out of all spiritual Pride let it not have place in any of your Hearts and hide it not from your Eyes for God beholds the Proud afar off and would any of you have God to behold you afar off and such as God beholds afar off are not near him for who are near him he doth behold them so they are precious in his sight his Eyes are over them and he giveth them more Grace but he resisteth the Proud a high Mind goeth before a Fall and Pride before Destruction and it hath brought Wo and Destruction upon many and but few humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God lowliness of mind and humility Therefore all keep in give not way to any proud Desires of your Hearts from whence cometh Proud Words and inclinations after high Attire shining and costly Apparel outwardly affecting the Antick Fantastical Fashions of the World which too many professing God's plain Truth get into and delight themselves in And all you Elder Men and Women professing the holy pure plain Truth of God be good Examples in Plainness Purity and Holiness unto the Younger Men Women and Children in your Lives and Conversations where-ever you come wear nothing neither speak or do any thing but that which is Grave and Savoury becoming Godliness which may reach to the Good and that which is of God in all may own approve and justifie you in the Younger look at you who are Elder and when or wherein any of you take liberty to fashion your selves like unto this World How can you expect but that the Younger Men and Women and Children will in that be apt to follow your Example and when you speak rude unsavoury Words may not you be ill Instruments to corrupt the good Manners of the younger sort of People amongst us And when you that are Elders do any thing against the pure Truth of God and the Younger behold you may not that hurt and defile them and so you become Ministers of Evil things to the weak and Young and grieve the Spirit of God in them and also in your selves which should seal you to the Day of Redemption and would keep the Crown of Pride from you all if you would keep in the Spirit of God and be led and guided by it for that never led nor will ever lead any to speak do or wear any thing unbecoming the Truth or Godliness I know that by the Worldly Liberty which some Elder men and women among us have taken in Words Deeds and Habits out of the Truth and condemned by it they have but weakened themselves brought a Vail over the Seed of God in them and rendered themselves less useful to serve God and his precious Truth in their Generation and all evil Words evil Deeds or evil Fashions spoken done or followed are a dis-service to the Truth works against it causeth a slight esteem of it and doth tend to hinder the Prosperity of it And therefore every one of you professing the Truth keep out of that which works against it and bringeth dishonour to it What manner of Persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness who know the Truth of God to keep in his fear at all times to fear to offend him or grieve his holy Spirit in Words or Actions or by giving any way to Pride or High-mindedness in any thing what we say or do And in our Apparel men and women especially the Elder sort to be plain and modest and all to behave themselves in Sobriety and Moderation And you Friends that are Rich and have plenty of created Comforts in this World let not your Table become your Snare nor that which was given you for your Welfare become your Trap and with-hold any of you from God or your Duty wherein you ought to be found constant to him but be wise and shew forth Christian Moderation in the right use of all Creatures and keep out of that Excess which the World and worldly Professors take liberty in and sport themselves in the practice of in their Eating and Drinking at Marriage Feasts and other Feasts Oh! what â—luttening Rioting and Wantonness are even many found in which sorely displeaseth the Lord kindles his Wrath and that which they have cause to be ashamed of and such indeed as is a shame to Christianity in the Life of it for that is that which we are to mind and keep to the ancient practice and manner of the Primitive Christians in our Eating and Drinking Marriages Apparelling our selves that whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do or take in hand that all may be done to the Praise and Honour of God in pure mindedness to give Thanks unto God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who dyed for us and all men and did purchase us with his own Blood that we all might know Remission of Sin and know the Deeds of the Body mortified and the Old man with his Deeds that are corruptible put off and to be covered with and adorned with the Heavenly Man who is from above and he nor the glory of his Kingdom is of this world O let all come to bear his Image be willing to be made by him conformable to him who is from above and above all that your Wills or Affections may not go out after or be set upon any thing that is Visible or Temporal but with a pure Eye look to him who is from Everlasting to Everlasting Invisible and Eternal let your Minds and Affections go after him and be set upon him and those things which are Invisible and Eternal all wait more and more to love and take pleasure in And all dear Friends and Brethren every where having received the Spirit of God poured forth from him keep therein for its good and profitable to be in the Spirit of God and that tends to Godliness which is profitable in all things having the promise of this Life and that which is to come and Pray often in the Spirit of God having a Spiritual Mind and Understanding also Pray to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ that you may be kept stedfast to him and preserved in Purity to his praise whilst in this present World O! be ye all fervent in Prayer and Supplications to God that you may abide faithful to him in your Words and Actions and that Testimony God hath called you to bear for him and his Truth be righteous true and faithful therein and grow up as Pillars in his House and not to defile your Garments any more with the Polutions of this evil World but constantly be kept to God out of Sin Evil throughout your Pilgrimage in it be tender oue towards another and pray one for another in the love of God that you may be kept always abounding in it and love and pray for your Enemies and do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you considering that the Prayers of the Righteous the Lord doth hear regard and answer and their fervent Prayers in the Name of Christ prevails much with God and availeth much for the good of his Church and also for the benefit of the Children of men in general that have not sinned out their day nor are finally given up to utter Ruin and Destruction And my Friends in every thing that you do receive from God give humble and hearty Thanks to him and be you always contented with what you do receive from him whether it be that which may appear Evil or Good Affliction or Prosperity being Poor or Rich in every state be contented with your lot and portion in this world and shut out all murmuring against the Lord and all evil Thoughts and Grudgings one against another be content with such things as you have considring that we brought nothing with us into this world neither must we carry any thing out with us when we go away out of it and in it there is no long continuance And you that are but weak in the Faith or have but a little Faith neither have so much Wisdom and Knowledge as may be others have let not the weakness of thy Faith or want of that Wisdom and Knowledge that others may have at all discourage thee or raise any Doubts Reasonings or Questionings in thy mind that God will not hear or regard thy Prayers being in the least measure of the Spirit of God offered to him for he will both hear and answer thy Prayers that are in the living Faith without doubtings and reasoning of the Flesh notwithstanding thy weakness or littleness of thy Wisdom and Knowledge and if thou know not how to pray nor what to ask wait for the Spirit and to feel Life thereby to arise and move in thy heart for that will help thy Infirmities with Sighs and Groans that cannot be uttered forth in words howbeit he knoweth the mind of his own holy Spirit for it moves to Holiness to that which is good but not to that which is evil in any man or woman but to avoid that which is evil in all Thoughts Words and Actions our God knoweth the mind of his own Spirit in a holy Desire or pure Meditation without Words as well as with Words spoken forth Therefore my dear Friends let none of you struggle or strive in your own Wills to use many Words or Repetitions in Prayer to God the Father but feel his Spirit to move in all your Hearts for that will sufficiently help your Infirmities and teach you how to make your Requests in Prayer to God who knoweth what you stand in need of So dear Friends I do commit you to God and his Spirit of Truth in all your Hearts that that therein you may all serve worship and pray unto him and that you may please the Lord in all things is the fervent breathing Desires of your Friend and Brother in a Spiritual Relation in and through God and Christ Jesus the only Saviour and Mediator betwixt God and Man who ever liveth making Intercession for all the Saints J. P. Hosleydown the 18th of the 6th Month 1691. THE END
him stand by him and strengthen him when they agreed to cast him into the Pit to destroy him did not the Lord cause it to work effectually for his good who by his wisdom and virtue obtained great favour and honour with King Pharaoh and his Court and throughout the Land of Egypt where he was a succour and as a saviour to his Father Jacob's Family his envious Brethren that took Counsel together to destroy him Joseph did good unto and rewarded them good for their envy and cruelty and the Lord delivered Jacob out of all his troubles which he had met with in the dayes of his Pilgrimage which were many very great and grevious as the Scriptures declare and he that helped saved and delivered the Righteous in all Ages he is the same God now and changeth not with the times and seasons that are in his Hands but he will work Wonders for the hoâ—our and exaltation of his Name for the Salvation of his chosen Flock and for the destruction of his Enemies that will not bow to him nor his Government in them nor over them to reign and he will certainly bow them and break them in pieces and scatter them in there evil Imaginations and will bring to nought all the unrighteous designs and wicked Conspiracies of all the wicked and unrighteous in the Earth to exalt his Name and spread his Truth abundantly Dear Friends a great and terrible day of Gods fierce Wrath from Heaven is revealed against them that hold the Truth in Unrighteousness they hold the bare Profession of it out of the Life and Power thereof and something of the Form out of the Power such do dishonour God and are a Scandal to the Name of Christ Jesus and waver from him and baulk his Testimony being not faithful to him nor true in their Testimony for those things which we have most surely believed to be of and from the Lord. Now his Day is come and coming that will be upon all found in that state although they may hold the Profession of the Truth of God yet they are out of the Possession and they are out of the Kingdom which stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Spirit and are led and guided by an unholy Spirit into disobedience to the Lord and are held Captives therein and such shew forth the Rule and Government of the Prince of the power of the Air having dominion in and over them Now the terrible Day of God's Wrath will fall heavy on them that obey Unrighteousness and hold the Truth in Unrighteousness and when the Righteous shall scarcely be saved where shall they appear that hold the Profession of the Truth in Unrighteousness will not such be found amongst the Hypocrites and Unbelievers and will not there be Lamentation Weeping and great Wo and shall not Tribulation Anguish and Wrath come upon every Soul of man that doth Evil of what Name and Profession soever they have been of in this present world Now as Righteousness and true Holiness leads such who are in it to be faithful in their Testimony for God so Unrighteousness doth the contrary even cause many to how their Knee to Baal in something or other to worship the Beast and receive his Mark in something or other more or less which it may be such know that they ought not to fall under in or to give way unto and that will bring down Judgment and Wrath from God upon all the disobedient who are not just true and faithful in bearing their Testimony against Wars and Fightings with Carnal Weapons and against Tythes and Offerings which God in the Gospel-Day puts an end unto and requireth not and that which the Testimony of Truth in all the Faithful in our Day hath clearly gone forth against from the beginning and God apparently hath been with his People and blessed us herein How any can slight go from or violate that and directly or indirectly joyn with them or give strength to them that falsify their Testimony making void as much as in them lieth the great and hard Sufferings of many Ancient Friends formerly who loved not their Lives to the Death so that they might fight the good Fight of Faith and keep their Testimony firm and constant for God to the end And feel the Spirit of Life from God to enter into you and possess all your Hearts that you may stand upon your Feet and be armed with the Armor of Light and the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit which proceeds out of the Lamb's Mouth that faithful Witnesses for him you may stand against all that which is Evil and contrary to the Truth and Testimony thereof Dear Brethren and Sisters and all Friends who are called of God to do Service in your Men and Womens Meetings that are of such great tendency for the Welfare and Peace of the Church of God be diligent to keep up and preserve your Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in the pure and peaceable Wisdom of God all minding and following those things which are pure lovely and of good Report which makes for Peace within your Walls of Salvation and Strength from God dwell and stand up for God's Authority and that all your Men Womens Meetings therein may be kept all being diligent and faithful to God he will be your Shield and exceeding great Reward your Shield to defend you against all the Opposition you may meet with against the Malice Rage of them that seek your hart and overthrow And be wise in Heart in your Words and Actions do all that you do to the Glory and Praise of God in self-denyal and self-abasement considering that you act for God and his Eye is over all You know that you are not your own but the Lords bought with a Price So all ought faithfully to serve glorifie and honour him to the uttermost of the strength and ability that you have received from God or may receive in your Day and Generation Be careful in the fear of the Lord and then all things will be done decently and in good order in the Church of God and let nothing be done in Strife or vain Glory but do all things in Love in that dwell together and edifie one another doing all things without Partiality without Hypocrisie and without Dissimulation and keep your Eye single to God in all whatever you do in Word or Deed that all may be done in the peaceable Wisdom of Truth and Righteousness keeping an equal hand of Judgment and Justice without respect to Persons in all matters and things that may come before you for such as respect the Rich Persons case more then the case of the Poor may err in Judgment and commit Sin and the just equal and righteous Law of God will take hold on such and judge them that are found respecting and bearing with the Cause of the Rich because Rich more then the Cause of the Poor of the Flock of God because they
perticular Person But is all stood firmly in the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God then it would not be so with such amongst us but they would bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance and be kept both in the Language and Life of the naked Truth as it is in Jesus For all Deceit Dissimulation Hypocrisie and Vnrighteous Coverings are abhorred of the Lord and to be double-tongu'd double-dealing are loathsome and abominable to God and Good men and women and as the Scriptures witness O! let all be awakened out of Sleep and know that now the Day of the Lord is at hand The Lord is come who will judge the Secrets of all mens Hearts as the Apostle said According to my Gospel and bring all hidden things to light as he appeareth as he ariseth in Peoples hearts who will not judge after the sight of the Eye or after the hearing of the Ear or according to appearance but with Righteous Judgment will he judge both Poor and Rich High and Low he will be justified when he judgeth and clear when he condemneth for Sin and Evil he will do no unrighteousness in Judgment nor judge as man judgeth with severe and rash Judgment He will remember Mercy in the midst of Judgment although men are apt to forget it and not to mix Mercy with their Judgment but often shew Rigour instead of Mercy which is not pleasing to the Lord for he desires Mercy rather than Sacrifice and that we hearken to him that is better than the Fat of Rams And Friends beware of Covetousness which is Idolatry and the love of Money which is the Root of all Evil how many men heap Sorrows upon Sorrows upon themselves by their Covetousness and being overcome with the Cares of this Life and seem as drown'd in Perdition through the love of Money the Root of all Evil For what Evil may not arise and spring from this evil Root How many evil hurtful and corrupt Branches that now appear coming from this pernitious Root in men and women are daily brought forth to the dishonour of God and great Reproach of his Name by the Christians in Name only but not in Nature and it matters not much what Profession Idolatrous men and women make that still bring forth evil Branches and evil Fruit from this evil root And beware of Lying loving or making a Lye to slander defame or judge another mans Servant who must stand or fall to his own Master and God is able to raise them up that fall and he that stands had as much need as ever to take heed lest he fall amongst them that fall into Mischief and lest he tempt the Lord and grieve his holy Spirit which is the cause of mans Fall and Misery and the Spirit 's ceasing to strive with them that utterly fall by which Spirit of God we are sealed to the Day of Redemption as we abide and walk therein And beware of Unjust and Unrighteous Measures but keep to the Ballance of the Sanctuary which will direct us all to give Right Weight and Measure to others even such as we desire they should mete to us for such measure as we mete to others may be measured to us again and 't is but just and equal for the equal just God to suffer it so to be that men hear fear and understand the Rod of Severity that God can make use of when his Favour and Mercy is kicked at and rejected then an Eye for an Eye and rendring Evil for Evil and thinking to overcome the Evil with the Evil for want of Christian skill to overcome the Evil with the Good And beware of Hatred Prejudice and Enmity envy not one another for because of that the Wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience although they may know much in comprehension or external Notions of the things of God in the head or brain and be swelled and lifted up therewith for that Knowledge that is out of the Life and Simplicity of the Gospel will hurt and not heal or pour Oyl into the Wound to heal the Hurts or Bruises of the Daughter of God's People and what Hurt Envy Hatred and Prejudice hath done amongst men is so obvious that much need not be said to demonstrate it for all may see or hear of the Murders and Bloodsheds that are in the World the many Combates and Duels amongst Men and how they kill one another in their heat of Passion Malice and Envy and he that doth envy his Brother is a Murderer in his heart and hath not eternal Life abiding in him and the Treachery that is amongst men their betraying one another to Death it oftentimes doth arise and come from that bitter Root of Prejudice and Envy which is the work of the Devil But all Friends every where keep out of those things that gender to Strife Contention or doth provoke to Evil or to any manner of Sin but exercise your selves unto Godliness cease from Anger and for sake Wrath fret not your selves in any wise to do Evil for Evil-doers shall be cut off follow the things that make for Peace and you shall enjoy Rest Peace and Quiet and know the perfect love of God to cast out the fear of man or what man can do when others are full of Fears and Unbelief because of evil Tidings and concerning future things that may come to pass dwell in the Love of God and perfect Charity one towards another and the Lord will be a Shelter and Hiding Place to you And take heed of Whimsies or Imaginary vain Conceits and then to think of your selves above what is mete but all keep low in your minds and be little in your own Eyes for some being blown up into high Conceits are hurried into uncertain Sounds and flashes of false Joy which is not the Joy of the Lord that is strength to the Righteous neither doth tend to the Good or Edification of the Church of Christ howbeit put on Christian Charity and bear one with another more especially in publick Assemblies We ought to bear with some Weaknesses rather then crush or hurt any thing that is good and right have Charity towards the Weak and bear one anothers Burdens that Peace Order and Unity in the Spirit may be kept in all the Churches of Christ And as much as in you lies live peaceably with all men and in the Spirit of God pray for all men high and low rich and poor And obey Magistrates so far as you may with a safe Conscience or your Testimony for the Truth will admit that under them we may live a sober righteous Life in all Godliness and Honesty that whereas many speak against us as Evil-doers they may be ashamed acknowledge to your upright Godly Conversation coupled with fear to do an evil thing to harm or be injurious to any man And beware of Pride and vain Glory with the vain and the foolish Fashions of this perishing world that passeth away keep