that of Angels as the Scriptures of the Old Testament do in many places express as to Abraham Jacob c. The next was that of the Law by Moses which was also delivered by Angels as the Apostle tells us This Dispensation was much outward and suited to a low and servil State called therefore that of a School-Master to point out and prepare that People to look and long for the Messiah who would deliver them from the servitude of a Ceremonious and imperfect Dispensation by knowing the Realities of those Misterious Representations in themselves In this time the Law was written on Stone the Temple built with Hands attended with an outward Priest-hood and External Rites and Ceremonies that were Shadows of the Good Things that were to come and were only to serve till the Seed came or the more excellent and general manifestation of Christ to whom was the Promise and to all Men only in him in whom it was Yea and Amen even Life from Death Immortality and Eternal Life This the Prophets foresaw and comforted the believing Jews in the certainty of it which was the Top of the Mosaical Dispensation and which ended in John's Ministry the Forerunner of the Messiah as John's was finished in him the Fullness of all And God that at sundry Times and in divers manners had spoken to the Fathers by his Servants the Prophets Spoak then by his Son Chrâ—st Jesus Who is Heir of all things being the Gospel-Day which is the Dispensation of Sonship Bringing in thereby a nearer Testament and a better hope even the beginning of the Glory of the latter days and of the Restitution of all things yea the Restoration of the Kingdom unto Israel Now the Spirit that was more sparingly communicated in former Dispensations began to be Poured forth upon all Flesh according to the Prophet Joel and the Light that shined in Darkness or but dimly before the most gracious God caused to Shine out of Darkness and the Day-star began to arise in the Hearts of Believers giving unto them the knowledge of God in the Face or Appearance of his Son Christ Jesus Now the Poor in Spirit the Meek the true Mourners the Hungry and Thirsty after Righteousness the Peace-makers the Pure in Heart the Merciful and the Persecuted came more especially in Remembrance before the Lord and were sought out and blessed by Israel's true Shepherd Old Jerusalem with her Children grew out of Date and the New Jerusalem into Request the Mother of the Sons of the Gospel-Day Wherefore no more at Old Jerusalem nor at the Mountain of Samaria will God be worshipped above other places for behold he is declared and preached a Spirit and he will be known as such and worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth He will come nearer then of old time and he will write his Law in the Heart and put his Fear and Spirit in the inward parts according to his promise Then Signs Types and Shadows flew away the Day having discovered their Insufficiency in not reaching to the inside of the Cup to the cleansing of the Conscience and all Elementary services were expired in and and by him that is the substance of all And to this Great and Blessed End of the Dispensation of the Son of God did the Apostles Testifie whom he had chosen and anointed by his Spirit to turn the Jews from their Prejudice and Superstition and the Gentiles from their Vanity and Idolatry to Christ's Light and Spirit that shined in them that they might be quickned from the Sins and Trespasses in which they were Dead to serve the Living God in the Newness of the Spirit of Life and walk as Children of the Light and of the Day even the Day of Holiness For such put on Christ the Light of the World and make no more Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof So that the Light Spirit and Grace that comes by Christ and appears in Man was what the Apostles ministred from and turned Peoples Minds unto and in which they gathered and built up the Churches of Christ in their Day For which cause they advised them not to quench the Spirit but wait for the Spirit and Speak by the Spirit and Pray by the Spirit and Walk in the Spirit too as that which approved them the truly begotten Children of God born not of Flesh and Blood or of the will of Man but of the will of God by doing his will and denying their own by drinking of Christ's Cup and being Baptized with his Baptism of Self-denial The Way and Path that all the Heirs of Life have trod to Blessedness But alas even in the Apostles Days those bright Stars of the first Magnitude of the Gospel Light some Clouds foretelling an Eclipse of this Primitive Glory began to appear and several of them gave early Caution of it to the Christians of their Time that even then there was and yet would be more and more a falling away from the Power of Godliness and the Purity of that Spiritual Dispensation by such as sought to make a fair shew in the Flesh but with whom the offence of the Cross ceased Yet with this comfortable Conclusion that they saw beyond it a more glorious Time than ever to the true Church Their sight was true and what they foretold to the Churches gathered by them in the Name and Power of Jesus came so to pass For Christians degenerated a-pace into outsides as Days and Meats and divers other Cerimonies And which was worse they fell into Strife and Contention about them separating one from another then Envying and as they had Power Persecuting one another to the shame and scandal of their common Christianity and grievous stumbling and offence of the Heathen among whom the Lord had so long and so marvellously preserved them And having got at last the Worldly Power into their Hands by Kings and Emperors embracing the Christian Profession they changed what they could the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World into a Worldly Kingdom or at least stiled the Worldly Kingdom that was in their Hands the Kingdom of Christ and so they became Worldly and not true Christians Then Humane Inventions and Novelties both in Doctrine and Worship crowded fast into the Church a Door being opened thereunto by the Grossness and Carnality that appeared then among the generality of Christians who had long since left the Guidance of God's meek and heavenly Spirit and given themselves up to Superstition will-Will-worship and Voluntary Humility And as Superstition is Blind so it is Heady and Furious for all must stoop to its blind and boundless Zeal or Perish by it In the Name of the Spirit persecuting the very appearance of the Spirit of God in others and opposing that in them which they resisted in themselves viz. the Light Grace and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ but always under the Notion of Innovation Heresie Schism or some such plausible Name Though Christianity
the Stature of the Fulness of Christ when they cannot bear to hear that any shall come whilst upon Earth into the same Power and Spirit that the Prophets and Apostles were in Though it be a certain Truth that none can understand their Writings aright without the same Spirit by which they were written Now the Lord God hath opened to me by his invisible Power how that Every Man was enlightned by the Divine Light of Christ and I saw it shine through all And that they that believed in it came out of Condemnation and came to the Light of Life and became the Children of it But they that hated it and did not believe in it were Condemned by it though they made a Profession of Christ This I saw in the pure Openings of the Light without the help of any Man neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures though afterwards searching the Scriptures I found it For I saw in that Light and Spirit which was before Scripture was given forth and which led the Holy Men of God to give them forth That all must come to that Spirit if they would know God or Christ or the Scriptures aright which They that gave them forth were led and taught by But I observed a Dulness and Drowzy Heaviness upon People which I wondred at For sometimes when I would set my self to sleep my Mind went over all to the Beginning in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting And I saw Death was to pass over this sleepy heavy State And I told People they must come to witness Death to that sleepy heavy Nature and a Cross to it in the Power of God that their Minds and Hearts might be on things above And on a certain Time as I was walking in the Fields the Lord said unto me Thy Name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life which was before the Foundation of the World And as the Lord spake it I believed and saw it in the New Birth Then sometime after the Lord commanded me to go abroad into the World which was like a briary thorny Wilderness And when I came in the Lord 's mighty Power with the Word of Life into the World the World swelled and made a Noise like the great raging Waves of the Sea Priests and Professors Magistrates and People were all like a Sea when I came to proclaim the Day of the Lord amongst them and to preach Repentance to them Now I was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light that they might receive Christ Jesus For to as many as should receive him in his Light I saw that he would give Power to become the Sons of God Which I had obtained by receiving Christ And I was to direct People to the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures by which they might be led into all Truth and so up to Christ and God as they had been who gave them forth And I was to turn them to the Grace of God and to the Truth in the Heart which came by Jesus that by this Grace they might be taught which would bring them Salvation that their Hearts might be established by it and their Words might be seasoned and all might come to know their Salvation nigh For I saw that Christ had died for all Men and was a Propitiation for all and had enlightned all Men and Women with his divine and saving Light And that none could be a true Believer but who believed in it I saw that the Grace of God which brings Salvation had appeared to all Men and that the Manifestation of the Spirit of God was given to every Man to profit withal These Things I did not see by the help of Man nor by the Letter tho' they are written in the Letter but I saw them in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ and by his immediate Spirit and Power as did the Holy Men of God by whom the Holy Scriptures were written Yet I had no slight esteem of the Holy Scriptures but they were very precious to me For I was in that Spirit by which they were given forth and what the Lord opened in me I afterwards found was agreeable to them I could speak much of these things and many Volumes might be written but all would prove too short to set forth the Infinite Love Wisdom and Power of God in prepairing fitting and furnishing me for the Service he had appointed me to letting me see the Depths of Satan on the one Hand and opening to me on the other Hand the divine Mysteries of his own Everlasting Kingdom Now when the Lord God and his Son Jesus Christ did send me forth into the World to preach his Everlasting Gospel and Kingdom I was glad that I was Commanded To turn People to that Inward Light Spirit and Grace by which all might know their Salvation and their Way to God even that divine Spirit which would lead them into all Truth and which I infallibly knew would never deceive any But with and by this divine Power and Spirit of God and the Light of Jesus I was to bring People off from all their own ways to Christ the new and living Way and from their Churches which Men had made and gathered to the Church in God the general Assembly written in Heaven which Christ is the Head of And off from the World's Teachers made by Men to learn of Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life of whom the Father said This is my beloved Son hear ye him and off from all the Worlds Worships to know the Spirit of Truth in the inward Parts and to be led thereby that in it they might Worship the Father of Spirits who seeks such to Worship him Which Spirit they that Worshipped not in knew not what they Worshipped And I was to bring People off from all the World's Religions which are vain that they might know the pure Religion and might visit the Fatherless the Widows and the Strangers and keep themselves from the Spots of the World And then there would not be so many Beggars the sight of whom often grieved my Heart to see so much Hard-heartedness amongst them that professed the Name of Christ And I was to bring them off from all the World's Fellowships and Prayings and Singings which stood in Forms without Power that their Fellowships might be in the Holy Ghost and in the Eternal Spirit of God that they might Pray in the Holy Ghost and Sing in the Spirit and with the Grace that comes by Jesus making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord who hath sent his beloved Son to be their Saviour and caused his heavenly Sun to shine upon all the World and through them all and his heavenly Rain to fall upon the Just and the Unjust as his outward Rain doth fall and his outward Sun doth shine on all which is God's unspeakable Love to the World And I was to bring People off from Jewish Ceremonies and from
got a little Cheary and over it Many Friends and some considerable Persons of the World have been with me I tired out my Body much when amongst you in England it is the Lord's Power that helps me Therefore I desire you all to prize the Power of the Lord and his Truth I was but a Weak Man in Body when I came away from you after I had been in my great Travel amongst you but after that it struck all back again into my Body which was not well settled after so sore Travels in England And then was I so tired at Sea that I could not rest and have had little or no Stomach a long time Since I came into this Island my Life hath been very much burdened But I hope if the Lord give me Strength to manage his Work I shall work throughly and bring things that have been out of Course into better Order So Dear Friends live all in the peaceable Truth and in the Love of it serving the Lord in Newness of Life For glorious Things and precious Truths have been manifested among you plentifully and to you the Riches of the Kingdom have been reached I have been almost a Month in this Island but have not been able to go abroad or ride out only very lately I rid out twice a Quarter of a Mile at a time which wearied me much and almost tired me My Love in the Truth is to you all G. F. Now because I was not yet well able to Travel the Friends of the Island concluded to have their Men's-Meeting and their Womens-Meeting for the Service of the Church at Thomas Rous's where I lay by which means I was present amongst them at each of their Meetings and had very good Service for the Lord in both For they had need of Information in many things and divers Disorders were crept in for want of Care and Watchfulness Wherefore I exhorted them more especially at the Mens-Meeting to be watchful and careful with respect to Marriages to prevent Friends Marrying in near Kindreds and also to prevent over-hasty proceedings toward Second Marriages after the Death of a former Husband or Wife advising that a decent Regard were had in such Cases to the Memory of the Deceased Husband or Wife And as to Friends Children marrying too young as at Thirteen or Fourteen Years of Age I shewed them the Unfitness thereof and the Inconveniences and Hurts that attend such Childish Marriages And I admonished them all to purge the Floor throughly and to sweep their Houses very clean that nothing might remain that would defile And that all should take care that nothing be spoken out of their Meetings to the blemishing or defaming one of another Likewise concerning Registring of Marriages Births and Burials I advised them to keep Exact Records of each in distinct Books for that only use and also to Record in a Book for that purpose the Condemnations of such as went out from Truth into Disorderly Practices and the Repentance and Restoration of such of them as returned again Also I recommended to their Care the providing of convenient Burying Places for Friends which in some parts were yet wanting Some Directions also I gave them concerning Wills and the Ordering of Legacies left by Friends for publick Vses and other things relating to the Affairs of the Church Then as to their Blacks or Negro's I desired them to endeavour to train them up in the Fear of God as well them that were bought with their Money as them that were born in their Families that all might come to the Knowledge of the Lord that so with Joshua they might every Master of a Family say As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. I desired them also that they would cause their Overseers to deal mildly and gently with their Negro's and not use Cruelty towards them as the manner of some hath been and is And that after certain Years of Servitude they would make them free Many sweet and precious things were opened in these Meetings by the Spirit and in the Power of the Lord to the edifying confirming and building up of Friends both in the Faith and holy Order of the Gospel After these Meetings were over the Vessel that was bound for England not being yet gone I was moved to write another Epistle to Friends there the Copy whereof here follows DEar Friends and Brethren to whom is my Love in that which never changeth but remains in Glory which is over all the Top and Corner-stone In this all have Peace and Life as ye dwell in the blessed Seed wherein all is blest over that which brought the Curse where all Shortness and Narrowness of Spirit is and Brittleness and Peevishness is Therefore keep the Holy Order of the Gospel and keep in this blessed Seed where all may be kept in Temperance in Patience in Love in Meekness in Righteousness and Holiness and in Peace in which the Lord may be seen amongst you and no ways dishonoured but glorified by you all And so in all your Meetings in Cities Towns and Countries Mens-Meetings Womens-Meetings and others let Righteousness slow among you and the Holy Truth be uppermost and the pure Spirit your Guide and Leader and the holy Wisdom your Orderer that is pure and gentle and from above and easie to be entreated So keep in the Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World which is pure and undefiled in God's Sight And keep in the pure and holy Worship in which the pure and holy God is worshipped to wit in the Spirit and in the Truth which the Devil is out of who is the Author of all Vnholiness and of dishonouring of God So be all tender of God's Glory and tender of his Honour and of his blessed and holy Name in which ye are gathered And all who do profess the Truth see that ye Walk in it and in Righteousness and Godliness and Holiness For Holiness becomes the House of God the Houshold of Faith And that which becomes God's House God loves for he loves Righteousness and that is the Ornament which becomes his House and all his Family Therefore see that Righteousness do run down in all your Assemblies and that it flow to drive away all the Vnrighteousness This preserves your Peace with God for in Righteousness ye have all Peace with the righteous God of Peace and one with another And so every one that bears the Name of the Anointed that high Title of being a Christian named after the Heavenly Man see that ye be in the Divine Nature and made conformable unto his Image even the Image of the Heavenly Divine Man who was before that Image which Adam and Eve got in the Fall from the Devil So that in none of you that fallen Image may appear or be seen but his Image and you made Conformable unto him Here Translation is shewed forth in Life and Conversation not in Words only yea and Conversion and Repentance which
business upon them they were hindred from doing the good they would so that the Sufferings upon Friends were Continued But that which added much to the Grief and Exercise of Friends was that some who made a Profession of the same Truth with us being gone from the Simplicity of the Gospel into a fleshly Liberty and labouring to draw others after them did Oppose the Order and Discipline which God by his Power had set up and established in his Church and made a great noise and clamour against Prescriptions Whereby they easily drew after them such as were loosly Inclined and desired a broader Way than the Path of Truth to walk in Some also that were more simple but young in Truth or weak in Judgment were apt to be betrayed by them not knowing the Depths of Satan in these Wiles For whose sakes I was moved to write the following Paper for the undeceiving the Deceived and the opening the Understandings of the Weak in this matter ALL you that do deny Prescriptions without distinction you may as well deny all the Scriptures which were given forth by the Power and Spirit of God For do not they prescribe how men should Walk both to God and Man both in the Old Testament and in the New Yea from the very first Promise of Christ in Genesis what People ought to believe and trust in and all along till ye come to the Prophets Did not the Lord prescribe to his People both by the Fathers and then by his Prophets did he not prescribe to the People how they should Walk though they turned against the Prophets in the Old Covenant for declaring or prescribing to them the Way how they might Walk to please God and keep in favour with him And then after in the days of Christ did not he prescribe and teach how People should walk and believe And after him the Apostles did not they prescribe unto People how they might come to believe and receive the Gospel and the Kingdom of God directing unto that which would give them the Knowledge of God and how they should walk in the New-Covenant in the days of the Gospel and by what way they should come to the holy City And did not the Apostles send forth their Decrees by faithful Chosen Men them that had hazarded their Lives for Christ's sake to the Churches by which they were established And so you that deny Prescriptions given forth by the Power and Spirit of God do thereby oppose the Spirit that gave them forth in all the holy Men of God And were there not some all along in the days of Moses and in the days of the Prophets and in the days of Christ and in the days of his Apostles who did withstand that which they gave forth from the Spirit of God And hath there not been the same since the days of the Apostles And how many have risen since Truth appeared to oppose the Order which stands in the Power and Spirit of God who are but in the same Spirit which hath opposed the Spirit of God all along from the beginning And see what Names or Titles the Spirit of God gave that Opposing Spirit in the Old Covenant and also in the New which is the same now as was for after the Lord had given forth the Old Covenant there were some among themselves that did Oppose which were worse than publick Enemies And likewise after in the days of the New Covenant in the Gospel-times you may see what sort did Oppose both Christ and the Apostles after they came to some Sights of the Truth and how they turned against Christ and his Apostles And see what Liberty they pleaded for and ran into in the Apostles days who could not abide the Cross the Yoke of Jesus And therefore we see the same rough and high Spirit cries now for Liberty which the Power and Spirit of Christ cannot give and cries Imposition and yet is Imposing and cries Liberty of Conscience and yet is opposing Liberty of Conscience And cries against Prescriptions and yet is prescribing both in Words and Writing So with the Everlasting Power and Spirit of God this Spirit is fathomed its Rise Beginning and End and it is Judged And this Spirit cries We must not judge Conscience we must not judge Matters of Faith and we must not judge the Spirits nor Religions c. Yes They that be in the pure Spirit and Power of God which the Apostles were in they Judge of Conscience whether it be a seared Conscience or a tender Conscience They Judge of Faith whether it be a dead one or a living one They Judge of Religion whether it be vain or pure or undefiled They Judge of Spirits and try them whether they be of God or no They Judge of Hope whether it be of Hypocrites or the true Hope that purifies even as God is pure They Judge of Belief whether it be that which is born of God and overcometh the World or that which runs into the Spirit of the World which lusts to Envy and doth not overcome the World And they Judge of Worships whether they be will-Will-worships and the Worship of the Beast and Dragon or the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth They Judge of Angels whether they be fallen or them that keep their Habitation And they Judge the World that grieves and quenches the Spirit and hates the Light and turns the Grace of God into wantonness and resists the Holy Ghost They Judge of the Hearts Ears and Lips which are Circumcised and which are Uncircumcised They Judge of Ministers and Apostles and Messengers whether they be of Satan or of Christ They judge of Differences in outward things in the Church or elsewhere yea the least Member of the Church hath Power to Judge of such things having the One true Measure and true Weight to weigh things and measure things withal without respect to Persons And this Judgment is given and all these things are done by the same Power and Spirit the Apostles were in And also such can Judge of Election and Reprobation and who keep their Habitation and who not And who are Jews and who are of the Synagogue of Satan And who are in the Doctrine of Christ and who are in the Doctrines of Devils And who prescribes and declares things from the Power and Spirit of God to preserve all in the Power and Spirit of God and who prescribes and declares things from a loose Spirit to let all loose from under the Yoke of Christ the Power of God into Loosness and Liberty And likewise can Judge and Discern who brings People into the Possession of the Gospel of Light and Life over Death and Darkness and into the Truth where the Devil cannot get in and who brings them into the Possession of Death and Darkness out of the glorious Liberty of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ and his Faith and Truth and Spirit and Light and Grace For there is no true Liberty but in
Oaths we have been Convicted for an unknown Preacher when the Preacher hath been both known and fined And also in their swearing such Persons to have been at such a Meeting such a day when indeed they whom they have so sworn against have not been at that Meeting that day By which proceedings several Families of the King 's peaceable Subjects are like to be ruined if there be not a speedy stop put thereunto Therefore we do both hope and desire that you who are the King's Justices for the time to come when any Informers shall come to any of you with an Information against any of us will Summon such as are Accused to Appear before you and hear us and our Accusers face to face that so none for the time to come may suffer for that they are not guilty of For Pilate the Governour heard Christ and his Accusers face to face before he Condemned him John 19. And the Council and Chief Priests heard Stephen and his Accusers with the Witnesses that were brought against him face to face before they Condemned him Acts 7. The Roman Captain heard Paul and his Accusers face to face Acts 23. And Felix the Governour heard Paul and Ananias the High Priest and the Elders that accused Paul face to face Acts 24. And when the High Priests and Chief of the Jews accused Paul to Festus he heard Paul and his Accusers and them that witnessed against him face to face Acts 25. Doth the Law of God or did the Roman Law or doth the Law of the Land judge any man before he and his Accusers and they that Witness against him be heard face to face This somewhat moderated the Justices and after this several Friends that had been Illegally prosecuted and fined entred their Appeals upon Trial whereof they were Acquitted and the Informers Cast which was a great discouragement to the Informers and some Relief to Friends A little before the time came for the Chusing new Sheriffs for the City they who stood to be Chosen desiring our Friends to give their Voices for them I writ a few Lines tending to discover what Spirit they were of and how they stood affected to true Liberty and it was by way of Inquiry thus DO any here in London who stand to be Chosen Sheriffs own That Christ that was Crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem to be the Light of the World that doth Inlighten every Man that cometh into the World who saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And is any of you against persecuting People for their Religion and Worship of God in Spirit and Truth as Christ commandeth For Christ said I am not of this World nor my Kingdom And therefore he doth not uphold his spiritual Worship and pure Religion with worldly and carnal Weapons And Christ said Swear not at all And his Apostle James saith the same But will not you force us to swear and so to break Christ's and his Apostle's Commands in putting Oaths to us And Christ saith to his Apostles Freely ye have received freely give Will not you force us to give Tithes and Maintenance to such Teachers as we know God hath not sent Shall we be free to serve and worship God and keep his and his Son's Commands if we give our Voices freely for you for we are unwilling to give our Voices for such as will Imprison and persecute us and spoil our Goods But whatever they were that stood to be Chosen I observed there was a Heat and Strife in the Spirits of the People that were to Choose wherefore I writ a few Lines to be spread amongst them directed thus To the People who are Choosing Sheriffs in London People ALL keep in the gentle and peaceable Wisdom of God which is above that that is earthly sensual and devillish And live in that Love of God that is not puffed up nor is unseemly which envieth not but beareth and endureth all things And in this Love ye will seek the good and peace of all men and the hurt of no man Keep out of all heats and be not hot-headed but be cool and gentle that your Christian Moderation may appear to all men for the Lord is at hand who beholds all mens words thoughts and actions and will reward every one according to their works And what every man soweth that shall he reap Now had I some Inclination to have gone into the Country to a Meeting But hearing that there would be a Bussle at our Meetings and feeling a great disquietness in Peoples spirits in the City about Choosing Sheriffs it was upon me to stay in the City and go to the Meeting in Gracious-street upon the First-day of the Week William Penn went with me and spake in the Meeting Grac-Meâ—â— and while he was declaring the Truth to the People a Constable came in with his great Staff and bid him give over and come down but William Penn held on declaring Truth in the Power of God After a while the Constable drew back and when William Penn had done I stood up and declared to the People the Everlasting Gospel which was preached in the Apostles days and to Abraham and which the Church in the Apostles days did receive and came to be Heirs of This Gospel I declared was sent from Heaven by the holy Ghost in the Apostles days and is so now and was not of man neither by man but by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost And now this Gospel is preached again as John saw and said it should be to all Nations Tongues and Peoples and all People now are to hear Christ the Prophet in this his Gospel of the New Covenant For as Moses said Like unto me will God raise up a Prophet and him shall ye hear in all things so said I this Prophet Christ is come and all the Jews in spirit the true believing Christians in the Light who have the Law of God written in their hearts and put into their minds are to hear Christ in his Gospel New Testament and New Covenant which is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus who bruises the Serpent's head which is the head of Enmity and makes free from the Law of Sin and Death And I shewed that all whom Christ quickens and makes alive he makes them to sit together in the heavenly places in himself So that they do not wander up and down like the Fool 's eye in the Corners of the Earth nor are their Eyes abroad in the World to sit down in the World 's invented Seats of Religion but they sit together in him as the Saints did in the Apostles days and so Christ was and is their Treasure of Wisdom Life Knowledge and Salvation Now as I was thus speaking two Constables came in with their great Staves and bid me give over speaking and come down But I feeling the Power of the Lord with me spake on therein both to the Constables
76. and 78. All the Figures and Shadows were and are in Time but Christ the Substance is the Beginning and the Ending And all Trials Troubles Persecutions and Temptations came up in Time but the Lord's Power which is Everlasting is over all such things in which is safety The black World of Darkness lieth in wickedness and by their Wisdom knoweth not God that made the World and all things therein for the God of the World and Prince of the Air ruleth in the hearts of all them that disobey the living God that made them And so the God of this wicked World hath blinded all the Eyes of the Infidels or Heathen so that this Wicked World by their Wisdom doth not know the living God In the Old Testament the Lord said With all thy Offerings thou shalt offer Salt Levit. 2.13 And Christ saith in his New Covenant Every one shall be salted with Fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt Salt is good but if the Salt have lost its saltness wherewith will you season it Have Salt in your selves and have peace one with another Mark 9.48 49 50. We have received the Earnest of the Spirit which is the Earnest of the Inheritance that fadeth not away For God poureth out of his Spirit upon all flesh So it is God's Spirit which is above our natural Spirit by which alone we do not know God for it is with the Spirit of God that we do know the things of God And the Spirit of God doth witness to our Souls and Spirits that this Spirit of God is the Earnest of an Eternal Inheritance God opens his Peoples Ears to Discipline and commands that they turn from Iniquity If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure but if they obey him not they shall perish by the sword and they shall die without knowledge Job 36.10 11 12. So the Disobedient that do not turn from their Iniquity have not this prosperity and pleasure but die without the knowledge of God And such their Ears are shut to this Discipline which God opens to his People G. F. When I had been about Two Months in London I was sent for to my Son Rouse's at Kingston to visit a Daughter of his Kingston which at that time lay very sick but recovered Whilst I stay'd there I had several Meetings with Friends Hammersmith and returning by Hammersmith stay'd the First-day-Meeting there which was large and peaceable And having visited Friends thereabouts I came back â—o London again being very intent upon the business of getting Redress for suffering Friends In this and other Services for Friends and Truth I continued at London till the latter end of the Eleventh Month save that I went in this time to visit an Ancient Friend at Bednal-Green Bednal-Green with whom I tarried three or four days While I was there I was much exercised in the sense of the Enemy's Working to draw from the holy way of Truth into a false Liberty and so into the World's ways and worships again And the Example of the backsliding Jews coming before me I was moved to write the following Paper as a Warning to all such HEre you may see when the Jews Rebelled against the good Spirit of God which he gave them to Instruct them they forsook God and his Law Way and Worship and then they went a whoring after Balaam's Ways and became like the wild Ass-Colt snuffing up the wind as in Jer. 2.24 And in Jer. 3. see how Judah played the Harlot under every green Tree and upon every high Mountain And therefore the Lord divorced Judah as he had divorced Israel when she forsook his Ways and followed the Heathens Ways And though the Lord had fed them to the full yet they forsook him and committed Adultery and Assembled themselves together in Harlot's-houses Jer. 5.7 And with their Whoredom they defiled the Land and committed Adultery with Stocks and Stones Jer. 3.9 So here you may see when they forsook the living Eternal God they followed the Religions and Worships of other Nations whose Gods were made of Stocks and Stones which the Jews worshipped and committed Adultery withal When they forsook the living God and his way and worship they forsook the worship at Jerusalem at the Temple and followed the Heathens Worships in the Mountains and Fields and so it was called Adultery and Whoredom to join with other Religions and forsake God as in Jer. 13.27 And now if the Children of New Jerusalem that is above should forsake the Worship that Christ in his New Testament set up which is in Spirit and in Truth and follow the Worships of Nations which men have set up will not they that do so commit Adultery with them in forsaking God's Worship and Christ the new and living Way And in Jer. 44. ye may see how the Children of Judah provoked the Lord against them by worshipping the works of their own hands and following the Gods of the Land of Egypt In this they committed Adultery forsaking the living God their Husband and his Worship and there ye may see God's Judgments pronounced against them to their destruction And what will become of those that forsake the Worship in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up and worship the works of their own hands in spiritual Egypt and follow spiritual Egypt's Will-worship which they invented may not this be called Whoredom in them that forsake Christ the new and living Way and his pure Religion and his Worship that he hath set up And they that do forsake the Lord's way 1685. Bednal-Green and his worship that he set up and follow the Worlds ways and worships that they set up do not they whose Way they follow become at last their Enemies as in Lament 1. See how the Jews forsook the Lord's way and worship and doted on other Lovers the Assyrians c. and with all their Idols they were defiled and how they did not leave the Whoredoms brought from Egypt and how they were polluted with the Babylonians Bed as ye may read in Ezek 23. When they forsook the Lord his Way and Worship and followed the Way and Worship of the Heathen then it was said They went a Whoring after other Lovers and committed Adultery with them And ye may see in Ezek. 16. how the state of the Jews was likened unto that of their Sister Sodom and how that they had played the Harlot with the Assyrians and committed Fornication with the Egyptians and had increased their Whoredoms in following their abominable Idols And therefore the Lord carried away the Two Tribes that forsook him into Babylon as ye may see in Ezek. 17.20 And they that forsake Christ the new and living Way and the Worship of God in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up in his New-Testament they go into Captivity in spiritual Babylon And in Hosea 2. ye may see how he discovers the Whoredoms and
Religion to the Simple and Babes and brought thy Deeds to Light How is thy Habitation fallen and become the Habitation of Devils How is thy Beauty lost and thy Glory withered How hast thou shewed thy End that thou hast served God but with thy Lips and thy Heart far from him and thou in the Hypocrisy How hath the Form of thy Teaching declared it self to be the Mark of the false Prophets whose Fruit declares it self for by their Fruits they are known How are the Wise Men turned backward View thy Ways and take notice with whom thou hast taken part That of God in thy Conscience will tell thee 1652. Swarthmore The Ancient of Days will reprove thee How hath thy Zeal appeared to be the Blind Zeal a Persecutor which Christ and his Apostles forbad Christians to follow How hast thou strengthened the Hands of Evil-doers and been a Praise to them and not to them that do well How like a Mad-man and a Blind-man didst thou turn thy Sword backward against the Saints against whom there is no Law How wilt thou be gnawed and burned one Day when thou shalt feel the Flame and have the Plagues of God poured upon thee and thou begin to gnaw thy Tongue for Pain because of the Plagues Thou shalt have thy Reward according to thy Works Thou canst not escape the Lord 's righteous Judgment will find thee out and the Witness of God in thy Conscience shall answer it How hast thou caused the Heathen to Blaspheme and gone on with the Multitude to do Evil and joined hand in hand with the wicked How is thy latter End worse than thy Beginning who art come with the Dog to bite and art turned as a Wolf to devour the Lambs How hast thou discovered thy self to be a Man more fit to be kept in a place to be nurtured than to be set in a Place to nurture How wast thou exalted and puffed up with Pride And now art thou fallen down with Shame that thou comest to be covered with that which thou stirredst up and broughtest forth Let not John Sawrey take the VVords of God into his Mouth till he be Reformed Let him not take his Name into his Mouth till he depart from Iniquity Let not him and his Teacher make a Profession of the Saints VVords except they intend to proclaim themselves Hypocrites whose Lives are so contrary to the Lives of the Saints whose Church hath made it self manifest to be a Cage of Vnclean Birds You having a Form of Godliness but not the Power have made them that be in the Power your Derision your By-word and your Talk at your Feasts Thy ill Savour John Sawrey the Country about have smelled and of thy unchristian Carriage all that fear God have been ashamed and to them thou hast been a Grief In the Day of Account thou shalt know it even in the Day of thy Condemnation Thou wast mounted up and hadst set thy Nest on high but never gottest higher than the Fowls of the Air But now thou art run amongst the Beasts of Prey and art fallen into the Earth so that Earthliness and Covetousness hath swallowed thee up and thy Conceitedness would not carry thee through in whom was found the selfish Principle which hath blinded thy Eye Thy Back must be bowed down always for thy Table is already become thy Snare G. F. This Justice Sawrey who was the first Persecutor in that Country was afterward drowned I writ also to VVilliam Lampit who was the Priest of Vlverston and thus it was upon me to write unto him THE Word of the Lord to thee O Lampitt who art a Deceiver surfetted and drunk with the Earthly Spirit rambling up and down in the Scriptures and blending thy Spirit amongst the Saints Conditions who hadst a Prophecy as thy Father Balaam had but art erred from it as thy Father did One whose Fruit hath withered of which I am a Witness and many who have known thy Fruit have seen the End of it that it is withered and do see where thou art in the blind World a blind Leader of the Blind a Beast wallowing and tumbling in the Earth and in the Lust one that is erred from the Spirit of the Lord who art of old ordained for Condemnation Who art in the Seat of the Pharisees art called of Men Master standest Praying in the Synagogues and hast the Chief Seat in the Assemblies a right Hypocrite in the steps of the Pharisees and in the way of thy Fathers the Hypocrites which our Lord Jesus Christ cried Wo against Such with the Light thou art seen to be and by the Light art Comprehended which is thy Condemnation who hatest it and will be so Eternally except thou Repent To thee this is the Word of God for in Christ's Way thou art not but in the Pharisees as thou may stread Mat. 23. and all that own Christ's Words may see thee there Christ who died at Jerusalem cried Wo against such as thou art and Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever The Wo remains upon thee and from under it thou canst never come but through Judgment Condemnation and true Repentance To thee this is the VVord of God To that of God in thy Conscience I do speak which will witness the Truth of what I write and will Condemn thee And when thou art in thy Torment though now thou swellest in thy Vanity and livest in Wickedness remember thou wast warned in thy Life-time when the Eternal Condemnation is stretched over thee thou shalt witness this to be the VVord of the Lord God unto thee And if ever thy Eye should see Repentance thou would'st witness me to have been a Friend of thy Soul G. F. Having thus cleared my Conscience to the Justice and to the Priest of Vlverstone who had raised the first Persecution in that Country it was upon me to send this VVarning in Writing to the People of Vlverstone in general COnsider O People who be within the Parish of Vlverston I was moved of the Lord to come into your Publick Places to speak among you being sent of God to direct your Minds to God that you might know where you might find your Teacher that your Minds might be stayed alone upon God and you might not gad abroad without you for a Teacher for the Lord God alone will Teach his People and he is coming to Teach them and to gather his People from Idols-Temples and from the customary Worships which all the World is trained up in And God hath given to every one of you a Measure of his Spirit according to your Capacity Liars Drunkards Whoremongers and Thieves and who follow filthy Pleasures you all have this Measure in you And this is the Measure of the Spirit of God that shews you Sin and shews you Evil and shews you Deceit which lets you see Lying is Sin Theft Drunkenness and Vncleanness all these to be the Works of Darkness Therefore mind your Measure for
Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every Man according to his Works Mat 16.27 He who is gone into a far Country and hath given the Talents to every one of you according to your several Ability will render to every Man according to his Deeds Rom. 2.6 And further I say unto you If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And if Christ be in you the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness Rom 8.9 10. So let the Light which cometh from Christ Examin for the Lord is appearing Ye that have received according to your Ability smite not your Fellow-servant and think not that the Lord delayeth the Time of his Coming Be not as they that said Let us Eat and Drink for to Morrow we shall die The Apostle tells the Ephesians that unto him this grace was given to make all Men see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 Read and understand every one with the Light which comes from Christ the Mystery which will be your Condemnation if ye believe not in it This is to all who stumble at the work of the Spirit of God the manifestation of it which is given to every Man to profit withal Come ye Professors who stumble at it Let us read the Parables A Sower went forth to sow and some Seed fell on the High-way-ground and some on stony ground and some on thorny ground The Seed is the word the Son of Man is the Seeds-man He that hath an Ear let him hear Mat. 13. Now look all ye Professors which Ground ye are And what ye have brought forth And whether the wicked Seeds-man hath not got his Seed into your Ground He that hath an Ear let him hear it And come read another Parable of the Housholder hiring Labourers to go into the Vineyard and agreeing with every Man for a Penny Mat. 20. Every Man is to have his Penny the Last that went in as well as the First and the Last shall be First and the First shall be Last for many are called but few are chosen He that hath an Ear let him hear There is a Promise spoken to Cain that if he did well he should be accepted Gen. 4.7 And Esau had a Birth-right but despised it Yet is it not of him that willeth Rom. 9.16 but by grace ye are saved Ephes 2.8 And stand still and see your Salvation Exod. 14.13 And ye that be Children of Light put on the Armour of Light that ye may come into the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ that henceforth ye be no more Children tossed to and fro Eph. 4.13 And the Lord said he would make a new Covenant by writing his Law in People's Hearts and putting his Spirit in their inward parts whereby they should all come to know the Lord him by whom the World was made Now every one of you mind the Law written in your Hearts and this Spirit put in your inward parts that it need not be said to you Know the Lord but that ye may witness the Promise of God fulfilled in you But say the World and Professors If every one must come to witness the Law of God written in their Hearts and the Spirit put in the inward parts what must we do with all our Teachers As we come to witness that we need not any Man to Teach us to know the Lord having his Law written in our Hearts and his Spirit put in our inward parts This is the Covenant of Life the everlasting Covenant which decays not not changes not and here is the way to the Father without which no Man cometh unto the Father And here is the Everlasting Priesthood the End of the Old Priesthood whose Lips were to preserve Knowledge but now saith Christ Learn of me who is the High-Priest of the New Priesthood And saith the Apostle That ye may grow up in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ in whom are hid the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge So we are brought off from the Old Priesthood that did change to Christ to the New Priesthood that doth not change and off from the first Covenant that doth decay to the Everlasting Covenant that doth not decay Christ Jesus the Covenant of Light from whom every one of you have a Light that ye might believe in the Covenant of Light If ye do not believe ye are condemned for Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are evil I am come a Light into the World saith Christ that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness but have the Light of Life Joh. 12.46 And Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light But ye who do not believe in the Light but hate it because it manifests your Deeds to be evil ye are they that are condemned by the Light Therefore while ye have Time prize it Seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is nigh lest ye say Time is past for the Rich Glutton's Time was past Therefore while Time is not quite past consider and search your selves and see if ye be not they that hate the Light and so are Builders that stumble at the Corner-stone for they that hated the Light and did not believe in the Light did so in Ages past I am the Light of the World saith Christ and who doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World and he also saith Learn of me and of him God saith This is my beloved Son hear ye him Here is your Teacher But ye that hate the Light do not learn of Christ and will not have him to be your King to reign over you him to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given who bears his Government upon his Shoulders who is now come to reign who lighteth every Man that cometh into the World and who will give to every Man a Reward according to his Works whether they be good or evil So every Man with the Light that comes from Christ will see his Deeds both he that hates it and he that loves it And he that will not bring his Deeds to the Light because the Light will reprove him that is his Condemnation and he shall have a Reward according to his Deeds For the Lord is come to reckon with you and he looks for Fruits and now the Ax is laid to your Root and every Tree of you that bears not good Fruit must be hewen down and cast into the Fire G. F. Having staid sometime in London and visited the Meetings of Friends in
in the Power and Spirit which they were in that gave them forth That was to be turned away from by them that came into the Power and Spirit which they were in that gave forth the Scriptures Seventhly They that sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus these sit down in him that never fell nor never changed Here is the safe sitting for all his Elect his Church his Spiritual Members of which he is the living Head his living Stones the Houshold of Faith of which House he is the Corner-stone that stands and abides all Weathers For as the Apostle said He hath quickned us who were dead in Sins and Trespasses c. and made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the Ages to come he might shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his Kindness towards us through Jesus Christ. Now the Ages are come that his Kindness and exceeding Riches towards us through Jesus Christ is truly manifested in us as it was in the Apostles days even in us who have been dead in Sins and Trespasses as they were but now are quickned and made alive and made to sit together in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus the First and the Last by whom all things were created who is ascended above all and is over all and whose glorious presence is now known And all that sit down here in Christ Jesus they see where all other People sit and in what So the Promise of God being to the Seed which is one Christ Jesus every Man and Woman must come to witness this Seed Christ in them that they may be Heirs of the Promise and inheriting that they will inherit Substance These things were largely declared of and the state of the Church and the state of the false Church since the Apostles days opened and how the true Church fled into the Wilderness and the state of the false Prophets which Christ said should come and John saw were come and how all the World wondred after them and how they had filled the World with false Doctrines Ways Worships and Religions and how the Everlasting Gospel was now preached again to all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People for all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People had drunk the Whore's Cup and she was over them and sate upon them And in this Night of Apostacy the pure Religion and Worship in Spirit which was in the Apostles days and the way of Life and living Faith and the Power and Holy Ghost were lost but now they came to be set up again by Christ Jesus and his Messengers and Ministers of the Gospel as in the Apostles days For as Christ sent his Disciples to go and preach the Gospel into all the World and after that the false Prophets and Antichrists went over the World and preached their false Doctrines and Traditions and Heathenish and Jewish Rudiments So now again the Everlasting Gospel must be preached to all Nations and to every Creature that they may come into the pure Religion to worship God in the Spirit and Truth and may know Christ Jesus their Way to God and him to be the Author of their Faith and may receive the Gospel from Heaven and not from Men in which Gospel received from Heaven is the Heavenly Fellowship which is a Mystery to all the Fellowships in the World Now after these things had been largely opened with many other things concerning Christ Jesus and his Kingdom and the People were turned to the divine Light of Christ and his Spirit by which they might come both to know God and Christ and the Scriptures and to have Fellowship with them and one with another in the same Spirit I was moved to declare and open divers other things to those Friends who had received a part of the Ministry concerning the Exercise of their Spiritual Gifts in the Church Which being taken in writing by one that was present was after this manner Friends TAke heed of destroying that which ye have begotten for that which destroys goes out and is the Cast-away And though that be true yea and may be the pure Truth which such an one speaks yet if he doth not remain in that and live in that in his own particular but goes out the same which he is gone out from cometh over him So that that calms the Spirits and cools the Spirits that goes over the World and brings to the Father to inherit the Life Eternal and reaches to the Spirits in Prison in all Therefore in the living immoveable Word of the Lord God dwell and in the Renown thereof and remain on the Foundation that is pure and that is sure for whosoever goes out from the Pure and Ministers not in and from that he comes to an End and doth not remain though he may have had a Time and may have been serviceable for a Time while he lived in the Thing And take heed of many Words but what reacheth to the Life that settles in the Life That which cometh from the Life and is received from God that reacheth to the Life and settles others in the Life For the Work is not now as it was at first but the Work now is to settle and stay in the Life For as Friends have been led to minister in the Power and the Power hath gone through so that there hath grown an Vnderstanding among both People of the World and Friends so Friends must be kept in the Life which is pure that with that they may answer the pure Life of God in others For if Friends do not live in the pure Life which they speak of to answer the Life in those that they speak to the other part steps in and so there comes up an Outward Acquaintance and he lets that come over him But as every one is kept living in the Life of God over all that which is contrary they are in their places then they do not lay Hands on any suddenly which is the Danger now for if any one do he may lose his Discerning and may lay Hands on the wrong Part and so let the Deceit come too near him and the Deceit will steal over so that it will be an hard thing for him to get it down There is no one strikes his Fellow-servants but first he is gone from the pure in his own particular for when he goeth from the Light he is enlightned withal then he strikes and then he hath his Reward the Light which he is gone from Christ he comes and gives him his Reward This is the state of the evil Servants the boisterous and the hasty and rash beget nothing to God but the Life which doth reach the Life is that which begets to God Now when all are settled in the Life they are in that which remains for ever and what is received there is received from the Lord and what one receiveth from the Lord he keepeth and so he sitteth still and cool and quiet in his
the Lands-End Now it was the Custom of that Country that at such a time both Rich and Poor went out to get as much of the Wrack as they could not caring to save the Peoples Lives And in some parts of the Country they called Shipwracks God's Grace These things troubled me and grieved my Spirit to hear of such unchristian Actions considering how far they were below the Heathen at Melita who received Paul and made him a Fire and were courteous towards him and them that had suffered Shipwrack with him Wherefore I was moved to write a Paper and send it to all the Parishes Priests and Magistrates High and Low to reprove them for such greedy Actions and to Warn and Exhort them that if they could assist to save Peoples Lives and preserve their Ships and Goods they should use their Diligence therein and consider if it had been their own Condition they would judge it hard if they should be upon a Wrack and People should strive to get what they could from them and not matter their Lives A Copy of that Paper here follows All Friends and People TAke heed of Greediness and Covetousness for that is Idolatry and the Idolater must not enter into the Kingdom of God Take heed of Drunkenness and Oaths and Cursings for such are Destroyers of the Creation and make it to groan Lay away all Fightings and Quarrellings and Brawlings and Evil Speakings which are the Works of the Flesh and not of the Spirit for who follow such things are not like to have the Kingdom of God Put away all Corrupt Words which be unsavoury and misnaming one another for ye must give an Account for every idle Word Lay aside all Profession and Religion that is vain and come to the Possession and the pure Religion which is to visit the Fatherless the Widow and the Stranger and receive them For some thereby may entertain Angels unawares and the Servants of the Lord as Paul was entertained after the Shipwrack at Melita And do not ye take Peoples Goods from them by force out of their Ships which be the Seamens or others neither covet ye after them but rather endeavour to preserve their Lives and their Goods for them For that shews a Spirit of Compassion and a Spirit of a Christian But if ye be greedy and covetous after other men's Goods 1659. â—ands End not mattering what becomes of the Men would ye be served so your selves If ye should have a Ship cast away in other places and the People should come to tear the Goods and Ship in pieces not regarding to save the Men's Lives but be ready to fight one with another for your Goods do not ye believe such Goods would become a Curse to them And may ye not as well believe such kind of Actions will become a Curse unto you When the Spoil of one Ships Goods is idly spent and consumed upon the Lusts in Ale-houses Taverns and otherwise then ye gape for another Is this to do as ye would be done by which is the Law and the Prophets Therefore Priest Hull Are these thy Fruits What dost thou take Peoples Labour and Goods for Hast thou taught the People no better Manners and Conversation who are so Brutish and Heathenish Now all such things we judge in whomsoever But if any Friend or others do preserve Mens Lives and endeavour to save their Goods and Estates and restore what they can save of a Wrack to the Owners and then if they consider them for their Labour doing in that case unto them what they would have done unto themselves that we own And if they buy or sell and do not make a Prey that is allowed of still in the way of doing as ye would be done by keeping to the Law and to the Prophets that is that if ye should be in another Country ye would have other People to save your Lives and Goods and have your Goods restored to you again and you to consider them for so doing All ye that do otherwise that wait for a Wrack and get the Goods for your selves not regarding the Lives of the Men but if any of them escape drowning let them go a begging up and and down the Country and if any scape with a little sometimes they are robbed of it in the Country All such that do so are not for the preserving of the Creation but for the destroying of it And those Goods which are so gotten shall be a Curse and a Plague and a Judgment to them and them the Judgments of God will follow for acting such things The Witness in your Consciences shall Answer it Therefore all ye who have done such things do so no more lest a worse thing come unto you But that which is good do to preserve Men's Lives and Estates and labour to restore the Loss and Breach that the Lord requires Be not like a Company of Greedy Dogs and worse than Heathens as if ye had never heard tell of God nor Christ nor the Scriptures nor pure Religion And Priest Hull Have People spent their Money upon thee for that which is no Bread For a thing of nought that thou hast such Fruits All such Teachers that make a Trade of the Scriptures which are given forth from the Spirit of God to be believed and read and practised and Christ whom they testifie of enjoyed we utterly deny who own Christ and are come off from all your Steeple-houses which were the Old Mass-houses For there are their bad Fruits harboured those are the Cages of them But come to the Church which is in God 1 Thess 1. and come all to the Light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withal which shews you all the Vngodly Words ye have spoken the ungodly Thoughts which ye have thought the ungodly Actions which ye have done This will be your Teacher if ye love it your Condemnation if ye hate it For the mighty Day of the Lord is coming upon all Wickedness and Ungodliness Therefore your Whoredoms and Fornications lay aside And ye Magistrates who are to do Justice think ye not that the Hand of the Lord God is against you and that his Judgments will come upon you who do not look after these things and stop them with the Law which is To do unto all men as they would have done unto them whereby ye might be a good Savour in your Country Is not the Law to preserve Mens Lives and Estates Doing unto all Men as they would Men should do unto them For all Men would have their Lives and Estates preserved Therefore should not ye preserve others and not suffer them to be devoured and destroyed The Evil of these things will lie upon you both Priests and Magistrates G. F. POSTSCRIPT ALL Dear Friends which fear the Lord God keep out of the Ravenous World's Spirit whose Spirit is to Raven and Destroy which is out of the Wisdom of God That when Ships are wrackt ye do not run to destroy and
were over we parted Company dividing our selves into several Coasts for the Service of Truth James Lancaster and John Cartwright went by Sea for New-England William Edmundson and three Friends more with him sailed for Virginia where things were much out of Order John Burneyate Robert Widders George Pattison and I with several Friends of the Province went over by Boat to the Eastern Shore Eastern-Shore and had a Meeting there on the First Day where many People received the Truth with Gladness and Friends were greatly refreshed A very large and Heavenly Meeting it was and several Persons of Quality in that Country were at it two of which were Justices of the Peace And it was upon me from the Lord to send to the Indian-Emperor and his Kings to come to that Meeting The Emperor came and was at the Meeting but his Kings lying further off could not reach thither time enough Yet they came after with their Cockarooses I had in the Evening for they staid all Night two good Opportunities with them and they heard the Word of the Lord willingly and did confess to it What I spake to them I desired them to speak to their People and let them know That God was setting up his Tabernacle of Witness in their Wilderness-Country and was setting up his Standard and glorious Ensign of Righteousness They carried themselves very courteously and lovingly and inquired Where the next Meeting would be and they would come to it Yet they said They had had a great Debate with their Council about their Coming before they came now Tredaven-Creek Miles River Wye River Chester River The next Day we began our Journey by Land to New-England a tedious Journey through the Woods and Wilderness over Boggs and great Rivers We took Horse at the Head of Tredaven-Creek and travelled through the Woods till we came a little above the Head of Miles-River by which we passed and rode on to the Head of Wye-River and so got to the Head of Chester-River where making a Fire we took up our Lodging in the Woods 1672. Saxifrax River Bohemia River Next Morning setting forward again we travelled through the Woods till we came to Saxifrax-River which we went over in Canoos which are Indian-Boats causing our Horses to swim by Then we rode on to Bohemia-River where in like manner swimming our Horses we our selves went over in Canoos We rested a little at a Plantation by the Way but could not stay long for we had Thirty Miles to ride that Afternoon if we would reach a Town which we were willing to do and therefore rid hard for it And I with some others whose Horses were stronger got to the Town that Night exceedingly tired and withal wet to the Skin But George Pattison and Robert Widders being weaker-horsed were fain to fall short and lie in the Woods that Night also making themselves a Fire The Town we went to was a Dutch Town called New-Castle New-Castle whither Robert Widders and George Pattison came to us next Morning We departed from thence and got over the River Delaware not without great Danger of some of our Lives Delaware River and when we were over we were troubled to get new Guides which were hard to get and very chargeable Then had we that Wilderness-Country to pass through which is since called West-Jersey WEST-JERSEY which was not then inhabited by English so that we have travelled a whole Day together without seeing Man or Woman House or Dwelling-place and sometimes we lay in the Woods by a Fire â—nd sometimes in the Indians Wigwams or Houses In this Journey we came one Night to an Indian Town and lay at their King's House who was a very pretty Man and both he and his Wife received us very lovingly and his Attendants such as they were were very respectful to us they laid us Mars to lie on but Provision was very short with them having caught but little that day At another Indian Town where we staid their King came to us and he could speak some English wherefore I spake to him much and also to his People and they were very Loving to us At length we came to a Town called Middle-Town East-Jersey Middle-Town which is an English Plantation in East-Jersey and there were some Friends but we could not stay to have a Meeting there at that time being earnestly pressed in our Spirits to get to the Half-Years-Meeting of Fâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Oister-Bay in Long-Island which was very near at hand Wherefore we went down with a Friend whose Name was Richard Hartshorn Brother to Hugh Hartshorn the Upholster in London who received us gladly to his House where we refreshed our selves for we were wear and then he carried us and our Horses in his own Boat over a great Water which held us most part of the day in getting over and set us upon Long-Island LONG-ISLAND So we got that Evening to Friends at Gravesand with whom we tarried that Night Gravesand Flushing Oister-bay half-years-Meeting and the next Day we got to Flushing and the day following we reached to Oister-Bay several Friends both of Gravesand and Flushing accompanying us The Half-Years-Meeting began next Day which was the first day of the Week and lasted four Days The first and second Days we had Publick Meetings for Worship to which the People of the World of all sorts might and did come On the third Day of the Week were the Mens and Womens-Meetings wherein the Affairs of the Church were taken Care of Here we met with some of the Bad Spirits who were run out from Truth into Prejudice Contention and Opposition to the Order of Truth 1672. Oister-bay-half-years-Meeting and to Friends therein These had been very troublesom to Friends in their Meetings there and thereabouts formerly and 't is like would have been so now But I would not suffer the Service of our Mens and Womens-Meetings to be interrupted and hindred by their Cavils Wherefore I let them know That if they had any thing to Object against the Order of Truth which we were in we would give them a Meeting another Day on purpose And indeed I laboured the more and travelled the harder to get to this Meeting where it was expected many of these contentious People would be because I understood they had reflected much upon me when I was far from them So the Mens and Womens Meetings being over on the fourth Day we had a Meeting with those discontented People to which as many of them as would did come and as many Friends as had a desire were present also And the Lord's Power brake forth gloriously to the Confounding of the Gain sayers And then some of those that had been Chief in the mischievous Work of Contention and Opposition against the Truth began to fawn upon me and to cast the matter upon others but the deceitful Spirit was judged down and condemned and the glorious Truth of God was exalted
Labour in the Lord to turn all to But some that professed Truth and had made a great Shew therein being gone from the Simplicity of the Gospel into Jangling Division and a Spirit of Separation endeavoured to discourage Friends especially the Women from their Godly Care and Watchfulness in the Church over one another in the Truth opposing their Meetings which in the Power of the Lord were set up for that End and Service Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to write the following Epistle and send it forth among Friends for the discovering of that Spirit by which those Opposers were acted and its Work and Way in and by which it wrought and to warn Friends of it that they might not be betrayed by it ALL my Dear Friends Live in the Seed of Peace Christ Jesus in whom ye have all Life And that Spirit that comes amongst you to raise up Strife is out of Christ for it is the Spirit that is not easie to be intreated nor gentle so not of the Wisdom of God which is justified of her Children And so they that follow that Spirit are none of Wisdom's Children Now there is a Spirit that hath made a Separation and has been against Men and Womens-Meetings yet has set up one of their own whom they have given Power to and that none shall sit amongst them but whom they give Power to but shall be looked upon as Vsurpers of Authority Now this Spirit and its Work is not of God though it has made some Jumble amongst some and the Path it may travel in is through the earthly Affections or the Vnestablished or Apostates But all that are in the Life and Spirit and Light and Grace and Truth and the Power of God bar it out and such as sit under their own Vine Christ Jesus and are grafted into him have no need of their Exhortation or Counsel for the true Believers are entred into their Rest And therefore all keep in the Gospel of Peace and they that be Heirs of the Kingdom and of it keep in your Possession of it Now some that are of this Spirit have said to me They see no Service in Womens-Meetings My Answer is and hath been to them and such If they be blind and without Sight they should not oppose others for there is none Imposes any thing upon them for God never received the Blind for a Sacrifice neither can his People But Christ has enlightned all and to as many as receive him he gives Power to become the Sons of God And such as be Heirs of his Power and of his Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light they can see over him that has darkned them and all such do keep the Order of the Gospel the Power of God and their Meetings in it which preserves them in Life and in Immortality And all these do see the great Service of the Mens and of the Womens-Meetings in the Order of the Gospel which is the Power of God For they are Meet-helps in this Power which is the Authority of their Meetings And now I say to all you that be against Womens-Meetings or the Mens and say You see no Service for the Womens-Meetings and oppose them you are therein out of the Power of God and his Spirit you live not in For God saw a Service for the Assemblies of the Women in the Time of the Law about those things that appertained to his Worship and Service and to the holy things of his Tabernacle and so do they in the same Spirit see now their Service in the Gospel many things in those Meetings being more proper for the Women to see into than the Men and they in the Power and Wisdom of God may inform the Men of such things as are not proper for them and the Men may inform the Women of such things as are not proper for them as Meet helps each unto another For in the Time of the Law by the Law of God the Women were to Offer as well as the Men and so in the Time of the Gospel much more are they to Offer their Spiritual Sacrifices for they are all called both Men and Women a Royal Priesthood and they are of the Houshold of Faith and they are the Living Stones that make up the Spiritual Building which Christ is the Head of and are to be encouraged in their Labour in the Gospel For all things that they do both Men and Women are to be done in the Power of God And all such as see no Service for these Womens-Meetings or the Mens but do oppose them and make Strife amongst Friends are in the same Spirit of the World that is against and forbids our other Meetings and are in the same Spirit of the World that hath been and is against Womens Speaking in Meetings and says They must be silent c. though the same Apostle commands That Men should keep Silence as well as the Women if there were not an Interpreter And therefore all Friends you may see that the Spirit of the World hath entred such Opposers though they come under another Colour for They would not have us to Meet at all And These are against the Womens-Meetings and some of them against the Men's also and say They see no Service for them Then they may hold their Tongues and not oppose them that do see their Service for God in these Meetings Therefore all you that feel the Power of God and your Service for God as aforesaid in them you Men and Women keep your Meetings in the Power of God the Authority of them as they were settled in it and then ye will be preserved both over this Spirit that opposes them and over the Spirit of the World that opposes your other Meetings For it is all one in the Ground and would bring you into Bondage For such are out of the Peaceable Gospel who oppose its Order and out of the Faith that Works by Love and out of the Wisdom that is gentle and easie and peaceable c. and out of the Kingdom that stands in Peace and Joy Therefore keep over that Spirit that sows Discord or Dissension and would draw you from your Habitation and Possession in the Order of the Gospel For it is the same Spirit that deceived Adam and Eve by which they lost their Habitation in the Righteousness and Holiness and their Dominion and so that Spirit got over them and so it would get over you One while it will tell you It sees no Service for your Meetings and another time Oppose you But I say This is the blind Spirit which is out of the Power of God and which the Power of God is over And therefore keep in the Power that ye may stand up for your Liberty in Christ Jesus Males and Females Heirs of him and of his Gospel and his Order and so stand up for your Liberty in the Gospel and in the Faith which Christ Jesus hath been the Author of for
Friends in all the United Provinces of Holland and in Embden the Palatinat Hamborough Frederick-stadt Dantzick and other places in and about Germany which Friends were very glad of and it hath been of great service to Truth Next day an Exercise came upon me concerning that deceitful Spirit which wrought in some amongst Friends to make Divisions in the Church and the Care of the Churches being upon me I was moved to Write a few Lines to warn Friends of it as followeth ALL Friends keep over that Spirit of Separation and Division in the peaceable Truth and in the Seed of Life which will wear it all out and out-last it For the Lamb will have the Victory over all the Spirits of Strife as it hath had since the beginning and they will Wither as others have done but all that do keep in the Seed which is always green shall never Wither as Friends have been to this day kept And if any have gone out and backslidden and thrown off the Cross and are grown loose and full and are gone into Strife and Contention with their Earthly Spirits and therein plead for a liberty this Spirit taketh with loose earthly Spirits and cries Imposition to such as do admonish them to come to the Life Light and Spirit and Power of God that they may be alive and may live again with the Living And then upon this Admonishment their Spirits do arise into Contention and Strife and a Separation turning against the Living in their loose earthly Spirits which would have the Name of Truth but is not in the Nature of it but is for Eternal Judgment of the living Seed And this is it which doth deceive but it is judged by that which doth undeceive and save Amsterdam in Holland the 5th of the 6th Month 1677. G. F. This being the First-day of the Week we had a very large Meeting again there coming to it a great Concourse of People of several Opinions as Baptists Seekers Socinians Brownists and some of the Collegians Robert Barclay George Keith William Pen and I did all severally declare the Everlasting Truth among them opening the Estate of Man in the Fall and shewing by what way Man and Woman may come into the Restoration by Christ Jesus And indeed the Mystery of Iniquity and the Mystery of Godliness were very plainly laid open and the Meeting ended quietly and well The day following George Keith Robert Barclay and William Penn leaving me and some other Friends at Amsterdam set forward on their Journey towards Germany where they Travelled many hundred Miles and had good Service for the Lord Benjamin Furly going with them and Interpreting That day and the next I stayed at Amsterdam visiting the Friends and assisting them in some businesses concerning their Meetings And there came Three Baptists to discourse with me unto whom I opened things to their satisfaction and they parted from me in kindness I writ a Letter also to the Princess Elizabeth which Isabel Yeomans delivered to her when George Keith's Wife and she went to visit her Princess Elizabeth I Have heard of thy Tenderness towards the Lord and his holy Truth by some Friends that have visited thee and also by some of thy Letters which I have seen which indeed is a great thing for a Person of thy quality to have such a tender mind after the Lord and his precious Truth seeing so many are swallowed up with Voluptuousness and the Pleasures of this World and yet all make an outward Profession of God and Christ one way or other but without any deep Inward sense and feeling of him For it is not many mighty nor wise of the World that can become fools for Christ's sake or can become low in the humility of Christ Jesus from their mighty state through which they might Receive a mightier Estate and a mightier Kingdom through the Inward holy Spirit and the Divine Light and Power of God and a mightier Wisdom which is from above pure and peaceable which Wisdom is above that which is below that is earthly sensual and devillish by which men destroy one another yea about their Religions Ways and Worships and Churches but this they have not from God nor Christ But the Wisdom which is from above by which all things was made and created which the holy fear of God in the heart is the beginning of that keeps the heart clean And by and with this Wisdom are all God's Children to be ordered and with it come to order all things to God's glory So this is the Wisdom that is Justified of her Children And in this fear of God and Wisdom my desire is that thou may be preserved to God's glory For the Lord is come to teach his People himself and to set up his Ensign that the Nations may flow unto it And there hath been an Apostacy since the Apostles days from the Divine Light of Christ which should have given them the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and likewise from the holy Spirit which would have Lead them into all Truth and therefore have People set up so many Leaders without them to give them Knowledge and also from the holy and precious Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of which Faith purifies the heart and gives victory over that which separates from God through which Faith they have access to God and in which Faith they please God the Mystery of which Faith is held in a pure Conscience And also from the Gospel which was preached in the Apostle's days which Gospel is the Power of God which brings Life and Immortality to Light in Man and Woman by which People should have seen over the Devil that has darkned them and before he was which Gospel will preserve all them that receive it in Life and in Immortality For the Eyes of People have been after Men and not after the Lord who doth write his Law in the hearts and puts it into the minds of all the Children of the New Covenant of Light Life and Grace through which they all come to know the Lord from the Least to the Greatest So that the Knowledge of the Lord may cover the Earth as the Waters doth the Sea And this Work of the Lord is a beginning again as it was in the Apostles days that People shall come to receive an Vnction in them again from the holy One by which they shall know all things and shall not need any man to teach them but as the Anointing doth teach them and also to know what the Righteousness of faith speaks the Word nigh in the heart and mouth to obey it and to do it which was the Word of Faith the Apostles preached Which is now received and preached again which is the duty of all true Christians to receive And so now People are coming out of the Apostacy to the Light of Christ and his Spirit and to receive Faith from him and not
from men and to receive the Gospel from him and their Vnction from him the Word and as they receive him they declare him freely as his Command was to his Disciples and is so still to the Learners and Receivers of him For he Lord God and his Son Jesus Christ is come to teach his People and to bring them from all the Worlds Ways to Christ the Way the Truth and the Life who is the Way to the Father and from all the Worlds Teachers and Speakers to him the Speaker and Teacher as Hebr. 1.1 and from all the Worlds Worshippers to worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth which the Devil the Destroyer is out of which Worship Christ set up above Sixteen hundred years ago when he put down the Jews Worship at the Temple at Jerusalem and the Worship at the Mountain where Jacob's Well was and to bring People from all the World's Religions which they have made since the Apostles days to the Religion that was set up by Christ and his Apostles which is Pure and Undefiled before God and keeps from the Spots of the World And to bring them out of all the Worlds Churches and Fellowships that they have made and set up since the Apostles days to the Church that is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Thess 1.1 and to bring to the Unity and Fellowship in the holy Spirit that doth mortifie and circumcise and baptise to plunge down Sin and Corruption that has got up in Man and Woman by Transgression and in this holy Spirit there is a holy Fellowship and Unity yea it is the Bond of the Prince of Princes and King of Kings and Lord of Lords Peace which heavenly Peace all the true Christians are to maintain with Spiritual Weapons not with Carnal And now my Friend the holy Men of God did speak forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost and all Christendom are on heaps about those Scriptures because they are not led by the same holy Ghost as they were that gave forth the Scriptures which holy Ghost they must come to in themselves and be led by if they come into All the Truth of them and to have the Comfort of God and Christ and Them For none can call Jesus Lord but by the holy Ghost and all they that do call Christ Lord without the holy Ghost take his Name in vain And likewise all that name his Name are to depart from Iniquity then they name his Name with Reverence in Truth and Righteousness And O therefore feel the Grace and Truth in thy heart that is come by Jesus Christ which is a Teacher that will teach thee how to live and what to deny and it will establish thy heart and season thy words and bring thy Salvation and will be a Teacher unto thee at all times and by it thou may'st Receive Christ from whence it comes and as many as Receive him to them he gives power not only to stand against sin and evil but to become the Sons of God if Sons then Heirs of a Life and a World and Kingdom that is Everlasting without end and of the Eternal Riches and Treasures thereof So in haste with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ that has tasted death for every man and bruises the Serpents head that has been betwixt Man and God that through Christ Man may come to God again and so can praise God through Jesus Christ the Amen who is the spiritual and heavenly Rock and Foundation for all God's People to build upon to the praise and glory of God who is over all blessed for Evermore Amsterdam the 7th of 6th Month 1677. George Fox POSTSCRIPT THE Bearer hereof is a Daughter-in-law of mine that comes with Gertrude Dirick Nieson and George Keith's Wife to give thee a Visit G. F. The Princess Elizabeth her Answer to the aforesaid LETTER Dear Friend I Cannot but have a tender Love to those that love the Lord Jesus Christ and to whom it is given not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him Therefore your Letter and your Friends Visit have been both very welcome to me I shall follow their and your Counsel as far as God will afford me Light and Unction Remaining still Hertfort the 30th of August 1677. Your loving Friend ELIZABETH Buyckslote Purmerent Next day John Claus and I took Boat and passed to Buyckslote and thence to Purmerent where having stayed awhile and refreshed our selves at an Inn we went by Wagon through the Country to Alcmaer Alcmaer about Thirty Miles from Amsterdam We went to a Friend's house there whose name was Willem Willems where I had a Meeting that night I had also another Meeting there next day which was larger for several Professors came to the Meeting and all was quiet and well When the Meeting was done I went and visited some Friends and then taking Boat Hoorn North-Holland passed-by several places to Hoorn which is counted the chief City in North-Holland We lodged at an Inn there that night and taking Wagon again early next Morning we passed through the Country to Enckhuysen Enckhuysen Friezland Workum where we took Ship for Friezland and landing in the Afternoon at Workum took Wagon there again and rode along upon the high Bank of the Friezen Seas till we met Two Friends coming with a Wagon to meet us Mackum with whom discharging our Wagon at Mackum a Village hard by we went Harlingen in their Wagon to Harlingen the chief Sea-port-Town in Friezland We went to a Friend's house whose Name was Hessel Jacobs whither several Friends came to Visit us that night Next day we went among the Friends of the place and Visited them and I wrote a Paper directed To all them that persecute Friends for not observing their Fast-day The day following was the First-day of the Week and Friends had a Meeting there to which we went and many Professors came to it I declared the Everlasting Gospel amongst them John Claus interpreting and they were all very Civil and heard attentively and when the Meeting was done departed peaceably without making any Opposition After Meeting I went to Hessel Jacobs his house again whither after a while came a Calvinist to ask me some Questions which I answered to his satisfaction and he departed friendly Soon after he was gone a Preacher of the Collegians came to discourse with me 1677. Harlingen and he seemed well satisfied also and we parted lovingly That Evening I had another Meeting with the Friends there and next Morning when we had taken our Leave of them we passed to Leuwarden the chief City in Friezland Leuwarden and lodged that night at a Friend's house there whose Name was Sybrand Dowes Next Morning early taking Boat we passed to Dockum Dockum Strobus and walking through the City took Boat again to Strobus which is the utmost part of Friezland There we baited at a
right understanding thereof and be gathered thereunto Several Epistles also to Friends I writ in this time on divers Occasions and Subjects whereof one was to the Friends of the Yearly Meeting which was held in London this year 1679. a Copy of which here follows My Dear Friends and Brethren WHO are Assembled together in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ fill all your hearts and establish you in his Grace Mercy and Peace upon Christ the holy living Rock and Foundation who is the First and Last and over all the Foundations and Rocks in the whole world a Rock and Foundation of Life for all the Living to build upon which stands sure in his heavenly divine Light which is the Life in him by whom all things were made who is the precious Stone laid in Sion and not in the World which all the Wise Master-Builders rejected who pretended to build People up to Heaven with the Words of the Prophets and the Law from Mount Sinai but out of the Life of both and therefore such Builders could not receive the Law of Life from Christ the precious Stone laid in Sion nor the Word from heavenly Jerusalem But you My Dear Friends that have received this Law from heavenly Sion and the Word from heavenly Jerusalem in the New Covenant where the Life and Substance is enjoyed you do see the end and abolishing of the Jews Law and Ceremonies from Mount Sinai And therefore my desire is that you all may keep in the Law of Life and Love 1679. Swarthmore which ye have in Christ Jesus by which Love the Body is edified and knit and united together to Christ Jesus the Head Which Love doth bear all things and fulfils the Law and will preserve all in Humility and in it to be of one mind heart and soul so that all may come to drink into that One Spirit that doth Baptize them and Circumcise them Plunging down and Cutting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh that is gotten up in Man and Woman by their transgressing of God's Commands So that in this holy pure Spirit all may serve and worship the pure God in Spirit and in Truth which is over all the Worships that are out of God's Spirit and his Truth And in this Spirit ye will all have a Spiritual Unity and Fellowship over all the Fellowships of the Unclean Spirits which be out of Truth in the World And so by this holy Spirit all your hearts minds and souls may be knit together to Christ from whence it comes and by the Grace and Truth which is come by Jesus Christ which all should be under the Teachings of in the New Covenant and not under the Law as the outward Jews were in the Old Covenant So that by this Grace and Truth in the New Covenant all may be made God's free Men and Women to serve God in the new Life and in the new and living Way shewing forth the Fruits of the new heart and new spirit in the New Covenant over death and darkness and before it was Glory be unto the Lord for ever And now Friends in this Grace and Truth is your heavenly gracious and true Liberty to every Spiritual Mind that makes you free from him that is out of Truth where your bondage was Also your Liberty in the holy divine and precious Faith which gives you Victory over that that hath separated you from God and Christ and through which Faith ye have Access to God again through Jesus Christ So in this divine and holy Faith ye have divine holy and precious Liberty yea and Victory over him that separated you from God and this Faith is held in a pure Conscience So the Liberty in the Spirit of God is in that which baptizes and plunges down Sin and Iniquity and puts off the Body of Death and Sins of the Flesh that is gotten up by transgressing of God's Command as I said before And also the Liberty of the Gospel which is sent from Heaven by the Holy Ghost which is the Power of God which was and is again to be preached to all Nations In this Gospel the Power of God which is over the Power of Satan is the true Liberty and the Gospel-Fellowship and Order So that the Evil Spirit or Conscience or false dead Faith and that which is ungracious and out of Truth and not in the Spirit of God nor in his Gospel nor in the divine Faith its Liberty is in the Darkness For all the true Liberty is in the Gospel and in the Truth that makes free and in the Faith and in the Grace and in Christ Jesus who destroys the Devil and his Works that hath brought all Mankind into Bondage So in this heavenly peaceable Spirit and Truth and Faith which works by Love and in the Gospel of Peace and in Christ Jesus is all the Saints Peace and pure true and holy Liberty in which they have Salt and Sense and Feeling Discerning and Savour yea and Unity and Fellowship one with another yea and with the Son and the Father that heavenly eternal Fellowship So all being subject to the Grace and Truth and to the Faith and Gospel the Power of God and to his good Spirit in this they distinguish all true pure and holy Liberty from that which is false And this will bring all to sit low for Patience runs the Race and the Lamb must have the Victory and not the rough unruly and vain Talkers unbaptized uncircumcised and unsanctified For such travel not in the way of Regeneration but in the way of unregeneration Neither go they down into the Death with Christ by Baptism and therefore such are not like to Reign with him in his Resurrection who are not buried with him in Baptism Therefore all must go downward into the Death of Christ and be crucified with him if they will Arise and follow him in the Regeneration before they come to Reign with him And Friends Many may have precious Openings but I desire all may be comprehended in that thing which doth open to them And that they may all keep in the daily Cross then they keep in the Power that doth kill and crucifie that which would lead them amongst the Beasts and Goats to leaven them into their rough unruly spirit But that through the Cross the Power of God That may be crucified and they in the Power might follow the Lamb. For the Power of God keeps all in Order and in Subjection and in Humility in that which is lovely and vertuous decent comely temperate and moderate that their Moderation comes to appear to all men So my desire is that all your Lights may shine as from a City set upon a Hill that cannot be hid And that ye may be the Salt of the Earth to salt and season it and make it savoury to God and you all seasoned with it Then
him ye are happy and his Blessings will rest upon you God Almighty keep and preserve you all his true Believers in Christ your Rest and Peace this day Amen London the 18th of the 12th Month 1684 5. G. F. About a Month after this I got a little out of London visiting Friends first at South-street then at Ford-Green and Enfield where I had Meetings South-street Ford-green Enfield Waltham-Abbey Enfield Edmunton side and afterwards I went to Waltham-Abbey and was at the Meeting there on a First-day which was very large and peaceable Then returning through Friends at Enfield and about Edmunton-side I came back to London in the Third Month to Advise with and Assist Friends in laying Friends Sufferings before the Parliament then sitting and we drew up a short Account of our Sufferings which we caused to be printed and spread amongst the Parliament-men London Yearly-Meeting The Yearly-Meeting now coming on I was much concerned for the Friends that came up to it out of the Countries lest they should meet with any Trouble or Disturbance in their Passages up or down and the rather for that about this time there began to be great bustles in the Nation upon the Duke of Monmouth's landing in the West But the Lord according to his wonted goodness was graciously pleased to preserve and keep Friends in safety and gave us a blessed Opportunity to Meet together in peace and quietness and accompanied our Meeting with his living refreshing Presence blessed for ever be his holy Name Now considering the Hurries and Bustles that were in the Nation it came upon me at the Close of this Meeting to write a few Lines to Friends to Caution all to keep out of the Spirit of the World in which the Trouble is and to dwell in the peaceable Truth Wherefore I writ as followeth Dear Friends and Brethren WHom the Lord hath called and chosen in Christ Jesus your Life and Salvation in whom ye have all rest and peace with God The Lord God by his mighty Power which is over all hath preserved you and supported you to this day to be a peculiar holy People to himself so that by his Eternal Spirit and Power ye might be all preserved and kept out of the World for in the World is the Trouble And now in this great Day of the Lord God Almighty he is shaking the Heavens and the Earth of outward Professions and their Elements are in a heat and their Sun and their Moon are darkened and the Stars falling and the Mountains and Hills shaking and tottering as it was among the Jews in the Day of Christ's appearing And therefore all Dear Friends and Brethren dwell in the Seed Christ Jesus who is the Rock and Foundation 1685. London that cannot be shaken that ye may see with the Light and Spirit of Christ that ye are the fixed Stars in the â—irmament of God's Power and in this his Power and Light you 'l see over all the wandring Stars and Clouds without water and Trees without fruit And that which may be shaken will be shaken as will all they that are wandred from the Firmament of God's Power Now Dear Friends and Brethren you that are redeemed from the Death and Fall of Adam by Christ the second Adam in him ye have Life Rest and Peace for Christ saith In me ye shall have Peace but in the World Trouble And the Apostle saith They that believe are entred into their Rest namely Christ who hath overcome the World who bruiseth the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works and fulfils the Types Figures and Shadows of the Old Testament and the Prophets In whom the Promises are Yea and Amen who is the First and Last Beginning and Ending Yea and Amen who is the eternal Rest So keep and walk in Christ your Rest every one that have received him your Eternal Rest And now Dear Friends and Brethren whatever Bustlings and Trouble or Tumults or Outrages Quarrels and Strife should arise and be in the World keep out of them all and concern not your selves with them but keep in the Lord's Power and peaceable Truth that is over all such things in which Power ye seek the peace and good of all men And live in the Love which God hath shed abroad in your hearts through Christ Jesus in which Love nothing is able to separate you from God and Christ neither outward Sufferings Persecutions nor any outward thing that is below and without nor to hinder or break your heavenly Fellowship in the Light and Gospel and Spirit of Christ nor your holy Communion in the Holy Ghost that proceeds from the Father and the Son which leads you into all Truth And in this Holy Ghost in which is your holy Communion that proceeds from the Father and the Son you have fellowship with the Father and the Son and communion and fellowship one with another And this is it which links and joins Christ's Church or Body together to him the heavenly and spiritual Head and in Unity in his Spirit which is the Bond of Peace of all his Church and living Members in whom they have Eternal and Everlasting Rest and Peace in Christ and with God everlasting who is to be blessed and praised for ever Amen Now Dear Friends forsake not the Assembling of your selves together who are gathered in the Name of Jesus who is your Prophet that God has raised up in the New Testament to be heard in all things who opens to you and no man can shut and shuts and no man can open Who is your Priest made higher than the Heavens by the Power of an endless Life by him you are made a Royal Priesthood to offer up to God spiritual Sacrifice Who is the Bishop of your Souls to oversee you that ye do not go astray from God Who is the good Shepherd that hath laid down his Life for his Sheep and they hear his voice and follow him and he gives to them eternal Life And now Dear Friends and Brethren abide in Christ the Vine that ye may bring forth fruit to the glory of God And as every one hath received Christ walk in him who is not of the World that lies in wickedness so that ye may be preserved out of the Vain Fashions and Customs of the World which satisfie the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life which are not of the Father but are of the World that passes away And who joins to that which is not of the Father or encourages it draws the mind from God the Fathâ—r and the Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore Let Christ rule in your hearts that your Minds Souls and Spirits may be kept and preserved out of the Vanities of the World both in their words ways and actions so that ye may be a peculiar People zealous of good works serving the Lord God through Jesus Christ in whom is life and may be a peculiar People to
Idolatry of the Jews who forsook the Lord and compares them to an Harlot And in Chap. 8. ye may see the Destruction threatned against the Jews for their Impiety and Idolatry In Chap. 9. also the Distress and Captivity of the Jews is threatned for their sins and Idolatry And again they are reproved and threatned for their Impiety and Idolatry Hos 10. And this was for forsaking the Lord and his Way and following the ways of their own Inventions and the Ways of the Heathen And doth not Isaiah say That the Lord would visit Tyre and that she should commit Fornication with all the Kingdoms of the World upon the face of the Earth and therefore the Lord threatned Destruction upon her Chap. 23. And in Chap. 57. you may see how the Lord reproved the Jews for their Whorish Idolatry and said Vpon an high and lofty Mountain hast thou set thy Bed even thither wentest thou up to offer Sacrifices Thou hast enlarged thy Bed and made a Covenant with them thou lovedst their Bed where thou savest it This was a Joining to the Heathens Religions Altars and Sacrifices and a forsaking the Lord's Altar and Sacrifices which he commanded in the Law And therefore that was committing Whoredom with the Heathen and a going into their Beds from the Living God that made them And now in the New Testament God having poured his Spirit upon all Flesh that by his Spirit all might come to be a Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ All that err from the Spirit of God and rebel against it they are not like to offer spiritual Sacrifices to God and such their Sacrifice God doth not accept no more than he did the Heathens and the Jews who rebelled against his good Spirit that he gave them to Instruct them And ye may see in the 17th 18th and 19th Chapters of the Revelation the Punishment of the great Whore Babylon the Mother of Harlots and the Victory of the Lamb and how he calleth God's People out of Babylon For in her was found the Blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth But there ye may read her Judgment and her Downfal And this Whore are they that are whored from the Spirit of God and so from God and from his holy Worship in Spirit and Truth and from the pure undefiled Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World and from the new and living Way Christ Jesus and so are whored from the Spirit of God into false Religions Ways and Worships and so corrupted the Earth with her Abominations But her Judgment and Downfal is seen over whom Christ hath the Victory And the Marriage of the Lamb is come Glory to the Lord for ever And God's pure Religion and pure Worship in Spirit and Truth Christ hath set up as it was in the Apostles days Hallelujah G. F. London I soon returned to London but made no long stay there at this time my Body not being able to bear the Closeness of the City long together While I was in Town besides the usual Services of visiting Friends and taking care about their Sufferings to get them eased I Assisted the Friends of the City in distributing certain Sums of Money which our Friends of Ireland had charitably and very liberally raised and sent over hither for the Relief of their Brethren who suffered for the Testimony of a good Conscience here which Monies were distributed amongst poor suffering Friends in the several Counties in proportion according as we understood their Need. Before I left the City also I heard of a great Doctor that was lately come from Poland whom I invited to my Lodging and had a great deal of discourse with him And after I had informed my self by him of such things as I had a desire to know I writ a Letter to the King of Poland on behalf of Friends at Dantzick a Town belonging to him who had long been under grievous Sufferings A Copy whereof here follows To JOHN the Third King of Poland 1685. London Great Duke of Lithuania Russia and Prussia Defender of the City of Dantzick c. Concerning the Innocent and Afflicted People in scorn called Quakers who are now fed with Bread and Water in Bridewell of the aforesaid City under close Confinement where their Friends Wives and Children are hardly suffered to come to see them O King THE Magistrates of the City of Dantzick say That it is thy Order and Command that these Innocent and Afflicted People should suffer such Oppression Now this Punishment is Inflicted upon them only and alone because they come together in the Name of Jesus Christ their Redeemer and Saviour who died for their Sins and is risen from the dead for their Justification who is their Prophet whom God hath raised up like unto Moses whom they ought to hear in all things in this day of the Gospel and the New Covenant who went astray like scattered Sheep but now are returned to the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of their Souls 1 Pet. 2.25 Who has given his Life for his Sheep and they hear his Voice and follow him who leads them into his Pastures of Life John 10. And now O King I understand that thou openly professest Christianity and the great and mighty Name of Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords To whom is given all Power in Heaven and in Earth who rules all Nations with a Rod of Iron Therefore O King it seems hard to us that any that openly confesses Christ Jesus yea the Magistrates of Dantzick do the same should Inflict those Punishments upon an Innocent and Harmless People by reason of their Tender Consciences only and alone because they come together to serve and worship the Eternal God who made them in Spirit and in Truth which worship Christ Jesus has set up Sixteen hundred years ago as we read in John 4.23 24. Therefore I beseech the King that he would Consider Whether Christ in the New Testament ever gave such a Command to his Apostles that they should shut up any in Prison and feed them with Bread and Water who was not Conformable in every particular to their Religion Faith and Worship Or where did the Apostles exercise such things in the true Church after Christ's Ascension For is not this the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles that Christ's Followers should Love their Enemies and pray for them that hate them and persecute and despitefully use them Matth. 5. And now Is it not a shame to Christendom among the Turks and others That one Christian should persecute another for the Doctrine of Faith Worship and Religion And they cannot prove that Christ ever gave them such a Command whom they profess to be their Lord and Master For Christ says that his Believers and Followers should love one another and by this they shall be known to be his Disciples And did not Christ
this Gospel-day of Christ but Christ will consume them with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy them with the Brightness of his Coming But God's People whom he hath chosen unto Salvation in Christ from the beginning through the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth stand stedfast in Christ Jesus and are thankful to God by and through his Son their Rock and Salvation who is their Happiness and eternal Inheritance The Apostle saith Ye were as Sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls So when People are returned to Christ their Shepherd they do know his Voice and follow him and are returned to the Bishop of their Souls and then they do believe in him 1686. Kingston and receive Wisdom and Vnderstanding from him who is from above heavenly and spiritual Then they do Act like spiritual and holy Men and Women and come to be Members of the Church of Christ and then a spiritual Care cometh upon the Elders in Christ that all the Members do walk in Christ and in his Light Grace Spirit and Truth that they may adorn their Confession and Profession of Christ and see that all do walk in the Order of the holy Spirit and the everlasting Gospel of Peace Life and Salvation And this Order keeps out of Confusion for the Gospel of Peace the Power of God was before Confusion was And all the Heirs of the Gospel are Heirs of its Order and are in this Gospel which brings Life and Immortality to Light in them by which all Men and Women may see their Work and Services in it to look after the Poor Widows and Fatherless and to see that nothing be lacking and that all do honour the Lord in their Lives and Conversations When the whole House of Israel were in their Graves and Sepulchres and were called The scattered dry Bones yet they could speak and say Their Bones were dry their Hope was lost or they were without Hope and they were cut off so that they were Alive outwardly and could speak outwardly So that which is called Christendom may very well be called The scattered dry Bones and they be said to be in their Graves and Sepulchres dead from the heavenly Breath of Life and from the Spirit and Word of Life that gathereth to God Though they can speak and are Alive outwardly yet they remain in the Congregations or Churches of the Dead that want the vertue of Life For the Jews whom God poured his Spirit upon and gave them his Law when they rebelled against the Spirit of God and turned from God and his Law then they came to be dry scattered Bones and were turned into their Graves and Sepulchres And so Christendom that is turned from the Grace and Truth and Light of Christ and the Spirit that God poureth upon all flesh they are become the scattered dry Bones and are in their Graves and Sepulchres and are the Congregations or Churches of the Dead though they can speak and are Alive outwardly Christ saith I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly And he gave his flâ—sh for the life of the World And he saith I am the Resurrection and the Life and I am the Way the Truth and the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by me And Christ is the quickening Spirit All being dead in Adam they are to be quickened and made alive by Christ the second Adam And when they are quickned and made alive by him then they do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ their Saviour who died for their Sins and is risen for their Justification and so was dead and is alive again and liveth for evermore And all whom he hath quickened and made alive even all the living do Meet in the Name of Jesus who is alive and he their living Prophet Shepherd and Bishop is in the midst of them and is their living Rock and Foundation and a living Mediator between them and the living God And so the Living do praise the living God through Jesus Christ through whom they have Peace with God And so all the Living have Rest in Christ their Life and he is their Sanctification and their Righteousness and their Treasure of Wisdom Knowledge and Vnderstanding which is spiritual and heavenly And he is the spiritual Tree and Root which all the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ that do pass from the death in Adam to the Life in Christ and overcome the World and are born of God are grafted into even Christ the heavenly Tree which beareth all the spiritual Branches or Grafts So these do Meet in his Name and are gathered in him and do sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus their Life who hath quickened and made them alive And so all the Living do worship the living God in his holy Spirit and Truth in which they Live and Walk And into this Worship the foul unclean Spirit the Devil cannot get for the holy Spirit and Truth is over him and he is out of it This is the standing Worship which Christ set up in his New Covenant And they that are quickened and made alive by Christ are the living Stones and living Members and spiritual Houshold and Church or Congregation of Christ who is the living Head and Husband And they that are quickened and made alive by Christ are a living Church and have a living Head and are come from the Congregations or Churches of the Dead in Adam where Death and Destruction talks of God and of his Prophets and Apostles in their Wisdom that is below and earthly and devilish and in the knowledge that is bruitish and in the understanding that comes to naught For what they know is natural by their natural Tongues and Arts and Sciences in which they corrupt themselves This is the state of the Dead in Adam But the Quickened and they that are made alive by Christ do discern between the Living and the Dead Kingston upon Thames the 12th Month 1686 7. G. F. While I was at Kingston I writ also another Paper shewing That the Lord in all Ages called the Righteous out from amongst the Wicked before he destroyed them Which Paper here follows NOah and his Family were called into the Ark before the Old World was destroyed with the Flood of Water And all the Faithful Generation that lived before were taken away and died in the Faith before that Flood of Destruction came upon the wicked Old World The Lord did call Lot out of Sodom before he did destroy and consume it and the Wicked there Christ said It cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem and he said O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings but ye would not Luke 13.33 34. And Christ said unto
Yearly-Meeting was over which this Year was about the beginning of the Fourth Month. A precious Meeting it was and a very refreshing Season Friends had together the Lord vouchsafing to honour our Assemblies with his living and glorious Presence in a very plentiful manner At the Conclusion of the Meeting I felt a Concern upon my Spirit to give forth the following Paper to be dispersed abroad amongst Friends ALL you Believers in the Light that are become Children of the Light walk as Children of the Light and of the Day of Christ and as a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid and so let your Light shine that People may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven For a good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit and therefore be ye Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord having Fruits unto Holiness and then your End will be Everlasting life And such are the Wells and Cisterns that hold the living Water of life which springs up in them to Eternal life so ye may all drink Water out of your own Cisterns and running Water out of your own Wells and eat every one of his own Fig-tree and of his own Vine having Salt every one in your selves to season every one's Sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ and like unto the Wise Virgins that have Oil in their Lamps and follow the Lamb and enter in with the Bridegroom 1688. London Yearly-Meeting And now is the time to Labour while it is day yea the Day of Christ and to stir up every one's pure Mind and the Gift of God that is in them and to improve your Talents that Christ hath given you that ye may profit And to walk every one according to the Measure that Christ hath given you for the Manifestation of the Spirit of God is given to every one to profit withal Now consider what you have profited in spiritual and heavenly things with the heavenly Spirit of God and be not like the wicked and slothful that hid his Talent from whom it was taken and he cast into Utter darkness And a Dwarf or one that had any blemish was not to come nigh to Offer upon God's Altar And therefore mind the Word of Wisdom to keep you out of that which will Corrupt you and Blemish you and that ye may grow in Grace and in Faith and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and feeding upon the Milk of the Word may grow by it that ye may not be Dwarfs and so to Offer your spiritual Sacrifice upon God's holy Altar For the Field or Vineyard of the slothful grows over with Thorns and Nettles and his Walls go down such are they that are not diligent in the Spirit of God and the Power which is the Wall a sure Fence and the Spirit of God will Weed out all both Thorns and Thistles and Nettles out of the Vineyard of the heart And you that are Keepers of others Vineyards see that you keep your own Vineyard clean with the Spirit and Power of Christ and sanctifie your selves and sanctifie the Lord in your hearts that ye may be a holy People to the Lord who saith Be ye holy for I am holy that ye may be the holy Members of the Church of Christ that is clothed with the Sun and hath the Moon under her feet the changeable World with all her changeable Worships Religions Churches and Teachers And be ye new and heavenly Jerusalem's Children for new and heavenly Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of all the Children of the Light and that are born of the Spirit and these be they that have been persecuted and have suffered by the false Church Mystery Babylon and Mother of Harlots And now all heavenly Jerusalem's and Sion's Children that are from above labour in the Gospel the Power of God and the Seed in which all Nations and all the Families of the Earth are blessed which Seed Christ bruises the Serpent's head and destroys the Devil and his Works and overcomes the Whore the false Church and the Beast and the false Prophet And takes away the Curse and the Vail that is spread over all Nations and over all the Families of the Earth and brings the Blessing upon all Nations and upon all the Families of the Earth if they will receive it saying In thy Seed shall all Nations and all the Families of the Earth be blessed And this is the Gospel of God preached to Abraham before Moses writ his Five Books and was preached in the Apostles days and is now preached again Which Gospel brings Life and Immortality to light and is the Gospel of Peace Life and Salvation to every one that believes it And so all Nations and all the Families of the Earth must be in Christ the Seed if they be blessed and be partakers of the Blessing in the Seed which Gospel God did preach and reveal to Abraham as in Gal. 3.8 And this Gospel was revealed and preached by Christ unto his Apostles who preached it which is not of Man nor from Man And now God and Christ hath Revealed the same Gospel unto me and many others in this Age I say the Gospel and the Seed in which all Nations and Families of the Earth are blessed in which Gospel I have laboured and do labour that all may come into this blessed Seed Christ who bruises the head of the Serpent that in it they might have peace with God And this Everlasting Gospel is preached again to them that dwell upon the Earth and they that believe it and receive it receive the Blessing and the Peace and Joy and Comfort of it and the stability in it and the life and immortality which it brings to light in them and to them And such can praise the Everlasting God in his Everlasting Gospel And Friends all seek the peace and good of all in Christ for Truth makes no Cains Corahs Balaams nor Judasses for they come to be such that go out of the peaceable Truth And therefore walk in the peaceable Truth and speak the Truth in the love of it as it is in Jesus G. F. Sometime after the Yearly-Meeting was over I went to my Son Mead's House Essex Gooses called Gooses in Essex and abode there some Weeks often visiting Friends Meeting near there and sometimes at Barking And after I had been a while there I went to visit Friends at Waltham-Abbey and at Hodsdon Waltham-Abbey Hodsdon Eâ—field South-street Ford-green Winchmore-hill and about Enfield South-street Ford-Green and Winchmore-Hill where I had several very serviceable Meetings amongst Friends the Lord opening many deep and weighty things through me both for the Informing the Understandings of Inquirers and building up those that were gathered into the Truth and establishing them therein It was in the Seventh Month that I returned to London having been near Three Months in the Country for my health's sake which now was very much Impaired so that
I was hardly able to stay in a Meeting the whole Time thereof and often after a Meeting was fain to lye down upon a Bed Yet did not my Weakness of Body take me off from the Service of the Lord but I continued to labour in Meetings and out of Meetings in the work of the Lord as the Lord gave me Opportunity and Ability I had not been long in London before a great Weight came upon me and a sight the Lord gave me of the great Bustles and Troubles Revolution and Change which soon after came to pass In the sense whereof and in the movings of the Spirit of the Lord I writ a few Lines as A general Epistle to Friends to fore-warn them of the approaching Storm 1688. London that they might all retire to the Lord in whom safety is That Epistle was as followeth ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren every where who have received the Lord Jesus Christ and he has given you power to become his Sons and Daughters In him ye have both life and peace and in his Everlasting Kingdom that is a stablished Kingdom and cannot be shaken but is over all the World and stands in his Power and in Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost into which no unrighteousness nor the foul unclean Spirit of the Devil in his Instruments can enter And therefore Dear Friends and Brethren every one in the Faith of Jesus that he is the Author and Finisher of stand in his Power who has all power in Heaven and Earth given to him and will Rule the Nations with his Rod of Iron and dash them to pieces like a Potter's vessel that are not Subject and Obedient to his Power Whose Voice will shake the Heavens and the Earth that that which may be shaken may be Removed and that which cannot be shaken may Appear And stand in him and all things shall work together for good to them that love him And now Dear Friends and Brethren though these Waves and Storms and Tempests be in the World yet you may all appear the harmless and innocent Lambs of Christ walking in his peaceable Truth and keeping in the Word of Power and Wisdom and Patience and this Word will keep you in the Day of Trials and Temptations that will come upon the whole World to Try them that dwell upon the Earth For the Word of God was before the World and all things were made by it It is a Tried Word which gave all God's People in all Ages Wisdom Power and Patience And therefore let your dwelling and walking be in Christ Jesus who is called The Word of God and in his Power which is over all And set your Affections on things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God mark on those things which are above where Christ sits and not those things that are below which will change and pass away And blessed be the Lord God who by his Eternal Arm and Power hath gathered a People to himself and by his Eternal Arm and Power hath preserved his Faithful to himself through many Troubles Trials and Temptations His Power and Seed Christ is over all and in him ye have life and peace with God Therefore in him all stand and see your Salvation who is First and Last and the Amen God Almighty preserve and keep you all in him your Ark and Sanctuary for in him you are safe over all Floods Storms and Tempests for he was before they were and will be when they are all gone London the 17th of the 8th Month 1688. G. F. About this time great Exercise and Weights came upon me as hath usually done before great Revolutions and Changes of Government and my strength departed from me so that I reeled and was ready to fall as I went along the Streets And at length I could not go abroad at all I was so Weak for a pretty while till I felt the Power of the Lord to spring over all and had received an Assurance from him that he would preserve his faithful People to himself through all In the time that I kept in I writ a Paper shewing How Moses as a Servant was faithful in all his House in the Old Testament and Christ as a Son is over his House in the New Testament THE House of Israel was called God's Vineyard in Isa 5.7 and all the Israelites were called the House of Israel Israel signifies A Prince with God and a Prevailer with Men Gen. 32.28 And when Peter did preach Christ to the House of Israel he said Let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 So they were all called the House of Israel And it is said Moses was faithful in all his House to wit this House of Israel as a Servant for a Testimony of those things which were to be spoken after But Christ as a Son over his own House which House are we if we hold fast the Confidence and the Rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Hebr. 3.5 6. Here it is manifest that Moses was faithful in all his house as a Servant viz. in the house of Israel in the Old Testament but Christ Jesus the Son of God is over his house in his New Testament and Covenant and all his true Believers are of his House The Apostle tells the Ephesians who were the Church of Christ They were Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2.19 And the Saints are called The Houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 And Peter in his general Epistle tells the Church of Christ They were a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar People 1 Pet. 2.9 And that as lively Stones they were built up a spiritual House an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ ver 5. And the Apostle saith to the Church of Christ at Corinth If our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 And Christ said to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Father's house are many Mansions a Mansion is a Dwelling or Abiding-place If it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also John 14.1 2 3. The Psalmist saith Those that be planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old Age they shall be fat and flourishing Psal 92.13 14. And again Holiness becomes thine house O Lord for ever Psal 93.5 Isaiah also said by way of Prophecy It shall come to pass in the last days that the Mountain of the Lord's
therefore all are to stand fast in him as they have received him for in him there is peace who is the Prince of Peace but in the World there is Trouble For the Spirit of the World is a Troublesome Spirit but the Spirit of Christ is a Peaceable Spirit and in it God Almighty preserve all the Faithful Amen Gooses the 1st of the 2d Month 1690. G. F. Another Paper that I writ while I was here was concerning the Ensign which Isaiah prophesied the Lord should set up for the Gentiles which I shewed was Christ. Of that Paper this which follows is a Copy THE Lord saith They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11.9 And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse which shall stand for an Ensign of the People to it shall the Gentiles seek and his Rest shall be glorious ver 10. And he shall reign over the Gentiles and in him shall the Gentiles trust Rom. 15.12 This Ensign is Christ which was prophesied of by the Prophet which Prophecy the Apostle who was a Minister to the Gentiles sheweth was fulfilled in the New Testament And in this Day of Christ Isaiah saith The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to Recover the Remnant of his People which shall be left from Assyria and from Egypt c. And he shall set up an Ensign for the Nations and shall assemble the Outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four Corners of the Earth ver 11 12. This is in the Day of Christ and his Gospel of Life and Salvation which is preached to every Creature under Heaven who Enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World both Jews and Gentiles that by his heavenly divine Light they may see Christ their Ensign and Captain of their Salvation So Christ is one Ensign both to the Jews and Gentiles And Isaiah saith The Redeemer shall come to Sion c. Isa 59.20 And This is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee to wit Christ and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's Seed saith the Lord from hence-forth and for ever ver 21. Arise shine for thy Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Chap. 60.1 And the Gentiles shall come to thy Light ver 3. And the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee ver 5. the Sea is the World The Lord shall be thy everlasting Light ver 20. And Thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise ver 18. And the Lord saith I will make the place of my Feet glorious ver 13. Heaven is his Throne and Earth is his Footstool Chap 66.1 And he that puts his trust in me saith the Lord shall possess the Land and shall inherit my holy Mountain Chap. 57.13 Which Mountain is Established above all the Mountains and Hills Isa 2.2 The Lord saith speaking of Christ I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Isa 42.1 And he saith of him I will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in Darkness out of the Prison-house I am the Lord that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another neither my Praise to graven Images ver 6 7 8. So Christ the Light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen and the Gentiles are come to the Light of Christ and this Prophesie of Isaiah concerning Christ many of the Gentiles witness fulfilled that Salvation is come to the Gentiles Rom. 11.11 And God gave his Glory to his Son And Christ saith The Glory which thou gavest me I have given them namely his Believers and Followers that they may be one even as we are one John 17.22 Now here you may see how the Promises and Prophecies are fulfilled in Christ Jesus whom God hath given for an Ensign both to the Jews and Gentiles and the Captain of their Salvation and he doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World that with his heavenly divine Light they might see Christ the Lord from Heaven their Captain and Ensign and trust in him who is their Conqueror who bruises the Serpent's head and destroys the Devil and his Works And Christ and his Followers overcome the Dragon Beast and false Prophet And therefore all Jews Gentiles and Christians that come to believe in Christ are to stand to their Ensign Christ who is also the Captain of their Salvation who is above all Ensigns and Captains below For he is from above and therefore all are to trust in him for he is certain and able to save to the utmost c. and is the same Ensign and Captain to day as he was yesterday and so for ever the First and Last the Beginning and Ending and Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings upon the Earth and there is nothing certain to be trusted in below Christ Jesus who is from above You see in the Scriptures there were many Ways and Religions among the Heathen as there were many Sects among the Jews when Christ came And now there are many Sects or Religions among the Christians who believe from the Scriptures that he is come as the Jews believed he was to come But they that close their Eyes and stop their Ears to the Light of Christ they are not like to see Christ who hath enlightened them to be their Ensign and the Captain of their Salvation that see not with the heavenly Eye nor hear with the heavenly Ear to see and hear their heavenly Ensign and Captain of their Salvation to convert them and heal them that they might follow him and be of his holy Camp and be his heavenly Soldiers to whom he gives spiritual Arms and Armour the Helmet of Salvation the Breast-plate of Righteousness the Armour of Light and the Shield of Faith which will quench all the fiery Darts of Satan and give Victory and the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which shall cut and hammer down and burn up all the Strong holds of Satan Also he cloatheth his Soldiers with fine Linnen white and clean his Righteousness and shooeth them with the everlasting Gospel of Peace the Power of God which Cloths and Shooes will never wax Old And all that are shod with the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God they will never wax Old but will stand all Storms and Tempests in the World And they that are shod with the Gospel the Power of God can in it tread upon Serpents Vipers and Scorpions and all the venemous Beasts upon the Earth and all the Thorns Briars Brambles
it to try you for he upholds all things in Heaven and Earth by the Word of his Power All things were made by Christ and by him all things do consist mark consist whether they be Visibles or Invisibles c. So he hath power over all for all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him and to you that have received him he hath given Power to become the Sons and Daughters of God so living Members of Christ the living Head and grafted into him in whom ye have Eternal Life And Christ the Seed reigns and his Power is over all who bruises the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works and was before he was And so all of you live and walk in Christ Jesus so that nothing may be between you and God but Christ in whom ye have Salvation Life Rest and Peace with God As for the passages of Truth in this Land and abroad I do hear that in Holland and Germany and there-aways Friends are in Love Vnity and Peace And in Jamaica Barbados Mevis Antego Maryland and New-England I hear nothing but Friends are in Vnity and Peace The Lord preserve them all out of the World in which there is Trouble in Christ Jesus in whom there is Peace Life Love and Vnity Amen So my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to all Friends every where in your Land as though I named them London the 10th of the 11th Month 1690. G. F. THus Reader hast thou had some Account of the Life and Travels Labours Sufferings and Manifold Trials and Exercises of this holy Man of God from his Youth to almost the time of his Death Of which himself kept a Journal out of which the foregoing Sheets were transcribed It remains that an Account be added of the Time Place and Manner of his Death and Burial Which were thus The next day after he had written the foregoing Epistle to Friends in Ireland be went to the Meeting at Gracious-street which was large it being on the First-day of the Week And the Lord enabled him to preach the Truth fully and effectually opening many deep and weighty things with great Power and Clearness After which having Prayed and the Meeting being ended he went to Henry Gouldney 's a Friend's House in Whitehart-Court near the Meeting house and some Friends going with him thither he told them He thought he felt the Cold strike to his heart as he came out of the Meeting yet added I am glad I was here Now I am clear I am fully clear As soon as those Friends that were with him were withdrawn he lay down upon a Bed as he sometimes used to do through Weariness after a Meeting but soon rose again and in a little time lay down again complaining still of Cold. And his Strength sensibly decaying he was fain soon after to go into Bed where he lay in much Contentment and Peace and very sensible to the Last And as in the whole Course of his Life his Spirit in the universal Love of God was set and bent for the exalting of Truth and Righteousness and the making known the Way thereof to the Nations and Peoples afar off so now in the time of his outward Weakness his Mind was intent upon and as it were wholly taken up with that And some particular Friends he sent for to whom he exprest his Mind and Desire for the Spreading Friends Books and Truth thereby in the World and through the Nations thereof Divers Friends came to visit him in his Ilness unto some of whom he said All is well The Seed of God reigns over all and over Death it self And though said he I am weak in Body yet the Power of God is over all and the Seed reigns over all disorderly Spirits Thus lying in an heavenly frame of Mind his Spirit wholly exercised towards the Lord he grew weaker and weaker in his natural Strength and on the Third day of that Week between the hours of Nine and Ten in the Evening he quietly departed this Life in Peace and sweetly fell asleep in the Lord whose blessed Truth he had livingly and powerfully preached in the Meeting but two days before Thus ended he his Days in his faithful Testimony in perfect Love and Vnity with his Brethren and in Peace and Good-will to all Men on the 13th day of the 11th Month 1690. being then in the 67th year of his Age. Vpon the 16th day of the same Month being the sixth of the Week and the Day appointed for his Funeral a very great Concourse of Friends and other People of divers sorts Assembled together at the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court near Gracious-street about the middle time of the day in order to attend his Body to the Grave The Meeting was held about two hours with great and heavenly Solemnity manifestly attended with the Lord's blessed Presence and glorious Power in which divers living Testimonies were given from a lively Remembrance and Sense of the blessed Ministry of this Dear and Ancient Servant of the Lord his early Entring into the Lord's Work at the breaking forth of this Gospel-day his innocent Life long and great Travels and unwearied Labours of Love in the Everlasting Gospel for the turning and gathering many Thousands from Darkness to the Light of Christ Jesus the Foundation of true Faith his manifold Sufferings Afflictions and Oppositions which he met withal for his faithful Testimony both from his open Adversaries and from false Brethren and his Preservations Deliverances and Dominion in out of and over them all by the Power of God To whom the Glory and Honour always was by him and is and always ought to be by all Ascribed After the Meeting was ended his Body was born by Friends and accompanied by very great Numbers of Friends and other People to Friends Burying-Ground near Bunhill-Fields where after a solemn Waiting upon the Lord and several living Testimonies borne recommending the Company to the Guidance and Protection of that Divine Spirit and Power by which this holy Man of God had been raised up furnished supported and preserved to the end of his Day his Body was decently committed to the Earth but his Memorial shall Remain and be Everlastingly Blessed among the Righteous An Epistle of Dear George Fox's which was writ with his own Hand and left Sealed up with this Superscription viz. Not to be opened before the Time which after his Decease being opened was thought meet to be printed being as followeth Viz. For the Yearly and Second-Days-Meeting in London and to all the Children of God in all Places in the World By and from G. F. This for all the Children of God every where that are led by his Spirit and do walk in his Light in which they have Life and Unity and Fellowship with the Father and the Son and one with another KEep all your Meetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus that be gathered in his Name by his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit
by which you will feel his blessed and refreshing Presence among you and in you to your Comfort and God's Glory And now all Friends All your Meetings both Mens and Womens Monthly and Quarterly and Yearly c. were set up by the Power and Spirit and Wisdom of God and in them you do know that you have felt both his Power and Spirit and Wisdom and blessed refreshing Presence among you and in you to his Praise and Glory and your Comfort So that you have been a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid And although many loose and unruly Spirits have risen betimes to Oppose you and them both in Print and other ways but you have seen how they have come to Nought and the Lord hath blasted them and brought their Deeds to Light and made them Manifest to be the Trees without Fruit and Wells without Water and Wandering Stars from the Firmament of God's Power and the Raging Waves of the Sea casting up their Mire and Dirt And many of them are like the Dog turn'd to his Old Vomit and the Sow that was washed turned again to the Mire And this hath been the Condition of many God knoweth and his People And therefore all to stand Stedfast in Christ Jesus your Head in whom you are all one Male and Female and know his Government and of the Encrease of his Government and Peace there shall be no End but there will be an End of the Devil 's and of all them that be out of Christ and do Oppose it and him whose Judgment doth not linger and their Damnation doth not slumber And therefore in God and Christ's Light Life Spirit and Power live and walk that is over all and the Seed of it in Love and in Innocency and Simplicity and in Righteousness and Holiness dwell and in his Power and Holy Ghost in which God's Kingdom doth stand All Children of New and Heavenly Jerusalem that is from above and is free with all her Holy Spiritual Children To her keep your Eyes And as for this Spirit of Rebellion and Opposition that hath risen formerly and lately it is out of the Kingdom of God and Heavenly Jerusalem and is for Judgment and Condemnation with all its Books Words and Works And therefore Friends are to live and walk in the Power and Spirit of God that is over it and in the Seed that will bruise and break it to pieces In which Seed you have Joy and Peace with God and Power and Authority to Judge it and your Unity is in the Power and Spirit of God that doth Judge it and all God's Witnesses in his Tabernacle go out against it and always have and will And let no Man live to Self but to the Lord as they will die in him and seek the Peace of the Church of Christ and the Peace of all Men in him for Blessed are the Peace-makers And dwell in the pure peaceable Heavenly Wisdom of God that is Gentle and Easie to be entreated that is full of Mercy all striving to be of one Mind Heart Soul and Judgment in Christ having his Mind and Spirit dwelling in you building up one another in the Love of God which doth edifie the Body of Christ his Church who is the holy Head thereof So Glory to God through Christ in this Age and all other Ages who is the Rock and Foundation and the Emanuel God with us Amen over all the Beginning and the Ending in him Live and Walk in whom you have Life Eternal in whom you will feel me and I you All Children of New Jerusalem that descends from above the Holy City which the Lord and the Lamb is the Light thereof and is the Temple in it they are born again of the Spirit So Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of them that are born of the Spirit And so they that come and are come to Heavenly Jerusalem are them that receive Christ and he giveth them Power to become the Sons of God and are born again of the Spirit So Jerusalem that is their Mother And such do come to Heavenly Mount Sion and the innumerable Company of Angels and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and are come to the Church of the Living God written in Heaven and have the Name of God and the City of God written upon them So here is a New Mother that bringeth forth a Heavenly and a Spiritual Generation There is no Schism nor Division nor Contention nor Strife in Heavenly Jerusalem nor in the Body of Christ which is made up of living Stones a Spiritual House And Christ is not divided for in him there is Peace Christ saith In me you have Peace And he is from above and not of this World but in the World below in the Spirit of it there is Trouble therefore keep in Christ and walk in him Amen G. F. And Jerusalem was the Mother of all the true Christians before the Apostacy and since the outward Christians are broken into many Sects and they have gotten many Mothers But all they that are come out of the Apostacy by the Power and Spirit of Christ Jerusalem that is above is their Mother and none below her who doth nourish all her Spiritual Children Read at the Yearly-Meeting in London 1691. G. F. Reader please to note That these following Papers and Epistles some of which being mention'd in the Journal page 452 c. and there omitted are found meet to be here inserted and are as followeth A Warning to the Magistrates and People of the City of Oldenborg Friends HAve you not seen and felt the Judgments of God upon your City the Lord sending Lightning from Heaven Amsterdam that destroy'd and burnt it And as I passed thorow your City on a First-day of the Week which you call your Sabbath To pag. 448 I saw some drinking and Soldiers playing at Shuffle-board and others with their Shops open and Trading when they should have been Waiting upon God and Worshipping him And your People were light and vain without any sense of God's Judgments or Repentance O therefore Repent lest the All-seeing God who sees all your Actions and is over all do bring swift Judgment upon you in his Wrath and Fury and Indignation And so Repent and lay away all manner of Evil and Wickedness and Ungodliness and Vnrighteousness for the Day of the Lord will come upon all that do Evil and the Workers of Iniquity and this mighty Day of the Lord will find them all out and will burn as an Oven and burn up all the Proud and Wicked and neither leave them Root nor Branch And therefore all ye Magistrates Priests and People search in your selves to find out the Cause and what Wickedness and Evil it has been you have Committed that has brought the Wrath and Vengeance and Judgments of God upon you and upon your City in burning of it And therefore all Return and come to the Light of Christ in your hearts
and to God's Spirit and to the Grace and Truth in your hearts that comes by Jesus Christ that with it ye may search your hearts And so do not grieve nor vex nor quench God's good Spirit in your hearts and walk not despitefully against the Spirit of Grace nor turn from it into Wantonness and yet make a Profession of God and Christ in Words 1677. Amsterdam when your hearts are afar off and living in Pleasures and wantonly upon the Earth sporting your selves killing the Just and Crucifying to your selves Christ afresh and putting him to open shame And so dishonouring God and Christ and Christianity and making a Profession and a Trade of the Scriptures keeping People always Learning that they may be always paying Therefore Cease from Man whose Breath is in his Nostrils and look unto the Lord all ye ends of the Earth and be saved for the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is come to teach his People himself by his Light Spirit Grace and Truth and to bring them off all the World's Teachers And God hath raised up Christ Jesus his Prophet whom People should hear and saith This is my beloved Son hear ye him and Christ saith Learn of me I am the Way the Truth and the Life and no Man comes to the Father but by me And there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven but by the Name of Jesus who saith I am the good Shepherd and have laid down my Life for my Sheep and my Sheep hear my voice and follow me and will not follow the Hireling For Christ feeds them in the Pastures of Life that will never wither And God hath anointed Christ Jesus to preach if you will hear him and God hath given Christ for a Counsellor and a Leader if you will be Led and Counselled by him and God hath given Christ for a Bishop to Oversee you and a King to Rule you if you will be Overseen and Ruled by him And you that will not have Christ to Rule over you who never sinned nor Guile was found in his Mouth you may read his Sentence in the New Testament upon such And is not Christ a sufficient Teacher whose Blood was shed for you and tasted Death for every Man And doth not Christ say to his Ministers Freely ye have received freely give And the Apostle saith We covet no Man's Gold Silver or Apparel but Laboured with their Hands and kept the Gospel without Charge Have they that are called Ministers amongst you done the same and kept this Command of Christ Jesus Let them be Examined and Examine themselves And have you not trimmed your Outsides but look within with the Light and Spirit of Christ Jesus and see if your Insides be not black and foul For Christ Jesus who doth Enlighten every Man that cometh into the World with the Life in himself who is the Word he saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light and with the Light ye may see all the Evil Deeds ye have done and all your ungodly Deeds that ye have acted and committed and all your ungodly Words you have spoken and all your ungodly Thoughts ye think that ye may turn from them and turn to Christ from whence the Light comes who is your Saviour and Redeemer who hath given you a Light to see your Sin and how that you are dead in Adam that with the same Light you may see Christ the quickening Spirit who makes you alive to God and saves you from your sin But if you hate the Light which is the Life in Christ the Prince of Life and Love the Darkness and the Prince of Darkness more than the Light or the Life in Christ whose Deeds be Evil and because it will Reprove you Christ tells you This Light will be your Condemnation John 3. And therefore be Warned now in your Day and while you have Time turn to the Lord and do not quench the Spirit of the Father by which he draws to his Son nor hate the Light of Christ for if you do you hate the Life in Christ and so remain under Condemnation from God and Christ with the Light who now speaks to his People by his Son as he did in the Apostles Days so the same God that was the Speaker by the Prophets to the Fathers and Speaker to Adam and Eve in Paradise And happy had Adam and Eve and the Jews and all Christians been if they had kept to this Speaker and not have followed the Serpent that false Speaker and his Instruments And now God is the true Speaker by his Son who bruises the Head of the Serpent the false Teacher who is the Head of all false Ways and false Prophets and false Churches and false Religions and Worships And so God and Christ is bringing People to the pure and undefiled Religion that will keep them from the Spots of the World and into the new and living Way Christ Jesus and to the Church in God which Christ is the Head of as he was in the Apostles Days and to worship God in the Spirit and Truth which Worship Christ set up above Sixteen hundred years since And therefore must all People come to the Grace and Spirit of Truth in their own hearts to know the God of Truth who is a Spirit and in the Spirit and Truth to worship and serve and honour and glorifie the Living God who is over all and Worthy of all Blessed for evermore Amen And ye Magistrates and Officers read this in all your Assemblies and cause all your Priests to read it in their Churches that they and you and all People may hear and fear the God of Heaven as you will Answer it at the Great and Terrible Day of Judgment and Vengeance of the Lord God Almighty And this is in Love to your Souls and for your Temporal and Eternal Good Amsterdam the 19th of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. 1677. Harlingen in Friezland An Epistle concerning true Fasting true Prayer true Honour and against Persecution and for the true Liberty in Christ Jesus To pag. 438 and that all may have a care that the Apostle hath not bestowed his Labour in vain upon you in your observing of Days Months Times Feasts and Years and of coming under the beggarly Elements and the Yoke of Bondage again and of bringing and forcing People into them WHere did ever Christ or his Apostles Command any Believers or Christians to observe Holy-Days or Feast-Days and let us see where it is written in the Scriptures of the New Testament in the Four Evangelists or the Epistles or the Revelation that ever Christ or his Apostles gave the Christians any such Command that they should observe the Time called Christmas or a Day for Christ's Birth or that they should observe the Time called Easter or Whitsuntide or Peter or Paul's or Mark or Luke's Days or any other Saints Day Now you that profess your selves to be
not Banish him and Persecute him out of your Cities and Corporations And how can you enter into his Kingdom and have a share of his Kingdom though you may profess him in Words And do not they go into Everlasting Punishment that did not visit Christ in Prison Then what will become of you that do Banish and Imprison him where he is manifest in his Members nor suffer them to Meet together to enjoy him amongst them according to his Promise And therefore you that will not let Christ Reign in his People and have his Liberty in them in your Cities and Countries to Exercise his Offices you will not have your Liberty in Heaven and you that will not let Christ Reign in your Hearts nor suffer him to Reign in his People here upon the Earth in this World in your Kingdoms you will not Reign with Christ in Heaven in his Kingdom nor in the World without end And so you that banish the Truth out of your Cities or Countries or his People for its sake you do banish the Truth and Christ out of your hearts from Ruling there and so you your selves are not the Temples of God And then when you have banished Christ and his Truth out of your own hearts then you do banish such in whom he Rules out of your Estates and Country and then see what Judgments the Lord doth bring upon you when you are left to your selves yea Fears and Troubles and one Judgment after another that come upon you you are even filled with them But the Banished and Sufferers for Truth and Christ's sake have a peaceable habitation in the Truth which the Devil is out of and cannot get in which habitation will out-last all the habitations of the Wicked and Persecutors though they be never so full of Words without Life and Truth So the Life and the Truth will out-last all Airy Notions and Christ the Lamb and patient Seed will overcome the Devourer and the unpatient Seed and they that have the Garments the Righteousness of Christ which is the fine Linnen it will out-last all the Rags and Inventions of Men. For Christ saith to his Learners Be of good chear I have overcome the World the persecuting World and so he said unto his Disciples Marvel not if that the World hate you for it hated me before you And therefore let all that profess themselves Christians lay away Persecution about Religion Churches or Worship Fasting or Praying-Days for you have no Command from Christ and his Apostles to Persecute any For Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when they called him a Deceiver and blasphemed him and said He had a Devil he did not Persecute any of them for it nor force or compel any to hear and believe him nor the Apostles after him but he bad them that would have been plucking up the Tares Let the Tares and the Wheat grow together until the Harvest So you have no Command from Christ or his Apostles to Persecute Imprison or Banish or Spoil the Goods of any for matter of pure Conscience and Religion Worship Faith and Church in the Gospel-times Harlingen in Friezland the 11th of the 6th Month 1677. G. F. A Warning to the Magistrates Priests and People of the City of Hamborough to Humble themselves before the Lord and not to be High-minded Friends YOU have painted and garnished the Inside of your outward Houses and High-places but look within your Hearts with the Light of Christ Amsterdam which he hath enlightned you and every Man that cometh into the World withal and with it you may see To pag. 448 how foul your Hearts and Insides are with Sin and Evil which Christ tells you ye should make clean who told the Pharisees how they painted the Sepulchres of the Righteous and they themselves were full of Rottenness and Corruption Therefore look into your selves 1677. Amsterdam and your own hearts what you are full of to paint out the Sepulchres of the Righteous Apostles and making a Trade and a Profession of their words without the same Holy Ghost and Power and Light and Truth which they were in will not stand at the Day of God's Vengeance And therefore Repent while you have Time and turn to the Lord with your whole hearts and do not think your selves to be secure without his Immediate Almighty Protection For it is not all your Works nor all your own Strength and Power and Defence that can protect you and you to look at them and think your selves secure and to sit down in your Security and in it let your hearts be merry and at rest and ease But then when the Lord brings a Scourge upon you that you are filled with Terrours and Fears remember you were Warned that you were set down but not in the true Rest and then all your own Strength and Force will stand you in no stead and you will acknowledge that it must be God that must protect you And therefore take Warning for your Priests and People are too high and are swallowed up too much in this World and the Vanities of it carry your Minds away from God and your Care is more for the World than for God and more after the Riches of the World than after the Riches of the World that has no end For know you not that all your Heaps of outward Treasure must have an end and that you must Leave them all behind you Therefore I am to Warn and Advice you both High and Low Priests and People to come to the Grace Light and Truth that comes by Jesus Christ and also to come to the Manifestation of the good Spirit of God which is given to you to profit withal that with This Grace and Truth and Light and Spirit of Christ you may turn to Christ Jesus from whence it comes who saith Learn of me and God saith This is my beloved Son hear ye him And so all the Children of the New Covenant that walk in the New and Living Way do hear Christ their Prophet that God has raised up who is their Teacher and Priest whom God hath anointed to Preach And so now God doth speak to his People by his Son as he did in the Apostles Days And so the Lord is come to Teach his People himself by his Grace Light Truth and Spirit and to bring them off all the Worlds Teachers that are made by Men since the Apostles days who have kept People always Learning that they may always be paying of them And is come to bring them off all the Worlds Religions to the Religion that he set up in the Apostles Days in the New Covenant which is pure and undefiled before God in his sight and keeps from the Spots of the World c. And the Lord is come to bring them off all the World's Churches to the Church in God which Christ the heavenly Man is Head of and to bring them off all the World's Worships to worship God in Spirit and in Truth which Christ set up above Sixteen hundred years since So all Men and Women must come to the Spirit and Truth in their hearts by which they must know the God of Truth who is a Spirit and then in the Spirit and Truth they will Worship him and know what and who they Worship And
Vision before its Destruction 559 Voice coming to G. F. 8 9. see Openings the Voice of the Lord to a Trooper 45 Voyages of G. F.'s to Ireland 327. for England 332. to Barbadoes 349-351 c. W WAiting upon God 203 204 Wales The Governor of Tenby must yield to Truth 253* 254* and Magistrates in other Places 255* 256* the Moderation of a Town in Wales 257* 258* A Lady and her Preacher send for G. F. 259* Wars and Fightings denied by G.F. 3 4. 46. 48 49. They arise from the Lusts in the Fall 200 201. None to go down to Egypt for help 202 203. It is not our Principle 235. but do testifie against it 285-287 and is not becoming Christianity 630-632 being a Work of Darkness 137 Warrants against G. F. 118. 188. 267* 278* 203. 213. 216 217 c. 271. 308. 326. 341. for Tithes 487. Warrant against all Quakers 203* 223* Watches set up in the Streets and Highways in Cornwall c. to stop Friends from Travelling 200*-203* 206* 208* 209* Weakness of G. F.'s Body 310. by long and close Imprisonment 295 296. 407. 564. by continual Travel 430. and spent at Meetings c. 568. his Health being much impaired 586. A great Exercise came upon him 588 Wicked Man cut off 303. another plagued 304 Worship the World's 23 24. Will Worship 213* The Dragon's and the Beast's 227* The Worship in the Spirit 245 246 Wrong see Restitution Y YEA and Nay 2. 121. is more binding than an Oath to many 292 293. 403 404. Z. ZEal against Unrighteousness many will God provoke unto 224 The FOURTH TABLE Being a Catalogue of the Epistles Letters and Papers of G. F.'s and others contained in this Volume THE Appearance of the Lord 's Everlasting Truth c. Testim p. xviij 1650. G. F. his Mittimus by Bennet and Barton Just 32 To the Priests of Darby 33 To the Magistrates of Darby ibid. To Barton and Bennet Just 34 To Justice Bennet ibid. To Justice Barton 35 To the Mayor of Darby ibid. To the Court at Darby 36 To the Ringers ibid. To Friends and others 38 To the convinced People 40 To the Faithful an Encourage 41 To the Justices of Darby ibid. To the same 42 To the same ibid. To the Priests of Darby 43 To the Justices of Darby ibid. To Col. Barton Justice 44 1651. To the Judges 47 To the same ibid. To Justice Barton and Bennet 49 To the convinc'd and tender People 50 To the Magistrates of Darby 51 A Lamentation over Darby 52 1652. J. Naylor's Account of Lancaster Sessions 90 To Justice Sawrey 94 To William Lampit 96 To the People of Vlverstone ibid. To the Followers of P. Lampit 98 To Adam Sands 100 1653. A. P. To the Judges of Assize 111 G. F.'s Challenge to Professors 113 To T. Craston and C. Studholm 114 G.B. To the Mag. at Carlisle 116 1654. To Friends in the Ministry 124 To all Professors of Christ 141 To such as follow the World's Fashions 144 To the Just Trying Ministers 147 1655. To those that Scorn at Trembling and Quaking 156 To the Churches in outward Forms 161 To Friends to offer themselves for their Brother c. 165 An Encouragement to Friends 166 To Fr. in the N. of Ireland 170 To the 7 Parishes at Landsend 175 1656 Concerning Swearing 180 Peter Ceely's Mittimus 183 E. Pyot to J. Glyn C. Just 189* To Magistrates of Watches 201* Answer to Exon-Warrant 203* To Priests and Professors 207* To Friends in the Ministry 212* E.P. To M. Gen. Desborow 215* G. F. To the same 216* Concerning Pleasures 218* To the Bowlers ibid. To all the Elect 232* To Fr. to keep up Meetings ibid. Judging any in Meetings 233* An Answer to a Professor 235* Profes Priests c. Darkness 238* 1657 The true Fast and false 248* Of Lusts Affections Desires 261* To try all things c. 263* Be valiant for the Truth 265* Order of Council in Scotl. 273* To the Council of Edenburg 274* 1658 Bedfordshire yearly Meeting 283* To the Lady Claypool 189 Concerning Fasting 191 To the Parliament of Profes 195 To Friends to go on faithfully 197 About the Image of O. C. 200 1659 To keep from Plots c. ibid. To keep out of Powers c. 202 Of the day of Recompence 204 Concerning Shipwracks 207 1660 G. Monk's Order 212 G. F's Ans to his Mittimus 219 M. Fell to all Magistrates 221 Concerning true Religion 223 Against Persecution 224 Concerning Change of Gov. ibid. To K. Charles the Second 225 The Sheriff of Lancast Return 228 The K.'s Order for G. F.'s Rel. ibid Judge Mallet's Warrant 239 To Friends to send up Suffr 232 A Declar. against Plotters 233 The K.'s Mandamus to N. E. 243 1661. Of the true Worship 245 Keeping on Hat in Prayer 249 The World saith Kiss the Book 250 1662. To the K. Friends Sufferings ibid. T. Sharman's Letter to G.F. 251 The Grounds of Persecution 252 Conc. E. Burrough's Decease 259 1663. Of Ol. Atherton's Death 276 Lanc. Prisoners to J. Flem. 278 1664. G. F. To Dan. Flemming 281 To Judges giving Nicknames 282 A Testimony against Plotting 285 A day of Trial and Exercise 287 To keep out of J. P.'s Spint ibid. 1665. Concerning Tithes 295 1666. G. F.'s Discharge and Pasport 305 1668. Against the Dark Spirits 318 1669. Is Lindley's Letter to G. F. 326 Sound sound abroad you faithful Servants of the Lord 329 Of putting Children to Trades 335 1670. To Margaret Fox 336 Conc. the Act against Meet 337 Friends to stand to their Test 338 Encouragement under Suffr 344 Visitations abused c. 346 All Friends that do Marry 347 1671. G. F.'s Prayer to the Lord 348 From Barb. to Fr. in Engl. 353 Another Epist to Fr. in Engl. 355 For the Governor of Barbados 359 To Margaret Fox 361. 362 1673. To the same 384 G. F.'s Mittimus to Worc. Pris 389 To Margaret Fox ibid. To the L. Windsor G. F.'s Case ibid. G. F.'s Habeas Corpus 394 G. F.'s Allegiance and Suprem 399 1674. To the K. the Qu.'s Principle 402 H. Parker to the Gaoler 404 1675. To Friends in Westmorland 408 1676. To Friends at Yearly Meet 409 Spirit of Opposers and Work 402 1677. To Margaret Fox 428 A Testimony against Tithes 431 The Spirit of Separation 434 To Princess Eliz. Herwerden 435 The Princess her Ans to G.F. 438 Fasting Prayer c. 620 Getting the Affections of Peo 446 To Friends at Dantzick 447 To Mag. and Peo of Oldenb 617 To Magist Priests c. Hamb 627 To the Embas at Nimeguen 630 The Spirit of Separation 449 To Margaret Fox 454 1678. To the same 458 To John III. King of Poland 459 To Friends in Amsterdam 463 Concerning Prescriptions 464 Let Life reign over Death 467 The hurt of Disorderly Spirits 468 To Qu. and Monthly Meetings 469 To the Churches of Christ 471 To Friends in Prison 472 1679. To Fr. of the yearly Meeting 473 Be Valiant for the Truth 477 To dwell in Humility 478 1680. To the Parliam against Plots 481 To Magist to be moderate 482 1681. To the Quarterly Meetings 486 Spirit of Strife and Division 489 1682. Informers convicting Friends 491 To the Sheriffs to be chosen 492 To the Pople that chuse them 493 To distinguish Truth and Err. 496 Exercises from Mag. and Apo. 497 Feel the power of God in you all 500 Be Valiant for Truth 501 1683. To the Yearly Meet in Lond. 505 To Friends a Salutation 506 My Love is to you all 510 Fruits of Peace and Quietness 512 To all the Elect c. 516 1684. To the Duke of Holstein 523 To Friends an Epistle 527 1685. Keep out of the World's Spirit 528 Excess in Apparel 530 To Friends who are called 533 Among all Societies c. 534 Here you may see when 536 To John III. King of Poland 539 Concerning Judging 541 1686. Antient Pris at the Y. Meet 548 The King opening Prisons 550 In Christ is no Separation 551 Men and Women Q. Meet 552 Church clothed with the Sun 553 The Falling away c. 556 Noah and his family were call'd 558 The First and Second Adam 561 1687. Concerning the two Seeds ibid. Concerning Prayer 564 True and false Offering 565 Caution in time of Liberty 567 God's Goodness to Mankind 569 Repentance before Baptism 570 God's People to be like him 571 The right Way to Christ ibid. Except a man be born again 572 The Jews Rebel their Loss 576 God so loved the World that he 578 The stone became a mountain 579 Regeneration and Sanctifica 58â— 1688. All you Believers in the Light 584 An approaching Storm 587 Moses and Christ's House 588 Thrones on Earth contended 590 The World 's Empty Teachers ibid. Not to remove the Landmark ibid. Apostles Husbandmen c. 59â— 1689. Hearing and telling News 593 To P. H. and Fr. at Dantzick 594 To the Magist of Dantzick 595 Great Shakings in the World 597 To keep in Love and Unity 598 To Friends in Barbados 599 To Q. and Y. Meet in America 60â— 1690. Against Fashions c. 602 Christ the Ensign c. 603 Stand still and see Salvation 606 To Friends in the Ministry 609 To Fr. in the Minist in Amer. 610 To suffering Friends in Irel. 612 G. F.'s Death and Burial 613 His Epistle left sealed up c. 615 OMitted p. 356. line 41. viz. Paul Gwin came into the Meeting and began to Babble and asked me How I spelt Cain And whether I had the same Spirit as the Apostles had And I told him Yes And he had the Judge take Notice of it And I told him He that had not a measure of the same Holy Ghost as the Apostles had was possest with an unclean Ghost And then he went his ways See p. 221* 222* The Letter against Plotting is printed p. 200. and the same over again p. 267. by a mistake
Day of this instant 11th Month 1690 After which he said I am glad I was here now I am clear I am fully clear Then he was the same Day taken with some Illness or Indisposition of Body more than usual and continued weak in Body for two days after at our Friend Henry Goldney's House in the same Court close by the Meeting-House in much Contentment and Peace and very sensible to the last In which time he mentioned divers Friends and sent for some in particular to whom he exprest his Mind for the spreading Friends Books and Truth in the World and through the Nations thereof as his Spirit in the Lord's Love and Power was universally set and bent for Truth and Righteousness and the making known the Way thereof to the Nations and People afar off signifying also to some Friends That all is well and the Seed of God reigns over all and over Death it self That though he was weak in Body yet that the Power of God is over all and the Seed reigns over all disorderly Spirits which were his wonted sensible Expressions being in the living Faith and Sense thereof which he kept to the End And the Thirteenth Instant between the Ninth and Tenth Hour in the Night he quietly departed this Life in Peace being two days after the Lord enabled him to Publish and Preach the Blessed Truth in the Meeting as aforesaid So that he clearly and evidently ended his days in his faithful Testimony in perfect Love and Unity with his Brethren and Peace and Good-will to all Men being about Sixty and six Years of Age as we understand when he departed this Life And on the Sixteenth of this Instant being the day appointed for his Funeral a very great Concourse of Friends and People assembled at our Meeting-House in White-Hart-Court aforesaid about the Mid-day in order to attend his Body to our Burying-place near Bunhill-Fields to be Interred as Friends last Office of Love and Respect due on that Account The Meeting was held about two Hours with great and heavenly Solemnity manifestly attended with the Lord's Blessed Power and Presence and divers living Testimonies given from a lively Remembrance and Sense of this his Dear Ancient Servant his Blessed Ministry and Testimony of the breaking forth of this Gospel-day his Innocent Life long and great Travels and Labours of Love in the Everlasting Gospel for the turning and gathering many Thousands from Darkness to the Light of Christ Jesus the Foundation of true Faith also of his manifold Sufferings Afflictions and Oppositions which he met withal for his faithful Testimony both from his open Adversaries and false Brethren and his Preservations Dominion and Deliverances out of them all by the Power of God To whom the Glory and Honour was and is ascribed in raising up and preserving this his faithful Witness and Minister to the End of his Days whose blessed Memorial will Everlastingly remain He loved Truth and Righteousness and bore faithful Testimony against Deceit and Falshood and the Mystery of Iniquity and often of late time especially warned Friends against Covetousness Earthly-mindedness against getting into the Earth and into a brittle Spirit and the younger sort against Loosness and Pride of Life c. A few days before he died he had a great Concern upon his Mind concerning some in whom the Lord's Power was working to lead them into a Ministry and Testimony to his Truth who through their too much entangling themselves in the things of this World did make themselves unready to answer the Call and Leadings of the Power of God and hurt the Gift that was bestowed upon them and did not take that regard to their Service and Ministry as they ought And mentioned the Apostle's Exhortation to Timothy To take heed to his Ministry and to shew himself approved c. And exprest his Grief concerning such as preferred their own Business before the Lord's Business and sought the advancing worldly Concerns before the Concerns of Truth And concluded with a tender and fatherly Exhortation to all to whom God had imparted of his Heavenly Treasure that they would improve it faithfully and be diligent in the Lord's Work that the Earth might be sown with the Seed of the Kingdom and God's Harvest might be minded by those whom he had called and enabled to labour therein and that such would commit the Care of their outward Concerns to the Lord who would care for them and give a Blessing to them However this is not mentioned to encourage any to run unsent or without being called of God Many are living Witnesses that the Lord raised him up by his Power to proclaim his mighry Day to the Nations and made him an Effectual Instrument in our Day to turn many from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to God and freely to suffer and bear all Reproaches and the manifold Persecutions Buffetings Halings Stonings Imprisonments and Cruelties that were in the Beginning and for some time inflicted on him and others for the Name of Christ Jesus He was in his Testimony as a fixed Star in the Firmament of God's Power where all that be truly wise and that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever He knew and Preached the Mystery of Christ Revealed the Life and Substance and the Power of Godliness above all Shadows and Forms The Lord endued him with a hidden Wisdom and Life He loved Peace and earnestly laboured for universal Love Unity Peace and good Order in the Churches of Christ And wherever he met with the contrary it was his great Grief and Burthen He was greatly for the Encouragement of faithful Labourers in the Lord's Work and it was a great Offence and Grief to him to have their Testimony weakned or Labours slighted through Prejudice in any professing Truth And inasmuch as the Lord suffered him not to be delivered up to the Will of his Enemies and Persecutors who often heretofore breathed out Cruelty against him and designed his Destruction but in his good Pleasure so fairly and quietly took him away in his own time when his Testimony was so blessedly finished and his Work accomplished This is all remarkable and worthy of serious and due Observation as being by a special and Divine Providence and Wisdom of God to whom we ascribe the Glory of all and not unto Man or Creatures Though we must needs allow and own that good Report and due Esteem which faithful Elders Ministers and Servants of God and Christ have by Faith obtained to the Praise of that blessed Power that upheld them in every Age in their day many whereof are even of late taken away from the Evil to come and are at Rest in the Lord out of the Reach of all Envy and Persecution where the Wicked cannot trouble them any more And we must patiently bear our Parting with them and our Loss and Sorrow on that Account with respect to their unspeakable
Intimacy of the Deceased Party The Corps being in a plain Coffin without any Covering or Furniture upon it At the Ground they pause some time before they put the Body into its Grave that if any one there should have any thing upon them to exhort the People they may not be dissappointed and that the Relations may the more Retiredly and Solemnly take their last leave of the Corps of their departed Kindred and the Spectators have a Sense of Mortality by the occasion then given them to reflect upon their own Latter End Otherways they have no set Rites or Ceremonies on those Occasions neither do the Kindred of the Deceased ever wear Mourning they looking upon it as a Wordly Ceremony and piece of Pomp and that what Mourning is fit for a Christian to have at the Departure of a beloved Relation or Friend should be worn in the Mind which is only sensible of the Loss and the Love they had to them and Remembrance of them to be outwardly exprest by a respect to their Advice and care of those they have left behind them and their Love of that they Loved Which Conduct of theirs though unmodish or unfashionable leaves nothing of the Substance of things neglected or undone and as they aim at no more so that simplicity of Life is what they observe with great Satisfaction though it sometimes happens not to be without the Mockeries of the vain World they live in These things gave them a Rough and Disagreeable Appearance with the Generality who thought them Turners of the World upside down as indeed in some Sense they were but in no other than that wherein Paul was so charged viz. To bring things back into their Primitive and right Order again For these and such like Practices of theirs were not the Result of Humour as some have fancied but a Fruit of Inward Sense which God through his Fear had begotten in them They did not consider how to contradict the World or distinguish themselves being none of their Business as it was not their Interest no it was not the Result of Consultation or a framed design to declare or recommend Schism or Novelty But God having given them a sight of themselves they saw the whole World in the same Glass of Truth and sensibly discerned the Affections and Passions of Men and the Rise and Tendency of Things What gratified the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life which are not of the Father but of the World and from thence Sprang in that Night of Darkness and Apostacy which hath been over People through their Degeneration from the Light and Spirit of God these and many other vain Customs which are seen by the Heavenly day of Christ which dawns in the Soul to be either wrong in their Original or by Time and Abuse Hurtful in their Practice And though these things seemed Trivial to some and rendered this People Stingy and conceited in such Persons Opinions there was and is more in them than they were aware of It was not very easie to our Primitive Friends to make themselves Sights and Spectacles and the Scorn and Derision of the World which they easily foresaw must be the Consequence of so Vnfashionable a Conversation in it But herein was the Wisdom of God seen in the Foolishness of these things First That they discovered the Satisfaction and Concern that People had in and for the Fashions of this World notwithstanding their Pretences to another in that any disappointment about them came so very near them that the greatest Honesty Virtue Wisdom and Ability were unwelcom without them Secondly It seasonably and profitably divided Conversation for making their Society uneasie to their Relations and Acquaintance it gave them the opportunity of more Retirement and Solitude wherein they met with better Company even the Lord God their Redeemer and grew strong in his Love Power and Wisdom and were thereby better qualified for his Service and the success abundantly show'd it Blessed be the Name of the Lord. And though they were not Great and Learned in the Esteem of this World for then they had not wanted Followers upon their own Credit and Authority yet they were generally of the most Sober of the several Perswasions they were in and of the most Repute for Religion and many of them of good Capacity Substance and Account among Men. And also some among them neither wanted for Parts Learning nor Estate though then as of Old not many Wise nor Noble c. were called or at least received the Heavenly Call because of the Cross that attended the Profession of it in Sincerity But neither do Parts or Learning make Men the better Christians though the better Orators and Disputants and it is the Ignorance of People about the Divine Gift that causes that vulgar and mischievous mistake Theory and Practice Expression and Enjoyment Words and Life are two things Oh! 't is the Penitent the Reformed the Lowly the Watchful the Self-denying and Holy Soul that is the Christian and that Frame is the Fruit and Work of the Spirit which is the Life of Jesus whose Life though hid in God the Father is shed abroad in the Hearts of them that truly Believe Oh! that People did but know this to cleanse them to circumcise them to quicken them and to make them New Creatures indeed Re-created or Regenerated after Christ Jesus unto good Works That they might live to God and not to themselves and offer up living Prayers and living Praises to the living God through his own living Spirit in which he is only to be Worshipped in this Gospel Day Oh! that they that read me could but feel me for my Heart is affected with this Merciful Visitation of the Father of Lights and Spirits to this poor Nation and the whole World through the same Testimony Why should the Inhabitants thereof reject it Why should they loose the Blessed Benefit of it Why should they not turn to the Lord with all their Hearts and say from the Heart Speak Lord for now thy poor Servants hear Oh! that thy will may be done thy Great thy Good and Holy will in Earth as it is in Heaven Do it in us do it upon us do what thou wilt with us for we are thine and desire to glorifie thee our Creator both for that and because thou art our Redeemer for thou art redeeming us from the Earth from the Vanities and Pollutions of it to be a Peculiar People unto thee Oh! this were a Brave Day for England if so she could say in Truth But alas the Case is otherwise for which some of thine Inhabitants O Land of my Nativity have mourned over thee with bitter Wailing and Lamentation Their Heads have been indeed as Waters and their Eyes as Fountains of Tears because of thy Transgression and Stiffneckedness becuse thou wilt not Hear and Fear and Return to the Rock even thy Rock O England from whence thou wert Hewen
But be thou warned O Land of great Profession to receive him into thy Heart Behold at that Door it is he hath stood so long Knocking but thou wilt yet have none of him Oh! be thou awakned least Jerusalem's Judgments do swiftly overtake thee because of Jerusalems Sins that abound in thee For she abounded in Formality but made void the Weighty things of God's Law as thou daily doest She withstood the Son of God in the Flesh and thou resisteth the Son of God in the Spirit He would have gathered her as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and she would not so would he have gathered thee out of thy Life-less Profession and have brought thee to inherit Substance to have known his Power and Kingdom for which he often knockt within by his Grace and Spirit and without by his Servants and Witnesses but thou wouldest not be gathered But on the Contrary as Jerusalem of old persecuted the Manifestation of the Son of God in the Flesh and Crucified him and Whipt and Imprisoned his Servants so hast thou O Land Crucified to thy self afresh the Lord of Life and Glory and done dispite to his Spirit of Grace slighting the Fatherly Visitation and persecuting the blessed Dispensers of it by thy Laws and Magistrates though they have Early and Late pleaded with thee in the Power and Spirit of the Lord in Love and Meekness that thou mightest know the Lord and serve him and become the Glory of all Lands But thou hast Evilly entreated and requited them Thou hast set at naught all their Counsel and would have none of their Reproof as thou shouldest have done Their appearance was too Straight and their qualifications were to Mean for thee to receive them who like the Jews of Old that cryed Is not this the Carpenters Son and are not his Brethren among us which of the Scribes of the Learned the Orthodox believe in him Prophesying their fall in a year or two and making and executing of severe Laws to bring it to pass by endeavouring to terrifie them out of their Holy way or distroying them for abiding Faithful to it But thou hast seen how many Governments that rise against them and determined their Downfal have been overturned and extinguished and that they are still preserved and become a great and a considerable People among the Middle sort of thy numerous Inhabitants And notwithstanding the many difficulties without and within which they have Laboured under since the Lord God Eternal first gathered them they are an encreasing People the Lord still adding unto them in divers Parts such as shall be saved if they persevere to the End And to thee were they and are they lifted up as a Standard and as a City set upon a Hill and to the Nations round about thee that in their Light thou may'st come to see Light even in Christ Jesus the Light of the World and therefore thy Light and Life too if thou wouldst but turn from thy many evil ways and receive and obey it For in the Light of the Lamb must the Nations of them that are saved walk as the Scriptures Testify Remember O Nation of great Profession How the Lord has waited upon thee since the Days of Reformation and the many Mercies and Judgments with which he has pleaded with Thee and awake and arise out of thy deep Sleep and yet hear his Word in thy Heart that thou may'st live Let not this thy day of Visitation pass over thy Head nor neglect thou so great Salvation as is this which is come to thy House Oh England For why should'st thou die Oh Land that God desires to Bless Be assured it is he that has been in the mid'st of this People in the mid'st of thee and no Delusion as thy mistaken Teachers have made thee believe And this thou shalt find by their Marks and Fruits if thou wilt consider them in the Spirit of Moderation For I. They were changed Men themselves before they went about to change others Their Hearts were rent as well as their Garments and they knew the Power and Work of God upon them And this was seen by the great Alteration it made and their stricter Course of Life and more Godly Conversation that immediately followed upon it II. They went not forth or Preached in their own Time or Will but in the Will of God and Spoke not their own studdied Matter but as they were opened and moved of his Spirit with which they were well acquainted in their own Conversion which cannot be exprest to Carnal Men so as to give them any intelligible account for to such it is as Christ said like the blowing of the Wind which no Man knows whence it cometh or whether it goeth Yet this Proof and Seal went along with their Ministry that many were turned from their Life-less Professions and the Evil of their Ways to the knowledge of God and an Holy Life as thousands can witness And as they Freely received what they had to say from the Lord so they Freely administred it to others III. The Bent and Stress of their Ministry was Conversion to God Regeneration and Holiness not Schemes of Doctrines and Verbal Creeds or new Forms of Worship but a leaving off in Religion the Superfluous and reducing the Ceremonious and Formal part and pressing earnestly the Substantial the Necessary and Proffitable part as all upon a serious Reflection must and do accknowledge IV. They directed People to a Principle by which all that they asserted Preached and Exhorted others to might be wrought in them and known through Experience to them to be true which is a high and distinguishing Mark of the Truth of their Ministry both that they knew what they said and were not afraid of coming to the Test For as they were bold from Certainty so they required Conformity upon no Humane Authority but upon Conviction and the Conviction of this Principle which they asserted was in them that they Preached unto and unto that directed them that they might examine and prove the Reaality of those things which they had affirmed of it and its Manifestation and Work in Man And this is more than the many Ministries in the World pretend to They declare of Religion say many things true in words of God Christ and the Spirit of Holiness and Heaven that all Men should Repent and mend their Lives or they will go to Hell c. but which of them all pretend to speak of their own Knowledge and Experience Or ever directed Men to a Divine Principle or Agent placed of God in Man to help him and how to know it and wait to feel its Power to work that good and accceptable Will of God in them Some of them indeed have Spoke of the Spirit and the Operations of it to Sanctification and Performance of Worship to God but where and how to find it and wait in it to perform was yet as a Mistery reserved for this further degree of
that our Fellowship stood In this we desired to have a Sense one of another acted towards one another and all Men in Love Faithfulness and Fear In the feeling of the Motions of this Principle we drew near to the Lord and waited to be prepared by it that we might feel those Drawings and Movings before we approached the Lord in Prayer or open'd our Mouths in Ministry And in our Beginning and Ending with this stood our Comfort Service and Edification And as we run faster or fell short we made Burthens for our selves to bear our Services finding in our selves a Rebuke instead of an Acceptance and in lieu of Well done who has required this at your Hands In that day we were an Exercised People our very Countenances and Deportment declared it Care for others was then much upon us as well as for our selves especially the Young Convinced Often had we the Burthen of the Word of the Lord to our Neighbours Relations and Acquaintance and sometimes Strangers also We were in Travail for one anothers Preservation Not seeking but shunning Occasions of any Coldness or Misunderstanding treating one another as those that believed and felt God present Which kept our Conversation Innocent Serious and Weighty guarding our selves against the Cares and Friendships of the World We held the Truth in the Spirit of it and not in our own Spirits or after our own Wills and Affections They were bowed and brought into Subjection in so much that it was visible to them that knew us we did not think our selves at our own Dispose to go where we List or say or do what we List or when we List Our Liberty stood in the Liberty of the Spirit of Truth and no Pleasure no Profit no Fear no Favour could draw us from this retired strict and watchful Frame We were so far from seeking occasions of Company that we avoided them what we could persuing our own Business with Moderation instead of medling with other Peoples Vnnecessarily Our Words were Few and Savoury our Looks Composed and Weighty and our whole Deportment very Observable True it is that this Retired and strict sort of Life from the Liberty of the Conversation of the World exposed us to the Censures of many as Humourists Conceited and Self-righteous Persons c. But it was our Preservation from many Snares to which others were continually exposed by the Prevalency of the lust of the Eye the lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life that wanted no Occasions or Temptations to excite them abroad in the Converse of the World I cannot forget the Humility and Chast Zeal of that Day Oh! how Constant at Meetings how Retired in them how firm to Truth 's Life as well as Truth 's Principles and how Entire and Vnited in our Communion as indeed became those that profess One Head even Christ Jesus the Lord. This being the Testimony and Example the Man of God before mentioned was sent to Declare and Leave amongst us and we having Embraced the same as the Merciful Visitation of God to us the Word of Exhortation at this time is that we continue to be found in the Way of this Testimony with all Zeal and Integrity and so much the more by how much the Day draweth near And First as to you my Beloved and much Honoured Brethren in Christ that are in the Exercise of the Ministry Oh feel Life in the Ministry Let Life be your Commission your Well-spring and Treasury in all such Occasions else you well know there can be no begetting to God since nothing can quicken or make People alive to God but the life of God And it must be a Ministry in and from Life that enlivens any People to God We have seen the Fruit of all other Ministrys by the few that are turned from the Evil of their Ways It is not our Parts or Memory the repetition of former Openings in our own will and time that will do God's Work A dry Doctrinal Ministry however sound in Words can reach but the Ear and is but a Dream at the Best There is another Soundness that is soundest of all viz. Christ the power of God This is the Key of David that Opens and none Shuts and Shuts and none can Open as the Oil to the Lamp and the Soul to the Body so is that to the best of Words Which made Christ to say My Words they are Spirit and they are Life that is they are from Life and therefore they make you alive that receive them If the Disciples that had lived with Jesus were to stay at Jerusalem till they received it so must we wait to receive before we Minister if we will turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's power to God I fervently bow my Knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that you may always be like minded that you may ever wait Reverently for the coming and opening of the Word of Life and tend upon it in your Ministry and Service that you may serve God in his Spirit And be it little or be it much it is well for much is not too much and the least is enough if from the motion of God's Spirit and without it verily never so little is too much because to no profit For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediately or through the Ministry of his Servants that teacheth his People to profit and to be sure so far as we take him along with us in our Services so far we are profitable and no farther For if it be the Lord that must work all things in us and for our selves much more is it the Lord that must work in us for the Conversion of others If therefore it was once a Cross to us to Speak though the Lord required it at our Hands let it never be so to be silent when he does not It is one of the most dreadful Sayings in the Book of God That he that adds to the Words of the Prophecy of this Book God will add the Plagues written in this Book To keep back the Counsel of God is as Terrible for he that takes away from the Words of the Prophecy of this Book God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life And truly it has great Caution in it to those that use the Name of the Lord to be well assured the Lord Speaks that they may not be found of the Number of those that add to the Words of the Testimony of Prophecy which the Lord giveth them to bear nor yet to mince or diminish the same both being so very offensive to God Wherefore Brethren let us be careful neither to out-go our Guide nor yet loiter behind him since he that makes Haste may miss his Way and he that stays behind loose his Guide For even those that have Received the Word of the Lord had need wait for Wisdom that they may see how to divide the Word aright which plainly implieth that it
to go to Meetings and Exercise an ordinary Charity in the Church and an honest Behaviour in the World and limit your selves within those Bounds feeling little or no concern upon your Spirits for the Glory of the Lord in the prospirity of his Truth in the Earth more than to be glad that others succeed in such Service Arise ye in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Behold how white the Fields are unto Harvest in this and other Nations and how few Able and Faithful Labourers there are to work therein Your Country Folks Neighbours and Kindred want to know the Lord and his Truth and to Walk in it Does nothing lie at your Door upon their Account Search and see and loose no time I beseech you for the Lord is at Hand I do not Judge you there is one that Judgeth all Men and his Judgment is true You have mightily increased in your outward Substance may you equally increase in your inward Riches and do good with both while you have a day to do Good Your Enemies would once have taken what you had from you for his Names Sake in whom you have believed wherefore he has given you much of the World in the Face of your Enemies But Oh let it be your Servant and not your Master your Diversion rather than your Business Let the Lord be chiefly in your Eye and ponder your Ways and see if God has nothing more for you to do and if you find your selves short in your Account with him then wait for his Preparation and be ready to receive the word of Command and be not weary of well doing when you have put your Hand to the Plow and assuredly you shall Reap if you faint not the Fruit of your Heavenly Labour in God's Everlasting Kingdom And you Young Convinced Ones be you Entreated and Exhorted to a Diligent and Chast waiting upon God in the way of his Blessed Manifestation and appearance of himself to you Look not out but within Let not anothers Liberty be your Snare Neither Act by Imitation but Sense and Feeling of God's Power in your selves Crush not the tender Buddings of it in your Souls nor over run in your desires and your warmness of Affections the Holy and Gentle Motions of It. Remember it is a still Voice that Speaks to us in this Day and that it is not to be heard in the Noises and Hurries of the Mind but is distinctly understood in a retired Frame Jesus loved and chose out Solitudes often going to Mountains to Gardens and Sea-sides to avoid Crowds and Hurries to shew his Disciples it was good to be Solitary and sit loose to the World Two Enemies lie near your States Imagination and Liberty but the plain practical Living Holy Truth that has convinced you will preserve you if you mind it in your selves and bring all Thoughts Imaginations and Affections to the Test of it to see if they are wrought in God or of the Enemy or your own selves So will a true Tast Discerning and Judgment be preserved to you of what you should do and leave undone And in your diligence and Faithfulness in this way you will come to inherit Substance and Christ the Eternal Wisdom will fill your Treasury And when you are Converted as well as Convinced then confirm your Brethren and be ready to every good Word and Work that the Lord shall call you to that you may be to his Praise who has chosen you to be partakers with the Saints in Light of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken an Inheritance incorruptible in Eternal Habitations And now as for you that are the Children of God's People a Great Concern is upon my Spirit for your good and often are my Knees Bowed to the God of your Fathers for you that you may come to be partakers of the same Divine Life and Power that has been the Glory of this Day that a Generation you may be to God an Holy Nation and a Peculiar People Zealous of Good Works when all our Heads are laid in the Dust Oh you Young Men and Women let it not suffice you that you are the Children of the People of the Lord you must also be born again if you will inherit the Kingdom of God Your Fathers are but such after the Flesh and could but beget you into the likeness of the first Adam but you must be begotten into the likeness of the second Adam by a Spiritual Generation And therefore look carefully about you Oh ye Children of the Children of God Consider your Standing and see what you are in Relation to this Divine Kindred Family and Birth Have you obeyed the Light and received and walked in the Spirit that is the incorruptible Seed of the Word and Kingdom of God of which you must be born again God is no respecter of Persons The Father cannot save or answer for the Child the Child for the Father but in the Sin thou Sinnest thou shalt die and in the Righteousness thou doest through Christ Jesus thou shalt live for it is the Willing and Obedient that shall eat the Good of the Land Be not deceived God is not mocked such as all Nations and People Sow such they shall reap at the hand of the just God And then your many and great Priviledges above the Children of other People will add weight in the scale against you if you choose not the way of the Lord. For you have had Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept and not only good Doctrine but good Example and which is more you have been turned to and acquainted with a Principle in your selves which others have been ignorant of and you know you may be as Good as you please without the Fear of Frowns and Blows or being turned out of doors and forsaken of Father and Mother for God's Sake and his Holy Religion as has been the Case of some of your Fathers in the day they first entred into this Holy Path And if you after hearing and seeing the Wonders that God has wrought in the deliverance and perservation of them through a Sea of Troubles and the manifold Temporal as well as spiritual Blessings that he has filled them with in the sight of their Enemies you should neglect and turn your backs upon so great and so near a Salvation you would not only be most ungreatful Children to God and them but must expect that God will call the Children of those that knew him not to take the Crown out of your Hands and that your lot will be a dreadful Judgment at the hand of the Lord. But Oh that it may never be so with any of you The Lord forbid saith my Soul Wherefore Oh ye Young Men and Women look to the Rock of your Fathers chuse the God of your Fathers There is no other God but him no other Light but his no other Grace but his nor Spirit but his to Convince you Quicken and Comfort you to Lead Guide and
the World hath of what the Prophets and Apostles spake is a fleshly Knowledge and the Apostates from the Life in which the Prophets and Apostles were have gotten their Words the Holy Scriptures in a Form but not in their Life nor Spirit that gave them forth And so they all lie in Confusion and are making Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof but not to fulfil the Law and Command of Christ in his Power and Spirit For that they say they cannot do but to fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh that they can do with Delight Now after I had received that Opening from the Lord that To be bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not sufficient to fit a Man to be a Minister of Christ I regarded the Priests less and looked more after the Dissenting People And among them I saw there was some Tenderness And many of them came afterwards to be Convinced for they had some Openings But as I had forsaken all the Priests so I left the Separate Preachers also and those called the Most-Experienced People For I saw there was none among them all that could speak to my Condition And when all my hopes in them and in all Men was gone so that I had nothing outwardly to help me nor could tell what to do Then O! then I heard a Voice which said ☞ There is one even Christ Jesus that can speak to thy Condition And when I heard it my Heart did leap for Joy Then the Lord did let me see why there was none upon the Earth that could speak to my Condition namely that I might give him all the Glory For all are concluded under Sin and shut up in Vnbelief as I had been that Jesus Christ might have the Pre-heminence who enlightens and gives Grace and Faith and Powe◠Thus when God doth work who shall let it And this I knew experimentally My Desires after the Lord grew stronger and Zeal in the pure knowledge of God and of Christ alone without the help of any Man Book or Writing For though I read the Scriptures that spake of Christ and of God yet I knew him not but by Revelation as he who hath the Key did open and as the Father of Life drew me to his Son by his Spirit And then the Lord did gently lead me along and did let me see his Love which was Endless and Eternal and surpasseth all the Knowledge that Men have in the natural State or can get by History or Books And that Love did let me see my self as I was without him and I was afraid of all Company For I saw them perfectly where they were through the Love of God which let me see my self And I had not Fellowship with any People Priests nor Professors nor any sort of separated People but with Christ who hath the Key and opened the Door of Light and Life unto me And I was afraid of all Carnal Talk and Talkers for I could see nothing but Corruptions and the Life lay under the Burden of Corruptions And when I my self was in the Deep under all shut up I could not believe that I should ever Overcome my Troubles my Sorrows and my Temptations were so great that I thought many times I should have despaired I was so tempted But when Christ opened to me how he was tempted by the same Devil and had Overcome him and bruised his Head and that through him and his Power Light Grace and Spirit I should Overcome also I had Confidence in him So he it was that opened to me when I was shut up and had not hope nor Faith Christ it was who had enlightened me that gave me his Light to believe in and gave me Hope which is himself Revealed himself in me and gave me his Spirit and gave me his Grace which I found sufficient in the Deeps and in Weakness Thus in the deepest Miseries and in the greatest Sorrows and Temptations that many times beset me the Lord in his Mercy did keep me And I found that there were Two Thirsts in me the one after the Creatures to have gotten Help and Strength there and the other after the Lord the Creator and his Son Jesus Christ And I saw all the World could do me no good If I had had a King's Diet Palace and Attendance all would have been as nothing For nothing gave me Comfort but the Lord by his Power And I saw Professors Priests and People were whole and at ease in that Condition which was my Misery and they loved that which I would have been rid of But the Lord did stay my Desires upon himself from whom my help came and my care was cast upon him alone Therefore all Wait patiently upon the Lord whatsoever Condition you be in wait in the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus For if ye so do there is a Promise to you and the Lord God will fulfil it in you And Blessed are all they indeed that do indeed hunger and thirst after Righteousness they shall be satisfied with it I have found it so praised be the Lord who filleth with it and satisfieth the desires of the hungry Soul O let the House of the Spiritual Israel say His Mercy endureth for ever It is the great Love of God to make a Wilderness of that which is pleasant to the outward Eye and fleshly Mind and to make a fruitful Field of a barren Wilderness This is the great Work of God But while People's Minds do run in the Earthly after the Creatures and changeable Things and changeable Ways and Religions and changeable uncertain Teachers their Minds are in Bondage and they are brittle and changeable and tossed up and down with windy Doctrines and Thoughts and Notions and Things their Minds being from the unchangeable Truth in the inward Parts the Light of Jesus Christ which would keep their Minds to the Unchangeable who is the Way to the Father who in all my Troubles did preserve me by his Spirit and Power praised be his Holy Name for ever Again I heard a Voice which did say Thou Serpent Thou dost seek to destroy the Life but canst not For the Sword which keepeth the Tree of Life shall destroy thee So Christ the Word of God that bruised the Head of the Serpent the Destroyer preserved me my inward Mind being joined to his good Seed that bruised the Head of this Serpent the Destroyer And this inward Life did spring up in me to answer all the Opposing Professors and Priests and did bring in Scriptures to my Memory to refute them with At another time I saw the great Love of God and I was filled with admiration at the Infiniteness of it And then I saw what was Cast out from God and what Entred into God's Kingdom And how by Jesus the Opener of the Door by his Heavenly Key the Entrance was given And I saw Death how it had passed upon all Men and oppressed the Seed of God in Man and in me
Friends in several Places were then gathered to Gods Teaching by his Light Spirit and Power For the Lord's Power brake forth daily more and more wonderfullly Now was I come up in Spirit through the flaming Sword into the Paradise of God All things were New and all the Creation gave another Smell unto me than before beyond what Words can utter I knew nothing 1648. Mansfield but Pureness and Innocency and Righteousness being renewed up into the Image of God by Christ Jesus so that I say I was come up to the State of Adam which he was in before he fell The Creation was opened to me And it was shewed me how all things had their Names given them according to their Nature and Vertue And I was at a stand in my Mind whether I should practise Physick for the good of Mankind seeing the Nature and Vertues of the Creatures were so opened to me by the Lord. But I was immediately taken up in Spirit to see into another or more stedfast State than Adam's in Innocency even into a State in Christ Jesus that should never fall And the Lord shewed me that such as were faithful to him in the Power and Light of Christ should come up into that State in which Adam was before he fell In which the admirable Works of the Creation and the Vertues thereof may be known through the Openings of that divine Word of Wisdom and Power by which they were made Great things did the Lord lead me into and wonderful Depths were opened unto me beyond what can by Words be declared But as People come into subjection to the Spirit of God and grow up in the Image and Power of the Almighty they may receive the Word of Wisdom that opens all things and come to know the hidden Vnity in the Eternal Being Thus traveled I on in the Lord's Service as the Lord led me And when I came to Nottingham Notingham Leicestershire Clauson Vale of Beavor the mighty Power of God was there among Friends From thence I went to Clauson in Leicestershire in the Vale of Beavor and the mighty Power of God was there also in several Towns and Villages where Friends were gathered While I was there the Lord opened to me Three Things relating to those Three great Professions in the World Physick Divinity so called and Law And he shewed me that the Physicians and Doctors of Physick were out of the Wisdom of God by which the Creatures were made and so knew not the Vertues of the Creatures because they were out of the Word of Wisdom by which they were made And he shewed me that the Priests were out of the true Faith which Christ is the Author of the Faith which purifies and gives Victory and brings People to have Access to God by which they please God Which Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience He shewed me also that the Lawyers were out of the Equity and out of the true Justice and out of the Law of God which went over the first Transgression and over all Sin and answered the Spirit of God that was grieved and transgressed in Man And that these three the Physicians the Priests and the Lawyers ruled the World out of the Wisdom out of the Faith and out of the Equity and Law of God the one pretending the Cure of the Body the other the Cure of the Soul and the third the Property of the People But I saw they were all out out of the Wisdom out of the Faith out of the Equity and perfect Law of God And as the Lord opened these things unto me I felt his Power went forth over all by which all might be Reformed if they would receive and bow unto it The Priests might be Reformed and brought into the true Faith which was the Gift of God The Lawyers might be Reformed and brought into the Law of God 1648. Vale of Beavor which answers that of God that is transgressed in every one and brings to love one's Neighbour as himself This lets Man see If he wrongs his Neighbour he wrongs himself and this teaches him To do unto others as he would they should do unto him The Physicians might be Reformed and brought into the Wisdom of God by whick all things were made and Created that they might receive a right Knowledge of the Creatures and understand the Virtues of them which the Word of Wisdom by which they were made and are upheld hath given them Abundance was opened concerning these things how all lay out of the Wisdom of God and out of the Righteousness and Holiness that Man at the first was made in But as all believe in the Light and walk in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World withal and so become Children of the Light and of the Day of Christ in his Day all things are seen Visible and Invisible by the Divine Light of Christ the Spiritual Heavenly Man by whom all things were made and Created Then I saw concerning the Priests that although they stood in the Deceit and acted by the dark Power which both they and their People were kept under yet they were not the greatest Deceivers spoken of in the Scriptures For these were not come so far as many of them had come But the Lord opened to me who the greatest Deceivers were and how far they might come even such as came as far as Cain to hear the Voice of God and such as came out of Egypt and through the Red Sea and to praise God on the Banks of the Sea-shore such as could speak by Experience of God's Miracles and Wonders such as were come as far as Corah and Dathan and their Company such as came as far as Balaam who could speak the Word of the Lord who heard his Voice and knew it and knew his Spirit and could see the Star of Jacob and the goodliness of Israel's Tent the Second Birth which no Enchantment could prevail against These that could speak so much of their Experiences of God and yet turned from the Spirit and the Word and went into the Gainsaying These were and would be the great Deceivers far beyond the Priests Likewise among the Christians such as should preach in Christ's Name and should work Miracles cast out Devils and go as far as a Cain a Core and a Balaam in the Gospel-times These were and would be the great Deceivers they that could speak some Experiences of Christ and God but lived not in the Life These were they that led the World after them who got the Form of Godliness but denyed the Power who inwardly ravened from the Spirit and brought People into the Form but persecuted them that were in the Power as Cain did and ran greedily after the Error of Balaam through Covetousness loving the Wages of Unrighteousness as Balaam did These Followers of Cain Core and Balaam have brought the World since the Apostles Days to be like a Sea
from the highest Bishop to the lowest Priest What one Trade else in the World is Comparable to it Notwithstanding that the Scriptures were given forth freely and Christ commanded his Ministers to Preach freely and the Prophets and Apostles denounced Judgment against all Covetous Hirelings and Diviners for Money But in this free Spirit of the Lord Jesus was I sent forth to declare the Word of Life and Reconciliation freely that all might come up to Christ who gives freely and who renews up into the Image of God which Man and Woman were in before they fell that they might sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Nottingham Now as I went towards Nottingham on a First-day in the Morning with Friends to a Meeting there when I came on top of a Hill in sight of the Town I espied the great Steeple-house and the Lord said unto me Thou must go cry against yonder great Idol and against the Worshippers therein So I said nothing of this to the Friends that were with me but went on with them to the Meeting where the mighty Power of the Lord God was amongst us In which I left Friends sitting in the Meeting and I went away to the Steeple-house And when I came there all the People looked like Fallow Ground and the Priest like a great Lump of Earth stood in his Pulpit above And he took for his Text these Words of Peter We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your Hearts And he told the People that this was the Scriptures by which they were to Try all Doctrines Religions and Opinions Now the Lord's Power was so mighty upon me and so strong in me that I could not hold but was made to cry out and say Oh no It is not the Scriptures But I told them what it was namely the Holy Spirit by which the Holy Men of God gave forth the Scriptures whereby Opinions Religions and Judgments were to be tried For it led into all Truth and so gave the knowledge of all Truth For the Jews had the Scriptures and yet resisted the Holy Ghost and rejected Christ the bright Morning-Star and persecuted Christ and his Apostles and took upon them to Try their Doctrines by the Scriptures but erred in Judgment and did not try them a-right because they tried without the Holy Ghost Now as I spake thus amongst them the Officers came and took me away and put me into a nasty stinking Prison the smell whereof got so into my Nose and Throat that it very much annoyed me But that day the Lord's Power sounded so in their Ears that they were amazed at the Voice and could not get it out of their Ears for some time after they were so reached by the Lord's Power in the Steeple-house At Night they took me out of Prison and had me before the Major Aldermen and Sheriffs of the Town And when I was brought before them the Major was in a peevish fretful Temper but the Lord's Power allay'd him Then they examined me at large and I told them how the Lord had moved me to come Then after some Discourse had passed between them and me they sent me back to Prison again But sometime after 1649. Nottingham the Head-Sheriff whole Name was John Reckless sent for me to his House And when I came in his Wife met me in the Hall and said Salvation is come to our House ☜ And she took me by the Hand and was much wrought upon by the Power of the Lord God And her Husband and Children and Servants were much changed for the Power of the Lord wrought upon them And I lodged at the Sheriff's House and great Meetings we had in his House and some Persons of considerable Condition in the World came to them and the Lord's Power appeared eminently amongst them And this Sheriff sent for the other Sheriff and for a Woman they had had Dealings with in way of Trade and he told her before the other Sheriff that they had wronged her in their Dealings with her for the other Sheriff and he were Partners and that they ought to make her Restitution This he spake chearfully But the other Sheriff denied it and the Woman said She knew nothing of it But the friendly Sheriff said it was so and that the other knew it well enough And then having discovered the Matter and acknowledged the Wrong done by them he made Restitution to the Woman and exhorted the other Sheriff to do the like And the Lord's Power was with this Friendly Sheriff and wrought a mighty Change in him and great Openings he had And on the next Market-day following as he was walking with me in the Chamber in his Slippers he said I must go into the Market and preach Repentance to the People And accordingly he went in his Slippers into the Market and into several Streets and preached Repentance to the People Several others also in the Town were moved to speak to the Major and Magistrates and to the People exhorting them to Repent Hereupon the Magistrates grew very Angry and sent for me from the Sheriff's House and Committed me to the Common Prison Nottingham Prison When the Assize came on there was one moved to come and offer up himself for me Body for Body yea Life also But when I should have been brought before the Judge the Sheriff's Man being somewhat long in fetching me to the Sessions-house the Judge was risen before I came At which I understood the Judge was somewhat offended and said He would have admonished the Youth if he had been brought before him For I was then Imprisoned by the Name of A YOVTH So I was returned to Prison again and put into the Common Goal And the Lord's Power was great among Friends but the People began to be very Rude Wherefore the Governour of the Castle sent down Souldiers and dispersed them and after that they were quiet But both Priests and People were astonished at the wonderful Power that brake forth And several of the Priests were made tender and some did Confess to the Power of the Lord. Now after I was set at Liberty from Nottingham-Goal where I had been kept Prisoner a pretty long time I traveled as before in the Work of the Lord. And coming to Mansfield-Woodhouse Mansfield Wood-house there was a distracted Woman under a Doctor 's Hand with her Hair loose all about her Ears and he was about to let her Blood she being first bound and many People being about her holding her by Violence But he could get no Blood from her And I desired them to unbind her 1649. Mansfield Woodhouse and let her alone for they could not touch the Spirit in her by which she was tormented So they did unbind her And I was moved to speak to her and in the
he came up into my Chamber and said to me I have been as a Lion against you But now I come like a Lamb and like the Jailer that came to Paul and Silas trembling And he desired that he might lie with me I told him that I was in his Power he might do what he would But he said Nay he would have my Leave and he could desire to be always with me but not to have me as a Prisoner And he said He had been plagued and his House had been plagued for my sake So I suffered him to lie with me and then he told me all his Heart and said He believed what I had said of the true Faith and Hope to be true And he wondred that the other Man that was put into Prison with me did not stand to it and said That Man was not right but I was an honest Man He confessed also to me that at those Times when I had asked him to let me go forth to speak the Word of the Lord to the People and he had refused to let me go and I had laid the weight thereof upon him that then he used to be under great Trouble amazed and almost distracted for some time after and in such a Condition that he had little Strength left him When the Morning came he arose and soon after went to the Justices and told them That he and his House had been plagued for my sake and one of the Justices replied as he reported to me that the Plagues were on them too for keeping me This was Justice Bennet of Darby who was the first that called us Quakers because I bid them Tremble at the Word of the Lord. And this was in the Year 1650. After this the Justices gave leave That I should have Liberty to walk a Mile I perceived their End and I told the Jailer If they would set down to me how far a Mile was I might take the liberty of walking it sometimes For I had a Sense they thought I would go away And the Jailer Confest afterwards that they did it with that Intent to have me go away to ease them of their Plague But I told him I was not of that Spirit This Jailer had a Sister who was a sickly young Woman and she came up into my Chamâ—er to Visit me and after she had stay'd some time and I had spoken the Words of Truth to her she went down and told them That we were an Innocent People and did none any hurt but did good to all even to them that hated us And she desired them to be Tender towards me Now forasmuch as by reason of my Restraint I had not the Opportunity of Traveling about to declare and spread Truth through the Countries it came upon me to Write a Paper and send it forth to be spread abroad both amongst Friends and other tender People for the Opening of their Understandings in the Way of Truth and directing them to the true Teacher in themselves And it was as followeth THE Lord doth shew unto Man his Thoughts and discovereth all the secret Workings in Man A Man may be brought to see his evil Thoughts and running Mind and vain Imaginations and may strive to keep them down and to keep his Mind in but cannot Overcome them nor keep his Mind within to the Lord. Now in this State and Condition submit to the Spirit of the Lord that shews them and that will bring to Wait upon the Lord and he that hath discovered them will destroy them Therefore stand in the Faith of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author of the true Faith and mind him for he will discover the Root of Lusts and evil Thoughts and vain Imaginations and how they are begotten conceived and bred and then how they are brought forth and how every evil Member doth work He will discover every Principle from its own Nature and Root So mind the Faith of Christ and the Anointing which is in you to be taught by it which will discover all Workings in you And as he teacheth you so obey and forsake else you will not grow up in the Faith nor in the Life of Christ where the Love of God is received Now Love begetteth Love it s own Nature and Image And when Mercy and Truth do meet what Joy there is And Mercy doth Triumph in Judgment And Love and Mercy doth bear the Judgment of the World in patience That which cannot bear the World's Judgment is not the Love of God for Love beareth all things and is above the World's Judgment for the World's Judgment is but Foolishness And though it be the World's Judgment and Practice to cast all the World's Filthiness that is among themselves upon the Saints yet their Judgment is false Now the Chaste Virgins follow Christ the Lamb that takes away the Sins of the World But they that are of that Spirit which is not Chaste will not follow Christ the Lamb in his Steps but are disobedient to him in his Commands So the fleshly Mind doth mind the Flesh and talketh fleshly and its Knowledge is fleshly and not spiritual but savours of Death and not of the Spirit of Life Now some Men have the Nature of Swine wallowing in the Mire And some Men have the Nature of Dogs to bite both the Sheep and one another And some Men have the Nature of Lions to tear devour and destroy And some Men have the Nature of Wolves to tear and devour the Lambs and Sheep of Christ And some Men have the Nature of the Serpent that old Adversary to sting envenom and poison He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear and learn these things within himself And some Men have the Natures of other Beasts and Creatures minding nothing but earthly and visible things and feeding without the fear of God Some Men have the Nature of an Horse to praunce and vapor in their Strength and to be swift in doing Evil. And some Men have the Nature of Tall sturdy Oaks to slourish and spread in Wisdom and Strength who are strong in Evil which must perish and come to the Fire Thus the Evil is but one in all but worketh many Ways and whatsoever a Man's or Woman's Nature is addicted to that is Outward the Evil one will fit him with that and will please his Nature and Appeâ—ite to keep his Mind in his Inventions and in the Creatures from the Creator O therefore let not the Mind go forth from God 〈◊〉 it do it will be stained and venomed and corrupted And if the Mind go forth from the Lord it is hard to bring it in again Therefore take heed of the Enemy and keep in the Faith of Christ O! therefore mind that which is Eternal and Invisible and him who is the Creator and Mover of all things For the things that are made are not made of things that do appear for the visible covereth the invisible Sight in you But as the Lord who
of all People to turn from the Vanities Pleasures and Oppression and from the Deceits of this World And there will come a time that you shall know it Therefore take heed of Pleasures and Deceits and Pride and look not at Man but at the Lord for Look unto me all ye Ends of the Earth and be ye saved saith the Lord. Some little time after I writ to them again thus Friends WOuld you have me to be bound to my Good Behaviour from Drunkenness or Swearing or Fighting or Adultery and the like The Lord hath Redeemed me from all these things and the Love of God hath brought me to loath all Wantonness blessed be his Name They who are Drunkards and Fighters and Swearers have their Liberty without Bonds And you lay your Law upon me whom neither you nor any other can justly accuse of these things praised be the Lord I can look at no Man for my Liberty but at the Lord alone who hath all Mens Hearts in his Hand And after some time not finding my Spirit clear of them I writ to them again as followeth Friends HAD you known who sent me to you ye would have received me for the Lord sent me to you to warn you of the Woes that are coming upon you and to bid you Look at the Lord and not at Man But when I had told you my Experience what the Lord had done for me then your Hearts were hardened and you sent me to Prison where you have kept me many Weeks If the Love of God had broke your Hearts then would ye see what ye have done Ye would not have Imprisoned me had not my Father suffered you and by his Power I shall be loosed For he openeth and shutteth to him be all Glory In what have I misbehaved my self that any should be bound for me All Mens Words will do me no good nor their Bonds neither to keep my Heart if I have not a Guide within to keep me in the upright Life to God But I believe in the Lord that through his Strength and Power I shall be preserved from Ungodliness and worldly Lusts The Scripture saith Receive Strangers but you Imprison such As you are in Authority take heed of Oppression and Oaths and Injustice and Gifts or Rewards for God doth loath all such But love Mercy and true Judgment and Justice for that the Lord delâ—ghts in I do not write with Hatred to you but to keep my Conscience Clear Take heed how you spend your time I was moved also to write again to the Priests of Darby which I did after this manner Friends YOU do profess to be the Ministers of Jesus Christ in Words but you shew forth by your Fruits what your Ministry is Every Tree doth shew forth its Fruit The Ministry of Jesus Christ is in Mercy and Love to unloose them that be bound and to bring out of Bondage and to let them that are Captivated go free Now Friends where is your Example if the Scriptures be your Rule to Imprison for Religion Have you any Command for it from Christ If that were in you which you do profess you would walk in their Steps who spake forth those Words the Scriptures which you do profess But he is not a Jew who is one outward whose Praise is of Men but he is a Jew who is one inward whose Praise is of God But if you do build upon the Prophets and Apostles in Words and pervert their Life remember the Woes which Jesus Christ spake against such They that spake the Prophets words but denied Christ they professed a Christ to come but had they known him they would not have Crucified him The Saints whom the Love of God did Change were brought thereby to walk in Love and Mercy for he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God But where Envy Pride and Hatred doth rule the nature of the World doth rule and not the nature of Jesus Christ. I write with no hatred to you but that you may weigh your selves and see how you pass on your Time Thus having cleared my Conscience to the Priests it was not long before a Concern came upon me again to write again to the Justices which I did as followeth I am moved to Warn you to take heed of giving way to your own Wills Love the Cross and satisfy not your own Minds in the Flesh but prize your Time while you have it and walk up to that you know in Obedience to God and then you shall not be Condemned for that you know not but for that you do know and do not obey Consider betimes and weigh your selves and see where you are and whom you serve For if ye blaspheme God and take his Name in vain if ye Swear and Lie if ye give way to Envy Hatred Covetousness and Greediness Pleasures and Wantonness or any other Vices be assured then that ye do serve the Devil But if ye fear the Lord and serve him ye will loath all these things He that loveth God will not blaspheme his Name but where there is Opposing of God and serving the Devil that Profession is sad and miserable O prize your Time and do not love that which God doth forbid Lying Wrath Malice Envy Hatred Greediness Covetousness Oppression Gluttony Drunkenness Whoredom and all Vnrighteousness God doth forbid So Consider and be not deceived Evil Communication corrupts good Manners Be not deceived God will not be mocked with vain Words The Wrath of God is Revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness Therefore Obey that which doth Convince you of all Evil and telleth you that you should do no Evil It will lead to Repentance and keep you in the Fear of the Lord. O look at the Mercies of God and prize them and do not turn them into Wantonness O Eye the Lord and not earthly things Besides this I writ the following to Colonel Barton who was both a Justice and a Preacher as was hinted before Friend DO not Cloak and Cover thy self there is a God who knoweth thy Heart and will Vncover thee He seeth thy Way Wo be to him that Covereth and not with my Spirit saith the Lord. Dost thou do contrary to the Law and then put it from thee Mercy and true Judgment thou neglectest look what was spoken against such My Saviour said to such I was Sick and in Prison and ye visited me not I was hungry and ye fed me not I was a Stranger and ye took me not in And when they said When saw we thee in Prison and did not come to thee c. He replied Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these little ones ye did it not to me Friend thou hast Imprisoned me for bearing Witness to the Life and Power or Truth and yet professest to be a Minister of Christ But if Christ had sent thee thou wouldest bring out of Prison and out of Bondage and wouldest receive Strangers Thou hast been wanton upon Earth thou hast lived plenteously
him How Did nor Christ suffer without the Gates of Jerusalem through the Professing Jews and Chief Priests and Pilate And he denied that ever Christ suffered there outwardly Then I asked him Whether there were not Chief Priests and Jews and Pilat there outwardly And when he could not deny that then I told him As certainly as there was a Chief Priest and Jews and Pilat there outwardly so certainly was Christ persecuted by them and did suffer there outwardly under them Yet from this Man's Words was a Slander raised upon us That the Quakers should deny Christ that suffered and died at Jerusalem Which was all utterly false and the least Thought of it never entred our Hearts but it was a meer Slander cast upon us and occasioned by this Person 's Words The same Person also said That never any of the Prophets nor Apostles nor Holy Men of God suffered any thing Outwardly but all their DunSufferings were Inward 1651. Darby-Dungeon But I instanced to him many of the Prophets and Apostles how they suffered and by whom they suffered And so was the Power of the Lord brought over his wicked Imaginations and Whimsies There came also another Company to me that pretended They were Triers of Spirits And I asked them What was the first Step to Peace And what it was by which a Man might see his Salvation And they were presently up in the airy Mind and said I was Mad. Thus they came to Try Spirits who did not know themselves nor their own Spirits In this Time of my Imprisonment I was exceedingly exercised about the Proceedings of the Judges and Magistrates in their Courts of Judicature And I was moved to write to the Judges concerning their putting Men to Death for Cattel and Money and small Matters and to shew them how Contrary it was to the Law of God in old Time for I was under great Suffering in my Spirit because of it and under the very Sense of Death but standing in the Will of God an heavenly Breathing arose in my Soul to the Lord. Then did I see the Heavens opened and I rejoiced and gave Glory to God So I writ to the Judges as followeth I Am moved to write unto you to take heed of putting Men to Death for stealing Cattel or Money c. for the Thieves in the old Time were to make Restitution and if they had not wherewith they were to be sold for their Theft Mind the Laws of God in the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and let them be your Rule in executing Judgment And shew Mercy that you may receive Mercy from God the Judge of all And take heed of Gifts and Rewards and of Pride for God doth forbid them and they do blind the Eyes of the Wise I do not write to give liberty to Sin God hath forbidden it But that you should Judge according to his Laws and shew Mercy For he delighteth in true Judgment and in Mercy I beseech you to mind these Things and prize your Time now you have it and Fear God and Serve him for he is a Consuming Fire Besides this I writ another Letter to the JUDGES to this effect I Am moved to write unto you That ye do true Justice to every Man and see that none be Oppressed nor Wronged nor no Oaths Imposed for the Land mourneth because of Oaths and Adulteries and Sorceries and Drunkenness and Prophaneness O Consider ye that be Men set in Authority Be moderate and in Lowliness Consider these things Shew Mercy to the Fatherless and to the Widoâ—s and to the Poor And take heed of Rewards or Gifts for they do blind the Eyes of the Wise The Lord doth loath all such Love Mercy and true Judgment Justice and Righteousness for the Lord delighteth in such Consider these Things in Time and take heed how ye do spend your Time Now ye have Time prize it and shew Mercy that ye may receive Mercy from the Lord For he is coming to Try all Things and will plead with all Flesh as by Fire Moreover I laid before the Judges what an hurtful thing it was that Prisoners should lie so long in Jail shewing how that they learned Badness one of another in talking of their bad Deeds and therefore speedy Justice should be done For I was a tender Youth and dwelt in the Fear of God and I was grieved to hear their bad Language and was often made to reprove them for their wicked Words and evil Carriage towards each other And People did admire that I was so preserved and Kept for they could never catch a Word or Action from me to make any thing of against me all the time that I was there For the Lord 's Infinite Power upheld and preserved me all that time to him be Praises and Glory for ever Now while I was here in Prison there was a young-Woman in the Jail for Robbing her Master of some Money and when she was to be Tried for her Life I writ to the Judge and to the Jury about her shewing them How contrary it was to the Law of God in old Time to put People to Death for Stealing and moving them to shew Mercy Yet she was Condemned to die and a Grave was made for her and at the Time appointed she was carried forth to Execution Then I writ a few Words Warning all People to beware of Greediness or Covetousness for it leads from God but that all should Fear the Lord and avoid all Earthly Lusts and prize their Time while they have it This I gave to be read at the Gallows And though they had her upon the Ladder with a Cloath bound over her Face ready to be turned off yet they did not put her to Death but brought her back again to Prison And in the Prison she afterwards came to be Convinced of God's Everlasting Truth There was also in the Jail while I was there a Prisoner a Wicked Vngodly Man who was reputed a Conjurer and he threatned how he would talk with me and what he would do to me but he never had Power to open his Mouth to me And on a time the Jailer and he falling out he threatned the Jailer That he would Raise the Devil and break his House down so that he made the Jailer afraid Then I was moved of the Lord to go in his Power and Rebuke him in it and to say unto him Come let 's see what thou canst do and do thy worst And I told him The Devil was Raised high enough in him already but the Power of God Chained him down So he sluâ—k away and went from me Now the Time of Worcester-Fight coming on Justice Bennet sent the Constables to press me for a Souldier seeing I would not voluntarily accept of a Command And I told them That I was brought off from outward Wars They came down again to give me Press-Money but I would take none Then I was brought up to Sergeant Holes and kept
again he would have my Life or I should have his adding that he would give his Head if I was not knockt down within a Month. By this Friends suspected his intent was in desiring me to walk with him alone either to have Thrust me down from off the Cliff or to have done me some other Mischief And that when he saw himself frustrated in that by my having one with me that made him rage so But I feared neither his Prophecies nor his Threats for I feared God Almighty But some Friends through their Affection to me feared much that this Priest would do me some Mischief or set on Others to do it Yet after some Years this very Scotch Priest and his Wise also came to be Convinced of the Truth and about Twelve Years after this I was at their House After this there came another Priest to a Meeting where I was one that was in Repute above all the Priests in the Country and as I was speaking in the Meeting That the Gospel was the Power of God and how it brought Life and Immortality to Light in Men and so was turning People from Darkness to the Light this high-flown Priest said The Gospel was Mortal I told him The true Minister said The Gospel was the Power of God and would he make the Power of God Mortal Upon that the other Priest Philip Scafe that was Convinced and had felt the Immortal Power of God in himself took him up and reproved him and so a great Dispute arose between them the Convinced Priest holding that the Gospel was Immortal and the other Priest holding that it was Mortal But the Lord's Power was too hard for this Opposing Priest and stopp'd his Mouth And many People were Convinced seeing the Darkness that was in the Opposing Priest and the Light that was in the Convinced Priest Then another Priest sent to have a Dispute with me and Friends went with me to the House where he was But when he understood we were come he slipt out of the House and hid himself under an Hâ—dge The People went to seek him and found him but could not get him to come to us Then I went to a Steeple-house hard by there where the Priest and People were in a great rage This Priest had threatned Friends what he would do but when I came there he would not stand but fled for the Lord's Power came over him and them Yea the Lord 's Everlasting Power was over the World and did reach to the Hearts of People and made both Priests and Professors tremble It shook the earthly and airy Spirit in which they held their Profession of Religion and Worship ☞ so that it was a dreadful thing unto them when it was told them The Man in Leathern Breeches is come At the hearing thereof the Priests in many Places would get out of the way they were so struck with the dread of the Eternal Power of God and Fear surprized the Hypocrites Whitby Scarborough Wowls Malton From this Place we passed to Whitby and Scarborough where we had some Service for the Lord and there are large Meetings settled there since From thence I passed over the Wowls to Malton where we had great Meetings as we had also at the Towns thereabouts At one of those Towns there was a Priest sent me a Challenge to dispute with me But when I came he would not come sorth So I had a good Opportunity with the People and the Lord's Power seized upon them And one who had been a Wild drunken Man was reached therewith so that he came to me as lowly as a Lamb though he and his Companions had before sent for Drink 1651. Yorkshire to make the rude People drunk on purpose that they might abuse us So when the Priest would not come forth I was moved to go to the Steeple-house there and the Priest was Confounded and the Lord's Power came over all On the First-day following there came one of the highest Independent-Professors a Woman who had let in such a Prejudice against me that she said before she came She could willingly have gone to see me hang'd But when she came she was Convinc'd and remains a Friend Then I turned to Malton again Malton and very great Meetings there were to which several People more would have come but durst not for fear of their Relations for it was thought a strange thing then to preach in Houses and not go to the Church as they call'd it so that I was much desired to go and speak in the Steeple-houses One of the Priests writ to me and invited me to preach in his Steeple-house calling me his Brother Another Priest a noted Man kept a Lecture there Now the Lord had shewed me while I was in Darby-Prison That I should speak in Steeple-houses to gather People from thence and a Concern sometimes would come upon my Mind about the Pulpits that the Priests lolled in For the Steeple-houses and Pulpits were offensiâ—e to my Mind because both Priests and People called them the Hâ—use of God and Idolized them reckoning that God dwelt there in the outward House whereas they should have looked for God and Christ to dwell in their Hearts and their Bodies to be made the Temples of God for the Apostle said God dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands But by reason of the People's Idolizing those Places it was counted an heinous thing to declare against them Now when I came into the Steeple-house there were not passing Eleven Hearers and the Priest was preaching to them But after it was known in the Town that I was in the Steeple-house it was soon filled with People When the Priest that preacht that day had â—one he sent the other Priest that had Invited me thither to bring me up into the Pulpit but I sent back Word to him that I needed not to go into the Pulpit Then he sent to me again desiring me to go up into it for he said it was a better Place and there I might be seen of the People I sent him Word again I could be seen and heard well enough where I was and that I came not there to hold up such Places nor their Maintenance and Trade Upon my saying so they began to be angry and said These False Prophets were to come in the last Times Their saying so grieved many of the People and some began to murmur at it Whereupon I stood up and desired all to be quiet and stepping upon an High Seat I declared unto them the Marks of the false Prophets and shewed That they were already come and set the true Prophets and Christ and his Apostles over them and manifested these to be out of the Steps of the true Prophets and of Christ and his Apostles And I directed the People to their Inward Teacher Christ Jesus who would turn them from the Darkness to the Light And having opened divers Scriptures to them I directed them to the Spirit
Priests came up to me and I warned them to Repent One of them said I was Mad and so they turned away But many People were Convinced there that day and were glad at the hearing of the Truth declared and received it with Joy Amongst these was one called Captain Ward who received the Truth in the love of it and lived and dyed in it Westmorland Firbank-Chappel The next First-day I came to Firbank-Chappel in Westmorland where Francis Howgill before named and one John Audland had been preaching in the Morning The Chappel was full of People so that many could not get in And Francis Howgill said He thought I lookt into the Chappel and his Spirit was ready to fail the Lord's Power did so surprize him But I did not look in They made haste and had quickly done at that time and they and some of the People went to their Dinners but abundance stay'd till they came again Now John Blakelin and others came to me and desired me not to Reprove them publickly for they were not Parish-Teachers but pretty Tender Men. I could not tell them whether I should or no though I had not at that time any Drawings to declare publickly against them but I said They must leave me to the Lord's Movings So while the others were gone to Dinner I went to a Brook and got me a little Water and then came and sate down on the Top of a Rock hard by the Chappel In the Afternoon the People gathered about me with several of their Preachers it was judged there were above a Thousand People amongst whom I declared God's everlasting Truth and Word of Life freely and largely for about the space of three Hours directing all to the Spirit of God in themselves that they might be turned from the Darkness to the Light and believe in it that they might become the Children of it and might be turned from the Power of Satan which they had been under unto God and by the Spirit of Truth might be led into all Truth and sensibly understand the words of the Prophets and of Christ and of the Apostles and might all come to know Christ to be their Teacher to instruct them their Counsellor to direct them their Shepherd to feed them their Bishop to oversee them and their Prophet to open divine Mysteries to them and might know their Bodies to be prepared sanctified and made fit Temples for God and Christ to dwell in And in the openings of the heavenly Life I opened unto them the Prophets and the Figures and Shadows and directed them to Christ the Substance 1652. Westmorland Firbank-Chappel Then I opened the Parables and Sayings of Christ and things that had been long hid shewing the intent and scope of the Apostles Writings how that their Epistles were written to the Elect. And when I had opened that State I shewed also the State of the Apostacy that hath been since the Apostles days how the Priests have gotten the Scripture but are not in that Spirit which gave them forth and have put them into Chapter and Verse to make a Trade of the Holy Mens Words And how that the Teachers and Priests now are found in the steps of the false Prophets Chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees of old and are such as the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles cried against and so are judged and condemned by the Spirit of the true Prophets and of Christ and of his Apostles and that none who was in that Spirit and guided by it now could own them Now there were many old People who went into the Chappel and looked out at the Windows thinking it a strange thing to see a Man preach on an Hill or Mountain and not in their Church as they called it whereupon I was moved to open to the People That the Steeple-house and the Ground whereon it stood was no more holy than that Mountain and that those Temples which they called the dreadful Houses of God were not set up by the Command of God and of Christ nor their Priests called as Aaron's Priesthood was nor their Tithes appointed by God as those amongst the Jews were but that Christ was come who ended both the Temple and its Worship and the Priests and their Tithes and all now should hearken unto him for he said Learn of me and God said of him This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So I declared unto them that the Lord God had sent me to preach the Everlasting Gospel and Word of Life amongst them and to bring them off from all these Temples Tithes Priests and Rudiments of the World which had gotten up since the Apostles days and had been set up by such as had erred from the Spirit and Power that the Apostles were in Very largely was I opened at this Meeting and the Lord 's Convincing Power accompanied my Ministry and reached home unto the Hearts of the People whereby many were Convinced that day and all the Teachers of that Congregation who were many were Convinced of God's everlasting Truth that day After the Meeting was over I went to John Audland's and from thence to Preston-Patrick-Chappel Preston-Patrick-Chappel where a great Meeting was appointed to which I went and had a large opportunity amongst the People to preach the Everlasting Gospel to them opening to them as to others on the like occasion that the End of my coming into that Place was not to hold it up no more than the Apostles going into the Jewish Synagogues and Temple was to uphold those But to bring them off from all such things as the Apostles brought the Saints of old from off the Jewish Temple and Aaron's Priesthood that they might come to witness their Bodies to be the Temples of God and Christ in them to be their Teacher 1652. Kendal From this Place I went to Kendal where a Meeting was appointed in the Town-Hall in which I declared the Word of Life amongst the People shewing them How they might come to the saving knowledge of Christ and to have a right Understanding of the Holy Scriptures and opening to them what it was that would lead them into the way of Reconciliation with God and what would be their Condemnation After the Meeting I stay'd a while in the Town and several were Convinced there and many appeared loving One whose Name was Cock met me in the Street and would have given me a Roll of Tobacco for People then were much given to smoking Tobacco I accepted his love but did not receive the Tobacco Under-barrow From thence I went to Vnder-barrow to one Miles Bateman's and several People going along with me great Reasonings I had with them especially with Edward Burrough At Night the Priest came and many Professors to the House and a great deal of Disputing I had with them Supper being provided for the Priest and the rest of the Company I had not freedom to eat with them
following Assize at Lancaster informed Judge Windham against me Whereupon the Judge made a Speech against me in open Court and commanded Colonel West who was Clerk of the Assize to issue forth a Warrant for the apprehending of me But Colonel West told the Judge of my Innocency and spake boldly in my defence Yet the Judge commanded him again either to write a Warrant or go off from his Seat Then he told the Judge plainly that he would not do it but that he would offer up all his Estate and his Body also for me So he stopt the Judge and the Lord's Power came over all So that the Priests and Justices could not get their Envy executed That same Night I came into Lancaster it being the Assize-Time and hearing of a Warrant to be given out against me I judged it better to shew my self openly Lancaster Assize than for my Adversaries to seek me So I went to Judge Fell's and Colonel West's Chambers And as soon as I came in they smiled on me and Colonel West said What! 1652. Lancaster Assize are you come into the Dragon's Mouth I stayed in Town till the Judge went out of Town and I walked up and down the Town but no one meddled with me nor questioned me Thus the Lord's blessed Power which is over all caâ—â—â—ed me through and over this Exercise and gave Dominion over his Enemies and enabled me to go on in his glorious Work and Service for his great Name's-sake For though the Beast maketh War against the Saints yet the Lamb hath got and will get the Victory From Lancaster I returned to Robert Wither's and from thence I went to Thomas Leper's to a Meeting in the Evening Meeting at T. Lepers and a very blessed Meeting we had there After the Meeting was done I walked in the Evening to Robert Withers's again And no sooner was I gone but there came a Company of disguised Men to Thomas Leper's with Swords and Pistols who suddenly entring the House put out the Candles and swung their Swords about amongst the People of the House so that the People were fain to hold up the Chairs before them to save themselves from being cut and wounded At length they drove all the People of the House out of the House and then searched the House for me who it seems was the only Person they looked for for they had laid wait before in the High-way by which I should have gone if I had ridden to Robert Withers's And not meeting with me on the VVay they thought to have found me in the House but the Lord prevented them Soon after I was come in at Robert Withers some Friends came from the Town where Thomas Leper lived and gave us a Relation of this wicked Attempt And the Friends were afraid lest they should come and search Robert Withers's House also for me and do me a Mischief But the Lord restrained them that they came not Though these Men were in disguise yet the Friends perceived some of them to be French-men and supposed them to be Servants belonging to one called Sir Robert Bindlas For some of them had said that in their Nation they used to Tye the Protestants to Trees and whip them and destroy them And his Servants used often to abuse Friends both in their Meetings and going to and from their Meetings They once took Richard Hubberthorn and several others out of the Meeting and carried them a good way off into the Fields and there bound them and left them bound in the Winter-Season And at another Time one of his Servants came to Francis Flemming's House and thrust his naked Rapier in at the Door and Windows But there being at the House a Kinsman of Francis Flemming's one who was not a Friend he came with a Cudgel in his Hand and bid the Serving-man put up his Rapier which when the other would not but vapoured at him with it and was Rude he knock'd him down with his Cudgel and took his Rapier from him And had it not been for Friends he would have Run him through with it So the Friends preserved his Life that would have destroyed theirs From Robert Withers's I went to visit Justice West To Justice Wests over the Sands Richard Hubberthorn accompanying me And not knowing the Way nor the Danger of the Sands we Rid where as we were afterwards told no Man ever rid before swimming our Horses over a very dangerous Place When we were come in Justice West asked us If we did not see Two Men riding over the Sands Justice Wests I shall have their Cloaths anon said he for they cannot escape Drowning and I am the Coroner But when we told him that we were the Men be was astonished at it and wondred how we escaped Drowning Upon this the envious Priests and Professors raised a slanderous Report concerning me That neither Water could drown me nor could they draw Blood of me and that therefore surely I was a Witch for indeed sometimes when they beat me with great Staves they did not much draw my Blood though they bruised my Body oft-times very sorely But all these Slanders were nothing to me with respect to my self though I was concerned on the Truth 's behalf which I saw they endeavoured by these Means to prejudice People against for I considered that their fore-Fathers the Apostate-Jews called the Master of the House Beelzebub and these Apostate-Christians from the Life and Power of God could do no less to his Seed But the Lord's Power carried me over their Slanderous Tongues and their bloody murtherous Spirits who had the Ground of Witchcraft in themselves which kept them from coming to God and to Christ. Having visited Justice West I went to Swarthmore visiting Friends there-aways Swarthmore and the Lord's Power was over all the Persecutors there And I was moved to write several Letters to the Magistrates Priests and Professors there-abouts who had raised Persecution before That which I sent to Justice Sawrey was after this manner Friend THOU wast the first Beginner of all the Persecution in the North Thou wast the Beginner and the Maker of the People Tumultuous Thou wast the first Stirrer of them up against the Righteous Seed and against the Truth of God and wast the first strengthner of the Hands of Evil-doers against the Innocent and Harmless And thou shalt not prosper Thou wast the first Stirrer up of Strikers Stoners Persecutors Stockers Mockers and Imprisoners in the North and of Revilers Slanderers Railers and false Accusers and Scandal-Raisers This was thy Work and this thou stirredst up So thy Fruits declare thy Spirit Instead of stirring up the pure Mind in People thou hast stirred up the VVicked Malicious and Envious and taken Hand with the Wicked Thou hast made the People's Minds envious up and down the Country This was thy Work But God hath shortned thy Days and limited thee and set thy Bounds and broken thy Jaws and discovered thy
Wither And this sows to the Spirit which is in Prison and of the Spirit reaps Life to you this is the VVord of the Lord God and the other sows to the Flesh and of the Flesh reaps Corruption And this you may see all the World over amongst these Seeds-Men what may be reaped in the Field that is the VVorld Therefore in the Spirit of the Lord God VVait which cuts down and casts out all this the Root and Branches of it So in that wait to receive Power and the Lord God Almighty preserve you in it whereby you may come to feel the Light that comprehends Time and the VVorld and fathoms it which believed in gives you the Victory over the VVorld And here the Power of the Lord is received which subdues all the contrary and puts off the Garments that will stain and pollute With which Light you come to reach the Light in every Man which Christ enlightens every Man that cometh into the world with-all And here the things of Christ come to be known and the Voice of Christ heard Therefore keep in the Light the Covenant of Peace and walk in the Covenant of Life There is that which maketh Merry over the Witness of God and there is that which maketh Merry in the Lord which rejoyceth over that which hath made merry over it of that take notice you who be in the Light Such the Lord doth beautify whose Trust is in his Strength and the Lord doth see such and them that be in his Light But such as be from the Light whose Eyes be after their Abominations and Idols their Eyes are to be blinded and their beautiful Idols and their Abominations to be destroyed and by the Light condemned which they have made from the Life in their own Strength which with the Light is seen and overthrown by the Power of God If you can change my Covenant saith the Lord which keeps the Day in its Season and the Night in its Season mark my Covenant the Light If you can change this then may you change the Covenant of God with his Seed So all Friends that be turned to the Light which cometh from him by whom the VVorld was made who was before it was made Christ Jesus the Saviour of your Souls abide in the Light and you will see your Salvation to be VValls and Bulwarks against that which the Light discovers to be contrary to it Waiting in the Light you will receive the Power of God which is the Gospel of Peace that you may be shod with it And know that in one another which raiseth up the Seed of God and sets it over the VVorld and the Earth and Crucifies the Affections and Lusts and then the Truth comes to reign which is the Girdle G. F. About this time Rice Jones of Nottingham who had been a Baptist and was turned Ranter the same that came to me in Darby-Jail he and his Company began to prophesy against me giving out That I was then at the highest and that after that time I should fall down as fast And he sent a bundle of Railing Papers from Nottingham to Mansfield Clauson and the Towns thereabouts Judging Friends for declaring the Truth in the Markets and in the Steeple-houses which Papers I Answered But his and his Company 's Prophecies came upon themselves for soon after they fell to Pieces and many of his Followers came to be Friends and continued so And through the Lord's blessed Power Truth and Friends have increased and do increase in the increase of God And I by the same Power have been and am preserved and kept in the Everlasting Seed that never fell nor changes But Rice Jones took the Oaths that were put to him and so disobeyed the Command of Christ Many such false Prophets have risen up against me but the Lord hath blasted them and will blast them all who rise against the blessed Seed and me in that My Confidence is in the Lord for whosoever did I saw their End and how the Lord would Confound them before the Lord sent me forth Synder-hill-Green Now was I at Synder-hill-Green where I had had a large Meeting in the day-time and at Night we had a great Meeting again in Thomas Stacy's House for People came from far and could not soon depart The High-Sheriff of the County told Captain Bradford that he intended to have come up with half a dozen of his Troopers to the Meeting but the Lord prevented him and stopt him When I had stayed some Meetings thereabouts Yorkshire Holderness Land'send I traveled up and down in Yorkshire as far as Holderness and to the Lands-End that way visiting Friends and the Churches of Christ which were finely settled under Christ's Teaching At length I came to Captain Bradford's house whither many Ranters came from York to wrangle but they were confounded and stopped Thither came she also who was called the Lady Mountague who was then Convinced and lived and died in the Truth Hallifax Then I came again to Thomas Taylor 's within three Miles of Hallifax where there was a large Meeting of about Two hundred People amongst which were many rude People and divers Butchers several of whom had bound themselves with an Oath before they came out that they would kill me as I was told One of those Butchers had been Accused for killing a Man and a Woman They came in a very rude manner and made a great Disturbance in the Meeting The Meeting being in a Close Thomas Taylor stood up and said unto them If you will be Civil you may stay but if not I charge you to be gone from off my Ground But they were the worse and said They would make it like a Common and they yelled and made such a Noise as if they had been come to a Bear-baiting And they thrust Friends up and down and Friends being peaceable the Lord's Power came over them Several times they thrust me off from the place I stood on by the Crowding of the People together against me but still I was moved of the Lord to stand up again as I was thrust down At last I was moved of the Lord to say unto them If they would discourse of the things of God let them come up to me one by one and if they had any thing to say or to Object I would Answer them all one after another 1654. Near Hallifax at T. B ' s. Then they were all silent and had nothing to say And then the Lord's Power came so over them all and Answered the Witness of God in them that they were bound by the Power of God and a glorious powerful Meeting we had and his Power went over all and the Minds of People were turned by the Spirit of God in them to God and to Christ their Teacher And the powerful Word of Life was largely declared that day and in the Life and Power of God we brake up our Meeting and that Rude
Spirit as it gave words and utterance Here the People fell a Laughing but I was moved to speak more to him And when I had cleared my self to him and them we parted after I had told them That I should God willing be in the Town that day Seven-night again So the Priests packt away and many People were Convinced that day for the Lord's Power came over all And whereas they thought to have Confounded Truth that day many were Convinced of it and many that were Convinced before were by that day's work Confirmed in the Truth and abode in it and a great Shake it gave to the Priests Yea my Father though he was an Hearer and Follower of the Priest was so well satisfied that he struck his Cane upon the Ground and said Truly I see he that will but stand to the Truth it will carry him out So I passed about in the Country till that day Seven-night and then I came again for we had appointed a Meeting at my Relation's House Now Priest Stephens having had notice before hand thereof had got another Priest to him and they had got a Company of Troopers with them and sent for me to come to them But I sent them word Our Meeting was appointed and they might come to it if they would The Priests came not but the Troopers came and many rude People Now they had laid their Plot That the Troopers should take every one's Name and then command them to go home and such as would not go they should take and carry them away with them Accordingly they began and took several Names charging them to go home but when they came to take my Name my Relations told them I was at home already So they could not take me away that time Nevertheless they took my Name but the Lord's Power was over them and they went away both Professors and Troopers Crost and Vext because they had not their Ends. But several were Convinced that day and admired the Love and Power of God This was that Priest Stephens that had once said of me Never such a Plant was bred in England Yet afterwards he reported That I was carried up into the Clouds and found again full of Gold and Silver and many Lies and false Reports he raised on me but the Lord swept them all away Now the Reason why I would not go into their Steeple-house was because I was to bear my Testimony against it and to bring all off from such Places to the Spirit of God that they might know their Bodies to be the Temples of the Holy Ghost And to bring them off from all the Hireling-Teachers to Christ their free Teacher that had died for them and purchased them with his Blood After this I went into the Country and had several Meetings and came to Swannington where the Souldiers came again but the Meeting was quiet and the Lord's Power was over all and the Souldiers did not meddle Then I went to Leicester and from Leicester to Whetston Leicester Whetston But before the Meeting began there came about Seventeen Troopers of Coll. Hacker's Regiment with his Marshal and they took me up before the Meeting though Friends were beginning to gather together for there were several Friends come out of several Parts I told the Marshal He might let all the Friends go I would answer for them all whereupon he took me and let all the Friends go only Alexander Parker went along with me At Night they had me before Coll. Hacker and his Major and Captains a great Company of them and a great deal of Discourse we had about the Priests and about Meetings for at this time there was a noise of a Plot against O. Cromwel And much Reasoning I had with them about the Light of Christ which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World Coll. Hacker asked Whether it was not this Light of Christ that made Judas betray his Master and after led him to hang himself I told him No That was the Spirit of Darkness which hated Christ and his Light Then Coll. Hacker said I might go home and keep at home and not go abroad to Meetings I told him I was an Innocent Man free from Plots and denied all such Work Then his Son Needham said Father This Man hath reigned too long it is time to have him cut off I asked him For what what had I done or whom had I wronged from a Child for I was bred and born in that Country and who could accuse me of any Evil from a Child Then Coll. Hacker asked me again If I would go home and stay at home I told him If I should promise him so that would manifest that I was guilty of something to go home and make my home a Prison And if I went to Meetings they would say I broke their Order Therefore I told them I should go to Meetings as the Lord should order me and therefore could not submit to their Requirings but I said we were a peaceable People Well then said Coll. Hacker I will send you to Morrow Morning by six a Clock to my Lord Protector by Captain Drury one of his Life-guard That Night I was kept a Prisoner at the Marshalsey and the next Morning by the sixth hour I was ready and delivered to Captain Drury I desired he would let me speak with Coll. Hacker before I went and he had me to his Bed-side Coll. Hacker at me presently again To go home and keep no more Meetings I told him I could not submit to that but must have my Liberty to serve God and to go to Meetings Then said he you must go before the Protector Whereupon I kneeled on his Bedside and besought the Lord to forgive him for he was as Pilate tho' he would wash his Hands and when the day of his Misery and Trial should come upon him I bid him Then Remember what I had said to him But he was stirred up and set on by Priest Stephens and the other Priests and Professors wherein their Envy and Baseness was manifest who when they could not overcome me by Disputes and Arguments nor resist the Spirit of the Lord that was in me then they got Souldiers to take me up Afterwards when this Coll. Hacker was in Prison in London 1654. Wherston a day or two before he was Executed he was put in mind of what he had done against the Innocent And he remembred it and confest to it to Margaret Fell and said He knew well whom she meant and he had a Trouble upon him for it So his Son who told his Father I had reigned too long and that it was time to have me cut off might observe how his Father was Cut off afterwards being hanged at Tyburn Now was I carried up a Prisoner by Captain Drury aforesaid from Leicester and when we came to Harborough he asked me Leicester Harborough Northampton If I would go home and stay a Fort-night I should
the Deceit Sing the Song of the Lamb Triumph over the World spread the Truth abroad Come ye Captive ones out of Prison and Rejoice with one accord for the Joyful Days are coming Let us be glad and Rejoice for ever Singleness of Heart is come Pureness of Heart is come Joy and Gladness is come The glorious God is exalting himself and Truth hath been talked of but now it is possessed Christ hath been talked of but now he is come and possessed The Glory hath been talked of but now it is possessed and the Glory of Man is defacing The Son of God hath been talked of but now he is come and hath given us an Understanding Vnity hath been talked of but now it is come Virgins have been talkt of but now they are come with Oil in their Lamps He will be glorified alone Where Pride is thrown down Earth and the fleshly Will is thrown down and the Pure is raised up there alone is the Lord Exalted Let the Heavens Bow down to him and the Earth Reel to and fro and Stagger up and down The Lord is setting up his Throne and his Crown and throwing down the Crown of Man and he alone will be glorified To whom be all Honour and Glory all Praises and all Thanks Who gives his Children Wisdom and Strength Knowledge and Vertue Power and Riches Blessings and durable Substance and an Eye to discern and an Ear to hear things singly and brings down the Pride of Man's Heart and turns the Wicked out of the Kingdom The Righteous Ones inherit Righteousness the Pure Ones Pureness the Holy Ones Holiness Praises Praises be to the Lord whose Glory now shines whose Day is broken forth which is hid from the World hid from all worldly wise Ones and from all the Prudent of this World hid from the Fowls of the Air hid from all Vultures Eyes and all venemous Beasts and all Liars and all Dogs and all Swine But to them that fear his Name the Secrets of the Lord are made manifest the Treasures of Wisdom are opened and the Fulness of Knowledge For thou O Lord dost make thy self manifest to thy Children G. F. My Spirit was greatly burdened to see the Pride that was got up in the Nation even amongst the Professors and in the sense thereof I was moved to give forth the following Paper directed To such as follow the World's Fashions WHAT a World is this How doth the Devil garnish himself and how obedient are People to do his Will and Mind that they are altogether carried away with Fooleries and Vanities both Men and Women that they have lost the hidden Man of the Heart and the meek and quiet Spirit which with the Lord is of great price They have lost the Adorning of Sarah they are putting on Gold and gay Apparel Women plaiting the Hair Men and Women powdering it making their Backs look like Bags of Meal They look so strange that they can scarce look at one another they are so lifted up in Pride Pride is flown up into their Head and hath so lifted them up that they Snuff up like Wild Asses and like Ephraim they seed upon Wind and are gotten to be like Wild Heifers who feed upon the Mountains Pride hath puffed up every one of them They are out of the Fear of God Men and Women Young and Old one puffs up another They must be in the Fashion of the World else they are not in esteem else they shall not be respected if they have not Gold or Silver upon their Backs or if his Hair be not powdered But if he have store of Ribbands hanging about his Waste and at his Knees and in his Hat of divers Colours Red or White or Black or Yellow and his Hair be powdered then he is a brave Man then he is accepted then he is no Quaker because he hath Ribbands on his Back and Belly and Knees and his Hair powdered This is the Array of the World But is not this from the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh or the Pride of Life Likewise the Women having their Gold their Spots on their Faces Noses Cheeks Fore-heads having their Rings on their Fingers wearing Gold having their Cuffs double under and above like unto a Butcher with his white Sleeves having their Ribbands tied about their Hands and three or four Gold-Laces about their Cloths This is no Quaker say they This is that that pleaseth the World this Array this Attire pleaseth the World and if they cannot get these things they are discontented But this is not the Attire of Sarah whose Adorning was in the hidden Man of the Heart of a quiet and meek Spirit This is the Adorning of the Heathen not of the Apostle nor of the Saints whose Adorning was not wearing of Gold nor plaiting of Hair but a meek and quiet Spirit which was and is of great price with the Lord. And here was the Sobriety and good Ornament which was of the Lord accepted This was Paul's Exhortation and Preaching But we see the Talkers of Paul's Words live out of Paul's Command and out of the Example of Sarah and are found in the steps of the great Heathen who comes to examin the Apostles in his gorgeous Apparel Now are not all these that have got their Ribbands hanging about their Arms Hands Back Waists Knees Hats like unto Fidlers-Boys Which shews that you are gotten into the basest and most contemptible Life who be in the Fashion of the Fidlers-Boys and Stage-Players quite out of the Paths and Steps of solid Men and in the very Steps and Paths of the wild Heads who give themselves up to every Invention and Vanity of the World that appears and is inventing how to get it upon their Backs Heads Feet and Legs and say If it be out of the Fashion it is nothing worth Are not these the Spoilers of the Creation who have the fat and the best of it and waste and destroy it Do not these Cumber God's Earth Let that of God in all Consciences Answer and who are in the Wisdom judge And further If one get a pair of Britches like a Coat and hang them about with Points and up almost to the Middle a pair of double Cuffs upon his Hands and a Feather in his Cap here 's a Gentleman bow before him put off your Hats bow get a Company of Fidlers a set of Musick and Women to dance This is a brave Fellow up in the Chamber up in the Chamber without and up in the Chamber within Are these your fine Christians Yea say they They are Christians Yea but say the serious People They are out of Christ's Life and out of the Apostles Command and out of the Saints Ornament And to see such as are before described as are in the Fashions of the World before-mentioned a Company of them playing at Bouls or at Tables or at Shovel-Board or Each taking his Horse that hath Bunches of Ribbands on his Head as
the Rider hath on his own who perhaps hath a Ring in his Ear too and so go to Horse-racing to spoil the Creatures Oh these are Gentlemen indeed these are bred up Gentlemen these are brave Fellows and they must take their Recreation for Pleasures are lawful And these in their Sports set up their Shouts like unto the wild Asses they are like unto the Kine or Beasts when they are put to Grass Lowing when they are full And here is the Glorying of them before-mentioned but it is in the Flesh not in the Lord These are bad Christians and shew that they are gluttoned with the Creatures and then the Flesh rejoiceth And here is bad breeding of Youth and young Women who are carried away with the Vanities of the Mind in their own Inventions Pride Arrogancy Lust Gluttony Vncleanness so Eat and Drink and rise up to Play This is the Generation which God is not well pleased withall but their Eyes are full of Adultery who cannot cease from Evil. These be they that live in Pleasures upon Earth These be they who are dead while they live who glory not in the Lord but in the Flesh These be they that be from the Life that the Scriptures were given forth from who live in the Fashions and Vanities of the World out of Truth 's Adorning in the Devil 's Adorning who is out of the Truth and not in the Adorning of the Lord which is a meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great price But this Ornament and this Adorning is not put on by them that be adorned and have the Ornament of him that is out of the Truth and that is not accepted with the Lord which is accepted in their Eye G. F. Moreover it came upon me about this time from the Lord to write a short Paper and send forth as An Exhortation and Warning to the Pope and all Kings and Rulers in Europe a Copy of which here follows Friends YE Heads and Rulers and Kings and Nobles of all sorts Be not bitter nor hasty in persecuting the Lambs of Christ neither turn your selves against the Visitation of God and his tender Love and Mercies from on high who sent to visit you lest the Lord's Hand Arm and Power take hold swiftly upon you which is now stretched over the World that is turned against Kings and shall turn Wise Men backward and will bring off their Crowns to the Dust and lay them low and level with the Earth God and Christ will be King who gives Crowns to whomsoever obey his Will and this is the Age wherein the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is staining the Pride of Man and defacing his Glory So you that profess Christ and do not love your Enemies but on the contrary do shut up and Imprison them who are his Friends these be Marks that you be out of his Life and do not love Christ who do not the things he commands The day of the Lord's Wrath is kindling and his Fire is going forth to burn up the Wicked which will leave neither Root nor Branch They that have lost their Habitation with God be out of the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and from the Light that Jesus Christ hath enlightned them withall and so from the true Foundation Therefore be swift to hear and slow to speak and slower to persecute For the Lord is bringing his People to himself from off all the World's Ways to Christ the Way and from off all the World's Churches to the Church which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and from off all the World's Teachers to teach his People himself by his Spirit and from off all the World's Images into the Image of himself and from their Likenesses into his own Likeness and from off all the World's Crosses of Stone or Wood into his Power which is the Cross of Christ For all these Images and Crosses and Likenesses are among them that are Apostatized from the Image of God the Power of God which is the Cross of Christ which now fathoms the World and is throwing down that which is contrary to it which Power of God never changes Let this go to the Kings of France and of Spain and to the Pope for them to prove all things and to hold that which is good And first to prove that they have not quenched the Spirit for the mighty Day of the Lord is come and coming upon all Wickedness and Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who will plead with all Flesh by Fire and by Sword And the Truth and the Crown of Glory and the Scepter of Righteousness over all shall be exalted which shall Answer that of God in every one upon the Earth tho' they be from it Christ is come a Light into the World and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World that all through him might believe He that feeleth the Light that Christ hath enlightened him withal he feeleth Christ in his Mind and the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God and he shall not need to have a Cross of Wood or Stone to put him in mind of Christ or of his Cross which is the Power of God manifest in the inward Parts G. F. Besides this I was moved to write a Letter to the Protector so called To warn him of the mighty Work the Lord hath to do in the Nations and shaking of them and to beware of his own Wit Craft Subtilty and Policy or seeking any By-Ends to himself There was about this time an Order for the Trying of Ministers so called and for Approving or Ejecting them out of their Places or Benefices whereupon I writ a Paper To the Justices and other Commissioners who were appointed to that Work Of which Paper the Copy here follows Friends YOU that be Justices and in Commission to Try Ministers who have so long been in the Vine-yard of God now see whether they be such as are mentioned in the Scriptures whom the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did Dis-approve of And if they be such as they Dis-approved then see how ye can stand Approved in the sight of God to let such go into his Vine-yard and Approve of them who will admire your Persons because of Advantage and if you do not give them advantage they will not admire your Persons Such Jude speaks of See if they be not such as teach for filthy Lucre for the love of Money Covetous such as love themselves who have a Form of Godliness but deny the Power from such the Apostle bids Turn away The Apostle said Their Mouths should be stopped who served not the Lord Jesus but their own Bellies being Evil Beasts slow Bellies who mind Earthly Things Paul gave Timothy an Order to Try Ministers by He said They must not be Covetous nor given to Wine nor filthy Lucre nor a Novice lest being lifted up into Pride they fall into the Condemnation of the Devil These he was to
and cast him into Prison as the Talkers of him always did in the Generations and Ages past And the Labourers which God the Master of the Harvest hath sent into his Vine-yard do the Chief of the Priests and the Rulers now take Counsel together against to cast them into Prison And here is the Fruits of Priests and People and Rulers without the Fear of God The Day is come and coming that every Man's Work doth appear and shall appear glory be to the Lord God for ever So see and consider the Days you have spent and the Days you do spend for this is your Day of Visitation Many have suffered great Fines of Money because they could not Swear but do abide in Christ's Doctrine who saith Swear not at all and by that means are they made a Prey upon for abiding in the Command of Christ And now many are cast into Prison and are made a Prey upon because they cannot take the Oath of Abjuration though they denied all that is contained in it and by that means many of the Messengers and Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ are cast into Prison because they will not Swear nor go out of Christ's Command Therefore O Man Consider to the Measure of the Life of God in thee I speak Many also lie in Jails because they cannot pay the Priests Tithes and many have their Goods spoiled and treble Dammages taken of them and many are whipt and beaten in the Houses of Correction without Breach of any Law And these things are done in thy Name to Protect them in these Actions If Men fearing God did bear the Sword and Covetousness were hated and Men of Courage for God were set up then they would be a Terror to Evil-doers and a Praise to them that do well and not cause them to suffer Here Equity would be heard in our Land and Righteousness would stand up and take Place which giveth not place to the Vnrighteous but judgeth it To the measure of God's Spirit in thee I speak that thou may'st consider and come to Rule for God That thou may'st answer that which is of God in every Man's Conscience For that is that which bringeth to Honour all Men in the Lord. Therefore consider for whom thou dost Rule that thou may'st come to receive Power from God to Rule for him and all that is contrary to God may by his Light be Condemned From a Lover of thy Soul who desires thy Eternal Good G. F. But Sufferings and Imprisonments Continuing and Increasing and the Protector under whose Name they were Inflicted hardening himself against the Complaints that were made unto him I was moved to give forth the following Lines amongst Friends to bring the Weight of their Sufferings more heavy upon the Heads of the Persecutors WHO is moved by the Power of the Lord to offer himself to the Justice for his Brother or Sister that lies in Prison and to go lie in Prison in their stead that his Brother or Sister may come forth of Prison and so to lay down his Life for his Brother or Sister And who lies in Prison for Tithes witnessing the Priesthood changed that took Tithes and the unchangeable Priesthood come If any Brother in the Light who witnesseth a Change of the Old Priesthood that took Tithes and a disannulling of the Commandment for Tithes be moved of the Lord to go to the Priest or Impropriator to offer himself to lie in Prison for his Brother and to lay down his Life that he may come forth he may chearfully do it and heap Coals of Fire upon the Head of the Adversary of God Likewise where any suffer for the Truth by them who be in the Vntruth If any Brother be moved of the Lord to go to the Magistrate Judge General or Protector and offer up themselves to the Prison to Lay down their Lives for the Brethren as Christ hath laid down his Life for you so lay down your Lives one for another here you may go over the Heads of the Persecutors and reach the Witness of God in them all And this shall lie a Judgment upon them all for ever and be witnessed to by that which is of God in their Consciences Given forth from the Spirit of the Lord through G. F. Besides this I writ also a short Epistle to Friends as An Encouragement to them in their several Exercises which was as followeth My dear Friends IN the Power of the Everlasting God which comprehends the Power of Darkness and all the Temptations and that which comes out of it In that Power of God dwell which will bring and keep you to the Word in the Beginning which will keep you up to the Life and to feed upon the same in which you are over the Power of Darkness in that you will find and feel Dominion and Life And that will let you see before the Tempter was and over him and in that the Tempter cannot come for the Power and Truth he is out of Therefore in that Life dwell in which you will know Dominion and let your Faith be in the Power and over the Weakness and Temptations and look not at them but in the Light and Power of God look at the Lord's Strength which will be made perfect in your Weakest State So in all Temptations look at the Grace of God to bring your Salvation which is your Teacher to teach you for when you do look or hearken to the Temptations you do go from your Teacher the Grace of God and so are darkened in going from that Teacher which should bring your Salvation the Grace of God which is sufficient in all Temptations to lead out of them and to keep over them G. F. After I had cleared my self of those Services for the Lord which lay upon me in the City of London I passed down through the Countries into Bedfordshire Bedfordshire Northampton-shire Wellingborough and Northamptonshire And at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire I had a great Meeting in which the Lord 's Everlasting Power and Truth was over all and many in that Country were turned to the Lord. A great Rage was amongst the Professors for the wicked Priests Presbyterians and Independents raised Lies upon us as That we carried Bottles about with us which we gave People to drink of which made them to follow us But the Power and Spirit and Truth of God kept Friends over the Rage of the People Great Spoiling also there was of Friends Goods for Tithes by the Independent and Presbyterian Priests and some Baptist-Priests that had gotten into the Steeple-houses as Books of Friend's Sufferings do at large declare Leicestershire From Wellingborrough I went into Leicestershire where Coll. Hacker had threatned That if I came there he would Imprison me again although the Protector had set me at liberty But when I was come to Whetston the Meeting Whetston from which he took me before all was quiet there And thither came Coll. Hacker's Wife
and his Marshal to the Meeting and were Convinced for the glorious powerful Day of the Lord was exalted over all and many were Convinced that day at that Meeting There were at that Meeting Two 1655. Whetston that came out of Wales who were Justices of Peace their Names were Peter Price and Walter Jenkin who came both to be Ministers of Christ I went from thence to Sileby to William Smith's Sileby where was a great Meeting to which several Baptists came and one of them a Baptist-Teacher was Convinced and came to sit under the Lord 's Teaching by his Spirit and Power This Baptist said he had Baptized Thirty in a day From thence I went to Drayton my Native Town Drayton where so many Priests and Professors had formerly gathered together against me but now never a Priest nor Professor did appear I asked some of my Relations Where were all the Priests and Professors now They said The Priest of Non-Eaton was dead and there were Eight or Nine of them seeking to get into his Benefice They will let you alone now said they for they are like a Company of Crows when a rotten Sheep is dead they all gather together to pull out the Puddings and so do the Priests for a fallen Benefice These were some of their own Hearers that said so of them But they had spent their Venom against me and the Lord delivered me by his Power out of their Snares Then I went to Badgley Badgley where there was a great Meeting from many parts many came far to it and many were Convinced and turned to the Lord And they that were Convinced came under Christ's Teaching and were settled upon him their Foundation and their Rock From thence I passed into Nottinghamshire Nottingham-shire Darbyshire and had large Meetings there and so into Darbyshire where the Lord's Power came over all and many were turned from the Darkness to the Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and came to receive the Holy Ghost And great Miracles were wrought in many Places by the Power of the Lord through several In Darbyshire James Nailer met me and told me Seven or Eight Priests had challenged him to a Dispute I had a Travel in my Spirit for him and the Lord answered me and I was moved to bid him Go on and God Almighty would be with him and give him the Victory in his Power And the Lord did so insomuch that the People saw the Priests were foiled and they cried A Nailer a Nailer hath confuted them all After the Dispute was over he came to me again praising the Lord. Thus was the Lord's Day proclaimed and set over all their Heads and People began to see the Apostacy and Slavery they had been under to their Hireling-Teachers for Means and they came to know their Teacher the Lord Jesus who had bought them and purchased them and made their Peace betwixt God and them While we were here Friends came out of Yorkshire to see us and were glad of the Prosperity of Truth After this I passed into Warwickshire through Friends Warwickshire Worcestershire Birmingham visiting their Meetings and so into Worcestershire and had a Meeting at Brummingham as I went where several were Convinced and turned to the Lord. At length I came to one Cole's House in Worcestershire near Chattan 1655. Near Chattan This Cole had given an Independent-Preacher a Meeting-place and the Independent came to be Convinced and after he was Convinced he laid aside his Preaching Whereupon the Old Man Cole gave him an hundred Pounds a Year I had a Meeting at that Meeting-place and a very great Meeting it was insomuch that the Meeting-place would not hold the People and many were turned to the Lord that day Afterwards when the time of Trials came this Independent did not stand to that which had Convinced him but turned back Whereupon the Old Man took away his 100 l. a Year from him again But this Old Man Cole himself died in God's Truth Now I heard that at Evesholme the Magistrates had cast several Friends into Prison in several Prisons and that hearing of my coming they made a pair of high Stocks So I sent for Edward Pittaway a Friend that lived near Evesholme and asked him the Truth of the thing and he said It was so Then I went that Night with him to Evesholme Evesholme and in the Evening we had a large precious Meeting wherein Friends and People were refreshed with the Word of Life and with the Power of the Lord. Next Morning I got up and rid to one of the Prisons and visited Friends there and encouraged them Then I rid to the other Prison where there were several Prisoners and amongst them one Friend that had been a Priest but was now become a free Minister of Christ his Name was Humphrey Smith So when I had visited the Friends at both Prisons and was turned away from the Prison to go out of Town I espied the Magistrates coming up the Town to have seized me in Prison But the Lord frustrated their Intents that the Innocent escaped their Snare and the Lord God's blessed Power came over them all But exceeding Rude and Envious were the Priests and Professors about this time in those Parts Worcester I went from Evesholme to Worcester and had a precious Meeting there and quiet But after the Meeting as we came down the Street towards our Inn some of the Professors fell to discourse with Friends and were like to have made a Tumult in the City and as we went into the Inn they all cluttered into the Yard but I went among them and got them quieted The next day I walked forth into the Town and had a great deal of Discourse with some of the Professors concerning Christ and the way of Truth One of them denied That Christ was of Abraham according to the Flesh and that he was declared to be the Son of God according to the Spirit But I proved from Rom. 1. that he was of the Seed of Abraham being made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh and that according to the Spirit he was declared to be the Son of God Afterwards I writ a Paper concerning it Tewksbury From Worcester we went to Tewksbury where in the Evening we had a great Meeting And there came in the Priest of the Town with a great Rabble of rude People and the Priest boasted That he would see whether he or I should have the Victory I turned the People to the Divine Light which Christ the heavenly and spiritual Man had enlightned them withal that with that Light they might see their Sins and that they were in Death and Darkness and without God in the World 1655. Tewksbury And with the same Light they might see Christ from whom it came their Saviour and Redeemer who had shed his Blood for them and died for them and who was the Way to God
the Truth and the Life Here the Priest began to Rage against the Light and denied it for neither Priest nor Professor could endure to hear the Light spoken of So the Priest having railed at the Light went away and left his rude Company amongst us but the Lord's Power came over them though Mischief was in their Hearts Leaving Tewksbury we passed back through the Country and came to Warwick Warwick where in the Evening we had a Meeting at a Widow-woman's House whither many sober People came together and a precious Meeting we had in the Lord's Power and several were Convinced and turned to the Lord. After the Meeting was done and I was walking out a Baptist in the Company began to Jangle and the Bayliff of the Town with his Officers came in and said What do these People here at this time of the Night So he secured John Crook and Amor Stoddart and Gerrard Roberts and me but we had leave to go to our Inn all that were Strangers and to be forth-coming in the Morning The next Morning there came many rude People into the Inn and into our Chambers desperate Fellows but the Lord's Power gave us Dominion over them Gerrard Roberts and John Crook went up to the Bailiff to speak with him and to know What he had to say to us He said We might go our ways for he had little to say to us Then as we rid out of Town it lay upon me to ride to his Hâ—â—se to speak to him and to let him know That the Protector having given forth an Instrument of Government in which Liberty of Conscience was granted it was very much that contrary to that Instrument of Government he would trouble peaceable People that feared God The Friends went with me but the rude People gathered about us with Stones And one of them took hold of my Horse's Bridle and brake it but the Horse drawing back threw him under him Though the Bayliff saw this yet did he not stop nor so much as Rebuke the Rude Multitude so that it was much we had not been slain or hurt in the Streets amongst them for the People threw Stones and struck at us as we Rode along the Town When we were come quite out of the Town I told Friends It was upon me from the Lord that I must go back into the Town again and if any one of them felt any thing upon him from the Lord he might follow me and the rest that did not might go on to Dun-Cow So I passed up through the Market in the dreadful Power of God declaring the Word of Life to them and John Crook followed me Some struck at me but the Lord's Power was over them and gave me Dominion over all And I shewed them their Vnworthiness of the Name of Christians and the Vnworthiness of their Teachers that had not brought them into more Sobriety and what a shame they were to Christianity Having cleared my self I turned back out of the Town again and passed to Coventry but when we came thither Coventry we found the People closed up with Darknâ—ss I went to a Profâ—ssor's House that I had formerly been at 1655. Coventry and he was drunk which grieved my Soul so that I did not go into any House in the Town but rode into some of the Streets of the Town and into the Market-place and I felt the Power of the Lord God was over the Town Duncow Then I went on to Duncow and had a Meeting there in the Evening and some were turned to the Lord by his Spirit as some also were at Warwick and Tewksbury before-mentioned We lay at the Duncow that Night and there we met with John Cham a faithful Minister of the Everlasting Gospel In the Morning there was gathered together a Rude Campany of Priests and People who behaved themselves more like Beasts than Men for some of them came Riding on Horseback into the Room where we were But the Lord gave us Dominion over them Leicestershire Warwickshire Badgley From thence we passed into Leicester-shire where we had a great Meeting again at the place where I had been taken formerly And after that we came back into Warwickshire to Badgley Here William Edmundson a Friend that lived in Ireland having some drawings upon his Spirit to come over into England to see me met with me and by him I writ a few Lines to those few Friends that were then Convinced in the North of Ireland as followeth Friends IN that which Convinced you Wait that you may have that removed you are Convinced of And all my Dear Friends dwell in the Life and Love and Power and Wisdom of God in Vnity one with another and with God and the Peace and Wisdom of God fill all your Hearts that nothing may rule in you but the Life which stands in the Lord God G. F When these few Lines were read amongst the Friends in Ireland at their Meeting the Power of the Lord seized upon them all that were in the Room Swannington Higham Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Hertfordshire Baldock From Badgley we passed to Swannington and Higham and so through the Countries into Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire having great Meetings and many were turned to the Lord by his Power and Spirit When we came to Baldock in Hertfordshire I asked If there was nothing in that Town no Profession and it was Answered me There were some Baptists and a Baptist-woman sick John Rush of Bedfordshire went along with me to visit her and when we came in there were many People in the House that were Tender about her And they told me She was not a Woman for this World but if I had any thing to comfort her concerning the World to come I might speak to her So I was moved of the Lord God to speak to her ☞ and the Lord raised her up again to the astonishment of the Town and Country Her Husband 's Name was Baldock This Baptist-woman and her Husband came to be Convinced and many hundreds of People have been at Meetings at their House since Great Meetings and Convincements there were up and down in those Parts afterwards and many People received the Word of Life 1655. Baldock and sate down under the Teaching of Christ their Saviour When we had visited this sick Woman we went back to our Inn and there were Two desperate Fellows fighting so furiously that none durst come nigh them to part them But I was moved in the Lord's Power to go to them and when I had loosed their Hands I held one of them by one Hand and the other by the other Hand and I shewed them the Evil of their doings and reconciled them one to the other that they were loving and very thankful to me so that People admired at it From thence I passed through the Country to Market-street Market-street Albans London where God had a People and so through Albans to London where
Ye would have Honour before ye have Humility Did not all the Persecutors that ever were upon the Earth want this Humility And so they wanted the Honour and yet would have the Honour before they had the Humility and had learned that And so ye that be out of the Humility be out of the Honour and ye are not to have the Honour who have not the Humility for before Honour is Humility mark before it Now ye pretend Liberty of Conscience yet shall not one carry a Letter to a Friend nor Men visit their Friends nor visit Prisoners nor carry a Book about them either for their own Use or for their Friends and yet ye pretend Liberty of Conscience Men shall not see their Friends but Watches are set up against them to catch and stop them and these must be Well-armed Men too against an Innocent People that have not so much as a Stick in their Hâ—nds who are in scorn called Quakers And yet â—mâ—ng such as set up these Watches is pretended Liberty of Conscience who take up them whose Consciences are exercised towards God and Men who worship God in their Way which is the Truth which they that be out of the Light call Heresy Now these who set up the Watches against them whom they in scorn call Quakers it is Because they confess and witness the true Light that lighteth every one that cometh into the World amongst People as they pass through the Country or among their Friends This is the dangerous Doctrine which the Watchmen are set up against to subdue Error as they call it which is the Light that doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World Hâ—m by whom the World was made who was glorified with the Father before the VVorld began For them whom they in scorn call Quakers have they set up their VVatches Able Men well-Armed to take up these that bear this Testimony either in VVords Books or Letters So that is the Light you hate that doth Enlighten every man that cometh into the VVorld and these that witness to this Light are they that you put in Prison And after you have Imprisoned them you set up your VVatches to take up all that go to Visit them and to Imprison them also So that by setting up your VVatches ye would stop all Relief from coming to Prisoners Therefore this is the VVord of the Lord God to you and a Charge to you all in the presence of the living Goâ— of Heaven and Earth Every Man of you being enlightned with a Light that cometh from Christ the Saviour of People's Souls from whom the Light cometh that enlightens you To the Light all take heed that with it you may all see Christ from whom the Light cometh you may all see him to be your Saviour by whom the VVorld was made who saith Learn of me But if ye hate this Light which Christ hath enlightned you withal ye hate Christ who doth Enlighten you all that you all through him who is the Light might believe But not believing in the Light nor bringing your Deeds to the Light which will make them manifest and reprove them this is your Condemnation even the Light Remember you are warned in your Life-time for this is your VVay to Salvation the Light if you walk in it And this is your Condemnation the Light if you reject and hate it And you can never come to Christ the Second Priest unless you come to the Light which the Second Priest hath enlightned you withal So ye that come not to the Light ye go to the Priests that take Tithes as did the First Priesthood and so hale out of your Synagogues and Temples as some call them as that Priesthood did that took Tithes which they that were of the Second Priesthood did not Was there ever such a Generation Or ever did such a Generation of Men appear as doth now in this Age who are so full of Madness Envy and Persecution that they stand up in VVatches with Bills and VVeapons against the Truth to persecute it as the Towns and Countries do declare which Rings as Sodom and like Gomorrah And this hath its Liberty and Truth is stood against And to Reprove Sin is accounted a Breach of the Peace as they say who be out of the Truth and set up their VVatches against it G. F. Besides this General VVarning there coming to my Hand a Copy of a VVarrant Issued out from the Sessions of Exon in express Terms For the apprehending of all Quakers wherein Truth and Friends were reproached and vilified I was moved to write an Answer thereunto and send it abroad for the Clearing of Truth and Friends from the Slanders therein cast upon them and to manifest the wickedness of that persecuting Spirit from whence it proceeded And that which I writ was after this manner WHereas there was a VVarrant granted forth the last Sessions holden at Exon on the Eighteenth Day of the Fifth Month 1656. which VVarrant is For the Apprehending and taking up all such as are Quakers or call themselves Quakers or go under the Notion of Quakers And is directed to the Chief-Constables to be sent by them to the Petty-Constables requiring them to set VVatches able Men with Bills to take up all such Quakers as aforesaid And whereas in your said VVarrant you speak of the Quakers spreading Seditious Books and Papers I Answer They whom ye in scorn call Quakers have no Seditious Books or Papers but their Books are against Sedition and Seditious Men and Seditious Books and Seditious Teachers and Seditious VVays And so ye have numbred them who are honest Men Godly Men holy Men Men that fear God among Beggars Rogues and Vagabonds Thus putting no Difference between the Precious and the Vile you are not fit to judge who have set up your Bills and armed your Men to stand up together in Battel against the Innocent People the Lambs of Christ which have not lifted up an Hand against you But if ye were sensible of the State of your own Country your Cities your Towns your Villages how the Cry of them is like Gomorrah and the Ring like Sodom and the Sound like the Old World where all Flesh had Corrupted its way which God overthrew with the Flood If you did this consider with your selves you would find something to turn the Sword against and not against the Lambs of Christ and not make a Mock upon the Innocent that stand a Witness against all Sin and Vnrighteousness in your Towns and Steeple-houses Noah the Eighth Person a Preacher of Righteousness was grieved with the filthy Conversation of the Wicked So are we now So likewise Just Lot was grieved with their unmerciful Deeds and the filthy Conversation of Sodom And were not these hated of the World and of them that lived in Filthiness And whereas you speak of those whom you in scorn call Quakers that they are a Grief to those whom you call Pious and Religious People and their
one of you a Reward according to your Works you which have the Letter which speaks of Christ but now ye are persecuting that which the Scripture speaks of so your Fruits make you manifest Therefore every one Sheriff Justices Constables c. see what ye do possess Consider what ye do possess and what a Profession ye are now in that all these Carnal Weapons are now set up against the Innocent yea against the Truth Which shews that ye have not the Spiritual Weapons that they are not among you and that ye want the Counsel of Gamaliel yea ye want the Counsel of such a Man among you who said Let the Apostles alone If it be of God it will stand if it be not it will come to nought But ye may see your selves on the Contrary in the Spirit of them that came with Judas with Swords and Staves from the Chief-Priests against Christ still it is against Christ where he is made manifest Paul while Saul went against him though he professed a Christ that was to come and the Jews professed a Christ that was to come Yet Paul persecuted him where he was manifested in his Saints So ye profess a Christ that is come but persecute him where he is manifest You that have the Letter the High-Places the Synagogues you persecute him where he is made manifest in his Saints as the Jews did They who were in the Letter out of the Life persecuted them that were in the Life of that which they profess in the Letter So now do you persecute them that are in the Life and are your selves Strangers to it as your Fruits make appear You have numbred the People of God amongst Transgressors but have you prisoned any of the Rogues and Transgressors you speak of you have prisoned the Innocent and let the others go free G. F. When I had sent abroad the fore-going Papers concerning the Watches that were then set up to Intercept and Stop Friends in their Travels in the Work of tho Lord so great a sense came upon me of the Darkness and Vail that was over the Priests and Professors of Christianity that I was moved to give forth the following Paper as An Awakening Warning to them BLindness hath happened to the professed Christians of the Letter now a days as Blindness happened to the Jews who professed the Letter but owned not the Life which the Letter speaks of As the Christians now to whom this Blindness hath hap'ned who profess the Scripture but own not the Life which the Scripture speaks of For against the Life the Jews stood who profest the Letter of the Scripture but they were Blind they gathered Counsel against the Life they were in an Vproar when the Babe was born in Bethlehem Herod and all the Chief Priests And Herod sought to destroy all the young Children in Bethlehem yet missed the Babe Herod that Fox though he slew John and put him to death And you may here see how the Literal Professors did stand up not for the Truth but quite against it Furthermore the Chief-Priests consulted together how they might take Jesus by Subtilty and put him to death mark by their Subtilty The Professors of a Christ that was to come they preached of a Messias of a Christ of a Saviour but denied the Life when he was made manifest The Chief-Priests and the Council gathered together they profest his words and the Chief-Priests who were gathered together with the Council said That his Disciples had stolen him away by Night and gave large Monies to the Souldiers to declare this Likewise in the day when the Children of Israel were in Egypt and they with their Children began to spread and multiply Come said the Egyptians Let us deal wisely with them to Afflict them and tax them Which held until the Lord overthrew their Oppressors and brought out his Seed by his mighty Power from under the Oppressor and exalted his Son above all though the Heathen raged and the People imagined vain things and he made his Power known that all might see that there was no God upon the Earth but himself This Power now hath brought forth the Work of the Lord Many who be turned to the Light Christ have received the Power of God and are thereby become the Sons of God Now this Birth that is born of God are all the Powers of the World joined together to Crucify to put to Death those Jews in the Spirit as they did put Christ to Death in the Flesh formerly This is the Birth that all the Wicked World is enraged against and mad at Against this they set their Watches this Birth brought forth by the Mighty God of Jacob who rides upon the High-places of the Earth This is the Birth that the profest Christians without the Life in our Days and Age rage against and lay out all their Wisdom about Are not the Chief-Priests and Wise Men of the Earth consulting together how they might destroy this Birth Is not this the Birth that is banished out of your Hearts you that profess the Scripture and are Talkers of it but do not own the Light and Life which the Scripture speaks of as the Jews would not and so will not have Christ to Reign over you as they would not Do you not hale out of your Synagogues and before Magistrates Do you not herein fulfil Christ's Words who said to his Disciples They should be haled out of the Synagogues and before Rulers Do you not Persecute them from City to City Do you not almost fill your Prisons with them And now set your Watches that none should go to Visit them whom ye have put into Prison Is not this an Vnchristian Spirit How can you for shame say You are Vpholders of Truth Or how can you for shame say that Truth hath been profest among you Yet we say We Grant that you have talked of it And how can you for shame say The Gospel shines among you when you will not own it the Life of it when you call it Error and the evil Seed Yea the very Truth yea the very Life of Truth ye have blasphemed against now as the Jews did against Christ calling him a Devil you now call it Error and the Evil Seed and stand up against it and turn the Sword against it As it was in the days of the Jews who turned the Sword against Christ so it is in these days of the Professed Christians of the Scripture but out of the Life that gave it forth as it was with the Jews outward in the Flesh who were not the Jews in the Spirit And is it not a shame to all the Ministers of the Gospel as they are called that they can find no better Way to maintain that which they call the Truth and their Gospel than by Carnal Weapons Stocks and Prisons and Whips Watches and Wards and Powers of the Earth Were these the Apostles Weapons Carnal Watches and Wards Stocks and Prisons and haling out
Visit Prisoners whom you have Imprisoned Doth this shew you to have a Spirit like Paul yea or nay or are you not quite contrary like to them that persecuted Paul The Day hath declared it To that of God in you all I speak which shall witness it at the Last Day in the Day of Judgment Persecution was blind in all Ages and Madness and Folly led it Yet Persecution got always a Form or Presence of Godliness or to talk of Religion as in the Days of Moses in the Days of Jeremy in the Days of Christ and of the Apostles Come saith the Council Let us crush them while they are Young they have almost over-spread the Nation in every Corner This is as much as to say Let us put this Birth to Death as Pharaoh and Herod did the Children But the Lord caused his Truth the more to spread For you may read what Numbers came out of Egypt and what Multitudes followed Christ Therefore with Consideration read these Lines and not with Fury and let not Foolishness appear But consider in Humility your Ways you act in and your Paths you go in and what Spirit you are of and what the End of your Conversation is now see For in Love to your Souls I write that in the Day of your Visitation you may consider it From him who loveth Righteousness and the establishing of it and Truth and Peace and Faith which is by Christ Jesus Mercy and Peace be multiplied among such But a Witness against all Hypocrites and all who have a Profession but live out of the Possession who are in an Hypocritical Religion in the Lusts and Fashions of the World having a Form of Godliness but standing against the Power with might and main Sword and Staff Which things declare your Conversation and Practices to be out of Christ 's Life against the Gospel-practice and contrary to the Manner and Order of the Saints G. F We were continued in Prison till the next Assize 1656. Lanceston Assize before which time divers Friends both Men and Women were sent to Prison that had been taken up by the Watches When the Assize was come several of these were called before the Judge and Indicted and tho' the Jailer brought them into Court yet they Indicted them that they came in by Force of Arms and in an hostile manner And the Judge fined them because they would not put off their Hats But we were not called before the Judges any more but they let us alone Great Work we had and Service for the Lord both between the Assizes and after amongst the Professors and People of all sorts for many came to see us and to reason with us And Elizabeth Trelawny of Plimouth who was the Daughter of one called a Baronet being Convinced as was formerly mentioned the Priests and Professors and some great Persons of her Kindred were in a great Rage concerning her and writ Letters to her And she being a Wise and Tender Woman and fearing to give them any Advantage sent their Letters to me and I answered them and returned them to her again for her to send the Answers to them Which she did till growing in the Power and Spirit and Wisdom of God she came her self to be able to Answer the wisest Priest and Professor of them all and had a Dominion over them all in the Truth through the Power of the Lord by which she was kept faithful to her Death Now while I was in Prison here Lanceston Gaol the Baptists and Fifth-Monarchy-Men prophesied That this Year Christ should come and Reign upon Earth a Thousand Years And they looked upon this Reign to be Outward When as he was come inwardly in the Hearts of his People to Reign and Rule there and these Professors would not Receive him there So they failed in their Prophecy and Expectation and had not the Possession of him But Christ is come and doth dwell in the Hearts of his People and Reigns there And Thousands at the Door of whose Hearts he hath been knocking have opened to him and he is come in and doth Sup with them and they with him the heavenly Supper with the heavenly and spiritual Man So many of these Baptists and Monarchy-People turned the greatest Enemies to the Possessors of Christ But he Reigns in the Hearts of his Saints over all their Envy At the Assize divers Justices came to us and were pretty Civil and Reasoned of the things of God pretty soberly expressing a Pity to us There came also Capt. Fox who was Governour of Pendennis-Castle and lookt me in the Face and said never a word but went his ways to his Company and told them He never saw a simpler Man in his Life I called after him and said Stay Man we will see who is the simpler Man But he went his way A light Chaffy Man There came also at the Assize one Thomas Lower to Visit us and he offered to give us Money which we refused accepting nevertheless of his Love He asked us many Questions concerning our denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and concerning the Sacraments and such like To all which he received Satisfaction And I spake unto him and he afterwards said 1656. Lanceston Gaol My Words were as a flash of Lightning they ran so through him And he said He never met with such wise Men in his Life for they knew the Thoughts of his Heart and were as the wise Master-Builders of the Assemblies that fastned their Words like Nails He came to be Convinced of the Truth and remains a Friend to this Day When he came home to his Aunt Hambley's where he then lived and made Report to her concerning us She with her Sister Grace Billing hearing the sound of Truth came afterwards to Visit us in Prison and was Convinced also And great Sufferings and Spoilings of Goods both he and his Aunt have undergone for the Truth 's sake About this time I was moved to give forth the following Paper to Friends in the Ministry Friends IN the Power of life and wisdom and dread of the Lord God of life and Heaven and Earth dwell that in the wisdom of God over all ye may be preserved and be a Terror to all the Adversaries of God and a Dread answering that of God in them all spreading the Truth abroad awakening the VVitness confounding the Deceit gathering up out of Transgression into the Life the Covenant of Light and Peace with God Let all Nations hear the sound by Word or Writing Spare no Place spare no Tongue nor Pen but be obedient to the Lord God go through the VVork and be valiant for the Truth upon Earth tread and trample all that is Contrary under Ye have the Power do not Abuse it and Strength and Presence of the Lord eye it and the VVisdom that with it you may all be ordered to the Glory of the Lord God Keep in the Dominion keep in the Power over all Deceit
tread over them in that which lets you see to the VVorlds End and the utmost Parts of the Earth Reign and Rule with Christ whose Scepter and Throne is now set up whose Dominion is over all to the Ends of the Earth whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion Throne an everlasting Throne Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom Power above all Powers Therefore this is the Word of the Lord God to you all Keep in the wisdom of God that spreads over all the Earth the wisdom of the Creation that is Pure from Above not destructive For now shall Salvation go out of Zion to Judge the Mount of Esau and now shall the Law go forth from Jerusalem to Answer the Principle of God in all to hew down all Inventors and Inventions For all the Princes of the Earth is but as Air to the Power of the Lord God which you are in and have tasted of Therefore Live in it that is the Word of the Lord God to you all and do not Abuse it And keep down and Low and take heed of false Joys that will Change Bring all into the Worship of God Plow up the fallow Ground thresh and get out the Corn that the Seed the Wheat may be gathered into the Barn that to the Beginning all People may come to Christ that was before the VVorld was made For the Chaff is come upon the VVheat by Transgression he that treadeth it out is out of Transgression and fathoms Transgression and puts a difference between the precious and the vile and can pick out the Wheat from the Tares and gather into the Garner so brings to the lively Hope the Immortal Soul into God out of which it came And none worships God but who comes to the Principle of God which they have transgressed and none are plowed up but who comes to the Principle of God in him that he hath transgressed then he doth service to God then is the planting and the watering and the Increase from God cometh So the Ministers of the Spirit must minister to the Spirit that is in Prison which hath been in Captivity in every one that with the Spirit of Christ People may be led out of Captivity up to God the Father of Spirits and do service to him and to have Vnity with him with the Scriptures and one with another And this is the Word of the Lord God to you all and a Charge to you all in the presence of the living God Be Patterns be Examples in all Countries Places Islands Nations where-ever you come that your Carriage and Life may preach among all sorts of People and to them then you will come to walk Chearfully over the World Answering that of God in every one whereby in them ye may be a Blessing and make the Witness of God in them to bless you Then to the Lord God you will be a sweet Savour and a Blessing Spare no Deceit lay the Sword upon it go over it Keep your selves clear of the Bloods of all Men either by Word or Writing or Speaking and keep your selves clean that you may stand in your Throne and every one have his Lot and stand in the Lot in the Ancient of Days And so the Blessing of the Lord be with you and keep you over all the Idolatrous Worships and Worshippers let them know the Living God for Teachings Churches Worships must be thrown down with the power of the Lord God set up by Man's earthy Vnderstanding Knowledge and Wills For this all must be thrown down with that which gave forth Scripture and who be in that Reigns over it all That is the Word of the Lord God to you all In that is God Worshipped that brings to declare his Will and brings to the Church in God the Ground and Pillar of Truth for now is the mighty Day of the Lord appeared and the Arrows of the Almighty gone forth which shall stick in the Hearts of the Wicked Now will I Arise saith the Lord God Almighty to trample and Thunder down Deceit which hath long reigned and stained the Earth Now will I have my Glory out of every one The Lord God Almighty over all in his Strength and Power you keep to his Glory that you may come to Answer that of God in every one in the World Proclaim the mighty Day of the Lord of Fire and Sword who will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth and keep in the Life and Power of the Lord God that the Inhabitants of the Earth may tremble before you That the Lord God's Power and Majesty may be Admired among the Hypocrites and Heathens and ye in the Wisdom Dread Life Terror and Dominion Preserved to his Glory that nothing may Rule or Reign but Power and Life it self and in the Wisdom of God ye may be preserved in it And this is the Word of the Lord God to you all and the Call is now Out of Transgression the Spirit bids Come and the Call is now from all false Worships and Gods and from all Inventions and dead Works to serve the living God and the Call to Repentance to the Amendment of Life whereby Righteousness may be brought forth which shall go throughout the Earth Therefore ye that be Chosen and Faithful which are with the Lamb go through your Work faithfully and in the Strength and Power of the Lord and be obedient to the Power for that will save you out of the Hands of unreasonable Men and preserve you over the World to himself hereby you may live in the Kingdom that stands in Power which hath no end where glory and life is For Tho. Mounts G. F. After the Assize the Sheriff with some Souldiers came to guard a Woman to Execution that was sentenced to die and we had a great deal of Discourse with them One of them wickedly said That Christ was as passionate a Man as any that lived upon the Earth for which wicked Saying we rebuked him Another time we asked the Jailer what Doings there were at the Sessions and he said Small Matters only about Thirty for Bastardy We thought it very strange that they who professed themselves Christians should make small Matters of such things But this Jailer was very bad himself and I often admonished him to Sobriety but he would Abuse People that came to Visit us Edward Pyot had a Cheese sent him from Bristol from his Wife and the Jailer took the Cheese from him and carried it to the Mayor to search it for Treasonable Letters as he said And though they found no Treason in the Cheese they kept it from us This Gaoler might have been made Rich if he had carried himself Civilly but he sought his own Ruin Which soon after came upon him For the next Year he was turned out of his Place and for some wickedness was cast into the Jail himself and there begged of our Friends And for some Vnruliness in his Carriage he was by the succeeding Jailer put into Doomsdale and
of Jesus Christ that shines in every one of your Consciences search you throughly and it will let you clearly see for all your Profession of God Christ and the Scriptures you are Ignorant of them and Enemies to them all and your own Souls also And being found living in Pleasures you are dead while you live And therefore doth the Lord by many Messengers forwarn you and calls you to Repentance and deep Humiliation that you may forsake the Evil of your Doings and so own this Day of your Visitation and while you have Time to prise it lest the things which belong to your Peace be hid from your Eyes for your Disobedience and Rebellion against the Holy One. And then had it been good that you never had been born Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand again I say Repent To the Bowlers in the Green Given forth in Lanceston-Gaol in Cornwall Being Released we got Horses Cornwall and rid up into the Country towards Humphry Lower's and met him upon the Road coming towards us He told us He was much troubled in his Mind concerning us and could not rest at home but was going to Colonel Bennet to seek our Liberty But when we told him VVe were set at liberty and were going to his House he was exceeding glad So to his House we went and there we had a fine precious Meeting and many were Convinced and turned by the Spirit of the Lord to the Lord Jesus Christ's Teaching From his House we went to Loveday Hambleys where also we had a fine large Meeting and the Lord's Power was over all and many were Convinced there also and turned to the Lord Jesus Christ their Teacher After we had tarried there Two or Three Days we came to Thomas Mounce's where we had a general Meeting for the whole County which being very large was held in his Orchard Friends from Plimouth were there and from many Places and the Lord's Power was over all and a great Convincement there was in many Places of the County And all their Watches were down in all those Countries and all was plain and open 1656. Cornwall for the Lord had let me see before I was set at Liberty that he would make all the Country plain before us Now Thomas and Ann Curtis with another an Alderman of Reading who was Convinced had come to Lanceston to see us while I was a Prisoner And when Ann and the other man returned Thomas Curtis staid behind in Cornwall and did good Service for the Lord there at that Time Lanceston From Thomas Mounce's we passed to Lanceston again and visited that little Remnant of Friends that had been raised up there while we were there in Prison and the Lord's Plants grew finely and were established on Christ their Rock and Foundation As we were going out of Town again the Constable of Lanceston came running to us with the Cheese that had been taken from Edward Pyot which they had kept from us all this while and were tormented with it But we being now set at Liberty would not receive it Okington From Lanceston we came to Okington and lay at an Inn which the Mayor of the Town kept He had stopt and taken up several Friends but was very Civil to us and was Convinced in his Judgment Exeter From thence we came through the Countries to Exeter where many Friends were in Prison and amongst the rest James Nayler For a little before the Time that we were set at Liberty James run out into Imaginations and a Company with him and they raised up a great Darkness in the Nation And he came to Bristol and made a Disturbance there And from thence he was coming to Lanceston to see me but was stopt by the Way and Imprisoned at Exeter As were also several others that were coming to see me one of whom an honest tender Man died in Prison there whose Blood lieth on the Heads of his Persecutors That Night that we came to Exeter I spake with James Nayler for I saw he was out and wrong and so was his Company The next day being the First-day of the week we went to the Prison to visit the Prisoners and had a Meeting with them in the Prison but James Nayler and some of them could not stay the Meeting There came a Corporal of Horse into the Meeting and was Convinced and remained a very good Friend The next day I spake to James Nayler again and he slighted what I said and was dark and much out yet he would have come and kissed me But I said Since he had turned against the Power of God I could not receive his shew of Kindness So the Lord God moved me to slight him and to set the Power of God over him So after I had been warring with the World there was now a wicked Spirit risen up amongst Friends to war against and I admonished him and his Company And when he was come to London his Resisting the Power of God in me and the Truth that was declared to him by me became one of his greatest Burdens but he came to see his Out-going and to Condemn it and after some Time he returned to Truth again as in the printed Relation of his Repentance Condemnation and Recovery may be more fully seen We passed from Exeter through Collumpton and Taunton 1656. Collumpton Taunton Puddimoor visiting Friends and had Meetings amongst them and declared the Word of Life unto them And from thence we came to Puddimoor to William Beaton's and on the First-day we had a very large Meeting there For a great Convincement there was all up and down that Country and many Meetings we had and the Lord's Power was over all and many were turned by the Power and Spirit of God to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for them and they came to sit under his free Teaching From thence we went to John Dandy's where we had another precious Meeting and the Lord's Power was over all and many were Convinced of God's Eternal Truth Some Contention was raised by Professors and Baptists in some Places but the Lord's Power came over them near Bristol From thence we came to Edward Pyot's house near Bristol It was the Seventh-day at Night that we came thither And it was quickly noised over the Town that I was come Now I had never been there before On the First-day Morning I went to the Meeting in Broadmead at Bristol and a great Meeting there was and quiet Bristol Meeting Notice was given of a Meeting to be in the Afternoon in the Orchard There was at Bristol a rude Baptist named Paul Gwin who had used before to make great disturbance in our Meetings being encouraged and set on by the Mayor who as it was reported would sometimes give him his Dinner to Incourage him And such multitudes of rude People would he gather after him that it was thought there had been sometimes Ten thousand people
us that were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ but since it is become a Larger Meeting Leaving Kingston we rode to London Hide-park And when we came near Hide-Park we saw a great Concourse of People and looking towards them we espied the Protector coming in his Coach Whereupon I rode up to his Coach-side and some of his Life-Guard would have put me away but he forbad them So I rode down by his Coach-side with him declaring what the Lord gave me to say unto him of his Condition and of the Sufferings of Friends in the Nation shewing him ' how contrary this Persecution was to Christ and his Apostles and to Christianity London When we were come to James's Park-gate I left him and at parting he desired me to come to his House The next Day one of his Wife's Maids whose Name was Mary Sanders came up to me at my Lodging and said Her Master came to her and told her he would tell her some good News And when she asked him What it was He told her George Fox was come to Town She replied That was good News indeed for she was one that had received Truth but she said She could hardly believe him till he told her how I met him and rode from Hide-Park down to James 's Park with him After a little time Edward Pyot and I went to Whitehall Whitehal And when we came before him there was one called Dr. Owen Vice-chancellor of Oxford with him We were moved to speak to Oliver Cromwel concerning the Sufferings of Friends and laid them before him and directed him to the Light of Christ who had enlightned appeared to all Men. 1656. London Jude saith Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are Vngodly among them of all their ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him ver 15. Here mark again Him that cometh with ten Thousands of his Saints to Convince all of their ungodly Deeds and hard Speeches Here it is All of their ungodly Deeds and All of their hard Speeches none left out but All to be Convinced and Judged the World Reproved by him who comes with ten Thousands of his Saints and will Reign and be King and Judge And have not ye all something in you that doth Reprove you for your hard Speeches and your ungodly Deeds the Ungodliest of you all who live in your hard Speeches against him and against his Light and spiritual Appearance in his People Again the Apostle writing to the Gentiles saith But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the gift of Christ Ephes 4.7 Now mark Here is the Measure of the Gift of Christ who lighteth every Man that cometh into the World Joh. 1.9 that all Men through him might believe He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned c. And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World c. Joh. 3.18.19 Now every Man that cometh â—nto the World being enlightned One he loveth it and brings his Deeds to the Light that with the Light he may see whether they be wrought in God The Other he hates the Light because his Deeds are Evil and he will not bring his Deeds to the Light because he knows the Light will reprove him So he that hates the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned him knows the Light will reprove him for his evil Deeds and therefore he will not come to the Light Again the Lord by his Prophet saith concerning Christ I will give him for a Light to the Gentiles that he may be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth Isa 49.6 And what is that which the Children that walk according to the Course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience Ephes 2.2 are disobedient to Mark and read your selves who being disobedient walk according to the Course of the World according to the Power of the Prince of the Air Mark I say what it is that all such are disobedient to He that hath an Ear let him hear The Apostle saith to the Colossians The wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience Col. 3.6 Come ye Professors let us see Is not this something of God that is disobey'd Is it not that which is of God manifest in them which God hath shewed them which lets them see God's Judgments are upon such when they act unrighteously Is not this the Measure of God Mark and the Spirit that is in Prison and the Spirit of God that is grieved And ye Professors come let us read the Parable of the Talents and reckon with you and see who it is that hath hid the Lord's Money in the Earth Come ye that have gained enter ye into your Master's Joy Go thou that hast hid the Lord's Money in the Earth into utter Darkness Take it from him and give it to him that hath and every Man shall have his Reward For the Lord hath given to every Man according to â—is several Ability Mat. 25.15 Mark that To every Man according to his several Ability Read this if you can And now is the Lord coming to call every Man severally to Accompt to whom he hath given severally according to their Ability And now the wicked and slothful Servant who hid the Lord's Money in the Earth will be found out and the Lord's Money will be taken from him although he hath hidden it To him the Lord's Commands have been grievous but to us they are not who love God and keep his Commandments And saith the Apostle to the Romans I say through the Grace given unto me to every Man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every Man the measure of Faith Rom. 12.3 Read and mark here is a Measure of Faith And saith another Apostle As every one hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 For the grace of God hath appeared to all Men. Now the good Stewards can give their Accompt with Joy But ye bad Stewards that turn the grace of God into Lasciviousness now ye will be reckoned withal now ye shall have your Reward But say the World Must every one minister as he hath received the Gift Yea say I but let him speak as the Oracles of God and let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth ver 11. John in the Revelation saith They were judged every Man according to their works Rev. 20.13 Christ saith Every idle Word that Men shall speak they shall give Account thereof in the day of Judgment Mat 12.36 So ye that name the
coming away to Friends At last when he had so very few left he would come to Pardsey-Crag where Friends had a Meeting of several hundreds of People who were all come to sit under the Lord Jesus Christ's Teaching and he would walk about the Meeting on the first-Days like a man that went about the Commons to look for Sheep Now during this time I came to this Pardsey-Crag-meeting and he with three or four of his followers that were yet left to him came to the Meeting that Day and they were all throughly Convinced After the Meeting was done Priest Wilkinson asked me two or three Questions which I answered him to his Satisfaction and from that time he came amongst Friends to their Meetings and became an Able Minister and preached the Gospel freely and turned many to Christ's free Teaching And after he had continued many Years in the free Ministry of Christ Jesus he died in the Truth SCOTLAND I had for some time felt Drawings on my Spirit to go into Scotland and had sent to one Colonel William Osborn of Scotland desiring him to come and meet me and he with some others with him were come out of Scotland to this Meeting So after the Meeting was over which he said was the most-glorious Meeting that ever he saw in his life I passed with him and those others that were with him into Scotland having Robert Widders with me who was a Thundring man against Hypocrisy and Deceit and the Rottenness of the Priests The first Night we came into Scotland we lodged at an Inn and the Inn-keeper told us There was an Earl lived about a Quarter of a Mile off who had a desire to see me and had left word at his House that if ever I came into Scotland he should send him word He told us there were three Draw-bridges to his House and that it would be Nine a Clock before the third Bridge was drawn So finding 1657. Scotland we had time in the Evening we walked down to his House He received us very lovingly and said He would have gone with us on our Journey but that he was before engaged to go to a Funeral After we had spent some time with him we parted very friendly and returned to our Inn. Next Morning we travelled on and passing through Dumfreeze Dumfreez Douglass we came to Douglas where we met with some Friends and from thence we passed to the Heads Heads where we had a blessed Meeting in the Name of Jesus and felt him in the midst Leaving Heads we went to Badcow and had a Meeting there Badcow to which abundance of People came and many were Convinced amongst whom there was one that was called a Lady Convinced Highlands From thence we passed towards the High-lands to William Osburn's House where we gathered up the Sufferings of Friends and the Principles of the Scotch Priests which may be seen in a Book called The Scotch-Priests Principles Afterwards we came back again to Heads and Badcow Heads Badcow Garshore and Garshore where the said Lady Margaret Hambleton was Convinced who afterwards went to warn O. Cromwel and Charles Fleetwood of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon them On the First-day we had a great Meeting and several Professors came to it Now the Priests had frighted the People with the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation telling them That God had ordained the greatest part of Men and Women for Hell and that let them Pray or Preach or Sing and do what they could it was all to no purpose if they were ordained for Hell And that God had a certain Number which were Elected for Heaven and let them do what they would as David an Adulterer and Paul a Persecutor yet elected Vessels for Heaven So the fault was not at all in the Creature less or more but God had ordained it so Now I was lead to open to the People the falseness and folly of their Priests Doctrines and shewed them How the Priests had abused those Scriptures which they had brought and quoted to them as in Jude and other Places For whereas they said There was no fault at all in the Creature I shewed them that they who Jude speaks of to wit Cain Core and Balaam who he says were ordained of old to Condemnation the fault was in them For did not God warn Cain and Balaam and gave a Promise to Cain If he did well he should be accepted And did not the Lord bring Core out of Egypt and his Company And yet did not he gainsay both God and his Law and his Prophet Moses So here People might see that there was a fault in Cain Corah and Balaam and so there is in all them that go in their ways For if they who are called Christians resist the Gospel as Core did the Law and err from the Spirit of God as Balaam did and if they do Evil as Cain did is not here a fault Which fault is in themselves and is the Cause of their Reprobation and not God Doth not Christ say Go preach the Gospel to all Nations Which is the Gospel of Salvation He would not have sent them out into all Nations to preach the Doctrine of Salvation if the greatest part of Men had been ordained for Hell Was not Christ a Propitiation for the sins of the whole World for those that become Reprobates as well as for the Saints He died for all Men the Vngodly as well as the Godly as the Apostle bears witness 2 Cor. 5.15 Rom. 5.6 And he enlightens every Man that cometh into the World that through him they might all believe And Christ bids them believe in the Light But all they that hate the Light which Christ bids all believe in they are Reprobated Again The Manifestation of the Spirit of God is given to every Man to profit withal But they that vex quench and grieve it are in the Reprobation and the fault is in them as it is also in them that hate his Light The Apostle saith The grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men teaching us saith he that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tit. 2.11.12 Now all those Men and Women that live Vngodly and in the Lusts of the World that turn this grace of God into Wantonness and walk despitefully against it and so deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ that bought them the fault is in all such that turn the grace into Wantonness and walk despitefully against that which would bring their Salvation and save them out of the Reprobation But the Priests it seems can see no fault in such as deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ that hath bought them such as deny his Light which they should believe in and his grace which should teach them to live godly and which should bring them their Salvation Now all that believe in the Light of
own Spirit and gives it forth as he is moved but to the Harlots Judgment So Friends this is the Word of the Lord to you all be Watchful and Careful in all Meetings ye come into for where Friends are sitting together in silence they are many times gathered into their own measures Now when a Man is come newly out of the World from ministring to the World's People he cometh out of the Dirt and then he had need take heed that he be not Rash For now when he comes into a Silent Meeting that is another State then he must come and feel his own Spirit how it is when he comes to them that sit silent for if he be Rash they will judge him that having been in the World and amongst the World the Heat is not yet off him For he may come in the Heat of his Spirit out of the World whereas the others are still and cool and his Condition in that not being agreeable to theirs he may rather do them Hurt by begetting them out of the Cool State into the Heating State if he be not in that which commands his own Spirit and gives him to know it There is a great Danger too in Travelling abroad in the World The same Power that moves any to go forth is that which must keep them For it is the greatest Danger to go abroad except a Man be moved of the Lord and go in the Power of the Lord for then he keeping in the Power is kept by it in his Journey and in his Work and it will enable him to answer the Transgressed and keep above the Transgressor And every one feeling the Danger to his own particular in Travelling abroad there the pure Fear of the Lord will be placed and kept in For now though they that Travel may have Openings when thâ—y are abroad to Minister to others yet as for their own particular Growth they must dwell in the Life which doth open and that will keep down that which would boast For the Minister comes into the Death to that which is in the Death and in Prison and so returns up again into the Life and into the Power and into the Wisdom to preserve him clean So this is the Word of the Lord God to you all Feel that ye stand in the Presence of the Lord for every Man's Word shall be his Burden but the Word of the Lord is pure and answers the pure in every one The word of the Lord is that which was in the Beginning and brings to the Beginning It is an Hammer to beat down the Transgressor not the Transgressed and as a Fire to burn up that which is contrary to it So Friends come into that which is over all the Spirits of the world and fathoms all the Spirits of the world and stands in the Patience with that ye may see where others stand and reach that which is of God in every one So here is no Strife no Contention out of Transgression for he that goeth into the Strife and into the Contention he is from the ' pure Spirit For where any goeth into the Contention if any thing hath been begotten by him before then that contentious Nature doth get a top and spoil that which was begotten and qâ—encheth his own Prophesying So if that be not subjected by the Power in the Particular which would arise into the Strife that is dangerous Now if any one have a Moving to any Place and have spoken what they were moved of the Lord let them return to their Habitation again and live in the pure Life of God and in the Fear of the Lord and so will ye in the Life and in the solid and seasoned Spirit be kept and preach as well in Life as with Words for none must be light or wild For the Seed of God is weighty and brings to be solid and leads into the Wisdom of God by which the Wisdom of the Creation is known But if that Part be up which runs into the Imaginations and that Part be standing in which the Imaginations come up and the pure Spirit be not throughly come up to rule and reign then that will run out and that will glory and will boast and vapor and so will such an one spoil that which opened to him And this is for Condemnation So every one mind that which feels through and commands his Spirit whereby every one may know what Spirit he is of for he should first Trie his own Spirit and then he may Trie others and he should first know his own Spirit and then he may know others Therefore that which doth command all these Spirits where the Heats and Burnings come in and get up in that wait which chains them down and cools That is the Elect the Heir of the Promise of God For no hasty rash brittle Spirits though they have Prophecies have held our and gone through they not being subjected in the Prophecy The Earthly will not abide for it is brittle and in that State the Ministry was another's not the Son 's for the Son hath Life in himself and the Son hath the Power which Man being obedient to he may be serviceable but if he go from the pure Power then he falls and abuseth it Therefore let your Faith stand in the pure Power of the Lord God and do not abuse it but let that search through and work through and let every one stand in the Power of the Lord God which reacheth the Seed of God which is the Heir of the Promise of Life without End And let none be hasty to speak for ye have Time enough and with an Eye ye may reach the witness Neither let any be backward when ye are moved for that brings Destruction Now Truth hath an Honour in the Hearts of People which are not Friends so that all Friends being kept in the Truth they are kept in the Honour they are honourable and that will honour them but if any lose the Power they lose the Life they lose their Crown they lose their Honour they lose the Cross which should crucify them and they crucify the Just and by losing the Power the Lamb comes to be slain And as it is here so will it be in other Nations for all Friends here and there are as one Family the Seed the Plants they are as a Family Now all being kept in that which subjects all and keeps all under to wit the Seed it self the Life it self that is the Heir of the Promise and that is the Bond of Peace for there is the Vnity in the Spirit with God and with one another For he that in the Life is kept hears God and sees Man's Condition and with that he answers the Life in others that hear God also Thus one Friend that is come into that comprehends the world But that which Friends do speak they must live in so may they look that others may come into that which they speak to live in
until they were Consumed one of another who had turned against and judged that which God had wrought in them and shewed unto them So shortly after God overthrew them and turned them upside down and brought the King over them who were often surmising that the Quakers Met together to bring in King Charles when as Friends did not concern themselves with the outward Powers or Government But at last the Lord brought him in and many of them when they saw he would be brought in Voted for the bringing him in So with Heart and Voice praise the Name of the Lord to whom it doth belong who over all hath the Supremacy 1658. Reading and who will Rock the Nations for he is over them Now I had a Sight and Sense of the King 's Return a good while before and so had some others I writ to Oliver several times and let him know that while he was persecuting God's People they whom he accounted his Enemies were preparing to come upon him And when some forward Spirits that came amongst us would have bought Somerset-House that we might have Meetings in it I forbad them to do so For I did then foresee the King 's Coming in again Besides there came a Woman to me in the Strand who had a Prophecy concerning King Charles 's coming in three Years before he came and she told me she must go to him to declare it I advised her to wait upon the Lord and keep it to her self For if it should be known that she went on such a Message they would look upon it to be Treason But she said She must go and tell him that he should be brought into England again I saw her Prophecy was true and that a great Stroke must come upon them in Power For they that had then gotten Possession were so exceeding high and such great Persecution was acted by them who called themselves Saints that they would take from Friends their Copyhold-Lands because they could not Swear in their Courts And sometimes when we laid these Sufferings before Oliver Cromwel he would not believe it Wherefore Thomas Aldam and Anthony Pearson were moved to go through all the Goals in England and to get Copies of Friends Commitments under the Goalers Hands that they might lay the Weight of Friends Sufferings upon Oliver Cromwel And when he would not give Order for the Releasing of them Thomas Aldam was moved to take his Cap from off his Head and to Rend it in pieces before him and to say unto him So shall thy Government be Rent from Thee and thy House Another Friend also a Woman was moved to go to the Parliament that was envious against Friends with a Pitcher in her hand which she brake into pieces before them and told them So should they be broken to pieces Which came to pass shortly after And in my great Suffering and Travel of Spirit for the Nation being grievously burdened and almost choked with their Hypocrisie Treachery and Falsness I saw God would bring that a top of them which they had been a top of and that all must be brought down to that which did Convince them before they could get over that bad Spirit within and without For it is the pure Invisible Spirit that doth and only can work down all Deceit in People Now while I was under that sore Travel at Reading by reason of Grief and Sorrow of Mind and the great Exercise that was upon my Spirit my Countenance was alter'd and I looked poor and thin and there came a Company of Vnclean Spirits to me and told me The Plagues of God were upon me But I told them It was the same Spirit spake that in them that said so of Christ when he was stricken and smitten they hid their Face from him But when I had travelled with the Witness of God which they had quenched and had gotten through with it and over all that Hypocrisie which the Outside-Professors were run into and saw how that would be brought down and turned under and that Life would rise over it I came to have Ease and the Light Power and Spirit shined over all And then having Recovered and got through my Travels and Sufferings my Body and Face swelled when I came abroad into the Air and then the bad Spirits said I was grown fat and they Envied at that also So I saw that no Condition nor State would please that Spirit of theirs But the Lord preserved me by his Power and Spirit through and over all London and in the Lord's Power I came to London again Now was there a great Pudder made about the Image or Effigies of Oliver Cromwel lying in State Men standing and sounding with Trumpets over his Image after he was dead At this my Spirit was greatly grieved and the Lord I found was highly offended Then did I write the following Lines unto them and sent among them to Reprove their Wickedness and warn them to Repent Oh Friends what are ye doing and what mean ye to sound before aâ— Image Will not all sober People think ye are like mad People Oh how am I grieved with your Abominations Oh how am I wearied My Soul is wearied with â—ou saith the Lord Will I not be avenged of you think ye for yâ—ur Abominations Oh how have ye plucked down and set up On how are your Hearts made whole and not Rent And how are ye turned to Fooleries Which things in times past ye stood over Therefore how have â—e left my Dread saith the Lord O! Therefore Fear and Repent lest the Snare and the Pit take you all The great Day of the Lord is come upon all your Abominations and the swift Hand of the Lord is turned against them all The sober People in the Nations stand amazed at your Doings and are ashamed as if ye would bring in Popery G. F. About this time great Stirs were in the Nation the Minds of People being unsetled and much Plotting and Contriving there was by the several Factions to carry on their several Interests And a great Care being upon me lest any Young or Raw People that might sometimes come amongst us should be drawn into that Snare I was moved to give forth the following Epistle as a Warning unto all such All Friends every where keep out of Plots and Busling and the Arm of Flesh for all that is amongst Adam's Sons in the Fall where they are destroying Mens Lives like Dogs and Beasts and Swine goaring renting and biting one another and destroying one another and wrestling with Flesh and Blood From whence arise Wars and Killing but from the Lusts Now all this is in Adam in the Fall out of Adam that never fell in whom there is Peace and Life Ye are called to Peace therefore follow it and that Peace is in Christ not in Adam in the Fall All that pretend to fight for Christ they are deceived for his Kingdom is not of this World therefore his Servants
so know a Kingdom which hath no end and fight for that with Spiritual Weapons which takes away the occasion of the Carnal and there gather Men to War as many as ye can and set up as many as ye can with these Weapons G. F. Now after I had staid some time in London and had visited Friends Meetings there and there-abouts and the Lord's Power was set over all I travelled into the Countries again Essex Suffolk Norfolk Norwich passing through Essex and Suffolk into Norfolk visiting Friends till I came to Norwich where we had a Meeting about the time called Christmas The Mayor of Norwich having got notice before-hand of the Meeting I intended to have there granted out a Warrant to apprehend me Wherefore when I was come thither and heard of the Warrant I sent some Friends to the Mayor to Reason with him about it His Answer was The Souldiers should not Meet and did We think to Meet He would have had us gone out and Met without the City For he said the Towns-People were so rude that he could hardly order them and he feared that our Meeting would make Tumults in the Town But our Friends told him we were a peaceable People and that he ought to keep the Peace for we could not but Meet to Worship God as our manner was So he became pretty moderate and did not send his Officers to the Meeting A large Meeting it was and abundance of rude People came with an intent to have done Mischief But the Lord's Power came over them so that they were Chained by it though several Priests were there and Professors and Ranters Among the Priests one whose Name was Townsend stood up and Cryed Error Blasphemy and an Vngodly Meeting I bad him not burden himself with that which he could not make good and I asked him what was our Error and Blasphemy For I told him he should make good his Words before I had done with him or be shamed As for an Vngodly Meeting I said I did believe there were many People there that feared God and therefore it was both Unchristian and Uncivil in him to charge Civil Godly People with an Vngodly Meeting He said My Error and Blasphemy was in that I said that People must wait upon God by his Power and Spirit and feel his Presence when they did not speak Words I asked him then Whether the Apostles and Holy Men of God did not hear God speak to them in their Silence before they spake forth the Scripture and before it was written He replied Yes David and the Prophets did hear God before they did Pen the Scriptures and felt his Presence in Silence before they spake them forth Then said I All People take notice he said this was Error and Blasphemy in me to say these Words and now he hath confessed it is no more than the Holy Men of God in former times witnessed So I shewed the People that as the Holy Men of God who gave forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost did hear and learn of God before they spake them forth So must They all hearken and hear what the Spirit saith which will lead them into all Truth that they may know God and Christ 1659. Norwich and may understand the Scriptures O said the Priest this is not that George Fox I would speak withal this is a subtile Man said he So the Lord's Power came over all and the rude People were made moderate and were reached by it and some Professors that were there called to the Priests saying Prove the Blasphemy and Errors which ye have charged them with Ye have spoken much against them behind their Backs but nothing ye can prove now said they to their Faces But the Priest began to get away Whereupon I told him we had many things to charge him withal therefore let him set a time and place to answer them which he did and went his ways A glorious Day this was For Truth came over all and People were turned to God by his Power and Spirit and to the Lord Jesus Christ their free Teacher who was Exalted over all And as we passed away generally Peoples Hearts were filled with Love towards us yea the Ruder sort of them desired another Meeting For the evil Intentions that they had against us were thrown out of their Hearts At Night I passed out of Town to a Friend's House Col. Dennis and from thence to Col. Dennis's where we had a great Meeting And afterwards travelled on through the Countries visiting Friends up and down in Norfolk Norfollk Hunts. Cambridgeshire Huntingtonshire and Cambridgeshire But George Whitehead and Richard Huberthorn staid about Norwich to meet the Priest who was soon Confounded and down the Lord's Power came so over him After I had travelled through many Countries in the Lord's Service and many were Convinced notwithstanding that in some places the People were very Rude I returned to London again when General Monk was come up thither London and the Gates and Posts of the City were pulling down Long before this I had a Vision wherein I saw the City lie in heaps and the Gates down and it was then reprepresented to me just as I saw it several Years after lying in heaps when it was burned Divers times had I both by Word and Writing forewarned the several Powers both in Oliver's time and after of the Day of Recompence that was coming upon them But they rejecting Counsel and slighting those Visitations of Love to them I was moved now before they were quite overturned to lay their Back-sliding Hypocrisie and Treacherous Dealing before them thus Friends Now are the Prophecies fulfilled and fulfilling upon you which have been spoken to you by the People of God in your Courts in your Steeple-houses in your Towns Cities Markets Highways and at your Feasts when ye were in your Pleasures and puffed up that ye would neither hear God nor Man when ye were in your Highness and Height of Authority though raised up from a mean State none might come nigh you without bowing or the Respect of Persons for ye were in the World's Way Complements and Fashions which for Conscience sake towards God they could not go into being redeemed there from Therefore they were by you hated for that Cause But how are ye to be brought Low who Exalted your selves above your Brethren and threw the Just and Harmless less from among you until at last God hath thrown you out 1658. London And when ye cast the Innocent from among you then ye fell a biting one another until ye were Consumed one of another And so the Day is come upon you which before to you was told though before ye would not believe it And are not yet your Hearts so hardned that ye will hardly yet believe though ready to go into Captivity Was it not told you when ye spilt the Blood of the Innocent in your Steeple houses in
though they be Enemies to God to themselves and to me And I can say It is of the Lord that he is come in to bring down many unrighteously set up of which I had a Sight Three Years before he came in It is much he should say I am an Enemy to the King for I have no reason so to be he having done nothing against me But I have been often Imprisoned and Persecuted these Eleven or Twelve Years by them that have been against both the King and his Father even the Party that Porter was made a Major by and bore Arms for but not by them that were for the King I was never an Enemy to the King nor to any Man's Person upon the Earth but I am in the Love that fulfils the Law which thinks no Evil but loves even Enemies and would have the King saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be brought into the Fear of the Lord to receive his Wisdom from above by which all things were made and created that with that Wisdom he may order all things to the Glory of God by whom they were Created Whereas he calleth me A Chief Vpholder of the Quakers Sect. I Answer The Quakers are not a Sect but are in the Power of God which was before Sects were and witness the Election before the World began and are come to live in the Life which the Prophets and Apostles lived in who gave forth the Scriptures Therefore are we hated by envious wrathful wicked and persecuting Men. But God is the Vpholder of us all by his mighty Power and preserves us from the Wrath of the Wicked that would swallow us up And whereas he saith That I together with others of my Fanatick Opinion as he calls it have of late endeavoured to raise Insurrections and to imbroil the whole Kingdom in Blood I say this is altogether false to these things I am as a Child and know nothing of them The Postures of War I never learned My Weapons are Spiritual and not Carnal for with Carnal Weapons I do not fight I am a Follower of him who said My Kingdom is not of this World And though these Lies and Slanders are raised upon me I deny drawing of any Carnal Weapon against the King or Parliament or any Man upon the Earth For I am come to the end of the Law To love Enemies and wrestle not with Flesh and Blood but am in that which saves Men's Lives And a Witness I am against all Murderers Plotters and all such as would Imbrue the Nation in Blood for it is not in my Heart to have any Man's Life destroyed And as for the Word Fanatick which signifies furious foolish mad c. He might have considered himself before he had used that Word and have learned the Humility which goes before the Honour For we are not furious foolish or Mad but through Patience and Meekness have born Lies and Slanders and Persecutions many Years and undergone great Sufferings The Spiritual Man that wrestles not with Flesh and Blood and the Spirit that reproves Sin in the Gate which is the Spirit of Truth Wisdom and sound Judgment this is not mad foolish furious which Fanatick signifies But all are of a mad furious foolish Spirit that wrestle with Flesh and Blood with Carnal Weapons in their Furiousness Foolishness and Rage This is not the Spirit of God but of Error that persecutes in a mad blind Zeal like Nebuchadnezer and Saul Now inasmuch as I am ordered to be kept Prisoner till I be delivered by Order from the King or Parliament therefore have I written these things to be laid before you the King and Parliament that ye may Consider of them before ye act any thing therein that ye may weigh in the Wisdom of God the Intent and End of Men's Spirits lest ye act the thing that will bring the hand of the Lord upon you and against you as many have done before you who have been in Authority whom God hath overthrown in whom we trust whom we fear and cry unto Day and Night Who hath heard us and doth hear us and will hear us and avenge our Cause For much Innocent Blood hath been shed and many have been persecuted to Death by such as have been in Authority before you whom God hath vomited out because they turned against the Just Therefore consider your Standing now that ye have the Day 1660. Lancaster-Castle and receive this as a Warning of Love to you From the Innocent a Sufferer in Bonds and close Prisoner in Lancaster-Castle called GEORGE FOX Upon my being taken and forcibly carried away from Margaret Fell's House and charged with things of so high a Nature she was concerned as looking upon it to be an Injury offered to her Whereupon she writ the following Lines and sent them abroad directed thus To all Magistrates concerning the wrong taking up and Imprisoning of George Fox at Lancaster I Do Inform the Governours of this Nation that Henry Porter Major of Lancaster sent a Warrant with Four Constables to my House for which he had no Authority nor Order They searched my House and apprehended George Fox in it who was not guilty of the Breach of any Law or of any Offence against any in the Nation After they had taken him and brought him before the said Henry Porter there was Bail offered what he would demand for his Appearance to Answer what could be laid to his Charge But he contrary to Law if he had taken him lawfully denied to accept of any Bail and clapt him up in Close Prison After he was in Prison a Copy of his Mittimus was demanded which ought not to be denied to any Prisoner that so he may see what is laid to his Charge But it was denied him a Copy he could not have only they were suffered to read it over And every thing that was there charged against him was utterly false he was not guilty of any one Charge in it as will be proved and manifested to the Nation So let the Governours consider of it I am concerned in this thing inasmuch as he was apprehended in my House and if he be guilty I am so too So I desire to have this searched out MARGARET FELL After this Margaret Fell determined to go to London to speak with the King about my being taken and to shew him the manner of it and the Vnjust Dealing and Evil Vsage I had received Which when Justice Porter heard of he vapoured that he would go and meet her in the Gap But when he came before the King he having been a Zealous Man for the Parliament against the King several of the Courtiers spake to him concerning his plundering of their Houses So that he had quickly enough of the Court and soon returned into the Country Mean while the Jailer seemed very fearful and said he was afraid Major Porter would hang him because he had not put me in the Dark-House But when
Righteousness After I had been kept there two or three Hours Marsh spake to him that was called the Lord Gerrard and he came and bid them set me at liberty Then the Marshal when I was discharged demanded Fees I told him 1660. Whitehall I could not give him any neither was it our Practice And I asked him How he could demand Fees of me who was Innocent Nevertheless I told him in my own Freedom I would give him Two Pence to make him and the Souldiers drink But they shouted at that and took it disdainfully So I told them If they would not accept it choose they for I should give them no Fees Then went I through the Guards the Lord s Power being over them and after I had declared Truth to the Guards and Souldiers I went up the Streets with two Irish Colonels that came from Whitehall and went to an Inn where many Friends were at that time Prisoners under a Guard I desired those Colonels to speak to the Guard to let me go in to visit my Friends that were Prisoners there but they would not Then I stept to the Centry and desired him to let me go up and he did so While I was there the Souldiers went to the Pell-Mell again to search for me there but not finding me they turned towards the Inn and bid all come out that were not Prisoners so they went out But I asked the Souldiers that were within Whether I might not stay there a while with my Friends And they said Yes I stay'd a while and so escaped their Hands again Towards Night I went down to the Pell-Mell to see how it was with the Friends there and after I had stay'd a while I went up into the City London Great Rifling of Houses there was at this time to search for People but I went to a private Friend's House and Richard Huberthorn was with me There we drew up a Declaration against Plots and Fightings to be presented to the King and Council But when we had finished it and sent it to the Press it was taken in the Press Upon this Insurrection of the Fifth Monarchy-Men great Havock was made both in City and Country so that it was dangerous for sober People to stir abroad for several Weeks after and hardly could either Men or Women go up and down the Streets to buy Provisions for their Families without being abused In the Countries they dragged Men and Women out of their Houses and some Sick Men out of their Beds by the Legs Nay one Man that was in a Fever the Souldiers dragged out of his Bed to Prison and when he was brought thither he died His Name was Thomas Pachyn Margaret Fell went to the King and told him what sad Work there was in the City and in the Nation and shewed him that we were an Innocent peaceable People and that we must keep our Meetings as we used to do whatever we suffered but that it concerned him to see that Peace was kept that so no Innocent Blood might be shed Now were the Prisons every where filled with Friends and others in City and Country and the Posts were so laid for the searching of Letters that none could pass unsearched Yet we heard of several Thousands of our Friends that were cast into Prison in several places throughout the Nation and Margaret Fell carried an Account of them to the King and Council The next Week we had an Account of several Thousands more that were cast into Prison and she went and laid them also before the King and his Council They wondered how we could have such Intelligence seeing they had given such strict Charge for the intercepting of all Letters But the Lord did so order it that we had an Account notwithstanding all their Stoppings For in the deep Sense I had of the grievous Sufferings Friends underwent and of their Innocency towards God and Man I was moved to send the following Epistle to them as a Word of Consolation and to put them upon sending up their Sufferings My Dear Friends IN the Immortal Seed of God which will plead its own Innocency who be Inheritors of an Everlasting Kingdom that is Incorruptible and of a World and Riches that fade not away Peace and Mercy be multiplied amongst you in all your Sufferings who never feared them whose Backs were not unready but your Hair and Cheeks prepared who never feared Sufferings as knowing it is your Portion in the World from the Foundation of which the Lamb was slain who reigns in his Glory which he had with his Father before the World began who is your Rock in all Floods and Waves upon which ye can stand safe with a chearful Countenance beholding the Lord God of the whole Earth on your side So in the Seed of God which was before the Unrighteous World in which the Sufferings are live and feed wherein the Bread of Life is felt and no cause of Complaint of Hunger or Cold. Friends your Sufferings all that are or have been of late in Prison I would have you send up an Account of them and how things are amongst you that it may be delivered to the King and his Council for things are pretty well here after the Storm London the 28th of the Eleventh Month 1660. G. F. Having lost our former Declaration in the Press we made haste and drew up another against Plots and Fighting and got it Printed and sent some of them to the King and Council others of them were sold up and down the Streets and at the Exchange Which Declaration was some Years after Re-printed and is as followeth A Declaration from the Harmless and Innocent People of God called Quakers against all Sedition Plotters and Fighters in the World For the removing of the Ground of Jealousie and Suspicion from both Magistrates and People in the Kingdom concerning Wars and Fightings Presented unto the King upon the 21th day of the 11th Month 1660. OUR Principle is and our Practices have always been to seek Peace and ensue it and to follow after Righteousness and the Knowledge of God seeking the Good and Welfare and doing that which tends to the Peace of All. We know that Wars and Fightings proceed from the Lusts of Men as Jam. 4.1 2 3. out of which Lusts the Lord hath redeemed us and so out of the Occasion of War the occasion of which War and the War itself wherein envious Men who are lovers of themselves more than lovers of God Lust Kill and desire to have Men's Lives or Estates ariseth from the Lust All Bloody Principles and Practices We as to our own particular do utterly deny with all outward Wars and Strife and Fightings with Outward Weapons for any end or under any pretence whatsoever and this is our Testimony to the whole World And whereas it is Objected But although you now say That you cannot Fight nor take up Arms at all yet if the Spirit do move you then you will change
your Principle and then you will sell your Coat and buy a Sword and Fight for the Kingdom of Christ Answ As for this we say to you that Christ said to Peter Put up thy Sword in his place though he had said before he that had no Sword might sell his Coat and buy one to the fulfilling of the Law and Scripture yet after when he had bid him put it up he said He that taketh the Sword shall perish with the Sword And further Christ said to Pilate Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve Legions of Angels And this might satisfie Peter Luke 22.36 after he had put up his Sword when he said to him He that took it should perish by it which satisfieth us Mat. 26.51 52 53. And in the Revelation it 's said He that kills with the Sword shall perish with the Sword and here is the Faith and the Patience of the Saints And so Christ's Kingdom is not of this World therefore do not his Servants Fight as he told Pilate the Magistrate who Crucified him and did they not look upon Christ as a Raiser of Sedition and did not he say Forgive them But thus it is that we are numbred amongst Transgressors and numbred amongst Fighters 1660. London that the Scriptures might be fulfilled That Spirit of Christ by which we are guided is not changeable so as once to command us from a thing as Evil and again to move unto it and we do certainly know and so testifie to the World That the Spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to Fight and War against any Man with outward Weapons neither for the Kingdom of Christ nor for the Kingdoms of this World First Because the Kingdom of Christ God will exalt according to his Promise and cause it to grow and flourish in Righteousness Not by Might nor by Power of outward Sword but by my Spirit saith the Lord Zech. 4.6 So those that use any Weapon to Fight for Christ or for the establishing of his Kingdom or Government both the Spirit Principle and Practice in that we deny Secondly We do earnestly desire and wait That by the Word of God's Power and its effectual Operation in the Hearts of Men the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ that he might Rule and Reign in Men by his Spirit and Truth that thereby all People out of all different Judgments and Professions might be brought into Love and Vnity with God and one with another and that they might all come to witness the Prophets Words who said Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2.4 Mich. 4.3 So we whom the Lord hath called into the Obedience of his Truth have denied Wars and Fightings and cannot again any more learn it And this is a certain Testimony unto all the World of the Truth of our Hearts in this particular that as God perswadeth every Man's Heart to believe so they may receive it For we have not as some others gone about cunningly with devised Fables nor have we ever denied in Practice what we have professed in Principle but in Sincerity and Truth and by the Word of God have we laboured to be made manifest unto all Men that both we and our ways might be witnessed in the Hearts of all People And whereas all manner of Evil hath been falsly spoken of us we hereby speak forth the plain Truth of our Hearts to take away the occasion of that Offence that so we being Innocent may not suffer for other Men's Offences nor be made a Prey upon by the Wills of Men for that of which we were never Guilty but in the Uprightness of our Hearts we may under the Power ordained of God for the Punishment of Evil-doers and for the Praise of them that do well live a peaceable and godly Life in all Godliness and Honesty For although we have always suffered and do now more abundantly suffer yet we know that it 's for Righteousness sake For our rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Consciences that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor. 1.12 Which for us is a Witness for the convincing of our Enemies For this we can say to all the World we have wronged no Man's Persons or Possessions we have used no Force nor Violence against any Man we have been found in no Plots nor guilty of Sedition when we have been wronged we have not sought to revenge our selves we have not made resistance against Authority but wherein we could not obey for Conscience-sake we have suffered even the most of any People in the Nation We have been counted as Sheep for the Slaughter Persecuted and Despised Beaten Stoned Wounded Stocked Whipped Imprisoned Haled out of Synagogues cast into Dungeons and Noisom Vaults where many have died in Bonds shut up from our Friends denied needful Sustenance for many days together with other the like Cruelties And the Cause of all these our Sufferings is not for any Evil but for things relating to the Worship of our God and in obedience to his Requirings of us For which Cause we shall freely give up our Bodies a Sacrifice rather than disobey the Lord For we know as the Lord hath kept us Innocent so he will plead our Cause when there is none in the Earth to plead it So we in Obedience unto his Truth do not love our Lives unto Death that we may do his Will and wrong no Man in our Generation but seek the Good and Peace of all Men. And he that hath commanded us That we shall not Swear at all Matth. 5.34 hath also commanded us That we shall not Kill Matth. 5. So that we can neither Kill Men nor Swear for nor against them And this is both our Principle and Practice and hath been from the Beginning so that if we suffer as suspected to take up Arms or make War against any it is without any Ground from us For it neither is noâ— ever was in our Hearts since we owned the Truth of God neither shall we ever do it because it is contrary to the Spirit of Christ his Doctrine and the Practices of his Apostles even contrary to him for whom we suffer all things and endure all things And whereas Men come against us with Clubs Staves Drawn Swords Pistols cock't and do beat cut and abuse us yet we never resisted them but to them our Hair Backs and Cheeks have been ready But it is not an Honour to Manhoood or Nobility to run upon harmless People who lift not up an Hand against them with Arms and Weapons Therefore consider these things ye Men of Understanding For Plotters Raisers of Insurrections Tumultuous Ones and Fighters running with Swords Clubs Staves and Pistols one
upon his Breast and confess'd What was written therein was Truth but said he if I should confess to it openly they would burn me So John Stubs and Henry Fell not being suffered to go farther returned to England and came to London again And John had a Vision that the English and Dutch who had joined together not to carry them would fall out one with the other And so it came to pass Having now stay'd in London some time I felt drawings to visit Friends in Essex Essex Colchester Cogshall So I went down to Colchester where I had very large Meetings and from thence to Cogshall not far from which there was a Priest Convinced and I had a Meeting at his House And so travelling a little up and down in those Parts and visiting Friends in their Meetings there-aways London I returned pretty quickly to London where I found great Service for the Lord For a large Door was opened and many flocked in to our Meetings and the Lord's Truth spread mightily this Year Yet Friends had great Travels and sore Labours the rude People having been so heightned by the Monarchy-Men's Rising a little before But the Lord's Power was over all and in it Friends had Dominion though we had not only those Sufferings without but Sufferings within also by John Perrot and his Company who giving heed to a Spirit of Delusion sought to introduce and set up among Friends that evil and uncomely Practice of keeping on the Hat in time of publick Prayers Now Friends had spoken to him and divers of his Followers about it and I had written to them concerning it but He and some others rather strengthened themselves against Friends therein Wherefore feeling the Judgment of Truth rise against it I gave forth the following Lines as a Warning to all that were concerned therein WHosoever is tainted with this Spirit of John Perrot it will perish Mark theirs and his End that are turned into those outward things and Janglings about them and that which is not savoury all which is for perpetual Judgment and is to be swept and cleansed out of the Camp of God's Elect. This is to that Spirit that is gone into Jangling about that which is below the Rotten Principle of the old Ranters and gone from the Invisible Power of God in which is the Everlasting Fellowship and so many are become like the Corn on the House-top and like the untimely Figs and now clamour and speak against them that be in the Power of God O consider the Light and Power of God goes over you all and leaves you in the fretting Nature out of the Unity which is in the Everlasting Light Life and Power of God Consider this before the Day be gone from you and take heed that your Memorial be not rooted out from among the Righteous G. F. Among the Exercises and Troubles that Friends had from without one was concerning Friends Marriages which sometimes were â—â—lled in question And in this Year there happened to be a Cause Tryed at the Assize at Nottingham concerning a Friend's Marriage The Case was thus Some Years before Two Friends were joined together in Marriage amongst Friends and lived together as Man and Wife about two Years Then the Man died leaving his Wife with Child and leaving an Estate in Lands of Copy-hold When the Woman was delivered the Jury presented the Child Heir to its Father's Lands and accordingly the Child was admitted Afterwards another Friend married the Widow And after that a Man that was Near of Kin to her former Husband brought his Action against the Friend that had last married her endeavouring to dispossess them and deprive the Child of the Inheritance and to possess himself thereof as next Heir to the Woman's first Husband And to effect this he endeavoured to prove the Child Illegitimate alledging The Marriage was not according to Law In opening the Cause the Plaintiff's Counsel did use unseemly Words concerning Friends saying That they went together like Brute Beasts with other ill Expressions After the Counsels on both sides had pleaded the Judge viz. Judge Archer took the matter in hand and opened it to the Jury telling them That there was a Marriage in Paradise when Adam took Eve and Eve took Adam and that it was the Consent of the Parties that made a Marriage And for the Quakers he said he did not know their Opinions but he did not believe they went together as Brute Beasts as had been said of them but as Christians and therefore he did believe the Marriage was lawful and the Child lawful Heir And the better to satisfie the Jury he brought them a Case to this purpose A Man that was weak of Body and kept his Bed had a desire in that Condition to Marry and did declare before Witnesses that he did take such a Woman to be his Wife and the Woman declared that she took that Man to be her Husband This Marriage was afterwards called in Question and as the Judge said all the Bishops did at that time conclude it to be a Lawful Marriage Hereupon the Jury gave in their Verdict for the Friend's Child and against the Man that would have deprived it of its Inheritance About this time the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy were tendred unto Friends as a Snare because it was known we could not Swear and thereupon many were Imprisoned and divers Premunired Upon that occasion Friends published in Print the Grounds and Reasons why they refused to swear Besides which I was moved to give forth these few Lines following to be given to the Magistrates THE World saith Kiss the Book But the Book saith Kiss the Son lest he be angry And the Son saith Swear not at all but keep to Yea and Nay in all your Communications for whatsoever is more than this cometh of Evil. Again the World saith Lay your hand on the Book but the Book saith Handle the Word And the Word saith Handle not the Traditions nor the Inventions nor the Rudiments of the World And God saith This is my beloved Son hear him who is the Life and the Truth and the Light and the Way to God G. F. Now there being very many Frionds in Prison in the Nation Richard Hubberthorn and I drew up a Paper concerning them and got it delivered to the King that he might understand how we were dealt with by his Officers It was directed thus For the KING FRiend who art the Chief Ruler of these Dominions here is a List of some of the Sufferings of the People of God in scorn called Quakers that have suffered under the Changeable Powers before thee by whom there have been Imprisoned and under whom there have suffered for good Conscience-sake and for bearing Testimony to the Truth as it is in Jesus Three Thousand One Hundred Seventy Three Persons And there lie yet in Prison in the Name of the Commonwealth Seventy Three Persons that we know of And there have died in Prison
be put to him and that he would refuse to Swear But when the Assize came and the Oath was tendered him he desired Time to consider of it and that being granted him till the next Assize he got leave to go to London before the Assize came again and came no more back but staid at London till the Plague brake forth and there both he and his Wife were Cut off He was a very Wicked Man and the Judgments of God came upon him For he had published a very wicked Book against Friends full of Lies and Blasphemies the Occasion of which was this Whilst he was in Lancaster-Castle he challenged Friends to have a Dispute with them Whereupon I got leave of the Jailer to go up to them And entring into Discourse with him he affirmed That some Men never had the Spirit of God and that the true Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the world is natural For Proof of his first Assertion he instanced Balaam affirming That Balaam had not the Spirit of God I affirmed and proved That Balaam had the Spirit of God and that Wicked Men have the Spirit of God else how could they quench it and vex it and grieve it and resist the Holy Ghost like the stiff-necked Jews To his Second Assertion I answered That the true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World was the Life in the Word and that was Divine and Eternal and not Natural And he might as well say that the Word was Natural as that the Life in the Word was Natural And Wicked Men were enlightned by this Light else how could they hate it Now it is expresly said that they did hate it And the Reason given why they did hate it was because their Deeds were evil and they would not come to it because it reproved them and that must needs be in them that reproved them Besides that Light could not be the Scriptures of the New-Testament for it was testified of before any part of the New-Testament was written So it must be the Divine Light which is the Life in Christ the Word before Scriptures were And the Grace of God which brought Salvation had appeared unto all Men and taught the Saints but they that turned it into Wantonness and walked despitefully against the Spirit of Grace were the Wicked Again the Spirit of Truth the Holy Ghost the Comforter which leads the Disciples of Christ into all Truth the same should Reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment and of their Vnbelief So the Wicked World had it to reprove them and the true Disciples and Learners of Christ that believed in the Light as Christ commands they had it to lead them But the World that did not believe in the Light though they were lighted but hated the Light which they should have believed in and loved the Darkness rather than it this World had a Righteousness and a Judgment which the Holy Ghost reproved them for as well as for their Vnbelief So having proved that the Good and the Bad were enlightned and that the Grace of God had appeared unto them all and that all had the Spirit of God else they could not vex and grieve it I told Major Wiggan The least Babe there might see him and presently stood up one Richard Cubham and proved him an Anti-christ and a Deceiver by Scripture Then the Jailer had me away to my Prison again And afterwards Wiggan wrote a Book of this Dispute and put in abundance of abominable Lies But his Book was soon Answered in Print and he himself not long after was cut off as afore is said This Wiggan was poor and while he was a Prisoner at Lancaster he sent into the Country and got Money gathered for Relief of the Poor People of God in Prison and many People gave freely thinking it had been for Vs when-as indeed it was for himself But when we heard of it we laid it upon him and writ also into the Country that ' Friends might let the People know the Truth of the Matter that it was not our manner to have Collections made for us and that those Collections were only for Wiggan and another a drunken Preacher of his Society who would be so drunk that once he lost his Britches After this it came upon me to write a Paper to the Judges and other Magistrates concerning their Giving Evil Words and Nick-names to such as were brought before them And that which I writ was after this manner and thus directed To all you that be Judges or other Officers whatsoever in the whole World who profess your selves to be Christians Friends HErein and by reading the Scriptures ye may see both your own Words and Carriage and the Words Carriage and Practice of both Jews and Heathens and of the great King of Kings the great Law-giver and Judge of the whole World First For the Words and Carriage of the Jews when such as were worthy of Death were brought before such as were Rulers amongst them When Achan had taken the Babylonish Garment and the two hundred Shekels of Silver and the Wedge of Gold of Fifty Shekels weight and Joshua who was then Judge of Israel had by the Lot found him out he did not say unto him Sirrah nor You Rascal Knave Rogue as some that are called Christian Magistrates are too apt to do But Joshua said unto Achan My Son Mark his clean Language and Savoury Expression and gracious Words My Son said he give I pray thee Glory to the Lord God of Israel and make Confession unto him and tell me now what thou hast done hide it not from me Then Achan confessed that he had sinned against the Lord God of Israel and thus and thus he had done And then Joshua the Judge said Why hast thou troubled Israel The Lord shall trouble thee this day and they stoned him and his with Stones and burnt his Goods with Fire But there was no unsavoury Word given to him that we read of though he was worthy of Death Josh 7. So when the Man that gathered Sticks upon the Sabbath-day was taken and brought before Moses the Judge in Israel and put in Ward until the Mind of the Lord was known concerning him We read not of any reviling Language given him but the Lord said to Moses and Moses to the People The Man shall surely be put to Death Numb 15.35 So likewise in the Rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram where Moses called them to Trial he did not Sirrah them or mis-call them but said to Corah and the rest Hear I pray you ye Sons of Levi Numb 16.8 And when he gave the Sentence against them he said If these Men die the common Death of all Men c. He did not say If these Rascals or Knaves as many that profess themselves Christians will now do When Elihu spake to Job who was a Judge and to his Friends and said Let me not I pray you
Power of God and we are Heirs of Christ who have inherited him and his Everlasting Kingdom and do possess the Power of an Endless Life Knowing this our Portion and Inheritance this is to take off all Jealousies out of your Minds and out of the Minds of all People concerning us That all Plots and Conspiracies Plotters and Conspirators against the King and all Aiders or Assisters thereunto we always did and do utterly deny to be any of us or to be of the Fellowship of the Gospel or to be of Christ's Kingdom or to be his Servants For Christ said His Kingdom was not of this World if it were his Servants would fight And therefore he bid Peter Put up his Sword for said he he that taketh the Sword shall perish by the Sword Here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints to bear and suffer all things knowing as we know that Vengeance is the Lord's and he will repay it to them that hurt his People and that do wrong to the Innocent Therefore cannot we avenge but suffer for his Name 's sake And we do know that the Lord will judge the World in Righteousness according to their Deeds and that when every one shall give an Account to him of the Deeds done in the Body then will the Lord give every Man according to his Works whether they be Good or whether they be Evil. Christ saith he came not to destroy Men's Lives And when his Disciples would have had Fire to come down from Heaven to have consumed them that did not receive him he told them They knew not what Spirit they were of that would have Mens Lives destroyed and therefore he rebuked them and told them That he came not to destroy Men's Lives but to save them Now we are of Christ's Mind who is the great Prophet whom all ought to hear in all things who saith to his If they strike thee on one Cheek turn the other and render to no Man Evil for Evil. This Doctrine of his have we learned and do not only confess him in Words but follow his Doctrine and therefore have and do we suffer all manner of Reproaches Scandals and Slanders and spoiling of Goods Buffetings and Whippings Stripes and Imprisonments for these many years and can say The Lord forgive them that have thus served us and lay not these things to their Charge And we know that the Jews outward Sword by which they cut down the Heathen outwardly was a Type of the inward Sword of the Spirit which cuts down the inward Heathen the raging Nature in People And the Blood of Bulls Lambs Rams and other Offerings and that Priesthood that offered them together with other things in the Law were Types of Christ the one Offering and of his Blood who is the Everlasting Priest and Covenant Christ our Life and Way to God and who is the great Prophet and Shepherd that looks to his Flock and the Head of his Church and the great Bishop of our Souls whom we witness come and he doth oversee and keep his Flock For in Adam in the Fall we know the striving quarrelling unpeaceable Spirits are in the Enmity one with another and not in Peace But in Christ Jesus the Second Adam that never fell is Peace Rest and Life And the Doctrine of Christ who never sinned is to love one another and who be in this Doctrine hurt no man in which we are in Christ who is our Life Therefore it is well for you to distinguish betwixt the Precious and the Vile between them that fear God and serve him and them that do not and to put a difference between the Innocent and the Guilty and between him that is Holy and Pure and the Ungodly and Prophane for they that do not so bring Troubles Burdens and Sorrows upon themselves And this we write in Love to your Souls that ye may consider these things for they that hate Enemies and hate one another we cannot say they are of God nor in Christ's Doctrine but are Opposers of it And such as wrestle with Flesh and Blood with Carnal Weapons are gone into the Flesh out of the Spirit They are not in our Fellowship in the Spirit in which is the Bond of Peace neither are they of Vs nor have we Vnity with them in their fleshly state and with their Carnal Weapons For our Unity and Fellowship stands in the Gospel which is the Power of God before the Devil was the Liar and the Murderer the Man-slayer and the Envious Man Now Christ's Mind and his Doctrine being to save Men's Lives we who are of Christ's Mind are out of and above these things And our desire is 1664. Lancaster Castle that in the Fear of the Lord ye may all Live that in that ye may all receive God's Wisdom by which all things were created that by it all may be ordered to God's Glory This is from them that love all your Souls and seek your Eternal Good Being now a Prisoner in Lancaster Castle a deep sense came upon me of a Day of sore Trial and Exercise that was come and coming upon all that had been high in Profession of Religion And I was moved to give forth the following Paper as a Warning unto such NOw is the Day that every one's Faith and Love to God and Christ will be Tried and who are Redeemed out of the Earth and who are in the Earth will be manifested and who is their Master they serve and whether they will run to the Mountains to Cover them Now will it appear who are the Stony Ground who are the Thorny Ground and who are the High-way-Ground in whom the Fowls of the Air take away the Seed and the Thorns and Cares of the World Choke and the Heat of Persecution scorches and burns up your green Blade For the Day trieth all things Therefore let not such as forsake Truth for saving the Earth say that your Brother Priest only serveth not the Lord Jesus Christ but his own Belly and mindeth Earthly things for such themselves also do the same and do hug and embrace Self and not the Lord. Now it will be made manifest who is every ones God and Christ and Saviour and their Love will be manifest whether it be of the World or the Love of God for if it be the Love of the World it is Enmity and the Enmity will manifest it self what it is and the Day will Try every Spirit and his Fruits Therefore all my dear Friends In the Everlasting Seed of God live that is over all the House of Adam and his Works in the Fall and so dwelling in the Seed Christ that never fell in him you all have Vertue and Life and Peace and through him ye will overcome all that is in the Fall G. F. I writ also another Short Epistle to Friends to Warn them to keep out of that Spirit that wrought in John Perrot and his Company against the Truth Dear Friends DWell in
the Market-day there several Friends met us and would have had us to have gone into an Inn. But we were not to go into any Inn but walked directly through the Town over the Bridge and then we were out of the Limits of that Town Thus the Lord 's Everlasting Arm and Power preserved us and carried us over in his Work Labour and Service The next First Day we had a large Meeting in the Forrest of Dean Forrest of Dean and all was quiet Next day we passed over the Water and having staid a little at a Friend's House by the way we came to Oldstone Oldstone Where after we had visited Friends we passed over the Water again to William Yeoman's his House at Irb's Court in Somersetshire 1668. Oldstone Somersetshire Irb's Court Posset From thence we went down to a Meeting at Posset whither several Friends of Bristol came to us After this Meeting we went further up into the Country and had several large Meetings and the Lord's living Presence was with us supporting and refreshing us in our Labour and Travel in his Service Near Mynhead We came to a place near Mynhead where we had a General Meeting of the Men-Friends in Somersetshire and there came also a Cheat whom some Friendly People would have had me to have taken along with me I saw he was a Cheat and therefore bid them bring him to me and see whether he could Look me in the Face Some were ready to think I was too hard towards him because I would not let him go along with me but when they brought him to me he was not able to Look me in the Face but looked hither and thither for he was indeed a Cheat and had Cheated a Priest by pretending himself to be a Minister and had got the Priest's Sute and went away with it Mynhead After the Meeting we passed to Mynhead where we tarried that Night And in the Night I had an Exercise upon me from a Sense I had of a Dark Spirit that was working and striving to get up and to disturb the Church of Christ. Whereupon next Morning I was moved to write a few Lines to Friends as a Warning thereof as follows Dear Friends LIve in the Power of the Lord God in his Seed that is set over all and is over all Trials that you may have from the dark Spirit again which would be owned in its Actings and thrust it self amongst you which is not come as yet But in the Power of the Lord God and his Seed keep over it and bring it to Condemnation For I felt a kind of dark Spirit thrusting it self up towards you and heaving up last Night But you may keep it down with the Power of God that the Witness may arise to Condemn its Actings so far as it hath spread its dark Works before it have any Admittance So no more but my Love in the Seed of God which changeth not Mynhead in Somersetshire the 22th of the 4th Month 1668. G. F. Devonshire Barnstable Appledon The next day several Friends of Mynhead accompanied us as far as Barnstable and Appledon in Devonshire where we had a Meeting Barnstable had been a bloody persecuting Town For there were Two Men-Friends of that Town that had been a great while at Sea And coming home to visit their Relations one of them having a Wife and Children the Mayor of the Town sent for them under pretence to discourse with them and put the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to them And because they could not Swear he sent them to Exeter-Jail where Judge Archer premunired them and kept them till one of them died in Prison When I heard of this I was moved to write a Letter to Judge Archer 1668. Appledon and another to that Mayor of Barnstable laying their Wicked and Vnchristian Actions upon their Heads and letting them know that the Blood of that Man would be required at their hands Now after we had had a precious Meeting at Appledon among some Faithful Friends there we pass'd to Stratton Cornwall Stratton and staid there at an Inn all Night Next Day we rid through the Country to Humphrey Lower's where we had a very precious Meeting and the next Day we passed through to Truro and so went on visiting Friends Truro till we came to the Lands-End Lands-end Then coming up by the South-part of thaâ— County we visited Friends till we came to Tregangeeves Tregangeeves where at Loveday Hambley's we had a General Meeting for all the County in which the Monthly Meetings were settled in the Lord's Power and in the blessed Order of the Gospel That all who were faithful might Admonish and Exhort such as walked not according to the Gospel that so the House of God might be kept Clean and Righteousness might run down and all Vnrighteousness be swept away And several that had run out were brought to Condemn what they had done amiss and through Repentance came in again So after we had visited the Meetings in Cornwal and were Clear of that County we came into Devonshire Devonshire and had a Meeting amongst Friends at Plimouth Whence passing to Richard Brown's Plimouth we came to the Widow Philips where we had some of Men-Friends from all the Meetings together And there the Mens-Monthly-Meetings were settled in the Heavenly Order of the Gospel the Power of God which answered the Witness of God in all There was a great Noise of a Troop of Horse coming to disturb our Meeting for the Man-Servant of the House was a wicked envious Man But the Lord's Power prevented it and preserved us in Peace and Safety After things were well settled and the Meeting done we came to King's-bridge and visited Friends there-aways Kings-bridge Then leaving Friends in those parts well settled in the Power of God we past from thence through the Country to Topsham and so to Membury visiting Friends Topsham Membury Somersetshire Ilchester and having many Meetings in the way till we came to Ilchester in Somersetshire Here we had a General Mens-Meeting and therein settled the Mens-Monthly-Meetings for that County in the Lord 's everlasting Power the Order of the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was Then after the Meetings were settled and Friends refreshed and comforted in the Lord's Power and established upon Christ their Rock and Foundation we passed to Puddimore Puddimore where at William Beaton's we had a blessed Meeting and all was quiet though the Constables had threatned before When we had visited most of the Meetings in Somersetshire we passed into Dorsetshire to one George Harris his House Dorsetshire where we had a large Mens-Meeting and there all the Mens-Monthly-Meetings for that County were settled in the Glorious Order of the Gospel that all in the Power of God might seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and might
Gospel-Order established amongst us is not of Man nor by Man but of and by Jesus Christ in and through the Holy Ghost And this Order of the Gospel which is not of Man nor by Man but from Christ the Heavenly Man is above all the Orders of Men in the Fall whether Jews Gentiles or Apostatized Christians and will be when they are gone For the Power of God which is the Everlasting Gospel was before the Devil was and will be and remain for ever And as the Everlasting Gospel was Preached in the Apostles days to all Nations that all Nations might come into the Order of it through the Divine Power which brings Life and Immortality to Light that they who were Heirs of it might inherit the Power and Authority of it So now since all Nations have drunk the Whore's Cup and all the World hath Worshipped the Beast but they whose Names are written in the Book of Life from the Foundation of the World who have worshipped God in Spirit and Truth as Christ commanded the Everlasting Gospel is to be and is preached again as John the Divine foresaw it should to all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People And this Everlasting Gospel torments the Whore and makes her and the Beast to rage even the Beast that hath Power over the Tongues which are called the Original to order them by which they make Divines as they call them But all that receive the Gospel the Power of God which brings Life and Immortality to Light they come to see over the Beast Devil Whore and False Prophet that hath darkned them and all their Worships and Orders and come to be Heirs of the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Beast Whore False Prophet and Devil were and will be when they are all gone and cast into the Lake of Fire And they that be Heirs of this Power and of this Gospel they inherit the Power which is the Authority of this Order and of our Meetings Every Man and Woman that be Heirs of the Gospel are Heirs of this Authority and of the Power of God which was before the Devil was and which is not of Man nor by Man These come to inherit and possess the joyful Order of the joyful Gospel the comfortable Order of the comfortable Gospel the glorious Order of the glorious Gospel and the everlasting Order of the everlasting Gospel the Power of God which will last for ever and will out-last all the Orders of the Devil and that which is of Men or by Men. And these shall see the Government of Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and of the Increase of his glorious righteous holy just Government there is no end but his Government and his Order will remain for he who is the Author of it is the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending the Foundation of God which over all stands sure Christ Jesus the Amen After I had travelled amongst Friends through most parts of the Nation and the Monthly-Meetings were settled being returned to London London I stay'd some time there visiting Friends Meetings in and about the City While I was in London I went one day to Visit him that was called Esq Marsh who had shewed much Kindness both to me and to Friends and I happened to go when he was at Dinner He no sooner heard my Name but he sent for me up and would have had me sit down with him to Dinner 1668. London but I had not freedom to do so There were several Great Persons at Dinner with him and he said to one of them who was a great Papist Here is a Quaker which you have not seen before The Papist askt me Whether I did own the Christening of Children I told him There was no Scripture for any such Practice What! said he Not for Christening Children I said Nay I told him the one Baptism by the one Spirit into one Body we owned but to throw a little Water on a Child's Face and say that was Baptizing and Christening it there was no Scripture for that Then he asked me Whether I did own the Catholick Faith I said Yes but added That neither the Pope nor the Papists were in that Catholick Faith for the true Faith works by Love and purifies the Heart and if they were in that Faith that gives Victory by which they might have Access to God they would not tell the People of a Purgatory after they were dead So I undertook to prove That neither Pope nor Papists that held a Purgatory hereafter were in the true Faith For the true precious Divine Faith which Christ is the Author of gives Victory over the Devil and Sin that had separated Man and Woman from God And if they the Papists were in the true Faith they would never use Racks Prisons and Fines to persecute and force others to their Religion that were not of their Faith For this was not the Practice of the Apostles and Primitive Christians who witnessed and enjoyed the true Faith of Christ but it was the Practice of the Faithless Jews and Heathens so to do But said I to him seeing thou art a great and leading Man among the Papists and hast been taught and bred up under the Pope and seeing thou say'st There is no Salvation but in your Church I desire to know of thee What it is that doth bring Salvation in your Church He answered A Good Life And nothing else said I Yes said he Good Works And is this it that brings Salvation in your Church a good Life and good Works Is this your Doctrine and Principle said I Yes said he Then said I neither Thou nor the Pope nor any of the Papists know what it is that brings Salvation Then he askt me What brought Salvation in our Church I told him That which brought Salvation to the Church in the Apostles Days the same brought Salvation to us and not another Namely The Grace of God which the Scripture says brings Salvation and hath appeared to all men which taught the Saints then and teaches us now and this Grace which brings Salvation teaches To deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly So it is not the good Works nor the good Life that brings the Salvation but the Grace What! said the Papist Doth this Grace that brings Salvation appear unto all men Yes said I. Then said he I deny that But I said All that deny that are Sect-makers and are not in the Universal Faith Grace and Truth which the Apostles were in Then he spake to me about the Mother-Church and I told him The several sorts of Sects in Christendom had accused us and said We forsook our Mother-Church The Papists charged us with forsaking their Church and they said Rome was the only Mother-Church The Episcopalians taxed us with forsaking the old Protestant Religion and they said Theirs was the Reformed Mother-Church The Presbyterians and Independents
another New-Garden We went on to a place called New Garden where was a great Meeting And from thence we travelled on among Friends till we came to Bandon-Bridge and the Lands-End Bandon-Bridge Lands-end having many Meetings as we went in which the mighty Power of the Lord was manifested through which Friends were well refreshed and many People were affected with the Truth Bandon At Bandon the Mayor's Wife being her self Convinced desired her Husband to come to the Meeting but he bid her for her Life she should not make known that I was at a Meeting there He that was then Mayor of Cork was very envious against Truth and Friends and had many Friends in Prison And knowing that I was in the Country he had sent forth Four Warrants to take me wherefore Friends were desirous that I might not ride through Cork But being at Bandon there appeared unto me in a Vision A very ugly-visag'd Man of a black and dark Look My Spirit struck at him in the Power of God and it seemed to me that I rid over him with my Horse and my Horse set his Foot on the side of his Face When I came down in the Morning I told a Friend that was with me that the Command of the Lord was to me to ride through Cork but bad him Tell no Man So we took Horse many Friends being with me Cork And when we came near the Town the Friends would have shewed me a way on the backside of the Town but I told them My way was through the Streets Wherefore taking one of them along with me whose Name was Paul Morrice to guide me through the Town I rode on and as we rode through the Market-place and by the Mayor's Door the Mayor seeing me ride by said There goes George Fox but he had not power to stop me When we had passed through the Centinels and were come over the Bridge we went to a Friend's House and alighted And there the Friends told me what a Rage was in the Town and how many Warrants were granted forth to take me While I was sitting there with Friends I felt the Evil Spirit at Work in the Town stirring up Mischief against me and I felt the Power of the Lord strike at that Evil Spirit By and by some other Friends coming in told me That it was over the Town and amongst the Magistrates that I was in the Town I said Let the Devil do his worst So after a while that Friends were refreshed one in another and we who were Travellers had refreshed our selves I called for my Horse and having a Friend to Guide me we went on our way But great was the Rage that the Mayor and others of Cork were in that they had missed me and great pains they afterwards took to have taken me having their Scouts abroad upon the Roads as I understood to observe which way I went And afterwards there was scarce a Publick Meeting I came to but there came Spies to watch if I were there And the Envious Magistrates and Priests sent Informations one to another concerning me describing me by my Hair Hat Cloaths and Horse so that when I was come near an Hundred Miles from Cork they had an Account concerning me and Description of me before I came amongst them There was one very Envious Magistrate who was both a Priest and a Justice and he got a Warrant from the Judge of Assize to apprehend me which Warrant was to go over all his Circuit which reached near an Hundred Miles Yet the Lord disappointed all their Counsels and defeated all their Designs against me and by his good hand of Providence preserved me out of all their Snares and gave us many sweet and blessed Opportunities to visit Friends and spread Truth through that Nation For Meetings were very large Friends coming to them far and near and the World's People flocking in And the powerful Presence of the Lord was preciously felt with and amongst us whereby many of the World were reached and Convinced and gathered to the Truth and the Lord's Flock was increased And Friends were greatly refreshed and comforted in feeling the Love of God Oh the Brokenness that was amongst them in the flowings of Life So that in the Power and Spirit of the Lord many together have broken out into Singing even with Audible Voices making Melody in their Hearts At which time I was moved to declare to Friends there in the Ministry as followeth SOund Sound abroad you faithful Servants of the Lord and Witnesses in his Name and faithful Servants and Prophets of the Highest and Angels of the Lord Sound ye all abroad in the World to the awakening and raising of the Dead that they may be awakened and raised up out of the Grave to hear the Voice that is living For the Dead have long heard the Dead and the Blind have long wandered among the Blind and the Deaf amongst the Deaf Therefore Sound Sound ye Servants and Prophets and Angels of the Lord ye Trumpets of the Lord that you may awaken the Dead and awaken them that be asleep in their Graves of Sin Death and Hell and Sepulchres and Sea and Earth and who lie in the Tombs Sound Sound abroad ye Trumpets and raise up the Dead that the Dead may hear the Voice of the Son of God the Voice of the Second Adam that never fell the Voice of the Light and the Voice of the Life the Voice of the Power and the Voice of the Truth the Voice of the Righteous and the Voice of the Just. Sound Sound the pleasant and melodious Sound Sound Sound ye the Trumpets the melodious Sound abroad that all the deaf Ears may be opened to hear the pleasant Sound of the Trumpet to Judgment and Life to Condemnation and Light Sound Sound your Trumpets all abroad you Angels of the Lord Sons and Daughters Prophets of the Highest that all that are dead and asleep in the Graves and been long dreaming and slumbering may be awakened and hear the Voice of the Lamb who have long heard the Voice of the Beast that now they may hear the Voice of the Bridegroom now they may hear the Voice of the Bride now they may hear the Voice of the Great Prophet now they may hear the Voice of the great King now they may hear the Voice of the great Shepherd and the great Bishop of their Souls Sound Sound it all abroad ye Trumpets among the Dead in Adam for Christ is come the Second Adam that they might have Life yea have it abundantly Awaken the Dead Awaken the Slumberers Awaken the Dreamers Awaken them that be asleep Awaken them out of their Graves out of their Tombs out of their Sepulchres out of the Seas Sound Sound abroad you Trumpets you Trumpets that awaken the Dead that they may all hear the Sound of it in the Graves and they that hear may live and come to the Life that is the Son of God He is
risen from the Dead the Grave could not hold nor contain him neither could all the Watchers of the Earth with all their Guards keep him therein Sound Sound ye Trumpets of the Lord to all the Seekers of the Living among the Dead that he is risen from the Dead to all the Seekers of the Living among the Dead and in the Graves that the Watchers keeps he is not in the Grave but he is Risen and there is that under the Grave of the Watchers of the outward Grave which must be awakened and come to hear his Voice which is risen from the Dead that they might come to live Therefore Sound abroad you Trumpets of the Lord that the Grave might give up her Dead and Hell and the Sea might give up their Dead and all might come forth to Judgment to the Judgment of the Lord before his Throne and to have their Sentence and Reward according to their Works G. F. And Sound Sound all ye Angels and Faithful Servants of the Most-High you Trumpets of the Lord amongst all the Night watchers and Watchers of the Graves Sepulchres and Tombs and Overseers of those Watchers of the Seas Graves and Sepulchres Sound the Trumpet amongst them and over them all Make the Sound to be heard that the Dead may arise at the Sound of the Trumpet that they may come out of their Graves and live and praise the Lord That all the Dead in the Seas and all the Dead in the Tombs and Sepulchres may hear the Sound of the Trumpet and come to Judgment and come to hear the Voice of the Son of God and live in whom there is Life Away with all the Chaff and the Husks and Contentions and Strife that the Swine feed upon in the Mire and in the Fall and the Keepers of them of Adam and Eve's House in the Fall that lies in the Mire out of Light and Life G. F. At James Hutchinson's in Ireland there came many Great Persons desiring to discourse with me about Election and Reprobation I told them Though they judged our Principle foolish it was too High for them and they could not with their Wisdom comprehend it Therefore I would discourse with them according to their Capacities You say said I that God hath Ordained the greatest part of Men for Hell and that they were Ordained so before the World began For which your Proof is in Jude And you say Esau was Reprobated and the Egyptians and the Stock of Ham But Christ saith to his Disciples Go teach all Nations and Go into all Nations and preach the Gospel of Life and Salvation Now if they were to go to all Nations were they not to go to Ham's Stock and Esau's Stock Did not Christ die for all then for the Stock of Ham and of Esau and the Egyptians Doth not the Scripture say God would have all men to be saved Mark All Men then the Stock of Esau and of Ham also And doth not God say Egypt my People and that he would have an Altar in Egypt Isa 19. Were there not many Christians formerly in Egypt And doth not History say that the Bishop of Alexandria would formerly have been Pope And had not God a Church in Babylon I confess The Word came to Jacob ☜ and the Statutes to Israel the like was not to other Nations For the Law of God was given to Israel but the Gospel was to be preached to all Nations and is to be preacht The Gospel of Peace and glad Tidings to all Nations He that believes is Saved but he that doth not believe is Condemned already So the Condemnation comes through Vnbelief And whereas Jude speaks of some that were of Old Ordained or written of before to Condemnation he doth not say before the World began but Written of Old may be referr'd to Moses his Writings who writ of those whom Jude mentions namely Cain Corah Balaam and the Angels that kept not their first Estate And such Christians as followed them in their way and Apostatized from the first state of Christianity such were and are Ordained for Condemnation by the Light and Truth which they are gone from And though the Apostle speaks of God's loving Jacob and hating Esau yet he tells the Believers We all were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others This includes the Stock of Jacob of which the Apostle himself was and all believing Jews were And thus both Jews and Gentiles were all concluded under Sin and so under Condemnation that God might have Mercy upon all through Jesus Christ. So the Election and Choice stands in Christ and he that believes is saved and he that believes not is condemned already And Jacob is the Second Birth which God loved and both Jews and Gentiles must be born again before they can enter the Kingdom of God And when you are born again ye will know Election and Reprobation for the Election stands in Christ the Seed before the World began but the Reprobation lies in the Evil Seed since the World began After this manner but somewhat more largely I discoursed with those Great Persons about this matter and they confest they had never heard so much before Now after I had travelled over that Nation of Ireland and had visited Friends in their Meetings as well for Business as for Worship and had Answered several Papers and Writings from Monks Friers and Protestant Priests for they all were in a Rage against us and endeavoured to stop the Work of the Lord and some Jesuits sware in some of our hearing that we came to spread our Principles in that Nation but we should not do it I returned to Dublin Dublin in order to take Passage there for England And when I had staid the First-Day's Meeting there which was very large and precious there being a Ship ready and the Wind serving we took our Leave of Friends parting in much Tenderness and Brokenness in the Sense of the Heavenly Life and Power that was manifested amongst us 1669. Dublin So having put our Horses and Necessaries on Board in the Morning we went our selves in the Afternoon many Friends accompanying us to the Ship and divers both Friends and friendly People coming after us in Boats when we were near a League at Sea At Sea their Love drawing them though not without Danger A good weighty and true People there is in that Nation sensible of the Power of the Lord God and tender of his Truth and very good Order they have in their Meetings for they stand up for Righteousness and Holiness which dams up the way of Wickedness A precious Visitation they had and there is an Excellent Spirit in them worthy to be visited Many things more I could write of that Nation and of my Travels in it which would be large to mention particularly but thus much I thought good to signifie that the Righteous may Rejoice in the Prosperity of Truth James Lancaster Robert Lodge and Thomas Briggs came
Liberty the Friends that were with me asked me Grac. Meet Whether I would go I told them To Gracious-Street-Meeting again if it were not over When we came there the People were generally gone only some few stood at the Gate We went into Gerrard Roberts his House and from thence I sent out to know how the other Meetings in the City were And I understood that at some of the Meeting-places Friends were kept out and at others they were taken but set at Liberty again a few days after A glorious time it was for the Lord's Power came over all and his Everlasting Truth got Renown For as fast as some that were speaking were taken down others were moved of the Lord to stand up and speak to the admiration of the People and the more because many Baptists and other Sectaries left their Publick Meetings and came to see how the Quakers would stand As for the Informer aforesaid he was so frighted 1670. London that there durst hardly any Informer appear publickly again in London for some time after But the Mayor whose Name was Samuel Starling though he carried himself smoothly towards us proved afterwards a very great Persecutor of our Friends many of whom he cast into Prison as may be seen in the Books of the Trials of W. Penn W. Mead and others at the Old Baily this Year After some time the Heat of Persecution in the City began to abate and Meetings were quieter there and I being then clear of the City went to visit Friends in the Country having several Meetings as I went in Middlesex Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Middlesez Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Reading which were quiet though in some places there was much Threatning At Reading most of the Friends were in Prison and I went thither to Visit them And when I had been a while with them the Friends that were Prisoners gathered together and several other Persons came in so that I had a fine Opportunity amongst them and declared the Word of Life encouraging them in the Truth and they were Refreshed in feeling the Presence and Power of the Lord amongst them When the Meeting was ended the Jailer understanding that I was there the Friends were troubled and concerned how to get me out safe again for they feared lest he should stop me But after I had staid a while and Eaten with them I went down the Stairs and the Jailer being at the Door I put my hand in my Pocket which he had such an Eye to hoping to get something of me that he asked me no Question So I gave him something and bad him Be kind and civil to my Friends in Prison whom I came to Visit And he let me pass out without Interruption But soon after Isaac Pennington coming to Visit them he stopt him and caused him to be made a Prisoner Next Morning I rid about Fourteen Miles to a Meeting Hampshire Baghurst at a place called Baghurst in Hampshire Thomas Brigges being with me When we came into the Parish some sober People came to us and told us That the Priest of the Town was an Envious Man and did Threaten us We went on to the Meeting which was large and after some time Thomas Brigges stood up and spake Now it seems the Priest had got a Warrant and sent the Constables and other Officers with it And they came to the House and stay'd a while and then went away again but did not come into the Meeting So we in the Meeting did not know of their being there But after Thomas Brigges had done speaking I was moved of the Lord to stand up and declared the Word of Life to the People and a precious Meeting we had When I had done speaking and the Meeting was ended and risen I heard a great Clutter in the Yard and when we came forth the Man of the House told us That the Officers had been in the House before but did not come into the Meeting but went away without doing any thing And that now the Priest in a great Rage had sent them again and his own Servant with them But the Meeting being ended before they came they could do nothing now And thus the good Providence of the Lord preserved us from the Wicked Design of the Envious Priest and out of his Snare but the Priest was in a great Rage 1670. Barkshire Surrey Guilford From thence We went to a Friend's House on the Edge of Barkshire where several Friends came to visit us And afterwards we passed into Surrey visiting Friends and had many precious Meetings till we came to Stephen Smiths near Guilford where great Persecution had been and very much Goods had been taken away from Friends thereabouts for their Meetings and under great Threatnings they were at that time yet we had several blessed Meetings there and thereabouts and the Lord's Power was over all in and by which we were preserved Sussex We went out of Surrey into Sussex by Richard Baxe's where we had a large precious Meeting and quiet though the Constables had given out Threatnings before Afterwards I had many more Meetings up and down in that County and though there were some Threatnings yet Meetings were peaceable and Friends were refreshed and established upon the Foundation of God that stands sure When I had throughly visited Sussex Kent I went into Kent and had many glorious and precious Meetings in several parts of that County I went up into East-Kent to a Meeting near Deal Deal which was very large and returning from thence to Canterbury Canterbury Isle of Sheppy visited Friends there and then passed into the Isle of Sheppy where I staid Two or Three Days and thither came Alexander Parker George Whitehead and John Rouse to me The next day after they came finding my Service for the Lord finished there we passed away towards Rochester And on the way as I was walking down an Hill a great Weight and Oppression fell upon my Spirit I got on my Horse again but the Weight remained so heavy on me that I was hardly able to Ride At length we came to Rochester Rochester but I was much spent being so extreamly loaden and burdened with the World's Spirits that my Life was oppressed under them I got with difficulty to Graves-End Gravesend and lay at an Inn there but could hardly either Eat or Sleep The next day John Rouse and Alexander Parker went for London and John Stubbs being come to me he and I went over the Ferry into Essex Essex We came to a place called Horne-Church Horne-Church Stratford where was a Meeting on the First-Day And after the Meeting I rode with great Vneasiness to Stratford Three Miles from London to a Friend's House there whose Name was Williams and who had formerly been a Captain Here I lay exceeding Weak and at last lost both my Hearing and my Sight so that I could neither hear nor see Several
freely I could not Sweat at all but my Flesh was hot dry and burning And that which before brake out on my Body into Pimples struck in again and struck to my Stomach and Heart so that I was very Ill and Weak beyond Expression Thus I continued during the rest of the Voyage which was about a Month for we were Seven Weeks and some odd Days at Sea On the Third of the Eighth Month early in the Morning BARBADOS we discovered the Island of Barbados but it was between Nine and Ten at Night e're we came to Anchor in Carlisle-Bay We got on Shore Carlisle-Bay as soon as we could and I with some others walked to a Friend's House a Merchant whose Name was Richard Forstall R. Forstall above a Quarter of a Mile from the Bridge But being very Ill and Weak I was so tired with that little Walk that I was in a manner quite spent by that time I got thither There I abode very Ill for several days and was so far from Sweating though in that hot Climate that although they several times gave me things to make me Sweat yet they could not bring me to Sweat but what they gave me did rather parch and dry up my Body and made me probably worse than otherwise I might have been Thus I continued for about Three Weeks after I Landed having very much Pain in my Bones 1671. Barbados Joints and whole Body so that I could hardly get any Rest yet notwithstanding I was pretty Cheary and my Spirit kept above it all Neither did my Ilness take me off from the Service of Truth but both while I was at Sea and after I came to Barbados before I was able to Travel about I gave forth several Papers having a Friend to write for me some of which I sent by the first Conveyance for England to be Printed After I had rested three or four Days at Richard Forstall's where many Friends came to visit me John Rous having borrowed a Coach of one of his Acquaintance there called Colonel Chamberlain came to fetch me in it to his Father Thomas Rous's House Tho. Rous. But it was late e're we could get thither and little or no Rest could I take that Night A few days after that Colonel Chamberlain who had so kindly lent his Coach came thither to give me a Visit and carried himself very courteously towards me Soon after I came into the Island I was Informed of a remarkable Passage wherein the Justice of God did eminently appear It was thus Example There was a Young-Man of Barbados whose Name was John Drakes a Person of some Note in the World's Account but a Common Swearer and a bad Man who having been in England and at London had a mind to Marry a Young Maid that was a Friend's Daughter left by her Mother very Young and with a Considerable Portion to the Care and Government of several Friends whereof I was one He made his Application to me that he might have my Consent to Marry this Young Maid I told him I was one of her Overseers Appointed by her Mother who was a Widow to take Care of her that if her Mother had intended her for a Match to any Man of the World she would have disposed her accordingly but she Committed her to Vs that she might be Trained up in the Fear of the Lord and therefore I should betray the Trust reposed in me if I should consent that he who was out of the Fear of God should Marry her which I would not do When he saw that he could not obtain he returned to Barbados with great Offence of Mind against me but without just Cause Afterwards when he heard I was coming to Barbados he swore desperately and threatned That if he could possibly procure it he would have me burned to Death when I came there Which a Friend hearing asked him What I had done to him that he was so violent against me He would not Answer but said again I 'll have him burnt Whereupon the Friend replied Do not march on too furiously lest thou come too soon to thy Journey 's End About ten days after this he was struck with a Violent Burning Fever of which he died and by which his Body was so scorched that the People took notice of it and said It was as black as a Coal And three days before I landed his Body was laid in the Dust and it was taken notice of as a sad Example While I continued thus Weak that I could not go abroad to Meetings the other Friends that came over with me bestirred themselves in the Lord's Work for the next day but one after we came on Shore they had a great Meeting at the Bridge Bridge and after that several Meetings in several parts of the Island which alarmed the People of all sorts so that many came to our Meetings and some of the Chiefest Rank For they had got my Name understanding I was come upon the Island and expected to have seen me at those Meetings not knowing that I was Weak and unable to go abroad And indeed my Weakness continued the longer on me by reason that my Spirit was much pressed down at the first with the Filth and Dirt and Vnrighteousness of the People which lay as an heavy Weight and Load upon me But after I had been above a Month upon the Island my Spirit became somewhat Easier and I began to recover in some measure my Health and Strength and to get abroad among Friends In the mean time having opportunity to send for England I writ to Friends there to let them know how it was with me as followeth Dear Friends I have been very Weak these Seven Weeks past and so not able to Write my self My Desire is to you and for you all that ye may live in the Fear of God and in Love one unto another and be Subject one to another in the Fear of God I have been Weaker in my Body than ever I was in my Life that I remember yea my Pains have been such as I cannot express But yet my Heart and Spirit is strong I have hardly Sweat these Seven Weeks past though I am come into a very hot Climate where hardly any but are well nigh continually Sweating But as for me my old Bruises Colds Numness and Pains struck inwardly even to my very Heart So that little Rest I have taken and the chiefest things that were comfortable to my Stomach were a little Water and powdered Ginger But now I begin to drink a little Beer as well as Water and sometimes a little Wine and Water mixed Great Pains and Travels I have felt and in measure am under But it is well my Life is over all This Island was to me as all of a Fire e're I came to it but now it is somewhat quenched and abated I came in Weakness amongst those that are Strong and have so continued but now am
is a Change of the Nature of the Mind and of the Heart and of the Spirit and Affections which have been below which come to be set above and so receive the things that are from Above and have the Conversation in Heaven above not that Conversation which is according to the Power of the Prince of the Air that now rules in the Disobedient So all be faithful This is the Word of the Lord God unto you all See that Godliness do flow and Holiness and Righteousness and Truth and Vertue and the Fruits of the Good Spirit over the Bad and its Fruits that ye may answer that which is of God in all for your Heavenly Father is glorified in that you bear and bring forth much Fruit to God Therefore ye who are Plants of his planting and his Trees of Righteousness see that every Tree be full of Fruit. And all keep in the true Humility and in the true Love of God which doth edify his Body that the true Nourishment from the Head the Refreshings and Springs and Rivers of Water and Bread of Life may be plenteously known and felt amongst you that so Praises may ascend to God So all be faithful to the Lord God and just and true in all your Dealings and Doings with end towards Men. And be not negligent in your Men's Meetings to admonish and to exhort and to reprove in the Spirit of Love and of Meekness and to seek that which is lost and to bring back again that which hath been driven away So let all Minds and Spirits and Souls and Hearts be bended down under the Yoke of Christ Jesus the Power of God Much I could write but am Weak and have been very Weak mostly since I left you and Burdens and Travels I have been under and gone through many ways but it is well And the Lord Almighty knows my Work which he hath sent me forth to do by his everlasting Arm and Power which is from Everlasting to Everlasting blessed be his Holy Name which I am in and in which my Love is to you all G. F. After I had recovered so much Strength that I was able to go abroad and had been a little amongst Friends I went to visit the Governour at his House Lewis Morice Thomas Rouse and some other Friends being with me And indeed he received us very Civilly and treated us very kindly making us Dine with him and keeping us most part of the Day before he let us go away Bridge-Town The same Week I went down to the Bridge-Town where I had not been before save as I passed through it when I first came into the Island There was to be a General Meeting of Friends that Week and the Visit I had newly made to the Governour and kind Reception I had with him being generally known to the Officers both Civil and Military there came many of them to this Meeting from most parts of the Island and those not of the meanest Rank divers of them being Judges or Justices Colonels or Captains so that a very great Meeting we had both of Friends and others The Lord 's Blessed Power was plentifully with us in this Meeting And although I was somewhat straitned for Time three other Friends having spoken before me yet the Lord opened things through me to the general and great Satisfaction of them that were present Col. Lewis Morice came to this Meeting and with him a Neighbour of his a Judge in the Country whose Name was Ralph Fretwell who was very well satisfied with the Meeting and received the Truth After the Meeting I went home with Lewis Morice to his House that Night being about Nine or Ten Miles going part of the way by Boat the rest on Horse-back This place where Lewis Morice his Plantation was I thought to be the finest Air of the Island The next day Thomas Briggs and William Edmundson came thither to see me they intending to leave the Island the day following and to go upon the Lord's Service to Antego and Mevis Lewis Morice went with them and at Antego they had several good Meetings to which there was a great Resort of People and many were Convinced there at that time But when they had finished their Service there and went thence to Mevis the Governour of Mevis who was an old Persecutor sent Souldiers on Board the Vessel to stop them from coming on Shore and would not suffer them to Land Wherefore after Friends of the Place had been on Board the Vessel and with them and they had been sweetly Refreshed together in feeling the Lord's Power and Presence amongst them they returned to Antego again Where having staid a while longer they came back again to Barbados Thomas Brigges being very Weak and Ill. Of the other Friends that came over with me from England James Lancaster John Cartwright and Geo. Pattison were gone some time before to Jamaica and others to other places so that few remained in Barbados with me Yet we had many great and precious Meetings both for Worship and for the Affairs of the Church to the former of which many of the World came At one of these Meetings there came amongst others one Col. Lyne a sober Person who was so very well satisfied with what I declared that he afterward said Now I can gainsay such as I have heard speak evil of you who say you do not own Christ nor that he died whereas I perceive you exalt Christ in all his Offices beyond what I have ever heard before This Man observing one to take in Writing the Heads of what I delivered desired him to let him have a Copy of it and afterward staid another day with us before he went away so great a Love was raised in him to the Truth And indeed a very great Convincement there was in most parts of the Island which made the Priests and some Professors fret and rage Our Meetings were very large and full and free from disturbance from the Government though the envious Priests and Professors endeavoured to stir up the Magistrates against us And when they found they could not prevail that way some of them that were Baptists came to the Meeting at the Town which was very large and full of People of several Ranks and Qualities A great Company came also with them and they brought with them a malicious slanderous Paper written by John Pennyman with which they made a great Noise But the Lord gave me Wisdom and Vtterance to Answer their Cavils So that the Auditory generally received Satisfaction and those quarrelsome Professors lost ground by their coming When they had wearied themselves with Clamour they went away but the People staying the Meeting was continued and the things they cavilled about were further opened and cleared and the Life and Power of God came over all But the Rage and Envy in our Adversaries did not cease but they endavoured to defame Friends with many false and scandalous Reports which they spread
now which Christ is the Author of it must stand in the Power of God in which Power of God the Everlasting Kingdom stands and so as every one's Faith stands in the Power of God this keeps all in the Power of Godliness For as it was in the Days of the Apostles when some was crying up Paul and Apollos and so forth he judged them as Carnal and exhorted them and admonished them that their Faith should stand in the Power of God So it was not to stand in Men nor in the Words of Man's Wisdom but in the Power of God And he said He would not know the Speech of them but the Power amongst them for the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power And so it is to be now Every one's Faith must stand in the Power of God and not in Men nor their Speeches of the good Words For we have seen by Experience when they begin to cry up Men and their Faith to stand in them such Men as would have Peoples Faith stand in them loves Popularity and brings not People's Faith to stand in the Power of God and such cannot exalt Christ And when such fall they draw a great Company after them And therefore the Apostle would not know such after the Flesh but would know them that were in the Power and Spirit and struck down every one's Faith that stood in the Words of Man's Wisdom that they might stand in the Power of God And so it must be now And all whose Faith doth not stand in the Power of God they cannot Exalt his Kingdom that stands in Power and therefore every one's Faith must stand in the Power of God And the Apostle denied Popularity when he Judged the Corinthians for looking at Paul and Apollos to be Carnal and such are Carnal still And therefore all should know one another in the Spirit Life and Power and look at Christ and this keeps all low and down in the Humility And they whose Faith stands in Men will make Sects as in the Days of J. N. and J. P. and since in others And such their Faith Christ is not the Author of and if he be they have erred from it and made Shipwrack of it And all those that are in the True Faith that stands in the Power of God they will Judge them as Carnal and Judge down that Carnal Part in them that cries up Paul or Apollos that their Faith may stand in the Power of God and that they may Exalt Christ the Author of it For every one's Eye ought to be to Jesus the Author and Finisher of their Faith and every Just Man and Woman may live by their Faith which Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of And by this Faith every Man and Woman may see God who is Invisible which Faith gives the Victory by which he hath Access to God And so every one's Faith and Hope standing in the Power of God in it they all have Vnity and Victory and Access to God's Throne of Grace in which Faith they do please God which Christ is the Author of And so by that Faith they are Saved and by this Faith they obtain the good Report and subdue all the Mountains that have been betwixt them and God So that Power hath kept and preserved Friends over their Persecutors and over the Wrath of Men and above the Spoilings of their Goods and Imprisonments as seeing God that hath created all and gives the Encrease of all and upholds all by his Word and Power Therefore let every one's Faith be in his Power And here in this no Schism or Sect can come for it is over them and before they were and will be when they are gone But perfect Vnity is in the Truth and in the Spirit that does Circumcise the Body of Death and that puts off the Sins of the Flesh and plunges it down with the Spirit And in the Spirit of God there is a perfect Fellowship and Christ is the Minister of this Circumcision and Baptism So this is upon me from the Lord to write unto you all that every one of your Faith that Jesus is the Author of may stand in the Power of God and from the Lord I do warn you and all every where to the same For if a Star should fall which has been a Light either the Earth or the Sea does receive it that is the Earthly Mind or the foaming raging People Though neither the Seed nor Light nor Power nor Truth ever fell nor the Faith it self the Gift of God but Men going from it then they become Vnsavoury For Adam whilst he kept in Truth and obeyed the Command of God he was happy but when he disobeyed the Lord he fell under the Power of Satan and became unhappy though he might talk after of his Experiences in Paradice but he had lost his Image and his Power and Dominion that God Created him in And the Jews after they received the Law of God as long as they kept the Law of God which was just holy good and perfect it kept them good just and holy and savoury but when they turned their Backs off the Lord and forsook his Law then they came under the Power of Darkness and under the Powers of the Earth and were trodden under as unsavoury And so the Christians they were called a City set on a Hill The Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth but when they forsook the Power of God and their Faith stood in Words and Men and not in the Power then their Walls fell down though the Power in it self stood and they lost their Hill and their Saltness and their Shining And so as Christendom now does confess they are not in the same Power and Spirit as the Apostles were in so not in the same Salt nor upon the same Hill So they came to be trodden under and the Beast and the Whore and the false Prophet are uppermost the unsavoury So their Dead Faith is in Men and in Words and therefore they are full of Sects and one against another And now the Everlasting Gospel the Power of God is preacht again which was before the Devil was that had darkned Man and by this Power of God the Gospel Life and Immortality is come to light again And therefore every one's Faith is to stand in this Power the Gospel that hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in them and so to be Heirs of the Power of God the Gospel And here have all Men and Women a Right to the Power of God before the Devil was and the Power of God is the Authority of the Mens and the Womens-Meetings and of all the other Meetings set up thereby But now as the Gospel is preacht again if your Faith doth not stand in the Power but in Men and in the Wisdom of Words you will grow Carnal and such are for Judgment who cry up as they did Paul and Apollos and not Christ
Northampton Olney in Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Turry After this Meeting I went with Thomas Charles to his house at Adingworth and from thence next day to Northampton where I stayed the First-day-Meeting which was very large and peaceable and had much Service among Friends besides Next day Edward Cooper of Northampton accompanied me to Olney in Buckinghamshire where I stay'd at James Brierlie's several Friends coming thither to see me in the Evening Next day I went to a Meeting at Turry in Bedfordshire to which Friends came from several Parts so that it was a very large Meeting Here I met with William Dewsberry who after the Meeting took me along with him to his Son-in-law John Rush's of Kempston Kempston where I stayed with William that night and most part of the next day passing thence towards Evening through Ampthill Ampthill Bullocks-hill to Thomas Gambolls of Bullocks-hill William Dewsberry went along with me thither and there also several Friends came to visit us Next day Luton Market-street Kensworth passing through Luton I went to Market-street William Dewsberry accompanying me part of the way and the day following Leonard Fell and I had a Meeting at Kensworth which was pretty large and peaceable After the Meeting we went to Albans Albans South-Mims Barnet Middlesex Gutters-hedge in Henden where we visited Friends and next day passing through South-Mims and Barnet where also we visited Friends we came that night to the Widow Haylye's at Guttershedge in Hendon in Middlesex Next day being the First-day of the Week we had a very large Meeting there several Friends coming from London I stayed there on the Second-day and on the Third went to William Mead's house at High-gate Highgate with whom next day I went to London London and it being the Fourth-day of the Week I went to the Meeting at Gracious-street where Friends and I were greatly refreshed in each other in the Lord and the Lord's Power and Seed was set over all blessed be his Name for ever Thus it pleased the Lord to bring me safe to London though much wearied with Travel for though I rode not very far in a day yet having had much weakness of Body continual Travel was hard to me Besides I had not much rest a-nights to refresh Nature for I often sate late up with Friends where I lodged to Inform and Advise them in things wherein they were wanting and when I was in bed I was often hindred of sleep by great pains which I felt in my Head and Teeth occasioned as I thought by Cold I had taken by riding often in the Rain But the Lord's Power was over all and carried me through all to his praise In my Journey I observed a slackness and shortness in some that professed Truth in keeping up the antient Testimony of Truth against Tithes for where-ever that Spirit got Entrance which wrought Division in the Church and opposed the Mens and Womens Meetings it weakned those that received it in their Testimony against Tithes Wherefore I was moved of the Lord to give forth a short Paper by way of an Epistle to Friends to stir up the pure Mind in them and to encourage and strengthen them in their Christian Testimony against that Antichristian Yoke and Oppression My dear Friends BE faithful to the Lord in your Testimony for Jesus 1677. London who hath ended the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron that took Tithes and sent his Ministers forth freely to give freely that which they had received of him freely without a Bag or a Staff So Christ's Disciples could not join with those that made a Trade of Preaching And as there was a Testimony to be born against those Tithes which were commanded in the Law for Levi and Aaron So there is a Testimony to be born against these Tithes which have been set up by Man in the dark time of Popery and not set up by God nor Christ Now for any to cry against the Priests in words and yet to give them Means and put into their Mouths that they may not prepare War against you this is a Contradiction And therefore take heed for if the Lord God do bless you with outward Creatures and you do bestow them upon Baal's Priests the Lord may justly require the Outward things from you again which he hath given you who saith That his Christian Ministers should freely give as they have freely received of Christ Jesus So all the Preachers for Tithes and Money and the Takers and Payers of Tithe must be testified against in the Lord's Power and Spirit so that all Men and Women may stand up in their Testimony for Jesus Christ in his Power and Spirit against the Tithe-mongers Consider how many faithful Servants and Valiants of the Lord have laid down their Lives against them in this day of the Lord and in the days of the Martyrs they did then witness against them Consider also what Judgments have come upon them that have spoiled Friends Goods and have cast them into Prison for Tithes and Maintenance And therefore in the Power of the Lord maintain the War against the Beast and do not put into his Mouth lest he cry Peace to you which Peace you must not receive but it must be broken and thrown out by the Spirit of God And then in the same Spirit ye will receive the Peace from the Son of Peace which the Beast and the Whore and the World with all their earthly Teachers for the Earth which are made by Man cannot receive nor bereave you of And therefore keep your Authority and Dominion in the Power and Spirit and Name of Jesus in whom my love is to you 3d Month 1677. G. F. I came to London on the 23th of the Third Month some Ten or Twelve days before the Yearly Meeting in which time I fell in with Friends there in the Service of Truth visiting them at the Meetings And the Parliament then sitting we prepared something to lay before them concerning the seizing of the Third part of Friends Estates as Popish Recusants which was a great Suffering and a Grievance we Complained of but no Redress we got To the Yearly Meeting many Friends came from most parts of the Nation 1677. London Yearly Meeting and some out of Scotland Holland c. and very glorious Meetings we had wherein the Lord 's powerful Presence was very largely felt and the Affairs of Truth were sweetly carried on in the Unity of the Spirit to the Satisfaction and Comfort of the upright-hearted blessed be the Lord for ever Then after the Yearly Meeting was over and I had stay'd a Week or Two with Friends in London I went down with William Penn to his house in Sussex Sussex John Burnyeat and some other Friends went with us Surrey and as we passed through Surrey hearing that the Quarterly Meeting for that County was that day William Penn John Burnyeat and I went from the Road to it and
to set forth the Way whereby Man and Woman might come into that happy Estate again The Priest an ancient grave Man stood up just as I had done speaking and putting off his Hat said I pray God to prosper and confirm that Doctrine for it is Truth and I have nothing against it He would willingly have stay'd longer until the Meeting had been ended but being a Parish-Priest and to preach that Evening he could not stay longer the time for his own Worship being come Wherefore when he had made Confession to the Truth he hastned away that he might come to the Meeting again and did come it seems to the Meeting-place but the Meeting was ended first After Meeting we went to Hessel Jacobs where I had a Meeting with Friends and the Doctor of Physick came thither to discourse with William Penn who had a good opportunity to open Truth to him By this Doctor the Priest sent his Love to me wishing him to tell me that he had left Preaching that Evening half an hour sooner than he used to do that he might have come to our Meeting again 1677. Harlingen to have heard more of that good Doctrine I heard afterwards that his Hearers questioned him for what he had said in our Meeting and that he standing by his words they had Complained of him for it to the other Priests of the City who called him to Account about it but the Result I could not learn Early next Morning William Penn taking John Claus with him passed from Harlingen for Leuwarden where he had appointed a Meeting intending after that to Travel into some other parts of Germany to visit a tender People there I with those Friends that were with me Amsterdam took Ship the same day for Amsterdam where we arrived a little after Midnight but the Gates being shut we lay on Board till Morning then went to Gertrude Dirick Nieson's where many Friends came to see us being glad of our safe Return Next day feeling a Concern upon my mind with relation to those seducing Spirits that made Division among Friends and being sensible that they endeavoured to insinuate themselves into the affectionate part I was moved to write a few Lines to Friends concerning them as followeth ALL these that do set up themselves in the Affections of the People set up themselves and the Affections of the People and not Christ But Friends your peaceable Habitation in the Truth which is Everlasting and changes not will out-last all the Habitations of those that be out of the Truth although they be never so full of words And so they that be so keen for J. S. and J. W. let them take them and the Separation And you that have given your Testimony against that Spirit stand in your Testimony till they Answer by Condemnation And do not strive nor make Bargains with that which is out of the Truth nor save that alive to be a Sacrifice for God which should be slain lest you lose your Kingdom Amsterdam the 14th day of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. On the First-day of the Week following I was at Friends Meeting at Amsterdam to which many People came and were very civil and attentive hearing Truth declared several hours and John Roeloffs Interpreted for me Before this time several of the Friends that came over with me were returned to England again as Robert Barclay George Keith's Wife and others and now my Daughter Yeomans went back also so that I was now left alone at Amsterdam And while I was here it came upon me to visit my suffering Friends at Dantzick with a few Lines to encourage and strengthen them in their Sufferings as followeth Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in the Lord's Truth that is over all 1677. Amsterdam and by which all God's People are made free Men and Women being thereby set free from him that is out of the Truth that walking in the Truth they may Answer the Witness of God in all People which Truth all must come to if they be made free Therefore be faithful unto what the Lord manifests and makes known unto you I am glad that the Lord hath Witnesses in that City to stand for his Glory and Name and to stand up for Christ Jesus the great Prophet whom God hath raised up who is to be heard in all things so that ye need none of the Prophets which men have raised up Therefore stand faithful to Christ Jesus your Shepherd that he may feed you and hear his voice and follow him who has laid down his Life for you but follow none of the Shepherds and Hirelings that are made by men though they be angry because ye will not follow them to their dry and barren Mountains who have been and are the Thieves Persecutors and Robbers that Clime up another way than by Christ So set up Christ to be your Counsellor and Leader and then ye will have no need of any of the Counsellors and Leaders of the World for Christ is sufficient whom God has given you And also set up Christ Jesus to be your Bishop and Overseer who is sufficient to Oversee you that ye go not astray from God by which ye may see over all the Hireling-Overseers made by men which do keep the People that they do not go astray from the Rudiments and Formalities Fashions and Customs of the World which hath been and is their Work And I am glad that ye are come to own Christ Jesus your High-Priest who is holy and harmless and separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens as the Church and the Apostle did own him in their days Hebr. 7. who is the High-Priest over the houshold of Faith which Faith Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of and this do all the Children of the New Covenant witness who walk in the new and living Way And therefore my desire is that ye all may be stedfast whether in Bonds or out in the Faith of Christ Jesus which is the Gift of God by which Faith all the Valiants overcame the Devil and all their Enemies in which Faith they had Victory and Access to God and in that was their Unity which Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience hidden from the World And I do believe that your Imprisonments and Sufferings in that Place will be for Good in the end as it hath been in other Places ye standing faithful to the Lord who is All-sufficient For your Sufferings and Trials will Try their Teachers and Religions Churches and Worships and make manifest what Birth they are of even that which persecutes him that is born of the Spirit for ye know that there is no Salvation by any other Name under the whole Heaven but by the Name of Jesus and therefore it is time to leave them when there is no Salvation by or in any of them Now Friends I desire that you would take a List of the Names of all those Persons
that belong to the King of Poland and where they do live and how ye may send Books or Epistles to them and keep a Correspondence with them and also the Name of the Bishop or Cardinal that I heard was with you And if ye can get any of them that belong to the King that are his Attendants to come and visit the Prisoners that they may Inform the King of their Cruel Sufferings Also I desire you to get as many Books of mine as you can dispose of that set forth your Sufferings and the Cruelty of the Magistrates of Dantzick and give them to the King and his Council and Attendants and his Bishops And some of the Women may speak to the Queen if they can that she may signifie to the King their Cruel Sufferings and especially some of the Sufferers Wives if there be any of a Capacity to do it You may likewise give his Attendants any other Friends Books and what Books ye lack send for them to Amsterdam where ye may be furnished with them to Answer every tender Desirer and Inquiring mind after the Lord. So let all your Minds be bended with the Lord's Power to spread his Truth abroad and where ye hear of any or have any Correspondence in outward Trading with any sober People far or near send them Books that their Understandings may be opened after the Lord. So the Lord God Almighty preserve you and to his Protection in his Eternal Power do I Commend you all in Bonds or at Liberty with my Love to you in the Everlasting Seed of God Christ Jesus who bruises the Head of the Serpent that make you to suffer But Christ is over him and will be when he is gone who is First and Last over all from Everlasting to Everlasting in whom ye have both Life Knowledge Wisdom and Salvation and through him live to the Praise and Glory of God who is blessed for evermore Amen Amsterdam the 18th of the 7th Month 1677. English stile G. F. The next day being the Fourth day of the Week and 19th of the Month I had a large Meeting at Amsterdam many Professors being at it and Truth was largely opened to them in the demonstration of the heavenly Power The day following I went by Boat from Amsterdam Waterland Landsmeer many Friends going with me to Landsmeer in Waterland a Town in which they say there are above an hundred Bridges where I had a very good Meeting to which several Professors came And after the Meeting I returned with Friends to Amsterdam again Amsterdam where I stay'd with Friends till the First-day following and went to their Meeting which was large for many Professors of several sorts were at it and heard the Truth declared with great Attention I tarried amongst Friends there next day and in the night following had a great Exercise upon my Spirit concerning that loose Spirit that was run out into Strife and Contention among Friends and had drawn some after it into Division and Separation the way work and end whereof the Lord opened to me wherefore feeling the Motion of Life upon me I got up in the Morning and wrote the following Epistle to Friends My Dear Friends KEep your First Love in the Truth and Power and Seed of Life in Christ Jesus for this last night as I was lying in my Bed at Amsterdam I had a great Travel in the holy Seed of Life and Peace and my Spirit was troubled with that Spirit of Strife and Separation I saw it was a Destroying Spirit and did seek not only to get over the Seed but to destroy it and to Eat out the minds of People from it by Strife and Contention and under pretence of standing for the Antient Truth its work is to root it out and destroy the Appearance of it to set up it self And it is a Creeping Spirit seeking whom it can get into and what it cannot do it self it stirreth up others to do and setteth up their Spirits on float with the dark Wisdom to destroy the Simple And this Spirit is managed by the Prince of the Air and leadeth some to do such things which they would have been ashamed to have done as men which doth Unman them and they would not have suffered them if they had kept to the tender Principle of God which leadeth to Peace And it is a despising backbiting and a secret-whispering Spirit and a Sower of Dissension and a taker of advantage of all prejudiced Spirits that are disobedient to their first Principle and Love of Truth and begetteth into hatred so it begetteth all into that Spirit whose work is to destroy both the Good within and the good Order without Nay it would if it could destroy the Government of Christ and the Order of the Gospel to set up its own Will and Spirit which is not of God and under pretence of crying down Man are setting up Man and are gathering into a Separation of disobedient Men who float above their Conditions And this Spirit which neither liveth in the Truth nor its Order but opposeth them that do I cannot express it as I do see it and its work whose end will be accordingly And therefore Friends I am to warn you all that have not lost your Simplicity not to touch it nor to have any Vnity with it lest you be defiled and lose your Conditions of your Eternal Estate and your Everlasting Portion and that your Inward man which is after God may be preserved and Christ may reign in all your hearts And they that are joined with them it will be very hard for them ever to come down to Truth in themselves and to see their own Conditions and to have that Spirit of Strife and Contention which eateth as a Canker to be brought down in them which is carnal and slayeth the tender Babe which was once begotten in themselves and the Philistine is got up in them that stoppeth the Wells and Springs and maketh a great Busle and are crying up Men and pleading for them instead of Christ And so Friends strive not with them but let them take them that cry them up and keep you to the Lord Jesus Christ with his Light that cometh from him that he may be your Lord and ye in him may be all in Vnity in one Light Life Power and Dominion in Christ your Head And so the God of Peace and Power preserve you all in Christ Jesus your Saviour and out of and from that mischievous Spirit which is idle and slothful as to the Work of the Power and Spirit and Light of God and Christ and its very Act is that which worketh strife and disturbance against the Peace of the Church of Christ and thinks in its wilfulness and stubbornness and unruliness to set up it self and in that to have peace but Destruction will be the end of it and it is sealed for the Fire and Eternal Judgment And therefore let Christ the Seed be the Head and
Crown of every one of you that nothing may be between you and the Lord God And be not deceived with vain Words or fained Words or rough for Satan is transforming himself as an Angel of Light to deceive but God's Foundation standeth sure and God knoweth who are his and will preserve his upon the Rock and Foundation of Life in his peaceable Truth and Habitation that in the same they may grow And so keep out of Strife and Contention with it after that ye have born your Testimony in the Lord's Power and Truth against it and then keep in the Truth for it hath a life in scribling strife and jangling because it would enlarge its Hell and bring others into its Misery with the airy Power and would get Power over the Good and disjoin People from it and so to make Rapes upon the Simplicity by its Subtilty But I do believe the Lord will defend his People though he may try them and exercise them with this Spirit for a time as he hath done by it in days past in other Vessels it hath made use of as it doth of these now who have a more seeming fair Outside but foul and rough and rugged enough within against the Seed Christ as ever were the Pharisees to destroy it And they under a pretence of Preaching Christ are the men that are the Destroyers and Crucifiers of him and Killers of the Just not only in themselves but endeavouring with all their might to destroy it in others where it is born Pharaoh and Herod to slay the young Jews in the Spirit as the Old did I do feel it Worrying of them and it is got up to be King which knew not suffering Joseph But God will plague him and the Seed will have more rest and be better entertained in Egypt than under Herod into whom Old Pharaoh's Spirit is entred He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear and an Eye to see let him see how this Spirit hath Transformed in all Ages against the Just and Righteous but mark what hath been its end But the Seed reigneth Glory to the Lord God over all for ever and his Truth spreadeth and Friends here are in Unity and Peace and of good Report answering the good or that of God in People And so my desires are that all God's People may do the same in all places where-ever they be so that the Lord may be glorified in their bringing forth much Fruit that is heavenly and spiritual Amen Amsterdam the 25 of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. After I had given forth the fore-going Epistle whereby my Spirit was in some measure eased of the Weight that lay upon it I went in the Afternoon to the Monthly Meeting of Friends at Amsterdam where the Lord was present with us and refreshed our Spirits together in himself I thought to have gone next day to Harlem but there being a Fast appointed to be kept that day I was stopped in my Spirit and moved to stay at Friends Meeting that day at Amsterdam We had a very large Meeting a great Concourse of People coming to it and amongst them many great Persons The Lord's Power was over the Meeting and in the Openings thereof I was moved to declare to the People That no man by all his wit and study nor by reading History in his own Will could declare or know the Generation of Christ who was not begotten by the Will of Man but by the Will of God After I had largely opened this unto them I shewed them the Difference between the true Fast and the false manifesting unto them that the profest Christians Jews and Turks were out of the true Fast and fasted for strife and debate being under the Band and Fists of Iniquity and Oppression wherewith they were smiting one another but the pure hands were not lifted up to God And though they did all appear to men to Fast and did hang down their Heads for a day like a Bulrush yet that was not the Fast which God did accept but in that state all their Bones were dry and when they called upon the Lord he did not Answer them neither did their Health grow for they kept their own Fast and not the Lord 's And there I exhorted them to come and keep the Lord's Fast which was to fast from Sin and Iniquity from Strife and Debate from Violence and Oppression and to abstain from every Appearance of Evil. These things were opened to the astonishment of the Fasters and the Meeting ended peaceably and well I went to Harlem the day following Harlem having before appointed a Meeting to be there that day Peter Hendricks and Gertrude Dirick Nieson went with me and a blessed Meeting we had There were at the Meeting Professors of several sorts and a Priest of the Lutherans who sate very Attentive for several hours while I declared the Truth amongst them Gertrude Interpreting When the Meeting was done the Priest said That he had heard nothing but what was according to the Word of God and desired That the Blessing of the Lord might rest upon us and our Assemblies Others also confessed to the Truth saying They had never heard things so plainly opened to their understandings before We stayed that night at Harlem at a Friend's house whose name was Dirick Klassen and returning next day to Amsterdam went to Gertrude's house where we had not been long come in before there came a Priest of great note who had formerly belonged to the Emperor of Germany and with him another German Priest desiring to have some Conference with me So I took the Opportunity to declare the Way of Truth unto them opening unto them how they might come to know God and Christ and his Law and Gospel and shewing them that they could never know it by study nor by Philosophy but by Divine Revelation through the Spirit of God opening unto them in the stilness of their Minds The men were tender and went away well satisfied On the First-day of the Week following I was at Friends Meeting at Amsterdam where amongst the several sorts of Professors that were present there was a Doctor of Poland who for his Religion was banished from the place he lived in and he being affected with the Testimony of Truth that was born in the Meeting came after the Meeting to have some Discourse with me and after we had been some time together and I had opened things further to him he went away very Tender and Loving Now while I was at Amsterdam I spent most of my time except it were when I was at Friends Meetings or when People came to speak with me in Writing Books Papers or Epistles on Truth 's behalf For I writ several Epistles from Amsterdam to Friends in England and elsewhere on several Occasions as the Lord moved me by his Spirit thereunto I writ also from thence A Warning to the Inhabitants of the City Oldenburgh which was lately burnt down Also A Warning to
purifies our hearts and brings us to have Access to God without which we cannot please him by which Faith all the Just lives as the Scripture declares And so that which we desire of Thee O King is that we may have the Liberty of our Consciences to serve and worship God and to pray unto him in our Meetings together in the Name of Jesus as he Commands with a promise that he will be in the midst of them The King we do hope cannot but say that this Duty and Service is due to God and Christ and we give Caesar his due and pay our Tribute and Custom equal with our Neighbour according to our proportion And we never read in all the Scriptures of the New Testament That ever Christ or his Disciples did Banish or Imprison any that were not of their Faith or Religion and would not hear them or gave any such Command but on the Contrary Let the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the harvest and the harvest is the end of the World And then Christ will send his Angels to sever the Wheat from the Tares c. And also he Rebuked such that would have had fire to come down from Heaven to consume such that would not receive Christ and told them That they did not know what Spirit they were of he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them And therefore we desire the King to consider how much Persecution has been in Christendom since the Apostles days concerning Religion And Christ said They should go into Everlasting punishment that did not visit him in Prison then what will become of them that Imprison him in his Members where he is Manifest And now none can say that the World is ended And therefore how will all Christendom answer the dreadful and terrible God at his Day of Judgment that have persecuted one another about Religion before the end of the World under a pretence of plucking up Tares which is not their Work but the Angels at the end of the World And Christ Commands men to Love one another and to Love Enemies and by this they should be known to be his Disciples And therefore Oh! 1677. London that all Christendom had lived in Peace andVnity that they might by their Moderation have Judged both Turks and Jews and let all have their Liberty that do own God and Jesus and Walk as becomes the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ And so our desires are that the Lord God of Heaven may soften the King 's heart to all tender Consciences that do fear the Lord and are afraid of disobeying him And now we intreat the King to read over some of the Noble Expressions of several Kings and others concerning Liberty of Conscience and especially Stephanus King of Poland his sayings viz. It belongeth not to me to Reform the Consciences I have always gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the Weeds to grow till the time of harvest for I know that the Number of Believers are but small Therefore said he when some were proceeding in Persecution I am King of the People not of their Consciences He also affirmed that Religion was not to be planted with Fire and Sword Chron. Liberty of Religion Part. 2. Also a Book wrote in French by W. M. Anno 1576. hath this Sentence viz. Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to Justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects always prospered and reigned long but on the Contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Prejudiced and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon fall'n they and their Estates into danger or total ruin Veritus saith Seeing Christ is a Lamb whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same Weapons which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and Wild-beasts but only of Sheep Wherefore if you lose the Nature of Sheep said he and be changed into Wolves and Wild-beasts and use fleshly Weapons then will you exclude your selves out of his Calling and forsake his Banner and then will he not be your Captain c. And also we find it asserted by King James in his Speech to the Parliament in the Year 1609. That it is a pure Rule in Divinity that God never planted his Church with Violence of Blood And furthermore he said It was usually the Condition of Christians to be persecuted but not to persecute And also King Charles in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 61. said in his Prayer to God Thou seest how much Cruelty amongst Christians is acted under the Colour of Religion as if we could not be Christians unless we crucified one another And pag. 28. Make them at length seriously to Consider that nothing violent nor injurious can be Religious Pag. 70. Nor is it so proper to hew out Religious Reformation by the Sword as to polish them by fair and equal Disputations among those that are most Concerned in the Differences whom not force but reason must Convince And pag. 66. Take heed that outward Circumstances and Formalities in Religion devour not all And pag. 91 92. 1678. London In point of true Conscientious tenderness I have so often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on God's Soverainity who is the only King of Conscience Pag. 123. Nor do I desire any man should be further subject unto me then all of us may be subject unto God Pag. 200. O thou Soveraign of our Souls the only Commander of our Consciences Pag. 346. In his Meditations on Death It is indeed a sad state to have his Enemies to be his Accusers Parties and Judges The Prince of Orange testified Anno 1579. That it was impossible the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Toleration in the Exercise of Religion And further Where hast thou read in thy day said Menno in the Writing of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cried out to the Magistrate for their power against them that would not hear their Doctrine nor obey their Words I know certainly said he that where a Magistrate shall banish with the Sword there is not the right Knowledge Spiritual Word nor Church of Christ it is Invocare Brachium Seculare to Invoke the Secular Arm. It is not Christian-like but Tyrannical said D. Philipson to banish and persecute People about Faith and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation who resisted the Holy Ghost Erasmus said That though they take our Monies and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God In de Krydges wrede fol. 63. Lucernus said He that Commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience this is an Antichrist In
that and that Liberty answers the Grace the Truth the Light the Spirit the Faith the Gospel of Christ in every Man and Woman and is the Yoke to the Contrary in every Man and Woman And that makes it rage and swell and puff up for that is restless and unruly and out of patience and is ready to curse his God and that which reigns over him because it hath not its Will And it works with all Subtilty and Evasion with its restless Spirit to get in and defile the minds of the Simple and to make Rapes upon the Virgin Minds But as they receive the heavenly Wisdom by which all things were made which Wisdom is above that Spirit through this Wisdom they will be preserved over that Spirit And Christ hath given Judgment to his Saints in his Church though he be Judge of all and the Saints in the Power and Spirit of God had and have Power to Judge of Words and Manners of Lives and Conversations and Growths and States from a Child to a Father in the Truth and to whom they are a Savour of Death and to whom they are a Savour of Life And who serve the Lord Jesus Christ and preach him and who preach themselves and serve themselves And who Talk of the Light and of Faith and of the Gospel and of Hope and of Grace and preach such things and in their Works and Lives deny them all and God and Christ and preach up Liberty from that in themselves to that in Others which should be under the Yoke and Cross of Christ the Power of God And so the Saints in the Power and Spirit of Christ can discern and distinguish who serves God and Christ and who serves him not and so can put a distinction between the Prophane and the Holy But such as have lost their Eye-salve and their Sight is grown dim lose this Judgment Discerning and Distinction in the Church of Christ and such come to be spewed out of Christ's mouth except they Repent and if not they come to Corrupt the Earth and burden it that it Vomits them out of it And therefore all are Exhorted to keep in the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus and in the Word of Life and the Wisdom of God which is above that that is below in which they may keep their heavenly Understandings and heavenly Discernings and so set the heavenly Spiritual Judgment over that which is for Judgment which dishonours God which leads into loose and false Liberty out of the Unity which stands in the heavenly Spirit which brings into Conformity and to be Conformable to the Image of the Son of God and his Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was and his Truth which the Devil is out of in which all are of one Mind Heart and Soul and come to drink into one Spirit being baptized into one Spirit and so into one Body which Christ is the Head of and so keep one Fellowship in the Spirit and Unity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace the Prince of Princes Peace And they that Cry so much against Judging and are afraid of Judgment whether they be Apostates Professors or Prophane they are the Most-judging with their censorious false Spirits and Judgment and yet cannot bear the true Judgment of the Spirit of God nor stand in his Judgment This hath been manifest from the beginning they having the false Measures and the false Weights for none have the true Measure and the true Weight but who keep in the Light Power and Spirit of Christ And now there is a loose Spirit that cries for Liberty and against Prescriptions and yet is prescribing ways both by Words and Writings And the same Spirit cries against Judging and would not be Judged and yet is Judging with a wrong Spirit And this is given forth in Reproof to that Spirit London the 9th of the 4th Month 1678. G. F. When I had finished what Service I had for the Lord at this time here I left London and went towards Hartford visiting Friends and having several Meetings in the way At Hartford I stay'd several days having much Service for the Lord there both amongst Friends in their Meetings and in Conferences with such as having let in evil surmisings and jealousies concerning Friends stood in Opposition to the Order of Truth And in Answering some Books that had been written against Truth and Friends And while I was here it came upon me to write a few Lines and send them abroad amongst Friends as followeth Dear Friends LET the holy Seed of Life reign over Death and the unholy Seed in you all that in the holy Seed of the Kingdom ye may all feel the everlasting holy Peace with God through Christ Jesus your Saviour and sit down in him your Life and glorious Rest the holy Rock and Foundation that standeth sure over all from Everlasting to Everlasting in whom all the fulness of Blessedness is so that ye may glory in him that liveth for evermore Amen! Who is your Eternal Joy Life and Happiness through whom you have Peace with God 1678. Hartford Which holy Seed bruiseth the Head of the Serpent and will out-live all his Wrath and Rage Malice and Envy who was before He and It was and remains when He and It is gone into the fire that burns with brimstone The Seed Christ will reign and so will ye as ye do live and walk in him and sit down in Christ and build up one another in the Love of God Hartford the 10 of the 5th Month 1678. G. F. Next day a fresh Exercise came upon me with respect to those unruly and disorderly Spirits which were gone out from us and were labouring to draw others after them into a false Liberty And in the sense I had of the hurt and mischief these might do where they were given way to I was moved to write a few Lines to Warn Friends of them as followeth All Friends KEep in the tender Life of the Lamb over that unruly puffed up and swelling Spirit whose work is for Strife Contention and Division drawing into Loosness and false Liberty under a pretence of Conscience and dangerous to the Spoiling of Youth They that do encourage them will be guilty of their Destruction and set up a sturdy Will instead of Conscience in their Rage and Passion which will quench the universal Spirit in themselves and in every Man and Woman and so that Spirit shall not have the Liberty in themselves nor in Others and so shut up the Kingdom of Heaven in themselves and also in Others And so a loose Spirit getting up under a pretence of Liberty of Conscience or a stubborn Will making a Profession of the Words of Truth in a Form without Power all Loosness and Vileness will be sheltered and covered under this pretence which is for Eternal Judgment for that doth dishonour God Therefore keep to the tender Spirit of God in all humility that
I had not been long at Swarthmore e're a Concern came upon me to visit the Churches of Christ in London and elsewhere by an Epistle which was as followeth Dear Friends TO whom is my Love in the heavenly Seed in whom all Nations are blessed Oh 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 for the Promise was and is to and with the Seed and not with the Law of the First Covenant In this Seed all Nations and ye are blessed which bruiseth the Head of the Seed that 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 ye have an Inheritance among the Sanctified that cannot be defiled 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 and 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 Now all my Dear Friends my desires are that ye 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 he being in the midst of you whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven And so ye have a Prophet and Bishop Shepherd Priest and Counsellor above all the Counsellors and Priests Bishops Prophets and Shepherds under the whole Heaven to exercise his Offices among you in your Meetings that are gathered in his Name For Christ's Meeting and Gathering is above all the Meetings and Gatherings under the whole Heaven And his Body his Church and he the Head of it is above all the Bodies and Churches and Heads under the whole Heaven And the Faith that Christ is the Author of and the Worship that he hath set up and his Fellowship in the Gospel is above all Historical Faiths and the Faith 's that Man hath made together with their Worships and Fellowships under the whole Heaven And now Dear Friends 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 and kept from the knowledge of the things of God for it is he and his Instruments which hath darkned you from Life and Immortality that would throw down your Men and Womens-Meetings which were set up 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 as your Faith stands in this Power of God the Gospel in which every one sees your Work and Service for God And every Heir in 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 an everlasting Order an everlasting Fellowship and in the Gospel is everlasting Joy Comfort and Peace which will out-last all those Joys Comforts and Peaces that will have an end and that Spirit also that opposes its Order and the glorious Fellowship Peace and Comfort in it And My Dear Friends my desire is that ye may keep in the Unity of the Spirit that baptizes you all into one Body which Christ is the heavenly and spiritual Head of so that ye may see and bear witness to your heavenly and spiritual Head and so all drink into the One Spirit Which all People upon the Earth are not like to do while they grieve quench and rebel against it nor to be baptized into one Body and to keep the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace yea the King of Kings and Lord of Lords his Peace which it is the duty of all true Christians to keep who are inwardly united to Christ So with my Love to you all in the everlasting Seed Swarthmore the 26th of the 7th Month 1678. G. F. There were about this time several Friends in Prison for bearing Testimony to the Truth To whom I was moved to write a few Lines to comfort strengthen and encourage them in their Sufferings having a true sense of their Sufferings upon my spirit and a sympathizing with them therein And that which I writ was after this manner My Dear Friends WHO are Sufferers for the Lord Jesus sake and for the Testimony of his Truth the Lord God Almighty with his Power uphold you and support you in all your Trials and Sufferings and give you Patience and Content in his Will that yâ— may stand valiant for Christ and his Truth upon the Earth over the persecuting and destroying Spirit which makes to suffer in Christ who bruises his Head in whom ye have both Election and Salvation And for God's Elect sake the Lord hath done much from the Foundation of the World as may be seen throughout the Scriptures of Truth and they that touch them touch the Apple of God's Eye they are so tender to him And therefore it is good for all God's suffering Children to trust in the Lord and to wait upon him for they shall be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed from Christ their Rock and Salvation who is the Foundation of all the Elect of God of the Prophets and the Apostles and of God's People now and to the End Glory to the Lord and the Lamb over all Remember my dear Love to all Friends and do not think the time long for all Time is in the Father's hand his Power And therefore keep the Word of Patience and exercise that Gift and the Lord strengthen you in your Sufferings in his holy Spirit of Faith Amen Swarthmore the 5th of the 12th Month 1678. G. F. I abode in the North at this time above a year having Service for the Lord amongst Friends there and being much taken up in writing Books and Papers some in Defence of Truth in Answer to Books published by Adversaries and some for the opening the Principles and Doctrines of Truth to the World that they might come to have a
in Saul's nature let them be of what Name or Profession soever they be that are Persecutors and unconverted into Paul's Life of Christianity He said the Life that he did live after he was Converted was by the Faith in the Son of God And that He lived yet not He but Christ lived in him who came to save mens Lives and not to destroy them Which Life should be the Life of all Christians now which Paul in his converted state lived in And the Apostle saith The Law is good if a man use it lawfully knowing this that the Law is not made for a righteous man but for the Lawless and for the Ungodly and Sinners and for Unholy and Prophane and for Murtherers of Fathers and Mothers and for Manslayers for Whoremongers and for them that defile themselves with Mankind for Menstealers Liars and Perjured Persons 1 Tim. 1. So the Law in its place is good against such Again the Apostle says The Law was added because of Transgression Gal. 3.19 Now here all Magistrates may see what the Law in its place is good against and what it was made for and against and what Evils the Apostle says it takes hold upon He does not say the Law should be laid upon Men that differed from them in their Religion and Judgment nor upon the Righteous men And so you may see in what condition the Law is good and what it was made against not against Righteous men against whom they have nothing in their Lives and Conversations only because they differ from them in Matters of Religion and let Manslayers Whoremongers Perjured Persons Vngodly Prophane Persons Liars c. go unpunished Such do not use nor execute the Law lawfully as the Apostle says The Law is good if a man use it lawfully Therefore it ought to be used lawfully which Law the Apostle says is for the punishment of the Evil-Doers and a praise for them that do well as may be seen Rom. 13. And so as the Apostle said We do not break the Law nor make it void but we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 Kingston upon Thames the 4th of the first Month 1680 1. This is from him who desires the Eternal Good and Salvation of you all in Christ Jesus Amen G. F. After I had finished these Services there I returned to London where I stay'd about a Month London labouring amongst Friends in the Work of the Lord both in publick Meetings for Worship and in the Meetings relating to the outward Affairs of the Church Waltham-Abbey Flamsteadend Edmunton Enfield Winchmore-hill Then feeling my Spirit drawn to visit Friends about Enfield-side I went down to Waltham-Abbey where I had a very precious Meeting and another at Flamstead-Heath not far from thence And having spent some time amongst Friends there and thereabouts and had divers good Meetings at Edmunton Enfield Winchmore Hill 1681. London Yearly Meeting and other places there aways I came back to London a little before the Yearly Meeting which was in the Third Month 1681 it was a very precious Meeting in which the Glorious Presence and Power of the Lord was eminently felt and enjoyed Some time after the Yearly Meeting was over it came upon me to write the following Epistle which I directed To the Quarterly Mens and Womens Meetings that are gathered in the Name and Power of Jesus CHrist the second Adam who is both Head and Husband of his Church and Redeemer and Purchaser and Saviour and Sanctifier and Reconciler of his Sons and Daughters his Church to God I say his Presence to wit Christ's feel among you to exercise his Prophetical Office in opening of you with his Light Grace Truth Power and Spirit and to exercise his Office as he is a Bishop to Oversee you with his Light Grace Power and Spirit that ye do not go astray from God And as Christ is a Shepherd feel see and hear him exercising that Office who has laid down his Life for his Sheep and is feeding them in his living Pastures of Life and makes them to drink of his living Eternal Springs And let him rule and govern in your Hearts as he is King that his heavenly and spiritual Government all may live under as true Subjects of his righteous peaceable Kingdom which stands in Righteousness and Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost over Satan and his Power and the unclean unholy Ghost and all unrighteousness So all ye Subjects to Christ's Kingdom of Peace if ye want Wisdom or Knowledge or Life or Salvation Christ is the Treasure feel him the Treasure among you And every one among you as ye have received Christ walk in him in whom ye have all Peace who bruises the Head of the Serpent that is the Author of all Strife Distraction and Confusion yea you have Peace with God and one with another though the Trouble be from the World and the World's Spirit And therefore My dear Friends Brethren and Sisters Love one another with the Love that is of God shed in your hearts that ye may bear the Maâ—ks of Christ's Disciples and it may appear that Christ is in you and ye in him so that God Almighty may be glorified among you And whatever ye do let it be done in the Name of Jesus to the praise of God the Father keeping in Vnity in the Holy Spirit of God which was before the unholy Spirit was Which holy Spirit is your Bond of Peace yea the holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords his peace And in this holy pure Spirit is your eternal Vnity and Fellowship in which Spirit of Truth ye do serve and worship the God of Truth who is God over all blessed for ever Amen So the Lord guide you all with his Word of Patience Word of Life Power and Wisdom in all your Actions Lives Conversations and Meetings to God's glory 1681. London My Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ by whom all things were made and who is over all the First and the Last London the 9th of the 4th Month 1681. G. F. About this time I had occasion to go to several of the Judges Chambers upon a Suit about Tithes For both I and my Wife and several other Friends were sued in Cartmel-Wapentake-Court in Lancashire for small Tithes and we had demurred to the Jurisdiction of that Court. Whereupon the Plaintiff prosecuted us into the Exchequer-Court at Westminster where they run us up to a Writ of Rebellion for not Answering the Bill upon Oath and got an Order of Court to the Sergeant to take me and my Wife into Custody This was a little before the Yearly Meeting at which time it was thought they would have taken me up and according to outward appearance it was likely indeed that he would and very easie for him to have done it I lodging at the same places where I used to lodge and being very publick in Meetings But the Lord's Power was over them and restrained them so
fine Opportunity to open the Way of Truth amongst them After I was come to London London I was moved to write the following Paper concerning that Spirit which had led some who profest Truth into Strife and Division and to oppose the Way and Work of the Lord. Friends YOU that do keep your habitations in the Truth that is over all do see that it is the same Spirit that doth lead the Backsliders and Apostates now from the Spiritual Fellowship and Unity of God's People and the Church of Christ that led out Adam and Eve from God and the Jews from God and his Law to Rebel against his Spirit and so to turn against God and his Prophets And this Spirit was the same that was in the World which was got into the Jews when they were gone from the Spirit of God and then they turned against God and his Prophets and against Christ and his Apostles And that Spirit led them to be as bad as Pilate or worse The Enmity or Adversary was got within them against the Truth and them that walked in it and the Spirit of the Lord so that they killed and destroyed the Just. And this was the Spirit of the Devil the Destroyer who would seek not only to destroy the Truth but the Order of it and them that walk in it when true Christianity was planted among the Possessors of the Light 1681. London Grace and Truth and the Gospel-holy Faith and Spirit and they did enjoy Christ in their hearts But when some did begin to Err from the Spirit and Faith and hate the Light and disobey the Gospel and to turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace and turn from the Truth and Crucifie to themselves Christ afresh and put him to open shame These were they that let in the Spirit of the World who held the Form of Godliness but denied the Power thereof which troubled the Churches in the Apostles days And when the Spirit of Satan had got into such they were more troublesome to the Church than the open Persecutors that were without And these got into the Assemblies to deceive the hearts of the Simple having the good Words and fair Speeches and Sheep's-Cloathing Paul Peter John Jude and James had much to do with such and to keep them from troubling the Church of Christ For they are out of the Light Power and Spirit and therefore the Apostles of Christ did exhort the Saints to keep to the Word of Life within and to the Anointing and to the Grace and Truth and holy Spirit in their hearts This foul Spirit will profess all the Scriptures in words but by the Spirit of God which is holy that Spirit is tried and its fruits And so the Apostates went from the Power and Spirit of God and turned against the Prophets and the Martyrs of Jesus and became the Whore whose Cup all Nations drunk of And the Dragon with his Tail threw down many of the Stars and would have devoured the Woman with his Flood but the Woman the true Church was preserved and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against her And then the Dragon made war with her Seed So the Dragon and the Whore and Beast and false Prophets all made war against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb and the Saints will overcome them all and will have the Victory And now the Everlasting Gospel is preached again to all Nations Tongues and Peoples and many are gathered into the Gospel the Power of God and are turned to the Light which is the Life in Christ and are grafted into him and are come to walk in the Order of the New Covenant of Light and Life in the Gospel of Peace and Salvation The same Spirit that opposed the Apostles and the Churches in their days opposes now yea it is the same that opposed Christ and disdained him that disdaineth God's Servants now And the same that did oppose the Prophets and rebelled against Moses opposes and rebels against God's Servants and People now And it is the same dark blind and disobedient faithless wilful jealous Spirit that doth persecute some with the Hands and others with the Tongue And it is the same Spirit of Enmity the Adversary and Destroyer that tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God and did deceive them which deceived the Jews and tempted them and deceived all those that went from the Church in the Apostles days And it is the same Spirit that is now going about sometimes like a roaring Lion sometimes like a twisting Serpent to tempt and to deceive 1682. London and to devour having the fair Speeches and good Words and Sheeps-Cloathing in a Form of Godliness and in pretence of the Light and Liberty but denies the Power thereof and inwardly are ravening Wolves and if it were possible they would deceive the very Elect. But the Elect are in the Covenant of Light and Life and in the Power of God over them and in Christ who will grind them to pieces and will slay all his Enemies with his spiritual Sword who will not have him to rule over or in them In Christ all his People have Rest and Peace who is their Sanctuary over all Storms and Tempests And in Christ the Sanctuary no Deceiver nor Destroyer can come for he is a place of sweet Rest and Safety Hallelujah Praise the Lord for his Sanctuary Amen G. F. Sufferings continuing still hard upon Friends at London I found my Service lay mostly here Wherefore I went but a little out of Town and not far being frequent at the most publick Meetings to encourage Friends both by Word and Example to stand fast in the Testimony to which God had called them And at other times I went about from house to house visiting those Friends that had their Goods taken away for their Testimony to Truth And because the wicked Informers were grown very audacious by reason that they had too much Countenance and Encouragement from some Justices who trusting wholly to their Information proceeded against Friends without hearing them whereby many Friends were made to suffer not only contrary to Right but even contrary to Law also I advised with some Friends about it and we drew up a Paper which was afterwards delivered to most of the Magistrates in and about the City which was as followeth WHereas some Informers have obtained Warrants of some Justices of Peace and have Convicted many of us without hearing us or once Summoning us to Appear before them by which proceedings many have had their Goods seized and taken away being generally fined Ten Pounds a piece for an unknown Speaker and some of those Persons so fined have not been that day at the Meetings they were fined for and the Speaker notwithstanding hath himself been fined for the same Meeting the same day the others were fined for the unknown Speaker By which the Justices may see the Wickedness of these Informers by whose false
let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another c. Col. 3. And whatsoever ye do in Word or Deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God and the Father by him And above all things put on Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness And the Apostle saith to Timothy Be not thou ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God who hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim. 1.8 9. So here it concerns every one not to be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord who hath called them by his Grace and not to be ashamed of any of Christ's Prisoners and afflicted Ones for Christ's and his Gospels sake who abolishes Death and brings Life and Immortality to Light through his Gospel You that believe in the Light know it And Peter saith in his General Epistle to the Church of Christ As every man mark every man hath received the Gift so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God so not of Men If any man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God gives so not of the Ability of mens Arts and Sciences that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ c. For these Gifts and Grace come from Jesus into the hearts of the Members of his Church whom he is in the midst of And if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God c. And every true Christian hath the presence of Christ who hath all power in Heaven and in Earth given him to support them with his power light and life And Christ saith to his Believers Beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Councils and they will scourge you in the Synagogues and you shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in the same hour what ye shall speak for it is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake but he that endureth to the end shall be saved The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord for if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub what will they do to his Servant Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul c. A Sparrow shall not fall to the ground without your heavenly Father c. The hairs of your head are all numbred ye are of more value than many Sparrows Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven But whosoever shall deny me before Men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven And whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed c. Matth. 10. And again Christ saith Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels Mark 8.38 And Christ saith to his Disciples He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophet's reward And he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a Cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Matth. 10.40 41 42. Here ye may see how Christ encourages his Disciples and them that receive them And John saith Among the chief Rulers of the Jews many believed in Christ but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue John 12.42 Too many such Believers are now a-days who dare not Confess Christ lest they should lose the favour of men But Christ encourages the faithful Disciples and told them They would put them out of their Synagogues yea that the time should come that whosoever killed them would think they did God service And these things said he will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them John 16.2 3 4. Here ye may see what Christ told his Disciples should come to pass to them And Saul before he was Converted did Compel the Christians to blaspheme and made havock of the Church of Christ Acts 8. and chap. 22. and 26. And did not the Beast in the Revelations Compel both small and great to worship him and his Image And did not all worship it but they who had their Names written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the Foundation of the World And did not Nebuchadnezzar set up an Image sixty Cubits high and six Cubits broad And then did not he cause an Herauld to cry aloud It is commanded that all People and Nations and Languages fall down and worship the golden Image that Nebuchadnezzar hath set up And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of the fiery Furnace And were not Shadrach Meshach and Abednego cast into the Furnace Dan. 3. But God delivered them Therefore it is good to be faithful to God and his Worship in Spirit and Truth And the Jews had agreed that if any man should Confess Christ he should be put out of their Synagogue John 9.22 So it was for Christ's sake they were Excommunicated out of their Synagogues But as it is written Behold I lay in Sion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock of Offence and who so believes on him shall not be ashamed So Christ is a Stumbling-stone and a Rock of Offence to all the Unbelievers in the Light which is the Life in Christ whether they be Jews Christians or Gentiles The Jews did believe a Christ was To come from the Scriptures And the Christians believe He is come by the Scriptures but do not believe in the Light which is the Life in Christ as Christ commands and so do not become the
were many loose Spirits there yet they were bound down by the Power and Spirit of the Lord that they could not get up to make disturbance About this time I was moved to write the following Epistle Friends and Brethren WHO have received the peaceable Truth let the fruits of its peaceableness and of your quiet Spirit appear in all your Meetings and in all your Words and Actions for he that inhabits Eternity dwells with an humble heart and he gives Grace to the humble and resisteth the proud Heaven is his Throne and the Earth ye walk upon is his Foot-stool happy are ye that see and know him that is Invisible And now Friends ☞ Let all things be done in your Meetings and otherways in Love without strife or vain-glory For Love fulfils the Law and Love overcomes and edifies the Body of Christ and builds it up and there is neither Self nor Envy in Love neither is it pufft up but abides and bears all things So see that this Love of God have the sway in you all and over you all Christ saith Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Mercy Blessed are the Pure in heart for they shall see God Blessed are the Peace makers for they shall be called the Children of God Blessed are they that are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Now Friends here is a great deal in these words And all must be in these States and Conditions if they have these Blessings And the Children of God are Peace-makers and strive to make Peace in the Truth and to live in Peace with all men if it be possible So live in the Peace and the Good-will to all men which Good-will is both for their Sanctification and Salvation And Friends consider The Wisdom of God which is from above is pure peaceable and gentle and easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits without Partiality and without Hypocrisie And now Dear Friends let this pure peaceable gentle Wisdom that is from above that is easie to be entreated 1683. London and is full of mercy and good fruits be exercised and practised in all the true Churches of Christ so that Wisdom may be justified of her Children For the Works of the Flesh or fleshly Spirit are Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Envyings Drunkenness Revilings Adultery Fornication Lasciviousness Uncleanness c. and they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruits of the Spirit of God are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance c. And so Dear Friends and Brethren strive to exceed one another and all People upon the Earth in Humility in Meekness in Gentleness in Temperance in Love and in Patience in Pureness and in Mercy and then ye will shew forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God and of his heavenly Wisdom that is from above And in this Wisdom will be justified of her Children and ye will be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World set on an Hill that cannot be hid and your Moderation will appear to all men And be ye just and righteous and faithful and true in all your Words Dealings and Conversations so that ye may answer the Truth in all People For Christ saith his Father is glorified by such as bring forth Fruits when men do see their good Works for he that doth Righteousness is accepted with God And he that dwells in Love dwells in God for Love is his Habitation And let that be the Habitation of every one that hath received the Truth for if it be not such do not dwell in God let them profess what they will And therefore my desire is that all you who have received Christ the Seed which bruises the Serpent's head may walk in him your Sanctuary Life and Salvation your Rest and Peace Amen London the 14th of the 6th Month 1683. G. F. I continued yet at London labouring in the Work and Service of the Lord both in Meetings and out sometimes visiting the Friends that were in Prison for the Testimony of Jesus encouraging them in their Sufferings and exhorting them to stand faithful and stedfast in the Testimony which the Lord had committed to them to bear sometimes also visiting those that were sick and weak in Body or troubled in Mind helping to bear their Spirits up from sinking under their Infirmities Sometimes our Meetings were quiet and peaceable sometimes they were disturbed and broken up by the Officers One First-day it was upon me to go to the Meeting at the Savoy Sav. Meet and it was a large Meeting for many Professors and sober People were there And the Lord opened many precious weighty things in me to the People which I declared amongst them and directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves which the Lord had given them a measure of that all by the Spirit might understand the Scriptures which were given forth from the Spirit of God And that by the Spirit of God they might know God and Christ whom God hath sent whom to know was Eternal Life And that by the Spirit they might all come into Christ and know him to be their Sanctuary who destroys the Devil the Destroyer and his works and bruises the Serpent's head For Christ was a Sanctuary to them to whom he was a Saviour whom he saved from the Destroyer And Christ did baptize them with the holy Ghost and with Fire and did thorowly purge his floor and burn up their Chaff with unquenchable fire that is Sin and Corruption which is got into Man and Woman by their Transgression But Christ gathereth his Wheat into his Garner So all that are baptized with Christ's Baptism their Wheat is in God's Garner and no Spoiler can get into God's Garner to meddle with the Wheat there though they may be permitted to meddle with the outward Goods c. Now as I was speaking in the power of the Lord and the People were greatly affected therewith on a sudden the Constables with the rude People came in like a Sea and one of the Constables said to me Come down and he laid hands on me I asked him Art thou a Christian We are Christians He had hold on my hand and was very fierce to pluck me down but I stood still and spake a few words to the People desiring of the Lord that the Blessings of God might rest upon them all
The Constable still called upon me to Come down and at length pluckt me down and bid another Man with a Staff Take me and carry me to Prison That Man had me to another Officer's house who was more Civil and after a while they brought in Four Friends more whom they had taken I was very Weary and in a great Sweat and several Friends hearing where I was came to me in the Constable's house but I bid them all go their ways lest the Constables and Informers should stop them After a while the Constables had us almost a Mile to a Justice who was a fierce passionate Man who after he had asked me my Name and his Clerk had taken it down in writing upon the Constable's informing him That I preached in the Meeting said in an angry manner Do not you know that it is contrary to the King 's Laws to preach in such Conventicles contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England There was present one Shad a wicked Informer who was said to have broken Gaol at Coventry and to have been burnt in the hand at London who hearing the Justice speak so to me stept up to him and told him That he had Convicted them on the Act of the 22d of King Charles the Second What! You Convict them said the Justice Yes said Shad I have Convicted them and you must Convict them too upon that Act. With that the Justice was Angry with him and said You Teach me What are you I 'le Convict them of a Riot The Informer hearing that and seeing the Justice Angry went away in a Fret and so he was disappointed of his purpose I thought he would have sworn some body against me whereupon I said Let no man swear against me for it is my Principle Not to swear and therefore I would not have any man Swear against me The Justice thereupon asked me If I did not preach in the Meeting I told him I did Confess what God and Christ had done for my Soul and did praise God and I thought I might have done that in the Streets and in all Places viz. Praise God and Confess Christ Jesus and this I was not ashamed to Confess Neither was this contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England The Justice said The Laws were against such Meetings as were contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England I said I knew no such Laws against our Meetings but if he did mean that Act that was made against such as did Meet to Plot and Contrive and raise Insurrections against the King we were no such People but did abhor all such Actions and did bear true Love and Good-will to the King and to all Men upon the Earth The Justice then asked me If I had been in Orders I told him No. Then he took his Law-books and searched for Laws against us bidding his Clerk take the Names of the rest the mean time But when he could find no other Law against us the Clerk sware the Constable against us Some of the Friends bid the Constable Take heed what he swore lest he were perjured for he took them in the Entry and not in the Meeting Yet the Constable being an Ill Man swore That they were in the Meeting However the Justice said Seeing there was but one Witness he would discharge the rest but he would send me to Newgate and I might preach there he said I asked him If it stood with his Conscience to send me to Newgate for praising God and for Confessing Christ Jesus He cried Conscience Conscience but I felt my words toucht his Conscience He bid the Constable Take me away and he would make a Mittimus to send me to Prison when he had dined I told him I desired his peace and the good of his Family and that they might be kept in the fear of the Lord So I passed away And as we went the Constable took some Friends word that I should come to his house the next Morning by the ' eighth hour Accordingly I did go with those Friends and then the Constable told us That he went to the Justice for the Mittimus after he had dined and the Justice bid him Come again after the Evening-Service which he did and then the Justice told him He might let me go So said the Constable you are discharged I blamed the Constable for turning Informer and swearing against us and he said He would do so no more Next day the Justice meeting with Gilbert Laty asked him If he would pay Twenty pounds for George Fox 's Fine He said No. Then said the Justice I am disappointed for being but a Lodger I cannot come by his Fine and he having been brought before me and being of ability himself I cannot lay his Fine on any other After I was discharged I went up into the City And the same Week the Sessions coming on where many Friends were concerned some as Prisoners and some on Trials of Appeals upon the Conventicle-Act I went to a Friend's house not far off that I might be in readiness to Assist those Friends with Counsel or otherwise as occasion should offer and I found Service in it But as my Spirit was concerned on behalf of Friends with respect to their outward Sufferings by the Persecutors without so an Exercise also came weightily upon me at this time in the sense I had of the Mischievous Working of that Adulterated Spiritâ— which being gone out from the heavenly Vnity and having drawn out some that profest Truth into Enmity and Opposition against Friends endeavoured to trouble the Church of Christ with their janglings and contention And as a further discovery of the working of that seducing Spirit and a Warning to all Friends to beware of it I was moved to write the following Epistle directed thus To all the Elect Faithful Called and Chosen of God who are the Flock and Heritage of God who have been acquainted with the Dealings of the Lord and have kept your habitations in his Life Power and Truth being built upon the holy and heavenly Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus who was the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles which Foundation stands sure MAny Foundations have been laid since the Apostles days by such as have gone from Christ the true and sure Foundation and their Foundations have proved rotten and come to nought and they themselves have come to Loss And many since the day of Christ and the Truth hath appeared in this Nation have come out and have had some Openings and Sights and come among us for a time and then gone out from us again who have been the Comers and Goers like such as were in the Apostles days Such have had an outward Profession of the Truth and such have gone from the true Foundation Christ Jesus and so from the heavenly Society and Unity of the Saints in Light And then they set up Foundations of their own and having a Form of Godliness but out of the
amongst other Services that I found there one was to assist Friends in drawing up Testimony to Clear our Friends from being concerned in the late Rebellion in the West and from all Plots against the Government Which accordingly we did and delivered them to the Chief-Justice who was then to go down into the West with Commission to Try Prisoners I tarried some time in London visiting Meetings and labouring among Friends in the Service of Truth But finding my Health much impaired for want of fresh Air I went a little way out of Town to Charles Bathurst's Country-house at Epping-Forrest Epping-Forrest where I stay'd a few days And while I was there it came upon me to write the following Epistle to Friends Dear Friends WHO are called chosen and faithful in this Day of Trial 1685. Epping-Forest and Temptations and Sufferings whom the Lord by his right Hand hath upholden in all your Sufferings and some to Death for the Lord and his Truths sake Christ saith Be of good cheer I have overcome the World In me ye have peace but in the World ye have trouble The Children of the Seed which be Heirs of the Kingdom know this is true And though ye have Trials by false Brethren Judasses and Sons of Perdition that are got into the Temple of God and exalted above all that is called God whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his Mouth and the brightness of his Coming And though ye be Tried by Powers or Principalities yet there is nothing able to separate you from the Love of God which ye have in Christ Jesus In that Love dwell which bears all things and fulfils the Law in which edifie one another and be courteous and kind and humble for to such God giveth his Grace plentifully and such he teacheth And pray in the Holy Ghost which proceeds from the Father and the Son and in it keep your holy Communion and Unity in the Spirit the Bond of Peace which is the King of Kings heavenly Peace In that you are all bound to good behaviour and keeping Peace among your selves and seeking the Peace of all men and shewing forth the heavenly gentle and peaceable Wisdom to all men in Righteousness and Truth answering the good in all People in all your Lives and Conversations for the Lord is glorified in your bringing forth spiritual fruit that ye may eye and behold the Lord in all your actions that the Blessings of the Lord ye may all feel to rest upon you Whether ye be the Lord's Prisoners for his Name and Truth 's sake or at Liberty in all things labour to be Content for that is a Continual Feast and let no Trouble move you then ye will be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed And in all things exercise the Word of Patience which Word will sanctifie all things to you And study to be Quiet and do the Lord's business that he requires of you and your own in Truth and Righteousness and whatsoever ye do let it be done to the praise and glory of God in the Name of Jesus Christ All they that do make God's People to suffer they make the Seed to suffer in their own particulars and Imprison the Just there And such will not visit the Seed in themselves but cast it into Prison in Others and not visit it in Prison You may read that Christ saith Such must go into Everlasting Punishment That is a sad punishment and prison And all such as are become Apostates and Backsliders that do crucifie to themselves Christ afresh and put him to open shame and trample under feet the blood of the Son of God by which they were cleansed and then come to be Vnclean such grieve vex and quench and rebel against the Spirit of God in themselves and then such rebel against them that walk in the Spirit of God Such are Vnfaithful to God and Man and are Enemies to every good Work and Service of God But their End will be according to their works who are like unto the Earth that hath often received Rain but brings forth Briars and Thorns which are to be rejected and are for the fire Therefore Dear Friends in all your Sufferings feel the Lord's Eternal Arm and Power which hath upheld you and supported you to this day and will to the end as your Faith stands in it and as you are settled upon the Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus that cannot be removed in whom ye have life and peace with God And so the Lord God Almighty in him give you Dominion and preserve and keep you all to his Glory that in all your Sufferings ye may feel his presence and that when ye have finished your Testimony ye may receive the Crown of Glory which God hath laid up for them that fear and serve him Amen The 15th of the 7th Month 1685. G. F. Having spent about a week at this time among Friends in the Country London I returned to London Where I continued about Two Months visiting Friends Meetings and labouring to get Relief for Friends from their Sufferings which yet lay heavy upon them in many parts of the Nation Several Papers also I writ relating to the Service of Truth one of which was concerning Order in the Church of God which some that were gone out of the Unity of Friends did much oppose And that was as followeth AMong all Societies or Families or Nations of People in the World they have among them some sort of Order There was the Order of Aaron in the Old Testament and there was the Order of Melchizedeck before that after whose Order Christ Jesus came and he did not despise that Order So God is a God of Order in his whole Creation and in his Church And all the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ that do pass from death to life they are in the Order of the holy Spirit Power Light Life and Government of Christ Jesus of the Increase whereof there is no End And this is a Mystery to all those disorderly People who have written and printed so much against Orders which the Lord's Power and Spirit hath brought forth among his People And you that cry so much against Orders is it not manifest that you are gone into a Land of Darkness thick as darkness it self and of the shadow of death into disorder and where the Light is as Darkness And is not this your Condition seen by all them that live and walk in the Truth and whose Conversations are according to the Gospel of Life and Salvation The Devil Satan Dragon and the first and second Beast 1685. London and the Whore and false Prophets and their Worshippers and Followers all these are out of the Truth and abode not in it nor in the Order of it And the Truth is over them all In Salem is God's Tabernacle a peaceable Tabernacle and his Tabernacle is in Shiloh And these are far beyond the Tabernacles of Ham Psal
Reprove those who would have fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them who would not receive him and did not he tell them They did not know what spirit they were of And therefore all who have persecuted Men or taken away their Lives because they would not receive their Religion have they known what spirit they were or are of Therefore is it nor good for all to know by the Spirit of Christ what spirit they are of For the Apostle says Rom. 8.9 If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And does not the Apostle say 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual c. And we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness c. Thus we can see here that the Fight of the first Christians and their Weapons in the days of the Apostles were spiritual in matters of Faith Religion and Worship in the Church of Christ Now would not the King and the Magistrates of Dantzick think that it was contrary to their Consciences if they should be forced by the Turk to his Religion Would it not in like manner seem hard to the Magistrates of Dantzick and contrary to their Consciences if they should be forced to the Religion of the King of Poland or the King of Poland if he should be compelled to the Religion of the Magistrates of Dantzick And if they would not be subject thereunto that then they should be banished from their Wives and Families and out of their Native Country or otherwise be fed with Bread and Water under a strict Confinement Therefore we beseech the King with all Christian Humility and the Magistrates of Dantzick that they would order their proceedings in this matter according to the Royal Law of God which is To do unto others as they would have others do unto them and to love their Neighbour as themselves For we have this Charity that we hope and believe that the King of Poland and his People with the Magistrates of Dantzick own the Writings of the New Testament as well as of the Old And therefore we beseech the King and the Magistrates of Dantzick to take heed that their Work of Imprisoning an Innocent People for nothing but their meeting together in Tenderness of Conscience to serve and worship God their Creator may not be contrary and opposite to the Royal Law of God and to the Glorious and Everlasting Gospel of Truth So we desire the King in Christian Love earnestly and weightily to Consider these things and to give Order to set the Innocent Prisoners our Friends called Quakers at Liberty from their strict Confinement in Dantzick that they may have freedom to serve and worship the living God in Spirit and in Truth and go home to their outward Habitations and follow their Trades and Calling to maintain their Wives Children and Families And we believe that the King in doing such a Noble Glorious yea Christian Work will not go unrewarded from the Great God who made him whom we serve and worship who has the hearts of Kings and their lives and length of days in his hands From him who desires that the King and all his Ministers may be preserved in the Fear of God and receive his Word of Wisdom by which all things were made and created that by it he may come to order all things to the Glory of God which God has put under his hand That the King both He and They may enjoy the Comforts and Blessings of the Lord in this Life and in that which is to come Life Eternal Amen London in England the 10th of the 3d Month commonly called May 1684. G. F. Post-script The King may please to Consider that His and all Mens Consciences is the Prerogative of God After this I went to Enfield where Enfield and in the Country thereabouts several Friends had Country-houses not very far from one another amongst whom I tarried some time visiting and being visited by Friends and having Meetings with them Several things I writ in this time relating to the Service of Truth One whereof was concerning Judging For some who were departed from the Truth were so afraid of Truth 's Judgment that they made it much of their business to Cry out against Judging Wherefore I writ a Paper proving by the Scriptures of Truth that the Church of Christ hath power and ability to Judge those that profest to be of it not only with respect to outward things relating to this World but with respect to Religious Matters also A Copy of which follows Concerning Judging THE Natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things mark all things yet he himself is judged of no Man 1685. Enfield 1 Cor. 2.14 15. So here the Natural Man cannot judge of those things he receives not for they are foolishness to him but he is comprehended by the Spiritual Man and his foolishness and is Judged though he cannot judge the Spiritual Man Do not ye judge them that are within saith the Apostle this Power the Church had and hath therefore put away from amongst your selves that wicked person And did not this Wicked person think you profess and plead for Liberty for his Wickedness and his Freedom as he was a Christian who was lookt upon as a Member of the Church And the Apostle saith For I verily as absent in body yet present in spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath done this wicked deed 1 Cor. 5.3 12. Here the Apostle did Judge though afar off and set up Judgment in the Church against false Liberty under what pretence soever it was And the Apostle saith Dare any of you having a matter against a Brother go to Law before the Vnjust and not before the Saints Here the Saints the Church are to Judge of things amongst themselves and not for the Unjust to Judge of their Matters Do ye not know the Saints shall judge the World So the Saints are to judge the Unjust and not the Vnjust to judge their Matters And farther the Apostle saith If the World shall be judged by you to wit the Saints are you unworthy to judge the smaller matters amongst you So here it is clear that the Saints have a Judgment given them of Christ by his Power and Spirit Light and Wisdom to judge the World and not to carry their Matters before the Vnjust but to judge of them amongst themselves and if they carry them before the Unjust they shew their unworthiness of the Saints Judgment And further the Apostle saith Know ye not that we shall Judge the Angels and Angels are Spirits how much more the things which pertain to this life If ye then have Judgment of things pertaining to this life set them up to judge who have least
esteem in the Church 1 Cor. 6. So here it is clear the Church of Christ has a Judgment in the Power and Spirit of God not only to Judge in things that pertain to this life but are also to Judge of things betwixt Brethren without Brother going to Law with Brother before Unbelievers which was a fault and to be Judged if they did so But also the Saints have a Judgment to judge Angels that kept not their Habitations and the World And as in Jude He judged the Angels that kept not their habitations their first state And did not he Judge in Divine Matters here and judged the state of Cain and Balaam and Core and such like Christians that were gotten into their steps and were gone as far as they was though they professed themselves Christians And here again he judged in Divine Matters and of their States and Beings who stood in the Divine Principle and who were fallen from it And the Apostle saith Try the spirits and believe not every spirit 1 John 4. And here again was a Judgment in Divine Matters And he judged such as went out from them which whilst they were with them they had sight of things and openings but when they went from them they went from the Anointing and therefore he exhorts the Saints to keep to the Anointing And such as went from them that had the Anointing came to be the Seducers and false Prophets that went into the World And John had a Judgment to try Sacrifices and distinguished Cains from Abels and by the Spirit of God knew which God accepted and which he did not accept as in 1 John 3.12 And the Apostle Paul judged and tried such Messengers and Apostles and Transformers of themselves like to the Apostles of Christ and would have the Church to try such and have the same Judgment as he had 2 Cor. 11. And the Apostle Peter Judged Ananias and Sapphira and judged the Thoughts of Simon Magus who would have been a worker of Miracles for money and was not all this Judgment in Divine Matters And the Apostle Paul Judged the Preachers of Circumcision both in the Romans and in the Galatians For it was the Faith and Liberty of those Preachers to preach up Circumcision though it was a wrong Faith And here did not the Apostle again Judge in Divine Matters And James Judged in Matters of Faith and manifested the living Faith from the dead one And also he Judged in Matters of Religion the vain Religion from the pure Religion and distinguished them And Paul Judged of the false Brethren that would spy out the liberty of the true to whom he would give no place by subjection no not for an hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with the Saints as in Gal. 2. And did not the Apostle here Judge in Divine Matters And he Judged concerning the Matters of the Gospel when some came to pervert them with another Gospel and said The Gospel which I received is not of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.12 So here was a Judgment to distinguish the Gospel of Christ from all other Gospels which was Accursed which is after Man and received of Man and taught of Man and not by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1. And he had a Judgment to know Who made the Gospel Chargeable and who kept it without Charge And he set up a Judgment in the Church that the Believers should not be unequally yoked and to see when Men had a Communion in the Light and when they had it in the Darkness and when with Christ and when with Baal and with the Believer and Vnbeliever and with the Temple of God and with Idols as in 2 Cor. 6. And did he not set up a clear Judgment here in Divine Matters in the Church And the Apostle Judged such Libertines through their knowledge that could sit at Meat in the Idol-Temple which caused the weak Brother to perish through his knowledge and liberty for whom Christ died Now these it 's like did profess it was their Faith and their Liberty but did not keep in the Unity of the true Faith but went about to destroy it 1 Cor. 8. And Peter he gives Judgment upon the Angels that sinned and were cast down into Hell and the state of the Old World and of Sodom and the state of the false Prophets then amongst them that could speak great swelling words of vanity and whilst they promised themselves liberty they themselves were the Servants of Corruptions And had not Peter here a Judgment in Divine Matters These were such whose work was to bring into bondage and these was like the Dog and Sow that was washed which shews that they had been washed but was turned into the Mire again And the Apostle Paul had a Judgment upon such with their fair words and mens wisdom that deceived the hearts of the simple and upon such as served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies and were Enemies to the Cross of Christ And therefore he had a Judgment and Discerning who lived in the Cross of Christ and who did not and exhorted all to live in the Cross of Christ the righteous Power of God that slew all Deceit and the Deeds of the Old Man agreeable to Christ's words He that will be my Disciple must take up my Cross and follow me And was not here a Judgment again in Divine Matters and of such as walk in the Divine Power and such as did not And Christ sets up a Judgment in his seven Churches and commends them that did keep in his Judgment and had tried them which said They were Apostles which might pretend they were sent of God and Christ and were not But the Church of Christ had found them Liars And Christ Commended this Judgment of the Church of Ephesus because they had Not born with them that was evil but had tried those false Apostles And Christ commends this Church for that they had hated the deeds of the Nicholaitans which he also hated And had not these Nicholaitans sprung from Nicholas one of the Deacons and was not these become a Sect of Christians though they might talk and preach of Christ but Christ hated them And likewise Christ saith to the Church of Smyrna I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews but are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan So the Church is to have a Judgment upon these blasphemers and are to distinguish from the Jews in the Spirit and such as are not but of the Synagogue of Satan And to the Church in Pergamos Christ had a few things against them because thou hast there them that hold the Doctrines of Balaam c. And also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans which I hate Now these that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans were got into the Church and might have lookt upon
go from the Love of God that beareth all things and endureth all things and thinks no Evil and doth not behave it self unseemly then they cannot bear but grow brittle and are easily provoked and run into unseemly things and are in that that vaunteth it self and are puffed up and are rash heady high-minded and fierce and become as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal but this is contrary to the nature of the Love of God which is kind and endureth all things and beareth all things And therefore all Dear Friends and Brethren dwell in the Love of God for they who dwell in Love dwell in God and God in them And keep in the Word of Wisdom that is gentle pure and peaceable and in the Word of Patience that endureth and beareth all things which Word of Patience the Devil and the World and all his Instruments can never wear out It will wear them all out for it was before they were and will be when they are gone the pure holy Word of God by which all God's Children are born again and feed on the Milk thereof and live and grow by it And so my desires are that ye may all be of one Heart Mind Soul and Spirit in Christ Jesus Amen G. F. Soon after this finding those Apostates whom the Enemy had drawn out into Division and Separation from Friends continued their Clamour and Opposition against Friends Meetings both Monthly Quarterly and Yearly it came upon me to write another short Epistle to Friends to put them in mind of the Evidence and Seal they had received in themselves by the Spirit of the Lord that those Meetings were of the Lord and accepted by him that so they might not be shaken by the Adversaries Wherefore I writ as followeth My Dear Friends in the Lord Jesus Christ ALL you that be gathered in his holy Name ye know that all your Meetings for Worship of God and all your Quarterly-Meetings and all your Monthly-Meetings and all your Womens-Meetings and all your Yearly-Meetings are set up by the Power and Spirit of the Lord God and witnessed by his Spirit and Power in your Hearts and by the Spirit and Power of the Lord God they are established to you and in the Power and Spirit of the Lord God you are established in them And the Lord God hath with his Spirit sealed to you that your Meetings are of God's Ordering and Gathering and he hath owned them by honouring you with his blessed Presence in them and you have had great Experience of his furnishing you with his Wisdom Life and Power and heavenly Riches from his Treasure and Fountain by which many Thanks and Praises have been returned in your Meetings to his holy glorious Name And so he hath sealed your Meetings by his Spirit to you and that your Gathering together hath been by the Lord and to Christ his Son and in his Name and not by Man And so the Lord hath the Glory and Praise of them and in them who hath upheld you and them by the Arm of his Power against all the Opposers and Backsliders and their slanderous Books and Tongues For the Lord's Power and Seed doth reign over them all in which lie doth preserve his Sons and Daughters to his Glory by his Eternal Arm and Power in his Work and Service as a willing People in the Day of his Power without being weary or fainting but strong in the Lord and valiant for his glorious Name and precious Truth and his pure Religion that ye may serve the Lord in Christ Jesus your Rock and Foundation in your Age and Generation Amen London the 3d of the 11th Month 1686 7. G. F. A little after the fore-going was given forth it came upon me to write something concerning the state of the true Church and of the true Members thereof which I did as followeth Concerning the Church of Christ being clothed with the Sun and having the Moon under her feet THey are living Members and living Stones which are built up a spiritual Houshold and are the Children of the Promise and of the Seed and Flesh of Christ and as the Apostle saith Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone They are the good Seed and are the Children of the Everlasting Kingdom written in Heaven and have put on the Lord Jesus Christ and they sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus and so are clothed with the Sun of Righteousness Christ Jesus and have the Moon under their feet as Revel 12. So all changeable things that are in the World and all changeable Religions and changeable Worships and changeable Ways and Fellowships and Churches and Teachers in the World are as the Moon For the Moon changes but the Sun doth not change And so the Sun of Righteousness never changeth nor sets or goes down But all the Ways Religions and Worships and Fellowships of the World and the Teachers thereof change like the Moon But the true Church which Christ is the Head of which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which Church is called The Pillar and Ground of Truth whose Conversation is in Heaven this Church is clothed with the Sun Christ Jesus her Head who doth not change and hath all changeable things under her feet These are the living Members born again of the Immortal Seed by the Word of God and feed upon the Immortal Milk and live and grow by it And such are the New Creatures in Christ Jesus who makes all things new and sees the old things pass away And his Church and all his Members which are clothed with the Sun their Worship is in the Spirit and in the Truth which doth not change which Truth the Devil the foul unclean Spirit is out of and cannot get into this Worship in Spirit and Truth And likewise the Church of Christ their Religion is pure and undefiled before God that keeps from the Spots of the World c. and their Way is the new and living Way Christ Jesus So the Church of Christ that is clothed with the Sun that hath the Moon and all changeable Religions and Ways under her feet hath an unchangeable Worship Religion and Way and hath an unchangeable Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus and an unchangeable High-Priest and so are Children of the New Testament and in the Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life And now all that profess the Scriptures both of the New and Old Testament and are not in Christ Jesus the Apostle tells them they are Reprobates if Christ be not in them And therefore these that be not in Christ cannot be clothed with Christ the Sun of Righteousness that never changes And they that be not of Christ be under the changeable Moon in the World in the changeable things in the changeable Religions and Ways and Worships and Teachers and Rocks and Foundations But Christ the Son of God and Sun of Righteousness doth not change in whom his People are gathered and sit
of the Land of Egypt for before that time the Lord had not given to Man and Woman his outward Sabbath-day to keep neither in the Old World nor after in Abraham's time nor in Isaac's nor in Jacob's time until the Jews came out of Egypt to Mount Sina in the Wilderness And then there the Lord gave the Law and his Sabbath as a Sign in the Old Covenant of Christ the Eternal Rest in the New Covenant and they that believe do enter into Christ their Rest. Adam the first Man is the Root from whence we all spring naturally And Christ is called the last or second Adam because he is the Beginning and Root of all them that are spiritual The first Adam was made a living Soul And Christ the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit Christ by the Grace of God tasted death for every Man that they might all come into Favour with God and that every Tongue should Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father I writ also a Paper there Concerning the Two Seeds distinguishing the Seed wherein the Blessing is received from the Seed which the Curse remains upon Of that Paper the following is a Copy THE Lord said to Abraham In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Gen. 22.18 And thy Seed shall be as the Stars of Heaven and as the Sand which is upon the Sea-shore and as the Dust of the Earth that cannot be numbred Chap. 13.16 and 15.5 and 22.17 Now in this Seed all Nations and Families of the Earth are blessed but not in the Seed of Evil Doers and of Falshood nor in the Seed of the Adulterer and the Whore Isa 1.4 and 57.3 4. for the Seed of the Wicked shall be cut off 1687. Kingston saith the Lord Psal 37.28 The Lord said to David That his Seed should endure for ever Psal 89.36 And again it is said Psal 102.28 The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee Now ye may see that here is a Distinction betwixt the Two Seeds for the Seed of Evil Doers and of the Adulterer and Whore and of the Wicked shall be Cut off and so it is not blessed But Christ bruises the Head of the Serpent and his Seed which he soweth in them that do disobey and transgress God's Command and rebel against God's good Spirit This Wicked Seed of the Serpent is Curst and is an Enemy to the Seed in whom all are blessed But Christ bruises the Head of this cursed Seed of Enmity and destroys the Devil and his Works and in his Seed are all blessed and all are in Unity in this Seed And all the Children of the Seed are the Children of the Kingdom of God and of Christ and are blessed with faithful Abraham and who are of the saving divine precious Faith are of Abraham and walk in the Steps of the Seed and Faith of Abraham and are blessed with him yea all Nations and all the Families of the Earth And the Lord said to Abraham Thy Seed shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them Four hundred years and that Nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterwards shall they to wit God's Seed come out with great Substance Gen. 15.13 14. Here ye may see That which Afflicts God's Seed he will judge and did judge for he did destroy the First-birth of Pharaoh and overthrew him and his Host And an holy Man said Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a Seed or Remnant we had been as Sodom c. that is destroyed and burnt But in the Seed which destroys the Devil and his Works and bruises the Head of the Serpent and his Seed are all Nations and Families of the Earth blessed Christ according to the flesh was of Abraham and of David for he took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham in which Seed all Nations and Families of the Earth are blessed And so they that are of his Seed are of the Generation of Christ and so are Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone Now all Nations and Families of the Earth must be in this holy Seed if they have the Blessings and are blessed And out of the Mouth of this Seed's Seed shall not God's Word depart but shall Remain and abide in the Mouth of this Seed's Seed in which they are blessed Isa 59.21 So it is not the First-birth's talking of the Words of Christ the Seed in whose Mouth the Word of God doth not abide that makes an outward Profession like the Jews that did kill and persecute the Prophets and crucified Christ the Seed and Substance of the Law and Prophets which the Jews professed in words but they denied Christ the Seed and Life And all the Christians so called that do profess the Scriptures in Words and are not in the Seed Christ they are in the Confusion and are like the Jews And so neither Jews nor Christians are blessed except they be in Christ the Seed of Life But though Christ is said to be of the Seed of David and of Abraham as his Generation is declared by Matthew and Luke yet Christ was not born of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God For he was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and not by the Will of Man but by the Will of God born of the Virgin and supposed to be the Son of Joseph but was the Son of God and his Name was called Jesus because he should save his People from their sins and Emanuel God with us And Christ took not upon him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham as I said before and so was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 So the Generation of Christ is a Mystery And Christ saw his Seed or Word to grow up in his Disciples And Christ in you the hope of Glory the Apostle calls The Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and Generations but now is made manifest to the Saints or sanctified Ones Col. 1.26 27. Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus v. 28. For in Christ the second Adam all are made perfect and compleat and in Adam in the Fall all are deformed and made imperfect So out of Christ all Mankind are Imperfect and Deformed Let them paint and dress themselves with the Sheep's Clothing and with the Form of Godliness of the Prophets and Christ's and his Apostles Words never so much yet if Christ be not in them they are Uncompleat Imperfect Deformed Reprobates But the Apostle tells the Church of Christ Ye are compleat in Christ which is the Head of all
Principality and Power Col. 2.10 for he hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him Matth. 28.18 And so all the Saints are made Perfect and Compleat in Christ Jesus blessed be the Lord God over all for ever through Jesus Christ Amen Amen Kingston the 15th of the 1st Month 1686 7. G. F. Quickly after this I returned to London London and continued there a Month in the Service of the Lord being daily exercised either in publick Meetings or more particular Services relating to the Church of Christ as visiting such as were sick or afflicted and writing Books or Papers for the spreading of Truth or refuting of Error Now as it was a time of general Liberty the Papists appeared more open in their Worship than they were formerly wont to do and many unsettled People going to view them at it a great Talk there was of their Praying to Saints and by Beads c. Whereupon I writ a short Paper concerning Prayer which was as followeth CHrist Jesus 1687. London when he taught his Disciples to pray said unto them When ye do pray say Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Christ doth not say that they should pray to Mary the Mother of Christ nor doth he say that they should pray to Angels or to Saints that were dead Christ did not teach them to pray to the Dead nor for the Dead Neither did Christ or his Apostles teach the Believers to pray by Beads nor to sing by Outward Organs but the Apostle said he would Sing and Pray in the Spirit for the Spirit it self maketh Intercession and the Lord that searcheth the heart knoweth the mind of the spirit To take Counsel of the Dead was forbidden by the Law of God but they were to take Counsel of the Lord And he hath given Christ in the New Covenant in his Gospel-Day to be a Counsellor and a Leader to all his Believers in his Light And Men are not to run to the Dead for the Living for the Law and Testimony of God forbids it Those Jews that refused the running Waters of Shiloh the Floods and Waters of the Assyrians and Babylonians came over them and carried them into Captivity And they that refuse the Waters of Christ they are overflown with the Flood of the World that lieth in Wickedness They that asked Counsel of Stocks and Stones their state was in the Spirit of Error and Whoredom and they were gone a whoring from God Hos 4.12 And they that joined themselves to Baal-Peor and ate the Sacrifices of the Dead provoked the Lord's Anger and brought the Lord's Displeasure upon them Psal 106.28 29. So here ye may see The Sacrifices of the Dead were forbidden The Living know that they shall die but the Dead know not any thing neither have they any more a Reward for the Memory of them is forgotten Eccles 9.5 Wo to the rebellious Children saith the Lord that take Counsel but not of me and that cover with a Covering but not of my Spirit that they may add sin to sin Isa 30.1 G. F. When I had stay'd about a Month in London I got out of Town again For by reason of the many Hardships I had undergone in Imprisonments and other Sufferings for Truth 's sake my Body was grown so Infirm and Weak that I could not bear the Closeness of the City long together but was fain to go a little into the Country where I might have the benefit of the fresh Air. At this time I went with my Son-in-Law William Mead to his Country-House called Gooses in Essex about thirteen miles from London Essex Gooses where I stay'd about Two Weeks and among other Services that I had there I writ the following Paper being A Distinction between the True Offering and Sacrifice 1687. Gooses and the False in the Old and New Covenant THE Lord saith He that sacrificeth to any God save unto the Lord only he shall be utterly destroyed Exod. 22.20 So no God is to minded nor sacrificed to but the Lord God It is death to Sacrifice to any other God save the Lord. The Lord saith also Thou shalt not offer the blood of my Sacrifice with leavened Bread Exod. 23.18 So that sour heavy Leaven must not be offered with the Lord's Sacrifice And again the Lord saith Thou shalt not build an Altar of hewen stone for if thou lift up thy Tool upon it thou hast polluted it Exod. 20.25 Therefore have a care of polluting the Altar with your own Tools you that profess to offer the Spiritual Sacrifice Jonah said He would sacrifice unto the Lord with the voice of Thanksgiving when he was in the Fish's belly and there he prayed unto the Lord Jonah 2. For Jonah in the Whale's belly had no Lambs nor Rams nor outward Sacrifices to offer The Lord forbids his People to Sacrifice with Harlots Hosea 4.14 And the Lord forbids his People to offer Sacrifice of the Blind Lame Sick or that which was deformed or had any blemish as in Mal. 1. and many other places So they that offer Spiritual Sacrifice must not offer the blind lame blemished or deformed Sacrifice to God The Scribe saith unto Christ To love God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his Neighbour as himself is more than all whole burnt Offerings and Sacrifices Mark 12.33 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly he said unto him Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God v. 34. Now ye may see to Love God and their Neighbour as themselves was more than their whole Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices in the time of the Law And therefore all Offerings and Sacrifices in the time of the Gospel if there be not love to God and to their Neighbour as themselves avails nothing David said Let them sacrifice a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and declare his Works with rejoycing Psal 107.22 These are the Sacrifices that the Lord requires of his People more than Outward Sacrifices And David said Let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of mine Hands as the Evening Sacrifice Psal 141.2 So here David looks upon his Prayer to the Lord and the lifting up of his Hands to him to be accepted with the Lord as much as the Outward Incense and the Outward Evening Sacrifice Again David says The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51.17 See also Isa 57.15 and chap. 66.2 These be the Sacrifices that David said God would accept and not despise which are beyond the unbroken Spirit and uncontrite heart with Outward Offerings and Sacrifices The Adversaries of the Jews would have joined with them towards the building of the Temple saying unto them Let us build with you for we seek your God as ye do and we do sacrifice unto him But the Jews refused them and
Holy and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven for he is glorified in your bringing forth good Fruits as ye abide in Christ the Vine in this his day of Life Power and Light thas shines over all And therefore all you that believe in the Light walk in the Light as Children of the Light and of Christ's everlasting Day that in the Light ye may have Fellowship with the Father and the Son and one with another keeping in the Unity of his holy Spirit in the Bond of his holy Peace in his Church that he is Head of And my desire is that God's Wisdom every where may be justified of her Children and that it may be shewed forth in Meekness and in the Fear of the Lord in this his Day Amen G. F. By that time the Yearly-Meeting was over I was very much wearied and spent wherefore about a Week after the Meeting I got out of Town to a Friend's House a little beyond Edmunton Edmunton South-street Winchmore-hill Berry-street where and at Southstreet I abode some time and had Meetings amongst Friends there and at Winchmore-hill and Berry-street And having my mind continually exercised in the Things of God the sense of his Infinite Goodness and Mercy to Mankind in visiting them after they had transgressed and rebelled against him and providing a Way and Means for their Return to him again was very much upon me And in the Opening of the Spirit of Truth I writ the following Paper on that Subject GOD who made all Men and Women 1687. Berry-street though they have transgressed his Commands and Laws and rebelled against him and hated his Light and grieved his Spirit and walked despitefully against his Spirit of Grace yet God who is merciful would have all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth And all that come to the Knowledge of the Truth must know it in their inward parts I say the Grace and Truth which comes by Jesus all that do know and find do know and find it in their hearts and inward parts And such do find the hidden Man of the heart and the Pearl and the Leaven and the lost piece of Silver and the Kingdom of Heaven within For until all come to the Light and Truth in their hearts they have been strangers to these things in Adam in the Fall from the Image of God and his Light Power and Spirit and Kingdom But Christ that never fell brings Man and Woman again that follow him to know these things and to know the Truth him the Saviour and brings them into his Image and his everlasting Kingdom The Devil who is out of the Truth tempted Man and Woman to disobey God and so drew them into the Fall from the Truth So it is the Devil that hath stopped Mens Eyes and Ears and Hearts from the Truth who is called The God of the World who hath blinded the Eyes of Infidels or Heathen But Christ who bruises the Serpent's Head and destroys the Devil and his Works doth open Men's Hearts and Eyes and Ears who is their Saviour and Redeemer and giveth Life Eternal to his People that obey him and his Truth Blessed be the Lord for ever through Jesus Christ who hath tasted death for all Men to bring them out of the death of Adam and is a Propitiation for the sins of the whole World and gave himself a Ransome for all to be testified of in due time For as by Adam's transgression and disobedience Death and Condemnation came upon all Men so by Christ's Obedience unto Death Justification of Life is come upon all Men and He that believeth in Christ hath eternal life but he that doth not is condemned already But God would have all Men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus who is their Saviour and in him there is no Condemnation G. F. After I had been a while here I went to a Monthly-Meeting at Enfield and from thence with some Friends to Hartford Enfield Hartford where I stay'd three or four days visiting Friends both at their Publick Meetings on the First-day of the Week and at their Quarterly-Meetings both of Men and Women and good Service for the Lord I had amongst them Then passing from thence to Waltham-Abby I had a very good Meeting with Friends there Waltham-Abbey and the next day went from thence to another place to compose a Difference which for want of a right Understanding of each other had happened between some Friends I returned to Waltham that night 1687. Waltham Essex Gooses Wanstead Barking Gooses and the next day went with some Friends to Gooses which is William Mead's House in Essex Here I stay'd some Weeks yet was not Idle but often visited the Meetings thereabouts as at Wanstead Barking and at John Hardings And betwixt Meeting and Meeting I writ many things for spreading of Truth and for the opening Peoples Understandings to receive it One was a Paper proving from the Scriptures that People must Repent before they can receive the Gospel and the holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God or be baptized And this was it JOhn the Baptist came Preaching in the Wilderness of Judea saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Matth. 3.2 And when John the Baptist was cast into Prison Mark says That Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel Mark 1.14 15. Matthew also says From that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Matth. 4.17 And when Christ sent forth his Twelve Disciples two and two they went out and preached that Men should Repent Mark 6.12 Christ said to the Jews Except ye Repent ye shall all likewise perish Luke 13.3 5. And when the Publicans and Sinners came to hear Christ and the Pharisees and Scribes murmured saying This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them Luke 15.1 2. Christ reproved them by a Parable and then told them Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that Repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no Repentance ver 7. And adds There is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that Repenteth ver 10. And Christ after he was Risen said unto his Disciples That Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 Peter said unto the Jews Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 2.38 And Paul said The times of this Ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all Men every where to Repent Acts 17.30 Simon Magus was called to Repentance if he had regarded it Acts 8.22 And the Apostle Paul did
preach at Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles turning them from Darkness to the Light of Christ and from the Power of Satan to God that they should Repent and turn to God and do works meet for Repentance Acts 26.20 Now here ye may see that People must Repent before they do believe and are baptized and before they receive the Holy Ghost and the Kingdom of God And they must Repent of their vain Life and Conversation before they do receive the Gospel and must be turned from Darkness to the Light of Christ and from the power of Satan unto God before they do receive his Holy Spirit and his Gospel of Life and Salvation The Lord doth command all Men every where to Repent and do works meet for Repentance So they must shew forth 1687. Gooses that their Lives and Conversations and Tongues are changed and that they do serve God in the Newness of Life with new Tongues and new Hearts Gooses the 6th Month 1687. G. F. Another short Paper I writ about the same time shewing Wherein God's People should be like unto him It was thus GOD is Righteous and he would have his People to be righteous and to do righteously And God is Holy and he would have his People holy and to do holily And God is Just and he would have his People to be just and to do justly to all God is Light and his Children must walk in his Light And God is an eternal infinite Spirit and his Children must walk in the Spirit God is Merciful and he would have his People to be Merciful God's Sun shines upon the Good and the Bad and he causes the Rain to fall upon the Evil and the Good so should his People do good unto all God is Love and they that dwell in love dwell in God Love worketh no Ill to his Neighbour therefore Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 And the Apostle saith All the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neigbour as thy self Gal. 5.14 As the Father hath loved me so I have loved you continue ye in my love John 15.9 This should be the practice of all God's People Gooses the 6th Month 1687. G. F. And because most People would own and Confess that God's People should be thus but few knew how to come to this state Therefore in the Openings of the Spirit of Truth I writ another short Paper directing to The right Way and Means whereby People might come unto Christ and so be made like unto God That was thus CHrist saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh unto the Father but by me John 14.6 And again No Man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him John 6.44 Now what is the Means by which God doth draw People to his Son but by his holy Spirit who poureth out of his Spirit upon all Flesh that is all Men and Women And by this holy Spirit the holy and righteous God doth draw People from their Unrighteousness and Unholiness to Christ the righteous and holy One the great Prophet in his New Covenant and New Testament whom Moses in the Old Covenant and Testament said God would raise up like unto him and whom People should hear in all things and they that would not hear him should be Cut off Now they that do not hear the Son of God the great Prophet do not mind the drawing of the Father by his holy Spirit to his Son But they that do mind the drawings of the good Spirit of the Father to his Son the Spirit doth give them Understanding to know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life And then they do know that Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and that none can come unto God but by and through his Son Jesus Christ who is their Shepherd to feed them at his Pastures and Springs of Life and his Sheep do know his holy Voice in whom there was no sin and in whose mouth there was no guile and an Hireling they will not hear for he careth not for the Sheep for they are not the Hireling's but Christ's who hath laid down his Life for his Sheep And he that robs and steals his Neighbour's Words and climeth up another way and entereth not by the Door he is a Thief and a Robber But Christ is the Door into his Sheepfold for his Sheep to enter in by And so they know that Christ is the Bishop of their Souls to see that they do not go astray from God nor out of his Pastures of Life And they do know that Christ is their Mediator and makes their Peace with God And they do know that Christ is their High-Priest made higher than the Heavens and hath died for their sins and doth cleanse them with his Blood and is risen for their Justification and is able to the utmost to save all that come to God by him Gooses the 6th Month 1687. G. F. Before I left this place I writ another Paper the Scope whereof was to shew by many Instances taken out of the holy Scriptures That the Kingdom of God which most People talk of at a distance and refer altogether to another life is in some measure to be known and entred into in this life but that none can know an Entrance thereinto but such as are Regenerated and Born again Of that Paper the following is a Copy CHrist saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ver 6. So Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God ver 5. And John writing to the seven Churches in Asia calls himself their Brother and Companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 Here you may see that John was in the Kingdom so he was born again for he did not only see the Kingdom but was in it And John saith Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the World knoweth us not because it knew him not 1 John 3.1 And Beloved now are we the Sons of God ver 2. And If ye know that he is Righteous ye know that every one that doth Righteousness is born of him Chap. 2.29 And 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 Ch. 3.9 Again John saith Let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Ch. 4.7 8. Again Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God Ch. 5.1 And
the Eternal life in Jesus Christ Who is also a quickening Spirit for as in Adam all died even so in Christ shall all be made alive So Christ that Died and Rose again is Lord both of the Living and of the Dead for the Living live to the Lord and die in him and are blessed All Christendom say that they do believe in God and in Christ and that they do believe Moses and the Prophets and preach Christ Moses and the Prophets So their Words and Writings are preached and printed and ye say ye do believe them But now what Life do ye live Are ye through the Law dead to the Law that ye may live unto God And are ye Crucified with Christ and doth Christ live in you And is the Life that ye now live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God and ye do not live but Christ liveth in you who gave himself for you Is this your present Life for the Just live by the faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of by which holy divine and precious Faith they have Victory over that which is vile and unholy and is not divine and in this Faith they do please God and have Access to God and his Son who fulfilleth the Law and the Prophets For the Law and the Prophets were until John and since that the Kingdom of God hath been preached and Men do press into it And the Least in the Kingdom of God is Greater than John though he was the greatest Prophet born of a Woman So see whether ye are in the Kingdom that stands in Peace and Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost or not Christ who is the Image of the Invisible God the First-born of every Creature was before any Creature for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and he was before all things and by him all things consist And he is the Head of the Body the Church and is the beginning the First-born from the dead So here ye may see that all things were made by Christ Jesus and all things were created for Christ Jesus and by him all things consist and have their being who is the First-born from the dead and dieth no more And it pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell and by Christ to reconcile all things unto himself whether they be things in Heaven or things in the Earth And in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge who is the Head of all Principality and Power for all Power in Heaven and in Earth is given to him the First-born of every Creature and the First-born from the dead who liveth for evermore in his power over all the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World and while the World's Spirit rules in mens hearts they do not know Christ nor the beginning nor ending of the Work of God Christ was outwardly crucified and slain without the Gates of Jerusalem by the disobedient Jews And they that hate the Light of Christ and disobey his Gospel and quench his Spirit and are erred from his Faith do crucifie to themselves Christ afresh So Adam and Eve and their Children that disobeyed God did slay the Lamb and the blind Jews that disobeyed God crucified Christ Jesus and the outward Christians that live and walk not in Christ but in Sin and Evil though they do make an outward Profession of Christ yet they do Crucifie to themselves Christ afresh But as to Christ himself he is Ascended far above all Principalities Thrones Powers and Dominions so that they cannot put him to death or Crucifie him any more as to himself But what the Killers and Crucifiers and Persecutors do now upon the Earth it is against Christ as in themselves and in his Members as Christ said to Saul Why Persecutest thou me Acts 9.4 For what is done to his Members Christ takes as done to himself Matth. 25.40 and 45. And they that did not visit Christ but persecuted him in his Members they persecuted Christ in themselves first The Serpent that Enemy to Man and Woman and Satan that Adversary to Man's prosperity and the Devil the destroyer the God of the World and Prince of the Air that ruleth in the hearts of the Disobedient he got in by disobedience But Christ bruises his head breaketh his power to pieces and destroys the Devil and his Works and through death destroys death and the Devil the power of death And so Christ the Light and Life hath all power in Heaven and Earth and openeth the Prison-doors and the Eyes of the blind and takes Captive him that hath led into Captivity and gives Gifts unto Men. And so Christ bindeth the strong man of sin and spoils his goods for Christ is stronger than the Devil and casts him out Hallelujah For the strong man of sin is the God of the World and his House is the whole World that lieth in Wickedness And the God of the World hath kept his house and his goods have been in peace until a stronger than he comes and binds the Devil and casts him out and then destroys him and his goods And so Christ the Son of God who is stronger than the Devil having destroyed the Devil and his Works setteth up his House and all the Believers in the Light are the Children of Light and are of the Son of God's spiritual House and the Son of God is over his House for evermore Glory to God in the Highest through Jesus Christ Amen God spake by the mouth of all his holy Prophets concerning Christ Jesus his Son the holy One so they were holy men and not unholy that God spake by And therefore all that name the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ are to depart from Iniquity Kingston upon Thames the 11th Month 1687. G. F. I returned to London towards the latter end of the Eleventh Month 1687. Chiswick Hammersmith visiting Friends in the way at Chiswick and at Hammersmith where I had Two Meetings one upon a First-day and the other upon the Occasion of a Marriage there at which were many of the World's People amongst whom I had a very seasonable Opportunity of opening the Way of Truth London Being come to London I visited Friends Meetings in and about the City as the Lord led me in whose Service I continued labouring in the City until the middle of the First Month 1687 8. Enfield Barnet Waltham-Abbey At which time I went down towards Enfield and visited Friends there and thereabouts and at Barnet and Waltham-Abbey and other places where I had many Meetings and very good Service amongst Friends in which I spent several Weeks And then returned to London London Yearly-Meeting where I continued labouring in the work of the Gospel of our Lord until after the
house shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow unto it Isa 2.2 Is not that a great House Now is not this Mountain Christ who is over his House in the New Testament and New Covenant And to this Mountain and House all the Children of the New Testament and New Covenant slow in these latter days so that it is come to pass which was prophesied of by Isaiah For he said Many People shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem And he shall judge among the Nations and shall rebuke many People and they shall beat their Swords into Plon-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more O house of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the Light of the Lord ver 3 4 5. Here ye may see They that come to the Mountain of the house of God and to God's Teaching they must walk in the Light of the Lord yea the House of Jacob. Jacob signifies a Supplanter he supplanted profane Esau who is hated and Jacob is loved Now these Two Births must be known within And they that walk in the Light of the Lord and come to Christ the Mountain of the house of the Lord established above all Mountains and Hills they break their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks and in Christ this Mountain and House of the Lord there are no Spears nor Swords to hurt one another withal And Christ the Son of God is over his House and great Family the Children of the Light them that believe in it and walk in it who are the Children of the Day of Christ and are of his Holy and Royal Priesthood that offer up spiritual Sacrifice to God by him All such are of Christ's the spiritual Man's house who are born of God and led by his Spirit They are of the Lord of Lords and King of King's House and Family which he is over and are of the Houshold of the holy divine pure and precious Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of And they that be of the Son's house they are pure righteous and holy and can do nothing against the Truth but for it in their Words Lives and Conversations and so are a chosen Generation a holy Nation a peculiar People that they should shew forth the Praise of him who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light And these are Christ's lively Stones that build up a spiritual House which he Christ the spiritual Man the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is over London the 10th Month 1688. G. F. 1688. Essex Gooses Sometime after this my Body continuing Weak I went down with my Son Mead to his House in Essex where I staid some Weeks In which time I Writ many things relating to the Service of Truth of which some were printed soon after others were spread abroad in Manuscript And amongst other things ' there were a few Lines to this purpose THat while Men are contending for Thrones here below Christ is on his Throne and all his holy Angels are about him who is the Beginning and the Ending the First and Last over all And that the Lord will make way and room for himself and for them that are born of his Spirit which are heavenly Jerusalem's Children to come home to their free Mother A few Words also I writ concerning the World's Teachers and the Emptiness of their Teaching Which were thus DOth not all that which is called Christendom live in Talking of Christ's and of the Apostles and Prophets Words and the Letter of the Scriptures And do not their Priests minister the Letter with their own Conceptions thereupon to them for Money though the holy Scriptures were freely given forth from God and Christ and his Prophets and Apostles Yet the Apostle saith The Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 And the Ministers of the New Testament are not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit And they do sow to the Spirit and of the Spirit do reap Life Eternal But Peoples spending their time about Old Authors and their Talking of them and of the outward Letter this doth not feed their Souls For Talking of Victuals and Cloaths doth not clothe the Body nor feed it except they have Victuals to eat and Cloaths to put on No more are their Souls and Spirits fed and clothed except they have the Bread and Water of Life from Heaven to feed them and the Righteousness of Christ to clothe them So only Talking of Outward things and Spiritual things and not Having them they may starve both their Bodies and their Souls Therefore quench not the Spirit of God which will lead to be diligent in all things With this I writ another short Paper shewing the hurt that they did and the danger they run into who turned People from the inward Manifestation of Christ in the heart THE Jews were commanded by the Law of God Not to remove the outward Land-mark Deut. 19.14 And they that did so or that caused the Blind to wander were Cursed in the Old Covenant Deut. 27.17 In the New Covenant the Apostle saith Let him be Accursed that preacheth any other Gospel than that which he had preached Gal. 1.8 Now the Gospel that he preached was The Power of God unto Salvation 1688. Gooses to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 And the Gospel that was preached to Abraham was That in his Seed all Nations and all the Families of the Earth should be blessed And in order to bring Men to this blessed state God poureth out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men and teacheth the Christians the true Believers in Christ and God doth write his Law in the true Christians hearts and putteth it in their minds that they may all know the Lord from the greatest to the least and he giveth his Word in their hearts to obey and do and the Anointing within them so that they need not any Man to Teach them but as the Anointing doth Teach them Now all such as turn People from the Light Spirit Grace Word and Anointing within remove them from their heavenly Land-mark of their Eternal Inheritance and make them blind and cause the Blind to wander from the living way to their Eternal House in the Heavens and from New and Heavenly Jerusalem So they are Cursed that cause the Blind to wander out of their way and to remove them from their heavenly Land-mark G. F. I writ also a
time amongst Friends thereabouts and had Meetings at all those places Then being a little refreshed with being in the Country I went back to London where I tarried labouring in the Work of the Ministry till the middle of the Ninth Month at which time I went down with my Son Mead to his House in Essex and abode there all the Winter Essex Gooses During which time I stirred not much abroad unless it were sometimes to the Meeting to which that Family belonged which was about half a Mile from thence but I had Meetings often in the House with the Family and those Friends that came thither Many things also I writ while I was there some of which follow here One was an Epistle to the Quarterly and Yearly-Meetings of Friends in Pensylvania New-England Virginia Maryland the Jerseys Carolina and other Plantations in America And it was thus MY Dear Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ who by believing in his Light are become Children of his Light and of his Day my desires are that you may all walk in his Light and in his Day and keep the Feast of Christ our Passover who is sacrificed for us not with Old Leaven neither with the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but let all that be purged out that ye may be a New Lump keeping the Feast of Christ our Passover with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth Therefore let no leavened Bread be found in your Houses nor in your Meetings nor in the Camp of God or Houshold of Faith which are the Houshold of Christ But all that sour old Leaven which makes Peoples hearts sour and to burn one against another all that must be purged out of the Camp of God and kept out For the Feast of Christ our Passover must be kept in the New Covenant with his heavenly unleavened Bread of Life The Jews in the Old Testament their Feast was kept with outward unleavened Bread And now in the New Testament in the Gospel-Day our Feast is to be kept with the heavenly unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth Therefore Friends I desire you seriously to consider and to keep this Feast which the Apostle directed the Church of Christ to keep Do not you see Christendom 1689. Gooses so called keep their Feasts with the leavened Bread of Malice and Wickedness which makes them so sour and their hearts to burn one against another that they have destroyed and do destroy one another about Religion Therefore all live in the love of God which keeps above the love of the World so that none of your Hearts may be choaked or surfeited with these outward Things or with the Cares of the World which will pass away But mind ye the World and the Life that is without end that ye may be heirs of it And Friends you should strive to Excel all both Professor and Prophane both in Morality Humanity and Christianity Modesty Sobriety and Moderation and in a good godly righteous Life and Conversation shewing forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God and that you are the Children of the living God and Children of the Light and of the Day and not of the Night And serve God in Newness of Life for it is the Life and a living and walking in the Truth that must Answer the Witness of God in all People that they seeing your good Works may glorifie our Father which is in Heaven Therefore be valiant for God's holy pure Truth and spread it abroad among both Professors and Profane and the Indians And you should write over once a year from all your Yearly-Meetings to the Yearly-Meeting here concerning your Diligence in the Truth and of its spreading and of Peoples receiving it both Professors and Profane and the Indians and concerning the Peace of the Church of Christ amongst your selves For blessed be the Lord Truth doth get ground in these Parts and many are made very loving to Friends and the Lord's Power and Seed is over all In which God Almighty keep all his People to his Glory Amen Gooses the 28th of the 11th Month 1689. G. F. While I was in the City I had a Concern upon my Spirit with respect to a Twofold Danger that attended some who profest Truth one was of Young Peoples running into the Fashions of the World and the other was of Old Peoples going into the Earth And that Concern coming now again weightily upon me I was moved to give forth the following Paper as a Reproof to such and an Exhortation and Warning to all Friends to beware of and keep out of those Snares To all that do Profess the Truth of God MY desires are that you may walk in Humility in it For when the Lord first called me forth he let me see That Young People grew up together in Vanity and the Fashions of the World and Old People went downwards into the Earth raking it together and to both these I was to be a stranger And now Friends I do see too many Young People that do profess the Truth 1690. Gooses do grow up into the Fashions of the World and too many Parents indulge them And amongst the Elder some are growing downwards and raking after the Earth Therefore take heed that you are not making your Graves while you are Alive outwardly and loading your selves with thick Clay Hab. â— 6 For if you have not power over the Earthly Spirit and that which leadeth into a Vain Mind and the Fashions of the World and into the Earth though you have often had the Rain fall upon your Fields you will but bring forth Thistles Briars and Thorns which is for the Fire And such will become brittle peevish fretful Spirits that will not abide the heavenly Doctrine and the Admonitions Exhortations and Reproofs of the Holy Ghost or heavenly Spirit of God which would bring you to be Conformable to the Death of Christ and to his Image that ye might have Fellowship with him in his Resurrection And therefore it is good for all to bow to the Name of Jesus their Saviour and that all may Confess him to the Glory of God the Father For I have had a Concern upon me in a sense of the Danger of Young Peoples going into the Fashions of the World and Old Peoples going into the Earth and many going into a loose and false Liberty till at last they go quite out into the Spirit of the World as some have done Such their House hath been built upon the Sand on the Sea shore not upon Christ the Rock that they are so soon in the World again under a pretence of Liberty of Conscience But it is not a pure Conscience nor in the Spirit of God nor in Christ Jesus for in the Liberty in the Spirit there is the Vnity which is the Bond of Peace and all are one in Christ Jesus in whom is the true Liberty And this is not of the World for He is not of the World And
also the Lord is come to bring his People off all the World's Temples that with the Spirit they may know â—â—at their Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost And the Lord is come to bring his People off all the World's Crosses and Pictures and Images and Likenesses to know that the Power of God is the Cross of Christ which Crucifies them to the World and brings them up into the Likeness and Image of God as Man and Woman was in before they fell and so to Christ that never fell And this Work of Christ must all know in their hearts by the Light of Christ Jesus who is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World It is called the Light in Man and Woman and the Life in Christ the Word and Christ saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And the Light lets you see all your Evil Actions that you have done and committed and your ungodly Ways you have walked in and your ungodly Words and Thoughts and now if you do hate this Light and love the Darkness and the Prince of it more than this Light which is the Life in Christ the Prince of Life and will not come to it because your Deeds be Evil and it will reprove you Christ tells you This Light is your Condemnation And then what is all your Profession good for when you remain under the Condemnation of the true Light in which you should believe and so become Children of Light and out of Condemnation And therefore every one must believe in the Light if they do receive Christ Jesus and as many as receives him he gives them Power to become the Sons of God So he that hath the Son of God hath Life and they that have not the Son of God have not Life and then if you have not Life what good doth all your Profession of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelations do you any more than the Jews Scribes and Pharisees that would not receive Christ the Life upon whom God brought his overflowing Scourge And therefore do you take heed of that for your Strength will be no better than theirs if you have not God and Christ's supporting Power when God's Scourge comes upon you and you are filled with Horrours and Fears But my desires are that you may all Repent even from the Highest to the Lowest and not grieve nor quench nor vex nor rebel against God's good Spirit in you nor walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace nor turn from it unto Wantonness which would teach you and bring your Salvation Which if you do how can you escape the over-flowing Scourge of the Almighty and the Wrath of the Lamb But my desires are that you may all obey God's good Spirit of Truth which will lead you out of all Evil into all Truth and reprove you for your Righteousness and for your own Judgment and Sin c. and it will bring you to cleave to that which is good and forsake that which is evil and to turn to the Lord who will receive you in his Mercy and Kindness By which Means you may escape the over-flowing Scourge in the Day of Vengeance which dreadful Day is coming upon all Evil-doers And this as a Warning to you both for your Temporal and Eternal Good and for you to Read it in your Assemblies and your Priests to Read it in their Churches so that all People may hear and fear as you will Answer it at the Terrible and Dreadful Day of Judgment Amsterdam the 19th of the 7th Month 1677. G. F. For the Embassadors that are Met to Treat for Peace at the City of Nimmeguen in the States Dominions To pag. 448 CHrist Jesus saith Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5.9 so all Christian men are to forsake Evil and do Good and seek Peace and follow it if they will love Life and see good Days 1 Pet. 3.11 for God hath called all true Christians unto Peace 1 Cor. 7. and therefore all Christians ought to follow this Peace which God calls them to and they should let the Peace of God rule in all their Hearts which is above the Peace of this World that is so soon broken For the Apostle Commands the Christians to let the Peace of God rule in their Hearts to which all Christians should be subject Now the Practice of this should be among Christians that profess Christianity and this Peace is above that which Christ takes from the Earth Rev. 6. which is the Peace of the Wicked And the Apostle saith to the Christians Be at Peace among your selves 1 Thess 5. Now all Christians should obey this Command and be at Peace among themselves and not in Wars and Strife And further the Apostle exhorts the Christians to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace so this Vnity and this Bond of Peace should be kept and not be broken by all that bears that Noble Name Christian and they should keep the Unity of the Spirit of Christ in the Bond of the Prince of Princes and King of Kings and Lord of Lords Peace which is the Duty of all true Christians to keep In which they may honour Christ in bringing forth the Fruits of Peace which is Love and Charity For the Apostle tells you The fruits of the good Spirit is Love Joy and Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness c. Gal. 5. And the Apostle exhorts the Christians and saith If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceable with all Men and this should be the Endeavour of all Christians For it is no honour to Christ that Christians should war and destroy one another that do profess the Name of Christ who saith He came to save Mens lives and not to destroy them For Christians have Enemies enough abroad without them and therefore they should Love one another as Christ commands who saith By this ye shall be known to be my Disciples if ye Love one another For Christians are commanded to love Enemies therefore much more one another And Christ saith As the Father hath loved me so I have loved you Continue ye in my Love John 15.8 and By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another John 13.35 But if Christians do war and destroy one another this will make both Jews Turks Tartars and Heathens to say That you are not Disciples of Christ. And therefore as you love God and Christ and Christianity and its Peace All make Peace as far as you have power among Christians that
Rejoyce in Iniquity but leads to Repent of it So this is the WORD OF THE LORD GOD to you all Friends every where abroad scattered Know the Power of God in one another and in that Rejoyce for then you Rejoyce in the Cross of Christ who is not of the World which Cross is the Power of God to all them that are saved So you that know the Power and feel the Power you feel the Cross of Christ you feel the Gospel which is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Now he that believes in the Light believes in the Everlasting Covenant in the one Offering comes to the Life of the Prophets and Moses comes to see Christ the Hope the Mystery which Hope perisheth not but lets you see the Hope that perisheth which is not that Mystery and the Expectation in that perishing Hope fades And where this never-failing Hope is witnessed the Lord comes to be sanctified in the Heart and you come to the Beginning to Christ the Hope which perisheth not but the other Hope and the other Expectation that perisheth So all of you know the perishing of the Other and the failing of the Expectation therein and know that which perisheth not that you may be ready to give a Reason of this Hope with Meekness and Fear to every Man that asketh you Christ the Hope the Mystery that perisheth not the End of all perishing things the End of all changeable things the End of the decaying Covenant the End of that which waxeth old and doth decay the End of the first Covenant of Moses and of the Prophets the Righteousness of God Christ Jesus the Son his Throne ye will know Heirs with him ye will be who makes his Children Kings and Priests to him and brings them to know his Throne and his Power There is no Justification out of the Light out of Christ Justification is in the Light in Christ Here is the Doer of the Will of God here 's the Entring into the Kingdom He that believes in the Light becomes a Child of Light and here the Wisdom is received that is justified of her Children Here believing in the Light you shall not abide in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life and come every one to witness the Light that shines in your Hearts which Light will give you the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ With which Light you will see him reign who is the Prince of Life and of Peace which Light turns from him that is out of the Truth and abode not in it where the true Peace is not Friends Be not hasty For he that believes in the Light makes not Haste Here the Grace is received by which you come to be saved the Election is known which obtains the Promise The Will is seen that wills the Mind is known that runs which obtains not but stops and dulls Now that with the Light being seen and judged and stopt the Patience is here known which obtains the Crown and the Immortality is come to Light So all they now that act contrary to the Light and do not believe in it they do not come to Justification And all Friends if you go from the Light from wanting to have the Promise of God fulfilled to the Seed whereby you may know Christ Reign you thereby bring on your selves Changable Garments and come to wear the Changable Garments and the strange Flesh which leads to Adultery which the Law goes upon which shuts out of the Kingdom And out of this Will doth proceed the Work or Building that is for the Fire whereby you may come to suffer Less Therefore the Light love which doth that Condemn and receive the Power from the Lord with which you stand over that and do it Condemn feeling and seeing that which gives you the Victory over the World and to see out of Time to before Time And again Friends Know Abraham that must obey the Voice of Sarah that bears Seed which casts forth the Bond-woman and her Son Do not go forth there will the Wildness lodge Know that which bears the Wild Son and its Mother who is not Sarah for the Promise is to the Seed not of many but one which Seed is Christ And this Seed now you come to witness stand on the Top of all yea on the Head of the Serpent And so all as I said before who this come to feel and witness ceme to the Beginning and this to all the Seed of God the Church that it you all may come to know where there is no blemish nor spot nor Wrinkle nor any such thing which is that which is purchased by the Blood of Jesus and to the Father presented out of all that does defile which is the Pillar and Ground of Truth And none comes to this but such who come to the Light which doth come from Christ who purchased this Church They who go from the Light are shut out and condemned though they profess all the Scriptures declared forth from it Therefore walk in the Light that you may have Fellowship with the Son and with the Father and come all to witness his Image and his Power and his Law which is his Light which hath converted your Souls and brought them to submit to the higher Power above that which is out of the Truth that you may know here the Mercy and Truth and the Faith that works by Love which Christ is the Author of who lighteth every one of you which Faith gives the Victory Now that which gives the Victory is perfect and that which the Ministers of God received from God is that which is perfect and that which they are to Minister is for the perfecting of the Saints till they all come in the Unity of the Faith unto a Perfect Man So this is the Word of the Lord God to you all every one in the Measure of Life Wait that with it all your Minds may be guided up to the Father of Life the Father of Spirits all to receive Power from him and Wisdom that with it you may be ordered to his Glory to whom be all Glory for ever All keep in the Light and Life that judgeth down that which is contrary to the Light and Life So the Lord God Almighty be with you all And keep your Meetings every where being guided by that of God by that you may see the Lord God among you even him who lighteth every Man that cometh into the World by whom the World was made that Men that be come into the World might believe He that believeth not the Light condemns him He that believeth cometh out of Condemnation So this Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World which they that hate it stumble at this is the Light of Men. All Friends that speak abroad see that it be in the Life of God for that begets to God the Fruits of that shall never