such are no Mi ni-sters of God's Word who tell you the Scrip-ture is the Word of God for they speak con-tra-ry to the Scrip-ture which saith Christ is the Word and was in the Be-gin-ning which the Scrip-ture was not and did be-come Flesh which the Scrip-ture never did and made the World which the Scrip-tures could not do and these are Mi-ni-sters of the Let-ter who are Mi-ni-sters of the Scrip-ture and not Mi-ni-sters of Christ the Word see-ing the Scrip-ture is nei-ther Christ nor the Word There-fore let e-ve-ry one Old and Young High and Low mind the Light of Jesus Christ within in the the Con-sci-ence and it Tea-ching that you may know the Path of Life and the Way of Righ-te-ous-ness that ye may be sa-ved from the Wrath that must come up-on them who by con-ti-nu-ing in their e-vil deeds pro-voke the Lord to An-ger And may be made Par-ta-kers of the Mer-cy and Lo-ving-kind-ness of God which is laid up in Christ Je-sus the Light for them that fear him and de-part from I-ni-qui-ty S. C. Little Children GOD that made the World and created all Things that therein is he is not a Man sitting as a Man above the Stars in some one place which place is called Heaven as many of the World and the Teachers thereof imagine But the true God who was Creator of all things hâ— is an Eternal Spirit and he is the Life and Vertue and Power that upholdeth all his Creatures and by him all things consist For without him no Creature can have a being for he giveth Life and Breath unto all that have it And this Eternal GOD no Mortal Man can approach unto for he only hath Immortallity and dwelleth in the Light And this Immortal God he cannot be kept in one place for his presence filleth Heaven and Earth the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him as saith the Scripture And this God who is an Immortal Spirit he was your Creator and this is he whom you are to remember in the dayes of your Youth And to know this true and living God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and freely given to be the Light of the World that all through the Light might believe it is Life Eternal Now God the higher Power he is called the Father and Christ the Light is called the Son and Christ was glorified with the Father before the World began And Christ the light was and is called the Word which was with God in the beginning and was and is God and God the higher Power and Christ the Word are One by whom the World was made And the Spirit of Truth that is Life which proceeds from the Father and the Son as say the Scriptures of Truth And these the Father Son and Spirit the world and their Teachers call Three Persons but they speak they know not what even as they have imagined contrary to the Scriptures Therefore Children believe them not For the Father which is called the Higher Power and the Son which is called the Word and the Spirit which is called Life which proceeds from the Father and Son these are one and are not separated For he that hath seen the Son hath seen the Father also for the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father and the Spirit proceedeth from the Father and the Son as saith the Scripture and these are one Being and Subsistence Now that Word which was in the Beginiing with God and was and is God by whom all things were made that were made Mark in that Word was Life and that Life was and is the Light of men And this is the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the World that all through that Light might believe as saith the Scriptures of Truth This Light which every one is enlightned withal the Priests of the World call it a natural light but Children believe them not for they speak contrary to the Scripture For the Scriptures of Truth say That in the Word which was God by whom all Things were made was Life and the Life was the Light of Men So Children take notice that the Light of Men is the Life of the Word which is God And this Word is Eternal and Spiritual and this Word made all the natural lights and this Word also is called Christ the Son of God whose Life is the Light of Men. And this Word became Flesh and in due time he was made Manifest in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh in that Body which was supposed to be Joseph the Carpenter's Son and he was called Jesus And in him dwelt the Fulness of the Godhead bodily and this Jesus fulfilled the Will of him that sent him and he freely gave his Life a Ransome for many as saith the Scripture And as concerning the flesh he was crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem and he was buried and he is risen again according to the Scriptures and he wrought Eternal Salvation for all them that obey him And so the same that descended the same also ascended as saith the Scriptures he that came from the Father the same is gone to the Father again And he is glorified with the Father with the same Glory that he had with the Father before the World began And though some have known him after the flesh yet henceforth know they him so no more as say the Scriptures of Truth Now Children the Scriptures of Truth do declare of God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth which are one but the Scriptures cannot bring you to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth For no man knoweth the Father who is a Spirit but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him as say the Scriptures And they that come to see and know the Son they come to see and know the Father also for the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father as saith the Scriptures And they are call'd by one name which is the Word or the Light for the Word is God and Christ is the Word and God is Light and Christ is the Light of the World and the spirit of Life proceeds from God and Christ who are Light And whatsoever the Son seeth the Father do that doth he also and the spirit of Life is not separate from the Father and the Son in the Work Now Children the Father Son and Spirit which are one Being is the true one only God which you are to know believe in and Worship which God is a Spirit of Truth and they that Worship him must Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth and before you can Worship him aright you must know him and believe in him And the Knowledge of God and the Faith in him man lost through disobeying the higher Power and so fell from God in the Transgression into darkness and death And all Children and People that be in Transgression in their Natural estate in the Fall they are out of the Knowledge
of God and out of the true Faith and out of the Spirit of Truth and so out of the Worship of God And in this Estate they are alienated from the Life of God and Strangers to the Covenant of Promise even Strangers unto the Law of God which is Light written in the Heart and so in this estate they are Darkness Now Children although you be darkness yet the Light shines in the Darkness as saith the Scripture and the Darkness cannot Comprehend it the Darkness cannot shut up the Light that is plain to your Understandings For the Light breaks through the Darkness and sheweth unto you your darkness and shines into your hearts to give you the knâ—wledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ So that which may be known of God is manifested in you for God hath shewed it unto you Therefore Children ye should not seek nor look out nor search in your own Thoughts to find out the Knowledge of God for the World by their Thoughts and Wisdom know not God But the Lord God is nigh unto every one of you for to shew unto you your Thoughts for he knoweth your Thoughts and none of them can be withheld from him and he that declareth unto man what his Thoughts are the Lord of Hosts is his Name so Children take notice of that which sheweth you your Thoughts for that is the Lord. And it was prophesied concerning Christ That he should be a Light to lighten the Gentiles that the Thoughts of many Hearts may be revealed and again The Word discerneth the Thoughts and the Intents of the Heart So Children there is something in you that makes manifest your bad Words and your bad Deeds and your bad Thoughts unto you and reproveth you for them Now all things that are reproved they are made manifest with the Light as saith the Scriptures For whatsoever doth make Manifest the same is Light And God is Light who said to him that thought God to be such a one as himself I will reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thy eyes and they that would have none of Gods reproof they were the stubborn children whom God the Light brought his Judgments upon therefore take heed of rejecting that which doth reprove you for sin And again the Scripture saith of the Spirit of Truth That he shall reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness of Judgment Christ the Word he for Sin condemned Sin in the flesh So take notice of that which makes manifest reproves and condemns you for Sin for that iâ— God or Christ or the Spirit which are but One. Now Children there are but two Grounds or Powers from whence all Peoples Deeds arise and by which all People are acted or led that is to say the Ground of Truth and the Ground of Unrighteousness â—nd the Power of God and the Power of Satan which is the Devil who abode not in the Truth And there is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Error Now the Ground and Power and Spirit of Truth are of one Nature which is the DIVINE NATURE and the Ground and Power and the Spirit of Error they are also one in their Natures which is the Cursed Nature and these Natures are contrary one to the other Now they that Act any manner of Unrighteousness it ariseth from the Unrighteous Ground and they are moved acted and led in all Unrighteous Actions that they Act by the Power of Satan the Spirit of Error And they that act any thing that is Just and Right in the sight of God it ariseth from the Ground of Truth and they are moved acted and led in all such Actions by the Power and Spirit of God Now these Powers or Natures or Spirits being contrary one to another oppose one another and thus Children ye may come to know that it is so and discern it by the Light which makes manifest all Words Actions and Motions For when ye have disobeyed your Parents or them that have the Rule over you in any thing that ye ought not or when ye have done any Evil then ye have been acted by Satan his Power and then the Power of God hath moved in you against the Evil that you have committed and then many times with the Spirit of Truth you have seen that you have done amiss and have been troubled for it And when you have told a Lye the Devil hath begotten that in you for he is the Father of all Lyes and then the Light of God's Spirit hath often times shewed unto you your Lye and hath condemned you for it And thus the Spirit and Power of God Opposeth the Power and Spirit of Satan in all things that Satan begets in you and moveth and leadeth you to do for the Spirit and Power of God moves and stirs against every moving and stirring of the Power and Spirit of Satan and calls you from the evil to refrain and not to joyn to the Evil Motions but to the good And likewise where the Spirit and Power of Satan is not yet limited or destroy'd Mark when the Power and Spirit of God begets any tender Desires or stirrings or movings in you after Truth and Righteousness then the Power and Spirit of Satan moves and stirs in you against them and seeks to draw your Minds from that which is good into that which is evil And thus you may plainly see that the light hath no fellowship with the darkness nor the darkness with the light for the Spirit and Power of God is Light and the Spirit and Power of Satan is Darkness and these are contrary one to each other in all things And they that joyn to to the Darkness and believe in it they by it continue or are made Children of Darkness and so of the Devil And they that joyn to the Light and believe in it they by it are made or continue Children of the Light and so of God Now Children there is a day of Visitation if ye slight it not which the Lord God giveth you wherein you may come to witness this Word of God in making you his children through his Workings and Operations of his Eternal Spirit But if ye let slip the Day of your Visitation and continue resisting the Workings of the Spirit and harden your selves against the Reproof of the Loâ—d then the Spirit of the Lord will cease striving with you and ye will be shut up in Darkness Therefore whilst ye feel something which convinceth you of Sin and Evil take heed unto that for that which lets you see that ye should not lye nor swear nor be proud nor wild nor disobedient to your Parents in any lawful thing that they command you nor act any manner of Unrighteousness whatsoever This is the Manifestation of the Spirit which is given you to profit withal or the true Light of God or Christ who are one And this ye should mind râ—joyn unto when it convinceth you and to abide
in it and then ye would come to feel the Mighty Power of God which â—s Christ manifested in you who was and is made manifest for this very end that he might and may destroy the Works of the Devil And they that commit Sin are of the Devil and in the Devil's Work for that is the Devil which begetteth Sin and works it in the Members and they that joyn to that which moveth to Sin they become one with the Devil the Author of Sin and so joyn with him in his Work and he becomes their Master Now Children Christ that Power of God he appears against Sin in the Members therefore mind the stirrings and movings and arisings of Christ the Power of God in you against Sin and believe and wait in it and thâ—n ye will come to feel Sin and the Devil who is the Author of it consuming even by the brightness of the coming or appearing or Revelation of Jesus Christ the Power of God in you And then you will grow into Soberness and Stilness and Quietness and Innocency and true Tenderness and Obedience both unto God and your Parents and them that have Rule over you and then the Blessing of the Lord will come upon you So Children ye being turned unto the true Light that shews you Sin and Evil with that as ye mind to abide in it ye will come to see and know that the true God the true Christ and the true Spirit is but one Being and Substance and as ye wait in the Light with it ye will come to see the Works and Workings of the one true and living God and so ye will grow into a good Understanding as ye believe and wait in that Light of God manifested in you And then ye will come to see and know the Devil also who abode not in the Truth and his Works and Workings and as ye abide in the Truth which the Devil is out of ye will come to feel the Devil and his Works and workings destroyed and consumed by the Brightness of the appearing of the one God of Light who is a consuming Fire So Children ye need not look out nor strive in your own Thoughts for the Knowledge of things but keep your Minds within in that which calls for Soberness and Stilness and Quietness and Harmelesness of Spirit and as ye wait in that ye will be kept in God's fear then whatsoever is needful for you to know the Lord will reveal it unto you by his Spirit For the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him as say the Scriptures and they that fear the Lord shall not lack any thing that they have need of for they that stand in awe of God the light they shall be kept out of Sin and they shall grow into the pure Knowledge and Wisdom of God and therein be preserved for the Wisdom of God preserves all things that are preserved And Children with the Wisdom of God all God's Creatures must be ordered and they that come into the Wisdom of God Mark they must first come into the fear of God for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and the fear of God is to depart from Iniquity even from every Evil Way And before any can depart from their Iniquity they must first see their Iniquities before they can see their Iniquities their Sins and Evil Deeds they must first hear the Light which they are enlightned withal which will tell them that they are in Iniquity and also shew them their Sins and Evil Deeds And Children they that hear the Light they hear God for God is Light and they that hear God they hear Christ also for God and Christ are One as saith the Scripture and they that hear Christ hear the Author of the True Faith and so hear the Saviour of their Souls and the Light is that Prophet which all that hear not him are to be cut off Now Children that which moves or leads or draws to Lying to Swearing to Dissimulation to Pride to Covetousness to Wilfulness to Stubbornness to Envy to Rashness to Wildness to Disobedience to Parents or Masters or Dames when they command that to be done by you which you ought to do or that which moves draws or leads you into Gaming or into any manner of Evil whatsoever the same moves and draws and leads you from hearing the Voice of God And that which moves drawâ— and leads into any Evil that iâ— the Devil and going into the Evil which the Devil tempts to that hardneth the Heart and the Heart being hardned that stopâ— the Ear that should hear Gods Voice Therefore Children mind that which will shew you all the Motions and Temptations of the Devil and hear that which will tell you your Thoughts for that is God the Light who is the Word and the Word is as a Hammer to break the hard Heart and the Heart being broken into Tenderness then the Mercy and Virtue of God will be felt to heal again And then the presence of God will be witnessed for the Lord dwells with those that are of a broken and contrite Spirit and tremble at his Word and in his presence is fulness of Joy as say the Scriptures So little Children Learn of the Light which is Christ who is meek and Lowly in the Heart and he will teach you to be meek and lowly and patient and innocent and harmless and to live in true Love and Tenderness and Obedience and Honesty and Uprightness toward God and toward Men and then ye will find Rest and Peace for your Souls Now Children the wisdom of the Lord God is more precious then all the riches of the world They that are of a froward stubborn crooked envious rash fretting Nature they shall not be acquainted with the Wisdom of God But they that fear the Lord and are of a tender humble meek patient lowly Spirit they shall be filled with true Wisdom and Understanding They that are wild and studborn and run into wicked and prophane Language and Sport themselves in Vanity and live in disobedience the Lord God will overtake them with his Judgments before they are aware of them The End of a disobedient stubborn wicked Man who will not depart from his wiâ—â—â—â—â—ness shall be full of Torment Sorrow and Misery But the End of an Upright and Perfect man who delighteth himself in the Way of the Lord shall be full of Joy and Comfort Peace in the Lord. The Way of the Lord which is the way of Holiness and the Path of the Just is the bright shining Light which shiâ—eth â—ore and more until the perfect Day And the bright shining Light is that which will shew you your evil Words and your evil Deeds and your evil Thoughts and will chek and reprove you for them and this is the way wherein ye should walk Every good and perfect Gift comes from God and the Gift of God is perfect and God gives Gifts even to the
of the Lord and if in the wisdom of God ye see freedom to turn any away give them sufficient Waring that they may provide themselves otherwayes for this is but just and reasonable and be not hasty nor rash with them nor run into Jangling with them but if ye have cause to reprove them let it be in the Fear Wisdom of God in the Freedom and Authority of the Truth that will reach unto the Witness of God in them So be not high minded but fear and be patterns unto them in the lowly meek and quiet Spirit and bear with the weak and forgive them that trespass against you and render not Evil for Evil to any but overcome Evil with that which is Good and live in that which overcomes Evil that so the Truth of God may be exalted over all And all â—e that are Servants live in the Fear of the Lord and wait in his Light and be obedient thereunto and also be obedient in your places untâ— those that are your Masters anâ— Dames according to the Flesh not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward serving them in Faithfulness and Uprightness of Heart doing what ye do for them as diligently faithfully and willingly as ye should do any thing to the Lord for this is right in the sight of God and take heed that none of God's Creatures be lost or wasted under your Hands through your neglecting them or sloathfulness in your places wd do not falsly accuse any or speak Evil behind any ones Back thereby thinking to get the Favour oâ— Love of any or upon any other account for that is Evil and be as diligent in your places when your Masters or Dames are absent as when they are present for this is just and right and be not stubborn nor wilful neither use many worâ—s to your Masters or Dames and if ye know not well how to peâ—form your Service aright thâ—â— in true Humility be willing â—o learn and take heed of High-mindedness and Pride or of being wise in your own Eyes and when ye have any spare Tiâ—â— allowed ye being free froâ— outward Imployment see that ye spend it in the Fear of thâ— Lord in waiting upon him 〈◊〉 his Light that so all vain Talâ—ing corrupt Communication foolish jesting and all Vanity may be kept out of and give ye not way to that mind which is Unstable which would be oft shifting and going from place to place for this is not right in the sight of God but wait in the Light that ye may be staid and settled in your Minds and if ye see Freedom in the Fear of God Mark that to go to another place then give your Masters or Dames sufficient notice of it and if any of you who know the Truth come to be moved of the Lord to go to any place in his Service be faithful to the Lord and when your service which he required of you 〈◊〉 done then return to your place again except it be otherwayâ— ordered in the Fear and Wiâ—dom of God and be diligent in your places doing the same that ye would others should do unto you in the like condition and mind the Lord in and above all things and be faithful unto him and he will be your Reward And all ye Fathers and Mothers and Children and Masters and Dames and Servants who have the Creatures of God to buy or sell or to exchange live in the fear of the Lord that ye may feel his Wisdom to guide you in your Trading and do not speak better or worse of the Creatures then you know them to be thereby to get the greater gain for that is Idolatry it arising from Covetousness but wait to feel God's Spirit to bridle your Tongues and use but few words in your Tradingâ— and if ye ask a question therein do it in simplicity and keep in the Light which is equal that when ye offer or ask a Price for the Creatures it may be in Equality and let that be your Rule and not the Price of the Market except that be equal for so ye may reach the equal Principle on in another and then stand tâ— your Word and here your Yâ—â— will be Yea and your Nay will 〈◊〉 Nay and so ye will be kept in the Doctrine of Christ with his Light out of Evil and ye abiding in the Light it will bring you to do to every one as ye would be done unto and take heed that ye stir not up the Impatient Crooked Disorderly Nature one in another with your Words or Actions but bear one with another and forgive one another and when ye tell each other of a Fault do it in the Fear and Wisdom and meek Spirit of God's Lamb that so ye may restore each other therein and when ye have any convenient time assemble your seâ—ves together in the Name and Fear of the Lord and wait every particular in the Measure and Gift of God in you which is given ye to profit withal and all wait together in the Light and believe in it that ye may be Children of the Light and therein watch unto Prayer and one over another and this will beget ye into unfeigned Love and walking in the Light ye will have true Unity and Fellowip one with another and the Blood which is the Life oâ— Jesus Christ you will feel cleansing you from all Sin so ye will come into the Unity witâ— God Also to feel his Word his Power and Wisdom iâ— you by which all things were Created and made and are upheld that therein ye may be ordered in the particlar and that therein ye may use and order all God's Creatures to his Glory and then all false Weights and Measures and Wayes and Worships will be destroyed and then shall Truth Equity Righteousness and true Order and Mercy prosper and run down as a River So let your Faith stand in Christ Jesus the Light and Wisdom and Power of God and then true Worship true Weight true Measure shall be set up and established and then shall the Lord be exalted over all the Works of his Hands and so ye will feel his blessing unto him belongeth Dominion and Honour for he is worthy of it for evermore Amen By George Fox The Lamb and his Day Proclamed THE Kingdom of God is at hand which comes not with Observation Salvation is near unto all that will receive it Redemption is coming in a Time unexpected and Deliverance in a Way not known as a Thief in the Dark is the Heir come whose light out of dâ—rkness is shining and that which shineth out of Darkness is it alone that giveth the Knowledge of God whom to know is Life eternal and the Brightness of the Day of God is springing forth of Darkness as the Morning Sun after the Darkness of the Night and Glorious is this day of the Revelation of God to all them that have waited for his Coming who in the Life of his