your respective Families And thus indeed and in truth you become even Saviours upon Mount Sion through Christ Jesus who was to turn Ungodliness from Jacob and who saves his People who look unto him work together with him and put their confidence in him so we receive power from him to deny our selves and take up our daily Cross and follow the Lord fully in humility and lowliness of mind and by this power of the Lord so dwelling in it all will be inabled to keep in subjection that which would exalt it self against the appearance of the Lord in you It will bring down every high thought and vain imagination it will make self of no reputation in every particular and Friends never had more need to mind the Light and bring their deeds to it believe in it and walk in it than now when even Satan transforms himself into the likeness of an Angel of Light and Truth and his Ministers also as Ministers of Christ and as in the Light of the Lamb Christ Jesus all keep and abide walking you will see and be able to put a difference betwixt the Divine Light and Truth and the likeness of it howsoever transformed by the prince of Darkness for by the Light of the Lord you will all see Light to comprehend all the transformations of the Devil and Satan in all his appearances with what fair shews or under what specious pretences soever he may appear unto you or amongst you the cunning Serpent is at work with his transformed likenesses of the heavenly things of God let none look out at that nor think any worse of the Light and Truth of God because that even Satan transforms himself into the likeness of an Angel of Light and his Angels profess Gods precious Truth and talk of it with enticing words that mans wisdom teacheth all this God permits that they who are approved may be made manifest that all Friends may search and try their waies and works and be more confirmed upon the tried Stone elect and precious which God hath laid in Sion for a Foundation and another Foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid which not any thing can move or overthrow but it stands and remains the same firm Rock of Ages still upon this dear Friends do but keep and abide and then none of these things which only is suffered of the Lord to come to try us shall be able to move any of us from our stability in the Truth Light Life and Power of the Lord God The Gates of Hell shall never prevail against this invincable Rock of Ages Christ Jesus upon whom the faithful are built a Spiritual Houshold unto God and are become to him a chosen Generation and a Royal Priest-hood to offer up to him the Spiritual Sacrifice of Praise and of a broken Heart which is accepted of the Lord and surely we who are the Children of God and his day had never more need to be continually with God and see him in the mount than now when there is so much declining from God and departure from the Faith and I believe many of you are very sensible that the mistery of Iniquity now worketh whereby Satan sets himself and Agents at work to let and hinder the work of the Lord and yet they cry Lord Lord have not we prophesied in thy Name c. But are workers of Iniquity which coming to be seen and discovered by the Light of the Lord by that also is condemned which lets the Saints in Light see over it and the mischievous intent of such workers where they come that are workers of Iniquity their works manisest what workmen they are unto whom the Lord will say I know you not depart from me Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these resist the Truth professed by them being men of corrupt minds and sensual altho they may still return good Words and fair Speeches and so deceive the Hearts of the simple with their seducing Spirit and sowing Discord Division and corrupt Seed which I do entreat you all in the love of God and care for your Souls good to beware of and not to believe every Spirit but try them with the Light and Spirit of God which he hath given you whereby you may see and discern clearly betwixt Spirit and Spirit the true from the false and the things of God from those things that are contrary which he never wrought nor ever delighted in all which is to be denyed and shut out for by the Spirit of the Lord God none can own or joyn with that which works against the truth scatters from it instead of gathering to it or that which under pretence of most Christian would lay waste the Heritage of God and set up fleshly Liberty instead of true Christianity In the Name of the Lord and with his Light and Truth see and fathom over all that which is not of God which shall not stand And Friends feel the Ear open that trieth words as the Pallat tasteth Meats that you all the Spiritual Meat may feed upon and not upon that which perisheth or dieth of it self but that which endures to everlasting Life at the Lord's Table all feed upon and be filled with that and a living Hunger will be encreased in you all after that which is pure more and more to the renouncing of that which is dirty defiled and impure under what pretence or colour soever it may appear or what fine dress or gloss soever it may be presented to you in by such as may presume to speak in the Name of the Lord amongst you that are not really of us but are gon out into a self-separation from us and impose their disunion and disorder in the Church of God in opposition to that wholsom Union and Order which that Church maintains and is in the practice of which tends to present it to God holy and without blame before him without spot or wrinkle or any thing that defiles works abomination or loves and makes a Lye all which shall in no wise enter into the Holy City which comes down from God out of Heaven the seducing Spirit is of the Enemy the Father of Lies and leadeth from the Truth into Lies and Error falshood and deceit and who are led by this Spirit they forge Lies and speak Lies in Hypocrisie having their Consciences seared they grow self-will'd stubborn and hard-hearted and appear hard through the deceitfulness of sin that dwelleth in them losing the true tenderness and brokenness of heart that for a time appeared in some of them before they let in this pernicious Spirit and gave heed to it that liberty which now they are in and wrangle for it was hateful to some of them whereby they corrupt one another so they raise their mountain and set their unholy mountain against and in opposition to the Lord 's Holy Mountain or the Mountain of the Lord's House which is to be established a top
of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills which all Nations shall flow unto not only a few Nations but even all Nations must flow to and come to it and every Mountain and Hill must be brought down and laid waste that riseth up in opposition against the Mountain of the Lord where in his day the Lord our God maketh to his People a Feast of fat things full of Marrow and Wine upon the Lees that is well refined Glory Glory to God and the Lamb over all for ever and ever None need pine for Hunger that come to know the House of the Lord and keep at his Table there is Bread enough Spiritual Meat sufficient to satisfie every hungry Soul with the Water of Life whereof all may drink so that you need never thirst more My dear Friends who are come hither abide with the Lord in the Mountain of his Holiness keep in his Temple faithfully serving of God and as you alwaies keep there you will know there is no Night it for the Lamb is the Light thereof and his Servants shall serve him and worship him and cry Worthy worthy is the Lamb to receive Glory Honour and Praise for ever more But let none content themselves or rest satisfied in the outward Court in outward Shews in an outward Form of Religion or Godliness out of the Life and Power of God For when the Lord cometh to Judgment his Sentance upon them will be sharp who have a name to live but are dead in Trespasses and in Sins How much astonished and perplexed will such be when the Lord comes Who said Behold I come quickly to give a reward to every man according to his works How sad will it be with all them that have not repented them of their wicked deeds which they have done in the Body but where it lieth at their door still all the Wickedness which they have committed which they should in their day given them by the Lord have repented of and ceased to do and what great multitudes of People evidently appear in that sad estate which calls for a Lamentation from the saved of the Lord who are his chosen Flock and Heritage and who can commisserate the People of this Age that are run into such wicked ungodly Practices which undoubtedly will provoke God to Anger and to execute his Judgments upon them with great severity if they repent not But dear Friends you who have tasted and seen how good the Lord is and have of the Water of Life and the Rock that followed Israel of old fed thereupon and drank thereof more abundantly that you all may be filled with that which is good and every Soul delight it self in the fatness of that Meat which is really Spiritual whereby all may come to be strong in the Lord and through him may be made able to stand in this day as firm true and unshaken in mind as ever you or any of the Saints in any Age did that you may not be found wanting or fail in your testimony for his Name in the least degree none to be weaker in Faith because some have faln for through unbelief they fell who are gone from the Truth and have sold it for that that perisheth and so are broken off from their Spiritual Society of Friends in it whatsoever they may in their carnal Reasoning urge as occasion given to them by any so all you that are come to God the Judg of all to have fellowship with God and Christ Jesus keep constant in the near Union and Fellowship of the Spirit of God where there is no stumbling nor falling away from God and his Truth but by the Light of the Lord all will see and learn how precious a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in the Unity of the Spirit of God and to keep in the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace And dear Friends love one another and all Men even your Enemies that despightfully used you and hated you without cause do good to them and pray for them And Friends All greatly prize the great mercy of the Lord God and his marvellous kindness towards us who have been long accounted as Sheep for the Salughter that he who hath the Hearts of Kings in his hand should move in the Kings Heart that now is to consider our distressed state and that violence and spoil we were exposed unto through the prosecution of the Penal Laws that now the King hath put a stop to and granted liberty for all to worship God according as in Conscience they think they ought whereby appears a great openness in most places of this Nation for People to hear God's precious Truth declared and a door of hope of the gathering in of many to the Lord God of all Nations and People Truly Friends this Liberty and Ease from outward Sufferings ought to be used in great Humility and Lowliness of Mind and none ought to be puffed up with it to abuse it or behave themselves any way unworthy of it least the Lord should be provoked to deprive us of that Liberty and Peace which we now enjoy who not long since were troubled on every side and met with many Perils in which the Lord was with us and stood by us and strengthened us by his Power and giving us true Comfort and Peace in himself notwithstanding my dear Friends and Brethren who have received from God more peculiar Gifts for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ and the perfecting of the Saints in Light let the surtherance of the Gospel be every one of your chief care and industry Now is an open door the Harvest truly is great and faithful Labourers are but few Therefore pray ye the Lord God of the Harvest to send forth more faithful Labourers into his Harvest that every one returning may bring their precious Sheaves with you and daily Exhort Reprove and Rebuke with all long Suffering and Patience and be diligent in feeding the Flock and Lambs of Christ over whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers that altho many of you be poor in this World yet you may be rich in Faith and rich in the Work of the Gospel making many Rich with durable Riches where you travel or are set for the defence of the Gospel And consider and have regard one to another in your several Services for the Lord keep singly and alone to God's Divine Gift that is in you and given you of God and go forth in that in your Warfare against what is contrary to God none to be so entangled with the Affairs of this World as to let or with-hold you from following the Lord in his Work and Service walking uprightly and without blame in the fear of the Lord God whose Servants you are and unto whom we all ought singly to be given up in pure Obedience And all Friends every where keep up your Meetings in the Name and Power of the Lord who was and is and is to come who changeth not as Times and Laws changeth Be diligent in Meeting together let none be idle or come together in a careless indifferent mind whether you come or not for such doth not serve the Lord as they ought faithfully not are they sensible of the prosperity of his Work in them and such grow not in the Truth Grace or Knowledg of God they shine not as Lights to the World or amongst Men. But blessed and magnified be the Name of the Lord that a remnant do walk with God and faithfully do his Will who have not defiled their Garments but have kept them clean who glorifie their Heavenly Father by bringing forth much Fruit to him whom the Lord hath hid in the secret of his Pavillion and he will hide them more and more in his munition'd Rock whose Bread is sure and whose Waters never fails In the overflowing of the Cup of Salvation was I constrained at this time to write this Epistle to you who are of the Flock of God who will give you a Kingdom that is far beyond the Kingdoms of this World in which all that abide faithful to the end shall live and reign with God the Father and the Lamb Christ Jesus for ever and ever which that you all may be found Heirs thereof and come to inherit it is the fervent Desire and Prayer to God of your faithful Friend and Brother in the Truth James Parke Horsteydown the 24th of 5th Month 1687. THE END
A General EPISTLE TO FRIENDS EVERY WHERE Who have Received Believe and know the Truth of GOD as it is in JESUS Jesus answered Are there not Twelve Hours in the Day If a man walk in the Day he stumbleth not because he seeth the Light of this World. But if a man walk in the Night he stumbleth c. John 11. 9 10. Dear Friends and Brethren WHo are made partakers with us of Salvation and Life and Peace with God through Jesus Christ in perilous Times and have been made willing to take part with the Saints through believing in him and have suffered for His Names sake and in patience possessed your Souls as a People filled and furnished with power from on High to do the will of God and finish that work he hath given you to do in your day and Generation my dear love in the heavenly sence of that Salvation Life and Peace which we have received from God through Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace dearly salutes you all every where who patiently have given your backs to the Smiter and in the will of God have suffered Joyfully for well-doing and have not sainted nor been weary neither 〈◊〉 removed nor been shaken in mind when long furrows were plowed upon your backs but in Patience and Long-suffering endured and came through great tribulations for Righteousness sake the goodness of God in helping saving and delivering of us in the time of need is evermore to be minded and never to be forgotten but greatly prized by us all who have been and are preserved living Witnesses of the same to our abundant joy and comfort when things looked most black and dismal without O what Rest refreshment and consolation have a Remnant felt and experienced when others were amazed tormented and surprized with sudden fears to behold their expectations frustrated and their hopes perish your hope was in the Lord and your confidence in him that never fails them that hope in his mercy and put their trust in him And the Lord hath kept you in this Day of Tryal and Hour of Temptation as a quiet Habitation and as a Tabernacle that shall not be destroyed nor one stake thereof removed for all the shaking of the Mountains and the Earth and Heavens that have been and will be more and more to make way for that which cannot be shaken or removed but shall stand for ever and how doth all things work together for good to them that dwell in the love of God and Christ Jesus above all in this day of shaking of all false Foundations and all who have built thereupon How are the shaken in mind they have stumbled and faln and seem to have none to help them up their minds being from the only Helper Christ Jesus the tried Stone Elect and precious who is laid in Sion for a Foundation on which the Church of God is built and which the gates of Hell shall never prevail against and this Foundation of God it stands sure and all who are thereupon kept and preserved they are as Mount Sion that cannot be removed by all the shakings of the winds that arise Floods that come or the Rains that fall because they are built upon this Rock Christ Jesus which is immovable who hath been and is our Rock and Resuge to this day Glory to the Lord God for ever who hath gathered a Remnant to himself out of the World and the wickedness of it and hath brought out from the barren Mountains to the Mountain of his House even the Mountain of Holiness where his hand appears and is seen to work and bring mighty things to pass for and in the behalf of his chosen Heritage whom the Lord greatly delights in and taketh pleasure in doing good unto Now this Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established on the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills how high and strong soever they may appear that are as Mountains lifted up or arise against the Mountain of the Lords House or is of another nature and contrary thereunto they must all be brought down and laid wast in man and woman before the Mountain of the Lord can be established in them and exalted above the Hills which Christ Jesus said must be laid low before the Lord alone be exalted And Daniel saw a little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands that should fill the whole Earth here was no Crafts-man or cunning Artists hands at work in cutting out this little Stone cut out of the Mountain it was without hands no wit or power of man could do it but only through the Wisdom of God and his invisible power for with God all things are possible he can make a little Stone cut out of the Mountain fill the whole Earth he can make a little one become a strong Nation Now Dear Friends feel the Mountain of the Lord's House established on the the top of that which is of the House of Esau which must be as stubble and feel the House of Saul faln and the Tabernacle of David that was faln down raised up in you and that every breach thereof may be healed that the enemy hath made at any time to the weakning or the throwing of it down and when any falls into sin or commits iniquity that makes a breach upon the Tabernacle of David weakens the good in them so then the bad House of Saul grows stronger and wickedness increaseth in such to a great height O how many Mountains and Hills within and without hath the Lord our God already brought down and laid wast that he might set his King upon his Holy Hill of Sion and declare his decree that shall stand notwithstanding what man or men may decree contrary God will accomplish the thoughts of his heart and will bring to pass his Act his strange Act what he hath promised and purposeth to do in and for his undefiled Remnant he will effect it it shall come to pass not a Jot or little shall fail till all be fulfilled So dear Friends feel Christ Jesus Who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords set upon his Holy Hill of Sion who shall Reign for ever and ever and sit upon the Throne of Majesty on High I say in the Name of the Lord God witness his Reign and him to sway the Scepter of Righteousness in you till every thing that is contrary to him or that would exalt it self against his Government be brought into obedience and subjection thereunto that nothing may Rule or Reign but his blessed Life and Power in and over all for evermore and that he may be glorified in you all who is worthy of Glory Honour and Dominion feel and witness him come with power and great glory and taking to himself his great power whereby you will all know every Valley exalted and every Mountain and Hill laid low that would lift up it self to oppose or hinder the work of the Lord or would not the Lord
should Reign and all keep sensible of that day wherein the Lord alone shall be exalted and when all flesh shall tremble before him who layeth low the loftiness of man. What is any Mountain or all Nations before him when he cometh in Triumph Skipping over the Mountains and leaping over the Hills of opposition within and without when he makes his power known how doth he shake the Earth and cause the keepers of the House to tremble and how will he punish that Leviathan the crooked Serpent whose way is in the Sea that long hath deceived the Nations and caused People to wonder after the Beast and to say Who is like unto the Beast or Who can make War with him and maketh many for an hour to give their power to the Beast that is to be slain and with him the false Prophet and given to the burning Flame in the day of the Lord that burns as an Oven and all that are proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble the day cometh that shall burn them up and neither leave of them Root or Branch All Dear Friends keep in the fear of the Lord and think upon his Name But fear not man whose Breath is in his Nostrils neither fear what man can do Professor or Profane if they set themselves in a prejudiced mind and Spirit against you Speaking all manner of evil against you for the Name of Christ which you know and believe in fear you not their fears neither be any of you afraid of their Revilings Whom the Moth shall eat like a Canker and the Wind shall drive away as stubble How hath the hearts of many failed them for fear And what great fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites of this Revolting and Backsliding Age that have not been able to dwell with devouring Fire or stand when the Lord appear Who sits as a Resiner with Fire to purge away the dross and take away all the Tin and who cometh with his Fan in his hand thoroughly to purge his Flowre and gather his Wheat into his Garner where he will keep and preserve it safe and secure it from that that would eat it up and destroy it where ever that appears you who are of God if never so little you are the Lords gathered Wheat into his Garner and who are not gathered to God nor born of God they are the Chaff they are the Children of the wicked One and will do wickedly being void of a Divine or heavenly understanding how wise soever they may be to do evil and they are in the sight of the Lord but a heap of confusion and corruption although their Mountain seem to be never so great and high the Lord can and will lay it low and make it a Plain when he pleaseth and by what way and method he pleaseth So feel the Mountain of the Lord's House established on the top of the Mountain the Mountain of Holiness and the Holy Hill of Sion feel over all unholy Mountains of sin and corruption and God's Holy Hill over all the unholy Hills that are got up in the fall That dear Friends you all may live move and keep your Habitation in Christ Jesus that Noble Vine into which you were grafted that never fell but liveth and abideth for ever who is your Rock and Foundation your Buckler Shield and mighty Defence when the Winds blow Rains fall and the Floods of the Ungodly come forth as if they would overflow the Banks you know who hath power over the Winds the Rain and the raging Sea stedfastly believe in him Christ Jesus and let your hearts be fixed trusting in the Lord 's great power however it be in the World as to Troubles Amazements and Fears In Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace feel a constant Peace that his Peace may remain with you and he may guide you continually and then your Rest also will be glorious in him and patience will possess your Souls in the greatest Tribulation that can come and you will have Joy and Consolation when the Faces of many shall gather paleness and fear and astonishment shall seize and take hold upon others because of the fearsul Judgment that will come upon them due to them for their wickedness and great abominations My Dear Friends THerefore be all diligent to make your Calling and Election so sure and certain that you constantly may have the fresh renewings of the Spirit of God and that to bear you witness that you are of the few or small number who are saved that enter the strait Gate and walketh in the narrow way that leadeth unto Life Eternal which but few find and such as never yet found it how should they walk in it and you that have found it keep low walking in it and let none of your hearts by any means be lifted up by any thing you do for the truth or with any thing that you enjoy from God Who is the giver of every good and perfect Gift whether Temporal or Spiritual but still keep your hearts and minds unto God and in perfect love unto him above all in the pure enjoyment of all the mercies which you have received from him let not the things of this world have place in your hearts again who have been gathered to God out of the World for whosoever let their minds and affections after that which is earthly such cannot well affect heavenly things therefore all have great need even as much as ever to keep your hearts with all diligence that the enemy of the Soul and destroyer enter not again where he once was cast out by Christ Jesus O watch and pray that you enter not into temptation when you are tempted to evil in the hour of temptation watch in the word of God's patience be sure that you keep that hid in your hearts and take heed to it and you will witness it a Light to your Feet to lead and keep you all from the Temptations of Satan to Sin and Evil which you may expect to meet with now altho it be a time of ease as from outward Sufferings for that may expose you more to the assaults of Satan inwardly that now by his Agents he cannot imprison your Bodies fine you nor spoil your Goods for meeting together to worship God he will beset you and assault you now another way to wit within there to work if a diligent constant watch be not kept in the fear of the Lord such will be in danger to be ensnared you know many of you that the enemy hath many snares and when he cannot catch in one he will lay another more privily to catch the innocent in to ensnare such as be of an upright Conversation Therefore let not any of you that by the Lord 's Holy Spirit and Power have known your Souls to be quickened suffer death to enter or prevail again so to cause the second death to have power over you or to be twice dead and pluck'd up by the