Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the VVorld Joh. 1.9 Drunkard thou hast a Light given thee which comes from Christ and that is the Light which lets thee see that thou shouldst not be drunk so here thou hast learned thy Condemnation which is the Light Swearer and Lyar and Fighter and Quarreler thou hast a Light given thee which comes from Christ who saith Swear not at all and with this Light thou seest thou shouldst not swear nor lye nor fight nor quarrel for the Light in thee witnesseth against these things so here thou hast learned thy Condemnation the Light Scoffer Scorner Mocker Railer cursed Speaker foolish Iester vain Talker Couzener and Cheater the Light that shines in thy Conscience though thou canst not comprehend it Joh. 1.5 because thou art darkness it is pure and eternal and never consented unto evil but stood and stands a VVitness for God against all evil Mark this Light this pure VVitness oftentimes hath appeared and doth appear unto thee and in thee and lets thee plainly see that thou shouldst not act any of these evils before mentioned and it often checks and reproves in secret when thou dost so act so here thou hast learned what Condemns thee which is the the Light Eph. 5.5 13. Proud one Wanton one Lustful one Covetous one who art an Idolater Backbiter Whoremonger Gamster Sporter and Prophane one who walkest on in laciviousness and excess of the Creatures in Revellings Banquetings and abominable Idolatries and whoever thou art that acts any manner of unrighteousness whatsoever it is sin and it is of the Devil but the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the VVorld that is the Son of God who is made manifest for this very end that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 and He mark the Son of God hath given thee a measure of his Light and that is the measure of his Light in thee which lets thee see that thou should not act any of these abominations before-mentioned but it oft appears in thee to convince thee of thy evil deeds and reproves thee and judgeth thee for thy wickedness so here thou hast learned thy Condemnation which is the Light which makes manifest unto thee thy abominations And thou who makest a Profession of the Saints words but art found to be out of their Life and in thy dark carnal mind and imaginations run'st into their words the Scriptures and calls them the VVord of God and thy Rule and the way to know God and yet thou livest contrary to the Scriptures and art out of the knowledge of God whom to know is life eternal Mark the Light wherewith thou art enlightned withal it comes from Christ who lighteth every man that cometh into the VVorld and his Name is called the VVord of God Rev. 19.13 and he is the way to God and no man knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 and this Light which comes from the Son of God oftentimes appears in thee and shews thee that thou art out of the Saints Life though thou profess their VVords and the Light lets thee see that thou art a Thief and a Robber and art climbing up another way in thy imaginations than by the Door Joh. 10.1 which is Christ from whence the Light doth come and this Light in thee which makes manifest to thee thy condition it oftentimes confounds thee and thy imaginations which thou hast raised out of thy dark mind concerning the Scriptures which were given forth in the true Light and the Light oftentimes convinceth reproveth and judgeth thee of and for thy hypocrisie and dissimulation and feigned love and humility and will-worship and lets thee see that thy worship is not that Worship which the Lord requireth for that is in the Spirit and in the Truth which God requireth Joh. 4.22 23 24. and thou being out of the Light not being guided by it art out of the Spirit for the Spirit is Light and the Light is the Truth and so out of the true Worship in the false worshipping thou knowst not what so here with the true Light thou art condemned and so hast learned but thy Condemnation Therefore all People both young and old high and low rich and poor bond and free who yet live in any of these evil deeds before-mentioned mind that which makes manifest your evil deeds unto you which is the measure of the pure God which he hath given you to profit withal and this measure in you convinceth you of sin and reproves you for it now mind to stand in that which doth convince for that is the Power and as you stand and believe in that which doth convince you it will lead you into true Repentance never to be repented of for it will bring you to repent of and to forsake all your evil deeds and hard speeches Jud. 15. which you will see in the Light which never consented unto sin that you have acted and spoken against the living God so believe in the Light which shews you sin and evil and wait in the Light as it ariseth and appears in you to shew you your estates and conditions now if you believe in the Light and wait in it you will come to receive Power from Christ from whence the Light doth come to overcome evil and to withstand the Tempter when he appears to tempt you to evil and the Light believing in it will preserve you out of the evil and lead you out of the death and loss that ye are in unto Christ the life and Saviour of the Soul But if you hate the Light which shews you sin and evil you hate Christ for I am the Light saith Christ John 8.12 and if you hate the Light you hate the way to the Father for I am the way to the Father saith Christ who is the Light Joh. 14.6 and if you hate the Light you hate the Truth and you hate the Life for I am the Truth and the Life saith Christ the true Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World Joh. 1.9 and 12.46 and if you hate the Light you hate the Covenant of God for I will give him for a Covenant to the People and for a Light to the Gentiles saith God Isa 42.6 and 49.6 and if you hate the Light you hate the Power for all Power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth saith Christ the Light Mat. 28.18 and if you hate the Light you hate the Word of God and so you hate God and Christ who are One John 10.30 Mark for in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God all things were made by it and without it nothing was made that was made in it was Life Mark in the Word was Life and the life of the Word was the Light of men and John a man sent of God bare witness of the Light that all men
in your Forms without Power neither Flee the Cross any longer but wait in the True Simplicity to feel God's hand of Tender Love which he reacheth sorth to and manifesteth in you to lead and guide your minds into his Pure Worship which is in the Spirit and in the Truth Oh People This is the Worship that he will set up He will be LORD and LAW-GIVER in the Consciences of his People and those that will not be content that EMANUEL should Reign over them he will Slay them with the Sword of the Spirit The words of his Mouth Oh! Hearken hearken a little and stand still that you may hear the voice of the True Shepherd in your own hearts who calleth for Truth in the Inward Parts he will discover what lodgeth Within and He will shew you the Way wherein you should walk and he will let you see what the Cross is unto and He will teach you when you are alone in your Beds or where-ever you are if you will receive Him who giveth you Life and Breath whose gentle Reproofs and Instructions are the Way of Life Therefore you in whom the Breathings and Desires after the Lord are Consult not with Flesh and Blood neither reason against the Cross but submit to every Appearance of God's Power in you which appeareth to Crucifie the Fleshly Birth and Nature which hath stood and doth stand in Rebellion and Emnity against the Pure and Precious Life and Requirings of the Lamb of God that so that Mind which is at enmity against God and that Nature in you which is Disobedient to his Commands in Spirit may come to be Crucified that so there may be a Change Inwardly felt and witnessed by the working of the might Power of Christ in your Inward Parts and then the Desires and Breathings which are Begotten in you after Righteousness they will be strengthned and the Teachings of the Almighty will be truly known and you believing in the Power you will receive Power to obey and Practice whatsoever the Lord shall make known unto you by his Spirit to be his Will and Requirings Oh People Let the Dread of the Lord Seize upon your Spirits in this the Day of his Power wherein he is Trying Sifting and Winnowing the Nations and wait to feel that Life arise within you which beareth Testimony against all evil within and without that so ye may become more and more acquainted with the Teachings Drawings and Leadings thereof that thereby you may be drawn and led out of those things which have kept your Souls in the Death hindred you from enjoying the Pure Peace of God And this know and consider that all that come to witness their Souls raised out of Death and brought to enjoy the Peace of God they must Believe in the Life of the Quickning Spirit which is the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who for Sin Condemneth Sin in the Flesh and appeareth in the Inward Parts of man to work out Sin and Transgression which hath Separated from God and so to make clean the heart and inside of Male and Female Oh People This is the Work of Christ the Son of God even to make manifest and destroy the Works of the Devil and so to reconcile man unto God by the Virtue of his own Life which he gave a Ransom for many and blessed are all those that believe in the Life of the Son of God and feel and know it manifested in their mortal flesh for they shall witness the Power of it to make all things new and so their Souls will come up in the hand of God and his Peace will be Received and Enjoyed Oh People Wait to know and feel this Work of Christ within you that so you may be made able to Stand in the Judgement and to Endure the Tryal and that you may be Hid from the Wrath of the Lamb which is nigh to come upon the Rebellious Oh! Consider this Those that are his Followers they come thorow many Tribulations and their overcoming their Enemies is by His Blood not by a talk of it but by the Virtue and Power of it sprinkled in their Hearts which washeth and maketh them White Clean and without Fault before God Oh People my Bowels yearn my Bowels yearn towards you whose Desires in any measure are after the Lord O that you would now Return with all your hearts unto Him and obey the Voice of his Power in you then should you be made able to stand and endure the fiery Tryal which is come and coming Oh! the Day hastens wherein all Profession that is not grounded in the Life and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ whatever the shew of it be it will be so shaken that an utter Blasting and withering shall come upon it and for that cause the Lord doth and will yet suffer great Tryals to come both upon the Professors and Possessors of his Name that so his Children the Possessors may be manifested unto all and discerned from all that are but Professors though never so fair and seemingly Covered For all Coverings but what is of the Power and Spirit it self shall be too Narrow and all that are not Covered with the Spirit and Power of Emanuel their Shame and Nakedness shall appear more and more This is the Testimony which the Spirit and Word of Truth giveth therefore He that hath an ear to hear let him hear before the day of his Visitation be wholly past and the things belonging to his Peace he hid from his Eyes For yet a little while and the Voice shall be He that is filthy let him be filthy still For the Spirit of the Lord shall not alwayes strive with Flesh but his Plagues and Indignation shall be poured out upon such as will be gathered in the Day of his Patience long Forbearance and Free-Love and He or She that Loveth Father Mother Husband Wife Children House or Land Liberty Honour or any Thing more than the Life of the Lamb shall be counted not worthy of him and plainly manifested so to be Read this who can and he that can receive it let him For the Time draweth nigh that these Sayings must be fulfilled Printed the 13th of the Second Month 1661. GEORGE FOX the Younger SEVERAL EPISTLES To FRIENDS Who are GATHERED into the Light of Life A General EPISTLE and a tender Greeting sent unto the Flock of Christ who meet together to Worship the Father and the Son in the Spirit of Truth to be read in the Fear and Wisdom of God amongst them DEAR and tenderly beloved Friends and â—hildren of the most High God who have felt and tasted of his eternal Word of Life and have been acquainted with the workings and operations thereof whereby you are begotten again unto a lively Hope and are brought to know that Life which you were alienated from and that Covenant of Promise which ye were strangers unto Oh Friends unto you is my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ exceeding great
unto an Assembly of Priests called the Synod whom thou Authorizedst to give forth directions and Ordinances for the Church to observe and if after thy long Changing of it thus one from another Thou now give it to thy outward King again as many in thee strive to do this will not end God's Controversie with thee neither For these things do not at all answer the intent of God for the Lord will not own that a King should be called the Supream Head of a Church no more then he will own that a Pope should be so called Neither will he own any to exercise the Office of Headship in his Church but Christ onely Whom he hath given unalterably to be the Head thereof Therefore whether it be Pope King Priests or any others that will not submit to Christ and own Him alone to be the Head of the Church must be slain by the Sword of his Justice Therefore O England Take heed what thou dost and provoke not the Lord yet further against thee in this particular for until the Headship be wholly given up to Christ God's Controversie cannot cease And furthermore it doth properly belong unto God and Christ who are one to make and Ordain whomsoever they Please to be Ministers and those Ministers are to follow those orders and directions and to declare those words unto the People and not what they will themselves which the most High gives unto them and they are to go to such places as He sends them unto to declare His Will and they are to receive that for their Labour which He alloweth them and they are to abide in those places observing those orders and directions which he gives unto them and they are not to remove but at His pleasure and as He gives them freedom or by His order which they must observe But in these things also Man hath set himself in the stead of God For men in these Nations have made and some yet do make and Ordain whomsoever they please to be Ministers and those Minsters are to follow those orders and directions and to speak those words to the People which Man giveth unto them and also they may in some things speak more if they will and they are to go to such places as man sends them unto and there to declare that which man in his will hath prescribed and set down And they are to receive for this their Labour that which man alloweth them with what more they can get to satisfie their greedy minds and they are to abide in those places observing those orders and directions which man gives unto them and they are not to remove but at man's pleasure by his order or as he gives them Freedom And thus hath man even the man of Sin set himself in the stead of God and would force all to bow unto him and so man in this state hath rejected the Will of God and his Work for such a one whom God makes a Minister and sends unto places to declare his Will unto the People as he hath received it from God such a one is counted a Vagabond and a disturber of the Peace and Persecuted by such as are exalted in their fleshly minds above the witness of God And for this cause also is God's Conâ—roversie with Nations and they cannot be established in true Peace until they give unto God and Christ that which to them belongs which they have held from God by usurpation therefore whether it be Popes or Kings or Parliaments or any other men that will assume this to themselves which alone belongs to God and Christ they must and shall be broken let their strength be never so great For the Lord who is Mighty will take to himself this his proper Right in making Ministers which shall observe his Will and he will provide for them and such as are made by man he will Confound Therefore O Nations take heed what you do and run not your selves any more into these things lest you further increase God's anger against you And as Christ is the Auâ—hor of the true Faith and not man so he is the Defender of it and not man Therefore that Title must be given unto Him and not unto man or else God's Controversie cannot cease Again it is God's proper Right to give Laws unto man Isa 33.22 For there is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Jam. 4.12 And the Law is not made for the Righteous but for the unrighteous 1 Tim. 1.9 And the Law is to go forth of Zion Mica 4.2 Isa 2.3 Now in this particular also man hath set himself in the Seat of God and so hath dishonoured the one Law-giver by setting up many Law-givers who not being guided by the pure Spirit of the Lord have made Laws contrary to the Will of God whereby the Righteous have been Punished and Oppressed Now in this particular man hath exceedingly corrupted his wayes for which cause God's Controversie is exceeding great And until man submit to the one Law-giver in this particular also who is able both to save and to destroy God's Controversie cannot cease for the Law which God gives is not against the Righteous but against the unrighteous But how are the Laws of these Nations like to be such let the witness of God in all you answer seeing by man it is given into the hands of man in such a manner as it is to make Laws Mark Have you not read in the Scriptures of Truth that the Flock of Christ is a little Flock Luke 12.32 And that though Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet but a remnant shall be saved Isa 10.22 Rom. 9.27 And again strait is the way and narrow is the Gate that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it mark that because broad is the way and wide is the Gate that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Mat. 7.13 14. Now mark and consider these things seeing that the Righteous are fewer in number then the unrighteous and that the Law-makers are chosen by the most voyces and that of the richest People outwardly how are the Righteous like to be preserved in outward freedom by the Laws that are so made Doth not the World love his own John 15.19 And will it not provide for its own Life and Liberty And is the life and Liberty of the Righteous one with the world Read Wisdom the 2. Chap. Will not that which is for the freedom of the one be for the bondage of the other Oh! the Lord hath beheld this abomination and his Soul abhors it and his Controversie is with the Nations because of the grievous Oppression Oaths Violence which fills the Earth partly by this means Oh! how do the rich oppress the poor and draw them before the Judgement seats Jam. 2.6 And how do the haughty vaunt themselves over the meek And how is Judgement turned backward For he that departeth from iniquity maketh himself
things that is of this world for the Tryal will be great unto such Dear hearts I know that some of you have suffered the losse of much for his Name sake already oh faint not neither be weary for all your Sufferings are known unto the Lord and he will not alwayes so try you but he will sufficiently recompence you if ye abide to the end Therefore watch unto Prayer and Pray in the Spirit as it moves you thereunto that you may be kept through Faith unto the end of the Tryal that you may be prepared and made fit for the deliverance which must come by an outstretched Arm and when you are tryed deeply either in Prisons or otherwise oh Friends murmur not but feel the Lord's strength to support you that you may not bow to the Enemy in any wise whose day is but short and therefore he is wroth and rages for such as bow to any thing but the Name of our King verily their torment and perplextty will be exceeding miserable when the Lord shall deliver his chosen who kept their integrity and loved not their estates nor lives but gave up all for his Name sake Therefore dear Friends hearken you to the voice of the Lord and keep you to the leadings of his Eternal Spirit and let his Dread fill you hearts And you that feel but little Sufferings and Tryals take heed of a wrong security and of a false ease and Liberty least the day of the Lord come upon you at unawares and a violent storm unlookt for and you that are in deep Sufferings and Tryals be not you cast down but know that the Tryal of your Faith is exceeding precious and if you keep your minds stayed upon the Lord then will you learn much in such a time and you will feel the presence of God and the virtue of his Power inwardly refreshing you and you will feel the Power of his Majesty giving you Authority sutable to the Condition you are in So as all Friends are kept in that which gives you the sence and feeling of your conditions that Principle of Life will work your minds and hearts into contendedness with the Will of God which is your Sanctification So let the bond of Peace be minded in all things for it is comely amongst Brethren And now the God of Life and endless Virtue and Power watch over you and Minister unto every one of you that which is sutable to your present conditions and the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you Low Humble Meek Tender Innocent upright Faithful and valiant out of the Snares of the Enemy and give you Peace in all your Tryals and let the Patience of his Lamb be increased in you that you may stand unmoveable upon the Rock of Ages and retain the Life which quickens in your understandings And the Lord God open and keep open your discernings that by no meanes the subtilty may beguile the similicity in this the day of Tryal Eternal Father unto thee I commend all thy Flock that thou Father may fill them with Wisdom Strength and Courage that to thy Glory they may be preserved in their several places and measures to whom be Dominion and Glory everlasting for thy endless riches for thou Lord art worthy to Reign over all Even so come Lord God and take thy Kingdom I the Prisoner for the Lord salutes all you who loves the appearance of Christ in that love which abides for ever GEORGE FOX the Younger Lambeth House the 14th of the 5th Month 1660. SUrely it was thee O Lord that gave bounds unto the Sea that the floods thereof could not overwhelm thy chosen thou canst let forth the winds and suffer a storm and thou canst make a Calm when thou pleasest have thou the Glory of all Thou King of Saints thou Saviour of Israel thou canst do whatsoever thou pleasest therefore will we trust in thy Name neither will we fear what man can do unto us because thou wilt not forsake us but thou wilt plead our Cause in the sight of our adversaries and they shall know that thou art our God who art able to save to the uttermost O Lord our Righteousness we will praise thy Name for thy Mercies indure for ever our eyes O God are unto thee for we have no other helper our Faith O Lord standeth in thee who canst not forget thy People Thou hast revealed and brought up Jacob who wrestleth with thee and prevails as a Prince therefore must the Blessing come O Lord the Birth the Birth cryeth unto thee thine own Elect which long hath been Oppresseâ— â—hou canst not deny thy self therefore have we Faith and Hope which maketh not ashamed Oh Lord 〈◊〉 unsearchable are thy wayes Thou hast even amazed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the depth of thy Wisdom thou onâ—ly wiâ—l have the Glory of their deliverance and therefore 〈◊〉 thou suffered these things to come to pass 〈…〉 Righteous in all thy Judgements onely preserâ—e thy People which thou hast gathered and will gather unto thy self in the day of Tryal that so they may sing of thy Power and Magnifie thy Name in the Land of the Living George Fox the Younger The Breathings of true Love from the Immortal Seed in the Prisoner for the Lord unto his People DEear Friends Brethren and Sisters in the Light called to be a People loved of God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ Grace Love and Peace be multiplied amongst you through the abundant manifestation of the Spirit of Life proceeding from the Father and the Son My Children and beloved Friends the God of all Truth hath appeared unto you in the Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life visiting you in an acceptable Day and Time making known unto you his Eternal Truth by the Revelation of his Mighty Power in your Mortal Bodies whereby he brought you indeed to feel and know the miserable Estate and Condition that ye were in and he hath also given you to see him upon whom help is laid and you have received him who is the Salvation of God through the drawings of his Mighty Power and you are brought to know and believe That Salvation is not to be had in another yea many of you have received the Covenant of God and do indeed know that your sins are washed away in the blood thereof for you have the witness in your selves and the word of reconciliation is felt and known in your hearts whereby abundance of Peace and Joy unspeakable is witnessed and the Kingdom is come of which there is no end and some of you are placed together therein in Christ Jesus and many others of you the called of the Lord are travelling thitherwards through the Righteous Judgements of the Lord in the Spiritual Warfare and in the Faith and Patience of the Lamb. Now my Friends Be you stedfast in the Truth of God received you have been a suffering People most of the time since the Lord hath brought you in any measure into the obedience
for God in their Professions p. 163. 17. A True Relation of the cause of his Imprisonment by the Magistrates at Harwich p. 193. 18. His Faith touching 4. Particulars Demonstrated 1. Concerning Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World 2. Concerning Justification 3. Concerning the Resurrection 4. Concerning Everlasting Glory and Eternal Misery p. 208. 19. Englands sad Estate and condition lamented p. 212. Several Epistles to Friends who are gathered into the Light of Life 1. A General Epistle and tender Greeting sent unto the Flock of Christ Pag. 230. 2. An Epistle to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity p. 241. 3. To the Called of God who believe in the Light of the Lamb. p. 245. 4. The Breathings of true Love from the Immortal Seed in the Prisoner for the Lord unto his People p. 250. 5. To the Tribulated Fock of Christ in Bonds or elsewhere Salutation p. 263. 6. Touching compelling of Engagements p. 267. 7. That none can hinder the Determined Will of God p. 269. 8. Concerning his laying down the Body p. 270. 9. For the Common-wealths men both in the Parliament and Army p. 272. COMPASSION TO THE CAPTIVES WHEREIN Is shewn unto them the Way of God Which is but one which is not known in the many Sects and Opinions that are in the dark World but in the Light which comes from Christ which condemns the World with its deeds So they that live in the many Sects and Opinions their wayes are seen and denied by the Children of Light who dwell in Him who is the Way the Truth and the Life With something in plainness to the Officers and Souldiers of the Armies in General in England Scotland and Ireland Also a strong and terrible Alarm sounded out of the Holy Mountain against the Inhabitants of the Earth Given forth for the Innocent Seeds sake which is scattered abroad in the dark World By me who suffers for the Testimony of Jesus and keeps the word of his Patience in the common Goal of Edmonds Bury in the County of Suffolk where I have suffered above forty nine weeks through the envy and cruelty of Sions Oppressors I am known to the world by the name George Fox the Younger London Printed for Robert VVilson at the Black-spread-Eagle and VVind-Mill in Martins le Grand 1662. Compassion to the Captives Wherein is shewn unto them the Way of God which is but one which is not known in the many Sects and Opinions which are in the dark World But in the Light which comes from Christ c. THerefore this is unto you in whom there is any desires to know the way of the pure God who are scattered abroad in the dark World and are yet groping in the dark in the many Sects and Opinions Jam. 4.3 You ask and receive not because you ask amisse you have been wandring from Mountain to Mountain and from Hill to Hill but yet you have found no resting place for you have sought in your own wills and have run in your own imaginations and have not at all considered what it was that guided you but in darkness ye have walked and ye know not whither 1 John 2.11 and ye have joyned some with one Sect and some with another and in your own wills have contended each of you for your Opinions and yet ye have not been satisfied in your minds many of you whither that was the Truth that ye contended for or not for doubtings have oftentimes arose in your minds and you have been many times struck with fear and then you have sometimes in tenderness desired that you might know the way of God aright and ye have been some of you brought somewhat down and then you have been afraid to run into those evil Practises which formerly you have acted and delighted in Yet this hath been but for a time for ye knew not what that was that struck you but in your Imaginations you have consulted and then in your own wills you have sate down and said within your selves that you would never act such wickedness again but this being in your wills you have not found Power to resist the Temptations of the wicked one Neither have you found any Power over your lusts for by them you have been drawn away Jam. 1.14 and so have run into the same wickedness again and then some of you have been ready to despair and other times you have accounted God an hard Master as the slothful servant did Mat. 25.18 24 25. for you are yet in the same Nature and Practice that he was in for your Talent also is hid in the Earth and your earthly minds are above and rule and you are subiected by the Powers of the Earth so that those weak desires that yet remain in you towards â—he lâ—â—ing God are greatly oppressed by the Earth and kept in Bondage and Captivity by the Powers thereof and Leanness and Barrenness is in your Souls now while you continue thus striving in your own wills or imaginations profess what you will you cannot have any true Peace nor rest in your minds neither can you receive any satisfaction to those desires which are real after God I say while you thus act Therefore consider your wayes speedily and hate not the Covenant of God nor contemn his Promise any longer Now this is the Promise of the Lord speaking of his servant whom he hath chosen even the Son of his Love saying I will give him for a Covenant to the People and for a Light to the Gentiles that he may be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 42.6 49.6 And Christ Jesus the Son of God saith I am the Light of the World John 8.12 And John who was a true Minister of Christ and bore witness of him saith He lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1. chap. 9 v So you have all received a Light from Christ and this Light shineth in Darkness but the Darkness cannot comprehend it And this is the Condemnation of the World that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather than Light because their deeds were Evil And he that doth Evil hateth the Light neither will he bring his Deeds to the Light lest it should reprove them John 3.19 Therefore you that desire to know the Way of the Pure God be not high-minded but repent and come down to the Light of Christ in your Consciences that is the Light which shews you Sin and Evil and this the Way Christ Jesus the Light he is the Way to the Father and no man cometh to the Father but by him Joh. 14.6 Therefore as the Light appears in you to shew you the Evil of your doings take heed to the Light and wait in it that you may see Condemnation pass upon that which hath led you into the Evil of the World and that you may come to be sensible of a guide to your minds to guide you out of the Evil that so the Cross
through Him might believe Mark through Him who lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. and God is Light 1 Joh. 1.5 and God and Christ are One Joh. 10.30 1 Joh. 5.7 So you that be turned from the Light which shews you sin and evil mark what you are turned from you are turned from the Way and from the Truth and from the Life and from the Covenant of God and from the Power of God and from the Word of God and so from God and Christ from whence the Light doth come and into the Darkness you are turned and gone and the Prince of Darkness ruleth in you Eph. 2.2 that so you cannot find any power over your own perverse Wills nor over your Lusts nor over any Sin there being gone from the Light in your own particulars in which Light if you believed and waited in it you would receive power to overcome sin but you not believing in the Light you believe in him who leads you from the Power of God into sin and there he perswades you that you must live in sin so long as you live upon the Earth and you have believed and received this Doctrin of him and you teach it to others and so are become the Devils Ministers and so you deny the end for which the Son of God was made manifest which was to destroy the Works of the Devil and to take away sin 1 Joh. 3.8 Mat. 1.21 and yet many of you feed your selves with hopes of Life and Salvation but your hopes are vain and will perish be not deceived God will not be mocked for such as you sow such shall you reap Gal. 6.7 8. Ye that live after the flesh fulfilling the lusts thereof you shall surely dye if ye repent not speedily Rom. 8.13 and you that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption The day of the Lord hasteth greatly wherein you must give an account unto him who will judge you righteously and reward you according to your deeds done in the Body and all you who have been slothful and have hid that in the Earth which the Lord gave you to profit withal you will be turned into utter darkness Mat. 25.30 John 12.35 Therefore while you have the Light believe and walk in it lest thick darkness come upon you even such darkness as may be felt the day of your Visitation prize lest the things that belong to your peace be wholly hid from your eyes Consider there is a time when the Candle is lighted and when you may see if you search with it what is in the house but mark this time will not alwayes continue with the wicked for the Candle of the wicked shall be put out Prov. 24.20 Yea the Spirit of the Lord shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6.3 Therefore cease from your dark imaginations which several of you have got into for whosoever followeth the imaginations and thoughts of his own heart which all who believe not in the Light do they run on in darkness and know not whether they go and such are under the wo putting darkness for Light Light for darkness calling the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Error and the Spirit of Error the Spirit of Truth Isa 5.20 as all the world do who lye in wickedness and hate the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the Word which Light reproveth you for your wickednes and this Light you call a Spirit of Delusion and Error and you say that those who are guided by it are deluded and led into Error Oh! take heed of Blasphemy against the pure God who is Light Mark the Spirit of Error what it is and what it leads into it is that which abode not in the Truth and it is a Murderer and was so from the Beginning and they who walk not in the true Light they walk and are guided by this Spirit and some by it are led to murder some to steal some to be drunk to swear to lye to cheat and cozen one another to fight to game and some it leads into vain laughter foolish jesting corrupt communication cursed speaking wantonness lust whoredom fornication and into covetousness which is Idolatry into pride variance strife railing back-biting envy wrath and malice false accusing the Innocent and into all manner of ungodliness into feigned love self-seeking dissimulation hypocrisie and feigned flattery and to hate the very appearance of Truth Eph. 4.29 and 5. Gal. 5.19 20. Now examine with that which reproves you for sin in secret and it will let you see that you bring forth many of these cursed Fruits before-mentioned and so are deluded and guided by the Spirit of Error now the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World comes from the Spirit of Truth and that is the Truth and it witnesseth against all these evil deeds before-mentioned which are out of the Truth and they who believe in the Light which makes manifest sin and evil and wait in it they receive power from him from whence the Light came John 1.12 to abstain from evil and to overcome sin and evil and this I witness and that Spirit which tempts the Creature to evil is the Spirit of Error So we who believe in the true Light which is the manifestation of the Spirit of Truth which is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 we by it are led out of Error and Delusion into the perfect Truth of God and to act those things which are well-pleasing in his sight Mat. 11.29 they being learned and wrought in the Light which comes from the Son in whom the Father is well pleased Joh. 3.21 and this true Light in us is our Guide and Teacher and this brings us who wait in it to understand the Scriptures of Truth which was given forth from the Spirit of Truth and it brings us into that which the Scriptures speaks of into the Life and Power of God and to witness that which the World talks of for they will talk of Faith in Christ Jesus though they witness not what they speak but we who believe in the Light are made by the power of God Children of the Light and we witness Faith in Christ which Faith purifies our hearts and gives us victory over the World Act. 15.9 1 Joh. 5.4 and the Light leads us into meekness into soberness and love unfeigned into holiness and uprightness into sound and pure Judgement into Mercy into Patience when we are reviled and persecuted and at all times into long-suffering and Truth in the inward parts to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us yea it leads us who abide in it into all Truth Joh. 16.13 and this is not of our selves for it is the free Gift of God who freely gave his Son for a Covenant of Light which ligheth every man that cometh into the World and we who have received the Gift
of God the Light by the Gift we are brought to bring forth these fruits which are contrary to those which the Spirit of Error leads the Children of disobedience to bring forth Gal. 5.22 23. For although we the Children of Light are accounted to be in Delusion and Errour Gal. 5.22.23 yet it is but by you who bring forth the Cursed fruits which the Spirit of Errour leads you to bring forth so in the Light Life and Power of God we stand over all false Accusations and Reproaches and Persecutions and in the patience of Gods Lamb we bear them all and our love goes forth to your Souls who wilfully oppose your selves and we declare unto you that the long-sufferings of the Lord towards you is to draw you to Repentance Rom. 2.4 and I have directed you to that which will shew you what you ought to repent of Therefore consider your wayes speedily all you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.22 for verily this I declare unto you in the presence of the Lord that if you go on and continue in stubbornness and Rebellion against the Pure God and despise his love and reject his counsel and still refuse to hearken to the Light of his Son in your Consciences which reproves you for Sin and is freely given to you to lead you out of Sin unto God if you wilfully do not resist it Mark when the measure of your iniquity is filled up then will he arise upon you at unawares in his fury Wrath Indignation Mat. 24.50.51 and his eye shall not at all pitty you but he will bring his Plagues and Righteous Judgements upon you which shall consume you both root and branch if you will not be gathered in the day of his long patience and forbearance which is the day of your Visitation wherein you may come to know the things belonging to your peace if you do not wilfully resist the Power that is offered and committed unto you But if you resist the Power then the Lords righteous Judgements will assuredly come upon you and you will receive to your selves Condemnation and if you continue in your wickedness until the day of your visitation be past then shall the Light in all your Consciences which hath oftentimes shewed unto you your evil deeds arise and witness to the Judgements of God that they are just Zek. 2.7 so whether you will hear or forbear Remember you are warned in your Life time By a Friend to your Souls and a Lover of the Creation of God GEORGE FOX the Younger A few Queries to such Professors as stumble at the Light the Word the Kingdom and Spirit of God within and tell People that none can be free from Sin in this Life and yet say that they own the Scriptures 1. Qu. ARE not all by Nature Darkness and doth not the Light shine in Darkness yea or nay 2. Qu. Can any come to see themselves to be Darkness but with the Light which shineth in the Darkness yea or nay 3. Qu. Is there any way to come out of Darkness and Death and to receive Life and to be made Children of the Light but by believing in and following of Jesus Christ the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World yea or nay 4. Qu. Must not all be turned from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to the Power of God before they can receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified yea or nay 5. Qu. Can any come into the true Faith which purifies the heart and gives victory over the world without which none can please God but by hearing the Word of God yea or nay 6. Qu. And is not Christ the Light the Word of God and is not Christ the Light the Author and Finisher of the true Faith which saves and justifies yea or nay 7. Qu. And is not the Word nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart that men may obey it and do it and is not Christ the Light the Word that Prophet which all that hear him not are to be cut off yea or nay 8. Qu. And is it not Christ the Word which discerns and reveals the thoughts and intents of the heart and is not he the ingrafted Word which is able to save the Soul and is not he the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation and is sufficient which hath appeared unto all men and is not he the Word of God's Grace which is able to build up and keep from falling which People are to be commended unto yea or nay 9. Qu. And is not God Light and is not the shining of him in the hearts of People which gives them the knowledge of himself in the face of Jesus Christ yea or nay 10. Qu. And is not Christ the Light the hope which purifies as God is pure which Anchors and stayes the Soul to be known within are not People tossed like a Ship in a tempest without an Anchor till Christ the Hope be felt within to stay and Anchor them and is not Christ within the Hope a Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and Generations and are not all they in the reprobate state who know not Christ within them yea or nay 11. Qu. And is not God's Kingdom Light and is it not like a little leaven that is hid in Meal and as a grain of Mustard-seed that is sown in the Earth and like a Pearl hid in the Field or like good Seed sown in the Field both on stony thorny high-way and good ground and is not the world the Field where the Seed of the Kingdom is sown and is not the world in mans heart so is not Gods Kingdom within men yea or nay 12. Qu. And is not the manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withal and do any worship the Father of Truth aright but those that worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth and is not the Light the Truth yea or nay 13. Qu. And is not Christ the Light that Word which reconciles to God and is it not he that must open the understandings of men before they can understand the Scriptures and are not People in Errour and in jangling and strife about the Scriptures till Christ the Light the Spirit of Truth the Power of God from whence Scriptures were spoken be known and owned to guide and lead them yea or nay 14. Qu. And is not this the Cause of so many Sects and Opinions and Divisions as are and of such strivings as are about Scriptures and Religions because People know not or own not the Spirit of Truth from whence Scriputures were spoken forth to lead and guide them and is it not like that People should run into Sects and Opinions and Divisions and Strife if they know not or own not the Spirit of Truth to guide and lead them and if the Spirit of Truth were known and owned to
in their Worship and then again in the Parliaments time ran to them and cryed them up begging a Law to settle Church-government as they call'd it and then in the late Protector 's time cryed them up and Petitioned unto them with many feigned flattering words and begged a Law of them to settle them in their Worship now these are the deceitful workers who teach for filthy Lucre and are time Observers who through covetousness and feigned words makes merchandize of the People and these quench the Spirit and despise Prophecying and change with the Times and Governments let them be never so contrary and these are neither true to God nor man but are men-pleasers and such serve not the Lord Jesus but their own bellies and these wanting the Power of God run to the Rulers for an outward Power to uphold them these are whored from the Life of God in their own particulars and these seek to stop the Life of God where ever it appears therefore take heed of upholding or setting them up by an outward Law lest you become the Beast mark that which carrieth the Whore which is to be taken with the false Prophet and the old Dragon the Father of all unrighteousness and cast alive into the Lake Now the true Worship and Religion which stands in the Spirit and in the Truth must be set up and established and upheld by the Power immortal and not by an outward Law But let your Law stop that in all whereever it appears which wrestles with flesh and blood and fights with the creature about Religion for this Spirit could never make manifest the true Worship and Religion neither would it suffer others to do it who had the Spirit of God if it could stop them by an outward Law or force so that which fights wrestles and strives with the Creatures about Religion is not for Christ but is ante against Christ and the Apostles who wrestled not with flesh and blood but with the Power of Darkness and with the Spiritual Wickedness in high places that so Wickedness and Deceit might be destroyed in the Creatures and that the Creatures might be preserved and their Weapons were not Carnal but Spiritual But they that cry out to the Rulers for an outward Law to uphold their Worship and Religion they War not with the Spiritual Weapons but with the Carnal and these destroy the Creatures but cannot destroy the Wickedness and these have quenched the Spirit in their own particulars and these would quench it in others and will not suffer him that hath something revealed unto him to speak but cry to the Magistrates or to the rude multitude for help and so flee to their Carnal Weapons and those being stirred up by their Teacher some of them oft-times beat those that have the Truth to declare in their Synagogues and hale them out and rail on them and spit upon them and sometimes Buffet Stock Whip Imprison and mangle the Creatures and so mar and deface the Workmanship of God and this hath been the work of Antichrist in all Ages when Truth hath appeared against Deceit and such cannot truly say Truth hath prevailed on their parts when they have thus Beaten and Haled and Stocked and Whipped and Imprisoned the Creatures but Violence there at that time hath prevailed by which they that have had the Truth to declare oft-times have been stopped from speaking it So let none do Violence to one anothers Persons or Estates but let your law take hold on them that would do so but let thâ—m alone in their Profession and then it will soon appear who is in the Truth and who are Ministers of Christ and of the Spirit for those that are in tht Spirit of Truth will assuredly prevail over them that be in the Spirit of Deceit and this will be manifested soon if there be no Violence done to them who be in the Spirit of Truth thereby to stop them from speaking the Truth and then the Truth will reach unto the Witness of God in Peoples Consciences and then many who could nor discern the Truth while there were such strivings and fightings with the Creatures will come to see and feel it and then Truth shall prevail and deceit shall fall whereever it be and what covering soever it hath got it shall be ript off and he that is in the Spirit of Truth and abides in it shall overcome all false spirits Now I know ye are not altogether ignorant how that the lives and goods of several in this Nation have been made a prey upon by the Priests who have robbed and spoiled both the Fatherless Widows and others and have â—mprisoned several unto Death by a Law made by the Popish Kings and since strengthened by those that are called Protestants concerning Tythes and these before mentioned have suffered thus for not paying Tythes Now Tythes in the Law given by the Command of God unto Levi the changeable Priesthood who was to have no inheritance among his Brethren was for the maintenance of that Tribe and also for rhe Fatherless the Widows and the Strangers but Christ being come after the order of Melchisedech he is the everlasting unchangeable High-Priest not made by a carnal Commandment but by the power of an endless life he offering himself up once for all put an end to the changeable Priest-hood which was made by a Law which gave them Tythes so this Priesthood and this Law was changeable this Priesthood could not continue by reason of Death so this Priesthood being changed and ended by Christ the unchangeable Priest made by the power of an endless life there was a necessity also of a change and end of that Law by which the changeable Priests who could not continue by reason of Death were made which gave them Tythes then Christ the everlasting High-Priest made by the power of an endless Life by the same Power he made Ministers and freely gave them gifts for the work of the Ministry which was for the perfecting of the Saints and in the power of an endless life sent he them forth saying Freely ye have received freely give and into what house soever ye enter and they receive you ye may eat such things as are set before you for the work-man is worthy of his meat These were Work-men and they first planted a Vineyard and then ate of the Fruit thereof first gathered a Flock and then did Eat of the Milk thereof sowed Spirituall things and reaped of their carnal things unto whom they had sown Spirituals Preached the Gospel and lived of the Gospel these were not made Ministers by the will of man nor by an outward Law neither received they their maintenance by an outward Law nor compelled or forced any to pay them neither robbed or spoiled or imprisoned they any that would not give them Maintenance but they had a necessity laid on them to Preach the Gospel and they did so and coveted no mans gold or silver or apparel and these
time against the outward Governours to overturn them by an outward power or force then let us also suffer as I said before by a just Law And if he that sends us forth will not provide Food and Raiment for us then let us want and if we cannot live of our Gospel which we Preach without an outward Law to compel us an outward Maintenance and if our Ministry will not stand without it then let us want whereon to live and let our Ministry fall And let none be compelled to uphold another's Meeting-place concerning their Worship for that is Oppression but let every one uphold their own and that sort of Professors that will not uphold the Place where they meet to Worship let their House fall and then it will appear where the earthly Spirit lodgeth for they that compel others to uphold another's place of Worship do but cover and strengthen the earthly Spirit therefore let there not be such havock made of Peoples Goods as hath been of late upon many who could not give to the upholding another's Meeting-house for that is out of the equality in the Oppression and Tyranny So come into that which is equal and keep in that and that will bring you to act that which is equal and just unto all and to break all outward Laws that are not equal and just but tend to Tyranny and Oppression and truly there are many Laws and Customs in this Nation whereby the Innocent are opprest so wait to feel the Power of God that ye may Rule and Govern in that for the Lord and feeling the Power of God and keeping to that it will bring you out of all deceit and transgression in the particular and so to stand over all deceit and transgression in the general and it will also bring you to judge righteously without respect to persons and this will reach to the Witness of God in all Consciences So wait to feel the higher Power to rule over the evil doer in the particular and to know and feel the Authority of God there and then ye will come to rule over all evil doers in the higher Power even in the Authority of God and then that of God in all Consciences where ye come to Rule shall answer to your Government But if ye give way to the evil doer in the particular and let him have the Liberty there mark that then that will cause the Just to suffer in the particular and then the same will give way and liberty to evil doers without whereby the Just without will come to suffer also Therefore keep to the Power of the Lord in your particulars you who have felt it and that will bring ye to do Justice unto all without partiality and this will make you honourable in the hearts of the People and then shall Righteousness Truth Equity Mercy and Justice prosper over all and be exalted and all deceit unrighteousness and unrighteous wayes shall be confounded So remember He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the Fear of God Something after ANd all ye that are Officers and Rulers now who have tasted of the pure Power of the Lord God and have felt it stirring in you against all Oppression and Tyranny whereby also ye were made to witness against the back-sliding of others even to the losing of your Places some of you some being turned out and others that could not stay for Conscience sake Well keep to the Power of the Lord which ye have felt and do not abuse it but wait in it that ye may be kept low in his fear that so those who are come to see their back-slidings and do repent them may come to have unity with you and you with them in that which kept you in any measure out of the back-slidings and which hath also brought them to see theirs and to repent of it for that is but one in you both it is even the measure of the pure God which is given you to profit withal therefore in that all wait to receive the Wisdom which is from above that in it ye may all be preserved and kept in unity together and that therein ye may be instruments for the settling and preserving the outward Peace and just Liberties of the People of these Nations which are under your charge But verily much of the Wars which have lately been entred into have not been for the Peace Safety and Well-being of these Nations for the Power being lost Pride and Lust was the ground of them Therefore all mind the Lord's Wisdom and Counsel that peradventure ye may find and see a way how to stop them lest ye bring Enemies upon heaps both upon your selves and these Nations for yet verily breaking breaking overturning and yet overturning will be among all those that will not submit to the Counsel of the Lord and wait in his Light to be led and guided in his Wisdom for he will be known to Rule in the Kingdoms of men and he will exalt his own Name over all Many are your Enemies within and without therefore be not high-minded but fear lest they prevail over you The Lord is near unto all those that fear him and trust in his Name to deliver them but those that go out of his Fear and trust in the wisdom or arm of flesh they shall be broken the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Given forth in the former part of the 3d. Month 1659. By one who loves the prosperity of the Truth and the good and well-being of all Creatures GEORGE FOX the younger A few plain Words to be considered by those of the Army or others who would have a Parliament that is chosen by the voices of the People to Govern the three Nations Wherein is shewed unto them according to the Scriptures of Truth that a Parliament so chosen are not like to Govern for God and the good of his People Also something to the other part of the Army and the New Committee who turned out or own the turning out of the late Parliament GReat are the cryings out of some of you of the Army and the People of these Nations concerning the dissolving of the late Parliament and it appears with a pretence of a very great Zeal that you have for Liberty Equity and Justice and the general good of the three Nations and you appear in a great fear that if the People lose the enjoying of Parliaments that then they shall lose their Birth-right and their Liberty both as Men and as Christians and that Equity shall be laid aside and that the People must be Ruled over by a Tyrannical Power of rebellious men whose Wills must be the Laws that the People must obey But you say if the Parliaments be chosen by the People then in effect the People make their own Laws to be Governed by because they chose their Law-makers themselves and this is England's Birth-right you say and it is just and equal that the People should
can be the end of all these things now the Lord is my witness when I have seen and felt this ungodliness a tender pity hath arose in me towards Thee because I have beheld the danger that Thou art in which is exceeding great Let no man deceive Thee by perswading thee that Thou art in a safe Condition because the outward strength of the Nation appears to be at thy Command For consider this Oliver Cromwell and his party had as much of that strength or more once as Thou hast now and those called thy party were faln as much under them as they are now under Thine And yet consider how their strength was taken from them and how it vanished away like smoak Yea the Lord is righteous and powerful and if he speaks but the Word it must be fulfilled and there is no People too strong for Him for all Nations in comparison of Him are but as the drop of a Bucket and as the small dust which his breath scattereth as he pleaseth and truly God is highly provoked therefore take heed what thou dost V. Concerning Religion and the spirit of Persecution ANd as concerning Religion I exhort and warn Thee in the Name and Fear of the Lord to take heed that thou bind not the Consciences of any and that thou suffer no other means to be used about Religion but what the Apostles used for all this killing and imprisoning and persecuting about Religion the Lord abhors it Yea the Papists killing and imprisoning and persecuting of the Protestants and the Protestants killing and imprisoning and persecuting of the Papists and others about a Form of Religion these things are of the Devil the destroyer in them both and not of Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save them And consider Cain was the first Murderer about Religion who slew Righteous Abel and Cain was for it a Vagabond And the Vagabond Jews persecuted Christ and the Saints and the Saints since Christ suffered without the gate by him and for sinners used no persecution about Religion but Christ said that inwardly ravening Wolves should come And Paul prophesied that after his departure grievous and ravening Wolves should come who would not spare the Flock and before John dyed he saw them come and said to the Saints Little Children ye have heard in the last times that Antichrist shall come mark even now said he are there many Antichrists already come whereby we know that it is the last time So mark these Antichrists killed those that held the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie And here the Whore adulterated from God got up and she drank the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus and the Kings of the Earth committed fornication with her and drank her Cup And she sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and People So all this imprisoning and killing and whipping and stocking and stoning and mangling of the Creatures about Religion is practised among the Heathens and the Antichrists the Apostatized Christians who are gone out from Christ and the Apostles Spirit and Doctrine for they wrestle not with flesh and blood but with Principalities and Powers and Spiritual wickednesses in high places So they fought against Spiritual wickedness and not against Creatures and the Weapons of their warfare were not Carnal but Spiritual mark they used no imprisoning stocking whipping stoning hanging burning banishing or mangling of the Creatures to perswade or turn them to their Religion neither did they use any other force to turn people to the pure Religion than that which proceeded from the Invisible Power of God's Eternal Spirit in them which struck at the Spiritual wickednesses and the evil thoughts and imaginations which were exalted in People above the knowledge of Christ and so they sought to bring the wickedness into Captivity and not the Creatures but to bring them into Liberty by turning them from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power into the Power of God and them that had known the Truth and turned from it and became Hereticks after the first and second admonition if they would not hear they rejected knowing that such were condemned in themselves But they did not give order to kill such for that had been the way to have sent them head-long as one might say unto Hell And as for such as withstood the Apostles and would not receive the Gospel but opposed the Truth and themselves after they had gently and patiently dealt with some and taught and instructed them concerning the Kingdom of God and reproved and warned others and they would not receive them and their Testimony they turned from them unto others and left them unto the righteous judgement of the Lord which was to be revealed in flames of fire upon those that would not obey the Gospel but they did not persecute any nor use any outward force with any about Religion neither did they give any command for such a thing and to preserve in the Truth such as were come to it they used patience meekness long-suffering and sound Doctrine and kept them and commended them unto the ingrafted Word which was nigh in their hearts and in their mouths the which was able to save their souls and did not threaten to persecute them if they did not turn out of the Truth Therefore they that persecute about Religion are not for Christ but Antichrists that is against Christ So take heed that Thou dost not set up persecution about Religion upon any pretence whatsoever nor tolerate it For the Lord God hath brought forth a People in these Nations and will bring forth more that cannot nor may not bow unto any other thing in their Worship than unto the Name of Jesus whose Name is called the Word of God And if Thou oppressest this People the Lord wil assuredly take away Thy Power avenge their Cause mark that for he careth for them And verily we have not another to trust in than the Name of the Lord and we know that to be a strong Tower which is able to preserve us and we know That he will not suffer any thing to come upon us but what shall work for his glory and our good But these things are spoken unto Thee that Thou mightest fear the Lord and mightest not pull judgement upon thy own Head VI. Concerning what Government and Governours the People of the Lord called Quakers stand for and what they stand against c. THis I declare in the Truth and Presence of the Lord and I know there are many thousands in these Nations that are of the same mind with me that it is not for the Name that may be put upon a Government that we either stand for or against but it is a righteous Government according to the higher Power which is according to that of God in every man's Conscience which we stand for and earnestly desire after both in things appertaining to God and man And we for our selves desire no greater Liberty
ye can plant a Vineyard as the Apostle did then eat of the fruit thereof Eph. 6.12 and if ye can thus gather a Flock and keep them then Eat of the Milk thereof and if ye can sow Spirituals then reap of their Carnals that receive you and your Testimony and if you be sent forth by Christ then you will not lack any thing Luk. 22.35 but if you dare not come to this tryal then it will plainly appear that you are such as serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but your own bellies and that you are not sent of God but run and he hath not sent you and speak but he hath not spoken unto you and therefore you cannot profit the People Jer. 23.32 mark And if the outward Peace be kept by the Kings Law that so none may do violence to any man's Person or Estate then you need not fear if you be in the Spirit of Truth 1 Joh. 4.4 but that ye shall overcome them that are in the Spirit of Error and make them manifest when they do oppose you Acts 6.9.10 but if you dare not come to this Tryal then it will plainly appear that you are in the Spirit of Error and such as cannot stand except they be upheld by the Powers of the Earth Again and if God should suffer this that either of you could prevail thus far with the King as that he should set up either of your Forms and give you a Law to compel or Persecute outwardly mark thereby you might make many hypocrites who might pretend to joyn unto you to save â—heir 〈◊〉 or Estates until they could find an opportunity to destroy you but by all your outward force you can never convert any unto God for it is Christ the Immortal ingrafted Word which is onely able to convert unto God and it is the work of the true Ministers to turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power unto the Power of God Acts 26.18 and to direct them to the Word which is nigh in the mouth and in the heart Rom. 10.8 and to commend and keep them to that and to exhort them in meekness to receive the ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls Acts. 20.23 Jam. 1.21 2 Cor. 10.4 and they must not use any Carnal Weapons to do their work withal but Spiritual Therefore if you would be counted Christ's Ministers lay by your Carnal Weapons and use them no longer about Religion neither press the King to set up or uphold either of your Forms of Worship by outward force as before mentioned lest thereby you become Instruments to destroy the King your selves or the Nation So though King CHARLES be accounted and suffered to be Head in things between man and man yet let CHRIST JESUS the everlasting King be accounted and suffered to be Head of his Church that so He may have that which is due unto him Eph. 5.23 4.13 Col. 1.18 and this were the way for the true Church and the King and these Nations to prosper and the way for the false Church the false Prophets and all Plotting Usurping self-interested men to be confounded And this is the desire of me who am a sufferer for Righteousness sake contrary to any Law of God or known Law of the Nation GEORGE FOX the Younger From my Chamber the place of my confinement in Lambeth-House the 14th of the 4th Moneth 1660 where I have perfect Peace with God through Jesus Christ in whom I have true Liberty as a Son according to the appointment of the Father I cannot flatter any but must speak the naked truth unto all and I seek the Peace of my Nation and the good of all men and I cannot fight with any Creature but I can fight with the Spiritual Wickedness though it be in the High Places A Few Queries to the Teachers of the Episcopal Society so Called Qu. 1. WHo was the first Institutor of a man to be Supream Head of the Church next and Immediate under Christ and of Arth-Bishops and Lord Bishops and from whence had they their Original Did not these things arise since the Apostacy and have they not been Practised by the Apostatised Christians since the Antichrists went out from the true Apostles Or were these things Practised by the true Apostles Or did they confesse any more than one Head of the Church Or that to them there was any more than one Lord And was not that Head and Lord Jesus Christ Col. 1.18 And whether they that make or confesse other Lords or another Head of the Church than Christ do not walk according to the course of the Gentiles which know not God and contrary to the Command of Christ and the Practise of the true Apostles 1 Cor. 8 5 6. seeing Christ said to his Disciples the Gentiles exercise Lordship one over another but it shall not be so with you mark that for he that will be greatest amongst you let him be servant unto all Mat. 20 25 26 27. And where was any of the true Apostles or Ministers of Christ called Lord-Bishops or Arch-Bishops Or where was there any King in their time called the Supream Head of the Church next unto Christ Or where did they prophesie that it should afterwards be so among the Saints Or is not this rather a part of the Cup of Fornication which the Whore of Babylon hath caused the Kings of the Earth to drink in the night of Apostacy yea or nay Qu. 2. And who was the first Inventer of Surplices and Tippits as they are called did the true Apostles and Ministers of Christ use any of them in their Worship Or had they Organs and Singing Boys dressed in White going and Singing in their Worship From whom had all things their Original And are any of these things required of the true Worshippers which the Father seeks who Worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth John 4.23.24 if they be prove it by Scripture Or are they not come up since the Apostacy and are they not Practised amongst the Will-Worshippers yea or nay Qu. 3. And who first invented this for a Baptisme viz. that a Teacher should Sprinkle a little water on a Childs face and make a Cross on its forehead with his finger and that there should be God-Fathers and God-Mothers as they are called to name the Child from whom had all these things their Original Did the true Apostles Practise these things Or are they not come up in the night of Apostacy And why do you call those that name the Children God-Fathers and God-Mothers Hath God any Fathers or Mothers Answer to every particular in plain English according to the Scriptures that poor People may see your Ground and Foundation and Rule for all these things And do you believe that any can be free from sin in this life and keep Gods's holy Will and Commandments If not then how dare you enjoyn those that you call God-Fathers and God-Mothers to Promise and Vow these
find some tender-hearted ones cannot bow unto and so with good words and fair speeches they will thus seek to deceive the hearts of the simple and all this is but for their Bellies Therefore take heed of such And take heed of joyning any longer to such as are settled upon their Lees who as one might say are even glued to a Form which is void of the Power For seeing they were to be turned from who had the Form of godliness because they denyed the Power much more are they to be turned from who stick in a Form which cannot he truly called a Form of godliness and therein contend and fight and strive against the Light which is the Power And of this sort there are many in several of the Sects whose searedness dryness hardness is exceeding great though they profess much of godliness in words yet in much perversness wilfulness and crookedness they oppose the Life and Power of the same and will neither enter the Kingdom themselves nor suffer those that gladly would but in a ridgid austere manner seek to keep the People subject to them that they may be Lords over their Consciences Oh Friends you that are tender-hearted come out from among such for the Lord's hand will be stretched out against them in a terrible manner And all wait in the tender Principle of the Fathers Love and Life which hath visited you and begotten sincere desires in you after himself and the Knowledge of his wayes that so you may be strengthned in the inner man and feel your Faith Hope and Patience increased that so you may be able to stand in the Tryal without fainting feeling the Lord to be your strength and continual Preserver This is the sincere and hearty desire of him who is a sufferer with the true Seed where ever it suffers and yet I am gathered in the Spirit into the everlasting Kingdom and Covenant of Peace rest and quietness where nothing can make me afraid By a Prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus who am freely given up to his Will and in patience do wait to see his Kingdom set up over all the Kingdoms of the Earth that he over all may Reign whose Right it is GEORGE FOX the Younger A TRUE RELATION Of the unlawful and unreasonable Proceedings of the Magistrates of HARWICH in ESSEX against the People of the Lord called QUAKERS Also the manner of their Imprisoning of GEORGE FOX the younger whom they with ROBERT GRASSINGHAM accused to the PARLIAMENT And also the manner of the PARLIAMENTS Proceedings against them IN the Year 1656 it was so ordered of the Lord that there came unto the Town of HARWICH some of the People called Quakers and one of them spoke a few words to the People as they were coming from the Steeple-house and so they passed into an Inn but the then MAYOR hearing thereof sent unto them commanding that they should depart the Town which they had not freedom in the Lord presently to do but after a short space they went out And it being upon them to return again they did so and lodged at that Inn all night and the next day they peaceably passed away so not long after the Woman that kept the Inn was commanded to come before the Magistrates of the Town who appeared to be offended with her for lodging of those People and made her to promise them that she would lodge no more such Persons by threatning to take away her License if she did so great was their envy at the appearance of the Truth in that Town But it pleased the Lord that shortly after some of the Inhabitants thereof were convinced of the Truth and so a way was made for Meetings there and several received the Truth in the Love of it in and about that Town so that they could not for Conscience sake pay to the repairing of the Steeple-house any longer and therefore had not freedom to Bury their dead in the ground belonging thereunto but they joyned together and bought a parcel of ground to Bury their dead in as did Abraham the Father of the Faithful So in the Year 1659. it was so ordered of the Lord that one who lived a little out of that Town died and several People were accompanying the dead Body to bury it in the place purchased for that end but one of the Magistrates hearing of it sent the Constables with a Guard commanding them not to suffer the dead Body to be laid in that place though the grave was made and by the command of that Magistrate the dead Body was taken away by force and buried in the Steeple-house Yard Also in the eleventh Month of the same Year there dyed another Friend near the same Town and several Friends came along with the dead Body to have buried it in the place afore-mentioned a Grave also being made but Miles Hubburd the now MAYOR and the other Rulers would not suffer the dead Body to be laid therein but caused it to be taken away by force and so they carried it and set it by the Sea-side where it lay above ground part of two dayes and one night and then it was covered over with small stones but by whom I know not Of these things a Record is kept by Friends in Harwich Also in the 3d. Month in the Year 1660. I being in Essex in the work and service of the Lord whereunto he hath called me by his mighty Power and therein sent me forth to publish his Everlasting Truth which he is spreading abroad in this the day of his Power by which he is gathering those that breath and thirst after his Rightcousness out of the dark Wayes and Worships of this World into the true and living Way and Worship which Christ Jesus the true Light in the dayes of his flesh spoke of which is in the Spirit and in the Truth I say as I was labouring in the Work of the Gospel in that County I had much drawings in the Spirit of Truth to appoint a Meeting in the Town of Harwich and that such thereabout who had desires to hear the Truth of God declared might have notice given them that in the Will of the Lord I purposed to be there on the 13th day of the Month aforesaid it being the first day of the Week so notice was given of the Meeting some dayes before and upon the first Day in the Morning there were about forty peaceable People as Men Women and Children coming in a Boat over a River which runs by the Town unto the Meeting but the Magistrates of the Town hearing thereof sent some Officers to the water-side to hinder them from coming on shore who were peaceably come to wait on the Lord and to hear the Truth declared so these Officers with a great number of rude People did hinder those peaceable People from coming on shore and forced them back again also the same Morning Robert Grassingham sent two of his Servants with a Boat to have