gospel which is the Power of God is preached to every Creature under Heaven And now must not all receive the Grace and believe in the Light and receive this Gospel and walk and labour in it both Men and Women Sons and Daughters old Men and young Servants and Handmaids Yea I say the Gospel being preached to all Nations and to every Creature under Heaven old Men and young Servants and Handmaids Sons and Daughters I say then must not all these receive this Gospel and the Light and Grace And are they not all to walk in it and to offer up their Spiritual Sacrifices upon the heavenly Altar in the New Covenant and to walk in the New and Living Way and all to receive the Light of Christ which enlightens all and to become Children of Light and to feel the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from all Sin which they have in old Adam So as the Women were to offer in the old Covenant and in the time of the Law upon the outward Altar their Offerings and God poured out his Spirit upon the House of Israel that they might understand and do what he commanded them At which time they had the Assemblies of the Women which were not forbidden So now in the time of the Gospel and the Day of Christ which enlightens all and in the time of his Grace which hath appeared unto all Men to teach them and to bring their Salvation and in the time of his Gospel preached to every Creature and in the time of his pouring out of his Spirit upon all Flesh that they might understand and walk and live in his Gospel and by his Spirit offer up their Spiritual Sacrifices So in this the Time and Day of Christ the captain of our Salvation must not all these Labour in the Gospel and in the Word and in the Grace and in the Light and know and do God and Christ's Work and Service about his heavenly Tabernacle and Sanctuary Assemblies of the Women in the time of the Cospol c. Hath not every one their Service that are enlightened And his Grace that hath appeared unto them are they not Stewards of it And must not they have their Assemblies of the Women in the time of the Gospel and of the New Covenant and in the time of Grace and Light and Life as well as in the time of the Law and of the old Covenant And are not all to albour in that which tends to God'd Glory and Praise and Honour For which End he hath made them all and for which End he hath redeemed them and converted them and translated and sanctified them to make them VessEls of his Honour and of his Grace and Mercies And so now the End of all our Men and Womens Meetings in the time of the Gospel the Power of Christ being the Authority of them is That they might all labour in his Power and in his Grace and in his Spirit and in his Light to his Service and his Business in Truth and Righteousness So the Women in the time of the Gospel Light and Grace are to look into their own selves and Families and to look to the Training up of their Children for they are oft-times more amongst them than the Men and may prevent many things that may fall out and many times they may make or marr their Children in their Education So now they come to be exercised in the Grace of God and to admonish and exhort reprove and rebuke and to keep all their Families modest honest vertuous sober and civil and not to gibe Liberty nor indulge that which tends to Vice or Lasiviousness or any Evil or Idleness or Sloathfulness or the Fashions of the World which pass away and to stop all vain Words and idle Talking and Stories and Tales which are unproffitable but rather to turn their Ears to Godliness which they should be trained up and exercised in and not to fulfil the Lust of the Eye for that being satisfied brings the Pride of Life and then comes the Lust of the Flesh and this is not of the Father but of the World And if either Men or Women suffer such things they suffer that which defiles their Children and Families And therefore such things are to be reproved in Families and their Children to be stop'd from going
into such things And therefore they are to have an Esteem of Truth and Virtue above all such things and not to indulge any such things as will draw out their Minds from Vertue to Vice Now when the Women are met together in the Light Women when met to be helpful to one another and in the Gospel the Power of God some are of a more large Capacity and Understanding than other Women and are able to inform and instruct and stir up others into Diligence Vertue and Righteousness and Godliness and in the Love and Wisdom of God to Inform and Reform their Families and to help them that be of weaker Capacities and Understandings in the Wisdom of God that they may be fruitful in every good Work and Word So that they may see that all their Families are ordered to God's Glory and that which tends to Loosness or Evil either in words ways or actions that would corrupt them either in their Lives or Manners may be kept down and reproved So that all their Children and Servants may be trained up in the Fear of God in the New Covenant for among the Jews in the Old Covenant them that sojourned amongst them were to keep the Sabbath and if they did eat of their Sacrifice they were bo be circumcised And the Women had their Assemblies in the Days of the Judges and the Kings and old Ely's Sons abused them and old Ely did admonish his Sons but he did not resTrain them from their Wickedness and therefore God cut off his Sons and he lost the Ark of God and the Priesthood and his own Life also So many of you may admonish your Children but if ye do not restrain them by the holp of the Spirit of God which God hath given to you you will quench the Spirit of God in you by indulging them so by that you will lose your spiritual Offering and your Priesthood therein Ely an example to all Parents and take heed if you do not lose your own Lives and your Childrens also therefore mind old Ely for your Example Now old Ely was not against the Assemblies of the Women who assembled by Troops as in the Margent of the Bible you may see 1 Sam. 2.21 22. though some Men now a days may be against Womens Meetings or Assemblies in the Gospel-times and against Woments Speaking or Prophecying but they are ignorant of the universal Spirit and of their Service and Labour to God in his Grace and Gospel and are of a narrow Spirit and are not the true Servers of God themselves for if they were they would have all People to serve God in his Power and to keep the true Religion which is to visit the Fatherless and the Widows and to keep themselves from the Spots of the World And some there have been that would not have the Women to meet without the Men and some of them say the Women must not speak in the Church and if they must not speak what should they meet with them for But what Spirit is this that would exercise Lordship over the Faith of any And what a Spirit is this that will neither suffer the Women to speak amongst the Men nor to meet amongst themselves to speak But all this is for Judgment with that Spirit that gives Liberty unto all that Labour in the Gospel in the Light and in the Grace And some Men and Women there are that suggest if Women should meet by themselves in the Order of the Gospel the Power of God they would be too high but such Men and Women as so suggest are too high already and would be ruling over Men and Women's Possessions and waste their own for if they were in the Power and Spirit of God they need not fear any one's getting over them For the Power and Spirit of God gives Liberty to all for Women are Heirs of Life as well as the Men and so Stewards of the manifold Grace of God And they must all give an account of their Stewardship All must give account of their Stewardship and are to be Possessors of Life and Light and Grace and the Gospel of Christ and to Labour in it and to keep their Liberty and Freedom in it as well as the Men. And they are Believers in the Light as well as the Men and so Children of the Light and of the Day as well as the Men. And so the Assemblies of the Women Assemblies of Women to be in the Gospel as was in the time of the Law whom God hath poured out his Spirit upon are to be in the time of the Gospel as well as in the time of the Law that they may be helps meet to the Men in the time of the Gospel in the Restoration as they were in the Beginning and time of the Law So all the Women in all their Assemblies in the time of the Gospel and of the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace are to be incouraged as they were in the time of the Law and to be stirred up in the Wisdom of God to their Diligence and Service of God and Christ in his New Covenant in his Gospel-time Concerning the Substance to do the Lord's Business about the Heavenly Tabernacle and Heavenly Garnients as the Women were about the Figure in the time of the Law And now you that stumble at Womens Meetings had not your Women many vain Meetings before they were convinced and you were not then offended at them when they met to satisfie the Flesh and had Junketing Meetings to themselves did you reprove them for such Meetings And why should they not now meet in their Conversion in the Lord's Power and Spirit to do his Business and to visit the Fatherless and Widows and to keep themselves from the Spots of the World which is the Practice of the pure Religion wherein the Men and Women may be helps meet in the Religion that is not of the World that keeps from the Spots of the World But some have said That such Meetings must not be That they may be helpful with the Men to prevent Evil c. but as Business requires or occasions them As much as to say you must not make up the Hedges till the Beasts have devoured your Corn and then the Parish Overseers must meet together to compute the Damage And here their Wisdom is seen as if it were not more their Duty to meet to prevent bad Actions that may fall out and with the Power of God to stop up Gaps to prevent Evil or weak Places for when the Evil is entred into it is of the latest to meet then which rather brings Scandal that Remedy and therefore the Labourers in the Gospel Men and Women being helps meet are to see that all walk and live in the Order of the Gospel and to see that nothing be lacking then all is well For the Women in their Assemblies may inform one another of the poor Widows and Fatherless
Pattern of Vertue and of Fruitfulness and Faithfulness and Valour and Practice in the Lord's Work and such their Children will rise up and call her blessed Many Daughters have done Vertuously says he but this Woman excelleth them that is the Nurse of them And now Friends many of other Examples in the Scriptures might be shewed to encourage Womens Meetings in the Service of God and Christ both concerning their Faithful Testimony for the Lord and Christ and their Encouragement by the Faithful in the Old and New Testament how that they had their Assemblies and their Meetings and now they being Heirs of Life and of Grace and of the Gospel of Christ which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light you may see over him that has darkned you and before he was Therefore this Gospel the Power of God which is the Everlasting Orderer is to keep you in Life and in Immortality that you may be meet helps in the Power and Image of God to the Men as Man and Woman was in before they fell So to administer of the Heavenly and Temporal Refreshments to such as want it and to stand up for your Liberty in the Light and Life and Grace and Glorious Gospel being Heirs of Life and Grace and of the Gospel of Salvation and of Christ Jesus as well as the Men. So that all Males and Females are one in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last and over all from Everlasting to Everlasting your Everlasting Joy Peace and Happiness And if there was no Scripture for our Men and Womens Meetings Christ is sufficient who Restores Man and Woman up into the Image of God to be helps meet in the Righteousness and Holiness as they were in before they fell So He is our Rock and Foundation to Build upon Wisdom she hath sent forth her Maidens she cryeth upon the high places of the City Who so is simple let him turn in hither as for him that wanteth Vnderstanding she saith to him come eat of my Bread and drink of my Wine which I have mingled forsake the Foolish and live and grow in the Way of Vnderstanding Here you may see the Wisdom of God sends forth Maidens * True Ministers who are Chast to Christ though the Wisdom of the World will not receive them that makes Ministers by their Wisdom and such as will not receive Wisdom will not receive her Maidens Prov. 9.1 2 3. The Lord faith I will pour out upon David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn c. In that Day there shall be great Mourning the House of David apart and their Wives apart the House of Nathan apart and their Wives apart the House of Levi apart and their Wives apart the Family of Shimei apart and their Wives apart all the Families that remain every Family apart and their Wives apart Zach. 12.10 And this would be Madness to all them that are not in that Spirit but here every one hath the Sense of Christ whom they have pierced in the Spirit which is poured upon them but the Hard-hearted are not sensible Marshgrainge the 16th of the 9th Month 1676. G. F. To all the Men and Womens Meetings that are gathered in the Name of Jesus Several Scripture Testimonies to the Saints Practices Wherein all may see the Practice of the holy Men and Women of God in their Services in the Church of Christ and what good Works and Practices and Services they exhorted unto as followeth as you may see both in the Old and New Testament which is the Duty of all True Christians to follow WHO gave himself for us Epist 321. that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works Titus 2.14 The Woman wrought a good work upon Christ as he saith Mat. 26.10 Paul saith to the Church of the Collossians Being fruitful in every good work and encreasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1.10 And that you may be established in every good word and work Incouragement to good Works 2 Thess 2.17 She to wit a Widow well reported for her good Works 1 Tim. 5.6 10. That the Church which believe in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable to Men Tit. 3.8 And let ours also to wit the Church of Christ learn to maintain good works for necessary uses that they may not be unfruitful This says Paul to Titus and to the Church Tit. 3.14 Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works Heb. 10.24 That they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate for God giveth us all things to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.17 18. But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 As God hath distributed to every Man Distributious for the Plor and as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all Churches 1 Cor. 7.17 And Paul exhorts the Church of the Romans to their distributing to the necessity of the Saints and of being given to Hospitality Rom. 12.13 And to make Contribution for the poor Saints that were at Jerusalem which the Apostle Paul mentions to the Romans Chap. 15.26 Only that we should remember the Poor the same which I also was forward to do said the Apostle to the Church at Galatia Gal. 2.10 If any Man minister let him do it as of the ability which God hath given him that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praises and dominion for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet. 4.11 And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not as we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all Men especially to the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6.9 10. And whatsoever you do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus and whatsoever ye do do it heartily as unto the Lord knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance for ye do serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.17 23 24. Therefore to him that knoweth how to do good and doth it not it is to him Sin James 4.17 He that hath pity on the Poor Compassion to the Poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19.17 And you may see such as were careful to hearken unto the Voice of the Lord God and to obey and keep his Commandments for the Lord thy God will bless thee as he hath promised Thou shalt lend unto many Nations and thou shalt not borrow c. Deut. 15.5 6. For the Lord shall open unto thee his good Treasure the Heaven to give thee Rain unto thy Land in his season and to bless all the works
this Adversary to Man and Woman and God's Order and Government and Teaching and Christ that does bruise his Head is the Head of all his People that fits under his Teaching and under his Order and Government which they are to walk in So the same Spirit is risen that rose against Noah in the Old World yea it is seen what the Sons of God run into then even that which grieved God by following that Spirit which led from God which led Adam and Eve also from God But Noah was preserved in the Ark over the Floods when the Old World was drowned but all God's People are preserved in Christ Jesus over the Floods of the World and that Spirit that led Adam and Eve into the Fall and to feed upon that which made them think they should be wiser than God had taught them I say they are preserved in Christ Jesus the Ark over all the Floods of the Adversary and from the Judgments that God brings upon him and them that follows him And as Noah was preserved in the Ark over the outward Floods that drowned the Old World so will God's People be preserved from the Fire and Brimstone that is prepared for the Wicked and the Devil and his Angels And the same Spirit is risen now that led Nimrod to build Babel a City to preserve him and them after the Flood but God did confound Them and their Work And so he will do all such Builders For you see how God did confound all the Jewish Builders yea the Wise Master Builders who rejected Christ the Corner-Stone and his Order and his Government and his Counsel And the great City Babylon which this Spirit and its Followers has built since the Apostles is come into remembrance with God which the same destroying Spirit has built that led Adam and Eve from God and from the Order he placed them in So this same Spirit which hath led Man and Woman from the Order the Apostles were in strives to lead People from it now where it is risen And the same Spirit that led Cain to kill Abel who afterwards built a City and the same Spirit that led Adam and Eve from the Command of God in Paradise leads from it now but God will lay Cain's City waste and there is no Lodging in it for the Saints who seek another City whose Builder and Maker is God And the same Spirit is risen now that arose in Pharaoh and in Corah Dathan and Abiram in Pharaoh to oppose the People and stop them from going out of Egypt and walking in the Law of God in which they might worship God which Law of God was Good Just and Holy and went over all Transgression and Sin which led into Death that it might reign and not the Lord and his Law And that Spirit that led Corah Dathan and Abiram who thought Moses took too much upon him and busied himself too much pretending that the People were Holy so would not have them go further but there to have made a stop and set down according to its Will But see how they were stopp'd and what became of Pharaoh how he was sunk in the Sea and the other into the Earth And what became of them that opposed Aaron in his Priesthood The Spirit of Coran risen now to oppose the Servants of the Lord. their Rods did not bud yet they would have been Teachers and Ministers but had not the Fruit in the Tabernacle in the Morning that they might see how to deal their Bread to the hungry and therefore they whose Rods did not bud God's Fire consumed them for they have nothing to offer to God but manifest Presumption and Rebellion And see the end of such And the same Spirit that rose against the Prophets in the Jews who resisted the Holy Ghost and rebelled against the Spirit is risen now and is the same Spirit that deceived Adam and Eve in Paradise which led the People from God and his Law and his Prophets But what became of these Jews and what was their end Some to the Fire some to the Sword and some to Captivity as you may read And those that rebelled against Moses and Joshua and Caleb wandred in the Wilderness till they perished and came not to the good Land And therefore keep under Christ Jesus's Teaching To keep under the Teaching of Christ who is the Prophet God has raised up like Moses whom all should hear and obey And the same Spirit is risen now that rose against Christ and the Apostles And Christ called them Serpents and of their Father the Devil the Destroyer the Adversary who had deceived Adam and Eve by his false Teaching and envied their Happiness and led them from God So you may see how these Jews high and low were gone from God and his Law and his Command by hearkning to and obeying this Spirit which had led Adam and Eve to disobey God's Command and therefore they would not receive his Son nor his Order nor Doctrine And what became of all these Jews was not their City laid waste and they scattered over all Nations and they destroyed of the Destroyer who had denied Christ their Saviour that wept over them and would have saved them from Destruction And such as came to John and was baptized by him and rejoyced in his Light for a season and many that followed Christ and said he was a Prophet yet at last these turned from him that descended and ascended and he told them that rejoyced in John's burning Light for a season God's Mind was not abiding in them and that they had not seen his Shape nor heard his Voice at any time and that they received Honour of Man but knew not Christ the heavenly Man that received not Honour of the earthly Man who received their Favour one of another And such as said he was a Prophet when he said They must eat his Flesh the heavenly Bread that came down from Heaven they forsook him for their Minds turned downward to feed upon that which was below And the same Spirit is risen now The same Spirit that rose against the Apostles is risen now that rose against the Apostles as you may see in their Epistles in the Romans Corinthians and in Peter Timothy Titus Jude and John Some got the Form of Godliness and denied the Power and some were Enemies to the Cross of Christ the Power of God others were getting another Gospel than the Power of God which brought them under the Curse others were speaking the things of God in the Words that Man's Wisdom taught them others their Faith was standing in Words and not in the Power of God others their Faith was standing in Paul and Apollo's which should have stood in Christ Which grieved the Apostles for their Faith should have stood in Christ whom they preached Others with good Words and fair Speeches deceived the Hearts of the Simple And therefore all they which preach'd Faith and made shipwrack of
have the Life and the Truth which Death and Darkness cannot get into which is out of the Truth tho' they may talk of the Words of the Truth but keep in the pure Religion that was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago and this pure Religion which is undesiled before God will keep you from the Spots of the World and above all the spotted and dirty Religions that are not pure but are defiled before and in the sight of God And in this Religion in your Mens and Womens Meetings that are in the Gospel of Christ and in the Order of it you will see that nothing is lacking being ordered by the holy pure peaceable and gentle Wisdom of God from above and so keep in the Worship of God in the New Covenant in the Spirit and in the Truth which the Devil that foul Spirit who is out of the Truth cannot get into nor his Company And so in the Seed of Life which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent all dwell and sit down who is the Amen the First and Last in whom you have Peace with God and then nothing can get between you and the Lord God G. F. To the Yearly Meeting in Yorkshire MY Friends Epist 350. In the Service and in the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ the Second Adam in his Power Light and Truth live over Death and Darkness and him that is out of the Truth So all in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head stand up for God's Glory and Honour All to walk as becomes the Gospel in which Seed you are all one Male and Female and in which Seed you all have Peace and Vnity that is Everlasting And in this heavenly Seed see that all walk as becometh the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel by which you do see over him that hath darkened you And this Gospel the Power of God will keep you in Life and in Immortality in which you may all see your Work and Service for the Lord God in Holiness and in Righteousness and in Godliness that the Lord God may be glorified in you all and among you all who is over all blessed for ever Amen And Friends see that all your Children and Families be trained up in the New Covenant of Grace and in Life and Peace and circumcised and baptized with the Spirit That Families be seasoned with Truth that they may all eat of the Spiritual Food and drink into one Spirit in the New Covenant and to feed upon the Substance as the Jews did on the Shadows in the Old which faded away And the Power of God the Gospel is the Authority of your Mens and Womens Meetings and every Heir of the Gospel is to Labour in their Inheritance and Possession in the Restoration into the Image of God in Righteousness and Holiness being made by Christ that never fell helps meet in the Restoration as they were before the Fall who is the First and Last the Foundation and Rock of Ages in him sit down in Life and Peace and Rest the Amen that nothing may get between you and the Lord God and see that nothing be lacking among you then all is well So with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ London the 3d of the 4th Month 1678. G. F. FRiends Know what the Lord doth require of you Epist 351. and all have a Sense of that in your selves that he doth require which is to do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with God Now the Lord who is Merciful and Just Holy and Righteous Pure and Perfect he doth require The Lord requireth but in propoation to what he giveth That Man and Woman should do Justly and Righteously and live Godlily and Holily by the Holy Light and Spirit and Truth and Grace that the Lord hath given every Man and Woman to profit withal And so to answer the Holy Pure Righteous Just God of Truth in all their Lives and Words and Conversations and so to glorifie him upon the Earth And the more the Lord gives the more he requireth and the less that he giveth the less he requireth But the Lord requireth of every Man and Woman as he giveth who will judge the World in Righteousness by the Man Christ Jesus according to the Gospel the Power of God that is preached to every Creature under Heaven that is according to the invisible Power manifesting that there is something of the invisible Power of God in every Man and Woman So here the Lord Jesus Christ doth not Judge according to the hearing of the Ear and to the seeing of the Eye for with Righteousness shall he Judge you according to the Light which is the Life in the Word Christ with which he doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World to the Salvation of them that believe in it and the Condemnation of them that do hate it and that will not receive the Gospel nor the Grace which bringeth Salvation which hath appeared to all Men but walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and iurn it unto Wantonness So according to his Grace and Light and Gospel will the righteous God Judge the World in Righteousness by Christ the Heavenly and Spiritual Man who hath died for the Sins of the World though they deny him that bought them and tasted Death for every Man Such deserve his Judgment Send this abroad among Friends to be read in their Meetings Swarthmore the 11th Month 1678. G. F. An Epistle to Friends to keep in the Power of God in their Peaceable Habitations over all the Troubles of the World ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 352. who are gathered by the Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit of Jesus Christ to him the Head over all by whom were all things created the First-born of every Creature and the First-begotten from the dead know him and the Power of his Resurrection that you all may be Partakers of it and of Life Everlasting and may sit together in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is over all the First and Last and in him you have Peace who is not of this World for in this World there is trouble and the World did and doth hate Christ The World hated Christ before it hated them yea and his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and therefore it is no marvel if the World do hate Christ's Members that do follow him in his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and so with it receive him into them their Life and Salvation and so he that hath the Son of God hath Life who is the Fountain that filleth all that wait upon him with his heavenly Blessings and Riches of Life from Christ the Rock and Foundation that cannot be shaken though the Rocks and Foundations of the World may be shaken and cloven in pieces and the Pillars of the Earth may reel and stagger and all
for the Old Covenant of Circumcision was held in the Flesh and then they did feed upon the Natural Sacrifices but the New Covenant is held in the Grace Light and Spirit by which they are Circumcised and so do feed on their Heavenly Sacrifice For in the Old Covenant they were not to eat the Blood of Beasts or any Blood but in the New Covenant Christ tells you Except ye do eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no part in me For as by Adam and Eve their eating that which God forbad came Death so if Adam and Eve's Sons and Daughters have Life again it is by eating of that which Christ commands and as by eating came Death so by eating gometh Life and not by talking no not by talking of the Son of God for all Reprobates may do so for the Apostle saith If Christ be not in you ye are Reprobates and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life and he that hath the Son of God hath Life and the Saints did confess the Son of God was come and had given them an Understanding and they were in him and they were to walk as he walked and not only to talk as he talked For there are too many Talkers and few Walkers in Christ my desire is there may be more And the Lord God Almighty strengthen you in your inward Man and over all give you Dominion in the Seed of Life which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent tht brought Death and a Curse and this Seed bringeth the Blessings in which all Nations are blessed and out of this Seed they are not blessed though they may profess all the words of this good Seed and if they are not in it they have not the Blessing in it and they that be in this their Blessings and Peace flow as a River from the Rock and Foundation of Life that standeth sure which all the Prophets Apostles and sanctisied Ones did and do build upon who is their Life and Salvation So feel the Stone that is cut out of the Mountain without Hands which must become a great Mountain and foll the whole Earth which hath a Kingdom that is everlasting which except a Man be born again he neither can see it nor enter into his Kingdom And my Desire is that you in your Measures may be preserved to the Lord Love Mercy and do Justly and know what he doth require of you to love Mercy to do Justice and to walk Humbly with God for the more he giveth the more he requires and the less that he gives the less he requires who will judge the World in Righteousness according to the Gospel preached in every Creature shewing that there is something of God in every Creature that shall answer his Judgment And therefore my desire is that all may be faithful to what the Lord hath made known unto them by his Grace and Truth Light Power and Spirit and then the Lord will supply them with more to whom be Glory and Praise who is the Creator of all through Jesus Christ by whom all things were made Amen G. F. AND Dear Friends Epist 354 My Love to you all in the Seed of Life and Peace which floweth as a River and bruiseth the Head of the Serpent that hath brought Death and Darkness Woe Elected in Christ the Seed Misery and Imperfection upon and in Man and in this Seed Christ is all Nations blessed and elected and out of it is the Curse and Reprobation And out of this Seed are all the false Religions false Ways false Worships and false Churches or Bodies without Heads like so many Monsters which the Seed of the Serpent hath brought forth since the Apostles days and then they have made them Heads out of their Bodies or Churches and when one Head is fallen off then another they make and set it upon their Body or Church having lost and gone from the true Head Christ And sometimes the Members do fall out about making a Head for their Body so that the Members do destroy one another about it Going from Christ their Head they make to themselves Heads Now this monstrous Body is brought in by this ovil Seed in such as are gone from the Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit that cometh from Christ the heavenly Head in whom dwelleth the fulness of Divinity And they are never like to come to the true Head Christ but by coming to the Light Grace Truth Power Faith and Spirit of Jesus which cometh from him and turneth to him again the Head and so to hold him their Head by which all the Members are coupled together by Joints and Bands which do receive their Nourishment from him their Head who doth supply every Member with Life Everlasting from him that is alive and liveth for evermore And since such have gone from the Light Grace Truth spirit and Power of Jesus in this Night of Apostacy they have gone from that which cometh from the Head Christ which should join to him And therefore in this night of Apostacy there have been many Bodies without the true Head which have made so many Heads and set them upon their Bodies and when they are gone they do make more and the Beast Dragon Wolves and flse Worships or Bodies of People without the true Head Christ being out of the Grace Truth Light Power Faith and Spirit which the Apostles were in they have brought forth so many monstrous Bodies without Heads till they have made Heads for them and when one is gone they do make another And therefore all must come to the Grace Truth Power Spirit and Faith that cometh from Jesus if that they do come to him from whence it cometh and so hold him their Head Christ which Head all things were made by who is First and Last the Beginning and Ending Halelujah And my desires are That all may be in their Services for Christ Men and Women in his Grace Truth Light Power and Spirit that from him they may all have their Penny Dilligence rewarded who doth reward every Man and Woman according to their Works and not stand idle chaffering in the Market-place So with my Love in the Lord the Creator of all and in the Lord Jesus Christ by whom was all who is over all the First and Last a living Rock and Foundation for all the Living to build upon that are quickned by him and do believe in his Light which is the Life in Christ the Word by whom all things were made and so are grafted into Christ Grafted in Christ the living Tree that never withereth and so from him the green Tree every Graft doth receive its Nourishment that is grafted into him and so the living Root doth bear every living Branch and nourishes it that it may bring forth Fruit to the Praise of God over all blessed for ever And this is the Tree whose Leaf never fadeth nor Fruit faileth but its Fruit feedeth all the
are in old Adam which they did and do dote after which the new Creatures in Christ Jesus the second Adam were not to taste touch nor handle for they did perish with the using And are not all the Will-worships and the Beasts and the Dragon's Worships of the old Creatures that be out of Christ bearing the Mark of the Beast in their Hand or Forehead And they that be in Christ which be new Creatures have their Father's Mark or Name in their Fore heads and worship the Holy Pure and Living God in Spirit and in Truth And it was the old Creatures that made Images and Idols and such make them now and worship them But they that are in Christ are new Creatures and are renewed up into the Image of God and worship him in his Holy Spirit and Truth that liveth for ever Amen And these cannot touch taste nor handle the old Creatures Images Idols Not to touch with the Rudiments of the World Doctrines Ordinances Traditions or Rudiments of the World which are the old Creatures in Old Adam which doth touth taste and handle them But the new Creature cannot who is in Christ the express Image of the Father and he maketh his new Creatures like himself Moses appointed Servants for God in the Law or Old Testament but Christ made Sons in the New Testament for as many as received Christ he gave them Power to become the Sons of God Swarthmore in Lancashire the 30th of the 11th Month 1678. G. F. To Friends in America concerning their Negroes and Indians ALL Friends Epist 335. every where that have Indians or Blacks You are to preach the Gospel to them The Gespel to be preacked to the Blacks Indians c. and other Servants if you be true Christians for the Gospel of Salvation was to be preached to every Creature under Heaven Christ commands it to his Disciples Go and teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost And this is the one Baptism with the Spirit into one Body which plunges down Sin and Corruption which hath gotten up by Disobedience and Transgression For all hath been plunged into Sin and Death from the Life for all died in Adam then they have been all subjected by the Evil Spirit which hath led them out of the Truth into the Evil and therefore they must all be baptized into the Death of Christ and put on Christ if they have Life And also you must preach the Grace of God to all Blacks and Indians which Grace brings Salvation that hath appeared unto all Men to teach and instruct them to live Godly Righteously and Soberly Which Grace of God is sufficient to teach and establish all true Christians that they may appear before the Throne of Grace And also you must teach and instruct Blacks and Indians and other Indians and Negroes directed to God's Spirit how that God doth pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh in these days of the New Covenant and New Testament and that none of them must quench the Motions of his Spirit nor grieve it nor vex it nor rebel against it nor err from it nor resist it but be led by his good Spirit to instruct them and with which they may profit in the things of God neither must they turn from his Grace into Wantonness nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace for it will teach them to live Soberly Godly and Righteously and season their Words And also you must instruct and teach your Indians and Negroes and all others how that Christ by the Grace of God Christ tasted Death for every Man and is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World tasted Death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all Men to be testified in due time and is the Propitiation not for the Sins of Christians only but for the Sins of the whole World And how that he doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World with his true Light which is the Life in Christ by whom the World was made And Christ who is the Light of the World saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And they that do Evil and hate the Light which is the Life in Christ will not come to the Light because it will reprove them and love the Darkness more than the Light this Light is their Condemnation And so all must be turned from Darkness to Light to believe in the Light and from the Power of Satan to God and if they do not believe they will be reproved condemned and judged by Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth given unto him who will judge both the Quick and the Dead and reward every Man according to his Works whether they be good or evil And therefore you are to open the Promises of God to the Ignorant and how God would give Christ a Covenant a Light to the Gentiles Christ a Light to the Gentiles the Heathen and a New Covenant to the House of Israel and the House of Judah and that he is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth and how that the Earth shall be covered with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters covers the Sea so that the glorious Knowledge of the Lord should cover the Earth And the Lord said The Example of Abraham for the Instruction of Families He knew that Abraham would teach and instruct his Family that they should learn to keep his Laws and Statutes after he was gone and Abraham did Circumcise all his Males yea them that he had bought with his Money of any Stranger Now who are of Faith and walks in the steps of faithful Abraham doth preach up and instruct all their Families in the Circumcision of the Spirit that they might be Circumcised with the Spirit which puts off the Body of Death and the Sins of the Flesh that is come up in Man and Woman by Transgression so that in the Spirit they may serve and worship the true and living God and so that ye all may come to enjoy the Presence of the Lord in your Families and improve your Talents that Christ hath given unto you for David saith that saw Christ in his New Covenant Let all Nations Praise the Lord and again All that have Breath Praise the Lord again Let the Poor and Needy praise thy Name And let all People praise thee O God And O ye Servants of the Lord praise the Lord for the Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies is over all his Works And all thy Works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee they shall speak of thy Glory and of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power For the Lord saith From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles And in every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure Offering
for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts And this heavenly Incense and Offering in every place is the Spiritual Offering in the New Covenant for the Jews was to offer but in one place in the Temple in the Old Covenant but in the New Covenant their Offering is in the Holy Temple of their Hearts in the Spirit with which they Offer the pure and holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God with that Spirit which God hath given them they have a living Sense of God their Creator and Father of all their Mercies who hath made them and hath made all things for them and redeems them by his Son Christ Jesus to whom be Praise and Glory and Honour and Thanks for evermore So let all bow at the Name of Jesus to his Power and Light and Spirit All are to low to the Name of Jesus for they have bowed to the Power of Darkness that foul and unclean Spirit who is out of Truth and in whom there is no Truth And therefore now all are to bow at the Name of Jesus for there is no Salvation in any other Name under Heaven but in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven who is the First Born of every Creature and the First Begotten from the Dead whom God now speaks to his People by his Son and all are to hear him the great Prophet and every Tongue is to confess to Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father who is the First and Last who bruises the Serpent's Head And so through Christ Jesus Man and Woman comes again to God All Blessings and Praises be to the Lord God through Jesus Christ for ever and evermore Amen Swartmore the 10th Month 1679. G. F. DEar Friends every where that have received the Truth as it is in Jesus Epist 356. which is holy and pure and brings to live in him that is Pure and Holy The Truth is Peaceable and a Peaceable Habitation and the Truth is sufficient and able to make you free from him that abode not in the Truth To live in the peaceable Truth out of Strise c. and in whom there is no Truth and all that do not live and walk in the Peaceable Truth follows him that is out of the Truth into Strifes and vain Janglings and Disputings like Men of Corrupt Minds destitute of the Truth And now the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus Christ is that which all People should be under in this New Covenant of Light and Life and Grace and Truth as the Law came by Moses in the Old Covenant and the Jews were to be under the Law But the true Christians who hath received the Grace and Truth comes to be under this Grace's teaching leading and eftablishing by which Grace and Truth they are united and joyned to Jesus Christ from whence it comes And this Grace and Truth is able and sufficient to make you free from him that is out of the Truth and to come to have a Peaceable Habitation in Christ Jesus their Eternal Rest and Sabbath For Christ Jesus saith to his Believers and Followers In me ye have Peace but in the World ye have Trouble and the trouble is in the World of Wickedness In Christ we have Peace And therefore God's People are not to love the World nor the things of the World for the love of the World is Enmity to God And therefore feel God's Love shed abroad in all your Hearts through Christ Jesus to carry all your Hearts and your Minds above the Love of the World and this Love is that which will preserve you in the excellent way of bearing all things and the Love of God fulfils the Law And the Fruits of the pure holy Spirit of the God of Truth is Love which is a peaceable Spirit but the foul unclean Spirit that is out of the Truth is a ravenous unquiet unpeaceable Spirit And the Faith that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it works by Love and the Spirit of Faith is a Peaceable Spirit which Faith gives the Victory over the unpeaceable unruly ravenous Spirit and by which Faith you have the Inheritance And the Glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which is the Power of God the Gospel of Peace which is over the Power of Darkness and was before it was and it will be when it is gone and in this Gospel all the Heirs of it have an Everlasting Unity and an Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Glorious Gospel of Peace yea a Glorious Peaceable Fellowship and an access to God And the Wisdom of God from above is gentle and peaceable and justifies and preserves all her Children above the unpeaceable Wisdom that is below and this Peaceable Wisdom preserves above all the unruly Spirits and vain Talkers and Janglers such as talk of the Wisdom of God but lives not in it but in the Wisdom of the World And such as talk of the Gospel of Christ the Power of God Such as talk of the Gospel and live out of it have not comfort in the Scriptures nor the Spirit of God but lives not in it but do live in the Power of Satan the Enemy and Adversary and the Devil the destroying Power and Spirit and such have no comfort of the Scriptures nor of the things of God nor of the Grace nor of the Truth nor of the Wisdom of God nor of Faith nor Light though they may talk of all these things while they follow that unruly foul unpeaceable Spirit that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth and where there is no Truth there is Confusion and Disorder Now the God of Truth is a God of Order from whom you have Grace Truth and Faith which is his Gift and his Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom that you may all live in the Order of it and as it orders you For God is a God of Order and his Order is known in his Light Grace and Truth and Spirit and his Gospel the Power of God and in his Wisdom And all his Children and People should live in the Order of his Light Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom and delight in the Order of it And all you that know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life then in this Eternal Life you do know that the God of Truth is a God of Order and you love his Order in his Light and Life and Grace and Truth in his Gospel and in his Spirit and in his heavenly pure Wisdom by which all his Children are justified And in his Truth that makes free from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth that all his Children should walk in the Order of Truth which hath made them free who are born again of the Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God The Truth makes free that lives and abides and endures for ever And so feeds of the Milk of
this Immortal Word and so are of an Incorruptible Generation which is above the Corruptible and here is the hidden Man of the Heart that is Incorruptible known that hath an Everlasting Fellowship and hath an Incorruptible Crown and is an Heir of an Incorruptible Kingdom And now the God of this World and his Followers that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth which is in the Light and Life and in the Gospel and in the Wisdom of the God of Truth For the World is full of Disorder and Confusion but the Living Eternal Immortal God of Truth is a God of Order and not of Confusion who hath sent his Son to destroy the Devil and his Works Blessings and Praises with all Glory and Thanks be unto him who hath all Power Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Amen G. F. DEar Friends Epist 357. All live the Life of the true Christians and not the Life of old Adam that went from God's Command and Voice nor like the Jews To live the Life of Christianity and such as have got the Name of Christians that say There is no hearing of God and Christ's Voice now which are out of the Life Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Image of God that the true Christians were in and Adam and Eve before they fell so that none can live the Life of the true Christians and the holy Prophets and Apostles except they are in the same Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Faith and Image that they were in which is a Life above the World and its God in whom there is no Truth no Life Light nor Power of the Living God abiding in them And therefore before any can live the Life of the Saints they must bow to the Name of Jesus their Saviour in his Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit which cometh from him who submitted himself to the shamesul Death of the Cross and destroyed Death and his Power who had no Sin nor Guile in his Mouth and is risen again for our Justification and so hath tasted Death for every Man and given himself a Ransom for all that all should now bow at his Name Jesus a Saviour and so to his Power and Authority bow who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him So all Men have bowed under Death and Sin by Transgression Christ submitted to the Cross and Death for us And Christ hath submitted to the Cross and Death for them and hath born their Stripes for Sin and Iniquity who had no Sin neither knew any to bring us out of Death and Sin Therefore every one must bow at the Name of Jesus as before whatsoever they do in Word or Deed it must be done in the Name of Jesus and before that they can confess to Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father they must all bow at the Name of Jesus and bow to his Grace and Truth Light Spirit and Power that cometh by Jesus which they know Him the Fountain the Rock and Foundation to build upon who brings out of Death and Darkness into Light and Life and a Kingdom and a World that is Everlasting and there to have Food and Cloathing that is Everlasting G. F. DEar Friends With my Love to you in the holy Peaceable Truth that never changes nor admits of no Evil Epist 358. but makes all free that receive it and tht walk in it To live in Truth which admits of no Evil. and is over all the Clouds without Rain and Wells without Water and Trees without Fruit And from the Truth floweth Justice Equity Righteousness and Godliness Mercy and Tenderness that brings a Man's Heart Mind Soul and Spirit to the Infinite and Incomprehensible God and from it a Love flows to all the Univerfal Creation and would have all to come to the Knowledge of the Truth and it bends every one to their utmost Ability to serve God and his Truth and to spread it abroad and it brings their Minds out of the Earth which makes them brittle and changeable and uncertain for it doth not change neither doth it touch with that which does change As to Vnity It makes all like it self that do obey it Vniversal to live out of narrowness and self and deny it So it brings all into Oneness and answereth the good Principle of God in all People and brings into Humility and the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of his Wisdom and it brings all to have a care of God's Glory and his Honour and watches over all the Professors of it for their good to keep within its bounds and walk within its order which he that is out of Truth leads into all disorder in whom there is no Truth and the Truth makes all its Children free from him and in it to reign over him Thanks Glory and Honour to the Lord God of Truth over all for ever Amen The Lord who is the God of all Peace and Order The Lord is the Protect or of his People alone Protects and Preserves his People with his Eternal Power for the Devil's Power is not Eternal it had a beginning and must have an ending for the Eternal Power limits that Devourer and Destroyer And therefore Friends Patience must be exercised in the Truth and keep to the Word of Patience which Word was before the World was and abides and endures for ever and it will keep Friends over and out of all the Snares of the World and its Temptations So with my Love in the Seed of Life that reigns over all and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all to his Glory Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read amongst Friends FRiends You that are Believers in the Light Epist 359. which is the Life in Christ To Gather in the Name of Jesus and are grasted into him who is ascended far above all Principalities Power Thrones and Dominions by whom all things were made and created all the Children in the New Covenant do Gather together in the Name of Christ Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven and in whose Name they have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven And at this Name must every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and they that have bowed their knee to the Name of Jesus and do confess him to the Glory of God the Father cannot Gather in any other Name under Heaven below the Name of Jesus but Gather in the Name of Jesus which is above every Name under Heaven in whom they have Salvation and so cannot not Gather in any Name below Christ for they do know that they have not any Salvation in whatsoever Name that they do Gather together in below the Name of Jesus And being gathered in the Name of Jesus he
not all People in their several false Religions Ways and Sects yea the very Turks and Heathens train up their Children in their own Ways And likewise did not the Jews train up their Children in the Old Testament and Old Covenant of works which old Testament and Covenant Christ hath abolished and hath established the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace And therefore must not all the Jews in Spirit in this New Testament train up their Children in this New Covenant of Light Life and Grace Or else do they not bring themselves under Condemnation For doth not the Beasts and the Fowles teach their Young to pick suck and feed their Young All our good things comes from God and Christ the giver of them And will not the Young one cry after the Old ones for their Food All these things might teach People Now you having your Food from Christ and God your Father yea your Bread your Milk your Water your Wine your Honey your Fine Linnen your Cloathing your Breath your Life your Souls and the Image of God which he made you in which Man and Woman hath lost by Transgression but are to be renewed into it again by Christ your Redeemer and Sanctifier and Reconciler and Mediator who makes your Peace between you and God from whom you have your Light Grace and Truth who gives you his Gospel and Faith and Spirit in whose Name you have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven who is your heavenly spiritual Rock and Foundation and have not you all these things from above freely and none of them from below And also your Heavenly Armour and Spiritual Weapons in which you stand Witnesses for God and Christ And cannot you train up all your Children in the Fear of God and tell them from whence you have all these good things that they may come to receive of all these good things which you receive from the good God and Christ the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge Good Children are the Crown of old Men. that you may say The Children of your Children are the Crown of your old Men in the Truth and the Glory of their Fathers in God and that you may say Your Wives are as fruitful Vines by the sides of your House and your Children like Olive Plants round about your Table thus shall they be blessed that fear the Lord that you may say Your Sons are Plants of God growing up in their Youth And Daughters in Truth as polished Stones and that your Daughters may be as Corner-Stones polished after the similitude of a Palace and that your Garners are full and affordeth all manner of Store so that there is no complaining in your Streets And happy is that People whose God is the Lord. And now my Friends if there happen any Difference among Friends either with Friends or the World Let it be put to Referrence if it cannot be ended between themselves And all that are concerned to End any Difference Friends not to go to Law but to end Differences amongst themselves let them have but one Ear to one Party and let them reserve the other Ear to hear the other Party so that they may Judge Impartially of Matters without Affection or Favour or Respect of Persons For you may see how the Jews in the Old Covenant did judge of things among themselves as long as they kept the Law of God and did not go to other Nations or to the Heathen for them to judge of their Matters and therefore the Apostle reproves the Corinthians for that fault for going to Law one with another before Vnbelievers and told them that the Saints should judge the World yea Angels and then how much more might they Judge of things appertaining to this Life And therefore the Apostle exhorted If then ye have Judgment of things pertaining to this Life set them to judge that are least esteemed in the Church And to speak to him that hath Offended alone And Christ saith If thy Brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone if he should hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word may be established And if he neglect to hear them tell it to the Church and if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican Verily I say unto you whatsoever is bound on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven And farther Christ said If two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven For where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. And Christ saith And if he neglect to hear them to tell the Church If thy Brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he Repent forgive him And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times if he turn again saying I Repent thou shalt forgive him Luke 17. Here you may see what Instructions Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gives to his Church and much more which is too large to write And they had Elders in the Old Covenant then much more ought there to be Elders in the New Covenant which are grown in the Truth And they had the Assemblies of the Women in the Law who was concerned in the things about the Figures and Shadows and they wrought about the Holy things and they brought of their clean things to be offered all which Christ the Holy One hath abolished and put an end to in the Old Covenant All are to walk in the fear of God So much more the Believers in Christ in the New Testament in the time of the Gospel are to have their Assemblies and Meetings besides their Instructing and looking into their own Families whether they walk in the Fear of God And then after in the General Service of the Church of God the aged Men and aged Women in the Truth are to be Teachers of good things as the Lord shall order them with his Spirit to Teach and Instruct Exhort Admonish Reprove Rebuke with the Holy Spirit And to rebuke and reprove in the holy Spirit for the least Member hath an Office and every Believer in the Light which is the Life in Christ is a Member of Christ's Church and grafted into him and so he is the holy Head of the Church and they are Heirs of his Order and of his Government of the Increase of which there is no end in his Eternal Power and Spirit And therefore all that deny the Men and Womens Meetings that are established in the Light Power and Spirit of Christ by which we are
gathered together He being in the midst of them they may as well deny Christ as deny his heavenly Order of his Gospel and his Heavenly Spiritual Government And all them that deny the Men and Womens Meetings People are to come into the possession of what thay profess in the New Covenant in the Restoration out of Death and Darkness by Christ and in his Gospel of Light and Life they may as well deny the Preaching of the Gospel if People shall not come into the Possession of that which is Preach'd and Practice it For the Faithful Men and Women that are restored into the Image of God by Christ Jesus as Adam and Eve were in before they fell they were meet-helps in Righteousness and in the Image of God and in Christ Jesus yea they were meet-helps one to another and Christ makes them as Kings and Priests to Reign upon the Earth over the Serpent and the Devil the Destroyer in the Power of God which was before he was in which is the holy Order And they do that offer the Spiritual Sacrifices to God and are his heavenly Witnesses stands for God and Christ and his Righteousness in his Light and Life They that do offer Spiritual Sacrifices are to stand up for God and Christ by which they are grafted into Christ and so by and in his Power Light and Life stands over Death and Darkness and the Prince and Power of it and in it Reigns over him And so doth Praise God and his Son that liveth for ever and sings Hallalujah Swarthmore the 10th Month 1679. G. F. An Epistle to Friends for them to read MY Dear Friends The peaceable Truth live in Epist 361. which you have received from Jesus your Saviour and that by the Grace and Truth that is come by him into your Hearts No bringing forth good Fruits but by abiding in Christ you may all abide in Christ and grow up in him from whence it comes For as Christ saith Except you abide in me ye cannot bring forth Fruit. And there is none that abide in Christ but who abide in his Light Grace and Truth And Christ saith Without me ye can do nothing who is the Heavenly and Spiritual Man without Christ we can do nothing the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him So without this Truth and Grace and Light and Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus which you receive from him you cannot abide in him This brings you to abide in him and to have his Presence to strengthen you so that through him you may do all things which he commands and requires of you And now The Grace and Truth that comes from Christ brings to Christ the Rock and Foundation Dear Friends to the Light and Grace and Truth in your Hearts you were turned at the first and now as you do all walk in the Light and are established in the Grace and Truth in your Hearts Minds and Souls it brings you to Christ the heavenly spiritual Rock and Foundation and to build upon him with the Light Grace and Truth that comes from him and then you will see such as Christ speaks of that did profess him and preach him but did not abide in his Light Grace and Truth so not in Christ Jesus and such Christ will not know that do not abide in him with his Light Grace and Truth from whence it comes For the Grace And the Grace and Truth that cometh from Jesus makes inward Christians Truth and Light that cometh by Jesus this makes inward Christians and the Jews inward who have the Praise of God though may be not of Men. And the Apostles in their Days they had to do with several sorts of People some that preached Christ of Envy and some of Contention and some of Good-will notwithstanding the Apostles rejoyced that Christ was preached But then after a time when many had gotten the Form of Christianity and Godliness and denied the Power thereof he exhorted the Faithful that kept their Habitation in Christ Jesus to turn away from such And yet such went under the Name of Christians else they could not have the Form of Godliness And likewise Such as have the form of Godliness but deny the Power of it are to be turned away such as got the good Words and fair Speeches with which they deceived the Hearts of the Simple these were got to be Preachers among the Christians And the heady high-minded and fierce Despisers these had the Form of Godliness though they denied the Power of it which they were turned from So they that lived in the Light Grace and Truth and the Power and Spirit of Christ were to turn away from such that had the Form of Godliness and denied the Power And such as these that had the Form of Godliness and denied the Power were come farther than such as taught for Doctrine the Rudiments and Precepts of the World and Doctrines of Men or the professing Jews and Gentiles that stood against the Name of Christ which were altogether Unbelievers of the very Form of Godliness of the New Covenant And likewise such that were doting about Questions and Strife about Words The vain Talkers were the Persecutors of the Church in the Apostles days and so are now vain Janglers and Disputers Men of corrupt Minds and those that were unruly and vain Talkers many of these were Teachers which were Troublers of the Churches in the Apostles days And those that Peter and Jude cried against that were come so far as Balaam to Prophesie and Cain to hear the Voice of God and a Corah which came out of Egypt many of these got up to be Teachers having high swelling Words which the Apostle judged amongst the fallen Angels and the old World and Sodom who were turned to be Mockers And such-like as these were they that separated themselves being sensual having not the Spirit And so it seems these did set up Separations from the Apostles and Saints in their Days And the Apostle declareth how the Lord saved his People out of the Land of Egypt and afterwards destroyed them that believed not Angels left their first Habitation and the Angels that kept not their first State but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day And so these which went under the Name of Christians that had been convinced and had got a Form of Godliness and Christianity that kept not their first State in the Light and Grace and Truth and by it their Habitation in Christ Jesus they came under the Chain of Darkness And therefore Friends you see how the Apostle was troubled with the false Apostles and Satan's Messengers that got among the Corinthians and how they despised the Apostle And likewise what was got up among the Romans and Galatians and in the Days of John as he manifests in
his Epistles And therefore how Careful were the true Apostles of the Saints in their Watching over them For John said If ye walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another And that ye also may have Fellowship with us for truly our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ And these things write we unto you that your Joy may be full For many may talk of the Light and preach the Light Those that walk in the Light are accepted but to walk in the Light that is it which grafts into Christ Jesus and brings to live in him which talking of him doth not And as the Apostle said As every one hath received Christ Jesus so walk in him And the Sayers of the Word and not the Doers deceived their own Souls So there may be many Sayers of the Word deceivers of their own Souls and others and Preachers of Christ Jesus But the Doers of the Word and the Walkers in Christ Jesus are they that are accepted of the Lord. And again as the Apostle saith The Word of Faith was nigh them in their Hearts and Mouths to obey it and do it and that was the Word of Faith which they preached And the Light shined in their Hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus And the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things that is true and is no Lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And these things I have written unto you saith the Apostle concerning them that seduce you So here may all the inward Christians in the Grace Light Truth Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus see what the Apostles exhorted the Saints unto that they might be preserved in their Day and so by the sme now from them that deceived their own Souls and othes And so by this Light The Anointing the Saiats Guide this Word the Anointing Grace Truth power and Spirit of Jesus Christ in the Heart Mind and Soul must all the Saints be guided now by which they may come to be inward Christians and have a Habitation in Christ Jesus and so built upon Him the Living Rock and Roundation as the Saints were in the Apostles Days and so to have Salt in your selves and the Leaven in your own Meal and the Pearl in your own Field and yuor Lamps lighted in your own Tabernacles and nourished with the heavenly Oil. So that you may put a Difference betwixt the Clean and the Unclean and what you are to touch and whaat you are not And that no Man or Woman may look below Heaven for their Bread tonourish their Souls and inward Man and below God and Christ for their Springs which by continuing in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Word by which all things were made and created they shall have a Spring from him the Fountain springing up in them to Eternal Life so they shall have both the upper and nether Springs to nourish the Plant that God hath planted And such as came out of Egypt with Moses and after rebelled against the Lord and Moses and the Law and the Prophets were a greater Grief to Moses and the Prophets than the Heathen And likewise Apostates both under the Law and the Gospel the greatest Exercises to the Servants of God those that came to be Christians called and had got the Form of Godliness came to be a greater Grief to the Apostles than the World for their Work was to seek to destroy that which the Apostle had begotten and them that they had turned to Christ And therefore well might the Apostle exhort the Saints to turn away from such that had the Form of Godliness and denied the Power and therefore he told the Saints The Kingdom of Heaven stands not in Words but in Power and therefore they were to know one another in the Spirit and Power and that is the Internal Knowledge And their Fellowship was to be in the Holy Ghost and their Unity in the Spirit which was the Bond of Peace and their Fellowship was to be inthe Gospel which was the Power of God So an Everlasting Fellowship in the Everlasting Power of God that will out-last the Power of Darkness for it was before it was And also their Vnity was to be in the precious Divine Faith which Christ was the Author and Finisher of the Mystery of which was held in a pure Conscience and their Worship was in the Spirit of God and in Truth So you may see what a Heavenly Unity and Fellowship and a Worship Christ and the Apostles set up And the Saints in the Light Grace Truth Spirit and the Power of God the Gospel lived in it and walked in it So with the Light Grace Truth Power Spirit and Word of Life in the Heart all hold Christ the Head who is the Head of all thigs by whom all things were made who is the Treasure of the heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge who is called the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven And therefore all are to have their Knowledge and their Wisdom from him the Treasure by the Light Grace Truth Power and Spivit that comes from him it leads you to him your Treasure of heavenly Wisdom and Knowledge by which Knowledge you know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal to know And now my Dear Friends concerning True Liberty THE True liberty is in the Gospel the Power of God which the Devil and his Instruments with his false Liberty cannot get into And in this Gospel is the Saints Fellowship which the Devil with all his false Fellowships cannot get into nor find it True Liberty in the Faith of Christ for it is a Mystery Likewise true Liberty is in the Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of which gives Victory over that which separated Man and Woman from God and by which they have access to God again And in this holy pure divine precious Faith that is held in the pure Conscience which pure Conscience hath its pure holy divine precious Liberty in this holy divine precious Faith which works by Love and not as the dead Faith doth which works by Enmity which is the Fruit of this holy pure divine Faith and in it is the divine pure holy and precious Liberty and Freedom So here is the divine holy pure and precious Liberty in this Faith which works by Love that is the Victory over that which brought Man and Woman into Bondage and Slavery and false Liberty Faith is the Saints victory So this living Faith is the Victory over all dead Faiths and false Freedoms and Liberties which holy divine pure and precious Faith 's the Saints were and are to contend for which Christ the Holy One is the
Author and Finisher of So in this holy divine pure and precious Faith they have a holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is the Victory over the Enmity and the Adversary the Destroyer and all this Instruments and they cannot come within this holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is in the Faith for it is a Mysteryj and gives Victory over him and the access to the pure God and to Christ the Author of it which all are too stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free who is the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam For the Bondaged Captivity and Thraldom false Freedom and false Liberty was and is in Old Adam in Transgression and the true Liberty is that which Christ the pure and holy One makes free in and this is a pure holy Liberty which Christ makes and sets his People free in in which they are all to stand fast over all the false Liberties and Freedoms which are Bondage Also the true Libertyis in the Truth which if the Truth hath made you free then are you free indeed from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth So then there is no true Freedom nor Liberty in him and he in whom there is no Truth cannot come into this Freedom and Liberty which is in the Truth but remains in the False For the Jews in the days of Christ boasted of their liberty and Freedom though they were in Bondange both inwardly and outwardly and that they were of Abraham their Father but Christ told them The Devil was their Father and his lusts ye will do And also in the Days of the Apostles many of the false Christians boasted of their Liberty but who was overcome by them was brought into Bondage And the Apostle was so careful of his Liberty in Christ Jesus To be careful of our I iberty in Christ that such as came to spie it out and were somewhat in Conferrence but they added nothing to him and unto such he would not give place by Subjection but rather reproved them and directed every one to walk according to the measure of the Rule which God hath distributed to them And also true Liberty is inthe Light and Grace and the Spirit which comes by Jesus which by believig in te Light they are grafted into Christ and so into true Liberty and Freedom and so are entred into the Rest out of the Toil of old Adam for they are grafted into him who was befor old Adam For Unbelievers in the Light are grafted into old Adam in Transgression And the Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ are grafted into Christ the Word by which all things were made and created So here is perfect true Freedom and Liberty And likewise the true Liberty and Freedom is in the Grace which brings Salvation and not Destruction and teaches to live Godly not Ungodly and Soberly not Unsoberly and Righteously not Unrighteously and teaches to deny the World and not to cleave to it and follow it This Grace establishes the Heart and seasons the Words the Fruits of its Liberty and Freedom will manifest it self And also the true Liberty in the pure Holy Spirit of God and Christ doth Baptize and Plunge down that which is gotten up by Transgression in Man and Woman and circumcises and cuts off the Body of Death and Sin in the Flesh that is gotten up in Man and Woman by Transgression and mortifies and kills that which would grieve vex or quench the Motions of the pure Spirit of God so that in this holy pure Spirit of this pure God and Christ is the holy pure Freedom and Liberty over all Bondage and false Liberties and Freedoms And the Fruits of this pure Spirit is pure Love Righteousness and Godliness Fruits of the Spirit Patience Temperance and Humility by which Spirit all are made to drink into one Spirit so that all are the living Wells that have their living Water from God and Christ their true and living Fountain and in which Spirit they have a holy and spiritual Fellowship in this Baptizing Mortifying Circumcisig Spirit yea one wit another and with the Son and the Father also through which the Love of God warms every one's Heart But when the Love of many waxes cold as Christ saith then they go from this Grace Ligth Truth Power and Spirit and the Anointing and the Word of God in their own Hearts then such turn to be Betrayers and not Saviours upon Mount Zion And against such God's swift Judgment turns and suddenly falls though they may cry for a time Liberty Freedom and Peace Peace but a Day of trouble will overtake them ere they are aware And therefore all ye Friends of Christ Jesus stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free by his Light Grace Truth Spirit Faith and Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God which is an Everlasting Freedom and Liberty above all Bondage and false fallen Liberties and Freedoms in this glorious Gospel and glorious joyful Libert where all may exercise God and Christ's Holy Gifts in his Holy Supernatural Light Grace Truth Spirit and Divine Faith and Word of Life and the Gospel which Word cannot be bound with all the World's Cords or Chains For it is a Fire to burn and a Hammer to break and a Sword to cut in pieces and therefore love the Word and keep the Word of Patience and the Lord will keep you for it is a tried Word and it will keep you in all trials which shall come upon all the World to try them For the Word was before the World was and will be when the World is gone which all the new-born Babes of the Incorruptible Seed who partake of the Milk of the Word grow by it up into an Immortal Life and Kingdom that is without End Glory and Praises to the Lord God for ever And now ye Babes of Christ If the World do hate you it hated Christ your Lord and Master also if they do mock and reproach and defame and buffet you they did so to your Lord ad Master also who was and is the Green Tree that gives nourishment to all his Branches his Followers Now if the World do Persecute you and take away your Goods or Cloaths was not your Lord and Master so served Christ was persecuted mocked and crucified for us Did not they cast Lots for his Garments Was not he haled from the Priests to Herod and before Pontius pilate and spit upon And if they hate thee and spit upon thee he was hated and spit upon for thee Did he not go to Prison for thee And was he not mocked and scourged for thee Did not he bow to the Cross and Grave for thee he who had no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth And did he not bear they Sins in his own Body upon the Tree And was he not scourged for thee by whose
and by ti keep in the Order of the Law of Life whcih they have in Christ Jesus Such as folow the God of the World bate the Order of Truth And they that follow the World's God that are out of Truth and disobey their Creator the God of Truth and the Lord Jesus Christ I say all such obey and follow him in whom there is no Truth and such cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth and of the Gospel or the Law or Order of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus which all they that do obey the Voice of the Lord and Christ Jesus in his Light Grace and Truth and Gospel the Power of God and his Holy Spirit and Faith and Word of Life within come into Unity and Fellowship one with another and with the Son and with the Father and in this they know the Order of Christ and God to be a God of Order and delights in his Heavenly and Eternal Order of Light Life Power and Spirit of God that is over Death and Darkness and the World's God who is a God of Disorder in whom there is no true Order but Confusion and into this holy Order of the Everlasting Light and Life he cannot come Glory to the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus who is over all from evelasting to Everlasting and is the Rock and Foundation and Habitation of his People blessed for ever and evermore Amen G. F. POSTSCRIPT Here you may see by these following Scriptures how the Apostles loved the Good and holy Order of Christ in his Gospel Some Scripture Collections concerning good Order in the Church and Light and Life and Truth but as Job said The Land of Darknese is without any Order And Babylon signifies Confusion which is the false Church and is called a Woman and a City of Confusion who iw against the Order of the true Church and gets the Titles of the true Chruch that is called a City and a Woman which brings forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus and of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end who sits upon the Throne of David and upon his dom to order it to establish it with Judgment and with Justice henceforth and for ever So here you may see Christ doth in his Kingdom and them that have him have his Order Isa 9.7 And David saith Although mine House be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all thins and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my Desire c. 2 Sam. 23.5 Again David saith Order my steps by thy Word and let not Iniquity have Dominion over me Psalm 119.133 Which is the Duty of every Christian to have their Steps ordered by the Word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever which Word is a Word of Order And David saith The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the lord and he delights in his Way I have been young and now am old yet I have not seen the Righteous forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread He is ever merciful and lendeth and his Seed is blessed Psalm 37. Here you may see how the Lord delights in him and them that walk in the Steps the Lord orders them with his Word And him that orders his Conversation aright shall see the Salvation of God Psalm 50.23 And this Order must be in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Saviour And the Apostle Paul after he had spoken many things to the Corinthians he said Therest will I set in Order when I come 1 Cor. 11.34 And he saith concerning the Collections for the Saints in 1 Cor. 16.1 As I have given Order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye to wit the Corinthians So they were to practise the same Order which were the Believers in Christ which the Apstle in the Power of Christ had given to them For the Apostle had the Wisdom of God which he had ordained before the World began unto the Glory of his People then and now also 1 Cor. 2. And the Order that the Apostle did give to the Churches of the Galatians and the Corinthians was That upon the First Day of the Week every one of them lay by him in store as God had prospered him c. 1 Cor. 16.2 And in Acts 14. When they had ordained Elders in every Church and had prayed they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed confirming the Souls of the Disciples Elders Ordained c. and exhorting them to continue in the Faith and that they must through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God And as Paul and others with him went through the Cities Decrees to be kept they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordaine of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem and so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in Number daily Acts 16. And the Occasion of these Decrees was because some Men that went from Judea taught the Brethren saying Except ye be circamcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved Acts 15. And these Decrees were to stop such Preachers For the Apostles and Elders said Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with ords subverting your Souls saying Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such Commandment Now it is clear the Apostles and Elders gave these Teachers no such Commandment to preach such Doctrine to Trouble the Chruches And the Apostle Paul after he had spent some time t Caesaria and Antioch he went over all the Country of Asia and Phrygia in Order strengthening all the Disciples Acts 18. So you may see how they were a Comfort one to another And the Apostle writes to Titus Titus in Creete Chap. 1. For this Cause I have left thee in Creete that thou shouldst set in Order the thins that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I have appointed thee So here Titus in the Sapirit of God did observe that which Paul in the Power of Christ did exhort him to But such as are against the Order and Pracxtice in the Light and Gospel cannot order their Speeches by teason of SDarkness And the Apostle saith Col. 2.5 Though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and steadfastness of your Faith in Christ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Here the Apostle rejoyced in the Order that kept them in the Faith and Steadfastness in Christ Jesus Therefore the Apostle saith Every Man in his own Order Christ the First Fruits c. For in Adam all died even so in Christ shall all be made alive And they that are alive in Christ Jesus are in his Order of Life and Light and in his Gospel the Power of God And the Apostle
saith 1 Cor. 14. 40. Let all things be done Decently and in Order And the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein All things ordered by the Lord. are governed and ordered by the Lord in his Power and Wisdom and all God's Holy Angels are governed and ordered by God and all God's Children and People are governed and ordered by God and Christ in his Light and Spirit and Grace and Truth and Power Gospel and Word of Life And the Lord hath set apart him and them that are Godly for himself Psalm 4. And God hath ordained his Arrows against the Persecutors Psalm 7.13 And it ought to be the Practice of all the true Christians now that are in the same Power and Spirit as the Apostles were in to let all thins be done Decently and in Order in the New Covenant of Ligth Life and Grace to the Glory of the Great God who is over all and orders all things to his Glory Amen G. F. AND now 1680 Friends you who are called into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Epist 362. stand fast in it And as the Apostle saith Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty Of ture Liberty only use it not for an Occasion to the Flesh but in Love serve one another Gal. 5.13 As free not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God 1 Pet. 2. For there were some who while they promised themselves Liberty they themselves were Servants of Corruption Such were like the Dog and the Sow biting and renting and vomiting and wallowing in the Mire and as bad as the Synagogue of the Libertines that turned against Stephen 2 Pet. 2. and Acts 6.9 And therefore the Apostle was careful of the Churches Liberty in Christ when he said But take heed lest this libet of yours become a Stumbing-block to them that are Weak c. 1 Cor. 8. For the Apostle was so careful and tender that he would no have his true Liberty judged of another man's Conscience c. as you may see more at large in 1 Cor. 10. And the Apostle said Falss Brethren came unawares privily to spy out their Liberty which they had in Christ Jesus that they might bring them into Bondage to whom we gave place by Subjection no not for an Hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with you to wit the Galatians Gal. 2.4 And therefore he exhorts them to stand fast in that Liberty wherewhith Christ Jesus hath made them free To stand fast in the Liberty of Christ c. which is the Duty of all true Christians now for to stand fast in that heavenly glorious Liberty which Christ the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam makes them free in and in this they will have Salt in t hemselves to discern between the true Liberty and Freedom and the false and know how to use their holy and spirtual Liberty and Freedom in Christ Jesus to the Praise and Glory of God So Friends the Lord God Almighty preserve you all in the heavenly Order of Christ Jesus in his holy Seed Life Pfower and Spirit that all may live and walk in it to the Praise and Glory and Honour of God and Christ Amen The 3d of the 9th Month 1679. G.F. DEar Friends and Brethren Epist 3â—3 in the Lord Jesus Christ and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World And now that all may walk in him in Love who hath seen the great Deliverances of the Lord and hath been acquainted with his great Mercies that endure for ever Deliverance after Deliverance multitude of Deliverances out of great Trials and Temptations and hath seen how the Lord hath brought to Confusion the Enemies of his Truth both within and without from the Beginning and therefore in the Lord's Spirit and Power all that live in it that know the Lord are incouraged to trust in him God hath raised you up together and quickned you who were dead in Adam and made you to sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus that you might shew forth the Riches of his Grace and Glory and his Kindness towards you through Jesus Christ By one Spirit are we baptised into one Body For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body wherther we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit And therefore endeavour all to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and live and walk in the Spirit And the Fruits of this Spirit of God is Love Joy and Meekness c. And by this one Spirit you have access to the Father of Spirits and this one Spirit which baptises you into one Body both Male and Female knows your Service to God For the Spirit of God divides severally to every one of you as he wills your Offices and Places yet all in Vnity in the Spirit with which you are baptised into one Body and drink into one Spirit And the Apostle Paul who writ from Rome to the Collosians told them That they were compleat in Christ Jesus and said Though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and the steadfastness of your Faith in Christ And now the Lord hath gathered his People by his Power into the same Spirit that the Apostles and Churches were in in the Primitive Times And though they be absent in the Body or Flesh Men in one Room and the Women in another yea as far as the East is from the West or the North is from the South The Spirit present every where yet they are present in the Spirit rejoycing and beholding with the Spirit the Spiritual Order that the Churches and Apostles were in and the stedfastness of their precious holy and divine Faith which Christ the Second Adam is the Author and Finisher of and this is no Separation but they are the Houshold of this holy divine and precious Faith and live and walk in this holy Faith and Spirit of God by which they are baptized into one holy Body of which Christ Jesus the holy and spiritual Man is the Head And this I say again is no Separation thought they be absent in the Body or Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit and with the Spirit behold the Spiritual Order And this is not an imposed outward Form Order or Prescription as some Ignorantly think But they that do say and prescribe that Men and Women must meet all together outwardly in a Bodily Presence in one Room or else it is a Separation I say it is an outward Form an outward Order and Imposition and Prescription and fiercely Press it that know not the Spiritual Order yea I say if all Men and Women in
but Love that every one of you may be adorned with a meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great Price and every one of you to be indued with Wisdom from on High which is pure and peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated and full of Mercy and good Works let the Fruits of this appear among you all and then you will all be gentle and easily entreated one of another And keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace and then none quenches it and all walking as becomes the Glorious Joyful Peaceable Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God which was before the Devil and his Power was and is over him in this Gospel you all know Life and Immortality brought to Light that you all see your Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Everlasting Gospel of Peace in this Gospel the Power of God that was before Enmity was and will remain when it is gone And therefore all you who know this Glorious Gospel of Peace live and walk in it keeping your Glorious Heavenly Comfortable Fellowship in this Glorious Gospel of Peace in which Enmity cannot come as before and in this Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting God who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting will have the Praise Glory and Thanks who is worthy of all for ever and evermore London the 7th of the 12th Month 1680. G. F. To Friends in Yorkshire DEar Friends Epist 365. In the Lord's Power and Holy Spirit feel his Presence amongst you who hath drawn you with his Spirit to his Son and you that have received him he gives you Power to become his Sons and Daughters and so from the Son of God the second Adam you have Power to meet whose Power is above Adam's Power and his Sons and Daughters in the Fall And now my Friends If you do want Wisdom and Knowledge to order you in the Affairs and Service of God Christ the Treasure of Wisdom c. Christ is the Treasure of your Wisdom and Knowledge and so receive them from his Treasury which is above This heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge from whence you have your Grace and Truth Light and Life and the Gospel the heavenly Spirit yea heavenly Food and heavenly Bread and Water of Life from above and the unleavened Bread and sweet Milk of the Word and Water of Life to keep the Feast of the heavenly Man's Passover which is not to be found in any of old Adam's Sons and Daughters Store-houses in the Fall but his old mouldy leavened sowre Bread which makes his Sons and Daughters Hearts to burn one against another and Cloaths them with his old Rags which will not cover their Nakedness which they have stitch'd together which must be all cast off and trodden under Foot by the Spirit and Power of Christ which Power turns you to Christ who Cloaths all his Sons and Daughters with his heavenly Fine Linnen which will never wax old And therefore let all your Lamps be trimmed and Candles lighted that all of you may see your Work and Service for God and Christ in this his Day So that you may have the Blessings from above from him as the holy Men and Women of God had in the days of old so that there may be nothing lacking neither Spiritual nor Temporal And so let all things be done in Peace and Love in the Name and Power of Jesus amongst you and all condescend to one another in Meekness Patience and Quietness in the Fear of the Lord being all ordered with the Wisdom of God which is from above which is pure peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated that all your Hearts Minds and Souls may be knit together in the Love of Christ and that you may be all of one Mind and Spirit in him and whatever you do let it be done in the Name and Power of Jesus to the Glory of God the Father that created all and takes care for all Blessed for ever Amen London the 6th of the 4th Month 1680. G. F. A Letter to the Captives who met together to Worship God in Algier DEar Friends I understand by a Letter from a Friend Epist 366. a Captive amongst you dated the 20th of the 10th Month 1681 That you have a Meeting there in Algier of about Twenty I am glad to hear you meet and it is very well that you have so much Liberty from your Patroons and my desire is That the Lord may preserve you all that do meet in the Name of Jesus that in your Lives and Conversations and Words To preach Righteousness in Life and Conversation you may preach Righteousness and Holiness and Godliness and the Life of Truth so that you may answer the Spirit of God both in the Turks and Moors and the rest of the Captives that God's City may be set upon the holy Hill there which cannot be hid but that all may see it with the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World And that Christ's Ensign may be set up in those Parts that with his Light in all Men they may all see it and flock to it and Christ the Ensign furnisheth all that come to him with heavenly Armour and Spiritual Weapons Now Christ enlightens every Man that cometh into the World that every one may believe in the Light and may become a Child of the Light and have Eternal Life and be saved and so the Gospel of Salvation the Power of God is to be preached to every Creature under Heaven And he that believes is saved and hath the Salvation for Christ by the Grace of God hath tasted Death for every Man And the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men And therefore all Men if they will have Salvation it must be by believing receiving and walking in the Grace of God which brings it And the Lord pours out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and therefore all Men and Women must come to this Holy Spirit of God by which the Spirit of Enmity may be slain and crucified in them that in this Holy Spirit of God they may all be in Love and Vnity and with the Spirit of God they may all come to know the Eternal Immortal God and serve and worship him in his Holy Spirit of Truth which he hath poured upon them And in this all will honour God and glorifie him through Jesus Christ in his New Covenant of Light and Grace And so my Dear Friends be faithful and valiant for God's Truth upon Earth and do not deny the Name of Jesus To be valiant for the Truth in whom you have Salvation whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven that ye may all be with his Light built upon him your Rock and Foundation that stands sure And now my Dear Friends tho' you remain as Captives yet if ye be Christ's and God's Free-men who leads the Devil into
Captivity that led you Captive into his Prison of Death Darkness and Corruption If Christ I say has led you out of that Prison and Captivity into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not entangled with any Yoke of Bondange to bring you out of that heavenly spiritual Liberty For in this you are free notwithstanding the Prisons and Captivity of Men and they are but small matters to it And therefore trust in the Arm of the Lord's Power who can lay the Mountains low and remove the Hills out of their Places and make his Lambs to skip over all And therefore mind the Lord and his Power Good effects may come out of Afflictions that is over all that that makes you to suffer Now your Sorrows and Afflictions may bring many to call upon the Name of the Lord when he has brought you low for God is Merciful and Gracious to the Righteous and his Mercies endure for ever And tho' Hunger and Thirst and Cold many times you are in and many Distresses yet the Lord is able to support you And now that you may mind the Lord in your Poverty and prize his Mercies and consider how that did not enough prize his Mercies and Liberty and Plenty And ye may read 107th Psalm throughout there ye may see how the Lord brought down such as contemned his Counsel and rebelled against his Words Well what can you tell but that this may be the Day of the Lord with you in your Captivity to bring down your Hearts and Spirits that with the Spirit of the Lord you may turn to him who is a God at Hand and that you may call upon the Lord in Truth and Righteousness that all your Sufferings Afflictions and Captivity may be sanctified to you So that you may say All things shall work together for good to them that love God And so with Job you may bless God who giveth and taketh away and that you may glorifie God in whatsoever Condition you may be that no Trouble may move you and that you may rejoyce in Afflictions Persecutions and Tribulations in the Lord through his Spirit that doth uphold you And as you do walk in the Light Grace Spirit and Gospel you may turn others to it That you may have Vnity with them in it and that they may come out of the spiritual Prison of Death Darkness and Corruption and Captivity into the Liberty of the Sons of God in Christ Jesus Amen So with my Love to you all in the Holy Seed Christ Jesus that Reigns over all from Everlasting to Everlasting The Lord preserve you all tender Vines in him Amen London the 17th of the 1st Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Burlington West-Jersey DEar Friends Epist 367. The Lord by his mighty Hand and Power having brought you to that Place and now you are setled there my desire is That your Lives and Conversations may preach Righteousness and Holiness for without Holiness none shall see God And going into Unholiness that 's the Cause that none sees God and the Cause why there is not Peace among a Nation or People is because they do not live and walk in Righteousness but walk and follow the unrighteous Spirit which is out of the Truth And again Christ says Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God For it is the defiled and impure Hearts that do not see God And therefore keep in the pure Spirit of God that does mortifie all Impurity and Unholiness which doth blind People from the Sight of the pure God And now my Friends Friends to be Circumspect The Eyes of other Nations will be upon you and now you professing Truth beyond them all but if that you don't exceed them in Truth in Righteousness in Holiness Justice and Equity and in the Wisdom of God that 's Pure Peaceable c. by which you may answer the Good in your Government and all Governments about you likewise which is my desire that you may that they may not see any Nakedness among you if you do not you will bring both the Judgment of God upon you and the Judgment of Truth that you and we profess For you know how that Friends in England and other Places have admonish'd the Governors and Rulers to do that which is Just and Right and therefore now you are come into Place Rulers must be Just have a Care that you do that which is Just and Right lest you come under the same Reproof by others And therefore have an Eye to the Lord in all your Actions For David saith 2 Sam. 23.3 The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over Men must be just ruling in the fear of God and he shall be as the light of the morning that doth so when the Sun riseth even as a morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain Here you may see it must not be unjust Men and Men that do not fear God that must be Rulers for they do not receive his Wisdom to rule withal and such will be as Clouds without Water as in Jude and then they are not like to refresh the tender Grass but hurt it And Solomon saith As the roaring Lion and the ranging Bear Majestrates a Terror to evil doers c. so is a wicked Ruler over the poor People And therefore with the Spirit of God keep down the wicked Spirit in you and then you will keep down the roaring Lion and the ranging Bear with the Spirit of Meekness and Patience and Wisdom and Vnderstanding Prov 28.15 And the Apostle says Rulers are not a terror to good Works but to the evil Therefore both Rulers and ruled must be out of the evil Works And the Rulers cannot be a Terror to evil Works if they live in them themselves Therefore all ought to live in the Power of God which brings them out of the Evil to do that which is Good and then they will be an Honour to God and a Praise one to another both Ruler and Ruled Now the Lord said unto Moses Judges and Officers shalt thou make in all thy Gates so they was not to be made in Corners which the Lord giveth thee in all the Tribes and they shall judge the People with just Judgment Mark just Judgment Thou shalt not wrest judgment Not to wrest Judgment c. thou shalt not respect Persons thou shalt take no Gift For the Gift blindeth the Eyes of the wise and perverteth the Words of the righteous Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the Poor in any Case Keep the far from a false matter The innocent and righteous slay thou not for I will not justifie the wicked That which is altogether just shalt thou follow that thou maist live and inherit the Land which the Lord thy God hath given thee
he may be glorified in and amongyou Amen So Fare ye well in the Lord. G. F. London the 18th of the 12th Month 1681. To Friends in Carolina DEar Friends Epist 371. with my Love to all the Faithful and Tender Friends in Christ the Holy Seed that bruises the Head of the Serpent the cause of Enmity in which Seed no Enmity is Christ bruises the Head of the Serpent nor can come for in this Seed is all Nations blessed which destroys the evil Seed that brought the Curse and his cursed Works and Workers So let this Seed Christ rule in all your Hearts who was promised and prophesied of to come who is come and reigns in whom is Wisdom Salvation Life and Glory over all the First and Last this Seed doth live and reign over all that doth change and will have an end Now in this holy Seed you injoy the Blessings and your Election in it which was before the World began Now in this holy Seed is the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowlede and as you all live and walk in this Seed you will have Wisdom and Knowledge that is heavenly from this Treasure with which Wisdom and Knowledge you will have Vnderstanding that all your Conversations may be ordered by it aright and to preach Righteousness and Holiness and Godliness so that you may glorifie God in your Lives and Conversations and all your Words may be gracious and seasoned with Grace and whatever Promises you may make to any Man you may consider before that you may perform them that so your Words may preach Righteousness and Truth so that you may be the Lights of the World and the Salt of the Earth that by your Light shining you may answer the Light in all Men and by the Grace and by the Salt you may savour that which is unsavoury and so by your good Works and keeping to the Salt and to the Light shining you may be Instrumental to open the Eyes of others to know your Father which is in Heaven that they may glorifie him And my Desire is To keep low week c. that all Friends may keep low and meek and humble that he that doth Inhahit Eternity may dwell with you and that you may take upon you Christ's Yoke that you may draw with his heavenly Plow that with it the Earth may be turned up that hath oppressed and grieved the tender Seed and God's Holy Spirit so that God's Plantations may be minded above the out ward that his Lillies and Vines may grow and bring forth Fruit to his Praise who giveth the Increase And now Dear Friends Keep in the Love of God which doth edifie the Body of Christ that will bear all things And be gentle and courteous and kind one to another in the fear of Lord for there is no danger in keeping low for the danger is to such that are high and lofty and puff'd up Such will swell and though they may have good Words and a form of Godliness yet such that do so swell will break out into bitter Fruits Strife and Contention and such go out from the Power of God and his Spirit and so out of the Camp of God and then out of the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and therefore all must keep in the holy Spirit of God if they will keep in Fellowship with the Saints in Light and so keep the Bond of Peace For they that go from the Spirit of God in themselves though they have the whole Form of Godliness they break the Bond of Peace and such runs into vain Disputes Strife and Contention But there is no such Custom in the Church of Christ which keeps the Vnity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace And now Dear Friends in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Spirit keep all your Meetings for Worship and your Meetings for Business that you may see that all that professes the Light of Christ and his Truth and hath received it that they do wald according to Truth and as becomes the Gospel that the Name of God may not be blasphemed amongst you And if that you of Ashly Cooper River and that ways and Albermarle River and that ways Advice for a Yearly Meeting had once a Year or once in a half Year a Meeting together it might do very well some where in the middle of the Country as you shall see meet as they have in Maryland and Road Island And if you had sometimes some Meetings with the Indian Kings and their People to preach the Gospel of Peace of Life and of Salvation to them for the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature and Christ hath tasted Death for every Man and died for their Sins that they might come out of Death and Sin and live to Christ that died for them who hath enlightened them with the Light which is the Life in himself and God pours out of this Spirit upon all Flesh that is upon all Men and Women And the Grace and Favour of God appears unto all Men so that all may believe in his Light and walk in his Holy Spirit and receive his Grace which will teach them to live Godly c. and bring them Salvation so that you may come to see the Light of Christ's Glorious Gospel set up in those Parts And God hath promised he will lift up an Ensign unto the Nations And again There shall be a Root of Jesse Christ God's Ensign to the Nations which shall stand for an Ensign to the People to it the Gentiles shall seek And again he saith For the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea So I desire that That part of the Earth may be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord. And now dear and tender Friends my tender desire is That you may in no wise abuse neither by your Words nor by your Lives nor Conversations the Liberty which God or the Rulers have given you but in all things you may have an Eye to God's Glory that he may be glorified by you all who is worthy of all who is the Lord of all both in Heaven and Earth blessed for ever G. F. An Epistle concerning the Government of Christ and his Peace of whose Kingdom there shall be no End COncerning the Government of Christ and his Peace Epist 372. the encrease of which there shall be no End upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgment and Justice from henceforth and for ever The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Now Christ Jesus thd Second Adam the Lord from Heaven it is He who Rules and Reigns and Governs in the Hearts of his Saints who are the Believers in his Light the Life in him who is their Governor and Counsellor who died for their Sins and is risen for their Justification and is the
Captain of Salvation And Christ's Government in the Hearts of his People is by his Grace and Truth Christ governs by his Light c. in the Hearts of Men. that comes from Christ Jesus by whom all things were made who doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World which Light is the Life in Him he saith Believe in the Light that you may become the Children of the Light and such have the Light of Life and by it comes under Christ's Government and Peace and his Order in his Light and Life Now they that hate his Light they hate the Life in Christ the heavenly Man and such will hate Christ by whom all things were made and created and hate his Order and his Justice and Judgment and his Light and Life And such are not like to come into his established Government and Kingdom so Christ who is the Governor the Counsellor the Orderer He orders and governs with his Light his Life in the Hearts of all the Believers in the Light and all the Believers in the Light have the Witness in themselves of Christ their Ruler Counsellor Orderer heavenly Governor and of his Judgment Justice and Peace and that of the encrease of his Government there is no End Now they that hate the Light which is the Life in Christ the Second Adam They that hate the Light refuse Christ to Rule over them the Lord from Heaven they are them that would not have Christ rule over them nor in them therefore it condemns them and what is the matter that all Men and Women do not see but are blind and are not in Vnity Is it not because they hate the Light the Life in the Second Adam and will not come to the Light nor wald in the Light And then is not the Light their Condemnation who are in transgressing Old Adam And how are they like to see or believe or have Faith in Christ that hated his Light and will not come to it which is the Life in the Second Adam And therefore all that hates his Light which is the Life in him are not like to see nor receive Faith from him that will not believe in his Light nor come to it but hate it and such will hate both the Divine Faith and the Author of it And therefore all that do hate the Light which is the Life in Christ which he enlightens them withal they hate his Order they hate his Government his Rule yea Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven And all such haters of Christ his Light Life Order Government and Counsel are in a false Liberty though they may profess Christ or his Government in Words yet not believing in the Light and walking in the Light the Life of Christ they have no true Fellowship one with another but are in Confusion and have no true Fellowship with the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ nor with the Son and the Father for how should they For until they come to believe in the Light the Life in the Second Adam they cannot see their own States they are in a blind State for none sees nor enters into the Kingdom of God till they are Boru again and those that are Born again are the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ and so Bocome Children of the Light grafted into Christ and such do know and see the true Liberty in Christ Jesus the Second Adam All such do see and know that all false Liberty is out of the Light the Life in the Second Adam in Old Adan in the Transgression And Christ that doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World which is the Life in him such comes to Christ Christ enlighteneth every Man and are grafted into him the Head and so holds Christ their Head by whom all things were made and created who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending These are they that see his Order his Government and his Rule in their Hearts and receives his Law of Spirit and Life and live and walk in it which makes them free from the Law of Sin and Death These see Christ to be the Author and Finisher of their holy divine precious Faith And their Faith stands in Christ who is the Author of it who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him Christ hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth And the Mystery of this Faith they hold in a pure Conscience and do know the Law of this Faith and the Law of Love that God hath shed in their Hearts through Jesus Christ And so in this Light Faith and Life that they have from Jesus the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven they come all to be of one Faith of one Light and one Life and so of one Mind Heart and Judgment in this New Covenant of Light and Life so in it they are under the Government and Counsel and Order of Jesus that he establishes in his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life in their Hearts The Law came by Moses and all the Jews were to be under the Law in the Old Covenant and this Law served till Christ the Seed came in his New Covenant He is come and now Grace and Truth is come by Jesus Christ the great Governor And now this Grace and this Truth is come form Him into the Hearts of all his Believers And with and in this Grace and Truth Christ rules in the Hearts of them that receives his Grace and Truth and with this Grace and Truth and in it every Believer and Saint receiveth Christ their Governor and his Order and his Counsel and heavenly Judgment and Justice from the heavenly Man in his established Government The Grace of God bringeth Salvation which he establishes with his Grace and Truth Now this Grace of God which brings Salvation which hath appeared unto all Men which does manifest that all Men have a Day of Grace and Favour Now this must needs be the special Grace of God which brings Salvation which hath appeared unto all Men. Now then not receiving this Grace and Favour of God but turning from this Grace into Wantonness and walking despitefully against the Spirit of Grace therein they are hardened and blind and turns that into Wantonness and walks despitefully against it which should teach them and bring their Salvation And therefore such comes to be blind and hardened against the Grace and Favour of God that truns it into Wantonness as I said before and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and Truth and such turns against God and Christ from whence Grace and Truth comes and turns from and against his People that are established in the Grace of God that brings their Salvation Tho' such may profess God and Christ in Words only and his Grace and Truth their Profession will come to nothing except they receive his Grace and Truth into their Hearts They that
do receive Christ in his Grace and Truth which comes from him they know his Government in the Truth They who receive Christ in his Grace know his Government in the Truth and in the Covenant of Grace yea in their Hearts and knows their gracious and true Liberty in the Grace and Truth and in Christ from whence it comes and his holy and heavenly Order in his Grace and his Reign in their Hearts And all such that walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and turns the Grace into Wantonness though such may profess God and Christ their Profession will come to nothing and all their Liberty is false and in the Flesh in Old Adam in Transgression For true Liberty is in the Grace and Truth that is come by Jesus which leads up unto Jesus from whence it comes in whom the everlasting true Liberty is For Christ who is the Truth Holy and Pure he reigns in the Truth and in his Grace And therefore every Man and Woman must with this Grace and Truth in their Hearts which they have from Christ feel and see Christ's Reign and Rule in their Hearts and him in his heavenly Eternal everlasting Government The Lord spoke by his Prophet Joel That it shall come to pass in the last Days tht God will pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh c. Joel 2.28 And Peter said This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last Days saith God that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie Your young Men shall see Visions and your old Men shall dream Dreams and on my Servants and on my Hand-maids I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall Prophesie Acts 2.17 18. Now it is God that pours out of his Spirit upon all Flesh by which Sons God pours out his Spirit upon all Flesh Daughters young Men old Men Servants and Handmaids have their Visions and Prophesies and Dreams And these last Days are the Days of Christ in his Gospel and New Covenant It is said in the Old Covenant That God did pour out of his Spirit upon the House of Israel and the House of Judah But in the Days of the New Covenant of Light and Grace God poured out of hes Spirit upon all Flesh both Jews and Gentiles Now all Flesh must come to the Spirit of God and be led and guided by it if they will see Christ's heavenly spiritual Government and Order and with this Spirit to know Christ the spiritual Man to rule and govern in their Hearts And all that by this Spirit are circumcised they eat of the heavenly Passover or their Bread from Heaven And all that are baptized with the Spirit are baptized into one Body and do all drink into one Spirit So here they are one in this spiritual Fellowship which is the true Church-Fellowship even that Church which is in God the Pillar and Ground of Truth which Church Christ is the heavenly and spiritual Head of and well he may for he is the Author of their Faith and the Author of their Light and Life Grace and Truth and Spirit and Gospel of Peace and Salvation by which he Rules in the Hearts of his living Members the Church And all they that grieve vex quench and rebel against the Spirit comes to be blind as the Jews and will not see with their Eyes nor hear with their Ears nor perceive with their Hearts and such may profess Christ in the New Testament and the Apostles Words and the Government and Order of Christ as the Jews did profess the Old Testament and Christ to come but they would not receive him then when he was come No more do they now that profess he is come who vexes and quenches his Spirit and grieves it and rebels against it and errs from it And such are not like to receive Christ into their Hearts nor come into his heavenly Order and established peaceable Government as those that are led by the Spirit of God which are the Sons of God and keeps the Vnity of the Spirit which Holy Spirit is the Bond of Peace amongst all Christ's Subjects Lambs and Sheep thet feed together in his Pasture of Life For it is God that gives the heavenly Understanding of Christ's established Government and Order And they that quench and vex and rebel against the Spirit of God will rebel against Christ's established Government and Order and his People that are in it that are led by the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and a sound Mind And such as will not hear the Spirit of God in themselves will neither hear God nor Christ nor his Sheep nor such as he sends but rebel against them Now the Gospel being preached to or in every Creature under Heaven which Gospel is the power of God to Salvation to every one that Believes So that all that receives this Gospel the Power of God unto Salvation in their Hearts receives Christ the Power of God and his Government and Order in the Power And Christ reigns in their Hearts in his Power and such comes into the Gospel-Order and they that come to be Heirs of the Gospel the Power of God to Salvation are Heirs of Christ's peaceable established Government and are true Subjects to Christ's Power and established peaceable Government and so this Gospel the Power of God to Salvation is peaceable joyful and comfortable which is the Gospel of Christ the Second Adam Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Lord from Heaven and is not called the Gospel of old Adam in Transgression and this Gospel which is the Power of God unto Saluation it keeps all that believes in it in the Everlasting Joy Peace and Comfort and in Order for it is the Everlasting Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light by which they see over the Devil and before he was that hath blinded them and darkned them from Life and Immortality So in this Gospel that hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in God's People both Men and Women they are established in the Order of it in which they do serve the Eternal Everlasting God of Truth Now all they that do not receive the Gospel of Christ the Power of God to Salvation which is preached to every or in every Creature under Heaven Life and Immortality is not brought to Light in them and such the God of the World hath blinded and so they remain Blind under the God of the World and such are Blind concerning the Order of the Gospel and are ignorant of their Salvation and of that Joy and Comfort and Peace of the Gospel neither can they serve God in the Gospel though they may profess Christ and his Gospel in words yet such hath no Comfort of it And therefore such as disobeys the Gospel of Christ the Power of God to Salvation and will not receive it nor
believe in it How can they receive the Order of the Gospel of Christ the hevenly Man from whence the Gospel comes or to receive him to reign in their Hearts when they will not receive his Gospel the Power of God to Salvation in their Hearts And again How can they receive his People or believe his People that are in the Order of the Gospel of Christ and hath received it and him in their Hearts who disobeys it and will not receive it in their own Hearts Such are not like to come into the Order of the Gospel that disobey it Such will disobey Christ and will not regard his People in whom he reigns who walk in the Order of his Gospel the Power of God unto Salvation Now it 's Christ the Second Adam that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World with the Light which is the Life in himself and every one that believeth in the Light and becomes Children of the Light and walks in it they walk in Unity and Fellowship and in the Order of the Light and Government of Christ in such Christ doth reign And all them that hate this Light and will not come to it nor believe in it they are condemned by it Now The Grace of God hath appeared unto all Men. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men and all Men that receives this Grace and Truth that is come by Jesus they receive Christ from whence it comes in their Hearts to be their Teacher and their Salvation and so comes into Christ's Government and Order in the Truth and into the Covenant of Grace And they that hate the Truth and turn from the Grace mto Wantonness and walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace they turn against Christ his Order and Government and his Power also And God pouring out if his Spirit upon all Flesh All that are led by the Spirit of God and Christ are the Sons of God and such are obeyers of Christ's Spiritual Order and Government And they that quench the Spirit of God and rebels against it rebels against Christ's Order and Government and Him in his People and their Spiritual Fellowship and the Gospel of Salvation being preached to every Creature under Heaven which Gospel is the Power of God Every Creature under Heaven must receive this Gospel in their Hearts if they receive Christ and his Government and his Order of the Gospel and him to rule in their Hearts And all you that have received it have received the Comfort of it and those that disobey and rebel against the Gospel the Power of God such disobeys and rebels against God and Christ and his Government and his People which are in the Order of the Gospel the Power of God And as it is said Christ is in you except you be Reprobates and all that receives Christ in them it is by his Light which is the Life in him and the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus and the Faith that he is the Author of and his Spirit and Gospel This they must receive in their Hearts if they receive Christ in them And Christ said to his Disciples and Followers That He would send them the Spirit of Truth the Comforter which should proceed from the Father and the Son which should lead them into all Truth and be should reprove the World of Sin Righteousness and Judgment So that which leads the Believers and Diseiples of Christ into all Truth and is their Comforter is the Reprover of the World of their Sin Righteousness and Judgment So here is that which is the World's Reprover is the Saints Comforter and Leader into all Truth and so into all true Fellowship and true Liberty And this Holy Spirit and Comforter does not proceed from old Adam nor any of his Followers but from the Father and the Son And so every one is to have Oil in your own Lamps from the heavenly Olive-Tree To have Oil in our own Lamp from Christ the Olive-Tree that your Lamps may burn always both Night and Day in your Tabernacles looking to your High-Priest who will feed your Lamps with heavenly Oil. And every one have heavenly Salt in your selves to favour withal what is Earthly and what is Heavenly and what is from Below and what is from Above and what is out of the Truth and what is in the Truth And that every one may keep their own Vine in their own Garden Vine and their own Lilly in their own Field or Orchard which Lilly doth exceed Solomon in all his Glory And every one have the Word of Faith in their Hearts and Mouths to obey and do which will Sanctifie and make you Holy and Reconcile you to God And every one have the Anointing or Vnction within you Anointing which you have from the Father or Holy One so that in it you may continue in the Father and in the Son And every one continue in the Grace of God Grace which will teach you how to live and what to deny adn will bring your Salvation and establish you upon Christ the Rock and Foundation from whence the Grace does come And every one abide in the holy divine and precious Faith Precious Faith which you do hold in a pure Conscience by which Faith you do live and have Victory over that which displeaseth God And in this Faith you do please God which Jesus Christ the Lord from Heaven is the Author and Finisher of And every one that hath digged deep Pearl and found the Pearl of great Price and hath sold all and purchased the Field then the Field and Pearl is your own Such do know a thorow Redemption And all you Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ that are become the Children of Light walk in the Light and in Christ as you have received him And every one mind the heavenly Leaven Leaven that will leaven you into a new Lump And every one keep the Feast of Christ our Passover Passover with his heavenly unleavened Bread in Sincerity and Truth And every one mind the Light that God hath commanded to shine out of Darkness and hath shined into your Hearts to give you the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ your Saviour that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of your selves In this you are sensible of his heavenly Treasure in your earthly Vessels and every one have Water in your own Wells and Cisterns and heavenly Fruit on your Trees which God hath planted Nebuchadnezzar though his Greatness reached to Heaven Nebuchaadnezzar bumbled as a Tree yet he was to be hewn down until he knew that the Most High ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men And the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other People Dan. 2.44 And the Stone that smote the Image
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
the Srwer when he sat in a Ship Behold saith Christ a Sower went out to sow his Seed and as he sowed some fell by the High-way side and it was trodden down and the Fowles of the Air devoured it and some fell upon the Rocks or Stony Places where they had not much Earth and as soon as it was sprung up it withered away So he that receiveth the Seed into rocky and stony Places the same is he that receiveth the Word with joy yet hath he not root in himself but endureth for a while or for a while believeth and in Temptations falleth away for when Tribulations or Persecutions arise because of the Word by and by he is offended and upon too many such have we seen this Parable fulfilled in Times of Persecutions and Tribulations and Sufferings the Heat of Persecution when it is up they are scorch'd and withered away and so come to nothing And some fell among Thorns and the Thorns sprung up and choaked it and they also that received Seed among the Thorns are they that hear the Word and when they have heard go forth and are choak'd with the Cares of this World and Deceitfulness of Riches and Pleasures of this Life and become Vnfruitful and bring no Fruit to Perfection And this is seen to be the Condition of too many But the other fell into good Ground and brought forth Fruit some Thirty some Sixty and some an Hundred fold So they that received the Seed into the good Ground are they which in an honest and good Heart have heard the Word and understand it and keep it and bring forth Fruti with Patience some an Hundred fold some Sixty some Thirty as was said before these are the honest and good Hearts upon whom Christ the Son of Righteousness shines that nourishes his good Seed whol brings forth Fruit unto Perfection who lives over the deceitful Riches and Cares of the World and the Pleasures of this Life that pass away who are not offended nor moved at Tribulations and Persecutions but patiently do endure them such do bring forth Fruit unto Perfection yea an Hundred Sixty Thirty fold in Christ Jesus who bruises the Head of the Serpent that makes Men and Womens Hearts like the High-way thorny rocky and stony Ground for Men and Women whose Hearts are like unto the High-ways stony rocky and thorny Ground the Seed hath fallen into these Grounds as before and from these Grounds all can talk of the Seed and of the Word but bring forth no Fruit unto Perfection And therefore let all consider what Ground you are and what Fruit you bring forth and when ye hear the Word of the Kingdom that ye understand it which none can without the Light and Spirit of Christ and walk in it but he that shall endure to the end in the Light in the Grace Truth and Spirit and in Christ from whom you do receive these shall be saved For the Apostle saith The just Man lives by Faith The just lives by Faith And this is not by any Faith which Men make but by the Faith which Christ Jesus is both the Author and Finisher of in your Hearts and Consciences and in this Faith ye have access to God and do please him But If any Man draw back to wit in not living by this Faith doth not the Lord say my Soul shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition that is a sad drawing back but of them that believe to the saving of our Souls From Kingston upon Thames the 2d of the 9th Month 1682. G. F. An Epistle to all Planters and such who are Transporting themselves into Foreign Plantations in America c. MY Friends that are gone and are going over to Plant Epist 379. and make outward Plantations in America Keep your own Plantations in your Hearts with the Spirit and Power of God that your own Vines and Lillies be not hurt And in all places where you do outwardly live and settle invite all the Indians and their Kings To invite the Iddian Kings to Friends Meetings and have Meetings with them or they with you so that you may make inward Plantaions with the Light and Power of God the Gospel and the Grace and Truth and Spirit of Christ and with it you may answer the Light and Truth and Spirit of God in the Indians their Kings and People and so by it you may make Heavenly Plantations in their Hearts for the Lord and so beget them to God that they may serve and worship him and spread his Truth abroad And so that you all may be kept warm in God's Love Power and Zeal for the Honour of his Name That his Name may be great among the Heathen or Gentiles and ye may see over or be Overseers with the Holy Ghost which was before the unclean Ghost got into Man and Woman So with this Holy Ghost you may see and over-see that the unclean Ghost and his Works may be kept out of the Camp of God So that his Camp may be Holy and all the Holy may come into it and He who is Holy may walk in the midft of you his Camp and be glorified in and among you all who is over all and worthy of all Glory from Everlasting to Everlasting blessed and praised for evermore From the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles And in every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pare Offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 1.11 The Lord reigneth let the Earth rejoyce let the Multitudes of the Isles be glad let every thing that hath Breath praise the Lord for the Lord taketh pleasure in his People He will beautifie the meek with Salvation Plal. 97 and 98. and Plal. 149 150. London the 22d of the 9 the Month 1682. G. F. To all christians to keep to Yea Yea and Nay Nay and to fulfil their Words and Promises ALL my Dearly Beloved Friends and Brethren every where The Lord God Almighty Epist 382 with his holy Power and Spirit hath gathered and kept and preserved you to this Day a People to himself And now dear Friends and Brethren in all your Words in all your Business and Employments Have a care of breaking your Words and Promises to and People but that you may before you make and Promises to any Man or Woman consider before-hand that you may be able to perform and fulfil both you Words and Promises to all People that you make your Promises or give your Word unto And that you Yea be Yea That our Yea be Yea. and Nay Nay in all things which Christ hath set up instead of an Oath yea above an Oath and Swearing in his New Covenant and Testament And the Apostle James holds forth the same Doctrine And this Yea Yea and Nay Nay was set
and therefore all must come to this Grace of God in their Hearts which brings their Salvation if they have Salvation and come to the Throne of Grace and this is the Covenant of Grace in which is the Election and God who made all pours out of his Spirit upon all Men and Women in the World in the Days of his New Covenant yea upon Whites and Blacks Moors and Turks and Indians Christians Jews and Gentiles that all with the Spirit of God might know God and the things of God and serve and worship him in his Spirit and Truth that he hath given them but they that do resist the Truth and quench and vex and grieve and rebel against the Spirit that God hath given them such are not like to serve and worship God in his Spirit and Truth but he that endures to the end in God's Grace Spirit Light and Truth shall be saved and the Gospel of Salvation is preached to every Creature under Heaven which Gospel is the Power of God and the Gospel of Peace and so it is glad Tidings to every Creature under Heaven and to all Nations to the Turks Jews Indians Moors Christians and Gentiles if they receive and obey the Gospel of Salvation it is glad Tidings to them all Now this is the Day of God's gathering And therefore all must come to the Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit of God in their own Particulars which they have from God and Christ that by it they might be built upon Christ their heavenly Rock and Foundation who is their Way to God who bruises the Serpent's Head and through Death destroyed Death and the Devil the Power of Death and so destroys Death and so destroys the Devil and his Works for Sin brought Death and now Christ who destroys Death that Sin brought and makes an end of Sin is the Sanctuary for all his Believers in all Storms and Tempests Trials and Troubles and Sufferings to rest upon in whom they have Peace yea Life and Salvation Now there is a common Saying among the Turks to the Christians Your Crucified God meaning Christ Now this is their mistake tho' God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself it was not the Eternal God that died It was Christ as he was Man who suffered in the Flesh upon the Cross and not God that was crucified and was crucified that was in Christ for Christ said when he was about to suffer My God my God why hast thou forsaken me So Christ suffered in the Flesh and died and was crucified as he was Man not as he was God the Word which was in the Beginning but as he was Man who bore the Sins and Iniquities of all Mankind and was an Offering for the Sins of the whole World who through Death tasted Death for every Man all being in Death in Adam so that they might have Life through Christ the Second Adam So I say again that Christ did not die as he was God but as Man He was crucified and buried and rose again the third Day and ascended and is at the Right Hand of God this he did by the Power of God as he was Man So the Turks are mistaken to say or to think that the Eternal God could be crucified or dye Dear Friends I thought needful to write a Letter to you concerning this their mistake which you may be wise in making use of To exalt God's Name in their Captivity and my desires are that you may be preserved and exalt God's Name in your Places of Captivity and in your Lives Words and Conversations answering God's Witness in the Turks Jews Moors and your Patroons And keep low and walk wisely that you may be a good Savour in the Hearts of all there-aways and then the Blessings of the Lord and his Presence will rest upon you and be in you I think you have more Liberty to meet there than we have here for they keep us out of our Meetings and cast us into Prison and spoil our Goods And therefore prize your Liberty in your Meetings and do not abuse it and the Lord preserve you all in his Grace Fear and Wisdom that you may grow up in Christ the Head and walk in him to the Glory of God Amen Read this openly in your Meetings and I have sent you here some Books that you may read them and give them to the Turks or English as you may see fit which Books are to the Turks one concerning Good Conversation and another concerning the Temple and another concerning Abraham instructing his Family and one to all Kings and Princes and another concerning Revelation and Inspiration with some others to read among your selves And Friends it would be very well for you if you could get the Turks and Moors Language that you might be the more inabled to direct them to the Grace and Spirit of God in them which they have from God in their Hearts and then geting their Language you would be able to write and translate any Papers to them which may be serviceable to instruct them and for the spreading of the Truth among the Turks and Moors So with my Love to you Gousey in Essex the 10th of the 2d Month 1683. G. F. To all the Houshold of Faith which is the Church of Christ who is the Author and Finisher of Faith who are to do good unto all but especially to them of the same Faith THE Apostle saith to the Church of Christ Epist 3â—3 I wrote unto you an Epistle not to keep company with Fornicators yet not altogether with the Fornicators of this World nor with the Covetous Extortioners Not to keep Company with Scandalous Persons Idolaters c. For then ye must needs go out of the World 1 Cor. 5. But now I have written unto you Not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner c. with such an one no not to eat Therefore you see all such are to be avoided as knowing neither Fornicators Adulterers Effeminate and Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God So ye may see all such Workers you are not to keep Company with nor so much as to eat with them though they have gone under the Notion of Brothers and Sisters So the Camp of God must be kept clean of such for the Feast must be kept with unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth So the old Leaven must be purged out For a little Leaven leavens the whole Lump And therefore ye must be a new Lump as ye are leavened by it For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us Therefore as is said before let us keep the Feast with Sincerity and Truth And the Apostle saith Not to be unequally yoked Be ye not unequally yoked together with Vnbelievers For what Fellowship
supply you and is near unto all that calls upon him in Truth and Righteousness Therefore cast your Care upon him for he Cares for you And so as you walk in the Truth to answer the Truth in your Patroons and others you will see in time you will reach the Good in them that they will give more Credit to you and Trust you more than them that disobey the Spirit of God in their Hearts So the Lord preserve you Faithful to himself Let us hear as often as you can how things are with you G. F. London the 4th of the 3d Month 1684. To the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England c. DEar Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 392. who reigns over all and has all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him by whose Eternal Power our Meetings this Year have been preserved unto his great Glory and Honour and his living refreshing Presence has livingly been amongst us for which his People do give him the Honour Glory Thanks and Praise who is Lord over all and worthy of all blessed for ever and ever And therefore we desire and intreat all our Friends and Brethren every where who are of the Seed of the Promise and the Children of the Kingdom of God and of the New Covenant of Light and Life To walk as becometh the Gospel To Walk in the same and worthy of the same to the Glory of God And you that do profess the primitive pure and undefiled Religion which is above all the Religions in the World Shew it forth in Life and Practice And you that profess the Worship of God in the Spirit and Truth which Christ hath set up which is above the Jews Worship and all the Worships that the Men of the World have set up Be stedfast in the same for all Worships out of God's Spirit and his Truth are Idolatry And now dear Friends and Brethren who profess and possess that which is above all Religions Ways and Worships in the World our desire is To exceed in Vertue c. that you may always out-strip and exceed the World in Virtue in Purity in Chastity in Godliness and in Holiness and in Modesty Civility and in Righteousness and in Love with that you may overcome the Evil and with the Good overcome the Bad So that your Moderation and sober Life may appear unto all Men and answer that of God in all that so the Fruits of the Spirit of God may shew themselves forth in Meekness and Kindness and Humility from the holy Understanding and the pure heavenly Wisdom and the Word of Life and Patience by which all things were made in that you will be able to bear all things and endure all things through him that strengthens you And whatsoever things are lovely decent or comely and honest and of a good Report that answers the Truth in all That mind and practice that God Almighty may be glorified through you in the Seed in which all Nations are blest which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent that brought the Curse in which Seed no Enmity nor Strife can come in wich Seed Christ Jesus your heavenly Vnity and Fellowship is preserved And whatsoever Storms or Tempests should arise in the World keep in the Seed Christ Jesus your Sanctuary Christ our Sanctuary who was before the World was who is your Saviour that destroys the Destroyer in whom you have all Life Peace Rest Safety and Salvation in him who is the Amen the First and Last in him Farewell and from him the Blessings of the Lord rest upon you G. F. To Friends in Holland DEar Friends in the peaceable Truth The Glory of God all mind Epist 393. in all your Lives and Conversations and that the heavenly Fruits of the Holy Spirit of God you may all bring forth to his Praise living in Righteousness Godliness and Meekness Lowliness and Humility To live in Righteousness c. learning of Christ Jesus your Saviour who is meek For the humble God doth teach and they grow up in his Grace and Favour And therefore all take heed of going back again into the World's Ways Spirit and Words but keep to the holy Spirit of God that doth lead you in the narrow way that is to Life Eternal And in the Lord's Light Power and Spirit meet together and keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him that you may feel his living and divine Presence among you and in his pure gentle and heavenly Love and Wisdom you may be valiant for the Name of Jesus and his Truth upon the Earth Not to be ashamed of Christ and not to be ashamed of Christ your Teacher and Prophet that God hath raised up in his New Covenant and Testament whom you are to hear neither be ashamed of Christ your Shepherd who hath laid down his Life for his Sheep whose Voice you are to hear who doth feed his Sheep and give them Life Eternal and none is able to pluck his Sheep out of his Hand his Power neither be ashamed of your High Priest who hath offered up himself for you and doth sanctifie you who is a Priest made higher than the Heavens neither be you ashamed of your Bishop and the chief Shepherd of your Souls to whom now ye are returned by his Grace and Truth who doth oversee you with his heavenly Eye that you do not go astray from God So in him let your Faith stand who is the Author and Finisher of it So with my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ who is your Sanctuary in whom you all have Life Peace Rest and Salvation who is the Amen Greet ye one another with a Kiss of Charity Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus Amen This Charity keeps all God's People in the heavenly Love and Unity Amsterdam the 14th of the 4th Month 1683. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren who are Elect and Chosen in Christ Jesus before the the Foundation of the World Epist 394. in Christ you have Peace and in the World you have Trouble But be of good cheer Christ hath overcome the World Christ hath overcome the World that lieth in Wickedness and all the Persecutors in it and in him you all overcome the Devil and his Works and without him you can do nothing but through Christ and his Power and Strength you will be able to do all things according to the Will of God And though for a time ye may suffer for the Name of Jesus and for his Truth and be cast into Prison and suffer the spoiling of your Goods the Eternal God knows and his Son Christ Jesus it is for him alone and his Truth 's sake we suffer and not for any evil doing or doing wrong to any Man And so the Lord hath given us not only to believe but also to saffer for his Name and Truth
's sake and so it is the Gift of God with his Eternal Spirit and Power that doth uphold us in all our Sufferings which hath made so many to finish their Testimony for the Truth in Goals and Prisons and not to love their Lives to the Death but love God and Christ Jesus above their Lives and all outward things as Practice and Experience have declared it And now dear Friends To be faithful to the end be faithful in Christ Jesus to the end that you may all have the Crown of Life and that Peace from Christ Jesus which the World and all the Apostate Spirits from the Truth cannot take away from you I say neither the World with their outward Persecutions and spoiling of Goods nor the Apostate Spirits from the peaceable Truth with all their Lies and Defamations and their filthy scandalous Books and evil Tongues though they be like the raging Waves of the Sea casting up Mire and Dirt whose Folly is manifest to all that hear and see them yet all this cannot disturb the Peace of the Righteous And all the restless unquiet unruly Murmurers and Complainers that are filled with false Jealousies and are the wandering Stars who are wandered from the Witness of the Lord in their own Hearts such their Judgments do not linger nor their Damnation doth not slumber though they may be suffered for a time to try God's People And now Friends you know envious Cain was a Sacrificer as well as Abel but out of the Faith and Righteousness who Murdered his Brother Abel he may be said to have been a Type of Judas who was a partaker of the Ministry yet betrayed his Master And you read that Ishmael and Esau were circumcised as well as Isaac and Jacob but Esau hated Jacob and would have slain him and Ishmael scoffed at Isaac and so he that is born of the Flesh persecuteth him that is born of the Spirit and that Birth is not Heir with the Seed of the Promise though it may come into the outward Form and outward Profession And likewise you read of Corah Dathan and Abiram and their Company and their Rebelling against the Lord and his Servants Moses and Aaron and of their false Liberty but what became of them in Numb 16. you may see And likewise how that the Jews after the Lord brought them out of Egypt made themselves a Calf of their Jewels and Ear-rings as in Exod. 32. Psalm 106.19 The Jews made a Calf in Horeb and worshipped the Golden Image and forgot God their Saviour who had done great things in Egypt and wonderous things in the Land of Ham and murmured in their Tents and hearkened not to the Voice of the Lord And therefore God overthrew them in the Wilderness and they came not into the promised Land And you read how the Jews run into false Liberty in the Days of Baalam and joined with Baal-Peor Examples of Apostates of old Times and how the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and what a destruction he brought upon them who had turned against the Lord and his faithful People as in Numb 25. And likewise how often the Jews murmurred against Moses and Aaron and what a destruction came upon them in the Wilderness that none of that old Stock the Lord brought out of Egypt that dishonoured him though they had seen his Glory none entred into the Land save Caleb and Joshua but they perished in the Wilderness for their Murmurring and Rebelling and therefore take heed of Murmurring and Rebelling against the Lord and his Spirit but in all things learn to be content And also you read in Judges how often the Jews forsook the Lord and what Judgments came upon them and also how the Jews turned against the Prophets and imprisoned and persecuted them And in the Days of the Kings as in the Chronicles how David and many of the Prophets and the Righteous suffered But what became of them that made them suffer And likewise in the Days of Christ and his Apostles how did they fuffer by the professing Jews And there were many Comers and Goers in the Days of Christ that could say Lord Lord But such do not enter into the Kingdom of God except they do the Will of God And you read how the Apostles and the true Church were troubled with false Christians and false Brethren whom Paul writeth against in many of his Epistles and Peter and John and Jude and John in his Revelations And therefore all Friends dwell in the Seed Christ Jesus in whom ye cannot be deceived who bruises the Head of the Serpent who is the Head of all Deceivers and the Head of all Enmity and false Ways Worships and Religions and the Head of all false Liberties But in Christ Jesus in whom all Nations are blessed is the true Liberty in him all stand fast so far as he hath made you free and in him all walk as ye have received him to the Praise and Glory of God In whom you have all Eternal Life Peace Rest and Salvation and in him the Lord God Almighty preserve you all in Love Vnity and Fellowship Who is able to support you and supply you with his Eternal Hand and Power with what you do need in all your Sufferings and Trials Amen G. F. To Friends at the Yearly Meeting in York DEar Friends Who are turned to the Light Epist 395. and are the Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ my Desires are To be established upon Christ the Rock That you may all be established upon him your Eternal Rock and Foundation and grow up in Christ Jesus the Second Adam by his Light Grace and Truth that is come from him for you know Christ had many Enemies and his Disciples and Followers and Moses in the time of the Law such as turned their Backs on the Lord Christ and his Followers have many Enemies and erred from his good Spirit and rebelled against it they turned against the Lord and Moses and Aaron and they went from the Fellowship of the Law of God and his Spirit and then Destruction came upon them Such Jews were they that rebelled against Christ and his Apostles and yet were great Professors of the Old Testament And such that were called Christians that got the Form of Godliness and the fair Speeches and good Words but denied the Power thereof and so the Order thereof Such as these separated themselves and erred from the Spirit and the Faith and so from the Unity of the Faith and the Fellowship of the Spirit of God Such were and are to be turned away from by all them that are in the Faith and the Spirit of God and all the Spiritual Witnesses in the Tabernacles of God testifies against such though they may make a great Profession of Christ and the Apostles Words but deny the Power and err from the Spirit and the peaceable Truth Such cannot be the true Worshippers of God in the
Spirit and Truth And thereforefore Friends you that have been turned to the Light and Truth and Grace of Christ and know the Power and Spirit of Jesus walk in the same and in it keep your Fellowship and your Dominion over all that which is out of the Truth and abides not in the Truth And that your heavenly Light may shine and you may all be kept in Love and Vnity in the same Light Power and Spirit to the Glory of God and the Comfort one of another Amen London the 27 of the 3d Month 1684. G. F. To the suffering Friends of Dantzick FRiends Epist 396. With my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you who is your Saviour and Prophet Christ the Prophet Shepherd High-Priest and Bishop of Souls that God has raised up for you to hear in all things your Shepherd that has laid down his Life for you whose Voice ye must hear who will seed you in his Living Pastures of Life who is your Priest that offered himself for you who sanctifies you that he might present you to God So is become your High Priest who is made higher than the Heavens so is a higher Priest than the Priesthood of Aaron and all the Priesthoods upon the Earth that are made by Men below For he is a High-Priest made higher than the Heavens Hebr. 7. And so is the chief Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls to Oversee you that you do not go astray from God who is your Sanctuary in whom you are preserved from the Destroyer who destroys the Devil the great Destroyer and his Works and bruises his Head and breaks his Power He namely Christ is your Saviour in him you have Rest and Peace Salvation and Life Eternal Now Dear Friends We do hear and understand that the Magistrates have cast you into Prison again in Dantzick and that they have proffered you your Liberty upon Condition that you would go away or forsake your common Meeting-place or divide your selves into several little Meetings Truly Friends we have had many of these proffers made to Us within this Twenty or Thirty Years but we never durst make such Bargains or Covenants to forsake the Assembling of our selves together as we used to do but did leave our suffering Cause wholly to the Lord Christ Jesus To Commit our Cause to God in whose Name we were gathered who has all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him And the Lord at last did and hath tendered the Hearts of many of our Prosecutors both in England and other Places and therefore in the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ it is good to be faithful who is God all sufficient to support and supply you all in whatever you do and strengthen you in all Conditions For if that should get a little Advantage upon you and get you into Weakness it would not rest so but get more upon you And therefore it is good to stand fast in the Liberty in Christ Jesus the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who hath made you free out of the Snares and Bondage and Limitations of the Wills of the Sons of Old Adam And whereas some of the Magistrates have alledg'd That Christ departed out of the Coasts of the Gadarenes upon their Request after he had cast the Devils out of the possest Men and they enter'd into their Swine and run into the Sea This Argument is of no weight for you to go out of their Coasts or City who are settled Citizens and have Wives and Families for Christ went up and down from Place to Place and preached as he said The Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head though the subtle Foxes had Holes and the high-flown Fowls had their Nests And would they take it kindly themselves if the King of Poland their Protector who is of a contrary Profession should use the same Argument to them and say Be gone or else do not meet at your great Publick Places of Worship but meet in small Companies or else to depart out of these Coasts as Christ did out of the Coasts of the Gadarenes And if ye do not then you are disobedient to Christ's Example as they do apply it upon you And so let them weigh the Matter and their Argument with the just Law of God to do unto you as they would be done unto themselves And now Dear Friends I desire however that you walk wisely To walk wisely before all and gently and lovingly and meekly and soberly to all the Magistrates and all People that they may have no just Occasion in any thing against you For the Good must overcome the Bad as the Apostle says Overcome Evil with Good and dwell in that Love that can bear all things and endure all things And nothing can separate you from this Love which you have in God through Jesus Christ In this Love build up and edifie one another that by it you may answer the Good in all People and spread his Truth abroad and be valiant for that upon Earth So in his Holy peaceable Truth and his Seed Christ Jesus in which all Nations are blest God Almighty preserve and keep you to his Glory Amen And now Dear Friends To take beed lest Flattery prevail more than Cruelty you that have stood such hard and cruel Sufferings so long for the Lord's Name and Truth and could not be overcome by Cruelty take heed now lest you be overcome by fair Words and Flattery for in that there is a greater Danger G. F. An Epistle to Friends against Pride Haughtiness and the vain Customs and Fashions of the World FRiends Epist 397. Here you may see how the holy Men of God testifie against Pride Against Pride Haughtiness c. Haughtiness High-mindedness and the abominable Customs and Fashions and the ungodly Lusts of the World which is not of the Father but of the World And how Man and Woman came into these things by forsaking the Lord and so falling from his Image And how Christ renews them up into the Image of God again to serve him in Humility And all that are in the Image of God are of one Mind To all Friends and Brethren every where Peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in you who by his Grace Light and Spirit are turned towards the Lord to receive it from him and that by it you may grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ out of the Worlds Nature and Spirit For Christ said unto his Believers and followers Ye are not of the World even as I am not of the World I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World And therefore as the Apostle saith love not the World nor the things of the World for the love of the World is Enmity to God And in the beginning God created Man in his own Image So in the likeness of God created he him Male and Female
Ear attentive to their Prayer this is the Comfort of the humble 2 Chron. 7.12 And David saith The Lord forgets not the cry of the humble Psal 9.12 Again David saith Arise O Lord lift up thy Hand forget not the humble Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their Hearts and wilt cause thine Ear to hear Psal 10.12 17. And the Lord who Inhabits Eternity whose Name is Holy saith I dwell in the High and Holy Places And also with him that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the Humble and to revive the Hearts of the Contrite Ones Isa 57.15 Here is Joy and Comfort to the Humble And James saith God gives Grace to the Humble but he resisteth the Proud James 4.6 Humble your selves therefore under the Mighty Hand of God that he may exalt you in due time and be cloathed with Humility 1 Pet. 5.6 So you may see how God resisteth the Proud and dwells with the Humble as is testified both in the Old Testament and the New And Christ saith Whosoever shall humble himself as this little Child the same shall be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven So here you may see Christ and the Prophets and the Apostles taught Humility and judged Pride And again Christ saith He that humbleth himself shall be exalted and he that exalteth himself shall be abased Luke 14.11 and 18.14 And therefore learn of Chirst who is meek and low in Heart For he rules in the Hearts of the Humble who is King Priest and Prophet and a Shepherd to feed them and a Bishop to oversee them and an Everlasting Father who begets Man and Woman up into the Image of God and an Everlasting Prince of Peace And so all that are in true Humility are the true Subjects of Christ and all the Children of Pride are subject to the Prince of the Air the God of the World who is the King of Pride in whom there is no Truth Now concerning vain Fashions Deckings and Customs c. THE Lord forbids his People by Jeremiah to follow them Not to follow the People in their Customs c. nor to learn the way of the Heathen for the Customs of the People were vain and they did not only deck themselves but they also decked their Images and Idols and God's People were not to be dismayed at the Signs of Heaven in the Old Covenant for the Heathen was dismayed at them much less in the New Covenant should the true Christians not be dismayed at them Jer. 10.2 c. And again doth not Jeremiah cry against the Paintings and Deckings of Judah And though Judah rent her Face with painting yet her Lovers would despise her And this was when they forsook God and followed other Lovers and therefore God's Anger was against them in the Old Covenant much more in the New Jer. 4.30 And it is true God did deck the Jews in the Old Covenant with outward things but when they played the Harlot with them and decked their Images with them the Lord's Anger was against them as in Ezekiel 16.15 16. And Hosea cries out against the Jews decking of themselves with Ear-rings and Jewels and going after other Lovers and forgetting the Lord Hosea 2.13 And you may see the attire of the Harlot and the subtilty of her Heart how she decks her self and decks her Bed and deceives a young Man among the Youth Prov. 7. And therefore let all that profess themselves Christians take heed of such deckers And you may see how the Lord sent Isaiah to cry against their Haughtiness and stretched out Necks and wanton Eyes and Tincklings Pride and Haughtiness and Mincings and their round Tires like the Moon and their Chains and Braclets and their Rings and Nose-Jewels and other vain Ornaments and told them They should be desolate for the spoil of the Poor was in their Houses Isa 3.16 Now if such things was testified against in the Old Covenant then surely much more in the New And in Revelation 17 18 Chapters you may see how the Whore deck'd her self who drank the Blood of the Martyrs but at her fall God's People sung Hallelujah And in Levit. 18. The Lord commanded the Jews in the Old Covenant Not to defile themselves with the Customs of the Heathen so much more they should not do it in the New Covenant And the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians to use this World and not abuse it for the Fashion of this World passeth away And Peter exhorts the Saints Not to fashion themselves according to their former Lusts in their ignorance but as Christ who had called them was Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1 14. So see what a Care the Apostle had lest that they should go into their former Lusts of Ignorance And the Apostle Paul tells the Philippians Their Conversations was in Heaven from whence we look for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body Philip. 3.21 This is the fashion that all true Christians is to look at Now concerning wearing and putting on of Apparel Isaiah testifieth against the vanity in the Apparel Vanity in the Apparrel and the changable Suits among the Jews Isaiah 3. And what became of Tyrus with all his broidered Works and Chests of Rich Apparel did not the Lord bring them down in their Pride Ezek. 27.24 And did not Zephaniah say The Lord would punish all such as were cloathed with strange Apparrel Zeph. 1.8 But first they were cloathed Inwardly in Transgression before they cloathed Outwardly with the strange Apparrel And what became of Dives with all his Sumptuousness and Bravery who despised poor Lazarus And also Herod And are not Peoples Eyes gazing more after fine Apparrel than after the Image of God Luke 16.19 and Acts 12.21 And you may see that the first Apparrel that Adam made after Transgression was of Figg Leaves and then God made them Coats of Skins But now People are so far degenerated from that and have gotten so far into the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life that they know not what to put on And their Life is below the Lillies and the Fowles of the Air as Christ saith The Fowles of the Air do not sow nor reap nor gather into Barnes And the Lillies they toil not neither do they spin but the heavenly Father feeds and cloaths them And Christ also saith speaking to People That ye are much better than the Fowles of the Air or the Lillies And therefore take ye no thought what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink or wherewith ye shall be cloathed for after these things the Gentiles do seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things but first seek ye the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be
Hunters gathering who gathered up People together to build Babel and confounded them Gen. 10.11 And Isaiah said All they Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children and in Righteousness shall they be established Behold they shall surely gather together but not by me saith the Lord And whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake No Weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper No Weapon form'd against God's Heritage shall prosper and every Tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn This is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isai 54. And Christ Jesus saith Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them And the Apostle said to the Jews speaking of Christ That there is no Salvation in any other For there is no other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved Acts 4.12 but by Christ Jesus So here is the Saints true Gathering in the Name of Christ Jesus the Second Adam and none is able to pluck them out of his hand John 10. For Christ the Seed of the Woman bruises the Serpent's Head and Christ through Death destroys Death and the Devil the Power of Death and so doth reconcile all things both in Heaven and in the Earth into one The Devil abode not in the Truth and so he became a Devil The Devil not abiding in the Truth became an Enemy a Destroyer and a Serpent and Enemy and a Satan and Adversary to the Truth and to Righteousness and Holiness and to Man and Woman that God made in his Image in Righteousness and Holiness so he became an Enemy and Adversary and Destroyer who is out of the Truth and abode not in it in whom there is no Truth and so is called the Old Serpent and Satan and Devil Tempter and false Accuser and Christ through Death destroys Death and the Devil the Power of Death And when the Jews went from the Truth they became Enemies and Adversaries to it and Destroyers of the Righteous and the Just yea they were Adversaries and Accusers and Enemies to the Prophets and Christ Jesus and Apostles and Christ called the Jews Vipers and Serpents and said to them that made a Profession of the Scriptures of the Old Testament but were gone from the Truth of them that they were of their Father the Devil and his Works and Lusts they would do And here the Jews that went out of the Truth did not they become as Serpents Enemies Satans Adversaries and Judas's Betrayers and of the Devil Destroyers of the Just And when they which are called Christians became haters of the Light and Walkers despitefully against the Spirit of Grace Despisers of the Word in their Hearts and erred from the Truth and the true Faith and professed the Form of Godliness but denied the Power thereof and so denied the Spirit ot true Christianity These became as Serpents Enemies Satan Adversaries to true Christianity and of the Devil that seek to destroy it and Judas's Betrayers of it and of the Righteous and the Just where-ever it appeared to the unjust And this hath been the Work of that Spirit that did not abide in the Truth in all Ages to be as Enemies Adversaries and Judas's Betrayers who seek to deftroy the Truth but Christ the Truth doth destroy that destroying Spirit who is the Saviour And Christ said to the Jews and to the Scribes and Pharisees which were the greatest outward Professors and appliers of the Prophets and Promises of the Old Testament to themselves upon the Earth and yet the greatest Persecutors of the holy Men and Women and the Lord's Prophets upon the Earth I say that Christ said to them O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets Christ lamented over Jerusalem and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered they Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Behold your Houses are left unto you desolate c. Matth. 23.37 38. Jersalem was the chiefest Place of Worship and the chiefest City among the Jews and the greatest Place of Persecution and yet the Lord Jesus Christ wept over this City and would have gathered these persecuting Professors who were without possessing of the Life of what they did profess but they would not come to him that they might have Life And these persecuting Jews Scribes and Pharisees Christ said unto them Te compass Sea and Land to make one Proselyte and when he is made he is two-fold mord the Child of Hell Matth. 23. Here you may see these Scribes Pharisees and Jews the great Professors and Temple-Worshippers without Life what they gathered into and what Disciples they made in their compassing Sea and Land they made them like themselves and the Devil and Satan and the Serpent who abode not in the Truth and seek to draw all out of the Truth and to make them as Serpents and Satan Adversaries and of the Devil Destroyers and so he rules in the Hearts of the Disobedient and blindeth the Eyes of the Heathen or Infidels and the apostatised Christians from the Spirit of Christ and the Life of Christianity they do seek to draw all from the Truth and Spirit of Christ and the Life of Christianity into Death Enmity and into Persecution and Destroying like the Devil Jews and Judas both in one Spirit according to their Measures that they have from the Devil but all that live and walk inthe Truth and the Spirit of Jesus labour to bring and draw and gather all into the Truth and to Christ their Saviour who destroyeth the Destroyer G. F. Concerning the pure and undefiled Religion that was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago Which all that do own God and Christ are to walk in DEar Friends Epist 399. You who profess the Light Faith Grace and Spirit of Christ and the pure undefiled Religion before God the Father To keep from the Spots of the World are to keep your selves unspotted from the World and to bridle your Tongues from evil Words which corrupt good Manners the Light of Christ Jesus letteth you see the Spots of the World and the Grace of God will teach you tho deny them and the Spirit of Truth if you be led by it teacheth you to mortifie and subdue them And now Friends Here is the pure and undefiled Religion which the Apostles in the Primitive Times did own and which now we do own This is pure Religion and is undefiled before God the Father and to keep unspotted from the World First This Religion is Pure Secondly It is undefiled before God the Father And that which is pure and undefiled before God the Father if you live in it and obey it it will keep you unspotted from the World and so from the Spots of the
Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him Of the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ that I may know him and the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death Which every true Christian should be of the same mind as this Holy Apostle was So here you may see the Apostle exhorts People to Suffer with Christ and for him but not as Murderers Thieves Evil-doers and Busie-bodies in other Mens matters And as David saith Depart from the evil and do good seek peace and pursue it keep thy Tongue from evil and thy Lips from speaking guile For the wicked have set their Mouths against the Heavens and their Tongues walk through the Earth But be not as the Horse and the Mule whose Mouth must be held with the Bit and the Bridle And David saith I will take heed unto my Ways that I Sin not with my Tongue I will keep my Mouth with a bit while the Wicked is before me And this is good Advice that God's People be not ensnared by the Wicked's Snare And therefore it is good for all God's People to be careful and wise that none do suffer as Busie-bodies in other Mens matters or as Evil-doers c. but let their Sufferings be foi Righteousness sake and with Christ that they may reign with him And keep out the Athenians Spirit spending their time in hearing and telling of News which the World is full of in whom your Trouble is But in me ye have Peace saith Christ And therefore as every one hath received Christ so walk in him and let your Conversations be in him Amen And blessed are they who suffer for Righteousness sake and in whose Hearts there is no Enmity And blessed are they that dwell in the Love of God that can bear all things and are in the Wisdom of God which is pure and peaceable For Troubles Afflictions Sufferings Imprisonments spoiling of Goods and many Perils do attend God's People by the World that lieth in Wickedness And therefore it is good for all God's People to keep in Christ their Sanctuary in whom they have Eternal Rest and Peace And also God's People are exercised now as in days past with Trials and Perils by false Brethren as the Church of Christ was in the Apostles day such as went from the Chruch in Cain's Trials by false Brethren Corah's and Balaam's Way as the Apostle saith Fierce Despisers false Accusers of those that are good and you may read in 2 Pet. 2. throughout of such as forsook the right Way and of many following their pernicious Ways by reason of whom the Way of Truth was evil spoken of And so it is now as it was in the Apostles days And the Apostle saith to the Church You have heard say that Anti-christs should come even now are there many Anti-christs They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out from us that they might be manifest they were not of us 1 John 2.18 19. Christ did forewarn his Disciples of these Anti-christs and false Prophets that they should be in wardly Ravening Wolves and by the Fruits of their Trees they should be known to be of the Nature of the Wolf and not of the Lamb Such as these went from the Church in the Apostles days into the World and such as these are gone from the Church of Christ now into the Spirit of the World their evil Spirits are tried as in 1 John 4. And the Sufferings and Perils by false Brethren have been more Grief many times to the Church of Christ than open Persecution for they cause the Way of Truth to be evil spoken of that turn from the Way of Righteousness like the Dog to the Vomit or the Sow to the Mire And in the Way of Righteousness Christ Jesus God preserve all his People from all the biting devouring Dogs and greedy Swine And you read how Righteous Abel suffered by his false Brother Cain The Righteous suffer by the Vnrighteous and did not Ishmael persecute his Brother Isaac And would not Esau have destroyed his Brother Jacob But God prevented him And was not Ishmael and Esau in an outward Profession of the Circumcision And how often did the Jews that were brought out of Egypt by the Power of the Lord turn against Moses and Aaron and other Elders and so turned against the Power and Spirit of God that brought them out of Egypt whom the Lord destroyed in the Wilderness and they never came to see the Land of Promise And how often did the Jews turn against the holy Prophets of God after they came into the Land of Canaan and what was their end when they had rebelled against the good Spirit that God gave them to instruct them And were not these holy Prophets the Jews Brethren whom they killed and imprisoned and presecuted And was not Joseph sold into Egypt and persecuted by his Brethren but God was with him and preserved him And so he will his faithful People And did not Moses say unto the Children of Israel A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up of your Brethren him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 and 7.37 Now when God had raised up this Prophet Christ the Prophet Christ Jesus you see many of the Jews would not receive him nor believe him nor many would hardly hear him though they were called Brethren but they Mocked him and Persecuted him and Blasphemed him and the Chief Priest gave Money to Juaas one of his Disciples to betray him And what became of all the Jews and of Judas that betrayed and persecuted Christ and the Prophets And what became of all those false Apostles and Anti christs that went in Cain's Corah's Balaam's and Jezabel's Way And will not all of the same Spirit in our Age that hath gone and goeth in the same Way or Path have the same End yea their latter End will be worse than their Beginning and to be as the Synagogue of Satan who maketh them to Accuse Slander and Revile God's Righteous People from whom Christ will save and deliver his People who bruises the Head of the Serpent and against such Synagogues of Satan the Wrath of the Lamb is turned And in Christ the Lamb of God the Saints have their Rest and Peace and can Sing Hallelujah Bednal-Green the 14th of the 4th Month 1685. G. F. A General Epistle DEar Friends Go not out from your Habitation Epist 402. but keep in your heavenly Habitation in the Spirit of Grate and Truth and the Gospel the Power of God To keep our Habitation in Christ Jesus and the holy Divine Faith you will feel in your
Oil in their Lamps Such were not diligent in the Work of God nor in the Concerns of the Lord nor in their own Particulars And therefore my desires are That you may all be diligent serving the Lord and minding his Glory and the Prosperity of his Truth this little time you have to live and be not like Adam in the Earth but use this World as though you did not use it for they that covet after this World fall into divers Snares and hurtful Lusts And therefore consider that you are but Sojourners here that you may pass your time in the Fear of God and you being many and having many of the Friends of the Ministry going over into those Parts you may be a hinderance one unto another if you do not travel in the Life of the Vniversal Truth taht would have all Men to be saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth And if you would have them come to the Knowledge of Truth let them know it and where it is to be found So I desire that you be valiant for it upon the Earth that you may give a good account unto God at the last with Joy So I desire that all Friends in the Ministry may see this in Pensilvania and New-Jersey And so with my Love to you all in the Holy Seed of Life that reigns over all Amen Enfield the 30th of the 5th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Wales DEar Friends and Brethren In the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 406. whom he hath gathered by his glorious Hand and Power to himself who is the Rock of Ages and the Foundation of many Generations that cannot be shaken in which you have all Life Peace Rest Salvation and Eternal Happiness Your Epistle dated the Second of the Second Month 1685 by Order of your Yearly Meeting signed in behalf of that Meeting was received and publickly read in our Yearly Meeting and well accepted of in Love and Unity with the Spirit that gave it forth And Friends are very glad to hear feel and see your Fellowship and Unity in the Lord's blessed Truth and your Communion in the Holy Ghost and your Care in the Concerns of the holy pure peaceable Truth And how that you are and have been preserved over those unruly Spirits that have been as Trees without Fruit and Wells without Water inwardly ravening Wolves that have got the Form of Godliness and the Sheeps Cloathing but are out of the Spirit and Power and Life of the Sheep of Christ And over such Spirits we praise God that he hath given you Dominion And our desire is That you may all live and walk in Christ and sit down in him in his Grace and Truth and that you may answer the Truth of God in all People with the Word of Life and also answer the Good in all with a Godly and an Holy Life and Conversation And likewise all the Magistrates and Officers that are in Power you may answer the just Principle in them all To answer the just Principle in all Men. and live in the Spirit of Supplication and pray for all that you may lead a righteous and a godly Life under them all So that God over all and through you all and by you all may have the Glory the Thanks and the Praise To whom all is due God blessed for ever Our Yearly Meeting was peaceable and the Lord 's glorious Presence was amongst us whose Glory shines over all God blessed and praised for ever Amen Nowe all Dear Friends You know your Teacher and Leader Christ Jesus and you know him your High-Priest that 's made highter than the Heavens by the Power of an Endless Life by whom you are made a Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ And you know there is no other way to God but by Jesus Christ and you know that God hath raised him up a Prophet in the New Testament who is to be heard in all things who opens and no Man can shut and shuts and no Man can open And ye know that Christ is the Bishop of your Souls to Oversee you that you do not go astray from God And ye know that Christ is the true Shepherd and has laid down his Life for his Sheep and is to be heard and followed who gives unto his Sheep Life Eternal And so abide in him who is your Life Eternal and Everlasting in whom you have Peace with the Everlasting God Amen London the 10th day of the 7th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Dantzick DEar Friends Epist 407. I am glad to hear of your Welfare in the Lord And my desires are To be valiant for Truth That in the Eternal Power of God you may be valiant for his holy pure Truth upon the Earth and his holy Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World and the new and living Way Christ Jesus that will keep you out and over all dead Ways that are in the World and the Worship of God in his holy Spirit and pure Truth which Christ Jesus set up above all the Worships in thd World And all Men and Women must come to the Spirit of God in their Hearts if they serve and worship God that made them And my Desires are That you may live in Peace and Love one with another and in the pure gentle Wisdom of God that is easie to be intreated And let your Faith stand in the Power of God and feel that in your Hearts which will keep you until the Day of Salvation And let all your Conversations be according to the glorious Gospel of Life and Salvation so that you may come to answer the Truth in all People and in your Words and Actions you may preach Truth Righteousness Vertue Pureness Godliness and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. And now Friends consider the Lord's great Mercy and Kindness towards you who hath brought you through great Sufferings To praeise Gode Mercies Tribulations and Persecutions and that you have your Meetings peaceable it is a great Mercy of the Lord to you for you to prize and be faithful So with my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ that reigns over all in whom you have Eternal Rest and Peace Amen And as for the Affairs of Truth here we are under great Persecutions Imprisonments and spoiling of Goods but the Lord does support his People above them all And of late the chief Magistrates have shewed some Favour towards us Bednal-Green the 11th of the 9th Moutb 1685. G. F. To Friends in Pensilvania East and West-Jersey THE Lord God who created Man and Woman in his Image Epist 408. and after his Likeness in Righteousness and Holiness he blessed them and said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth and subdue it and have dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Fowl of the Air and over all Cattle and over all the Earth and over
an Example to Parents and the Arke of God for not restraining his Children from Evil And again if that they must be left to themselves why did the Prophets and the Apostles say That they must not quench nor vex nor grieve nor rebel against the Spirit of God nor turn the Grace of God into Wantonness nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace but walk in the Spirit and in the Truth and in the Light and to love it and not to hate it for they that do not love the Light but hate it are condemned by it and so grow in the Condemnation and are not in the Justification of Life The Lord God commanded Abraham to Circumcise himself and his Children and Servants that were bought with Money and were born in his House He was to bring all his Males into this Covenant of outward Circumcision and the Lord said That Soul shall be cut off that is not Circumcised he hath broken my Covenant of outward Circumcision as you may see Gen. 17. Here you may see Abraham was to teach and instruct his Family and Servants and he was not to keep any Man or Servant that was Uncircumcised in his Family Now you that profess the New Covenant True Circumcision are not you and all your Children and Servants to be Circumcised with the Spirit of Circumcision And do not they that have not the Body of Death and the Sins of the Flesh cut off by Circumcision go down into the Pit and not into Paradise and the kingdom of God And therefore may not such Uncircumcised by the Spirit hurt the Families of true Christians in the Light Therefore consider Abraham was not to suffer and of his Children and Servants that were bought with his Money or born in his House to be Uncircumcised in the Old Covenant This care the Lord laid upon him in his Family in the Old Covenant Therefore consider you that profess the New Covenant of the Spirit of Circumcision what Care lies upon you in your Families of Teaching and Instructing your Servants and Children and to bring them to the Spirit of Circumcision And now do not say but you are all warned in your Life-time and therefore prise your time while you have it that you spend it to the Honour and Glory of God The 9th of the 5th Month 1686. G. F. An Epistle for them that are learned in Christ to read and understand THe Lord saith Epist 410. In this Mountain shall the Lord of Host make unto all People a feast of fat things c. And he will destroy in this Mountain the Face of the Covering cast over all People and the Veil that is spread over all Nations And he will swallow up Death into Victory and the Lord God will wipe away Tears from off all Faces Isai 5.26 27. 1 Cor. 15.54 Rev. 21.4 Is not this Mountain Christ Christ filleth the whole Earth that filleth the whole Earth where this Feast of fat things is And doth not Christ through Death destroy Death and the Devil the Power of Death and so takes away the Veil and Covering that is spread over all Nations that they may be covered with the Spirit that he pours upon all Flesh And the Apostle saith Moses put a Veil over his Face that the Children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is to be abolished for their Minds were blinded For until this Day remains the same Veil untaken away in the reading of Moses and the Old Testament the Veil is upon their Hearts which Veil is done away in Christ and when they shall turn to the Lord the Veil shall be done away as in 2 Cor. 3. So here you may see the Veil that was spread over the Hearts of People The Veil over Peoples Hearts done away by Christ is done away by Christ and all they that are turned to the Lord with open Face behold as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even by the Spirit of the Lord. And the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed his People and dwell amongst them who hath made their Robes white in the Blood of the Lamb And this is the Days of Christ whom God gives for a Covenant of the People to establish the Earth Sing O Heavens and rejoyce O Earth and break forth into Singing O Mountains for God hath comforted his People and hath Mercy upon his afflicted And Christ saith to the Prisoners Go forth unto them that are in Darkness shew your selves and they shall feed in Pastures For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them and by the Springs of Water shall he guide them Isai 49. For God gave Christ for a Covenant to the People for a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisioners out of Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-Houses Isai 42.2 6 7. Rev. 7.15 16 17. So we that do witness this do praise the Lord God through Jesus Christ Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his People Rev. 21.3 This is the Day of the New Covenant which People enjoy in Christ Jesus The Lord saith I will ransom them from the Power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Hos 13.14 And the Apostle saith O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law But thanks be to God which gives us the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. So here you may see the Grave had its Victory Christ gives Victory over Death and the Grave and Death hath its Sting which is Sin But the Strength of Sin is the Law But Christ gives us the Victory who makes an end of Sin the Sting of Death as in Dan. 9.24 And who through Death destroys Death and the Power of Death and is the End of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes and so are dead to the Law by the Body of Christ Rom. 7.4 And Christ saith unto the Jews Verily verily he that hears my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life Mark Everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation but hath past from Death unto Life Then they have past from the Sting of Death which is Sin And as John saith we know that we are past from Death unto Life because we love the Brethren for he that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death John 5.24 1 John 2.44 So if they were past from Death to Life then they were past from Death and his Sting which is Sin through Jesus Christ who destroys Death and makes and End of Sin And again Christ saith to the Jews Verily verily
is no Death nor Night and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of this New and Heavenly Jerusalem For the Glory of God doth enlighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Lord God and the Lamb are the Temple of this New and Heavenly Jerusalem that is from above and the Lord creates this Heavenly Jerusalem So this Heavenly and New Jerusalem is not made by the Workmanship of Mens Hands nor of Wood and Stone neither are People cast in Prison for not mending or repairing a Temple there for there is no outward Temple in the Heavenly Jerusalem for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And the New Creatures that are in Christ Jesus and dwell in Love they dwell in God Such are in the Temple in Heavenly Jerusalem and are in Joy and in Fellowship with the Father and the Son blessed for ever Amen And Christ said to the Jews The Bread of God is he that cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life to the World No Persecution in New Jerusalem signifying that the World is Dead in Adam and wanteth Eternal Everlasting Life and they that eat not the Flesh of Christ and drink not his Blood have no Life in them For Adam and Eve by eating of the Fruit which God forbid them brought Death and all died in him but they that eat the Flesh of Christ the Bread from Heaven and drink his Blood have Eternal Life and shall live for ever and they do live by Christ and they do dwell in Christ and he doth dwell in them So you may see Adam and Eve by their eating of that which God forbad brought them into Spiritual Death and by eating the Flesh and drinking the Blood of Christ as he commands brings Men into a Spiritual Life that is Eternal And the Lord saith Ezek. 37. concerning the whole House of Israel which were the dry scattered Bones That he would open their Graves Of the Restoration of the House of Israel and bring them out of their Graves and yet these dry Bones which were the whole House of Israel that were in their Graves could speak who were the scattered Bones and say Behold our Bones are dry and our Hope is lost we are cut off for our parts So it seems that the whole House of Israel scattered Bones who were in their Graves could speak these words Then they were alive outwardly and their Breath was in their Nostrils but they were gone from the Breath of the Almighty that gives Life and Understanding Therefore the Lord poured his Spirit upon them and caused Breath to come upon them that they might live to God and so that they might all have one Shepherd namely Christ and come into his Everlasting Covenant and Christ their Sanctuary and then God's Tabernacle would be with them and then the Lord will be their God and they shall be his People G. F. To the Yearly Meeting in Yorkshire DEar Friends Epist 411. who are the Sons and Daughters of God who have his Law written in your Hearts by which you know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life to know and you that have put on Christ Jesus are the New Creatures and are in him Clothed with Christ the Son of Righteousness To be Clothed with Christ who is the Light of the World and you that believe in the Light have the Light of Life and are Clothed with the Son of God that doth not change and are the true and living Members of the Church of Christ Jesus that is in God and have the Moon that is changeable under your Feet So all changable Religions Worships Ways Churches and Teachers which are like the Changeable Moon and the Changeable World with its Changeable Fashions the true Church of Christ that are Clothed with Christ the Son that doth not change hath all these Changeable Things like the Moon that changes under her Feet for the Son of God never changes for all things were made by him who is the First and Last the Beginning and Ending So as every one hath received Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousness walk in him to the Praise and Glory of God Amen London the 31st of the 3d Month 1686. G. F. To Friends in West-Jersey and Pensilvania DEar Friends Epist 412. I am glad to hear that the Truth 's Concerns is so well as it is with you and that you have set up your Half Years Meeting there which may be of great Service Half Years Meeting in America For indeed all the faithful Men and Women in the Power of the Lord do keep their Meetings that they may take care of God's Glory and to see that all are diligent that profess the Truth to walk in it and all the Loose and such as despise Dignities and the Power of God and true Christianity should be Admonish'd and Exhorted and not to have a Name of Truth without the Nature of it And so that all may walk in the Truth and by it come into a holy Life and Conversation by that they may answer that which is good both in the People among you and in the Indians For through want of Order in the Power of God and his Light Life and Truth there has been so many runnings out some one way and some another way And therefore all that are Faithful in your Country being kept in the Lord 's Eternal Power To keep our Meetings in the Lord's Power in it keep up all your Men and Womens Meetings that the Power of the Lord God may sparead over all and by it all Deceit and Loosness may be kept under and this will ease all the Magistrates and their Courts of all Evil and Loosness by having it stop'd and kill'd in the Birth before it comes into Action and to see in your Meetings that Friends may give no Occasion to the Indians And if sometimes you should have some Meetings with the Indian Kings and their Councils to let them know the Principles of Truth To inform the Indians of the Way of Salvation so that they may know the Way of Salvation and the Nature of true Christianity and how that Christ hath died for them who tasted Death for every Man And so the Gospel of Salvation must be Preached to every Creature under Heaven and how that Christ hath enlightned them who enlightens all that come into the World And God hath poured out his Spirit upon all Flesh and so the Indians must receive God's Spirit for the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men And so let them know that they have a Day of Salvation Grace and Favour of God offered unto them if they will receive it it will be their Blessing And so now you that are settled in those Parts which have had a Testimony from the Lord to bear to People of the Truth you should spread abroad God's Eternal Truth and have
Meetings as I said before with the Indian Kings and Peopie so that all the Earth may come to look unto the Lord for Salvation For if ye should seetle down in the Earth and have plenty and be full Not to set our Hearts on the Earth and at ease for a time and not keep in the Power and Service and Spirit of God you would quickly come to lose your Condition as some did in Road-Island when settled down in the Earth after a while and then turned to Jangling about it and some ran out one way and some another And therefore I desire that the Lord may grant that you may be all kept and preserved by his holy Power on his holy Mountain that ye may be of the holy Camp of God that with his Power Light Spirit Grace and Truth all that is contrary may be kept out from among you so that the Lord God Almighty and his Son may walk in the midst of you and may delight to do you good So with my Love to all faithful Friends My Desire is that you all may keep in the Power and Spirit of the Lord in the heavenly Unity that you may all shine forth to his Glory and Praise to whom all belongs God over all blessed for over Amen Edmunton the 27th of the 11th Month 1687. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 413. my Desire is that all Friends may prize the Mercies of the Lord and live in Humility in his Power that is over all To prize God's Mercies that you may answer God's Witness in all People in his Spirit and Truth in a Righteous Godly Life and Conversation and let not Liberty lift them up nor Sufferings cast them down but live in the Seed of Life that no Man can make higher nor lower for that is the Heir of God's Everlasting Kingdom So in this Seed which is your Sanctuary God Almighty keep you in whom you have Life and Wisdom that it may be justified of all her Children and they exercised in it in this Day of Christ Amen G. F. ALL my dear Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ who by his Eternal Arm and Power Epist 414. hath supported upheld and preserved you stedfast to himself so that neither Reproaches Imprisonments nor spoiling of your Goods to the almost Ruining you outwardly and besides long and tedious Imprisoning of you and many to Death Persecutors could not drive the Faithful From Christ And yet all these Persecutors could not make you turn from Christ your Life Priest Bishop and Shepherd and through him you have been made more than Conquerers And so live and walk in him who is the same to day yesterday and for ever who doth overcome and will have the Victory in whom you have Life and Salvation and Peace with God So no more but my Love Goosey in Essex the 18th of the 12th Month. 1688. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 415. my Love is to all Friends in the Truth in the Eternal Life and my Desires is that in the Everlasting Life you and I may live To live in Christ even in the Lord Jesus Christ that is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting Amen G. F. To the Quarterly Men and Womens Meetings in London All Friends Strive to keep in Unity in the holy Spirit of Christ which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace Epist 416. and that you Elders may be Examples in the heavenly Wisdom To keep in the Vnity of the Spirit and Word of Life and of Power and Patience to all the younger that hardly know the right Hand from the left so that they may be trained up both by the Word and Law in their Hearts and good Example from their Elders in Grace Truth Virtue Modesty and Sobriety as becoming Men and Women professing and possessing Godliness being adorned with a meek and a quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of a great Price and keep that Eye blind and that Spirit under that would go into the Fashions of the World for that will blind and burden and will not bear sound Doctrine and therefore that must be kept down with the Spirit of God by which all may have Power over their own Spirits and they that have not are like unto a City whose Walls are broken down that any thing that is evil or had may come in And therefore the Power and Spirit of God is as the Wall that preserveth Therefore be Wise for when Lust is conceived it brings forth Sin and Sin when it is finished it brings forth Death Now here you may see what brings forth Sin and Death in Man and Woman which by the Spirit of God is to be mortified The Spirit of God mortifies Sin and by it their Affections to be changed and set on things above where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God so that you may come to fit in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus which is a holy pure and safe Sitting in which all may keep that heavenly Feast of Christ our Passover not with the old Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but with the heavenly unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth for Christ our Passover hath been sacrificed for us and therefore he is the heavenly Bread which the Feast of him our Passover must be kept withal by the clean and circumcised in Spirit in the New Testament and Covenant For the Jews in the Old Testament and Covenant they were to be clean and circumcised outwardly before they eat of the outward Sacrifices which Sacrifice and Circumcision Christ our Sacrifice hath ended and therefore keep to him our Circumcisor and the Feast of our Passover and let all the old Leaven of Malice and Wickedness be purged out that you may become a new Lump in Christ Jesus Amen Goosey the 29th of the 10th Month 1689. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus Epist 417. whom the Lord by his Eternal Arm and Power hath preserved to this Day all walk in the Power and Spirit of God that is over all in Love and Unity For Love overcomes and builds up and unites all the Members of Christ to him the Head for Love keeps out of all Strife Love keeps out of all Strife and is of God and Love and Charity never fails but keeps the Mind above all outward Things or strife about outward Thins and is that which overcomes Evil and casts out all false Fears and it is of God and unites all the Hearts of his People together in the heavenly Joy Concord and Unity And the God of Love preserve you all and settle and establish you in Christ Jesus your Life and Salvation in whom you have all Peace with God And so walk in him that you may be ordered in his peaceable heavenly Wisdom to the Glory of God and the Comfort one of another Amen London the 27th of the 3d Month 1689. G. F. To the Six Weeks Meeting in London 1690 THe
Six-Weeks Meeting is for to see Epist 418. that all their Meetings are preserved by the Wisdom of God in the Vnity of the Spirit The Care of the Six Weeks Meeting the Bond of Peace and in the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost being ordered by the pure gentle heavenly peaceable Wisdom easie to be intreated Holy and Vertuous Examples to all other Meetings both in City and Country And that all may be careful to speak short and pertinent to Matters in a Christian Spirit and dispatch Business quickly and keep out of long Debates and Heats and with the Spirit of God keep that down which is doting about Questions and Strife of Words that tend to Parties and Contention Which in the Church of God there is no such Custom to be allowed And likewise not to speak more than one at a time nor any in a fierce Way for that is not to be allowed in any Society neither Natural nor Spiritual but as the Apostle saith Be swift to hear and slow to speak and let it be in the Grace which seasons all Words And if there be any Differences that cannot be quickly ended in the Meeting let the Six-Weeks Meeting order some Friends to hear the Matter out of the Meeting without Respect of Persons and bring in the Report to the same Meeting the same Day if possible and the Meeting may give Judgment that no Business be delayed from time to time And so with my Love to you all in the Seed of Life Christ Jesus in whom ye have all Peace and Wisdom from him who is the Treasure of Knowledge and Wisdom Amen Kingston upon Thames the 5th of the 3d Month 1690. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 419. Something was upon me to write unto you that such among Friends who marry and provide great Dinners that instead thereof it will be of a good Savour on such Occasions that they may be put in mind at such times to give something to the Poor that be Widows and Fatherless To be Charitable and relieve the Poor and such like to make them a Feast or to Refresh them And this I look upon would be a very good Savour to feast the Poor that cannot feast you again and would be a good Practise and Example and would be a means to keep the Mind to the Lord and in remembrance of the Poor for they that give to the Poor lend to the Lord and the Lord will re-pay them And I do really believe what ever they give less or more according to their Ability cheerfully they will not have the less at the Years End for the Lord loves a cheerful Giver I know this Practice hath been used by some Twenty Years ago And so it is not only to give the Poor a little Victuals which you cannot eat your selves but give them a little Money that the Lord hath blessed you with and give it to some of the Womens Meetings for to distribute to the Poor So you will have the Blessings of the Lord and the Blessings of the Poor And so to be of a free noble Spirit above all the churlish Misers and Nigards and narrow Spirits These things I do recommend to you though it may look a little strange to weigh and consider the thing it will both be of a good Report and a good Savour and manifests a self-denial and openness of Heart and of the general Love of God London the 4th of the 4th Month 1690. G. F. To Friends Captives at Macqueness DEar Friends st 420. With my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ in whom you have Life and Salvation and Rest and Peace with God and the Lord God Almighty with his Eternal Arm and Power uphold and preserve you in Christ in whom you have Rest and Peace though in the World Troubles and though you be in Captivity from your Wives and Children and Relations and Friends yet the Lord is present with you by his Spirit of Grace Light and Truth And so feel him at all times and stand in his Will do not Murmer nor Complain but stand still in the Faith and Power of God To stand in the Faith that you may see your Salvation for by Faith the Lord delivered his People out of Egypt by his Power and by Faith Enoch and Noah were preserved and Abraham Isaac and Jacob and by Faith the Prophets were delivered out of many Perils and Daniel out of the Lions Mouth And you may see how the Righteous were delivered by Faith in Heb. 11. And it would be very well if you that be Captives and Friends To meet to worship God could have Meetings as they had at Algier to the comforting and refreshing one another And you may speak to your Patroons of your meeting together to worship God that created Heaven and Earth and made all Mankind and gives you Breath Life and Spirit to serve and worship him And my Desires are to the Lord That you in his Truth and Power may answer the Truth in all both King and Prince and Turks and Moors that you may be a good Savour among them all and in them all manifesting that you are the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid So that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven And what do you know but the Lord hath set you there to preach in Life and Word and good Conversation Therefore while you are there mind your Service for God who hath all things in his Hand And a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Providence And Christ is the Mountain that filleth the whole Earth and so you will feel him there And therefore keep in the Word of Power and in the Word of Patience and the Word of Wisdom that will give you Dominion over all Amen London the 25th of the 8th Month 1690. G. F. You may petition the Emperor or King and your Patroons Postscript whose Captives you are that you may have one Day in the Week to meet together to worship and serve the Great God that made you in Spirit and Truth For you worship no Representation Image or Likeness neither in Heaven nor in the Earth but the Great God who is Lord over all both in Heaven and Earth and is manifest by his Spirit in his People from you poor Captives who desire their Good here and their Eternal Happiness hereafter And you may draw up a Paper to this Effect and get it Translated into their Language and send it to the Emperor and his Council and your Patroons and set your Hands to it with all speed after the the receipt of this George Fox THE END THE FIRST TABLE CONTAINING The Names of Countries Cities Towns and Places mentioned in this Collection of Epistles being those from or to which they were sent and directed by the Author on Truth 's Account in England and
became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth verse 35. They shall not hurt nor destroy in my holy Mountain For the Earth shall be full ot the Knowledge of the Lord ad the Waters covers the Sea Isa 11.9 The 27th of the 8th Month 1681. G. F. To Friends in Jamaica Dear Friends Epist 373. with my Love in the Lord to you all It hath been often in my mind from a Sense of the Spirit of the Lord which thing I shall lay before you and commend it to the Witness of God in all your Consciences The thing is this Advice to have a Yearly Meeting in Jamaica That if you had once in a Year a Yearly Meeting as they have in Holland Cermany and Freezlan and at Road Island and in England and else where which is and hath been of great Service for Friends to see one another and know how the Affairs of Truth prospers and how Friends doth grow in the Truth of God to the Comfort and Joy of one another in it in which the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted And if there should be any Difference among Friends it may be ended at the Yearly Meeting by some Friends out of the Meeting which could not be ended at other Meetings So that all things by the Truth and Power of God may be kept in Peace and Love all dwelling in the Wisdom of God that 's from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be entreated And so for you once in a Year to meet together in the Lord's Power and to wait upon him in his Spirit and Truth one day and then another day you may have a Yearly Men and Womens Meeting in the Lord's Power which in time you may find and feel a great Service in the Lord's Spirit and Power in which you may feel his Presence and Blessing flow among you and as for Place and Time I shall leave it to your best Convenience and the Lord direct you that you may do all things whatever you do to his Glory for you know that in other Countries or Provinces they have either Half-Year Meetings or Yearly Meetings except it be in Jamaica which several times hath been in my Mind for you to have one there for where they are settled they see a great Service in them and the Lord hath owned them and honoured them with his Presence and that keeps all in a Sense of a care of his Glory and a care of one another that they may be kept and preserved in God's Eternal Truth in meekness in gentleness and in tenderness and in love that edifies the Body of Christ the second Adam the Lord from Heaven And so that all of you in Godliness Holiness and Righteousness may spend your Days to the Glory of God that your Conversations may be in Heaven and not below in the Earth among the wicked that the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus may be glorified in you all who is over all blessed for ever Amen And Friends it would be very well if that you brought on your your Case of not Swearing and taking Oaths which hath been lost through that Spirit which was unfaithful Now the same Governor is come over again in whose time when he was there formerly that Act was obtained Yea and Nay instead of an Oath at the Assembly in which your Yea and Nay was taken instead of an Oath and Swearing Therefore see if you can prevail with this Governor and his Assembly to have the same Act renewed again and to clear your selves from that Spirit which was the cause that the Act was repealed So with my love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all And my Desires are That you may all be preserved in God's Power to his Glory and that you may grow in the Truth and with the Truth answer the Truth in every one's inward parts so that ye may spread the Truth abroad and that with it your Hearts may be united together And walk in it and in the love of it for Love edifies the Body of Christ And that ye may be good Examples in the Truth and in Righteousness and Holiness and shew forth Christianity in the Possession of it above the outside Professors From Dolston the 24th of the 7th Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Holland FRriends and Brethren in the Holy Seed of Life Epist 374. that reigneth over all in it walk and in the Power and Spirit To be as the Salt of the Earth c. and Truth of God that you all may be as a City set upon a Hill that cannot be hid and the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World to answer the Light of Christ in all and be a good Savour in them that are saved and in them that perish and all live in Love that beareth all things and doth deifie the Body of Christ and grow up in him your Head and Life and be kind and courteous and tender in Affection to one another and walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ the Power of God And dear Friends this Yearly Meeting the Lord's Power Was over all and his Seed of Life and the Lords living refreshing Presence was among us in all our Meetings And your Epistle from your Yearly Meeting in Holland was read to the refreshing of Friends and another from the half Years Meeting in Ireland and a Testimony from Scotland that Friends are in Love and Vnity there and the Truth prospereth and spreadeth and by Letters from America Friends have set up a Meeting about Twenty that are Captives among themselves and a Friend that is a Captive declareth the Truth there among them and their Masters doth let them meet and it may be of great Service there and the Lord's Power is over all and in it be Valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad and that you may all in Humility exalt the Lord and that the Presence of God and his Son may be among you all and so the Blessing of the Lord be among you all Amen London the 17th of the 4th month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends In all your Meetings see that the Lord God be glorified and have an Eye to his Glory Epist 375. and let all things be done without Strife or Reflections but all to mind the Testimony of Life and that which doth preserve your Unity in it and in that you will seek one anothers good and not slight one another but to esteem one another in the Truth and keep low in Humility for such God will exalt and be kind and tender-hearted one to another and dwell in the Love of God To be kind and tender hearted one to another that he doth shed abroad in your Hearts for that Love which cometh from God doth edifie the Body of Christ and therefore you must be of a noble Spirit that are of the noble Birth born of the Spirit and to love