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
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
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
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
that lets in the Wills of the World upon the Life of Friends and so ye come to suffer by the World But at such Meetings let the Wisdom of God guide you that some may be there to preserve the Truth from suffering by the World that all Burdens may be kept off and taken away So will ye grow pure and strong And when there are any Meetings in unbroken Places ye that go to Minister to the World take not the whole Meeting of Friends with you thither to suffer with and by the World's Spirit but let Friends keep together and wait in their own Meeting-Place So will the Life in the Truth be preserved and grow And let Three or Four or Six that are grown up and are strong in the Truth go to such unbroken Places and thresh the Heathenish Nature and there is true Service for the Lord And to you all this is the Counsel of the Lord The Grace of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirits Amen G. F. To the Church of God in Lancashire Friends EVery one in particular who are of God and not of the VVorld Epist 15. walk out of the World 's vain Customs Ordinances and Commands and stand a Witness against them all in the Testimony of Jesus and witness him the Substance of all waiting in the Light of God and walking in it then will ye have Unity one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all Sin for through it and by it we do overcome which Blood of the new Covenant is but one There shall ye witness the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World Oh wait all in that which is pure to be fed alone of God with the Eternal Living Food Go not out among the Swine who feed upon the Outside the Husk among the Merchants of Babylon and so forsake the living Bread but as ye have received Christ Jesus in him walk that ye may all honour the Lord Jesus Christ and adorn his Gospel And be famous in his Light and bold in his Strength which will carry you above the World and above all the Deceits of it Oh in Love watch over one another for good and for the better and not for the worse And dwell in that which is pure of God in you lest your Thoughts get forth and then evil Thoughts get up and Surmising one against another which ariseth out of the vailed Mind which darkens the pure Discerning But as ye dwell in that which is of God it guides you up out of the Elementary Life and out of the Mortal into the Immortal which is hid from all the fleshly ones where is Peace and Joy Eternal to all that can witness the new Birth Babes in Christ born again of the Immortal Seed in it wait my Life is with you in perfect Unity bow down to nothing but the Lord God Bow down to nothing but the Lord. Satan would have had Christ to have bowed down but he would not the same Seed now the same Birth born in you now which is the same to day yesterday and for ever The Tempter will come to you and if ye look forth and hearken to his Words and let them in then ye bow down under him and worship him But I say unto you and charge you in the Presence of the Lord Mind the pure Seed of God in you and the mighty Power of God will cherish you up to the Lord God above all Temptations not to bow down to any thing but feeding upon the Immortal Food ye will feel your selves supported and carried over him by your Father and your God whi is over all blessed for ever Who is the Vertue of all Creatures the Wisdom of all Things all Holy Praises be unto the Holy Glorious Lord God for ever G. F. TO all you Epist 16. My dear Friends who have tasted of the immediate working Power of the Lord and do find an Alteration in your Minds and do see from whence Vertue doth come and Strength that doth renew the Inward Man and doth refresh you which draws you in Love to forsake the World and that which hath Form and Beauty in it to the Eye of the World and hath turned your Minds within which see your Houses foul and Corruptions strong and the Way narrow and straight which leads to Life Eternal To you all I say Wait upon God in that which is pure Tho' you see little and know little and have little and see your Emptiness and see your Nakedness and Barrenness and Unfruitfulness and see the Hardness of your Hearts and your own Unworthiness it is the Light that discovers all this and the Love of God to you and it is that which is Immediate but the dark Understanding cannot comprehend it So wait upon God in that which is pure in your Measure and stand still in it every one to see your Saviour to make you free from that which the Light doth discover to you to be Evil. For the Voice of the Bridegroom is heard in our Land and Christ is come amongst the Prisoners The Prisoner of Hope to visit them in the Prison-Houses they have all Hopes of Releasment and free Pardon and to come out freely for the Debt is paid wait for the Manifestation of it and he that comes out of Prison shall reign So Meet together all ye that fear the Lord God and think upon his Name his Mercies endure for ever his Mercies are in Temptatations and Troubles his Mercies are in Afflictions in Reproaches and in Scorns Therefore rejoyce ye Simple ones which love Simplicity and meet and wait together to receive Strength and Wisdom from the Lord God and in departing from Sin and Evil ye will be able to speak to the Praise of the Lord And meeting and waiting in his Power which ye have received in it all to Improve your Measure that God hath given you for ye never Improve your Measure so long as ye rely upon any visible thing without you Labour in Love but when ye come alone to wait upon God ye shall every one have a Reward according to your Deserts and every one your Penny who are called into the Vineyard to labour Therefore be faithful to God and mind that which is committed to you as faithful Servants labouring in Love some Threshing and some Ploughing and some to keep the Sheep He that can receive this let him And all to watch over one another in the Spirit of God So God Almighty bless guide and prosper you unto his Kingdom where there is no Tribulation When your Minds run into any thing outwardly without the Power it covers and vails the pure in you G. F. Dear Friends PRize your Time Epist 17. and the Love of the Lord to your Souls above all things The Light shew Sin and Evil. and mind that Light in you that shews you Sin and Evil. Which checks you
Wisdom and Sobriety and Gravity and Sincerity in Purity and Cleanness And keep free from Deceit and have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them And be Faithful to the Lord walk so as the World may be confounded and ashamed when they speak evil of you as Evil-Doers walking in Humbleness Lowliness and Uprightness before them it will take away all just Occasion of speaking Evil against the Truth And be bold and valiant for the Truth and press forward towards the Mark of the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus and let no Man take your Crown Dear Friends watch over one another in Love and stir up that which is pure in one another and exhort one another daily And the Lord keep you all in his Fear and in his Obedience now and evermore G. F. FRiends Fear not the Powers of Darkness but keep your Meetings and meet in that Epist 23. which keeps you over them and in the Power of God ye will have Unity And Dwell in Love and Vnity one with another and know one another in the Power of an Endless life which doth not change And know the Second Adam The first and second Adam the Lord from Heaven which is above the First Adam the Earthly where all Strife and Transgression is And all Friends every where be Faithful in the Life and Power of God and keep your Meetings above all the World in that which changes not that nothing but Christ may reign among you the Power of God and the Wisdom of God the Sanctification and Redemption that the Just over all may reign and the Seed of God may have the Dominion in you all that with that ye may all be ordered to the Glory of God Love thinks no Evil. and kept in the Bond of Peace and reign in the love of God which is out of the Iniquity and rejoiceth not in it which thinks no Evil. And have this Love shed abroad in all your Hearts and feel it abiding in you which Love of God edifies the Body And know the Word of God abiding in you The Word of God its Effects which was in the beginning and brings to the Beginning which Word being ingrafted it saves the Soul and hammers down and throws down and burns up that which wars against it G. F. TO all Friends every where Epist 24. Dwell in the Truth and walk in the Love of the Truth in Patience and every one in your Measure keep your Habitations and learn that good Lesson of Jesus Christ To be Low and Meek in heart giving no Occasion to the Adversary by Evil-doing Walk Vprightly But walk all honestly and uprightly for the Vpright and Meek in Heart know God and God delights in the Upright and Righteous And walking in Vprightness ye will be bold as Lions resisting the Wicked with your Spiritual Weapons not by bloody Hands as the Wicked are tearing and rending the Just that dwell in the Truth For the Lions want and hunger and rage but ye that fear the Lord shall want no good thing and they that wait upon the Lord he will give them their hearts Desire I witness the Words of the Lord to be true praised be his Name O Friends dwell in the Fear of the Lord and take heed of Presumption Presumption that your Minds run not out into Vanity and Lightness that the World may not take Occasion and the Truth suffer But every one keep your Habitation where God hath called you and take heed of Deceit and form nothing in your own Wills or Minds but grow up in the Inner Man putting off the Old Man with his Deeds as Trees of Righteousness which the Lord hath planted growing in Wisdom and Understanding to do the Will of God and not your own Wills He that doth the Will of God abideth in that which endureth for ever and seeth all Flesh to be as Grass and the Glory of the World to pass away Wo to the Proud Wo unto you proud Men who Compass the Earth to set your Nests on high all your Gods of Gold and Silver must perish and that Mind that holds them up must perish But all Friends mind that which is Eternal which gathers your Hearts together up to the Lord and lets you see that ye are written in one another's Heart Meet together every where growing up in the Spirit to the Lord the Fountain of Life the head of all things God blessed for ever Let not hard Words trouble you nor fair Speeches win you but dwell in the Power of Truth in the mighty God and have Salt in your selves to savour all Words and to stand against all the Wiles of the Devil in the mighty Power of God For God that raised up his own Seed in his Saints which Seed Christ is but one in all and spreads over all and throughout all and we now are thro' him come to have Dominion and Power over the Evil-One and to tread upon that which hath been too strong for us the Enemy of our Peace and the Enemy of our Unity with God and one with another Our Vnity with God and one with another So in that which is raised up in us which trampleth upon the Earthly dark Power have we Vnity with God and Fellowship with his Son and Vnity one with another so known to one another in that which none who are of the World knoweth So our Life is hid and our Happiness Joy and Delight hid from all who are ruled and governed by the Prince of the Air from under whose Dominion and Government we are Redeemed by the only Redeemer Christ Jesus not with Corruptible things neither is our Redemption of Man nor by man nor according to the Will of Man but Contrary to Man's Will And so our Unity and Fellowship with vain Man is loft and all his evil Ways are now turned into Enmity and all his Profession is now found to be Deceit and in all his fairest Pretences lodgeth Cruelty and the Bottom and Ground of all his Knowledge of God and Christ is found Sandy A Sandy Knowledge and cannot endure the Tempest For being brought off from that Foundation and having suffered the Loss of all which seemed beautiful upon the Sand which was there builded according to that Wisdom which was not Eternal but was Earthly upon which the Curse of God was and yet doth remain where it is standing we do declare against that Bottom and Foundation by the Power of God in that Light of Christ which discovers all false Foundations and makes manifest all Sandy Bottoms which Man hath builded upon For where the only true Seed takes Root Earthly Plants and Dwellings there all Man's Plants and Plantations are plucked up for there the Earth in which the Earthly Plants do grow is broken up plowed up and ripped up and all things made manifest which have lain hid in it For in
Changable Priesthood which takes Tithes as the People of God did then But if we hire any Man and set him at Work we will give him his Wages and his Meat but such Dissemblers as say The Scripture is their Rule for it and we neither hired nor set them at Work all such Deceivers are denied who take the Scripture-Words and make a Cloak of them for their Covetous Practices Nevertheless if any Minister of Jesus Christ or Son or Daughter or Servant which Jesus Christ sends forth who said Freely ye have received freely give comes to our Houses and Minister unto us Spiritual Things we will set before him our Carnal things and he that soweth unto us Spiritual things it is the least that we minister unto him of our Carnal things But he that sueth us at the Law for Means Tithe-Suers and calleth me before Courts and Sessions and telleth me He is a Minister of Christ and Christ sent him all such Evil Beasts as the Apostle speaks of we deny who mind Earthly things whose God is their Belly who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies But if any one come into our Houses as afore said to preach the Gospel to us we shall set before them and they shall eat freely as Christ saith Whatsoever they set before you that eat But to give Tithes to such as do not preach to us Spiritual things but deny Christ come in the Flesh and hold up things in the Figure all such we deny and for the Truth 's sake do we suffer by such Tithe-buyers And ye that have bought Tithes to get Gain thereby to you we cannot pay Tithes ye are as bad as the Priests to hold up such things as were acted in the Figure and deny Christ come in the Flesh And though ye may say Give Caesar his Due for a Cloak that Cloak we deny Nevertheless if we be owing any thing to Caesar or to any Ruler or Magistrate or Minister he shall have his Due So Caesar shall have his Due in his place and the Figure we own in its place and Christ in his place G. F. DEar John Epist 30. the Everlasting Arm of the Lord hold thee up and break all thy Bonds asunder and set thee upon the Rock on thy Feet To a suffering Friend in which thou may'st know his Presence and his Everlasting Supreme Power And so the God of Life be with thee And pray for thy Enemies for the Lord to open them and their Hearts and see themselves and thee G. F. DEar Friends Epist 31. Mind the stedfast Guide to the Lord where we do all meet in the Eternal Spirit in Oneness all being Baptised by it into one Body Baptism in one Spiritt having one Food the Eternal Bread of Life which the Immortal feed upon and all made to drink into one Spirit Perfection which is the Cup of the Communion of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which makes Perfect and Redeems from all that is Vain Fleshly and Earthly up to God who is Holy Pure Spiritual and Eternal And let not any of you in your Desires wander from that which is Pure in you then your Conditions will be kept clear and pure to see all things as they are and a clear Separation will be made from that which is of Man and of your own and that which is of God and there will be a Growing up in that which is Pure And so be Low in your Minds waiting for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in you all who is Lord over all to be Lord over all in you And so the Lord God of Power keep you all Farewell G. F. To Friends that their Minds go not out from the Spirit of God FRiends Epist 32. when your Minds go forth from the pure Spirit of God and are drawn out from it there the Image of God comes to be lost G. F.'s Epistle to Friends to live in the Cross About 1653. in those whose Minds goes out from the Pure to lust after that which is in the Fall which may appear like Truth in the Notion in that Nature out of the Truth lodgeth the Inchanter and Sorcerer To speak of Truth when ye are moved it is a Cross to the Will if ye live in the Truth The Inchanter and Sorcerer c. which ye speak ye live in the Cross to your own Wills For that which joyns with the Earthly Will goes out from God and that which is pure and so makes a place for the Inchanter and Sorcerer and the Airy Spirit to lodge in whereby a Grave is made for the Just and the Partition-wall between God and Man standing Death comes to reign and the Grave hath the Victory over such and in the Airy Spirit lodgeth the Inchanter which the Lord will rebuke Dwell in the Pure and Immortal and wait upon the Living God to have your Hope renewed and to be renewed again into the Image of God and the Image of the Devil defaced and the Prince of the Air cast out for he lodgeth in the Mind that doth despair and in that Mind that doth presume So dwell in the Light and wait upon God to have the Image of God renewed and all come to witness your selves to be restored by Christ Jesus into the Image of God The Image of God and to be made by him like to God pure holy perfect and righteous This was witnessed this is witnessed and this will be witnessed measurably with Thousands who are growing up out of the Fall and coming up out of the Grave Let not the Lust go out to any thing which is mortal to be Servant thereto but mind the Joyning to the Life Here ye are kept in the Image of God Not but that ye may use the Creatures lawfully but being kept in the Image of God The lawful Vse of the Creatures ye are kept as Kings over all the Creatures and over the Creation here ye will see all things and by whom they stand To the Pure all things are pure being in the Image of God above all the Creatures below not worshipping the Host of Heaven nor being in Bondage to the Creatures nor minding any thing in Comparison of that which is Immortal which joyns you unto the Lord and all that speak here in that which is Immortal are joyning unto the Lord. But that Nature keep out and that judge which is mortal which will joyn to the Harlot the fleshly from all that there is to be a Separation And here as ye are brought by the Power of God the Gate is seen that stands open which Gate is shut from all Mortal Eyes And all the Wonderers are here seen who inquire after new things and Novelties but the Wise Man satisfies not the Fool Novelties For that part is above the pure if it be not kept in the Cross which not being wrought out will joyn to the Flesh and so
become one with the Harlot And such Joyn together to put Christ to Death afresh So therefore dwell in that which is Pure and Eternal which guides the Mind to God here is perfect Peace to those whose Minds are stayed upon the Lord Which if the Mind goeth from there the Peace is lost and there getteth in the light airy Spirit in that Nature The light airy Spirit And if the Mind go back to fetch up things again and speak them forth there will lodge the Airy Spirit too the there may be true Experiences and if the Life speak them forth by which they were opened it keeps down the Airy Spirit Therefore Mind the Substance that keeps you in your present Conditions and that which doth disobey or rebel against the Word of the Lord in that Nature lodgeth the Airy Spirit and that which hearkens to things that are spoken out of the Life without that lets in the Devil And so ye come to be possessed with evil Thoughts and Doubts and Carnal Reasonings and Bondage and Troubles these things in you will rest until the Life be risen again within to cast all that forth which the Earthly Ear and Mind hath let in Now if ye hearken diligently ye will learn your Safe-Guard and Judge forth that which is not Pure which defiles that the Just may have the Dominion And here ye will see what stains and what defiles and the pure Eye and Ear will be opened to hear God and the Wizzard and the Inchanter and the Sorcerer and the Soothsayer all that will be kept out and Judged For none of that must live in Israel where there is to be no Transgression For where they live Truth doth not and where Truth doth live that doth not but is all judged out G. F. To Friends for all to wait and walk in the Truth ALL Friends and Brethren every where Epist 33. in the Life and Power of the Lord wait and from it none walk but that to the Light of Christ in every one ye may be made manifest that the Fear and Dread of the Lord may be in all your hearts that nothing may reign Keep your Meetings but Life it self And so all your Meetings in every place keep waiting in the Light which from Christ doth come the Saviour of your Souls that his Presence in the midst ye may all feel who are gathered together in his Name and Power in his Light which is his Name and from the World's Gatherings are turned And if any be moved who are turned to the Light with the Power which comes from him To be moved with the Power to the Service for the Lord. to any Service for the Lord to it be Obedient and ye will see Christ with you to the End of the World But if any go before they are moved and so from the Light walk he is a Stumbling-block and is to be Judged and Condemned by the Light and is out of the Wisdom and out of the Fear and soweth to the Flesh and reaps Corruption and by the Light is Condemned For that answereth not the Light in every Man's Conscience neither doth it reach to the Life the Spirit in Prison but it manifesteth Weakness and Foolishness and Nakedness which is from the Light and contrary to it And such are Stumbling-blocks and do not answer the Witness of God in the Conscience Therefore wait all in the Light for to receive the Power from him who is not of the World that ye may be preserved from Nakedness and Weakness For that which goes from the Light and is not guided with it The Slothful runs into the Lust and there is the Slothful which is to be Judged and that that will offend to which the Wo is for it answereth not that of God in the Conscience Neither is it Honourable nor of good Report for that which is Honourable and of good Report answereth that which is of God and answereth the Light of Christ in every Man in the World with Wisdom which from the Light doth come even from him by whom the World was made Therefore all Friends this is a Charge to you all and a Command to you all in the Presence of the Living God In the Light Life and Power and Wisdom of God walk that to that of God in every one ye may be manifested in the sight of God and it may be your Witness that ye are of God in every Man's Conscience which witnesseth against the World and for him who is not of the World And wait all in the Light for the Wisdom by which all things were made with it to use all the Lord's Creatures to his Glory and none to stumble one another about the Creatures for that is not from the Light for which End they were Created and with the Wisdom Wait for the Wisdom by which all things were Created by which they were made ye may be kept out of the Mis-use of them in the Image of God that ye may come to see that the Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof and the Earth may come to yield her Increase and to injoy her Sabbaths and all such that walk Contrary to the Light may be turned to the Light that with the Light they may see and condemn that which is contrary to it So that in the Wisdom of God ye may all be kept and in the Fear of the Lord and his Righteousness established which is far from Oppression where all Bonds of Iniquity are broken and the Prince of Darkness Judged out and the Prince of Peace reigns under whose Dominion keep and walk And all that cause Strife are to be Condemned and shut out which have their Eye without and are Condemned by the Light the God of the World having blinded the Eye of the Vnbeliever Therefore ye Believers in the Light wait in the Wisdom that with it and in it ye may be ordered to the Glory of God that among you nothing may reign but Light and Life and Wisdom and Power the Dread and Fear of the Lord be among you and Truth and Righteousness reign which will answer the Light of Christ in every Man And all that is Contrary let it be Condemned with the Light which comes from him by which the World was made who was before the World was who lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Though they believe not in it yet ye may answer the Light in every Man tho' it be their Condemnation So being kept in the Light which cometh from him by whom the World was made who was before it was made ye come to receive the Wisdom by which all things were made and with it to order and use them to the Glory of God For that which is not from the Light nor from the Wisdom is the Offender which is to be Condemned with the Light which comes from the Life and to it in you all take heed that your Hearts may be
joyned together to God and all that is Contrary Condemned And so the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all in Wisdom Friends A Warning from the Lord to you all in Wisdom to walk P. S. that ye may Adorn every one what ye profess A Warning to Friends to walk in the Testimony of God that the measure of God's Spirit in every one ye may answer And know the Lord to guide your Understandings and let his Wisdom be Justified by you all and ye in the measure of the Spirit of God in Unity kept Wisdom Justified that ye may see Righteousness spring and flourish among you and no Deceit stand nor nothing that is deceitful but with the Eternal Judge it down and keep it down that nothing may live that is for the Sword which would defile the Land Therefore in that which is Eternal dwell as a Royal Priesthood in that which comes from him by whom the World was made who to all your Souls is a Friend from whence the Refreshing is receiv'd So the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all that in his Life Dread and Power ye may be preserved G. F. FRiends Epist 34. I do Warn you in the Presence of the Living God not to speak the things of God out of the Fear of God at Random in a presumptuous Mind Proud Boasters for proud Boasters are excluded out of the Kingdom of God and with the Light of Christ condemned and with the Life that gave forth the Scriptures are they Judged Therefore to you this is the Word of the Lord In the Light which Christ hath enlightned every one of you withal in it wait and it love and ye shall have the Light of Life and it will bring you to stand in the Counsel of God and keep you from all wicked Ways And with it ye will see all the Inchanters Inchanters and false Prophets seen with the Light false Prophets who speak a Divination of their own Brain whose Minds are turned from the Light of Christ with this Light are they condemned All whose Minds are turned from it and hate it whose Deeds are evil with this Light are they Condemned though they may make a Profession of the Words which did proceed from the Light from them who lived in it and walked in it So they that turn from it and hate this Light making a Profession of their Words that dwelt in it and hate them that walk in the Light now Oh high Deceit all such are to be Condemned with the Light And such that hate the Light and deny it though they may profess the Words that did proceed from the Life and be full of them they turn no People from their wicked Ways for in the Counsel of God they stand not For they were in the Counsel of God who gave forth the Scriptures who were in the Life of them from which the Letter did proceed Therefore in the Life every one in your Measures wait and walk The Life opens the Scriptures which gave forth the Scriptures which will open them to you again else you all I do deny and ye are to be turned away from as having the Form but not the Power And know the Life of God in one another and the Power of God in one another but that Knowledge in the Form without the Life we deny tho' it be never so finely painted and the Harlot be never so beautiful who is turned from the Light which Christ hath enlightned withal This is the Harlot The Harlots Dress who dresseth her self with the Words that proceeded from the Light who persecuteth them who dwell in the Light who drinketh the Blood of the Saints who dwell in the Life which gave forth the Scriptures And with the Words that proceeded from the Light doth she cloth her self and is harlotted from the Life and all that she brings forth is contrary to the Light So she is called the Mother of Harlots But if ye love this Light and your Minds be guided by it to see the Face of Jesus and him the Head then with this Light ye will see all the Harlots and the Mother of Harlots and where she is and what she is joined to The Light is that by which ye come to see he that walketh in it stumbleth not But thou stumblest who art turned from the Light among the Harlots I charge you every one in the Presence of the Living God to take heed to the Light It is your Teacher loving it it is your Condemnation hating it G. F. To Friends in the Ministry STand up ye Prophets of the Lord for the Truth upon the Earth Epist 35. quench not your Prophecy neither heed them that despise it but in that stand Quench not Prophecy which brings you through to the End Heed not the Eyes of the World ye Prophets of the Lord but answer that in them all which they have closed their Eye to that ye may to them tell of things to come answering that of God in them that shall remain Keep ye in your Habitations ye Sons of God that over all the Contrary ye may reign And ye Daughters to whom it is given to Prophesie keep within your own Measure seeing over that which is without answering that of God in all And despise not the Prophecy keep down that Nature that would which is the same as that is which acts contrary to that of God in them Not lifted up Neither be lifted up in your Openings and Prophecies lest ye depart from that which opened and so come by the Son of God to be Judged and bidden to depart as Workers of Iniquity for a Worker of Iniquity is gone from that which leads to the Son of God who is the End of the Prophets Quench not the Spirit by which ye may prove all things The Spirit proves all things and that which is good hold fast for if the Spirit be quenched then Light is put for Darkness and Darkness for Light and Evil is put for Good and Good for Evil This is when the Spirit is quenched then cannot ye try all things then cannot ye hold fast that which is good For then they cannot see good when the Spirit is quenched but when the Spirit is not quenched then with the Spirit ye may see the Good to take the Good and the Evil to shun And this brings to put a Difference between the Precious and the Vile the Profane and the Holy the Clean and the Unclean the Spirit is it that proves all things G. F. FRiends Epist 36. Take your heavenly Censers and offer up your Spiritual Prayers to the Almighty God and having heavenly Fire in your Censers it will consume all false Offerings and Sacrifices The Sacrifice of Prayer which are offered in the evil Nature G. F. DEar Friends Prize your heavenly Calling Epist 37. by which ye are called into Holiness and Righteousness without which no
Epist 42. which comes from Christ that with it ye may see Christ your Saviour that ye may grow up in him For they who are in him are new Creatures and Old things are passed away and all things are become New And who are in him are led by the Spirit to them there is no Condemnation but they dwell in that which doth Condemn the World and do with the Light see the Deceivers and the Anti-Christs which are entred into the World And such Teachers as bear Rule by their means and such as seek for the Fleece Hireling-Teachers and make a Prey upon the People and are Hirelings and such as go in the Way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam and such as are called of Men Master and stand praying in the Synagogues and have the Chief Seats in the Assemblies All which are in the World which by those that dwelt in the Light were cried against for it did them Condemn and all such as speak a Divination of their own Brain and are filthy Dreamers who use their Tongues and steal the Words from their Neighbours with the Light the World and all these afore-said are comprehended and all that is in it and all they that hate it and all the Anti-Christs that oppose it and all the false Prophets and Deceivers that are turned from it with the Light are comprehended and with the Light are Condemned and all that are turned from it and hate it I am the Light of the World saith Christ and he doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and he that loves the Light and walks in the Light receives the Light of Life And the other he hates the Light because his Deeds are evil and the Light doth reprove him And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World in which Light they that love it walk which is the Condemnation of him that hates it Anti-Christs false Prophets and Deceivers are seen And all the Anti-Christs and all the false Prophets and all the Deceivers the Beast and the well-favoured Harlot all these are seen with the Light to be in that Nature acting contrary to the Light and with the Light are they comprehended and by the Light condemned For he is not an Anti-Christ that walks in the Light that comes from Christ he is no Deceiver that walks in the Light that comes from Christ Many Deceivers are entred into the World The World hates the Light and Deceivers are turned from the Light and the Anti-christs they are turned from the Light therefore they oppose it and some of them call it a Natural Conscience a Natural Light and such put the Letter for the Light But with the Light which never changes which was before the World was are these Deceivers seen where they enter into the World For many Deceivers are entred into the World and the false Prophets are entred into the World the World hates the Light and if it were possible they would deceive the Elect. But in the Light the Elect do dwell which the Anti-Christs Deceivers and false Prophets are turned from into the World that hate the Light That Light which they do hate the Children of Light dwell in the Elect. So it is not possible that the Anti-Christs and Deceivers that are entred into the World that hate the Light should deceive the Elect who dwell in the Light which they hate which Light doth them all comprehend and the World which Light was before the World was and is the World's Condemnation in which Light the Elect walk And here it is not possible that they that dwell in the Light should be deceived which comprehends the World and is the World's Condemnation Which Light shall bring every Tongue to Confess and every Knee to bow when the Judgments of God come upon them it shall make them confess that the Judgments of God are Just G. F. TO all my Dear Brethren the Flock of God every where Epist 43. Keep together in the Power up to God 8. Month 53. and none be discouraged or disheartned at the Enemies without which are without God in the World but be bold all in the Power of Truth triumphing over the World Stand fast in the Freedom of Christ Hold your Freedom and keep and stand fast in it that ye may be armed with Wisdom and furnished against your Enemies who are Wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light But the Wisdom of the Most High is spreading and making it self manifest in your Hearts by which ye may comprehend the World's Wisdom the World's Worship and Knowledge The World's Worship and Knowledge And waiting in that which is Pure it will lead you into that which was before the World was before the false Worship was before the Seducers were before the Antichrist was and before the outward Temple was and false Prophet and Hirelings And here ye will comprehend the World and what is done in the World Therefore every one keep your Habitation abide the Trial and abide the Day and stand fast in your Freedom so far as Christ hath made you free free from Man's Will and Commandments Freedom from the Lusts of the World which imbondageth free from the Fashions and Lusts of the World the fleshly Will which bondageth and burdens the Pure And to you that cannot witness this Wait and mind the Pure and then the Burden will be easie and wait for Redemption and Salvation to make it so And your Strength is to stand still that ye may receive Refreshings that ye may know how to Wait and how to Walk before God by the Spirit of God within you So God Almighty be with you and keep you up to himself under his own Dominion from under the Dominion of Satan that ye may trample him under your Feet And Friends every where Meet together treading and trampling all the Deceit under your Feet Watch in the Eternal and watch over one another in that which is Eternal and see every one that your Words be from the Eternal Life Examin and Search with that which is Eternal which speaks to that which is in Prison in others And ye that are led forth to Exhort or to Reprove do it with all Diligence taking all Opportunities reproving that which devours the Creation and thereby destroys the very humane Reason For the Truth doth preserve every thing in its place And all Meet together every where and in your Meetings wait upon the Lord and take heed of forming Words but mind the Power and know that which is Eternal which will keep you all in Vnity walking in the Spirit See the Lord near and will let you see the Lord near you and amongst you So God Almighty be with you and multiply you and give you the Dew of Heaven the heavenly Dew the living Mercies which nourisheth the tender Plants which causeth them to grow bud and bring forth and water you
to God And the Light is but One and all being guided by it all are subject to One and are One in the Vnity of the Spirit And if your Minds turn from the Light and that Mind speak of the Light there gets up Pride and Presumption and the Will and then ye begin to strike your Fellow-Servants Therefore all Dear Friends and Brethren Be Servants to the Truth and do not strive for Mastery but serve one another in Love Wash one another's Feet take Christ for your Example Serve one another in Love that I may hear of no Strife among you But all walk in the Truth and in the Love of it up to God for there ye are my Joy and Crown in the Lord. Children would be striving but that which would have the Mastery must dye and shall not enter into the Kingdom of God Therefore mind not high things but fear and condescend to Men of Low Degree for the Fear of the Lord keeps the Heart clean and the pure in Heart sees God AND Friends spread your selves abroad that ye may be serviceable for the Lord and his Truth and get over the Head of the Wicked and trample all that which is Contrary to God under your Feet that ye may Answer that of God in every one And him who was promised to be the Covenant of God to the Gentiles The Covenant of God and the New Covenant to the Jews hold forth to them both that all may know him their Leader to God and the Prisoner to come forth unto him G. F. THis is the Word of the Lord to all Friends and Fellow-Labourers in the Truth who are subduing the Earth and its earthly Knowledge Epist 65. and its Carnal Wisdom and beating down and threshing down that in Hope to get forth the Wheat and to be made Partakers of your Hope I charge you all dwell in the Light which doth comprehend the World their evil Ways their Will Worships what they worship Will-Worship and what is their End in all their Actions So that ye may yoke the Oxen and bridle the Horses and tame the wild Heifers and bring them to Christ's Yoke that is to the Light bring every one unto it to see their Way to Salvation and with it every one may know their Condemnation who act contrary to it Wait all on the Lord that ye may be settled and stayed in the Lord and to grow up in the Light that gave forth the Scriptures that there may be no stumbling about the Words which came from the Light For no Creature can read the Scriptures to profit thereby but who come to the Light and Spirit that gave them forth LOVE the Truth more than all and go on in the mighty Power of God Good Soldiers of Christ as good Soldiers of Christ well fixed in his glorious Gospel and in his Word and Power that ye may know him the Life and Salvation and bring up others into it G. F. ALL Friends Epist 66. Meet together in the Light that with it ye may see the Father of Life amongst you in your Meetings And so the Lord God of Power be with you and keep you And the Lord God Almighty give you Dominion over the Beasts of the Field The Beasts of the Field and the Fowls of the Air the Fishes in the Sea and all creeping things And the Lord God Almighty be with you all Farewell AND all live in Peace in Love in Life and in the Power of the Lord God and keep your Meetings every one of you waiting in the Power of God upon him Vnity with God that in it ye may have Vnity with God the Father and the Son and one with another AND Dear Friends Let Wisdom guide you in Patience and do not strive with any in Meetings Strive not in Meetings but dwell in the Power of the Lord God that can bear and suffer all things And make no Strife among Friends but live in that which makes for Peace and Love and Life in which Edification is known G. F. To Friends concerning Marriages WHom God joyneth together Epist 67. are with the Light which is Eternal in the Vnity in the Covenant of Life and of Peace and this Marriage is honourable What Marriage is honorable and what is not and this Bed is not defiled For the Light leads from all Whoredom and Adultery which God will Judge For there is no Marriage honourable but what is in the Lord and that is in the Light with which Light the Covenant of Life is known and seen and the Faith in Jesus the Gift of God is received And they that forbid Marriage are out of the Light and in the Doctrine of Devils And they which are in the Light whom God doth Join together let no Man put them asunder for they that seek to do so are in that Nature which acts contrary to the Light And this Marriage which is honourable with the Children of the Light is seen and known who are in the Covenant of Light and with the Light are turned to the Lord Jesus Christ who leads from all the Works of Darkness And none who are in the Light are afraid of their Deeds being tried but they bring them to the Light to be tried whether their Works be wrought in God Motions of the Flesh Condemned Now who follow the Motions of the Flesh fulfilling the Desires of their Will and go into the Lust of the Flesh such are adulterated from the Light and their Marriage is not honourable and the Children of the Light cannot approve of them But whom God doth Join together they are led from the evil Motions of the Flesh and the Children of the Light do Approve of and Justifie them And who follow the Motions of the Flesh are in the Eagerness Lust Extremes Excess and the Hastiness and that Mind is afraid to declare its Work tho' afterwards is forced by Constraint And that the Children of Light cannot Justifie which is done in that Nature contrary to the Light Therefore the Joining together in the Light the Children of the Light do Honour and Justifie and the Light doth not hide from its own but the Darkness hides from the Light and is afraid to be reproved Therefore all ye Children of the Light let your Light so shine before Men that the Marriage which is Honourable may be witnessed and all that is Contrary to the Light condemned Therefore let all Proceedings in such things Proceedings in Marriage where they are Intended be declared to the Children of Light that therewith they may have Vnity and all the Motions and Works of the Flesh may be condemned and that the Pretence of the Spirits Moving may not be a Cloak or Cover for the beastly Lust but that all such Proceedings may be searched into by the Light and tried whether they stand in or out of the Covenant Let this be read amongst all Friends The God of
Lord to you And live in the Seed The Ministry of the Life and Spirit and there ye will feel the Ministry of the Life and Spirit in your own particulars in which ye may be serviceable to others that are without and amongst your selves And let the Heathen know that the Plagues and Curses and Wrath and Wo is unto them that live out of the Truth for Wrath Wo to the Heathen Envy and Strife is out of the Truth and the Vengeance of God is due to them that do not Obey it where is the burning flaming Fire And let them know that the Glory of the Lord is risen AND walk in the Power of the Lord and in his Wisdom that in Places where ye do come ye may season them and be all of a good Savour in the Hearts of all and to the Lord a Blessing in your Generation G. F. FRiends Meet together waiting upon the Lord Epist 88. that nothing but the Life may among you reign and that in Life Life to reign Love and Wisdom ye may grow up And in the Measure of the Grace of God all wait to guide your Minds up to God And all Friends Meetings in Order kept I do lay it upon you for to see that in Order all your Meetings be kept So the Lord God Almighty keep you all to his Glory in his Wisdom to himself Amen To be read among all Friends at their Meetings G. F. For Plimouth FRiends keep your Meetings that in the Truth ye may reign Epist 89. and in the Power spread it abroad And keep in the Truth that Be Valiant for the Truth on Earth ye may see and feel the Lord's Presence amongst you and for it be Valiant upon the Earth and know one another in the Power of it So the Lord God Almighty preserve you in his Power to his Glory Amen G. F. FRiends All ye Epist 90. whose Minds are turned with the Light towards Jesus Christ from whence it comes in it wait Something of the Work of the Light manifest that with it ye may all see Jesus and all that Condemned which is Contrary to it that so by that ye may be kept from all Extremes Passions Passions and Hastiness Agonies and Hastiness Presumption and Desperation For dwelling in the Light which doth never change this keeps your Minds out of all those things before-mentioned which lead Nature out of its true Course The true Course of Nature and with the Light all that is seen and condemned which is contrary to it And that which doth Condemn keeps you in Peace and Order and leads to the Door of Mercy and Nature into its right Course and into the Vertue of that Word by which the Creatures were made and with it to use them all to his Gloy Which Light is the Condemnation of the Carnal Wisdom and Knowledge of the wicked World and the Condemnation of the Disobedient and the Condemnation of them whose Deeds are Evill who hate the Light Which brings to witness the Word to be as a Fire to burn up that which is to be condemned and to the purging of the Floor and burning the Chaff with unquenchable Fire and to the Gathering of the Wheat into the Garner Therefore in this Light dwell and wait True Words from which the true Words did proceed that with it all those Words may be opened again and all they condemned with the Light which have the Words and act contrary to it such must go empty away And to you this is the Word of the Lord Have Salt in your selves That ye may come to have Savour and Salt in your selves For dwelling in the Light ye will be manifest to the Light in their Consciences though they hate it who have the Words declared from the Light such go empty away from God who is Light And all they who abide in the Light of the Lord see all such to be out of the true Course of Nature who act contrary to the Light which defiles the Flesh and they are such who were of old ordained to Condemnation with the Light G. F. A General Epistle for Friends Concerning the Priests ALL Friends Epist 91. in the Spirit of the Living God wait upon God to learn of The Blasphemy known and who they are and with the Light they are seen and discovered and to be taught by him For now doth the Beast open his Mouth in Blasphemy speaking great swelling Words And now is the Cage of Vnclean Birds and the Vnclean Spirits which are gone forth into the Earth seen And now are the Locusts see and the Caterpillars known And now are the Seven Thunders uttering their Voices And now are the Hail-stones falling and the Vials of the Wrath of God pouring out upon the Beast and the false Prophet And now are the whited Walls seen Whited Walls and the painted Sepulchres who garnish the Sepulcres of the Righteous and build the Tombs of the Prophets full of dead Mens Bones Ravening Wolves Now are the Inwardly-ravening Wolves seen which have gotten the Sheeps-Cloathing And now are the false Prophets seen which through Covetousness make Merchandize of the People Briars and Thorns And now are the Thistles and Briars and Thorns where the Figs do not grow seen And now are they seen which make Merchandize of the Words of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and through Pretence make long Prayers who devour Widows Houses And now are such known who lead silly Women Captive who are always learning and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth some Thirty Forty some Sixty Years And now are such known and seen Beating in the Synagogues and mainfest with the Light that Christ spake of that should beat his Followers in the Synagogues and hale them before Magistrates for his Names sake yea if they kill'd them should think they did God good Service And now are such Teachers seen and known that sport themselves in the Day-time and walk after their own Ungodly Lusts And now such are seen that go in Cain's Way Cain's Way who would murder and do murder in their Hearts who are in Envy who are the Vagabonds and the Fugitives who have not an Habitation in God who is Love And now are such seen and known that go in Balaam's Way that love the Wages of Unrighteousness Balaam's Way Gifts and Rewards And now are such seen and known that bear Rule by their Means and the pople love to have it so holding up the horrible and filthy thing committed in the Land as in Jeremy Jerem. 5. And now are such Shepherds seen and known Isaiah 56. as seek for their Gain from their Quarters Now are such seen and known Hirelings as seek for the Fleece and the Wooll and make a Prey upon the people and such as re Hirelings which the Lord sent Ezekiel and Micah to cry against Ezek.
false Ways and Seducers and Deceivers and false Worshippers are out of And Jerusalem's Worshippers Jerusalem's Worshippers c. and Samaria's Worshippers and the Worship that is at the Mountain and the Idolatrous Worfhippers and the Worship of Devils all these are out of the Truth and out of the Spirit that changeth not But who are in the Truth and in the Spirit they are a-top of the World and a-top of him that abode not in the Truth their Feet are shod with it Therefore every one of you that are come into the World coming all to the Light ye come to your Armour ye come to that which lets you see Sin it is the Armour against it it is the Eye The Arment against Sia with which ye see that which must be cut down and judged to Death In which Truth which is the Light we have Fellowship one with another And this is the Counsel of the Lord God to you dwell all in the Power of God which is the Gospel of Peace And the Power of God is the Cross of Christ and ye that feel the Power of God ye feel Christ for Christ is the Power of God The Power of God is but one and the Light is but one and the Cross of Christ is but one which is the Power of God and the Gospel of Truth is but one which is the Power of God and there 's no other Ye that come to know these look for no other And Christ is that One in the Male and in the Female which is the Seed which the Promise of God is to and there all wait to find him and receive him Know ye not that Christ Jesus is in you except ye are Reprobates said the Apostle so now Reprobates if ye are Reprobates ye are Wonderers and Gazers in Adam in Transgression out of the Light out of the Life out of the Power out of the Truth out of the Way which is Christ But being in the Life ye are in the Way in the Truth in the Power of God in Christ out of Transgression in the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven out of the Transgression of the First Adam And if Christ Jesus be in you the Body of Sin is dead and ye are brought to God Emanuel and the Emanuel being known God with us is witnessed by every one of you that are redeemed by him out of the Transgression who are in the Second Adam So if Christ Jesus be in you and ye in him the Body is dead and ye are alive to Righteousness and Death is brought into Death Friends dwell all in the Light and then ye will dwell in Covenant with God and with God ye will have Peace And Friends all dwell in the Light that ye may receive the Wisdom of God of God The Wisdom of God by which all things were created with which Wisdom ye may come to order all the Creatures And be Low as Babes and Little Children for the Little Children receive the Kingdom And so all know the Promise which is to the Seed and know the Seed of God in one another that there be no Master but Christ who bruiseth the Serpent's Head where Debate and Enmity is No Master but Christ which is the cause of Strife So let the Seed be Master in the Male and in the Female that the Ground of Strife which would be Master may be kept under and the Seed which the Grave could not hold under be the Ruler so that ye may witness the Rock that the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against nor the Temptations of the Devil G. F. FRiends every where Epist 131. Dwell in the Power of the Lord God which is without End Striving about Earthly things in which ye may all have Unity And take heed of striving about Earthly things which is the unredeemed Part that is out of the Paradise and the Garden of God but that with the Wisdom of God ye may come to be ordered and order the Creatures by that by which they were made and created that by it ye may know your selves to be grverned And after that Riches do increase take heed of setting your Hearts upon them lest they become a Curse and a Plague to you For when ye were Faithful at the first the World would refrain from you and not have Commerce with you but after when they saw Trading and Dealing ye were Faithful and Just in things and Righteous and Honest in your Tradings and Dealings then they came to have Commerce and Trade with you the more because they know ye will not Cozen them nor Cheat them Then ye came to have greater Trading double than ever ye had and more than the World But there is the Danger and Temptation to you of drawing your Minds into your Business and clogging them with it so that ye can hardly do any thing to the Service of God but there will be crying My Business my Business and your Minds will go into the things and not over the things and so therein ye do not come into the Image of God in which is Dominion And so Riches when your Minds are got into the Riches and cumbred therewith ye go back into that ye were in before And then if the Lord God cross you and stop you by Sea and Land and take your Goods and Customers from you that your Minds should not be cumbred then that Mind that is cumbred it will fret being out of the Power of God And all Friends take heed of Jars and Strife for that is it which will Eat out the Seed in you Jars and Strife therefore let not that harbour in your Bosoms lest it eat out the Good in you and ye come to suffer in your own Particulars Therefore dwell in Love and Life and in the Power and Seed of God which is the Honourable Royal State And all that Speak or Preach abroad see that ye be in the Life and Power and Seed of God which will Edifie the Body and not in a brittle peevisb hasty fretful Mind but dwell in that which keeps down the contrary that that may speak which edifies the Body in Love And all take heed of vain Words Vain Words and Tatling idle Words but every where shop such that Love may continue in the Body and that the Seed may spread over all that Vnity may be kept And all Friends every where if Friends be Poor Poor Friends and Prisoners and in Want or in Prison that ye may in Wisdom relieve and cherish shch And all Friends every where Stop the Deceit that would devour and destroy which is out of the Truth and true Wisdom which must be limited that transgresseth the Spirit of God For since the Days of the Apostles the true Church hath been in the Wilderness and the Beast false Prophet Anti-Christ and false Church have ruled and reigned The false Church amongst whom have been the many
of the Light must come Therefore all wait in the Measure of Life that with it your Hearts may be knit together And none to be hasty nor to will any thing there is not any thing received from God by him who willeth with his own Will For no Prophecy of the Scripture came by the Will of Man Peter The Will of Man that was not learned of Man but of Christ saw this And the Scripture is for the perfecting of the Man of God which is learned of God and came not by Man's Will So now mind your Growth and your Perfecting and your Stedfastness in the Light in which is the Unity So every one wait in the Light which comes from Christ the Head from whence Nourishment comes which nourishes the Body and all the Members from whence comes the Bread of Life which is from above and the Water of Life Therefore all wait in your Measure and walk after your Line which is the Light which comes from Christ The Line of Light which is your Life that every one of you may have Praise and Comfort in the same and every one of you may be kept in the Way of Righteousness and Peace up to the Lord who is Righteousness and Peace where the blessed Hope is seen with the Light that comes from him by whom the World was made That so the Covenant of Light Life and Peace ye may all come to witness and every one come to have Dominion and Rule over your own Spirits for the Spirit of Man lusteth to Envy if it be not subdued by the Spirit of the Living God Therefore wait and take heed lest any Nakedness appear and that which is not justified in the Sight of God Presumption And Presumption take heed of lest ye go from the Living God but in the Spirit dwell that over all that ye may reign and come to be recorded in the Book of Life which Life was before the World was And this brings you to see and read one another as Epistles written in one another's Hearts where in Vnity Love and Peace ye will come to dwell in the Life of the Spirit of the Living God The Saints taught of God in which the Saints had Vnity which brought them to be taught of the Living God and so they gave forth the Scrptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost So no Prophecy in the Old Time came by the Will of Man but was learned of God So now ye waiting in the Spirit every one to be taught of God the Father of Spirits your Teacher is with you present and one in you all according to your Measures Which Spirit is given to every one of you to profit withal by which Holy Spirit the Scripture was given forth Which Scripture the World hath got who are sensual not having the Spirit and there they are fighting about the Outside and the Languages And there is the Sea Languages Sea and Beast which the Beast ariseth out of which the World wonders after and there is the Mother of Harlots with all her false Colours whose Eyes are out from the Light which comes from him by whom the World was made there ye may go and have a Name to live but are dead Now all be willing to wait in the Measure of that which is Eternal that no Fornication be found amongst you nor Deceit Fornication and Deceit that all may come to receive Wisdom from Christ who is the Wisdom of God That this Wisdom may be Justified in you all and ye all in the Light preserved and that which is contrary condemned So that ye may all be kept from Deadness and Slothfulness in the Fear of the Lord God and therein your Hearts kept clean And so the Lord God Almighty preserve you Friends Keep your Meetings every where waiting upon the Lord that to him ye may be a sweet Savour And watch over one another with the Measure of the Spirit of the Lord. Meetings The Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you in his Will Wisdom Light Life and Power Let this be read among Friends G. F. FRiends Epist 133. Towards all Men walk in Wisdom and be gentle to all Men To keep in Love for that edifies for the Meek inherit the Earth and receive the Blessing And they that thirst after Righteousness shall inherit Righteousness and the Blessing And the Merciful do obtain Mercy and the Blessing And the pure in Heart shall see God Blessed are the pure in Heart and receive the Blessing And Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted And Blessed are the Peace-makers for they are the Children of God And Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of God And Blessed are ye when Men shall revile and persecute you and shall say all manner of Evil against you falsly for Christ's sake And it is Love that edifieth Faith and the Edifying is in the most Holy Faith which Faith is the Gift of God which giveth Victory over the World and in this is the Blessing which purifieth the Heart and this is it which bringeth to please God And that which edifieth is the living Faith and not the dead Faith and Love rejoiceth in the Truth and not in the Iniquity for that is not in Love So ye that are the Lord's Lot Mark and are his Inheritance and are in Covenant with God with him ye have Peace The Covenant with God which Covenant is given to all the World But they that hate the Light are out of Covenant with God and by the Light they are condemned and those which the Light doth condemn are out of the Covenant G. F. LIve in Peace Epist 134. all my Dear Babes of God one with another for Patience that obtains the Crown and hath the Victory And in Pureness live over the Deceit Patience obtains the Crown and answer the Witness of the Lord God in every one And keep in the Seed and Life of the Lord God that ye may feel the Blessing of the Lord God amongst you and upon you AND That which doth let you see your Sins in that stand and ye will see your Saviour The Saviour seen who was before the World was him by whom the World was made glorified with the Father before the World began he will be your Stay and Rest DEAR Friends dwell in the Seed of God and know it in you all that ye may know it to reign which is the Heir of Power and in that live and dwell and in it keep your Meetings And we must have the Patience to bear all manner of Evil done or spoken against us for Christ's sake and rejoyce at it G. F. For Francis Howgil and Edward Burrough About 1657. DEar Friends and Lambs Epist 135. Put on the Armour of Light and the Shield of Truth and the Breast-Plate of Righteousness that ye may stand
Access to God And dwell in Patience and Love to God and one towards another for the Lamb must have the Victory over them all the Wild Beasts in the Field or Wilderness who are in the Fall from God Aud tho' these Beasts Horns be never so long The Beast's Horns yet the Lamb shall conquer them who gets the Victory and overcomes and takes away the Sin And the Lamb hath Wisdom the Lamb hath Power follow him then ye shall have his Mind Wisdom and Patience and in that ye follow the Spirit of Truth and are led by that against which there is no Law in which there is Life and Peace and Fellowship with the Son and the Father and all the Saints and their Words Therefore live in the Truth and then ye live in Christ the Way that lives who was before the Vntruth was in which the many Ways in the Wilderness are The Way of Truth And living in the Truth ye live in the Love and Vnity yea in that which was before the Enmity was and Imperfection in which Truth is all Perfection of Love and Life and Light which Light Life and Truth is the Way to God in whom the Church is which Christ is the Head of And who come to this Church they come into God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and who come to God they must come into the Light Life and Truth And that is the Way in which People are renewed into God's Image of Holiness and Righteousness again in which God is seen Which Way is out of the Ways of Man that is fallen from the Image of God's Righteousness and true Holiness in which Way are all the Gadders abroad from God out of the Life G. F. ALL Friends and Brethren In the Noble Seed of God live Epist 143. which hath the Promise of Life which is the Top-and Corner-Stone The Top-and Corner-Stone Christ over all set in whom is Life Eternal and Fulness for you all and Life Peace and Wisdom And the Seed Christ destroyeth the Devil and his Works which Seed Christ lives for ever Feel and know that in your selves which will never have an End and then ye will know that which doth remain and abide when the Devil and his Works are destroyed and gone The Seed remaineth Christ the Power of God which goeth over the Power of the Devil in which is the Saints Vnity that is Everlasting which bringeth to the Church The Saints Vnity that is in God And so all in the Power of the Lord God and the Seed live which is over all that which is not in his pure Life in which ye all have Vnity that never hath an End My Love is to you in the Seed in which there is Life G. F. FRiends Epist 144. Get not Knowledge in the unsanctified and unregenerated Part for that which is not sanctified in your own particulars Knowledge will not be to them that it is declared to Neither can ye feel your Words go from you with Joy and Life The unsanctified Part. that come from the unsanctified and unregenerated Part for that Part will glory and boast and vaunt it self and say This have I done and that have I spoken and not glory in the Lord. So this satisfies not and the Spirit in Prison is not refreshed by those things G. F. FRiends Where there is Strife among any of you Epist 145. mind the Light to Judge it down and Condemn it by which Light your Minds may be guided up to Christ where there is no Scrife to learn of him Strife Judged down and to Condemn all that with the Light which would give the World a Ground to reproach Truth and to see your Nakedness For that which is out of the Light will fall and confound it self So mind that which keeps your Peace and condemns that which leads into Weakness and that which will let in Prejudice from the Light goes All which is to be condemned with the Light which leads to Christ the Covenant of Peace And where there is Strife which leads out into many Words such will wither and bring themselves under Condemnation at last Many Words Such must be Silent and mind that which doth condemn them that the Life in them may arise wherein is no Strife For where Mens Spirits are high something is stirring that should be kept under take heed that get not up into Rule So first learn the Ministry of Condemnation in your selves that Life may arise before Ministry in the Spirit be known which preacheth Peace by Jesus Christ where there is no Strife Therefore wait to know the Time of Silence A time of Silence And all Friends Let your Patience and Moderation be known to all Men for nothing is attained to that is good by Strife for that is out of Christ in the forward Will which is to be condemned with the Light where is the Vnity which cometh from Christ and leadeth up to Christ the Covenant of Life And take heed All Friends of causing his Name to be blasphemed through you among the Heathen but mind and wait to receive the Love of God which bears all things and suffers all things and so comes to receive the Armour of Righteousness Love bears all things which quenches all the fiery Darts of Satan that the Patience that bears and suffers all things may be witnessed G. F. To Friends in Ireland FRiends Epist 146. Feel all of you the Power of the Lord God in your selves to guide your Minds up to God and to give you Dominion over all Weakness Dominion over Weakness and to strengthen and to heal you And look not out but every one feel the Power of God in your own particulars and let all your Faith stand in that then will ye have Vnity and in that ye will have Dominion and Victory and it will keep you in Order In which ye will have Virtue and in which ye will feel the Spirit in which ye will have Fellowship and Comfort And be Low and Still in the Life and Power and not hasty nor rash that ye may in the Life and Power answer that of God in every one Not Hasty nor Rash that crieth for Peace and Rest So dwell in the Love of God this I warn you and charge every one of you your Faith standing in this and in the Power of God then ye will feel the Presence of the Lord God among you G. F. To Friends in Wales FRiends Epist 147. Live in the Wisdom of the Lord for that is it which doth preserve you pure lively and gentle above that which is below And in the Increase of God live The hicrease of God and in his Virtue Power and Love that through it your Hearts may be established and filled with the same that Justice and Truth may in all things be amongst you and Christ Jesus known in the midst of you as a Prophet
Christ a Prophet Priest and King Priest and King who hath gathered you in his Name to Open and Reveal to you and Rule you who is the quickning Spirit in whom the Spiritual Sacrifices are offered Therefore I say Know Christ who is the Substance of all the Types Figures and Shadows by whom the World was made who destroys the Enmity among People and the Devil the Author of it The Heave-Offering and in him is both Life and Peace The Heave-Offering was a Figure of Christ the One Offering the Priests and the Law and the First Covenant were Figures of the Everlasting Covenant Christ Jesus Oaths Oaths which ended Strife in the Time of the Law and before were Figures of Christ the Oath of God who sware by himself which Oath Christ Jesus endeth and destroys the Devil the Author of Strife and brings People to Yea and Nay who judges the false Oath and ends the true For there was no Oaths commanded before the Fall so there is none to be in the Restoration and Redemption by Christ They see this Doctrine that are renew'd again in Measure into God's Image and are come into Obedience to Christ's Doctrine and the Apostle's as in the Primitive Times and see the Ground of Swearing among the Jews The Ground of Swearing and see the Ground of Swearing got up since the Apostles Days among the Apostates from the Primitive Practice in the Church in the Apostles Days And they see that Oaths were not given to Man before the Fall and see they are not to be in the Restoration nor were not in the Primitive Times nor in the Beginning according to the Doctrine of Christ who is the First and the Last who is to be minded and his Doctrine who is the Top-and Corner-Stone And now is the Bride his Wife The Bride his Wife coming up out of the Wilderness where she hath been driven and been fed of God in this time of the Beast's Dragon's false Church's and Whore's Worship which hath gotten up since the Apostles Days Therefore all walk in the Light of the Lamb that by his Blood ye may be washed that through it and the Testimony of the Lord Jesus ye may overcome And Meet in the Power of God and in that keep your Meetings Meet in the Power that ye and every one of ye may inherit the Power of God and so come into your own Inheritances So live in Love Peace and Vnity one with another for the Body doth edifie it self in Love And the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Amen! to teach you and to season and to establish your Hearts and to bring you Salvation and in that live which was before Enmity was G. F. An Exhortation to fervent Prayer and stedfast Faith in time of the greatest Troubles and Exercises OH My Dear Friends and Brethren every where Epist 148. Let all your Cries and Prayers be to the Lord in Singleness of Heart Cries and Prayers in his Spirit and Power and in Belief in God thro' Christ to receive what ye pray for For the Lord's Ears are open to the Cries of his Poor and Afflicted Ones So Day and Night let your Cries be to him who will keep you in all Distresses For in your Afflictions Christ is afflicted Christ is Afflicted and in all your Oppressions he is oppressed and in all your Imprisonments he is imprisoned and in all your Sufferings he suffereth and in all your Persecutions he is persecuted Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me said Christ And all Friends keep out of the vain Fashions of the World in your Apparel Vain Fashions and run not after every New Fashion the World inventeth and setteth up keep in your plain Fashion that ye may Judge the World's Vanity and its Spirit in its vain Fashions and shew a Constant Spirit in the Truth and Plainness And be Moderate and Chast in all your Families The Fast to the Lord. and in all your Imprisonments keep in the Fast to the Lord which breaks down the Bond of Iniquity by which every one's Health groweth And ye may also see how Christ Jesus encourages to Pray Mark 13. Take ye heed watch and pray Watch and Pray and what I say unto one I say unto all Watch. And in Luke 11 5-13 wherein he further encourages to Pray where Christ saith The Importunate Friend Which of you shall have a Friend and shall go unto him at midnight and say unto him Friend lend me three Loaves for a Friend of mine is in his Journey is come to me and I have nothing to set before him And he from within shall answer and say Trouble me not the Door is now shut and my Children are with me in Bed I cannot rise and give thee I say unto you though he will not rise and give him because he is his Friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth Ask and it shall given And I say unto you Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened And upon this Christ encourages to Knock Pray and Seek For if a Son shall ask Bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a Stone Or if he ask a Fish will he for a Fish give him a Serpent Or if he shall ask an Egg will he give him a Scorpion If ye then being Evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him And further he encourages to Pray Luke 18. He spake a Parable unto them that Men ought always to pray and not faint saying There was in a City a Judge The Vnjust Judge that feared not God neither regarded Man And there was a Widow in that City and she came to him and said Avenge me of mine Adversary and he would not for a while But afterwards he said within himself Though I fear not God nor regard Man yet because this Widow troubleth me I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me And the Lord said Hear what the unjust Judge saith And shall not God avenge his own Elect which cry day and night unto him tho' he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Here mind the Promise of Christ that doth not change but will be fulfilled And Christ distinguishes in a Parable of a Pharisee who was a publick praying Man and of a Publican The Pharisee and Publican that stood a far off and cried for Mercy which being in the Fear was more Justified than the Pharisee who was in the publick Praying So Pray in the Spirit and in the Faith nothing wavering nor doubting And seek and watch
And then there was a Time that the Apostles preached Christ in them to them that did believe and had received him Know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And Christ in you the Hope of Glory Christ in you the Hope of Glory And If Christ be in you the Body is dead And They that are Christ's have crucified the Affections and Lusts and all things are become new But this was spoken to them that believed who were the Saints to them Christ in them was preached the Substance of what the Prophets prophesied of and to believe in him who was risen the Resurrection Repentance and Faith But to the World the Apostles preached Repentance and to believe in Jesus Christ and taught Faith towards God But to them who were Redeemed out of the World in and to whom the Son of God was made manifest who were brought to God the Judge of all and to the Church in God and to the innumerable Company of Angels and to the Spirits of Just Men who were made perfect in him through Faith towards God preaching Repentance and the Doctrine of Baptism was needless Baptism in whom it was fulfilled to and in such as were brought to God He that can receive this may for to it there is no private Meaning There is a Time of preaching Faith towards God and there is a Time to be brought to God But such as are here deny the first Priesthood and witness the second with the Eternal Spirit of God who witness him without Father or Mother a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech G. F. THis is the Word of the Lord God to you all Epist 152. In all Openings and Speakings let not the Man be lifted up for that will not be the Servant but the Master which is to be thrown down with that To Friends in their Openings from whence the Openings come Therefore that keep down which would be lifted up in the sight of the World Not to be lifted up for that doth often fall in the sight of the World but that being lifted up which answereth that of God in every Man this is of the Son of God who is exalted above the World and was before it was made and created And Every one dwell in the Seed and Life of God and in that know one another And Meet together and keep your Meetings that ye may see the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of you G. F. To Friends beyond Sea that have Blacks and Indian Slaves DEar Friends Epist 153. I was moved to write these things to you in all those Plantations God that made the World and all things therein and giveth Life and Breath to all and they all have their Life and Moving and their Being in him he is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh and is no Respecter of Persons but Whosoever feareth him God is no Respector of Persons and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him And he hath made all Nations of one Blood to dwell upon the Face of the Earth and his Eyes are over all the Works of his Hands and seeth every thing that is done under the whole Heavens and the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof And he causeth the Rain to fall upon the Just and upon the Vnjust and also he causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Vnjust and he commands to love all Men for Christ loved all so that he died for Sinners And this is God's Love to the World Christ died for Sinners in giving his Son into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not perish And he doth Enlighten every Man that cometh into the World that they might believe in the Son And the Gospel is preached to every creature under Heaven which is the Power that giveth Liberty and Freedom and is Glad Tidings to every Captivated Creature under the whole Heavens And the Word of God is in the Heart and Mouth to obey and do it and not for them to ascend or descend for it and this is the Word of Faith which was and is preached For Christ is given for a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles A Light to the Gentiles and to enlighten them who is the Glory of Israel and God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And so ye are to have the Mind of Christ and to be Merciful as your Heavenly Father is Merciful G. F. OH Friends keep out of that State Epist 154. which is out of and below the Chast Nature for all Vnchastness by the Power of the Lord The Chast Nature and his Truth and Light is to be judged Therefore live in the Truth and in the Light of God that keeps you all Chast for in that is the Vnity and out of that is the War For from the Lusts are the Wars and Strife Oh keep over that Nature that Purity may flow and Righteousness spread and Truth flourish and Love and Peace abound in and amongst all the Family of God! Keep down the Vnchast keep down the Adulterous Eye The Adulterous Eye and keep down the Lust of the Flesh which is not of the Father but of the World and Lust is against the Spiritual Fellowship and Spiritual Union and Spiritual Dominion for that would be as a Lord to Lord above the Spirit which the Spirit of God is Lord over and Judges it Keep down the Lustful Heart and Eye for that leads from God and joins with the Adulterate in any thing or with any thing that is Evil keep Truth and a pure Conscience and there ye have an unspotted Life in which ye may see over the spotted Life where no Chastity nor Purity is Therefore live in that which keeps you Chast Follow the Lamb. then ye follow Christ the Lamb for there is the holy Joy and Peace and Comfort and Unity known in the Life and Fellowship with the God of Life For what is the Cause of all the Lusting Spirits to Envy and of the Wisdom that is Sensual Earthly and Devilish but a Living and a Going out from the Truth and the Life Which Truth and Life is the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ where the Peace is And so the Spirit of this World lusts to Envy it lusts to Strife it lusts to Contention it lusts against the Spirit of God the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life and the Lusts of the Flesh cloathed with Flesh covered with Flesh not with the Spirit such are unchast and follow the Lust not the Lamb and so live in that which the War proceeds from and in Strife and Contention And therefore Mark that Spirit with the Eternal Power of God Evil Thoughts for it Judges with evil Thoughts being in the Earth and thinks all to be like it self being in the Bad and in the Lust and in the Adultery it judges all to be
and the Mystery of the Fellowship is Everlasting So if any wants the Power of God he wants the Mystery in which is the Fellowship althought he may have all the Scriptures 2. And now Friends if any be moved of the Lord God by his Power be Obedient to it Obedience to the Power and waithin the Life and in the Power and it will direct you to the Glory of God in his Wisdom not to abuse it that whatsoever ye do ye may do it to his Glory ye answering the Just Principle of God in every one 3. If any be moved to go to the Steeple-houses or Markets or to Rereove Sin in the Gate or to Exhort High or Low or to Reprove them Reason not with Flesh and Blood nor quench the Spirit And when ye have done in the same Spirit live and then ye will have Peace and Rest and Fellowship with God and one with another For the vnity is in the Spirit and it is the Bond of Peace 4. And all Friends in your Meetings do not quench the Spirit And take heed Judging in Meetings and do not judge one another in the Meetings but have patience until the Meetings be done So if any have any thing upon him to speak to another he may speak to him after the Meeting is done that will cover one another's Weakness and not hurt othres 5. And all Friends every where wait to feel the Power of God in your selves in your Meetings Sleeping in Meetings And take heed of Sleeping and feel the Power of God in one another that ye all may be in the Mystery of the Fellowship For Wo unto them that are at Ease in Zion I Warn and Charge you all in the Presence of the Living God that none make their Habitation in the Earth or build Tabernacles there lest ye become Vagabonds from the Lord But let every one rest in his Habitation in God and here is no Vagabond but there shall every one know an Heir-ship an Habit ation and an Inher it ance And I warn and charge you from the Lord not to make any of the World's Jewels your God but live all in the Power of the Lord God in which ye will be carried over the Spirit of the World 6. And Friends all every where dwell in the Love and Fear of the Lord God and in Peace one with another and in the Power and Life of the Lord God keep your Meetings and live in the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Gospel which is Everlasting This is to go to all the Meetings in the North among them to be reda G. F. FRiends Every one of you having a Light from the Son of God Epish 170. wait in it that ye may come to receive the Son of God from whence it comes and receive Power from him tobecome the Sons of God To Friends at Worcester and have Faith in him For who are of Faith are of abraham's Seed which faith gives the Victory over the World It is by Faith Concerining the Light our Hearts are purified So. dwell in the Light Faith which casts out all Jangling Spirits in which ye may have vnity one with another Vnity and with Christ from whence the Light comes and with the Father whom he is the Way to And that with the Light ye may answer the Light in every Man which comes from Christ though they hate it So the Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you AND all keep your Meetings in the Power of God that the Lord ye may see present among you G. F. An Epistle General to them who are of the Royal Priesthood About 1659. and Chosen Generation Given forth from the Movings of the Power and Spirit of Truth and now made publick To be sent abroad among the Saints scattered in Old and New-England Germany Holland Ireland Scotland Barbados and Virginia for them to read in the Fear of the Lord. FRiends Let all that ye do Epist 171. be done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom all things were made and created that ye may do that which ye do in the true Dominion and then what ye do ye do in the Power of God And all Friends dwell in Love for that is the Mark of Disciple and Fruits of Faith and the Spirit Love the Mark of a Disciple which Love out of a pure Heart is the End of the Commandment and fulfils the Law and in that is Edification and Building And the Fruits of being past from Death to Life there is Love to God Brethren and Enemies being in the Seed that destroys Death and the Power of it the Devil We need no Mass for to teach us for the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture teacheth us how to pray sing praise rejoice 1. The Mass honour and worship God and in what and how to walk and to behave our felves to God and Man and leadeth us into all Truth in which is our Unity and it is our Comforter and Guide and Leader and not Men without which say They have not the Spirit and Power as the Apostles had that gave forth the Scriptures And we need not your Common-Prayer to teach us for the Spirit 2. Common-Prayer that gave forth Scriptures teacheth us how to pray praise sng fast and to give thanks and to praise and worship andin what and how to honour and glorifie God and how to walk before Him and Men and how to use all Creatures upon the Earth and leadeth and guideth into all Truth which was given forth from it which reproves the World of Sin That is our Comforter Leader and Guider by which we know Sonship and in which we have Unity and this doth ever change But that which Man doth invent and their Prayers and Forma which do say Men's invented Forms That they have not the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures do change But the Spirit that gave forth Scriptures teacheth us how to pray speak sing fast give thanks and how to read them with Vnderstanding and how to walk before God and Man and how to worship God and in what for it leadeth us into all Truth which is our Comforter in which we have Unity and Fellowship and to know the true Religion which doth never change And so the Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures is our Director Guide Leader and Comforter which reproveth the World for Sin Directories the End of them And this leadeth to see the End of all Directories which Man invents which have not the Spirit the Apostles had and when they cannot hold it up they cry to the Powers of the Earth to help them And these we see are from the Spirit erred and without the Spirit with whom we cannot trust our Bodies Spirits nor Souls into their hands but have committed them to the Lord whose they are And we are a People that are redeemed from the
his Eye who for our sakes hath reproved Powers and Thrones and Dominions and rebuked them We are the Preachers of Righteousness in the great City Sodom wherein Christ was crucified where the Life of the Prophets and the Apostles and Holy Men of God lies slain and Cursers Cursers Swearers Drunkards Swearers Drunkards Eaters and Drinkers that rise up to play in all Fulness Wantonness and Prophaness profess their Words and make merry over their Lives And the Witnesses since the Apostles Days have been slain the Woman in the Wilderness the Lamb and his Wife shall be known which is come up out of the Wilderness So in this great City Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah the False Church and the Whore are where all the Abominations are that made all the Nations drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication whereby the World is all on Heaps about Religion and Church-Worship and the several Ways in Sodom's Nature professing the Saints Words imitating Forms killing and slaying one another about professing the Saints Words but out of their Life Which shews that they are not of the Royal Seed The Royal Seed which saith Love Enemies that 's the Royal Seed and they that follow him are of the Royal Priesthood and holy People and Generation amongst whom is the Royal Law of Love whereby we cannot respect Mens Persons for he who doth is convinced of the Royal Law to be a Transgressor So every one of us that is come to the Seed of God that bruiseth the Serpent's Head that led Man from God who is the Prince of the World the Prince of Darkness and the Prince of the Air the Father of Lies a Murderer from the Beginning the Corrupter of Mankind the Author of the Separation from God and the Original of Sin the Beginning of it which led Man from his Dominion over the Handy-Works of God The Handy-Works of God which the Royal Seed Christ destroys and renews Man again in the Image of God and brings him again to his Dominion over the Handy-Works of God And this Hundreds of Thousands are now witnessing by which they come to be Kings and redeemed from the Earth and come to be made Kings upon the Earth in the Image of God over the Handy-Works of God in the Wisdom by which they were created So all Powers whatever that are a Terror to Evil-Doers that bear not the Sword in vain to us are a Praise that do well And all Kings upon the Earth that were Anointed by God a Figure of our Christ the King the Anointed he ends them all Revel 1.6 and makes Kings to reign upon the Earth amongst these Christ is King wich Thousands witness amongst these he is King and all other Kings made by Man and putting Man on Earthly Crowns Earthly Man will put them off again and un-King them if they cross them This is the State amongst them in whom Christ reigns not nor the true Magistrate obeyed which is to the Evil-Doers a Terror But since the Apostles Days all hath been in Confusion about Religion Church and Worship amongst them that have killed the Witnesses and since the true Church went into the Wilderness and the Witnesses have been slain and the Man-Child caught up to God So they that have slain the Witnesses and killed the Saints have been in all this Confusion The Witnesses rising and the Witnesses are rising and the Everlasting Gospel shall be preached again amongst them that have had the Words but have slain the Life of the Prophets and the Apostles unto all Nations Kindreds and Tongues of them that dwell upon the Earth So the great Professors of the World which were the Jews could not abide Jesus the King that he should reign and where he is now in the Male and in the Female he is King and that makes Kings among whom he is King All in the Name of the mighty King of Kings is to be done and then it is in the Power G. F. ALL Friends Take heed of running on in a Form Epist 173. lest ye do lose the Power but keep in the Power and Seed of God in which ye will live in the Substance And at any Disputes take heed Disputes many may be lifted up in the Victory and Conquest and after have a Joy in the Prophecies and Openings and after fall And if Bablers come and Janglers say They have a Bad Metting and so the murmuring Nature getteth up out of Patience and the Seed which beareth all things and suffereth all things which keepeth down that which causeth Lifting up Murmuring and Disputing which the Seed endeth and Prophecy and keepeth down all the other that is contrary and would live in the contrary that which keeps down that which doth change is the Peace and the Corner-Stone and the staiedness in the Seed and Life G. F. DEar Friends all every where Feel the Seed of God over all that Epist 174. which is in the Fall that is gotten up The Fall of Adam since Adam and Eve fell from Righteousness and the Image of God and in which Fall the Lamb hath been slain And so feel the Seed of God over all that which makes to suffer and will stand and remain when he that makes to suffer is gone And so feel Christ to reign and rule over all that which is in the Fall Feel Life over all and there ye may all feel the Life to flow over all which Life was with the Father before the World began and which Life will remain when Death and the Power of it is gone And in that Life all live and dwell and in it keep your Meetings AND feel the Word of Patience and the Word of Wisdom in which ye may find both Patience and Wisdom in this Day of Life Patience and Wisdom And feel my Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed of God G. F. To Friends to serve one another in Love in outward things MY Dear Friends Epist 175. in the Order and Wisdom of Life order all things to God's Glory and dwell in the Love of God together all serving one another in Love and in the Life of the Truth and ye that give to the Poor Give to the Poor lend to the Lord and he will give you again with Advantage And so be Fruitful in every good Work and be Subject to one another in the Fear of the Lord and do that which ye do in Love and Peace and in that keep in the Authority and Power of God in Kindness Passion and basty Spirits And keep down and be Master over all Passion and the hasty and cross Spirits and silence that which is suddain and let Love have the Preheminence in all and over all And provoke one another to Love and to good Works and be diligent in all your places that ye may be a good Savour in the Hearts of all and that the Truth may flow
Spirit plungeth down by Baptism and putteth under and bringeth into the One Body and putteth that under which causeth many Heads and answereth to that which is Transgressed against For all must come to the One Baptism with the Spirit into the One Body And all my Dear Friends be faithful and quench not the Spirit but be Obedient to the Truth and spread it abroad The Witness of God in all which must go over all the World to Profossors Jews Christians and Heathen to the answering the Witness of God in them all that they may come to the Truth which answers the Witness in them to be made free by it And Friends In the Wisdom of God dwell which preserveth in Vnity in the Spirit and Power If any thing be spoken in a Meeting which ye cannot bear speak to them concerned betwixt them and you Meetings quiet after the Meeting is ended for if any of the World be there it may give Occasion to them to reproach Truth For Wisdom preserveth in the Peace and maketh Peace and preserveth out of the Contrary and overcomes with the Wisdom and Love and answereth the Witness with the Life and so hath Unity and that hath the Kingdom G. F ALL Friends Ye must come into a Tomperance above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into a Patience above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into a Moderation above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into a Wisdom above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into a Knowledge above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into an Vnderstanding above all the World And all Friends Ye must come into a Sobriety and Gravity and a seasoned State above all the World G. F. MY Dear Friends In the Love Epist 180. and Life and Power of the Lord God dwell in the Power Life and Seed which hath no End To Friends to take beed of getting into the Form without the Power in which ye all may have Vnity And be Faithful and Diligent in the things that are good and keep your Meetings and Meet together in the Power of the Lord which cannot be broken in which is an Everlasting Vnity And live in Peace and Vnity one with another and all keep in the Power of the Lord God and take heed of getting into a Form without the Power any of you for that will bring Deadness and Coldness and Weariness and Faintings and what will it not bring in that Nature therefore keep in the Power of the Lord which will keep all the Contrary down and out and preserve you in Peace and Life Love and Vnity fresh and fruitful and diligent in the Wisdom of the Lord God with which and in which ye may be kept and preserved to his Glory and be a good Savour to him and in the Hearts of all People That to the Lord ye may be a Blessing in your Generation and a peculiar People in Tenderness and full of that Faith which overcomes the World and all things in it through which ye may come all up into the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace AND all Friends Live in the Power of the Lord God and keep down the Wise Part which will judge Truth to be Simple The Wise Part. and come to despise it and cry up their own Words of Wisdom in its place G. F. FRiends Epist 181. Live in the unchangable Power of God which will keep you in Righteousness and Truth and Love and Vnity and Dominion over all the unclean Spirits The Supreme Power and rough Ways and Mountains within and without that the Power of the Lord God may be Supreme amongst you and that ye may in the Wisdom of the Lord be preserved And none abuse it but all patiently in the Power of the Lord wait that in it ye may be all kept Low in Love and Vnity with God and one with another that in the Seed ye may be kept which is Heir of the Power Earthly things And all be diligent in your Places serving the Lord and that your Spirits may not be pluck'd down with Earthly things nor limited by them but that in the Power of the Lord God ye may act over them the Handy-Works of God out of the Intanglements and Thraldom of them and out of the vain Inventions of Men but keep in the Power of the Lord God over them in which Power is the Mystery of the Fellowship and the Dominion and let every one's Eye behold it and mind it For that is it which will keep you out of the Changable things and present your Minds Souls and Spirits to the Lord and there the Seed comes up which is Heir of the Power and of the Wisdom which is pure from above where the City if known that lets no Uncleanness in and the Salt is known that savours all things Therefore feel it in the Heart which is more than in the Head or Tongue which many may strive for but do not obtain the Power nor the Kingdom Therefore all be Wise the Wisdom of God The beginning of Wisdom and let every one's Eye be unto that Wisdom which the departing from Sin and Evil is the Beginning of that with it ye may be ordered and do whatsoever ye have to do with it and by it In that ye will feel his Presence and Blessing that ye may know the Seed Immortal to have the Dominion in you that there ye may come to know Christ to reign And your Growth in the Seed is in the Silence The Growth in Silence where ye may all find a Feeding of the Bread of Life And all Friends keep in the Wisdom of the Lord that is pure and holy from above by which Wisdom ye may be preserved and kept holy and pure above that which is below and out of that which is below the wise part wherein is the Strife that being kept down by the Power of the Lord the Seed comes up which is Heir of the Power And there Innocency and Simplicity and Nakedness of Heart and Spirit is lived in and Life is fed upon G. F. And so if any Friends have Friends or Relations beyond Sea send them Books or Papers Books and be diligent to spread the Truth and send Latin Books or French Books or other Books to Leghorn France Poland Italy Norway Low-Countries c. MY Dear Hearts Epist 182. Do your Business faithfully and fear not the Amazement of Men To Friends beyond the Sear ye Sons and Daughters of Abraham Trample upon all Deceit and keep over all that in the Dominion of God's Power Fear not Man above the World answering that of God in all and spare not any Deceit Be ye faithful and ye will find and feel the Word Cut down Deceit which is sharper than any two-edged Sword to cut down Deceit and ye will feel the Blessing of
Habitation They will say They must not Meet together such as are gathered in the Name of Christ Jesus that never fell who is above Adam that sell And thus the Devil would lay all wast and make the World like a Wilderness and break down the Bounds of the righteous Gardens and Plantations and would break them down into his Wilderness and lay them barren and wast And so when they are gone fromt he Truth themselves the Devil is got into them and would keep them from Meetings Meetings to draw others into the same who are gathered into the Name of Jesnes and are come to sit down in the heavenly Plate in Christ Jesus and are found with the Flock that lie down at Noon-day And so that fallen Spirit would bring the Saints to for sake their Assemblies and wouldmake them like a Wilderness if he cannot he will throw Dirt upon them and back-bite them and prejudice them and slander them and speak Evil of them and strive to sow discord amongst them and preach up some outward things amongst them to bring them into an outward Fellowship from the Immotal Power and Gospel-Fellowship and fill them with Earthly Wisdom and Knowledge Carnal Policy and Vnderstanding and carnal Policy with Quirks Tricks Turnings and Windings to over-word and ensnare the simple and to bring them into Questioning And so this Spirit is to destroy ruin and lay wast and to rob and beguile and would destroy if it were in its Power the Saints Fellowship and Worship and if it were possible to deceive the Elect. For sometimes it will come in the shew of Worship and fained Humility and other times with Esau's Tears but all the strength of it is set to lead the Innocent out of his Habitation and to destroy and devour him And so being adulterated from the true Spirit the true Light and the Fellowship in it Secret Evills it runs into all the secret Evils inward Adultery and outward Adultery Vncleanness and Fornication and being in the Evil Darkness and Vncleanness judges all like unto it self with its evil Thoughts and casts out its Flood of Evil-Speaking and Wickedness upon the righteous and just the Saints of the Most-High whose Garments are clean and pure And so this Spirit will cry down the Saints Fellowship in Spirit and Worship in Spirit and Truth and their Fellowship in the Power which was before their Forms were or the Devil either and when it cannot get them down and break their Fellowship to forsake their Assembling together which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and the Churches in the Primitive Times before the Apostasy and when they see they can neither break their Fellowship nor Worship Forms of Worship then they say Away with your Forms and cry down Forms to such as be in the Power of Godliness and that Spirit 's Work that doth so is to bring into such Forms in Time which are out of the Spirit and Truth and Power of God in which the Saints have Fellowship and Refreshment in which God is worshipped in that which is above and was before Time And that contrary Spirit its Work is to bring into the many Invented Forms in the Fall and sometimes runs out of all right Form into Confusion and out of all Orde of Life in which the Saints of the Most-high that walk in the Spirit are in the Fellowship and Power of Life having the Order of Life amongst them Keep your Habitation And therefore all Friends Keep your Habitation every where in the Truth of God and let your Lights be shining and your Lamps burning and have Oil in your Lamps and Salt in your selves to savour withal that ye may grow up into Christ Jesus by whom all things were made that wer made that through him ye may know all things And so Live in him that destroys the Enmity and in him sit in Christ Jesus in whom ye have Vnity Life Peace and Salvation The Honour was given to him that never changed nor never fell True Honour who is Christ Jesus and ye in him are partakers of this Honour and they that change and fall do not know this Honour but are a Dishonour to him G. F. FRiends live in the Seed of God that destroys the Devil Epist 188. who is the Author and Cause of Wars and Strife and brining of Men and People into the Earth where the War Strife and Pride is The Author of Wars here the outward Sword-men have not learned yet to beat their Swords and Spears into Plough-shares and Pruning-hooks Yet ye that are in that Seed see that ye Accuse no Man falsly that hath the Sword of Justice The Sword of Justice which is to keep the Peace and is a Terror to the Evil-doers and to keep down the Transgressors and for the praise of them that do well this is owned in its place But he that killeth with the Sword must perish with the Sword So there was a Time the Jews were to fight with outward Weapons with Sword and Spear Outward Weapons but there is a Time when Nations shall not learn War any more but shall come to that which shall take away the Occasion of Wars which was in the beginning before Wars were And Friends take heed of blending your selves with the outward Powers of the Earth ALL Friends dwell in the Life and Power and Seed of God 2. To Friends to dwell in the seed in which is their Safery in which ye may be kept in the Son of God's Kingdom and preserved in his Dominion out of all changable things in that God's Blessing will be with you In the Seed of God is the stayed State and in that is the Life and Peace with God and the Offering that satisfieth God and that perfecteth for ever them that are sanctified The stayed State And the Seed bruises and destroys the Serpent's head who is the Prince of the Air the Prince of Darkness the Tempter and the Troubler in which Seed is Peace and Life enjoyed and by the Wisdom of it to be ordered to God's Glory And there the Reign of Christ is known who is come to reign and to rule G. F. To Friends in New-England and Virginia MY Dear Friends Robert Hodson William Robinson Marmaduke Stevenson Peter Pearson William Brend William Leara and the rest of Friends in New-England and Virginia Epist 189. Concerning Judging Be faithful to the Lord in the Truth of the Lord God 8. Month 15. nd in his Power and Wisdom be valiant for it upon the Earth and spread it abroad and confound Deceit And dwell in the Power of God and stand in it which comprehends the whole World that through it ye may answer the Witness of God in every one and be a Dread to Nations And go on in Peace and Love and Vnity one with another and keep in the Wisdom of the Lord God that ye may be answerable to the
read Gen. 6. And therefore mind God's Ordinance and then ye will know God's Joyning by his Spirit and by his Power And be not corrupted with them that follow strange Flesh and corrupt themselves that creep among you and would be called by you Name Bastard-Quakers which the Priests and the World call Bastard-Quakers And therefore keep the Gospel-Order which is the Power of God before the Devil was and the Government of Christ Jesus which destroys the Devil and all his Works G. F. ALL Friends every where that are Convinced with Truth and profess it and own it About 1660. Epist 191. Keep to the Single Language the good Spirit the Light of Christ Jesus leads to it and that which goes from that The Single Language which doth not live in it is to be judged And then if Man or Woman seek to get Gain by speaking the improper untrue Language and flattering Language of the World which is in Confusion the Lord may take that Gain away from them For Plural and Singular was the Language of God and Christ and all good Men and of the Prophets and Apostles Singular and Plural but the Confused World that lies in Confusion cannot endure it who live not in the Fear of God neither follow the Example of good Men but are in the double Tongue quenching the Spirit and hating the Light of Christ Jesus which is Single And so al Friends train up your Children in the same Singular and Plural Language all Masters Mistresses and Dames or whatsoever ye are called Friends Children that do take Friends Children that are in the Singular and Plural Language it is not fit for you to bring them out of it neither to Force nor Command them otherwise to please your Customers nor to please Men for if they should pay Two or Three for One that would displease you who would have them to speak Two or Three when they should speak Singular Thee and Thou to One. And so do not lose that Testimony which slays the World's Honour and do not go into the Custom of the World's Fashions or Commands nor force others from that which is the Language of God and Christ and all good Men and Women into that which is Contrary to God and Christ and all good Men and Women for there must be 1660 and always was a Distinction betwixt One and Many For if in your Practice ye should not do it but let one have many things when he should have but one thing ye would think to suffer Wrong and your Servants to do that which were not Righteous and so do not they speak that which is not Righteous when they say Many for One and Non-sense and Confusion And therefore keep to the proper sound Single Language For indeed I did hear some Apprentices and Servants that were troubled at their Apprentces and Servants for saying Thee and Thou to one and because they would not say the word You and such who have known the Language from their Childhood And therefore that Selfish Man-pleasing and Daubing Spirit ust be put down with the Spirit and condemned with the Light else ye will presently be ridiculous to the World and to all Men and they will say Ye are not so as ye were in he Beginning and so follows the Customs of the World and not the Practice of Christ and all good Men. And so this is written that all may Fear the Lord and they who have done so may do so no more and that others may be warned and not to go into such things But mind the Truth and Spirit of God the Light of Christ Jesus that none of the Free-born may lose the true Language and speak half the World's Language and half of the People of God For to say to Friends Thee and Thou and to the World You that is Hypocrisie Hypocyifie and therefore for all Hypocrites and Hypocrifie and Dissembling to be kept under Judgment for that is a Dissembling with the Witness of God For ye see the Outward Jews when they went from the Law of God in process of time spake half Hebrew and half Ashdod Half Hebrew half Ashdod And therefore to prevent all Dissembling and Hypocrifie keep to the Spirit of God and Light of Christ Jesus that the Jews inward may not have a Mixed Lanugage no more than the Jews outward to speak half the confused Language of the World and half the true Language Nor to the World speak confusedly to speak the Plural for the Singular and when ye are among the World speak as the World doth and when ye are amongst Friends speak as they do This Spirit is not from the Spirit of God but is Hypocrifie and for Judgment And so let the Truth have its Passage in all things and speak True Words and not False with the Light ye will see who act contrary to it will be condemned by it So let Friends be distinct from all the World in their Language in their Ways in Love and in their Conversations for in that ye are over the World and Judge them by Scripture Scriptures Grammar and Accidence by Grammar and Accidence and all other Teaching-Books for ye have them all on your side to hammer them down withal who follow neither Scriptures Grammar nor Accidence nor their own Teaching-Books and are Judged by them all and the Spirit of God also which leads to one and to divide and distinguish Singular from Plural many things from one thing and One from Two and Three and many Men and Women from One many Ways from One many Churches from One many Fellowships from One and the many Words from One and the many Gods from One and the True Christ from the many Anti-Christs and false All this is distinguished and known by the One Spirit the Light and Power of Christ Jesus which gives an Understanding Let this be sent abroad that all may read it over G. F. FRiends In the Fear of the Lord God live departing from Sin and Evil Epist 192. as it appears in your own particulars and therein ye will receive the Wisdom of God by which all things were made and created A General Etistle to Friends concerning divers Particulars with which Wisdom they may be ordered to the Glory of God that created all things and with that Wisdom use all things and order all that are under your Hands and Dominion to the Glory of him that created them And in this ye will feel the Lord God going in and out amongst you and to be with you and his Blessing and Presence with you in your Actings and he over all giving you Dominion in his Wisdom Power and Life that with that ye may come to answer that of God in every one with which your Minds should be guided up to God And in that ye will be a good Savour to God and in the Hearts of all People that live up to the Witness and are
that which is good just and righteous and serve one another in that in that ye live in the Life and in the Seed the Power and Righteousness that is everlasting which is of God and his Wisdom through which ye come to answer the good just and holy Principle of God in every one upon the Earth In which Power ye have Dominion in which ye come to live the Life which is well-pleasing to God a Life which shall stand when the World is ended And in this Life Power and Wisdom of God that is endless ye are a Terror to all A Terror to Defrauders that are in the Wisdom below ye are a Terror to all that are in the unrighteous Actions and Words And ye are a Terror to all that are in the unjust and unequal doings and all the Defrauders Cozeners Cheaters Over-reachers Lyars and Wrong-dealers In the Power of God and his Life in which ye have Justice ye have Truth ye have Equity ye have Righteousness and it cometh to be to you as natural you Words your Lives your Conversations your Presence and your Practices both judge and preach and ye will be a Terror to all them in the just Life and everlasting Righteousness Christ Jesus living in him and in his Wisdom and walking in him and speaking the Truth as it is in him in all things your Life and your Words are a Terror to all that speak not Truth in their Dealings and to all that act not truly and righteously in their Doings your Lives do judge them and are a Judge to them and through your Constancy Faithfulness and Life which is Everlasting ye bring many to Amendment For both Life Actions Words and Conversation preach all these preach to the unrighteous World being in the Everlasting Righteousness which over the World hath Dominion through which Life Power Seed of God and Wisdom ye reach and answer the good and just Principle of God in every one and it will make them at last confess to you though they may go on in the contrary for a time So in that Power Wisdom and Strength that gives you Dominion over all and to answer that of God in all the Love and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ preserve and keep you all in his Wisdom Life Seed and Dominion that to him ye may be a Blessing and a good Savour in the Hearts of all People And let all your Actions and Words be one with the Witness of God in all People Amen The Wicked and Unrighteous owe Envy and Hatred and with that they pay their Debt but the Righteous Just and Harmless who owe nothing to any Man but Love with that they pay their Debt But Drunkards Adulterers Swearers Rioters who eat and drink and rise up to play and live in Pleasures wantonly upon the Earth Fighters Quarrellers Envious Malicious Vnjust Vnrighteous all such Actions and Practices are judged out of the Power of God and out of his Kingdom AND all Friends every where that are Shop-keepers or Merchants or Factors or any other Trades keep low in the Power of God and do not go beyond your Capacity nor reach after things more than ye can justly perform and answer all Men but all in your places be just and true that ye may answer all Men within and without and Truth and Justice in your Returns that ye may keep your Words So say and so do which is the Royal Law of Liberty in all your Tradings else ye are a Dishonour to Christianity So say and so do therefore see your Business that what ye do and what ye say ye may perform that ye may not break your Words and Promises for if ye do ye go to Loss Neither are ye Masters of what ye take in hand for a Master should be a top of things and be in that which can command things And none to be Negligent in their Business but give an Account by Words or Writings how things are with them when others write to them so that none may Wrong one another in these outward things nor oppress one another but be serviceable one to another Things beyond Ability keeping their Words their going into things beyond their Ability makes them break their Words keeping within their Compass with that which they may answer others lest any should be lifted up For it is bad thing to be lifted up and to make a Noise and a Shew for a time with other Peoples Goods and cannot keep their Word their Promise their Day such may be lifted up for a time and Break and Fall and go out as a Stink and bring a great Dishonour to Christ and true Christians And therefore keeping your Word your Day and keeping your just Measure your just Weight that keeps down the Oppression And by keeping to that just Measure and Weight and to your Word and Day Just Measure just Weight by the Power of God and his Spirit in your own Hearts there the Blessing is doubled there ye come to be Rich and ye are a good Savour to God and in the Hearts of all People So every one strive to be Rich in the Life and in the Kingdom and Things of the World that hath no End for he that covets to be Rich in the things of this World falls into many Snares and hurtful Lusts And therefore let him that buys or sells or possesses or uses this World be as if he did not Let them be Masters over the World in the Power and Spirit of God and let them know that they owe no Man any thing but Love yet serve God in Truth and one another in their Generation For Friends if ye be not faithful in the Outward Treasure and Outward Mammon who will trust you with the True Treasure Or who can believe that ye have the True Treasure The True Treasure but that ye speak by hear-say of it So I say to you all See that ye are faithful in this Outward Mammon this Outward Treasure of the things of this Life of this World faithful to your Word faithful to your Days faithful to your Promises in all your Tradings Traffickings Bargainings true and just and righteous and honest in these outward Treasures or Mammon concerning the things of this World of this Life of these outward Riches just and faithful true and honest Men and Women in these outward things I say as Christ saith Who will trust you with the true and heavenly Treasure if not as before Therefore I say to be faithful in these Outwards that shews an honest Man and honest Women faithful in all your Dealings and Practices between Man and Man and Woman and Woman that sheweth an honest Heart and a faithful Man and Woman in outward things that answers the faithful Principle in all People So all Men and Women to be faithful in these outward things one to another that shews the good Heart to receive the true Treasure that ye may be faithful in it
Bridegroom The Word of God cannot be bound which makes Rich which lives for Ever in which is the Life So do not quench the Spirit nor add to the Prophecy nor diminish that keeps you from the Plagues and to see your Names written in the Lamb's Book of Life There stands your Joy Everlasting through which ye see the White-Stone through which Light Power and Seed ye do overcome that which is gone forth from God So ye dwelling in the Son of God ye shall go no more forth but shall inherit all things So Farewell KEEP in the Power of the Lord God that goes over all the World Flight in the Winter that none of your Flight may be in the Winter And beware lest any of your Flight be on the Sabbath-Day which the signification of it is Rest but all in the Power of the Living God abide in which ye may feel Life Peace and Rest and an abiding Place a secret Chamber to turn into till the Indignation and Wrath of the Lord be past which is to come over all Transgressors And if the Judgment begin at the House of God first and the Righteous passeth the straight way to Salvation where will the Hypocrites and the Sinners appear Over whom the overflowing Scourge must come and pass Therefore in the Life Power and Love of God all dwell And the Apostle saith Forsake not the assembling of your selves as the manner of some is but edifie one another in the Light and the Life as the Day doth appear And to say That People must not Meet together to worship God they may as well say Ye must not be Christians For Persecutors were always blind Persecutors and they stopped their Ears to the Spirit of God in themselves formerly so were in the blind Zeal and turned against them who were in the true Zeal in the Spirit of God Let this be carefully Copied over and sent amongst Friends G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 207. Look above all Sufferings that are outward at the Seed of God which was before that was which makes to suffer Suffernings for Tithes and the Seed of God Christ Jesus will stand when that which makes to suffer is gone And so in the Seed of God live and lie down in the same which is Christ the Life the Way to God the Father of Life The Tithes of the Jews and the Tithes of the Apostate-Christians must all be born Testimony aginst by them that be redeemed from the Earth and reigns above it in his Life and Power and Wisdom And so be of good Faith and never heed but make War in Righteousness with the Beast Dragon Whore and her Folowers for by the Lord many Walls and Troops have ye gone thorow and leaped over and the Lord hath given you Dominion over that which warred against you and by the Power of the Lord ye have Overcome and in the Power of the lord ye will Overcome all and in it will stand when all the contrary is gone And know your Portion and sit down in the Possession of it So every one of you to be in your Possessions and Inheritances and with the Shield of Faith and helmet of Salvation The Shrill of Faith and the Brest-Plate of Righteousness and the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which was before Deceit was which will hammer and break and cut down all that which is contrary And being shod with the Preparation of the Gospel which is the Power of God which was before the Fall was In that Stand in the Power of God which was before the Devil weas and will remain when he is gone G. F. ALL ye Prisoners of the Lord for his Truth sake Epist 208. and for keeping the Testimony of Jesus Christ against all the Inventions Traditions Rudiments Will-Worships fained Humilities and Self-Righteousnesses that are in the Fall and are out of God's Power and Righteousness who have no Weapons but Carnal like themselves your Patience must overcome all the rough Spirits in the World and your Love must bear all things For Patience obtains the Crown which is Immortal which runs the Race So it is the Lamb must have the Victory over all the unclean airy Spirits and over him that is out of the Truth So be Meek and Low then ye follow the Example of Christ Patience obtains the Crown and come to bear the Image of the Just who suffered by the Vjust and put on his Righteousness who suffered by the Vnrighteous whose Back was struck Hair was pluck'd off and Face was spit upon and yet cried Father forgive them Here he kept his Dominion though a Sufferer who had the Victory which the Followers of the Lamb do in Measure attain to So put on Courage put on Patience Let your Loyalty be known for your King that hath conquered the Devil Death and Hell in walking in Righteousness Peace and Truth feeling the Power of God preaching and reaching the Witness of God in every one when Words are not uttered And let your Faith be in the Power that goes through all things and over all things and every one hearken to it So the Power of the mighty God then ye will know and his Arm how it works and the Hand how it carries you The Power and Arm of God which will bring you out of Tribulation and Thraldom and Spiritual Egypt into Peace And this is the Power of God in which live and dwell in which ye will feel him which was before Enmity was And be at Peace one with another then ye will live in the Prince of Princes Peace and in his Kingdom Dominion and Life in which is Vnity which was before Enmity was and which destroys it And so in the Power of the Lord God ye are made strong which goes over the Power of Arkness and was before all that was which is out of the Power of God And all People that are gone from the Witness of God in their own particulars they are all weak and feeble and staggering All Mens and Womens Strength is in the Power of God which goes over the Power of Darkness So feel all this in you to carry you through all and over all and in it preach and Work for God and let your Ear be lent to it and hearken to it in one another and by it feel the Seed raised up in one another which is Heir of the Power that ye may know each your Portion For all People that are gone from the Witness of God in their own particulars that are erred from it and hate the Light they are full of Darkness Sin and Iniquity and are far from Inspiration and Revelation Inspiration and Revelation while their Minds are erred from the Spirit of God in themselves that is hid from them So when their Minds are turned with the Light and Spirit of God towards God then with it they shall know something of Revelation and Inspiration as they are
quencheth and grieveth and vexeth the Spirit of God and that prayeth and that preacheth and that praiseth and yet grieveth and vexeth and quencheth the Spirit of God such God the Father of Spirits accepts not that judges rend to pieces and tear one another about Inventions Now ye being led by the Spirit of God up to God the Father of Spirits in which ye have the Fellowship out of all that you will be kept and in that Spirit of God the Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you and in that meet and dwell Meetings in which your Meetings may be preserved over all that which is in the World that are out of the Spirit of God who are in Confusion contending about the Words Therefore ye in the Spirit of God answer that of God in them all So in that dwell and live and let no man take your Crown Send Copies of this to all Friends that are convinced in New-England Barbadoes and all the Islands thereways G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren Let Patience possess your Souls Epist 218. and in the Seed of God dwell that over all the Top-Stone may be laid and set And the Kingdom of Peace dwell in which hath no End To Friends in Ireland in which ye will feel the Supreme Head And in the Power of the Lord keep your Meetings which was before the Waves were or Winds either So in that look over all and keep in the Faith by which ye will have Access to God over that which separates from God in that ye will have Vnity and will not fear the Amazements which are in the Sea Fear not Amazements because of the Winds and Storms and Blusterings who know the Election which was before the World began And live in Peace and Vnity in that and send over how things are among you I am in the North at Swarthmoor And Dear Friends and Brethren be not troubled but dwell in the Seed of God whichgoeth over all this and remains and stands when all this Blustering is ended and gone Therefore look at the Lord above all and his Arm For God had a Rid in secret to fetch down these Persecutors A Rod ia secret which have long reigned in their Wickedness until they were neither fit for God nor Man hardly So again God hath a Rod in Reserve to bring down these Spirits which have been a Rod. Therefore all dwell in the Power and Spirit of God which which ye will comprehend all that which is to change with that which doth not change and hath no End in that live and ye will have an Everlasting Unity And to you this is the Word of the Lord God G. F. ALL my Dear Friends Epist 219. Dwell in the Life and Love and Power and Wisdom of God and in Unity one with another and the Peace and Wisdom of God fill all your Hearts that nothing may Rule in you but Life which stands in the Lord God G. F. FRiends Epist 220. Truth is that which is Pure and is that which the Serpent is out of for there is no Serpent in the Truth and it admits of no Impurity And so there is no Serpent in the Way of Truth to bite and hurt any for the Way being the Truth is the same as it was in the Beginning though many things have risen against it Yet it remains the same Pure Truth and Holy Way So if any one have gone from it they are for Condemnation and their Works And when any thing is once condemned and judged let it not be raised up again but keep it in the Grave and raise not up the Dead out of the Grave any more they living in the Life and Light which doth Condemn and Judge it And all live in the Love of God which gives Dominion over all and Unites and Edifies all that abide in it If among Friends Reports to be stopp'd any Reports or Surmises be about any or any Back-bitings or Whisperings all such things must be stopp'd and search'd out for thus saith the Lord Thou shalt not raise a false Report among my People And that some of the faithful Friends of every Meeting whose Sincerity is for the Glory of God his Honour and his Holy Name into which they are all called may be chosen to search out such things and follow it till they find out the Author or Authors of it that it may not lie upon any nor in any but that all may be cleared and taken out of every Mind and all the Reports stopp'd and the things that are for Judgment let them be Judged and Condemned And furthermore That Friends take notice of all such Friends as go to Sea Sea-men Merchants Masters of Ships and Passengers abroad and at home that profess the Truth That if they have any ways dis-honoured the Lord God and brought an evil Report either in their Trading Lives or Conversations upon the Truth and the good Land Directions towards Seafering Persons and dishonoured the Lord God and his Name Truth and People that they may search into the bottom of it that so if they have done any thing worthy of Condemnation and Judgment it may be past upon them without any Respect of Persons And if the Report be false let their Innocency be manifest and the Reporter reproved And so that all that profess Truth may walk in the Truth and the Light of the Lord who are Children of Light who have their Name after the Living God And all to be circumspect diligent and careful in all these things that in no wise God may be dishonoured but in all things your Lives and Words may Preach that profess the Truth And all them that have gone from England and dishonoured God beyond Sea to write over Sea to search out and know the Ground of the Matter that all Obstructins that have hindred the Glory of God and the spreading of his Truth may be taken away that the Lord's Name may not be dishonoured nor his Way and Truth evil spoken of And so all Reports being searched into in all the Plantations concerning Friends there that if any one hath done any thing to dishonour Truth beyond Sea let them come to Judgment and Condmnation and give forth Papers of the same that the Papers may be sent abroad to take off the Reproach from the Innocent and so answer the Witness of God in them through their Repentance And if they will not write their own Condemnations then Friends must write and deny them and take it out of the Mouths of the World And all Friends that have dishonoured God and his Truth and People and Friends have been to Admonish them in a Gospel-Way and they still go on in their Wickedness and not Repent Friends may draw up a Paper at their Meeting when they are clear of them against them and their disorderly Walking and unruly Spirits and Loosness in general Words not mentioning the particulars except they be
which the Devil is out of and the Dragon's Worship and the Beast's Worship and the Will-Worship are out of who worship in the Truth and in the Spirit are over all these Worships For Truth is before they all were and the Spirit and will stand when they are all gone 5thly To pray in the Spirit this was publick the publick Prayer set up among the Christians the Temple was the publick Place of Prayer among the Jews but to pray in the Spirit which is the Publick Prayer set up by the Apostles Every Man every Woman then must come to the Spirit of God in their own selves for it will give them Vnderstanding and Knowledge and give them Instruction it will help their Infirmities it will let them see their wants So in that must every Son and Daughter of Adam pray in the Spirit to God who is a Spirit And this is Publick the Spirit of God in every Man and Woman to pray with unto God who is a Spirit then in this Spirit have they Fellowship and Vnity and a Bond of Peace and this moderates all People and mortifies circumciseth and baptizeth Now who grieves and quenches and vexes and rebels against the Spirit of God within in which they should pray they are like the Jews Bablers and go into the particular Forms and go from the Publick which is V niversal whereby all Men and Women must pray to God who is a Spirit in the Spirit and keep out of the particular One hath one Set-Form another another that is particular as I said before but the praying in the Spirit is general by which every Man and Woman might see their Necessities and Wants and turn to God who is a Spirit for his help For Christ the quickning Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord within is that which brings People to life up their Eyes to the Lord in Spirit and Truth and to watch and pray by which they know Temptations and the Spirit giveth them Vnderstanding and Wisdom and Power to withstand them 6thly Singing in the Spirit is Publick every Man and every Woman in the whole World Sing in the Spirit they must not grieve it nor vex it if they sing in it and this is Publick But they that go from the Spirit of God within they go into the particular singing inventing this thing and that thing and then one will do it and another will not do it and so there is no true Felloship because it is not done in the Spirit and there is no true Fellowship in their Worshipping nor in their Praying because it is not done in the Spirit for the true Fellowship in Singing in Praying in Worshipping of God is in the Spirit of God which the Devil is out of for in that is the Bond of Peace 7thly The Teachers of the World told us who call'd themselves Ministers of Christ That they had receved a Gift from Christ who did ascend on high and led Captivity captive and this Gift was for the work of the Ministry and for the perfecting of the Saints and how that they were to bring People to the Knowledge of the Son of God from whence they had received this Gift and to the Unity of the Faith which Faith gives the Victory and brings to have access to God and also to a perfect Man's State and to the Measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ And thus People followed them and were glad that they would bring them to a perfect Man's State that is to the State of Adam and Eve before they fell for they were perfect then and when we had followed them some twenty some thirty some more some less Years then they told us again that they hoped we would not look for Perfection while we are upon the Earth on this side the Grace for we must carry a Body of Sin about us and they hoped we would not look for Perfection and would not hold the Erronious Doctrine of Perfection and yet told us as before That they would bring us to a perfect Man's State Perfection and so we looked they would have fulfilled their Words for we have given our Money and have spent out Labour in following after them and hoped they would have fulfilled their Words and brought us to the Knowledge of the Son God and so to he Vnity of the Faith and to a perfect Man's state to our Father Adam's and Eve's state before they fell and now they have gotten our Money they hope we will not look for Perfection here Oh Deceivers We will never set foot more after them who will neither fulfil their Words nor give us our Money back again for we gave our Money that they should bring us to the Knowledge of the Son of God and to the Vnity of the Faith and bring us to a perfect Man's state and to a Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ And now the Scriptures that speak of Sin and Imperfection they bring to prove that we should not be Perfect against their own Promises and Words and all the Scriptures that speak of Perfection or overcoming they tell us there must be a meaning put to them And thus they deceived us instead of bringing us to the Measure of the Stature of Christ who never fell the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who said they would bring us to his Stature and now they cannot bring us to the Measure of the Stature of the Righteousness and Holiness of our Father Adam and Mother Eve that they were in before they fell for they had no Body of Sin before they fell nor Spot nor Wrinkle nor Blemish So the Deceivers hath got our Money and now calls that an Error which they said they would bring us unto a perfect man's state and so will not fulfil their Words nor give us our Money back again neither Thereforenow mark which of these Theree States the Shepherds and Teachers and Leaders kept their Flock in and do keep them in Whether is it in the State of Adam and Eve in the Fall where the Body of Death the Curse Wrath and Woe is Imperfection Spots Wrinkles and Blemishes and tell them they must be there for term of Life Or whether or no can they keep them in the blessed and good State of Righteousness and Holiness as Adam and Eve was in before they fell Or whether or no can they keep them in the Measure of the Stature of Christ who never fell Now consider which of these Three States do they Shepherds pretend to keep their Flocks in that deny Perfection and say their Sheep must carry a Body of Death on their Backs while on Earth for as the Tree falls it lies and htere is no Repentance in the Grave Whether it be not in Adam and Eve in the Fall with his Sons and Daughters Or in that State before they fell which was a good State in Righteousness and Holiness Or whether it be in Christ that never fell
Floods nor Rains for the Seed Christ is over all and doth reigh And so be of good Faith and Valiant for the Truth For the Truth can live in the Goals And fear not the loss of the Fleece for it will grow again and follow the Lamb if it be under the Beast's Horns or under the Beast's Heels for the Lamb shall have the Victory over them all And so all live in the Seed Christ your Way that never fell and you do see over all the ways of Adam's and Eve's Sons and Daughters in the Fall And in the Seed Christ your Way you have Life and Peace and there you do see over all the ways of Adam in the Fall in which there is no Peace So in the Seed Christ stand and dwell in whom you have Life and Peace the Life that was with the Father before the World began The 9th Month 1663. G. F. DEar Friends who have tasted of that which is precious Epist 228. and have felt the Truth convincing of you and also felt the Power of the Lord God I feel something amongst some of you that is not right and how that such get up into the wise Part but are out of the Power and out of the Life and with that Judges and are beholding the Moats in others Eyes whilst the Beam is in their own Eyes Oh! Abuse not the Power in which is the Gospel-Fellowship which will keep all in Unity and grieve not the Spirit in which is the true Fellowship and the Bond of Peace Keep down High-mindedness despise not Prophesies and quench not the Spirit in the least for that is Flesh and not Spirit in your selves that doth so Judge not before the time that the Lord do come who brings to light all the hidden things of darkness in you run not into outward things that is the fleshly Mind that will run from one thing and so be restless and will not know what Seat to sit in after it hath been in one outward thing it will run into another and call it his growth in the Truth and fall a Judging others but that Jadgment is after the Flesh and there growth is in the Flesh for the Fruits of it is Strife Backbitings Whisperings and leads to Idleness Busie-Bodies from House to House Slandering Scandalizeing Vilisying and are in Lightness out of the Fear of God in Varience and sowing Dissention and these are the Seeds-Men of the Flesh and not of the Spirit and so feeds one another with that which burdens the Seed and quenches the Spirit and destroys the Love and Vnity which Love you should grow in So the Fruits of every Birth manifesteth it self the Fruits of the Spirit is Love and Peace and Truth and Plainness and Righteousness and Godliness But the Frutis of the Flesh are Backbitings Whisperings Lyings Slanderings Scandalizing And therefore mind what this Birth hath brought forth and shame it that hath cryed up outward things and what it hath run into and what it hath drawn you into that are in it and what it hath rent you from and whether you are not come to a loss and whether you are not gone into the Flesh and into the Air and lost your first Habitations of Tenderness and Compassion for every Birth knows its own and is grieved when it s own is Judged and that will never love plain Dealing and righteous Judgment which is honest and true but will have the false Prophets Cushion and Pillow and can neither endure sound Doctrine nor Judgment And therefore mind your first Habitation and first Love and that which did Convince you that you may all come into Life and Power to sit down in the Habitation of it in Love and Life and Vnity and let there not be a Backbiter nor Slanderous Tongue nor Lyar nor Whisperer Reproacher nor a Busie-body found amongst you for if there be it will leaven one another and bring Darkness and Death upon you Therefore as I said before Dwell in the Power of God in which you may keep Vnity Life Love and Peace and in which Power of God you may be drawn up out of Satan's Power into the Power of God in which is my Life and in it is my Habitation and Dwelling where I know the unspotted Garment hid from all the unclean Beasts Tongues Lips Hands and Eyes and Blessed are all you that keeps in the Power and have kept your first Habitation for you grow up as Calves in the Stall and such gad not abroad to change their ways for the Birth of the Flesh would have some outward thing to feed upon but the Birth of the Spirit reigns over it Farewell Lancaster Prison the 6th Day G. F. FRiends Epist 229. Let not your Knowledge be after the Flesh but in the Spirit Let not your Fellowship be in the Flesh but let it be in the Spirit So know Vnity in the Spirit and in the Gospel Let not your Affections be in the Flesh and on things below but let them be set on things that are above and on things that are heavenly above the things below Let not your Souls be subject to the Lower Power of Darkness which is out of the Truth lest you bring Destruction upon your own selves but let your Souls be subject to the Higher Power that is above the Lower Power of Darkness Let your Acquaintance and Familiarity be in the Spirit over that which would ensnare or entangle you and bring you not Bondage Let all your Minds be Heavenly and not Earthly Let all your Minds be Spiritual and kept above all that which is Carnal then they are kept out of Death in Life and in Peace For the Invisible is above all the Visible and the Immortal is above the Mortal and the Eternal is above the External and the Incorruptible is above the Corruptible As Life is above Death Life Light and Truth over the contraries and Truth is above Error and Falshood and Light is above Darkness and Righteousness is above Unrighteousness so the Goldy are above the Ungodly and Holy above the Prophane the Just is above the Unjust and the true Prophets and the true Ministers or Preachers and Apostles and the true Desciples are above all the False And the true Christ is above all the Anti-Christs and God is above the Devil and Virture is above Vice and the true Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth is above the false which is out of the Spirit and the Truth and the true Belief and Faith and Hope is above the false Belief which is Unbelief and the Living Faith is above the Dead Faith and the Hope that is the Anchor both sure and stedfast Anchors the Soul in the great Sea the World Sure Anchor when the Liviathan maketh a Storm among the Tongues Peoples Nations and Languages which are as Waters then the true Hope standeth and stayeth and is sure and stedfast and keeps the Soul up to God a-top of the Sea
of Iron Christ's Rod shall and will devour all the Serpents and Lying Wonders of the Spiritual Egypt and Sodom yea and all the Serpents that be in all Nations for all Nations are to be ruled by it And Moses Song was sung when his Rod had devoured the Serpents and the outward Egyptians in the Sea So the Lamb's Song shall be known as all the Spiritual Egyptians Serpents are devoured by Christ's Rod and the Spiritual Egyptians being overthrown in the Sea the Jews in Spirit shall rejoyce and sing the Song of the Lamb. The Abomination made Desolation that 's spoken of by Daniel the Prophet which should come in after the daily Sacrifice was taken way and should continue One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Days this Abomination that hath made Desolate from the Truth Light Life and the Power of God true Religion and true Worship and true Church and Fellowship So the Beast that John saw and speaks of which must continue Forty Two Months and the Whore the false Church upon the Beast which Beast should be Worshipped Forty Two Months the time of his continuing and the Whore should sit in her Scarlet the false Church upon the Beast The true Church this time has been in the Wilderness a Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Days which is now come out again and the Man-Child is come down from Heaven to Rule all with his Rod of Iron and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the Victory who make War in Righteousness and are going on Conquering and to Conquer And so you followers of the Lamb be faithful and valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and heed not your Native Soil but mind the Birth that 's born and brought forth from the Womb of Eternity that separates you from your Mother's Womb by which you believe in God and fear not Man what he can do unto you neither look at the Hills for Salvation for the Lord can make the Rocks a standing Pool and the Mountains Streams And therefore dwell in the Power of God which was before the Fall of Man was whose fallen Spirit persecutes those who are come to taste of the Power of Christ's Resurrection and Life and in this Power of God you will not be weary nor faint which was before the fallen Spirit was that doth assault you and in this Power you will have stability content comfort joy and peace and keep over that Spirit let it not have power over you that may receive the Truth in a Notion and may be a little Civilized by it that is ready to joyn with every gain-saying Core and is ready to wander after every strange thing that 's new and so will follow strange Flesh who are uncleansed by the Power of Truth and unestablished in it and such often hath their Religion to seek that lives in Questionings and Disputings in carnal Reasons out of the Power of God in which is the Fellowship the one thing which is Christ the Substance in which all Stability is felt which has little room in such Hearts G. F. ALL you Prisoners of the Lord for his Truths sake Epist 234. and for keeping the Testimony of Jesus Christ against all the evil Inventions Traditions Rudiments Will-Worships feigned Humilities and Self-Righteousness of them that be in the Fall who are out of God's Power and Righteousness who have no Weapons but Carnal like themselves Carnal Your Patience must overcome all these rough and hasty Spirits in the World and your Love must bear all things for Patience obtains the Crown which is Immortal which runs the Race So it is the Lamb must have the Victory over all the unclean airy Spirits and over him that is out of the Truth So be Meek and Low then you follow the Example of Christ and come to bear the Image of the Just who suffered by the Vnjast and put on his Righteousness who suffered by the Vnrighteous whose Back was struck and his Hair was pluck'd off and Face was spit upon and yet cried Father forgive them Here he kept his Dominion a Sufferer who had the Victory which the Followers of the Lamb do in Measure attain unto So put on Conrage put on Patience Let your Loyalty be known for your King that hath conquered the Devil Death and Hell in walking in Righteousness Peace and Truth feeling the Power of God teaching every one of you when that Words are not uttered And let your Faith be in the Power that goes through all things and over all things and every one hearken to it So the Power of the mighty God know the Arm and how it works and the Hand how it carries you which brings out of Tribulation and Thraldom and Spiritual Egypt into Peace And this is the Power of God in which you will feel to before Enmity was and be at Peace one with another then you live in the Prince of Peace his Kingdom and Dominion and Life in which is Vnity which was before Enmity was which destroys it And so in the Power of the Lord God you are made strong which goes over the Power of Darkness and was before it was which is out of the Power of God And all People that are from the Witness of God in their own particulars they are all weak and seeble and stagger All Men and Womens Strength is in the Power of God that goes over the Power of Darkness So feel all this to go through all and over all Preaching and working in you and let the Ear be lent to it and hearken to it in one another And by it feel the Seed raised up in one another which is Heir of the Power that you may know each your Portion For all People that be from the Witness of God in their own particulars that be erred from it and hate the Light they are full of Darkness Sin and Iniquity Inspiration and Revelation while their Minds are erred from the Spirit of God in themselves is hid from them So when their Minds are turned with the Light and Spirit of God towards God then with it they shall know something of Revelation and Inspiration as they are turned with that of God from the Evil and emptied of that then there will be some room in them for something of God to be revealed and inspired into them And therefore in that they will have Prophesies and seeing things to come being turned from the Evil that hath darkened them and separated them from God in which they will see the Covenant through which they will come to have Peace with God G. F. FRiends Epist 235. You who now come to suffer by a Land-Flood keep on the Rock for there is Safety though a Storm be in the Sea and the Flood be great and the Winds great and the Way rough and crooked the Seed Christ can make all plain And so think not the Winter and Cold Weather nor the Night long for the Lillies do grow and the Gardens do give a good
part through which wrong Liberty gets up which will bring a Plague into the Heart which is worse than an outward Plague O therefore consider the Life and the Power of God hath not the Supremacy in all your Hearts for I feel some Minds and some Bodies have let in that which hath defiled them and doth defile them O Cleanse cleanse cleanse and joyn to the pure Immortal Power for the Power of the Lord God will make room for it self either in cleansing or in vomiting or casting out them and that that doth not joyn to the Power of God Sodom that Whorish and Adulterous Spirit it must to the Fire and gainsaying Core into the Earth And it will throw down that which hath been lifted up The Beesom of the Lord is going forth to sweep the Candle of the Lord is lighted to search every corner of your Houses for the Just walks in the Path which is a shining Light which admits of no rubbish in it O come out of all these things which you have entertained in your Minds which you received not from them that came to minister unto you in the Beginning O dwell in the Power of the Lord God for to keep you low and take heed of getting up into Conceitedness and the Air and to set up that which pertains not to the Kingdom of God but to Strife which never the Apostles nor the Saints since in the Power of God set up for if you do the Power of God will sweep it and you all away And O you that come to be Vessels of Honour and Vessels of the Mercies of God have esteem of your Bodies for such as defile their Bodies are neither Vessels of Honour nor Vessels of the Mercies but of Wrath and are for the Wrath. Therefore keep out Strife keep out Fornication and the Adulterous Spirit keep out the Lusts of the Eye the Lusts of the Flesh and Pride of Life which is not of the Father that that which is of the Father may be received and have an entrance into every Vessel O be not lifted up with a vain Mind and let Balaam's Nature be slain that erreth from the Spirit and raiseth Stumbling-blocks and such as keep not their First Habitation in the Power of God and his Truth become Enemies to such as are Heirs of the Kingdom and the Power of an endless Life Therefore all Friends and People mind that which first convinced you that Power of God which first awakended you and arise and live in it that all your Eyes Minds and Hearts may be kept single and naked to God and to one another and uncloathed of all that which is contrary and is got up since For the Seed and the Life of Christ Jesus reigns and rules Glory to him for ever I have been uncapable to write or receive Writing along time or to speak or bear to be spoken to but have been as a Man buried alive for else I should have writ to you before now and therefore O Dear Friends give no occasion of stumbling keep tender for hardness of Heart is worse than an outward Plague for that brings Destruction many ways And so grieve not the Spirit in others nor in your selves And whatsoever is decent and comely follow honest and of a good report that makes for Peace and not for Strife under pretence of Love for that 's not of God For God who is Love is not the Author of Strife and Confusion but of Peace So I desire you to let Copies of this be sent into Virginia Maryland and New-England to be read amongst Friends in all their Meetings Things are pretty well here Friends being in Love and Unity and the Dread of the Lord God is amongst us who reigns and will reign G. F. An Epistle to be read in all the Assemblies of the Righteous ALL my Dear Friends every where Epist 245. live in the Noble Seed Christ Jesus the Saviour and the anointed One and the Righteous Holy One that your Minds Hearts Souls Spirits and Bodies may be Righteous living in the Righteousness of Christ Jesus in all Love Vertue Truth and Holiness without which none can see God For the Lord loveth the Righteous and the Righteous are in Peace and all Workers of Iniquity their Mouths shall be stopp'd The Throne of Iniquity must down and the Chamber of Imagery in every Heart for the Lord must have the Heart for it is to be his Offering and Sacrifice All Lips must be pure and Hands clean that confess the Lord Jesus Christ and all Tongues and Eyes single to God and one to another and all mind the Lord's Business in the Truth and be given up to him and in it serving the Lord God in newness of Life that all your Feet may be guided in the Way of Peace and to walk uprightly before the Lord in his Way which is Christ Jesus the Light which is Perfect This is the Way of the Just which is a shining Light and in this Way is the Living God well pleased with you And you that grow rich in the World in earthly things who have had a stirring in you formerly in the Service of God take heed lest your Minds run into your outward Businesses about outward things and therein be lifted up above the good and just Spirit and so leave the Service of the Lord and his Business in minding your own For outward Riches and the things of this World will pass away with the outward Riches therein for they have Wings but the Word of the Lord which lives and abides and endures for ever will remain Labour for the Riches of it for that will endure with you and seek the Kingdom of God which will never have an end that stands in Righteousness and in Holiness in which you have Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost then all outward things will follow which is below So that in Righteousness Holiness and Truth as just Men and holy Men and Men fearing God and as righteous Men Sons and Servants and Children of God you may all live in all Righteousness Holiness Pureness Truth Justice and Equity in all manner of Life and Conversation so that your Conversations may shine as Lights of the World knowing that all Unrighteousness Uncleanness Unholiness Unjustice Untruth and Impurity is not of God but is out of the Kingdom of God and likewise all Cheaters and Cozeners who do enrich themselves by Falshood and all Drunkards Adulterers Whoremongers Fornicators Murderers Idolaters and Lyars these Works and Workers are out of the Kingdom of God and his Power and they are of their Father the Devil who is out of the Truth And therefore in the Truth live which the Devil and his Works are out of and that Truth makes you free In which Truth and Spirit is God worshipped All that do violence cursed Speakers and Swearers are out of the Truth and the Command of Christ Jesus and therefore live you in the Love of God in
the 16th of the 9th Month 1666. G F. DEar Friends Dwell in the gentle Wisdom of the Lord God Epist 247. which is easie to be intreated and let not Wilfulness Hastiness and Impatience lay open your Nakedness to the World but dwell in the Power Seed and Life of Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God that with that ye all may be kept Cloathed in Patience and in the Love of the Lord God and in the Light in which is the Vnity one with another and with God And in the peaceable Mind and Spirit dwell for the Patient Sufferer weareth the Crown and hath the Victory at last and not the hasty agravating revengeful killing and fighting Spirit which must be crushed down with the Seed of the Lord God that bruiseth the Serpent's Head which is the cause of Enmity Venom and Poyson which Head being bruised down with the Seed and Life then nothing is fed upon but Life and Glory And in that is the Peace G. F. FRiends Keep your Meetings in the Power of the Lord God Epist 248. that hath gathered you and none quench the Spirit nor despise Prophesying An Exhortation to set up Womens Meetings but keep up your Testimony in Publick and Private Let not the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings be stopp'd nor the Seed in Male or Female but all be Valiant for the Lord's Truth upon the Earth Concerning the Womens Meetings encourage all the Women of Families that are convinced and mind Vertue and love Truth and walk in it that they may come up into God's Service that they may be serviceable in their Generation and in the Creation and come into the Practice of the pure Religion which you have received from God from above that every One may come to know their Duty in it and their Service in the Power and Wisdom of God For now the practick Part is call'd for For People must not be always Talking and Hearing but they must come into Obedience to the Great God of Heaven and Earth And so that none may stand idle out of the Vineyard and out of the Service and out of their Duty for such will Talk and Tattle and Judge with evil Thoughts of what they in the Vineyard say and do And therefore the Power of the Lord God calls in all into their Duty into their Service in their Places in Vertue and Righteousness and into the Wisdom and Power of God For all that are out of this are out of their Duty and Services tho' they may have the Knowledge of it yet are not serviceable in the Creation nor in their Generation and the Power of God must go over and is over all such in which all must be acted and in which true Obedience is known And therefore train up your young Women to know their Duty in this thing that they may be in their Services and Places Young Women to be Instructed for all Truth 's Business you are to do in the Power and Wisdom of God by which you are kept open to the Lord to receive of his Gifts and Graces and of his Life through which you are to minister one to another And all keeping in it then there is none to lett nor stop its Flowings but through it you are all watered as a Garden of Plants by which you are nourished And so all be Faithful and Diligent And make all the sober Women both of Town and Country acquainted with this thing And read this in your Monthly Meetings when you are gathered together And when you have made the sober Women acquainted in the Towns and Countries and have them together then read this amongst them So no more but my Love G. F. A General Epistle to Friends and all People to read over and consider in the Fear of God BLessed are all those whose Minds are staid upon the Lord Epist 249. for they shall be kept in Perfect Peace I. Concerning the Word of God and the Original what it is so where the Mind is staid upon the Lord there is a Perfect Peace for it is a whole Peace which cannot be broken So here is not only a Perfect Peace but a Blessing a Perfect Peace which comes from the God of all Peace that bruiseth the Serpent's Head under your Feet the Troubler and the Blessings which come from the blessed God Perfect Peace in God only and not in the Creatures So all imperfect Peace may be broken that is when the Mind is staid upon the Creature or in any Creature and not upon the Creator or in any outward Things Goods Houses Lands or Inventions of Vanities in the foolish vain Fashions which the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life go into which will defile and corrupt it When any of these things fail and are not according to your Mind it being in them then your Peace is broken and you are cross and brittle and Envy gets up So this is not a perfect Peace but is a broken Peace and then you have the Trouble and not the Blessing And the Reason is because your Minds are in the Creatures and the outward Things and are not staid upon the Creator where the perfect Peace is and the Blessing where nothing can get betwixt you and the Lord. And this is below Job to have the Mind in the Creatures and visible things for when you are tried and Creatures fail you you are cross'd and troubled that shews an imperfect State for God said That Job was a perfect Man And when that the Lord suffered him to be tried and when that his Goods and Houses were thrown down and driven away and Servants killed he said Blessed be the Name of the Lord for the Lord gave and the Lord taketh Here his Mind was staied upon the Lord and he retained his Peace And when that his Children were destroyed and his Wife said to him What dost thou still retain thy Integrity Curse God and die he rebukes her and calls her A foolish Woman and said unto her Shall I receive good of the Lord and not evill Naked I came out of my Mother's Womb and naked I must return Here Job kept his Integrity still and did not all this while offend with his Lips Now many of you who think your selves high and above Job if that your Goods and Children should be after the same manner taken away whose Minds are in them you would be found in a troubled brickle State far below Job And when that Job's Friends came to reason with him who kept his Integrity and would no way yield to them they counted him an Hypocrite and said He restrained Prayer and filled his Belly with East-wind and said What shall mortal Man be more pure than his Maker Shall Man that is born of a Woman be just God chargeth his Angels with Folly and the Heavens are not clear in his Sight And these are the Scriptures the Priests use to bring against Friends who keep their Integrity
from the Jews Synagogue and Temple and likewise the Gentiles into the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name and there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven but by the Name of Jesus into which the true Gathering is where all know their Salvation And so who are gathered into the Name of Jesus are gathered into his Power and Authority For you know when a Tax or Assesment is gathered in the Name of the Head or Heads of a Nation it comes with Power and Authority and you obey it either actively or passively And so who are gathered in the Name of Jesus they are gathered in the Power of the Second Adam whose Power and Authority is above the Power of the First Adam's Sons and Daughters by which Power and in whose Names their People are gathered but Christ whose Name is above every Name there is no Salvation by any other under Heaven but by the Name of Jesus and they that are gathered in this Name of Jesus by his Power in which they know their Salvation they do see that there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven nor Gathering by which they gather they bid Farewel to all other Names and Gatherings under Heaven as knowing there is no Salvation but in the Name of Jesus and this fulfils Jacob's Prophesie who said The Lawgiver shall not depart from between Judah 's Feet until Shilo come and the Gathering of all Nations shall be unto him So then it 's clear if the Gathering of all Nations be unto Christ they must forsake all that into which they were gathered before And therefore that makes all the Heads of the National Ways to be angry that holds them up and with such The Lamb makes War in Righteousness going on Conquering and to Conquer that he may Rule whose right it is that he might subdue all things to himself in whose Name all things are to be done and to whom all People are to be gathered whom God hath given for Salvation to the ends of the Earth And likwise this doth fulfil Moses prophesie who said Like unto me will God raise up a Prophet whom in all things the People shall hear who is the Salvation to the ends of the Earth to whom the Gathering of all Nations must be and they who are gathered in his Name do and must hear him in all things by whom all things were made and created who was glorified with the Father before the World began A Warning to all to keep out of the vain Fashions of the World which lead them below the Serious Life and not to Fashion themselves according to the World FRiends Keep out of the vain Fashions of the World Epist 250. let not your Eyes and Minds and Spirits run after every Fashion in Apparel of the Nations for that will lead you from the Solid Life into unity with that Spirit that leads to follow the Fashions of the Nations after every Fashion of Apparel that gets up But mind that which is sober and modest and keep to your plain Fashions that therein you may judge the World whose Minds and Eyes are in What they shall put on and what they shall eat And Friends that see the World so often alter their Fashions if you follow them and run into them in that ye cannot judge the World but the World will rather judge you Therefore keep all in the Modesty and Plainness and Fervency and Sincerity and be Circumspect for they that follow those things that the World's Spirit invents daily cannot be Solid and many Fashions might be instanced both of Hats Caps and Cloaths of Men and Women that daily are invented which they that run into them are near unto the World's Spirit and their Eyes are gazing after them when they should be upon the Lord from whom they should receive Judgment Therefore all keep down that Spirit of the World that runs into so many Fashions to please the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life And Fashion not your selves according to your former Lust of Ignorance and let the time past be sufficient in which you have lived according to the Lusts of Men and the Course of the World that the rest of your time you may live to the Will of God taking no thought what ye shall Eat what ye shall Drink or what ye shall put on that therein your Lives may judge the Heathen and that you may be as the Lillies For nothing you brought into the World neither any thing shall you take out And therefore while the Eye is gazing after every new Fashion and the Mind and Desire is thirsting to get it when it has it it lifts up the Mind and so brings under the Judgment of them that be in the sober Life and of the World also and to be like them Therefore take heed of the World's Fashions lest ye be moulded up into their Spirit and that will bring you to slight Truth and lift up the wrong Eye and wrong Mind and wrong Spirit and hurt and blind the pure Eye and pure Mind and quench the Holy Spirit and through such foolish Toys and Fashions and fading things you may lose your Conditions Therefore take heed of the World's Vanity and trust not in uncertain Riches neither covet the Riches of this World but Seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof and all other things will follow and let your Minds be above the costly and vain Fashions of Attire but mind the hidden Man of the Heart which is a meek and a quiet Spirit which is of great Price with the Lord And keep to Justice and Truth in all your Dealings and Tradings at a Word and to the form of sound Words in the Power of the Lord and in Equity in Yea and Nay in all your Dealings that your Lives and Conversations may be in Heaven and above the Earth that they may preach to all that you have to deal withal so that you may be as a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid and as Lights of the World answering the equal Principle in all that God in all things may be glorified So that you may pass your time here with Fear as Pilgrims and Strangers and Sojourners having an Eye over all things that are uncertain as Cities Houses Lands Goods and as things below possess them as if ye did not and they that Marry as if they did not yet as having a City whose Maker and Builder is God and a Possession of an Inheritance that will never fade away in which you have Riches that will abide with you Eternally G. F. MY Dear Friends in the Truth and Seed of God Epist 251. in which is Purity and Life let that flow from the Head to the Feet that Righteousness and Judgment may run down our Streets as a stream For now Friends are become a People gathered in the holy Name of Jesus Therefore
Enmity or Adversary was And all such as cry Away with your Laws we will have none of your Laws To such as come to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and puts down that Authority which Life was before Death and Sin was and remains when it is gone and in the Life in Christ Jesus is the Saints Fellowship and Vnity and Bond of Peace All such as cry against Laws so much are the Sons of Belial and would be without the Yoke of the Law of the Son of God Such always were the stirrers up of Mischief and Schism from the Body and they took Liberty to say any thing as ye may read in the Book of Kings in the Days of Jezebel and in the Days of Stephen and yet these that cry so much against Laws yet they live themselve in the Law of Sin and Death which they obey when they do Evil who are without the Understanding of the Righteous Law which the Righteous live in and sees Therefore such must be exhorted and reproved if they go under the Name of Quakers and are not in the Life That Justice Judgment and Righteousness may flow as a River and as a Stream and drive away all the Filth from among us that nothing but the Power of God and the Life of Truth may amongst us rule that the Living God which hath blessed you with his heavenly Riches and Mercies and largely manifested them among you may be in all things honoured magnified and exalted To whom all belongs God over all blessed for ever So that every one may adorn the Truth and the Gospel and mind the Lord's Business above their own And every one be tender of the Glory of God and be careful that in no ways his Name and Truth be dishonoured So let this be read in all your Men and Womens Meetings who are to take notice of all such things So no more but my Love in the Vniversal Seed of God which never sinned which is First and Last the Top and Corner-Stone G. F. For Friends in the Ministry scattered abroad in Virginia Maryland New-England Barbadoes and other Plantatations beyond the Sea TO all you that minister abroad in those Parts Epist 252. this is the Word of the Lord to you all Live in Lowliness of Mind and Meekness of Spirit and Pureness of Heart and be Examples in your Lives and Chaste in your Conversations in Holiness of Mind that you may be a good Savour amongst the People where you come Let all ungracious light unseasoned Expressions be kept out of your Minds and Mouths which edifies not the New Life and keep single unto God and single-hearted to Man and plain in all things and low For it is the Word of the Lord and the Light of God that Prophesieth and Revealeth the Dispensation of the Gospel of Christ unto People Be ye faithful in it Epist 252. and walk answerable to it and to that holy Gift or Manifestation of Prophesie And let none be lifted up with it for Life brings low and down as you are kept in the Holiness of it and the Wisdom of God through which you answer that of God in all This doth not hinder the effect of that which you have to minister but the Life is opened to receive it in walking and answering that which you have to minister tho' the contrary part may rise up against you Be at Vnity amongst your selves that you may not make Sects nor Schisms or stumble the Weak For you know that cursed Spirit that made Rents and got into the Affections and uppermost Part of People hath buried the Witness of God in many and made open Rents which may break also into other Ages against Truth and them that live in it which in time will wither and fade away as Grass upon the House top and their Arrows will turn into their own Bowels that are shot against the Righteous both of the Professor and Prophane And so be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth abhorring all Vncleanness and Vnrighteousness flying all youthful Ways and fond Affections below being kept above them shewing the new Life to them that be in the Old and a New Conversation to them that be in the Vain and Gentleness to all the Perverse and Straightness to all the Crooked and Plainness to all the Rough and Lowliness to all the Mountains of Ungodliness and Unrighteousness for the Lamb must have the Victory And so you may be one another's Crown Joy and Rejoycing in the Lord and not one another's Sorrow and Grief And so that all may be brought to the Witness of God which first convinced them who have run out and to the Life to answer it through which you may come to have Vnity with God and with them in the Eternal and Everlasting Life And some of you should take some of the eminent true good and upright Friends and go and discourse with some of the Heathen Kings desiring them to gather their Council and People together that you may declare God's Everlasting Truth and his Everlasting Way of Life and Salvation to them knowing that Christ is the Promise of God to them a Covenant of Light to the Gentiles which is the Heathen who is also the New Covenant to the Jews for you have been amongst the old rotten-hearted Professors and seen the Power of the Lord come over them So now turn to the Gentiles to whom Christ is given for a Covenant of Light and of Salvation to the Ends of the Earth So that the Light must be preached and sounded throughout all the Heathen Kings and Princes Countries and therefore as you feel and are moved about Six or more Persons living in those Parts near unto them to go with you as I said and desire the King to gather his Council and Subjects together that they may hear that which hath been promised to them God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life and Salvation to the Ends of the Earth And so be faithful in his Power which was before the Devil was who hath darkned People and set them one against another You having on the Armour of Light which was before the Power of Darkness and which must stand against them and having on the Breast-Plate of Righteousness that you may stand against all Vnrighteousness and the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which was before the World was through which you may savour and discern in Wisdom and in Vnderstanding you may judge and feel by the Word of Reconciliation committed to God's Servants his Sons and his Daughters which Word of Faith is now preached even the same which was amongst the Apostles which all must obey and do which reconciles to God and to just Mens Spirits and to one another So no more but my Love to you all in the Everlasting Seed of God that
Vpright and Watchful that wait upon the Lord to see such things and for the Priests People and others that come into your Meetings and see you that come together to Worship God and to meet together to wait upon him and to have Fellowship in his Spirit for you to sit Nodding it is a shame and an unseemly thing Therefore be Careful and Watchful and let it be mended and mind the Light and Power of Christ Jesus in you and that will condemn all such things and lead you out of and above such things and make you watchful one over another for your Good Let this be read in all your Meetings G. F. DEar Friends in the Truth of God that changeth not Epist 258. is my Love to you in that which is unfeigned and everlasting in the same Power and the same Seed of Life as ever was and was at the first going forth among you And so Friends the Lord in his everlasting and mighty Power hath moved some to go over in those parts to Declare his Word of Life and Everlasting Gospel And some have not walked afterwards as becometh the Gospel both them that have declared it and them who have received it whereby there hath been a stop to the progress of the Truth and Power of God that it hath not had its full Course and by that burdens have been brought upon the Just and Innocent and the Mouths of the World instead of stopping them they have opened them to speak evil of the Truth and Way of God And so Friends this is the thing in short and plainness all that have come over into your Plantations and Islands either to Minister or Plant or as Passengers to see the Country or Sea-men Masters of Ships Factors or Merchants that have dishonoured the Lord God and his Truth and have opened the Mouths of the World to Blaspheme God and to speak Evil of his Way and Holy Truth that the Righteous live in Such I say before mentioned that have gotten into Drunkeness or Loosness in Words and Life and have not been faithful in their Dealings or have shewed any immodest Carriages or are gotten up into those things which the Power of God did not set up in the beginning which faithful Friends have continued in and have gone into Sects and Jangles which is out of the Power of God which Friends are in who keep their Habitations in Christ Jesus in whom there is Peace And all such likewise who are gone into Uncleanness and such who pretend to preach the Gospel and are sate down in the Earth like Demas and have forsaken the Gift of God and sit down in the Earth and esteemed the Earth before it and so set up their own Business and slighted the Lord's And such who are gotten into the rotten Principles of the Ranters who wear their Hats when Friends pray who out of the Wisdom of God would manifest to the World a Separation and to shew that they are not of the Spirit Power and Mind as Friends were in at the first As also all such that raise false Reports which are forbidden by the Lord among his People These things are to be searched out to the bottom that Righteousness and Truth may flow and have its passage through all Hearts and all may come to the Habitation which they had at the first and all that is contrary may come to Judgment and Condemnation For the House must be swept and cleansed of all the things above-mentioned that hath gotten into any that all may come up into the Sanctified Life for the Ancient of Days is come and the Judgment is set and they that have kept their Habitations witness this And therefore Friends this is my Advice to you I would have you to gather up a List of all these things aforementioned in all your Istands and Plantations let them be searched throughly that what is for Judgment and Condemnation may be brought to it and that you may send an Account to Friends at London of such that come from thence that have been since Scandalous in their Conversations So that every one may come to that which did at first Convince them and to condemn their contrary Actions And that Papers may be sent to the World who have known their Transgressions to clear Truth and Friends and to fetch it out of their Mouths that so they may not feed upon any ones Transgressions that the Miscarriages of some may not be charged on the Body of Friends G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 259. be faithful in the Truth which the Devil is out of in which Truth you have Dominion over him And live in the Power of God which was before the Devil was in which Power of God which is the Gospel is your Fellowship And live in the Light which was before Darkness was and the Power of it in which Light is also your Everlasting Fellowship and in this you will know God's dwelling which is in the Light And dwell in the Life which was before Death was and the Devil the Power of it and in this Life you will have Dominion over Death and the Power of it And so you do well that take heed to the Light and walk in it and they that do Evil do not take heed to the Light And so walk in the Light as Children of the Light and in that ye will have Fellowship one with another and with the Son and the Father And so mind the Ingrafted Word which is able to save your Souls and that will keep your Eyes and Minds over all that which is not able to save and keep your Feet on the top of that And so be of that good Faith which gives you victory and access to God in which you do all please God and have Unity one with another And so mind the Seed Christ which is over all that which makes to Suffer and was before that was and will stand when that is gone that makes to suffer in that Seed live and know it your Crown and Life and in that you will be one anothers Crown and Joy in the Lord God blessed for ever And so keep your Meetings in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ that never fell and the Seed Christ reigns in whom you have Life that was with the Father before the World began G. F. DEar Friends If the Truth make you free then are ye free indeed Epist 260. So then there are none made Free-men but by Truth and all that are Free-men they are made free by the Truth they are God's Free-men they are Free-Citizens they are Free-Holders of an Everlasting Inheritance and free of an Everlasting Kingdom and they are Free-Heirs of Salvation and they are free of the heavenly City Jerusalem which is from above and they are free of the Power of an Endless Life which was before Death was So they are not Captives they are not Bond-men they are not Servants nor Slaves But
Jerusalem as in Zachary 14.12 So the outward Jew had but one Temple in the whole World and there they went to Worship in it and the Priest had a Chamber in the Temple And when Christ came he ended the Priesthood he ended the Offerings and the Temple and the Worship therein of the outward Jews and set up another Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth For when the Woman of Samaria that came to Jacob's Well said unto Christ How that our Father 's Worshipped in this Mountain where Jacob's Well was and the Well was made before Jerusalem was or the Temple either for Jacob died in Egypt and after him his Sons came out of Egypt and builded a Temple in Jerusalem and so there they set up a place of Worship after the Well was made So Christ said unto the Woman The Hour is coming and now is that they that Worship the Father must Worship him in Spirit and Truth and not at Jerusalem nor at this Mountain is God worshipped For God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth And then did Christ set up his Worship which was before the Popes Turks Common-Prayer Presbyterian Independant and other Worships were and the Worship that Christ Jesus set up was in the Spirit and in the Truth Now where is this Spirit and where is this Truth Is it not within People So as the Jew outward was to Worship in the Temple and there was but that one Temple commanded of God to be built which Christ came to end who set up his Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth So seeing the true Worship is in the Spirit and in the Truth and the Truth is within you in the inward parts the Spirit of God is within you you must not grieve vex nor quench it And so every Man and Woman in the whole World must come to the Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts by which they must know the God of Truth who is a Spirit and to feel the Spirit in their own Hearts and in the Spirit of Truth to Worship the God of Truth who is a Spirit So now as the Jew outward was to offer his Sacrifice in the outward Temple and no where else which Temple is now thrown down he is not a Jew who is one outward but he is a Jew who is one inward in the Spirit and in the Truth and so all ye Jews inward in the Spirit ye must worship in the Truth and in the Spirit And so the Jew inward can worship no where but in the Temple What Temple It is not a Temple that is made with Hands The Jews outward worshipped in the Temple that was made with Hands but the Jew inward his worship is to be in the Spirit and in the Truth and in a Temple not made with Hands So to worship in the Spirit and in the Truth is to worship in the Temple and no where else And so every Man and Woman in the whole World must worship in the Temple What Temple The Temple that is not made with Hands Where the Spirit of Truth is Know ye not that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost that is to say the Holy Spirit And so every Man and Woman must be brought to Truth in their own Hearts and brought to the Spirit of God in their own Hearts This is the standing and perfect Worship and it will stand when all the Worships of old Adam are gone and when the Jews and Turks and Christians Worships that be not in the Truth are gone For this is a standing and perfect Worship the Spirit of God is Perfect And this is an Universal Worship and brings every individual Man and Woman to the Spirit of God in their own Hearts This makes no Sect but every one in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace is in the Truth which the Enmity is out of And this Spiritual Worship is in the Spirit and Truth Christ Jesus the Spiritual Man the Heavenly Man which the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven set up above Sixteen hundred Years since And so every one is to be in it and to walk in the Truth and in the Spirit and to come to the Truth in their own particulars For that Spirit makes Sects which persecutes People for not following them but they are all to Worship in that Spiritual Worship which Christ Jesus set up and every Son and Daughter of Adam is to come to the Truth and Spirit in their own Hearts and so in that Spirit and Truth to Worship the God of Truth who is a Spirit for he seeketh such to Worship him And Christ persecuted none for not following his Worship but all are condemned by the Spirit in their own selves who grieves it and vexes and quenches it and all are Condemned with the Light and Truth that hate it who will not come to it but hate it So they all that Persecute about Religion run into Heaps and Sects and Darkness and are with the Light condemned And so none can Worship the God of Truth but who comes to the Truth in their own Hearts and none can Worship God who is a Spirit but who comes to the Spirit of God in their own Hearts which mortifies Sin and Evil which Spirit leads into all Truth So every one who is a Jew inward must Worship in the Spirit and Truth and every one must be brought to the Temple which is not made with Hands and to Worship in the Spirit which Christ set up who is the Spiritual Man Carnal Men may set up Worships who have not the same Spirit and Power the Apostles had And such leads People into Sects and Heaps and leads People out of the Spirit and persecutes one another about their Worships which is not the Way of Truth nor the Command of Christ but on the contrary to love one another So all that Worship in the Spirit and Truth comes to the Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts and loves one another and loves Enemies And so as the outward Jews Priests had Chambers in the Temple which Priests Chambers and Temple Christ hath ended So let Christ Jesus now have a Chamber in your Temple to sanctifie your Temple and cleanse your Temple that the Glory of the Lord may fill your Temple The Jews Priests were to cleanse the Temple and when they had cast the Rubbish out of it the Glory of the Lord filled their Temple And so Christ as I said before hath ended the Jews Priests Chambers and Temple And so all ye who are Jews inward in the Spirit let Christ your Priest have a Chamber in your Temple that he may cleanse your Temple and cast the Rubbish out of it which is come in by Transgression who doth renew you up into the Image of God as Adam and Eve were in before they fell so that the Glory of the Lord may fill your Temple And so as the
they the Secrets of God to preach which are revealed to them that fear him And that is the Spirit of Darkness from the Prince of Darkness that is out of the Fellowship of the Gospel where is Enmity which speaks it self sufficiently abroad among all their Fellowships and into this Fellowship of the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was he cannot get And the Righteousness hath been lost since the Apostles days therefore People have been found in their own Self-Righteousness and Vnrighteousness and therefore they are all found out of Peace with God and with Christ and one with another for where there is Righteousness there is Peace And Sanctification hath been lost since the Apostles days therefore both Teachers and Hearers are found in Vncleanness and preach up the Body of Death and Sin and a Purgatory and so have forsaken him that should sanctifie them and make them clean And the Sanctifying Belief hath been lost since the Apostles days for he that Believes is born of God and he that Believes in the Light may become a Child of the Light every one that cometh into the World are enlightned by Christ that they should believe in the Light as he commands them and so become Children of the Light and he that believes overcomes the World And if there be no overcoming on this side of the Grave as the World's Preachers made of Men say then there is no true Believing on this side of the Grave and therefore the World is not overcome in them and he that is their God is of the World also For he that believes overcomes the World for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World So this greater overcomes the less and he that Believes passes from Death and Sin that brings Death and the Devil the Power of Death So becomes a Child of Light and of the Day and of the Light which was before Darkness was or the Prince of it for this is the Belief that overcomes the World that sanctifies the Unbelieving Husband and the Unbelieving Wife else their Childeen were unholy but now they are clean 1 Cor. 7.14 For this Belief is greater than he that is of the World which overcomes him that would defile for this Belief in Christ which passes from Death to Life it takes away the root of Sin and Iniquity which is complained of in the Scriptures which they were born in though they had the Law which made nothing perfect which took hold of their outward Actions or Branches but this Belief makes the Root holy and if the Root be holy the Branches that springs from the Root will be holy also And all you that preach up a Body of Sin and Iniquity and that you must have a Body of Sin and Death unto the Grave and a Purgatory when you are Dead Neither Man nor Woman of you do believe aright for the Believing Wife sanctifies the Unbelieving Husband and the Believing Husband sanctifies the Unbelieving Wife else their Children were unclean but now they are holy So from this Sanctifying Belief you are all erred since the Apostles days But have made Beliefs and Creeds of your own and then say there is no overcoming on this side of the Grave you may as well say there is no true Belief G. F. An Exhortation to keep to the Ancient Principles of Truth FRiends Epist 263. Keep at a word in all your Dealings without Oppression And keep to the sound Language Thou to every one And keep your Testimony against the World's vain Fashions And keep your Testimony against the Hireling Priests and their Tithes and Maintenance And against the old Mass-houses and the repairing of them And against the Priests and the World 's joyning in Marriages And your Testimony against Swearing and the World 's corrupt Manners And against all Loosness Pleasures and Prophaness whatsoever And against all the World 's evil Ways vain Worships and Religions and to stand up for God's And to see that restiution be made by every one that hath done wrong to any And that all Differences be made up speedily that they do not fly abroad to corrupt Peoples Minds And that all Reports be stop'd that tend to the defaming one another And Friends Live all in the Power of the Lord God and in his Truth Light and Life that with it you may all with one Heart Soul and Mind keep Dominion and in the Light Life Truth and Power of God do true judgment Justice and Truth Righteousness and Equity in all your Men and Women's Meetings without favour or affection to Relations Kingdreds and Acquaintance or any Respect of Persons for if you do not so Judgment will come upon you from God to put you down from your Places For the Power of God Light Life and Truth respects not any but Justice Truth Righteousness and Equity c. Let Mercy overshadow the judgment Seat and let Mercy be mixt with Judgment Take heed of Foolish Pity and if you be not diligent against all Prophaness Sin Iniquity and Vncleanness Loosness and Debauchery and that which dishonoureth God then you let those things come up upon you which you should be a-top of and subdue and keep down with Righteousness and the Truth and the Power of God And in all your Men and Women's Meetings let all things be done in Love which doth edifie the Body and let nothing be done in Strife and vain Glory but keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace And let all things be done in the Wisdom of God which is pure and gentle from above above the Earthly which is below sensual and devilish And take heed of hurting any concerning Marriages if the thing be right through any earthly Reasoning lest they do worse And so all be diligent for the Lord God and his Truth upon the Earth and the Inheritance of a Life that hath no end that you may live in that Seed that is blessed for evermore And be diligent in all your Meetings and see to the setting forth of Apprentices all Fatherless and poor Friends Children and that all the poor Widows be carefully look'd after that nothing may be lacking among you then all will be well And keep your Testimony against all the filthy Raggs of the old World and for your fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ Jesus And keep your Testimony for your Liberty in Christ Jesus and stand fast in it against all the false Liberties in old Adam and your Liberty in the Spirit of God and in the Gospel of Christ Jesus against all the false and loose Liberties in the Flesh And train up all your Children in the Fear of the Lord and in his New Covenant Christ Jesus as the Jews did their Children and Servants in the old Covenant and so do you admonish your Children and Servants And let no Man or any live to themselves but in that Love that seeks not her own And
have an Eye over them that come to spy out your Liberty in Christ and will report out of your Meetings things to make Advantage and to the defaming of Persons And let every one seek the good of one another and their Wellfare in the Truth and make others Condition their own and this keeps as a Father and Mother to condescend to a Child And all live in the Seed which hath the Blessing and in the Wisdom by which you may order all things to God's Glory over the evil Seed that is out of the Truth And if any one hath any thing to say in opposition to the matter of Marriages propounded by any to the Meeting such Friend or Friends to make it known what they have against the Parties to such as are appointed by the Meeting to enquire into the Clearness of the Parties who laid their Intentions before the Meeting And such Friends as have Intentions of Marriage first to lay it before the Men and Women of the Monthly Meeting they belong to and to see that things are Clear before they are brought to the Two Weeks Meeting And if any Difference arise either about Marriages or any other Case in the Two Weeks Meetings that the Business be presently referred to Six Friends to have a hearing of the Matter another day or else for them to go forth and determine it presently and not to discourse it in the open Meeting And if any Legacy be left by any deceased Friend to a particular Use as to putting forth Apprentices and breeding up poor Friends Children that the said Money be kept distinct as a Stock for the said Use and a particular Account thereof to be kept And the Quarterly or Six Weeks Meetings to see that the said Monies be disposed of to the Uses as aforesaid And if any of the principal Money so given be at any time made Use of to any other Use that it be again made up by the Meeting of Friends in General And though the Money be left or given to any particular Friend for the Use aforesaid yet the same to be paid to Two or Three Persons whom the Quarterly Meeting or Six Weeks Meeting shall appoint to receive such Money that so the Meeting may have the Ordering and Disposing of the said Money to the best Advantage and Use intended And that Friends do keep in their Testimony against the vain Fashions of the World and all Loosness and Vncleanness whatsoever and againsT all Prophane idle Tipling and taking Tobaccor in Coffee-Houses and Ale-Houses which is an ill Savour And against all Strife and Contention whatsoever And that some Friends be appointed at every Meeting to keep the Doors to keep down rude Boys and unruly Spirits that so the Meetings may be kept Civil and Quiet And if one Friend hath any thing against another let him not treasure it up till the time of his Marriage and then cast it upon him publickly but let him presently speak to the Friend and also to them that the Meeting hath appointed to see after his Clearness c. And that things may not be deferred too long at the Two Weeks Meeting concering Marriages but that they may be answered in a short time lest they be put to a strait in the Matter And stop all bad Reports for thou shalt not raise a falfe Report upon my People saith the Lord and minister Justice upon it presently so that no Man or Woman may be defiled or defamed with such things Read this in the Men and Womens Meetings in the Fear of the Lord as often as you see occasion and record it in your Book G. F. An Additional Extract from other of G. F's Epistles both of former and later Dates more largely speaking to things contained in the Paper foregoing with some new Matters recommended to Friends by him from time to time to be taken notice of at their Quarterly and other Meetings FRiends Fellowship must be in the Spirit Epist 264. and all Friends must know one another in the Spirit and Power of God And in all the Meetings of the County Two or Three may be appointed from them to go to the Quarterly Meetings for to give Notice one to another if there be any that walk not in the Truth and have been convinced and gone from the Truth and so have dishonoured God And likewise if any that profess the Truth follow Pleasures Drunkenness Gaming 's or are not faithful in their Callings and Dealings nor Honest nor Just but run into Debt and so bring a Scandal upon the Truth Friends may give Notice to the Quarterly Meeting if there be any such and some may be ordered to go and Exhort them and bring in their Answers to the next Quarterly Meeting And so to query and search out all such as live not as becomes the Truth and the Gospel and yet do profess it so that they all may walk in it as well as talk of it for none hath the heavenly Comfort of it but who do walk in it For all the Talkers of Christ and his Gospel that do not walk in him disthonour him And all Uncleanness and Loosness in all your Meetings Judge and Condemn with the Light Power and Spirit of Christ so that nothing may reign among you but that which doth glorifie God and Christ And to admonish all them that be Careless and Slothful to Diligence in the Truth and Service for God and to bring forth heavenly Fruits to God that they may mind the good Works of God and do them in believing in his Son and shew it forth in their Conversations and to deny the Devil and his bad Works and not to do them And to seek them that be lost or driven away from the Truth into the Devil's dark Wilderness by his dark Power seek them again by the Truth and by the Truth and Power of God bring them to God again And to see that all that come amongst Friends and profess Truth keep to Yea and Nay in their Dealings and Communications in Justice and Equity and not in Oppression And that in all the Monthly Meetings there be an Inquiry whether any that profess Truth are out of the pure Language Thou to every one whether they keep up God and Christ's Language that the Holy Prophets and Apostles used over all the flattering Words in the World And Friends my Desire is That ye all may be preserved in the Lord's Power and in his Everlasting Seed and so in the Order of the Gospel and in the Government of Christ Jesus of the Increase of which there is no end And that ye may keep up your ancient Testimony in the Power and Spirit of God against Tithes and that ye may keep up your ancient Testimony in the sincere Life for Christ your High-Priest against the Heireling Priests and their Old Temples manifesting that ye are the Temples of God And let Inquiry be made concerning all such among Friends as do pay Tithes which
makes void the Testimony and Sufferings of our Brethren who have suffered many of them to Death by which many Widows and Fatherless have been made and which is contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles and the Doctrine of the Martyrs and contrary to the Doctrine of the Righteous in this present Age all which are to be inquired into and to be exhorted to Faithfulness therein And that ye may keep your ancient Testimony for the Church which is in God the Living Members which Christ the Spiritual Man is the Holy Head of and your Heavenly Rock and Foundation And all such as marry by the Priests who have some of them the rought Hands of Esau and Fists of Wickedness and who have had their Hands dipp'd in the Blood of our Brethren in New-England and who have been the Cause of the Banishment of some of our Brethren and have spoiled so many of their Goods casting them into Prisons and keeping so many of them in Prison at this day All such as go to them for Wives or Husbands must come to Judgment and Condemnation of themselves and that Spirit that led them to the Priests to marry them or else Friends that keep their Habitations must write and bear their Testimony against them both For from Genesis to the Revelations you never read of any Priests that married any People but its God's Ordinance and whom God hath joined together let no Man put asunder And they took one another formerly in the Assemblies of the Righteous when all things were clear therefore let all these things be inquired into and brought to the Quarterly Meeting and from thence some ordered to go to them and to return what they say at your next Meeting And let all this be done before they or any of them be declared as Heathens or written against let them be Three or Four times admonish'd that they may have Gospel Order so that if it be possible they may come to that which at first did Convince them and to repent and condemn their Unrighteous Doings So that ye may not leave if possible a Hoof in Egypt Now all Friends who have known the Power of God and do believe in the Light of Jesus Christ who is your High-Priest who is made higher than the Heavens you come to know him to be your Teacher and to hear him in all things and that God may work all your Works in you and for you And all such pretended Friend or Friends that have gone to the Priests to marry them or have been drawn by their Heirs such have gone from the Light of Christ in themselves and have quenched the Motions of the Spirit of God in their own Hearts and distrusted God and let a Spirit of Vnbelief enter into them and thereby such cause the World to glory over them and Friends and both Priests and the World say that such are Hypocrites and they come to them but to save their Estates And they talk of the Living God but it 's seen the World is their God and the Priest must do their Work to preserve their Estate Such distrust the Living God about outward things though formerly they used to cry against them and their Teaching and their Marrying and their Baptizing but now they can come to them to marry them to save their Earth and to shun Suffering And thus they manifest their Hypocrisie And therefore all such as have gone to the Priest to be married by him come to the Witness of God in your Consciences by which you may come to condemn that Spirit that led you to them to be married For all those are far gone who can come so near a Priest as to hear his Prayers for Money and to pertake of his Works Such have turned against the Light and quenced the Spirit and abused the Power which would have risen in them against it And such in their Apostacies may have cried the Power of God is not amongst Friends as it was in the Beginning when they have abused it in themselves and grieved the Spirit of the Lord and Friends which live in the Spirit For it is not the Bishops nor Priests Work to marry People nor is it to be seen nor you never read throughout the Holy Scriptures that either Priests or Bishops married any but it is God's Work and his Ordinance for whom God joyns together let no Man put asunder And Marriage is honourable in all the Bed being undefiled And they took one another in the Assemblies of the righteous the Saints and holy Ones of God who were of the Seed of the Righeous Which Practice is now followed amongst the People of God called Quakers who are of the Seed and Generation of the Righteous the Elect People of God And also you may read how Jacob who was of the Seed of the Righteous took his Wife in the Assembly at Laban's House who gathered the People together when he took her having declared it before and all Parties were satisfied And Jacob was the beloved of God who took his Wife of the best sort of People his Father and Mother would not have him unequally yoked as Esau had been before And also you may read Isacc's Marriage in whom the Blessed Seed was called as the Apostle saith In Isaac shall they Seed be called And how wonderfully it was carried on by the Lord See Gen. 24.25 And also read how Boaz took his Wife Ruth after both Sides were satisfied in the Assembly of the People and Elders and how he declared it unto the Elders Ye are Witnesses this day that I take Ruth to be my Wife and they said We are thy Witnesses And of this Boaz came the Line of Christ For Boaz begat Obed and Obed begat Jesse and Jesse begat David And also Isaiah the Prophet who prophesied of Christ's Birth Sufferings and Death God commanded him when he was to go to the Prophetess that he should take Witnesses and write it in a Roll and this was the Command of God and he was of the Seed of the Righteous And likewise the Children of Israel when they were carried into Captivity when any did Marry and all things on both sides were clear they took one another according to the Law of Moses As for Example see Tobias And also Christ Jesus went to a Marriage in Cana in Galilee who ended the First Priesthood who is the Everlasting Priest And he went with his Disciples and the Mother of Jesus Whence it is clear that there was a Meeting and an Assembly of People And Marriage Being God's Ordinance and God's Joyning here Christ owns it for it was God's Joyning before the Fall and God's giving before the Fall and it is so in the restauration out of the Fall again by Christ Jesus who are come into the Spirit and Power of God they know it's God's Joyning again in the Restanration and whom he joyns together let no Man put asunder And so Marriage was a Figure of Christ and his
in the Truth that the Lord may be glorified in all your Families And teach your Children when they are young then will they remember it when they are old according to Solomon's Counsel So that your Children may be a Blessing to you and not a Curse And all Men and Women are to order their Children and Servants in the Order of the Gospel and in the New Covenant And to order them in the Order of the Gospel that they may all come to know the Lord. For the outward Jews were to train up their Children in the Old Law in the Old Covenant And so you that are called Christians are to train up your Children in the Fear of the Lord and in Christ Jesus that they may walk in Him in Modesty and Holiness and Virtue And so all to govern their Families And they that are to Govern are to be governed and ordered themselves by the Spirit and Power of God to God's Glory and as Examples in their Families for all Loosness is out of the Power of God either in Word or Life And so by the Power of God and his Righteousness and Truth and Light and Life all that is to be judged and kept under and down and the Truth and the Light and Spirit of God must be walk'd in which all Loosness is out of And so whatsoever things are of good Report or whatsoever things are Lovely or whatsoever things are Pure and Decent and Vertuous and Godly and Righteous and Holy and Just that follow after and do the Works of Charity and not your own but the good Works of Hospitality which are accepted of God And keep the Order of the Gospel the Power of God which Power of God was before the Devil was and is over him which brings Life and Immortality to Light in Men and Women and Men and Women they are to walk in this Power of God and to keep in it Men and Women to walk in the Power of God being Heirs of the same and under the Goverment of Christ Jesus who bruiseth the Serpent's Head and destroys him and his Government Men and Women being Heirs of Grace and Life together and of the Power of God and of the Gospel of Christ Jesus the Amen And so as they come to possess and inherit him and his Gospel-Order they come to possess him and his Government and Order the increase of which there is no End And that Notice be taken of all evil Speakers Backbiters Slanderers and foolish Talkers and idle Jesters for all these corrupt good Manners and are not according to the Saints and Holy Men's Practise Against Backbiters whose Words were seasoned with Salt ministering Grace to the Hearers And all such as go up and down to Cheat Against Cheats by borrowing and getting Money of Friends and have cheated several all such are to be stopped and judged and Notice of them is to be given to Friends and to other Persons And Dear Friends in the Everlasting Seed of Life Wisdom and Salvation my Desire is that you all may be preserved in it to the Glory of God For heavenly Vnity and in his Power and Light and Life over Death and Darkness in the heavenly Vnity in all your Meetings Now concerning them that do go to the Quarterly Meeting they must be substantial Friends Quarterly Meetings Members that can give a Testimony of your Sufferings and how things are amongst you in every particular Meeting So that none that are raw or weak that are not able to give a Testimony of the Affairs of the Church and Truth may go on behalf of the particular Meetings to the Quarterly Meetings but may be nursed up in your Monthly Meetings and there fitted for the Lord's Service So that two may go one time from every particular Meeting and two another time or as it is ordered in your Monthly Meetings So that some may go from all your Meetings that make up your Monthly Meetings for the Quarterly Meeting should be made up of weighty seasoned and substantial Friends that understands the Business of the Church for no unruly and unseasoned Peasons should come there nor indeed into the Monthly Meetings but who are single-hearted seasoned and honest And if any one should speak or tattle any thing out of your Monthly or Quarterly Meetings Against Partling to the blemishing or defaming any Person or the Meetings such are to be brought to Judgment and Condemnation for it breaks the Priviledge and Order of your Christian Society in your Meetings so that all may be kept and preserved in the Power of the Lord and in his Spirit in Love and Vnity And therefore keep your Meetings solid and sober and let the Authority of your Men and Womens Meetings be in the Power of God Authority of Meetings for every Heir of the Power has Right to that Authority and in it keep the King of Kings and Lord of Lord's Peace in his Church And so the Lord give you Wisdom that by it you may be ordered to his Glory Care of God's Glory and Truth and that every one may have a care of God's Glory and of his Name and Truth and that in his Power you may see that all do walk as becomes his glorious Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in you which will preserve you in Life and in Immortality over the Devil that has darkned you So that nothing may get betwixt your Souls and Minds and the Lord God that he may be glorified in you all and through you all and over you all blessed for ever Amen And the least Member in the Church hath an Office and is serviceable and every Member hath need one of another And now Friends so many Monthly Mens Meetings as you have in your County you may have so many Monthly Womens Meetings and if once a Year at least you had a General Womens Meeting it would be well for in some Counties they have as many Quarterly Womens Meetings as Mens and in others they have only two in the Summer-time Womens Meetings because the Ways are foul and Days short in Winter And that one or two Friends in every Meeting do take an Account of all the Marriages Births and Burials Births Burials and carry them to the Monthly Meetings and let one or two there be ordered to receive them and record them there in a Book which is to be kept at the Monthly Meetings And from thence a Copy of what is recorded there to be brought to the Quarterly Meeting and let one or two Friends be appointed there to receive them and to record them all in one Book which is to be kept for the whole County And this will be most safe that if one Book should happen to be lost the other may be preserved for the Use of such as may have occasion And that all Friends who are not already provided may speedily procure convenient Burying-places
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
Just and Even and Equal that you may answer that which is Equal and Just and True in your selves and in every Man and Woman that you may be preserved in the Sence and Favour of God and so may answer the good and righteous Principle in all by which they may be brought to Truth the equal Principle and just Measure and true Weight and Ballance by which they may know the just and true God in all his Works and Out-goings G. F. Not to trust in uncertain Riches ALL Friends Epist 273. Be ye as Strangers to all Things visible and created but be acquainted with the Creator your Maker the Lord God Almighty Outward things not durable for outward Things are not durable Riches nor durable Substance nor durable Habitations nor durable Possessions for they have Wings and will fly away and so therefore be as Pilgrims and Strangers to the World and all worldly created and visible things and witness Redemption from the Earth that you may reign upon the Earth as Kings and Priests to God The Righteous are as Kings and Priests to God that you may know a Habitation in God and the Riches of his Grace and Life that is everlasting and a Substance that fadeth not away the Riches which hath not wings and the Riches that is not deceitful that is durable and true For Men trusting in outward Riches and outward Things they will deceive and fail them and have Wings and flees away from them And so Man in that State is deceived and Riches are deceitful to him Therefore as I said before be as Strangers and Pilgrims to the World and all things therein possess as though you did not possess them and what you injoy as though you did not be above all such things and loose to them in the Invisible Life and Power which is over all things for the Birth that is born again of the Immortal Seed by the Word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever and is above all things for all things are upheld by his Word and Power And so be acquainted with the heavenly and certain Riches the durable Substance and the everlasting Possession and Inheritance of Life through which you may be acquainted with your Maker and Creator the Lord God Almighty G. F. MY Dear Friends in the pure and undefiled Life Epist 274. All live in the Holy Seed that changes not that will wear out all in the Transgression and was before Transgresion was and this Seed was never a Transgressor and it will be when Transgression is gone and is over that Spirit which is in Transgression and is a burdensome Stone to the Transgressor and him that is out of Truth and it will out-last all and so in that live in which ye may reign in the Life and Truth and in its time it will break all their Bonds For that Spirit that doth transgress doth Persecute in the particular the Just and Persecution makes the Just to suffer in the general and so they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution by them that Persecute those that are Godly it is no wonder for them to persecute the Godly in Christ the heavenly Man so the Just Suffereth within and without by the Vnjust And so be Valiant for the Lord's Truth upon the Earth and dwell in Love and in Humility and Meekness and Patience and Righteousness in which the Love of the Lord is manifested So no more but my Love G. F. ALL Friends every where in the living Spirit and living Power Epist 275. and in the heavenly Light dwell and quench not the Motions of of it in your selves nor the Movings of it in others Not to quench the Motions of the Spirit though many has run out and gone beyond their Measures yet many more has quench'd the Measure of the Spirit of God and after became dead and dull and questioned through a false Fear and so there hath been hurt doth ways And therefore be obedient to the Power of the Lord and his Spirit and his Spiritual Weapons War with that Philistian that would stop up your Wells and Springs Jacob's Well was in the Mountain read that within he was the second Birth And the Belief in the Power keeps the Spring open and none to despise Prophecy neither to quench the Spirit so that all may be kept open to the Spring that every one's Cup may run over For you may all Prophesie one by one All may Prophecy one by one and the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets Would all the Lord's People were Prophets said Moses in his time when some found fault but the last time is the Christians time which injoys the Substance Christ Jesus and his Church is called a Royal Priesthood offering up Spiritual Sacrifices and his Church are his Believers in the Light And so in the Light every one should have something to Offer and to Offer an Offering in Righteousness to the living God else they are not Priests and such as quenches the Spirit cannot Offer In the time of God's pouring out of his Spirit upon all Flesh but becomes dull I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh in the last time saith the Lord which is the true Christians time God's Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and your young Men shall see Visions and old Men shall dream Dreams and on my Servants and Hand-maids I will pour out of my Spirit in those Days and they shall Prophesie Now Friends if this be fulfilled Servants Handmaids Sons Daughters old Men young Men every one to feel the Spirit of God by which you may see the things of God and declare them to his Praise for with the Heart Man doth believe and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation first he has it in his Heart before it comes out of his Mouth and this is beyond that Brain-beaten-heady stuff which Man has long studied about the Saints words which the holy Men of God spake forth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost So the Holy Ghost moved them before they came forth and spake them And therefore as I said before do not resist the Holy Ghost for they that did so grew stiff-necked and their Hearts were uncircumcised but feel this Holy Ghost this Spirit of Truth that leads you into all Truth So with the Holy Ghost and with the Light Build upon Christ the true Foundation and Power of God do you build upon Christ the Foundation and Life and by the same heavenly Light and Power and Spirit do you Labour in the Vineyard and do you minister and speak forth the things of God and do you digg for your Pearls therefore bring them forth and let them be seen how they glister the glistering Pearls And all come into the Vineyard of God to labour in the Light which was before Darkness was and with the Life which was before Death and his Power
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
Christ and not in the Devil who is out of Truth nor in old Adam yea Christ is able to deliever out of the Six Troubles and the Seventh Trouble the perfection of Trouble he who is the Perfection it self so he is the Deliverer and Mediator Who is our Deliverer Mediator and Intercessor and the Intercessor that makes Peace betwixt you and God So in Christ who is the Deliverer is the Peace and the Rest yea an everlasting Rest he was set up over all Troubles and Persecutions and Persecutors who was before they were glorified with the Father before the World began and he will be when they are all gone as I said before all that have drank his Blood and are made alive by him have Life yea a Possession that will never have an end but them that are Dead in old Adam are against Christ who is the Life till he make them alive by Believing in the Light and then they become the Congregation of the Living And these are them that are gathered together by the Lord and them that are not gathered together by the Lord but by Men to themselves they come to be scattered Now the Congregation of the Living they have drank the Blood of Jesus that are alive by him and so are gathered together by him the heavenly Man and he is in the midst of them to preserve them and exercife his Offices among them as a Shepherd and a Bishop and a Prophet c. And these are the living Members who have a living Head Christ Jesus and that saying comes to be fulfilled Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise so come to live with Christ Jesus And they are the Congregation of the Dead that believes not in the Light nor drinks the Blood of Jesus but Death and Destruction talks of him and of God and his Prophets and Apostles words and they come to set their House upon the Sand To build upon the Rock Christ Jesus and so are the Fools and then a Storm arises upon the Sea and their House is presently in the Sea again and there they are drowned the House sits so nigh the Sea that in a little Storm they are drowned they are so nigh the World But the Wise Men sets their House upon the Rock and the Rock is Christ the Life who was before the World was and will stand over all and they that are built upon it the Storms and and Tempests cannot move their Rock nor their House So here is the Wisdom of the Wise who build their House upon him by whom all things was created who is the Rock of Ages So in all Storms they keep to their House and they meet in Him and are gathered in Him and He is their Head and Counsellor to order them and in Him they all please God and in Christ Jesus are one anothers Crown and Life and so through him they have all a Crown of Life who was with the Father before the World began So in him sit down over all the windy Doctrines that tosses the Chaff abroad in the World I say in Christ sit down in him who was before the World was for out of him is all wearisomeness but in him ye have rest G. F. ALL Dear Friends every where who have no Helper but the Lord Epist 280. who is your Strength and your Life Let your Cries and Prayers be to him from whom all your help and strength comes God is the only Help of his People who with his Eternal Power hath kept up your Heads above all Waves and Storms let none go out of their Habitations in the stormy Time of the Night and stand in his Lot the Seed Christ Jesus to the end of the Day There is the Lot of your Inheritance and in this Seed you will see the Bright and Morning Star appear which will expel the Night of Darkness that hath been in your Hearts by which Morning Star you will come to the Everlasting Day which was before Night was So every one feel this Bright Morning Star in your Hearts there to expel the Darkness G. F. DEar Friends The Truth of God mind and his pure holy Power Epist 281. which the Lord hath made you partakers of by his good Spirit Grieve not the Spirit O let not his Spirit be grieved by you Let that be mortified that would get up to grieve or quench the Spirit for that will corrupt your Reason Understanding and Knowledge and that which gives you to know God and Christ that 's Life Eternal And all have a care that you do not abuse the Power Nor abuse the Power nor crucifie to your selves the Seed a-fresh but let that be crucified by the Seed in which Seed you have Life Eternal And therefore prize the Truth above all things Now you have Liberty to spread it abroad for you are called to Righteousness and Holiness without which none shall see God Therefore mind your High Calling in God out of lod Adam into Christ Jesus the second Adam and keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus and feel him in the midst of you who is your Life and Salvation and that all occasions and stumbling-blocks may be taken away so that the precious Truth may be minded by you all wherein all are to live in Vnity and walk in Peace Live in Vnity Peace c. with the God of Peace and one with another that all your Springs may be kept open and all your Fountains may run with living Water and all your Candles may burn and every one may have Bread on his own Table in his Temple and his Rod budding there that he may be known to be a Priest of the Royal Priesthood So that all may have Salt in your selves that you may be good for something for if you be not the good Salt you cannot make the Earth savoury Therefore all keep in the Sense of Truth and be digging for the Pearl in your own Field and to find the Silver in your own House that was lost and the Leaven in your own Hearts that where it works and is joyned to will leaven into its own Nature So in all your Meetings be faithful in the Power and Life that you may be watered by the Spring of Life that you may grow And so whatever Strife or whatever runs out Shun all occasion of Offence or whatever occasion of Offence has been let the Seed of God rise and put all that down in All that all you in the everlasting Seed the second Adam may have your Peace Familiarness and Kindness and Affableness and Courteousness and Gentleness and Love one with and towards another for the Power of the Lord God is over all and his Everlasting Seed Christ Jesus reigns over all in whom is Eternal Fellowship Peace and Vnity and not in old Adam for old Adam's Sons and Daughters may get the words of Christ and of the Prophets
and Apostles but are out of their Life as their Practice speaks And therefore it 's the Life that differs and the New way differs from the Old and the Religion that 's above from that which is below and the Worship Christ set up above 16 Hundred Years ago from all them that are made since amongst the Nominal Christians and the Fellowship of God in the Spirit and Gospel differs from all the Fellowships that have been made since the Apostles Days and the Liberty in Christ in the Gospel in the Spirit is far above the Liberty of old Adam in the Flesh in the Sin the Wages of which is Death here no false Liberty can be in the Spirit and in the Power of the Gospel and in Christ Jesus nor no false Freedom in the Truth for all false Freedom is out of the Truth and therefore keep over all those false Liberties and false Freedoms In old Adam and his Spirit and Power of God that 's holy and pure without Spot So no more but my Love in the Holy Seed that 's over all To be read in all Friends Meetings And send Copies of this to Maryland Virginia Barbadoes New-England c. G. F. FRiends Epist 282. in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head and destroyeth the Devil and his Works live and in the Light which is the Life In Christ the Seed who bruiseth the Serpents Head in the Word by which all things were made which Light and Life and Word doth hammer and cut down and condemn and judge all evil Words and Works and the Spirit of them that is out of the Light Life Seed and Word of Reconciliation in this I have Vnity with you and in this all true Believers are reconciled to God and one to another Is our Vnity and Fellowship and in it is the heavenly Wisdom in which is the holy and spiritual Fellowship preserved over that short brikle defaming and unconstant Spirit which must be kept down with the Spirit of God that doth not change which hath been crucified by the Wicked but the Seed of Life doth slay the Enmity and in Life and Power reigns over it Glory to the Lord God for ever Amen G. F. To Friends at Bristol in time of Suffering DEar Friends Epist 283. Now is the Time for you to stand therefore put on the whole Armour of God from the Crown of the Head unto the Soles of your Feet To publick Men to keep their Testimony that you may stand in the Possession of Life And you that have been Publick Men and formerly did travel abroad mind to keep up your Testimony both in the City and in the Countries that you may encourage Friends to keep up their Meetings as usual there-away so that none faint in the time of Trial but that all may be encouraged both small and great to stand faithful to the Lord God and his Power and Truth that their Heads may not sink in the Storms but may be kept up above the Waves So go into your Meeting-Places as at other times And keep up your Publick Testimony and visit Friends there-abouts now in this time of Storm for there is your Crown in the Vniversal Power and Spirit of God So let your Minds In the time of Persecution and Souls and Hearts be kept above all outward and visible things Few travel now the Countries It may be well to visit them lest any should faint Stir up one another in that which is Good and to faithfulness in the Truth this Day And let your Minds be kept above all visible things for God took Care for Man in the Beginning and set him above the Works of his Hands And therefore mind the heavenly Treasure that will never fade away and dwell in the Seed in which you may know your Election It 's hard for me to give forth in Writing what is before me because of my bodily weakness but I was desirous in some measure to ease my Mind desiring that you may stand fast and faithful to Truth Of my Travels and Weakness it 's like you have heard and of my Affliction both by them that are without and also by them that are within which are hard to be uttered and spoken My Love is to all faithful Friends The 2d of the 11th Mouth 1670. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren See that all live in the peaceable and blessed Truth into which no Enmity can come Epist 284. for the blessed Seed Christ Jesus takes away the Curse They who receive Christ receive Power to become the Sons of God the Increase of whose Government there is no End who rules in Righteousness amongst the Righteous for ever And see that this Righteousness in which you all have Peace run down and flow as a Stream among you who are begotten again into a lively Hope and born again by the Immortal Seed of the Word of God which lives and abides for ever And you who have received Christ have received Power to become the Sons of God and to believe in the Light in Obedience to Christ's Command by which you become Children of the Light and Children of the Day Therefore this I say unto you Let no Man abuse this Power that is Everlasting and keep the Gospel-Order which was before any Impurity was and will be when it is gone So that in all your Men and Womens-Meetings see that Vertue flow and see that all your Words be gracious and see that Love flows which bears all things that Kindness Tenderness and Gentleness may be among you and that the Fruits of the good Spirit may abound That Love Kindness and Gentleness abound for nothing that is unclean must enter into God's Kingdom which stands in Righteousnss and in Holiness and in the Power of God and in the Joy of the Holy Ghost For all Joy that is out of the Holy Ghost will have an End And see in all your Men and Womens-Meetings that God be no ways dishonoured nor the pure and blessed Name of Christ in which you are gathered be blasphemed but in all things that God may be glorified exalted and honoured And to take Care that nothing be lacking among the Poor for you have the Light to see all Evil and the Power to withstand it And to take Care that nothing be lacking among the Poor and to see that nothing be lacking then all will be well among you in all your Men and Womens-Meetings And see that nothing be lacking neither within nor without for God is rich in both and abundance of his Riches you have received And so this is a Warning and a Charge to you all in the Presence of the Living God that you keep up the Testimony of Jesus against all that which is contrary to Jesus the heavenly Man that your Fruits may appear to his Glory and your Works to his Praise and that you may have Water in your own Cisterns and know those Clouds
is Holy and Righteous and to live in Peace who hath promised he will give Christ Jesus for a Covenant of Light and Peace to you who are called Gentiles and venant of Light by which you shall come to have Peace with the Lord God the King of the whole Earth This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in whose Hand is the Breath of all Mankind This is the God of the Spirits of all Falsh who hath made all Nations of Mankind of one Blood to dwell upon the Face of the Earth And God having divided the Sons and Daughters of Adam and scattered them up and down the Face of the Earth being in the Transgression and Sin led away with the God of the World the wicked One the Devil that abode not in the Truth who causes People to destroy one another and murder one another about Earthly things This is the Prince of Darkness that rules in all the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience disobedient to that which is Righteous in them which discovers the unrighteous Actions and Words drom the Righteous And Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven saves Men from Sin Christ the Second Adam the Saviour of Men. who is Prince of Peace and of Life and the Covenant of God who brings Men to have Peace with God and one with another who destroys the Devil the Author of Strife This is Christ the Second Adam which brings the Sons and Daughters of Adam into Reconciliation with God again and destroys Sin and finishes it and makes Reconciliation for Sin and Iniquity G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends Epist 293. To whom is my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ by whom were all things made and by whom all things do consist and who filleth all things and doth uphold all by his Word and Power Christ the Head of his Church c. who is the First and Last the Holy Head of his Holy Church and the Door into the Holy Way for his Holy People to walk in and the setter up of a Holy Worship in the Holy Spirit and Truth to worship the Holy God in and the setter up of a Holy Religion to keep from the Spots of the World which Religion is pure in his Sight And this never came out of the Brain-beaten Stuff of Man nor of his Chamber of Imagery but for his People to walk in that they might sing forth his Praises in Righteousness And therefore all Friends in your Men and Womens-Meetings be faithful and see how you do grow in the Truth and Power of Godliness and are circumcised and witness your Renewings into the heavenly Image of him that created you and that you all may be fruitful in the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Orderer of all things and wear his Livery and fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ and hold forth his Ensign and his Standard and all to be filled with his Grace and Love and peaceable Truth and be over all outward Earthly things so that none be Carnally but Spiritually minded And walk as becomes the glorious Order of the Gospel having the Water of Life in your Cisterns and the Bread of Life in your Tabernacles and Fruits on your Trees to the Praise of God Amen And all your Family Meetings do not neglect among your Whites and Negroes but do your Diligence and Duty to God and them To keep Family Meetings which you will not neglect if you keep in the Faith of Abraham and of the blessed Seed which inheriteth the Crown And be at Peace among your selves that each one shew that you are in Christ the Prince of Peace and that doth shew that you are the Disciples of Christ and Learners and Followers of him So possess him who is Life Eternal Aman. And your Love and Kindness toward us the Lord redouble it of his Mercy into your Bosoms We are all pretty well We have had great Travail by Land and Sea and Rivers and Bays and Creeks in New-England Jersey Delaware Maryland Virginia Carolina where we have had great Service among Friends and Governors and others and Men and Womens-Meetings and with the Indians and their Kings and Emperoar O blessed be the Lord God Almighty who is over all and over all giveth Dominion And Glory be to his Great Name for ever Amen And his Truth is of a good Savour in the Hearts of People and spreads So no more but my Love Read this in your Men and Womens-Meetings G. F. Maryland the 24th of the 12th Month. 1672. FRiends The Truth is above all will stand over all them that hate it who labour in vain against it Epist 294. and will bring their old House on their own Heads to their great Trouble Truth above all and in the Winter and cold Weather when that their HoUse is down and their Religion is frozen and their Rivers are dried up and their Husks are gone and the Swine begin to cry about the Plantations and the Vermin runneth up and down amongst their old Rubbish and their Sparks and Candles are gone out and Hail and Storms lighteth upon the Head of the Wicked then Wo will be to God and Magog and to all the Wicked who have no Covering In Christ you have Peace in the World you have Trouble No Peace with God can be enjoyed but in the Covenant of Light which it Trouble Amen G. F. FRiends at the first Convincement there is not so much danger Epist 295. for the Spirit of God keeps in the Fear of the Lord and under Judgment Our Knowledge must be in the Spirit then after getting Acquaintance or Knowledge and a Familiarity and a Liberty but not in the Holy Spirit there is great danger and therefore your Knowledge and Familiarity must be in the invisible Spirit for the Flesh Fadeth and withereth as the Grass So that Knowledge and Familiarity is as Grass that withers but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And the right knowledge of one another is this To know one another in that Word which was in the beginning before Man fell For Man liveth not by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God This is the fresh and heavenly Food from above and above all the Husks that the Swineherd feedeth his Swine with in the unrepented State G. F. FRiends All keep your Meetings in the Power of the Lord God that hath gathered you Epist 296. and none to quenth the Spirit nor despise Prophesying Quench not the Spirit c. and so keep up your Testimony in publick and private Let not the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings be stopp'd nor the Seed in Males or Females but all be valian for the Truth upon the Earth Concerning your Womens-Meetings encourage all the Women of Families that are convinced and minds Vertue and loves the Truth and walks in it that they may come up into God's
Power first to declare his Everlasting Gospel and then after People had received the Gospel I was moved to go through the Nation to advise them to set up the Mens Meetings and the Womens many of which were set up G. F. Advice effectual for the establishing good Order in the Church and I was moved to write to other Places for them to do the like that kept the Power And this was the End that all that had received the Gospel might be Possessors of it and of the Gospel-Order which is Heavenly and that all that had received Christ Jesus might so walk in him and possess his Government in the Church who are Members of him the heavenly Head and so Men and Women being Heirs of Christ they are Heirs of him and of his Government So that Men and Women may be both Possessors of this Government and Men and Women being Heirs of this Gospel might inherit it Then Men and Women are Heirs of the Order of the Gospel which is from Heaven and not by Man nor of Man which is an Everlasting Order which is from the Power of God for the Gospel is called the Everlasting Gospel So that all now in the Restoration by Christ Jesus into the Image of God may be helps meet in Holiness and Righteousness as Adam and Eve were in before they fell for in the Church of Christ where he is Head there is his Gospel and his Order and his Government there is his Power felt in every ones Heart and there is these Offices of Admonishing Rebuking Exhorting Reproving amongst them that are convinced and converted by them that are in the Power for there are several States So they that would not have People to be Admonished that goes under the Name of Truth and yet goes into Sin and Wickedness those are out of the Gospel-Order and Goverment of Christ Jesus and of a loose Mind themselves and would be up themselves and Lords But that Spirit is for Judgment for it is out of the Power of God and out of the Spirit in which is the Fellowship G. F. FRiends Epist 309. Seek the Peace of all Men which Peace is in Christ which is a Peace that the World cannot take away and blessed are the Peace-Makers To seek Peace that makes Peace among the Brethren and People these shall have a Blessing from the Lord the King of Peace but Wo be unto them that cause Strise and Offence And all walk in the Righteousness of Christ the Lord over your own Righteousness and do and act and speak in his Righteousness then you act and do and speak and walk in that in which you have Peace and then God will delight in you and you will be loved of him for he loveth the Righteous And let it be below any of God's People to raise an evil Report on his People Nat to receive false Reports or any others or to give both their Ears to any one's Report of his People or Matter till they have heard both Parties so that Righteousness and Truth and Judgment may be kept up and not fall And in your Men and Womens Meetings you are in and about the Lord's Business and not your own and therefore let the Lord be in your Eyes that all of you his Presence and Power and Wisdom and Judgment may receive to do and act and speak in And this keeps all in his Fear to be careful of their Words and Doings and keeps all Solid and Vertuous and Sober and then whatsoever is of a good Report and is Decent and Comely and whatsoever is Vertuous and tends to Vertue and is Lovely that to follow after and cherish And here your Eyes are kept open to see that nothing be lacking and that you stand in that which shall never fall in the Power and Spirit and Seed Christ who is the sure Foundation and the Rock of Ages G. F. FRiends In every thing give Thanks to the Lord Epist 310. for from him every good thing you do receive for the Apostle saith 1 Thess 5.18 In every thing give thanks To be Thankful for every good thing For this is the Will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you and they that do not obey this Doctrine do not do the Will of God in Christ Jesus And the Apostle saith Every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refased if it be received with thanksgiving c. 1 Tim. 4.4 And David saith At midnight I will rise to give thee thanks because of thy righteous Judgments Psalm 119.62 And David saith O give thanks unto the Lord for it is good because his Mercies endureth for ever Psal 118.1 So the Lord is worthy of all the Thanks and Praises through Jesus Christ who created all by Jesus Christ to his Glory and Honour for evermore G. F. For the Men and Womens Meetings in Barbadoes DEar Friends Let all things be done in Love Epist 311. and in the Spirit of Christ which is the Spirt of the Lamb that must have the Victory To keep in Love for Patience runneth the Race and hath the Crown And keep down rough Esau's Spirit for that will not let the Jew inward pass the King's High-way And therefore quench nothing that is good but keep in the Love of God that is shed in your Hearts and every one keep to your own Springs and at your own Breast and feel your own Bread in your own House from Heaven And strive not for Mastery but let Christ be the Master who is the Wisdom of God and your Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Justification And dwell in Humility and you to dwell in Humility and Love that will bear all things and that is not easily provoked and envieth not If your Love is not in this Love it is not the Love of God Though you may be convinced of the Truth but they are happy that do obey the Truth of what they are convinced and if they do not they will lose the Days of their Innocency and Simplicity And know the Birth that is Free-born which can give the Cheek to the Smiter for there is a Birth of the Mortal Seed and there is a Birth of the Immortal Seed by the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever which latter hath a Habitation that is for ever And take heed Friends in laying open one anothers Weakness Not to expose the Weaknesses of one another but if any one has any thing to say let them speak to the Person concern'd and if they will not hear take two or three more before they are brought into Publick This is the Order of the Head Christ to his Body his Church And if any Report be upon any let them speak to the Parties that are concerned for the Report may be false And the Lord saith Thou shalt not raise a false Report upon my People So in this you will have a Care one of another for
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
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
round the Nation to advise to the setting up the Men and Womens Meetings and to write to those Places where I could not go That all the Faithful might keep their Meetings in the Power of God and in it be settled and established And that all Marriages might be laid before the Men and Womens Meetings who were in the Wisdom of God and in the Possession of his Gospel Order who had the Care of the Church of Christ's Business that they in the Wisdom of God might look into it and see that they were clear from all other Persons c. And therefore now that Pretence is generally taken away from all they cannot say now That they cannot tell where to find a Meeting of the Faithful to lay their Marriages before them before they declare it in the common Publick Meetings Now that the Men and Womens Meetings are settled in the Power of God to look after the Churches Affairs for all knows where they may be found at certain Days Times and Places to lay it before them And they that go together in the Truth and Power of God will be willing to lay their Marriages before them that be in the same Truth and Power of God So that all things may be done in Truth Love and Vnity and Pureness Clearness and Holiness to the Praise and Glory of God And all whosoever they be that oppose this good Order are loose Spirits out of the Power of God and their Work tends to Loosness and to draw into a loose Liberty under a deceitful Pretence of keeping People out of Forms So the same Power and Spirit that directed all Marriages to be laid before the Faithful at the first when there were but few Friends in many parts of the Nations and no Mens nor Womens Meetings I say the same Power of God that did convince Friends at the first the same Power and Spirit directed to the setting up the Mens and Womens Meetings that they might be in the Possession of the Gospel and its Order And the same Power and Spirit of God set up our Order for Marriages in our Mens and Womens Meetings All to seeck first to the Parents before they engage the Affection of the Child And that all are to speak first to their Parents and have their Consent before they engage the Affections of the Children and this Order is settled by the Power of God in the Men and Womens Meetings for some formerly did speak to neither Father nor Mother till they had drawn out and entangled the Affections of the Daughter and that brought great troubles and discontent upon the Parents and among Friends And therefore this is to be enquired into in the Men and Womens Meetings where their Marriages are to be spoken of So as Friends come to Truth which the Devil is out of and to the Power of God which was before the Devil was all being Heirs of Life and the Gospel and Heirs of Christ I say take your Possession of Life and come into the Order of Life and into the Order of the Gospel and then you will have a Witness in your selves and will say with me our Order is not of Man nor by Man but by Jesus Christ and his Gospel and of his Government the increase of which there is no end And so all be faithful keeping in your Possessions and in your Inheritance in that where no Apostacy can come For I must tell you here is the same Spirit stirring if it could prevail that would lay waste God's Heritage and bring you out of your Possessions that it might rule over you But if you keep your Possessions of the Gospel-Order the Power of God in Christ Jesus you will rule over it being in and upon the Foundation of God that stands sure thought some earthly loose Spirits it may draw after them But mark the end of it for the Power remains and will remain and the Seed reigns over the Head of all such false Spirits A Warning to Oppose rs and Orders and Governments that is not set up by Jesus Christ and it will grind them to pieces That is the Word of the Lord God to you let whoever will oppose it for the Power was before they were and will stand when they are gone For all our Men and Womens Meetings which are set up by the Power and Spirit of God these Meetings are for the Practise of Religion and to see that all that do profess Truth do practise it and walk in it And all such as are against them are begetters of People into talking and not walking and of Saying but not Doing and such always were Judged by all them that walk in the Truth and in the pure Religion that is undefiled before God that kept and keeps from the Spots of the World And all such are never like to prosper that are against the Practice of the pure Religion And therefore as I said before live in the Possession of the Gospel and its Order the Power of God which was before the Devil was or the Apostacy either and know his Government of the increase of which there is no End who is set up from Everlasting to Everlasting the Amen And live in Love and Vnity one with another for that edifies the Body of Christ and that is it which will bear all things and in the Patience run the Race and have the Crown and keep in the Meekness of the Lamb that will have the Victory And such Opposers as crys against Forms and Prescriptions and Edicts of Men they are the most in it themselves this Day and gathers into a Separation by Prescriptions and Subscriptions and under a Pretence of crying against such things oppose the Power and them that be in the Possession of it But the Power will blast them and make them to wither like the Grass and Corn on the House-top as it did John Parrot and his Company to whom it was the Word of the Lord then and so it is to these now and the Word lives and abides and endures for ever So with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all in whom is my Labour and Travel for your Eternal Good and Settlement upon the Eternal Rock Amen Farewell Let this be read in the Men and Womens Meetings when Friends are assembled together Swarthmore the 12th of the 12th Month 1675. G. F. ALL Dear Friends and Brethren Keep up your Testimony Epist 318. in the Light Power and Spirit of God for the Worship Friends to keep their Testimony against the Anti-Christian Ministry that Christ set up above Sixteen hundred Years since in the Spirit and Truth which Truth the Devil is out of who is an unclean Spirit which is a Worship that cannot be shaken And keep up your Testimony against the Anti-Christian Ministry that is inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ and his Anti-Christian Tythes and Maintenance which he hath set up by that
Wisdom and their Vertue and Zeal and their Faith as you may see in the 2d of Samuel and the 20th And what think you of Esther read her Book Faster a Nursing Mother and by her Interecssion saved the Nation of the Jews and see the Behaviour of this vertuous honourable Woman who by her Wisdom Faith and Vertue preserved her People Israel she was a Nursing-Mother to them as you may read in the Book of Esther who kept a Fast with her Maidens to the Lord and also desired Mordecai to keep a Fast in Shushan Esther 4.16 Now Awarning to Careless Women all you careless Women that are out of God's Service and think ye have no need to be in the Service and Work of the Lord hear the Word of the Lord what Isaiah says to such Arise up ye Women that are at ease hear my Voice ye careless Danghters give ear to my Speech Many days and years shall ye be troubled ye careless Women for the Vintage shall fall and the Gathering shall noit come Nor you cannot expect it in your Ease and Carelesness that neglect God's Voice and Speech and are not Diligent your heavenly Vintage will fall and of it ye will have little gathering Tremble ye Women that are at ease be troubled ye careless Ones strip ye make ye bare gird Sackcloth upon your Loins c. Isaiah 32. Therefore put off that careless Garment and shake off Sloath and put on diligence in the Service of God Now the Jews had their Assemblies of Mourning-women and therefore the Prophet calls for the Mourning-women and let them bewail says he when the Jews went into Transgression And this was because the Men and Women were not Diligent in his Service in the Power and Spirit of God which he had poured upon them And Jeremiah says Hear the Word of the Lord O ye Women and let your Ears receive the Word of his Mouth and teach your Daughters wailing and every one their Neighbours Lamentation Jer. 9.20 So here the Prophet exhorts the Women to hear the Word of God first and then to teach and exhort their Daughters and Neighbours yea Wailing and Lamentation And were they not and are they not to teach their Families and their Neighbours from the Word of the Lord both in the time of the Law and the Gospel to prevent Wailign and Lamentation And see in Ezekiel how he exhorted and what the Lord says there I will cause Leadness to cease out of the Land that all Women may be taught not to do after their Lewdness And then as they are obedient to this Teaching they will shun the Judgments that came upon the Jews which were compared to Women as in Ezek. 23. And the Assemblies of the Women did continue amongst the Jews till they went into Captivity And when Saul and David had made a great slaughter upon the Philistines A General Asembly of Women the Women came out of all the Cities of Israel mark out of all the Cities of Israel and surely this was a great Assembly of Women singing and dancing c. with Joy and with Instruments of Musick and the Women answered one another as they played and sung Praises unto God And Saul the King was not angry with the Women but at David because they ascribed so much Honour to him for they were Partakers of the Salvation of the Lord and of the Deliverance as well as the Men 1 Sam. 18.6 And so they are Partakers in the Gospel of the Deliverance over the Devil the grand Enemy of Mankind and are exhorted to praise the Lord and to make Melody in their Hearts to the Lord for their Salvation and Deliverance by Christ in the time of the Gospel as well as the Men 1 Sam. 18. And in 2 Chron. 25. there Jeremiah lamented for Josiah and all the Singing Men and Singing-Women spoke of Josiah in their Lamentation So here was not only Singing-Men but Singing-Women which did not only Sing but Lament for this good Man Josiah And in the days of Ezra after the Jews returned from their Captivity to their Land there were Two Hundred Singing-Men and Singign-Women uEzra 2. And in Neh. 7. Women assistants to the Men in the Worship of God under the Law where the Priest stood up with Vrim and Thummim that is Light and Perfection they had Two Hundred and Forty Five Singing-Men and Singing-Women So these were incouraged by the Priests according to David and Solomon's Order and these were besides the Assemblies of the Women about Works and Services in the Holy Things for these sung Praises to God And in Zeph. 3. he saith Sing ye Daughters of Zion shout and rejoyce with all thy Heart ye Daughters of Jerusalem the Lord hath taken away thy Judgment c. the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt see Evil no more And in Zach. 2. he encourageth them to Sing and Rejoyce Oh Daughter of Zion for lo I come and I will dwell in the migst of thee saith the Lord. So here is great cause for the Daghter of Zion to rejoyce and who shall stop her Mouth And in Luke 1. you may see how the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary the Mother of Jesus and what he said to her and what a Noble Veruous Mind was in her and she said unto the Angel Behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word so her Belief was beyond Zachariah's the Priest And when Mary came unto Elizabeth what a Meeting and Salu. Mary the Mother of our Lord and her Cousin Elizabeth's Meeting c. tation wat there and how she was filled with the Holy Ghost and the Babe leaped in her Womb and she praised the Lord God and called her the Mother of her Lord. Read from the 40th to the 57th verse and see how she extols the Lord and magnifies Christ Jesus for here was a Heavenly Meeting of these two which is chronicled to Ages So you may see her Belief was above Zachariah's the Priest So Mary and Elizabeth were notable Preachers of Christ Jesus And you may see in Luk. 2.7 how Mary wrapped Christ in Swadling-Cloaths and how tender she was of the Heavenly Birth conceived by the Holy Ghost And so must all true and tender Christians that receive him in the Spirit and how she kept all the Sayings that were spoken of Christ and pondered them in her Heart ver 19. And so should every true Christian And there was Anna a Prophetess Annah spoke of Christ in the Temple which was Eighty Four Years old who departed not from the Temple but served God with Fasting and Prayer Night and Day and she gave thanks unto the Lord and spoke of Christ unto all that looked for Redemption in Israel she spoke of Christ Here was a notable old Woman of Eighty Four Years of Age a Preacher and Declarer of Christ And you do not read that ever any despised her or said it
out of the Unity which Teaching is forbidden both by Law and Gospel and they are not fit to Teach if they have not learn'd Subjection to the Spirit of God and know the Silence of all Flesh before the Lord and have not learn'd to adorn themselves with that which is modest and the Lesson of Sobriety whith becomes Godliness and with the good Works the Fruits of the Spirit And such Women as have learn'd this Lesson may Teach and Prophesie for the Spirit is poured upon them to that End And the same Apostle saith Elder Women Nurses Mothers Teachers c. in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5. That the Women should be as Mothers and a Mother is a Nurser and a Teacher and Instructer of her Children and the younger Women as Sisters with all Purity and Sisters in Christ and in Purity all have but one Father and a Sister is in the Vnity in the Spirit in the Gospel 1 Tim. 5. And if any Woman that believes have widows let them relieve them So here was the Womans Work to relieve their Widows c. And again The Apostle writes to Titus and saith unto him Speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine c. The aged Women that they be of good behaviour as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine teachers of good things Now here they must be qualified before they can be Teachers of those good things And that these aged Women teach the younger Women first To be Sober secondly To love their Husbands thirdly To love their Children fourthly To be Discreet fifthly To be Chaste and keepers at home and Good Obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Now here the aged Women not a Woman but the aged Women were to teach the younger Women these things And how could these Women be Teachers of all these Vertues and good Things if these Mothers and holy Woman did not meet togeter and converse together of Holiness and Vertue as in Tit. 2. And in 1 Pet. 3. Women to win Husbands by the Word and Conversation also he encourageth Wives and Women That if their Husbands will not be won by the Word they may without the Word be won by the chaste Conversation of the Wives whilst they behold your chaste Conversation saith he coupled with Fear and whose adorning saith he Let it not be that of the Outward with plaiting of the Hair or wearing of Gold or putting on costly Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not Corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price And this he saith was the Ornament of the holy Women in the old time with which they adorned themselves who trusted in God as Sarch c. whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any Amazement And likewise the Believing Husband and the Believing Wife are Heirs together of the Grace and Life And therefore the Believing Women being Heirs of Grace and Life as well as the Men they may impart of their Life which they do inherit as well as Men for an Heir of Life is beyond an Heir of the Earth And there is no Believing Husband will hinder his Believing Wife Men not to binder Wives from administring to the Necessity of the Poor c. being Heirs of Life to adiminister some of their temporal things to them that are in Necessity he will not have all the Earth to himself but let her have the disposing of some of it as well as himselfe whilst they do enjoy it and ministring of outward things is the least Love And Women many times know the Condition of poor Families and Widows and such as are in distress more than the Men because they are most conversant in their Families and about such things But there are many Idle Talkers and Busie Bodies that are out of the Sense and Service of God that will not do good themselves nor suffer others to do their Service of Love and Charity for the Lord in the Church And John writes in his Second Epistle unto the Elect Lady and her Chidlren whom I love in the Truth saith he and not I only Note John the Evang list sent his Epistle to a Woman but also all they that have known the Truth for the Truth 's sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever c. I rejoyce greatly says he that I have found they Children walking in the Truth And further saith I write no new Commandment unto thee but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another And so he trusts to come and see her and speak Face to Face unto her the Children of thy Elect Sister greet thee Amen The elect Lady and her elect Sister So was not this an honourable Woman that had trained up her Children in the Truth as was commanded by John And he admonished her against such as did transgress and did not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus that they had not the Father nor the Son but they that did abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus had both the Father and the Son So is not this an Encouragement to all faithful Women to see that their Children do walk in the Truth and abide in the Doctrine of Christ that they may have both the Father and Son And farther Solomon saith A gracious Woman attains Honour The vertues of a gracious Woman and a vertuous Woman is a Crown to her Husband and every wise Woman buildeth her own House Surely then she hath a work to do he that hath Ears let him hear But the foolishe Woman plucketh it down with her Hands And there are too many of those that are in the Transgression of the Spirit and Power of God with which they must build But a Woman that feareth God she shall be praised give her of the Fruit of her hands and let her Works Praise her in the Gates And then surely she hath a work to do that must praise her in the Gates She stretcheth forth her hands to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the Needy Prov. 31. And must she not then have something of the Outward to do it withal She opens her Mouth in Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kingness She looks well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness She is like the Merchant 's Shir she bringeth her Food from far she riseth also whilst it is Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and Portions to her Maidens she considereth a Field and buyeth it with the Fruit of her hands she planteth a Vineyard she guirdeth her Loins with strength and strengtheneth her Arms she perceiveth that her Merchandize is good her Candle goeth not out by Night c. And here is an Example to all Women a
Springs and Fruitful and all that lives under God's Teaching knows it So serve God in the Spirit and in the newness of Life which is over the old that the Lord God's Presence may be felt amongst you and his Son a Prophet to open to you and a Priest to sanctifie you a Bishop to oversee you and a Shepherd to feed you the Rock of your Age and Ages the Foundation of your Generation and many Generations and who are in him who was elected before the Foundation of the World they build upon him who is the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending in him you have all Life and Salvation who is the Amen And my desire is To Incourage the Faithful Women in the Service of God that you may in the Power of God encourage all the Faithful Women in your Island in the Work and Service of God and now you have Six Mens Meetings if you had as many Womens Meetings it would include all the faithful Women in all the Corners of your Island and some of your ancient faithful Women to go from Meeting to Meeting till they are settled in the Power of God and that will keep all alive in the Lord's working Power and living Life And all that are not Faithful let them be admonished to Faithfulness that so they may come into the Light and Life and Service of God and Christ for all the Wise-hearted and Faithful Women in the time of the Law were to work about the Tabernacle of God and the Holy Things And they were called the Assemblies of the Women And all the Women in the time of the Law was to offer Sacrifices upon God's Altar as well as the Men. And now in the time of the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light God doth pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and therefore live in the Gospel and its Order and all true Christians Men and Women doth offer their Spiritual Sacrifices to God who is a Spirit And therefore my Friends be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth dwell in Love that will bear all things and let there be an Order entered in your Books To avoid provoking Words that there be no provoking Words spoken in your Meetings but if any have any thing to say let them speak to them in love privately And when ye have settled your Six Womens Meetings then you may have a Six Weeks or a Monthly as well as a Quarterly Meeting as you may see meet And so that all your Wells of Life may be kept open and every one have a fresh Spring springing up in you so that in every one of you the living Water of Life may flow so that ye all may be refreshed with the Fountain of Life and feel Christ a Bishop to oversee and a Counsellor to counsel and a King to rule in your Hearts and a Prophet to open and a Shepherd to feed you with his heavenly Food And so see that nothing be lacking among you To follow whatsoever is of good Report both inward and outward and whatsoever is decent comely modest vertuous righteous and of good report follow after and be stedfast upon Christ the Rock and Foundation And whatever you do let it be done in the Name of Jesus that is in his Power and mind the Gospel of Peace and its Ordr which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light that you may be preserved in Life and in Immortality by the Immortal Power And all to be Children of the Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and easie to be entreated keeping the Vnity in God's Holy Spirit in which is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace in whom you have all Peace Life and Salvation I received your Letter from your Quarterly Meeting and I am glad taht you are in the Lord's Work and Service And my desire is That ye all may stand up for the Glory and Honour of the Lord God and that his Blessings may abound among you And so if you do Write to New-England and Jamaica where I hear they have precious Men and Womens Meetings it might do well to encourage one another in the Work and Service of God So that the Women may all be helps meet to the Men in the Restoration in the Image of God as Man and Woman was in before they fell So with my Love in the Seed of Life to all Friends in the Island Swarthmore in Lancashire the 25th of the 8th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in the Isle of Man MY Dear Friends be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth Epist 334. and and live in the Light and Power and Spirit of God that you answer that of God in all by which their Minds may be turned to God And keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus To keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have Salvation whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven that the Lord's Glory you may see to shine in and about your Tabernacles and his Presence among you to teach and order you and be you obedient to it So with my Love to you all in the Everlasting Seed that bruiseth the Head of the Serpent which Seed liveth and reigneth over all from Everlasting to Everlasting in his Glory in whom the Saints do sit down in their Peace and Rest and Joy for evermore Amen Swarthmore the 5th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in Virginia and Maryland MY Dear Friends Epist 335. all dwell in the Love of God and in his Power and Truth that the Presence of the Lord God you all may injoy who is the Life of you all and the length of your Days who hath the Breath of all Mankind and the Spirits of all Flesh in his Hand and in him you do all live and move and have your being who is your Rock and Salvation and Fountain of Life and of all your Mercies and of your Water of Life And therefore serve and honour and fear and worship him in his Spirit and Truth and that you all may abide in the holy heavenly and spiritual Vine and in him bring forth heavenly and spiritual Fruits to the Glory of God who sent his Son to be a Leader Christ the Leader and Way to God and the Way to God who draweth all Men up to himself where he is ascended to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus out of all Sin and Transgression by which Man was droven from God that made him barren and unfruitful And therefore be ye separated from the World to the Lord by the Word which was in the Beginning which divideth the Precious from the Vile that by that Word ye may be reconciled to God which Word reconcileth all things in Heaven and in the Earth in one which Word hammereth down that which made twain and so by the glorious Everlasting Word of Life you are born again of the Immortal
be preached again to all Nations Tongues and People that dwell upon the Earth So all Nations hath been darkned from Life and Immortality and now the Gospel which is the Power of God brings Life and Immortality to light again that they may come to see over him that has darkned them and before he was and such comes into the City of the heavenly Jerusalem and drinks of the Waters of Life freely And therefore all live and walk in the Light in which you have Fellowship and Vnity To live in Vnity Peace and Love which edifies and be at Peace among your selves and in Love which edifies and bears all things for this is that which passes Knowledge and keeps in the Humility of Christ Jesus So my desires are That you may all spread and grow in the Vine for the Lord hath a great People to come out in those Parts which I saw in 1651. And therefore Labour in God's Power that you may increase your heavenly Treasure and enter into the Joy of the Lord. And so with my Love to all in the Truth that walk and live in it that by it they may be made God's Free-men Swarthmore the 2d of the 7th 1676. G. F. To Friends in Maryland and Virginia MY Dear Friends Epist 338. be Valiant for the Truth and the Power of it in the Spirit and Faith of Jesus and let no one take your Crown for the Saints overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the Testimony of Jesus and so fear not the Wrath of Man but fear the Lord and keep your Men and Womens Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whose Name you have Salvation Life and Peace so that all may be in the Vine bringing forth heavenly Fruit to the Glory of God and so feel his Banner of Love over you and you sitting under the Shadow of the Almighty and look over that which maketh to suffer to that which was before it was and know your Faith to stand in the Seed that bruiseth the Head of it which Seed Christ is your Rock and Foundation who will raze down the Foundation of the World of Wickedness from which Foundation the Lamb hath been slain but he is risen and hath overcome the World and hath the Victory Glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for ever Amen And in him you have the Victory and do overcome and they that do overcome From which Foundation in Christ we have the Victory shall eat of the hidden Manna and shall go no more forth into the barren World of Wickedness but feed in the fruitful Land of the Living and their Feet shall be set in a sure Place and beautiful are the Feet of those that publish Peace and glad Tiding and that says in Truth and Righteousness to Zion Thy God reigneth Who is a consuming Fire to the Wicked and the Joy of the Lord if strength to the Righteous So serve the Lord in the Newness of Life for the Lord is dishonoured in the Old Life of Wickedness and keep the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace which no Man can take away So with my Love to you all in the Everlasting Seed that changeth not G. F. ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren every where Epist 339. in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour Life and Peace To live and walk in Christ live and walk in the Lamb which hath the Victory and so in the Humility of Christ which you have learned of him and in Patience with which you run the Race and obtain the Crown of Immortal Life and in the Love of God all dwell which will warm all your Hearts and knit and unite you together and build you up a Holy Temple for the Lord And his Love will keep and carry you above all things to the Glory of God And this Love will enable you to bear all things what-ever wicked Men can do unto you or what the Lord may try you withal So let your Faith be in the invisible God and his Son who is able to succour you and save you to the uttermost who is over all King Immortal Invisible the only wise God blessed for ever Amen So God Almighty establish you all upon this Holy Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus who is the same to day as yesterday and so for ever who was all the Holy Men and Womens Foundation who is the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending the Saints Mediator and Peace-Maker between them and God Their Joy and Rejoycing is in him their Everlasting Joy the Amen blessed for ever So with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ unto you all in whom I have laboured and among you Swarthmore the 19th of the 12th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in New Jersey in America MY Dear Friends in New Jersey and you that go to New Jersey Epist 340. My desire is that you may all be kept in the Fear of God and that you may have the Lord in your Eye in all your Undertakings For many Eyes of other Governments or Colonies will be upon you yea the Indians to see how you order your Lives and Conversations And therefore let your Lives and Words and Conversations be as becomes the Gospel that you may adorn the Truth and honour the Lord in all your Undertakings Let that only be in your Eye Honour God in all Vndertakings and then you will have the Lord's Blessing and increase both in Basket and Field and Store House and at your lyings down you will feel him and at your goings forth and comings in So that you may answer the Light and the Truth in all People both by your godly Lives and Conversations Serving the Lord and being valiant for his Truth with a joyful Heart upon the Earth and the Glorious Name in whom you have Salvation And keep up your Meetings for Worship and your Men and Womens Meetings for the Affairs of Truth both Monthly and Quarterly And after you are settled you may join together and build a Meeting-House And do not strive about outward things but dwell in the Love of God for that will unite you together and make you kind and gentle one towards another and to seek one anothers Good and Welfare and to be helpful one to another and see that nothing be lacking among you then all will be well And let Temperance and Patience Temperance Patience and Brotherly Love be exercised and Kindness and Brotherly Love be exercised among you so that you may abound in Vertue and the true Humility living in Peace shewing forth the Nature of Christianity that you may all live as a Family and the Church of God holding Christ your heavenly Head and he exercising his Offices among you and in you and hold him the Head by his Light Power and Spirit and that will keep your Minds over the Earthly Spirit up to God for the Earth and the Sea and all things
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
they that separate themselves such as have not the Spirit But Beloved build up your selves in the most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost and keep your selves in the Love of God Jude Now I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you and the rest will I set in order when I come 1 Cor. 2.11 34. Paul in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians Chap. 3.4 And we have Confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the things which we command you Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which he received of us Now we exhort you Brethren to warn them that are unruly and comfort the feeble-minded and support the weak and be patient towards all Men for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another and that ye study to be quiet and walk honestly to them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing 1 Thess 5.14 And in 2 Thess 2.15 Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which you have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle G. F. DEar Friends Epist 348. To whom is my Love in the heavenly Seed Christ Jesus Abraham and all the Faithful blessed in Christ without the Deeds of the Law in whom all Nations are blessed O therefore keep all in this Seed in which ye are blessed and in which Abraham and all the faithful were blessed without the Deeds of the Law and so the Promise was and is to the Seed and not to the Law of the first Covenant and in this Seed all Nations and ye are blessed which bruiseth the Head of the Seed which brought the Curse and separated between Man and God This is the Seed which reconciles you to God and this is the Seed in which ye are blessed both in Temporals and Spirituals through which you have an Inheritance that cannot be defiled among the sanctified neither can any defiled thing enter into its Possession for all Defilements are out of this Seed this is that which Leavens up into a New Lump and bruiseth the Head of the wicked Seed that Leavens into the Old Lump upon whom the Sun of Righteousness goes down and sets but never goes down nor sets to them that walk in the Seed in which all Nations are blessed by which Seed they are brought up to God which puts down that Seed which separated betwixt them and God so that there comes to be nothing betwixt them and God And so now all my Dear Friends my Desires are To be valiant for Truth and to spread it abroad That you may all be valiant in this heavenly Seed for God and his Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad answering that of God in all that with it the Minds of People may be turned towards the Lord that he may come to be known and served and worshipped and that ye may all be the Salt of the Earth to make the unseasoned Savoury And in the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings who are gathered into it in whose Name ye have Salvation and he in the midst of you whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven And so you have a Prophet and Bishop Shepherd Priest and Counsellor above all the Counsellors Priests Bishops Prophets and Shepherds under the whole Heaven to exercise his Offices among you in your Meetings that are gathered in his Name And so Christ's Meeting and Gathering is above all the Meetings and Gatherings under the whole Heaven And so his Body his Church and He the Head of it is above all the Bodies and Churches and Heads under the whole Heaven And so the Faith that Christ is the Author of and the Worship that he hath set up and his Fellowship in his Gospel is above all Historical Faiths and the Faith 's that Men have made together with their Worships and Fellowships under the whole Heaven And now Dear Friends Light and Immortality brought to Light keep your Men and Womens Meetings in the Power of God the Gospel the Authority of them which brings Life and Immortality to light in you And this Gospel the Power of God will preserve you in Life and in Immortality which hath brought it to light in you that ye may see over him that hath darkned you and so from the Knowledge of the things of God And so it is he and his Iustruments that would darken you from Life and Immortality and that would throw down your Men and Womens Meetings which are established in the Power of God the Gospel and would darken you again from this Life and Immortality which the Gospel hath brought to light and will preserve you in Life and in Immortality as your Faith stands in the Power of God the Gospel in which every one sees your Work and Service for God and every Heir of the Power of God the Gospel hath Right to this Authority which is not of Man nor by Man which Gospel the Power of God is Everlasting and leads you into an everlasting Fellowship and in the Gospel is everlasting Joy Comfort and Peace which will-out-last all those Joys Comforts and Peace that will have an End and also that Spirit that opposes its Order and the glorious Fellowship Peace and Comfort that is in it And now my Dear Friends my Desire is By the Spirit are we all baptized into one Body That ye may keep in the Unity of the Spirit that Baptises you all into one Body which Christ is the Heavenly and Spiritual Head of so that you may see and witness to your Heavenly and Spiritual Head and all drink into that one Spirit which all People upon the Earth is not like to drink into while they grieve quench and rebel against it nor be baptised into one Body nor keep the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace Yea the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Peace which is the Duty of all true Christians to keep who are inwardly united to Christ So with my Love in the Everlasting Seed Swarthmore the 26th of the 7th Month 1678. G. F. To Friends in the County of Oxford DEar Friends Epist 349. Keep in the Lord's Power that his Kingdom stands in In what the Kingdom of God stands and in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which the Devil and all his Instruments of Strife and Debate and Sowers of Discord among Brethren are out of and keep that Spirit out with the Power of God which was before it was in which Gospel the Power of God is your Holy and Heavenly Order in the Possession of the same Labour walking in the New and Living Way over all the dead Ways in Adam let them be what Sect they will and in this New and Living Way you
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
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
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 3â3 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
the World could meet outwardly together and are not in the Power and Spirit the Apostles were in they are in a Separation But God Almighty is bringing his People by his Son Christ Jesus and by the same Power the Apostles were in out of this Separation and Apostacy from the Apostles Spirit that began in the Apostles days into the same Spirit that the Church and the Apostles were in in the Primitive Times and though they be absent in the Body or Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit seeing and beholding in the Spirit the Spiritual Order and the Stedfastness of their divine Faith which Christ the Second Adam the Spiritual Man hath been the Author and Finisher of And therefore let no Man beguile you by enticing Words from this Spiritual Order Fellowship and Vnity And again the Apostle saith For I verily as absent in the Body but present in the Spirit have judged already as though I was present concerning him that hath so done this deed So here was a Spiritual Sight and a Spiritual Judgment yea a Judgment though absent in the Body by a Spiritual Sight of such as walk not in the Spirit but walk out of the Order of it 1 Cor. 5.3 And this is to the Spiritual-minded who can judge of these things for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Lord now by his Spirit is separating his Sons and Daughters from the Apostacy and Sin which hath separated from the Spirit that the Apostles were in that they may behold one another with joy and comfort with the Spirit in the Spiritual Order Fellowship and Vnity though they be absent in the Body and in the Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit and know one another in the Spirit of God And also All one in Christ the Apostle saith As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ There is neither Jew nor Greek Bond nor Free and here is neither Male nor Female but ye are all one in Christ Jesus So though these be absent in the Body one from another Jews Greeks Bond or Free Males or Females yet they are all one in Christ Jesus the spiritual and heavenly Man and with the Spirit joying and beholding one anothers Spiritual Order so the Joying Vnity and Fellowship stands in the Spirit of God and not in the outward Fleshly Bodily Presence and Carnal and Natural Sight And therefore keep your Spiritual Order To keep in the spiritual Order joying in the Spirit beholding your Spiritual Order and Stedfastness of your Faith in Christ Jesus and in this you will be all stedfast Men and stedfast Women and not tossed up and down with every windy Doctrine and the cunning Crafts and Slights of Men but stedfast Men and stedfast Women in the Faith of Christ as Trees of Righteousness the Planting of the Lord whose Fruit is unto Holiness and whose end is Everlasting Life and such have Fruit on their own Trees and Water in their own Wells and are not shaken with Winds Storms nor Tempests that may rise up within or without but are stedfast and unmoveable built upon the Rock and Foundation of Life Christ Jesus so that as every one hath received the Gift even so minister one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God And this is the Grace of God wherein ye stand that will teach you to live Godly Righteously and Soberly and brings Salvation so not only to talk Godly but to live Godly keeping your selves in the Love of God and building up your selves in the most Holy Faith which you have from Christ Jesus which makes you stedfast and unmoveable from him who is the Author and Finisher of it and with the Spirit of God in which you spiritually behold your substantial and stedfast Spiritual Order over all outward and carnal Orders and will out-last them all with which Spirit you all see your work and service for the Eternal Immortal God of Truth to whom be all Glory Honour Thanks and Praises in the Church of Jesus Christ throughout all Ages World without end Amen From your Friend and Brother in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Worplesdom the 22d of the 5th Month 1680. G. F. To Friends in America DEar Friends My Love to you all in the holy peaceable Truth Epist 364. and my Desires are that whatsoever ye do may be done in the Name of Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and all be subject one to another in the Fear of the Lord God so that ye may all come to dwell in the Love of God which edifies the Body of Christ who is the heavenly Man and let all Strifes and Divisions and Backbitings All Strifes Divisions c. to cease or Whisperings or Prejudices cease and be buried and so whatsoever is amiss or hath been amiss let it be put down by the Truth and Spirit of God that it may be uppermost which is a strong Bond to Vnite your Hearts and Minds and Souls together and to the Lord and be kind and courteous one towards another all studying to be quiet and to excel one another in Vertue and Purity and Holiness and Righteousness and Godliness in all your Words and Lives and Conversations so that you may all walk as become Saints and Christians every one esteeming and preferring one another above your selves in the Truth in Meekness and Lowliness of Mind and Humility for he that Inhabits Eternity dwells with an humble Heart Not to quench the Spirit And therefore do not quench the least Motion of God's good Spirit in your selves nor in any other but let Truth and Goodness be cherished in all and let all Harshness and Bitterness and Revilings be kept down by the Truth that it may have its passage through you all and in it you may bear one anothers Weakness and Infirmities and so fulfil the Law of Christ keeping down Revenge Hastiness or Passion as knowing Vengance is the Lord's and he will repay it on every one that does wrong without respect of Persons For Friends you there should be as Lights or as a City that cannot be hid Lights I say to to give Light in all People and also to be as the Salt of the Earth to be a good Savour and savoury to all People for he or she that is an ill savour hath lost the Salts savour and is good for nothing and is trodden under the Foot of Men and therefore take heed of loosing the Salts savour either in Word or Conversation for if you do you will come under the Foot of Men they will trample upon you therefore be Careful Fervent Circumspect and Faithful in the Truth and let your Moderation Temperance and Sobriety appear to all Men shewing forth the Work of the Lord and your Honesty and Justness in all your Words and Dealings between Man and Man and that you may owe nothing to any Man
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
Now a People following and doing that which is not Just is the Cause they do not live and inherit the Land Deut. 16.18 19 20. Ex. 23.6 And therefore do that which is Just that you may inherit Christ and your spiritual Land Thou shalt not oppress a stranger seeing you were strangers nor vex the Widows and Fatherless And the Lord saith You shall be holy Men unto me Again the Lord says Thou shalt not raise a false Report c. Put not thy Hand with the wicked to an unrighteous Witness Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil neither shalt thou speak in a Cause to decline after many to wrest Judgment Exod. 23.1 2. Again To Respect no Man in Judgment the Lord saith Ye shall not do unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the Person of the Poor nor honour the Person of the Mighty But in righteousness thou shalt judge thy neighbour Levit. 19.15 And Deut. 1.16 17. and Josh 7.24 I charged your Judges says Moses saying Hear the Causes between your Brethren judge righteously between every Man and his Brother and the stranger that is with him So let all the Strangers that are with you have righteous Judgment as well as those among your selves And again he saith Ye shall not respect Persons in judgment but ye shall hear the small as well as the great You shall not be afraid of the face of Man for the judgment as God's So long as ye judge Righteously And therefore now Friends my desire is That you all may be kept in the Power and Spirit of God and Christ in Humility and in that you will have a sense of all things that whatever you act it may be done in the Spirit and Power of Jesus Christ to the Praise of God the Father who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting who beholds and sees all your Words and Actions that you may behold and see with his Spirit His and his Sons Divine Majesty among you Amen Read this in your Assembly and in your Meetings G. F. To suffering Friends at Horsham in Sussex DEar Friends Epist 368. Who suffer for your Testimony and to all the rest in your County I am glad to hear of your Faithfulness and of your standing for the Church which Christ is the Head of Two or three gathered in Christ's Name is a Church which is in God and are become his living Members and therefore wheresoever ye are in Prison or out of Prison where two or three are gathered in his Name there is a Church and Christ the Living Head in the midst of them a Prophet to open to his Church the things of his Kingdom and a Bishop to Oversee his Living Members that they be preserved in his Light Grace Truth Spirit and Gospel and he is a Shepherd to feed them with heavenly Food who gives Life Eternal to his Sheep which he hath purchased with his own Blood and a Priest who has offered up himself a Sacrifice for the Sins of the whole World who cleanses and washes and purifies his Church his People a High Priest made higher than the Heavens Heb. 7. And no Priest made below the Heavens will become Christ's Church and therefore feel and see Christ exercising his Prophetical Priestly and Kingly Offices and his ruling in your Hearts And all that will know the right Way or High-Way or Path to the Church in God 2 Thess 1. must walk in the Light which is the Life in Christ and that will guide them to Christ the Way to God the Head of the Church the Rock and Foundation of God that stands sure And now Dear Friends my Desires are that you may all live in the Love of God and in the Vnity of his Spirit which is the Bond of Peace in which you will be all Kind and Courteous one to another and so the God of all Peace and Power support you and strengthen you and uphold you throughout all your Trials and Sufferings that he may be glorified in you all who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting blessed for ever from whom ye have Blessing and Life London the 20th of the 12th Month 1681. G. F. To the Flock of Christ Jesus every where to be read in their Assemblies GRace Epist 369. Mercy and Peace be multiplied among you all from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Fountain of all And God who hath called you by his Grace and gathered you to be a People by his Power and Spirit to his Son Christ Jesus your holy heavenly spiritual Head Life Rock and Foundation Now that you may all walk in Christ Jesus and abide in him your Vine and in him you will all bring forth heavenly Fruit to the Praise and Glory of God Christ saith In me ye have Peace in the World ye have Trouble In Christ we have Peace and therefore keep out of the Spirit of the World let not the Spirit of the World come into you for if ye do ye go into Trouble both inwardly and outwardly But if ye keep in Christ who is not of the World you keep in your heavenly Place and Region For He that hath the Son of God he hath Life and therefore keep in the Life in Christ and he that hath not the Son of God is in old Adam in Death without Life And Without me says Christ ye can do nothing without his Grace Without Christ we can do nothing his Light his Truth his Gospel his Power his Spirit his Faith ye can do nothing and If Christ be not in you ye are Reprobates and if he be in you and you in him you are in the Election and in the Seed in which all Nations are blest And therefore my Friends and Brethren both Males and Females keep and walk in the Seed in which all Nations are blest which bruises the Head of the Serpent and destroys the Devil and his Works which brought Misery and the Curse upon all Nations So that in this holy Seed you all may be the Children of the Kingdom of God that stands in Righteousness and Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost I say in the Righteousness of Christ which was before Unrighteousness was and in the Power of God which was before the Power of Satan and Dragon was and in the Peace of God that passes all the Vnderstanding of the World and was before the God of the World was and in the Holy Ghost which was before the unclean Ghost got into Man and Woman And so that you may all come to walk in the New Covenant of Light which was before the Prince of Darkness was and Life that is over Death 1601 and was before Death was Here in this you will have your heavenly Religion to walk in which will keep you out of all the World 's unruly Ways and Actions and ungracious Words and Languages that all your Words be seasoned with the Grace of
God that hath brought you Salvation that you may edifie the Hearers and your Conversation may be in Heaven And keep in the Cross of Christ The Cross of Christ the Power of God the Power of God that keeps you crucified to the World that is Dead to the World and the World Dead and Crucified to you For if you do not keep in this Power of God which was before the World and its God was to keep you crucified to the World but let in the Spirit of the World you let in his God which will crucifie the Good in you and you will come to crucifie to your selves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame Therefore keep that crucified with the Power of God the Cross of Christ which did and would crucifie the Just and then you will keep alive in the Power of God and live in Christ Jesus and he is alive in you and you in him And now all Friends and Brethren let your Meekness your Temperance and your Gentleness and Sobriety and Tenderness and Moderation appear to all Men That your Light may so shine that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven And ye being the Salt of the Earth you will make all Savoury therefore take heed of losing your Salt lest you be trodden under the Feet of Men. And keep out of the restless discontented disquieted Spirit of the World about the Government To be peaceable under Government For you know it has been always our way to seek the Good of all and to live Peaceably under the Government and to seek their Eternal Good Peace and Hapiness in the Lord Jesus Christ and to lay our Innocent Sufferings before them who have suffered as Lambs and Sheep and made no Resistance but have prayed for them that persecuted us and despitefully used us and hated us according to the Command of Christ For ye were as Sheep gone astray but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls For hitherto ye are called because Christ hath suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps who did no sin neither was guile found in his Mouth Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth Righteously And he that will love Life and see good Days let him refrain his Tongue from speaking Evil and his Lips that he speak no Guile 2 Pet. 2. The 21st of the 9th Month 1681. G. F. To Suffering Friends in Leicester DEar Friends Epist 370. that are in Prison and all Friends and Sufferers that are in the County to whom is my Love in the Lord 's Eternal Power and Seed of Life that reigns over all in whom you have Peace with God and Riches that is Everlasting Now Dear Friends your Sufferings has been long in that County and great have been your Trials and spoiling of your Goods through your Adversaries and Persecutors Rage against you but the Lord 's secret Hand and Power is that which hath upheld you through all to himself and therefore we may say What shall separate us from the Love of God that we have in Christ Jesus Shall Tribulations Pesecutions Powers or Principalities Thrones or Dominions Nay there is not any thing able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus whom you have chosen a Priest that is from above not from below who has offered up himself to God for you who is not like the Jews Priests that had the Tithes of the People for offering up their outward Offerings and such like Services So you have a Priest from Heaven Christ a Priest made higher than the Heavens and is made higher than the Heavens and is the Prophet that God has raised up like Moses whom ye are to hear in his Light Grace and Truth And he is your Shepherd from Heaven who has laid down his Life for his Sheep who is above all the Earthly Shepherds below and this Shepherd will feed you with that which is Heavenly And he is your Bishop from Heaven to oversee you that you may be kept from sitting down in any Earthly Place with your Minds Spirits and Souls but only to sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is the heavenly and spiritual Bishop who lives for evermore the First and Last the Beginning and Ending who is the First Born of every Creature and the First Begotten from the Dead who does quicken and makes alive and begets from the Death and makes them to sit together whom he has made alive in the Heavenly Places in himself And now Dear Friends I do feel the Lord's Eternal Power present with you in all your Sufferings Faith to stand in the Power of God how it hath and doth support you and therefore let your Faith be stedfast in the Power of God which will keep you all unto the Day of Salvation And that you may all be Valiant and Faithful for God's Truth upon the Earth in this Day of Trial and Persecution from both Teachers Professors and Profane which are below whose Persecuting Spirit will have but a time and therefore be of good Faith for a Sparrow shall not fall to the Ground without the Will of the Father and ye are of more value than many Sparrows And Blessed are they which suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven And blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of Evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven For so the old Persecutors persecuted the Prophets and Apostles before you But Rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's Sufferings for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you who are railed upon and suffer for his Name sake And though he is evil spoken of by your Persecutors but on your part he is glorified that suffer for his Name And therefore let none be ashamed to suffer as a Christian but let him glorifie God in his Sufferings who doth support him And so Dear Friends live in Love and Unity and be Kind To live in Love and Vnity and Courteous and Tender-hearted one towards another yea and to all your Persecutors that you may heap Coals of Fire upon their Heads and so overcome Evil with Good And so the God of all Peace establish you all upon his heavenly Rock and Foundation of Life Christ Jesus which standeth sure and cannot be moved And so with my Love to you all in the holy Seed in which all Nations are blest And in this Seed the Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you which bruises the Head of the evil Seed that makes you to suffer And the Lord God Almighty arm you with his Armour and strengthen you that you may be able to stand to his Glory and that
of God and be careful and tender to your Servants in all Respects that there may come no Complaints from them or others that so in all things you may be ordered by the Wisdom of God that his Blessing may be amongst you And Dear Friends I desire that you would send over an Account by the next Ship how many Meetings you have and how many Meetings Monthly of Men and Women and how many Quarterly Meetings and Half-Year Meeitings and let us know how Truth spreacs and prospers amongst you which you would do well to write over every Year to the Yearly Meeting at London So with my Love in the Seed which reigns over all in whom you have all Life and Salvation and Peace in the Lord God G. F. To Friends that are Prisoners in York DEar Friends Epist 377. with my Love to you and all the rest of the faithful Friends in Bonds and my desire is to the Lord that ye all may stand faithful and valiant for his glorious Name To stand saithful in the time of Storms and his holy peaceable Truth now in this Day of Storm and Tempest that none may turn their Backs on the Lord in this Day of Trial and none may be ashamed of confessing of Christ before the Adulterous Generation as Christ said lest Christ be ashamed of them before his Father and before his holy Andels and therefore now is the Time and Day of your Trial for the Lord is Just though I know that the Faithful and Innocent Just and Righteous must stand it out and therefore mind the Lord in all your Sufferings and keep all low and in the Humility of Heart and there you will feel that he taht inhabits Eternity dwells with an humble Heart and he will be your Shield and Buckler and defender in time of Trouble and the Lord hath promised to deliver his People in the Six Troubles yea in the Seventh the Perfection of Troubles and therefore do not think Time long and your Sufferings long for the Lord will lay no more upon you but what you are able to bear yea upon his faithful People I know it and am a Witness for God in all my Sufferings and Imprisonments and haling before Magistrates about Sixty times about this Thirty six Year And so Friends when you are tried you may come forth more precious than Gold that is tried in the Fire and keep the Word of Patience and it will keep you from the Temptations that comes upon the World to try them for the Word of God was before the World was And though you be in outward Bonds from your Wives Families Houses and Relations yet the Word of God is not bound The Word of God is not bound neither can they bind the Word of God it 's at Liberty it abides and indures for ever it will make you all rich though they think to make you poor with their Bonds and casts you into Prisons but I tell you the Word of God will make you rich for the Word of God was before the Wicked and his Bonds were for in the Beginning was the Word but since the beginning was the Devil who had cast some into Prison spoken of in Revelations that ten Days might be a longer time than ten natural Days For they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Pesecution by the Vngodly for it was the Just that suffered by the Unjust in all Ages and Christ said to Saul Why Persecutest thou me So they that stood in Christ and were in Christ Jesus it was Christ that was Persecuted as well as they in whom he reigned And do not you understand and know the Sufferings and Trials of the holy Men of God went through and how by Faith they subdued the Mountains and consider the Faith of Abraham Isaac and Jacob The Faith of the Patriarchs and the Faith of Abel and Enoch and Noah and the Faith of Jeremiah and the rest of the Prophets and the Faith of Daniel and the Three Children and the Faith of all the Apostles what Sufferings and Imprisonments they went through and consider all the Martyrs since the Apostles days consider what Sufferings they have gone through and God and Christ is the same to uphold you that are given up in his Spirit Power and Faith to stand for his Glory and be valiant for his Truth and Name upon the Earth And therefore keep in your Sanctuary Christ Jesus who destroys the Destroyer and bruises the Serpents Head and so in Christ Jesus your Sanctuary you all are in safety in whom you have all Life and Salvation and Peace with God in him you may all Triumph and Rejoyce with exceeding great Joy and say What shall separate us from the Love of God which we have in Christ Jesus And the Apostle said to the Saints in their Days That there was not any thing able to separate him from the Love of God in Christ jesus you feeling the same Love you feeling the same Faith to dwell in you and walk by For the just shall live by Faith which is his victory and hath access to God in which he pleases God And so with my Love to you all in Christ Jesus who was before the Devil was that makes you to suffer and will be when he is gone In Christ you have heavenly Peace that none can take away from you in him dwell and live Amen POSTSCRIPT AND all be Faithful in their Testimony of Life against Riches and all those things which hath come up in this Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of Christ and God against all Loosness whatsoever that the heavenly Camp of God may be kept holy clean and pure And all Friends look at the Lord above allyour Sufferings and trust in him who with his his Eternal Power hath preserved you to this day and the Lord in his Glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he over all hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his People Glory to his Name for ever Amen And therefore let you Faith be in the Gospel the Power of God which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in you G. F. To all the Elect of God Chosen and Faithful who have known the Work of the Lord and his Dealings and his Eternal Hand his Spirit and Power in preserving of you to this Day and in this Glorious Gospel Day of Christ Jesus who are built upon him the holy Rock and Foundation of God that standeth sure and are fed with the Heavenly Bread and feel the Springs of Living Water and enjoy the Presence of Lord who daily gives the Increase AND now Friends Epist 378. with the Eternal Power and Heavenly Light of Christ with it you have seen and do see and will see that which Christ hath spoken Matth. 13. and Luke 8. which he taught to the great Multitude in Parables Parable of
they have access to God True Faith purifieth the Heart in which they please him in that Truth which Christ is the Author and Finisher of which is called the Gift of God and they that are of this Faith the same are the Children of Abraham and are blessed with faithful Abraham and Abraham was called the Friend of God and so are all his Children that are of his Seed and Faith they are not Friends of the Devil the wicked and unrighteous One but him and his Works they forsake who are Friends of God they are Friends of Righteousness and Holiness c. And such the Blessings of God rest upon them that are of the Seed and walk in the Seed Christ that bruises the Serpent's Head and in that Seed are all Nations blest and out of the Mouth of the Seed's seed shall not God's Word depart but it shall abide in the Mouth of the Seed's seed this living Word of God but the Word of God doth not abide in them who make a Profession of the Scriptures but live not in the Power and Spirit of the Holy Ghost that gave forth the Scriptures such are like the Jews John 5. and such think to have Life in the Scriptures but they will not come unto Christ that they may have Life for none come to Christ but by believing in the Light which is the Life in him the Word Now dear Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus if you keep in the Seed and Faith of Abraham in it you will command your Children and Families to walk in the Way of the Lord for in it you have Authority that they may keep the pure holy and righteous Way of the Lord after you when you are gone that they may succeed you in the Faith and Seed and Way of the Lord and in the Blessing of God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob did Amen G. F. To the Quarterly Meeting at York DEar Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 383. your Life and Salvation your Rock and Foundation Rest and Sanctuary in all Storms Trials and Sufferings Now dear Friends my desire is that you may all strive for that which makes for Peace For Blessed are the Peace makers they are called the Children of God And therefore whatsoever things are Honest Just Pure Lovely and of good Report if there be any Vertue and Praise think on these things to Practice them So that in the Power of the Lord that is over the Devil and his Power all may be kept Chaste In the Power of God all to keep Chast c. Pure and Holy to the Glory of God and all that are in the true Faith and Knowledge may shew it forth in Vertue Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness and true Charity or Love which beareth all things For they that dwell in Love dwell in God that is their Habitation And let all things be done in Love in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ And all to strive in the Spirit of the Lord God and his Truth to be of one Mind and Judgment so that you may all be baptised with one Spirit into one Body and so all to drink into one Spirit And keep the Unity and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit of God which is the Bond of Peace amongst all God's Children that are led by his Holy Spirit whose Communion and Fellowship is in the Holy Ghost by which ye are led into all Truth Now Dear Friends Let there be no Strife in all your Meetings nor vain Janglings nor Disputings but let all that tends to Strife be ended out of your Meetings that they may be kept Peaceable so that you may be at Peace among your selves and the God of Peace and Love may fill all your Hearts which Love edifies his Church To condescend one to another in the Fear of the Lord. And condescend one to another in the Fear of the Lord to that which is Honest Just Vertuous and of good Report And where any Weakness has been in any thing let it be covered and buried in the Spirit and Love of God that his Spirit and Love may be uppermost in you all to unite all your Hearts together And that you may all shew forth that you are the Children which the heavenly Wisdom is justified of which is Pure mark Pure Peaceable Gentle and easie to be intreated which is above the Wisdom that is below that 's neither Pure Peaceable nor easie to be intreated c. And in all matters of Business or Difference or Controversies treat one another in such things kindly and gently and be not fierce or heady and high minded for that Spirit will bring Men and Women to be Lovers of themselves and to be Despisers of others and that which is good which leads Nature out of its Course and so looses Natural Affections and at last comes to be without Natural Affections which Spirit we see most of Christendom is led by For if they were in natural Affections they would not destroy their fellow Creatures about Religion but being without natural Affections they have not Affections to their fellow Creatures to wit Man and Woman which were made in God's Image The Law and the Prophets Commanded to Love their Neighbour as themselves To love our Neighbour as our selves and Christ Commands to do unto all Men as they would have Men do unto them And the Gospel Commands to Love one another by which they are known to be Christ's Disciples and to Love their Enemies and to pray for them and to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven them So that those whose Conversation is according to the Gospel of Peace do establsh the Law and the Prophets who know the Divine Nature and are made Partakers of it are not without natural Affections but have Affections to it to cherish and preserve it And this the Word of Wisdom teaches by which all things were made and created good and blessed by which all things are upheld by which all things are sanctified to God's People that God created by his Word and made them good and blessed them By which Word and Wisdom all things are sanctified to God's People as before and are used and ordered by his Word of Wisdom to his Glory and Praise And now Dear Friends whereas there have been formerly some Discourses by some in your Meeting of Marrying within a Year after the decease of the Wife or of the Husband my desire is in those things Friends may shew forth both Chastity and Vertue and Temperance For formerly hasty Marriages was reckoned amongst the infamous Persons Marriage within the Year not of good Report as for a Man or a Woman to Marry within the Year of the Death of the Wife or Husband And therefore for Vertue and Chastity's sake and the Truth and good Examples sake that which is Honest Lovely and of good Report keep and walk in and follow For we ought in the Power of Christ
to the end shall be saved And Christ saith He that is ashamed of me before Men him will I be ashamed of before my Father and his Angels which are in Heaven And therefore it is good to confess Christ before Men to be your Priest Prophet your Shepherd your Bishop your Way your Mediator that makes your Peace betwixt God and you and be valiant for his glorious Name and Truth upon the Earth And so with my Love in the Seed in which you and all Nations are blest From Dosston the 6th of the 10th Month 1683. G. F. To Friends in Charles-Town in Carolina DEar Friends Epist 386. of the Monthly Meeting of Charles-Town in Ashley Cooper River in Carolina I received your Letter dated the Sixth Day of the Eighth Month 1683. Wherein you give an Account of your Meeting and of the Country and of your Liberty in that Province which I am glad to hear of though your Meeting is but small but however stand all faithful in Truth and Righteousness that your Fruits may be unto Holiness and your End will be Everlasting Life And that you may be Patterns of Vertue Modesty Chastity and Sobriety shewing forth the Fruits and Life of Christianity in your Lives and Conversations To be Patterns of Vertue c. that they may preach Righteousness Truth and Holiness to all People in that dark Wilderness that you may answer the Truth both in them that are called Christians and in the Indians And my desire is that you may prise your Liberty both Natural and Spiritual and the Favour that the Lord hath given you that your Yea is taken instead of an Oath and that you do serve both in Assemblies Juries and other Offices without Swearing according to the Doctrine of Christ Which is a great Thing worth prizing And take heed of abusing that Liberty or losing the Savour of the Heavenly Salt which seasons your Lives and Conversations in Truth Holiness and Righteousness For you know when the Salt hath lost its Savour it 's good for nothing but to be trodden under the Foot of Men. For we here are under great Persecution betwixt Thirteen and Fourteen Hundred in Prison an Account of which hath lately been delivered to the King Besides the great Spoil and Havock which is made of Friends Goods by Informers and besides the great Spoil upon the two thirds of our Estates About 1400 Friends in Prison in 1683. and upon the Twenty Pound a Month Acts and for not going to the Steeple-House and besides many are imprisoned and premunired for not Swearing Alegiance both Men Women Widows and Maids and many are fined and cast into Prison as Rioters for Meeting to worship God And we are kept out of our Meetings in Streets and High-ways in many Places of the Land and beaten and abused And therefore prise the Liberty both Natural and Spiritual that you enjoy And many are cast into Prison because they cannot pay the Priests Tithes and also many are cast into Prison by the Bishops Writs De Excommunicato Capiendo So that at present we are under great Sufferings Persecutions and Imprisonments But the Lord's Power is over all and that supports his People But in Ireland Scotland Holland Germany and Dantzick we hear that Friends are in peace and quietness and therefore you that have great Liberty both natural and spiritual as aforesaid be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad To spread Truth abroad both among them that are called Christians and Indians turning them from Darkness to Light Christ Jesus the Saviour whom God hath set up for an Ensign among the Gentiles or Heathen and to be his Salvation unto the ends of the Earth So seek the Good of all and the Profit of all and the Salvation and the Glory of God above all and the Exalting of his Name and Truth in your Day and Generation and live in Love and in the Truth and the Love of it and overcome evil with good and hold fast that which is good then you can try all things And so with my Love to you all in the holy Seed of Life Christ Jesus that reigns over all who is your Sanctuary in whom you have all Life and Peace and Salvation in Him the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all Holy Pure and Clean to his Glory Amen London the 23d of the 12th Month 1683. G. F. To the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting in England c. FRiends Be all Faithful in your Testimony against Tithes Epist 387. and all those things that have come up in the Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of God and Christ and against all Loosness whatsoever that the heavenly Camp of God may be kept clean and pure And all Friends look at the Lord above all your Sufferings To look at the Lord above all Sufferings and trust in him who by his Eternal Power has preserved you to this Day The Lord in his Glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he over all hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his People Glory to his Name for ever Amen And therefore let your Eye be to the Gospel the Power of God which has brought Life and Immortality to Light in you which is farther than the Law to be looked at The 9th of the 4th Month 1683. G. F. To Friends that are Captives at Algier DEar Friends who are Captives in Algier Epist 388. whom the Lord hath enlightned with his Day spring from on High and visited you with his tender Mercies in your Slavery and Captivity that you may know his Will and do it in his Light Grace Truth and Spirit that you may serve and worship the Holy Eternal and Invisible God that made you Now dear Friends to you is my Love and to all the rest that fears God that meets with you my Desires are To keep in Humility and the Fear of God that you may all keep low in Humility in the Fear of God there is no danger for God dwells with the Humble and teaches the Humble the way they should walk And therefore be careful of God's Glory you who profess the Name of God and his Son that your Lives and Words and Conversations may preach Godliness Righteousness Holiness Virtue Sobriety and Modesty both to Turks Moors Jews and to your Patroons and to the Families where you live for Christ hath enlightned every Man that comes into the World Christ hath enlightened all Men. he hath enlightned the Turks Jews and Moors with the Light which is the Life in him the Word that all in the Light might know God and Christ and The Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men so to the Turks Jews and Moors yea to all Nations so that with the Grace of God they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Unrighteousness and live Righteously and Godly
Vanity and have never so many flattering fair Words and good Speeches and trimmed and decked with the Sheeps cloathing yet they are in the Wolfs Nature and Whored from the Lamb and his Nature and so from the Seed Christ in whom all the Children of the Kingdom and the Elect are to walk that are of his Heavenly and Spiritual Generation and grow up in him as Trees of Righteousness whose Fruits are unto Holiness and whose End will be Everlasting Life And the End of that Spirit and Fruits before mentioned that are out of Christ and his peaceable Truth will be Destruction in the Lake of Fire And that is the Word of the Lord to you all therefore be warned what you join to and what you lay hands on suddenly For I remember before we were called Quakers as I was sitting in an House in Nottinghamshire about the Year 1648 the Word of the Lord came to me and said Some of those that should come to be convinced with the Light and Spirit of God and should come so far as Cain to hear God's Voice and as far as Balaam to hear God's Voice and to have some Openings and to come so far as Corah Dathan and Abiram these should be the Deceivers and the Troublers of the Church of Christ and seek to destroy the Faithful and to betray them Who formerly had some Experience to talk of but did not live in the Truth Which I and many others have seen come to pass and fulfilled For Christ said to his Disciples False Prophets and Anti-Christs That the false Prophets and the Anti-Christs which were inwardly the ravened Wolves which the Apostles and Believers should beware of should come to them to try them they had the Sheeps-cloathing and Outward Profession of Christianity but were Inwardly ravening Wolves to devour them Now these were Inwardly ravening from something And the Apostle John speaks of such as went out from us It seems they were one among them But saith he 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 the true Church that they might be manifest that they were not of it And these were the Anti-christs and false Prophets that Christ said should come which John and the Apostles saw were come and exhorted the Church to beware of and to keep to the Vnction which they had from the Holy One. And this Vnction and Anointing as it abides within the Saints the true Church and they in it it will teach them all things and is Truth and by it they shall continue in the Son and the Father and so in the Holy Seed Rock and Foundation that cannot be shaken And the Apostle saith There was to be a falling away first before the Man of Sin was revealed the Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself c. And when the Apostle saw the Mystery of Iniquity already working and his coming is after the working of Satan with all Deceiveableness of Unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved And such go into strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye and not the Truth And here you may see there is a falling away before the Son of Perdition or Judas be revealed and they that fall away receive not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved but believe Lyes that they shall be damned And the Lord will consume him with the Spirit of his Mouth and will destroy him with the Brightness of his coming the wicked One and Son of Perdition that is against the Righteous and is the Opposer and Betrayer of them Therefore all the Church of Christ are to stand stedfast To stand stedfast in Christ and be establish'd in Him in every good Word and Work who are from the beginning chosen for Salvation through Jesus Christ through the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth and are called by the Gospel the Power of God to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the glorious Rest and Peace is And you may see how the Church of Christ was troubled by such as went out from them and fell away from Truth and Inwardly ravened some went like unto the Swine into the Mire and some like the Doggs to the Vomit and some like Wolves that Inwardly ravened and yet kept the Sheeps-cloathing Some went in the Nature of Cain Sacrificers and yet were Destroyers of the Righteous and some went in the Nature or Spirit of Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses and others in the Nature of Judas to Betray and others in the Nature of Corah Dathan and Abiram to Gain-say and Resist the Truth and others in the Nature of Jezabel And this Spirit and Nature troubled the Church in the Old Testament Troublers of the Church and troubled the Church in the New Testament and are troubling the Church of Christ in this Gospel-Day that is come and coming out of the Apostacy But God's Trumpet Spirit and Power was and is always sounded against it that all People may beware of this Evil Spirit and Nature and keep in the Seed Christ Jesus that bruises the Head of it in whom you have Love Rest Salvation Quietness and Peace Hallelujah And all dwell in Love then you dwell in God who is Love All dwell in God who is Love let that be all your Habitations which Love edifies the Body of Christ and builds you up in him and all strive to excel one another in Vertue in Patience Courteousness Kindness Tenderness Meekness and Humility in Temperance Modesty and Chastity and whatsoever things are Decent and Comely and of good Report Honest and Lovely that follow For these are the good Fruits of the Spirit of God and his Heavenly Seed which Fruits are acceptable to God and will make you all lovely and comely to him and unto one another in his Heavenly Seed in which as I said before you are blest and all Nations are blest which Seed Christ is your Sanctuary who destroys the Devil the Destroyer and so is over him and was before he was in whom the true Believers live and have Peace who Cloaths them with Salvation and with his Righteousness the sanctified One's fine Linnen So all walk worthy of the Mercies of God and his Blessings from Above and from Below to the Glory and Praise of God And they that dwell not in Love and Charity are like the sounding Brass and tinkling Cimbals as you may read 1 Cor. 13.1 8. This you may read amongst the Children of the Light and of the Day Dolston the 13th of the 10th Month 1683. G. F. To the Meeting of Friends in Truth that are Captives in Algiers NOw Epist 391. Dear Friends The Lord having drawn you by his Spirit to his Son Christ Jesus in whose Name ye come to be Gathered in whose Name ye have
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
the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men. Teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts That we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Which is the Duty of every true Christian that to deny and so to live Tit. 2.11 And thefore the Apostle exhorts Timothy to fly Youthful Lusts and to follow Righteousness Faith and Charity and Peace with all them that call on the Name of the Lord out of a pure Heart And such Teachers who had the Form of Godliness but deny the Power which the Saints were to turn away from those were them that led silly People Captive laden with Sin and divers Lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 and 3.5 And such as could not abide sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall heap to themselves Teachers having Itching Ears they turn away their Ears from the Truth and Grace that comes by Jesus Christ which should teach them to bring their Salvation and from the Spirit of God which they should walk in To walk in the Spirit as the Apostle saith If ye walk in the Spirit mark in the Spirit ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.16 And the Apostle further saith That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour and not in the Lusts of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4.4 If a Man purge himself from these things he shall be a Vessel unto honour and sanctified and meet for his Masters use and prepared for every good work 2 Tim. 2.21 But they that will be rich fall into Temptations and Snares and into many foolish hurtful Lusts which drowns Men in Destruction and Perdition But the Man of God is to fly these things and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience and Meekness 1 Tim. 6.11 And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 And Haughtiness and High-mindedness was forbidden both by God and his People And David saith The afflicted People the Lord will save And his Eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down 2 Sam. 22.28 And David said Lord my Heart is not haughty nor mine Eyes lofty and my Soul is like a weaned Child Psalm 131.2 Then he was fit for the Kingdom God And again David saith God will save his afflicted People but will bring down high looks Psalm 18.27 And Solomon saith Before Destruction the Heart of Man is haughty and before Honour is Humility Prov. 18.21 And Isaiah declared against the Haughtiness of the Daughters of Zion Isaiah 3. And how the haughty People of the Earth do languish because they had transgressed God's Laws and changed his Ordinances And doth not the Lord say by Isaiah Chap. 16.6 The Pride of Moab That Moab should howl for his Pride and Haughtiness And I will punish the World for their Evil and the Wicked for their Iniquity And I will cause the Arrogancy of the Proud to cease And I will lay low the Haughtiness of the Terrible The lofty looks of Man shall be brought low and the Haughtiness of Men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day And this is a good Day for the Day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low Isaiah 2.3 10.24 And Ezekiel saith That the Children of Israel was haughty and like Sodom and committed abominations before the Lord and he took them away Ezek. 16.46 And Zephaniah saith Thou shalt be no more haughty Zeph. 3.11 Neither shall ye go haughtily Mic. 23.1 And therefore all are to learn Humility that they may exalt the Lord their Maker And the Apostle exhorted the Romans Not to be high-minded but fear for they stood by Faith Rom. 11.20 And the Apostle exhorted Timothy to charge those that were Rich in this World The Rich not to be high-minded That they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.17 And the Apostle again tells Timothy That the heady high-minded are lovers of Pleasure more than lovers of God And daily Experience shews as you may see at large the Fruits of such 2 Tim. 3.4 And therefore all those things the Faithful are to shun and to be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly Love and in Honour preferring one another Rom. 12.10 And the Apostle exhorts the Corinthians to be perfectly joined together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment that they might all speak the same thing So that there may be no Division among them 1 Cor. 1. And again To be of one Mind and to live in Peace in 2 Cor. 13.11 The Apostle saith Be Perfect be of good Comfort be of one Mind live in Peace And the God of Love and Peace shall be with you For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body whether Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free And have been all made to drink into one Spirit and the Spirit of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace 1 Cor. 12.13 14.32 33. And the Apostle writes to the Philippians That they should be of one Accord and of one Mind and said Let nothing be done in strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of Mind c. Phil. 23. And the Apostle saith to the Romans Be of one Mind towards one another and not mind high things and to be wise in their own Conceits but condescend to Men of low estate Rom. 12.16 And the God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like minded all towards one another according to Christ Jesus That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God Rom. 15.5 6 7. For God hath given to his People the Spirit of Power and of Love and a sound Mind 2 Tim. 17. And Peter in his first General Epistle Chap. 3. ver 8. saith Be ye all of one Mind and have Compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous And the Apostle Paul saith in Acts 20.19 how he served the Lord in all humility of Mind And it is a Mark of Christ's Disciples as he saith if they love one another and love Enemies And so all that are Believers in him are to love one another as he hath loved us who hath laid down his Life for us And therefore all are to deny themselves yea and to offer all up for him And whatsoever you do do it in the Name of Jesus to the Praise and Glory of God G. F. POSTSCRIPT A Testimony out of the Old Testament and New of the Lord sending his Prophets to declare his Judgments against
a Place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters saith the Lord and I will give them an everlasting Name which shall not be cut off Isa 56. So you may see how the Lord doth encourage his People to walk in the Truth in Faithfulness to him for the Lord hath loved his People with an everlasting Love therefore with loving-kindness hath he and doth he draw them unto himself to serve and worship him Jer. 31. And Christ saith He that believeth on him hath everlasting Life Mark hath it as in John And again Christ saith He that drinketh of the Water that I give shall never thirst but the Water that I shall give shall be in him as a well of Water springing up to Eternal Life So every one mind this Well in you who have drank of the Water which Christ hath given you And the Apostle saith God will punist them who disobey the Gospel God will punish them that disobey his Gospel with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his power 2 Thess 1.9 Here you may see everlasting Destruction to the Wicked that disobey the Gospel and everlasting Life to them that believe and obey the Bospel of Christ Now they that disobey the Gospel of Christ refuse their own Comfort and Joy of Life and Salvation which Gospel is the Power of God which is preach'd to every Creature under Heaven to believe and obey therefore happy are you who have received it and obeyed it which brings Life and Immortality to Light in you that you see over the Enemy which darkened you and are now become Heirs of this comfortable and joyful Gospel of Life and everlasting Salvation in which everlasting Gospel you have an everlasting golrious Fellowship and in this everlasting Gospel you can praise the everlasting God that reigns over all from everlasting to everlasting And all that are of the Seed and Faith of David can say as David said Blessed be God from everlasting to everlastin and let all the People say Amen Praise ye the Lord. And further can say That the Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon all them that fear him and his Righteousness unto the Children of Men Psalm 103.17 For the Lord God he changeth not he is the same that he was who inhabits Eternity and dwells in the humble Heart and therefore you humble Ones fear and serve and worship him And keep under the Wing of Christ and in him your Sanctuary and Saviour who destroys the Destroyer and is over all the First and Last Amen Dear Friends To shew forth the Nature of the Lamb. Who are under Sufferings for the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and for his new and living Way and his pure undefiled Religion and his Worship in the Spirit and Truth that Christ who is from above and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth hath set up for all the followers of the Lamb to walk in his new and living Way and to keep in his pure undefiled Religion and Worship in Spirit and in Truth And now Dear Friends and Brethren my desire is That you may shew forth the Nature of the Lamb and the Vertue and the Life in which the Nobility of true Chriftianity is seen and manifested in your peaceable modest and vertuous Behaviour before the Powers that you are brought before and that none are to question or take thought what they are to say for it shall be given you in that same Hour what ye shall speak saith Christ Whosoever therefore shall confess me bfeore Men hism will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven For with the Heart Man believeth unto righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 And every Tongueshall confess to God Rom. 14.11 And again the Apostle saith That every Tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Philip. 2.10 So we cannot but confess and declare what our Eyes have seen Every Tongue shall confess to Christ and our Ears have heard and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life Christ Jesus by whom all things were made and created And Christ and his Disciples who often met on Mountains and in the Wilderness and on the Sea-side and in Ships and sometimes in Houses We do not read that the Jews and Priests called Christ and his Apostles Meetings Routs or Riots though the Jews and the chief Priests were bad enough against them For all Routs and Riots are out of the Spirit of Truth and so is Misbehaviour of all People for the Truth is peaceable and brings People into peaceable Lives and Conversations out of Routs and Riots and Misbehaviour and in Peace they worship God and they worship God in the Spirit who is a Spirit an din this holy pure Spirit is the Unity and Bond of Peace and is the Bond of good Behaviour and of holy Walking and Talking and it is the Bond of peaceable Lives and Conversations of all that worship God in Spirit and Truth and walk in the New and Living Way and keep in the pure holy and undefiled Religion And so Dear Friends be of one Mind and heart and Spirit and God Almighty Arm you with Patience and Humility who is God All-sufficient to give you Dominion with his Power and to support you And so with my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ And let your Moderation appear unto all Men for Wisdom is justified of her Children And what any one of you doth want God is All-sufficient to supply you trust in him and in fear walk before him London the 3d day of the 10th Month 1684. G. F. POSTSCRIPT JOhn said Of evil Spirits That he saw three unclean Spirits like Frogs that came out of the Mouth of the Dragon and out of the Mouth of the Beast and out of the Mouth of the false Prophet Mark they do go out of their Mouths for they are Serpents and Devils working Miraracles that goeth out of their Mouths the foul unclean Spirits which goeth forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World Mark the whole world to gather together them Mark to gather them so here they are to be gathered to the Battel of the great day of God Almighty Rev. 16.13 14. And Satan the old Serpent shall go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four Quarters of the Earth God and Mgog to gather them together to Battel the Number of whom is as the Sand of the Sea so here is a gathering together by the Devil and they went upon the breadth of the Earth and compassed the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City and Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them so these were gathered together by the Devil the Destroyer was destroyed by God the Saviour of his People Rev. 20.8 And the Lord scattered Nimrod that mighty
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
Christ Epist 401. who is your holy heavenly Rock and Foundation of God that standeth sure who was the Foundation and the Rock of his Church Christ the Foundation of God that standeth sure in the Apostles days and is now You may see how Christ sent John tho Encourage his Church and saith in Rev. 3.8 I know thy Works Behold I have set before thee an open Door and no Man can shut it For thou hast a little strength and hast kept my Word and hast not denied my Name Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lye behold I will make them to come and worship before they feet and to know that I have loved thee Because thou hast kept the Word of my Patience I also will keep thee from the hour of Temptation which shall come upon all the World to try them that dwell upon the face of the Earth Now you may see what Comfort the Sons and Daughters of God have that keep the Word of Patience what a Door is opened to them of the Blessings Mercies and Riches of God which no Man can shut from them And they which said they were Jews and were not or such as make outward Profession of the Words of Truth and Form of Godliness and are not in the Truth such the Lord saith Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan c. So here you may see the Lord would have his Children his Church to take notice what he will make of them that do not possess the Truth namely The Synagogue of Satan he will bow them down and make them to know He loveth his faithful People And all such as went out from the Church of Christ Those who go from the Church maifest themselves in the Apostles days which were not of them and Corah Dathan and Abiram that went out from the Jews c. and all they that separated themselves in the Apostles days from the Church of Chrift and all they that separated themselves now c. and are gone out from the Church of Christ have maniseft they were not of them They that went out from the Church of Chrust in the Apostles days and separated themselves from them and all they that go from the Church of Christ now and separate themselves from them they have erred from the Word of Patience and have not kept that but such are gone into Temptations of the World and are become as the Synagogue of Satan and like Raging Waves of the Sea Satan's Fruits and Works they do manifest so that by their Fruits it is known of what Synagogue they are and have and do sufficiently discover it in all Ages how that Patience is worn out and weareth out and that they have not kept the Word of Patience and none such are like to preach the Word of God and the Word of Life and the Word of Patience and the Word of Wisdom that liveth and abideth and endureth for ever that keep not the Word of Patience for how can such keep the Word of Patience or the Word of Life or the Word of Wisdom when they separate themselves and go out from the Church of shrist and are not of it For had they been of it they would have continued with the Church of Christ in the Word of Life Wisdom and Patience But now they do manifest themselves to be out of the gentle Wisdom of God The Fruits of hem who ere not led by the Wisdom of God and out of the Word of Patience in a Rash Hasty Furious Envious Malicious Hateful Lying Defaming Slandering Gain-saying and Envious Spirit of Cain Corah and Ham and the Fruits of this Spirit is manifest sufficiently now as in other Ages to them that live in the Word of Life Wisdom and Patience by which Word all God's Children are born again of the Immortal Seed and feeds upon the Milk of the Word by which Word all things were made and created by which Word all God's People are reconciled to God which Word liveth and abideth and endureth for ever Now as there isa growth and adding to Faith and Vertue and Knowledge and Temperance and Godliness and Patience and Brotherly Kindness and Charity as God's Children are led by the Spirit of God in which they have Unity and it is the Bond of their Peace So as there is an erring from the Spirit of God there is a degenerating from Vertue Kindness and true Knowledge and Godliness and Temperance and Patience and Brotherly Kindness and Charity this we have seen both now in this Age as in the Days of the Apostles and this degenerating Spirlt whose Patience is worn out they may get all the good Words in the Scriptures Words of the Spirit Words of Truth Words of Faith and the Promises and apply them to their Impatient Spirits but they will lose the Comfort of them But the Word of Life the Word of Wisdom the Word of Patience will never be worn out but liveth and abideth and endureth for ever Dear Friends f we suffer for Righteousness appy are we Be ye Followers of that which is good and if ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye For it 's better if the Will of God be so that ye suffer for well-doing and not for evil-doing because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that we should follow his steps Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth Righteously If ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their Terror neither be troubled having a good Conseience that whereas they speak Evil of you as of Evil-doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ And if ye are Reproached for the Name of Christ Jesus happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is Evil spoken of but on your part he is Glorified But let none of you suffer as a Murderer or a Thief or as a Busie-body in other Mens matters But if any Man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him Glorifie God upon this behalf that he suffereth as a Christian not as a Murderer Thief Evil-doer or a Busie-body in other Mens matters for that is not a Suffering for Christ who hath suffered for you and they that will reign with him must suffer with him The God of all Grace who hath called us into his Eternal Glory by Jesus Christ after that ye have suffered a while make ye perfect stablish strengthen and settle you this is through the Sufferings for Christ Jesus the Captain of our Salvation who was made perfect through Sufferings and is able to succour all his Followers in their Temptations and Sufferings And the Apostle saith to the Church of Christ the Philipians I count all things but loss for the
the Chaff of the Summer Threshing-Floor and the Wind carried them away that no place was found for them and the Stone that smote this Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Christ filleth all things with his Divinity Dan. 2. Is not this Christ Jesus who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him that he filleth the whole Earth with his Divinity to whom God gave the Heathen for an Inheritance and the attermost parts of the Earth for his Possession and his Seed doth inherit the Gentiles Isa 54. And doth not Christ now inherit the Gentiles or Heathen Yea the uttermost parts of the Earth he possesses with his divine Power Light and Seed who filleth the whole Earth and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth and Ruleth with his Spiritnal Divine Rod of Iron Not a Rod of corruptible Iron but he Ruleth them with his Divine Rod and dashes them to pieces like a Potters Vessel they that are the Children of the Kingdom see this and know Christ to rule in their Hearts and sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last the Beginning and Ending by whom all things were made G. F. DEar Friends in Holland Friezland Hamborough Frederickstad Dantzick Palatinate and all other places there-aways where God's Truth and Ensign is set up Epist 403. Peace Grace and Truth be multiplied among you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Fountain of all Life Peace Grace and heavenly Wisdom and Vnderstanding and the God of all Power and Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ fill you with it and his heavenly Riches and that you may all walk worthy of his heavenly Calling in all Holiness Righteousness and Godliness c. in Life and Conversation and that by the Word of Life and Patience you may answer the Truth in all both High and Low so that you may be of good savour to God in the Hearts of all People For you know there is no other Way to God but by Christ Jesus No Way to God but by Christ Jesus and you know that God has raised up Christ to be a Prophet in his New Testament to be heard in all things and you know He opens and none can shut and he shuts and none can open and you know that Christ is the Bishop of your Souls to oversee that you do not go astray from God And you know that Christ is the true Shepherd and has laid down his Life for his Sheep and they know his Voice and they follow him and he gives them Life Eternal And also you know that Christ is your High Priest made higher than the Heavens by the Power of an Endless Life and by him you are made a Spiritual Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices to God And as for our Yearly Meeting the Presence of the Eternal God Was amongst us and his Glory which shines over all and all was quiet and peaceable and it was the Lord's doing blessed be his Name for ever And your Epistle was read in the Yearly Meeting and Friends in the Lord's Power Read it and had Unity with your Spirits and are Sensible of your Spiritual Care in the Lord 's Eternal Power concerning Truth 's Affairs in those Parts In which God Almighty preserve you and increase you both in his Wisdom Knowledge and Vnderstanding that you may spread his blessed Truth abroad and answer it in all People Amen London the 10th of the 4th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Pensilvania DEar Friends Epist 404. I am glad to hear of the good Yearly Meeting at Road-Island and that the Lord's Power and Presence was there among you and it would be very well to Visit the Generation of the Righteous and to see how their Seed and Vines do grow in their heavenly Vineyards and Plantations and what heavenly Riches they have laid up in Store in God's Kingdom and to see how the Wheat is gathered into God's Garner and that all keep in the Worship that Christ set up in his Spirit and Truth and that all walk in the New and Living Way over all the Dead Ways in the World and all walk in the pure undefiled Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World and to see that all are guided in the pure and gentle Wisdom that is easie to be intreated and in the Love of God that can bear all things by which all peevish short and brittle Spirits may be kept down so that all may have their good Conversation in Christ Jesus all striving for Unity in the Spirit and the holy Faith that giveth and keepeth Victory over the Enemy And so that all may have a care of their Minds running into the Earth and Carnal Things For to be Carnally-minded is Death but to be Spiritually-minded is Life and Peace and let all take heed of neglecting the Gift of God but stir up the pure Mind one in another and the Lord with his Eternal Arm and Power preserve you diligent in his heavenly Work and Service in his Vineyard that it may not grow over with Briars Thorns and Thistles to choak the tender Plants And so my Desires are That you may live and walk in Christ Jesus and that you may answer the Truth in all the Professors and the Heathen And prize your Liberty both Natural and Spiritual while you have it and labour in the Truth while it is Day Remember me to all Friends as though I named them and as for the State of Friends here we are under great Sufferings and spoiling of Goods and Imprisonments and they have of late increased in spoiling of our Goods but God is All-sufficient who doth support us Glory to his Name for ever So with my Love in Christ Jesus to you all in whom you have all Eternal Rest and Peace with God Amen Bednal-Green the 10th of the 9th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends of the Ministry in Pensilvania and New-Jersey DEar Friends With my Love to you all Epist 405. and all the rest of Friends I was glad to hear from you but you gave me no account of the increase of Truth amongst you nor what Meetings you have had amongst the Indian Kings and their People abroad in the Countries and of your visiting Friends in New-England Virginia and Carolina nor of your Travels and Labours in the Gospel who hath in all those Countries liberty to serve and worship God and preach the Truth And I understand many have a desire to live in it especially in Carolina and you who travel now from Friends to Friends thither it is thought strange that you do not visit them therefore I desire that you may all improve your Gifts and Talents and not hide it in a Napkin lest it be taken from you and not to put your Candle under a Bushel lest it go out and not to be like the foolish Virgins which kept their Name of Virgins but neglected having
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
5. Now all Women may here consider what is to be the Practice of such Women that profess Godliness and trust in God their Adorning is the hidden Man of the Heart which is Incorruptible and their Ornament is to of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price but those Women whose outward Adorning is with broidered and plaited Heir and Gold and Pearls and Costly Array these have not the modest Apparrel which become Modest Sober Shamefaced Women that profess Godliness with good Works but such as are Unsober and Immodest such as look upon such things to become them are cloathed with corruptible and unquiet Spirits that do not possest Godliness with good Works and these outward Ornaments as plaiting and broidering the Hair and wearing of Gold and Pearls and Costly Array the Apostle saith Do not become Women professing Godliness with good Works but them that do not profess Godliness that are Shameless and Unsober they may become such Women that do not trust in God their proud Spirit may lead them to adorn themselves with such things as is said before which the Apostle forbids but the holy Women of God which professed Godliness with good Works and trusted in God adorned themselves not with plaiting the Hair or wearing of Gold or Pearls or Costly Array but with the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price And now consider also you Women that profess Godliness and go under the name of Holy Women who trust in God see that your selves and your Children and all your young Women are Adorned and Arrayed and have on this Ornament as the Apostle wills the Church of Christ to put on as the holy Women did of old and be not of an unmeek and unquiet Spirit and unsober and immodest when you are admonished and exhorted nor act contrary to the holy Women of old that trusted in God and such as professed Godliness according to the Apostles Doctrine And here you may see what care the Apostles had to keep the Saints the Church of Christ their Eyes Minds and Spirits above the wearing of Gold plaiting their Hair and Pearls and Costly Apparrel which is the Glory of this World which the holy Women that trusted in God and professed Godliness with good Works these things were not to be their Adorning nor Ornaments but as is said before the hidden Man of the Heart which was not Corrupt even the meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great price And this ought to be and is the Adorning and Ornament of all the holy Women that profess Godliness with good Works and trust in God And all you that have been Convinced of the Lord's Truth by his Spirit To refuse the Glory of the World take heed of Satan taking you up into a Mountain and of his shewing you the Glory of the World and of your Minds and Eyes going after it and receiving of it and so in that you fall from the Spirit and Truth of God that did Convince you and then to worship the Devil the King of Pride the God of the World that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth and he to lead your Minds and Eyes after every new vain Fashion of the World that passeth away and that lieth in wickedness and so draweth you to the Love of the World which is Enmity to God and into the Wisdom of the World by which ye do not know God and then to such the Gospel of Life and Salvation is hid in whom the God of this World hath blinded their Minds and in such disobedient Ones the Prince of the Air rules and gets into them by disobeying the Truth and in such Christ doth not rule in their Hearts by Faith And it is not like when they make Shipwreck of it and a good Conscience And therefore walk in the Light of Christ and grow in his Grace and the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that bruises the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works that you may all be established upon Christ the Rock and Foundation And if ye do believe in the Covenant of Light Life and Grace then why do not you all train up your Children in the same To Train up our Children n the Coveant of Grace Did not the Lord command the Jews to train up their Children in the Old Covenant and teach them to walk in it And were not all the Males to be Circumcised And they that were not Circumcised were to be cut off from the Congregation of the Lord So are not all you that profess the New Covenant of Grace Light and Life and the Gospel of Salvation preached to every Creature and the Grace of God which brings Salvation that hath appeared unto all Men to teach them to live Godly and to deny Ungodliness c. I say are not you all to train up your Children and Families in this Light of the Gospel and Grace of Christ which brings Salvation and brings them into favour with God that you may have the Comfort of your Children in this World and in that which is Everlasting And that they may be Circumcised with the Spirit of God which he poureth out upon all Flesh that with his Spiritual Circumcision the Body of Death and Sins of the Flesh may be cut off which are come into Man and Woman by Transgression that neither you nor they might dye in the Body of Death and in the Sins of the Flesh and such do not dye in the Lord for they that are not Circumcised with the Spiritual Circumcision are cut off from the heavenly Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God and Christ and from the Church of the Living God written in Heaven And therefore if you will have the Comfort of your Children in this World and that which is to come train them up in the Fear of God and in his Covenant of Light and Grace which Grace brings their Salvation and brings them into Favour with God and into the Spiritual Baptism and Circumcision so that they may serve and worship the Living God in his Spirit and Truth Amen And if Children and young People must be left and let alone to themselves and not be Admonished Exhorted and Restrained from the Evil and Vanities of the World then why did Moses and the Prophets and the Apostles which were sent of God exhort the People to train up their Children in the Fear of the Lord and to teach them his Law while they were young that they might not depart from it when they were old And if that they did the Lord did judge them as ye may read in the Scriptures of Truth and if that they must be left to themselves and not restrained from Evil then how came it to pass that old Ely lost his Life and his Priesthood Ely
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
Church as the Apostle instanceth in Ephesians And therefore they were not to be unequally yoked Believers with Vnbelievers The Law of God did forbid it they were not to give their Sons and Daughters to the Heathen or marry with them for it grieved the Lord in the Old World and brought Destruction upon those bad Marriages When the Sons of God saw the Daughters of Men were fair and they took them Wives of all which they chose who corrupted the Earth and filled it with Violence Yet the Holy Men of God their Marriages were never judged of God in the Old World Neither Seth's Lamech's nor Mahalaleel nor Methusalah nor Noah nor Abraham Isaac nor Jacob and so none before the Law nor none in the Law nor in the time of the Gospel their Marriages were not judged by the Lord who walked in the Power and Spirit of the Lord and knew God's Joyning who brings the Man and Woman together but such as mingled with the Heathen and Vnbelievers and followed strange Flesh they went from the Spirit the lost the Sonship through such the Earth was corrupted and filled with Violence and such could not know God's Joyning who went from the Spirit and from the Law and Gospel and such are mingled among Heathens and Vnbelievers and follow strange Flesh and corrupts their own who go from the Spirit by which they have been sanctified and led into the Sonship And such as Marry with Vnbelievers and Heathen they go contrary to the Law of God and grieves him and their Righteous Parents So Marriage is God's Holy Ordinance and Christ that comes to restore all things again into their place he saith Whom God joyns together let no Man put asunder And brings it to the beginning again how God made them Male and Female So in the Restauration inther Image of God and Sanctification they are brought to the joyning one Male with one Famale again not for one Man to have many Women at once God did not make many for him but in the Fall from the Righteousness of God and his Image there they run together like Beasts a Man and many Women There Men joyn and put asunder but in the beginning it was not so saith Christ the Heavenly Men the Second Adam for God made them Male and Female and whom he joyns together let no Man put asunder And so God joyns with his Spirit and Power for he is a Spirit and this is a heavenly and spiritual Joyning and them that God joyns they do not follow strange Flesh but the Spirit of God and such a Marriage is sanctified by the Spirit and by the Lord and such knows his Heavenly Ordinance And this is the Marriage Christ owns and sets up and encourages who is the Covenant and the Quickning Spirit And so God who is a Spirit joyns with his Spirit Power and Light this joying is in the Covenant of God all such Marriages are honourable in all things for their Bed is nt defiled but where the Bed is defiled that Marriage is not Honourable And all that forbid Marriage are in the Doctrines of Devils and they that are in the Doctrine of Devils are out of Truth who destroys the Creation and destroys some one way and some another that are under his Power and Command from Truth but they that obey the Truth and obey Christ and obeys God they are over him and his Doctrine and the defiled Bed and strange Flesh and the Spirit gives them an Vnderstanding to know God and his joyning by his Spirit who is blessed for ever Now if any should say That Adam took his Wife alone and so run into the Works of Darkness and go together in the Dark contrary to the Righteous Seed and Holy Generation Such are judged by the Holy Seed and by them in the Holy Life and Law of God and with the Light of Christ Jesus condemned And as for Adam taking his Wife alone that was before there was any Witnesses But there was a Form of Words betwixt them before they went together or he knew her as followeth viz. And when the Lord God brought the Woman to Adam Adam said to the Lord This is Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man and they shall be one Flesh But this Form of Words of Adam's and his doing is nothing to them that are Workers of Darkness and run together in the Dark For after the Earth was peopled you may read how the Generations of the Righteous did take one another in the Assemblies of the Righteous and it was Recorded before Witnesses So all such as Marry by the Priests or Marry by the World that are Vnbelievers do go from God's Power and Spirit and his joyning and do break the Law of God in their Marriages who forbad to joyn with Vnbelievers And therefore with the Light of Christ Jesus are such judged and condemned and must come through Condemnation and Judgment For the right joyning in Marriage is the Work of the Lord only Right joyning in Marriage is the Work of the Lord and not the Priests or Magistrates for it is God's Ordinance and not Man's And therefore Friends cannot consent that they should joyn them together For we Marry none it 's the Lord's Work and we are but Witnesses But yet if a Friend through tenderness have a desire that the Magistrate should know it after the Marriage is performed in a publick Meeting of Friends and others according to the holy Order and Practice of Friends in Truth throughout the World and according to the manner of the Holy Men and Women of God of old he may go and carry a Copy of the Certificate to the Magistrate Friends are left to their Freedom herein But for Priests or Magistrates to Marry or joyn any in that Relation it 's not according to the Scripture and our Testimony and Practice hath been always against it It was God's Work before the Fall and it is God's Work only in the Restauration Let not any go disorderly together in Marriage contrary to the Practice of the Holy Men of God who declared it in the Assemblies of the Righteous Twelve or more faithful Friends Relations to be present at Friends Marriage when they took one another all things being clear and they both being free from any other in respect to Marriage And when any take one another in Marriage let there not be less than a dozen Friends and Relations present according to your former Order having first acquainted the Men's Meeting and that they have Clearness and Unity with them and then it may be Recorded in a Book And if any walk contrary to the order of Truth herein let some be appointed to speak to them and give notice thereof to the next Meeting And all that are Widdows who have Children and do intend to Marry All Widdows to set out a proportionable part for her first Husbands Children before
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