when the false Hope of the Hypocrite sinks therein which are the Waters and it goes over them and in it they are swallowed up The Vnity in the Spirit is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace and the Fellowship in the Gospel and the Liberty in it is a perfect one above the imperfect where is Bondage G. F. FRiends Stand still and see be still and hear sit at Jesus Feet Epist 230. and chuse the better thing to do the Work of God A Greneral Epistle to Friends is to believe in his Son Jesus Christ the Light and your Hope and Faith is to stand in God and in his Son walk by that Faith which he is the Author of and walk in the Light and walk in the Spirit As every one hath received Christ so walk in him and so serve God in the Spirit and worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth for God is not worshipped out of the Spirit and Truth The Babes Milk is from the Word and their Bread is from above and there is no true Religion but what is pure from above and the stay'd patient People abide in their own House but the Whore is gadding abroad and there is no true Church but where Christ exercises his Offices in and amongst them and they are asking their Husband at home and he is their Head and the true Marriage to Christ the Heavenly Man is witnessed by such as are Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone none comes to be Children of the Light but such as believe in the Light no Sons of God but by receiving Christ and by being led by his Spirit no coming into all Truth but by being led by the Spirit of Truth no running the true Race in the straight way to get to the Glorious Crown but with Patience no Purifying but by coming to Christ the Hope of Glory the Purifier and no overcoming but by Believing in Christ the Light and he that doth so is Born of God And there is no true Witness within but the Light the Life and Spirit of Christ the true Record no true Faith but that which Christ is the Author of which giveth Victory no true Anchor to the Immortal Soul but by Christ the Hope of Glory So by Hope you are saved no true Liberty but in Christ and in his Law of the Spirit of Life and in his Gospel no true Knowledge of God but by his Light and Spirit in the Heart no Salvation but by the Name of Jesus no true Praying but in the Spirit no true Singing but in the Spirit Wherein true Rest Peace Joy c. stand and are injoyed no true Fast but that which breaks the Bond of Iniquity no true Fellowship but in the pure Faith Light Spirit and Gospel of God and Christ no true Foundation but Christ to build upon no true Way but Christ no true Seed but what Christ hath sown in the Heart no true Rest but in Christ no true Peace but in Christ no true Service to God and Christ but in the Newness of Life no knowing the things of God but by the Spirit of God no knowing the Son nor the Father but by the Revelation of the Holy Spirit no knowing the Scriptures but by the same Holy Ghost that moved the Holy Men to give them forth no calling Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost by which he was Conceived no Grafting into Christ but by Believing in the Light which is called the Light in Men and the Life in him no true Wisdom but from above and no true receiving it but in the Fear of the Lord and no true Understanding of Spiritual Things but what Christ gives no Divine Reason but in the Faith that Christ is the Author of which giveth Victory over that which is unreasonably and separates from God and no true Love to God but what he sheddeth abroad in the Heart and to know a Fellowship with Christ in his Death and Sufferings is above the Fellowship of Bread and Wine which will have an end but the Fellowship in the Gospel and Holy Spirit hath no end G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 231. be faithful to the Lord God every one in the Truth and Power of God and his Righteousness that it may flow over all and walk and live in it that to the Lord God you may be a good Savour and a Blessing in your Generation Look over all Sufferings and that which makes you to Suffer Dwell in the Rock which is above all Storms and Tempests for now is the Trial of your Faith now is the Trial of your Meetings who are gathered in the Name of Jesus by them that are gathered in the name of Adam in the Fall Time of Trial. now is the Trial of your Worship which is in the Spirit and Truth by such as Worship out of the Spirit and Truth And now is the Trial of your Fellowship in the Gospel the Power of God by such whose Fellowship lies in outward things now is the Trial of your Church which is in God by those that have their Church in the Fall unsanctified and now is the Trial of your Faith and your Gospel-Fellowship in it which is a Mystery and Christ the second Adam is a Mystery to fallen Adam and Truth is a Mystery to all them that are out of it and the Light is a Mystery to all the Builders and Stumblers at it and haters of it and Godliness is a Mystery to all the Ungodly Therefore may you Praise the Lord and Bless his Name who hath reveaied these Mysteries to you in the Day of Trial by which you may withstand the Day of Darkness and the Hour of it For those that have Oil in their Lamps enter in with the Bridegroom who have heard his Voice at midnight And so happy and blessed are all you that have laid up in store against this Day and the time that is now come whose Bread fails not nor Water and have found the Land-mark of your Everlasting Portion and Inheritance in the Kingdom where nothing that defiles can enter And therefore be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and fear no Amazement but fear the Lord who upholds all things by his Word and Power in whom is all your fresh Springs of Life Live and walk in the second Adam the Lord from Heaven and all keep out of Adam in the Fall that is Earthly that you may sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus that never fell God's care over his Heritage who is your Life who is your Peace and Salvavation who redeems you from the Earth that you may reign upon the Earth who makes you Kings and Priests to God and blessed be the Lord for ever who reigns and lives and rules amongst his Flocks and Assemblies Gardens Plants Vineyards Babes Children Sons and Daughters Servants and Prophets watering them with the Water of Life giving the increase of Life to them Glory
be executed For you know after a Thief or a Murderer is Condemned and Judged and have Sentence past upon him yet he is not executed that Day the Execution comes afterwards And therefore after Condemnation or Judgment is past upon any inward Evil or any outward Action of Evil let Execution be speedily done with the Living Hammer and the Living Sword and the Living Stone that the Living Fire may burn it up and consume it No Man after he hath beaten his Child hateth him ever afterwards but loveth him if he repent and amends so doth the Eternal Father and if the Child be fallen down into the Dirt he doth not go and tumble him more into the Dirt or into the Ditch and there let him lie in the Dirt and Ditch but takes him out and washes him and so doth the heavenly Father which leads his Children by his Hand and dandles them upon his Knee And so all that be called Fathers in the Truth or Mothers their Tenderness should be the same to all little Children in the Truth that can hardly go without leading that sometimes may fall into the Dirt and Ditch and ship aside and then be troubled and cry To such there should be Tenderness shewn and to wash them and help them and Love to such should be manifest for there is difference betwixt a stubborn rebellious and wilful Child and one that is Penitent for those must have great Chastisements that knows the will of their Father and doth it not they must have greater Stripes and sorer Stripes they must look for be sure to expect it than the other For Christ is manifest in the Flesh to condemn Sin in the Flesh all that witness Christ in them Male and Female I say Christ manifest in their Flesh he doth condemn the Sin that is in their Flesh yea and makes an end of Sin and finishes the Transgression and brings in Everlasting Righteousness into them But first he condemns the Sin that is in their Flesh the Unrighteousness in their Flesh and Ungodliness in their Flesh the Lyar the Swearer that is in their Flesh the Adulterer the Fornicator the Idolater and all Sin whatsoever it is he condemns in the Flesh So Christ is manifest in the Flesh to condemn the Sin that is in the Flesh that every one that witnesses Christ condemning Sin in the Flesh that they through Christ that condemns Sin in the Flesh might become God's Righteousness so they become anothers But the Sin being uncondemned in the Flesh they are of the Serpent of the Unrighteous One of the Ungodly One who adulterated from Truth they are his But the Sin being condemned in the Flesh Christ is manifest in the Flesh so that they become Christ's they are God's and are in Christ who destroys the Devil and his Works that are out of Truth And these know the New Life which God is served in and these know the New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness and these knows the Old Earth wherein dwells Vnrighteousness And these can bring forth things New and Old For they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God they that are led by the Spirit of the Devil are the Children of the Devil and his Works they do the Works of their Father as they that are led by the Spirit of God his Works they do the Works of their Father and all they that quench the Spirit of God and vexes the Spirit of God and grieves the Spirit of God and hate the Light of Christ and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and turns it into wantonness and disobeys the Word of God in their Hearts and Mouths Sure you all may see such are not the Sons of God and do not the Works of God though they may profess the Scriptures from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelations Neither doth that Birth know the Scriptures for they are known by the Spirit of God the Holy Ghost which led the holy Men of God to speak them forth by the same Spirit are they known again And Christ who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin he is known by the Holy Ghost again which led the holy Men of God to give forth Scriptures which now leads into all Truth And all them now who despise Revelations Inspirations Prophecies Gifts and Talents they despise the Spirit of God and his Gifts Such are neither Ministers of God or Christ nor his Sons but are the Sons of him that is out of the true Spirit that is of God in the Darkness Babel and Confusion who think they can do great matters with their Languages and with them make a Trade of the Scriptures who cannot endure any People should come to the Spirit that gave them forth for none can walk in the Spirit that quenches it and vexes and grieves it And none comes into the Church Fellowship that grieves and vexes and quenches the Spirit of God For the Fellowship is in the Spirit that is the Bond of Peace and none is led into all Truth but by the same Holy Ghost that was in the holy Men of God that gave forth the Scriptures of Truth And all that are led by this Spirit of Truth are led from the Spirit of the Devil that is out of Truth And all that are led by the Spirit that is out of Truth are the First-Birth of the Flesh and of that Murderer which will persecute him that is born of the Holy Spirit of God which leads into all Truth Which they that are led by the Spirit that is out of Truth are out of both the Father and Son And they that are led by the Spirit of Truth are the Sons of God and here are both in the Father and in the Son and in the Truth which abides for ever And here the Heir the Son inherits his Possession his Inheritance in the Kingdom that never hath an end The true Hope the true Cross the true Faith the true Worship the true Religion the true Way true Image and true Fellowship have been lost since the Apostles-Days amongst those called Christians which are out of the Life And they that have lost the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God in which is the true Fellowship they have set up a wooden or a stone Cross c. so false Crosses false Christians They that have lost the true Hope which purifies as He is Pure they have set up a Purgatory to cleanse them when they are dead And others cry up a Body of Sin and Death on this side of the Grave with their Hypocrites Hope and they have lost the true Ministry and set up a false One to preach up Imperfection And People were imperfect in old Adam before Christ came for the Law made nothing Perfect but the true Minister Christ in you the hope of Glory doth make Perfect both in the Apostles Days and now Christ in you the hope of Glory said the Apostle
are in old Adam which they did and do dote after which the new Creatures in Christ Jesus the second Adam were not to taste touch nor handle for they did perish with the using And are not all the Will-worships and the Beasts and the Dragon's Worships of the old Creatures that be out of Christ bearing the Mark of the Beast in their Hand or Forehead And they that be in Christ which be new Creatures have their Father's Mark or Name in their Fore heads and worship the Holy Pure and Living God in Spirit and in Truth And it was the old Creatures that made Images and Idols and such make them now and worship them But they that are in Christ are new Creatures and are renewed up into the Image of God and worship him in his Holy Spirit and Truth that liveth for ever Amen And these cannot touch taste nor handle the old Creatures Images Idols Not to touch with the Rudiments of the World Doctrines Ordinances Traditions or Rudiments of the World which are the old Creatures in Old Adam which doth touth taste and handle them But the new Creature cannot who is in Christ the express Image of the Father and he maketh his new Creatures like himself Moses appointed Servants for God in the Law or Old Testament but Christ made Sons in the New Testament for as many as received Christ he gave them Power to become the Sons of God Swarthmore in Lancashire the 30th of the 11th Month 1678. G. F. To Friends in America concerning their Negroes and Indians ALL Friends Epist 335. every where that have Indians or Blacks You are to preach the Gospel to them The Gespel to be preacked to the Blacks Indians c. and other Servants if you be true Christians for the Gospel of Salvation was to be preached to every Creature under Heaven Christ commands it to his Disciples Go and teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost And this is the one Baptism with the Spirit into one Body which plunges down Sin and Corruption which hath gotten up by Disobedience and Transgression For all hath been plunged into Sin and Death from the Life for all died in Adam then they have been all subjected by the Evil Spirit which hath led them out of the Truth into the Evil and therefore they must all be baptized into the Death of Christ and put on Christ if they have Life And also you must preach the Grace of God to all Blacks and Indians which Grace brings Salvation that hath appeared unto all Men to teach and instruct them to live Godly Righteously and Soberly Which Grace of God is sufficient to teach and establish all true Christians that they may appear before the Throne of Grace And also you must teach and instruct Blacks and Indians and other Indians and Negroes directed to God's Spirit how that God doth pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh in these days of the New Covenant and New Testament and that none of them must quench the Motions of his Spirit nor grieve it nor vex it nor rebel against it nor err from it nor resist it but be led by his good Spirit to instruct them and with which they may profit in the things of God neither must they turn from his Grace into Wantonness nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace for it will teach them to live Soberly Godly and Righteously and season their Words And also you must instruct and teach your Indians and Negroes and all others how that Christ by the Grace of God Christ tasted Death for every Man and is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World tasted Death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all Men to be testified in due time and is the Propitiation not for the Sins of Christians only but for the Sins of the whole World And how that he doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World with his true Light which is the Life in Christ by whom the World was made And Christ who is the Light of the World saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And they that do Evil and hate the Light which is the Life in Christ will not come to the Light because it will reprove them and love the Darkness more than the Light this Light is their Condemnation And so all must be turned from Darkness to Light to believe in the Light and from the Power of Satan to God and if they do not believe they will be reproved condemned and judged by Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth given unto him who will judge both the Quick and the Dead and reward every Man according to his Works whether they be good or evil And therefore you are to open the Promises of God to the Ignorant and how God would give Christ a Covenant a Light to the Gentiles Christ a Light to the Gentiles the Heathen and a New Covenant to the House of Israel and the House of Judah and that he is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth and how that the Earth shall be covered with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters covers the Sea so that the glorious Knowledge of the Lord should cover the Earth And the Lord said The Example of Abraham for the Instruction of Families He knew that Abraham would teach and instruct his Family that they should learn to keep his Laws and Statutes after he was gone and Abraham did Circumcise all his Males yea them that he had bought with his Money of any Stranger Now who are of Faith and walks in the steps of faithful Abraham doth preach up and instruct all their Families in the Circumcision of the Spirit that they might be Circumcised with the Spirit which puts off the Body of Death and the Sins of the Flesh that is come up in Man and Woman by Transgression so that in the Spirit they may serve and worship the true and living God and so that ye all may come to enjoy the Presence of the Lord in your Families and improve your Talents that Christ hath given unto you for David saith that saw Christ in his New Covenant Let all Nations Praise the Lord and again All that have Breath Praise the Lord again Let the Poor and Needy praise thy Name And let all People praise thee O God And O ye Servants of the Lord praise the Lord for the Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies is over all his Works And all thy Works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee they shall speak of thy Glory and of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power For the Lord saith From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles And in every place Incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure Offering
for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts And this heavenly Incense and Offering in every place is the Spiritual Offering in the New Covenant for the Jews was to offer but in one place in the Temple in the Old Covenant but in the New Covenant their Offering is in the Holy Temple of their Hearts in the Spirit with which they Offer the pure and holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God with that Spirit which God hath given them they have a living Sense of God their Creator and Father of all their Mercies who hath made them and hath made all things for them and redeems them by his Son Christ Jesus to whom be Praise and Glory and Honour and Thanks for evermore So let all bow at the Name of Jesus to his Power and Light and Spirit All are to low to the Name of Jesus for they have bowed to the Power of Darkness that foul and unclean Spirit who is out of Truth and in whom there is no Truth And therefore now all are to bow at the Name of Jesus for there is no Salvation in any other Name under Heaven but in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven who is the First Born of every Creature and the First Begotten from the Dead whom God now speaks to his People by his Son and all are to hear him the great Prophet and every Tongue is to confess to Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father who is the First and Last who bruises the Serpent's Head And so through Christ Jesus Man and Woman comes again to God All Blessings and Praises be to the Lord God through Jesus Christ for ever and evermore Amen Swartmore the 10th Month 1679. G. F. DEar Friends every where that have received the Truth as it is in Jesus Epist 356. which is holy and pure and brings to live in him that is Pure and Holy The Truth is Peaceable and a Peaceable Habitation and the Truth is sufficient and able to make you free from him that abode not in the Truth To live in the peaceable Truth out of Strise c. and in whom there is no Truth and all that do not live and walk in the Peaceable Truth follows him that is out of the Truth into Strifes and vain Janglings and Disputings like Men of Corrupt Minds destitute of the Truth And now the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus Christ is that which all People should be under in this New Covenant of Light and Life and Grace and Truth as the Law came by Moses in the Old Covenant and the Jews were to be under the Law But the true Christians who hath received the Grace and Truth comes to be under this Grace's teaching leading and eftablishing by which Grace and Truth they are united and joyned to Jesus Christ from whence it comes And this Grace and Truth is able and sufficient to make you free from him that is out of the Truth and to come to have a Peaceable Habitation in Christ Jesus their Eternal Rest and Sabbath For Christ Jesus saith to his Believers and Followers In me ye have Peace but in the World ye have Trouble and the trouble is in the World of Wickedness In Christ we have Peace And therefore God's People are not to love the World nor the things of the World for the love of the World is Enmity to God And therefore feel God's Love shed abroad in all your Hearts through Christ Jesus to carry all your Hearts and your Minds above the Love of the World and this Love is that which will preserve you in the excellent way of bearing all things and the Love of God fulfils the Law And the Fruits of the pure holy Spirit of the God of Truth is Love which is a peaceable Spirit but the foul unclean Spirit that is out of the Truth is a ravenous unquiet unpeaceable Spirit And the Faith that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it works by Love and the Spirit of Faith is a Peaceable Spirit which Faith gives the Victory over the unpeaceable unruly ravenous Spirit and by which Faith you have the Inheritance And the Glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which is the Power of God the Gospel of Peace which is over the Power of Darkness and was before it was and it will be when it is gone and in this Gospel all the Heirs of it have an Everlasting Unity and an Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Glorious Gospel of Peace yea a Glorious Peaceable Fellowship and an access to God And the Wisdom of God from above is gentle and peaceable and justifies and preserves all her Children above the unpeaceable Wisdom that is below and this Peaceable Wisdom preserves above all the unruly Spirits and vain Talkers and Janglers such as talk of the Wisdom of God but lives not in it but in the Wisdom of the World And such as talk of the Gospel of Christ the Power of God Such as talk of the Gospel and live out of it have not comfort in the Scriptures nor the Spirit of God but lives not in it but do live in the Power of Satan the Enemy and Adversary and the Devil the destroying Power and Spirit and such have no comfort of the Scriptures nor of the things of God nor of the Grace nor of the Truth nor of the Wisdom of God nor of Faith nor Light though they may talk of all these things while they follow that unruly foul unpeaceable Spirit that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth and where there is no Truth there is Confusion and Disorder Now the God of Truth is a God of Order from whom you have Grace Truth and Faith which is his Gift and his Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom that you may all live in the Order of it and as it orders you For God is a God of Order and his Order is known in his Light Grace and Truth and Spirit and his Gospel the Power of God and in his Wisdom And all his Children and People should live in the Order of his Light Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom and delight in the Order of it And all you that know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life then in this Eternal Life you do know that the God of Truth is a God of Order and you love his Order in his Light and Life and Grace and Truth in his Gospel and in his Spirit and in his heavenly pure Wisdom by which all his Children are justified And in his Truth that makes free from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth that all his Children should walk in the Order of Truth which hath made them free who are born again of the Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God The Truth makes free that lives and abides and endures for ever And so feeds of the Milk of
mind the pure Spirit of God in thee to guide thee up unto God to thunder down all Deceit within and without So Farewell God Almighty keep you all G. F. DEar Brethren In the mighty Power of God go on Epist 114. to which Power of the God of Heaven and Earth To E. B. and F. H. all the Powers of the Earth must bow that to that of God in all Consciences ye may be made manifest that that in them which is of God may witness The mighty Power of God that ye are sent of God Dwell in the Life of God that to the Spirits in Prison ye may minister and to it be made manifest that ye are no Deceivers but Saviours and such as are sent to lead from all Deceivers The Spirits in Prison and them to testifie against So in the mighty Power of God go on Preaching the Gospel to every Creature and Discipling them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit In the Name of Christ Preach the mighty Day of the Lord to all the Consciences of them who have lain long in Darkness and under its Chain where the Light shined but the Darkness could not comprehend it So in the Power of the Lord God go on and thresh that which hath been fed with the Harlot's Spirit and the Harlot famish The Harlot's Spirit which hath and doth Prison the Just I Charge you in the Presence of the Living God dwell in his Power that with his Power ye may be carried along to minister to all the Spirits Imprisoned by the Deceit As the Life of God doth arise it will lead you up to God the Father of Life in this your Fruits shall never wither But go on to plant a Vineyard The Vineyard and to Plow that ye may eat the Fruit thereof and to plant in Hope and to thresh in Hope that ye may be made Partakers of your Hope And to thresh out the Corn that the Wind may scatter the Chaff that the Corn may be gathered into the Barn So in the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ preach the Everlasting Gospel that by his Power the Sick may be healed the Leprous cleansed the Dead raised the Blind Eyes opened and the Devils cast out In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ go on that that of God in all Consciences may witness that ye are sent of God and are of God and so according to that speak to bring up all unto the Head Christ and into the Life which gave forth the Scriptures for there 's the Unity and out of it is the Confusion G. F. To Friends Concerning the Word of Life FRiends and Brethren Epist 115. the Eternal Word from which ye have both spoken and ministred to others is the Word of Life the Word of Peace The Word of Reconciliation the Word of Reconciliation which makes of Twain one New Man and if ye do abide there there is no Division but Vnity in the Life which was before Death was and before Division was Therefore that which is divided is of the Kingdom that cannot stand and is for Condemnation by the Life and Word of Reconciliation That which speaks the Evil Language I do deny for that which speaks so doth not see throughly Therefore in the Light wait where the Vnity is where the Peace is where the Oneness with the Father and the Son is where there is no Rent nor Division but all one in Christ Jesus the Everlasting Fountain of Life and Covenant of Peace The Son of Man cometh not to be ministred unto but to minister Where the Life and Fulness dwells it hides and covers from that to which the Curse is that so it may minister forth to the Seed's Seed SOVND sound the Trumpet abroad ye Valiant Soldiers of Christ in his Kingdom Anti-Christs in Arms. of which is no End All the Anti-Christs in the Kingdoms of fallen Men are up in Arms against Christ G. F. Concerning Judging in Meetings FRiends Epist 116. Do not Judge one another in Meetings ye that do minister in the Meetings for your so doing hath hurt the People both within and without Meetings quiet and your selves under their Judgment ye have brought And your Judging one another in the Meetings hath emboldned others to Quarrel and Judge you also in the Meetings And this hath been all out of Order and the Church-Order also Now if ye have any thing to say to any stay till the Meeting be done and then speak to them in private between your selves and do not lay open one anothers Weakness Not to lay open Weakness for that is Weakness and not Wisdom to do so For your Judging one another in Meetings hath almost destroyed some Friends and distracted them And this is for want of Love that beareth all things and therefore let it be amended No more but my Love FRIENDS If any amongst you have Movings to do any Service for the Lord Do Service for the Lord. when they have done it let them return again with speed to their Habitation and there serve the Lord in their Generation that no Slothfulness may be amongst you But all keep in Diligence that no Occasion may be given to any to speak evil of the Truth but that ye may answer that of God in all So give no Offence Give no Offence for Wo is to those by whom Offences do come Yet Quench not the Spirit G. F. MY Dear Friends Keep your Meetings and ye will feel the Seed to arise though never a Word be spoken amongst you Epist 117. And be Faithful that ye may Answer that of God in every one Neglect not your Talent And do not neglect your Talent but in the Life and Power of God live which ye have received And my Dear Friends dwell in the Life and Power and Love of God and one towards another FRIENDS Dwell in the Measure of the Spirit of God and to it take heed that in it ye may grow The Love that is Eternal for the true and lasting Love proceeds from God who is Eternal And abiding in the Measure of Life ye will have Peace and Love that never changeth if from the Measure you turn Iniquity gets up and so the Love waxeth Cold and in that lodge the evil Thoughts Jealousies evil Will and Murmurings Wait in the Light which is of God that ye may all witness the Son of God and witness that which shall never wither so ye will see and feel God near G. F. LEt no Friends go begond their own Measure given them of God Epist 118. nor rejoyce in another Man's Line made ready to their Hands Another Man's Line lest that get up and would be Justified which is to be Condemned And that which will Boast and be Justified in the Sight of Men is out of the Kingdom excluded Therefore in the Measure of Life wait and with it be led to have
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
in Battle against all the Philistians The Armour of Light and the Enemies of God being led and guided with the Spirit up to God the Father of Spirits that what ye do beget may be to him and into his Image and that which ye do present it may be perfect And so Mind this Sow not sparingly for the Lord hath a Seed that-aways So the Lord God Almighty preserve you And stir abroad whilst the Door is open and the Light shineth and so go on in that which letteth you see the World to comprehend it and to see what is imprisoned by it and suffereth by it So the Lord give you an Understanding in all things and his Arm go along with you that ye may be to his Glory And the Blessing of the Lord be with you DEAR Francis and Edward In the Life of God wait that ye may be with it led and kept to receive Wisdom from God To Fra. Howgill and Edw. Burrough that ye may order all things there with it and to be manifest to the Witness of God in all that ye may beget to God that as good Plow-men and good Thresher-men ye may be to bring out the Wheat Good Plowmen So the Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you G. F. DEar Friends Dwell in that which keeps your Peace Epist 136. and comprehends the Deceit and answers that of God in every one To Friends to dwell in that which keeps Peace And let Friends keep their Meetings and never hearken to Tales nor things without but keep their Peace and know the Life and Power Vnion and Fellowship which stands in God in and with which ye may stand over the World in the one Power Life and Wisdom Meetings and therein be kept to the Glory of the Lord God So in that which is pure the Lord God Almighty preserve you G. F. FRiends Let God's Wisdom have the stay of your Minds Epist 137. and let it be the End of all your Words beware of that Spirit God's Wisdom that leads out of it into any thing There is a Day coming wherein some may wish that they had walked in Wisdom Weaknesses and Failings as touching the Weaknesses one of another or the Failings one of another for what know ye who may stand or who may fall in the Day of God's Trial Then many that have been unstable may wish that they had kept their Secrets in their Bosoms and in God's Wisdom sought to restore all Secrets and not to scatter as that Spirit doth which cannot bear and cover the Weaknesses one of another who are yet in the Wilderness where the Trials are many I have seen a great Danger in this thing Wherefore beware of that Spirit that cannot bear one with another Forgime and Cover or forgive one another for that which cannot will discover rather than cover and bring a Cloud over many wheresoever it is received and raise the contrary in many and vail the Just it may be in whole Meetings for want of Wisdom to be stayed in the Meek Spirit The Meek Spirit which trys all Spirits and gives clear sight of things For want of this many may be cast by and scarce ever restored again Therefore I say Tread over the Dead and that which works in that Nature and reach to the Witness in all so will ye stand for God and God will bless you in the Day of Trial. G. F. FRiends Epist 138. Ye that are the Prisoners of the Lord Jesus Christ in outward Bonds who witness him by whom the World was made who is the King of Saints and who are his Prisoners Note and come under his Dominion and Government Ye are not your own but purchased with his Blood which washes and makes you clean and justifies whose Bodies are his Temple Though he suffers you to be Imprisoned yet in his Power your Bodies are kept and your Spirits also ye standing Witnesses for your Master Standing Witnesses for your King for your Prophet for your Covenant of Light for your Wisdom of God him by whom all things were made for the Word and Power by which all things were made and upheld against the Powers of Darkness who are out of the Light out of the Truth who cannot bind stop nor limit the unlimited Power which is over it and comprehends it They who are born of the Word and in the Power which upholds all things over that and the Power of the Evil One have Victory and sing over the false Prophet The false Prophet For the Devil was the Deceiver who in the Truth abode not and there is the false Prophet who speaks of his own and not from the Lord and there is the Beast that makes the War against the Lamb and his Saints who witness the Testimony of Jesus and the Word of God Therefore mind the Word of God ye Children of the Light who are in the Light that comes from the Word mind the Word of the Lord which is as a Hammer and as a Fire and sharper than a Two-edged Sword And ye who are the Lord's are not your own but they who are in their own Time The Time in the Father's hand see not the Time which is in the Father's Hand their Time is always and they do their own Works and not the Works of God which the Son of God did G. F. FRiends Epist 139. Know the Praying in the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding then ye will come to know the Sighs and Groans that cannot be uttered Praying in the Spirit For such as have not the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures to guide them are as the Pharisees were in the Long Prayers and in the Wrath and in the Doubting and do not lift up holy Hands This makes a Difference between Praying in the Spirit and the Pharisees long Prayers that devoured Widows houses AND None owns the Light as it is in Jesus but he that owns the Light that Christ lighteth them withal And none owns the Truth Light and Truth but who owns the Light that cometh from Christ the Truth And none cometh to the Father but such who owns the Light that cometh from Christ which leads to him Nor none owns the Son except he owns the Light that cometh from him FOR all dwelling in the Light that comes from Jesus it leads out of Wars leads out of Strife leads out of the Occasion of Wars and leads out of the Earth up to God Wars and Strife out of Earthly-mandedness to Heavenly-mindedness and bringeth your Minds to be in Heaven G. F. ALL Friends every where Epist 140. that do suffer for Tithe and are served with Writs to answer at London take Copies of your Suppoena's and Writs To Friends Concerning Collecting their Sufferings that ye may have them when ye Appear to shew them to the Court whereby ye may be kept a top of the Persecutors
which God hath clled me to that I am and in the Elect before the World began This is to go every where abroad amongst Friends who are of the Royal Priesthood which destroys that which made a separation from God From the Royal Seed goes the Royal Commandment The Royal Priesthood which Seed remains for ever from the Royal Seed to the Royal Seed which are the Royal Priesthood which have the Royal Law and Love to Friends and Enemies which is beyond the Love of the World and before it was That is the Royal Love where no Enmity can come FORGIVE us as we forgive them cry Papists cry Episcopal cry Presbyterians and Baptists and Independents these cry and say the Lord's Prayer Forgive us our Debts and Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and then like a Company of senseless Men without Understanding fall a fighting one with another about their Trespasses and Debts and never mind what they prayed as though they never looked for Forgiveness and to receive the things they praycd for Forgive us as we forgive That pray Forgive us Lord as we forgive them and fall a persecuting and imprisoning one another and taking their Brethren and Fellow-servants by the Throat about Religion which in their Prayers they said Forgive us as we forgive them and will not forgive but say their Prayers as the Pharisees did the Scriptures and did not this is he that must be cast into Prison until he pay the utmost Farthing and must not come out And this hath been their Work since the Apostles Days and is not here Law The Apostles and Christ did not bid that any should kill about their Words but that they should love Enemies but ye will kill about their Words who were killed for speaking them forth And so all Friends dwell in the Seed of God which is Heir of the Power of the World which is without End in that dwell and keep your Meetings that ye may all be Possessors ALL Religions will fight about Religions and Worship and kill like the Heathen about their Gods Jews Gentiles Papists Protestants of all Sects which are out of the Power of the Lord and the Spirit that the Apostles were in And so they are all out of the Royal Spirit Fighting Religions that hath the Royal Spiritual Weapons and out of the Royal Seed which saith Love Enemies which is the Royal Command to the Royal Priesthood And they confess they have not the same Power and Spirit of the Apostles so then its true for them to say We are not the spiritual Men we have not spiritual Weapons to fight withal if ye do not help us Higher Powers we fall For we hold our Traditions and that which we have is by Tradition is by the Earthly Powers For we are not made Ministers as the Apostles were by the immediate Spirit and Power and Gifts as the Apostles were therefore the Higher Power must help us and to them go we with our Packet of Letters as Saul did for we are not spiritual-weaponed Men as Paul was For in all these things are the Priests guilty THE Papists Common-Prayer Men Presbyterian Independents Baptists persecute one another about their Inventions which they have invented their Mass their Common-Prayer their Directory Persecuting Religions Church-Faith which they have made and framed their Inventions and Handy-works and not for the Truth For they know not what Spirit they are of that persecute and would have Mens Lives destroyed about their Church Worship and Religion for Christ said He came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them Now they that know not what Spirit they are of that will persecute and destroy Mens Lives and not save them we cannot trust our Bodies Souls nor Spirts into their Hands that know not what Spirit they are of themselves they are not like to be trusted with others that would destroy by a Law which the Disciples would have done by Prayer to command Fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them that would not receive Christ Which Sort Christ rebuked and told them that they did not know what Spirit they were of And now if they did not know what Spirit they were of do these which have persecuted about Church and Religion since the Apostles Days who would compel Mens Bodies Goods Lives Souls and Estates into their Hands by a Law or else make them suffer These are not the Ministers of Christ the Saviour that destroy Mens Lives and they know not what Spirit they are of and the Lives Bodies and Souls are not to be trusted in their Hand And ye that do persecute shall have no Resurrection to Life except ye Repent But they that do know what Spirit they are of themselves they are in the unrebukable Zeal and by the Spirit of God they offer up their Spirits their Souls and Bodies to the Lord which are his whose they are to keep them G. F. WE are of the Royal Seed Elect and Precious Epist 172. before the World began that which ever the Sodomites crucified grieved and vexed by their unrighteous ungodly Conversation who lived in Fulness and Pleasures and abundance of Idleness And we are of that Seed that cannot serve the Wills and Lusts of Men and bow and stoop to them who are a People redeemed out of Kindreds Kingdoms Peoples and Nations who are of the Houshold of God built up together a spiritual House whose Builder and Maker is God and do reign upon the Earth as Kings and Priests unto God whom we serve Day and Night The Houshold of God And are of the Seed that hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which the Princes of the World and Councels and the Great and Wise of the Earth crucified who lived in the Form of Godliness of the Saints Words but quench'd the Spirit in themselves and being that Birth born of the Flesh persecuted that which is born of the Spirit We are of the Seed the Anointed which the Powers of the Earth combine and take Counsel together against whom God we see sitting in Heaven The Royal Priesthood laughs them to Scorn We are the Royal Priesthood who offers daily to the Lord the Spiritual Sacrifice the Holy Generation and the peculiar People zealous of good Works cloathed with the Zeal of Christ against the bad Works and the Workers thereof Therefore of all Nations Peoples Sects Ways Professions and Talkers of Religion are we hated by them that are out of the Way and Power of God though they profess Scriptures Church-Worship and Ministry yet such have crucified Christ and the Lord of Glory We are they that witness the Promise of God fulfilled and that do witness that the Age is come wherein God would shew forth his exceeding Riches and Kindness which was wrought amongst the Apostles The Anointed of God We are the Anointed of God and his Prophets that he saith Touch not who are as the Apple of
earthly Spirits and their dark earthly Spirit and the Power of God was before they were and will remain when that they are gone and it reigns over them all And that is the Word of the Lord God to you all And for my part I had as leive see a Priest to stand up in a Meeting as one of these dark earthly Spirits with their Hats on their Heads when that Friends pray for they cannot deceive Friends For I have been more burthened with their dark subtle and Sophistical Spirit than with the Priests which had no more shew of Reverence to God in that than to a Horse whose outward seeming Righteousness hath deceived many but the Power of God which destroyeth the Deceiver undeceiveth and bringteth People to that which did first Convince them And they that kept on their Hats when Friends prayed after a while some of them ran to the Priests to be married and some to hear them in the Steeple-Houses then this dark earthly Spirit could bow and put off its Hat to its own the dark Spirit which kept on the Hat in the Assemblies of the Righteous in Opposition against the Spirit and Power of God A Fainedness of Love And so this Spirit hath led People into a Fainedness of Love and Liberty which the Power and Spirit of God cannot own but judge and stand over and reign over if they keep their Habitations in the Power and Life and Truth of God which reigneth If they that are and have been in this dark earthly Spirit had but had a regard to the Power of God and his Truth they would have been Tender Offence given and afraid of giving any Occasion of Offence both to them that are within and to them that are without to draw out their Minds to look at that which their earthly Spirit has promoted and so to lay Stumbling-blocks and set up an Idol and an Image to look at which draws Peoples Eyes from the Witness of God in themselves But the Power of God is gone over it and will break it down And so this Belial's Spirit which would be without Yoke cries to such as in Love exhort them and judge it Ye Lord over us And so this earthly dark Spirit which is gotten above the Witness of God in themselves which is not sensible of the moving Spirit and Power of God it sets up its own earthly Form which the Power of God never set up An earthly Spirit but judges And this earthly Spirit judges all that are gathered together in the Power and that are constrained by the Power and Love of God in a familiar way to take one another by the Hand through the dearness and nearness of the Love of God and the pure clean and holy Life and also are moved by the Power of the Lord God to put off their Hats in Prayer This dark Sophistical earthly Spirit thus hath judged these Practices of the People of God afore-mentioned to be but a Form which are done in the Power of God it being out of the Power it self and the Fellowship and Vnity of it And because they that are in it are gone from that which first convinced them into outward things and into their Form in the earthly Spirit it judges those that will not follow them that have lost the Power of God And thus many of them are darkned with a cankered rusty Spirit which will corrupt them and hath destroyed many And this is that Hardness of Heart that has brought the Plague of Hardness of Heart through which there has been Strangeness and not Vnity nor Familiarness nor Nighness in the Truth for how should it when they are gone from that which firt Convinced them To that all must come before they have Fellowship and true Vnity in the Power and Truth of God which if that had been minded it would have led to follow Whatsoever things are Comely whatsoever things are Decent whatsoever things are of good Report and such things as make for Peace But this Spirit has followed the contrary and therefore the Power of the Lord God and the Life and Truth is against it and over it is gone and reigns And ye with your earthly Spirit and earthly Form have given Occasion to the World to say That the People of God called Quakers are divided some with their Hats on and some with them off and so they are opposite one to the other And these are the Fruits of the earthly Spirit which would bring Darkness and Earth over all but the Power of God is over this dark and earthly Spirit and the World and them that are in it and looketh upon them and the World as one against the Truth and the Power of God And the People of God called Quakers The Vnity of the People of God are One and not divided in the Power of God and his Truth and in God's Power and Spirit they are in Vnity in the Truth and Power of an endless Life This I was moved of the Lord God to write G. F. To Friends that Labour in the Ministry that their Lives may Preach DEar Friends and Brethren amongst whom the Vine is manifest Epist 215. and who are by Faith grafting into it The Vine made manifest through and in which ye may bear Fruit to glorifie God be Wise in all things and Harmless that your Lives Conversations and Innocency may preach and reach to the Hearts of all your Opposers and Persecutors And be Faithful and Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and Tender to one another in all Convenient outward things for that is the least Love And dwell in that which redeems you from the Earth the Power of God in which ye may know the Kingdom which is Everlasting and come to be Hairs of that that ye may sit down in your own Possession knowing the Seed of God which was before the Seed of the Serpent was knowing the Birth born of the Spirit The Birth of the Spirit which was before the Birth born of the Flesh was And so live in the Truth by which ye may see over that which stains corrupts cankers loads and burdens the Creation by which Power of God and Truth ye may answer the Spirit of God in all which the Wicked grieve vex and quench by their ungodly Lusts and filthy Conversation and unsavoury Words Fear not Sufferings which bring to wear the Crown Fear not him that can kill the Body only Through Sufferings the Crown but can't hurt the Soul for that that is Immortal goes over him Fear God and fear not him hat can spoil the Goods for the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness of it But mind God's Power and let your Patience be Perfect and all your Words seasoned with Grace that they may edifie by which ye may season the Earth your Hearts being establish'd in the same over all the unsavory Words and Talkers and live in the Truth above them And
Apostles and Saints who sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus where many sit now in Christ the Seed the First the Last and Beginning and the Ending and who sits in him as I said before sees where all the Apostatized Christians have sate since the Apostles Days who have removed their Seat from the Apostles and have not sate in the Seat the Apostles and the Saints sate in for had they sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus him that destroyed the Enmity the Devil and his Works they had all sate in Vnity and Peace And they see where Jews sit where Gentiles sit and where Adam and Eve sate before they fell and where they sate in the Fall with their Sons and Daughters and where the Apostles sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus They that sit in Christ they sit in him the Apostles sate in who is the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending they see the Top and Corner-Stone over all set in which the Life flourisheth over all which was before the Devil the Power of Death and the Power of Darkness was which Seed Christ bruiseth and destroyeth the Saints sit in whom they have the Pastures of Life that floweth over all Death and was before it was and the Power of it 8. So as New-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that you may grow thereby mark the Milk that comes from the Word which was in the Beginning by that Milk is the growth and not in the Traditions handle not them nor the Rudiments nor the vain Inventions of Men neither touch them not taste them not for they perish with the using of them so then they do not grow by them But they may say Thou deniest the Means because thou dost not handle the Doctrines the Commandments the Rudiments that perish with the using Now that is not the Means but that is the Means the Milk that comes from the Word by which thou must grow thy growth is not by that which perisheth but as I said by the Milk that comes from the Word which was in the Beginning before the false Doctrines Traditions Rudiments of Men false Churches false Ways false Teachings Worship and Religion was before all these was the Word of God was thou dost not grow by any of those if thou shouldst teach them all thy Life-time and spend thy Days thou art never the nearer neither dost thou grow by them nor by the Tongues which makes their Divines the beginning of which was Babel which builds up and throws down as you may see Did they not build up the Church-Faith and Directory and now throw them down again Here is Babylon and were they not offended because you would not touch their Ordinances and told you you denied the means Now doth not the Word of God live abide and endure for ever when they are all gone So feed upon the Milk of the Word that you may grow by that Milk that comes from the Word that was before their Tongues and when you are redeemed from the Tongues and see the Beginning of Tongues Babel thou that feekest for the Milk of the Word Milk of the Word thou must seek to before Bable and Babylon was for the Word was before Babel was and stands when Babylon is down So the Milk which cometh from the Word is it by which thou must grow up in the things of God and this keeps the Eye pure and nourisheth thee up in the Word of Wisdom Word of Life Word of Patience by the Milk that comes from it up into the Word of Wisdom for Wisdom is with the grey Hairs and so up into the Life up into a living abiding State for the Word liveth and abideth for ever and by the Milk that cometh from the Word which was in the Beginning before the Fall of Man was with all the Confusions false Ways Worships Churches the Word was before they all were and abides when they are all gone feed of the Word the Milk of it and be quiet with the Milk by which thou growest and art nourished up to Everlasting Life by which thy Fruits will be unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life feeding upon the Milk that comes from the Word which was before Vnholiness was and stands and remains when all that is gone by these you are all nourished by this you all grow in a living and abiding State upo into the Word Christ whose Name is called the Word of God in whom is the sitting down so Heirs of Christ and of Salvation inherit Salvation and Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and Heirs of a Kingdom that hath no End and of a Power of a World to come So know this to be your Portion every one that you may be Heirs of the Blessings and inherit them that with them you may be cloathed meeting in the Name in the ftrong Tower meeting in the Spirit in which you may pray unto and worship God and sing which is the publick Worship of God which hath been lost since the Apostles Days by and amongst the inward Raveners from the Spirit of God which have been got up into particular Worshipping and Praying which if they come to the Publick they must come to the Spirit of God which their Fore-fathers inwardly ravened from and to the Publick Praying in the Spirit So dwell in the Love of God and build up your selves in the most Holy Faith and keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and Worship God in the Spirit and Trath which the Devil is out of and in that meet in the Truth in the Power of God which wwas before the Devil was in which is the perfect Fellowship the Gospel-Fellowship which stands in the Power of God which was before the Devil was or the Fall of Man either where all Imperfection was and is which the Power of God expels away in which is the perfect Fellowship as I said before the Worship of God is a perfect Worship it is in the Truth in the Spirit so the Truth is that the Devil is out of and all Imperfection which Truth was before Imperfection was the Worship in the Truth never changeth which is of the God of all Truth who is a Spirit and this is the perfect standing Worship which will stand when all the Worships in the Fall is gone Devil Dragon Beast and Will-worship for Truth was before they all were for they are not perfect being out of Truth our of that which is perfect So all Friends be faithful and valiant for the Truth of God upon the Earth For there are Religions only for the Summer while the Sun shines amongst the Sons of Adam in the Fall but when the Storm comes their flight is in the Winter So this Day manifesteth every Birth of what sort it is and at that look it is not professing God nor Christ nor the Scriptures nor the Ordinances but mind the Birth he that is Born of
Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World pointed his Disciples to him and shewed them Christ and they forsook him and went to Christ For John came for a Witness to bear Witness of him who was the true Light and that He that was to come after him was preferred before him for he was before him Yet when John was cast into Prison he questioned whether Christ was he or whether he should look for another and sends to Christ And Christ answers his Messengers and saith unto them the Blind receive their Sight Christ the Messiah and not another and the Poor receive the Gospel c. And as for these Papists and Protestants and Jews they question whether Christ the Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World be the Spiritual Divine Saving and Heavenly Light And further mark Christ's own Words John 12.46 He saith He is the Light of the World that teacheth you how to believe to wit All his Disciples as Christ hath taught them who saith Believe in the Light Now believing in the Light you believe in that which doth make manifest all things for that which doth make manifest is the Light The Light maketh manifest all things and therefore to beleive in the Light is to believe in that which doth make manifest Christ to be their Way their Teacher Priest and Mediator Interceeder Saviour and Redeemer And he that believeth in the Light he believes in that whcih makes manifest all false Ways and false Religions and false Worship and false Teachers and Antichrists For they that believe in the Light it manifests all true Ways and true Religions And so they are no true Believers True Believers believe in Christ as both outwardly and inwardly manifest neither Protestant nor Papists who only believe Christ is come from Scripture as the Jews believed Christ was to come from Scripture But I say they are no true Believers but as they also believe in the Light as Christ the Heavenly Man doth teach For the Jews they may teach their People to believe from the Scripture the Papists and Protestants may teach their Children to believe from the same but not believing in the Light they are no true Believers as Christ hath taught for Christ who is the Saviour he teacheth People how to believe and saith Believe in the Light Which is plain that they are no true Believers that do not believe in the Light neither Jews nor those that have got the name of Christians for Believing in the Light they become Children of the Light And so it is plain they are no Children of Light but who Believe in the Light nor Children of the Day For Children of Darkness may profess Scriptures the Devil may bring Scripture and Protestant and Turk and Papist and Jew may bring Scripture with a dark Spirit and hold them in the Unrighteousness but there is no true Believer in God nor in Christ Jesus but who Believes in the Light which the Scripture testifies of shewing there is no Salvation Redemption Justification Sanctification but to them who Believes in the Light that manifesteth all things nor seeing Christ who died and is risen for them And therefore the heavenly Man the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ teacheth how to believe and saith Believe in the Light The second Adam the Lord Jesus teacheth how to believe while you have it and this Light will manifest him to be their Way their Truth and Life which Light comes from him who enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World that all through the Light might believe And so they that believe not in the Light as Christ hath taught are no true Ministers nor no true Messengers nor true Disciples nor no true Christians nor true Preachers of Christ Jesus who believeth not as he hath taught them but they that lay away Christ's teaching and teach one another to deny the Way that Christ hath taught to Believe in are keepers of People in Darkness out of the Light and call it Natural created and made and conscience and so with their Darkness and Blindness give the Light such names who with their Darkness cannot comprehend it for he that believes in the Light The Light distinguisheth Truth from Error it lets him see the Scriptures the Prophets Christ and the Apostles words and by it they do distinguish the true Prophets words from the false the holy Mens words from the unholy the sanctified from them that are not sanctified Christ's words from Anti-christ's the true Apostles words from the false So Christ the Light teacheth his People to believe in that which manifests all things and they that believe in the Light hath the Witness in themselves of Christ in whom they do believe they have the Witness in themselves that he is their Redeemer and Saviour and their Way their Truth and their Life for with the Light they see him they believing in the Light that doth make manifest and after they believe in the Light become Children of the Light they witness themselves that they are sealed for their Belief in the Light stands in Christ the Light who hath bought and purchased them and after that they are sealed by the Spirit of Promise having God's Mark or Stamp set upon them they can set to their Seal That God is true in all his Promises in all his Prophets concerning Christ Jesus who taught them to believe in the Light With the Light they see and come to know the three that bear Record in Heaven and the three that bear Record on Earth Three that bear Record on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood first the Spirit that beareth witness in the Earth which mortifies them which circumcises them which leads them into all Truth in which Spirit is their Fellowship and a Bond of Peace that keeps down that which troubles them by which Spirit the Believers are Baptized into one Body brought out of the many Bodies and so by the Spirit they are brought to the one Head The Spirit which is Christ Jesus tho' there are many Heads in the World by which Spirit they are sanctified by which Spirit they are instructed by which Spirit they worship God by which Spirit they are covered by which Spirit they pray and by which Spirit they sing praises to God who is a Spirit by which Spirit they have an understanding the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge which is to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal 2dly They come to know the Water The Water which is a Witness in the Earth by which Water they are washed their Minds their Souls their Spirits and in their Bodies with this pure Water and this is a Witness in the Earth with the Light they that Believe in it it manifesteth these two Witnesses in the Earth and with the Light they see the Pope's counterfeit Holy Water which he hath set up since
the Apostles Days who with the Light beareth witness against it not to be God's witness nor God's setting up And so the Children of the Light that believe in the Light their Bodies their Souls their Spirits and their Minds are washed clean in this pure clean holy Water that comes from above from the pure holy God which is one of these Witnesses in the Earth And the Blood The third Witness is his Blood with which the Hearts of People are sprinkled and their Consciences are sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus As Moses sprinkled the outside of the Posts c. with the Blood of Bulls and Goats which Blood of Bulls and Goats Christ's Blood ends which sprinkles the Heart and Conscience of People So this Blood of Jesus Christ the heavenly Man is felt in the Hearts and Consciences of People by which Blood they are sanctified they are cleansed from all their Dead Works to serve the Living God and to serve their Dead Works no longer So by this Blood they are cleansed from all Sin They that walk in the Light and believe in the Light they are Children of the Light and Children of the Day and the Blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God Blood of Christ cleanseth from all Sin cleanseth them from all Sin and their Garments are made white in the Blood of the Lamb by which they come to testifie of Jesus they overcome the Beast the Whore the false Church And so every true Believer believes as Christ hath taught them to Believe in the Light that so they may become Children of the Light The true Believer hath the Witness in himself They have these three Witnesses that bear witness in the Earth to bear witness in themselves and they can set to their Seal That God is true in all his Works in Prophets and Apostles and his Son and they shall come to know and do come to know the Three that bear Record in Heaven and the Three that bear Record in the Earth G. F. AND all ye Believers in the heavenly Light as Christ hath taught Epist 266. you seek that which is lost and driven away but the false Prophets false Ministers and Teachers they did not seek that which was lost True Ministers seek that which is lost and driven away from God they put no difference between the precious and the vile but mash all together like the Priests and Prophets of our times therefore seek that which was lost and driven away some may be driven away by the Storms some may be driven away by the great Winds of the Wicked and Storms of the Ungodly some may be driven away by Tempests and foul Weather and some may be lost in the foul Weather and lost in the Sea of the World for it is this wicked One that raiseth all these foul Weather and Storms therefore seek that which is lost ye that believe in the Light by which you see then you are distinguish'd from the false Prophets and Teachers and by the Light you put a difference between the precious and the vile for Jacob was found in a desart Land and you see all the Prophets how they sought that which was lost and the Apostles and how Christ encouraged to seek that which was lost and when the lost Sheep was found what Joy there was more than of the Ninety and Nine an who were they that make the Land desolate but the rough Esau's and wild Ishmael's and Core's and who makes the World as a Wilderness but the Devil and who brings the whole World to lie in Wickedness but the Devil that wicked One and if you should not find that which is lost and driven away at the first nor second To continue in seeking nor third time of seeking if you sould not find him that is lost go again that you may have your joy and rejoyce others for Christ in the Parable saith The Prodigal Son was lost yea was dead and is alive again when he had been feeding among Swine and upon Husks and could never fill his Belly When any such come back again they will tell you how hungry they were they could never fill their Bellies among the Husks while they went astray and tell you long Declarations of the Citizen that he was joined to And therefore when the lost is found and brought back again to the Father's House where there is Bread enough Joy for the lost Sheep is found there is Joy and the heavenly Instruments of Musick and the heavenly Feast of the heavenly Fat Things and the heavenly Robes of Righteousness are injoyed And so all be diligent ye Believers in the Light as Christ hath taught you look up and down in the Light you will see where the lost Sheep are and such as have been driven away you will spie them out out of the Woods or Brambles or Pits where there is no Water where they are ready to be Famish'd where they are tied with Thorns and Briars and so with the Light you will see and put a difference between the precious and the vile for whatsoever makes manifest is Light For by that you see and you will see with it how the false Prophets and Ministers and Teachers drive People away they drive them away from God and his Way from Christ and the Covenant of Light How angry they are with them that believe in it With their Clubs how have they beaten many and wounded many and imprisoned many because they would not be driven by them into the Devil's Pit-fold or Prison but do you never give over seeking for the Light shines over all which believe in and walk in the Path of the Just which is as a shining Light for it hath been the work of all the false Teachers and Ministers to drive away from God and his Truth and Light and those have been the Devil's Servants and the Wages he gives them is Death This hath been the Way of all true Ministers to seek that which was lost and that which was driven away as you may see Christ and the Apostles and all the true Prophets did and to bring them to feed in the Pastures of Life and gently to lead them whose Wages is Life and he gives them their heavenly Penny of Life Eternal G. F. To Ministring Friends FRiends Epist 267. All ye that Believe in the Light as Christ hath commanded that are become Children of the Light and of the Day and of the Promise Not to Judge one another and do minister therein do not judge one another in publick Meetings you that do Minister as you have received the Grace and have the Word of the Lord God committed to you that Minister abroad or go abroad in Cities Towns Countries or Nations do not judge one another nor reflect one upon another in publick Meetings for that hurts the Hearers and you do more hurt than you do good and that makes Confusion for if you have any
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
standing that by it they may be ordered and directed in his Holy Service and Business in his Holy Church which Christ is the Holy Head of as they are directed and ordered by the Lor's Power and Wisdom to praise and magnifie and glorifie him with Thanksgiving both in your mesn and Womens Meetings and all other Meetings in the Name of Jesus Christ for he is in the midst of them their Prophet Priest Teacber Shepherd Bishop and Counsellor opening with his heavenly Power feeding with his heavenly Food counselling with his heavenly Counsel sanctifying them to present them to the Holy God without Spot over-seeing them with his Holy Power and Spirit that God may have the Praise and the Glory through Jesus Christ in all and through all who is bleffed for ever So Friends are not to meet like a Company of People about Town or Parish-Business neither in their Mens nor Womens Meetings Frienas to feel the Pewt of God in their Meetings for the Affairs of Truth but to wait upon the Lord and feeling his Power and Spirit to lead them and order them to his Glory that so whatsoever they may do they may do it to the Praise and Glory of God and in Unity in the Faith and in the Spirit and in Fellowship in the Order fo the Gospel and the Devil and his Instruments cannot get into this Gospel which is the Power of God and that makes him rage and he would not have the Woman to have a share in it who first deceived the Woman and now would again nor the Men neither Nor he cannot get into the worship of God which is in Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of and therefore keep your Possessions in the Power of God and your Habitations there within and in Christ Jesus who bruises the Head of the Serpent who is the Head of all false Orders and Disorders and has made the World like a Wilderness and he in his Instruments is against the Order of the Gospel and the Power of God that Men and Women should be in the Possession of and the Dignity thereof And this many spoke evil of in the Apostles Days and so they do now but the Power stands and the Order of it over his Head and his Instruments and Christ is the same to Day as Yesterday and so for ever and of the increase of his Government there is no End So all that be Heirs of Christ and of his Power and Righteousness are Heirs of his Government and they see there is no End of the increase of it And you may see how the Apostle after he had convinced People he brought them into Order of the Gospel and the Jews after they came out of Egypt they were brought into the Order of the Law of God And as the Christians come to believe in Christ then they are to come into the Order of the Gospel So as I was first moved of the Lord God G. F. moved first to preach the Gospel to go up and down the Nation to preach the Gospel then after the Lord moved me to go up and down to exhort and to write that all People might come into the Possession of the Gospel and the Order of it which is the Power of God which was before the Devil was which is not of Man nor by Man and his Word by which all things are upheld and ordered to the Glory of God And Christ is a Priest after the Order of Melchizedeck So you may see there was a Heavenly Order in the Power and Spirit of Christ's Priesthood as there was of Aaron's of whose Order Christ came not And the Apostle saith to the Church Let all things be done decently and in order And this Order was in the Power of God the Gospel 1 Cor. 14. Afterwards to exhort to the walking in the Order of the Gospel where all Decency is And the Apostle saith Though he was absent in the Flesh yet he was present with them in the Spirit rejoycing and beholding their order to wit the Churches Order and their stead fastness in Christ And as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him So this was the Spiritual Order of the Gospel which the Apostle in Spirit beheld and does admonish them unto in whom their walking should be to wit in Christ the Spiritual heavenly Man and not to walk in Old Adam who was without this Spiritual heavenly Gospel-Order which is the Duty of all true Christians to walk in Christ and his Gospel-Order And it 's said in Psalm 37.23 The steps of a good Man is ordered by the Lord and that is by his Power and Spirit And in Psalm 50. To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew forth the Salvation of God and whoso offereth Praises Glorifies me saith the Lord. So they that offers up Praises by the Spirit they glorifie God which all must keep to and not quench And all whose Conversation is ordered aright it is by the Power of God the Gospel for they are kept by the Power of God unto the Day of Salvation and this is the right Order and everlasting Order which all must keep and walk in by which all Conversations must be ordered aright that all may see their Salvation Christ Jesus who is the Head of the Church and who fees and receives him has Life Everlasting and through him they have Peace with God So all in him live and meet in whom you have Life and Peace that is Everlasting that none can take away which Peace is not this World's Peace And also the whole Church of Christ which are the Believers in the Light Children of the Light living Stones that makes up the Spiritual Houshold over which House Christ is the Head True Believers a Chosen Generation c. all such Believers Men and Women are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation a Peculiar People that they should shew forth the Vertue of Christ that hath called them out of Darkness into his Marvelous Light So into him the Life to wit Christ Jesus by whom the World was made here in him they know their Election before the World began So a Royal Priesthood Christ's Church is called offering up Spiritual Sacrifices to God who is a Spirit and this Royal Priesthood has a High Priest made higher than the Heavens to wit Christ Jesus and this Royal Priesthood is not after the order of Aaron whose Order was proved by his Rods bearing Fruit laid over Night in the Tabernacle and in the Morning brought forth Fruit but your Order is proved by your Rods budding and bringing forth Fruit in the Morning of God's Day which are the Fruits of the Spirit through which Spirit you come to offer according to your Order which is in the Power of God the Gospel the Spiritual Sacrifices To offer up Spiritual Sacrifices c. the first Fraies of the Spirit to God who is a Spirit according
to your Order as I said before of the Gospel the Power of God For the Jew outward was to offer the first Fruits of the Earth according to the Order of Aaron but according to the Order of the Gospel you both Men and Women are to offer the first Fruits of the Spirit to God who is a Spirit over all blessed for ever And shew how the Lord has blest you in your Spiritual Fruits and how you have been Captives in Spiritual Egypt and how you were redeemed Much more I might Write concerning these things but they are hard to be uttered or to be born for there has so much Strife and Foolishness entred into the Minds of People and a want of the stilness and quietness in the pure Spirit of God in which things are revealed that hath been vailed in which things are opened that hath been hid and uncovered that hath been covered But wait all in the Dilligence in the holy Life by which the holy things are seen and received in which the holy Vnity and Fellowship is So no more but my Love G. F. To all my dear Friends Elect and Precious in America STand fast in the Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of Epist 314. by his heavenly Ensign To stand fast in the Faith in your heavenly Armor and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Heavenly Gospel of Peace and your Heads preserved with the Helmet of Salvation and your Hearts fenced with the Breast-plate of Righteousness and so stand feeling and seeing God's Banner of Love over your Heads manifesting that you are the good Ground that God's Seed hath taken Root downward in and springs upward in and brings forth Fruits in some Sixty and some Hundred fold in this Life to the Praise and Glory of God always beholding the Sun of Righteousness that never sets ruling the supernatural Day of which you are Children and the Persecutors Sun the heat of it which rises and sets again cannot scorch your Blade which it may do that Seed that grows on the Stony Ground And therefore be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and fear him And be Valiant for God's Truth that can break their Fetters their Goals and their Bonds in sunder and can make your Fleece to grow again after the Wolves have torn the Wooll from your Backs for the Rod of the Wicked shall not be always upon the Backs of the Righteous And therefore mind Christ who is the first and last who bruises the Head of him who is the Head of all Persecutors to wit the Devil And consider how all the Faithful in all Ages suffered from Righteous Abel to Just Lot and the Children of Isreal by Pharaoh and the true Prophets by the false and Christ and the Apostles by the vagabond Professing Jews out of the Possession and what rejoycing it was to them to suffer for the Lord Jesus and how it was given unto them not only to Believe but also to Suffer so it was the Gift of God to them not only to Believe but to Suffer and to bear them up in their Sufferings And consider how all the Martyrs and Saints have suffered since the Apostles days by the Heathens and false Christians and so there is no new thing under the Sun And therefore keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus And keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name in whose Name you have Salvation and be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and sound his Name abroad and keep in the Truth and give no just Occasion to the Adversary for the Lamb must have the Victory and keep in the Lords Power that is over all and in his peaceable Truth in which you will seek the Good and Eternal Welfare and Salvation of all People And the Prophet Isaiah speaking of Christ says In all their Afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them so all Friends feel the Lord in all your Afflictions And the Apostle saith We our selves glory in you to wit in the Churches of God for your Patience and Faith in all your Persecutions and and Tribulations that you indure So here you may see the Saints are one anothers Joy in the Lord who doth uphold them in all their Persecutions Tribulations and Sufferings and therefore look over the Devil that is out of Truth that makes to suffer to Christ who bruises his Head and in Christ who is First and Last in him have you Rest Life and Peace And you see by Faith Examples of Faith Moses chose rather to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season So by Faith he esteemed the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt And by Faith Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the Wrath of the King for he indured as seeing him who is invisible and so by Faith God's People now forsake Spiritual Egypt And by Faith the Mouths of the Lions were stopp'd and by Faith they indured Tortures not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection and by Faith they underwent all the cruel Mockings Scornings Bonds and Imprisonments and by Faith they underwent Stoning and Sawing asunder and were tempted and slain with the Sword and they wandered about in Sheep skins and Goats-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy c. Now all these lived in the one Faith by which they saw him who was invisible which is the Faith of God's Elect now which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of which Faith upholds his People now as it did them against the Persecutors in Days and Ages past And hold fast the Hope which anchors the Soul which is sure and stedfast that you may float above the Word's Sea for your Anchor holds sure and stedfast in the bottom let the Winds Storms and raging Waves rise never so high And your Star is fix'd by which you may steer to the Eternal Land of Rest and Kingdom of God So no more but my Love to you all Swarthmore in Lancashire the 12th of the 12th Month 1675. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends To whom is my Love in the Holy Truth Epist 315. my desire is that you may all be valiant for it against all Deceit that the Camp of God may be kept clean Faithful in their Testimenies and all may be faithful in your Testimonies of Light and Life against all those things which have come up in this Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of God So look at the Lord and his Eternal Power which hath brought you out of the Night of Apostacy to his Eternal Praise and his Power hath preserved you to this Day The Lord with his glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his
is the midst of them the Prince of Life and Peace and Captain of Salvation and a Prophet to open the Book of Couscience Christ the Prince of Life and Captain of our Salvation and the Book of the Law and Prophets and Gospel and his Book of Life to them and a Bishop to oversee them and a Heavenly Shepherd to feed them in his Heavenly Pasture of Life and a Heavenly King to rule in their Hearts and in his glorious Kingdom amongst them that are born again and that seeth and entereth into his Everlasting Kingdom of Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost And all these Children in the Kingdom and in the New Covenant of Grace Light and Life cannot feed of any Bread for their Immortal Souls that is made by Man which he hath heavened with the sowre Leaven for that sowre leavened Bread will make their Hearts to burn and the Jews were not to keep their Feasts with leavened Bread in the old Covenant The Jews in Spirit keep their Feast with unleavened Bread from Heaven then much more the Jews in the Spirit in the new Covenant who hath their Bread from Heaven their unleavened Bread who in the new Covenant doth keep their Feast with unleavened Bread from Heaven and cannot feed their Souls with any Bread but that which cometh down from Heaven and this Bread from Heaven giveth Life to the Soul and is the Staff of their heavenly Life this heavenly Bread as the outward Bread is the Staff of the natural Life in this World that must have an end but the Bread from Heaven is the heavenly Staff of Life that doth nourish up into a heavenly Life and a World and a Kingdom that is without end And such as feedeth on this heavenly Bread cannot feed their Souls with any Bread below that which comes from Heaven for it doth not give them Life So that they can neither touch taste nor handle that which is below which perisheth for the Breaa of Life from Heaven doth not persh but giveth Life Eternal and this Bread is sure and they that feedeth upon it shall hunger no more So all Eyes are to look up to Heaven for this Bread of Life which giveth them Life and not below Heaven for neither are they to follow them that crieth Lo it is here and lo there or to drink of their Cup that are whored from the Spirit of God nor to eat of their leaveneed Bread for they that do believe in the Light which is the Life in Christ are grafted into him the true Vine So the Believers do feel a living Spring springing up in them to Eternal Life True Believers drink of the Spring of Eternal Life from the Fountain from whence it cometh And so here all the true Believers have the upper and the nether Springs in themselves and such may drink freely and eat freely of the Bread and Water of Life and doth hunger and thirst no more but eat and drink that which is Eternal which nourisheth them up to Eternal Life and so beareth Heavenly Spiritual Fruits to the Praise of the Eternal God which Plants he hath watered by his upper and nether Springs which Trees or plants their Fruits are unto Holiness and their End is Everlasting Life So none of the Children of the New Covenant need go to the World for Bread or Water to give them Life Everlasting to keep them from the World's Storms or Weapons to defend their Church or Worship for they have them from Heaven and heavenly Bread and Water and Spiritual Weapons and Armour and the Righteousness of Christ the fine Linnen their Cloathing Glory to the Lord for ever who makes all his spiritually Rich and to be Lenders and not Borrowers and Givers and not Receivers which is more blessed than the Receiver And the Jews in the old Covenant were to wash their Cloaths and to sanctifie themselves when they did appear before the Lord and so are the Children of God in the New Covenant of Life Light and Grace who do appear before the Lord God's Children are to put on the Righteousness of Christ are to be washed and cleansed and sanctified and to put on the Righteousness of Christ their fine Linnen that never will wax old and so to put off all the Old Adam's Garments that he hath covered himself and his Sons and Daughters with in the Fall and Transgression which will wax old and rot but that which God and Christ doth put on and cloath his Saints withal is Everlasting So Man's Righteousness and his filthy Rags must be put off and they must come into the Righteousness of Christ and put it on which doth exceed the Righteousness of the Law if they do enter into the Kingdom of God which doth stand in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Now in the Old Testament it 's said The Priests Lips is to preserve the Peoples Knowledge But the New Testament saith Christ is the Treasnre of Wisdom and Knowledge That Christ is the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge The Old Testament saith That you must offer your Sheep Goats Bulls and Heifers and other Creatures which God commanded by the Law in the Old Testament for your Sins and cleansing But the New Testament saith That Christ is offered up once for all And the Old Testament saith That the Blood of Bulls and other Creatures cleanseth from Sin But the New Testament saith That Christ's Blood cleanseth from all Sin And in the Old Testament it 's said You must carry your Offerings and First-Fruits and Tithe to the Store-House But the New Testament saith Freely you have received freely give and forbiddeth Bag or Staff And in the Old Testament the Priest was to light the Candles and Lamps in the Tabernacle and Temple and to circumcise the Men-Children But the New Testament saith And enlightens his People with his Light and Life Christ doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World with his heavenly Light which is the Life in Christ the Word and the Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord So he doth enlighten the Candle and Lamp in the Tabernacle and saith Believe in the Lght that ye may become Children of the Light and Christ doth minister the Circumcision in the Spirit that putteth off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh that came upon Man and Woman by Transgression So that the Children are the Circumcision of the Spirit in the New Testament and not of the Flesh and Letter as they were in the Old Testament And in the Old Testament it 's said That the Priests put the Testament and the Law and the Pot of Manna into the Ark in the Tabernacle and Temple But in the New Testament God poureth out of his Spirit upon all Flesh in the new Covenant God poureth out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son into the Hearts of his
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
Author and Finisher of So in this holy divine pure and precious Faith they have a holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is the Victory over the Enmity and the Adversary the Destroyer and all this Instruments and they cannot come within this holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is in the Faith for it is a Mysteryj and gives Victory over him and the access to the pure God and to Christ the Author of it which all are too stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free who is the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam For the Bondaged Captivity and Thraldom false Freedom and false Liberty was and is in Old Adam in Transgression and the true Liberty is that which Christ the pure and holy One makes free in and this is a pure holy Liberty which Christ makes and sets his People free in in which they are all to stand fast over all the false Liberties and Freedoms which are Bondage Also the true Libertyis in the Truth which if the Truth hath made you free then are you free indeed from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth So then there is no true Freedom nor Liberty in him and he in whom there is no Truth cannot come into this Freedom and Liberty which is in the Truth but remains in the False For the Jews in the days of Christ boasted of their liberty and Freedom though they were in Bondange both inwardly and outwardly and that they were of Abraham their Father but Christ told them The Devil was their Father and his lusts ye will do And also in the Days of the Apostles many of the false Christians boasted of their Liberty but who was overcome by them was brought into Bondage And the Apostle was so careful of his Liberty in Christ Jesus To be careful of our I iberty in Christ that such as came to spie it out and were somewhat in Conferrence but they added nothing to him and unto such he would not give place by Subjection but rather reproved them and directed every one to walk according to the measure of the Rule which God hath distributed to them And also true Liberty is inthe Light and Grace and the Spirit which comes by Jesus which by believig in te Light they are grafted into Christ and so into true Liberty and Freedom and so are entred into the Rest out of the Toil of old Adam for they are grafted into him who was befor old Adam For Unbelievers in the Light are grafted into old Adam in Transgression And the Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ are grafted into Christ the Word by which all things were made and created So here is perfect true Freedom and Liberty And likewise the true Liberty and Freedom is in the Grace which brings Salvation and not Destruction and teaches to live Godly not Ungodly and Soberly not Unsoberly and Righteously not Unrighteously and teaches to deny the World and not to cleave to it and follow it This Grace establishes the Heart and seasons the Words the Fruits of its Liberty and Freedom will manifest it self And also the true Liberty in the pure Holy Spirit of God and Christ doth Baptize and Plunge down that which is gotten up by Transgression in Man and Woman and circumcises and cuts off the Body of Death and Sin in the Flesh that is gotten up in Man and Woman by Transgression and mortifies and kills that which would grieve vex or quench the Motions of the pure Spirit of God so that in this holy pure Spirit of this pure God and Christ is the holy pure Freedom and Liberty over all Bondage and false Liberties and Freedoms And the Fruits of this pure Spirit is pure Love Righteousness and Godliness Fruits of the Spirit Patience Temperance and Humility by which Spirit all are made to drink into one Spirit so that all are the living Wells that have their living Water from God and Christ their true and living Fountain and in which Spirit they have a holy and spiritual Fellowship in this Baptizing Mortifying Circumcisig Spirit yea one wit another and with the Son and the Father also through which the Love of God warms every one's Heart But when the Love of many waxes cold as Christ saith then they go from this Grace Ligth Truth Power and Spirit and the Anointing and the Word of God in their own Hearts then such turn to be Betrayers and not Saviours upon Mount Zion And against such God's swift Judgment turns and suddenly falls though they may cry for a time Liberty Freedom and Peace Peace but a Day of trouble will overtake them ere they are aware And therefore all ye Friends of Christ Jesus stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free by his Light Grace Truth Spirit Faith and Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God which is an Everlasting Freedom and Liberty above all Bondage and false fallen Liberties and Freedoms in this glorious Gospel and glorious joyful Libert where all may exercise God and Christ's Holy Gifts in his Holy Supernatural Light Grace Truth Spirit and Divine Faith and Word of Life and the Gospel which Word cannot be bound with all the World's Cords or Chains For it is a Fire to burn and a Hammer to break and a Sword to cut in pieces and therefore love the Word and keep the Word of Patience and the Lord will keep you for it is a tried Word and it will keep you in all trials which shall come upon all the World to try them For the Word was before the World was and will be when the World is gone which all the new-born Babes of the Incorruptible Seed who partake of the Milk of the Word grow by it up into an Immortal Life and Kingdom that is without End Glory and Praises to the Lord God for ever And now ye Babes of Christ If the World do hate you it hated Christ your Lord and Master also if they do mock and reproach and defame and buffet you they did so to your Lord ad Master also who was and is the Green Tree that gives nourishment to all his Branches his Followers Now if the World do Persecute you and take away your Goods or Cloaths was not your Lord and Master so served Christ was persecuted mocked and crucified for us Did not they cast Lots for his Garments Was not he haled from the Priests to Herod and before Pontius pilate and spit upon And if they hate thee and spit upon thee he was hated and spit upon for thee Did he not go to Prison for thee And was he not mocked and scourged for thee Did not he bow to the Cross and Grave for thee he who had no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth And did he not bear they Sins in his own Body upon the Tree And was he not scourged for thee by whose
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
added unto you as in Matth. 6. Here you may see how Christ is restoring People up into the Image of God out of the Thoughts and Cares of the Heathen for God took care of Man and Woman before he made them And the Apostle exhorted Timothy how the Women should adorn themselves with modest Apparrel Modest Apparrel c. and with Shamefulness and Sobriety and not with broidered or plaiting the Hair or Gold Pearls or Costly Array but with that which becomes Women professing Godliness with good Works 1 Tim. 2. mark this every one And James he reproves and and exhorts such whose Eye and Esteem was to the Gold Ring and goodly Apparel more than the poor in vile Raiment and tells them They were not to hold the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect to Persons much more not with gay Cloathing or Apparrel James 2.1 And Peter in 1 Pet. 3. exhorts the Saints how to adorn themselves The Adorning of the Holy Women Whose Adorning let it not be the outward Adorning of plaiting the Hair or wearing of Gold and putting on of Apparrel 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 For after this manner in old Times the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves And this ought to be the Adorning now in the New Covenant And though you may say The Jews or Hebrews adorned themselves with Jewels and they did adorn the Temple c. But in the New Covenant these things were forbidden And they were to adorn the Temple of the Heart and not to defile that and to know the hidden Man of the Heart which is not corruptible And therefore look into all your Hearts and see if you can find any thing there which is not corruptible and to put off the old Man with his Deeds with the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life which is not of the Father but of the World And this old Man delights in the glory of the World which must be put off And all Christians in the New Covenant must put on the New Man that is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of God that created him which walks and serves God in the New and Living Way who is born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible Seed by the Word of God and feed upon the incorruptible Milk and Wine and Water and Bread and the incorruptible Flesh and Blood of Christ and wears the fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ the incorruptible Cloathing And this is the Birth born of the Spirit that enters into the incorruptible Kingdom of God as in John 3.5 and in 1 Pet. 1.23 And the Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians in Chapter 4.22 To put off out vain Conversation To put off their former Conversation the old Man which is corruptible according to the deceitful Lusts and be renewed in the Spirit of your Minds that is out of the Fall of Adam And that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness So here Man comes to know his first Creation and his Degeneration so always to see the New Man put on which is in Righteousness and Holiness and the old Man put off with all his vain Deckings Trimmings and Cloathings which is not acceptable both in the sight of God and his People And so all in the New Covenant are to be conformable to the Image of God Rom. 8.2 For all hath been conformed long enough to the Image of Satan And the Apostle saith We all behold with open face as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory even as by the same Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.10 So every one are to mind this happy and blessed Change And the Apostle saith Put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lust thereof Rom. 13.14 And as every one hath received the Lord Jesus so walk in him and then you will put off the Old Adam and his Deeds in Transgression and not walk in him but walk in Christ that never sinned nor was guilt found in his Mouth And if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature Old things passeth away and all things become new 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore the Apostle exhorts the Colosians Chap. 2.8 That they were not to follow the Rudiments of the World for they were not after Christ And so People are not to follow the World's Rudiments but Christ And you may see how the Children of Israel that came out of Egypt Not to Lust and tempt God as Israel did and the mixt Multitude lusted after the Flesh-pots of Egypt And the Lord smote them with a grievous Plague Numb 11. And David saith They tempted God in their Hearts by asking Meat for their Lust Psam 78.18 And again David saith They lusted exceedingly in the Wilderness and tempted God in the Desart And he gave them their Request but sent leanness into their Souls Psalm 106.14 15. And therefore in the New Covenant the Apostle saith These things were for our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted 1 Cor. 10.11 And Solomon exhorts to keep from the evil Woman from the flattery of the Tongue of a strange Woman Lust not after her Beauty in thy Heart neither let her take thee with her Eye-lids For by means of a whorish Woman a Man is brought to a piece of Bread And the Adulterous will hunt for thy precious Life Prov. 6.26 And Christ not only forbids Adultery but Lust also Matth. 5. And again Christ saith The Cares of the World and the Love of other things choaks the Word and it becomes unfruitful to them Mark 4.19 And you may see what became of such as the Apostle speaks of in Rom. 1.21 Who when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful How at last God gave them up when they forsook him through the Lust of their Hearts And there you may see what Evils they run into And also you may see in Jude 16.18 How he declares against Murderers and Complainers and Mockers who walked after their ungodly Lusts And in 1 Pet. 2.11 there the Apostle Peter saith Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul And James saith Wars and Fightings came from the Lusts War and Fightings came from the Lusts that warred in their Members And such asked but received not because they asked amiss that they might consume it upon their Lusts Therefore saith he know ye not that the friendship of this World is Enmity to God Whosoever therefore will be a Friend to the World is an Enemy to God James 4.1 And Paul saith That
World And that which keeps you from the Spots of the World will keep you from the Body of Death and Sins of the World which you are made free from by the Circumcision of Christ by his Spirit and by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus are made free from the Law of Sin and Death And now Friends you that do profess this pure and undefiled Religion before God the Father to keep unspotted from the World or from the Spots of the World take heed you that profess this pure and undefiled Regilion tha tye keep your selves from the World or that you do not get the World's Spots upon you And take heed of Grediness and Earthly-mindedness and Covetousness which the Apostle called Idolatry for it is a great Spot and Blot of the World that lieth in Wickedness And take heed of Unrighteousness in your Trades Commerces or Dealings For Unrighteousness is a Spot To be Just in Trade c. And take heed of Over-reaching or using any Deceitsulness or Defraud in your Trade or Commerce For Over-reaching and using Deceit of any Unjust thing will Blot you an Spot you and is contrary to the pure and undefiled Religion And take heed of Unrighteousness Ungodliness Unholiness Prophaness Loosness Filthiness Naughtiness and Evil Words which corrupt good Manners These things will Blot you and Spot you and are contrary to the pure undefiled Religion before God the Father And also take heed of Drunkenness Theft Murder Whordom Fornication Adultery and all manner of Uncleanness For they which act such things are void of the pure undefiled Religion before God the Father and they are blotted and spotted with the Actions of the World that lieth in Wickedness and their Religion is vain And take heed of Lying Swearing and Cursing which are Spots of the World and forbid by Christ and the Apostle And all such that follow the Lust of the Eye the Pride of Life and the Lust of the Flesh which is not of the Father but of the God of the World that abode not in the Truth such are spotted with the Spots of the World and are Proud Vain Lofty Scornful High Spots of the World and Spotted with the World's Spots and are void of the pure undefiled Religion before God the Father And take heed of Malice Hatred Envy Wrath Rage and Fury these are the Spots of the World who bear such Fruits contrary to the Spirit of Meekness Gentleness Kindness Tenderness Sobriety Love and Mercifulness which are the Fruits of the pure Spirit of God which leadeth to the pure undefiled Religion before God the Father which is To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep unspotted from the World this pure undefiled Religion keepeth in the Purity of Life and Conversation and this is above all and keeps from all the vain Religions in the World which pure and undefiled Religion it is the Duty of all true Christians to walk in by which they may be kept from the Spots of the World and this is the Religion that was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago in the Church of Christ and happy had all Christendom been if they had kept to this pure undefiled Religion to this day and then they would not have made so many Religions as they have done but to this pure undefiled Religion they must come again if ever they come to the true Religion The pure Religion and undefiled is the hest Religion for none can make a better than the pure undefiled Religion which was set up in the Church in the Apostles days above Sixteen Hundred Years ago unto which all that profess Christianity should be conformable even to this pure undefiled Religion which will keep them from the Spots of the World and then their Religion will not be of the World And this is the one pure undefiled Religion that all Christians should be of which is from one God the Creator of all So there is one God the Creator of all and one Lord Jesus christ by whom all things were made and created who is the one Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man christ Jesus there in one Body and one Spirit even as you are called to one Hope of your Calling and one God and Father of all who is above you all and in you all and through you all and there is one Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of and there is one Baptism and by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free must all drink into this one Spirit of Christ and so to keep the Unity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace for the Apostle saith If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 for Christ saith in his Prayer to his Father That they may be all one meaning the true Christians as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that they may be one ever as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one to wit the Believers and Followers of Christ John 17.21 22 23. Here you may see God and Christ are one in them so he Prayeth that his People may be one in whom they have Rest Life Peace and Salvation with God through Jesus Christ Amen Let your Conversation or Practice be without Covetousness c. Hebr. 13.5 Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Philip. 1.17 The 4th of the 2d Month 1685. G. F. To Friends at York DEar Friends Epist 400. To you is my Love in the Seed of Life that bruises the Head of Enmity and in this Seed you all have Life and Peace that is Everlasting And my Desires are That you may all dwell in the Love that can bear all things To keep the Word of Wisdont and of Patience And keep the Word of Patience which will never be worn out for the Word liveth and abideth and endureth for ever and over all Trials keeps for the Word was in the Beginning and all things are upheld by the Word of his Power in it abide And so live and walk in the Wisdom that is from above that is heavenly pure peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated And keep in the Lamb-like Nature for the Suffering Lamb must have the Victory And so the Man of God must not strive but be gentle and yet valiant for God's Truth and not to fell it for they that do go into Bondage and Captivity for the Truth maketh all God's People free and the peaceale Truth is a peaceable Habitation And so in it God Almighty preserve you and all the Lord's People every where that they may Glorifie the Lord God of all their Comforts Lives and Mercies Amen Kingston the 13th of the 10th Month 1685. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus
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
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
A COLLECTION OF Many Select and Christian EPISTLES Letters and Testimonies Written on sundry Occasions by that Ancient Eminent Faithful Friend and Minister OF CHRIST JESUS George Fox The Second Volume What thou seest write in a Book and send it unto the Seven Churches Rev. 1.11 For we write none other things unto you than what you have read and acknowledged and I trust you shall acknowledge even unto the End 2 Cor. 1.11 LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-street 1698. AN EPISTLE By way of PREFACE To all Truth 's Friends and Friendly Readers Greeting In the dear and tender Love of my Heavenly Father which by his dear Son and blessed Spirit he hath plentifully shed abroad in many Hearts in this glorious Gospel-Day Glory to his worthy Name and excellent Power for ever Dear Friends I Am concerned to recommend the serious reading and perusal of the ensuing Collection unto all who sincerely desire the Promotion of Christ's Kingdom and Prosperity of his Church and Sion in true Love Vnion and Order in and by Christ Jesus himself the Head and Foundation thereof And that none of you would think the perusal of these Epistles wearisom or tedious because the same Words and Things in many of them may seem frequently repeated there being numerous Evangelical Truths and variety of good and wholsom Matter as well as diversities of Episties containing much Christian Counsel to many various States and Conditions of enlightned and enlivened Souls travelling and breathing to God so that the frequent intermix'd Repetitions of the same necessary Truths may be the better allowed and born with in the Reading However the moderate and ingenious Reader will not be offended thereat It being a thing frequent in the Holy Scriptures to have the same Gospel-Truths often repeated which many dull and forgetful Persons have need to be often told of such Matters of so great Importance The Author's Epistles and Matters of most general Concern are here collected to avoid Prolixity and unnecessary Repetitions as much as could be The Simplicity and Plainness of the Author's Stile is not to be despised he being more in Life and Substance than in the Wisdom of Words or Eloquence of Speech And the Lord being pleased in his Day to make great Vse of him and to do great Things by him for his Name and Seed's sake of which there yet remains Clouds of Witnesses even to that Divine Power and hidden Wisdom of God in the Mystery of Christ which was with him and supported him and lifted up his Head thorow many great Fights of Afflictions and Trials I confess I have not read or heard all the Epistles in the ensuing Collection but many of them which I know to be very seasonable weighty and necessary and therefore have cause to believe so of the rest which I have not read But by our long and frequent Conversation Knowledge and Intimacy together with his living and revived Testimonies his godly Care and Zeal for Truth 's Honour and Prosperity I have deeply read and known the Author his unfeigned Love Innocency and Integrity in the blessed Living Truth whose Christian Care among many other things relating to the Churches of Christ the Union Good Order and Discipline thereof greatly was That no Offence in any thing might be given that the Ministry might not be blamed well-knowing what Trials and Proofs attended Christ's Ministers and Ministry in these latter Days in some degree as in the Primitive Christians Times namely that he with many others in his Day approved himself and themselves as the Ministers of Christ in much Patience in deep Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses and some in Stripes and cruel Beatings in Prisons in Tumults in Labours by Watchings and by Fastings by Purity by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right-hand and on the Left by Honour and Dishonour by evil Report and good Report as deceivers and yet true c. 2 Cor. 6. In which Proofs of God's Ministers this his Ancient Servant had a deep share and the true Root of the Matter was in him far beyond his Expressions And though many false Predictions Prophesies and cruel Threats were early breathed out by Persecators and envious Spirits against Him and Vs his Friends and Brethren whom he unfeignedly loved and against His and Our Holy Profession Way and Testimony as if in a very short time all would come to nought and be laid waste yet they have all been disappointed and proved false and his Christian Living Testimony and Work further manifest to be of God and not of Men nor of the Will of Man For Truth that 's strongest of all hath still prevailed and must prevail And though the Memory of this our deceased Brother and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ be still greatly Envied and be most grosly Defamed by some implacable Adversaries and hardned Apostates who could not obtain their evil Ends and destractive Designs against him in his Life-time yet his Memory is truly Precious to many Thousands who truly Fear God and Love his Truth who have a true Inward Sense That such a Divine Power and Providence attended him in his Innocent Christian Testimony Ministry Labours and Sufferings that the Devil and all persecuting Agents could never stop nor frustrate his Testimony or Service in turning many to Righteousness even from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto God In many of the ensuing Epistles he often mentions the Seed the Life the Power of God and the like whereby he intends no other than what the Holy Scriptures testifie of Christ which we know he truly loved and esteemed and was often conversant in reading of them and had an excellent Memory and spiritual Sence thereof given him of the Lord. By the pure holy Seed he meant and declared Christ the promised Seed wherein all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen And as Christ is the Word of God the Word of Life the Word of Faith he is that immortal and incorruptible Seed of which all true and spiritual Believers and Children of the Light are begotten to God and born again and which Seed or Word of Eternal Life abideth in him that is born of God and sinneth not because thereof 1 John 3. And as the Generation of God and Children of his Kingdom and of the Promise are called the good Seed and counted for the Seed being born of that Incorruptible Seed or Word of Life which endureth for ever 1 Peter 1.23 15. And being that blessed Seed and Holy Generation which was foretold Christ should see and for which the travel of his Soul was Isa 53. This our deceased Friend and Servant of Jesus Christ truly testified of him in all Respects both as come in the Flesh and in the Spirit both as Christ was and
is our only Mediator and Advocate and as he was and is God over all blessed for ever whom he so dearly loved and honoured that he often offered up his Life and deeply suffered for him and that in dear and constant Love to his Seed that a holy Generation might be raised strengthned and increased in the Earth among the Children of Men. And his knowledge and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ being after the Spirit in Life and Power did no ways imply any lessening of the Dignity or Glory of Christ nor any defect of Faith or Love to Christ as he came and suffered in the Flesh for Mankind as some Adversaries have injuriously misrepresented and aspersed him for he highly esteemed Christ's Sufferings Death Resurrection and Glory and powerfully testified of the Vertue Power blessed and spirtual Design Fruit and Effects thereof as revealed and witnessed by his Holy Spirit And as we have no cause to question but as with this innocent and good Man to live was Christ so to die was Gain in both which he glorified God Christ Jesus being our Spiritual Rock Foundation and Head he is truly precious to us and all true Believers in all States and Conditions both of his Humiliation Glory and Dominion his great Grace and Goodness appearing in those precious Ministerial Gifts given by him when he ascended up on high for his Ministry and Church And 't is very observable that though to express Christ's Lowly Condition and Appearance in the World He is sometimes in Holy Scripture termed the Seed His Name is also called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Upon whose Shoulders the Government is laid And of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end Isaiah 9. And 't is most suitable to Christ's low humble and suffering Condition to make use of such Instruments as are most like himself in Humility and Lowliness of Mind although they be but low and mean in the World's Eye and Esteem God is pleased to make choice of low mean and weak things and of Instruments contemptible in the Eyes of the high and lofty ones of this World to confound the Wisdom of the World according to 1 Cor 1. He chose poor Shepherds to divulge that great Evangelical Truth of Christ's Birth and certain Women to preach that Gospel-Truth of his Resurrection Luke 2. 24. And both from Angelical Testimony as well as from their sight of Christ himself Truth must not be rejected because of such Instruments which God in his Wisdom is pleased to employ in his Work nor the Day of small things despised From small Beginnings of good Matters great Things glorious Attainments and Perfections do spring Glory Honour and Dominion to our most Gracious God and to the Lamb on his Throne for ever and ever Now dear and well-beloved Friends all live in Love and Peace following the true Faith peaceable and good Example of the Faithful in Christ and the God of Love and Peace will be with you Your true Friend and Brother In CHRIST JESUS George Whitehead London 1698. A COLLECTION Of many Select Epistles to Friends OF THAT Ancient Eminent and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ GEORGE FOX A Testimony how the Lord sent G.F. forth at first in the Year 1643. WHEN the Lord first sent me forth in the Year 1643. The Year when the Lord first sent G.F. forth to declare his Truth I was sent as an Innocent Lamb and Young in Years amongst Men in the Nature of Wolves Dogs Bears Lions and Tigres into the World which the Devil had made like a Wilderness no right Way then found out of it And I was sent To Turn People from Darkness to the Light which Christ the Second Adam did Enlighten them withal that so they might see Christ their Way to God with the Spirit of God which he doth pour upon all Flesh that with it they might have an Understanding to know the Things of God and to know him and his Son Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life and so might worship and serve the Living God their Maker and Creator who takes Care for all who is Lord of all and with the Light and Spirit of God they might know the Scriptures which were given forth from the Spirit of God in the Saints and Holy Men and Women of God And when many began to be turned to the Light which is the Life in Christ and the Spirit of God which gave them an Understanding and had found the Path of the Just the Shining Light then did the Wolves Dogs Dragons Bears Lions Tigres Wild Beasts and Birds of Prey make a Roaring and a Screeching Noise against the Lambs Sheep Doves and Children of Christ and were ready to devour them and me and to tear us to pieces But the Lord's Arm and Power did preserve me though many times I was in Danger of my Life and very often cast into Dungeons and Prisons and haled before Magistrates But all things did work together for good And the more I was cast into outward Prisons the more People came out of their Spiritual and Inward Prison through the Preaching of the Gospel But the Priests and Professors were in such a great Rage and made the Rude and Profane People in such a Fury that I could hardly walk in the Streets or go in the High-ways but they were ready oft-times to do me a Mischief But Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and in the Earth did so restrain and limit them with his Power that my Life was preserved though many times I was near killed Oh! the Burdens and Travels that I went under Often my Life prest down under the Spirits of Professors and Teachers without Life and the Profane And besides the Troubles afterwards with Backsliders Apostates and false Brethren which were like so many Judas's in betraying the Truth and God's Faithful and Chosen Seed and causing the Way of Truth to be evil spoken of But the Lord blasted wasted and confounded them so that none did stand long for the Lord did either destroy them or bring them to nought and his Truth did flourish and his People in it to the Praise of God who is the Revenger of his Chosen G. F. Concerning the first Spreading of the Truth and how that many were Imprisoned c. AND the Truth sprang up first to us as to be a People to the Lord in Leicestershire in 1644. and in Warwickshire in 1645. and in Nottinghamshire in 1646. and in Darbyshire in 1647. and in the adjacent Countries in 1648. 1649. and 1650. and in Yorkshire in 1651. and in Lancashire and Westmorland in 1652. and in Cumberland and Bishoprick and Northumberland in 1653. and in London and most parts of the Nation of England and Scotland and Ireland in 1654. c. And in 1655. many went beyond Seas where Truth also sprang up And in 1656. Truth brake forth in America and many other places And
the Mens and Womens Meetings and all the Heirs of the Power the Gospel both Men and Women are to take their possessions of the Inheritance of the Power of God which is over the Devil So in it nothing can get betwixt them and the Lord God And at the Settling of the Mens-Meetings in the Gospel the Power of God A Mens-Meeting of the Primitive Christians I let them see how they had a Mens-Meeting in the first Conversion amongst the Primitive Christians of such as were faithful Men and full of the Holy Ghost and these were to see in the Lords Power and Wisdom that nothing was lacking For since the Christians denied the Jews Temple 1650 Store-House and Priests where the Widows Strangers and Fatherless were relieved they set up a Mens-Meeting in the Power of God and in the Holy Ghost and they had Deaconnesses also to see that Widows Fatherless and Strangers were relieved and that nothing was wanting among them Now tho' this Practice hath been lost since the Apostles Days since Men have gone from the Power of God and the Holy Ghost that the Apostles were in and therefore are the Streets and Country so full of Widows Strangers and Beggars From whence Wants come and so full of Wants who want the Sense of the good Spirit and Power to open their Hearts as the Apostles and Primitive Christians were in But the Everlasting Gospel being preached again by the same Holy Ghost as the Apostles were in and received from Heaven as they received it and many Thousands having received this Gospel now again Mens-Meetings are set up as were in the Days of the Apostles in the Power of God and in the Holy Ghost And Womens-Meetings as Mothers and that they may be Teachers of good Things and so to see that nothing be lacking amongst them and so to do Good unto all but especially to the Houshold of Faith And now the Power of God is the Authority of both our Mens and Womens-Meetings and all our other Meetings which Power of God was before the Apostasie was from the Apostles and before the Fall and the Devil was and is over all and all are to take their Possessions of it and in it to do God's Service and Business So these Meetings are for the Converted and Elect before the World began and such as are Heirs of the Power and do possess it and what they do and act in the Spirit and Power of God they do it in that which shall never have an End to the Glory of God for ever Amen! G. F. UPon the Fourth Day of the First Month 1650 I felt the Power of the Lord to spread over all the World in Praise Praise Honour and Glory be to the Lord of Heaven and Earth Lord of Peace Lord of Joy Thy Countenance maketh my Heart glad Lord of Glory Lord of Mercy Lord of Strength Lord of Life and Power over Death and Lord of Lords and King of Kings In the World there are Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things To whom be all Glory who is Worthy The Earth maketh Lords In the World are many Lords and many Gods and the Earth maketh Lords coveting after Riches and oppressing the Creatures and so the Covetous Mind getting to it self Lords it above others This Nature of Lordly Pride is Head until subdued by the Power of God For every one in that State doth strive to be above another few will strive to be the lowest O that every one would strive to put down in themselves Mastery and Honour that the Lord of Heaven and Earth might be exalted G. F. Friends FOrsake the Company of wild People and chuse the Company of sober Men Epist 1. and that will be Creditable in the End And chusing the Company of wild and light People To shun ill Company which delight in vain Fashions and ill Courses is dangerous and of a bad Report among sober People for the Eyes of such will be upon you And if they see ye are wild ye will come under their Censure Therefore love Gravity and Soberness and Wisdom that doth preserve G. F. Friends THE Children of the Devil Epist 2. how expert are they in Evil in all Deceit in his Kingdom and yet they may speak of the things of God but no Vulturous Eye nor Venemous Beast ever trod in the Steps of the Just though they may talk of the VVay For who have their Conversation in this World and only mind the Things of this World in vain do they profess Godliness But the Children of God who are conceived and begotten of him are not of this World neither do they mind only the Things of this World but the Things which are Eternal But the Children of this World do mostly mind the External Things The World's Love and their Love is in them and the other live by Faith the one is sanctified by the Word the other painted with the Words The Children of God are pure in Heart not looking only at the Outside The Favour of the World and Friendship thereof is Enmity to God Man may soon be stained with it O love the Stranger and be as Strangers in the World and to the World For they that followed Christ in his Cross they were Strangers in the World and VVonders to the World and condemned by the World and the World knew him not neither doth it them that follow him now So marvel not if the World hate you for the World lieth in hatred and wickedness Who love this World are Enemies to Christ and who love the Lord Jesus Christ and have him for their Lord over them they are Redeemed out of the World The World would have a Christ but not to rule over them the Nature of the World is above Christ in Man until Christ hath subdued that Nature in Man While the Nature of the World doth rule in Man Oh the deaf Ears and blind Eyes and the Understandings that are all shut up amongst them with which they Judge But who love the Lord Jesus Christ do not mind the World's Judgment nor are troubled at it but consider all our Brethren who have gone before us When ye think ye are past all Crosses when the Trial doth come ye will find a Cross to that Will which doth meddle with the things of God presumptuously that Man may live in Joy but the Spirit is in Bondage Fleshly Boastings Rejoyce not in the Flesh but in the Spirit which crucifieth all fleshly Boastings if that Will be fed then Carelesness cometh up and they fall into Flatness from the Spirit and are mindless of the Lord God such are soon up and down The Serpent tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden Fruit and she took and gave to her Husband and so they fell under the Serpent's Power and the Creatures out of the Power
of God which would have kept them in Dominion And so Adam and Eve and the Serpent all went out of Truth And Eve eating of the Tree of Knowledge she had Knowledge and Wisdom after the Fall but not in the Dominion in the Power of God But the Seed Christ which was in the Beginning bruiseth this Serpent's Head and he is the Wisdom of God G. F. Friends THere is an Eye that hath looked to see the good Seed Epist 3. that was sown and queried from whence came these Tares A little Note of G. F. to Friends at first The Answer was and is The wicked One hath sown them Now read the Tares and what is the Effect of them and their Work And what they do and have done How they hang amongst the Wheat But now is the time of Harvest that both Wheat and Tares are seen and each distinguished the one from the other G. F. All Friends MInd that which is pure in you to guide you to God out of Babylon Epist 4. out of Confusion there all the World is About 1651. there is the Seat of the Beast there are the false Prophets and Deceivers as well within as without One Voice of Deceit knows not another nor none of them the Voice of the Living God But Dear Friends mind the Light of God in your Consciences which will shew you all Deceit dwelling in it guides out of the many things into one Spirit which cannot lye nor deceive They that are guided by it are one who have been made to drink into one Spirit and the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace All Jarrings all Schisms all Rents are out of the Spirit for God hath tempered the Body together that there should be no Schism in the Body but all worship him with one Consent And as the Power and Life of Truth is made manifest watch in the Discerning one over another And beware of discouraging any in the Work of God The Labourers are few The Labourers are few that are faithful for God Take heed of hurting the Gift which God hath given to profit withal whereby ye have received Life through Death and a Measure of Peace by the Destruction of Evil. Pray that Peace may be multiplied and the Ministration of Life to the raising of the Dead that the Seed of the Woman may bruise the Serpent's Head discover all Deceit and rend all Vails and Coverings that the Pure may come to Life which Deceit hath trampled upon And all take heed to your Spirits that which is hasty discerns not the Good Seed Take heed of being corrupted by Flatteries they that know their God shall be strong But take heed of labouring to turn the Just aside for a thing of nought but know the Precious from the Vile the Clean from the Unclean These shall be as my Mouth saith the Lord for his VVork is great and his Gifts divers And therefore all mind your Gift mind your Measure mind your Calling and your VVork Some speak to the Conscience some plough and break the Clods some weed out and some sow some wait that Fowls devour not the Seed But wait all for the Gathering of the Simple-hearted ones for They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine for ever Mind the Light that all may be refreshed one in another and all in one And the God of Power and Love keep all Friends in Power in Love that there be no Surmisings but pure Refreshings in the unlimited Love of God which makes one another known in the Conscience to read one another's Hearts Being comprehended into this Love Oneness it is Inseparable and all are here one And keep in the Oneness and note them that cause Dissension contrary to the Gospel ye have received that one pure Faith may be held in all to guide and preserve all in the Vnity of the Spirit and Bond of Peace all one Family of Love Children of one Father and of the Houshold of God G. F. DEar Father and Mother in the Flesh Epist 5. but not of that Birth which speaks to you For like to that which doth beget is that which is begotten Praises Praises be given to my Heavenly Father who hath begotten me again by the Immortal Word To that of God in you both I speak and do beseech you both for the Lord's sake to Return within and wait to hear the Voice of the Lord there and waiting there and keeping close to the Lord a Discerning will grow that ye may distinguish the Voice of the Stranger when ye hear it Oh! be faithful be faithful to the Lord in that ye know for in the Buckstider the Lord hath no pleasure neither shall their Damnation slumber Oh! be Faithful Look not back nor be too forward further than ye have attained for ye have no Time but this present Time Therefore prize your Time for your Soul's sake And so grow up in that which is Pure and keep to the Oneness then shall my Joy be full So Fare ye well And the Lord God of Power keep you in his Power To him be Praises for evermore G. F. Friends NO one is Justified Epist 6. breaking the Commands of Christ no one is Justified Who they are that are not Justified living in Iniquity and no one is Justified in professing only Christ's Words and the Prophets and the Apostles Words and living out of their Lives And no one is Justified living in the first Birth and Nature and false Faith and Hope which doth not purifie as God is pure No Man is Justified not believing in the Light as Christ commands but with the Light is condemned for the Light is the Condemnation of all them that walk contrary to it Therefore the Power of God mind No Man is Justified acting contrary to that Spirit which doth convince them G. F. To Friends at Swarthmoore Friends LOve that which Judgeth the Carnal Mind Epist 7. and Crosseth it which maketh an Entrance to God and keepeth you open and then Refreshment will come into your Souls from the Lord. Dwell in the Power and know the Power of Words in one another and take heed of Deceit Farewell And the God of Love and Power keep you to himself G. F. Dear Friends THose that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Epist 8. God is Righteous God is Pure Holy and Just God is Clean. He that is Godly and Holy suffereth by the Ungodly and Unrighteous The Just suffereth by the Unjust and Unclean and Unjust and Filthy And so the Just suffereth by the Vnjust and he that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit G. F. Friends THat which is set up by the Sword is held up by the Sword Epist 9. and that which is set up by Spiritual Weapons About 1652. is held up by Spiritual Weapons and not by
worships him must worship him in Spirit and Truth The Beastly Nature in Man and Woman holdeth up the Beast and his Customs and Worships and the Plagues of God are to be poured upon the Beast and all them that worship the Beast and false Prophet And they that abide in the Truth worship not the Beast Inwardly nor Outwardly The Worship of the Beast denied but deny all the Beast's Worships and false Prophets and worship God in Spirit and Truth And they which do not abide in the Truth hold up the Beast's Worship and the false Prophets and they that do so shall have their Portion together Plagues will be poured upon such And ye that know God dwell in the Truth and tread upon the Deceit for God will be Glorified alone To whom be Glory and Honour for ever Amen G. F. TO all my Dear Brethren Epist 20. whom the God of Power hath enlightned with his Eternal Light and discovered unto you his Way of Truth and brought you out of the dark ways wherein ye have walked which dark ways all the World walks in But where the pure Light of God is witnessed it guides to himself The Light is but one which leads out of Darkness and the dark World into the World which is without End Therefore all Friends and Brethren in the Eternal Truth of GOd walk in it up to God and be not Sayers only nor Backsliders for the Backslider is a Sayer and not a Doer and there ariseth Ambition Pride and Presumption out of that Nature But dwell in the pure Light which God hath made manifest to you in your Understanding and turn your Minds to him and walk as Children of the Light The Backslider a Sayer and of the Day and be not Drunken in any thing nor run not to Extremes in any thing but be Moderate and Patient Wait for the Presence of the Great God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and be not so Childish as to be tossed with Mens Words without Life And run not out after others Liberties which they have got into their Notions for thou that dost so wilt not abide in the Truth and so thou may'st come to be shaken and shake others who look at Words But wait every one in particular in the Measure that God hath given you upon God in the Fear of God then your Hearts will be kept clean and this is the sure Way And wait all to have the Son made manifest in you and the Son alone to set you free in your selves in particular The Son makes free and all that are made free by the Son are one But the first Nature that would have Liberty must go into Captivity which they that live in their Carnal Reasoning seek Freedom for But here is Man deceived in his first Birth But ye all in whom the Immortal Seed is brought to Light who are raised up to sit in heavenly Places with Christ Jesus and are become Children of the Day walk as Children of the Day and as Children of the Light and Let your Light so shine before Men that they may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven All loving the Light ye love the one thing which gathers your Hearts together to the Fountain of Light and Life and walking in it ye have Unity one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth you from all Sin The Knowledge of the Letter The Knowledge of the Letter which you formerly got into your Notions and Comprehensions the dark Mind gave dark Meanings to it and so kept you in the Broad Way but now wait all to have the same Spirit manifested in your Understandings which was in them which gave forth the Scriptures who were come out of the Broad Way Holy Men of God who had escaped the Pollutions of the World And if every particular of you know not a Principle within which is of God to guide you to wait upon God ye are still in your own Knowledge which is bruitish and sensual But waiting all upon God in that which is of God ye are kept open to receive the Teachings of God And the pure Wisdom and knowledge is that True Wisdom and Knowledge which comes from above which is to know God and Jesus Christ the Way which is hidden from the World and to walk out of your own Ways and out of your own Thoughts And dwelling in that which is pure up to God it commands your own Reason to keep silent and to cast your own Thoughts out and dwelling in that which is pure it discovereth all this So dwelling in the Spirit it keepeth all your Hearts to God To whom be all Praise Honour and Glory for ever From Judge Fell 's in Lancastire ' the 31st of the 11th Month 1652. G. F. To Friends at Kendal TO that of God in you I do speak Epist 21. that ye may watch over the Weak and see how the Plants of the Lord do grow And walk in the Joy and Love of the Truth Watch over the Weak serving God with Joyfulness of Heart and to you this is the Word of the Lord. And keep all that is bad down and out with the Light which condemns all Ungodliness so keep all that out which is for Condemnation that ye may all be preserved clean and pure that out of Condemnation ye may be kept and walk in the living Light So God Almighty be with you all And I charge you to read this among the Brethren and these Words mind with the Light that no Loosness be amongst you but own and be obedient to the Commands of the Lord that ye may stand out of and above all the contrary Commands of Man And so Fare-well G. F. OH Friends Epist 22. keep close to the Light in you and do not look forth at Words that proceed from a vain and light Mind but at the Power of Words The Power of Words For the Words of God that proceed from him are Powerful and Mighty in Operation to the throwing down of all the strong Holds of the man of Sin The Lord is coming in Power to gather his Chosen ones to himself and to Judge and Condemn the wicked One for evermore He will plague the Beast and burn the Whore and plague and torment the Disobedient and Rebellious and Backsliders very sore Therefore ye that know the Voice of the Lord hearken to it and see how ye stand in his Fear and how ye are brought into the Obedience of the Truth And take heed of looking forth at Man but keep close to the Light in you and see that your Minds be kept close to that and guided by that and being guided by that it will keep you clear and pure to receive the Teaching of the Lord. Have Salt in your selves and let your Words be few and seasoned Words few and savoury that they may be savoury And watch over one another in Love and walk in
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
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
one shall see the Lord. And let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel To Friends in Cumberland the Holy Power of God which is the Gospel of Christ the Holy One who suffered by the Vnholy Ones And keep in the Lowly Mind and the Humility of Christ that the Fruits of your good Conversation and Translation and Regeneration in your Lives may appear The Fruits of a good Conversation as a People redeemed from the Pleasures of the Flesh and the Spirit of the World and the beggarly Lusts and that ye may obtain the Promise of the Eternal God and the Power of the Truth through the Word in the Heart the hidden Man that ye may obtain Victory over that which wars against your Souls through which ye may be arrayed and adorned and by that ye may be preserved and kept from that which is not of the Father the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life in the Simplicity and Innocency of Christ Jesus over all the Subtilty and feigned Deceit through which ye may esteem nothing in Comparison of that which is of God and him above all through Christ the Light the Truth the Power of God manifested in you False Liberty And keep out of all false Liberties and that which would lead you out of the Fear of God and in that ye will be preserved in the Sense of the Power and the Truth of God in your own Hearts In that every one watch through which Knowledge and Virtue is ministred unto you and Peace from the God of Virtue and Peace And keep out of all that which tends to Strife and Whisperings and Backbitings and Tattlings which draws from the Witness Watch and Fear of God within which leavens into the Fleshly Lusts and Nature and then that Judges and yet is in the same thing for which he Judges others which Nature and Judgment all is for Judgment and Condemnation So be Wise and keep your First Love break not Wedlock with the Lord Jesus Christ keep your first Habitation keep your Garments clean for such as so do they are blessed that ye may shine as Lights to the World Be Examples in Virtue and be Examples in Virtue Righteousness and Holiness walking in the Truth in all Patience and Quietness looking at the Lord your Strength and Christ Jesus the Conqueror and beyond all the Hills and Mountains that ye may be a good Savour to the Lord having Salt in your selves Let your Lamps be burning and your Lights shining and then ye will see over all the Unsavouriness that is in Adam's Family in the Fall who live in Christ the Power of God that never fell and keep Marriage with him the Holy One the Just One the Light the Truth and Power of God who makes an End of all Vnholiness And so walk in the Righteousness that your Feet may be kept in the Way of Peace And keep both your Tongues and Hands and Bodies and Lips and Minds and Words out of all that which would defile and corrupt you and bring you under the Indignation and Wrath of God and his Hand to be turned against you So keep in the Fear of God and keep in his Truth which ye at first received for Truth never changes And walk in the Spirit and then the Lusts of the Flesh will not be fulfilled and then Strife is kept out that which would be high and get up through which comes Strife and Wars So keep your Fellowship in the Spirit in which is the Unity and Bond of Peace Fruits of the Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit will appear Righteousness Holiness Goodness Peace Soberness and Gentleness Chastity and Virtue through which ye may have Fruit to feed the Hungry and to relieve the Sick and Poor For the Unfruitful walks not in the Spirit and so bears not Fruit and so the Curse comes and Briars and Misery So eye the Lord God in all things in the Spirit who is a Spirit in that ye may distinguish his things and the things that are of your selves and what is of Men and what is of God and what to keep alive and what must dye So be Obedient to the Spirit and to the good Power of God that hath quickened you and live in it that ye may dye no more for that gives you Life For they that are made alive and come to dye again and to be Twice Dead Twice Dead plucked up c. and then come to be plucked up by the Roots such lye dead upon the Earth and corrupt it So let not the World let not things visible draw your Minds away from the Lord. Do not mind the Body more than the Lord do not forsake the Lord but be of good Faith in the Truth of God and live in it then ye live in Christ Jesus who is your Way who is your Teacher who is your Prophet who is your Priest who is the Bishop of your Immortal Souls Christ that never fell nor never changed nor never will change And here ye come into the Seed the Top-stone The Seed the Top-stone that is atop of the World set and before the World was who will remain when the World is gone who was full of Grace and Truth and Virtue and Life by whom Grace comes that brings Salvation who is every one of your Teacher in your selves So know Christ the Head and Salvation in which there is Peace and no Condemnation for the Condemnation is upon them that are out of the Light And so live in Vnity in the Light before Darkness and Enmity was in which ye have Peace and Love to God to Christ and to one another G. F. An Epistle to the Travellers in the Lord's Way with a Testimony against the False Prophets and them that hold them up FRriends Epist 38. All are to receive your Spiritual Bread and Water from the Father of Life by which ye may be strengthened and watered from the Father of Life in your passing and travelling on in your Spiritual Journey heartily and comfortably that ye may come to your heavenly Rest The Spiritual Travel being come and coming out of the great City of Sodom towards the City of heavenly Jerusalem where ye shall abide Eternally for ever Reason not with Flesh and Blood that shall never enter take not Counsel of that which draws thee nearer to Carnal things and draws thee to Consult with Carnal Reason Carnal Reasoning and so draws thy Eye and Mind to Visible things and so brings thee to wander from going on thy Journey and if thou followest that thou goest to Death Hell and Destruction and to the Pit and the Snare and that gets Dominion over thee and comes to rule over thee which ought not But every one wait in the pure Spirit to guide you to God then ye shall see the Promise of God fulfilled in you and the Springs of Life opened to you and Refreshment
daily coming in from the Lord and then ye will come to Walk with the Lord forsaking all Father Mother A forsaking all Wife and Children Lands Livings and all Here is Joining to the Lord as one Spirit and he that doth not forsake all is not worthy of him All who are in the first Birth and all who reason with Flesh and Blood stand here and are for Persecuting them who are born of the Spirit that are passing out of this City towards the City whose Foundation and Builder is God For in that City the Righteous Ones are slain by them who are of Cain's Generation All ye who are got up into his steps professing Christ and to be Ministers of Christ who stand in the Envy and have the Chiefest place in the Assemblies and are called of Men Master which Christ forbids Lye down all for shame who are in Pride and Oppression Professors Pride and Oppression and in the steps and places of the Pharisees and have got a Form of the Words which the Apostles said and which Christ said and have got it in Three or Four Languages the Lord hath discovered you now the Lord God Almighty hath discovered you by his Prophets and Servants All Honour and Glory and Thanks be to him for ever who now is come to rule alone in his Saints Rejoyce O all ye Prophets and Righteous ones The Beast which made War with the Lamb and the Saints the Lamb hath got the Victory over the Beast and the Ten Horns which pushed at him Powerful Father and Eternal God to thee alone be all Glory Honour and Thanks for ever Now all ye Teachers The World's Teachers and Hearers described and Hearers that hold you up I witness against you that ye may be Witnesses against your selves and that ye may witness your selves to be in Cain's Generation and in the Generation of the false Prophets and Anti-Christs and Seducers who have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power and in the Generation of them that ever slew the righteous Seed as it will appear Now All People take notice who are they that bear Rule by their Means Who are the Hirelings now that the Scriptures speak of Who seek for their Gain from their Quarters now Who feed themselves with the Fat now Who seek for the Fleece and cloath themselves with the Wooll now and so make a Prey of the People Where are the Hirelings now The Priests preach for Hire and the Prophets prophesie for Money Who sues Men at the Law now which Christ spake against which the Apostle speaks against who was a Minister of the living Truth which testifies against all such Practices Who goes in the Way of Balaam now for Gifts and Rewards Where are the Covetous Teachers now Who are called of Men Master now Who love the Chiefest Places of the Assemblies now Who goes in Long Robes now Who stand praying in the Synagogues now and speak a Divination of their own Brain which the Wo was pronounced against by Christ Jesus the Substance of all the Prophecies who cried Wo against all such Pharisees and false Prophets Who hale out of the Synagogues now Who stone and stock prison and beat now and hale before Magistrates This was the Jews Practice and Religion ye may say the Jews did so The Prophets of God they testified against these things and the Apostles they testified against all these Practices And Jesus Christ testified against all the evil Works of the World and all these Practices were held up in Cain's Generation So be ye Witnesses that ye are here in the Generation of the false Prophets False Prophets Generation and in the Chair of them that spake a Divination of their own Brain that are called of Men Masters love the Chiefest places in the Assemblies lay heavy burthens upon the people of them that seek their Gain from their Quarters and of them that go in the Way of Balaam Cain's Sacrifice and in the Generation of Cain Where any Prophet comes to Cry against any of you ye seek to Imprison him or to destroy him which Abel did not as ye may read but Cain who was the first Birth whose Sacrifice God had no respect to no more hath God to your Customary Will-worships Praying and Prayers than to Cain's Cain's Generation For Cain's Generation was and is the same that ever it was and is not of the Generation of the Righteous And except ye all be born again ye cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God So here be ye Witnesses against your selves that ye are in the Generation of Cain which ever slew the Righteous Seed and in the Generation of all the false Prophets Put it not far from you as they did which put Christ to Death If thou hadst lived at that day thou may'st say thou would'st not have put Christ to Death But thou shalt see the same Nature in thee now as was then For now is the Son of God come and ye are of the same Generation that they were seeking to put him to Death where he is manifest But the Eternal Glorious God of Heaven and Earth the same as ever he was is manifesting himself in his Sons and Daughters who are called out of that Generation and Worship For he said Come out from among them be ye separate touch no Vnclean thing Be ye Separate and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters and this we witness and this is fulfilled The Generation of the Wicked we know and the Generation of the Faithful we know here is a Separation between the Precious and the Vile between the Holy and the Profane So all People weigh and see in what Generation ye are The Generation of the Righteous shall shine The Generation of the Righteous and Wicked distinguished the Generation of the Wicked are for the Fire prepared and to be turned into Hell Ye are the Stubble ye that are Proud are for the Fire ye that are Wicked ye are Chaff that the Wind drives to and fro ye that are Scorners are turned from God ye that are Heathenish know not God and all that are Heathen know not God the Lord will render Vengeance in Flames of Fire upon you The mighty Day of the Lord is coming that shall burn as an Oven The Fire is kindling in the Earth which shall burn up all Root and Branch Head and Tail the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it The Lord God of Power will reign O happy Day Praises Praises Praise ye the Lord ye Righteous Ones sing Praises to the Lord God Almighty for ever All ye Liars and Dissemblers must never inherit the Holy City in that State And all ye Liars and Dissemblers state which commit Sin and live in Sin know not God and who are disobedient and hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness the Wrath of God abides upon you All ye that work Iniquiquity and live and die in that
Sacrifice who is the End of the Levitical Priesthood he is the End of all outward Temples who is the Substance of the Prophets for they all witnessed of him He is Ascended above all Principalities and Powers Now to all Dear Ones the same Seed which is Christ the same Spirit is now manifest as ever was the same World is now as ever was the same Temptations and the same Devil and the same vain Worship of the World twining into another Form and Colour And Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life the Door that all must pass through and he it is that opens it the same Door that ever was the same Christ yesterday to day and for ever And all who follow Christ the Seed and are of his Generation and are brought out of Egypt the House of Darkness and from under the Law the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit as the Apostle saith which we do witness And the Seed's Generation hath passed thro' the Wilderness Temptations in the Wilderness where they have been tempted to Lust after the Creature Ye that have been in the Wilderness can witness this with me and the same Temptations even to Despair and to make themselves away The Devil before he would go out of his Kingdom he would destroy all But look at the Captain Jesus Christ who hath passed before who was tempted the Captain of our Salvation with the same Temptations to worship the Devil and that if thou wouldest worship the Devil thou shouldest have the Glory of the World if not be called a Devil as Christ was The Glory of the World and be called a Mad-man as he was and that none followed him but a Cursed People as they said And they that worship the Devil gave those Titles to him And thou shalt lose thy good Name and be a Laughing-stock to them that worship the Devil and as a Derision among them and a Mark for every one of them to shoot at and the Drunkards to make Songs of This is the Portion of them who deny the Worship of the World and the Glory and the Favour and the evil Fashions thereof and cannot Fashion themselves to it who are tempted to all these things But it is no Sin to be tempted but standing in the Power of the Almighty God ye will be enabled to stand against and above all the Wiles of Satan So dwell in the Power of Almighty God which carries through the Wilderness and through Temptations to the End and gets the Victory over all the Carnal Ordinances and Commands and Traditions of Men and he that overcomes ascends above them all And he that overcomes shall sit down with Christ in his Throne So every one must witness Christ born in them passing through Death to him through the World through the Law through Temptations through the Wilderness and out of the World and the Son of God ye will witness to arise who doth overcome who was born of God And the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ the same Spirit raiseth you up and quickeneth your Mortal Bodies and he that hath not the same is none of his So Fellowship with Christ in his Sufferings Examin your selves and see if ye have Fellowship with Christ in his Sufferings and be brought to be Conformable to him in his Death and to have Fellowship with him in his Temptations and Reproaches and Buffetings and Scornings and the Contradiction of Sinners and to be spit upon as he was and he that hath Fellowship with him in his Sufferings shall have Fellowship with him in his Glory And he that doth Confess him in this dark World him will he Confess before his Father and his Angels and he that doth deny him in this World him he will deny before his Father and his Angels in the World to come Now to all you who are Convinced and have your Understandings Enlightned and the Worship of the World doth appear to you to be Contrary to the Worship of God and Christ in Spirit and all the Prophets and Apostles who Worshipped the Living God in Newness of Life Lust not after the Creature in the Second Birth Beware ye enter not into the Temptation to lust after the Creature and give not way to the Lazy Dreaming Mind for it enters into the Temptations So there thou wilt be polluted with the Pollutions of the World then thou wilt be tempted to Despair and the Devil there gets Power upon thee if thou enter into Temptations and follow thy Imaginations in going from the Light of Christ within thee And then thou judgest with evil Thoughts and he will come with his Instruments his evil Angels to tempt thee from God's Worship to the false Worship Temptations to the false Worship or else thou wilt lose thy Credit or good Name or thy Place or thy Authority where thou art except thou wilt bow to him And every one will stare at thee and thou wilt be gazed at and wondered at So if thy Mind go from the Light and out of the Fear of the Lord then thou wilt Consult with Flesh and Blood which must never enter into the Kingdom of God and that Carnal Reason must never enter And then thou wilt take Counsel of the Harlot and so the Eye of thy Mind will be turned out from God and so thou goest under the Power of the Prince of the Air which rules and reigns in the Children of Disobedience and so under the Dominion of Satan And then though thou hast the Praise of the World and the Glory of the World yet disobeying that which should have led thee into the Kingdom of God and from under the Dominion of Satan thy latter End will be worse than thy Beginning The World's Honour And in the World there thou may'st have thy Honour and the fleshly Man is nourished and thy Glory and Renown may grow again among the Fleshly ones who are gone out from God and have disobeyed the Light in them which should have led them from under the Dominion of Satan under whose Dominion they are now up to God where there is Joy Eternal where there are Riches and Glory Eternal and where there is Comfort Eternal whose Kingdom is for ever whose Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion But thou who forsakest the right Way goest into Eternal Destruction Wo Wo is to thee For the love of the World is an Enemy to God and he that loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him And thou who settest thy Hand to the Plough and lookest back art not fit for the Kingdom of God And all who can Witness the Second Birth and are born again The Second Birth know the Promises of God in and to the Seed are Yea and Amen and ye coming out of that which was in Time ye come up to God who was before Time was This is a Mystery
he that can receive it let him and he that hath an Ear to hear it let him hear In Time and before Time what the Spirit saith Abel was the Second Birth he was no Murderer nor no Sinner for God called him And God saw no Iniquity in Jacob but Esau the first is hated and not perfect And except ye be born again ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And he that is born of God sins not because the Seed of God remains in him neither can he sin 1 John 3.9 because he is born of God And he that is born of God overcomes the World he that is born of God is not of this World And he that is born of God testifies against all the Works of the World and the Wickedness of it and he that is born of God doth not commit Sin He that commits Sin is of the Devil and hath not seen God at any time Hereby are the Children of God made manifest from the Children of the Devil for he that sins is of the Devil and knows not God For this Purpose was the Son of God made manifest to destroy the Works of the Devil and he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous And they that were of the Second Birth were taught of God Born of God and needed no Man to teach them and were come into the Everlasting Covenant And those are the Second Birth who are born again of the Immortal Seed by the Will of God and not by the Will of Man And as many as received Christ he gave Power to them to become the Sons of God which are not born by the Will of Man but by the Will of God John 3.5 not by Water only but by Water and the Spirit G. F. TO all Friends who are in the Vnity which is in the Light Walk in the Light Epist 46. It is one Light that doth Convince you all and one Christ that doth call all to Repentance up to himself the one Head Concerning the Vnity which is in the Light which is Christ The wise Man's Eye is his Head who changeth the Mind and calleth from above to that which lies below it is he alone that gives Faith and all who are in this Faith are one It is one Power that raiseth up the Seed and your Faith being out of Words in the Power ye are all one and that Seed is one and ye are all one if ye he Ten Thousand which Seed is one which is Christ and he is the Master which is one and all the Brethren who are in the Spirit are one Ye have all one Eye ehich is the Light one Fire which Consumes all which the Light discovers to be evil and one Spirit which baptises all into the one Body where there is no Confusion but Pureness and Oneness Therefore all Friendds mind the Oneness and that which keeps you in the Oneness and Vnity it is that which keeps you out of the World and this one Light leads you out of Darkness into the Everlasting Day where ye see the Church of God But living in the Darkness and following that Mind it leads into the World's Assemblies who have the Letter of the Saints Words but live out of the Life smiting at one another fighting for the Husks But minding the Light within it leads you into the Assemblies of the Righteous who are in the Life The Kernel is to be found within The Kernel and the Husk distinguished the Husk is without which the Swine feed upon but the Pearl is hid from them and the Swine and the Dogs would devore them in whom the Pearl is found They are Outsides who feed upon Outsides God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth dwells not in Temples made with Hands Acts 17.24 and hath made all Nations of Men that dwell upon the Face of the Earth of one Blood and hath appointed the Times and Seasons and hath given to every one a Measure according to their Ability God hath given Ability to every one according to their Measure that are Faithful to it and here is the Righteousness of God received and the Wrath of God revealed upon the Children of Disobedience The Grace of God hath appeared unto all which taught the Saints to deny Ungodliness and teacheth us which the World turns into Wantonness and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and yet tempts God and calls for Grace These are they that set up Teachers without And Christ saith He is the Light of the World and hath enlightned every one that cometh into the World and he that loves the Light brings his Deeds to the Light to him there is no occasion of stumbling and this Teaching guides to God the Father of Light And the other he hates the Light because the Light will reprove him here he knows his Deeds are evil by the Light And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light And here thou must become silent The Sight of Sin Oh Flesh that temptest God to give thee a Sight of thy Sins for Christ hath enlightned thee and given thee a Sight of thy Sins which shall be thy Condemnation hating it For thou that hatest it hast it And it is Thou that puttest the Letter for the Light which was given from the Light from them that walked in the Light but thou hating the Light given thee thou knowest not the Conditions of them that had the Light but puttest Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness and so Wo rests upon thee It is Thou that puttest Evil for Good and the Wo rests upon thee And it is Thou that art covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord And it is Thou that stand'st not in the Counsel of the Lord but followest thy own Imaginations that art turned out from God and so the Wo rests upon thee And thy Kingdom and Crown is Pride and Wo is to the King of Pride And Thou art the Wicked that forgettest God which must be turned into Hell and livest in Perversness and art a Child of Disobedience who disobeyest the Light and so the Wrath of God rests upon thee But who love the Light and walk in the Light Jesus Christ is their King whose Gospel is preached to every Creature For Death having passed over all Men all in the first Nature are Children of Wrath and all in the Second are Children of God The Seed is sown upon all sorts of Ground The Seed and its fourfold Ground upon the High-Way-Ground Thorny and Stony Ground and Good Ground And Christ hath given to every one a Measure and Ability according to his Measure he that improves not his Measure he hath the Eye and seeth not and Ear and heareth not and Heart and doth not understand
34.35 Mich. 3. And now are such seen and known which our Lord Jesus Christ cried Wo against who stand praying in the Synagogues Mart. 23. having the chiefest Seats in the Assemblies called of Men Masters which devour Widows Houses And now are such Deceives seen and known Deceivers that by their Lies and Lightness have caused the people to err which speak a Divination of their own Brain and use their Tongues and say The Lord sent them when he never sent them And now are th Mockers and Scorners come which the Scriptures speak of which mock Scoffers stone and persecute the Children of the Light as they pass up and down the Streets and many have been almost murdered in the High-ways and Steeple-houses by them And now is the Scripture fulfilled which saith The Beast and Dragon That the Beast and the Dragon shall make War against the Lamb and the Saints for such are manifest now who are as natural brute Beasts what they know they know naturally having not the Life that gave forth the Scriptures but are found in the Self-Separation from the Spirit of God having gotten the Words which were declard from the Spirit of God murdering and destroying as much as in them lyeth those that are in the Light and Life of those holy Men of God that gave forth the Scriptures Now the Shame of all their Profession is seen which is Abomination unto the Lord which profess the Words declared from the Light of God but are strangers to the Light and Life And now the Vnsavoury things are smelt tased of and seen to be among many of the Professors of Religion who are more like Swine rending Dogs and Swine and like Dogs biting and devouring one another than like the Children of the Light Which doth them mainfest to be contrary to the Light which all that are contrary unto with the Light are condemned G. F. To all the Seed of Abraham which suffer for denying the World's Customs and because they cannot hold up the Corrupt Priesthood that is therin or for Testifying against the World that the Works threof are evil ALL Friends and Brethren every where Epist 92. that are Imprisoned for the Truth give your selves up in it and it will make you free To the Prisoners and the Power of the Lord will carry you over all the Persecutors which was before they were For since the Beginning hath this Persecution got up therefore live and reign in that Power which remains when the other is gone and in that ye will have Peace and Vnity with God and one with another who suffer for not putting into the false Prophets Mouths and for Crying against them and for not swearing Sufferings for not Swearing and not giving the World's Complements and their Honour which the Lord is staining and who are suffering for reproving Sin in the Gate Be faithful in the Life and Power of the Lord God and for the Truth be Valiant on the Earth and look not at your Sufferings but at the Power of God and that will bring some good out in all your Sufferings and your Imprisonments will reach to the Prisoned that the Persecutor prisons in himself So be faithful in your Sufferings in the Power of the Lord Tithes Oaths Temples who suffer now by a false Priesthood for his Tithes Oaths Temples which have got up since the Apostles days For as the Apostles and true Christians suffered for denying the Jewish Temple Priesthood Tithes and Oaths so ye do by the false and amongst the Apostatized Christians who are got up since the Apostles days So the Power and Life and Wisdom of the Lord God Almighty keep you and preserve you to finish your Testimony to the End that ye may witness every one of you a Crown of Life Eternal in which ye may sing Praises to the Lord and in that triumph And so be faithful in that which overcomes and gives Victory G. F. That Friends should have a Sense of one anothers Sufferings FRiends Epist 93. in the Power of the Lord God live which goes over the Heads of all the World that so in the Power ye may witness forth the Truth in their Courts and then if ye suffer ye by suffering will get Dominion over their Heads And lay down and offer up your Lives for one another Offer up your Lives for one anoher And here is the Love of and unto the Brethren manifest to lay down their Lives one for another But the Love of Christ is further he laid down his Life for his Enemies So dwell Low in the Life that ye may answer that of God in every one G. F. FRiends Epist 94. I do Warn and Exhort you all in the Presence of the Lord God Dwell in the Measure which God hath given you of himself in which is no Strife Dwell in Vnity but Unity Therefore every one of you dwell in it Boast not your selves And this I do Warn you of Boast not your selves above your Measures but dwell in the Truth it self that with the Measure of the Living Spirit of the Living God ye may be guided up to God in which Spirit ye will all have Vnity in the least Measure of it And so every one of you Judge Self for it would have the Mastery which is to be Condemned with the Light Self Judged and Mastery in which is Vnity So the Eternal God of Light and Life and Power be with you all and in you all And keep from all Strife and above it in Love and Vnity in every Place AND Friends the Going from the Life into the Changable is the Cause of Strife and Confusion G. F. GRow in the Increase of God My Dear Children and know all your Assurance in the Lord and the Seed in every one of you Epist 95. which the Promise of God is to And be Obedient to the Just and in the Truth of God wald and the Love of it And my Dear Hearts in the Seed dwell which gives the Victory over the World Victory over the World and that in the Wisdom ye may be preserved which bruises the contrary under foot whereby ye may reign in the Life of God to be as Nursers and Waterers of the Plants Nursers and Waterers and that all the Contrary may be kept under that in the Eternal Power of God ye may be kept which gives Dominion over all and condemneth the contrary In which Power the Lord God Almighty preserve you to his Glory Amen Live in the Life of God and feel it AND Friends take heed of being hurried with many Thoughts Many Thoughts but live in that which goes over them all G. F. A Warning to Friends to keep to the Light out of Deceit and Strife in Vnity FRiends Epist 96. I do warn and exhort you all in the Presence of the Lord God to Meet together in the Measure of Life that with
Fall is the Wisdom that is pure and gentle which was before the Wisdom below was And so all Friends be ready to Offer up your selves in the Power of God joining to the Suffering Seed in which ye offer up your selves to God in the Patience Offer up your selve to suffer in your Sufferings feeling the Seed which was before that was which makes to suffer For the Lamb must have the Victory mark the Lamb and not the rough Nature which hath gotten up since Man fell from God's Image the Lamb must have the Victory over that So The Lamb must have the Victcry give up all in the Lamb's Nature that in that ye may all Meet in Life in Power in Victory and Dominion over all that which is in the Fall knowing the Birth that will persecute and the Birth that is persecuted and knowing the Birth that is born of the Flesh and the Birth that is born of the Spirit There is but these two Briths and the Elder must serve the Younger Two Births and the Elder is the first Birth Therefore feel all Jacob and the Seed of God then ye come to feel that which shall remain for ever and ever So in that all stand and dwell that to the mighty God ye may be a Blessing and a good Savour in the Hearts of all People being Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth And take heed of grieving the Spirit but be faithful and take heed of provoking and keep down all that with the Spirit of God that is Contrary to God by which ye may answer that of God in every one G. F. FRiends Incourage not your Wives nor Children Epist 102. in setting them up in the World's Honour for that which would do so in you is Carnal and the Carnal Mind is not subject to the Law of God If ye do mind that which is of God in you it will draw you up to God out of the World's Honour and Friendship and Words and Ways and Fellowships and Preferments Customs and Fashions up to God's Everlasting Kingdom The World's Honour and Preferments where is Everlasting Joy for evermore G. F. To keep to the Witness of God FRiends Epist 103. take heed of Darkness or going beyond your Bounds or Limits but keep in God's Fear that ye may receive his Wisdom from above To keep in Sincerity c. that with it ye may order all things to his Glory answering the Witness of God in every one keeping in Godly Sincerity and Simplicity Meekness Patience and Humbleness Justice Truth and Mercy What graceth the Government and this graceth a Government and is a Praise to them that do well and is a Terror to them that do Evil For they that do Evil go from the Witness of God in their own Conscience and then the Higher Power comes over them Therefore keep to the Witness of God in your selves and that is the Word of the Lord to you and then ye will have the Just Weight Just Weight and Measure and Ballance and true Vnderstanding to answer the just Principle of God in every one Bow and submit your selves to the Power of the Mighty God of Heaven and Earth and to no Deceit and take heed of bringing any into it Respecting Persons And take heed of respecting Persons in Judgment and that 's the Way to obtain Favour from the Lord and his Blessing From him who loves your Soul 's Eternal Peace and Good G. F. ALL Friends every where Epist 104. in the Power of God dwell and know that over all to keep you And lose not the Power of God which keeps down Concerning the Power tames and breaks all wild unruly rash and hasty Spirits which will run without the Power which Spirits reach not to the Seed and the Witness of God in Men and strike not through the Earthly neither receive Wisdom to be ordered to the Glory of the Lord God And there is Safety in the Power and there is the Wisdom of the Most-High felt Wisdom and the Power of the Endless Life And this is the Word of the Lord God to you all every where Dwell in the Power of the Lord God and live in it for that brings all your Souls into Peace into Oneness into God from whence they come who hath them all in his Hand And in the Power ye will all come to feel the End of Words the Life The End of Words the Life from which all Words of Truth were given forth and all hasty rash loose lustful Spirits the Power will strike down for they beget nothing to God but go out of his Dread Therefore this is the Word of the Lord God and a Charge unto all Friends upon the Earth to dwell all in his Power then his Dread Fear Terror and Majesty will be with you and amongst you all to Cleanse Wash Vessels for the Lord's Vse Water Regenerate and Sanctifie every one's Vessel who will be thereby fitted for the Lord's Vse So that the Power being lived in it keeps you over all the World in the Dread and Majesty of Truth in Cleanness and Newness of Life and to know the Wrath of the Lamb against all his Enemies And the Power of the Lord God will strike down the Lust that causeth Pride Strife and Contention it will bring you to live in Love and Vnity one with another and to know the Kingdom of the Most-High that stands in Power ruling in you all And all your Crowns it will lay down that are Mortal and will raise up the Seed and bring Life and Immortality to Light where the Crown that is Immortal is known and the Glory that fadeth not away is possessed And all Spirits that are unruly and out of the Power must be Judged with it and kept subject A Crown Immortal for that which lives in the Power is begotten by the Seed Christ the New Man that 's made after God in Righteousness and Holiness This Birth is of the Immortal Seed by the Word and Will of God not begotten or brought forth by the Will of Man And none quench the Spirit 's Movings in the least Degree nor none go beyond And feed not upon that which Dies of it self but on that which cometh from above Know the Son of Man's Flesh which is your Bread and his Blood which is your Drink which who eats and drinks of hungers no more nor thirsts no more but hath the Endless Life Nor none Write Writing Printing Speaking Print nor Speak for God but as ye are moved of the Lord God for that reacheth to that of God in others and is Effectual Nor none stop Writing or Speaking when ye are moved with the Spirit of the Lord God for the Power of the Lord God is to order and to keep down that which would be hasty or that which would not be Obedient for that leads into the Wilderness each way which the
over all And let nothing be wanting amongst you and then all is and will be well And encourage one another to seek out the Poor and Sick and Fatherless and Widow and Imprisoned and make up their Necessities and Wants Necessities and Wants then there will be nothing lacking And keep in Discerning that ye may not be ensnared nor made a Prey upon but that in the Power and Wisdom of God ye may be kept over all such and to feel through all States and Conditions That the Lord God may be honoured in and by you all and ye all may be preserved in his Power and Life to his Glory For your bestowing of outward things to such as stand in need is the least Love and things of little Value in Comparison to the things that are above and Immortal And so keep over all in that in which ye have the Blessing poured upon you from the Lord God to cloath and cover you This is for the Mens Meetings G. F. FRiends Epist 176. That Minister up and down among Friends be Examples in Wisdom Life Patience Righteousness Holiness and in Godliness and Soberness An Exhortation to Friends that Minister to be good Examples that your Lives and Conversations may preach And keep out and over all vain youthful Ways and Childishness and over all those fallen Spirits that quarrel jangle and contend about outward things and have a Life in them through which they are eaten out from the Life and Truth of God and such become as the Dross and they come to be as the untimely Figs and as the Corn and Grass on the House-top And so ye all that minister abroad to others first see that ye be in the Truth that will never change and in the Word and Life that will abide and in the Gospel the Power of God Meats Drinks Apparel which was before Meats and Drinks and outward Apparel were that ye may abide in that which never changes that ye may not be confounded For when they that are Ministers change and alter from that which they went forth first in and brought the People into it doth shew that they are either gone out of the Truth or else they were never in the Truth and this confounds People They had better never have gone out at all Therefore ye that Minister abroad see that ye be in that which will never change and is over all them that do jangle about changable things for that being Ministred to People that never changes and they that Minister being in that An established State which never changes this begets People into an Established State For they are all fallen Spirits and not Ministers of the Word nor the Gospel nor of Christ that never fell which destroys the Devil and his Works in the Fall that are quarrelling and siding and disputing and contending and striving about outward things For that Mind that goes into them is in the Heats and Tempests up and down and is in the wrong Judgment and cries against others as being Lords and being esteemed and looked upon and looking at Men when the Wrong Lords in themselves and that is it which should not be esteemed The outward Part being gotten up in themselves who have gotten a Life in outward things in the outward Knowledge and the outward Reason and outward Wisdom that outward Part and Reason Wisdom and Knowledge must all perish and the Life they have in them also The Life of God before the Life of God can come to rule in them in which is the Everlasting Vnity and Fellowship And so Friends all that minister abroad in the Everlasting Word which never changes and the Gospel in it abide he First and Last For the Word keeps down the Pride of Life the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eye which is of the World and not of the Father And so let your Liberty be in the Word and Spirit and the Power of God which keeps you out of the Liberty of the World and its vain Fashions and be not fashioned after them And so take heed of light Words unseasoned Talk Vnseasoned Talk and of taking Liberty to the Flesh but walk in that which is pure and keep in that in which ye may have the Wisdom which is the Beauty the of gray Hairs that to the Lord God ye may be a good Savour and in the hearts of all walking in all Comliness and Decency The Word of Truth makes you to be seasoned and savoury and this is Comely keeping in the Beauty of Holiness in which Holiness the Lord is seen over the Beauty of the World that is vain G. F. ALL Friends every where who are dead to all carnal Weapons Epist 177. and have beaten them to pieces stand in that Carnal Weapons which takes away the Occasion of Wars in the Power which saves Mens Lives and destroys none nor would have others And as for the Rulers that are to keep Peace for Peace's sake and the Advantage of Truth Give Tribute give them their Tribute But to bear and carry carnal Weapons to Fight with the Men of Peace which live in that which takes away the Occasion of Wars they cannot act in such things under the several Powers but have paid their Tribute Which they may do still for Peace sake and not hold back the Earth but go over it and in so doing Friends may better claim their Liberty G. F. For Friends in Barbadoes Virginia New-England and all the Islands about FRiends and Brethren Epist 178. who are made Partakers of the Power of the World that is without End and are Partakers of the heavenly Gift and feel the Power in which is the Vnity Peace and Kingdom that hath no end in that feel one another and know one another and in the Life in which ye will have Peace and Unity one with another that the Top-Stone may be laid over all and ye all in the Wisdom Life and Seed in your measures may be preserved spreading the Truth abroad confounding the Deceit answering the Witness of God in all To which they must be brought before their Minds can be turned to God and be acquainted with his Couemnt of Promise and his Life and to know God Christendom on heaps the Father of Spirits For all Christendom which hath gotten the Words of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles that are not in the Spirit and Power as they were in that gave them forth are all on heaps about them and not in Unity being out of the Spirit in which is the Vnity and true Fellowship For there are the Heaps amongst them that are out of the Spirit and Power of God having the Words in the Transgression in the Fall in the Earth and in the many Bodies Names and Heads Churches Religions and Worships which are in the first Birth born of the Flesh which will persecute him that is born of the Spirit Baptism which
Witness one another in the Sight of weak Friends but dwell in the Power of the Lord God and that will keep that down in every particular which is to be judged through which ye may judge the whole World that lies in Wickedness Therefore dwell all I warn you from the Lord God of Power of Life of Heaven and Earth dwell in his Power and Wisdom and Life that in that ye may have Dominion over the World and the Andersaries in it and live in it through which ye will feel the Preciousness and Weight of Truth The Weight of Truth which now is going over all the World and To all Nations of Mankind the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God is to be preached through which life and Immortality shall come to Light in which Power is the Fellowship Therefore this is the Word of the Lord God to you all those that are convinced by the Power of the Lord God and the Light let them dwell in it in which they may have Vnity For the the Lord hath a Seed that ways if ye in Patience all of you wait and not matter the Weather the Storms the Winds the Hail the Rain when ye are to sow the Seed nor the rough Ground The Husbandman that is to be tilled For the Husband-man waits patiently after the Seed is sown there is a Winter before the Summer comes And there must be a great Work before the Misty Heathen be cleared in their Understandings that are so naturally and the dark Air be driven back and the Prince of Life and Light be witnessed Dwell in the Life and in the Light for the great Professors of Spiritual Babylon the Mother of Harlots that are full of Craft will be brought down and that must be witnessed before ye know the bride made ready for her Husband So live in Patience and in Peace and in the weighty Wisdom of God and then ye will see the End of all frothy Spirits that will not abide the Trial. Therefore Friends keep ye in the Power of the Lord God and dwell in Live one with another and in the pure Power and Life of Truth and the Seed of God which ye first kept in that ye may be kept over all light and airy Spirits that will be up and down like a Tempest Comers and Goers to the Seed that ye may stand in the Seed which is Everlasting Airy Spirits In that the Lord preserve you Ye may write over how things are there for Truth is well here and spreads abroad in the World in other Nations and is of a good Report G. F. Reading the 15th of the 8th Month 1659. THE Lord is King over all the Earth and Christ hath all Power in Heaven and in the Earth and he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords let him rule and reign in all your Hearts by Faith and exalt him in the Land and in your Assemblies G. F. OH Friends have an Esteem of Truth and God's Glory Epist 192. Keep down all Inordinate Affections Concerning Marrying with the world and bad Marriages and have an Esteem of Truth above your Lusts and Earthly things worldly Riches and Goods and mind the Example of the Old World When the Sons of God saw the Daughters of Men were fair they took unto them Wives of all that they liked and so made no Distinction between the Righteous and the Wicked Which grieved the Lord God that he said His Spirit should not always strive with Man And therefore he shortned his Days to an Hundred and twenty Years which before were many Hundred Years Enoch-Methuselah and Lamech Though Enoch Methuselah and Lamech and the holy Men of God their Marriages God did not Judge but when the Sons of those holy Men which were called the Sons of God went to the World for Wives they slew the Spiritual Birth in them and quenched the Holy Spirit of God in them and corrupted the Earth and filled it with Cruelty and followed the Imaginations of their own Hearts Lasts continually insomuch that they grieved the Lord and he repented that he made Man For he saw All Flesh had corrupted his Way upon the Earth saving Noah a Just Man with his Family who walked with God Noah a Just Man and did not join with the Wickedness of the World Therefore God destroyed the Old World The Old World and the Beginning thereof was these bad Marriages as Jude and Peter saith They followed strange Flesh by which they came to be corrupted and therefore God sent a Flood and destroyed the Old World with its ungodly Deeds And there is your Example that Marry with the World Gen. 6. And doth not the Lord say to the Chidren of Israel Forbidden Marriages Thou shalt not give thy Sons nor thy Daughters in Marriage with the Heathen And were not such as did so reproved by the Lord and his Prophets As ye may see through the Scriptures And doth not the Apostle say Be ye not unequally yoked together with Vnbelievers for what Fellowship hath Light with Darkness or Christ with Belial or a Believer with an Infidel For how many Thousands of the Jews did the Lord destroy which went and married with other Nations and pleaded Liberty And did not Phineas run one through and his Heathenish Woman Phineas And so must not all such be run through with the Sword of the Spirit of God And the Lord said Numb 25.7 8. Phineas hath turned mine Anger away from the Children of Israel when the Lord had destroyed Twenty four Thousand of them And doth not the World call such Bastard and Hypocrite Quakers and not faithful that go to the World for a Wife and to the Priests to be Married Priest's Marriages Oh! That ye should profess Truth and go from its Power and Life and so corrupt your selves and to have no more Esteem of your Bodies which God hath so honoured and made them Vessels of his Mercy to put his Mercy into And have no more Esteem of God his Truth nor his People but to Esteem your Affections and Lusts above them all and to make your selves a Talk and a Laughing-stock by going into that for which ye are judged of God and of all his People and of that of God in your own Consciences also Burying-places And do not Friends buy Burying-places because they cannot give their dead Bodies to the World no more than Abraham could And ye that profess your selves to be quickned by Christ and made alive by him to give your Bodies to them that are dead in Sins and Trespasses Oh ye makde your selves ridiculous both to God's People and the World and come under the Judgment of both and of God and the Scriptures to be such as follow strange Flesh and corrupt the Earth like the Old World Ye bring Burthens upon the Just But God will shorten your Days as he did the Old World's except ye repent as ye may
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
the Flesh and he that is Born of the Spirit together with each Birth 's Fruits For he that is Born of the Spirit is the Royal Birth of God whose Fruits is above him that is Born of the Flesh below not in Righteousness and Love nor of the Spirit and so each Birth hath its Religion hath its Worship hath its Praying and its Singing but when the Winter comes then is its flight and then the Wall-makers are discovered the Hireling flyeth because he is an Hireling but ye mind the Power of God which was before Winter-Storms was and such Religions as is while the Sun shines and the Summer is but when the Winter comes are gone Therefore mind ye the Power of God that ye may bear Fruit in Winter and sit under your Vine Christ Jesus that ye may see before Winter-Storms and Tempests was and that which shall never have an end nor change in this is the pure Religion And so in the Name of the Lord being gathered having bowed to it then ye are in the strong Tower in the deepest Storms and Tempest being in the Name of the Lord by whom all things was made there is the strong Tower then ye are safe in all Waves Tempests Winds Hail Floods being in the Name of the Lord your strong Tower And so feel the Seed of God Friends and Brethren and Babes over all that set that makes to suffer which was before that was and will stand and remain when that is gone that makes to suffer that in that you may know Christ's reign and the Seed to reign in which there is Life Eternal and therein ye will have Life Eternal and so feel the Top-Stone overall laid and hearing the Voice of Christ which is the Light the Light 's Voice the Life's Voice the Truth 's Voice the Power of God's Voice which goes before you through which ye may have Life Eternal in Christ's Fold where his Sheep carry no Body of Sin upon their Backs for that is carried in Satan's Fold which Christ's Sheep is put out of in which Life Christ did fore-see the Hirelings flying when the Wolf comes And so Christendom have more minded the Hireling's Voice than Christ the Light 's Voice the Truth 's Voice the Voice of the Life and Power of God in themselves they have gone from that and gone to the Voice of the Hireling who flyes when the Wolf comes and leaves his Flock and cares not for it Therefore you that have heard the Voice of Christ which are his Sheep and follow him who hath put you forth who goeth before you and ye have followed him follow him still and he will give you Life Eternal for he is the Rest and know the sitting down in the Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus being Heirs of Grace which Grace comes by Christ Now the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men which if all Men minded it this is publick it would teach them to live Righteously Soberly and Godly and to deny the contrary and then come to be Heirs of this Grace and Inherit it and so Inherit their Teacher that bringeth Salvation and so come to enjoy Salvation and inherit Christ in whom is the Light and Life and in him is the sitting down in the Salvation All keep to the Beauty of Holiness for in Holiness lies your Beauty and the Fruits of Righteousness is a Tree of Life and the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower and the Righteous flee into it and are safe From Cockford in Essex the 12th Day of the 11th Month 1662. G. F. ALL Friends and Brethren Epist 223. Stand fast in the Power of the Lord God Almighty with the Breast-Plate of Reghteousness with the Shield of Faith your Weapons by which you have Victory and have access to God in which you please him and in which you have Unity one with another take unto all your Spiritual Weapons and be ready with the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which was in the beiginning before Death and the Power of it was And all the false Worships Churches and Teachers and that your Feet be shod with the Gospel the Power of God in which you have all Fellowship which is a Mystery by which Life and Immortality is brought to Light in you all every one having the Word of God which hammereth down all that which is gotten up since the beginning and every one having the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which doth divide the Precious from the Vile in which you have Wisdom which cuts down all that for the Fire which hath gotten up since the Beginning who knows the Earth in which dwells the Righteousness and dwell in Righteousness and Truth and Justice and Equity for in that ye dwell with God and they that dwell not n this dwells not with him but are such as greves and vexes and quenches God's Spirit in them Be bold and valiant for the Truth upon the Earth every one according to your Measure beholding the Face of God And fear not the Power of the Devil but in the Power of God which was before he was tread on his Head and know the Honour of the Saints and the Election in Christ the Seed which was before the World began and your Salvation wrought out and the Glory of the Lord to be your Reward And keep your Faith in the Power of God in which you may all know your Health grow and all your Hearts to be established in Grace which is your Teacher and brings your Salvation that all may see it is the Grace of God by which you stand which Stablisheth Seasoneth Teacheth and bringeth Salvation heed not the Earth nor the Rudiments of the World nor the Swine nor Dog's Vomit nor Men's carnal Understandings Wisdom nor Knowledge but mind the Wisdom of God that is pure from above and keeps so and the Spirit that gives the true Understanding and the right Knowledge of God which is Life Eternal and know your Fellowship to be in the Spirit which is the Bond of their Peace in that live and keep in it in which you may have Perfection and the perfect Gifts of God And mind the Worship of God which is in the Spirit and Truth which was before the Devil was which he is out of and his ways For God's Ways are in the Truth and in his Power meet and in his Life live in which you may feed in the Pastures of Life in which Pasture Christ is the Leader and Shepherd So all that be pluck'd out of the fall by his Crook which is the Power of God and that knows him and his Voice follow him and ye will have Life abundantly and Riches eternal And every one on your Watch and Guard keep against the Enemy that led out from God out of Life and Truth For all the Sufferings is by and through him that is out of the Truth so they will live Godly shall suffer Persecution but
that the Thorns choak it and the Cares of the World they are such Stony Hearts that the Seed hath not much Earth that when Tryals and Persecutions comes with its heats it is scorched by the heat of the Sun And therefore be ye all warned of these Natures both of the Stony and of the Thorny and of the High-way Ground and of the Fowles and of the Air. And Friends keep down feigned Flattery Keep in the Truth that brings to plain-heartedness that all may be the good Ground that you may abound in Goodness and Righteousness and Holiness for Peace is sown to the Righteous and Gladness to the upright in Heart and see that you walk in the Light and the Life that it may be your Life that you may have Treasure in your Vessels that you may enter in with the Bridegroom having the Oil in your own Lamps that you may inherit the Life that is above all the foolish Talkers which be out of the Peace the Second Adam in whom the Peace is and the Life for they that be in Strife about the Body of Christ are in Adam in the Fall and they are neither at Peace in themselves with God nor Christ nor them that be in Christ so whatever Men or People profess their End manifests them and crowns them with Death or Life So live in the Word which all ends in the Seed this keeps over all Pretences in the Substance and over the Airy Spirits that be out of the Life running up and down sowing Dissention Tatling and Back-biting and Whispering and setting one against another The Seed Christ is over that Spirit and he hath little room in their Hearts for they are abroad in the Fields Above the World lifting up themselves higher than the World but are worse to deceive the Simple but Truth and the Light and the Life is over all that in which all keep your Habitation for Adam lost his Habitation and so his Sons and Daughters who are in the Disobedience are in the Fall and the Jews lost their Habitation from the Love of God and so they lost their Authority and were mingled among the Heathen And the Apostate-Christians lost their Habitation from the Life and Power that the Apostles were in And so have brought all Christendom into Heaps and Sects about outward things being out of the Life and Word which was in the Beginning before the Apostacy and the Fall was So live in the Word in that you have Life and Dominion and Authority over all that which Adam and Eve's Sons and Daughters invented and also over all in the Fall In which Word you have Wisdom as I said before and there is a faithful Witness Christ whose Name is called the Word and he is the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending the Amen And Friends keep over all the Bustlings and Wars and Strife and the Talkers of such things among the Sons of Adam in the Fall you that be in Christ Jesus that never fell in whom is the Peace who makes the First Adam's Sons and Daughters to break their Swords into Plough-Shares and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks that they shall not learn War any more for they that be there are in the foolish State but they that are in Christ are in the wise State and have Spiritual Weapons though accounted by the World foolish yea the Wisdom of God is so to the Wisdom of the World which is Foolishness And so you that the Lord hath blessed in outward things for his Truth keep over them and out of them serving the Lord who hath blessed you lest you be intangled So keep above them in the Righteous Life and Conversation that Righteousness may flow to all Men in all things Honesty and Truth and that which doth Justice and doing justly that may flourish for whose Conversation is ordered aright they shall see the Salvation of God keep out of all Heats and Passions and over the tempestuous Spirits the ground of which is Vncleanness all which are up and down and sudden which makes a Mountain of Wickedness and Vnholiness and keeps out of the Holy Mountain which they that walk in the Light of the Lord goes to and they are taught his Ways Take heed of a false Liberty in any thing to the Flesh but keep your first Love and Habitation in the Power and Truth of God for the lowly Mind the humble and meek and broken and contrite Spirit and Heart the Lord doth not despise but exalt Keep out of the many Words of the World and take heed of a liberty of going into them but keep in the Power of the Lord God over all which was before all and is over all that your Lives and Conversations may preach to all Men and adorn the Truth of God and speak in the Hearts of all Men. Forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some was in the beginning of the Apostacy which entred into the reasoning Part and so went from the Exhorting daily and the Building and the Fellowship and the Communion of the Saints in the Spirit and from the Flocks and the Garden of God which he waters with his Water of Life and feeds with his Bread of Life and sets open his broad Rivers of Living Water to drink And such as forsake the Assemblies of the Righteous some for fear of the Earth and Sufferings become quarrelling Spirits and so go out of the Path of the Flocks Footsteps and sits not down with the Flock at Noon-day in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus for there the Flocks meet and there they have all a Fountain through which they are all of one Soul and Mind and Judgment and Heart and Spirit and comes to be gathered out of all the Separations and Sects and Fellowships and Gatherings and Meetings of Adam and Eve in the Fall and sits down in Christ Jesus that never fell where the Fulness is and the Life in whom there is no Shadow no Variableness nor Turning in him that is the Way But Oh the Poverty the Shadows the Variableness the Turnings the Worships and Traditions and the Sects that be in the World among the Sons of Adam in the Fall Oh the Riches that is in him that never fell the Peace and the Life that was with the Father before the World began the Amen And Friends take heed of the vain Inventions and Arts of the World keep out of their Rhimes and their Verses for they are the Arts of Men and stirs up the light part and lifts up that that pertains to it self that is stirred up that will turn in the end to the Strife or the Earth But you that lives in the Word of God that never fell changes nor alters do not but as you are moved by it and that will stand and remain in whom you may know a Dwelling Life over Death and before it was for the Serpent that got into Adam and Eve by Disobedience they
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
smell and there is a difference between the Carnal Mind and the Spiritual and the meetings of Adam in the Fall and them that be gathered into Christ the Resurrection and the Life and Power and Spirit And the Sun shines and the Light is clear and not dim that you may see your Way and Life though there is a Storm and Tempest in the Sea And so mind the Summer and singing of Birds and not the Winter and Night in which evil Beasts do yell And so blessed and happy are you that have the Oil in your Lamps and have risen at the Voice of the Bridegroom and have laid up in store against this Day that is come which now all the rich in Profession who thought they had something are come to Poverty your old Opposers And the Rock remaineth And therefore all and every one from the Highest to the Lowest let none take your Crown but be Faithful for the Lord's Ears are open to the Cries of his oppressed and afflicted Ones he heareth the Groans and Cries Day and Night of them And the Lord's Eye is open and he sees all the Actions of Men and Times and Seasons are in his Hands who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Strong and All-sufficient Omnipotent God Elshdy who destroyeth the Destroyer and ruineth him that would destroy and ruine all who by his Seed destroyeth him and his Works And so in the Seed sit down in whom ye have Life and Peace and he remaineth and changeth not who now reigneth and is over all and in him live that hath been slain-from the Foundation of the World and prisoned and pressed as a Cart with Sheaves and yet gave his Back and Cheeks to the Smiter and his Hairs to the Pluckers of them off And so in him the Second Adam you will not be weary nor faint nor think the time long of your Sufferings For all the Weariness and Faintings is in Adam in the Fall And so your Church being in God and your Worship in the Spirit and Power and Truth which the Devil is out of and your Fellowship in the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was keep your Fellowship in the Power of God and look above all outward Sufferings and dwell in that which is above all and will stand when all other is gone And so dwell in the Love of God and in the Vnity of the Spirit one with another And in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you all yea over all that which is contrary to his Power to his Glory for ever Amen G. F. ALL my Dear Friends in the Everlasting Power Epist 236. Life and Truth live for you cannot live without it in the Winds and Storms And though the Hills and the Mountains are burnt and the Trees are become fruitless and that Winter hath devoured the former Fruits and you do see that Persecution hath choaked them and the Heat hath scorched them whereby the untimely Figs are fallen and the Corn is withered on the House-top and the Night is come and the Evil Beasts go out of their Den But Truth lives and the Power of God is over them all and Christ ruleth and there is Bread of Lafe and Water of Life in him and in his House though the Caterpillers and Locusts are agreed to eat up all the Green But as you are in the Truth you are in its Day and they in the Darkness are in the Day of Darkness And all who are in the Truth rejoyce through Christ in the God of Truth and never heed Prisons for they are but for a time and mind him who hath all Times and Seasons in his Hand And never heed the raging Waves of the Sea nor be troubled at his Tongue that speaks nothing but Tribulation Anguish and Bondage nor be troubled at the Cords of the Ungodly for the Cords of Love the Power of God are stronger And what doth he that sits in Heaven but laugh them to scorn And so be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth for the Power is the Lords And so my Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed that never fell nor changeth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 237. The Lord is with you all every where who suffer for his Name and Truths sake in all your Bonds and Afflictions be of good Comfort for the Lord is with you neither be dismay'd at your Sufferings for if you suffer Christ suffereth and if you be persecuted it is Christ that is persecuted and if you be not visited it is Christ that is not visited and if you be opprest it is He that is opprest And He will lay no more upon you than you are able to bear And the Angel of his Presence suffered with the Outward Jew and Christ suffereth with the Inward Jew in the Spirit And so hath a fellow-feeling with you all in all your Bonds and Afflictions and Christ who suffereth will overcome all his Enemies He reigns and they must be his Footstool to stand upon And so be of good Faith and be Valiant for the Turth upon the Earth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren all every where Epist 238. Keep your Habitation and your First Love and do not go forth from your Rule of Faith and Life within in which you all have Vnity and Fellowship and the Lord will be your Comforter and Teacher And if you do not go forth from the Light Spirit and Truth within the Light you will feel to guide and lead you and instruct you And by it you may have Immortality put upon you And be not ashamed of Christ Jesus the Light and Life and Teacher nor of his Spirit to lead you For can they find no occasion against you but because you worship God in Spirit and obey Christ Jesus his Command And so as the old Cry was Away with such a Fellow from the Earth it is not fit for him to live so it is now But blessed are those that keep their Habitations clean and live in the Power of the Lord which was before the Curse was G. F. A General Epistle to all Friends ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 239. who are of the Royal Seed of God Patience obtains the Victory that runs the Race and obtains the Crown be married and joyned to the Seed Christ the Lamb slain form the Foundation of the World form its Foundation I say For as you are joyned to the Seed and married to that which hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which hath the Victory and doth overcome by this you come to the End of the World mark to its End And now all Friends look upon the Sufferings that have been since the Fall and since the World began And again look upon the Valiant Prisoners and such as stood with the Lord and for the Lord and followed and obeyed his Movings and Motions and Commands with the Victory they had how they
triumphed in the Lord over that which was against the Lord for by Faith Abraham forsook his Country and his Father's House and his National Worship And by Faith was Abel's Offering accepted of God unto whom God had respect Therefore did wicked Cain persecute and kill him about his Religion And this was not long after Man was fallen from the Righteousness and the Power and the Image of God which Man was made in And by the Faith and the Power and Wisdom of God did Moses go down and speak to Pharaoh the King of Egypt and through the Power and Hand and Arm of God he led them out of Egypt which signifies Misery Thraldom and Bondage though afterwards when they were come out and had tasted the Power of God many fell And Moses saw Christ the great Prophet that was to come which was to build his House as Moses by the Wisdom of God had done his in the time of the Law with Types Figures and Shadows and so look upon Moses how he conquered all the Magicians and comprehended all the Sorcerers and Southsayers and Pharaoh's Religion and their Worship and could not bow nor bend unto it Look upon Joseph who through the Enmity in his Brethren was sold into Egypt who underwent Reproach and Imprisonment unto whom God gave Power over all at last and confounded all the wise Men and the National Worshippers in Egypt and came in Favour over them all by the Power of God And remember Abraham who was in the Faith and the Fear of God and how Abimalek's House for his sake God plagued Therefore keep in the Faith of Abraham then who wrongs you the Hand of the Lord will turn against them And whilst they stood in the Power of God what Victories they had over their Enemies As instance Sampson David and Saul But when any went from the Command of God how under the Heathen they fell So now ye who are come to God's Power which goes over the Power of Darkness and before it was in that stand tuiumph nad trample who are come to the End of Carnal Weapons and striving with outward Arms And ye may lood upon them how Valiant they were over the Philistines both Sampson and David and his mighty Men when they were in the Power of God and how David's three mighty Men broke through a whole Host to fetch Water to refresh David Therefore now ye in the Power of the Lord the mighty God go over all the Philistines of the Earth and their Carnal Weapons as there they in the time of the Law did with Carnal Weapons And how often Jacob's Well was stopped up the beloved of God the Second Birth by the Philistines but Jacob did thresh the Mountains as he did arise and drove them away by which he might drink again So read this in the Substance who are come to the Second Birth which goes over Esau and the Philistines both which was before they were And also remember how the Prophets were Imprisoned and put into Dungeons and Stocks c. As in particular Jeremiah and how they were mocked and scoffed at and reproached for declaring against the Sins and Wickedness of the Times both by Rulers Teachers and People and yet by the Power of God they were carried through and over all And the Cry was then Cursed is he that puts his Trust in Man or feared Man or the Arm of Flesh c. So remember Daniel and the Three Children though Prisoners yet could not bow to the National Worship and so were cast into the Fiery Furnace and the Den of Lions unto whom the Lord God gave Dominion over their Enemies and confounded the National Worshippers with all the Magicians and made the King to change his Decree and Law And this was in the Babylonish Monarchy and when the Medes and Persians got up the Power was changed then they cast Daniel into the Den of Lions because he prayed to his God contrary to the King's Decree to whom God appeared again and confounded them all and made the King or Emperor to change his Decree Therefore keep Faith in the Power of God for that is it by which the Elders of old obtained a good Report And consider Mordecay who stood faithful and could not bow to proud Flesh though it was in danger of destroying all the Jews over whom through Obedience to God he gave him Victory by which he came to answer the Good in all People Now consider they that came to profefs Christ who was the Substance before the Types Figures and Shadows which were held up by the Jews in the Law and first Covenant and Priesthood and Ordinances which Christ the Substance came to end how that I say the Christians of Old by that kind of People the Jews as you do now suffer the most and have done by them that are the greatest Professors of Christ's Words but out of the Life and Power of Christ which the Apostles and Saints were in in the Primitive Times So it is no new thing and as Solomon saith Here is no new thing under the Sun for it is not a new thing for the Birth that is born after the Flesh to persecute the Birth that is born after the Spirit And look upon the Apostles and consider how they suffered and by whom that bore Testimony to the Substance their Sufferings were by such as were in the Husks Shadows Inventions and Rudiments of the World and such as were fallen from God's Righteousness Image and Holiness and not in the renewed State And consider how that the Hebrews suffered the spoiling of their Goods by the Hebrews who were called Jews as you may read in the Epistle to the Hebrews for ye read in few of the Epistles that the Gentiles suffered the spoiling of their Goods or the Christians by the Gentiles but mostly by the Jews the great Professors as you do and have done in these Days And consider how the Witness hath been slain and the true Church the Woman fled into the Wilderness who was persecuted and how she hath been fed there of God and how since that time the Beast and Dragon's Worship hath been up and the false Prophet and the Whore the false Church which hath riden on the Beast in the Dragon's Power whom the People have Worshipped who hath caused all Nations to drink of the Whore's Cup of Fornication Now you that have come to the end and beyond all the Worships of the Beast and after the Worship of the Dragon who comes now to fathom the Whore the fale Church and the false Prophets and comes to see the Power and to be in it that takes them and and casts them alive into the Lake of Fire which hath been Worshipped and burns the Whore's Flesh with Fire which Power gives them Dominion over them all and to see to the very Apostles Days what they were in and what hath got up since then for it is Sixteen Hundred Years since the false Prophets and
Spirit the Living God who is a Spirit the God of all Truth he hath his Glory and Honour from the Spirit of the Lord in every Heart And so keep in the Spirit and Truth and Power of the Everlasting God who is from Everlasting to Everlasting that you may know him Lord of the Earth and of the Heaven and of the Heaven of Heavens Ruling and Reigning whose Eye is over all his Works that you may glorifie him in his Power and Spirit and serve him in the New Life which will keep you over all Mens Fables and Devices Whimsies and Imaginations out of all Janglings and vain Disputes of Men of corrupt Minds And so it is good for you all to live in him which is the same to day as he was yesterday Christ Jesus the Power of God and the Seed of Life and Word which was in the Beginning So no new thing but that which was and is to all Eternity Let your Fellowship be in that and your Vnity and Communion be in that for this is seen by the Eternal Eye the Eternal Vnity and the Eternal God So hear his Voice every one of you that speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes the Earth and not the Earth only but the Heavens also The Heavn imports Joys So all the false Joys the lifted-up Joys or exalted Joys and Joys in vain glory and Joys in the world or any outward thing or creature and Men or Women His Voice that speaks from Heaven shakes the Earth and the Heavens and this must be shaken and removed both the Heavens and the Earth before that doth appear that can never be shaken the Noble Royal Seed Elect and Precious before the World began being Heirs of Him come to Inherit Him In Him you shall know that which cannot be shaken and there is the true Joy in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting who is the Beginning and Ending Here is not any either lifted up or fallen down to dispair So I say hear his Voice harden not your Hearts for not hearing the Voice you harden your Hearts and then you provoke God to Wrath and sore Displeasure Let Him have your Ear that speaks from Heaven that you may come to observe his Counsel Teaching Instruction and Direction for all the Prophets and holy Men of God and the Apostles were attentive and obedient to this Heavenly Voice who Witnessed to the Truth who had a Witness in Heaven also And such declared forth the Glorious Truth which they had from the Instructions of the Almighty as you may read throughout the Scriptures what glorious Expressions and weighty Truths they declared whose Ears were attentive to Him that spoke from Heaven and how also they declared against them that stopped their Ears and closed their Eyes and hard ned their Hearts Their Ears not being attentive to the Heavenly Voice but to the Earthly and so if the Earthly and the Sin and Evil have the Ear it will fill it with that which is bad and harden the Heart and choak the Good therefore the Lord must have the Ear who is the Ruler of Heaven and Earth And as your Ears are attentive to the Lord's Voice that speaks from Heaven Iniquity's Mouth is stopped in you the Throne of Iniquity is thrown down in you that is the Wicked Spirit and Power where Iniquity fits and the Chambers of Imagery are thrown down in you where all Thoughts and Imaginations are As the Ear is attentive to the Voice of Him that speaketh from Heaven you will come to the Throne of the Lamb who hath the Power who hath the Victory and the Dominion that all may live there in the Everlasting Power of God that goes over all Deceit which was before Deceit and Darkness was and always feel a growing in the Power of the Lord God that is Universal and Everlasting that you may all be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and come to Inherit it and possess it and sit down in the Possession of the same that every one's Lot may fall in the Land of the Living where the Lord hath his Glory and his Honour for ever and ever O the Glory Glory of the Lord that spreads it over all And here you have his Savour and can taste your Meat in the Power of the Lord God feeding upon every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God having every one's Ear attentive to his Voice In this you grow up in the Life that is Eternal G. F. OH Dear Friends Epist 246. Mind every one your Habitation in the Power of the Lord God that first Convinced you and keep your Possession in it in the sense of God's Love and Mercy to your Souls for your Vnity and Fellowship lies in the spotless Power Truth and Life of the Everlasting God of Life and Power and herein to you the Springs of Life will be opened through which you may be daily Refreshed up to the God of Life Oh be tender of the spotless Truth and Life through which you may come to answer it in all Friends that they may have Vnity with you in the same Life and Power through which you may be a good Savour to God and a Blessing to him in your Generations serving the Lord God in the Newness of Life as a Chast Spouse and Bride to him in Body Soul and Spirit having an Esteem of your Bodies which are for the Lord and to be his Temple not for Adultery or Fornication nor Idolatry Oh therefore mind and keep in the holy Life and feel the Moving and Counselling Power and Spirit of the Almighty in you directing you into the Ways of Truth and Righteousness Peace and Holiness without which none shall see God Live in the Peaceable Life and love it eye that which makes for Peace for God is the Author of Peace and not of Confusion So live all in the precious Truth of God feeling it in its Operation through which Vnity and the Peaceable Life may be preserved amongst you in Righteousness and Peace for Wars and Strifes and Troubles and Fightings comes by Unrighteous Actions which is below Truth and Righteousness for Truth leads into the modest decent and comely Life which is Honourable and Esteemable to God and in the Hearts of all his People So live in the Truth and the Power of it that you may all come to be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and to Inherit and Possess the Endless Life the Power of a World that hath no end And so keep your Eyes to your Possessions and to the Life that hath no end and herein you will encrease in the Truth in the Righteousness and Holiness and the Power and Virtue of the Holy Life and so sit down in your Possessions that you may all serve the Lord in a pure Mind Soul and Spirit and none to defile your Bodies but have esteem of them as Vessels of Honour and Vessels fitted to receive the Treasures of the Lord. 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you know that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which is the Holy Spirit And can any Worship God who is a Spirit in the Truth but they must come to the Spirit and the Truth of God in their own Hearts Here we set up the Publick and Temple Worship which Christ set up which every Man and Woman in the World must come to Truth in the inward parts and the Spirit of God within them and Worship in the Spirit they must be in it and in the Truth to Worship the God of all Truth who is a Spirit And this is the Publick and Universal Worship and this brings every Man and Woman in the World to Truth and the Spirit of God in their own Hearts And so this brings all to know their Bodies to be the Temples of the Holy Spirit in which they worship as the Jew outward worshipped in his outward Temple But the Temple since the Apostles days has been so filled with Smoak out of the Bottomless Pit and so filled with Darkness that no Man could enter into the Temple to Worship God and there the Spirit of God hath been vexed and grieved And so their Prophesie Revelation and Vision hath been denied by the Authors of this Smoak but the Seventh Angel has poured out his Viol that Men begin to enter into the Temple to Worship God in the Spirit and Truth and the Glory of the Lord shall fill the Temple And Christ and his Apostles never altered this Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth though the Beast and the Whore the false Church have set up another Worship since the Apostles days But all must come to Worship God in Spirit which was before their Worship was set up which was set up in the Apostles days And so all must come to Worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth which was before Mass-Book was which got up many Hundred Years after Christ but that is and was the Publick and Universal Worship set up by Christ the Second Adam to the Sons of Adam in the Fall which brings every Man and Woman to Truth and the Spirit of God in their own Hearts in that Spirit and Truth they must Worship God But cries the World Did not they Pray in the Temple the Jew outward and must not you Pray in the Temple Yes the Jews in the Spirit prays in his Temple and sings and rejoyces in his Temple for what Do you not know that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost And so if you Pray you must Pray in the Holy Ghost and rejoyce in the Holy Ghost and sing in the Spirit And how can you sing and rejoyce and pray in the Spirit but you must go into the Temple your Bodies being the Temples of the Holy Ghost For the outward Jew his Temple was thrown down And He is not a Jew that is one outward but he is a Jew that is one inward in the Spirit Stephen was Stoned to Death for denying the Jews outward Temple and witnessing Christ and Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost so he was the Temple of the Holy Ghost And so they whose Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost are the Temples made without Hands which are set above all Temples made with Mens Hands But if you say Did not the Jews Priests dwell in the Temple and there they were to offer in the Temple I answer Yes there was but one Temple in the whole World commanded of God and it was set up at Jerusalem and never commanded to be set up in England Ireland Scotland France Spain and Rome but the Jews were to go either to worship at Jerusalem and there to keep the Feast of Tabernacles or else their Eyes were to rot in their Heads and their Tongues in their Mouths and their Camels were to die of such and such Plagues as in Zachary you may read And they were to come out of all Nations under Heaven to worship and keep the Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem and the Apostles did there wait at the time of Pentecost to be endued with Power from on High And so that Temple was thrown down about Forty Years after Christ For you that cry up outward Temple-worship made with Mens Hands in your own Nations are worse than the Jews for they were to have but one Temple and one People and that Temple is down and the Worship and he is not a Jew that is one outward but he is a Jew that is one inward in the Spirit And so Christ's Worship in the Spirit and Truth is set above the Jews outward Worship at Jerusalem and the Mountain Worship near Samaria and the Jew inward is set above the Jew outward and above the Jews outward Offering in his outward Temple and the Priest having Chambers in the Temple that was the Place of their Offering the Jew inward he offers in his Temple the Spiritual Sacrifices and no where else doth he offer but in his Temple for by the Spirit doth he offer to God who is a Spirit And they that offered in the Jews Temple were to wear the holy Garments so are you to do that are the true Christians and are called a Royal Priesthood What are all true Christians Priests Yes What are Women Priests Yes Women Priests And can Men and Women offer Sacrifices without they wear the holy Garments No What are the holy Garments Men and Women must wear The fine Linnen and they must go in White What is this the Priest's Surplice Nay the Surplice got up when the fine Linnen the Righteousness of Saints and going in White was lost What is the fine Linnen and going in White that this Royal Priesthood must wear which are the Royal Garments It is the Righteousness of Christ which is the Righteousness of the Saints this is the Royal Garment of the Royal Priesthood which every one must put on Men and Women so every one put of your Robes put on your Garments the Righteousness of Christ as a Cloak that you may offer to the Lord an Offering in Righteousness You that be sensible of the Lord's Mercies offer to him his Praise his Glory and Honour his Spiritual Sacrifice in your Temple as the sweet Odours Myhre and Frankincense And when the Jews Temple was cleansed and the Rubbish cast out of it the Glory of the Lord filled the Temple And when your Temples are cleansed and the Rubbish cast out of your Temples by your High Priest Jesus Christ in the Male and the Female who destroys the Devil and his Works you will witness renewing up into the Image of God into Righteousness and Holiness as Man was in before the Serpent got the Rubbish into him So Christ who destroys the Devil and his Works brings them to the State as Man and Woman was in before he got into him that is into Righteousness and Holiness and up into himself to the Measure of the fulness of Christ who was glorified with the Father
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
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
Jew outward had but one Temple to Worship in the Jew inward must not have two for then they make a Sect and goes from Truth in their own Hearts and from the Spirit of God And so to Worship in the Truth and in the Spirit is to Worship in the Temple So every Man and Woman come to this one Temple Where is this one Temple Where the Spirit is in the Heart and the Truth in the inward Parts And this is the Temple that is not made with Hands do you not know that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost And so this is the true Worship that Christ set up in the Spirit and in the Truth every Man and Woman in the whole World must come to it the Truth in their own Hearts that by it they may know the Truth and the God of Truth And by the Spirit they may know God who is a Spirit and so Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth and this is the standing universal Worship that Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Spirtual Man set up above Sixteen hundred Years since John 4. when he denied the Mountain Worship where Jacob's Well was and the Temple Worship of the outward Jews at Jerusalem where they went to the outward Temple Yearly to Worship And so every one are to Worship in the Spirit and come to the Spirit and Truth in their own Hearts and in that to Worship the God of Truth who is a Spirit as Christ commanded And so by the Spirit of Truth they come to Jerusalem which is above which cometh down out of Heaven from God So this is a true certain standing infallible and perfect Worship for Truth and the Spirit of God is certain infallible and perfect and so this Worship is a certain perfect Worship And so every one as I said before come to the Truth in your own Hearts and to the Spirit of God or else you cannot Worship the God of Truth who is a Spirit And every Man that Worships in the whole World who would find this Spirit and Truth they must go into the Temple And so in the Spirit and Truth Worship God who is a Spirit and this Spirit gives an Understanding to know God who is a Spirit and the Truth and to know the God of Truth who is to be worshipped in the Spirit and Truth who is God blessed for ever Amen G. F. FRriends To call Men Masters or Gracious Lord and putting off the Hat to them Epist 261. and the Man's Scraping with his Foot and the Woman's making a Curchey These Titles and Fashions not giving and observing doth not break the Law of Christ nor of God which respects no Man's Person but they are the customs of Nations which are vain and the great Manners and Civilities that lies among Christians is in saying You to one Man and the Man's putting off his Hat and scraping with his Foot and the Woman's bending her Knees and in these and such like things lies their Civilities their Honour and Manners and Well-Breeding as they call it But the right Manners is to keep People from evil Words which corrupts good Manners and God's Law and Christ respects no Man's Person And Man and Woman in their not Youing nor Scraping and Bowing are not unmannerly nor uncivil for Man was forbidden by the Angel to bow to him but to bow to God and to Worship him and to bow at the Name of Jesus who is called The Power of God and the Word of God for the Angel said to John he was his Fellow-servant So Servants were not to bow one to another and if they do is it not reproved by the Angel and reproved by Christ the seeking Honour one of another For how can you believe saith Christ that receive Honour one of onother John 5. So it is a mark that they are Unbelievers who receive Honour one of another and they are like the Pharisees that love the Praise of Men and are called of Men Master and like the Heathen that will be called Gracious Lords For saith he you are all Brethren and have one Master and Lord Christ Jesus and one Lord who is the Creator of all For all things were made subject to Man and Man subject to God all Creatures was to fear and dread Man and Woman but Man and Woman were to fear and dread God So all Christians are to have one heavenly spiritual Head Christ Jesus and heavenly spiritual Master and they all as Brethren are to serve and worship him And the Prophets and Apostles Thou'd God and Christ Kings and Princes and great Men and Women as you may see in the Scriptures and they were never offended at it And you never read in all the Scriptures of any that feared God that were offended at any for saying Thou to a single Person and standing with their Hats on unless it were the Pharisees that loved the praise of Men as it is said in the Book of Job If I give flattering Titles to Men my Maker would soon take me away And so all their flattering Titles and loving the Praise of Men and seeking Honour one of another it comes from that Ground that is out of Truth in the Image of the Beast and the Dragon who will be worshipped but the Angel would not be bowed down to by the Servant of the Lord he says God must be worshipped So they that Worship the Beast and the Dragon receive the Mark from the Dragon he Brands them and Marks them with his Spirit out of Truth and then he receives Honour from them and the vain Glory they give to him but they which are sealed with the Spirit of Promise they have their Father's Mark in their Fore-heads these Worship the Living God and are in his Image and his Likeness that he made them in the Beginning and in the Spirit of Christ Jesus and those are Christ's G. F. ALL Friends and People That is to be condemned in your selves which hath led you from Christ from God Epist 262. and from Vnity in the Light I say is condemned by the Light and must be executed and killed and stoned with the Living Stone and run thorow with the Living Sword and hammered down with the Living Hammer to pieces and burnt up with the Living Fire and so made an end of For that which leads into Loosness Whimsies Imaginations false Visions though it be condemned yet if it be not executed it is in danger to rise again and if it rise again and get over you it will be your Ruler if it get out of Prison and be alive and not executed For after a thing is condemned as Drunkenness Adultery Fornication or any manner of Loosness whatsoever or runnings out from the Spirit and Light if it be condemned and Judgment passed upon it if it be not executed there is danger of it's reviving For after a thing is Condemned and Judgment passed upon it it is to
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
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
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
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
Moon that shall be turned into Darkness before the Notable Day of the Lord come and where this Notable Day of the Lord is seen and by whom it is seen they see the Glorious Son of God the Son of Righteousness by whom was all things who is over all things who is the Head of his People and dwells in them who is present with them and who was and will be to all Eternity of whose Kingdom there is no end who is God over all blessed for ever Kinston the 1st of the 7th Month 1674. G. F. MY Dear Friends in England Epist 308. and all parts of the World the Gospel which is the Power of God which you have received from the Beginning Given forth in the time of his Sickness in Worcester Prison 1674. keep in it and the Fellowship of it in which there is neither Sect nor Schism but an Everlasting Fellowship and an Everlasting Order which Gospel brings Life and Immortality to Light in every one of your Hearts and lets you see over him that hath darkned you Now every Man and Woman here will have a Testimony in their own Hearts Friends to have their Fellowship in the Truth of this Order and Fellowship being Heirs and Inheritors of it by which you will see over all the Jalse Orders and Fellowships that are or may be fet up or made Therefore it is good for every one to keep their Habitation For those that went in Cain's Way as the Apostles speaks of they envied the Apostles that kept the Fellowship And Corah's Way and Balaam's Way these were them that had been great Professors that envied the Apostles For mark it was the Way of such as were of Cain Corah and Balaam's Spirit to oppose the Power who were against Abel and Moses and the Apostles and so there began the Apostacy and there came up the many Orders amongst them in the Apostacy So that at last the Gospel-Order was lost amongst them And keep the Cospel-Order and the Government of Christ and his Worship and the Beast was then set up And therefore now the Gospel-Order is to be set up again and the Government of Christ Jesus by them that be Heirs of him and of his Government who is First and Last the Beginning and the End of the increase of whose Government there is no End Now I say you that be Heirs of Christ possess him and walk in him and as you have received him so walk all in Peace and Love and live in his Worship in the Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of And at your General Assemblies of the Ministry at London or elsewhere examine as it was at the first whether all the Ministers that goes forth into the Countries The Ministers to watch over one another do walk as becomes the Gospel For that you know was one End of that Meeting to prevent and take away Scandal And to examine whether all do keep in the Government of Christ Jesus that preach him and in the Order of the Gospel and to exhort them that doth not For the Foundation is already laid which is Christ and his Government is set up of the increase of which there is no end So had all these called Christians kept in his Order and Government they had not troubled themselves and others with so many Disorders if he had been Head of their Church so if you keep in the Gospel-Order and Government of Christ Jesus you will keep out of the Apostacy which they have been in and the many false Orders That more go from Gospel-Order to the Apost acy and Governments that they went into and made one against another when they went from the true as you may see in the Scriptures of Truth that it was some high Cain and Corah-like Spirits that did so for Cain was able to build a City And Corah that opposed the Chief Leader Moses was of the Princes of the People And so these opposed with their many Orders the true Order And Balaam that was able to teach a Nation and Prophesie before a King and made the Children of Israel to stumble by his bad Counsel These were Men of Esteem these are them the World went after these came to ride upon the People and such as these opposed Abel Moses and Christ the Leader and Governor and his Apostles and set up the many Orders and Governments in their Churches and broke all into Sects And therefore Friends if you keep under Christ the Governor who governs his Church in Righteousness and who is a Prophet and Preacher and keep in his Gospel-Order none of these can deceive you let them come with never so fair Pretences For Christ bruises the Serpent's Head who is the Head of all false Teachers and false Orders that are not in his Power and is the First and Last and therefore keep in his Power and in the Vnity of his Spirit which is the Bond of Peace Mark the Pure Holy Eternal invisible Spirit of God is the Bond of Peace Therefore forfeit not your Bond of the Prince of Princes for if you do you lose your Life and go into Death and into an evil Spirit and break the Prince of Princes Peace so that you lose your Peace with him Christ Jesus And therefore it concerns all that profess themselves to be Ministers to be humble else they are no Learners of Christ not to be harsh nor high minded but walk as Examples amongst God's Flock and not to be Lords over God's Inheritance but let him be Lord whose Right it is c. And you have known the manner of my Life G. F's great Labour in the Gospel the best part of Thirty Years since I went forth and forsook all things I sought not my self I sought you and his Glory that sent me and when I turned you to him that is able to save you I left you to him And my Travels hath been great in Hungers and Colds when there was few for the first Six or Seven Years that I often lay in Woods and Commons in the Night that many times it was as a by-word That I would not come into Houses and lie in their Beds and the Prisons have been made my Home a great part of my time and in danger of my Life and in Jeopardy daily And amongst you I have made my self of no Reputation to keep the Truth up in Reputation as you all very well know it that be in the Fear of God With the low I made my self low and with the weak and feeble I was as one with them and condescended to all Conditions for the Lord had fitted me so before he sent me forth and so I passed through great Sufferings in my Body as you have been sensible And few at the first took Care for the establishing Men and Womens Meetings tho' they were generally owned when they understood them but the Everlasting God that sent me forth by his Everlasting
Lord Jesus Christ and may beas lights to the dark World and Salt to season the Vnsavoury for every Sacrifice which was offered up to God it was to be seasoned with Salt Every Sacrifice to be seasoned with Salt so every Sacrifice now that is to be offered up to God it must be seasoned and made savoury with this heavenly Salt of his heavenly Spirit so that all may give a good savour to him and be as a sweet smelling Sacrifice to the pure holy God that made all to his Glory and you cannot bring forth this holy righteous and pure Fruit unto God but as you abide in Christ Jesus the Truth who did descend and ascend far above all Principalities Thrones and Dominions that he might have the Preheminence above all and that ye in Him might live above all unto God and so every one of you that has received Christ Jesus the Lord over all So in Him who is your Lord walk who is the Amen and there all the Living can Praise God together and the Living gathers in the Name of Jesus the Name of him who was dead and is alive again and lives for evermore who is the First and Last And here you all know that there is no Salvation in any other name under the whole Heaven but in the Name of Jesus who is a Priest made highter than the Heavens So in his Name keep your Meetings To keep their Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have Salvation and these are the true Meetings and true Gatherings who feels Jesus Christ in the midst of them their Prophet their Councellor their Leader their Light and Life their Way and their Truth their Shepherd that laid down his Life for them that has bought you his Sheep who feeds you in his Pastures of Life and your heavenly Bishop to over-see you that you do not go astray again from God And so it 's through him you overcome and he that overcomes shall go no more forth out of his Fold out of his Pastures who shall sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is your Priest that offered up himself for you and Sacrifices you and makes you holy and clean that he may present you blameless up to the the holy and pure God and here you come to witness and know him in his Offices by his Light Spirit and Power and all your Mens and Womens Meetings in the Power of God which was before the Devil and his Power was Of the holy Order of the Cospel in the Holy Order of the Gospel keep them you being Heirs of the Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God that will last for ever a joyful Gospel in joyful Order a comfortable Gospel so a comfortable Order a glorious Gospel and glorious Order So in this Everlasting Gospel the Power of God in which you have Everlasting Fellowship and Dominion over all Sin and Wickedness Vnrighteousness Vnholiness and all that is bad whatsoever you have Dominion over in the Gospel the Power of God yea over the Devil And this Gospel may every one testifie unto and to the Order of it that it is not of Man nor by Man neither is it received but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ sent down from Heaven which all the Believers that have part in the first Resurrection lives walks and keeps in the Order of this Gospel and so has Power to Admonish Exhort Reprove and Rebuke with all Authority such as talks of Christ and does not walk in him such as profess him and does not possess him such as lives not in the Religion that was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years since such as profess Christ the Way and walk not in the Way the Truth and the Life all such talkers and not walkers are dishonourers of God and causes his holy Name to be blasphemed among such as make no Profession And therefore all Friends that knows that you are alive to God by Jesus Christ and knows your translation from Death to Christ the Life and from Darkness to Christ the Light so that you may all come now to be helps meet in your Restoration by Christ Jesus into the Image of God and his Righteousness and Holiness as Man and Woman was in before they fell For before they fell they were meet helps to subdue the Earth they had both Power over all that God made while they kept in the Image of God and his Righteousness and Holiness and so all that God made was blest and good to them and so none can renew up into the Righteousness and Image of God but Christ Jesus And therefore I say in him live and walk and keep his Gospel-Fellowship and Order so that Men and Women may be meet helps in the distinct Men and Womens Meetings one unto another in the Gospel the Power of God Men and Women helps meet iâ— their services in the Restoration as Man and Woman was in before they fell So if the Men has any thing to communicate unto the Women or the Women any thing to the Men in the Righteousness and Wisdom and Power of God in the Gospel-Order in which the heavenly Fellowship Vnity and Order is kept they may as Brethren and Sisters So here is the Foundation of our Meetings and our Men and Womens Meetings is testified unto by the Spirit of the Everlasting God that the Foundation of them is Christ of the increase of his righteous glorious and spiritual Government and Peace there is no end nor of the glorious everlasting heavenly Vnity and Order of his Heavenly Gospel which the spiritual and heavenly Minds keeps and walks in accordingly which is not of Man nor by Man so Man has no Glory but God and Christ alone who is Almighty Omnipotent Immortal Everlasting and Eternal and dwells in the Light blessed for ever the Inexpressible God And so all keep the Vnity of his Eternal Spirit which is the Eternal Bond of your Heavenly and Eternal Peace of your King of Kings Lord of Lords and Prince of Princes Peace Amen All Friends be faithful in the Lord's Power and in his Spirit to the Lord God and his Truth that is over all and will keep you over all as you all do live and walk in it to the Glory of God and bring forth Fruits that is heavenly to his Praise So live in the Possession of Life Eternal which was before Death And so in this Power of Christ nothing can get between you and the Lord your Everlasting Home So with my Love Swarthmore the 10th Month 1675. G. F. To all the Elect and Chosen of God in Christ Jesus before the Foundation of the World FRiends and Brethren Epist 317. It lies upon me from the Lord to write unto you these following Lines First I was sent out by the Lord God in his Eternal Light and Power G. F. sent to preach the Word of Life to preach the Word of Life which was
before the Word of Death and to turn People to the Light which was before Darkness and the Power of it that all might be reconciled to God by the Word and that all might believe in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Word and so become Children of the Light and to know Christ the Author of their Faith and their Faith to stand in him who is the Author and Finisher of it and to turn People to the Spirit which they had quenched vexed grieved and rebelled against that in that Holy Spirit they might see before the Spirit of Error was and that in the Spirit they may know God and Christ and the Scriptures which were given forth from it and that in the same Spirit they might all have Fellowship one with another and with the Father and Son and so to preach the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was that brings Life and Immortality to Light in all that do receive it that they might see over him that had darkned them Which Gospel I received not of Man nor by Man but of the Lord Jesus Christ by his Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven And so after I had received this and preached it and many Thousands were come into it G. F. advised to Gospel Order in several Places of the Nation then by the same Power and Spirit and Light I was moved to advise to the setting up the Mens Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and the Womens Meetings So that all in the Power of God the Gospel which was before the Devil was and in the Light which was before Darkness was and all in the Holy Spirit before the unholy Spirit was That they might be all in their Possessions of the Light Spirit and Power of God and therein to keep this heavenly Order of the Gospel being Heirs of Christ and of his Government of the increase of which there is no End Which Gospel-Order is over all the Orders of Adam in the Fall or amongst the Apostates from that Gospel the Apostles was in and will stand the Power of God the Gospel when they are gone So that all the Heirs of Life and Grace and Heirs of the Gospel might be in their Possession and keep in the Power which was before the Fall was and into this no Apostacy can come So here in this Power of the Gospel all have their Liberty and all have Vnity and all have Liberty in the Spirit and Vnity in the Light and Vnity in the Faith that Jesus Christ is the Author of So that all may see Him and his Government which is over the Government of Adam in the Fall for he was before Old Adam was and will be when he is gone And so that all might be in the Possession of Christ and as they have received him so to walk in him the Heavenly and Spiritual Man of the increase of whose Government there is no End but there will be an End of Old Adam's Now A Caution to such who oppose God's Discipline in the Church Friends whosoever shall come under what Pretence soever to alter these Meetings or to deny or speak against the Men and Womens Meetings it is the Spirit of Confusion and Opposition which would be seeming to do something yet it 's Work is to disquiet the simple Minds and it is the very same Spirit with John Parrot's and mark his End and their End and such as joins with it For it is against the Power of God in which the Order is establish'd and the Eternal Spirit and Light in which the Men and Womens Meetings were set up in which all things should be establish'd and are fastned in the Light which was before Darkness was and in the Power of God before the Devil was and in the Holy Spirit before the unclean Spirit was and will stand when he is gone Therefore in it keep your Possessions in the Power of God and in his Light and Spirit that you may know the Mountain of the Lord established above all Mountains And they are none but loose Spirits and such as tends to Loosness that stand against the Men and Womens Meetings though it may come under pretence to set up a better Way or under pretence only to alter them to another Day and it may be pretend their Fear of the Corruption of observing a Day All this is but from a corrupt Spirit of Darkness which God will blast for we put no Holinss in the usual and constant Days of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings For I would have them all to know that they who be Heirs of the Gospel and of Christ Jesus are redeemed out of the vain observation of Days and out of the Jewish and Apostate Christians Holy-Days to God by Christ who made all Days and every thing Good and their Eyes are to the Super-natural Day of Christ and they are the Children of this Day And that is a creeping Spirit To keep the appointed Days for Meetings that would go to alter the usual and constant Meeting-Days under pretence to prevent People from the Corruptions of observing a constant Day or under a pretence of keeping People out of a Form and so would father their Deceit upon God For them who be in the Possession of the Power by which all true Forms and all things are upheld which Word and Power gives Form and Being to all Things and all they that are in it are above all such Things and Judges all such dark Spirits And they that be in the Observation of Days they are not Heirs of the Power nor of Christ who was before Days was and such cannot sit in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus to do his Churches Business So I say that after People were turned to the Light Power and Spirit of God and they all come into the Light Power and Spirit of God all such are to make up the Men and Womens Meetings and in it to feel the Wisdom of God by which all things were made and created and with it to be ordered and to order all things to God's Glory So that Wisdom may be justified of her Children Now concerning laying all Marriages before the Men and Womens Meetings Some have darkly objected This is not as was in the Beginning Whereas in the Beginning we were but few in Number and could not presently be so sensible of the service of them as when grown more numerous and a Body of People but in the Beginning there was a Care things might be kept clear For in 1653 several Friends came to me concerning Marriage and to know what they should do in that Case And I waited upon the Lord and saw in his Eternal Light that all that did Marry they should lay it before some faithful Friends in the Wisdom of God that they might see into it These were my Words then as in a Paper of mine given forth that Year may be seen And afterwards I was moved to go
so that his Name may be glorified and he honoured in your bringing forth much heavenly Spiritual Fruit from the heavenly Seed that Christ the heavenly Seeds-Man hath sown in your Hearts that so an Hundred fold of Holiness Righteousness Godliness Vertue and Piety from this heavenly Seed you may bring forth and increase in this Life-time and in the World to come reap Life Everlasting And give no occasion to your Adversaries neither in your Lives nor Words but that you may all serve God in the New Life shewing forth that you are new Men and that you are renewed in the Image of God and that you are born again of the Immortal heavenly Seed by the eternal Everlasting Word that lives and abides and endures for ever And that you do feed upon the heavenly Milk and Bread from above and that your Conversation is in Heaven and that you are cloathed with the fine heavenly Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints which is Christ's the Heavenly and Spiritual Man's Livery by which his Servants are known by his Badge of Righteousness and distinguished from all the Servants of Old Adam Egypt Sodom and Babylon with their Badge of Vnrighteousness And so be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth And be valiant for the Truth c. and spread it abroad preach Christ and his Kingdom his Light his Grace his Truth to Men that all should walk in it and his dreadful Day upon all the Talkers of God Christ his Prophets and Apostles Words that do not walk in the same Power Spirit and Life Grace and Truth as they walked in I say Preach this to the Magistrates and amongst the Heathen-men and shew your seles to be quickned by Christ who have been dead in Sins and Trespasses but that you are now made alive by him and so shew forth his Light Life and Truth and that you are awakened to Righteousness and therefore shew it forth to them that are asleep in the Vnrighteousness So that the Lord's Glory and righteous Power Truth Light and Life may flow over all to his Glory over all for ever Amen And much I could write to you concerning these things but I have not been very well but blessEd be the Lord God his Everlasting Seed is over all which reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting and my Life is in it And therefore stand and live in the Lord's Name and Power which is against all manner of Vnrighteousness and in the Light which is against Darkness and all the Works thereof and in the Life which is against Death and over Death and all the Actors of it and in the Truth that is over all Evil and against all the Doers thereof within and without And so that in the Light Life Power and Truth of God and in his Holy Spirit you may live in Fellowship and in the Vnity of the Spirit which is your Bond of Peace yea even of the Prince of Princes Peace which the World cannot take away from you Swarthmore the 5th of the 9th Month. G. F. An Encouragement to all the Faithful Womens-Meetings in the WORLD who assemble together in the Fear of God for the Service of the Truth Wherein they may see how the Holy Men encouraged the Holy Women both in the Time of the Law and in the Time of the Gospel though Selfish and Vnholy Men may seek to Discourage them But go on in the Name and Power of Christ and Prosper FRiends Epist 320. You may read in the old World how one FAmily after another till Noah's time served the Lord God And then from Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Wives and after Moses and Aaron had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and that they were come to be a great People Moses said I would all the Lord's People were Prophets Numb 11.29 And when a young Man said unto Moses Eldad and Medad do Prophesie in the Camp Moses desired that all the Lord's People were Prophets and he would have had Moses to forbid them But Moses ansered and said unto him again Would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them So Moses here who was Captain Governour and Judge over Israel was far from restraining any from Prophesying in the Camp but reproved his Envy that would have had him forbid them and did moreover encourage them by saying I would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets And surely all the Lord's People are made up of both Men and Women And the Lord having given his Law to the Children of Israel which was Holy Just and Good the Lord said I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel So that by this Spirit they might understand his Law which was Spiritual Ezek. 39.29 Now in the time of the Law there were the Assemblies of the Women for all the Women that were wise of Hearth did work with their Hands about those holy Things which God had commanded And all the Women those Hearts stirred them up in Wisdom Assemblies of the Women under the Law these Women wrought about those holy Things that belonged to the Tabernacle and Sanctuary as you may see in Exod. 35. And likewise the Assemblies of the Women in the 38th Chap. and of the Womens assEmbling at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and in the Margent it 's said They assembled by Troops Now here you may see That the Women were in the Work and Service of God as well as the Men and they had their Assemblies For God had poured out of his Spirit upon the House of Israel to give them an Understanding both Men and Women to do that and make those things which God had commanded which were called holy things which were but Figares and Shadows of the Substance Christ Jesus the Holy One. Now Moses and Aaron and the Seventy Elders did not say to those Assemblies of the Women We can do our Work our selves and you are more fitter to be at home to wash the Dishes or such-like Expressions but they did encourage them in Work and Sevice of God in those things which God had commanded them in the time of the Law For God having pured his Spirit upon the House of Israel God give his Spirit to the House of Israel under the Law to give them an Understading to do those things which God had commanded them by which Spirit their Hearts were stirred up to do God's Work both Males and Females And in the time of the Law the Women were to offer up Sacrifices and Offerings as well as the Men upon God's Altar as you may see Hannah when she brought Samuel and offered him up to the Lord she brought him to the House of the Lord in Shiloh and when she brought him she took up with her three Bullocks besides Flower and Wine So see how she paid her Vows to the Lord and offered up her Sacrifices upon God's
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
the Lord to deal with them For that which they get by spoiling you they will never be the richer for and when they have done spoiling the Lord can spoil them and theirs And all the Goods they take from Friends for serving God will torment them at last and be a greater Plague to them more than keeping on your Hats and saying Thou to them was And you have had Experience how the other Powers spoiled your Goods The Spoil of the Righteous not durable Riches to their Persecutors but were they either the richer or the fatter Nay the more thery did eat destroy and devour the more they look like Pharaoh's lean Cattel And did not the Christians of old suffer joyfully the spoiling of their Goods by Professors and Prophane So they that are born of the Flesh will persecute them that are born of the Spirit and they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution and blessed are they that do suffer Persecution for Christ and his Righteousness sake And so never fear the loss of the Fleece for God can make it grow again as he did poor Job's And it is the way of the Enemy and Adversary to set upon the young convinced to think by that means to make them to yield For have you not read it was the way how that the Enemies of Israel of old fell upon the weak and feeble of their Camp and the hindermost of the Flock but they had their Reward at the End And so wait upon the Lord and he will support you though he may try you a while as he doth all his Saints that the Trial of your Faith may come forth more pure than Gold And so never fear Man nor what they are permitted to do unto you but the Lord Though the hungry Lions may lack yet they that wait upon the Lord shall not want any good thing for his Promise is he will never leave them nor forsake them And so the Lord God Almighty give you Power and Courage to stand against all the Wiles of the Enemy and to be Valiant for his Truth upon the Earth And so with my Love in the Everlasting Seed Christ Jesus who is over him that makes to suffer and will be when he is gone Marshgrange the 6th of the 4th Month. 1676. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes MY Dear Friends in the heavenly Relation and Zion's Children Epist 333 amongst whom the Stone that the Builders rejected is elect and precious and in him Christ you are Elect Christ the Head of God's Church who is the Head of the Corner of God's Building And therefore in the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings in whom you all have Salvation and not by any other Name under Heaven and though the Lord may try you where your Minds are and in what by the outward Powers yet be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and if some of you be cast into Prison and your Goods be spoiled the Seed is upon the Head of him that maketh to suffer and will remain when he is gone And the Lord God who giveth the increase of all both Invisible and Visible can make the Fleece to grow again And therefore let your Faith be in the Power and Word of Life And the Authority of your Men and Womens Meetings is the Power of God and all the Heirs of the Gospel are Heirs of Christ the heavenly Man and of his Government the increase of which there is no end And so all walk in Christ So walk in Christ who bruiseth the Serpent's Head that hath gotten between you and God so as you all are in him then nothing can get between you and the Lord God and so in the glorious Order of the Gospel the Power of God dwell which is over the Devil and the World and before he and it was and the Power of God will be when he and it is gone This is the everlafting Gospel which bringeth Life and Immortality to Light and that you all may see over him that hath darkned you to him who was before he was and the Power of God will be when he is gone And therefore walk in the glorious blessed peaceable and comfortable Order of the everlasting Gospel for the Gospel the Power of God is the Gospel of Peace and the Truth is Peaceable The Devil the Destroyer and Adversary abode not in the Peaceable Truth and the Kingdom of God stands in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost and the Vnity of the Spirit is a Bond of Peace yea the Bond of the heavenly Man the Prince of Princes Peace that Bond must be kept by all Zion's Children the Heirs of Life And all seek the Peace and Good one of another To seek Peace and dwell is Love and dwell in the Love of God thet does edifie the Body of Christ and bears all things and endures all things and build up one another in the most holy Faith which you have from Christ the holy One for Holiness becomes the House of God And therefore all mind that which becomes his House and now is the time for every one to put on the Armour of God and to take his Weapons and Arms that you may stand by God's Ensign in the Truth against him that is out of Truth keeping on your Helmet of Salvation as a token of your Victory and your Breast-Plate of Righteousness which preserves both Mind Heart and Soul and your Loins girded with Truth Keep on the Armor of Righteousness that you may be Valiant for it and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel the Power of God that your Feet may stand fast over all slippery Places in the Power of God the Gospel that is sure and everlasting Here is your Armor and your Weapon is the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God the Word of Life and Salvation and Wisdom and Reconciliation that is as a Sword and a Hammer to cut down and hammer down that which hath made a separation betwixt you and God and is as Fire to burn it up And the Shield of Faith that is your Shield by which you have victory and access to God by which Faith all the Just lives and are saved and contend for it which is declared to the Saints by Christ who is the Author and Finisher of it And by this Faith you come to Christ the Author and as many as receive him walk in him that you may be always fresh and green in him who bruises the Head of the Serpent that hath made People lean and barren and hath made so many barren Mountains which Christ is gathering and calling his People from that they might walk in the Light of the Lord and come to the Mountain of the House of the Lord that is established above all the Mountains where God teaches all his the Way of Life Truth and Salvation And the Mountain of the House of the Lord is always green with fresh
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
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
Faith was and are still denied And all such as preach God and Christ and crucifies Christ to themselves afresh and denies God in their Works were then and are denied And all such as preach the Light and walk in Darkness and preach the Spirit the Fruits of which is Love and Peace and are in Strife and Enmity were never owned by God nor Christ nor good Men though they may be called Christians And all such as preach Liberty and themselves were Servants of Corruption were and are still denied And all such as cries Lord Lord and preaches Christ Christ and does not his Will enters not into his Kingdom themselves And into it they can bring none that do not go into it themselves Which Kingdom stands in Power and in Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost And all such as preach the Word of God and are not doers of the Word they are Deceivers of their own Souls and they may deceive others with the good Words And such cannot be reconciled to God neither can they bring others to Reconciliation with God So this Spirit is but One which Spirit all along has wrought against the true Spirit of God in all his People and was in Srife and Contention and Disquietness against the Righteous in all Ages but it wrought its own Destruction and the Fall of them that followed it as you may see through all the Scriptures And therefore all are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit All are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit the Bond of the heavenly Man Christ Jesus's Peace who renews Man up into the Image of God as Man was in before he fell and not only into that State but up into himself that never fell where they know both his Gospel-Order and his Heavenly Government and are subject to it He being the Head above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions Who is ascended above all that he might fill all things Who is over all the Beginning and Ending and Lives and Reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting the Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read in the Men and Womens Meetings DEar Friends Epist 344. My Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all in whom I have laboured and my Desires are the God of all Peace and the Son of Peace may fill all your Hearts with his Love and Peace and Wisdom and Knowledge in all things to do his heavenly glorious Will in that you will know his Son's Doctrine and as you know it obey it And my Desires are in the Lord All to walk worthy of their Holy Vocation that you may all walk worthy of your Vocation and of him that his called you to Holiness and Righteousness and to Peace so that his Peace may flow as a River and Righteousness run down as a Stream to the gladding of the City of God the Walls of which is his Power and Salvation and Light and Life And now My Friends Keep all your Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have all Salvation which is above every Name under the whole Heaven in which there is no Salvation And also all your Men and Womens Meetings every where keep in the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ his Gospel by which he hath brought Life and Immortality to light in you that you may see over him that hath darkned you and before he was which Power will preserve you in Life and Immortality So that you may now all labour in the Gospel the Power of God in his glorious and comfortable Gospel joyfully serving the Lord in his Gospel of Peace through which Gospel you have Peace with God So that in this Gospel All to be stirred up to Labour in the Lord's Service the Power of God there can come nothing between you and God Here is your heavenly Order not of Man nor by Man So that all the faithful Men and Women may in the Lord's Power be stirred up in their Inheritances of the same Gospel and to labour in it helps-meet in the Restoration as Man and Woman was before the Fall in the Garden of God all are to work in his Righteousness and in his Image in his Power in his Garden to subdue the Earth and keep the Dominion in his Power in the Restoration as Man and Woman did in the Image of God before the Fall Whosoever would hinder you in this Work it is the same Serpent's Spirit that led Adam and Eve into the Fall from the Work of God which now would keep you in the Fall to do his Work and Command and not the Lord's and therefore over that keep your Dominion Authority and Inheritance in the Restoration in the Power of God in which every one of you must give an account to God and therefore be diligent in the Lord's Power Light Life and Spirit in which you all see your Services to God so that he may be glorified among you all and in you all and over you all his Glory may shine And you all Men and Women in your Men and Womens Meetings be diligent labouring in the Light Life and the Power of God the Gospel in the Garden and Church of God so that Righteousness and Peace may flow down amongst you and Truth and Godliness Purity Vertue and Holiness over all that is contrary and that the Weight and Care of God's Glory and his Honour and his pure Holy Name and his Truth Religion and Worship you may all stand up for against that which would in any wise cause it to be evil spoken of by ill Walkers and Talkers and let all things you do be done in Love and condescend one to another in the Power of the Lord and in his Truth have esteem one of another and let all things be done among you without any Strife for it's Love that edifies the Body and knits it together and unites it to Christ the heavenly and holy Head The Reproach taken from Woman that was first in Transgression And now you Women though you have been under Reproach because Eve was first in Transgression the Promise was The Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head And this Promise of God is fulfilled A Virgin should have a Child and they should call his Name Emanuel God with us again For Man and Woman was drove from God out of Paradise and the Serpent became their Head and god of the World but Christ is come according to the Promise of God and his Prophets who was born of a Virgin and therefore saith Mary My Spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour My Soul doth magnifie the Lord for he hath regard to the low estate of his Hand maid for behold from henceforth all Generations shall call me Blessed Now here comes the Reproach to be taken off from Women which were first in Transgression who are not suffered to speak in the Church but here Mary did speak and believe that which was spoken to her And also the Reproach
and Transgression taken off Men that believe in the Seed Christ Jesus who bruises the Head of the Serpent that has brought Man and Woman into his Image and his Works which Christ destroys both him and his works and renews Man and Woman up into the Image of God as they were in before they fell and into the Power to have Dominion to work in his Garden to subdue the Earth c. So that all are now to labour in the Garden of God that are in the Power and Image of God being brought into it by Christ Jesus that bruises the Serpent's Head that has been Head in them all So that Christ Jesus may be Head in all Men and Women and every Man and Woman may act from him their Holy Head their Life and Salvation and keep his heavenly Peace in his Church and every living Member believing in the Light which is the Life in Christ may be grafted into him the Fountain of Life and receive from him the Water of Life that they may feel the living Springs and the Rivers springing up in them to Eternal Life These are living Stones the spiritual Houshold of which Christ is both Head Rock and Foundation And Christ is called the Green Tree Christ the green Tree from whom all the Branches receive their Nourishment which Green Tree never withers into whom they are grafted by Belief in the Light which is the Life in him from whom they all receive their heavenly living nourishment through which every Graft is nourished then it comes to bud and bring forth Fruit to the Praise of the Eternal God Now every one of these living Believers are Members of the living Church in God which Christ is the Head of and every Member in the Church hath an Office and so every Member is serviceable in the Body in his Office in the Light which is over Darkness and was before it was and in the Life which is over Death and was before it was and in the Power of God which was before the Power of the Serpent was and so they are in this Light Life and Power to execute their Offices I say in this Divine Light Life Power and Spirit of God for God's Glory in Truth Purity Vertue Holiness and Righteousness they are to stand up for and the Honour of his Son and receive him who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and all that receive him he gives them Power to become the Sons and Daughters of God then in his Power all are to act and walk and to serve God in their Generation and in it to serve him in the New Creation in Righteousness and Holiness and to stand up in his Power for his Glory in his Power Righteousness and Holiness that Christ brings into them and renews them in and so into the Restoration that they may Labour in the Church and Garden of God in his Power to his Everlasting Praise and Glory Amen And all Friends To stand fast in the Liberty of Christ stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and in the Liberty in the Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of which Faith purifies the Hearts and gives Victory in which you have access to God the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience in which Faith it hath its true Liberty And keep in the Liberty of the Everlasting Glorious Gospel of Peace which is not of Man nor by Man but from Heaven which Gospel bringeth and hath brought Life and Immortality to Light and will preserve you in Life and Immortality over him that hath darkned you and in this Gospel you have Everlasting Liberty and Peace and in the Truth which maketh you free from him that is out of the Truth This free State all are to keep in and also in the pure holy Spirit of God and Christ that doth Mortifie all that is to be mortified and crucified and doth Baptize you into one Body In this Holy Spirit you are to walk which leadeth you into all Truth in which is your Vnity and Fellowship and giveth Liberty from that which hath grieved it and quenched and vexed it And so in the Liberty and Fellowship and Vnity of the holy pure and peaceable Spirit you are all to dwell and walk which is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace which the World cannot take away London the 13th of the 9th Month 1677. G. F. MY Dear Friends To whom is my Love in the Everlasting Seed Epist 345. that reigns over all and will overcome all your Persecutors and the Devil that is the cause thereof who fighteth against the Light which is the Life in Christ as they did against him in the Flesh above Sixteen Hundred Years ago And now my Friends Suffer as Lambs in the time of your Sufferings To suffer as Lambs in the Patience of the Lamb. let all your Wills be subjected with the Patience that hath the Victory and run the Race and obtain the Crown of Life and be willing to go to Suffer for Christ's sake for the Apostle said It is not only given you to Believe but also to Suffer for his Name sake in whom you have Salvation for They that suffer for Righteousness sake are Blessed and theirs is the Kingdom of God and by Faith the holy Men of God had Victory as you may see at large in Heb. 11. So nothing is overcome by any Man's Will but by Faith that giveth access to God in which they do Please God And I do believe that all your Sufferings will be for good for your Establishing upon the holy Rock of Life which was the Rock of all the Sufferers the Prophets and the Apostles who is the anointed Saviour to the answering that of God in all People for the Lord hath a great Work and Seed in that place So live in the Spirit that Mortifieth all and Circumciseth all and Baptiseth all so that with the Spirit you may sow to the Spirit and of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting And my desire is All to live in the Vnity of the Spirit and in the Bond of Peace that you may all be kept alive to God and live in the living Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace that passeth the Knowledge of the World which Peace brings such Joys which transcend all your Sufferings and will carry you above them And so in love to God and in love to your Persecutors you can pray for them who persecute you and this Suffering is above all the Sufferings in the World which are without Love and Charity who maketh one another to suffer when they get the upper hand but such are not the Sufferers for the true Lord Jesus who suffered though he was above all yet he made none to suffer and when he was Reviled he reviled not again but said Father forgive them and committed himself to him that judged Righteously So let the
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
have the Life and the Truth which Death and Darkness cannot get into which is out of the Truth tho' they may talk of the Words of the Truth but keep in the pure Religion that was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago and this pure Religion which is undesiled before God will keep you from the Spots of the World and above all the spotted and dirty Religions that are not pure but are defiled before and in the sight of God And in this Religion in your Mens and Womens Meetings that are in the Gospel of Christ and in the Order of it you will see that nothing is lacking being ordered by the holy pure peaceable and gentle Wisdom of God from above and so keep in the Worship of God in the New Covenant in the Spirit and in the Truth which the Devil that foul Spirit who is out of the Truth cannot get into nor his Company And so in the Seed of Life which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent all dwell and sit down who is the Amen the First and Last in whom you have Peace with God and then nothing can get between you and the Lord God G. F. To the Yearly Meeting in Yorkshire MY Friends Epist 350. In the Service and in the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ the Second Adam in his Power Light and Truth live over Death and Darkness and him that is out of the Truth So all in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head stand up for God's Glory and Honour All to walk as becomes the Gospel in which Seed you are all one Male and Female and in which Seed you all have Peace and Vnity that is Everlasting And in this heavenly Seed see that all walk as becometh the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel by which you do see over him that hath darkened you And this Gospel the Power of God will keep you in Life and in Immortality in which you may all see your Work and Service for the Lord God in Holiness and in Righteousness and in Godliness that the Lord God may be glorified in you all and among you all who is over all blessed for ever Amen And Friends see that all your Children and Families be trained up in the New Covenant of Grace and in Life and Peace and circumcised and baptized with the Spirit That Families be seasoned with Truth that they may all eat of the Spiritual Food and drink into one Spirit in the New Covenant and to feed upon the Substance as the Jews did on the Shadows in the Old which faded away And the Power of God the Gospel is the Authority of your Mens and Womens Meetings and every Heir of the Gospel is to Labour in their Inheritance and Possession in the Restoration into the Image of God in Righteousness and Holiness being made by Christ that never fell helps meet in the Restoration as they were before the Fall who is the First and Last the Foundation and Rock of Ages in him sit down in Life and Peace and Rest the Amen that nothing may get between you and the Lord God and see that nothing be lacking among you then all is well So with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ London the 3d of the 4th Month 1678. G. F. FRiends Know what the Lord doth require of you Epist 351. and all have a Sense of that in your selves that he doth require which is to do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with God Now the Lord who is Merciful and Just Holy and Righteous Pure and Perfect he doth require The Lord requireth but in propoation to what he giveth That Man and Woman should do Justly and Righteously and live Godlily and Holily by the Holy Light and Spirit and Truth and Grace that the Lord hath given every Man and Woman to profit withal And so to answer the Holy Pure Righteous Just God of Truth in all their Lives and Words and Conversations and so to glorifie him upon the Earth And the more the Lord gives the more he requireth and the less that he giveth the less he requireth But the Lord requireth of every Man and Woman as he giveth who will judge the World in Righteousness by the Man Christ Jesus according to the Gospel the Power of God that is preached to every Creature under Heaven that is according to the invisible Power manifesting that there is something of the invisible Power of God in every Man and Woman So here the Lord Jesus Christ doth not Judge according to the hearing of the Ear and to the seeing of the Eye for with Righteousness shall he Judge you according to the Light which is the Life in the Word Christ with which he doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World to the Salvation of them that believe in it and the Condemnation of them that do hate it and that will not receive the Gospel nor the Grace which bringeth Salvation which hath appeared to all Men but walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and iurn it unto Wantonness So according to his Grace and Light and Gospel will the righteous God Judge the World in Righteousness by Christ the Heavenly and Spiritual Man who hath died for the Sins of the World though they deny him that bought them and tasted Death for every Man Such deserve his Judgment Send this abroad among Friends to be read in their Meetings Swarthmore the 11th Month 1678. G. F. An Epistle to Friends to keep in the Power of God in their Peaceable Habitations over all the Troubles of the World ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 352. who are gathered by the Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit of Jesus Christ to him the Head over all by whom were all things created the First-born of every Creature and the First-begotten from the dead know him and the Power of his Resurrection that you all may be Partakers of it and of Life Everlasting and may sit together in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is over all the First and Last and in him you have Peace who is not of this World for in this World there is trouble and the World did and doth hate Christ The World hated Christ before it hated them yea and his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and therefore it is no marvel if the World do hate Christ's Members that do follow him in his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and so with it receive him into them their Life and Salvation and so he that hath the Son of God hath Life who is the Fountain that filleth all that wait upon him with his heavenly Blessings and Riches of Life from Christ the Rock and Foundation that cannot be shaken though the Rocks and Foundations of the World may be shaken and cloven in pieces and the Pillars of the Earth may reel and stagger and all
Salvation who Redeems out of the Curse and Fear of Men or that makes the Arm of Flesh his strength and not the Arm of God and therefore the Arm of the Lord being your Strength Christ your Rock and Salvation then you need not fear what Man can do unto you for all God's Children are dear and tender to him whom he hath begotten again by the Word of God to be Heirs of his Kingdom he feeds them with Life Eternal and the Milk of his Word which Word lives and abides and endures for ever and is always full and plentious of Milk to nurse and nourish all God's Children unto Eternal Life and to inherit his Kingdom and the World which is Everlasting which Christ is the Ruler of the heavenly and spiritual Man and therefore they that are in him must be New Creatures for all the Old Creatures are in old Adam And therefore my Desires are that you may all be settled in Christ Jesus who was dead and is alive again and lives for evermore a Prophet Counsellor Priest Bishop and Shepherd a Circumciser and Baptiser a living Rock and Foundation for evermore the Beginning and Ending the First and Last the Amen sit down in him and he in you in whom you have Peace with God Amen Swarthmore the 6th of the 12th Month 1678. G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 353. Whose Faces are set towards Zion from this Dung-hill World of Vanity and Vexation of Spirit the Glory Comfort and Pleasures of which pass away they that have more or less of it and that enter into it enter into Trouble and when they are in it it is a great Trouble to come out of it and to be a Fool for Christ's sake Be a fool for Christ's sake who is not of this World but of the World that hath no end And therefore you must believe in the Light Grace and Truth that cometh from him in the Inward Parts or Heart which directeth your Minds to Christ from whence this comes and to unite to him that is Heavenly who saith Seek the Kingdom of God first and the Righteousness of his Kingdom then all outward things will be added to them that have found the Kingdom of God that stands in Righteousness over Unrighteousness and it stands in the Power of God over the Power of the Devil and was before he was and it standeth in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost over all the Unclean Ghosts or Unholy Spirits and the good Seed are the Children of this Kingdom which is Everlasting And take heed of your Wills and give not way to them but give way to the Power and Spirit of God which crucifieth it Submit your Wills to God and keeps it under the Cross of Christ so that your Inward Man may be renewed and the Old Adam put off so that the Day Light of Jesus Christ may be seen which Abraham rejoyced to see and so do they that be of the Faith of Abraham which Faith is the Gift of God that see the Son of Righteousness shine in their Hearts to nourish that which God hath there planted who watereth it with the living Water of the Word his living Plant And here is Water in your own Wells that you may drink out of your own Wells or Cisterns and to have Grapas off their own Vines from which they may have the new Wine in their new Bottles to glad and chear their Hearts with the Wine from the heavenly Branch of the heavenly Vine of which the Lord is the Husband-Man and this must every one of God's People feel What is the matter that all the World is of so many Ways since the Apostles days Because they are out of Christ the Way Out of Christ the one Way the new and living Way which is over all the dead Ways which was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago And why have they so many Religions Because that they are out of the pure and undefiled Religion before God which was set up above Sixteen Hundred Years ago which Religion keeps from the spots of the World and then this Religion must be above the World that keepeth from the spots of it and they that are gone from this Religion into them of their own making and tell People They must not be Perfect here and must carry a Body of Death with them to the Grave and others say That they must have a Purgatory when they are Dead this Doctrine is contrary to the Apostles who said Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus that They were cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and washed by the Water of the Word and this Blood and Water God's People must feel the effects of within to wash and cleanse their Hearts Souls Minds and Consciences Their Hearts and Consciences being sprinkled as the Apostle saith with the Blood of Jesus from their dead Works to serve the Living God For many may talk of the Blood of Jesus without them in their dead Works not serving the Living God their Hearts and Consciences being not sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus and they must feel it within as well as without And if they have Life they eat his Flesh and drink his Blood if they do live by him that is Heavenly and Spiritual the second Adam the Lord from Heaven For they have drank long enough into old Adam's unclean Spirit which is the cause that there are so many Bodies that they do vex and quench the good Spirit and resist the Holy Ghost which should Baptize them all into one Body that is to plunge down all Sin and Evil that is got up by Transgression and burn that up which is Chaff or Corruption and so to drink into one Spirit as the Apostles and Churches did in the Primitive Times and so to have the same Fellowship and Vnity in the holy spirit of Christ as they had to wit in Christ Jesus who was and is the holy Head of his Church his Elect in him And Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of all such and such do worship God as Christ taught above Sixteen Hundred Years ago in Spirit and in Truth So all must come to the Spirit and the Truth in their Hearts and Souls if they do know the God of Truth who is a Spirit and must worship him in Spirit and in the Truth into which holy Spirit and Truth the unclean Spirit and him that is out of Truth cannot come So all Will-worshippers and the Dragon and Beast and False Worshippers are out of this Holy spirit and Truth in which the Pure and Holy God is worshipped and as all that did eat of the Passover in the Old Covenant were to be Circumcised in the Flesh so are all in the New Covenant to be Circumcised with the Spirit by putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh that came upon Man by Transgression if they will feed on Christ their Heavenly Sacrifice All feed on Christ your beavenly Sacrifice
Living and the Leaves thereof heal the Nations And this Tree stands in the midst of God's Garden who saith In the midst of thy Church will I sing Praise The Eyes of People are upen it which are living Stones a spiritual Houshold of Faith Elect and Precious the Church of the living God written in Heaven so Holiness becomes the House of the Lord. And therefore the Lord doth require more from Friends than all other People because he hath given more to them and so all People do expect more from Friends than all other People in answering that of God in them all in truth and in Righteousness Holiness and Godliness for ye are the Lights of the World and the Salt of the Earth to season it So all must glorifie the Lord God in their Lives and Conversations with their Bodies Spirits and Souls which are Christ's who has bought them and cleansed them with his Blood and the pure Water of his Word who makes them sanctified Vessels of his Mercy for his Glory therefore none must dishonour the Lord. And therefore my Desires are that you may all be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and keep up all your Men and Womens Meetings in the Lord's Power the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light and it will preserve you in Life and Immortality over hom that hath darkned you and in this all will see their Works and Services for the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus in that which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in which Gospel is an Everlasting Perfect Fellowship and Order which will stand when all others are gone all the Saints that do enjoy this cannot but Praise the Lord and sing Praises to him for ever and ever Amen The Apostle saith If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 So they that are in Christ are new Creatures and they that are in old Adam are old Creatures and are in their old Things old Ways old Worships Old things done away and old Religions and have the old Garments and the old Bottles that hold the old Wine and cannot endure the new and have the old rusty moth-eaten Treasure And they that are in Christ the heavenly and spiritnal Second Adam who maketh all things new are new Creatures and spiritual Men and are heavenly-minded and are new Bottles that hold the new Wine and the new heavenly Treasure and have the new Cloathing the fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ and are in the New and Living Way over all the dead Ways and they are in the New Worship which Christ set up above Sixteen hundred Years ago which is in the Spirit and in the Truth in which Holy Spirit and Holy Truth the Holy God is worshipped And this was new to both Jews and Gentiles and is new to all the Apostate Christians who are not in the Holy Spirit and Truth that the Apostles were in And this new Creature in Christ hath a new Religion which is pure and undefiled The new Creature bath the pure Religion and keepeth from the spots of the World And this Religion is new to the Jews and Gentiles and all the apostatized Christians that plead for a Body of Death and Sin to the Grave and a Purgatory when they are dead And they that be in Christ are new Creatures and they have a new Head who is the Head of all things the First born of every Creature and the Frist-begotten from the dead who is alive and liveth for evermore who bruiseth the Serpent's Head who hath made things old but Christ maketh all things new and they tht be in him are new Creatures and they that be out of Christ are the old Creatures in Old Adam and these old Creatures are doting about their old things and their old Bottles old Wine old Garments and are doting about their old Ways old Religions and old worships and persecuting one another with their old Carnal Weapons these old Creatures which dote about their old Worships Religions and Ways so that one old Creature falleth out with another old Creature so that these old doting Creatures in Old Adam out of Christ the Second Adam do wrestle with Flesh and Blood about their old Ways Religions and Worships And these old doting Creatures which be out of Christ the Saviour do destroy one another about their old Ways Worships Religions and Churches And these old Creatures that be out of Christ the Head are monstrous Bodies without a Head till that they have made one and then the old Creatures set it upon their Body which Head as they do think doth pardon their Sins and when this their Head is fallen off their Body then they do make another and set it on their old Creature 's Body But they that are in Christ are new Creatures And Christ is their Redeemer c. and Christ is their Head who is their Redeemer Sanctisier and Saviour who is alive and liveth for evermore and walk in Christ the Second Adam who is Heavenly and spiritual And the old Creatures out of Christ their Walk is in old Adam who are Natural and Carnal and so are their Weapons and Armour that they defend their old Ways Church Religion and worship with they are Carnal and not Spiritual by which they kill one another and the old Creatures do study or dote which way they may destroy or imprison persecute or banish spoil or torture the Righteous or new Creatures in Christ And they that be in Christ are new Creatures their Weapons and Armour are Spiritual and they do not wrestle with Flesh and Blood but Spiritual Wickedness and Rulers of Darkness in high Places and bring down Imaginations and high Thoughts as Christ whom those new Creatures are in teacheth them who saith that He came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them and rebuked such as would have had Mens Lives destroyed and told them that they did not know what Spirit they were of So it is clear that the old Creatures that be out of Christ which destroy Mens Lives about their old Ways Churches Religions and their old Worships do not know what Spirit they are of and although they do not know what Spirit they are of whether it be a good spirit or a bad one yet People must conform to that Way Religion Worship and Church that this old Creature that is out of Christ hath set up or else he will persecute them or destroy their Lives They that do Persecute for Rcligion are ignorant what Spirit they are of though Christ saith They do not know what Spirit they are of And is not this hard to conform to that which the old Creatures have made and set up which do not know their own Spirits nor what Spirit they bd of And therefore were not those Doctrines Ordinances Traditions and Rudiments of the World the old Creatures who
this Immortal Word and so are of an Incorruptible Generation which is above the Corruptible and here is the hidden Man of the Heart that is Incorruptible known that hath an Everlasting Fellowship and hath an Incorruptible Crown and is an Heir of an Incorruptible Kingdom And now the God of this World and his Followers that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth which is in the Light and Life and in the Gospel and in the Wisdom of the God of Truth For the World is full of Disorder and Confusion but the Living Eternal Immortal God of Truth is a God of Order and not of Confusion who hath sent his Son to destroy the Devil and his Works Blessings and Praises with all Glory and Thanks be unto him who hath all Power Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Amen G. F. DEar Friends Epist 357. All live the Life of the true Christians and not the Life of old Adam that went from God's Command and Voice nor like the Jews To live the Life of Christianity and such as have got the Name of Christians that say There is no hearing of God and Christ's Voice now which are out of the Life Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Image of God that the true Christians were in and Adam and Eve before they fell so that none can live the Life of the true Christians and the holy Prophets and Apostles except they are in the same Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Faith and Image that they were in which is a Life above the World and its God in whom there is no Truth no Life Light nor Power of the Living God abiding in them And therefore before any can live the Life of the Saints they must bow to the Name of Jesus their Saviour in his Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit which cometh from him who submitted himself to the shamesul Death of the Cross and destroyed Death and his Power who had no Sin nor Guile in his Mouth and is risen again for our Justification and so hath tasted Death for every Man and given himself a Ransom for all that all should now bow at his Name Jesus a Saviour and so to his Power and Authority bow who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him So all Men have bowed under Death and Sin by Transgression Christ submitted to the Cross and Death for us And Christ hath submitted to the Cross and Death for them and hath born their Stripes for Sin and Iniquity who had no Sin neither knew any to bring us out of Death and Sin Therefore every one must bow at the Name of Jesus as before whatsoever they do in Word or Deed it must be done in the Name of Jesus and before that they can confess to Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father they must all bow at the Name of Jesus and bow to his Grace and Truth Light Spirit and Power that cometh by Jesus which they know Him the Fountain the Rock and Foundation to build upon who brings out of Death and Darkness into Light and Life and a Kingdom and a World that is Everlasting and there to have Food and Cloathing that is Everlasting G. F. DEar Friends With my Love to you in the holy Peaceable Truth that never changes nor admits of no Evil Epist 358. but makes all free that receive it and tht walk in it To live in Truth which admits of no Evil. and is over all the Clouds without Rain and Wells without Water and Trees without Fruit And from the Truth floweth Justice Equity Righteousness and Godliness Mercy and Tenderness that brings a Man's Heart Mind Soul and Spirit to the Infinite and Incomprehensible God and from it a Love flows to all the Univerfal Creation and would have all to come to the Knowledge of the Truth and it bends every one to their utmost Ability to serve God and his Truth and to spread it abroad and it brings their Minds out of the Earth which makes them brittle and changeable and uncertain for it doth not change neither doth it touch with that which does change As to Vnity It makes all like it self that do obey it Vniversal to live out of narrowness and self and deny it So it brings all into Oneness and answereth the good Principle of God in all People and brings into Humility and the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of his Wisdom and it brings all to have a care of God's Glory and his Honour and watches over all the Professors of it for their good to keep within its bounds and walk within its order which he that is out of Truth leads into all disorder in whom there is no Truth and the Truth makes all its Children free from him and in it to reign over him Thanks Glory and Honour to the Lord God of Truth over all for ever Amen The Lord who is the God of all Peace and Order The Lord is the Protect or of his People alone Protects and Preserves his People with his Eternal Power for the Devil's Power is not Eternal it had a beginning and must have an ending for the Eternal Power limits that Devourer and Destroyer And therefore Friends Patience must be exercised in the Truth and keep to the Word of Patience which Word was before the World was and abides and endures for ever and it will keep Friends over and out of all the Snares of the World and its Temptations So with my Love in the Seed of Life that reigns over all and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all to his Glory Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read amongst Friends FRiends You that are Believers in the Light Epist 359. which is the Life in Christ To Gather in the Name of Jesus and are grasted into him who is ascended far above all Principalities Power Thrones and Dominions by whom all things were made and created all the Children in the New Covenant do Gather together in the Name of Christ Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven and in whose Name they have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven And at this Name must every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and they that have bowed their knee to the Name of Jesus and do confess him to the Glory of God the Father cannot Gather in any other Name under Heaven below the Name of Jesus but Gather in the Name of Jesus which is above every Name under Heaven in whom they have Salvation and so cannot not Gather in any Name below Christ for they do know that they have not any Salvation in whatsoever Name that they do Gather together in below the Name of Jesus And being gathered in the Name of Jesus he
not all People in their several false Religions Ways and Sects yea the very Turks and Heathens train up their Children in their own Ways And likewise did not the Jews train up their Children in the Old Testament and Old Covenant of works which old Testament and Covenant Christ hath abolished and hath established the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace And therefore must not all the Jews in Spirit in this New Testament train up their Children in this New Covenant of Light Life and Grace Or else do they not bring themselves under Condemnation For doth not the Beasts and the Fowles teach their Young to pick suck and feed their Young All our good things comes from God and Christ the giver of them And will not the Young one cry after the Old ones for their Food All these things might teach People Now you having your Food from Christ and God your Father yea your Bread your Milk your Water your Wine your Honey your Fine Linnen your Cloathing your Breath your Life your Souls and the Image of God which he made you in which Man and Woman hath lost by Transgression but are to be renewed into it again by Christ your Redeemer and Sanctifier and Reconciler and Mediator who makes your Peace between you and God from whom you have your Light Grace and Truth who gives you his Gospel and Faith and Spirit in whose Name you have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven who is your heavenly spiritual Rock and Foundation and have not you all these things from above freely and none of them from below And also your Heavenly Armour and Spiritual Weapons in which you stand Witnesses for God and Christ And cannot you train up all your Children in the Fear of God and tell them from whence you have all these good things that they may come to receive of all these good things which you receive from the good God and Christ the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge Good Children are the Crown of old Men. that you may say The Children of your Children are the Crown of your old Men in the Truth and the Glory of their Fathers in God and that you may say Your Wives are as fruitful Vines by the sides of your House and your Children like Olive Plants round about your Table thus shall they be blessed that fear the Lord that you may say Your Sons are Plants of God growing up in their Youth And Daughters in Truth as polished Stones and that your Daughters may be as Corner-Stones polished after the similitude of a Palace and that your Garners are full and affordeth all manner of Store so that there is no complaining in your Streets And happy is that People whose God is the Lord. And now my Friends if there happen any Difference among Friends either with Friends or the World Let it be put to Referrence if it cannot be ended between themselves And all that are concerned to End any Difference Friends not to go to Law but to end Differences amongst themselves let them have but one Ear to one Party and let them reserve the other Ear to hear the other Party so that they may Judge Impartially of Matters without Affection or Favour or Respect of Persons For you may see how the Jews in the Old Covenant did judge of things among themselves as long as they kept the Law of God and did not go to other Nations or to the Heathen for them to judge of their Matters and therefore the Apostle reproves the Corinthians for that fault for going to Law one with another before Vnbelievers and told them that the Saints should judge the World yea Angels and then how much more might they Judge of things appertaining to this Life And therefore the Apostle exhorted If then ye have Judgment of things pertaining to this Life set them to judge that are least esteemed in the Church And to speak to him that hath Offended alone And Christ saith If thy Brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone if he should hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word may be established And if he neglect to hear them tell it to the Church and if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican Verily I say unto you whatsoever is bound on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven And farther Christ said If two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven For where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. And Christ saith And if he neglect to hear them to tell the Church If thy Brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he Repent forgive him And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times if he turn again saying I Repent thou shalt forgive him Luke 17. Here you may see what Instructions Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gives to his Church and much more which is too large to write And they had Elders in the Old Covenant then much more ought there to be Elders in the New Covenant which are grown in the Truth And they had the Assemblies of the Women in the Law who was concerned in the things about the Figures and Shadows and they wrought about the Holy things and they brought of their clean things to be offered all which Christ the Holy One hath abolished and put an end to in the Old Covenant All are to walk in the fear of God So much more the Believers in Christ in the New Testament in the time of the Gospel are to have their Assemblies and Meetings besides their Instructing and looking into their own Families whether they walk in the Fear of God And then after in the General Service of the Church of God the aged Men and aged Women in the Truth are to be Teachers of good things as the Lord shall order them with his Spirit to Teach and Instruct Exhort Admonish Reprove Rebuke with the Holy Spirit And to rebuke and reprove in the holy Spirit for the least Member hath an Office and every Believer in the Light which is the Life in Christ is a Member of Christ's Church and grafted into him and so he is the holy Head of the Church and they are Heirs of his Order and of his Government of the Increase of which there is no end in his Eternal Power and Spirit And therefore all that deny the Men and Womens Meetings that are established in the Light Power and Spirit of Christ by which we are
his Epistles And therefore how Careful were the true Apostles of the Saints in their Watching over them For John said If ye walk in the Light as he is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another And that ye also may have Fellowship with us for truly our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ And these things write we unto you that your Joy may be full For many may talk of the Light and preach the Light Those that walk in the Light are accepted but to walk in the Light that is it which grafts into Christ Jesus and brings to live in him which talking of him doth not And as the Apostle said As every one hath received Christ Jesus so walk in him And the Sayers of the Word and not the Doers deceived their own Souls So there may be many Sayers of the Word deceivers of their own Souls and others and Preachers of Christ Jesus But the Doers of the Word and the Walkers in Christ Jesus are they that are accepted of the Lord. And again as the Apostle saith The Word of Faith was nigh them in their Hearts and Mouths to obey it and do it and that was the Word of Faith which they preached And the Light shined in their Hearts to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus And the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things that is true and is no Lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And these things I have written unto you saith the Apostle concerning them that seduce you So here may all the inward Christians in the Grace Light Truth Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus see what the Apostles exhorted the Saints unto that they might be preserved in their Day and so by the sme now from them that deceived their own Souls and othes And so by this Light The Anointing the Saiats Guide this Word the Anointing Grace Truth power and Spirit of Jesus Christ in the Heart Mind and Soul must all the Saints be guided now by which they may come to be inward Christians and have a Habitation in Christ Jesus and so built upon Him the Living Rock and Roundation as the Saints were in the Apostles Days and so to have Salt in your selves and the Leaven in your own Meal and the Pearl in your own Field and yuor Lamps lighted in your own Tabernacles and nourished with the heavenly Oil. So that you may put a Difference betwixt the Clean and the Unclean and what you are to touch and whaat you are not And that no Man or Woman may look below Heaven for their Bread tonourish their Souls and inward Man and below God and Christ for their Springs which by continuing in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Word by which all things were made and created they shall have a Spring from him the Fountain springing up in them to Eternal Life so they shall have both the upper and nether Springs to nourish the Plant that God hath planted And such as came out of Egypt with Moses and after rebelled against the Lord and Moses and the Law and the Prophets were a greater Grief to Moses and the Prophets than the Heathen And likewise Apostates both under the Law and the Gospel the greatest Exercises to the Servants of God those that came to be Christians called and had got the Form of Godliness came to be a greater Grief to the Apostles than the World for their Work was to seek to destroy that which the Apostle had begotten and them that they had turned to Christ And therefore well might the Apostle exhort the Saints to turn away from such that had the Form of Godliness and denied the Power and therefore he told the Saints The Kingdom of Heaven stands not in Words but in Power and therefore they were to know one another in the Spirit and Power and that is the Internal Knowledge And their Fellowship was to be in the Holy Ghost and their Unity in the Spirit which was the Bond of Peace and their Fellowship was to be inthe Gospel which was the Power of God So an Everlasting Fellowship in the Everlasting Power of God that will out-last the Power of Darkness for it was before it was And also their Vnity was to be in the precious Divine Faith which Christ was the Author and Finisher of the Mystery of which was held in a pure Conscience and their Worship was in the Spirit of God and in Truth So you may see what a Heavenly Unity and Fellowship and a Worship Christ and the Apostles set up And the Saints in the Light Grace Truth Spirit and the Power of God the Gospel lived in it and walked in it So with the Light Grace Truth Power Spirit and Word of Life in the Heart all hold Christ the Head who is the Head of all thigs by whom all things were made who is the Treasure of the heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge who is called the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven And therefore all are to have their Knowledge and their Wisdom from him the Treasure by the Light Grace Truth Power and Spivit that comes from him it leads you to him your Treasure of heavenly Wisdom and Knowledge by which Knowledge you know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal to know And now my Dear Friends concerning True Liberty THE True liberty is in the Gospel the Power of God which the Devil and his Instruments with his false Liberty cannot get into And in this Gospel is the Saints Fellowship which the Devil with all his false Fellowships cannot get into nor find it True Liberty in the Faith of Christ for it is a Mystery Likewise true Liberty is in the Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of which gives Victory over that which separated Man and Woman from God and by which they have access to God again And in this holy pure divine precious Faith that is held in the pure Conscience which pure Conscience hath its pure holy divine precious Liberty in this holy divine precious Faith which works by Love and not as the dead Faith doth which works by Enmity which is the Fruit of this holy pure divine Faith and in it is the divine pure holy and precious Liberty and Freedom So here is the divine holy pure and precious Liberty in this Faith which works by Love that is the Victory over that which brought Man and Woman into Bondage and Slavery and false Liberty Faith is the Saints victory So this living Faith is the Victory over all dead Faiths and false Freedoms and Liberties which holy divine pure and precious Faith 's the Saints were and are to contend for which Christ the Holy One is the
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
and by ti keep in the Order of the Law of Life whcih they have in Christ Jesus Such as folow the God of the World bate the Order of Truth And they that follow the World's God that are out of Truth and disobey their Creator the God of Truth and the Lord Jesus Christ I say all such obey and follow him in whom there is no Truth and such cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth and of the Gospel or the Law or Order of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus which all they that do obey the Voice of the Lord and Christ Jesus in his Light Grace and Truth and Gospel the Power of God and his Holy Spirit and Faith and Word of Life within come into Unity and Fellowship one with another and with the Son and with the Father and in this they know the Order of Christ and God to be a God of Order and delights in his Heavenly and Eternal Order of Light Life Power and Spirit of God that is over Death and Darkness and the World's God who is a God of Disorder in whom there is no true Order but Confusion and into this holy Order of the Everlasting Light and Life he cannot come Glory to the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus who is over all from evelasting to Everlasting and is the Rock and Foundation and Habitation of his People blessed for ever and evermore Amen G. F. POSTSCRIPT Here you may see by these following Scriptures how the Apostles loved the Good and holy Order of Christ in his Gospel Some Scripture Collections concerning good Order in the Church and Light and Life and Truth but as Job said The Land of Darknese is without any Order And Babylon signifies Confusion which is the false Church and is called a Woman and a City of Confusion who iw against the Order of the true Church and gets the Titles of the true Chruch that is called a City and a Woman which brings forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus and of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end who sits upon the Throne of David and upon his dom to order it to establish it with Judgment and with Justice henceforth and for ever So here you may see Christ doth in his Kingdom and them that have him have his Order Isa 9.7 And David saith Although mine House be not so with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all thins and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my Desire c. 2 Sam. 23.5 Again David saith Order my steps by thy Word and let not Iniquity have Dominion over me Psalm 119.133 Which is the Duty of every Christian to have their Steps ordered by the Word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever which Word is a Word of Order And David saith The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the lord and he delights in his Way I have been young and now am old yet I have not seen the Righteous forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread He is ever merciful and lendeth and his Seed is blessed Psalm 37. Here you may see how the Lord delights in him and them that walk in the Steps the Lord orders them with his Word And him that orders his Conversation aright shall see the Salvation of God Psalm 50.23 And this Order must be in the Light which is the Life in Christ the Saviour And the Apostle Paul after he had spoken many things to the Corinthians he said Therest will I set in Order when I come 1 Cor. 11.34 And he saith concerning the Collections for the Saints in 1 Cor. 16.1 As I have given Order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye to wit the Corinthians So they were to practise the same Order which were the Believers in Christ which the Apstle in the Power of Christ had given to them For the Apostle had the Wisdom of God which he had ordained before the World began unto the Glory of his People then and now also 1 Cor. 2. And the Order that the Apostle did give to the Churches of the Galatians and the Corinthians was That upon the First Day of the Week every one of them lay by him in store as God had prospered him c. 1 Cor. 16.2 And in Acts 14. When they had ordained Elders in every Church and had prayed they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed confirming the Souls of the Disciples Elders Ordained c. and exhorting them to continue in the Faith and that they must through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God And as Paul and others with him went through the Cities Decrees to be kept they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordaine of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem and so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in Number daily Acts 16. And the Occasion of these Decrees was because some Men that went from Judea taught the Brethren saying Except ye be circamcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved Acts 15. And these Decrees were to stop such Preachers For the Apostles and Elders said Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with ords subverting your Souls saying Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such Commandment Now it is clear the Apostles and Elders gave these Teachers no such Commandment to preach such Doctrine to Trouble the Chruches And the Apostle Paul after he had spent some time t Caesaria and Antioch he went over all the Country of Asia and Phrygia in Order strengthening all the Disciples Acts 18. So you may see how they were a Comfort one to another And the Apostle writes to Titus Titus in Creete Chap. 1. For this Cause I have left thee in Creete that thou shouldst set in Order the thins that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I have appointed thee So here Titus in the Sapirit of God did observe that which Paul in the Power of Christ did exhort him to But such as are against the Order and Pracxtice in the Light and Gospel cannot order their Speeches by teason of SDarkness And the Apostle saith Col. 2.5 Though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and steadfastness of your Faith in Christ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Here the Apostle rejoyced in the Order that kept them in the Faith and Steadfastness in Christ Jesus Therefore the Apostle saith Every Man in his own Order Christ the First Fruits c. For in Adam all died even so in Christ shall all be made alive And they that are alive in Christ Jesus are in his Order of Life and Light and in his Gospel the Power of God And the Apostle
saith 1 Cor. 14. 40. Let all things be done Decently and in Order And the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein All things ordered by the Lord. are governed and ordered by the Lord in his Power and Wisdom and all God's Holy Angels are governed and ordered by God and all God's Children and People are governed and ordered by God and Christ in his Light and Spirit and Grace and Truth and Power Gospel and Word of Life And the Lord hath set apart him and them that are Godly for himself Psalm 4. And God hath ordained his Arrows against the Persecutors Psalm 7.13 And it ought to be the Practice of all the true Christians now that are in the same Power and Spirit as the Apostles were in to let all thins be done Decently and in Order in the New Covenant of Ligth Life and Grace to the Glory of the Great God who is over all and orders all things to his Glory Amen G. F. AND now 1680 Friends you who are called into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Epist 362. stand fast in it And as the Apostle saith Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty Of ture Liberty only use it not for an Occasion to the Flesh but in Love serve one another Gal. 5.13 As free not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God 1 Pet. 2. For there were some who while they promised themselves Liberty they themselves were Servants of Corruption Such were like the Dog and the Sow biting and renting and vomiting and wallowing in the Mire and as bad as the Synagogue of the Libertines that turned against Stephen 2 Pet. 2. and Acts 6.9 And therefore the Apostle was careful of the Churches Liberty in Christ when he said But take heed lest this libet of yours become a Stumbing-block to them that are Weak c. 1 Cor. 8. For the Apostle was so careful and tender that he would no have his true Liberty judged of another man's Conscience c. as you may see more at large in 1 Cor. 10. And the Apostle said Falss Brethren came unawares privily to spy out their Liberty which they had in Christ Jesus that they might bring them into Bondage to whom we gave place by Subjection no not for an Hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with you to wit the Galatians Gal. 2.4 And therefore he exhorts them to stand fast in that Liberty wherewhith Christ Jesus hath made them free To stand fast in the Liberty of Christ c. which is the Duty of all true Christians now for to stand fast in that heavenly glorious Liberty which Christ the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam makes them free in and in this they will have Salt in t hemselves to discern between the true Liberty and Freedom and the false and know how to use their holy and spirtual Liberty and Freedom in Christ Jesus to the Praise and Glory of God So Friends the Lord God Almighty preserve you all in the heavenly Order of Christ Jesus in his holy Seed Life Pfower and Spirit that all may live and walk in it to the Praise and Glory and Honour of God and Christ Amen The 3d of the 9th Month 1679. G.F. DEar Friends and Brethren Epist 3â—3 in the Lord Jesus Christ and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World And now that all may walk in him in Love who hath seen the great Deliverances of the Lord and hath been acquainted with his great Mercies that endure for ever Deliverance after Deliverance multitude of Deliverances out of great Trials and Temptations and hath seen how the Lord hath brought to Confusion the Enemies of his Truth both within and without from the Beginning and therefore in the Lord's Spirit and Power all that live in it that know the Lord are incouraged to trust in him God hath raised you up together and quickned you who were dead in Adam and made you to sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus that you might shew forth the Riches of his Grace and Glory and his Kindness towards you through Jesus Christ By one Spirit are we baptised into one Body For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body wherther we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit And therefore endeavour all to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and live and walk in the Spirit And the Fruits of this Spirit of God is Love Joy and Meekness c. And by this one Spirit you have access to the Father of Spirits and this one Spirit which baptises you into one Body both Male and Female knows your Service to God For the Spirit of God divides severally to every one of you as he wills your Offices and Places yet all in Vnity in the Spirit with which you are baptised into one Body and drink into one Spirit And the Apostle Paul who writ from Rome to the Collosians told them That they were compleat in Christ Jesus and said Though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and the steadfastness of your Faith in Christ And now the Lord hath gathered his People by his Power into the same Spirit that the Apostles and Churches were in in the Primitive Times And though they be absent in the Body or Flesh Men in one Room and the Women in another yea as far as the East is from the West or the North is from the South The Spirit present every where yet they are present in the Spirit rejoycing and beholding with the Spirit the Spiritual Order that the Churches and Apostles were in and the stedfastness of their precious holy and divine Faith which Christ the Second Adam is the Author and Finisher of and this is no Separation but they are the Houshold of this holy divine and precious Faith and live and walk in this holy Faith and Spirit of God by which they are baptized into one holy Body of which Christ Jesus the holy and spiritual Man is the Head And this I say again is no Separation thought they be absent in the Body or Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit and with the Spirit behold the Spiritual Order And this is not an imposed outward Form Order or Prescription as some Ignorantly think But they that do say and prescribe that Men and Women must meet all together outwardly in a Bodily Presence in one Room or else it is a Separation I say it is an outward Form an outward Order and Imposition and Prescription and fiercely Press it that know not the Spiritual Order yea I say if all Men and Women in
but Love that every one of you may be adorned with a meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great Price and every one of you to be indued with Wisdom from on High which is pure and peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated and full of Mercy and good Works let the Fruits of this appear among you all and then you will all be gentle and easily entreated one of another And keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace and then none quenches it and all walking as becomes the Glorious Joyful Peaceable Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God which was before the Devil and his Power was and is over him in this Gospel you all know Life and Immortality brought to Light that you all see your Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Everlasting Gospel of Peace in this Gospel the Power of God that was before Enmity was and will remain when it is gone And therefore all you who know this Glorious Gospel of Peace live and walk in it keeping your Glorious Heavenly Comfortable Fellowship in this Glorious Gospel of Peace in which Enmity cannot come as before and in this Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting God who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting will have the Praise Glory and Thanks who is worthy of all for ever and evermore London the 7th of the 12th Month 1680. G. F. To Friends in Yorkshire DEar Friends Epist 365. In the Lord's Power and Holy Spirit feel his Presence amongst you who hath drawn you with his Spirit to his Son and you that have received him he gives you Power to become his Sons and Daughters and so from the Son of God the second Adam you have Power to meet whose Power is above Adam's Power and his Sons and Daughters in the Fall And now my Friends If you do want Wisdom and Knowledge to order you in the Affairs and Service of God Christ the Treasure of Wisdom c. Christ is the Treasure of your Wisdom and Knowledge and so receive them from his Treasury which is above This heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge from whence you have your Grace and Truth Light and Life and the Gospel the heavenly Spirit yea heavenly Food and heavenly Bread and Water of Life from above and the unleavened Bread and sweet Milk of the Word and Water of Life to keep the Feast of the heavenly Man's Passover which is not to be found in any of old Adam's Sons and Daughters Store-houses in the Fall but his old mouldy leavened sowre Bread which makes his Sons and Daughters Hearts to burn one against another and Cloaths them with his old Rags which will not cover their Nakedness which they have stitch'd together which must be all cast off and trodden under Foot by the Spirit and Power of Christ which Power turns you to Christ who Cloaths all his Sons and Daughters with his heavenly Fine Linnen which will never wax old And therefore let all your Lamps be trimmed and Candles lighted that all of you may see your Work and Service for God and Christ in this his Day So that you may have the Blessings from above from him as the holy Men and Women of God had in the days of old so that there may be nothing lacking neither Spiritual nor Temporal And so let all things be done in Peace and Love in the Name and Power of Jesus amongst you and all condescend to one another in Meekness Patience and Quietness in the Fear of the Lord being all ordered with the Wisdom of God which is from above which is pure peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated that all your Hearts Minds and Souls may be knit together in the Love of Christ and that you may be all of one Mind and Spirit in him and whatever you do let it be done in the Name and Power of Jesus to the Glory of God the Father that created all and takes care for all Blessed for ever Amen London the 6th of the 4th Month 1680. G. F. A Letter to the Captives who met together to Worship God in Algier DEar Friends I understand by a Letter from a Friend Epist 366. a Captive amongst you dated the 20th of the 10th Month 1681 That you have a Meeting there in Algier of about Twenty I am glad to hear you meet and it is very well that you have so much Liberty from your Patroons and my desire is That the Lord may preserve you all that do meet in the Name of Jesus that in your Lives and Conversations and Words To preach Righteousness in Life and Conversation you may preach Righteousness and Holiness and Godliness and the Life of Truth so that you may answer the Spirit of God both in the Turks and Moors and the rest of the Captives that God's City may be set upon the holy Hill there which cannot be hid but that all may see it with the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World And that Christ's Ensign may be set up in those Parts that with his Light in all Men they may all see it and flock to it and Christ the Ensign furnisheth all that come to him with heavenly Armour and Spiritual Weapons Now Christ enlightens every Man that cometh into the World that every one may believe in the Light and may become a Child of the Light and have Eternal Life and be saved and so the Gospel of Salvation the Power of God is to be preached to every Creature under Heaven And he that believes is saved and hath the Salvation for Christ by the Grace of God hath tasted Death for every Man And the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men And therefore all Men if they will have Salvation it must be by believing receiving and walking in the Grace of God which brings it And the Lord pours out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and therefore all Men and Women must come to this Holy Spirit of God by which the Spirit of Enmity may be slain and crucified in them that in this Holy Spirit of God they may all be in Love and Vnity and with the Spirit of God they may all come to know the Eternal Immortal God and serve and worship him in his Holy Spirit of Truth which he hath poured upon them And in this all will honour God and glorifie him through Jesus Christ in his New Covenant of Light and Grace And so my Dear Friends be faithful and valiant for God's Truth upon Earth and do not deny the Name of Jesus To be valiant for the Truth in whom you have Salvation whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven that ye may all be with his Light built upon him your Rock and Foundation that stands sure And now my Dear Friends tho' you remain as Captives yet if ye be Christ's and God's Free-men who leads the Devil into
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
he may be glorified in and amongyou Amen So Fare ye well in the Lord. G. F. London the 18th of the 12th Month 1681. To Friends in Carolina DEar Friends Epist 371. with my Love to all the Faithful and Tender Friends in Christ the Holy Seed that bruises the Head of the Serpent the cause of Enmity in which Seed no Enmity is Christ bruises the Head of the Serpent nor can come for in this Seed is all Nations blessed which destroys the evil Seed that brought the Curse and his cursed Works and Workers So let this Seed Christ rule in all your Hearts who was promised and prophesied of to come who is come and reigns in whom is Wisdom Salvation Life and Glory over all the First and Last this Seed doth live and reign over all that doth change and will have an end Now in this holy Seed you injoy the Blessings and your Election in it which was before the World began Now in this holy Seed is the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowlede and as you all live and walk in this Seed you will have Wisdom and Knowledge that is heavenly from this Treasure with which Wisdom and Knowledge you will have Vnderstanding that all your Conversations may be ordered by it aright and to preach Righteousness and Holiness and Godliness so that you may glorifie God in your Lives and Conversations and all your Words may be gracious and seasoned with Grace and whatever Promises you may make to any Man you may consider before that you may perform them that so your Words may preach Righteousness and Truth so that you may be the Lights of the World and the Salt of the Earth that by your Light shining you may answer the Light in all Men and by the Grace and by the Salt you may savour that which is unsavoury and so by your good Works and keeping to the Salt and to the Light shining you may be Instrumental to open the Eyes of others to know your Father which is in Heaven that they may glorifie him And my Desire is To keep low week c. that all Friends may keep low and meek and humble that he that doth Inhahit Eternity may dwell with you and that you may take upon you Christ's Yoke that you may draw with his heavenly Plow that with it the Earth may be turned up that hath oppressed and grieved the tender Seed and God's Holy Spirit so that God's Plantations may be minded above the out ward that his Lillies and Vines may grow and bring forth Fruit to his Praise who giveth the Increase And now Dear Friends Keep in the Love of God which doth edifie the Body of Christ that will bear all things And be gentle and courteous and kind one to another in the fear of Lord for there is no danger in keeping low for the danger is to such that are high and lofty and puff'd up Such will swell and though they may have good Words and a form of Godliness yet such that do so swell will break out into bitter Fruits Strife and Contention and such go out from the Power of God and his Spirit and so out of the Camp of God and then out of the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and therefore all must keep in the holy Spirit of God if they will keep in Fellowship with the Saints in Light and so keep the Bond of Peace For they that go from the Spirit of God in themselves though they have the whole Form of Godliness they break the Bond of Peace and such runs into vain Disputes Strife and Contention But there is no such Custom in the Church of Christ which keeps the Vnity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace And now Dear Friends in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Spirit keep all your Meetings for Worship and your Meetings for Business that you may see that all that professes the Light of Christ and his Truth and hath received it that they do wald according to Truth and as becomes the Gospel that the Name of God may not be blasphemed amongst you And if that you of Ashly Cooper River and that ways and Albermarle River and that ways Advice for a Yearly Meeting had once a Year or once in a half Year a Meeting together it might do very well some where in the middle of the Country as you shall see meet as they have in Maryland and Road Island And if you had sometimes some Meetings with the Indian Kings and their People to preach the Gospel of Peace of Life and of Salvation to them for the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature and Christ hath tasted Death for every Man and died for their Sins that they might come out of Death and Sin and live to Christ that died for them who hath enlightened them with the Light which is the Life in himself and God pours out of this Spirit upon all Flesh that is upon all Men and Women And the Grace and Favour of God appears unto all Men so that all may believe in his Light and walk in his Holy Spirit and receive his Grace which will teach them to live Godly c. and bring them Salvation so that you may come to see the Light of Christ's Glorious Gospel set up in those Parts And God hath promised he will lift up an Ensign unto the Nations And again There shall be a Root of Jesse Christ God's Ensign to the Nations which shall stand for an Ensign to the People to it the Gentiles shall seek And again he saith For the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea So I desire that That part of the Earth may be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord. And now dear and tender Friends my tender desire is That you may in no wise abuse neither by your Words nor by your Lives nor Conversations the Liberty which God or the Rulers have given you but in all things you may have an Eye to God's Glory that he may be glorified by you all who is worthy of all who is the Lord of all both in Heaven and Earth blessed for ever G. F. An Epistle concerning the Government of Christ and his Peace of whose Kingdom there shall be no End COncerning the Government of Christ and his Peace Epist 372. the encrease of which there shall be no End upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgment and Justice from henceforth and for ever The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Now Christ Jesus thd Second Adam the Lord from Heaven it is He who Rules and Reigns and Governs in the Hearts of his Saints who are the Believers in his Light the Life in him who is their Governor and Counsellor who died for their Sins and is risen for their Justification and is the
Captain of Salvation And Christ's Government in the Hearts of his People is by his Grace and Truth Christ governs by his Light c. in the Hearts of Men. that comes from Christ Jesus by whom all things were made who doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World which Light is the Life in Him he saith Believe in the Light that you may become the Children of the Light and such have the Light of Life and by it comes under Christ's Government and Peace and his Order in his Light and Life Now they that hate his Light they hate the Life in Christ the heavenly Man and such will hate Christ by whom all things were made and created and hate his Order and his Justice and Judgment and his Light and Life And such are not like to come into his established Government and Kingdom so Christ who is the Governor the Counsellor the Orderer He orders and governs with his Light his Life in the Hearts of all the Believers in the Light and all the Believers in the Light have the Witness in themselves of Christ their Ruler Counsellor Orderer heavenly Governor and of his Judgment Justice and Peace and that of the encrease of his Government there is no End Now they that hate the Light which is the Life in Christ the Second Adam They that hate the Light refuse Christ to Rule over them the Lord from Heaven they are them that would not have Christ rule over them nor in them therefore it condemns them and what is the matter that all Men and Women do not see but are blind and are not in Vnity Is it not because they hate the Light the Life in the Second Adam and will not come to the Light nor wald in the Light And then is not the Light their Condemnation who are in transgressing Old Adam And how are they like to see or believe or have Faith in Christ that hated his Light and will not come to it which is the Life in the Second Adam And therefore all that hates his Light which is the Life in him are not like to see nor receive Faith from him that will not believe in his Light nor come to it but hate it and such will hate both the Divine Faith and the Author of it And therefore all that do hate the Light which is the Life in Christ which he enlightens them withal they hate his Order they hate his Government his Rule yea Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven And all such haters of Christ his Light Life Order Government and Counsel are in a false Liberty though they may profess Christ or his Government in Words yet not believing in the Light and walking in the Light the Life of Christ they have no true Fellowship one with another but are in Confusion and have no true Fellowship with the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ nor with the Son and the Father for how should they For until they come to believe in the Light the Life in the Second Adam they cannot see their own States they are in a blind State for none sees nor enters into the Kingdom of God till they are Boru again and those that are Born again are the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ and so Bocome Children of the Light grafted into Christ and such do know and see the true Liberty in Christ Jesus the Second Adam All such do see and know that all false Liberty is out of the Light the Life in the Second Adam in Old Adan in the Transgression And Christ that doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World which is the Life in him such comes to Christ Christ enlighteneth every Man and are grafted into him the Head and so holds Christ their Head by whom all things were made and created who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending These are they that see his Order his Government and his Rule in their Hearts and receives his Law of Spirit and Life and live and walk in it which makes them free from the Law of Sin and Death These see Christ to be the Author and Finisher of their holy divine precious Faith And their Faith stands in Christ who is the Author of it who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him Christ hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth And the Mystery of this Faith they hold in a pure Conscience and do know the Law of this Faith and the Law of Love that God hath shed in their Hearts through Jesus Christ And so in this Light Faith and Life that they have from Jesus the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven they come all to be of one Faith of one Light and one Life and so of one Mind Heart and Judgment in this New Covenant of Light and Life so in it they are under the Government and Counsel and Order of Jesus that he establishes in his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life in their Hearts The Law came by Moses and all the Jews were to be under the Law in the Old Covenant and this Law served till Christ the Seed came in his New Covenant He is come and now Grace and Truth is come by Jesus Christ the great Governor And now this Grace and this Truth is come form Him into the Hearts of all his Believers And with and in this Grace and Truth Christ rules in the Hearts of them that receives his Grace and Truth and with this Grace and Truth and in it every Believer and Saint receiveth Christ their Governor and his Order and his Counsel and heavenly Judgment and Justice from the heavenly Man in his established Government The Grace of God bringeth Salvation which he establishes with his Grace and Truth Now this Grace of God which brings Salvation which hath appeared unto all Men which does manifest that all Men have a Day of Grace and Favour Now this must needs be the special Grace of God which brings Salvation which hath appeared unto all Men. Now then not receiving this Grace and Favour of God but turning from this Grace into Wantonness and walking despitefully against the Spirit of Grace therein they are hardened and blind and turns that into Wantonness and walks despitefully against it which should teach them and bring their Salvation And therefore such comes to be blind and hardened against the Grace and Favour of God that truns it into Wantonness as I said before and walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and Truth and such turns against God and Christ from whence Grace and Truth comes and turns from and against his People that are established in the Grace of God that brings their Salvation Tho' such may profess God and Christ in Words only and his Grace and Truth their Profession will come to nothing except they receive his Grace and Truth into their Hearts They that
do receive Christ in his Grace and Truth which comes from him they know his Government in the Truth They who receive Christ in his Grace know his Government in the Truth and in the Covenant of Grace yea in their Hearts and knows their gracious and true Liberty in the Grace and Truth and in Christ from whence it comes and his holy and heavenly Order in his Grace and his Reign in their Hearts And all such that walks despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and turns the Grace into Wantonness though such may profess God and Christ their Profession will come to nothing and all their Liberty is false and in the Flesh in Old Adam in Transgression For true Liberty is in the Grace and Truth that is come by Jesus which leads up unto Jesus from whence it comes in whom the everlasting true Liberty is For Christ who is the Truth Holy and Pure he reigns in the Truth and in his Grace And therefore every Man and Woman must with this Grace and Truth in their Hearts which they have from Christ feel and see Christ's Reign and Rule in their Hearts and him in his heavenly Eternal everlasting Government The Lord spoke by his Prophet Joel That it shall come to pass in the last Days tht God will pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh c. Joel 2.28 And Peter said This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last Days saith God that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie Your young Men shall see Visions and your old Men shall dream Dreams and on my Servants and on my Hand-maids I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall Prophesie Acts 2.17 18. Now it is God that pours out of his Spirit upon all Flesh by which Sons God pours out his Spirit upon all Flesh Daughters young Men old Men Servants and Handmaids have their Visions and Prophesies and Dreams And these last Days are the Days of Christ in his Gospel and New Covenant It is said in the Old Covenant That God did pour out of his Spirit upon the House of Israel and the House of Judah But in the Days of the New Covenant of Light and Grace God poured out of hes Spirit upon all Flesh both Jews and Gentiles Now all Flesh must come to the Spirit of God and be led and guided by it if they will see Christ's heavenly spiritual Government and Order and with this Spirit to know Christ the spiritual Man to rule and govern in their Hearts And all that by this Spirit are circumcised they eat of the heavenly Passover or their Bread from Heaven And all that are baptized with the Spirit are baptized into one Body and do all drink into one Spirit So here they are one in this spiritual Fellowship which is the true Church-Fellowship even that Church which is in God the Pillar and Ground of Truth which Church Christ is the heavenly and spiritual Head of and well he may for he is the Author of their Faith and the Author of their Light and Life Grace and Truth and Spirit and Gospel of Peace and Salvation by which he Rules in the Hearts of his living Members the Church And all they that grieve vex quench and rebel against the Spirit comes to be blind as the Jews and will not see with their Eyes nor hear with their Ears nor perceive with their Hearts and such may profess Christ in the New Testament and the Apostles Words and the Government and Order of Christ as the Jews did profess the Old Testament and Christ to come but they would not receive him then when he was come No more do they now that profess he is come who vexes and quenches his Spirit and grieves it and rebels against it and errs from it And such are not like to receive Christ into their Hearts nor come into his heavenly Order and established peaceable Government as those that are led by the Spirit of God which are the Sons of God and keeps the Vnity of the Spirit which Holy Spirit is the Bond of Peace amongst all Christ's Subjects Lambs and Sheep thet feed together in his Pasture of Life For it is God that gives the heavenly Understanding of Christ's established Government and Order And they that quench and vex and rebel against the Spirit of God will rebel against Christ's established Government and Order and his People that are in it that are led by the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and a sound Mind And such as will not hear the Spirit of God in themselves will neither hear God nor Christ nor his Sheep nor such as he sends but rebel against them Now the Gospel being preached to or in every Creature under Heaven which Gospel is the power of God to Salvation to every one that Believes So that all that receives this Gospel the Power of God unto Salvation in their Hearts receives Christ the Power of God and his Government and Order in the Power And Christ reigns in their Hearts in his Power and such comes into the Gospel-Order and they that come to be Heirs of the Gospel the Power of God to Salvation are Heirs of Christ's peaceable established Government and are true Subjects to Christ's Power and established peaceable Government and so this Gospel the Power of God to Salvation is peaceable joyful and comfortable which is the Gospel of Christ the Second Adam Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Lord from Heaven and is not called the Gospel of old Adam in Transgression and this Gospel which is the Power of God unto Saluation it keeps all that believes in it in the Everlasting Joy Peace and Comfort and in Order for it is the Everlasting Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light by which they see over the Devil and before he was that hath blinded them and darkned them from Life and Immortality So in this Gospel that hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in God's People both Men and Women they are established in the Order of it in which they do serve the Eternal Everlasting God of Truth Now all they that do not receive the Gospel of Christ the Power of God to Salvation which is preached to every or in every Creature under Heaven Life and Immortality is not brought to Light in them and such the God of the World hath blinded and so they remain Blind under the God of the World and such are Blind concerning the Order of the Gospel and are ignorant of their Salvation and of that Joy and Comfort and Peace of the Gospel neither can they serve God in the Gospel though they may profess Christ and his Gospel in words yet such hath no Comfort of it And therefore such as disobeys the Gospel of Christ the Power of God to Salvation and will not receive it nor
became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth verse 35. They shall not hurt nor destroy in my holy Mountain For the Earth shall be full ot the Knowledge of the Lord ad the Waters covers the Sea Isa 11.9 The 27th of the 8th Month 1681. G. F. To Friends in Jamaica Dear Friends Epist 373. with my Love in the Lord to you all It hath been often in my mind from a Sense of the Spirit of the Lord which thing I shall lay before you and commend it to the Witness of God in all your Consciences The thing is this Advice to have a Yearly Meeting in Jamaica That if you had once in a Year a Yearly Meeting as they have in Holland Cermany and Freezlan and at Road Island and in England and else where which is and hath been of great Service for Friends to see one another and know how the Affairs of Truth prospers and how Friends doth grow in the Truth of God to the Comfort and Joy of one another in it in which the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted And if there should be any Difference among Friends it may be ended at the Yearly Meeting by some Friends out of the Meeting which could not be ended at other Meetings So that all things by the Truth and Power of God may be kept in Peace and Love all dwelling in the Wisdom of God that 's from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be entreated And so for you once in a Year to meet together in the Lord's Power and to wait upon him in his Spirit and Truth one day and then another day you may have a Yearly Men and Womens Meeting in the Lord's Power which in time you may find and feel a great Service in the Lord's Spirit and Power in which you may feel his Presence and Blessing flow among you and as for Place and Time I shall leave it to your best Convenience and the Lord direct you that you may do all things whatever you do to his Glory for you know that in other Countries or Provinces they have either Half-Year Meetings or Yearly Meetings except it be in Jamaica which several times hath been in my Mind for you to have one there for where they are settled they see a great Service in them and the Lord hath owned them and honoured them with his Presence and that keeps all in a Sense of a care of his Glory and a care of one another that they may be kept and preserved in God's Eternal Truth in meekness in gentleness and in tenderness and in love that edifies the Body of Christ the second Adam the Lord from Heaven And so that all of you in Godliness Holiness and Righteousness may spend your Days to the Glory of God that your Conversations may be in Heaven and not below in the Earth among the wicked that the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus may be glorified in you all who is over all blessed for ever Amen And Friends it would be very well if that you brought on your your Case of not Swearing and taking Oaths which hath been lost through that Spirit which was unfaithful Now the same Governor is come over again in whose time when he was there formerly that Act was obtained Yea and Nay instead of an Oath at the Assembly in which your Yea and Nay was taken instead of an Oath and Swearing Therefore see if you can prevail with this Governor and his Assembly to have the same Act renewed again and to clear your selves from that Spirit which was the cause that the Act was repealed So with my love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all And my Desires are That you may all be preserved in God's Power to his Glory and that you may grow in the Truth and with the Truth answer the Truth in every one's inward parts so that ye may spread the Truth abroad and that with it your Hearts may be united together And walk in it and in the love of it for Love edifies the Body of Christ And that ye may be good Examples in the Truth and in Righteousness and Holiness and shew forth Christianity in the Possession of it above the outside Professors From Dolston the 24th of the 7th Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Holland FRriends and Brethren in the Holy Seed of Life Epist 374. that reigneth over all in it walk and in the Power and Spirit To be as the Salt of the Earth c. and Truth of God that you all may be as a City set upon a Hill that cannot be hid and the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World to answer the Light of Christ in all and be a good Savour in them that are saved and in them that perish and all live in Love that beareth all things and doth deifie the Body of Christ and grow up in him your Head and Life and be kind and courteous and tender in Affection to one another and walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ the Power of God And dear Friends this Yearly Meeting the Lord's Power Was over all and his Seed of Life and the Lords living refreshing Presence was among us in all our Meetings And your Epistle from your Yearly Meeting in Holland was read to the refreshing of Friends and another from the half Years Meeting in Ireland and a Testimony from Scotland that Friends are in Love and Vnity there and the Truth prospereth and spreadeth and by Letters from America Friends have set up a Meeting about Twenty that are Captives among themselves and a Friend that is a Captive declareth the Truth there among them and their Masters doth let them meet and it may be of great Service there and the Lord's Power is over all and in it be Valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad and that you may all in Humility exalt the Lord and that the Presence of God and his Son may be among you all and so the Blessing of the Lord be among you all Amen London the 17th of the 4th month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends In all your Meetings see that the Lord God be glorified and have an Eye to his Glory Epist 375. and let all things be done without Strife or Reflections but all to mind the Testimony of Life and that which doth preserve your Unity in it and in that you will seek one anothers good and not slight one another but to esteem one another in the Truth and keep low in Humility for such God will exalt and be kind and tender-hearted one to another and dwell in the Love of God To be kind and tender hearted one to another that he doth shed abroad in your Hearts for that Love which cometh from God doth edifie the Body of Christ and therefore you must be of a noble Spirit that are of the noble Birth born of the Spirit and to love
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
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
which keeps in the Way of the Lord and commands their Children and Houshold to do the same they have the Blessings from Heaven above and the Blessings below yea the Blessings of the Eternal Inheritance and of the Kingdom of God and that was their chief Inheritance That all the Faithful Seed of Abraham sought to possess their Houshold and their Children in who did command their Children and Houshold to keep the Way of God that they might inherit the Blessing David saith Blessed is the Man that walketh not in the counsel of the Vngodly nor standeth in the way of Sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the Scornful But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth meditate Day and Night Now here is the condition of them that do enjoy the Blessing they must keep from the Counsel of the Ungodly and the Way of Sinners and the Seat of the Scornful Now here you may see David's Instruction how People might inherit the Blessing Levit. 10. That you may put a difference betwixt the holy and unholy and between the clean and unclean and that you may teach your Children all the Statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses And it was so in the Old Testament that they might learn the Statutes there Surely much more they are to learn the Commands of Christ in his New Testament And in Deut. 4.9 10. To Teach our Children the Fear of the Lord. They were to Teach their Sons and their Sons Sons and again they were to Teach their Children that they might learn to fear God all the days that they lived upon the Earth c. This they were to teach their Children and again in Deut. 11. It was the Command of God that they were to Teach their Children the Commandments of God and they were to speak of them when they sat in their House and when they walk'd by the Way when they lay down and when they rose up and in Deut. 30. Moses told them that The Word was nigh them in their Mouths and in their Hearts that they might do it And David said Come you Children hearken to me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. O fear the Lord you Saints there is no want to them that fear him Psal 34.9 11. Ye that fear the Lord trust in the Lord he is their Help and their Shield Psal 115.11 And you may see all along in the Old Testament they that feared the Lord were commanded to teach and instruct their Children the Way of the Lord that they might walk in it and inherit the Blessing which was a better Portion than outward Riches which will pass away for they make themselves Wings and fly away Solomon saith Train up a Child in the may he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Foolishness is bound up in the Heart of a Child but the Rod of Correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22.15 He that spareth the Rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastiseth him betimes By Mercy and Truth iniquity is purged out and by the Fear of the Lord they depart from evil Prov. 13.24 and 16.6 And the Apostle's Command is For Children to obey their Parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.1 and Col. 1.3 20. It is well pleasing to the Lord Children to obey their Parents Children to obey their Parents and the Bishops or Elders were to Rule well their own Houses and to have their Children in subjection with all gravity and likewise the Deacons were to rule their own Children and their own Houses well Tim. 1.3 And likewise you may see the good Report of the Widows bringing up Children which followed every good work c. And in Titus such as were Elders or Overseers their Children were to be Faithful Elders to govern their Families well not accused of Riot or Vnruly and the aged Women were to be of good Behaviour as becometh Holiness c. and Teachers of good things and that they Teach the younger Women to be Sober c. And That the Word of God be not blasphemed And Titus was to exhort young Men to be Sober-minded For the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men teaching us that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World that being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life And Peter saith As Obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to your former Lusts in your Ignorance but as he who hath called you is Holy Be Holy in all manner of Conversation so be you Holy in all manner of Conversation and be not like them feeding themselves without fear which are the Clouds without Rain and Wells without Water and Trees without Fruit whom Jude declares against such cannot eat and drink to the Praise and Glory of God c. So you see what care both in the Old and New Testament the faithful Parents had to teach their Children the Way of the Lord and the Lord hath a Confidence in all them that fear him and are of the Faith and Seed of Abraham that they will not only admonish their Children and Houshold but Command their Children and Houshold after them to keep the Way of the Lord c. Gen. 18. And to keep out of the wicked Ways of the World The Apostle saith They which be of Faith are blessed with faithful Abraham And so are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus and if you be Christ's then are you Abraham 's Seed and Heirs according to the Promise Gal. 3. And so the Children of God are counted for the Seed which the good Seed Christ saith are the Children of the Kingdom And the Apostle spake to the Romans that they should Walk in the steps of the Faith of Abraham Again the Apostle saith to the Corinthians concerning Titus Walked we not in the same Spirit walked we not in the same steps And in the first Epistle of Peter Christ hath suffered for us leaving us an Example Christ hath suffered for us leaving us an Example that we should follow his steps who did not sin neither was guile found in his mouth So these were holy steps and are a Religious Holy People that walk in the steps of faithful Abraham and of Christ and the Apostles and these have the pure Religion and do visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and keep themselves unspotted from the World and these are they that are Circumcised with the Spirit and Baptised with the Holy Ghost and serve God Night and Day and worship him in Spirit and Truth and these are the Religious Families which are of the holy divine pure and precious Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of which Faith purifieth their Hearts and is their Victory by which
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
chaste Mind And therefore they are not like to expect a Blessing in this Life nor in that which is to come without great Judgment and Repentance Therefore such Actions are to be reproved that they may be brought into Chastity Vertue and Piety and to the Adorning the hidden Man of the Heart which is not corruptible and the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which Ornament or Adorning is acceptable with the Lord. For after this manner in Old Time the Holy Women who trusted in God adorned themselves And likewise such To keep Covenant in Marriage as after they are married break their Covenant in Marriage such go from the Spirit of God and his Joining and from the Spiritual Society of God's People and their Unity and Fellowship Such are to be reproved by the Spirit of God And if they do not return after Reproof Friends cannot have Unity or Fellowship with them but turn away from them though they may have the Form of Godliness and have been called a Sister or a Brother but have denied the Power of Godliness Therefore all must abide in Christ the Vine if they bring forth Fruit to the Glory and Praise of God Amen The Apostle says Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walks disorderly c. 2 Thess 3. Now The Case of old Eli a Warning to Parents Dear Friends consider old Eli's Case who did admonish his Children but because he did not restrain them from the Follies and the Evils they run into therefore the Lord brought his Judgments upon him that he lost his Childrens Lives and his Priesthood and his own Life And do you think that this was not written for an Example that others should be warned hear and fear And was not the Gospel and the Law given forth to restrain People from Sin and Evil and such things as dishonour God G. F. An Epistle to all Friends every where FRiends Epist 390. This is the Word of the Lord unto you all All live in the Seed in which all Nations are blest in which Seed you are blest every way Christ the Blessing of all Nations in your rising up and lying down in your goings forth and comings in And you have the Blessings from above and the Blessings from beneath in this Holy Seed yea the Blessings of him that dwelt in the Bush that made the very Ground Holy that Moses trod upon who brings you out of the World which is as a Bushy Thorny Wilderness that ye might dwell in this blessed Seed in which all Nations are blest which bruises the Serpent's Head who was the first Questioner and Tempter and Lyar and Deceiver and Man and Woman by harkening or giving Ear to this Questioner Lyar and Tempter the Serpent they fell from their Habitation in the Image of God and so went out of their Habitation and Service that God had placed them in and commanded them to do But the Seed of the Woman is come that bruises the Serpent's Head in which Seed Christ all Nations are blest And all you who live and walk in this Seed you live in him that bruises the Serpent's Head that Lyar Tempter and Questioner yea and every one by this Seed Christ may be renewed up into the Image of God as Adam and Eve were in in the Beginning Then you are all in your Habitations of Life and Truth and the Image of God and in it you know your Services Vnruly Talkers that the Lord God Almighty commands you And you living in this Holy Seed you live over all vain unruly Talkers and vain Disputers Men of corrupt Minds which have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof All you as live in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head turn away from such for their Work is to destroy whose Words eat as a Canker who do profess Truth in Words and may have the Form of Godliness but in their Works deny the Power thereof who are to every good Work or Service Reprobated And these are as the raging Waves of the Sea and Tempests they are known by their tempestuous Spirits and its raging like a raging of the Sea cassing up Mire and Dirt a murdering Spirit like Cain a Gain-saying Spirit like Corah and erred from the true Spirit like Balaam No Rain in their Clouds no Water in their Wells nor Fruit on their Trees twice dead that is once dead and made alive and dead again so they cannot grow in the Truth Light nor the Spirit of God nor his Gospel but such corrupt the Earth and corrupt Peoples Minds are sowers of Discord Strife and Contention Co-workers with the Serpent to beguile the unstable Minds all such the Seed of God reigns over And therefore in this Holy Seed Christ all live and walk and shun such evil Spirits and their Works and all be establish'd in this Seed Christ Jesus that the Serpentine Spirit either by its Strife Vain Jangling Vain Disputing or its sowing of Dissention Tempting and Questioning not with feigned fair flattering inticing Words may not draw you out of your Habitation of the Seed Christ Jesus and the Image of God and your Work and Service in it that God and Christ Commands you And therefore beware of this Serpentine Spirit Beware of Doggs who will devour that you may not be deceived as Eve was and beware of Doggs that will bite and devour you and beware of Evil-workers though they have never such fair Words to deceive the Hearts of the simple Beware of false Prophets which are inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God and are become Wolves though they have got the Sheeps cloathing and the Words of Truth of Christ and his Apostles whose Fruits are as Thorns and Thistles But the Seed Christ that discovers all these things in him live grow up and walk and be established And beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees And of the Leaven of the Pharisees who make an outward Profession of the Holy Mens Words but are Persecuters of the Seed Christ Jesus in whom all Nations are blest and Despisers of his peaceable Government of the increase of which there is no end And into this blessed Seed the Serpent cannot come nor none of his Instruments nor his Angels which are evil Spirits And all the Doters about Questions and Strife of Words and the vain Janglers and vain perverse Disputers and Contenders and the sowers of Strife and Dissention Not to dote about Questions and strife of Words makers of Debate and Strife All these are out of the blessed peaceable Seed although they may profess the Truth of all the New and Old Testament in Words without the Power of God that they are turned away from and therefore they are to be turned away from the Trumpet of the Lord his Spirit and Power is blown against them though they have never such high swelling Words of
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 Disobedience and Pride of the Jews and how his Judgments were fulfilled upon them that did not Repent and how the Apostle did admonish and reprove such as went into Pride and the Fashions of the World THE Lord saith Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty The Pride of the Daughters of Zion and walk with stretched forth Necks and wanton Eyes walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their Feet therefore the Lord will smite with a Scab the Crown of the Head of the Daughters of Zion and the Lord will discover their secret Parts in that Day the Lord will take away the Bravery of their Tinkling Ornaments about their Feet and their Cauls and their Round Tyres like the Moon the Chains mark the Chains and the Bracelets and the Mufflers the Bonnets and the Ornaments of the Legs and the Head-bands and the Tablets and the Ear-rings the Rings and Nose-Jewels the Changable Suits of Apparrel and the Mantles and the Wimbles and the Crisping-pins and Glasses and the fine Linnen and the Hoods and the Vails And it shall come to pass that instead of sweet smell there shall be a stink and instead of a girdle a rent and instead of well set hair baldness and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloath and burning instead of beauty Thy Men shall fall by the Sword and thy Mighty in the War and her Gates shall lament and mourn and she being desolate shall sit on the Ground Isa 3.16 to the end And you may read in 2 Kings 17. how that the Children of Israel were carried into Captivity in Assyria for the King of Assyria besieged Samaria and after three Years Besieging he took it and carrried away the Ten Tribes of the Children of Israel into the Land of Assyria And Isaiah according to the Word of the Lord went to the Prophetess and she conceived and bore a Son c. And the Lord said Before the Child should have the Knowledge to cry My Father and my Mother the Riches of Damascus and the Spoil of Samaria shall be taken away by the King of Assyria Isa 8.3 4. Now here you may see what a Destruction came upon Samaria and the Jews because of their Rebellion and Disobedience The Ten Tribes punished for their Pride and their Haughtiness and Pride as Isaiah cried against in Chap. 3. And then what became of all their Haughtiness and Pride and their Mincing and their Tinkling with their Feet and their Chains and Bracelets and Jewels and Round Attire with their Glasses and Hoods and Veils when they were driven away by Droves by the King of Assyria into Captivity into Assyria out of their own Land Houses and Cities Then Isaiah 's Prophecy was fulfilled upon those Haughty and Proud Jews And did not Nebuchadnezzar afterwards carry away the two Tribes and destroy Jerusalem because of their Disobedience Rebellion Haughtiness and Pride who would not regard the Lord nor his Prophets therefore the Lord suffered them to be led away Prisoners out of their own Houses Cities and Land into Babylon so strip'd them of their Pride And the Two Tribes also and caused them to be carried away into strange Countries so was not the Prophets Prophecy fulfilled upon them The Lord saith Behold the Day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the Proud yea all that do Wickedly shall be as Stubble and the Day that cometh shall burn them up The proud as Stubble saith the Lork of Host that it shall leave them neither Root nor Branch But unto them that fear my Name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves in the Stall Mal. 4.1 2. Therefore it is good for all to keep out of Pride and Wickedness in Humility lest they be burnt up And the Apostle commanded That Women adorn themselves in modest Apparrel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety not with Broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or Costly Array but that which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works I tim 2.9 10. And likewise Peter in his General Epistle saith to the Women Whose Adorning let it not be that outward Adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparrel 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 For after this manner in the old time the holy Women who trusted in God adorned rhemselves being in subjection unto their own Husbands 1 Pet. 3.3 4 5. Here you may see both the Prophets and Apostles declared against the Pride and Haughtiness of People both in the Old and New Testament And the Apostle John saith in his first General Epistle to the Church of Christ Love not the World Love not the World neither the things that are in the World if any one love the World the love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.2 15 16 47. Now here you may see an express Command to the true Christians the Church of Christ against the Love of the World and the Things of the World and the Lust of the Eye and the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life and they that love the World the love of the Father is not in them and how that the World passeth away and the Lust thereof and therefore love not the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life which is not of the Father And do not most of Christendom say the Lord's Prayer Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name c. and you that live in the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of your Life which is not of the Father which is in Heaver but of the World that passeth away and the Lust thereof And is it not said The Devil is the king of Pride And therefore do not do his Lusts but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever And therefore consider when you say Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be the Name c. when you live in those things which are not of the Father which is in Heaven and daily obey and love the Lust of your Eye the Lust of your Flesh and the Pride of your Life which is not of the Father but of the World And the Apostle John tells you He that toves the World the love of the Father is not in him G. F. An Epistle to all the Prisoners and Sufferers for the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Worship The Word of God is
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
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
Christ the Son to abide for ever for a Testimony of these things which were to be spoken after namely the Substance Christ but Christ as a Son is over his House whose we are namely that are the Sons and Children of God as in Heb. 3.5 6. So here is a distinction betwixt the Servant's House Moses and the Son's House Christ Jesus And Christ said While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light as in John 12.36 So the way to become the Children of the Light is to believe in the Light And the Apostle saith to the Ephesians Chap. 5.8 Ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord walk as Children of the Light And again the Apostle writeth to the Thessalonians Ye are all Children of the Light and Children of the Day we are not of the Night nor of Darkness 1 Thess 5.5 These were the Believers in the Light that were become Children of the Light and Day of Christ And Christ said unto such Ye are the Light of the World and a City set on a Hill To be Blameless and without Rebuke that cannot be hid and such are to be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World Philip. 2.15 For as the Prophet saith in Isa 54.13 and Christ saith in John 6.45 All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children in Righteousness shall they be established And the Apostle saith As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God 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 If so he that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together namely with Christ Rom. 8.14 16 17. Here you may see the Sons of God are Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ such can declare of his Generation for they which are Children of the Flesh these are not the Children of God nor cannot in Truth declare of Christ's Generation but the Children of the Promise are counted for the Seed as in Rom. 9.8 For Christ saith to Nicodemus Except a Man be born again of Water and the Spirit he cannot see the Kingdom of God nor enter into it That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.3 5 6. For he that is born of the Spirit is persecuted by him that is born of the Flesh and Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of all them that are born of the Spirit and so are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus as in Gal. 3.26 and 4.26 So as the Apostle saith to the Church of Ephesians Chap. 3.6 That the Gentiles should be Fellow Heirs of the same Body and Partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gosspel who were built together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.22 And God hath chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him as in James 2.5 Christ said Chirst soweth good Seed in the Heart He that soweth the Seed is the Son of Man the Field is the World the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares are the Children of the wicked One the Enemy that soweth them is the Devil Matth. 13.37 38 39. Here Christ maketh a distinction betwixt the two Seeds and the two Sowers and the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom of God but the bad Seed must be cast into the Fire which are the Children of the wicked One. And Christ said in Luke 8.11 The Seed is the Word of God And Peter saith Being born again not of Corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth and indureth for ever such feed upon the Milk of the Word and grow thereby I Pet. 1.23 and 2.2 And John saith Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God in this the Children of God are manifest from the Children of the Devil and in this the true Birth is manifest and this Seed and Birth knows the Kingdom of Christ and declares of his Generation who is built upon him the heavenly Rock and Foundation for Jesus Christ our Saviour abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through his Glorious Everlasting Gospel the Power of God 2 Tim. 1.10 And the Apostle saith The Law served till Christ came The Law served and it was added because of Transgression till the Seed should come namely Christ Gal. 3.19 And now Christ the Seeds-Man is come who is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes and they that Believe are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus And the Lord said to Abraham In thy Seed shall all the Kindreds or all the Families of the Earth be blessed Acts 3.25 Gen. 12.3 Acts 7.6 And this is the Seed that sojourned in a strange Land and they that did evilly intreat this Seed and bring it into Bondage God did judge And the Promises of God is sure to all the Seed as in Rom. 4.16 And the Children of the Promise are counted for the Seed for these are the Children of the Kingdom as in Rom. 9.8 And the Dragon was wroth with the Woman and went to make War with her Seed which kept the Command of God and had and have the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.17 Now here you may see it is against the Seed which keeps the Command of God and Testimony of Jesus the Dragon maketh War but Christ the Seed of the Woman bruises the Serpent's Head For the Lord saith I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thy Off-spring Isa 44.3 All who are in the Seed know God's Spirit and Blessings And the Lord said My Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed Now is not this the Seed in which all Nations are blessed in whose Mouch God's Word remains As in Isaiah 59.21 And are not these the Children of the Seed which are the Children of the kingdom of God And the Lord said concerning Christ Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them to pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2.8.9 And the great Image of Gold Silver Brass Iron and Clay spoken of in Daniel which was broken to pieces by Christ the Stone and became like
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
every creeping thing upon the Earth and over every living thing that moveth upon the Earth Gen. I. Now here you may see the Power and Authority that God gave unto Man over all the Earth and the Sea and all things therein The Authority God gaveMan in the begining And now when Cain had done wickedly and killed his Brother about Religion the Lord told him He was cursed from the Earth and when thou tillest the Earth it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength And then C ain said It shall come to puss that every one that findeth me shall slay me And then Cain went and built a City in the Land of Nod Gen. 4. Now here you may see what was the Cause that the Earth should not yield her strength after it was tilled and of Cain's fear of being killed and of building the City And John saith in his Epistle He that hateth his Brother is a Murderer or a Man-slayer and no Murderer hath eternal Life abiding in them 1 John 3.15 Now here you may see that Cain and such Murderers have not Eternal Life abiding in them and then they are not like to have Dominion but be in Fears and get into Cities But Abraham who sojourned in the Land of Promise as in a strange Country dwelt in Tabernacles with Isanc and Jacob as Heirs with him of the same Promise for he looked for a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God So they looked above all the Cities that were built by Men in the Land of Promise as in Heb. 11. 9,10 For Abraham was in the Faith in which he pleased God and had Victory And the Lord God blessed Noah and his Sons when they came out of the Ark and said unto them Be fruitful and maltiply and replenish the Earth and the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every Beast of the Earth and upon every Fowl of the Air and upon all that moveth upon the Earth and upon all the Fish of the Sea into your Hands are they delivered Gen. 9. Here again you may see that faithful Noah had Power over all the Creatures that God made upon the Earth and in the Sea and they were delivered unto Noah and his Sons hands and the Lord said unto the Children of Israel Great Blessings to the Obedient in Levit. 26. If that they were obedient and kept his Commandments he would give them their Rain in due season and the Land should yield her Increase and the Trees of the Field should yield their Fruit and their Threshing should reach to their Vintage and their Vintage unto their sowing Time and you shall eat your Bread unto the full and shall dwell in your Land safely mark safely and I will give Peace in the Land and ye shall lie down and none shall make you afraid and I will rid evil Beasts out of your Land neither shall the Sword go through the Land I will set my Tabernacle among you and my Soulshall not abhor you and I will walk among you and will be your God and you shall be my People This is to all them that are faithful and obey and serve the Lord but if you be disobedient then see what Fears and Judgments and Plagues Many Judgments to Disobedience and Sorrows comes upon you and the Curse will come upon you both in City and Field when thou goest out and when thou comest in and the Curse will be in thy Basket and in thy Store and the Fruit of thy Body and the Fruit of thy Land and the Increase of tby Flocks and the Lord will send his Vexations and Rebukes upon all that thou sets thy Hands unto and the Lord will smite with Consumptions and Feavers and Blastings and Mildews c. and the Heavens that is over their Heads shall be Iron and the Earth that is under thee shall be as Brass and the Lord shall make the Rain of the Land Powder and Dust thou shalt carry much Seed into thy Field and sbalt gather little the Locusts shall consume it and thou shalt plant Vineyards and the Worms shall eat them because thou hearkens not to the Voice of the Lord thy God to keep his Commandments c. And because thou servest not the Lord God with joyfulness and with gladness of Heart for the abundance of all things the Lord thy God giveth thee and therefore shalt thou serve thine Enemies which the Lord thy God shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things and thine Enemy shall put a Yoke of Iron about thy neck to yoke thee down Who will not bear the Yoke of Christ and doth not hearken to the Lord to serve and obey him but they that diligently hearken to the Lord their God and obey and serve him in Truth and Righteousness he blesses them in the City and in the Field and in their Basket and in their Store-house and in all they set their Hands to and he blesses the Fruit of their Body and the Fruit of their Ground and the Cattle and their Flocks and the Lord shall open his good Treasure the Heavens to give them Rain upon their Land in his season and to bless all the Works of their Hands that thou may lend to other Nations and shalt not borrow And these are the Blessings of them that hearken to the Lord and serve him as you may see in Deut. 28. the Blessings that come upon the Faithful and the Judgments upon thd Disobedient and Unfaithful When God giveth quietness who then can make trouble c. whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Job 34.29 The Lord shall save the humble Person he shall deliver the Island of the Innocent it is delivered by the Pureness of the Hands Job 22.29 30. Read this in all your Assemblies both in Pensilvania and West-Jersey Bednal-Green near London the 4th Month 1686. G. F. To all the holy Women that trust in God and do profess Godliness with good Works according to the Apostles Doctrine in this Age for them to read over and put in Practice FRiends the Apostle saith Epist 409. I will therefore that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparrel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety and not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or Costly Array The Christian Adorning but as becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works 1 Tim. 2.9 10. And likewise Peter saith in his General Epistle to the Church of Christ to the Women Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and wearing of Gold and of putting on of Apparrel 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 a great price for after this manner in old time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves 1 Pet. 3.3 4
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
an Example to Parents and the Arke of God for not restraining his Children from Evil And again if that they must be left to themselves why did the Prophets and the Apostles say That they must not quench nor vex nor grieve nor rebel against the Spirit of God nor turn the Grace of God into Wantonness nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace but walk in the Spirit and in the Truth and in the Light and to love it and not to hate it for they that do not love the Light but hate it are condemned by it and so grow in the Condemnation and are not in the Justification of Life The Lord God commanded Abraham to Circumcise himself and his Children and Servants that were bought with Money and were born in his House He was to bring all his Males into this Covenant of outward Circumcision and the Lord said That Soul shall be cut off that is not Circumcised he hath broken my Covenant of outward Circumcision as you may see Gen. 17. Here you may see Abraham was to teach and instruct his Family and Servants and he was not to keep any Man or Servant that was Uncircumcised in his Family Now you that profess the New Covenant True Circumcision are not you and all your Children and Servants to be Circumcised with the Spirit of Circumcision And do not they that have not the Body of Death and the Sins of the Flesh cut off by Circumcision go down into the Pit and not into Paradise and the kingdom of God And therefore may not such Uncircumcised by the Spirit hurt the Families of true Christians in the Light Therefore consider Abraham was not to suffer and of his Children and Servants that were bought with his Money or born in his House to be Uncircumcised in the Old Covenant This care the Lord laid upon him in his Family in the Old Covenant Therefore consider you that profess the New Covenant of the Spirit of Circumcision what Care lies upon you in your Families of Teaching and Instructing your Servants and Children and to bring them to the Spirit of Circumcision And now do not say but you are all warned in your Life-time and therefore prise your time while you have it that you spend it to the Honour and Glory of God The 9th of the 5th Month 1686. G. F. An Epistle for them that are learned in Christ to read and understand THe Lord saith Epist 410. In this Mountain shall the Lord of Host make unto all People a feast of fat things c. And he will destroy in this Mountain the Face of the Covering cast over all People and the Veil that is spread over all Nations And he will swallow up Death into Victory and the Lord God will wipe away Tears from off all Faces Isai 5.26 27. 1 Cor. 15.54 Rev. 21.4 Is not this Mountain Christ Christ filleth the whole Earth that filleth the whole Earth where this Feast of fat things is And doth not Christ through Death destroy Death and the Devil the Power of Death and so takes away the Veil and Covering that is spread over all Nations that they may be covered with the Spirit that he pours upon all Flesh And the Apostle saith Moses put a Veil over his Face that the Children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is to be abolished for their Minds were blinded For until this Day remains the same Veil untaken away in the reading of Moses and the Old Testament the Veil is upon their Hearts which Veil is done away in Christ and when they shall turn to the Lord the Veil shall be done away as in 2 Cor. 3. So here you may see the Veil that was spread over the Hearts of People The Veil over Peoples Hearts done away by Christ is done away by Christ and all they that are turned to the Lord with open Face behold as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even by the Spirit of the Lord. And the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed his People and dwell amongst them who hath made their Robes white in the Blood of the Lamb And this is the Days of Christ whom God gives for a Covenant of the People to establish the Earth Sing O Heavens and rejoyce O Earth and break forth into Singing O Mountains for God hath comforted his People and hath Mercy upon his afflicted And Christ saith to the Prisoners Go forth unto them that are in Darkness shew your selves and they shall feed in Pastures For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them and by the Springs of Water shall he guide them Isai 49. For God gave Christ for a Covenant to the People for a Light to the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisioners out of Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-Houses Isai 42.2 6 7. Rev. 7.15 16 17. So we that do witness this do praise the Lord God through Jesus Christ Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his People Rev. 21.3 This is the Day of the New Covenant which People enjoy in Christ Jesus The Lord saith I will ransom them from the Power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Hos 13.14 And the Apostle saith O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law But thanks be to God which gives us the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. So here you may see the Grave had its Victory Christ gives Victory over Death and the Grave and Death hath its Sting which is Sin But the Strength of Sin is the Law But Christ gives us the Victory who makes an end of Sin the Sting of Death as in Dan. 9.24 And who through Death destroys Death and the Power of Death and is the End of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes and so are dead to the Law by the Body of Christ Rom. 7.4 And Christ saith unto the Jews Verily verily he that hears my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life Mark Everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation but hath past from Death unto Life Then they have past from the Sting of Death which is Sin And as John saith we know that we are past from Death unto Life because we love the Brethren for he that loveth not his Brother abideth in Death John 5.24 1 John 2.44 So if they were past from Death to Life then they were past from Death and his Sting which is Sin through Jesus Christ who destroys Death and makes and End of Sin And again Christ saith to the Jews Verily verily
I say unto you the Hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5.25 Christ saying The Hour cometh and now is that the Dead should hear his Voice So that they past from the Death that came by Adam into Everlasting Life in Christ Jesus See Ephes 2.1 2. And so they thanked God through Jesus Christ who gave them the Victory over Death and Sin Death's Sting so as it is written Death is swallowed up in Victory For Christ as I said before makes an End of Sin that is the Sting of Death and through Death destroys Death and the Devil the Power of Death So thanks be to God through and by Christ Jesus we have the Victory unto Everlasting Life over the Grave Death and its Sting And the Apostle saith Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption And Christ saith Except a Man be born of the Spirit he cannot see the Kingdom of God neither can he enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 John 3.3 5. And Christ saith He that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting Life and shall not come into Condemnation but is past from Death to Life John 5.24 And he that believeth not is condemned already And he that believeth on the Son of God shall not perish but have eternal Life And again God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.15 16 18. Now this Death which Adam fell into was a spiritual Death for by one Man's Disobedience or Offence namely Adam Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation So all Men are under this Judgment and Condemnation in Adam in the Fall Even so by the Righteousness of one namely Christ the free Gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 19. So they that do not believe in Christ They who believe not in Christ abide in Death c. the Light as he Commands John 12.36 they abide in spiritual Death and Darkness and under the Judgment and Condemnation in Adam in the Fall in the perishing state But he that believeth on the Son of God hath Everlasting Life and passeth from Death to Life and shall not perish in Darkness and is not condemned but comes out of Condemnation c. But he that believeth not in the Son of God is condemned and shall not see Life and the Wrath of God abideth on him Such abide in the perishing state in the Death and Darkness in Adam in the Fall under Judgment and Condemnation But they that believe in Christ the Light do come out of Darkness and passes from Death to Life and come from under Judgment and Condemnation that came upon all Men by the Offence of one Man Adam and come from under the Wrath of God and from under Judgment and Condemnation into Favour with God and into Eternal and Everlasting Life in Christ Jesus and so have Victory over Death Darkness and Sin its Sting and the perishing State and the Grave of Adam in the Fall from Life Eternal and so are blessed that have part in the first Resurrection in Christ Jesus On such the second Death shall have no Power for they are in Christ Jesus the Resurrection and Eternal Everlasting Life and their Names are written in the Book of Life who destroys Death and Hell and the Devil the Power of Death Revel 20.10 14 15. And casts the Devil Death and Hell into the Lake of Fire that burns with Brimstone which is the second Death And The last Enemy that shall b destroyed is Death as the Apostle saith The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death But as it is written in Hos 13.14 Death is swallowed up into Victory For by Man namely Adam came Death and by Man namely Christ came also the Resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all died even so in Christ shall all be made alive So as by the one Man Adam Sin and Death came over all and by the Man Christ Life cometh over all And by Nature we are born of Adam and in Christ we are made the Children of God by Grace in Christ and quickened and made alive and restored to Life Everlasting by him And Christ who puts all things under his Feet he subdues Death under him who through Death destroys Death the last Enemy and the Devil the Power of Death and so makes an End of Sin the Sting of Death and brings in Everlasting Righteousness And in the way of Righteousness is Life and in the Path-way there is no Death The Law of the wise is a Fountain of Life to depart from the Snares of Death Prov. 12.28 13.14 The Lord saith Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create For behold I create Jerusalem a Rejoycing and her People a Joy And I will Rejoyce in Jerusalem and Joy in my People and the Voice of Weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the Voice of Crying Isa 65.17 18. And Peter saith in his General Epistle to the Church We according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 And John saith I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth Of New Heavens and the New Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more a Sea And I John saw the holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his People and God shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death mark no more Death in new Jerusalem neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more Pain For the former things are passed away And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new And he said unto me Write for these things are true and faithful And he said unto me It is done I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely he that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son Rev. 21.1 to the 8th Jerusalem which is below is in Bondage with her Children but Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all which believe in the Light in Christ And in this New and Heavenly Jerusalem there
Six-Weeks Meeting is for to see Epist 418. that all their Meetings are preserved by the Wisdom of God in the Vnity of the Spirit The Care of the Six Weeks Meeting the Bond of Peace and in the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost being ordered by the pure gentle heavenly peaceable Wisdom easie to be intreated Holy and Vertuous Examples to all other Meetings both in City and Country And that all may be careful to speak short and pertinent to Matters in a Christian Spirit and dispatch Business quickly and keep out of long Debates and Heats and with the Spirit of God keep that down which is doting about Questions and Strife of Words that tend to Parties and Contention Which in the Church of God there is no such Custom to be allowed And likewise not to speak more than one at a time nor any in a fierce Way for that is not to be allowed in any Society neither Natural nor Spiritual but as the Apostle saith Be swift to hear and slow to speak and let it be in the Grace which seasons all Words And if there be any Differences that cannot be quickly ended in the Meeting let the Six-Weeks Meeting order some Friends to hear the Matter out of the Meeting without Respect of Persons and bring in the Report to the same Meeting the same Day if possible and the Meeting may give Judgment that no Business be delayed from time to time And so with my Love to you all in the Seed of Life Christ Jesus in whom ye have all Peace and Wisdom from him who is the Treasure of Knowledge and Wisdom Amen Kingston upon Thames the 5th of the 3d Month 1690. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 419. Something was upon me to write unto you that such among Friends who marry and provide great Dinners that instead thereof it will be of a good Savour on such Occasions that they may be put in mind at such times to give something to the Poor that be Widows and Fatherless To be Charitable and relieve the Poor and such like to make them a Feast or to Refresh them And this I look upon would be a very good Savour to feast the Poor that cannot feast you again and would be a good Practise and Example and would be a means to keep the Mind to the Lord and in remembrance of the Poor for they that give to the Poor lend to the Lord and the Lord will re-pay them And I do really believe what ever they give less or more according to their Ability cheerfully they will not have the less at the Years End for the Lord loves a cheerful Giver I know this Practice hath been used by some Twenty Years ago And so it is not only to give the Poor a little Victuals which you cannot eat your selves but give them a little Money that the Lord hath blessed you with and give it to some of the Womens Meetings for to distribute to the Poor So you will have the Blessings of the Lord and the Blessings of the Poor And so to be of a free noble Spirit above all the churlish Misers and Nigards and narrow Spirits These things I do recommend to you though it may look a little strange to weigh and consider the thing it will both be of a good Report and a good Savour and manifests a self-denial and openness of Heart and of the general Love of God London the 4th of the 4th Month 1690. G. F. To Friends Captives at Macqueness DEar Friends st 420. With my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ in whom you have Life and Salvation and Rest and Peace with God and the Lord God Almighty with his Eternal Arm and Power uphold and preserve you in Christ in whom you have Rest and Peace though in the World Troubles and though you be in Captivity from your Wives and Children and Relations and Friends yet the Lord is present with you by his Spirit of Grace Light and Truth And so feel him at all times and stand in his Will do not Murmer nor Complain but stand still in the Faith and Power of God To stand in the Faith that you may see your Salvation for by Faith the Lord delivered his People out of Egypt by his Power and by Faith Enoch and Noah were preserved and Abraham Isaac and Jacob and by Faith the Prophets were delivered out of many Perils and Daniel out of the Lions Mouth And you may see how the Righteous were delivered by Faith in Heb. 11. And it would be very well if you that be Captives and Friends To meet to worship God could have Meetings as they had at Algier to the comforting and refreshing one another And you may speak to your Patroons of your meeting together to worship God that created Heaven and Earth and made all Mankind and gives you Breath Life and Spirit to serve and worship him And my Desires are to the Lord That you in his Truth and Power may answer the Truth in all both King and Prince and Turks and Moors that you may be a good Savour among them all and in them all manifesting that you are the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid So that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven And what do you know but the Lord hath set you there to preach in Life and Word and good Conversation Therefore while you are there mind your Service for God who hath all things in his Hand And a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Providence And Christ is the Mountain that filleth the whole Earth and so you will feel him there And therefore keep in the Word of Power and in the Word of Patience and the Word of Wisdom that will give you Dominion over all Amen London the 25th of the 8th Month 1690. G. F. You may petition the Emperor or King and your Patroons Postscript whose Captives you are that you may have one Day in the Week to meet together to worship and serve the Great God that made you in Spirit and Truth For you worship no Representation Image or Likeness neither in Heaven nor in the Earth but the Great God who is Lord over all both in Heaven and Earth and is manifest by his Spirit in his People from you poor Captives who desire their Good here and their Eternal Happiness hereafter And you may draw up a Paper to this Effect and get it Translated into their Language and send it to the Emperor and his Council and your Patroons and set your Hands to it with all speed after the the receipt of this George Fox THE END THE FIRST TABLE CONTAINING The Names of Countries Cities Towns and Places mentioned in this Collection of Epistles being those from or to which they were sent and directed by the Author on Truth 's Account in England and
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
like it self Oh therefore mind the Holy Life the Chast Life That is the Bride's Cloathing by which she adorns her self for her Husband Christ Jesus Therefore in that which keeps your Peace live there is your Life and Dominion that Weeds may not grow nor Brambles but that it all may be cut down and weeded out For those grow through the Liberty of the Flesh and by that ye come to be darkned and lose your Discerning and Feeling The Beam in the Eye and there gets the Beam into the Eye by which ye come to Judge with that Judgment which is for Judgment which should be judged down by the Spirit of Truth and Peace And so Live in the same Peace with God and one with another and have Fellowship in the Chast Life and in the Spirit and Power of God And keep down that which lusts to Envy and Strife and Contention for that will not nor cannot bear true Judgment but will flatter and fawn and sow Dissension and so in the End will bring Dishonour both to God and his People That can never abide true Judgment or sound Doctrine for that Adulterates from God and joins in Marriage with that which is Adulterated from God And so the Vnchast follows the Whore and the Adulterer The Whore and Adulterer and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Adulterer and the Whore but the Chast Virgin follows the Lamb and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Therefore all live in the Chast Life by which ye may follow the Lamb of God to his Supper and Marriage And keep ye all out of that from whence Contentions and Strife and Wars arise which are the Fruits of them that live in the Lust which is seen with the Everlasting Power the Ground from whence Strife and Contention and Wars come The Ground of Strife the Vnchaste which live in the Lust which Lust will defile all that receive it Therefore all Friends every where your Fellowship is to be in the Gospel the Power of God and in the Spirit the Fruits of which is Peace in which ye all will be kept in Dominion Pure and Chaste to God and one towards another For all that come to the Sabbath of Rest must put off their Old Cloaths which they have worn in their Old Works Labours and Travels For Six Days the Jews were to labour but the Seventh Day was their Rest which is Perfection G. F. Concerning the Light FRiends Ye that be turned to the Light in it Wait Epist 155. in it Meet together that with it your Hearts may be joined together up to Christ the Head from whence the Light doth come The World's Gatherings with which ye may see all the World and all the Gatherings that are out of the Light which are in the Vanities of their Minds and in the Rebelliousness of their Hearts and Stubbornness of it from the Light But ye believing in the Light and receiving it ye receive and come into the Covenant with God and Peace with God and into that which gives the Knowledge of his Glory and of his Image And this Belief giveth the Victory over the World and brings unto God and into his Likeness and separates you from the World The World and its Likeness and its Likeness and Image and its Fashion which is out of the Light and its Knowledge and its Wisdom and its Honour and its Fear and its Love and its Rejoycing which are out of the Light in the Flesh and in the Iniquity where the Soul is in Death But in the Light rejoycing and walking ye receive the Love of God shed abroad into your Hearts which Love rejoyceth in the Truth mark in that which the Devil abode not in with that ye know and will know the Increase of God and know God and his Law put in your Minds and in your Hearts written where the Fear is placed where the Secrets of the Lord are revealed and the Light which is the Truth comes to be walked in Here is a Joy in the Lord where no Flesh glories In this waiting in the Light the World where there is no End it gives you to see World without End and the Power of the World which is to come ye will come to see and be Partakers of Which Power ye receiving who are in the Light it brings you to become the Sons of God and to be Heirs of the World where there is no End and of the Everlasting Inheritance which fadeth not away and the Riches which are durable where no Thief can come nor nothing to rust or canker for that is out of the Light that doth thieve rust or canker and in the Transgression Therefore ye Saints in the Light of the Most-High God whose Name is dreadful amongst you and his Power made manifest in Measure and his Glory appearing Walk worthy of the High Calling The High Calling Keep your Dominion keep your Place of Rest in the Power and Strength of the Almighty and Meet together in the Love Vnity and Peace Meet in the Love and know one another in this Love that changeth not which being received ye walk in that which condemns that which is changable This Love rejoiceth in the Truth and hath Dominion over him that abode not in the Truth but rejoyceth in that which the Devil abode not in And here the Spirit is received in which God is Worshipped the Father of Spirits He that believeth here believes in the Lord and shall never be confounded for he believes in that which doth Confound and Condemn those who are out of the Light and gone from the Word of God in the Heart and from the Power of God and from the Light of the Glorious Gospel which is the Power of God The God of the World hath blinded their Eyes that abide not in the Truth they are gone from the Light which is the Truth and all that are blinded by the God of the World The God of the World these are out of the Light and out of the Truth Therefore ye being in the Light and to it turned the Light of the glorious Gospel the Image of God is seen and the glorious Gospel received Therefore walk in the Light as the Children of the Light and know the Wisdom that is of her Children justified that ye may answer the Light in every one that comes into the World that hateth it And keep your Habitations that ye may every one feel your Spring in the Light which comes from the Lord and feel your Nourishment and Refreshment which waters the Plants and causeth them to grow up in the Lord from whom the pure living Springs come The Water the Witness And here is the Water which is the Witness in the Earth which doth wash and here comes the Spirit to be known the Witness which doth baptise and the Witness the Blood which doth cleanse which agrees with the Witness in Heaven So he that
at Babel which Nimrod the Hunter before the Lord began to Build after God had destroyed the Old World with Water then would he go Build a Tower which should reach to Heaven then God came down and confounded them into many Languages So he hunted before the Lord but the Lord followed him and confounded him in all his Work as he will all the Builders that run before him And all the Priests that have gotten the many Languages which began at Babel they tell simple ignorant People that they have the Original and are the Orthodox Men and get into a different Habit from them and say The Quakers are a simple People and despise the Learned Orthodox Men who have the Original Give Ear O People If these Languages which came up at the confounding of Babel are the Priests Original that makes them Orthodox and Divine then Pilate that crucified Christ was as good an Orthodox Divine as they for when he crucified Christ he writ a Paper in Hebrew Greek and Latin and set a-top of him he was as ignorant of Scripture and of Orthodox and Divine Matters as you and you as he And the Apostle saith That Tongues must cease 1 Cor. 1â— 8 then that which makes Orthodox Men and Divines as you say must cease according to the Apostles Doctrine and so then Tongues neither are the Original nor make Orthodox nor Divine and John that gave forth the Revelations saith That the Whore and Beast set upon Tongues c. and the Everlasting Gospel must be preached again to all Kindreds and Tongues which was before Babel was where was the first beginning of Tongues Now it is clear that the Gospel must be preached to all Nations and Tongues and that Tongues are not the Original neither do they make Divines or Orthodox Men but it is clear that it is the Word which was in the Beginning which makes a Divine yea Trades-Men which are base and contemptible in the Eyes of the Proud and them that have gotten Babel's Tongues who are confounded by the Ministers of the Word which was in the Beginning before Babel was for all the Earth was of one Language and Speech before Babel And you that call your selves Orthodox Men made by Tongues and say That is your Original who are so blind and cannot see that there was an Original before Babel was for did not Enoch the Prophet the seventh from Adam who prophesied in the Old World before it was destroyed and long before Babel was speak concerning the coming of Christ in Ten Thousand of his Saints as in Jude And Lamech prophesied in the Old World concerning Noah and Adam and others might be instanced who were before your Tongues which you call your Original were And so we say that the Word of God is the Original which doth fulfil the Scriptures and the Word is it which makes a Divine which is called a Hammer but it is a Living Hammer and is called a Sword and Fire but it is a Living Sword and a Living Fire to hammer and cut down and burn up that which separated and kept Man from God by which Word Man is reconciled again to God which is called The Word of Reconciliation by this Word are Men and Women sanctified and made clean and this is the Word that makes both Men and Women Divine and brings them into the Divine Nature which hammers and cuts down that which corrupted their Nature and by this Word are they brought into a Divine Wisdom Understanding Knowledge Spirit and Power And this is the Word that lives and abides and endures for ever by which the Saints are born again of the Immortal Seed and Word of God who feed upon the Milk of the Word up into a Divine Life Wisdom and Understanding and Divine Nature and by this Word they do see all Flesh to be as Grass and as the Flower of the Field that fadeth and the Word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever is Christ whose Name is called The Word of God And so keep the Word of Patience which is over all the Impatient Spirits and then you will know that the Word of Life the Word of Patience and Word of Wisdom is Everlasting and abides and endures for ever which all they that are in the Letter out of the Life and Word have neither Patience to themselves nor others for the Word of Patience and the Word of Life which is to be kept in all Tribulations was before Death and impatient Spirits were Concerning the Worship of God and the Jew Outward and the Jews Inward Offering with their Garments 1. THere was a Worship at Jerusalem 2. There was a Worship at the Mountain where Jacob's Well was Jacob went down into Egypt with his Family and he died in Egypt and his Sons carried him out of Egypt and Buried him in the Land of Canaan in his Grand-father Abraham's Burying-place and after several Hundred Years the Children of Israel came out of Egypt into the Land of Canaan and there they built Jerusalem and the Temple and there was but one Temple in the whole World commanded of God and that was at Jerusalem And before in the days of Jacob there was a Worship set up at the Mountain near unto Samaria where Jacob digged a Well Therefore when the Woman of Samaria came out to fetch Water at Jacob's Well the Woman reasoned with Christ about Worship and she said Our Fathers worshipped at this Mountain but others at Jerusalem and Christ answered her again The time cometh that neither at Jerusalem nor at this Mountain shall God be worshipped There he denies the continuance of these two publick Places of Worship and when he had done that he sets up another Worship for he said God was a Spirit and they that worshipped him must worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth for the Hour cometh and now is that such God seeks to worship him And this Worship he set up and preached up above Sixteen hundred Years since which Worship he set up many Hundred Years before Mass-Book Common-Prayer-Book Directory or Church-Faith was And this was the publick Worship that Christ set up in the Spirit and in the Truth For God is a Spirit and such he sought to Worship him that worshipped him in Spirit and Truth So all are to mind the Worship that God seeks and not the Worship that Men seek And Christ said That the Temple should be thrown down and the City of Jerusalem and the Jews scattered over all Nations And the Apostle saith He is not a Jew that is one outward but he is a Jew that is one inward in the Spirit and not of the Letter for that killeth but the Spirit makes alive What cries the World do you deny Temple-worship Nay we say every Man and Woman must come into the Temple if he Worship God in the Spirit and Truth And is not the Spirit within and the Truth in the inward parts For Do not
in their Families to the making or spoiling of their Children Maids and Servants and many things Women may do and speak of amongst Women which is not Mens business So as I said before that you both Men and Women be helps meet in the Image of God in the Righteousness and Holiness in the Restoration as Man and Woman was in the Image of God before they frll and not only so but in Christ the Foundation and in his Gospel that never fell nor never will fall whose Foundation stands sure for all his Members and Heirs to build upon And so see that nothing be lacking amongst you then all will be well And the Elder Women in the Truth were not only called Elders but Mothers Postscript Now a Mother in the Church of Christ and a Mother in Israel Mothers in the Church are to feed cherish c. is one that gives Suck and Nourishes and Feeds and Washes and Rules and is a Teacher in the Church and in the Israel of God and an Admonisher an Instructer an Exhorter So all that are come to that Office Growth and Stature be diligent for a Mother in Israel or in the Church of Christ is beyond all the Mothers in Egypt and in Sodom and the Mother of Harlots Mystery Babylon who had Power over Tongues Nations and People with the Cup of her Fornication But the Mothers in Spiritual Israel and Church of Christ has the Cup of Salvation and the Breasts of Consolation which are full of the Milk of the Word to Suckle all the Young Ones and to Nourish and Instruct Admonish and Exhort and Rebuke all the contrary and to Refresh and Cherish every tender One. So the Elder Women and Mothers are to be teachers of good things and to be teachers of the Younger and trainers up of them in Vertue in Holiness and Godliness and Righteousness in Wisdom and in the Fear of the Lord in the Chruch of Christ And if the Unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Believing Wife then who is the Speaker and who is the Hearer Surely such a Woman is permitted to speak and to work the Works of God and to make a Member in the Church and then as an Elder to oversee that they walk according to the Order of the Gospel G. F. To Friends in New-England Virginia and Barbadoes DEar Friends Epist 282. Be faithful in the Power of the lord God in what you know and then the Lord will preserve you that you may answer the Witness of God in every Man whether they are the Heathen that do not profess Christ or whether they are such as do profess Christ that have the Form of Godliness and be out of the Power And keep your Meetings you that know the Power of the Lord and fell it that in it you may have Vnity with God and one with another The Lord God hath a Seed in those parts who shall be Heirs of his Grace that brings Salvation which Grace is it that teacheth in which Grace they sing Praises to the Lord. So now you who are come to the dawning of the Day and to the ending of the Night of the Apostacy happy and blessed are you who are come to see these things to see the hidden Mysteries of God revealed and his Glorious Riches to the Gentiles through the Power of an endless Life And you that are and have been faithful spread the Truth abroad To spread Truth abroad ye that know it and feel that which makes free let not Principalities and Powers separate you from the Love of God which you have in Christ Jesus who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him mind his Reign his Teaching his Kingdom which hath no end for God hath some to be brought out from amongst those Heathens if you be faithful among them answering the Witness of God in them for as the Lord saith I will give him for a Covenant to the Gentiles And keep your Meetings in the Power of Truth and those are called Heathens Therefore keep your Meetings and dwell in the Power of Truth and know it in one another and be one in the Light that you may be kept in Peace and Love in the Power of God that you may know the Mystery of the Gospel And all that ever you do do in Love do nothing in Strife but in Love that edifies the Body of Christ which is the Church So as any is moved to go amongst the Heathen in the Power and Love of God to Preach the Gospel which is the love of God to them bing them to the Power of God to that God which is the God of the Stones whcih they make Idols of and the God of the Trees Earth Brass Silver Iron and Gold which they make Gods of and that he is the Living God for those are dead Gods that are made with Mens hands He is the Living God that Cloaths the Earth with Grass and Herbs and causes the Trees to grow and bring forth Food for you and makes the Fishes of the Sea to breath and live and makes the Fowls of the Air to breed and causes the Roe and the Hind and the Creatures and all the Beasts of the Earth to bring forth whereby they may be Food for you He is the Living God For God is the living God and causes the Stars to arise in the Night to give you light and the Moon to arise to be a light in the Night He is the Living God that causes the Sun to give warmth unto you to nourish you when you are cold He is the Living God that causes the Sonw and Frost to melt and causes the Rain to water the Plants He is the Living God that made the Heaven and the Earth and the Clouds and causes the Springs to break out of the Rocks and divided the great Sea from the Earth and divided the Light from the Darkness by which it 's called Day and the Darkness Night and divided the great Waters from the Earth and gathered them together which great Waters he called Sea and the dry Land Earth He is to be worshipped that doth this He is the Living God that gives unto you Breath and Life and Strength Who giveth Breath c. to all Creatures and gives unto you Beasts and Cattle whereby you may be fed and cloathed He is the Living God and He is to be worshipped And that which gives you to be sensible of him and to know him is that which Convinceth you in your Hearts of Sin and Vnrighteousness So all Gods that are made of Stone Morter Wood Silver Brass Iron or Gold are not the Living God but are made of Mens Hands and the Living God is he that gives you Life and Breath and Strength and all things that is Good and would have you to feel after him with that which checks you for Sin and Evil and would have you to worship him in Spirit and serve him who
one anothers good preferring one another in the Truth And so let the true Brotherly Love continue and Kindness Affableness and Courteousness and whatsoever is Decent Comely and of a good Report in the Eyes of God and the Hearts of all good Men that to follow after and so that in your Men and Womens Meetings nothing may be seen of the old Leaven of the old Malice nor of the old Man nor hid Deeds nor his old Image nor his old Bottle may not be drank of nor his sowre Grapes eaten of for if you do it will set your Teeth on edge one against another But mind the Royal Seed Christ Jesus that makes all things new that new and Living Way a new Man after God and his Image So Children of the New Covenant having the new Leaven that leavens up onto the Love of God which edifies the Body of which Christ is Head and new Bettles full of new Wine from Christ the Vine the new Wine which makes all your Hearts glad to God and Christ and one in another To serve God with a new Heart So here is the new Heart the new Spirit the new Life in which the Living God is sered And therefore this is the Word of the Lord God to you all Let this new Way new Covenant new Man new Leaven new Wine new Life shew forth its Fruits in the new Life from the new Man So that the Fruits of the Old may not appear and that the Bond of Peace in the Vnity of the Spirit may be kept amongst you So keep in this Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and none to break their Peace and go into the ill Behaviour for that is out of the Spirit of God and Christ which is meek gentle c. So that the Lord God of your Lives may be Glorified in you all and above all who is over all God blessed for ever and ever London the 15th of the 3d Mouth G. F. ALL Friends that are in the Power of God Epist 312. and in his Spirit through which Spirit you pray unto God and ask in the Name of Christ Jesus which all true Prayers are to be in and the true Singing and Rejoycing is to be in the Spirit All true Worship performed in the Sptrit and the true Preaching and Ministry is to be in the Spirit for the Saints were made able Ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter Now when a Minister in the Spirit of the living God does minister Spiritual and Heavenly Things and they that receives them receives them with joy in the Assembly now he that is a Minister of the Spirit and ministers Spiritual Things and if they that receive them receive them in Sincerity with Joy and Gladness and Rejoice in the receiving of them whilst the other is ministring of them he that is a Minister of the Spirit does not judge such but Rejoyces in them that does receive them and praises God for the same And so likewise they that do Sing in the Spirit does reach to the Spirit in others whereby they have a sense that it proceedeth from the Spirit for at the Hearing of the Speech the true Minister there is Joy to all that seek and thirst after Righteousness for the preaching the Gospel is the Glad-Tidings the Joyful News and is a comfort both to Soul Body and Spirit to all that receive it in Integrily and Sincerity and they cannot but Rejoice at the Cound of the Power where it is received and they that preaches in this cannot judge such as Rejoices in the Spirit and Power and in their Souls praises God when they hear the Sound of it Oh the Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God which is Liberty where this is heard the Sound of it which is the Liberty to the Spirit to the Soul to the Creature if a Creature should praise God in his Soul in his Spirit in the very hearing of the Sound of this glorious Gospel or make a Joyful Melody the Minister of the Spirit which preaches the Glorious Gospel cannot judge such for that and say it is a confused Noise for that is the Minister of the Letter that so judges who may gather up parcels of the Letter and make a Song of that or Preachment of that to which the Gospel-Ministry of the Spirit is the Savour of Death unto Death and of Life unto Life And concerning Praying in the Spirit which Spirit make Intercession to God with Sighs and Groans that cannot be uttered Of Prayer in the Spirit Now where this Spirit is prayed in which all true Prayer is to be in it makes Intercessino through the Vails through the Clouds and thick Darkness by the Invisible Powere to the Invisible God and this prayer being made in an Assembly to the Throne of Grace and there the Assembly in their Spirits joyns in this Spirit and does make Intercession and does enter through the Vails Clouds and thick Darkness to the Throne of Grace and if some of these should praise God in a Joyful Sound with their Souls and Sprit can he that prays in the Spirit and makes Intercession therein judge them that Groans in the Spirit and feels the Intercession to the Throne of Grace No he cannot for he feels a Unity in the Spirit and set case that some do Groan and Sight when another is Praying in the Spirit that makes the Intercession easie in the Invisible Spirit to the Invisible God and Throne of his Grace which the Spirit of God operating in the Assembly makes some to Sigh and Groan being sensible of their wants and the Power has awakened such therefore can any judge such that prays in the Power and Spirit that has awakened them Nay but hears them and is glad where it stirs and so having the Mind of the Lord and makes Intercession to him by his Spirit who hears the Sighs of the Needy and Groans of the Oppressed he cannot judge such and therefore they that do judge such Sighers Prayers and such who make a joyful Melody from the Word dwelling in their Hearts they who judge such are not in the Spirit that makes Intercession and that which is contrary is to be reproved and admonished in private by them that are in the Spirit of God lest they pluck up the Wheat and Tares together and make a Confusion in the Church for God is not the Author of Confusion God the Author of Peace c. but of Peace and good Order But that Spirit which is High and Lofty and can form a Praise by words and Pray in his own Spirit will judge such Sighing Groaning Praising and Singing as before but that exalted Spirit is to be cut down with the Sword of the Spirit For if any should Sigh or Groan or Rejoyce or make a joyful Sound whe another is Praying in the Spirit of God and Ministring in the Spirit Spiritual Things this the Spirit of Error cannot bear
but swells and breaks out into Confusion and Disorder which as I said before is to be cut down with the Sword of the Spirit for he denies the effect of true Prayer and the Spirit of Prayer which makes Intercession who hath or would have no feeling of the effects of true Prayer but that which is Formal and in the Imitation that makes many to Groan and Sigh which is burdened with that Spirit yea many tender ones And therefore all is to keep low before the Lord in the Humility in the Spirit and Power out of the Imagination Imitation and Self-exaltation And so keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace Caution to keep cut Imagination c. yea the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace hear the Gospel of Peace is known and the Peace of God which passes all Understanding which is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Prince of Princes Peace who saith In me you have Peace and all is bound by the Spirit of God to keep his Peace and all his Believers and faithful Ones and true Christians are bound to keep it amongst themselves and in all their Assemblies his Church which he is the Head of Worcester Goal the 14th of the oth Month 1674. G. F. FRiends Epist 313. All that are sensible of the Power of God and has received it All live in the Power of God which is Immortal and Everlasting live in it and grow up in it for the Power of God is over the Power of the Devil which Power of God is the Gospel and it 's called the Cross of Christ And therefore all ye Men and Women that has received the Gospel the Power of God and come to be Heirs of it take your Possessions of the same and init keep your Mens and Womens Meetings in your Possession of the Gospel the Power of God herein is the holy heavenly and powerful Order which is Everlasting and will have no end and this Order of the Gospel which is the Power of God is over all the Orders is the World and before they were whether Jews Gentiles or Apostate-Christians For the Apostle saith in Gal. 1.11 12. Now I certifie you Brethren to wit the Church that the Gospel which was prech'd of me was not after Man for I neither received it of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus So I can declare to you all in the Presence of the Lord That the Gospel which is the Power of God I neither received of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ And all you that have received the same Power to wit the Gospel and are Possessors of it can testifie that the Gospel the Power of God is neither by Man nor of Man tho' some Men and Women in their Carnal Wisdom may oppose it but as Peter saith 1 Pet. 1.11 12. The Gospel by the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven was it which was preached to the Churches then and so it is now And therefore all you that have received it this heavenly and everlasting Power of God the heavenly Dignity keep in your Possessions of it beig Heirs of it and in the Holy Order of it and walk as becomes the Gospel and let your Conversation be accordig to it as the Saints As the Saints did in Primitive Times and the Churches were in the Primitive Times for Christ That redeemed his People out of their vain Conversation and purchased them with his Blood and is become the Head of the Church the heavenly and spiritual Man has given them a heavenly and spiritual Possession and Order to walk in and to keep in which is the Heavenly and Eternal the Power of God whcih I am not asamed of of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1. 16. And the Cross of Christ is the everlasting Powere of God so no longer do you keep in Fellowship but as you keep in the Cross of Christ for the Enemy to the Cross of Christ is the Mind that runs into outward and earthly things and sets up another God to wit their Belly and another Glory to wit their Shame and therfore it 's called the Mystery of the Fellowship of the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God so this Fellowship is not of Man nor by Man for it is in the Everlasting Power of God And therefore forsake not the Fellowship And forsake not the Assembling your selves together and the Assembling of your selves together in it as the manner of some is and was but Exhort one another and so much the more because ye see that the Day draweth nigh more and more unto you for if there be a Sinning wilfully after that ye have received the Knowledge of the Truth there remanins no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for Judgment and for Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries And therefore keep in the new and living Way which is prepared for all the true Believers as you may see in Heb. 10.20 And exhort one another daily while it is called to day mark while it is called to day for thou maist lose the Harvest Day and be hardned before to morrow and lest any of you be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin and this was the Practice of the Church that was in the Light Power and Spirit of God as in Heb. 3. And in Titus see how the Apotle admonishes him who was in the Power of God to Exhort and Rebuke with all Authority and so forth after he had shewed him how the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation which appeareth to all Men which taught the Saints how to live c. and they that went from it was to be Rebuked and others Exhorted to it Tit. 2.11 And also he Instructs Timothy who was in the Power of God to Exhort the Church and likewise that the Scriptures Scriptnre profitable for Reproof Instruction Correction c. which were given forth by the Inspiration of God were profitable for Doctrine to Reprove Instruct and Correct in Righteousness that the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnish'd to all good Works mark the Man of God not the Man of the World that denies Perfection and they that have the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures does the same 2 Tim. 3.16 17. And they that was to Exhort was to be an Example in Word and Conversation in Love in Spirit in Faith and in Pureness such was to give attendance to Exhortation and to Doctrine and still are as you may see in 1 Tim. 12.13 And Peter saith to the Church in the Primitive Times which ought to be the Practice of the Church of Christ now as every Man hath received the Gift even so let him minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace o God If any Man speak let
him speak as the Oracles of God if any Man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God gieth mark God giveth and not Man or as God hath ministred to him that God in all things may be glorified through jesus Christ to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever and ever Amen 1. Pet. 4. And the Apostle saith to every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ for there is one God and Father of all which is above all and through all and in you all so every one now as then is to mind him that is in them all who is above all and his Gift and the measure of Grace the Gift fo Christ for it will teach them and bring their Salvation and through the measure of the Gift of Grace they grow up to a perfect Man and to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ as may be seen Eph. 4. And as God hath dealt to every Man a Measure Of Faith in the Faith they should walk which gives them Victory and access to God which purifies their Hearts with which they please God And the Apostle said to the Church then which is to be the Practice of the true Church now That according to the Grace that was given whether we Prophesie Every one to keep to the Measure of Grace received let us Prophesie according to the Proportion of Faith or any Office let us wait on the Office or he that Teacheth on Teaching and he that Ministreth on Ministring or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation and he that distributeth let him do it with simplicity c. And be that sheweth Mercy with cheerfulness as you may see Rom. 12. So all this is to be done in the Faith and according to the Measure of the Grace given to every one so that all may be done in the Faith according to the Measure of Grace given to every one so that all may be done in the Faith from one Spirit which the manifestation of is given to every one to profit withal by which Spirit they are all baptized into one Body which Christ the heavenly Spiritual Man is the Head of So all Members from the Eye to the Foot are serviceable in the Body in the Grace of God who are joined together by the Spirit of God and to Christ their Head from whom they receive Nourishment for the Spirit of God does distribute to every one severally as he will and so are all made to drink mark to drink into one Spirit in which they have all Fellowship in the heavenly drinking of the Spiritual Drink and eating of the Spiritual Bread that comes down from Heaven Therefore every Man and Womans Eye must be lifted up to Heaven and Minds and Thirsts and Desires and Hearts and the Soul that hungers and the Needy that sighs and the Poor that groans for this Bread that comes down from Heaven and the Spiritual Drink and so they may have the Spiritual Bread in their own Houses and heavenly Water in their own Cisterns with which they may have to refresh them felves and others So here may all eat and drink to the Praise and the Glory of God for all drinks into one Spirit And as they eat of the Bread that comes down from Heaven then they can say the Scripture is fulfilled all Eyes are Lifted up unto thee thou opens with thy Hand to wit thy Power and thou fillest with thy Blessings and then with their Souls Hearts and Spirits Minds and Lips they will shew forth his Praise in praising God the Creator who is in all over all through all and above all And therefore in the Power and Name of Jesus in whose Name you were gathered keep your Meetings your Mesn and Womens Meetings that in the Power you may be kept in the Holy Vnity and Holy Order in Diligence in the Church of God and in his Business and Affairs Admonishing Exhoring Rebuking such as talk and does not walk accordingly such as professes and does not possess and such as are the Sayers and are not the Doers So that every ones Life and Conversation may be as becomes the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ the heavenly Man and keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace which if you break you fonfeit your Riches in your Estate and Inheritance of Life And some Men may say Man must have the Power and Superiority over the Woman because God says The Man must rule over his Wife and that Man is not of the Woman but the Woman is of the Man Man and Womin to be helps-meet now as in the beginning Indeed after Man fell that Command was but before Man fell there was no such Command for they were both meet helps and they were both to have Dominion over all that God made And as the Apostle saith for as the Woman is of the Man his next Words are so is the Man also by the Woman but all things are of God And so the Aposcle clears his own Words and so as Man and Woman is restored again by Christ up into the Image of God they both have Dominion again in the Righteousness and Holiness and are helps meet as before they fell So then the Man is not without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear But there is some dark Spirits that say That for Women to meet together to worship God apart from the Men is monstrous and ridiculous But this dark Spirit has not defined what Worship is for if a Company of Women should meet together and some of these Women should kneel down and lift up their Hands and Eyes to God and pray to God or praise God as John would have fallen down to the Angel this is Worsbip And if the dark Spirit calls this Monstrous and Ridiculous because Men is not with them then it will follow it will be monstrous and ridiculous to pray to God or to worship God except Men be with them Therefore with the Spirit of God all may see what Confusion this dark Spirit is running into that is against Womens-Meetings and that Women must not worship God apart from the Men and calls it monstrous and ridiculous but from their own monstrous Spirit their own ridiculousness is manifest For you may see in the Scripture what Worship was and what Worship is such as was not to worship Idols they were not to lift up their Hands nor Eyes to them nor to fall down to them but to worship God and to bow bown to him and to lift up their Hands and Eyes to him for all Men and Women must lift up their Eyes Hands Hearts and Spirits to the Lord and to bow to him and worship him and ought in all their Meetings that gather in the Name of Jesus to wait upon the Lord for Wisdom Counsel and Vnder